Ben and Joe Cartwright were at the train depot in Virginia City waiting for the 3:10 to arrive. Roy Coffee, retired Sheriff of Virginia City, saw them and went over. As he climbed the steps, Joe came down to meet him and offer a supporting arm. Roy took it gratefully and sat down next to Ben.

The old men smiled at each other, and, when Roy had caught his breath, Ben asked, "Are you still making the rounds of your town, Roy?"

Roy grinned and shook his head. "No, I'm taking exercise. That new doctor Paul brought in told me I needed to walk every day to build up my strength and improve my lungs." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a cigar. "He told me to stop smoking, too, but I think it's good for me." He bit off the end, lit it, and took a deep drag. "Of course," he said as he exhaled the smoke, "it could just be that it's good for my nerves. Elinor told me I was as mean as a snake when I was sick last year, and she couldn't stand me if I was sick and trying to quit smoking."

Ben laughed. Roy and Elinor had kept company for years after his wife and her husband died. When he'd retired as Sheriff, they'd announced their marriage at the retirement party Ben hosted for Roy. Everyone wished the newlyweds well, and Roy had moved his things from the small apartment behind the jail into Elinor's house the next day. His former deputy, Clem Foster, had stepped into the position of Sheriff, and the only difference the town could tell was that Clem was younger than Roy. He'd trained Clem for years, and the two were close as father and son.

Joe stood beside his father, and Roy studied the young man. In his early thirties, Joe gave the impression of being older. The combined losses of his brother and wife in the past two years had taken a toll on him. He seldom smiled, and, although he was considered one of Nevada's most eligible bachelors again, Joe no longer attended the town's dances or seemed to notice the admiration of pretty girls. Mothers sighed in frustration when Joe passed by. He was always courteous, but the essential "Joe-ness" was gone.

Roy sighed as he remembered the active little boy and the happy young man. Joe bent down to him. "Are you feeling all right? Want me to get Clem?"

Roy shook his head. "No, thanks, Joe, I'm fine. I'm just remembering." He turned to Ben. "So, who's coming in on today's train? It isn't one of your opera singers, is it?"

Ben laughed. "No, Roy, Adam's coming home, and he's bringing his family."

Roy blinked. The oldest Cartwright son had left years before to travel and see the world. He'd written Ben often, though, and they had been surprised when he married and settled in Philadelphia after his travels abroad. Without thinking, he asked, "What about his business? I thought he was working with one of those big construction firms."

"He is – well, he was. It seems his daughter is ill, though, and they want to get her out of the city. So he's coming home." Ben smiled in anticipation, but Roy saw Joe clinch his fists. He stared at the younger man's hands. The burn scars were terrible. After the fire, Dr. Paul Martin had been afraid that Joe would never regain the use of his hands. He had fought through the pain, though, and while he'd never have a fast draw again, he could ride and rope as well as or better than anyone on the Ponderosa. And he found the men who murdered Alice and her brother, Roy remembered.

There was the sound of the train and its whistle, and the three men watched as it came into the station. It came to a stop, and they saw a few passengers got off. Ben stood up, anxious to see his oldest son again, and then spotted a tall man in a gray suit with a young girl in his arms. A pretty woman in a traveling suit was behind him holding the hands of two small boys, and Ben heard the high shrill voice of one boy asking, "Where's Grandpa, Papa? I don't see him."

Ben stepped forward, and Adam caught sight of him. "Pa!" he called. He rushed forward, and gave Ben a one – armed hug. Joe stood back and watched them before he stepped forward.

"Joe!" Adam smiled at him, and reached out to hug him. With a grim smile, Joe offered his hand instead. Adam looked down and saw the scars. "Oh, Joe," he murmured. The girl on Adam's arm looked down at Joe's hand, and Joe heard her draw in a breath as she tightened her grip on her father's neck and looked away.

Joe was ashamed of himself for upsetting the child. "If you'll give me your ticket stubs, Adam, I'll get your bags for you. Pa brought the buggy, so you and your family can ride home with him. I have the wagon, and I'll bring your bags."

Adam put his daughter down and started to follow Joe. "I'll help you, Joe."

"No. No, it's all right, Adam. Ride home with Pa – he's been looking forward to…" Joe's voice died away as he turned and walked quickly down to the baggage car.

Adam watched him go and turned back to his father.

…..

That evening at supper Ben smiled as he looked around the table. For the first time in years, they'd had to add a leaf. Julia, his daughter-in-law, sat next to him, on his left. Eric, their four-year-old, was next to her followed by Elizabeth, age eight, who sat beside her father. Adam was in his old place at the foot of the table, and Abel, age six, sat between his father and Uncle Joe, on Ben's right.

Hop Ling, Hop Sing's nephew, had taken his uncle's place as housekeeper and cook. He'd worked all day, preparing dishes he hoped Mr. Adam's family would enjoy. When they'd arrived late that afternoon, the children had fallen on the plate of cookies he'd made, and would have eaten them all if their mother hadn't stopped them after one. "You'll spoil your appetites for supper." She'd thanked Hop Ling for his kindness to her children, and then taken them upstairs to wash and rest a little from their journey. Joe had arrived soon afterwards with the trunks, and he and Adam had carried them upstairs. Adam and Julia were in his old room, Abel and Eric would share Hoss's room with its big bed, and Elizabeth was in the old nursery.

Ben had removed the old crib and chest, and, with the help of Elinor Coffee, purchased a bed and armoire suitable for a child. Elinor had come out and measured the windows, and made new ruffled curtains for the room. When Ben tried to thank her, she had waved his words away. "You don't know how much I've enjoyed this, Ben. It's been a long time since I've fixed up a room for a little girl."

It was then that he remembered that she'd lost her husband and young daughter in an influenza epidemic. He mentioned it to Roy, and said he hoped he hadn't revived painful memories. Roy had patted his shoulder. "Don't give it another thought, Ben. Elinor came to terms with it years ago – just like all the rest of us."

Hop Ling had prepared fried chicken, bowls of fresh vegetables, biscuits, and a cobbler for dessert. As he brought the food out, Adam looked around the table and then smiled at his father at the other end. "Seems like old times, Pa."

Joe glared at his brother. "It isn't the same without Hoss. This was his favorite meal."

Everyone was quiet as Ben smiled at his son. "He is here – in spirit. Hoss loved the Ponderosa. I often feel him near me."

Joe stared at his father. The smell of the food suddenly made him feel nauseous, and he quietly slid his chair back. "Excuse me – I need to check on something…Go ahead and start without me."

Before Ben could object, Joe had grabbed his jacket and was out the door.

Adam looked upset. "I'm sorry, Pa. I didn't mean to upset him."

"It's all right, son. You know your brother has had a difficult time…" He glanced around the table at the children and was quiet. In the silence that followed, Eric looked up at his mother and whispered, "Isn't Uncle Joe going to eat with us? Why do his hands look like that?"

"Shush," Julia said, and served her son a chicken leg.

Julia took the children upstairs after supper, and Ben and Adam sat before the fire. Hop Ling brought them coffee, but Adam went over to the sideboard and poured two glasses of brandy for himself and his father. He handed one to Ben and, taking the other, sat down in the old blue velvet chair. He leaned back and sighed.

"Tell me about Joe, Pa. You didn't say much in your letter."

Ben took a sip of his brandy. "It's hard to describe, Adam. He's just not...Joe."

"He's mourning, Pa. He lost his brother and his best friend. He lost his wife and their child - they were murdered. His hands, Pa...the scars have to remind him of that night. Wasn't Hop Sing able to treat them?"

Ben looked at his son. "Adam, Hop Sing left soon after Hoss died. He couldn't bear it here. He went back to China to visit his family, and I hired Hop Ling. But over the last few months I've come to realize that Hop Sing is never coming back."

"What about Jamie? You adopted him..."

"And he's away in school. Joe wants him to become a lawyer - he thinks the Ponderosa will need one."

Adam frowned. "Joe's pushing someone to go to school?"

"Joe considers what he thinks is best for the ranch's future, Adam." Ben snapped. "He's grown up, matured...but he's different in other ways - he shuts me out...refuses to have much to do with our friends...seldom smiles...and he's drinking far too much..." Ben faced him and Adam saw tears running down his father's cheeks. "I don't know what to do for him anymore, Adam. My boy is dying every day, and I can't help him." He covered his face with his hands.

Adam stared at his father. The last time he'd seen Ben weep had been when Marie was killed. He went over to his father and pulled his hands away from his face, and rubbed them between his own. "Everything will be all right, Pa."

Ben looked at Adam and smiled a little. "I remember when I used to tell you that."

"And you were always right."

...

It was very late, and still Joe hadn't returned. Ben had gone up to bed and Adam was dozing in his chair when he heard hoofbeats outside. He picked up a lamp and went outside. The barn door was open, and, as he watched, the light from a lantern was lit. He walked inside to see Joe unsaddling Cochise.

"Joe?"

"Yes, Adam?"

Joe was dead sober. Wherever he'd been, it hadn't been to Virginia City.

"Pa was worried when you didn't come back to eat supper, Joe. So was I, for that matter. Where'd you go?"

Joe picked up a brush and ran it over Cochise's back. "Just to ride, big brother. You remember taking night rides, don't you?"

"Yeah, but..."

Joe stopped grooming Cochise to face his brother. "But what, Adam?"

Adam gave up for the moment. Wherever Joe had gone, he wasn't going to tell Adam. "Nothing, Joe. I'll leave a lamp on in the great room. I think Hop Ling left you a plate in the oven. The fire's banked in the stove, but it still should be warm." He turned and went back to the house.