Inside Ben and Hoss were at the condense getting the gun belts on and preparing to leave. Adam quickly followed suit while Joe grabbed his hat and books.
"Well there you two are, I thought we were going to have to look for you," Ben said lightly, but one look at his two sons was enough to cause him to sigh. Both Adam and Joe looked fit to be tied, and Joe was glowing red.
Hoss noticed as well and sent a questioning glance to Adam but said nothing about it. Instead he scooped Joe up into a 'Hoss hug' and spun him slightly. "Ya take care Short Shanks and I'll be seeing ya real soon. I want ta hear all about them horses at Walter's, ya hear me?"
Joe gave his brother a weak smile as he wiggled free. When he was back on solid ground he said, "Sure thing Hoss. Ya keep safe too, right?"
"Sure thing," the big man said with his wide gap tooth grin and ruffled the boy's hair.
Satisfied Joe turned to get his hat but stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Joe," Ben said gently, "behave son, and no fighting. But above all, take care of yourself, alright?"
"Yes Sir," Joe mumbled starring at his boots, pretending not to see the glare that Adam was sending him.
"And Joe," Ben continued, "I love you son, and I'll be home soon."
"I love you too," Joe mumbled, and Ben winced because the reply seemed automatic.
Ben ruffled Joe's hair, saddened by the chillily-ness of the normally warm goodbyes. He watched as the boy shrugged on his favorite jacket and gathered his books and hat with little more then a backward glance at his brothers or father.
"Lil' Son hurry, Lil' Son be late fer school," Hop Sing called, now joining the family with Joe's lunch, "Here Lunch, hurry."
Joe gave Hop Sing a smile, knowing that the cook's fussing was his way of saying goodbye. He gave the small man a quick hug before turning to head out the door. He had just gotten it open and was about to exit when Ben called him back.
"Joseph, you haven't said goodbye to your brother."
With out thinking Joe replayed, "I said goodbye to Hoss," a comment that earned him a swat on the rear from his father, Joe spun wide eyed to face a glaring Ben.
"Enough sass young man, say goodbye to Adam," Ben ordered.
Joe blushed slightly, and backed up out the door and out of reach of his family. As he shut the door he called, without looking at him, "bye Adam," then was gone.
Ben shock his head as he stared at the now closed door, "That went well," he mumbled before turning to Adam. Adam was busy with his gun belt, a little hurt by Joe's actions, but not surprised. Ben waited for his son to finish and face him before he spoke;
"Did you have to fight with him right before we left?"
Adam just blushed and shrugged.