Summary: Hop Sing’s custard-filled doughnuts were prized by all whenever he made them. Ben Cartwright’s sons did not feel the need to play fair when it came to obtaining such culinary delights, and the thief simply stole them. Written for the 2026 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament.
Rating: T
Word Count: 7,023
Word Count: 7,023
“No! No sweets before dinner!” Hop Sing’s cleaver delivered an exclamation point as he cut through muscle and bone with a single chop.
“But I just…”
A second chop cut through both meat and Little Joe’s whine. “No! Boy need eat dinner. Won’t if fill of sweets.”
“I’ll eat my dinner. I’ll eat it all.” Another chop and a glare from Hop Sing pulled Joe’s lower lip forward. “I will!”
“Always you say; never you do.”
“Just one. A little one. Please?”
“No.”
Little Joe plopped down on the table bench. “You’re not fair!”
Hop Sing paused and turned to fully face the twelve-year-old. “How not fair?”
“You’d let Hoss have one.” Little Joe straightened with indignation. “You know you would. You always do!”
“He always eat dinner. Eat all dinner!”
“Just ‘cause he’s a hard keeper you like him best!” Little Joe slumped into a full pout.
Hop Sing shook his head and set the cleaver down. He sighed. “Brother no horse. Brother no favorite. Boys all different. Hop Sing decide what is right for each. Now stop sulk.” The cook picked up his cleaver.
Both Little Joe’s sulking and whining continued at a higher volume. “You’d let Hoss; you’d let Adam, you’d let Pa. I’m the onliest one…” Little Joe swallowed as he watched Hop Sing set down the cleaver and pick up a large, long-handled wooden spoon. Standing quickly, Little Joe began to back toward the door, turned, and darted from the kitchen pondering the fact that a small Chinese man could look more intimidating with a spoon in his hand then with a honed cleaver there. Then he sighed, knowing the reason: Hop Sing would never use a cleaver on one of Ben Cartwright’s sons but had used his wooden spoon on all of them.
Entering the great room, Joe threw himself into the blue chair just because it was Adam’s favorite and his elder brother should be arriving home anytime now. He heard the door open and watched his brother Hoss enter the house. Little Joe mumbled softly to himself as the eighteen-year-old divested himself of his hat and gun belt. “There he is now, the old hard keeper. I wouldn’t be surprised if he just waltzed in there and…” Little Joe straightened from his slouch and called to his brother. “Hey, Hoss!”
“Hey, Short Shanks. Adam back yet?”
“Not yet. Um, you hungry?”
Hoss eyed his little brother. “Why ya asking?” His entire family knew he was always hungry when arriving home.
“No special reason except…” Joe let his voice fade.
“Except what?”
“Hop Sing’s got a whole platter of doughnuts in the kitchen.”
“He does; does he?”
“Yep. Why don’t you go and get us a couple?”
“Get us a couple, uh?”
“Yeah. You can carry two doughnuts, can’t you?”
Hoss snorted. “You had any of them doughnuts already?”
“No. I ain’t had nothing since lunch.”
Hoss walked over and looked down at Little Joe. “Why don’t you go get us a couple?”
“You’re already standing.” Little Joe looked up and grinned.
Hoss smirked. “And Hop Sing done already told ya that ya couldn’t have none before supper.”
Joe lost his smile. “He’ll let you have some, and that ain’t fair. Are you going to let your little brother suffer such injustice? Are you?”
“Why are ya so sure he’ll let me have even one?”
“Because you’re as much of a hard keeper as that horse of yours.” Little Joe huffed his displeasure and went into a pout.
Hoss laughed. “Chub and me both need more to keep going than…” Hoss decided that the word puny would set his brother off and cleared his throat. “Um, them that is less strapping and hard-working than us.”
Little Joe snorted. Hoss shook his head and started toward the kitchen. Joe stuck out his tongue at his brother’s brawny back.
Entering the kitchen, Hoss gave a loud, long sniff of appreciation. “Dinner’s smelling grand, Hop Sing.” He glanced around and spotted the platter of doughnuts.
The cook rolled his eyes. “Dinner ready in less than hour. What you need?”
Hoss licked his lips. “Well, a few of them doughnuts would probably keep my stomach from rumbling loud enough to wake the dead.”
“Think one keep the dead asleep.”
“Maybe, but… well, compared to my mouth, they’re kinda small. Three would…”
“Two.” Hop Sing pointed his wooden spoon at Hoss and then at the platter. “Two only before supper or none after.”
Hoss assessed Hop Sing’s resolve. Planning to eat a good half-dozen of the doughnuts for dessert, he picked out two of the plumpest and smiled. “Thanks, Hop Sing.”
Hoss returned to the great room. Stopping next to the blue chair, he looked down at his baby brother who radiated dejection. He sighed and placed one of the doughnuts in front of Little Joe’s eyes. “If Hop Sing gets mad ‘cause ya don’t clean your plate, I’ll pound ya myself.”
Little Joe snatched the sweet. “I’ll eat my supper! I’ve done told Hop Sing that. Besides I want to eat a least three for dessert.” He quickly took a bite. “Mmmmmm.” He sighed in appreciation.
As he swallowed his last bite, Little Joe heard the front door open and close. He turned his head to see his elder brother, nudged Hoss’s thigh with his elbow, and called out a greeting to Adam.
Adam walked over to his brothers. “When’s supper?” He knew Hoss would have already asked Hop Sing exactly when the meal would be served.
“About another hour.” Hoss glanced down at Little Joe.
“Yeah, Hop Sing was real busy this afternoon.” Joe’s tone was slightly overeager.
Adam’s hand rubbed his chin. “He was, was he?”
“Yea, he was frying up a big batch of doughnuts, the custard-filled ones you like so much. Those take lots of time. He even covered them with powdered sugar.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. You could get each of us one seeing as it’s so long until supper.”
Adam studied his baby brother. “Chocolate or vanilla custard?”
“Both, I think. I’d favor vanilla.”
“Is that because you’ve already had a chocolate-filled one?”
“I… I…” Little Joe began to sputter. Adam reached out and wiped the corner of Joe’s mouth with his thumb before the boy could actually tell him a fib. “No more for you, little boy. You will not be spoiling your dinner.” Adam’s eyes rose to Hoss’s face. “It wouldn’t be fair to bring you one when Joe can’t have another. I, on the other hand…” Adam smirked and headed toward the kitchen. Hoss frowned, and Little Joe stuck his tongue out at Adam’s retreating back, slumping down into the comfort of his brother’s favorite chair.
Hop Sing heard Adam’s boots and turned to watch him enter and walk directly to the table that held the night’s desert. He snorted. “One!”
Adam lifted the largest doughnut from the platter. “Now, Hop Sing, you know you let Hoss have two.”
“Know he give one to little brother. Each son have one before supper. No more. If more than three missing, Hop Sing take rest down to bunkhouse.”
Adam tugged his left ear. “Fine. One before supper.” He smiled at the cook. “Save me back a couple for a bedtime snack, please. You know Hoss will clear the platter at dessert.” Hop Sing snorted again and muttered in Chinese. “Please, most honorable Hop Sing.” Adam’s expression was one he saved for his father and Hop Sing only.
Hop Sing muttered and pointed toward the door. “Go. Go, or I not finish supper.”
Adam gave the doughnuts, which really were a particular favorite of his, a longing look, bit into the one he held, and uttered an exclamation of satisfaction. “The best, absolutely the best.”
Hop Sing pointed again but smiled as he turned back to his dinner preparations.
The next morning Ben Cartwright’s sons greeted Hop Sing with a question: Are there any more of those doughnuts left in the kitchen, Hop Sing? They all knew the cook often set back- even hid- portions of favorite items for later consumption and possible bribery.
Hop Sing rolled his eyes and shook his head. “All eaten even crumbs. None even for venerable father when he return later.” Hop Sing glared at each of them. Two dozen!” He began muttering chastisement in Chinese. The last four doughnuts had disappeared during the night.
Glances flashed around the table; then three pairs of eyes became glued to their plates as Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe filled them with Hop Sing’s flapjacks and fried ham.
Hop Sing returned to the kitchen. Hoss gave his elder brother a sheepish look. “Guess we shoulda saved a couple for Pa.” The three brothers had shared the last four doughnuts after a late-night raid of the kitchen.
“Pa will not miss what we do not mention. You just feel guilty because you ate the most.” Adam had decided years ago not to play fair when it came to Hop Sing’s custard-filled doughnuts. After all, he had missed out on four years of them while at college.
“So, ya was keeping count!” Hoss’s guilt made him snappish.
“I had the least. You two could have eaten as many as me and still left some for Pa.” Little Joe absolved himself of any guilt.
“What’s done is done, and what’s eaten is gone. Endeavour, brothers, to do better next time. Besides, Pa missing out may motivate Hop Sing to make another batch sooner rather than later.” Adam’s declaration lightened the mood at the table.
“Yeah.” Hoss smiled and tucked into his breakfast.
“The sooner the better.” Little Joe smiled and started to eat.
As Adam finished his second cup of coffee, he began to give orders for the day. “Hoss…”
“I know. Fifty beeves need to be in the holding pens by nightfall.”
“Right. Take Mike and Dusty. Start in Bleecher’s Meadow. Now, Little Joe, when your chores are finished you need to see that the tack room…”
“Adam!” His brother’s name came out of Little Joe’s mouth as more of wail than a word. “I was gonna go…”
Adam gave his little brother a stern look, cutting off his whining pronouncement. “But now you will put the tack room in order and lay out anything needing cleaning or repair.”
“That will take the rest of the day!” Another wail was followed by the thrusting out of Joe’s lower lip.
“Only because you have failed to keep it tidy and have put off a needed chore the entire time Pa has been gone.” Adam stood. “I have business at the mill, so I’ll see you both at supper. I’ll let Hop Sing know it needs to be a late one.” He set his napkin on his plate and headed toward the kitchen.
“Guess I better get at it too.” Hoss grabbed the last muffin and ate it on the way to collect his lunch. Hop Sing’s lunches beat Cooky’s by yards.
Little Joe slumped, kicked the table leg, and muttered. “A hard keeper and a bossy boots!” He sighed, kicked the table again and then departed. He finished his regular chores perfunctorily, and then opened the door to the tack room, looked in, closed the door, and headed toward the kitchen. He met Hop Sing coming out of the back door. “Lunch on kitchen table; eat when hungry. I go town get supplies needed that foolish Dan forget. Stir pots on stove now and then.” He gave the boy a stern look. No let burn; no let fire go out.”
“I’m gonna be in the tack room. I can’t watch nothing in the kitchen.” Litle Joe’s tone was on the edge of insolent.
“Mister Adam say you be in tack room?”
“I’ve got to get it straight before Pa comes home.” Little Joe had changed his tone to aggrieved.
“Fine, but then all Cartwrights have cold supper.” Hop Sing returned to his kitchen, doused the stove fire, stored the filled pots, and left muttering “I go back China.”
Little Joe watched the wagon depart, made a decision, went to the kitchen, and wrapped his lunch in a napkin. He left on his horse ten minutes later. He could meet Mitch, fish for two hours, and still make it back to the ranch to give the tack room a lick and a promise before anyone else returned. He was sure he could come up with a reason little had been accomplished there if he put his mind to it. Besides, Adam would think that he had worked slowly because he was sulking and that the lack of accomplishment was a silent protest. Thankfully, elder brother did not give out swats for just being slow.
Little Joe slipped into the back yard near the kitchen door and sighed. Three-fourths of the way home his horse had picked up a stone and bruised his hoof pad which would have been an acceptable excuse for being so late if he had any excuse for being on a horse and away from the house in the first place. Unfortunately, he did not. In younger years he had used every imaginative excuse including being taken away by pirates, Indians, kidnappers, and thieves to explain an absence against orders. None of those excuses had saved him. He sighed again. Adam never believed any excuse Little Joe gave; Joe doubted Adam would believe any excuse from him even if it was the actual truth. He sighed again and looked around the yard. Perhaps his elder brother had been delayed at the mill.
Little Joe spotted the wagon first. The draft horses were still harnessed to the wagon and stood pawing the ground in equine frustration which meant they had been standing there a significant amount of time. This was the first sign of something being amiss. Little Joe walked over to them and noticed that the wagon had not been unloaded. This was the second sign. Joe hurried to the front yard and spotted both his brothers’ horses standing there still saddled. This third sign set him running back and into the kitchen shouting. “Hop Sing! Hoss! Adam!”
“Little Joe!” His name came at him in three voices. He stopped short and surveyed the brightly lit room. Adam and Hoss stood on either side of Hop Sing who was seated at the table holding a cloth to his head. Hoss immediately stepped to his little brother’s side.
“Joe, boy, you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Is he?” Adam’s voice had Hoss doing a hands-on search for injuries.
“Don’t see nothing wrong.” Hoss sighed in relief.
“Thank the Lord!” Relief was present in Adam’s voice also.
Hop Sing spoke softly. “Before leave, pray always ancestors keep boy safe.”
“Well, thank you to your ancestors also.” There was not a trace of sarcasm in the statement. Adam turned toward Little Joe and spoke in a less solicitous voice. “Where have you been, Joseph?”
“I… what happened? Is Hop Sing hurt?” Little Joe ran possible answers to Adam’s question through his mind while waiting for the answer to his own.
“Joseph! I asked where you have been.”
“I… if he’s hurt…”
Adam’s jaw stiffened. “Let’s try this another way. Are you just now coming in from the tack room?”
“Um, not directly.”
“When was the last time you were in the tack room?”
“Adam, if Hop Sing’s hurt this ain’t the time to be talking about the tack room.”
“Joseph!” Adam’s bellow was followed by a moan from Hop Sing.
Hoss spoke softly. “Hop Sing don’t need to hear no shouting. Loud noises don’t help concussions.”
Adam sighed. “My apologies, Hop Sing. Joe, come here to me.” Little Joe dragged himself to stand before his brother just out of reach of Adam’s long arms. “Just tell me where you have been. No lies. No evasions.”
Joe looked into his brother’s eyes and shuddered. “I went fishing. Just for a bit. I was gonna be back in time to do the tack room.” Adam’s left eyebrow rose. “Well, some of…” Adam’s eyebrow rose higher. “Okay, I was going to start on the tack room, but you can’t ride a horse with a stone bruise, so I’m late.”
“So, you’re late.” Adam shook his head. “You think that…” Adam’s volume was rising again.
Hoss stepped closer. “Adam, there’s things need tending.”
Adam released a slow breath and stared down at Joe. “Yes, there are, but be assured, little boy, that eventually I shall get to tending to you.”
Suddenly the door opened, and Ben Cartwright strode into the room. “What in blazes is going on!” It was a bellowed demand which immediately began explanations.
Adam, as usual, became spokesman. “Well, to put it bluntly, Pa, it appears we have been robbed.”
“Not looks. House robbed!” Hop Sing’s exclamation ended in a groan, and he buried his head in his arms on the table.
“You’re hurt.” Ben’s concern turned immediately to his friend.
“He’s got a concussion. Don’t look like a real bad one, but we maybe ought to…” Hoss had already volunteered to go for the doctor.
A moaned no came from Hop Sing.
“Dr. Paul’s always saying Hop Sing knows as much about concussions as he does.” Little Joe understood wanting to avoid doctors, and it was true that the Cartwright’s and Hop Sing were well-acquainted with concussions.
“We’ll keep an eye on him before we decide whether or not to send for Paul.” Ben turned back to Adam for further explanation.
Adam delivered a concise story quickly. “I was at the mill, Hoss was collecting cattle, Little Joe was, um, elsewhere, and Hop Sing went into town for some needed supplies. When he returned, the door was open, the house ransacked, and someone came up from behind and hit him over the head resulting in unconsciousness and his concussion. He came around shortly before Hoss and I arrived only minutes apart. We haven’t had time to assess the extent…”
“Much taken. Thief find doughnuts. All gone.”
“Doughnuts?” Ben began to wonder if Hop Sing’s concussion was more serious than they had believed.
“You said at breakfast there weren’t no more doughnuts.” Hoss’s statement carried a question.
“No doughnuts then. Know boys. Hide dough and custard. Fix doughnuts for Mr. Ben before leave. Hide so boys no find.” Hop Sing was wise enough not to shake his head and simply slumped against the table.
Ben did shake his head before giving out orders. “Hoss, help Hop Sing to his bed. Then bring in some ice before you see to the animals and unload the wagon. Adam, help Hoss with the animals then come help me. I’ll start an assessment of what has been taken. It’s too late to do more than that tonight. Little Joe…”
“Yes, Pa?”
“You have perhaps the most important job of all. You are to watch over Hop Sing. You know the signs to look out for?”
Little Joe looked affronted at the question. “Of course, I do. I’ve known ‘em since I was five.”
Ben exchanged a slight smile with his elder sons. Little Joe’s statement was almost literally true. “Good then. We’ll leave him in your hands.”
‘Supper.” The weak exclamation from Hop Sing reminded Ben that none of them would have eaten yet.
“We’ll see to supper. It will be fine.” Ben reassured the cook as his sons rolled their eyes behind his back. The fact that Hop Sing made no further protest was a sign of how ill he felt.
“Come on, Hop Sing. I can…” Hoss reached toward the smaller man.
“No carry!”
“Fine but ya lean on me and I’ll see ya don’t walk into any walls.” Hoss’s arm went around the cook’s waist and gently guided him away. Little Joe followed in their wake.
Upon entering his room, Hop Sing let out sharp wail.
“What? What’s wrong?” Hoss’s hold tightened.
“Hop Sing! What? Hoss help him!” Little Joe’s previous control shredded.
Hoss picked up Hop Sing and gently set him on his bed. “We better…”
“No!” Hop Sing managed a note of authority. He pointed toward a broken box on the floor. “Money gone. Thief take money for when I go back China.” He slumped against the pillows.
“Now, don’t you give that no never mind.” Hoss soothed softly.
“Never mind three hundred dollars!” This time Hop Sing forgot to keep his head still, and his Chinese mutters were lost to groans.
“Don’t worry. We’ll see to things. Just rest now.” Hoss’s voice remained soft, and his hands gently settled Hop Sing more comfortably on the bed.
Little Joe’s eyes had grown wide at the amount, but he leaned over and spoke as softly as Hoss. “You’re more important than any old money, Hop Sing. Just you settle and get better.”
After Hoss left, Little Joe filled the role of nurse quite competently. Hop Sing relaxed into a light sleep, and Joe quietly straightened any sign of disturbance caused by the thief. The room had been Hop Sing’s for as long as Little Joe could remember, and all the Cartwrights respected his privacy. In fact, Little Joe had entered Hop Sing’s room surreptitiously far fewer times than Adam’s or even his pa’s. Joe knew less about the room and its belongings than any other place in or around the ranch house, so he could not be sure if anything besides Hop Sing’s three hundred dollars was missing. Little Joe sat down next to the bed and studied the sleeping face before him. Hop Sing’s statement that the money was for “when I go back China” echoed in his head.
He heard the door open and watched Adam walk over to the bed.
“He’s sleeping.” Joe’s faint whisper admonished his brother not to disturb Hop Sing in any way.
Adam replied just as softly. “Is there any sign that…”
“Nah. I woke him and checked and he was thinking straight. Checked his eyes too. He went back to sleep about five minutes ago.”
Adam’s eyes had assessed the situation, and he patted his little brother’s shoulder. “Good, good. You can come eat some supper then.”
“I can eat in…”
“Come eat. He’ll be fine, and you can check him out when you return.”
“But…”
“We’ll leave the door open some, so we’ll hear if he calls.” Adam’s hand tugged Joe’s arm and pulled him to his feet.
“Okay.” Joe followed his brother into the small hall. He stopped and looked Adam in the eye. “He’ll be okay, won’t he?”
It was a request for reassurance, and Adam used his most confident tone. “I truly think he will. Nothing indicates that he won’t be back to normal in a few days. He just needs rest and care, and we’ll see he gets plenty of both.” Adam smiled. “It’s only fair after all the care he’s given us.”
“Yeah. Uh, do you think my not being here, not getting here faster…” Little Joe’s voice faded.
“No, I don’t think any of that has a bearing on Hop Sing’s health, and I’m sure he’s glad you weren’t here or anywhere near that thief. Pa, Hoss, and I are.” Admonishment entered Adam’s voice. “It was still wrong what you did. Such disobedience and deceit are always wrong.”
“I know.” Joe looked up at his brother through lowered lashes. “You didn’t tell Pa.”
“Didn’t I tell you that I’d be tending to you?” Adam’s arms crossed his chest. “I shall you know.”
Little Joe’s eyes dropped to the floor, and his stomach dropped with it. “I know.”
Adam’s arms fell to his sides. “For now, we best not make ourselves any later to table than we are.”
Little Joe walked into the kitchen and saw that the Cartwrights were indeed having a cold supper. A platter of sandwiches and the contents of about a dozen jars of Hop Sing’s pickled and preserved produce filled the middle of the table. Actually, Little Joe was glad that his father and brothers had not attempted anything more ambitious.
Everyone sat down at the kitchen table, said grace, and began filing their plates with individual favorites.
“We could eat quite well for a month just from Hop Sing’s pantry.” Adam’s observation elicited three nods.
“Well, we could if Hoss took a trip for a week or two.” Little Joe smirked at Hoss’s snort.
Ben sent a look to his sons that prevented escalation of the teasing and steered the conversation to serious matters. “I’ll go in and speak to Roy Coffee in the morning. Adam, you and Hoss can check for any sign of which direction the thief may have gone. Maybe, we can pick up his trail.”
“By following the doughnut crumbs perhaps?” The corner of Adams lips curled upward only slightly.
“Nah, the birds ain’t gonna have left anything that fine lying around.” Hoss frowned. The thief taking Hop Sing’s doughnuts was a true affront to decency.
“Is there lots missing, Pa?” Little Joe reached for a second helping of pickled beets.
“Actually, yes. Quite an assortment, but the safe did its job, and the only money gone is Hop Sing’s.”
“That’s a blessing. There was over two thousand dollars in the safe.” Adam frowned at what could have been a major financial loss.
“And a stack of bearer bonds.” Ben shook his head. “Though I’ve a feeling this thief might not have recognized their value if he had found them.” Ben wiped his mouth and turned to pick up a paper from the sideboard. “I want each of you to look over the list and see if you can spot anything else that may be may be missing. Ben passed the paper to Adam who scanned it for a second time. He shook his head and handed it to Hoss. Hoss read it more slowly. “I can’t think of nothing else.” He handed the paper to Joe with no expectation that he would be adding to the list.
Joe read down the sheet carefully, noting the variety of missing items both valuable and not. “Hop Sing’s cleaver ain’t here.”
Ben’s eyes swept the kitchen. “No, it’s not. Why would a thief take a cleaver?”
Hoss shrugged, and Adam rubbed his chin. “It could be useful. Hop Sing keeps it sharper than a razor. It could even be used as a weapon.”
“The carving knife would make more sense unless… Hoss pushed away the thought that the thief may have grabbed the cleaver because it was at hand when Hop Sing returned home.
Little Joe’s next remark veered attention from the missing cleaver. “A saddlebag? I thought he only took things from the house.” Hoss cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. Joe’s brow furrowed. “Whose saddlebag was in the house?”
“I believe the cat is about to slip out of the bag. Might as well tell him, Hoss.” Adam gave Hoss an it-is-what-it is look.
Hoss sighed. “Well, it was meant to be yourn.”
“Mine?’
“Yours, Joseph.” Ben had already heard an explanation about the saddlebag.
“See, I saw a real fine saddlebag down in Sacramento last time me and Adam was there. High-quality leather- dark and butter soft- with some mighty fine hand tooling. Right size for a young’un, so I bought it for you, Joe, for your birthday.
Little Joe was silent for a moment and then gasped. “The tooling was a mountain scene and then pine trees around the edges.”
Adam’s attention went completely to Little Joe. “How did you know?”
“I saw it on the way home.”
“Explain.” Ben’s command launched Little Joe immediately into an explanation.
“It was just after I had to start walking. I heard a horse coming and…” Joe paused, looked at Adam and then his pa, swallowed and continued. “I thought… well, if it was maybe Adam, or Hoss, or even a hand that might mention seeing me… well, I slipped into some bushes. A rider came down to the creek right near me and went to filling his canteen. Adam’s always telling me I should be more cautious about strangers when I’m alone, and nobody knew where I…, well, anyway I stayed still and just watched until he rode away. I noticed his saddlebag though, I guess, ‘cause it was real fine and none of his other traps were. It looked stuffed too.” Joe’s eyes swept around the table. “I kinda forgot about the whole thing after I came home.”
“Not surprising, what with worrying about Hop Sing.” Hoss was quick to excuse any lapse on his little brother’s part.
“No one is faulting you, Little Joe, but did you get a good look at his face?” Adam leaned closer.
“Yeah. I ain’t never seen him before; I’m sure I ain’t.”
Ben joined the conversation. “Would you recognize him again?”
“Yeah, Pa, I’m sure I would.”
“You saw which way he rode off?”
“Across the meadow northeast toward Big Bear Cut. That helps, don’t it?”
“It surely does, Joe boy; it surely does. Adam, there’s a line shack that direction near Percy’s pond. Do ya think maybe…”
“It’s possible. It’s secluded enough that he might risk spending the night.” Adam turned toward his father. “Pa, I think it would be worth a try to take a few men and arrive by daylight. It’s possible we could have him in hand without much fuss. If not, we can check for a trail starting around there.”
“It would definitely be worth a try. A couple of other men could go to the creek at first light. Joe can give them some more specifics about exactly where he saw him. They can start searching from there. Then if you find nothing, you can join up with them, and not much time will have been wasted. I’ll go up to the bunkhouse and get things arranged. You and Hoss go on and try to get some sleep. You’ll have to leave in a few hours to be there by daylight.”
“True. We’ll just pick up things here and then head up.”
“Pa, they’ll need me to identify him.” Little Joe was sitting on the edge of his seat.
Ben looked at his twelve-year-old. “Anyone they find should have the evidence with him. If there is any question as to whether someone is the man you saw, you can identify him at the sheriff’s office.”
“But, Pa.”
Ben sent a stern look directly at Little Joe. “You will continue with the job you have been assigned. Am I clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
Adam opened the door and looked into the dimly lit room. Little Joe hopped up from the pallet where he had been lying and darted to his brother.
“Hop Sing still doing well?” Adam kept his voice to a whisper.
“Yeah. I’m checking him regular.”
“You should catch a little sleep then.”
“I’ll get some later. You and Hoss leaving now?”
“Yes.” Adam studied his brother’s face. “You know you can’t…”
“I ain’t planning on sneaking off after ya. I ain’t a complete fool, and I got a job to do.”
Adam smiled. “That you do!”
“Adam, you all will be careful, won’t you?”
“When have you known me to do a job carelessly?”
Little Joe shrugged. “Never, I guess.”
Adam tousled Joe’s hair. “Pa taught me better before you were born, little brother.”
Little Joe gave a weak smile and followed Adam out to the yard. His pa came to stand beside him as they watched the unofficial posse depart.
“That man by the creek. He didn’t look like no bad desperado.”
Ben knew his youngest was seeking reassurance. “They’ll be fine; I’m sure.” He put his arm around the boy. You go back and try to get some sleep.”
“Are you going to head into town now?”
“Not for a bit. Barney’s going to take care of the barn chores, so you just keep tending Hop Sing.”
“Okay. Uh, Pa, uh…” Little Joe chewed the corner of his lip.
“Did I deduce that you disobeyed your brother when you went off yesterday?”
“Well, yeah.”
“I take it Adam has yet to tend to the matter.”
“He said he was going to tend to me after things settled.”
“Then I’ll leave it in his hands. Go on now.”
“Yes, sir.” It flashed across Little Joe’s mind that a slight injury to his elder brother’s right arm might not be so bad.
“I think it’s right.” Little Joe carefully handed the cup to Hop Sing who was sitting up against a pile of pillows.” Hop Sing had taught Little Joe how to properly brew tea years before and had managed to provide him with instructions as to what ingredients to add to combat nausea.
“You follow instructions. Is right.” Taking sip, Hop Sing smiled.
“You’re doing better.” Little Joe relaxed.
“Hop Sing be fine. Tomorrow…”
“No!” Little Joe drew in a deep breath at his own audacity but continued. “You’ve got to stay in bed until you’re really well. Pa’s gonna bring back Hop Shu to help out until you are.” Hop Sing had trained his cousin in Cartwright care for the rare times when he was incapacitated. Hop Sing snorted. “You’ve got to let us take care of you, please.”
“You taking good care.” Hop Sing sipped the rest of the tea and handed the empty cup to the boy. “Boy worry too much. Hit on head little thing.” Hop Sing managed a shrug without moaning.
Little Joe declined to argue. He chewed his lip. “I’m worried about something else too.”
“What worry?”
“Something you said.” Little Joe sighed. “You said the money was for when you went home to China, and you saved three hundred dollars.”
“Save yes; have now no.”
“But Adam and Hoss are getting it back for you.” Hop Sing heard the surety of Joe’s belief.
“Father tell be careful?” Little Joe nodded. “No want money if get boys hurt.”
Joe sighed. “I don’t know if I want you to get it if they’re not hurt.”
“Why no want Hop Sing have money?”
“I don’t want you to go, Hop Sing, never!” Little Joe’s statement was vehement.
“You worry Hop Sing plan go? Silly boy, no plan go.”
“But you said ‘when I go back China’… you saved…”
“Not for plan to go. For know could go.” Little Joe simply looked puzzled. “If have no money for fare, no can go home for no reason. Then have to stay; no choice. Not free to go. Like prison. Have money means have choice. Free to go. Stay because choose stay. Understand?”
“I think so. It stands for your freedom. Like when Adam talks about symbols and such.”
“Yes, mean freedom not mean want to go.”
Little Joe’s smile lit his face. “Okay then! Uh, Hop Sing, you know if you really did need money for anything even… well, Pa would give you what you needed.”
“Know.” Hop Sing managed a full smile. “That part reason no want to go.”
The sound of horses entering the yard drew their attention. Little Joe stood but paused.
“Go. Find out and come tell.”
Little Joe ran into the yard. He saw that his father and brothers had returned together, bringing Hop Shu and Doc Martin.
“Is everything…”
“Everything’s fine!” Ben was quick to reassure his son.
“He was where we thought, weren’t he, Adam? Didn’t have no trouble with him at all.”
“He’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he did have sense enough to know five-to-one was a losing bet.” Adam swung down and handed Sport’s reins to Barney, who had come out of the barn to take care of the horses. “He is currently residing in Roy’s jail. We brought everything he took back with us except Hop Sing’s money- which is being held for evidence- and some food, including the doughnuts which he ate.”
“Durn him!” Hoss’s mutter was low in volume but full of resentment.
Hop Shu entered the conversation. “Cousin doing well?”
“Yea, he’s getting better, I think.” Joe turned to address the doctor, glad that they would have a real medical evaluation of Hop Sing’s health. “But, Doctor Paul, you’re gonna have to be real firm and tell him he can’t get up tomorrow. He’s as stubborn as the rest of us.”
“Then I best get to the sick room.” Paul Martin looked at Ben. “I can find my own way. I’ll speak to you before I leave.”
Hop Shu addressed Ben. “I go with doctor and see cousin. Get instructions. Then fix everyone good dinner.”
“Thank you, Hop Shu.” Ben slipped his arm around Little Joe. “Hop Sing will be in good hands. You can help put things away.”
Together the Cartwrights entered their home and began putting recovered items into their proper places.
Little Joe looked at Hoss. “Hoss, can I have my birthday present early? I mean, well, since I’ve seen it already. It really is fine!”
Hoss sighed. “I suppose, but it will be the first piece of tack you’ll need to be cleaning. We don’t want the blood…”
“Blood! Who’s hurt?” Little Joe’s voice held a fearful wail.
Hoss had forgotten his little brother had yet to hear the whole story. He gave his father a sheepish look. “Hold on there, Short Shanks. No need to get into a fret. That Jasper Pruitt- that’s the thief’s name- well, he managed to slice his hand open on Hop Sing’s cleaver. That’s why he was gonna hold up in the line shack for a couple of days.”
“Serve’s him right.” Little Joe’s judgmental tone gave his opinion of one Jasper Pruitt. “He hurt Hop Sing.”
“Well, he won’t be hurting anyone else any time soon. I’d be surprised if he didn’t plead guilty as soon as he goes before the judge.”
“He probably will, Pa.” Adam added his agreement to his father’s observation.
“Then I won’t get to testify?” Joe’s disappointment was clear.
“We’ll have to see. You may attend the trial either way.”
“Okay.”
The Cartwrights all turned to watch the doctor enter the room. Paul Martin smiled. “I concur with your assessment. Hop Sing should be back to normal in a few days. I told him to rest for at least more three days. See if you can manage to see that he does for at least two.”
“We will do whatever is necessary.” Ben’s statement held a tone of surety.
“Can I sit on him to keep him down? I know we can’t let Hoss, but I shouldn’t hurt him.”
“Joseph!” Ben’s admonishment drowned Hoss’s snort and the doctor’s laughter.
After everyone, including Doctor Martin, had enjoyed Hop Shu’s culinary efforts and some relaxed conversation, the doctor rose and announced his immediate departure.
Little Joe looked at his father. “Pa, may I be excused?”
Before Ben could answer, Adam cleared his throat. “I need to speak to you in my room, Joe.”
“Oh.” Little Joe looked first at his father. Ben nodded. Joe’s chin dropped. “Okay.” He trudged up the stairs, Adam following behind.
Adam closed his bedroom door and leaned against it, studying the boy standing in the middle of the room. “Sit down.”
Little Joe perched on the edge of the bed. “Um, Adam, umm, well, I just… I mean I know what I did was wrong, and really I’m sorry; I am, but…” Little Joe looked up at Adam. “I…I just really don’t want a lickin’.”
“I can’t say I ever did.”
Little Joe’s eyes widened; it was not what he had expected his elder brother to say. The statement also held none of the anger Joe had anticipated. “You’re not mad.”
“No, I’m not, but this is not about me being mad. It’s never about me being angry.”
“I know. I know you don’t… you’ve never just lost your temper, even when ya had good reason.”
“You’re my little brother, Joseph. I would never… just because I’m older, stronger, I would never…”
“I know, but you know I’m not only your baby brother, am just your brother too.” Joe sighed. “And brothers, well, sometimes brothers, like you and Hoss, well, even when you’re in charge, it’s different between you and Hoss.”
“How?”
“Sometimes brothers can make, well, make a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“Like maybe one where I give you something, and you don’t give me a lickin’.”
“That sounds more like bribery to me.” Adam’s voice was still calm and even.
“Deal, bribery, whatever.” Little Joe gave a small shrug but still managed to maintain a degree of respect.
“I have substantially more money than you, so with what would you bribe me?”
Little Joe drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly before he smiled. “Doughnuts. Hop Sing’s powder-covered, custard-filled doughnuts.” Adam’s left hand came up and tugged his right ear. “He told me he was gonna make a big batch soon as he was feeling well. Three dozen! He said he’d make three dozen. My share would be nine. I’ll let ya have all nine if ya don’t give me a lickin’ for being disobedient and deceitful. You did say my being away from the robbery was a good thing.”
“Um.” Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“I listened about being careful of strangers.”
“That you did.”
“I’ll get the tack room looking fine as the preacher’s parlor.”
“That’s a given.” Little Joe held his breath. “I’ll collect, Joe. Every last crumb.”
“I don’t expect no less.”
Adam held out is hand. “Deal!”
“Deal!” Little Joe grinned. I bet I can get Hoss to give me a couple of his. Well, at least one.
The End
A/N: Written for the 2026 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament. The words/phrases dealt to me were:
- Cleaver
- Hard keeper (requires a lot of calories to stay healthy)
- Pawing (horse is frustrated)
- Saddlebag
- Thief
- “I go back China”
I also was dealt a JOKER and thus used all seven cards dealt.
What a fun story! Joe certainly knows how to get what he wants and weasel out of whatever he doesn’t want. Lol. Those donuts sound delicious though!
This was a real nice family story and I am glad Hop Sing was inluded. I love Hop Sing to each member in this family. Adding one of Hop Sings family was a nice touh. The boys haggling over the Donuts was fun to read. Thanks
I’ve always viewed Hop Sing as part of the Cartwrights and was glad that my poker hand led to a story that shows him as part of the family. Thank you for letting me know that you agree and enjoyed this tale! DJK :>)
PS: I also would have been haggling for a share of those donuts!
What a cute use of the dealt cards! I like a fun, light-hearted Cartwright prequel and this fit the bit to a T. Many thanks.
This is a delightful story full of twists and turns, and wonderful family dynamics. Hop Sing has a unique and special relationship with each Cartwright. And we know who rules not just the kitchen but the entire household. ;-D I’d be scheming too to get my hands on some of those doughnuts; curses to the one who would dare steal them! Well done on using your cards and giving us a fun story.
I loved this story, all the elements came together into a perfect blend of drama and humor with an abundance of family, including Hop Sing.
Oh the “injustice” of no doughnuts for Joe before supper! 🤣 Joe may be a master manipulator but it sounds like the custard-filled doughnuts motivate all 3 sons to conspire in getting this special treat. And maybe Hop Sing knows how to pull the strings better than anyone born to the name Cartwright. Of course Joe has the most experience with watching for signs of a concussion. 😉 This was a treat of a story!
Thank you for contributing a story to this year’s tournament!
I loved how ‘literal’ Hop Sing took the other’s statements. And the moments between him and the family were heartwarming.
Very nice, light-hearted story. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Who doesn’t love doughnuts? (Or donuts, if you’re a Dunkin’ fan.) I usually shy away from the custard filled kind, but in this case I’ll make an exception. It’s nice to see a story where Hop Sing is more than just a sideline character. The family dynamics are just what readers expect, and fans of younger Cartwrights especially should enjoy this one. 🙂 Thanks for writing!
I enjoyed this prequel with its emphasis on the relationship between Hop Sing and the Cartwrights. I’ve always thought Hop Sing deserved more screen time. I also was glad to indulge in Hop Sing’s culinary delights virtually without any unneeded calories. The PPPT challenge always leads to stories that would never be written without the poker hands, for which I am very grateful.
Such a delightful story! Everyone was pitch perfect and it was such a treat (sweet treat even) to have Hop Sing and his relationship to the family be highlighted. Wonderful job. Thank you for writing and sharing!
Loved this “sweet” story that showed how intricate Hop Sing was to all the family.
And I was doing so good staying away from sugar … but now I’m rumaging through my cupboard to find a sweet morsel to satisfy my craving. Loved this peek into family dynamics and how firm, consistent, and fair Ben and Adam are in not only disciplining Joe but helping him understand the concepts. Thanks for participating in the tournament.
Such dramatic twists and turns, starting just from a plate of doughnuts! I love the fierce competition between the brothers for Hop Sing’s baked goods – so in character, and surely they’re well worth it!
Good story. What starts out as a funny scene between Little Joe and Hop Sing turns into a neat little mystery that kept me guessing. As a doughnut loving gal myself, I really enjoyed reading this story.
What a delightful story! I know I would want to try one of Hop Sing’s doughnuts myself, haha. I absolutely adore the way you wrote Joe and Hop Sing’s relationship in this story. Nicely done.