{"id":10411,"date":"2015-02-17T11:09:20","date_gmt":"2015-02-17T16:09:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10411"},"modified":"2026-03-10T11:52:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T15:52:41","slug":"sage-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10411","title":{"rendered":"Sage Advice (by BluewindFarm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>: Joe should have remembered his older brother’s advice, when he learns a lesson on how easy it is for women to be his downfall.\u00a0 (A Chaps & Spurs inspired short story.)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating<\/strong>:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (950 words)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SAGE ADVICE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cHe told me. I know he did. Something like, \u2018Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.\u2019 Isn\u2019t that what he told me? Why didn\u2019t I keep quiet?\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Joe Cartwright, all of fifteen years old, sat on the bunk and waited; wondering when his Pa was going to come and how he was going to explain it all. He couldn\u2019t hide the fact that his left eye was beginning to swell shut, nor could he hide the colorful bruise appearing around his cheek bone. His stomach ached, and grew queasy as he thought about the supper Hop Sing was sure to be cooking. Right now, the only thing he had to be thankful for was the fact that Doctor Martin has stated he didn\u2019t feel there was any serious damage inflicted.<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Earlier, the question had been asked and before he was aware, the answer was tumbling out of his mouth. Mitch Devlin and Seth Pruitt stood to the side, mouths gaping open and closed like trout in a stream.<\/span><\/p>\n

The punch had come without warning, fast and furious. His head snapped to the right while stars and pinpoints of light invaded his vision. Struggling to keep to his feet, his arms windmilled around until his back connected with a tree and he slid to the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

High-pitched, angry words were hurled beyond his grasp to comprehend as the crowd gathered. Colorful skirts swished just outside the periphery of his line of sight. Someone stood in front of his assailant, hopefully restraining them. The conversation flew between the two, too fast for Joe to understand their meaning above the buzzing in his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

A hand reached forward, grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled him to his feet, almost. His toes barely touched the ground as a second voice assaulted his senses and another punch landed in his abdomen, forcing his breath out with a whoosh. <\/span><\/p>\n

No one heard the thud of his body impacting the ground over the shouts of Roy Coffee attempting to break up the fight. With difficulty, Joe grasped the lawman\u2019s words in hopes of staving off the darkness that threatened.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBreak it up! You kids, go on home! School\u2019s over for the day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I ever!\u201d Jethro Warton declared before striking out with his foot, catching his downed opponent on the back of the thigh.<\/span><\/p>\n

The lawman made his way through the gathering of young people, looking to find those responsible. No one answered his request, \u201cWho started this fight?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Away from the group, Jethro grabbed the arm of his little sister, Emily, and began to drag her home. Several blocks from the schoolhouse, Emily regained her composure and pulled her arm from her brother\u2019s hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow dare you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow dare I what? I defended your honor! I heard what that Cartwright said!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou had no right!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou best be thankful Pa ain\u2019t the one who heard what he said. Get home, girl!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/span><\/p>\n

Roy Coffee had sent word to the Ponderosa that Joe was delayed in town, and that it would be best that someone come for the boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The front office door opened and Roy announced, \u201cHe\u2019s going to be okay. Got a colorful shiner and is a might sore, maybe a slight concussion. Doc said put him to bed tonight and he\u2019d be okay tomorrow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There was no answer other than the jingle of keys to the cells.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou locked him up?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Adam\u2019<\/em> Joe identified the voice, surprised there was no anger.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The two continued their conversation while standing on the other side of the closed doors that separated the jail from the office.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, just pushed the door closed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Jones said something about seeing Jethro Warton throw a punch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, he\u2019s Hoss\u2019 age. Why would he\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t know. Joe wouldn\u2019t tell.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs Jethro in jail for assaulting Joe? I\u2019m sure Pa would want to press charges.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJethro didn\u2019t throw the first punch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe threw the first punch?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure. No one would say.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/span><\/p>\n

Halfway home his throbbing aches lessened as they transitioned the horses to a walk. An exasperated Adam realized it wasn\u2019t fair to his little brother to keep the pace he\u2019d set to get them out of town.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCare to talk about it, buddy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI should have remembered what you said. You know, silence is golden.\u201d Joe\u2019s arm hung loosely around his stomach.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPardon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEmily Warton came up and kissed me.\u201d Embarrassed, Joe turned away from his brother\u2019s questioning eyes. \u201cShe asked me if I liked it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, she\u2019s a year older than me and she\u2019s got four older brothers. Do you think I\u2019m going to tell her yes?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it was the truth,\u201d Adam suggested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd be forced into a shotgun wedding later. No thank you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The brothers continued to ride quietly.\u00a0 Adam grew curious about how the sweet and demure Emily Warton could be so brazen as to kiss a boy, especially one that was younger than she. Adam knew his brother was a good-looking kid, and he used it to his advantage at times. But there was no way his little brother could be serious about the fairer sex, not yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Five minutes later, Adam asked, \u201cSo, what did you tell her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told her it wasn\u2019t as good as Sissy\u2019s.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSissy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, from over at the\u2026 uh\u2026 uh\u2026\u201d Joe had the good grace to blush.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat Sissy?! Oh, brother.\u201d Adam knew who meted out the first punch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe sure does kiss nice.\u201d Joe smiled and pushed his hat back, his aches and pains all but forgotten in the memory of Sissy\u2019s kiss.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0~The End<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags: Adam Cartwright, jail \/ jailed, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: Joe should have remembered his older brother’s advice, when he learns a lesson on how easy it is for women to be his downfall.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (950 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":9336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1009,39,23,4,30,8,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brothers","category-chaps-spurs","category-drama","category-humor","category-prequels","category-short-stories","category-challenges","wpcat-1009-id","wpcat-39-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-4-id","wpcat-30-id","wpcat-8-id","wpcat-40-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1654,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/casanova-joe-e1409523388544.jpg?fit=410%2C384&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4460,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4460","url_meta":{"origin":10411,"position":0},"title":"The Gift (by JoeC)","author":"JoeC","date":"April 28, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Joe get's a special birthday present Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (553 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe-chaps-21.jpg?fit=314%2C547&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5278,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5278","url_meta":{"origin":10411,"position":1},"title":"The Squirrel Incident (by Born in the USA)","author":"Born in The USA","date":"April 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0With Hoss and Joe away, Adam has to take care of his brother's chores. And gets a little 'surprise' along the way. Rated:\u00a0K+ (640 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2979,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2979","url_meta":{"origin":10411,"position":2},"title":"Captain Joe (by frasrgrl)","author":"frasrgrl","date":"November 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0This story is in response to November's Chaps and Spurs Challenge. Joe on the high seas.\u00a0 Word Count: 546\u00a0\u00a0Rated: K","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosa-lj.jpg?fit=640%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosa-lj.jpg?fit=640%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosa-lj.jpg?fit=640%2C475&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2981,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2981","url_meta":{"origin":10411,"position":3},"title":"Brothers and Mud (by frasrgrl)","author":"frasrgrl","date":"April 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0This is my entry for April's 2013 Chaps & Spurs\/Pinecone Trifecta.A WHIB for Springtime. Have you ever wondered what happened between the brothers making a \"Joe sandwich\" and the mud fight? Well, here's my answer to it. 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