Rating: K

Word Count=1461

Summary: A WHN for The Hayburner. Hoss tells what Adam did to him after the race.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bonanza or the Cartwrights. No copyright infringement is intended on Alex Sharpe’s magnificent script. Original plot is the property of the author. This story is for entertainment.

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No More Security

I seen Adam madder’n a hornet several times, but I ain’t never seen him mad enough to spit nails into fence posts. When Lil Joe won that race, I was a winner, too. I put money on his horse even though me an’ Adam was runnin’ that hayburner of ours. Lafe was bein’ crowded by folks who’d won so I couldn’t mosey my way over to git what was due me.

Ol’ Adam had to hand over that new rifle of his since he put it up as security for borrowin’ Lil Joe’s money. Just when I thought my older brother couldn’t git no madder, Lafe come over an’ gave me my winnins. The look in Adam’s eyes coulda blasted a tunnel through solid rock. An’ his voice—there was an edge to it I hadn’t heard since him and Pa argued over windmills.

Adam can usually ride herd on his temper right quick-like, but when he gits riled he makes me think of a bear that’s been tryin’ to steal honey from a hive of bees—his hair kinda bristles, he stands real tall, an’ he snarls. I was tryin’ to think of a way to tell him why I bet on Lil Joe, but there weren’t no words comin’ to my mind. All I could think to do was offer to buy him a beer. That only made him madder.

Next thing I know, he’s thrown down that new rifle scabbard an’ his hat. All I could think to do was back up, but he started comin’ at me. Then he took off that coat of his an’ gave it to Lafe. Well, he thought he gave it to Lafe but it fell on the ground an’ I don’t think he cared none. When he took off his gun, I knew I was in fer it. He ain’t thrashed me since we was kids, an’ even then I was bigger’n him. 

Last time I gave Adam a poundin’ it was for tryin’ to steal Regan from me. Well, I thought he was tryin’ to at the time. Turns out he just wanted to show me what kinda woman she really was. I was so mad I lit into him with all a my might. Strange thing was he didn’t even raise a fist to stop me. If’n it hadn’t bin for Pa an’ Lil Joe comin’ out to the bunkhouse, I mighta done him some real damage. Now I was wonderin’ if I should just let him get this outta his system or try to stop him with a quick jab to the jaw.

I threw my winnins to the ground thinkin’ to distract him. Mebbe if’n he saw the money, he’d stop to get it an’ go buy his rifle back. But he just started rollin’ up his sleeves so he could git down to business.

Just as I started to turn tail to get outta there, Adam grabbed my shoulder an’ spun me ‘round. That wicked right hook of his got me in the eye. Afore I could get in a punch, he socked me one in the gut. Was that enough for him? Nope. Then he gave me a hard jab to the jaw an’ then another punch to the gut. Seemed like he shoulda got that anger outta him but he was still comin’ at me. Where was Pa an’ Lil Joe? Why weren’t they puttin’ a stop to this?

I reached out an’ pushed Adam in the chest, thinkin’ he might fall over so I could get somewheres safe. All I did was make him take a step back so he could get set up for another round at me. An’ boy howdy, he sure delivered! Those fists a his were near flyin’ against my face the way a beaver’d slap his tail agin the water. That brother a mine sure can punch when he makes up his mind to give in to anger.

One a his blows finally caught me on the chin. My head snapped back an’ I went over like one a them big ol’ pines we timber for lumber. I laid there in the street wonderin’ if’n he’d switch from his fists to his boots. I sure was hopin’ his temper was spent.

He leaned over on his knees for a minute an’ then reached out his hand to me. I didn’t know if’n it was a trick to get me on my feet so he could pound me some more. It looked like his anger was gone, so I went ahead an’ reached for his hand. He helped me up, got his bandana outta his pocket, an’ handed it over to me so I could clean up my face. Then he gave me a pat on the shoulder an’ headed fer Pa an’ Lil Joe.

Seems like he noticed all a his belongings in the street then. After a shake of his head, he picked up his gunbelt, coat, and hat. But when he got to that rifle scabbard I thought he might build up to another thrashin’. Turns out he just looked at it for a bit an’ then picked it up. Pa asked him if ever’thin’ was all right an’ he said it was. Lil Joe was lookin’ mighty nervous, though. He prob’ly figgered he was gonna be next to feel Adam’s fists.

I was right surprised when Lil Joe offered to give Adam his rifle back. Ol’ Adam took a deep breath an’ then told our lil brother he done won it fair and square so it was his now an’ he’d best take care of it. Lil Joe promised ta keep it polished an’ clean. Then he said he’d buy us all beers over to the Silver Dollar. I wasn’t gonna say no to my lil brother springin’ for the beers for once. Adam said a beer sure sounded good. Pa looked mighty pleased that Adam wasn’t angry no more an’ Lil Joe was tryin’ to make peace. Me? I was just glad the race was over with an’ ever’thin’ could go back to the way it usually is. 

But then Pa clapped me on my back an’ said, “About that money I loaned you for side bets.” I picked my green backs up, counted out what was owed to Pa, and put the rest in my pocket for later. I sure hope I don’t never hafta borrow money from Lil Joe again—there just ain’t enough security in the world to cover a loan from him.

The End
October 2007