Ok, trying this again (with the right file).  This is rewrite of an older story. More will be posted as it gets rewritten.  :)

Chapter 1 "The Swindle"


 

A savage kick sent the bucket bounding across the dusty road.  It rang on the hard earth with a harsh metallic sound that matched the fury of the man that kicked it.  He couldn't believe he had let things get this far out of hand!  He couldn't believe he had thrown the first punch that ended when he and his brothers were kicked off the stage.  Even worse, he had let his brothers provoke him into losing his temper.  Now they were stuck out here in the middle of nowhere, miles and even days from home.  They had very little cash between them – certainly not enough to cover stage fare for all three of them – even if they could wait a week for the next one to arrive. 

He was at a loss as to what to do, they had to get home soon; their father was counting on the contracts they had secured while on their visit to San Jose. He took a deep breath, looked up at the sky and exhaled slowly.  There had to be a way out of here, there had to be a solution; he just didn't see it yet. He rubbed at the bridge of his long, straight nose and demanded his brain come up with something, anything to help them immediately.  The heavy footsteps of his middle brother interrupted his futile efforts to think, and he turned to meet him.

"Hey Adam...what are we going to do?" Hoss asked, as he approached his uneasily.  He could tell his older brother was a little more than furious, and he knew that by asking the obvious question he was inviting his brother's wrath to be showered upon him.


Adam closed his eyes in frustration. His head ached from when it had connected with the hard wood of the stage wheel after a thunderous counter-punch from his younger brother.  The scowl on his faced deepened as he turned to Hoss and spoke tersely. "I haven't figured it out yet. At this point we might as well start walking. The station keeper says he only has two horses and a jackass he can sell us; and with the price he's asking; we won't have two cents to rub together. I seriously doubt those animals he calls horses can make it even halfway to the Ponderosa and that ass… Let's just say I'll be surprised if it makes it out of the corral!"


Hoss tried to keep his voice calm; he didn't want another fight on his hands, and judging by Adam's posture, he was in the sort of mood where anything might provoke him into a shouting rampage. "Well, I don't see as to how we have much choice...We can't walk all that way; it'd take us weeks...and we certainly can't stay here; we can't even afford the stage home."


Adam nodded. He had already come to the same conclusion. "I know Hoss...I...guess we're going to have to take our chances on those animals and pray for the best." He kicked the dirt in frustration and stalked toward the station keeper's house.  It galled his thrifty nature to pay exorbitant prices for rag tag animals. 


Joe watched from the corral fence as his oldest brother walked into the station keeper's house. He was still fuming over the fight he had with Adam. It had built up all week; they knew each other's anger points too well – knew when to goad, when to prod a sore spot in what became a wicked game.  Joe smiled; he has glad he had won, pushed his brother over the edge, made him throw the first punch.  It was usually the opposite.  Adam would provoke Joe into striking first, but not this time.  Joe's chest swelled with satisfaction.  He had provoked Adam into causing the whole ruckus.  Heck, it was even worth getting kicked off the stage for. At least Joe wasn't the one who was at fault...well, not completely he thought with a smirk.



"...One hundred, one-hundred and twenty, one-hundred and thirty-five, one-hundred and forty, and one-hundred and fifty." Adam reluctantly laid the last of his money on the table. He looked up at the old charlatan of a station keeper and said in a defeated voice, "There's your one-hundred and FIFTY dollars for the two horses, jack-ass and gear.  Now, if you don't mind we'd like to be on our way...."


The station keeper took the money greedily, and smiled as he recounted the cash. It was a very nice profit he was making off of these three men, and his cheerful manner made it very clear he was quite pleased with himself. "Shore thing sonny. You jest come with me to the barn and we'll getcha your gear."


Adam scowled as he followed the little old scoundrel out to the barn; he was not used to parting with his money so easily. The station keeper grabbed three dusty old saddles and rusty bridles from several hooks and handed them to Adam.

"This is all you got?" Adam asked.  His disapproval of the tack he was being handed clearly evident in his voice.

"Yup, unless you want to ride bare back or somethin'."

Adam opened his mouth to argue but quickly closed it again and, instead, took the two saddles the old man had handed him.  So far the only thing that arguing with the old timer had gotten him was a thinner pocket book.   

The old man carried the lightest saddle, obviously for the ass, while Adam struggled to carry the other two saddles and tack across the yard to the corral. Reaching the corral, he dropped them in a heap on the ground.  

Hoss, who had been waiting by the fence, grabbed some of the gear for their horses and set them on the fence, while Joe walked into the corral and lead out the horses. Joe snatched one of the moth-eaten saddle blankets and threw it on the horse.  He began to saddle what he assumed was going to be his ride. As he tightened the cinch, he became aware of someone standing behind him.  He peered over his shoulder to find his older brother standing with legs spread, eyes narrowed and hands firmly on his hips.  Didn't take much to guess he was still a little annoyed with the whole situation. 

"Somethin wrong Adam?"


"Just what do you think you're doing?"

Joe frowned. "I'm saddling up my horse, what does it look like?"

Adam shook his head, "Oh, no. No, you're not riding a horse little brother. Your steed is over there." He pointed in the direction of an old broken down donkey that was standing at the other end of the corral, chewing lazily on some straw.

Joe's mouth gaped, "You gotta be kiddin' me! Why do I have to ride that old thing?"
 

Adam smiled with satisfaction. "Because you got us into this mess, and Hoss is too big; he'd probably founder the poor thing."

Joe face flushed and his eyes glittered, "ME?  I got us into this mess? You're the one that hit me, not the other way around! If you think I am going to ride that thing, you're crazy!"
 

Adam smiled arrogantly.  He knew he would win this argument; there was no way in hell he was going to ride that animal. "That may be but you're the one that's been itching for a fight for the past week. I finally just let you have it. Besides, I paid for these animals, so I get a horse, little brother."  With a smirk he grabbed the reins of the old, sway-backed and wry-necked animal. "Thanks for saddling him up for me."

Joe seethed with anger as he watched his pompous older brother lead the horse across the yard.  He couldn't believe Adam was getting away with this! Worst of all, he was going to have to ride the sorry excuse for a jackass. He knew one thing though, Adam was not going to get away with this embarrassment, he would make sure Adam got his before this journey was through.
 
 Hoss eyed Adam curiously, as he tightened the cinch on his saddle. "What are you smiling about?"  he asked as Adam approached with his already saddled horse.


Adam raised his eyebrows and replied, not so innocently. "Oh, nothing... You about ready?"

"Yeah, I'm done." He said as he finished adjusting the girth. Looking up, he searched for their youngest brother, "Where's Joe?"


"Oh...I'm sure he'll be coming along anytime now," Adam said with a smirk. Raising his voice, he yelled, "Hey Joe! Come on will ya! We gotta get going!"

A minute later Joe appeared leading or, more appropriately, pulling the donkey toward his brothers.

Adam shook his head and yelled. "Hurry it up will ya! We don't have all day!"

Joe scowled at his brother; he was dangerously unhappy. "Tell that to him! And if that doesn't work you can just shut up!"

Adam bit the inside of his cheek, wisely deciding that it would be best not to provoke his brother anymore than he already had. "All right, let's get going" He stepped into the saddle.  "We don't need to make this journey any longer than it already is."

Hoss followed while Joe urged the jackass to move forward, and it did, albeit reluctantly. The dim-witted animal followed slowly behind the two elderly horses with Joe kicking it furiously in a futile attempt to quicken its pace. 


Chapter 2 "On the Road"

Hoss pulled his horse to a stop for the tenth time in the last three hours. "Hey Adam! Hold up, will ya?"

Adam drew reign and sighed, clearly annoyed with their slow progress. "What's the hold up now?"   

"It's Joe; that ass just ain't cooperation' with him! He's behind quite a fer piece."

"So what else is new?" Adam groused.

After about fifteen minutes of waiting a very uncomfortable and agitated Joe appeared as he and his lackadaisical mount finally reached the bend in the road. 

Adam sat up in the saddle. "Joe would you hurry it up! We ain't got all day!"

Joe's face flushed with anger as he yelled. "Adam shut up! I've had just about enough out of you! One more word and I'll knock you off that horse!"

Adam answered Joe's challenge with narrowed eyes and slowly tilted his head back, looking down his nose at his brother.  Adam was unable to hide a half smile as he laid down his own challenge, "I'd like to see you try."

That was the last straw. In an instant Joe, was off of the donkey and heading toward Adam—intent on knocking his attitude down a notch or two. Stopping two feet short of Adam's horse he stood with fists clenched and chest thrust forward, "Come on, Adam. Come down from there and let's settle this right now! I'm getting real sick of your snide remarks and insults. If you want to fight, fight like a man!"


Adam sat there for short moment steaming over what his brother said. Leaving behind all reason he jumped off his horse and faced Joe.  "All right, you want a fight? I'll give you a fight, boy!" Adam snarled, his voice seething with anger as he pushed Joe's chest with his forefinger.

When Joe heard the word 'boy' he lost all composure. "All right! That's it!" Swinging wildly he threw a punch at Adam.  

Adam stepped forward to clamp down on Joe's arms and walked right into an uppercut with all of the kid's weight behind it.  Stunned he reeled back and twisted as he fell, face down in the dirt.  He threw up his arms to protect his head as Joe piled on top, hitting him again and again. 

Hoss watched the whole exchange from atop his horse. He couldn't believe they were fighting again. Angry at his brothers' adolescent behavior, he got off his horse and stormed over to where they struggled on the ground. He grabbed Joe by the shirt collar and pulled him off of Adam, "All right, that's enough! Ya hear!"

Joe continued to struggle, as he tried to get back to pummeling Adam. Hoss tightened his grip and shook as he repeated, "I said that's enough, Joe!"

Joe stopped and threw off Hoss's hold, "All right! Let me go!"

Adam stood up slowly.  Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth; he swiped at it with the back of his hand.  He appeared shaken as he leaned over and tried to catch his breath.
 

Hoss looked at each brother angrily. "I've had just about enough out of you two! You've done nothin' but fight and argue since we been on this dadburn trip. Ain't it enough you two got us kicked off the stage?"

Joe looked up at the comment, "ME? Adam's the one that threw the punch at me! He's the one that started the fight!"

"You just hush up now! You're the one that egged Adam on all week trying to get him to pick a fight with you. You're the one that had to make the whole San Jose thing an issue. You wanted Adam to fight with you!"

Joe closed his mouth and looked away.

Adam, who was quite recovered, smiled at Hoss as he dusted off his hat, which had fallen off during the fight. "Thanks, I'm happy to see some intelligent observations around here."

Adam now earned Hoss's angry glare. "I don't want to hear it, Adam! You're just as bad as he is! You've been pickin' on Joe just as much as he has you. You've been a bear the whole rest of the trip out here. If ya ain't angry with Joe, you're mad at both of us and just askin for one of us to clobber ya.  So, I don't want to hear no more!" Looking at both his brothers he added, "And that goes for both of ya! I don't want ta hear no more arguin, you got that?  Come on we still got a ways to go."  With that Hoss stalked back to his horse and climbed into the saddle.


Both Joe and Adam stood side by side in silence, surprised by their gentle brother's anger as he spoke.  When Hoss turned to his mount, however, each gave the other a resentful glance as they returned to their respective animals. Hoss was the first on his horse and the first to head back down the road towards home. Tension filled the air as the brothers rode silently down the trail.


The sun began to set as the three brothers traveled toward home.  Hoss looked up worriedly; he didn't like the look of the sky above. It was dark in the horizon, darker than it should be for a late spring day. The wind began to howl as the temperature also dropped. He was beginning to feel uneasy as they pressed on.

He was lost in his thoughts when Adam rode up beside him. "The sky doesn't look so good does it?"

Hoss was surprised to hear his brother's voice, "Hmm? Oh, yeah, it don't look too good at all. You think we should stop off somewhere's and try to find shelter?"

Adam squinted at the dark sky, "Yeah, I think we better. We better tell Joe what our plans are; he's liable to lose us if we don't."

Hoss grinned; looking behind he could see his youngest brother riding along slowly, half a mile behind. "I'll go tell him. Poor fella..."

Adam smiled at the thought of his brother—well he deserved it. Slowing his horse, he waited for the arrival of his two brothers.

Hoss rode up to his miserable youngest brother trying to hide a smile at his brother's predicament. "Hey, Joe, we need to stop off somewhere and find some shelter. Looks like there is a big storm a brewin'."

Looking ahead, his eyes narrowed, "Do you think brother Adam can keep a civil tongue in his mouth?"

Hoss shook his head in disappointment. "Joe you ain't still frettin about all that are ya? Don't pay no mind to Adam; you know how he gets sometimes, specially when things aren't goin' his way."

Joe's expression didn't change, "Yeah, well that still doesn't mean he has to take it out on me."

"Yeah, I know, Joe, just don't let him get to ya so easily. Let it roll off your back; he's just frustrated that's all."

Joe nodded; he agreed with what Hoss said. It was true his older brother did lash out when he was feeling frustrated. Come to think of it, Joe thought with a wry smile, so did he.

Adam waited and waited. He couldn't believe how slow Joe and Hoss were. The storm was threatening to break any moment. From the looks of the clouds, the flash of lightening and the crash of thunder above, the storm was on the verge of sending a downpour on the three unfortunate brothers.

After fifteen minutes of waiting, Hoss and Joe joined Adam. "It's about time. Come on we better find some shelter; that storm is going to break any minute now."

Joe rolled his eyes and gave his donkey a hard kick, "Well, come on then!"

Adam raised his eyebrows. "Do you have any suggestions as to where we might go?" he asked sarcastically, still miffed at the earlier altercation with Joe.

Joe rolled his eyes again, as he tried to keep his temper under control. "Well, last time I was through this area I seem to remember a farm about two miles from here. In fact, dear brother, it's just over this next hill."

Adam squinted, trying to see any sign of the farm. "All right, let's go then."  With that he gave his horse a kick and started back down the road.