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"Pa!" Joe called, as he stumbled through the front door.
Ben, who had been sitting at his desk going over figures, raised his head and blinked. "Joe, what's the matter?" He yelled, jumping up and rushing to his son's side. Joe's hand was clamped over his eyes and he let out a dull moan, before he crumpled in a heap onto the floor. "Son, what happened!" Ben dropped to the floor next to his semi conscious youngest boy. "You have to tell me what's wrong!" Joe's legs kicked restlessly and he muttered something under his breath. "I can't hear you. You have to speak up!" Ben said.
"Pa…"
"Yes?" Ben pushed back chestnut curls and bringing out his handkerchief, wiped Joe's damp brow.
"Pa, it's my eyes. I can't see anything!" Joe sobbed. He buried his face into his father's shirt and moaned, "It hurts, Pa."
"Shhh, it'll be alright," Ben comforted. He wrapped his arms around Joe's shoulders and pulled him close. He smiled as his son's features relaxed.
"Pa, what's the matter with, Joe?" Adam asked, as he sauntered into the living room. Hoss was right behind him. They both looked down at Joe, quizzically.
"Boys, your brother's been hurt! One of you needs to go to town and fetch a doctor!" Ben said, looking up.
"What happened?"
"It's my eyes," Joe moaned. "It hurts so bad…" Hoss bent down and helped Ben to get Joe on his feet. They led him to the settee. He collapsed onto it and tears slid down his cheeks.
"Aw, Short Shanks," Hoss said. "How'd it happen?"
Joe swallowed and tried to open his eyes. He couldn't. "I was working with Cochise," He started. Another tear trickled down his cheek and dripped off his chin.
"And?" Adam asked, impatiently.
"Adam!" Ben said. "Can't you see your brother is in pain?" He turned back to Joe. "Go on, Joe, finish the story."
Joe nodded. "I was giving Cochise his weekly bath. I had put the bucket near his back legs. Easier to get to, considering I was working on washing down his rump."
"He hit you in the face with a hoof?" Ben was shaking inside. Feeling like his knees were going to give out on him, he sat down on a small piece of the settee that wasn't taken up by his injured son.
"No," Joe said. "I was leaning over and I lifted the bucket to get more soapy water and…"
Ben leaned forward, intent on catching every word, "Yes?"
"Stupid Cochise, dunked his tail in the water and then bringing his tail out, twitched it. Suds flew everywhere!" Joe let out a pitiful whimper and thrashed his legs around, again.
"Wait a minute." Adam raised a hand. "You got soap in your eyes?" His lips were starting to twitch up into a grin.
"It hurts!" Joe insisted. His hand was still clutching at his face and he moaned for added emphasis.
"It'll be okay," Ben assured him. Then looking at Adam and Hoss, he said, "Well! I thought I told one of you to go for the doctor!"
"You'd think the way he was bellyaching he got his face stomped on or something," Hoss said.
"Hoss, don't talk about your brother that way," Ben ordered.
"But Pa," Hoss started.
"Send for the doctor!" Ben shouted. Joe's tore his hands away from his face and covered his ears. "I'm sorry for shouting, Joe," Ben said, gently.
Adam shrugged. "I was going for a ride anyway. I'll get him, Hoss," he offered.
"Okay, Adam. You do that and I'll get started with the calf branding."
"Sounds good, but be careful. There's a new hand and I don't want him making a mistake and someone getting hurt," Adam said, and then muttered under his breath, "For real."
Joe let out a wail and letting go of his ears clutched at his face, again. "Boy's stop your jawing and one of you get a doctor!" Ben bellowed.
"I'm going…" Adam replied, grabbing his hat. Putting it on his head and tilting it in a rakish style, he darted a look at his youngest brother and mumbled, "Big baby."
