The boys are looking forward to taking Joe home. Let's hope they have a smooth, uneventful time of it.
Morning couldn't come around fast enough for Candy. A Candy who'd only managed to keep his eyes closed and sleep in short starts and stops until such time that the sun cracked above the horizon. Once it's light had started trickling in through the well curtained window it had been a decisive game over though and he found himself laying on his back, staring at the ceiling. Waiting for the local songbirds to wake up and keep him company.
Pleasantly surprised when the sweet trill of one such creature started up right outside the windowsill. After only a few minutes of waiting too.
So with the sound of bird calls and the occasional soft snore of his roommates for company, Candy hunkered down to wait for the official start of the day.
Which, it turned out, wasn't quite so far away as he'd thought. What with Adam waking at an ungodly hour, stretching some and sighing when several pops sounded from somewhere in his back, and asked Candy if eggs and ham would please.
"Sure, but what about Hoss?"
"He'd be happy with anything," Adam informed before pulling on his boots, donning his hat, and braving the early morning to order them some more room service.
Decidedly delicious breakfast done with, the three checked out of the hotel and retrieved Hoss's team and wagon from the livery. Paying a few days advance for them keeping Joe's team and the other wagon until they could make it back into town for them.
While Adam conducted business with the livery owner, Hoss oversaw the pulling around and hitching of the wagon, while Candy found himself standing just inside the barn, near the door, switching between watching one then the other of them. Not sure whether he ought to lend a hand to either.
"Psst," Candy heard from the shadows off to one side. Also just inside and near enough the exit.
"Huh?" He asked of what looked like a pint sized imp lurking in the shadows. Which scootched closer to the door when the ranchero in red stayed where he was.
"It is you, i'n't it?"
"Uh, come again?" Candy asked. Pretty sure he could make out a little human face with a button nose and no fewer than two missing front teeth, staring at him from not so far off.
"You're the mister who just about got hisself run over by that horse yesterday, i'n't ya?"
Candy blinked, shocked to be asked such a thing by such a... scamp. Maybe news traveled faster in town than he'd thought.
"Yep. It's you. You got a red shirt an' e'rything," the child informed him. Certainty in every syllable.
"How'd you hear about-"
"What about the other mister? The one threw hisself in front o' the horse? He dead, or just real hurt?"
Somehow, that it was a harmless child asking him those questions did nothing to stem the horror Candy felt at hearing them voiced so bluntly.
"He-Uh, he's definitely not..." The last word stayed unspoken. Stuck somewhere deep in his throat.
"Yer real worried, mister. Is it on account o' you love the other mister and you don' want 'im to die?"
"Joe ain't gonna..." Again the word stayed tamped down. Refusing to be used in the same sentence as his best friend's name.
"Don' worry; he loves you too. 'R else he wouldn't'a done what he done." Again said with the sort of self assuredness found only in the speech of small children.
And folks trying to sell snake oil.
"You got someplace you're s'posed to be?" Candy asked. Starting to wonder about the unattended nature of the rascal.
"Shh! Don't tell no one ya saw me," the child instructed. Glancing over to where Adam and the livery owner were wrapping up.
"Well, seein' as I never really seen ya, don't figure I could tell anyone I had," Candy said. Amused when the little one began backing along the wall, growing more and more a part of the shadows until the tyke about disappeared.
"Thanks, mister. You're alright."
And once again, Candy was standing alone by the barn door. Just in time for Adam to clap him on one shoulder and direct him for the nearly hitched wagon and away from the strange, clandestine encounter he'd just had.
If Candy noticed a small basket of carrots and apples with a few sugar cubes mixed in bouncing away from the livery, whoever it was spiriting it away completely hidden behind a low fence, he didn't say anything about it. Just smirked to himself until he remembered what it was the rest of the day had in store for them.
Their next stop was the mercantile. Where, sweet folks that they were, Jody and Amos had looked genuinely worried when Adam'd apprised them of the situation; the father and daughter team glancing to Hoss and Candy for confirmation before offering their condolences and support. And blankets.
When Adam'd gone on to explain that they would be taking Joe home in the back of the wagon, after filling it with their grain seed shipment, the mercantile folk had insisted they further cushion things with blankets that Jody and Amos had gone on to assure the boys could just plain borrow and 'return when they was done with 'em.'
The ranch folks took them up on the offer with much gratefulness and more than one thanking, which they repeated when Jody helped with loading even though there were three of them.
They rolled off soon as Jody, acting as Joe's body double, confirmed the nest of manmade support would suffice and hopped off wishing them the best of luck.
Within minutes, the three of them came to a stop outside the door that read, Rosebaum M.D. and, with a bracing breath, walked in hoping nothing negative was waiting for them. Anxious in spite of the knowledge that the doc would have sent for them if anything... 'serious' had transpired.
Candy almost chuckled when his eyes adjusted to the dimness and he registered the image of Joe stretched out on a cot, asleep and looking comfy. He couldn't hold back a small smile when the man currently out of his green jacket snuffled. To which all three of his visitors breathed a sigh of relief.
Joe was alive, sleeping like a babe, and going to be fine.
The sound of a footstep accompanied by the hiss of fabric against slatted wood drew their attention and Candy realized that the doctor who had just stood from her chair and was then coming around her desk had been sitting there, likely watching them, since they'd driven up.
"He's just had some Laudanum and should be asleep for a while." Said in place of your standard greeting. "It will help with the discomfort of travel," she explained. Before they could ask why she'd put him to sleep if they were going to need him to get in the back of their wagon in order to get him home.
"I'd keep in mind that he'll experience headaches for days if not weeks, and I don't want anyone shocked if he continues to be forgetful for a time," the doc explained as she gave her patient one last looking over. Finishing with a hand to his forehead to check for temperature.
"Given bedrest and good food, I see no reason he shouldn't make a full recovery."
"Well, alright then," Adam started. "You have our thanks and gratitude, Doctor. For all your help and your professional expertise," he said. Looking like he wasn't sure whether Doc Rosebaum wouldn't like a handshake.
"I thank you, but I am only grateful that your brother was not in more serious trouble. I wish him and your family a speedy recovery," she ended. Offering up one hand. Which Adam took in a shake with a relieved way about him.
"I'll have my husband come and help," she said with a quick motion indicating where Joe was sleeping.
"Much obliged, ma'am," said Hoss with an incline of his head.
The doc shot them a tiny smile before walking through to a back room, presumably to find the man who was about to lend them a hand moving a snoozing, full grown —albeit, rather small compared to the rest of his family— rancher into their wagon bed without causing the poor guy any further injury.
Good thing the dock had a stretcher.
So that's how they'd picked up and packed Joe for the trip home. Cocooned in the relative comfort of a shipment of grain seed and a collection of mismatched blankets. Hoss in the driver's seat, driving his own personal team, and Adam and Candy sitting around their injured passenger. Doing their best to pretend they were sitting so close because that was the only comfy place in the wagon and not because they were just plain worried.
"So... what happened, again?" Asked the guy who'd woken maybe halfway back to the ranch. Pawing at the stark white bandage around his head until Adam told him it was his friend; there mostly to keep his stitches clean on the trip.
"Well, it's like Hoss told you:" Adam started. "You slipped down the steps carrying a bag of grain seed, hit your head, and landed in horse droppings. Everyone in town was there; you can ask them when you're allowed back." Candy watched Joe scrutinize his oldest brother's face. Looking for the fib since he hadn't heard it.
Man, Adam was a good liar.
"Candy, is it just me or does this story change with each telling?" Joe asked with a scrutinizing look still leveled Adam's way.
"Oh, I don' know, Joe. It all happened s'fast, I barely knew what happened till the dust settled. But, the entire town was there. That part's the Lord's truth." Candy drew a cross over his heart to signify his sincerity, thinking the while that it was a good thing he knew how to avoid the truth without lying. 'Cause he was a terrible liar. Kinda like Joe himself. But he'd agreed to keep up the charade of misdirections until such time as Joe remembered the truth on his own.
Didn't wanna worry him with a story fraught with danger and intrigue if the guy couldn't remember whether he'd eaten breakfast.
"Uh-huh," Joe said, his quick glance around more disbelieving now than scrutinizing. "So, lemme get this straight. I slipped on some stairs, even though there wasn't any puddle?" His back seat company nodded. "Because I was carrying a big bucket- or, if Hoss's story's the accurate one, bag of seed grain, and couldn't see where I was goin'?" More nods. "Even though I've taken those stairs, arms piled to reach the sky, a hundred times in my life and never missed a one before today?" Two heads bobbed, but Candy took it upon himself to speak up.
"Uh, yesterday's when it happened, Joe. And we're all just glad you're okay."
"Truer words never spoken," Hoss confirmed from the driver's seat. Flicking the reigns to get his team straightened out.
"Ha!" Said Joe, no doubt sure he'd caught them in a lie this time.
"Doc Rosebaum wanted to keep you for 'observation'. Overnight." Again from the big brother in the front.
"So we all stayed the night and finished loading in the morning. Hence the relative early hour of our return," again said by the best liar among them. Adam that time not needing to draw on his enviable gift. On account of that actually being what happened.
"Wait. When did this happen then?" Joe asked, pointing at his head.
Candy glanced at Adam, successfully fending off a creeping sense of worry after the reassuring head tilt it got him.
Doc hadn't been exaggerating about the forgetfulness.
"Oh, about this time yesterday," Adam said, as if the three of them hadn't spent the majority of the intervening time sick with worry. Even Hoss, the one out of them with the strongest stomach, had barely been able to eat.
"Uh-huh. A-and I slept all day, all night, and all morning?" Joe asked, counting off on the fingers of one hand. Looking mildly surprised when he realized he wasn't wearing his gloves.
"More or less. Dr. Rosebaum gave you laudanum, and a few stitches," Adam said with a shrug. As if those were the sorts of things that often happened on a supply trip to town.
"A-and all this because I slipped on a few steps?" Came the incredulous inquiry.
"You were carrying a cumbersome crate," Adam admonished.
"Huh. And why don't I remember any of this?" Joe asked. Worryingly seeming not to notice the discrepancy that time.
"Well, like Adam said: You bonked yer noggin' pretty good back there, Joe," Candy offered. Disappointed when his friend's name almost caught somewhere in his throat. Coming out with a hint of a croak.
Ears perking, Joe looked straight at him with question evident in the set of his brows.
"Trail dust," Candy said with an off handed spit off the wagon's side. Glad when Joe made a satisfied expression and went back to asking why it was they were sitting in the back of the wagon this fine day.
To Candy's relief, Joe couldn't keep his eyes open much longer and had ended up napping until the main house came into sight. Leaving plenty of time for the other two in the cart to sit and stare blankly at the passing scenery and generally wish non of this was actually happening.
Joe was going to be fine. Candy was pretty sure every one of them was thinking exactly that. He only wondered whether it was circling around and around in their heads the way it was for him. A promise he needed to believe in and was definitely holding the universe to.
Soon as they pulled up in front of the main house and the wagon stopped swaying, Ben Cartwright was there. Head and shoulders poking over the side closest where he'd been standing on the porch, and eyes going wide with equal parts appall and relief.
"Joseph?"
"Hi, Pa," Joe said with a smile Candy could tell he'd mustered specifically for his worried father, even as he struggled to help his brother and his best friend get his feet under him. Then help him navigate the short though perilous distance to the rear of the cart.
Once there, Adam hopped down while Candy helped Joe to sit with his legs dangling over the wagon's rear edge, where the eldest Cartwright brother got ahold of the youngest and all but hefted him to a stand.
Ben was by his son's the moment Joe's boots hit dirt. "Joseph? Are you- How are you feeling, son?"
At the father's suddenly extra worried tone, Candy studied what of Joe's face he could see from his vantage up on the tail of the wagon. It looked like Joe had gone several shades paler. Enough so to rival the bandage around his head.
"Uh, you might wanna step back," the worrying words Joe managed to his pa, who, at the sight and sound of his youngest doubling over and heaving the contents of his stomach, appeared to be caught in the same sharp pang of helplessness Candy found himself fighting. Especially with it looking like Joe only avoided collapsing because Adam hadn't let go of him through the entire ordeal.
At the commotion, Hoss hurried down from the driver's seat and around the wagon to stand with his anxious family. Stepping in as Joe finished with his unfortunate deposit to pick the ailing guy up into his arms and carry him inside the house. All with the deliberation and care of motion you might expect reserved for handling either the exceedingly young or those who were fortunate enough to have reached an advanced age.
To a Candy who hadn't yet climbed off the back of the wagon, feeling rooted to the spot for the second time in two days, the most worrying thing about watching his best friend being swept away, was that Joe didn't put up a fuss.
No demands to 'put me down' and nothing about being old enough to walk himself to bed.
Nothing but a pair of eyes shut tight against a world that seemed out to get him and a series of small, unintentional sounds of pain.
Feeling as though he might lose his own breakfast, Candy stumbled off the end of the wagon bed and did his best to keep his feet as he hit dirt and swallowed hard. Not interested in adding to the puddle of vomit quickly being soaked up by the thirsty ground by the porch.
And here they'd all been thinking getting home would be a relief, Candy thought with a defeated shake of his head. At least glad that his stomach was settling.
A few deep breaths doing wonders to clear his head, Candy took a last glance at the rig, complete with a pair of hitched horses and a load of supplies, and made for the front door. Aware that someone would notice and do something about it eventually.
Candy hung his hat soon as he walked through the door, then moved to join an Adam who was occupying himself with staring at the middle distance, standing just this side of the living room.
"Joe?" Candy asked, knowing it was likely the only syllable on either of their minds.
"They're getting him settled in," Adam said with a nod indicating the guest room door. "Hop Sing and Pa."
"Hoss?" Candy asked. Curious how the move had gone but staying where he was out of respect for the bonds of family.
A family which Adam had only yesterday informed him he was now part of. A concept he hadn't had time to even begin to wrap his head around.
"He was there for the injury assessment. At the doctor's. He's explaining it all to them. So they don't come across any... worrying surprises," Adam said. Hands on his hips and head bowed in what appeared to be a full body expression of deep frustration.
"Mm," Candy hummed. "Uh, about out there," he started. Indicating the front of the house. "Why- Is that- Were we expecting something like that?" Candy asked. Lips pursed as he tried not to press for a speedy response.
"It's the knock to the head. As well as the laudanum. Either can make you nauseous. Both together?" Adam informed with a shoulder hitching sigh.
"Is it gonna stay like that?"
Adam readjusted his stance before answering. "It shouldn't come to that, now that he's in bed. And staying there." The last few words accompanied by a wry tilt to one eyebrow and a slight softening of black clad shoulders.
"He's not gonna like that," Candy commented. Fully aware he was pointing out the obvious.
"Good thing he's going to be doing a lot of sleeping then," said Adam, looking like the conversation just might have been agreeing with him. If that quirk at the corners of his mouth were any indication.
"We should be so lucky," Candy said. Managing a smirk as he did.
Both straightened and pointed their eyes front when a distracted Hoss exited the guest room. Closing the door with a soft, offhanded motion as he did.
"How is he?" Adam asked. Words coming out quieter than Candy'd ever heard the man speak.
Hoss started with a big sigh, moving to sit in an armchair before answering. "That, uh- The ride back took a lot outta him. He's confused as ever, and his head hurts, but Pa an' Hop Sing got him in bed and he's resting now," he said. Mostly looking at his own hands or the floor under the coffee table.
"Only needed to, uh, 'upchuck' the once," he added, after a short pause.
"That's fortunate," Adam said. Perhaps reflexively, Candy thought when he glanced over and saw the tight line of the eldest brother's mouth.
"I s'pose," Hoss agreed. Heart not in it. Mind occupied elsewhere.
Candy stood there, watching the two men who's moods had done nothing but sour since breakfast and doubly so since arriving back at the house. Torn between following suit, or somehow pulling himself up by his proverbial bootstraps and mustering some comforting words.
He was saved from making such a decision by the slight creak of the door behind him reopening and two caretakers walking out into the living space. Joining the sad excuse for a party with similarly low spirits.
"Joseph's doing fine," started the three times father. Grim expression belying the encouraging statement. "I got your message, Adam. Thank you for sending advanced word," Ben said with a head tip in his eldest's direction.
"'Course, Pa,"
"We wouldn't leave you in the dark," Hoss and Adam assured. Respectively.
"I just- I can't wrap my head around something like that happening in town," Ben went on. Rightfully vexed. Glancing at Hop Sing to his side as the chef gave the group a silent nod and took off in the direction of the kitchen.
"How did it happen again?" Ben asked. Eyes flitting between the three still standing and sitting about the living space. Coming to rest on Candy, to the ranchero's discomfort.
"Uh, well, I don't rightly know what exactly-"
"Candy was nearly run over by someone on a horse," Adam supplied. Drawing those beseeching, authoritative eyes from the poor, intimidated saddle tramp. "From what I heard, and saw, it seemed an intentional attack and that Joe saw it coming before anyone else. Got there in the nick of time," Adam finished, putting a hand on Candy's shoulder, in a gesture of both sympathy and support.
In a blink, Ben's eyes were back on Candy, a look hiding around the edges that Candy lacked the personal experience dealing with the man to decipher. "That would explain why he was asking whether you were okay."
"Asked that at the doctor's too. More'n once," Hoss corroborated. Slumping back in the armchair and looking like he had no intention of moving any time soon.
No one spoke for a beat. Naturally leaving space for thoughts to organize themselves and for recent events to process.
Before any more talking took place though, Hop Sing rejoined the group, laden with a tray of what appeared to be tea for one.
"Tea for Little Joe stomach. Drink at least one cup. You give him," he insisted. Pushing the tray into Candy's unprepared arms. "No leave till Hop Sing say so."
So nodding assent, Candy allowed himself to be shoved through the door. Entertained by the firm manner in which it was shut behind him.
Concentrating on not dropping anything off the tray, the ranch hand who'd never gone to finishing school walked across to the side table by the bed and set it down. Nary a drop spilled.
"The world quit spinnin' yet?" Candy asked in a quiet yet playful voice.
"I hope not," Joe replied. More exhaustion mixed in than Candy felt comfortable hearing.
Pretending his friend's present state wasn't worrying him, Candy poured out a fancy little cup of tea. Pleasantly surprised when a stray drop landed on the back of one hand and turned out to be barely over warm.
Hop Sing was a genius.
"Oh, poor choice of words then. Has the room stopped spinnin'?" Candy amended. Comforted that Joe was at least up to being a little contrary.
The guy in the bed cracked one eye open and left it that way. "More 'r less."
"Mm. Well that's half of it. Hop Sing said this'd take care of the rest," Candy said, brandishing the not hot cup of tea within easy reach of his friend's good hand.
"I'm not drinking that."
"Oh, yes you are," Candy informed. Glad when it got Joe's other eye open. "'Cause if'n ya don't, Hop Sing'll have my ears."
Joe managed a scoff. "Fine. If it'll save your precious ears."
Candy handed over the cup and hovered until it was drained and back in his hands and set safely on the tray. Not sure what sad fate would befall him if he returned the delicate thing shattered.
"Huh. That is better," Joe admitted. All of three seconds before his eyes fluttered, shuttered, and stayed that way.
Wisely, Candy did exactly as the demanding Hop Sing had told him to and didn't leave Joe's company. Instead taking the seat not far from the bed and making himself comfortable. Or, as comfortable as he could get himself sitting in a room with the guy who'd taken a horse to the... entire body for him.
As that cold, hard reality hit him anew, Candy found himself batting back against an unexpected swell of... emotions. Ones he'd been fighting against, bargaining with, and attempting to ignore ever since he'd popped out of the dirt on that main road through town and seen Joe laying where he'd been standing only a moment before. Where Candy'd been meant to take what was most certainly some fool's attempt at his life.
Where Joe'd nearly-
Nope. Not thinking about that again, Candy refocused his eyes on the Joe before him. The Joe who Adam, Hoss, and he had picked up from the doctor's office and brought home safe and mostly sound and who'd fallen asleep right before his eyes. Eyes that themselves were beginning to droop. One's that Candy couldn't find a good reason to keep open anyway.
So, watching his friend sleep, he simply slouched lower and gave a yawn. Closing his eyes to the sound of his roommate snuffling through some pleasant dream. Hoping that any he might have would similarly also be free of... hell horses.
Maybe something, he thought with a smile, to do with that cozy place he and Joe'd had that picnic. The little lake with the ducklings. Back before everything had gone to-
Yeah. Something nice like that.
And so, as the sun rolled its way around towards evening and then night, the room had not one, but two exhausted, sleeping guests.
Aww, poor Candy barely got a wink of shut eye the night before, so he passed right out in the chair. Can anyone say 'slumber party'?
But seriously, it's good everyone got home safe and sound. And that Hop Sing knows his way around a medicine cabinet!