{"id":12933,"date":"2016-01-11T07:01:15","date_gmt":"2016-01-11T12:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12933"},"modified":"2026-07-22T09:40:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T13:40:34","slug":"bed-time-2-before-bed-time-too-by-robin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12933","title":{"rendered":"Bed Time #2 – Before Bed Time Too (by Robin)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Another night and another bed time<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T (6,400 words)<\/p>\n

Bed Time Series<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Before Bed Time<\/a>
\nBefore Bed Time Too<\/a>
\nBed Time 1848<\/a><\/p>\n

Before Bed Time Too<\/strong><\/p>\n

Late Spring, 1845 \u2013 The Ponderosa Ranch, Nevada Territory<\/u><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The adults were in the well-appointed parlor of the Victor home having tea and engaged in a serious discussion. Fifteen-year-old Adam Cartwright pulled his chair up next to the men and was trying to be included. The two younger boys were attempting their best to be polite but as the afternoon dragged on they were increasingly miserable. Hoss squirmed in his chair. Little Joe squirmed more. Pa had told the boys to be on their best behavior<\/p>\n

Mrs. Victor sensed their discomfort and whispered something to Marie. She nodded and Mrs. Victor took Hoss and Little Joe aside. \u201cHoss, my dear, if you want, take Little Joe outside and visit with Lady and her family. Ask the cook for her dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s face lit up. He loved Lady. He had visited the Victor house before with his father and played with the dog. \u201cCome on, little brother, follow me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe couldn\u2019t imagine why a lady and her family would be in the Victor\u2019s yard but he was anxious to be anywhere he didn\u2019t have to sit on a hard chair and be still.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss grinned as he and little Joe walked out of the back door of the Victor house. \u201cLook!\u201d He pointed at Mrs. Victor\u2019s prized terrier and her pups.<\/p>\n

\u201cPuppies!\u201d Little Joe shrieked with delight and started running toward them. \u201cI love puppies!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on, Baby.\u201d Hoss grabbed his brother\u2019s tiny hand before Little Joe launched himself off the back porch to grab a pup. \u201cNow jest go slow, Short Shanks. Let that Mama dog sniff you out and see you ain\u2019t gonna hurt her babies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t hurt them. I just want to play with them.\u201d Little Joe tried to squirm from his brother\u2019s firm grasp.<\/p>\n

\u201cLady don\u2019t know that and she is gonna bite you to protect her babies,\u201d ever-patient Hoss explained. \u201cWalk real slow and let her see you are a friend. Let her sniff at you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss walked slowly with his little brother following his lead. The mother dog growled and eyed the Cartwright boys warily as the pups scampered about. \u201cHi Lady,\u201d Hoss greeted the dog. \u201cHow ya doin\u2019, girl. The dog, sensing his gentleness stopped growling. Hoss let her sniff at him.<\/p>\n

Joe wanted to do just what his brother did \u201cHi Lady,\u201d he repeated. The dog leaped up on his chest and started licking him. He was almost knocked over but bravely stood his ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, Hoss, she is tasting me!\u201d he called. \u201cHelp!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed and gently pulled Lady off his baby brother. \u201cShe smells that food you are holding. Let her have it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe dropped the tin plate of scraps on the ground with a clatter. The dog yipped and started eating. \u201cNow she knows we are friends,\u201d Hoss explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Lady! Meat!\u201d Little Joe bent down and started to poke the chunk of stew meat. The dog growled threateningly.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust don\u2019t touch her food while the mama is eating,\u201d Hoss pulled his brother away before he got bitten. \u201cDog\u2019s don\u2019t want you messing with their food, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know lots about dogs, Hoss,\u201d Joe admired. Hoss knew everything about every animal.<\/p>\n

\u201cA bit,\u201d the bigger boy said modestly. He loved all creatures and naturally had a talent of knowing how to behave near them. Animals seemed to sense his gentle sprit and let him get near and tend them. Hoss was always collecting strays and wounded animals. \u201cMaybe Pa will let us have one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr two? One puppy for you, Hoss, and one for me? Or three puppies! One for Adam too.\u201d That proposition made perfect sense to Little Joe. There were three brothers and they needed three puppies. He was only three years old and couldn\u2019t count higher than three anyway.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see if Pa lets us have one pup first,\u201d Hoss hoped. Ben had told Hoss that these were purebred dogs and too delicate for living on a ranch. They were too high strung for helping herd cattle and not much good for hunting either. With all the wolves and coyotes in the hills, a dog like this would wind up as dinner in no time. Hoss still hoped Pa would change his mind.<\/p>\n

Little Joe already had a plan. \u201cThey can sleep in my bed with me. Pa said I had to stay in my room but he didn\u2019t say I couldn\u2019t have puppies with me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed. \u201cPa don\u2019t like animals in the house and Mama sure won\u2019t want no puppy peeing on her new rugs and chewing on the furniture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Little Joe sighed. Maybe he could bring one home under his coat and no one would ever know? The pups were scampering around the yard chasing each other and Little Joe and Hoss joined them. \u201cWhich doggy do you want, Hoss? I\u2018m going take me one home,\u201d Little Joe piped up Hoss as the boys watched the puppies race around in the Victor yard. \u201cThen we can each have one and no one will know. I can put it under my coat.\u201d The boy held open his tiny jacket that wasn\u2019t big enough to hide a hanky no less a frisky pup.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no, you can\u2019t do that, little brother. That\u2019s stealing. Those are Mrs. Victor\u2019s dogs. You can\u2019t steal a puppy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I want a dog. You want one too, Hoss.\u201d Little Joe pouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you can\u2019t take what ain\u2019t yours to take. And you know what happens to horse thieves? They hang \u2019em. And you won\u2019t go to heaven if you steal anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe swallowed hard, his eyes were wide. He wanted to go to heaven with the angels and the cloud wagons that bumped around the sparkly sky. \u201cDo dogs go to heaven? What about horses? And bugs?\u201d Joe noticed a big black beetle crawling on the ground. Before he could poke at it, one of the puppies growled at the bug and devoured it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYuk! Hoss, that puppy just ate a bug,\u201d Joe gasped. Adam had once caught Little Joe about to eat a honey bee and knocked it from the boy\u2019s hand. Little Joe was sure it would tasted just like candy as it was a honeybee. The older boy explained that he should never eat bugs and Joe promised he wouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Hoss tossed a stick and all the pups raced after it. The two young brothers were enjoying the dogs immensely and soon both boys forgot about Joe\u2019s proposal to filch the pups. The adults sat inside discussing some legal problems Ben had just resolved with Carl J. Duprey over a cattle sale. Every once in a while, Mrs. Victor stood at the window admiring the boys playing with her puppies. She enjoyed watching the Cartwright boys having fun, more than the brothers were enjoying the dogs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The boys and the pups were scrambling around, running wildly in circles kicking up clouds of dust. \u201cHead that one off!\u201c Hoss directed as the smallest one tried to wiggle under the fence. Little Joe pulled off his hat and waved it at the dogs imitating how the cowboys moving the herd.<\/p>\n

\u201cYe haw. Get along from there!\u201d the little boy hollered at the puppy.<\/p>\n

Hoss just leaned over and picked up the squirming pup and kindly faced it toward its mother. He gave it a gentle nudge with a finger \u201cGo to your mama, little pup.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rest of the puppies just ran around in circles wagging their tails happily. The two brothers imitated the energetic dogs. Soon they got winded and fell down breathlessly in a heap. Lying on their backs, they both panted like dogs with their tongues hanging out. The frisky pups kept going. They were so caught up in their running that they even raced right over the boys, much to Joe\u2019s delight.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are they doing, Hoss?\u201d Little Joe watched as the puppies ran in increasingly small circles.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are playing. They are chasing their own tails. They want to see their own tails and keep chasing after it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe had rested long enough to catch his breath and jumped back up and ran is a dizzy circle yipping like the puppies. He ran in spiral until he was too dizzy and too tired to run any more. He finally collapsed in a heap and pillowed his head on his brother\u2019s stomach. Everything was spinning around.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure would like one of them puppies,\u201d Hoss sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe too,\u201d Joe yawned. He cuddled up to Hoss and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n

Hoss yawned and wrapped his arm around his baby brother. The bright spring sun felt warm on his plump cheeks. Suddenly he felt a shadow cross his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no you don\u2019t!\u201d It was Adam. \u201cDon\u2019t let Little Joe fall asleep what ever you do. If he falls asleep now, there is no way he is going to get to bed once we get home. Pa won\u2018t like that one bit.\u201d He scooped Little Joe up off the ground and swung him up in the air. Then he tickled him under the arms and said, \u201cCome on little brother. Let\u2018s go say our goodbyes to Mr. And Mrs. Victor and thank them. You too, Hoss.\u201d\u00a0 Marie insisted on the boys always being well mannered.<\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s eyes lit up. Maybe if he was saying \u201cThank you\u201d, there was some really fine reason for the gesture. Maybe Mrs. Victor was going to give the each of the three Cartwright brothers his very own puppy to take home to the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

All the way back to the Ponderosa, the family struggled to keep Little Joe awake.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t fall asleep, Mon Petite Choux.\u201d Marie jiggled her baby on her lap.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes kept getting heavy and drooped. He couldn\u2019t quite fathom what was going on. First his family kept telling him to go to sleep and stay in bed. Now everyone was ordering him to stay awake.<\/p>\n

\u201cSing everyone,\u201d Ben commanded. \u201cSing a lively song and get Little Joe to sing along as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the next three miles, from the back of the wagon, Adam and Hoss loudly sang every lively song they knew, urging their brother to join in his sweet little voice. \u00a0At some point the boys ran out of songs and Ben led them in a sea chantey and one of his favorite hymns. The wagon rode on and each time Joe sagged Marie jiggled him. \u201cDon\u2019t sleep, Little Joe,\u201d she pleaded.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we shouldn\u2019t sing any more, Mama. Maybe that is what is putting him to sleep,\u201d Hoss suggested. \u201cPlay a game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, play a game.\u201d Marie looked sideways at her husband hoping he would relent and allow the baby to sleep. It was not to be. Ben had that determined intractable look in his dark eyes. Joe had to remain awake.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let Little Joe fall asleep. It is far too late for the boy to take a nap. He is going to be up all night if he does.\u201d Ben flicked the reins on the back of the team urging to move a bit faster.<\/p>\n

Being up all night sounded mighty fine to Little Joe and he closed his eyes and settled into his mother\u2019s warmth. She smelled so nice. His father reached over and gently tapped his finger on the child\u2019s cheek. \u201cDon\u2019t close your eyes, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin, maybe this isn\u2019t a very good idea. The baby is very tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is not a baby, Marie. He\u2019ll be just fine. We are almost home. He\u2018ll have his supper and then go to bed. Not a moment sooner,\u201d Ben argued. There was no way he wanted his youngest son bouncing around from bed to bed all night disrupting the entire family. They all had chores to do the next day and needed their rest.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Little Joe, try figurin\u2019 what we see,\u201d Hoss started. \u201cGuess what I see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it a tree?\u201d Marie said trying to get the game moving.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not a tree. Now it is Little Joe\u2019s turn.\u201d Hoss responded from the back of the buckboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cA horse!\u201d Joe said lifting his head off Marie\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMama! You see Mama. I see Mama!\u201d Little Joe asked again. Then he squirmed out of his mother\u2019s arms and stood on the wagon seat. \u201cI see Papa and the horses too and Hoss and Adam and\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSit down, Joseph!\u201d Ben yanked the child down by the back of his jacket. \u201cCan\u2019t you hang on to him, Marie? We can hit a bump and he will go flying under the wheels.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t your turn, Little Joe,\u201d Hoss pointed out. \u201cAnd I said it ain\u2019t the horses.\u201d<\/p>\n

The wagon was getting close to the ranch road and it looked like this trick might just keep his little brother awake like Pa wanted. Hoss was proud of himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t,\u201d Marie corrected her middle son\u2018s grammar.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what he said, Marie,\u201d Adam said sullenly. The words just boiled out of his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, mind your tongue,\u201d Ben growled wearily. He wished he was home with his feet up, not reining in his rude eldest son and poking at his baby son while his middle son blathered endlessly in his ears.<\/p>\n

Hoss looked at Adam wide-eyed. Why was his big brother being nasty to Mama?<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir. Let\u2019s play a harder game. Let\u2019s see how smart you all are. I see something Little Joe can\u2019t see,\u201d Adam smirked. He would show everyone how clever he was and how stupid they all were. \u201cWhat do you think I can see that Little Joe can\u2018t see? We can all see it but not Little Joe.\u201d He would make his point and make it well. He just wasn\u2019t sure what his point was.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe horses?\u201d Joe guessed. He was going to keep guessing horses.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, you can see the horses,\u201d Marie explained. \u201cBrother said it was something you can\u2019t see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe shrugged. \u201cPuppies?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a dumb answer. There are no puppies here,\u201d Adam said sharply. \u201cNo puppies at all. That was real stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie sighed wearily. The baby couldn\u2019t understand the game. At least he was staying awake like Ben wanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do we all see that Little Joe can\u2019t see?\u201d Adam demanded again with an angry edge in his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know Adam. Tell us,\u201d Marie asked patiently. \u201cI am sure you have a very clever answer.\u201d She slid her hand across the wagon seat and gave her husband\u2019s hand a warning squeeze. Ben wanted to box that boy\u2019s ears but Marie would never stand for that.<\/p>\n

Ben glanced at his wife and smiled at her remarkable calm with the boys. No matter how much Adam bristled and acted rudely, Marie retained her remarkable patience.<\/p>\n

\u201cPuppies? One for me and one for Hoss and one for Adam? Adam, you get the first choice \u2018cause you are the oldest and I love you. Then Hoss and I get one too. Papa, go back and get us them puppies. Get a real nice big one for Adam \u2018cause he is big and nice.\u201d\u00a0 Joe tugged on Ben\u2019s sleeve. \u201cPlease, Papa. Get Adam a nice puppy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam felt his face turn red. He was glad it was only he and Hoss in the back of the wagon. In the dark, no one would sense his embarrassment. No matter how angry he got, how sharply he spoke, his little brother was cheerful. The foolish kid still wanted to give him first pick on a puppy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are almost home, Adam. What was the thing you could see?\u201d Marie asked as if she hadn\u2018t noticed his teasing Little Joe. She protectively hugged her little one closer. She smoothed his curls and kissed the back of his neck.<\/p>\n

Adam swallowed hard. The comment that seemed so clever and biting moments early now seemed childish and cruel. \u201cI\u2026ah\u2026um\u2026\u201d Adam stammered trying to figure what to say next.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeak up, son, I can\u2019t hear what you are saying,\u201d Ben said firmly. His clutched the reins so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Had Marie not warned him, Ben would have pulled the team to the side of the road, yanked Adam from the back of the wagon and walloped him then and there.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me, brother, what can\u2019t I see?\u201d Little Joe piped up from his mother\u2019s lap. He was oblivious that Adam had been cruelly teasing him and was delighted to be included in a game. \u201cWhat? What? What?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can all see Little Joe\u2019s \u2026Little Joe\u2019s\u2026 We can all see his bottom,\u201d Adam said. He regretted starting this whole rude game. He couldn\u2019t even understand why he was in such a bad mood and being so nasty. \u201cAnd Little Joe can\u2019t see it. He can\u2018t see his own bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed loudly. \u201cJoe\u2019s hind end? Good one Adam! We can all see his rear but Little Joe can\u2018t!\u201d<\/p>\n

As angry as Ben was his oldest boy\u2019s behavior, he couldn\u2019t help chuckling at the idea. On the other hand, there was no excuse for Adam to be picking on Little Joe and trying to upset Marie in the process.<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights rode in silence for the remainder of the ride. That is, all except for Hoss. He kept laughing and trying futilely to explain to Little Joe why they could see his bottom but he never could.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why can\u2019t I?\u201d Joe piped up. \u201cWhy Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause. Because you can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ain\u2019t able to that\u2019s why,\u201d Hoss grinned. \u201cTry and you\u2019ll see you can\u2019t. No one can see their own bottom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCause your eyes are in front and your bottom is in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why? Pa? Why can\u2019t you?\u201d Little Joe persisted.<\/p>\n

Adam wished he could clamp his hand over Little Joe\u2019s mouth to make him quit. Instead he poked Hoss and said \u201cShut up,\u201d Unfortunately, in the dark, Adam\u2019s misplaced blow caught Hoss painfully in his ear instead of his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cOuch! What did you do that for?\u201d Hoss rubbed his ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d Marie exclaimed.<\/p>\n

Ben halted the buckboard in front of the barn. He helped Marie and Little Joe climb down as his two older sons scrambled out of the back. Hoss moved quickly away from his older brother, not wanting to get poked again. Adam was pretty strong.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hungry Mama!\u201d Joe exclaimed as Marie set him down on the ground. He yipped like a puppy and licked his chops.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe too!\u201d Hoss added. He was proud that they had kept Little Joe awake just like Pa had requested.<\/p>\n

Adam remained silent, frozen in his place. He felt his father\u2019s hand squeeze his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of you go in the house and start eating your supper and getting ready for bed. Adam is going to help me put up the team. We are going to have a very necessary discussion and we may be taking a long time so don\u2018t wait for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam swallowed hard and followed his father into the barn.<\/p>\n

Hoss knew what that meant and he averted meeting his older brother\u2019s eyes. He followed Little Joe into the house.<\/p>\n

Joe was wriggling and squirming as he skipped into the house. He kept looking over his shoulder despite Marie tugging on his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me again why I can\u2019t see my bottom, Hoss? Mama? Tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam slowly opened the barn door and watched his father efficiently unharness the horse from the buckboard and lead it inside. Ben angrily forked some straw into the stall. He didn\u2019t say a word.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201dAdam started is a small cracking voice. Ben had his back to him and didn\u2019t answer. \u201cPa?\u201d the boy repeated a little louder.<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t turn to face him. \u201cWater all the stock,\u201d the rancher ordered the boy. \u201cAnd make sure there is enough clean bedding in those last few stalls in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. The boy picked up the bucket did as he was told.<\/p>\n

The chores were finally finished. Adam was not able to stand the suspense and spoke. \u201cI suppose you are going to tan me, Pa,\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben lit the lantern that was hanging on a hook near the door. He carefully licked his fingers and held the spent match between them until he was sure the match was cold. He tried to control himself and not lash out at his son. Harsh words between a father and son could be more damaging than the swing of a belt. Ben knew that would not be of any constructive value to either Adam or any one else in his family.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Ben\u2019s own father never had the opportunity to learn that lesson. Joseph Cartwright never had the chance to make amends for the last tanning and harsh tongue-lashing he had given his son, Benjamin.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think you are quite a grown man, son?\u201d Ben asked as he gently lowered the fragile glass chimney on the lantern. It was a statement, not a question. It was important to choose his words. The same way the sea had lured New England boys from their homes, cattle drives called boys living in Nevada Territory. Trail bosses always needed eager young hands. Adam was used to working as hard as any man and would be welcomed on any cattle drive in the west if he wanted to leave the Ponderosa to prove a point. He might never return if he left home now.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded, \u201cYes sir, I do think I am pretty grown, Pa.\u201d He wondered what Pa was leading too. He really wished that his father would just take off his belt and be done with his punishment.<\/p>\n

Ben handed Adam the pitchfork. \u201cGo toss some more hay down in that back stall.\u201d Adam nodded and did as he was told. Ben started examining the foreleg of the sorrel mare in the middle stall. She had been limping but the leg looked much better now.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t easy to be a man, Adam. You are almost as tall as I am, son, a grown man to those two little brothers of yours. Little Joe thinks you are a giant. He told me that the other morning when you were heading out to Winslow\u2018s with those horses. Little Joe said that his giant brother was bossing that wild black stallion. You are some sort of hero to your little brothers. Hoss imitates everything you do. They both do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA giant?\u201d Adam hung the pitchfork back up in its place on the wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do the work of a grown man. You work hard and do well when you set your mind on something, son. That\u2019s why I sent you out to the Winslow Ranch with those horses. You did a mighty fine job,\u201d Ben poured some grain into the sorrel\u2019s feed bin, and patted her flank. Ben turned at looked at the boy. \u201cI\u2019m very proud of you, son. Mr. Winslow even went out of his way to tell me how impressed he was with how you handled the horses and the money and all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam felt even worse. Here his father was praising him and he had just acted so poorly.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, are you going to tan me?\u201d Adam wished he could get it over and done with.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head. \u201cYou are too grown to be taken across my knee, Adam. You are almost a man. I expect you to act one. Men don\u2019t bully little children or purposely go to make women upset for an amusement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Adam bit his lip. \u201cI was wrong and I\u2019m sorry for it Pa. I didn\u2019t really think.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMen think about what they do before they do it. They think before they hurt someone. Or make fools of themselves.\u201d Ben put his hand on his son\u2019s shoulders. Adam felt very foolish at that moment.<\/p>\n

Ben was thinking of the spiteful things he had done when he was Adam\u2019s age and the last argument he had with his own father. His father had tanned him over an insignificant misbehavior, telling him that he was lazy fool. He said that Ben would never amount to anything.\u00a0 Ben furiously defended himself but his father persisted. Then, not realizing his own strength, Ben had struck his father and knocked him flat. Fearing what he had just done, young Ben had run off that very night and signed on the crew of the Wanderer. He never saw his father again. Joseph Cartwright died while Ben was at sea and neither had the opportunity to ask the other for forgiveness and make peace between them. When Ben came home, his poor mother had to tell him his father had died three months earlier from typhoid fever. His mother died a few months later. Ben and his brothers scattered to the four winds, never to live under the same roof again, barely keeping in touch with each other. Ben returned to the sea with Captain Stoddard and his brothers got jobs that took them off on their own journeys.<\/p>\n

That was not what he wanted for his sons.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go apologize to Marie.\u201d Adam said softly. He sincerely regretted his behavior and his lack of self-control.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd also apologize to your brothers. You have a big responsibility Adam. Those boys look up to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe thinks I am a giant?\u201d Adam asked with amazement as they walked towards the house.<\/p>\n

Ben smiled. \u201cHe does. He told me just the other morning when you rode out to Winslow\u2019s. He was watching you from the porch. He is in awe of you, Adam. And Hoss will follow however you behave, too. I know that is a big responsibility, to be the oldest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cI suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are too old to be tanned, Adam. Not too big, just too old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir.<\/p>\n

Adam had no doubt about his father being strong enough toss him clear across the barn if he wanted to. Just a few months earlier, Adam had seen Pa lift a fallen tree off a man and carry the injured fellow across his shoulders for a couple of miles through the woods back to the house. Once, before Joe was born, he had seen Pa take on two large wranglers who had made some rude remark to Marie and pound both of them senseless. Then, Pa fired them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir. I know you are pretty strong.\u201d If Little Joe thought Adam was a giant, how did he describe Pa? A gigantic giant?<\/p>\n

Ben rubbed his chin and tried to think of what to do next, what to say to his first-born.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa? We better go inside. You must be pretty hungry and I have some apologizing to do to Marie. And to my brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled in the dim light. He blew out the lantern and followed his son into the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa! Come sit down!\u201d Hoss called cheerfully. He had crumbs on his cheeks and his napkin tucked in his collar. He looked warily at his older brother. Hoss wouldn\u2019t dare comment on Adam\u2019s punishment.<\/p>\n

Little Joe sat next to Marie. She was futilely trying to spoon the last of his stew into his mouth before the little boy fell asleep. He sat leaning back in his chair, but his eyes fluttering closed as Adam watched.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t know how to start but knew the best thing he could do was to not put off making amends for his self-centered behavior. He would start with Hoss. That would be the easiest apology. Hoss never bore a grudge.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, I\u2019m sorry I poked you and all.\u201d Adam started. The boy swallowed hard and stood ramrod straight.<\/p>\n

Hoss smiled. \u201cThat\u2019s okay, I forgive you. Do you want to go fishing together tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled. \u201cIt would be my pleasure. You can even use my fishing pole if you want.\u201d He nervously exhaled. Adam could feel his father\u2019s dark eyes boring a hole in the back of his neck.<\/p>\n

Marie continued trying to get Little Joe to eat a few more bites. \u201cLittle Joe, one more bite. Just one more.\u201d She held the spoon in front of him but it was too late. The child appeared sound asleep in his seat with his eyes closed and his mouth wide open.<\/p>\n

Adam drew in a deep breath and stood ramrod straight. The boy started the rest of his speech. \u201cMarie, please forgive me for being so rude to you as well. Not just today, all those other times too, Ma\u2018am.\u201d He wanted to face his stepmother as a repentant man and pledge his honor to her. Adam struggled to think of the appropriate elaborate word. \u201cI was a\u2026 a\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNaughty sissy,\u201d Little Joe murmured. He opened his eyes and smiled up at his oldest brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi Adam. Do you want a puppy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe! I thought you had fallen asleep!\u201d Hoss laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh uh. I just was resting my eyes waiting for Adam and Pa,\u201d Joe yawned widely. Marie poked the last spoonful of food in the child\u2019s mouth and gave up for the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow it is really bedtime, Mon Petit Choux.\u201d Marie smiled.<\/p>\n

Still standing behind his nervous oldest son, Ben cleared his throat. He was tired and hungry and just wanted Adam to be done with his penance. Perhaps he could devise some means of getting all the boys away from the table and he could sit peacefully with his wife and enjoy her company over supper. It wasn\u2019t only a bowl of stew that Ben Cartwright hungered for.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie, I am sincerely sorry for being disrespectful and mean to you. And picking on my brothers. I will never ever do that again,\u201d Adam blurted out nervously. \u201cNever. I promise. On my honor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie wiped Little Joe\u2019s chin with the checked napkin that had been tied around his neck. She smiled graciously, catching her husband\u2019s eye. \u201cI accept your apology, Adam, and trust that you are a man of your honor and will hold to that promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Ma\u2019am, you and the boys have my word of honor. Pa too. Always. A Cartwright\u2018s word is his bond.\u201d Adam answered hoping that this was finished to his father\u2019s satisfaction. Behind him, Ben smiled with pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cCarry me, brother!\u201d Little Joe put up his little arms to Adam. He had a blob of gravy on his cuff and grass stains on his elbows from tumbling around with the Victor\u2018s puppies. The boy had been thinking about Adam\u2019s earlier remarks and had come up his own plan.<\/p>\n

Ben nudged his oldest son, \u201cLooks like your baby brother wants you to put him to bed, Adam. Seems like you didn\u2019t even have to ask for Little Joe\u2019s forgiveness. \u201d Ben was very proud of his oldest son\u2019s sincere apology. In addition, if the boys retired, he was getting a shot at having a brief island of tranquility with his beloved wife.<\/p>\n

As if she read her husband\u2018s mind, Marie suggested \u201cHoss, why don\u2019t you start getting ready for bed too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Mama,\u201d Hoss said in his usual cooperative fashion. He eyed the remainders in Little Joe\u2019s bowl and wavered for a minute. He decided planning the fishing trip with his older brother was worth far more than the few bites of stew left behind by his baby brother. \u201cGood night Mama. Good night Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam scooped up Little Joe and all three Cartwright brothers went up the stairs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam supervised Little Joe\u2019s use of the chamber pot.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you want a puppy?\u201d Joe asked. Then he yawned.<\/p>\n

Adam hesitated in answering his brother, knowing from experience that engaging in a conversation with the child would only serve to keep him awake as well as distract his aim.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose puppies saw their tails, Adam.\u201d Joe said softly.<\/p>\n

Adam silently unbuttoned Joe\u2019s grubby shirt. He set the little fellow on the edge of the big new bed and helped him remove the rest of his clothes. Taking the green striped nightshirt that Hoss handed him, Adam pulled it over Joe\u2019s curly head. Joe put his little arms through the sleeves and limply rolled over.<\/p>\n

Tucking his baby brother under the quilts Adam ruffled Little Joe\u2019s hair. \u201cGood night, buddy. Go to sleep, now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWoof\u201d Little Joe whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWoof,\u201d Hoss said as he blew out the lamp.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go figure where we are going fishing, Hoss,\u201d Adam smiled as the brothers walked down the hall to Adam\u2019s room. \u201cCome sit down in my room and we can plan it all out before we turn in. We have a big day tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss smiled widely. He was being welcomed in Adam\u2019s room just like an equal. It wasn\u2019t often that Adam had time to go fishing. Besides, when he did have the time off from work, he usually wanted to be with his own friends like Ross Marquette or John Dayton and the Bonners, not a kid like Hoss.<\/p>\n

Adam patiently listened to Hoss list every possible fishing spot within an hour ride of the house and the relative merits of each. Then Hoss urged Adam to help him figure what type of bait would work best.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think? Should we dig some worms back of the barn and take them with us or dig some worms up by the creek? Or maybe we should take some bacon? Or some grass hoppers. We are gonna catch us a real mess of fish, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam, who normally would resent the intrusion into his private domain, was appreciative of Hoss\u2019s jovial return to normalcy and companionability. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Hoss. I think we might do better taking some plump worms and a piece of bacon fat and seeing which one works. And pack a good lunch too. And I think I might just have some of that candy I hid from Little Joe in my saddle bag.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCandy?\u201d Hoss loved sweet stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, from last time I was in town. It will be for you and me. Just us two.\u201d Adam had forgotten how much fun he used to have just fishing with his brother.<\/p>\n

Suddenly the sound of a crashing thud echoed from Little Joe\u2019s bedroom. Both brothers dashed down the hall. Hoss and Adam burst into the room and found Little Joe sprawled on the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did it! I did It!\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right?\u201d Hoss scooped Joe up in his arms and held him while Adam checked the little one\u2019s head and each tiny limb in turn.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine!\u201d Joe said squirming out of Hoss\u2019 grasp into Adam\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n

By the time Ben and Marie had rushed up the stairs Adam was holding the baby and had finished checking him for injury. Little Joe looks none the worse for wear other than his nightshirt being twisted askew. However, as soon as the tyke saw his mother, Little Joe started to wail dramatically. \u201cOh Mama!\u201d he sobbed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t cry! You aren\u2019t hurt Little Joe,\u201d Hoss said indignantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I forgot,\u201d Joe immediately smiled sweetly at his mother.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head in disbelief at his impish little son.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I did it!\u201d Joe proclaimed as scrambled back to his bare feet. He stood beside his brother and looked up at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, are you sure he is alright?\u201d Marie asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Marie. Cartwright boys are made of tough fabric.\u201d Ben winked at his boys.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, Mama. Cartwrights are tough.\u201d Hoss said sincerely. Adam nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did it, Mama. I did it, Papa!\u201d Joe scrambled back onto the bed. Marie wanted to stop him but was too embarrassed to fuss over her little boy in front of her husband and the other boys.\u00a0 Little Joe was clearly not her baby anymore. The little boy is somehow now part of some masculine tribe of Cartwright men that Marie Cartwright could only observe from the sidelines.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you just do, Little Joe?\u201d Ben asked. \u201cWhat is the boy talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, Adam! Look! Look!\u201d Little Joe stood at the head of the bed and faced the headboard.<\/p>\n

Perched precariously on the pillow he announced, \u201cYou said I couldn\u2019t see my own butt, Adam! But look at this.\u201d\u00a0 Before any one could stop him, Little Joe Cartwright flipped up his nightshirt and doubled over to peep between his legs at the mirror on the dresser. \u00a0\u201cLook, I see my very own butt in the looking glass,\u201d the little boy said excitedly, wriggling like one of the excited puppies. He shook the bed and lost his balance. The new mattress bounced the little boy in the air catapulting him forward, again somersaulting off the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh my!\u201d gasped Marie.<\/p>\n

Adam agilely leaped forward and snagged Little Joe as he flipped off the bed toward the wood floor.<\/p>\n

Little Joe was totally unaware that he just came close to breaking his own little neck falling from his bed. He was simply delighted that he saw his own bottom despite what Adam had declared as being impossible during the carriage ride home. \u201cI saw my own butt, Adam. I really did. You said I couldn\u2019t but I really did! I did!\u201d Little Joe bragged and then he howled like one of the pups. \u201cWoo wooo!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss fell on Little Joe\u2019s bed laughing so hard that he thought he would burst. \u201cYou sure showed us, Short Shanks. You sure showed us!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWooo!\u201d Little Joe howled again and Hoss howled back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you did indeed, buddy.\u201d Adam hugged his precious baby brother tightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe showed us, both literally and figuratively,\u201d Adam thought but was wise enough this time to keep his mouth shut.<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Ben sat down wearily on the chair near the window. \u201cI said that Little Joe needed to learn to listen but I didn\u2019t know how much listening that boy was doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie then announced, \u201cNow listen to your mother, boys. Everyone go to bed. It is well past everyone\u2019s bed time, Pa included.\u201d Marie kissed Ben\u2019s cheek. Next, she took Little Joe from Adam\u2019s arms. The little one wrapped his arms around his mother\u2019s neck and snuggled close.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa included,\u201d Ben agreed tiredly. \u201cBed time!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBed time.\u201d Joe whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Next Story in the Bed Time Series<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Bed Time 1848<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Ben Cartwright,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright,\u00a0Marie Cartwright<\/p>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0Another night and another bed time<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T (6,400 words)<\/p>\n

Bed Time Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":14634,"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,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12933","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Bed1.jpeg?fit=290%2C174&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12933","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\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12933"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12933\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12933"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12933"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}