All characters and events are fictional, and the ones not created in series are mine while the original Bonanza belongs to its own creators. Some places, parts of nature and the ways of living are from Scandinavia rather than Nevada, but I trust on the kind eye of the reader.
I
Horses stretched out their necks to nibble at the new spring grass on the ground. They were free to wander in the scenery while the men worked to relieve their thirst. Two tall figures were hovering over the heart of a spring; one stretching his lean body like a large cat after a very long nap, the other inhaling the spring winds like a bear that had been released from his winter cave.
Tossing his coat over a wavering, freshly green branch of a bush, the leaner man filled his canteen and let its cool water flow in between his lips. The gesture made the other man say something to which both of them laughed. After a long silent moment they both bent down to fill their canteens again. The larger man sat heavily on a nearby rock, and pulled his boot off to get rid of something – probably annoying. Both men squinted towards the sun and smiled in a way that was partly open, partly inward, and when the larger man pulled his boot back on, the other slapped his shoulder quite heavily.
"Let's go."
"Have you ever been over those hills to Linden's Creek?" Hoss asked. He was heading back home with his brother, loyal to their cook Hop Sing and his highly refined cooking skills, but more than usually tempted to linger in the vast landscape of their spread. Spring was a season filling him with crisp fresh air, with energy coming out of the land and the sky and the rocks and the little and big critters around, and occasionally he was free to let his mind just wander.
"Linden's Creek? I've seen the place. But it's quite a long time ago, when he was still alive... Maybe it was even before their youngest one was born."
"It's funny I never came to visit them, just something peculiar about that place." Seeing the sidelong glance of his too well educated brother made him add: "I reckon."
"Maybe they'd be happy if you showed up for a neighborly visit... It's still early spring, and not so many calves to brand or wood to chop."
It was Hoss' turn to throw a brotherly but not so tender look on Adam. "What's that s'posed to mean, brother?"
"More time to spare."
"Not what I meant, Adam."
"Oh, come on. I can feel your feet burning from a distance."
"Yours ain't that much cooler, I judge."
Adam laughed, baring a set of very white teeth, and pulled his hat tighter on his head. "Race you to the ranch!"