Brothers
by
Lyn Robinson
The three brothers headed into
The way his eldest brother had pushed him out of the door to do the barn chores that morning, before he’d even gotten his shirt buttoned, had been real spiteful. Then, just like yesterday, by the time he’d finished there weren’t any grub left, not even coffee. No wonder he stayed the small one of the three, the runt of the litter as his middle brother delighted in telling him.
Since Pa died nothing had been the same and now he wasn’t even sure where the next meal was coming from. His eldest brother talked glibly about getting jobs in town but everyone knew the mines were laying off, half of them in borrasca. Fat lot of good it was owning a ranch, when the cattle were dying like flies all round them.
He suddenly realised that his eldest brother had pulled up and was waiting for him. He slowly pulled his pinto in next to his brother’s sorrel. “Yeah what do you want?”
“You know Joe Cartwright?”
“Of course I do he was the year behind me in school.” Kyle looked at his brother as though Nate had lost his mind.
“That’s his pinto outside The Silver Dollar ain’t it?”
Kyle looked where Nate was pointing and nodded “So?”
“Get your butt in there and put your best hangdog look on and get Joe to give you a job on the Ponderosa. He’s a pretty soft touch so it shouldn’t be difficult.”
“But why? We can’t handle the chores at home. Why should I sign on at another ranch?”
“No-one asked you to think runt, just do as you’re told”
“I can’t go in there. I don’t even have two bits for a beer.”
Nate turned to his other brother Brad “Got any cash?”
Brad hunted through his pockets and came up with a handful of coins and passed the price of a beer to Kyle. As Kyle dismounted and went into the bar Brad looked at his elder brother “Ain’t we gonna get one?”
“Sure but not in there” Nate led the
way to a saloon down on
Kyle saw Joe over by the bar chatting to
the bartender. Joe had come to town for the mail and some stores and was
pleased to be on that chore as Adam was at the lumber camp and Hoss was mending
fence. He had delivered the list to the store and come for a beer to cut the
dust from his throat. It had been a long hot summer. The Ponderosa was lucky,
Adam had designed pipes to carry water down from
Joe watched the youngest son of one of those neighbours come in. He knew the McPhee’s were not doing very well and on the whole he didn’t care. The father Walt had been a cantakerous dirty old man and Joe didn’t think much of the elder brothers either. Kyle was the best of the bunch in Joe’s opinion. A year older than Joe they had been at school together for years and while not exactly friends had got on okay. Kyle had appreciated the jokes Joe played, far more than Miss Jones had done, it had lightened his days.
Seeing Kyle coming over, and knowing the brothers never had any money, Joe offered beer. Kyle willingly accepted “Thanks. Hot day again.”
“How are you doing?”
“Badly, half the cattle are dead. I think Nate is gonna sell up.”
Joe was taken aback at that, it had only been a casual query but his instant sympathy was aroused. He couldn’t even imagine how he’d feel if Adam sold the Ponderosa. Sure the Mcphee spread, the Circle M, wasn’t much of a ranch compared to the Ponderosa, but it had given Walt McPhee and his family a living for nearly fifteen years. “What will you do?”
“I don’t know.” Kyle sipped his beer “Any chance of a job on the Ponderosa while I try and sort things out?”
Joe felt very awkward. At seventeen he wasn’t involved in hiring men, that was left to his father or his eldest brother, but he couldn’t turn down his old school friend. “Sure ride back with me. Hoss is doing fencing. He was moaning about being short handed.”
“Thanks Joe I’m real grateful.”
Joe hoped that his brother and father would back his offer but in his usual way put off worrying about it. The two spent a pleasant half-hour over another beer, reminiscing over some of the pranks Joe had led at school. His offer had one advantage and he was able to chat with his latest girlfriend while Kyle loaded the stores.
When they rode into the yard, Joe went straight to the barn wondering who was home. He frowned as he saw that his father’s horse Buck was missing but Adam’s Sport was there. Joe took a deep breath and leaving Kyle to tend both horses he went in to face his eldest brother.
Adam had been out at the lumber camp at day-break but they needed dynamite to clear a road and he had come back himself to collect it. At least he was able to get a decent meal and he was relaxing for half an hour as Hop Sing prepared lunch. He looked up as he saw his youngest brother 2come in and as he took in Joe’s attitude, he put his book down with an inward sigh.
Joe came over and sat down next to Adam but seemed to be having trouble knowing where to start. Adam watched as his little brother opened his mouth and then shut it, got up and walked round only to come back and sit down again and licked his lips.
Adam began to grin as he recognised the symptoms “Alright outwith it Joe. What have you promised that I’m gonna have to do for you?”
Joe gaped open mouthed at his eldest brother “How, how did you know?” he stuttered.
“Years of experience!” Adam considered his little brother Joe was worried but he wasn’t looking at all guilty and Adam was fairly sure that his little brother’s ready sympathy for the underdog had got him in too deep again. “Come on Joe its nearly lunchtime and I’m feeling very mellow you won’t get a better opportunity. Anyway as soon as we’ve eaten I need to get back to the lumber camp and I may not be back for a few days.”
“Problems?”
“Stop evading the question Joe.”
Joe smiled ruefully at his eldest brother "You know me too well!"
"I should do I've known you all your life. Now tell me what the problem is."
To Adam's surprise Joe countered with a question "Do you remember Kyle McPhee?" Adam thought for a moment "Nate McPhee's youngest brother. He is what a year or so older than you. I always reckoned he was about the best of a poor group."
"We sorta got along at school, not great friends but always okay"
"Where is he? In the barn?"
Joe's mouth fell open but no words came out and Adam grinned broadly at his brother "I assume I'm supposed to give him a job?"
"Well mm I was, I mean-- "Joe stuttered to a halt and just nodded.
"Okay Joe you got it, Hoss could do
with some extra help. I heard the brothers weren't coping too well since their
father died. Just one condition, don't do it again or at least not without
discussing it with Pa or me first. I know things are bad in town but we can't
carry the whole of
Joe relaxed at that "Thanks Adam and I promise no more. I'd still like to know how you worked out what I wanted."
"I can read you like a book little brother" Adam couldn't quite hide the smirk and Joe contemplated throwing a cushion at him, but his brother had been very good in supporting him, with only a quiet warning that it wasn't really his place to offer jobs, so Joe just grinned and went out to confirm the job offer to Kyle.
Over the next three weeks Kyle worked hard but enjoyed himself. The food was much better than he was used to. Sure he was expected to work hard but so was everyone else and they all supported each other. Trying to carry a large fence post, he was amazed when Hoss came over and took one end. His own brothers wouldn't have dreamt of helping and Hoss was his boss. Even stranger no-one seemed to think there was anything odd about it.
Kyle watched the interaction between the three brothers, Hoss and Joe teased each other unmercifully but the affection between them was always very evident. Adam was rather more reserved but even he could get involved with his younger brothers. Kyle watched mesmerised one day when the three brothers were all working to shore up a crumbling riverbank. Adam had designed some shoring to stop even more of the bank from crumbling away and was trying to get his brothers to follow the plans but Joe was being very inept and kept muddling up the main timbers and the bracing strips, not really understanding the three dimensional plan Adam had made. Kyle could understand that, it made no sense at all to him, yet Adam seemed to know exactly what he wanted. As the structure took shape, Joe finally realised what his brother was doing "Hey this is rather neat Adam."
Adam sighed heavily and commented to Hoss "It's only taken him four hours to realise it!"
"Big brother you want to learn to take a compliment gracefully" Joe complained. He picked up the next timber, and seeing how close to the edge his brother was, Joe couldn't resist and just nudged Adam with the timber as he went past. Adam's balance was precarious and he went flying ending up sitting in the river and soaked through. As he came to his feet, Joe dropped the timber and took off to get Hoss between him and his enraged older brother. Adam yelled at him "You did that deliberately"
Joe denied it, carefully ducking behind Hoss but Hoss wasn't cooperating. He was equally sure Joe had dumped their brother on purpose, he'd seen the gleam of sheer devilment on Joe's face. "Leave me out of this Shortshanks you deserve whatever he hands out."
Joe tried to make a run for it, but he had delayed too long, thinking Hoss would help and Adam had his arm. His arm was going into the river and Joe had no choice but to go along and as Adam pushed him, Joe gave in and sat down in the river. He was hot anyway and not that averse to cooling off and as Adam stared at him Joe lay down in the water and then came up spluttering slightly but laughing. Honour was satisfied and Adam's deep laugh joined his brother’s. They went to get some coffee and dry up slightly with Adam's arm resting lightly round his brother's shoulders. "Maybe you do have a point little brother, I could have accepted the compliment more graciously, just so surprised to get one from you."
Kyle watched in amazement. If he had caught his brother with a timber, let alone dumped him in the river, his brother would have beaten the living daylights out of him. Certainly he wouldn't have dared to do it deliberately and he couldn't believe the way Adam had taken it. He had thought the eldest Cartwright was severe and only interested in work and this was a completely different side of the man.
When payday came round Kyle knew he had to go home to see his brothers and pass over most of his pay packet. He didn't dare do anything else and it was hopeless to try and avoid his brothers. They knew where he was and he would suffer physically if he tried to keep money from them. As he rode in to the ranch, where he had lived all his life, he saw it through fresh eyes and could see so many jobs that ought to be done. There wasn't any money and his brothers would think he had gone mad, so he put it out of his mind and went to see Nate and Brad.
His brothers were both unshaven and for the first time Kyle was aware that they stank. They were sitting in the kitchen with a bottle of whiskey, both half drunk. As Kyle came in Nate said "Bout time you turned up. We're nearly out of cash. How much you got out of them?"
"Three dollars a day" Kyle said with an undertone of pride but his brothers didn't care just holding out their hands for the cash.
Kyle didn't dare hold much back but he did try and keep five dollars. Nate growled at him "Let's have the rest, them Cartwrights feed you well, you don't need money like we do." Kyle was about to leave when Brad yelled at him "Sit down we ain't finished."
"I don't have any more money." Kyle protested, but his brothers were after more than just his pay packet.
"You see what them brothers are up to?"
"Sure they are working alongside us."
Nate snorted "More fool them. All that money and they break their backs working."
"When do they get cash?"
"They went about three days before we got paid"
"Who goes?"
"Adam went. I guess he normally does
or maybe the old man but I ain't seen much of him. He's gone to
"You get paid again in a couple of weeks?"
"Yeah every two weeks."
"Gives us just nice time to get ready. You any idea how much Adam would get?"
Kyle swallowed hard "You ain't thinking of robbing him are you?"
"Why not? Them Cartwrights won't hardly miss it. We should be finished selling this place in about six days. Get the Cartwright payroll as well and we'll have enough to give us a start. We're leaving anyway so they'll never find us."
"Lots of people tried to get the better of the Cartwrights but none of them have succeeded" Kyle protested.
"Yeah but that's cos they stick around, we ain't gonna do that. Me I'm gonna see Frisco get a bit of fun for once." Nate looked at his middle brother and Brad nodded "I'm with you. Sooner we get away from this dump of a town the better I'll like it."
Kyle stared at his brothers, he had never lived anywhere else that he could remember and he didn't want to leave. He knew people here and he was enjoying his job on the Ponderosa. He knew his brothers would never understand that and he didn't have the nerve to go against them. He had been doing what they told him all his life.
"What you expecting me to do?"
"Nothing much. You just keep your eyes open and when that High n'Mighty Son of a Bitch heads into town to get the money you come tell us and we'll be waiting for him on the way back."
"They might have me working out on the range?"
"You make damn sure that you are in the right place, swap with someone or sneak off I don't care. But you bring us word or you will pay." Nate glared him "You know I mean what I say."
Kyle shivered, he had been beaten before when he had tried to defy Nate and his brother knew exactly how to hurt. Maybe Nate was right the Cartwrights wouldn't miss one payroll that much and if that would get his brothers out of his life for good maybe it was a price worth paying.
"You ain't gonna hurt anyone?"
"What's it to you." Nate growled but Brad intervened "We ain't killing anyone. Old Ben Cartwright would never give up if we killed one of his precious sons. Maybe give him a sore head but that's all."
Kyle found himself agreeing to help and then he got out of the house and as far away from his brothers as he could get. The days seemed to pass all too quickly and Kyle became ever more withdrawn. The brothers were very busy with Ben away in Frisco and none of them really noticed one particular hand. Kyle didn't find it difficult to get jobs, which kept him busy near the house and he waited anxiously for the days to pass to get the robbery over with.
Adam had picked up a cold, whether from his dunking in the river or not he wasn't sure, but as the days passed he was feeling increasingly unwell. Unwilling to give in to a mere cold he did his best to disguise how he felt from his brothers with limited success. Both of them knew he wasn't very well but as he obviously didn't want to discuss it, the pair just tried to get him to bed at a reasonable hour and kept him supplied with hot coffee. At least with Ben away Adam had to spend a fair amount of time with the paperwork and could stay in the warm. Adam might not be sure that his dunking had anything to do with his cold but Joe was sure that it had and blamed himself, so with Hoss he was doing everything he could to help. The three brothers had rarely had such a harmonious few days, particularly when their father was away.
If his brothers weren't obviously fussing, Hop Sing made up for it. He knew that Adam had a fever and he was most insistent that Adam ought to go to bed. Adam had no intention of giving in and when Hop Sing kept nagging he lost his temper. "I am not a child. I have been looking after myself for many years now and I am quite capable of deciding whether I need to go to bed."
Hoss and Joe had just been completing the barn chores, doing Adam's normal share as he was busy with the paperwork. Adam had accepted that but they could hear the anger in his voice and decided to hurry in and rescue him from Hop Sing. Losing his temper had obviously taken a lot of his remaining energy and he looked drawn and tired. Hoss took one look at his big brother and went over and poured him a brandy. "Easy does it old son. You don't look at all well."
Adam glared at him "Don't you start"
"Wouldn't dare." Hoss said candidly "Just thought you looked as though you could do with a brandy."
Adam was about to insist that he was fine but he got a coughing fit and couldn't catch his breath so it was impossible for him to argue.
Hoss and Joe looked at each other in real concern. Adam was strong but he had had pneumonia before and they knew that he was slightly vulnerable to chest infections. Ben was always worried when his eldest son got a cough. Joe murmured "Should I go and fetch Doc?"
Unfortunately for Joe, despite not being able to breathe, there was nothing wrong with Adam's hearing. He got control with a supreme effort "Don't be ridiculous Joe. We are not bothering Doc for a summer cold."
Joe went over and perched on the desk and gently felt his brother's forehead. "Adam I know you don't like to admit it but Hoss is right you aren't well. I'll do a deal with you."
Adam glared at his brother and swatted his hand away but Joe was used to his brother and he went on "I won't go and fetch Doc, on condition you get yourself up to bed."
"I've got to finish this, sort out how much I need to collect tomorrow to pay the men." Adam's voice was beginning to give out on him and he firmly ignored his brothers and tried to sort out the paperwork but it was beginning to swim in front of him and he couldn't see clearly enough to add up. Joe caught his big brother's eyes and jerked his head to indicate that they ought to get Adam to bed. Hoss nodded and Joe lent forward and took the pen from Adam's hand. "Easy brother I may not be very good at adding up but I can manage better than you just at the moment."
Hoss pulled him to his feet "Come on old son bed for you right now."
Adam wanted to argue but with the room swimming round him he gave in to his brothers and accepted Hoss' help up to his room and into bed. He wasn't interested in food just closing his eyes and slipping into sleep. Hoss wrapped the bedclothes round him and left his brother to rest. Both he and Joe checked on Adam several times during the night but now he had given in Adam barely moved.
Joe had done as he had promised and completed the paperwork to sort out the amount of money that would need to be collected the next day. Once he had done so he sat back and whistled "I didn't realise the payroll ran to so much money. Do you realise we have over two hundred hands including the lumber gangs? According to this Adam is gonna have to get just over ten thousand dollars tomorrow."
"I hadn't realised it had gotten that big, but you look at all the men out there Joe. Once I knew every man but nowdays I often see men, don't even know their names."
"Not sure I like it much, all this expansion seems just to end up with us doing more." grumbled Joe.
"Well you try arguing with Pa and Adam." Hoss grinned "You sure enjoy the extra cash."
Joe wasn't going to argue about that but he reverted to the current position "I don't think Adam is gonna be up to going to town tomorrow."
"You angling for a trip little brother" Hoss grinned at his brother but for once he was wrong. Joe shook his head "No I have those horses for the army. I must get them all checked out over the next two days. They are going to be collected day after tomorrow."
"You think I should go?"
"If I thought we could get Adam to go and see Doc " Joe hesitated "You saw him Hoss. He was just about out on his feet and that's after he was just sitting around here. Looks like rain tomorrow and he sure doesn't need to get soaked again."
Hoss answered the underlying worry first "Heck Joe it was nearly a fortnight back when you dumped him in the river. He could have caught a cold anywhere, ain't likely it was that. Adam don't exactly melt from a bit of water."
"Probably not" Joe said although the tone of his voice said that he didn't believe it "Either way he's not fit."
"I'll head off real early, hopefully before he's really awake. Mind you, you're gonna have to tell him."
Joe grinned "I'll blame it all on you."
Rather to Joe's surprise Adam made only a
token protest when Joe told him that Hoss had already headed to
Kyle had expected that Adam would be going into town that day, if it was the same system as the previous time. When Hoss came out early to saddle up Chub, Kyle was doing the barn chores He asked Hoss if he was heading up to the lumber camp but Hoss shook his head "Not until later Adam ain't well so I'm gonna do his chores in town, gotta get some stores, go to the bank. Maybe get up to the lumber camp this afternoon."
Kyle watched the big man ride out. He was sorry it was the big man, Hoss had always been nice to him but he was too scared of his own brothers to change his mind. He quickly saddled up his own horse and set out for the McPhee ranch.
For once Nate and Brad were reasonably sober. They knew they would get their chance at the payroll either today or tomorrow. They were confident that Kyle would do his part, he was too scared of them to do anything else. In fact the boy rode in earlier than they expected. Brad walked over to him "Well?"
"They are collecting it today but it ain't Adam it's Hoss. Seems Adam ain't well."
"Hope it's real serious'" Nate sniggered but then turned to business "When's he likely to head home?"
"Before lunch, said he wanted to go up to the lumber camp this afternoon."
"Right runt you done your job for once, now get back there and be real obvious round the place. Won't be nothing to tie this to us."
"You promise you ain't gonna kill him" begged Kyle unable to help himself, but he regretted it as Brad gave him one hefty swipe knocking him over "You just do what Nate said and keep your mouth shut."
Unable to do anything to change his brothers' minds, Kyle rubbed the aching bruise covering half his face and mounting up, he headed back to the Ponderosa. For a minute he thought about telling Joe, but he couldn't quite bring himself to turn in his brothers. For all the ill treatment they were the only kin he had.
Hoss had completed the rest of his chores in town as quickly as he could and worried about his eldest brother, he had popped in to See Doc Martin and asked him to come by and check on Adam for them. Paul was quite happy to come out that afternoon, he would time it to get dinner out of Hop Sing. He knew the brothers weren't likely to call on him unless they were seriously worried.
Everything else completed Hoss arranged for someone to bring out the stores and went to the bank to get the money. He had no intention of staying around town with that much cash on him and as soon as he had the money he headed home.
He was about half way and relaxed with the prospect of a good lunch before heading up to the lumber camp when suddenly a bullet whistled past his ear and he was ordered to stop or the next one would be in him. Cursing his inattention Hoss did as he was ordered. He knew full well that his father would choose to hand over any amount of money in order to keep his sons safe.
The order came to dismount and not to attempt to turn round. The men giving the orders were behind him in the trees and Hoss couldn’t see them but the voice was vaguely familiar although he couldn’t place it. Hoss stood next to Chub and was estimating his chances of sending Chub home to raise the alarm when the horse’s reins were taken and Chub was pulled into the trees and tied up. The order came for him to get out the money.
Hoss tried to stall “I ain’t got but eight dollars.” He pulled out his wallet and opened it to show them. The only reaction was a hollow laugh “Nice try fat boy, but we know you got money to pay all them hands. Get it out afore we put some bullets in ya.”
Hoss decided discretion was the better part of valour and began to pull the money-belt that the bank had made up for him, out from under his shirt. As soon as Brad saw it he moved forward and using his gun butt hit Hoss hard over the head. As he crumpled Hoss got a brief glimpse of Brad’s horse a bay with a distinctive ragged blaze. Then everything went black and the big man was unaware as the brothers stripped the money-belt from him. They left his crumpled body by the road, glad of the rain, which had just started and would wash away their tracks making it impossible for the Cartwrights to follow them.
Brad and Nate
were delighted with the amount of money they found in the money-belt, far more
than they had expected. They decided to go home collect the few belongings they
wanted to take with them and get out to
At the house Adam was relieved not to have to go to town, he was feeling increasingly unwell, pounding headache, sore throat and persistent cough and all he wanted was hot drinks and the warm fire. Even there he couldn’t get warm but his own ills were forgotten as it got to lunchtime and there was no sign of Hoss. He knew when Hoss had left and his big brother should have been back by now. If it had been Joe then he wouldn’t have been so worried. Joe could always find distractions in town and trips inevitably took longer than they should but not Hoss. Adam knew that his brother had intended to go up to the lumber camp today and would still want to do so even though he was covering town, so he would have aimed to get back as soon as possible. It just wasn’t like Hoss to be late for a meal and as it got to lunchtime without any sign Adam gave in to his worries and went upstairs for a thick sweater and his slicker.
He was out in the barn saddling Sport when Joe came back from the training corral to check on his brother and get some lunch. Seeing Adam in the barn Joe hurried over “What the hell do you think you’re doing? It’s pouring with rain and I can see from here you are running a fever.”
Adam ignored both Joe’s language and his concern “Hoss hasn’t got back from town”
Joe was instantly scared for his big brother “He should have been back two hours ago, he’d have been in town by eight.”
“I know and he’s carrying a lot of money.”
“You think someone –“ Joe lost colour at the though of someone attacking Hoss.
“Just can’t shake the feeling he’s in
trouble.” Adam forced a smile “Probably just me, I’m not exactly feeling at my
best, but the mines are in borrasca.
Joe straightened up “Right we are probably worrying over nothing. Hoss is mighty capable of looking after himself but just in case I’ll head on in and see what I can find out. You get yourself back inside before you make yourself really ill.”
Adam smiled appreciatively “Nice try Joe but if Hoss is hurt there is no way you can handle him on your own so I’ll just ride along.”
Joe went to protest but one look at the expression on his eldest brother’s face told him that he wasn’t going to get anywhere. Even Ben couldn’t change Adam’s mind when he had that stubborn look on his face. All he could do was go along and be ready to help and hope they came across Hoss safe and sound very quickly.
It was some thirty minutes later before the brothers saw anything and the rain had penetrated down their necks and soaked trousers despite the slickers. Joe was increasingly worried about Adam, who couldn’t help a persistent cough, which seemed to shake his whole body, but both forgot all about that as they spotted the big black gelding tied to a tree. Adam was the first to reach the horse and he swung down as he saw his brother’s crumpled body lying on the ground.
Joe was by him almost instantly “Is he -?”
Adam was feeling for a pulse but his own hands were so cold that he had trouble at first and then he found it, a little slow but strong and steady. He gave a sigh of relief “He’s alive. Nasty bump on the head but I don’t see anything else. We have to get him home Joe. He’s very cold.”
Adam considered his big brother. Hoss strength was often a real asset but at times like this moving his big brother was almost beyond him. There wasn’t a great deal of choice and he eased his aching back “Okay Joe give me a hand to get him up on Chub and you’re going to have to ride double with him. Get him home and to bed Hop Sing and some of the hands will be around to give you a hand.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to go to town and get Doc. I may be wrong and I’ll feel a lot happier when Paul has checked him over.”
“Let me go to town you should be in bed yourself”
Adam smiled ruefully “I wish I could Joe but I’m too heavy. Even Chub can’t take my weight along with Hoss’. Go on I don’t melt in a bit of water.”
Joe could hear his big brother saying much the same to him and gave way with far less argument than Adam was expecting. The brothers worked closely together and managed to get Hoss up on Chub. Then Adam steadied him until Joe could mount up behind him. Joe tied up Cochise’s reins first and was confident his pinto would follow along home without any trouble.
Ten minutes later Adam saw Doc’s buggy coming towards him. Very glad, if rather surprised, Adam pulled up Sport and waited for Doc to come level. Doc stared at him seeing why Hoss had been concerned as Adam tried to stifle a cough. Adam finally managed to enquire why Doc was there and wasn’t particularly surprised when Doc explained that Hoss had asked him to come out. Doc shook his head “I can see why Adam you don’t look at all well, just what are you doing out in this weather, do you want to get pneumonia again?”
“Hoss has been hurt, he didn’t make it home with the payroll. I was coming to get you.”
“How bad?”
“Bang on the head. He’s still out cold and I’d guess has been for about two or three hours. I couldn’t find anything else but I didn’t want to make him any colder than he already was. No broken bones that I could find and no bullet holes.”
“Where is he? At the ranch?”
“Joe was taking him back there on Chub, while I came to find you.”
“Okay Adam let’s get back to the house. Do you want to join me in the buggy?”
“No thanks. If it’s alright with you I’ll push on and help Joe get him to bed.”
Doc wasn’t going to argue, anything which got Adam back in the warm, was an advantage. He knew he could rely on Hop Sing to ensure Adam got into dry clothes as soon as he got home.
In fact with Adam able to push Sport much harder than Joe dared with Chub, he caught up his brothers just before they reached the house. Joe looked over enquiringly as Adam pulled up alongside and reached for Hoss’ hand to check his pulse. “How did you get back so soon?”
“Seems Hoss had arranged for Doc to come out, fussing over me and I met him on the way. By the time we get the big guy into his bed Doc will be here.”
Joe was relieved to have Adam there to help and seeing Kyle over by the barn, he called him over too. Between the three of them with Adam taking Hoss’ shoulders and the others a leg each they managed to carry him up to his room and onto the bed. As Adam lent against the wall, fighting to get his breath from another coughing fit, Joe thanked Kyle for his help and asked him to see to the three horses. Kyle could hardly drag his eyes away from Hoss “Is he gonna be alright?”
Joe nodded “Sure he’s had worse but the Doc will be here any minute.”
Kyle was badly shaken the big man was so pale and he couldn’t help but feel that he was worse off than Joe was suggesting. And it was his brothers, who had done it. He had tried to ignore what they were doing and a tap on the head didn’t seem so bad, the money not that important to the Cartwrights. Now he had seen the outcome it wasn’t possible to ignore the fact that Hoss had always treated him well and didn’t deserve to be hurt.
He tried to keep himself busy looking after the horses and when Doc came into the yard he took the buggy as well, but he couldn’t still the unaccustomed pangs of conscience. He was torn not wanting to hurt his brothers however they had treated him and yet feeling he owed something to the Cartwrights.
Adam and Joe hadn’t even considered the lost money yet, all their concern was for the big man, whose heart was as big as he was. Between them they had managed to strip off the wet clothing and get Hoss toweled dry and into a night-shirt. At least that confirmed Adam’s original estimate that the only wound was the head wound. It had clotted over and apart from cleaning blood away below the wound Adam left it strictly alone.
Adam straightened up, leaving Joe to tuck blankets round Hoss and tried to ease his back. Joe looked up in some concern “At least go and get some dry clothes on yourself Adam. I can’t cope with both of you being sick, with Pa away.”
“Okay I won’t be very long.” It was almost too much bother to strip off but once he had dry clothes on Adam did feel a little better and went back to his brothers.
Doc had just arrived and was examining Hoss, while Joe hovered anxiously. As Adam came in he went over to his eldest brother but Adam just gripped his shoulder reassuringly and watched Doc. Doc sat back a couple of minutes later “Well he’s slowly warming up a bit. No other injuries apart from that head wound but all we can do is wait for him to come round.”
“Is he gonna be alright?” Joe demanded.
Doc shook his head “Joe you know better than that. I can’t tell until your brother wakes up. With any luck he will have a bad headache and nothing more. Maybe he will find his eyesight is a bit blurred and he feels sick. We just have to wait and see.”
Adam couldn’t help adding in his own mind “Or he’s blind or lost his mind or he doesn’t wake at all” Just the mere thought made him shiver and Joe looked worriedly at his eldest brother. Doc saw the look and coming over to Adam he took his arm. “Hop Sing can sit with Hoss for a few minutes you come along to your own room and let me do what Hoss wanted and check you over.”
Adam wanted to protest that it wasn’t necessary but seeing Joe’s anxious look he gave in and went with Doc. His hands and feet were still cold from the soaking he’d got but he felt hot otherwise and he knew he had a slight fever. Doc checked over his other patient and considered him seriously “Adam you are pushing too hard. You have to give yourself time to throw this off or you’re gonna be really ill again. I can hear the wheezing without even getting out my stethoscope!”
“Hoss is hurt, Pa away and Joe is only seventeen. I know my little brother is growing up fast but he can’t do everything.”
“He’ll have to if you collapse by pulling any more fool stunts like today. You’ll have a bout of full blown pneumonia and you might not be so lucky this time.” Doc was blunt knowing it was the only way with Adam.
Adam sighed heavily his father wasn’t due back for another ten days and with Hoss hurt he couldn’t just give in. Doc helped him back into his shirt “Can I send a telegram to your father get him back?”
Adam shook his head “No he has to complete his business in Frisco. He’ll be back as soon as he can.” He straightened his shoulders and forced a smile “It’s alright Doc. We’ll be fine. I’m sure that Hoss will be fine tomorrow and I’ll be careful.”
Doc handed over some cough medicine “Use this it should help to ease your cough and there’s some sleeping pills. Take them if you need them, if your cough is keeping you awake. You look exhausted and that isn’t helping.”
“I’ll be back in the morning to check on Hoss, but send word with one of the hands if you need me earlier.” Doc got to his feet but he gripped Adam’s shoulder “Please try and stay in the warm. You should really be in bed but at least don’t go outside. One more soaking like today could be really serious.”
Adam knew his friend was talking sense and only trying to help but he didn’t realise just how seriously the robbery had stretched the Ponderosa. Everything seemed to be mounting up on Adam and feeling unwell he kept seeing the worst possible scenarios, even the loss of the Ponderosa.
Adam went down to see the Doc off and then he sat down at the desk to try and work out where to get the money to pay the hands now. Ben had realised he was overextending but when all the various contracts were fulfilled, they would make good profits. The problem was now and cash flow was very tight. They had had just enough for the two payrolls and when his father returned with the payments for both lumber and cattle from Frisco, the rest of the year should be smooth enough. The trouble was right now. The current account was practically empty after Hoss withdrew the 10 000 dollars and Adam’s own account only had a few hundred in it. He had been investing in mines while they were in borrasca, just the ones he was sure would in time prove to be profitable again. The men had to be paid and somehow he had to come up with the money. His father’s account was similar to his own and the power of attorney he had wouldn’t help much.
Adam knew he could get a loan from the bank, but with the mines in trouble he would have to pay a high rate of interest and even then he would have to put the Ponderosa up as security. The banks would love to get their hands on the ranch and another disaster like today’s might give them the chance they were looking for. Adam wasn’t about to risk that.
His mind made up Adam started to go through his own portfolio, so carefully built up over the years, he wanted to see what he could sell to get the money. It was all too obvious, that whatever he did he was going to be selling at a considerable loss.
Joe came over to see what Adam was doing and frowned puzzled “What’s all this?”
“I’m trying to work out how best to get the money to pay the men.”
“Can’t you just write out another cheque and I’ll take it in?”
Adam bit his lip and then moved over to the settee “Come and sit down for a minute Joe.”
Joe couldn’t understand the expression on
his brother’s face. He just knew that it worried him. Adam smiled a little
ruefully “
“What do you mean?”
“We have been extending on all sides recently, lumber, horses, land, mine investments as well as the cattle”
“Yeah well I know that! I was moaning to Hoss the other day that it just seemed to make more work. He said that we liked the money.” Joe grinned at Adam not seeing it as a problem.
“Trouble is Joe to make money you have to spend money.”
Joe frowned at that and clearly didn’t understand so Adam went on “We have to buy the equipment and pay the hands long before we get paid for the lumber or the cattle or horses.”
Joe nodded “Okay I can see that, but what does that have to do with the payroll?”
“Well we have pushed a bit hard. There was enough money to pay this week and when the next payroll is due Pa would be back and two bank drafts paid in. Trouble is right now there’s not much left, certainly not enough to pay the men.”
Joe wasn’t used to thinking about money. He knew things had been tight when he was little but of recent years the ranch had been prosperous and there was always money for everything they needed. This came as a strange and rather frightening idea that they didn’t have the money.
“What are we going to do? Can’t we borrow the money from the bank? You said that Pa will be bringing money back in ten days or so.”
“I don’t want to do that Joe. At the moment the Ponderosa is clear and free, we are independent of the banks. I know Pa wants to keep it that way. Trouble is if I try to borrow ten thousand dollars, the banks aren’t going to accept any of my shares as collateral, not with the mines in trouble. They will insist on the ranch. If something went wrong, say Pa was robbed too, we could end up losing the ranch. I won’t risk that.”
Joe stared at his brother horrified “What do we do? Ask the men to wait?”
“No we can’t do that. They have given us their time and effort we owe them the money. If we don’t pay now it will come back to haunt us in years to come. Just now we have a reputation of always paying our debts and I’m not about to lose that either.” Adam lost his breath at the end of that impassioned statement and was coughing fiercely unable to stop. Joe ran out to the kitchen to get him a glass of water and slowly Adam won back to control.
Joe frowned he had never bothered about the long discussions on finance between Adam and his Pa, but now Adam had explained it so clearly and he felt a responsibility that had never been there in the past. After all, his name was Cartwright too. “I have about 23 dollars, you are welcome to it as a start and Hoss probably has a few dollars too. We don’t need paid.”
Adam smiled at his little brother so earnest, as he did what he could to help, and he wasn’t about to turn Joe down. His brother needed to feel that he was helping. Adam thanked Joe for it and showed Joe how he thought they could raise the money the following day, selling off large rafts of his own holdings. Joe might not worry his head about finances normally but he could understand his brother’s clear accounts and he quickly realised that Adam was proposing to sell, at a loss, things he had saved up for and bought over many years. He didn’t know how to help and prevent that and left his brother to his calculations while he went to check on Hoss.
Hoss was still out cold and worries about both his brothers for very different reasons, Joe went out to the barn to see to the chores, needing the physical exercise. He found Kyle in there and the barn chores nearly done. Joe helped to finish them off and Kyle asked how Hoss was. That simple question was sufficient Joe poured out his concerns, that his big brother was physically badly hurt and that his eldest brother was about to lose the profits from years of saving to make good the loss and probably make himself ill going into town to make the arrangements.
Kyle was taken aback at that “But you have lots of money.”
Joe corrected him “No we have lots of land and at the moment we owe lots of men for their hard work and Adam will make sure they are paid even if he loses everything he has saved over the years.” Rather embarrassed at saying so much to a relative stranger Joe pushed Cochise over to the side of his stall and with a final pat left the pinto and the barn.
Kyle took a long time over the final chores comparing his brothers to Joe’s. He had accepted their argument that the Cartwrights wouldn’t miss the money and no-one would get hurt. Neither of those things seemed to be true and he had had more support and plain kindness from the Cartwrights in the last month than he had from his brothers in all his life. Kyle just didn’t know what to do.
Inside Joe had gone up to sit with Hoss and allow Hop Sing to cook some food. The brothers had their food up with their big brother, but neither of them was doing much more than push their food around on the plate. Adam had opened a bottle of wine and both felt a little better for the drink,
Hop Sing had just taken their trays downstairs when a low moan from the bed had their instant attention. Hoss wasn’t conscious quite yet but he was vaguely aware that his head hurt and he put his hand to it, in the first co-ordinated movement he had made. Adam, with personal experience of concussion, ordered Joe to dim the lights and then moved over to his big brother and managed to get him to take a few sips of water. All the time Adam spoke soothingly to Hoss assuring him that everything was alright that he was home safe and he should just rest.
It seemed a very long time before Hoss reacted but then he said “Adam” and forcing his eyes open squinted at his brother. At first it was as though he was looking through a fog, but then it cleared a little and he complained “Dadburnit there are three of you.”
Adam grinned tautly at Joe, at least Hoss could see and knew who he was, things could be a lot worse, although he was sure that his brother had severe concussion. “Just take it easy Hoss, you’re going to be fine”
“Thirsty”
Adam supported his brother’s head and expertly fed him a little water. “You can have some more in a few minutes old son, but real easy now or you’re gonna feel sick.”
“What happened?”
“We rather hoped you might be able to tell us. You were robbed on the way home from town.”
Hoss thought about that for a minute and the effort obviously hurt and Adam was quick to tell him to relax, it wasn’t important, the only thing that mattered was that Hoss himself would be fine in a few days.
Hoss barely listened as he remembered the events on the road. “I never saw them, two I think. I knew the voice but I can’t place it.”
Joe came closer and wiped his brother’s face with a cool cloth “Don’t matter Hoss you rest.”
“The horse, I saw the horse”
Adam gently gripped his brother’s shoulders “Easy old son.” He gave Hoss a little more water and his big brother opened his eyes a little more and tried a grin seeing the anxious expressions on each of their faces.
“I’m okay. Sorry about the money.”
“That doesn’t matter” Adam said “Just as long as you’re okay.” Joe studied his eldest brother and knew that Adam meant exactly what he said. He might had saved and built up the portfolio over years and Joe knew his eldest brother had dreams of travelling more widely one day but he would swap every penny of it to buy his brother’s safety.
Hoss went on “The horse, a bay, strange blaze sort of zigzag, like lightning. Seen it before.”
His voice was definitely weaker and Adam firmly tucked him up and told him to get some sleep “You’ll probably remember in the morning, For now you get some rest get yourself better, that’s the only thing that matters.”
Hoss was exhausted and willingly did as big brother suggested and was soon snoring away. Adam looked at Joe and smiled easily for the first time that day “He’ll be fine, why don’t you go and get some sleep Joe. I’ll sit with him for now you can spell me about two.”
“You look as though you need your bed more than he does.” Joe said frankly but his eldest brother just grinned “I’m fine I’m just going to sit and think things out might as well do it here. Get some rest then you can help me later.”
Joe didn’t want to make matters more difficult for Adam and he headed out but he wasn’t sleepy. The rain had cleared up and he went out to get some fresh air. He was standing over by the corral looking at the horses he was training for the army when he suddenly had a clear image of the two horses that Kyle’s brothers rode. Brad’s horse was just as Hoss had described, a bay with a jagged blaze. He quickly thought back over his conversations with Kyle. Kyle knew that Hoss was going in for the cash. Joe had told him himself. Kyle had angled for a job on the ranch and the brothers were leaving the state, their ranch sold. Joe decided that it had all been a deliberate ploy to steal from them and he headed to the bunkhouse to see if Kyle was still there. He half expected him to have left to join his brothers but Kyle was there, not asleep, staring up at the ceiling, his conscience far too active to allow him to sleep.
When he saw Joe come in with anger clear on his face, Kyle assumed that somehow his brothers had given things away and he slipped down from his bunk and came over to Joe. “I didn’t want to do it and they promised no-one would get hurt”
Joe grabbed his arm and led him outside “Right if you want to stay out of prison, you’d better tell me now everything that you know.”
Kyle was almost relieved at the invitation
and told Joe exactly what his brothers had done and his own part in it. All he
knew was that the pair were going to head for
Joe was determined to get the money back but for once in his life he decided to be careful. Adam wasn’t well and quite worried enough already, without having to rescue his youngest brother. If there was one fact that Joe was sure of, it was that his brother would have to be at death’s door and physically incapable of moving before he would fail to come to the aid of any of his family, and he had no intention of dragging Adam out. This time Joe would go to town first and enlist the support of the law, in the form of Sheriff Coffee. He even went back into the house and woke up Hop Sing to ask him to take over from Adam and to explain that Joe had gone to town with Kyle, as Kyle had admitted his brother’s involvement. Joe begged Hop Sing to emphasise that he was just going to tell the sheriff and Adam needn’t worry about him. Hop Sing showed his pleasure that Joe was being sensible and promised to stop Number one son from worrying.
Joe went out to find Kyle had saddled up for both of them. Now the die was cast he was eager to tell his side. The two young men made good time into town and headed straight for the Sheriff’s They were in luck Roy had just finished his evening rounds and was about to lock up the jail.
“Hoss came round, concussion I guess he was seeing three Adam’s but he could see and he knew us. Remembered a bit about the horse of one of the robbers and that sorta brought us here.”
Kyle spoke up and once again told his story
not hiding his own involvement.
“Talked about going to Frisco.”
“Well I can wire there I guess but it just might be worth checking out your ranch just in case they headed back there first.”
Joe grinned “That’s what I thought but I didn’t want to worry Adam and he’s not well enough to come, so we came here.”
“Very heavy cold and bad cough. Doc says if he don’t behave it could turn to that pneumonia again.”
“Well I guess we had better go and try and sort this out so he has one less thing to worry about.”
Joe grinned happily and got up as
“I’d hate to be held responsible for what my brothers get up to, don’t reckon it’s fair to hold Kyle for Nate and Brad’s doings.”
“I think it’s more that Hoss and Adam don’t want to be responsible for your mischief.”
“That ain’t fair I’m doing all the right things!” Joe protested but he had a grin as he added “Anyways the principle is the same, as big brother would say.”
“Seems like you avoid jail Kyle. Best come along with us, you know the layout of the ranch better than anyone.”
Kyle was scared at the prospect of facing
his brothers but he had made his decision now and he had to stick by it. In
fact he didn’t need to worry. The brothers had spent some of their stolen cash
on a couple of bottles of rot-gut and although they intended to leave they had
just passed out drunk round the kitchen table. Kyle took a quick peek and
reported back to the sheriff and then the three of them just walked in.
“You mean I still got a job?”
“Sure why not? You helped me, not easy to go against your own kin, we won’t forget. If you want to get back here run this place I’d bet my Pa will find someway to help you.”
Kyle shook his head “No I’d never want to do that. I don’t wanna leave the area but this place has too many unpleasant memories. My brothers ain’t like yours.”
“Plenty of time to sort out what you want
in the future.”
Joe felt about ten feet tall at that and he
headed home with the money knowing he was going to ease his big brother’s
worries. They made good time on the way back and it was still just short of
Leaving Kyle to look after the horses. Joe took the money-belt and ran inside and up to Hoss’ room. He could hear from the snoring that Hoss was still sleeping then a very rough and painful sounding cough came, indication that Adam was awake. Joe opened the door quietly and moved over to his eldest brother.
Adam looked up “I thought I told you to get to bed”
“It’s okay Adam. Look” Joe triumphantly handed over the money-belt but he was taken aback by the flash of anger as Adam lurched to his feet. Adam had just sufficient control of his temper to grab Joe’s arm and haul him out of the room not wanting to wake Hoss.
“Isn’t it bad enough I have one brother in bed injured but you have to go and take risks. You could have been killed.” Adam’s breathing became very ragged and Joe worriedly pushed his brother over into his own room and made him sit down on the bed. “Come on Adam take it easy I’m fine and I didn’t take risks I went to town and got Sheriff Coffee.”
Adam slowly took that in. His brain didn’t seem to be working but he did realise that he owed his little brother an apology. “I’m sorry Joe, Jumping to conclusions.”
“You just take it easy for a minute while I go get a brandy.”
“Hoss.”
“We can hear him from here. Soon know if he stirs, the snoring will stop.”
Adam accepted that and sat and sipped a brandy while Joe told him exactly what had happened and gave him the money. Slowly Adam relaxed “You’ve had a busy evening little brother.”
“It’s nearly all here, more than enough to pay everyone if you ignore my pay.”
Adam smiled “Joe Thank you. You did exactly the right thing.”
“Now will you go to bed you’re nearly out on your feet.” For once Adam accepted what his brother said and accepted Joe’s help to get to bed. Joe got a couple of extra pillows to help him sit up slightly so he could breathe more easily and Adam lent back against them. “For a little brother, you make a good mother.”
“Shut up and get some sleep.”
Adam smiled sleepily at his brother and did exactly that.
Over the next two days Joe organised everything paid the men, got the horses off to the army, bullied both his brothers into resting and organised the hands. At the end of forty-eight hours he was tired but very pleased with himself and basking in his big brothers’ pride in him. They were both feeling much better and on Sunday the three brothers headed into church, aiming to enjoy the picnic afterwards. Seeing Kyle hanging around rather forlornly Joe looked questioningly at his brothers.
Adam grinned “Plenty of food for one extra and even enough girls to go around. I haven’t had a chance to thank him yet After all not everyone is blessed with brothers as good as mine.”
Joe laughed “In front of a witness too Adam, you sure you’re well enough to be out and about.”
Adam aimed a quick swat at his butt, “Go ask him before we’re late, or there will be yet another story to tell Pa when he gets back next week.”
Joe just laughed he knew exactly what story his brothers were going to tell and for once he wouldn’t be in any trouble, Pa was gonna be real pleased with him.
The End