Synopsis: Adam and Hoss take Joe to town, to help him turn his luck around.
Rating:  G  (5,140 words)

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The Victor

Joe looked fiercely at the man sitting across the table from him. The man looked back at him with an ice-cold expression on his face. “Whenever you’re ready, boy,” he said, just to antagonize the youngest Cartwright.

Joe kept his temper in check; after all, it was only a game. He put his left elbow onto the table and held his hand open for the man to take it. “I’m ready, Red.”

Red accepted the challenge and put his arm up to meet Joe’s. The crowd around the table drew in closer and the tension in the air was high. “On three,” Joe said. The man nodded in agreement.

“One, two, THREE!” With that, the two men’s arms and faces tightened with tension. The look of concentration was sharp on them both.

Joe’s challenger was Red, a large man who was a regular hand at the Triple D ranch. Joe felt like David sitting across from Goliath. Of the few men taking bets on the match, most of them were betting wise, for Red.

Joe was in way over his head, but his stubbornness wasn’t going to let him back down. He could plainly see the odds were stacked against him; at this very moment his knuckles were just barely hovering over the tabletop. Bracing himself in his chair, Joe gave one final push and, to his astonishment, the tables were starting to turn. He was beginning to get the best of Goliath. Gritting his teeth and putting as much effort into it as he could, he pushed harder. The payoff was sweet. Red’s knuckles rapped the table with a resounding thud.

Joe jumped out of his seat whooping and yelling. Those who had bet for Joe were joining in the celebration. Spencer, an old school friend, slapped him on the back as he handed Joe a beer. “Joe, you are on fire tonight! I thought for sure you were a goner with Red.”

Taking a long swig from his mug, Joe could hardly believe his own luck. Red wasn’t the first guy he beat tonight, but he was the largest. “Well, Spence, when you got it, you got it. It’s all in the wrists, you know,” he said with a pleased smile. Joe was just as surprised as everyone else he beat that brute.

Looking over at the bar, Joe shot a triumphant look at his two brothers who were watching from a distance. Both Hoss and Adam raised their beers in honor of Joe’s winning streak. Turning to face the bar and trying to hide the grin on his face Adam said, “Another victory for Joe.”

Hoss just nodded and focused his attention to the bartender. “Hey, get that man a drink,” Hoss said pointing to Red, who had found his way back to them. Hoss leaned over a little to meet Red’s gaze. “Payment in full,” Hoss said softly.

Red winked and raised his beer in acknowledgment, then took a long drink.

Adam was busy talking to the man next to him. “So, will you do it Bobby? I’ll buy you a beer now and one when you throw the match.”

Bobby was a regular at the Bucket of Blood and had known the Cartwright boys for years. “I don’t know, Adam. I’ve got a reputation to keep around here. How would it look if I let your younger brother beat me?”

Adam sighed. He knew what Bobby was going for. He might be a hard-working man, but on his days off he was a big fan of alcohol. Bobby spent all of his money and free time at the saloon. “Bobby, I would say that people are gonna think you had an off night, that’s all.” He paused, sighing at Bobby’s reluctant expression. “Okay, you drive a hard bargain. How this? I buy you a beer now, and after you throw the match, not only will I buy you another beer, I’ll buy you a shot of the best whiskey in the house,” he continued. It would really be a feather in Joe’s cap to beat Bobby.

Never one to turn down a shot of good whiskey; Bobby didn’t have to think about it for long. “Deal!”

Adam smiled and called out to the bartender. ” Sam! Get my friend here a beer.”

Sam obliged, handing the mug over to Bobby. He had seen the two Cartwright boys doing this all evening. They were buying a round of drink for any man who would throw a match with their younger brother. Sometimes those Cartwright boy act mighty peculiar, Sam thought to himself while wiping up the counter.

Once again everyone turned to gape at the wrestling match after hearing the cheers of victory. Hoss looked over his shoulder to call Sam and tell him to have another drink ready. Sam was once step ahead and had one waiting for latest “loser”. Hoss winked at him, happy that he was going along with the plan.

Settling back into his seat, Joe felt on top of the world. After the week he had, it was good to find things finally going his way. He had started to think of himself as the unluckiest man in Virginia City. First, Ellen had caught him flirting with Susan at the dance last Saturday; he had ended up with a slap on the face and no one to walk home. Then, Monday, working the fence line with Adam and Hoss had been nothing but a comedy of errors. He had tripped over an uncut pole, sending him face forward onto the barbed wire. Falling ungracefully, he proceeded to take apart the work he and his brothers had spent most of the morning doing. The only bit of luck he had was that he managed to avoid most of the barbs as he fell; he did, however, rip his lucky shirt. His brothers just looked at him and let him know in no uncertain terms that he was going to have to fix it all by himself.

Things did not improve later in the week. Ben had gotten word from a ranch hand that Joe was caught napping instead of following the herd to the spring corral. When he got home, he received the lecture of his life about how being a Cartwright doesn’t give him permission to laze the day away, and what kind of example he has to set for the other hands who actually do work around the Ponderosa.

He winced at the thought of the skunk that had surprised him when he was looking for lost cattle in some brush, it took two tomato baths and a good scrub just to get to smell down to a tolerable level.

It really didn’t help matters any when he and his two older brothers were mounting their horse for tonight’s trip into Virginia City. Instead of Joe’s usually graceful leap, he jumped wrong and found himself flat across Cochise’s saddle. Ruefully sliding down, he’d had to mount the horse in a more traditional manner. Unfortunately, Hoss and Adam had seen the whole thing and really had a good laugh at his expense all the way into town. As soon as they entered the Bucket of Blood, he couldn’t wait to part company with his brothers. And now after winning several matches he was feeling his luck turn around.

Adam and Hoss really didn’t have any intention of setting up matches for their little brother, it just sort of happened. Both of them had seen Joe’s week go from bad to worse, starting with the slap he got from Ellen on Saturday. Joe’s mood had gotten progressively worse as well.

They talked their father into this trip into town to cheer Joe up. After seeing Joe’s “graceful” leap onto his horse, they both feared they had made Joe feel worse instead of better. Setting up the matches was their way of making it up to him.

Spencer and Joe were finishing up the last drops of the beer when Bobby came to the table. “How’s about taking me on?” he said with as much challenge in his voice as he could muster.

Joe offered him a seat and put his arm up on the table. With the wicked smile of someone sure of a victory he said, “Let the games begin.”

Once again, against the odds, Joe defeated the mighty. Bobby was holding up his end of the bargain by being as graceful a loser as he could, until another regular slapped him on the back. “You must be losing your touch, Bobby boy, to be beaten by a kid.”

That was enough for Bobby. “The kid only beat me ‘cause I used my left hand,” Bobby snarled, forgetting the deal he made with Adam.

“I can beat you with my right hand too, if you would like,” Joe said smugly, holding out his arm.

Hoss knew to keep an eye on Bobby, he was afraid Bobby’s ego would be too big to let Joe beat him. He didn’t know why Adam picked him to help out in this little ruse they had going. Bobby had made good on letting Joe win, but now it was all falling apart. Hoss nudged Adam. “I told you Bobby wasn’t going to stand for losing. If they go at it again there’s going to be trouble.”

Adam, wiping the beer that spilled over on to his hands when Hoss nudged him, quickly thought of a plan. If Bobby beat Joe now, the jig would be up. Not only would Joe be mad at them, but all the people who had been losing money on a fixed match would come collecting, most likely on their hides.

Quickly calling Sam back over to them, Adam ordered Bobby his promised beer and whiskey, and added the whole liquor bottle. He had the barkeep put the beer and whiskey at the other end of the bar and call out, “Hey, Bobby, your whiskey’s waiting for you! If you are gonna arm wrestle all night, I’m sure one of your friends would be more than happy to take care of your bottle for you.”

Bobby turned in his seat to see the bartender holding up a bottle of brown liquid. He then looked over to Adam and Hoss, who were leaning against the bar and smiling. Bobby slowly got up from the chair. “I guess you beat me fair and square kid,” he growled reluctantly.

He walked to the waiting bottle. If Joe hadn’t been so wrapped up in his victories, he would have noticed the exchange of glances between Adam and Bobby.

“Ya know, Adam, we should get out of here while the gettin’ is good. It won’t be too long now before someone figures out what we been doing. You and I both know what we did here was for a good cause; but I ain’t so sure those men over there will take kindly to our little venture.”

“You know, Hoss, I believe you’re right. It’s getting pretty late anyway, we should be heading back to the ranch. Let’s get our young charge and head home.”

Taking a final drink from their beers they walked across the room to where their younger brother was holding court. “You know, Adam, getting him out of here is going to be easier said than done. Do have any plans on how to go about doing it?”

With his sights set on Joe, he just replied, “With the element of surprise and, of course, force if necessary.”

They approached the table and stood behind Joe, who was engrossed in his conversation with Spencer. “Spence, can you believe it! I’ve taken down seven guys in one night, and two of them the biggest guys around, besides Hoss, that is.”

“Gee, Joe. All that work you do around that ranch of yours has really paid off. Before you know it, you’ll be able to beat Hoss.”

“Oh, wait a minute now, there young Spence. You know that I would never let my little brother here get big enough to beat me,” Hoss said as put a hand on Joe’s shoulder.

“Well, then at very least you could beat Adam,” Spencer said with a weak smile.

Adam didn’t answer, he just raised his eyebrow as if to say, that’ll be the day and put another hand on Joe’s shoulder.

Spencer looked at his drink, just sensing the older Cartwrights were up to no good.

Joe, still caught up in the moment, wasn’t so in tuned into his brother’s intentions. “Hey brother! Have you come over to see me at work? I’m unstoppable tonight! I could beat every guy in this place.”

“I’m sure you could, Joe,” Hoss said as he glanced over at Adam, who was looking intently at the ceiling and trying his best to keep from laughing. He wasn’t going to be any help. Hoss continued, “It’s getting late and Pa wanted us back at a decent hour. We should start back.”

“Naw, Hoss I like it right….”

Joe didn’t even get to finish his thought before he was yanked out of his chair by Hoss and Adam. “What’s the big idea!” he yelled as they started to escort him out of the saloon.

“Well, Short Shanks the Mighty, we thought that you should give someone else a chance to shine awhile. Maybe some of your luck has rubbed of on Spencer here.” Adam patted Spencer gruffly on the back as he was about to take a swig, causing him to spill the drink all over himself.

“Probably not,” Hoss said with a laugh.

Adam and Hoss ignored Joe’s struggling to get out of their grips and calmly walked him out the swinging doors and on to the street. Still a little incensed at his brothers, he wrenched his arms free and walked ahead. “I don’t know why you pulled me out of there. I had one heck of a streak going on in there. If I kept it up much longer I could have been the arm wrestling champ of Virginia City.”

Adam couldn’t help himself, and he muttered under his breath “You’d be the champ only if the current champ wrestled you with two broken arms.” Suddenly, Adam found himself colliding with the ground. Regaining the senses that were knock out of him when he hit the earth, he jumped to his feet. “Hey! What’s the big idea,” he growled, stopping short when he came face to face with Hoss.

Looking straight at him and whispering Hoss said, “Bite your tongue. We’ve come this far; don’t blow it with one of your smart aleck comments.”

Adam took the warning grudgingly. Wiping the dust off of his shirt he walked up to Joe, who had turned around in time to see his brother get up from the ground. “Adam, what happened to you?”

Adam gave Joe a look as if to say, you have to ask? ” I tripped,” he said flatly. “Let’s get our horses,” he added, heading towards the livery stable. Joe shrugged and started after him. Hoss rolled his eyes and followed behind the two.

Walking towards the stable, Joe tried once again to convince his brothers to let him stay in town longer. Since he was so hot tonight he thought it a shame to waste it; he wanted to go join the weekly poker game at the Silver Dollar. “Hey guys, what harm would there be if we went over to the Silver Dollar for a drink in honor of my winning streak,” Joe said with the most angelic look on his face.

Both Hoss and Adam stopped and looked at him in amazement. Give that boy an inch and he tries to take the whole darn mile. Joe received the looks he got from his brothers as a ‘yes.’ Clapping his hands together, he could almost see his winnings from the poker table. He headed towards the bar. Before he could take two steps, Hoss grabbed him by the shirt collar.

“I’ll tell ya what the harm is, you stayin’ out all night and sleepin’ in tomorrow, which would lead to Pa given Adam and I a hard time for not keepin’ you in check and letting you gamble. You must know if Pa gives us trouble we are GONNA give you trouble.” With each point Hoss poked his finger into Joe, making sure he understood completely.

Joe winced with each painful jab. He looked over to Adam, hoping in vain that maybe he would get some support from him. The only thing he got was the sight of his brother’s arms folded across his chest and a smug grin on his face. Joe knew it was no use butting his head against this brick wall, it wouldn’t fall no matter how much he tried. He would have to save the poker game for another night.

Gathering their horses from the hitching post, each man mounted their horse and started out of town, enjoying the night air. Their pace was slow and leisurely. Where the last of the houses stood just outside of town, Joe paused longingly at Susan’s home. He toyed with going over to her door and talking to her, but thought better of it. His luck was changing but probably not that much.

Hoss had noticed Joe looking ahead to Susan’s house and heard the sigh that escaped his brother’s lips. He spoke up, “Susan still ain’t talking to you?”

Joe hung his head and answered, “Naw, I haven’t even tried to speak to her since last Saturday. I doubt she wants me hanging around.”

“You know Joe, it wouldn’t hurt if you went up and talked to her. Maybe do something crazy like apologize for your foolish action,” Adam said, adding his two cents.

He plainly remembered trying to warn his younger brother that “Hell has no fury like a woman scorned,” but the words went right over his head. He winced at the memory of the slap Ellen gave Joe when she caught him with Susan, who in turn was insulted that Joe had come with another girl and walked away in a huff, leaving Joe to stand dazed holding his stinging cheek. Hopefully Joe had learned his lesson that night. Adam doubted it.

He even tried to plead Joe’s case to Susan when he saw her at the bank today. Susan didn’t seem very receptive at first; she was upset at the fact that Joe would leave one girl to pursue another. She had always thought that Joe had more class than that, and she was sorely disappointed in his actions. Adam spent much time explaining to her that Joe had learned his lesson (he hoped) and how badly he felt about the whole scene on Saturday. He didn’t know if it did any good, but no one could say he didn’t try.

Just as Joe was about to answer Adam with a snide comment, they heard a woman’s voice.

“Pardon me, boys,” Susan called out to get their attention as they started to ride away. The three of them stopped. Hoss and Adam smiled as they looked at each other, then turned in their saddles to address Susan. They had been to wrapped up in their conversation to notice that she was sitting on her front porch enjoying the night air.

Susan had been waiting for them. She knew from her conversation with Adam they were planning on a trip into town this evening. She had hoped to catch them on the way home. She knew her chances were good; they had to go past her house to get to the Ponderosa. She had been thinking about what Adam had told her, about how it had all been a mistake on Joe’s part. If he had known that she and Justin were no longer courting, he wouldn’t have asked Ellen to the dance. He would have gone alone and made time for Susan; but as it was he found out too late and used bad judgment. She still laughed at how Adam told her how sad and sorry Joe had been the entire week and the unfortunate events that kept happening to him. She had already decided to forgive him when Adam asked her to help with a plan to boost Joe’s spirits.

Susan knew she really couldn’t stay mad at Joe, even now looking at him on top of his horse she could barely remember why she was upset.

Joe saw her and hung his head. She was probably gonna give him an earful about how he should have know better trying to court two girls at once. It was too late now to make his escape. All there was left to do is apologize and hope his chances weren’t ruined completely.

“Good evening,” Susan said as she walked up the path.

“Good evening’, Miss Susan,” Hoss said with a tip of his hat. He and Adam had dismounted their horses and approached the gate.

“Good evening there, Ma’am. You’re looking lovely tonight,” Adam said in his slow seductive drawl, knowing that any sign of flirting from him would rankle his little brother to no end. Sometimes he just couldn’t help himself.

Susan blushed at Adam’s complement and accepted it gracefully. “Thank you, Adam,” she answered, momentarily distracted by Adam’s smile and hazel eyes.

Hoss had seen the exchange between the two and couldn’t believe what Adam was doing. He took quick action before his younger brother could react. Stepping in closer as if to speak to Susan, Hoss put his foot squarely down on top of Adam’s and knocked into him. With the weight of Hoss on his foot he couldn’t help but fall to the ground.

“Ow! Hoss, watch what you’re doin’! You almost broke my foot!”

Holding out his hand to help him up, Hoss said through clenched teeth, “Oh, I’m sorry, Adam! I must have tripped on a rock; you know these big ol’ feet of mine are barely good for walking.” He knew Adam was smart enough to read between the lines and hear the warning.

Adam picked up on the unspoken message and accepted the hand up. “That’s two, Hoss,” he said in a whisper loud enough for only Hoss to hear.

Susan took her attention away from the exchange between the two brothers to notice Joe sitting morosely on top of his horse. He was thinking to himself how his luck really hadn’t changed at all, here he was watching his oldest brother flirt with the girl he was sweet on. If Susan hadn’t been standing there, Joe would have clobbered Adam himself. He was still thinking on doing that when he heard his named called.

“Hello, Joe” Susan said with a captivating smile only for him.

Now was Joe’s chance to show up Adam .If Adam wanted the girl he had his eye on then he was gonna have to do some mighty fine talking. Jumping down from Cochise he bounded over to the gate and swiftly took Susan’s hand. “Good evening, Susan,” he said as he kissed her fingers lightly, his green eyes gazing into hers.

Susan was overwhelmed by all the attention she was getting from the Cartwrights. In a slightly flustered voice she continued, “A beautiful evening this has turned out to be.”

Before Adam and Hoss could answer, Joe spoke up. “It’s getting more beautiful by the minute.”

Adam shook his head. If that’s the best line Joe has, then heaven help him! he thought to himself as he looked over to Hoss and rolled his eyes.

“Susan, I must apologize for my behavior last Saturday. I should have known better and I have learned my lesson. Forgive me?”

Susan could feel her knees weaken, she had forgiven him again the second she saw him ride up. She glanced over at Adam, who winked. Now was the time to lay it on thick. “Joe, honey, you know I could never stay mad at you,” she said flirtatiously. “Why, that’s the only reason I was sitting here; waiting for you to ride by so I could tell you.” She leaned nearer, her mouth close to his. “I was planning on stay out here a while longer and looking at the stars, would you care to join me?”

Deliberately misunderstanding, Hoss and Adam quickly made their way towards the gate to open it. “That’s a mighty nice invitation, Miss Susan,” Hoss said as he fumbled with the latch.

Susan smiled sweetly at them and put her hand on Joe’s arm. “Just Joe this evening, boys,” she said.

Thankful that his lucky streak was still with him, Joe stepped through the gate and took hold of Susan’s waist, flashing the smile of victory at his brothers.

Before Joe could go any farther up the path Adam called out. “Aren’t you forgetting something Joe? We were heading home.”

Joe stopped in mid stride, thinking to himself, Isn’t it just like Adam to ruin a guy’s good time. But, Adam was right. “Susan, I’m so sorry I can’t enjoy your company this evening. Adam, Hoss and I have a lot of work to do tomorrow and it just wouldn’t be right if I stayed behind while my older brothers went home.” He let out a long sigh, sounding utterly dejected.

Hoss and Adam both knew Joe well enough to know what he was trying to do. .

“Enjoy the stars Joe, but so help me, if you are not home at a decent hour the stars you enjoy tonight will be your last,” Adam said after a moment. The smile on his face that told his youngest brother, test me.

“Joe,” Hoss added. “If you don’t heed his words, I will not step in to help you out when he comes looking for you.”

Standing next to Joe, Susan leaned over to him and whispered, “I think they mean business.”

Joe winked at her and gave her his most disarming smile and said, “I know they do.”

Susan took Joe’s hand again. Without really turning around she waved goodbye to Hoss and Adam, who were left standing at the gate holding the reins of their horses.

Watching their younger brother disappear up the walk, Hoss asked, “Aren’t you worried about him going back into town and finding a poker game?”

Adam contemplated the situation. “I have a funny feeling he has forgotten all about playing poker this evening.”

Leading their horses down the road they could here the giggles coming from Susan’s porch. Listening to the sound being carried off into the night air, Adam smiled. Apparently their plan had worked and Joe was feeling better.

“You were right, Adam. Joe did break out of his unlucky streak; all he needed with a slight shove,” Hoss observed.

Mounting his horse Adam winked at Hoss, “Isn’t that what older brothers are for?”

 

 

Ben had been enjoying his evening of peace and quiet. He had finished his paper work early and was now relaxing by the fire, reading a book. As he was involved in the last chapter, he heard the familiar sound that signaled the end of his quiet reflection. Horses hoofs coming into the yard and then the familiar footsteps at the front door. He closed his book waiting for what he knew would come next.

Adam and Hoss walked into the front door. Both seemed to be in rather jovial moods. Throwing their hats on the sideboard, they both saw Ben sitting in his favorite red chair. In unintentional unison they said, “Hi, Pa.”

Ben looked at his two boys and furrowed his brow. “When you boys left this evening, I could have sworn there were three of you. What happened to the third?” he asked and raised his eyebrow waiting for the answer.

Walking over to the settee and taking a seat, Hoss told his father where they left Joe. “Aw Pa, don’t worry about Lil’ Joe. Miss Susan is taking good care of him,” he said with a chuckle.

Ben looked up to his oldest son who had just taken the book Ben had been enjoying right out of his hands. “What does he mean she’s taking good care of him?” he inquired, his rising temper starting to show in his voice.

Turning the book over, Adam walked over to the hearth and sat. “It’s nothing, Pa. Susan saw us on the way out of town and asked Joe to sit with her for awhile.”

Ben was happy to hear that they hadn’t foolishly left their brother in town to get into trouble. Playfully snatching the book out of his son’s hands he continued in mock anger, “And does your dear brother realize we have a lot of work tomorrow and we need to get an early start?”

Looking at each other and smiling, Hoss answered, “Yes, Pa, he knows.”

Ben was taken a little aback by the quick response. Rising from his seat Adam headed for the stairs. “I think I’m gonna turn in.”

“You know Adam, that sounds like a great idea. I think I’m gonna head up too.” Hoss got up.

Ben couldn’t resist his last question. He knew his youngest son very well and knew that as soon as he was away from his two older brothers, his plans could change very quickly. “Um, Adam how do you know for sure your brother will be home at a decent hour?”

“That’s simple, Pa.” Adam waited for a beat and moved out of Hoss’ way as he started to climb the stairs. “We explained to Joe that if he came home too late, that this past week would seem like heaven compared to the one he would have if he didn’t heed our words.”

“Well, I hope your warning got through to him then,” Ben said, hiding a smile.

Hoss added from the landing, “It did Pa. I know it did.”

Seeing the malicious smiles on their faces was enough for Ben to know that they meant business, and Joe, for his own sake, would hopefully listen to his brothers’ warning. Satisfied with the answers he received, Ben said goodnight to his sons and went back to his book.

Before too long Ben heard the distinct sound of a tussle in the upstairs hallway, and he was sure he heard Adam say something about revenge and payback. He could also make out Hoss saying something about it being for the good of their little brother. Looking down at his book and shaking his head he thought, sometimes those sons of mine can be a mighty peculiar lot. Smiling to himself he added, they must have gotten that from their mothers.

The End