{"id":5934,"date":"2003-10-21T12:03:48","date_gmt":"2003-10-21T16:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5934"},"modified":"2026-07-31T08:49:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T12:49:34","slug":"against-his-will","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5934","title":{"rendered":"Against His Will (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>The opportunity for Adam to help out a holidaying professor with his research seems wonderful. But is it too good to be true? And who will pay the price for the professor making Adam do something Against His Will?<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0<\/strong>(8,840 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

Against His Will\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019re very spruced up tonight, big brother,\u201d Joe remarked, from his perch on the table in front of the fire. \u201cWho\u2019s the lucky lady?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to the monthly meeting of the literary society, for your information,\u201d Adam replied, in a superior manner.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean there won\u2019t be a lady there,\u201d Joe retorted, mischievously. He ducked to avoid the blow Adam aimed at his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cProfessor Bartholomew Keene is giving a talk about the devices used in novels to make men do things against their will.\u201d Adam sat down to tug on his boots.<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds riveting,\u201d Joe replied, in a tone that suggested he thought the exact opposite. \u201cHave a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, I will,\u201d Adam responded. \u201cA little culture is most refreshing and I heard about Professor Keene when I was at college, although I never had a chance to attend his lectures. You should come, Joe. You might enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo thanks, Adam,\u201d Joe answered. He smiled at his brother. \u201cIt\u2019s just not my scene. Not enough girls, you see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d learn a lot from the professor,\u201d Adam told him. \u201cIt seems a shame to pass up on meeting him. You, too, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, that ain\u2019t for me,\u201d Hoss replied. He moved a checker and glanced up at Joe, half smiling.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps, but I\u2019ll pass this time,\u201d Joe replied, neatly jumping all Hoss\u2019 remaining checkers.<\/p>\n

As Adam left, he could hear Hoss exclaiming, \u201cYou cheated!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The talk was everything Adam hoped it would be. The professor was a natural speaker, with the knack for drawing in his audience. When the talk drew to a close, Adam was disappointed it was over. He drew closer to the speaker as the people filed out and waited to speak to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Adam Cartwright,\u201d he said, sticking out his hand. \u201cI just came to tell you how much I enjoyed your talk, Professor. My room mate at college heard you talk on several occasions, but due to my class commitments, I never had the privilege before now. That was a most informative and enjoyable evening, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, thank you, Mr Cartwright,\u201d the professor replied. He was almost the same height as Adam, with greying, receding hair and a goatee beard. His round eyeglasses reflected the light in a most peculiar way, so that Adam had difficulty in seeing his eyes. \u201cHow nice to meet someone who has had more than a rudimentary education. I enjoy giving these talks, but I often find that they are above the heads of most of my listeners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making a deprecating face, Adam shrugged. \u201cWell, a lot of the people in towns like this don\u2019t have time for education. They\u2019re too busy trying to make a living.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what you\u2019re doing out here?\u201d the professor asked. He liked the look of Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cKind of,\u201d Adam responded. \u201cMy father has a ranch just outside of town. I live and work there, but I went back east to college and studied engineering and architecture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s very interesting,\u201d Keen replied. \u201cCould I interest you in dinner this week? I\u2019m staying here in town for a short holiday, and have rented a house. I\u2019m not going to swear how good my cooking will be, but I hope the company will be to your liking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, I\u2019d like that,\u201d Adam replied, pleased. \u201cAnd you must come and dine with us. Please, would tomorrow be suitable? That would allow you some time to get properly settled in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, that would be splendid, my dear fellow! However, I\u2019m not travelling alone. I have my assistant, Jim Stevenson with me, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019d be more than welcome as well,\u201d Adam responded, smiling at the tall, thin, blond young man standing quietly behind the professor. \u201cI\u2019ll come and collect you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need,\u201d the professor told him. \u201cI\u2019ve got my buggy with me. Just tell us how to find your home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Adam did just that, writing down the directions. As he left, Keen and Stevenson exchanged a speaking glance and smiled.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhat?\u201d Joe gasped, dismayed. \u201cHe\u2019s coming to supper tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Adam replied, impatiently. \u201cAnd you are going to be here, Joe. It would be rude not to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Glaring at his oldest brother for so easily divining what was in his mind, Joe snapped, \u201cI wasn\u2019t thinking any such thing!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, of course not,\u201d Adam replied, while Ben looked on, amused. \u201cTrust me, Joe, you\u2019ll enjoy the evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sitting across the table from Joe, Hoss looked no less depressed. \u201cI won\u2019t know what he\u2019s talkin\u2019 about,\u201d Hoss mourned.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, he\u2019s educated, not stuck up,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cHe\u2019s a nice man and you\u2019ll like him, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing,\u201d Hoss mumbled and stuffed some more scrambled egg into his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, since we\u2019re having guests tonight, you boys had better come home early and get changed,\u201d Ben suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cYessir,\u201d they both muttered, dutifully and a few minutes later, they all headed off for the jobs they were assigned to that day.<\/p>\n

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

In town, Professor Keene was wasting no time in finding out about his hosts for the night. There was plenty to hear. Ben Cartwright operated the biggest ranch in the area. Although he denied rumours that he was worth a lot of money, the townspeople were convinced he was sitting on huge sums of cash somewhere. That he had been widowed three times was common knowledge, along with the fact that he was moral, upright and incorruptible.<\/p>\n

There was a wealth of information about his sons, too. Adam was the quietest son, thoughtful and logical, given to thinking before he acted. He was considered the \u2018clever\u2019 one, because he had gone to college back east. He was upright, dependable, sometimes stuffy and fiercely protective of his family. Ladies liked Adam, but he was cautious with his love life.<\/p>\n

Hoss was the middle son, a big, gentle man, who wasn\u2019t into book learning, but nevertheless was wise in his own way. Hoss was hard to anger, but protected his family from all comers. It seemed to be a trait of all the Cartwrights. Hoss was extremely well liked and could take a joke. He was wary of the ladies.<\/p>\n

As for Joe, he was the protected youngest of the family. Handsome, charming, high-spirited, moody, Joe was well liked by both men and women, it seemed. He was rash and impulsive and again had this need to protect his family. Joe was the shortest, slimmest of the Cartwrights, favouring his mother. Joe was a ladies man.<\/p>\n

There was plenty of gossip available, too. Stevenson went to the saloon, and soon found that the men there were willing to talk for the price of a beer. It was common knowledge that Adam had shot Joe the year before and then been forced to remove the bullet himself with no medical tools. Joe got into more trouble than most men ever saw, but seemed to bounce back each time. Hoss and Adam had for a long time had to look out for Joe, until he grew enough that he could fight his own way out of most situations. It was also common knowledge that Joe and Adam did not always get on.<\/p>\n

Armed with his new-found knowledge, Keene made his way out to the ranch that night.<\/p>\n

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

Hurrying into the house, Joe braced himself for the inevitable explosion that he was late. He knew he was late; there had been a problem with the last horse he had been breaking that afternoon and Joe hadn\u2019t felt he could leave until it was all sorted out. It was, finally, but Joe was late.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid the bath water\u2019s cold,\u201d Ben scolded, but he didn\u2019t have the heart to be too angry with Joe. It was obvious just looking at his face that his youngest had had a hard day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I won\u2019t linger,\u201d Joe replied, although he had been looking forward to a hot bath to loosen the kinks out of his back. Hop Sing, scolding all the time, poured a little warm water into the tub for Joe, but it was still too cold for anything except a quick wash. Joe was in and out in record time.<\/p>\n

Racing upstairs, he dried himself swiftly and dressed in his starched white shirt and string tie. He brushed his hair carefully back, making sure that annoying curl would not escape right at the start of the evening. He wasn\u2019t too sanguine about it not having escaped by the end! As he slipped on his boots once more, Joe heard the buggy arriving in the yard.<\/p>\n

The professor looked exactly like Joe had expected he would, but when he saw Adam\u2019s pleasure in the man\u2019s arrival, he found himself warming to him, despite his reservations. When Joe\u2019s turn came to shake hands, his smile was quite genuine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard about you all in town,\u201d Keene said, as he accepted a glass of sherry. \u201cIt\u2019s very interesting to put the faces to the names and see if it\u2019s all true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it won\u2019t be all true,\u201d Ben denied.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnless the stories are about Joe,\u201d Adam interjected. \u201cIn which case, they probably aren\u2019t exaggerated enough!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks a bunch, big brother,\u201d Joe retorted, trying to find the remark funny, but not quite succeeding. Keene noted the reaction and stored it away for future reference.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also made a lot of friends in town,\u201d he went on. \u201cWhen I said I was coming out here, it was quite amazing the way people fell over themselves to make sure I had what I wanted. I was quite flattered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are nice people in Virginia City,\u201d Ben murmured, uncomfortable with the praise.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Mr Cartwright, don\u2019t run yourself down. I meant it quite sincerely.\u201d He smiled as Ben graciously accepted the praise.<\/p>\n

The meal was as delicious as always and Joe was pleased when the professor complimented Hop Sing. As far as Joe was concerned, and the rest of the family too, Hop Sing was one of them, as much family as they were. As ever when faced with grateful recipients of his meals, Hop Sing was beaming at them.<\/p>\n

Much to both Joe and Hoss\u2019 surprise, the meal had not been tedious at all. Though clearly well read and very clever, Keene did not talk down to them, and indeed, made an effort to include them in the conversation. Hoss was mostly content to listen, as he often was at meal times, but Joe found himself enjoying the other man\u2019s sharp wits and witty comments. He was disappointed to see the professor getting ready to leave, although he was exhausted from his long day in \u2013 and out \u2013 of the saddle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you very much for your hospitality,\u201d Keene said, as he shook hands with them all. He eyed Joe for a moment before turning to Adam with a smile. \u201cAdam, I do hope you\u2019ll be able to come for supper sometime? I\u2019ll send a note.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll look forward to it,\u201d Adam replied, smiling broadly.<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights stood together as their guests got into the buggy and drove away. As one, they went back into the house. \u201cI\u2019m for bed,\u201d Joe announced, and a wide yawn stretched his jaws.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas using your brain tired you out?\u201d Adam teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, riding a bunch of broncs earlier has tired my body,\u201d Joe shot back. \u201cMy brain is just fine, thanks. And before you asked, yes, I did enjoy the professor\u2019s company. Satisfied?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d Adam replied, putting up his hands, but he didn\u2019t sound very sorry to Joe, he just sounded jubilant. It was clear that Adam had thoroughly enjoyed his evening. \u201cI meant it as a joke.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not a comedian,\u201d Joe advised him, as he went upstairs.<\/p>\n

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

A few days passed in the usual rush of work for the Cartwrights, then Adam\u2019s dinner invitation appeared, dated for the following week. He was surprised by how much he was looking forward to going, and threatened to become very boring on the whole topic. However, Adam was not completely insensitive and when his family clammed up every time he said Keene\u2019s name, he swiftly got the message. Ben was still worried that one day Adam would leave and go east again, never to return. Joe dreaded this happening, as he had found it quite upsetting when Adam had gone to college when he was a child. Hoss didn\u2019t want Adam to go either, but he knew that Adam was often restless and frustrated on the ranch.<\/p>\n

Come the night of the dinner, Adam was changed in plenty of time and rode off into town. Joe had been cool to him all day, but Adam wasn\u2019t concerned about this. He put it down to Joe being jealous that he had not been asked along. This wasn\u2019t the case at all; Joe was just worried that Adam would be reminded once more about the wonders of the east and leave.<\/p>\n

Topics of conversation roamed widely over the excellent meal. They moved on to brandy and cigars after, although Adam refused the cigars, not being a smoker. The brandy was as excellent as the meal had been.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what did you think of my choice of topic for last week\u2019s talk?\u201d Keene asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was very interesting,\u201d Adam replied, truthfully. \u201cI think it\u2019s very difficult to make a man do something against his will if he has very strong principals. There always has to be a lever of some kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike fear, you mean?\u201d Keene asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, or love,\u201d Adam responded. \u201cOr even a combination of the two. A man would do a lot to protect his family, out of fear of what might happen, and love for the family. But if its something he feels really strongly against and he is being pressured to do something that is against his nature, then I think he would probably refuse to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Keene leant forward. \u201cThat\u2019s very interesting. What do you have in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMurder,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cI don\u2019t think a man could be made to murder if he was convinced it was wrong. But you would be talking of a man who was mentally strong.\u201d Adam was talking from experience here, having learned the hard way about the things a man could be made to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s interesting that you mention love,\u201d Keene replied. \u201cI hadn\u2019t thought about love as a lever. But what if the man hasn\u2019t got a wife and children?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust because he doesn\u2019t have a wife and children doesn\u2019t mean that he doesn\u2019t have a family,\u201d Adam pointed out. \u201cLook at me. I don\u2019t have a wife, but I do have a family. We\u2019re very close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019ve heard,\u201d Keene murmured, having worked the conversation round to the direction he wanted. \u201cEveryone says you and your brothers are very close. Although I have heard tell that you and Joe don\u2019t always see eye to eye.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s true, I\u2019m afraid,\u201d Adam agreed, ruefully. \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t stop us being close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad to hear it,\u201d Keene responded, smiling. \u201cAdam, I\u2019m writing a novel and I want to try a little experiment. Would you help me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I can,\u201d Adam replied, flattered. \u201cWhat would you want me to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you come back here in a couple of days on short notice? I\u2019m not quite sure when, as I\u2019m waiting for some research material to reach me and I can\u2019t progress until then. I\u2019m sorry to be so mysterious, but if I tell you what it\u2019s about, I\u2019ll spoil the experiment. Is that all right?\u201d Keene spread his hands a looked rueful. \u201cBelieve me, if I could tell you about it I would.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure that could be arranged,\u201d Adam agreed. \u201cI\u2019ll admit, Professor, you have me intrigued.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Keene laughed. \u201cI\u2019m glad to hear it!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The first thing Adam did when he got home was tell Ben all about the professor\u2019s proposed experiment. \u201cWhat do you think he wants you to do?\u201d Ben asked, hiding his sudden unease about the idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Adam admitted, \u201cbut it\u2019s probably something to do with arguing my case against something someone has said. Don\u2019t worry, Pa, I\u2019m sure its nothing illegal!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t have a problem with you doing this as long as you let me know when you\u2019re going. I wouldn\u2019t like to send out a search party for you, only to discover you\u2019ve been in town all along,\u201d Ben joked. He couldn\u2019t admit his unease to his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Pa,\u201d Adam teased back. \u201cI\u2019m not Little Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAnd please try not to be all day about this, Joe,\u201d Ben warned. \u201cI don\u2019t want you getting lost in the saloon, is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Joe replied, slightly nettled at the thought that he wasn\u2019t trusted complete. Okay, so he had a tendency to get side-tracked, but it was raining and he hated riding in the rain, so he wouldn\u2019t stay out a minute longer than he had to. Although the saloon was warm and dry, his saddle would get wet, and there was very little worse than riding on a wet saddle! \u201cI\u2019ll come straight back, all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure you do,\u201d Ben reminded him, and gave Joe a small smack on the behind. He smiled fondly at his youngest son as he left.<\/p>\n

By the time Joe arrived in town, he was quite wet. He went to the mail office and collected the mail that had accumulated there over the past few days. Absently leafing through it, Joe was startled when someone touched his arm. \u201cJoe! How are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, thank you, professor,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cHow are you, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well, my boy,\u201d Keene replied, beaming at him. \u201cCould you spare a few minutes to come to my house?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow?\u201d Joe asked. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, sir, but I promised Pa I\u2019d be straight back with the mail.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t really asking,\u201d Keene informed him, as something stuck into Joe\u2019s back. \u201cNow, don\u2019t try anything rash, boy, as Stevenson here has another gun pointed at you.\u201d Joe turned his head to see the professor\u2019s blond sidekick standing close by. His hand was in his overcoat pocket. \u201cNow, just act normally, Joe. Put the mail away and bring your horse. If you try anything, your brother Adam will definitely suffer, believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Joe repeated, sharply. He hadn\u2019t seen his oldest brother since that morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my prisoner,\u201d agreed Keene. \u201cAnd if you do anything stupid, your brother is going to pay for it with his life!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right.\u201d His mouth dry, Joe put the mail carefully in his jacket pocket and took his horse\u2019s rein, all the time careful to keep his hand away from his gun. He walked up the street towards the professor\u2019s house, his thoughts tumbling wildly around his head.<\/p>\n

When they arrived, he obediently hitched his horse to the fence and went inside. At once, Stevenson relieved Joe of his gun. He and Keene moved away, and both aimed their guns at Joe. \u201cAll right, Joe,\u201d Keene said. \u201cTake off your boots and socks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Joe frowned.<\/p>\n

Quick as a flash, Stevenson backhanded Joe across the mouth. \u201cDo as you are told,\u201d Keene advised him. \u201cYour brother\u2019s life depends on your obedience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Swallowing, Joe hauled off his boots and socks. The hall floor was cold. He dropped them where he was told to. \u201cWhere\u2019s Adam?\u201d he demanded. \u201cWhat have you done to him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll in good time, boy,\u201d Keene smiled. \u201cNow, off with your jacket and shirt. And the hat, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again, Joe had no choice but to obey. He hoped desperately that Adam was all right. He couldn\u2019t imagine why they were holding Adam, or what they wanted him for, but with Adam\u2019s life in jeopardy, he wasn\u2019t going to do anything that might get him killed.<\/p>\n

\u201cPut your hand together and stand still,\u201d Keene ordered, and Joe did so, even though he knew they were going to tie him up. Stevenson was quick and thorough, for when Joe tested his bonds, there was no give in them at all. He left a long end of rope trailing from Joe\u2019s wrists. \u201cOkay, get moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prodded with the gun from one side, and pulled by the rope on his wrists from the other, Joe had no choice but to go with them. He was led upstairs and into a room. It was bare of furniture, except one chair. Joe was forced to sit down and his hands were tied to a large metal ring driven into the wall above his head. The position wasn\u2019t too bad to begin with, but Joe knew it would become desperately uncomfortable. His feet were bound together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you doing this?\u201d Joe cried, unable to keep silent any longer. \u201cWhere is Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, Adam hasn\u2019t arrived yet,\u201d Keene told him, enjoying the look of shock and horror on Joe\u2019s face. \u201cBut he\u2019ll be coming along soon to help me with a little experiment. I just needed you here first, to help me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Appalled, Joe lashed out with his feet, striking the professor on the shins and almost knocking him over. Stevenson caught Keene and steadied him before he snatched up a length of rough hemp from the floor. He stuck Joe with it across the chest, leaving a red welt behind. The next blow caught Joe\u2019s face and Joe ducked away from it.<\/p>\n

A few more blows and Joe was panting with pain, his torso criss-crossed with red marks. Stevenson dropped the rope and stood looking at Joe, panting. \u201cGag him,\u201d Keene ordered. He was crouched on the floor, massaging his shins. \u201cAnd tie his legs down, too!\u201d He rose. \u201cYou\u2019ll regret that, Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe could not answer, for Stevenson prised open his mouth, shoved in a bandanna and tied another cloth around his mouth. Moments later, he had tied Joe\u2019s feet to a ring set into the floor that Joe had not noticed before. Then they went away and left him alone.<\/p>\n

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

When Stevenson arrived with the note from the professor, Adam left the herd, only pausing to send word to Ben that he had gone. Stevenson watched impassively as Adam spoke briefly to Hoss before following the other man into town. He tried to make conversation, but Stevenson was reticent in his answers, and Adam eventually gave up the attempt. When they arrived at the professor\u2019s house, Stevenson took Sport for Adam, while Adam went on inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, glad you could come,\u201d Keene called out, hurrying over to greet him with a handshake and a friendly slap on the shoulder. \u201cSorry it\u2019s raining.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d Adam assured him. \u201cWe\u2019re used to working out in all weathers, although my brother Joe doesn\u2019t like riding in the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Keene\u2019s heart faltered as Adam mentioned Joe\u2019s name, but then he reasoned that Adam couldn\u2019t know that his brother was a prisoner in the house. \u201cReally?\u201d Keene enquired. \u201cI\u2019d have thought you wouldn\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s just because Joe\u2019s vain,\u201d Adam confided. \u201cHe\u2019s scared that he\u2019ll come in looking all wrinkled and find the girl of his dreams waiting for him in the house and he\u2019s not at his most attractive!\u201d He laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome and have some coffee,\u201d Keene invited, ushering Adam into the parlour, where a bright fire burned against the dampness of the day. \u201cWhen Jim comes back, we can begin the experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to it,\u201d Adam assured him and Keene grinned broadly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot as much as I am!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Adam gasped, incredulously, looking at Keene as though he had lost his mind. \u201cWhat would it take to make me go out and murder someone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I said,\u201d agreed Keene. \u201cUnder what circumstances would you agree to murder someone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t imagine anything that would make me murder someone,\u201d Adam replied, reminded all too forcibly of Kane and what he\u2019d tried to make Adam do. \u201cI couldn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell now, that\u2019s interesting,\u201d Keene muttered. \u201cI thought you might say that. So what about a lever?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat lever?\u201d Adam asked, suspicious now.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of your brothers,\u201d Keene replied. He smiled at Stevenson, who sat silently in another chair, listening. \u201cJoe, perhaps?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would do a lot to save Joe\u2019s life,\u201d Adam responded after a moment. \u201cBut I don\u2019t think I could bring myself to murder to save him.\u201d He frowned. \u201cWait; are we talking about shooting someone who was doing Joe harm? Or are we talking about me going out and gunning someone down in cold blood? Because, if I had to shoot to save Joe from someone who was hurting him, I would. But would I go out and shoot someone otherwise? No way!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, well, that answers that question, I suppose,\u201d Keene mused. \u201cBut, suppose someone were to threaten to hurt Joe and you didn\u2019t have a gun?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI still wouldn\u2019t murder to save him,\u201d Adam replied, shortly. \u201cThat makes it sound like I don\u2019t care for my brother, but that\u2019s not true. I care very deeply, but I can\u2019t do something that goes against the grain like that.\u00a0 The answer is still no.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome with me,\u201d Keene urged, and he got to his feet. Adam reluctantly followed. Some instinct was now telling him to be very careful. \u201cI want to show you my research material.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was perplexed when they went upstairs, the faithful Stevenson trailing along behind. Adam was becoming seriously worried now, but he didn\u2019t really know what was going on and until he did, he didn\u2019t want to make any rash moves. Smiling broadly, Keene unlocked a door, opened it and stood aside, gesturing Adam to go in.<\/p>\n

Whatever other horrors Adam had imagined, this was not one of them. Joe was trussed up against the wall, gagged, his green eyes swivelling round to widen in horror. He was covered in painful looking red welts. \u201cJoe!\u201d Adam exclaimed and made to go over to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no!\u201d Keene cried, and moved to block Adam. From behind him came an ominous click as the safety was removed from a gun. Adam froze, his eyes locked with Joe\u2019s. \u201cMove over there, Adam,\u201d Keene ordered and Adam obediently went to the chair Keene indicated. He sat when told to and felt a pair of handcuffs click around his wrists, trapping him in place.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs this your lever?\u201d he asked, furiously. \u201cYour \u2018research material\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite effective, don\u2019t you think?\u201d Keene replied. \u201cYou went quite pale there, Adam. Perhaps you do care for your brother after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you doing this?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m interested in what makes men tick, Adam. Its research. I asked if you would help and you agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t agree to murder anyone!\u201d Adam snapped. \u201cAnd Joe certainly didn\u2019t agree to this!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that part is quite true,\u201d Keene agreed. \u201cSo, Adam, how do you feel now that you can see what we\u2019re doing to your brother? Would you murder now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Adam stated, quietly.<\/p>\n

Keene turned and walked over to Joe, who regarded him levelly. \u201cIt\u2019ll be interesting to her what you\u2019re going to say about this, Joe. But not quite yet. You still have a part to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Adam shouted, realising, too late, what Keene intended to do. Keene kicked Joe heavily in the stomach. Joe groaned, the gag not absorbing all the sound, and doubled over as far as his bonds would allow.<\/p>\n

\u201cJim,\u201d Keene invited, and Adam fought with the chair, managing to get to his feet before Keene pushed him back down.<\/p>\n

Moving smoothly, Stevenson untied Joe\u2019s hands and yanked him to his feet. Joe tried to fight him off, but the pain from his stomach was coming in waves and he couldn\u2019t manage. In a moment, Stevenson had his hands tied to another rope that dangled from the ceiling. He pulled on the second rope until Joe was practically standing on tiptoe, his feet still tightly bound to the floor, but with his hands stretched above his head, and tied it off. Adam could see every muscle straining in Joe\u2019s body. Stevenson brutally stamped down his whole weight on Joe\u2019s left foot. Joe writhed in his bonds, unable to escape the searing pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you changed your mind yet?\u201d Keene asked, as Adam met Joe\u2019s gaze again.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he replied, strengthened by what he had seen in his brother\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

But he wasn\u2019t prepared for the punch Stevenson swung at Joe that landed hard on his stomach. Joe\u2019s body tried to contract again, but couldn\u2019t. Joe bit into the gag as tears formed in his eyes. He blinked them away.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, its funny, Adam,\u201d Keene remarked as Adam gazed in horror at Joe. \u201cBut I heard tell that you shot your brother here last year.\u201d He walked around Joe, and touched the not quite faded scar on Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cYou operated on him without anaesthetic, or medical tools. How did you feel about that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hated it,\u201d Adam responded. \u201cBut I had to do it to save Joe\u2019s life!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYet, you won\u2019t murder to save Joe\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s different!\u201d Adam cried. \u201cI did what I had to do! But I can\u2019t go out and gun down someone in cold blood! Not even to save Joe\u2019s life!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYet you shot him in cold blood in the first place,\u201d Keene stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it was an accident!\u201d Adam cried. \u201cI was aiming at a wolf, and the bullet hit Joe instead! It was an accident!\u201d Adam looked at Joe to see how his brother was taking all this. Joe\u2019s head was hanging, and he was breathing noisily through his nose. But just at that moment, he lifted his head enough to look at Adam and nod.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll believe you, Adam,\u201d Keene replied, insinuating with his tone that he didn\u2019t believe Adam at all. He nodded to Stevenson, who hit Joe again.<\/p>\n

And so it went on. Keene asked Adam if he was prepared to murder and Adam told him no. Then Stevenson punched Joe. Soon, Joe was covered in nasty red marks that would soon be very ugly bruises.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, we tried it the easy way,\u201d Keene said, after a time. He nodded to Stevenson, who picked up a whip. Before Adam could even draw breath to speak, the whip had cracked and curled around Joe\u2019s body, leaving a bloody trail behind it. Joe\u2019s head snapped back, his eyes open wide.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave him alone!\u201d Adam cried, filled with self-loathing that he had not seen through this man\u2019s fa\u00e7ade.<\/p>\n

\u201cA crack in his armour?\u201d Keene cried, but when he stopped, Adam stubbornly shook his head.<\/p>\n

As the whip snaked out towards Joe once more, Adam asked himself why he couldn\u2019t agree to do what Keene wanted, to save Joe from further torment. And the answer surprised him. If he agreed to a murder, Keene would then expect him to go out and murder someone \u2013 anyone would do. And when he came back, both he and Joe would die. At least this way, Joe was still alive, and someone might find them.<\/p>\n

But the question was who? And would they come before Joe was fatally injured?<\/p>\n

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

\u201cIf I\u2019ve told that boy once, I\u2019ve told him a thousand times!\u201d Ben stormed. \u201cCome straight home, I said! But did he listen? I\u2019m going into town to find him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll come with you,\u201d Hoss offered, knowing that Joe might require a buffer between his father\u2019s anger and himself. Ben had been ranting away for hours.<\/p>\n

Together, they mounted up and rode into town. The ride went part of the way to cooling Ben\u2019s anger, but he knew it would flare up again if he found Joe in a saloon. The rain that was still falling cooled him off slightly, too.<\/p>\n

They took their horses to the livery stable, rather than leave them standing in the rain, and Ben felt the first pangs of true concern when he saw that Cochise was not in the livery as he had rather expected. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we split up?\u201d Ben proposed. \u201cWe\u2019ll cover more ground that way. I\u2019ll meet you back here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Hoss agreed, thinking that when he found him, he would have time to warm Joe not to make any smart remarks.<\/p>\n

However, as they went from saloon to saloon, both father and son became more and more concerned, for Joe had not been seen all day. Finally, they met up again, after almost an hour of fruitless searching. \u201cHe ain\u2019t bin in any o\u2019 \u2018em, Pa,\u201d Hoss reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s as though he just vanished,\u201d Ben agreed, a worried frown puckering his brow. \u201cI don\u2019t understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvenin\u2019, Ben,\u201d said a familiar voice from the shadows and they turned to greet Roy Coffee. \u201cWhat cha doin\u2019 out on a night like this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking for Joe,\u201d Ben replied, wearily. \u201cHave you seen him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot since he went to the professor\u2019s house,\u201d Roy replied. \u201cThat were this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d Ben asked, confused. \u201cIt was Adam who went to the professor\u2019s house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now it was Roy\u2019s turn to frown. \u201cListen, Ben, maybe I ain\u2019t as young as I used ta be, but I do know Adam an\u2019 Joe apart! And it were Joe I saw goin\u2019 to the professor\u2019s house this afternoon.\u00a0 The professor were with him, an\u2019 that other fellar that stays with him; Stevenson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe went with the professor to his house?\u201d Ben repeated. He looked at Hoss, seeing the same bewilderment on his face. \u201cDid Adam mention that Joe was going to be there, too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mentioned him ta me, Pa,\u201d Hoss denied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand this,\u201d Ben admitted. \u201cPerhaps we should go and ask the professor how long Joe was there and why.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWant me to come with ya, Ben?\u201d Roy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat might be best,\u201d Ben agreed.<\/p>\n

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

The whipping had been thorough and brutal. By the end, Joe was barley conscious. His ragged breathing was audible across the room. Sickened, Adam could only watch his baby brother hanging there in his bonds. There was nothing else he could do for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you changed your mind yet?\u201d Keene asked. He was beginning to be annoyed with Adam. Not that he wasn\u2019t enjoying torturing Joe, for that was something else he was interested in – how a man reacted to pain –\u00a0 but he wanted Adam to break.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Adam answered, dully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell then, I\u2019ll leave you alone with your brother for a while and see if he can change your mind for you.\u201d Keene nodded to Stevenson, who roughly pulled the gag from Joe\u2019s mouth. They left the room, locking it firmly behind them, as though either of the Cartwrights were in any position to escape.<\/p>\n

Dragging the chair across the room, Adam looked in sorrow at Joe\u2019s bleeding, bruised body. \u201cJoe,\u201d he whispered. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lifting his head, Joe looked Adam in the eye. \u201cAdam, don\u2019t give in,\u201d he pleaded. \u201cDon\u2019t let them make you do something like this! It doesn\u2019t matter about me! Don\u2019t let them win!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I can\u2019t bear to see you like this!\u201d Adam cried. \u201cThis is all my fault!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, its not,\u201d Joe whispered. His mouth was so dry after wearing the gag for so long that he could barely speak. \u201cDon\u2019t you know they\u2019ll kill me as soon as you\u2019ve killed someone? If you do this, you\u2019re dead. They\u2019ll kill you, or you\u2019ll be hanged. Adam, don\u2019t do it, I beg you!\u201d He coughed weakly, the spasm hurting him deeply. Much as Joe wanted the torture to end, he did not want Adam going against his principles, for if, by some miracle, they survived this ordeal, and Adam had killed to save him, their relationship would never be the same again. Joe wasn\u2019t sure how he knew this; he just knew it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never wanted to hurt you, Joe,\u201d Adam told him. \u201cI didn\u2019t know this is what he had in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Joe whispered. He wished it was all over. He wanted to just lie down and sleep, so he didn\u2019t feel any more pain. \u201cAdam, promise me you won\u2019t do it, no matter what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Adam agonised, but his youngest brother was determined.<\/p>\n

\u201cPromise!\u201d he hissed, fiercely and Adam, hooked by the pain in those green eyes, promised.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cHoss, have a look in the barn,\u201d Ben ordered, as they hid close by the house that Keene was renting. Catching the look Roy gave him as Hoss vanished into the darkness Ben snapped, \u201cWhat did you expect me to do, Roy? Knock on the door and ask if my boys are there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCalm down, Ben,\u201d Roy soothed. \u201cI didn\u2019 say nuthin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

They waited in silence as Hoss checked the barn. He was back quickly. \u201cCochise and Sport are both there, Pa,\u201d he reported. \u201cThey must be inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you go round the back,\u201d Roy instructed. \u201cWhen we go in the front, you come in the back, all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Hoss agreed and moved away, surprisingly light on his feet for such a big man.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re gonna go right in,\u201d Roy replied. \u201cI ain\u2019t got a search warrant, and we don\u2019 want to give \u2018em any chance to do Adam an\u2019 Little Joe any harm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Ben said, fervently and Roy gave him a lop-sided smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Ben, I dandled Little Joe on my knee many a time. You think I want to see harm come to either o\u2019 those boys?\u201d Roy, satisfied that he\u2019d made his point, drew his gun and they headed towards the front of the house.<\/p>\n

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

The lock clicked open and Adam turned his head, giving Keene a look full of hate. \u201cWell, Adam, I hope you\u2019ve changed your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Adam replied, coldly.<\/p>\n

Looking surprised, Keene walked round to in front of Joe and lifted his head up by his hair. Joe\u2019s pain-dulled eyes looked back at him expressionlessly. \u201cYou mean you weren\u2019t able to persuade your brother that your life is more important than his principals? Joe, I\u2019m ashamed of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told Adam that he mustn\u2019t back down,\u201d Joe hissed. \u201cI don\u2019t care what you do to me!\u201d A cry broke from his lips as Keene punched him hard in the stomach.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll soon see!\u201d Keene cried. He dropped Joe\u2019s head and snatched up a stout piece of rounded wood. He swung it in a wide arc and it crashed off Joe\u2019s ribs. Joe could not restrain his cry. Adam flinched. \u201cWill a broken bone change your mind, Adam?\u201d He swung this time at Joe\u2019s arm, catching Joe just below the elbow, once, twice, a third time. The bone snapped quite audibly and Joe sagged in his bonds.<\/p>\n

The next moment, there was a loud crash from down stairs. Keened and Stevenson looked at one another, and Adam took the chance presented to him and threw himself and the chair at Keene. The professor went down in a flurry of arms, legs and bad language.<\/p>\n

For a moment, Stevenson didn\u2019t know what to do, then he went to rescue Keene, shoving Adam aside. Adam felt the breath\u00a0whoosh<\/em>\u00a0from his body as the chair was flipped onto its back, and pain shot through his imprisoned arms.<\/p>\n

But despite the pain, Adam wasn\u2019t completely helpless, and he took a leaf from Joe\u2019s book and kicked out at Stevenson, desperately trying to keep the man off balance until whatever help was downstairs arrived.<\/p>\n

Once more, Stevenson shoved Adam, pushing him further across the floor, and helped Keene to his feet. Keene stumbled into Joe as he rose and so it was that Roy Coffee saw Keene attacking the helpless youth as he burst through the door. He fired at once.<\/p>\n

As Keene toppled to the floor again, Stevenson snatched up the wooden stave and made to hit Joe with it. Ben, giving a strangled cry, pushed past Roy and threw himself bodily at his son\u2019s attacker. Stevenson pushed Ben aside as though he were a fly. He raised the stave again and felt something hit him in the stomach. Looking down, he saw blood on his shirt. Then the pain hit him and Stevenson dropped the stave, his hands clutching his midriff. He looked surprised as he dropped to the floor, dead. Hoss stood in the doorway, his smoking gun in his hand as he looked at the horrific scene before him.<\/p>\n

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

Working together, Ben and Hoss cut Joe free from his imprisonment and lowered him gently to the floor. Roy helped Adam to sit up and then hunted around for the key to the handcuffs, which he eventually found. \u201cIs Joe all right?\u201d Adam asked, anxiously.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get him to the doctor!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get goin\u2019,\u201d Roy ordered. \u201cI\u2019ll help Adam here.\u201d He looked down on the two bodies. \u201cThese two ain\u2019t goin\u2019 anywheres.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was barely an inch of unmarked skin on Joe\u2019s body and Ben was almost afraid to touch him. But his son needed treatment, urgently. He murmured under his breath as they carried Joe down stairs and outside.<\/p>\n

The rain was still falling, coming down harder than ever, but they didn\u2019t have time to worry about that. Joe stirred as they rushed along the road, moaning slightly at first, then crying out with pain. Ben panted reassurances, but Joe was confused and in agony and not sure what was going on. He struggled weakly, which didn\u2019t help Ben and Hoss carry him, but they eventually arrived at the doctor\u2019s office. They had collected a sizeable following by then, as cowboys poured out of the saloons to see what was going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Paul Martin cried, as they entered his surgery.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know,\u201d Ben panted, carefully laying Joe down. His son gave another cry and Ben reached for his hand, holding on tightly to give support. \u201cEasy, Joe,\u201d he whispered. \u201cYou\u2019ll be all right now, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Joe croaked. He forced his eyes open and looked into his father\u2019s worried face. \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam will be here in a minute,\u201d Ben soothed. \u201cHe\u2019s all right. You just rest and let the doctor look at you.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, the door opened and Adam came in under his own steam, although Roy was with him. Ben looked at him anxiously, but Adam seemed to be bruise free and Ben could not understand it. Adam rushed to Joe\u2019s side. \u201cHow is he?\u201d he cried.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know what happened?\u201d Paul asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Adam replied, and slowly, he catalogued all the things that had been done to Joe that night. The others listened in silence, their mouths hanging open in shock.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d Paul said, briskly, bending over his patient again. \u201cNow I know what I\u2019m dealing with.\u201d He began to gently feel down Joe\u2019s ribs, apologising when Joe winced miserably.<\/p>\n

Drawing Adam away from the examination table slightly, Ben asked, \u201cBut Adam, why? Why did the professor do this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was his experiment,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cHe wanted to see if he could provoke someone like me into murdering in cold blood. He wanted to see how much pressure he had to apply to his \u2018lever\u2019 before I gave in and agreed.\u201d He raised dull eyes to Ben. \u201cI couldn\u2019t agree, Pa. I just couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right, son,\u201d Ben soothed, although he was not sure what he would have done in the same situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeene finally left me alone with Joe and removed the gag so Joe could talk to me. I guess he thought Joe would beg me to do it, so the torture would stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what did Joe say?\u201d Ben asked, sensing that this was crucial.<\/p>\n

Swallowing, Adam replied, \u201cJoe made me promise not to do it, whatever they did to him. He begged me not to do it, Pa.\u201d Adam looked shattered.<\/p>\n

\u201cSit down,\u201d Ben urged, and guided his son into a seat. Adam dropped his head into his hands, squeezing his eyes shut. \u201cAdam, Joe is going to be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know that,\u201d Adam objected. \u201cPa, I should\u2019ve given in!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you shouldn\u2019t,\u201d Ben contradicted. \u201cAdam, if that was the right decision for you, then that\u2019s what you had to do. Joe knew that.\u201d He looked more closely at his son. \u201cAdam, if you had given in and you\u2019d both somehow survived, would you have been able to live with Joe, knowing that you had destroyed your convictions to save his life? I don\u2019t think so. I think you would have found it impossible to look at him. I think Joe knew that, which is why he made you promise. You did promise, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Adam agreed, miserably. \u201cHow could I not, with him in such pain because of me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben objected. \u201cNot because of you. Because of some madman. You can\u2019t control everything that happens in life, Adam. Both you and Joe were the victims in this case. Something happened that was out with your control, but you kept your integrity intact. I\u2019m very proud of you, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very proud of Joe,\u201d Adam whispered, but he seemed calmer.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs am I,\u201d Ben agreed. He noticed that one of Adam\u2019s hands was red and swollen, but he resisted the urge to touch it, contenting himself with massaging his son\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

After a few minutes, Paul beckoned Ben over. All three Cartwrights went over, he noticed with amusement. It faded again at once. \u201cJoe is going to be fine,\u201d he told them. \u201cHe\u2019s badly bruised, but there\u2019s no internal bleeding. As you know, he was whipped and the cuts all have to be cleaned, but there\u2019s no sign of infection. His left forearm is broken and so is his left foot.\u201d He looked enquiringly at Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cStevenson stamped on it,\u201d Adam replied, dully.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he has a couple of broken ribs,\u201d Paul concluded, nodding. \u201cBut after I\u2019ve bandaged him all up and set those bones, I don\u2019t see any reason why he shouldn\u2019t go home with you tonight. He\u2019ll be in bed for quite a spell, but he\u2019ll be fine.\u201d Paul smiled at the relieved faces. He, too, had feared the worst when he first saw Joe. \u201cAdam, Joe\u2019s asking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slowly, reluctantly, Adam crossed the few steps that separated him from his brother. It was obvious at once that Paul had given Joe something for the pain, for his eyes were glassy and unfocused. \u201cAdam,\u201d he whispered and smiled.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t matter that Joe\u2019s lips were split, or that his face was lumpy with bruising. The love he felt for his older brother, and the relief that Adam had come through the ordeal largely unscathed were writ large on his face. \u201cListen,\u201d he whispered, and Adam bent in closer to hear. \u201cDon\u2019t go beating yourself up about this,\u201d he urged. \u201cYou did what you had to do. You hear me? If I find you\u2019ve been getting bent out of shape over what you think you should have done, I\u2019ll get out of my sickbed and come after you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just worry about yourself,\u201d Adam told him. \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d Joe agreed, sceptically. His eyes were beginning to droop shut. \u201cBut you listen to me. You did what you had to do, and none of this was your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Adam soothed. He tried to disentangle his hand from Joe\u2019s grasp, but Joe was having none of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cPromise,\u201d Joe slurred and tightened his grip until Adam reluctantly agreed.<\/p>\n

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

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

When he woke, late the next morning, Adam lay still for a few minutes, listening. When Paul had examined him the night before, it turned out that Adam had a broken hand. He looked down ruefully at the bandage on his hand. He had had to break his right hand. Joe always said that you never broke the hand you didn\u2019t use as much, and he was right.<\/p>\n

Rising slowly, Adam wondered what kind of night Joe had had. Paul had doped Adam up with painkillers, too and he had been unable to do anything except fall into bed when they arrived back from town in the wee small hours. Shrugging on his dressing gown \u2013 his clothes seemed like far too much hassle right then \u2013 Adam made his way across the hall.<\/p>\n

He stood outside Joe\u2019s door for several minutes before summoning the courage to open it. He did so quietly, in case his brother was asleep, and saw that he was wise to have been quiet, for Ben was asleep in the chair by Joe\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

Joe was awake and when he turned his head and saw Adam, he smiled at him. Adam felt like weeping. Since he had promised his brother that he would not dwell on the incident, he had found it surprisingly easy to follow instructions. Part of it had been physical and emotional exhaustion. But part of it was that he had never broken a promise to Joe and didn\u2019t intend to start then. Another part of it was that Joe was not holding any grudge.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you feel?\u201d Adam asked, sitting carefully down on the bed. Joe was swathed in bandages.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you think?\u201d Joe grunted, his smile fading, but Adam was reassured. Joe might well be feeling very bad indeed, but his grumpiness was standard when he was on the mend. Adam knew it was too soon for Joe to be healing, but he took it as a sign that all would be well.<\/p>\n

At the voices, Ben stirred and woke. He jumped up at once, and laid a hand on Joe\u2019s head to make sure there wasn\u2019t any fever. Joe had been a little warm the previous night, but that was put down to reaction. \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d he asked, and Joe made a face at Adam, who laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just asked that,\u201d he advised, \u201cand got some cheek in response.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Ben blinked, \u201cthat must be a good sign, don\u2019t you think?\u201d He smiled at Adam. \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, Pa,\u201d Adam replied, using Joe\u2019s standard response. \u201cI feel fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get you something to eat,\u201d Ben told them and headed down stairs.<\/p>\n

Alone with his brother, Adam looked uncomfortable. \u201cJoe, about last night,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I haven\u2019t changed my mind,\u201d Joe interrupted. \u201cI meant what I said. You had to do what was right for you. I told you not to beat yourself up over this and you promised.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Adam agreed. \u201cBut I had to be sure that you meant it, now that it\u2019s over.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Joe was quiet, thinking. He glanced down at the cast on his wrist, and wondered why he always broke his left hand, when he was left handed. Was it some kind of law? Then he noticed the big bandage on Adam\u2019s hand and relaxed. It must be, for Adam had broken his dominant hand. Pity it hadn\u2019t been the other way round, for then they would have had a working pair.<\/p>\n

Seeing his brother\u2019s eyes on him, Joe drew a cautious breath. \u201cI think it was Shakespeare that said it. In Hamlet if I remember correctly.\u201d He closed his eyes briefly to remember the exact quote. \u201c\u2019This above all; to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not be false to any man\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you didn\u2019t like Shakespeare?\u201d Adam asked, huskily.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot much,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cBut I like that. It fits us, doesn\u2019t it? We stick to our guns, don\u2019t we? None of us is easily changed. It\u2019s important that we be true to ourselves, when there are so many people out there who aren\u2019t. If we don\u2019t have principals, we don\u2019t amount to much. I think it\u2019s the difference between those people who are dirt poor, but are honest and work hard, and those who steal. Principals. And we\u2019re lucky we have them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I suppose we are,\u201d Adam agreed, slowly.<\/p>\n

Giving Adam a cheeky grin, Joe said, \u201cWell, since you\u2019ve gone to all the bother of having principals, it seems mad not to stick to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI really hate to admit you\u2019re right,\u201d Adam remarked. \u201cBut you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

The door opened and Ben and Hoss came in bearing trays. \u201cAll right?\u201d Ben asked, generally, keeping his tone light.<\/p>\n

Glancing down at Joe, Adam nodded. \u201cYou know, Pa, I think we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Joe gently corrected his brother. \u201cI\u00a0know<\/em>\u00a0we\u2019re all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The end<\/p>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0 The opportunity for Adam to help out a holidaying professor with his research seems wonderful. But is it too good to be true? And who will pay the price for the professor making Adam do something Against His Will?<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0(8,840 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":14045,"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":[2,23,1008,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actionadventure","category-drama","category-family","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-2-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-41-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\/ETG-14.jpg?fit=687%2C544&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5934","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=5934"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5934\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5934"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5934"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5934"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}