Adam and His Brothers

By Tennessee

Adam was not feeling well but he kept working. He cut wood for several long minutes and then had to sit down on one of the logs to rest. He was getting ready to go back to the cutting the wood when he felt even more sick. He fell as he tried to get up.

He knew he had to get to the house. His pa and Hop Sing were gone to California for a few days; only Adam and his brothers were home, and his brothers were at school.

Adam pulled himself up and gripped the side of the house. He made it to the front door, opened it, and fell on the floor. His body shivered uncontrollably; he knew he had a high fever and he was coughing bad. He pulled himself up and somehow made it to his bed; he didn’t remember how.

Hoss and Joe were in school but were having trouble paying attention. Adam hadn’t looked good when they’d left the house that morning. They were worried about him. Adam never liked to rest, never wanted to admit that he was sick. Adam had told them to go to school and not worry, but Hoss couldn’t stop thinking about his older brother.

At lunchtime Hoss told the teacher that he was going home to check on Adam.

"Me too," Little Joe said and Hoss nodded that it was ok.

When they got to the ranch they didn’t see Adam. The front door was open, which was unusual. They jumped off their horses and ran into the house.

"Adam!" Hoss yelled.

"In here," Adam said weakly, and Hoss and Joe ran to the bunkroom.

Adam was lying in bed still wearing his clothes, which were damp with perspiration. His forehead felt very hot but Adam was shaking and coughing.

"I need water," Adam said.

"I’ll get it," replied Little Joe. He brought back a glass of water.

Hoss helped Adam drink slowly. Then Hoss and Joe helped Adam change clothes. Little Joe dipped rags in cool water like Hop Sing always did and put them on Adam’s forehead. "We need to get his fever down, right Hoss?"

"That’s right, little brother. You’re doing good."

Hoss said, "I think Hop Sing has something for that cough. I’m going to check his doctorin’ supplies."

Hoss looked in the doctoring book Hop Sing had from his father. He found a part that said to make a certain kind of hot tea and to give it to the patient every four hours. Adam said he had a sore throat too and his head ached. Hoss carefully prepared the tea and took it to Adam, who could only drink a bit since his throat was so sore.

"Adam, ya need to drink all of it," Hoss said. "It will help your cough."

"I’m so cold, Hoss," Adam whispered.

"That’s your fever that’s doing that, Adam"

Little Joe looked at Hoss with wide eyes. Hoss forced a smile and said, "Little Joe, I need to see you outside for a minute." Hoss told Little Joe Hoss needed to get some bark from the tree that helped bring down a fever. Hop Sing had taught Hoss which tree had the right bark and Hoss had shown Little Joe.

"But Hoss . . . "Joe whimpered.

"I won’t be gone long. You’ll be all right. Keep putting the cool rags on Adam’s face. Try to give him fluids. As much as he’ll drink."

"I’ll do my best," replied Joe. "Please hurry."

"I will, little brother."

Hoss rode as fast as he could. Meanwhile Little Joe sat with Adam and put the cool rags on his forehead. Hoss found the right tree and cut a section of bark. Then he rode as fast as he could back to the Ponderosa.

Little Joe ran to Hoss when he came in the door. "Adam’s fever is still high," he told Hoss.

"I’m going to make some tea with this bark. Give him some more of the tea with the cough medicine. I’ll be there in a minute."

Little Joe got Adam to drink more of the tea. Adam managed a small smile and said, "Thank you, Joe."

Hoss came in with the aspirin he’d made and gave some to Adam. He then heated some soup and got Adam to eat a few spoonfuls.

Adam was sick for two days. His brothers cared for him the entire time. Finally he stopped coughing. He sneezed more but his fever was down.

Ben and Hop Sing got home right on time. Little Joe and Hoss were doing chores when they rode up.

"Why aren’t you two in school?" Ben asked. "Where’s Adam?"

"Pa, Adam’s sick," Hoss said. "But don’t worry, we been taking care of him. We gave him medicine for his cough and made some of that tea that helps fevers."

"And I put cool rags on his forehead," added Little Joe. "We made sure he got lots of water and soup."

Ben smiled. "I’m proud of you both. You did the right thing. Let’s go see Adam."

They all did. Adam was awake and he smiled at Ben and said, "Hi, Pa, Hop Sing."

Hop Sing looked Adam over and said, "He’ll be well soon. His brother do good job of caring for him.""

Ben smiled again. "I’m so proud of my family," he said.

Adam was up and doing his chores again two days later. He felt better than he had in a long time. He smiled when he thought of how well his brothers had cared for him.

The End