xxx

Hoss rode into the yard, smiling down at Adam when he dismounted.

"I see ya got yaself a place in the sun, brother," he said while he fastened Chubb's reins, then went over to his brother on the porch.

'Adam looked happy,' he thought when he glanced at him. Obviously freshly bathed, his jet-black hair gleamed in the sun, and wet curls still clung to his neck. His face was relaxed, his eyes were alight with life.

Hoss clapped him lightly on the shoulder, then sat down next to Adam and reached with one hand for the book open in Adam's lap.

"Becky allowed you to read?" he asked teasingly and laughed when he saw Adam's raised brow. The sight delighted him. It had been a long time since he had seen his brother so relaxed; and that he even had a book with him indicated that Adam was indeed better. Hoss felt his eyes moisten and blinked hastily.

"Pa brought you out?"

"He and HopSing," Adam shook his head in wonderment.
"Don't ask how they did it."

He grinned at Hoss.

"Stumbled over each other, too," he confided in a whisper.

Hoss snorted amusedly. "And you enjoyed it, of course."

"Of course."

With satisfaction, Hoss noted the gleam in his brother's amber eyes. Then, with a twitch of his nose, he inhaled deeply- his face instantly dissolving into a beatific smile.

"Mmmh, smell that? Come on, brother, dinner's ready."

Not even taking notice of the twinkling in Adam's eyes, he put down Adam's book and swiftly pulled back the blanket that covered his brother. Only when his eyes fell on the tight bandage on Adam's thigh which the bear had lacerated four weeks earlier, he hesitated.

Adam reached out his hand.

"Help me up?" he asked.

Knowing how weak his brother still was from the fever that had raged in his body for the best part of those four weeks, Hoss knelt down and, putting his shoulder under Adam's armpit, carefully pulled him up. He was happy to see just a slight frown on his brother's brow, remembering how not too long ago he had winced every time they had to touch him.

"All right?" Hoss asked nevertheless, when Adam tightened his grip on his shoulder, but his brother just flashed him a grin.

"Perfect."

Slowly, step after step, they approached the front door, but before they could reach for the handle, the door was opened from the inside.

Surprised Rebecca stared at the men in front of her, then raised her brows.

"Oh good, you're coming," she said when she recovered from her shock. "Ready for dinner?"

Hoss just nodded eagerly, eyes intent on the floor while he tried to get Adam through the door frame without banging his hip. Adam, however, looked straight at Rebecca, until she blushed. When he finally answered, his voice was husky.

"Ah, I'm ready. Don't worry."

Blushing furiously, too, Hoss tried to look anywhere but his brother, but when he finally lifted his eyes, Adam winked at him.

"Let's go inside, shall we?"

"Anything you say, brother," Hoss mumbled under his breath, but he now knew his brother was indeed better - and more than ready for his life. He smiled. Dinner was waiting.

xxx

the end