Jamie sat at the table, head low, his hands on his lap. He still looked very thin, Ben thought. Frail. The boy was trembling and his face was a mask of misery. Ben put some food on his plate and Jamie stared at it, immobile.

"Try and eat a little, lad."

"I...I don't know if I can, Mr Cartwright."

"Well, try. Just a few mouthfuls. You don't have to have a lot."

He grit his teeth and tears came to his eyes, unbidden. "You don't understand. I feel...like I can't."

"Please, Jamie. Try. You've been so ill."

"I...I feel like I'd choke. My stomach...it hurts. I feel sick."

"Jamie..." Ben put out his hand and laid it on Jamie's. The boy flinched and stared at it. Slowly he withdrew his arm. "You've starved yourself for so long it will be difficult. We understand that. Just relax. There's nothing to be frightened of. Take one mouthful and just chew it very slowly. Let it lie in your mouth. If you feel like you're going to be sick, just take it out and put it back on the plate. We won't mind."

Hoss and Joe watched their father, impressed by his gentleness. The tears had breached their dam and were flowing down Jamie's face. He took a minute morsel and placed it in his mouth. After a few moments he put his hand to his mouth and coughed.

"Relax. It's OK. Take it out, take it out."

Jamie complied and stared at his plate as if he did not know what to do. "Why are you being so kind to me?" His voice was resentful despite his frailty and it was obvious there was still a lot of anger there. "Why are you bothering?"

"Because you've been very ill, Jamie. You put your health, even your life, at risk. And we're all entitled to kindness."

"Not me."

"Why not you, Jamie?"

Jamie stared at him. "You wouldn't understand."

"Alright, it doesn't matter. Perhaps I will one day. Let's take one thing at a time, shall we? Even if you take a few mouthfuls it'll be something. Just try."

"And you won't mind if I'm sick?"

"I don't think you'll be sick, Jamie, not if you take it gently. And if you are, you are. You ate the meal Joe gave you, didn't you? And you've had several since then. So why can't you now?"

"I...I don't know."

Ben smiled. "Maybe it's because you're down here. It's the first meal you've taken with us. It's been some time. Just take it easy."

Ben started talking to his sons and they joined in, understanding he was trying to take the pressure off the boy. Out of the corner of their eye they saw Jamie take a few tiny mouthfuls. Then he put down his fork.

"I feel so sick."

"Do what you can, son."

"I...I don't think I can eat any more, Mr Cartwright."

"Just a little more. You've not had very much today."

After he had eaten a little more he pushed the plate away and shook his head. Ben took it away. "You've done well, Jamie. Well done."

Jamie stared at him once more, uncomprehending. "I'd like to go now."

"Go on, then."

They watched him go up the stairs.

"It's going to be hard work, boys. Very hard. But we must persist."

Joe shook his head. "How come you're so kind, Pa?"

"Aren't I usually kind?" Ben asked in surprise.

"Well, yes, sure you are. I just thought that..." He trailed off.

"Thought what, Joseph?"

Joe shrugged. "Oh, I don't know. It just surprised me. I don't know why."

"Yeah, I know what Joe means. I feel the same way."

"Well, you two!" Ben laughed. "So you think I'm a monster too, huh?"

"No, of course we don't, Pa! It's just that..." Joe looked to his brother for help but Hoss was unable to offer any.

"Jamie could have died, boys. After what the doctor told us we're very lucky he wasn't more ill than he was. He has come half way. He's actually sitting down with us, speaking to us. Compare that to a week ago. I want him to start eating normally on his own. So I've got to encourage him without putting too much pressure on him."

"Pa..." Joe started, then stopped. "I've been meaning to talk to you about something."

"What's that, Joe?"

"When we went for that walk earlier...Well, we talked."

"What about?"

"Oh, you know. Things. He told me a bit and I told him a bit. About how it was for us when we were kids. About how you were. I think I made an impression, I don't know. But I made a promise...well, kinda. Sort of."

"What promise?"

Joe cleared his throat. "He was talking about being a hand. About the work. I said I'd talk to you. The anger is still there, you see. Burning, eating away. He's resentful and furious. I said...well, I said I'd talk to you and he said you wouldn't listen. I said you were a reasonable man although he didn't think so."

Ben smiled patiently, already half guessing. "And what was that, Joe?"

Another clearing of the throat.

"Come on, Joe, spit it out. Surely I'm not that frightening to talk to?"

"Of course you're not, Pa. But I kinda went out on my own. Made a decision on my own."

"Joe, you're a grown man. Of course you can make decisions on your own. I'm not a tyrant, you know. I will listen to you."

"I said he had to make an effort. That if he came half way towards us, we'd come the other half. He's been so ill. He said at the beginning you were going to starve him and I get the feeling he was going to get in there first and do it himself. Out of anger."

"And?"

"I said you wouldn't have done that but he said you said he would." Joe realized he was stalling in unnecessarily telling Ben every detail of the conversation and decided to take the plunge. "Oh, to heck with it! I said I would talk to you about the work. That he'd still have to work but it'd certainly be no more than what we had to do. I had to put some reason into it, Pa. It's been out of control. If he came half way, so would we. Please, Pa. I think it'd help."

Ben nodded and gazed at him. "You did right, son. You've been the one he's talked to and you've managed to get through so far. I have no intention of undermining you or the trust you've built up with him. I will think about it and what's to be done. But don't worry. I think you're right. Let me have a night to think about it, OK?"

Joe gave such a heavy sigh of relief his father looked at him quizzically, a hint of hurt in his eyes.

"Did you dread talking to me so much, Joe?"

"No, Pa," he answered firmly. "I didn't. I knew you'd be fair. It's just that...that..."

"What, Joe?" His voice was gentle.

"I didn't know," he said miserably. "You see, I feel to blame for what happened. I pushed you and pushed you to ignore him and I should've realized something wasn't right. I know working as a hand was part of the punishment so he could work off all the money he'd cost you. You'd have probably done the same with us. But...but it's different. He wasn't right and wanted to kill himself to spite us. It's unbelievable, really, and I still don't really understand. But I'm trying to. It's all insane. I want him to realize we don't hate him, we care and the only reason you did what you did was to put him right. Do you see?"

Ben nodded again. "Of course I do. Joe, I'll say it again. I'm proud of what you've done. I knew you could. You've got a pretty soft heart underneath it all."

"Oh, Pa, please. Do be quiet!"

To which his father merely laughed.