Chapter 9

He guessed that Adam was headed back to the Ponderosa. Escape from the ladies house had been a piece of cake. Sooner or later she had to let him out to the bathroom. The water closet was on the ground floor. Joe didn't feel bad about it, needs must.

Adam thought the world was as civilised and as straight laced as he was. Joe knew different. Adam needed him.

He rode into the yard just after dawn. It was chilly cold, a sheet of frost glistened on the ground as Joe jumped from Cochise's back and smacked his rump. The tired horse ambled into the barn. Joe was surprised that there were no ranch hands milling around. They were usually collecting water and filling the troughs at this hour. He was even more surprised to find the bunkhouse empty. With some trepidation he headed into the ranch house but relief took him as he noted his father sitting at his usual spot by the fire.

"Pa, it's freezing in here, you want me to get some logs?" Joe asked.

Ben didn't answer but continued to stare into the empty fire place.

Joe approached him. "Pa, I know you're angry but we couldn't help it. Adam was just talkin to that Fog fella and Sheriff Coffee locked him up, he did Pa. He didn't even ask Adam for his side of things."

Ben got up so suddenly, Jo took a step back.

"Where have you been?" He asked.

Joe took another step back. 'I was just tellin ye Pa. We were arrested because Adam was just talkin to that Fog fella."

"Where is the book, do you have it?"

"No." Joe shook his head. "Adam has it, Pa what's wrong?"

Joe never saw it coming. Ben lashed out knocking him to the ground. Joe cradled the side of his face, staring up in shock at the man he loved. Self preservation kicked in and he tried to crawl away as Ben approached again.

"I'll teach you to stay out all night," Ben snarled as he began rolling up his sleeves.

~o~

Adam's eyes flickered open. He looked up at a cold grey sky, he hadn't the remotest clue where he was. As he sat up familiar sights came to his vision bringing some relief. He was stretched out by the creek near home. Sport grazed on the long grass nearby. Adam was stiff as a board as he got to his feet and his clothes were damp. After a minute he staggered over to his horse, feeling disorientated. He had no clue how he had come to be here.

~o~

Adam arrived at the ranch house soon after. He frowned as he noted Cochise in the barn. He shook his head as he took the saddle from his back and began to brush him down as Sport waited patiently for his turn.

The door to the bunkhouse was swinging on its hinges in the wind. Adam fastened it shut and made his way into the house.

He was surprised to find the front room empty. He took a step forward, baffled as Joe was at the sight of the empty grate. He went to go in that direction but he found himself grabbing at the nearest furniture as a sudden surge overwhelmed him. The air rushed from his lungs as something powerful swept through him nearly knocking him from his feet. In that single moment he could feel a message of intense anxiety conveyed. In the very next moment it was gone. Adam steadied himself and taking a deep breath he went to move again but stopped. He frowned as a very familiar smell came to him. Just at that moment he got the overpowering scent of his father's cologne.

A sudden noise upstairs had Adam running up the steps two at a time. It had come from Joe's room and Adam frowned at the boys disobedience as he threw open his door. The words caught in his throat as he surveyed the scene. Joe was stood at the wash basin without his shirt. His skinny torso was coloured in dark bruises. His face was also coloured with bruises, a nasty gash prominent over his left eye.

Adam went to him. Taking his small face in his hand Adam surveyed the damage with a face of granite.

"It's not so bad," Joe tried to smile. "Shouldn't have stayed out all night. It's not as if I haven't been told that before."

"Who did this?" Adam asked.

"It doesn't matter Adam, really, leave it."

"Who did this," Adam yelled, his anger spilling over.

Joe's chin trembled slightly and his eyes began to fill up.

"Pa,"

For a moment Adam stared at him in confusion then a darkness came over his face and his eyes glinted.

"Stay up here," he told the boy in that quiet tone Adam took on when he was very angry.

"Adam, he was probably just worried, please Adam." Joe held on trying to keep him in the room.

Adam pulled from his grip.

He had one final look at his brothers beaten frame. Running a hand over the boys tight curls Adam spoke gently to him.

"Don't worry, I'll just talk to him but you need to stay up here ok?"

Joe nodded.

~o~

Ben was stood at the hearth and watched every step as Adam descended the stairs. Without hesitation Adam went and stood face to face with his father.

"You wanna tell me why you beat the kid half to death?" He asked.

"Where is the book?"

"What book, what are you talking about?" Adam pointed towards Joe's room.

"That was no tanning you gave. He's at least a hundred pounds lighter than you. Have you seen the state of him?. How bout we go a couple of rounds considering we're now beating on kin, or do you only pick on little boys."

Adam's face was scarlet with anger as he spoke but Ben's expression never changed.

"Do you have the book?" He asked again.

Adam's eyes narrowed. There was something very wrong. His father always exuded a warmth. It was like even when he was cross with them you could feel the love but that warmth was very absent from him now. As he surveyed his son coldly Adam could see that a light had gone from Ben's eyes. It was as if his very core was missing.

"I asked you about the book. We must have it."

He took a step towards Adam.

"You can tell Fog he can have it when he prizes it from my cold dead fingers."

Unlike Joe, Adam wasn't surprised at the assault. He was hit twice in the face before he took hold and grappled with his father. He defended himself but he would not hit out at this man. Although a shell of his former self Ben had all the strength of someone unafraid to inflict pain. In one violent surge, he shoved Adam backwards sending him backwards over a small table. Adam landed heavily, smacking his head on the concrete floor. Adam got back up scraping a sleeve across his face to wipe a streak of blood from his nose.

Laughter filled the air.

Fog stood at the door laughing heartily at the scene. "Have I come at a bad time?" He joked.

His followers surrounded Adam, one tried to take hold of him but he wrenched his arm free.

"You can not win young man, please realise that. You've done your best, you are to be commended but the deck you must admit is stacked in my favour. I could leave your father like that indefinitely. His true spirit cowering in a corner as his body works tirelessly to do my bidding. One word from you will put things to rights, please now, give me back the book."

Adam looked at his father, the man he loved more than life. He was no more than an empty shell staring into space. Reluctantly he reached into his back pocket and retrieved the book.

"Yes that's it," Fog smiled. "You know it makes..."

Fog stopped suddenly. His eyes seemed to grow wide in something resembling fear.

"I will be back for that book. You have it ready. This isn't over Cartwright." Fog made a hasty retreat leaving Adam holding the book. Adam stared after him in confusion.

"What's goin on?"

Adam turned as Hoss stood in his nightshirt at the foot of the stairs.

"Adam?"

Both brothers ran to pick Ben up from the floor.

"It's alright now Pa," Adam told him as he helped him onto a chair.

"No Adam, it isn't. I hurt Joe. I hurt Joe, Adam. Where is he," Ben clung desperately to Adam's shirt front ranting in near hysteria.

Joe stood at the foot of the stairs fidgeting nervously. "I'm sorry Pa, I didn't mean to make ye so angry," he said.

Despite his brothers efforts to keep him seated Ben got up and went to Joe throwing his arms around him. Joe was never comfortable with his father's tears but he patted his back and reassured him as Ben sobbed out his guilt and shame at what happened.