{"id":14290,"date":"2001-05-06T20:07:13","date_gmt":"2001-05-07T00:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14290"},"modified":"2026-08-01T23:25:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T03:25:07","slug":"standing-watch-by-djk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14290","title":{"rendered":"Standing Watch (by DJK)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/strong>He only wanted to protect himself and his family.<\/p>\n

Rating: \u00a0G\u00a0 \u00a0(2,170 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Standing Watch<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He found it where he knew she had put it. He took a deep breath before he touched it, swallowed the lump in his throat, and picked it up. \u201cA Cartwright does what is needed,\u201d he thought to encourage himself. Then he walked purposefully out of the house, carrying it with great care. When he reached the ladder to the barn loft, he stopped. He needed both hands to climb the ladder, so he slipped it inside his buttoned shirt before he began his ascent. Luckily, one side of the large upper door was already open. He walked to stand before it and gaze outward. A Cartwright did what was needed, and he was a Cartwright.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, have you seen Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright had just entered the great room of the ranch house when the voice of his brother Hoss caused him to pause. \u201cNo. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just, well; I was looking around for him and . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHave you asked Hop Sing?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing said he was still upstairs taking a nap, but he ain\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve really looked around?\u201d Adam\u2019s tone had grown serious.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, yeah, in the house anyways and around the yard.\u201d Hoss chewed on his lower lip.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows he\u2019s not to leave the house and yard without telling whoever\u2019s in charge.\u201d Adam’s voice now carried a sharp edge.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe forgets sometimes.\u201d Hoss shifted nervously.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if Pa finds out that he just up and went off, the reminder will be not too pleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIf we fetch him back before Pa gets home. . .\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam rolled his eyes but turned toward the door. \u201cCome on then!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss followed his elder brother as they both exited.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve looked everywhere in the house?\u201d Adam inquired once again, and Hoss nodded his head. \u201cWhat about the barn?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJust glanced around and called him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then we\u2019ll searched it good before we start on the woods.\u201d The two boys strode across the yard and entered the barn. \u201cYou check all the stalls, and I\u2019ll search the loft.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe ain\u2019t allowed in the loft alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well, like you said, our little brother has a habit of forgetting what he ain\u2019t allowed.\u201d Adam turned and mounted the ladder. Pulling himself up into the hayloft, he called his brother\u2019s name and scanned the dim interior. A slight movement caught his eye, and he walked toward the open upper door. He stopped when he saw the small body stretched out on the hay asleep. A smile flickered over his lips before he froze and forgot to breath. The color drained from his face as he saw what lay beneath his baby brother\u2019s hand. He sank to his knees and snatched the pearl-handled derringer from the hay. Closing his hand around it, he breathed again and yelled, \u201cWhat in tarnation!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His brother\u2019s cry caused Little Joe to waken, and he slowly pushed himself into a sitting position.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph Cartwright! What in Heaven\u2019s name do you think you\u2019re doing!\u201d Adam\u2019s roar blew the remnants of the little boy\u2019s slumber completely away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI, I,\u201d Little Joe\u2019s voice began to tremble, \u201cI fell asleep. I\u2019m sorry, Adam; I didn\u2019t mean to fall asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFall asleep! You didn\u2019t mean to fall asleep. Little boy, falling asleep is the least of your worries.\u201d Adam\u2019s voice had become hard and sharp. Little Joe heard the anger, and his eyes began to tear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss heard the anger also as he pushed himself off the ladder and onto the loft floor. \u201cNow, Adam,\u201d he said keeping his voice soft and cajoling, \u201cYou\u2019re scaring him; ain\u2019t no sense in hollering so.\u201d Hoss hurried to close the distance between him and his brothers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo sense in hollering! He had gun! He had a gun!\u201d As he repeated the words, Adam thrust his hand under Hoss\u2019s face revealing the derringer lying on his palm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 gasp sucked in half the air in the loft. \u201cLordy, no!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes, you can see for yourself. There he was with a gun in his hand, just as bold as you please.\u201d Adam\u2019s anger propelled him to his feet. He stared for few seconds at the offending object and then shoved it into his pocket.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHave you asked him why?\u201d Hoss ventured staring at his little brother who had begun to cry in earnest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHave I asked him why? Why? As if there is any reason in the world for him to have Marie\u2019s derringer.\u201d Adam spat the thought from his mouth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sunk to his knees and turned his little brother to face him. \u201cWhy did you have the gun, Joe, why?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI needed it,\u201d the child managed to mutter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNeeded it for what?\u201d Adam\u2019s question snapped through the air.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor if the bad men came.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s answer ended with a sob.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss took Joe\u2019s chin in his hand and settled the little boy\u2019s eyes on his face. \u201cNow, calm down, boy; you\u2019ve got to calm down and tell me and Adam what you mean about the gun and the bad men and all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe swallowed three more sobs before he managed to tell his story. \u201cMr. Roy told Pa about the bad men. I heard. He said Pa had to watch for them bad men. Only, nobody was. Nobody was, Hoss. I guessed everybody was too busy but me, so I decided I would. I\u2019m big now, and I knew I could stand watch, but I needed a gun for if the bad men came. Mama\u2019s gun\u2019s not big, so I got it. I came up where I could see if they came, but I didn\u2019t do it right. I fell asleep. I\u2019m sorry I fell asleep. Next time I\u2019ll do better.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNext time!\u201d Adam\u2019s exclamation was nearer a growl. \u201cThere will be no next time. Do you hear me, Joseph Cartwright? There will definitely be no next time.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe dissolved once more into tears, and Hoss scooped the little boy into his arms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re scaring him, Adam,\u201d Hoss accused.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe has reason to be scared. When Pa hears. . .\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Adam, Pa ain\u2019t got to hear, does he?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, he climbed up into this loft with a gun. Do you realize what could have happened? Do you!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I do, but we can see that there ain\u2019t no chance of it happening again, and then there won\u2019t be no need for Pa to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, we . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe can make sure that gun ain\u2019t nowhere he can ever touch it again, and we can make him promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, Pa…\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s blue eyes misted as he lowered his voice to a whisper, \u201cYou know what Pa will do if he finds out; you know what he did when he found me. . .\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2019s barely six and, well, Pa wouldn\u2019t really tan him even if. . .\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know that, Adam; Pa\u2019s always said. . .\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut if Pa finds out we didn\u2019t tell him\u2026\u201d Adam let his thought drop away as he watched his baby brother\u2019s shoulders heave. \u201cHoss, we can\u2019t let him think he can get away with something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss set Little Joe on his feet and knelt down to confront him, face to face. \u201cLittle Joe, you listen here now, and you listen good. Touching that gun was wrong. No matter that you were trying to do something good; it was still real wrong. Pa\u2019s done told you never and no ways to touch a gun without him giving permission.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019ll be real mad,\u201d Joe whimpered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow, he won\u2019t have to be if you promise me and Adam — a real for true brother promise — that you\u2019ll never do it again, never for no reason. Do you promise me?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nodding, Little Joe stated, \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked up at Adam who drew in a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. He dropped to his knees and placed his hands around Little Joe\u2019s waist.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou know a Cartwright would never, ever break a true brother\u2019s promise, not in a million years,\u201d Adam stated adamantly while staring into his brother\u2019s tear-stained face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI never would, Adam, never, never, never.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou will never touch another gun unless Pa says that you may. He has to say it straight out, and no reason is good enough to break this promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI promise I won\u2019t never break my promise.\u201d Little Joe pointed his finger and traced a cross on his chest. \u201cDon\u2019t tell Pa, please, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam drew in a deep breath, \u201cI\u2019ll trust your promise, Little Joe, but if you ever. . .\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t, Adam; I won\u2019t; I won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what Pa would do if he found out, even to a little behind like yours, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe nodded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows, Adam, and he won\u2019t break his promise,\u201d Hoss interjected, then he caught Joe\u2019s chin in his hand again, \u201cand we won\u2019t none of us ever speak of it again \u2018cause if we don\u2019t tell now, and Pa finds out later, Pa will tan all three of us good and proper.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t get ya a tanning, Hoss; I won\u2019t, Adam! I can keep a secret now I\u2019m big.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam could not keep from rolling his eyes, but he said cheerily, \u201cOkay then. Hoss, take Joe in the house and wash his face. Hold a cool cloth on his eyes for a bit. We don\u2019t want Pa asking why he was crying. I\u2019ll see to the barn chores. Go on, and don\u2019t bring him into the same room as Pa until you can\u2019t tell.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lifting his little brother in his arms, Hoss nodded, \u201cSure, Adam; I\u2019ll see to it. You gonna see to the. . .”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes flashed. \u201cYes, I\u2019ll see to that. Now go on.\u201d Adam watched his brothers leave the loft before he drew the derringer from his pocket. It took his hand several minutes to stop shaking when he found a bullet in the chamber.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNO! NO!\u201d Adam jerked upright with his cries echoing around him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His bedroom door opened, and a soft light preceded his father into the room. \u201cAdam, son, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, Pa, just a dream, that\u2019s all. I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not having paused, Ben arrived at Adam\u2019s bedside and gazed down at his seventeen-year-old son. \u201cAre you sure you wouldn\u2019t like to talk about that dream. Get it out of your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo need, Pa, really.\u201d Adam made sure to keep his eyes lowered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Setting his lamp down, Ben settled on the edge of the bed. \u201cYou and your brothers were awfully quiet at dinner. The rest of the night, for that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a long day, Pa; Hoss really worked hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAs did you, I\u2019m sure. Still. . . Adam, you have seldom been bothered by nightmares unless something was troubling you. It\u2019s not the men the posse was after, is it? I told you, Roy Coffee sent word that they had been captured. They were never anywhere near the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam considered saying that his father had guessed correctly, but that kind of lie had never worked well for him at least not with his Pa. \u201cI know. I\u2019m not worried about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam thought for a moment before replying, \u201cPa, you know sometimes I get a notion in my head, and, well, you always said my mind was fertile ground. Have you ever thought about an accident that could have happened, that didn\u2019t happen mind you, but that might have, and you fretted over what might have happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you fretting over something that might have happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOld Ned says fretting is just a rocking chair; it doesn\u2019t get you anywhere. I guess all mine\u2019s gotten me is a nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat almost happened, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want you fretting yourself into a nightmare, Pa.\u201d Adam held his breath. \u201cPlease don\u2019t press me, Pa, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam,\u201d Ben Cartwright put a command into the single word.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam bit his lower lip and did something he regretted even as he spoke the words, \u201cIt\u2019s just, well, ever since Marie, well, since her accident, well sometimes, little things. . .\u201d He let his words fade away as he watched a certain familiar darkness shadow his father\u2019s eyes. \u201cPa, I\u2019m sorry I woke you; I…\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve nothing to be sorry for, son.\u201d Ben reached out and ruffled his son\u2019s dark hair, \u201cSoon enough you\u2019ll be too far away for me to come if you have a nightmare.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cToo far but not too old?\u201d Adam managed a cheeky grin.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNever too old, my boy, never too old.\u201d Ben smiled and stood. Picking up the lamp, he walked slowly from the room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam lay with his arms crossed beneath his head trying to decide how long he needed to wait before talking to his father about them all keeping a closer eye on Little Joe and wondering if he really should leave for college in two months. \u201cIf Pa notices that Marie\u2019s derringer has been moved, I\u2019ll have to lie.\u201d Adam sighed, \u201cI\u2019ve never, ever gotten away with a real lie to Pa.\u201d Fortunately, Adam had already arrived in Boston before his father had reason to wonder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Tags:<\/strong> Adam Cartwright, APM, Hoss Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright, Old Ned<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0He only wanted to protect himself and his family.<\/p>\n

Rating: \u00a0G \u00a0 \u00a0(2,170 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":14296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1008,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/derringer.jpg?fit=500%2C500&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14290","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=14290"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14290\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}