<\/p>\n
Summary:\u00a0<\/span>Adam doesn\u2019t keep Little Joe out of trouble. A short slice of brotherly life.<\/span><\/p>\n Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a0<\/span>1257<\/span><\/p>\n Author’s Notes: \u00a0<\/span><\/em>This story began life as a Bonanza Bit to the prompt: I wouldn’t do that.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I wouldn\u2019t do that if I were you!\u00a0<\/em> The thought flashed in his mind, but he clenched his jaw and swallowed it off his tongue. The last time he had said it out loud, his brother had turned and pinned him with a burning glare.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, you\u2019re not me, and I ain\u2019t you, and I\u2019m never going to be!\u201d Then Little Joe had turned his back to him and muttered, \u201cI couldn\u2019t be if I tried.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After which, Joe had proceeded to do exactly what he had intended to do. It had not turned out as badly as it could have; the boy had broken only his collarbone and not his neck.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly through his nose. Turning on his heel, he walked out of the saloon exchanging a glace with his brother Hoss. He walked over to the hitching rail, set both hands flat upon it, and leaned against it staring into the darken street. I wouldn\u2019t do that if I were you! <\/em>Never once in all the times he had said it to his baby brother had Little Joe paid heed, but then again, the only time he himself had ever heeded the same warning was when it was uttered in his Pa\u2019s stentorian tones.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n None of Ben Cartwright\u2019s sons was fool enough not to recognize an order from Pa or doubt the consequences for ignoring one. Hoss had said it to them both and been routinely ignored every time. Adam\u2019s lips curled in a wry grin, and then he heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see his oversized little brother with Ben Cartwright\u2019s unconscious youngest son slung over his shoulder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed. \u201cAny real damage done?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think so, but it might be better to get a room at the hotel and bed him down there just in case something shows up later.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI suppose so, but the entire bill is going on Little Joe\u2019s account not the Ponderosa\u2019s.\u201d His arms crossed, and he tugged at his left ear. \u201cPa\u2019s going to fret all night if none of us comes home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, we flip to see who sits with baby brother, and who rides home and tells Pa?\u201d Hoss shifted and resettled his brother more securely on his shoulder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou trust me alone with him?\u201d Adam asked with a rueful grin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot really, but. . . Do you relish being the one to tell Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo! We\u2019ll flip for it then.\u201d Adam pulled a coin from his pocket. \u201cCall it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHeads,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam caught the coin and slapped it down on the back of his left hand. \u201cTails! You tell Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCoward!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I just want a chance at little brother before Pa has his.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shook his head and started walking toward the hotel. After Adam secured a room, Hoss carried Joe up the stairs. As Hoss let his brother\u2019s body flop onto the bed, Little Joe stirred and groaned.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSeems he\u2019s coming round,\u201d Hoss observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, we can put the worry that he won\u2019t behind us. Which leaves me a clear path for. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Adam, don\u2019t. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stared down at his brother. \u201cHe\u2019s not a boy any longer, he\u2019s not a boy any longer, he\u2019s not\u2026\u201d he chanted the phrase in an apparent attempt to convince himself of its truth in the face of insurmountable evidence to the contrary. Little Joe\u2019s mumbling as he opened his eyes brought a halt to the recitation. Adam sat down on the edge of the bed. \u201cJoe, Joe, let me have a look at your eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe turned his head from side to side until Adam locked his brother\u2019s chin in a death grip.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHis eyes aren\u2019t dilated; I don\u2019t think there\u2019s a concussion, at least not a major one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be heading to the ranch then.\u201d Hoss stated moving toward the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe moaned. He had heard the tone in his elder brother\u2019s voice even if his view of Adam\u2019s eyes had been blurry. \u201cDon\u2019t leave me alone with him,\u201d he said pleadingly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked at Adam\u2019s face and then shrugged, \u201cYa made your own bed, Short Shanks. You already owe me for being the one to have to tell Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s next groan was deeper. \u201cYou couldn\u2019t just. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, he couldn\u2019t.\u201d Adam\u2019s statement left no room for argument.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSee ya to tomorrow. The earlier the better, I\u2019d reckon.\u201d Hoss chuckled and made his way out the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As it closed, Adam asked, \u201cThe truth, Joe, should I send for Doc Martin?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYea, since Hoss has deserted me, I may need him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam relaxed slightly. In all reality, Little Joe had been seriously hurt enough to recognize when he had suffered real injury. His little brother\u2019s asking for the doctor was a sure sign that he did not need one. \u201cYou want your comeuppance before or after I take off your belts and boots?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAfter, much after.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, . . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know, Adam, but, well, you know me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head and then chuckled, \u201cSince the day you were born.\u201d He stood up and divested Joe of his gun belt, belt, and boots. \u201cUnbutton your pants, and I\u2019ll pull them off too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s eyes had cleared and most of the fog had left his mind. \u201cMaybe I should keep them on.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam glanced up. \u201cYou\u2019ll be more comfortable without them; besides, I seem to remember being at your twentieth birthday party.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy twenty-first is still eight months away.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s between you and Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe sighed and undid the buttons on his pants. Adam tugged them off and then hung them neatly over the back of the chair. \u201cShirt?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe undid the buttons and shrugged out of the garment. Adam watched Joe\u2019s coordination closely and caught the shirt when Joe tossed it to him. Then he hung it over the pants. \u201cGo to sleep, Joe. Like Hoss said, it would be a good idea to be home early tomorrow, and I\u2019ll have to keep waking you through the night.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to walk over and fetch our saddlebags from the livery.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh. Okay.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Adam returned, Little Joe was curled up under the covers. Adam undressed, blew out the light, but then walked over to stare out the window at the moon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s voice was soft and not slurred by slumber.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Adam had known his brother was not asleep.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you stop me?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCould I have?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t try.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I . . .well, I guess . . .do you think I should have?\u201d Adam turned and stared through the darkness between them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI. . . not that I want you to, but I guess I always expect you to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf I had thought Hoss couldn\u2019t stop it before you got truly hurt, we would have toted you out of there kicking and screaming.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI would have hated you for that,\u201d Joe whispered, \u201cat least for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know. Would have done it anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe smiled and pulled the covers up around him. \u201cNight, Elder Brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam turned back to gaze again at the moon. \u201cNight, Little Buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Disclaimer:\u00a0 <\/u>All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary:\u00a0Adam doesn\u2019t keep Little Joe out of trouble. A short slice of brotherly life.<\/p>\n Rated:\u00a0K+\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a01257<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":9517,"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_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1009,23,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brothers","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-1009-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/brothers.jpg?fit=399%2C299&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7584","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\/143"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}