Shirtless Joe (by JC)

Summary: One man’s “Field of Dreams” is another woman’s fantasy.

Rating:  PG   (1,010 words)

 

Author’s Note – I’m mostly an Adam fan, but this was just too much fun not to write. With special thanks to W.P. Kinsella for the inspiration.

 

SHIRTLESS JOE

 

“Mom, there’s a man in our backyard.”

My son’s words raised the hair on the back of my neck.  I dropped the laundry basket and ran to the window.

“It’s him. It’s really him,” I whispered.  “The Voice was right.”

“Him who?” my son asked.  “What Voice?”

“Could it be the same Voice that told you to fill in the swimming pool and build a pasture?” My husband has a way of making everything sound so negative, but then, he has always been a “half-empty glass” kind of guy.  I’ve learned to ignore him for the most part.  Besides, it wasn’t a pasture; it was a corral, certainly no reason for him to resign his post as Vice-President of the Homeowners Association.  That was his idea, yet somehow it had become my fault.

“Shirtless Joe Cartwright, that’s him who.”   If you build it, he will come.  That’s what The Voice had said, and here he was. I couldn’t help but be awestruck at the sight of him, so young and bronze and full of classic television goodness.  The Ingalls clan wasn’t even a gleam in his eye yet.

I was only vaguely aware of my spouse’s continued grousing. “Did The Voice happen to say anything about dinner?”   Was he kidding?  Who needed food while the eyes feasted?

My son interrupted my gawking reverie. “He’s wearing a shirt and a jacket, so why do they call him Shirtless Joe?”

“Well, you see it’s because he’s hot…I mean, sometimes it’s hot…and he gets all sweaty and…”  I balked at the prospect of trying to explain mid-life female fantasies to an eleven-year-old boy.  Some things are better left unsaid.

Apparently, my husband agreed with me on that point.  “It’s no use, son.  I would say you’ll understand when you’re older, but if you do, you’ll be a better man then most. Come on, let’s go get a pizza and watch the All-Star game on the big screen.”

“Can we get a horse, Dad?”

With the two of them off to seek solace in deep-dish pepperoni, baseball and other man things, I got up the nerve to go outside and greet the handsome but bewildered looking cowboy gracing my back lawn (right after I fluffed my hair,  pinched my cheeks, checked my teeth, glossed my lips and popped a breath mint.)

“Hello,” I said, assuming my most charming demeanor, trying to act natural.

“Howdy, ma’am.”  He took off his hat, seeming relieved to see another person.  “I’m a little confused.  I’m not sure where I am or how I got here.  Is this…heaven, or Iowa?”

I shook my head. “It’s Texas.”

“Well, I figured it was too hot for either one.  Texas, huh?  Looks a lot different from the way I remember.  It’s a lot prettier.”  He smiled at me.  “I’m Joe Cartwright.”

“Yes, I know.”  I felt my face flaming under his green-eyed gaze.   “I mean, nice to meet you.  I’m…uh…” I couldn’t even remember my own name for a moment.  “I’m JC.”

“JC, like me.”  He grinned.  “Nice place you got here.  You wouldn’t happen to have a horse I could borrow, would you?”

“Thanks,” I said.  “I’m sorry, I don’t have any horses. I only built this place because the Voice told me to.”

He raised his eyebrows.  “You hear voices?”

“Just one.”  It was always so hard to explain to someone else.

He was looking at me the way the neighbors used to before they started avoiding me altogether. “You don’t think you’re a fish or a tree or anything like that, do you?”

“I’m not crazy or dangerous, if that’s what you mean.  The fact that I do things for no apparent reason just seems to annoy some people. I didn’t know it before, but I think I built this for you.”

The notion seemed to please him as he surveyed his new surroundings once more.  “There is something about this place…I think my father and my brothers would like it, too.  Would it be all right if I brought them here, and maybe a few friends?”

For the love of Zachary Pete Taylor, would it ever!  I tried not to sound too excited. “Of course. That would be perfectly fine.”

“Well, I guess I’d better be headin’ back.  Pa worries if I’m late.  Do you have any idea which way…?”

“Try the cornfield.”  I had a feeling it would come in handy somehow.

As I watched him disappear between the tasseled rows swaying in the breeze, I was tempted to follow but decided against it.  After all, a little mystery adds spice to life.  Besides, I really wanted to retouch my roots before anyone else happened to show up.

That was only the beginning.  Of course, not everyone sees what I see.  My poor blind husband sees only the piles of laundry and the dishes in the sink and a vacant lot where a swimming pool should be.  But there are a few people who think like me.  Someone once said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.”  If you build it, people will come.  It was true.  Just ask Kevin Costner.

A voice calls to me from across the fence.  “Hey, wanna play with us?  Come on over!”

I’m still not too good at horseshoes, but I’m always game.  Hoss grins and Adam winks at me as I walk by.

My pitch is a perfect ringer this time, earning me a rousing cheer from the growing number of spectators and a congratulatory hug from my teammate Joe, in all his glistening shirtless glory, giving me a whole new appreciation for the Texas heat.

My husband stares and shakes his head. “Honey, I’m really gonna miss you, because they’re gonna to take you away one of these days. You know that, don’t you?”

“You could be right, dear.”  I smile as I accept Hop Sing’s offer of lemonade, blushing as the Cartwrights toast me in unison.  “But what a way to go.”

 

~END~

 

Tags:  Joe / Little Joe Cartwright

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Author: JC

A drop in the sea of humanity. And I write a bit.

26 thoughts on “Shirtless Joe (by JC)

  1. The picture attached to this story answered my quest for a little distraction. I was completely satisfied. Holly Mackreld what a hottie! I still love that kid.72 years old and still in love within his shirtless boy.

  2. I read this story before I went to bed last night, Boy what lovely dreams I had. Great story sure is a dream come true. I love Joe he is so cute, nice body too. I also love Adam who is tall dark and handsome and has a sexy hairy chest. Of course Hoss with a big Gentle heart. I love Pa who is full of wisdom when it comes to raising his sons. Thanks for the wonderful dream.

  3. I have tô read it again, thanks tô my dear friend Sue Ann!!! Now I can dream once more with my sweet and beautiful cowboy!!! I am not alone!!! LOL

  4. Oh!!! We are in paradise! That is the way we can feel with them, all the time! I am not alone! Lol

  5. How wonderful. I love what you did to the place, I mean the story. This was terrific and so funny. Thanks for writing it. It made my morning a lot more pleasurable than it was shaping up to be.

    1. “We are such stuff as dreams are made on…” especially concerning the Cartwright brothers, lol. Sweet dreams, Inca — thanks for reading!

  6. I remember reading this long ago when I first discovered Bonanza fanfic. So fun! Think I’ll go dunk my head in the trough and find out if Joe appreciates wet T-shirts. Thanks, JC!

    1. Thanks, Cheaux! You’re right, this is an oldie — the eleven year old is now 23! I’m glad to know the story has held up over time. 🙂

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