{"id":11839,"date":"2015-09-30T01:28:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-30T05:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11839"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:10:45","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:10:45","slug":"do-as-i-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11839","title":{"rendered":"Do as I Say (by frasrgrl)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 Ben has always tried to teach by example, tried to get it through to his sons how he expects them to act. But do they ever listen? A 2015 Camp in the Pines story and a WHN for Quality of Mercy.\u00a0 Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (1,255 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Do as I Say<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wave after wave of unrelenting heat rose from the sun scorched streets of Virginia City, making the day even more unbearable. The Cartwrights emerged from the courthouse with the rest of the town; the trial of the year had just taken place and the guilty party sentenced, now it was time for the family, and town, to move forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you boys head over to the Silver Dollar and see if Cosmo has any cold beer.\u201d Ben directed his suggestion at all three of his sons, but his eyes were fixed on his youngest. \u201cI\u2019ll meet you there when I\u2019m done at the bank.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Adam and Hoss followed their father\u2019s gaze to their forlorn brother. They looked at each other and nodded in understanding. No words were necessary; they knew what they needed to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure thing, Pa, but I can\u2019t promise there\u2019ll be any left for you if it really is cold. Come on Little Joe, I\u2019ll even buy the first round.\u201d Hoss gave a gentle nudge which sent Joe stumbling a few steps forward.<\/p>\n

Ben watched his sons cross the street and make their way to the saloon before he turned and headed in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

Placing a mug a beer in front of each of his brothers Hoss took a seat at the table. \u201cYou\u2019ll never guess what Cosmo just told me,\u201d he paused and watched Joe rotate the glass around in his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you just going to sit there or are you going to tell us?\u201d prodded Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you know Keith, the new barber in town? He done and got hisself hitched the other day. Cosmo said he shut down for lunch and he and Sally Mae went over to old man Jameson\u2019s barn and were married in the loft. He then went right back to work afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder why he didn\u2019t take any time off. After all your wedding day is a big occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was gonna but Frank broke his arm and Keith ended up not only doing his own work, but Frank\u2019s too. You know, a person really can\u2019t cut hair if his arm is in a sling,\u201d explained Joe without even looking up at his brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I\u2019d like to know is why a loft in a barn? That don\u2019t seem like a proper place iffin you ask me,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

Joe finally looked at his brothers and shook his head. \u201cDon\u2019t you two know anything? They were married in Mr. Jameson\u2019s loft cuz it\u2019s where they met.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was they doing in his loft?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

Joe stared at his brother in disbelief for a minute before realization dawned. \u201cThat\u2019s right, you two were in Placerville. They met at the dance Mr. Jameson had for Rebecca\u2019s birthday. Sally Mae was sittin\u2019 up there just watchin\u2019 everythin\u2019 when Keith joined her and they got to talkin\u2019. Next thing anyone kno\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill you look who we got here, boys. It\u2019s the man who turns his friend in for murder,\u201d announced Tim Reynolds from the table next to the Cartwright brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave it alone, Reynolds,\u201d warned Joe, not taking his eyes off his beer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter Little Joe? You upset because the judge didn\u2019t sentenced Seth to prison instead of hanging him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI said to leave it alone.\u201d The only indications of Joe\u2019s rising anger were the white knuckled grip he had on his mug and his ragged breathing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen\u2019s Sarah comin\u2019 home? You gonna start courtin\u2019 her now that Seth out of the picture?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe was out of his chair and swinging before anyone knew what was happening. His first punch caught Tim square in the nose sending the man flying backwards across the table.<\/p>\n

Glaring at Joe, he wiped the blood from his face and slowly pushed himself to his feet. \u201cYou\u2019re going to pay for that Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe easily ducked the punch aimed for his head and planted one of his own in the man\u2019s midsection.<\/p>\n

\u201cJOSEPH CARTWRIGHT!\u201d Ben bellowed when he walked through the doors of the Bucket of Blood and saw his son standing in the middle of the saloon. Joe\u2019s right hand curled into Reynold\u2019s shirt; his left pulled back, cocked and ready to fire right into the man\u2019s face.
\nJoe stopped in mid-swing upon hearing his name shouted from the front of the saloon. \u201cPa?\u201d he squeaked.<\/p>\n

The moment of hesitation was what the other man needed. He wrenched free of Joe\u2019s grip, pulled back his right hand and landed a solid punch to Joe\u2019s midsection.<\/p>\n

Ben winced when he saw his son double over and drop to his knees as every breath in his body was expelled in a loud \u2018whoosh\u2019. Joe curled in on himself, trying to breathe again.<\/p>\n

Hoss grabbed the other man by the shoulder and spun him around just when he was about to plant his boot into Joe\u2019s ribs. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t do iffin I was you.\u201d<\/p>\n

In one fluid motion Hoss pushed the man away and pulled his younger brother up and into a chair. \u201cYou okay, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Still gasping for breath, Joe nodded and choked out his standard, \u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head in frustration and glared at his youngest son \u201cWhat am I always telling you, Young Man?\u201d<\/p>\n

Glancing up at his father through watery eyes and still gasping for air to fill his depleted lungs, Joe gave the answer he knew his father expected. \u201cNo son\u2026 of mine is\u2026 going to be\u2026 brawling\u2026 in the sa-saloons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what do you call this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, brawling?\u201d Joe gasped.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen will you ever learn to do what I tell you?\u201d Ben grumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy you no good, stinking Cartwright pup!\u201d The man yelled as he went after Joe again.<\/p>\n

Ben caught Reynolds by the arm before he could reach Joe and delivered a right hook to the man\u2019s face sending him to the floor. Tim Reynolds scrambled back to his feet and caught Ben on the cheek with his fist. Ben delivered a well-timed punch to the man\u2019s stomach as payment for the one to Joes, and then delivered a solid fist to his face as added interest. The man went down and didn\u2019t get back up.<\/p>\n

Tuning back to his sons, Ben saw the broad smiles on their faces and knew what was coming.<\/p>\n

Joe looked at Hoss, who nodded at him, before looking at his father again. \u201cYes, Sir, Pa. I\u2019ll be sure to do as you say from now on,\u201d Joe paused for dramatic effect and waved his hand towards the man on the floor. \u201cAnd surely not as you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe started laughing his distinctive high pitched laugh while holding onto his sides. Hoss\u2019 booming laughter, along with Adam\u2019s smooth baritone joined in.<\/p>\n

Ben grimaced and turned away. He knew he\u2019d never live this down. \u201cI never knew I raised a pack of hyenas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walking out of the saloon he could hear his boys laughing even harder, and smiled. If it took him doing something foolish to get Joe to not only smile again, but to laugh then it was well worth it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

Special camp challenges are:<\/p>\n

Go Fish word: Sling<\/em><\/p>\n

The 4 Ws\u00a0(Who, What, Where, When)<\/p>\n

The barber got married in the loft after lunch.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, Hoss Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 Ben has always tried to teach by example, tried to get it through to his sons how he expects them to act. But do they ever listen? A 2015 Camp in the Pines story and a WHN for Quality of Mercy.\u00a0 Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (1,255 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":9765,"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_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,13],"tags":[120],"class_list":["post-11839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-whn","tag-citp","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-13-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe-pa.jpg?fit=640%2C514&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/87"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11839"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11839\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}