Summary:\u00a0 Adam is forced to take a young Little Joe on an overnight trip.
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 15,623 words<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Just the Two of Us<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam pulled the reins and brought the horses to a halt before grinning at Hop Sing who was seated beside him. \u201cThere is it Hop Sing,\u201d he said, pointing to the stagecoach on the other side of the street. \u201cI told you that we\u2019d make it in time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded as he began to clamber down from the high seat of the buckboard. \u201cAm very grateful Mr Adam,\u201d he said, reaching for his bag in the back before giving the young man a worried look. \u201cYou sure you will be all right?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded as he tied the reins to the seat and slid across the seat towards the sidewalk side of the buckboard. \u201cOf course,\u201d he assured the man. \u201cYou forget about us and just go to your cousin Hop Sing. He needs you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded and then inclined his head towards the buckboard where a small curly-haired boy was attempting to climb from the back of the buckboard up onto the high seat. \u201cBut with Mr Ben away \u2026.\u201d he began.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam reached over and picked up his youngest brother, dangling him under his arms for a second before planting him firmly onto his feet on the sidewalk. \u201cJoe and I will get on fine,\u201d he said soothingly, clutching his brother\u2019s hand tightly. \u201cJust get on that stage before it leaves without you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded and smiled at Adam before bending down and patting Little Joe on the head. \u201cYou mind your brother,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe tilted his head back and grinned back up at Hop Sing as he tried to disengage his hand from Adam\u2019s. \u201cI will,\u201d he said. \u201cCome back soon Hop Sing!\u201d he shouted as the cook scurried away across the street towards the stage. Joe gave his brother an annoyed look. \u201cLet go, will ya Adam?\u201d he said in a frustrated tone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But Adam had no intention of letting go of the child\u2019s hand as he\u2019d had too much previous experience of what could happen if the young boy was let loose in such a public place. Instead, he picked him up again under the armpits, placed him on the hitching rail beside him and held onto him tightly. \u201cWave to Hop Sing,\u201d he said, waving himself as the stage lurched forward. \u201cThere he goes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe dutifully waved as the stage took off and disappeared around the bend in the street. \u201cWhen\u2019s he coming back from Carson City Adam?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d replied his brother, leaning against the rail. \u201cWhen his cousin is well enough, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill he be back before Pa and Hoss?\u201d persisted Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know squirt,\u201d said Adam, swinging his brother back onto the ground. \u201cBut I doubt it. Pa and Hoss are due back from their hunting trip in a couple of days.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave an exaggerated sigh. \u201cI sure wish I could go hunting with Pa,\u201d he said mournfully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou will when you\u2019re bigger,\u201d Adam assured him. \u201cIt\u2019s Hoss\u2019 turn now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe drew himself up to his full height so that he was level with Adam\u2019s hip. \u201cPa always says that too,\u201d he replied. \u201cBut I\u2019m bigger now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam ruffled his brother\u2019s curly hair. \u201cStill not big enough,\u201d he said with a grin. \u201cHoss didn\u2019t start to go hunting with Pa until he was about eight, so you\u2019ve got a while still to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe frowned as he tried to figure it out. \u201cBut \u2026 but that means another five years to wait!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cThat\u2019s too long Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam ruffled his hair again. \u201cMore like three years,\u201d he said, for Joe\u2019s concept of numbers was still a bit sketchy, to say the least. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go and pick up the mail, will we?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOK,\u201d said Joe happily, his mind turning away from the topic in a trice. He tried to duck under the hitching rail and take off running along the sidewalk, but Adam was too quick for him and held onto his collar, effectively pinning him back. \u201cHey!\u201d shouted Joe, trying to squirm out of his brother\u2019s grasp. \u201cLet go Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou just hold on there,\u201d said Adam easily, scooping up his brother\u2019s hand before letting go of his collar. He led the way along the sidewalk and Joe followed happily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe getting the mail now Adam?\u201d he asked, swinging on his arm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh huh,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen what?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen we\u2019re going home,\u201d replied his brother. \u201cI\u2019ve got things to do.\u201d He grimaced as he considered all the chores that had piled up \u2026 his own as well as Hoss\u2019 \u2026.. since his father and brother had left on their trip. This morning\u2019s excursion into town hadn\u2019t exactly been planned and had set everything back a few hours too, but that couldn\u2019t have been helped. Hop Sing had received word late last night from his uncle that his cousin in Carson City was ill and he needed to go to him in a hurry. As his uncle had already booked the Cartwright cook a ticket on the stage this morning, Adam had really had no other option than to bring him into town himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He considered for a moment how strange it was going to feel back at the house that evening with just himself and Joe there. Pa and Hoss had been gone on their hunting trip now for three nights and when Adam had settled Little Joe into bed each night he and Hop Sing had sat and talked in front of the fireplace, which had been nice for both of them. But tonight there would be no one with whom to share those evening hours. Not that Adam particularly minded, for he could be quiet a solitary young man and enjoyed his own company, but all the same it would feel strange to be in a near-empty house when he was used to all the noise and movement there.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He cast his mind back reluctantly to how things had been just a few short months ago. Even when Pa had been in town or away on one of his short business trips there had always been Marie, Joe\u2019s mother, to keep him company when his brothers had been asleep in bed.\u00a0 Now, of course, she was gone and the emptiness in the house was at times intense. He wondered how his Pa could stand it really \u2026. for if Adam felt it as keenly as he did, then it must be unbearable for his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It had been obvious to Adam from the moment he\u2019d laid eyes on his beautiful new stepmother at the age of eleven that his father absolutely doted on her, and if truth be told he really didn\u2019t blame the man. At first Adam had put up a steely front and vowed not to allow another mother into his life, but Marie hadn\u2019t taken long to crack through his veneer and win his heart just as Hoss\u2019 mother Inger had before her. He smiled to himself as he considered what good taste his father had in women \u2026. for he didn\u2019t doubt for one minute that his own mother had been one special lady as well. That\u2019s what Pa had always told him, anyway.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One thing about Ben Cartwright \u2026 he might have had a lot of tragedy in his life, but he certainly had also had a lot of love \u2026 and he never stopped reminding his sons of that fact.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All the same, Marie\u2019s death a few months ago had left a huge hole in the family and Adam was just pleased to see his father beginning to act like his old self again after so many months of mourning. Actually, he was only just now beginning to feel like his own self too, for he seemed to have done nothing except look out for others these past few months.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He\u2019d been so worried about Pa and how he was handling things, and had also been trying to keep Hoss\u2019 chin up and Joe occupied, so that his father could have some space while he needed it. Now that Pa was acting more like himself again, Adam had been looking forward to concentrating on his own life again, only now \u2026. He glanced down at Joe\u2019s curly head and shook his own slightly, berating himself for feeling that way.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t that he didn\u2019t love his father and brothers \u2026. It was just that lately he didn\u2019t seem to have any time to himself. He knew that Pa felt guilty about Hoss having been pushed aside for a time, for what with his own grief and tending to Joe\u2019s myriad of problems after the loss of his mother, Ben had felt that Hoss had been somewhat neglected in the middle of it all. Adam agreed of course, for Hoss was the sort of boy who rarely demanded any attention for himself \u2026. so different to Joe, he thought ruefully as he watched the small boy jump around several cracks in the sidewalk. Hoss deserved to go on this hunting trip with his father and it certainly wasn\u2019t Pa\u2019s fault that he picked this week to go just when Hop Sing was also needed by his family, but it seemed to Adam that \u2026 once again \u2026 he was left holding things together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is great, ain\u2019t it Adam?\u201d said Joe happily as he jumped over another crack and then swung on Adam\u2019s arm as he grinned up at his brother. \u201cJust the two of us!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam smiled down at his small brother and instantly felt guilty for feeling the way he did. \u201cYeah,\u201d he said. \u201cJust the two of us \u2026.. real good Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, hello there!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam was momentarily shaken by the loud voice beside him. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said, holding out his hand to the sheriff. \u201cI didn\u2019t see you come up Roy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy Coffee gave him a wink and then bent down to scoop up Little Joe who was jumping up and down in his excitement at seeing the sheriff. \u201cWell how are you both?\u201d asked Roy, bouncing Joe up and down a couple of times in his arms before placing him on his shoulders and jiggling him around up there. Several people on the street smiled at the sight of the young boy and the middle-aged man in such a pose, but it was one that they were well used to, for Sheriff Coffee was one of those men who had a way with children.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam knew that several people considered Roy Coffee to be a bumbling old fool, but his father wasn\u2019t one of them and Adam had always agreed with him. It took a special man to keep this town in line without many of the dramatics that existed in some towns in these parts due to the hard-nosed style of law-enforcement. Roy Coffee had a way of going about things quietly without any fuss, yet still managed to know exactly what was going on in Virginia City at any given time. For a sheriff in a town such as this to have such a skill and yet still be able to relate as he did to all it\u2019s citizens \u2026 from the elderly down to small children such as Little Joe \u2026 showed a rare character. Roy Coffee was such a man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing leave you to your own devices then, did he?\u201d asked Roy as he stopped jiggling Joe on his shoulders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave the man a strange look. \u201cHow on earth did you know that?\u201d he asked. \u201cHe only knew himself last night!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSeen him just get on the stage,\u201d said Roy easily. \u201cBound for Carson City no doubt. Family problems again?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cSick cousin,\u201d he stated simply, knowing that the sheriff would understand, for Hop Sing\u2019s family was extensive and several of them were well known to be needy at the best of times.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa and Hoss not back yet?\u201d asked Roy, grabbing hold of Joe\u2019s feet to stop them kicking at his chest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Adam. \u201cIn a day or two.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just the two of us,\u201d Joe said in a loud voice, tapping the sheriff on the hat to get his attention. \u201cAin\u2019t it Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cSure is squirt,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou getting the mail?\u201d asked Roy and added when Adam nodded, \u201cI\u2019ll walk along with ya then.\u201d He ambled down the street alongside the young man, ignoring Joe\u2019s cries for him to giddyup<\/em>. \u201cYou might wanna check out the telegraph office,\u201d added Roy after a few steps. \u201cI was in there earlier when a wire came through for ya Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam frowned. \u201cPa\u2019s not expecting anything,\u201d he said. \u201cI wonder what that\u2019s all about?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy shrugged. \u201cWouldn\u2019t know,\u201d he said. \u201cHow is ya Pa Adam? Doing better now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think so,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cHe said that this hunting trip was for Hoss\u2019 sake, but just between us Roy, I think that he needed it himself as well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy nodded knowingly. \u201cI reckon you might be right,\u201d he agreed. \u201cIt does a man like ya Pa good to get in touch with the land at times like these.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTimes like what?\u201d enquired Joe from up above.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNever you mind, young fellar,\u201d said the sheriff easily as he reached up and took Joe down from his shoulders. \u201cWell, I\u2019ll leave ya both here then.\u201d He tipped his hat towards Adam and took off across the street without another word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam quickly grabbed hold of Joe\u2019s hand again and dragged him into the telegraph office. \u201cHi Bert,\u201d he said, tipping his own hat to the young man behind the counter. \u201cRoy Coffee says that there\u2019s a wire for Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure is,\u201d said Bert, beginning to ruffle through a pile of papers on his desk. \u201cI was gonna have it sent out to the Ponderosa tomorrow if you or your Pa hadn\u2019t come in by then.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s gone hunting with Hoss,\u201d Little Joe informed the man as he climbed up onto a chair next to the counter and placed his elbows on it. \u201cIt\u2019s just the two us \u2026. Me and Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that so?\u201d said Bert as he handed a piece of paper to Adam and then frowned as he saw the look on the young man\u2019s face. \u201cTrouble?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked up from the paper. \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d he said, biting his lip. \u201cIt\u2019s from Sam Reynolds in Reno about that cattle deal Pa did with him. Seems that he\u2019s going to sell them to someone else if he doesn\u2019t get his money by Friday.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the day after tomorrow,\u201d said Bert. \u201cWhy\u2019s he in such a dang-blamed hurry all of a sudden?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cBut one thing I know for sure is that Pa really needs those cows to start breeding before winter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bert nodded. \u201cWell I suggest you get that message out to your Pa pronto,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019ll have to get the money to Reno right quick if he wants them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s not home,\u201d said Little Joe. \u201cDidn\u2019t ya listen to what I done said before? It\u2019s just the two of us \u2026. Me and Adam.\u201d He pointed to the telegraph machine. \u201cIs that gonna make them clicking noises now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head, as he and Bert ignored Joe\u2019s comment. \u201cI couldn\u2019t get to him in time,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s out hunting along the Truckee somewhere, but I couldn\u2019t be exactly sure about his location.\u201d He bit his lip again. \u201cMaybe I\u2019d better wire Sam Reynolds and ask for a few more days,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s reasonable man, so I\u2019m sure that would be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bert handed him another piece of paper. \u201cYou write it out and I\u2019ll send it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d shouted Joe excitedly. \u201cIt\u2019s doing it! It\u2019s making them clicking noises!\u201d His eyes lit up excitedly as he watched the small hammer on the telegraph machine begin to move. \u201cWhat\u2019s it saying?\u201d he asked excitedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bert didn\u2019t answer, but merely sat down at his desk and began to write. Joe watched him in an interested fashion as Adam bent over the counter and wrote out his message. \u201cWhat\u2019s it saying?\u201d Joe asked again, trying to lean over to see what Bert was writing. Not that it would have done him any good even if he had been able to make out the words on the page, because he couldn\u2019t read yet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHere,\u201d said Adam, handing over the paper when Bert finally looked up. \u201cHow long will it take to get a reply?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bert shrugged. \u201cDepends on whether Sam is around town when the wire arrives,\u201d he said. \u201cIf he\u2019s out on his ranch, then it could well be tomorrow before someone gets it to him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd the day after before I get a reply,\u201d said Adam in a worried tone. \u201cAnd if the answer is no then it\u2019ll be too late to get any money to him.\u201d He took the paper back from Bert and crumpled it in his hand. \u201cI didn\u2019t think of that,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI\u2019ll have to get the money to him myself then. Thanks Bert.\u201d He tipped his hat at the man and then gestured to Little Joe. \u201cCome on squirt,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut I wanna stay and do some of them clicks on that machine!\u201d protested Little Joe. \u201cCan I?\u201d he asked Bert.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bert shook his head. \u201cNot today young\u2019un,\u201d he said. \u201cBest go with your brother now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pouted, but got down from the chair and followed Adam from the building. They stood on the sidewalk together, Adam deep in thought and Joe watching a couple of passing horses. \u201cCome on,\u201d said Adam after a moment\u2019s silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhere we going now Adam?\u201d asked Joe as his brother grabbed him by the hand and took off at a fast pace along the sidewalk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTo the bank,\u201d said Adam absently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe wrinkled up his nose. \u201cThe bank!\u201d he said in a disgusted tone. \u201cAin\u2019t nuthin interesting there!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam ignored the comment and continued to walk along quickly, dragging Joe beside him. \u201cHey!\u201d said Joe finally as he ran a few paces to keep up. \u201cYou\u2019re going too fast Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam immediately slowed down and tried to match his paces with the much shorter ones of his little brother. As they entered the bank he looked around and then headed straight for the lone teller who was standing behind the counter. \u201cMorning,\u201d he said, tipping his hat to the man. \u201cWould Mr Bristol be around?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d said George Bristol, the bank manager as he came out of his office and smiled at them. \u201cNice to see you. Your father in town with you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s gone hunting with Hoss,\u201d Joe piped up before Adam could reply. \u201cIt\u2019s just the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d said George Bristol. \u201cAnd how are you, young man?\u201d He ruffled Joe\u2019s hair fondly and Joe grinned up at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCan I see all your money?\u201d he asked, hopefully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n George chuckled. \u201cNot right now,\u201d he said, winking at Adam. \u201cHow can I help you Adam?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took a deep breath. \u201cWell, like Joe says \u2026 Pa\u2019s away for a few days and I\u2019ve kinda got a problem,\u201d he said. \u201cWould it be possible to withdraw five hundred dollars, Mr Bristol?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n George Bristol immediately shook his head. \u201cI\u2019m sorry son,\u201d he replied. \u201cBut I\u2019m not authorised to give you that kind of money from your father\u2019s account,\u201d he said. \u201cYou not being of legal age yet, he\u2019s not signed any document to allow you access.\u201d He gave Adam a worried look. \u201cIs it anything I can help you with personally?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shrugged. \u201cThanks, but not really,\u201d he explained. \u201cGet down from there Joe!\u201d He hauled his little brother down from the counter where he was dangling from his fingertips. \u201cIt\u2019s to do with a business deal over in Reno,\u201d Adam continued.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReno?\u201d asked George. \u201cThat wouldn\u2019t be the deal Ben\u2019s doing with Sam Reynolds now, would it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell you\u2019re in luck if that\u2019s the case,\u201d said the bank manager. \u201cYour father came in and arranged for a Bank Draft for the amount he needed last week. I\u2019ve got it in my office waiting for him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eye lit up. \u201cAnd would it be possible \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFor you to take it?\u201d George finished for him. \u201cCertainly! There\u2019s no problem with you taking something your father has already signed for. Come into my office and I\u2019ll get it for you.\u201d He held the door to his office opened and waiting while Adam grabbed Joe and dragged him into the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eye lit up as he looked around the small office. \u201cIs this where you keep all the money?\u201d he asked excitedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n George chuckled again as he walked over to his desk. \u201cNot quite,\u201d he said. \u201cHere it is Adam.\u201d He handed Adam the bank draft and Adam took it gratefully. \u201cI hope that solves your problem,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes flitted to Little Joe for a second and hesitated for a few seconds. \u201cJust about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n George Bristol raised an eyebrow as he followed Adam\u2019s gaze. \u201cLet me guess,\u201d he said. \u201cYou need to get to Reno with that bank draft and this one is stopping you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shrugged. \u201cWell, not exactly stopping me, but .. well \u2026. slowing me down, so to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n George put a hand on Adam\u2019s shoulder. \u201cLet me help you out son,\u201d he said. \u201cMillie and I would be happy to look after him for you for a day or two.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam immediately shook his head. \u201cI couldn\u2019t \u2026\u201d he began.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNonsense,\u201d interrupted George. \u201cMillie is pretty much confined to the house at the moment with the little one \u2026.\u201d Adam nodded understandingly, visualising for a second the pretty blonde toddler that was the light of the bank manager\u2019s life. \u201c\u2026 and Joe would be company for little Sally. They\u2019d \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t being comp\u2019ny for no one!\u201d interjected Little Joe immediately, his sharp ears picking up on what the adults were talking about.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam knelt down on one knee and drew his little brother towards him. \u201cJoe, listen,\u201d he said. \u201cI have to get to Reno. It\u2019s real important and \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can come with you!\u201d stated Joe firmly. \u201cI ain\u2019t keeping no dumb baby girl comp\u2019ny!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam gave George an apologetic look. \u201cBut you like Sally,\u201d he persisted. \u201cRemember when you played with her at the picnic last month?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe folded his arms over his chest and glared at his brother. \u201cI ain\u2019t keeping no dumb baby girl comp\u2019ny!\u201d he stated again and Adam\u2019s heart sank, for he knew well the stubborn look on his brother\u2019s face and exactly what that meant.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut \u2026.\u201d he tried again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m coming with you,\u201d insisted Joe firmly. \u201cIt just you and me while Pa and Hoss ain\u2019t here \u2026 member? Just the two of us.\u201d He gave Adam a pleading look.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed and stood up to face George. \u201cI guess I\u2019ll take him with me,\u201d he said, shrugging again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n George frowned. \u201cAre you sure?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d he said. \u201cBelieve me, Mr Bristol \u2026 he may be little, but when he gets one of his notions into his head there\u2019s just no telling him otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t little!\u201d said Joe indignantly, drawing himself up to his full height.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam pointed his finger at his brother. \u201cYou be quiet,\u201d he warned. \u201cOr you\u2019ll be staying right here regardless.\u201d Joe shut his mouth, but continued to give them both an indignant look. \u201cThanks Mr Bristol,\u201d said Adam, shaking the man\u2019s hand. \u201cYou\u2019ve been a great help.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n George nodded his head. \u201cGood luck with it son,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if you change your mind, just bring him over before you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam tipped his hat to the man and jerked his thumb at Joe who followed him out of the room, looking over his shoulder to give the bank manager one last mutinous look before they left the building. \u201cWell thanks a lot!\u201d said Adam crossly as they emerged from the bank. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t have hurt you to stay with Mr Bristol and play with Sally for a day or two.\u201d He pointed his index finger at his brother accusingly. \u201cOne day you\u2019ll enjoy keeping girls company.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head stubbornly. \u201cNuh uh!\u201d he replied with a mutinous expression on his face. \u201cI don\u2019t like girls! I kick em!\u201d He places his hands on his hips and glared at Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know you do,\u201d said Adam, remembering several times when his little brother had in fact done just that. \u201cAnd you got a tanning for it each time from Pa, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe did remember and his expression instantly turned to a sympathetic one for himself. \u201cAnyways,\u201d he said. \u201cUs men got too much work to do without thinking about girls,\u201d he declared. \u201cWe gotta get to Reno, Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cYou just \u2026.\u201d he began and then stopped as he waved to someone across the street. \u201cRoss!\u201d he called.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ross Marquette came ambling across the street, grinning at Adam. \u201cWhat are you doing in town, Cartwright?\u201d he drawled as he leant against the hitching railing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLong story,\u201d said Adam. \u201cI thought you\u2019d be busy working on that ranch of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust came in to get some supplies,\u201d said Ross. \u201cHi buddy,\u201d he added to Joe who grinned up at him. \u201cThe Bonner boys are in the Silver Dollar. How about coming over for a couple of drinks?\u201d he said to Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t,\u201d said Adam, indicating Joe with his thumb. \u201cBesides, I\u2019m kinda in a hurry. I\u2019ve got some business in Reno and I have to organise a ticket on the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ross frowned. \u201cWell you\u2019re not going to get one today,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve just been past there and the stage from Carson isn\u2019t coming in until tomorrow morning now. Seems they\u2019ve had some trouble on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of trouble?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot sure,\u201d said Ross.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam bit his lip as he thought. \u201cWell, I\u2019ve got to get there as soon as I can,\u201d he said after a moment. \u201cI guess I\u2019ll have to ride across the ridge myself. If I leave by lunch time I could get there mid morning tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s so important?\u201d asked Ross, watching Joe swing around the hitching rail.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to get a bank draft for Pa there,\u201d explained Adam. \u201cBusiness that can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ross laughed. \u201cYou Cartwrights,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s always some business deal going on with you lot, ain\u2019t there?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam grinned at him. \u201cYou\u2019ll be laughing out of the other side of your face Marquette, when The Ponderosa is the biggest ranch around these parts,\u201d he said. \u201cPa has big plans for our spread.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ross shrugged. \u201cWell, I\u2019m happy with my small ranch,\u201d he said. \u201cNot as much work.\u201d He jerked his thumb at Joe. \u201cWhat are you going to do with the kid?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed. \u201cNot much I can do,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll have to take him with me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a tough climb on horseback,\u201d observed Ross.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cI know,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I don\u2019t have much choice really.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam and me is going to Reno,\u201d Joe informed Ross, as he stopped swinging on the railing. \u201cJust the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLucky you,\u201d said Ross, ruffling his hair. \u201cWhat about leaving him with the Devlins?\u201d he said to Adam. \u201cMrs Devlin is in town and she\u2019d be happy to take him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not staying with no one!\u201d Joe said angrily. \u201cI\u2019m going to Reno with Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam made a face at Ross. \u201cSee?\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not worth the trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ross ruffled Joe\u2019s hair again. \u201cHe sure is a feisty one, ain\u2019t he?\u201d he said. \u201cWell, good luck Adam with whatever the deal is. I\u2019ll be in town Saturday night. Meet you in the Silver Dollar if you\u2019ve a mind for a drink or two.\u201d He winked as he straightened up. \u201cBye buddy,\u201d he said to Joe. \u201cHave a good trip.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded to him, grabbed Joe\u2019s hand and walked briskly down the street. \u201cRoss is our friend, ain\u2019t he?\u201d Joe said as he struggled to keep up with Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou got that half right,\u201d mumbled Adam, his mind full of other things.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe frowned as he tried to make out what his brother meant and the thought kept him quiet until they reached the buckboard. He tried to climb up onto it, but as the first step was level with his chin he didn\u2019t have much success. He frowned as Adam lifted him up onto the seat. \u201cI can do it!\u201d he declared. Adam said nothing as he hitched up the reins. \u201cHey!\u201d shouted Joe suddenly. \u201cWe didn\u2019t get the mail!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe mail will have to wait,\u201d replied Adam as they headed out of town. \u201cWe\u2019ve got more important things to do right now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d agreed Joe, leaning back on the seat as they left Virginia City behind them. \u201cWe got to get to Reno, ain\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam said nothing and full two minutes passed as Joe studied the landscape around him. \u201cHey Adam?\u201d he said after a while.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen we get to Reno, can we see the ocean?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave his brother a strange look. \u201cWhy on earth would you think that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t it near the ocean?\u201d asked Joe, puzzled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo. You\u2019ve been to Reno before. Don\u2019t you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe thought for a moment. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat\u2019s it like?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLike Virginia City,\u201d said Adam. \u201cJust stores and stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d Joe thought for a few more minutes. \u201cWell, can we go to see the ocean on the way home from Reno?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, the ocean is a long way away. Too far for us to go and look at.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSam Ferisco is near the ocean,\u201d Joe declared. \u201cPa told me so!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSam who? \u2026 oh, San Francisco,\u201d said Adam, nodding. \u201cYes, that\u2019s near the ocean, but Reno isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sighed and placed his chin in his hands as he considered that. \u201cOne day I\u2019m gonna be bigger and I\u2019m gonna go to Sam Ferisco and see the ocean,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m gonna sail on a sailing ship like Pa did when he was a sailor.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked at his brother to gauge his reaction. \u201cAnd I\u2019m gonna sail right round the whole world,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019m gonna visit all sorts of places,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019m gonna see whales and por \u2026. porpusses like Pa done told me about,\u201d finished Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is great, ain\u2019t it Adam?\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust the two of us,\u201d said Joe happily, swinging his small legs and kicking Adam in the shins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d said Adam sarcastically as he shifted his legs. \u201cReal great.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was late morning when they reached the Ponderosa ranch house and as they rode into the front yard Joe frowned. \u201cHey!\u201d he shouted. \u201cYou brought us home Adam! We\u2019re sposed to be going to Reno with Pa\u2019s bank paper!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe have to pick up some things first,\u201d said Adam, getting down from the buckboard. \u201cBesides, we can\u2019t drive the buckboard to Reno over the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow are we getting there then?\u201d asked Joe, trying to climb down and nearly falling in his attempt. He frowned as Adam caught hold of him and lifted him down to the ground. \u201cI can do it!\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re riding on Sport,\u201d said Adam, over his shoulder as his walked towards the house. \u201cHurry up! We\u2019ve got to get going!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe ran after his brother towards the house and into the living room. He watched as Adam walked straight over to their father\u2019s study, sat down and began to write. \u201cWhat are you writing Adam?\u201d he asked, leaning on the edge of the desk and watching his brother curiously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m writing a note to Pa to explain where we\u2019ve gone, just in case he and Hoss get home first,\u201d said Adam without looking up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded. \u201cCan I do some writing too?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Adam, continuing to write.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe frowned. \u201cBut I wanna practise them letters for my name like you taught me!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed. \u201cGo upstairs and get some things out of your dresser,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to need a change of clothes for tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow?\u201d asked Joe, his eyes wide. \u201cHow come?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBecause we\u2019ll be sleeping on the trail tonight,\u201d said Adam. \u201cNow go and get some clothes for tomorrow. Put them in the saddlebags that Pa gave you \u2026 the ones he let you have when he got his new ones.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded, his eyes wide with excitement. \u201cOK,\u201d he said and turned to run up the stairs. Pa\u2019s old saddlebags were his most cherished possession and since he\u2019d been given them he\u2019d lived in the hope of one day being able to use them. It seemed to him that everyone in this family was always going on trips except him, and now the time had finally come for him to have a big adventure too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Within five minutes he was stomping down the stairs again, dragging the saddlebags behind him. Adam stood and propped up the finished note on his father\u2019s desk and then turned to the boy. \u201cYou all packed?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYep,\u201d said Joe confidently. \u201cAll done. I\u2019m ready!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow and took the saddlebags from his brother before looking inside them. \u201cWhat on earth \u2026.\u201d he said, shaking his head. \u201cI told you to get some clothes for tomorrow. What\u2019s all this?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cImportant things I gotta take,\u201d said Joe, trying to snatch the bags back but failing to do so, as Adam was holding them far too high for him to reach. \u201cGive em to me!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cCome upstairs again,\u201d he said. He led the way upstairs and into his own room, stopping to quickly put a few items of clothing into his own saddlebags before going into Joe\u2019s room. \u201cNow,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s you get sorted out properly. He tipped Joe\u2019s bags onto the bed and both of them stood looking at the contents spread out before them. \u201cYou\u2019re not bringing your marbles,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pouted. \u201cI might need em!\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Adam firmly, opening up the dresser drawer and taking out a suitable change of clothing for his brother. He stuffed it into the bags, adding a comb from the top of the dresser as well. \u201cThat\u2019s all you need,\u201d he said. \u201cNone of this other stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pouted again as he studied the items on the bed. There was a small bag of marbles, a couple of toy soldiers, a pair of socks and a small knitted horse. He\u2019d also stuffed into the bag three rocks and a slingshot. \u201cI wanna take it,\u201d he said stubbornly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Adam firmly. \u201cYou don\u2019t need it and we have to travel light.\u201d Joe\u2019s bottom lip dropped and Adam held up his hand immediately. \u201cIf you start whinging then I\u2019m dropping you off at Mr Bristol\u2019s on the way,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe immediately stopped blubbering, but he dropped his head and studied the floor. Adam rolled his eyes and sighed. \u201cYou can take one thing,\u201d he said. \u201cHurry up and choose.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grinned up at him and immediately picked up the knitted horse. \u201cHe\u2019d get lonely without me,\u201d he explained as he handed it to Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cHurry up,\u201d he said, walking out of the room. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get our other things together.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat other things?\u201d enquired Joe, running after his brother. It seemed to him that this trip was getting more and more exciting and it hadn\u2019t even begun yet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFood and water,\u201d said Adam over his shoulder as he descended the staircase. \u201cHurry up!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As they entered the kitchen, Joe\u2019s eyes lit up again. \u201cCan we take all them cookies that Hop Sing made for us?\u201d he asked happily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust a few,\u201d said Adam, taking a couple of canteens down from a hook on the wall and filling them at the kitchen pump. Joe climbed up on a stool, placed his elbows on the bench and watched in fascination as Adam packed a few items of food into his saddlebags.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat ain\u2019t enough,\u201d said Joe when it was obvious that his brother had finished.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all we need,\u201d said Adam. \u201cJust enough for supper tonight and breakfast in the morning. We can buy more food in Reno for the trip home. Here \u2026 eat this.\u201d He held out a sandwich to Joe. \u201cIt\u2019ll be a long time before we get to eat again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe took the sandwich and munched on it happily as he watched Adam put the remainder of the food into the saddlebags.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome on and I\u2019ll get Sport saddled,\u201d said Adam, munching on his own sandwich.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf I had my own pony \u2026..\u201d began Joe as they left the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c \u2026.. you could ride him yourself,\u201d Adam finished for him. \u201cI know. I\u2019ve heard that a thousand times already. Well, you don\u2019t have your own pony yet, so you have to ride on front of Sport with me and that\u2019s just the way it is. Besides,\u201d he added as they entered the barn together. \u201cThis is going to be a rough ride and you need to be sitting with me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI could do it by myself!\u201d Joe bragged. He climbed up on one of the railings of Sport\u2019s stall and watched as Adam began to saddle the horse. \u201cHey Adam?\u201d he asked. \u201cWho\u2019s gonna feed the other horses while we\u2019re gone?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat other horses?\u201d asked Adam, indicating the empty barn. \u201cPa and Hoss took theirs, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBrandy and Blacky,\u201d persisted Joe. \u201cThey\u2019ve been working hard all morning pulling the buckboard and they need food!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll turn them out into the corral pasture,\u201d said Adam. \u201cThey\u2019ll be happy with the grass there for one day. Move out of the way, will you?\u201d he added impatiently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe followed Adam out of the barn and into the front yard, sitting on the edge of the water trough as his brother attended to the other two horses. Finally, all was ready and Adam lifted his brother up into the saddle before settling himself behind him and taking hold of the reins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI gotta go,\u201d said Joe suddenly as Adam turned the horse away from the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed and dropped his brother down to the ground again by the arms. \u201cHurry up!\u201d he said and waited while the boy scampered around to the outhouse. Adam drummed his fingers on the saddle horn impatiently while he waited for Joe to reappear and cursed himself for not telling the child to go before. When Joe reappeared, Adam bent down to haul him back up into the saddle and within a minute they were trotting out of the front yard, much to Joe\u2019s delight. He bounced up and down on the saddle a couple of times and clapped his hands in glee as he looked up at his brother seated behind him. \u201cWe\u2019re on a trip for real!\u201d he shouted excitedly. \u201cJust the two us \u2026 you and me Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam winced. \u201cDon\u2019t shout,\u201d he said wearily. \u201cI can hear you just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhich way are we going Adam?\u201d asked Joe, his voice slightly moderated as he looked around him in excitement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUp along the Truckee river and then along the ridge until we get to Bluff Peak,\u201d said Adam. \u201cFrom there we\u2019ll be able to reach the high country and across the pass to Reno. We should be able to make it as far as the pass by nightfall.\u201d He spoke more to himself than Joe to get it straight in his own head, but his little brother nodded knowingly, for he\u2019d heard and been to some of the places before.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been to Bluff Peak already,\u201d he informed his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d said Adam easily. \u201cSit still, will you? I don\u2019t want you bouncing around like that all the way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe tried to sit still, but it was beyond him and within two minutes he was once again wriggling on the saddle in his attempts to look at both sides of the passing scenery and not miss anything. \u201cThere\u2019s a jackrabbit,\u201d he said suddenly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh huh,\u201d said Adam, absently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd there\u2019s a mountain chickadee,\u201d said Joe, pointing to a small bird in the tree above them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh huh,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grinned at nothing in particular. \u201cThis is great, ain\u2019t it Adam?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh huh,\u201d said Adam. \u201cOw!\u201d he added. \u201cWould you keep still, for pity\u2019s sake?\u201d He rubbed his shin absently where Joe had inadvertently kicked it and thought about how many hours he still had left in the saddle with the young wriggler in front of him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s pity?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s pity?\u201d asked Joe again. \u201cYou said for pity\u2019s sake, but I don\u2019t know who pity is.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s just an expression,\u201d he said wearily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s a espression?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed again, thinking how long this journey was going to take. \u201cJust something people say,\u201d he said. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we play a game Joe? Let\u2019s see who can keep quiet the longest?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grinned. \u201cOK,\u201d he said. He was quiet for a full minute before opening his mouth again. \u201cI\u2019m sick of this game,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s play another one instead Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed again \u2026 yes, it was going to be a long few hours.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A couple of hours later, Adam was just about at the end of his tether. He had tried ignoring the constant chatter that emanated from his brother\u2019s mouth, but without fail this only caused Joe to persist with his questions even more. Every time Adam was able to block out the talking in front of him, inevitably his brother\u2019s wriggling would result in a sharp, albeit unintentional, kick in his shins. By the time they reached the Truckee River, Adam was well and truly sick of his brother and regretted not having been firmer and leaving him behind in the care of the Bristols.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He knew that he shouldn\u2019t blame the child, but it seemed as if Joe just never shut up and confined as they both were on the same saddle, it was becoming increasingly hard to take. Everything that Joe noticed along the way was commented upon and everything that ran through his mind came tumbling out of his mouth seconds later. Pa always said that his youngest son was just like his mother in that way and Adam knew it to be true.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie had always spoken her mind straight out and left everyone in absolutely no doubt as to what she had been thinking. Her son was exactly the same. Adam felt a sharp pang in his heart as he thought back to Joe\u2019s mother, dead only a few months. Although she\u2019d only been his stepmother, he had come to love her deeply \u2026 as he had Hoss\u2019 mother before her \u2026 and it had hurt terribly when she had been taken from them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe had taken it hard and had reverted to some of his baby ways, which they all had to cope with. Hoss seemed to just retreat into himself when it had happened, which was one of the reasons why their Pa had wanted some time alone with him to draw him out of himself again. Pa himself had simply not coped at all for a short time and was only recently behaving like himself again and as for Adam himself \u2026. He shook his head, feeling that he couldn\u2019t allow himself the luxury of being honest even with himself about how much it had hit him when she died.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He knew that Pa cherished each of them dearly because he had lost their mothers, but he\u2019d never realised before Marie died just how much death could affect a person. Adam had grieved for Hoss\u2019 mother Inger and remembered many nights crying his eyes out for her in the back of the wagon as he snuggled close to baby Hoss, but it had been the grief of a child who really didn\u2019t understand how things were with the world. When Marie died, he had finally known what it was to grieve as an adult with all the implications that brought with it, and he sincerely hoped that neither of his brothers had to go through such a thing when they were fully grown.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Instinctively, he clutched Joe a little tighter towards him, causing the boy to look up at him sharply. \u201cLet go Adam!\u201d he demanded. \u201cYou\u2019re squeezing my bref out of me!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam smiled down at him. \u201cWell that might not be a bad idea,\u201d he said wryly. \u201cMaybe if you had no breath left, then you\u2019d be quiet for a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe didn\u2019t seem to even hear the comment, but simply wriggled on the saddle a bit more and pointed excitedly towards the Truckee River which had just come into view. \u201cThere is it!\u201d he shouted. \u201cThere\u2019s the Truckee River Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no need to shout so loud,\u201d Adam admonished. \u201cYou\u2019ve seen it before.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes lit up as he surveyed the sparkling river in front of them. \u201cYeah,\u201d he admitted. \u201cBut never when we\u2019ve been on a trip before,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that got to do with it?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more exciting,\u201d stated Joe, as if that settled everything. He twisted around on the saddle and tried to look up at Adam. \u201cAre we gonna stop here?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d replied Adam, bringing Sport to a halt. \u201cI think it would be a good idea to stretch our legs a bit.\u201d He swung down from the saddle and pulled Joe down after him, relishing at the feeling of being able to straighten his legs again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI coulda got down myself!\u201d stated Joe, glaring at his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam ignored the comment and reached into the saddlebag. \u201cHere,\u201d he said, handing Joe a few cookies and then taking a couple for himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCan we go and look at the river Adam?\u201d asked Joe excitedly as he munched on the cookies. \u201cCan we? Huh?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded and, taking one of the canteens off the saddlehorn, walked with it down to the river. Joe followed, trying to keep up with brother\u2019s long strides and as Adam slowed down as he approached the river, Joe scooted ahead of him. \u201cYou stop right there!\u201d Adam shouted at him and Joe immediately halted mid-stride and looked at his brother enquiringly. \u201cStay away from that water!\u201d commanded Adam, pointing his finger at the boy meaningfully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pouted. \u201cBut I wanna look at it!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam caught up with him and grabbed him by the hand. \u201cThe water in that river goes real fast Joe,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s dangerous for someone as little as you. You stay right back from it, you hear?\u201d When Joe said nothing, but merely dug his toe in the dirt and refused to look at his brother, Adam turned on his heel and began to drag the child back the way they\u2019d come.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI promise!\u201d shouted Joe quickly. \u201cDon\u2019t put me back on Sport Adam! I wanna see the water!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen you do as you\u2019re told,\u201d said Adam firmly. \u201cI\u2019m not having you fall into that river, you hear? I know what you\u2019re like.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded dutifully and allowed himself to be led back to the river with his hand firmly gripped in that of his brother\u2019s, but his face told a different story. \u201cI ain\u2019t little!\u201d he muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that?\u201d asked Adam, stopping in his tracks and staring down at the boy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked up at him. \u201cI\u2019ll hold your hand like you told me to,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I ain\u2019t little!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam made a face, knowing full well that the comment had been an insult to his brother. \u201cI just meant that you\u2019re young,\u201d he said, by way of explanation. \u201cWhen I was your age Pa wouldn\u2019t have let me near a big river either.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOr Hoss when he was little?\u201d asked Joe, becoming interested in the thought of either of his brothers being his age.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave a short laugh. \u201cOur brother Hoss was never little,\u201d he said. \u201cEven when he was young he wasn\u2019t little.\u201d His mind drifted back to the younger brother who had always been too large for his own good. \u201cPa would still have stopped him going near the river though,\u201d he added.\u00a0 That explanation seemed to satisfy Joe who forgot about being cross and looked around eagerly. \u201cLet\u2019s sit down and look at the river for bit, OK?\u201d suggested Adam and Joe nodded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The two brothers sat down on a fallen log in the sun and for once Joe was silent. Adam stretched out his long legs in front of him and sighed. This was just how he liked it, he decided \u2026. sitting in the sun next to a river with absolutely nothing to break through the peace and quiet of \u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed again. He might have known that the silence wouldn\u2019t last long with his youngest brother around. \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy does the river move from here all the way to down there?\u201d Joe traced the flow of the water with his arm and gave his brother an enquiring look.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell \u2026 it\u2019s moving out towards the ocean I guess,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shot his brother an accusing look. \u201cYou said we weren\u2019t going near the ocean!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not,\u201d explained Adam. \u201cThe river has a long, long way to go before it gets anywhere the ocean Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d said Joe and was silent again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sound of the rushing water suddenly made Adam think of other things. \u201cYou\u2019d better go while we\u2019ve stopped,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t need to go,\u201d Joe informed him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow. \u201cWell, try,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to stop later on just because you didn\u2019t go now.\u201d He stood up. \u201cCome on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe reluctantly stood up also. \u201cCan we go in the river?\u201d he asked with a devilish sparkle in his eyes. \u201cWe could make big splashes if we did!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Adam. \u201cThat\u2019s dirty. Now go.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The two brothers stood side by side in thought as they did what they needed to. However, as Adam was busy taking a few seconds to straighten up his clothing he sensed Joe moving out of the corner of his eye and turned to frown at his brother who had turned around and was directing a stream of liquid into the river. \u201cDidn\u2019t I say not to \u2026.\u201d Adam began.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sound of his voice startled Joe who was leaning his body towards the water and he suddenly lost his balance and slipped towards the river. Adam made a grab for him, but only succeeded in propelling the two of them even closer to the edge of the water and they both fell in with a resounding splash.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s head went under for a moment, but Adam immediately pulled him back up again, holding him high out of the water. Fortunately, the river wasn\u2019t too deep at that point and he could easily stand up in it, clutching his little brother under the armpits to keep him mostly out of the water. In two strides Adam was out of the water again and glaring at Joe dangling in front of him. \u201cWhat did you do that for?\u201d he demanded angrily. \u201cLook what you\u2019ve done now! Both of us wet through!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe bottom lip began to tremble as his brother shook him slightly from side to side. \u201cI \u2026 I didn\u2019t \u2026\u201d he began.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou did!\u201d interrupted Adam angrily. \u201cI told you not to do that!\u201d He shook him again so that Joe\u2019s legs swung from side to side again, his small penis dangling out of his trousers where he\u2019d left it moments before.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI just \u2026 wanted to see it splash!\u201d declared Joe, swallowing and getting his bravado back again. He began to wriggle in Adam\u2019s grasp. \u201cLet me down!\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam plonked him down on his feet and the two brothers stood glaring at each other. Adam shook his wet hair and then Joe did the same. \u201cAll wet!\u201d muttered Adam angrily and strode over to Sport. \u201cIf you move one muscle you\u2019re in big trouble!\u201d he shouted over his shoulder. \u201cKeep still!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed again, knowing by the sound of his brother\u2019s voice just how angry he was. He dutifully stood still and waited until Adam had returned and flung his saddlebag at him. \u201cGet out of those wet things,\u201d Adam grunted. \u201cWe\u2019ll both have to change and wear the clothes we brought for tomorrow now.\u201d He sat down on the ground and began pulling off his trousers, muttering under his breath as he did so.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sat down next to him and began to pull down his own trousers. \u201cWhat \u2026 what will we wear tomorrow?\u201d he asked tentatively.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have to wear these again, unless our wet things dry in the meantime,\u201d grunted Adam. \u201cWhich I doubt.\u201d He glared again at Joe. \u201cI should give you a tanning for pulling that stunt,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe quickly scrunched away from Adam and attempted to pull off his boots. As he did so, water fell out of one. \u201cThey\u2019re all wet,\u201d he said, unnecessarily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course they\u2019re all wet,\u201d said Adam crossly. \u201cWhat did you think?\u201d He grabbed the small boots and put them on a rock next to him in the sun. \u201cThey won\u2019t dry out again in a hurry either.\u201d He pointed his finger at Joe. \u201cHonestly! If we weren\u2019t so far from home I\u2019d turn straight around and take you back again Joe! If I didn\u2019t have to deliver \u2026.\u201d His jaw dropped as he remembered the bank draft and he quickly reached into his pocket and drew it out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eye widened. \u201cIt\u2019s all wet,\u201d he said, looking at the sodden piece of paper in Adam\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s all wet,\u201d snorted Adam. \u201cAnd who\u2019s fault is that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shrunk back away from his brother, just in case he had a mind to follow through with that treat of a tanning and both brothers looked at the piece of paper in dismay. \u201cWell, that\u2019s that I guess,\u201d said Adam after a minute\u2019s silence. \u201cSo much for Pa\u2019s bank draft.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked at it closely. \u201cI can still see letters on it,\u201d he said hopefully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked as well. \u201cHmm,\u201d he said. \u201cWell, maybe. This bit here is a bit smudged, but I can still make out the names at least,\u201d he mused. \u201cMaybe \u2026.\u201d He placed it on the rock next to Joe\u2019s boots. \u201cWe\u2019ll see how it looks when it dries out,\u201d he added. \u201cI told you to get dressed!\u201d he said, stripping his own shirt off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence as the two brothers undressed. Suddenly Adam was aware of a snuffling sound and he glanced at Joe out of the corner of his eye. \u201cThere\u2019s no need to carry on like that,\u201d he said gruffly, his heart softening a little at the sight of a large tear that was rolling down the child\u2019s cheek. \u201cHere,\u201d he added. \u201cYou\u2019re putting your arms in the wrong sleeves of that shirt. Let me do it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sat as still as he could while Adam attended to his clothing. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Adam,\u201d he sniffed. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to wet Pa\u2019s bank paper. Will it dry out OK?\u201d He looked up at his brother hopefully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d said Adam, feeling a tad guilty for being so cross with the boy. \u201cHold still, will you?\u201d He looked across at the paper and examined it again. \u201cI think so,\u201d he said in a milder tone. \u201cBut that was still a very naughty thing to do Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d said Joe again. \u201cI really am Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave his brother a half smile. \u201cWell just don\u2019t ever do it again,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I hadn\u2019t been here to fish you out, that river could have carried you off. Haven\u2019t Pa and I always told you to be careful around water?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d admitted Joe, and then his eyes lit up. \u201cBut I can swim now! I coulda swum outta there by myself!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head at his brother\u2019s ability to always defend himself, even when he was in the wrong. He stood up. \u201cCome on,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s get going. We can\u2019t wait around here until these things dry.\u201d He stuffed their wet clothing into the saddlebag and pulled on his wet boots with distaste.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat about my boots?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t need them on,\u201d said Adam, scooping them and the bank draft off the rock. \u201cWe\u2019ll hang them from the saddlehorn and hope they dry out. Come on!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam lifted Joe up onto the saddle again, hung his small boots in front of him on the saddlehorn and put the saddlebag over the horse again. The bank draft was nearly dry in the hot sun, so he carefully put it into his pocket, hoping that it would survive the rest of the journey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One thing was certain, he thought grimly as he turned Sport away from the river and they trotted off again, life was never dull with Joe around. As he received yet another kick in the shins from the wriggling boy in front of him he had cause to think of one positive outcome from the whole event \u2026 a small boy\u2019s kick was a lot less painful when his foot was only encased in a sock instead of a hard boot.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam steeled himself for a continued onslaught of questions from his brother, but to his surprise there wasn\u2019t a word from Joe. A heavy pressure against his stomach soon told him the reason for it and he smiled down at the inert small body in front of him. Joe\u2019s head lolled to one side, his eyes were shut tight, his arms dangled down by his sides and his expression was \u2026 for once \u2026 angelic \u2026 as he slumbered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell thank the Lord for that,\u201d mumbled Adam, thinking that he was in the mood to half-kill this small annoying brother of his if he\u2019d started pestering him with his endless questions again. He rode as gently as he could so as to not disturb the child, happy in the thought that he would at least have some peace and quiet for a while.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s slumber lasted over an hour and by the time his eyes were open and he was once more ready to face the world with renewed vigour, the sun was beginning to drop beneath the distant mountain and the shadows were lengthening. Adam waited until he rode into a small clearing with a rock face behind it before declaring that they would stop for the night.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe could hardly contain his excitement at the thought and nearly slipped out of the saddle in his eagerness to get down.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould you hold on a minute?\u201d said Adam. \u201cLet me get down first.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHurry up Adam!\u201d shouted Joe happily. \u201cI wanna see!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to see,\u201d said Adam, pulling his brother off the saddle. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nevertheless, Joe quickly scouted around the small clearing to see what it was like. Within two minutes he was back beside Adam and nodded wisely. \u201cThis will do fine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam snorted. \u201cI\u2019m glad that you approve,\u201d he said. \u201cNow do something worthwhile and collect some sticks for the fire, will you?\u201d Joe nodded and ran off to do this most important job. \u201cDon\u2019t go out of this clearing!\u201d shouted Adam as he took the bedrolls off from behind the saddle and began to organise the camp. He kept one eye on his little brother as he got things in place and by the time Joe had a substantial pile of wood ready he was mixing some dried beans with water for their supper. \u201cNow watch how we start the fire,\u201d he said, taking up a flint.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe watched in fascination as Adam began to strike the flint. \u201cCan I do that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Adam. \u201cJust watch.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Within minutes he had a good blaze developing and the beans were on the fire ready to heat up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe wrinkled up his nose. \u201cIs that all we\u2019re having for supper?\u201d he asked in distaste.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cWe\u2019ve got some of Hop Sing\u2019s biscuits to sop it up with. \u201cStir this.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He watched as Joe stirred the small pot proudly and it wasn\u2019t long before the two brothers were seated in front of the blazing fire eating hungrily. \u201cThis is good, ain\u2019t it Adam?\u201d said Joe happily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot bad,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust the two of us,\u201d added Joe. \u201cHey Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you reckon that Pa and Hoss are having their supper right about now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI reckon so too,\u201d said Joe. \u201cBet they don\u2019t have good beans and biscuits like we do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa took plenty of food,\u201d said Adam, putting down his plate. \u201cNeither of them will go hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss is always hungry,\u201d said Joe, putting down his plate as well. \u201cWhat do we do now Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe get some shut eye,\u201d said his brother. \u201cI\u2019ll clean up these plates while you go over there in the bushes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t need to go,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou go,\u201d said Adam firmly. \u201cI\u2019m not having you pee all over me in the middle of the night just because you were too lazy to go now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe made a face. \u201cI don\u2019t do that no more,\u201d he said indignantly, but stood up and walked over to the bushes nonetheless.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow in response to his brother\u2019s remark as he began to scrape off the plates, knowing full well that his brother did in fact still have accidents through the night. Since Marie had died the child had taken to constantly wetting the bed and having bad dreams and he knew that their Pa was worried about it. Hopefully he would grow out of it soon, but in the meantime Adam had no intention of taking any chances.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGet under the blanket,\u201d he said as Joe came back. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be cold tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe scrunched under the blanket and lay facing the fire. \u201cThis is nice,\u201d he said happily. \u201cAre you coming to sleep now Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lay and watched his brother organise a few things, his eyelids drooping as he did so. Finally Adam took off his boots and pulled his own blanket around him, drawing it close against the chilly night air. \u201cNow go to sleep,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a big day tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t sleepy,\u201d said Joe through a huge yawn. He rolled over onto his back and looked up at the stars. \u201cDo you reckon that Pa and Hoss are looking at the stars now too Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa says that Mama is a star now,\u201d said Joe in a small sad voice. \u201cWhich one do you reckon she is Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed and rolled over onto his back as well. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said, staring up at the stars himself. \u201cProbably one of the real bright ones.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs your mama a star too?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd Hoss\u2019 mama?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s nice,\u201d said Joe in a small voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam felt a delicious warmth overcome him and his eyelids drooped as he felt sleep approached. Suddenly he heard a small snuffling sound and reluctantly dragged his eyes open again to stare at his little brother through the darkness. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI want my Mama!\u201d sobbed Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam drew his small brother towards him and allowed him to sob out his sorrow for a few minutes on his shoulder. \u201cLook up at the stars,\u201d he said after a few minutes. \u201cSee her up there?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d snuffled Joe, turning his head to look up. \u201cWhich one? I don\u2019t know which one Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe very brightest one,\u201d said Adam, pointing to the North Star. \u201cSee?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sniffed a couple of times and then nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he said in a small voice. There was silence for a few minutes and then he asked. \u201cWhy does God make people die and then be stars Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed. \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGod is mean.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Adam, holding his brother tighter. \u201cGod isn\u2019t mean. We just don\u2019t understand why, that\u2019s all. Now try and go to sleep. If you do, you might have a dream about your Mama \u2026. Remember when you had one last week? That was nice, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded in the darkness. \u201cOK,\u201d he said. There was silence again and Adam was just drifting off when suddenly Joe sat bolt upright. \u201cWhere\u2019s my horse?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy horse!\u201d shouted Joe, trying to disengage himself from the blanket. \u201cHe\u2019ll get lonely if he don\u2019t sleep with me!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKeep still,\u201d said Adam and reluctantly unrolled himself from the blanket. He shivered as he stood up and walked groggily over to the saddlebag. He reached inside, found the small knitted animal and brought it back to Joe. \u201cHere,\u201d he said. \u201cNow go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe cuddled the toy into his chest lovingly as Adam got under the blanket again. His eyelids began to close and the last thing he remembered before he drifted off to sleep was the sound of Joe slurping on his thumb.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When dawn finally broke Adam was actually glad to have an excuse to get out from under the blanket and stretch his legs. He was sure that he was black and blue from being kicked by Joe all night and it felt as if he hadn\u2019t had more than a couple of hours sleep. Pa always said that Joe was a restless sleeper, but he\u2019d never appreciated just how bad he was until now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He stretched in the pale dawn light, then set about getting the fire built up again and the breakfast organised. By the time Little Joe had opened his eyes the bacon was sizzling in the pan and a delicious smell was wafting across the clearing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sat up, his curls all tousled and in disarray. \u201cI\u2019m awake!\u201d he announced happily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGet your boots on,\u201d said Adam as he pushed the bacon around in the small pan. \u201cThey\u2019re dry now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe did as he was told and then came and squatted down next to Adam to watch the bacon fry. \u201cIt sizzles,\u201d he said delightedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh huh,\u201d said Adam. \u201cHere \u2026 hold out your plate and I\u2019ll put some on it.\u201d He poured himself some coffee and then sat down next to Joe, the two of them eating hungrily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is a good breakfast Adam,\u201d said Joe. \u201cYou cook better than Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave a short chuckle. \u201cDon\u2019t let him hear you saying that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe can\u2019t hear me,\u201d said Joe in a puzzled tone. \u201cHe\u2019s a long ways away in Carson City.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cMmm,\u201d he said. \u201cHurry up and finish what\u2019s on your plate. I want to make sure that we get to Mr Reynold\u2019s ranch this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI thought we was going to Reno?\u201d asked Joe, putting the last of the bacon into his mouth and handing his plate to Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMr Reynold\u2019s ranch is near Reno,\u201d said Adam. \u201cBut not in the town itself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe frowned. \u201cBut you said we was going to Reno!\u201d he said accusingly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rolled his eyes. \u201cNear Reno,\u201d he explained. \u201cNot into the town itself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you said Reno!\u201d insisted Joe stubbornly. \u201cYou didn\u2019t say near Reno, you said Reno!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat difference does it make, for pity\u2019s sake?\u201d asked Adam as he kicked some dirt onto the fire.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you still ain\u2019t told me who pity is neither,\u201d said Joe in a stubborn tone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam picked him up and plonked him onto his saddle. \u201cJust sit still,\u201d he said, swinging up into the saddle himself. \u201cAnd try not to kick me as much as you did yesterday, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stared up at his brother as they took off. \u201cAin\u2019t you gonna shave?\u201d he asked. \u201cYou\u2019ve got whiskers coming through.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam ran his hand over his chin. \u201cNot much point,\u201d he said, half to himself and then added in a louder tone. \u201cI\u2019ll shave tomorrow when we\u2019re home again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe ran his fingers across his own chin in imitation of his brother. \u201cI\u2019m gonna shave when I get bigger too,\u201d he said proudly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh huh.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy do people have eyebrows?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be a long morning,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And indeed it did seem like a long morning. Joe peppered him with endless questions as he had the day before and by the time they\u2019d reached the high country he was well and truly sick of answering them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey this is good!\u201d shouted Joe suddenly into Adam\u2019s ear as his brother urged Sport up the first incline of the passes. \u201cWe\u2019re going up real high!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust you sit still,\u201d instructed Adam. \u201cSport has to work hard enough getting two of us up here without you squirming around on the saddle. I mean it Joe \u2026 sit still for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe tried hard and managed to sit relatively still for a short while, although not as still as Adam would have liked. He didn\u2019t say anything to the child in front of him, but this section of the high country could be tricky to ride over and as he guided Sport with expert hands, he also kept a tight hold on the small body in front of him at the same time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLook down there!\u201d shouted Joe excitedly as they rounded a bend and the sight of a vast plain opened up in front of them. \u201cIs that near Reno?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure is,\u201d said Adam, turning Sport\u2019s head along the trail. \u201cSit still.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt sure is pretty,\u201d said Joe, looking down on it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam pulled Sport to a halt and looked down himself. \u201cSure is,\u201d he agreed. \u201cIt\u2019s like Pa always says \u2026 this is God\u2019s own country.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded, although he wasn\u2019t quite sure what his brother had meant by the comment. \u201cI\u2019m never gonna leave here,\u201d he said confidently. \u201cI\u2019m always gonna live in Nevada cause I like it the best in the whole of the world.\u201d He looked up at his brother. \u201cAre you always gonna live here too, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam hesitated, knowing full well that within the next year he would in fact be leaving for a time to go back east to college and indeed if it hadn\u2019t been for Joe\u2019s mother dying he would be there right now. While he wanted desperately to experience life back east and open his mind to new and exciting things, he was also dreading his departure and the fact that he would be leaving behind his Pa and brothers \u2026 as well as this land that he loved.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d persisted Joe. \u201cYou ain\u2019t answered my question. Are you always gonna live here?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam smiled down at him sadly, not wanting to diminish the brightness of his brother\u2019s smile, for he had suffered enough with the loss of his mother without the thought of facing the temporary loss of his brother as well. \u201cYou know what Pa said when we first arrived here in Nevada?\u201d he asked, trying to avoid the question.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam urged Sport down the trail as he spoke. \u201cI remember Pa stopping our wagon one day and telling me to get out.\u201d His mind drifted back to a day many years before that had forever been etched into his mind as a very significant one. \u201cHe picked up Hoss and \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPicked up Hoss?\u201d giggled Joe. \u201cPa couldn\u2019t never pick up Hoss! He\u2019s too big!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe was a lot smaller then,\u201d explained Adam. \u201cEven if he was a big baby he was still only a little boy. Anyway \u2026 he picked up Hoss and told me to follow him. We walked to the top of a ridge just like this one \u2026.\u201d He looked around as the memory came flooding back into his mind. \u201cAnd Pa put his arm around my shoulder. He said to take a good look around because it was a sight to rival heaven itself and that I should always remember my first look at Nevada \u2026. because it was going to be our new home.\u201d He sighed. \u201cIt seemed as if we\u2019d been travelling forever to get to that spot, which I suppose we had in a way, and it seemed strange to me that we\u2019d finally made it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhere was I that day?\u201d enquired Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou weren\u2019t born yet,\u201d explained Adam. \u201cThat was before Pa met your Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe met her in New Orleans,\u201d said Joe proudly. \u201cHe told me so.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd then they came back to Nevada and I was borned,\u201d continued Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh huh.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa says I was the first Cartwright borned in Nevada,\u201d boasted Joe. \u201cAnd he says he hopes I won\u2019t be the last.\u201d He frowned. \u201cWhat does he mean when he says that Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe means that he hopes one day that he\u2019ll have lots of grandchildren,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe thought about that one for a while. \u201cWhere will he get them from?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam chuckled. \u201cFrom us,\u201d he said. \u201cYou and me and Hoss. One day when we have children, then they\u2019ll be Pa\u2019s grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave Adam an appalled look. \u201cI ain\u2019t ever having no children!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cI ain\u2019t ever getting married!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam chuckled again. \u201cOne day you might change your mind buddy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you gonna get married some day Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe. I hope so. When I find the right girl.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss says that he saw you kissing Margie Simmons at the church picnic last month,\u201d said Joe, giving his brother a penetrating look. \u201cDoes that mean that you\u2019re gonna make Pa some grandchildren with her now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam blushed slightly. \u201cHoss should learn to mind his own business,\u201d he said, making a mental note to give his other brother a piece of his mind when he got home. He pointed ahead of them. \u201cLook. There\u2019s the Reynold\u2019s ranch over there. We made it.\u201d\u00a0 He spurred Sport into a trot and turned his head in the direction of the distant spiral of smoke that could be seen towards the distant hills.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s cows!\u201d shouted Joe excitedly. \u201cLook Adam! There\u2019s cows!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStop shouting in my ear,\u201d Adam admonished him. \u201cYou\u2019ve seen plenty of cattle before.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut these ones ain\u2019t Ponderosa ones, are they?\u201d asked Joe, bouncing around on the saddle. \u201cThey ain\u2019t got the pine tree brand on em!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam marvelled, not for the first time, about just how observant his little brother could be. It was amazing at times just how much he picked up on and he figured that in years to come he would probably know as much about this country as anyone. It was like Pa said \u2026. a man who was born in a place really knows it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019ve got the Reynold\u2019s brand on them.\u201d He spied a couple of men in the distance and trotted towards them, holding up his hand in greeting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho are they?\u201d asked Joe, pointing to them as they approached.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cProbably Mr Reynold\u2019s hands,\u201d said Adam, drawing Sport to a halt. He tipped his hat at the two men. \u201cHowdy,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m looking for Mr Sam Reynolds.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of the men jerked his thumb to a man sitting on a horse a short distance away. \u201cOver there, young fellar,\u201d he said, giving Little Joe a curious look.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded again and trotted over to the man. \u201cMr Reynolds?\u201d he asked as he drew to a halt. \u201cMr Sam Reynolds?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam Reynolds nodded. \u201cSure am,\u201d he said. \u201cCan I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam Cartwright,\u201d said Adam, holding out his hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam Reynolds reached over and shook it. \u201cBen\u2019s boy?\u201d he asked. \u201cPleased to meet you, young fellar.\u201d He grinned at Joe. \u201cAnd who might this be?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe held out his hand in imitation of his brother. \u201cI\u2019m Joe Cartwright,\u201d he said, sitting up straight in the saddle. \u201cHowdy!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam chuckled as he shook the small hand. \u201cWell, well,\u201d he said. \u201cSo you\u2019re Ben\u2019s boys?\u201d He gave Adam a curious look. \u201cYou brought this little\u2019un all the way across that pass?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cYes sir,\u201d he said. \u201cHe might be little, but he\u2019s tough. He handled it just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe straightened up even further in the saddle and glared at his brother. \u201cI ain\u2019t little!\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam chuckled again at the youngster\u2019s indignant look and ruffled the boy\u2019s curls. \u201cSo it would seem,\u201d he said before turning to Adam again. \u201cI suppose you\u2019ve come about the business I have with your father?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes sir,\u201d said Adam, drawing the bank draft out of his pocket. \u201cI got your wire yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry about that son,\u201d said Sam. \u201cBut I had another offer for that cattle and I needed to close the deal with your Pa real quick. Business is business \u2026. I hope Ben understood.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, Pa doesn\u2019t know about it yet,\u201d said Adam. \u201cHe\u2019s gone on a hunting trip and won\u2019t be back for a day or two.\u201d He held out the bank draft. \u201cSo I brought the money for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam took the piece of paper and gave Adam a curious look as he opened it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d said Adam, feeling somewhat foolish as the man studied the paper. \u201cIt got wet. You can still read most of it, so I hope it\u2019s OK.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt fell in the river with Adam,\u201d explained Joe, trying to be helpful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam tried not to laugh at the look on Adam\u2019s face. \u201cI see,\u201d he said, folding it up and putting it into his own picket.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill it be all right?\u201d asked Adam anxiously. \u201cI mean \u2026 I dried it out and \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it will be fine,\u201d interrupted Sam. \u201cYou can tell your Pa that I\u2019ll start driving that cattle over the ridge early next week.\u201d He grinned at both of them. \u201cNow you two need to come along to the house and meet my wife Martha. She\u2019d love to meet you both and get the chance to spoil this one here for a bit.\u201d He indicated Joe with his thumb, but Adam shook his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we need to get back home. I don\u2019t want to spend another night on the trail with Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI understand,\u201d said Sam. \u201cBut you\u2019re going to need lunch and Martha would love to feed you before you go. It won\u2019t take long.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam hesitated, thinking of the sandwiches in his saddlebags that were to be their lunch and which would no doubt be stale by now. \u201cWell,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s very kind of you \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam patted him on the back. \u201cNo trouble at all,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll ride back to the house with you and Martha can give you both a good feed. We\u2019ll have you back on the trail in plenty of time to make it back by nightfall.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cThank you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam gave a few orders to his men and then he and Adam trotted off together. \u201cYour Pa has told me a lot about you boys,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd your brother \u2026. Hoss, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam gave him a searching look. \u201cYou the one who\u2019s got a mind to go to college?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam glanced quickly at Joe before replying, noting with relief that his little brother was far too busy watching the cattle around them to be paying much attention to their conversation. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam nodded thoughtfully. \u201cBen talks a lot about you,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s right proud of you, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam blushed slightly as he felt a surge of pride wash over him. He shrugged, not quite knowing what to say as the man continued. \u201cTo hear your Pa talk, you\u2019re a real clever young man,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam said nothing, not quite knowing how to respond.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam reached over and slapped the young man on the back and winked at him. \u201cI reckon all Pa\u2019s are proud of their sons,\u201d he said. \u201cBut you might say that Ben Cartwright sure thinks a mighty lot of you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey mister?\u201d Joe piped up, saving Adam the embarrassment of thinking of a reply. \u201cIs this all your cattle?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot all of it young\u2019un,\u201d said Sam. \u201cJust a part of my main herd.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded knowingly. \u201cWe got cattle too,\u201d he informed the man. \u201cAnd horses. Pa puts the pine tree brand on em cause they live on The Ponderosa.\u201d He leant over and gave Sam a knowing look. \u201cThe Ponderosa is my Pa\u2019s ranch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam chuckled. \u201cHe sure ain\u2019t shy, is he?\u201d he said to Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he agreed, for shy was the last word that he\u2019d use to describe his brother. \u201cHe sure isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As they rode towards the house, Joe continued to question Sam about his ranch, which quite amused the man. \u201cSo I suppose you help your Pa run the Ponderosa?\u201d he teased, when Joe stopped to draw breath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYep!\u201d said Joe proudly. \u201cAdam and Hoss help him too sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam chuckled. \u201cWell, I\u2019d say that your Pa is one lucky man to have three fine sons to help him,\u201d he said, drawing his horse to a halt. \u201cWell, here we are and there\u2019s my Martha come to meet us.\u201d He indicated a short woman who was standing on the front porch of the house smiling at them. \u201cI\u2019ve brought a couple of young fellars home for lunch!\u201d he called to her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam got down from his horse and lifted Joe down as well. \u201cI can get down myself,\u201d Joe protested loudly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTwo of Ben Cartwright\u2019s boys,\u201d Sam explained to his wife. \u201cThis here\u2019s Adam and this young\u2019un down here is Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPleased to meet you,\u201d said Martha. She smiled at Adam and then went down on one knee in front of Joe. \u201cIsn\u2019t he just a darling?\u201d she said, pinching his cheek.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe scowled at her, for if there was one thing he hated above all others, it was someone pinching his cheek. It seemed to him that lots of ladies did it and he never could figure out why. \u201cPoor little thing,\u201d added Martha giving him a sympathetic look, for everyone in the district knew of Ben Cartwright\u2019s recent loss. She stood up again and faced Adam. \u201cYou boys much be starving,\u201d she said. \u201cNow come along into the house and I\u2019ll give you a good feed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam winked at Adam and followed them into the house. \u201cSit down here,\u201d said Martha. \u201cI\u2019ll set a couple more places at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t want to put you out ma\u2019am,\u201d said Adam, taking off his hat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo trouble at all,\u201d said Martha, buzzing around happily. \u201cWe don\u2019t get many visitors out this way, so it\u2019s a nice treat.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe boys can\u2019t stay long,\u201d Sam warned her. \u201cThey have to get home by sundown.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell they\u2019re not going to get too far on empty stomachs,\u201d said Martha, dishing stew out onto several plates. \u201cHere you go boys. You eat that up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe wrinkled his nose up at the sight of the food. \u201cI don\u2019t like that,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShh!\u201d said Adam \u201cThat\u2019s not very polite Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t he a darling?\u201d said Martha as they all sat down. \u201cNow you just taste it sweetheart and I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll like it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave her a disbelieving look, but did as he was told. Apparently he must have agreed with her, for he kept eating, much to Adam\u2019s relief. Many times he\u2019d witnessed the battle of wills between Joe and his parents about his eating habits and he knew just how stubborn his younger brother could be when faced with a plate of food that he didn\u2019t like.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is real good stew, ma\u2019am,\u201d said Adam politely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you dear. Have some more.\u201d Martha filled his plate a second time and then poured him some coffee. She placed a glass of milk in front of Little Joe, causing the child to wrinkle up his nose again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like milk,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNonsense,\u201d said Martha in a matter-of-fact tone. \u201cIt\u2019s good for you, so drink it up, precious.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave Adam a look, but Adam simply shook his head slightly. Joe reluctantly put the glass to his mouth and took as small a swallow as possible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCute little thing, isn\u2019t he?\u201d said Martha.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe scowled at her. \u201cI\u2019m not little!\u201d he declared, sitting up straight so that his chin was level with the table. He reached up and speared another piece of meat, sticking it into his mouth and chewing on it as he glared at her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Martha didn\u2019t seem to notice his look, but merely leant across the table and pinched his cheek lovingly. \u201cPoor little thing,\u201d she cooed. \u201cYour Pa certainly has had a tragic year Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded as he swallowed a mouthful. \u201cYes ma\u2019am,\u201d he said. \u201cHe sure has.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHave some cake,\u201d Martha suggested, uncovering a large plate of cake in the middle of the table. \u201cI made it this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMartha makes delicious cake,\u201d said Sam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cI like that,\u201d he said, pointing to it eagerly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen drink up all your milk and you can have some,\u201d Martha promised as she cut a generous slice for Adam. Joe didn\u2019t hesitate as he downed his glass of milk and then accepted his own slice of cake with a smile. \u201cDear little thing,\u201d said Martha, ruffling his hair. \u201cYou must take some more of this to eat on the trail Adam. I\u2019ll wrap it up for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d said Adam as he pushed back his chair. \u201cWe really must be going now though. I want to get home before dark. Hurry up Joe,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sam also pushed back his chair. \u201cI\u2019ll be seeing you off then son,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you for the meal ma\u2019am,\u201d said Adam, accepting the wrapped cake from Martha before picking up his hat. \u201cHurry up Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt was lovely to meet you dear,\u201d said Martha. \u201cAnd you too, precious,\u201d she said, pinching Joe\u2019s cheek yet again. \u201cAdam, make sure you look after this little one well on that ride across the ridge. He\u2019s very little to be making that ride.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t little!\u201d declared Joe yet again. \u201cDon\u2019t no one ever listen to me when I say that?\u201d Everyone laughed, which only caused him to become more indignant and he glared around at them all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe is tough,\u201d said Adam, much to Joe delight and his scowl instantly turned to a smile at his brother\u2019s words. \u201cHe\u2019ll make the ride OK.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded and followed Adam to the front porch. \u201cThank you ma\u2019am,\u201d he said, remembering his manners just in time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re most welcome,\u201d said Martha. She bent down on one knee in front of him and gave him a sudden hug and Joe for once didn\u2019t pull away as Adam expected him to. Instead, he seemed to lean in towards the woman for a moment and Adam\u2019s heart lurched as he considered just how infrequently his little brother now felt a motherly touch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome on Joe,\u201d he said when the two had let go of each other. He hoisted his brother up onto the saddle and then swung into it himself. \u201cBye,\u201d he said tipping his hat at the couple. \u201cAnd thanks again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d asked Joe as they trotted off.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy do people pinch a fellar\u2019s cheek all the time?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTo show that they like him,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cIt\u2019s a sign of affection.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rubbed his cheek thoughtfully. \u201cWell I sure wish they\u2019d find another way to show it,\u201d he said. \u201cI hate people pinching my cheek.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam made a face. \u201cWell, it\u2019s best to just put up with it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey never pinch your cheek!\u201d Joe declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m too big,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cLadies used to do it to me when I was your age, though.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWish I was bigger then,\u201d said Joe mournfully. \u201cI reckon my cheek will be all red by the time I get bigger if everyone keeps doing it but.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam smothered a chuckle as he turned Sport towards the west and they broke into a gallop.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The way back across the pass was uneventful, except for Joe\u2019s non-stop talking and by the time they were approaching the Truckee River later that afternoon they were both ready to stop and munch on Martha\u2019s leftover cake and share a drink of water. This time there was no going near the river for Joe, however, as Adam kept him well away from it \u2026 not prepared to go for another dip in it\u2019s icy waters.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen will we get home Adam?\u201d asked Joe as he munched on his cake.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn a couple of hours,\u201d said Adam, happy at the thought of sleeping in his own bed that night.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been great, ain\u2019t it? Just the two of us?\u201d said Joe, smiling up at his big brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded and put his arm around the boy. \u201cSure has,\u201d he said and was surprised to find that he actually meant it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCan we go on another trip one day?\u201d asked Joe. \u201cJust the two of us?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam smiled down at him. \u201cWhat about Pa and Hoss?\u201d he teased. \u201cDon\u2019t you think they\u2019d feel left out if we left them behind?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe thought for a moment. \u201cMaybe I could go on a trip with you,\u201d he mused. \u201cAnd I could go on a trip with Pa too. And then maybe I could go on another trip with Hoss.\u201d He grinned. \u201cThat way they wouldn\u2019t get hurt feelings and I\u2019d get three trips instead of one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam snorted. \u201cGood reasoning,\u201d he said, marvelling at the devious mind of the little boy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood thinking,\u201d Adam explained. \u2018Come on. We\u2019d better get going if we\u2019re going to get home before dark.\u201d He lifted Joe up onto the saddle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can do it,\u201d said Joe automatically as Adam settled into the saddle behind him. For a moment he leant back against his brother and cuddled into him. \u201cI liked going on our trip Adam,\u201d he said. \u201cJust the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI did too buddy,\u201d said Adam, taking up the reins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI love you Adam,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI love you too squirt,\u201d replied Adam, in a rare admission of his feelings. He put his arm around his little brother and held him tight as they trotted towards their home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sun was about to set as the two brothers rode into the front yard of the Ponderosa ranch house. Suddenly, Joe sat up straight as he spied a figure standing on the front porch. \u201cPa!\u201d he shouted in his loudest voice, startling Sport and causing Adam to wince. \u201cPa!\u201d he shouted again. \u201cPa\u2019s home, Adam!\u201d he shouted unnecessarily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam pulled the horse to a halt and allowed Joe to slide down into his father\u2019s arms. \u201cPa!\u201d the little boy shouted as his father hugged him tightly to his chest. \u201cWe went on a trip Pa!\u201d he added, his voice muffled against Ben\u2019s shirt. \u201cJust the two of us!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d said Ben, laughing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss came to stand next to his father, grinning at his two brothers. \u201cWe had a great hunting trip,\u201d he boasted. \u201cI got to use Pa\u2019s rifle twice.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid ya shoot anything Hoss?\u201d asked Joe, his eyes wide at the thought of it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNah!\u201d Hoss admitted. \u201cBut Pa shot a deer and we caught lots of fish.\u201d His eyes lit up. \u201cWe\u2019re having some of both fer supper tonight. Pa\u2019s cooking it cause Hop Sing ain\u2019t here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Joe said and then turned to his father. \u201cWe went on a long trip Pa,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe went to the river and then over the mountain on Sport. Adam fell in the river \u2026 and that man\u2019s got lots of cattle just like you \u2026. the lady makes good cake, but we\u2019re not telling Hop Sing \u2026. and we cooked on the fire \u2026. my boots got wet \u2026 the mountain was real tricky to ride over, but I didn\u2019t get scared \u2026 and we watched the stars and saw mama up in the sky just like you said \u2026. and \u2026<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben held up a hand. \u201cSlow down,\u201d he said to the excited boy. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of time to hear all the news.\u201d He laughed as he put him on the ground and gave him a small playful swat on the backside. \u201cNow the two of you scoot into the house and get washed up for supper.\u201d He smiled as Hoss and Joe did as they were told and ran towards the washhouse, each of them talking non-stop to the other in their attempts to tell all the news of the past few days.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben turned to Adam who had dismounted and had come to stand next to his father. \u201cI read your note,\u201d he said. \u201cThank you for taking that bank draft to Sam, son. Any problems with it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it got a bit wet on the way,\u201d admitted Adam sheepishly. \u201cBut it turned out to be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWet?\u201d said his father with a twinkle in his eye. \u201cWould that be the incident when you fell into the river that Joe was referring to?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shrugged. \u201cYes,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben put his arm around his son\u2019s shoulder as they walked towards the house together. \u201cWell if I\u2019m not mistaken, I\u2019d bet that the incident had something to do with Joseph?\u201d he mused.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shrugged again. \u201cYes,\u201d he admitted and they both chuckled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cApart from that, was it a good trip?\u201d asked Ben. \u201cI know how demanding your youngest brother can be.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam grinned at his father. \u201cActually it was<\/em> a good trip,\u201d he said. \u201cAll things considered.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGlad to hear it,\u201d said Ben. \u201cCome on \u2026. Let\u2019s get in for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n