Summary: Hoss attempts an explanation to Ben of who is coming down the street, and why.

Rating:  K+ (900 words)

This story was inspired by the Chaps & Spurs Challenge – January 2014. Write a story using this picture as inspiration.

  The final page contains reviews/comments from the old BonanzaBrand Library

A Misconstrued Statement

Inside the Silver Dollar saloon, Ben Cartwright sat, spending the afternoon, having a pleasant conversation and a couple of beers with his friend, Sheriff Roy Coffee. As he listened to his friend describe the most recent happenings in Carson City, his attention was drawn beyond the bat-wing doors that marked the entrance to the establishment. He looked long and hard for a second time and still couldn’t believe his eyes. Begging forgiveness he excused himself and told Roy to enjoy one more beer, on him, while he took care of something.

Stepping to the boardwalk, Ben rested against the hitching rail as his middle son dismounted from Chubbs, a grimace upon his face.

“If you’re in that much pain, wouldn’t it have been better if you stopped farther down the street… say at Paul Martin’s?” Ben asked as his son approached unwilling to look his father in the eye.

“I don’t need the doc,” Hoss hmmm’d.

“Then what?” stoically Ben stared at his son. “Would you care to explain what you’re doing in town when I left you and your brothers to finish fixing the roof on the barn? Did either of your brothers get injured?” Ben coolly asked while at the same time, slightly perturbed, already having figured the answer would be, No.

“Nah, they’s a fine too.”

“Then what, pray tell, brought you to town?”

“See Pa, it’s like this. Joe made a comment last night when he was in town… you… uh know he had a little too much to drink…”

“Yes, I remember the three of you coming home last night,” Ben waited for the continuation of the explanation.

See… Joe and Adam got to talkin’ about their mothers…”

“Their mothers, I see,” Ben nodded.

“And one thing led to another.”

“Led to another,” Ben mimicked. “Just what led to what?”

“We was leaving and, Adam, he had a little too much to drink, too.”

“Yes, I saw him, and Joe, and you last night…”

“Well, Adam made some comment about Mrs. McGuffney, ya know the widder…”

“Yes, I know Mrs. McGuffney, the widder,” Ben acknowledged. “What does she have to do with this…” Ben rolled his eyes in exasperation, “tale?”

“Well, you know how she’s been ahankerin’ after ya, and Joe said…”

“What did Joe say?” Ben stood straighter, fearing his youngest son had possibly disparaged the elderly woman.

“Well, he said, and I quote, ‘Pa’d better hurry up and marry Widow Hawkins’…”

“He what?!”

“Well he wasn’t exactly thinkin’ about what he was sayin’… when Widow Hawkins…”

“Don’t tell me…”

“Okay…”

“HOSS!”

“Well, she… she was walkin’ right by the doors as we’s a leavin’ and heard Joe.”

“Oh, heavens,” moaned Ben.

“She came to the house earlier; and Hop Sing told her you were in town. I came here as fast as I could, but you’d better hide, Pa. Don’t look like Adam nor Joe were able to stop her… She’s a wearin’ this white frilly dress and… here she comes!”

~The End

Inspired by The Burma Rarity

Story Tags: Ben Cartwright, Hoss Cartwright