Summary:<\/b>\u00a0 An accident causes a change in plan and for Joe at least a very pleasant interlude.
\nRating:\u00a0 PG\u00a0 (23,760 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cartwright Saga Series:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Lawyer <\/a><\/span> \n San Francisco Trip<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben was busy working on the outline plan for the year before he headed to San Francisco with his youngest son. Joe was still working with his eldest brother trying to complete the paperwork, which would allow them to buy the land they wanted on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. Hoss was handling all the routine work at the ranch but despite his moans he had few problems. Jos\u00e9 and Jess had a number of men in the number one bunkhouse, who opted to stay throughout the year, and Hoss had plenty of help.<\/p>\n Ben was hoping that Joe would be fit enough on their return from Frisco to go out and help Hoss with the marking up, by then Carole would be getting near term and Adam wouldn\u2019t be able to leave her. He had discussed the possibilities with his elder sons, knowing Joe would insist he\u2019d be fine but they both felt that for once Joe might be right and he planned on that assumption.<\/p>\n Adam and Joe made a determined effort to clear the paperwork while Ben ensured they were left free. Working close together in Adam\u2019s study day after day Joe had a chance to assess just how worried Adam was about his wife. At first Joe thought it was an act, both he and his father had expected Adam to become tense and very worried, but gradually Joe came to the conclusion that it wasn\u2019t, Adam was remarkably calm. Slightly uneasy but none of the terror that had haunted him in her first pregnancy, which Joe had expected to hit his brother again after Carole\u2019s near fatal miscarriage. Eventually Joe mentioned the subject and Adam, who\u2019d been surprised himself how certain he was that everything would be fine this time, smiled at his brother. \u201cIt\u2019s not an act Joe. I\u2019m just not that worried. Odd isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could see that or I wouldn\u2019t have mentioned it, but on past form…\u201d<\/p>\n Adam grinned \u201cI know I should be beginning to climb the walls. I can only think it\u2019s Carole\u2019s own certainty which is rubbing off on me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt didn\u2019t with the twins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve known her a lot longer now, maybe we\u2019re closer. Anyway in my own defence, I would point out I wasn\u2019t exactly fit then.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned, \u201cIt didn\u2019t matter, but I\u2019m just glad you aren\u2019t so worried now. If it means anything I\u2019m sure you haven\u2019t anything to worry about.<\/p>\n Little Joe might have been right about Carole but as a general prophet he proved lousy, for within hours both brothers were very worried.<\/p>\n Joe rode home just at dusk and went up for a wash before dinner. Ben and Hoss had gone to town to complete some routine business and collect supplies and Joe expected them any time. He hoped they wouldn\u2019t be long as he was starving but he wasn\u2019t surprised to be home first. The road to town was rough at this time of year and there had been heavy snow, which never helped with a wagon. Joe was just drying his face when he heard Jos\u00e9 yell to him from downstairs. Something in his friend\u2019s voice chilled Joe and he ran downstairs taking the towels with him.<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 knew Joe wasn\u2019t fully fit and didn\u2019t want to shock his friend bit it wasn\u2019t easy to avoid it. In fact Joe was well prepared for trouble by the expression on Jos\u00e9\u2019s face \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe buckboard horses just came in, harness broke, still trailing a piece of the wagon. Pretty blown, they\u2019ve run some way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh God.\u201d Fear for his father and brother gripped Joe and for a moment he found it hard to get his breath.<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 went on \u201cKirk\u2019s saddling Cochise, the rest of the guys are saddling up and I\u2019ve sent Jess over to tell Adam. Joe nodded; Jos\u00e9 had done all he could. He went to strap on his gun and get his coat, not realising how white he\u2019d gone; Jos\u00e9 worried gripped his arm \u201cAre you alright Joe? Do you want a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pulled away and put his coat on, not even answering, and hurried out to Cochise. Jos\u00e9 followed all he could do was stay close by Joe and hope that Adam would get there soon to look after his brother. Jess would be there by now he hadn\u2019t wasted his time saddling up, riding over bareback.<\/p>\n Adam was working quietly in his study when Jess burst in unceremoniously and in a few brief words explained. Adam wasted no time, scared for his father and Hoss and to a lesser extent worried about Joe. \u201cSaddle Blackie for me Jess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure\u201d Jess hurried out while Adam went to pull on his boots and get his coat and gun. He told Carole what had happened \u201cI\u2019ll leave Jess to help you bring the twins over to the main house. We\u2019ll bring them home unless town is closer, either way I\u2019ll send word, soon as I know anything.\u201d He kissed her and then hurried out to find Blackie ready; as he swung up he said<\/p>\n \u201cThanks Jess. Help Carole with the twins will you, she\u2019s going to take them to the main house.\u201d<\/p>\n Jess nodded and Adam left at a run, he let Blackie stretch out and the horse responded eagerly as though sensing his master\u2019s impatience. Adam cut straight through to the road from town and as he came out of the trees he saw a dozen men a little way ahead. He recognised Cochise and at a word of encouragement Blackie increased his pace and Adam soon pulled in next to Joe; much to the relief of the others who were scared Joe was on the verge of collapse. Adam took in his brother\u2019s white face and reached over to grip his arm \u201cEasy Joe. Don\u2019t go assuming the worst. We\u2019ll find them soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure you are, just take it easy.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe relaxed slightly with his brother there to deal with whatever had happened. They could see the traces of the runaway horses in the snow and it was only a couple of minutes before the dark mass of the buckboard showed against the snow. Both brothers kicked on as they saw it and Blackie and Cochise surged ahead of the rest. The brothers dismounted almost before the horses came to a stop. One wheel had come off the buckboard and it had turned over. Adam ran to his father who was lying trapped by the wagon, which was across his legs. Ben was conscious but much more concerned by his big son, who had been thrown off as the wagon went over to fall a little distance away and hadn\u2019t stirred since. Joe had gone to Hoss and Ben said, \u201cI\u2019m okay. Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe called over \u201cKnocked himself out. He\u2019ll be fine, strong pulse.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben relaxed slightly and Adam gripped his shoulder \u201cEasy Pa. Let\u2019s get the wagon off you, see what the damage is.\u201d There were plenty of willing hands and Adam sent one back to the ranch to tell Carole and to collect another wagon with straw and blankets to get his father and brother home. Then he ordered another to go to town and fetch Doc. Jos\u00e9 had brought medical supplies but it was too cold to do much on the spot. All Adam could do was assess the damage and get them home without causing any more.<\/p>\n Adam pushed some branches in to try and ease the pressure on his father and had the men get ropes round the wagon. Joe left Adam to handle that and rapidly examined his big brother to try and find out what was wrong. Adam slipped in next to his father and checked when he was clear. Then with Jose\u2019s help he lifted Ben clear. Jos\u00e9 had put thick blankets down and they put Ben on them. The men pulled the wagon upright once Ben was clear but Adam was oblivious of them as he knelt down by his father to try and see what was wrong. He felt his father\u2019s pulse which was strong and steady. Ben\u2019s senses were swimming but scared for Hoss he got a grip on himself<\/p>\n \u201cHoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s with him. He\u2019ll be fine, now what about you. Where does it hurt Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy left knee mainly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHold on. I\u2019m just going to have a look. I\u2019ll try not to hurt.\u201d Adam told Jos\u00e9 to hold his father and he very gently felt his father\u2019s legs. The left knee was already badly swollen but at least he couldn\u2019t feel any breaks. It seemed to be badly twisted but Adam didn\u2019t want to risk trying to correct it. Doc would be there soon and it was safer to leave it for him. Hs father had a cut on the side of his head and Adam got a bandage on that to stop the bleeding. From his quick check he couldn\u2019t find anything else although he was sure Ben would be badly bruised and he was certainly very shaken. As he tied the bandage Ben pushed him away \u201cI\u2019m fine Adam. Please go and check Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure. Jos\u00e9?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll stay with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded and hurried over to his brothers. Joe looked up \u201cHow\u2019s Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBadly twisted his left knee, cut on the side of his head, He\u2019s more worried about Hoss. How is he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t find much wrong, couple of cracked ribs and he\u2019s taken a blow on the head. Some rocks here where he landed. He\u2019s out cold.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam felt gently round the bruised and swollen side of Hoss\u2019 head but it felt firm enough \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s too bad. Hell of a knock, no wonder he\u2019s still out, but I don\u2019t think anything is broken.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I made it and his ribs seem to be just cracked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll try and reassure Pa. There\u2019s nothing much we can do except get them both home and in the warm, quick as we can. Doc won\u2019t be long with luck. Where the hell\u2019s that wagon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGive them a chance Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou okay Joe, you\u2019re more pale than Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine now. I was scared but it doesn\u2019t seem too bad.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded and went back to his father, trying hard to reassure him, although he didn\u2019t succeed very well. Then to his relief the wagon appeared from the ranch. Kirk had had it ready in case Adam wanted one and it was exactly what he\u2019d requested. Adam got two of the hands to help him and Jos\u00e9 and they lifted Ben very carefully between them, Adam concentrating on protecting Ben\u2019s injured leg, However careful they were the move hurt Ben and he broke out in a cold sweat. Adam wrapped blankets round him and wiped his face. \u201cEasy Pa, soon have you home and Doc\u2019s on his way. I\u2019ll go and get Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam flatly refused to let Joe help lift his brother, they had plenty of help and it was silly to take risks. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be the only fit Cartwright. Go and try and keep Pa calm.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and went over to the wagon, Ben was trying to see what was happening and Joe held him still, \u201cTrust Adam he\u2019s got it under control.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou alright Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. I haven\u2019t been crashing buckboards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy fault I was driving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey easy Pa. Don\u2019t start catching Adam\u2019s habit, one in the family is more than enough. Just how is it your fault when a wheel disintegrates? No great harm done with any luck. Just lie still Hoss is going to be fine, he\u2019s always had a thick skull.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam with plenty of help carried his big brother over to the wagon and Joe helped guide his body in to lie next to Ben. Ben felt Hoss\u2019 pulse but it was strong and steady, just a little slow and he let his sons wrap their brother up warmly. Jos\u00e9 said, \u201cDo you want me to drive Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, take it steady.\u201d Adam and Joe sat down and steadied their patients, Adam dealing with his big brother, while Joe held their father. Ben found it very painful but he was determined not to worry his son anymore, sure Joe was not fit, in fact was almost in shock. Adam was equally worried about Joe but there was nothing he could do until they got home apart from wrapping a blanket round his little brother\u2019s shoulders. Joe looked up startled and Adam smiled \u201cPull it round Joe, you look cold.\u201d Joe hadn\u2019t even realised until then but he was glad for the blanket. All of them were glad to see the lights of the house.<\/p>\n Jess had taken Carole and the twins over and she had helped Hop Sing to get everything ready. On hearing that Adam wanted a wagon and was bringing them home, Carole had got the beds warmed but then she could only sit and wait.<\/p>\n As soon as Jess heard the wagon he went out to help Adam and with Jos\u00e9 he got in to the wagon. The two friends carefully handed Ben down to Adam, Adam held his father as carefully as he could trying to protect Ben\u2019s injured knee, but it wasn\u2019t easy to get his father upstairs. Adam felt his father tense against the pain and he was greatly relieved to get his father lying down on his own bed. Then he left Joe to help their father get undressed. If it was difficult to manage Ben, Adam contemplated his big brother with misgivings. There was no way he could carry Hoss upstairs without help and he sighed, \u201cJess can you help me, take his legs.\u201d Between then they slowly moved Hoss up to his own big bed. Jess straightened up \u201cI\u2019m glad we didn\u2019t have to carry him far.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks Jess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want a hand to get him into bed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, just let me have a word with Carole.\u201d Adam went out to find his wife collecting some brandy. He frowned but Carole smiled \u201cFor Little Joe, he looks as though he needs it. Hop Sing is bringing some coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam went over and finished the job of getting his father into bed. Not wanting to take any chances, he cut his father\u2019s trousers away and then he was able to see the extent of the damage. Ben\u2019s legs were badly bruised and cut. Adam did what he could for them and then wrapped Ben up warmly, glad to see Carole insisting on Joe drinking some coffee and keeping him quiet in the chair. Adam kissed her forehead \u201cStay with them, I\u2019ll see to Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n With Jess\u2019 help he stripped his brother. Jos\u00e9 brought some hot water and he bathed a couple of grazes but there was very little he could do, only put some ointment on the worst bruises and wrap Hoss warmly, Joe was right apart from Hoss\u2019 head the only damage seemed to be two cracked ribs. Hoss wasn\u2019t even badly bruised having landed in snow apart from the couple of rocks, which had done the damage. Adam was torn not knowing which of his family needed him most, but trusting Carole, he stayed with Hoss. He could only pray that the bang on Hoss\u2019 head wasn\u2019t worse than he thought. He didn\u2019t have too long to worry as the Doc arrived. Knowing his father\u2019s reaction, Adam took him to see Hoss first. Paul examined him carefully and concurred with the brothers\u2019 diagnosis. Adam was helping Doc to strap up the injured ribs when for the first time Hoss stirred. Slowly the big man opened his eyes and pulled a face. Adam moved quickly to dim the lights and gave his brother a few sips of water.. \u201cEasy Hoss, just relax, you\u2019ve had a bang on the head.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss felt his aching head, that was an understatement but he slowly relaxed against Adam and then he remembered \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s fine, just twisted his knee. Joe\u2019s with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Doc leant over Hoss and checked his vision. Hoss couldn\u2019t seem to focus and he felt a bit sick, aching all over with a splitting headache, but he insisted he was fine. Adam patted his shoulder<\/p>\n \u201cSure you are Hoss, or at least you will be in a few days and that\u2019s all that matters. For now you\u2019d better get some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you trust me now? I\u2019ll look after everything you get some sleep. Carole will be here if you want anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss only really wanted to sleep but still uncertain, he forced himself to focus on Adam\u2019s face,<\/p>\n What he saw reassured him and he let Adam and Doc settle him down and wrap him up, then he quickly slipped into sleep.<\/p>\n Adam took Doc across to his own room before going to his father \u201cWell Doc?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said it, he\u2019ll be fine. He\u2019s got a bad concussion and he needs to stay in bed and rest for four or five days, then take it easy for a couple of weeks. He\u2019s a big man to take a fall like that and he\u2019s been badly shaken but not serious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve known your father almost as long as you have Adam. I won\u2019t gloss over it and I won\u2019t worry him, there\u2019s no need.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019ve seen Pa will you check Joe for me, it\u2019s hit him very hard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201dOf course Adam. Let\u2019s see your father and stop worrying.\u201d Adam took Doc over and asked Carole to sit with Hoss. At least the twins were sleeping peacefully.\u00a0\u00a0Ben insisted on knowing how Hoss was before he\u2019d let Doc look at him, but once Doc had assured him that there was nothing seriously wrong; that Hoss had come round and was now sleeping, he let Doc check.<\/p>\n Doc probed the cut on his head but it wasn\u2019t too bad and after putting in a couple of stitches, Doc bandaged it up. Then Adam pulled back the bedclothes and Paul smiled \u201cYou\u2019ve done a good job between you, no need for me to interfere. Now let\u2019s see what you have done to that knee.\u201d<\/p>\n The lower leg was at a strange angle and the kneecap seemed to have slipped to one side. The whole area being very swollen made it difficult for Paul to determine the extent of the damage. Adam sat on the bed and held his father steady as Paul probed the injury as gently as he could. Eventually he sat back and said \u201cNothing broken but we\u2019ve got to put it back. I\u2019m sorry Ben it\u2019s going to hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam glanced at Joe wishing he could get his brother out of it, but he knew there was no way, and asked Paul what he wanted them to do. Doc frowned wondering which way to do it but then he made up his mind \u201cRight Adam I want you to lift you father and support him against you hold him steady. Joe you can help by massaging the muscles in your father\u2019s thigh, it helps to minimise muscle spasms, makes it easier to get the bone back. Then I\u2019m going to pull your leg gently Ben so that the bones slide into their right place. If we\u2019re lucky the kneecap will pop back into place on its own as your leg is straightened, if not I\u2019ll ease it back. Okay is everyone ready.\u201d<\/p>\n The brothers did as they were told, Doc moved very slowly as it was so swollen and he knew it was hurting Ben but gradually he straightened the leg and to his relief saw the kneecap move back into position. Ben bit hard on his belt and endured and it seemed to take forever but eventually it was done and Doc told Joe to move out of the way so he could bandage the knee for support. Adam continued to support his father but signalled Joe to get a damp cloth and wipe their father\u2019s face. Ben pulled out the belt but he was still breathing hard as he fought for control, determined not to worry his youngest son.<\/p>\n As Doc finished, Adam eased away from behind his father and settled pillows to support him and pulled up blankets. Ben was white, even to his lips, but he said, \u201cThat feels better.\u201d<\/p>\n Doc grinned, \u201cWe could all do with a drop of that brandy Adam. Why don\u2019t you go and get some glasses.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded and fetched some and then fed his father two large glasses, glad to see some colour coming back to his father\u2019s lips. Paul considered Ben knowing that his advice wasn\u2019t going to be welcome \u201cThat\u2019s a bad twist Ben and it\u2019s going to need time to heal. Stay in bed for the next week and off your feet for at least a week after that. Then I\u2019ll have a look but you won\u2019t be riding for at least a month.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked up alarmed, thinking of all they\u2019d arranged but Adam said \u201cEasy Pa, we\u2019ll sort it out when you\u2019ve had some rest. Time you settled down, I\u2019ll be staying for a day or two and Joe and I can cope with everything, so don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and settled down closing his eyes. Adam tucked him in \u201cI\u2019ll leave your door open, if you want me call. Try and get some sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n They went out and Adam took Joe into his own room with Doc following. Joe protested that he was fine but Doc said \u201cCome on Joe spare me five minutes if only to keep your brother quiet. He\u2019s worried enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Begrudgingly Joe agreed and co-operated as Paul quickly checked him over. Paul smiled at the younger man, \u201cNot too bad Joe, you need a good night\u2019s sleep and try to relax, but you\u2019ll do.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam went down with Doc rather surprised at his reaction. Paul smiled \u201cNot really anything to worry about Adam, but get a light meal into him and get him to bed. A small dose of laudanum to make sure he sleeps wouldn\u2019t come amiss. You\u2019re right he\u2019s verging on shock but keep him quiet tomorrow and he\u2019ll be fine, sorry to land you with all three.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sighed \u201cIts not exactly your fault Paul, we\u2019ll manage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo need to sit up with any of them although you\u2019ll need to check Ben\u2019s lower leg frequently, say every hour to begin with and then every couple of hours to make certain that the circulation is alright. If there is any numbness or loss of sensation, or lack of a pulse in the foot, then you\u2019ll need to loosen the splint slightly. If it\u2019s fine after say six hours, then you don\u2019t need to worry anymore. He may run a slight fever but nothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for coming out so fast Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be out in three days, see how they are. If you\u2019re worried let me know but I don\u2019t expect any problems.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam thanked him and once Doc had gone he had a word with Hop Sing and arranged for food.<\/p>\n Then he went back up to find Carole and Joe. Both Hoss and Ben were sleeping and Adam told Carole to go on down food would be on the table. They would be able to hear if anyone called and he was fairly sure neither his father nor Hoss would stir for a while at least. Then Adam went to find Joe, who was still in his room.<\/p>\n Little Joe had relaxed slightly now both his father and brother were safe in their own beds and despite his protests to Doc, he found himself shaking as he tried to get dressed and he couldn\u2019t stop. Adam saw as soon as he poked his head in the door and went to fetch the brandy. He poured a stiff one and then sat down next to his brother. He put his arm round his brother and forced Joe to drink it. Joe lent against his brother and slowly calmed down but for once he didn\u2019t really argue when Adam said \u201cBed for you Joe\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure you are but there\u2019s nothing more we can do tonight, Pa and Hoss will sleep until morning, so you get into bed. I\u2019ll bring you up a tray and then you get some sleep. That way you\u2019ll be fit to help me in the morning, when I need help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCarole and I will be next door, the twins are already asleep. I\u2019ll leave my door open and I\u2019ll hear if either of them want anything. Be sensible Joe it was a shock and you\u2019re not strong enough to take one without some reaction.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and let Adam help him into bed. He could only manage half the omelette Adam brought but he drank the broth and the hot milk complete with its laudanum. When Adam collected the tray his brother was already drowsy and the others were both fast asleep so Adam went back down to his wife. On his instructions Carole was making out a list of things for Adam to collect so they could stay for a few days. He knew she could cope for half an hour and wanted some fresh air, it had come as a shock for him too.<\/p>\n As he rode home Adam tried to think how to rearrange things. His father certainly wouldn\u2019t be fit enough to go to Frisco for quite sometime, certainly no chance in the next three days and the days events had shown that Joe wasn\u2019t fit enough to go alone, even if he could pass all the work to his younger brother. Meetings were already arranged and would have to be delayed but they couldn\u2019t be put off for long. If Carole hadn\u2019t been pregnant he would have gone himself but he couldn\u2019t just leave her. Adam frantically weighed his various loyalties and the jobs to be done but found himself thinking round in circles. He shook himself he had a lot to be grateful for. When he rode out he had been scared for the lives of his father and big brother and they\u2019d escaped with minor injuries.<\/p>\n When he got back Carole had just checked and all three were sleeping although Ben had a slight fever. She frowned at her husband \u201cCome and sit down. You look as though you\u2019ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, just the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt could be a lot worse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been telling myself that all the way back. Don\u2019t look so worried pet, I\u2019m just tired and I guess it was a shock for me too. More important how are you and the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re fine, She\u2019s an awkward miss enjoys any excitement and kicks out hard, but I don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/p>\n She took Adam\u2019s hand and held it to her stomach and he could feel the baby kicking Adam smiled \u201cIt\u2019s wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know I\u2019m going to be fine don\u2019t you? You\u2019re not even very worried, not this time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo you are so sure and I guess I\u2019ve learnt to trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very fit and you can feel that the baby is healthy.”<\/p>\n Adam frowned and studied her intently, \u201cWhat are you getting at Carole?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSan Francisco. The baby isn\u2019t due until May. You\u2019d be back by the beginning of March.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam just stared at her and Carole snuggled up close \u201cIt\u2019s the only way darling. You might as well admit it and then maybe you won\u2019t lie awake all night trying to think it out. I\u2019ll move back here if it would make you happier. I shall have to the first couple of weeks, to keep an eye on Pa and Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam hesitated \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see that you have any choice Adam. You\u2019re the only one fit enough to go and it has to be done. You\u2019ll be back before the work picks up here. Jess and Jos\u00e9 will do that bit more to cover and Pa will be able to organise things from the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe arguments for Pa taking him still hold. You won\u2019t get through by the end of February without him; it\u2019ll be nearer the end of March. Not that it would matter, but you\u2019d be fretting.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam bit his lip \u201cLeaves you with two sick men, the twins, and six months pregnant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you trust me? I also have Hop Sing and Kam Su on call, to say nothing of a bunkhouse full, with some very good friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam hesitated, in some ways her arguments made sense and neither his Father nor Hoss were seriously ill. Carole smiled \u201cI had a word with Doc before he left. He said I\u2019m disgustingly healthy and there\u2019s nothing to worry about. I suggest you put of your trip for one day. See Doc when he comes out and by then Pa and Hoss will be well on the way to recovery. Then you and Joe can go without worrying,\u201d<\/p>\n Adam pulled her close and buried his face in her hair. He didn\u2019t want to leave her for a month or more while she was pregnant even though he had a job to do, but he was more grateful than he could ever say for her insistence that he do his job and not be tied by her. She had always given him the freedom to do his share around the ranch and help his family, but in this, by making his decision for him she had gone even further and Adam was immensely proud of his wife. It wouldn\u2019t be easy to leave her but when she had proved so strong he could only accept it, not throw her gift back in her face. He kissed her \u201cAlright my Love I agree and thank you. I don\u2019t know what I\u2019ve done to deserve such a clever wife.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll look after Pa and Hoss for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that and you\u2019ll look after yourself and our baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be too disappointed if you\u2019re wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have no faith Adam Cartwright!\u201d she tilted her nose in high dudgeon but the effect was spoilt as he kissed it. \u201cCome on bed. You must be tired and I know I am.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam checked all his family before going to bed and left both doors open. Three times during the night he got up, once to Joe who seemed to be having a nightmare and twice to his father.<\/p>\n Adam calmed Joe down holding him still and talking to him but Joe didn\u2019t really wake up, just slipping into a more peaceful sleep. The first time Ben was just tossing round and Adam quietened him, turning the pillow and tucking him up without Ben waking, but the second time his father was awake and very thirsty. Adam got him a drink and loosened the bandage on his knee slightly where it was hurting. Adam had put some laudanum in the drink and Ben soon became drowsy. Adam sat by his father until he was asleep and then checked his brothers and his sons before going back to bed himself. Hoss hadn\u2019t stirred all night and although Carole was vaguely aware of her husband getting up, she didn\u2019t really wake up until the twins did the next morning. For once the little boys got almost instant attention as their parents whisked them downstairs, before they woke anyone else.<\/p>\n The twins were fed and Adam and Carole had had their own breakfast before there was any sound from upstairs. Adam went to investigate to find Hoss was awake and very restless. He was slightly feverish and wanted to know how his father was. Adam gave him some water \u201cPa\u2019s still sleeping. Just relax Hoss everything is fine, I\u2019m going to leave your curtains drawn today.\u201d Adam had helped his brother to sit up slightly and now pushed pillows to support him. Hoss shut his eyes as everything went round on him and Adam steadied him for a moment and gradually Hoss opened his eyes again. \u201cI\u2019m not too sure my head belongs to me. In fact I wish it didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou took a hell of a bang Hoss, bad concussion and its going to take a few days to clear. Couple of cracked ribs and a general bad shaking. I know you ache all over, so just try and relax.\u201d<\/p>\n That about summed it up and Hoss relaxed back and let Adam straighten his bed, he couldn\u2019t remember exactly what had happened, just that his father had been there and he asked Adam for details. Adam shrugged \u201cThe wheel broke and somehow the wagon turned over, snow was drifting quite badly. Pa will fill in the details but I haven\u2019t asked him yet, he got off with a cut on his head and a badly twisted knee. Doc has put it back but he\u2019s going to have to stay off it for a couple of weeks, he was trapped by the wagon, you were thrown clear. Unfortunately you found a couple of rocks to land on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly what I told you, he was conscious when we got there. It\u2019s really only his knee otherwise he\u2019s a lot better than you are. Luckily the horses pulled free and came home. Now what do you want, coffee, food?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust some coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam went to fetch it and Hoss drank three cups before putting his cup down. \u201cWhere\u2019s Joe, why are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s still asleep. Carole and I have moved in for a few days with the twins. Bit of a shock and Joe\u2019s still not strong so I packed him off to bed with a dose of laudanum, just to be on the safe side.<\/p>\n Adam saw anxiety flare and gripped his brother\u2019s arm \u201cEasy Hoss, he\u2019s alright. I expect he\u2019ll be up soon. Trust me everything is under control.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shut his eyes, even the limited light was making them ache and his head was throbbing. Within five minutes he\u2019d dozed off again and Adam gently removed one pillow and pulled the blankets up. He was glad to see it, the best thing for Hoss, who would sleep off the worst of his pain, and Adam knew his big brother\u2019s recuperative powers.<\/p>\n As he came out Adam saw Joe opposite, looking considerably better. Joe glanced in and saw that Hoss was asleep so he went down with Adam asking how they were. Adam filled him in, he didn\u2019t expect their father to wake for several hours after the drug late in the night, Joe accepted that and settled to a good breakfast. When he was on coffee he broached the subject of their commitments in San Francisco. Joe had been awake for quite a while before he emerged and had decided that the only way to cover things was for him to handle Frisco on his own. He was slightly on the defensive, not sure that his brother would trust him with so much important business and even slightly doubtful of his own capabilities. \u201cI\u2019ll have to go to Frisco alone. It\u2019ll take a bit longer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe flared up at his brother \u201cDon\u2019t you trust me?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled \u201cYou know I do, but you would be very pushed for the same reason Pa was taking you along. It\u2019s a two-man job and you\u2019re not strong enough to take the risk of going all that way alone. It\u2019s a long ride.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could get the stage to Sacramento and then the steamer or even stage to Reno and get the train.\u201d Joe\u2019s side ached at the thought of the stage, he knew how much it would take out of him, even the wagon had caught at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019d be better on horseback. You know how rough the stages are.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sighed heavily \u201cThat\u2019s all very well but you can\u2019t leave Carole and Hoss won\u2019t be fit enough for at least ten days so what choice do I have?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore than me it seems. Carole has given me my orders, the only practical solution. I come instead of Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked at his eldest brother as though he had lost his mind; \u201cYou can\u2019t leave Carole alone and what about Pa and Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled seeing his little brother\u2019s disbelief \u201cCarole is going to move back here until we get back, We are to wait one extra day until Doc\u2019s been out again, by which time Pa and Hoss will be on the mend and she will keep them under control.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut she\u2019s six months pregnant!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam couldn\u2019t help the grin, \u201cI had noticed Little Joe, but as she said we will be back well before the baby is due and she is perfectly fit and able to cope.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe sat back astounded that his brother would think of leaving Carole and going so far away, with no hope of getting back fast in an emergency. \u201cYou can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou try telling Carole.\u201d<\/p>\n Carole had been listening from the kitchen, much amused, and she came in and kissed Joe. \u201cI wish you\u2019d all stop trying to treat me like a piece of fragile china, I\u2019m fine and I shall remain that way. I\u2019ll take care of Pa and Hoss while you two go and get the work done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Carole..\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo buts Joe.\u201d She interrupted, \u201cIt\u2019s the only way, otherwise the whole year is going to be thrown out of step, that\u2019s bad enough when there\u2019s a reason but I don\u2019t need Adam at the moment, not for the next couple of months.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam snorted \u201cMarvellous. What are you trying to do to me?\u201d<\/p>\n Carole giggled \u201cYou know what I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe, but it could have been more tactfully phrased! See what I mean Joe, no choice I\u2019m a hen-pecked husband.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe gave way at that, he had been dreading the long journey alone and scared he would find too many problems to manage. As Adam was set on going and seemed not too worried, he accepted Carole\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n Ben woke later, his leg was on fire and he had a splitting headache but his main worry was just how they were going to manage. He blamed himself for the momentary inattention, which had taken them into the drift. He wasn\u2019t too sure exactly what had happened, it was all a blur, but the effects were disastrous. He forced himself to eat some breakfast, not wanting to worry his sons, and drank several cups of coffee more willingly. Joe had offered to tell their father what was planned but Adam knew that he would have more chance of convincing Ben that everything was alright.<\/p>\n As Ben finished his coffee they heard Hoss call out and Joe went over to him. Carole was downstairs with the twins and Adam sat back by his father’s bed. “Stop worrying Pa you both got off remarkably lightly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell at least Joe looks better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust needed a good night\u2019s sleep, he\u2019s still not got all his strength back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just the timing Adam, especially with Joe not fully fit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you to stop worrying. It\u2019s all arranged. I\u2019ll go with Joe to Frisco, we can cope. The pipe survey will be held up a bit, but I can take the papers with me and there\u2019s not much I can do on the ground in this weather.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben frowned, \u201cYou?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the only sensible thing Pa. after all normally I would have handled it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about Carole?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe arranged it and gave Joe and I our orders. She\u2019s going to move back here with the twins until I get back. Keep you and Hoss under control.\u201d Adam smiled.<\/p>\n Ben stared hard at his son, unsure how he really felt, \u201cYou don\u2019t mind leaving her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s putting it a bit high. Of course I mind, but she\u2019s fine and Doc says she will stay that way, more importantly so does Carole. I\u2019m not that worried and I know in an emergency you\u2019ll be here. It\u2019s long odds against there being one and I\u2019ll accept them. It\u2019s the only practical solution Pa and we\u2019ll be back before the baby is due. Even if she\u2019s early I\u2019d be here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve already had this argument with Joe. I\u2019ll tell you what I told him, I have no choice. This is Carole\u2019s decision and I won\u2019t throw it back in her face.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben understood how his son felt and he could hear in Adam\u2019s voice his pride in his wife.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright. We\u2019re all very lucky, you found one very special woman.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam grinned delightedly but then made his father settle down again. They weren\u2019t going for three days so there was plenty of time to sort out details.<\/p>\n Doc was well pleased with their progress when he came back, but he insisted that they both stay in bed for another couple of days, despite Ben\u2019s protestations that he had to get downstairs with both Adam and Joe away.\u00a0\u00a0Paul warned him that he would be in bed for a lot longer than two days if he tried to overdo it too soon, reminding him how often he had forced his sons to be patient. Carole who had been helping out insisted that she could mange and Doc laughed \u201cI don\u2019t doubt it.\u201d<\/p>\n Before he left Paul had a word with Adam, wanting to know where the brothers were going; Adam frowned worriedly \u201cSan Francisco. I\u2019d rather wait for a few days but we have business which really can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow are you travelling?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRiding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLong way on horseback.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasier than stagecoach, especially for Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIts him I thinking of, he\u2019s not strong yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we are going tomorrow so we can do it in stages, I know he\u2019s not fully fit but he won\u2019t take any harm will he? Pa was going to take him.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul smiled reassuringly \u201cI shouldn\u2019t think so, just don\u2019t push too hard and keep an eye on him. How long will you be away?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFour or five weeks. Carole is staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019ll be fine, you don\u2019t need to worry about her.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled, grateful for the confirmation, \u201cThanks Doc.\u201d<\/p>\n The next morning Adam and Joe got an early start. They had promises from Jos\u00e9 and Jess that they would help Carole and keep an eye on the invalids and even though she would have her hands full for the first few days the brothers had complete confidence in her ability to cope. Joe had been riding every day since his father had agreed to take him along, making sure that he had sufficient stamina for the journey. Cochise and Blackie seemed to have got used to each other without any effort from their riders. Joe commented \u201cHe\u2019s a derned good looker, pity he didn\u2019t pass it on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMongrel blood somewhere I guess. Still they say mongrels can be the most intelligent and strong. He’s showing every sign of both, very easy to teach.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI began to wonder when you\u2019d replace Sport.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor a time I didn\u2019t intend to, but there\u2019s no real choice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know how hard it must have been to shoot him. Do you remember that white Arab we were getting Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good few years back. He was a beauty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe carried me so well.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded knowing that his brother knew how he\u2019d felt not that he\u2019d ever doubted it. Joe had had to shoot the stallion when a bullet broke his leg and Adam could still remember the long search for his brother when they\u2019d heard the Indians were on the rampage across his route. Joe had been very young then and Adam had blamed himself bitterly for letting Joe go alone.<\/p>\n Adam had decided to take the southerly route to Frisco via Genoa and the south of Lake Tahoe. It was slightly easier apart from the stretch just south west of the lake, particularly at this time of the year and he was determined not to let his brother overdo things. Ben had intended taking four days over the two hundred odd miles and despite leaving a day later Adam intended doing the same. He had telegraphed Frisco and postponed the only appointment affected by telegram. Joe had insisted that he could do it easily but by mid-afternoon he was tiring rapidly.\u00a0\u00a0They had only come just over thirty-five miles but that included the hard trek over Echo summit so Adam began considering possible campsites. He had brought a small tent along, although he wouldn\u2019t normally have bothered but he needed somewhere dry and sheltered to pitch it. Finally he remembered a small butte just south of the main trail and to Joe\u2019s surprise he said, \u201cWe\u2019ll cut south here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood camp site, time we thought about stopping.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s too early. The horses are fine, we can make another ten miles, camp up by the waterfall.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe horses are fine Joe, but you aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay\u201d Joe protested but Adam just grinned, \u201cSure and let\u2019s keep it that way. It\u2019s a long ride no point in tiring yourself out the first day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe won\u2019t make it in four days at this rate.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged \u201cEasier going once we are out of the Sierra\u2019s. We can make up time and anyway I can always telegraph ahead if we can\u2019t. Nothing important until the afternoon anyway so if we don\u2019t get there until lunch time it won\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe was sore and tired, his side aching more than he\u2019d expected and he gave way. Long after Joe was fast asleep Adam sat rechecking the figures from the lake survey and worrying how his brother would stand up to the long journey. In fact Joe seemed fine the next morning and on the lower ground they made better time and managed over fifty miles before Adam called a halt. Despite the longer ride Joe still looked better than he had the previous day.<\/p>\n They rode into town on the fourth day and made their way to Will and Laura\u2019s. Little Joe was bone weary but he\u2019d taken no harm and Adam knew that he\u2019d have several weeks of being thoroughly spoilt by Laura before they had to go back, plenty of time to rebuild his stamina. Joe was too tired to be hungry and Adam didn\u2019t let anyone fuss, just sending Joe off to bed. Will and Laura had seen Joe at Christmas and even though tired out he looked better than they had expected. Laura had been astounded at the change of plans and was very surprised to find how calm Adam was. Adam was just glad to have arrived and over dinner he made them laugh at Carole\u2019s organising the family after the accident and reassured them that neither Ben nor Hoss were seriously hurt. He opted for an early night himself and when he went up to the room he was sharing with Joe, his brother was fast asleep.<\/p>\n The next week passed all too quickly, there weren\u2019t enough hours in the day. Adam went from meeting to meeting with Joe doing little better, fitting in the negotiations for parcels of land as and when they could. Adam was working late most nights trying to keep the paperwork up to date but he insisted Joe get to bed at a reasonable hour. Adam did spare time to go out on the town with his younger brother and joined Will and Laura at a concert.<\/p>\n One morning Adam cursed at breakfast and handed a glossy invitation over to his youngest brother. “We’ll have to go damn it. I could have done without.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe, curious, inspected the invitation; it was to a ball in honour of some visiting celebrities that he’d never heard of. “Why do we have to go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNotice the names of those heading the organising committee?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe hadn\u2019t and took another look before whistling softly \u201cLeland Stanford and Collis P Huntingdon.<\/p>\n High powered, two of the big four.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPowerful men Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe thought about that, the two with Mark Hopkins and Charlie Crocker ran the Southern Pacific and had a virtual monopoly of transport in the west. He had never met either of them although he knew Mark Hopkins, the accountant for the four and the Ponderosa had many dealings with the railroad, indeed they were sorting out a contract for timber with them now. \u201cSince when do we kow-tow to men however powerful?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t Joe, but on the other hand we don\u2019t go out of our way to be awkward when there\u2019s nothing to be gained. I know these men, both are oddly insecure, they\u2019ll read insults into nothing and they could make life very difficult. So we make an appearance, we needn\u2019t stay long. Won\u2019t do any harm for you to see them on a social occasion, make up your own mind about them, before you end up facing them across a negotiating table.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think of them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuntingdon is the big boss, not often out here, he runs things from New York, he\u2019ll buy or bully anyone in his way including his partners. Clever good at finding people\u2019s weaknesses. Despises most people and yet he\u2019s easily offended socially. He holds a grudge about as well as Sharon so watch your step with him. Hopkins you know, he\u2019s a nice enough bloke. Crocker won\u2019t be there unless a lot has changed, he\u2019s a bully and I don\u2019t like him, but he\u2019s good at getting his men to work and he\u2019s a good engineer. A bit unimaginative but very sound. Stanford is probably the oddest of all. Unless I miss my guess he takes very much second place to Huntingdon these days but he\u2019d never admit it. Not particularly clever or shrewd, always struck me as slow thinking, but he has one hell of an opinion of himself, very pompous a social climber, Stay on the right side of him and he\u2019s easy enough but dent that ego and he\u2019ll cause trouble. He takes it for granted that we are flattered by this invitation. Trouble with Frisco is that most people will be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt won\u2019t be too bad Adam. I thought you liked a dance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot like this one, all the middle aged high society of Frisco.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe a few daughters\u201d Joe said hopefully.<\/p>\n Adam laughed \u201cYou just make sure you\u2019re ready on time. I won\u2019t be back until latish I\u2019m afraid. I have that meeting with the government surveyor at the land office, have to convince him that our maps are accurate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink there will be any trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot really just tedious. You worry about finding those deeds.\u201d Joe went of on his errand and came home late in the afternoon very pleased with himself, completely successful. Adam had sent word that he wouldn\u2019t be back for dinner but as time passed and he still didn\u2019t appear Joe got anxious. He was dressed and ready and, thinking about his brother\u2019s insistence on them going, he eventually decided one at least had better make an appearance. It was nearly ten o\u2019clock and he asked Laura to pass on a message that he had gone on ahead and would make Adam\u2019s excuses. Laura promised to do so and Joe walked over to the big mansion Stanford had built on Nob Hill. He knew the building, very ostentatious like many of the others and Joe slowed as he approached. He didn\u2019t get to Frisco very often and would know hardly anyone. Without his elder brother\u2019s backing, Joe would have given a lot to turn round and go back to Will\u2019s. He couldn\u2019t really imagine that Stanford would care either way but he did respect Adam\u2019s judgement and his brother had felt it necessary for them to go. At least his months in Europe helped his poise and knowing that his suit bought there would be more than the equal of anything anyone else would be wearing, he made his way in with every appearance of ease. They had a butler on the door announcing the guests and as he went in Joe saw Stanford look over at him, maybe Adam had been right. Seeing a couple of men he knew Joe made his way over to them and then considered the women around, There weren\u2019t very many young ones and he waited for a bit before taking out the sister of one of his acquaintances.<\/p>\n Stanford was watching him when Huntingdon joined him and asked, \u201cWho is he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYoungest of the Cartwright boys, the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see. Rumour has it that Adam Cartwright is up to something, meetings with some very odd people. I was hoping to have a word with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI invited him but just the kid arrived. Talk to him instead, he\u2019ll be easier than Adam, that guy is too damned clever.\u201d<\/p>\n Huntingdon frowned \u201cThink the kid will know anything?\u201d<\/p>\n Stanford shrugged \u201cMaybe, Ben Cartwright is supposed to give all three equal say. I only know Adam and he certainly shares in all the decisions, maybe makes some. They\u2019ve done very well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCall him over, we\u2019ll enquire about his brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe wasn\u2019t particularly surprised when a waiter came over as the dance ended and asked him to join Mr Stanford and Mr Huntingdon. The two men had cast several glances in his direction. They were standing in a window bay with a very attractive blonde girl, She looked about twenty, obviously bored by the whole proceedings with a rather glazed superior expression spoiling what might have been a lovely face. Joe considered her as he went over, wondering who she was. She was certainly the loveliest girl there, if physical looks were all you went by. Then remembering Adam\u2019s warning he concentrated on the two men. Both were much older and Joe threw in a couple of \u2018Sirs\u2019 as he offered his brother\u2019s apologies for his absence as he was tied up in a business meeting. The two men tried to probe what sort of business but Joe side-stepped neatly; claiming that is brother had personal interests, completely separate from the Ponderosa. He was helped as the two men both underestimated him and after five minutes verbal fencing decided he didn\u2019t know anything and excused themselves, telling him to enjoy himself. Neither had spotted the imp of mischief lurking in his eyes, but the girl who had been listening hadn\u2019t missed it.<\/p>\n When they were left alone she looked at Joe with sufficient interest to encourage him and Joe smiled back. She considered him “They were probing hard.\u201d<\/p>\n He grinned, \u201cI did notice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wondered. It\u2019s easy enough to fool my father but Collis Huntingdon is another matter, he\u2019s very shrewd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour father? Miss Stanford?\u201d Joe waited to see if she would fill in the name but there was no answer and he went on \u201cI\u2019m Joe Cartwright. What makes you think I was fooling anyone? My brother\u2019s business is his own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not trying to probe. I don\u2019t do my father\u2019s dirty work for him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFair enough. You aren\u2019t dancing, any reason?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t feel like it until now. I\u2019m here under protests, I usually try to avoid these bores.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you do me the honour?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded slowly, trying to work out this young cowboy, as her father had described him, not that he looked or acted like any cowboy she\u2019d ever seen; very good looking in a beautifully cut dark suit and a white lacy shirt with a single gold ring. Anyone who could deal with Huntingdon was no mere kid and bored she decided to play along. \u201cMy name is Nita Stanford.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned, \u201cNita? short for Anita?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot short for anything, just Nita.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnusual I haven\u2019t heard it before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think it suits me?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes sparkled, he was used to girls fishing for compliments and she had relaxed now. Interested in him she was much prettier than when he had first seen her, but he wasn\u2019t giving in easily \u201cI don\u2019t know the name, or the girl, so how can I possibly say?\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled at that; it wasn\u2019t only men he could fend off adroitly. \u201cOut of interest do you know what your brother is doing? It won\u2019t be passed on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShall we say some of it?\u201d Joe parried and smiled down at her \u201cWe do have our privacy, don\u2019t always want your brother to know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI neither know nor care what my brother or sister do.\u201d She said rather bitterly and then asked<\/p>\n \u201cCouldn\u2019t you find a better way to pass the evening?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a royal command, or at least Frisco\u2019s version of it. Anyway I can think of many worse ways.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou dance well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. Do you want to dance again or would you like some fresh air?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s walk outside, \u201c Nita decided \u201cThe grounds are pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t like the house?”<\/p>\n \u201cDo you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s exotic. \u201c Joe commented diplomatically.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you come to San Francisco often? I haven\u2019t seen you before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDepends on what needs doing, some years two or three times, other years not at all. My father comes more frequently and my eldest brother Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s Virginia City like? That\u2019s where you\u2019re from isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur ranch is a few miles from town and we\u2019ve been there longer than Virginia City. I was born there. It\u2019s a rowdy town, never quiet, half the men working down the mines, dynamiting, stamp mills going twenty four hours a day. The other half playing in the saloons. Violent with men killed in accidents or fights all too often, not exactly the place for sedate balls. I like it and when I\u2019ve had enough I can head back to the quiet of the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI sometimes think that nothing ever happens in Frisco, not the part I\u2019m allowed to see and New York is no better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you do?\u201d Joe asked<\/p>\n \u201cWait patiently for father to find me a husband like my sister, gossip and attend functions like this with the same people getting bored. What does your mother do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe died when I was very young.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd no wife?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot any longer. My wife died in childbirth.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita had been probing but she sensed the feeling in Joe\u2019s voice and realised she had found a sore point \u201cI\u2019m sorry I didn\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course not. No matter it\u2019ll be two years this month, not exactly a new wound.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you still care?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe was surprised that she saw that so quickly and looked at her with renewed interest. \u201cShe was my wife and I loved her, of course I still care.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy father didn\u2019t, he remarried less than two months after mother died.\u201d<\/p>\n Impulsive as ever Joe said \u201cIs that why you hate him?\u201d Almost as the words left his lips his brain caught up and he could have bitten his tongue off, \u201cMy turn to apologise. I\u2019m sorry I shouldn\u2019t have said that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh don\u2019t apologise he and I both know it. It\u2019s not exactly unusual, doesn\u2019t everyone hate their father?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I\u2019m the exception that proves the rule. I both love and respect mine and I\u2019m not ashamed to admit it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou must be unique.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot me, my brothers feel the same, maybe Pa is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t know how my brother and sister feel, all we ever do is fight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have fights too, but I don\u2019t do too well. Hoss I can out talk but I can\u2019t even manage that with Adam and as the little one of the family physical fights are asking for trouble. I\u2019m fast with a gun but I\u2019m not sure I\u2019m as fast as Adam. Anyways I wouldn\u2019t want to really hurt either of them, however mad they make me, so on the whole it\u2019s easier to get along.\u201d<\/p>\n She stared at him in surprise. Joe still had some weight to put on but even so he was well built and nearly six foot, certainly not her idea of small \u201cHow big are the rest of your family?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been called Little Joe most of my life, still am a lot of the time. Pa and Adam are both about six foot two and around 200 pounds and Hoss is six four and more than three hundred pounds so you see I\u2019m the small one as well as the youngest.\u201d<\/p>\n She was amused at that \u201cLittle Joe. I like that, unusual.\u201d<\/p>\n It was getting cold and they went back in with Joe trying to persuade her to come riding the following morning. She admitted she did sometimes ride in the foothills behind the mansion but would make no promises. However she did deliberately mention that she hadn\u2019t been able to get out of a charity ball the following night, in the ballroom attached to the opera theatre, smiling she added \u201cI believe there are still some tickets for sale.\u201d<\/p>\n Then she broke away and went to speak to someone else. Joe was intrigued by her, and although he danced with a couple of others, he kept an eye on her. Then he decided to call it a day and head back to Will\u2019s.<\/p>\n Nita watched him go and was deep in thought as he father said \u201cDid you get anything from him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo and if I had I wouldn\u2019t tell you\u201d she said rudely.<\/p>\n Stanford ignored that; it wasn\u2019t exactly unusual \u201cYou were outside with him for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFather I am twenty one, not exactly a child. We were talking. He\u2019s interesting, more alive than the chinless wonders you push at me.\u201d She turned away, wondering what it would be like to have a father who didn\u2019t enrage you every time you spoke to him.<\/p>\n The next morning Joe went out early riding in the foothills but Nita had decided against too much encouragement. She was hoping that he would come to the ball, more attracted to him than to anyone else she had ever met, but knowing very little about him. She had heard of the Cartwrights of the Ponderosa but couldn\u2019t remember anything much, just figures in her father\u2019s conversation on business, which she normally ignored.<\/p>\n Adam had got in very late from his meeting and had totally forgotten about the invitation. He was surprised when Laura told him that Joe had gone on his own, although after what he had said that morning he could understand why. Hoping Joe didn\u2019t find it too big an ordeal, remembering some of his own early ventures under protest into Frisco\u2019s \u2018polite\u2019 society. It was too late for Adam to do anything to help and he was exhausted so he headed for bed.He was surprised the following morning to find that for once his little brother had beaten him up, had a very early breakfast and then gone out. Adam was slightly annoyed as he\u2019d wanted to know what Joe had found out the previous day and he had a meeting at ten.<\/p>\n Laura said \u201cJoe left these for you.\u201d and handed over a sheaf of notes. Adam glanced through them as he ate and mentally apologised to his little brother. Joe had spared an hour the previous evening to leave him a written report covering exactly what he needed to know. He collected his papers, for the crucial meeting at the land office, to negotiate the water rights on the west shore. He kissed Laura\u2019s cheek, \u201cDon\u2019t bother with dinner for me, I shall probably be very late again. I\u2019m sorry to just come back here to sleep but I want to get it done and get back home to Carole.\u201d<\/p>\n Laura smiled \u201cYou ought to know I don\u2019t mind Adam. Just don\u2019t work yourself into the ground, you look exhausted now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay, though I admit there is more involved than I expected. Maybe it\u2019s a good job I came instead of Pa, it needs a lawyer.\u201d Adam was pushing as hard as he could, but with Californian law insisting on a separate contract for each section, the paperwork was overwhelming. A lot of it was repetitious and Joe was helping but even so too much was his job, if their title to this new land was to be as watertight as the rest. With other jobs to do as well Adam knew it would be a miracle if they could leave as they\u2019d planned initially.<\/p>\n It was nearly midnight when he got back to learn that Joe had gone out again, to a charity ball. Adam was taken aback, he\u2019d have thought that once was enough for his brother but Joe had done all he had asked and was entitled to enjoy himself. Will had been surprised too, he didn\u2019t enjoy balls and avoided them; from what he knew of Joe he would have expected the same. Adam just shrugged, too tired really to speculate; \u201cMaybe he\u2019s found someone to flirt with. You know Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarie?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nearly two years. I don\u2019t know whether he\u2019d be ready to get serious again but since last summer he\u2019s been willing to flirt. You saw the girls at Christmas; after all he\u2019s still young. Anyway he can look after himself and I\u2019m tired. I\u2019m for bed.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam went on up, too tired to even think about his brother, The next morning at breakfast, Joe was obviously in a hurry and Adam just outlined what he would like Joe to do and arranged to meet him later. Adam wondered vaguely where Joe was off to, but with a meeting on the timber contract, he had more immediate worries.<\/p>\n This time Nita was waiting for Joe in the foothills and for an hour they rode and chatted. She liked Cochise and Joe let the pinto show off his tricks. In his everyday working clothes Joe looked much more like a cowboy and at first Nita was quiet but she soon realised it was the same man and he was fun to be with. They chatted inconsequentially and arranged to meet the following day.<\/p>\n Over the next week Joe saw her every morning and three evenings at various functions. He still hadn\u2019t mentioned her to his family, although Adam realised he must be seeing someone. Joe enjoyed the hours he spent with her but Marie was very close to him and he didn\u2019t know how he felt. The last thing he wanted was to discuss Nita. She attracted him more than anyone else had done apart from Marie but Joe didn\u2019t want to be hurt and he knew he\u2019d have to go home in another week, so he kept things easy. The rest of the time, Joe was doing all he could to help<\/p>\n Adam, slightly horrified at the massive task they had undertaken. The one consolation Joe had was that Adam was too busy and too tired to either worry about Carole, or question what his brother was up to. There was a steady stream of letters from the ranch, all saying that everything was fine, but in a way Joe thought they made matters worse. There was a minimum of three days delay from posting and a lot could have happened, although if anything had there was always the telegraph.<\/p>\n With so much to do it was obvious they would have to delay their departure at least a few days and if Adam was unhappy about it, Joe wasn\u2019t. Slightly worried about his eldest brother who looked very tired, Joe persuaded Adam to take an evening off and join his brother, Will and Laura at a carnival ball. Not so formal as most, Will added his persuasions they were good fun, At the last minute Adam tired, and not really in the mood without Carole, tried to back out but the other three wouldn\u2019t let him. He had been working very long hours for weeks and he needed a break. None of them trusted him not to go back to work the minute their backs were turned, with good reason.<\/p>\n Nita had had an argument with her father that afternoon, fiercer than normal. For reasons of his own which even he didn\u2019t clearly understand, he disapproved of Joe Cartwright where his daughter was concerned anyway. Well aware that she had been seeing him every day he had checked up on Joe. The only thing he had been able to find against him was his first marriage, which hadn\u2019t improved his temper but Stanford played that for all he was worth. At first Stanford had just told his daughter not to go around with the cowboy, but Nita had been finding out about the Cartwrights, both from Joe and from her father\u2019s files. She reminded him how powerful he had said the Silver Kings were, men who could rival the railroad Kings of which he was one. Yet the Cartwrights between them owned the biggest share in both mines and long established on the Ponderosa, respectable and respected, they too were powerful men, just the sort her father usually insisted she be seen with. Stanford couldn\u2019t have said why he disapproved, maybe because he couldn\u2019t manipulate Joe as he could other rich men\u2019s sons, living on their father\u2019s wealth. He played his ace and said that he wouldn\u2019t have her making herself the laughing stock of San Francisco, following Joe\u2019s first wife, a pregnant saloon girl when they married. Nita knew that Joe hadn\u2019t thought as far as marriage and if she had she wasn\u2019t letting anyone know, least of all her father, and she just laughed. \u201cI only know one thing about his first wife, she was very much loved, was yours?\u201d<\/p>\n Her father raised his hand to hit her but Nita just sat there, staring down her nose at him, daring him to do it. He turned and walked out, cursing again the haughty young madam that he\u2019d reared, but didn\u2019t understand and couldn\u2019t control. Despite her attitude, Nita had been taken aback by what her father had said. Joe hadn\u2019t talked about his first wife and apart from what he had said that first evening all she knew was that her name had been Marie. Nita wasn\u2019t at all sure how Joe felt but alone in her room as she got ready for the ball and faced the fact that in a couple of days he would be going back to Nevada, she admitted to herself that she was in love with him. For the first time in her life she had met someone where she didn\u2019t have to put on an act, she was perfectly at ease. Hurt in her early teens by her father and her older brother and sister, Nita had retired behind a shell of indifference and noone had succeeded in penetrating it. Over the last weeks, Joe hadn\u2019t just penetrated it, he had torn it away completely and she even found herself reacting to other people more gently. She dreaded him going home, knowing it might well be a year or more before he came back to San Francisco and unsure that it was more than a flirtation for him. As she finished dressing she forced the thought from her, determined to enjoy the evening. She knew that Joe had persuaded Adam to come along and was determined to make a good impression on this elder brother. She had heard, perhaps more than Joe had intended, as they talked about a family life so very different from anything she had ever known. She knew that Adam mattered to his brothers, his opinions were trusted.<\/p>\n Nita saw Joe come in with a rather taller, dark-haired, handsome man, who had to be Adam Cartwright. The older man looked tired and deep in his own thoughts and she waited for a while until, with luck, he had relaxed and was easier to deal with. Nita knew that even Huntingdon took Adam seriously and it wouldn\u2019t be easy to impress him. In many ways he was more striking than his brother and she couldn\u2019t imagine anyone underestimating him. It didn\u2019t take very long for Joe to gravitate to her side, Adam was already busy with a number of friends who hadn\u2019t seen him for a long time and so far this trip he had always been too busy.<\/p>\n Nita danced with Joe but when he suggested going over to meet Adam, Nita was uneasy and kept putting it off. Joe got her a drink and didn\u2019t push for once, not wanting to make too much of her meeting Adam, who was after all his family, too unsure of his own feelings. In the end it was accidental. Adam had taken Laura to get a drink just as Joe arrived with Nita. Laura got her drink and then Will appeared, there was someone he wanted her to meet and they left Adam alone. Joe grinned down at Nita, \u201cHe won\u2019t eat you, he\u2019s really quite harmless.\u201d And with his arm casually round her shoulders he led her over to Adam. \u201cAdam I don\u2019t think you know Nita Stanford, Nita my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled, he\u2019d seen Joe dancing with her ever since they arrived and guessed that she was the one who had been keeping his brother busy the last month. Unsure of his ground, intrigued by the casual possessiveness Joe was showing, Adam kept things light, Nita was trying too hard to impress and nervous she pulled back into her shell as she made polite conversation. Adam was very tired and not feeling particularly well, with another busy day planned for the morrow and he began responding almost mechanically, as she sounded like all the others, assuming that Joe was just flirting. Joe recognised his brother\u2019s mood and knew Adam wasn\u2019t feeling sociable and he soon took Nita off to dance. A few minutes later Adam made his excuses and went home, he had a bad headache and was starting a cold, all he really wanted was his bed.<\/p>\n Nita was uneasy but Joe just grinned, \u201cHe\u2019s like bear with a sore head the last few days. He wants to get home to his wife. I told you she\u2019s pregnant.\u201d Then he whirled her off to dance and she relaxed enjoying his company while she could.<\/p>\n It was very late when Joe got home and Adam was asleep. Joe wanted to know his brother\u2019s opinion of Nita but he had the sense not to bother Adam the next morning. Adam woke up with a headache, heavy eyed and feeling under the weather but he ignored it and drank three cups of coffee as he tried to wake up. It was going to be a long day. Adam wanted to finalise all the deals for the west shore land in as short a time as possible. He had all the contracts drawn up and the cheques made out but he didn\u2019t want anyone trying to block the deal if they realised exactly what the Cartwrights were up to. It was a question of timing and, with Joe handling half, he intended to have everything signed and sealed by evening, so that the whole deal would be settled before the cheques went through the Bank and alerted anyone else. Joe ate his breakfast in silence as Adam sorted out the papers and made him a list of people to see. Adam had already outlined what he wanted done and Joe looked carefully over the papers, only needing to ask one or two questions. He thought his elder brother looked very drawn, but once everything was signed the pressure would be off and they would only have to register the deeds. The main legal problems would be behind them and maybe Adam would relax. Once Joe was sure he had everything he needed, the brothers separated and began a long series of meetings. Adam hadn\u2019t wasted his time and everything was organised, so that there were no real hitches in the sales.<\/p>\n Joe was finished about four and only registration remained and that was just a formality, It took him another hour to get home and there he found a stack of signed documents but no Adam. Puzzled Joe went looking for Laura \u201cWhere is he now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe left a message for you. He\u2019d finished all those contracts as arranged but then something came up. A problem with the shipping arrangements and he had to go and deal with it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHell!\u201d Joe shook his head in disgust \u201cI\u2019m sorry Laura.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard a lot worse Little Joe and I tend to agree with you. He looked exhausted. I tried to persuade him to stay for a meal but he wouldn\u2019t, said that he shouldn\u2019t be long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think it\u2019s more than tiredness Laura?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure Joe. I have wondered the last day or so but even if we\u2019re right and he\u2019s coming down with a cold, it\u2019s mainly tiredness and I think he\u2019s been getting a bit worried about Carole.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn past form it\u2019s a miracle he\u2019s no worse.\u201d<\/p>\n Laura smiled \u201cI know, I could hardly believe it when I heard he was coming.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe ate with Will and Laura but he was on edge, wishing his brother would get home. Joe was worried about Adam but he had arranged to meet Nita, he knew they would be going home in another two or three days and he had to try and sort out his feelings for her. He hung on for as long as he could pacing around until Will said \u201cGo on Joe, you said that you were going to that dance. We\u2019ll look after Adam, make sure that he gets a meal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks Will. I\u2019d rather hang on but I have promised to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Laura kissed him \u201cDon\u2019t worry Adam\u2019s old enough to look after himself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d Joe went to the dance but Nita found him in a sombre mood and she was very willing to forego dancing and go outside for a walk. Joe pulled her close and kissed her \u201cI\u2019m going to miss you. I\u2019ll be going home in two maybe three days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSan Francisco is going to seem dead Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know when I\u2019ll be back, you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded \u201cThere\u2019s times I wish I wasn\u2019t a girl. If I was a man I could visit Virginia City but my father would never agree.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you were a man it wouldn\u2019t matter to me.\u201d Joe commented with a grin, \u201cbut I wish you could come. All I can do for now is to write and ask you to reply. Will you? No strings.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita wanted those strings but she wasn\u2019t going to push, realising Joe was uncertain and willingly took what she could get. She hoped in time Joe would be sufficiently over the death of his first wife to build again. She knew he still loved his dead wife and she both respected and admired him for it, but she wasn\u2019t about to give up on the only man who\u2019d ever meant anything to her.<\/p>\n Little Joe was sufficiently worried about his brother to feel the need to get back and after a couple of hours he apologised \u201cI\u2019m sorry Nita but I have to get back. There\u2019s been some problem come up and I can\u2019t leave it all to Adam. He\u2019s exhausted now, just about working in his sleep. He\u2019s my brother and I have to help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that. Will you come tomorrow morning,\u201d<\/p>\n Joe kissed her \u201cI\u2019ll come. It depends what is happening, I may not be able to stay long but I\u2019ll come. Thank you for understanding.\u201d Joe kissed her lingeringly and then hurried home, only to find Adam still hadn\u2019t returned.<\/p>\n Joe insisted that Laura went on up to bed the twins would still be up early and he could forage for his brother. Will hung around for another hour but he was yawning and Joe said \u201cGo on Will, no point in you getting exhausted, you\u2019ve got to go to work in the morning. I\u2019ll look after him, if he ever comes home.\u201d<\/p>\n It was nearly 1 a.m. and Will agreed leaving Joe on his own. Joe was pacing around just hoping<\/p>\n Adam hadn\u2019t found real trouble, wondering what on earth could be keeping him. The time seemed to creep past and it was ten to three when he heard the door and going out saw Adam quietly closing the door, \u201cAre you alright Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam turned, grey with exhaustion, his eyes bloodshot \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have waited up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave you eaten?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo but I\u2019m just too tired to bother. Come on Joe bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs everything all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is now, I\u2019ll explain in the morning, not now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, you look exhausted, come on big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam found it an effort to climb the stairs and was glad of Joe\u2019s supporting hand. All Adam wanted was to get back home, see his beloved wife and forget all the legal nit-picking for a while. His throat was sore from hours of talk in smoke filled rooms and despite his utter exhaustion a nagging cough kept him awake for more than an hour. Twice Joe asked if he could get anything but Adam rather brusquely told his brother to get some sleep, feeling guilty at keeping Joe awake,<\/p>\n Eventually Adam did go to sleep and as Joe realised he relaxed and dozed off himself. Even so Joe was up early the following morning, slipping out very quietly hoping that Adam would sleep in. He hurried out to see Nita having told Laura that Adam didn\u2019t get in until three and to leave him to sleep as long as possible.<\/p>\n Nita was very quiet and Joe thought that she was annoyed because he had hurried off the night before, he apologised for doing so, saying it had been a waste of time anyway as Adam hadn\u2019t got back until nearly three and he still didn\u2019t know what had happened. Nita smiled \u201cDon\u2019t be silly Joe of course you had to go and at least try. Is your brother alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExhausted I left him asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever apologise to me for caring for your family Joe. I\u2019d begun to feel noone cared about anyone else, you\u2019ve made me believe in people again, I\u2019m grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe kissed her but she broke away, \u201cLet me finish what I want to say.\u201d<\/p>\n Puzzled Joe let his arm drop and she went on \u201cIt\u2019s been fun this last month and you know I like you Joe but you live a long way away. I just don\u2019t want you to think you have to write, a chore to be done. It\u2019s been good but if you\u2019d rather end it now, let\u2019s do it, kiss goodbye and remember the pleasant times.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared at her, surprised and asked hesitantly \u201cIs that what you want?\u201d<\/p>\n Nita had been trying to hide her feelings but now taken by surprise she blurted out \u201cOh no.\u201d Joe smiled as he recognised the depth of feeling behind that cry and realised that she was fond enough of him to leave him free, if that was he what he wanted, and maybe from that moment he began to fall in love with her. \u201cWhy should letters be a chore to me, and not to you?\u201d<\/p>\n Nita had won control again and said lightly \u201cI told you. I have nothing to do, you work.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pulled her close \u201cI\u2019ll enjoy writing Nita. If you don\u2019t want out, I don\u2019t.\u201d he was quiet for a moment, feeling her relax against him and then he tilted her face up. \u201cNo guarantees Nita, I don\u2019t know where we are going. I\u2019m fond of you, I like you very much and I want you, but I can\u2019t tell you yet that I love you. Not yet, maybe never. I don\u2019t want to hurt you and if you want a clean break I\u2019ll be very sorry but I won\u2019t ever bother you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not asking for any guarantees Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Ponderosa is so different from anything you\u2019ve ever known and I won\u2019t ever leave it. I love my home, it\u2019s part of me and you don\u2019t know anything about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can tell me when you write, your home, your family. But that\u2019s not all is it Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe hesitated for a minute but she had earned the right to ask and he smiled a trifle ruefully. \u201cNo. I\u2019m confused. It will be two years in a couple of weeks since Marie died. It doesn\u2019t hurt as much as it did but sometimes I still feel as though she is there with me. You are the first woman I have met since who made me feel alive again, but I must have time to think.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita studied him and then hesitantly asked, \u201cWhat was she like? Am I like her?\u201d She hadn\u2019t been able to avoid the thought that Joe was looking for a replacement for the wife he had loved so much and that she was just a copy.<\/p>\n Joe smiled \u201cWell you are both blonde and beautiful so you have something in common but that\u2019s about all. You\u2019ll hear hard things about Marie if you stay with me. She was a saloon girl; illiterate until Hoss taught her and she was pregnant when we got married. What you won\u2019t hear, except from my family, is how kind and gentle she was, strong mentally but not physically, and she loved me very much. She wanted me to remarry, even while she was dying she left a message with Adam, for when he thought the time was right, telling me not to grieve too long. She was tiny, barely five foot and so very slender. Adam always said she was ethereal. I only had five months with her and that includes the weeks she stayed before our wedding but in that time all my family learnt to love her and we had great happiness. I\u2019ll never forget her and I\u2019ll never stop loving her but that won\u2019t stop me loving someone else in their own right. I\u2019d never be able to find her again and I wouldn\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a lot more than Nita had expected and she kissed him gently \u201cTake all the time you need Joe. We both need time, but don\u2019t lets close any doors, not yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe held her tight \u201cI know you blame your father for remarrying but I\u2019ve lived with it too. Pa married three times; each of us had different mothers. Adam\u2019s died in childbirth, Hoss\u2019 in an Indian raid when he was only a few weeks old and mine in a riding accident when I was a kid. Yet after more than twenty years Pa still loves all three equally, You can tell from the way he talks about them. My mother never replaced Adam\u2019s or Hoss\u2019 mother in his heart, just joined them. I know one day I\u2019ll find someone else and remarry. I just don\u2019t know when.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told you I wasn\u2019t asking for any guarantees Joe but I would like to try, see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe smiled broadly \u201cI couldn\u2019t be more pleased, let\u2019s do just that.\u201d He kissed her passionately, \u201cI have to go but I\u2019ll come back tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita smiled at him \u201cI\u2019ll be waiting, now go back and see that brother of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe kissed her again and remounted but Nita stayed sitting there, sure she loved him and praying one day he would be able to say the same to her, but knowing she had already learnt a lot from him.<\/p>\n Joe rode back to Will and Laura\u2019s and tying Cochise up went to join her in the kitchen. Laura turned and said resignedly \u201cHe\u2019s just finishing breakfast. You try and talk some sense into him Joe. He\u2019s got a streaming cold, but all he\u2019ll say is that he has a meeting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDarn it. I hoped he\u2019d sleep in.\u201d<\/p>\n Laura sighed, \u201cHe has a meeting at nine-thirty and a built in alarm clock.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe poured some fresh coffee, \u201cI\u2019ll try, but I don\u2019t reckon much to my chances.\u201d Joe took the coffee into his brother and stared down at Adam \u201cYou look terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam glared at him. \u201cThanks for that Joe, just what I needed to cheer me up.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe perched on the table, \u201cJust what is this meeting that\u2019s so important? I thought we\u2019d finished apart from registering the land and I can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have to \u201c Adam rubbed his aching eyes. Pinching the bridge of his nose, signs that Joe knew so well indicating that his brother was far from well. He pressed Adam \u201cWhat is wrong? Is it the shipping arrangements? Will said you were called out for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook his head \u201cNo I managed to straighten that out eventually. They\u2019d double booked, I\u2019ve changed one shipment, just a day, it doesn\u2019t matter. Just took time. No Flood and O\u2019Brien caught me just as I was coming home. I was with them for more than three hours, telegraphs flying back and forward to Jim Fair back home. Sharon is trying to cause trouble at the California. It\u2019s like trying to get blood out of a stone getting facts out of Jim, he just isn\u2019t interested in legal details and O\u2019Brien is no better. Flood seemed to have some idea what was happening but he just kept asking the same questions. Sharon is using an old statute to try and block access to the lower veins. It\u2019s been thrown out of court at least twice recently and I can win in court but for now he\u2019s blocking the whole operation at the California.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs there anything we can do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m trying to find out. I\u2019m seeing Terence Mills in half an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned trying to place the name \u201cOh, the Bank\u2019s lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. I can cause trouble, depends whether he thinks it\u2019s worth the risk. I\u2019ll try to get down and help you with registering the land if it doesn\u2019t take too long.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head \u201cNo Adam. I can handle that, you ought to be in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll be very pushed to finish it today and I want to start home tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll manage anyone would think you hadn\u2019t been pushed these last weeks, I only wish I could have done more to help. Anyway if you don\u2019t look after yourself we\u2019ll be stuck here for weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a cold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, but it\u2019s a beaut don\u2019t let it get any worse.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam felt rotten and he accepted Joe\u2019s offer, not that it made any difference. When Joe got back just before seven, starving as he hadn\u2019t even taken a break for lunch and with his hand aching from so much writing, he found his brother still wasn\u2019t back. Joe had been well satisfied with all the formalities completed but alarm flared when he realised his brother hadn\u2019t returned. There was very little he could do, not even knowing where the meeting was to take place and Joe settled to eat. Much to his relief Adam came in when he was halfway through his meal. Adam poured coffee but he didn\u2019t want food, he had had an elaborate working lunch and was still full. His voice was hoarse as he filled Joe in, but he felt he\u2019d been fairly successful. Mills was unwilling to overrule Sharon on his own and was contacting other Board members but Adam was reasonable confident that they would so it. He had threatened a hefty lawsuit for compensation if the mine was forced to close over a nuisance suit. Mills was going to contact him when he knew the result of his discussions, either later that night or early in the morning. Joe was outraged \u201cYou aren\u2019t going out again tonight!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably won\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n Laura came in \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of hot water Adam, go and have a bath and then straight to bed, or you won\u2019t be going anywhere tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sound like Carole.\u201d Adam complained.<\/p>\n \u201cShe trusts me to look after you. Go on you\u2019re exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam hesitated and Joe gently pushed his brother towards the door \u201cGo on we can take a message if Mills contacts you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll wake me if he sends a message?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grunted, hoping his brother would take it as acquiescence, although he had no intention of disturbing Adam. Seemingly Adam did so and half an hour later he was fast asleep. It was just after ten when a messenger came to say the bank would withdraw the injunction and wanted a meeting to settle details. Joe arranged it for ten o\u2019clock the following morning and then followed his brother to bed.<\/p>\n Adam was still asleep when Joe went to say goodbye to Nita. Both found it harder than they had expected and too much had been said the day before, so Joe didn\u2019t stay long before going back to Will\u2019s. He was deep in thought as he joined his brother at breakfast, only vaguely aware of Adam. That soon changed as Adam said in obvious temper \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you wake me last night?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had left Laura with a message for his brother and he was surprised at Adam\u2019s reaction. \u201cIt\u2019s alright, they\u2019re backing off and it shouldn\u2019t take long to settle.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo Laura said. I could have dealt with it last night. You know I wanted to start home this morning. Was it so important to see that girl once more?\u201d<\/p>\n Laura was taken aback by the bitterness in Adam\u2019s voice and she couldn\u2019t stop herself \u201cAdam that\u2019s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe smiled at her \u201cIt\u2019s alright Laura. Take it easy Adam, you\u2019ve just demonstrated why I didn\u2019t wake you and it had nothing to do with any girl. You were exhausted, you needed to sleep. You still do. I know you want to get back to Carole but we\u2019ll do it better if you\u2019re not worn out before we start.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sipped his coffee, shaken by the thumping headache caused by his burst of temper, and rubbed his eyes. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t matter you still look as though you belong in bed. I don\u2019t know that I could have woken you even if I\u2019d tried.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re starting home today.\u201d Adam said defiantly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not arguing. I\u2019ll get everything packed and when you\u2019ve finished with Mills we\u2019ll have a decent lunch and start home. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam gave way, cross with himself for lashing out at Joe, even though his brother could understand. When he had left for his meeting, Laura turned to Joe; \u201cHe\u2019s not really well enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf necessary I\u2019ll break somewhere for a day or so but I know when I can\u2019t win and we\u2019ll never stop him. Don\u2019t worry he\u2019s tough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that long since we nearly lost him with pneumonia.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwo years and it was exceptional circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n Laura could only accept that, Joe knew his brother even better than she did, so she helped Joe collect their things from round the house. She and Will were planning a holiday on the Ponderosa in the summer so it wouldn\u2019t be that long before she saw the brothers again.<\/p>\n Adam was free after an hour and eager to get out of town before anything else happened to hold him up. He wasn\u2019t hungry but forced down a reasonable meal, not wanting to start his little brother fussing again. They were clear of town by early afternoon and settled down for the long ride home. At first Adam could only feel relief at being free from all the petty details and paperwork that he had been coping with. Then Joe commented that it was a good thing that Adam had replaced their father on this trip. Adam shrugged \u201cHe could have coped, probably had to call in a lawyer but he\u2019s always managed in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not doubting it but he\u2019s as stubborn as you are about getting things done as planned and he\u2019s not as young.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam laughed freely for the first time in days, \u201cGreat works me into the ground and he\u2019s just glad it\u2019s not Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want you to do it either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot much choice. I tell you Joe is I\u2019d known what was involved I\u2019d never have suggested getting that land. It nearly cost you your life and then all this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be daft. That accident could have happened anywhere. If anything it shows how badly those woods need controlled cutting and I prefer the way we do it. You\u2019d have done exactly the same, maybe left it a little longer until after the baby arrived so that you weren\u2019t so pushed but that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam admitted to himself that Joe was probably right, but a fit of coughing caught him and put paid to conversation for the moment. Joe watched worriedly but Adam just pushed Blackie on a little faster.<\/p>\n That night Joe insisted on stopping at a reasonable hour and taking rooms for the night in a hotel. It was drizzling and cold, no weather for camping out. Adam, more tired than he was willing to admit, even to himself, gave way with little argument. He insisted on separate rooms and even through the wall Joe could hear his brother coughing every time he woke. Worried about Adam, Joe was restless and he was up early but even so Adam was down before him, not looking as though he\u2019d had much sleep. Adam insisted that he was alright and at least his cough had subsided for now, so after a decent breakfast they set out.<\/p>\n Adam rode in silence but seeing his brother\u2019s worried glances he roused himself. \u201cCheer up Joe we\u2019ll be home in a couple of days. You\u2019re a lot fitter after Laura\u2019s cooking. Your side given up bothering you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust about, though I wouldn\u2019t like to get into a fight just yet. Maybe it\u2019s a good job I am fit.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam hastily changed the subject \u201cJust what have you been up to in Frisco? Or is it prying. That girl you introduced me to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMmm. What did you think of her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery pretty.\u201d Adam said almost dismissively<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t like her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe I can\u2019t even remember her name.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNita Stanford. Leland Stanford\u2019s youngest daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam pulled Blackie up at that, totally taken aback and whistled softly \u201cThat I didn\u2019t expect. Dangerous games Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSafe enough. She and her father don\u2019t get along. You still haven\u2019t answered my question.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know Joe. I was tired, with a bad headache, there under protest and I don\u2019t think I was taking much in, just polite conversation like all the others.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe tried to tell his brother about her, her restlessness, dislike of the polite society, but uncertain of his own feelings he didn\u2019t make a very good job of it. Adam feeling steadily worse wasn\u2019t really taking very much in anyway. Eventually Adam put his foot right in it as he commented \u201cDoesn\u2019t sound like you Joe, a poor little rich girl,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere was an edge of sarcasm to his voice and Joe lost his temper \u201cShe isn\u2019t! Anyway drop it, I may never see her again, so it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d The tone of his voice was enough to tell Adam that it did matter, but he put it to the back of his mind to think about later and for the fifth time in the last hour reached for a drink of water. They were making good time and stopped for lunch near Sacramento. Adam forced the food down, wanting to get home to Carole. He had already been away far longer than he intended and although all the news was good, he was on edge at least partly because he was feeling increasingly unwell. Within an hour of starting again Joe realised just how often his brother was reaching for a drink and he queried it. Adam laughed it off, just a dry throat with that damned cough that was still bothering him. Not wanting his little brother fussing, Adam did his best to leave his canteen alone. At first Joe accepted what his brother said but he kept a very close eye on Adam and an hour later he caught at Blackie\u2019s reins<\/p>\n \u201cHold up Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat now?\u201d Adam asked irritably.<\/p>\n Joe pulled Cochise in close and lent across to feel Adam\u2019s forehead. Adam swatted his hand away angrily but Joe ignored that \u201cYou\u2019re running a fever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be if you go on like this.\u201d Joe said grimly. \u201cFolsom is only just over two miles, we\u2019re going to find a hotel and you are going to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine Joe and I want to get home.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe ignored him and firmly led the way into town. He took a double room and insisted that Adam went straight to bed. Adam was tired out and aching in every joint and he couldn\u2019t really face the argument it would take to defy his brother. He was glad to relax in bed and Joe got several pillows to support his brother and help his breathing. Then Joe offered to go and fetch food. Adam shut his eyes as he recovered from yet another bout of coughing and Joe quietly picked up his brother\u2019s boots and trousers and took them with him.<\/p>\n Joe went over to the telegraph office and sent a wire to his father saying that they had been held up in Folsom for at least two days, nothing serious, and they would be back as soon as they could. He took a meal back but Adam barely touched it before pushing the tray away and reaching for some water. Joe went out for a drink and put the horses in the livery, along with Adam\u2019s boots and pants.<\/p>\n Joe joined his brother and got up three times during the night, worried about Adam, who was tossing restlessly and coughing, even in his sleep. Adam slept in the following morning and Joe was up and dressed, drinking coffee. Joe was ready for the battle he knew would come when Adam finally woke up.<\/p>\n Adam felt rather better after a long sleep and pushed back the bedclothes, about to get up. Joe had been sitting over by the window and he hurried over and held his brother\u2019s shoulders \u201cLay back I\u2019ll get you some breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be daft Joe I\u2019m getting up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not going anywhere so relax.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop fussing I feel much better and we still have a long ride.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe felt his brother\u2019s forehead and said judiciously \u201cBetter for now, but it\u2019s pouring down and very cold. You won\u2019t be for long if we ride out in that.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tried to push his brother away, furious at how weak he felt and failing, glared at Joe \u201cLet me up. We have to get home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I\u2019ve already wired Pa that we have been held up here for a couple of days.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam stared blankly at his brother and the sheer fury was all too obvious \u201cYou\u2019ve done what!\u201d he was more angry with Joe than he could ever remember and Joe recognised the white fury. Joe sat back; it only convinced him that he was right, if Adam lost his temper so easily then he wasn\u2019t fit. \u201cWe\u2019re staying here until you\u2019re over the worst of that cold and for today you\u2019re staying in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not. Get out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t reckon you have much choice Adam. I took your pants and boots down to the stables with Blackie\u2019s gear and I won\u2019t bring them back until I think you\u2019re better.\u201d<\/p>\n “Go and get them now Joe I\u2019m not in the mood for your tomfool jokes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo joke Adam. We\u2019re staying here, even if I have to tie you to that bed and the state you\u2019re in I reckon I can do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam realised his brother was deadly serious but before he could argue any further a fit of coughing left him breathless. Joe risked sitting down on the bed to steady his brother \u201cAdam please be sensible. We are running out of hotels on the way home and it\u2019s bitterly cold and wet. I don\u2019t want to take you back to Carole with pneumonia or something, That would do her a lot more harm than a couple of days delay, which she knows about. I emphasised that it wasn\u2019t serious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve worked out in the wet before Joe, I don\u2019t wilt in the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t have a stinking cold and you hadn\u2019t worked yourself into exhaustion every day for weeks. Yesterday you were on the verge of collapse. It\u2019s not fair on Carole, or any of us, to take stupid risks when a day in bed and one quiet under cover will make all the difference. The weather might even have changed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo I get the choice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo but I\u2019d be happier if I had your agreement. I think I\u2019ve got you hogtied but you\u2019re too derned cunning.\u201d Joe risked a grin and to his relief Adam smiled ruefully. \u201cAs you\u2019ve already wired them I suppose I might as well go along. But don\u2019t you ever pull a stunt like this again.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe got to his feet to go get food \u201cI won\u2019t Adam, well at least only if its necessary.\u201d Joe was out of the door on that parting sally.<\/p>\n Two days later the brothers got an early start, Adam was feeling very much better for the enforced rest and they chatted amicably as they rode. Adam knew he had been very curt about Nita and slowly drew his brother out about the girl, so totally different from Marie. He sensed the uncertainty in Joe but soon realised that his brother was strongly attracted and that Joe was sure she loved him, something Joe hadn\u2019t even put into words for himself. Listening to some of the details of their time together Adam decided that there must be more about her than he had noticed at the ball; not that that meant much the way he had been feeling that night. Still even if this didn\u2019t work out, it was a sign of Joe\u2019s recovery from grief that he had got involved at all.<\/p>\n Adam was pleased and knew Marie would be the first to be delighted, two years was long enough to mourn.<\/p>\n Adam had never been more grateful to see the ranchhouse and as they rode in he threw his reins to Joe and went straight in. Carole, on the look out for them, was on her feet coming to see who had ridden in and Adam took her in his arms. It was six weeks since he\u2019d seen her but although bigger she looked radiant and he held her close, before realising that the twins wanted their share of attention and were pulling at his jacket. Letting Carole go Adam picked them up, one in each arm and grinned broadly, they had grown too. Then finally he noticed his father \u201cPa are you better?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine Son, don\u2019t even need a stick, looks as though you had a rough trip.\u201d<\/p>\n Carole was scanning his face, Adam still looked tired and heavy eyed with the aftermath of his cold but he was grinning \u201cBusy and a long ride but we\u2019re fine. I\u2019d better go and give Joe a hand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStay put Son, I\u2019ll go and help Joseph.\u201d Ben went out leaving Adam with his family, knowing how much Carole had missed her husband. She had been bitterly disappointed at yet another delay in Folsom, although she had done her best to hide it. Ben had been very surprised himself at Joe\u2019s wire, unable to imagine what there was in Folsom to delay his sons. It was one of the first things he asked Joe, once sure that the long trip hadn\u2019t done his son any harm. Joe grinned,<\/p>\n \u201cAdam had a stinking cold and it was rotten weather, so I sent you that wire and then bullied him into staying put until he was over the worst of it. He was very tired, all sorts of extra problems came up and there wasn\u2019t that much I could do to help. He seemed to take the cold very badly, I guess he was just overtired. I didn\u2019t think that it was worth the risk of it turning serious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had a few arguments. I hid his trousers and boots in the stable.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed \u201cLow cunning. You did well Joe, he still looks very tired.\u201d The two men started carrying all the papers in and grinned at the sight in front of them. Adam was relaxing on the sofa with a coffee, his arm round his wife and the twins playing around his feet. Ben met his youngest son\u2019s eye and they both grinned broadly. Slowly over the next couple of hours Adam and Joe outlined what had happened in San Francisco and caught up with the news from home. Then Ben insisted detailed reports could wait for a couple of days and packed Adam and Carole off home with their twins. They were very glad to be home and Adam didn\u2019t argue. He had relaxed now he\u2019d got home and found Carole fit and well, but as he relaxed his long hard trip was catching up on him and he was exhausted.<\/p>\n Once they had gone Joe poured fresh coffee and filled his father in on the problems, which had extended the trip. He was rather annoyed with their partners in the mines assuming a right to demand his brother\u2019s help, first as an engineer and then as a lawyer. Ben could understand his youngest son\u2019s annoyance and promised to have a quiet word with the four Irishmen.<\/p>\n They all four got together two days later, with Hoss back home too. Adam gave them a complete report on the land he had bought and said that he was planning to go to Carson City to register their title there as well. Joe offered to go instead but Adam just laughed at him, with an early start he could do it in one day. Anyway someone had to go out and mark up; they couldn\u2019t leave that job much longer.<\/p>\n Joe knew that his brother was right but he was dreading the job, not really sure why. He turned and went over to the window trying to hide it from his family without much success. Adam caught the question in Hoss\u2019 eye. Hoss was wondering if Joe didn\u2019t feel well enough and Adam had been with Joe most recently. Adam shrugged, Joe had seemed fine on the way home and he didn\u2019t know why his brother was upset. Hoss grinned at him \u201cI guess I could mark up on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe turned at that \u201cDon\u2019t be stupid Hoss, its a two man job! Sooner we get started the better, it\u2019s going to be a very busy summer.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam had the pipe survey to finish and the workplans to help his father complete, before he could see how to fit in the preliminary trial cut on the west shore. For the time being he wasn\u2019t going far afield, not until the baby had safely arrived.<\/p>\n Joe managed to hide his feelings sufficiently to prevent comment and they arranged to go out to mark up in two days time on the 19th March. It would take them about three weeks. Joe forced himself to tease his eldest brother; it would leave him very quiet to celebrate his birthday next week. Adam grimaced, \u201cI\u2019m doing my best to forget it Joe, getting old.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBeen searching for grey hairs? At least it\u2019s an easier job than it used to be!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam threw a cushion at his youngest brother \u201cI can explain each one by your escapades!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben settled into routine, going over to work with Adam in his study. The land was all registered, extending the Ponderosa by nearly a quarter. Adam had finished the survey and the plans for the best route and best method to lay the pipe. He was now trying to make up his mind who to get for the detailed survey, In many ways he was glad of the work piling up on his desk. On edge for the arrival of his next child he wanted to go to bed tired out. Still he was much calmer than when the twins were due and able to hide his tension to a large extent. He celebrated his birthday quietly at home with his father and wife. His brothers had both left presents and Kam Su made a cake.<\/p>\n Two days later Ben was up in the high country. He\u2019d been to town to collect the mail and had then ridden up to the small lakes where he had men cutting ice, wondering how much longer they would be able to cut this year. He had camped out up by the lake and although it was the long way home he had decided to visit his sons and see how they were getting on. Ben had seen his youngest son\u2019s unease and he was slightly worried about his son\u2019s physical health, Adam had been sure that Joe was virtually fully recovered, maybe still a little short of stamina but otherwise fit. For once Ben wasn\u2019t convinced, wondering if his eldest son was fooling himself as he couldn\u2019t do the job and Joe had to, placating his over active conscience.<\/p>\n Joe had been very quiet since they moved out and Hoss was puzzled. Still his brother was eating well and didn\u2019t seem to be in any pain, just tired and tense. He knew that Joe wasn\u2019t sleeping well but when he commented Joe had cut him off very abruptly, Hoss didn\u2019t understand but as Joe was getting no worse he left it.<\/p>\n It was early in the evening when Ben rode in to find his sons lazing by the fire drinking coffee. As he rode in both jumped to their feet in alarm. Ben realised their fear for Adam and before he even dismounted he said \u201cTake it easy, no trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n He swung down and Hoss poured him out coffee \u201cHere you are Pa. Why are you up here if there\u2019s no trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was up with the ice cutting gang. Adam has everything under control at the house and it\u2019s a long time since I\u2019ve been up here, so I gave way to temptation.\u201d Ben had relaxed seeing that Joe was taking no harm. His son looked tired but it was hard physical work and after a week Joe was still fine so he finally accepted that Adam had been right, Joe was fit again. For a while they just chatted, catching up on the news but then as Joe went to fetch fresh water for coffee, Ben asked,<\/p>\n \u201cIs he okay Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeems fit enough but he\u2019s uptight, very tense, not sleeping too well. He won\u2019t talk to me, just snaps my head off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPoor old Hoss, always on the receiving end from your brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust wish I could help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure you do Hoss, just by being around. He\u2019s a grown man, if he doesn\u2019t want to talk we can\u2019t force him. If we can help he\u2019ll ask, Just make sure that he eats properly. Another couple of weeks and you\u2019ll be finished her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure Pa. Don\u2019t worry I\u2019ll keep an eye on him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben clapped his big son on the back, \u201cYou don\u2019t have to tell me that Hoss, you always have.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe came back up the hill then and Ben changed the subject. The next morning he headed home and as Hoss was going the same way for the first mile he rode along with his father. It wasn\u2019t until they were parting that Ben remembered the letter that had come for Joe in the mail he\u2019d collected. He fished it out \u201cHere give this to Joe. It might even cheer him up.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned at it \u201cMighty feminine handwriting. Don\u2019t recognise it, do you Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo maybe your brother found time to have some fun in San Francisco, it\u2019s from there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe ain\u2019t said nothing, neither did Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrom what Joe said Adam was far too busy to see anything outside immediate problems. I know Joe went to a few dances. Anyway give your brother the letter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure Pa.\u201d Hoss rode back to camp glad that his little brother was flirting again. He wondered if Joe had been expecting a letter and annoyed at its non-arrival. At lunchtime Joe joined him and Hoss pulled out the letter “Had a good time in Frisco Little Brother? It’s not scented but mighty feminine.\u201d Joe frowned and snatched it from Hoss. “How did you get it?”<\/p>\n “Pa forgot to give it to you last night. Who’s the lady?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMind your own business!\u201d Joe walked off into the woods just wanting to get away from his brother. He stared at the letter, totally confused. He had known that Nita would write, but now she had he felt guilty. He stuffed the letter into his pocket unread. He worked hard all afternoon but hardly spoke to Hoss and over dinner the expression on his face was enough to warn his big brother to hold his peace.\u00a0\u00a0Joe couldn\u2019t sleep and spent hours walking around trying to sort his thoughts out with no success. Hoss hadn\u2019t slept much either, wondering what was eating his brother, Then he began to work out the date, it was all too easy to lose track out in the middle of nowhere but he was pretty sure that it was 29th<\/sup>\u00a0March. Tomorrow it would be exactly two years since Marie died. Hoss remembered how Adam had taken Joe up to the lake on his wedding anniversary, maybe his brother wanted to be up there tomorrow too. Hoss was quite prepared to work even harder for a couple of days if in some way he could help his little brother to regain his peace of mind. He hadn\u2019t been able to avoid feeling cross with Joe, even though something was obviously eating at Joe, but now as he thought of all the memories Joe must have and remembered his gentle tiny sister, all annoyance was replaced by compassion.<\/p>\n At dinner that evening Hoss said, \u201cI can cope here for a day or two Joe. We\u2019re getting a bit low on supplies why don\u2019t you go back to the house collect some.\u201d<\/p>\n The last thing that Joe wanted, in the mood he was in, was to go home. He had read Nita\u2019s letter that afternoon but although it was innocuous he could sense the feeling behind it, which she had strived, perhaps too hard, to hide. It\u2019s arrival so close to the anniversary of Marie\u2019s death had made Joe feel terribly guilty. Just two years and he was attracted to another woman. He knew it was what Marie had wanted but he felt guilty as though even getting a letter from someone else was being unfaithful to her memory and she was so close to him. It was easier to see her face that Nita\u2019s. Here in the high country with Hoss, marking up as he had done in the week\u2019s just after she died, he was haunted by the pain he\u2019d known then, memories of the anguish in the hours while she was dying overwhelming all the pleasant memories. He still loved her so very much and yet he couldn\u2019t forget Nita either. Now cross at his brother he took his own uncertainty out on Hoss. \u201cGo shoot something if we\u2019re low or go yourself. I\u2019m not riding all that way just because you\u2019re so greedy. We brought plenty of supplies.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss was taken aback by the venom in his brother\u2019s voice but he didn\u2019t have the sense to keep quiet. \u201cI just thought you might want to go up to the Lake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think you\u2019re not very good at it.\u201d Joe yelled at his brother before storming off into the woods, leaving Hoss puzzled and rather upset. He tried to make allowances for his little brother but he was finding it hard. In the end tired out, Hoss settled to get some sleep, although it took him a long time.<\/p>\n Joe hadn\u2019t meant to hurt his big brother and he didn\u2019t like himself for it, but he couldn\u2019t face talking, too confused. He walked around most of the night and at breakfast he was deep in the past, not even remembering that he owed his brother an apology. Hoss had been furious but seeing how drawn and tired Joe looked his anger faded and he let Joe set the pace. They worked hard all day, but however hard he worked Joe couldn\u2019t escape his memories. It was as though half of him was here and the other half sitting by Marie gradually coming to realise that he was losing her. Mid afternoon he suddenly put down his axe, \u201cIt\u2019s no good Hoss, I\u2019ve had it for today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure Joe whatever you want.\u201d<\/p>\n Almost for the first time Joe really looked at his big brother and instead of the anger he knew he deserved just saw compassion and he smiled, \u201cI\u2019m sorry for what I said yesterday I didn\u2019t mean it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShucks I knew that. I didn\u2019t mean to interfere but back in November when you weren\u2019t well Adam and me fought pretty hard to get Pa to agree to you going up to the Lake. You wanted to then, I just thought maybe now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve enough memories Hoss, it\u2019s different I don\u2019t want any more.\u201d The anguish in Joe\u2019s voice got to Hoss and he moved swiftly to his brother and put his arm round Joe\u2019s shoulders \u201cI\u2019m real sorry brother I didn\u2019t mean to upset you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe pulled away \u201cDon\u2019t Hoss, come one let\u2019s go and get some grub It\u2019s not just that, it\u2019s me I shouldn\u2019t take it out on you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care Joe, my shoulders are broad.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s this job. I didn\u2019t want to come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe all saw that Joe, but why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUnlucky time of the year. I\u2019m beginning to hate it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about Marie too, don\u2019t seem possible it\u2019s two years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease Hoss, I don\u2019t want to talk about it.\u201d Joe busied himself collecting all the gear and Hoss waited quietly. They rode back to camp in silence and then Hoss began to make some food, Joe sat in deep reverie staring into the fire and he looked so miserable that Hoss couldn\u2019t stand it any longer. He gripped his brother\u2019s shoulders \u201cJoe I know you don\u2019t wanna talk, but you sure as hell ain\u2019t gonna get any sleep like this.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked up at his big brother, he couldn\u2019t talk about Marie and Nita but that wasn\u2019t the only thing that was worrying him. He was scared for his brother and ever since he\u2019d come into the high country he\u2019d got a feeling of impending trouble. It wasn\u2019t sense but he couldn\u2019t shake it off, maybe Hoss could talk him out of it. Slowly he nodded \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I haven\u2019t been much company snapping at you all the time. I don\u2019t mean to but somehow I can\u2019t help it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t matter Joe, I know you too well to really take much notice. I know its hard on days like today.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shrugged \u201cIt\u2019s not just Marie. We came up here on this job two year\u2019s ago, I can\u2019t help remembering.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell it\u2019s a pity Adam couldn\u2019t have come this year but….\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it\u2019s partly Adam anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n That surprised Hoss and he frowned, \u201cI don\u2019t understand Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe slipped back against a tree and lent back staring up at the trees. \u201cRemember last year. I had to come tell Adam about Carole.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know how hard it was for you to tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEven harder for him. Three days time it will be a year since she lost that baby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve both got over it pretty well and there\u2019s gonna be a new baby soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what scares me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCarole\u2019s fine, She missed Adam while she was away, but apart from when you stopped in Folsom, she was quite calm. By the way I never did get round to asking you why you stopped. There\u2019s nothing in Folsom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI bullied Adam into stopping because he was exhausted with a filthy cold and I was scared he\u2019d have pneumonia by the time we get home if we didn\u2019t stop.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow? Adam ain\u2019t easily bullied.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHid his trousers and boots.\u201d Joe said briefly, but although Hoss grinned he got no answering reaction. \u201cAlright Joe come on explain, what scares you<\/p>\n \u201cThe baby is due in a month, sooner than Doc suggested. You know that palomino mare we had, three foals and each time the same.\u201d Joe fell quiet and Hoss stared at him in growing horror. He knew the foals Joe meant, each had had to be destroyed, all with a twisted misshapen front leg. Hoss could see all too clearly the tiny deformed baby and his eldest brother\u2019s face as he stared down at it. Coming back to the present he looked hard at his brother. \u201cJoe you know Pa said Doc had half expected trouble, that it was the fever with that diphtheria which did it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. I didn\u2019t say I was being logical, It\u2019s just the last two years something terrible has happened about now and even before, so many times there has been trouble. I don\u2019t know what it would so to them and it\u2019s so soon I keep seeing that tiny baby and Adam\u2019s face.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHas Adam….\u201d Hoss broke off wondering if his eldest brother shared the same fear, knowing what it must be doing to him if he did.<\/p>\n Joe was almost angry \u201cCome on Hoss you don\u2019t think I\u2019d even have hinted to Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo of course not. I just wondered if he\u2019d said anything to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head \u201cI pray he\u2019s not even thought of it. He seems fairly calm, eager to get back of course but considering everything pretty good. It\u2019s not sense is it Hoss? I\u2019m just being stupid.\u201d Joe\u2019s tone almost pleaded for reassurance, but Hoss stunned by the mere idea couldn\u2019t do it adequately,<\/p>\n \u201cHow long\u2019s this been eating at you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSince I faced the idea of coming up here, worse since Pa came, For a minute I was sure he\u2019d brought bad news. Thing\u2019s come in threes and about now seems to have a jinx. I know it\u2019s superstitious nonsense and when Carole has a healthy baby maybe I\u2019ll be able to believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey say third time lucky Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure. Look I\u2019m sorry Hoss, all I\u2019ve done is give you the horrors too, don\u2019t take any notice of me.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss gripped his arm \u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be fine Joe. If anything should go wrong, we\u2019d find some way to help but there ain\u2019t much point getting all upset before it does.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stretched \u201cYou\u2019re right. I\u2019m sorry if I\u2019ve worried you, but I do feel better for talking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou ain\u2019t making much sense little brother. Doc ain\u2019t even hinted at trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah but we know him real well and I ain\u2019t seen any signs that he\u2019s worried. I\u2019m sure you\u2019re wrong, it was just the fever. After all she\u2019s had two healthy boys, that mare never did throw a good one.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded, feeling calmer for talking and at least he was able to sleep. Hoss, more scared than he wanted Joe to know, slept too but he was woken twice by nightmares, unusual for the big man. He couldn\u2019t remember anything except a feeling of fear for his eldest brother and knew they were as a result of Joe\u2019s worries. After a decent night\u2019s sleep Joe felt better and he was able to push his worries about his brother and even Nita to the back of his mind. He hadn\u2019t realised just how much the fear of another deformed child had been worrying him until he talked it over, but having done so he was able to see that it was a fairly remote possibility with nothing to be gained by worrying about it now. Hoss recognised that his little brother was in a better mood and a few nightmares was a small price to pay.<\/p>\n Joe was still rather sombre and thoughtful but he found it easier to talk to his brother and the next week went more easily. Both brothers were very glad to have finished their job and to be heading home. At least they would be in closer touch with the house for the next few weeks until the lumber gangs went out in earnest and with luck Carole would have had her baby. Joe was calmer, remembering the message that Marie had left with Adam and how he had told Nita of his father\u2019s love for three women. He had even written a long letter to her, which he knew he would send next time he was in town.<\/p>\n When they reached the house Hop Sing said that their father had gone up to see Jos\u00e9 but he was due back for dinner. Nothing had happened and Adam and his family were fine. The brothers had opted for a bath before dinner; there would be time to go see Adam tomorrow, not invading when the twins were due for bed to unsettle them. Ben wasn\u2019t particularly surprised to see them back; he\u2019d expected them sometime soon. He quickly brought them up to date with the news; everything was going reasonably smoothly. Two days earlier Adam had had a long meeting with Jim Fair, John McKay and Flood who happened to be in town. He\u2019d given them the report of his preliminary survey, with a tentative estimate of costs and the conditions on which the Cartwrights would go along. He had short-listed four men who could handle the detailed survey and complete the project. He had a firm preference for the first name on the list but was unsure that they would be able to tempt him away from San Francisco. Flood had promised to try as soon as he got home. On Adam\u2019s figures it was possible, although it would be both difficult and expensive. Still the water was vitally necessary and the four silver kings were prepared to go along, with the Cartwrights backing. Ben and Adam had discussed it in detail, sure that Joe and Hoss would agree with them, and promised their backing, on condition. Ben explained exactly what Adam was proposing, apart from details it didn\u2019t differ from the concept that they had arrived at that first evening as they argued about the best route. Joe was interested in the legal safeguards Adam was insisting on for the ranch, but after listening for a while Hoss lost interest and he dozed off. Hoss was snoring softly and as his father and brother heard the soft rhythmic noises they turned to look at him. Joe grinned, \u201cHe\u2019s earned it Pa. We\u2019ve been very busy and I haven\u2019t been much company to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you alright Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBetter now. Two years ago I went to mark up and she\u2019d just gone. Last year I had to go and tell Adam, about that miscarriage. I was scared that something would happen this year. Senseless but….\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that all Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe smiled at his father; \u201cAll that matters, don\u2019t look so worried.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded and then lent back in his chair staring over at his big son, dozing peacefully, \u201cInger took care of Adam when he was sick. He was such a solemn little boy, just four and I hadn\u2019t even realised it until I saw the way she made him laugh.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe watched his father puzzled but Ben seemed to be lost in the past. \u201cInger wasn\u2019t as beautiful as your mother or Adam\u2019s but she was so kind and gentle, Hoss is very like her, she could do anything with children or animals. I was heading west. Since I lost Elizabeth only my dreams of a ranch and Adam mattered at all, Very quickly Inger came to matter. The only person apart from that little boy who\u2019d got through the shell I built round myself, For a while that scared me I was very close to running away.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had sat up and he was watching his father intently, but Ben still seemed to be concentrating on Hoss. \u201cFunny Hoss wouldn\u2019t be here now and probably you wouldn\u2019t either if I’d given into that fear and run away, I think it was only the change in Adam which kept me there. She was so obviously good for him.\u201d For the first time Ben turned to his youngest son \u201cYou see Joseph, I found myself very attracted to her. I was scared I would fall in love with her and somehow that felt as though I was being disloyal to Elizabeth, making the love we had for each other less than it was. I still loved her then, I do now, but she wasn\u2019t there. All I had left of her were my memories and Adam. I knew Elizabeth would want the best for her son and I let myself fall in love, It took several months before I knew that my love for Inger had no effect on the way I still felt about Elizabeth. I\u2019d done my grieving and I was lucky enough to find love again. Much later when I met your mother, I was just grateful to fall in love again. I knew there was no reason to feel guilty. I still love all three of my wives, still feel the pain of losing them but I was very lucky. I\u2019ve never met anyone else, but three times is more often than most people find love.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sat there as his father fell quiet, like his brothers his father knew him so very well. \u201cHow did you know Pa? Did Adam say something?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour brother hasn\u2019t said anything and I didn\u2019t know. Guessed maybe. Your reaction just now, a letter from some stranger in Frisco. I wondered if she mattered to you. Two years is a long time, even for someone who loved as much as you did. I\u2019ve seen you emerge from the depths, laugh and flirt again and maybe be ready to find love again and I know how confused and guilty I felt, when I realised I was falling in love with Inger.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still not sure how I feel pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s bound to take time Joe and maybe it will fade. You thought you were in love often enough before Marie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have something to compare with now. I once asked you what love was.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I couldn\u2019t answer you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI still can\u2019t put it into words Pa. But we both know and so does Adam, I won\u2019t settle for second best.\u201d Joe was quiet for a minute \u201cI\u2019m not trying to hide anything Pa and I will tell you about her but not now. Suddenly I\u2019m so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTake Hoss up with you, you\u2019ve both been busy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMmm. It\u2019s more than that. I feel more peaceful than I\u2019ve done in weeks. Thanks Pa.\u201d Joe pulled himself to his feet and gripped his father\u2019s shoulder for a moment before waking his big brother and heading for bed. Ben needed no more thanks and long after his sons had gone to bed he sat deep in thought, remembering his wives and the three sons they\u2019d given him, thanking God for their close relationshop which meant so much to him. He was curious about the girl and obviously Adam knew something about her, but he would wait and until Joe felt like telling him, he wouldn\u2019t ask Adam.<\/p>\n Joe felt better the next morning than he\u2019d felt in weeks, he\u2019d slept late and his father and brother had long since finished breakfast. Joe was just about to go and find some coffee when he saw Hoss coming up to his room. Joe felt slightly guilty at the way he\u2019d treated Hoss while they\u2019d been marking up and although he knew his brother was incapable of holding it against him, he wanted to explain and apologise. He called out \u201cHoss can you spare me a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure Joe what\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe went back into his room and as Hoss followed him in, Joe shut the door. Hoss was puzzled Joe obviously had something on his mind and yet his little brother looked more at peace than he\u2019d done in a long time. Joe wandered over to the window and stared up at the mountains, the view he loved so much. Finally he started \u201cI wasn\u2019t much company up in the hills, snapping at you each time you spoke, I wanted to apologise.”<\/p>\n \u201cHeck Joe we\u2019ve been through that, you were in a state fer Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPartly that Hoss but there was something else. I\u2019d like to explain if you\u2019ll listen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I will Little Joe but you don\u2019t have to explain anything,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know I don\u2019t have to, maybe that\u2019s why I want to, Pa was talking about your mother last night.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe broke off and Hoss stared at his little brother rather lost and then he remembered the letter from Frisco and he began to wonder. Little Joe saw faint comprehension dawn and sat down next to Hoss, \u201cWhile I was in San Francisco I met this girl Nita Stanford. We argued at first but hit it off pretty well. She came riding with me most mornings, I got fond of her and she, well I think she feels the same. We promised to write, she wrote that letter Pa brought out.\u201d Joe sighed and then looked at his brother \u201cI got confused. I still am a bit, but it\u2019s easier since Pa talked to me last night. I\u2019m not in love with her, not yet, but I think I could be. I think she\u2019s in love with me. The trouble is with Marie\u2019s death two years ago and out on that same job I couldn\u2019t help feeling guilty, disloyal to her. I know she\u2019s dead, but I still love her, so how could I even think of loving someone else? I\u2019m afraid I took it out on you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss put his arm round his brother; \u201cMarie wouldn\u2019t want you to feel guilty. She knows as we all do how much you loved her, still do, and how much you\u2019ve grieved. But you\u2019re young, you have a long life ahead and she wouldn\u2019t want you to spend it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe left a message for me with Adam, said as much. He told me a few days before we went to Europe. Did he tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot in so many words, but I knew Marie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know what she wanted and I thought I\u2019d accepted the idea, but for sometime in the future, this came too soon. Pa guessed, told me how he felt guilty at falling in love with your mother, only to find out months later that it didn\u2019t affect his feelings for Adam\u2019s. I guess it\u2019s easier for me than it was for Pa. I\u2019ve grown up with the idea that he had three wives all equally loved, Maybe just the timing was wrong, too many memories on that job.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss could understand how his brother had felt and was glad to see him back at peace with himself, \u201cWhat\u2019s she like this girl?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed wryly \u201cShe couldn\u2019t be more different from Marie! Blonde about Carole\u2019s build, maybe slightly bigger. Lovely when she isn\u2019t surveying the world with a supercilious air, which at first was nearly all the time. Very high n\u2019mighty at least on the surface. She\u2019s Leland Stanford\u2019s youngest daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss whistled softly, he knew of the four railroad Kings, as did everyone else in the western states. \u201cFlying high Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe. She hates her father, doesn\u2019t like Frisco, polite society. She\u2019s a strange girl, looking for something, her independence maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVirginia City is a mite rough Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. She may not like her father but she\u2019s always been cosseted. Nothing to do, everything she needs and yet she\u2019s so lonely, As I said a world apart from Marie. Chances are nothing comes of it, God knows when I\u2019ll get to Frisco again and she may not even be there. Her father takes her to New York and other places when he travels. I\u2019ll just have to see. I need time to think anyway,\u201d he turned to Hoss and gripped his brother\u2019s arm \u201cI just wanted to explain and to say thank you for putting up with me these last weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss grinned \u201cI\u2019m glad you did Joe, glad Pa helped. We\u2019re lucky there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery lucky, he\u2019s quite a man.\u201d<\/p>\n All three decided to ride over and see Adam. Ben had been able to reassure Hoss and Joe that their brother was keeping reasonably calm but the brothers were anxious to see for themselves. Joe might have used his fears for Adam to cover his other feelings but they were very real and he had infected Hoss with his anxieties. Adam was pleased to see his brothers and, although they could see a slight tension in him, he was fine and they relaxed and exchanged news. Late in the afternoon while Joe was playing with the twins, Hoss wandered into the study to join Adam and asked about Nita Stanford.<\/p>\n Adam was slightly surprised but Hoss explained why Joe had told him. Adam couldn\u2019t help much; she\u2019d made little impression on him the one time he had seen her. From some of the things Joe had said there was a lot more to her than he\u2019d seen but he freely admitted he had been tired and irritable, not in the mood to notice anything so that didn\u2019t mean much. Hoss was sorry, he had a great deal of faith in his eldest brother\u2019s judgement but it couldn\u2019t be helped and he let Adam change the subject.<\/p>\n The brothers went out to join Carole and the rest of the family for a pleasant meal, entertained by the twins\u2019 antics and totally relaxed, as they discussed the next few weeks work.<\/p>\n \n
\nThe Homecoming<\/a><\/span>
\nHome to Stay<\/a><\/span>
\nHoneymoon and Arguments<\/a><\/span>
\nJoe and Marie<\/a><\/span>
\nAdam and Carole<\/a><\/span>
\nA European Trip<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Aftermath<\/a><\/span>
\nA Busy Summer<\/a><\/span>
\nA Tree Falls<\/a><\/span>
\nSan Fracisco Trip<\/a><\/span>
\nA Stranger from the Past<\/a><\/span>
\nA Sense of Blame<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Medicine Man<\/a><\/span>
\nCourtship and Cattle Drives<\/a><\/span>
\nAngels with Red Hair?<\/a><\/span>
\nThieves and Murderers<\/a><\/span>
\nPipeline Problems<\/a><\/span>
\nGuests for Christmas<\/a><\/span>
\nA Turbulent Preacher<\/a><\/span>
\nJoe and Nita<\/a><\/span>
\nBen and Beth<\/a><\/span>
\nBanks, Pipelines, and Railroads<\/a><\/span>
\nLost<\/a><\/span>
\nA New Operation<\/a><\/span>
\nA Slow Recovery<\/a><\/span>
\nCelebrations<\/a><\/span>
\nForest Fire<\/a><\/span>
\nA Premature Birth<\/a>
\n<\/span>The Bank of California<\/a>
\nTrail Drive<\/a><\/span>
\nRobbery and Assault<\/a><\/span>
\nVirginia City on Fire<\/a><\/span>
\nRebuilding Virginia City<\/a><\/span>
\nCatching Up<\/a><\/span>
\nChristenings, Commissions, and Christmas<\/a><\/span>
\nWinter Ills<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #2 \u2013 Advance Warning<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #3 – Family Row #1<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #4 \u2013 Family Row #2<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #5 \u2013 Family Row #3<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #6 \u2013 The Spanish Land Grant #1<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #7 \u2013 The Spanish Land Grant #2 – Court Hearing<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #8 \u2013 The Spanish Land Grant #3 – Knight Errant<\/a>
\nThe Lawyer #9 – The Spanish Land Grant #4 – The Long Journey Home<\/a>
\nThe Lawyer #10 – The Spanish Land Grant #5 – Troy’s Last Stand<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n