Joe had no idea where they had stopped but he could hear the sounds as his brothers dismounted and the shuffling of the horse hooves. When Joe released Maisie's reins, he could feel that she had dropped her head and could hear the grass being pulled up as she cropped it.

"C'mon, Joe," Hoss called. "Get down from there."

Joe did. Dismounting was almost as frightening as mounting had been but he managed to steady himself. The ground was uneven and sloped slightly and he could hear the slip of water as it met the shore. They were at a lake but what lake he didn't know. He calculated how long they had ridden and the speed and decided they must be at Lake Tahoe. Joe suddenly stopped when he heard Adam's voice near him.

"Take my arm," Adam said. Joe reached out and held lightly onto Adam's crooked elbow and Adam led him down the gentle slope to the water's edge where Hoss gave him a handful of oval, flat stones.

"What're these for?" Joe asked.

"What do you think?" Hoss said. "Skippin' stones."

And Joe grinned; he had always been good at that. He held the stones in one hand while with the other, he chose one and then, stepping closer to the sound of the water, he shifted the stone in his fingers and bending slightly, sent one flying. He heard a splash.

"Don't just throw it in," Adam said, stepping closer to Joe. "Move closer to the water." Joe took Adam's elbow and Adam led him closer. "Now sit down-there's a boulder behind you, and pull off your boots and roll up the pants' legs."

"You and Hoss haven't done it yet," Joe stated. Joe didn't want to be made a fool if his brothers were planning some kind of joke on him.

"You don't know that," Hoss said.

"Yes, I do because there would have been this overwhelming stench if you'd pulled off your boots and the birds would have fallen out of the trees dead as stones."

Adam laughed and Hoss sputtered. He went over to Joe and scooped him up. "How'd you like a bath now?" Hoss said. "You ain't no rose yourself, you know!"

"Put me down, you big ox!" Joe didn't know if he was afraid of being thrown into the water or not. In a way, it would be pleasant to feel the chilly water surround him and startle his senses.

"What you think Adam? Think I oughta toss little brother here in the lake?"

"I don't know," Adam said. "Personally, you need the bath more than he does."

Hoss stood Joe down and Joe staggered a bit until he stabilized himself. "You think 'cause you're some big city dude now that you can just criticize Joe and me, huh?" What about it, Joe? Think we oughta throw oldest brother in the drink?"

"Now, now, just hold on, you two." Adam backed up and Hoss approached him, Joe holding onto Hoss' belt and following behind, grinning. "We just came out to skip some stones, remember? Just a little fun with no one getting wet—especially me."

"Well now, that's true," Hoss said. "Joe, I guess we'll have to baptize oldest brother later. Now let's take off our boots and get back to skippin' stones."

The three men pulled off their boots and socks and rolled up their pants' legs. Wading into the water, they took turns skipping the rocks and after a few tries, Joe found that his talent for skipping stones came back and by listening carefully, he could tell how many skips he had made, his grandest amount reaching seven skips.

"Dang you, Joe," Hoss said. "Next time, I'm gonna make you find your own stones."

And on the ride home, Joe felt happier than he had in a long time and he also realized that he was relaxed and grinning like a fool, enjoying the sun on his face and the rhythm of the horse's gait and the talk and jokes with his brothers. It was odd, he considered, how when he thought back, that his happiest moments in his life were with his brothers, Adam and Hoss. Others—outsiders-might see them scrapping with one another, arguing and insulting each another but it wasn't like that at all; that behavior just reinforced their bond. The times they had spent hunting together or drinking together—even with the disparity in their ages—were the best times of all as far as Joe was concerned.

Joe thought about the women in his past, including Sally Morris, and how wonderful it had been all those times but those times weren't the same as this exultant joy of being oneself with people who knew what a jackass you could be and still loved you—and always would. That was the one truism in his life and Adam was right and so was Miss Dobbs. Joe knew his family loved him greatly and that he would never be alone in his struggles. Not as long as he had his family.

Dinner was the most cheerful meal they had eaten since Joe lost his sight. Actually, Joe thought, the happiest meal since Adam left. He reveled in oldest brother's snide humor and his deep voice and that night Adam played his guitar and they all sat around and sang. Joe kept time with the tapping of his toe and slapping a hand on his thigh. Jamie sat and watched, amazed. He had never seen anything like this before and even Hop Sing came out and clapped his hands in time to the music, a broad grin on his face, and all the songs were sprightly and happy—no sad songs tonight Ben had said.

"How about a dance, Miss Dobbs?" Joe said. Suddenly everyone went quiet. "I didn't mean with me—why I'd do nothing but step on your feet and I sure can't lead. How 'bout you, Pa? Why don't you take Miss Dobbs for a turn on the floor?"

"Yeah, Pa," Hoss said. "Don't you think so, Adam? Been a long time since Pa went dancin'."

"I think that Pa could do with a little exercise," Adam said looking to Hoss, "but I do have to warn you, Miss Dobbs, my father is quite the light-footed stepper. As old as he is, he can still dance the night away and I've witnessed more than one woman fall madly in love with him after a few spins in his arms."

Ben blushed. "All right, Adam. That'll be enough." Ben looked around the room at the grinning faces.

"You dance, Mistah Ben," Hop Sing said. "Need to work off big dinner."

"I don't need anyone's encouragement to ask a beautiful woman to dance—how about it, Miss Dobbs? Will you do me the honor?"

"I would be delighted." Miss Dobbs smiled gently and put out a hand which Ben gently took in his and when she stood, he slipped one arm around her waist while the others moved back the furniture to give them room.

Adam played "Shady Grove" as he, Hoss and Joe sang the words. They all smiled and laughed while Ben danced with Miss Dobbs who followed the powerful man's lead and Jamie had never seen such fun at the Ponderosa. And Joe couldn't stop grinning; it had been a wonderful day. He was happy—gloriously happy. Adam was right—life was worth living no matter what.

TBC