<\/p>\n
Summary: Not all parents measure up to Ben Cartwright, and not all children measure up to Little Joe. \u00a0It could have been so much worse, but the consequences put three families at odds until things are set right.<\/p>\n
Rating: \u00a0T\u00a0(27,895 words)<\/p>\n
Sally Lynn Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Sally Lynn, Swimmin’, and Sweet Revenge<\/a> <\/p>\n Warning: This story contains references to (but not descriptions of) corporal punishment that some may feel too severe. If this would cause you concern or upset, please pass on reading this story and enjoy one of the many other wonderful stories in this library<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sippin’ Whiskey and Sally Lynn<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe Cartwright felt a hand reach over his shoulder and saw the second cinnamon cookie Hop Sing had packed in his lunch snatched from his lap. “Dadburnit!” he muttered as he swiveled his head to catch sight of the culprit. “Sally Lynn! Give it back!”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn broke the cookie in half, placed one piece in her mouth and dropped the other back in Little Joe’s lap. Then she settled in a flurry of petticoats next to him on the grass.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You\u2019re a thief, Sally Lynn,” Mitch Devlin observed from his seat on the other side of Little Joe. His accusation was prompted by the fact that he had planned on Joe sharing Hop Sing’s baked goods with him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Joe’s pa taught him manners, Mitchell; he wouldn’t sit and eat sweets in front of a lady without sharing.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “He’d share with a lady, but I don’t see none around,” Mitch shot back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn simply snorted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe tossed the remaining half of the cookie to Mitch as he turned toward the girl. “What do you want, Sally Lynn? You look like the cat who’s been in the cream.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Who said I wanted anything?”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This time Mitch was the one who snorted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn’s Cheshire grin widened. “Maybe I have something.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Ain’t nothing you have that we’d want,” Mitch replied dismissively.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Well, if that’s so, then I won’t feel bad about not sharing!\u201d Sally Lynn flounced to her feet and turned her back to the two boys.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe sent a shut-up look at Mitch and asked, “Share what?”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn turned back around and smiled down at the two boys at her feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Just something I got here in my pocket.\u201d She paused for effect and then slowly looked around. The three of them were on the far edge of the schoolyard, and no one seemed to be paying them any mind. Sally Lynn knelt down and put her hand in her pocket. Shielding the object from the sight of any other onlookers, she showed the boys a bottle nearly filled with amber fluid.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The boys’ mouths gaped open, and they stared silently as the girl worked the cork stopper from the bottle and passed it slowly in front of their noses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Whiskey!\u201d Both boys managed to keep the exclamation a hoarse whisper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Shhhh,” Sally Lynn ordered as she replaced the cork and returned the bottle to her deep pocket.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Where’d you get that?\u201d Little Joe asked managing to keep his voice low.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Did ya steal it?” Mitch queried.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “No, I didn’t steal it!”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Then how did you get it?\u201d Joe demanded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “It dropped into my path like manna from heaven,” Sally Lynn declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You better watch yourself, girl. Manna’s in the Bible; it’s holy, and whiskey’s of the devil,” Mitch admonished.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You sound like a temperance man, Mitch. I guess that means you don’t want a share.\u201d Sally Lynn gazed at both boys expectantly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Now, I never said that.\u201d A pleading tone was creeping into Mitch’s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “What do ya mean it fell into your path?\u201d Little Joe wanted the details of the story.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Well, I was in town, and there was this man, and he came out of the saloon, and you could tell he’d been drinking. Well, he kind of stumbled, and he must\u2019ve dropped this bottle, ’cause when I walked up there it was on the sidewalk kinda kicked over out of sight, so I picked it up.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You should have given it back to him,” Mitch declared righteously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “By then he’d gotten lost in the crowd,” Sally Lynn retorted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe raised a disbelieving eyebrow and studied Sally Lynn’s smile. “Why are ya willing to share with us?\u201d The skepticism was clear in Little Joe’s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Well, my pa says that it just ain’t right for a body to drink alone, and, well, we do have a bond.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe and Mitch exchanged a glance. Sally Lynn had said many times that the three of them had a bond because they were the only three children in the school and the church, maybe the whole of Virginia City, their age. She had been saying it since they were all nine. Now that they were twelve, the boys had noticed that Sally Lynn usually referred to their bond when she had ulterior motives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You have a bigger bond with your brothers, Sally Lynn; why aren’t you sharing with them?”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn looked down her nose and answered with a question, “If you had a bottle of whiskey, Little Joe, would you invite Adam to have a drink?”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Since the answer was obvious, Little Joe did not bother to voice it. Instead he asked, “Just what were you thinking on doing, Sally Lynn?”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Well, tomorrow’s Saturday, and we don’t have school.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Just a day of chores,” Mitch interrupted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn shrugged. “We could do it Sunday after church then.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch and Little Joe both bit their lower lip. Drinking on Sunday might be going too far over the line.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I can probably slip off tomorrow,\u201d Little Joe ventured.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Me too,” Mitch added hesitantly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Well, I thought we could ride up to that line shack on the Ponderosa near the ford and have a little party in privacy.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You don’t have a horse,” Joe observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Just how many horses do you have on that ranch of yours?\u201d Sally Lynn inquired archly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe looked at his best friend. Mitch Devlin gazed back and then nodded his head solemnly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Okay, Sally Lynn. We’ll meet you tomorrow at that stand of trees a mile down from your gate. About one o’clock.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn’s eyes sparkled. She reached out her hand. “That’s a deal.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe placed his hand on hers, and Mitch positioned his hand on Joe’s. They brought their hands up and down in a satisfying jerk. The school bell rang to end the lunch break, and the three students scrambled to their feet and dashed off toward their classroom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe stopped and looked around for Sally Lynn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Where is she?” Mitch asked as he stopped his horse beside Joe’s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shrugged. “Maybe she’s just late. I had a time saddling an extra horse and slipping away without anybody seeing.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I had to get up an hour early and sneak out to start on cleaning the barn, or I’d never have gotten away,” Mitch observed with a frown. “It better not have been all for nothing.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Oh, it won’t have been for nothing, Mitchell.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The two boys swung their heads around and saw Sally Lynn. She stood in front of the tree behind which she had been hiding when they rode up. Her long hair hung in two braids down her back and her yellow gingham dress had puffed sleeves and a white collar. Both boys shared the same thought and not for the first time. How can she look so innocent<\/em>?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Do you have it?\u201d Mitch asked expectantly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A slow smile spread over Sally Lynn’s face. “Of course and something extra too.\u201d She held up a bundle-tied cloth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “What?” Little Joe demanded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You’ll see.\u201d She winked and then walked over to take the reins of a little sorrel mare.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Come on then,” Little Joe urged, \u201cWe ain’t got all day.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn managed to mount without any assistance, and the three set off at a smart canter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was little discussion as they rode. Each of them seemed content to indulge in private imaginings of the afternoon ahead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe slipped from the saddle and led his horse to the lean-to that served as a stable. “Better put the horses inside in case someone rides by.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You don’t think anyone will?\u201d Mitch inquired worriedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Not really. None of the hands are supposed to be working anywhere around here, but better safe than sorry.\u201d Joe answered with a trace of worry invading his voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Yeah, ’cause we’ll be real sorry if anybody finds out about this.\u201d Mitch’s head swiveled on his shoulders as he surveyed the area searching for onlookers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You two worry too much,” Sally Lynn teased smoothly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe snorted, \u201cYou don’t have to answer to my pa.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Or mine,” Mitch echoed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn snorted. “I have a pa too, you know.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Yeah, but you’re his baby girl, and everybody knows your pa coddles ya.\u201d Joe’s pronouncement caused Sally Lynn to roll her eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Besides, girls don’t get real tannings like boys do. They just look all girly and cry and get off with hardly anything,” Mitch added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn opened her mouth to challenge their observations, but then closed it without comment. She simply walked to the door of the line shack and opened it. The boys followed her inside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn walked to the small table and set down the cloth-wrapped bundle she had brought. Untying the four corners of the cloth, she revealed the bottle of whiskey, three tin cups, a box of Lucifers, and three cigars. Peering over her shoulder, the two boys gasped.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Cigars!”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “My papa says that the only thing makes good whiskey better is a fine cigar,” Sally Lynn said with a broad grin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Did they fall like manna from heaven too?\u201d Little Joe asked sarcastically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “No,” the girl replied simply, “those I earned.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe made the decision not to ask for details and shot Mitch a silencing look when his friend opened his mouth to speak.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Very softly Joe declared, \u201cFemales don’t smoke, Sally Lynn!”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch nodded his agreement. “Cigars are for men, Sally Lynn.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Then I guess I can give these to my papa ’cause there ain’t no men around here.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I’m man enough to\u2026” Mitch sputtered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “To what?\u201d Sally Lynn challenged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Whatever it takes!” Mitch retorted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Come on you two,” Joe intervened, “I thought we came up here to have us some fun, not stand around clucking and fussing like chickens in a coop.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Thinks he’s cock of the walk,” Sally Lynn muttered under her breath, but she turned her attention back to the items on the table. Little Joe poked Mitch in the side and gave him his best Cartwright glare, and the two boys settled to the task at hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There were only two wooden chairs in the shack, so they pulled the small table over next to one of the two bunks built against the east wall. Sally Lynn spread her skirts around her as she took a seat on the bunk while Mitch and Joe pulled the two chairs over and sat down.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn set a cup in front of each of them and then stated with the flare of a society dame at high tea, \u201cI’ll pour.\u201d She proceeded to fill each cup with a good portion of whiskey. All three youngsters stared at the liquor in the cups. “Well?” Sally Lynn challenged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe was the first to pick up his cup. He brought it to his lips and took a deep swallow. He immediately started coughing and spraying drops of whiskey across the table. Sally Lynn giggled, and Mitch clapped his friend on the back repeatedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Your turn, Mitch,” Sally Lynn encouraged. Mitch picked up his cup and took a smaller swallow resulting in his reaction being half as violent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn giggled again. Picking up her cup, she sipped daintily. “Gentlemen, didn’t your pas tell you that whiskey’s for sippin’?\u201d She put the cup to her lips again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe and Mitch exchanged wary glances and then carefully lifted their cups and sipped. This time the whiskey went down with a tolerable burn. A few sips later all three of the twelve-year-olds were looking forward to the next sip’s warm glide down to the stomach. Having mastered the art of whiskey drinking, they turned their attention to the cigars.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “You have to bite off the end first,” Mitch instructed with a self-satisfied smile at his manly knowledge. He then proceeded to gnaw off the end of his cigar and spit it onto the floor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe gave Mitch a dubious stare. “Why?”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “I don’t know, but you do,” Sally Lynn stated in support of Mitch who gave her a smile in return.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shrugged. “Seems wasteful to me.\u201d He then managed to bite off the end of his cigar and followed Mitch’s precedent in spitting it onto the floor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn managed to gnaw off a smaller bit, which she spit into her hand and laid discreetly on the corner of the cloth. “Now we light them up.\u201d She passed each boy a Lucifer, and they all proceeded to strike a flame and hold it to the tip of the cigar.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Watching the boys’ faces as they tried to draw smoke into their mouths set Sally Lynn giggling once more. She set down her own cigar and reached for another sip of whiskey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Ahhh,” Little Joe sighed as his cigar finally started to burn and draw. Then the taste of the smoke had him reaching for his whiskey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch managed to inhale the cigar smoke and found himself coughing it back out very quickly. After the coughing subsided, he too sipped on his whiskey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Now ain’t this the life,” Little Joe commented with more bravado than real enthusiasm while waving his cigar grandly around his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Ain’t it though,” Mitch agreed. Sally Lynn nodded as she tried daintily and with little success to actually smoke her cigar.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All three children continued to sip the whiskey in their cups as they commented ever more loudly on life in general and occasionally took a small drag on their smoldering cigars. As the air became filled with smoke and ever more raucous laughter, Sally Lynn relaxed against the wall behind her and let her cigar slip from her fingers. It lay unnoticed on the woolen blanket beneath her skirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Adam approached the line shack warily. He heard the sounds of occupancy coming from inside the small shelter and told himself this was not the first time a member of his family had found a line shack occupied by strangers. He had had to encourage more than one intruder to move on from this particular cabin. With its proximity to the ford of the river, it was frequently used by those passing through the Ponderosa on the way west. Checking on this line shack each time he passed nearby had become a habit with him. Adam quietly slid from Sport’s back and listened to the sound of laughter leaking out of the wooden walls. The neighing of more than one horse indicated that the lean-to was occupied also. Adam walked up, placed his right hand on his pistol, and opened the door with his left. Stepping inside, he scanned the interior of the building. A soft curse escaped his lips. It went unnoticed by the occupants of the cabin, as did Adam’s presence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “JOSEPH!\u201d The name echoed from wall to wall and brought the attention of all three inebriates to the angry man glaring at them from the doorway.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Hey, it’s Adam,” Sally Lynn stated cheerily slurring the words into one soft exhalation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “It’s Aadumm,” Mitch added and hiccupped loudly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe’s eyes widened to fill his entire face, and he managed only a stuttered, “A,a,a,a,a\u2026ummmm!”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam’s boots clicked against the floor planks as he strode over to the three children. He breathed in the odor of whiskey and cigar smoke. He surveyed the table with its empty bottle and cigar ash. He noted all three children were wearing the unfocused expressions of drunkards. He managed to keep his next curse mental. Then he noticed the smoke rising from the smoldering cloth of the woolen blanket and the glint of a small flame.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “MY GOD!” he roared as he snatched Sally Lynn off the bunk. He tried setting the girl on her feet, but she swayed and fell against him. As he steadied her, she leaned against his chest and lost her lunch down the front of his shirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Fiirrreeee,” Little Joe managed to blurt out as a larger flame grew out of the bedclothes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam let Sally Lynn slip to the floor as he turned and jerked the burning blanket off the bed. Tossing it away from the occupants of the room, he walked over and stomped out the flames. Then he dashed out and quickly returned with a bucket of water from the horse trough and drenched the horsehair mattress. As he set down the bucket, Sally Lynn looked up from her reclining position on the floor and began to giggle. Adam sent up a fervent prayer asking the Lord to turn his heart from homicide.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch and Little Joe had managed to scramble from their chairs, but had not managed to stand. Their sudden movements had resulted in waves of nausea, and Adam watched has both boys slumped on the floor retching.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He fought waves of anger, an odd desire to laugh, automatic sympathy, and his gag reflex. He decided that more water was needed and went to draw a bucket from the well while engaging in an internal monologue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot a one of them is going to be able to ride on their own for hours. It would serve them right if I tied them face down across their horses\u2026 Oh, yeah, ride up with three children tied to their horses and see which parent collapses before they realize they aren\u2019t dead. Of course, Little Joe may be dead before this is all over. Even if I let him live, Pa\u2026 well, that\u2019s for later. I could just stay here and tend them until they come around enough to ride. That won\u2019t be before dark. Won\u2019t be safe before morning and probably not such a great idea then. First time the hangover\u2019s hard to handle. If I let Pa, the Devlins, and the Planchards spend the night fretting over their babies\u2026no, I have to think of something. No, I can\u2019t ride off and leave them here while I go for a wagon. Tempting thought, but no, why they nearly burned themselves alive already.<\/em>\u201d His last thought sent a chill down Adam\u2019s spine, and he pushed the pictures it generated from his mind. Stopping at the door to gaze at the children sprawled in drunken stupors on the wooden floor, he gave a simple prayer of thanks that he had arrived when he did. Then he turned and drew his pistol. Pointing toward the sky, he fired three shots. Then he went inside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss heard the three shots and focused on discerning the direction from which they had come. Then he turned Chub toward the sound and dug his heels into the horse\u2019s flanks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam watched the rider approach as he leaned against the doorjamb. When he recognized his brother, he gave a silent exclamation of thanks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss reined Chub to a stop and stared down at his shirtless sibling. \u201cAdam! What in blazes is going on? You fired the signal?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u201d Adam\u2019s voice carried no sense of urgency.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen there\u2019s trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, there\u2019s trouble all right.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSomebody hurt?\u201d Hoss asked the question, but his worry had already begun to recede.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot yet.\u201d It was not the words but the tone of Adam\u2019s voice that delivered his message.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe?\u201d Hoss inquired as he dismounted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s thumb pointed over his shoulder as he stepped aside to allow Hoss to enter the line shack.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 curse was milder than his brother\u2019s had been.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhiskey and cigars,\u201d Adam intoned as he took his place beside Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s gonna kill him!\u201d Hoss stated with absolute conviction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cQuite possibly!\u201d Adam exchanged a look with Hoss. \u201cI need a wagon to get them all home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll stay while you fetch one,\u201d Hoss offered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll flip for it,\u201d Adam answered amiably. Taking a coin from his pocket, he called heads as it flipped through the air.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTails.\u201d Hoss observed the coin in his brother\u2019s hand. \u201cI\u2019ll be quick as I can, Adam. Guess I should lead Cochise and Sport on home; ain\u2019t no reason for those horses to follow a wagon all over creation.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCochise, Sport, and Buttercup,\u201d Adam intoned, \u201cMitch\u2019s horse will just have to put in the extra miles.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss led two horses from the lean-to. Adam held their reins while Hoss mounted. Seated on Chub, Hoss looked down at his older brother. \u201cAin\u2019t no way to keep this from Pa, is there?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI imagine Jacob Planchard will mention something to Pa about my bringing his little girl home drunk. There\u2019s no way to save baby brother\u2019s hide this time, even if I was sure I wanted to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded reluctant agreement, took three horses\u2019 reins from Adam, and touched Chubby\u2019s flanks with his heels.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As Adam watched his brother ride off, he rubbed his chin and considered how best to keep damages to a minimum.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Having no place else to move the drunken bodies, Adam left the children lying on the wooden floor while he did his best to clean up the mess. His housekeeping chores completed, he placed a chair sideways in the open doorway, leaned back, and waited for Hoss\u2019 return. When the wagon rumbled into the yard, he stood and stretched.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou made good time. Was Pa home when you left?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo. I left word with Hop Sing that Joe and Mitch were with us and that we\u2019d be late.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSally Lynn?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t think it likely anybody would be stopping by to ask about her, but, yeah, Hop Sing knows.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll the details?\u201d Adam inquired.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNone of the details,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBest get to it then.” Adam stepped inside, and Hoss followed. Adam picked up Mitch Devlin while Hoss took his baby brother into his arms. They carried the boys to the back of the wagon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBlankets and pillows. How comfy!\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was edged with irritation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, ain\u2019t no reason to sound like that. These young ones ain\u2019t sacks of feed, you know.\u201d Hoss laid Little Joe in the back of the wagon, and Adam laid Mitch next to his friend. \u201cThere\u2019s a clean shirt for you seeing as how you\u2019re gonna go calling on some folks. I\u2019ll fetch the little gal while you put it on.\u201d Hoss retrieved Sally Lynn and laid her across the wagon bed at the boys\u2019 feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t bring Chub,\u201d Adam commented as he secured the line shack door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFigured to go with ya,\u201d Hoss stated simply as he climbed onto the wagon seat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took his place beside Hoss. \u201cYou worried about my reception at the Planchards and the Devlins?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe Devlins? No, but Jacob Planchard and his sons might be a might riled over baby brother getting their little gal drunk. I just thought it best the both of us do all the delivering. \u2018Sides I weren\u2019t sure if it was safe for Joe and you to spend any time alone together just yet.\u201d Hoss\u2019 tone was only partially teasing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAh, you know me too well, brother mine,\u201d Adam sighed as he put the wagon into motion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They rode in silence for a while with Hoss constantly looking over his shoulder to check on their cargo.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019s only twelve, Adam.\u201d Hoss\u2019s soft comment held worry, and he shook his head in dismay.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you were what, fourteen, the first time?\u201d Adam kept his voice soft also.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa wrote you about it, huh?\u201d The four years that had passed since that day did not seem very long to Hoss at that moment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow old was you?\u201d Hoss queried while searching his memory for something he felt he should already know.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFirst time I did it, or the first time I got caught?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss turned wide eyes on his older brother. \u201cYou did it without getting caught?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTwice, well, once without getting caught at all and once with only Marie knowing not Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMa knew you\u2019d been drinking and didn\u2019t tell Pa?\u201d Hoss\u2019 tone was incredulous.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was thirteen, and Pa was off buying stock. By the time he got back, Marie was over her anger and, well, I think she was afraid Pa might really kill me, or do some serious damage anyway.\u201d Adam\u2019s eyes had shadowed with memories. It was the only time he had begged his stepmother to not tell his pa about his misbehavior.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo ya got off scott free?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI never said that.\u201d Adam\u2019s tone told his brother that he would hear no further details.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd I never knew,\u201d Hoss murmured.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t risk telling you, Hoss. You had a hard time keeping things from Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss harrumphed, feeling slightly insulted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, you know you did, little brother.\u201d Adam turned his head and gave Hoss a deep smile. \u201cI had to have one or two secrets even from you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss smiled back. \u201cDon\u2019t be so sure I don\u2019t have one or two I\u2019ve kept from you, big brother.\u201d They both laughed and rode on again in comfortable silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked over his shoulder as several snores rose from the back of the wagon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWonder where he got the liquor?\u201d Hoss speculated aloud.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot from Pa\u2019s liquor cabinet. He hasn\u2019t bought anything that cheap since before Joe was born, and Pa has never smoked cigars.\u201d Adam reached up and rubbed the bridge of his nose.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe Mitch got it,\u201d Hoss offered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHis father doesn\u2019t smoke at all, and his mother doesn\u2019t allow liquor in the house,\u201d Adam observed. \u201cMitch just might be in deeper sh\u2026water than Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t think, I mean, Little Joe don\u2019t have that kind of money\u2026 ya don\u2019t think they coulda stole it.\u201d Hoss\u2019 whisper was so hesitant that it was clear he was afraid to even voice the thought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes grew darker. He swallowed convulsively and then said, \u201cNo, no, I really don\u2019t think Joe would do that.\u201d Adam shook his head firmly. \u201cNo, baby brother would do a lot of things, but he\u2019s not a thief. I just hope he has a good answer when Pa asks that question.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss sighed in agreement. \u201cThe gal being there is gonna make it worse for both them boys.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou think so!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss ignored Adam\u2019s sarcasm;<\/strong>\u00a0it was to be expected. \u201cI woulda thought Joe would have enough sense not to involve an innocent, little gal.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI have a feeling, brother, that this will not be the only female that Little Joe starts down the road to perdition.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cADAM!\u201d Hoss\u2019 indignant exclamation was loud enough to cause a slight stirring among the occupants of the wagon bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat is, of course, if he lives through the results of this episode.\u201d The Planchard\u2019s house was in sight, and thoughts of the upcoming encounter gave a sharp edge to Adam\u2019s words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss sputtered and turned to look at his brother. Then he shifted and stared down the road. Adam was embarrassed by what he was being forced to do, and elder brother hated to be embarrassed. Hoss sighed and sat silently as Adam drove the wagon up to the Planchard\u2019s house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Eddie Planchard stepped from the house and stopped startled by the sight of the wagon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHello, Adam, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHello, Eddie,\u201d both Cartwright brothers replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy mother\u2019s in the house. You\u2019ll have to excuse me; I have a lost lamb that needs finding.\u201d Sally Lynn\u2019s eldest brother stepped down from the porch as he spoke.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould that lamb be named Sally Lynn?\u201d Adam inquired.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, you wouldn\u2019t have seen her, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHave a look in the back,\u201d Adam instructed as he set the brake and lowered himself to the ground.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Eddie walked to the wagon and looked over its side. Adam and Hoss joined him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat in the world! Is she hurt? MA! MA!\u201d Eddie\u2019s shouts caused the occupants of the wagon bed to stir sluggishly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo! No! No one\u2019s hurt,\u201d Adam began quickly reassuring, \u201cThey\u2019re just, well, um, they\u2019re drunk.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDRUNK!\u201d Eddie Planchard stared incredulously down at his sister. \u201cHow could they be drunk?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s drunk?\u201d Eva Planchard had come out of the house in time to hear her son\u2019s final question.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSally Lynn! Mama, he says that Sally Lynn is drunk.\u201d Eddie pointed to the wagon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn\u2019s mother looked inside to see the three slumbering children. Then she turned her gaze on Adam. \u201cYou say they\u2019re drunk. But\u2026\u201d she paused and waited for an explanation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry to have to tell you, Mrs. Planchard, but, you see, I came upon the three of them up at one of our line shacks. The evidence was clear that they had all been drinking whiskey and smoking cigars.\u201d Adam paused and then continued, \u201cThey all passed out before I could question them about it. Hoss went for a wagon, so we could deliver them to their homes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy baby was alone in a line shack drinking with two boys.\u201d Mrs. Planchard\u2019s tone was that of a student trying to grasp a difficult lesson.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid so, ma\u2019am. Please accept\u2026\u201d Before Adam could complete his thought, Eva Planchard\u2019s temper flared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour brother got my baby drunk!\u201d The words were a hiss filled with venom. \u201cEdward, take your sister inside,\u201d she ordered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Eddie sprang to do his mother\u2019s biding and lifted Sally Lynn from the wagon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen my husband hears of this\u2026. well, you father can expect a visit, I\u2019ll tell you that. To think\u2026 well, you can bet my husband will see that this is not allowed to happen again.\u201d Mrs. Planchard spun on her heel and stomped into her house slamming the door for emphasis.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut, ma\u2019am,\u201d both Hoss and Adam had begun, but has they stared at Eva Planchard\u2019s retreating back their words died away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, that went well, now didn\u2019t it,\u201d Adam commented.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss returned his brother\u2019s sarcasm with a shrug. \u201cBest head on to the Devlins,\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam and Hoss returned to the wagon seat and started toward the Delvin ranch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mrs. Devlin came out of the house when she heard the wagon approaching.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHowdy, Miz Devlin,\u201d Hoss sang out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam. Hoss. Little Joe isn\u2019t here. My husband left a bit ago headed to your place to see if Mitch was over there making a pest of himself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually,\u201d Adam began when a low moan issued from the wagon bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma Devlin darted to the side of the wagon and peered over. \u201cMitch! Adam, what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not hurt. Neither of them is hurt, \u201cAdam spoke in a reassuring tone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen what\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, they\u2019re drunk.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDrunk?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDead drunk.\u201d Adam and Hoss watched the fury blossom in Emma Devlin and waited for the firestorm, but Mitch\u2019s mother just glared down at her son. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I found the boys and Sally Lynn Planchard in one of our line shacks. They\u2019d managed to drink a bottle of whiskey and smoke some cigars. They got sick and passed out before I could ask any questions.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDrinking and smoking.\u201d Mrs. Devlin slowly exhaled. Her eyes left her son, and she turned her gaze on Adam. \u201cAnd the Planchard girl was there?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I thank you for fetching him home. Hoss, could you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Miz Delvin; I\u2019ll carry him in for you. Hop Sing knows we had Mitch, so he should send Mr. Devlin straight back home.\u201d Hoss plucked Mitch from the wagon bed and carried him into the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mrs. Devlin stared at Hoss\u2019 retreating back and shook her head. \u201cThose two boys\u2026\u201d she sighed, \u201cIsaac will be furious.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s not going to be too happy with Little Joe either,\u201d Adam observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen has a firm hand to be sure, but Isaac, well, he can have an awfully heavy one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry about this, Mrs. Devlin,\u201d Adam offered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve no reason to be sorry, Adam. I\u2019m glad you found them. It\u2019s those boys who need to be sorry, and I dare say they will be after their pas get through with them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI dare say. \u201c<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss emerged from the house. \u201cI laid him on his bed, ma\u2019am. Is there anything else we can do for you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, you best be getting Little Joe home. Unless you\u2019d like some coffee or something to eat before you head on?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, thank you,\u201d both Cartwrights answered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then Adam continued, \u201cAs you said, we need to get Little Joe home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood evening then.\u201d Emma Devlin turned and headed into the house to tend to her son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss and Adam returned to the wagon seat and headed home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright walked out of his house and stood on the porch when he heard the wagon approaching. When Adam halted the wagon in the yard, Ben called out, \u201cAdam! Hoss! I thought Little Joe was with you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe is, Pa,\u201d Hoss responded quickly and then looked at his older brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s sleeping in the back,\u201d Adam added quickly and hopped to the ground.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSleeping?\u201d Ben sounded puzzled. \u201cWhy would Little Joe be tired enough to be sleeping?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just carry him inside,\u201d Hoss announced swiftly and immediately lifted Little Joe from the wagon bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s hand went to his hips, and his eyebrows drew closer together, \u201cWhy does he need to be carried? Supper is on the table, so we\u2019ll just wake him up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think Joe will be eating supper,\u201d Adam stated calmly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d His elder sons\u2019 demeanors told Ben that his youngest was not sick but in trouble.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss had not hesitated at his father\u2019s questions and disappeared into the interior of the ranch house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, with what he\u2019s already ingested, I don\u2019t think he would be able to keep it down.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIngested? Just what has Joseph ingested?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s arm crossed his chest, and he absentmindedly tugged his left ear. \u201cActually, Pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam Stoddard, I want the whole story, and I want it now!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t \u2018now pa\u2019 me, Adam. Out with it!\u201d Ben\u2019s demand was punctuated by his most ominous glare.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI found Joe, Mitch, and Sally Lynn Planchard in the line shack up near the ford. Evidence showed that they had been drinking whiskey and smoking cigars.\u201d Adam paused to wait for the explosion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDRINKING WHISKEY AND SMOKING CIGARS!\u201d Ben\u2019s shout came with the force of a gale, but Adam had weathered such gales before.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s anger left him momentarily speechless. When he spoke again, his voice was dangerously low, \u201cLittle Joe was up in a line shack smoking and drinking with Mitch Devlin and Jacob Planchard\u2019s daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, the three of them are fine, well, basically. They lost their lunches, of course, but they\u2019ve been peacefully sleeping off the aftereffects since shortly after I found them. We took Mitch and Sally Lynn to their mothers. That\u2019s about all I can tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s answer was so low as to be an unintelligible growl.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, Hoss and I will get Joe settled in bed\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBed\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe won\u2019t be in any condition for anything else for a good bit, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam cleared his throat and tugged at his ear again, \u201cA bottle between the three of them. At least, that\u2019s what I figure. I didn\u2019t get to ask any questions.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They were standing in the light of the open door. The dim illumination blurred Ben\u2019s view of his eldest son, but something about the way the young man held himself brought back the memory of a much younger Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben spoke more softly, \u201cAfter you get Joe settled, tell Hop Sing to serve you and Hoss supper. I\u2019m going for a walk.\u201d With that statement, Ben strode off into the starlight night.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed and went to help Hoss put their little brother to bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing departed muttering in his native language leaving Adam and Hoss to eye each other across the dining table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss sighed, \u201cA long walk usually calms Pa down.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf he walks to China and back, little brother may live, but I wouldn\u2019t take any bets on it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss was used to his elder brother\u2019s negative exaggerations and simply took another mouthful of Hop Sing\u2019s beef and noodles. \u201cAdam, um, you didn\u2019t mention, um, well, you didn\u2019t mention the fire to Miz Planchard or Miz Delvin; did ya mention it to Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo. Don\u2019t remember mentioning it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t have to; I saw the mattress and the blanket. Are ya gonna tell Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam bit his lip and then rubbed the bridge of his nose, \u201cNot if Joe has the proper attitude when I talk to him.\u201d The images in my head are bad enough. No sense in filling Pa\u2019s head or anybody else\u2019s with them.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTalk?\u201d Hoss inquired wanting a distinction between the act and the euphemism.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBy the time I get my shot at him, he probably won\u2019t have a backside left for me to tan.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss took his brother\u2019s statement as an admission that Adam\u2019s chastisement of Joe would be only verbal. \u201cAnd Mitch?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll speak to him too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSally Lynn?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. That\u2019s\u2026 well, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you think Mr. Planchard will come over like his wife said?\u201d Hoss\u2019 voice was filled with concern.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s pray not.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been praying since I walked into that cabin.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam and Hoss both turned their heads as they heard the front door open. They watched in silence as their father walked to the table and took his seat. Neither of Ben\u2019s sons could think of anything helpful to say, so they said nothing as Ben filled his plate. They still had not spoken when a pounding began at the front door. Hoss and Adam exchanged glances, and Adam rose to his feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get it.\u201d Adam walked to the door and opened it to find Jacob Planchard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be speaking to your Pa.\u201d It was a demand delivered loudly enough to be heard in the dining room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlease do come in,\u201d Adam stated formally and followed their visitor into the great room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had risen and was walking toward their visitor. \u201cJacob, I suppose you\u2019ve come to discuss\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to discuss,\u201d snapped Jacob Planchard, \u201cI came to make it clear that your boy will answer for what he has done.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy sons are always held to account for their actions,\u201d Ben answered calmly though his eyes darkened. \u201cBut how I deal with Joseph is no more your affair than how you deal with Sally Lynn is mine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow I deal with Sally Lynn! Your son and that Devlin boy lured an innocent girl to a scene of debauchery.\u201d Jacob Planchard\u2019s voice boomed with indignation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDebauchery? Jacob, they are twelve years old. I hardly think the word debauchery<\/em> is justified.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice rose slightly, and the muscles of his jaw tightened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo, you plan to excuse your son\u2019s actions,\u201d Jacob hissed. \u201cHe was old enough to ply my baby with whiskey.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd Sally Lynn is old enough to have said no.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice now held a razor\u2019s edge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou allow your son to act as the devil\u2019s pawn and then blame my daughter!\u201d Jacob\u2019s hands clenched into fists as the blood suffused his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid Sally Lynn tell you what happened?\u201d Ben inquired.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t think that my little girl\u2026\u201d Jacob\u2019s words sputtered to a halt at the mere thought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAccording to the Bible, it was Eve that Satan used to tempt Adam.\u201d Adam Cartwright tossed his retort casually into the conversation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d Ben hissed his son\u2019s name as he prepared to insert himself between his eldest son and Sally Lynn\u2019s enraged father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jacob Planchard stared at Adam and then at Ben. \u201cTake your sons in hand, Cartwright, before someone else does.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can deal with my sons, Jacob.\u201d Ben\u2019s tone was as cold as his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll not have Joe even speaking to my daughter again, and if I find\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph will be told to have nothing to do with Sally Lynn.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jacob turned on his heel and stomped to the door. Then he stopped and turned to face Ben once again. \u201cHe had better heed that order, or I shall give him a lesson in consequences he\u2019ll not forget.\u201d Jacob Planchard slammed the door behind him before Ben could voice a reply.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s gaze moved from the still vibrating door to his eldest son. Adam shifted and then lifted his chin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t my place to speak, Pa, and for that I apologize, but we don\u2019t know how things happened. In any event, from what I saw, Sally Lynn was a full and willing participant.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re trying to tell me that Mitch and Joe did not drag Sally Lynn to that line shack and force whiskey down her throat, I never considered that they did. \u00a0Joe is accountable for his actions not Sally Lynn\u2019s. She is Jacob\u2019s concern not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa,\u201d Hoss stated gently, \u201cthey\u2019re just young ones playing at being grown.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s attention swiveled to his eighteen-year-old, \u201cDo I need to remind you that I do not consider either drinking or smoking harmless play?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss dropped his eyes and gazed at the floor. \u201cNo, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed. Hoss looks as guilty as if he were the one who\u2019d been drinking, and Adam, well, he hardly looked this apprehensive when he was the culprit. Of course, they\u2019ve borne the brunt of my anger this evening.<\/em>\u00a0Ben moved his gaze to the half-eaten meal on the table. He had no appetite at that moment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFinish your supper, sons,\u201d he said in warmer tones than he had used all evening, \u201cI\u2019ll see you in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa,\u201d Adam tried one more time, \u201cwe were older; Little Joe, well, he is only twelve.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI must have made quite the impression on you two.\u201d Ben\u2019s lips curled into a wry smile. \u201cYou both survived; your little brother will to.\u201d Ben turned and made his way up the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam turned to Hoss. \u201cWe did survive, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d The response was half-hearted, and Hoss\u2019 features did not lighten.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou want any more supper?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNope.\u201d Hoss shook his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shrugged. \u201cNeither do I. We can flip for who tells Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam turned his head when he heard the rap at his door. \u201cCome in.\u201d He watched his father enter and turned to face him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe and I will not be attending services this morning. You and Hoss will give our regrets to the Reverend.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, I know that, well, I, Hoss nor I, neither of us want to make dealing with Joe harder for you. It\u2019s just\u2026\u201d Adam tugged at his left ear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour sympathies lie with your little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe had to stand in his shoes, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAs have I, Adam. Your grandfather Joseph held me to account many times.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you very like your father?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn some ways; in others, not at all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam wondered why his pa seldom spoke of his own father, but Ben\u2019s tone kept him from asking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle brother\u2019s going to rue the day he decided to go to that line shack, isn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf he doesn\u2019t rue his mistake, he is sure to repeat it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam considered the fact that when he had not been caught the first time there had been a second and that when Marie had not told his father about that incident there had been a third. After his father had delivered the consequences, there had not been a fourth time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right, Pa.\u201d Adam gave his father a sheepish smile. \u201cIt\u2019s just that he\u2019s my baby brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is why neither you nor Hoss will go into Joe\u2019s room today.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd Joe will not be coming out.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe has a lesson to learn, Adam.\u201d Ben\u2019s tone allowed no discussion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAs you say, Pa. I\u2019ll let Hoss know.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing had brought Joe one of his medicinal teas and made the boy drink it down despite Joe\u2019s protests. The bitter tasting concoction had eased the turmoil in both Joe\u2019s head and stomach but not in his mind. His father had been into his room several times during the night when he had been sick, so Joe could not avoid believing that his Pa knew what he had done, but his father had said little during those visits. In fact, the absence of bellows from his father and Chinese mutterings from Hop Sing had made Little Joe well aware of just how deeply he was in trouble.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe heard his door open and recognized his father\u2019s footsteps as they crossed the floor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know you\u2019re awake, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe opened his eyes but did not raise his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time we talked.\u201d His father\u2019s tone left no doubt in Joe\u2019s mind as to the type of discussion they would be having. Joe knew what was expected and dragged himself to his feet. He stood before Ben with his eyes fixed on his father\u2019s boots. A wave of dizziness washed over him, and he wobbled backward taking a half-sitting position against the bed. \u201cSorry, Pa. I don\u2019t feel so well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd what do you think is causing you to feel unwell, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUmmm, I guess, well, umm, it\u2019s probably the whiskey I, uh, drank,\u201d Joe managed to answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI would say it is most definitely the whiskey you drank.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice had increased in volume and seemed to be solidifying. \u201cThe same whiskey that had you fouled with vomit and urine when your brothers brought you home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUrine?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s eyes flew to his father\u2019s face and widened to fill his own. \u201cI didn\u2019t\u2026. I couldn\u2019t have\u2026 did I?\u201d A dark, red flush rose into Joe\u2019s pale features.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow does it feel, Joseph, to have lost control of yourself to that degree and not even be able to remember who might have witnessed that fact?\u201d Ben\u2019s words hit his son harder than a slap.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe dropped his chin to his chest and drew in a shuddering breath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben reached out and raised Joe\u2019s head with his hand and held his chin. Joe\u2019s eyes moved wildly trying not to meet his father\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat is what too much liquor does to a man, Joseph. It leaves him with less control than a little child. It causes him to embarrass himself and those forced to watch what it reduces him to. Do you understand me?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cY,yes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho gave you permission to drink whiskey, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cN\u2026n… no one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you remember my forbidding you to do so?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYesss, sir.\u201d Joe barely managed to whisper the answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYET YOU SNUCK OFF AND SWILLED WHISKEY WITH YOUR FRIENDS UNTIL YOU COULDN’T STAND!\u201d Ben\u2019s roar caused Little Joe to tremble like an aspen leaf.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben launched into a five- minute tirade on the fact that Joe had been drinking; then his voice lowered, and he asked, “What else were you doing in that line shack?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe knew what he was being asked to reveal and answered with only, \u201cSmoking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, smoking cigars to be precise. And who was it that gave you permission to smoke?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you remember my forbidding you to do so?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you decided to disobey me in this also!\u201d Ben did not pause for an answer. The lecture on the dangers of smoking especially when drinking lasted over five minutes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa. Really sorry.\u201d Little Joe had made the same teary assertion each time his father had paused for breath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI want the entire story of how you came to be drinking and smoking in a line shack with Mitch Devlin and Sally Lynn Planchard, and, Joseph Frances Cartwright, every word of what you say had better be the truth!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026\u201d Joe began and then shifted from one foot to another without continuing. Ben cleared his throat. \u201cWell, Sally Lynn had some whiskey.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSally Lyn had whiskey?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, uh, sir, and she said she\u2019d share.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd where did Sally Lynn get this whiskey?\u201d Ben inquired.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe found it in the street — at least she said she found it — and that she\u2019d share \u2018cause she has a bond with Mitch and me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA bond?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019s all twelve, Pa.\u201d Little Joe chanced a glance at his father\u2019s face and then continued in a trembling voice. \u201cWe decided to meet on Saturday \u2018cause me and Mitch would never go drinking on a Sunday, Pa, never.\u201d Little Joe paused for breath and then continued, \u201c We went up to the line shack, and she had cigars too, and we drank some of the whiskey, and smoked the cigars, and then Adam came, and I don\u2019t really remember much after that, Pa. Really I don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re telling me that Sally Lyn supplied the whiskey and the cigars?\u201d Ben demanded. \u201cAnd where did Sally Lynn get cigars?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. Really, Pa. She just said she earned them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEarned them?\u201d Ben\u2019s tone was incredulous.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben studied his young son and decided to accept his word for the time being. \u201cSo she supplied the whiskey and cigars while you supplied a horse and a line shack?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUmm, yes, I guess so.\u201d Joe raised eyes full of pleading to his father. \u201cI\u2019m real, real sorry, Pa. I won\u2019t never do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI intend to give you good reason to keep to that decision, Joseph, in the case of both drinking and smoking.\u201d Ben had straightened until he seemed to tower dozens of feet over the boy before him. \u201cWhat is the punishment for blatant disobedience, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA tanning,\u201d Joe admitted reluctantly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould your drinking whiskey be grounds for a tanning?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould smoking cigars be grounds for a tanning?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir, but, Pa, I\u2019m really sorry, and I won\u2019t ever do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben pronounced sentence with a judicial tone steeling his voice. \u201cYou will be punished for the drinking at this time. Then you will stay in this room for the day and reflect on your transgressions, Joseph. After supper you will receive your punishment for smoking those cigars.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe jerked as he realized the import of his father\u2019s words. \u201cBut Pa\u2026\u201d he gasped.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou chose to commit both infractions yesterday. The consequences for both will be administered today. Tomorrow you will start with a clean slate although you will have to work to regain my trust.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe recognized that his father would not be changing his mind and ended his pleas with one final, \u201cPlease, Pa, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam and Hoss had taken as long as was feasible to return to the ranch house. The Devlins had not been in attendance at church services, and the Planchard family had attended without Sally Lynn or her mother. Mr. Planchard and his sons had glared at the Cartwright brothers, and Adam doubted that either family had given enough attention to Reverend Shelby\u2019s sermon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Upon their return, Adam and Hoss had found their father in his favorite chair reading the Bible. They had avoided mentioning their brother, Sally Lynn, or any topic related to their little brother\u2019s misadventure.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When supper ended, they watched Hop Sing come down the stairs carrying a tray with the remains of Little Joe\u2019s meal. Very little of the food appeared to be missing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid he eat anything?\u201d Ben Cartwright asked Hop Sing as he passed by on his way to the kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNumbel three son no eat when waiting fathel\u2019s punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben wiped his mouth and set his napkin on the table. \u201cThere\u2019s no reason to keep him waiting any longer,\u201d Ben replied and rose to his feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 eyes widened, and Adam\u2019s eyebrow rose. They thought they had managed to avoid being on hand for their brother\u2019s punishment. Adam ventured reflexively, \u201cYou haven\u2019t tanned him yet?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour brother was punished for his drinking this morning. This evening he will be punished for his illicit smoking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Neither of Ben\u2019s sons could suppress an exclamation of indignation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa! You can\u2019t mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa wouldn\u2019t tan him twice in a day, Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gave his sons a look that stated he had no intention of justifying his actions to his children. Then he sighed. Adam, at any rate, was not a child.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI will not have Joseph thinking that he should bundle as much disobedience as possible together because a tanning is a tanning.\u201d Adam and Hoss exchanged a glance; they had always known that in reality their father kept his physical chastisement within strict limits. \u201cThis way Joe will know that each choice he makes has its own consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut two tannings, Pa.\u201d Hoss\u2019 voice was bordering on a wail.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe cumulative effect, Pa,\u201d Adam added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill be no more than many single tannings each of you received.\u201d Seeing the expressions on both his sons\u2019 faces, he asked softly, \u201cHave I ever given you reason to distrust me in these matters?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa,\u201d Hoss declared immediately.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took a moment to study his father\u2019s eyes. \u201cNo, Pa, never. We shouldn\u2019t have questioned you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben accepted the apology with a small smile. Hoss rose to his feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou have business in the barn, son?\u201d Ben inquired his smile turning wry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah, Pa, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rose quickly and added, \u201cAnd he needs my help.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With nothing further said, Adam and Hoss exited the house while Ben mounted the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam opened Joe\u2019s bedroom door and stepped inside. He walked through the still dark room and lit the lamp at Joe\u2019s beside. Then he took a seat on the edge of the bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know you’re awake, Joe.\u201d Adam made no jibe about how unusual it was to find his little brother awake on his own especially before dawn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s back was to his brother, and he did not turn toward Adam. He mumbled into his pillow, \u201cAre you real mad?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, not now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe slowly rolled over. \u201cYou\u2019re not?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cNot anymore, even though I\u2019ve a right to be.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow come?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa was mad enough for a dozen men, so I decided I wouldn\u2019t waste the energy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry you did it, or sorry you got caught?\u201d Little Joe buried his face in his sheets, and Adam sighed. \u201cI always hated that question too. I forgive you, little brother.\u201d As Joe\u2019s face reappeared, he added, \u201cDon\u2019t I always?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Pa said he forgives me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf he said he did, he does.\u201d Adam reached out and gently squeezed Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cHe\u2019s had plenty of practice forgiving wayward sons.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A faint smile slipped onto Joe\u2019s face. Then he replied woefully, \u201cThere\u2019s some other things he does to wayward sons I wish he hadn\u2019t practiced so well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally set your backside burning, did he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, ya could have melted a horseshoe on it,\u201d Joe declared mournfully, and Adam summoned enough restraint not to laugh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo I need to check for bruises?\u201d Adam teasingly reached for the hem of Joe\u2019s nightshirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNOoo!\u201d Joe swatted Adam\u2019s hand away. \u201cYou know Pa don\u2019t bruise us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam leaned back against the headboard. \u201cI know.\u201d Then his eyes grew darker and his tone solemn. \u201cJoe, I need to talk to you about something before you get dressed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow much do you remember about what happened when I got to the line shack?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUmmm, well, you were mad.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, do remember the fire?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa didn\u2019t say nothing about it, so I was kinda hoping that was something I dreamed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t. I didn\u2019t tell Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d Joe raised his eyes to study his brother\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want him to have to suffer the same visions I can\u2019t get out of my mind. I didn\u2019t want to cause him that pain.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe winced and discovered he had not cried himself dry the day before.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam caught Joe\u2019s chin in his hand and held his eyes to his. \u201cYou realize what could have happened?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYesss.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe flame would have caught her dress next.\u201d Joe tried to duck his head, but Adam\u2019s grip remained firm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHave you seen someone scarred by bad burns?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPray that you never do.\u201d Adam told himself the boy was only twelve and released his chin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t never smoke, Adam, never!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam knew that at that moment Joe meant his promise totally. \u201cThen I won\u2019t have to tell Pa about the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe reached out and hugged his elder brother. As Adam\u2019s arms encircled the boy, he was very glad that Joe demanded physical affection of those who loved him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBest get dressed now! Show Pa you\u2019ve decided to be a good boy,\u201d ordered Adam as he ended the embrace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay. I\u2019m gonna be real good; you\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam grinned, ruffled Joe\u2019s hair, and went to his own chores.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe slipped onto his chair at the dining table and returned Hoss\u2019 smile. \u201cGood morning, Pa,\u201d he said after a momentary hesitation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, son.\u201d Ben\u2019s greeting was soft and easy, and Little Joe\u2019s smile broadened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing entered with a platter of flapjacks. The Cartwrights began passing around food and conversing about the upcoming day. Little Joe found that he was ravenous. He ate heartily and beat Hoss to the last flapjack.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, I will be taking you to school, and one of your brothers will bring you home,\u201d Ben said as he laid his napkin on the table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe opened his mouth to protest, but before a syllable issued from his mouth his long-legged brother\u2019s boot came in contact with his shin. Joe closed his mouth, swallowed, and then said, \u201cYes, Pa.\u201d He caught his elder brother\u2019s wink and returned a barely perceptible nod.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI have business in town later, Pa. I\u2019ll bring Joe home,\u201d Adam volunteered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFine. Get your books, Joe, and meet me outside.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa.\u201d Joe reached for his glass and downed the last of his milk as he watched his father leave the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stood and caught his middle brother\u2019s eye. \u201cJoe\u2019s practicing being a good boy,\u201d he observed with a light, teasing tone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood idea, Short Shanks,\u201d Hoss chuckled, \u201cThey do say better late than never.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s empty glass clanked down upon the table. \u201cYeah, it shouldn\u2019t take too long to convince Pa I\u2019m a new man.\u201d Joe sprang to his feet and headed for the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo more than a decade,\u201d Adam intoned, but there was no edge to his voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He and Hoss exchanged a glance and then watched their brother dash up the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe had managed to be quietly respectful and pleasant as he sat next to his father on the way into town. Pa had not made any reference to his recent misdeeds, and Joe had carefully skirted any mention that could trigger the memory.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the school came into view, Ben\u2019s voice grew stern. \u201cJoe, you remember what I said about Sally Lynn. You are not to speak with her, write her a note, or communicate with her in any way. In fact, you will avoid any contact with her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut, Pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is not up for discussion, Joseph. Unless and until Mr. Planchard changes his opinion and relents, you will have nothing to do with the girl.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI weren\u2019t meaning to argue, Pa, really. It\u2019s just we\u2019re in the same room and all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn the schoolroom your attention should be on the teacher and your studies.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir,\u201d Joe inserted quickly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI realized there are some things that cannot be avoided. That\u2019s why I\u2019m going to speak to your teacher, so she knows of the situation and can help you avoid problems.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And let you know if I disobey you. <\/em>Little Joe kept his thought unspoken. Then he ventured, \u201cI ain\u2019t forbidden to speak to Mitch, am I?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, you are not, but I suggest the both of you refrain from anymore mischief for quite some time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, we will, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben pulled the wagon to a stop and scanned the schoolyard. Several children had already arrived. Mitch Devlin was among them. The boy saw the Cartwrights but hesitated and came towards them only when Joe called his name.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey, Joe, Mr. Cartwright.\u201d Mitch dropped his head and stood before Ben. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, sir, about, well, about what we done Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure your father impressed upon you the importance of that behavior not being repeated.\u201d Ben\u2019s tone was stern and his gaze unrelenting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir. Ma did her own impressing too. I won\u2019t be drinking or smoking until I\u2019m about a hundred.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEven that may be too soon, Mitch,\u201d Ben said in a lighter tone. Then he smiled his forgiveness. \u201cYou boys go and play while I speak with your teacher.\u201d Ben left the boys and strolled into the schoolhouse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned to his friend. \u201cYour pa tell you to apologize to my pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I just, well, it felt like the right idea.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I guess I\u2019ll apologize to your folks when I see \u2018em.\u201d Little Joe nudged his friend. \u201cI was a little worried they might start thinking like Sally Lynn\u2019s folks about us not talking and all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNaw, they wouldn\u2019t. My folks don\u2019t blame nobody but me for what I do. You know that, Joe.\u201d Mitch pushed Joe back, and a friendly give-and\u2013take ensued as the conversation continued.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, they\u2019re like my pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou mind that we can\u2019t talk to Sally Lynn?\u201d Mitch inquired.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot really. I mean it\u2019s just\u2026\u201d Joe\u2019s words turned into a shrug.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou just don\u2019t like being told ya can\u2019t do something even if you didn\u2019t plan to ever.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shrugged again; his friend knew him well. \u201cGuess your folks were as mad as my pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI meant it, Joe; I can\u2019t risk getting caught smoking or drinking again until I\u2019m too old for my Pa to tan.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMe neither, and Pa\u2019s always saying I won\u2019t never be too old for him to tan.\u201d Joe had tried for a teasing tone, but a serious worry weighed down his words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYours was a bad one too, uh?\u201d Mitch inquired softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded and rubbed his backside. \u201cReal bad,\u201d Joe responded and ended the conversation. The two boys never discussed the details of their punishments.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben emerged from the schoolhouse and called to the boys. They ran over and stood before him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMiss Cutler understands the situation, boys. There should be no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy ma said if Sally Lynn speaks to me, I can be rude and not answer,\u201d Mitch volunteered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSince she would be disobeying her father, I agree, the rules of etiquette can be set aside. Little Joe, you will not be rude, but you will not respond.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCartwright!\u201d Ben, Joe, and Mitch all turned toward the source of the call. Jacob Planchard had entered the schoolyard. Sally Lynn and her youngest brother walked at his side.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jacob walked up to Ben ignoring the two boys. \u201cCartwright, you have informed your son that he is to have nothing to do with my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been taken care of, Jacob,\u201d Ben responded with strained civility.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd have you handled the fact that he lured my daughter to that line shack under false pretenses and then plied her with whiskey?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe lured her with false pretenses?\u201d Ben\u2019s voice was razor-sharp steel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t even know he had that whiskey until those two boys had her alone miles away from\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe had the whiskey?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The color had drained from Little Joe\u2019s features, and Mitch\u2019s eyes had grown to dominate his entire face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI suppose the boy told you a different story.\u201d The statement was delivered as a condescending sneer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s glare turned toward his son. \u201cJoseph?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t, I didn\u2019t, Pa! I didn\u2019t lie to you. Sally Lynn\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe had it, Mr. Cartwright. She \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jacob Planchard\u2019s voice cut through the boys exclamations, \u201cSally Lynn told me they would try to shift the blame to her; I see she was right.\u201d He looked down at his daughter. \u201cYou see why I have forbidden you the companionship of such miscreants.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn kept her eyes on the ground and nodded her head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome along then. There\u2019s no more to be said.\u201d Jacob Planchard strode off with his children following in his wake.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t lie, Pa. I didn\u2019t,\u201d Joe repeated with rapid, jagged breaths.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe did, Mr. Cartwright. Joe and I just \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben studied the two boys and then cleared his throat, \u201cI hope you both are being honest; for now, I will accept your word.\u201d The school bell drowned any further comment. When its call faded, Ben added, \u201cYou two get inside and behave yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch and Joe both muttered, \u201cYes, sir.\u201d Joe risked one look at his father\u2019s eyes and then trudged after his friend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam leaned against the buckboard and watched Joe and Mitch exit the schoolhouse. Joe spotted his brother, bid his friend good-bye, and hurried over to the buckboard. When Joe came within reach, Adam grabbed him by the waist and swung him smoothly onto the buckboard\u2019s wooden seat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStay put, Joe. I need to speak to Mitch.\u201d Adam strode off in Mitch\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe blew out his exasperation, his breath raising the hair on his forehead. Can\u2019t wait \u2018til I\u2019m grown and too big for Adam to hoist!<\/em> Then he turned to observe his brother and his friend. He could not hear the conversation, but he had little doubt as to what was being said. Mitch has better sense than to sulk or backtalk Adam. \u2018Sides it was his idea to apologize to Pa<\/em>. When Adam turned and walked back in his direction, Joe studied his brother\u2019s face and sighed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam climbed into the seat beside Joe and picked up the reins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMitch ain\u2019t never going to smoke again neither, Adam,\u201d Joe declared softly after a few minutes of silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam glanced at his brother, \u201cHe promised me. I\u2019m not mad at either of you; I told you this morning I wasn\u2019t. Don\u2019t fret. Didn\u2019t Pa tell you that you had a clean slate today?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Joe stated weakly as his mind drifted back to the encounter with Jacob Planchard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe always does,\u201d Adam said more to himself than Joe. \u201cActually, Joe, you and Mitch were not the objects of my thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn! <\/em>The name came into Little Joe\u2019s mind, and he gave it an angry shove. \u201cAre you going to talk to Sally Lynn?\u201d he inquired after a time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s the one who almost burned us alive!\u201d The exclamation crackled with anger, as Joe jerked with indignation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam turned, looked down at Joe, and raised his right eyebrow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe slumped and said hesitantly, \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to \u2026it\u2019s just\u2026 how come ya talked to me and Mitch, but you\u2019re not going to fuss at her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou call our talk this morning fussing?\u201d Adam\u2019s tone carried the message that he could do a much better job of scolding.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGuess not really, but it made me feel bad about what we done,\u201d Joe answered sheepishly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood. I hope it did the same for Mitch.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you want Sally Lynn to feel bad? Is it because she\u2019s a girl?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head, \u201cIt\u2019s not that at all.\u201d Adam gave his brother a wry smile. \u201cI guess it\u2019s just that with you and Mitch I expected it to do some good, but with Sally Lynn, well, I\u2019m not sure it would or that it might not cause another problem.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAt this point, at least, I think it\u2019s best all the Cartwrights give the Planchards a wide berth.\u201d Adam lapsed into silence, and Little Joe lost his battle to keep his thoughts from the fact that Sally Lynn had lied about who had the whiskey and cigars.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Half-way home Adam began to consider the fact that his little brother had remained quiet far longer than boded well. He gave a sideways glance and realized Joe\u2019s demeanor was far more downcast than he would have expected after Joe\u2019s mood at breakfast. He shouldn\u2019t be sulking over my not taking Sally Lyn to task. <\/em>\u00a0\u201cJoe, how was school?”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSame as always.\u201d The reply had no edge of sulkiness or sass; it was just a flat-toned statement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou remembered you were practicing to be a good boy?\u201d Adam made sure his voice was light and only gently teasing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I was good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave a mental shrug and started a discussion about the herd of wild horses the hands had seen in one of the high pastures. Joe\u2019s answers were automatic and without animation. Adam became sure that something new was troubling his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Whatever it is will come out eventually. <\/em>Adam pulled into the ranch yard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss greeted his brothers with the news that Pa wanted Adam in the house and that he and Joe would see to horses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the time Sulky and Sam were groomed and fed, Hoss had decided that his little brother needed to talk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll start my chores,\u201d Little Joe announced listlessly and started toward the barn door. Suddenly he felt himself leave the ground. His brother had lifted him off his feet. Hoss carried Joe a dozen yards and plopped him down on a barrel. Blame it! I\u2019ll be glad when Hoss can\u2019t tote me around like a sack of feed.<\/em> Then he gave Hoss a good look as his brother went to his heels in front of Joe and decided that Hoss would most likely always be able to tote him like a sack of grain.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna talk, Short Shanks. Tell ol\u2019 Hoss what\u2019s bothering ya.\u201d Hoss\u2019 voice was velvet over steel. Joe sighed. Adam said Hoss was a Missouri mule, and about some things Adam was right.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSally Lynn got the whiskey and cigars, Hoss. When Pa told me to tell the truth, I did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood thing. So\u2026\u201d Hoss encouraged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSally Lynn didn\u2019t. She told her Pa that I had them and that Mitch and I got her up to that line shack without her knowing about them. Her pa told Pa this morning that we about forced her to do that drinking and smoking.\u201d Joe locked his eyes onto Hoss\u2019. \u201cI didn\u2019t lie, Hoss; I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs Pa believing Sally Lynn?\u201d If their pa believed that Joe had lied to him, his little brother had good reason not to enter the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe said he\u2019d take my word and Mitch\u2019s.\u201d Joe\u2019s eyes dropped to study his brother\u2019s knees.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen he won\u2019t punish ya, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that; it\u2019s \u2026 he don\u2019t for truly believe me, Hoss; he thinks maybe I\u2019m lying. I know he does.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you\u2019re not?\u201d It was a question, not a statement, and Joe sprang from his seat pushing his brother\u2019s shoulders. Hoss unbalanced and landed on his backside, but his arms closed quickly and drew his brother to him. Little Joe struggled to break the hold.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, Joe, settle down, young\u2019un. Settle down.\u201d Hoss kept his arms firmly around his brother until Little Joe stilled. Then he caught Joe\u2019s face in his hand and forced the boy to gaze into his eyes. \u201cThe whiskey and cigars came from Sally Lynn?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you didn\u2019t tell Pa any lies?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI believe you, little brother.\u201d Hoss relaxed his embrace, and Joe slid to ground in front of him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWish Pa really did.\u201d Joe slumped with his arms against his knees and his head buried in his arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa always says that the truth wills out. Give it time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Joe\u2019s agreement was half-hearted. Then he pushed to his feet. \u201cGotta do my chores. After all, I\u2019m being a good boy.\u201d Joe turned and trudged out the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s it,\u201d Adam set down his book and looked into the fire. \u201cAnd you\u2019re sure, Hoss, that Joe was telling you the truth?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSee! There you go doubting him too. No wonder Joe\u2019s chin is still dragging the ground with none of us trusting him straight off.\u201d Hoss\u2019 agitation sent him to his feet. \u201cYou know our little brother ain\u2019t that kind of liar.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, he\u2019s not, but, Hoss, anyone will lie if they think they have to.\u201d Adam\u2019s hand went to the bridge of his nose before he continued, \u201cHoss, some of the hands, well, the only kind of whiskey they buy is that cheap stuff, and some of them smoke cigars too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo now you\u2019re thinking Joe stole from the hands!\u201d exclaimed Hoss with righteous indignation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLower your voice!\u201d Adam snapped back, \u201cDo you want Pa or Joe to hear?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss glanced over his shoulder and up the stairs. Joe should have been asleep an hour ago, and Pa had gone up shortly after their brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, is that what you\u2019re saying?\u201d Hoss demanded in a harsh whisper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, but he might have gotten them from one of the hands some other way. It\u2019s that, well, that\u2019s more likely than Sally Lynn coming up with them. The Planchards aren\u2019t the sort of folks to have a lot of spare cash to give to their children. Who\u2019d sell cigars and whiskey to a little girl?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t have to\u00a0buy<\/em>\u00a0them. Mitch backed Joe\u2019s story.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe would in any event, wouldn\u2019t he? That\u2019s the problem; all three of them have powerful reasons to lie.\u201d Adam exhaled slowly. \u201cYou\u2019re sure he wasn\u2019t lying?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI am sure, Adam. He wouldn\u2019t have no powerful reason to lie to me. To Pa, yeah, and to you even, but not to me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou have a point.\u201d Adam relaxed back into his chair. \u201cAre you going to talk to Pa about it all?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been dickering with myself about that. Think I should?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf Pa said he\u2019s taking Joe\u2019s word, I don\u2019t think it would change much. The doubt Joe\u2019s aching over isn\u2019t something Pa can just decide not to have. It needs some proof to make it go away. Maybe something will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa think it will be like Pa says, \u2018The truth wills out\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI believe Hop Sing has your bath ready, Little Joe.\u201d It was stated as an observation, but Little Joe knew an order from his father however obliquely it was given.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf Adam or Hoss would like to use the bath first, I wouldn\u2019t mind waiting, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben recognized an evasion when he heard one. His voice deepened, \u201cJoseph.\u201d Then he paused and softened his tone, \u201cI\u2019m sure your brothers won\u2019t mind your going first.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss caught his little brother\u2019s eye and gave him an encouraging nod. \u201cI\u2019ll put the checkers away, Short Shanks.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s sigh was barely audible. \u201cOkay, Pa.\u201d Little Joe left the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, that was easy, now wasn\u2019t it, Pa?\u201d Adam had closed the book he was reading on his finger, and his tone made it clear that his observation was not a jibe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re pointing out the fact that your brother has been particularly obedient this past week, I assure you that it is unnecessary. I have noticed Little Joe\u2019s efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHave you let him know that?\u201d Adam asked trying not to sound in anyway disrespectful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes fixed his eldest with a demanding gaze; then he leaned back and placed his fingers in a triangle. \u201cPerhaps not as clearly as I should.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s trying to show that he learned his lesson, Pa. Ya know Joe takes you being angry with him hard,\u201d Hoss ventured emboldened by his father\u2019s reception of Adam\u2019s question.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not angry with your brother.\u201d Ben turned his gaze toward Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe takes your being disappointed in him even harder.\u201d Adam waited to see if he and Hoss had nudged their father too far or just far enough.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If Marie were here, those words would have a French lilt.<\/em>\u00a0 He rose, gave his elder sons a look that conceded their point, and headed toward the washroom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben rapped on the door and heard a scrabble and a splash. He opened the door to see his youngest vigorously lathering his arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m nearly done, Pa. Didn\u2019t mean to keep anybody waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou needn\u2019t rush, Joe. \u201c Ben crossed the room to the tub and knelt beside it. \u201cLean forward, and I\u2019ll scrub your back.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe wrapped his arms around his bent legs and placed his chin on his knees. As his father moved the washrag in circles on his back, Joe ventured, \u201cPa, would it be all right, well, if Mitch came over after services tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHave you two something special planned?\u201d Ben\u2019s voice was still relaxed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot really, Pa. We\u2019d stay right around the house.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf Mitch\u2019s parents agree, I\u2019m sure that would be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d Joe twisted to face his father. \u201cWe\u2019ll be good, Pa; I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled. \u201cI\u2019m sure you will, son. You\u2019ve been doing a very good job of that this week.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe ducked his head, but Ben still saw his son\u2019s smile. \u201cPa, I did some thinking, well, when I was in my room.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat was the purpose, Joe, but I\u2019m pleased to hear you took advantage of the opportunity. What precisely did you think about?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, besides my backside, I thought about all you said and everything. I guess, well, I guess I just decided it\u2019d be better to be good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood decision and I thank you for it.\u201d Ben cupped Joe\u2019s chin with his hand. \u201cJoe, you are a very fine boy, and I don\u2019t expect you to be perfect, but it\u2019s my job to guide and correct you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss says when you don\u2019t care is when you don\u2019t get angry,\u201d Joe flashed a sheepish smile, \u201cMad as ya got you must care a whole lot.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA whole lot!\u201d Ben\u2019s hand moved to Joe\u2019s curls. \u201cYour hair\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt ain\u2019t too long, Pa!\u201d burst from Joe. Then he bit his lip and worry shadowed his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, but it is in need of a wash. Dunk!\u201d Ben\u2019s hand pressed down, and Joe lowered his head beneath the water. When he came back up spitting, Ben lathered his hair. \u201cKeep your eyes closed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe obeyed but opened his mouth, \u201cDo you have to punish me more than ya did Adam and Hoss, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s fingers stilled for a moment then began massaging again as he answered, \u201cHoss has always taken to obedience easier than most, but you know that he was punished when needed.\u201d Joe\u2019s head nodded beneath Ben\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben reached for the bucket of warm water waiting beside the tub. \u201cI didn\u2019t keep score, Joseph, but Adam received his share of spankings.\u201d He poured water over Joe\u2019s head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe spluttered and then managed, \u201cI don\u2019t remember.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMost of them were before you were born, and the rest were when you were too young to remember. Here.\u201d Ben draped a towel over Joe\u2019s head and stood. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in your nightshirt, I want you in your bed, but you may read if you wish.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhatever I want?\u201d Joe asked thinking of the dime novel in his upper drawer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhatever I have already consented to.\u201d Ben turned and walked to the door. As he reached for the knob, Joe\u2019s voice caused him to pause.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, will I ever be too old for you to scrub my back sometimes?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben did not turn to face his son, but Joe heard the grin in his father\u2019s voice, \u201cAsk your brother Adam.\u201d Then he walked out the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa finished, Short Shanks? We got to get cleaned up and ready to head for church.\u201d Hoss called out has he walked out of the barn his own morning chores having just been completed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Little Joe called back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss meet Joe on the porch, and the two brothers entered the house together. Their father was at the top of the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t intend to walk into church late, boys. Get a move on.\u201d Ben then proceeded back down the hall to his own room to finish dressing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa,\u201d both sons responded. Then Joe and Hoss looked at each other and rolled their eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe giggled and took off calling over his shoulder, \u201cLast one ready puts the team up when we get home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss came out of his room to find Joe leaning against the hall wall. \u201cYa better have taken time to wash, Big Shorty.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rolled his eyes. \u201cFeel.\u201d Joe bent his head forward; Hoss checked that the curls at the nape of his neck were damp. Joe lifted his head and continued cheekily, \u201cI just don\u2019t have as much territory to cover, Big Boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss cuffed his brother playfully glad that Joe had recovered some of his usual sass. \u201cPa talk to ya last night?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Mitch gets to come over if his parents say\u00a0yes<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u201d Hoss hesitated and then asked, \u201cPa ain\u2019t gonna hear nothing at church that he won\u2019t like, is he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head. \u201cI told you I\u2019ve been being good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stated his real question with one name, \u201cSally Lynn?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sighed, \u201cI ain\u2019t talked to her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe try to talk to you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head and slumped against the wall. \u201cShe don\u2019t even look at us, Hoss. \u2018Course her brother Henry has been keeping a closer eye on her than Adam keeps on me when we\u2019re on D Street.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2019s taken you on D Street! He ain\u2019t, has he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe giggled at Hoss\u2019 astonishment. \u201cNaw, furthest I been with Adam is C Street.\u201d Joe leaned back to keep out of the reach of his brother\u2019s swinging hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t asking if ya been further without Adam,\u201d Hoss said with a chuckle. The he grew serious once more. \u201cHope Pa don\u2019t hear no gossip about it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think so, Hoss. Mitch and I ain\u2019t said nothing, well, \u2018cepting that we ain\u2019t talking to Sally Lynn but not why. Sally Lynn ain\u2019t said nothing either, or someone would have said. Henry ain\u2019t neither, so Mitch and I figure their folks said not to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCould be,\u201d Hoss observed with a slight nod. \u201cLet\u2019s hope her folks ain\u2019t been complaining to no other parents. It\u2019s always best if nobody goes stirring in a stink hole. What\u2019s past is past.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I just\u2026I wish\u2026\u201d Little Joe shrugged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBoys!\u201d Their pa\u2019s voice rolled up the stairs from the ground floor and set both boys in motion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cComing, Pa,\u201d Hoss answered for both of them and followed his younger brother down the hall. He did not press Little Joe to tell him what he wished; Hoss already knew.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ***********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They had managed to arrive not just on time but slightly early. As Hoss settled the horses, Ben spotted Emma and Isaac Devlin. He walked over and greeted the couple.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHello, Ben, it\u2019s good to see you,\u201d Emma Devlin smiled. Ben had been by the house earlier in the week to discuss last Saturday\u2019s incident over a plate of her peach strudel, so her greeting held no trace of unease.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always a pleasure to see you, Emma and you, Isaac.\u201d A movement caught his eye; he turned his head to watch Little Joe dart past him headed toward a group of boys that included Mitch Devlin. Remembering Little Joe\u2019s request, he asked, \u201cIsaac, Little Joe would like to invite Mitch over after services. He\u2019s been trying hard to be good this past week, so I told him it would be fine with me if you have no objections.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Isaac Devlin looked over at his wife and read her eyes easily. \u201cWell, Mitch has been keeping himself in line too, so if you\u2019re willing to take on the pair of them for the afternoon, I see no reason to object.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll being staying close to the house, and I\u2019ll keep an eye on them,\u201d Ben reassured.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, this is probably one afternoon you could safely let them out of your sight seeing as how some things are still fresh on their minds,\u201d Emma Devlin observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just might be true. I ain\u2019t ever had to tan Mitchell twice in one month in his life, and I\u2019m thinking last Sunday\u2019s lickin\u2019 will last for several months at least.\u201d Isaac\u2019s eyes had settled across the churchyard on his son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCertain lapses in behavior aside, Mitch and Joe are good boys, Isaac,\u201d Ben stated his eyes resting on his own young son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know, though there\u2019s some that would offer a different opinion.\u201d The Planchard family had walked into the far side of the churchyard. Isaac\u2019s jaw tightened as his eyes followed the Planchards\u2019 progress toward the church door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes darkened as he also watched the Planchards. \u201cI admit that Little Joe is no angel, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see any wings on none of that family either.\u201d Emma\u2019s curt interruption surprised both her husband and Ben. \u201cI don\u2019t mind telling you some people\u2019s holier-than-thou attitude really catches in my craw. I\u2019ve never seen that girl trailing in our boys\u2019 wake.\u201d Emma shook her head vehemently, \u201cNo, sir, always right up there joining in as bold as you please.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo you believe what the boys said about it being Sally Lynn who was the one offering the whiskey and cigars?\u201d Ben inquired softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma exchanged a look with her husband. Ben had exchanged the same look with Marie more than once, always when there was an unsettled disagreement between them. \u201cI do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve no proof to the contrary,\u201d Isaac added. Ben felt sure that Isaac, like himself, truly wished there was some positive proof to support the boys\u2019 account.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The church bell began ringing, so Ben quickly settled the details of Mitch\u2019s visit, called to Little Joe, and went inside to his regular pew.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss tugged the knot of his string tie away from his Adam\u2019s apple. He considered untying the annoying thing and stuffing it into his pocket, but if Pa saw him without a tie at church, Pa would be displeased, and there was no sense in displeasing Pa. Of course, if Pa didn\u2019t notice until they were headed home, then there would be no problem. Hoss looked around and spotted his pa talking to Paul Martin. He eased is way out of his father\u2019s line-of-sight, ambled over to where the waiting horses and tree shadows afforded some concealment and pulled the offending material from around his neck.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss.\u201d He startled at the soft call and turned quickly. Further back in the trees and shadows stood Mike Planchard, the third of Jacob Planchard\u2019s four sons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCan I speak to you, Hoss?\u201d The boy\u2019s voice was hesitant; the question whispered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d Hoss kept his voice low also and stepped closer to Mike.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019d be best if none of my folks saw us talking.\u201d Mike Planchard\u2019s eyes darted about making sure that no one else was around.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it ya want to talk about, Mike?\u201d Hoss positioned his much larger body so that it would obscure Mike from the view of anyone in the churchyard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUmm, well, you know about Sally Lynn and Joe and Mitch, I suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d Hoss sensed that Mike might bolt like a wild thing that got scared off before you could make friends, and kept his demeanor calm and his voice gentle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, there\u2019s something that you folks should know, but my folks can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat should we know?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUmm, you have to promise that nobody will tell my papa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t promise for my pa or Adam.\u201d Hoss said simply and then waited.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell my papa it ain\u2019t true, that it never happened.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy you telling me then?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSally Lynn, well, she\u2019s hurtin\u2019 over it. She\u2018s my little sister, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s my little brother, and he\u2019s hurtin\u2019 over some things too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it, Hoss. Umm, I don\u2019t know for sure about the whiskey, but I know for sure it was Sally Lynn who had the cigars.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 eyes hardened, but his voice remained soft. \u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI gave them to her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss just looked at Mike with his personal version of the Cartwright glare, and Mike gave in to its demand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI got them three cigars from a miner. Sally Lynn was there when I did, but we don\u2019t tell on each other. Never. I hadn\u2019t smoked them yet, and last week Sally Lynn came and wanted them. There was something I needed her to do, and she did it, and I gave her the cigars.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It had taken a great many shallow breaths and deep swallows for Mike Planchard to tell the bare bones of his story, so Hoss did not press for the details of what Sally Lynn had done for the price of three cigars.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTell your papa that Joe wasn\u2019t lying, least not about the cigars. Tell him\u2026 my papa can\u2019t know, Hoss, please.\u201d With his final word, Mike turned and fled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss stood chewing his lip and rubbing his hand through his hair. He could sense the boy\u2019s fear. A snippet of conversation overheard long before slipped into his head, \u201cHe spoils the gal, Jacob does, but those four boys best toe the mark. He has a fierce temper and a fierce hand does Jacob Planchard<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes had followed his little brother since they had shaken the preacher\u2019s hand and walked down the church steps, but he had not made his observation of Little Joe and Mitch noticeable. I don\u2019t want him to think I don\u2019t trust him<\/em>, but Sally Lynn\u2019s got\u00a0 three brothers who might think their pa wouldn\u2019t mind them teaching Joe and Mitch a lesson. <\/em>When Joe and Mitch separated from the group of boys with whom they had been talking and headed around the back of the church, Adam eased after them. Be careful, Cartwright. I can just hear the kid if he notices. \u2018Can\u2019t even go to the privy without that big brother of mine watching!\u2019 Not that I didn\u2019t have to do that too many times when his was little<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam remained in the shadows as he watched Little Joe enter and then exit the outhouse discretely placed in a grove of trees behind the church. He could hear Joe and Mitch teasing each other. Then his jaw clenched as he saw who exited the female side of double privy immediately after Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe. Mitch.\u201d As the feminine voice called softly behind them, the two boys stopped. When they turned toward the sound, they saw Sally Lynn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn always wore her hair loose on Sunday. It tumbled around her shoulders held back from her face by a wide blue ribbon that matched the flower sprigs scattered across her Sunday dress. The white background of the dress was matched by the pale skin of her face. Sally Lynn looked more innocent than ever, even to the two boys who knew better.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI just wanted to\u2026\u201d Before Sally Lynn could speak further, both boys tipped their noses upward and spun on their heels.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Raising his voice so that it would carry to the girl behind him, Mitch stated, \u201cFunny thing, Little Joe, I thought I heard somebody.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy, Mitch,\u201d Little Joe replied also pitching his voice for clarity, \u201cthere ain\u2019t nobody around here but us. At least\u00a0nobody<\/em>\u00a0I care to pay a mind to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I don\u2019t pay no mind to weasels that crawl out from under rocks.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMe neither. Come on, my pa will be waiting.\u201d With that announcement, Little Joe took off, and Mitch followed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam frowned as the boys’ words came to his ears. What did you expect?<\/em>\u00a0 He was sure now that Sally Lynn had been the one lying. Don\u2019t they deserve a little payback?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He watched the girl take a few steps forward and then slump against the trunk of a pine tree with her head buried in her arms. As he walked toward her, he saw the heaving of her shoulders and knew she was crying.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSally Lynn.\u201d His tone had been soft, but the words startled the girl, and she turned toward him panic stopping her sobs. Then she recognized Adam Cartwright and realized he had to have seen the boys.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her first words surprised him. \u201cThey didn\u2019t talk to me; they didn\u2019t at all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know. You spoke to them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI just wanted to say I\u2019m sorry.\u201d Sally Lynn\u2019s head was down, and her eyes focused on the ground before her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry for what, Sally Lynn?\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was calm but stern.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She shook her head and tears dripped from her chin. \u201cI can\u2019t tell.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not going to feel any better until you do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t. I\u2026you don\u2019t know\u2026I just can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam went to his heels, so he could look into her face. \u201cI know it can be hard to face up to something knowing you\u2019ll be punished. I\u2019ve been there, really, but nothing gets better until you do.\u201d He spoke to her in the same tone he used with Little Joe and with the same expression in his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d Her agreement was a whispered exhalation. \u201cBut I can\u2019t. It ain\u2019t just me. I can\u2019t.\u201d She raised her eyes then and locked them on his. \u201cYou don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen tell me, so I will,\u201d he urged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI just\u2026 they were my friends, and I just wanted\u2026 I didn\u2019t think we\u2019d get caught \u2026 I had to tell papa it was them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou did?\u201d This time Adam\u2019s tone was chiding and held a sharp edge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the same with Papa as it is for you and Joe with your pa.\u201d She had stopped crying and spoke flatly. Her voice told him that she would not be confessing to her father no matter what he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stood and looked down at the young girl. For a minute he said nothing. Then he decided he still had a few things to say.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou three had no business smoking and drinking in that line shack. It was wrong, and it was dangerous. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve wished that I hadn\u2019t found you there, but you\u2019re lucky I did. Do you realize, little girl, what would have happened if I hadn\u2019t arrived when I did.\u201d Adam\u2019s hands were on his hips, and condemnation in his scowl.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe fire.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, the fire! A fire that would have had your clothes burning in another second.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She looked up at him. \u201cI know you saved me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He sighed. \u201cAt least promise me that you won\u2019t be smoking again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It came to Adam that he would never strike a cowering animal, and the rest of what he had intended to say died away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe will forgive you if you tell the truth.\u201d He observed instead, \u201cbut not until.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d Sally Lynn turned, and he watched her walk away.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch and Joe kept a steady stream of conversation going the entire trip back to the Ponderosa ranch house; it obscured the fact that Hoss and Adam both were lost in thought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you need to change, and you can loan Mitch something, so he doesn\u2019t ruin his good clothes,\u201d Ben instructed as they arrived.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, my ma would have a fit if I did,\u201d Mitch announced.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Hoss is going to see to the horses anyway, aren\u2019t ya, Big Boy?\u201d Little Joe replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure enough, Big Shorty,\u201d Hoss agreed amiably but without his usual smile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll give you a hand,\u201d Adam volunteered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c\u201dNo need.\u201d Hoss headed the horses toward the barn. Adam shrugged and followed his father into the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe and Mitch came clattering down the stairs a few minutes later.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll stay close, Pa,\u201d Joe announced.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn the yard until after Hop Sing serves dinner which should be in less than half an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cRight, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t be going far, Mr. Cartwright. Joe said Hop Sing\u2019s making roast and creamed potatoes.\u201d Mitch accompanied his words with a long sniff.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBy special request, no doubt.\u201d Adam knew his brother had asked Hop Sing to make his friend\u2019s favorites for Sunday dinner.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd his special dinner rolls too.\u201d Joe added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, then I have no worry that you\u2019ll both be to the table on time.\u201d Ben smiled as he watched the two boys leave the house by way of Hop Sing\u2019s kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss came in and settled himself on the broad hearth. \u201cHorses taken care of,\u201d he announced to no one in particular. Then he picked up a piece of smooth wood and his carving knife.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Twenty minutes passed before Ben was sure that something was troubling both his older sons. Adam had turned the page of the book he was holding once in that time, and Hoss had made only a few notches in the wood he held. As he opened his mouth to speak, Ben heard Hop Sing calling to the boys to wash for dinner and decided any interrogation could wait until after their meal.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch leaned back and let out a sigh of contentment. \u201cThat sure was good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing works very hard to see that only the best food is put on this table.\u201d Ben\u2019s comment was accompanied by a look that both Mitch and Little Joe read correctly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse us, Pa, Mitch and me will go out through the kitchen, so we can thank Hop Sing for doing such a good job.\u201d Little Joe exchanged a glance with his friend.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat would be fine, Joe. The two of you will stay within sight and call unless you get permission from me. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The two young friends departed passing only three small shoves on the way out of the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo either of you have any special plans?\u201d Ben inquired of his two older sons.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot anything special, no.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen perhaps the two of you will join me.\u201d Ben rose and headed into the great room. Hoss and Adam exchanged a questioning glance and followed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben took his favorite seat. Adam stood leaning against the fireplace, and Hoss stood beside him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs there something you wanted to discuss, Pa?\u201d Adam was the first to speak.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Ben paused. \u201cI would like to know what went on between church and home that I obviously missed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam straightened and opened his mouth to speak, but Hoss beat him to it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, Pa, now about that\u2026\u201d Adam stared at his brother. Did he see what happened? I was sure no one else was around.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Hoss, continue.\u201d Ben\u2019s tone held a note of command.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The eighteen-year-old shifted nervously, \u201cWell, Pa, Joe didn\u2019t lie to ya about Sally Lynn least ways not about her having the cigars.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss, please explain why you\u2019re telling me this now. I thought we had settled that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it kind of came unsettled, Pa. See after church\u2026\u201d Hoss was still hesitant to reveal Mike Planchard\u2019s revelation and paused to take a breath.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam’s voice filled the void, \u201cJoe didn\u2019t disobey you. Mitch didn\u2019t disobey either, for that matter. Sally Lynn spoke to them; they didn\u2019t answer.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 head swiveled toward his brother, and his eyes widened. Adam realized that whatever Hoss was about to divulge it was not the meeting between Sally Lynn and the boys.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat and fixed both his sons with a look they had learned to read before they had learned their alphabet. \u201cAdam first.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s arms slid across his chest, and his right hand tugged his left ear. \u201cJoe went to the privy. As he left, Sally Lynn came out behind him and called to the boys. They didn\u2019t answer her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour little brother had nothing to say?\u201d Ben raised his right eyebrow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another tug accompanied Adam\u2019s next words. \u201cWhen they saw who it was, they turned away and made a couple of comments to each other. Then they took off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, Sally Lynn was crying.\u201d Realizing the slant his father might put on that statement, Adam hurried to add, \u201cShe\u2019s feeling guilty, Pa, about lying.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe admitted she lied!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot straight out, but she all but said the words. We talked, Pa, and, well, there ain\u2019t no doubt she was the one did the lying. Thing is she said she couldn\u2019t ever admit it to her father. Well, that was the gist of what she said. I don\u2019t think she ever will, Pa. She mentioned something about someone else being involved.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHer brother Mike,\u201d Hoss interjected. The eyes of both his father and brother settled on him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe talked to me after services, Pa. Told me he got three cigars off some miner, and Sally Lynn got them off him. He wanted ya to know that Joe didn\u2019t lie about that anyway. \u2018Course he said he\u2019d have to deny it if anybody told his pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d Ben leaned his head back against the chair and stared into the dark hole of the fireplace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe deserves to know you don\u2019t have any doubts about him lying anymore.\u201d Adam stated softly after a few minutes of silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, he does. He and Mitch, as well as the Delvins, need to know about both of your conversations.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShould I call the boys in,\u201d Adam asked moving toward the door. When he reached it and drew it open, the sound of boyish laughter drifted into the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWait,\u201d Ben called and leaned forward, \u201cLet the boys have their playtime. We\u2019ll talk to them when we take Mitch home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe,\u201d Mitch exhaled his friend\u2019s name as he threw himself down beneath a large tree, \u201cYour pa\u2019s not mad about it anymore, is he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNaw, he ain\u2019t been mad since, well, since Monday, anyways. What about your folks?\u201d Joe landed on the ground to the right of Mitch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa stays mad longer than my ma, but neither of \u2018em is mad anymore, or I sure wouldn\u2019t be here now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Little Joe grunted his agreement, and rolled over on his stomach. \u201cIt weren\u2019t worth it, was it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo. Was ya really, really sick?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSickest I ever remember being.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you remember much about having a good time?\u201d Mitch ventured softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWelll,\u201d Joe drew out the single syllable as he decided what to admit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe did have a good time when we was drinking, didn\u2019t we?\u201d Mitch\u2019s hesitant tone revealed his uncertainty.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI guess we must of. The hands always say what a good time they had when they got drunk.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s tone was as unsure as Mitch\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut do you remember us having a really good time?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, not exactly, but maybe that\u2019s \u2018cause Pa and Adam wiped it right out of my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Mitch rolled over on his side facing Little Joe, \u201cyou think, well, do ya think Sally Lynn remembers our good time?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe did not answer Mitch\u2019s question; instead, he asked one of his own, \u201cWhy do ya think she lied on us? I never thought she\u2019d do that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cScared, I guess. Maybe this time she thought her pa really would tan her good even if she is a girl. Did you think about lying, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI thought a lot about lying until about one second after Pa said we was gonna talk. You try to lie to your pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNaw, ma had the truth out of me \u2018fore Pa even came into the room. Never could lie to my ma no way.\u201d Mitch rolled onto his stomach. Sometimes he felt uneasy saying things about his ma to Joe because he knew it reminded his friend that he no longer had a mother except in heaven.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sighed and rolled onto his own stomach. \u201cDo your folks really believe what we said about Sally Lynn?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMa does, I guess just \u2018cause she always knows when I\u2019m lying. My pa, well \u2026he doesn\u2019t believe I lied but, um, he thinks I could have, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s chin rested on his crossed arms. \u201cYeah, Pa and Adam think that way too; Hoss believes for sure, though.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSally Lynn\u2019s folks just believe her, and she\u2019s lying.\u201d Mitch\u2019s tone conveyed the unfairness of the situation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking on that.\u201d Little Joe pushed himself into a sitting position, and Mitch followed suit. \u201cI talked about it some with Hoss, kind of.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch simply waited for Little Joe to continue; he knew sometimes Joe had really deep thoughts nobody expected him to have.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think, well, Pa, he\u2019s fair enough not to punish me unless he knows for certain sure I done something wrong, and he loves me enough to take my word, but\u2026\u201d Joe paused and searched for words that matched his thoughts, \u201cwell, he loves me enough that he wants to be certain sure I didn\u2019t lie \u2018cause he\u2019d be responsible for seeing to it if I had. Ummm, it be important for him to know if I did, umm, for him not to be wrong. It would be okay if Hoss was wrong, see, but not Pa, and, well, it\u2019s not like I ain\u2019t never lied to him. It\u2019s kinda like he told me once, that\u2019s the worst thing about lying, even if you only do it once, when somebody knows you did, well, then they know maybe you could again. Adam thinks a lot like Pa about that kind of thing. Besides, they\u2019re both sorta got-to-see-proof people.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0Little Joe looked at Mitch expectantly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, my pa\u2019s more a proof person than my ma; she\u2019s mainly a I-feel-it person.\u201d Mitch\u2019s head nodded slowly. \u201cI kinda see what you mean, like maybe our pas, well, they love us enough to want to be certain.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss says it takes more courage to face the truth than to believe a lie, maybe it takes more love too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, maybe it does.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded and then straightened as he heard his name. \u201cPa\u2019s calling us.\u201d He jumped to his feet. \u201cRace you to the house.\u201d He took off before Mitch scrambled up to follow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe slid his eyes left until they rested on the black back of his elder brother. When he and Mitch had come to a halt in the yard, they had found Pa, Adam, and Hoss waiting with horses saddled. Pa had smiled and told them to fetch Mitch\u2019s Sunday clothes, so they had. Then they had all set off for the Devlin ranch. Now, Joe was wondering exactly what was behind his father and both brothers escorting Mitch home. He had known his pa would never send Mitch home alone, and Hoss\u2019s comments about Mrs. Devlin\u2019s baking might account for his middle brother\u2019s presence, but even if Mitch\u2019s mother had promised to bake Adam\u2019s favorite, it would never have lured his elder brother from his new book and a truly quiet house in which to read it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ain\u2019t none of them mad, so we can\u2019t be in any trouble. \u2018Sides we ain\u2019t done nothing. <\/em>\u00a0Little Joe bit his lip as he studied Adam\u2019s back. Sally Lynn\u2019s face appeared between Adam\u2019s shoulder blades. But we didn\u2019t say nothing to her. Even if somebody saw, we didn\u2019t say nothing to her.\u00a0 <\/em>Little Joe chewed his lower lip and then shook the worrisome thought from his head. He could always tell when Pa was mad with him, Adam too, and neither one was mad, so Joe shrugged and decided he would know when he knew. Then he started a discussion with Mitch about Ezekiel Baxter\u2019s prowess with marbles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Isaac and Emma Devlin heard the approaching horses and greeted the Cartwrights from their porch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood to see you too,\u201d Ben replied, \u201cThought we might return something of yours.\u201d Then he saw a slight darkening of Isaac\u2019s expression as he scanned the assembled Cartwrights, and Ben hurried to add, \u201cThough it was such a pleasure to have him that I considered keeping him a while longer.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBehaved himself then, did he?\u201d Isaac\u2019s tone was light enough to be teasing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVery well,\u201d Ben replied as he swung out of the saddle. A smile spread over Mitch\u2019s face at Ben\u2019s words; it never hurt for his pa to hear him praised by another adult.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, now, all of you get yourselves into the house. I\u2019ve got hot coffee and fresh applesauce cake waiting,\u201d Emma ordered cheerfully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss was the first to reply, \u201cWell, ma\u2019am, you ain\u2019t gonna have to ask me twice. That\u2019s pretty near my favorite of everything you bake.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam made sure to smile at Mrs. Devlin as he teased his brother, \u201cAt least it\u2019s today\u2019s favorite. If I remember correctly, her peach strudel was pretty near your favorite last time we visited, and the time before that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss refused to be chided and inserted smoothly, \u201cThat\u2019s \u2018cause when you eat Miz Emma\u2019s baking, well, your favorite is whatever is in your mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma Devlin gave Hoss a deep smile. \u201cAt least one of you men knows just who\u2019s buttering your bread. Come on, Hoss; you get the largest piece.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMa!\u201d Mitch\u2019s exclamation was a plaintive wail; his mother\u2019s applesauce cake really was his favorite.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A ripple of laughter drifted into the house with them. Emma dished up cake, poured coffee and buttermilk, and asked the boys about their day. As everyone cleaned their plates, the boys recounted the afternoon\u2019s adventures.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat was really fine, Emma,\u201d Ben stated as he set down his empty coffee cup.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s more if\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, I couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI could, ma\u2019am.\u201d Hoss slide the statement softly into Emma\u2019s ear, but still received a stern look from his father as Emma set a third piece of cake on Hoss\u2019s plate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere is something I\u2019d like to discuss before we go though,\u201d Ben exchanged a glance with his eldest son. Glances also flashed between Emma and Isaac as well as Joe and Mitch. All eyes then became fixed on Ben Cartwright. Ben proceeded to explain the discussions his elder sons had had with the Planchard children.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Emma snorted at the end of his account managing to convey an I-told-you-so to her husband with one word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt does settle my mind on some things,\u201d Isaac stated softly and focused a look on his son that spoke a silent apology.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, yes, it does.\u201d Ben bestowed a similar look on Little Joe. Joe had made only one exclamation during Ben\u2019s recital and that had been to assure his father that he had not spoken to Sally Lynn. Now he returned his father\u2019s look with a smile savoring his vindication; Pa knew for certain sure that he had not lied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut it does unsettle others.\u201d Emma\u2019s voice held a definite edge. \u201cThat girl needs a comeuppance!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Emma,\u201d Isaac turned his eyes to his wife\u2019s angry scowl.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe does! And that father of hers needs to know just who was luring who. I\u2019ll not have her getting off scot-free, Isaac. Mark my words; I won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe may not have gotten off scot-free.\u201d Adam\u2019s soft statement startled all others at the table. He had answered several questions from the Devlins during Ben\u2019s recital but had volunteered no comments until now. \u201cMr. Planchard defended Sally Lynn to us, but the Planchards have kept this all very close to the vest, and we don\u2019t really know what Jacob Planchard did in private.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma waved her hand dismissively, \u201cEva herself told me more than once that Jacob has never raised his hand to the girl. I doubt he did while blaming Mitch and Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss swallowed the last of his cake and stated softly, \u201cHe raises his hand to his boys. Mike won\u2019t be admitting what he done.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam continued on his brother\u2019s track, \u201cEven if she\u2019s not protecting her own backside, Sally Lynn is protecting her brother\u2019s. She won\u2019t be admitting it to her father either.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhich brings us to the crux of the matter,\u201d Ben stated solemnly, \u201cIf I thought there was even half a chance that Jacob would believe me, I\u2019d feel it my duty to inform him of what his children have done. But, well, I seriously doubt he will believe it from any lips but Sally Lynn\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking to him might be worse than useless,\u201d Isaac finished Ben\u2019s thought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust stirring in a stink hole,\u201d Hoss muttered and then dropped his chin when he realized he had spoken aloud.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Silence followed Hoss\u2019 statement, and then Mitch\u2019s voice was heard for the first time since Ben had begun the discussion. \u201cPa, well, I, I don\u2019t care much what Mr. Planchard thinks, seeing how you and Ma know the truth.\u201d Mitch looked across the table at Joe trying to discern where his friend stood on the matter of Sally Lynn getting her comeuppance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe read his friend\u2019s question and added, \u201cDon\u2019t make no never mind to me either.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben and Isaac studied their young sons\u2019 faces. If the boys did not feel the need to be defended, perhaps sleeping dogs were best left to lie.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt does to me!\u201d Emma\u2019s declaration was punctuated by her hand slapping the tabletop. Then her eyes swept around the table surveying the male faces there. \u201cIt may be best that you two don\u2019t go talking to Jacob Planchard.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch was the first to recognize the light that entered his mother\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019m sure it is best. Some things are better handled woman-to-woman!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEmma!\u201d Ben\u2019s exclamation echoed Isaac\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMa!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma Delvin rose and straightened to the peak of her limited height. \u201cMitch, I\u2019d thank you if you\u2019d see to washing up these plates and cups. Ben, thank you for coming; you and the boys are always most welcome. Isaac, I\u2019ll need you to hitch up the buggy right after breakfast tomorrow; I intend to pay Eva Planchard a call.\u201d Before any male voice could reply, Emma Devlin excused herself and swept from the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes watched her go, and his lips slipped upward into a smirk. Marie would have made Pa hitch up the buggy tonight!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam and Hoss had surged ahead of Ben and Little Joe just before riding into the yard. They both swung to the ground immediately.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss and I will see to the horses,\u201d Adam called out as Ben and Joe came to a halt. \u201cYou go with Pa, Joe, and get started on the sandwiches.\u201d Before Little Joe could answer, he felt the reins he was holding slipped from his hand, and then he was yanked smoothly from the saddle and set down facing the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d Joe wailed in indignation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGo on,\u201d Adam leaned over bringing his mouth nearer Joe\u2019s ear, \u201cRemember you\u2019re being a good boy.\u201d Adam raised the hand that was swinging toward his little brother\u2019s backside at the last second so that Joe only received a gentle nudge in the back that propelled him toward the porch. Joe looked back over his shoulder and caught the exaggerated wink Adam sent him before his elder brother turned on his heel and followed Hoss toward the barn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHarrumph,\u201d Joe snorted, but he complied and followed his father into the house. Ben lit the lamps as they went through each room to the kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sunday supper was the one meal Hop Sing did not prepare for the household. An impressive Sunday dinner was always served to whoever was on hand, but then Hop Sing departed to visit various members of Virginia City\u2019s Chinese community and often did not return until late in the night. The Cartwrights soothed any hunger pains with sandwiches or leftovers. Even during the winter when travel was impossible, Ben insisted that Hop Sing keep Sunday afternoon and evening for his own pursuits.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The remains of that day\u2019s roast and yesterday\u2019s ham were set out on the counter along with fresh bread and various jars of pickled vegetables and preserves.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of sandwich would you like, Little Joe?\u201d Ben asked as he picked up a carving knife.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t need a sandwich, Pa. I ain\u2019t hungry after Miz Emma\u2019s cake.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked at his youngest and stated simply, \u201cAt least half a sandwich, Joe. Ham or beef?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBeef.\u201d Joe capitulated quickly. \u201cYou want some pickled beets, Pa?\u201d Joe said reaching for the jar.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlease, and I\u2019m sure both your brothers will also.\u201d Ben continued slicing meat and bread as Joe spooned the beets onto four plates.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, uh, would you tell Adam to quit hoisting me around whenever he gets a notion. Sometimes I don\u2019t know what gets into that head of his.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben paused and set down his knife. \u201cI think your brother wanted to give me some time alone with you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe turned to face his father. Ben read the look that flashed in his son\u2019s eyes and said quickly, \u201cNot because I am angry with you, but because you have a right to be angry with me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe gave his father a puzzled look. \u201cBut why, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben took four steps over to his son and reached out to cup Joe\u2019s chin in his hand, \u201cYou didn\u2019t lie to me, son, and I questioned that. I\u2019m sorry that I did; I know it hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe opened his mouth to deny that he had been hurt, but he realized that would be another kind of lie. \u201cYea,\u201d he replied softly, \u201cit did some, but I understand, Pa. I ain\u2019t a little kid no more. I ain\u2019t angry at you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou forgive your old father his doubts then?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure I do, Pa,\u201d Joe replied brightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you, son.\u201d Ben drew Joe into a firm hug. When he released his hold on the boy, Ben placed his hands on Joe\u2019s shoulders. \u201cI\u2019m very proud that you have the capacity for forgiveness, Joe. It is a mark of true maturity and a Christian heart.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe smiled deeply and then ducked his head, \u201cAw, Pa, I guess, well, I guess I learned something from all the examples you and Adam and Hoss have given me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben received the compliment with a deepening smile of his own. \u201cJoe, are you angry with Mike or Sally Lynn?\u201d he asked softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shrugged, \u201cNot really, well, not angry so much, I just, I guess I just don\u2019t like that she lied.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeither do I, son.\u201d Ben took a breath and then continued, \u201cJoe, I hope you are never so afraid of me that you feel you have to avoid blame by shifting it to another.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t afraid of you, Pa. Well, not afraid afraid. You think Sally Lynn and her brothers are afraid afraid of Mr. Planchard.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAfraid of more than just a deserved punishment, you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I guess that\u2019s what I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Joseph, but it appears that it may be that they are.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think, Mrs. Devlin\u2019s gonna say to Mrs. Planchard tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhatever she feels that Eva needs to hear, I suppose.\u201d Ben had been wondering that same thing the entire trip home from the Devlin ranch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWomen don\u2019t get into fights, do they, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot generally.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen maybe Miz Emma\u2019s right about her being the one to go to the Planchards.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded his head in agreement as his two elder sons walked into the room, and the four Cartwrights sat down to their supper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His pa had already come to say goodnight and had turned out his lamp, so Little Joe was surprised to hear his door open. He rolled onto his side and peered through the darkness of his room. The moonlight from the window allowed him to recognize his elder brother. He propped himself up on one elbow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam appeared to ignore the question as he crossed the room to stand beside the bed. \u201cI thought you might still be awake.\u201d He did not reach to light the bedside lamp but lowered his body to rest on the edge of the bed. Facing his younger brother, he leaned back against the footboard; Joe pulled himself half-upright and leaned against the headboard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSomething you want, Big Brother?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEverything\u2019s all right between you and Pa now, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Joe replied easily. After a moment\u2019s thought he added, \u201cWe talked and everything fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe felt his brother shift his weight and heard him clear is throat. \u201cIs everything all right between us, Little Brother?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re the one told Pa that Sally Lynn was for sure lying.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, I, well, sometimes I wish I could be more like brother Hoss. He just doesn\u2019t doubt like I do. I\u2019m sorry I doubted you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe had seldom been in the position of accepting an apology from his elder brother and shifted with unease. \u201cYou ain\u2019t got no call to feel sorry, Adam, but if ya do, I accept your apology.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rubbed his foot along the smooth surface of his sheet. \u201cCan I ask ya something, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf, well, if you would have caught us before, well, if we hadn\u2019t been so drunk that ya had to tell, if there had been a way around it, would you have told on us?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence for a minute, but Little Joe knew that Adam was thinking over his answer and waited patiently; it just meant his brother wanted to tell the real truth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Joe. Actually, I\u2019m glad I didn\u2019t need to make that decision.\u201d There was just enough light for Joe to see Adam tug his left ear. \u201cJoe, I never like being the one to get you in trouble with pa. I know you think sometimes I do, but, Joe, sometimes, well, I feel I have to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI never thought about it being something hard for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re the,\u201d he started to use the word\u00a0baby<\/em>\u00a0but caught himself in time, \u201cyoungest, Joe; you\u2019ve never been in that position.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGuess not.\u201d Joe dropped his eyes even though there was not enough light in the room for either brother to read the other\u2019s face. \u201cSometimes I forget it\u2019s different for you, that it always was different for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSometimes I forget that it\u2019s always been different for you, Joe.\u201d Adam placed his hand on the blanket where it covered his brother\u2019s foot. And sometimes when I remember, I\u2019m jealous.<\/em>\u00a0The last thought he had trouble admitting to himself, so Adam spoke in an effort to push it out of his mind. \u201cStill, there\u2019s lots that is the same for the both of us being Ben Cartwright\u2019s sons.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa ever catch you drinking when you weren\u2019t allowed?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat about smoking cigars?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSmoking, yes, but not cigars.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid he tan ya good?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I didn\u2019t think it was too good at the time, but, yes, Pa tanned me both times. Fortunately, I was wise enough not to get caught doing both the same day.\u201d By the last sentence, Adam had let his tone become teasing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, you might have warned me about that, big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t have listened,\u201d Adam retorted and tugged his brother\u2019s ankle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well, you could have tried anyways.\u201d Adam\u2019s chuckle was soft and low and encouraged Joe to continue. \u201cAdam, you said Sally Lynn, well, you said she was crying. Was she crying because, well, what we said was kind of mean,\u201d Joe held his breath. I\u2019m glad you didn\u2019t think you needed to tell Pa exactly what we said<\/em>!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI really think she feels bad about blaming you and Mitch, Joe. Sorry and very, very guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t tell her I ain\u2019t really mad anymore; I still ain\u2019t allowed to speak to her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know. Joe, I told her you\u2019d forgive her if she told the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWere you that sure I would?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I was certain sure.\u201d Adam reached out and playfully thumped Joe\u2019s chin, \u201cOne of the best things about my baby brother is that he never holds grudges.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe smiled, ducked his head away from Adam\u2019s hand, and then grew serious, \u201cYou think Miz Emma will get things worked out?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think she\u2019ll give it a da\u2026\u201d Adam coughed and then continued, \u201cdecidedly good try.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, decidedly good,\u201d Joe giggled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam pushed himself to his feet, \u201cShhhhh, little boy, or Pa will be in here taking us both to task. You should have been asleep long ago.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s your fault, brother, so you can get Pa to let me slept in a few extra minutes, can\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGo to sleep now, and I\u2019ll try. No promises though; you know Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEver since I was born!\u201d Joe giggled and buried his face against his mattress.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam popped his brother\u2019s backside, but the quilt covering it absorbed what little force the swat contained.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had simply said that he planned to stay at the house and work on the books, but his sons exchanged glances of understanding. If Emma Devlin did not come to visit Ben, Ben would visit Emma.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was late morning when Ben heard the sound of an approaching buggy and went to stand on the porch. He watched Emma drive up to the house. The buggy was Emma\u2019s self-indulgence and the Devlin\u2019s one extravagance. Emma had saved her egg money for three years to buy it second hand. She rode in it now like a queen in golden carriage. Ben stepped down to greet her as Hop Sing step out of the door behind him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou bring Missy Emma in quick now; Hop Sing have all leady.\u201d Hop Sing spun on his heel and reentered the house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou heard my orders, Emma,\u201d Ben laughed as he reached to help her from the buggy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut I thought I\u2019d just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, now, Hop Sing would be insulted. Come along, and we can discuss things over whatever I\u2019ve been smelling baking all morning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I can\u2019t insult Hop Sing.\u201d Emma allowed Ben to assist her and walked into the house on his arm. Ben seated her at the dining room table, and Hop Sing brought in the refreshments with a smile and a short discussion of recipes for tea cakes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma was dressed in her Sunday clothes, and Ben took it as a sign that she had fulfilled her promise to visit Eva Planchard. Having had three wives, Ben knew how a woman dressed for battle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou talked to Eva?\u201d He asked the question straightforwardly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe had a very long visit.\u201d Emma watched her finger trace the rim of her cup. She took a breath and then said, \u201cIt was very enlightening for both of us.\u201d She raised her eyes and focused on Ben\u2019s face. \u201cShe knows the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd believes it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd Jacob?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe and his eldest left for Carson City an hour before I arrived. He won\u2019t be back for three days.\u201d Emma saw the demand for details in Ben\u2019s eyes and continued, \u201cI was very self-righteous and demanding when I arrived, Ben. Thinking back, I\u2019m surprised that Eva heard me out.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut she did?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes. Eva does not view her daughter as a little angel, Ben.\u201d Emma broke a cookie into pieces but did not put any of them in her mouth. \u201cJacob lost two little sisters when he was thirteen; Sally Lynn is named for the both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why he\u2019s so lenient with her and not the boys.\u201d It was not a question but an observation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s why Eva handles her daughter\u2019s discipline. Eva took a switch to Sally Lynn last Sunday for going off alone with the boys.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt seems everything we assumed was not correct.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma nodded. \u201cAfter I told Eva what Hoss and Adam had said, Eva called Michael in. It took her about five minutes to get the full story from him; I doubt it will take more than ten to get the truth from Sally Lynn after school.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo even Jacob will have to see the truth when he returns?\u201d Ben relaxed against the back of his chair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma\u2019s eyes dropped again to her finger as it traced the pattern on the edge of her plate. \u201cBen, it is very hard for a wife to discuss her husband\u2019s true faults with another.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stiffened, and his eyes flashed, \u201cDid Eva tell you that Jacob\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, Ben. Jacob is strict with his boys and uses a strap on their backsides when it\u2019s deserved but no more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHis temper\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs not the fault that Eva and I discussed. Ben, how quickly did you forgive Little Joe? Was he forgiven before the sun rose Monday?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course! He was forgiven before the sun set Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo was Mitchell. Jacob is not a forgiving man, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben raised his eyebrow in silent inquiry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid you ever know someone who seemed to store up marks against a person, who never allowed any redemption for wrong doing?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben did not answer immediately, but a distance face rose in the back of his mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy father\u2019s cousin was that way with his children, Ben. According to Eva, Jacob is that way with all of his. Sally Lynn and Michael couldn\u2019t admit their mistakes to Jacob because there would have been no forgiveness after punishment for a very, very long time if ever.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEva won\u2019t be telling her husband?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma shook her head. \u201cBoth Sally Lynn and Michael will be punished for their wrong doing. In fact, Eva sent Michael to cut a switch before I left. After a time Eva will talk to Jacob about lifting his ban on the children speaking.\u201d Emma straightened her shoulders. \u201cIf you feel Jacob needs to know, there will be no more lies. I won\u2019t be the one broaching the subject, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben studied the eyes of the woman before him. \u201cIf things have been handled, Emma, well, as Hoss would say \u2018No good comes from stirring in a stink hole.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma laughed. It pleased Ben to hear feminine laughter in his home, and he smiled despite the sudden yearning to hear Marie\u2019s laughter again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no good at all.\u201d Emma rose from her chair. \u201cI have to be getting home. Isaac will be expecting a good supper after a cold lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben escorted Emma to her buggy as they exchanged comments about mundane and pleasant things.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see you at services Sunday?\u201d Emma said as she settled on the buggy seat and picked up the reins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTo be sure,” Ben replied. Then he gave her a smile filled with the charm all three of his sons had inherited. \u201cThank you, Emma, for championing my son along with your own.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emma patted Ben\u2019s cheek. \u201cMarie was a great friend to me. When her son needs a woman\u2019s touch in his life, I\u2019m only too glad to provide. Besides, those two boys of ours need as many hands tending them as can be provided.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded agreement. \u201cAll children need as many loving hands as can be provided.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo true, Ben, so true.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes once more slid to focus on Sally Lynn as she bowed over her slate. Joe had tried to focus on his schoolwork, but countless times that morning he had found himself studying Sally Lynn or sharing silent messages with Mitch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The teacher dismissed the class for lunch, and Little Joe reached for his lunch pail.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, please remain; I would like to speak with you a minute.\u201d The teacher\u2019s voice was calm, but Joe swallowed convulsively. As he watched his teacher approach, he gave a furtive glance at the less-than-half-finished assignment on his desk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, I had hoped that the improvement I saw in you last week would continue.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to misbehave, ma\u2019am.\u201d Little Joe dropped his chin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Miss Cutler reached out and tipped Joe\u2019s head up with a finger under his chin. \u201cYou haven\u2019t really been misbehaving, Little Joe, but your attention has not been on your studies, and you haven\u2019t completed a single assignment this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, ma\u2019am. I\u2019ll pay attention this afternoon. Do you want me to stay in and work during lunch?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The teacher shook her head. \u201cLittle Joe, I don\u2019t know what happened that resulted in you and Mitch being forbidden to talk to Sally Lynn, only that both your father and hers informed me of the fact.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh, we\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She raised a finger to silence him. \u201cI don\u2019t need to know, Joseph. Am I wrong to surmise that the decision was more Mr. Planchard\u2019s than your father\u2019s or Mr. Devlin\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, ma\u2019am, I mean you ain\u2019t wrong to think that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAren\u2019t wrong, Joseph,\u201d Miss Cutler corrected.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, ma\u2019am, you aren\u2019t wrong. Mr. Planchard don\u2019t, um, doesn\u2019t want Sally Lynn associating with me or Mitch.\u201d Little Joe hurried to add, \u201cAnd we haven\u2019t, Miss Cutler.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know, Little Joe. I respected the request because sometimes it is best to separate children for a time, but, well, I don\u2019t think that is the best situation for the long term. But that is something for me to deal with. You are dismissed, Little Joe. \u201d Miss Cutler started to turn away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t mean to talk to Mr. Planchard, do ya, ma\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Miss Cutler\u2019s eyes returned to Joe\u2019s face. \u201cActually, I do, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe licked his lips. \u201cMaybe you should think about that, Miss Cutler. Mr. Planchard, well, he thinks he\u2019s got reason, and, umm, he\u2019s got a temper.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI do not intend to tell Mr. Planchard what he can or cannot expect outside of my schoolhouse, but I shall tell him what will not be allowed to affect the students in that classroom any longer.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe saw something in Miss Cutler\u2019s eyes that he had seen in Emma Devlin\u2019s the night before. The thought of Emma Devlin made Joe reply, \u201cMiss Cutler, things, well, it may be that Mr. Planchard will be having a reason soon to change his mind. You could wait a day or two to see.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Miss Cutler heard a thread of concern in Little Joe\u2019s voice. \u201cI\u2019ll wait a bit if you promise that your mind will be on your work and not Sally Lynn while I do.\u201d She said it gently but firmly with neither a scowl nor a smile on her lips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll try harder, ma\u2019am,\u201d Joe replied earnestly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFine then. Go on now and eat your lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, ma\u2019am.\u201d Little Joe grabbed his lunch pail and went to join Mitch and the rest of his friends. Miss Cutler chewed her lower lip a she watched him walk out before returning to her desk and her own lunch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe rode into the yard and stopped. He sat in the saddle staring at the house wondering if his pa had spoken to Mitch\u2019s mother. Then he heard someone come out of the barn and twisted in the saddle to get a look. His brother Adam walked up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHome on time, I see. Well, they do say wonders will never cease,\u201d Adam teased gently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe real wonder would be if ya told me, when you came home early, you got all the barn chores done including mine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, I thought I\u2019d have a mite longer before you arrived, so I\u2019m not quite finished, but since Pa wants to talk to you, you can just go along into the house.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam hands moved toward his little brother\u2019s waist, but Joe saw them coming and slipped out of the saddle to the ground on the opposite side of his horse from Adam. The suddenness of the movement and Joe\u2019s dismounting on what his horse considered the wrong side caused the animal to shy nervously knocking into Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat in blazes!\u201d Adam managed to stay on his feet, but his good mood was knocked completely out of him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe had moved quickly to the horse\u2019s head catching his headstall and cooing gently to settle him. \u201cI can get off a horse, Adam; I don\u2019t need your hoisting.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t seem to me you did such a fine job of it just now,\u201d Adam snapped.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe knew before he completed the act that he should not have stuck his tongue out at his brother. For some reason that simple deed always put a whole passel of burrs under Adam\u2019s saddle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you need a reminder, little boy, of proper manners and respect?\u201d Adam\u2019s words fairly hissed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot from you!\u201d Joe responded as he darted onto the porch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam lunged, but Joe managed to elude his grasp, open the door, and call out, \u201cPA! I\u2019m home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam followed his brother into the house but stopped abruptly when Joe halted in front of their father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One look was all that Ben needed to assess the situation. \u201cJoseph. Adam. Is there a problem, sons?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe bit his lip until he heard his brother\u2019s voice moving overhead, \u201cNo, Pa, no problem.\u201d Little Joe let out the breath he was holding.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFine.\u201d Ben turned his back to his sons. \u201cLittle Joe, I need to speak with you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe did not answer immediately because as soon has Ben had turned away Adam\u2019s hand had descended onto to Joe\u2019s shoulder. Adam leaned over to place his mouth next to Little Joe\u2019s ear. \u201cI owe you one swat to that impudent backside.\u201d Adam\u2019s whisper was soft enough that it would have been impossible for anyone but Joe to hear. Then Adam quickly straightened and said at his normal volume, \u201cI\u2019ll see to the rest of the chores if you\u2019ll excuse me, Pa.\u201d Then he patted his little brother\u2019s shoulder and departed. Joe decided to worry about when that swat would be paid later and went to sit on the arm of his father\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben studied his son and then slipped his arm around Joe\u2019s waist; it was a compromise they had settled on when Little Joe decided he was too grown to sit in his father\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Devlin came by to talk to me this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe twisted so that he could look into his father\u2019s face. \u201cDid she talk to Sally Lynn\u2019s mama? What did Mrs. Planchard say? Did they have a fight, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben put a finger to Joe\u2019s lips to dam the flow of questions. Ben answered Joe\u2019s last question first, \u201cThey most certainly did not have a fight, Joseph, but they did talk.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid Mrs. Planchard believe what Miz Emma told her about what Hoss and Adam said Mike and Sally Lynn told them?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Planchard knows the truth of the matter, Joe. Michael admitted his part in the whole thing to his mother, and I believe Sally Lynn will do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally.\u201d Ben had been considering all afternoon what he would reveal to Joe and how he would explain the situation. \u201cJoe, contrary to what we thought Sally Lynn had already been punished by her mother for her involvement in the drinking and smoking at the line shack.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Planchard tanned her!\u201d Joe exclaimed. I wonder\u00a0if a ma tans as hard as a pa. Maybe with girls they do<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cMrs. Planchard will also handle Michael\u2019s punishment and the fact that Sally Lynn lied.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The image of Sally Lynn getting a tanning rose in Joe\u2019s mind, and he was surprised to find that it brought no triumph only sympathy. Joe shook his head slowly and then asked, \u201cWhat about Mr. Planchard?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJacob Planchard had already left for a trip to Carson City before Mrs. Devlin arrived.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d Joe\u2019s eyes darkened. \u201cWill Mike or Sally Lynn get another tanning when he gets back?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, Joe, they won\u2019t,\u201d Ben replied solemnly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre ya sure, Pa?\u201d His tone told Ben that Little Joe had no desire to be avenged by Jacob Planchard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Joe, I\u2019m sure because Mrs. Planchard does not intend to tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s voice dropped to a whisper, \u201cBecause she\u2019s afraid afraid of what he would do?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot the way you mean, Joe, but \u2026\u201d Ben sighed, \u201cJoe, how hurt would you be if I didn\u2019t tell you that I forgave you after you\u2019d been punished?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sat silent for a time and then asked in a very small voice, \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t ever not forgive me, would ya, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben pulled Joe against him, \u201cNo, son, I never would; there is nothing you could do that I could not forgive.\u201d Ben\u2019s hands went to Little Joe\u2019s face and cradled it, \u201cJacob Planchard does not always make his children feel forgiven, Joe. That\u2019s why Mrs. and Mr. Devlin nor I plan to say anything more to Jacob.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d It was a small, sad syllable that hung in the air.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, do you feel that I should go to Jacob Planchard and defend you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head vehemently, \u201cI don\u2019t care what Mr. Planchard thinks. Everybody I care about believes the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben hugged his son to him again and said softly, \u201cI\u2019m very pleased that you can feel that way, Joe.\u201d Joe could hear the pride in his father\u2019s voice. Ben released his embrace and continued, \u201cMrs. Planchard will speak to her husband about rescinding his order that you boys not speak to Sally Lynn. Hopefully he will listen, and all this can be put behind us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI hope so, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben patted Little Joe\u2019s back as they heard the door open. Adam and Hoss entered the house in an animated discussion about the herd in the north pasture, and Joe slid off his father\u2019s chair taking a seat on the settee.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOwwww!\u201d Little Joe jerked upright and flipped over. He found himself on his knees on top of his bed rubbing his backside and staring at the smug smirk on his older brother\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa told me to wake you, and that bare little behind reminded of what I owed you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perhaps because there was just enough sleep left in him to dampen his temper, Joe did not do the wrong thing; instead he tugged down his nightshirt, bit his lip, dropped his chin, and slumped against his pillows. After a few moments, the smirk slid from Adam\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have been rude to me, Joe.\u201d Adam sounded like he was trying to justify his action to himself as well as Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe kept his chin lowered but looked up at his brother through his lashes, \u201cYou\u2019re my brother, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam opened his mouth but closed it again without speaking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe straightened and asked, \u201cYou didn\u2019t ever swat Hoss for sticking his tongue out at ya, did ya? And he did it plenty of times, didn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo you didn\u2019t ever even when he was littler than you. You\u2019re always saying how you had to be in charge of Hoss when he was little too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam slid down into a sitting position on the end of Joe\u2019s bed. \u201cJoe,\u201d he began his explanation but then stopped, \u201cNo, I never swatted Hoss.\u201d He gazed down at the bedspread and rubbed his palm against its surface. Then he muttered mainly to himself, \u201cPa spanked him once for it though.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe heard. \u201cHe did?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked up at Joe. \u201cYeah, he was seven, I guess, and he\u2019d been fractious all day. I don\u2019t know why, maybe I did then, but I don\u2019t now. Anyway, Pa sent me to tell Hoss to do something, and Hoss got balky. We said some things back and forth, and then Hoss stuck his tongue out as far as it would go at me. What we hadn\u2019t noticed was Pa had walked up behind me because he had changed his mind about something. Well, Pa took Hoss by the arm and marched him in the house. It was summer, and the windows were open though. Pa gave him five good swats and then brought him out to apologize.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFive swats for sticking out his tongue!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, probably not really for just that. Like I said Hoss had been stepping over the line all day.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d Adam and Joe each spent the next few minutes mulling in their own thoughts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s question came out of nowhere for Adam. \u201cWhy do you suppose Mr. Planchard, well, why do you suppose he is the way he is?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam knew what Joe meant and offered him a serious answer. \u201cI can\u2019t really know, but I suppose he never learned how.\u201d Adam kept his next thought to himself. Or he was just born without any forgiveness in his bones<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c \u2018Cause he didn\u2019t have any good examples maybe?\u201d Joe looked expectantly at Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cProbably. Some people aren\u2019t as lucky that way as we are, Joe. Different rearing can make for different men.\u201d Adam studied his little brother\u2019s face. Hoss was born with his bones full of forgiveness though. No matter what, he could never be like Jacob Planchard. And Joe, well, he couldn\u2019t either, not for long anyway<\/em>.\u00a0 Adam did not allow his next thought to form; instead, he pushed it away with another. Reaching out to catch Joe\u2019s chin, he gazed steadily into his brother\u2019s eyes, \u201cJoe, there is nothing, nothing mind you, that I could not forgive my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe noticed immediately that Adam had not said \u201cbaby brother\u201d or \u201clittle brother\u201d but just \u201cbrother\u201d like the twelve years between them was the same as one or even none. He knew that the look Adam gave him did not come down at him but over to him, and he accepted it with a grin. \u201cMe too, brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam dropped his hand, slid his arms across his chest, and let his fingers absently pull at his left ear. He cleared his throat, \u201cJoe, umm, I shouldn\u2019t have swatted you. You were right. I\u2019m your brother, and, well, that swat was payback, not correction, and I was wrong. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI forgive you, big brother,\u201d Little Joe intoned solemnly, but then a little devil began to dance in his eyes. \u201cYes, I forgive you, but, like you\u2019re always telling me that doesn\u2019t mean you don\u2019t need correcting for the wrongdoing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s chin tilted, and he looked appraisingly at Joe. \u201cI suppose everyone needs correcting for wrong from time to time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI suppose you have my correction in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded again, and Adam raised his eyebrow in silent inquiry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t never got to swat ya back, brother; this time I should get to correct you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This time Adam\u2019s hand rubbed his chin. \u201cOne for one?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOne for one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stood and turned his back to his brother. Little Joe put everything he had into what he knew would be a one-time-only opportunity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell Pa that you\u2019ll be down directly,\u201d Adam said as he closed Joe\u2019s door behind him. Then his hand rubbed his right backside as he walked down to the breakfast table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs Joe getting dressed?\u201d Ben inquired and then wondered at the odd look on his eldest son\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took his seat. \u201cHe\u2019ll be down in a few minutes, Pa; I delayed him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded and handed Adam a platter of hot cakes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa.\u201d Ben turned toward the sound of his eldest\u2019s voice. Only one syllable had been spoken, but he knew Adam was about to make a request he was not sure would receive approval.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking,\u201d Adam began and then paused. The paused allowed Hoss to insert a jibe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think that was supposed to be so unusual for you, elder brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave Hoss a look that included two raised eyebrows and then turned his attention back to his father. \u201cPa, if Joe doesn\u2019t get in any trouble this week, I think a little reward is in order.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou do?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd what do you think that reward might be?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, you know how Joe pestered me to take him up to see the Indian carvings by the falls after I told him about Hoss and me finding them when we were kids. Well, I haven\u2019t had the chance yet, and I was thinking that Sunday after services I,\u201d Adam glanced over at his middle brother with a smirk, \u201cHoss and I could take Joe and Mitch over to see them. Take a picnic and all. We could take a change of clothes and leave from Virginia City seeing as it\u2019s closer. Then if you stayed and had a few games of chess with Paul Martin or Roy Coffee and dinner at the International House, well, then Hop Sing could have a little extra time off in town. If the Delvins have reason for Mitch not to go, then we\u2019d just take Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben felt the eyes of both sons watching his slightest move. \u201cA reward is fine but not a bribe. If Joe stays out of trouble until then, you can tell him about the trip Friday night.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s dimples beamed, \u201cFine, Pa. I\u2019ll speak to the Devlins before then, so I\u2019ll know whether or not to mention Mitch coming along.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sound of footsteps on the stairs sent Ben, Hoss, and Adam back to the task of eating enough breakfast to sustain them during a morning of ranch work.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked across the barn and watched Joe saddle his horse for the ride to school. He chewed his lower lip.\u00a0 I know ya been trying to be good, little brother, but I also know that sometimes trouble just comes looking for ya, and if you don\u2019t have a good reason to hide, it will sure enough find ya. Not that I\u2019m going to go against what Pa said. No, sireee, Pa didn\u2019t raise none of that kinda fool. If he found out I told ya about it, that trip wouldn\u2019t happen no way.<\/em>\u00a0Having thought it through, Hoss made his decision about just what he could say without going against his father\u2019s wishes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Hoss?\u201d Joe looked over his shoulder at his brother and then turned back to the task of cinching his saddle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s real pleased about how ya been staying out of trouble, Little Brother, real pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe spun to look at Hoss, \u201cDid he tell ya that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not in just those words, but ya know I can read Pa like a book. He\u2019s said it in lots of ways.\u201d Hoss\u2019 smile showed the gap in his teeth; Joe had always thought that that gap added an honest note to his brother\u2019s smile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019d sure rather have him pleased then angry. Lot more comfortable that way!\u201d Joe rubbed his behind and then reached for the reins and started to lead his horse from the stall. Hoss met him in the open area between the stall rows.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust think how pleased he\u2019d be iffen ya managed to be good all this week too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Joe replied, but then a frown grew in the center of his forehead, \u201cIt ain\u2019t like I\u2019ve never gone two weeks without getting in trouble.\u201d His tone had become offended.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, that ain\u2019t what I was saying, it\u2019s just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Joe interrupted having quickly let the sting of the perceived insult fade, \u201c \u2018Sides I messed up real bad with the drinking and smoking, so I guess I owe Pa at least two weeks of not having to fuss at all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow that is one way to look at it.\u201d Hoss nodded. \u201cThat mean you\u2019re gonna try extra hard to be good this week?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEven at school?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Joe agreed readily. I\u2019ve got to be real good, so Miss Cutler don\u2019t feel she needs to talk to Mr. Planchard too quick<\/em>.\u00a0 Little Joe kept the last thought to himself. The only person he had told about his conversation with the teacher was Mitch; they had decided telling anybody else might end up with matters worse or at least more complicated and that the best course was just to be good at school and see how things worked out. \u201cAnd if I\u2019m gonna stay out of trouble, I\u2019d best get to school on time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Get going!\u201d Hoss gave Joe an encouraging slap on the back and followed him out of the barn. When Joe stopped and reached for the saddle horn to mount, Hoss grabbed his waist and swung him into the saddle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss!\u201d Joe exclaimed. Hoss ignored the indignant wail, checked that Joe was steady in saddle, and slapped the horse\u2019s rump.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGet going and no racing. We want ya home in one piece.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe harrumphed and settled the horse into a trot. Then he twisted in the saddle and stuck his tongue out at the diminishing figure of his oversized brother. Not a snowball\u2019s chance in Hades that he\u2019ll ever stop thinking he can hoist me anytime he wants<\/em>!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Actually, being good for the rest of the week was less difficult than usual for Little Joe. That he did not realize how often both his brothers nudged him in the right direction or headed off his Pa while Joe got himself back on track was partly because both Adam and Hoss had the capacity for subtly when it was necessary. Even fate lent a hand; when three of their friends decided to play a prank on prissy Mary Louise, Joe and Mitch were on the other side of the schoolhouse actually studying their spelling words, and thereby avoided being part of the group staying afterschool to write apologies. Then, when Robby Hargrove brought what Miss Cutler referred to as \u201ca picture made inappropriate by its vulgarity\u201d, Mitch and Joe managed to be the only boys over eleven not to ogle the picture and carry home a note to their fathers because they were inside assisting Miss Cutler in unpacking some crates.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe did notice that when Hoss came in Friday evening the first thing out of his mouth was, \u201cDidn\u2019t get in no trouble at school today, did ya?\u201d Now Adam asking if he had gotten in trouble would not have been out of place, but Hoss usually choose to act like Little Joe had been good unless slapped in the face with evidence that Joe had not, and this was the fourth day in a row he had asked the same question.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo! And I don\u2019t know why you\u2019re so worried if I did! I told ya I was gonna be extra good this week.\u201d Joe\u2019s tone was indignant, and his lower lip slipped into a pout.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, don\u2019t go tripping on your lip; I was just checking. Pa\u2019s gonna be real pleased, Adam too.\u201d Hoss beamed at his brother as he unbuckled his gun belt and set it on the credenza.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before Joe could say more, Ben and Adam walked through the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey, Pa, Adam!\u2019 Hoss greeted them cheerfully and stepped so that their view of Little Joe\u2019s scowl would be blocked. He mouthed the word\u00a0smile<\/em>\u00a0to Joe and then took a long sniff. \u201cSupper sure smells great. Let\u2019s see; ham and roast yams, biscuits and cream peas.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shook the sulky look off his face and rolled his eyes. He\u2019ll be right; he\u2019s always right. Must have the nose of a hunting dog<\/em>!\u00a0 Joe kept the comment to himself though and greeted his father and elder brother instead of teasing Hoss. \u201cHey, Pa, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just then Hop Sing called out from the kitchen announcing supper would be served in five minutes to those clean and seated at the table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou two boys washed up?\u201d Ben inquired.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCleaned up \u2018fore I came in, Pa,\u201d Hoss assured.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHeaded that way now, Pa.\u201d Joe quickly headed for the nearest wash basin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After he exited the room, Hoss turned to his Pa.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t get in no trouble today, Pa. Can we tell him?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou did say before Friday night, Pa.\u201d Adam added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head at the eagerness in his elder sons\u2019 voices. You\u2019d think those two were being given a treat<\/em>!\u00a0 At the thought Ben smiled appreciating the fact that his grown and nearly grown sons would think spending a day with their brother and giving him a pleasant time something to anticipate with pleasure themselves. \u201cAfter dessert, I don\u2019t want him too excited to eat his supper.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked from one smiling brother to the other. It was not that he wanted to see a frown on either face, but something was definitely going on, and he wanted to know what it was. He set down his dessert spoon with a smack. \u201cAll right, what is it with you two?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave his father an inquiring glance and received a slight nod in reply.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have any special plans for Sunday, do you, Little Buddy?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his brother a puzzled look and a shake of the head. Adam then proceeded to lay out the plan for the trip to the falls including the Devlins\u2019 agreement that, short of a major breach of discipline, Mitch would be allowed to join them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s mouth dropped open, and the only word he uttered when Adam finished was \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUnless you\u2019d rather not,\u201d Adam answered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWooopeee!\u201d exploded from Joe\u2019s mouth as he shot from his chair. \u201cCourse I wanna go, Adam; I\u2019ve been asking and asking, ain\u2019t I? And Mitch gets to go too? He ain\u2019t done nothing bad all week; he\u2019d have told me if he was in trouble at home. Golly, Pa, what did ya do to get Adam to agree to take us?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat and then answered, \u201cActually, Joseph, it was Adam\u2019s idea.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d Little Joe knew Adam held his Sunday afternoons almost as inviolate as they all held Hop Sing\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss and I want to take you two. We\u2019ve been planning it all week.\u201d If Adam had been hurt by Joe\u2019s assumption, it was only a flicker in the depth of his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2026 I mean you\u2026 and we were such a trouble \u2026\u201d Little Joe did not manage to complete a spoken thought, but it was clear that he was referring to the fact that Adam had been the one burdened by returning three drunken children to their parents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI told you that I forgave you; besides I\u2019ve gotten a lot of reading done in the past two weeks; it being so peaceful around here for a change.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe accepted the jibe with a smile and walked over to Adam. Giving his elder brother a hug, he offered the only thank-you he could, \u201cWe\u2019ll both mind ya and be real good. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam hugged his brother in return, and before he released his hold, Adam whispered in Joe\u2019s ear, \u201cUnless I decide we can all be a little naughty.\u201d Joe looked into Adam\u2019s shining eyes. At that moment they were the eyes of a boy, and part of Joe remembered when Adam\u2019s eyes had often looked like that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch tugged up his everyday pants and started working on the buttons. The small storeroom off the church vestibule was not large enough for four, so Adam and Hoss had changed first, and now Mitch and Joe had the room to themselves.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe glanced up at his friend as he pulled on his work shirt. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh, does Adam really wallop as hard as your pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but why are ya asking?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUmm, my pa is going to tell Adam that if I don\u2019t mind him and my britches need warming that he can handle me just like he would you.\u201d Mitch bit his lower lip.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d replied Little Joe. Then noticing a slight nervousness in his friend\u2019s eyes, Joe added, \u201cNo matter, though. Adam\u2019s in a real good kind of mood. I don\u2019t think he\u2019d wallop either of us for anything but just plain setting out to be bad.\u201d Joe paused in the buttoning of his shirt to stare firmly at Mitch. \u201cWe can\u2019t do nothing like that \u2018cause I\u2019ve done promised Adam we\u2019d mind.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI plan on minding, Joe; it\u2019s not like I\u2019m not. It\u2019s just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy eldest brother can be scary sometimes it you\u2019re not used to him,\u201d Joe teased. Then the look on Mitch\u2019s face had him adding, \u201cYeah, I know, sometimes he can be scary even if ya are used to him.\u201d Joe giggled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDoes he do it different from your pa? Ma does it different from my pa.\u201d Mitch inquired with boyish curiosity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe pondered the questions with twisted lips. \u201cYeah, some, I guess. Guess it\u2019s like most things; folks got their own style of doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch\u2019s voice became conspiratorial, \u201cMa didn\u2019t tell me, but I heard her telling Pa. Miz Planchard used a switch on Sally Lynn. You ain\u2019t never got it with a switch, have ya, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s head shook a negative answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMa\u2019s used a switch on me a couple of times. Stings like a hive of hornets.\u201d Mitch shared his knowledge with solemnity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe had no desire to dwell on lickings, his or those of others. He finished putting on his boots with a stomp, and seeing that one of Mitch\u2019s was still lying on the floor snatched it and held it over his head. \u201cYou gonna be needing this?\u201d he taunted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGive it to me, Joe. Joe, I\u2019m telling you to give it to me. Joeee!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe darted out the side door into the churchyard still holding Mitch\u2019s boot over his head. Mitch followed. Joe backed away from his friend giggling until he bumped into something, turned quickly, and discovered he had knocked into the Reverend Shelby.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUhh, sorry, Reverend; I wasn\u2019t looking where I was going. Did I hurt you?\u201d Joe was immediately contrite.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before the reverend could answer, a hard, deep voice spread out from a few yards away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLook at that, Miss Cutler. Do you see why I do not want my daughter associating with those two hooligans?\u201d Jacob Planchard sent a glare toward Joe and Mitch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Miss Cutler stiffened and looked the man before her in the eye. She pitched her voice with easy experience so that it would be heard by every person who had heard Jacob\u2019s comment. \u201cI do not see any hooligans, Mr. Planchard. I see two boys playing around as boys will. I have spent a great deal of time with both of them, and they are good boys, not perfect mind you, but good boys all the same, and when they error as boys will, I know they are held to account and accept their punishment as due. That is all I ask of any boy, Mr. Planchard.\u201d The teacher\u2019s eyes snapped with the same fire she used on recalcitrant students.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWould you think them hooligans if you knew that they had lured my daughter into drinking whiskey and smoking cigars?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Miss Cutler\u2019s eyes widened, but she was not given a chance to reply before a soft voice filled the expectant silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t, Papa. I was the one who shared the whiskey and cigars with them.\u201d Everyone\u2019s eyes snapped to Sally Lynn Planchard as she stood next to her mother a few yards behind her father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jacob Planchard quickly turned to granite, and no one watching would have been surprised to see Sally Lynn literally melt beneath his glare.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou lied to me, girl! It was you\u2026\u201d Jacob took a step toward his daughter, and Eva Planchard moved forward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe has been punished, Jacob. It will not happen again.\u201d Eva\u2019s words stilled her husband for a moment, but the fire did not die in his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The smooth voice of the Reverend Shelby slid between Eva and Jacob. \u201cWell, then, it would seem there is only the need for forgiveness left.\u201d The Reverend quickly came to Jacob\u2019s side and placed a hand on his arm moving him toward the church. \u201cBut that is a matter best handled inside.\u201d The Reverend continued to steer Jacob toward the church and held out his hand to Sally Lynn. She took it, and a minute later the three of them disappeared into the church. Eva turned to Ben Cartwright who had heard everything from a spot a few yards beyond Little Joe and Mitch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen, please wait, Sally Lynn will be wanting to speak to the boys.\u201d Then she turned and walked into the church.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes had followed Eva\u2019s to fix on his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWait here, boys. I\u2019ll explain to Hoss and Adam. You may talk to Sally Lynn when she comes out, Joe. I\u2019m sure you may also, Mitch.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe watched his father walk off and then turned back toward his friend. The only emotion he could read on Mitch\u2019s face was concern. \u201cWe\u2019re not in trouble, Mitch. Pa weren\u2019t mad, and your folks don\u2019t have reason to be either. Hey, did you hear what Miss Cutler said!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t worried about being in trouble. Joe, do ya think Sally Lynn\u2019s pa will give her another tanning?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNaw, not with the Reverend talking about forgiveness and all. It\u2019d be like not listening to God.\u201d Joe did not see the concern leave his friend\u2019s face. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s a good thing, Mitch. The Reverend\u2019s real good at teaching about forgiveness and stuff. He may be just the man for the job with Mr. Planchard.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou think so?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe nodded, and then realizing he still held Mitch\u2019s boot, he handed it back to his friend. Mitch seated himself on the ground to pull it on, and Little Joe flopped down beside him to wait. The Reverend Shelby and Mrs. Planchard exited the church first and went to talk to Ben Cartwright and the Devlins who were talking together next to the Devlins\u2019 buggy. Then Sally Lynn came out and walked directly to Joe and Mitch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They scrambled to their feet and smiled shyly at her when she walked up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m real sorry I got you two in such trouble.\u201d Sally Lynn kept her head up, and the boys could see the tears that hung on her lashes like dew. \u201cI\u2019m even more sorry that I lied on you. That was real wrong, and I\u2019ll understand if ya can\u2019t forgive me, but Adam said you might, Joe, if I told the truth, so I\u2019m asking you both. Please forgive me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before Joe could answer, Mitch exclaimed, \u201cDon\u2019t worry none, Sally Lynn, we forgive ya, don\u2019t we, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mitch\u2019s exuberance brought him a wide-eyed stare from Little Joe. Then Joe looked at Sally Lynn and said, \u201cSure we do, Sally Lynn. We do have that bond and all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sally Lynn\u2019s smile was hesitant but slowly lit her face. Then in front of God, a couple of dozen on-lookers, and her father who had just then come to stand on the church steps, Sally Lynn hugged first Mitch and then Joe brushing their cheeks with her kiss. \u201cThank you!\u201d Then she turned and darted to the shelter of her mother\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rubbed the spot where Sally Lynn\u2019s kiss had landed as if to clean it away. He turned and saw that Mitch was not doing the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe looked like an angel, didn\u2019t she, Joe?\u201d Mitch said softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sighed and shook his head. He had two older brothers, and he knew the look that was plastered on Mitch\u2019s young face. Girls!<\/em>\u201d He punched Mitch in the arm to startle his friend from his reverie, and then took off in a flat-out run. \u201cLast one to the horses is a rotten egg!\u201d Joe smiled as he beat Mitch to where Adam and Hoss waited.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAbout time you two got around to coming over. We\u2019ve got to get started, or I\u2019m gonna die of hunger before we get to the falls,\u201d Hoss boomed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Hoss, they were delayed by a young lady. A man has to mind his manners with a lady.\u201d Adam\u2019s voice teased smoothly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sputtered and then felt his feet leave the ground as Adam hoisted him into the saddle. He looked over and saw that Hoss was doing the same to Mitch. Joe took a deep breath and then laughed as he watched Hoss and Adam mount their horses. He had the whole rest of the day to spend on an adventure with his big brothers and his best friend. Now that was a bit of heaven that did not need any angles with long, flowing curls.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *****End*****<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: \u00a0Not all parents measure up to Ben Cartwright, and not all children measure up to Little Joe. \u00a0It could have been so much worse, but the consequences put three families at odds until things are set right.<\/p>\n Rating: \u00a0T\u00a0(27,895 words)<\/p>\n Sally Lynn Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":14300,"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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1008,30],"tags":[14,15,1151,17,16],"class_list":["post-14287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","category-prequels","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-ben","tag-brothers","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/capture1.png?fit=229%2C476&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14287","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\/143"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nSippin’ Whiskey and Sally Lynn<\/a><\/p>\n