Disclaimer: Still do not own.
Warnings: Nothing too graphic, but we do get to know a little of what happened to Joe.
Author's Note: Wow! Just…wow! You guys are amazing; thank you for all the support and comments! I never thought anyone else would like my stories…you guys inspired me to write a lot faster than I normally do. I don't know if you are supposed to update this often, but I couldn't help it. My muse got all fired up reading reviews! :) Hope you guys like this next chapter, it is a bit long though.
Adam was halfway down Main Street before he realized he had left the contracts in his jacket pocket, and that he had left the jacket on his bed. Sighing at his absentmindedness, he turned around, tipping his hat at a passing group of ladies, and walked back into the hotel. He pushed open their room's door, his mind already preparing the return journey. He froze, seeing Little Joe standing, looking in the mirror. Joe whimpered in alarm, looking for somewhere to hide, but it was too late. Adam could already see the bruises mottled Joe's chest, mingling with red welts. Joe backed up slowly, reaching for his shirt draped over the screening next to the mirror.
Adam felt something taking root in his soul, something dark and angry. "Joseph." His voice was hard, rough, dangerous, frightening even to himself. Joe flinched at the harsh sound ringing through the room. "Who did that to you?"
Little Joe didn't answer, just looked at Adam with those large, frightened eyes, balling his shirt nervously in his hands. Adam saw the way Little Joe was holding his shoulders and crossed the room in a moment. He grabbed Little Joe gently as he could and turned him around. Adam's normal stoniness cracked when he saw the whip marks mottling his little brother's back. They were large, red and angry, but neatly stitched.
"Who did this to you?" He bit out the words again, trying not to touch any of the wounds. Joe still wouldn't answer.
"Alright, you won't answer that, answer me this. Have you cleaned these wounds today?"
Little Joe turned around and shook his head. Adam clenched his fists and took a deep breath. "Go take that bath; they will get infected if you leave them like that. And come right back here when you are done."
Adam flinched at his authoritative tone; he wished his voice didn't sound so cold. He could see Little Joe's eyes flicker with something between resentment and sadness. Adam froze, trying to think of something more gentle to say, but Little Joe had already slipped out the door before he could.
Adam was waiting when Little Joe came back, seated in a little chair by Joe's bed. He looked up expectantly, appraising his little brother's face. Little Joe was stony faced and pointedly ignoring Adam, going over to look out the window with arrogance.
Adam did notice that Joe was not holding his shoulders as stiffly and smirked at the fact his order actually had helped, whether Joe admitted it or not. A moment or two passed, then Adam tired of the silence.
"Bath eased that aching?" He asked casually. Little Joe snorted.
"You know full well it did." Little Joe said, not angrily, but not friendly either.
"Come here." Adam stated as nicely as he could, battling anger at a faceless man and frustration at his brother's stubbornness. "Please." He added quietly. Little Joe turned toward him, eyes searching Adam's face, then slowly walked over and sat on the bed, facing Adam. An eternity passed in a moment as the two brothers watched each other, waiting for the other to speak.
BZA BZA BZA
Little Joe watched Adam tensely, not sure what his older brother was going to do next. He knew Adam would insist he tell him what had happened…and he didn't want to relive that again. He calmed his urge to fidget; it would hurt. There was a long moment of silence, then Adam spoke again.
"Joseph, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I want to know so I can help you. I keep forgetting you aren't my baby brother anymore. I have seen you handle yourself well in different situations, and you have a knack for getting out of trouble." Adam smirked suddenly. "Almost as great a knack as you have for getting into trouble. You've even saved my hide a few more times than I would like to admit. It is obvious you had some trouble, and that concerns me. But if you say you took care of whatever happened, I will leave it alone." Adam's baritone almost, but not quite, hid his concern. "I trust you."
Little Joe's head shot up of its own free will. Adam was giving him an out; if he said it was taken care of, Adam would honor his word. But Little Joe hadn't taken care of it…not at all. He still was Adam's baby brother…he couldn't even defend himself anymore. He felt those angry tears he hadn't let himself cry prickle his eyes again. Adam spoke once more.
"However, if you need to talk, I am here. I won't judge or condemn you, Joe. Whatever happened. We'll figure a way to deal with it."
Little Joe opened his mouth and closed it again. "I don't know where to start." Joe hated how small he felt and sounded.
Adam didn't press him, for that Joe was grateful. But he did suggest, gently, that Joe start at Reno and go from there.
Joe nodded. Maybe telling Adam would help dispel the ghosts of memories flittering about his head. "Well…I got done with the sale a couple days early, and started back as soon as I was done. I guess I wanted to surprise Pa; you know, getting the job done even better then he thought?"
Adam nodded, face impassive but obviously listening.
"Well, about a day into the ride I came across these five men beating this Indian boy something fierce on the side of the road." Little Joe closed his eyes, unable to continue as the memory enveloped him.
BZA BZA BZA
Adam could see where this story was going. Little Joe would never allow a child to be beaten while he was around. He waited patiently for Joe to continue.
"I rode up to them, and they stopped to see what I wanted. I asked them why they were beating the kid…he was no more than ten. The leader looked right at me and said 'He's an Indian. Ain't that good enough?' I said 'No mister, it isn't. You and your boys load up and clear out or I'll make you.' I had done this kind of thing before, you know? Running squatters off the Ponderosa?"
Adam inclined his head slightly. Little Joe was the best one for running off squatters; he meant business, and could back his word with two guns worth of loaded steel. What his brother lacked in size he made up for in backbone. He had seen Little Joe back down men twice his size without blinking, even outnumbered. Adam's thoughts were broken as Joe continued.
"Well, at first it looked like they were going to leave, the one of the men looked at his boss and said 'Hey, Bill, why don't we have some fun with this kid?' and Bill smiled." Joe stopped for a second. "That smile was the most evil thing I've ever seen, Adam. And he said 'You heard 'im, boys. Get 'im.' I drew my gun, but they were quick; I fired at one, hit him in the leg. But two others had hauled me off Cochise before I could aim at another one. Then they knocked my gun away. They tied me with my own belt…and started kicking me. And kicking." Joe trailed off.
Adam clenched his hands tightly; how could someone do that to Little Joe? And more to the point…he had seen Joe fight up to seven men off once and made it look easy. If these four men, not counting the man Joe had wounded, could take on his brother and win, they must be very large and very mean. Despite the fact his face never lost its usual expression, Adam was furious. Adam wanted to know names, descriptions. He was going to hunt down these men- Joe was speaking again.
"They got bored of kicking me, I guess, because one got a switch and started hitting me with it." He indicated the red welts on his chest. "And that gave Bill an idea. He said that Indian lovers deserved to be whipped. He got his whip from his saddle…he gave me five lashes."
Adam sucked air in between his teeth. Three lashes could cause a man to faint, four turned your back into shivering ribbons, and five was simple torture.
"When he was done with that, I was so weak I think I passed out for a minute. When I came to, they were discussing what to do with me." Joe stopped sharply, obviously skipping something. "They were going to kill me, but just then, two Indian braves came up, whooping and hollering. The men cleared out pretty fast. I thought I was a goner, but it turns out that kid I saved? He escaped while they were busy with me and sent his two brothers back to save me."
"Is that who stitched your wounds?" Adam asked; that detail had been bothering him.
"Yes. They took care of me for a couple days, and when I could sit up in the saddle without passing out, I headed back to town. The men had left the saddlebags alone, so I deposited the bank draft and went home." Little Joe said, speaking quickly. "That's it."
Adam watched Joe carefully. "Are you sure that is everything? I know you, Joe. You wouldn't hide from us like that, if that was all it was."
Joe looked right at him. "I was embarrassed about not being able to fight them off, that's all."
"No, it isn't." Adam said sadly, standing. "But if that is all you want to tell me, I will leave it alone. While you were taking your bath I got this from the manager." He held up a small tin that had been sitting on the bedside table. "It's a salve for your cuts. It'll help them heal."
Joe looked angry. "You told him about my cuts?"
Adam shook his head. "No. I told him I cut myself on the trip."
Joe looked surprise. "You lied?" To Joe, that must have been something similar to the sun suddenly deciding to shine black.
Adam laughed humorlessly. "It is none of his concern; I paid for it, it is no longer his responsibility. Come here. It will help." Little brother, why can't you listen to me? I just want to help you. Please…let me help you.