{"id":13684,"date":"2003-01-23T21:38:10","date_gmt":"2003-01-24T02:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13684"},"modified":"2025-09-09T14:17:41","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T18:17:41","slug":"have-a-nice-day-by-milesky1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13684","title":{"rendered":"Have a Nice Day (by Milesky1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>What’s wrong with being ‘a good friend’?\u00a0 Nothing, unless…<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (1,650 words)<\/p>\n

Based on a song by Lynn Chater\/Kerry Chater
\nSong performed by Mindy McCready<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Have A Nice Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hoss tossed the last fifty-pound bag of grain into the bed of the wagon, giving it a satisfied pat.\u00a0 Wiping the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his shirt, he looked up at the cerulean sky, unblemished by all but the occasional wisp of a cloud.\u00a0 After a solid week of rain, the weather had finally broken.\u00a0 Two days of steamy sunshine, and it looked like there might be a third in the making.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked up the street.\u00a0 Joe had had plenty of time to finish the business at the bank, get Pa\u2019s telegram sent, and pick up the mail.\u00a0 He was probably in the saloon with his friends; he sure hadn\u2019t made it back to help load the supplies.\u00a0 He considered his next move, glancing from the saloon to the restaurant in contemplation.\u00a0 Sure would be nice to sneak over to the eatery without listening to his little brother commenting on his love life, or more accurately, his lack of one.\u00a0 Joe had been teasing him about his frequent stops for coffee for a month now, accusing him of being sweet on Miss Laura.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t even deny it.\u00a0 He\u2019d been sweet on her from the moment they\u2019d met, almost a year ago.\u00a0 Joe was convinced she returned the sentiment, and nothing was going to change his mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

She puts the coffee on the counter before he takes his seat<\/em>
\nAnd slides the sugar closer to him, she knows he likes it sweet<\/em>
\nAnd then she lingers with busy fingers waiting for his smile<\/em>
\nThey talk about the rainy weather, she’s thinking all the while<\/em><\/p>\n

What she wants to say is<\/em>
\n“I could love a man like you, Oh how I wish you knew<\/em>
\nI have seen you’re good and kind, strong enough for two<\/em>
\nYou could sweep me off my feet and carry me away”<\/em>
\nBut all she says is “Have a nice day”<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Hoss leaned contentedly against the counter, sipping his coffee.\u00a0 Miss Laura breezed past, delivering a late lunch to the table in the corner.\u00a0 Hoss watched the men flirt with the young woman, silently commending them on their good taste.\u00a0 Miss Laura certainly had changed in the time she\u2019d been in town; he liked to think his friendship had something to do with it.\u00a0 When she\u2019d arrived late last spring, she\u2019d been afraid of her own shadow. He\u2019d seen her standing at the stage station, looking lost.\u00a0 In true Cartwright fashion, he\u2019d gone to see if she needed help.\u00a0 When she\u2019d nearly fainted in front of him, he\u2019d bundled her into the wagon and taken her out to the house.\u00a0 With a few days of Hop Sing\u2019s fussing, she\u2019d rallied her resolve and spilled her story to the Cartwrights.\u00a0 Her husband had beaten her down, both mentally and physically, before being killed in a gunfight.\u00a0 She\u2019d taken the meager funds they had in the bank and gotten as far away from her memories and his family as she could, landing in Virginia City with a suitcase and little else.\u00a0 She had been amazed that the Cartwrights didn\u2019t consider the whole situation her fault; her husband\u2019s family certainly had.\u00a0 After finding a job, she\u2019d moved into the boarding house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

They talk about how unemployment is finally coming down<\/em>
\nThe railroad line* that’s gonna bring some life back to this town<\/em>
\nShe wonders if his words mean more than what it really seems<\/em>
\nAnd she’s still looking for the courage to say just what she means<\/em><\/p>\n

What she wants to say is<\/em>
\n“I could love a man like you, Oh how I wish you knew<\/em>
\nI have seen you’re good and kind, strong enough for two<\/em>
\nI’m more woman than I can show you in this old cafe”<\/em>
\nBut all she says is “Have a nice day”<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

He smiled as she returned to the counter, wiping the already spotless space near his perch.\u00a0 She smiled back; as always, he was speechless at the way her smile lit her whole face.\u00a0 He knew their conversation continued, but couldn\u2019t have recalled exactly what they talked about if his life depended on it. Anyone listening would consider their discussion ordinary, mundane even.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t really matter what they talked about; he just enjoyed spending time with her, listening to her voice, hearing her thoughts.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As she moved down the counter to take another order, Hoss noticed the poster advertising the barn dance Saturday night.\u00a0 Joe, never one to miss an opportunity, had been after him to ask her to the dance.\u00a0 Actually, Joe had been after him to ask her to every event on the calendar in the last month.\u00a0\u00a0 Hoss had tried explaining that they were just friends, and she didn\u2019t care for him in that way, but Joe wouldn\u2019t buy it.\u00a0 He kept telling Hoss to open his eyes and pay attention.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t that he didn\u2019t want to think she could care for him.\u00a0 He was\u2026 afraid\u2026 to find out, not that he\u2019d be admitting that out loud anytime soon.\u00a0 He\u2019d not had a lot of luck in the romance department.\u00a0 Truth was, he was tired of offering up his heart only to have it shattered into pieces.\u00a0 It got so it was easier just not to try.\u00a0 Besides, after what Miss Laura had been through, he figured she\u2019d want someone genteel, someone civilized, like those traveling men at the corner table, the ones who\u2019d been flirting with her. Someone wearing a suit and living in town.\u00a0 She\u2019d told him once her husband had been a big, strong man, easily able to overpower her.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t imagine she\u2019d want to put herself in that kind of situation again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

He winks once then he’s gone, she’s got time to kill<\/em>
\nAnd in her dreams she’s leaving with him, she knows some day she will<\/em><\/p>\n

What she wants to say is<\/em>
\n“I could love a man like you, Oh how I wish you knew<\/em>
\nI have seen you’re good and kind, strong enough for two<\/em>
\nI’m more woman than I can show you in this old cafe”<\/em>
\nBut all she says is, all she says is<\/em>
\nAll she says is “Have a nice day”<\/em>
\n**********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe watched Hoss exit the restaurant, hearing Miss Laura\u2019s \u201cHave a nice day\u201d waft after him on the light breeze.\u00a0 He saw Laura lean against the doorframe, the longing on her face clearly visible as she watched Hoss walk away from her.\u00a0 Her hand, outstretched in a wave, slowly fell to her side, as if hesitant to acknowledge that he was moving out of reach\u2026again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t ask her, did you?\u201d Joe accused, as Hoss reached the wagon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026and I ain\u2019t gonna.\u00a0 Drop it.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss moved to the rear of the wagon, checking the security of the load one last time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I won\u2019t.\u00a0 I know you care about her.\u201d\u00a0 Joe moved to stand in front of Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cWhy won\u2019t you ask her?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a friend, Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019m always a \u2018good friend\u2019.\u201d\u00a0 He sighed.\u00a0 \u201cShe ain\u2019t gonna see me as more.\u00a0 I\u2019m tired of hearing it.\u00a0 Especially with her history, she\u2019s not gonna think of me that way.\u201d\u00a0 He moved around Joe, hoping to end the conversation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It slowly dawned on Joe exactly what his brother was saying\u2026 no, more what he wasn\u2019t saying.\u00a0 He was scared.\u00a0 Hoss, who wasn\u2019t afraid of anything or anybody, was scared. Joe silently cursed every woman who\u2019d ever hurt his brother by failing to see what a fine man he was.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He moved to stand near Hoss, placing a hand on his arm to draw his attention.\u00a0 \u201cHoss, look at me.\u00a0 I know I\u2019ve pulled you into some crazy schemes, played some tricks on you in the past.\u00a0 But you do know I\u2019d never play fast and loose with your feelings, don\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0 Joe watched as Hoss nodded, knowing he had his brother\u2019s full attention.\u00a0 \u201cLaura cares for you Hoss.\u00a0 I know she does, and you KNOW I can read women.\u00a0 Maybe you do share some physical qualities with her late husband, but trust me, she sees beyond that.\u00a0 In every way that matters, you are nothing like him, and Laura knows it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat if you\u2019re wrong, Joe?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked softly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not.\u00a0 But even if I am, think about it.\u00a0 You don\u2019t want to take the risk because you might get hurt, am I right?\u00a0 Is it going to hurt any less if she moves on or marries someone else and you have to live with the knowledge that you didn\u2019t even try?\u201d\u00a0 Green eyes held blue for a long moment before Hoss turned and walked to the front of the wagon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you get these supplies back to the house.\u00a0 Tell Pa I\u2019ll be home later. I\u2019ve got a few things to take care of here in town.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Through the door, Hoss watched Miss Laura idly rearrange silverware in the nearly empty restaurant.\u00a0 She smiled as the last customer rose from the table and prepared to leave.\u00a0 Hoss entered as Mr. Haskins left, standing by the door without speaking.\u00a0 Feeling eyes upon her, Laura turned.\u00a0 Hoss watched as she caught sight of him, seeing her smile, the one that lit up her entire face, bloom like a flower in the spring.\u00a0 That smile was for him, he realized, and no one else.\u00a0 The knowledge gave him strength and courage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Laura, I got a question to ask you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

What she wants to say is<\/em>
\n“I could love a man like you, Oh how I wish you knew<\/em>
\nI have seen you’re good and kind, strong enough for two<\/em>
\nI’m more woman than I can show you in this old cafe”<\/em>
\nBut all she says is, all she says is<\/em>
\nAll she says is “Have a nice day”<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Author\u2019s Note:\u00a0 I took the liberty of changing this one word to better fit the Cartwright time period.\u00a0 The original word is factory. I also took the liberty of repeating the last chorus a second time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0 What’s wrong with being ‘a good friend’?\u00a0 Nothing, unless…<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (1,650 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10267,"featured_media":28366,"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},"categories":[23,1092],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hoss-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1092-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Hoss-and-Joe-3.jpg?fit=259%2C194&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13684","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\/10267"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13684"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13684\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}