Chapter dos

It was the calm before the storm- only figuratively of course. Outside it was raining cats and dogs- had been for the last hour. Still, it made little difference to the owners of the Ponderosa. After all, the rain had not started until later- and they had seen the storm clouds far in the distance long before their arrival. By the time the pitter-pattering of raindrops began to hit the roof, all three men were sitting by the fire, drinking coffee.

'Still,' thought Adam Cartwright, as he held the steaming mug in his hands and gazed out the window. It felt like something was going to happen. Like something was about to.

It had been nearly three month and they had not had any incidents. No one had gotten into any fights, the livestock had not gotten any diseases, no one had tried to steal the Ponderosa... or even trespass upon it.

'It's quiet,' Adam thought as he took another swallow from his glass.

Hoss and Joe were having what sounded to be an intense game of checkers. From the sound of things, Joe was winning- as usual. Every bit of skill Joe had at the game was from all the scrapes he'd gotten into as a child- and all the times he'd not been allowed to leave his bed. Adam still remembered the time Joe had gotten the measles- and how they'd all been forced to play the game thirty times a day to satisfy the boy. Adam had been so sick of checkers he'd nearly used the board as a piece of kindling- until his Pa caught him in the act.

A smile curved at the corner of his lips. He could still remember, even while being scolded, the look of hesitance in Ben's eyes. Adam could tell, even through the lecture his father wished he had walked in too late.

Now, about eight years later, his father sat quietly, watching the game with a raised eyebrow. Joe was whooping over having just jumped two pieces and Hoss had a sort of bewildered expression. Adam's chuckle drew his father's attention off the board for a moment.

"Adam, why don't you sit down with us?" he invited. "There's not much to see out that window at night."

Well that was true enough. Adam crossed the room in a few steps, scratching the back of his neck.

"We probably won't be able to take the steer into the north pasture tomorrow," he said sitting down beside his father. "Too muddy and slippery up there on that road... I knew I should have done it yesterday..."

"It's all for the best," Hoss said, examining the board closely, determined not to let another move pass him by. "Not much shelter, nor pasture in those parts anyhow. 'Might be a bit better after the rain."

"Let's hope it helps with the dust anyway," Joe leaned back in his chair, looking totally bemused as his brother's contemplations. Apparently he had some sort of plan up his sleeve.

Adam hummed; a sort of noncommittal noise. Ben raised one eyebrow, but said nothing, seeming content to listen to the conversation, rather than enter it.

Hoss finally made his move. One red piece cautiously moved forward to the corner square. He looked up. "Sides Adam, you weren't really thinkin' about them cows anyhow,"

Adam blinked a moment.

"By the window," Hoss explained. He let out a groan as Joe triumphant claimed his last king.

Adam sighed. Hoss may not have been much for checkers, but somehow he always could decipher his many moods. "I was thinking about how quiet it's been around here lately. How smoothly everything's been running."

"It is rather unusual," Ben spoke now, looking slightly amused. "We've been remarkably lucky lately. Or perhaps 'blessed' is the term."

"Well if it is luck, it's bound to run out," said Adam.

Joe rolled his eyes. "Mr. Down and Gloomy over there," he kidded. "Why be so down about it? Why not enjoy it while it lasts?"

"He does have a point there Lil' Joe," said Hoss, his eyes were steady on his brother. "Doesn't hurt to be prepared, especially the scrapes we've gotten into in the past."

"I agree with both of you," Ben said firmly, standing and gathering up their empty cups. "It doesn't hurt to be cautious, because it will keep us from finding trouble so that we can continue to have these peaceful times."

With that, he walked to the kitchen to deposit the cups to Hop Sing. Joe looked from Adam to Hoss.

"So," he said conversationally. "Is that what you meant? What Pa said?"

"Not really..." Adam began.

"Not 'xactly."Said Hoss.

The two eldest brothers looked at each other. They both grinned and started to laugh.

Hoss shook his head. "Trust Pa to make a lesson of it," he hooted and jumped Joe's piece. Joe looked extremely taken aback.

"Wha... How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"What you just-"

Suddenly, above the sounds of the storm, there was a pounding at the door. Adam jumped to his feet.

"Good grief, what kinda fool would be out riding in this weather?" Hoss wondered.

"It's probably Adam's accident," Joe predicted, standing.

Adam flung open the door. Outside in the shadows, there was the form three figures, hunched against the wind and rain. One of them, the tallest, looked to be holding a child in his arms. Another child clung to the person's side. Whoever they were, they were, Adam had never seen them before. Still, he reached out to them, opening the door a bit wider.

"Come in, quick," he said.

He didn't have to say it twice. The sorry party stepped into light, just as his father stepped out of the kitchen.

"What on earth...?" Ben wondered.

A stranger sight had never entered their door. A young man, quite thin and a few inches shorter than most stepped in, carrying a boy of about eight years old. The young man's glasses were fogged from the storm, his hat jammed down hard on his head; his chin length curls damp and plastered to his face. If anything, the shape of his face... he looked young... only seventeen or eighteen at the most. The children didn't resemble him at all... thought they resembled each other a lot. The little girl- most likely the little boy's twin- clung to the man's his coat and shook like a leaf as the man laid the boy on their sofa. It was at that point that the Cartwright's noticed the bloodstained sleeve, and the reddish puddle spreading across the little boy's arm.

Ben immediately sprung into action, instantaneously appearing at the boy's side and tearing his shirt open wider. The man hung back a bit, tilting his head back, catching his breath. The boy, whimpered a bit, whether from the pain or from the touch of a stranger, Adam couldn't tell.

"It's a gun wound. I have to find the bullet..." said Ben. He looked up. "Joe, get a knife, and make sure it's clean. Hoss, we'll need some towels. Someone stoke the fire."

Adam immediately crossed the room and grabbed the fire poker in an act of instant obedience. Ben looked up to the two figures, still standing there.

"How did this happen?" He asked softly.

The man took a deep breath. "We were already lost when the storm hit," he said. His voice sounded strange, very low pitched, and a little hoarse. "'Couldn't find a bit of shelter. The horse started getting nervous. Then out of the darkness there was a gunshot... horse reared up, sent the kids flying."

"Yes... yes I can see a few bruises from the fall," Ben's hands gently touched the boy's ashen face. "He doesn't appear to have any more serious injuries. ...probably just a bit drowsy." He addressed the boy. "Did you hit your head?"

The boy's eyes were squeezed shut from the pain. He was shivering deeply and his reply was faint.

"No..."

Ben reached out to touch him again. The boy winced and pulled away.

"Easy boy... easy... what's your name?" Ben smiled gently before casting an experienced eye on the shoulder again.

"E-E-Eben," the boy was so cold his teeth were chattering. The man made to move closer, reaching down and picking up the girl in his arms.

"Eben Carter, that's his name Sir," The young man said. "Can you not help us?"

Adam felt a small smile at the corner of his mouth. Unless they had run into a doctor, there was probably no one better in fifty miles to handle this situation. Not only did their father have years of experience in this area- having patched up him and his brothers more times than he could count- Ben knew boys. Furthermore, his look of fatherly concern as he took the towels from Hoss and wiped away the blood on Eben's shoulder seemed to calm the boy's relatives more than anything.

"Of course he'll be all right," said Ben soothingly, more for the patient's sake than the young man's. "This doesn't look to be bad at all... just a simple grazing wound above his shoulder. There's not even a bullet to remove."

Now that danger had passed, it was time to address the situation further. Adam and Hoss exchanged a look. Ben looked up at both of them before clearing his throat. Knowing the exact thoughts that were going through his father's mind, Adam dared to express them.

"Sir, are you in some kind of trouble?"

The man looked up. His eyes were dark. "I didn't think so... but I suppose I am. I cannot figure any other reason why anyone would want to shoot a little boy."


Dun Dun Duuuuuun...

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