ummary:  Joe has plans to go to the Spring Dance instead of the cattle drive–until Adam goes to town for supplies.  

Rated: T (2,635 words)

 

Loading the Wagon

 

“Yes, Mr. Cartwright-may I call you Adam?”

“I’d be honored.”

“Thank you. I wanted to ask-it’s about the Spring Dance on Saturday.”

“Ah, the Spring Dance. Are you planning on attending?”

“Well, that’s why I wanted to talk with you. You see-“

“Miss Beasley, perhaps I can make this easier for you-I am of course, aware of the Spring Dance, and perhaps, anticipating your next question, I will not be able-“

“Then you know it is one of the biggest social events of the year! And I wondered-I mean, your brother Joe-“

Pause.

“What about Joe?”

“Is he-do you know if he-“

“Miss Beasley?”

“Do-you-know-if-he-will-be-going-to-the-dance-on-Saturday? Oooh!”

“Excuse my clumsy feet, Miss Beasley, I seem to have stepped on your dress! I’m so very sorry! I hope I didn’t tear it.”

“Oh no, it seems quite all right!”

“My most sincere apologies, ma’am.”

“Yes, yes, no harm done-“

“You were asking-something about Joe and the dance?”

“Has he-he has asked anyone to the dance? I-I blush to admit that I’ve been watching for him-he usually comes to town in the afternoon. Joe is so strong and-and gallant, and there are lots of girls who might-I wondered if-“

“Well, Miss Beasley, Joe hasn’t been socializing much since-Wait! Are you saying that you would like him ask you to the dance, Miss Beasley? Because if you were to consent to go with Joe, my family would be most grateful to you!”

“Grateful?”

“Yes. Most grateful.”

Pause.

“Miss Beasley, I can trust you, can’t I?”

“Well-I guess so-“

“I’m glad; only a few people outside his family know, so I’m taking a chance with your discretion.”

“Know-? My discretion?”

“You may have noticed that Joe just hasn’t been his bold, daring self lately. Ever since-the accident.”

“Accident?”

“Shh-not so loud! It is wonderful that you are willing, despite his condition-“

“Condition?”

“Well, ‘condition’ is perhaps too harsh. He moves so smoothly and he has that brave twinkle in his eye-just looking at him, no one would ever know that he had been injured. Doc Martin thinks there a slim hope for recovery of his manly self, although we won’t really know if it’s a full recovery until down the road, when he wants to start a family-“

“Er-Mr. Cartwright-“

“Call me Adam, please! I-it’s just that, we, his family, will always treat him the same, but some young ladies can be so cruel! Excuse me, Miss Beasley, I fear that I may have said too much, but you are so kind and seem so sincerely fond of my brother and it would mean so much to him-“

“Mr. Cartwright-Adam-I’ve just remembered, I have to meet my sister over at the International House. Please excuse me!”

“Miss Beasley wait! Should I have Joe stop by? I mean-about the dance?”

“No-I mean, silly me! I’ve just remembered I promised someone else-I’ve really got to be going, Mr. -Adam. Please excuse me!”

“Of course! Wait, I’d be happy to escort you-ah, well, never mind.”

 

**********

 

“Adam! Hello! I saw you loading your wagon from the store window and I thought I’d nip over and ask you-“

“Clara! How are you! Let me set this sack down. You look well! It’s been a while since I’ve seen you or your family! How are things in the Mercantile?”

“Oh, fine, just fine!”

“Your folks?”

“Ma’s fine, and Pa-well, you know Pa, he keeps a tight rein on all of us girls. Adam, the reason I wanted to speak to you-you know the Spring Dance is this Saturday-“

“The Spring Dance?”

“Yes-I-er, was wondering if your brother Joe was-I mean, do you know if he has he asked anyone to the dance? Look out!”

“I’m so sorry, Clara, I almost knocked that crate onto your foot! Are you all right?”

“Yes, yes, no harm done. About the dance-you know my Pa is very careful about who escorts my sisters and me to dances. Joe’s been spending so much time at the store that Pa’s gotten to know him pretty well.”

“Joe’s been at the store a lot?”

“Yes, and Pa really seems to like him-“

“And to please your father, you wanted to know if Joe can take you to the dance?”

“Yes-and to please me, too of course. Has he asked anyone?”

“Let me get this crate out of the way before I put my foot through it. As for Joe-well-I don’t see how he could have asked anyone yet. He won’t have a chance to talk to any girls until his time is up.”

“His time?”

“Shh-step over here where we won’t be overheard!”

Pause.

“Clara, I can trust you can’t I? Because if word were to get back to Pa-you know how it is with strict fathers! Joe’ll get out later today, and what Pa doesn’t know can’t hurt him, if you know what I mean.”

“‘Get out later today?’ Don’t you wink slyly at me, Adam Cartwright! Are you saying he’s in jail?”

“Not so loud! And you didn’t hear it from me! It was just high spirits-a misunderstanding-I mean, the fight wouldn’t have amounted to much at all if he hadn’t been drunk-“

“Fight? DRUNK?”

“Clara, please, keep your voice down! I’m sure Joe can tell you all about it, when he asks you to the dance. Shall I tell him to stop over at your place when he’s-um, free?”

“No! Absolutely not! If my father hears about this-oh, there he is now! Coming, Pa!”

“Wait, Clara! What should I tell Joe?”

“Tell your little brother to stay away from me, my sisters, and our store until he can behave like a gentleman!”

“Well, er, all right, Clara-give my best to your folks!”

“Hmmph!”

 

**********

 

“Yoo-hoo! Adam Cartwright! Hello!”

“Hello-er, Miss-er-have we met?”

“No, but it’s Miss Pennypacker, Miss Penelope Pennypacker. Isn’t that just the horriblest name? I don’t know what my parents were thinking, but there’s no accounting for taste, I always say.  My family bought the old Stevens’ place a few months ago! And I’ve been so anxious to speak to you since I saw you come into town with your wagon-the Ponderosa Ranch is wellknown in this town I do declare! I’ve heard so much about the Cartwrights! I feel I know each and every one of you! And when I saw that you were here, loading your wagon, I made my excuses to my mother and hurried right over. I thought I’d take the chance at being considered a little-forward-and introduce myself to you. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I always say! Don’t let me stop your work; I can talk while you keep loading those oh-so-heavy sacks. I love to watch a strong man work! So don’t mind me, I’ll just chatter away while you work! It will make the work go faster for you, don’t you think? A little distraction lightens the load, I always say. I just wanted to ask you about the Spring Dance this Saturday.”

Sigh. “You too?”

“No, I said yoo-hoo, silly! But we’re past that part aren’t we? You and I are practically old friends! And so I feel that I can ask you-as a friend, I mean-about the dance, that is-go right to the source, I always say! I’d like very much to know-whether your brother Joseph is going? I haven’t met him either, but I’ve seen him in town, and well, I’m sure it’s no surprise to you, being his brother and all, that he has the most wonderful–ooh, look out!”

“Oh, Miss Pennypacker, I am so sorry! That sack just got away from me! You’re not hurt are you? A little flour got on your dress-let me brush it off-“

“Oh, no, that’s quite all right, Mr. Cartwright, really it is, no harm done! It’d take a lot more than a little dusting with flour to discourage me, I always say! No, think nothing of it, I’m sure the laundry can clean it right up. And it’s not like it was my special dress-the one I’ve saved for the Spring Dance! Now that is a special dress, for a special occasion! And the dance-it promises to be the most special-“

“You were asking about my brother, ma’am?”

“Oh, yes, your brother Joseph! Such a fine young man, or so I’ve heard, all over town, and when I caught a glimpse of him in Church last week I felt that we were destined to meet-I thought I heard angels singing when I saw him, but it turned out to be the Children’s Choir, silly me! Still, I think it was fate, when I saw you in town-well, things happen for a reason, I always say. So can you tell me, please do tell me, has your brother asked anyone to the Spring Dance? Because I would so like to go with him, if he were inclined to ask me, which he may be, and if hewere, why that would be so wonderful! So that is why I came to speak to you-the early bird gets the worm, I always say!”

“Miss Pennypacker!”

“Yes, Mr. Cartwright?”

“He has not asked anyone, as far as I know, and I sincerely hope he does not, but that’s because-well, I’ll just say that we’ve had some hard times on the Ponderosa, and Joe was the hardest hit of all, since it was his-affliction, shall we say?-that brought us to these dire straits.”

“Affliction? D-dire straits?”

“I’ve said too much, Miss Pennypacker, please forgive me-it’s just that we’ve all had to tighten our belts since-not that we blame Joe, you know, we don’t, it’s just that we want to help him, keep him from ruining himself and us.”

“Ruining himself?”

“And us. Between you and me, Miss Pennypacker, I think of gambling as an affliction. Some people don’t hold to that idea, but what else can I think, when a gambler doesn’t seem to have the self-control to stop no matter how hard he tries? It comes over him like an illness-but you were asking about the dance?”

“Yes, I-well-I-what did you say?”

Pause.

“Miss Pennypacker, we are friends, as you said, are we not? And friends keep confidences, do they not? I can trust you, Miss Pennypacker, can’t I?”

“Well, of course-“

“At the risk of being too-forward-I just wanted to explain why I didn’t think it would be a good idea for Joe, in his vulnerable state, to be exposed to social outlets that could lead to-well, even a simple town dance, held down the street from the gambling houses and saloons-even a simple dance presents temptations that my young brother may not be strong enough to resist. And until we get out from under the second mortgage-well, let me ask you this favor, Miss Pennypacker. If he asks you to the dance-and how could he help but do so when he meets such a-charming-person as yourself-could you please-gently-turn him down? If he’s not tempted, he won’t fall, I always say.”

“Why, I-of course, Mr. Cartwright, if you think it would help. After all, I hardly know him, and there are plenty of other-I do believe that’s my mother over there-I really cannot stay here and chat-I’m not sure I’ll see you again, but I am happy to have made your acquaintance. I really must be going.”

“A pleasure meeting you, too, Miss Pennypacker.”

 

**********

 

“Adam, it’s about time you got back! Sure took you long enough to get them supplies.”

“Sorry, Hoss, I kept getting interrupted while I was loading the wagon.”

“Guess what! You ain’t never gonna believe it!”

“What?”

“Little Joe! You know how Pa said that if he had asked a girl to the dance and she said yes, he could stay home from the round up and go to the dance so as not to disappoint the poor girl?”

“Yes, I am well aware of that arrangement.”

“Arrangement? Downright devious, our Little Brother, getting Pa to agree to that! Pa never would’ve let you or me get away with it, that’s for sure.”

“I’m not so sure-neither you nor I ever thought of trying it.”

“Yeah, that Joe, he’s got more angles than-what’s that eight-sided thing called again, Adam? Octopus, that’s it-he’s got more angles than an octopus, and that’s the truth. What’s so funny?”

“N-nothing!”

“But that ain’t what I wanted to tell ya. You ain’t gonna believe it, Adam! Joe tried all afternoon and he couldn’t get even one gal to go to the dance with him! Not one! I’ve never known that boy to draw such a losing hand before! He came home a little while ago mumblin’ about accidents and afflictions and I don’t know what all. It’d be funny, except I ain’t never seen him look so downhearted.”

“A little disappointment will be good for him.”

“I sure do agree with you there, Adam. He’s been gettin’ just a little bit too big for his britches lately, if you ask me. A long, dusty cattle drive, good hard work, and tired, sore muscles are just what he needs to take him down a peg or two. Still, I never thought I’d see the day when Joe’d have that kind of luck with gals.”

“I believe we make our own luck.”

“What’s that? What do you mean ‘we make our own luck’?”

Pause.

“Adam-what’d you do?”

“As you said, Hoss, Joe has been too smug lately, shirking responsibility, hanging around town when he was supposed to be working. I’m sure Pa wasn’t aware of half of what he was up to. After what I heard in town today, I’m not surprised at how he’s been acting-the attention that boy attracts was bound to go to his head.”

“Yeah, and by the look on your face, the supply wagon wasn’t the only thing you was loadin’ up. Seems to me like maybe you had a hand in fixin’ Joe’s wagon, but good.”

“Well, let’s just say I felt it was time to rein Joe’s-luck-away from the dance and back toward the cattle drive. Pa might not have approved, but-“

Pause.

“But what?”

“I will admit to taking a certain amount of-pleasure-in my work as an older brother.”

“Heh, heh-knowing you, he’ll be feelin’ a chokin’ tight hand on the reins!”

“He’ll survive. But I’m not entirely hard-hearted. Remind me to tell you about a Miss Pennypacker. I was tempted to leave him on his own-but I’m too much his older brother to stand by and allow Joe to be hobbled by someone like her, I always say.”

“You do?”

“Well-I do now. I’ll tell you about it later-bit-reining Joe’s luck is hard work and I’m tired. We-all three of us-hit the trail early tomorrow.”

“All right-Adam?”

“Yes, Hoss?”

“I’m not too sure what you meant about Miss Pennypacker and such, but when it comes to older brothers and luck, I sure am glad I’m already broke to harness.”

 

The End