Summary:  Little Joe has a question and there is only one person to ask. For sure Hoss doesn’t know the answer and to ask Pa is completely impossible.

Rated: T  (2,200 words)

Kama… WHAT?

He looked at his younger brother half-angry, half-amused. The whole day the boy had been noticeable tight-lipped. But since they left the lumber camp in the afternoon the boy hadn’t spoken one single word. He didn’t even reply when he had tried to start a conversation about the upcoming Founder’s Day celebrations in Virginia City.

In his mind Adam went back to the little chat they had before they left the camp. They had agreed on how nice it was to spend the next night in a comfortable bed again and how pleased their Pa was about the progress with the timber. No, there was absolutely no reason for Little Joe’s sulking now. On the other hand, the boy was in a difficult age. Recently Little Joe was incredibly thin-skinned. He had just turned sixteen and his mood seemed to alter constantly between gloominess and temper.

But Adam was wrong. Little Joe was not sulking. Rather absorbed in thought he did not even notice his brother’s presence. Joe’s thoughts were fixed on Saturday, on a picnic and on that one question that was burning in the soul.

For it wasn’t one of these school picnics in summer with all the boys in a bunch in one corner and the girls giggling together in another. And plenty of biscuits, cakes and lemonade all offered under the strict supervision of the teacher. No, this was the REAL THING, his first picnic with a girl! He and Jennifer, in the woods, ALONE!

Hop Sing had agreed to prepare a picnic basket and Jenny promised to organize a blanket and a bottle of wine. Joe hardly dared to imagine the consequences if she’d get caught, taking a bottle from her father’s cellar. But Jenny had insisted. Therefore he loved Jennifer – she was not one of those silly, giggling goslings. Jenny knew what she wanted and how to get it. And now, it seemed, she wanted Joseph Cartwright. He was more than happy to fulfill her desire.

Some time ago while looking for strays he had discovered a beautiful spot in the woods. It was ideal for a picnic. Jenny liked a little walk in the pines, especially now in springtime when everything in nature freshly awoke from hibernation. Hidden in the giant trees they would be undisturbed. Hopefully. Jenny had two older brothers, who may not fancy the idea of an undisturbed picnic with him together with their little sister. A smile flitted across Little Joe’s face. He also had two older brothers to protect him. Actually he had a clear advantage over them, because Hoss counted at least for two in any kind of brawl.

But there was this question. This nagging question, which haunted him for days. It needed an answer before Saturday. And there was only one person who could answer it. But Adam was so easily riled lately. It seemed Little Joe couldn’t do anything right in his older brother’s eyes. Joe sighed. For sure Hoss didn’t know the answer and to ask Pa was completely impossible. There was only Adam.

In his mind Little Joe went back to the little chat they had before they left the camp. They had agreed on how nice it was to spend the next night in a comfortable bed again and how pleased their Pa was about the progress with the timber. All sunshine and roses. He sighed again – now or never. But he had to be careful. Better no word about Jennifer. All he needed was just a simple talk about the facts, one man to another man.

“Let’s take a little break, okay?”

Surprised Adam brought his horse to a stop next to Cochise, swung from his saddle and looked around. To his left, the silvery surface of Lake Tahoe shimmered between the trees.

“We can’t stay long. It will be dark soon. But a few minutes to rest the horses is a good idea. I’ll tie them up over there on this little meadow. Go ahead. The small path leads down to the lakeshore.”

Joe dismounted and handed over the reins. It annoyed him that the big brother took over command, but he kept his mouth shut. If he started a fight now, he would never get an answer.

While Adam walked down the narrow path to the lake, he could see his little brother sitting on one of the rocks that lined the shore. Little Joe was absentmindedly drawing little circles into the fine gravel with a twig.

Adam gave him time to begin. Arms folded across his chest, his eyes directed at a point far out on the mountains behind the lake, he leaned against one of the big boulders and waited. Now and then he gazed over to the still close-mouthed Little Joe. Finally, with a mocking twinkle in his eye, Adam asked: “Well, how did you get yourself into a scrape this time?”

Little Joe woke from his daydream with a start. “What? How do you know … uh … I haven’t done it yet.”

Adam grinned: “I’d rather not ask what that ‘it’ means. But it’s time you open your mouth. It’s getting cold here in the evenings at the lake.”

A timid smile flashed across the face of the younger one, but he continued to scrawl little squiggles. Adam sat down beside him on the flat stone and poked encouragingly into his little brother’s side.

“Come on, out with it.”

Little Joe looked up. “What?”

“All day long you walked around with this unhappy face. Little Joe, I’m seriously worried about you. ”

Finally Little Joe made the decision to speak. He threw the twig into the water and asked hesitantly: “Adam, do you have much experience?”

Adam watched the small piece of wood dancing on the waves. “Experience in what?” he replied.

“Well, you know … just experience…with women.”

Immediately Adam lost interest in the swirling twig. His little brother was staring at him expectantly, so he finally answered: “Are you kiddin’? I’m twenty eight, what do you think?”

Little Joe blushed slightly. “Sorry, I asked. But I need to know.”

Adam smiled: “Is this one of these ‘mine is longer than yours’ men talks? Hey, we’ve been swimming together, we know the answer. I have a little head start, but I’m a couple of years older, so don’t worry.”

Little Joe avoided his gaze. Adam suddenly realized that his brother’s problems indeed concerned his love life.

Cautiously, he asked, “What’s going on? Having trouble with a girl?”

“Yes … no … oh, it’s so complicated.” Little Joe felt silent again, ignoring Adam’s prying eyes.

“What’s so complicated? I guess you know about the thing with the birds and the bees.”

“Of course I do!” Little Joe snapped, but then continued barely audible, “… but only in theory. And that is exactly my problem.”

Splash! The ‘confession’ was so unexpectedly that Adam turned around abruptly and inadvertently slipped off the stone.

“Drat! That’s freezing cold,” the young man grumbled. He stood up to the knees in ice-cold water. Little Joe took his hand and helped him quickly back onto the dry shore. Adam grudgingly pulled off his soggy boots and socks. Then he came back to Little Joe’s problem.

“Maybe you should talk to Pa,” he suggested cautiously.

Little Joe was so shocked, he nearly fell into the water, too.

“Talk to Pa? No way! And I can’t ask Hoss either. He knows less than I do. He gets weak in the knees and red at the head, when a woman smiles at him.”

Little Joe stared gloomily into the distance again, but the mountain range that surrounded the Lake Tahoe and at the dark shadows reflecting the mountains in the water didn’t have an answer to his problems. Adam, his hands clasped under his chin, tried to find the right words. Joe couldn’t wait.

Hoping to trigger Adam’s advice he stated: “The men at the lumber camp said making love to a girl is like riding a horse.”

Adam grinned, nudged his brother in the ribs and said cheerfully: “Never thought about it that way. But yes, it’s quite a lot like riding a horse.”

Seeing Little Joe’s skeptical frown Adam became serious again.

“All right, try to imagine, you get a new horse. Imagine further it isn’t broken in yet. You’re a good rider. If you treat the mare well, it doesn’t take long until she trusts you. You will certainly get along with each other soon enough and find the same rhythm.

Or maybe you get a new mare and she has been ridden by another man. Then it is very important, how she has been previously treated. Perhaps she was in good hands. Then it will be easy for you to deal with her. But if your predecessor was crucial and abused the horse – or let her get away with everything – you’ll have to work pretty hard to become a team.”

“And why are you telling me that?” Little Joe growled. “To stay in your picture, I am a beginner and have never sat in the saddle.”

“OK, let’s continue. You, the beginner, get a new horse. If you are friendly and gentle to her, she will probably like you and help you thru the first moves. If you are unlucky, she is spoiled and takes advantage of your inexperience. Then you just buy yourself a different horse. ”

“Hmm, and what if the rookie meets a mare that is not broken in yet?”

“Then it will definitely be pretty funny if you guys do not know which way is up and where’s the bottom.” Adam teased with a smile. “Seriously, you’ve asked for my advice, and I advised you. You need some confidence in the saddle. In Virginia City you’ll find help for a few dollars. There are enough possibilities and you’re old enough.”

Adam glanced from the corner of his eye to Little Joe, who stared motionless on the water.

“Little Joe, you can’t learn how to be a good … hem… husband by listening, you must find out yourself.”

For a while it was very quiet at the lake; finally the younger one nodded in agreement. “There’s been some truth in it – although I wasn’t thinking about marriage yet. And it doesn’t feel right to compare women with horses.”

“If you don’t like the image, then just imagine, you’re the horse and the girl is sitting on top of you.” Adam hesitated, as a sudden thought shot into his mind. “Oh, yeah!”

They looked at each other. Little Joe suddenly seemed to think the same thing. They turned back to the lake. With a wide grin on their faces they reflected this fascinating idea. Meanwhile, it was getting dark. Little Joe stood up, stretched out his hand to his brother and said solemnly:

“Thank you for your advice, Adam, but not a word to Pa and Hoss, please.”

“I will remain silent as the grave.” Adam promised solemnly in return, fighting hard to keep a straight face. They sealed their agreement with a brotherly handshake. Adam picked up his wet boots and socks, and they set off. As they walked to the horses, Little Joe had one last question on the subject.

“Whom did you asked when you wanted to talk about such things?”

“Pa,” Adam replied laconically.

For a moment Joe was speechless. Then he echoed dubiously: “Pa? You did talk about it with Pa?”

“Sure. I had no choice. I have no older brother, who is an expert.”

Still shaking his head in disbelief Joe prodded: “And what did he say?”

“Ask him,” Adam smirked, “and let’s ride now. Pa hates it, when we’re late for dinner. It will be complicated enough to explain my wet boots.”

“Tell Pa you fall into the water when you taught me the Kama Sutra,” Joe retorted boldly.

“The Kama…WHAT?”

“Don’t you know? I thought you’re the expert.”

With that Little Joe run laughing towards the horses. Adam missed him when he threw his wet boots after him.

Years Later…

He looked at his younger brother half-angry, half-amused. The whole day the boy had been noticeable tight-lipped. But since they left the lumber camp in the afternoon the boy hadn’t spoken one single word. He didn’t even reply when he had tried to start a conversation about the upcoming Founder’s Day celebrations in Virginia City.

In his mind Hoss went back to the little chat they had before they left the camp. They had agreed on how much they missed Hop Sing’s mouth-watering cooking and how pleased their Pa was about the progress with the timber. No, there was absolutely no reason for Jamie’s sulking now. On the other hand, the boy was in a difficult age. Recently Jamie was incredibly thin-skinned. He had just turned sixteen and his mood seemed to alter constantly between gloominess and temper.

But Hoss was wrong. Jamie was not sulking. Rather absorbed in thought he did not even notice his brother’s presence. Jamie’s thoughts were fixed on Saturday, on a picnic and on that one question that was burning in his soul…