After the Stagecoach Accident

By Tennessee

Little Joe ran to Paint. He’d missed his horse while he was away visiting Uncle Ed and Will with Pa. But as he ran, he got dizzy and fell to the ground. Hoss ran and picked him up. Adam helped Ben into the house. Both Ben and Little Joe had been in a serious stagecoach accident on their trip home.

Hop Sing had a special dinner waiting, but when he saw Ben and Little Joe, he said, "Put them in bed. I’ll be there in a minute to take care of them.

Ben and Joe were weak and real sore. Adam and Hoss put them both on Ben’s bed. Hop Sing cam in the room with some water and clean cloths to wash their wounds and wrap them again. After he cleaned their wounds, he told Hoss to get fresh water and two cups. "Adam, go get some warm water. Bathe their arms and faces. That will help them feel better. Warm the water on the fire."

Both Adam and Hoss ran to do as Hop Sing had said. Hop Sing smiled, "I will take care of you. You need to rest and let your wounds heal. I will see that you do that."

Ben and Little Joe looked at him and smiled. "Thank you, Hop Sing."

Hoss came in with the fresh cold water. Adam brought in the warm water and a rag. Hop Sing said, "Would you like something to eat?"

They both said no. Soon afterward, they fell asleep.

In the living room, Adam asked Hop Sing, "Pa and Little Joe look so white and weak. Will they be okay?"

"We need to make sure they get lots of rest so they can heal," said Hop Sing. "We need to clean their wounds regularly."

Adam, Hoss, and Hop Sing ate supper, but they were so worried about Pa and Little Joe. They slept for a few hours but then they heard Little Joe yell, "Adam!" They ran to the room Joe and Ben shared.

"Adam, I need water!" Joe yelled.

Adam put the cup to Joe’s mouth and gave him a drink. Soon the boy was asleep again. Hoss, Adam, and Hop Sing just sat there and watched them sleep. Adam and Hoss stayed up all night.

The next day after Hop Sing had cleaned Ben and Joe’s wounds, he said, "You two need to eat a little bit."

Little Joe said, "I want to sleep."

Hop Sing countered, "You need to eat first." But Little Joe rolled over and fell asleep again.

Ben said, "Let us sleep a little more. We’ll eat soon."

Hop Sing left the room, but at dinnertime he woke them up and again told them they needed to eat. He had a tray with cups of green tea and bowls of rice. Ben ate almost all his rice, but Little Joe just took a few bites. He managed to drink the tea.

Hop Sing said, "We need to clean your wounds. They’re healing well."

Little Joe sat up again so Hop Sing could replace the bandages on his head. He got real dizzy again and his head hurt. He leaned his head on the wall and closed his eyes to stop the room from spinning.

Adam walked in to see how they were. Ben asked Adam to write to Ed and tell him what had happened. Adam wrote the letter and took it to town to mail it. Hoss was getting out of school when Adam mailed the letter.

Adam yelled, "Hoss! Wait up and I’ll ride home with you." As they rode home they talked about Ben and Little Joe.

Little Joe and Ben slept some more, but that night they all ate supper together. The next day was Saturday. Hop Sing said, "We need to get your father and Little Joe out of bed and help them walk around to rebuild the strength in their legs."

Adam helped Ben get up and walk around the house. Hoss did the same with Little Joe. After a week in bed, both Ben and Joe were looking better, though they were still in some pain.

By the send week they were eating better and could walk around on their own outside. Their wounds had almost healed, though Little Joe’s head hurt a little.

By the third week Ben was well enough to ride to town so he and Adam left early in the day, before Little Joe had awoken.

When Little Joe woke up there was no one in the house. He yelled and yelled for his pa. Hop Sing came running inside. When he got in the house, Little Joe was still yelling. Hop Sing said, "Mr. Cartwright go to town with Adam." Little Joe frowned and went back to bed.

Ben had a great time seeing his friends in town again, and everybody was happy to see him. Adam could see Ben was looking tired, like he needed to head home, so he suggested they start the long ride back. When they got home and Little Joe heard Ben, he ran to the door and opened it, "Pa, pa," he cried, "when I woke up you weren’t here."

Ben said, "Son, I went to town."

"Why, Pa? You need to rest like me."

"I’m fine, son. I needed some fresh air."

Little Joe put his arms around Ben and said, "Pa, I love you."

By the fourth week Ben was his old self. Little Joe was well, too. His wounds had healed and his head had stopped aching. But he would not let Ben out of his side for longer than a few moments. He still slept in his father’s bed.

One day Ben said, "It’s time you got back to school, son. You’re well now. And tonight you’ll sleep in your own bed."

Tears slipped out of Little Joe’s eyes and ran down his cheeks. "Please let me sleep with you."

"No, son. It’s time to go back to your room."

That night Little Joe said good night with a very sad look on his face. He cried himself to sleep. Adam and Hoss had just gone to bed when Little Joe cried out, "Pa! Pa, where are you?"

Adam and Hoss were trying to wake Little Joe from the dream when Ben came in the door and put his arms around his youngest son. "Wake up, Little Joe. I’m right here."

"Pa! You’re here," Joe said sleepily.

"Yes, son. I’m fine. So are you. Little Joe, I know the stagecoach accident scared you and made you worry about me, but I’m fine. You saved all of us when you went to get help. You’re not a baby, Joe. You’re a young man now."

"But, Pa, I never wanted to go on the trip. I got mad at you. If I had stayed home, what would have happened to you?"

"But, son, you were there. Don’t think about what might have happened. We’re both fine. And we’re home."

Little Joe said, "Pa, I’m so glad we’re home."

Ben smiled, "Me too." He helped Little Joe crawl back under the covers. Ben looked at his sons and wished them a good night.

Little Joe went back to school the next day. He had a great day at school with his friends.

Adam noticed Little Joe was back to his old self and said so to Ben.

Ben smiled and said, "I’m glad he’s ok and happy."

As they were talking about Little Joe, he and Hoss rode up.

"How was school?" Ben asked.

"Fine, Pa," Joe answered. "Hey, Adam, wanna go fishin’ with me and Hoss?"

Adam smiled and said, "Sure, little brother."

Adam ran to get their fishing poles and saddle his horse. Ben watched his three sons ride off and he smiled as he thought to himself how lucky a man he was to have three sons like them. It warmed his heart how close they were.

That night Little Joe’s voice came from his bunk. "Adam, Hoss, I’m so glad you two are my brothers."

"We’re glad you’re our brother, too, Little Joe," Adam and Hoss answered. "Good night."

They all went to sleep happy.

The End