{"id":6469,"date":"2014-05-04T10:57:01","date_gmt":"2014-05-04T14:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6469"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:12:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:12:27","slug":"the-final-trial-a-lesson-in-mettle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6469","title":{"rendered":"It’s Only a Year – The Final Trial – A Lesson in Mettle #5 (by MissJudy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>The final episode of the prequel series,\u00a0It’s Just a Year. Adam has remained home for a year longer than he’d planned before heading for college. In that time, he’s been hazed, poisoned, almost killed and now we find him healthy and camping with Hoss for a final brother’s weekend before leaving for Boston. The idyllic time takes a ominous turn when Adam realizes that someone’s been watching their camp and\u00a0must soon\u00a0face his worst fears again and save his brother from the same fate. As with all theses stories, this can be read without reading the others first. This concluding episode brings the two oldest Cartwright boys together for some defining moments.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a017,000<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s Only a Year Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s Only a Year – He Said What? – Lessons in Understanding <\/a>
\nIt’s Only a Year – The Caster Oil Caper – Lessons in Humility<\/a>
\nIt’s Only a Year – The Worst of Consequences – A Lesson in Choice<\/a>
\nIt’s Only a Year –\u00a0 The Quiet of Uncertainty – A Lesson in Hope<\/a>
\nIt’s Only a Year – The Final Trial – A Lesson in Mettle<\/a><\/p>\n

Story Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you to everyone who has read this series of stories or any of the individual ones. It has been wonderful to see the nice comments and notice the numbers of people who at least take a look.<\/em><\/p>\n

As a spoiler – dont’ let the first few paragraphs deter you. They aren’t quite what they seem :o)<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Final Trial \u2013 A Lesson in Mettle<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t leave me now Adam!\u201d Natasha breathed in a sob, \u201cCertainly not after last night.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI must go. My regiment leaves for the front in two days. \u00a0If I\u2019m not back by then I\u2019ll be considered a deserter.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh, Adam,\u201d she moaned as tears journeyed down her cheeks. \u201cSo what if they call you that.\u00a0 They\u2019ll not even remember you once this war ends and the militia stands down, so it would be of no consequence should there be one less soldier to die for their country tomorrow. \u00a0And if they come after you, we\u2019ll go to where they cannot find us. Your father is a wealthy rancher who would finance our escape and life together.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou have no understanding of such things, Natasha. The military does care, will continue to care, and will pursue me if I fail to advance with my unit. I would never be free of the cloud and I could never ask my father to finance my cowardice. I was always forthright that my time with you was limited and that we would embrace these moments without promises to the future. You must admit this is true.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBe quiet and go to sleep!\u201d<\/p>\n

Natasha spun away from the dark, handsome soldier as her eyes flashed with angry fire. \u201cI knew no such thing, Adam. I think that you have used me for your purposes and are now discarding me. This would seem an equal act of cowardice in my mind. You took my gift, and now leave me in peril.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Adam grasped her shoulders as he stared her down; his voice dripping with sarcasm, \u201cNatasha, did you not just say that your act last night was a gift? Are you now rescinding your gift and demanding a price for your gesture?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She stood stolid now, the fire in her eyes turning to ice as she glared at him.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The young soldier continued as his sarcastic tone deepened. \u201cAnd may I say that at the time, the gift seemed willingly and eagerly given and although you Imply otherwise, I am quite sure that I am not the first to whom this gift was bestowed. I\u2019m now wondering if this was just a ploy to entrap me and my father\u2019s money in your schemes.\u201d \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was suddenly wide awake and sitting up while gaping at his brother. \u201cHoss, what are you reading?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked shocked over his brother\u2019s outburst and sputtered, \u201cJeb Smyth gave it to me. He said I should read it out loud to you \u2018cause you\u2019d think it was funny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJeb said\u00a0I\u2019d<\/em>\u00a0think it was funny? Why would he think that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is\u00a0not\u00a0<\/em>about me! \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s a guy with your name, and Jeb says he\u2019s young, purdy and a rich rancher\u2019s son just like you are.\u201d Hoss giggled.<\/p>\n

Adam scrubbed at his face to wake up fully as he considered Hoss\u2019s explanation. \u201cLet me see what you were reading.\u201d After Hoss handed him the magazine, he paged through it, inquiring, \u201cWhere did Jeb get this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s his ma\u2019s. He says she gets a magazine every couple months in a brown wrapper. She tells his pa that it\u2019s a woman\u2019s thing with recipes, but Jeb saw that she always hid them under their bed instead of putting them out with the rest of her books and magazines. So one day when she was busy in the garden, he looked under there and found this one and a bunch of others that had lots of stories but nary an instruction for cooking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. So he pilfered this from his mother and gave it to you because my name was in the story?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess that\u2019s about right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should throw that in the fire before you leave it lay somewhere and Pa sees it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t do that. I have to give it back to Jeb. What are you so upset about, Adam? It\u2019s just a story about some soldier and a gal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam considered what and how much to explain to his younger brother. \u201cI think Jeb set you up, Hoss. He\u2019s a little older than you and knows that you probably wouldn\u2019t understand the inferences of such a story\u2014but that I would. So he told you to read it to get a rise out of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The confusion persisted. \u201cWhat do you mean by infer\u2026infer\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInferences, Hoss. The word is inferences and it indicates that there\u2019s a whole lot more meaning behind the words you\u2019re reading than what you understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss became indignant. \u201cI do so understand. I read them words just right. I even practiced.\u201d<\/p>\n

The older brother smiled as he asked, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Hoss. Maybe it\u2019s me that doesn\u2019t understand. Why don\u2019t you tell me what that story is about?\u201d<\/p>\n

The child\u2019s cheeks scrunched from side to side as he thought it out. \u201cWell, it seems like there\u2019s this guy, Adam\u2014like you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam bristled, \u201cNOT like me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, sure, sorry\u2026 it\u2019s just some guy named Adam, who\u2019s a soldier spending some time with a gal named Natasha before he was to skedaddle with them other soldiers. Right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far. But what were they doing while they were together?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems like this Natasha gave Adam a purdy nice gift and figured Adam owed her to stay with her after that. Then Adam got mad and accused her of scheming after his money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got the gist of it, Hoss, but do you know what kind of \u2018gift\u2019 the woman gave him?\u201d Adam knew he was treading on boggy ground and didn\u2019t want to get into a discussion about this with his brother, but he also needed to know how much the boy understood and maybe have a talk with their father about it before he left for school. While Hoss thought about it, Adam\u2019s mind wandered.<\/p>\n

It was early spring now and Professor Metz was due to return in less than a month. When he did, Adam would join him in the trek back East to test for school and then enroll in college once he was accepted somewhere. This last year at home had provided many odd opportunities and challenges\u2014more than he\u2019d ever dreamed possible at the time his father had asked him to stay around for one more year.<\/p>\n

During these months at home he\u2019d been hazed, poisoned and shot. But along with those bad things, he\u2019d also gotten to know his brothers much better and had come to appreciate all the decisions and dilemmas his father faced on a regular basis. Through it all he\u2019d grown more assured of himself and during the winter he\u2019d had time to really learn what he\u2019d only committed to memory before. Instead of parroting information, he now knew it and could work with it. His confidence was as high as his hopes.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss had decided to come on this camping trip as their final time alone together before he left. They hadn\u2019t brought Little Joe so they\u2019d be free to hunt or explore without worrying about the youngster, and Adam had promised to do something special with the younger boy as well. This was their second night out and it had been a pleasant trip. They\u2019d caught enough fish for their dinner and shot at a few rabbits without luck, but it wasn\u2019t about that. It was just fun to ride side-by-side and recall the shenanigans of their years together. Adam had retold his Inger stories the night before as they\u2019d sat by the campfire, and had tried to explain to his brother why he needed to go away to college. Hoss had seemed to understand, although the boy saw no value in going to school any longer than absolutely necessary, but had finally told his older brother that he guessed that for him, this \u201ccollege stuff\u201d\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0absolutely necessary and had wished him the best.<\/p>\n

Hoss drew him back to the present as he began to verbalize his answer. \u201cI\u2019m not sure what that\u00a0gift<\/em>\u00a0was, but since she was so gosh durn mad about it, it must have been something real special. \u00a0\u00a0 Is that about right, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The older brother turned away, pretending to see something off in the dark so that Hoss wouldn\u2019t see the grin he was unable to contain. When he looked back toward his brother, he face was serious as he told him, \u201cThat\u2019s about right, Hoss. It was a special gift that only a woman can give. We\u2019ll leave it at that for now.\u201d He was relieved when Hoss didn\u2019t press to know more about a woman\u2019s special gift and resolved to speak Pa as soon as they got back, figuring it was time for Hoss to know a little more about women\u2026and not from him.<\/p>\n

Handing the magazine back, Adam advised, \u201cPut this in your saddle bag. We ride near the Smyth place on the way home, so we\u2019ll stop and you can give it back to Jeb. And for now, we\u2019d best get some sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

They both got settled under their blankets, using their saddles for pillows, but as Adam tried to drift off, he remembered a last thought. \u201cSay, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cDon\u2019t let Jeb Smyth trick you into doing things. He doesn\u2019t care if you get into trouble, and will think it\u2019s funny if you do. If he\u2019d told you to read that story to Pa instead of me, you\u2019d have had your backside tanned for sure. \u201c<\/p>\n

Hoss rose up on his elbow to see his brother better. \u201cBut why would Pa get mad about it? It was just a story about a soldier and a purdy girl\u2019s gift. You even said so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now I\u2019ve done it<\/em>, he lamented.\u00a0Should have just left it where it was<\/em>! But now he had to figure out how to explain this without really explaining anything. \u201cFirst off, Pa would have been mad that Jeb took that magazine from his mother, and after knowing of how he\u2019d gotten it, that you would have taken it from him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yeah. I suppose that would have gotten him wound up a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam chuckled. \u201cYup, that would have wound him up more than a little. You know how Pa is about privacy and keeping your hands off what belongs to others. But beyond that, there\u2019s no reason Mrs. Smyth shouldn\u2019t have that magazine because it\u2019s written for adults, not children. Jeb may even think he knows what those stories are about, but he doesn\u2019t really.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are they about, Adam? I still don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose stories are called, \u2018Romances\u2019 and are published in women\u2019s periodicals like the one Mrs. Smyth gets. I suppose they give the hard working ladies who purchase them a chance to feel young and romantic again as they read about people falling in love, or as in the story you read from, the schemes of ruthless women intent on finding their fortune by trying to fool young, handsome, innocent, rich rancher\u2019s sons. But they aren\u2019t meant for youngsters to read because they\u2019re about feelings and notions you don\u2019t know yet.\u00a0 Once you do experience love, Hoss, you\u2019ll understand how silly those stories are. They\u2019re melodramatic\u2014too theatrical and exaggerated. The truth is that they aren\u2019t the way for someone your age to find out what love is like. If you want to know what real love is all about, just remember what I\u2019ve told you about Pa and your ma, or Pa and Marie. Does that help you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess so. I like Maddy Smyth. I sometimes think I\u2019d like to marry her, but I\u2019m not sure why yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both boys laughed as Adam answered, \u201cThat pretty much sums it up. You\u2019ll know more as time goes on, and I don\u2019t know what it\u2019s all about yet either.\u201d \u00a0He chuckled as he muttered to himself, \u201cBut I\u2019d sure like to find out soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss yawned as he settled back into a comfortable sleeping position. \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me about my ma again. I\u2019m afraid I\u2019m gonna forget while you\u2019re gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam slid his hand under his saddle as he raised his head. There was a rustling of branches, but on listening closer, there was nothing more. Convinced that it was a possum lumbering its way somewhere, he laid his head down and began his familiar recital. \u201cPa and I had been on the road for some months heading out West to find our fortune. I was sick and Pa was broke when we came to a small town hoping to find a place where Pa could earn a little money and I could get better before signing on with a wagon train for the journey across the prairie. Pa walked into a small store to get me some bread and milk and met a lovely, tall, blond woman who spoke with an accent. She was kind to Pa and when she found out about me, she even came to keep me company while Pa worked. I think at first Pa was impressed by her goodness, but was soon looking at her differently, realizing he cared for Inger in deeper ways. He came to love her, Hoss, and I did too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stopping at that point, he heard the long, even breaths of his brother, and knew he had drifted to sleep as he often did as the stories of Inger enfolded him in dreams. Adam\u2019s eyelids soon drifted shut as well.<\/p>\n

Off in the brush near camp, another set of eyes and ears had watched and listened. In fact, they\u2019d been watching the boys for two days now, taking in their brotherly closeness and chatter. The lips of this creature slid back in a snake-like grin as its eyes glowed with the desire to put an end to this idyllic scene, even as its mind cautioned patience.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ben tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position for sleep. But he knew it was more than the absence of comfort that was keeping his mind from settling into rest. Adam and Hoss were camping and had been gone two days already, and although he knew they were probably no more than 30 minutes from home, after the events of the past several months, he was ill-at-ease with the fact that they weren\u2019t under his roof.<\/p>\n

The father had never ceased in thanking his Creator for the return of his son. Adam had languished in a sort of sleeping state for weeks after being shot, and very few had held hope that he would recover, much less return to a normal life. In fact, at the time, the doctor had recommended that he transfer his son to a hospital for his \u201cremaining time.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Hop Sing and the Cartwrights had never doubted and worked tirelessly to keep Adam included in family life and aware of what was happening around him. Even Abigail Jones had come out for a time to read to him from his Harvard textbooks: she and her mother providing an unexpected and refreshing presence in the household of men.<\/p>\n

And then one day, his son had simply awakened, and after a period of some confusion and readjustment, life for his son and the family had resumed a normalcy Ben had not thought possible during the days of hopeful waiting.<\/p>\n

Although he wouldn\u2019t admit it to anyone else, he still often held his breath in fear that one day his son would be reclaimed by that unending sleep. It had taken the entire winter as he\u2019d watched Adam gain strength and resume his studies without further effects from his ordeal before he could relax as the boy headed for bed each night. He knew that even now, he felt relief each morning as he heard sounds of life coming from Adam\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

The hardest part for Ben to face was that his son was nearing his departure date for school and there was no way to stop him this time. He would like to plead his case for having him remain home longer to make sure he was fully recovered, but knew Adam would hear nothing of it. The thought had briefly rambled through his mind that he might withhold funds for school to prevent the boy from leaving, yet he knew that at age 17, Adam would leave, finding work to finance his dream if he had to. Adam was also the sole heir to his grandfather\u2019s estate and Ben had no doubt that once Abel met the child, he would do anything in his power to assist him.<\/p>\n

These thoughts reminded him of the unfinished matter of Abel Stoddard. Ben hadn\u2019t written to him about Adam\u2019s injury, preferring to wait for an outcome first. He knew that Abel would be upset, yet in Ben\u2019s heart he knew that if it had turned out differently, the older man would have found little more to live for. As it was, Abel was clinging to his grandson\u2019s arrival as one would to a life ring on a stormy sea, and his disappointment at having to wait an additional year had been almost as keen as Adam\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Ben had finally decided that he would send a letter along with Adam to explain what had happened and his reasons for withholding the information. He suspected it would lessen the impact of the near loss and lack of communication by seeing the subject of the letter standing in front of him\u2014healthy and whole.<\/p>\n

After a restless night, Ben awoke to Little Joe bounding into his room. He was neither refreshed from the night nor willing to get up yet, but when his youngest son was up and moving, there was no lounging allowed. Seeing the child\u2019s excited face always made him smile as he was doing now, yet he couldn\u2019t lose the uneasiness that had been his nighttime companion.<\/p>\n

Little Joe jumped onto the bed next to his father. \u201cHey, Pa, you gotta get up! There\u2019s no one around and I don\u2019t know what to do with myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing to do, you say? How about doing your work from Miss Jones or straightening up your room?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw Pa, it\u2019s the weekend and I don\u2019t need to do no school work, and most of the mess in our room is from Hoss, so why should I have to clean it up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a point there, but I\u2019m sure not all of it is Hoss\u2019s. Why don\u2019t I get up and we\u2019ll have some breakfast and then figure out what to do together.<\/p>\n

The child was out the door before Ben could rise, hollering back that he was going to get dressed and meet him downstairs.<\/p>\n

Together at the table consuming hot cakes and bacon, Ben began to tease his youngest son. \u201cSo, did you say you wanted to spend this beautiful day helping me grease wagon axles?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d The child\u2019s face froze in mid-chew as he considered his father\u2019s statement. \u201cDidn\u2019t say nothin\u2019 of the sort, Pa.\u201d An impish smile turned the youngsters syrupy lips. \u201cAs I recall, you was talkin\u2019 about goin\u2019 fishin\u2019.\u00a0 Ain\u2019t that right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say that, but I think that if you put that thought into proper grammar, I\u2019ll consider it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben put his fork down to look directly at his child. \u201cI want you to say that I was talking<\/em>\u00a0about going<\/em>\u00a0fishing<\/em>. \u201c<\/p>\n

The child laid his fork on the table as well and stared back at his father with narrowing eyes. \u201cI just said that. Why should I say it again, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI want you to repeat it so you use the correct verbs and stop dropping the g\u2019s at the end of words like say-ing<\/em>\u00a0and go-ing<\/em>. So go ahead and repeat what you said.\u201d<\/p>\n

The child sat thoughtfully, by this time unable to remember what he had said in the first place, and began to fidget as he saw his father\u2019s eyebrows arching from normal to high alert. Little Joe stared intently at his father and noted, \u201cAdam does that too, Pa, \u2018cept he only raises one eyebrow instead of both. But I always know he\u2019s getting testy when that one eyebrow of his starts creeping up to his hairline. He must have learned that from you\u2026half way anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben admit defeat as he chuckled, \u201cHow old are you now, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSix, last birthday, Pa, don\u2019t you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do, it\u2019s just sometimes I\u2019m sure you\u2018re closer to 30.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not. So are we going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing where, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFishin\u2019, Pa, Like you said we was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2026I didn\u2019t\u2026you said I said\u2026but I never…\u201d Ben knew he\u2019d been licked and tricked by this six-year-old con artist and raised his hands in submission. \u201cWe\u2019re going fishing. Now finish your breakfast and then straighten up your room. Once that\u2019s done, bring me your primer and we\u2019ll read a few pages before setting out. Hop Sing can pack a lunch for us while you do as I\u2019ve asked, and I get our gear together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy\u2019s protests were dropped as he watched his father\u2019s face change from cheerful to that \u201cwatch out\u201d look that meant there was trouble brewing if you didn\u2019t do as you were told, and Joe made the quick decision to do just that.<\/p>\n

It seemed like hours before the last sentence about the spotted dog was read and Little Joe could escape the house. He was waiting for his father on the wagon seat when Ben exited. \u201cHurry up, Pa. Those fish ain..aren\u2019t getting any younger you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither am I, Joseph,\u201d Ben sighed.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cJust move over so I can sit down and we\u2019ll get out of here.\u201d He tousled the curly mop of hair on the child sitting next to him. \u201cBest put your hat on, son. The sun\u2019s pretty warm today and I don\u2019t want you getting raw while we land all those big ones in the pond.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss stretched as he yawned, then looked over to see if Adam was awake. As usual, his older brother\u2019s blanket was already neatly rolled and resting on his saddle. Yet there was no sign of the actual brother, and Hoss\u2019s heart did a few flip-flops of worry as he rubbed his eyes to get the last blurriness of sleep to clear. The boy relaxed as he saw the familiar profile of Adam\u2019s hat protruding over a mass of creosote brush, and watched with interest as his brother moved stealthily around the perimeter of camp, peering under bushes and around boulders. \u201cWhat you doin\u2019, Adam?\u201d he called out as Adam jumped at the break in the silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be back in a minute, Hoss. Just stay put.\u201d<\/p>\n

The youngster stood to get a better look at what his brother was up to and noticed that he had the Colt pistol in his hand, extended forward in readiness. Hoss\u2019s heart began to thump again, wondering what in tarnation was going on. He breathed a sigh of relief as Adam holstered the pistol and came walking back toward camp. \u201cWhat were ya doin\u2019 brother?\u201d he asked again, this time with a noticeable hint of fear in his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard rustling in the brush over there during the night.\u00a0 Figured maybe some animal got himself pinned on the thorns and wanted to check it out once it got light enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou find anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA bunch of small prints: probably a possum. Let\u2019s make some breakfast and get moving.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t mention the other footprints he\u2019d seen near the bush that were made by a man\u2019s pointed boots. One set of these prints moved to and from their camp from a sheltered area where a single horse had probably been tied. It was obvious from the various depths of the impressions behind the cover of brush that someone had spent some time there observing them. Adam shivered as he recalled hearing noise in that direction as he\u2019d prepared to sleep the previous evening.<\/p>\n

Hoss had thrown more tinder onto the fire to get it going again while Adam arranged bacon in a frying pan and set it on the edge of the rocks surrounding the growing flames. As he accomplished these normal morning routines, the older brother went through the possibilities as to the ownership of the boot prints he\u2019d found. After consideration, he decided it was one of two situations. The first was that they belonged to a drifter, someone who\u2019d seen their fire and came up close enough to decide whether there was any promise of a hot meal, or better still, cash and goods that he might take away at gunpoint. After finding two brothers on a hunting trip, he\u2019d probably decided it wasn\u2019t worth the effort to get what little they had with them.\u00a0 The other more likely possibility was that their father had \u201csuggested\u201d that one of the hands ride out to check on them, maybe even follow them at a distance for the entire trip. Adam knew that Pa was uneasy about their absence and worried for his sons\u2019 safety, especially since he\u2019d been shot a few months back, and it would be just like their father to keep a watchful eye\u2014while making sure he could deny his over-protectiveness by saying he\u2019d only made a suggestion and didn\u2019t order anyone to do anything. The uneasiness ebbed as he realized this was the most likely explanation and was sure he\u2019d find another set of boot prints outside their camp tomorrow morning. Adam figured that if he heard the rustling early enough tonight, he might invite whomever it was to join them for supper.<\/p>\n

As they ate their bacon and biscuits, Hoss asked, \u201cHow come Pa let you have that pistol again, Adam? He was so mad that you took it that I wouldn\u2019t never have expected he\u2019d give it back to you. You took me for a fright when I saw you holdin\u2019 in outside camp earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam chuckled as he answered. \u201cYou ought to know better than to think that Pa\u00a0let me have<\/em>\u00a0the Patterson. He said that since I\u2019d already used it there was no sense in trying to keep it from me, but he made me earn it back. I had to shoot that Colt every day until my hand was raw; I\u2019ve still got callouses on my palm. Pa made me shoot at targets, even in the rain and snow, and I had to keep shooting until I knocked every last one down from a quick draw. Then he\u2019d place things all over the yard that I had to shoot, just to make sure I was aiming true. I was out shooting some days in winter when it was so cold my nostrils froze together and my hand stuck to the steel handle of the gun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow come I never saw you doing that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were gone to school or staying in town with the Cass\u2019s when the weather was bad. Pa wouldn\u2019t do it when you were around: said he didn\u2019t want you getting any ideas about having a pistol yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy was Pa so mean about it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t saying that he was mean, Hoss, just that he was dead serious about it. He doesn\u2019t ever want me to be caught in a situation again where I can\u2019t handle what I\u2019m holding. I thought I was pretty good with this gun but when I had to shoot at Randall that day, I wasn\u2019t ready. \u00a0Pa figures that after you do something enough times, it becomes second nature. You have so many other things to think about when you\u2019re staring down the barrel of someone else\u2019s gun, you can\u2019t stop to think about what it takes to shoot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhaddaya mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you go to pull a gun, you can\u2019t think about it. It has to be trained and sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy, I can\u2019t wait till Pa lets me shoot a pistol.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on, little brother. If you know what\u2019s good for you, you won\u2019t even suggest that for another six years or so.\u00a0 Pa\u2019ll get you going with a rifle soon enough, but be patient about the other. You may think it\u2019s the best thing in the world to carry a gun, but I\u2019ll tell you true, it\u2019s one experience you can postpone as long as possible without missing a thing. Better to wait and do it the right way\u2026Pa\u2019s way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam began to clean up the dishes while Hoss smothered the fire with sand as he asked, \u201cWe going to check on Pa\u2019s old trap lines today like you said we would?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll show you where we used to go and we\u2019ll see what we find up there. If there\u2019s evidence of good pelt animals, we\u2019ll talk to Pa about letting you run a small line by yourself. The area we\u2019ll look at isn\u2019t too far from the house so you could ride up and check it easily enough.\u00a0 And if you tell Pa that you want to do it to earn some money for those boots you saw in the catalogue, he\u2019ll probably appreciate your ingenuity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy what? That\u2019s a pretty fancy word there brother. How\u2019s bout you tell me what you mean by it?<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll appreciate your initiative and cleverness in coming up with a way to pay for something you want instead of asking him for the money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, he just might at that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ben had cut a thin branch off a sapling to use as a stringer and the fishing duo of Cartwright and Cartwright had managed to fill it half full of pan fish before taking time off for lunch.\u00a0 Having consumed the chicken, biscuits and cake that Hop Sing had packed for them, both father and son stretched out in the shade for a quick nap before resuming their fishing. Ben had just dozed into a peaceful sleep when he was brought back to wakefulness.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, can I ask you a question?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Joseph, I\u2019m sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n

The child sat up to stare at his father. \u201cNo you\u2019re not! If you were asleep, then you wouldn\u2019t answer me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben began snoring loudly for a few seconds, before offering, \u201cSee, I am sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n

The skepticism was evident in the boy\u2019s conclusion. \u201cWell, Pa, some of you might be sleeping, but your mouth isn\u2019t, so could you please answer my question?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sighed as he chuckled. \u201cSure son. What\u2019s on your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t Adam take me camping with him and Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve already explained that they were going to be gone too many days for you to go along.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw shucks. I woulda been just fine with them. I\u2019m not afraid to sleep outside and can almost ride a horse pretty good. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s true, Little Joe, but I think Adam was more worried about how he would handle it rather than how you would handle it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you sayin\u2019, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing. Just remember that Adam is going to take you out for one night before he leaves. I feel that\u2019ll be the right amount of time\u2026for both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben had just settled back and was dozing off when his son broke in again. \u201cCan I ask another question, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sleeping, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe gave a hearty laugh. \u201cNo you ain\u2019t. You\u2019re still talkin\u2019 to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, what did I tell you this morning about using correct grammar and pronouncing your g\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Pa, that was gonna be my question. You tell me to say the right words, and to say my g\u2019s and stuff, but Hoss hardly never says his g\u2019s and say\u2019s ain\u2019t a whole lot more\u2019n me, and you don\u2019t holler at him. So why not?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI correct both of you equally.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe so, but with all the correcting you do, you haven\u2019t changed Hoss a lick and you don\u2019t punish him or nothin\u2019. Seems like since he\u2019s been around six years longer\u2019n me he should be talking pretty good by this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sat up as he realized the wisdom of his youngest child. \u201cYou might be right about that Little Joe.\u201d The father thought about what his son had said and knew he was easier on Hoss when it came to grammar. Maybe he was too lenient because he really didn\u2019t notice it much anymore. With thought, the answer became clearer. \u201cJoseph, you had your mama a lot longer than either of your brothers and she insisted that you learn to speak correctly and would be saddened to hear the way you murder your words sometimes.\u00a0 Hoss learned to speak while we were traveling with groups of people who talked that way and it sort of fits him\u2026just like his name. He\u2019s a big friendly fellow and his manner of speaking is part of his charm. But you are not Hoss, and you\u2019re right: I need to be more firm with your brother, not less firm with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe was about to say more when the two spotted a rider approaching.<\/p>\n

Their cattle foreman,Hugh waved his hat and called out as he rode up. \u201cThought it might be you two out fishing. Having any luck?\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe scrambled to the pond\u2019s edge to hold up the branch laden with their catch. \u201cWe got lots of them and are going to have real good supper when we get home. You wannna come along back with us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoping to speak to Ben alone, Hugh helped Little Joe bait up and toss his line back in the water before heading over to speak to his boss. \u201cI was glad to see you over here: saved me a ride to the house to talk to you about something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there trouble with the herd?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no, no\u2026nothing like that. A couple of the guys have seen a lone rider on and off now for a time. They thought at first it was drifters passin\u2019 on through, but now they think it\u2019s the same person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you make of it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot too much. You\u2019ve got a lot of land here. He might be poachin\u2019 a few animals or just taking a few days to rest up before movin\u2019 on. He might not even realize he\u2019s on private property.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben laughed as he pronounced, \u201cThen I suspect we\u2019ll have to tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, here\u2019s the thing, Mr. Cartwright. Several men have tried to ride up to him, but he always rides off before they can get close enough to get a word in or even a good look for that matter. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you worried about this, Hugh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore curious than worried, Boss. Some of the men think he\u2019s scouting for a band of rustlers, trying to see where they can best strike without too much interference from us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what do you think?\u201d The hair on Ben\u2019s neck was beginning to rise in warning.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thinking it might be best to find this guy and ask him ourselves, and was hoping you\u2019d ride with me.\u00a0 I found a pretty good set of prints at the last place he was seen and rode them for a while before deciding to come get you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben could see a look of worry now in Hugh\u2019s expression and wondered at the change. \u201cAny particular reason that you came to get me rather than following him yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, sir, the tracks aren\u2019t far from here so I thought it best to come for you because\u2026\u201d Hugh looked around to make sure Little Joe was still out of earshot, \u201cThem lone tracks seem to be following another set of dual tracks that belong to your boys. I recognized the print from Adam\u2019s horse; the shoe has a little notch in it that makes a distinctive mark. Now this might just be a coinci\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t wait for Hugh to finish. He left their picnic things as he ran for Little Joe, who responded in fury at having his day of fishing cut short.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on, Pa! How come you\u2019re taking me home? I didn\u2019t do nothin\u2019 wrong, did I?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t do anything wrong, Joseph. I just have to attend to some business that can\u2019t wait. I am so sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

The child remained quiet and sullen on the rapid trip back to the house, offering one last accusation before running to his room. \u201cIt ain\u2019t fair, Pa! It just ain\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

The saddened father couldn\u2019t worry about the hurt feelings of his youngest son: not when his uneasiness over the other two was coming to fruition. He told Hop Sing of the situation as he gathered his rifle and extra powder and shot, and headed outside. Hugh had Ben\u2019s horse ready to go by the time he reached the barn and the two let out at full gallop.<\/p>\n

As they reached the area where Hugh had found the intersecting set of tracks, Ben realized that his sons had kept their promise to stay within a short distance of the ranch, making him breathe with relief that he and Hugh might find their camp within a short time and be able to figure out what was going on.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d ridden about an hour when it became obvious what was going on and it left both men stunned. The single tracks certainly seemed to follow the set from the Cartwright boys and they noted that the lone rider would pull over and obviously tie his horse and walk to a place behind a rock or bush. What made this ominous was that as they\u2019d follow the boys\u2019 tracks a little further, they too would stop, their boot prints indicating that they\u2019d walked around\u2014probably doing some hunting or exploring. This same pattern occurred several times as they continued on, and it seemed obvious that the lone rider was stopping at vantage points where he could watch Adam and Hoss from a distance.\u00a0 Evening was closing in fast as the two trackers found a campsite.<\/p>\n

Hugh dismounted and checked the ashes of the fire. \u201cSome of these embers are still warm, and I can see where two bedrolls were placed, so I think this is where your boys stayed last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben had moved to the perimeter of the camp and found what made his heart race. He could barely speak as he hollered, \u201cHere!\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding boot prints behind the brush proved that Ben\u2019s sons had been observed while they camped, and the addition of Adam\u2019s prints as he must have discovered those of the intruder, made them wonder if something sinister had happened. Thankfully, with a little more tracking, they were able to conclude that the single rider had left alone, while the boys had ridden off together as before.<\/p>\n

Ben was stymied. \u201cIt seems likely that Adam realized that they\u2019d been watched.\u201d He looked toward Hugh hoping the man would be able to give him the answer he needed. \u201cSo why did they ride on this morning instead of coming home?<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way I reckon it is that while they know they were watched, they don\u2019t know they\u2019re being followed, and probably figured like the ranch hands did, that it was a drifter who was looking over their camp\u2014and unlikely to be someone who poses a threat. Knowin\u2019 your boys, they weren\u2019t about to let some nosy drifter alter their plans. And to honest, Ben, we don\u2019t know that ain\u2019t just the truth. All we got to go on is some tracks that show someone watching your boys. He\u2019s been watching them for some time, so if he was gonna make a move; he\u2019d have done it by now. He\u2019s got nothing to gain by waiting, is how I see it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re probably right, but I still don\u2019t like it one bit. One man doesn\u2019t follow another without something in mind, so we should keep moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s gonna be impossible to track them with night comin\u2019 on.\u201d Hugh pointed toward a wooded area farther up the rise. \u201cSeems like the boys are headed that way.\u00a0 You have any idea where they\u2019re going?\u201d<\/p>\n

The evening shadows made the landscape less familiar to Ben as he got his bearings.\u00a0 He\u2019d traveled much of this land with his boys when they\u2019d been in the pelt business and he let his mind go back to those days, following the routes he\u2019d taken and the places they\u2019d stayed. \u201cWe used to have a line in that stand of trees, and would camp there for a few weeks at a time when we were trapping. I bet they\u2019re headed over there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know your way well enough to make it in the dark?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll figure it out somehow. Let\u2019s head out and I\u2019ll get my bearings again once we get a little closer.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He\u2019d been watching these two for a couple days now and couldn\u2019t figure them out. They seemed close for brothers\u2014almost like they were happy to be together. He\u2019d never been that way with his own brother; all they\u2019d ever done was fight. He hadn\u2019t laid eyes on any of his family in nearly 15 years. That was no loss to him as he reckoned it: the farther away from them he was, the better he liked it.<\/p>\n

All that talking these two did made his skin crawl and want to start shooting somebody. They\u2019d spent the entire day in the woods making snares and catching rabbits and squirrels. The heavier one even shimmied up a tree when he thought he saw a raccoon, yelling something about wanting to make a coon-skin cap. He did wish he could have a chunk of that rabbit meat they were roasting. All he\u2019d had to eat over the last several days was cold beans and beef jerky.<\/p>\n

He was keeping his distance from their camp tonight. Last night he\u2019d seen one of them listening as he\u2019d jostled the bush he was hiding behind, and he wasn\u2019t in the mood to be found just yet. Let them have their last supper together and then he\u2019d put an end to all this brotherly fussing once and for all.\u00a0 Yet the aroma of roasting meat made his stomach growl as his mouth watered, and he wondered if he shouldn\u2019t get it over with before they ate, and then he could sit down to a right fine supper.<\/p>\n

In the end he decided to hold out a bit longer. He wanted to let his excitement build as he planned the final confrontation. There was no doubt that the kid would be surprised, and he was looking forward to seeing the fear. Sometimes he swore he could smell the fear on the man he was about to kill, and closed his eyes in remembrance of the times he\u2019d experienced that pure rush of excitement. He\u2019d only had one failure, and he was about to right that. His biggest satisfaction would come as he watched Adam Cartwright fall and die\u2014and this time he would make sure he stayed dead.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was some good rabbit, weren\u2019t it, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat it was, Hoss.\u201d Adam continued to visually sweep the perimeter of camp as he finished the last of his meal. He and Hoss had done a lot during the day and there hadn\u2019t been enough time to do a quick check for tracks before it got too dark to see. The truth was that he\u2019d felt they\u2019d been followed throughout the day, but he hadn\u2019t seen anything to confirm that. Although he\u2019d come to the conclusion that this was a ranch hand following them at the behest of their father, it still made him uneasy. He was deep in thought as Hoss\u2019s voice broke through the cloud of his reasoning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think it\u2019s good, why didn\u2019t you eat more? You been gnawin\u2019 on that piece for the whole time. You didn\u2019t eat enough to keep a coyote filled, much less a full grown man. Ain\u2019t you feelin\u2019 good?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel fine\u2026maybe I\u2019m just tired. It\u2019s been a long day with a lot of critter chasing.\u201d Adam chuckled to relieve the tense look on his brother\u2019s face. He had seen Hoss\u2019s eyes narrow and his lips purse as he waited to hear the status of his brother\u2019s health. Adam had noticed this same look on his father\u2019s face each time he didn\u2019t eat as well as usual, or went to bed early, and knew that concern remained that he might one day drift back to sleep and never wake up.\u00a0 At first, he\u2019d wondered himself and had spent many a restless night unwilling to sleep, but as his strength returned, he became confident that it would not happen again. There were times though, like tonight, after a long day involved in physical and mental activity, when he experienced extreme exhaustion and wanted nothing more than to curl up in his blanket and drift off. But he knew he needed to stay awake long enough to inspect the area around their camp before turning in.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do look beat, that\u2019s for sure. You positive ya ain\u2019t feeling poorly?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m positive. Let\u2019s get this place cleaned up and then I\u2019m going to take a walk before we turn in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou going out to look for more of them footprints?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes flew open in surprise,\u201dWha\u2026how do you know about the footprints?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was Hoss\u2019s turn to chuckle. \u201cYou forgetting that you taught me how to track when I was just a kid?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re still \u2018just a kid\u2019 in case you hadn\u2019t noticed.\u201d Adam sighed as a smile replaced his surprise. \u201cI should have known you\u2019d spot what I saw. You\u2019re a better tracker now than I\u2019ll ever be. I guess it\u2019s in your blood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa says it\u2019s because I was born on the plains and I have the spirit of an explorer, or somethin\u2019 like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s probably right.\u201d Adam filled their plates with sand, scrubbing them to remove the remains of their supper. \u201cI don\u2019t want you to worry about those prints, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not worried. Are you worried? I just figure it\u2019s one of the hands that Pa\u2019s got tracking us. He ain\u2019t quite over the fright of you almost dying, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stopped scrubbing to look directly at his brother, impressed with the boy\u2019s intuition and good sense. \u201cI know you don\u2019t like school, Hoss, and people might think that means you\u2019re not smart\u2026but you\u2019re as smart as they come. Unfortunately there\u2019s going to be comparisons between us since I can\u2019t get enough learning and you\u2019d rather be outside doing other things. But don\u2019t listen to anything people say. Just be who you want to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked down, inordinately fascinated with his boots as he replied, \u201cI already know what that\u2019s like, Adam. I once heard Mrs. Cass call me the \u2018big dumb Cartwright kid\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

It had been some time since Adam had held his brother. When they were younger and traveling, and even as they\u2019d finally settled on the Ponderosa and run trap lines with their father, Adam had comforted Hoss, settled him for sleep and taken care of him when he was ill or hurt. But that had stopped once Marie joined the family and became the mother Hoss had always longed to have.<\/p>\n

Adam set the plates down and walked to his brother, taking his shoulders and ordered him to look up. When Hoss complied he said, \u201cDon\u2019t ever let anyone define who you are, Hoss. I mean that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou may mean it, Adam, but I don\u2019t understand what you mean.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust don\u2019t let Mrs. Cass or anyone else make you feel that you\u2019re not good enough just the way you are. You\u2019re\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0dumb. In fact, you\u2019re one of the smartest people I know and even Miss Jones says you pick things up so fast she has trouble keeping the rest of the group caught up to you. And beyond that, you know things that other people will never know, because you learn just by observing.\u00a0 You\u2019re intuitive. And before you ask, that means that much of what you know isn\u2019t taught to you; it\u2019s pure instinct.\u00a0 You\u2019re full of natural knowledge with a mind and heart that knows what to do with it. I remember being your mother being that way. She always seemed to sense what other people needed and knew what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

The blush in Hoss\u2019s cheeks was visible even in the low light of the fire. \u201cGee, thanks, Adam. I don\u2019t think anyone\u2019s ever called me smart before. I know I don\u2019t talk good like you, and I figure people wonder why I\u2019m not more like you. But it\u2019s like you said, I do know stuff: lots of it is stuff that no one else does.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about!\u00a0 And just because people think I\u2019m smart doesn\u2019t mean they think I\u2019m \u2018smart.\u2019\u201d Hoss\u2019s look of puzzlement made Adam laugh as he explained. \u201cI once heard Mrs. Cass say something about me too. She forgets that we Cartwright boys have very good ears, and I overheard her when was talking softly to Mrs. Jones one day when I was in the store. She said I might be intelligent, but I sure wasn\u2019t smart because a smart man wouldn\u2019t leave the Ponderosa to go back East for something as silly as schooling. She figured that with all the money the Ponderosa will bring in one day, I was a fool to leave it behind to go do something else. I think she suspects I\u2019m giving up far more than I\u2019ll be getting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s smile crossed from ear to ear. \u201cWell, I\u2019ll be. Maybe Mrs. Cass calls you the tall dumb one, or the older dumb one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe she does. So how about we both show her what the Cartwright boys can do. I\u2019ll go to college and learn as much as I can, and you keep doing the best at what makes you the happiest. \u201c<\/p>\n

The younger boy\u2019s eyes returned to his boots. \u201cYou sure you gotta leave, Adam. It\u2019s gonna be strange here without you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHappy the man who, like Ulysses, has made a fine voyage, or has won the Golden Fleece, and then returns, experienced and knowledgeable, to spend the rest of his life among his family!<\/em>* That\u2019s a quote I really like and I think it\u2019s what will happen for me. I know it\u2019ll be hard with one less brother to do chores, goof around with, and to torment Pa, but once I get through with school, I\u2019ll come back home and it\u2019ll be even better. Think about it: once I\u2019m gone, you\u2019ll be the oldest and then you\u2019ll be in charge when Pa\u2019s not around and can tell Little Joe what to do. You\u2019ll even get my room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, them\u2019s all good things, but there\u2019s just one thing wrong with all that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled, \u201cOh? What\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The older brother had continued to hold onto Hoss\u2019s shoulders as they\u2019d talked, and now encircled the boy, pulling him toward him in an embrace. \u201cI promise it will be fine, Hoss, and before you know it, I\u2019ll be back\u2026and by then you\u2019ll probably wish I would stay away.\u201d<\/p>\n

The moment passed as both boys set to cleaning up and decided they\u2019d walk the outskirts of camp together to see if they could catch whichever ranch hand was on duty for the night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnything looking familiar, Boss?<\/p>\n

Hugh and Ben had followed the tracks from Hoss and Adam and just as they\u2019d discovered earlier, they were joined by a third set\u2014obviously a single rider following them at a distance. The sun had sunk too low to see anything but shadows now and the two men were left with little choice except to stop for the night or go with a gut feeling as to where the boys were headed and keep moving.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe landscape sure has changed a lot in the seven years since I\u2019ve been up here. Everything\u2019s gotten bigger and the trail seems overgrown, but I\u2019m pretty sure we\u2019ve been on the remnant of what used to be a trap line that ran along a creek, and if my thinking is correct, the area we used to camp at up here is off to our right and not more than 20 minutes away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugh raised his head as he sniffed the air. \u201cI\u2019ve been noting the scent of a campfire for some little time now, but was thinkin\u2019 maybe it was just my imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben concurred, \u201cI\u2019ve noticed it too, but there\u2019s a good breeze blowing away from us so it\u2019s been elusive. Let\u2019s head that way and see what we find.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

While Adam stowed their utensils, Hoss slit two green branches far enough to pack the gap with dried moss and grass he\u2019d found, making torches for them to use as they walked the edge of camp looking for a visitor.<\/p>\n

They circled around and found nothing, with Hoss seeming disappointed as he offered, \u201cLooks like they gave up. Whoever it was must\u2019a realized that we were on to them and headed home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt that, Hoss. Would you want to report to\u00a0our<\/em>\u00a0pa that you \u2018thought\u2019 everything seemed fine and then came back while we were still out here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dYou may be right about that, but they ain\u2019t here neither.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, they\u2019re here alright: just being a little more careful tonight is all\u2026staying a little farther out, but close enough to come running if something happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss yawned. \u201cI suppose we could make a wider sweep, but I\u2019m tired. Maybe we should just turn in and let them be. Hey, Adam: about that rabbit. I done skinned him real good didn\u2019t I?<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did indeed. If Pa lets you go ahead with a line, you\u2019ll have no trouble dressing those pelts.\u201d Hoss\u2019s yawn became contagious as Adam followed suit. \u201cI think you\u2019re right about heading back in and getting some sleep. We\u2019re going home first thing tomorrow and have to drop off that magazine by the Smyths\u2019 so we\u2019ll want to get going earlier than we\u2019ve been doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both boys heard the snap of branches and turned in unison to see their observer standing within a stone\u2019s throw. But it was only Adam\u2019s jaw that dropped as he recognized who it was. He spoke one word, \u201cRandall.\u201d<\/p>\n

His laugh range out against the cool night air and floated away on the breeze. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter boy, you look like you seen a ghost!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a manner of speaking, yes\u2026 I thought you were\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDead? Yeah, well, seems there\u2019s a lot of that goin\u2019 around, seeing as I thought the same about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHugh told pa that he\u2019d met a man who buried you\u2026even had your gun and horse and said your hand had become gangrenous.\u00a0 You can\u2019t fake something like that\u2026unless you paid someone to say it.\u201d Adam\u2019s confusion had his mind whirling. He knew he had to get hold of his fear before he ended up dead for real this time, and Hoss along with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, payin\u2019 someone to lie don\u2019t work. They can always be paid better to tell the truth. No, this time fate was on my side. Found a man: snake-bit, and wouldn\u2019t you know it, in the same hand as my hurtin\u2019 one.\u201d He laughed again, \u201cThat wound Hugh gave me healed up real quick, while that poor fella up and died from the poison of that rattler. I wasn\u2019t sure how it would suit me to exchange my stuff for his, but figured if\u00a0you\u00a0<\/em>died and your pa came lookin\u2019 for me, he\u2019d hear that I\u2019d kicked the bucket; it worked too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does seem to have suited you purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randall looked toward Hoss. \u201cDon\u2019t you just love how pretty that older brother of yours talks? \u2018Suit my purpose\u2026\u2019 Hell yes, it suit my purpose. I been riding around between Virginia City and Carson, right across your lovely Ponderosa and no one paid me no mind. Heard in Carson that some doc had been coming to see the high-and-mighty Cartwrights after the oldest son got shot, and was saying there weren\u2019t no chance of you living. Felt pretty good about that. After a while, I got curious and rode out to your camp and listened in on some of what the hands were talkin\u2019 about. And to my wonder, I heard that some drifter had found my horse and gun next to that corpse and everyone figured it was me, just like I\u2019d hoped.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam regained his mettle, drew himself up and now stood tall against the man who\u2019d nearly killed him. \u201cSo why didn\u2019t you just keep riding? It would seem you got a clean slate in the ruse and could have gone anywhere you wanted. What made you come back here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWent west for a bit, and then decided to head toward Kansas and find work there. But coming back, I stopped in \u2018Ginia City just for old-time\u2019s sake, hoping to hear the sad news of your passin\u2019.\u201d Randall paused as he took his hat and laid it over his heart in a gesture of mock grief before laughing. \u201cAnd what do I find out, but that you had risen from certain death. I wanted to ride on\u2026I truly did, but that gnawing kept on in my gut, and I knew I had to finish what I started with you. No loose ends, I always say. If I make someone dead, I want them to stay that way. So I been watching your house and saw you two headin\u2019 out on this here little trip and saw my opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s voice was flat as he asked, \u201cSo what is it you want from me this time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSame as last time: a fair fight. I see you\u2019re still wearin\u2019 that gun so let\u2019s have at it and get this over with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the one who\u2019s been watching us at night, and probably during the day as well, so in all this time, why didn\u2019t you just shoot me and get it over with. Why wait forthis<\/em>.\u00a0 You could have been long gone before anyone even realized we were dea\u2026\u201d Terror flooded him: Hoss was along. His heart plunged as he suspected that this maniac couldn\u2019t leave Hoss alive to give up the secret of who had done the shooting. Adam\u2019s heart was beating at such a pace he felt momentarily dizzy, yet couldn\u2019t let on that he was experiencing any problem. \u201cForget I asked that. Hugh told me about people like you the last time I went through this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randall\u2019s hackles began to rise along with his anger. \u201cWhat do you mean by \u2018people like me?\u2019 What did that old fool, Hugh have to say about me anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had taken the advantage with one well-placed comment and he used it. \u201cHe said that you weren\u2019t a real gun fighter; you\u2019re a coward who\u2019s too afraid to go up against someone who might actually outdraw you.\u00a0 You only pick fights with kids or men who aren\u2019t used to shooting. That way, their moment of uncertainty at the draw puts them at such a disadvantage that you\u2019re a sure winner.\u201d<\/p>\n

The moon had risen, and with its light everything became more clear. The look on Randall\u2019s face had changed from a sneering smirk to one of pure rage.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talkin\u2019 about, kid. I gave you a fair chance\u2026even let you draw first. I always let my opponent draw first. \u00a0They even call that something\u2026oh yeah, it\u2019s my\u00a0signature<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSignature? Ha! The signature of a coward.\u201d Adam knew he was cutting close to the man\u2019s soul, and continued slicing. \u201cSure you let me draw first because you\u2019ve learned that by giving what seems an advantage to the person facing you, they don\u2019t see you as the threat you are. For that instant, they think that maybe they\u2019ve got you wrong: that maybe you really are going to allow a fair fight. \u00a0When you told me to draw, I thought I\u2019d shoot and you\u2019d never get your gun out of your holster. I was wrong. I had no instinct to kill\u2014especially when you weren\u2019t standing there with your gun drawn. In that moment, I doubted what I had to do. You must have done this sort of thing often enough that you can count on that greenhorn fear and uncertainty. And since you only go after neophytes like me, that makes you a coward\u2026pure and simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man was sputtering; spit flying as he went on the defensive. \u201cI am not a coward!\u201d he screamed. \u201cI always let the other guy shoot first. They\u2019re fair fights and I stand up to each of them that calls me out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was laughing now, and he thanked the stars that his brother had picked up on what was happening and was laughing too. Even at this moment of terror he realized again how intuitive his younger brother was. Hoss seemed to know what to do, just as Adam had postulated earlier. \u201cCall you out? Call you out, Randall? I never called you out. In fact I tried to stay as far away from you as possible while you crawled around like a snake\u2014on your yellow belly\u2014followed me, just like now, to find me when I was most vulnerable and then struck before I had time to back away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst you call me a coward and now you say I\u2019m yella?\u201d He screamed. \u201cYou back that up with actions, sonny!\u201d Randall took his stance: legs apart, hand levitating near his gun.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you get on your horse right now and ride out; take mine too so this coward can\u2019t follow you without going for his own mount. Get Pa and bring him back here; I\u2019ll need him one way or the other.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Adam,\u201d Hoss\u2019s voice was tinged with sadness, \u201cI can\u2019t leave you now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo as I say, Hoss! This is one time there\u2019ll be no argument: understand? I don\u2019t intend to die, and I\u2019m gonna make sure I slow this yellow-bellied snake up a little even if I do.\u00a0 But I can\u2019t do what I have to if I\u2019m worrying about what\u2019s going to happen to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fear was gone, replaced by resolve. \u201cI\u2019ll go Adam\u2026 \u00a0But I\u2019m bettin\u2019 on you this time. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Hoss. Now go.\u00a0 I can stall this for a bit until you\u2019re safe, but hurry up. You can ride bareback so don\u2019t worry about a saddle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss was moving toward the horses when he turned back toward his older brother. \u201cAdam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

The child didn\u2019t know how to say what he was feeling. He was afraid he wouldn\u2019t see his brother again, yet felt Adam would be victorious. Hoss wondered how he could say all that was in his heart. Should he tell his brother that he loved him; thank him for all the things he\u2019d done for him over the years?\u00a0 After quickly considering the options, Hoss said, \u201cI\u2019ll see you later,\u201d and left.<\/p>\n

The turn of events had gotten Randall so steamed that in his moment of disadvantage he didn\u2019t object to Hoss leaving. As he figured it, there was no way the kid could get home and back with help before this was over, so it wasn\u2019t important. Hoping to rattle his opponent, he began to taunt, \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter sonny, don\u2019t want your brother to see the shame of you dying?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam waited until Hoss had cleared the camp before answering. \u201cYou got that partly right. I don\u2019t want my brother to see this charade. There\u2019s no glory in this fight or in this kind of death and I don\u2019t want him to think that this is the way to settle anything. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cYou and them fine words of yours; it\u2019s too bad you have to die. I think you just might amount to something if you live so maybe I should just ride out of here and let you be.\u201d His words had an effect he hadn\u2019t planned for: they\u2019d added hope to the equation, and he saw Adam relax\u2014just a little\u2014and it made Randall\u2019s next words seem all the more bitter. \u201cNah, I would have to live with you playin\u2019 in my mind if you was alive, and it would drive me crazy. So let\u2019s get this done so I can move along.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just as the last time he\u2019d squared up against this man, Adam\u2019s thoughts were of his family, wondering if he\u2019d lived a life worthy of them. He prayed that this too would pass without the journey through the darkness he was facing again. This time he knew there was no Hugh on the hill to help if his aim was off, and his family was too far away to comfort him if he lay dying. Yet he reasoned it was better this way: two people for some unknown reason, brought together for this barbaric act, as Randall had said\u2014\u201cto get it done.\u201d He knew what he had to do this time, and washed all other thoughts, fears, reservations and hopes from his mind, and set himself for the draw.<\/p>\n

As he readied himself, Adam\u2019 thought about the time he\u2019d drawn his gun with his father in a test of speed, and recalled the words his father had spoken. \u201cYou know, Randall, there\u2019s no one watching this time to see who draws first, so let\u2019s just draw at the same time and make this a real fight instead of a sham. My father once told me that speed is only an advantage if your aim is true, making this not about who draws first, but who shoots better. So instead of standing here all day waiting for me to draw, how about one of us count to three and we pull. You want to do the count or should I?\u201d\u00a0 He watched as Randall\u2019s expression went from questioning to understanding.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you do it, kid. I gotta say, you grown up some since the last time I saw you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam saw it now: the fear in Randall\u2019s eyes. After Adam was shot the first time, their foreman Hugh had given his assessment of Randall, saying that the man had never faced a worthy opponent. It seemed now to be the truth, since it was clear that Randall had been counting on Adam being the same clueless teen he\u2019d faced a few months back\u2014probably even more scared now because of what he\u2019d gone through afterwards. \u00a0Adam figured that his request that they draw at the same time had ended that illusion and Randall understood that he was facing a man who was confident of his skill and sure in his purpose.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s hand hovered near the Colt\u2019s handle. This time there was no shaking; his hand was solid as steel. \u201cSounds fine by me. Ready? One\u2026..Two…\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss was flying through the moonlit darkness, riding bareback with Adam\u2019s horse in tow as wayward branches slapped at his face and threatened to knock him loose from his death grip on the animal\u2019s midsection. He was concentrating so intensely that he failed to see his father and Hugh in his path until he nearly ran them down.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss!\u201d Ben cried out as he grabbed the reins to calm the frightened animal. \u201cWhat in tarnation are you doing!? Where\u2019s you saddle? Where\u2019s your brother?\u201d The suddenly worried father found he was shouting, \u201cOut with it! What\u2019s going on here? If I\u2019d have thought there\u2019d be this kind of foolishness going on between you two, I\u2019d never have let you come out\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The middle son was always respectful, but this time he hollered, \u201cStop it, Pa!\u201d as he cut his father off. \u201cYa gotta come with me. That guy\u2026that Randall guy ain\u2019t dead at all like you and Hugh thought.\u201d He caught his breath as he looked toward Hugh for emphasis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that got to do with you riding like a whirlwind in the dark, nearly breaking your neck in the process?\u201d Ben had no idea why his hand was shaking as it held the leather of Hoss\u2019s horse. He knew that what Hoss had just told him could mean nothing good and yet his mind couldn\u2019t wrap itself around its true import.<\/p>\n

With the boy and his horse settled a bit, the two adults were able to piece together what was happening, with Hugh seeming to understand what was going on more quickly. \u201cHas Randall been following you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but he didn\u2019t show himself until tonight. Adam and I thought it was one of the hands Pa had sent, so we didn\u2019t pay much mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo where\u2019s Adam? Why aren\u2019t you with him? Has something happened to him?\u201d Ben\u2019s mouth was so dry he felt as though he was speaking through cotton.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Pa, Hoss sobbed. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s happening back there. That guy said he came back to shoot Adam dead this time and he meant it. But Adam got him riled with some stuff he was saying and that Randall wasn\u2019t looking quite so cocky when I left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugh pondered out loud, \u201cI\u2019m surprised Randall let you leave, Hoss, it seems like he wouldn\u2019t want any witnesses to his being alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t want to leave, but Adam said I had to and there was just somethin\u2019 in his voice that made me go. I\u2019m so sorry, Pa, I should\u2019a stayed there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did exactly the right thing, son.\u201d Ben moved his horse closer to touch Hoss\u2019s arm. \u201cYour brother must have realized that you were in danger too and wanted to get you away from there.\u201d He stopped to think. \u201cWere you up at the line camp?\u201d Hoss nodded. \u201cWell, that\u2019s good then: we would have heard shots if any had been fired, so Adam\u2019s probably talking Randall to death, instead of shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s thought had barely been given voice when the night\u2019s stillness was broken by a single shot from a revolver. \u00a0Three horses were spurred to action as Hugh, Ben and Hoss rode toward the sound. The area seemed more familiar to Ben now and he slowed as he neared the outskirts of the camp, motioning for the others to stop and keep quiet.\u00a0 Whispering, he told them, \u201cI\u2019m going to move in and see what\u2019s happening. You two stay here until I call you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Randal held his bloody hand to his chest as though cradling a wounded animal. \u201cWell you\u2019re fast now, sonny, and your aim\u2019s a little better.\u00a0 You actually hit me this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy aim is excellent. I wanted to shoot your gun away before you could pull the trigger, and I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour aim is excellent, huh? Well why didn\u2019t you use it to take me down once and for all? Why leave me alive to pick up that gun and do what I came here for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou move toward that gun, and I\u2019ll blow your trigger finger off. My father made me practice until I could shoot the whiskers off a ferret, so I can hit whatever I aim for. Can\u2019t you understand that I have no interest in killing you? As vile as you are, I keep thinking that maybe if someone gives you a break, you might change\u2026maybe find something in your life that brings you satisfaction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really are a fool, Cartwright. Can\u2019t\u00a0you<\/em>\u00a0see that what brings me \u2018satisfaction,\u2019 as you put it, is seeing you dead? So kill me and put me out of my misery or be prepared to face me again until you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll give you a chance to ride out of here now and never come back. You said you were heading to Kansas, so go on. Do whatever it is that you need to as long as you get off our land and leave my family alone. I can\u2019t imagine that you really want to die, so think real carefully before you do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know exactly what I\u2019m gonna do, boy. I\u2019m gonna pick up that gun and shoot you. You do what you have to do, but I\u2019m going to put an end to this before I go anywhere. So shoot to kill, or prepare to die. Either is fine by me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben had moved to the trees behind his son, awash with relief and pride to see that the single shot had come from Adam\u2019s gun, and that both men were still alive. He heard Randall\u2019s ultimatum, and decided it was time to step in.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019ll be no killing tonight, Randall.\u201d<\/p>\n

The gunfighter\u2019s jaw dropped as he saw Ben walking up to stand beside his son. When he could finally put his thoughts into words, he whined, \u201cWhat is it with you Cartwrights? One of you can\u2019t sneeze without another one showing up to wipe your nose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben chuckled wryly. \u201cI\u2019m surprised you have a sense of humor, but to answer your question, we Cartwrights are just a family that stands up for one another when we\u2019re threatened. You almost took my son from me once and you\u2019re not going to try it again without going through me. He has given you a chance to move along. I\u2019d advise you to take that chance and do the best you can with it, because my son is far more generous than I. If you reach for that gun, I\u2019ll make sure you\u2019ll never use it again\u2026on anyone. Leave your pistol where it is and get out of here. For the future, I\u2019ll order my men to shoot to kill if they ever see you on our land again, and they won\u2019t be generous either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, I\u2019ll get out of here. I know when I\u2019m licked.\u201d Randall turned to leave, but then faltered as he went down on one knee and finally sat on the ground, groaning. \u201cThis here hand is painin\u2019 me more than I thought it would. Before I go, could you give me a hand getting\u2019 some sort of bandage on it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked toward his father, asking, \u201cHave you got anything along we could use? \u201c<\/p>\n

It was the break Randall had hoped for. As Ben glanced back at his son, neither of them were watching him, and in an instant he had the gun in his hand with the intention to put an end to both father and son.<\/p>\n

A shot split the silence: then another, until there was only an echo left giving witness to the shooting.<\/p>\n

Hugh walked from the woods while holstering his pistol, crossed over to the body, and picked up the gun that was resting in the palm of the dead man\u2019s hand. \u201cHe never did figure out what this was for, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n

There was sadness in Ben\u2019s voice as he answered, \u201cNo, he never did. I told Adam that a gun is a tool: something that can serve your best purposes if you learn to use it well. But this sort of thing\u2026this vengeance seeking, the thought that you can use it to make others fear you or have it substitute for the courage you lack\u2026\u201d His words stalled as the men looking down on the body realized the worthlessness of it all. Checking on Adam, Ben inquired, \u201cYou all right, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa, thanks to Hugh. My aim was better and I wasn\u2019t afraid this time, but I still need to learn a bit about how far a man will go to accomplish his purpose: whether it\u2019s a good one, or one that\u2019s contorted and evil like Randall\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about that Young Cartwright. You done real well and I\u2019m proud of how you handled him.\u201d Hugh looked down at the pistol he\u2019d taken from Randall\u2019s hand. \u201cThis is the second time I\u2019ve held this man\u2019s gun, but this time I\u00a0know<\/em>\u00a0it won\u2019t be used to hurt anyone ever again and that gives me peace in this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI owe you my thanks as well, Hugh,\u201d Ben confessed. \u201cI didn\u2019t realize that he was using a ruse to make one last attempt.<\/p>\n

\u201cKind of figured that.\u201d Hugh began to explain, \u201cI got up to the clearing just as you told him that if any of us ever saw him wandering around here again, you\u2019d give the order to shoot. It seemed he gave in a little too fast for my way of thinkin\u2019 and I saw that he collapsed right where his gun had fallen: caught its glint in the moonlight just as he went down. While you two moved your attention to how to help him, he grabbed that pistol and pointed it, so I shot. Figured it was my call since I brought this on your family by hiring him on, and I wasn\u2019t goin\u2019 to let him shoot one of my good drovers while I stood there wonderin\u2019 what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks again, Hugh.\u201d Ben thought again about what the man had just said. \u201cYou say he was aiming at Adam, rather than me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. The man had a powerful hate for your son, Mr. Cartwright. Think maybe he was jealous of him or it just rankled him that someone could be as good as he seems. I figure you would\u2019a been next, sir\u2026that\u2019s if you\u2019d have let him live to shoot again. The way I figure it, I just took care of the trash.\u201d<\/p>\n

The silence was broken as Ben finally remarked, \u201cWhat a waste of life and effort. No man should be thought of that way, and yet what do you say about someone like Randall? He had the opportunity to be so much more than he was, but he chose this path.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam spoke up as his father\u2019s words drifted away in sorrow. \u201cI think he was confused. Maybe he didn\u2019t have the same kind of upbringing that we did and just got lost, angry and vengeful. Doesn\u2019t make much difference in the end; his life would certainly have ended this way whether it was here or the next town down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

A happy whoop broke the three men from their thoughts as Hoss came running into camp and grabbed his older brother. \u201cI knowed you would win, Adam. I just knowed it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Breaking his grip, Adam told the child, \u201cThis wasn\u2019t anything I wanted to win or lose, Hoss. You have to understand that even though these things sometimes happen, it isn\u2019t the right way. Hugh was the one who ended this, not me. And none of us are happy about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, Adam. I\u2019m just happy you\u2019re alive and that the other guy is\u2026.isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben grabbed both sons by the shoulders, saying, \u201cI think there\u2019s been enough excitement tonight. It won\u2019t be an easy trip, but the moonlight\u2019s good and we can find our way home. Why don\u2019t you come with us too, Hugh. We\u2019ll send men back here tomorrow to bury the body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Mr. Cartwright, but I\u2019m gonna find Randall\u2019s horse, throw him on it and take him somewhere else to bury. I don\u2019t want you have to see his grave after what he\u2019s put your family through. I know you won\u2019t ever forget him, but you don\u2019t need to remember him either.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The days of spring were moving quickly as the eldest Cartwright prepared to leave.\u00a0 Adam still often wondered at his good fortune in finding a Harvard professor doing botanical studies on the Ponderosa. It had seemed that fate had dropped Professor Metz on their land instead of anywhere else, and as always, Young Cartwright had taken every advantage of the opportunity. He\u2019d talked Professor Metz into working with him and in the end had received a first rate education. If all had gone well for the professor, he would arrive at the ranch any day now to begin the trek to Boston where Adam would test at the best universities in the East.<\/p>\n

In the year that Professor Metz had been away, Adam had worked on the basics he\u2019d already learned, and then honed his knowledge by using the first year Harvard textbooks his mentor had arranged to have sent to Virginia City. The young man had no illusions of having an easy time of school even with all his preparation. He\u2019d be competing with others who had studied with the finest educators for years instead of trying to cram years of schooling into the quiet moments and winter months while helping to run the largest ranch in Nevada. But he felt he could pass the entrance tests and once accepted he would throw himself headlong into his studies in a purely academic setting. That made him equal parts fearful and giddy with excitement, and he wondered how long it would take him to adjust to such a drastic change in his every day routines.<\/p>\n

The other opportunity contributing to Adam\u2019s excitement was that once he was in Boston, he would meet his grandfather. \u00a0After all the years of wondering, he felt he would finally come to know more about his mother, perhaps even feel her presence in the house where she had grown up. Adam knew he had to be careful not to try to extract all of his grandfather\u2019s memories at once. There would be time and the young man planned to take full advantage of their years together.<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t the only one thinking about that meeting. Even though Ben\u2019s heart was breaking at his son\u2019s pending departure, he had to admit to a serious curiosity as to what his father-in-law would think of his grandson. The older man had made a few bad decisions around the time Ben had married Elizabeth, but he\u2019d turned his life around and had always been most encouraging of his son-in-law and supportive of his dreams. Ben knew that Abel was eager to meet the boy he\u2019d heard about through the years and he had briefly considered taking his son to Boston himself, even while knowing it was out of the question to be gone for that length of time. He still wished he could see the meeting between grandfather and grandson, and watch Abel\u2019s eyes as he realized how much Adam resembled Elizabeth. \u00a0Ben knew that Captain Stoddard would be filled with pride as he realized that the baby he\u2019d bid farewell to 17 years ago had become a wonderful young man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s departure became imminent the day that Ben went into Virginia City and met Professor Metz coming out of Cass\u2019s store.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Ben, so good to see you.\u201d The man was tanned and healthy looking from his year on the border between Arizona and Nevada. \u201cMr. Cass has been filling me in on the events that occurred during year I was gone as regards my star pupil.\u201d His voice took on a serious tone as he grasped Ben\u2019s elbow. \u201cIs Adam truly all right? I imagine there was some exaggeration in the stories being told, but was he as seriously ill as they claim?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no need for exaggeration; the situation was dire. But I assure you that he is fine, well studied and eager to leave with you. He\u2019s has truly had a year that he will never forget\u2026and I think that parts of it are things he might not wish to remember.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you\u2019re willing to let him go after what all has happened? No second thoughts?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSecond thoughts, Adolph? How about third, fourth and fifth thoughts.\u00a0 But I can\u2019t stop him and truly wouldn\u2019t want to. He has fulfilled his promise to me and grown into a fine man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood! Then if you would be so kind, please tell him that I have arrived, and that we shall leave on Saturday. I had planned on riding to the ranch, but this meeting is opportune as it will give me more time to finalize our preparations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben swallowed hard. \u201cI\u2019m assuming you mean this coming Saturday as in five days from now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The professor smiled. \u201cIt is never easy to let a child go. You may have the best of intentions, yet your heart does not want to say goodbye.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve observed much of this over the years, I suppose: parents in obvious misery, wanting the best for their children yet not wanting to walk away and leave them behind.<\/p>\n

Professor Metz\u2019s nod indicated that he had. \u201cThe separation is always harder for some parents than others: those with the closest relationships with their sons\u2014the most love and respect\u2014have the hardest time. You are such a father and son, yet I know you will put on a brave face and not send Adam off with a sad heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s voice took on a husky tone as he ended the conversation, \u201cI\u2019ll let Adam know that I\u2019ve spoken with you and have him to town early Saturday.\u201d He turned back as he entered the store, \u201cThank you for all that you\u2019ve already done and will be doing for my son. You\u2019ve brought his dream to reality: something I couldn\u2019t have done no matter how hard I tried.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will Cass waved as Ben entered the store. \u201cI\u2019ve got mail for you today. Did you see Professor Metz outside?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sure did, and he told me that you had filled him in on Adam\u2019s year of mishaps.\u201d Ben smiled as he watched Will\u2019s face turn from a welcoming smile to a look of embarrassment at being caught gossiping.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly the part about being shot, Ben. He asked about the family and I thought he\u2019d be interested to know that Adam had gone through some rough times. You aren\u2019t mad are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not, Will. I\u2019m sure the professor will be regaled with all sorts of tales about Adam\u2019s misadventures in the time he\u2019s in town. Now, about that mail?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben could only shake his head and sigh as he neared his homestead. Not wanting to startle his son, he rode up slowly and then called out, \u201cAdam, come down from that roof before you slide off! You\u2019ve made it through the last few months without any further injury and I don\u2019t want you shattered into pieces now that Professor Metz is back in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s head appeared at the edge of the barn roof as he grinned at his father. \u201cHe\u2019s back? Did you see him\u2026talk to him\u2026is he coming out here\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSlow down, son. I\u2019ll answer your questions once you\u2019re on the ground. What are you doing up there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust replacing a couple of shingles that blew off in that last storm.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want the hay in the loft to get wet and moldy.\u201d Once he\u2019d made it safely down the ladder he took the reins of his father\u2019s horse, leading him into the barn. \u201cSo tell me about Professor Metz\u2026please.\u201d<\/p>\n

After sharing the details of the conversation, Ben grabbed a metal tube from the back of his saddle and moved toward the grain box in the corner of the barn. \u201cCome here, Adam, I\u2019ve got a little surprise for you.\u201d As he cleared the box, one of saddle bags lying atop it opened and a magazine slid out bearing the drawing of a uniformed man and a lovely young woman in a passionate kiss on its cover. \u201cWhat in tarnation?\u201d Ben paged through the magazine and then inspected the saddle bag it had been in, recognizing it as Hoss\u2019s as he repeated his thought, \u201cWhat in tarnation is this!\u201d It was not a question.<\/p>\n

Adam knew what it was immediately and came over as his father\u2019s head of steam was reaching boiling point. \u201cUh, Pa, it\u2019s not what you think it is\u2026well maybe it is what you think it is, but not for the reason you think\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben glanced up at his son, while reading the opening lines of the first story. \u201cWhat are you trying to say, Adam? Since you seem to recognize it, I think you better explain exactly what it is\u2026and now.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a romance magazine that belongs to Mrs. Smyth.\u201d<\/p>\n

His father cut him off, \u201cWhat is Hoss doing with Mrs. Smyth\u2019s magazine\u2026especially one like this? From what I can see of these stories, they\u2019re pretty\u2026interesting<\/em>\u00a0for an 11-year-old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss doesn\u2019t really know what the stories are about. Jeb Smyth gave it to him and told him to read one of the stories to me.\u201d Adam noted his father\u2019s puzzled look as he continued, \u201cJeb set Hoss up. I think he knew Hoss wouldn\u2019t understand what he was reading about and figured he\u2019d get him into a little trouble or at least get a rise out of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA rise out of you? I\u2019m not following you, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss read part of a story about a man named Adam and some woman who\u2019d given him her\u2026a\u2026\u2019special\u00a0 gift\u2019 in a ploy just to get his father\u2019s money\u2026his rich rancher father\u2019s money. Jeb told Hoss that it was a story about me, and my younger brother was clueless as to what it was all about. I set him straight without really telling him anything. He thought the story was just about a pretty girl\u2019s \u2018gift\u2019 and the soldier she gave it to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben laughed loud and hard, clapping his oldest on the back. \u201cSounds like you two had a few\u2026um\u2026\u00a0interesting<\/em>\u00a0conversations on that trip.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed as well admitting that they had covered a lot of ground. \u201cI realized that Hoss has some blank spots in his knowledge that need filling\u2014by you, Pa. You\u2019ll probably need to have that \u2018talk\u2019 with him pretty soon. He likes Maddy Smyth and doesn\u2019t quite understand why and I didn\u2019t think it was my place to explain it to him. I just figured out how much he doesn\u2019t know. You can tell him what he needs to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

The laughing stopped as Ben\u2019s lips pulled to the side in concentration. \u201cI suppose you\u2019re right. If he\u2019s starting to have feelings for a girl, I suppose I need to tell him why that is. I certainly don\u2019t want him learning it from one of these magazines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly, Pa. That\u2019s what I said. We were going to drop it off by Jeb on the way home, but you know how that turned out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben continued to read the initial paragraphs of the story about Adam and Natasha, exploding in laughter as he finished. \u201cSo do women really think this is good writing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems they might think it\u2019s a way to forget the hard lives they have out here. Jeb Told Hoss that his mother hides these under her bed, so she must not want Mr. Smyth to know what they\u2019re about.\u201d Adam watched as his father tucked the magazine back in his brother saddle bag. \u201cPa, did you say you had something you wanted me to see?\u201d<\/p>\n

Brought back to his original intention, Ben shook off the thought of having to have \u201cthat\u201d conversation with his middle son, and asked, \u201cDo you recall the day you told me our house was too small and gave me some drawing of how you would change things?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do, but so much has happened since then I haven\u2019t really thought about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I figured. But shortly after that conversation I sent those drawings to an architectural firm in Sacramento and these are the plans for your drawings.\u201d Ben opened the canister and withdrew a roll of papers that showed a rendering of the house Adam had imagined.<\/p>\n

Adam paged through the sheets of specifications, \u201cThese are incredible, Pa. The house built with them will last forever and give us all plenty of room.\u201d He continued looking at each element of the plans, shaking his head from time to time as he found some interesting detail, and finally asked, \u201cAre you really planning on building this someday?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot someday, Adam, I\u2019ve already hired a logging crew to get the lumber prepared and once that\u2019s done, we\u2019ll get started on the building. I\u2019m figuring it will take some time, but we should have much of it completed by the time you get home from Boston. And once you\u2019re back we can add the final details.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to say anything. I wanted to let you know how important you are to this family\u2026to me. I don\u2019t know what we\u2019ll do without you, but we\u2019ll do the best we can while you do the best you can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Cartwright family, including Hop Sing, accompanied Adam to Virginia City on Saturday morning. The trip began with much laughter as they relived memories of their youthful \u201cfoolishment\u201d as Hop Sing had always called the boys\u2019 antics. But the voices in the wagon muted as they neared their destination as the one leaving and those staying behind realized that this was it: the time had come for separation. They had known this day was coming and yet it had always seemed so far in the future that no one had really thought about what it would be like to say goodbye.<\/p>\n

They reached their destination to find the wagon Professor Metz had prepared waiting in front of the boarding house. Hop Sing had brought along enough canned goods to feed an army for a year, and while Ben helped him transfer the boxes to the other wagon, Hoss shyly handed his brother a wooden horse he\u2019d carved. \u201cI want you to have this, Adam. It\u2019s the first thing I ever whittled that really looks like what it\u2019s supposed to be. Maybe if you get lonesome, you can grab this here little fella and remember what it\u2019s like back here in the middle of nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned the small carving in his hands, \u201cThis is wonderful, Hoss. I can\u2019t wait to see what you\u2019ll be carving by the time I get back. Maybe you can send me some other things you do while I\u2019m away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure. I can do that. Maybe by the time you come home, you\u2019ll have a stable full of wooden horses.\u201d Hoss laughed as he grabbed his older brother around his shoulders in a brief hug. \u201cI bet I\u2019ll be taller\u2019n you when you get back. Then I\u2019ll grab you and never let you go anywhere again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll miss you, Hoss.\u201d Adam clapped his middle brother on the back, and then turned his attention to his youngest sibling. \u201cI\u2019m going to miss you too Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got something for you too, Adam.\u201d The child produced a picture he\u2019d drawn and began to point out the representations. \u201cThis here tall fella is Pa, and you\u2019re next, then Hoss and me.<\/p>\n

Next to the figures of the Cartwright men was a smaller drawing of a man with a long braid. Adam pointed to it and asked, \u201cIs this Hop Sing?<\/p>\n

\u201cYup. I don\u2019t want you to forget any of us but this can help you remember if you ever do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knelt on one knee next to the youngster and drew him to his side. \u201cI will never, ever forget this family, Little Joe, but thanks for the reminder. I\u2019ll think of you especially when I look at this.\u201d Lowering his voice, he added, \u201cDon\u2019t let Hoss boss you around too much while I\u2019m gone. That\u2019s my job and I intend to take up where I left off when I get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s giggles made Hoss ask what he found so funny. \u201cNothin\u2019 . Adam just remembered something silly from our camping trip.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was amazed at Little Joe\u2019s quick thinking and could only wonder what their pa would be going through over the next five years. In some ways he was very glad he would be gone, while in other ways he was already grieving the loss of so many years while his brother\u2019s grew up.<\/p>\n

Ben and Professor Metz had gone over a few last details while the boys had said their goodbyes. As he approached Adam, he remembered what professor had suggested: took a deep breath, and set his face with a smile to send his son off with a positive image to remember. \u201cWell, son, Professor Metz wants to get moving, so this is goodbye. I\u2019ve given Adolph a bank note for your grandfather that should cover the early expenses you\u2019ll incur and will send more once we know how much you\u2019ll need.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know I don\u2019t need to tell you to study hard or to keep out of trouble\u2026well trouble of your own making anyway. But have some fun too son. These are going to be incredible years for you and you should enjoy them. Give my regards to Abel, and make sure you write and tell me how he\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will, Pa. I\u2019ll write all the time, but will expect letters from you too so that I\u2019ll know what\u2019s going on with the ranch and those two.\u201d Adam pointed to his brothers. \u201cI know I\u2019m going to be missing some very interesting years with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Metz broke into the conversation as he came to stand next to his pupil. \u201cIt\u2019s time for final goodbyes, Adam. We must head out or we\u2019ll miss our supply train in Culver City, and while I\u2019ve learned a lot over these years out west, I could never get us across country without their help.\u201d He laughed at the thought as he left father and son together for a moment.<\/p>\n

Ben draped an arm around his son. \u201cMake me proud, Adam. You always have in the past, so I wouldn\u2019t expect you to change now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what to say, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been having that problem the last few days,\u201d the father teased. \u201cSay goodbye, then get on that wagon and begin your journey. You\u2019ve wanted this for so long that you can\u2019t look back or have second thoughts. When I left Boston with you as a baby, your grandfather told me to remember your mother kindly, but not to let her memory hold us back. I\u2019ll say the same to you: Carry us with you in your heart, but not on your shoulders. We\u2019ll be here waiting for you when you come home.\u201d Ben shook his son\u2019s hand, until finally pulling him into an embrace. \u201cGoodbye, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodbye, Pa. I\u2019ll be home sooner that you can imagine. Thank you for everything, especially believing in me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abigail and Mrs. Jones exited the mercantile with the Cass family to add to the send-off and stood waving their goodbyes along with the remaining Cartwrights until they could no longer see the young man waving back at them.<\/p>\n

Ben continued to stand in the street long after the others had resumed their activities, experiencing a moment of panic, wondering what he\u2019d just allowed to happen. Had he really just sent his son off across the country alone, and what would he do if the boy fell in love with his life in the East or his dreams took him away from the Ponderosa instead of back to it? There were no answers, but his sadness lifted as he felt the hope of all parents who have watched a child grow into a person of character and promise. Ben was still watching the last dust spirals of the wagon bearing its precious cargo, wishing he could have secretly stowed away to ensure his son\u2019s safety, when he felt a tugging at his pants leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon, Pa. You can\u2019t see nothing anymore. Adam\u2019s gone, but we\u2019re still here and starvin\u2019, so let\u2019s get that candy you promised.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled down at his youngest son. \u201cYou do have a way of giving me perspective, Little Joe. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two boys ran out ahead, while Hop Sing made his way to his boss\u2019s side. \u201cEverything is all right, Mr. Cartlight?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cartwright cook had posed the same question to Ben some months back when he\u2019d brought Adam home after the castor oil incident. Just as then, the father now considered all that went into answering such a question. His oldest son was gone and his life would be different in ways he couldn\u2019t even imagine yet. He\u2019d had the boy for 17 years, but it wasn\u2019t long enough and knew he\u2019d feel his son\u2019s absence for the entire time he\u2019d be away. He wondered how he would face tomorrow without seeing him across the table or going to him with an idea. Yet he reasoned he\u2019d go on as he always had: one step at a time. As he took that first step, he looked at Hop Sing and replied sincerely, \u201cEverything is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/p>\n

*Quote by Joachim Du Bellay – 1522 – 1560.<\/p>\n

The other stories in this It’s Just a Year series<\/p>\n

He Said, What?!\u00a0A Lesson in Understanding<\/p>\n

The Castor Oil Caper – A Lesson in Humility<\/p>\n

The Worst of Consequences – A Lesson in Choices<\/p>\n

The Quiet of Uncertainty – A Lesson in Hope<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

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

Summary: The final episode of the prequel series,\u00a0It’s Just a Year. Adam has remained home for a year longer than he’d planned before heading for college. In that time, he’s been hazed, poisoned, almost killed and now we find him healthy and camping with Hoss for a final brother’s weekend before leaving for Boston. The idyllic time takes a ominous turn when Adam realizes that someone’s been watching their camp and\u00a0must soon\u00a0face his worst fears again and save his brother from the same fate. As with all theses stories, this can be read without reading the others first. This concluding episode brings the two oldest Cartwright boys together for some defining moments. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a017,000<\/p>\n

It’s Only a Year Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":5758,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,1008,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1550,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Adams-English-Scenic2.jpg?fit=450%2C436&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13631,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13631","url_meta":{"origin":6469,"position":0},"title":"Freedom from Fear (by JennieA)","author":"JennieA","date":"January 14, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 The aftermath of Joe's kidnapping and subsequent rescue. Rating:\u00a0 R\u00a0 (33,760) Due to the subject matter contained in this series, the stories are only available via e:mail from the author -- ryjennie@comcast.net","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/4Cs.jpg?fit=400%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13630,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13630","url_meta":{"origin":6469,"position":1},"title":"A Cry for Freedom (by JennieA)","author":"JennieA","date":"January 7, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 It started with Ben giving Little Joe more responsibility for the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Little did the family realize the course Ben was setting in motion. Rating:\u00a0 R\u00a0 (65,725 words) Due to subject matter contained in this series, the stories are only available via e:mail from the author -- ryjennie@comcast.net","rel":"","context":"In "Action\/Adventure"","block_context":{"text":"Action\/Adventure","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/4Cs.jpg?fit=400%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12147,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12147","url_meta":{"origin":6469,"position":2},"title":"He Said Not To Tell (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"May 1, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"The author requests those who wish to read this series contact her via eMail: DLB1234@aol.com","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/1-joe.jpg?fit=238%2C226&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14379,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14379","url_meta":{"origin":6469,"position":3},"title":"Watching ‘Ponderosa’ (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"January 1, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 It couldn't beat the original, but sure was good for a REALLY Lost Episode. 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