Epilogue

Adam stood leaning against the porch post, waiting. Dr. Martin had allowed him up and about a couple of days earlier and it was good to be out in the fresh air again, crisp with the first real touch of fall. He glanced around to see if anyone was watching, then flexed his left arm experimentally and flinched.

Still a little sore. He wouldn't be doing too much with that arm for a while yet.

He smiled to himself. Ironic. He had managed to avoid diphtheria, he had survived Knox' attack, only to be brought down by a bothersome little scratch. Pretty funny, really, though when he had remarked on this to his father, Ben's expression told him that he did not find anything about it even remotely amusing.

Well, never mind. He'd save it for Hoss. Hoss would think it was funny.

He was looking toward the barn for the glimpse of Hoss that would tell him that their horses were saddled when he became aware of a presence over his left shoulder. He twisted to look, turned back to the barn.

"Smokey," he said casually. "How ya feeling?"

Smokey made himself comfortable a little behind him and shrugged. "Well enough, I reckon. Ready fer the range again this week, Doc says. Lucky thing. I done fixed and cleaned every bit o' tack and done every small repair this ranch's got ta offer. A little longer an' I'd-a had ta start breakin' things just ta have somethin' ta do. You?"

"Fine. Arm's a little stuff."

Smokey scratched at his forehead and grimaced, still studying the barn. "Oughter thank you, I reckon."

Adam shifted a little, also still firmly focused forward. "Don't see why. Just doing my job. Curly did a real good job bossing the range."

Smokey nodded. "He's a nice young'un."

Adam smiled. It was hard for him to think of a man at least ten years his senior as a young'un, but then, he could imagine that he'd always see Joe that way, too.

Smokey seemed to have something caught in his throat, but he coughed a little and squeezed out, "Figger I owe you an apology. Not - " he added hastily, "about the range er nothin' - feller's gotta learn ta take his licks. But about what I said about yer brother. I was outta line. I was put out about him sluggin' Curly an all an - well - you know how it is with kid brothers."

Adam grinned. "Guess I know something about it."

Smokey rubbed reminiscently at his jaw and chuckled. "Reckon you do at that."

They stood in silence, still not looking at each other, until Smokey said, "Hear you done a good job at the lumber camp. 'Spose yer Pa'll be movin' ya up there?"

Adam shook his head. "Probably not. Contract's about done. Expect I'll be back on the range. That a problem for you?"

Smokey seemed to find something very interesting in the dust by his feet. "Not specially." He returned his eyes to the barn, squinting. "Reckon yer not sech a bad feller ta work fer." He glanced at Adam quickly. "That don't mean I like ya."

Adam dropped his head to hide a smile. "Understood."

Smokey nodded, almost smiling himself. "See ya round the range, then."

"I'll be there." Adam watched him thoughtfully as he strode away to the bunkhouse.

"Well, young man."

He turned at the familiar slap on his shoulder. "Pa. Doc."

"Adam. Good to see you on your feet. How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing fine. How's everybody else? Pass muster?"

"Let's just say that if I can figure out a way to bottle the Cartwright constitution I'll be able to retire a wealthy man. It's positively indecent."

"Tough stock, Paul," said Ben glibly, but he peered closely at his son anyway. "Sure you're ready for this?"

"More than ready. Where's Joe? He's the one that was so all fired crazy to get going."

"Getting your lunch from Hop Sing, I think. Now, there's no reason to hurry. You're not running a race. And if you get tired just turn around and come home. You and Joe haven't been up and around for all that long."

"Don't worry, Pa - I'll be along to keep an eye on our poor little invalids." Hoss strolled across the yard, dusting his hands together. "Go away fer a few days and the whole passel o' ya go ta rack an ruin. It's downright pitiful. Guess you'll know bettern' ta leave this one in charge again." He jerked is thumb toward Adam.

Adam gave him a withering look. "Nobody left me in charge, I was elected by default. But you're right - next time you can stay home running from stem to stern and I'll spend my days trying out every eatery in Carson City."

Hoss smirked. "Problem with you, older brother, is you just don't know how ta delegate. You like ta do everything yerself." He grinned slyly at Ben and Dr. Martin. "Poor leadership."

"That so. Now, it'd've been really helpful if there'd been more than a handful of people to delegate to. And I didn't do anything alone." Adam grew serious suddenly, remembering. "I couldn't have. Believe me."

Hoss met his eyes for a moment and they exchanged a glance of mutual understanding. "So? Where's that ornery whippersnapper we're doing this whole ride fer, anyhow?"

"Getting your lunch, so think twice before you complain. Horses all saddled?"

Hoss nodded. "Yup. Nothin' like comin' home ta find you gotta do eveythin' yerself."

Adam raised his brows at him. "Thought you were the expert on delegating?"

Hoss scowled good-naturedly. "Oh, yer funny. Ta who?"

Adam smiled. "My point exactly."

"I've got lunch!" Joe barreled out of the front door, slamming it loudly behind him.

Ben winced. "Joseph!"

"Sorry, Pa," said Joe cheerfully. "Let's go! Where are the horses?"

"In the barn," answered Hoss pointedly. "Ain't enough I saddled 'em, you want 'em brought around fer ya, too?"

Joe gave him an innocent smile. "Doc says I can't do anything too strenuous yet, right, Doc?'

Dr. Martin held up his hands in protest. "Don't drag me into this!"

"If you're so enfeebled, Joseph, maybe you aren't up to this ride today," suggested Ben ominously.

Joe looked at him, wide-eyed. "I've been savin' all my strength for it, Pa. After today I can ride Cochise full time, right?"

"If your brothers think you're ready, yes. And they'll be twice as tough on you as I'd ever be, so behave responsibly."

"I'm ready!" said Joe confidently. "And I'm responsible. I took care o' Adam while he was sick, just like I said I would, didn't I?"

Adam glanced at him. "If that's what you call all that bouncing up and down on my bed and talking my ear off, I guess you did at that."

Joe's smile broadened. "Oh, say, Adam - Miss Abigail was real sorry to hear you weren't feelin' well. She wanted to make you some sugar cookies. I told her you weren't contagious or nothin' so she shouldn't be afraid to bring 'em out herself."

Adam reached up languidly and tugged at his hat brim.

"You know," he said conversationally to no one in particular, "I've let you get away with that so far. But that could change at any time."

Joe looked at him, a little uneasy. "What could you do?" he said suspiciously. "You couldn't do anything."

Adam pursed his lips in a soundless whistle. "You never know. Consider yourself warned." He stepped lightly from the porch and started toward the barn at an easy gait.

Joe looked after him, uncertain.

"Say, Adam - " Hoss called. He hurried to catch up halfway across the yard and lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Adam, what you gonna do to 'em?"

Adam looked innocent. "To Joe?"

Hoss nodded. "Yeah. What you got up your sleeve ta do?"

Adam considered without breaking stride. "Nothing," he said finally.

Hoss wrinkled his nose. "Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"But - he's expectin' ya ta do somethin'."

"Uh huh."

"But - " Hoss began to grin "that'll just about drive him crazy!"

Adam gave him a slow smile. "Yup."

Hoss shook his head in admiration, reaching out to open the barn door. "Adam, you gotta mean streak a mile wide. "

"Yup."

"Hey!" Joe jumped off the porch to follow them, clutching the package of sandwiches. "Hey! You can't do anything! What you gonna do? C'mon, Adam, tell me!"

Adam winked at Hoss and disappeared into the barn without a backward glance. He looked over at Sport, saddled and waiting. "You know, I could get used to this."

"Yeah?" Hoss dropped the door abruptly. "Well, don't."

Ben stood watching from the porch, smiling faintly as Adam strode toward the barn with Hoss running to catch up and Joe pelting after them. For a moment time telescoped for him, the voices he heard were high and treble; he half expected to see Marie come out the door.

"Ben? Ben, you seem a million miles away."

Ben shook himself. "Ten years, actually. Sorry, Paul. What were you saying?"

"I asked where they were going."

"Oh. Lumber camp, to see Adam's bridge. And give Joseph a workout on Cochise. Two birds with one stone."

Paul nodded. "I remember he was working on some sort of bridge."

"Amazing thing - though he tells me it's only meant to be a temporary structure. Can't imagine how he came up with it. Oh, he gave me some long, complicated explanation about Julius Caesar, but I'll never really understand the way that boy's mind works. Guess I should just be glad it does, hm?

I'll tell you, Paul, makes a man feel old and behind the times. Obsolete."

"I don't know." Paul reached over to refill his coffee cup from the pot Hop Sing had left. "Experience and innovation. Sounds like a winning combination to me."

Ben nodded, accepting a refill for his own cup. "Maybe you're right."

He jerked his head up at the sound of elevated voices from the barn, followed by the unmistakable tumult of a scuffle. He half rose to his feet.

Really, those incorrigible - what were they thinking? Adam still only had the use of one arm for all intents and purposes and Joe - he stopped himself in mid-thought and forced himself to sink back into his chair.

Hoss would see to it that nobody got hurt - by brute force if necessary. He took his current, self-appointed job as nursemaid to his brothers very seriously. He had returned from Carson City with a new air of confidence and, with Adam down and Ben still convalescing, had taken up the slack with a determination and authority that had first astonished, then impressed his father.

Ben shook his head.

His sons didn't need him as they once had - at least not in the same way - that was inescapable fact. But if in exchange he had boys who could be counted on to look out for one another - and for him - it didn't seem like such a bad trade. Given a little time to get used to it, he might even come to enjoy this growing up.

The noise escalated and Paul looked at Ben questioningly.

Ben steeled himself and leaned back in his chair with exaggerated nonchalance. He didn't have to know everything his boys were up to. He wasn't even sure he wanted to.

Paul cleared his throat. "Uh - Ben…Adam's stitches…"

Ben sipped his coffee. "It'll be fine, Paul."

Sure enough, a few minutes later all three appeared, leading their horses. Ben and Paul watched as they mounted, looking a little disheveled, but otherwise no worse for wear.

Adam paused his horse briefly by the porch and leaned forward in the saddle. "We'll be heading out now," he said formally, a suspicion of a twinkle lurking deep in his eyes as he reached up to touch his hat. "Doc. Pa."

"Have fun, boys," agreed Ben placidly. "Don't be late."

"No, sir," chimed in Hoss, touching his hat. "Doc. Pa."

"Bye, Pa. Bye, Doc," chirped Joe, touching his hat in imitation of his brothers.

Paul watched them ride away, shaking his head.

"I've got to hand it to you, Ben - raising three boys alone. Don't know how you do it. Makes dealing with a diphtheria epidemic look like child's play."

Ben's eyes followed his sons, peaceful and amused, stretching out his legs and propping his feet on the chair in front of him. He was thinking of the way Hop Sing and Adam had looked out for him and Joe, then the way Hoss in turn had looked out for Adam, even Little Joe trying to do his part…and of the distinct, lingering, comforting presences of Elizabeth, Inger and Marie. He recalled Adam's words to Hoss and smiled to himself.

"Not alone, Paul, believe me," he said softly. "Never alone."

FIN

January 2000

Of course I knew it was you, drmweaver. And I understood and enjoyed every word.