Summary:   This is my entry for April’s 2013 Chaps & Spurs/Pinecone Trifecta.A WHIB for Springtime. Have you ever wondered what happened between the brothers making a “Joe sandwich” and the mud fight? Well, here’s my answer to it.

Word Count: 708  Rated: K

                                                        Brothers and Mud

Story Notes:

April words are:

·         Chalk

·         Vulcanization (I know it’s Bonanza, not Star Trek 😉 )

·         Revolution

·         Dimension

·         Friction

·         I’m substituting Weasel for Vulcanization as a reward for using an animal in last month’s challenge.

This is also in answer to the Pinecone Trifecta and I’m using the episode Springtime.

The friction between the brotherswas palpable, when Adam was finally able to push himself away from his siblings.

“Look, I’m going to chalk this little tussle up to the fact that we’re all hot and tired,” Adam growled as he rotated his shoulders, trying to ease the tight muscles. “If it wouldn’t inconvenience you too much, Hoss, would you once more tell me exactly what happened to the load of poles you were to bring with you?”

With a final shove at Joe’s back, that caused the young man to to do a full revolution before sprawling on the ground, Hoss glared at his older brother. “I tried to tell you, but you was too busy bossin’ me around to listen. Them dang mules got the wagon stuck in the mud. When I finally got the wagon out all them poles fell out and the mules took off.”

A sigh of frustration escaped Adam’s lips as he dropped his head and counted to ten . . . then to twenty as he tried to regain his temper and patience.

Pulling himself up from the ground, Joe zeroed in on Hoss and charged at him. A black clad arm swung out hitting the youngest brother in the chest, abruptly ending the charge and knocking the said brother backwards into the dirt.

“Alright! Alright, that’s it!” Joe’s temper had reached a whole new dimension. Chin jutting out, nostrils flaring, he slowly stood to his feet.

“Would you just settle down,” snapped Adam. “Let’s just get this done, so we can get the Hell away from each other! Both of you, in the wagon, NOW!”

“Uh, look it doesn’t take three of us, why don’t the two of you . . .” started Joe.

Hoss held up his hand, stopping Joe in mid-sentence. “Oh no you don’t Little Brother. You ain’t gonna weasel out of this.”

I ain’t trying to weasel out of nothin’,” Joe protested. “I just think one of us should stay here and start restacking all the poles we knocked down, while the others go back with the wagon.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, clearly aggravated at his brothers, Adam resisted the urge to knock both of them senseless. “If we leave you here, you’ll be lollygagging the whole time we’re gone, and not a single pole will be stacked.”

“That ain’t fair, Adam. I work as hard as you do. I wouldn’t be . . .”

“Save it, Joe. You’re coming,” Adam ordered.

Hearing the finality in his brother’s voice, Joe knew when to stop and that time was now.

“Fine,” Joe muttered through clenched teeth, stomped over to the wagon and climbed in.

“That sure put him in his place,” chuckled Hoss.

“Don’t go there, Brother,” warned Adam. “Just remember who started this whole mess, and it wasn’t Joe. Let’s go and get this over with.”

Hoss pursed his lips and glared at Adam for a moment. “Whatever you say, Big Brother, you’re the boss.” Before anything else could be said, he turned and headed for the wagon, leaving Adam staring at his broad back.

“God, I hate spring,” Adam grumbled before following after his brothers.

The ride back to where Hoss left the poles was filled with icy, cold silence; each brother refuseing to look at the other.

~~~~

Adam sat on the wagon seat surveying the scene before him. There was a huge mud hole that had been caused by the spring thaw, and the load of poles was sitting smack dab in the middle. With a determined nod of his head, Adam got down to business.

“Alright, Hoss turn this thing around and back it up. Whatever you do, don’t get it stuck again.”

Hoss positioned the wagon and coaxed the mules into backing the wagon towards the poles. Just when he thought he was almost to the edge, the wagon lurched and stopped.

“Oh, Lordy.”