{"id":7392,"date":"2008-07-19T10:04:46","date_gmt":"2008-07-19T14:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7392"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:12:12","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:12:12","slug":"invincible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7392","title":{"rendered":"Invincible (by southplains)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>An Adam\/Joe story. Thrown together for the day to work out a disagreement between themselves, Joe and Adam suddenly find themselves struggling to survive.<\/p>\n

Keywords, SJS, SAS, indians, arrows, drowning, swim, lake, sick, pneumonia, hurt, Joe gets hurt, Adam gets hurt.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0T \u00a0WC \u00a013,800<\/span><\/p>\n

Invincible Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Invincible<\/a>
\nWorry<\/a><\/p>\n

Invincible<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

He battled back to consciousness,<\/strong> struggling against the pounding pain ebbing against him, and Adam\u2019s voice, low and rough, was the first thing he heard. Joe felt the soft brush of Adam\u2019s lips as his brother\u2019s harsh whisper sounded against his ear. The length of Adam\u2019s body lay against his, rigid and tense. Beyond that, all Joe knew was that something was ripping, tearing at his side, and he tossed his head in a strained attempt to escape it.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay still! Damn it, Joe, stop fighting me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes were shut, but he could hear the desperation in Adam\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re right on top of us, boy. For God\u2019s sake, don\u2019t move, and don\u2019t make a sound.\u201d<\/p>\n

The anxiety in his brother\u2019s voice broke through enough for Joe to do as he was asked; he stopped struggling and lay still. He tried to open his eyes, but the effort to do so remained beyond him; he concentrated instead on trying to gather his wits enough to figure out what was going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t move,\u201d Adam repeated, and this time his voice was so hushed that Joe wouldn\u2019t have heard it at all if his brother\u2019s mouth hadn\u2019t been pressed against his ear.<\/p>\n

Adam was frightened; the sound of his fear washed over Joe, chilling him. The very thought that Adam was scared was enough to scare him, too, and it made him try harder to concentrate on what Adam was telling him. But the fire in his side made it hard to listen and hard to think. The pain of that fire was coming in waves, stronger and stronger now that he was awake, drowning out his thoughts, drowning out Adam\u2019s urgent whispers. A soft moan moved up in his throat and he tried to swallow it but it came out anyway, and as it did he felt Adam’s fingers pressing hard over his mouth.<\/p>\n

Somewhere in the back of his mind Joe wondered why his brother\u2019s fingers were so cold.<\/p>\n

The need for air gradually took precedence over the pain in Joe\u2019s side, and he strained to open his eyes. When he did, Adam\u2019s eyes were not more than a hand\u2019s breadth away, their normal color of moss-laced whiskey now darkened with fear, and they were pinned on Joe\u2019s. Seeing that fear drew Joe\u2019s mind away from his own pain enough to jerk himself into further awareness of his surroundings.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re right on top of us.<\/em><\/p>\n

Danger was all around them. Joe no longer needed Adam to tell him so. He could smell it; he could taste it. He fought to remember what had happened even as he began to struggle out from under Adam\u2019s hand. Adam saw the lucidity come back into him, and slowly eased his hand away from Joe\u2019s mouth and raised one finger to his own lips in a hushing gesture.<\/p>\n

Joe gave a tight nod, and when he did his cheek rubbed against cold, damp earth; the cold dampness enveloped him and pressed tight against his back. A slab of rock hovered inches above his head. Confusion fluttered at the edges of his brain; from what he could tell, which wasn’t much, he was crammed into some sort of hole in the ground alongside his brother. He looked past Adam\u2019s shoulder and saw a thick wall of weeds and rushes, and through the weeds he could see the sparkle of sunlight on water.<\/p>\n

The lake. The two of them were shoved up under a shallow undercut in the rock at the lake\u2019s edge, but for the life of him he couldn\u2019t remember how they\u2019d gotten here. He turned his gaze back upon Adam; his brother was listening, listening hard, his eyes lifted upwards as though straining to see through the rock which lay so close over their faces. Adam\u2019s eyes flickered back to Joe, and the fact that fear still claimed them made Joe\u2019s stomach coil in upon itself.<\/p>\n

The clawing at Joe\u2019s right side grew more insistent, and he carefully pressed his hand against the searing ache. His fingers met with warm wetness, and something else\u2014an arrow shaft, broken off and protruding through his skin.<\/p>\n

A fresh wave of pain moved through him, and with it, remembrance.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d been driving a freight wagon down through one of the most remote parts of the northwest section of the ranch, he and Adam, on their way back from a high outpost that was being set up as a new timber logging camp. The camp was due to begin operation early next week, and Pa had given them orders to haul in a load of supplies so that all would be in readiness by the time the logging crew arrived.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d arrived at the camp without mishap, unloaded the wagon and headed for home in good time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be there before the sun sets,\u201d Adam had predicted, and Joe had been glad of it. The chill in the air would only increase once the sun set.<\/p>\n

Not that the ride home wouldn\u2019t still be chilly, sun or no sun, and it had nothing to do with the coolness of the autumn breeze. The words Adam spoke about getting home were the first either of them had spoken since they’d left home that morning. They\u2019d been at odds with each other all week, ever since they\u2019d gone out to Ted Hannigan\u2019s place to have a look at a chestnut stud Ted had for sale. Joe was determined to have the horse, Adam had been against it, and the disagreement had escalated until they were both angry and frustrated with each other.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d argued all the way home from Hannigan\u2019s ranch that day, and it hadn\u2019t helped Joe\u2019s temper when Ben had sided with Adam that night at the supper table.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps it\u2019s best that we rely on Adam\u2019s instincts on this, Joe,\u201d Pa had said gently. \u201cSurely you don\u2019t deny that your brother has a lot of experience when it comes to dealing with horseflesh?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked across the table at Adam, who let one dark brow rise as though only mildly curious as to what his younger brother\u2019s response would be. Joe couldn\u2019t help rolling his eyes as he looked back at Ben. \u201cWell, no, Pa, of course I don\u2019t deny it. I know Adam knows a good horse when he sees one; that\u2019s why I can\u2019t believe he\u2019s being such a hard-head about this one. You should see the chest on this stud, Pa. He\u2019s\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cTed is selling him for a reason, Joe,\u201d Adam broke in. \u201cHe\u2019s wild and unmanageable\u2014a rogue animal that probably should\u2019ve been gelded long ago.\u201d Adam gave a pointed look to Pa. \u201cAfter the horse broke Ted\u2019s foreman\u2019s leg last week, Ted decided to get rid of him before somebody got killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s gaze sharpened. \u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n

The tone of that single syllable didn\u2019t bode well for Joe\u2019s argument, and he knew it. He looked to Hoss for support, but Hoss offered only a tiny, sympathetic smile and went on chewing his steak.<\/p>\n

Joe sighed. He turned back to Pa, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice. \u201cSo he\u2019s high spirited. I\u2019ll give you that. But it doesn\u2019t change the fact that his conformation is what we need to match up with our mares. I admit he needs some work\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cWork?\u201d Adam spat. \u201cI\u2019ve told you before, Joe, no amount of work is going to turn that horse around. For Pete\u2019s sake, he\u2019s not even halter broke; that\u2019s what the foreman was trying to accomplish when he got his leg stomped.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you let me worry about that?\u201d Joe shot back. \u201cYou may be a decent judge of horseflesh, but I can ride anything you can\u2019t\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t about your riding abilities!\u201d Adam roared. \u201cIt\u2019s about the best way to improve our herd and you\u2019re not\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

Joe’s voice rose to match his brother’s. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be used for breeding, anyway. We don\u2019t need to be able to ride him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBreeder or not, you know every animal on this ranch has to pull its own weight. We have no need for a horse that can\u2019t work, regardless of its bloodlines.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what? I\u2019m sick of always having to bow down to your opinion,\u201d Joe shouted. \u201cYou decided against that animal the instant I said we needed it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI decided against that animal the instant I found out what he\u2019s capable of!\u201d Adam bellowed.<\/p>\n

They continued to try to out shout each other until Pa banged his fist down on the table and thundered, \u201cEnough!\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence reigned as they both shut their mouths but continued to glare at each other. Pa took a deep breath to get his own temper under control and gave a hard look to both his sons.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow. This conversation will be conducted in a civil tone or not at all,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat won\u2019t be difficult,\u201d Adam said, and wiped his mouth with his napkin. \u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned, the conversation is over. If you\u2019ll excuse me, Pa, I think I\u2019ll turn in early.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben drew his mouth into a thin line, then nodded and murmured an assent. As Adam climbed the stairs, Joe\u2019s cheeks flushed with furious heat; he felt his father\u2019s eyes on him, but he turned his attention to his plate and proceeded to push his potatoes around with his fork.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reluctantly, Joe raised his eyes. Pa rested his chin on steepled fingers and sighed. \u201cJoe, this horse\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

But like Adam, Joe found he had no taste for further talk that night. Why bother? The decision had been made. \u201cI know, Pa. Adam knows horses. You told me.\u201d Abruptly he dropped his fork with a clatter onto his plate and shoved his chair back. \u201cExcuse me. I\u2019ve got some work to finish in the barn,\u201d he muttered and rose and headed for the door, slamming it behind him and leaving Hoss and Ben staring soberly over the table at each other.<\/p>\n

Despite Adam\u2019s claim to the contrary, the conversation was far from over. The remainder of the week was spent with Joe and Adam throwing dark looks and even an occasional veiled insult at each other whenever Pa wasn\u2019t near enough to hear. Meals were spent either in sullen silence or tense arguments, and those arguments always circled back to Hannigan\u2019s stud.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t no horse worth all this belly-achin\u2019,\u201d Hoss had finally grumbled one evening after supper, and had stomped up the stairs to bed, leaving the two of them shamefaced but each still unwilling to give in.<\/p>\n

Pa, too, had finally had enough. He\u2019d decided that the two of them would make the supply run up to the new logging camp, and Joe wondered if he did it as much to get a day\u2019s peace as he did out of hopes that his oldest and youngest sons would come to terms with each other.<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t care what his father\u2019s reasons were for sending them off together; it wasn\u2019t going to change how he felt. Adam was wrong about Hannigan\u2019s big chestnut horse. It was as simple as that. Joe knew it, and nothing would change his mind, even if\u2014or maybe even especially if\u2014Pa was inclined to lean toward Adam\u2019s decision on the matter.<\/p>\n

So the horse was a little bad-tempered. Joe was convinced he could gradually work it out of the animal if given half a chance, but both his brother and his father refused to believe in him enough to let him even try. That fact rubbed against him like an ill-fitting saddle, and he found himself as angry at Pa as he was at Adam.<\/p>\n

Being sent off in exile with Adam was like rubbing salt in the wound.<\/p>\n

If Pa had hoped that they\u2019d talk things over on the long drive to the camp and back, he\u2019d been sorely mistaken. All day long they\u2019d both taken considerable pains to keep from acknowledging one another, and while unloading the wagon, Adam had tossed a sack of oats at Joe with what could easily be construed as unnecessary force. Joe had retaliated by \u201caccidentally\u201d dropping an armload of shovels across the toe of his brother\u2019s boot.<\/p>\n

Despite themselves, they\u2019d eventually gotten the job done. They were both so worn out that when it came time to share a wagon seat for the ride home they didn\u2019t even mind overly much. They still weren\u2019t speaking, however, and Adam\u2019s comment about making it home before the sun set was more a thought spoken aloud than it was any attempt at making conversation with his brother.<\/p>\n

As it turned out, Adam\u2019s prediction about making it home had been incorrect, and if circumstances had been different Joe would have gleefully taken the opportunity to tell him so.<\/p>\n

This was one time, though, when Joe regretted the fact that his brother had been mistaken. They hadn\u2019t made it home at all; in fact, they had still been many long miles from home when a screaming band of Paiutes had come from out of nowhere, painted for war and bearing down on them with astonishing abruptness. The Indians had quickly cut off the wagon trail in front and behind, and when they\u2019d opened fire Joe and Adam had been forced to abandon the team and dash for cover into the thick forest growth surrounding them.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d run for what seemed like miles with the warriors crashing through the trees behind them. At one point they\u2019d managed to lose their pursuers by doubling back on their own trail, but the ruse hadn\u2019t worked for long. They\u2019d heard the change in tone in the whoops ringing up through the trees and knew they\u2019d been discovered once more, and they\u2019d turned to run westward toward the lake, firing behind them as they ran.<\/p>\n

Joe had been firing over his shoulder when he saw one of the braves draw back on his bow. He turned and wrenched his body to the side, hoping to avoid the arrow, and for a moment he thought he\u2019d succeeded. But the next thing he knew he was lying on his back with an arrow sticking out of him, able to do little more than gasp for air. The Indians\u2019 cries grew closer, and he knew he was about to die.<\/p>\n

Then Adam was there, firing back at the nearest braves and cutting them down one by one. He moved more quickly than Joe, by now only half-conscious, could follow with his eyes, quickly snapping the arrow shaft off and lifting Joe to his feet. He half-supported, half-dragged his brother through pines and brush and rocks; it was all Joe could do to stay on his feet.<\/p>\n

That was all. The sound of Adam\u2019s whispers in his ear were the next thing Joe had been aware of. And now here they were, huddled under the earth together like a couple of scared rabbits.<\/p>\n

He followed Adam\u2019s gaze back up toward the rock. The guttural sounds of the Indians\u2019 conversation drifted down to them. A scattering of dirt rained down behind the opening at Adam\u2019s back; Adam moved nothing but his eyes, catching and holding Joe\u2019s as they both held their breath.<\/p>\n

They waited. The cold from the wet earth was seeping through Joe\u2019s clothes, and he started to shiver. Carefully, Adam passed his arm around him and pulled him closer. The warmth of his brother\u2019s body helped somewhat, even though Adam was shivering, too.<\/p>\n

There was another rain of pebbles over the ledge above their heads. Over Adam\u2019s shoulder, Joe watched a moccasined foot step down into the mud. Another moccasin joined the first, then another, then three more. A quick glance at Adam\u2019s face told Joe that his brother knew they were there, even though Adam was faced away from them and couldn\u2019t see them. Joe again turned his gaze past his brother\u2026no more than a couple of feet away the moccasins were milling through the mud, turning around, facing them\u2026<\/p>\n

If they were discovered now, there would be no escape. They\u2019d be cut down like rats in a hole.\u00a0Don\u2019t move<\/em>, Adam\u2019s eyes warned, his throat working, but their bodies refused to acknowledge the need for absolute motionlessness and continued to tremble.<\/p>\n

The warriors were talking in low, grunting voices, occasionally calling back to the Indians still further up the slope. They moved closer, the toe of one\u2019s foot mere inches from Adam. Joe let his eyes fall shut; if the sharp bite of a tomahawk was about to enter his brother\u2019s back, he didn\u2019t want to see it.<\/p>\n

They waited, and waited some more, and the pain in Joe\u2019s side increased steadily, growing stronger and stronger in great rushing waves until finally it overrode even his fear. He could feel the thump of Adam\u2019s heart beating against his chest, and his own heartbeat joined into perfect unison with it. He felt himself begin to lose his grip on consciousness and as he began to slide back into darkness the irony of it struck him; after a lifetime of fighting his oldest brother\u2019s lead, even his body knew enough to fall into step with him as they both got ready to die.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cJoe, come on. Open your eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe groaned. A bitingly cold autumn morning, the kind of day when all he wanted was to lie in bed a little longer, and here was Adam making a perfect pest of himself. Joe turned his face away from the sound of his brother\u2019s voice. It was too cold to get up yet, anyway\u2014and where had his blankets gone? He was shaking from the cold.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe. I need you to wake up.\u201d Adam again, his voice sharper and more demanding. Joe sighed, recognizing the determination in that voice. Adam wouldn\u2019t leave until Joe did as he was asked. He tried to open his eyes, but the lids felt weighted. He didn\u2019t feel so good, either.<\/p>\n

Just a few more minutes of shut-eye, Adam. Then I promise I\u2019ll get up.<\/em><\/p>\n

But it was no good. Adam grasped Joe\u2019s chin with his fingers, shaking his head back and forth, and called his name again. Joe tested the weight of his eyelids again and decided he could ignore his brother\u2019s calls whether he was yanking his chin around or not; he began to slip back underneath the comforting blanket of sleep.<\/p>\n

Adam slapped his cheek, and the shock of it was finally enough to rouse Joe. He forced his eyes open, already halfway angry. Adam\u2019s face was hovering over him, looking absurdly relieved, and Joe\u2019s anger seeped away with the last vestiges of sleep.<\/p>\n

Then the pain hit him again, and with it came the full-blown knowledge that it wasn\u2019t morning, and he definitely wasn\u2019t in bed in his room. No, he was lying on his back in the mud beside the chilly November waters of the lake. The sun, shining with empty promise, was rapidly moving toward its downhill slide into the mountains, and Joe was miserable, cold and hurting.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, do you think you can walk? We\u2019ve got to go. They haven\u2019t given up; they\u2019ll be back,\u201d Adam was saying, his teeth chattering together, and Joe noticed for the first time that his brother was smeared with mud. He wondered if he looked as bad, and decided he probably did.<\/p>\n

Could he walk? He wasn\u2019t sure. He tried to sit up, jerking in a breath at the pain in his side. He looked down and pulled his jacket back; along with the mud, his side was smeared with blood, both dry and crusted and wet and warm, but the arrow shaft was gone. Beneath his shirt his neckerchief lay padded against the wound, already so soaked that it was no longer absorbing any blood.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went after the arrowhead while you were still out,\u201d Adam explained. He held up an apologetic hand. \u201cLousy conditions, but I wasn\u2019t sure when we\u2019d get another chance, and you couldn\u2019t go on with it still in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sighed and nodded. It didn\u2019t feel any less painful, but at least he knew the arrowhead wasn\u2019t still inside causing more damage.<\/p>\n

He felt for his gun; it wasn\u2019t there. Adam saw the movement.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour gun\u2019s back on the trail with mine. Decided we didn\u2019t need the extra weight since we didn\u2019t have any more ammunition. I shot up what we had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dismay settled in the pit of Joe\u2019s stomach, but he simply nodded and took Adam\u2019s outstretched hand, biting back a curse as his brother helped him to his feet. He leaned heavily on Adam, and was caught by surprise when his brother staggered beneath his weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Joe took in Adam\u2019s pale face and for a moment he was afraid his brother would fall. \u201cAdam, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing\u2019s wrong. I\u2019m just skittish after almost having my scalp lifted. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe dug in his heels to keep Adam from moving him along. \u201cYou don\u2019t look so good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s laugh was short and sharp. \u201cThere\u2019s a true case of the pot calling the kettle black. I\u2019m fine. Now let\u2019s go!\u201d He rolled his eyes in irritation when Joe stuck his chin out in stubborn determination and eyed him suspiciously.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething\u2019s wrong.\u201d He looked Adam up and down, and motioned toward the neckerchief tied around Adam\u2019s upper thigh. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing.\u201d Adam tugged at Joe\u2019s arm, but Joe held his ground and Adam sighed. \u201cFine. If it will get you moving, I\u2019ll tell you. While I was in the middle of dragging your dead weight to the lake, one of those braves caught up to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stared at him. \u201cAnd what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shrugged and bent to pull a wicked-looking knife from his boot. He held it up for Joe to see, then replaced the knife and straightened. \u201cAt least we got a weapon out of it. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

A knife. Joe looked pointedly at the smear of blood on Adam\u2019s pants. \u201cHow bad is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked at Joe and sighed impatiently. \u201cNot bad. I\u2019m still here. He\u2019s not. Now, come on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe started to argue, but stopped himself. Adam\u2019s face had taken on that hard look that meant a man could argue all day long if he wanted; it still wouldn\u2019t do any good. Adam had said all he was going to. Besides, he spoke the truth. If they were going to live, they had to move.<\/p>\n

Joe looked down at the sodden stretch of shoreline as Adam pushed him forward. It was easy to see where Adam had dragged him away from the hole after the Indians had left; a swath of weeds crushed into the mud clearly led back to where they had lain hidden.<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head, staring at the crevice under the rock shelf. \u201cHow the heck did you get us both in that little bitty hole?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam flashed him a grin. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t easy. Good thing it was you and not Hoss I had to squash in there, or we\u2019d never have fit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe laughed, and was caught by surprise. After days of glowering at his brother, being able to laugh with him was oddly freeing. He cut the laugh off short, both because of the physical pain the action caused and because he was suddenly uncomfortable. Hannigan\u2019s horse suddenly seemed a million miles away, but their argument over it was still tight under Joe\u2019s skin. It was just one more disagreement among hundreds where Joe felt Adam had emerged triumphant and his own opinion had been dismissed as if he were nothing more than an untried greenhorn.<\/p>\n

The significance of the dispute had paled in light of the day\u2019s events, and yet Joe couldn\u2019t quite bring himself to let go of it. His stinging pride wouldn\u2019t let him.<\/p>\n

He turned his attention toward hobbling along at Adam\u2019s side, throwing a quick glance back at the hole as they went. He didn\u2019t know how Adam had managed to get the two of them to the lake\u2019s edge and into that hollow, but he knew it had to have cost Adam something. Even with his own injury making his progress stiff and sluggish, he could feel the jerkiness of Adam\u2019s movements, and knew his brother was hurting regardless of his attempts to hide it.<\/p>\n

They stumbled through the trees for almost an hour, moving as fast as they could. Adam was soon limping, and the limp was quickly growing more pronounced. After awhile, Joe wasn\u2019t sure who was supporting whom. He grimaced as they crashed against a young sapling, snapping off one of the branches.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re leaving a trail a drunk could follow,\u201d he muttered, gesturing at the broken branch and the ruby droplets of blood sparkling on the ground behind them, and Adam nodded, leaning against him and breathing heavily. Joe stared at the paleness of his brother\u2019s face, starkly white in the shadow of the heavy pine growth. \u201cAdam, you look\u2026let\u2019s stop,\u201d he said abruptly, suddenly more afraid than ever and not sure why.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t. If we stop they\u2019re going to catch us. We\u2019ve got to keep moving.\u201d Adam jerked his arm from Joe\u2019s grasp and lurched forward\u2014and fell face forward onto the thick bed of pine needles carpeting the forest floor.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t move again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d Joe staggered forward and dropped to the ground beside him. The smear of blood on Adam\u2019s leg had grown into a dark, wet stain that even now was spreading across the side of his left thigh. Joe placed his hand against the stain, and his palm came back red with blood, his hand shaking as he stared at it.<\/p>\n

He swore softly and bent over Adam\u2019s leg. The neckerchief Adam had tied over the wound had loosened. There was a tear in the center of the blood-drenched fabric of Adam\u2019s pants leg, and Joe pulled at the edges of the tear, ripping it further apart. He sat back in dismay at what was revealed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy God, Adam,\u201d he whispered. A three-inch cut, dangerously deep and bleeding freely, gaped up at him like a leering beast.<\/p>\n

The implications had Joe reeling. They were in more trouble than they could handle, both of them hurt and bleeding, pinned between a band of scalp-seeking Paiutes and the oncoming chill of what was sure to be a desperate night.<\/p>\n

His own pain clawed up his side again, but he pushed it back down, trying to keep his head clear. He looked back again at the trail they\u2019d left; it was only through sheer luck or God\u2019s good mercy that they hadn\u2019t been found already. Apparently the Paiutes had been searching in all the wrong places, but it was only a matter of time before they came across such a glaringly obvious trail.<\/p>\n

When he looked back at Adam\u2019s still face, Joe\u2019s priorities began to fall into place through sheer hard need. If he didn\u2019t get the bleeding stopped, his brother wouldn\u2019t last long enough for the Indians to find.<\/p>\n

Hands shaking with cold and pain and fear, he hurried to untie the neckerchief from Adam\u2019s leg and re-knotted it, thrusting a stick through the knot in order to twist and tighten it further until the fabric stretched tightly just above the stab wound. Joe gave a relieved sigh as the flow of blood began to ebb. Adam never moved.<\/p>\n

Joe froze as he heard a distant shout, very distant, drift from somewhere back toward the lake. The Paiutes. They were back, and unless he missed his guess, they\u2019d just discovered Adam\u2019s hole at the lakeside.<\/p>\n

\u201cFiguring out how you tricked them isn\u2019t likely to improve their disposition any,\u201d he murmured as though Adam could hear him. \u201cWhat do we do now, brother?\u201d But of course Adam couldn\u2019t hear him.<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t know how, but they had to hide again. They sure wouldn\u2019t be able to run.<\/p>\n

He stood up to more carefully survey their surroundings. The pine timber was heavy here, interspersed with a few slender aspens and wagon-sized boulders. He stared at the rocks scattered up the mountainside, considering.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we could get up there into those rocks, we might be able to throw them off the trail, at least for awhile,\u201d he said, still speaking as though Adam was capable of hearing. He looked down at his brother and then back up at the rocks. What should be an almost unnoticeable climb seemed to tower over him.<\/p>\n

He knew he was capable of carrying his brother\u2026on a good day, which this definitely was not. His own wound was sapping his energy, making him lightheaded and queasy; he was barely able to move himself along. He wouldn\u2019t be able to wait for Adam to come back around, though; there was no time to spare for that. He shrugged; there was nothing to do but try, and he bent toward the effort with everything he had.<\/p>\n

The climb up into the rocks was long and tortuous. He half-carried, half-dragged Adam along, and every few yards he had to stop to lower him to the ground and stand gasping to get his breath back. The hole the arrow had left in his side was steadily seeping blood, but it couldn\u2019t be helped. He kept moving.<\/p>\n

He climbed steadily on until they were as high into the rocks as he thought he could make it. Then he carefully laid his brother down and propped himself against a rock, looking back at the path they\u2019d taken. He\u2019d have to go back and cover the marks they\u2019d left as best he could.<\/p>\n

Adam moaned, and Joe quickly went down on his haunches beside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

But Adam didn\u2019t respond, even after Joe called his name twice more. Joe\u2019s brows scrunched in worry as he regarded his brother. Adam\u2019s face was the color of a trout\u2019s underbelly, and he was shivering. Joe shucked out of his jacket, ignoring the frigidity of the mountain breeze running across his shoulders, and draped it across Adam before removing his tourniquet once more.<\/p>\n

He reached out and gently touched the stab wound. It was no longer bleeding, but it was slightly red and warm to the touch. Infection was already raising its ugly head.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot yourself stuck good this time, didn\u2019t you, brother?\u201d Joe whispered, and he found himself wishing the Indians had attacked before he and Adam had left the logging camp. At least they would\u2019ve been able to hole up in the tiny cabin there, and they would\u2019ve had food, ammunition\u2014and medical supplies.<\/p>\n

He shook his head. No use wishing for what wasn\u2019t. He slid the Indian brave\u2019s knife from Adam\u2019s boot and moved over to an aspen tree. Using the sharp blade, he peeled several hunks of the white bark from the tree and carried it back over to his brother. He stared at the woody pieces of bark for a moment, considering. From what he had been told, it really should be brewed into a tea, but that wasn\u2019t possible under the circumstances.<\/p>\n

He shrugged and put a chunk of bark into his mouth and chewed, pulling a face at the bitter taste. When the bark was a mushy mess in his mouth, he spit it out into one hand, and then chewed on another piece. He kept on chewing and spitting until he had a good-sized pile of wet, spongy bark collected.<\/p>\n

He plastered the entire pulpy mess across Adam\u2019s wound and wrinkled his nose at the unappetizing mound. \u201cYou might not approve of the treatment, brother,\u201d he murmured. \u201cI\u2019m not sure I\u2019d want you spittin\u2019 pieces of chewed up bark on me, either. It\u2019s not exactly something that Doc Martin would do, I don\u2019t reckon. \u2019Course, since you ain\u2019t awake to argue about it, you\u2019ll have to take it up with me later.\u201d He retied the tourniquet to hold the wet, mushy bark snugly against the wound.<\/p>\n

He sat down to cut a strip off the bottom of his own pants leg to use as another bandage for his side; he couldn\u2019t afford to leave more of his own blood to lead the Indians back to them, and he hoped the fabric would continue to absorb long enough to let him finish covering signs of their passing. He changed the blood-soaked neckerchief out with the strip from his pants leg, and then stood to hover once more over Adam\u2019s pale, shivering form. \u201cI\u2019ve got to go cover our trail, Adam. I\u2019ll be back,\u201d he said, but then he hesitated. Leaving his brother lying alone ripped at his gut, and yet he knew it had to be done. Murmuring a prayer that Adam would be watched over, he turned and scrambled over the rocks and headed back down the slope.<\/p>\n

Backtracking along their trail ended up taking more time than he had been gambling on. Blood from both him and Adam was sprinkled liberally across the ground; Joe had to stop and painstakingly sift dirt and pine needles across every spot he saw, praying to God he didn\u2019t miss any and being careful not to leave any new droplets behind. Where tufts of needles had been disturbed by their awkward passage, he stopped and soothed and fluffed. When he came to the sapling they had damaged, he took a stone and scraped bark from the trunk. With any luck, if the Indians came across it they would think a buck had done it while rubbing its antlers. Or so he hoped.<\/p>\n

He kept going until he came to a small creek. He crossed to the other side, and then he very deliberately tramped his boots solidly along the damp bank, removing his makeshift bandage from his side and letting the blood drip steadily onto the ground as he moved along.<\/p>\n

He listened for more sounds from the Paiutes, but heard none. That was to be expected; if the braves thought they were closing in on their prey, they would be prone to keeping quiet. The very silence made his nerves clang.<\/p>\n

He walked for a half mile or so downstream, and then stepped back into the icy water and began to wade back upstream as fast as he could. He knew his pace was slow, but his injury was making him stiff and clumsy. Several times he stumbled and fell, and the frigid water left him gasping.<\/p>\n

Still a considerable distance from where he had first crossed the stream, the earthen bank gave way to a steep cascade of fallen rock; there he climbed out of the water and started to climb, careful to clamp the bandage, now cold and wet, tightly against his side.<\/p>\n

The position of the sun told him he\u2019d been gone from Adam for at least a couple of hours. His arms and legs shook as he climbed, and he knew it wasn\u2019t just from the cold. He was tired, and he was weakening. Night would be coming on soon, and he had no idea what to do next. And beyond all that, he was afraid for his brother, afraid of what he would find when he finally made it back to him. A vision of Adam\u2019s dead body stiffening in the rocks wedged its way into his mind, and bile rose into his throat. He stopped and leaned against a boulder, inwardly cursing at his inability to move faster. Giving his head an angry shake, he wiped the back of his hand over his eyes as if to clear away the bitter image.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust stop thinking,\u201d he muttered to himself, and continued in his diagonal climb across the rocky face of the mountain.<\/p>\n

When he finally made it back to where he had left Adam, the first thing he saw was his brother sitting propped against a rock and gazing steadily back at him. The relief of it brought hot tears to sting the back of Joe\u2019s eyelids.<\/p>\n

He collapsed in a heap at Adam\u2019s feet and tried to regain his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere you been, kid?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s nonchalant tone made Joe raise his head off the ground to stare incredulously at him. \u201cWhere\u2019ve I been?\u201d he squeaked. \u201cI\u2019ve been running myself ragged trying to save your hide, that\u2019s where I\u2019ve been!\u201d Too late, he saw the edges of Adam\u2019s grin sneak along his face and realized that his older brother had gotten the reaction he was looking for. He rolled up onto his side and looked at Adam, offering him a reluctant grin of his own. \u201cHow\u2019re you feeling?\u201d he asked softly.<\/p>\n

Adam shrugged. \u201cLightheaded. Sick. Cold. Guess that brave got his knife in a little deeper than I thought.\u201d He stared at Joe and shook his head. \u201cI can\u2019t believe you got me up here.\u201d His eyes narrowed as he looked at Joe more closely and noticed his damp hair and clothing. \u201cWhat the hell\u2014have you been\u00a0swimming<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe rolled his eyes and sat up. \u201cYeah. I got so hot lugging you up here that I thought I\u2019d cool off after I went back to cover our trail.\u201d He wrapped his arms around his knees. Now that he had stopped moving, he was starting to shiver again.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s lips tightened. \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to get your clothes dry or you\u2019ll be dead of pneumonia by this time tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow? Even if we had time to wait, we can\u2019t build a fire. The smoke would give us away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be dark soon. Maybe we could get a fire going then\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Joe shook his head. \u201cWe can\u2019t spare the time. As soon as you feel up to it, we\u2019ve got to move again. The Paiutes must\u2019ve swung back in our direction; I heard them back down by the lake earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes fell shut and he leaned his head back against the rock. He whispered something that could\u2019ve been either a curse or a prayer; Joe couldn\u2019t quite make it out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI set up a decoy trail,\u201d Joe offered.<\/p>\n

Immediately Adam raised his head again, his expression intent. \u201cTell me,\u201d he prodded, so Joe did. When he finished, Adam\u2019s eyes glinted with new hope. \u201cIt might give us some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome, maybe,\u201d Joe allowed. \u201cNot much. They\u2019ll figure it out eventually. We\u2019ll rest up, let you try to get some strength back, and then we\u2019ve got to get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded in resignation, knowing they had no choice. \u201cProbably best if we wait until nightfall, and then make a run for it. Less chance of them spotting our trail that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Less chance of him and Adam seeing the Indians sneak up behind them, too, Joe thought, but he didn\u2019t say it. Instead he leaned against a rock and slid down to sit on the ground. Despite his relief, he was suddenly feeling a lot worse now that Adam was awake and alert again. Joe\u2019s head ached, his stomach was roiling, and the fire had come back to stake its claim on his side with new-found force. It was as if now that he was once again in the company of the brother who always knew what to do, his own mind was telling his body to just let go. While he had been hurrying to hide their trail, he had barely been aware of how bad he felt; now it was all he could think of.<\/p>\n

Joe watched his brother chew thoughtfully on his bottom lip, and he knew Adam was thinking hard to find a way to get them both out of danger. Joe found himself taking a childlike comfort in the knowledge, and he leaned his head back and shut his eyes. He didn\u2019t want to think any more; he was happy to let Adam make the decisions. Whatever his oldest brother decided, he\u2019d go with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? What was this stuff you put on my leg?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe opened his eyes and grinned. \u201cNasty looking, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled back and nodded. \u201cPretty nasty. It seems to be working real well at taking some of the heat out of the cut, though. What is it?\u201d he asked again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAspen bark. Indians use it for fever and infection,\u201d Joe explained, wanting to laugh at the incredulous look on Adam\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

There was a moment\u2019s silence. \u201cYou learned that from Blue Wolf, I take it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mention of his former Apache friend pulled the smile from Joe\u2019s face. Joe\u2019s relationship with the Indian had never set well with Adam, and Joe himself had a confusing mixture of both bitter and pleasant memories from it. Their friendship had ended with murder and heartbreak; he had never been able to talk to Adam about what had happened, and he had no desire to try now. He simply nodded and shut his eyes again.<\/p>\n

More silence. Then, \u201cJoe\u2026Hannigan\u2019s stud. I want you to know\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cFor heaven\u2019s sakes, do you have to bring that up?\u201d Joe snapped. He opened his eyes once more to glare at Adam. \u201cYou can stop worrying about that darn horse. I\u2019m done fighting you over it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to keep telling me\u2014I know I don\u2019t know as much about horses as you do, Adam. Hell, I don\u2019t know as much about\u00a0anything<\/em>\u00a0as you do, and I never will. I know it, you know it, and Pa knows it, so you can stop rubbing it in,\u201d he sighed. He shut his eyes once more and reached up to pull his hat down over his face.<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t take the hint to drop the subject. \u201cThat\u2019s not what I mean, and you know we don\u2019t believe that. You\u2019re angry over\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t bother to raise his hat. \u201cYou\u2019re wrong, Adam,\u201d he murmured. \u201cI\u2019m not angry at all. I really don\u2019t care about it any more.\u201d As he drifted off to sleep, he realized that he spoke the truth. He was so dog-gone tired and felt so blasted sick that he had no energy left to spend on being mad.<\/p>\n

It was a sure sign of just how bad off he was.<\/p>\n

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

He wasn\u2019t sure how long he dozed, but he awoke to Adam gently shaking his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Joe. Time to head out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe blinked his eyes open, and saw pinpoints of light fluttering over his head. Awfully cold out for fireflies\u2014no, they were stars. Only they didn\u2019t behave as stars ought to, swirling around like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? Are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

The concern in Adam\u2019s voice pulled his attention off the wandering stars and onto his brother\u2019s face, barely visible in the darkness. Heavy, thick darkness. Lots of nervous stars, but no moon to light the earth. Blue Wolf had sworn to him that Apaches could see in the dark; Joe had laughed at him, but now he wondered abruptly if it was true, and if it was a trait shared by Paiutes as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe blinked again. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alright?\u201d The concern in Adam\u2019s voice was growing, and Joe shook himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Yeah, I\u2019m fine.\u201d He was stiff with cold, even though he suddenly realized that his jacket had been draped back around his shoulders while he slept. He struggled into a sitting position and shrugged his way into the jacket, managing to bite back the hiss of pain that the movement caused. He looked up at Adam\u2019s silhouette standing dark against the night sky. \u201cGood to see you on your feet again, Adam. Can you walk?\u201d Joe asked the question matter-of-factly, but inside he was already worrying, wondering how he would ever be able to conjure up the strength to carry his brother any further.<\/p>\n

But Adam nodded. \u201cYeah, I can walk, more or less. While you were asleep I made myself a crutch from a pine branch. I can lean on that. Hopefully it\u2019ll help me keep up the pace a little.\u201d He bent low over Joe again as if to peer into his eyes. \u201cHow\u2019s the arrow wound?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHardly feel anything at all,\u201d Joe lied, and he was glad the darkness kept Adam from seeing the fib on his face. Adam was in as bad or worse shape than Joe was, and it would do no good to worry him. In removing the arrowhead, Adam had already done everything he could do, anyway.<\/p>\n

With an effort, Joe got his feet back under him and stood up. The ground pitched, and he steadied himself against a rock, again thankful for the cover of darkness. For a moment he thought he might retch, but he gritted his teeth and the moment passed. When he was sure he could speak without giving himself away, he asked, \u201cWhich way do we go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNorth across the slope, I think, and then east. I heard a shout off to the west just as the sun set. I\u2019m pretty sure they were following that trail you set.\u201d Adam paused. \u201cIt was good thinking, Joe, setting that false trail. Likely saved our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe couldn\u2019t help smiling in self-conscious pleasure. His oldest brother didn\u2019t normally go around handing out compliments, so one from him was like gold. Joe dropped the smile then and shrugged. \u201cOur lives aren\u2019t saved yet, brother. In case you haven\u2019t noticed, we\u2019re huddled in the middle of a bunch of rocks with a band of murdering Paiutes on our tail. Seems to me we\u2019re both still in danger of losing our hair.\u201d<\/p>\n

The dim starlight was enough for him to catch the flash of Adam\u2019s grin. \u201cThen let\u2019s make sure that doesn\u2019t happen. Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the next hour, they moved in the direction Adam had indicated, their progress painfully slow. With every step he took, Adam let out a tiny grunt of pain, and Joe began to have serious doubts about just how much longer his brother would be able to go on. Just as he had said to Adam, they were a long way from safety.<\/p>\n

Maybe rescue was on its way. Joe clutched Adam\u2019s arm to help him over a rough section of trail. \u201cDo you think Hoss and Pa are looking for us yet?\u201d Joe asked hopefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost likely. If not, they will be soon. It\u2019s a long ride up here, though. We can\u2019t depend on them to get to us before the Paiutes do. And we\u2019re so far off the main trail that they\u2019ll have to hunt for us once they get here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t we try to get back to the main trail, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grunted again as he maneuvered his way over loose rock with Joe close behind him. \u201cWe can try to get closer, but we\u2019ll have to be careful. The Paiutes may be expecting us; if they do, they\u2019ll have guards posted on the wagon trail. We\u2019ll have to\u2014damn!\u201d The curse came out as a harsh whisper, and Adam backed up, bumping into Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey must\u2019ve figured out we\u2019re up here somewhere,\u201d Adam whispered. \u201cThey\u2019re down there on the other side of this ridge.\u201d He sat down, breathing heavily. \u201cWe\u2019re cut off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe joined him on the ground. \u201cDo we veer south?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. We\u2019ll run straight into Marble Bluff. No way to climb up it, and we\u2019ll be out in the open. They\u2019ll reach us before we can get around it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNorth, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNorth will bring us back down to the wagon trail. If they know we\u2019re here, they\u2019ll be expecting us to try to move that direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sighed in exasperation. \u201cWell, we can\u2019t head west.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to. It\u2019s the only way out of these rocks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only way out\u2014you can\u2019t be serious! If we head west, we\u2019ll run right back down to the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI realize that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The defeat in Adam\u2019s voice set Joe\u2019s heart to pumping. \u201cThen what do we do?\u201d Joe asked urgently, and moved close enough to see Adam\u2019s face in the starlight.<\/p>\n

Adam heaved a sigh and shook his head. \u201cJoe\u2014I don\u2019t know what to do. We\u2019re trapped.\u201d<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know what to do<\/em>. The words chilled Joe down to his very bones. In all his life, he didn\u2019t think he had ever heard his oldest brother utter those words, and the fact that he heard them now threw his entire world out of kilter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do mean, you don\u2019t know what to do?\u201d he blurted. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to do\u00a0something<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean\u00a0I\u2014don\u2019t\u2014know<\/em>!\u201d The last three words were ground out and emphatically spaced, and, coming from Adam, undeniably angry. They hung in the air like stones, and Adam dropped his head for a moment. Then he looked back at Joe, staring through the darkness at him as though searching for something. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said again, very softly this time and with shame tingeing the words. \u201cWe\u2019re in trouble, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sat back, flabbergasted. He was suddenly put in mind of the time when, as a child, he had snuck downstairs on Christmas Eve, determined to catch Saint Nicholas in the act of putting gifts in their stockings. He had caught Pa instead. The disillusionment he had felt at that moment was strikingly close to what he was feeling now.<\/p>\n

Adam, the brother who always knew what to say, what to do, was stumped. He was the one who always had all the answers, and now he was telling Joe he had none. The revelation sapped the remainder of Joe\u2019s energy. Even in the dark he could see the tired, discouraged set of Adam\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s head pounded. He ran his sleeve over his forehead to wipe away the perspiration, and then stood up, even though the pain in his side bade him to stay where he was. Carefully, he clambered up to the point where Adam had seen the Paiutes at the bottom of the ridge. The landscape was a muffled blur of black and grey, and at first he saw nothing that resembled another human being. Then he saw movement down to his right, and his breath caught. \u201cOh, hell, here we go,\u201d he breathed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe was already moving, grasping Adam by his arm and heading him down the slope out of the rocks. \u201cThey know we\u2019re up here, alright. They\u2019re coming up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t waste time asking more questions. He lurched along beside Joe as they scrambled down, skidding and stumbling as they went. They leaned on one another for support; three times Adam went down, taking Joe with him.<\/p>\n

By the time they reached the bottom, they were both gasping for breath. \u201cWhich way?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said it yourself. West is the only option. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

They struggled along in the dark, Adam still letting out a soft, tight grunt with every step he pushed his left leg to make. Adam\u2019s involuntary admittance of pain was hard to take; Joe did his best to block out the sounds, with little success. When the sound of triumphant Paiutes began to drift up behind them, he tried to block that out as well.<\/p>\n

Adam heard it, too. \u201cThey\u2019re on us,\u201d he noted grimly. Joe didn\u2019t bother to answer. He was too busy trying to stay on his feet. The ground seemed to be swaying beneath him, and he had the uneasy feeling that he was starting to lean on Adam much harder than Adam was leaning on him.<\/p>\n

Suddenly the quiet surface of the lake was looming before them, shining like dull, dark pewter in the starlight. They stopped at the shoreline and stared out at the water, then back into the timber where the Indians\u2019 cries were growing ever louder.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt must be true; they can track even in the dark,\u201d Joe murmured.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing.\u201d He stared down the shoreline as it stretched away from them on both sides. \u201cShould we try to head around the lake?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll never make it.\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was quiet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d But they turned and started along the rocky beach anyway, hurrying as fast as they were able.<\/p>\n

Adam stopped suddenly and pointed out at the water. Some distance out from shore was the dark shape of a tiny island, a jumble of jagged rocks rising from the water, with four or five scraggly pines standing sentinel.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould you swim out there, do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked, considering. He bent to put one hand in the water; it was so cold it hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, I need an answer,\u201d Adam barked. \u201cCan you swim to that island or not?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stared at the dark pile of rocks marring the lake\u2019s smooth surface. \u201cI think I\u2019d rather die by drowning than by having some Paiute brave sawing on my forehead,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n

A loud shout rang out as the Paiutes burst out of the timber only a few hundred yards away.<\/p>\n

Joe looked at Adam expectantly. Adam looked out at the tiny island, then back at Joe, and then he shook his head regretfully. \u201cYou\u2019re a strong swimmer. I think you can make it\u2014but I can\u2019t. My leg won\u2019t give me the kicking power I\u2019ll need to get across.\u201d He hesitated. \u201cYou go. I\u2019ll take off around the lake. Take your boots off.\u201d He ignored Joe\u2019s protests, pushing him down into a sitting position and tugging at his boots himself.<\/p>\n

Swimming out to the island was a long shot, Joe knew, but staying pinned against the shore was sure suicide. If Adam couldn\u2019t swim, he was finished.<\/p>\n

The Indians were running toward them; Adam was pushing him into the water, pulling his jacket from him at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t do you any good wet, and it\u2019ll only weigh you down,\u201d Adam said, flinging the jacket toward shore. He walked into the water himself, continuing to push at Joe.<\/p>\n

Joe felt the sting of the icy water against his legs. \u201cAdam, you can\u2019t\u2014\u201c But then Adam was already moving away, galloping along the water\u2019s edge with a lopsided lurch that would\u2019ve made Joe laugh had the circumstances been different.<\/p>\n

Something tore loose inside Joe\u2019s chest. The burden and blessing of his entire existence was based on the fact that everything he\u2019d ever done, everything he’d ever tried, had been done under the watchful eyes of his pa and brothers. It seemed that he had spent his whole life working to either struggle up to their level of manhood, or climb out from under their shadow, Adam\u2019s in particular. In this moment, a moment when death moved toward them with terrifying swiftness, Joe watched as Adam played the role of protector one last time. The Indians would see Adam running; they\u2019d be too busy running him down to notice Joe in the water. Joe\u2019s path was being ripped away from his brother\u2019s against his will, and he knew without a doubt that he\u2019d never see him again.<\/p>\n

He glanced toward the island. Could he make it? He thought he could.<\/p>\n

But he wouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

If Joe had to die tonight, it would be at the side of the man he\u2019d often fought and argued bitterly against\u2014and yet loved all his life.<\/p>\n

He splashed back out onto shore and quickly caught up to Adam, who threw him an astonished glance and skidded to a stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the hell are you doing?\u201d Adam was infuriated.<\/p>\n

Joe grabbed his arm and began to pull him along. \u201cShut up and run, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Adam was having none of it. \u201cYou damn fool! If you don\u2019t make a try for that island, you\u2019re going to die. Don\u2019t you understand that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand perfectly.\u201d Joe\u2019s words were quiet but unwavering.<\/p>\n

Understanding and sick resignation crossed Adam\u2019s face. \u201cYou\u2019re insisting on staying with me.\u201d It was a flat statement, not a question. Adam shut his eyes briefly, and then painfully lowered himself to the ground and started to pull off his boots.<\/p>\n

Now it was Joe\u2019s turn to be astounded. \u201cAdam\u2014what are you doing? They\u2019re coming!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam flung his boots to the side, threw off his coat and waded into the water, still holding onto the crutch. \u201cYou\u2019d better come on, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shut his mouth and splashed out to his brother. \u201cI thought you said you couldn\u2019t kick\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll do the best we can, Joe. Both of us. Nobody can ask more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe swallowed and nodded. Side by side, they waded quickly out into the icy water. By the time it lapped at their waists, they were both shivering violently.<\/p>\n

Then Adam grabbed his arm to stop him. \u201cJoe. I want to tell you something. Hannigan\u2019s horse\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes widened in disbelief. \u201cYou\u2019re bringing that up now? Oh, for crying out loud, Adam\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I want you to know\u2014\u201c Adam shook his head. \u201cI need you to know. The reason I didn\u2019t want the horse–\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, we don\u2019t have time for this. Tell me later, after we make it to that island. Because we\u00a0are<\/em>\u00a0going to make it.\u201d Joe pulled away, but Adam grabbed his arm in a grip so tight it hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I\u2019m telling you now.\u201d Adam\u2019s tone was hard and determined. He took a big breath and his eyes were large and dark as they stared into Joe\u2019s. \u201cThe reason I was against buying Hannigan\u2019s stud was because you were so determined to tame the thing. I wanted him for the herd as badly as you did, but I was so afraid that you\u2019d get yourself killed on him that I decided it wasn\u2019t worth the risk.\u201d Adam loosened his grip, and his voice faded until it was almost too soft for Joe to hear. \u201cYou\u2019re fearless, Joe, and it scares me to death. Every time you climb onto the back of some jugheaded bronc, every time you take on some drunken cowboy in the saloon\u2014hell, every time you walk out the front door and fly headlong into whatever chaos you happen to be chasing that day, you act as though nothing could possibly go wrong. One of these days your luck is going to run out, and you\u2019re going to\u2014\u201c Adam sighed. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to lose you to some fool horse. I didn\u2019t want to watch Pa go through that kind of suffering again\u2026\u201d He looked back up at him. \u201cYou\u2019re not invincible, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stared at him, and then a lopsided grin spread across his face. Even though they could both very well be breathing their last, Joe\u2019s heart was suddenly light. Somehow, things were right again between him and Adam, and that alone was enough. Joe reached for the reckless courage with which he faced every dilemma, hopeless or not. \u201cAnd you\u2019re not always right, older brother,\u201d he said, still grinning. \u201cI reckon now\u2019s as good a time as any to see what wins out\u2014your philosophizing or my luck. I\u2019m putting my money on my luck. Ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stared at him, and then gave him an answering grin. \u201cReady.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, then. Let\u2019s find out just how bad a bunch of Paiutes want to catch a couple of skinny cowboys.\u201d With that, Joe dove forward into the water.<\/p>\n

The cold was stunning in its power. It took his breath away and shocked him into total numbness. He floundered and sank before finally forcing his limbs to move, and hard kicks thrust him back to the surface.<\/p>\n

He sucked in air and looked around for Adam just as his brother\u2019s head broke the surface beside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod\u2014it\u2019s\u2014cold!\u201d Adam gasped. He grabbed the crutch floating beside him and held on.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d Joe could hardly force the word up out of his throat as he made a concentrated effort to keep treading water. His insides seemed to be as paralyzed as his outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cStart\u2014swimming. It\u2019ll help\u2014keep the blood\u2014pumping,\u201d Adam panted, striking out for the dark lines of the island\u2014an island which suddenly seemed impossibly far away. Joe followed his lead. They didn\u2019t talk any more; they couldn\u2019t afford the energy, and anyway, their violent shivering made it hard to form words. Instead of speaking, they put everything they had into pulling stroke after stroke.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, they heard no sounds of splashing Indians behind them. Joe spared a second to look over his shoulder, and could just make out a line of braves standing shoulder to shoulder along the shoreline, laughing and pointing toward them.<\/p>\n

Damn Paiutes. They thought they were watching a couple of idiots trying to drown themselves. No reason to get cold and wet doing what dark lake water was sure to do anyway. Anger surged through Joe\u2019s veins, and he struck out with new determination.<\/p>\n

They swam on, and the Indians\u2019 whoops grew fainter behind them. The island grew slowly larger. So slowly. Using the crutch to help stay afloat, Adam kicked and swam the best he could; several times Joe had to stop swimming and tread water so as not to get too far ahead of him. Joe had no idea how long they\u2019d been in the water. It felt like hours. He was aware that the water no longer seemed quite as cold, and he wondered how that could be.<\/p>\n

He tried to keep his concentration on the rocky outline of the island. They were going to make it; he refused to entertain any other conclusion. He turned his head to shout a word of encouragement to Adam\u2014and watched his brother\u2019s head slip beneath the black surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d<\/p>\n

He swam back to where he\u2019d seen his brother disappear and dove under at the spot where the pine branch bobbed on top of the water. Once under, however, he could see nothing but inky blackness. He came back up and cried out his brother\u2019s name again, spinning around and frantically wiping away the water streaming over his eyes.<\/p>\n

Suddenly Adam\u2019s head broke the surface. Joe threw out an arm, grasping wildly for his brother and missing entirely. Adam went down again. Joe dove, reaching out\u2014and his hand brushed against his brother\u2019s hair. He clenched his fist, feeling the wet locks twining around his fingers, and he jerked upwards with all his strength, kicking hard for the surface at the same time.<\/p>\n

Adam came coughing and gasping into his arms, and Joe held on to him for all he was worth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got you, Adam. Just hold on. It\u2019s not much further.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m finished, Joe,\u201d Adam choked out. His teeth were knocking together so hard that Joe could barely make out the words. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to let me go. You\u2019ll never make it otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t bother answering. He wrapped one arm around Adam and struck out through the water with the other.<\/p>\n

He swam on, and time lost all meaning. He thought of nothing other than telling himself to swim, to swim, to swim. It was as though his entire body had forgotten how to do things on its own. He had to keep sending mental messages to his legs to keep kicking, to his left arm to keep stroking, to his lungs to keep pulling in air. The only part of him that didn\u2019t need to be told what to do was his right arm; it curved around his brother\u2019s body with a fierceness that made his bicep bunch and cramp.<\/p>\n

Several times he went under, choking and sputtering along with Adam when he managed to fight his way back up to the surface. Every time Adam demanded that Joe let go of him. Joe ignored him, even when his brother swore at him.<\/p>\n

And then Adam stopped speaking completely. Joe looked at his face once and then refused to allow himself to do so again; Adam\u2019s eyes were closed, his face white, and the sight of it frightened Joe so badly that he found it even harder to breathe. He kept kicking and kept paddling with his left arm over and over again, his mind blank and his eyes fixed on the black water in front of him.<\/p>\n

When his foot finally brushed against gravel, he was so exhausted that it didn\u2019t register. He swam until he was able to crawl out, heaving Adam along beside him. Pulling his brother from the water took the last bit of his strength, and he collapsed beside him, trembling from fatigue.<\/p>\n

Again he thought about how odd it was that he was no longer all that cold. But his shivering brother obviously was, and he needed a fire. There was nothing to do for it, however; even if Joe could manage to get a fire started, the tiny island would provide little in the way of dry fuel.<\/p>\n

He sighed and scrunched up on the rocks next to his brother\u2019s body, trying to provide what little warmth his own body had to offer. He pillowed his head on Adam\u2019s chest, and the last thing he was aware of was the faint thumping of his brother\u2019s heart against his cheek.<\/p>\n

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

He thought he heard Adam calling to him, but he couldn\u2019t even begin to pull himself out of sleep\u2026restless sleep, disturbed by odd dreams\u2026such odd dreams. Gunshots echoing like distant thunder. Adam calling his name again, then the voices of Pa and Hoss looming over Adam\u2019s. The blessed warmth of someone\u2019s coat being wrapped around him before he was lifted and carried. The faint sensation of being rocked like a baby in a cradle, with noises of creaking wood and splashing water sounding dimly in his ears.<\/p>\n

Adam calling his name again.<\/p>\n

Then the jangle of a team\u2019s harness, more creaking wood, and the rumble of wagon wheels. Men talking in clipped, urgent tones. Pa, then Hoss, then Pa again, hovering over him, speaking to him, even though he couldn\u2019t make himself concentrate enough to figure out what they were saying.<\/p>\n

And over it all, Adam\u2019s voice again, agitated and fearful, calling his name out over and over and over.<\/p>\n

Time stretched out endlessly before and behind Joe, and then all sound ceased.<\/p>\n

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

It was so quiet. He was hot, and everything hurt\u2014his throat, his chest, his side. Blankets were piled on top of him, and he wanted to push them away, but couldn\u2019t seem to garner the strength to do it. Even trying to open his eyes didn\u2019t seem worth the effort. He thought he heard someone speaking, and he tried to listen, but he slid back into sleep before he could even decide who was there.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d<\/p>\n

He jerked awake, gasping. \u201cAdam?\u201d He forced his eyes open, but couldn\u2019t focus. His vision swam with blurred lights and shadows. Someone\u2014Pa?\u2014murmured something to him and placed a cool hand on his brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t do it\u2026Joe, come back!\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0Adam\u2014and something was wrong. Adam\u2019s voice was muffled and sounded far off, but there was no mistaking his fear. Joe tried to sit up, his heart slamming hard in his chest. \u201cAdam!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Paiutes\u2014were they coming? He struggled to get his bearings, blinking his eyes hard. The shapes around him shimmered and merged and parted again. The face hovering over him coalesced slowly into view. Pa. And beyond Pa\u2019s anxious face, the familiar trappings of Joe\u2019s bedroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, it\u2019s all right, son.\u201d Pa\u2019s voice, soothing yet troubled. He pushed Joe gently back down onto the pillow. \u201cShh, just take it easy now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Joe whispered.<\/p>\n

Then Adam\u2019s shouts came again, louder, more insistent, and more frightened, and Joe\u2019s head whirled with confusion and fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d He fought his way up off the pillow and tried to swing his legs off the bed. \u201cAdam!\u201d He struggled, but Pa held tight to him and began to shout for Hoss.<\/p>\n

He continued to try to fight his way free. Couldn\u2019t Pa hear that Adam was in trouble?<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s big form filled the doorway, and his appearance distracted Pa just long enough for Joe to push past him; he plowed off the bed, only to land in an undignified heap on the floor. Hoss was immediately bending over him, picking him up and placing him back on the bed as easily as if he were a child. Hoss and Pa were both calling to him, but Joe didn\u2019t want to listen. Tears of frustration sprang to his eyes; he had nothing left in him\u2014he couldn\u2019t even summon the strength to speak, and Adam was still calling his name in that frightened, awful voice.<\/p>\n

Pa was pulling the blankets back up to his chin. Against his will, Joe\u2019s eyes began to drift closed. Adam\u2019s pleading calls continued to come, and one hot, bitter tear of defeat escaped to slip down Joe\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026son, it\u2019s all right,\u201d Pa insisted, but his voice shook, and Joe was left with the rare consternation of wondering whether his father\u2019s words were true.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen! I need one of you in here!\u201d With a start, Joe recognized Doc Martin\u2019s voice. Usually calm and matter-of-fact, his voice was strained as it rang from the other room.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay with Joe, Hoss.\u201d Pa\u2019s voice was rough and weary. \u201cI\u2019ll go help Doc Martin with Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure, Pa? Adam, he\u2019s\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

Adam was…what? Adam was what?<\/em>\u00a0Joe struggled to open his eyes to ask the question, but couldn\u2019t manage to do it. Pa gave brusque instructions to Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoc and I can handle Adam for a few minutes. The laudanum is bound to be taking effect soon. Just stay with Joe. And for God\u2019s sake, let\u2019s keep the doors closed until they\u2019re both asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe heard the click of the latch as the door to his room was drawn closed. A few seconds later he heard the soft thump of another closing door, then the muffled voices of Pa and Doc Martin. Beside him, Hoss gave a long, shaky sigh, and then started talking to him softly about such mundane matters as the weather and how many new calves they\u2019d had this week\u2014talk calculated, Joe knew, to calm him as he drifted back off to sleep. In the background, behind Hoss\u2019s low voice, the November wind blustered through the trees and against the window pane.<\/p>\n

And still, rising above it all, was the terror-stricken sound of Adam calling for him.<\/p>\n

As Joe relinquished himself to sleep, he knew it was a sound he\u2019d hear in his nightmares for years to come.<\/p>\n

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

Joe came awake to the sound of sparrows trilling outside his window. Foolish birds; they sounded deliriously happy. Didn\u2019t they know spring was still a long way off?<\/p>\n

Joe sighed and rolled over. He knew he\u2019d overslept\u2014again. These days nobody seemed inclined to complain about it, though. His family was still worried about him pushing too much, too fast.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just the wound from the arrow\u2014pneumonia is nothing to trifle with, young man,\u201d Doc had told him sternly. \u201cYou\u2019ll have to watch yourself for some time or you\u2019ll suffer a set-back, mark my words. You may be young and strong, but you\u2019re not invincible\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019re not invincible.<\/em><\/p>\n

The bittersweet memory of Adam saying the exact same thing came to mind, and Joe immediately sat up and put his bare feet onto the floor. The events of that day weren\u2019t anything he cared to dwell on.<\/p>\n

He quickly dressed and began to make his way downstairs, pausing when he heard Hoss and Pa conversing quietly at the table.<\/p>\n

Hoss was shaking his head. \u201cAre you sure this is such a good idea, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not at all sure. As a matter of fact, I think it might be a huge mistake,\u201d Pa grumbled. He sat back in his chair and sighed. \u201cBut it\u2019s what Adam wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hearing that, Joe continued down the stairs and stood at the end of the table. \u201cWhat did Adam want?\u201d he asked. The looks Hoss and Pa threw each other made him think they weren\u2019t going to tell him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did Adam want?\u201d he repeated.<\/p>\n

Joe watched Pa\u2019s eyes soften as they fell on him. He stared at his father\u2019s face, taking in the newly etched lines webbing around the corners of his eyes. The last couple of months had been rough on Ben Cartwright. It hadn\u2019t been easy on any of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSit down and have some breakfast, Joseph,\u201d Pa said gently, and Joe chafed at having his question left unanswered. But he dutifully sat down and began to fill his plate. His appetite had finally picked up over the last few weeks, and with it his strength had begun to come back as well. He dug in earnestly, only to slow down when he realized that Pa and Hoss were watching him. He looked from one to the other, unable to discern what they were thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d he mumbled through a mouthful of eggs, earning him a momentary look of disapproval from Pa.<\/p>\n

Hoss shot a look at Pa, and shrugged at Joe. \u201cNothin\u2019, Joe, nothin\u2019 at all. Don\u2019t mind us. You just keep on with your breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stared at his brother. A smile twitched at the corners of Hoss\u2019s mouth; he looked as if he could barely contain himself. A quick glance at his pa caught the same smile, although Ben quickly tried to hide it.<\/p>\n

Joe put his fork down. \u201cAll right, what\u2019s goin\u2019 on?\u201d<\/p>\n

Before either of them could answer, a knock sounded on the front door. Joe pushed his chair back, but Ben waved him back down. \u201cI\u2019ll get it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The voice at the door belonged to one of the hands. \u201cWe need some help out at the barn, Mr. Cartwright. That mare is trying to foal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes\u2014right. Get your coats, boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe groaned, thinking about the heavy mantle of snow that lay over the yard outside. He had always loved winter, but he had been cold almost continuously over the past two months, almost as if he might never be warm again. The thought of tramping through the snow to get to the barn didn\u2019t appeal to him at all.<\/p>\n

He sighed. He should be thankful. While he\u2019d been snoozing in a warm bed, Hoss had most likely been out to the barn a dozen times already, taking care of both Joe\u2019s chores and his own.<\/p>\n

Resolutely, Joe stood and moved toward the door. Hoss and Ben already had their coats on, and Hoss grabbed Joe\u2019s off the hook and tossed it at him. Joe put it on, looking down to button it up as he followed Pa out the door. He didn\u2019t dare leave the coat hanging open as he normally would have\u2014Pa would have a conniption fit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do they always pick the coldest mornings to foal?\u201d Joe grumbled, fussing with a contrary button. \u201cJust like that heifer the other night during the blizzard\u2014why can\u2019t it ever be easy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon that\u2019s because nothin\u2019 worthwhile is ever easy, Joe,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss is right. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe jerked his head up. Adam stood in the middle of the snow-covered yard, dimples framing a wide grin. He held a lead rope in his hand, and at the end of the rope stood Ted Hannigan\u2019s big chestnut stud.<\/p>\n

Joe stared at the horse, then at Adam, then at Hoss and Pa, who both simply grinned back at him. He turned again to Adam and found that, for once, he could think of nothing to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t you gonna say somethin\u2019, Joe?\u201d Hoss asked. \u201cYou keep standing there with your mouth open and you\u2019re liable to let your tongue get frost-bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

They all laughed at that, Pa, Adam, Hoss, the row of grinning ranch hands standing off to the side. Everyone but Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026I don\u2019t understand,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

Hoss moved up beside him. \u201cWell, uh\u2026see, it\u2019s a horse, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

This time Hoss\u2019s wisecrack earned him a hefty wallop in the arm. \u201cI\u00a0know<\/em>\u00a0what it is, you muleheaded\u2026\u201d Joe sighed and looked back at Adam, who still smiled as he watched him. Joe walked slowly through the snow until he stood face to face with his oldest brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d he said again, and he searched his brother\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Adam shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s a good horse,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. A really good horse. But that didn\u2019t matter back in November,\u201d Joe said quietly. \u201cWhat changed your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam glanced down at the snow and rubbed one hand over his mouth. Then he looked back up at Joe. \u201cA lot of things,\u201d he said. \u201cYou. Me.\u201d He cleared his throat and turned his head slightly to look up at the mountaintop where the new logging camp sat. \u201cYou handled yourself real well out there, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe fidgeted, suddenly uncomfortable. \u201cAll I did was try to save our hides. And you were right there beside me.\u201d Just as he\u2019d always been, Joe thought. \u201cI\u2019d be dead right now if you hadn\u2019t killed that brave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded, still looking out at the mountaintop. \u201cI take my responsibilities seriously, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe frowned, unsure of what his brother was getting at. He looked back at Pa and Hoss for answers, but they looked as perplexed as he was.<\/p>\n

Adam continued, speaking slowly as if even he weren\u2019t quite sure of what he was trying to say. \u201cWhen you were a little kid, you were like a small cyclone, always charging off in a thousand different directions. It took all of us to keep tabs on you. By the time you were thirteen, you were pulling stunts that had Pa tearing his hair out. I did my best to help him by keeping you out of as much trouble as I could.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe blushed; he knew very well what stunts his brother was talking about. Why, though, was he talking about all that now?<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the time you were fifteen,\u201d Adam went on, \u201cwe began to seriously wonder if you\u2019d live long enough to make it to manhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of the hands chuckled, but Joe kept his eyes glued on Adam, who still stared up at the mountain.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were always rash and foolhardy, and again, I did my best to try to make sure that you stayed alive long enough to become a man.\u201d Adam paused. \u201cWhile you and I were up on that mountain, I thought I had failed you. I thought I had protected you from a rogue horse only to lose you to a scalping. Then, when I woke up on that hellish iceberg of an island, and you were so cold, so still\u2026\u201d He shook his head. \u201cI didn\u2019t know what else to do to keep you in this world, so I just kept calling to you. I called as long as I could, until I lost consciousness again.\u201d He glanced at Hoss and Pa. \u201cI\u2019m told that I still called during all those days when I was out of my head with fever.\u201d He sighed and stared down at the snow. \u201cI remember dreaming about you. Terrible things, things I couldn\u2019t protect you from no matter how hard I tried\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The anguish in Adam\u2019s voice was as fresh as if he had just awakened from one of those dreams. No one said a word, but the look Ben gave Adam said that he knew what those dreams, those feelings, were like. Wanting to protect the ones you love and being helpless to do so. Joe, too, could understand the terror to be found in that.<\/p>\n

Adam swung his gaze back up to Joe. \u201cWhen I finally woke up, and they told me you would be all right, it finally occurred to me\u2014my job is done. Has been for some time. You are a man, in every sense of the word\u2014the kind of man I\u2019m proud and glad to have at my side regardless of the situation we\u2019re in.\u201d<\/p>\n

At a loss for words, Joe simply kept looking at him, his throat working. Finally he smiled and asked softly, \u201cDoes this mean you\u2019re through trying to tell me what to do?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled back. \u201cAbsolutely not. You may be a man, but you\u2019re still a rash and foolhardy one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe laughed, and suddenly everything was bright and fresh and new. The sun broke through the clouds, sending a million sparkling diamonds skittering across the snow.<\/p>\n

Grinning, Joe turned toward the horse. \u201cHow\u2019d you get him to stand so nice on the halter?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam rolled his eyes. \u201cHours and hours of hard work and frustration, that\u2019s how. I thought for sure one of us, either me or the horse, wasn\u2019t going to make it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing worthwhile is ever easy.\u201d Joe repeated his brothers\u2019 words and moved near the horse to rub its neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked him up to the halter, but the rest of it is up to you, Joe. I know horseflesh, but you\u2014you\u2019re the one who\u2019s got the instincts and the ability to turn him into something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another compliment from Adam; another pearl. Joe tucked it away along with the others, where it could be taken out and polished and admired when he was alone. When he could trust his voice, he asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s his name, anyway? I never asked Ted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam chuckled. \u201cWell, Ted called him a lot of things, none of which Pa would appreciate being hollered out across the yard. So I took the initiative of naming him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what is it?\u201d Hoss asked. He and Pa had moved close, faces full of the peaceful joy that comes from almost losing something precious and having it handed back.<\/p>\n

Adam patted the horse\u2019s nose, but his eyes were on Joe. \u201cHis name is Invincible.\u201d He smiled and shared a look with Joe that only they understood.<\/p>\n

\u201cMighty high-falutin\u2019 name for a horse, if you ask me,\u201d Hoss grumbled. He stroked the horse\u2019s sleek side. \u201cI\u2019ll be callin\u2019 him Vince if it\u2019s all the same to you two.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe moved to stand in front of Adam once more. \u201cThanks, Adam,\u201d he said softly, and then he threw his arms around him in the same exuberant way he had done since he was a small child, breaking through Adam\u2019s natural reticence as he always did, causing the horse to snort and throw his head back in nervous reaction. His kid brother in his arms, Adam relinquished the rope to Hoss.<\/p>\n

Pressed chest to chest, Adam and Joe pounded each other hard on the back, exulting in the kind of boisterous, turbulent love that only men can delight in, and through the noise and laughter and Vince\u2019s nervous snorts, neither one was aware of the steady, sure synchronization of their hearts falling into step with one another once again.<\/p>\n

The End<\/strong><\/p>\n

Next Story in the Invincible Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Worry<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Disclaimer:<\/span>\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.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0An Adam\/Joe story. Thrown together for the day to work out a disagreement between themselves, Joe and Adam suddenly find themselves struggling to survive.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0T \u00a0WC \u00a013,800<\/p>\n

Invincible Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":7393,"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-7392","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":4570,"today_views":4},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Invinciblebook1.jpg?fit=250%2C350&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7411,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7411","url_meta":{"origin":7392,"position":0},"title":"Worry (by southplains)","author":"southplains","date":"July 20, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe and Adam are injured and in danger. Hoss and Ben struggle to bring them back. A companion piece to my story 'Invincible'. Rated:\u00a0T \u00a0WC 10,500 Invincible Series, links to all the stories within the series included.","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\/04\/Friendship-4.jpg?fit=500%2C373&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7636,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7636","url_meta":{"origin":7392,"position":1},"title":"Standoff (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Two brothers, one killer, and only one way to end the standoff. Rated:\u00a0T\u00a0 Word count:\u00a0684","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\/A-J.jpg?fit=400%2C320&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6742,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6742","url_meta":{"origin":7392,"position":2},"title":"Grazed (by Jayne)","author":"Jayne","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0When Adam finds a slightly injured Joe, they share a strangely special moment. \u00a0A Young Cartwright short story. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a0767","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1091"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6756,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6756","url_meta":{"origin":7392,"position":3},"title":"The Crazy Lady (by Jayne)","author":"Jayne","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe and Hoss scare themselves one night, come to Adam's room and tell him the story of the crazy lady. Prequel\/Young Cartwrights\/Humor \u00a0Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a0700","rel":"","context":"In "Brothers"","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7350,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7350","url_meta":{"origin":7392,"position":4},"title":"Seafarer Blood (by Sibylle)","author":"Sibylle","date":"May 7, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0It\u00b4s a\u00a0brief\u00a0glimpse\u00a0at a time Joe needs his oldest brother to prevent him\u00a0from a big mistake. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K \u00a0WC 600","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1091"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6475,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6475","url_meta":{"origin":7392,"position":5},"title":"A Circle of Family: The Book of Joseph (by MissJudy)","author":"missjudy","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Days\u00a0before Adam is scheduled to leave for college, Little Joe \"borrows\" his older brother's Bible and leaves it outside in the rain when his attention is drawn elsewhere. The Bible had belonged to Elizabeth and was one of the few tokens Adam had of his mother.\u00a0We watch as he\u2026","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\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7392"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7392\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7393"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}