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Chapter Four

Hoss paused outside the doctor's office and chewed at his bottom lip. His pa wasn't going to like what he had to say since he'd returned to Virginia City without his little brother as he'd promised. Still, the good news was that they hadn't found a body. He pushed the door open and strode in with a confidence he didn't feel.

"Pa?" He knew Adam couldn't have been moved yet and would still be in the doc's side room, unless – well unless just didn't bear thinking about so he kept going and tried again. "Pa!"

"You found him?" Ben stepped through the door, anticipating his son wouldn't have returned without his brother in tow.

"Ahh … no, Pa." Hoss twisted his hat through his fingers and ducked his head. "But we found them bank robbers, Pa and Little Joe was okay when they left him."

"What? When they left him?" Ben reached for his son's shoulder and tried not to frown as he repeated his words.

"Well, Pa … seems one of them fellas had a bullet in his back and they had to stop. By the time we caught up with them, he was already dead. Bled out in the saddle."

Ben wasn't particularly concerned about the state of a dead bank robber. "Where was Little Joe?"

"Well, them two brothers gave up pretty quick when we got them surrounded and they told us how Joe ran off when they stopped some time earlier. Said they didn't know where he was." Hoss' voice trailed away as he looked up at his father. "We brought them two fellas back and I'm just gonna grab some more supplies and head back out and find him, Pa!"

Ben sighed as he saw his son's distress. "I'm coming with you. We'll find him, Hoss. We have to."

Hoss stared at his father, trying to determine if his father was leaving because Adam was better or if he …

"How's Adam doin'?" Hoss chewed at his lip as he waited for an answer.

"He's been awake a few times, but he's sleeping now. Paul says he going to be just fine, with plenty of rest."

Hoss smiled as he let out his breath. "Can I see him?"

Ben nodded as he patted his son's shoulder again. "Of course. He'll be glad to see you, but just don't say anything about Joe yet. Paul says he doesn't need the added stress."

"You mean he don't know Joe's missin'?"

"No and I don't intend to tell him either." Ben shook his head as if Hoss was going to argue with him. "Let's find Joe and then Adam doesn't need to be worrying about him."

"Sure, Pa."

"Okay, well I'm going to see Roy and I'll be back shortly."

As Hoss headed in to see how his other brother was faring, he wondered how he was going to keep such a secret from him. Adam didn't miss much and Hoss knew he had a terrible poker face.

"Hey, older brother. Pa says you're gonna be just fine."

Adam shifted against the pillow and tried to nod his head. If only it wasn't so hard to move and his head didn't feel like the worst hangover he'd ever had.

"Good … to know."

Adam slowly reached a hand towards his brother. "What's … happened … to Joe?"

Hoss frowned and looked at his feet as he tried to think of something to say. Adam grasped at his arm and tried again.

"Heard … you … and Pa."

It was pointless trying to lie and he knew it.

"Joe's missin'. Them fellas that robbed the bank took him to get themselves outta town. The posse found them and they said they dumped Joe somewhere so Pa and me …. we're headin' back out soon to find him."

Adam was battling to keep his eyes open as he nodded. "Then get … going. Joe … doesn't … like … to wait."

Hoss grinned at his brother's weak joke. Joe was the most impatient person they knew.

"Wouldn't want to make little brother mad."

"Never."

Hoss straightened up and headed for the door before turning back. Adam was already asleep."I'm bringin' him back. I promise!"


Joe tugged his jacket up around his neck and looked up at the sky. It was another cold morning, but hopefully the day would warm up as the sun rose higher. His feet ached and his belly grumbled in complaint. The small stream of water he'd found the night before had slaked his thirst, but it had been nearly two days with no food other than a few mesquite beans he'd snagged along the way. It was Hoss who'd shown him the beans and he'd laughed about them being cow food. But beggars couldn't be choosers and he was glad he'd listened to his older brother's wisdom. The thought of Hoss brought tears to his eyes as he imagined his brother learning what had happened in the bank. His brother who had always been so protective of him would soon change his tune once he knew what had gone down. Joe shook his head at the ugly memory of Adam falling silently to the floor and he scrubbed a hand across his face.

"I'm sorry!"

It had become a litany and he'd said it so many times in the last two days that he was sick of his own voice.

Sorry don't always fix things.

How many times had Hoss told him that one after he'd done something stupid? He'd never really taken it in until now. Somehow he'd always managed to get around things with charm and a ready apology, but not this time. This time, nothing would fix things.

Joe stumbled along the road he'd found with no idea of where it led. There had been no sign of horses or wagons and he figured it wasn't a very well-used track. It didn't matter anyway. Where was he supposed to go when he couldn't even begin to think of facing his father?

It would be another couple of hours before he saw the smoke. Somewhere up ahead was a cabin or a campfire. As he wandered over the crest of a hill, he saw the homestead come into view. It was small with only one outer building. The fences looked like they'd seen better days. Joe sucked in a breath and headed towards the front door. No matter what else, he needed food and was prepared to trade off some work for it.

"Hold it right there!"

Joe stopped before he reached the first step to the porch and found a rifle pointing at him through an open window. He instinctively raised his hands.

"I'm not armed. I don't want no trouble."

The front door slowly swung open and a man stepped through, still holding the rifle aimed at his chest.

"Who are ya?"

Joe didn't dare drop his arms. "Umm … my name's Joe."

"What happened to ya? Where's ya horse?"

Joe shrugged his shoulders as he wondered how to answer that. "I got thrown. I'm lost and … well I was wondering if I could do some work for you for a meal?"

The man lowered his rifle as he eyed up the scruffy kid in front of him. Emma wouldn't have ever said no to a stranger in need. He pointed to the side of the house.

"There's water 'round there. Ya can wash up before ya eat."

Joe licked at his dry lips and nodded as he slowly lowered his hands. The man disappeared inside and he headed for the water trough. It felt good to scrub off some of the dirt and he wiped his hands down his pants as he headed back inside.

The cabin was small and sparsely furnished. What was there may have been old, but it was well made. There were no female touches and Joe felt a sudden wave of homesickness as he recalled how much of his mother still graced his home. Not that it would ever feel like home again.

The man dropped a tin plate on the table in front of him with a couple of eggs and a scoop of beans beside it.

"Coffee's on the stove."

Joe looked around for a mug and poured himself a coffee before sliding into the seat. Pa had always expected they wait for everyone to be seated before starting to eat, but his hunger got the better of him as he hoed into the eggs. Joe barely noticed as the man sat down across from him and began eating his own breakfast.

"Name's Jacob."

"Thanks, Jacob. I appreciate the food."

Jacob grinned at him as he watched the kid wolf down the plateful. "Can see that."


Six days had come and gone as the men tracked back and forth across the same ground. The two remaining bank robbers had insisted that his son was still alive last time they saw him, but Ben recognised desperate men when he saw them. To admit to killing the boy would put a noose around their necks.

"Come on, Pa. Let's go see how Adam's doin'?"

Hoss watched as his father stared at Joe's horse safely tucked in her place in the barn. They had brought her back the day before when Paul had finally agreed it was safe for Adam to be taken home. Ben jolted at his son's voice and turned towards the house. He still had another son who needed him.

Adam was awake when he heard boots on the stairs and he tried to shift upwards in the bed. He pulled a face at the pain, but managed to contain the groan by clenching his jaw tightly. Paul had told him he'd had to dig deep for the bullet and he would be feeling the effect of the surgery for some time to come. He badly wanted one of the pain draughts sitting on the bedside table, but he wouldn't touch it until he'd spoken with his father.

The door swung open and he knew without asking that they'd had no success. Hoss trailed in behind his father and the two of them looked wrung out.

"Pa?"

Ben shook his head as he sat down beside the bed. Adam had been rehashing the events of that day and still couldn't piece things together. The last clear memory he had was the man closest to him aiming the gun his way and threatening to shoot him before somebody screamed. He assumed it was Sarah, but after that there was nothing. Somehow he'd lost his little brother in the mayhem and he had no idea how.

The one thing that was crystal clear to him about that day was the fact Joe was so angry with him. There was so much he needed to say. So much he wished he could make Joe understand. He'd give his right arm to have taken Joe for that piece of pie instead of being in the bank. He'd lectured his little brother about so many things and all he wanted was another chance to tell the kid … Adam shuddered as he thought on what he would say. After all his lectures on being a man and growing up, Joe was still just a kid and he wondered if he'd ever get a chance to grow up.

"Son? Are you in pain?" Ben reached for Adam's arm as he saw his son flinch.

"I'm fine, Pa."

Fine.

None of them were fine and none of them would be until he brought his youngest son home. He just didn't know where to look next.


Jacob watched as the kid saddled up a horse. He clearly could have done it with his eyes closed. Somebody had taught him well and he wondered again just where he'd come from. So far, he only had a first name and the kid held his cards close to his chest. Couldn't blame him really.

"You ready yet?"

"Coming!"

He almost laughed as the kid swung up into the saddle. Oh, the energy of youth! Jacob tugged at his own horse's reins and wondered briefly just where his own youth had gone.

"We gotta get up to the herd today and bring down the calves for branding."

Joe had seen the brands packed in the saddlebags, but he didn't recognise them. He held back a sigh as he knew it would soon be branding time on the Ponderosa. Not that he was allowed to do anything more than round up the cattle. Nobody deemed him old enough to wrestle a calf to the ground and place the pine brand on its rump. That was a job for the men and he was just a kid. A stupid kid!

Joe tried to shake off the raw emotion as he followed Jacob along the trail. The Ponderosa would be one man down for this branding. He knew that Pa would get one of the hands to replace Adam on the job and anybody could ride the roundup. Guilt stabbed at his gut as he rode along and he tried to shift his thoughts to the work of the day.

Jacob had agreed to bunk and beans until after roundup with a vague maybe after that. It seemed he had already hired on a couple of part-time hands and they were already up with the herd. By the time they arrived at the northern end of Jacob's small ranch, he could see the herd and the hands milling around. They barely acknowledged him as Jacob made the introductions and he was just fine with that. The last thing he wanted to do was talk to anybody.