Summary: Education was important to the Cartwrights. In fact both Adam and Joe became substitute teachers. Use one of these pictures (the brothers teaching researching) as inspiration for a vignette or addition to a past Sourdough.
Rating: G, Word Count: 2306
This story sprouted from an observation of some skills Joe showed in The Gift of Water and The Quest.
Making Plans
One unusually warm February day, Joe saddled Cochise, strapped a narrow tube behind his saddle, and took off to the south. Tawny hazel eyes followed him until he disappeared around a bend in the road. Postponing his curiosity, Adam returned to mending the corral fence. However, while he straightened posts and hammered nails, his thoughts continued to stray to his younger brother.
It all began right after Christmas when the brothers went to town. Instead of heading to the Sazarac with his brothers, Joe took off to see Jesse Martin. Recalling how they did the same thing before getting married, Adam and Hoss shared understanding smiles over their younger brother’s actions. Both knew that as soon as Jesse finished teaching in June, she and Joe would be married the following Sunday.
When the brothers reunited in the afternoon, Joe was carrying a few strangely shaped parcels. Deftly dodging his brothers’ questions he fastened them to his saddle, swung up, and rode away. Since that day, Adam, Hoss, and Ben each caught him drawing and measuring on large sheets of paper, but he expertly dodged his inquisitive family members.
When he finished fixing the corral, Adam decided to follow Joe, considering this was the third day he had ridden that direction.
After following the tracks for a while, Adam reined in his horse and scanned the area. Although he noticed nothing, Sport did. He jerked his head and snorted, taking a few steps down the trail.
“Okay, boy. Show me where they are.”
Allowing Sport to race westward through a pasture, Adam spotted Cochise and his green-jacketed master.
“Good work, boy.” He patted his horse’s neck as they slowed their approach.
Seeing Adam, Joe frowned while walking toward him.
“What are you doing here?”
Adam looked around as he dismounted, noting the easy lay of the land with the lake and mountains nearby. “I could ask you the same thing.”
The silence lasted only a few seconds when Joe sighed. “Okay, you caught me. I’ve been trying to decide where to put the house. I could use your advice.”
Adam smirked. “Sure. Are those the plans?”
Joe nodded, giving Adam the papers. Unrolling them, Adam studied the first page. Not expecting what he saw, he looked up with surprise.
“When did you learn to draw plans like this?” He knelt by a log so he could lay the papers out.
Joe hovered behind him and shrugged. “Mostly by watching you, and I’ve seen some of the drawings you left in your room. After designing that flume up at Buckhorn Meadow, this didn’t seem that hard.”
Adam rolled back onto his haunches and pushed his hat back. “These are good. Would you mind if we looked at them more closely at home to make sure you have everything covered?”
“Sure, but what about placing the house? I can’t decide which view to use for the front porch.”
For the next couple of hours, the brothers paced off rooms and outbuildings, studied views, and simply talked about marriage and starting their own home life.
When they returned to the Ponderosa, both were closer than ever. Joe was glad to hear his older brother’s views on marriage and the house. Adam enjoyed the fact that Joe could still surprise him, this time with his architectural skills, and his support during the past year. At dinner, both brothers shared with the rest of the family the excitement of Joe and Jesse’s new home. It was going to be an exciting four months for the Cartwright family.
Sunday School Lessons
Riding home on a Sunday afternoon, Adam saw a young boy walking by the side of the road. Pulling up beside him, he waited until the boy acknowledged his presence.
“Where you headed?”
“California.”
“By yourself?”
“Yes. Say, you’re one of those Cartwrights, aren’t you?” He waited for Adam to agree. “Well, it’s your brother’s fault I gotta go. He done told us some things I can’t rightly do so I gotta head on out.”
Reminded of the scene a few weeks earlier when his father had returned home to say that Sunday school needed a teacher because three had quit over some unruly boys, Adam had assumed he was going to pushed into it. His father said no because he was needed to lead the singing in church, and then told Joe he was rejected too.
“We all know why.”
We stopped snickering when Pa said it was Hoss they wanted. These same boys were causing trouble at school during the week with grudges, fights, and challenges. Many thought Hoss might be the best at teaching them how to behave better. Many thought he could communicate at their level too. Sunday school was going to be split into two with boys in one and girls in another. Now here was one of those boys upset with Hoss and Adam decided to find out why.
“Maybe you could ride with me for a spell and tell me about the problems you had with my brother.”
“Well, I guess that would be all right. My feet are getting a mite sore.”
“So, what kind of lessons did Hoss teach that bothered you?”
“He read the scripture like the minister asked. I think it was Matthew 18 last week and Proverbs 11 this week. He talked about forgiving and pride and humility and all that stuff just like any old teacher. Then he said stuff that got all the other boys listening real hard. He said how you got to handle other people when they get you mad.”
“What did he say?”
“When they gets you mad, they got control of you. Ifn you kin walk away, you show ‘em who’s really in charge.”
“That’s sounds like Hoss.”
“That ain’t all of it. He said hating ‘em means they’re still winning. Hate means you still care. They did stuff to make you feel that so they’re still in control of you. Smile and say what you’d say to any other person. You know, like greeting ‘em and saying your please and thank yous, and saying you’re sorry when you need to. He said to act like they’re no different than any other person.”
“Definitely Hoss.”
“They all were hanging on every word he said by then. It got real quiet in there. He said ifn we wanted to be men, we had to learn what real pride is. It’s in doing the right thing and knowing you done the right thing. God is gonna know too cause he knows everything. Keep on doing it, and sooner or later, everyone is gonna know cause you can’t hide who you are. And that’s why I gotta leave.”
“Why?”
“Cause I was the one stirring up all the trouble at school, and everyone knows it, and God knows, so I gotta get away.”
“Did you forget that first lesson about forgiveness? How about the one where you say you’re sorry?”
Late for dinner, Adam was distracted. Later, he pulled out a letter. Had pride blinded him? Was it time to forgive?
Dear Adam
There’s another story I have to tell you. It’s about another man who came into the saloon tonight. He carried a guitar, and he sang a song about his lost love. It was such a sad song about all the mistakes we can make and how we can ruin what we think should have been. When he was done, all I could do was recall all my memories of you, and it took everything I had to stop the tears. I know that I made a terrible mistake and I thought I loved a man, but he was the wrong man. He brought only darkness and despair. There was that dark cloud in my heart and mind when I met you, and it soured everything between us. I said his name when I should have said yours. I ruined the best thing that could ever have happened to me.
You were like springtime and fresh rain. You made everything clean and bright again. Like the spring rains, there was lightning and thunder too, but that was good. It was like a storm in the desert — just what I needed most — honest reactions to everything. Your emotions are true and right. Oh, if you could only think to give me another chance, to share your laughter with me, to hold me in your arms, and let me love you. I see your grin in my dreams. Those dimples make me smile even as I sleep. I know that I don’t deserve another chance, but if you will let me give my life to you, I will always be with you, and I will die in your arms. All I ask now is that you come let me love you, and I will lay down beside you and be by your side always and forever. I know you value trust, integrity, and honesty. I have bared my soul to you here and left nothing behind. This is who I am and what I want with nothing hidden, no secrets withheld. I will wait for your answer, but know that I can love no other because I gave my heart to you and I cannot take it back. Come let me love you. I know you can love me again. You could search the whole world over, and cross all the blue oceans, but you will never find anyone who will love you like I do. I hope to be able to stand by your side, support you, be your partner, and share joys and heartaches until we walk that bridge to the beyond. I will wait for you.
Anne
He packed a bag for a short trip hoping to find forgiveness too.
Adam watched the kids run and play at recess. He noticed one in particular that was running around causing more problems. Josh Parker, the trouble maker. Adam was substituting for Ms. Emily Larson after she received a telegram of her father’s passing. He wasn’t sure how long she’d been gone. She had warned him about Josh. He always caused problems and was in the corner more than he was in his seat. She was at her wits end of what to do with him. Adam had been teaching for a week and watched the boy. Emily was right, he was a troublemaker. He then saw a fight break out. He didn’t know who started it but he would finish it. He ran out and pulled Josh and Charlie apart. Adam released Charlie but held tight to Josh’s collar.
“Come inside, Josh,” Adam said, guiding the boy inside.
Everyone watched in silence then went back to playing.
Adam set Josh on the front row seat while he leaned against the desk and folded his arms.
“Care to tell me what happened?”
“No.”
“There’s a reason why there was a fight.”
Josh huffed then came tears which he angrily brushed away. Adam then kneeled to the boys level.
“What’s wrong?” he asked gently.
Josh still wouldn’t look at Adam.
“You can tell me.”
“It was all his fault. Charlie called me names like dummy and troublemaker. He told me that nobody likes me. So I hit him.”
“You’re not a dummy. I do want to know why you cause problems?”
“I dunno.”
“You’re very smart. I see you do have good marks even if you’re learning from the corner.”
“The work is easy. I get done early and I get bored.”
“All right. Recess is almost over. I’ll talk to Charlie too. Josh, you’re always welcome to come talk to me.” Adam said standing.
“All right.”
That evening, Adam sat at the table going over next day’s lessons. His mind couldn’t get off of Josh. He decided to visit with Josh’s parents. He rode to the Parker farm and knocked on the door. Mrs. Parker answered the door.
“Mr. Cartwright, what brings you out here?” She moved to let him in.
“I wanted to talk to you about Josh.”
She gave him a strained smile.
“He told me of the fighting today.”
“I didn’t come to just talk about the fight. He told me that he gets his work done early and gets bored. I wondered if he could be a helper to me and see if that would help. I thought maybe we can try and channel his energy into something else. Maybe singing or the guitar?” Adam suggested.
Just then Mr. Parker walked in.
“Adam, what are you doing here?”
Adam told him what he suggested to his wife.
“I think that’s a good idea. Josh, come here please.”
Josh came in and had a look of shock on his face then relaxed when his father told him Adam’s suggestion.
“I think that would be all right,” he said after thinking about it.
“I can teach you myself before and after school.” Adam suggested.
“All right,” Josh said in excitement.
He knew Adam was good at both.
Adam and Josh worked on singing and the guitar as weeks went by. Adam watched from his desk to see how Josh was during class. Josh was given harder work and did better in school. Josh had done something that had surprised everyone in town: he sang in church. His parents gave the credit to Adam for helping their son see his potential.
