Summary:  Watching after Little Joe proves to be a challenge when Ben has to leave him with a babysitter.
Rating: G (12,800 words)

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Babysitting

 

I could tell when the man entered the room that something was wrong. He seemed to be agitated and looked around quickly as if seeking reassurance.  I felt it was up to me to put him at his ease immediately, for after all who better than myself to sort out any issues that he might have? I’ve lived in this town for nigh on thirty-five years and if there is anything to be sorted out here, then I’m usually the one to do it.

 

People here sometimes call me bossy, but I just laugh and tell them I’m an organiser. They should be happy that I’m the way I am, for I’ve noticed a time or two that most of them are grateful to me when they need my help. Just like the poor man tonight.  He was obviously a stranger in town…got off the stage this very afternoon with two boys.  I make it my business to check out who gets off the stage each afternoon.  It pays to know exactly who’s in town at any given time.  In a town the size of ours it’s not too hard to keep track, but most people are amazed that I always seem to know.

 

‘Can I help you Sir?’ I asked politely as I approached the stranger. He was a tall good-looking man with silver hair and the brownest eyes I’d ever seen.  He had a kind face underneath the worried expression that he was wearing and I could see from the way he looked me up and down that he was no fool.

 

‘Ma’am,’ he said as he tipped his hat. ‘I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of the doctor,’ he said. ‘I assume there’s one in town?’

 

‘There certainly is,’ I replied, happy to be able to help him. ‘Dr Forbes is his name.  His office is right down at the end of the street.  Can I help you with something, Mr…?’

 

He hesitated. ‘Cartwright,’ he replied. ‘Ben Cartwright’s the name. Thank you ma’am.  My son isn’t well and I’m a bit anxious about him.’

 

‘One of the two boys you had with you this afternoon?’ I enquired. This sounded like it was getting interesting. He gave me a strange look. ‘I noticed you getting off the stage with the two youngsters,’ I explained.

 

‘Yes,’ he said. ‘The older one isn’t feeling too well, I’m afraid.’  He turned to go.

 

‘Perhaps I’d better show you the way,’ I volunteered. It was beginning to sound like he’d need my help and I was quite willing to give it if it meant that I could find out what was going on.  Our town is so dull at times that I have to find my entertainment where I can and Mr Cartwright sounded like he might be just the distraction I could use right about now.

 

‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble,’ he said.

 

‘No trouble at all,’ I replied and pushed him through the open doorway. I led him quickly down to Dr Forbes’ office and entered the door. ‘Dr Forbes!’ I called. ‘Someone to see you!’

 

The doctor entered the room, wiping his hands on a cloth. ‘Who is it?’ he asked.

 

‘Man by the name of Cartwright,’ I replied as I indicated him. ‘His son is sick and I think you should go and see what you can do for him.’

 

The doctor gave me one of his funny looks. He and I don’t always see eye to eye, as the man thinks he knows better than I do at times.  He should know by now that I’m usually right about things that happen around town.  I suppose he’s still young and inexperienced.  He’ll learn. He turned to Mr Cartwright. ‘What’s wrong with your son?’ he asked.

 

‘He’s got pains in his stomach and head and he’s running a high fever,’ explained Mr Cartwright. ‘It’s only just come on in the past hour or so, but I’m really worried about him Doctor.  I’d appreciate it if you’d come and take a look at him.’

 

‘Just like I already told you,’ I interrupted. ‘You do need to see him.’

 

The doctor gave me one of those looks again. ‘Thank you for your opinion, Mildred,’ he said. ‘I’ll come immediately, Mr Cartwright.  Where is the boy?’

 

‘He’s up at the hotel,’ said Mr Cartwright. ‘We’re just passing through town on our way home from San Francisco and are stopping here overnight.’

 

I followed the two men out of the office and up to the hotel.  They hadn’t actually invited me, but I knew that my assistance would be needed so I stuck close to them.  Neither of them seemed to even notice.

 

Mr Cartwright led us up the stairs to the first floor of the hotel and opened the door of Room number 4. On the bed lay the boy in question.  He was a big lad with sandy hair and lovely blue eyes that were contorted in pain as a wave of sickness overcame him.  He looked up at his father. ‘Hi Pa,’ he said.

 

Mr Cartwright was obviously very concerned about the boy.  I could tell from the way he leant over him and stroked his hair. I felt that he had good cause to be.  The boy was obviously definitely running a fever and needed immediate attention, so I told the doctor so at once.

 

‘Thank you, Mildred,’ Doctor Forbes replied, without looking at me. ‘I think I can handle it from here.’  He bent over and began to examine the boy, watched by his anxious father.  At that moment I was startled by a movement from the corner of the room and turned in surprise to see the other boy seated in a chair next to the wall. In my excitement I had forgotten about the younger of the two boys and I took the opportunity to size him up now while the others were occupied.  He was only little, with a mop of curly hair and the greenest eyes I’d ever seen.  To tell the truth he looked like a bit of a scamp.  He was studying the boy on the bed with a worried expression on his face, so I walked over and began to put his mind at ease.

 

‘Hello,’ I said, bending down to take a closer look at him.

 

‘Hello,’ he replied.

 

‘What’s your name?’

 

‘Joseph Cartwright.  What’s yours?’

 

‘I’m Mrs Mildred Tanner,’ I replied. I believe in being direct with children, as I feel it’s the best way to earn their trust. ‘Don’t you worry about your brother.  I’m sure he’ll be fine.’

 

‘Are you a doctor?’ he asked.

 

I thought what a bright little thing he seemed to be. ‘No, I’m not a doctor,’ I replied.  ‘But I’m sure that the doctor will take good care of him and help him to get better.’ At that moment the doctor straightened up and began to speak.

 

‘He definitely has a fever,’ he said.

 

I snorted. ‘Anyone can see that,’ I answered. ‘What are you going to do for the boy?’

 

He gave me another one of his looks. ‘I’m most concerned Mr Cartwright,’ he said. ‘We’ve had several cases of influenza in the town recently and your son is showing all the classic symptoms.  I’m afraid he’s rather a sick boy.’

 

Mr Cartwright looked even more worried. ‘What can we do for him?’ he asked anxiously.

 

‘We’ll have to keep his temperature down with cold compresses,’ replied Dr Forbes.  ‘I can give him some medicine as well.  The main thing though is that he should be isolated as soon as possible in case this is spread.’ He glanced across at the little boy sitting on the chair. ‘Especially from any other children,’ he added.

 

Mr Cartwright’s eyes darted across to his little son as well. ‘Of course,’ he said. He ran his fingers through his hair in a distracted fashion and I could sense immediately what was running through his mind.

 

I stepped forward. ‘I’ll look after the little boy,’ I volunteered. ‘I’d be happy to do it while you’re with your sick son.’ Mr Cartwright hesitated. ‘There there,’ I said as I patted him on the arm. ‘You really don’t have any choice but to ask someone to do it and I’m the obvious choice, you know.’

 

Doctor Forbes spoke up. ‘The little boy shouldn’t be here,’ he said. ‘It would be really dangerous for a boy his size to be exposed to this kind of thing. Mildred is right.’

 

Mr Cartwright still hesitated and I could see that he was torn between having his son go with someone he didn’t know and looking after his other sick boy. ‘I’m a parent myself,’ I said soothingly. ‘I’ve raised three children Mr Cartwright and I know a thing or two about them.  He’ll be fine with me I can assure you. I only live across the street…that white house over there.’  I pointed through the window at my neat little home proudly.  ‘Thirty-five years I’ve lived there.  My husband Reg was the Sheriff here until he passed on two years ago.  I can assure you I’m trustworthy.’

 

Mr Cartwright nodded. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I’m sure you are, Mrs….?’

 

‘Tanner,’ I said. ‘Mildred Tanner.’

 

He nodded. ‘Thank you, Mrs Tanner,’ he said. ‘I’m most grateful to you.’  His eyes travelled once more to the boy on the bed. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without your kind offer to be honest.’

 

I patted his arm once again. ‘You just concentrate on getting that boy well,’ I said. ‘Young Joseph and I will get on just fine, won’t we?’  I gave the little boy a nice smile, but he just stared back at me.  I held out my hand to him. ‘Come on then Joseph,’ I said warmly. I’ll show you where I live.’

 

The little boy frowned. ‘No!’ he said firmly. ‘I’m staying with my Pa and my brother!’

 

I returned the frown. I wasn’t used to being told no. ‘Your father needs to look after your brother for a while and you can’t stay here,’ I explained. ‘You’ll be coming with me.’

 

‘No!’ he repeated and hopped down off the chair and ran over to his father, throwing his arms around the man’s legs. ‘I wanna stay wiv you Pa!’

 

Mr Cartwright bent down and stroked the child’s hair. ‘Joe, you have to be a good boy and do as Mrs Tanner says,’ he explained. ‘Hoss isn’t well and I need to look after him for a while.’

 

‘I’m gonna look after him too!’ declared Joseph. ‘I’m gonna help ya Pa!’

 

Mr Cartwright shook his head. ‘No son,’ he said. ‘You can’t stay here while Hoss isn’t well. You might get sick too.’

 

‘I don’t care!’ he declared. ‘We can be sick together.’

 

Mr Cartwright shook his head again. ‘Well, I do care Joseph.  I can’t look after two sick boys at the same time.  You don’t want me to be worried about you too, do you?’

 

Joseph shook his head. ‘No.’

 

‘Then do as I ask and go with Mrs Tanner.  It’s only for a little while.’

 

‘Will you come and get me when Hoss is better?’ Joseph asked.

 

‘I promise you I will.  As soon as he is better.  All right?’

 

Joseph nodded reluctantly. ‘Yes,’ he said in a quiet voice.

 

Mr Cartwright put his son’s hand in mine. ‘Now go with Mrs Tanner,’ he said. ‘There’s a good boy.’  He turned back to his other boy on the bed anxiously. ‘Thank you,’ he said to me over his shoulder. ‘I’ll come and get him as soon as I can.’

 

I led the child from the room, down the staircase and out into the street. I had to pull him a bit, because he stubbornly refused to pick up his feet and dragged them in the dirt.  It didn’t worry me though.  I’ve had plenty of experience of dealing with stubborn little boys and this one wasn’t about to get the better of Mildred Tanner! ‘Come along child,’ I instructed him. ‘No dawdling.’

 

My remark only caused him to drag his feet even more, so in the end I was forced to stop and point my finger at him. ‘Now look here!’ I said sternly. ‘You Pa is up there worrying about your brother.  You don’t want to cause him any more trouble, do you?’

 

He glared at me and stuck out his tongue. ‘I don’t like you!’ he said cheekily.

 

‘Rubbish!’ I retorted. ‘I’m not here for you to like or dislike child! The only thing that matters is that I keep you safe until your Pa comes to get you.’

 

‘I wish he’d come now!’ he declared. ‘I don’t wanna come to your old house anyways!’  He stuck out his tongue again.

 

I bent down and put my face close to his. ‘I think you’re a rude young man,’ I said in a low voice. ‘And if you don’t start behaving yourself I might just have to teach you a lesson in manners.’ To my relief he shut his mouth and was quiet.  I felt the resistance go out of him and he allowed me to lead him meekly to my house after all.  I honestly didn’t want to scare the child, but it was necessary to be rather firm with him if I was to get him to cooperate with me.  By the time we reached my front door he seemed to be much more willing to obey my instructions, in fact he entered without a fuss and looked around with those big green eyes of his.

 

‘Would you like a drink of milk?’ I asked.

 

Joseph shook his head. ‘I don’t like milk,’ he said. ‘Can I have coffee instead?’

 

I stared at him surprised. ‘Your Pa doesn’t let you drink coffee, does he?’ I asked.

 

Joseph frowned slightly. ‘No,’ he said. ‘Not zactly. But you can if you want to.’

 

‘Well, I don’t want to,’ I said firmly. ‘Coffee is not good for little boys.  You’ll have milk and like it.’  I poured him a glass and he took it reluctantly. ‘Come on,’ I instructed. ‘Drink it up.  It’s good for you.’  He frowned even more and took a few small sips. ‘More,’ I instructed. ‘You want to grow up big and strong, don’t you?’  He nodded thoughtfully and took a couple of large swallows. ‘That’s better,’ I said. ‘Now let’s sit down here and have a talk, shall we?’

 

I sat down on the sofa and patted the spot next to me for him to sit on.  I noticed that he did as instructed, but sat as far away from me as he could manage.  I took up my knitting and he watched my clicking needles with a fascinated expression on his face. ‘What ya doing?’ he asked.

 

‘Knitting,’ I replied. ‘Haven’t you ever seen anyone do it before?’ He shook his head. ‘Doesn’t your Ma ever knit?’

 

He shook his head again. ‘I don’t know iffen she does,’ he said. ‘She lives in heaven.  Can people knit in heaven?’ he asked.

 

I stared at the child.  So the poor little mite had no mother!  How sad! ‘I suppose you can do anything in heaven,’ I said finally. My curiosity got the better of me. ‘Did she go to heaven a very long time ago?’

 

The little boy sighed. ‘Yep,’ he said. ‘Ages and ages ago when I was five.’

 

‘How old are you now?’ I asked. He didn’t look much more than that.

 

‘I’m seven,’ he said. ‘Most folks think I’m still a little boy though.  It’s cause they think I’m puny.  I ain’t though!’ he declared.

 

‘Well if you keep drinking up your milk you won’t be,’ I assured him and noticed that he immediately took a huge swallow.  I smiled at him and he returned the look with a grin, the milk making a ring around his mouth.  He really was a cute little thing, I decided. ‘So,’ I continued. ‘What made your Ma go to heaven?’

 

He looked at me as if I was stupid. ‘God did,’ he said. ‘Don’t ya know nothing?’

 

‘That’s not very polite,’ I said sternly. ‘I meant …. was she sick?’

He thought for a moment. ‘No I don’t think so,’ he said. ‘She fell off a horse and broke her head off at the neck.’

 

‘Oh dear!’ I exclaimed.

 

His eyes grew wide as he began to embellish his story. ‘Yeah, and my Pa asked the doctor to fix it for her but he couldn’t stick her head back on straight… so God made her go to heaven. Pa put her in a big box first though.’

 

‘You must miss her dreadfully,’ I said. I was beginning to get quite interested in his story.

 

‘Yeah!’ he said with a sigh. ‘Pa does too.  And my brothers.’

 

‘You have more than one brother?’ I asked, genuinely interested.

 

‘Yep!’ I’ve got two brothers,’ he said. ‘Hoss is the one that’s sick.’

 

‘Hoss?’

 

‘Yeah…. Hoss.’  He obviously didn’t think that any explanation was necessary about the unusual name. ‘Adam is the other one.’

 

‘Is Adam older or younger than you?’

 

He giggled. ‘Adam ain’t younger than me!’ he said. ‘He’s grown up like Pa.’

 

‘I see.  Is he at home waiting for you to come?’

 

‘Nope!’ he said sadly. ‘He’s gone away.  A long ways away.  He don’t like us no more.’

 

I frowned. ‘Really?’

 

‘Yep.  He went to live in Boston with his Grandpa.’

 

‘I see.’

 

‘He goes to College there to learn lots of eddacashion stuff.’

 

‘Oh. And you want him to come home do you?’

 

His eyes widened. ‘Yeah I do!’ he said eagerly. ‘But he can’t, cause Pa said it’s too far and he’s gotta wait until the College is finished.’ He sighed. ‘It’s gonna been another long time yet.’

 

‘I’m sure the time will pass quickly dear. So your Pa looks after you and your brother now that your mother is dead?’

 

‘Yeah.  My Pa looks after us real good. He says I’m a caution to look after sometimes.  I think that means he likes it.’

 

I hid a smile from him and tried to look serious. ‘I’m sure he does,’ I said. The child was really quite entertaining and I was really beginning to enjoy his chatter. ‘So where do you live?’

 

‘On our ranch.  It’s called The Ponderosa.’

 

‘That’s a pretty name.’

 

He wrinkled up his nose as if he was considering my remark. He had a cute little nose. ‘I guess so,’ he said after a moment. ‘Pa named it after the trees.’

 

‘Ponderosa Pines,’ I said.

 

‘Ya know bout our trees?’ he asked in wonderment. ‘Have ya been to our ranch?’

 

‘No dear,’ I said. ‘There are lots of trees like that.  Where exactly is your ranch?’

 

‘Near Virginia City,’ he said. ‘I go to school there. Hoss does too.  We don’t like it though.’

 

‘Oh?  Why not?’ I asked.

 

‘We’ve got a real bossy teacher,’ he said. ‘I don’t like bossy people much.’ He stopped and looked at me anxiously. ‘You’re kinda bossy, ain’t ya?’ he said.

 

I gave him a stern look. ‘That’s not very nice,’ I said.

 

He frowned. ‘I don’t mean to be rude,’ he said. ‘But you are!’  He gave me a consoling look. ‘Don’t worry though….my brother Adam is bossy and I guess I like him. I might learn to like you too.’

 

‘Not your teacher though?’

 

‘Nah!  She’s too strict!  Me and Hoss don’t like going to school cause old Miss Jones is boring too! We don’t want ta learn eddacashion stuff like Adam does.’

 

‘A good education is very important for you!’ I said firmly. ‘I’m sure you Pa would agree with me.’

 

His eyes widened again. ‘Oh he does!’ he assured me. ‘He’s always telling us that.  Only trouble is, that I keep getting into trouble while I’m getting it.’ He put a hand over his mouth as if he had said too much and looked at me anxiously.

 

‘What do you get into trouble for?’ I asked. ‘I was beginning to become quite charmed with the child.

 

‘Lots of things,’ he said warily. ‘Sometimes I don’t even know what for. Guess it’s like Pa says and I just attract trouble.’

 

I smiled at him. ‘I’m sure you don’t mean to,’ I said kindly.

 

He thought for a moment. ‘Sometimes I do,’ he said honestly. ‘But mostly I don’t. Pa spanks me sometimes when I get in trouble.’

 

‘You probably deserve it,’ I said.

 

‘Probbly,’ he agreed, unperturbed. ‘Pa sure spanks hard though. He’s got a big hand.’  He rubbed his bottom absentmindedly. He stared at me for a moment. ‘Do you have any little boys?’ he asked.

 

‘My boys are all grown up now,’ I said.

 

‘Did you spank em when they was little?’

 

‘I certainly did!’ I said. ‘And they deserved it too.’

 

‘Where’s your husband?’ he asked, looking around as if he expected him to pop out of a cupboard.

 

‘He died,’ I said.

 

‘Like my Ma,’ he said sadly. ‘Did he go to heaven too?’

 

‘I’m sure he did,’ I said.

 

‘Maybe he’s met my Ma up there?’ he asked eagerly. ‘Pa says she’s an angel, so if he looked out for someone with wings he’d find her.’

 

‘There are lots of angels in heaven,’ I said. ‘Many more than you could count.’

 

‘Really?’ he said in amazement. ‘I didn’t know that.’  He began to bounce on the sofa. ‘Hey this is a good sofa!’ he said.

 

‘Keep still,’ I said. ‘Little boys shouldn’t bounce on furniture like that.’

 

‘OK,’ he said happily. ‘My Pa don’t let me do that at home neither.’  He glanced across the room. ‘Hey!  There’s a cat!’

 

‘That’s my Fluffy,’ I said.

 

‘Does he live in your house?’

 

‘Yes.’

 

‘How come?  Do you have rats in here?’ he looked around excitedly.

 

‘No I do not!  The very idea of it! Fluffy lives in here to keep me company.’

 

‘Hop Sing has cats,’ he said. ‘They live in the barn though cause they get to eat the rats out there.’

 

‘And just who would Hop Sing be?’ I found that I was very curious to know.

 

‘He’s Hop Sing,’ he said as if that explained everything. ‘He’s in our family too.’

 

‘What does he do in your family dear?’ I prompted.

 

‘Oh everything!’ he said vaguely as he began to bounce again. I stopped him with a look. ‘Sorry. He cooks our food for us and cleans our house.  Stuff like that.’

 

‘I see,’ I said as I folded up my knitting. ‘Speaking of which, I think its time we had something to eat, don’t you?’

 

His eyes lit up. ‘Are we having candy?’ he asked hopefully.

 

‘No. We’re having some supper,’ I said firmly. ‘Come into the kitchen and you can help me get it ready.’

 

He trotted after me obediently and sat on a chair next to the table as I began the preparations. ‘I don’t like that,’ he said, pointing to the stew I was heating up.

 

‘How do you know?  You haven’t tried it yet.’

 

He scrunched up his nose. ‘I just know,’ he said. ‘I don’t like them things neither.’  He pointed to the pot of vegetables.

 

‘Well you need to eat some of them,’ I said. ‘They’re good for you.’

 

He looked at me, but said nothing.  By the time the meal was ready, he had quite a stubborn look about him and I had a feeling I was in for a bit of a battle to get him to eat.  I was prepared for it though.  Raising three boys of my own had taught me a trick or two and I wasn’t about to give in to this scamp over his eating habits.  I believe in children eating what’s put in front of them and I wasn’t about to take any notice of his objections.

 

‘There you are,’ I said as I put his plate in front of him. ‘Eat it up.’

 

He simply looked at me and crossed his arms in front of him. ‘I told you I don’t like it,’ he said stubbornly.

 

‘I heard you,’ I replied as I began to eat mine. ‘But you’re still going to eat it.’

 

He shook his head. ‘No I’m not,’ he said.

 

I nodded mine. ‘Oh yes you are,’ I said pleasantly. ‘I won’t have you starving on me.  I promised your father that I’d look after you and I mean to do it.’

 

At the mention of his father an anxious look came into his eyes and he frowned. ‘When will my Pa come for me?’ he asked.

 

‘When he can.  Your brother needs him now. Eat it up.’  I put a fork in his hand.

 

‘Maybe Hoss will die like my mama did,’ he said and his eyes filled up with tears. ‘Maybe God will take him to heaven.’

 

Not now! I thought. Couldn’t this have waited until after our meal?

 

‘I’m sure he won’t dear. But you have to be a brave boy and do as you’re told until your Pa gets here. Now eat.’

 

He absentmindedly took a bite and then said with his mouth full. ‘Maybe I’d better go and see if he’s OK.’  He started to get off the chair, but I held on to him.

 

‘Your Pa wants you to eat your supper, not go over there and get in the way,’ I said firmly. ‘Now if you don’t eat more of that I’ll have to feed you like a baby.  Do you want me to do that?’

 

He shook his head firmly. ‘No,’ he said, his eyes getting wide as he looked at me fearfully.  He put another forkful of stew into his mouth and chewed for a few minutes. I poured him another glass of milk, which he looked at suspiciously. ‘I just had one of them,’ he said.

 

‘That was an hour ago,’ I said. ‘Little boys need lots of milk to make them grow big and strong. Don’t you want to grow up big?’

 

He nodded. ‘Yeah,’ he said as he took another mouthful of stew. ‘My Pa is big.  So is my brothers.’

 

‘So I noticed,’ I said. ‘My boys always drank their milk and they grew up big as well.’

 

He nodded thoughtfully and took a gulp of his milk. I was pleased to see that over half of his stew was gone. ‘You’ve done very well,’ I said.  He grinned up at me and I thought once more just how cute he was.

 

‘Is that enough?’ he asked, looking at his plate.

 

‘I think so. Come on now and I’ll get you ready for bed.’

 

He gave me a horrified look. ‘I ain’t sleeping here!’ he said. ‘My Pa will come for me soon.’

 

‘No dear.  Your Pa won’t be able to come for you tonight.  You’ll have to sleep in my spare room.’

 

‘But I ain’t got no nightshirt,’ he said.

 

I hadn’t thought about that.  Of course I should have thought to bring the child’s things with me.  I thought for a moment.  I wasn’t prepared to take him back over to the hotel for fear that he might cause another fuss about staying there.  ‘We’ll find something you can wear,’ I said. ‘Come on and I’ll show you.’

 

‘I gotta go first,’ he said, squirming around on his chair.

 

‘Come on,’ I said. ‘Out the back.’

 

I led him to the back door and grabbed a lantern to light our way as we went to the outhouse. I opened the door and he looked up at me fearfully. ‘Have you got spiders what live in there?’ he asked.

 

I smiled at him. ‘You’ll be fine,’ I said soothingly. Just be quick. I’ll stand here with the light for you.’

 

But the little boy shook his head. ‘Uh uh,’ he said, backing away. ‘I don’t gotta go now after all.’

 

‘Don’t be silly. You’ve had two big glasses of milk.  You must have to go.’

 

He shook his head again. ‘Uh uh,’ he said firmly. ‘I ain’t going in there.’

 

‘Well how about I fix you up a chamber pot in your room then?’ I said.

 

His grin returned at my words. ‘OK,’ he said happily and to my surprise took my hand.  He really was quite an affectionate little thing.

 

We returned to the house and I took him into the spare room, where he proceeded to run straight to the bed and bounced on it a few times. ‘This is a good bed!’ he declared.

 

I pulled him to his feet. ‘Stop bouncing!’ I said. ‘I’ve told you about that before.’

 

‘OK,’ he said as he looked around in an interested fashion.

 

‘Now let’s find you something to wear,’ I said as I opened one of the drawers of the bureau. ‘How about this?’  I withdrew one of my old blouses.

 

Joseph gave me a disgusted look. ‘That’s a girl’s dress!’ he said. ‘I ain’t wearing that!’

 

‘It’s a nice blouse,’ I said. ‘And no one’s going to see you in it!’

 

‘I ain’t wearing no girls things,’ he stated firmly as if that was an end to it.

 

‘Oh all right,’ I said crossly as I searched again. ‘Well it will have to be this.’  I pulled out an old shirt of my husbands that I’d kept.

 

‘Hey, that’s all right,’ he said.

 

‘Well let’s get you undressed then, shall we?’ I said as I bent down in front of him and began to undo his shirt.

 

He wriggled. ‘I can do it,’ he said as he pushed my hands away. He took off his shirt and then sat down to take off his boots and socks before standing up again and looking at me. He really was a skinny little thing, I thought.  No meat on him at all. He frowned at me. ‘Ain’t ya gonna turn your back?  Ladies shouldn’t watch a man getting dressed.’

 

I hid an amused smile at his modesty and turned my back politely. Well hurry up then,’ I said. ‘I haven’t got all night.’

 

‘Ready,’ he said.

 

I turned and smothered another smile.  He looked so cute in Reg’s shirt which trailed all the way down past his feet and dragged on the floor.  I reached over and rolled the sleeves back for him. ‘Now face and hands,’ I said. ‘Here.’ I watched as he gave his face a cursory flick with the washcloth and then took it from him and began to scrub his neck and his ears.

 

‘Ow!’ he yelled. ‘That hurts!’

 

‘Be quiet,’ I said. ‘My sheets are not going to be dirtied by the likes of you. Now use this and then get into bed.’  I pushed the chamber pot towards him and smiled as he lifted the shirt and began to do his business into it.  Judging by how long he took, his brave words about not having to go outside were nothing but a lie. I thought how funny it was that he didn’t want to take off his trousers in front of me before, but was quite willing to bare all as he filled the pot. ‘Finished?’ He nodded. ‘Well, into bed then.’  I turned back the covers for him and he scampered under them.

 

I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling that he might be uneasy in the strange room and he gazed back at me with those huge green eyes. ‘What about your prayers?’ I asked.

 

He put his hand over his mouth. ‘I forgot,’ he said.

 

‘Well I don’t think that God would mind just this once if you said them in bed,’ I said. ‘Join your hands.’

 

He joined his hands immediately and began to pray:

 

God bless Pa and my Mama up in heaven.  Bless Hoss and make him not go to heaven to be an angel. Bless Adam and his Grandpa in Boston and help him find a eddacashion real quick and come home. Bless Hop Sing and make him not go to China. Bless Mrs Tanner and help her not to be lonely for her husband in heaven too. Make me a good boy and not get another spanking from Pa. Amen.

 

He smiled up at me. ‘Was that all right?’

 

I nodded. I was pleased to see that someone had taught him well.  ‘Do you go to Church?’ I asked.

 

He gave a huge yawn. ‘Yep.  Pa makes us go every Sunday.  It’s real boring but.’

 

I patted his curls and was surprised to feel how soft they were.  He really had beautiful hair.

 

‘Where do you sleep?’ he asked with another big yawn.

 

‘Just next door.  I’ll leave a lamp on in case you need me through the night.’

 

‘I won’t need you!’ he declared bravely.

 

‘Well you might get lonely.’

 

He looked at me. ‘Do you get lonely?’ he asked.

 

‘Sometimes.’

 

‘So does my Pa.  He gets lonely for my Mama and for Adam. You should take a trip.  That’s what we’re doing so we won’t get lonely.’

 

‘Are you?’

 

‘Yep.  Pa took us to San Francisco for a whole week.  We got to see lots of things.  There’s big ships in the harbour there.  And there’s some ocean too. Pa showed us.’

 

Did you like the ships?’ I asked, continuing to stroke his hair.

 

‘Yep.  My Pa knows all about them ships.  He used to sail on em before he came out West.’

 

‘Did he?’  Mr Cartwright was certainly a man of many talents.

 

‘Yep.  He was a sailor.’

 

‘Are you going to be a sailer one day?’

 

‘Nope. Not me!’ he declared. ‘I’m gonna be a rancher like my Pa is now.’ He gave another huge yawn and I noticed that his eyes were half shut.  He put his thumb into his mouth and turned over onto his side. Within a minute his eyes were fully closed and he was sleeping soundly.  I turned down the lamp and left the room.

 

As I cleaned up the supper things, I thought about the child in the other room.  He certainly was an interesting little scamp.  The way he talked non-stop was better to me than a book and far more entertaining! Suddenly there was a knock on the front door and I opened it to see Mr Cartwright standing there. ‘Come in!’ I said. ‘How is your boy?’

 

‘Much the same,’ he said. ‘The doctor is sitting with him for a few minutes. I just came to see how you and Joseph are getting on.’

 

‘He’s fast asleep,’ I said, motioning to the spare room.  He looked around the open doorway and we both smiled to see the little boy, thumb stuck firmly in his mouth sleeping soundly.

 

‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ Mr Cartwright said.

 

‘Don’t mention it,’ I said. ‘He’s been no trouble.’

 

‘Are you sure?’ he asked, with a lift of his eyebrow. ‘He can be rather…. um …lively at times.’

 

‘Nothing I can’t handle,’ I said firmly. ‘He ate a good supper and has been as good as gold.’

 

‘Are you sure you’re talking about my Joseph?’ he asked with a smile. ‘Good as gold isn’t exactly the expression I’d use to describe him.’

 

‘I’m sure,’ I replied. ‘I’ve raised three boys of my own Mr Cartwright.  There’s nothing he could do that would surprise me. Now you go back and be with that other boy of yours and leave Joseph to me.’

 

‘Thank you,’ he said with an amused expression on his face. ‘You don’t know what a relief it is to know that he’s in safe hands.  I’ll try and get back first thing in the morning.’

 

‘If you do, could you please bring over some clothes for him?  I don’t think he’ll be too happy in one of my old blouses tomorrow.’

 

Mr Cartwright smiled. ‘I certainly will,’ he said. ‘Good night.’

 

Hours later I was in bed myself and in a deep sleep when I felt myself being shaken and a small voice say, ‘Are ya awake?’

 

‘What is it dear?’

 

There was silence for a moment. ‘I can’t sleep in that bed no more.’

 

‘Why?’

 

‘It’s all wet.’

 

I sighed, my mind racing back to the many times when I’d gotten up in the middle of the night for this for one of my boys. I threw back the covers reluctantly. ‘Come on then,’ I said. ‘We’ll have to fix it up.’  I took him by the hand and led him back to his room.  The bed was indeed wet and I resolved that he was with me another night that he wouldn’t be getting milk that late again.  I stripped the sheets quickly and set them to soak, replacing them with clean ones and putting him between them without a word. ‘Now go back to sleep,’ I said. ‘And if you need to do that again, then get out of bed and use the pot.’

 

He put his thumb into his mouth. ‘I will iffen I wake up before I need to go,’ he said sleepily.  I sighed and went back to bed, feeling grateful that all my boys were now grown up and off my hands.  I didn’t miss the late night interruptions at all.

 

The next morning I awoke as usual and went straight in to check on him.  He had managed to fling himself sideways across the bed and was all tangled up in the bedclothes, but was in such a deep sleep that he didn’t even wake when I straightened him and them up again.  At least the bed was dry this time.

 

I washed and hung out the soiled sheets and was busy preparing breakfast when I heard another knock on the front door. Mr Cartwright was standing there with a bag in his hand which he held out to me. ‘I brought Joseph’s things,’ he said.

 

‘Come in.  How’s your boy?’

 

He looked relieved. ‘Better,’ he said. ‘The doctor has just been to check on him again and he’s breathing easier now.  Doctor Forbes seems to think that the danger has passed.’  He hesitated. ‘If you wouldn’t mind me relying on your kindness for a while longer though, I really need to get some rest myself while Hoss is still asleep.  I was wondering if Joseph could stay with you for a bit longer?’

 

‘Of course,’ I said. ‘He’s still asleep.  Come and sit down and I’ll get you a cup of coffee before you go back.’

 

He hesitated. ‘Well, just for a few minutes,’ he said, easing himself into a chair. ‘Thank you.’

 

I could see that the man was exhausted and my heart went out to him. He looked through the open window and saw the sheets blowing in the breeze. ‘I presume that was Joseph,’ he said as he took the coffee. ‘I’m sorry about that.  He does it sometimes when he’s upset or worried about something.’

 

I brushed his remark aside. ‘It’s all right,’ I said. ‘As I told you before I’ve had three boys of my own.’

 

At that moment there was a movement behind us and a little figure appeared in the doorway. ‘Pa!’ cried Joseph as he flung himself onto his father and hugged him around the knees. ‘I knew ya’d come!’  He grinned up at the man delightedly.

 

Mr Cartwright picked him up and put him on his lap. ‘Have you been behaving yourself?’ he asked as he ruffled the boy’s curly hair.

 

‘Sure have!’ Joseph said, with a sideways glance at me as if to reassure himself.

 

‘He’s been very good,’ I said.

 

‘Is Hoss better now Pa?’

 

Mr Cartwright nodded. ‘He certainly is.’

 

‘Can I see him?’

 

‘No not yet.  He’s still asleep.’

 

‘Can I go with ya now?’

 

His father shook his head. ‘I’d like you to stay with Mrs Tanner for a bit longer Joseph.  I need to get some sleep and then I’ll come and get you.  All right?’

 

The child looked uncertain, but answered in the affirmative. ‘Of course it’s all right,’ I said firmly.  ‘We’ll have lots to do this morning, won’t we Joseph?’

 

He gave me another sideways look, then leant forward and whispered into his father’s ear in a voice that we could all hear. ‘She wants me to wear girls clothes.’

 

Mr Cartwright tried not to laugh. ‘I’ve brought your clothes with me,’ he said. ‘Here.  You go and get dressed while I wait.’  The little boy took the bag and scampered into the bedroom happily while I prepared breakfast for us both.

 

‘Would you like to stay for breakfast?’ I asked, but he stood up.

 

‘Thank you, but I’d better be getting back to Hoss now.  Thank you for the coffee.  I’ll come and get Joseph as soon as I’ve had some sleep, if that’s all right.’

 

‘Where ya going Pa?’ asked a voice behind him.

 

‘Back to see Hoss,’ he replied as he knelt down in front of his son. ‘Now you be a good boy for Mrs Tanner. All right?’ Joseph nodded silently and watched as his father left and shut the door behind him. I bent down and straightened his suspenders and put a plate of breakfast on the table for him.

 

He wrinkled up his nose at the sight of it. ‘I don’t like that,’ he said.

 

I took no notice, but began to eat my own. ‘Eat it,’ I said.

 

He got a stubborn look on his face, but picked up his spoon and put some eggs into his mouth. ‘What we doing today?’ he asked, spitting some on the tablecloth as he spoke.

 

‘Eat with your mouth closed,’ I said sternly. ‘I’m sure your Pa doesn’t let you talk with your mouth full.’

 

He shook his head. ‘Nope,’ he said through another mouthful. ‘He don’t.’

 

‘Then don’t do it.’ I watched as more eggs made their way onto the tablecloth.

 

‘All right,’ he said.  Eggs were flying in all directions now.  I sighed and began to mop them up. ‘What we doing first?’ he asked.

 

‘First we have some chores to do.’

 

Joseph frowned. ‘I do chores at home,’ he said. ‘I ain’t supposed to do em when I’m on holidays.’

 

I frowned right back at him. ‘Well while you’re staying with me you will,’ I said. ‘Come on.  If you’ve finished spraying those eggs around we’ll get to them and then we can go to the shops for a bit.’ His eyes lit up at this suggestion and he followed me outside, wiping his mouth on his shirtsleeve as he did so. ‘First we have to gather the eggs,’ I said, thrusting a basket into his hands. ‘You get them while I feed the chickens.’  He did as he was told, gathering the eggs efficiently.  I could see that the boy was well used to farm chores.

 

Soon he came back with the basket half-filled. ‘Is this enough?’ he asked.

 

‘That’s very good,’ I said. ‘Now you can watch while I milk the cow.’

 

‘I can do that,’ he said, adding as I looked suspicious, ‘Honest! I do it all the time at home.’

 

‘All right,’ I said. ‘I’ll watch you then.’  I sat and watched as he expertly began the milking process. ‘So you can,’ I said. ‘Who taught you how to do that?’

 

‘My brothers,’ he said. ‘They said that the quicker I learned how to do it the quicker they didn’t haveta.’ He sighed. ‘I wish I had a little brother to teach things to so I didn’t have ta do em no more.’

 

‘Maybe one day you will,’ I replied.

 

He shook his head as he milked. ‘Uh uh.  Pa says we can’t have no more brothers in our family cause we don’t got no Mama to have em for us. Guess I’m just stuck being the youngest.’  He sighed again. ‘I hate it.’

 

‘Why is that?’

 

‘Cause everyone tells me what to do all the time,’ he said. ‘Pa and my brothers and Hop Sing and Miss Jones and …. and everyone.’

 

‘I suppose it is hard come to think of it.’

 

He warmed to his topic. ‘Sure is!’ he said firmly. ‘I mean it ain’t like I’m a baby no more. I’m bigger now, but they still tell me what ta do.’

 

I nodded sympathetically. ‘Well don’t you think you need it sometimes?  You told me yesterday that you get into trouble a lot.’

 

He frowned as he thought about it. ‘Probbly,’ he admitted. ‘But I don’t hafta like it!’  He gave me an impish sideways glance and squirted the milk towards Fluffy who was walking by.

 

‘Don’t do that!’ I admonished him.

 

He gave me an innocent look. ‘I was just thinking that he might be thirsty,’ he said. ‘I was just giving him a drink.’

 

‘He can drink out of his bowl just as he always does,’ I said. ‘Come on, that’s enough milk now.  We’ll go across the street to the store and get some things.’

 

Joseph jumped up from his stool. ‘Things for me?’ he asked excitedly.

 

‘No!  Things for me,’ I replied. I reached out and ran my fingers through his unruly hair. ‘We’ll see if we can this mop straightened out before we go as well.’

 

Within moments he was seated on the bed and scowling as I tried to pull a brush through his curly hair. ‘Ow!’ he yelled.

 

‘I’m being careful,’ I said. ‘Just sit still.  Honestly child, I’ve never seen hair so think!’

 

‘Ow! My Pa says it’s hard ta keep in check. Ow!  That hurts like the devil!’  He put his hand over his mouth as he realised what he’d said. ‘I mean….’ His eyes got wide as he looked at me for a reaction.

 

‘That’s enough of that kind of talk!’ I said. ‘What would your Pa do if he heard you using words like that?’

 

‘Probbly spank me,’ he said. ‘He says my mouth works before my brain.’

 

‘Well I tend to agree with him.  Keep still.’

 

‘Ow!’

 

I continued to brush through his curls, hearing a slurping noise as I did so.  I turned his face around to look at me and saw that he was sucking on something. ‘What are you doing?’ I asked.

 

‘I gotta loose toof,’ he said, opening his mouth to show me and wriggling it gingerly.

 

‘Well I can take care of that,’ I said. ‘As soon as I finish here we’ll tie a piece of string on that and it’ll come out quick smart.’

 

He gave me an appalled look. ‘Huh?’ he said.

 

‘We’ll tie a piece of string on it and the other end to the door,’ I explained. ‘Then when we shut the door your tooth will come out. It’s quick and easy.  I used to do it all the time for my boys when they were your age.’

 

He clamped his mouth shut and put his hand over it, saying between gritted teeth. ‘No way!’

 

‘Well how does your Pa do it?’ I asked.

 

‘He just lets em fall out by themselves,’ he said. ‘Once I swallowed one and we had ta wait two days to get it back again.’ He grinned proudly. ‘I got it myself.  Pa said he wasn’t gonna go fishing fer it!’

 

I swallowed. ‘I’m not surprised. I think the string idea is better.’

 

He shook his head firmly. ‘You ain’t gonna tie no string to my toof!’ he declared. ‘I’ll bite you iffen you try!’  He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me fiercely.

 

I shook my head, deciding the fight wasn’t worth it. ‘Well have it your own way,’ I said. ‘But if you were my little boy I’d sure be doing it.’

 

‘I’m glad I’m not your little boy,’ he said. ‘You’re too bossy!’

 

I pointed a finger at him and held up the hairbrush. ‘Would you like a taste of this?’ I asked. ‘Don’t think I wouldn’t do it either….I don’t take sass from anyone, especially a little boy like you.’

 

He clamped his jaws shut again and put his hands behind his back to cover his backside.  We glared at each other for a moment and then I said. ‘Well, come on.  We need to get to the store.’ I put on my bonnet and picked up my baskets from the front hall and beckoned to him to follow.  As we left the front gate I was surprised to feel his little hand reach out to grab mine and hold on tight.  I looked down at him as he stared around with wide eyes.

 

‘Where are we going?’ he asked.

 

‘Over there,’ I replied, pointing to the General Store. ‘Come on.’  I pulled him across the street and we entered the store together.

 

‘Well who do you have here Mildred?’ asked Bob Conwell from behind the counter as he stared at Joseph.

 

‘This is Joseph Cartwright,’ I said. ‘He arrived with his father and brother on yesterday’s stage.  I’m looking after him for a while.’

 

Joseph pulled himself up to his full height. ‘I’m looking after myself!’ he declared to the man. ‘She’s just letting me stay in her house is all.’

 

Bob gave the boy an amused grin. ‘Are you?’ he said. ‘Well pleased to meet you Joseph Cartwright.’ He turned to me again. ‘What can I get you today Mildred?’

 

As Bob filled my order I watched Joseph out of the corner of my eye, well aware of the sorts of things young boys can get up to in a store full of interesting things.  To my relief though, he simply walked around looking at things without touching them. I smiled at him and he returned the look. ‘Would you like a stick of candy?’ I asked.

 

His eyes lit up. ‘Yes Ma’am!’ he said eagerly.

 

‘Well, you pick one out then.’

 

Joseph put his finger on his lip as he studied the glass jars on the counter. He frowned in thought.

 

‘Hurry up!’ I said. ‘It’s not that hard is it?’

 

He frowned even further. ‘Yep, it is,’ he said. ‘You got some different ones to what we got in our town. It’s hard ta choose.’ He thought for another minute. ‘I’ll have that one!’ he said finally, pointing to a red and white striped peppermint stick.

 

‘Thank you,’ he said as Bob handed it to him. I was pleased to see the boy had manners at least. ‘Where we going now?’ he asked.

 

‘Down here,’ I said. ‘I didn’t really want to take the child into the ladies apparel store, but I didn’t have much of a choice as I knew that my parcel of new undergarments was waiting to be picked up.

 

As we entered the store, Joseph’s eyes widened. ‘Wow!’ he said. ‘We don’t have a store like this in our town!’ he said in a loud voice.

 

‘I’m sure you do dear, you just haven’t been inside it that’s all,’ I replied.  After all, why would the child have cause to?  He had no mother or sisters and so the whole concept of women’s clothing would surely be an unknown one to him. He looked around with wide eyes as he sucked on his peppermint. ‘Sit down there and don’t move,’ I said. ‘I’ll be back in a minute. When I looked over moments later, he was fingering a pair of bloomers. ‘Joseph!’ I said. ‘I told you not touch anything!’ He immediately put his hand down, but continued to study the garment intensely.

 

Suddenly there was a tug on my skirt and I looked down to see him standing beside me. ‘What’s these things for?’ he asked, pointing to a large pile of corsets on the counter. I cleared my throat. ‘Nothing for you to worry about!’ I said sharply as Beatrice behind the counter smiled at him.

 

‘Isn’t he cute!’ she said. Joseph scowled up at her.

 

‘Go back and sit down,’ I said.

 

He took the peppermint stick out of his mouth. ‘But I want to know what these are for!’ he insisted, pointing once again to the corsets.

 

‘They’re called corsets. They’re for ladies to wear under their dresses dear,’ I said. ‘Now go and sit down.’

 

‘Why do they wear em?’

 

‘To give them a nice figure,’ I said. ‘Sit!’

 

He sat down, but continued to question me. ‘What’s numbers got to do with it?’ he asked.

 

‘Not that kind of figure.’

 

‘Well, what kind?’

 

Beatrice laughed. ‘You’ll start to notice when you get older,’ she said. ‘Maybe your Pa could tell you about it.’  Joseph nodded, seemingly content with this suggestion and I breathed a sigh of relief as he put his candy back in his mouth and began to suck on it noisily. Soon we were on our way again and had just begun to cross the street when Joseph gave a loud cry and sank to his knees. I hastily knelt down next to him.

 

‘What is it dear?’ I asked anxiously. ‘Aren’t you well?’  I put my hand on his forehead, certain that I was going to feel a fever.  Thoughts of his sick older brother up in the hotel flashed through my mind and I hated the very thought of having to tell his father that his youngest son had also come down with the dreaded influenza. ‘Let me feel your forehead,’ I said over his loud wails.  To my surprise, however, his forehead was quite cool.

 

I stared at the distraught boy in my arms. ‘What’s the matter” I asked. ‘Where does it hurt?’

 

‘In my mouth!’ he yelled, and indeed I saw a trickle of blood from between his parted lips.

 

‘Open up,’ I said, really concerned now.

 

He opened his mouth and yelled. ‘My toof! It’s gone!’

 

I felt a rush of relief through my body and I released it by giving him a slight shake. ‘Your tooth!’ I said angrily. All this fuss over a tooth?’

 

‘It came out cause I was sucking on my peppermint!’ he wailed as he struggled to get out of my arms. ‘It dropped out somewheres!’  He began to crawl around on his hands and knees in the dirt.

 

‘Joseph!’ I said angrily. ‘Get up! You shouldn’t be crawling around in the middle of the street like that!’  But the boy took notice of me and continued to search for the missing tooth.

 

‘Here it is!’ he said, his sunny smile returning as he held up the small white tooth and then thrust it into his pocket.

 

I pulled him to his feet and began to dust us both off. He bent down, picked up his dirty peppermint stick that he’d dropped and wiped it a couple of times before putting it back into his mouth.

 

‘Joseph!’ I said. ‘That’s dirty!’

 

He pulled it out of his mouth and inspected it. ‘Ain’t dirty no more!’ he declared. ‘I sucked the dirt right off it!’ He stared at me, challenging me to take it away from him. I wondered at myself as I merely shook my head, grabbed him by his sticky hand and pulled him towards my gate. Once again, the fight just didn’t seem worth it.

 

As soon as we reached the living room I sank down onto the sofa, feeling quite exhausted.  There was something about this child that sapped the energy from me and I was beginning to understand what his father had meant.  I felt quite sorry for the man putting up with this sort of thing every day.  No wonder he looked exhausted.  ‘Show me your mouth,’ I said wearily.

 

Joseph opened his mouth obediently and put his tongue through the space where his tooth used to be. ‘Ain’t bleeding now,’ he said. ‘I sucked all the blood away.’

 

‘Good,’ I said. ‘Now why don’t we just sit here and have a nice quiet little nap.’

 

‘Why?’

 

‘Because I’m tired.’

 

‘I ain’t!’

 

‘Well I am!’ I said crossly. ‘Now sit still for a few minutes!’

 

I closed my eyes for a moment and listened to the silence around me.  It was nice not to hear his constant chatter and I relished the quiet. Suddenly I heard a loud yowl and felt Fluffy land in my lap.  I opened my eyes and saw Joseph standing innocently in front of me with his hands behind his back. ‘What did you do to him?’ I asked him suspiciously.

 

He shook his head. ‘Nothing,’ he said, but I noticed that his eyes didn’t meet mine.

 

‘Joseph!’

 

He looked up at me. ‘Well I only wanted to see!’

 

‘See what?’

 

‘How far his tail would stretch,’ he mumbled.

 

‘Did you pull Fluffy’s tail?’

 

‘Yes ma’am,’ he said in a quiet voice.

 

‘You’re a naughty boy!’ I said angrily as I soothed Fluffy.

 

Joseph looked contrite. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘But his tail was all curled up and I wanted to see…..’

 

I held up my hand. ‘I know!’ I said angrily. ‘How far his tail would stretch!’  I pointed to the corner. ‘Well you can just go and sit in that corner young man until you’re ready to behave yourself!’

 

He stood his ground. ‘Are ya gonna spank me too?’ he asked.

 

‘I’ll think about it!’ I said. ‘Now go!’  He slunk over to the chair in the corner and sat down facing the wall. I closed my eyes again, determined to get at least a couple of moments of peace, when I heard another noise.  Wearily I opened them again, to see Joseph picking up a picture frame from the floor.

 

‘How did that get knocked over?’ I asked.

 

‘Musta been Fluffy what knocked it over,’ he said innocently

 

‘You know very well that Fluffy is here on my lap,’ I said.

 

‘He mighta done it quickly and then got back on your lap before you opened your eyes,’ he said.

 

‘Joseph did you touch that picture frame?’ I asked.

 

He put his head down. ‘Yes ma’am,’ he said.

 

‘Face the corner and don’t move until I tell you to!’ I said angrily. ‘Do it!’  He turned away from me again and put his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands as he stared at the wall. I closed my eyes to a blessed two minutes silence. Unfortunately I couldn’t stand the suspense after that length of time and had to open them again to check that the child wasn’t up to any mischief. I found that he was staring at me silently.

 

‘What are you looking at?’ I asked.

 

‘Do you wear them corset things?’ he asked.

 

‘Don’t be impertinent,’ I said.

 

‘What’s impertant mean?’ he asked.

 

‘Rude!’ I replied.

 

‘I ain’t being rude!’ he declared. ‘I just wanna know iffen you wear them corset things to get a good figure.’

 

‘Ladies don’t talk about things like that,’ I said.

 

‘Why?’

 

‘Because they don’t.’  I sighed wearily and got up from the sofa. ‘Let’s get some lunch now shall we?’

 

‘OK,’ he said happily and followed me out to the kitchen. ‘When’s my Pa coming for me?’ he asked as he watched me slice some bread and begin to make some sandwiches.

 

‘Soon I hope,’ I replied grimly.

 

‘I don’t like that,’ he said as he pointed to the meat that I was cutting.  As usual, I took no notice of him and put his plate in front of him. ‘Don’t want no milk,’ he said as I poured him a glass. Again I took no notice. He stared up at me. ‘Didn’t ya hear me?’ he asked.

 

‘I certainly did hear you,’ I replied. But you’ll drink it like before.’ He scowled at me, but took a big swallow before biting into his sandwich.

 

‘This afternoon we’re going to have a rest,’ I said.

 

‘I ain’t tired,’ he said, between bites.

 

‘I don’t care,’ I said crossly.

 

He scowled at me. ‘I could do some more chores for you while you’re taking a rest,’ he suggested.

 

I shuddered. ‘No thank you Joseph,’ I said. ‘I’d prefer to keep my eye on you all the time.’

 

‘That’s what my Pa says,’ he said happily. ‘I think its cause he likes me.’

 

I raised my eyebrow. ‘I’m sure that’s why,’ I said sarcastically.

 

‘Cept sometimes my Pa has to leave Hop Sing to look after me when him and Hoss go out to work.’

 

‘And what do you do then?’ I asked.

 

‘Oh… lots of things. Sometimes I play with my soldiers and sometimes I look at my books what Adam gave me.’

 

I had a bright idea as to how to keep him amused and give myself some quiet time as well. ‘I think I have some things that might amuse you,’ I said. ‘If you’ve finished we’ll have a look for them.’

 

Joseph swallowed the last of his sandwich and gulped down his milk. ‘I’m finished1’ he declared as he got down from his chair. ‘Where are they?’

 

I led the way into the spare bedroom and pulled a large trunk out from under the bed. ‘Here we go!’ I said. ‘These things used to belong to my boys when they were little.’ Joseph’s eyes widened as I lifted the lid and he almost fell into the trunk as he leant over it in his excitement.

 

‘Wow!’ he said. ‘What’s them things?’

 

‘They’re building blocks,’ I said.

 

He frowned. ‘I’m too big for them!’ he said. ‘What else ya got?’

 

I lifted up a baby’s rattle. ‘Well maybe these are a bit young for you,’ I acknowledged.  ‘But you might find something in here that you might like. You have a look while I lay on the bed for a bit.’

 

I lay down and watched as he rummaged through the trunk and pulled out a couple of books.  He settled down and opened the first one and I closed my eyes while I listened to the silence. After what only seemed like moments later, I opened them again with a start to see both books abandoned on the floor and the building blocks strewn around haphazardly.  I smiled.  It seemed that he hadn’t been too old for them after all.  I sat up with a start, realising that I must in fact have fallen asleep. I looked around. ‘Joseph!’ I called, but there was no answer.

 

Angrily I got off the bed and walked into the living room. ‘Joseph!’ I called again. ‘Where are you?’  Again there was no answer and I began to panic slightly as I saw the back door open. ‘Joseph!’ I called across the back yard. ‘Where are you?’ Only silence greeted me and I began to get really worried until I heard a muffled voice from inside the outhouse.

 

‘I’m in here!’

 

‘What are you doing in there?’ I asked through the door.

 

‘What do you think?’ he yelled. ‘I haven’t finished yet neither.’

 

‘Well hurry up!’ I said. As I waited for him, I thankfully felt my heart slowing down again to a normal pace.  I don’t know how I would have explained to his father that I’d lost him and I was just thankful that I didn’t have to try.

 

After a few moments he opened the door and emerged, pulling up his suspenders. ‘Can’t even go to the outhouse without people telling me what to do!’ he muttered as he shook his head.

 

I swatted him on the behind gently. ‘There’s no need to be rude!’ I said. ‘I was only worried about you. Now come back inside.’ I decided at that moment that any thought of a nap was a futile one and so resigned myself to the inevitable. ‘Let’s sit down here for a while,’ I said and got my knitting out again.

 

‘Are ya gonna do that again?’ he asked. ‘Do ya do it everyday?’

 

‘Not every day, but most,’ I said.

 

‘What ya making?’

 

‘A blanket.’

 

‘What for?’

 

‘The orphans in Sacramento. There’s a home there where they live.’

 

‘What’s a orphan?’

 

‘It’s a boy or girl who has no father or mother.’

 

He thought for a moment. ‘Then I must be half a orphan cause I don’t have a mother.’

 

‘There’s no such thing as half an orphan.’

 

‘Yes there is! I’m one!’ he declared. I decided to let it drop. ‘What’s their home like?’ he asked.

 

‘It’s big.’

 

‘My home is big.’

 

‘Is it?’

 

‘Yep.  It’s the biggest house ever.  Pa built it himself.  Adam helped.’

 

‘Did he?’

 

‘Yep. That was before I was borned, so I didn’t get to help em. After it was finished my Pa went and found my Mama and then they got married. After that Pa put some stairs in the house and some rooms up the top of them. I was borned there.’

 

‘Were you?’

 

‘Uh huh.  Adam and Hoss wasn’t though.  Adam was borned in Boston.’

 

‘And where was Hoss born?’

 

‘In Missouri. His Mama got killed by Indians.’  He pulled his arms back and imitated shooting a bow and arrow. ‘They shot her like this.’

 

‘Oh dear!’ I said. ‘Your poor Pa!’

 

‘Yep.  He picked up baby Hoss to carry him and told Adam to walk behind him though and they kept walking till they came to Nevada.’

 

‘And how did your brother Adam’s mother die?’ His story was more intriguing than anything I’d heard in a long time.

 

‘She died when he got borned,’ he said.

 

‘That’s very sad.’

 

‘Yep.  My Pa’s got all their pictures on his big desk. I look at em sometimes, but he tells me not to touch em like you did with your picture.’  He glanced over at the picture he’d dropped before. ‘Who’s that man?

 

‘That’s a picture of my husband Reg.  He was the sheriff here before he died.’

 

‘We’ve got a sheriff in our town too. His name is Sheriff Coffee.  He’s Pa’s friend.’

 

‘Is he?’

 

‘Uh huh. He lets me visit his jail sometimes.  He says that one day I might get to stay there if I keep going in the direction I am.’  He smiled happily at the thought of it.  ‘I don’t know what direction it is though. Guess its west where our ranch is. Pa might let me stay in that jail when I’m grown up.  I heard Sheriff Coffee say he might have ta let me one day cause of me being a challenge to everyone. What’s a challenge?’

 

‘Its…. Well, its something you have to work at.’

 

He frowned. ‘Guess he means me doing my chores or something then.’  He grinned. ‘Sheriff Coffee’s nice!’

 

‘He sounds like he is dear.’

 

‘Was your husband a nice sheriff?’

 

‘I thought so.’

 

‘Did he ever shoot anyone and then lock them up in his jail?’

 

‘He tried not to, but sometimes he had to.’

 

‘I’m gonna get a gun when I get bigger.’  He looked at me sideways. ‘I’m a real good shot already!’

 

‘Are you?’

 

‘Yep.  I practise with my Pa’s gun.’  He gave me another glance to see if I believed him.

 

‘Do you?’

 

‘Yep. And his rifle too. He lets me.’  He gave me a furtive look and bragged,  ‘He tells me to.’

 

I was determined not to let him see me ruffled, however I couldn’t resist pulling him into line over that statement. ‘Little boys shouldn’t lie,’ I said severely.

 

He frowned. ‘Wasn’t zactly a lie,’ he said. ‘He will tell me to when I’m bigger.’ I gave him a stern look and he hung his head and said nothing. After a moment he lifted it again. ‘I’ve got a pony and when I’m twelve Pa says he’s getting me a big horse.’

 

‘That will be nice.’

 

‘I’m gonna get a pinto. Do ya know what a pinto is?’

 

‘It’s a black and white horse.’

 

He looked at me with new respect. ‘How come ya know that?’ he asked.

 

‘Because I do.  I know a lot about horses.’

 

‘So do I,’ he said. ‘We’ve got lots of horses on The Ponderosa.  I help Pa round em up sometimes.’  I gave him another stern look. ‘Well kinda,’ he said sheepishly. ‘He lets me watch.’

 

‘Does your Pa run the ranch all by himself?’

 

‘No! It’s too big. Adam helped him before he didn’t like us no more and went to Boston. Hoss helps sometimes when he’s not at school, but mostly the other men help.’

 

‘Which other men?’

 

‘The ones in the bunkhouse.  Charlie’s in charge of em. He’s our foreman.’

 

‘I see.’  It sounded like Mr Cartwright’s ranch was in fact quite big.

 

‘Sometimes I visit the men in the bunkhouse,’ said Joseph. He gave me another sideways look. ‘Pa don’t mind.’

 

‘Does he know you go there?’

 

He didn’t answer that particular question. ‘They have good times in the bunkhouse,’ he said instead. ‘They play cards and have cigars too. I’m learning how to play with them cards.  They’ve got hearts and diamonds and other things on em and you can bet.’

 

‘You don’t bet?’

 

‘Nah! But sometimes I put the money in the middle for the men.  They let me. The cigar smoke ain’t nice though.  My Pa don’t smoke cigars.’

 

‘That’s good.’

 

‘He smokes a pipe. He can make the smoke go in circles right up to the ceiling. I poke em with my finger.’

 

I was beginning to get quite dizzy with his constant chatter and wondered how long he would keep it up for. ‘Why don’t we have some quiet time for a while?’ I suggested.

 

‘OK,’ he said happily. There was silence for about thirty seconds. ‘Did your husband smoke a pipe?’

 

I sighed. ‘No.’

 

‘I’m gonna smoke a pipe when I get bigger. Or maybe cigarettes.’

 

‘Cigarette smoking is a nasty habit and I would hope that you wouldn’t do it.’

 

He gave me his stubborn look again. ‘I can iffen I want to!’ he declared. ‘I’m gonna drink beer too!’

 

‘I hope that you won’t!’

 

‘Adam drinks beer sometimes.  I seen him.  Pa was angry with him cause he fell down on the front porch.’

 

‘I don’t think it’s a good idea to talk about that sort of thing dear.’

 

‘Why? Adam went in the Saloon and Pa was angry.  I’m gonna go in the Saloon when I get bigger.  They’ve got harlots in there.’

 

I dropped my knitting. ‘Joseph!’ I said shocked. ‘Don’t you dare use language like that!’

 

His eyes widened. ‘What did I say?’ he said.

 

‘I stared at him. ‘That’s not a nice word,’ I said finally.

 

He looked puzzled. ‘Which one?’

 

‘The one that you used,’ I floundered, quite speechless for once.

 

‘Harlots?’ he said, then put his hand over his mouth at the expression on my face. ‘I didn’t know it was a bad word!’

 

‘Where did you hear it?’

 

‘In the bunkhouse. The men said they could get them in the Saloon. I think it’s a kind of drink.  Is that bad?’

 

‘It’s not a kind of drink and you are not to use that word again!  Do you hear me?’ He nodded at me with his eyes wide. I resolved to let his father know of the boy’s trips to the bunkhouse, which were obviously not in his best interests.

 

For a few moments there was silence, with Joseph in obvious deep thought. ‘Mrs Tanner?’ he asked.

 

‘Yes.’

 

‘If … you know, that word… isn’t a drink, then what is it?’

 

‘It’s something that you don’t need to worry about.’

 

He sighed. ‘That’s what the men said when I asked. They laughed and said I’d find out when I’m bigger.’

 

‘I certainly hope that you don’t!’ I said severely.

 

He studied me for a moment with a serious expression on his face. ‘Do you like to fish?’ he asked.

 

I shook my head slightly with the effort of keeping up with him. ‘I haven’t fished for a long time,’ I said. ‘It’s not something I usually do.’

 

‘I like it!’ he said. ‘I’m good at it too.’

 

‘Are you?’

 

‘Yep.  Sometimes I catch fish and Hop Sing cooks em for supper. Pa won’t let me go by myself but.’

 

‘Where do you fish?’

 

‘In the lake.’

 

‘Is it a big lake?’

 

He looked at me surprised. ‘Don’t you know the lake?’ he asked surprised.

 

‘No.’

 

‘It’s Lake Tahoe. It’s the biggest lake in the whole world.’

 

‘I have heard of it of course. I just didn’t know that was the lake you meant. Is your ranch near Lake Tahoe?’

 

‘Yep. Our ranch is the whole of one side of it.’

 

‘I told you before that little boys shouldn’t lie Joseph.’

 

‘I’m not lying!’ he declared with such spirit that I began to wonder if this time he was in fact telling the truth.  If he was, then his father’s land holding must be extremely vast for Lake Tahoe was, as he said, just about the biggest lake there is. At least in these parts.

 

‘I learned ta swim in that lake,’ he continued. ‘And my Mama’s grave is there too. Pa take me to visit it sometimes and we put flowers on it.’

 

I gave him a comforting look. ‘I’m sure that makes you and your Pa feel better,’ I said.

 

‘Sometimes Pa cries when he goes there.  I seen him.  He sends me to get the flowers and then he cries. He don’t know I’m looking at him.’

 

‘Your poor father!’

 

‘He misses my Mama cause she’s up in heaven.’

 

‘I’m sure he does.’ I was beginning to feel very sorry for Mr Cartwright. Even if only half of what the child had told me was true, then the man had had a very tragic life. Suddenly there was a knock on the front door.

 

Joseph sprang to his feet. ‘I bet that’s my Pa come to get me!’ he declared and ran to open it before I could stop him. ‘Pa!’ I heard him cry and turned around to see the man sweep his little boy up into his arms and hug him.

 

‘Hello there!’ he said. ‘Have you been a good boy?’

 

‘Yep!’ Joseph declared. He hugged his father around the neck. ‘Have you come to get me this time Pa?’

 

Mr Cartwright laughed. ‘I most certainly have,’ he said. He tipped his hat at me. ‘Mrs Tanner,’ he said.

 

I smiled. ‘Everything all right?’ I asked.

 

‘Yes.  Hoss is much better and he’s eating now,’ he said. ‘We’ve both had a good sleep and I’m going to take this scamp off your hands. I’m sure that will be a relief for you.’

 

‘What’s a relief?’ asked Joseph.

 

‘You,’ said his father, giving him a tickle. ‘Now go and get your bag and make sure all your clothes are in it while I talk to Mrs Tanner.’  He put the little boy down on his feet and swatted him gently on the backside as he pushed him towards the spare room.  Joseph ran off eagerly to do as his father bid him to.

 

‘I really don’t know how to thank you,’ Mr Cartwright said. ‘I hope he didn’t talk you into the ground.’

 

‘Well I must be honest and say that he nearly did,’ I said. ‘He doesn’t mean anything by it though.’

 

‘I know, but he can be rather wearing,’ his father replied.  ‘I am so grateful to you for doing this. If ever you’re over Virginia City way please feel free to drop in on us and visit.  I really feel like I’d like to repay the favour you’ve done me today.’

 

‘No trouble at all,’ I said. ‘I actually quite enjoyed it.’  I was surprised to realise that I was telling the truth. ‘One thing though Mr Cartwright.’

 

‘Yes?’

 

‘You might just want to question that child about his visits to your bunkhouse. I think he’s picking up some rather unsavoury words there.’

 

He raised an eyebrow. ‘I will,’ he said. ‘Thank you for alerting me to that fact.’

 

Joseph ran into the hallway and smiled at his father. ‘I’m ready,’ he declared.

 

Mr Cartwright looked down at his son and motioned to me. ‘What do you say?’ he asked.

 

Joseph looked back up at his father. ‘I say let’s go!’ he replied with a grin.  Mr Cartwright shook his head slightly, then bent down and whispered something into his ear and the boy turned to me as he held out his hand. ‘Thank you for letting me stay with ya Mrs Tanner,’ he said.

 

I shook his hand solemnly. ‘Thank you Joseph. I enjoyed having you.’

 

Mr Cartwright tipped his hat to me again, took the boy’s hand and walked out.  As I stood and watched them walk towards the gate I heard Joseph say, ‘Pa, why do ladies wear corsets under their dresses?  What’s a figure?’

 

I gave a sigh of relief and shut the door firmly and smiled as I listened to the silence around me.

 

 

The End