{"id":4776,"date":"2009-07-29T12:01:48","date_gmt":"2009-07-29T16:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4776"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:13:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:13:24","slug":"baptism-by-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4776","title":{"rendered":"Baptism by Fire (by Storm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Here is my story for the July challenge as always I hope you like it. I will also be using this as the first chapter for the mega challenge. I hope I can make it to gold.<\/p>\n

Rated: K+ \u00a0WC \u00a022,000<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Baptism by Fire<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chapter 1:<\/p>\n

Adam knew if he didn\u2019t muster up the courage all his father had worked so hard to build would be lost. With how dry the weather had been it hadn\u2019t taken much to ignite the dried out grass and dry branches that lay everywhere just waiting to fulfill the roll they seemed to have been born for, the roll of kindling. Adam knew his father had told him that fire was natures way of cleaning up and starting over, it\u2019s way to purify, but it hadn\u2019t been nature that had started this fire with some bolt of lightening it had been some careless human who had left before making sure their fire was completely out who had. Adam just knew that things would be so much easier if he had the pump like the one by the house to bring up the water from the stream. His father always told him to try and find the positive side of a situation so, he thought, at least he had a bucket to carry the water up in.<\/p>\n

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

The man sat astride his horse and watched the boy run back and forth from the fire to the stream and found himself amazed that while he never truly seemed to get in front of the fire he never fell behind it either. He knew that if he and the men with him went to help the fire could be put out. He also knew if he did he would most likely catch some hell from the man waiting for them to return. But what could a person do when faced with such determination.
\n\u201cCome on let\u2019s go help the kid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam saw the men heading his way and normally he would be wary of strangers riding on the Ponderosa but this time he was thankful. With their help he knew they might stand a chance of getting ahead of the fire and hopefully extinguish it.<\/p>\n

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

All the men noticed that despite being told he could sit down and rest, that they had everything under control, the kid continued to help fight the fire right beside them. They all knew he was exhausted, they could all see the evidence of that on his soot covered face. None of them had any idea how long he had been fighting the fire before they had come upon him but there wasn\u2019t one of them who didn\u2019t know beyond a doubt that he would have kept on fighting it until exhaustion, or more likely the smoke, overtook him. Finally things turned in their favor and the fire was down to a few smoldering embers that were easily stamped out and that\u2019s what the kid kept doing with a vengeance.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay kid its out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam felt a hand on his shoulder and he stopped stomping on the last of the smoldering ashes. \u201cYes sir. Thank you for your help.\u201d Everyone could hear by the sound of his voice that Adam had breathed in more smoke then oxygen for quite a while and it had taken its toll on his throat but that didn\u2019t keep him from betraying that he had been raised to be polite. \u201cIf you\u2019ll come to our house I\u2019m sure my pa would like to thank you himself.\u201d Adam had directed his remarks to the man he knew must be in charge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to meet your father.\u201d I\u2019d like to meet any man who can raise so civilized a young man in this wilderness.<\/p>\n

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

Ben heard the horses and instinctively got his rifle because his first thoughts were of Adam, he should have been home hours ago. It had taken all his will power, and even more of his wife Marie\u2019s arguing that he should allow his son the benefit of the doubt, that had kept him from going to look for him. He could hardly argue with his wife\u2019s fact filled argument that Adam was almost sixteen and as such was more a young man, a very responsible young man, not a child to be searched for by his father. All Ben knew was that when his eldest son got home he had better have a very good explanation for being late and that explanation had better not include anything about losing track of time because he was reading a book while lying under trees and watching clouds. Sometimes Ben wondered where that boy had gotten such traits, but then he would think of Adam\u2019s mother, his first wife Elizabeth, and he had his answer. She could be such a dreamer at times and yet so determined and hard working and her son was just like her.<\/p>\n

Ben opened the door and when he caught sight of his son he didn\u2019t even notice the rifle lower and slip from his hand. \u201cAdam! What happened? Marie!”
\n\u201cPa I\u2019m alright.\u201d If there was one thing Adam didn\u2019t want it was to be treated as a child in front of these men. He knew if his stepmother came out he would be.<\/p>\n

Ben could see his son wasn\u2019t alright and even if there were no visible traces he could hear it in his son\u2019s voice. But with memories of he and his wife\u2019s \u2018discussion\u2019 concerning his son still clearly in his mind he understood a little better why he might not want her out here. \u201cAlright Adam let\u2019s get you inside. Would you gentlemen care to join us?\u201d Ben wasn\u2019t all too sure he wanted these men in his house but judging by his son\u2019s appearance they must have helped him and gotten him home safely so he was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n

Marie knew her husband had told her to stay upstairs but her thoughts were of Adam too and she couldn\u2019t help but worry despite her own argument against her husband doing so. Adam might not believe it but Marie did understand his desire to not be fussed over but in her heart and mind she was his mother and couldn\u2019t help herself. \u201cOh Adam what happened?\u201d She ran to him and began to wipe at his faced.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m okay!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam.\u201d Ben knew it was more then likely whatever his son had been through that had him speaking in such a way but he would give such behavior no quarter in his house.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Marie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps it would be a good idea for you to go upstairs and clean up while I speak with our guests.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam went up with Marie close behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse me saying so I don\u2019t believe any man likes to be fussed over by a women, not in front of other men, not at his age anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething tells me he is not quite the boy he was when he left this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I would think not, but then again something tells me the courage and determination he showed is not something he only came upon when faced with what he was. Something tells me those traits are ones that have been breed into that young man, ones that have been handed down from generation to generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you but I\u2019ve come to realize that sometimes he is more his mother\u2019s son. Can you tell me what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot really, we only came upon him after the fire was burning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFire?!\u201d Ben knew of few words that could strike fear into his heart but this was one of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry your son made sure it was out and stood no chance to re-kindle before he would stop. You taught him well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI try but sometimes I think he learns more from the books he reads. I think he prefers learning from them then from me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did seem to be rather intelligent but no book can teach a child to grow into the fine young man your son seems to be. That takes a caring and loving father.\u201d
\n\u201cThank you but where are my manners, won\u2019t you all please sit and I will get you something to drink.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

While the men sat downstairs drinking brandy and talking Adam was upstairs with his stepmother. Not really minding being fussed over but acting like he did. Luckily for him Marie knew this as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome fool left his camp before making sure every ember was completely out. There was a stream not that far away. All he had to do was use the bucket that someone, maybe even him, had left behind to drown it out. Sure there was a hole in it, but it was a small one and if you filled it to the top and ran fast enough it would only go down an inch maybe two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people just don\u2019t think of all the consequences there actions hold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah well this idiot\u2019s actions could have made us lose everything and if those men hadn\u2019t come along and helped we probably would have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie went and tried once again to take the wet rag from Adam\u2019s hand. Instead of being told yet again he could take care of himself he let her take it. \u201cAdam why don\u2019t you sit down on your bed and I\u2019ll help you wash up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe for just a minute. I\u2019m so tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I can see that, besides aren\u2019t such tasks a woman\u2019s job?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I guess they are.\u201d Adam well understood what was truly being asked, weren\u2019t such tasks a mother\u2019s job?<\/p>\n

Long after Adam was asleep Marie sat beside him thinking that this handsome boy would one day soon be a handsome man; just like his father. She also knew how close they had come to losing him because also like his father he would have not given up the fight to save something he loved and they both loved this land, this home, which they had both in their own ways fought to protect. That realization helped her to understand her stepson\u2019s attitude towards her a little better. She guessed to him she was just another enemy to fight, not for the land but for his father\u2019s attention. She guessed to a boy that was more important then anything.<\/p>\n

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

Ben walked with his guests to the door. \u201cI want to thank you all again. Are you sure you won\u2019t stay the night?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs tempting as it is to accept your offer I\u2019m afraid we can\u2019t. We have to get back to the others. We weren\u2019t supposed to be gone this long and I fear the rest of our party may well be lost or riding around in circles even though I told them to stay put until we got back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you\u2019ve taken whatever supplies you need?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been more then generous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell be sure to take a cow or two if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just might do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Adam is going to be disappointed he didn\u2019t get to say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou tell that son of your\u2019s if I should find myself out this way again I\u2019ll be sure to stop in and say hello.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know he\u2019d like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen your son showed a courage and strength few men twice his age posses. I pray the fire and determination I saw burning in his eyes will never be extinguished from his heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI pray that as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAw but pa you should a woke me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam he said if he ever was this way again he\u2019d stop by to see you. Besides you were exhausted and your voice still isn\u2019t completely recovered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah I know but pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam Mr. Carson said he couldn\u2019t stay even though he wanted to very much. He said that without him Mr. Fremont was probably lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chapter End Notes:<\/p>\n

I have used Kit Carson in this story and while he was on his third expedition with John Fremont in 1845\/1846 from St. Lous to California I don’t know if they would have gone through Nevada. I hope you don’t mind me using some literary license with these historical figures but I wanted the people who helped Adam to be of some historial importance and I felt that while I may be stretching the facts it wasn’t too far.<\/p>\n

\n

Chapter 2:<\/p>\n

Kit Carson sat astride his horse in much the same spot he had a little over a year ago. Then it had been August and so very hot and dry, now it was late September and there was a chill in the air. He recalled how that day he had watched a young man struggle to put out a fire with a courage few men possessed. It was then that he had decided that the first chance he got he\u2019d go and see how that young man was fairing when time allowed and while the time allowed was not much it was enough.<\/p>\n

Kit rode through the majestic pines to the house he well remembered as being filled with a love one could feel and almost see. He recalled thinking then how he wished he could be one of those men who could be content to stay in one place. Maybe there would come a time he would be. He remembered thinking what kind of a man would allow his son to face such danger alone but that was only until he had met the man and could see beyond question the love he had for his son. After that he found himself thinking that the young man\u2019s father was a very imposing figure able to stop with a single word his son, or most likely any man, from doing what they both knew to be wrong. Kit knew only a few men who had that ability. If only more men could get said what needed saying in as few words as possible the world would be a better place. Funny thing was he found that he liked to listen to Ben Cartwright talk. There was something in what he said and how he said it that made you feel as if he was always speaking to you from his heart, especially when he spoke of his sons or his wife. Kit had finally reached the house and he noticed there were some changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello young man.\u201d Although Kit had not met Ben\u2019s other two sons last time he was here, they had already been sleeping when they had arrived at the house, he figured this must be the younger of the two.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello.\u201d Joe knew that strangers could mean trouble so he called out to the one person who he knew would keep things safe. \u201cADAM! There\u2019s a man here.\u201d<\/p>\n

That the boy had called for Adam and not his father for protection did not escape Kit\u2019s attention and when Adam came out with rifle in hand ready to defend the house and those inside Kit was left thinking the boy was very much like his father.<\/p>\n

Adam recognized the man and lowered the rifle. \u201cHello Mr. Carson. I\u2019m glad to see you again.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd I you. Adam is there something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cIs your father around?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019s in town.\u201d Joe was standing very close to his big brother and therefore feeling very safe besides Adam seemed to know this man.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe this is Mr. Carson. Do you remember me mentioning him before?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah ain\u2019t he the one who helped you put out the fire?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t he and yes he is. Now why don\u2019t you run on in and tell Hop-Sing there will be one more for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe ran to do as told because he now had an excuse to go into Hop-Sing\u2019s kitchen and that meant he would leave with a treat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you like to come inside Mr. Carson?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam I would.\u201d
\n\u201cIf you like you can go on in and I\u2019ll see to your horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about we see to him together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t know what had brought the man here again but he was sure glad something had.<\/p>\n

As they set about putting up his horse Kit thought maybe he could get the truth. \u201cSo what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you remember my step-mother Marie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I do.\u201d A woman that beautiful was hard to forget.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell she\u2019s passed away and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kit could hear Adam\u2019s voice catch. \u201cNo need to say more son. Why don\u2019t we go on inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

When supper was served without waiting for Ben Kit feared he knew only too well where he could be found. From the look of things this was not the first meal he\u2019d missed either. Kit knew the pain of losing a wife and what it could drive the most dignified of men to. As the evening wore on Kit saw how Adam had taken on the responsibility of taking care of his younger brothers and it brought a sadness to him. Kit sensed that this young man was always being forced to take on too much responsibility for a boy his age. Sure he himself had been responsible for himself at a younger age but he didn\u2019t have his pa to look out for him.
\n\u201cHoss will you see that Joe gets ready for bed?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing Adam. Mr. Carson it was sure good to meet you and I really liked listenin to your stories. Come on Little Joe lets get ready for bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam you\u2019ll come up and tuck us in?\u201d Joe was afraid. He\u2019d lost his mother and sometimes it seemed as if they\u2019d lost their father as well. At least he had Adam and he wasn\u2019t gonna let him go.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I will Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPromise?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam promises now come on Joe say goodnight to Mr. Carson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKay Hoss. Good night Mr. Carson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNight Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss Adams gonna come up and say good night to us ain\u2019t no need to say it now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss took his little brother\u2019s hand and led him upstairs.
\n\u201cThey mind you well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose for little brothers they\u2019re not so bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo tell me Adam where is your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike Joe said he\u2019s in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first I believed he must be seeing to business but the only business that one can see to at this hour takes place in a saloon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just misses Marie. He\u2019ll be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSoon I hope because if I remember correctly last time I was here he mentioned that you were thinking of going to college back east.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you no longer are?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s too much to do here now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that your father is trying to drown his grief in a bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not! He\u2019ll be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kit found himself wondering what it would be like to cross this boy once he became a full grown man because right now his well honed survival instinct was telling him to fear the boy. \u201cI\u2019m sure he will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Mr. Carson it\u2019s just that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Kit could hear the pain in Adam\u2019s voice and understood. It was hard to have to defend someone you looked up to and loved especially against the truth. \u201cI\u2019m not the first to say it am I.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Kit vowed right then to do everything possible to assure he would be the last one who could say it.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAre you sure you wouldn\u2019t rather sleep in the guest room? Hop-Sing has it all fixed up.\u201d Adam knew that if Kit rode away it would most likely be some time before he saw him again.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I best be on my way. I only stopped by to see how you were fairing.\u201d And now that I have I am going to do my best to assure that the next time I see you things will be better because there was no doubt in Kit\u2019s mind he would see Adam again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m real glad to have seen you again Mr. Carson and I hope I\u2019ll see you sometime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so too Adam but there is one thing I\u2019d like you to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNext time we do see each other will you please call me Kit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir\u2026I mean Kit.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Kit followed the man\u2019s finger and couldn\u2019t believe that was the same man he\u2019d met a little over a year ago. He slowly made his way to the table hoping he would find the bartender was wrong in his identification.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked up from his now empty glass. \u201cHello. Hey Sam I need another bottle this one\u2019s empty and I got a friend joining me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kit waved the bartender off. \u201cI\u2019ll join you but it\u2019s not another bottle you\u2019ll be getting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me?\u2019<\/p>\n

Maybe if he was sober Kit would find Ben to be as intimidating as his son, but Ben wasn\u2019t sober and it was hard to fear a man who you knew couldn\u2019t see straight. \u201cDo you remember me Ben? It\u2019s Kit Carson. A little over a year ago I helped your son save that ranch of yours from burning down. It seemed so very important to you then but it doesn\u2019t appear to be so any longer. Of course it also appears that bottle of whiskey is now more important to you then your sons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a lie! I love my boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why is it you have deserted them when they need you most.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy wife is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I know. Adam told me as much but it\u2019s not the first wife you\u2019ve lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cBut it is the first one you\u2019ve lost when you could drown your sorrow. It\u2019s the first one you\u2019ve lost when you\u2019ve had someone else you could trust to take care of things. Tell me Ben do you believe that\u2019s being fair to Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

No matter how drunk Ben got he could hear the truth when it was spoken. Trouble was when he was drunk and the truth was something he didn\u2019t like to hear he could try to believe it was a lie. \u201cJust who do you think you are?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone who after only knowing you a few hours believed you to be the most noble of men but I guess I was wrong. A noble man would never allow his sons to suffer just so he could forget his own pain. A dignified man would not stand drunkenly by while his own son gave up on a dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam and his dream of going to college. He said he no longer intends to go, that there is too much to be done here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes but not so much that you couldn\u2019t do it. Of course you would have to be sober.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHas Adam been complaining to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo the boy didn\u2019t say one word of complaint. He just did as was needed and expected of him without question or second thought. He\u2019s not the type who expects praise for what he does he just does it. That includes defending you even if he knows he\u2019s defending you against the truth. Guess that could be because you\u2019re his pa and in his eyes can do no wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

In spite of wanting to ignore this man\u2019s words Ben found the truth a hard thing to ignore. He had only one defense. \u201cI loved her so very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, I could see that, but I also know that she loved those boys. Would she want you to ignore them in order to forget her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know she loved them which is why being with them can sometimes be so hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes but would it be easier without them? You keep doing as you are and they will learn that they can\u2019t rely on you only each other. I can see it starting to happen with your younger boys. They depend on their older brother a great deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey always have. And Adam? Well that boy was just always naturally independent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps but they still need you. Boys need a pa. Even if it\u2019s only to take a belt to their backsides when they do wrong, or maybe to teach them the finer points of courting a lady.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid Adam really say he was no longer intending to go to college?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he has to go. Marie wanted him to go. She said he was the smartest boy she had ever known. She use to say he could prove that people from the west were just as smart if not smarter then people from the east. Of course I use to argue that was because Adam was born back east.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI bet that would put her in a temper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time.\u201d<\/p>\n

And so passed the evening with Ben remembering Marie. The memories spilt from him but not another drop of whiskey was poured and he found sharing the memories to be so much more healing then trying to hold them all inside.<\/p>\n

When dawn was breaking the two men left the saloon to say their farewells.<\/p>\n

\u201cI find I again owe you a great debt Kit. Last time it was for Adam\u2019s life but this time I believe you\u2019ve saved mine and each of my son\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe in time you would have come to see anything you may think I\u2019ve shown you on your own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may have been too late because Adam is already of college age and the one thing you have made me see is that I need to have a very long and serious talk with that eldest son of mine. If he honestly believes I am going to let him give up on something as important to him as going to college then maybe he is not as intelligent as we all believe him to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chapter 3:<\/p>\n

Ben had noticed that Adam didn\u2019t seem to mind too much going on this round up as much as he might normally. Of course that could be because he was well aware that it would be the last one he would be going on at least for a few years. In less the two months his son would be leaving for college. Ben knew that he should be leaving sooner in order to give him time to settle in but Adam had said he wouldn\u2019t leave until after the memorial service they would be holding for Marie. Ben was well aware how bad his eldest son felt about leaving so close to the anniversary of her passing and he tried to reassure Adam that all would be fine and he hoped he\u2019d accomplished that because he didn\u2019t want his son to go feeling too bad. He reminded Adam that it was Marie who was his ally in fighting to make this dream a reality and she wouldn\u2019t want to be the reason that his adventure was delayed any longer. Ben also knew that this was something his son desperately wanted but he also knew he would put it off if his father asked him to. He only hoped his son wouldn\u2019t find something to make him want to stay back east.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cSo Adam did you finish all your visiting?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes pa. I think I\u2019ve said goodbye to everyone in the territory. They all said to tell you that it was a beautiful service and that they were all happy to see you doing so well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I guess most of them didn\u2019t think I would ever recover.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell I never had my doubts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know son and thank you for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

As usual when things appeared as if they might get a little too emotional Adam tried to find something to redirect the conversation and he used the usual topic. \u201cHey pa where\u2019s Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now in the kitchen. He and Hoss are helping Hop-Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor Hop-Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes but I do believe even if he would never admit it Hop-Sing does enjoy your brother\u2019s attentions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps but I believe what he enjoys the most is the attention Hoss gives his cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I think I\u2019ll go and get cleaned up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a very good idea. Dinner should be ready soon. Oh by the way there\u2019s a letter for you on my desk. I picked it up when I went into town earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s it from pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben was glad that Adam didn\u2019t ask why he had gone into town when this morning he had said he was feeling tired and would Adam mind if he didn\u2019t go with him to visit with their neighbors. \u201cGo and read it and you\u2019ll find out for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam could tell from the grin on his father\u2019s face it was someone he would like to hear from.<\/p>\n

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

Adam had glanced at the envelope and he decided to wash up first because he wanted to let the anticipation grow about what was in the letter. After he was sure his hands were dry and would not make the paper wet he sat on his bed and opened the envelope and read.<\/p>\n

Adam<\/p>\n

I was very happy to hear from you and I\u2019m glad that you\u2019ll be leaving for college. The west could use smart men but it also needs ones that don\u2019t let that smart interfere with what their heart knows to be right. I believe you could be such a man Adam.<\/p>\n

I hope that we can meet again. Maybe I\u2019ll be able to come and see you after you graduate. I\u2019d like to see how education will change you or how being with all those civilized people will change you, I only hope it ain\u2019t too much because I\u2019m kind of partial to the young man I know.<\/p>\n

Want to hear something funny? I heard tell that this fella was gonna write a book with me as the hero. I don\u2019t see me as no hero. You know what I would consider a hero? A hero is a boy who fights against all odds to put out a fire because he knows to not do that would mean all his pa worked so hard for would be lost. There are a lot of boys who wouldn\u2019t even see how hard their pa was working because they would be busy with things that keep boys busy. To me a hero is that same boy who fights just as hard to keep his family together through a real tough time. He puts his hurt and grief aside because he has to be the strong one for his little brothers when, for a little while, their pa lost sight of what was important because he was blinded by his heartache. That boy to me is a hero and I do hope the man he is on his way to becoming can live up to that boy because it would sure be a tragedy if he doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve written a letter this long in some time because my hand is starting to cramp. So I will finish up by letting you know that I wish you the best of luck at school and warn you to not let those pretty eastern gals distract you too much.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be seeing you again<\/p>\n

Kit Carson<\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly hope so Kit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam put the letter back into the envelope and laid it on the table beside his bed. He knew he would probably read it again before he went to sleep. Funny but just like Kit he didn\u2019t see himself as a hero but he did believe Kit Carson to be one. Adam knew he had only done what needed doing at the time. Maybe in some ways that\u2019s what a hero was. Doing what needed doing even if you didn\u2019t want to or was sometimes afraid to. He remembered Hop-Sing once told him something Confucius, a great Chinese philosopher, said about courage \u2018To see what is right and not to do it is cowardice\u2019. That\u2019s all Adam felt he had done, what was right.<\/p>\n

Adam could hear his name being called and he prepared to go and join his family for one of the last meals they would share together for a while.<\/p>\n

What Adam didn\u2019t know was what they had been planning all day. It\u2019s why Ben had given Adam a list of people to go see knowing they needed time to prepare everything. Ben had been happy, well not at the time, when they found they were short on some of the needed ingredients because when he had gone into town he had picked up that letter from Kit and he knew that hearing from him would make Adam happy. Ben knew that neither he nor his sons would be in mood for a big party but he was not about to let his son leave home without some kind of a celebration. So that\u2019s what tonight would be. All of Adam\u2019s favorite dishes and a very special cake for desert. It was that cake that Hop-Sing had allowed Hoss and Little Joe help decorate. It may not be the prettiest of cakes but Ben knew that his eldest son would see it as the most perfect and prettiest cake every baked because like his father he would see only the love that had gone into making it not the fingerprints in the icing.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chapter 4:<\/p>\n

Adam approached the students standing in a group. He\u2019d been here a week and this was the first day of classes and he hoped to make some friends. Back in Nevada it was pretty easy for Adam to do that.<\/p>\n

The group of young men watched the new kid approach and decided to do as they did with any new kid, especially one that made them feel inferior without even trying.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re the new student.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked to his left. \u201cYes, I\u2019m Adam Cartwright,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Cartwright. We hear you\u2019re from Nevada.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now Adam\u2018s attention was drawn to his right. \u201cYes I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that even a state?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam could hear the snickering and he directed his attention to the student standing directly in front of him. \u201cNot yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it ever is. I mean who could picture a state with a name like Nevada. Is that some kind of an Indian word?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked to his right. \u201cNo it’s Spanish, it is it means snow-covered.\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cWell how quaint.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he watched them walk away Adam didn\u2019t know if their words made him feel more angry or more hurt and out of place. Maybe he didn\u2019t belong here and never would.<\/p>\n

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

Quentin had watched this kid try to talk to so many of his classmates that he began to feel sorry for him. So what if he were a freshman. There were no written law saying as an upper classman he couldn\u2019t be his friend. Quentin liked the kid’s tenacity. \u201cHey, don\u2019t let them get to you. They\u2019re only jealous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was a little wary. It was bad enough being talked down to by his peers; now this upper classman seemed to want his chance as well. \u201cOf me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure you were only here two days when every single pretty girl made it her business to find out who you were and learn every bit of information they could about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell don\u2019t you look truly graveled.\u201d Quentin swore the kid really hadn\u2019t noticed the girls eyeing him from every corner and hidden doorway in town.<\/p>\n

\u201cGraveled?\u201d Oh great another word he didn\u2019t know. He\u2019d had them thrown at him so much lately that he vowed to read and memorize a page from the dictionary every night, but at the rate he was going he might not even make it out of the A\u2019s before he finished the first semester.<\/p>\n

Quentin smiled. \u201cYes graveled. It means perplexed and you really seem to be that. You mean to say you haven\u2019t had \u2018chance\u2019 encounters with some young and pretty ladies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell sure but they were just by chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Adam. Don\u2019t tell me you don\u2019t attract your fair share of girls in Nevada.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose I do it\u2019s just there a man\u2019s fair share is about two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, not too many girls there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot too many, leastways not the kind you want to attract for too long. Let’s just say the bold girls definitely out number the shy ones; even the ones pretending to be shy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I suppose here that is quite common. People pretending to be what they are not in order to win someone\u2019s approval. All I ask is that you give it a chance and don\u2019t judge us all by them. By the way, my name is Quentin Moss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Adam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright. Yes I know. I heard it from my kid sister.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. So is that why you\u2019re talking to me? Your sister put you up to it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes and no. I\u2019ve been curious about you for a while now. My sister\u2019s request just gave me an excuse to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t need an excuse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I\u2019m finding that out. You know Cartwright, I think I might like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d be the first to admit it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust the first male to admit it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam sat down to write his first letter home since he\u2019d arrived. He had waited this long because he knew if he had written any sooner the letter would have been filled with more pleas to go home than his father could have borne.<\/p>\n

Dear Pa,<\/p>\n

I know you\u2019re probably wondering why I\u2019ve taken so long to write this letter, and I\u2019m sorry that it has, but truth is if I had written any sooner I would have arrived home before it did.<\/p>\n

When I first arrived I definitely felt out of place and homesick. I mean they used words I\u2019ve never heard of before. Words like cavil and obloquy. I started believing I would never fit in here. Then I met someone who told me to give it a chance. He\u2019s been a good friend to me pa. His name is Quentin Moss and something he said got me thinking on something Kit once told to me. It was something about not caring what other\u2019s opinions of you were. That as long as you were true to yourself and treated everyone fairly you could never go wrong. Kit said to try and please everyone would only lead to confusion because no two people liked the same thing so you could never remember who you were with each different person so you just had to be yourself because that was one person you could never forget how to be. He was right because once I stopped trying to be what I thought everyone wanted me to be I made some friends. It may not be a lot but each and every one is a true friend who likes me for who I am. Sure there are times I wish some of the other guys would give me a chance but I know I can\u2019t force them to so I\u2019ve stopped trying. I just say to myself what I know you would say to me Pa; they don\u2019t know what they\u2019re missing.<\/p>\n

Well that\u2019s enough palaver, so I\u2019ve skipped around some on the pages, I\u2019ve some lessons to finish. I\u2019m meeting up with Quentin and his girl. He\u2019s going to bring his sister along. You know Pa, she turned out to be one of the prettiest girls around these parts.<\/p>\n

Give my love to Hoss and Little Joe. Tell Hop-Sing I miss him and his cooking.<\/p>\n

Love your son<\/p>\n

Adam<\/p>\n

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

Ben put the letter down and turned his attention to his two youngest sons.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, what do those words mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich ones Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ones Adam didn\u2019t know?\u201d Joe didn\u2019t believe there was anything Adam didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean cavil and obloquy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah Pa, and that other one that Adam wrote.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich other one Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPalaver.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I believe cavil means to nitpick and obloquy is malicious gossip.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd palaver Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPalaver, Hoss, means useless talking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis means you\u2019re smarter than Adam ’cause you knew what those words meant without havin’ to look them up and Adam didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Joseph I suppose it does. Now why don\u2019t you two go get washed up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben wasn\u2019t about to confess he had read Adam\u2019s letter before his sons had come home from school and had looked up those words not having known their meaning himself. Ben was afraid when Adam did come home he would indeed be smarter than his father. He only hoped his eldest son would still need him.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chapter 5:<\/p>\n

Ben appeared strong but in reality, at this moment, he was quite vulnerable.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey mister you want me to take that or not?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben again looked at the letter he held and handed it to the waiting gentleman. \u201cThat\u2019s to my son. He\u2019s away at college in Boston.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man just nodded and gave Ben an unconscious smile. He could hear the pride in Ben\u2019s voice, it would be hard to miss, but he didn\u2019t have the time to recognize it. Ben watched as the gentleman threw it into the bag with so many other peoples written messages of love. Ben knew that if you were to read each one you would only see written banal chores and descriptions of everyday life. He knew though that the recipients would be able to read the hopes, dreams and love hidden in those common words. He hoped his son would at least. When Ben sat down to write these letters he wanted them to be so grand and full of such important news but that\u2019s not what they ended up being. They ended up being filled with daily chores and the silly things that Hoss and Joe had done since the last letter. This letter was a little different though. Ben had found himself in quite a reflective mood when he wrote it.<\/p>\n

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

Adam sat quietly at the table and took out the letter. It was his habit to wait until most of the town was asleep to read these missives from home. Most of his classmates, or at least those from a distance, would rip open and read their letters as soon as they were received but Adam chose to wait until he was alone. He knew then he would be as his father was when he wrote it. Adam carried the letter in the pocket closest to his heart all day and he could feel the love it had been written with and it warmed him.<\/p>\n

He knew it would probably contain descriptions of everyday things. Such as moving the herd to different pastures or what Hop-Sing had made for supper that evening. His father would most likely write of his brothers\u2019 latest antics. What the letter contained really wasn\u2019t the point behind them. Adam knew his father had written every word. He knew that he had taken the time to sit after a long, hard day when he was probably so tired he could hardly keep his eyes open just to let his son know that Joe had brought one of the piglets into the house or that Hoss had yet again talked Hop-Sing out of a cookie or two before supper. They were such trivial things most wouldn\u2019t think to write of them but his father knew they helped Adam feel like a part of the family. Helped him feel like he was home.<\/p>\n

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

My dearest son,<\/p>\n

How many letters have I sent you now? Have you really been gone for almost 2 years? I can remember when we first started out west with nothing but a promise. I can remember when you were but a toddler but I knew you were so very smart. I use to take great pleasure in pointing out the constellations to you. I remember it was one night in 1833 while I was pointing out the constellation Leo when we became witnesses to a wondrous sight. At first I think you were frightened, afraid that the stars were falling out of the sky. I told you they were only coming nearer to Earth so they could hear the wishes of the people standing below them. I told you to make a wish on each one you could and that it would see it was brought up to heaven. I believe you ran out of wishes before you ran out of falling stars.<\/p>\n

I recall reading in a newspaper how it had just been a meteor shower. The man who wrote that must have been quite an unimaginative fellow to be able to call the wonder we had witnessed just a meteor shower. To you and me it was so much more. It gave us a way to escape the troubles we were suffering through. To watch that most superlative display of God and nature made us, or at least me, try to imagine what other great discoveries lay ahead of us.<\/p>\n

I also recall reading some years later that they called that meteor shower the Leonids because their radiant was the constellation Leo we had been looking for that night.<\/p>\n

Now you are off making discoveries of your own but please son don\u2019t ever forget you radiant is the Ponderosa. Adam please believe me that to me you are a wish come true.<\/p>\n

Well enough of that, you know how I can get when I am tired.<\/p>\n

I was glad to read in your last letter that you had heard from Kit again. Let him know that Little Joe is really enjoying that book he sent, Kit Carson: The Prince of the Gold Hunters by Charles Averill. I know I shouldn\u2019t have let him read it at his age but he saw the name and he knew he had met him so he just had to read it. At first I found him sneaking it into his bed at night and trying to read it by moonlight. I guess getting him to read voluntarily is hard enough I didn\u2019t want to discourage him.<\/p>\n

Do you know that your brother Hoss has asked a girl to the school dance? I could hardly believe it myself but I guess he is growing up and the girl he is taking is a real sweetheart. When he asked me if I liked her I told him just that. Then he asked me if I thought you would like her. I hope you don\u2019t mind but I told him I was sure you would.<\/p>\n

Well there goes that old clock chiming the next hour. I guess I better get to bed and let you do the same. I have a dance to chaperone tomorrow night, or according to the clock tonight, and you know the things boys and girls can get up to so I will have to be diligent and on my toes so I will need my rest. Hoss and Little Joe said to let you know their letters will be coming soon. Hoss wanted to wait until after the dance to write his and Little Joe wanted to wait until he\u2019d finished the book. I guess by then I will be ready to write you again, so much can happen in a few days.<\/p>\n

We all miss you son.<\/p>\n

All my love<\/p>\n

Your Father<\/p>\n

Adam folded the letter and placed it back into the envelope. As foolish as it was he knew it would spend the night under his pillow and he prayed it would inspire his dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chapter 6:<\/p>\n

Adam was coming home. That\u2019s what his pa had told him. That meant they could be brothers again. Not just in words in letters but real flesh and blood brothers like him and Hoss were.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cJoseph you have to have patience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know pa but two days is a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I suppose it is.\u201d While normally Ben would consider two days not enough time to do all he had too this time he had to agree with his youngest son. With the death of his wife Marie so close to Adam\u2019s leaving for college he hadn\u2019t been up to giving his son the kind of send off he had wanted to so he was going to give Adam a celebration like Nevada had never seen in honor of his homecoming. They had been planning for months and Ben still felt as if something had been forgotten.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa ya think Adam\u2019ll remember me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Joseph, you\u2019re his bother.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but I\u2019ve gotten bigger since he last saw me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe but you make the same amount of noise ya use too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not! I ain\u2019t no baby no more. Pa tell Hoss I ain\u2019t a baby no more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss you\u2019re brother\u2019s not a baby. Now Joseph why don\u2019t you go see what Hop-Sing has planned for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joseph ran to do as he had been asked hoping Hop-Sing would let him lick the frosting bowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa do you think Adams changed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo more then you or Joseph, but Hoss no matter how much your brother has changed he is still your brother and he loves you. Surely you could read that in the letters he\u2019s sent to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure pa but these last few letters weren\u2019t like the ones before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss you know your brother has been very busy these past few months. He\u2019s had exams to study for and a graduation to prepare for. That is what these years away have all been leading up to. It\u2019s the culmination of your brother\u2019s dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know pa. I just hope Adam\u2019s dream ain\u2019t made him outgrow us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry Hoss. Now why don\u2019t you go before your brother finishes off all the icing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss ran hoping he wasn\u2019t already too late. Maybe he was too old for licking the icing bowl but Hop-Sing made such tasty icing.<\/p>\n

Ben smiled after his son the sat down and found himself hoping that Hoss\u2019 fear wouldn\u2019t prove true.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cPa! Pa! Wake up! We gotta go get Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph it\u2019s not even dawn; but I\u2019m just as anxious as you so why don\u2019t you go wake up Hoss and we\u2019ll get an early start. Tell him we\u2019re going to make a day of it. We\u2019ll have breakfast in town then look around a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe ran out of his father\u2019s room yelling his brother\u2019s name. He got to Hoss\u2019 room to find him nowhere in sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa Hoss is gone!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t gone I just got up early. You think you\u2019re the only one who can\u2019t wait to see older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben watched the man as helped the ladies off of the stage. Was that imposing figure his son? Ben would swear he was a foot taller then when he\u2019d left. He\u2019d also grown broader in the chest. He\u2019d become a man.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa that\u2019s Adam! ADAM!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe took off running and Hoss was close behind. Ben smiled to see his eldest son pull his brothers close. Adam had never been one to show his emotions publicly but it did Ben\u2019s heart good to know the joy of seeing his brothers again was one Adam couldn\u2019t control.<\/p>\n

After the hellos were finished being said for now Ben watched his three sons walk towards him side by side and he prayed that it would always be that way. He knew that most considered him to be the thread that held this family together but he knew better, or maybe he only hoped that the thread was strong enough to last even after he were gone. In his heart he knew it was because even if his boys were only half brothers he knew they were closer then most full blooded kin he knew.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two simple words but they almost brought a tear to Ben\u2019s eyes. \u201cMy God you even sound more grown up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing son, nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew what was coming and he welcomed it. Ben pulled his son to him and held on to him for longer then he had intended.<\/p>\n

\u201cAH-HEM\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben let Adam go and turned to see who had helped to end his son\u2019s embarrassment. He found his friend Roy Coffee standing there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome home Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell Ben he\u2019s done some growing up hasn\u2019t he.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes he has Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo tell me Adam are you still a bachelor?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cSo not one lady back east thought you\u2019d make a good husband?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say they didn\u2019t try Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat a boy. Still too much fun to be had at your age. The kind of fun a wife don\u2019t like her husband to have. Leastways not with anyone but them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kind of fun a father doesn\u2019t need to hear about his son having either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of fun pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kind you don\u2019t need to know about Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re talking about girls Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems as if I\u2019m not the only one who\u2019s done some growing up pa. Since when do you know about girls Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss knows about girls. He\u2019s even kissed one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJOE.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Hoss? You said ya did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI also said not to tell no one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry Hoss. I got so excited I forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell why don\u2019t we get your brother home. I\u2019m sure he must be tired after his trip.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter all this time away it\u2019ll be good to get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben drove the wagon and Adam sat beside him. Hoss and Joe, after having run out of questions to ask their big brother for now, were quietly lying in the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey sleeping?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not you son, it was a very early start this morning. Joseph was so anxious to come and get you he woke us up before dawn. Perhaps I should say me because Hoss was already up, dressed and had the wagon ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa I\u2019d forgotten how green it was here. I can\u2019t remember there being this many different shades.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is green back east son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but they don\u2019t exist so close together like here. And those mountains, I\u2019d forgotten how majestic they are. They stand there watching over us like guardians.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, maybe that\u2019s one reason I thought this a good place to settle. I felt that if we took care of them they would always watch over us.\u201d<\/p>\n

A comfortable silence settled between father and son and remained there for a while.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa I missed being home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know son but you accomplished what you set out to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I guess I did. I learned a lot and not just from books.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know I could read that in your letters. I also believe you taught a few lessons as well. Adam your future is full of so many possibilities. You have a lifetime of promise ahead. I am secure in the belief that you will always conduct yourself in a dignified and noble way. I know you will always let your conscience guide you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know pa because to do otherwise would betray your trust and how you raised me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa we home yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The wagon had barely stopped when Joe jumped out.<\/p>\n

\u201cHOP-SING! Hop-Sing! Adam\u2019s home!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see that no need to go yellin it. Welcome home Mr. Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Hop-Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou bring great honor to father\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHop-Sing, I hope that never changes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHop-Sing better go inside and get back to food or it be no good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe followed Hop-Sing in and Ben did the same. When he realized Adam wasn\u2019t behind him he turned to see him standing in the entrance to the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs something wrong son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo pa I just didn\u2019t realize how much I missed passing through this doorway.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The night of the party quickly approached and Ben\u2019s fears that he had forgotten something were forgotten.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you have fun Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa where\u2019d all those people come from?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it all the people or just all the pretty new girls you\u2019re wondering about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPaaa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVirginia City is growing up too son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess so and it is for the better. At least now a man\u2019s fair share is up to four or five.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI\u2019ll explain another time pa. Now I think I will follow my brothers\u2019 example and go to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you wait just a little while longer Adam?\u201d Ben took the gift he\u2019d held back on giving is son. He\u2019d given him one at the party but this was a private one. A gift that wasn\u2019t as expensive as the some of the ones his son had received this evening but he knew it would mean a great deal to Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa you\u2019ve already given me enough. This party the horse and saddle and the journal, pen and ink well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe journal, pen and ink well were from you brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I bet they were your idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot really. The journal was Hoss\u2019 and the pen and inkwell were Josephs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. He said that he knew I kept one so you had to keep one too. Said all men with interesting lives should.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis life is just as interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d agree but he doesn\u2019t like writing near as much as you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t have to write a lot. Just what he does each day or what he thinks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe that\u2019s a discussion you should have with him. For now I want you to have this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam carefully untied the string that held the paper around what his father had handed him. Even though he had suspected what it was he was still surprised to see it in hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOpen it Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam did and as the strains of music drifted out of his mother\u2019s music box he took hold of the ring that lay inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa I can\u2019t take this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes you can. I have my memories of your mother but these are the only physical things I have left to give you. It\u2019s time for you to watch over them now. Time for you to keep them close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa why don\u2019t you keep the ring and I\u2019ll keep the music box.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo son. They go together and they are both your\u2019s now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise I\u2019ll keep them safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

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

As the days and weeks passed Adam settled back into the routine of ranch living but he couldn\u2019t seem to settle into the routine of being a big brother again, at least now where Joe was concerned. Maybe that was because ranch chores never change.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cPa maybe it\u2019s best if I go back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

But before he could hear anymore of what his father or brother said Joe ran upstairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa all we do is argue. Every thing I tell him to do is cause for conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe that\u2019s because you tell him to do things. Adam he\u2019s not the little boy he was when you left.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see, so now he\u2019s an adult.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo he\u2019s still a kid but one who is growing up. You can\u2019t treat him the same way you did when you left.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut pa I don\u2019t know any other way to treat him.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Ben\u2019s ears Adam sounded so lost. \u201cI know son but give it time. You two just have to get to know each other again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my brother pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes which means most likely you\u2019ll both like what you find out.\u201d Ben returned his son\u2019s smile. \u201cAdam just give it time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight son.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam walked into his room and began to get ready for bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy you\u2019ve sure gotten hairy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJOE. What are you doing in here?\u201d Joe lowered his eyes and Adam heard him mumble something. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo where?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard you tell pa you was goin back. I don\u2019t want ya to go Adam. I know you don\u2019t like when we fight, neither do I but I can\u2019t help it. I don\u2019t know why we fight so much. I don\u2019t understand why sometimes when you tell me things to do I get so mad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCause we\u2019re both a lot like pa so that means we\u2019re both a lot like each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo being like pa ain\u2019t bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Joe it\u2019s not but it means we both want to be in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah pa can be kinda bossy can\u2019t he.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but he\u2019s usually right too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I guess that\u2019s cause he\u2019s older.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah he sure is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess so are you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not that old little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one\u2019s that old big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben paused on his way to his room at the sound of his sons\u2019 laughter and breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe things wouldn\u2019t be the same as they had been but then life was change. He only hoped it would be a change for the better.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam tell me how you first me Mr. Carson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain Joe? It\u2019s late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell okay but you had better not tell pa we stayed up this late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben continued on his way to bed knowing in the morning he would find his youngest son asleep in his eldest son\u2019s bed. Maybe things wouldn\u2019t really change too much.<\/p>\n

Chapter 7:<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Hoss how about you and me go hunt that wolf tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa said he\u2019d keep him busy so we could go just you and me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like that Adam.\u201d This would be the first time since Adam had come home that they would be alone and Hoss found himself a little hesitant. He knew Adam was his brother and all but would they have stuff to talk about? Hoss knew it wasn\u2019t just because Adam had changed, so had he.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe too.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t doubt they have things to discuss. He already had one thing in mind.<\/p>\n

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

Adam and Hoss left early the next morning and as on most hunting or fishing trips they were quiet to start with but as time wore on Adam decided it was time to broach the subject he had been wanting to discuss with his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss pa said that journal was your idea. Thank you. I really needed one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just figured you had a lot of interesting stuff to write about like knowing Kit Carson and all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a lot of interesting things to write about too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I ain\u2019t led a life like you. I ain\u2019t never left Nevada. Probably never will not for long anyway. You was born in Boston but you and pa traveled all the way here. Then you went back east to go to school. I ain\u2019t never gonna do nothing like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe not but you\u2019ve got a lot of other things to write about. Things I couldn\u2019t. While I was at college you were here helping pa build up the Ponderosa. You helped pa pick out the herd and horses and because of that you know more then I do about animals. Besides if it weren\u2019t for you I might not have gone to college because I wouldn\u2019t be alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you remember when I fell through the ice that winter? You were only ten but you got me out of the water and back home. Everyone was still in town so you got the fire started and lit the stove. You even made a pot of coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but it tasted pretty bad though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was hot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but all that was nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGee thanks Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t mean it like that I just mean you\u2019re my brother and you would a done the same for me or Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I would have but that\u2019s not the point. The point is you knew what you had to do and you were only ten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah and I was big enough to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes you were and it\u2019s a good thing too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam always could make him fell good about himself. \u201cAdam you really think I\u2019d have interesting things to write about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I do Hoss and I think you should keep a journal too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat would I write?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss you\u2019ve read pa\u2019s journals. What did he write about? Was it all Indian attacks and discovering new territories?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I guess not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me honestly what are the things you remember most about them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember him writing about the day you first left Boston and all he hoped would happen. I remember him writing about the first time you walked and the first time you said something, he wrote it was pa. I remember him writing about the first day you met my ma. He wrote he thought she was nosy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah he did and if he hadn\u2019t written in his journal every day he wouldn\u2019t have written about those things and we might not have ever known about them. See Hoss those are everyday things. Things that happen to people all the time. Some are things you don\u2019t think you\u2019ll ever forget and maybe you don\u2019t but you forget how if felt or maybe when it happened exactly. I can remember your ma reading that journal and her laughing at how pa wrote that she was a bossy woman who put her nose where it didn\u2019t belong and concerned herself with things that didn\u2019t concern her. Do you think pa would have ever told her those things in quite the way he wrote them? But the way he wrote it was the truth and it wouldn\u2019t have been near as meaningful. I can remember her crying when she read how pa thought she was one of the prettiest, kindest ladies he knew and she knew he felt that way before he\u2019d ever hinted at it because she saw the dates.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I can remember pa writing how you and him went fishin\u2019 one day and the fun you had. I remember reading that he thought that you were smart and kind and brave and that he was proud to be your pa. He wrote that just after my ma was killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember pa writing of the day you were born. He wrote how he was so happy and proud. How he thought you were a very handsome baby. And Hoss if you read the journal he keeps now I know he\u2019s written how proud he is to be your pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean he still keeps one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure. Pa writes in it every night. Don\u2019t forget it\u2019s something he\u2019s been doing since before he met my mother. Keeping a log is something all sailors do. It\u2019s become a habit Hoss. One that\u2019s hard to break. There are some nights you\u2019re so dog tired you don\u2019t know why you do it but you do. Sometimes you try not to but the thoughts just keep bouncing around inside your head and they won\u2019t give you any peace until you write them down so you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I\u2019ll try Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood because one day you\u2019re going to meet a girl you\u2019ll thing is bossy and nosy and when your anniversary comes around you can show it to her and she\u2019ll laugh just like your ma did.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey I\u2019m too young to be getting married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou and me both little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYa think you ever will?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know Hoss. I guess I hope so but not for some years. There are still too many pretty girls I haven\u2019t kissed yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben came in and found his eldest son sitting and reading. \u201cSo Adam how\u2019d the hunting go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t get that wolf pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what you really went to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess not. So how did Joe take it? Where is he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was okay. We made a day of it. He should be in in a minute. Where\u2019s Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe went upstairs to get washed up but that was a while ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey Adam me and pa had a good time today. We went into town and we ate lunch at the caf\u00e9. Then we went and visited with Sheriff Coffee and he let me look at the wanted posters. Did you and Hoss have a good time?\u201d Joe was a little torn because while he had enjoyed being with his pa he also wished he could have been with his brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes we did Joe but you know we didn\u2019t see hide nor hair of that wolf. How would you like to come with me tomorrow to look for him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure! Can I pa? Can I go with Adam tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Joseph. I\u2019m sure you\u2019d be safe with your brother because he wouldn\u2019t let a wolf do you any harm. Now if you two will excuse me I am going to see Hoss.\u201d Ben went upstairs with the sound of his two son\u2019s making plans echoing behind him.<\/p>\n

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

Ben stood in the doorway to his son\u2019s bedroom and watched him as he slept. He drew close and went to pull the covers over him certain that he would awake once the food was ready. As he pulled the covers up the book fell to the floor. Ben picked it up and couldn\u2019t stop himself from reading.<\/p>\n

My brother Adam says I should keep a journal because I got interesting things to write about. I don\u2019t think I do but if my brother Adam says I do then I must because there ain\u2019t nothing he ain\u2019t right about. Like when he came home from college and he gave me an acorn. He told me if I planted it an oak tree would grow. He sure was right about that \u2018cause I checked on it the other day and it sure \u2018nough is growin\u2019. Course Adam did say he found it on his mother\u2019s grave when he went to tell her goodbye so maybe she\u2019s helping it to grow so he can have something of back east here so he won\u2019t miss it so much and won\u2019t feel like leavin\u2019 again. I know she\u2019s gotta know how much pa missed him, and me and Joe too.<\/p>\n

Adam said I should keep a journal so if I ever have any kids they can read it just like we do pa\u2019s and they can know how I felt and what I did each day even if it wasn\u2019t important stuff. Well if that\u2019s true and you are my kid reading this then you let your Uncle Adam know that I think he\u2019s a real great big brother and I love him cause I don\u2019t know why but it ain\u2019t always easy for me to let him know that. You let him know that sometimes when I use to feel different on account of the other fellas always teasin\u2019 me for bein\u2019 so big he made me feel good. Sometimes all he ever had to do was call me little brother cause I knew that\u2019s what I was and always would be to him, his little brother no matter how old or big I got. I know that sometimes it bothers Joe but guess that\u2019s cause Joe\u2019s smaller then the other guys and he don\u2019t want to be reminded he\u2019s someone\u2019s little brother. I think, though, when he grows up he\u2019ll like it just like I do \u2018cause he\u2019ll know it means someone\u2019s always watchin\u2019 out for him. Sometimes I wonder who watches out for Adam? I guess he got pa but who\u2019s pa got? Guess we\u2019ll all have to watch out for pa cause he\u2019s our pa and we need him and\u2026well we love him. I guess we should tell him that more but it ain\u2019t easy to tell him either. I wonder why that is?<\/p>\n

Adam said I should write about the girls I meet just in case they end up bein\u2019 the one I marry. Well there is this one girl her name is<\/p>\n

That must have been were exhaustion finally won out and Hoss had fallen asleep. Oh well, Ben thought, couldn\u2019t he have at least written a first name before it had. Ben ruffled Hoss\u2019 hair and thought guess my little boy is growing up, I guess they all are.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chapter 8:<\/p>\n

This chapter takes place after Adam has been home for a few years.<\/p>\n

Hoss stood outside and listened to the voices. He knew one was his brother Adam\u2019s and the other he believed belonged to a girl named Agatha.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I hear you know some famous people.\u201d As far as Agatha was concerned the only person she wanted to know was the man whose lap she was sitting on.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Adam just gave her one of his most disarming smiles and he could tell it was working.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes one of the other girls told me you know Kit Carson and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me is it the other girls stories of who I may or may not know that brought you over here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo but the other stories are even harder to believe.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Hoss sheepishly approached his brother and if Adam hadn\u2019t been so busy trying to prove the other stories true he might have seen his brother walking towards him. Hoss had never seen Adam like that with a girl before. Oh he knew Adam had probably been with them before he\u2019d just never seen it.<\/p>\n

Hoss tried to focus his eyes anywhere but on his brother, trouble was anywhere he focused his eyes he saw things he didn\u2019t want to. \u201cAdam you gotta come with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam raised his head and looked at his brother. \u201cCome where Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo help me get Joe.\u201d At the mention of their younger brother\u2019s name Hoss could see Adam\u2019s annoyance.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet Joe from where? Isn\u2019t he at the school dance?\u201d Adam knew it was where he was supposed to be. It was where he had left him and it was where Hoss was supposed to go to pick him up.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah he was there.\u201d Hoss had gone a little early because there was a girl he knew would also be there that he kinda wanted to see. She was seventeen and new to town. Hoss had wished she had lived here when he had been in school. He\u2019d written about her in his journal and he had hoped to be able write in there tonight about how it felt to dance with her and maybe even kiss her. But as usual little brother was going to ruin his plans, and that might not be so bad, but he was also ruining older brother\u2019s plans and that could prove to be down right dangerous.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss where is he now?\u201d Adam could feel the frustration taking over where before it was only anticipation he was feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s with some fellas. One of the guys at the dance said they was teasin\u2019 Joe \u2019bout things.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Hoss was hopin\u2019 to not have to tell Adam because he knew what Adam\u2019s reaction would be. \u201cJust things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I don\u2019t appreciate feeling as if I\u2019m secondary to your little brother.\u201d Agatha had hoped that by this time they would already be upstairs and on their way to a mutual satisfaction.<\/p>\n

Adam smiled at her, put her off his lap and stood up. \u201cSweetheart neither do I. Come on Hoss you can give me the details as we go.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cHe WHAT?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss knew Adam would have this kind of a reaction just not this severe a one. \u201cCalm down Adam. If I\u2019d a known you\u2019d be acting like such a lunatic I\u2019d a went home and got pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think I\u2019m acting like a lunatic? Maybe I\u2019ll go back to what I was doing and let you go and get pa and then you can find out what a real lunatic is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam I think you\u2019re being less of a lunatic then pa\u2019d be.\u201d Although Hoss wasn\u2019t really too sure of that.<\/p>\n

Adam wasn\u2019t sure if that should be taken as a compliment. They walked quietly to the livery and Hoss hoped it would stay that way.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo tell me again what got little brother so worked up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Almost made it, Hoss thought, but saddling horses always seemed to lend itself to conversation. \u201cThose fellas was teasin\u2019 him cause they said he was spending the whole dance pining for Rita. Remember she was suppose to be goin with him but changed her mind and went with one of the older boys. They said he was just some spoiled brat use to getting his way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy should that upset him, it\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam it ain\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay so maybe it is a little true but they ain\u2019t got no right to say it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo they don\u2019t that\u2019s one privilege afforded to family only, but that doesn\u2019t explain the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey said he was just a mama\u2019s boy and the worst kind cause he didn\u2019t have no mama. They said he would never go against anything pa said and that he always did like he was told.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam wondered would that boy ever learn to not be so sensitive to other\u2019s opinions. \u201cI see. So that justifies going with them and drinking moonshine. He\u2019s only thirteen years old! In the three years I\u2019ve been back from college I have saved his backside more times then I can remember!\u201d<\/p>\n

Even now Hoss was bigger then Adam but he still was afraid of him when he was like this. \u201cYeah but you\u2019re his older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see, so that makes it my job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKinda.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I remind you you\u2019re his older brother too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo you don\u2019t gotta\u2019 reminder me, but you\u2019re my older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019m not saving him I\u2019m just saving you from having to save him.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Hoss that made perfect sense. \u201cGuess you can look at it like that if it makes it easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing I\u2019m doing is making sure he\u2019s mad at me and not you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat ain\u2019t true Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes it is Hoss. Just realize this. There is going to come a day when you are going to have to deal with little brother yourself or spend the rest of your life giving in to him.\u201d They had finally reached their destination. \u201cNow let\u2019s go get him.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam again reined in his horse. \u201cSo what\u2019s that? Is it the third or fourth time we\u2019ve had to stop so you could throw up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw leave him alone Adam can\u2019t you see he\u2019s sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Hoss I can, but he wouldn\u2019t be if he\u2019d used his own common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe hated when Adam got up on his high horse and right now he was literally on his high horse because he and Hoss had dismounted. \u201cWhat you mean is if I had been a good boy and done as my pa told me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid it ever occur to you that the reason pa tells you to do things is because he knows better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow would you know what it\u2019s like. You ain\u2019t never been teased and you never do nothing wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re wrong Joe. Listen I\u2019ve had it. I\u2019m tired of saving your backside and getting nothing but grief for doing it. I\u2019m going back to town and after I feel I\u2019ve waited a long enough interval of time so that you can explain all of this I will come home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss watched as Adam turned his horse and headed back to town. \u201cAdam WAIT, what we gonna tell pa.\u201d Hoss turned to face his younger brother. \u201cGreat Joe now what we gonna do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry Hoss he\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot this time Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure he will he always comes back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Joe I think this time we\u2019re gonna have to save our own backsides because right now older brother has had enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben looked up as the door opened. \u201cGood evening Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t even pause. \u201cGood night pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot even going to ask after your brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did see their horses in their stalls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I guess you would have but then you knew they\u2019d be there didn\u2019t you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, please, I\u2019m tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose riding aimlessly around can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes to begin with you were.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid they tell you different?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see, then how can you say I was anywhere but in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause your youngest brother was in trouble and once Hoss knew it, it would be only natural for him to look for you to help him get him out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a job that occupies most of my time these days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t I know it son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne night pa, all I wanted was one night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you can have a months worth because that\u2019s how long it will be before your youngest brother leaves this house for anything other than school or chores.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what you think pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo it\u2019s what I know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa believe me it\u2019s what you think because there is no way he\u2019ll be able to resist the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThan he\u2019s a lot like you isn\u2019t he Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cDo you think I don\u2019t know that there were times you disobeyed me? I just didn\u2019t always catch you. Same as my father didn\u2019t always catch me. Thing is Adam your brothers aren\u2019t as sneaky as you or I so if you give me your word you won\u2019t help them they don\u2019t stand a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou underestimate them pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo I?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they\u2019re your sons too you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes they are and I guess it\u2019s like they say, my chickens have come home to roost.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chapter 9:<\/p>\n

Author’s Chapter Notes:<\/p>\n

Just thought you might find this interesting. While going to the cemetary to visit my fathers grave I again noticed a big stone at the entrance to the cemetary. I mentioned to my mother if she could stop I would like read the what was written on the plaque on the stone. Imagine my surprise when it said it was where John Fremont was buried.
\n\u201cJoseph Cartwright! Don\u2019t you be so forward. Next time I\u2019ll tell my father he needs to send someone along to stand guard over me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe was glad to hear there would be a next time. \u201cIs that what you really want?\u201d<\/p>\n

Francine looked up into Joe\u2019s face and felt a smile come to hers. My but he was handsome. \u201cJoseph you\u2019re terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAm I?\u201d But as he lowered his lips to hers he noticed she didn\u2019t push him away.<\/p>\n

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

Adam grinned as he father again looked off in the direction that his youngest brother and his young girl had gone off in. \u201cPa would you feel better if I go look for him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben would have loved to say yes but he knew it would be a big mistake. He knew to do so would get Joe\u2019s hackles up when Adam found him and as much as Ben loved his eldest son he knew he could appear patronizing especially to his youngest brother. \u201cNo Adam I\u2019m sure he\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know pa he sure did bid a lot for that basket.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben guessed Adam could also be patronizing to his father. \u201cIt was no more then you bid on your first.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat was different pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, how?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe could cook.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I\u2019m sure it was her abilities in the kitchen you were interested in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa I was thirteen. I didn\u2019t know there were other abilities to be interested in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure you didn\u2019t.\u201d This got Ben wondering. Adam had been thirteen and Joe was now fourteen. If Adam knew of such things at thirteen then just what did Joe know now. How he wished he had told Adam to go look for him.<\/p>\n

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

Ben was glad to see someone was home. He only hoped it was all three of his sons because that would mean he could hope for a restful night and an early bedtime.<\/p>\n

As Adam came down the stairs Ben looked up. \u201cAdam where\u2019s Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I only got home a few minutes ago. Isn\u2019t he with you?\u201d Sometimes Adam hated that he was expected to know the location of his brothers at every minute.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow if he were with me would I be asking you where he is?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam could hear the annoyance in his father\u2019s voice and he knew would be best to curb his own. \u201cMaybe he\u2019s with Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just where is Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure. He said something about going fishing or hunting. I wasn\u2019t really paying too much attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I think they are old enough to take care of themselves sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Well it\u2019s getting late.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen they should be home soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

As they sat and waited for Hoss and Joe to come home Ben could feel the tension between he and Adam. He knew he couldn\u2019t really blame Adam for it. Since the picnic over a week ago they hadn\u2019t really had time to rest. Ben was about to try and talk it through with his son when they heard a horse riding up. Both Ben and Adam ran out in time to see Hoss heading into the barn and they followed him in hoping to see Joe already inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss where\u2019s Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? Pa I ain\u2019t seen Joe since last night. He was still sleeping when I left. You know how he loves to stay in bed late. Besides you said today we could do what we wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI swear that boy\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the sounds of things you could use my help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned to face the entrance to the stables wondering how anyone could have ridden up unheard, but that was only until he saw who was standing there. \u201cKit?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam and it\u2019s good to see you too. Now do you need my help in tracking someone down?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes we can Kit. Hoss you remember Mr. Carson don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCourse I do pa, hello Mr. Carson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello again Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy pa if he can\u2019t track Joe down no one can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo just where is it the boy left from?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe left from here sometime late morning or even possibly early afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I\u2019m sure Kit is tired. I\u2019m sure we can find your brother between the three of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease Ben I\u2019ve never tracked down a teenage boy before. It might be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo find this teenage boy Kit all you\u2019ll have to do is find the teenage girls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat holds true for most teenage boys Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe heard the horses riding up and he glanced at the clock. It wasn\u2019t fair that they had all probably gone into town and been having fun while he\u2019d spent most of the night sitting home and waiting for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa! Where you\u2019ve been?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere have I BEEN? We\u2019ve been tracking you all over the territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe noticed there was an extra rider. \u201cHey Mr. Carson. Adam you didn\u2019t tell me Mr. Carson was coming. I would a told Francine to stay and meet him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe I didn\u2019t know Kit was coming. I told you it was a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah Adam but pa knew that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did? Do you think I would have been riding around the territory looking for you if I had known?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you get my note pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThe one I wrote telling you I was going to ask Francine to come to supper and asking if you wouldn\u2019t mind letting Hop Sing know. Well at least that explains why Hop Sing ran around in such a frenzy when I asked him why supper wasn\u2019t ready for my guest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t we all go inside and you can show me this note.\u201d Ben knew that his son was not a liar but he had been known to stretch the truth at times.<\/p>\n

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

Everyone took a seat and Joe went upstairs and came back down with a piece of paper. \u201cHere it is pa just like I said.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell he didn\u2019t have time to write it just now did he.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a ya mean by that Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph where was this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn your room on your dresser.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben took a deep breath and tried to control himself. \u201cAnd when was I supposed to find it if I was already up, dressed and out of the house before you even awoke?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I figured you see it when you washed up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what if I washed up in the kitchen or out by the pump and not in my room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess I didn\u2019t think of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph next time leave word with Hop Sing or leave the note on the sideboard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright pa, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d Joe knew that when his father called him Joseph it was best to keep things short.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t apologize to me apologize to Kit. It was he who tracked you all over creation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWow you were tracking me? Wait till I tell Francine and the guys that Kit Carson tracked me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t go bragging on it too much little brother, after all he did find you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did make it easy Adam with that split shoe his horse is wearing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph I told you to replace that shoe a week ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will pa. Tomorrow I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI take it that you have already eaten?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes pa I told you Hop Sing made supper for Francine and me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell then since you have eaten you may go to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw come on pa. I want to sit and listen to Mr. Carson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa let the kid stay. I mean he did leave you a note. It\u2019s not his fault his common sense as to where the leave that note was lacking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks Adam\u2026I think.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me Kit why is it that the one who spoils him the most is the one who complains the most about him being spoiled.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve found Ben that it usually is.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThey sleeping pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam. So Kit what brings you here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery now and then I get the urge to see old friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re glad because you always seem to show up when we need you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you would have managed fine without me Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe but it was a lot more fun having you along. How long you plan on staying? I sure hope it\u2019s longer then the times before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps a week, maybe two.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cHey pa where\u2019s Kit? I thought he might like to ride into town this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s with Hoss Adam. Something about showing him how to track things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss sure has been spending a lot of time with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have a lot in common. Beside he couldn\u2019t have a better teacher could he.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo he couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Ben watched as him middle son ran in out of breath. Sometimes it was so easy to forget he was no longer a boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa you shoulda seen it. Mr. Carson showed me how to track a hare to its hole.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss hares don\u2019t burrow like rabbits do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that pa Mr. Carson told me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is Kit?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s outside talking to Adam. I think he\u2019s gonna be leaving soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I believe you\u2019re right. Now why don\u2019t you go and get washed up for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben again smiled as Hoss bounded up the stairs then turned as the door opened. \u201cAdam where\u2019s Kit?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said he had to get going. Asked if I would pass along his goodbyes for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe certainly made these past two weeks enjoyable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes and fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething we weren\u2019t having too much of before his arrival.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo it was all work with you pa and we\u2019ll get back to it now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes but it won\u2019t feel quite as tedious.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo I guess not. Want to hear something. Kit said he\u2019d finished writing up his autobiography and that if it ever gets published he\u2019d send us a copy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell that\u2019s one book I would certainly enjoy reading.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe too pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chapter 10:<\/p>\n

Jacob approached the miserable looking young man sitting away from the others. \u201cSo how ya like it so far?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked up at Jacob. He\u2019d been working for them for some time now having started while Adam had been away at college. Joe knew that Jacob was one of the few who had, when Adam had first returned home, given him a hard time but once Adam had proven himself Jacob was one of his oldest brother\u2019s staunchest defenders. \u201cHow do I like what so far Jacob?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell this is your first drive without your pa ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but I got older brother Adam there and he\u2019s worse then pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh stop pulling a kite. I hear tell he\u2019s got some fun planned when this is all done with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s mood instantly lightened. \u201cWhat kind of fun?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacob smiled. \u201cNow you\u2019re just barkin\u2019 at a knot cause I ain\u2019t gonna tell ya\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Jacob. Just give me a hint.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should know that men who can get me to tell something I don\u2019t want to are about as scarce as a hen\u2019s teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe tried to smile one of his most disarming smiles. \u201cBut Jacob I ain\u2019t askin\u2019 ya to tell me just to give me a hint.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYa know something kid if I had me a daughter I\u2019d be sure to keep her away from you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Cause you got a natural way of makin\u2019 a person do what they know they shouldn\u2019t be doin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes that mean ya gonna\u2019 tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacob let out a defeated sigh. \u201cWell I heard tell \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sat as long as he could waiting for Jacob to continue, which was only about a second or two. \u201cHeard tell what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHobble your lip. That\u2019s your brother comin\u2019 now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what\u2019s going on here?\u201d Adam approached knowing full well what was probably going on. Jacob felt it was his job to try and keep Joe placated and Joe had certainly seemed to be unhappy when they\u2019d stopped a little while ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing Adam. Me and Jacob were just talkin\u2019 \u2018bout how the drive is going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d Adam could always tell when his youngest brother was lying. If you asked him how he wouldn\u2019t be able to explain it he just seemed to know. \u201cI think that maybe it\u2019s time to stop talking and get into that velvet couch of yours because morning will be here long before any of us are ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men watched Joe walk to lay out his bedroll. Adam slowly turned to Jacob. \u201cSo is that true Jacob? You two were discussing the progress of the drive?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacob thought all Ben\u2019s boys seemed to have a way of getting the truth out of a person. Joe would smile and charm it out of ya\u2019, Hoss you just felt naturally bad about telling him anything but the truth and given enough time Adam could just stare it out of you. So Jacob was going to make sure he didn\u2019t give him enough time. \u201cThat\u2019s the story and if you want it nailed to the counter don\u2019t be lookin\u2019 at me be the one to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smile after Jacob as he walked away then went to do just as he had told Joe to.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

\u201cAdam do you think this was all a lot different the first time Kit saw it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I think it was a lot different but no less magnificent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think we\u2019ll ever see him again?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so Joe. Or at least I hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jacob thought he would have to tell Ben of this. He knew that he would like to hear of his eldest and youngest just standing and talking. Maybe not in the middle of a drive though. \u201cDo you two remember we got some cows that we have to get somewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re coming Jacob! Joe I think Jacob can be even harder then pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe but he\u2019s not harder than you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly you would take that as a compliment.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhere you going little brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean why? It\u2019s where I go to have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh than I guess you don\u2019t want to come with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith you? You mean to the saloon?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAmong other places.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes pa know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you think pa decided to stay home this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss says he didn\u2019t want pa to get lonely but the truth is I think he believes that pa doesn\u2019t know he\u2019s already been to these places.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam who took Hoss the first time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would have been me little brother. Kept both pa and Hoss from being embarrassed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell who took you the first time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t pa Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThan who was it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just say your mother had a very liberal attitude about certain things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sayin\u2019 my ma took you the first time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I remember correctly I overheard her telling pa that a boy was going to become a man one way or another and wasn\u2019t it better to have some control over where and with who he became that man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActually it was not too soon after I first met Kit. I think putting out that fire proved to pa and your ma that I wasn\u2019t still a boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that why you\u2019ve been pushin\u2019 me so hard on this drive? You wanted me to prove I wasn\u2019t a boy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe. Maybe I just like pushin\u2019 ya\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell if this how you\u2019re gonna\u2019 make up for pushin\u2019 me than just keep on pushin\u2019 brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will Joe just remember you said it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam slipped his arm around the young ladies waist as they walked up the stairs. He gave one more glance at his brother standing surrounded by a bevy of women. \u201cWell little brother you sure appear to have your hair in the butter this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe but this time I sure don\u2019t mind it bein\u2019 there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet but what happens when you have to choose one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho says I gotta choose only one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one little brother, no one.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chapter 11:<\/p>\n

Joe quietly approached his father as he sat in his chair. Joe had something on his mind that was troubling him and he had to get it said. \u201cPa you\u2019d love Adam no matter what right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben set aside the paper he\u2019d been reading and glanced quizzically at his youngest son. \u201cOf course Joseph, why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if he\u2026well he\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben couldn\u2019t imagine what Adam could have possibly done that would make Joe think he\u2019d no longer love him but it had him worried. \u201cJoseph please just tell me what is wrong with your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe took a deep breathe and swallowed the lump in his throat and began to speak. \u201cWell the other day when Hop-Sing asked me to fetch the butter churn\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

That got Ben\u2019s thoughts on another track, one that might explain things better. What better way to redirect your father\u2019s attention then to find a way to aim it towards someone else. \u201cAre you speaking of the one he asked you to bring in the night before so he could get an early start?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but I forgot and by the time I remembered it was dark and I was tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was Joe\u2019s typical excuse. \u201cJoseph you are going to be eighteen soon. I think it\u2019s about time you learned that in order for you to be able to do what may be required of you the next day you need to get to bed at a decent time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe inwardly rolled his eyes. He\u2019d never do it outwardly because to let his father see it would lead to an even more painful \u2018discussion\u2019. Joe didn\u2019t yet realize his days of painful discussions were a thing of the past just as he didn\u2019t realize there would be times he would prefer them. \u201cI know pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd yet you still insist on staying up and reading those dime novels.\u201d Ben had seen a light shining under Joe\u2019s door at all hours. Those times he had caught him where quite a few so he could only image the number of times he had been too exhausted to wake up and catch him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t seem to mind so much when it\u2019s one about Kit. Those times I don\u2019t have to try and sneak to read. I bet if I was reading the books like Adam does you wouldn\u2019t mind at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ones about Kit I treat differently because we know the man and can verify the truth of them but if you like I can start to treat them all the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo besides you got more to worry about with Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I do not. As you have already stated his choice of reading material is one I do approve of and he does not follow blind wherever a lady with a pretty face may lead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I help it if the lady needed my help? Was I suppose to tell her I couldn\u2019t help her just so I\u2019d be on time for dinner? Besides Adam may just prefer a handsome face.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me?\u201d<\/p>\n

His father looked baffled. \u201cThat\u2019s what I was tryin to tell you before you started lecturing me about bed!\u201d<\/p>\n

Even as confused as he was Ben could hear something close to disrespect in his son\u2019s voice and it was something he wouldn\u2019t stand for. \u201cYou watch that attitude young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry pa.\u201d Joe knew better then to push this any further.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow what is this about your brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I was getting the churn when I heard Adam and his friend Ross talking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you decided to eavesdrop on the conversation instead of finishing the chore you had been sent to do. As I recall Hoss brought that churn into Hop-Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe was getting tired of the interruptions besides he was beginning to think his father wouldn\u2019t believe him anyway. \u201cPa you want to keep lecturing me or hear how your oldest son don\u2019t like girls no more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I heard was Adam telling Ross how he was gonna ask you if didn\u2019t mind he was gonna stay in town tonight. He told Ross that he was gonna meet up with someone named Simon and that they was gonna have some real fun.\u201d Joe knew his father knew that he knew exactly what kind of fun Adam was referring to. Come to think of it now it was because of Adam that Joe knew so much about this kind of fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cSurely you heard wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo pa I was listenin\u2019 real close. Maybe you could just tell Adam that you need him here and that he can\u2019t stay in town when he asks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph your brother knows as well, if not better then I, what needs to be done around here. Besides I know his asking my permission is done as a courtesy to me because your brother is not a child.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut pa if you tell him he can\u2019t go he\u2019d listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps Joe.\u201d But Ben wasn\u2019t too sure. \u201cJoseph don\u2019t you worry about this I will speak to your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

This made Joe feel at ease. He knew his pa would take care of everything.<\/p>\n

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

Ben remained in his seat waiting for Adam. He was waiting for what felt like hours and it gave him too much time to think. He thought that maybe things back east had changed and that maybe being there and college had changed his son more then he thought possible. He knew that before he had gone east his eldest son had liked girls, maybe a bit too much, and even since his return he had appeared to still like girls. An even greater problem was the fact that the girls had definitely liked his son a great deal.<\/p>\n

When Adam came in his father was so deep in thought that he didn\u2019t even turn to see who had come in. \u201cPa, hey pa.\u201d When his father looked his way he still seemed to be lost somewhere in his thoughts. Adam thought maybe this was a good thing. \u201cPa I was thinking that since tomorrow is Saturday and all the chores are done I would stay in town tonight and tomorrow and then on Sunday I\u2019d ride home with you after church.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill I see you in church on Sunday? Will you have a lot to atone for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me pa?\u201d If Adam didn\u2019t know better he\u2019d swear his father knew where he was going and what he was planning on doing, but he knew he\u2019d only told Ross about his plans and he wouldn\u2019t have told his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing son, nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay then I\u2019m going to go pack up some things and head on out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore dinner?\u201d Ben had hoped to continue this conversation a little later when he had gathered his wits about him.<\/p>\n

Adam could hear something akin to panic in his father\u2019s voice and he could only think of one reason. For some reason even his father was afraid of Hop-Sing. \u201cI\u2019ll eat in town and don\u2019t worry I already told Hop-Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam you know I love you, right son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes pa and I love you.\u201d If Adam didn\u2019t know better he\u2019d swear his father had been drinking but ever since Marie\u2019s death and the circumstances following it Ben Cartwright would very rarely drink anything stronger then a beer or two this early in the day. With a shake of his head Adam turned to the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean no matter what you did or how you lived I\u2019d love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

This had Adam turning back to face his father. \u201cOkay pa, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I was hoping you\u2019d be in need of that old cradle some day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had barely heard what his father had just mumbled. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing son, have fun.\u201d But not too much Ben thought.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry Adam thought I\u2019ll be having a lot of fun.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cPa Adams sure been spending a lot of time in town this past week or so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe got a new boyfriend Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Pa what\u2019s Joe talkin\u2019 \u2018bout?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing Hoss.\u201d For once Ben was glad for an interruption during dinner. He got up to answer the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello are you Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I\u2019ve come to ask for a job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Simon Caspen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instantly Joe and Hoss were beside their father.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you can\u2019t have one!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJOSEPH.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stay away from our brother!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHOSS.\u201d Ben figured since he had gotten up from the table Joe had used the time to briefly fill Hoss in on the situation. Ben wondered why he hadn\u2019t done it sooner.<\/p>\n

Simon looked confused. \u201cYour brother? I don\u2019t even know your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen maybe he don\u2019t like you as much as you think if he didn\u2019t give you his real name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJOSEPH! Mr. Caspen why don\u2019t you come back later when we can talk without so many interruptions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay Mr. Cartwright.\u201d As the door closed Simon walked slowly away.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let him come back pa!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph if that is the person your brother has chosen to share his life with I will not allow you to push him away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph wasn\u2019t it you who asked me if I\u2019d love Adam no matter what? Well I ask you the same question.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I\u2019d love him no matter what. I just wish he liked girls like he use to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t lie Joseph, so do I.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

As Adam rode up to the house he saw someone riding towards him. \u201cHello.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHi. Hey are you the brother they was talkin\u2019 bout?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess that would depend on what they were saying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what I can gather from what they were saying they seem to think there is some kind of a relationship between us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo they now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that I\u2019d mind it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell Mr.\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCaspen, Simon Caspen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell Mr. Caspen I assure that I\u2026wait your name is Simon?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI think I know what\u2019s going on. Tell me Mr. Caspen why did you stop by?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking for a job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got one\u2026but just the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam quickly hid his grin and opened the door. \u201cHey pa, Hoss, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben turned away from his two youngest sons to face his eldest. \u201cHello son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI met someone as I was riding up. He was looking for a job. I told him he had one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course son I was going to tell him the same thing when he came back later.\u201d Oh son I only hope this isn\u2019t the reason for his interest in you. As Ben thought this he realized how strange it sounded to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Now if you\u2019ll excuse me I have something I need to do. Pa can you please tell Hop-Sing we\u2019ll be having a guest for dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned and walked out the door not even trying to hide his smile now that no one could see it.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa Adam ain\u2019t gonna bring him for dinner is he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he does Joseph you will treat him with respect is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut paaa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Joe I think pa\u2019s got enough to think over.\u201d All Hoss knew was he hoped his appetite would be back by dinner time because right now he wasn\u2019t hungry at all and that was a strange feeling for him.<\/p>\n

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

When the door opened Ben was quickly on his feet. As he watched the person who preceded Adam in entering the house he stood in shocked silence.<\/p>\n

To Adam the look on his father\u2019s face was worth all the trouble he been through these past few hours. \u201cPa allow me to introduce Simone Amare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe neared his brother and his guest in a daze. \u201cPa she\u2019s a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simone looked to who she knew must be Adam\u2019s youngest brother then glanced at the rest of the family. My but they were all handsome in their own way. \u201cYes I am and very much so.\u201d Simone took Ben\u2019s offered hand. \u201cHello Mr. Cartwright. May I say it is a great honor to meet a man who has raised such a man as Adam. I must admit it is an honor I did not think I\u2019d have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you say that Miss. Amare?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease call me Simone. Let\u2019s just say from what I have heard I am not the kind of woman you are use to receiving as a guest in your home Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Ben and I do believe my son now sees I am not quite as judgmental as he once believed me to be. Now if you\u2019ll allow me to escort you to the table I do believe it is time to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben offered her his arm and Simone placed her hand upon it and allowed him to lead her to the table. Hoss quickly followed suddenly very hungry again. Adam hung back and as Joe went to follow the others he called him back.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe slowly turned back to his brother. He knew Adam suspected something and he knew he suspected he was the reason for that something. Guess that was only right since he usually was the reason for things. \u201cYeah Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we need to have a long talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d There were times Joe feared Adam\u2019s talks more then his father\u2019s. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Adam I don\u2019t know how I could think you didn\u2019t like girls no more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot about that Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cListening in on conversations that don\u2019t concern you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, pa\u2019s already talked to me about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I\u2019m going to talk to you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat.\u201d This was not a conversation Joe was looking forward to. Maybe tonight he\u2019d get to bed early and by tomorrow Adam would have forgotten about this conversation. If he hadn\u2019t at least he\u2019d have calmed down some because no matter how calm Adam looked Joe could tell he was anything but.<\/p>\n

Ben looked to Adam and Joe. So alike and yet so different. \u201cCome on you two the food is getting cold and I have an appetite like I haven\u2019t had for days.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben had to admit the night went well. It was quite late when Adam had left to see Simone back to town. Joe and Hoss had gone to bed not too soon after they had left. For once Joe seemed rather anxious to get sleep. Ben sat in his chair smiling about the events of the past few weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I might find you still awake pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo how\u2019d you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t at first. I mean I know you\u2019ve been treating me strange these past few weeks but I thought maybe someone told you about Simone. Then when I met Simon and he asked why it seemed as if my family thought there was a relationship between us I put it together. I remembered seeing Joe skulking away when I first told Ross about Simone\u2019s visit and I am well aware of his penchant for listening in on conversations and also his penchant for getting things wrong. I put that together with your little talk about supporting me no matter what and mentioning cradles and I thought I had it pretty well figured out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I would support you no matter what and I don\u2019t want you to ever feel as if you can\u2019t bring a young lady to dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa Simone is no lady and she likes it that way. I had to do some pretty hard convincing to get her to come. She doesn\u2019t like to meet the family of her distractions.\u201d Adam could see the disapproval in his father\u2019s eyes. \u201cThey are her words pa not mine. We met back east and the relationship was no different. When she was planning this trip she wrote and said that if I was interested in having a little fun like we use to I should meet her in town the night after she arrived because she was sure she would need at least one night to rest up. She said she would get word to me when she arrived in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know about you son but I\u2019m tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa would you really have accepted it? I mean if Joe were right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt son, I don\u2019t know but I will always accept you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood because Simon did say he wouldn\u2019t be adverse to a relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa you don\u2019t mind that I hired him do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I see it Adam it is not my place to judge anyone besides it takes all kinds of people to make this world a place worth living in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know pa if you really want to put that old cradle to some use I\u2019m sure I can find a lady willing to help me oblige you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night son.\u201d If Ben thought Adam was serious he would stay and have a very lengthy conversation with his son but Ben knew it was a joke even if there were some truth in it.<\/p>\n

As Adam reached the first landing on the stairs he paused and turned to face his father. \u201cYou know pa you really are an amazing man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben saw the sincerity in his son\u2019s eyes just before he turned and disappeared upstairs. Ben felt his heart swell with pride and he knew he would sleep very soundly tonight with the knowledge that he had three amazing sons sleeping under the same roof. He smiled and just before he made his way to his room he noticed a light burning under his youngest son\u2019s door. \u201cJoseph get to sleep!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chapter 12:<\/p>\n

Hoss rode into the logging camp and instantly spotted his brother. His oldest brother was a hard man to miss. Hoss had spent the better part of the past two days convincing his father that he should come up and give Adam a break because after being up here for almost three weeks he was sure Adam needed some good nights sleep and a few days rest. Hoss had eagerly volunteered for the job which seemed only fitting since he was the one who had created it. Truth be told things were anything but peaceful at home and Hoss was getting tired of it. Little brother was now convinced he was old enough to do all he wanted and that included drinking, gambling and fighting. Hoss felt that Joe was just sowing his oats and if he just wouldn\u2019t insist on sowing so many at one time their pa might let it pass without too much conflict but not when Joe was trying to sow fields the size of the Ponderosa every night of the week.<\/p>\n

Adam stood and stared and waited as his brother sat astride his horse. He could see that Hoss had something on his mind and he didn\u2019t want to interrupt but if he waited any longer it would be morning. \u201cHoss\u2026HOSS.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked down at his brother and slowly dismounted. He wondered how long had Adam been standing there staring up at him. \u201cOh sorry Adam I got something on my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grinned as Hoss\u2019 feet hit the ground. \u201cI figured as much and from that look it has to do with our little brother.\u201d Adam was afraid to think of what Hoss would say next. He knew it wouldn\u2019t be anything too serious. If it was Hoss wouldn\u2019t have ridden in the way he had. Adam had been able to see the way things might go and had been glad when it came time for him to come up and oversee the logging. Ever since Joe\u2019s eighteenth birthday he had been one massive contradiction. First he\u2019d do something so responsible it had everyone wondering in amazement that maybe he was finally growing up then the next he was doing something so stupid and juvenile everyone was left wondering if he\u2019d ever grow up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah he sure has been pushing pa\u2019s limits these past few weeks.\u201d Hoss knew that Adam would know just what limits Joe was pushing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. So you want to take over here so I can go suffer through it for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why was it Adam could see right through anything. Hoss suspected it was because he wasn\u2019t very good at hiding things. \u201cCome on Adam I gotta have some peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you would rather come and run things here? You\u2019d rather sleep on the ground and give up Hop-Sing\u2019s cooking? Boy it must be real bad.\u201d Adam knew this was really over and he was going to lose because no matter how big Hoss was he was still his little brother and as such it was his job to protect him, even if it was from the consequences of their other brother\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is. Little brothers been going to town every night and he don\u2019t get home \u2018til real late. Pa\u2019s at the end of his rope. He just keeps saying he don\u2019t know what he\u2019s gonna do with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose he\u2019ll do with him the same as he did with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam we was never this bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo but then we never felt we had as much to prove either.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss watched as one of the biggest men he had ever seen approached him and Adam. He sure hoped there wouldn\u2019t be any trouble because he wasn\u2019t sure he could stop it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey excuse me Mr. Cartwright but where you want me to go next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked at the man in amazement. \u201cYou\u2019re done with that section already?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI must say you\u2019re the best lumberjack we\u2019ve ever had working for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you sir but where do you want me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you go help the others? I\u2019m sure they\u2019d appreciate it. Besides once they\u2019re done we\u2019ve cleared all we need to for today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYa sure you don\u2019t want me to start on tomorrow\u2019s section?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew the man preferred working alone but maybe some time with the other men might make him see the others weren\u2019t so bad and make the others less inclined to shun him. \u201cWe\u2019ve already cleared tomorrow\u2019s section thanks to you so why not help the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss stared after the man as he walked away. \u201cBoy Adam I know I\u2019m big but that guys a giant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d agree Hoss. He\u2019s a good man and an excellent worker. He just likes to work alone a little too much but with him working for us we\u2019re going to finish ahead of schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least that\u2019ll make pa happy.\u201d Hoss knew he\u2019d be staying because that was Adam\u2019s way of telling him how to handle at least that man on the logging crew.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Adam rode into the yard feeling sorrier and sorrier that he had agreed so easily but the thought of Hop-Sing\u2019s cooking and a soft, warm bed were just too tempting. Besides the way things were sounding both his little brothers were in need of his protection. He could hear his father\u2019s raised voice and also his youngest brother\u2019s answering in kind. Boy little brother was really temping fate. Adam sat still as the front door slammed open and Joe came storming out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care pa I\u2019m going!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben followed his son outside. \u201cJOSEPH you get back inside!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stared stunned as Joe mounted up and rode past him without a glance. He slowly dismounted and turned to his father. \u201cSo what\u2019s new pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben just glared at his eldest then turned and marched into the house. Adam felt a grin creep onto his face but only because he knew his father couldn\u2019t see it. He then took his horses reins and led him to the barn. He\u2019d see after him first hoping it would give his father some time to cool down.<\/p>\n

********
\nBen looked up as the door opened. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t taken you this long to bed down a horse since you were nine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry Pa.\u201d Adam knew it was better to sound contrite over defensive.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo son I\u2019m sorry.\u201d Ben shook his head and sat down.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what\u2019s been going on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I knew. Your youngest brother has been\u2026well he\u2019s been\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBehaving like an adolescent?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell yes but this is ridiculous.\u201d Leave it to Adam to name something that had been so confounding to him so easily.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa if I recall correctly Hoss and I both went through this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot this badly Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo but then we aren\u2019t the youngest either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing pa. Listen I\u2019ll talk with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sooner the better Ben thought. Maybe Joe would listen to his oldest brother easier then he would listen to his father. Adam turned and headed for the door and as much as Ben wanted his youngest son home he was Adam\u2019s father as well and was as equally worried about him. \u201cAdam you just got home why don\u2019t you rest for a while. After all your brother will still be in town for some hours yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grinned at his father. \u201cPa something tells me even if I do stay I won\u2019t be getting any rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Joe rode to town trying to figure out what he was doing. It\u2019s not that he really wanted to do the things he was doing he just seemed to need to. He hated to see his pa so worried and he hated to disobey him but something in him just had too. He didn\u2019t know what he was trying to prove it just felt like he had to prove it. All the inner conflict he was going through only seconds before seemed to be forgotten when he walked into the saloon.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell if it ain\u2019t the legend that is Little Joe Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked at the man sitting at the table with three other men. All men who had lost pretty badly to him over these past weeks. Joe sat in the empty chair. \u201cIt\u2019s just Joe now why don\u2019t you shut up and deal.\u201d As the cards hit the table Joe looked to the bar and smiled when he saw a pretty new face standing there looking his way. \u201cHey babe how bout you bring me a beer.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Adam walked into the saloon and what he saw surprised him. He couldn\u2019t have arrived too much behind Joe and yet his little brother already had a large stack of money in front of him. Adam must have stood still too long because one of the girls took this to mean he was waiting for some kind of an invitation, one she was only happy to give. \u201cYou gonna stay long?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry ma\u2019am but no. I\u2019ll only be here long enough to talk some sense into my brother there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe had noticed when Adam walked in and how the young lady who had brought him the beer appeared to be overly anxious to talk to him. Did everything have to come so easy to older brother? \u201cWhy you here Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Oh great, Adam thought, this was starting off bad which meant it could only get worse. \u201cI just came to see you little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you\u2019ve seen me now go on home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe I\u2019m tired and in no mood to argue so either you get up and come on home or I\u2019m going to have to come over there and get you up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you just come on and try brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rest of the men sitting at the table with Joe got up and stepped back. Not one of them was at all eager to get between these two brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen Joe I don\u2019t know what\u2019s gotten stuck in your craw but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to know! Pa trusts you to run the logging and he trusts Hoss to oversee the men and the herd but what does he trust me with!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot more if you\u2019d only prove to him he could.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need him to. This is what I\u2019m good at Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew Joe wasn\u2019t speaking of the drinking or the fighting but the poker. Most of the time Joe could out play anyone at a game of poker if given time. The kid just had a way of reading people\u2019s tells. \u201cSo this is what you want to do with your life? You want to be a professional gambler?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes! NO! I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome to life little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that mean?\u201d Joe had expected a lot of things when he saw Adam walk in but talking things through was not one of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means at your age no one knows what they want because up until then everyone told them what they want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKit knew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t go comparing yourself to Kit Carson. That man is one of a kind Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so could you be but not if all you aspire to is to be a gambler. Lord knows there are more than enough of those around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really believe I could be one of a kind Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned you already are. There aren\u2019t too many men who could have our brother Hoss turning his back on Hop-Sing\u2019s cooking in favor of logging camp fare, or have pa in such a rage and walk away unscathed, or have me in town this late when I\u2019m this tired. Now can we please go home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess. Besides I\u2019ve already won almost all of the other guys\u2019 money. They all have easy tells.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you should find more challenging opponents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about you brother? I still haven\u2019t figured out your tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s because I don\u2019t have one little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone has one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I have several but I know what they are so I make sure to consciously do them whether or not my hand is a good one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure are tricky older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes younger brother I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTricky enough to have me out here mounting my horse without me even realizing it.\u201d
\n\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think I\u2019ll ever get the upper hand with you Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe when I\u2019m old and senile.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWay I see it that ain\u2019t too far off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith how tired I feel right now I\u2019d have to agree Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Hoss actually volunteered to go run the logging.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I\u2019m thinking I can probably get three or four days rest out of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy Adam sometimes you\u2019re as sneaky as me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a family trait little brother. Pa just conveniently forgets that sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chapter 13:<\/p>\n

I was writing this for the mega challenge and I wasn’t sure if it had to run from July to July or just 12 chapters. I have added this epilogue so the story will end where I had planned from the beginning.<\/p>\n

Epilogue<\/p>\n

I sit on the same spot he sat on all those years ago looking down on the same field. It has changed so little. It was summer then as it is now. My body cried out in agony with each step I took but I ignored it. I had too until I gained victory over the flames that threatened the dream we were building. Now the dream is all but completed and we speed most of our time keeping it going. Maybe it\u2019s time for me to follow a different track. One that is of my own choosing. I received the letter informing me of his death and so close to that of his wife\u2019s. I was away at the time of its arrival so I only just read it and that is why I sit here today. I think pa knows something is coming. Kit had been such an important part of my life even if I didn\u2019t see him much but his death has hit me hard. There are so many things I want to do and see and Kit\u2019s death has brought my own mortality home to me. One never believes one\u2019s heroes will ever die and in a way I guess they don\u2019t. We keep them alive with stories and in our memories. I hear him ride up and I know who it is without having to look.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo this is where it all started?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cYou know I can picture how you must have looked to Kit and his men.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo can I. I must have appeared to be one crazy kid trying to put out a fire with a bucket that had a hole in it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I\u2019m sure they saw what I still see. A very determined young man who goes after what he wants against all odds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa I think\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can talk about this later Adam. Right now I think we should head on home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes pa, home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0Here is my story for the July challenge as always I hope you like it. I will also be using this as the first chapter for the mega challenge. I hope I can make it to gold. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated: K+ \u00a0WC \u00a022,000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":144,"featured_media":3478,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[39,23,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chaps-spurs","category-drama","category-challenges","wpcat-39-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-40-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/4Cartwrights.jpg?fit=849%2C541&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4776","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\/144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4776"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4776\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}