{"id":7139,"date":"2004-06-08T15:35:11","date_gmt":"2004-06-08T19:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7139"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:09:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:09:35","slug":"areas-of-expertise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7139","title":{"rendered":"Areas of Expertise (by Rona)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>A terrible accident teaches the Cartwrights that each of them have their own areas of expertise.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (5,635 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Amidst The Winter Snow<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is that, exactly?\u201d Adam Cartwright asked disdainfully, looking down his nose at his youngest brother, Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Joe replied, looking confused and sounding exasperated. \u201cIt\u2019s a horse, what do you think it is?\u201d His sarcasm had a cutting note to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not a horse, it\u2019s a pony,\u201d Adam snapped. \u201cAnd I for one am not riding that!\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t the right tone to take with Joe that day. It was raining and cold and Joe wasn\u2019t in the mood for backtalk from anyone, especially his oldest brother. \u201cI\u2019m in charge of this remuda, Adam and if this horse isn\u2019t good enough for you, then I suggest you walk! You can\u2019t take Sport out again, because you all but rode him into the ground this morning. So you take the horse I give you or you get out of here!\u201d He held out the reins once more, but Adam resolutely refused to take them.<\/p>\n

The horse in question was a dainty-looking dapple-grey mare. She wasn\u2019t quite as big as Sport, but she was in no way a pony and Adam certainly wasn\u2019t going to be too big for her, as he thought. Quest was sweet natured, but an excellent cow pony, seldom needing to be told what to do. But Adam was determined he wasn\u2019t going to ride the horse he had deemed only fit to be a lady\u2019s saddle horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with giving me Chester?\u201d he asked, pointing to the rangy liver chestnut gelding that he usually used as second horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s lame,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cHe was lame when you brought him back yesterday and he\u2019s still lame. What did you think \u2013 that he would get better overnight?\u201d Joe was trying to be patient, but he wasn\u2019t succeeding very well. \u201cCome on, Adam, make a decision here. Are you riding Quest, or are you rounding up cows on your feet?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nettled by Joe\u2019s tone, and determined that he was not going to do as Joe wanted him to, Adam shook his head. \u201cI could ride Ace,\u201d he smirked. \u201cAnd you could ride Quest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAce is my second horse for a very good reason,\u201d Joe snapped. \u201cHe\u2019s green and inexperienced and I don\u2019t think you\u2019re the rider to help him to learn! Now take the mare!\u201d Joe was practically shouting at Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d asked a deep voice and both boys looked round in relief, thinking that Ben Cartwright would settle the dispute in their favour.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe thinks I\u2019m going to ride Quest,\u201d Adam explained quickly. \u201cAnd that\u2019s not going to happen! I could ride Ace, but Joe doesn\u2019t seem to think I\u2019m good enough.\u201d He waited expectantly for Ben to back him up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that right, Joe?\u201d Ben asked, neutrally.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it is,\u201d Joe replied. He had his temper back under control and his answer was delivered in a matter of fact tone, without the defensiveness that Adam had expected to hear. He said nothing else. Adam had to admit to himself that he was slightly surprised at that. He had expected Joe to rush into an explanation, thus digging himself deeper into the hole he had created.<\/p>\n

Gravely, Ben looked at his sons. He couldn\u2019t understand how two people who loved each other as much as these two could butt heads so often. \u201cJoe\u2019s in charge of the remuda, Adam,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cHe decides who rides which horse and I don\u2019t interfere in that decision. You ride what he tells you, son. He won\u2019t give you an inappropriate horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa!\u201d Adam exclaimed. \u201cI\u2019ve been riding since before he was born! I hardly think riding Ace is going to be beyond me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say it was beyond you, Adam,\u201d Joe replied, cuttingly. \u201cI just said that I didn\u2019t think you were the rider to help him to learn. You\u2019re too impatient, for a start and you\u2019re heavy handed. Quest won\u2019t like the hold on her mouth, but she won\u2019t fight you like Ace will. She\u2019ll just get on with the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sighing as he saw the stubborn look sweep over Adam\u2019s face, Ben interrupted before the argument could get nasty. \u201cAdam, I\u2019ve already told you that Joe is in charge of the remuda. You ride the horse he tells you, or you walk. The choice is yours. You don\u2019t let others undermine your authority, so why are you trying to do this with Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was true, Adam thought. He hated when others argued with him over orders. \u201cAll right,\u201d he agreed ungraciously and took Quest\u2019s reins. He mounted the mare, surprised to find that she wasn\u2019t as small as he had expected and rode off on her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for backing me up, Pa,\u201d Joe said, as he led Ace out of the remuda and tightened the cinch. The pinto was young, and had very feathery feet, showing that his breeding was not among the best, and he had one walleye. But Joe thought that he would make a good cow pony when he gained some experience and Joe was seldom wrong in that respect.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I said, son, you\u2019re in charge of the remuda,\u201d Ben replied and smiled at Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Joe repeated and rode off.<\/p>\n

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

As the afternoon wore on, Adam began to acquire a grudging respect for both Quest and his brother\u2019s judgement. The mare was more than able, she was willing, too, and Adam found that she could probably have done the job on her own. Much as he hated to admit it, Adam knew he was going to have to apologise to Joe that evening when they were back at the house.<\/p>\n

Stopping the mare on a slight rise, Adam paused to look round and see how things were going. The rain was making the ground quite greasy and the milling cattle were making everything muddy. The cowboys were being very careful that they didn\u2019t slip. Further down the slope, Adam could see Hoss, mounted on a huge horse that wouldn\u2019t look out of place hauling logs, Adam thought. Paddy was the biggest horse on the place, standing over 18 hands high and broad to match. An amused smile crossed Adam\u2019s face as he thought that Paddy made Hoss look like a normal sized person.<\/p>\n

Movement on the periphery of his vision made Adam look round and he saw Joe herding a cow and calf out of the underbrush. A momentary resentment rose in Adam and he thought that Ace didn\u2019t look so very inexperienced. He was sure he could have taught the young pinto just as well as Joe could.<\/p>\n

Putting his heel to his horse, Adam started to walk down to join the rest of the men, preparing to give the cattle the final push towards the new pasture. As he did so, he saw the cow that Joe was herding turn abruptly and lower its head.<\/p>\n

Cursing the cow\u2019s stubbornness, Joe gently urged his horse towards the cow, but Ace was having none of it. Joe smoothed one hand down the black-and-white neck and spoke calming words. Again, he gave the signal to go forward, but the cow began waving her horns threateningly and the young horse had had enough. It shied and half-reared, moving sideways up the slope away from the cow. \u201cEasy,\u201d Joe soothed.<\/p>\n

As Ace planted his feet on the ground once more, Joe took his quirt and snapped it in front of the cow\u2019s nose. With a startled bellow, the cow turned suddenly and once more the pinto reared, the combination of the snapping quirt and bellowing cow proving too much for him. \u201cEasy, Ace,\u201d Joe soothed once more. \u201cEasy.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the pinto came back to earth once more, the ground beneath his back hooves slipped slightly. Off balance, the horse panicked. His front hooves crashed back to earth \u2013 and slipped.<\/p>\n

Normally, Joe didn\u2019t worry too much about horses falling. With four legs, they usually had a leg somewhere to stick out and catch themselves. But the unstable ground and the panicky horse were a bad combination and Joe suddenly found that he and his horse were moving backwards down the slope at high speed, as the land slipped.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Adam cried, in horror, urging his horse to a faster speed, but the mare knew that the ground was too dangerous for speed and resisted the commands. Helpless, Adam could only watch as Joe and the horse gained speed and the horse lost his footing entirely!<\/p>\n

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

There had been nothing anyone could do as they raced to the place where the mud and rocks had settled. Both Adam and Hoss were chalk white with fear and Charlie had sent someone flying to get Ben from the house and bring back a wagon.<\/p>\n

In the heap of debris, they could clearly see the horse\u2019s back legs feebly kicking. But of Joe, there was no immediate sign. The Hoss moved around the other side of Ace and found Joe pinned beneath the horse, covered in mud and unconscious. \u201cHe\u2019s here!\u201d Hoss cried. \u201cHurry!\u201d Heedless of the mud, Hoss knelt by his brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we get the horse up?\u201d Adam demanded and Charlie shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis legs is broke, Adam,\u201d he replied. \u201cBest put him out of his misery.\u201d He drew his gun and went to the horse\u2019s head, murmuring something before putting the horse out of his pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, boys,\u201d Adam called. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get Joe out of there!\u201d He positioned himself by Joe and put his hands under the dead horse. Everyone quickly got the message and they were able to move the horse enough that Hoss could pull Joe free. Together, the brothers carried Joe away from the scene of the disaster.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet me a canteen!\u201d Adam called, as he wiped mud gently from Joe\u2019s face. \u201cHow is he, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks ta me like he\u2019s busted that leg, Adam,\u201d Hoss replied, grimly. He pointed down to Joe\u2019s right leg. \u201cIt were caught in the stirrup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following Hoss\u2019 pointing finger, Adam thought that Hoss was right. Joe\u2019s leg was indeed at a strange angle below the knee. \u201cHold him still while I get his boot off,\u201d Adam ordered, and Hoss clutched his younger brother to his chest and averted his eyes from the mess that was Joe\u2019s lower leg.<\/p>\n

He was still cradling Joe when Adam brought the canteen. \u201cI think he done broke his arm, too,\u201d Hoss sighed. He held Joe\u2019s head steady while Adam gave him a drink. To their combined relief, Joe swallowed the water and when Adam soaked his bandanna and began to wash the mud off his face, Joe groaned and moved his head slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Adam asked. \u201cCan you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Joe murmured. He blinked and peered up at his brothers. Then a spasm of pain crossed his face and his eyes slammed shut again. \u201cWhat\u2026 happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was an accident,\u201d Adam answered, not wanting to be too specific. \u201cYou fell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAce\u2026 panicked,\u201d Joe mumbled. \u201cFool horse.\u201d He swallowed and Adam gave him another sip of water. \u201cHe\u2026 all\u2026 right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Unsure what to say, Adam hesitated. Joe\u2019s eyes opened again. \u201cAdam?\u201d he questioned. He tried to move and let out a fearsome groan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to put him down, Joe,\u201d Adam replied, as steadily as he could manage. \u201cLie still, you\u2019re hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Joe didn\u2019t say anything, then he asked, \u201cAm I\u2026 hurt bad?\u201d<\/p>\n

Again there was the hesitation, as Adam and Hoss exchanged glances, neither of them wanting to be the one to tell Joe the truth. Immediately, Joe felt a pang of fear in his belly. \u201cAdam?\u201d he ventured, his voice quivering. \u201cHoss?\u201d He twisted around to look at the brother who cradled him so protectively and felt even more afraid. \u201cTell me,\u201d he begged.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay calm,\u201d Adam soothed. \u201cYou\u2019ve broken your leg pretty badly, Joe and it looks like your arm is broken, too. You were trapped under Ace when we found you. Stay still!\u201d he added, sharply, as Joe tried to sit up to look.<\/p>\n

Moving had proved a big mistake, for it awoke all the aches and pains in Joe\u2019s battered body. He lay still, trying to concentrate on just breathing and managing the pain. But after a minute or two, he was so cold, he started shivering. Adam slipped off his custard-coloured coat and tucked it in around his brother\u2019s body, although the garment was heavy with the accumulated rain that had fallen that day. But the added warmth kept Joe\u2019s body temperature from falling too far and stopped hypothermia adding its deadly contribution to the injuries.<\/p>\n

It took almost an hour for Ben to arrive from the house with a wagon. It was piled high with blankets and hay. Joe was dozing uneasily. The pain was taking its toll on him and he was finding it more and more difficult to keep from groaning aloud. He wanted to move to escape the pain, but knew that movement would make it worse. Joe wasn\u2019t sure how he could bear it any longer.<\/p>\n

The grim looks on his older sons\u2019 faces told Ben that the accident was as serious as he had feared. He pulled the wagon to a halt and set the brake without being aware of his movements. Jumping down, he hurried over to kneel by Joe, smiling to hide his worry. \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Opening his eyes, Joe tried to smile back, but neither one fooled the other. \u201cHi, Pa,\u201d he breathed and felt immensely comforted when Ben rested his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see about getting you home, shall we?\u201d Ben asked rhetorically. He glanced at Adam and Hoss. \u201cHow badly is Joe hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis right leg is broken just above the ankle,\u201d Adam replied. \u201cAnd I\u2019m pretty sure his right arm is broken, too. There could be some ribs, and there\u2019s the gash along his forehead, too.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to hurt Joe by probing too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Ben asked, bending over his youngest again. \u201cCan you feel your legs?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmmm,\u201d Joe agreed, unable to tell Ben just how much he could feel his right leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Ben nodded. \u201cJoe, we\u2019re going to move you into the wagon. I\u2019m sorry, son, but this is going to hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m ready,\u201d Joe lied. He didn\u2019t think he would ever be ready to move. He tried to smile, but the smile felt stiff and he didn\u2019t prolong the attempt.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter three,\u201d Ben ordered. \u201cOne, two, three.\u201d He, Adam and Hoss lifted Joe as carefully as they could, but Joe still screamed in pain and after a moment, flopped limply in their grasp.<\/p>\n

Although Ben was desperately worried about Joe, he knew it would be easier on his son if he were unconscious while he was moved. Before long, Joe was settled on the hay in the wagon and had blankets tucked around him. Adam thankfully donned his custard-coloured coat again. He had been feeling very cold and was soaked through.<\/p>\n

The journey back to the ranch was taken slow and easy. When they arrived at the house, Ben was relieved to discover that Doctor Paul Martin was waiting for them. Joe was moved as gently as possible into the house and put to bed, where stone hot water bottles had taken the chill off the covers for the injured man.<\/p>\n

Sending his other sons to dry off and change clothes, Ben waited anxiously while the doctor examined Joe. He kept his eyes on Joe\u2019s face, wincing along with his son, and smiling encouragement and love down at him. Finally, Paul sat back.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you know, Joe\u2019s leg and arm are broken. His ribs are very badly bruised, but he\u2019s got off lightly.\u201d Paul smiled. \u201cI know it doesn\u2019t feel like that, Joe, but you have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about his head?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still attached,\u201d Joe growled. \u201cAnd I\u2019m here!\u201d<\/p>\n

Grinning, Paul clarified. \u201cIts superficial, Ben, don\u2019t worry. Joe, I\u2019m going to give you something to make you sleep while I set your arm and leg. I\u2019m afraid you aren\u2019t going to be going anywhere much under your own power for quite some time to come.\u201d He glanced at Ben once more. \u201cBen, why don\u2019t you go and get changed while I do this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll wait until Joe\u2019s asleep,\u201d Ben replied, but once his son was in a drugged sleep, he did do as the doctor suggested and went to get into clean dry clothes. By the time he came back, Paul had set both breaks and was putting on splints.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you look better!\u201d Paul exclaimed, as Ben came in. \u201cGet some hot food inside you and you\u2019ll be a new man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce I find out how Joe is,\u201d Ben corrected gently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve set both limbs,\u201d Paul replied. \u201cThey are both pretty swollen, given the amount of time between the accident and getting them set. Now, that\u2019s not a criticism of your boys, Ben. They did exactly the right thing in leaving it for me to do. Setting bones is not something I advocate an amateur doing unless they are more than a day from a doctor\u2019s care. But I\u2019ll wait until the swelling is down before I put a cast on these. I want to keep an eye on his leg, anyway. The bone didn\u2019t come through the skin, but it was close. Joe\u2019ll be fine in a couple of months.\u201d He tied off the last bandage and rose. \u201cCome on, Joe will sleep for a while yet. Let\u2019s get something to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leaning over the bed for an instant, Ben stroked the hair back off Joe\u2019s forehead. His son wasn\u2019t quite as pale now but he looked very young, lying there sleeping. \u201cI\u2019ll be back soon,\u201d he promised in a whisper, even though he knew Joe couldn\u2019t hear him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, Joe\u2019s going to be out of commission for quite some time,\u201d Ben commented over breakfast the next morning. He\u2019d had some sleep, thanks to Adam arriving at 3 am and bullying Ben into bed. \u201cHe\u2019s going to need a lot of help and Hop Sing and I will take care of the nursing. You boys will have to deal with separating the calves alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe c\u2019n do that,\u201d Hoss assured his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem,\u201d Adam amplified.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I think you ought to take over-all charge of the remuda,\u201d Ben went on. \u201cHoss will keep an eye on any horses that come in lame, as he\u2019s better with the injured animals than you He\u2019s got more experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was doin\u2019 that anyhows,\u201d Hoss agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo basically, Adam, you\u2019ll be matching horses to riders. Ask for help if you need it, son. You aren\u2019t as familiar with the horses as Joe is.\u201d Ben took another sip of coffee. \u201cWhen Joe is feeling a bit better, I\u2019ll give him some of the books to do. His handwriting isn\u2019t great, but he counts very well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can help you with the books when I come in,\u201d Adam protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon, if you\u2019re running the remuda, and separating those calves, you won\u2019t have the energy to help with the books,\u201d Ben chided him gently. \u201cDon\u2019t worry; Joe and I will manage. You concentrate on doing Joe\u2019s job.\u201d<\/p>\n

As they went back out to the remuda that morning, Adam felt slightly resentful that his father thought he couldn\u2019t run the remuda and do the books. After all, running the remuda was no big deal, he thought.<\/p>\n

By the end of lunch, Adam had changed his mind. He had never known a group of cowboys could be so contrary. Almost everyone had argued with his choice of horse, except Hoss, who was so much bigger than everyone else and only really rode Chubb and Paddy. Adam could feel his famous patience fraying quite drastically round the edges.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did I do wrong?\u201d Adam asked Hoss, who rolled his eyes and replied,<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything.\u201d He smiled forgivingly. \u201cYa\u2019ll git it right tomorra, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a comfort,\u201d Adam muttered as he collected his second horse from the remuda \u2013 and noticed he\u2019d been left the dapple-grey mare, Quest. Walking over, Adam smoothed a hand down her nose. \u201cNo offence,\u201d he told her. \u201cBut I prefer not to ride mares.\u201d And the thing was, Adam thought, as he mounted, she hadn\u2019t taken offence and was just as sweet tempered as ever. He wasn\u2019t quite sure why he should feel somewhat put out.<\/p>\n

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

The plus side of the day for Adam and Hoss was arriving home to a hot meal and the news that Joe was feeling a lot better. \u201cDon\u2019t tell him about the remuda,\u201d Adam hissed at Hoss as they went upstairs to see their sibling. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t need to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat ever ya say, Adam,\u201d Hoss agreed, but Adam was too late. Ranch gossip had already reached Joe\u2019s ears and he gave Adam a hard look when his brother came in.<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you notice who I gave each horse to yesterday?\u201d he asked scathingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had other things on my mind,\u201d Adam responded curtly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind,\u201d Joe replied, the unconscious condescension in his tone rubbing Adam the wrong way. \u201cYou\u2019ll know for tomorrow.\u201d He beamed at his brother, completely ignorant of the insult he had just delivered. \u201cPa\u2019s going to bring the books up here tomorrow and I\u2019m going to help him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you\u2019ll find it as easy as you think,\u201d Adam told him. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not very entertaining \u2013 not like your dime novels.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Joe replied cheerfully. \u201cBut I\u2019ve got to learn how to do the books properly, Adam, so I might as well do it now, when I\u2019m not able to go off and do something more interesting instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was as sensible a thing as Adam had heard Joe say for a while and he almost asked Joe if he was feeling all right. But given what had happened the previous day, Adam thought that this might be too much provocation and kept quiet. Joe didn\u2019t notice Adam\u2019s reticence and he and Hoss were soon deep in conversation about Chester\u2019s sore leg, which the liver chestnut horse was still favouring. However, it had been a long day for all of them and it wasn\u2019t long before all three were yawning loudly and even less time before Adam and Hoss made tracks for bed.<\/p>\n

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

Sure enough, the next morning, Ben brought the account books upstairs and painstakingly took Joe through the ins and outs of bookkeeping. Ben was rather surprised at the way Joe took to the new information initially, but reflected after a while that he shouldn\u2019t have been. Although Joe\u2019s grades in school were no better than all right, Ben knew that his third son possessed a great intelligence and he simply had absorbed information without much effort and then was bored when expected to regurgitate it. When faced with something new and potentially useful (Joe had never really seen the point of learning Shakespeare, since he wasn\u2019t going to be an actor) Joe soaked up the details like a sponge.<\/p>\n

Convinced that Joe had learned as much as he could for the time being, Ben gave him some of Adam\u2019s calculations for a timber contract to go over, more to show him how everything was laid out than any other reason. Joe was silent for a while diligently adding up the figures. After a time, Ben became aware that Joe was frowning at the paper in front of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there a problem, son?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas this contract been submitted?\u201d Joe asked, waving it in the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d Ben replied. \u201cI\u2019m taking it in tomorrow. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a relief,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cBecause I\u2019ve found a mistake, Pa \u2013 a big one. If this contract had gone in, we\u2019d have won all right, but we wouldn\u2019t have made money on it; it would have cost us money. Lots of money. Look.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following Joe\u2019s pointing finger, Ben scrutinised the figures more closely and realised that although Adam had got the arithmetic correct, when he wrote down the final total, he had transposed the decimal point. It would have been disastrous for the ranch had that bid been submitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell spotted, Joe,\u201d Ben praised. \u201cI hadn\u2019t been over those figures, but your brother said he\u2019d checked them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, a fresh eye,\u201d Joe replied modestly. \u201cIt often helps. Have you got anything else for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you add up this column of figures, Joe and I\u2019ll go and get us some coffee,\u201d Ben suggested. Joe gave him a sunlit smile and agreed, eagerly grasping the book. Ben hid a smile. He was sure Joe\u2019s enthusiasm for bookwork wouldn\u2019t last!<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhy does nobody want to ride Quest?\u201d Adam demanded of Joe that evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause she\u2019s a mare,\u201d Joe replied. \u201cAnd because she doesn\u2019t look like a cow pony, I guess. She looks like a lady\u2019s saddle horse.\u201d He shrugged. \u201cAre you still riding her then?\u201d he asked and Adam nodded shortly. He liked the mare, he really did, but now that Chester was sound again, he wanted to ride the rangy chestnut, but he had been unable to persuade anyone else to take on the mare.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie usually gets Glory,\u201d Joe mused, referring to the big dun-gold gelding. \u201cBut he would ride Quest if you told him to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie is always first at the remuda,\u201d Adam retorted. \u201cAnd gets his horse out before I\u2019m there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s Charlie for ya,\u201d Joe sniggered, for the wily old man hadn\u2019t got to be foreman of the ranch by letting chances slip past him. \u201cYou could give Cheesy to Pete and Ivan to Dan. Hoss always gets Paddy, to be sure he doesn\u2019t break any other horse\u2026\u201d Joe let his sentence trail off and grinned at Hoss, who leaned in to tickle Joe.<\/p>\n

Normally, the tickling match would go on until Joe managed to escape, but with the broken limbs, it wasn\u2019t a fair contest and Hoss kindly stopped before Joe started crying with laughter. Adam was waiting impatiently for the high jinks to stop. \u201cGo on,\u201d he suggested to Joe, who looked blank for a second before remembering what they were talking about.<\/p>\n

Obligingly, Joe rattled through the rest of the horse-rider pairings. Adam didn\u2019t like to stop Joe and get him to write them all down, but he was sure he would remember the most of them. \u201cThanks,\u201d he said, when Joe had finished.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem,\u201d Joe replied, airily. \u201cIts all a case of observation and knowing your men. Of course, I wouldn\u2019t expect you to know the horses as well as I do, but at least you\u2019ll be getting more familiar with them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling he\u2019d had rather enough of Joe\u2019s unintended lectures for one night, Adam rose. \u201cI\u2019d better go and do some work on those books,\u201d he sighed. \u201cI can\u2019t expect Pa do to them all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, the books are up to date,\u201d Joe told Adam blithely. \u201cI don\u2019t know why you make all that fuss about it, big brother. It\u2019s not that hard \u2013 basic arithmetic. Oh, and you\u2019d put the decimal point in the wrong place on that timber bid, but don\u2019t worry, I spotted it before it was submitted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turning without a word, Adam went straight downstairs and went over to the desk. Ben glanced up at him. \u201cProblem?\u201d he asked, seeing only the annoyed look on Adam\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe had the cheek to tell me I made a mistake on the timber bid,\u201d Adam replied, his voice tight.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou had made a mistake,\u201d Ben told him gently. \u201cIt was a good thing Joe spotted it, or the ranch might have gone under.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding the bid, Adam scrutinised the figures, finally seeing where the original figures had been scored through and new ones put in. He could see the decimal point was in the wrong place and wondered how on earth he had missed it. A fresh copy of the bid was lying underneath the original. It would have been a catastrophic mistake had the bid been submitted in its original form.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood thing Joe caught it,\u201d Adam mumbled. \u201cGood night, Pa.\u201d He walked upstairs without meeting Ben\u2019s eyes and Ben watched him go in sympathetic silence.<\/p>\n

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

At last, the calves were all separated from the cows and the men began to cut out the breeding stock for the following season. The cows that were for sale were put onto a lush pasture so they could add as much fat as possible before the long drive to market in a few weeks time. Ben wasn\u2019t sure how Joe would cope without him, yet he couldn\u2019t afford to stay at home, since Joe was not able to go. He hadn\u2019t quite decided what to do about this dilemma.<\/p>\n

By now, Joe had graduated to coming downstairs most days although he still required help with certain things, like cutting his food up. As Ben had predicted, his enthusiasm for bookwork had dwindled, but Ben was sure that Joe had a thorough grounding in all the ins and outs of the ranch finances and he had been impressed with some of the suggestions Joe had made. However, Joe made no bones about the fact that Adam was welcome to doing the books week in and week out. Joe would stick with what he felt he knew best \u2013 the horses.<\/p>\n

It hadn\u2019t escaped Ben\u2019s attention that Adam had been out of sorts since Joe had his accident and he resolved to find out what was troubling his oldest son. However, Joe, in his own inimitable fashion, brought the subject to the surface over supper.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, I\u2019m really glad you\u2019re finished with the calves,\u201d Joe commented. He was chasing green peas around his plate, wondering which sadist had thought they were suitable food for someone eating one-handed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny particular reason?\u201d Adam enquired. \u201cSurely you don\u2019t think we\u2019ve got time to stay at home and amuse you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Joe sighed, disconsolately. \u201cBut at least you can do the books again and I won\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you said doing the books was easy,\u201d Adam retorted.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but I agreed when you said it wasn\u2019t all that interesting,\u201d Joe nodded. \u201cIt ain\u2019t.\u201d He gave Ben a cherubic smile. \u201cI\u2019ll stick with the horses any day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome to the horses,\u201d Adam snapped and Ben instantly realised that he\u2019d found the root of the problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Ben said, pacifically, \u201cI think we\u2019ve all learned a lot during this time.\u201d He was gratified to see all his sons looking at him, waiting for him to speak. He noticed Joe abandoning his attempt to eat the peas and made a mental note to tell Hop Sing not to serve them until Joe could use both arms again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sure have,\u201d Joe agreed. \u201cI learned to do the books.\u201d He glanced at his plate again. \u201cAnd I learned I can\u2019t eat peas with this on!\u201d He raised his casted arm as far as he could.<\/p>\n

The remark broke the slight atmosphere that had been growing and everyone laughed. \u201cWell, that\u2019s partly what I meant,\u201d Ben smiled. \u201cBut what we\u2019ve chiefly learned is that we all have our own areas of expertise. Adam is happiest with the books and Joe is happiest with the horses. We can all lend a hand and fill in for the others, but we all have things we do especially well. Its nice to be reminded of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he thought about that, Adam felt his bad mood dissipate. He had been acting as though Joe had deliberately set out to be injured so that he could show Adam up. If Joe hadn\u2019t taken Ace that first day, Adam would have been the one injured and although Adam would rather have had the injuries than see Joe hurt, he couldn\u2019t truthfully deny that he would not have ridden the inexperienced horse as well as Joe had done. Joe\u2019s sharp eyes had caught the mistake that Adam had made with the timber bid before the mistake could bring disaster to the ranch, yet Joe wasn\u2019t rubbing in those mistakes, he was just biding his time until he could get back to the horses.<\/p>\n

And Ben\u2019s remark settled another problem that Adam had been stewing over. He had been fighting the urge to leave the ranch and see the world, but he had put off telling everyone that he wanted to leave, because he thought nobody else could do his job. And now he saw that they would cope without him. Yes, he would be missed, as Joe had been missed at the remuda, but they had coped. It was a revelation.<\/p>\n

Looking at his oldest son, Ben smiled. Adam looked suddenly more at peace, more accepting of life. Adam\u2019s eyes met Ben\u2019s and Ben knew that later \u2013 not necessarily tonight, but sometime soon \u2013 he and Adam would have a talk. Ben nodded and Adam nodded back and no more needed to be said between them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Pa,\u201d Joe laughed. Ben gave him an enquiring glance, belatedly aware that he\u2019d missed some mischief between Joe and Hoss. \u201cWhat\u2019s your area of expertise?\u201d<\/p>\n

For a moment, Ben sought to look disapproving, but he couldn\u2019t keep the grin from breaking free. \u201cKeeping you three in line!\u201d he roared and made a pretend swipe for Joe.<\/p>\n

As they laughed together, Ben thought proudly that perhaps he could say that raising his sons was his area of expertise, for all three were fine young men. He blinked back tears and found Joe watching him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Joe asked, softly, the laughter stilled for the moment.<\/p>\n

Smiling, Ben shook his head. This was a thought he would keep and cherish in his heart.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

Summary: \u00a0A terrible accident teaches the Cartwrights that each of them have their own areas of expertise.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (5,635 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2143,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":58121,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=58121","url_meta":{"origin":7139,"position":0},"title":"The Horse Auction (by LillianMontane)","author":"LillianMontane","date":"September 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Adam and Joe go to a horse auction. 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