"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.

-x-

Adam carefully placed Little Joe down beside his bed and then assisted the young boy with removing his clothing. Picking Joe up again, he gently laid him on his side on the bed with his back towards Adam. Adam winced when he saw the very red hand shape marks on his younger brother's lily white backside. As gently as he could, Adam spread the cold burn salve on the little bottom, with Joe crying hard as his brother's attempts to rub the salve in caused him further pain.

"I'm sorry Joe, I'm trying to be as gentle as I can," Adam said softly.

Sniff, sniff, "I know, sniff, Adam, but it sure does hurt," replied the little boy.

"It'll ease soon, Joe," said Adam rubbing the last of the salve in. Adam sat back and wiped his hands on a flannette cloth hop sing had also given him with the salve and then he replaced the lid on the jar, screwing it on tightly. "All done Joe. You should start to feel the sting easing in a little while. It might be best if you put a night-shirt on now Joe, it's light, loose and soft. Do you want me to help you into one?"

Joe carefully rolled over and then eased himself off of the bed, "I can do it, Adam. Thanks for putting the salve on."

"You're welcome little brother. Does it feel better yet?" Adam asked, remembering that the last time he had burned his hand on the fire poker that the salve had eased his soreness fairly quickly.

Little Joe slowly crossed the room to his armoire and pulled out a clean soft cotton night-shirt, "Mmm, it doesn't sting as much, Adam." Pulling on the night-shirt carefully, Little Joe slowly lowered it over his lower half, wincing only slightly as it brushed against his sore backside.

Adam sat down in the chair and called Joe to him. "Come here Joe."

Little Joe crossed the room, looking at his feet the entire time, but soon found himself in front of his oldest brother. Adam pulled Little Joe between his knees and wrapped him in a hug, "I'm sorry, Adam, I never meant to make Pa so mad. Do you think he hates me now?" asked the young boy.

"NO! Joe, why would you think that? Pa told you he was sorry that he smacked you so hard. He loves you so much, little brother, he could never hate you for anything you did. He might get angry with us but he could never hate anyone of us boys." Adam kissed his brother's head. "Why don't you take a rest for a while, Joe and Pa will come up to talk to you soon?"

Sniff, "OK."

Adam helped Little Joe get settled down and sat with the younger boy as he settled into a comfortable position. And then he watched Joe fall asleep, likely because he was so tired from all of the emotions and not from crying.

Seeing that Little Joe had settled into a deep sleep, Adam went to the wash basin and, using a clean flannel, he wet it before wiping the tear tracks from his face. He looked in the mirror to check that most of the evidence of his crying had been erased and then he let himself quietly out of the room before he made his way downstairs.

-x-

Adam walked into the main room and saw his father and brother sitting, drinking coffee. Ben stood up when Adam walked to the sofa, "How's he doing Adam?" he asked.

"Joe's asleep, Pa, I put the salve on and he's in his night-shirt as I thought it would be more comfortable."

"Adam… I.. well son, I don't know what to say…." Said Ben tailing off.

"It's OK, Pa. I understand, you were angry."

"Yes, yes I was. But I should never have smacked Joe when I was angry. And after all the times I've cautioned you about not dealing with your brothers when you're angry. The fact is that I'm ashamed of myself, son. I've always tried to control my anger and not punish you boys when I've still been angry, yet this time I acted in haste and look what happened."

"Look Pa, I don't mean to be disrespectful but, you are just a man and men make mistakes. Joe's a tough little boy, he'll get over it soon enough. All he needs to know now though is that you don't hate him for making you mad," said Adam looking into his father's eyes.

"Hate him? Why would I hate him? Is that what he said?" Ben asked.

"Yes, sir. Joe thinks that you hate him for making you so mad. I told him that you could never hate any one of us, but I don't think he really believe me. He's hurting Pa and not just physically. I'm not trying to tell you how to be a father, Pa because you did a good enough job with Hoss and I but Joe's different than both of us." Adam sighed, "Pa, Joe is more sensitive than Hoss and I. He needs more reassurance that you love him enough to forgive him when he gets into mischief. To tell you the truth Pa. I think Joe is a little jealous of you spending more time with both Hoss and I and working the ranch and he get into mischief to try and get more attention. Trouble is it's not really the attention he is actually really looking for."

Ben put out his hand and Adam placed his in father's hand, but was pulled forwards into a tight embrace. "Thank you for taking care of your brother, Adam and for stepping in and acting the way I should have. You have grown into a fine young man, son and I am mighty proud of you." And Ben patted his eldest on the back.

Adam accepted the hug and the pat on the back but then pulled back slowly so he could look at his father, "thanks Pa."

Hoss sat on the sofa the entire time, looking a bit bemused. Ben had never admitted he had made a mistake in front of the 14 year old before and frankly Hoss' head was spinning from the day's events, firstly seeing his father in tears and then Ben admitting he was wrong. Everything just seemed so surreal.

Ben released Adam and returned to his chair. Picking up his cup of coffee, he drained the last of it. Adam sat down next to Hoss and patted his younger brothers thigh, "You Ok?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Good, you want to play some checkers with me after supper?"

"Sure, Adam, I'd like that." Replied Hoss.

"OK then, why don't we go and get the evening chores done early and let Pa read his paper." Said Adam quietly.

"Ok, Adam. Pa, are you ok now?" Hoss asked looking into his father's still sad face.

Ben wiped his face and sighed, "Yes son, thank you. You go and help your brother."

Adam and Hoss stood up, leaving the room to go and attend to the chores in the barn.

Ben sat in his chair staring into nothing, wondering if he should go up and talk to Little Joe now or give him a while to rest and feel a little more comfortable. Feeling restless, he decided that he would go and sit upstairs with his son and he would be there when Joe woke.

Ben slowly made his way upstairs and into the younger boys room. Taking the seat that Adam had used, he moved it across the room so that he was sitting only a foot away from the head of Joe's bed. He watched the slow and steady rise and fall of the young boy's body as he breathed in an out, clearly in a deep sleep.

Ben looked around the room and spotted the fairy-tale book that he and Adam read still read to Little Joe to settle him and he reached for it. Settling back Ben began to read silently, trying to take comfort in the act of reading.

-x-