Joe woke up to find his father bending over him. "Pa?"

"It's all right, son. I'm right here." Ben smoothed Joe's hair back.

"Eric!" Joe tried to sit up, and Ben held him back with a hand on his shoulder.

"Eric's fine, Joseph. You saved him – you took a couple of bullets yourself, but you saved your nephew."

At Ben's words, Joe relaxed. There was a soft knock on the door, and Adam came in. He handed a cup to his father, and looked down at Joe. "How are you feeling?"

Joe stared up at his brother, and Ben answered for him. "He's awake, and I think we'll try some broth this morning." He sipped his coffee as Adam sat down next to the bed.

"Joe, thank you…thank you for my son."

Hop Ling came in just then with a cup. "I have the broth made by Hop Sing's recipe," he said. "Would Mr. Joseph like to try it?"

Ben helped Joe sit up while Adam piled pillows behind him. Hop Ling handed him the broth, and Joe took a sip. He continued to drink, and Hop Ling smiled.

Ben watched his son, relieved that he was awake and responsive. Joe finished the broth and handed the empty cup to Hop Ling.

"Mr. Cartwright, breakfast is ready. Would you like me to prepare your plate and bring it in here?" Hop Ling asked.

"Uh, Pa, why don't you eat with Julia and the children? I'll sit with Joe," Adam suggested.

Ben hesitated, but when he looked down at Joe, he saw him give a nod, and agreed. "I'll be right outside, Joseph."

Adam sat down next to him. "Do you remember anything?"

"There was shooting, and Eric was close to the saloon. I think I scared him, but…"

Adam shook his head. "You kept the boy safe, Joe, and took two bullets in your back. Dr. Graham removed them before Clem and Roy brought you and Eric home. You lost a lot of blood…we almost lost you…" His voice trailed off, and he sat silent.

Joe studied Adam. His brother had aged in the ten years he'd been away. His hair had been thinning when he left the Ponderosa, and he was bald now with gray streaks in his beard and remaining hair. There were lines on his face, but his eyes were still kind, and he was quick to smile with his family.

"I saw Hoss, Adam," Joe said.

Adam spoke gently. "Joe, buddy, Hoss is dead. Did you forget?"

Joe shook his head. "I could never forget. I found him. He'd gone out early to do the barn chores. He was on his way back when he...He was lying in front of the house, in the snow. He'd dropped the egg basket, and…" Joe's voice broke and a tear rolled down his cheek. Adam reached over and wiped it away.

"I'm sorry, Joe. Tell me what you meant when you said you saw him." Adam leaned forward and waited.

"I saw Hoss and Alice and Maman. They're all right, Adam. They looked just the same as when they were young and alive. Hoss told me to stop moping around their graves, that they weren't there, that all I had to do was think of them, and they'd be with me." Joe stopped, waiting for Adam to comment or question him, but he was quiet.

Encouraged, Joe continued. "I wanted to stay with them, Adam, but Hoss said it wasn't time for me to die, that Pa needed me, that you needed me…" Joe stopped again, wondering if Adam would resent the idea that he needed his youngest brother, but Adam was still quiet, listening intently to what he was saying.

"He said that Hop Sing is coming home, that when he got to China, to that province, he realized that we were his real family and the Ponderosa was his real home. He's in San Francisco, and he'd be home in a few days." Joe took a deep breath and let it out.

"Well, Hoss was right about a couple of things, Joe. I do need you – always have, always will. My life in Philadelphia was good, but I missed you and Pa and Hoss and Hop Sing. I didn't come home when Hoss died because Julia was expecting Eric, and I couldn't leave her in that condition, not with two young children, and it wasn't safe for her to travel.

"And Pa needs you, Joe. He always has, ever since the day you were born. You and Marie nearly died, and I think that made you a little more special to all of us – me, Pa, Hoss, and Hop Sing."

"Do you think Hop Sing is coming home, Adam?"

Adam smiled at Joe. "Time will tell."

"Do you believe that I really saw Hoss and Alice and Maman?"

Adam leaned back in the chair and sighed. "I believe that you believe it, Joe."

"Adam?"

"Yes?"

"Will you read to me?"

Adam laughed. "Sure, Joe, anything special?"

Joe grinned. "There's a book by a new writer about his trip west with his Pa when he was little. I thought you might have a copy of it. I'd like to hear it."

Adam stared at Joe in surprise, but he left to get it. When he came back, Eric and Abel were in the bed on either side of Joe. Ben had brought in extra chair,s for Julia and himself, and Elizabeth was in his lap.

Adam stopped in surprise, and Ben smiled up at him. "I understand you're going to read aloud to Joe, and the rest of us thought we'd like to listen.

Adam smiled, and sat down. He opened the book, and began reading, "The Way West by Adam Cartwright."

Eric and Abel gave little wriggles of excitement, and Eric cuddled up to Joe and took his hand. "Are you in this one, Uncle Joe?"

"No, I wasn't born yet, but I think I might be in your Papa's next one."

Adam looked over at him, smiled, and winked, and continued with his story.

….

It had been a week since Joe was shot. Paul Martin closed his bag, and said, "You're doing fine, Joe. I'd recommend a few more days off your feet."

Joe groaned, and Ben laughed. "I'm so tired of this room. Can't I at least go out to the great room and sit in a chair or the settee, or go outside on the porch?"

Paul studied him thoughtfully. For the first time in years, he was smiling, not quite his old self, but that young man was gone forever. In his place was one who was stronger and more compassionate. "Ben, if you've got someone who can carry him out and put him in a chair…"

Joe groaned again. "No, not carried…I'm not an invalid."

Paul laughed. "Yes, you are – for the next few weeks at least." He picked up his hat and his bag, and Ben walked him out. Paul took a quick look at Ben. His old friend was looking better than he had since Hoss died, and Paul was happy for him. "He's doing much better, Ben. Call me if you need me." Paul mounted his horse and rode away.

Ben went back inside to find Julia placing pillows at one end of the settee as Adam carried Joe over to it. He set his brother down carefully, and stepped back as his wife draped a quilt over Joe's legs. She looked at the fireplace, and turned to Adam. "Do you think it's too cool in here for him? Should we build up the fire?"

"No, please, Julia," Joe begged. "I'm warm enough, and it feels so good to be out of that stuffy room."

Adam laughed, handed Joe a book, and went over to the office alcove with Ben.

The house was quiet. Julia had taken the children for a walk, Ben and Adam were working on the books in the office alcove, and Joe was drowsing on the settee. He was almost asleep when he felt a hand on his forehead and heard a loved voice say, "Little Joe, you did not take good care of yourself or your father while I was gone. What am I going to do with you?"

He opened his eyes to see Hop Sing bending over him. "You came home! Hoss said you would."

Hop Sing hugged him close. "Yes, I am home." He was a little concerned about Joe's mention of Hoss, but decided he would have his family, his real family, sorted out soon.