Summary:\u00a0 There was a purpose behind their trip, and he knew it better than they did.<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (515 words)<\/p>\n
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Watchers in the Snow<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLordy, this stuff\u2019s darn cold,\u201d Hoss grumbled as he lowered himself down into the snow beside his younger brother.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t know how you ever talked me into coming out here. I coulda been at home, sat in front the fire with \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShhh!\u201d Joe hissed, shooting a quick look back over his shoulder. \u201cHe\u2019ll hear you!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMight be just as well if he does. Leastways we\u2019d be able to go on home. And what do we need these guns fer? We \u2018aint gonna shoot at him are we?\u201d A worried frown creased his brow as Joe didn\u2019t reply. \u201cJoe, you ain\u2019t got some hairbrained scheme to scare him?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, of course not!\u201d Joe denied hotly. He shifted forward slightly, straining to get a better view of the man in the valley below them. \u201cIt\u2019s like I told you, I just want to see who he\u2019s meeting out here. He could be in trouble, and then we\u2019ll need the guns.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou sure it\u2019s that? It couldn\u2019t be that you\u2019re just pokin\u2019 your nose into his business again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould I do that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The feigned innocence in Joe\u2019s answer made Hoss all the more suspicious. Seemed all Joe\u2019s talk of possible danger was just so much hot air. The truth was Joe was just flat out snooping.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With a snort of disgust, Hoss got to his feet and stalked away towards the horses, which waited patiently some distance away. How he had let himself be inveigled into going along with this hairbrained scheme he just plain couldn\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe watched Hoss go, unsure what to do. Should he follow, or stay and see what Adam was doing out here? Either way, he knew was going to have two angry brothers by the time he got home. Hoss was certain to tell Adam they had been following him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Hoss paused and looked round, Joe made up his mind. His annoyance at not finding out what Adam was doing beginning to fade as he scrambled up and trudged through the snow. On the long journey home, he was sure could persuade Hoss that there was no real need for anyone to know what they\u2019d done. At least that way there\u2019d only be one annoyed brother, and Pa need never know.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Below, in the valley, Adam tossed aside the dregs of his coffee. He smiled wryly as he brushed snow over the fire he\u2019d built, dousing the flames. It had been a long day meandering hither and yon across the Ponderosa but well worth it. No doubt Joe was still as curious as ever, but with any luck Hoss would quash any further attempts to find out what was going on.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Did they really not know, he thought, glancing upwards to where his brothers had been, how their voices carried in the still air? And how simple it had been to spot that they were following him?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looked toward the sky, judging the light. There was just enough time left of the day to go and visit Sarah, as he\u2019d intended before he noticed his pursuers. With a grin, he mounted up and rode away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The end<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n