A Doctor’s Work is Never Done<\/strong><\/p>\nIt was a ride in the buggy that Doctor Paul Martin would have preferred not to make but even so, he flicked the reins and hollered at his horse, urging it on as fast as he dared over uneven ground in the gathering gloom of an early spring dusk. He shivered inside his greatcoat, longing to rearrange his muffler closer to his throat but not prepared to risk losing control over the animal as it surged onwards with a new-found burst of energy, as if sensing the urgency.<\/p>\n
Had it really been less than an hour since Jack Hayes out of the Ponderosa had burst through the door, breathless and red-faced from a ride at break-neck speed to summon him? Paul Martin had been treating little Emmy Patterson\u2019s ankle at the time and reassuring her mother that the child only had a sprain. There was no break and certainly no need for worry as she would be racing around as usual within a few days. That was when the dishevelled cowhand had exploded into the room, shouting incoherently and startling the already overly sensitive mother and child.<\/p>\n
The next few minutes were consumed with quietening the excited young man, soothing the agitated mother and calming the hysterical little girl. So it was that, in the midst of all the mayhem, Doctor Martin only gathered part of the story but enough to realise that his presence was required immediately out at the ranch for there had been a terrible accident, the real nature of which was lost in the ensuing chaos.<\/p>\n
Before the Doctor could stop him, the cowhand had gone, announcing that he had a message for the Sheriff. Whether this was in relation to events out at the ranch or totally unconnected was not clear but Paul Martin was not about to wait around to find out as he ushered his patient and her mother out the door and hastily followed, doctor\u2019s bag in hand.<\/p>\n
His mind was racing as he headed out to the large spread that belonged to his good friend and castigated himself for not finding out more information. He did not know who had been injured, the extent of those injuries and how they had been obtained, although Hayes definitely said there had been an accident.<\/p>\n
Between them, the three Cartwright sons kept him busy, especially the youngest. Ranching could be a dangerous business and, without looking at his records, he knew there had been a catalogue of broken and dislocated limbs, cracked ribs, concussions and a plethora of deep cuts needing stitches. These were par for the course when dealing with cattle and breaking horses but then the Cartwrights were also involved in the mining and timber industries and there had been instances of cave-ins and calamities at the lumber camps when one or more of the brothers was affected. Then, of course, there were the fights. They did not go looking for trouble, but it seemed to find them and they were not afraid to defend themselves or innocent others, giving rise to bruises and lacerations, or worse. Paul Martin knew every bullet he had extracted and from which young man.<\/p>\n
Each time he was summoned to the ranch, he wondered what he would find. Oh there were the occasions when he had more advance information than he had received today, but he still dreaded the time when he would arrive at the ranch house only to discover that there was little he could do or say. Ben Cartwright was devoted to his boys and the prospect of losing one of them was beyond contemplation.<\/p>\n
As the buggy entered the yard, he could not help but look up at the windows that overlooked the front of the house and behind which lay the bedrooms of the two younger sons. There was no light. Whatever had happened had not befallen Hoss or Joe – unless one of them was laid out on the sofa in the great room or the guest room downstairs. So what had Adam done now? Filled with trepidation, he climbed down from the buggy into a yard eerily quiet and devoid of any movement; none of the ranch hands was to be seen.<\/p>\n
With a sigh, Paul Martin gripped his bag and headed for the stout, wooden front door. He had not even knocked when it was thrown open from within and his greeting died in his throat at the sight of the young man before him. The black shirt was torn in several places and liberally coated in dust and something that looked suspiciously like dried, crusted blood. His? It was possible if the jagged, dirty cut on his forehead was anything to go by, but even more alarming was the manner in which he ran a distracted hand through his hair and the fact that his eyes – so often guarded – were wide and filled with what the doctor could only describe as fear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard you arrive. Thank goodness you\u2019re here, Paul,\u201d Adam stood to one side to let him enter and Paul Martin caught sight of the family\u2019s cook hovering in the background and appealing to Number One Son to sit himself down so that his injuries could be treated.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot now, Hop Sing!\u201d he snapped, much to Paul\u2019s surprise. As if he realised that he had been too harsh, Adam\u2019s tone softened, an uncharacteristic quiver entering his voice. \u201cIt\u2019s not serious. It\u2019ll keep until later,\u201d and he headed for the stairs, unable to hide his gasp of pain or his pronounced limp.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdam,\u201d Doctor Martin began, realising that he had one patient here that needed looking after but the eldest Cartwright boy rounded on him.<\/p>\n
\u201cLater,\u201d Adam insisted, his whole stance radiating tension and his eyes filled with anguish. \u201cYou have to come quickly, Hoss and Joe are waiting.\u201d He took a deep breath in a vain effort to still the turmoil that threatened to overwhelm him. \u201cIt\u2019s Pa and he\u2019s hurt bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
****************<\/p>\n
The great room of the Ponderosa ranch house was silent as each of its three occupants was lost in his own thoughts and fears. Periodically, one of them would look towards the staircase, believing that he had heard the doctor descending, but it was always a mistake. Paul Martin had not finished his work.<\/p>\n
Adam stood by the huge fireplace, one foot poised on the hearth, a hand resting on the stonework as he stared into the fire, oblivious to the dancing flames and their heat that usually brought comfort to the huge room. He refused to let anyone bathe his wounds, nor had he made any attempt to change his clothes and his younger brothers were too caught up in their own misery to fight with him about looking after himself. When he refused their offers to help him for the third time, they gave up persisting, content with the knowledge that he was still walking and talking. Therefore he could not be that badly hurt.<\/p>\n
Unlike their father.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s taking so long?\u201d Joe complained from his perch on the edge of the coffee table. Impatient as ever, but now with very good reason, he leapt to his feet and began pacing the room nervously. Adam turned his head to watch as Joe began a circuit of the room but he had neither the words or the energy to offer any consolation and so he merely lowered his head again and resumed his study of the fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cQuit the pacing, Joe, and set down,\u201d Hoss instructed, at the same time indulging in the annoying habit of cracking his knuckles.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can I sit down when Pa\u2019s up there and we\u2019re stuck down here an\u2019 don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on? Anything could be happening. He might even be …\u201d His voice trailed off, not wanting to put into words his deepest fear. His father might be dying. It was a thought that he could not bear but even worse was the prospect of his father breathing his last with none of his sons around him to say their farewells.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell you wearin\u2019 out the floor ain\u2019t gonna change any o\u2019 that now, is it?\u201d Hoss said softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just don\u2019t understand how it happened,\u201d Joe began.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave it, Joe.\u201d A warning edge crept into Hoss\u2019 voice as he shot a wary glance at his older brother. Even in the depths of his despair, it was obvious that Adam had heard Joe\u2019s comment for his back visibly stiffened.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what caused the log pile to slip? Why weren\u2019t the horses tethered or at least unhitched from the buckboard?\u201d Joe persisted, pausing in his walk to rest both hands on the arm of the sofa and lean in Hoss\u2019 direction.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know as well as I do that we don\u2019t always unhitch the horses when we\u2019re unloadin\u2019. Heck, we don\u2019t bother about tethering \u2019em each and every time neither. We reckon on them being well trained enough to stand still and that\u2019s what they usually do, \u2019cept when they\u2019re spooked like that.\u201d Hoss tried to explain reasonably.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that still doesn\u2019t account for why the pile slipped. Weren\u2019t they stacked right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Adam reeled round to face his youngest brother. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you come right out and say what you\u2019re thinking, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAw, Adam, he ain\u2019t thinkin\u2019 anythin\u2019 right now. He\u2019s too upset about Pa,\u201d Hoss intervened, trying to defuse a situation before it erupted.<\/p>\n
Adam stepped forward, his voice low and filled with menace. \u201cNo, he\u2019s thinking plenty. Aren\u2019t you, Joe? You\u2019re thinking that a job hasn\u2019t been done properly and as the sawmill\u2019s my responsibility, it\u2019s my fault. Am I right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe\u2019s eyes widened in horror as he realised how Adam had misinterpreted his questions. All he wanted was to know how such a terrible accident could have come about; it had certainly never occurred to him to lay blame on his brother. He shook his head, denying the accusation.<\/p>\n
Hoss rose to stand between his two brothers and laid a conciliatory hand on Adam\u2019s chest. \u201cNow calm down, big brother. Joe ain\u2019t sayin\u2019 anythin\u2019 o\u2019 the kind. He\u2019s jest puttin\u2019 into words what we all wanna know, yourself included. This terrible accident happened as accidents do. It\u2019s not a case of anyone not doin\u2019 their job and we ain\u2019t blamin\u2019 anyone. If\u2019n anyone\u2019s doin\u2019 the blamin\u2019, then I reckon it\u2019s you bein\u2019 hard on yourself as usual when they ain\u2019t no call fer it, but we can worry about how it all happened when we know Pa\u2019s gonna be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n
The voice of reason prevailed. Joe exhaled the heavy breath he had not even realised he was holding and perched on the arm of the sofa as Adam, shoulders slumped in weary resignation, sank into a chair, his mind racing.<\/p>\n
Hoss was right; accidents happen, but Joe was right too. Log piles do not just slip. Something was wrong and he aimed to find out what but in the meantime, as he had oversight of the sawmill, then the responsibility stopped with him.<\/p>\n
If something had not been done properly and it had caused his father serious injury, then all the reassuring words in the world could not alleviate the guilt he was feeling. If his father died, then it would be his fault ultimately. he shivered, despite the heat emanating from the fire to his left, and he shut his eyes to his aching body and the throbbing pain in his head.<\/p>\n
A sound on the stairs brought the three brothers to their feet, and worried eyes watched the doctor at last come into sight.<\/p>\n
Paul paused and held onto the banisters tiredly as he looked down on the pale, anguished faces of the Cartwright sons. In an instant he felt a pang of envy at the bond within this family; these boys were devoted to their father as he was to them. Threaten or remove any one of them and he dare not think about the consequences.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve set your Pa\u2019s leg and bound his cracked ribs. There\u2019s no internal bleeding as far as I can tell and I\u2019ve cleaned up all those cuts, stitching the biggest ones. That thick Cartwright skull saved the day yet again. It\u2019s going to take time getting him back on his feet – the leg was broken in a couple of places – but he\u2019s going to be fine, boys. I know it looked bad but it could have been a whole heap worse.\u201d Paul\u2019s weary face broke into a relieved smile as he saw the immediate change his news wrought in the young men before him.<\/p>\n
Joe and Hoss grasped each other by the shoulders and jumped up and down, whooping quietly in deference to their father\u2019s health. Adam let out a huge sigh of relief, a faint smile playing on his lips.<\/p>\n
Paul stood to one side on the stairs as Hoss and Joe rushed past him to see their father and convince themselves that he was on the mend. Only Adam remained where he stood, a frown clouding his features, his left hand rubbing at his temple.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, Adam, do you want to see your Pa first or shall we get you cleaned up so I can take a look at that gash on your head?\u201d the Doctor asked.<\/p>\n
Later, Paul Martin would recount that there was no warning but even as he moved, he saw Adam\u2019s eyes roll in his head, his knees buckled and he crumpled with a graceful slow motion to the floor.<\/p>\n
*************<\/p>\n
Down by the corral, Joe leaned on the top rail and rubbed a hand over tired eyes. What a night! He, Hoss, Hop Sing and Doctor Martin had taken turns to sit with the two Cartwright patients. In fact, the Doctor had only just departed, having snatched a couple of hours\u2019 sleep in the guest room and a couple of cups of Hop Sing\u2019s strong, hot coffee.<\/p>\n
The joyous news that their father was not as badly hurt as they first feared had been tarnished when, seconds after entering his room, they had heard Paul Martin\u2019s cry of alarm from the room below. Not knowing what had happened, they allowed themselves a brief, reassuring look at their father who was sleeping comfortably and headed back to the stairs. Whatever they might have been anticipating was nothing compared with the shock of finding the Doctor kneeling uncomfortably beside the prostrate form of their older brother. Somehow, he had gone down between the sofa and the coffee table and had been fortunate in that he had not done himself any more serious damage.<\/p>\n
Joe remembered that the next few minutes had been unmitigated mayhem as he and Hoss bombarded the bemused Doctor with a torrent of anxious questions, the noise bringing a startled Hop Sing from the kitchen. He had then added to the chaos with a stream of rapid Cantonese as his concern manifested itself. Joe had dragged the sofa back to make more room and Hoss moved in so that, with a nod from the Doctor, he could gather his older brother into his arms and carry him up to his bedroom. Joe shut his eyes to the memory of Adam\u2019s head lolling back limply over Hoss\u2019 arm, his face frighteningly ashen so that the gash on his head – which until now they had ignored – became a screaming mockery.<\/p>\n
They processed up the stairs, Hoss leading the way and gently carrying his precious burden as if Adam weighed little more than a child. The Doctor followed with Joe and Hop Sing in his wake.<\/p>\n
Indeed, it had been a long night!<\/p>\n
Meanwhile upstairs, Ben eased himself into a sitting position for the first time since his accident the day before. \u201cYou\u2019re sure he\u2019s all right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow quit your fussin\u2019, Pa,\u201d Hoss ordered, plumping up the pillows behind his father and expertly balancing a breakfast tray on his lap. \u201cBig brother\u2019s gonna be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what did Paul say?\u201d Ben demanded. Hungry as he was, he was incapable of swallowing a morsel until he had more news.<\/p>\n
Straightening up, Hoss sighed. \u201cPa, I done tol\u2019 you twice already.\u201d Realising that his father was not going to eat without some persuasion, he picked up the fork and handed it to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cTell me again.\u201d Ben folded his arms and scowled at the fork s if it were somehow at fault.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdam\u2019s got himself a whole heap of scrapes and bruises. He\u2019s gonna be sore for a while but there was nothin\u2019 broken and he didn\u2019t even need stitches in his head. Seems the wagon caught him as he was tryin\u2019 to get you outa the way, took him clear offa his feet. No-one recalls him being knocked out. Folks was kinda concerned about you and the next thing anyone knows, he was givin\u2019 orders and sortin\u2019 out the mess so everybody figured he was fine. Worst thing he\u2019s collected is one heck of a concussion. Seems he\u2019d been pushing himself outa worry fer you after that and as soon as we got the news that you\u2019d be all right, his body kinda gave up on him, what with the relief an\u2019 all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben started to push the tray to one side.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow where do ya think you\u2019re goin\u2019?\u201d Hoss demanded, pushing his father back as carefully as he could and replacing the tray in its former position.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to see Adam.\u201d Ben insisted.<\/p>\n
Hoss gave another exasperated sigh. \u201cAn\u2019 just how d\u2019ya reckon you\u2019re gonna do that? The Doc says you\u2019ve to stay in bed at least a week. You can\u2019t think of using crutches yet with your ribs the way they are and I sure ain\u2019t gonna carry you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss …\u201d Ben began, his voice adopting a low rumble of warning that Hoss knew so well, along with the narrowing of the coal-black eyes and the drawing together of the eyebrows, but for once, Hoss was undeterred.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, it ain\u2019t gonna do you any good lookin\u2019 at me like that, Pa. The Doc says you\u2019re both to stay in bed and that\u2019s final. Maybe, if he\u2019s up to it, I\u2019ll help Adam come and see you later tonight but Joe and me have got more important things to do with work, what with you two bein\u2019 laid up the way y\u2019are, without having to worry about whether or not the two of you are where you\u2019re supposed to be, an\u2019 that\u2019s in bed. Any trouble, an\u2019 I\u2019ll set Hop Sing on the pair o\u2019 you.\u201d He smoothed the coverlet over his father and tucked it in firmly at the side of the bed, as if by way of further restraint.<\/p>\n
Ben glowered at him and then realised the sense of his big son\u2019s words. With two of them out of commission, it did seriously add to the workload of his other two sons and he did not want to increase their problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow are you gonna eat that?\u201d Hoss prompted, nodding at the food. Ben forked up some scrambled egg.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re sure there is no serious head injury?\u201d Ben tried again. \u201cHe has been conscious?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou two are as bad as each other; there\u2019s no mistakin\u2019 where he gets it from.\u201d He saw but chose to ignore his father\u2019s frown. \u201cYou\u2019re all out tryin\u2019 to get ta him and I\u2019m fightin\u2019 hard to stop him from comin\u2019 to see you. He\u2019s conscious an\u2019 downright ornery. only the way big brother can be. He sure ain\u2019t sweet tempered right now, but I reckon that\u2019s on account of L\u2019il Joe an\u2019 me jes\u2019 followin\u2019 Doc\u2019s orders and wakin\u2019 him up every coupla hours through the night; that an\u2019 the fact that the crack on the head has left him feelin\u2019 more than a mite sick an\u2019 dizzy. Maybe that\u2019ll be enough ta keep him in place fer the rest of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss was getting into his stride and enjoying this rare feeling of authority over his father and older brother, and he was determined to milk it to the full.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s nohtin\u2019 more that you\u2019re wantin\u2019, Pa, I need to go an\u2019 get me some breakfast. Joe an\u2019 me have a very busy day ahead of us. Hop Sing\u2019ll be up soon to take the tray an\u2019 help you with the necessary. I\u2019ll leave the door open, same as I\u2019ve done with Adam. happen later, if\u2019n he\u2019s not sleepin\u2019, you can call out a little to each other, pass the time. Leastways, Hop Sing\u2019ll hear if ya need anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thoroughly business-like, Hoss dipped his head in his father\u2019s direction and was gone. Silence flooded the room after his departure and Ben suddenly felt very alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdam?\u201d he called softly, gazing at the open doorway as if expecting his older son to materialise. \u201cAdam?\u201d He tried a little louder but again there was no response. Perhaps the boy was sleeping; he chastised himself for being so selfish. Adam needed all the rest that he could get.<\/p>\n
Ben shifted in the bed and winced. His leg and ribs hurt but not as much as they might have done had the dose of medication that Hoss had given him not kicked in already. This sense of frustration and helplessness did not sit easily with him.<\/p>\n
Seemingly noticing the tray in his lap for the first time in ages, he raised the fork to his lips and grimaced. The egg was cold,<\/p>\n
\u201cHop Sing!\u201d he roared, hoping that the little cook could hear him and would provide him with a fresh, hot breakfast. He was, after all, very hungry.<\/p>\n
\u201cPa!\u201d The voice that hollered back was unmistakable, as was the woeful \u2018Ouch\u2019 that immediately followed. Too much noise for too bad a headache! \u201cCan\u2019t a man get any peace around here? All I want to do is get some sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
The volume was lower but the complaint still drifted through Ben\u2019s open door, and he smiled for the gruff tones were like music to his ears. Adam was going to be fine.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Summary: With patients like the Cartwrights on your books, work can be never ending….