{"id":3831,"date":"2003-01-08T17:46:18","date_gmt":"2003-01-08T22:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3831"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:07:01","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:07:01","slug":"tug-of-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3831","title":{"rendered":"Tug of Love (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>Joe and Adam clash over a girl. However, they both find that blood is thicker than water when the girl kidnaps Joe.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 \u00a0(11,430 words)<\/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.<\/p>\n

Tug of Love\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hesitating outside his brother\u2019s bedroom door, Joe Cartwright wished he were anywhere else right at that moment, instead of where he was. The one person on earth he would rather not see was his brother, Adam, and the one person hehad<\/em>\u00a0to see was Adam.<\/p>\n

Lifting his hand, Joe knocked, tentatively. For several long seconds there was no reply, then a deep baritone voice said, \u201cGo away, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was nothing Joe would rather have done, but he steeled himself, and opened Adam\u2019s door. Adam was standing by the window, looking out. His black-clad figure seemed even darker against the bright daylight outside. \u201cAdam, we have to talk,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n

Turning, Adam cast Joe a bitter look. \u201cDidn\u2019t you hear me? I said, go away!\u201d<\/p>\n

Swallowing, Joe shook his head. \u201cI can\u2019t, Adam. We have to sort this out. I didn\u2019t know, I swear I didn\u2019t. Do you really think I\u2019d do that to you? Surely you know me better than that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t bother to explain!\u201d Adam spat. He pushed past Joe and tried to leave the room. He was somewhat surprised when Joe resisted his efforts without too much difficulty. It was all too easy to look at Joe and see only his slimness, and not realise how muscular he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, this is important,\u201d Joe persisted. \u201cWe can\u2019t let this get between us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t let it?\u201d Adam echoed. \u201cIt\u2019s already between us, Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, Adam, listen to me,\u201d pleaded Joe. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t have agreed to go out with Carrie if I\u2019d known you were seeing her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAgreed? You make it sound as though she made the first move!\u201d<\/p>\n

Frowning, Joe said, \u201cShe did. She asked me if I wanted to go to the picnic with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was the last straw for Adam\u2019s impressive control. He grabbed Joe by the collar, and shook him. \u201cCarrie asked you? I hardly think so! You\u2019re well known around here as a ladies\u2019 man. You couldn\u2019t resist Carrie!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t lie!\u201d Joe insisted. He had never seen Adam this angry. \u201cCarrie did ask me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam let out a roar of pain and anguish, and punched Joe in the face. Joe reeled back across the landing, shocked more than hurt. But Adam hadn\u2019t finished with him. He came after Joe, intent on taking out his pain on the younger brother he thought had betrayed him.<\/p>\n

Backing away, Joe was horrified. He didn\u2019t want to fight with Adam, especially not over a girl he was only seeing casually, but Adam was determined. He swung again, and Joe barely evaded the punch. \u201cAdam!\u201d he pleaded, to no avail.<\/p>\n

He continued to back away, all his attention focused on his furious older brother. Many times, Joe had wondered what it would take to get Adam really riled up \u2013 now he knew, and how he wished he didn\u2019t! Joe was so busy avoiding Adam\u2019s anger that he wasn\u2019t paying any attention to where he was. His foot hit the top step of the stairs, and his heel went down on fresh air. He teetered for a moment, off balance. But his weight was too far back, and with a cry of alarm, Joe toppled backwards down the stairs. He hit the banister with the small of his back, and somersaulted over it.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Adam cried, and made an abortive lunge for him. He missed, and had to watch in horror as Joe crashed to the wooden floor below.<\/p>\n

Tearing down the stairs, Adam rushed to Joe\u2019s side, his anger forgotten in concern over his brother. Joe lay still, his eyes closed. There was blood on the floor, but Adam was too scared to move Joe. He dropped to his knees. \u201cOh, God, please, no!\u201d he prayed, aloud.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

That was how Ben and Hoss found them when they returned a few minutes later. Both father and son had been concerned when Adam and Joe had left the picnic within minutes of each other, and Joe had left his date behind. Puzzled and concerned, Ben had made his apologies, and followed. Hoss was by his side in moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Ben said now, puzzled. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d He took a step further in the door, and Joe\u2019s body came into view. \u201cJoe?\u201d Ben ran to his side and anxiously felt for a pulse. It was there, reassuringly steady, despite the blood Ben could see pooling on the floor. \u201cWhat happened, Adam?\u201d\u00a0 he asked.<\/p>\n

Still kneeling there, Adam couldn\u2019t bring himself to speak. He was drowning in shame that he had wanted to do his brother serious injury, and now it seemed that he had. He flicked a glance at Ben, who saw the tears in his son\u2019s eyes, and didn\u2019t press. \u201cHoss, we have to get him upstairs. Send someone for the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Hoss knelt to pick Joe up, Adam spoke. \u201cNo,\u201d he whispered. \u201cHe fell over there,\u201d and he indicated the blanket-covered banister at the bend of the stairs.<\/p>\n

Ben looked up and his brown eyes were wide with horror. \u201cAdam\u2019s right,\u201d he agreed. \u201cWe need to get Paul here before we move him. Pass me that blanket, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was as though Adam was frozen in place. He didn\u2019t move, his anguished gaze fixed on Joe\u2019s face. Completely baffled by Adam\u2019s behaviour, Ben jumped to his feet and got the blanket himself. He tucked it securely around Joe, and stroked his son\u2019s hair. The blood on the floor concerned him greatly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get the doc, Pa,\u201d offered Hoss, and Ben agreed, knowing that Hoss couldn\u2019t bear to just sit and wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Ben said, gently. When he got no response, he repeated himself until his oldest son looked at him. \u201cYou must tell me what happened, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

A shudder ran through Adam\u2019s body as he took a deep breath. Tears began to streak his face, and Ben was truly alarmed. \u201cWe had a fight,\u201d he sobbed. \u201cI was trying to hit Joe, and he was trying to get away, and he didn\u2019t see the stairs, and he fell. I tried to catch him, Pa, I promise I did, but he fell. Its all my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an accident,\u201d Ben said, horrified more by Adam\u2019s tears than by his disjointed account of what had happened. \u201cBut what were you fighting about? I thought you and Joe were getting on better just now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raising wet brown eyes to his father, Adam blushed with shame. \u201cPa,\u201d he whispered. \u201cIt was\u2026 I\u2026\u201d He choked, and stopped. Ben put a hand lovingly on Adam\u2019s shoulder, and squeezed. He waited for Adam to gather himself enough to go on. \u201cJoe took Carrie to the picnic,\u201d he finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarrie?\u201d Ben repeated. Whatever else he had expected, this was not it. \u201cCarrie Walker? What of it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in love with her!\u201d shouted Adam. \u201cShe\u2019s my girl! She agreed to marry me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Opening his mouth, Ben hastily shut it again, as he had no idea what to say. Finally, knowing that he was only making things worse, but also knowing he had to get to the bottom of this, he said, \u201cThen why was she at the picnic with Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sniffing, Adam dragged a hand over his face. \u201cJoe says she asked him to take her.\u201d The doubt about the veracity of that statement was clear in Adam\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true, son,\u201d his father said, gently. \u201cI was there when she asked him. But, Adam, why wasn\u2019t she going with you, when you are to be married?\u201d Ben phrased his question carefully.<\/p>\n

Swallowing, Adam seemed to be getting his self control back. \u201cI was to meet her there. She hadn\u2019t told her parents about us yet. She wanted to wait another few weeks until her 21st birthday. He father is kind of strict with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not strict enough, Ben thought, unkindly. He had no high opinion of the redheaded girl Joe had introduced him to earlier in the afternoon. However, he couldn\u2019t say that to Adam. \u201cAnd you thought Joe was stealing your girl?\u201d he asked. \u201cYou know he wouldn\u2019t do that, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colour flushed Adam\u2019s face again. \u201cI wasn\u2019t thinking straight,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI just saw Joe with my girl, laughing and joking as though I didn\u2019t exist! All I wanted to do was get away. Joe followed me, and said we had to talk.\u201d Tears suddenly shook Adam as the memory came back to him. \u201cI lost control, and I wanted to hurt him.\u201d His shoulders slumped. \u201cHow can you forgive me, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEasily,\u201d Ben replied, his heart aching for his son, and gathered Adam into his embrace. \u201cBut I genuinely don\u2019t think Joe knew about you and Carrie. That\u2019s not like him at all.\u201d Ben thought back to the picnic, and saw again, in his mind\u2019s eye, Adam stalking away to his horse, and Joe\u2019s puzzled look. Carrie had then spoken to Joe, and he had looked at her, and walked away. Ben had been distracted then by someone else, and hadn\u2019t noticed anything until he saw Joe\u2019s horse gone, too. That was when he suspected trouble, though he couldn\u2019t imagine what kind. \u201cAdam, we\u2019ll get this straightened out as soon as Joe is well again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pushing himself away, Adam gave his father a shattered look. \u201cWhat if he doesn\u2019t get well again?\u201d he cried. Shoving himself to his feet, Adam fled out the front door. Ben followed, in time to see Adam mount Sport, and gallop out of the yard. Ben longed to go after him, but his youngest son lay bleeding on the floor, and Ben didn\u2019t dare leave him alone.<\/p>\n

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

Shortly afterwards, Joe began to moan, and he was conscious by the time Paul Martin arrived. Ben, still worried by the blood pooling on the floor, had made Joe lie still. He was even more worried by the fact Joe\u00a0kept<\/em>\u00a0still. Paul came into the house with Hoss at his back, and knelt by Joe\u2019s side. He ran his fingers through Joe\u2019s hair, and looked intently into his eyes. Then he ran his hands down Joe\u2019s neck and back, before nodding. \u201cAll right, its safe to move him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben and Hoss waited downstairs while Paul examined Joe. Hoss sat wearily by the fire, while Ben cleaned up the blood, and folded the blanket back over the banister. Paul wasn\u2019t long. \u201cHe\u2019s badly concussed, Ben, and he\u2019s displaced his shoulder. I need you to hold him, while I put it back in place. I want to put a couple of stitches in the gash behind his ear. Luckily, there isn\u2019t a skull fracture. He was fortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Paul,\u201d Ben said. \u201cWhen I saw the blood\u2026\u201d he didn\u2019t need to finish.<\/p>\n

Paul smiled. \u201cThe head always bleeds very easily. But Joe\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0concussed. He\u2019s got a terrible headache, and it could persist for quite a while. He may be dizzy, and lack concentration. He might get bouts of nausea and vomiting. He may well have some short-term memory loss. But don\u2019t worry. It will all right itself, probably within a few weeks, possibly within a few days.\u201d Paul saw that Ben had understood what he was saying. \u201cLet\u2019s go put his shoulder back together.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Night fell, and Adam was miles from the house. He had run Sport until the horse couldn\u2019t go any further, then he had slowed, cooling the horse out, not wanting to cause any more damage that day. Adam had no idea when he last lost control; he couldn\u2019t remember. To him, that made the day\u2019s events even more unforgivable.<\/p>\n

Mechanically, he made camp, but he didn\u2019t attempt to cook. He felt he would\u2019ve choked on the food. He made a pot of coffee, and sat drinking it, not noticing when he scalded his mouth on the hot, bitter liquid. It was an appropriate accompaniment to his thoughts. Normally calm, controlled and logical, Adam\u2019s thoughts were now totally chaotic, touching on one thing before skittering off onto another. He was unable to focus on anything apart from Joe\u2019s broken body lying on the floor, bleeding. When his thoughts did turn to Carrie, he shuddered, able only to see her with Joe.<\/p>\n

When he finally lay down to sleep, he was tormented by images of Carrie and Joe kissing, something that he hadn\u2019t seen. At last, he broke down in tears, and as the tears eased his torment, he slipped into an exhausted sleep.<\/p>\n

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

Dawn found Adam, hollow-eyed, forcing himself to eat. The sleep had done him a lot of good, and he was calmer, more in control. He knew, deep down, that Joe hadn\u2019t set out to make a fool of him, but he was still very hurt by his brother\u2019s actions. He was also embarrassed by his own actions. Rarely, if ever, had Adam wanted to hurt anyone as badly as he\u2019d wanted to hurt Joe yesterday. Looking back, it seemed to be part of a nightmare. Unfortunately, it was a waking nightmare. He wondered if Joe could ever forgive him.<\/p>\n

Packing up his camp, Adam wondered where he would go now. The urge to return home and seek solace in the arms of his family was strong. Yet, conversely, he wasn\u2019t sure he was ready to do that. He felt he had to come to terms with his outburst before he could face his family, and try and explain. He looked around, and wondered if he ought to visit Carrie. Shaking his head, he decided he wasn\u2019t ready to do that, either.<\/p>\n

With Sport saddled and ready, Adam mounted up, and rode aimlessly in the opposite direction to home. The beauty of the sun on Lake Tahoe didn\u2019t touch him at all, though usually this was a sight to gladden his heart. With a jolt, Adam realised he was close to the place where Joe\u2019s mother, Marie, was buried. He stopped Sport, afraid to ride on, afraid he had committed an offence too severe to confess to Marie\u2019s spirit. Afraid he wouldn\u2019t find the comfort he usually felt there.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until Sport began to fidget that Adam made a move. Without conscious decision, he rode to the graveyard, and hitched Sport to the railing. He dragged his feet across to the grave, and stood looking down. \u201cOh, Mama, can you forgive me?\u201d he gasped, and fell to his knees, sobbing once more. \u201cI promised you I would look after Joe, and look what I did to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

It occurred to Adam that he didn\u2019t know if Joe was alive or dead. A shudder shook him. \u201cWhat am I going to do, Mama?\u201d He lay flat on top of the grave, and sobbed out his confusion.<\/p>\n

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

He was still there when Hoss found him a short time later. By then, Adam was once more in control of his emotions, and was mentally girding his loins to return home. He was profoundly shaken by his loss of control, yet felt better for having let his emotions out. Although he didn\u2019t know it, Adam had been bottling everything up for too long, and had needed an outburst to \u2018clear the air\u2019. Joe had caught the sharp end of it, and that was a pity, but it had been good for Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Hoss said, gently. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Climbing slowly to his feet, and dusting off his clothes, Adam nodded. \u201cIs Joe\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Hoss nodded. \u201cHe\u2019s gonna be fine. Just a spot of concussion is all. He\u2019s askin\u2019 for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me?\u201d Adam said, sharply, a pang of something like fear shooting through his gut. \u201cWhy would he ask for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tipping his hat back, Hoss scratched his head, frowning. \u201cDadburnit, Adam, you\u2019re his brother,\u201d replied Hoss. \u201cHe wants to know where you are. Ain\u2019t it the most natural thing in the world?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot after what I did to him,\u201d replied Adam, bitterly. \u201cHe must hate me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heaving a sigh, Hoss put an arm round Adam\u2019s shoulder, and made him sit down. \u201cJoe don\u2019t hate you, Adam,\u201d he said, patiently. \u201cHe loves you. If he didn\u2019t love you, he wouldn\u2019t have come after you yesterday. What happened was an accident. Joe don\u2019t even remember it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jerking away from Hoss\u2019s supporting arm, Adam shot him a look. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t remember? I thought you said he just had concussion?\u201d<\/p>\n

Torn away from his chain of thought, Hoss scowled. \u201cDoc says it ain\u2019t unusual that he don\u2019t remember. But Adam, he\u2019s askin\u2019 for you. You gotta come home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can I face him, Hoss?\u201d Adam demanded. \u201cHow can I face Carrie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long you been goin\u2019 out with her, Adam?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cA couple of months,\u201d Adam answered, defensively. \u201cWhat\u2019s that got to do with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou kept it pretty quiet,\u201d Hoss commented, keeping his tone neutral. \u201cHow\u2019s Joe meant to have known if\u2019n you didn\u2019 tell anyone? \u2018Sides, she asked him, according to Pa. He was there.\u201d Hoss looked at Adam\u2019s face. \u201cIf\u2019n I loved a filly that much, I reckon I\u2019d be crowin\u2019 it from the rooftops.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe doesn\u2019t want her family to know, just yet,\u201d Adam replied, mechanically. \u201cSo I agreed not to say anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot even to us?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t have said anythin\u2019. You know that, Adam. D\u2019you love her?\u201d Hoss\u2019 question was so ingenuous that Adam didn\u2019t take offence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think so,\u201d his brother repeated. \u201cYou ain\u2019t sure, yet you asked her to marry you, anyway? Brave man, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do love her,\u201d Adam declared, angrily. \u201cShe\u2019s beautiful and spirited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Raising one cynical eyebrow, Hoss snorted. \u201cSounds just like you\u2019re sellin\u2019 a filly,\u201d he said, scathingly. \u201cBeautiful and spirited covers that sassy chestnut mare down in the corral. You know what I think, Adam? I think you liked the idea of bein\u2019 in love with Carrie. After all, she is beautiful, and she\u2019s new to town, and Joe ain\u2019t been out with her but once. I think you weren\u2019t thinkin\u2019 straight. I think you\u2019ve been workin\u2019 too hard, and had your head turned by a pretty little gal who fancied bein\u2019 married to a Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Hoss thought he\u2019d gone too far. Adam\u2019s face darkened, and he looked very dangerous in that moment. But then the storm cleared, and Adam began to look thoughtful. \u201cI was flattered by her interest,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI do care for her, or I wouldn\u2019t have been so angry yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut do you care enough to marry her?\u201d Hoss persisted. \u201cSeems to me, Adam, that you ain\u2019t too sure of that yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was jealous,\u201d Adam admitted, though it cost him to say the words. \u201cJealous of my own brother.\u201d He shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome home,\u201d said Hoss, after they\u2019d sat in silence for a while. \u201cWe need you there, Adam. Joe needs you there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Too weary to argue, Adam nodded. Together, they mounted up and rode back to the ranch.<\/p>\n

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

His homecoming was easier than Adam had dreamed. Ben met him at the door with a big, relieved smile, and crushed him in his arms. \u201cAdam! Are you all right, son?\u201d Ben held Adam at arm\u2019s length as he looked at his son\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa,\u201d Adam said, quietly. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry about yesterday. I didn\u2019t mean to hurt Joe. I\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Interrupting, Ben said, \u201cIts all right, son. We know you didn\u2019t mean it. Come inside. Hop Sing will get you something to eat, and you can take a bath and get cleaned up. Joe\u2019s asleep right now, but he\u2019s been asking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d Adam replied, and suddenly felt exhausted. He followed his father inside.<\/p>\n

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

Later, bathed, shaved, fed and changed, Adam braced himself to go to Joe\u2019s bedside. He knew his brother was awake, because Hoss, who\u2019d been sitting with him, came down to tell them. Ben, seeing the look in Adam\u2019s eye, climbed the stairs with him, his hand on Adam\u2019s back, lending love and support. At the door to Joe\u2019s room, Ben stopped. \u201cI\u2019ll be right here if you need me, son,\u201d he said, reassuringly.<\/p>\n

Taking several deep breaths, Adam opened the door and went in. Joe lay flat on the bed, his right arm bound up across his chest, to allow the dislocated shoulder to heal. He looked about 16 and vulnerable. At the sound of the door opening, Joe opened his eyes. He smiled when he saw Adam, but it wasn\u2019t the usual blinding grin. That alone told Adam how much Joe hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d Joe cried, and there was real gladness in his tone. \u201cWhere\u2019ve you been?\u201d<\/p>\n

Producing a smile of his own, Adam sat down beside Joe. \u201cI had some thinking to do,\u201d he said. \u201cJoe, I\u2019m real sorry about yesterday. I didn\u2019t mean to hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spasm of pain passed through Joe\u2019s green eyes as he frowned. \u201cPa says I fell down the stairs after we argued. I don\u2019t remember it. But I\u2019m sorry we argued. It was probably my fault. It usually is.\u201d He rubbed his nose with the back of his left hand. \u201cWhat did we argue about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm,\u201d Adam said, not sure how to tell Joe. \u201cYou took my girl to the picnic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those green eyes stayed on Adam\u2019s face, and he felt the colour rise up his neck. Joe could look as guileless as this and still be putting you on. \u201cWhat girl? What picnic?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, Joe,\u201d soothed Adam. \u201cWe can talk about it when you\u2019re better.\u201d The assurance calmed Joe, but it left Adam unsatisfied. Joe must have sensed that, as he began to look troubled again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry I took your girl to the picnic,\u201d he mumbled. \u201cWhy did I do it?\u201d He reached for Adam\u2019s hand, looking agitated. \u201cWhy, Adam? I \u2013 I didn\u2019t do it to spite you, did I?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Joe, you didn\u2019t know Carrie was my girl. I just got angry, and when you tried to apologise, I thought you were rubbing my face in it, and I hit you.\u201d Adam tried to extract his hand from Joe\u2019s grip, but Joe clung on tenaciously.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarrie Walker is your girl?\u201d Joe gasped. \u201cSince when?\u201d<\/p>\n

Wriggling uneasily on the hard seat, Adam avoided making eye contact. \u201cA couple of months.\u201d Joe\u2019s hand tightened on his, and he looked up. Joe was quite green, and in obvious pain. \u201cJoe, are you all right?\u201d Adam asked, concerned.<\/p>\n

The bedroom door opened, and Ben came in. Neither of his sons realised that he\u2019d been discreetly eavesdropping at the door. They just accepted his arrival as fortunate. \u201cI think I\u2019m gonna be sick,\u201d Joe whispered, and shortly thereafter proved himself correct.<\/p>\n

Wiping Joe\u2019s sweaty, pale face, as their father cleared up, Adam smiled at Joe. \u201cMaybe you should rest, buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cBut, Adam, I don\u2019t want to make you angry again, but there\u2019s something you should know.\u201d Joe looked exhausted, but determined. Adam squared his shoulders, and nodded for Joe to continue. \u201cCarrie has been going out with lots of men in town. I\u2019ve seen her myself, and I\u2019ve heard the talk. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was like a slap in the face to Adam, but Joe was too ill for him to show it. \u201cIts okay, buddy,\u201d Adam assured him. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it.\u201d He patted Joe\u2019s good shoulder, and bade him goodnight. Walking back to the main room, he felt completely worn out.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t long before Ben came back downstairs to join Adam and Hoss. Both looked at Ben as he sat down in his favourite chair. \u201cJoe\u2019s asleep,\u201d he reported. \u201cHow do you feel now, son?\u201d he asked, looking at Adam.<\/p>\n

Shifting uncomfortably, Adam said, \u201cBetter, I think. But tired.\u201d He glanced briefly at Hoss, who was watching him with a concerned frown. \u201cI\u2019m okay, honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe didn\u2019t mean to upset you,\u201d Ben persisted. \u201cHe\u2019s been blurting things out like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know he didn\u2019t mean to hurt me,\u201d Adam said. In fact, he\u2019d taken the hurt as partial payment for the injury he\u2019d done Joe. \u201cAnd he was right, Pa. I did have to know.\u201d Adam sighed, and rubbed a hand down his face. \u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse me, I think I\u2019ll turn in.<\/p>\n

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

Next morning, Adam felt much better. He had slept soundly, and no dreams had troubled his rest. When he looked in on Joe, his brother looked better, too, although he was still complaining about his headache. Adam knew Joe would be really on the mend when he was telling them all he was \u2018fine\u2019.<\/p>\n

Over breakfast, Ben discussed his plans for the day, but Adam was barely listening. He felt he had to see Carrie, to get the story of why she had asked Joe to take her to the picnic. He also wanted to find out about the talk Joe had mentioned. He knew as well as anybody else that gossip shouldn\u2019t be taken as gospel, but he wanted to know what was being said.<\/p>\n

He simply wanted to see Carrie, to hear her voice and look into her eyes. He wanted to feel how his heart reacted to what she said. He wanted to know if he was in love with her. More than anything, Adam wanted to believe that she was in love with him. He ignored a still, small voice, which suggested that he maybe wasn\u2019t ready to hear what Carrie had to say.<\/p>\n

Eyeing his eldest son along the length of the table, Ben realised that Adam wasn\u2019t listening. It worried Ben that Adam was so caught up with this girl. Carrie Walker and her family had only been in Virginia City for a few short months, and none of them was well liked. The father was retired, and obviously had money. They bought a lovely house on the outskirts of town. However, it became clear all too soon, that Mr Walker thought that the ordinary people of the town were too common for him to mix with. He deliberately sought out the richer families, and tried to ingratiate himself on them. Ben Cartwright had no time for that kind of thing, and had been offended by how Walker had treated the family\u2019s maid.<\/p>\n

Mrs Walker was a harpy. She had an opinion on everything, and wasn\u2019t slow to air it. She criticised the \u2018backward\u2019 shops, the manners of the ladies\u2019 circle, the preacher, the size of the church \u2013 in short, everything. Despite having an opinion on everything, she wasn\u2019t at all willing to help out. She liked to play the grand lady, and would send the overworked maid to help serve tea at church socials, rather than do it herself.<\/p>\n

It was a surprise that two such unlikeable people had bred someone as apparently charming as Carrie. It was obvious that she was a \u2018late\u2019 baby. Speculation was ripe that the Walkers had adopted her, as Carrie was a beauty, and neither parent showed any signs of ever having beauty. Be that as it may, Carrie had become popular with the young men of the town, and was never short of partners at the barn dances.<\/p>\n

Before the previous afternoon, Ben had only met Carrie once. He had just come from the bank, after drawing the week\u2019s payroll, and it had been obvious from the way the manager had spoken to him at the door, that he was a good customer. Carrie, who was passing, had engaged Ben in conversation, and it wasn\u2019t long before he became aware that she was eyeing him as a prospective husband. Some of the questions she asked were downright nosy and rude, and Ben had sidestepped them, and taken his leave. Now, he found himself wondering if Carrie had deliberately set out to snare both Adam and Joe, prepared to marry whichever one stayed the course.<\/p>\n

This kind of speculation made Ben uncomfortable, because he generally thought the best of people. But he suspected that Carrie was a gold digger, and that Adam was going to get hurt. However, Ben said nothing of that to Adam. If Adamdid<\/em>\u00a0love Carrie, repeating a story like that could seem like sour grapes, interference, and would tell Adam that his father didn\u2019t like his prospective daughter-in-law. But from the little Ben did know of Carrie, he was sure that he didn\u2019t like her.<\/p>\n

The possibility that he wouldn\u2019t like his sons\u2019 choices of wives was something that he hadn\u2019t given any thought to previously.\u00a0 But during the past night, he had given it some serious thought, and came to the conclusion that, if it happened, he would simply keep his feelings to himself. The last thing he wanted to do was drive his sons away. It hadn\u2019t made for comfortable thinking, simply because it wasn\u2019t in Ben\u2019s nature to dislike people. And the thought of disliking someone that one of his sons held so dear was totally alien to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going in to town, Pa,\u201d said Adam, breaking into his father\u2019s reverie.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, son,\u201d replied Ben, and quelled Hoss\u2019 unspoken question with a look. \u201cDo what you think best.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Time develops an elastic quality when the mind is troubled. As Adam rode into Virginia City, it seemed to him no time since he set out, but the journey itself appeared to have taken a long time. He had kept Sport to an easy lope, but he had arrived before he was quite ready. He slowed to a walk as he went along Main Street, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. For a single, craven, moment, he considered stopping at the Bucket of Blood saloon for some Dutch courage. But it was only for a single moment, and then common sense prevailed, and he rode on towards Carrie\u2019s home.<\/p>\n

There was no one at home. Adam knocked twice, but there was no answer. Relieved, but hating himself for feeling that way, Adam turned to leave. He stood for a moment, stroking Sport\u2019s nose absent-mindedly. He had no idea what to do next.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d trilled a voice, and he turned to see Carrie and her mother approaching from town. They each carried a parcel, and the little maid trailed behind, laden with several more.<\/p>\n

Automatically, Adam tipped his hat, and found a smile. His heart was in his throat.\u00a0 \u201cCarrie. Mrs Walker.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs Walker found smile for him, but it was a pretty sour affair. She continued on to the house, while Carrie lingered at the gate with Adam. \u201cDon\u2019t be long, Carrie,\u201d Mrs Walker ordered. \u201cYou have your reputation to consider.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Mama,\u201d Carrie replied, and gave Adam a smile. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to see you today, Adam. You left the picnic so early. Joe, too.\u201d There was a touch of petulance in her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to ask you about the picnic,\u201d he said, trying not to admire the way the sun shone on her red hair. \u201cWhy did you ask Joe to take you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tilting her head to one side, Carrie gave him a quizzical look. \u201cWell, we agreed to keep our arrangement a secret. So I had to have a date for the picnic. My folks would have thought it strange if I didn\u2019t. I knew Joe had just split up with what\u2019s-her-name, so he seemed perfect. Why? You sound all grumpy about it, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just didn\u2019t think it was very suitable, that\u2019s all,\u201d he said, trying to keep his tone light. \u201cCarrie, I think I\u2019d like to wait a bit longer before we announce our plans to everyone. I don\u2019t think we\u2019re quite ready to get married yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drawing back, Carrie gave Adam a distinctly cold, angry look. \u201cYou don\u2019t think we\u2019re ready?\u201d she echoed. \u201cYou thought we were ready a few weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think so now. It would have been nice if you\u2019d mentioned your plans for the picnic. Joe was hurt, and so was I.\u201d<\/p>\n

Obviously petulant now, Carrie pouted. \u201cJoe<\/em>\u00a0was hurt? Why should he care? He never settles down with anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drawing a deep breath, and reminding himself she was very young, Adam said, \u201cJoe was hurt because you hadn\u2019t told him you were going steady with anyone. He thought he was in with a chance. And he hurt my feelings, too, and that made him feel bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, who cares about your brother,\u201d she said, crossly. \u201cSo what if I hurt him!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s heart was aching. \u201cMy family is very important to me,\u201d he said, softly. \u201cYou hurt Joe, and that hurt me. I told you how close we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re just your brothers!\u201d Carried said, her voice going up as she got angrier. \u201cI\u2019m going to be your wife! I\u2019m much more important than they are!\u00a0 When we\u2019re married, we won\u2019t ever see them anyway!\u201d<\/p>\n

At that moment, Adam knew he couldn\u2019t marry this spoiled child. He hadn\u2019t really been in love with her, but he had been flattered by her attention. Even her spoiled ways had amused him, but he had mistaken amusement for love. In those few short sentences, Carrie had shown him her true colours, and Adam was grateful. He stepped back, and the action wasn\u2019t lost on the girl.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Carrie,\u201d he said. \u201cI can\u2019t marry you. I think its better if we don\u2019t see each other again. Goodbye.\u201d He stepped into the stirrup, and rode away, leaving Carrie standing in the street.<\/p>\n

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

It was still before noon when Adam rode into the yard. He led Sport into the barn, and slowly unsaddled him. He wasn\u2019t sure what he was going to say to his family. Adam had never been good at losing face, and he wasn\u2019t looking forward to eating this portion of humble pie. However, honesty was in his nature, but he vowed to say only what was necessary.<\/p>\n

Following through on this decision, he went across to the house, knowing the family would be sitting down to dinner. As he expected, Hoss and Ben were both at the table, and he took his seat, mentally girding his loins for the ordeal ahead of him. He bowed his head while his father said grace, then launched into his explanation. \u201cI\u2019ve broken up with Carrie,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As a conversation stopper, it was a doozy! Neither Ben nor Hoss knew quite what to say. Finally, Ben cleared his throat and said, \u201cI see.\u201d After that, there didn\u2019t seem to be anything else to say, and they applied themselves to the meal with a zeal only usually seen by Hoss. They all ate less than usual, and left the table quickly.<\/p>\n

As Hoss climbed the stairs to say goodbye to Joe before he headed back out to work, Adam drew Ben across to the office area. \u201cDon\u2019t you want to know why?\u201d he asked, defensively.<\/p>\n

Leaning back in his chair, Ben looked at Adam. \u201cDo you want to tell me?\u201d he countered. \u201cIts none of my business, Adam. Whatever decision you\u2019ve made, I\u2019ll support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sitting down abruptly, Adam realised that this might not be as hard as he\u2019d feared. \u201cWhen I spoke to her, I realised that I didn\u2019t love her,\u201d he admitted, in a low voice. \u201cShe was so \u2013 casual \u2013 about using Joe. Then she said that he and Hoss didn\u2019t matter, and that we wouldn\u2019t see them after we were married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d Ben said, because he did, all too clearly. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Adam. Sorry you were hurt by this, and that Joe got tangled up in it, too.\u201d He met Adam\u2019s eyes across the desk. \u201cLet\u2019s put it behind us and start again, shall we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d said Adam, gratefully, and left. Ben remained sitting behind the desk, thinking about the tangles his family got into.<\/p>\n

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

Joe\u2019s recovery from his fall didn\u2019t take very long. He was out of bed within a few days, and assuring everyone he felt fine. The family all knew he was still suffering from a bad headache, which lasted for more than a week. Paul Martin checked him out again, and declared him fit for light duties. Another week went past before Paul gave him the all clear to return to his normal workload. The troublesome headache was finally gone, but Joe still had no memory of the picnic and the fall. He could remember leaving the ranch, and then wakening up in bed. The hours between were a complete blank.<\/p>\n

Ben was concerned about this, and rode to town to talk to Paul about it. \u201cIts quite normal, Ben,\u201d Paul assured him. \u201cJoe might regain his memory, but he might not. He might wake up tomorrow, and remember everything. It might be in 20 years, or it might be never. The brain is a funny thing. It may be that the memory is too stressful for him to deal with right now. We just don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Partially reassured, Ben returned home to consol his youngest son. The loss of memory was the only blot on Joe\u2019s recovery, but after a while, he stopped trying to remember, and accepted his family\u2019s accounts of the accident.<\/p>\n

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

A few weeks later, Joe rode into Virginia City to collect a package for his father. He had one or two other small items to collect from the general store, and he had to get back to the ranch for supper, as his father was having guests over. The package was waiting at the mail office, and Joe leafed through the other letters as he walked back to Cochise. He stowed the things in his saddlebag, and went into the store. There was only one other customer in there \u2013 Carrie Walker.<\/p>\n

Hesitating, Joe debated going to the saloon until Carrie had finished her shopping, but the owner of the store spotted him and hailed him. Having no other choice, Joe went on in.<\/p>\n

It was the first encounter that any of the family had had with the Walkers since Adam had broken off with Carrie. Joe had been told about it, and warned in no uncertain terms to stay away from her. This encounter made him feel very awkward.<\/p>\n

Carrie didn\u2019t seem to suffer from the same problem. She gave Joe a dazzling smile and said, \u201cHello, Joe,\u201d in a seductive tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello, Carrie,\u201d Joe responded, knowing that he couldn\u2019t just ignore her. He began to look for the items he wanted, aware of Carrie\u2019s gaze on him.<\/p>\n

Despite dragging out his shopping for as long as he could, Carried was still waiting at the door when Joe at last came out. She had several large packages \u2013 mostly cloth from what Joe had seen of her purchases. He tipped his hat to her, and put his own purchases into his bags. Carrie was still standing there. \u201cOh, Joe,\u201d she trilled. \u201cCould you possibly help me? Our maid was to have met me, but she hasn\u2019t shown up, and these items are rather heavy for me to carry alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was on the tip of Joe\u2019s tongue to say something rude, but he restrained himself. Glancing around, he couldn\u2019t see anyone else that he could persuade to help Carrie, and he was too well mannered to leave her. \u201cOf course,\u201d he said, and took the parcels from her.<\/p>\n

During the walk to her home, Carrie kept up the kind of chatter that young ladies were supposed to excel at to keep men interested in them. It was just unfortunate that Joe wasn\u2019t feeling receptive. Normally, he enjoyed keeping company with a beautiful young lady. However, he listened politely, and responded when he had to, and all the while wished he could just jump on Cochise and ride off for home.<\/p>\n

At Carrie\u2019s house, he tied Cochise to the fence, and carried the packages to the door. Carrie gave Joe her best smile, and he couldn\u2019t help but smile back. \u201cCome in for some tea,\u201d Carrie coaxed, taking his arm. Joe demurred, but Carrie was persistent, and he gave in.<\/p>\n

Seating him in the parlour, Carrie organised the tea herself, then remembered that the Cartwrights were mostly coffee drinkers, and went off and made coffee, too. Joe looked around the room, which seemed to him too full of useless nick-knacks. Carrie was soon back, and plied Joe with dainty cakes, which he accepted.<\/p>\n

Several times Joe tried to make a graceful exit, but each time Carrie overrode him, and he was too polite to simply leave. After a time, Joe found himself getting sleepy, and had to struggle to hide a yawn. He gulped down another cup of coffee, but it didn\u2019t help. Alarmed, Joe rose unsteadily to his feet, and tried to make for the door, thinking that fresh air would help. He managed only one step, and his legs gave way. He slid to the floor, and before the darkness overtook him, he saw Carrie smiling malevolently.<\/p>\n

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

As Joe fell to the floor, Carrie leapt to her feet. She had used her mother\u2019s supply of laudanum to drug Joe\u2019s coffee. Now that he was asleep, she intended to carry out the next part of her plan. Carrie had been humiliated when Adam had broken up with her, for she had intended to marry a Cartwright from the first day she\u2019d heard about them. Ben had rejected her, and anyway, he was too old for her. Hoss she dismissed as not handsome enough, but both Adam and Joe had been candidates. When Adam rejected her, she knew that her chance to get Joe was gone, too. And she determined that if she couldn\u2019t have a Cartwright, neither could anybody else.<\/p>\n

There was very little feminine softness in Carrie Walker. She could play the part when the need arose, but Carrie was very predatory. Her parents had bought off several young men who had become involved with her, usually before there was too much trouble. However, in their last home in Kansas, Carrie had become very attracted to a young man who was already engaged to another girl. In trying to force herself on him, she had become angry when he refused her, and she had stabbed him. The man later died.<\/p>\n

It had all been hushed up, the Walkers paying a large amount of money to a witness who then swore he had seen the man force himself on Carrie. However, the scandal had been too much for the Walkers, and they had moved away. Carrie was still hunting for a husband, and having driven away her chances with the Cartwrights, she now wanted to avenge herself on them.<\/p>\n

With assistance from the terrified maid, Carrie bound Joe hand and foot, and got him slung over the saddle of his horse. Going back into the house with the maid, Carrie extracted her stiletto from her reticule, and stabbed her. A few minutes later, Carrie rode out of the city by a back road, with no witnesses.<\/p>\n

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

As he bid his guests good night, Ben Cartwright was absolutely furious. Joe had been gone for hours, despite his father\u2019s explicit instructions. There could be no excuse for such behaviour, and Ben vowed to tan Joe\u2019s hide when he returned, grown man or not! There was a thread of worry running through the anger, because although Joe was thoughtless, and often tardy, he was seldom rude.<\/p>\n

Adam came from the kitchen as his father came back into the house. \u201cStill no sign?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

With a sigh, Ben replied, \u201cNo.\u201d He sat down by the fire, and Adam sat opposite him. Hoss came from the kitchen and stood by his father\u2019s chair. \u201cI don\u2019t understand this,\u201d admitted Ben. \u201cIts not like Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot like Joe to be late?\u201d Adam said, sarcastically. He caught the dark scowl from his father. \u201cSorry, Pa,\u201d he said, contritely.<\/p>\n

\u201cD\u2019you think somethin\u2019 happened to him?\u201d inserted Hoss. \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t miss dinner with the Millers. It ain\u2019t like him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he was in jail, Roy would\u2019ve ridden out to tell us,\u201d agreed Adam. \u201cDo you want us to look for him, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Rising restlessly, Ben shrugged. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Anyway, its dark now. We should wait for the morning.\u201d Ben found himself by the door again, but resisted opening it. \u201cLet\u2019s get some sleep while we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both his sons rose and bid their father goodnight, knowing that he wouldn\u2019t sleep a wink until he found out what had happened to Joe.<\/p>\n

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

As dawn broke, the Cartwrights mounted their horses and rode towards the city. They found no trace of Joe, and their concern grew. The first stop they made was at the sheriff\u2019s office, and there they found Roy Coffee dozing over a cup of cold coffee. Roy told them about the stabbing of the Walker\u2019s maid, and the disappearance of Carrie. \u201cShe was last seen with Joe,\u201d Roy concluded.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe is missing, too,\u201d Ben told his friend.<\/p>\n

Rubbing a hand over his tired face, Roy said, reluctantly, \u201cThe Walkers are insisting that Joe has kidnapped Carrie. They say he\u2019s going to force her to marry him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s likely,\u201d retorted Adam. \u201cCome on, Roy, you know Joe better than that!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I do, Adam,\u201d snapped Roy, tiredly. \u201cI\u2019m just telling you what they said. But if they have both vanished, then something\u2019s suspicious. I just don\u2019t know what to think.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cSorry to snap. But the whole attitude of that family is odd. When you\u2019ve been in this business as long as I have, you get a nose for the truth, and I\u2019d swear they weren\u2019t telling me the truth.\u201d He rose. \u201cI think I\u2019ll go ask a few questions about the Walkers.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the door closed behind Roy, Ben looked at his sons. \u201cI suggest we split up and see if we can find any trace of Joe ourselves. Meet back here in an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The first rays of sunlight penetrated the barn where Joe Cartwright hung painfully by his arms from the roof. He had wakened from his drugged sleep to find himself hanging from the rafters, his legs closely bound together, his feet barely touching the floor. He had been desperately nauseous and dizzy for a while after wakening. Carrie had come in when he was finally feeling a little less deathly. She looked just as she had when he\u2019d seen her in the parlour, but something on her face made him afraid.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re awake at last,\u201d she sneered. She ran her hand down the side of his face, and he had pulled away. \u201cAh-ah!\u201d she chided him, and he\u2019d gasped as a line of fire ran down his left side. Looking down, uncomprehending, he saw a knife in her hand. Blood welled up along the cut.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarrie, please,\u201d pleaded Joe. \u201cWhy are you doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou Cartwrights have decided I\u2019m not good enough to marry any of you, haven\u2019t you?\u201d she hissed. \u201cYour father turned me down, Adam rejected me, and you stayed away too! Well, if I can\u2019t have you, no one can!\u201d<\/p>\n

Appalled, Joe couldn\u2019t think of a single thing to say. Carrie smiled at him, but the smile had a feral quality to it. She looked dangerous. Joe felt a flutter in his gut as she began to unbutton his shirt. She pushed the fabric away from his chest, and ran her hands down his torso. With the knife, she slit the material until it fell away from his body. Shamelessly, she pressed herself against him, and taking his head in her hands, kissed him deeply.<\/p>\n

Joe was no novice with women, but he had never come across a woman like this. He twisted his head, to try and get away. Carrie dug her teeth into his lip, and held on. Joe struggled briefly, and Carrie dug her teeth in harder. Blood ran from Joe\u2019s mouth. After a minute, Carrie let go. Joe\u2019s lip was bitten nearly all the way through. \u201cLesson number one,\u201d she purred. Joe fought to control the sickness he felt.<\/p>\n

After that, Carrie had left, and he was alone for the night. It was cool in the barn, and he was soon shivering. But his biggest problem was his hands. The longer he hung there, the less feeling he had in his hands. By dawn, Joe feared his hands would be permanently damaged. He was fairly sure Carrie intended to kill him. Joe squeezed his eyes shut and said a prayer.<\/p>\n

When the barn door opened, it was almost a relief. Joe said nothing, but watched warily as Carrie circled around him.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re quite well built, Joe, did you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saying nothing, Joe kept his eyes on her face. Her eyes were wild. \u201cOh, like that, is it?\u201d She moved her hand, and another bleeding slash appeared on Joe\u2019s body. The gasp of pain escaped before he could prevent it. \u201cKiss me,\u201d she whispered, and fastened onto his mouth.<\/p>\n

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

Listening to Roy\u2019s account of the report from Kansas, none of the Cartwrights could keep the shock off their faces. \u201cI\u2019m afraid we have to assume that history may be repeating itself,\u201d Roy finished.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anything we can do?\u201d Ben asked, his face ashen.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep looking for them,\u201d Roy replied. \u201cI just wish we knew where to look.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lifting his head, Hoss said, \u201cI dunno if its any help, but some of the boys in the saloon talked about this ol\u2019 place where Carrie liked to go for\u2026 well\u2026 you know\u2026.\u201d He blushed furiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is this place, Hoss?\u201d Roy demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the ol\u2019 Jackson homestead. Nobody ever took it on after the Jacksons died of cholera.\u201d He shot Adam a shame-faced look. \u201cBut some of them boys, they was sure talkin\u2019 about goin\u2019 there with Carrie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t hurt to check,\u201d Adam stated. \u201cWhat else do we have to go on?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The abandoned homestead looked deserted as they drew closer. Riding out of town, all the men realised that Carrie could have got to it from her house without being seen. They slowed their pace, and warily rode on. Suddenly, they spotted Cochise in the corral, with another horse. Instinctively, they drew rein, and dismounted.<\/p>\n

On foot, they closed the remaining distance. Cochise, smelling familiar scents, whinnied loudly as they got closer. Cursing, Hoss dashed over to silence him, but it was too late. There was a shout from the barn. \u201cDon\u2019t come any closer!\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking up, for the voice had come from above them, the four men saw Carrie at the window of the hayloft, and behind her was a shadowy figure that they recognised as Joe. \u201cCarrie!\u201d Ben shouted. \u201cIts Ben Cartwright. We want to talk to you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to talk to you,\u201d Carrie called back. \u201cGo away! I have Joe, and that\u2019s all I want!\u201d<\/p>\n

Exchanging a horrified glance, the Cartwrights wondered if they\u2019d heard correctly. \u201cShe\u2019s plumb loco,\u201d Hoss whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarrie, its Adam,\u201d Adam called.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can see you, Adam. Do you want to come up, too?\u201d There was a coquettish tone in her voice. \u201cI\u2019d let\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0come up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come up if you let Joe come down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam! No!\u201d protested Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat choice do we have, Pa?\u201d Adam whispered back. \u201cHoss said it, she\u2019s crazy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou come up, too, Adam, \u201c Carrie called. \u201cJoe stays where he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t the deal,\u201d Adam objected.<\/p>\n

Carrie moved back from the window, and there was a cry of pain. \u201cKnow what I just did?\u201d she yelled. \u201cI cut him! So you come up, too, Adam, or I\u2019ll cut him some more!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

They had a whispered consultation, but Carrie had the upper hand and they all knew it. Adam removed his gun belt and gave it to Ben. Carrie had partially closed the loft window, and they could no longer see Joe. But she could still see them, and that was something they had to keep in mind.<\/p>\n

With one last clasp of his father\u2019s hand, Adam began to walk across to the barn. He had no real plan in mind. The best he could hope for was that he and Joe both came out of this alive, and relatively unharmed. Adam knew how slim a hope it was.<\/p>\n

Climbing the ladder, Adam could feel Carrie\u2019s eyes on him the whole time. As his head cleared the hatch, he couldn\u2019t contain a gasp when he saw Joe. His brother was hanging from the roof, and his hands were badly swollen and discoloured. Dried blood was on his face, and Adam noticed that Joe\u2019s lip was swollen. There were several knife cuts on his body. His legs were tightly bound together. \u201cJoe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Lifting his head, Joe\u2019s eyes opened. They were dulled with pain, but Adam saw hope charge across the green orbs when he saw Adam. He even tried for a smile, but it ended in a wince. \u201cAdam,\u201d he croaked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow touching,\u201d Carrie said, sarcastically. \u201cA family reunion.\u201d She sashayed across to Joe and ran her hands over his chest. Adam saw Joe shudder. He instinctively took a step towards them, but Carrie brought the knife up, and he stopped. \u201cDon\u2019t try anything, Adam,\u201d she warned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you doing this, Carrie?\u201d Adam asked, trying to keep his voice reasonable.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to marry you, Adam. You asked me,\u201d she said, in a little girl voice. \u201cThen, because of\u00a0him<\/em>, you changed your mind. It wasn\u2019t nice of you, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t change my mind because of him,\u201d corrected Adam. \u201cI changed it because of what you did, with Joe. I changed my mind because of what you said about my brothers. I told you my family was important to me, and you dismissed that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot entirely,\u201d she hissed. \u201cI did hear what you said. After all, I got you here by using one of your brothers didn\u2019t I? But, you know, Adam, I rather like Joe. He\u2019s good looking, don\u2019t you think? And he\u2019s rich, too. I could just as easily marry him, as you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou aren\u2019t going to marry either of us, Carrie,\u201d he said, steadily. \u201cThe man has to be willing, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Adam feared he\u2019d gone too far. The knife came up, and rested lightly against Joe\u2019s stomach. Adam tried to keep his gaze still on the girl, and swallowed the fear in his throat. \u201cGet over here, Adam,\u201d Carrie ordered, as the moment passed.<\/p>\n

Warily, Adam did as he was told. Carrie looked him up and down, licking her lips. Adam fought to control the shudder that wanted to run down his spine. He\u2019d seen wild cats on the hunt make the very same gesture. With a swift movement that caught him off guard, Carrie sliced through the rope binding Joe\u2019s arms to the rafters. Joe, unprepared, crashed to the dusty floor. Adam ignored the girl, to kneel by Joe\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy, fella,\u201d Adam whispered, touching Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

A ghost of a smile crossed Joe\u2019s face, and was gone. He groaned as the returning blood reached his fingers, despite the ropes still round his wrists. His face was chalk white with pain. Adam was close enough to see the bite marks on Joe\u2019s face, and to see his youngest brother\u2019s valiant efforts to keep his cries under control. His own, carefully controlled temper flared. He half turned, to say something to Carrie, and from the corner of his eye, he saw her moving.<\/p>\n

Fearing for Joe\u2019s life, Adam dived forwards, covering Joe with his body.<\/p>\n

His action probably saved his life. The stiletto, instead of plunging into his kidney, went into the back of his thigh, missing all vital arteries.<\/p>\n

The injury was more than painful enough. Adam let out a yell, and grabbed for Carrie\u2019s hand. He missed, but the movement caused him to over balance, and he fell backwards to the floor.<\/p>\n

Darkness beckoned to Adam, but he shook his head to fight it off. Joe was calling his name, and worming his way across. Twisting his head, Adam looked for Carrie, fearing her next move, now he and Joe were both disabled. He saw her across the loft, scrabbling in the ancient dry hay for something. With a thrill of adrenalin, he guessed she was trying to light a fire. He had to stop her!<\/p>\n

Afterwards, Adam never knew if he shouted to Carrie or not, but Joe seemed to realise what was going on, too, and rolled across the floor towards her. Adam dragged himself after his brother, knowing neither of them would be in time to prevent her. He called Joe\u2019s name, trying to stop his brother, but all he did was alert Carrie.<\/p>\n

Looking round at them, Carrie reached inside the bodice of her gown, and drew another dagger. She threw it at Joe, with surprising speed, and stunning accuracy. Although it didn\u2019t impale itself in Joe, it did slice a deep gash across his back. The knife skittered across the floor, and came to rest by Adam\u2019s outstretched hand.<\/p>\n

There was a sudden \u2018whoosh<\/em>\u2019 as the flames took hold of the old dry hay. Carrie stood up and laughed aloud. She looked completely mad. Adam didn\u2019t hesitate. He snatched up the knife, and threw it at Carrie.<\/p>\n

It missed. Carrie glanced after it, as the knife whizzed past her shoulder. Joe continued his desperate rolling, crashed into her legs and knocked her down. With a scream of anger, she kicked and fought him, managing to kick him in the face as she freed herself. She scrambled backwards, oblivious to the flames, and looked round for the knife. \u201cJoe!\u201d Adam yelled, but his brother was unconscious.<\/p>\n

Intent on reaching Joe, Adam was startled to hear a piercing scream. Looking up, he saw Carrie\u2019s dress was on fire. The flames licked up her clothing quickly, and she screamed and screamed. Horrified, Adam was unable to drag his gaze away as her hair caught alight, too.<\/p>\n

With one final, agonising scream, Carrie fell backwards into the flames. Adam worked desperately to control the contents of his stomach as he dragged himself, bleeding across the floor to try and save his brother. Joe was far too close to the flames. Adam knew he wouldn\u2019t get there in time. He was sobbing as he tried to increase his speed, but his hold on consciousness was waning.<\/p>\n

As he slumped to the floor, hands grabbed him under the arms, and he found himself being helped back across the floor, away from Joe. He made a gargantuan effort, and opened his eyes, and realised that it was his father and Roy Coffee who were helping him. \u201cJoe,\u201d he gasped.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss has him,\u201d Ben replied, panting. \u201cIts all right, son. Hoss has Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Leaving the Cartwrights behind, Roy Coffee galloped to Virginia City to fetch help. Some time later, Adam and Joe were both in Doc Martin\u2019s office, and he was preparing to operate to remove the knife from Adam\u2019s thigh. Ben, Hoss and Roy had all inhaled large amounts of smoke, and were coughing. Adam and Joe hadn\u2019t escaped, either. Paul was worried about giving Adam ether, but he was reluctant to remove the knife without an anaesthetic. Adam had lost a lot of blood, and Paul knew he didn\u2019t have time to hesitate. So, encouraging Ben to sit with Joe, he operated at once.<\/p>\n

It was touch and go for a while. No arteries had been damaged, but the knife had gone in several inches. However, Paul finally had the wound closed up, and Adam resting comfortably. Then he could turn his attention to Joe, who for once was less seriously injured. Paul was concerned about the damage to Joe\u2019s hands, and turned his attention to them. There was very little he could do, bar give pain relief, but Joe was even more reluctant than usual to accept it. He became so distressed, that Paul gave up. He gave Joe a whiff of ether and then stitched up the numerous cuts on his chest and back.<\/p>\n

Finally, with both his chief patients asleep, he examined the sheriff and Ben and Hoss. Admonishing them to go easy, he passed them fit. Roy left immediately to talk to the Walkers. Ben and Hoss went to sit with Adam and Joe.<\/p>\n

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

It was quite a few days before Adam and Joe were fit enough to return home. Adam\u2019s leg was healing quickly, and he was soon on his feet. Joe had many small injuries, of which his hands were giving the most concern. The pain of the returning circulation kept Joe awake, and Paul finally forced laudanum on him, to make him rest. On the third day, Paul said there was no permanent damage to Joe\u2019s hands, though it would be a while before he had full use of them again. Ben had stayed with them in the town, while Hoss took charge of the ranch. Neither son had spoken much, but Joe had finally told them that Carrie had drugged him. After that, Ben had been content to allow them to rest, before he probed their feelings any more.<\/p>\n

Virginia City was in an uproar. There had never been anything like this before, and the Territorial Enterprise had managed to get several good stories out of it. Carrie\u2019s past had been raked up, and the Walkers had fled the city. Carrie\u2019s remains had been buried in a pauper\u2019s grave, as her parents had left before the funeral. The Cartwrights received many visitors, but Ben always prevented them from seeing his boys, and everyone left disappointed.<\/p>\n

To get home undisturbed, Ben arranged with Hoss to bring the buggy to the hotel, where they had been staying, before dawn broke. The ploy worked, and they arrived home shortly after 6 am. Adam was recovering more quickly than Joe, who dozed on his father\u2019s shoulder for most of the way. Adam didn\u2019t have much to say for himself either, so it was a quiet journey.<\/p>\n

Back at the ranch, Ben left them to get re-acquainted with their rooms, while he and Hoss attended to some things outside. \u201cThey\u2019re awful quiet, Pa,\u201d Hoss commented, as he put grain in Chubb\u2019s manager. \u201cD\u2019you think they\u2019re all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey will be, Hoss,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cWe just need to give them time and space. A lot happened to them, and they have to think it through.\u201d He clapped his big son on the shoulder. \u201cYou\u2019re doing the right things, son. Don\u2019t press them. They\u2019ll talk when they\u2019re ready. We just have to listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Limping across the landing, Adam knocked on Joe\u2019s door. After a few seconds, Joe\u2019s voice said, \u201cGo away, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opening the door, Adam went in anyway. Joe was sitting listlessly on the bed. \u201cI thought I said go away,\u201d Joe commented.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to talk,\u201d said Adam, sitting down on Joe\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

The words gave Joe an odd feeling, one he couldn\u2019t quite pin down. A shiver ran down his spine. Suddenly, like a light going on, he remembered why the words seemed so familiar. He remembered knocking on Adam\u2019s door, and insisting he had to talk. He remembered Adam\u2019s anger, and the punch his brother had thrown at him. He remembered backing away, and the horrible moment when his foot hit air, and he over balanced on the stairs. He remembered flying through the air \u2013 but mercifully, there his memory stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Adam repeated, his concern growing. Joe was pale, his eyes unfocused, his breath coming in uneven gasps. \u201cJoe, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

As suddenly as it had come over him, the memory left, but he was still shaken and pale. With an effort, Joe looked at Adam. \u201cI remember,\u201d he whispered. \u201cI remember our quarrel, and the fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stricken, Adam could only stare at Joe. After a moment, he swallowed and said, \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Joe. So sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Joe blinked back the tears welling in his eyes. His brother\u2019s tone had been so remorseful. \u201cAdam, there\u2019s nothing to be sorry for. I fell, and it was an accident. Its not like you pushed me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI shouldn\u2019t have lost my temper,\u201d protested Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many times have I had to say that?\u201d wondered Joe. \u201cEveryone loses their temper sometimes, brother.\u201d He smiled at Adam, and after a moment, Adam smiled back.<\/p>\n

They were still sitting together when Ben reappeared a little while later. He smiled at them, and they both smiled back. Ben was relieved to see there was more life about the smiles. They didn\u2019t seem forced any more. \u201cIs everything all right?\u201d he asked, sensing something in the atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s regained his memory,\u201d offered Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d noted Ben, sitting down in the chair. He could see that his sons had made peace with one another. \u201cHow do you feel about it, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

His youngest son looked thoughtful. \u201cIt answers a lot of questions I had,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI couldn\u2019t remember the picnic, so I couldn\u2019t remember what Carrie had said to me, and to Adam, that caused all the trouble. But I can now, and it explains so many things. If I\u2019d known those things, I wouldn\u2019t have helped her the day she kidnapped me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know what she said to me,\u201d Adam commented, \u201cbut what did she say to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

This was an interesting development to Ben, as he hadn\u2019t heard what Carrie had said to Adam. So he stayed as still as he could, not wanting to distract either man.<\/p>\n

Looking at Adam, Joe winced.\u00a0 \u201cWhen she told you that you weren\u2019t the only Cartwright interested in her, and you walked away, I asked her what she meant by that. I only took her to the picnic because she asked me if I would. Carrie laughed, and said that she had agreed to marry you, but now she wondered if she\u2019d picked the right brother. She said I was nearer her age, and perhaps she\u2019d marry me.\u201d Joe gulped. \u201cSorry, Adam, but she said she didn\u2019t really love you, but you\u2019d do as a husband.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIts okay, Joe, I know she didn\u2019t love me,\u201d soothed Adam. \u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drawing a deep breath, Joe continued. \u201cI was horrified. If I\u2019d known how you felt, obviously I wouldn\u2019t have gone with her. As it was, I left her there, saying that I didn\u2019t want to see her again. I got on Cochise and came home after you.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to get into a war over your woman. I didn\u2019t want you to think we were in love with the same woman. It wasn\u2019t one of those \u2013 you know \u2013 triangle things. Not a tug of war over her.\u201d Joe shook his head again. \u201cDo you know what I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

Unable to say anything, Adam simply nodded. His dark eyes were shining with tears. Joe had laid his soul bare before them. Ben moved to hug both his boys. Joe\u2019s green eyes were wet, too, and he rubbed away the tears with a hand still sore, but on the road to full recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a tug of war,\u201d Ben said, softly. \u201cWhat you boys felt was the tug of love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frowning, both sons looked at their father, perplexed. He laughed. \u201cThe tug of love between the two of you, not between either of you and that woman. The tug of love that told Adam that this girl wasn\u2019t for him. The tug of love that made Joe come home after you, Adam, to ensure you weren\u2019t hurt by his actions. And it was the tug of love that made you fight to save each other in that barn.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a thoughtful silence. \u201cI like that,\u201d Joe commented. \u201cA tug of love. I would never have thought of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking askance at both father and brother, Adam said, dryly, \u201cIts amazing what you can think of when you use your brains, little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Glaring back at Adam, Joe retorted, \u201cWe aren\u2019t all egg-heads, you know!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben began to laugh. \u201cBack to normal then,\u201d he commented, and rose to his feet, still laughing.<\/p>\n

Eyeing their father, Adam and Joe cautiously looked at each other, then realised what they were doing \u2013 bickering. As Ben went down the landing, he heard the laughter coming from the room he\u2019d just left. Yes, things were indeed back to normal.<\/p>\n

*****End*****<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 Joe and Adam clash over a girl. However, they both find that blood is thicker than water when the girl kidnaps Joe.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 \u00a0(11,430 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":11800,"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":[23,41],"tags":[14,16],"class_list":["post-3831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2677,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/A-J.jpg?fit=400%2C320&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7633,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7633","url_meta":{"origin":3831,"position":0},"title":"Sweeter Than Pie (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A simple vignette about Little Joe, a girl, and a watchful big brother. 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Can Adam explain it correctly so a ten-year old Joe can understand? Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count: 1250","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5278,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5278","url_meta":{"origin":3831,"position":5},"title":"The Squirrel Incident (by Born in the USA)","author":"Born in The USA","date":"April 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0With Hoss and Joe away, Adam has to take care of his brother's chores. And gets a little 'surprise' along the way. Rated:\u00a0K+ (640 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3831","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\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3831"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3831\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}