Part Two: The Wayfaring Stranger: Chapter One

"Joseph! Get down here at once and eat some breakfast! We are leaving in twenty minutes and I do not intend to be late."

Ben Cartwright cast an imploring look at Hoss. "Would you mind going upstairs and chivvying him along? We could be here all day, at this rate."

Even as Hoss obediently rose from his chair, casting a regretful look at his plate of ham and eggs, a flurry of footsteps announced Joe's arrival as he barrelled down the stairs and clattered noisily across the room. Grinning at his father, Joe held out his tie with a pleading look.

"Can you help me, Pa? I couldn't get it to lie properly."

With a sigh, Ben pulled Joe to stand in between his knees and started to loop the tie around his son's neck. He wondered what on earth Joe had done to it, for the bedraggled object looked as if it had been thoroughly chewed. On reflection, he decided to not ask, for undoubtedly he would not wish to know what new mischief Joe had been up to. Long years of experience had made Ben an expert in the ways of small boys. He finished by arranging the loops of the tie as neatly as possible and then gave Joe a light swat on the butt.

"There, all done. You both look very nice – very nice indeed." He looked at his two sons with pride: neatly dressed in their Sunday clothes, they were a credit to any father. Joe had even dampened his hair with water and attempted to brush his curls so that they would lie flat. If he were a betting man, Ben would wager that by the time breakfast was finished, the curls would reassert themselves with characteristic independence.

"Now get some breakfast inside you. We don't want to be late to meet Adam, do we?"

Correctly judging that no answer was expected, Joe eased into his seat and helped himself to a small portion of bacon and eggs. He really could not see why it was necessary to get all gussied up, just to ride into town, but he knew better than to argue with his father. For an entire week Ben had barely been able to restrain his excitement at the prospect of Adam's return and this morning he was so tense with anticipation that the air seemed charged, almost as if there was a storm brewing. Joe screwed his head around and looked out of the window, but the sky was a clear blue, with only a few white clouds dotted around.

"Sure will be great to see Adam again!" Hoss contemplated the last remaining roll and decided it would a shame to let it go to waste. "I can't wait, Pa!"

"Yes, it'll be wonderful to have Adam back home again," Ben mused. "It's been four long years since he left."

Joe kept silent, devoting his entire attention to his breakfast. He really could not understand what all this fuss was about. To him, Adam was little more than a vague memory, a tall, dark haired man with a deep voice. He did have some faint recollections of Adam singing to him and telling bedtime stories, but as far as Joe was concerned, his family consisted of just two people: his father and Hoss. Big brother Adam was no more than a distant stranger, someone who wrote letters and who sent presents for Christmas and birthdays. Pretty good gifts too, Joe thought. But he did not know this older brother and consequently found it difficult to excited about the return of a virtual stranger. What possible difference could the visit of one man make to his life anyway?

Hiding the remainder of his eggs underneath the uneaten portion of his roll, Joe placed his knife and fork neatly together and smiled engagingly at his father. Ben nodded abstractedly and then went outside to check that the buggy was ready and waiting.

"Boys! It's time to leave! We don't want to be late, do we?"

I don't see what difference it would make, Joe thought rebelliously. Adam's not so all-fired important, even if he has been to college.

He walked wearily outside and noticed that Ben's fingers were tapping agitatedly against the side of the buggy. Heaving a small sigh, Joe climbed up, sitting with his arms crossed and a martyred expression on his face. It looked as if it was going to be a very long day.


Waiting restlessly outside the stage depot, Ben peered up the street impatiently and then consulted his pocket-watch for the fifth time in as many minutes. "He should be here any moment now."

"I hope the stage is on time," Hoss said anxiously. His insides were churning with excitement and the prospect of even a short delay seemed unbearable.

"Oh, I don't think we need worry!" Ben laughed. "The Overland Coach Line is pretty reliable." He looked around and noticed that the youngest member of the family was missing. "Joseph! Get over here at once!"

Heaving a sigh, Joe said goodbye to his friends and sauntered back over to the depot, his hands stuffed into his pockets and his feet scuffing along the ground. Already his tie was halfway around the back of his neck and his shirt cuffs were undone. Tutting away in exasperation, Ben grabbed the boy's chin in one hand and yanked the tie back into place with the other, before pulling out a clean handkerchief.

"Spit!" he ordered and began to scrub the grubby face. "How can you get so messy in just a few minutes?"

We've been hanging around here for hours! Joe thought. I had to do something or I would have died of boredom. With a struggle, he held his tongue and meekly submitted to his father's ministrations, wondering once again what all the fuss was about.

"It's comin'!" Hoss yelled. "The stage is comin!"

Ben released Joe and rushed over to join the small crowd waiting at the depot. The stage pulled up slowly, the door opened and a familiar figure stepped out, blinking slightly in the bright sunlight.

"Adam!" His voice choked with emotion, Ben crossed the distance between them with a couple of long strides. "Good to see you, son. Welcome home." He clasped Adam's hand warmly and then drew him into a brief embrace, before standing back and proudly surveying the young man. "You're looking well," he smiled. His first-born child was back and his family was complete once again.

"It's good to be back," Adam started, but before he could say anything more, Hoss engulfed him in a hearty embrace, thumping him joyously on the shoulder, his round face beaming with pleasure. The three men revelled in being together, laughing with the sheer joy of their reunion.

"This your bag?" A voice broke into their excited conversation.

"Yes. And that trunk too." The luggage was handed down and as the Cartwrights moved away from the stagecoach to allow the next passengers on board Ben noticed that Joe was not with them. He looked around frantically, knowing the child's remarkable propensity for getting into trouble at the drop of a hat, and was relieved to see him sitting on the edge of the boarded sidewalk.

"Come and say 'hello' to your brother," he urged. It was not like gregarious Joe to suddenly become shy.

Joe stood up reluctantly and slowly brushed the seat of his pants. For a brief moment, as Adam hesitated in the door of the stagecoach, Joe thought he could remember reaching up to a man on horseback, a man who had leant down, then took hold of his hands and swung him up into the saddle. But that memory had vanished quickly, to be replaced by this vision of an elegantly dressed stranger. He had watched his father and brother greet the man with obvious love and joy, but Joe felt nothing, absolutely nothing, and that troubled him.

"Pleased to meet you," he said politely, sticking his hand out in greeting. Adam grinned broadly and bent down, resting his hands on his knees to survey the boy. Joe hastily drew his hand back and stared into a pair of brown eyes, partially shaded by a homburg hat.

"Hello little brother," Adam said softly, sensing the boy's shyness. "It's good to see you again. You've grown up while I've been gone."

It was exactly the right thing to say and Joe gave him a happy smile.

"I'm real strong too!" he informed his brother. "I could carry that bag, iffen you like?"

Adam agreed readily, somehow managing to keep a straight face as he watched Joe drag the carpet bag with some difficulty along the sidewalk, while Hoss lifted his heavy trunk as if it weighed no more than a tray of eggs.

"I can't believe the changes in both of them!" Adam remarked as he and his father walked slowly behind the two boys. "Hoss is taller than me – and broader too! He looks like a full-grown man."

Ben nodded. It was sometimes difficult to remember that for all his size, Hoss was still just a young adolescent, with a fair degree of growing-up to do. The boy had such a big heart and was so willing to help that he had a tendency to take on too much. Ben kept a careful eye upon Hoss and insisted the boy take as much leisure time as possible.

"And Joe! Well, he was just a little boy when I left, with golden curls. He fallen and knocked out a front tooth, do you remember? I can still see him waving goodbye to me, with that gappy smile and the tears running down his face."

Adam had carried that mental picture close to his heart for four long years. In his mind, he could still hear the pitiful sound of Joe's sobs and feel the heaving of his small chest, pressed desperately against his big brother's, as he begged him not to go. He reached into his pocket and fingered a small object hanging from his watch chain: edged in silver, the baby tooth had accompanied him throughout his travels and to every single one of his examinations. It was more than a good-luck charm, it was a talisman a reassurance to Adam that he would indeed return home one day. Over time, it had come to symbolise innocent and hope, two qualities that he prized deeply.

"You've been away for nearly half of Joe's life," Ben remarked. "I expect you'll both have some adjusting to do." He was blissfully impervious of the adjustments the whole family would have to make in the months that lay ahead. All Ben cared about was the fact that his son was back home and he had all his boys together once again. What could be more perfect than that?

Adam squeezed his father's arm fondly. "Everything is going to be just fine," he assured his father, never dreaming for one second that his glib confidence was sorely misplaced. Everything will go back to the way it was before, the way it had always been, he thought, not realising that the accumulated changes of four years could not be dismissed in such a cavalier fashion.


"I've put your bag in your room!" Joe announced breathlessly. "It's the one…."

"I know where it is!" Adam laughed, not realising how dismissive he sounded. "After all, I slept there for eight years!" He went upstairs, not seeing the hurt and puzzled expression on his brother's face.

Doing the arithmetic in his mind, Joe was confused. Eight years? Then that meant Adam had lived here before Joe was even born. That didn't seem right. It meant that Adam had lived here when he was Joe's age and he found that difficult to believe. Did that mean Adam was just as much a part of the Ponderosa as he was? How could that be, when Joe didn't even know him? It was all very strange, he decided. It gave him an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach.

Upstairs, Adam looked around his room with delight. Everything was exactly as he had left it. Hop Sing had kept the room dusted and aired, but there were all his books, standing in their allotted order and even his guitar still stood in the corner. Picking it up, Adam plucked an experimental chord and frowned as the notes rang out discordantly. He would have to put on new strings and retune the instrument.

There was hot water in the ewer beside his basin and fresh towels on the towel rail, while a new razor lay invitingly in front of his shaving mirror. Everything possible had been done to make his homecoming as comfortable and welcoming as possible, right down to the inviting smell of roast beef that wafted up from the kitchen. Fancy restaurants were all very well, but there was simply nothing to beat the taste of home-cooked Ponderosa beef!

Pulling off his shirt and quickly washing off the grime of the journey, Adam noticed freshly laundered clothes lying in a neat pile on his bed. They looked familiar, but somehow he doubted if they would fit, for Adam was considerably broader now than he had been at 18. However, closer inspection showed that these clothes were brand new and looked to be the right size. And there, tucked into the breast pocket of the shirt was a packet of guitar strings.

You always did know how to make a man feel welcome, Pa, he thought contentedly, pulling on the dark coloured trousers and shirt, before grabbing the guitar and running downstairs.

"What are you doing?" Joe asked curiously, watching as Adam sat hunched in his favourite chair, working intently on his guitar.

"Putting on new strings."

"Why?" Joe hung over Adam's shoulder, breathing heavily as he watched his brother. Adam found the warm breath on the back of his neck rather annoying and wished Joe would leave him in peace to complete the tricky job.

"The others were too old to be able to tune it properly." Adam finished stringing and tuning the instrument and leant back, so that Joe had to move away or risk being crushed. He looked around the room. "Nothing much changed here – except for the dining table. You've moved that around, haven't you?"

"Yes, it fits in better that way, I think," Ben agreed. "It gives us a bit more room to move around."

I don't know what they're talking about, Joe thought. The table's always been like that. For as long as I can remember.

Fascinated by the guitar, he leant forward and reached out a tentative finger to pluck the strings, only to draw it back quickly as Adam him sharply across the knuckles.

"It's not a toy!" Adam said, more brusquely than he had meant to. Joe gave him a reproachful look and wandered into the kitchen. A stream of Cantonese soon indicated that Hop Sing was less than appreciative of his help.

"I don't think I'm managing very well with Joe," Adam confided. "One minute he's bounding around, literally all over me, the next thing he doesn't seem to want to know me."

"Give it time, son. Things will settle down. You and Joe just need to find some common ground and re-establish your relationship. You'll get on just fine with your little brother, so don't worry. He's been so excited about your return."

Standing hidden from their sight in the passageway that lead from the kitchen to the dining room, Joe shook his head firmly.

Oh no I haven't! he thought mutinously. You and Hoss were excited, Pa, but I wasn't and you didn't even notice. I don't know why Adam's come back, 'cos he ain't needed around here. I don't need him. I've got Hoss and he's the best brother in the whole world. I don't need another brother!

Comforting himself with the thought that Adam would not be around for long, Joe wandered listlessly back into the kitchen

"I think Hoss is out in the barn," Ben continued. "Why don't you pop out and see him? I know for a fact that he's longing to show you the horses, especially the one he's picked out for you to ride."

Adam looked slightly apprehensive: having scarcely ridden at all during his time at college, he knew that there would be a long and painful period of re-adjustment before he was once again accustomed to spending long days in the saddle. Noting his discomfiture, Ben added a note of reassurance.

"Hoss is a very good judge of horseflesh, you know. I'm sure he's picked out a suitable mount for you."

"Pa, at this moment, just about the only horse I'd feel comfortable on is a rocking horse! Better warn Hop Sing I'll be wanting lots of hot baths and linament for the next few weeks!"

Chuckling to himself, Adam strode across the room, noticing how peculiar his homburg looked next to the western hats belonging to his father and brothers. Wonder when I'll wear that again? I'll have to remember to get a more suitable hat, next time I'm in town. In one way, Adam longed to resume the familiar routines of life on the Ponderosa and to put some of his own ideas into practice, but he was aware of a lingering sadness as he contemplated packing away the clothes that represented life at an eastern college.

In the kitchen, Hop Sing handed Joe a cup of coffee. "Give to father – an' be careful! No spill on floor an' make mess!"

Nodding solemnly, Joe walked tentatively across to the fireside, where his father sat with his eyes shut, resting his head against the back of his seat.

"Pa? You awake? I've got a cup of coffee for you."

Ben smiled at the boy and took the cup and saucer gingerly. Joe tended to spill half the liquid into the saucer, so that the unwary recipient often ended up with a liberal splash of hot coffee in his lap. This time, only a small dribble had slopped over the edge of the cup.

"Thank you, son." He sipped the hot drink gratefully. "Ah- that's good. Just what I needed. It's been an exciting day, hasn't it?"

Joe shrugged his shoulders unenthusiastically. "I guess so." He looked intently at Ben, wondering if there were to be any other changes to the accustomed rhythms of his life. Looking at the child, apprehension etched clearly on his face, Ben realised what was worrying his son and put down the cup of coffee.

"How about you come and keep your old Pa company for a bit, Little Joe?" He patted his knee invitingly and was relieved to see the eager smile that lit up Joe's face. Hugging his youngest son close, Ben smiled consolingly: poor Joe! It rather looked as if his small nose would be well and truly out of joint for the next few days. But in the meantime, he could provide a little comfort and reassure the child that some things in his world had not changed and remained constant. Besides which, he enjoyed these moments just as much as Joe did. Perhaps even more, for Ben knew the day was fast approaching when Joe would feel far too grownup to sit on his father's knee. It was a rite of passage, something all his boys had been through, but that did not make it any easier to accept or any less painful to endure. And before, there had always been another little boy who still wanted to sit on his knee. This time was different. Ben savoured each precious second, acutely aware this might be the last time he would ever cradle his son on his lap. The transitory nature made the moment even sweeter.

Don't be in too much of a hurry to grow up, Little Joe, he prayed. I still need my little boy. I still need to be needed.

As if he sensed his father's distress, Joe tightened his grip around Ben's waist and burrowed his head into his chest.


"Dinner time!" Hop Sing called across the yard, summoning Adam and Hoss to the table. Giving his hands a cursory wash, Adam sat down and surveyed the spread laid out invitingly before him.

"Now I know I'm home! Hop Sing – you've excelled yourself. This looks wonderful."

Hop Sing bowed his head in delight at the praise and slipped back into the kitchen.

Unfolding his napkin, Adam was suddenly aware of a presence at his elbow. He looked around to see Joe standing beside him, with a dark scowl on his face.

"What's the matter?"

"You're sitting in my seat."

It had been a long and tiring journey and Adam had no intention of re-enacting Goldilocks and the Three Bears. He just wanted his dinner and this child was not going to distract him from that pleasure.

"Don't be silly. That's my seat," he pronounced firmly. "I always sit on Pa's right and Hoss sits on his left. Why don't you sit down here, next to me?"

Joe shook his head stubbornly. "That's my seat," he repeated stubbornly. Adam noticed the bottom lip was sticking out in a petulant manner and this just hardened his resolve.

"It was my seat before you were even born. Now, just go and sit down and eat your dinner!" He didn't see the tears that filled Joe's eyes as he scurried fearfully to the far side of the table to sit beside Hoss, as far away from Adam as possible.

Ben appeared, wreathed in smiles and took his accustomed place at the head of the table. Joe gave him a hurt look as he realised that his father was impervious to the new seating arrangements. He picked at his food, but for once Ben was too busy talking to Adam to even notice. A cold feeling gripped Joe's stomach.

I wish he'd never come back. And I hope he'll go away real soon. Nothing's the same anymore.