Summary:  Adam uses his family to help him court a young lady.
Rating:  G  (6,540 words)

Hook, Line, and Sinker

A good fisherman always knows that the key to successfully catching a fish comes in four stages:

1. Baiting the hook
2. Reeling in the line
3. Checking the sinker
4. Landing the fish

1. Baiting the Hook

A good fisherman always baits his hook well,
making sure that he knows exactly
what the fish likes to eat.

Adam Cartwright leant against the fence of the small corral and watched as the children trickled out of the small schoolhouse. He nodded to several of them as they climbed over the fence and began to saddle up their horses for the ride home after a long school day, but all the while Adam’s eyes were scanning the area for a sight of his younger brother, Hoss.

He stood up straight as Hoss walked down the few steps at the entrance to the schoolhouse and sauntered over to him. “Well?” Adam said, anxiously. “Did you do it?”

Hoss gave his brother a scornful look. “Of course I did,” he said. “I ain’t stupid, you know.”

“Where did you put them?” asked Adam, drawing his brother away from the other children so that no one could overhear their conversation.

“Under my desk,” Hoss replied casually. “She won’t see em there.”

Adam nodded, satisfied that his brother had accomplished the first part of his task. “Good,” he said. “Now, did you hear anything today to add to what you’ve already told me?”

Hoss thought for a moment. “I found out a bit more about her singing,” he said. “Some of the mothers was asking her about it before school this morning.”

“And?” prompted Adam, when Hoss stopped for a moment. “You told me yesterday that she said she loves to sing, so what else did you find out?”

Hoss scratched his head as he tried to remember. “They asked her about joining up with the church choir,” he said. “She said that she was …. um … a soppy something.”

“Soppy?” said Adam in a puzzled tone. “What on earth does that mean?” His eyes lit up as a thought came to him. “Do you mean a soprano?” he asked suddenly. “Is that what she said?”

Hoss nodded. “Yeah,” he said. “That was the word.” He gave his brother an aggrieved look. “Boy am I glad that today’s the last day of me having to listen to all her conversations,” he said. “I’m getting tired of hanging around all those mothers every morning just to hear what she likes and what she don’t.”

Adam nodded, not really listening to his brother. “A soprano,” he said. “That’s good.” He gave Hoss a firm stare and pointed his finger at him. “Don’t forget to mention my guitar when we get to the music part,” he said sternly.

“All right!” said Hoss crossly. “But can’t we get this over with? I wanna go home.” He turned back towards the schoolhouse. “I’ll go in first,” he said, taking a step towards it.

“Just hold on a minute,” said Adam. “Go through it with me again.”

Hoss drew a deep breath and began to speak as if he were reciting a list that he’d memorised …. as indeed he was. “College, your guitar and your singing, books ….”

“Which ones?” prompted Adam.

“Dickens like she talked about liking the other day,” said Hoss. “And …. history.”

“Yes,” said Adam. “That’ll do fine.” He stared at his brother intently for a moment. “Are you sure she didn’t say what particular history she liked?” he asked.

Hoss shook his head. “I dunno,” he said and then added after a moment, “I think she said something about Greek people.”

“That’ll do,” said Adam. “Now get in there and don’t leave until I come for you. Understand?”

Hoss stood his ground, refusing to budge. “I want the dollar first,” he said stubbornly. “I done all that listening all week, so I want the dollar first.” He held out his hand and waited.

Adam shook his head as he reached into his pocket and drew out a silver dollar. “Here,” he said. “But you’d better do this right or I’m taking it back.”

Hoss bit on the edge of the coin. He had no idea why he did it, but he’d seen someone else do it once and it had appealed to him. “All right,” he said, pocketing the money. “Give me one minute and then come after me.”

He headed back up the stairs again while Adam waited in the now-deserted schoolyard. As Hoss entered the small room, Miss Emily Tallis, Virginia City’s new schoolteacher turned around from the board that she’d been wiping clean. “Eric,” she said, quite surprised to see the boy again. “What are you doing back here?”

Hoss walked slowly across the room towards his desk. “I … um … I kinda … left my books behind,” he mumbled.

Emily nodded. “Well, get them then and be on your way,” she said briskly as she began to turn towards the board again. However, a movement at the doorway caught her eye and she stopped when she saw Adam standing there. “Yes?” she said. “May I help you, sir?”

Adam stepped into the room, his eyes widening with delight at the sight of the pretty young woman in front of him. “The name is Cartwright ma’am,” he said, taking off his hat and smiling at her. “Adam Cartwright.”

“Cartwright?” she repeated, looking from Adam, to Hoss and then back to Adam again with an enquiring look on her face.

“I’m Hoss’ …. I mean …. Eric’s brother,” said Adam quickly. He turned to Hoss who was standing by now with his books in his hand. “Did you find them?” he asked, rather unnecessarily and then turned to Emily again without waiting for a reply. “He’d forget his head if it wasn’t screwed on,” he said, somewhat apologetically.

Emily smiled at him. “It’s so nice that he has a brother who cares,” she said.

“Oh, I care,” said Adam, stepping closer to her and putting his arm around Hoss’ shoulder. He smiled at his brother who scowled back at him. “We’re real close,” Adam said, hugging Hoss’ shoulder as if to prove it.

Emily smiled at the picture that the two brothers made in front of her. “That’s lovely,” she said. “Family is important.”

She turned to face the board again, but Adam spoke before she could move the whole way. “Hoss … I mean Eric … told me that you’re from back east,” he said. “How are you settling in here so far?”

“Quite well, thank you,” she said primly. There was silence for a moment. “Don’t let me keep you,” she said finally. “You must be wanting to get home.”

Hoss gave a small yelp as Adam’s nails dug into his shoulder. “Adam’s going back east next year,” he mumbled. “He’s going to college in Boston.”

Emily’s face took on an interested expression. “Really?” she said, turning to Adam instead of Hoss. “I had no idea that Eric had such a clever older brother.”

Hoss felt his brother’s nails tighten on his shoulder again as Adam tried to look modest. “He’s real clever,” Hoss said. “He’s gonna study at Harvard.”

Emily’s mouth opened. “Harvard!” she said, her eyes lighting up. “That is wonderful!”

Adam frowned at Hoss. “Now you shouldn’t be carrying on like that Hoss,” he said in a reproving tone. “Miss Tallis doesn’t want to hear about me.”

“But I do,” Emily said, stepping forward. “I never knew …. I mean …. What will you be studying?”

Adam gave her the faint hint of a modest smile. “I really haven’t decided yet,” he said. “Probably history though. I have a passion for ancient Greek culture.”

Emily clasped her hands in front of her. “Really?” she said. “I love ancient Greek history as well, although I’ve never had the chance to study it in college, of course,” her eyes shone, as she looked at Adam in a new light. “How wonderful,” she breathed. “You must be so looking forward to all the literature that you’ll be able to read on the topic.”

“Of course,” said Adam casually and looked at Hoss meaningfully.

“Adam likes to read a lot,” Hoss muttered in a low tone as he stared at the floor. “Mostly Dickens and stuff like that.”

“Dickens?” repeated Emily. “Why, Charles Dickens is my favourite contemporary author. Who would have thought that I’d find another aficionado of his out here in the west?”

“You’d be surprised ma’am,” said Adam, giving her the full value of one of his most charming smiles now … the sort that showed his dimple and sent most young ladies into a swoon. “Things are quite as rough out here as they might seem at first. Some of us appreciate the fine arts. Like literature and …. music …” he said, poking his nails into Hoss’ shoulder yet again.

“Adam plays the guitar,” said Hoss unenthusiastically. “He can sing real good too.”

Adam cuffed Hoss over the head in an affectionate way. “Hoss!” he said. “Stop talking about me like that.” He gave Emily an apologetic look. “I’m sorry,” he said. “He shouldn’t be carrying on so, but some children don’t have any idea of correct social skills.” He smiled at Emily, ignoring the black look that Hoss gave him.

Emily shook her head. “Oh no,” she said. “Please don’t be cross with Eric for mentioning these things. He’s obviously very proud of his older brother.” She smiled at Adam. “And with good cause,” she added. “You’re really quite an accomplished young man. I’m amazed to find someone like you out here.”

Adam shrugged in what he hoped was a casual manner. “Oh, I’ve always been a bit of a studier of such things,” he said. “I like to learn.”

“Obviously,” said Emily, looking at him with respect. She then turned to smile at Hoss who was by now shuffling his feet and looking extremely bored. “You should follow your brother’s example Eric,” she said. “Learning can be a lot of fun if you put your mind to it.”

“Yes ma’am,” Hoss muttered, but the look he gave her showed clearly that he didn’t believe what he was saying.

“How’s he doing in school?” asked Adam cheerfully, hugging Hoss’ shoulder again. “Better than he has in the past, I hope.”

Emily hesitated. “Well there are a few areas that I believe he could improve in,” she said. “Aren’t there Eric?”

“Yes ma’am,” muttered Hoss again. He continued to glare at Adam, thinking that the silver coin in his pocket had better be worth all of this.

“If you’d like to talk to me about his progress at some time I’d be happy to help him,” offered Adam, suddenly seeing a chance of further contact with the pretty girl in front of him.

Emily looked somewhat taken aback by his comment. “Well, shouldn’t I really be discussing that with his father?” she said.

“Of course,” said Adam quickly. “I’ll let my father know that you’d like to speak with him. I’m sure he’ll be most interested in meeting you.”

“That would be fine,” said Emily. “Now, if you’ll both excuse me. I have some work to finish up.”

“Of course,” said Adam again. “Come along Eric. You’ve taken up enough of Miss Tallis’ time.” He tipped his hat to the schoolteacher. “Nice meeting you ma’am,” he said and then dragged Hoss out of the room.

“Well thanks a lot!” Hoss exploded when they had reached the corral. “Now she’s gonna talk to Pa about me!”

Adam brushed his brother’s comment aside with a wave of his hand. “She would have done that anyway,” he said. “You know that they all do at some stage.”

Hoss nodded mournfully, for schoolwork wasn’t something that came easily to him. He glanced at his older brother who was standing still and staring back at the schoolhouse. “I was right, wasn’t I?” he said smugly. “She’s real pretty.”

Adam nodded. “That she is,” he agreed. “Real pretty.” Hoss grinned as he fingered his silver coin, happy now that his work was done. “Come on,” said Adam. “Let’s get home. I’ve got some planning to do.”

2.     Reeling in the Line

A good fisherman always reels the line in slowly,
taking care not to startle the fish by pulling on it too quickly.
In this way, he will be able to bring the fish in
without too much struggling on either side.

“How much longer Adam?” Little Joe whined as he stood by his brother’s side. It seemed to him that the lady had taken an awfully long time in that darned old ladies dress shop and there were better things that he and his brother could be doing right about now. It was only the thought of the shiny penny that his brother had promised him and the knowledge that the penny could be traded for some of that candy in the mercantile store, that had made him stay here this long without more of his customary whining. “How much longer?” he said again. “When’s it gonna be time for my fing?”

“Soon,” said Adam absently, shading his eyes as he stared across the street as well. He bent down and picked up his small brother, stood him on the back of the buckboard so that their eyes were level and stared at him intently. “You remember what to do?” he asked and Joe nodded. “Tell me again,” insisted Adam. “One more time, just to be sure.”

Little Joe sighed and held up one finger. “I say she’s pretty,” he began.

“Yes,” urged Adam. “Go on.”

Joe held up the next finger. “I ask her if she gets lonely in town, being new and all,” he said, and then thought for a moment before holding up his third finger. “Then I talk about the picnic,” he said.

“Good,” said Adam, patting him on the head. “And?”

Joe screwed up his face in concentration. “And then I say that Pa wants to meet her, cause of Hoss being dumb in school,” he said and smiled when Adam nodded. “And then the penny,” added Joe, holding up his thumb so that all five fingers on that hand showed. “Don’t forget the penny.” He gave his brother a stern look. “I don’t do my fing unless I get my penny,” he said firmly.

Adam nodded again. “You’ll get it,” he said. “Just do your thing first.”

“I’ll do my fing, but ….”

Joe’s voice was cut off by his brother who suddenly swung him down and plopped him onto the sidewalk again. “She’s coming,” he hissed. “Get ready.” He held onto Joe’s arm as he bent down and pretended to check something on the wheel of the buckboard. “Remember,” he hissed into the child’s ear. “Make it look good when you bump into her.”

Joe nodded, his eyes on the figure, who was now crossing the street and turning towards them. “Now?” he said, his eyes gleaming with the excitement of the event.

“Steady,” Adam whispered into his ear. “Wait for it …. Run!” he said, giving his little brother a slight push as he let go of his arm. He watched anxiously as Joe took off on his small legs, running wildly towards the young lady who was walking along the sidewalk with a few parcels in her arms. The child ran straight towards her, his head down and his arms waving around as he ran, looking for the world as if he didn’t have a clue that she was there.

When eventually they collided, the force of Joe hitting into her skirt caused the young lady to take a couple of unplanned steps backwards and her parcels flew out of her arms and landed in the dusty street. Joe fell backwards and landed on his small behind with a grunt, then looked up at her with a grin as he waited for Adam to appear.

Adam was at her side in a flash, holding onto her arm and giving her a concerned look. “I’m so sorry,” he said, steadying her thoughtfully. “Are you all right?”

“I … I think so,” she said, leaning against him for a brief moment as she got her balance again. She looked up at him. “Mr … Cartwright?” she asked.

“Adam, ma’am,” he said, tipping his hat to her. He looked down at Little Joe who was still sitting on the sidewalk watching them with interest. “Joe!” he said. “I’m surprised at you. What were you thinking, not looking where you were going like that?” He bent down and picked up Emily’s parcels and handed them back to her. “I’m so sorry,” he said again. “I was checking the buckboard wheel and he just took off on me.” He shrugged and gave her one of his most charming smiles. “You know how children are,” he said.

She took the parcels from him and then smoothed down her skirt. “Yes, I do,” she said in return. “I’m the new school teacher, remember?”

Adam looked at her as if it was suddenly dawning on him who she was. “Of course,” he said, taking a step closer to her. “Hoss’ teacher, Miss Tallis, I believe?”

“Hoss?” she said with a puzzled look on her face. “Oh yes …. Eric. Please call me Emily,” she added sweetly. “Is your … um …. ” she indicated Joe who was still sitting on the sidewalk looking up at them.

“My little brother,” Adam finished for her, finally bending down and picking up the child by the back of his trousers. He sat him on the hitching rail next to him so that Joe was on their eye-level, his arms resting on the little boy’s back, seemingly to steady him as he balanced. “He’s fine,” he added casually, not even glancing at his brother, but continuing to look at Emily. “Joe, say you’re sorry to Miss Tallis for bumping into her.”

“I’m sorry for bumping into you,” said Joe, right on cue. He felt his brother’s hand poking him in the back and added, “You’re pretty,” as he gazed at Emily with one of his winning smiles.

Emily Tallis blushed slightly and then giggled. “Isn’t he just precious?” she said, patting him on the head. “What a darling thing to say!”

Joe grinned at her. “Don’t you think she’s pretty, Adam?” he asked sweetly.

Adam tried to look embarrassed. “Joe!” he said. “You’re embarrassing Miss Tallis.” He smiled at Emily. “But I must say that he’s right,” he added.

Emily blushed even more and dipped her eyes so that she was looking up at him through her lashes. “That’s a very gallant thing to say, Mr Cartwright …. Adam,” she murmured softly.

“Only telling the truth ma’am … I mean …. Emily,” replied Adam.

There was silence for a moment, finally broken by Emily. “Well,” she said. “I’d better be getting ….”

Joe jerked as he felt Adam’s hand poking him in the back again. “Are you new in town?” he piped up suddenly, leaning forward towards her and nearly falling off the hitching rail.

Emily stopped moving away. “Why yes dear, I am,” she replied. “I’m your brother Eric’s new teacher.” She looked at Adam enquiringly. “I suppose Joe will be coming to school soon?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Adam frowning slightly, for this wasn’t the direction the conversation was supposed to go. However, his frown soon turned to a smile again as his little brother came in, right on cue for a third time.

“I bet you get lonely,” Joe said brightly. “Being new in town and all.” He stared at the young lady, obviously expecting an answer from her.

Emily gave the child a startled look. “My word,” she said, turning to Adam. “He certainly is a forward little thing, isn’t he?”

Adam smiled at her. “It comes from being around adults a lot,” he explained. “His mother died last year and he spends a lot of time with all of us adults while we’re working.”

Emily gave Joe a sorrowful look and patted him on the head. “Poor little thing,” she said sadly. “Your family has experienced tragedy then?”

Adam sighed. “It’s been hard on all of us,” he said, noting with interest her sympathetic look, as he gave her a sideways glance.

Emily nodded as Joe piped up again. “Well?” he said, not one to be sidetracked when there was a shiny penny to be had. “Do ya get lonely, lady?”

Now it was Emily’s turn to sigh. “I suppose I do, a little,” she said. “I haven’t been in town that long though, so I’m sure I’ll soon get used to things here.”

“You need to get out and see what’s going on around here,” persisted Joe, narrowing his eyes as he looked at her intently. “Don’t she Adam?” He turned to his brother and gave him a happy grin.

Adam tried to look startled at his little brother’s words. “Why … I …” he shrugged at Emily. “Children,” he said with a short laugh. “What can you do with them?”

She smiled at him in return. “Don’t worry about it,” she said, turning to go. “I must hurry up and ….”

Joe felt his back being prodded again. “Why don’t you bring her on the picnic we’re going on tomorrow and show her around Adam?” he said quickly. “That’d be a good idea.”

Adam coughed as if he was embarrassed. “Joe!” he said. “What a thing to say!” He took a step closer towards Emily. “Miss Tallis hardly knows our family.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Still,” he continued. “If it would help you to feel a little more at home here …” He held up his hands as if at a loss for words.

Emily blushed again. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of imposing on you in that way,” she said. “Besides … as you say Mr … I mean, Adam … I hardly know you.” She hesitated. “I don’t know that it would be seemly.”

“Our whole family will be there,” prompted Joe, getting into the swing of thing now. “You wouldn’t be with just him or nothing.”

Adam rolled his eyes at Emily as if at a loss for words at the indiscretion of his little brother, but his hand was secretly patting his little brother on the back approvingly as he did so. “That’s true,” he said. “My father and brothers will be there of course, so there’d be nothing improper about it.”

“Well …” said Emily, obviously wavering.

“Pa would like to meet ya too,” added Joe. “You could talk bout Hoss being dumb in school and all.”

Adam’s face lit up as if he’d just thought of that very same thing. “Of course!” he said. “What a good idea! You did say after all that you were a little worried about him and it would be an ideal opportunity to speak to my father about it. We could kill two birds, so to speak.”

Joe looked up into the sky, wondering where the birds were that his brother had just mentioned. When he didn’t see any, he shrugged and looked at Emily again, noting with interest how her face had gone all red.

“Well,” the young lady said. “Well … if it’s in Eric’s best interests … well … that would be lovely,” she said finally. “Thank you. I’ll look forward to it.”

“I need my penny now,” said Joe quickly, squirming around to face Adam and holding out his hand. He sensed that his work here was done and he wanted to get his penny before things progressed too much further and Adam forgot it.

Adam gave Emily a lopsided smile and reached into his pocket, pulled out a penny and pressed it into his little brother’s palm. “I promised him some candy,” he explained, trying to sound like a generous older brother. He promptly pulled the child off the hitching rail and set him on his feet, giving him a small push in the back. “Go off and get your candy,” he said indulgently, giving his brother a pat on the head. He refrained from saying hurry back, wishing that he’d thought to tell the boy earlier to take his time while in the shop. Joe scampered off without a word and ran into the mercantile, which was near their buggy.

Adam turned to Emily again. “We’ll pick you up after church then?” he said.

“That will be fine,” she replied. “Um … I really must go now,” she added, holding out her hand to him. “Thank you … Adam.”

Adam took her hand and lifted it to his lips, watching her blush even more as he did so. “Until tomorrow,” he said softly.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. “Until tomorrow,” she said with a slight sigh. “Thank you.”

Adam crossed his arms across his chest as he watched her walk away, his eyes fixated on the bustle at the back of her skirt and the way it moved from side to side as she walked. Suddenly, his dreamy thoughts were interrupted by a small voice beside him and he looked down to see Joe standing there, a peppermint stick firmly placed in his mouth and two more in one sticky hand.

“Did I do my fing good this time, Adam?” the child asked, in between sucks on the peppermint.

Adam patted him on the head. “Yeah, buddy,” he said. “You did it real good this time.”

“I fought so,” said Joe wisely. “She didn’t take too long to say yes, did she?”

Adam didn’t answer as he turned to walk back to the buggy, thinking about how he now needed to tell his father that Hoss’ new teacher would be joining them on their picnic the next day. Joe shrugged and turned to follow his brother, sucking happily on his peppermint stick as he did so.

3. Checking the Sinker

A good fisherman always checks his sinker
when the fish begins to pull on it,
 making sure that the fish is large enough
 and of the right variety that he has been after.

Ben glanced at Adam beside him, who was driving the buggy. “So let me get this straight,” he said. “Little Joe was the one who actually invited her to the picnic?”

Adam gave his father a lopsided smile. “Well, you know what he’s like Pa,” he said. “Always opening his mouth at the wrong time.”

“Yes, I do know what he’s like,” replied Ben, glancing over his shoulder at his two youngest boys who were eyeing each other off over the top of the large picnic basket. “But I didn’t know that he had even met Hoss’ new teacher. Come to think of it, I didn’t know that you’d met her either.”

Adam shrugged casually. “Oh, we just ran into her in the street yesterday,” he said. “Actually, Joe literally ran into her if you know what I mean. When he asked her to the picnic I couldn’t really say no, could I?” He glanced at his father to gauge the man’s reaction.

“I suppose not,” replied Ben, looking at his son thoughtfully for a moment. “And he wouldn’t have got the idea to ask her from you of course now, would he?”

Adam shrugged and gave his father a somewhat sheepish look. “Well she is real pretty,” he admitted. “So I don’t really mind.”

Ben raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t think that you did,” he said, a touch sarcastically. “Tell me, which of them …” he jerked his thumb towards the two boys in the back of the buggy who were now jostling each other. “… helped you out the most?” He chuckled to see the surprised look that Adam gave him. “Well it wasn’t hard to work out,” Ben continued. “I suspect that a bit of bribery has taken place judging by the way Hoss has been hiding that silver dollar from me and Joe’s face was covered in sticky sugar when he got home with you yesterday. So kind of you, by the way, to offer to take him off my hands for the morning and let him go into town with you,” he finished before turning to look at Hoss and Joe. “Would you two be quiet?” he said sharply.

Adam shrugged again and looked straight ahead to avoid his father’s eyes. When he didn’t say anything, Ben added. “And what exactly is my role to be in this? Do you need to coach me before we meet her?”

Adam finally turned to look at his father and they both grinned at each other. “Aw Pa,” he said. “You already know about women. I don’t have to coach you in what to say.” He frowned slightly. “But … actually it wouldn’t hurt her to hear some nice things about me,” he added.

Ben’s smile widened. “Your brothers haven’t already done that when they played their part in this?” he enquired.

“Well … sort of,” Adam said sheepishly. “But … well, you know Pa … it still wouldn’t hurt.”

Pa slapped his son on the back. “Be happy to,” he said. “Anything else I can do to foster the course of true love?” He looked over his shoulder again. “If you two don’t stop pushing each other you can get out and walk!” he snapped, and Hoss and Joe immediately sat still.

“Well, now that you come to mention it,” said Adam. “You could try and help me find out about her. I mean … I need to be sure that she’s what I’m looking for.”

“I already done that!” protested Hoss indignantly. “I spent all week listening ….” He stopped as he realised what he was saying and looked relieved when his father decided to ignore the comment.

“I’ll be glad to,” said Ben. “After all, part of this exercise is for me to talk to the young lady about a few issues anyway, isn’t it?” He gave Hoss a pointed look.

Hoss glowered in the back of the buggy at the comment, wishing that he’d never been part of his brother’s plan in the first place, for it seemed to him that getting his father and his teacher together for an afternoon might backfire on him. If he had known that Adam’s plan had been to bring her along to a family picnic, then he wouldn’t have helped in the first place.

“We’re there!” shouted Little Joe suddenly as Adam drew the horses to a halt. He bounced out of his seat excitedly and jumped a couple of times, causing the buggy to tilt slightly to one side.

“Joseph, sit down!” said his father sternly. “You go in and get her son,” he said to Adam who was handing him the reins. “We’ll wait here.”

Adam leant over to the back seat, picked up the still-bouncing Joe and planted him firmly on the front seat beside his father. “You stay there,” he said, pointing at his little brother. “You get in the front too Hoss,” he instructed his brother as he climbed down from the buggy. “Emily and I will sit in the back.”

Hoss eyed off the large picnic basket longingly once again and opened his mouth to protest, but Ben cut him short before he could say anything. “Do as you’re told Hoss,” he said shortly. “In the front.”

Ben handed the reins to Little Joe who proudly held onto them and pretended to drive the horses as Hoss clambered into the front beside them. “Pa?” said Hoss after a moment.

“Yes son?”

Hoss screwed up his nose thoughtfully. “What’s Adam gonna do if he ends up not liking Miss Tallis once he gets to know her?” he asked.

Ben gave his son a startled look. Sometimes Hoss surprised him with the way he could cut to the heart of an issue and it was at times like this that Ben always maintained that his second son had a lot of intelligence that just didn’t surface as readily as some other peoples’ did.

“I guess he’ll have to figure that one out for himself, Hoss,” he said easily, for Adam’s love life had recently become very complicated and he found it difficult to keep track of precisely which young lady his eldest son was enamoured of at any particular time. It seemed to Ben that there was usually one girl Adam was interested in, one girl he was trying to extricate himself from and one girl who was fluttering her eyelashes at him without Adam even being aware of it. Ben was quite looking forward to having a rest from all of this when Adam went to college next year, but he supposed that Hoss would soon show an interest in girls, so the respite wouldn’t be for too long. With three sons, he would probably be trying to keep up with their assorted love lives for years to come.

Adam appeared with Emily right about then, leading her down the few steps at the doorway of the boarding house where she was currently staying. “She’s a real pretty one, ain’t she Pa?” Little Joe said, tilting his head up and looking at Ben upside down.

“That she is son,” said Ben, watching her appraisingly as she walked towards them.

“This is my father, Ben Cartwright,” said Adam. “And my two brothers you know, of course. Pa, this is Miss Emily Tallis.”

Ben tipped his hat to her. “Nice to meet you ma’am,” he said.

“I’m afraid that you and I have to sit in the back together,” said Adam. “These two …” he indicated his brothers. “ … always like to sit in the front.” He gave Hoss a meaningful look and Hoss glared back at him.

“This is so lovely of you to have me at your picnic Mr Cartwright,” said Emily as Adam helped her up into the buggy. “Hello Eric and Joe.”

“Hello Miss Tallis,” said Hoss in a disgruntled tone.

Joe grinned at her. “I’m driving the horses,” he informed her and she smiled at him.

Ben hitched the horses up again and they took off, Joe sitting between his father’s knees and holding onto the reins as well as his father, his chest puffed out with the thought that he was driving the team. Ben kept a tight grip on the reins as he spoke. “My son has told me that you’re settling into town?” he said. “Where exactly are you from Miss Tallis?”

Adam shot his father a grateful look and both of them listened while Emily talked of her background back east. By the time they’d reached the lake, Adam was quite convinced that she was the love of his life and he helped her down from the buggy with a happy grin.

Emily clasped her hands together as she looked around. “This is beautiful!” she exclaimed. “Quite beautiful. Is this part of your ranch, Mr Cartwright?”

“It is indeed,” said Ben as he lifted Little Joe down from the buggy. “The Ponderosa goes right around from here,” he pointed to the left. “… to over that side. Right over there on the left of that large peak,” he said proudly.

“My goodness!” she said. “It’s huge!”

Ben pulled the picnic basket down and he and Hoss carried it down to the lake while Little Joe ran in front of them happily. Adam brought up the rear, holding onto Emily’s arm in case she tripped.

“Thank you,” she breathed softly and gave him another of the fluttering looks from under her eyelashes that made his breath catch. “You’re quite the gentleman,” she said.

They smiled at each other as they caught up with the rest of the Cartwrights. Ben was spreading a rug on the ground, Hoss was opening the picnic basket and Little Joe was standing with one finger in his nose while he looked at his father in frustration. “Are we going to the lake now Pa?” piped up Little Joe.

“Soon,” said Ben, handing him a sandwich. “Eat first.” Joe screwed up his face in discontent, but took his finger out of his nose and began to chew on the sandwich without another word. Ben handed sandwiches around to everyone after Adam had seated Emily and positioned himself next to her.

While they ate lunch, all five of them indulged themselves in their other agendas. Ben concentrated on finding out as much as he could about Emily for Adam’s sake, Emily tried hard to sound as if she were a suitable candidate for Adam’s attention, Adam listened to her answers while getting as close to her as he could, Hoss tried to steer the conversation away from himself every time it looked as if Emily or his father were about to discuss him and Little Joe kept up a barrage of questions about when his father was going to take him down to the lake.

Finally, Ben could stand his youngest son’s whining no longer and stood up. “Please excuse the boys and myself for a while Miss Tallis,” he said. “Perhaps when I come back we can discuss Eric’s progress at school?”

Emily smiled at him and nodded her head, while Ben tried to ignore the dark look that Hoss gave him. He looked down as Joe tugged on his hand impatiently. “When are we going down to the lake, Pa?” he whined for about the twentieth time. “You said soon and it’s soon now.”

Ben ruffled his son’s curly hair. “Come on Hoss,” he said and tried not to smile at the grateful look on Adam’s face as he turned towards the lake.

Joe grinned at his father, jumped up and took off running towards the lake straight away, while Hoss picked up the last of the sandwiches and slowly got to his feet as well. “Joseph!” called out Ben. “Stop right there, young man!”

Joe stopped and turned towards his father and Hoss who were by now following him. “Hurry up Pa!” he shouted. “Time’s awasting!”

Ben chuckled and put his arm around Hoss’ shoulder as they caught up to Little Joe. “Why don’t you two go and get some stones and we’ll see if we can try skimming them on the water?” he suggested and smiled to see the two boys immediately run to the shore to do as he suggested.

As he walked over to join them, Ben glanced back over his shoulder and smiled to see Adam and Emily, their heads close to each other, talking animatedly and laughing at some joke. His son looked totally at ease in the young lady’s company and Ben had a sudden pang of nostalgia for a time when he’d sat exactly like that with Adam’s mother Elizabeth many years ago in Boston. He wondered how long this new love of his son’s would last for. “I’ll give it two weeks,” he said aloud.

“Give what two weeks Pa?” asked Hoss, dropping a handful of stones at Ben’s feet.

“Nothing son,” said his father. “Let’s see who can throw one of these the furthest, shall we?” He picked up a stone and threw it into the lake, watching several fish swim away quickly away from it as it hit the surface. 

4. Landing the Fish

A good fisherman knows that he can only relax

 once the fish is on land.
He can then relax and enjoy the fruit of his labours
after a hard-fought battle.

The End