Standing in front of the mirror adjusting his necktie, Adam knew without a doubt that one of his brothers were up to their necks in this. Suspicion especially centered on one scrawny, skinny neck, and when he found out if that was the one, he would be tightening something more than a tie around it. As Adam put on his coat, Ben stuck his head in the door and smiled at him.”Are you about ready, son?”

Scratching the back of his neck, Adam was curious. “Don’t you think it is a bit of a coincidence that Abigail Jones, of all people, happened to win this raffle?”

Ben’s response was gentle. “Son, you know it is for a good cause. The children need new books for school. Try to remember that tonight, and you will be fine.”

Downstairs, Hoss paced nervously about the great room, wringing his hands. “Oh, Lordy ifn Adam finds out that we had something ta do with Miss Abigail winning that raffle, he is gonna kill us!”

Little Joe got up and quickly went over to Hoss. He shook him. “Keep your voice down. I got it covered. There is no way that he will find out that we had a hand in this. But, if you don’t get hold of yourself, he will.”

Hoss gulped and looked at Little Joe. “I guess you’re right, little brother.”

A few minutes later, Ben and Adam came downstairs. Ben looked at everyone with a big smile. “Tonight, Adam is doing the right thing by going through this date with Miss Jones. Because of this, the children at school will have new books.”

Hoss and Little Joe just smiled nervously. “Yeah, big brother is doing his good deed, and if he is lucky, he might even get a kiss from her.”

“Of course, my young siblings, but you both know what a lucky man your elder brother is, don’t you?” Adam looked Little Joe in the eye. “And perhaps Miss Jones won’t be the only one getting a kiss-only she won’t be getting it from the end of my fist.”

Little Joe, momentarily forgetting the presence of his father, was already on the attack. “And what the hell does that mean?”

“You’ll figure it out, eventually.”

“Joseph!” Lowering his voice from that bellow, Ben added a softer line. “Come on now boys, shake hands.”

Little Joe held out his hand, which Adam gracefully took applying more than just a little pressure. Joe pursed his lips and squinted his eyes but would not show any signs of discomfort. Releasing Joe’s squashed fingers, Adam nodded with a hint of a smile curling his lips.

Ben smiled at Joe and Hoss. “Let’s get moving, and as a show of support to Adam, we are all riding in together.”

Quietly, they made their way to Virginia City. Upon arriving, they found the streets were lined with people wanting to see the great Adam Cartwright take Abigail Jones out on this raffle date.

Adam focused his thoughts. He would do what was necessary for the school children. Then, even though he still didn’t know how his brothers had managed it, he would do what he had to do to the other two big children.

When they arrived at their destination, Ben looked over at his eldest. “Son, are you okay?”

“Sure, Pa, I have no reason to feel otherwise, do I brothers?” He dismounted with a momentary look of that piercing intimidation he had toward his brothers. But then, turning away from his brothers, he began beaming and walked up to the house and into the eager arms of Abigail Jones.

Hoss gasped. “He knows.”

“Yeah.” Little Joe gulped. “How does he do that?”

For the next few weeks, Ben was so pleased that Hoss and Joe volunteered for every dirty job that took them away from the house for extended periods of time. Adam only smiled every morning and every evening getting his revenge without lifting a finger.