Title: Just Once
Author: Theresa
Rated: G
Warnings: None
***
"Dangburn him! Dangburn
that Adam! Once again he has gone off and
shown Pa just how smart he is and how good he is at things...just
once…just one time…I wish I could prove that I am better at somethin'
than him."
"What's the matter, son?" Ben asked as he came into the barn and
saw
Hoss patting Sport.
"Ahh...nothin',
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah Pa…I'm sure."
"Alright, than why don't you finish up your chores and come on in
for
supper…Hop Sing's gonna
have our hides if we ruin his pork chops."
"I ain't hungry,
listening to Pa congratulate his oldest brother on his latest
accomplishment.
Ben put a hand on Hoss' head. "You don't have a fever."
"I ain't sick, Pa…I just ain't
hungry is all."
"Son, why don't you go lay down…I'll bring you up some dinner
later."
"But Pa…I have chores to finish."
"I'll send your brothers out to finish your chores."
"But Pa…"
"Hoss, don't argue with your father."
Hoss lowered his shoulders and kicked at the ground. "Yes sir,
He headed out of the barn muttering, "Dagburn
that Adam…thinks he is
so smart…just cause he had all that fancy education….always showin'
Pa how good he is…"
***
"Where's Hoss going, Pa?" Little Joe asked from behind the book
he
was reading.
"His room."
Adam looked at his brother and winked. "What did he do, Pa…go off
fishing without your permission?"
Little Joe smiled. "Nahhh…if I know
Hoss he
probably snatched the pie
Hop Sing made for dessert."
"Or maybe he put dye in the water trough again." Adam looked up
at
Ben. "Remember when he did that the last time…took you a month to
get
that off your hands,
Joe laughed. "Pa had to wear gloves to Church."
Ben shook his head frustrated. "I sent your brother to his room
because he said he wasn't hungry."
Adam jumped to his feet. "Joe, you'd better ride into town and get
Doc Martin…this is serious!"
"Right Adam!" Joe replied and headed for the door.
"Joseph, the only place you are going is out to the barn to finish
Hoss' chores for him."
"
Adam smirked. "Because you're the youngest."
Ben put a hand on Adam's shoulder. "You will help as well, young
man."
"But Pa…"
"Get!"
Little Joe giggled.
"Shut up!" Adam snarled as he stomped out the door, grabbing his
brother in the process. "Let's go!"
***
A few hours later, Ben went upstairs and opened Hoss' door.
He
frowned when he saw Hoss standing by the window staring up at the
sky. "I thought I sent you up here to rest, young man?"
Hoss turned and put his hands in his pockets. "Didn't feel like
restin', Pa…I told ya…I
ain't sick."
"Well, then why don't you prove that to me by eating your
supper,"
Ben said and put the tray down on Hoss' desk.
"Pa, would you stop fussin' over me…I ain't a young'en
ya know."
Ben put his hands on his hips. "Can't a father worry about his son
without being accused of being a fussy mother hen, and since when
does my fussing over you annoy you…only one who is bothered by it
is
your oldest brother normally."
Hoss looked up at Ben sheepishly. "Sorry, Pa…I didn't mean nothin' by
it…I like the way you still fuss over me."
"Good, then eat your supper and we'll talk."
Hoss sat down at his desk and happily started in on his meal.
"So, you want to tell your Pa what's bothering you or do I have to
ask you a million questions until you finally tell me?" Ben asked
with a mischievous grin.
"Aww…Pa…it's gonna
sound real stupid."
Ben put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Nothing you feel is stupid,
son."
"Well, I'm feelin' a little jealous."
"Of who, son?"
"Adam."
"Adam? Why, son?"
"Well, because Adam is smart and always doin'
the right things…never
gets himself in trouble…always makes you proud."
"As I am proud of all my sons."
"
"Now Hoss…have I ever lied to you?"
"No sir...I ain't callin'
you a liar,
Ben smiled. "I know you aren't, son. I am very proud of all
my
sons."
"But Adam is different, Pa…he don't hardly ever make a mistake or
let
you down."
"Oh, I can think of quite a few mistakes your oldest brother has
made."
"Not as many as me."
"Son, you can't compare yourself to Adam, nor can you compare
yourself to Little Joe. You are all different and all special
in
your own right."
Hoss nodded. "I guess you're right,
Ben smiled. "You can come downstairs after you finish eating if
you'd
like, son."
"Pa, I got me lots more thinkin' to
do…I'm gonna stay up here."
"Alright, son…see you in the morning."
"Night,
"Good night, son."
***
"Is Hoss okay, Pa?" Little Joe asked as Ben came down the steps.
"He's fine, son."
Adam looked at Ben. "Something tells me you aren't giving us the
whole story."
Ben went over and poured a brandy for himself and his boys. "Your
brother is feeling a little jealous."
Joe punched Adam playfully. "Another fella
been sweet to Betsy Sue,
Pa?"
Adam rolled his eyes. "Don't think there is another fella in the
territory who would be brave enough for that. After all, she
could
take every cowboy in an arm wrestling contest and that's after she
has drank them all under the table."
"You got that right, Big Brother."
"Would you two stop fooling around." Ben shook his head.
"You know,
sometimes I feel like I still have little boys instead of grown men
living with me."
"Well, sometimes you still treat us that way, Pa," Joe teased.
"Would you like to repeat that, young man?"
Joe gulped. "No sir…not really."
"Didn't think so."
Adam took a sip of his drink. "Sorry Pa…why don't you tell us what
is
bothering Hoss…maybe we can help?"
Ben put a hand on Adam's shoulder. "Maybe you could. Your
brother is
feeling jealous of you, son."
Adam smirked. "Well, there is certainly a lot to be jealous of,
Joe rolled his eyes. "Oh brother."
"Are you saying there isn't?" Adam asked smugly.
"Yup, that's what I'm saying."
"I'll have you know, brother…"
"Boys!"
"Sorry
more seriously."
"Yes, you should."
"Why is Hoss feeling jealous of me?"
"Well, I think Hoss is feeling lost in the shadow of his oldest
brother. Especially, since you have just gotten back from
Frisco and
managed to win the bid for that big timber contract."
"I worked hard to accomplish that task,
"I know you did, son… and I'm sure Hoss is proud of you as well,
but
I think he is just feeling like you are better than him at most
things."
"Pa, that is ridiculous…there are plenty of things that Hoss is
better at than me."
Joe nearly fell out of his chair. "Did my oldest brother just admit
that there are some things he doesn't do well."
Adam looked at his brother. "Do you really feel that I think I am
better than you or Hoss?" He asked seriously.
Joe pondered this for a moment. "Sometimes, you do make Hoss and I
feel like we aren't as smart as you or as good as you."
"I'm sorry, Brother…I never meant to make you feel that way."
Adam
turned to his father. "I'm sorry, Pa…I really never meant to make
Hoss feel bad."
"I know you didn't, son."
"What can I do to help remedy this situation?"
"If I knew the answer to that, son…we would all sleep better
tonight."
"I'm going to head upstairs." Adam turned to Little Joe. "I
really am
sorry if I ever made you feel that way."
"Ah…don't fret, Brother…you just can't help being perfect," He
said
with a sly grin.
Adam smiled and went upstairs.
"I hope I didn't hurt Adam's feelings, Pa…I didn't mean to."
"I'm sure he knows that, Little Joe...why don't you go to bed too,
huh?"
"Sure Pa…good night."
"Night, son…I'll be up shortly."
***
Adam woke up the next morning determined to make Hoss feel
better. "Hey, Pa…is it alright if Hoss comes along with me today to
check the herd?"
"Sure son."
"And just what am I going to be doing while you two are off
playing?"
Little Joe asked unhappily.
Ben took a sip of his coffee. "You, young man, will be digging post
holes."
"Aww Pa…I hate that job."
Hoss looked at his father. "Found out Little Joe stayed out late
gambling again, didn't ya, Pa?"
"Yeah, maybe a whole day of digging will help use up some of the
extra energy he seems to have."
Joe sneered and put a forkful of scrambled eggs in his mouth.
Hoss patted his little brother on the back. "Told ya
Pa would find
out sooner or later, Brother."
Ben looked at his middle son. "You knew about this, young man?"
"Err…the herd's waitin', Pa…come on,
Adam!" Hoss said practically
pulling his oldest brother from the table. "See ya
at supper,
***
"
anything to upset you."
"Ahh…like I told Pa…it was stupid of me
to
feel like that. I just
have to live with the fact that I have a perfect older brother."
"Now Hoss…I am not perfect."
Hoss smiled. "I guess you're right about that, Brother."
"Pretty close though," Adam teased. "Come on… let's ride over
to
Eagle's Canyon."
***
"Can we help you, sir?" Adam asked he and Hoss came upon the
covered
wagon and a very despondent looking man pacing back and forth next
to
it.
"My wife is going to have a baby."
"Well, congratulations, Mister," Hoss said and then turned toward
the
wagon as he heard the screams.
"I think he means right now, Hoss."
"Oh…"
"Maybe I should ride into town for the doctor."
"No Adam, we ain't got time for
that…by the
sounds of her screams the
baby is comin'."
"I don't know about you, brother, but I ain't
a midwife."
Hoss rolled his eyes. "It ain't no
different
than birthin' a calf or
a foal."
Adam shrugged. "I don't usually do that either."
"You remember the time Joe and I found that Indian squaw?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I brought that baby into the world…I'm sure I can help this
little one come in too."
"You're the expert." Adam pointed to the wagon.
"Howdy ma'am," Hoss said as he came to the wagon and took off his
hat. "The name's Hoss and this is my brother Adam." He pulled
Adam
next to him.
"Ma'am," Adam said nervously and tipped his hat.
"My brother and me are gonna help
you…so,
don't you fret none, ma'am."
"Call me, Bernice….ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…."
she screamed in pain.
"Alrighty…now, Miss Bernice…you just
hold
onto my brother's hand."
Adam looked pleadingly at his brother.
"Get in there and hold her hand," Hoss ordered.
Adam climbed hesitantly into the wagon and took a hold of Bernice's
hand.
Hoss turned to Bernice's husband. "Sir, what I need you to do…is
boil
me a big kettle of water and find me some blankets to wrap the baby
in when it comes. I also need for you to get me a basin with
some
water in it so Adam can wipe her face."
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh…." Bernice screamed and
Adam writhed in pain as well
as she squeezed his hand.
"Ma'am…ah…ma'am…let go of my hand…just a little please…"
"Oh sorry."
Adam smiled as he rubbed his hand. "No problem….nothing's
broken." He
looked at Hoss. "I hope."
"Here's the basin, son."
"Thank you, sir." Hoss handed it to Adam. "Use this to wipe
her face."
Adam took the basin and began to wipe her face, another contraction
came and she reached out and grabbed Adam by the front of his
shirt. "Owww…" he cried out as Bernice
also managed to get quite a
bit of chest hair. "Ma'am…umm…could you loosen your
grip...please,
ma'am?" he practically begged.
Hoss looked at his brother as he was violently shaken back and
forth. "If I was you, big brother…I would keep anythin'
you don't
want grabbed out of Miss Bernice's way."
Adam nodded and reached for a pillow, strategically placing it in
front of his lap. Hoss snickered.
"Now, Miss Bernice…I'm gonna check and
see
if the baby is comin.'"
Bernice nodded her consent.
Hoss looked up under her skirt. He removed her undergarments.
"I
can
see the baby's head…hurry up with that hot water…I want to wash my
hands."
Bernice's husband quickly ran over to Hoss and helped him wash up.
"Alright, now, Miss Bernice…you need to take a deep breath and push
as hard as you can."
After a few minutes, the baby emerged. Hoss smacked him
gently
on
the bottom to help him breath. He cut the umbilical cord,
tied it
and wrapped him in a blanket. "Here is your, son, Miss
Bernice,
and
he is a right handsome fella dontcha
think, big brother?"
Adam smiled slightly but was unable to respond because his pillow
idea hadn't quite worked out as well as he planned. "Yes," he
finally
managed to squeak out and sat back on his behind.
"Harold, Harold…come look at your new son!" Bernice called out.
"Whatcha gonna
name him, sir?" Hoss asked.
Harold smiled at his wife as they were both thinking the same
thing. "Why we would be honored if we could name our son after you,
boy, and your brother."
Hoss blushed. "Well, my real name is Eric."
Bernice smiled. "Then that is what we shall call him…Eric Adam
Michaels."
"Ahhh shucks…that's mighty nice of
you."
"Son, if it wasn't for you and your brother…I don't know what I
would
have done."
"It weren't nothin,' Mister…just happy
to
help."
Adam climbed down out of the wagon and put a hand on his brother's
shoulder. "Don't sell yourself short, Hoss…you did a real fine job,
real fine...and Pa's going to be mighty proud of you."
"You think so, Adam?"
"Real proud." Adam smiled. "Well, Mr. and Mrs.
Michaels…we need to
get back home soon…our Pa is expecting us to be home for supper and
he gets mighty sore if we are late…would you care to come back with
us and have yourselves a hot meal and Miss Bernice can rest up in a
real bed until she feels up to traveling?"
"We can't put you out that way, son…we've imposed on you too much
already."
"Nonsense, Mr. Michaels…our Pa would be happy to have you stay with
us and besides if he found out we left a baby and it's mama out
here
in the cold…why he'd tan both our hides…isn't that right, Brother?"
"Sure is, Brother," Hoss agreed.
Harold smiled. "Alright, just give me a little bit to pack up and
then we'll follow you back to your daddy's place."
"I'll help you, Mr. Michaels," Adam offered.
"Me too."
"No Hoss, you help Miss Bernice with the baby…you are a lot better
than me with that…a lot better."
Hoss smiled. "I reckon I found somethin'
I
am better at than you are,
Big Brother."
Adam smirked. "Just this once."