Summary: A collection of short stories giving a restitution of the atmosphere in Ponderosa

Rated: K  WC 6300

Family Scenes in the Ponderosa 

Lightly exasperated, the three sons of Ben Cartwright were waiting for the stage. They had nothing against the idea of having guests in the Ponderosa but they hated when the guests were old friends of Ben’s who remembered him just because they thought he was a great provider of husbands for their daughters.
It happened over and over and, depending from the girl’s age, either Adam or Hoss or Joe would have to stay with the girl, take her for a ride or a picnic or a dance, whatever other plans (or date) they could have. And it was impossible to say no to Ben. He would immediately speak of bad manners, lack of hospitality and so and so…

This time it was worse than ever : the Morgans, the expected couple, happened to have three daughters, just fitting to each of them.

Adam sighed deeply. “Oh, shut up, Adam” snapped Joe, “Pa said that the mother of these girls was your wet nurse. Her eldest is your milk sister so, you can make an effort. In my opinion, you should have been ordered to take care of the whole family, since you are related by milk to them.”

Adam was first out of words. Then, chuckling, he answered : “Well, since they are my sisters, at least, I can’t marry any of them, which is not your case”.

Joe had not the time to send a replica : the stage was turning round the bend. A tall, slender man with short white hair and blue eyes appeared first, just followed by a strong woman in a black gown and black hat. They hurried towards the boys : “Ben’s sons, aren’t you” asked the man without waiting an answer to shake the hands. His wife also was frantically catching their hands so they could not see the girls as they were leaping down the stage with the driver’s help.

At last the couple left their hands and turned to the girls. Surprise : they were four. Three of them were fair haired pleasant maids but no more. The fourth one was a pure beauty : a slender figure, curly auburn hair appearing under her dark blue hat, and eyes which seemed to be exactly the same colour as the hair.

The three Cartwrights staid out of words, as paralysed. “Surprise !” said joyfully Mr. Morgan, “there is a girl too many. We came with our daughters and my niece, Julia. She’s staying with us while her parents are travelling to Europe, so we couldn’t leave her in Boston, could we”
The boys nodded silently. Each of them was thinking : “there isn’t a girl too many, there are three girls too many !”

 

“No !”

 

The tone was final.

 

“But why, Pa ? I can’t understand why you perpetually refuse to clear up this parcel of the Ponderosa. We could make a good pasture there”

 

“The Ponderosa is big enough to have our cattle graze without this parcel. Now Adam, stop harassing me with that. It’s definitely no. You certainly have a lot of work to do, leave me alone”

 

Pulling his hat down over his eyes, Adam moved away angrily. Ben watched him pensively as he strode across the year. He felt sad to keep a secret from his son whom he trusted so much but he was convinced that he had to conceal it even from him. Once a secret has been told to one person, it’s no longer a secret.

 

The brushwood in the parcel in question was hiding a cavern and in this cavern, Ben had once founded gold. And he didn’t want anybody to know it because he knew that, as soon as the rumour will going about, he would be unable to hold back the stampede. It would be the end of the Ponderosa.

 

Ben sighed. He knew that he could not keep eternally the secret. One day, he would have to say it to his sons. But this day had not come yet.

 

He headed to his desk, opened a drawer, took a file out, opened it and started reading. It was a report made by Adam about Ponderosa’s North District, the driest part of the domain. Burying in it, Ben was admiring his eldest son’s clear vision, his capacity to select the most important and, at the same time, the precision with which he was giving in detail the procedure for irrigating the ground and turn this rocky part into a tree nursery.

 

His eyes skimmed through his son’s analysis and recommendations and their author’s picture seemed to be hovering above the beautiful and firm handwriting. He couldn’t suppress from his mind the vision of Adam striding away from the house after having received what he couldn’t but feel as a rebuff. Was he right in his decision not to confide him what he knew ? Why did he distrust him ? Didn’t he know that Adam loved the property as much as he did and would never abandon solid resources as wood and cattle just for the lure of gold ?

 

Speaking of gold, this loyal and hardworking son wasn’t he worth much more than all the gold in the world ? Why would he hurt him by keeping fiercely silent, without any legitimate reason ?

 

Ben closed the file he wasn’t reading any more. He had made up his mind : to-night, at the moment of going to bed, he would hold back Adam. They were used to these kind of private conversations, late, by the fireside, sipping a brandy. Yes, to-night, he would reveal Adam the secret of the forbidden plot of land, on condition that he would, one day, transmit it to his brothers or his sons, if ever he had some.

 To-night, Ben Cartwright’s secret was to become the Cartwrights’ secret

 

Sosthene 

My name is Sosthene and my job is dog in Hoss Cartwright’s team. The other member of the team is Rennie, a female. She’s an Irish setter, pure blood; Hoss calls her a princess but she’s nothing arrogant. She likes me very much although I’m no pure blood at all. I’m what they call a mongrel, white with random black hair ; the tousled style.

 

Rennie is a pal but twice a year she becomes uncontrollable, completely scatty. Last time, there was this Gordon setter, Upsa they call him, Mark Chappaline’s  dog. She went away with him. I fled across the woods, trying to find her. Didn’t. Came back three days after, she was back and pregnant.

 

Our master doesn’t know who’s the father. Thinks it could be me. Technically, I can’t, she’s tall, I’m small. What can I do with these short legs of mine. But in my mind, I’m the father. I watch Rennie. A week ago, I had to chase a wolfhound fussing around. I fell and broke my leg. Hoss put a plaster on it so I can walk.

 

To-night, it’s obvious, Rennie’s time has come. She’s stolen one of Adam’s shirt (Adam is my master’s brother, a good fellow). She’s lying on it with a faraway look. I’ve got to let Hoss know.

  Adam 

Full night ! I had a strange dream. I was with Isabella de la Cuesta, playing my guitar for her when a Spanish dancer came very close to us, making with his feet this insistent noise, toc-toc-toc, toc-toc-toc…

 

But I’m not dreaming. This toc-toc-toc is real. That’s the noise that awoke me and it comes from downstairs. Where’s my gown ? And my gun ? Easy now, if it’s an intruder, he’s going to be over the moon !

 

What’s this ? Is that you, Sosthene ? Knocking the door with your plaster, I can’t believe it. Go away. Go away, you sleep outside. But… Let go of me. Don’t pull my gown, you’ll tear it. Let go of this belt. Give it back to me. Oh, nothing to do with you, I’m calling your master and watch you !

  Hoss 

I was soundly asleep when I woke up with a start. Adam was shaking me up and down.

 

“Dadburnit, Adam, what’s the matter with you ? What are you doing, half nekkid in my room. Can’t you shut your gown ?”

 

“No, I can’t because the belt is presently between your dog’s teeth”, he replied. And he explained how Sosthene had knocked at the door with his plaster. I understood immediately that this so smart dog had something to show me. I went downstairs, my brother on my heels, picked up the belt, gave it back to Adam so he could remain decent. Sosthene wagged his tail and led us to the barn. Good dog ! Instantly, I caught sight of Rennie. My little princess was pushing.

“Look, Adam”, I said, “she’s having her puppies.”

 “On my yellow shirt”, he retorted grimly but, a moment later, he had forgotten his damned shirt because the first puppy was appearing.

“Look, Hoss”, he said, very excited, “d’you think it’s Sosthenovitch ?”

“What do you mean, Sosthenovitch ?”, I asked, confused.

 “In Russian, it means Sosthene’s son”, he replied. “But no, Hoss, it’s a setter, it’s Upsovitch”.

 

I really didn’t understand this sudden need to speak Russian (didn’t know Adam could speak Russian) but I didn’t care. I was more interested in the puppies. I came closer and there was no doubt, this puppy was a setter, a red one with a white star on the chest. So cute ! Then, I turned back to Rennie because the second one was showing his muzzle. In less than two hours, it was over, six perfect puppies, males and females, some red, some black, some black and red and one, nearly yellow.

 

“This one must be Sosthenovitch”, Adam said, laughing, “he’s the less beautiful, will you give it to me ?”

 

Typical of Adam to do that : taking the less beautiful to protect him. I was opening my mouth to answer when a horn voice called out :

 

“What on earth are you two doing here, bare feet, one in his night shirt and the other in his night gown ?”

 

“But Pa”, I replied, “you too are in your night gown.”

 

“Of course, it’s five o’clock ! Just answer me, Hoss, what are you…”

 “Sh, Pa” Adam whispered, a finger on his lips, “you’re in a new mother’s room. Come on and look at the puppies. Let me introduce you to Sostenovitch.”

 

 

The atmosphere was peaceful. At his desk, Ben was writing a letter to an old friend of Boston. Hoss and Joe were playing chequers, for once not too noisily and Adam was reading in his favourite chair, the blue one. You could only hear the tick-tock of the grandfather’s clock and, coming from the kitchen, the discrete noise of Hop-Sing washing the plates.

 

Suddenly, the silence was broken by a laughing snort. Ben, Hoss and Joe raised their head, surprised. It wasn’t so frequent to hear Adam laughing while reading. All the more so since the book he was reading seemed to be very serious. It was : “The Other Worlds or States and Empires of the Moon” by Cyrano de Bergerac.

 

“Why are you laughing, Adam ?”, Hoss asked.

 

“Something I’m reading”

 

“I can’t believe”, Joe retorted, “that there is something funny in such a book !”

 

“Well, Joe”, Ben noticed, “you’re obviously wrong. Can we share your hilarity, Adam ?”

 

“This man, the author”, Adam replied, “was living in France at the beginning of the seventeenth century. Nature had endowed him with an overactive imagination. He’s writing about the seven manners he could think of to reach the moon.”

 

“Reach the moon ? What an ambition !” Joe exclaimed.

 

“An ambition you’ll never have, Joe”, Hoss said, chuckling. “If I remember well, you can’t bear leaving the ground even for a few inches.”

 

“Shut up, boys”, Ben said. “I’m eager to know what made your brother laugh aloud.”

 

“One of the ways to go to the moon. Let me read : “I seat on an iron plate. Then, I throw up a giant magnet. The plate rises to stick to the magnet. Then, I throw it up again, a hundred times, two hundred times, a thousand times, until I reach the moon.”

 

The four men laughed heartily. After calming down, Hoss remarked : “This is a weird man, this, how do you call him, Cyrano Dubjack ?”

 

“Cyrano de Bergerac.”

 

“How did you come to order this strange book, Adam ?” Ben asked, intrigued as always by his son’s curious centres of interest. “What is attracting you in such subjects ?”

 

“Visions”, Adam answered with a dreamy look. “Visions of where science can lead humanity to.”

 

“Five years ago, you were only dreaming of the railway.” Ben whispered.

 

“It was a dream and now, it’s done. And as your regretted friend demonstrated, man will soon be able to fly. Why could I not dream of a travel to the moon ?”

 

“Do you seriously think men will walk on the moon one day, Adam ?”, Joe asked, startled.

 

“Yes Joe, I’m sure. It’s not a pipe dream. I will not live long enough to see it, but in one hundred years, well, let’s say two hundred years, I’m certain man will walk on the moon. I believe in progress. Look at all the discoveries that have been made during the ten last years. Sometimes, I wonder if there is an end to our ability to dominate the world.”

 

“Yes, there is, Adam”. Ben’s voice was solemn. “Remember the man you’ve been called from. His excess of pride led God to turn him out of the Garden of Eden. We’ve got to stay humble. If not, we’ll be the authors of our own ruin.”

 

Adam lowered his eyes. “You’re right, Pa. Anyway don’t blame me, but I think I can’t help having my head full of dreams for future.”

 

Ben smiled : “I can’t blame you, son. You get it from me. But as me, one day, you’ll reach the wisdom I found.”

 “And now”, Hoss concluded, “who wants a sandwich before going to bed ?”

 

How beautiful she was ! Hidden behind the thickness of a grove, he was watching her intently. The scene was priceless : at the bottom of a clearing, under the moonlight, a wagon and, not very far from it, two horses grazing. On the left side, an old man, dressed with grey pants and vest and a white shirt, sleeves rolled above elbows, pacing with a gun resting on his arm. And in the middle, a fire and two women cooking. One, an old lady, obviously a servant, her servant, and her, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The fire was drawing lights and shadows on the perfect oval of her face and reddening her long hair. Such as he saw her, she looked like the Titania of  “A midsummer night’s dream”.

 

After a few minutes spent in admiring and also wondering if he was dreaming, he decided that it was time to reveal his presence. He stepped out of the forest and approached the group. Immediately, the man took up a position between him and the two women, pointing his gun to him.

 

“Easy, easy”, he said, “I want you no harm. I’m Adam Cartwright, you’re camping on my father’s land.”

 

“Put down your gun, Aristide”, the young lady said. She stood up and came close to Adam : “I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was in a private property. Will you be kind enough to let us have our dinner before leaving ?”

 

“I didn’t mean to chase you out. You can stay. You’re not far from the house and it’s safe. I just wanted to say welcome.”

 

“Thank you very much. Would you like to share our meal ?”

 

“I’d like to. It smells very good, but I can’t. My father is waiting for me and I’m still late. But, if you don’t mind, I could share your meal to-morrow evening… That is… If you’re still there ”

 

“I didn’t plan to stay but it sounds fine to take one day for rest. My servants are tired.” She staid silent a while, looking thoughtfully at her feet and then, meeting Adam’s eyes and smiling at him, she declared : “It’s all right. But I’m short in supplies. What could you bring me ? Game, for a change ?”

 

Adam grinned back at her : “I can catch a rabbit or two, to-morrow morning. Is it all right ?”

 

“Perfect ! And please, bring me a few carrots and a bunch of onions.”

 

“I will. And now, good night, see you to-morrow.”

  And he went away, lost in his thoughts. Just at the moment he was reaching the house, it occurred to him that he didn’t know who she was. 

“At last, you’re here, young man” said his father. “I was worrying.”

 

“You’re worrying every time I go to Virginia City for the payroll money. You should not have waited for me. Your dinner is going to be cold.”

 

“Dinner is cold, anyway”, Ben retorted. “Hop-Sing received this morning a letter from one Mrs Krystina. He went pale while reading it and told me he had to fly away for a few days. I tried to have an explanation but he urged me to trust him and, for God sake, not to replace him. He promised he would soon be back.”

 

Hoss and Joe were going downstairs during this speech. Hoss asked : “And how are we going to do for the meals ?”

 

“Each of us will have his turn to cook. Since Adam and Joe are cheating when we draw lots with matches, I put our names in a hat. Joe, pull out a paper, please.”

 

Joe obeyed and gave the paper to Ben who read it : “Adam”, he called out. “It’s Adam’s day to cook to-morrow”.

 

“But Pa…”

 

“No buts, no that-is-to say, Adam. It’s your turn to-morrow. Besides, you had a hard day to-day. You have the opportunity to stay at home to-morrow and rest, provided that you will give the floor a quick sweep. Now, come on, let’s eat this cold meal Hop-Sing left us  ”

 

Adam didn’t say much during the dinner and went to bed early brooding on his disappointment. He woke up at dawn, took his gun and went downstairs. He rummaged through the kitchen and found a dozen of sausages and a basket full of potatoes. “That will do for dinner”, he thought. “Now, where are the carrots and onions ?”

 

Having found what he was looking for, he headed to the barn, mumbling : “Anyway, I promised her a rabbit or two and I must keep my word. I’ll bring her what she asked for and tell her I can’t honour her invitation. But dadburnit, as Hoss should say !”

 

No sooner said that done. He caught two rabbits and went to the clearing where the mysterious young woman was staying. She greeted him warmly and asked him if he could joint his game.

 

“I don’t know how to do it and Aristide isn’t very bright at this task.”

 

“I will do it but, unfortunately, I will not eat these rabbits.” In a few word, he explained what was happening.

 

“So, instead of savouring your feast, I will have to content myself with grilled sausages and boiled potatoes. That’s the best I can do.”

 

She had a bright smile and said : “I just had a fantastic idea. Let me cook for you. And don’t say anything. Let them believe you did it by yourself. Finally, you’ll know the taste of my rabbit”

 

Adam’s face enlightened : “Splendid !”, he shouted. But only on one condition : you will have dinner with us. I’ll present you as my guest. Have we a deal ?”

 

“We have.”

 

“Good. I’ll come this afternoon and take you to the house.”

  

 “Hoss”, shouted Joe, “it’s nearly seven. Why aren’t you coming. Call it a day.”

 

Hoss groaned. “There’s no hurry, Joe. Remember it’s Adam the cook, to-night. I can tell you the menu: grilled sausages and boiled potatoes.”

 

“Well, it’s not so bad if the sausages aren’t burnt and the potatoes raw.”

 

Hoss sighed : “A thing I always liked in you, Joe, is your optimism. But you’re right, there’s no point in delaying what can’t be avoided. Let’s go !”

 

Approaching the house, they met Ben who was coming back too. The kitchen’s windows was opened and they stopped suddenly : “What is smelling so good ?”, Ben asked.

 

Hoss passed his head across the casement and saw Adam, an apron around the waist, bustling about a saucepan.

 

“At last, you’re coming”, he said. “Hurry up, I’m ready.”

 

Overwhelmed, they entered the house and found the table dressed for five people. Adam went out of the kitchen carrying a dish with tomatoes and eggs mimosa. “It’s the entrée”, he announced, “after we have a rabbit stew and, as sweet, a plum crumble.”

 

The three staid paralyzed as if they had been struck by the lightning. “Move”, urged Adam, “you just have time to clean up your hands while I’m calling my guest.” And not letting them the time to ask questions, he ran upstairs.

 

A few minutes later, they saw him coming downstairs, holding the hand of a gracious and elegant woman :

 

“Pa, may I introduce you to Christine de Beauregard. She’s your unknown guest on the Ponderosa and she accepted to share our meal to-night. That’s why I had to take care over the dinner.”

 

Joe mumbled : “That’s the explanation. This is the cook.”

 

Hoss hit him with his elbow. “Shut up, Joe. This is obviously a great lady. She can’t cook. Besides, we just met her. Why would she come home just to cook for us ? ”

 

“But do you think Adam…?”

 

“Shut up, Joe.”

 

Adam and Christine pretended not to have heard them. Christine sat at Ben’s right while Adam served.

 Ben made an effort to be equal to the situation. He took part to the conversation but absently. Only a question was piercing him : who, on Earth, is the cordon bleu who cooked this meal ?”

 

On the Upper Truckee river that is flowing into Lake Tahoe, there was a bridge. A bridge that had been built where the river upstream was a succession of rapids, by the Cartwright family under Adam Cartwright’s supervision. It was a suspension bridge completed in 1856. The material had been ordered by the young engineer, just after his return home, from Troy, shipped around “the horn” of South America to San Francisco. Then, they came up river to Sacramento and by wagon to the future bridge’s location. The bridge spanned 27 feet of river bed and was 10 feet above water level.

 

Such a structure needed to be regularly and carefully maintained and this was exactly what the four Cartwright, Ben and his three sons were doing. Ben was at one end, Joe and Hoss at the other and Adam was suspended with two ropes, fixing the deck at the centre of the bridge. They had conceived a system with double fixed blocks that allowed them to send the worker the tools he needed. Hoss and Ben were pulling the ropes while Joe was supplying the tools as soon as Adam was requiring it with appropriate gestures.

 

“Please, gentlemen…”

 

Thus called out, Hoss and Joe turned their head and saw a tiny middle-aged man, clad with a black suit, white shirt and black tie. He wore no boots but town shoes and looked exactly like what he was, a lawyer.

 

“What do you want ?” snapped Joe while Hoss returned his attention to the rope he was holding.

 

“I’m looking for Elisabeth Stoddard’s son.”

 

“Don’t know her. She’s not living in this area. Go your way. What does he want, now, Hoss ?”

 

“The big hammer”

 

Not without mumbling, the little man withdrew.

 

Three hours later, the four men came back to the ranch house. Hop-Sing had prepared a bath for Adam and, while they were waiting for him to be cleaned, Ben proposed his two younger sons a fresh beer and sat down with a sigh of relief.

 

“Happy to know this work is over. I’m always afraid that an accident might happen. A rope could break and Adam could fall in water…”

 

“He’s a good swimmer, Pa”

 

“I know but the bridge is high and you don’t know how he would fall. Anyway he didn’t so everything is all right. Tell me Joe, what was this man who came to you and what did he want. I didn’t expect any visit at this place ”

 

“Neither did I, Pa. He was asking for Elisabeth Stoddard’s son and I answered I didn’t know her.”

 

A voice came from the top of the stairs : “You don’t know who Elisabeth Stoddard is ! Glad to see how much you care for me…”

 

Joe blushed suddenly realizing that the man was looking for Adam and putting his hand before his mouth, stammered : “Oh Adam, I’m sorry… I was so engrossed in my work…”

 

Just at this moment, somebody knocked at the door. Hoss opened it : the man in black was here. Recognizing Hoss, he looked puzzled : “Sorry, I’m still looking for Elisabeth Stoddard’s son…”

 

“Why didn’t you say Elisabeth Cartwright ? We would have known you were looking for our brother”, Hoss answered, a little angry.

 

Ignoring the remark, the man smiled and asked : “So, I’m at the right address. Is Elisabeth Stoddard’s son there ?”

 

Intrigued, Ben stood up. Adam moved forward : “Elisabeth Cartwright’s son is there”

 

“Is it you ?”

 

Adam nodded : “It’s me. I’m Adam Cartwright”

 

“I would like to talk to you… alone”

 

Ben frowned and Adam noticed it. Annoyed, he answered : “There are no strangers in this room, except for you. These are my father and brothers. I’ve no secret for them. Sit down, Mister and say what you have to say”

 

The man hesitated a moment then, seeing that Adam was determined, he took the seat Joe was presenting and said : “I’m representing your grandmother’s family, the Rochester family and I come for a legacy.”

 

“What ?” the shout came from Ben. “A legacy from the Rochester family?”

 

“What’s the matter, Pa ?”, Adam asked.

 

“Well, Adam, I never told you because after your mother’s death, it seemed, it was”, Ben corrected, “not important. When I married your mother, her own mother was dead but her grandmother was alive. She adored her granddaughter but never accepted our marriage. For her, I was not wealthy enough to marry her little treasure. When she saw that she could not lead your mother to change her mind, she broke with her. She never met me and never got in touch again, even at the burial.” Then turning to the lawyer :

 

“What happened ? She can’t still be alive.”

 

“She died twenty-eight years ago, leaving her fortune to her grandson, Henry Rochester. Henry Rochester never married. He died, three months ago, leaving all his goods to Elisabeth Stoddard’s son. This is the letter ”

 

He held an envelop to Adam who opened it and read aloud :

  “ To Elisabeth Stoddard’s son, 

Dear boy,

 

I can’t call you by your name because I ignore it. I only know from my grandmother that my regretted cousin, Elisabeth Stoddard, died giving birth to a son.

 

My grandmother, your great grandmother died without having changed her mind about your mother’s marriage but she deeply regretted not to know you. She wanted to raise you and she asked your grandfather, Abel Stoddard, where she could find you. She thought that, in exchange of a big sum of money, your father could leave you to her cares but Abel Stoddard  energetically refused to tell her where you could be found, depriving you of a fortune.

 

Being at the end of my life and having no child, I want to make up for the prejudice that was done to you. Mr Lawson is in charge for finding you and give you your inheritance.

 

God bless you

 

Henry Rochester”

 

Adam looked at his father: “What do you want me to do ?”

 

Ben looked at him with a tender smile : “Take it, boy. Your great grandmother was a shrew but her grandson seems to have been a good man. Take it.”

 Then Adam turned to Mr Lawson : “Elisabeth Stoddard’s son doesn’t accept but Elisabeth Cartwright’s does.”

 

Adam was working in the sawmill with a dozen of hands when he caught sight of his brother Hoss stopping the buggy in front of the door and coming to him.

 

« Adam ? »

 

« Yes, Hoss »

 

« Would you mind lending me a few planks and tools?”

 

“What for? I believed you had obtained a special day off from Pa?”

 

“Yes, that’s why I need what I’m asking for.”

 

“Take what you want. Sorry not to help you but, as for me,  I’m not in a day-off, so I go back to work.”

 

Hoss didn’t wait for being told again, took his supplies and went away. Adam couldn’t help raising his head from his chores and watching him disappear with an intrigued look.

 

Hoss followed the road for a while and then turned left on a path bordering a brook. Looking straight forward, he didn’t see Joe riding among the strays but Joe couldn’t miss the buggy.

 

“I’d give anything to know where he’s going”, Joe thought

 ******************************************************************* 

At five o’clock, Adam called it a day and dismissed the hands. He washed his hands and face, buckled his belt, took his gun and saddled Sport.

 

“With the buggy”, he thought, “it will not be difficult to find his trail”.

 

The tracks led him to the Belleck’s farm. When he realised Hoss was inside, he discreetly dismounted and tied Sport next to the buggy. Then, he leant not to be seen and approached as silently as an Indian would have.

 

He went round the hedge, seeking a hole. A hole there was, and somebody had already passed his head across.

 

“Joe”, Adam whispered, “what are you doing here ?”

 

“Same as you, I suppose. I wondered what Hoss was doing with the buggy during his day off, so I followed his trail to find out.”

 

“And what do you see ?”

 

“I see big brother sweating blood to build what seems to be a kennel.”

 

“A kennel ? Why has he to build a kennel for the Bellecks ?”

 

“Not exactly the Bellecks, for Susie Belleck. She is the boss.”

 

Adam pushed little Joe to take his place. Just at this moment, a high-pitched voice shouted :

 

“Not this way, Hoss, I want a pointed roof.”

 

“Well, Susie”, the giant mumbled, “you already had me start over again four times. Sometimes it’s too narrow, sometimes it’s too low, another time, the door isn’t as you want. I’m exhausted.”

 

The little girl began snivelling: “But Hoss, Dolly is going to have puppies. It needs a large and beautiful home to welcome them. You promised you’d build a magnificent one and what you do is just… just…”

 

“Just what ? Say it.”

 

“Just shabby-looking” said Susie, letting herself go.

 

“That’s what you think. Well, I that case, I quit, you’re too hard to satisfy.”

 

Susie burst in tears : “Oh please, Hoss, don’t do that, I’m sorry, so sorry. Please…”

 

Hoss rushed to the child and raised her in his arms : “Stop crying, Susie, stop crying. I’ll try to make this kennel as you say but, for God sake, stop crying.”

 

Adam winked at Joe : “Maybe we could give him a hand, what do you think ?”

 

“Sure”, Joe answered, “especially you”. And not waiting for his brother’s answer, he shouted : “Hoss, Hoss !”

 

Hoss turned his head and saw the two heads of his siblings appearing in the hole of the edge that had become wider.

 

“What are you doing here, you two ?”

 

“Bringing help” Adam answered. “Open the door, we’re coming.”

 

“Hi Adam, hi Joe”, said Susie, not knowing if she had to be pleased with this unexpected helpers.

 

“Hello Susie !” Joe answered with a smile while Adam was already examining Hoss’s work.

 

“Well”, he said, “I think we’d better destroy it and start again.”

 

“What ?” the big man shouted. “All that work for nothing !”

 

“It will never be finished on time !” the child cried.

 

Adam turned to them : “Trust me. I’m an architect, remember. If everybody lends a hand, we can finish this kennel, a beautiful one”, he added with a smile, “within an hour.”

 

No sooner said than done. At half past six, when Mrs Belleck called Susie for dinner, the kennel stood up, wide, with pointed roof and curved door.

 

“Is that all right, Susie ?” Hoss asked, “Do you think Dolly will be pleased ?”

 

Susie’s head nodded gently : “Well, it’s nicely done but what about the painting ? I’d like the roof to be red and the walls yellow.”

 

“I’m sorry, Susie”, Adam answered, “but it’s impossible to-day. You’ll have to wait for the painting.”

 

Susie’s eyes became wet again : “But it’s urgent, Adam. Dolly…”

 

“Yes, I know, Dolly is about to have puppies but your mother is calling you and our own father is waiting for us. It’s Hoss’s day off, not ours.”

 

“He’ll come to-morrow for the painting”, decided Joe.

 

“Hold on Joe” Hoss said, “I had only one day off, not two. How can you promise I’ll be back to-morrow ?”

 

Joe had a crooked smile : “Well, big brother, you just have to get up very early, put the first coat and come back on the evening for the second one. This is what you have to do”

 

Hoss sent a questioning look at Adam :

 

“Yep !” the latter said.

 

He lowered his eyes to Susie :

 

“Yep !” she repeated.

 

He went back to Joe : “Yep” went one better his young brother.

 

Then he rolled his eyes : “Yep”, he concluded