Hoss stood vigil at his younger brother’s window. The soft glow of light shining from the windows gave the empty yard a forlorn look. Even the lightly falling snow, which usually made Hoss glow with warmth, did nothing to brighten the mood. ‘It couldn’t have been Adam,’ he thought as he looked back at his sleeping brother. The vivid bruises on Joes face made a stark contrast to the pure white of the pillow covering and Hoss felt his heart tighten in anger. ‘I swear I’ll find out who did this to you and give them exactly what they deserve.’ He turned back to the window as the sound of riders drew his attention. He sighed with relief when he saw his father and brother ride in to the faint light.
Joe’s nightmares continued relentlessly. His older brother advanced on him menacingly and Joe tried to make himself disappear before he could be hurt again. He found himself staring into the ice blue eyes and shivering in terror. ‘No!’ he cried as something about the man before him registered but before his mind could grasp what it was the first of many hard blows rained down on his body and he screamed. “Adam! Please don’t!” he cried out loud.
Hoss heard the terror in his brother’s voice and rushed to the bed just as his father, Adam, Paul, and Roy rushed into the room. “Easy, little Joe. It’s me, Hoss. I’m right here,” he said as he wrapped his arms protectively around his brother.
Joe fought against his brother’s grasp as he continued to be enthralled in his personal nightmare. “Please, Adam, don’t hit me again,” he cried as he pummelled Hoss’s large frame with his fists.
All eyes once again turned on Adam as they watched the youngest Cartwright fight the terror of his nightmare. Adam felt the guilt well up inside him once more as he watched the scene play out before him. Memories of shooting at a wolf but hitting his brother reared their ugly head. He fought against the emotions brought on by these memories and slowly advanced on the bed. “I won’t hit you, little brother,” he said and everyone heard the anguish in his soft voice as he sat on the bed.
“Joe, come on, you know Adam would never hurt you. He left because he thought he was going to hit you before, remember. Adam loves you, little brother. We all do,” Hoss told him.
Joe listened to the calming voice of his brother and the nightmare world seemed to slip away and he returned to a peaceful sleep.
Hoss felt his brother’s body relax and gently laid him back on the bed. He lifted tear filled eyes to meet his older brothers, “Who coulda done it to him, Adam?” he asked.
Adam put his hand on Hoss’s shoulder and held the man as his body trembled angrily. “I don’t know, Hoss, but I intend to find out,” he said.
“Now wait a minute, Adam,” Roy Coffee spoke from behind them. “I don’t want you taking the law into your own hands.”
Adam stood and rounded on the sheriff, “Somebody set this up to make Joe believe I beat him! Do you really think you can stop me?” he shouted angrily.
“I can and I will. I can throw you in jail right now because of the evidence,” Coffee told him.
“What evidence?” Adam asked.
“Your brother’s own words to start with,” Coffee stated harshly.
“Now hold on you two,” Ben said in a reasoning tone. “Adam didn’t do this to his brother and I know that for sure now. Yes, Adam,” he said when he saw the reaction his son had to his words. “I had my doubts when I heard what Joe had to say and saw the bruises on your knuckles when you rode in here but I know you and I know what kind of a man you are. You couldn’t hurt Joe if you wanted to.”
“Thanks, Pa,” Adam said and tried to hide just how much his father’s words had hurt him. He turned his dark brown eyes back to his brother and wondered whether things would ever be the same between them. He hated what had been done to his brother but even more he hated what had been done to their already fragile relationship. ‘I swear I’ll get the man who did this, Joe,’ he thought and brushed past his father before his eyes shed their tears.
“Ben, I want you to keep Adam from going after the man or men who did this,” Coffee stated.
“I don’t know if that’s possible, Roy. Adam is going to take this very personally. Someone used his body and face to do this to Joseph and it’s gonna be hard to keep him from finding out who. I may even help him,” Ben said softly.
“Me too,” Hoss reiterated.
“Don’t do it,” Coffee said flatly.
“Pa,” Joe called as he slowly opened his eye.
“I’m here, Joseph,” Ben said and sat on the bed.
“Why did Adam do this?” Joe asked; his voice laced with sorrow and pain.
“Joe, are you sure it was, Adam?” Ben asked.
“I saw him, Pa. His face was so angry. He... he just hit me over and over. He said he’d always wanted to do that to me.”
“Couldn’t it have been someone who just looked like Adam?” Hoss asked.
“No! I know what Adam looks like and it was him. He just kept hitting me,” Joe said and Paul Martin knew by the tremors that his patient couldn’t take much more.
Paul Martin poured a small amount of water into a glass and added a small envelope of powder. He mixed it thoroughly and passed it to Ben. “Make him drink this,” he told his friend.
“What is it?” Ben asked.
“A mild sedative. It should help him sleep.”
“No. I don’t want to sleep,” Joe said tremulously.
“Why, Joe,” Ben asked.
“I can see Adam’s eyes. He’s so angry with me.”
“I tell you what, little brother,” Hoss said. “You drink this and I’ll sit here with you and chase those nightmares away. How does that sound?
Joe turned his good eye towards his brother and smiled weakly. “Promise?”
“I promise I’ll stay right here,” Hoss smiled back, hiding how much it pained him to see his brothers injuries.
“Ok,” Joe said and slowly drank the liquid, his eye never leaving his brother.
Ben relinquished his seat to his second son and ushered the others out of the room.
“I mean it, Ben, I won’t have you, Adam, or Hoss interfering with the law,” Coffee said as the three men headed down the stairs.
“How do you plan on stopping us, Roy?” Adam asked from the dining room.
“I can have you all thrown in jail for your own protection,” Roy Coffee said and knew he was grasping at straws. If the Cartwright men got it in their heads to find the person or people responsible they’d do it and damn the consequences.
“But you won’t,” Ben said simply and poured a coffee from the pot in front of Adam.
“No I won’t,” Coffee said and accepted the cup Ben passed him.
Roland Spencer grinned at the man in black seated across from him. “So tell me how badly you beat him,” he said sadistically.
The man in black grinned back at his employer; “Let’s just say that young Cartwright won’t be bidding on lumber contracts anytime soon.”
“Good. He almost beat me out last time despite Lila’s interference. As for his older brother I can think of no fitting punishment for Adam Cartwright than to have his brother swear that he’s the one who beat him up. Oh it’s just perfect,” Spencer laughed. “You do know that you’ll have to go back and finish the job on young Cartwright don’t you, Billy?”
“You mean kill him?” Billy Tucker smiled. “It’ll be my pleasure. When do you want me to take care of it?”
“I think you’ll have to hurt Joe Cartwright once more, just so he’ll keep saying it was his brother. I want him to have nightmares about his brother. Adam Cartwright will pay for all the times he stole business away from my father.”
“It’s the perfect revenge. Adam will be blamed for beating his brother and finally for his murder.”
“That’s exactly what I want to happen. You will kill little Joe Cartwright on Christmas Eve. I’d love to see the Cartwrights faces when they find the youngest dead and all the evidence points to his oldest brother,” he laughed maliciously.
“And the second beating?” Billy asked enthusiastically.
“In two weeks time, just as he’s getting over this one. That way the first beating by Adam will be fresh in his mind. Just make sure you get him alone!”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Spencer,” Billy said seriously. “I do like how your mind works,” he said as he left the office.
Roland Spencer looked up at the picture of his dead father and picked up his glass of champagne. He lifted it into the air and spoke softly. “To revenge, Father, yours and mine,” he said and downed the glass of cold liquid. Anger seeped into his mind and he threw the glass across the room.
For the next week Adam made himself scarce. He stayed out late and left early. He still felt a sense of betrayal that his father and brothers thought he would beat little Joe. ‘How can they think I could do that to Joe?’ he asked himself as he stabled Sport in the barn. He patted his horse on the rump and walked to the doors. The lights were on in Little Joe’s room and he could see a figure moving around behind the closed curtains. He hadn’t ventured into his brother’s room since the first day he’d returned.
He knew he hadn’t been the one to beat Joe but the sense of guilt he felt at someone using his likeness to do it was tremendous. He’d walked by Joe’s room every night, but was unable to go in.
Finally he walked through the snow and up to the door of the house. Stamping his feet to remove the excess snow from his boots he was surprised when the door opened and his father stood before him.
“Thank God, Adam! Where have you been?” Ben asked worriedly.
“Just riding, Pa,” Adam answered as he entered the house and hung his coat and hat.
“I was worried. It’s so cold out there and the winds really picking up,” Ben said. “Why are you avoiding us, Son?” he asked simply.
“I’m not, Pa.”
“Yes you are. You’re gone before any of us get up, including Hop Sing, and you don’t return until after we’ve gone to bed,” Ben told him and saw Adam’s eye rise in surprise. “I’ve heard you come in each night, son.”
“I’m sorry, Pa. I just can’t seem to face any of you. Especially Joe.”
“You have nothing to feel guilty about, Adam. We know you didn’t do this to your brother.”
“Joe still thinks I did,” Adam said sadly.
“I think Joe really knows you didn’t do it. He’s just confused right now because of the pain. As soon as he’s given the chance to think about it he’ll come to the same conclusions we did.”
“What conclusions have you come to, Pa?” Adam asked as he sat in the Chair by the fire.
“That someone who looks very much like you did this to your brother in order to place the blame on you,” Ben told him as he sat on the couch.
“What makes you think that?” Adam asked rubbing his tired eyes.
“Look at the evidence, son. Someone beat your brother and made sure Cochise brought him home. You were returning home the same day and someone decides to pick a fight with you over Sport. You walk into the house the next day with your knuckles cut and bruised and your brother says it was you that beat him.”
“Whoever did this to Joe must've looked an awful lot like me, Pa. Otherwise Joe would have seen right through it.”
“I know. But it is possible. We have to figure out who would do this to you and Joe. Maybe both of you are intended victims. Maybe someone wants revenge on you and your brother. We just have to figure out who,” Ben explained.
“How is Joe, Pa?” Adam asked softly.
“He’s doing better but he seems to have everything confused. He can’t remember much about what happened. Maybe you should go see him,” Ben suggested.
“Not yet, Pa. I don’t think Joe’s ready to see me yet,” Adam said. “Thanks for the talk, Pa, but I’m really tired.”
“Ok, son. I will see you in the morning won’t I?” Ben asked.
“I guess so,” Adam said as he slowly walked up the stairs.
Ben Cartwright moved to the chair his son had vacated. He looked at the pictures of his son and their mothers on the mantle and felt a silent tear roll down his cheeks. ‘Please God. I need your help right now. I need to find out who did this so my sons can begin to heal. I wish I could make it all go away and make my family whole again. Adam is in such pain knowing that someone who looks like him did this to Joe. Joe is in so much pain because he still thinks it was his brother. Hoss is beside himself with worry over his two brothers. I love them all so much,’ he thought and closed his eyes.
Joe opened his eyes and saw that he was alone in his room. The sun shone through the window and he pushed back the blanket and gingerly got out of bed. The last week had been a jumble of confused thoughts and nightmares. His body protested when he stood and slowly walked to the window. He looked out at the snow-covered yard and thought about his brother. ‘Why did you do it, Adam? I know I let you down in the Spencer deal but you didn’t have to do this,’ he thought as he looked down at his body. He felt as if someone were staring at him and glanced towards the barn. He jumped back in horror when he recognized his brother. Their eyes met and Joe shivered as his mind protested the fact that the man who’d beaten him was just a short distance away.
Stumbling back to his bed Joe shivered and pulled the blankets up around him. “Why, Adam, why?” he asked aloud.
“You ok, Joe?” Hoss asked as he entered the room with a breakfast tray.
“Just fine, Hoss,” Joe said and turned away from his brother.
“Hop Sing made you breakfast. Doc said you could have a normal breakfast today. It smells so good,” Hoss explained enthusiastically.
“Then you eat it,” Joe said and felt guilty for snapping at his brother. “I’m sorry, Hoss,” he said as he turned back to face the big man.
“I’m sorry too, Joe,” Hoss said.
“What have you got to be sorry for?”
“I’m sorry for what happened to you. I wish it had never happened. I wish things could be the way they were before Adam and you had that damn fight,” Hoss said as he placed the tray on the dresser.
“Yeah well, that ain’t gonna happen. Adam hates me and I hate him for what he did to me,” Joe said angrily.
“Are you sure it was Adam?” Hoss asked.
“I know what I saw, Hoss,” Joe said, his voice rising in frustration. “Why is it you and Pa always take his side. He beat me, don’t you understand that. I stood there and watched as my brother’s fists hit me over and over. I never want to see him again!”
“But, Joe,” Hoss tried.
“Just leave me alone, Hoss. You don’t believe me anyway,” Joe said and once more turned away from his brother.
Adam heard the condemning words his brother spoke and fought the urge to run. Joe’s voice was cold when he said that he hated him and Adam turned away from the door. He walked to his room and lay down on his bed. Closing his eyes he thought about his relationship with his youngest brother.
He knew they loved each other but could never come to grips with their different views on life in general. He knew that his family came first and then the Ponderosa. He prided himself on always being there for his family and doing everything his father asked of him. He was always on time and always did that little bit extra to insure that the ranch ran smoothly, including the mining and timber rights.
He thought of Joe and how he interpreted his life. Joe lived life day to day. He was carefree and fun loving. He’d rather be fishing or playing poker than working on the ranch. Adam stood and walked to his bedroom window angry with himself. ‘That’s not really how Joe is. He does his work it just takes a little coaxing sometimes. Maybe I should change places with him and see what it’s like being the youngest. I’m so sorry that you’ve been hurt, little brother, but I promise you, I’ll find the people responsible,’ he thought.
“You ok, Son?”
Adam turned from the window and sat in a chair. “I don’t know, Pa. I keep thinking about the people who did this to Joe and I want to do the same thing to them. I want to use my fist on them until they black out like my brother did,” Adam said as he curled his hands into tight fists.
“That would be stooping to their level. I think we have to give Roy a chance to catch the people responsible.”
“It’s been over a week and he hasn’t found anything. I think it’s time we did a little searching of our own, Pa. Joe needs you and Hoss here with him but he doesn’t want or need me. I’m going to do a little investigating of my own and see what I can find out.”
“Adam, Joe needs you, he just hasn’t realized it yet,” Ben explained as he gazed into his son’s forlorn eyes. “I need you, Adam,” he said.
“Thanks, Pa, it means a lot to hear you say that. I mean all the evidence points to me. The fact that little Joe said it was me made you wonder. I know you didn’t know what to believe when you saw my fists and I don’t blame you but, Pa, I would never hurt any of you,” Adam said, turning back to the window.
Ben saw the pain and hurt in his son’s eyes and knew Adam needed him as much as Joe did. He placed his hand on Adam’s shoulder, “I won’t tell you that you’re wrong because that would be a lie. I had my doubts but when I looked into your eyes the day you came home I knew you could not have done it. Adam, you are a strong young man and I’ve seen you hold back from hitting your brother when someone else would have just let fly and be damned.”
“Thanks, Pa, I think I’ll pack a few things and see what I can find out.”
“Please don’t go, Adam,” Ben pleaded.
“I have to find out who did this, Pa. I can’t live with Joe hating me. I heard him tell Hoss that he hated me and I can’t live with that right now.”
“He doesn’t mean it, son, you know that. Even though Joe believes it was you that beat him, deep down he knows the truth and he’ll need you here when he does. Please don’t run away. That’s just not you,” Ben told him.
Adam knew he couldn’t leave even though it would be hard to stay and hear Joe scream in his sleep. “All right, Pa, I’ll stay. At least until Joe tells me he doesn’t want me here anymore.”
“Then you’ll be here for a long time,” Ben told him. “Now let’s go down and see what Hop Sing made for breakfast.”
“I’ll be down in a minute, Pa.”
“Ok, son,” Ben said and removed his hand from Adam’s shoulder. He left his oldest sons room and breathed a sigh of relief that he wouldn’t be leaving.
Adam followed a few minutes later but stopped by little Joe’s open door. His brother was supposed to be confined to bed but was instead standing by his open window. Adam could see Joe’s breath as it met the cold air coming in from outside. “Joe, you’ll catch a cold standing in the window like that,” he said instinctively.
Joe turned horrified eyes on his brother, “What do you care?” he asked.
“I don’t want you getting sick on top of the injuries you have,” Adam said but didn’t enter the room.
“You’re the one who gave me the injuries,” Joe said, his voiced tinged with sadness and pain.
“I didn’t, Joe,” Adam told him and began to walk into the room.
“I saw you big brother. Just go away and leave me alone. You may have Pa, Hoss and everyone else fooled but not me. I’ll never forgive you, Adam,” he said and continued to stare out the window. He wouldn’t meet his brother’s eyes and held his breath till he heard his retreating footsteps. ‘I may not be able to forgive you, Big brother,’ Joe thought as a silent tear rolled down his cheek. ‘But I’ll always love you.’
“Joseph, you get back in bed right now!” Ben ordered as he came into the room and hurried to close the window. He rubbed his arms to ward of the chill. He didn’t miss the thin stream of moisture on his sons face. “Are you ok, son?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m just fine,” Joe said, a little too sarcastically.
“I know your hurting, son, but don’t speak to me like that,” Ben ordered.
“I’m sorry, Pa. I guess I’m just tired. I think I’ll get some sleep. Ok?”
“Sure, son, you do that and no more trips to the window,” Ben said as he pulled an extra blanket over Joe’s prone form. “Have a good rest, son, I’ll be up later to check on you.”
“Sure, Pa,” Joe said and closed his eyes. Sleep did not come easily as Joe kept hearing his brothers voice saying how much he was going to enjoy this interlaced with I didn’t, Joe. ‘I saw you, Adam. I know it was you,’ he thought as sleep finally overcame him.
Once again the nightmare took over and Joe could see the man in black advancing on him but the words were different this time and Joe no longer felt the terror the other nightmares had on him. The man's words were jumbled as Joe’s mind finally focused on the eyes. There was something wrong with them. ‘The colour! You’re not, Adam!’ Joe screamed at him.
‘Oh this is going to be such a pleasure,” the nightmare Adam told him.
‘You can’t hurt me anymore! You’re not Adam.’ “Adam! Adam!” Joe screamed and bolted out of bed. His body immediately protested the quick movement and Joe sank down by his bed laughing while tears streamed down his cheeks, “Adam!” he called even as he saw his father, two brothers, and Hop Sing rush into his room. He tried to lift himself off the floor but grimaced at the pain from his injured ribs.
Three men rushed to his side to help him. He saw his oldest brother remain standing by the door and knew he had to say something. “I’m sorry, Adam,” he said and felt the others turn to the door.
Adam stood frozen to the spot. He was happy to see his brother smiling even though tears ran down his still bruised cheeks but he knew it would be short lived. Slowly Joe’s words sank in and he moved towards him. “What did you say, Joe?” he asked hopefully.
“I’m sorry, Adam. I’m so sorry,” Joe said as the others moved away to give the brothers a chance to talk.
“You have nothing to be sorry about, Joe,” Adam said as he reached down and helped his brother to his feet. The two men sat on the bed and neither spoke for a moment oblivious to the audience they had.
“I do, Adam. I should have known better. You left before because you didn’t want to hit me. How could I believe that you would come back here just to do this to me? I love you, big brother!” Joe exclaimed.
“I love you too, little brother,” Adam said and wrapped his arms around Joe’s trembling shoulders. “What changed your mind, Joe?”
“Something’s been nagging at me ever since this happened but I couldn’t figure out what it was.”
“That’s understandable. After all you were hurt pretty bad,” Adam told him.
“I know it wasn’t you but let me tell you, Adam, you have an evil twin out there. But now I know how to tell you apart.”
“How, son,” Ben asked as he, Hoss, and Hop Sing moved closer to the two men.
“The evil Adam has the coldest blue eyes you’ll ever see. There empty, almost lifeless.”
“What made you remember?” Hoss asked.
“Adam did,” Joe said simply.
“How did I make you remember, Joe? Adam asked confused.
“Remember when you came in here and said you didn’t do it?” at Adam’s nod, Joe continued. “I tried to sleep but kept hearing the evil Adam telling me how much he was going to enjoy it and then I’d hear you saying you didn’t do it. Well once I fell asleep the nightmare returned and this time I saw his eyes. I mean I really saw his eyes. They were cold and blue not warm and brown like Adams.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Joe,” Adam said.
“Go through what, Adam. The nightmare. Don’t be, because it gave me back my brother,” Joe said happily.
“I’m sorry you were beaten by someone with my face and body,” Adam told him.
“He may have had your face and body but now I know it wasn’t you,” Joe told him. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Thanks, Joe, that means a lot to me. I promise you I’ll find the man who did this to you.”
“I don’t want you to, Adam. Not right now anyway. I don’t want you going anywhere. I just got you back, big brother, and I want to keep you around. Besides,” Joe said his eyes lighting up with happiness. “Christmas is just around the corner.” Everyone broke into laughter at Joe’s comments. They all knew how much little Joe enjoyed Christmas and now they would be together as a family again.
Billy Tucker had been watching the ranch house for five days waiting for his chance to get to Joe Cartwright. It seemed as if the perfect opportunity was about to present itself. He watched from the trees as Ben and Hoss Cartwright mounted their horses and rode out of the yard. Hop Sing had left earlier that day and still hadn’t returned. That left Adam and Joe Cartwright alone in the house. An evil grin spread over his face as he watched the house. He waited for the cover of darkness and began to edge his way towards the house his gun in hand. As he reached the door he knocked gently.
“I’ll get it, Joe,” Adam told his brother, who was lying on the couch before a warm fire.
“Hmm,” Joe said sleepily.
Adam walked to the door and opened it. His mind registered the face just as a gun connected with his temple and he slumped to the floor unconscious.
“Adam,” Joe called from the couch.
“Yeah, It’s me little brother,” Tucker said as he pulled Adam’s body out onto the porch. He left the door slightly ajar and advanced on the couch.
Joe heard the coldness in the voice and knew he was in trouble. Ignoring the slight protest from his ribs he pulled himself to a sitting position and then to his feet. He stared into the ice blue eyes of Adam’s twin.
“What do you want?” Joe asked in a shaky voice.
“Aren’t you happy to see me little brother?” Tucker asked.
“You’re not my brother,” Joe said and edged towards the stairs. ‘If I can get to my room I can call for help,’ he thought. Joe made a lunge for the stairs but wasn’t quite fast enough and soon found a knife at his throat.
“I guess you’re not happy to see me, are you?” Tucker leered as he slowly ran the blade across his victim’s throat.
“No,” Joe whispered as he felt the blood trickle down his neck.
“Don’t worry I ain’t gonna kill you just yet. I’m just gonna mess you up a little,” Tucker laughed evilly. He pulled the knife away from Joe’s sticky neck and pulled him towards the kitchen.
Joe fought with all his strength but soon found himself in Hop Sings spotless kitchen. His nemesis was so much stronger than he was at the moment and he knew he was in trouble but thoughts of Adam invaded his mind. “Where’s my brother?” he asked as Tucker turned him so they were facing each other.
“He’s taking a little nap on the porch. Might have a headache when he wakes up though. Now let’s see what we’re going to do. I know,” Tucker said and lunged at Joe.
Joe saw the move but was unable to move as quickly as he normally would and felt a sharp pain in his right side. Blood quickly welled up and began to soak into his shirt.
“That gotta hurt,” Tucker said and once again lunged at the smaller man.
Joe moved to the left just as Tucker brought the knife down on him. Tucker swore as he missed his mark completely.
Joe kept moving towards the door that led from the kitchen to the outside. ‘Have to get help for Adam,’ he thought as his knees threatened to buckle. Finally he thought he was close enough and turned his back on the advancing man. His hand gripped the handle just as Tucker realised what he had planned.
“Oh no you don’t,” Tucker said and he drove the knife into Joe’s upper right shoulder.
Joe felt the sharp pain and his body slumped to the floor. Weakened from blood loss he watched through squinted eyes as the man knelt beside him, “I think that’s enough for today, little brother. I’ll be back to finish the job later,” he laughed as he opened the door and hurried away.
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