<\/p>\n
Summary:\u00a0<\/span>When Adam disciplines Little Joe, Hoss has two brothers to console. Corporal punishment warning<\/span><\/p>\n Rated:<\/span>\u00a0T\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a0<\/span>1418<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Way of Things<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Leaning arms folded on the top rail of the corral, he stared out focusing on nothing. The he felt his brother come to stand beside him so close, despite the open space around them, that the cloth of their shirts brushed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt needed doing,\u201d Hoss said simply.<\/p>\n But why did I need to be the one to do it! <\/i>Adam did not speak but dropped his forehead to his arms. Hoss shifted slightly, and Adam felt the solid warmth of his younger brother as their arms pressed together.<\/p>\n \u201cI \u2018member the first time Pa put leather across your backside.\u201d Hoss spoke softly as he gazed at a young colt feeding at his mother\u2019s side.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were too young,\u201d Adam stated as he continued to stare at the intricacies of rough-hewn wood.<\/p>\n \u201cNot saying I remember it all clear, but I do remember.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sighed. After his father had left the room, his little brother had come soft-footed and silent. As he lay on his stomach clutching a pillow, he had felt Hoss gently crawl onto the bed and drape an arm around his neck nestling carefully against his back, warm and solid. He had told a friend at college once that the story of Aaron holding up the prophet\u2019s hands always made him think of his younger brother.<\/p>\n Hoss continued, \u201cAfter ya went to sleep, I went out into the main room, and Pa was fixing supper. He was all fumblely-like.\u201d<\/p>\n When his father turned to look at him, he had said, \u201cAdam went to sleep.\u201d He had been too young to know the word, but he had made the statement an accusation, nonetheless. His father\u2019s hand had begun trembling, and Pa had turned abruptly and strode out of the cabin. He had followed peering slowly around the door to see his father standing a few feet away.<\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t seen Pa cry many times, but I remember he did that evening. \u2018Member it clear, maybe because it scared me.\u201d Hoss paused not speaking of what he had done.<\/p>\n He had watched his father\u2019s shoulders shaking as a tendril of fear snaked upward to squeeze his heart. Then he had darted to his father, wrapped his arms around Pa\u2019s waist, and buried his head in the cloth of Pa\u2019s pants. Pa had turned, kneeled, and pulled him into his arms. \u201cWe\u2019ll be good from now on, Pa.\u201d he had whispered.<\/p>\n Pa\u2019s crying is a scary thing.\u00a0<\/i> Adam agreed silently. \u201cI never knew; you didn\u2019t say anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I thought on it some though. Now that I\u2019m grown. . .\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGrown?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss could not see his brother\u2019s face, but he knew that Adam\u2019s left eyebrow had risen, and the edges of his lips had curled. He and Adam both knew that there were only two men in the world who still looked at every inch and pound of Hoss Cartwright and saw a boy.<\/p>\n Hoss nudged Adam\u2019s side with his elbow. \u201cNow that I\u2019m grown, I think maybe, well, that it\u2019s good. Some things shouldn\u2019t come easy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe thinks it did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you think it was easy for Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly until the aching stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s smart has you, ya know.\u201d Hoss knew that this time Adam\u2019s right eyebrow would be rising. \u201cHow many?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam knew what Hoss was asking and gave him the number.<\/p>\n \u201cPa would have given him a good two or three more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably.\u201d Adam and Hoss both knew that when it came to a tanning from their pa, even two was a significant number.<\/p>\n \u201cLike I said, Adam, it needed doing; Joe knows he done wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe could have. . .\u201d Adam pushed the thought away. He turned his head and looked at Hoss for the first time. \u201cYou\u2019ll never have to, not to Joe anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever had to take one from you either.\u201d Hoss allowed a grin to display the gap in his teeth. \u201cGood thing I timed my birthing right smack between the two of ya.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s voice softened to a whisper. \u201cSometimes being smack dab between us isn\u2019t a very pretty place.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shrugged. \u201cThere\u2019s a price to pay for everything. I \u2018spect I got a bargain all things considered.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cHoss, how do you do it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou never rail against the verities of life.\u201d He caught the look on Hoss\u2019s face and added, \u201cComplain about the way of things.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you mean I don\u2019t go butting heads with a mountain, you\u2019re right. My head ain\u2019t as hard as yours and Joe\u2019s. \u2018Sides it don\u2019t make no never mind to the mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I have to agree; it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe he, well, you know Little Joe, Adam.\u201d Hoss questioned his brother with his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI know what Little Joe needs. I\u2019ll go to him in a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss squeezed Adam\u2019s shoulder. \u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n They watched the colt with his mother for a time before they walked back to the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n AJAJHAJAJ<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam opened the door to Little Joe\u2019s bedroom and slipped inside. The sound of the door\u2019s closing caused the boy to stir. Adam walked over and settled on the edge of the bed. Little Joe turned from his side toward his brother. When he winced, Adam snatched him into a hugged that removed his little brother\u2019s backside from contact with anything but air.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Adam, really sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou scared me, kid.\u201d It was an admission not an accusation.<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t mean to. I won\u2019t do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease don\u2019t.\u201d Adam felt Little Joe\u2019s arms tighten around his neck. \u201cYou\u2019re forgiven.\u201d He patted the boy\u2019s back, and then did something he had not done since before he had left for college. He pressed his lips into his brother\u2019s curls.<\/p>\n \u201cYou going to tell Pa when he gets home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t not tell him, but I\u2019ll square it with him straight off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sure?\u201d Little Joe trusted greatly in his elder brother\u2019s abilities, but Pa was Pa.<\/p>\n \u201cPromise. Oh, you\u2019ll hear a word or two on the subject, but that\u2019s all.\u201d Adam gave Joe\u2019s back another pat.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom Pa that\u2019s enough.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s woebegone tone elicited yet another pat.<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d Adam did not add, \u201cI\u2019ve been there myself,\u201d but Joe heard the sentiment.<\/p>\n He pulled back from his brother\u2019s chest. Kneeling on the bed, he gave his big brother a sheepish smile and asked, \u201cCan I wear my nightshirt down to supper?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and Hoss will no doubt have a nice plump pillow already placed on your chair.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had not been expecting an affirmative reply. Perhaps ill-advisedly, he stated, \u201cPa would never let me.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam ruffled Little Joe\u2019s hair. \u201cI\u2019m still your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Joe\u2019s tear-stained cheeks made his smile even more poignant.<\/p>\n \u201cGo put it on then and wash up.\u201d In one swift move, Adam had both Joe and himself standing beside the bed. He turned the boy toward his dresser and nudged him forward.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Adam.\u201d Little Joe exemplified obedience as he complied.<\/p>\n Adam left the room and closed the door behind him. Then he leaned back against the solid wood and closed his eyes. He drew in deep breaths and released them slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cADAM! LITTLE JOE!\u201d Hoss\u2019s voice preceded him up the stairs. \u201cHop Sing says get to the table quick \u2018cause iffen you ruin his dinner, he\u2019s going back to China.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you hear that, Joe?\u201d Adam called over his shoulder into the pine of the door.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019m coming\u201d came Joe\u2019s muted reply.<\/p>\n Adam watched Hoss mount the final steps as he pushed the door open behind him. As their nightshirt-clad little brother walked out of his bedroom, they exchanged a look. Adam checked to make sure Hoss was set to respond and then reached out. Grabbing Joe\u2019s waist, he lifted the boy and tossed him forward to their over-sized brother. Little Joe reacted with an instinctive memory and giggled when Hoss caught him and hoisted him over his shoulder. All three Cartwright boys heard their father\u2019s bellow in their minds.\u00a0 Boys! Do not toss your little brother!<\/i> Adam\u2019s and Hoss\u2019s chuckles mixed with Little Joe\u2019s giggles. Pa was away, and they could indulge in a little horseplay. That was the way of things with brothers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n