The brightly colored wagons rolled quietly through Virginia City and came to a stop at the edge of town. Sheriff Coffee watched as a short man in a checked suit and derby stepped down from the back of the lead wagon, and crossed the dusty street. "Sheriff Coffee?" he asked.

"I'm Roy Coffee. Can I help you?"

"I'm Roscoe Ates, Sheriff, and I represent the Smith Brothers Carnival. Did you receive my letter?"

"Yep, come on in, Mr. Ates, and we'll go over a few things." The sheriff opened the door and the two men went inside. After Sheriff Coffee found Ates' letter among the papers that littered his desk, they discussed the hours and terms under which the carnival would operate. They reached an agreement quickly, and Roscoe Ates left, returning to the row of wagons.

He went to the last wagon and tapped softly on the door. He waited until he heard the words, "Come in," and then slipped inside. A lamp burned brightly in the small laboratory, and a tall thin man seated at a desk looked up. "Well?"

Ates removed his derby, and tried to smile. "Everything's set, Professor."

"Good." The man smiled, but there was no warmth in it. Ates nodded and backed out. As he walked to his own wagon, he shivered. The Professor was wealthy and kept the carnival afloat, but he frightened Roscoe Ates.
...
Adam Cartwright was seated at his father's desk, entering figures for that week's payroll. He looked up as Joe came bouncing in, dropping his books and slamming the door. "Hey, Adam!"

Adam took a deep breath and counted to ten. He had never been allowed to treat his books as casually as Joe or slam doors or shout when he entered a home. Joe was spoiled, no doubt about it, and Pa and Hoss were responsible. Since he'd been away at college, they had let the boy get away with everything. Now he was spoiled, lazy, disrespectful, and...Before he could finish his thought, Joe had grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table, and pranced over to the desk. He climbed on top of it, shoving the ledger out of his way, and grinned, showing Adam a mouthful of masticated apple "Hey, Adam," he began again. "There's a carnival in town, and Mitch and Seth and me want to go tonight. Can I?"

Adam leaned back in his chair and smiled at the boy. "I don't know, Joe. Have you done your chores? And how much does the carnival cost? Do you have any money?"
Joe took the time to swallow and said, "My chores are almost done, and you could give me some money. Pa'll pay you back when he gets home."

Adam snorted. "Your chores are almost done because Hoss is doing them, and you don't have any money because you spent it on candy."

Joe scowled at him. "It's none of your business who does my chores as long as they get done, and it's none of your business how I spend the money Pa gives me."
"You're absolutley right, boy. It's not my business."

Thinking he'd won the argument, Joe asked again, "So can I go to the carnival tongiht with Mitch and Seth?"

Adam couldn't believe his ears. "Not tonight, Joe."

The boy stared at him in dismay. "Why not?"

Adam shook his head. "Joe, you can't go out at night with your friends - you're too young. I can't believe that the Devlins and Greens are going to let Mitch and Seth go to the carnival tonight."

Joe hopped off the desk, wanting to put distance between himself and Adam. "You're mean! I'll bet if Hoss asked to go to the carnival tonight, you'd let him!"

Adam kept his voice low and calm. "Hoss is sixteen, Joe, and you're right. If he wanted to go to the carnival tonight with Bessie Sue and some of his friends, I'd say yes."

Joe's face turned red as he fought back angry tears. "That isn't fair!"

Adam sighed. "Joe, see reason. Hoss is six years older than you. He has more responsibility than you, and he gets to have more privileges."

Joe glared at his brother. "I hate you, Adam!" He turned to run upstairs, but Adam called out, "Books."

Joe turned around and came back for his school books. As he gathered them up, he shot a mean glance at his oldest brother. Then he ran upstairs, and Adam heard his door slam. He sighed again, and went back to work.
...
That evening supper was a quiet meal. Hoss was tired, Joe was sulking, and Adam was wishing for better company. He missed his grandfather and his friends. He missed Boston and its theaters, museums, and bookstores. He rose from the table and carried his coffee over to his favorite blue velvet chair. Marie had purchased it from a catalog because he'd liked it, and the family had come to call it "Adam's chair." He picked up a book of Poe's stories and began reading, not hearing when Joe asked to be excused from the table.

Hoss looked over at him, and then nodded at Joe. "Boy, you need to eat more than that if you're going to grow any."

Joe looked down at his nearly full plate, and shrugged. "I'm just not hungry, Hoss."
Hoss stood up and moved around the table to sit next to Joe. "What's the matter, Punkin? Something happen between you and Adam?"

Joe hung his head. "I wanted to go to carnival tonight with Mitch and Seth, and Adam said I couldn't. He said I was too young. He said that you did my chores for me, and..." Joe stopped talking, and then he looked up at Hoss. "He doesn't like me, Hoss. He's always picking on me, bossing me around. He's not my Pa, Hoss."
The sound of their voices got through to Adam, and he looked up from his book. "Joe, if you've finished eating, take your plate to the kitchen, and get started on your homework."

Joe looked at Hoss and rolled his eyes. He stood, carried his plate to the kitchen, and then went upstairs. Hoss watched him go, and then went over to the great room. He sat down on the hearth and said, "Adam."

"Mmm-hmmm," Adam said.

"Adam, stop reading that book and look at me. I need to talk to you," Hoss said. "It's about Joe."

Adam sighed, put a bookmark to hold his place, and gave Hoss his full attention. Hoss stared into his brother's hazel eyes, and took a deep breath. "Adam, I think you're being too hard on Joe. He's only ten, and you've got him thinking you don't like him, Adam."

Adam straightened up in his chair. "Did he say that?"

"Yeah, he did. Adam, I know you haven't been home long, and Pa had to leave you in charge before you got settled in good, but you and Joe were so close before you left. He looked up to you, and you spent time with him, played with him, read to him, taught him. You've got to find a way back to him, Adam."

Adam stood up and began to pace. "Hoss, Joe was five when I left. He was a sweet little boy, but he's become spoiled and lazy. He's ten now, and you do his chores for him, and Pa gives him money whenever he asks. He'll never be any good if he doesn't learn to do things for himself, if he doesn't learn the value of a penny. I'm acting for his good, Hoss."

Hoss was thoughtful. "I guess we've spoiled him some, but he's the baby. And, Adam, I know Pa missed you so much while you were at school it was just natural that he'd protect Joe a little more, keep him from doing things that you and I did at the same age."

Adam stopped pacing and stared into the fireplace. The fire was burning low. "I'll try to be more patient with him." He faced Hoss. "I don't want Joe to think I don't like him." He hesitated for a moment. "What do you think, Hoss?"

Hoss laughed. "Adam, I think Pa put a load on your shoulders, and you're doing your best to carry it - run the Ponderosa and take care of Joe. You're barely home, and you haven't had a chance to catch up with Ross Marquette or any of your friends. Don't worry, older brother. You and I are fine - we always have been." He clapped Adam on the shoulder and was glad to see him smile.