***** SEASON TWELVE *****

The Night Virginia City Died

His foot rested on the low table, propped on a pillow. Hoss forced himself to enjoy the innocent pleasure Joe was never allowed when Pa was present.

He listened to his brother and father taking turns describing the scenes of chaos Virginia City suffered that night; including the demise of the arsonist. Bathing and eating earlier had done nothing to lessen their exhaustion.

Joe’s vivid description of the events coalesced into images that flickered in rapid succession through Hoss’ mind. Shuddering, ‘what-ifs’ roiled and smoldered, mirroring the smoke-filled ruins of Virginia City.

‘Relax, they’re both home, and safe,’ he kept repeating.

By BluewindFarm

B ~ O ~ N ~ A ~ N ~ Z ~ A

It rained the day Janie was laid to rest. The irony wasn’t lost on him.

Clem had thought better of the townsfolk, had thought they would be able to overcome their anger towards the girl who had been stricken with an illness that no medicine in the world could have cured. But his faith had been misplaced. The rumors had spread as quickly as the flames that had destroyed most of Virginia City, and though they had all known Janie, only four showed up for the funeral.

Four. He could taste the bitterness on his tongue. So much for turning the other cheek.

By Annie K Cowgirl

The Power of Life and Death

I only meant to tease Pa when I told him, ‘Next time there’s a posse, don’t volunteer to go into the desert.’  But now that we’re heading home, the similarities hit me hard.

Tobias and April Horn and John Spain.  It was just a year and a half ago that I was out there all alone; no horse, scorching sun, shot at, delirious with thirst, and exhausted.

Davis’ words will haunt me for a while.  I’d joked ‘I almost made it’, but as he let me know, I almost didn’t.  Thankfully, fate saw fit to intervene to see me safe.

By BluewindFarm

NOTE:  The Horns and Spain are from the episode, A Ride in the Sun.

Gideon, the Good

My son is a good boy.

No, he is a good man.

He knew exactly what he was saying when he asked me what kind of a man did I want him to be. He knew it would stop me from scolding him like a little boy and allow him to help that stranger.

El Jefe was wrong and my boy was right. God help us, because this will break our little town. My hands shake as I think on what he has done. Luis is right. But that does not take away my fear. I am terrified for him.

By Questfan

The Trouble with Trouble

Dangnabbit!  Just whose stupid idea was it anyway for me to come and be the sheriff in this crazy town anyhow? I break up the fight and the bartender don’t want me to. He says they ain’t doin’ nothin’ wrong. Until they run outta money that is. Then he wants me to break it up!

We laughed when Joe wanted to take that job at Rubicon, but nobody laughed at me comin’ to Trouble. Guess I’m bigger’n Joe and a mite more intimidatin’.

Think I’d prefer Rubicon right about now. Trouble is … trouble! Where’s Joe when I need ‘im?

Thornton’s Account

Pa always says to keep a short account. To let go of things that don’t matter and get on with things that do.

I can’t even begin to tell Pa the truth of it. He’s recovering now, but he’s still fuzzy on the details of just how he came to be down at the bottom of that gully. He was down there far too long, all because of how those folks were too scared to help.

Strangers.

We didn’t matter to them.

Pa would never turn down a stranger who needed our help. I guess the account has been paid.

By Questfan

A Deck of Aces

Ya know, it says somethin’ when a man is one of a kind. Ain’t never gonna have ta worry my family about bein’ someone I’m not, or is that someone not bein’ me?

Well… I mean, ya have ta hand it to them others; you know who I’m talkin’ about. There was that Angus Borden fella an Joe facin’ a firin’ squad, and then Tom Burns runnin’ up bills all over town claimin’ he was Adam. Shucks, even Pa wasn’t safe, Bradley Meredith showed up tyin’ to sell the Ponderosa.

Nope, after they made me, God done broke the mold.

By BluewindFarm

Author’s note: After I wrote this, I was reminded that Hoss did have a double, The Gunmen. Oh well, at least Hoss was correct in one aspect, since Big Jack Slade wasn’t nearly as nice as Hoss, indeed the mold was broke.

~ B ~ O ~ N ~ A ~ N ~ Z ~ A ~

I couldn’t believe it. It was like looking in a mirror. Bradley Meredith looked just like me.

That explained why Wentworth and the railroad threatened to sue me for backing out of a deal I never made to begin with.

Once the deception was uncovered and Meredith behind bars, I thought it was over. But he had one more trick up his sleeve. It took some time for Hoss to convince Roy that I was the real Ben Cartwright (after I convinced him first.)

Meredith got away with $500 reward money and pretty Dixie.

Am I really a stuffed shirt?

By JC

The Stillness Within

“Joe?”

“Here Hoss,” I called from the shadows of the deck.

“Whatca doin’ out here all alone?”

With my eyes closed, I heard his approaching steps. “Thinking.”

“You regretting not going with Miss Dobbs?” accepting his weight, the chair creaked.

“No. I’m thankful I can see.”

“Then what’s wrong?”

“I was remembering, Tessa.”

“Huh?”

Opening my eyes, I looked straight to Hoss. I wanted him to see my shame, hopeful that he would understand my apology. “She handled being blind. . .  You and Pa, you were there for me every step, and I behaved. . .”

“You was scared.”

By BluewindFarm

Note:  Tessa was from Bullet for a Bride

~ B ~ O ~ N ~ A ~ N ~ Z ~ A ~

Worthless! Totally worthless!

How can a man call himself a real man when he can’t even do anything for himself?

My heart beats so loud in my chest, I know that Pa can hear it. I can feel his eyes on me, even if I can’t see them. I know that look he gets. The one that he reserves for those who need God’s pity. Or something like that.

Well I don’t need his pity! Or God’s.

I will not be pitied.

But Miss Dobbs said she pitied me. She said I lacked courage.

I can’t do this!

Can I?

 By Questfan

To Season Thirteen