{"id":14359,"date":"2017-05-02T16:15:28","date_gmt":"2017-05-02T20:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14359"},"modified":"2026-07-31T08:33:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T12:33:50","slug":"bens-boy-hoss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14359","title":{"rendered":"Ben’s Boy Hoss (by DJK)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/strong>A collection of seven short vignettes which were written in response to various prompts.\u00a0 Together they paint a picture of Hoss Cartwright, boy and man.<\/p>\n

Rating: teen\u00a0\u00a0 word count total:\u00a0 3598<\/p>\n

Ben’s Boys Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben’s Boys<\/a>
\nBen’s Boy Adam<\/a>
\nBen’s Boy Hoss<\/a>
\nBen’s Boy Little Joe<\/a><\/p>\n

Ben’s Boy Hoss<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One ~~~ Giving<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, where\u2019s your jacket?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss cleared his throat and then replied, \u201cI\u2019m wearing a jacket, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is your new jacket?\u201d\u00a0 Ben Cartwright\u2019s voice deepened slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy new jacket, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss delivered his query in a faintly quivering voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, your new jacket.\u00a0 The one I bought you less than three weeks ago.\u201d A tinge of impatience had crept into Ben\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I\u2019d wear this one today, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat jacket is too small for you to button; that\u2019s why I bought you a new one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need to button it today, Pa; it ain\u2019t that cold.\u201d\u00a0 The quiver in his voice had grown, and Hoss\u2019s eyes were fixed firmly on the floor at his feet.<\/p>\n

Ben stiffened, and the volume of his words rose, \u201cHoss, I asked you where your new jacket is.\u00a0 Now tell me where it is and why you are not wearing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss swallowed convulsively.\u00a0 \u201cWell, Pa, I don\u2019t rightly know exactly where it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYOU DON’T KNOW!\u00a0 Do you mean to tell me you\u2019ve lost that jacket already!\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s voice lashed out, and his son flinched at the sound.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, I ain\u2019t lost it, Pa.\u00a0 It ain\u2019t lost.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019s eyes had begun to shimmer with tears, and he shifted nervously from one foot to another.<\/p>\n

Ben drew in a deep breath and released it slowly.\u00a0 In a lower volume, he demanded, \u201cTell me exactly what has happened to that jacket, Eric, and tell me now!\u201d<\/p>\n

The tears slipped down his cheeks as Hoss muttered his reply.\u00a0 \u201cHe was shivering, Pa.\u00a0 He was shivering, and he didn\u2019t have nothing, and I still had this jacket and my big coat when it really gets cold, so, well, Pa, he was shivering so. . .\u201d\u00a0 The declaration ended in a sob.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you telling me that you gave your jacket away?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI think he was sick, Pa.\u00a0 He looked sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

The silence was filled only with the twelve-year-old\u2019s raspy breathing.<\/p>\n

Ben looked down at his son as varying emotions flickered through his eyes. Hoss ventured a glance at this father\u2019s face through lowered lashes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can wear this one for now, Pa.\u00a0 Maybe if Hop Sing moves the buttons over.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss lifted his head and gazed into Ben\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben reached out and placed a hand on each side of the boy\u2019s face. Shaking his head, Ben said softly, \u201cNo, no, son, never be sorry for doing a kindness.\u00a0 Never be sorry for that.\u201d\u00a0 He drew his son to him and held the boy in a prolonged embrace.\u00a0 Then he sighed and released him.\u00a0 \u201cYou know you can\u2019t always give the clothes off your back to others, don\u2019t you, Son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you spent good money on that jacket, Pa.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to buy me another.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled and tugged the edges of the too small jacket toward each other. \u201cThis will do for today, I suppose, but tomorrow, tomorrow we go shopping for a new jacket.\u201d\u00a0 He used his thumbs to wipe the lingering tears from his son\u2019s cheeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss smiled.\u00a0 It was his mother\u2019s smile.\u00a0 To Ben it was well worth the price of a boy\u2019s jacket.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Please note that this was written in response to a prompt and was part of the challenge thread on another site. Other writers responded to the same prompt, and this prompt resulted in some similarity in ideas.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Two~~~\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Telling<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright set the book he had been reading down on the table beside his bed.\u00a0 The sound came again.\u00a0 As he called, \u201cCome in,\u201d a smile turned up the corner of his lips.\u00a0 He had long ago developed the ability to discern which of his sons wanted access to their father\u2019s private domain from just the sound of the knock on the door.\u00a0 He was not surprised when his middle son stepped into the room.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI, well, Pa, there\u2019s sumthin\u2019 I, well, uhm, can I talk to ya about something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d\u00a0 Ben patted the mattress and watched Hoss hesitantly cross the room.\u00a0 \u201cSit down, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss slowly lowered himself to sit on the very edge of Ben\u2019s bed.\u00a0 \u201cNow, Pa, uhhm, I need ya to promise ya won\u2019t get mad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you done something that would make me mad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNooooo.\u201d\u00a0 The syllable was drawn out to fill the seconds Hoss needed to compose the rest of his answer.\u00a0 \u201cNo, it ain\u2019t that I\u2019ve done something that would make you mad.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cPa, it\u2019s just\u2026\u201d\u00a0 The words faded from Hoss\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cEric.\u201d Ben watched his son shift nervously and heard the bed creak.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, Pa, there ain\u2019t no need for you to work yourself up none.\u00a0 Really there ain\u2019t, and I wouldn\u2019t have said nothing to ya \u2018cept, well, he might\u2019ve dug himself a hole a little too deep to crawl out of, so to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just what kind of hole has your brother dug for himself this time?\u201d The timbre of Ben\u2019s voice had deepened.<\/p>\n

Hoss chewed on the corner of his lower lip.\u00a0 \u201cPa, I\u2026, can\u2019t ya promise not to get mad at him or anything.\u00a0 I mean could ya just, well, iffen you would\u2026 I mean, I think ya could\u2026\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 The bed clothes were twisting beneath Hoss\u2019s fingers.<\/p>\n

Ben eyebrows lowered.\u00a0 \u201cEric, if your brother is in some kind of trouble you need to tell me now.\u00a0 He and I can deal with any needed consequences when things have been settled.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Pa\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Hoss swallowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop trying to save Little Joe\u2019s backside and tell me exactly what is going on, and I mean now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, it aint Little Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyes widened.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not?\u201d\u00a0 They narrowed again.\u00a0 \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s, well, he\u2019s gone and agreed to the dangest contest just \u2018cause them Bonners was a poking and prodding and, well, Pa ya got to put a stop to it \u2018cause if ya don\u2019t, and he gets hurt, it\u2019s all my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour fault?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded again.\u00a0 \u201cYa know Adam can stay cool no matter what anybody says about him.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019s voice dropped to a whisper, \u201cThem Bonners didn\u2019t say nothing about Adam; they said it about me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s back stiffened; then he leaned forward.\u00a0 \u201cYour older brother agreed to some fool and dangerous contest because the Bonner brothers insulted you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s the sum of it, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 He swallowed twice before he added, \u201cYa ain\u2019t supposed to know until after it\u2019s all said and done.\u201d\u00a0 A sigh filled the room.\u00a0 \u201cAdam\u2019s gonna be powerful mad at me for a good piece, but\u2026\u201d Hoss once again chewed on his lower lip.\u00a0 \u201cBetter mad then hurt, and I got a fearsome feeling about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben studied his son\u2019s eyes and then patted the hand that still twisted the quilt.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Hoss.\u00a0 My eldest has another think coming if he thinks I\u2019m going to allow any foolishness that puts any of my sons in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, Adam\u2019s twenty-two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m well aware of your brother\u2019s age, Hoss; I was there when he was born.\u201d\u00a0 He patted the hand beneath his again.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll have to handle it differently than I would if it was your little brother, but, well, I have my ways, so don\u2019t you fret. Now tell me the whole story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss leaned back against the footboard and did as his father wanted.\u00a0 In the end, elder brother did too.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Three~~~\u00a0\u00a0 Supporting<\/h4>\n

Ben studied his middle son and bit back the order he was about to bellow.\u00a0 Ben knew better than anyone how the Cartwright stubbornness came out in Hoss, or maybe, in cases like this, it was the stubborn single-mindedness he had inherited from Inger.\u00a0 Hoss was the most biddable of his sons, for sure, but he was also the one hardest to turn from a decision once it was made.\u00a0 He could reason with Adam and play on Little Joe’s emotions, but neither approach worked with Hoss.\u00a0 Ben drew in a deep breath and walked up behind his son placing his hand on the massive shoulder.\u00a0 He felt the boy tremble beneath his touch.\u00a0 Despite his size he was still a boy.\u00a0 He was not yet seventeen and far too young for the road he had chosen.<\/p>\n

In a voice gentle and filled with love, Ben pleaded, “I’m asking you as your father. Please, don’t do this.”<\/p>\n

Hoss turned to face his pa.\u00a0 His blue eyes clouded with tears.\u00a0 How could he deny such a request?\u00a0 “Pa, please, Pa, understand.\u00a0 I’ve got to.\u00a0 The babe needs a father.\u00a0 That little gal needs someone to look after her.”<\/p>\n

“Hoss, the child she carries is not yours.”<\/p>\n

“Won’t make no matter when it comes to loving it,” Hoss replied simply.<\/p>\n

Ben knew that for this son it would not matter, not at all.\u00a0 “Do you love Jennie Lynn?”<\/p>\n

“I want to take care of her.\u00a0 She ain’t strong enough to face it alone.”<\/p>\n

“That’s not what I asked you, Son.” Ben stated more firmly.<\/p>\n

Hoss dropped his eyes.\u00a0 “Not like you loved Ma, no, but\u2026”<\/p>\n

“No, Eric, when it comes to marriage there must be no buts<\/em>. You deserve a woman who you love and who loves you.”<\/p>\n

“It’ll be fine, Pa.\u00a0 I’ll be fine.”<\/p>\n

“It’s not fair to her either, Son.\u00a0 Doesn’t she deserve a man who loves her?”<\/p>\n

“She needs me, Pa.”<\/p>\n

“She needs friends.\u00a0 She needs our care.\u00a0 She will receive both.\u00a0 She will not have my boy as her husband.”<\/p>\n

Black granite and blue-gray steel their eyes locked.\u00a0 A thousand things passed between the two but not a single word.\u00a0 Hoss dropped his eyes first, and Ben drew his son into his arms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Four~~~\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wrestling<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What is it, son?\u00a0 Are you concerned about the match?”\u00a0 Ben Cartwright placed his hand on his son’s shoulder.<\/p>\n

Hoss Cartwright nodded.\u00a0 The match was all he had been able to think about for days.\u00a0 It was all he had heard about for weeks.\u00a0 Hoss sighed.\u00a0 It was his little brother’s fault.\u00a0 Joe had signed him up for the wrestling contest that had made him the Virginia City Champion.\u00a0 Little Joe had bragged all over Carson City about his brother the champion, and now Hoss was about to defend the honor of Virginia City against the Carson City champ.\u00a0 That big brother of his should have put a stop to it when Little Joe first opened his mouth, but had he? \u00a0No. Adam had laid down a hundred dollar bet with Gunther Perkins.\u00a0 Not that the money mattered to Adam.\u00a0 No, elder brother just wanted to rub that arrogant Perkins’ face in the loss.\u00a0 Hoss sighed.\u00a0 Everywhere he went everyone he met told him how they were betting on him or how Hank Mathers was going to twist him into a human horseshoe.\u00a0 Hoss sighed.\u00a0 It wasn’t that he didn’t like wrestling.\u00a0 He loved a good tussle with a man who was his match.\u00a0 He just didn’t like everyone making so much of this match.\u00a0 If only he hadn’t heard what Hank Mathers had told his wife.\u00a0 Hoss sighed again as his pa squeezed his shoulder.\u00a0 “Yeah, Pa.\u00a0 I wish people weren’t betting like they are.”<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright studied his son.\u00a0 Ben himself did not care for betting, but his sons had all laid many a bet. Something deeper was bothering his gentle son; Ben could see his heart hurting.\u00a0 “Son, you aren’t responsible for other people’s bets.\u00a0 All you can do is your best.”<\/p>\n

Hoss winced slightly.\u00a0 Ben said softly, “What is it, Son?”<\/p>\n

Hoss turned and gazed into his father’s face.\u00a0 “What if I can’t give my best?”<\/p>\n

“Eric, tell me what you mean.” Ben’s voice was firmly paternal.<\/p>\n

“Pa, I heard Hank Mathers last night talking to his wife.”\u00a0 Hoss gave his father a sheepish look.\u00a0 “You told us eavesdropping brings nothing but trouble.”<\/p>\n

“Eric,” Ben said in a tone that demanded explanation.<\/p>\n

“He told his wife that the money from the match would be their salvation.\u00a0 His wife’s poorly, and he ain’t paid his taxes, Pa.\u00a0 He really needs to win that prize money; I don’t.”<\/p>\n

Hoss had been wrestling with that thought since he had heard Mathers talking.\u00a0 He didn’t need to win, and Hank Mathers really did, but other folks had their money bet on Hoss.\u00a0 Some of them might need to win too.\u00a0 Hoss just couldn’t see how letting Hank Mathers win the match would be fair to them folks.<\/p>\n

Ben recognized the dilemma facing the most compassionate of his sons, and he had no comforting advice to offer.\u00a0 He had taught Hoss right from wrong long ago, and if any of his sons saw all the shades of gray between the two, it was his blue-eyed giant.\u00a0 Ben offered the only words he could.\u00a0 “Pray about it, Son, and when the time comes you’ll do what you should.\u00a0 I’m sure of that.”<\/p>\n

Hoss wasn’t so sure, but he would follow his Pa’s advice.\u00a0 He would pray to God to lead him in the right direction and try to follow wherever God led.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Five~~~\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Taking Charge<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I thought you were going home with Little Joe.”<\/p>\n

A wry smile curled her lips.\u00a0 “You assumed Little Joe was taking me home.”<\/p>\n

“He told me you and he were meeting here at the dance.”<\/p>\n

“We meet.\u00a0 We danced once.\u00a0 She arrived, and, well, it seems Little Joe has won the honor of escorting the new belle of Virginia City home tonight.”\u00a0 She titled her head back to look directly into his eyes.\u00a0 “Apparently the competition was fierce, but you know your brother.\u00a0 It’s always a sure bet when you put your money on the Cartwright charm.”\u00a0 Her laughter was brittle and cold.<\/p>\n

His eyes darkened.\u00a0 “Did he tell you that he would take you home?” \u00a0His words were clipped and hard.<\/p>\n

She shook her curls.\u00a0 “No, not precisely. Like he told you, we agreed to meet here since I had to help set up the decorations and refreshments. We never discussed leaving at all.”<\/p>\n

“Little Joe will be taking you home.”\u00a0 It was a statement of fact uncolored by doubt.\u00a0 He turned on his heel.<\/p>\n

She had never seen such an adamant look on his face.\u00a0 Her hands shot out and caught him by the arm.\u00a0 He actually pulled her forward a few steps before he even noticed.<\/p>\n

“No, Hoss!”<\/p>\n

Hoss Cartwright stopped and looked over his shoulder.\u00a0 “That boy’s been taught better, Miss DeLissa.\u00a0 I’m just gonna go remind him of that.”<\/p>\n

“Hoss, you can’t!”<\/p>\n

They had begun to attract the attention of others in the room.\u00a0 They both realized it, and DeLissa released her grip on his tan suit sleeve.\u00a0 Hoss took a step toward the girl and saw the glitter of tears in her eyes.<\/p>\n

“Please don’t, Hoss,” she whispered.<\/p>\n

“Iffen you’d rather not be with him, Miss DeLissa, I understand, but maybe you’d let me have the honor of seeing you home.”\u00a0 His eyes were soft again, and his voice gentle.<\/p>\n

“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have see me home.\u00a0 Thank you, Hoss Cartwright.”\u00a0 Her smile reached her eyes this time.<\/p>\n

He helped her into her wrap and took her arm.\u00a0 The boy will be hearing from me about this later.\u00a0 <\/em>The thought settled in his mind, and he escorted DeLissa toward the door making a short stop to whisper in his elder brother’s ear.<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright walked up to stand beside his eldest son.<\/p>\n

“Did I just see DeLissa leave with Hoss?”<\/p>\n

Ben saw the wicked gleam in Adam’s eyes.\u00a0 “Yes, you did, and if Little Joe comes to tell us the buggy is missing, we’re to tell him that Hoss needed it, and he is welcome to ride Chubby home.”<\/p>\n

Ben arched his eyebrow.\u00a0 “There is an explanation for all of this I suppose?”<\/p>\n

Adam’s smile widened.\u00a0 “Yes, there is, and I intend to have a front seat later when Little Joe gives it.”<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head and sipped his gentlemen’s punch deciding to have a front row seat of his own.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Six~~~\u00a0\u00a0 Protecting<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam leaned against the side of the stall and stared down at Hoss as he inspected Chubby\u2019s leg.\u00a0 \u201cWhy did you lie to the boy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt weren\u2019t really a lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt surely wasn\u2019t all of the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was all the truth that boy needs to know.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss stood, and his eyes meet his elder brother\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Adam cocked his eyebrow, but the message in Hoss\u2019s eyes did not waiver.\u00a0 Adam had seen that look in those blue eyes before.\u00a0 Sometimes it was best to simply let a mule have his way, at least a certain overgrown brother of a Cartwright mule.\u00a0 \u201cHave it as you will.\u201d Adam straightened.\u00a0 \u201cThe decision was yours to make. I\u2019ll not tell him anything more.\u201d\u00a0 He gave a meaningful shrug of his shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cStill, that\u2019s not to say that he won\u2019t hear the whole story from someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, but ain\u2019t that many folks know the whole story, and none of them is likely to be spending time in Richmond.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRichmond?\u00a0 Virginia?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u00a0 The boy showed me some papers.\u00a0 He has kin in Richmond on his Mama\u2019s side.\u00a0 It will be best if he goes to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s right hand tugged at his ear.\u00a0 \u201cBest for the boy, yes, it should be best for him.\u201d\u00a0 He sighed. \u201cI\u2019m\u2026I know you\u2026well, I know how you feel about him.\u201d\u00a0 His hand settled on Hoss\u2019s shoulder and squeezed gently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want what\u2019s best for him is all.\u00a0 He\u2019s a good boy, Adam.\u00a0 He deserves a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s hand squeezed again.\u00a0 \u201cOf course.\u00a0 Still, maybe learning the whole truth when there is someone to help him deal with it would be best if there\u2019s even a chance of him looking for more answers and finding them later.\u201d<\/p>\n

This time Hoss sighed and then shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you so sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve done thought it through, and my mind is set.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not arguing the point, but you really haven\u2019t answered my question.\u00a0 Why?\u201d\u00a0 He waited patiently for his brother\u2019s answer; he always had.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, the way I see it, the whole truth would kill all that boy\u2019s heroes, and a world without heroes is like a world without sun, you can\u2019t look up to anyone.\u00a0 Iffen you ain\u2019t got anyone to look up to, well, it\u2019s real easy to get lost or find some lowdown, slime crawler to follow. I won’t let that happen to that boy.” Hoss turned to look directly at Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d\u00a0 Adam made a decision not to mention heroes with feet of clay.\u00a0 Hoss knew his older brother well, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s bit of clay in most men\u2019s feet.\u00a0 That\u2019s a lesson we all learn sometime.\u00a0 Only it\u2019s a lesson best learned after we\u2019ve had lots of practice learning to forgive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled his agreement and dropped his arm around his brother\u2019s shoulder. \u201cRight.\u201d\u00a0 Yes, there\u2019s some clay in most hero\u2019s feet, but not all. I know for sure, not all.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*\u00a0 Please note that the following line was taken from \u201cA World Without Heroes\u201d by Kiss (Lou Reed, Bob Ezrin, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley) which was used as a challenge prompt.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0A world without heroes is like a world without sun, you can\u2019t look up to anyone.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

Seven~~~\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Believing<\/h4>\n

“That’s the last time I’ll ever let someone hoodwink me into to such a fool scheme,” Hoss Cartwright declared.\u00a0 “Just you mind what I say, the very last time!”<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright looked at his middle son and smiled.\u00a0 Then he exchanged a glance with his eldest.\u00a0 Adam read his father’s expression easily.\u00a0 They both knew that Eric Gunnar Cartwright would always follow his heart into one harebrained scheme after another in an effort to help someone achieve a dream.\u00a0 Hoss had the ability to truly believe all anyone needed was faith and a little help.\u00a0 He was always the one to provide the help.\u00a0 Hadn’t he believed the professor’s wings could make him fly, that horseless carriages would fill the streets, and that bank robbery was a necessity not a crime?\u00a0 Adam rolled his eyes and then flashed his dimples in a deep smile.<\/p>\n

“Of course not, brother mine,” Adam slapped Hoss on the back, “I’m sure this was the very last time.”<\/p>\n

Little Joe just giggled.\u00a0 Hoss could not stop being Hoss, and he was awfully glad of that.\u00a0 Particularly since Joe had an idea of how he and Hoss could raise the money Joe needed to pay off that little gambling debt from last Saturday night, but with Hoss’s current mood he would wait a few days before approaching his big brother.<\/p>\n

Hoss could feel the doubt in the room and shook his head, \u201cThis time I mean it.\u00a0 Just you wait and see.”<\/p>\n

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

Ben looked up from his desk as the door opened.\u00a0 Hoss was ushering in a small, bespectacled man and a rather mousy-looking woman.\u00a0 Ben rose and went to greet the visitors.<\/p>\n

“Pa, these here are the Caspians.\u00a0 They were passing through when their wagon broke down, so I brought ’em here.”<\/p>\n

Ben extended his hand and assurances that they both were welcome.<\/p>\n

“Now, Pa, why don’t we all set down, and then I can tell ya what Mr. Caspian has out in that wagon.\u00a0 You’re just not going to believe it, Pa.”<\/p>\n

Ben hid his smile behind his hand.\u00a0 No, I’m not going to believe it, but you are, son.\u00a0 You always believe.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Next Story in the Ben’s Boys Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben’s Boy Little Joe<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Family,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright,\u00a0HPM,\u00a0multiple stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0A collection of seven short vignettes which were written in response to various prompts.\u00a0 Together they paint a picture of Hoss Cartwright, boy and man.<\/p>\n

Rating: teen\u00a0\u00a0 word count total:\u00a0 3598<\/p>\n

Ben’s Boys Series, links to stories within the series are included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":10210,"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_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1017,23,1006,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hoss-pa","category-drama","category-hoss-cartwright","category-challenges","wpcat-1017-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1006-id","wpcat-40-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/serious-Hoss.jpg?fit=269%2C298&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14359","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=14359"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14359\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}