VI.
"Joe!"
Adam stared at his brother. He'd known Joe since the day he was born, and Adam could assess the younger man's mood in a second. He'd seen Joe hurt, mad, angry, hungry, sleepy, and knocking on Death's door. But he'd never, ever seen him with that degree of fury on his handsome face.
Adam had never before been scared of Joe Cartwright.
"I've been looking for you," said Adam.
"Sure you have," growled Joe, his eyes narrowing. His expression did not change.
"I have, Little Joe," said Adam calmly. "There's something I need to tell you…"
Joe wasn't listening. "Brother," he said, making the word sound like an insult, "I'm taking you to the Sheriff."
That suggestion sounded pretty good; the Sheriff could clear everything up. Besides, it was better than just standing there in the alley like they were doing now. But somehow Adam knew Joe couldn't wait that long to hear the truth. Adam's little brother was being slowly eaten from the inside. Like Frank Lee had been eaten up until the hate showed in his face and his eyes: the hate for the world. If he could, Adam had to set the record straight. Now.
"Okay, Joe," he said soothingly. "But first… First I need to tell you something."
Joe's expression slowly morphed. It became cold and hard, a mask, and seemed to be frozen onto him. But he did not respond, so Adam took that as the closest he would get to an invitation to proceed with what he had to say.
"Joe," he said, repeating the name again, hoping to melt his brother's mask. "About Pa…"
Joe hit him. Adam wasn't expecting his brother to haul off and punch him in the jaw, but that's what he did. Staggering backward, Adam fell against a wall of a building and gaped at Joe.
His brother's face was still hard, but there were tears in his eyes. "Shut up," he growled through clenched teeth. He struck again.
Adam ducked but didn't retaliate; there was no need to make Joe angrier. Soon Little Joe would get ahold of himself and stop.
But Joe had finally snapped after days of anguish, and he was not going to calm down. Another blow caught Adam's ear; the older man bit back a yelp.
Adam ducked to the back of the alley to avoid Joe's furious attacks, nearly tripping over a crate. "Joe!" he yelled. "Cut it out!"
Tears were now running down Little Joe's face. He lashed out again, as though hurting Adam would make him, somehow, hurt less.
Adam caught the punch before it landed. Hoping desperately to make Joe come to his senses and stop the beating, Adam hit him back, just once. He wasn't quite sure how it happened, but suddenly he was sprawled on the dusty ground and Joe was standing over him, his gun drawn and cocked. The very air around them seemed to freeze in place.
Meanwhile, Hoss was helping a sleepy Beth down from a horse.
She yawned. "I guess we should find Adam or Joe…or both."
Hoss wiped his hands on his vest and looked around. "Yes ma'am, Miss Rawls, but I don't rightly know where to start."
She sighed, making herself wake up fully. "How about a saloon?" Under her breath she added, "Men are always in saloons."
"That's as good a place to start as any," agreed Hoss, and she led the way to the nearest one. When they reached the door, though, he tried to keep her out.
"Ma'am, that ain't no place for a lady."
Beth laughed. "Hoss, I work in one. It's okay." She pushed her way inside, followed by one humiliated Cartwright.
After a quick look around, Beth decided that neither man she wanted was here, just a tired-looking man and a sick-looking drunk. Disappointed, she turned to go, but a vivacious girl in a red dress stopped her.
"You lookin' for someone?" she asked kindly.
Hoss stepped up. "Yes'm, my brothers. A smallish fellow with curly brown hair and a dark-haired, bigger man."
The girl nodded thoughtfully. "The dark-haired one – serious fellow with a dark shirt and hat?"
"Yes," Beth said.
"Well, sure's shooting I saw him. He wasn't very talkative. But it's no wonder, after killing that fellow and all."
Beth's stomach plummeted. She felt suddenly light-headed. "What fellow?"
The girl shrugged. "I don't know a thing about it. Ask Doc over yonder. Doc!"
The tired man looked up.
"These two wanna know about the fellow that was killed."
The doctor stood and made his way over. "A man called him Francis Lee," he said. "Are you two his family?"
Beth began breathing again. "No, sir," she said. "We're looking for the man who shot him."
The doctor looked anxious. "It was self-defense."
"We know. He's a friend of ours, a dark-clothed man."
The doctor smiled, relieved. "He left here not long ago. Said he was going to be at the hotel."
Beth nodded. "Thank you, doctor."
The doctor tipped his hat. "No trouble, ma'am." He went back to sit at the bar.
"Come on, Hoss, let's go get Adam," said Beth, and she turned again to leave.
"You come back now, hear, handsome?" laughed the rosy saloon girl.
Hoss tipped his hat and they were gone, on their way to the hotel.
In the alley, Adam's chest constricted until he couldn't breathe. No. His little brother was not standing there pointing a gun at him. It wasn't possible.
Gone were the tears, but there was a manic gleam in Joe's bright eyes.
"Joe. Don't," warned Adam.
"Shut up," said Joe, his voice devoid of emotion. "You killed my father."
Adam couldn't remember ever being so afraid. He'd had many guns pointed at him, numerous brushes with death, and more than one rope put around his neck. All of that terror put together couldn't equal this, because Adam knew that if that gun went off, Joe would never get over it. He'd never forgive himself if he killed Adam, especially once he discovered Pa was alive. Not that Joe would have long to reflect over it anyway – he'd probably be hung.
Hung? Oh, no, not my brother, no, he prayed. Don't let him pull that trigger. The thought of Joe, falling through the trapdoor where everyone could see him, everyone could hear his neck snap as his body jerked to a stop, made him sick. Oh, how Pa would grieve.
"You killed Pa," repeated Joe, softer now.
Pa would only have one son left. Adam had to do something. But what could he do, here on the ground? What a tragic end the Cartwright family would come to, all thanks to Adam's stupid plan.
"Joe," he started. He had to say something, something wise enough to make Joe stop. Something had to make Joe rethink this plan of action. Adam settled for: "Please."
An electrical current couldn't have shocked Joe more. Joe's older brother had never begged in his life. Not when that lunatic Kane tortured him, not when he'd been an outcast for simply telling the truth. Even when Adam had a rope around his neck for a murder he didn't commit, he'd kept his mouth shut. The only time he used the word 'please' was in a sentence like, 'Joe, please pass the eggs.' Adam did not beg. And yet he just had, because he wanted to save his little brother from the worst mistake of his life.
Joe gawked, hardly believing his ears, and the crazy light slowly left his eyes. And then he put his gun up.
Adam's body relaxed. Slowly, while Joe watched, he got to his feet. The world began to spin on its axis again.
"Adam!" yelled a high-pitched voice, and suddenly Beth was there, throwing herself at him.
"Joe," called Hoss, entering the alley. "Joe, there you are."
"Hoss," sighed Joe heavily, hanging his head. "I found Adam."
"So I see," said Hoss. "Where have you been? Pa's worried sick."
Joe's head snapped up. He stared at Hoss, and then turned his head to look at Adam. "Pa," he mouthed wordlessly.
Adam nodded. "I was trying to tell you. Pa was going to tell you, but he didn't get a chance. The whole thing was a set up. I'll explain later, with Pa's help. You can get the Sheriff here to telegram Roy if you don't believe me."
Joe looked as though the weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders. Then it came crashing back down. "He's alive…and I – I… " His hand went to his gun and he looked ill. What had he almost done? His face spoke volumes, but all he said was, "Thank you, brother." The word wasn't an insult any more, but a term of endearment.
Adam smiled wearily. "Don't mention it. It's my job to keep you from doing something stupid." He paused. "But really, don't mention any of it to anyone." He looked solemn suddenly. "And I'm sorry. The whole plan was a mistake."
"No, it wasn't," insisted Beth loyally. "Ben's okay and Lee's gone. Everything turned out for the best."
Adam smiled his appreciation and gave her a quick kiss.
Joe looked suddenly exhausted. "Let's go home."
Hoss slapped him on the back joyfully. "Little brother, that's the best idea you've ever had."
Nodding, Adam said, "I have to stop by and tell the doctor that I won't be staying overnight, and then we can head out."
This whole, sad episode could be left behind in Carson City, and it would never bother anyone again. They could leave and go home. Once they were again working side by side, they would forget. Forget the feel of a gun pointed at your own brother; forget the look in Francis Lee's eyes as he lay dying; forget it all. Or so they fervently hoped.
They left the alley, Beth following the boys. She caught up to Adam and pulled him back a little ways.
"What?" he asked, looking concerned.
"Adam," she said with a coy smile, "I've been wanting to tell you. About that argument you and your father were having…"
He waited, smiling.
"Well, there are easier ways to propose."
He tweaked her hair and winked at her.
A/N: End. Do you think it was over-done? Hmmm. Well, you know I welcome any constructive criticism. Thank you for reading all the way to the end; I hope you enjoyed. I'm kind of considering a sequel. Again I say: Hmmm.