Entering the house Adam took of his hat and gun-belt and threw them on the side board. "Ah Adam you're back, " said Ben from across the room. "Any news about when the stage will be coming in?"

"Yes Pa, it'll be coming into town at 3:30 but your visitor will not be on it." Adam handed his father the telegram.

Ben opened the telegram and groaned. He had been looking forwards to that steak! Ben had been looking forwards to the business deal and had asked Hop Sing to cook his visitor a hearty steak meal with beef steak freshly butchered from the ranch as a sample. He had also asked Hop Sing to make up the bed in the spare room. Striding past little Joe who was still standing sobbing in the corner he opened the kitchen door and went inside.

"Hop Sing, my visitor is not coming today. He will be here tomorrow instead. If it is not too much to ask could you leave the steak until tomorrow and prepare something else for tonight's supper?" he asked.

"Ok Mr. Cartwright. I not prepare meat yet. You want chicken? I have one hanging in cold store, if worms not already climbed inside."

Ben shook his head at the scolding, knowing that the cook's anger was valid. "Thank you Hop Sing, chicken will be fine."

Adam had been left in the main room when Ben left and he couldn't help but notice that Little Joe was still standing in the corner of the room to the left of the fireplace. Joe stood with his hands by his side and his shoulders were shaking slightly with his quiet sobbing. Adam was concerned; it was unlike Joe to cry so hard for so long. He wanted very much to go and offer his younger brother some comfort but daren't with Ben in the house.

Adam sat down in the armchair and put his head in his hands. Oh Joe, Pa must have been really mad. Why do you always push it when you are already in trouble?

Little Joe felt that someone was still in the room with him and he slowly glanced over his shoulder to see if it was Adam like he suspected. He saw that it was and that Adam sat in the armchair with his head in his hands and had not scolded him for turning around. He became even more upset knowing that Adam was probably mad at him too. He hadn't meant to make everyone mad; the cold store just seemed like the best place to keep his worms until his fishing trip with Hoss tomorrow. After all, hadn't Adam and Hoss told him that worms like cold dark places? The cold store was cold and dark and he had put them in a pot with earth in it and put a lid on so that the worms couldn't get out and were safe. It never occurred to his 8 year old mind that the holes he had stabbed into the lid for the worms to breathe a little were big enough for the worms to escape.

Joe had been in the corner for a total of 20 minutes contemplating how hard his father had smacked him and, although his sobbing had slowed to tears, they just wouldn't quit. He now had a headache as well as a sore backside. Ben had only given his youngest 6 swats but they had been damn hard, fast and Ben had been really angry when he had delivered them and hadn't realised just how hard they were. Joe's backside felt like he had sat on a furnace and it was the worst tanning he had ever had from his father and truth be told Ben had scared Joe. So here he was trying hard to not move in case he got any more smacks.

Ben came back from the kitchen and saw Adam sitting with his head in his hands, "Adam are you Ok?"

Adam looked up at his father with tear in his eyes and glanced towards Joe. Ben following his oldest son's eyes and he saw Joe still had his shoulders shaking with his sobbing. He shouldn't still be so upset, surely. Oh Christ what have I done to my son!

Striding back to the corner he knelt down behind little Joe and placed his hands gently on his son's shoulders and felt the little boy flinch at his touch. Ben swallowed the bile in his throat, and gently turned the boy around. Little Joe's face was red and his eyes puffy from all of the crying and he wouldn't look at his father. There were tear tracks down the poor boy's face and the tears continued to fall.

Ben gentle pulled his little boy into a hug and he hugged him tightly, realising that in his anger he may have caused his youngest great pain.

"Ssshh, son, it's ok now papa's not angry any more. I got you. I'm so sorry Joe, " he sniffed as the tears began to form in his own eyes. "I never meant to smack you so hard Joe, is it really bad?" he asked in a croaky voice.

Joe continued to cry and sniffed whilst nodding his head into his father's chest. Ben swallowed again and the tears fell thick and fast. Ben and Little Joe stayed there for 5 minutes hugging each other tightly whilst Adam watched with his own tears falling down his cheeks. Ben whispered in Little Joe's ear that he was sorry over and over, promising him that he would never smack him in anger again. After another few minutes Adam decide that he couldn't watch anymore but he could so something to help Joe feel a little better.

He headed into the kitchen and grabbed a clean wash cloth from the laundry pile wetting it from the pump and wringing it out. He then asked Hop Sing for some of his burn salve and after obtaining a pot of this he returned to the main room. He knelt down beside his father and patted his arm. "Pa, here use this," he said handing Ben the wash cloth."

Ben accepted the washcloth and released Joe from his embrace and leaned back a little. He nodded his thanks and began slowly and carefully wiping the cool cloth over little Joe's face, "Come on now Joe, let's stop crying now shall we and let me wash your face off." He said gently.

Little Joe let his father wipe at his face, the cool wash cloth felt lovely against his hot skin but he really wanted it used to cool the burning at the other end of his torso.

Ben finished cleaning Little Joe's face and then he pulled him forwards a little and kissed his forehead. Softly he said, "I'm sorry if I frightened you earlier Joe. I love you so very much and I would hate you to be scared of me. You know I love you don't you?" he asked regretfully.

Joe sniffled and replied quietly, "Y…Yes, P..pa"

"Pa, Hop Sing has given me some of his salve for Joe. Why don't you let me take him upstairs and make him a bit more comfortable whilst you get yourself together?" asked Adam from beside his father.

Ben looked at his eldest son and nodded his head, "Ok son, thank you." He stood up and bent down scooping up Little Joe careful to not touch the sore backside of his youngest. Turning towards Adam he gently passed the boy into his older brother's arms, " Be careful with him please Adam, I'll be up in a bit."

"I'll take good care of him Pa," said Adam holding Little Joe tightly. The younger boy had wrapped his arms tightly around Adam's neck and had snuggled tightly into his chest needing his brother's comfort and revelling in the smell that was entirely Adam, a mixture of sweat, aftershave and just that something extra in his shirt that Little Joe just loved.

Adam carried his younger brother up the stairs slowly, Ben walked over to the fireplace and followed them with his eyes. When Adam had turned out of sight on the stairs Ben slumped down into the armchair by the fireside and putting his head in this arms he wept openly. He had not cried so much since Little Joe's accident a few years ago whilst he was away on business. Ben had rushed home after receiving a telegram from Adam. On the way home Ben had been terrified that he would return home to find his son dying yet thanks to the local doctors quick treatment and little Joe's resilliance he had recovered quickly. Hoss came into the house just then and he ran to his father's side, never having actually witnessed Ben in tears as Ben usually did so in his room away from prying eyes. Ben had a very soft side to him but projected a tough side to the outside world.

"Pa, what's wrong?" said Hoss worriedly.

Ben wiped at his eyes with his hands and then reached in his pocket for his handkerchief and used it to dry his eyes. Taking a few deep breaths he looked at his middle son. "I'm ok Hoss."

"Are you sure Pa? I ain't never seen you cry."

Ben swallowed, "Yes son I'm ok now, I was just a bit upset about something. I'm fine now. Would you please go and ask Hop Sing to bring me some coffee Hoss?"

"Sure Pa, " said Hoss walking away to do as he was told, but he kept looking over his shoulder on his way to the kitchen.

"Hop Sing, Pa said can you please bring him some coffee."

"Yes I bring in a moment, Master Hoss." Hop Sing looked at Hoss when the boy failed to leave his kitchen, "You want something else Master Hoss?" he asked.

"Ah no….Yes.. actually, can I ask you a question Hop Sing?"

"Yes you may, what problem Master Hoss?"

"Well it's Pa, Hop Sing, he was crying when I came back in the house. I ain't never seen Pa cry Hop Sing and I don't know what to do." Admitted Hoss.

"Father ok, Master Hoss, I sure of it. He good man with big heart, he spank brother for putting worms in my cold store but he not like spanking children. Hop Sing think he just upset as he spank child when angry. You go tell father I bring coffee and give him hug, he need it but not ask for it. You not tell him I tell you about why he cry Ok?"

"Yes sir, I won't," said Hoss hurrying off to do as Hop Sing had suggested.

Hoss walked back into the room and found Ben sitting back in the chair; he had cleaned his face of tears but was sitting there staring into space. "Hop Sing said he will bring the coffee out in a minute Pa," said Hoss.

"Thank you son."

Hoss walked to his father's chair and leant down and put his burly 14 year old arms around his father, leaning his head to the side of Ben's. Ben was surprised for a moment but it didn't take him long to respond with his own arms around Hoss' and he pulled his burly son down onto his lap. He winced a little at Hoss' weight on his lap but Hoss just hugged his father tightly and Ben returned the hug grateful that at least one of his son's wasn't angry with him.

Hop Sing brought the fresh coffee out of the kitchen and smiled when he saw the big burly 14 year old boy sitting on his father's lap. He coughed softly announcing his presence and Ben and Hoss were startled. Ben released Hoss and Hoss stood up and took a seat quickly on the sofa. Hop Sing brought the coffee tray over and placed it on the coffee table and he had brought out two cups with the coffee pot. " I bring some for Master Hoss too." He said.

"Thank you Hop Sing," said Ben and he smiled at the cook knowing that he had probably asked Hoss to go and comfort his father. Ben was grateful for his old friend's wisdom. That hug had been just the tonic for his fragile emotions.