"Maybe this isn't such a good idea." Ginny whispered as Joe huddled down beside her. This was not their first prank of the summer and Ginny was beginning to notice the patience of her Pa and even their older brother wearing thin.

"It's a great idea." Joe peered over the haystack they crouched behind watching the door in anticipation completely oblivious to his sister's concerns.

"He might get mad." Ginny contemplated.

"Who Hoss? Never!"

Ginny pursed her lips feeling sorry for Hoss who was almost always the victim of Joe's escapades. Somehow she always got dragged into them and yet she never seemed to learn that following her brother often led her astray.

"We might spook the horses" Ginny looked at the animals sympathetically.

"They'll be fine."

"Joe, I don't want to do this." She emerged out of their hiding spot only to quickly be roughly pulled down behind the haystack.

"Here he comes." Ginny shot him a glare as she sat still jarred from her hard fall.

"Joe.."

"Shh!" he hushed her sharply

"Joe that doesn't sound like Hoss's whistle!" she blurted out as the bucket of water crashed down from its perch upon the barn door upon the head of the unsuspecting victim.

"JOESPH!" both children cringed as their father's voice boomed through the barn. Ben Cartwright took a breath to calm himself. "Joseph. Come out here."

Joe sulked out of his hiding placed with Ginny following him dejectedly. "Whose idea was this?"

"Mine" Joe stated quietly. "I was trying to get Hoss."

"These pranks are beginning to get out of hand."

"Yes Pa." both children hung their heads. Joe stood nudging the dirt with his toe.

"And you dragged your sister along with you I see." Ben addressed his youngest son who often seemed to him like the biggest handful out of his three sons.

"No Pa he didn't." Ginny looked at him earnestly while Joe looked startled at the confession, "I helped him."

"It was my idea. She didn't want to do it." Joe felt he couldn't let his sister take the fall, "Honest Pa it was my idea."

"Pa I hel.."

Ben put his hand up silencing the two troublemakers, "I appreciate your loyalty to each other. That is a good thing. I was hoping you two had outgrown such behaviors." Both glanced at each other sheepishly. "We'll discuss it later. Right now I need you two to help Hoss get a wagon ready to go into town."

"Why are we going into town, Pa?"

"You'll see." Ben allowed a slight smile that told them whatever it was they would like it.

…..

Joe sat on the boardwalk outside the general store huddled around a game of jacks with several other boys his age, Ginny sat behind him on bags of flour overlooking the game with interest. Hoss sat contently with the horses, being sixteen the boy felt too large to be sitting playing childish games with them, though the merriment of their activities did often draw his attention to the small gathering. Ben took the opportunity of the stage being late to call on his friend Roy Coffee knowing he would be interested in greeting the man they awaited.

Hoss listened to the laughter of his younger siblings behind him as he watched the people passing by. It was hard to believe nearly a week ago the town had been filled with the merriment of Independence Day. Now the decorations were gone and the daily routines of life had taken its place once more. Wiping his brow he wished he could be spending this hot afternoon out swimming. He recalled the times he'd convinced Adam to forget chores for a while and just have fun. Memories flooding back made the ever present ache for his brother grow; Hoss knew Adam wanted to go East to go to school and while he didn't want that for himself he understood that was something Adam wanted. As the four years passed Hoss kept a personal countdown to when his brother would return home, however he couldn't help but feel wounded when Adam's letter came announcing he would stay longer after graduation. Part of Hoss worried that letter meant his brother wanted to stay back east rather than return home. The rattling of the stage rolling in was a welcome distraction for him. Hoss collected his brother and sister from their game. They arrived on the platform where Ben stood waiting with a smile. Hoss stood ready to welcome the arrival as Joe and Ginny waited distracted with Joe's winnings behind the small gathering. As the passengers exited the stage Hoss did a double take. Emerging from the stage was a dark haired man who moved with the ease of a panther that was long familiar to Hoss.

"Well I'll be!" Hoss declared and without standing on ceremony hefted his older brother in the air with a mighty bear hug.

Adam's laughter rang out, "Hoss you've grown! Did you eat the whole herd on the Ponderosa?

"Not yet, Adam." Hoss didn't hesitate to joke back. By this time the commotion had drawn the attention of the youngest Cartwrights.

"Adam!" Ginny flew into her oldest brothers arms. He caught her with ease and swung her in a circle, narrowly missing some of the other passengers. Setting her down he kept one arm over her shoulders. Shocking Ben Joe delivered a hug to his brother as well. In the whirlwind of greetings from the younger members of his clan he and Adam finally made eye contact. Adam stepped forward and extended his hand, "Hi Pa."

Ben knew Adam wasn't much for affection; growing up his siblings, especially Ginny, were the exception. However after four years apart Ben hoped Adam would forgive this moment as he pulled his oldest son into his arms, "Welcome home son."