Summary: A Tiny WHN for “A House Divided” Surely, the brothers had more to say to one another than what we heard at the lake. Perhaps just three little words?
Rating: K
Word Count: 705
Three Little Words
“Tell me one thing, Joe,” Adam requested as they rode away from the lake that had held his fixed gaze for so many thoughtful hours. “Did Pa send you after me?”
For a moment Little Joe looked offended. Then his countenance cleared and he said simply, “Nope . . . my idea.”
Adam smiled, pleased. Just three little words, but they conveyed more of what he needed to hear than that whole blathering speech Joe had made at the lake, some nonsense about not being able to stay up late setting poorly with him if his older brother was leaving home. Adam’s smile took on a wry quality as he asked, “Just in the mood for a moonlight ride, hmm?”
Little Joe grinned back at him. “Something like that.”
Adam chuckled. “Since when are you given to laconic speech?” The blathering at the lake was more like Joe’s normal rambling way with words.
“Huh?”
“You must have talked yourself out at the lake,” Adam amplified, “but if all I’m going to get out of you all the way home is three-word replies, I do hope they will include the three words dearest to a big brother’s heart.”
Little Joe looked genuinely confused. After a moment’s thought he cocked his head and hesitantly suggested, “I love you?”
Adam couldn’t hold back the surprised laughter that came rippling up his throat. “I’m gratified,” he said when he regained control, “although that did sound more like a question than a statement. I thought you reserved that sort of sentiment for things in frilly skirts and pink hair ribbons. I scarcely qualify.”
Not sure whether to wince or grin, Little Joe shrugged, instead. “Wrong three words?”
“Not the ones I had in mind,” Adam conceded.
“What three words?” Joe demanded. “Bothersome big brother” were the three that came to mind, but he’d lay odds those weren’t the ones in Adam’s head!
“Ah, the words guaranteed to warm any big brother’s heart,” Adam said, dramatically placing his palm above the organ he’d mentioned. “‘Adam, you were right.’”
Joe gave him a sour smile and said pointedly, “That’s four words.”
“Names don’t count,” Adam stated, adding with poetic flair, “‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would—’”
Joe’s eloquent groan cut him off. “Please, no Shakespeare.”
“All right, no Shakespeare,” Adam agreed with a conciliatory chuckle. The last thing he wanted was to stir up more friction with his younger brother.
They rode along in silence for a while. Then Little Joe said softly, “You were right.”
“What?” It took Adam a moment to make the connection; then he said gently, “Joe, I was teasing. You don’t really have to say that.”
“No, but . . .” Joe thoughtfully bit his lower lip and went on. “You were right, Adam . . . about Kyle. He wasn’t who I thought he was at all.”
In the darkness Adam couldn’t see the pain in his brother’s eyes, but he could hear the disillusionment in his voice. “No, he wasn’t,” he said. “I’m glad you realized that in time.”
“I’m glad, too.” Embarrassed by the emotion choking in his throat, Little Joe switched subjects with lightning speed. “Hey, Adam, I got three more words for you.” He waited until Adam’s eyes were fixed quizzically on his face, and then he said with a puckish grin, “Pink hair ribbons—I think you’d look mighty fetchin’ in ‘em.” Kicking his heels against Cochise’s flank, he took off.
“They’d look better on you, you little imp!” Adam yelled, but he refused to give chase. He wasn’t about to race his brother down a dark forest trail, and he knew that if he didn’t follow, Joe would soon return. Keeping Sport to an easy walk, he whispered the three little words he probably wouldn’t be able to say when his brother came back: “I love you, too, kid.” The extra words didn’t count; only the love did, and love would bring them home. Going home together—the best three words of all.
The End
© March, 2007
Tags: Adam Cartwright, JAM, Joe / Little Joe Cartwright
That was cute. Love those brothers. Two lovable brothers. thanks
We all love those brothers! Thank you, Hope.
So cute! And I Love them!
Me, too! Thank you, Maria.
Glad to see more dialogue than what was originally written for the lake scene.
It was nice to see the emotion and the teasing from both brothers.
…Loved it.
Thank you, Oscar (though you don’t seem like a grouch 🙂 That teasing banter between brothers is one of my favorite things to write.
Loved Joe’s way of saying ‘I love you’. A perfect little scene and great use of the three little words motif.
Thank you, Sierra. This one was great fun to play with.
Very good, Puchi Ann. I really enjoyed this short scene between Adam and Joe. It was a better explanation of his return than the original scene.
What wouldn’t be better than that? LOL. I’m glad you enjoyed this version. 🙂
What a fun conversation to be privy to, and fitting for the ride home. So many three-little-words that fit the moment. I love it when Adam and Joe have these teasing, yet loving, moments.
I do, too, obviously. 🙂 Thanks for enjoying it along with me.
You pack so much sentiment into such a short story – I love it
Thank you, Dreamer. The shorter the story, the more packing becomes a must, and the more satisfaction when it works. Happy it did for you!
Really liked that story. Much more needed to be said than what was exchanged at the lake, and you covered it well.
Thank you, Lisa. That speech at the lake never satisfied me, and I’m pleased that this version suited you.
Good little story – nice one
Thank you, Tracy.
Frilly skirts and pink ribbons — about right! 😄
I’ve never actually seen this ep, but this was a nice little brother moment all the same. Seemed like the kind of talk those two might manage to have …
Very nice, thx for writing!
You need to see this episode, one of my favorites! I’m glad you enjoyed the story, even without that background.
I think Joe was waffling at the lake too so I’m glad you gave them some more time to talk. This was serious and funny at the same time. Great job!
Thank you! Real life is mixed of the serious and the funny, all at once, isn’t it? 🙂
That was lovely Puchi Ann, amazing how many ‘three little words’ could be used in there. Pity Joe didn’t hear Adams at the end. Thank you for this.
Yes, Adam needs to work on that reticence of his about voicing such thoughts when they can be heard. Glad you enjoyed the 3-word choices.
Love the three-word motif. Nicely done!
I can’t recall now what inspired that motif, but it was fun to work with. Glad you liked it, too!
Puchi Ann, I liked this story revolving around three words. I always enjoy the dialog between or among the brothers, but this one involving three words is most amusing. And, it seems to fill the gap of what might have happened at the end of “A House Divided”.
I love brother dialog, too! Thanks for enjoying this bit with me.
Beautiful Story, I always wondered what happened on the way home.
I’m not sure this is the definitive answer to what happened on the way home, but it was a fun idea, and I’m glad you enjoyed it, too.