{"id":14080,"date":"2017-03-27T02:12:14","date_gmt":"2017-03-27T06:12:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14080"},"modified":"2026-06-24T15:18:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T19:18:27","slug":"a-piece-of-cake-by-jc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14080","title":{"rendered":"A Piece of Cake (by JC)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong> \u00a0<\/strong>How hard can it be, taking care of two little boys for one day? \u00a0That’s what Joe thinks…. (Part of the Ties That Bind AU series)<\/p>\n

Rating: \u00a0K \u00a0 \u00a0(1661 words)<\/p>\n

Ties That Bind series<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ties That Bind<\/a>
\nImperfect Memory<\/a>
\nA Pearl Without Price<\/a>
\nA Piece of Cake<\/a>
\nSomething About Amy<\/a>
\nGuarding the Henhouse<\/a>
\nWhen Angels Cry<\/a>
\nNo Ordinary Day<\/a>
\nWinter of Discontent<\/a>
\nInterval<\/a>
\nNot to Me<\/a>
\nGently, Full of Grace<\/a><\/p>\n

Author’s note:\u00a0For those of you not\u00a0familiar with this series, Joe has a sister. Forewarned is forearmed — you can turn back now or read at your own peril….<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A PIECE OF CAKE<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey Adam, have you seen Jilly?\u201d Joe put his hands on his hips, looking around for any sign of their sister. \u201cI figured she\u2019d be here by now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright scanned the street outside the church. Most of the worshipers were already inside, along with their father. \u201cWell, she\u2019s got Andy and Deke on her hands now. You\u2019d have trouble getting anywhere on time if you were in her shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss pointed and grinned. \u201cHere\u00a0they come.\u201d<\/p>\n

The brothers watched in amusement as the belated trio approached. Jilly had a firm grip on two young boys, one a gap-toothed tow-head of about seven, the other a five-year old carrot-top. None of them looked happy as they passed without a word.<\/p>\n

\u201cWonder what those hooligans have been up to this mornin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, there\u2019s no telling,\u201d said Adam, following them inside. Jilly ushered her sullen charges to the pew anchored by her father. Adam sat down next to her and offered a sympathetic smile. She just shook her head and sighed as she opened her hymnal.<\/p>\n

About halfway through the sermon, Jilly switched places with Deke to separate him from his brother. Apparently whatever happened between them that morning had generated a good bit of animosity, which Adam suspected was further fueled by having to endure an hour of sitting still in their Sunday clothes. \u00a0It was hard enough for him sometimes. Reverend Fordham could be quite long-winded when the Spirit moved him.<\/p>\n

Adam admired Jilly for taking a job nobody else wanted. The Reverend\u2019s wife Anne had lost her third child in the middle of a difficult pregnancy and had to be confined to bed indefinitely. The congregation was generous when it came to kind words and covered dishes, but less so when it came to the supervision of Andy and Deke. Not that they were \u201cbad\u201d boys (though someone jokingly offered to foot the bill if Roy would house them in the jail); they just had a knack for finding trouble. \u201cA handful\u201d is how Mrs. Cameron described them, until they knocked over the pickle barrel in her store \u2013 since then she referred to them in polite company as \u201cthe devil\u2019s angels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deke squirmed next to her, and Jilly placed her hand on his knee as a warning without looking at him. The boy complied with a sigh, leaning his head against her, and in a moment he was asleep beneath her arm. Jilly fingered his burnt-orange locks, smiling down at him. Adam caught her eye and they both grinned before her attention was diverted to the child on her right.<\/p>\n

After the service, they watched Andy and Deke bolt from the building like a pair of prisoners during a jail break.<\/p>\n

\u201cProblems this morning?\u201d<\/p>\n

She rolled her eyes. \u201cOh, nothing out of the ordinary \u2013 they insisted on oatmeal for breakfast, but neither one of them ate more than two bites because they spent the whole meal arguing about who got more molasses. Deke kicked Andy, and Andy pushed Deke, and the milk went all over the table\u2026and me. But other than that, everything is just\u2026fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam put his arm around her. \u201cSounds like you could use a break.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not likely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cListen, Annie Lundberg has been dying to meet you. She made me promise I\u2019d bring you over to their place one day this summer. I\u2019m sure we could find someone to watch the boys for one day. How about it, Hoss? We could bring the boys out to the ranch and you could handle them for a few hours, couldn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably not this week \u2013 Pa\u2019s leaving for Sacramento in the mornin\u2019 and I promised him I\u2019d have that south fence fixed before he gets back. I could watch \u2018em next week, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. \u201cIf I\u2019m not mistaken, the Lundbergs are leaving for Europe next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHeck, I\u2019ll watch \u2018em,\u201d Joe offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I don\u2019t know, Joe,\u201d said Jilly. \u201cWith Pa and Hoss gone, you\u2019d have them all by yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo? I won\u2019t need any help.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked skeptical. \u201cYou really don\u2019t know what you\u2019re getting yourself into.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s to know?\u201d Joe scoffed. \u201cThey\u2019re just a couple of kids. I don\u2019t know what all the fuss is about. Sheesh!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smirked. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you ask Mrs. Cameron?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe dismissed their warnings with a wave of his hand. \u201cLook, Jilly, I\u2019m perfectly capable of handling two little boys. I mean if you can do it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes narrowed as she silently considered his proposition. \u201cAll right, Joe,\u201d she said finally. \u201cThey\u2019re all yours; how about tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat,\u201d Joe smiled. \u201cI\u2019ll pick you three up in the morning and bring you over to the ranch, and then you and Adam can go have a nice visit with Annie and the Swede. Now don\u2019t you worry about a thing. It\u2019ll be a piece of cake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s a piece of cake?\u201d asked Ben, joining them.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe offered to watch Andy and Deke tomorrow while Jilly and I pay a call on the Lundbergs.”<\/p>\n

\u201cBy yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s everybody so worried about?\u201d Joe laughed. \u201cHow hard can it be? I can think of a lot worse ways to spend a day.\u201d He whirled around at the sound of a feminine voice calling his name. \u201cExcuse me,\u201d he grinned, sauntering away.<\/p>\n

Ben stared after him. \u201cI know what that boy\u2019s up to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss scowled. \u201cYeah, he\u2019s figurin\u2019 on gettin\u2019 out of a day\u2019s work tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. \u201cHe\u2019ll be wishing he was riding fence or digging post holes before the day\u2019s half over.\u201d<\/p>\n

~*~<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what did you think of Annie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a darlin\u2019 woman,\u201d Jilly replied, mimicking Annie\u2019s Irish brogue. \u201cAnd she makes a great mulligan, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed. \u201cThat she does. It was her mulligan that started her on the way to fame and fortune.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I had been around to see you and Annie as partners. Is it true you almost married her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHeck, no \u2013 I was just helping a damsel in distress.\u201d<\/p>\n

She laughed. \u201cThat seems to be your specialty. Thank you so much for today. I had a wonderful time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled. \u201cMe too. I like showing you off every now and then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. I know this is not the way you intended to spend your summer, but I\u2019m really proud of you for helping the Fordhams. I\u2019m not sure what they would have done without you. I think you\u2019re handling the situation very well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d She took a deep breath, frowning a little. \u201cI just hope Andy and Deke haven\u2019t been too much trouble for Joe today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he asked for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jilly looked sober. \u201cHe did, didn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

When they arrived back at the ranch house, Jilly and Adam found Joe and the boys seated at the table eating chocolate cake.<\/p>\n

Joe stood up and greeted them with a grin. \u201cHey, you\u2019re just in time. The boys and I were about to get seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did everything go?\u201d Jilly asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d said Joe. \u201cGreat, as a matter of fact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problems?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head. \u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stared at the boys. \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were good,\u201d said Deke. Andy smiled.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a fact?\u201d Jilly\u2019s face bore a strange expression. She turned to Joe. \u201cOkay,\u00a0how\u2019d you do it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe put a hand on her shoulder. \u201cJilly, you just have to come a mutual understanding with kids. Show \u2018em who\u2019s the boss, right up front. It\u2019s that simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

Something rolled off the table. Adam stopped it with his boot and bent down to pick it up.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, that\u2019s mine!\u201d Deke hollered.<\/p>\n

Adam handed the silver dollar back to him. \u201cThat\u2019s a lot of money, Deke. Where\u2019d you get it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom Joe,\u201d Deke grinned. \u201cHe gave Andy one, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jilly scowled at Joe. \u201cYou paid them — I knew I smelled a rat!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe crossed his arms and scowled back. \u201cWell, it takes one to smell one!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems those two rascals are for sale to the highest bidder. At least I paid them to behave!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyebrows arched in surprise. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, she paid \u2018em fifty cents to dry gulch me, but I outsmarted her!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou outsmarted yourself, buster \u2013 I only paid them twenty-five cents!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe directed his scowl at Andy. The seven year old shrugged and grinned. \u201cHey, I\u2019m just a kid. I\u2019m not very good with money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems like you\u2019re doing all right for yourself,\u201d said Adam before turning back to Jilly. \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n

She wilted a little under his stern gaze, and then she stuck out her chin and frowned. \u201cWell, he just made me so mad yesterday, and I didn\u2019t want him to get off easy.\u201d She paused, adding almost by way of apology, \u201cI did tell them not to break anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they\u2019re not very good listeners, did you know that?\u201d Joe huffed.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, you have no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe cleared his throat, looking sheepish. \u201cWell, uh, as a matter of fact, I think I\u2019m beginning to. I\u2019m sorry, Jilly. I never should have said those things to you.\u201d He handed her a piece of cake. \u201cTruce?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her mouth curved into a half smile. \u201cPiece of cake, huh?\u201d She stuck her finger in the frosting and smeared it across his face. \u201cThere\u2019s your piece of cake.\u201d<\/p>\n

He picked up a napkin and wiped his cheek as she headed for the door. \u201cI\u2019m givin\u2019 you a head start because you\u2019re a girl, and yeah, you\u2019d better run\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed as Joe dragged her kicking and squealing toward the water trough, both of them slathered in chocolate. It was nice to know that some things would never change.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bonanza character acknowledgements:\u00a0 Annie (O’Toole) and Swede Lundgren appeared in The Saga of Annie O’Toole (Season 1), written by Thomas Thompson.<\/em><\/p>\n

For a complete, up to date list of my stories, check out\u00a0JC’s Author Page<\/a><\/p>\n

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

Summary: \u00a0How hard can it be, taking care of two little boys for one day? \u00a0That’s what Joe thinks…. (Part of the Ties That Bind AU series)<\/p>\n

Rating: K \u00a0 \u00a0(1661 words)<\/p>\n

Ties That Bind Series, links to stories within the series are included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10253,"featured_media":4873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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":[7,1008,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-u","category-family","category-humor","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-4-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\/2014\/04\/Calamity-over-the-Comstock-8.jpg?fit=634%2C563&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14080","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\/10253"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14080"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14080\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}