Chapter 4

Joe was feeling pleased with himself. His evening with Jenny had gone well - she had danced as many dances with him as was seemly and had allowed him a chaste kiss on the cheek when he'd taken her home. He had even managed to remember a line of poetry he'd found in one of Adam's books and he'd tried it out when they'd strolled outside to take a little break from the dancing and get some air. The dewy-eyed look she'd rewarded him with had him considering memorizing the whole thing. He hadn't had too much to drink, hadn't gotten into a single fight, and now he had good news for his father.

He hailed Ben to catch his eye, then rode out to meet him. "Say, Pa, good news - Perkins found over eighty head trapped in a box canyon on the southern rim. That only leaves a dozen or so unaccounted for."

"That is good news, son. We're making good progress moving the herds, too, though I could wish it would go a little faster. Don't like the look of that sky. Hoss is in town trying to hire a couple of more men and Adam should be home late today or tomorrow, so I suppose we'll make up the time then."

Joe shook his head. "You might not want to count on Adam right away, Pa - from the looks of those hills, they're havin' some snow up there - likely to slow him down."

Ben turned to frown at the hills. Joe was right - they had developed white blankets some time during the night.

He stared so long that Joe reached out to touch his arm. "Hey, Pa, it's just a little snow. Adam knows what he's doing."

"There aren't that many opportunities for shelter up there. Even the best woodsmen can be taken by surprise. I wouldn't mind going up as far as the Pass to meet him."

"Pa, Adam's away and you just hired extra men - what kinda sense would it make for us to lose you, too? And Adam'll be all prickly if you start chasin' after him like a nursemaid."

Ben smiled a little. "True." He fussed with his reins. "Check among the men when you get the chance and see if any of them happen to know the status of the weather up there. I'd at least like to have an idea of when to expect him."

"I'll ask around, Pa. And I'll get this herd moved down by tonight."

Ben gave his youngest son a warm glance. Joe could be heedless sometimes, but at other times, like this, he was such a thoughtful boy. "Thank you, son. If you could keep things moving down here until your brother returns from town, I'd appreciate it. I've got to go check on Williams and his crew."

000

"Say, Hoss - I need to talk to you."

Hoss turned from finishing his task of settling the three new hands he'd hired in the bunkhouse. "Yeah? What is it, Joe?"

Joe grabbed his sleeve and led him toward the barn.

"Shoot, Joe - cain't we talk in the house? I'm starved!"

"I don't want Pa to hear. Not yet. You notice it's been snowing up in the hills where Adam is?"

Hoss pushed his hat back on his head thoughtfully. "Cain't say that I have. But then, I ain't had much cause to look thataway. Why?"

"Well, Carter tells me his brother turned around and came back from that way yesterday without finishin' his trip because the weather was so bad. Said it looked like it was buildin' up to a real blizzard, and that the Pass wasn't actually impassable, but could be if it kept up for a couple days."

"Huh." Hoss scratched his head. "Reckon we should tell Pa?"

"That's what I wanted to ask you. He's already worried some and I don't wanna worry him more for nothin', but he asked me to ask around about the weather and I did. I don't wanna lie to him, either."

Hoss pondered, then shook his head. "Reckon there's no point in tryin' ta keep it from him, then. He'll just ask an' find out fer hisself if we don't tell 'im."

Joe squirmed. "Don't suppose you'd like to tell 'im?"

"Now, Joe, he asked you to find out an' ya did. I figger it's your job to see this thing through. He'll worry fer a minute, maybe, but he knows ol' Adam can take care of hisself."

"Sometimes I don't think he knows any of us can take care of ourselves."

"Well, you can tell him over dinner." He pondered a moment more. "Better wait fer dessert."

000

Joe waited until well beyond dessert, despite the meaningful glances Hoss kept shooting him. He told himself he'd tell Pa while he had his brandy, then while he sat by the fire, then just before he went to bed.

He was contemplating telling him at breakfast so as not to interfere with his night's rest when his father startled him by asking "Well, Joseph. You did a fine job of moving those animals. Were you able to find out anything about this weather in the hills?"

Joe swallowed. "Y-yes, Pa."

Ben waited expectantly.

"Carter's brother was riding up into 'em yesterday and had to turn back cause o' the snow. Said he thought there was a blizzard startin'. Course - " he added hastily, "he doesn't know for sure."

Ben's brows lowered. "A blizzard," he said slowly.

"He doesn't know fer sure, Pa," Hoss repeated. "Personally, I think them Carters tend ta exaggerate."

Ben nodded absently. "Pass still open?"

"For now. It's rough going, but it's open. He thought if it kept up, though, it could close."

Ben blew out his breath thoughtfully. "Well, we know that Adam didn't find much in the way of stock up there, because we found them down here. So if the weather is fairly manageable, he should be back in a day or so. If the weather is rough, hopefully he's holed up someplace until it passes. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

Hoss and Joe exchanged relieved glances.

"I was afraid you'd be worried, Pa."

Ben shrugged. "You boys are grown men. You know what you're doing by now."

Hoss smiled at Joe triumphantly. "See? What did I tell ya, Joe."

Ben closed his book. "Well, it's been a long day and I'm going to bed. I'll see you boys at breakfast. Don't stay up too late." He strolled up the staircase and into his room, closing the door carefully behind him.

Without turning on a lantern, he moved to the window and looked out at the night sky, too overcast to show moon or stars. And while he was looking he began a quiet prayer for his son's safety.

000

Hoss and Joe watched him go in silence. After a minute Hoss said, "Well, that weren't so bad."

"No," Joe agreed. "That wasn't bad at all. You reckon he's worried?"

Hoss pursed his lips a moment and nodded. "Yup. He's worried."

Joe hesitated, then blurted, "Hoss, you figure Adam's okay?"

Hoss yawned and stretched, thinking about his answer. "Well, Shortshanks," he said at last, "You know what Adam always says. The only way ta hurt him…"

"Is to kill him," Joe finished with a laugh. "Guess he's right."

Then Joe's smile faded abruptly. Suddenly, somehow, that didn't sound comforting at all.

TBC

Well, faust, I'm glad you enjoy giving detailed reviews, because they certainly are a treat for me to read! I agree it's hard for parents to learn when to remain silent: do we ever really learn that? And I love the way the brothers care for each other, too - not in sappy words, necessarily, since they are afterall a family of men, but in actions.