Summary: A short WHN for Hoss’s loss of Margie.
Rating: K+ Word Count: 694
He Would Have
Setting his beer on the table, Adam watched his youngest brother walk through the batwing doors of the saloon. He raised his hand, and Little Joe walked quickly over.
“Where’s Hoss?” Adam inquired as Joe took a seat and signaled the barkeep to send over a beer.
“He went on home.”
“Home? Hoss declined the offer of a cold beer to ride home alone?”
“Don’t expect that he’ll head straight home.” Little Joe shifted uncomfortably.
“What happened?” Adam demanded.
A pretty girl in a spangled red dress set a beer on the table in front of Little Joe without receiving even a passing glance. The line on Adam’s brow deepened.
“We saw Margie’s little girl. She was with her grandfather,” Little Joe stated in a carefully toneless voice.
“Oh.” The syllable clearly expressed Adam’s understanding of the situation.
Little Joe took a swig of his beer and then observed, “She a pretty little thing, sweet as sugar. She offered me a lick of her candy.” A smile flickered briefly on Joe’s lips.
“Her grandfather spoils her rotten; everyone says so.” Adam tugged his left ear, and then let an expletive slip from his lips.
Little Joe nodded. “He truly loved her. How could she throw him away for a man like that?”
Adam shrugged as memories swirled through both their minds. Margie had agreed to marry Hoss, but a newcomer to Virginia City had dazzled the girl with stories of adventure in faraway places, and she had broken the engagement before it had been announced to anyone beyond the family. “Even fool’s gold as its allure.”
“He’s never said much about it.” After Margie had told Hoss she could not marry him, their brother had retreated into the mountains for months. It was the longest separation Hoss had ever had from his family. When he returned, he had simply avoided any discussion of his broken engagement. Little Joe had prodded him in vain.
“What did you expect him to say?” Adam reached for his own beer.
“A good string of curses might have helped,” Little Joe replied adamantly.
Adam gave his brother a wry grin. “Our brother doesn’t curse where Pa can hear or me either, actually.”
“He could have cursed to me!”
“Hoss wouldn’t soil our baby brother’s innocent little ears,” Adam teased, and then his tone grew serious again. “It’s not his way, Joe.”
“No, it’s not. He forgave her.” The fact the Little Joe felt the forgiveness undeserved was quite evident.
“Hoss can forgive anyone he loves anything.” Adam’s voice held warm confidence.
“He would have married her; he would have raised that child as his own.” Margie’s husband had been revealed as an abusive scoundrel, and Margie’s father had sent Hoss to bring Margie home. Instead, Margie had died in childbirth, and Hoss had brought home only her little girl.
Adam nodded in agreement. “He would have made her a good husband.” The brother’s exchanged a glance that stated the undoubted assurance that Hoss would have been able to protect both Margie and her child from even the most vicious of the town snobs and gossips.
“He would have made an even better father,” Little Joe added.
The brothers drank the rest of their beer in silence with images of Hoss and Margie and of Hoss and the baby slipping through both minds.
Setting down his empty glass, Little Joe sighed. “Scar ain’t healed yet.”
“Obviously.” It was a bitter observation. Adam rubbed the green felt of the table covering and watched the imprint fade as he said, “Brother Hoss must have let a hundred wild things go over the years, but he can tell you the name of each one. His hands let go, but his heart never does.”
Little Joe agreed silently as the two men rose to leave. When they arrived home, Adam told Hop Sing to make Hoss’s favorite desert while Little Joe decided to let Hoss win their next game of checkers. That night Hoss arrived late for supper with an injured raccoon in his hands. He named him Bandito.
Tags: Adam Cartwright, brothers, Family, Hoss Cartwright, Joe / Little Joe Cartwright
The two brothers helping the third through the pain without him even knowing it. That’s what makes them so special. Lovely little tale.
Thank you so much for the sweet response. I agree that is what makes them special. DJK :>)
Hoss *would* have made a fantastic husband and father. But, I don’t think he and Margie would have suited. Before, definitely not … and after, I think she would have appreciated his stability and kindness — maybe even grown to love him — but would always have wished for some undefinable ‘more’. It’s not her fault, and it doesn’t make her bad or ungrateful. They just were never really compatible.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. And it’s good of his brothers to try to help him with it all…. It’s what family is for.
Thanks for writing!
Sorry illness has kept me from responding promptly. I agree that Margie may not have been the best match for Hoss, but that he would have been a good husband to her and a great father to her child. Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. DJK :>)
Really loved this story. It was an episode I would have changed if I could of. Hoss would have made an awesome father. Great job!
I always felt this episode was terribly sad and definitely no happy ending. Thank you for your comments. DJK :>)
Such a touching conversation between the brothers. You can feel the emotion come through.
Thank you for letting me know you thought this story successful in that way. It is very encouraging DJK :>)
Nice story. Yes, Hoss could forgive anyone he loved. He was happiest having someone or something to look after, guess Bandito will have to do for now.
It always seemed to me that Hoss had that most admirable quality of forgiveness in abundance. Thank you kindly for you your response. DJK :>)
Poor Hoss!!! If there was one episode I would change would be that one!! I would have Hoss keep the baby girl and raise her!! Your writing is spot on to each of the Cartwright’s. THANKS SO MUCH for this short story!!!
I too would have loved to see Hoss raising the little girl, but, alas, it was not to be, at least not in canon. Now, in fanfic that is another matter. Thank you so much for your response.
“His hands let go, but his heart never does”–that just says it all. I loved this short piece. The dialogue between Adam and Joe is perfect in tone, each characterized exactly as those who love them would see them. Well done!
I somehow managed to miss replying to your post and just now discovered it. I beg your pardon and always appreciate your comments and encouragement! DJK :>)
Truly one of the saddest episodes of all time. So much lost with one dreamy-eyed woman’s most tragic of mistakes. Yes, Hoss would have been a perfect husband and father. If any episode deserves a WHI, it’s that one.
Thank you for this wonderfully well written WHN.
I too feel that it is one of the truly sad episodes. Thank you for letting me know you appreciated my little WHN. DJK :>)
Yes, he would have.
A wonderful story surrounding the love of brothers and the love for brothers.
Thank you so much for your kind response. I appreciate it very much. DJK :>)
Sorry, I meant to write, very true to Hoss’s character. By the way, we used to be able to edit our typo’s. Could we have this feature back? Thanks.
Thank you again. DJK :>)
Very sweet short story about love and forgiveness. Very true to losses character.
Thank you so much for the kind comments. I appreciate them so much. DJK :>)