Adam looked to his Pa with absolute exasperation, as he stood, hands on hips. His cheeks were flushed in annoyance, and his light hazel eyes gave off the fire, they always did, when he was angry.  “ But, Pa - it’s JENNY ANDERSON!” Ben looked across his large desk to his eldest son. At  just-turned twenty years old, Adam could sometimes be Ben’s ‘right hand man’ when it came to running their large ranch. Other times, he slipped back into a less mature stance, especially when it came to the young women in his life, and the ‘social engagements’ he was involved in. Ben sighed, as he leaned back in his chair, and lit his pipe. “ I’m sorry, Adam, but you’ll just have to tell Jenny you have other things to do for a few days. There will be other dances.” Adam risked rolling his eyes at his Pa.

“ Yeah. Other dances. And other guys out there just ready, willing, and more than able to ‘swoop right in’..”   Ben slapped his right palm down on his desktop. “ Now, that’s enough. You know how heart broken Little Joe is about losing his pony this past week. He’s only eight years old, Adam, and you know how fond he was of  him. He needs another mount. You’re the one always saying that you’re the ‘equine expert’ in this family. Fine - and I agree with you. Now that’s why YOU are the one to take Little Joe on a ‘horse finding expedition’. It’ll just be for a few days, Adam. I know that Jake Johnson has several good quality working stock he’s hoping to sell off, before the winter comes on. I’m sure you can get a good deal on a suitable mount for Little Joe.” Ben stood up from his chair, and walked to the low cabinet along the adjoining wall. Reaching down, he took out the small metal strong box, and took out some money and held it out to Adam. “ Here’s more than enough money to buy two horses.” Adam looked surprised.
 

“ Two horses?” Ben smiled sadly. “Yes, Adam. Two. I’m afraid it’s just about time to retire you old horse. He’s coming up lame more and more often. You need a younger horse you can rely on, Adam. Last thing you need is to be stranded out in the middle of nowhere, with a lame horse.” Adam sighed, as he hung his head down. Old “ Hawkeye” was a handsome blood bay, and the first horse he’d owned. It was the horse that he’d actually learned how to ride on. The old gelding  really was getting up in years, and had earned a good retirement. “All right, Pa. Thanks.” Adam pocketed the money. Just at that moment, the little whirlwind, that was Little Joe, came running down the staircase. He was small and slightly built for eight, but wiry and strong. His brown hair curled softly around his young, almost angelic face,  with its sprinkling of freckles across his nose, and his green eyes usually danced with mischief. Ben smiled at the youngster. “ Little Joe? Can you come over here for a moment? ” The young child ran up to his Pa’s desk, and jostled into Adam, as he reached it. “ Yes, Pa?!” He grinned from ear to ear, and Ben smiled back at him. “Little Joe, you and Adam are going away for a few days, to buy you a new horse. Now, I want you to behave for your big brother. I don’t want to hear of ANY trouble from you - do you understand?”  Little Joe nodded his head up and down. “Oh, don’t you worry, Pa - I’ll be a good boy for Adam!  ” Adam smirked, then muttered under his breath. “ Yeah - that’ll be the day.” Ben shot him a look, and Adam softened his tone, and sighed. “Okay, little buddy, let’s get our stuff together, so we can get going.” Adam reached one arm around Little Joe’s shoulder, as they turned, and headed for the stairs. Ben watched them as they went. Adam had had a tough few months, emotionally. After three years of college - studying to become an architect - he’d thrown in the towel. He never really told Ben all the details, but it involved a young woman he’d been courting, for several months, called Beth. Adam had been told, by her parents, that she didn’t want to see him again. No real explanation at all. It was the first time Adam had had his heart broken by a girl, and, several  months on, in spite of having a few dates with some of the girls in Virginia City, he was still struggling to pick up the pieces. Try as he might, Ben just couldn’t convince him into going back to college. He knew that he couldn’t force his son do something, that he just didn’t want to do anymore….

A short while later, Adam and Little Joe ambled back down the stairs. Adam was carrying two sets of saddlebags, with their necessary items carefully packed, and Little Joe was carrying his favourite stuffed toy - a little monkey, called “McGinty” to take on the trip, too. The whole family thought that it was the most appropriate toy, for Little Joe, since he could be a real little monkey himself, sometimes…Adam walked to the kitchen, with Little Joe holding his hand, and his Pa followed them there. They searched through the cupboards for food items that would be easy to prepare on the trail. As their small sack of provisions was being packed, Little Joe’s level of excitement was rising. “ What kind of horse can I get Pa - a REALLY big one?!” Ben smiled at his youngest son. “ That’s up to Adam, Little Joe.” Adam half smiled to his Pa, as he reached a selection of food items into their sack. “Thanks, Pa. Put it on me…” Ben laughed. “You know what  I mean, Adam. I’m sure between the two of you , you can decide on a suitable horse.” The sack was soon filled, and they headed across the barnyard to the barn. Ben saddled up Betsy for Little Joe, as Adam swung his saddle onto Hawkeye’s old back. Adam patted the gelding’s neck sadly. He knew it would be their real, last, long ride together.

As they exited the barn, Ben’s middle son, Hoss, loped into the yard on his newest horse acquisition. A tall, stockily built, dark bay gelding, with three white socks and a blaze, aptly named “Chubby”.   Ben had had to look long and hard for a mount suitable, that was big and strong enough, for his middle son. At fourteen years old, Hoss was already almost as tall as Adam, but weighed much more. He was a big, good natured boy - very much like his late Mother  - with blue eyes that often twinkled in amusement,  and with an easy smile. “How’s he doing, son?” The young man stepped down from the horse’s back, and patted his dark neck. “ Really good, Pa. He’s a natural when it comes to cattle!  Pa, I’m just about starvin’ - when’s lunch?” Ben grinned at him. Hoss had a very large appetite, and was often teased about it. “ Half an hour, son - think you can wait that long?!” Hoss scowled a little. “I guess so, Pa, if I have to…” Ben just laughed. “We all just finished eating, Hoss - but we did leave you some…” The young lad smiled, as he walked to the hitching post, and tied Chubby there, then ran into the house. Adam smiled as he watched his younger brother go. “I never see Hoss run so fast, as when there is food mentioned…”
Adam stepped into his stirrup, and swung up onto Hawkeye’s back, as Little Joe catapulted himself onto Betsy’s back. Ben waved his two sons off, as they turned their horses, and rode towards the road. “ You two take care - see you in a few days!”

Adam decided their first stop would be Virginia City, to visit Jenny, and make his apologies for not taking her to the dance, just a day away. He stepped down off Hawkeye, and glanced to Little Joe. “ Now, Little Joe, you wait right here. I have to go see Jenny for a couple of minutes.” Joe pulled a face, and starting making little ‘kissing sounds’ at his older brother. Adam just glared at him. “ Now, cut it out, Joe. I am allowed to spank you, remember…” Little Joe shut right up - he knew he could take Adam at his word - far as ‘spankings’ went. Adam raised his fist to knock the door of the house, and a young blonde woman answered it. “ Hello, Adam!”  She was such a pretty little thing, and Adam felt sorry for the message he was about to deliver. “ Hi, Jenny. Look - I’m really sorry, but I can’t take you to the dance Saturday night after all. I have to ride out to the Johnson’s ranch, on the other side of Virginia City - to try to get Little Joe a new horse.. ‘Pa’s orders’. You know how it is…” The young woman moved in closer to him, and Adam suddenly caught the scent of her perfume. Absolutely intoxicating. As Jenny reached her arms around his neck, and gazed into his eyes, all Adam could think was

“ Darn little brother…”  “ Oh, Adam. That is too bad, isn’t it? I’ll miss you…” She very gently reached up, and gave him a warm kiss. As they parted, Adam could suddenly hear Little Joe’s own  ‘kissing sounds’ again, and turned his head abruptly towards his younger sibling. “ JOE!” Jenny just laughed. “ Adam, your little brother is just so funny!”  Adam kissed her back, then shook his head. “ He’s not always quite as funny as you’d  think. I’ll see you next weekend, Jenny…” Adam turned on his heel, and headed back towards the horses, and his young brother, and could hear Jenny’s soft laughter, as he went.

As Adam mounted his own horse again, Little Joe stood up in his stirrups. “ Okay, Adam. Go ahead..” Adam looked at the young boy quizzically. “ What are you talking about?” The young boy just grinned. “ Aren’t you going to ‘spank me’?!” Adam reached over, and gave Little Joe one good swat across his derriere. “Now, let’s just go, shall we?” Adam stifled a grin - how could you stay mad at a kid like Little Joe?

They rode on for several more miles, and Little Joe looked to be getting tired. Adam reined his horse to a stop, then Little Joe did the same. As Adam glanced over to the youngster, Joe’s  face opened up, in a wide yawn. Well, that answered that question.

“ Hey, little buddy, you look tired - how about we camp here tonight?” The young boy’s brown curls bobbed, as he nodded his head in agreement, and slid down off his horse. They each got busy removing their horses’ saddles and bridles, then Adam hobbled them, so they could graze. Firewood was collected, and they each leaned back against a large log, and watched as the wood in the fire slowly started to glow a bright red, as the sun lowered in the sky. Adam dug around in their provisions sack, and pulled out some beans, bread and coffee, and the necessary items to prepare them in. Once the meal was ready, they hungrily ate it. After such a long ride, that day, beans and bread had never tasted so good. Adam especially enjoyed the freshly made coffee, and nearly finished the pot.  When the meal was done, Adam pulled out his pocket watch. It was already eight o’clock - just about Joe’s bedtime. Adam reached Little Joe’s bedroll over him, and pulled it up to his young brother’s chin.“ Time for bed, Joe. Sleep tight.” He leaned to kiss his cheek, and Joe reached his arms around his big brother’s neck. “G’night, Adam”, then rolled onto his side, and had soon fallen asleep. Adam had sat, slumped against the log, half dozing himself, for some time, just watching the flickering orange flames of the campfire. It had been a long day. After stoking the fire a little, for some overnight warmth for his younger sibling and himself, Adam reached for his bedroll. He laid down quietly beside Little Joe, and pulled the blanket up to his chin. He placed his hat wearily over his face. Sleep had soon found him…

His slumber  was suddenly disrupted, some time later, by  a small pair of hands, slapping him lightly on his face. “ Adam! Adam! I have to go!” Adam awoke abruptly, and groaned.“ Well, if you gotta go - just go!”  Adam turned over, and pulled his blanket back over himself. Little Joe looked around him, into the all enveloping  darkness, in a bit of a panic. “ Adam - I need help with my buttons - I really, REALLY gotta go!!” Adam knew what that meant. Little Joe had a bad habit of leaving it to the very last second, out on the trail -  being a little afraid of the dark - and often just couldn’t get his fly unbuttoned in time, which usually resulted in disaster…Adam sat up slowly. “ Alright - come here.” Adam quickly  unbuttoned  him, and the little boy hurried off. Adam thought it wasn’t such a bad idea, now he was awake himself, anyhow, and stood up to walk over, and join him. As Adam finished with his own business, and rebuttoned his fly, he heard Little Joe, just about wailing in the darkness, beside him. “ Oh, no! My socks are all wet again…”Adam just chuckled softly. “ How many times have I told you, Little Joe? Leave your boots on, at night, and you don’t have to worry about that happening…” Joe just looked up at his big brother, through his light brown curls - that hung down practically into his eyes - as his lower lip was beginning to quiver. “ But I don’t like to wear my boots to bed, Adam. My toes like to be just in their socks, at night!” Adam sighed, then raised his eyes skyward: There was no reasoning, with an eight year old , at about one o’clock in the morning. “ Alright, Joe. Button up. I’ve got some dry socks back at the camp..” Adam knew, with Little Joe’s  ‘nocturnal record ’,  to always pack a few extra pairs of socks, for the little boy….Adam strode off, and Little Joe had soon followed, at his heels. Joe plopped down beside Adam, in the campfire’s glow, and his older brother pulled off his wet socks, and replaced them with dry ones. Then he winked at his little brother, as he pulled his boots on for him, too. “ Just in case, buddy!” Little Joe cuddled up beside Adam, as his big brother pulled their blankets over the both of them. “ G’night, little buddy”  “ G’night, Adam” They were soon both asleep again.

Adam awoke in the morning to find a light mist surrounding them. He shuddered a little, as he climbed out from under his warm blanket, into the cool morning air. He gently laid his own blanket onto the still sleeping Little Joe, and got busy re-stoking the fire to cook their breakfast. By the time the food was cooked, and the coffee was ready, Little Joe was beginning to wake up-not a thing to be rushed, for sure. When it came to Little Joe, you had to let him pretty much wake up on his own terms, if you wanted a ‘happy child’ for the rest of the day. Adam sat, sipping his coffee - he’d already finished eating his own breakfast - as he watched his young brother slowly rise. Little Joe stretched a bit, and scratched a bit, then grinned at Adam. “Good morning!”  Adam nodded once-it was now safe to talk to the child “ Morning, Little Joe. Better get eating, buddy. We still have a long ride ahead of us.” Joe sat down beside his brother, as Adam dished it up, and handed him his plate. Adam helped himself to a second cup, as he watched Joe eat his meal.  An hour later and they were all packed up, and saddled up, and on their way again.

By about mid morning, they were riding under the old, weathered, ranch sign at the end of the dusty laneway of the “Rocking J Ranch”, the home of Jake Johnson, and his family.

They were just about the most revered horse breeders in the Nevada Territory, and the quality of their stock was pretty much legendary, after about thirty years in the breeding business. Adam and Little Joe reined their horses to a stop in the barnyard, and, climbing down, wrapped their reins securely around the old hitching rail. The two walked to the ranch house door, and Adam raised his fist to knock its weathered finish. Just at that moment, he heard a familiar, deep, gruff voice behind him, and he turned. A tall, slim, rangy man strode towards him, his hand extended in welcome. His hair was just about completely silver, and his bright blue eyes shone out from his tanned, weathered, face.

“ Adam Cartwright, is that you?!” Adam smiled at the man, as he shook his hand.  ”Yes, sir, it is. You remember Little Joe?” The man smiled down at the young boy. “Last time I saw you, Joe, you were still in your Pa’s arms.” Little Joe grinned up at the man. “ Yeah. I got bigger!” The man smiled again, as he ruffled the young boy’s curls. “You sure did, Little Joe. What can I do for you, Adam? ” Adam glanced in the direction of Hawkeye.

“ I’m looking for a couple of new horse for both of us, Mr. Johnson. I’m afraid old Hawkeye is just about ready to be retired, and Little Joe, here, lost his pony last week - so he needs a new horse, too.” The three of them walked over to visit Adam’s old horse, and Jake patted the old horse’s neck gently. “ I remember when your Pa bought this horse for you - you were just so excited.” Adam smiled sadly at the memory. “ Yeah. I remember, too…” Little Joe had wandered off, as Adam and Jake were talking, and had climbed up a couple of rails of a nearby corral fence, and rested his elbows on the top bar. He was absolutely transfixed, as he watched a handsome black and white pinto gelding  that was trotting around the large pen. The two men joined him. The little boy turned his face excitedly towards his older brother. “ This one’s real pretty, Adam!” Jake shook his head slowly. “I don’t think he’s the horse for you, Little Joe. He’s just three years old - we just got him in - a couple of Apaches wanted to make a trade for him. He’ll be a real good horse one day - with a bit more ‘cow’ training on him. I don’t have the time, right now. Nothing that you couldn’t handle yourself, though, Adam.” Adam nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, I could do that - I enjoy the challenge - and he is nice. What else do you have, Mr. Johnson?” Adam and Mr. Johnson were so busy talking, and heading towards another corral, full of horses, that they didn’t notice that Little Joe wasn’t following them…As Little Joe’s eyes followed the pinto, around and around the corral, they suddenly fell upon a bridle, hanging casually around one of the corral’s posts, and  he just grinned - just what he needed!  He quickly hopped down, and made a beeline for that bridle. Reaching it down, he squirmed between two fence rails, and walked slowly in the direction of the pinto. As the little boy approached, the horse stopped trotting around, and threw his head up, and his ears jerked forward, and he snorted a little, in anticipation. Joe had grabbed a handful of scrub grass, that was growing at the base of one of  the old fence posts, and held it out to the horse. The big horse, and the small boy, stood facing each other. The gelding slowly lowered his head, and Little Joe felt the horse’s  warm breath on his hand, as he nibbled at the grass. Joe raised up his other hand and gently stroked the animal’s face. The horse kept his head lowered  as Little Joe carefully reached the knotted reins around his neck, and expertly slipped the bit between the horse’s teeth, and raised the bridle up, over, and behind, the horse’s ears. Little Joe grinned in great satisfaction - so far, so good. He reached up and , grabbing a handful of the horse’s mane, swung up onto the horse’s  broad black and white back. Little Joe was grinning from ear to ear,  as the young horse just turned his head to look at him, as if to say “ Now what?”. The boy nudged the animal gently, with his heels, and the pinto just walked forward, quietly. Joe reached one small hand down, and tenderly stroked the animal’s big, strong, black and white neck. The bond had been made - Little Joe had found his horse……

From a couple of corral’s away, Adam suddenly looked around, as he realized that Little Joe wasn’t with them. He’d been just so busy, checking out horses….Mr. Johnson  glanced over to the corral, where the pinto was, and tapped Adam’s arm, and pointed .

“ I’d say your little brother has found his horse…” They watched in amazement, as the young boy, and the beautiful black and white pinto,  were quietly loping, around and around, the dirt paddock. Adam’s gaze fell onto the next corral, where a solitary gelding stood. He was tall and muscular. His coat was the colour of a bright copper penny ,and a bright white blaze ran down the length of his face. Tall white socks  extended up to just below the horse’s knees  at the front, and  to just below his hocks, on his hind end. Adam’s eyes widened - he’d never seen such a handsome horse in his whole life.

“ What’s the story on that horse, Mr. Johnson?” As the two ambled towards the corral, the big chestnut walked over, and met them at the gate. Mr. Johnson smiled, as he reached up to stroke the horse’s neck. “He’s the last son of my old stallion, Tomahawk, that we lost a few years back. He’s just about three and a half years old. Got good ‘cow sense’ - just like his sire. Want to try him out?” Adam just grinned, as he, too, stroked the animals muscular neck. “Sure!” Mr. Johnson pointed to a saddle and bridle, that rested on the fence, and nodded to Adam.“ There you are - help yourself - he’s all yours..” Adam climbed over the fence and, reaching for the horse’s halter, softly said. “Whoa - Stand”. He quietly walked around the animal, carefully lifting each leg, at ‘each corner’,  and ran his hands just about all over him. He could neither see, nor feel,  any problems in any of his legs - the horse looked to be in good, sound shape to him.  He also watched very carefully for any negative reactions, from the horse, as he handled it, and there weren’t any - he seemed to have good ‘ground manners’, too. He reached for the saddle and , lifting it up onto his back, cinched him up, and pulled on the bridle, and, stepping into the stirrup, swung up onto the horse’s back. He walked him around the paddock a few times, getting the ‘feel’ for the animal. He practised backing him up a few times - the horse had a great, quiet, controlled, ‘reverse’ on him. He then nudged him into a trot, then a gallop, then a slow, easy lope. The horse was just great - very easy going , and responsive - and, after a while, Adam reined him to a stop by the gate again, and stepped off. “ I think I’ve found my horse, too, Mr. Johnson. ” Almost as if understanding  what Adam has just said, the big horse gently nuzzled his neck, and Adam just grinned, and chuckled. “ Well, how about that -  I guess he just chose me, too!” Mr. Johnson smiled as he removed the horse’s saddle and bridle again, and slipped on a halter with a lead shank.  They walked back to the pinto’s paddock, and Adam did the same check on the pinto that he’d just done on the other horse. The horse passed with flying colours, and Adam smiled at Mr. Johnson. “ Guess there’s just the paperwork left to do, then!” 

A half hour later, and Adam and Little Joe were preparing their new mounts for the long ride home. Adam sighed, as he removed his saddle from Hawkeye’s old back. “ Well, boy,  congratulations. You’re officially retired.” He patted the old horse’s neck, and the horse turned his head towards him, and nuzzled his shoulder. As Adam looked into the old horse’s soft and gentle brown eyes, he had to swallow hard, to remove the lump in his throat. He slipped off the horse’s bridle, and replaced it with the halter and lead shank, that his new horse had just been wearing. Turning to his new horse, that stood patiently beside him, he reached on his bridle, then saddled him up. He helped Little Joe remove Betsy’s saddle and bridle, and placed them on his new horse, too. The brother’s stood side by side, as they looked at their ‘new mounts’ -  the only thing missing was their ‘new names’. Adam looked down to his little brother. “ What are  you gonna call him, Little Joe?” The little boy just grinned. “ Well, Mr. Johnson told me that he got him from the Apaches - so I’m gonna name him after their chief,  ‘Cochise’!” Adam nodded his head thoughtfully. “ Good choice, Little Joe - I think it really suits him.” Little Joe looked to his brother’s new horse, and reached out to stroke his neck. “What are you gonna call yours, Adam? He looked like a pretty good sport, when you were riding him around…” Adam’s dimples deepened in his cheeks, as a broad grin spread across his face, and his hazel eyes were suddenly just twinkling.“ Little Joe, I think YOU just named him. I’ll call him ‘Sport’!”

And, so, the two new horses had gotten their new names from their new owners. Mr. Johnson waved, from the ranch house door, as the two Cartwright brothers mounted up, and waved back at him. As he watched the two brothers riding down the long, dusty laneway of his ranch - the youngest  brother on the bright black and white pinto, and the older brother  on the handsome chestnut with his four, tall, white socks, and brightly blazed face -  leading the two horses they had arrived on - he knew that he was witnessing the beginning of a couple of wonderful ‘horse and rider’ relationships…

                                                                  The End