{"id":5041,"date":"2003-04-02T22:54:18","date_gmt":"2003-04-03T03:54:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5041"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:06:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:06:45","slug":"friends-indeed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5041","title":{"rendered":"Friends Indeed? (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>You read the drabble, now read the whole story.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 (4,390 words)<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friends Indeed?<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just what do you think you\u2019re doing?\u201d Adam Cartwright asked, sarcastically. He stood in the barn doorway, with his hands on his hips. He did not look pleased.<\/p>\n

Guiltily, Joe Cartwright, his youngest brother, started. \u201cYou gave me a fright, Adam,\u201d he said, hoping that he would be able to distract Adam from what his brother would think was his latest mis-deed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat isn\u2019t an answer,\u201d Adam returned, advancing into the barn. He picked up the cloth Joe was supposed to be polishing the saddles with, and handed it to his brother. \u201cWhat do you think you are doing? You\u2019re supposed to be cleaning the saddles.\u201d He took the epee from his brother\u2019s hand and examined it closely, as though he had never seen it before. \u201cDoes Pa know you\u2019re playing around out here with this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not playing, I\u2019m practicing,\u201d Joe retorted, beginning to feel annoyed. He was an adult, and as long as his work got done, he felt he should be able to take a little time to himself every now and then. \u201cGive me it back.\u201d He dropped the cloth once more, and reached for the epee.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh-uh,\u201d Adam chided, taking a swift step backwards. \u201cYou get your work done, then you can play.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn it, Adam, I told you all ready,\u201d Joe snapped, his temper well and truly up. \u201cI wasn\u2019t playing I was practicing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor what?\u201d Turning away so Joe still couldn\u2019t get hold of the slender blade, Adam glanced back over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. It was a pose guaranteed to rile Joe, and it didn\u2019t fail this time, either.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it\u2019s any of your business, I\u2019ll tell you!\u201d Joe snapped. He lunged for the blade as Adam moved once more, and was lucky not to cut his hand on the edge. They both froze, shaken by the near accident. Joe put his hand out, and Adam placed the epee onto it. They glared at one another for a minute, and then Adam shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d he said, but he didn\u2019t sound all that sorry to Joe. However, the breach had been made, and Joe tried to be conciliatory, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cI promised Jake Hunter and his buddies a few lessons, that\u2019s all,\u201d he said, still sounding sulky.<\/p>\n

The precarious peace of only seconds before was shattered once more. \u201cJake Hunter?\u201d repeated Adam. \u201cWhy? What\u2019s that low-life got to do with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just a friend, that\u2019s all,\u201d Joe replied, his eyes flashing. \u201cAnd he\u2019s not a low-life! Where do you get off on calling my friends names?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh grow up, Joe,\u201d Adam said, angrily. \u201cThey aren\u2019t your friends. I don\u2019t know what they want from you, but they aren\u2019t with you because they\u2019re your friends. Forget that idea! They want something from you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know that!\u201d protested Joe. \u201cThey are my friends.\u201d He glared angrily at his brother. \u201cYou\u2019re jealous,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

\u201cJealous?\u201d snorted Adam, disdainfully. \u201cOf you? I hardly think so.\u201d His dark eyes glinted dangerously.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, big brother?\u201d Joe taunted him, pushed beyond the point where he could control his temper. \u201cDidn\u2019t they want to be friends with you? Are you too superior for them?\u201d<\/p>\n

There was no one who could get under Adam\u2019s skin like Joe \u2013 and no one could get under Joe\u2019s skin like Adam. They were both so angry that words flew without regard for the other\u2019s feelings. But Adam had had enough. He lost control, and punched Joe in the mouth.<\/p>\n

Reeling back, Joe landed flat on his back, the sword clattering to the floor from his hand. For a second he was stunned, but his blood was up, too, and he scrambled to his feet, ignoring the blood pouring from his nose. He took up a stance, his fists up, ready to let fly at Adam. His older brother, after a second\u2019s hesitation, mirrored his pose. For another long second, neither moved, then Joe broke the spell and threw a punch at Adam.<\/p>\n

The older man avoided it easily, and moved in on Joe, getting another punch through his defenses. However, the fight got no further than that, for the barn door crashed open, and Ben Cartwright, the boys\u2019 father came in. \u201cHold it right there!\u201d he bellowed, and hurried over to separate them. He glared at them in fury. \u201cWhat is the meaning of this?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe started it,\u201d Joe spluttered sullenly. \u201cHe threw the first punch.\u201d His nose was still bleeding, and his lower lip was split.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care who started it!\u201d Ben bellowed. \u201cI am appalled at both of you! Get into the house, get to your rooms and stay there until you have decided to get along like decent human beings!\u201d<\/p>\n

Glaring at one another anew, they prepared to do as they had been told. Adam turned without a word, and walked away. Joe wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand, and looked surprised at the amount there was. Shooting a look at Ben, he realized there would be no way he would get sympathy from his parent this time. He bent over to retrieve the epee, and sidled out of the barn. Ben\u2019s face darkened still further when he saw the sword, but he was too angry to trust himself to say anything.<\/p>\n

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

It was breakfast before Adam appeared, and in his usual composed manner apologized to his father for the incident the previous night. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I lost my temper,\u201d he said. He shot a sideways glance at Joe\u2019s empty seat. \u201cHasn\u2019t Joe come down yet?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince nobody has wakened Joseph this morning,\u201d Ben said, tightly, \u201cit\u2019s hardly surprising that he isn\u2019t down yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want fer me t\u2019go up and do it, Pa?\u201d Hoss offered. He hated when the family were at odds with one another.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, son,\u201d Ben said, quietly. He watched as Hoss crossed the room and mounted the stairs. He didn\u2019t know what had got into his sons the previous night, but he wanted it sorted out. However, he wanted them both there when he enquired into it.<\/p>\n

After a minute, Hoss came clattering down the stairs, and Ben knew at once that he didn\u2019t have good news for them. He rose to his feet, gazing at Hoss. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d he asked, as Adam slowly turned in his seat.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe ain\u2019t there, Pa,\u201d Hoss muttered, as though this was his fault. \u201cHis bed ain\u2019t bin slept in, neither.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moving towards the door, Ben gazed at the three gunbelts coiled on the credenza, and the three hats that hung on the rack. Joe\u2019s were gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat have I done?\u201d Adam whispered.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cYou look rough this morning, Cartwright,\u201d Jake Hunter joked, as he roused Joe that morning. \u201cRough night, was it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRough enough,\u201d Joe grunted. He rubbed a hand over his face, and took the coffee his friend was offering. \u201cWhat time is it?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout 8.30,\u201d Jake responded. He leant against the doorjamb and surveyed his guest. \u201cSo what happened last night, Joe? How come you ended up here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking another gulp of his coffee, Joe wondered how much he should tell Jake. \u201cI had a fight with Adam,\u201d he said. \u201cI decided not to hang around for Pa to get involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo they don\u2019t know where you are?\u201d Jake said, sounding gleeful.<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Joe wondered now if that had been wise. Creeping out of the house like that would just make Ben even angrier than he had been the previous night. If Joe had been less angry at the time, he would never have made the decision he had. Now, he had to find a way to live with it. \u201cNo. I guess I shouldn\u2019t have done it,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, they\u2019ll get over it,\u201d Jake said, grinning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so,\u201d Joe said, seriously. \u201cAdam was pretty mad last night.\u201d He unconsciously felt his nose, which was still tender. \u201cWe haven\u2019t had a fight like that in years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter, though, does it?\u201d Jake asked. \u201cIts common knowledge that you and Adam don\u2019t get on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shifting uncomfortably, Joe thought that through. \u201cWe get on more often than not,\u201d he denied. \u201cIt\u2019s just that sometimes we clash. Like last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah?\u201d Jake said, skeptically. \u201cThat\u2019s not what I\u2019ve heard. I\u2019ve heard that Adam would do anything to get rid of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJake, that\u2019s just rubbish and you know it,\u201d Joe snapped. \u201cAnyway, what are you so interested in Adam for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not,\u201d Jake said, cheerfully. \u201cI was only tryin\u2019 to make you feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not much good in the morning,\u201d Joe muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you stay here till things cool down?\u201d Jake suggested. \u201cTake your time. Decide what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about your folks?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cWon\u2019t they mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re away right now,\u201d Jake said. \u201cI\u2019ve got the place to myself.\u201d He grinned. \u201cSo go on back to sleep, Cartwright. You look like you need it. I\u2019ll see you later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nodding, Joe lay back down. \u201cThanks, Jake,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Pausing in the doorway, Jake looked back at Joe. \u201cSee ya, sucker,\u201d he said, and the door slammed shut. Startled, Joe sat up, in time to hear a key turn in the lock.<\/p>\n

In a second, Joe was out of bed, trying the door. He knew it was hopeless even as he did so. From the other side, he could hear Jake laughing. \u201cDon\u2019t waste your energy, Cartwright,\u201d he sneered. \u201cYou\u2019re there till your family pays up. And I don\u2019t care who pays. Your Pa to get you back, or your brother to get rid of you permanent.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

A thorough but discreet search didn\u2019t reveal Joe anywhere. None of his friends had seen him. He hadn\u2019t been in any of the saloons the previous night, and Adam even checked out the local girls, too. He hadn\u2019t taken a room in either of the hotels, and none of the boarding house proprietors had seen him. It was as though Joe had simply vanished.<\/p>\n

With each minute that passed, Adam became more concerned. He knew that he had been in the wrong the night before, although Joe wasn\u2019t completely blameless either. But Adam judged that, as the oldest, he should have been able to keep his temper. Now, all he wanted was Joe to come home.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Jake Hunter\u2019s place?\u201d he suggested, dubiously. \u201cJoe was talking about him last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBin there,\u201d Hoss said, gloomily. \u201cJake\u2019s folks is away, and Jake said he ain\u2019t seen Joe since the day afore yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long has Jake been friends with Joe?\u201d Ben asked. This was news to him. \u201cJake doesn\u2019t seem his usual sort of companion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s partly what we were quarrelling about last night,\u201d Adam admitted. \u201cJoe was defending Jake, after I called him a low-life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rolling his eyes, Ben refrained from saying anything. If there was a way to make Joe do something, it was to tell him not to do it. Adam and Hoss even joked that if a job was difficult, all you had to do was tell Joe it was impossible, and he got it done. Telling Joe that his friend wasn\u2019t good for him was a sure-fire way of making sure Joe wanted to see no one else.<\/p>\n

The journey back to the ranch was essentially silent. When they got there, Adam took the horses into the barn, while Ben and Hoss went to tell Hop Sing that their mission had failed. He knew that their cook would have plenty to say about that. However, when he went into the house, it wasn\u2019t a tirade of Cantonese that met him; it was the worried faces of his father and brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d he asked, and Ben wordlessly handed him a note.<\/p>\n

We have Joe. Pay us $10,000 to let him go, or $10,000 to kill him. The choice is yours. Keep the law out of this if you want him alive. If you want him dead, Adam, just talk to the sheriff. You are being watched. We will contact you again tomorrow.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lifting his head, Adam stared blankly at Ben. \u201cWhy would they think I want him dead?\u201d he asked, in anguished tones.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

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

Prowling round the room that had become his prison, Joe was fuming. Much as it galled him to admit that Adam was right, he had no choice. Jake Hunter had been after him for something other than friendship, and Joe had fallen for it, hook, line and sinker. Jake\u2019s parents ran their ranch at a profit, but not much of a profit. There was rarely any spare cash. Joe realized that Jake had taken him prisoner to get money from his family, and he was furious with himself for not realizing sooner.<\/p>\n

There didn\u2019t seem to be any way out. Joe had smashed the glass in the window, after finding it was painted shut, but the window was too small to let his shoulders through, and he had cut himself trying. The door was thick, solid oak, and no way was he going to be able to break it down. There was no way out.<\/p>\n

Pacing restlessly round the room, Joe wondered what Jake intended. Once he had the money, he surely knew that Joe would tell the sheriff who had kidnapped him, and Jake would go to jail. He swallowed. Surely Jake didn\u2019t mean to kill him? He would hang for that.<\/p>\n

Later in the afternoon, there were footsteps outside the room, and Joe braced himself. He had discovered earlier that his gun was missing, and he looked around for something to protect himself with. There was nothing. The door opened, and Jake came in, his gun drawn. Behind him came his three buddies, Hank Butler, Mike Caldwell, and Bob Jenkins. Hank had a rope in his hands, and Joe instinctively retreated.<\/p>\n

There was nowhere for him to run to, but he put up a spirited defense. But before long, his hands were tied behind his back and he was dragged from the room. Outside, he was forced to mount Cochise, and they rode off.<\/p>\n

They didn\u2019t go far. The Hunters had a barn down near their biggest pasture, which they used to store the winter feed for their stock. During the summer, it stood nearly empty. This, Joe surmised, was to be his new prison. He was right. Despite his struggles, it wasn\u2019t long before he was tied to a stout post, and then was left alone.<\/p>\n

Resolutely refusing to give up, despite the beating he had taken, Joe worked at the rope round his wrists, but to no avail. As night fell, he was still a prisoner.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI\u2019d better not go into town,\u201d Adam said. He looked pale, as did his parent and sibling. \u201cIf I should accidentally bump into Roy Coffee while in town\u2026\u201d He let the sentence trail off.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss and I will go,\u201d Ben said. He looked strained. \u201cWe\u2019ll get the money and come back here. I hope by then we\u2019ll know what to do with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so, too,\u201d Adam replied. He stood in the doorway and watched them leave. He felt suddenly vulnerable.<\/p>\n

It had been a long night for all the family. None of them had slept a wink, worrying about Joe. Adam was appalled that anyone would think that he wanted his brother dead. He was frequently angry or exasperated with Joe, and he often thought Ben was too lenient with him. But he loved Joe with the fierce protective love that he had for all his family.<\/p>\n

Too restless to sit down to anything, Adam wondered through the house, and outside. He sat aimlessly for a while on the edge of the horse trough, then went into the barn. The last time he had seen Joe had been in the barn, and he had hit him. Not once, but twice. Adam absent-mindedly patted Sport, wondering how Joe was, and where he was.<\/p>\n

There was a faint noise from the yard, and Adam drifted incuriously towards the door. A young man was creeping across the yard on foot, clutching a scrap of paper in his hand. Adam\u2019s attention sharpened. He kept back in the shadows, watching. The young man crossed the yard, and tucked the paper under the doorknocker. As he turned, Adam drew in his breath. He recognized they young man as Hank Butler, one of Jake Hunter\u2019s buddies. He drew further back into the shadows as Hank passed, not wanting to be seen. When Hank had gone passed, Adam slipped out of the barn, sprinted to the house, read the note and grabbed up his gun belt.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing! I\u2019m going to follow Hank. Tell Pa and Hoss went they get back. Tell them to try the Hunter\u2019s place.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t wait for a reply. He just headed off to saddle Sport, and follow Hank\u2019s tracks. They should lead him right to Joe, he thought.<\/p>\n

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

They were all gathered in the barn when Hank got back. \u201cThe old man and the fat boy went into town,\u201d Hank reported. \u201cI put the note on the door, like you said, Jake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Jake said. \u201cNow we just wait for them to arrive with the money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey won\u2019t come with money,\u201d Joe said. \u201cThey\u2019ll come with the law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning, Jake walked across the barn till he stood in front of Joe. \u201cDid you say something?\u201d he asked, menacingly.<\/p>\n

Ignoring the tone of Jake\u2019s voice, Joe ploughed on. \u201cMy family won\u2019t pay you a penny,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019ll come with a posse, and you\u2019ll pay for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill I?\u201d Jake drawled, and punched Joe viciously in the stomach. Joe doubled over as far as he was able, given that he was still bound to the post. He gasped for breath. This wasn\u2019t the first time Jake had used his fists, and Joe didn\u2019t think it would be the last, either. But he was determined to show no fear. \u201cYour old man has gone for the money. Funny that brother Adam didn\u2019t go with them, don\u2019t you think? Could it be because he hates you so much?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019ll be a good reason for Adam not going,\u201d Joe declared, hotly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, there is,\u201d Jake said. \u201cBecause he hates you so much.\u201d He laughed. \u201cAdam doesn\u2019t want you back, kid. He wants you dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a liar!\u201d Joe snarled. \u201cAdam was right, you are a low-life!\u201d<\/p>\n

With a sound remarkably like a growl, Jake fell on Joe. He punched the helpless youth repeatedly, until Joe was sagging in his bonds, blood dripping from his nose and mouth, and one eye swelling. But that wasn\u2019t enough fun for Jake. He glanced around to see what else he could use to make his victim suffer, and his eye fell on the big whip. \u201cCome on, boys,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take them long to strip off Joe\u2019s shirt, and tie his hands above his head. Joe could feel fear curling in his belly, but he was determined to hide it. He bit his lip. He hoped against hope that his family would come.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam won\u2019t come to rescue you,\u201d Jake taunted, as the whip bit into Joe\u2019s back. \u201cHe wants you to die.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t!\u201d denied Joe, gasping for breath through the pain. \u201cHe\u2019ll come for me, you wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again the whip cracked, and Joe couldn\u2019t contain a cry. \u201cSo where is he then, this wonderful brother of yours?\u201d Hank cackled, as he took his turn with the whip.<\/p>\n

The thugs were merciless and relentless as they slashed their victim.
\n“We want an answer and we want it now.”
\n“Go to hell,” Joe said, vehemently.
\n“Where is your brother? Why are you protecting him?\u00a0He doesn’t care about you.”
\nJoe’s mind started reeling.<\/p>\n

“Yeah, why isn’t he here,” they taunted him.
\nThe boy was hurting.\u00a0Did he really rile his eldest brother to the point that he’d abandon him?<\/p>\n

Another crack of the whip.\u00a0 “Give it up, kid.”<\/p>\n

A figure in black blazed into the room. “You touch him one more time and I’ll kill you.
\nJoe\u2026I’m right here!”<\/p>\n

Caught unawares, Jake, Hank, Mike and Bob spun round. Jake still had the whip in his hand. Adam had his gun drawn, and was shooting small glances at Joe while trying to watch his brother\u2019s captors. Jake immediately took advantage of Adam\u2019s shock, and the whip cracked towards him.<\/p>\n

Too late, Adam tried to sidestep, but the whip caught him across the back of his hand, and the gun dropped from his suddenly nerveless fingers. Blood began to drip from his hand. Instinctively, Adam cradled the injured appendage to his chest, and Jake and his friends didn\u2019t hesitate. They dived across the barn at Adam, and began to beat him up.<\/p>\n

He fought valiantly, but they were too many for him, and soon, Adam was trussed up and flung on the floor at his brother\u2019s feet. Joe hung in his bonds, head lolling, barely conscious. He peered down at Adam, and groaned aloud. \u201cAdam,\u201d he gasped. \u201cOh, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Joe,\u201d Adam mumbled, between split lips. \u201cI failed you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Joe denied. \u201cNo, Adam.\u201d He let out another cry as the whip cracked round his body once more.<\/p>\n

Furious, Adam fought his bonds, as the thugs kept torturing Joe. It was torture to Adam, too. He knew that he shouldn\u2019t have come alone, or should have waited for help to arrive. But he couldn\u2019t just stand there and let Joe be hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cJake, that\u2019s enough,\u201d Bob Jenkins said, worriedly. \u201cIf you keep goin\u2019, he\u2019s like to die on ya.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t care,\u201d Jake declared. His face was lit with an evil glow. He panted from his exertions, but he looked as though he was enjoying himself. Adam looked sick. \u201cI don\u2019t care if he dies. Cartwright\u2019s gonna pay to get his boy back anyway. What does it matter if one of them dies?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt matters,\u201d said a hard, cold voice from the doorway.<\/p>\n

With a startled exclamation, Jake whirled around. Ben and Hoss Cartwright stood in the doorway. Hoss cradled a rifle in his hands. He looked very large and very dangerous as he surveyed the four young men in front of him. Ben had his pistol drawn, and he looked furious. \u201cPut down that whip, Jake,\u201d Ben ordered.<\/p>\n

Glancing down at the implement in his hand, it seemed for a moment as though Jake was going to try something stupid. However, the killing madness had drained out of him, and he meekly dropped the whip. \u201cPut your hands up,\u201d Ben ordered, and they did so.<\/p>\n

With Hoss keeping them covered, Ben hastened across to his sons. Joe was practically unconscious. He hung from his bonds, his legs barely able to support him. Ben holstered his gun, put an arm carefully round Joe and reached up to slice through the ropes holding him captive. He had been prepared to support Joe, but the sudden transfer of his son\u2019s weight made Ben stagger. Gently, he laid Joe on the ground. Only then did he turn his attention to Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right, son?\u201d he asked, seeing the bruising.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m fine,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cDon\u2019t worry about me. How\u2019s Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s in bad shape,\u201d Ben said, worriedly, kneeling by Joe once more. He gently stroked the youth\u2019s hair, and Joe\u2019s eyes slit open.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u2026glad\u2026to\u2026see\u2026you\u2026Pa,\u201d he whispered. \u201cHow\u2019s\u2026Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine, Joe,\u201d Adam said. \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Sitting in the blue velvet armchair, Adam closed his eyes and thought about going to bed. He was exhausted and sore, courtesy of the fight he\u2019d had in the barn. Jake and his pals were now in Roy Coffee\u2019s jailhouse, along with both the ransom notes. Joe was safely upstairs in bed, and Adam felt he could finally relax. Joe had been badly hurt, but he was going to be just fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Hoss said, and Adam opened his eyes to smile at his brother. \u201cI was worried about ya,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cYou all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Adam replied, still smiling at Hoss. His younger brother had been a tower of strength all afternoon and evening. He had managed to take all 4 youths into town to the sheriff, and found the doctor, too. Ben had had the equally difficult task of taking Joe and Adam home<\/p>\n

Adam hadn\u2019t needed much treatment. His biggest injuries were the cut on the back of his hand, and some cracked ribs. What he needed now was rest. Paul Martin, the doctor, had been with Joe for quite a while now, but he had assured the worried family that Joe would be perfectly all right, given time. \u201cI\u2019m going to bed,\u201d Adam said, and was grateful when Hoss came across to help him to his feet.<\/p>\n

They went upstairs together. Without spoken consultation, they both went into Joe\u2019s room. Joe opened his eyes and looked at them. A smile played over his lips and was gone. He was too sore to smile. \u201cI\u2019m glad to see you, Adam,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot as glad as I am to see you, buddy,\u201d Adam responded. \u201cI thought we\u2019d lost you there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you might not come,\u201d admitted Joe. Ben put his hand on Joe\u2019s arm and squeezed gently. \u201cWe\u2019d had such a fight, and I thought you were too mad to come look for me.\u201d He gulped audibly as he tried to swallow the lump that had risen in his throat. \u201cI\u2019m sorry we fought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, too,\u201d Adam said. \u201cIt was none of my business, Joe. I keep forgetting you\u2019re not my annoying little brother who needs reminded to do his chores.\u201d He smiled. \u201cYou\u2019re just my annoying little brother, and if you don\u2019t do your chores, it\u2019s not my problem, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

His joking tone of voice made Joe smile again.\u00a0 \u201cJust be sure you remember that next time, big brother,\u201d Joe responded.<\/p>\n

Turning to leave, Adam hesitated half in and half out of the door. \u201cI\u2019ll always be there for you, Joe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

*****End*****<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 You read the drabble, now read the whole story.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 (4,390 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":12958,"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":[1091,23,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-joe","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-1091-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Adam-and-Joe-Desert-Justice-2.bmp","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5041"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5041\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}