{"id":2463,"date":"2010-12-22T21:32:49","date_gmt":"2010-12-23T02:32:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2463"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:23:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:23:37","slug":"out-there","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2463","title":{"rendered":"Out There (by VCLS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/b>Betrayal, wounded pride, and jealousy result in one hot tempered brother missing, one having nightmares, one logical brother searching … all is not as you might think.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated: \u00a0T \u00a0WC \u00a08600<\/b><\/p>\n

Story Notes: \u00a0<\/b>This story is the result of a 2010 Progressive Chain Challenge. \u00a0The authors included (in alphabetical order): \u00a0Cheaux, Dodo, DonnaB, fanofoldtvshows, jfclover, MicheleBE, pam_2009, pkmoonshine, and trinity4H.<\/span><\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/span><\/p>\n


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

Out There\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The deep orange and purple hues<\/strong> of the setting sun were reflected on snow covered rocks and pines in the North Range.\u00a0 Now and then a lonely, brave bush pushed through the top crust, but for the most part the whole plateau was a white sheet ablaze with the last vibrant rays of the day.\u00a0 Above it all, to the west, barely visible in the growing twilight, yet dominating everything in its path was the High Sierras.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was an awesome sight not to be taken lightly by even the bravest of men, and in the dead of winter it was sheer suicide to even contemplate crossing the Carson Range that led into the foothills of the Sierras.\u00a0\u00a0 Sheer suicide . . . but to Joe Cartwright, whose older brother was out there somewhere alone, without provisions and perhaps hurt, it was the only thing to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

His eyes quickly surveyed the terrain.\u00a0 The white expanse seemed to swallow everything in sight.\u00a0 To the north was Lake Tahoe, but mostly there was nothing.\u00a0 The plateau was cold, barren, and friendless.\u00a0 And out there was a man dying . . . or dead!<\/span><\/p>\n

He sat now next to a fire clasping a cup of steaming coffee in his hands.\u00a0 It was not dark yet and his gut told him he should still be looking.\u00a0 Reason told him different.\u00a0 Almost anywhere else he would have had another good hour of daylight left, but up here was no such thing as twilight and the sun could drop behind the mountains in five minutes plunging his path into darkness.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had come half way down the pass before he realized how low the sun was.\u00a0 Another few minutes and there wouldn\u2019t be anything but blackness.\u00a0 The ground to the left of the trail was flat and firm enough to support him and the two laden pack animals.\u00a0 The overhanging rocks offered a perfect shelter from wind and snow, and underneath the thin crust was grass.\u00a0 \u201cMight as well save as much food for the horses as possible,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 he thought.\u00a0\u00a0 Out there there would be nothing for them to eat and he would need everything he brought along.<\/span><\/p>\n

Out there.\u00a0 A shiver went down Joe\u2019s back and he kicked the logs with his boot to stir up the fire.\u00a0 It was dark now.\u00a0 He poured a can of beans into a pan to simmer and then bedded the horses down for the night.\u00a0\u00a0 The first bite burned his tongue and he swore.\u00a0\u00a0 He thought about the rest of the family back at the Ponderosa.\u00a0 What was it Hop Sing was going to fix tonight for Pa\u2019s guests?\u00a0 Oh . . . yeah . . . chicken and dumplings.\u00a0 And he swore again.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

It was 4:30 a.m. and the sound of the wind whipping through the eaves woke Ben up . . . or so he told himself.\u00a0 Actually, he had been lying in bed tossing and turning since before midnight.\u00a0 Hop Sing and his feasts, he thought.\u00a0 He always did eat too much on those occasions.\u00a0 But even as he fixed himself a bicarbonate he knew the real reason for his sleeplessness.\u00a0 The wind outside was louder and more violent than ever.\u00a0 When he opened the front door the wind ripped it from his grasp and slammed it into the chest behind him.\u00a0 Ben stepped out into the night pulling the collar of his bathrobe tighter around for protection against the raw wind.\u00a0 His anger had long since turned to worry and the roiling clouds above didn\u2019t lessen his alarm.\u00a0 This is ridiculous, he told himself.\u00a0 Joe is old enough to take care of himself and certainly old enough to know when to come in out of a storm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes\u2014to anyone with common sense it would only be logical to seek shelter on a night like this.\u00a0 But then, anyone in his right mind wouldn\u2019t even be out on a night like this.\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t know what governed his son\u2019s reasoning powers, but his actions certainly weren\u2019t logical and God only knew where he was now.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Logic was all that kept Joe going.\u00a0 He woke up freezing and was on the move again at first light because he figured activity was the only solution.\u00a0 Wrong.\u00a0 At times his limbs were so cold he couldn\u2019t feel the reins or the stirrups and once he fell off.\u00a0 Cochise turned and looked at him in utter disgust and he had to admit that he must indeed look foolish.\u00a0 He was glad there was no one around to see.\u00a0 Actually, that wasn\u2019t true.\u00a0 He wished his brother were here with him then together they could get home before the storm hit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked skyward.\u00a0 His eyes were relieved to gaze upon the dark grey clouds rather than the bright, white snow, but the clouds bothered him.\u00a0 They were churning rapidly and turning darker by the minute.\u00a0 Time was growing short and still no sign of his brother.\u00a0 As he lowered his eyes back to the horizon, he saw it.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t say for sure what \u201cit\u201d was; he only knew it wasn\u2019t there before.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The first thing Adam felt was cold.\u00a0 Not just a cold limb, a cold nose\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0but a cold that ran down to his soul.\u00a0 He felt the wind whipping around him as it swept the cobwebs from his mind.\u00a0 He tried to sit himself up, only to find that every bone in his body ached as well.\u00a0 As his head reached the cold ground, he struggled against the darkness that fought to claim him once again.\u00a0 He tried in vain to remember the circumstances that led to his predicament, but consciousness eluded him and he again slipped into the dark void.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

As the sun rose on the Ponderosa, Ben found himself weary.\u00a0 Even after going back to bed, he tossed and turned, worrying about his two sons who were out there\u2014each a solitary man heading into a precarious situation.\u00a0 He splashed a good dose of Bay Rum on his face, hoping that it would help bring him to life.\u00a0 Looking into the mirror, his chocolate eyes showed the sadness he felt at the thought of losing two sons because of stubbornness and pride.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Continuing down the pass, Joe couldn\u2019t tell whether \u201cit\u201d was moving toward him or away from him so when he again reached flat ground he dismounted, ground tied Cochise knowing the other horses would stay with her, and traveled on foot to the outer edge of the trail.\u00a0 Away from the trees, he had a clearer view of the horizon and it didn\u2019t take long for him to be certain; whatever was out there was definitely not moving.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked up at the threatening sky and considered his options.\u00a0 Worry etched his face as he thought of his brother out in the elements, alone, without provisions.\u00a0 As Joe walked back to Cochise, he began to calculate his trail for the remainder of the day.\u00a0 Distracted, he didn\u2019t see the tip of a rock peaking through the white carpet of snow.\u00a0 Without warning, Joe lost his balance and fell to the ground wincing in pain.\u00a0 He cursed quietly to himself as he tried to figure out how badly hurt he was.\u00a0 Rolling his shoulder, he felt stabs of pain travel down his arm.\u00a0 Not to be deterred, he held his arm close to his body and climbed into the saddle.\u00a0 One arm or not, he would not let this setback defeat him in achieving his goal.\u00a0 He tucked his hand and wrist into his green jacket for support, and started to head out with Cochise down the grey, wind-whipped mountain.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

His brothers were out there, alone.\u00a0 And here he was, in his bed, with a busted ankle.\u00a0 How could he have let that mare kick him like that\u2014while shoeing her no less!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remembering the fights that prompted the current situation made Hoss wince in embarrassment.\u00a0 How could anyone have known that Belinda was dating not one, but two Cartwrights at the same time?\u00a0 And two so very different Cartwrights at that!\u00a0 As he thought back to his own time with Belinda, there was no way he could\u2019ve imagined that such a sweet, caring girl could be so devious.\u00a0 Devious enough to two-time both of his other brothers in order to gain the Cartwright name\u2014and money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When Joe and Adam realized what had happened, instead of coming together in anger towards Belinda, their pride caused them to accuse each other of things unheard of before between any of the Cartwright brothers.\u00a0 Cringing, Hoss thought of the look of utter devastation on his father\u2019s face as he watched his brothers shout words totally beyond his comprehension.\u00a0 It was only when the words turned to blows that Ben intervened between the two grown men.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>How dare you!\u201d he shouted in rage.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t you see that you are letting a woman get between you?\u00a0 That woman doesn\u2019t deserve either one of you!\u00a0 She USED both of you.\u00a0 Why can\u2019t you see that?\u201d\u00a0 Ben collapsed in his chair shaking in anger as he looked in disdain at both of his sons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was then that his elder brother got up, went to the credenza and put on his gun belt and hat in silence.\u00a0 Turning to his family, he said quietly, \u201cI loved her, loved her with all my heart, and I can\u2019t imagine her not having a valid reason Pa. I can\u2019t now, and I don\u2019t think I ever will.\u201d\u00a0 And with that, he turned and went out the door, slamming it shut behind him.\u00a0 The remaining Cartwrights looked at each other in shock as they heard the sound of hoof beats heading away from the house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As he thought of his brothers out there alone in the cold, harsh winter, a single tear trickled down Hoss\u2019 face.\u00a0 He realized just how much they mattered to him\u2014but now he\u2019d lost them, perhaps forever.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

He felt a hand wipe the layer of snow off of his frozen face. \u00a0As heat from unseen hands permeated his consciousness, a warmth begin to envelop his body.\u00a0 Opening his eyes, Adam saw the cloudy visage of a man.\u00a0 The man\u2019s lips were moving, and he struggled to figure out what he was saying.\u00a0 As his vision cleared, he realized that the man was asking who he was.\u00a0 His voice was weak as he answered with a quiet, \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Plodding along slowly, with Sport in tow, Joe pulled his hat down lower on his forehead, trying to keep the large wet flakes of snow off his face.\u00a0 Feeling like he was making no progress at all, as he constantly looked off to his left and then to his right, seeing nothing, he reined Cochise in and slipped down off his mount.\u00a0 He stood tall; stretching out his back and rotating his sore shoulder, then gathered both sets of reins with his good arm and started walking.<\/span><\/p>\n

He prayed he was heading in the right direction, but for the last couple of miles, he\u2019d seen no signs at all that he was on his older brother\u2019s trail.\u00a0 He pulled the horses under a large ponderosa pine.\u00a0 Missing its lower limbs, the stately tree made a perfect place for him to rest and be out of the falling snow.\u00a0 Wondering if the creeks were frozen over yet, he lifted his canteen from his saddle horn and took a drink. \u00a0\u00a0The horses couldn\u2019t go forever without water, and he knew he needed to be careful with his own until he had time to build a fire and melt enough snow to replenish the canteens.\u00a0 Surely, he would find Adam in the next hour or two; a man alone couldn\u2019t survive without water whether it was himself or his brother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He had been on a steady upward climb again for the past couple of hours, and cursed himself for not having grabbed his heavier jacket.\u00a0 Joe figured his brother was dressed appropriately for this time of year, and would give him a lecture on being prepared when he caught up with him.\u00a0 If nothing else, maybe that would defuse the current battle between them.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Adam hadn\u2019t returned by morning\u2014after storming out of the house the night before\u2014Joe knew just how much his hateful words and violent temper had hurt his brother.\u00a0 He had said things that no one should ever say to another person, especially a brother.\u00a0 He had awakened before dawn and looked in his brother\u2019s room to find the bed still made.\u00a0 Dressing quickly, he made his way downstairs and into the kitchen to raid Hop Sing\u2019s larder for enough supplies for two men for a week.\u00a0 He had been out the door before the rest of the family awoke and since Hoss was laid up with a broken ankle, he had figured with any luck Pa would assume he had gotten an early start in order to handle all the chores.\u00a0 Joe figured\u2014if he were really lucky\u2014he would find Adam and get them both home in time for supper.\u00a0 The gamble hadn\u2019t paid off and Joe was nearing the end of his second day in the bitter cold.\u00a0 But if he was cold\u2014with food in his belly\u2014he could just imagine what Adam was feeling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had found Sport meandering along about an hour ago.\u00a0 The horse was heading home, like any of their mounts would eventually have done without a rider to tell them differently.\u00a0 He knew Adam had come that far, but now the trail was cold.\u00a0 At this point, with the snow steadily falling, he wondered how would he ever find it again.\u00a0 He grabbed a piece of jerky from his saddlebag and bit off a generous chunk.\u00a0 Think like Hoss, he thought to himself.\u00a0 Hoss was the tracker of the family, and a darn good one at that.\u00a0 What would Hoss be looking for now, when the trail had grown cold?<\/span><\/p>\n

Determined to find his oldest brother, Joe climbed back up on Cooch, pulling Adam\u2018s mount along behind him.\u00a0 His mind raced.\u00a0 Keep going straight.\u00a0 Follow the trail.\u00a0 Don\u2019t leave the trail.\u00a0 Think like Adam.\u00a0 Adam wouldn\u2019t just wander.\u00a0 Adam did everything with a purpose.\u00a0 Then why would he come this far into the mountains this time of year?\u00a0 That was the unexplained question on the young man\u2019s mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

A generous amount of snow was falling now; the horses\u2019 hooves kicking up the white powder with each step they took. The trail Joe thought he was following was completely covered now with snow and he shivered uncontrollably in the saddle.\u00a0\u00a0 His fingers felt as though they were frozen to the reins but somehow he managed to reach behind him and pull the strings on his bedroll freeing the blanket.\u00a0 As he wrapped it around his shoulders and thighs, he thought again how foolish he had been to take off without his heavy jacket.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe closed his eyes savoring the instant warmth the blanket provided and in so doing was unaware of the obvious markings left on the ground where his brother had fallen from his horse.\u00a0 The proof he needed was not five fee away:\u00a0 a recently broken scrub branch and next to the small bush, Adam\u2019s black hat, now filling with snow.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the blanket keeping him warm, and keeping the snow from soaking his clothes, Joe felt renewed and eager to move on at a faster clip.\u00a0 Adam couldn\u2019t be that much farther ahead.\u00a0 Of that, Joe was certain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cPa, you ain\u2019t doin\u2019 neither of them no good pacin\u2019 the room like ya are.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss couldn\u2019t do much but sit in his father\u2019s overstuffed leather chair, with his foot propped up on the table.\u00a0 He was no good to anyone at this point, and probably wouldn\u2019t be for another couple of weeks.\u00a0 He\u2019d grabbed a book out of Adam\u2019s room before coming downstairs, but couldn\u2019t get through a page without looking up, finding his father restlessly pacing back and forth, back and forth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>Do you know it\u2019s started to snow?\u201d Ben asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir.\u00a0 You told me that the last time you opened the door, thinkin\u2019 you heard them two ridin\u2019 up.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was starting to lose patience with his \u2018mother-hen\u2018 father.\u00a0 He knew his father was worried, and he had every right to be, but there was nothing he or his father could do at this point.\u00a0 \u201cThey should be home anytime now.\u00a0 What we don\u2019t know is if they\u2019s still mad at each other or if they\u2019s smart enough to realize it was that gal that made all the trouble, and the fight should be with her, not each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nothing Hoss had said seemed to reach Ben\u2018s ears.\u00a0 Instead of opening the door this time though, he pulled back the red drape behind his desk and stared at the snow coming down, then turned back to Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cDo you realize if it\u2019s snowing here, and if they\u2019ve headed up to the high country\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

With spirits restored, Joe pushed Cochise on a piece.\u00a0 Both rider and horse became aware of a noise approaching them.\u00a0 Louder, faster!\u00a0 Joe turned Cooch around, pulled his rifle from his scabbard, and aimed in the direction of the noise: \u00a0a thunder of hooves!\u00a0\u00a0\u201cDarn those pack-laden animals, scaring the daylights out of us!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The pack animals whinnied at the sight of their pals.\u00a0 Horses run in herds.\u00a0 The pack horses didn’t want to be left behind.\u00a0\u201cStupid!\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Joe thought to himself.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe cold is freezing my brain.\u00a0 How could I have left those horses with the supplies behind?\u00a0 Didn’t Pa teach us that we NEVER leave our supplies and pack animals behind?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As if reading Joe’s mind, one of the horses moved ahead of Cochise, raised his tail and pooped.\u00a0 It was his way of saying,\u00a0\u201cDumb ass.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

What was it that Joe saw in the pack horses’ mouths?\u00a0 What were they chomping on?\u00a0 Whatever it was, it was torn, it was black and apparently, was good enough for hungry horses to eat.\u00a0 Adam’s hat?\u00a0 Joe couldn’t believe he’d missed seeing the hat on the ground!\u00a0 Now he had to retrace his and the animals’ trail to see where those horses might have found Adam’s hat.<\/span><\/p>\n

It took the better part of the day to backtrack, but Joe found the broken scrub branch and the faintest hint of an indentation in the shape of a hat on the snow-covered ground.\u00a0 The fast falling snow had almost covered up where the hat had lain.\u00a0 But there was something else.\u00a0 It was another set of tracks, one set of horse hooves headed east.\u00a0 From the looks of the tracks, it was clear that the horse who\u2019d made them was moving slowly as if overburdened; the tracks were that deep even in the fast-falling snow.\u00a0 Joe knew he had to follow quickly with Sport and the two pack-laden horses in tow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the trail, Joe saw it.\u00a0 There it was again, just as he had seen it earlier, on the horizon.\u00a0 It had been barely visible, but it was getting bigger now.\u00a0 Yep, no doubt about it; it was rising up like a spray of water.\u00a0 Only it wasn’t water; it was smoke and it couldn’t be too far because Joe could smell burning wood as if the smoke was coming from a campfire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Closer, closer.\u00a0 Joe approached, shaking with cold and pain.\u00a0 There it was\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0the campfire!\u00a0 Who was that next to the fire?\u00a0 It was a feller about Pa’s age, and he was stooped over a body wrapped in a blanket.\u00a0\u00a0ADAM!<\/em>\u00a0 Joe dismounted and fell to the ground yelling Adam’s name.\u00a0 Of course, that spooked the horses and one delivered a swift kick to Joe’s ribs.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThat’ll teach ya to leave us behind.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>(If anyone ever tells you a horse can’t remember anything beyond three minutes, don’t believe them.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Little Brother, that’s another fine mess you’ve gotten us into.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Those were Joe’s final thoughts as his world went black.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The next thing Joe was aware of was how warm his face and hands felt.\u00a0\u00a0 This wasn\u2019t the burning warmth that comes of sitting very close to a fire, but something more gentle; the way hot chocolate warms you after you\u2019ve spent a good part of the day working out in the cold.\u00a0 His lips curved upward slightly as he reveled in the sensation.\u00a0\u00a0 It seemed he had been cold for so long, he\u2019d almost forgotten what it felt like to be warm.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Images began to flicker across the eyes of his inward vision, quick and fast, like the flashes of lightening during a thunderstorm . . . blinding snow . . . tracking and backtracking through deep, windswept drifts . . . smoke rising in the distance, leading him to a campfire . . . a man about the same age as Pa by all appearances bending over a younger man, wrapped in a blanket . . . .\u00a0 \u201cADAM!\u201d Joe\u2019s eyes snapped wide open.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome back to the land of the living, young fella.\u201d\u00a0 It was the same man he saw by the campfire bending over Adam\u2019s body.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s my brother?\u201d Joe demanded.\u00a0 He tried to sit up, only to instantly regret it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTake it easy there, son,\u201d the man gently admonished.\u00a0 \u201cWouldn\u2019t surprise me none at all if you had a cracked rib or two, taking into account how hard that horse o\u2019 yours kicked you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s my brother?\u201d Joe demanded again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour brother?\u201d the man echoed with a puzzled frown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI saw him lying by your campfire under a blanket,\u201d Joe said through clenched teeth. \u00a0\u201cSo help me, Mister, if you\u2019ve hurt him\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf that man truly IS your brother, he\u2019s lying on a cot over there next to the fireplace.\u201d\u00a0 The man inclined his head in that direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFireplace?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re in my abode, such as it is,\u201d he explained, \u201cand your horses are safe, too.\u00a0 Got \u2019em all stabled with my mule, Jonah.\u00a0 It\u2019s a mite cramped, but I got \u2018em all in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cH-How\u2014?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI tied the two of ya to your saddled horses and led them and your pack horses back here,\u201d the man replied.\u00a0 \u201cI borrowed some of your supplies to make us up some supper and fix a bit of broth for your brother.\u00a0 Hope you don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s okay,\u201d Joe said as he attempted once again to sit up, moving more carefully this time.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019s Adam doing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat his name?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man\u2019s question drew a startled look from Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I asked who he was, he told me he didn\u2019t know,\u201d the man said.\u00a0 \u201cFor now, though, he\u2019s alive, but he\u2019s not woken up since I brought him here and bedded him down by the fire.\u00a0 To be up front \u2019n honest, son, I\u2019m worried, especially with that lump on the back of his head size of a goose egg.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sank back down onto the cot on which he had just been lying, stunned.\u00a0 Belinda\u2019s betrayal, his anger at Adam for courting the woman he was so sure he loved, his trepidation about facing Pa and Hoss upon his return from this insane venture . . . none of that mattered.\u00a0 All he wanted was a chance for him and Adam to somehow make things right between them again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe hadn\u2019t meant to fall asleep, especially under such dire circumstances, but he did and it was in the early hours of the morning when he eventually awoke, staring at the dying embers of a small fire in bleary-eyed confusion.\u00a0 For it wasn\u2019t the recognizable large stone hearth of the Ponderosa he\u2019d grown up with but a small, crudely fashioned fireplace, and suddenly it all came back to him in a flash of worrying despair.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It hadn\u2019t been a dream after all and Joe quickly looked about in the subdued light of a single oil lamp which stood on a small table.\u00a0 He took in the sight of a stranger curled up on the hard dirt floor with a blanket pulled tight around his body, heard the unmistakable sound of a howling wind as it tore around the four walls of the cabin, and saw a familiar figure lying so still opposite him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again forgetting about his injured shoulder and cracked ribs Joe hurriedly began to rise as the urgent need to check on his brother\u2019s condition consumed his only thought. \u00a0Immediately he wished he hadn\u2019t been so hasty as he winced with pain and let out a loud groan.\u00a0 Lying back and gulping air, his hands clenched tightly to the sides of the cot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After a few moments the aching eased somewhat.\u00a0 Pressing his good arm gingerly across his rib cage for support, Joe took in a deep breath and slowly blew the air out through his mouth.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s it,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0he thought.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cJust like Pa taught you; in through the nose, out through the mouth.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 As the pain diminished, Joe tentatively pushed himself up and shuffled across the few feet which separated him from his brother, easing down by his side.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even in the darkened glow of the lamp Joe could see Adam\u2019s unshaven face was pale, his chest hardly rising as he took in short and labored breaths. \u00a0But at least he was alive and\u2014as tears glistened in Joe\u2019s eyes\u2014he hesitantly rested a hand across the clammy forehead, then gently brushed his fingers through the thick brown hair.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAdam?\u00a0 Can you hear me?\u201d he whispered urgently, willing him to wake.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s me\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There was no immediate reaction and Joe suddenly frowned as something niggled at the back of his mind.\u00a0 What had the man said?\u00a0 Adam didn\u2019t know who he was?\u00a0 So if he came round then he might never recognize his family again?\u00a0 Never acknowledge the loving touch of his father, the tender smile of his brothers?<\/span><\/p>\n

At this point unparalleled guilt consumed the youngest Cartwright. This was all his fault because of that damn woman!<\/span><\/p>\n

From the start Joe had known Belinda was someone dangerous and a woman to be avoided\u2014not that it mattered to the love-smitten eighteen year old\u2014in fact, it was those very things that added to her allure.\u00a0 He\u2019d been so bewitched by her tantalizing dark green eyes nothing else mattered and he promised her everything, anything, whatever she desired.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But all the while she was seducing him, she\u2019d also been seeing another Cartwright similarly obsessed by her raven-haired beauty.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s initial reaction at discovering her duplicity and not been to confront her but instead to launch a primal, instinctive back-lash of foul language, bitter recrimination, and fists against the other man\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0his beloved oldest brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe closed his eyes and swallowed a sob as he slid to the floor.\u00a0 How he wished he could take those words back now but they\u2019d been said; forever to be a wall of hurt between them should Adam ever come round and recognize him again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All of a sudden a faint but unmistakable whimper sounded from deep within Adam\u2019s throat disturbing Joe\u2019s private, tormented reverie.\u00a0\u00a0 The weak moan grew louder and Adam fought to regain consciousness, thrashing about in obvious agitation as he became more aware of the throbbing in the back of his head.\u00a0 Not sure what to do, Joe stretched out and yanked at the blanket covering the man lying feet away.\u00a0 \u201cWake up mister.\u00a0 My brother\u2019s coming round.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There was no movement or reaction and Joe became more insistent.\u00a0 \u201cPlease mister!\u00a0 I need your help!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But once again there was no response and with a curse Joe pushed himself closer toward the sleeping stranger, ignoring the soreness in his chest. \u00a0Roughly taking hold of the man\u2019s shirt sleeve, he was about to give it a violent tug when he let out a sharp cry of surprise and let the stiffened arm go as though he\u2019d mistakenly grabbed hold of a red-hot poker.\u00a0 The aging man who had saved the lives of two strangers not hours ago was beyond waking; he had silently and peacefully died in his sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a sad sigh at his rescuer\u2019s unexpected passing, Joe hung his head with regret for he\u2019d never even had a chance to say thanks or ask his name. Then straightening up his back in an effort to relieve the pressure on his ribs, Joe suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise and\u2014sensing he was being watched\u2014turned his head towards the figure on the cot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam was now fully awake, supporting his body on one elbow and eying Joe warily while frowning in concentration.\u00a0 He closed his pain-clouded eyes, grimaced then forced them open again.\u00a0 The two brothers continued to stare at each other for several seconds more until eventually Adam broke the silence between them. \u00a0\u201cI don\u2019t remember my name or have any idea who you are,\u201d he murmured quietly with a dry-throated raspy voice.\u00a0 \u201cSo could you explain why I have an uncontrollable urge to beat the crap out of you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked at Adam\u00a0 in shock.\u00a0\u201cWhy doesn\u2019t my brother know who I am?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0he thought sadly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Adam, it\u2019s me\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0Joe,” he said as he reached out for his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam batted Joe’s hand away before he could touch him.\u00a0 “I don’t know anyone name Joe,” he said harshly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Adam, why don’t you know who I am?\u00a0 I\u2019m your youngest brother Joe. Everybody calls me Little Joe. You have another brother named Hoss. \u00a0He is older than me but younger than you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam glared at Joe. “Leave, before I hurt you,” he said, pointing a gun at Joe for a few seconds, before the weight of it was too much for him and he set it on the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Adam please!\u201d Joe pleaded as he reached into his jacket and took out a small photograph.\u00a0 “This picture was taken at Hop Sing’s surprise\u00a0 party last year.\u00a0 See,” he pointed, \u201cthere\u2019s you, me, and that\u2019s Hoss in the middle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked down briefly at the photograph, but when he looked back at Joe his dark, cold eyes showed no sign of recognition causing Joe to shiver with fear.\u00a0 Ignoring his sore ribs, Joe started to push himself away from his brother, but stopped.\u00a0“Come on, this is your brother, not a stranger\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0he reasoned silently.\u00a0\u201cAnd your brother needs you.”<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0So he met his brother\u2019s gaze head on and didn\u2019t flinch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually the shivers returned and he noticed the fire was out.\u00a0 He wished the other man were still alive to help him, but even more he wished Adam would remember him.\u00a0 As he set about laying a new fire, Joe prayed that he would find a way to get Adam to remember.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam watched as Joe carefully laid the tinder and kindling, not recalling that it was he who had taught Joe how to do this.\u00a0 When the kindling caught and Joe continued to methodically lay more wood on the fire, he seemed to remember him from somewhere, but Adam was not sure where.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Joe tended the fire, he thought of ways to make it right with Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Since he couldn\u2019t sleep anyway, Ben had gotten up to fix himself some coffee.\u00a0 Walking over to window behind his desk, he looked out at the night sky. \u00a0\u201cPlease let Adam and Joe be okay<\/em>,\u201d he prayed. \u00a0Ben heard footsteps behind him and, turning, saw Hop Sing.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hop Sing!\u00a0 What are you doing up?” he asked, setting his cup of coffee on\u00a0 his desk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing slowly walked towards Ben. “Could not sleep.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Me either,” Ben replied as he turned back towards the window.\u00a0 “I\u2019m worried about Joe and Adam,” Ben admitted to his loyal cook.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing nodded.\u00a0 “I am, too.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hop Sing, I\u2019m thinking about trying to find Adam and Joe.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing nodded his head. “I would go, too, if Hoss not hurt.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Upstairs Hoss lay awake.\u00a0 He could not fall asleep, except for the short time when he had had a very bad nightmare.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPleasant dreams,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0his Pa had said.\u00a0 They had begun innocently enough, but went south quickly as dreams can do\u2014at least if Joe\u2019s experiences were any indication.\u00a0 He himself had never been bothered much by nightmares unless a fever was present.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss felt his forehead just be sure.\u00a0 No; it was cool and dry.\u00a0 He tried to recall what was so upsetting that he had awakened in a panic.\u00a0 Then he remembered\u2014the dream had started with Roy Coffee coming to the ranch house with a sad look in his eyes. \u00a0It has all been so vivid, so real and yet strangely disjointed, the ways dreams often were . .\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“Come in Roy,” Ben smiled, but Roy just stood in the doorway.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

“What\u2019s wrong, Roy?”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

“Ben, I hate to come with bad news, but I received a wire that Joe and Adam were both killed in a saloon.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss was sitting on a chair with his feet propped up. “Why, Pa?” he asked, with tears running down his face.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

“Don’t know,” Pa replied, tears also running down his face.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

“It might comfort you a little knowing they seemed to have made up and died together,” Roy replied as he tried to fight back his own tears.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing was listening from the kitchen tears running down his cheeks, too.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t lose my brothers even if they do make me mad sometimes, Pa. They have to come back to us.\u00a0 We are all they got,\u201d Hoss said as he \u00a0wiped the tears that continued to flow.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ben \u00a0went over to talk to Roy and asked him if he and Hoss could be alone for a few minutes. Then Roy left the house and stood outside looking at Sport.\u00a0 \u201cWhy does this have to happen to the Cartwrights?\u201d he thought. \u201cThey don\u2019t deserve this, especially Ben.\u00a0 He\u2019d lost the mothers of all three sons and now two of his boys.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing went outside and asked Roy if he would like to have another cup of coffee but Roy said, \u201cNo. Tell Ben I\u2019m going back to town and I will be back to talk to him,\u201d and then thanked Hop Sing for the coffee.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing came back in the house and heard Hoss tell Pa how it wasn\u2019t right that he\u2019d lost Hoss\u2019s mother and Little Joe\u2019s mother and now \u00a0he was going to lose his two brothers, too.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t fair, Pa.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t do anything to deserve this!\u201d Hoss choked. \u00a0Ben grabbed Hoss in a bear of a hug, and they both broke down and cried.\u00a0 Then he said, \u201cWe\u2019ll see what tomorrow brings, Hoss, but right now, Roy is outside waiting to talk to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

But Hop Sing said, \u201cSheriff go to town; return later.\u201d Then Ben and Hop Sing moved Hoss to the settee so he could rest more comfortably and Ben went out to tend the stock and Hop Sing went to fix dinner. It was a very quiet dinner and Ben said, \u201cIt\u2019s not the same without Adam and Little Joe.\u201d.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Then all of a sudden Hoss was upstairs with his Pa playing checkers.\u00a0 And then they were at the breakfast table, Hop Sing asking if they had had a good night\u2019s sleep.\u00a0 But before they could answer, there was a knock at the door.\u00a0 Roy had returned.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I been thinking on what that telegram said and it just don\u2019t add up.\u00a0 I want to ride to that saloon where the boys were found to see if there are any clues; anyone who might know more than what was reported,\u201d Roy said, still visibly upset.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m coming with ya, Pa,\u201d Hoss insisted, but Ben was just as adamant that his son should stay home and asked Hop Sing to keep an eye on Hoss while he and Roy were gone.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Then Hoss woke up hollering,\u00a0<\/em>“Please God, don’t make my bad dream come true.\u00a0 Please send them home safe.”\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy you yell, Mister Hoss?\u201d \u00a0Hop Sing asked, running in from the kitchen.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI heard Adam\u2019s voice.\u00a0 Are Adam and Little Joe home?\u201d \u00a0Hoss asked anxiously.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Hop Sing answered.\u00a0 \u201cYou not remember?\u00a0 They died yesterday.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI must have been dreaming that I heard Adam\u2019s voice,\u201d Hoss said.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

When Ben and Roy returned, Hop Sing told his employer that Hoss had been dreaming and thought he had heard Adam\u2019s voice and Hoss asked, \u201cDid you find any clues, Pa?\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we found Adam\u2019s empty jug and Little Joe\u2019s green coat.\u00a0 He never goes anywhere without the coat; he\u2019d never leave it behind willingly.\u00a0 We think someone must of kidnapped them and then reported that they found them dead,\u201d Ben said wearily.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine who would do such a thing to them boys,\u201d Roy said.\u00a0 \u201cThey will help anyone who needs it.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t find them anywhere,\u201d Ben told Hoss.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou get some rest, Ben.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be back in the morning and we\u2019ll get started tracking.\u00a0 I hope Hoss can go with us because he might know more places where they could be found,\u201d Roy said before saying good night and leaving.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going with you tomorrow, Pa\u201d\u00a0 Hoss said firmly.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ben checked my ankle and noted that the swelling was nearly gone.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll see,\u201d he said, evasively.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI really hope my dream doesn\u2019t ever come true, Pa,\u201d Hoss said yawning.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat dream, son?\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

And that was when Hoss had bolted awake and realized that the whole thing\u2014Roy\u2019s visit, the telegram that said Adam and Joe were dead, even his silent prayer\u2014was a dream. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the back of his mind, he hoped that God listened to prayers whispered in dreams as well as those spoken out loud.\u00a0 To be safe, he said again, loud and clear “Please God, don’t make my bad dream come true.\u00a0 Please send them home safe.”<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben sat up in bed, wondering again why he had even tried to go back to sleep. \u00a0He had considered getting Roy and some of the other local men who knew the boys to help him search, but quickly discarded the thought each time. \u00a0It was dangerous enough on the Ponderosa when a big snow storm hit, and you could bet that it would be at least ten times worse in the Sierras. \u00a0Each time he considered it, he had to remind himself that most of the men who wouldn\u2019t hesitate to help them were family men with wives and children to be cared for. \u00a0He didn\u2019t want to put anyone into unnecessary danger. \u00a0As his eyelids started to grow heavy from fatigue, Ben\u2019s final thought before sleep came was that he would go into town tomorrow and talk to Roy about all this.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The partially frozen ground and Joe\u2019s injuries prevented him from digging long, but with the help of his ailing brother, Joe managed a shallow grave and together they buried the man who had rescued them.\u00a0 Joe said a few words over the grave and went inside. \u00a0Adam stayed outside for a few minutes longer, looking first at the grave then the mountains and then began pacing while talking to himself. \u00a0Being inside and not able to always see Adam\u2019s mouth, Joe wished he knew what his brother was saying and thinking. \u00a0Joe could only figure that it must be awful scary to not know your name, your family, your home, or even who you should and should not trust.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam eventually came inside, but he still felt that he could not fully trust this kid who was claiming they were brothers. As far as he was concerned, he had never seen the kid in his life, but there was something about him that was familiar. \u00a0He couldn\u2019t put his finger on it yet, but he vowed to figure it out.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Adam sat in a stupor, Joe busied himself with a few of the necessary tasks, like carrying in firewood, fixing something to eat, and checking on the animals. \u00a0The food and animals were easy to do alone, as the mounts were all warm and had enough food to make it for several more days, but the firewood was another story. \u00a0Because of his injuries, Joe could only carry in a few pieces at a time.\u00a0 He also kept trying to think of ways to make Adam remember the past, but the only way he could think of was to take him back to the Ponderosa. This seemed almost impossible, as Adam didn\u2019t seem to trust him as far as he could throw him.<\/span><\/p>\n

The whole day, Adam had sat and seemed to be in a whole other world. He said nothing, but Joe could see the confusion on his face. \u00a0He had gone from being very hostile this morning, to just quiet and morose, the way he was at home when he was thinking. \u00a0Finally, about an hour after supper, Adam decided this Joe was the only person who could offer him even a shadow of help as to who he was. \u00a0He looked at the kid and, very sincerely, asked, \u201cWho did you say I was, again?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Morning came early for Ben. He was up before dawn, and left before breakfast. \u00a0When Hop Sing woke up, he found a note from Ben that said not to worry and that he would be back later. Hop Sing decided that he would not tell Hoss about this yet, and he silently prayed for his boss\u2019s safety.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few miles down the road, Ben was reminiscing about each of his wives. It surprised him greatly how much each of his sons resembled their mothers in their mannerisms. The ride seemed never-ending, but he finally made it. \u00a0As soon as he hit town, he made a beeline for the jail. \u00a0Roy was sitting outside just enjoying a cup of coffee, but when Ben rode up, the look on his face said that there was something dreadfully wrong. \u00a0Roy took Ben inside and made him explain everything.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey haven\u2019t come back, and I haven\u2019t heard anything about them for days. You\u2019ve got to help me, Roy. \u00a0I can\u2019t go into those mountains alone, and my boys certainly should have known better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy sat and mulled over the situation for a moment. Finally, he spoke up, \u201cWell, Ben, the only thing I can figure to do is gather any hands you have, and we\u2019ll go out to see what we can find. Any tracks they left will have disappeared by now, so I don\u2019t know what we can find.\u00a0 I can\u2019t imagine either one of them boys would let the other die no matter how mad they might be. \u00a0Ben, you taught them better. You taught them that they are brothers now, and they\u2019ll always be brothers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, Roy, but I have to find them soon. Even you know that no one can survive for very long out in the cold without proper supplies. \u00a0It may just be the fact that I\u2019m their father, but I\u2019m more worried about them now than I have been in a long time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With that knowledge in the back of their minds, they returned to the Ponderosa. A few men from town joined up along the way, men who had favors to repay or friendships to prove. All in all, when they set out toward the mountains, they had close to twenty men, a fairly sizeable amount.<\/span><\/p>\n

When they were far enough away they couldn\u2019t see the ranch house any more, they split into groups. Roy took the family men from town and went to the south, just in case the boys had found their way out and got turned around. A group of unmarried townsmen went almost due west, to see if they ran into Indian trouble. Ben took the remaining men, being mostly his ranch hands, and headed northwest, toward the mountains. The other two groups were told that, if they didn\u2019t find any sign of the boys after traveling about fifty miles, then they were to turn and head for their homes and families. Ben, however, was determined to find his boys or die trying.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe had spent the better part of nearly two hours recounting to Adam what had happened in his life, who he knew, where he\u2019d been, even why he felt like beating the \u201ccrap\u201d out of Joe every time he looked at him. After telling Adam about the last part, Joe expected to meet a balled up, right fist, but to his surprise Adam just sat there. \u00a0He looked at Joe for a while, and then stated rather bluntly, \u201cThat fills in the blanks for me. \u00a0However, I\u2019d really like to meet the man you say is my Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Joe was more than a little confused now; he never knew Adam to accept at face value anything he\u2019d been told.\u00a0 After all, he was the \u201cintelligent one\u201d of the family and always had a ton of questions about everything.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI want to know that I have his permission to smack you, that way, I know it would be more enjoyable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was scared there at first, thinking that Adam remembered their fight, but then he realized, with stark relief, that Adam had a slight grin on his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The next day, Adam helped Joe get the things loaded onto the pack animals, and saddle the horses. They left the cabin shortly after dawn broke to make seeing things easier. Adam now would talk to Joe, but he still couldn\u2019t believe all of the things that he had been told. \u00a0Nevertheless, he had decided to go with Joe to meet the man who was supposedly his father.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just over the first hill, they ran into deep snow drifts. Joe knew they shouldn\u2019t go much further like this, because you never knew what lay under a deep drift. \u00a0He knew that a lame horse was the last thing he needed at this point. \u00a0He and Adam dismounted and started to think of ways to get through the snow. Even though Adam still couldn\u2019t remember who he was, he figured out a way to go through. \u00a0He told Joe to wade through the drift first, to make a path. \u201cThen, we can lead the horses through, with the pack animals behind. What do you think?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe had to think on it for a moment, and then he started pushing through. Even with a Swiss-cheese brain, Adam was still smarter than he was.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

After being out in the harsh Nevada winter for over two days, you\u2019d think that a man would have sense enough to head for home. \u00a0Not Ben, though. He had precious beings out there and he felt they might need his help. \u00a0Every time they stopped to rest, Ben would ask the hands if it was worth it to keep going; that he\u2019d understand if they wanted to turn back. The men knew he was asking their honest opinion, but they were just as worried about the boys as Ben was, so they decided to keep pushing on. \u00a0Ben knew in the back of his mind, however, that they couldn\u2019t stay out very many more days or they\u2019d have Hoss hot on their trail.<\/span><\/p>\n

Toward midday, the group stopped to rest, eat, and warm up. They built a fire big enough for a blind man to spot, but no one was that worried. Most of the Indians were in their lodges lasting out the winter, waiting for spring. After they had finished eating and were talking about where to go next, Ben turned and looked toward the direction they\u2019d been heading. \u201cCall it fatherly instinct, call it worry, call it whatever you wish, but I swear I heard something out there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

After getting through the drifts, Joe and Adam were well on their way and encountered few problems. \u00a0When he didn\u2019t have a brother to worry about, Joe realized that the countryside was extremely beautiful. \u00a0Adam, too, almost couldn\u2019t believe that this was the kind of stuff he was able to see all the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

A little ways down the road, they stopped to eat and rest their horses. They enjoyed what jerked meat they had, and just sat and talked. About midway through it all, Adam happened to look over his shoulder and saw what he considered a welcome sight. \u00a0He pointed it out to Joe to make sure he wasn\u2019t imagining things. \u00a0It was a fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe commented that it was far too big to be an Indian fire, as they build their fires small so as not to be seen, so it must have been laid by white men.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, who would be all the way out here?\u201d Adam wondered out loud. \u00a0Instantly, Joe knew who it was. \u201cCome on, Adam. There\u2019s someone you need to see!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

As they were getting the animals packed up to move forward, one of the hands looked around and saw something out of place. He saw a big wave of snow headed their way. He quickly showed it to Ben and the others. \u00a0They\u2019d let it get closer before they decided how to deal with it. \u00a0Ben was sure glad he did, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dismounting before his horse had come to a complete stop, Joe went to hug his father. Ben was glad, but he was also confused, for Adam didn\u2019t climb down.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome down son, we\u2019ll let your horses rest a while, and then head home,\u201d\u00a0 Ben gestured to Adam.\u00a0\u00a0 When there was no response, he turned to his youngest son and said, \u201cJoseph, what\u2019s wrong with your brother?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was then, as Joe was explaining to their father what had happened, that Adam dismounted, walked toward Ben, and said the one word that made Joe so happy he could\u2019ve burst . . . \u201cPa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Warming themselves by the fire, Joe and Adam told Ben and the others what had happened and about the man who had helped them. \u00a0\u00a0No one had any inkling of the man\u2019s identity, but they each gave silent thanks for his intervention and kindness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd speaking of kindness to others, have you two apologized to each other for your behavior?\u201d Ben inquired.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe and Adam looked anywhere but at their father or each other.\u00a0 Finally, Joe took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Adam, for the things I said, for fighting with you, and\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0.\u00a0and for letting a woman come between us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam raised an eyebrow, at the last statement.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m still foggy on the details of what transpired, but I am certain of one thing,\u201d he said, locking eyes with his brother.\u00a0 \u201cNo matter how angry you were, you risked your life to find me, and I\u2019m grateful.\u00a0 Thank you.\u201d\u00a0 Adam extended his hand out to Joe, who took it firmly in his own.\u00a0 But when Joe released his grip, Adam said, \u201cHowever,\u201d tightening his.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t think that my temporary amnesia made me forget, Little Brother. \u00a0I\u2019m still going to beat the living crap out of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe wasn\u2019t too worried, though, since Adam had a big smile on his face when he said it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m just glad you two are okay. \u00a0I hope you\u2019ve learned your lesson, though,\u201d Ben stated very sternly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Joe piped up. Before he could finish, though, Adam interrupted with, \u201cWe\u2019ve learned to have all our big fights\u00a0before<\/em>\u00a0the snow falls!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2014The End\u2014<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0Betrayal, wounded pride, and jealousy result in one hot tempered brother missing, one having nightmares, one logical brother searching … all is not as you might think.<\/p>\n

Rated: \u00a0T \u00a0WC \u00a08600<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77,"featured_media":375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,40],"tags":[18],"class_list":["post-2463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-challenges","tag-hop-sing","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-40-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2383,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5635,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5635","url_meta":{"origin":2463,"position":0},"title":"A Brother is Forever (by Dogwood)","author":"Dogwood","date":"May 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Ben's reflections as a brother. 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Honestly! 700 words, rated K","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/The-Gift-of-Water-4.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/The-Gift-of-Water-4.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/The-Gift-of-Water-4.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5621,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5621","url_meta":{"origin":2463,"position":5},"title":"Little Ray of Sunshine (by Stetson1859)","author":"Stetson1859","date":"May 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Adam is trying to come to terms with Inger's death, and finds comfort from an unexpected source. \u00a0 Rated: K+ \u00a0WC 897","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Hoss"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Hoss","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1090"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/adam-baby.jpg?fit=436%2C290&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/77"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}