{"id":1585,"date":"2014-01-11T15:07:36","date_gmt":"2014-01-11T20:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1585"},"modified":"2025-08-01T13:29:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T17:29:17","slug":"a-misconstrued-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1585","title":{"rendered":"A Misconstrued Statement (by BluewindFarm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>: Hoss attempts an explanation to Ben of who is coming down the street, and why.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K+ (900 words)
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

This story was inspired by the Chaps & Spurs Challenge \u2013 January 2014. Write a story using this picture as inspiration.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 The final page contains reviews\/comments from the old BonanzaBrand Library<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Misconstrued Statement<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Inside the Silver Dollar saloon, Ben Cartwright sat, spending the afternoon, having a pleasant conversation and a couple of beers with his friend, Sheriff Roy Coffee. As he listened to his friend describe the most recent happenings in Carson City, his attention was drawn beyond the bat-wing doors that marked the entrance to the establishment. He looked long and hard for a second time and still couldn\u2019t believe his eyes. Begging forgiveness he excused himself and told Roy to enjoy one more beer, on him, while he took care of something.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stepping to the boardwalk, Ben rested against the hitching rail as his middle son dismounted from Chubbs, a grimace upon his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re in that much pain, wouldn\u2019t it have been better if you stopped farther down the street\u2026 say at Paul Martin\u2019s?\u201d Ben asked as his son approached unwilling to look his father in the eye.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need the doc,\u201d Hoss hmmm\u2019d.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen what?\u201d stoically Ben stared at his son. \u201cWould you care to explain what you\u2019re doing in town when I left you and your brothers to finish fixing the roof on the barn? Did either of your brothers get injured?\u201d Ben coolly asked while at the same time, slightly perturbed, already having figured the answer would be, No.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNah, they\u2019s a fine too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen what, pray tell, brought you to town?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSee Pa, it\u2019s like this. Joe made a comment last night when he was in town\u2026 you\u2026 uh know he had a little too much to drink\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I remember the three of you coming home last night,\u201d Ben waited for the continuation of the explanation.<\/span><\/p>\n

See\u2026 Joe and Adam got to talkin\u2019 about their mothers\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTheir mothers, I see,\u201d Ben nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd one thing led to another.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLed to another,\u201d Ben mimicked. \u201cJust what led to what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe was leaving and, Adam, he had a little too much to drink, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I saw him, and Joe, and you last night\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Adam made some comment about Mrs. McGuffney, ya know the widder\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I know Mrs. McGuffney, the widder,\u201d Ben acknowledged. \u201cWhat does she have to do with this\u2026\u201d Ben rolled his eyes in exasperation, \u201ctale?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you know how she\u2019s been ahankerin\u2019 after ya, and Joe said\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did Joe say?\u201d Ben stood straighter, fearing his youngest son had possibly disparaged the elderly woman.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he said, and I quote, \u2018Pa\u2019d better hurry up and marry Widow Hawkins\u2019\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe what?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell he wasn\u2019t exactly thinkin\u2019 about what he was sayin\u2019\u2026 when Widow Hawkins\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t tell me\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHOSS!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, she\u2026 she was walkin\u2019 right by the doors as we\u2019s a leavin\u2019 and heard Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, heavens,\u201d moaned Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe came to the house earlier; and Hop Sing told her you were in town. I came here as fast as I could, but you\u2019d better hide, Pa. Don\u2019t look like Adam nor Joe were able to stop her\u2026 She\u2019s a wearin\u2019 this white frilly dress and\u2026 here she comes!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

~The End<\/span><\/p>\n

Inspired by The Burma Rarity<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Story Tags: Ben Cartwright, Hoss Cartwright<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Reviewer: Chavel47<\/span>
\n Date: 18 Jan 2014 09:24 pm Title: A Misconstrued Statement<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh my! \u00a0What a state the boys! especially Joe, must have been in to spout such words. \u00a0I wonder how Hoss got the short straw to go to town and warn Ben. \u00a0Thanks for the chuckle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Chavel – Yes, what a state the boys put themselves in. And as for why it was Hoss who had to go tell Pa… I would say there was the old match trick they always pull on him, but Pa wasn’t home. So I guess it was all because Hoss was the one in the picture Cheaux chose. \ud83d\ude09<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Let this be a warning against too much drink, I hazard to think what other punishment Pa will heap on them on top of having to work on the barn roof.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I’m glad you enjoyed the read and left a review!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Reviewer: Cheaux<\/a><\/span>
\n Date: 15 Jan 2014 11:19 pm Title: A Misconstrued Statement<\/span><\/p>\n

I loved this! \u00a0 Very clever use of the prompt picture and the dialogue was priceless. \u00a0Well done!<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Cheaux, finding your review made my morning.\u00a0 Thank you very much.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Although I must apologize for falling a little ‘short’ of the old saying, A Picture Paints a Thousand Words.\u00a0 Hopefully, with next month’s and subsequent challenges, I’ll be able to reach that goal.\u00a0 I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2014 will bring for this challenge.\u00a0 I look forward to participating.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Reviewer: jdducker<\/span>
\n Date: 15 Jan 2014 07:43 pm Title: A Misconstrued Statement<\/span><\/p>\n

Love it!!!<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

jdducker, thanks for letting me know you loved it.\u00a0 It was a real quick and fun story to write.\u00a0 With Hoss’ expression and Ben just standing there so seriously, it just popped into my head.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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

Reviewer: Jayne<\/a><\/span>
\n Date: 15 Jan 2014 06:13 pm Title: A Misconstrued Statement<\/span><\/p>\n

This story made me smile \ud83d\ude42 Thanks!<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Jayne,\u00a0 I’m glad I could make you smile.\u00a0 If you’d like to read another ‘smiler that will make you laugh’, please visit:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.bonanzabrand.info\/forums\/index.php?\/topic\/31078-chaps-spurs-challenge-january-2014\/\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and scroll through until you find Oldefan’s submission to this challenge.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you for reading and reviewing.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: Hoss attempts an explanation to Ben of who is coming down the street, and why.<\/p>\n

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