{"id":2534,"date":"2005-06-11T23:34:55","date_gmt":"2005-06-12T03:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2534"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:10:44","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:10:44","slug":"grief-written-across-a-celadon-sky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2534","title":{"rendered":"Grief Written Across a Celadon Sky (by Kenda)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>A missing scene from the aired episode “The Stillness Within” that includes Ben, Hoss and Joe, with the characters mentioning Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ (4,090 words)
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Grief Written Across a Celedon Sky<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Hoss had lost count<\/strong> of how many times he\u2019d glanced up the stairway during the past hour. Coulda\u2019 been ten, coulda\u2019 been twenty. Overall, didn\u2019t make much difference what the count was. No amount of worried glances were gonna make things move along any faster than God intended \u2018em to. Or so Pa would say if he were standing down here with Hoss, instead of up in Joe\u2019s room helpin\u2019 Doc Martin do . . .well, do whatever it was a doctor did for a man who\u2019d been caught in the middle of an explosion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss sighed and leaned a big shoulder against the wall behind the dining room table, staring out the windows. The sky was an odd combination of colors. A cross between a blue so pale a man could hardly call it blue at all, and a light mint green, like them little round candies Mr. Carlson sold at his sweet shop for a penny apiece that Joe swore left a man\u2019s breath fresh for kissing. He generally added a few other risqu\u00e9 comments about what benefits those candies brought a man when he was alone with a woman that always made Hoss laugh and blush both at the same time. But wisely, even at twenty-nine years old, Joe wasn\u2019t foolish enough to make those same comments in front of Pa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The sky had been this same peculiar mix of colors as Hoss drove the wagon home from Charlie\u2019s with his unconscious brother in the back. Ol\u2019 Charlie had ridden in the bed with Joe, doin\u2019 what he could to keep Joe\u2019s body from jostling around too much. Hoss recalled wondering in a detached sort of way if they were gonna get caught in a storm before makin\u2019 it home. At a time when Hoss was doin\u2019 his best to get them to the ranch house as quickly as possible, yet without causing Joe further injury, he even remembered the word Adam would have attached to this sky. He\u2019d have said it was a \u201cceladon\u201d sky. Which was a fancy way of sayin\u2019 what Hoss already knew \u2013 that it was sort of a pale blue, and sort of a pale green. \u201cGrayish\u201d as a fella\u2019 might call it, if grayish was a word, that is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam had loved to play them kinda games with Hoss and Joe. He\u2019d toss out some \u201cten dollar\u201d word, as Joe phrased it, and then would define it. Hoss never was sure of the purpose behind Adam\u2019s game, but Joe\u2019d always claimed this was Adam\u2019s way of tryin\u2019 to give his brothers a \u201crefined\u201d education, like the one Adam had gotten when he\u2019d gone to college back East.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot that we give a damn about being refined,\u201d Joe had snickered to Hoss behind Adam\u2019s back more than once. \u201cAnd who the heck says, \u2018My, but doesn\u2019t the sky look like a lovely shade of celadon today?\u2019 \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReckon our big brother does,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell if that\u2019s so,\u201d Joe replied in return, \u201cthen everyone within a hundred miles of here is laughing at him. So let that be a lesson to ya\u2019, Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kinda lesson?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRefinement isn\u2019t all it\u2019s cracked up to be, and if all Adam learned in college was how to toss around words no man in his right mind would ever use in the first place, then Pa wasted a lotta money on that highfalutin education if you ask me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss couldn\u2019t help but agree with Joe. After all, he\u2019d never heard anyone but Adam use the word celadon, nor had he ever heard anyone use all them other ten dollar words Adam had tried so hard to get him and Joe to take a likin\u2019 to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam might have been full of big words, and even bigger ideas to go along with \u2018em, but Hoss sure did wish his older brother was here right now. At a time like this, Adam always managed to find the right words to ease Hoss\u2019s worries. But Adam was gone. Had been for six years now. Left for sea not long after things fell apart between him and Laura Dayton, and then in more recent years, had settled permanently in Boston.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Neither Hoss nor Joe had seen their brother since his departure from the Ponderosa, but Pa visited Adam once about three years back. Pa returned from that four- month-long visit to Boston full of news, yet not saying much of anything, if that was possible. Joe noticed it too. Hoss had wondered out loud what it all meant – what was going on – while Joe claimed not to care. Although Joe sounded callous, Hoss knew that was just his younger brother\u2019s way of hiding his hurt over how Adam appeared to have no interest in visiting the Ponderosa, or even keeping in contact with his brothers through letters. Hoss was certain all of these things \u2013 no visits, lack of letters, Pa\u2019s carefully guarded words where Adam was concerned \u2013 were signs of something significant, but Joe dismissed it, saying, \u201cFace it, Hoss. Adam\u2019s finally where he\u2019s wanted to be for years. Off this ranch and living the life of a proper Eastern gentleman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The way Joe had emphasized \u201cproper Eastern gentleman\u201d with a haughty tone and a bad Boston accent made Hoss laugh. But then, Joe always had been the brother who could make him laugh with just one word, or a look, or a muttered remark not meant for anyone else\u2019s ears, or even a slight nudge from Joe\u2019s foot to Hoss\u2019s shin beneath the dining room table.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss turned and glanced up the stairs again. No sounds came from up above. No footsteps. No clatter of medical instruments being set on a table. No voices even. That couldn\u2019t be good, could it? Just like Hoss didn\u2019t think it was good that there\u2019d been no blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Odd, that a man could get hisself blown sky high and not bleed a bit. At least not on the outside where the blood could be seen. That\u2019s what had scared Hoss more than anything. He\u2019d wanted to see blood. He\u2019d wanted to see his brother\u2019s eyes open, and hear Joe say he was in pain. Not that Hoss wanted Joe to be hurtin\u2019 none. Not at all. But blood and pain Hoss knew how to remedy. It was the silence, the absolute stillness that surrounded Joe as though he\u2019d already passed on, that Hoss didn\u2019t know what to do about. So he\u2019d quickly checked for broken bones, then scooped Joe from the rubble of that shack and ran with him to the wagon. He couldn\u2019t recall ordering Charlie to get in the wagon with Joe, but he must have, because the old man climbed in without protest and did what little he could for Joe during the ride home. When they finally arrived in the ranch yard, Hoss was yelling for his father before he\u2019d even jumped from the wagon seat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa! Pa, get out here quick! Pa!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss had Joe in his arms by the time the front door opened. He met his father halfway.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s hand lightly brushed the ugly red bruises on the right side of Joe\u2019s face as they ran together toward the house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExplosion. Nitro musta fell off the shelf or somethin\u2019. I\u2019d gone to git Charlie. Joe was unloadin\u2019 the rest a\u2019 the supplies by himself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Before Pa could say anything, a voice muttered, \u201cPrincess.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss half turned with Joe in his arms. Charlie chugged along behind them with an uneven gait brought on by a bad back thanks to years of hard labor in the mines.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDurn cat that wandered onto my place last year. She\u2019s always hangin\u2019 \u2018round that shed. Bet she knocked one a\u2019 them bottles over, Hoss. Always was a sinister little beast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss couldn\u2019t quite attach the word sinister to the orange cat that had liked to rub against his legs while he stood talking to Charlie, or curl up in his lap if he went into Charlie\u2019s house and sat down to have a cup of coffee with the old man. But sinister or not, it didn\u2019t matter much now. What was done was done. Only Joe could tell them for certain what caused the explosion, if he even remembered anything about it when he woke up \u2013 if he woke up at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before further discussion could take place about what might or might not have happened, one of the ranch hands ran in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSaw Hoss drive up with Joe, Mr. Cartwright. Anything I can do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGet Doc Martin out here as fast as you can, Ted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man raced out the door as quickly as he\u2019d raced in. Hoss, his father, and Charlie did what they could to make Joe comfortable. Trouble was, there wasn\u2019t much they could do other than get him settled in his bed. While Hoss saw to it that a couple of the hands saddled a horse for Charlie and rode home with the man to help him clean up what was left of his storage shed, Pa got Joe\u2019s tattered clothes off of him, covered him with blankets, and gently cleaned the small cuts and scrapes on Joe\u2019s face, arms, and chest. When Hoss returned to Joe\u2019s room, he could tell his father was just as frightened by the stillness and lack of blood as he was.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe might. . .I\u2019m afraid his insides might be all tore up, Pa. I didn\u2019t know if I\u2019d do him more harm by movin\u2019 him or by leavin\u2019 him there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it wasn\u2019t an easy decision. I don\u2019t know what I would have done in your shoes either, Hoss. The important thing is you brought him home. No matter what happens, this is where he should be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Hoss agreed in a voice barely more than a whisper, because he could tell his father thought Joe might die before Doc Martin arrived. \u201cYeah, guess you\u2019re right about that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe Hoss was too pale when Doc Martin finally got there. Or maybe the doctor noticed his hands were trembling. Or maybe Doc Martin really wasn\u2019t lying when he gently told Hoss that he needed only Pa\u2019s help, and that while two was company, three was a crowd. Which was how Hoss ended up waiting on the main floor alone. There was no Adam to keep him company, because Adam was in Boston. There was no Pa to keep him company, because Pa was helping Doc. There was no Hop Sing to keep him company, because Hop Sing always went to Virginia City on Fridays to do the marketing and visit relatives. And, of course, there was no Joe to keep him company, because somehow Joe had gone and got hisself blown up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you die on me, little brother,\u201d Hoss pleaded, while looking at the sky again. As the clouds rolled across that unusual blue-green mixture of color, Hoss pleaded once more, \u201cDon\u2019t you dare go and die on me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It could have been ten minutes that passed between when Hoss made his plea and his father came downstairs, or it could have been two hours. The man wasn\u2019t sure how long he\u2019d remained standing there staring out of the window before he finally heard movement coming from above, and then someone walking down the hall. Hoss watched as his father came into view at the head of the stairs. Pa stopped there a moment, as though he needed to gather his strength before bringing Hoss whatever news he was bearing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Hoss crossed the great room as his father began descending, meeting Pa at the foot of the stairs. \u201cHow\u2019s Joe? What\u2019d Doc Martin–\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa held up a hand as he stepped from the last stair to the floor with a heavy sigh. He walked away from Hoss, stopping in front of the barren fireplace as if yearning for a warmth that wasn\u2019t present.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa leaned a heavy hand on the mantel. He stared at the logs that hadn\u2019t been lit since summer arrived.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe regained consciousness a few minutes ago.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A slow grin broke on Hoss\u2019s face. \u201cWell now, that\u2019s the best doggone news I\u2019ve heard in a long while.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa turned around. He smiled at Hoss, but something about that smile caused Hoss\u2019s grin to falter. If a smile could be called sad, then that\u2019s how Hoss would peg the one his father was wearing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is good news,\u201d Pa agreed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he knows who he is?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe does.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd who you are?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd who Doc Martin is?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Joe even knows who Paul is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what day it is?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he knows what day it is too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo those are good signs, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, son, those things are all good signs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019d Doc say about Joe\u2019s insides?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe seems to think Joseph was very fortunate in that regard. No matter where Paul pressed on Joe\u2019s chest or stomach, Joe said it didn\u2019t hurt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd no broken bones either?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. None at all. Paul took a large wood splinter from Joe\u2019s right arm, but the wound should heal without incident.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen if you don\u2019t mind me askin\u2019, Pa, why do ya\u2019 look so glum?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa hesitated before making eye contact with Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSon. . .Son, your brother. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy brother what? What, Pa? What\u2019s wrong with Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour brother. . .Hoss, your brother\u2019s facing a mountain I\u2019m not sure he\u2019ll be able to climb.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s brows knit together with puzzlement. \u201cWhatta ya\u2019 mean by that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Again, there was a momentary hesitation before Pa spoke.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe. . .Joe\u2019s blind, son. The explosion . . .the explosion took his sight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss grappled for the stair rail, hanging on as he took a staggering step backwards as though he\u2019d just been sucker punched. Which was exactly how he felt.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cYes, Hoss,\u201d Pa nodded. \u201cYes. I\u2019m sorry. I. . .I wish I could have brought you better news.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss reached out, placing a hand on his father\u2019s arm. \u201cIt\u2019s not your fault, Pa. It\u2019s not anybody\u2019s fault.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I guess it\u2019s not, is it? Other than the fault of that stray cat of Charlie\u2019s.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe said something about a cat knocking the nitro off a shelf. Must have been the cat Charlie mentioned earlier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Hoss agreed, while silently cursing Princess and hoping she\u2019d been blown right on into the next world, \u201cmusta\u2019 been.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As his father trudged to his leather chair and sank to its seat, Hoss promised, \u201cI\u2019ll help him, Pa. I\u2019ll help Joe in any way I can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know you will. Thank you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs. . .is there something I can do for him now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa nodded. \u201cGo up and sit with him, Hoss. He\u2019s scared and trying hard not to show it.\u201d Pa gave a mirthless laugh. \u201cTrouble is, I\u2019m scared right now too. I need. . .I just need a few minutes, all right? Just a few minutes, and then I\u2019ll rummage around in the kitchen and put a meal together for the three of us. We can eat in Joe\u2019s room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTake all the time ya\u2019 need. I\u2019ll sit with Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd. . .uh. . .I suppose one of us should wire Adam \u2018bout what happened, don\u2019t ya\u2019 think?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take care of it in a few days. Paul says there\u2019s a chance Joe\u2019s sight might return given time. There\u2019s no point in alarming Adam if it\u2019s not necessary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, don\u2019t reckon there is.\u201d Hoss agreed, though by the doubt on his father\u2019s face, he got the impression the doctor didn\u2019t hold out much hope that Joe\u2019s sight would come back. Maybe Joe hadn\u2019t been told that, but Hoss could tell Doc Martin had said as much to Pa.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s father glanced up. \u201cYes?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019ll be okay. Pound for pound he\u2019s got more determination than any man I know. Whatever the outcome of all this is, he\u2019ll be okay. I know he will be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s nod was weak and insincere, as if he knew something Hoss didn\u2019t. As if he knew no amount of determination on Joe\u2019s part would make much difference where his loss of eyesight was concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss started to say something else, but when no sound came forth and he found himself wishing once again that Adam were here to offer Pa the kinda words that would have made the situation seem better somehow, Hoss turned for the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go on up and sit with Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Please do that. Tell. . .tell your brother I\u2019ll be up in a little while.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss passed Doc Martin on the stairs. He didn\u2019t like the sympathetic look the man gave him, and liked it even less when the doctor reached out, laid a hand on his shoulder, and squeezed. It made Hoss think of another fancy word Adam had sometimes used. Foreboding. It meant a person\u2019s actions were signaling something bad was gonna happen in the near future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss stood in silence until the doctor\u2019s hand slipped from his shoulder and the man moved on down the stairway. Hoss climbed the remainder of the way to the top, paused in the hall for a second, took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and then proceeded to Joe\u2019s room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

~ ~ ~\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s face held even less color than the white pillowcase his head rested on, with the exception of the massive bruise covering the right side of his forehead that then traveled downward and didn\u2019t stop until it had surrounded his right eye. Currently it was red. Within a day or two, Hoss knew it would be a mixture of red, purple, black and blue. He wondered if Adam had a name for that combination of colors, as he sat down in the chair someone had put beside Joe\u2019s bed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes were closed in slumber. Hoss reached out a hand, lightly placing it on his brother\u2019s bare forearm just above the bandage Doc had wrapped around the splinter wound. Joe\u2019s head turned in his direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho. . .who\u2019s there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s me, Joe,\u201d Hoss soothed, hating the fear he heard in his sibling\u2019s voice. \u201cIt\u2019s just me, little brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Oh. . .I. . .I guess I didn\u2019t hear you come in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think you were sleepin\u2019. Sorry I woke ya\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be sorry,\u201d Joe said in a quiet, weak voice Hoss had to strain hear. \u201cI\u2019m glad you did.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell now,\u201d Hoss teased, \u201cthere\u2019s somethin\u2019 new.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe Cartwright bein\u2019 glad someone woke him up in the middle of a nap.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe gave a slight smile. \u201cYeah, guess it is something new, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss recognized they were both trying their best to keep the mood light. Therefore, he hated to break that mood with his next question, but a big brother\u2019s concern meant it had to be asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow ya\u2019 feelin\u2019, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cO. . .okay. I mean, considering a building blew up around me, not bad. But I\u2019ve got a headache that outdoes even that whopper of a hangover from the moonshine me and Mitch brewed when we were sixteen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAh, I remember that hangover. Remember tryin\u2019 to keep you hidden from Adam and Pa until you\u2019d weathered the worst of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor which I\u2019ll be in your debt for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I seem to recall you makin\u2019 me a lotta promises in that regard while you was throwin\u2019 up on my boots.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to say I remember it too, but unfortunately. . .or maybe the better word is fortunately, the entire day is still a blur.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll just bet it is,\u201d Hoss chuckled before growing somber again. \u201cOther than the headache, you feelin\u2019 all right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy ears are ringing, but Doc says that\u2019ll likely stop in a few days. Hope so. Otherwise, it\u2019ll drive me loco.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo worries there, little brother. You already are loco.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d make you pay for that remark if the thought of climbing from this bed wasn\u2019t more than I can bear right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can make me pay in a few days when you\u2019re a bit more chipper.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do that.\u201d Joe worried his lower lip for a moment. His eyes held a blank, lifeless gaze that tore Hoss apart inside. \u201cDid Pa tell you about. . .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c \u2018Bout what, Joe?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbout my sight? That I. . .that I can\u2019t see?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss squeezed his brother\u2019s arm. \u201cYeah, he told me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut Doc says I\u2019ll see again soon. He says it\u2019s only temporary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss hoped his reply sounded like he had far more faith in Doc Martin\u2019s promise than he actually did.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd. . .um. . .Sally?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Sally?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCan you get word to her that I\u2019ll have to break our date for tonight?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlready done. I sent Slim and Harl home with Charlie to help him clean up what\u2019s left of that shack. I asked \u2018em to stop by the Morris place on their way and let Sally know what happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou. . .they won\u2019t tell her about my sight, will they?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss didn\u2019t miss the sudden note of panic in Joe\u2019s voice at the thought of Sally knowing he was blind.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Hoss replied in a quiet tone meant to calm Joe down. \u201cNo. Didn\u2019t even know about it myself when I sent \u2018em on their way. All they know is you were unconscious, and me and Pa was waitin\u2019 on Doc Martin to arrive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t say anything more about Sally, but by the way his muscles relaxed beneath Hoss\u2019s hand, Hoss knew his brother was relieved that the full extent of his injuries weren\u2019t revealed to the woman.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDarn cat,\u201d Joe said next in a breathless sort of way that indicated to Hoss his brother was tiring \u201cKnocked the nitro off the shelf. I made a grab for it, but didn\u2019t get to it in time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure ya\u2019 did all ya\u2019 could, Joe. The good news is that cat was probably blown to bits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not like you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s not like me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo be glad a defenseless animal lost its life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, don\u2019t suppose it is, but in this case I think God\u2019ll forgive me for not feelin\u2019 real charitable where that cat\u2019s concerned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you say so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI do. I also say you need to get some rest, so how \u2018bout if you try and do just that. Pa\u2019ll be up in a little while with supper for all of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing\u2019s not back?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he\u2019ll get back before Pa\u2019s done, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe. Why? You don\u2019t like Pa\u2019s suppers?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot as much as I like Hop Sing\u2019s, let\u2019s put it that way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss chuckled. \u201cI\u2019ll second that.\u201d He fiddled with the covers, pulling them higher across Joe\u2019s chest and straightening them. \u201cYou rest now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe gave a slight nod, grimacing at the pain the movement caused him. Just when enough time passed that Hoss thought his brother had dropped off to sleep again, Joe turned his head toward the window.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, what color is the sky this afternoon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe sky?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. What color is it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss looked through the open glass, studying for a long time what Joe could no longer see.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s. . .it\u2019s a celadon sky out there, little brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe smiled. \u201cOne of Adam\u2019s ten dollar words.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReckon so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWish I could see it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss swallowed around the sudden lump in his throat while rubbing his hand up and down Joe\u2019s arm in the only form of comfort he could offer. \u201cI know ya\u2019 do, Joe. I know ya\u2019 do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be able to see it again soon, though.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, sure,\u201d Hoss agreed. \u201cSure you will. Probably in no time at all. But until that happens I\u2019ll be close by to help you in whatever I can, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe grappled for his brother\u2019s hand. When he found it, he encased it in his own and squeezed. \u201cI know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The two men fell silent again, and soon, by the way Joe\u2019s hand went slack in his, Hoss could tell his brother had finally fallen asleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss remained by his brother\u2019s bedside that afternoon, gazing out at the celadon sky while praying for the return of Joe\u2019s sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

*Many thanks to Jane L. for the beta read.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(May 2005)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Disclaimer:<\/span>\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><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

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

Summary: \u00a0A missing scene from the aired episode “The Stillness Within” that includes Ben, Hoss and Joe, with the characters mentioning Adam.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K+ (4,090 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":1254,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,61],"tags":[15,17,16],"class_list":["post-2534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-missing-scene","tag-ben","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-61-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1252,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza16.jpg?fit=334%2C425&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1740,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1740","url_meta":{"origin":2534,"position":0},"title":"The Letter (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"April 20, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Hoss has a very important message to impart.\u00a0 A missing scene from The Stillness Within.\u00a0 Rating:\u00a0 K (775 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Hossb.jpg?fit=444%2C339&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18230,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=18230","url_meta":{"origin":2534,"position":1},"title":"Gusty Gumption (by PSW)","author":"PSW","date":"August 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: A little vignette following (at some point later) the events of 'A Dime's Worth of Glory'. 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