{"id":2008,"date":"2008-10-02T12:31:37","date_gmt":"2008-10-02T16:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2008"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:13:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:13:42","slug":"loading-the-wagon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2008","title":{"rendered":"Loading the Wagon (by Harper)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span class=\"label\" style=\"color: #000000;\">ummary:\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0<\/span>Joe has plans to go to the Spring Dance instead of the cattle drive&#8211;until Adam goes to town for supplies. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span class=\"label\" style=\"color: #000000;\">Rated:<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0T (2,635 words)<br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Loading the Wagon<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Mr. Cartwright! Adam Cartwright!&#8221;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Why hello, Miss Beasley! You look very well, today.&#8221;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Why thank you, Mr. Cartwright! I saw you loading your wagon and I was wondering-may I have a word with you?&#8221;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Of course. I certainly could use a break from these supplies. Why don&#8217;t we take a stroll down C Street?&#8221;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes, that would be nice.&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Pause.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Umm-Miss Beasley? You wanted to speak to me?&#8221;<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes, Mr. Cartwright-may I call you Adam?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I&#8217;d be honored.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Thank you. I wanted to ask-it&#8217;s about the Spring Dance on Saturday.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Ah, the Spring Dance. Are you planning on attending?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Well, that&#8217;s why I wanted to talk with you. You see-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Miss Beasley, perhaps I can make this easier for you-I am of course, aware of the Spring Dance, and perhaps, anticipating your next question, I will not be able-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Then you know it is one of the biggest social events of the year! And I wondered-I mean, your brother Joe-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Pause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;What about Joe?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Is he-do you know if he-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Miss Beasley?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Do-you-know-if-he-will-be-going-to-the-dance-on-Saturday? Oooh!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Excuse my clumsy feet, Miss Beasley, I seem to have stepped on your dress! I&#8217;m so very sorry! I hope I didn&#8217;t tear it.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Oh no, it seems quite all right!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;My most sincere apologies, ma&#8217;am.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes, yes, no harm done-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;You were asking-something about Joe and the dance?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Has he-he has asked anyone to the dance? I-I blush to admit that I&#8217;ve been watching for him-he usually comes to town in the afternoon. Joe is so strong and-and\u00a0<em>gallant<\/em>, and there are lots of girls who might-I wondered if-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Well, Miss Beasley, Joe hasn&#8217;t been socializing much since-Wait! Are you saying that you would like him ask\u00a0<em>you<\/em>\u00a0to the dance, Miss Beasley? Because if you were to consent to go with Joe, my family would be most grateful to you!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Grateful?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes.\u00a0<em>Most<\/em>\u00a0grateful.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Pause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Miss Beasley, I can trust you, can&#8217;t I?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Well-I guess so-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I&#8217;m glad; only a few people outside his family\u00a0<em>know<\/em>, so I&#8217;m taking a chance with your discretion.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Know-? My discretion?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;You may have noticed that Joe just hasn&#8217;t been his bold, daring self lately. Ever since-the accident.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Accident?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Shh-not so loud! It is wonderful that you are willing, despite his condition-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Condition?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Well, \u2018condition&#8217; is perhaps too harsh. He moves so smoothly and he has that brave twinkle in his eye-just looking at him, no one would ever know that he had been injured. Doc Martin thinks there a\u00a0<em>slim<\/em>\u00a0hope for recovery of his manly self, although we won&#8217;t really know if it&#8217;s a\u00a0<em>full<\/em>\u00a0recovery until down the road, when he wants to start a family-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Er-Mr. Cartwright-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Call me Adam, please! I-it&#8217;s just that, we, his family, will always treat him the same, but some young ladies can be so cruel! Excuse me, Miss Beasley, I fear that I may have said too much, but you are so kind and seem so sincerely fond of my brother and it would mean so much to him-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Mr. Cartwright-Adam-I&#8217;ve just remembered, I have to meet my sister over at the International House. Please excuse me!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Miss Beasley wait! Should I have Joe stop by? I mean-about the dance?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;No-I mean, silly me! I&#8217;ve just remembered I promised someone else-I&#8217;ve really got to be going, Mr. -Adam. Please excuse me!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Of course! Wait, I&#8217;d be happy to escort you-ah, well, never mind.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">**********<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Adam! Hello! I saw you loading your wagon from the store window and I thought I&#8217;d nip over and ask you-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Clara! How are you! Let me set this sack down. You look well! It&#8217;s been a while since I&#8217;ve seen you or your family! How are things in the Mercantile?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Oh, fine, just fine!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Your folks?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Ma&#8217;s fine, and Pa-well, you know Pa, he keeps a tight rein on all of us girls. Adam, the reason I wanted to speak to you-you know the Spring Dance is this Saturday-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;The Spring Dance?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes-I-er, was wondering if your brother Joe was-I mean, do you know if he has he asked anyone to the dance? Look out!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I&#8217;m so sorry, Clara, I almost knocked that crate onto your foot! Are you all right?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes, yes, no harm done. About the dance-you know my Pa is very careful about who escorts my sisters and me to dances. Joe&#8217;s been spending so much time at the store that Pa&#8217;s gotten to know him pretty well.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Joe&#8217;s been at the store a lot?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes, and Pa really seems to like him-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;And to please your father, you wanted to know if Joe can take you to the dance?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes-and to please me, too of course. Has he asked anyone?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Let me get this crate out of the way before I put my foot through it. As for Joe-well-I don&#8217;t see how he\u00a0<em>could<\/em>\u00a0have asked anyone yet. He won&#8217;t have a chance to talk to\u00a0<em>any\u00a0<\/em>girls until his time is up.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;His time?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Shh-step over here where we won&#8217;t be overheard!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Pause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Clara, I can trust you can&#8217;t I? Because if word were to get back to Pa-y<em>ou<\/em>\u00a0know how it is with strict fathers! Joe&#8217;ll get out later today, and what Pa doesn&#8217;t know can&#8217;t hurt him, if you know what I mean.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;\u2018Get out later today?&#8217; Don&#8217;t you wink slyly at me, Adam Cartwright! Are you saying he&#8217;s in\u00a0<em>jail<\/em>?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Not so loud! And you didn&#8217;t hear it from me! It was just high spirits-a misunderstanding-I mean, the fight wouldn&#8217;t have amounted to much at all if he hadn&#8217;t been drunk-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Fight? DRUNK?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Clara, please, keep your voice down! I&#8217;m sure Joe can tell you all about it, when he asks you to the dance. Shall I tell him to stop over at your place when he&#8217;s-um, free?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;No! Absolutely not! If my father hears about this-oh, there he is now! Coming, Pa!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Wait, Clara! What should I tell Joe?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Tell your little brother to stay away from me, my sisters, and our store until he can behave like a gentleman!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Well, er, all right, Clara-give my best to your folks!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Hmmph!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">**********<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yoo-hoo! Adam Cartwright! Hello!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Hello-er, Miss-er-have we met?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;No, but it&#8217;s Miss Pennypacker, Miss Penelope Pennypacker. Isn&#8217;t that just the\u00a0<em>horriblest<\/em>\u00a0name? I don&#8217;t know\u00a0<em>what<\/em>\u00a0my parents were thinking, but there&#8217;s no accounting for taste, I always say.\u00a0 My family bought the old Stevens&#8217; place a few months ago! And I&#8217;ve been so\u00a0<em>anxious<\/em>\u00a0to speak to you since I saw you come into town with your wagon-the Ponderosa Ranch is\u00a0<em>well<\/em>known in this town I do declare! I&#8217;ve heard\u00a0<em>so<\/em>\u00a0much about the Cartwrights! I feel I know each and every\u00a0<em>one<\/em>\u00a0of you! And when I saw that you were here, loading your wagon, I made my excuses to my mother and hurried right\u00a0<em>over<\/em>. I thought I&#8217;d take the chance at being considered a little-<em>forward<\/em>-and introduce myself to you. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I always say! Don&#8217;t let me stop your work; I can talk while you keep loading those\u00a0<em>oh-so-heavy<\/em>\u00a0sacks. I\u00a0<em>love<\/em>\u00a0to watch a strong man work! So don&#8217;t mind me,\u00a0<em>I&#8217;ll<\/em>\u00a0just chatter away while\u00a0<em>you<\/em>\u00a0work! It will make the work go faster for you, don&#8217;t you think? A little distraction lightens the load, I always say. I just wanted to ask you about the Spring Dance this Saturday.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Sigh. &#8220;You too?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;No, I said yoo<em>-hoo<\/em>, silly! But we&#8217;re past that part aren&#8217;t we? You and I are practically\u00a0<em>old friends<\/em>! And so I feel that I can ask you-as\u00a0<em>a friend<\/em>, I mean-about the dance, that is-go right to the source, I always say! I&#8217;d like very much to know-whether your brother Joseph is going? I haven&#8217;t met him either, but I&#8217;ve seen him in town, and well, I&#8217;m sure it&#8217;s no surprise to you, being his brother and all, that he has the\u00a0<em>most<\/em>\u00a0wonderful&#8211;ooh, look out!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Oh, Miss Pennypacker, I am so sorry! That sack just got away from me! You&#8217;re not hurt are you? A little flour got on your dress-let me brush it off-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Oh, no, that&#8217;s\u00a0<em>quite<\/em>\u00a0all right, Mr. Cartwright, really it is,\u00a0<em>no<\/em>\u00a0harm done! It&#8217;d take a lot more than a little dusting with flour to discourage\u00a0<em>me<\/em>, I always say! No, think\u00a0<em>nothing<\/em>\u00a0of it, I&#8217;m sure the laundry can clean it right up. And it&#8217;s not like it was my\u00a0<em>special<\/em>\u00a0dress-the one I&#8217;ve saved for the Spring Dance! Now\u00a0<em>that<\/em>\u00a0is a special dress, for a special occasion! And the dance-it promises to be\u00a0<em>the<\/em>\u00a0most special-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;You were asking about my brother, ma&#8217;am?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Oh, yes, your brother Joseph! Such a\u00a0<em>fine<\/em>\u00a0young man, or so I&#8217;ve heard,\u00a0<em>all<\/em>\u00a0over town, and when I caught a glimpse of him in Church last week I felt that we were destined to meet-I thought I heard\u00a0<em>angels<\/em>\u00a0singing when I saw him, but it turned out to be the Children&#8217;s Choir, silly me! Still, I think it was\u00a0<em>fate<\/em>, when I saw you in town-well, things happen for a\u00a0<em>reason<\/em>, I always say. So can you tell me,\u00a0<em>please<\/em>\u00a0do tell me, has your brother asked anyone to the Spring Dance? Because I would\u00a0<em>so<\/em>\u00a0like to go with him, if he\u00a0<em>were<\/em>\u00a0inclined to ask me, which he may be, and if he<em>were<\/em>, why that would be so\u00a0<em>wonderful<\/em>! So that is\u00a0<em>why<\/em>\u00a0I came to speak to you-the early bird gets the worm, I always say!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Miss Pennypacker!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes, Mr. Cartwright?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;He has not asked anyone, as far as I know, and I sincerely hope he does not, but that&#8217;s because-well, I&#8217;ll just say that we&#8217;ve had some hard times on the Ponderosa, and Joe was the hardest hit of all, since it was his-affliction, shall we say?-that brought us to these dire straits.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;<em>Affliction<\/em>? D-dire straits?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve said too much, Miss Pennypacker, please forgive me-it&#8217;s just that we&#8217;ve all had to tighten our belts since-not that we blame Joe, you know, we don&#8217;t, it&#8217;s just that we want to\u00a0<em>help<\/em>\u00a0him, keep him from ruining himself and us.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;<em>Ruining<\/em>\u00a0himself?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;And us. Between you and me, Miss Pennypacker,\u00a0<em>I<\/em>\u00a0think of gambling as an affliction. Some people don&#8217;t hold to that idea, but what else\u00a0<em>can<\/em>\u00a0I think, when a gambler doesn&#8217;t seem to have the self-control to stop no matter how hard he tries? It comes over him like an illness-but you were asking about the dance?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes, I-well-I-<em>what<\/em>\u00a0did you say?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Pause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Miss Pennypacker, we are\u00a0<em>friends<\/em>, as you said, are we not? And friends keep confidences, do they not? I can\u00a0<em>trust<\/em>\u00a0you, Miss Pennypacker, can&#8217;t I?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Well, of course-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;At the risk of being too-<em>forward<\/em>-I just wanted to explain why I didn&#8217;t think it would be a good idea for Joe, in his vulnerable state, to be exposed to social outlets that could lead to-well, even a simple town dance, held down the street from the gambling houses and saloons-even a simple dance presents temptations that my young brother may not be strong enough to resist. And until we get out from under the second mortgage-well, let me ask you this favor, Miss Pennypacker. If he asks you to the dance-and how could he\u00a0<em>help<\/em>\u00a0but do so when he meets such a-<em>charming<\/em>-person as yourself-could you please-<em>gently<\/em>-turn him down? If he&#8217;s not tempted, he won&#8217;t fall, I always say.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Why, I-of course, Mr. Cartwright, if you think it would\u00a0<em>help<\/em>. After all, I hardly\u00a0<em>know<\/em>\u00a0him, and there\u00a0<em>are<\/em>\u00a0plenty of other-I do believe that&#8217;s my mother over there-I really\u00a0<em>cannot<\/em>\u00a0stay here and chat-I&#8217;m not sure I&#8217;ll see you again, but I am happy to have made your acquaintance. I really\u00a0<em>must<\/em>\u00a0be going.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;A pleasure meeting you, too, Miss Pennypacker.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">**********<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Adam, it&#8217;s about time you got back! Sure took you long enough to get them supplies.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Sorry, Hoss, I kept getting interrupted while I was loading the wagon.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Guess what! You ain&#8217;t never gonna believe it!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;What?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Little Joe! You know how Pa said that if he had asked a girl to the dance and she said yes, he could stay home from the round up and go to the dance so as not to disappoint the poor girl?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes, I am well aware of that arrangement.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Arrangement? Downright devious, our Little Brother, getting Pa to agree to that! Pa never would&#8217;ve let you or me get away with it, that&#8217;s for sure.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I&#8217;m not so sure-neither you nor I ever thought of trying it.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yeah, that Joe, he&#8217;s got more angles than-what&#8217;s that eight-sided thing called again, Adam? Octopus, that&#8217;s it-he&#8217;s got more angles than an octopus, and that&#8217;s the truth. What&#8217;s so funny?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;N-nothing!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;But that ain&#8217;t what I wanted to tell ya. You ain&#8217;t gonna believe it, Adam! Joe tried all afternoon and he couldn&#8217;t get even\u00a0<em>one<\/em>\u00a0gal to go to the dance with him! Not one! I&#8217;ve never known that boy to draw such a losing hand before! He came home a little while ago mumblin&#8217; about accidents and afflictions and I don&#8217;t know\u00a0<em>what<\/em>\u00a0all. It&#8217;d be funny, except I ain&#8217;t never seen him look so downhearted.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;A little disappointment will be good for him.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I sure do agree with you there, Adam. He&#8217;s been gettin&#8217; just a\u00a0<em>little<\/em>\u00a0bit too big for his britches lately, if you ask me. A long, dusty cattle drive, good hard work, and tired, sore muscles are just what he needs to take him down a peg or two. Still, I never thought I&#8217;d see the day when Joe&#8217;d have that kind of luck with gals.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I believe we make our own luck.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;What&#8217;s that? What do you mean \u2018we make our own luck&#8217;?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Pause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Adam-what&#8217;d you do?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;As you said, Hoss, Joe has been too smug lately, shirking responsibility, hanging around town when he was supposed to be working. I&#8217;m sure Pa wasn&#8217;t aware of half of what he was up to. After what I heard in town today, I&#8217;m not surprised at how he&#8217;s been acting-the attention that boy attracts was\u00a0<em>bound<\/em>\u00a0to go to his head.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yeah, and by the look on your face, the supply wagon wasn&#8217;t the only thing you was loadin&#8217; up. Seems to me like maybe you had a hand in fixin&#8217;\u00a0<em>Joe&#8217;s<\/em>\u00a0wagon, but good.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Well, let&#8217;s just say I felt it was time to rein Joe&#8217;s-luck-away from the dance and back toward the cattle drive. Pa might not have approved, but-&#8220;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Pause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;But what?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I will admit to taking a certain amount of-pleasure-in my work as an older brother.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Heh, heh-knowing you, he&#8217;ll be feelin&#8217; a chokin&#8217; tight hand on the reins!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;He&#8217;ll survive. But I&#8217;m not entirely hard-hearted. Remind me to tell you about a Miss Pennypacker. I\u00a0<em>was\u00a0<\/em>tempted to leave him on his own-but I&#8217;m too much his older brother to stand by and allow Joe to be hobbled by someone like her, I always say.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;You do?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Well-I do now. I&#8217;ll tell you about it later-bit-reining Joe&#8217;s luck is hard work and I&#8217;m tired. We-all three of us-hit the trail early tomorrow.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;All right-Adam?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;Yes, Hoss?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">&#8220;I&#8217;m not too sure what you meant about Miss Pennypacker and such, but when it comes to older brothers and luck, I sure am glad I&#8217;m already broke to harness.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>The End<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"toplink\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"copyright\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Disclaimer:<\/span>\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_2008\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"2008\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif?resize=16%2C16&#038;ssl=1\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary:\u00a0\u00a0Joe has plans to go to the Spring Dance instead of the cattle drive&#8211;until Adam goes to town for supplies. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rated:\u00a0T (2,635 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":14681,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4],"tags":[14],"class_list":["post-2008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-humor","tag-adam-cartwright","wpcat-4-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1480,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/images.jpg?fit=275%2C183&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2981,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2981","url_meta":{"origin":2008,"position":0},"title":"Brothers and Mud (by frasrgrl)","author":"frasrgrl","date":"April 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0This is my entry for April's 2013 Chaps & Spurs\/Pinecone Trifecta.A WHIB for Springtime. Have you ever wondered what happened between the brothers making a \"Joe sandwich\" and the mud fight? Well, here's my answer to it. Word Count: 708\u00a0\u00a0Rated: K","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Chaps and Spurs&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/springtime6.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/springtime6.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/springtime6.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/springtime6.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15509,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15509","url_meta":{"origin":2008,"position":1},"title":"A Moving Tale #1 (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"December 3, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0\u00a0There's no reason, but a story to send any woman's heart a-fluttering. Rating:\u00a0 M\u00a0 (3,040 words) A Moving Tale Series, links to all stories of this series included.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Humor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/ARLE-e1497282889671.png?fit=570%2C416&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14189,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14189","url_meta":{"origin":2008,"position":2},"title":"What Child is This?  (by Anne G)","author":"AnneG","date":"February 18, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Synopsis: The Cartwright's hire a new hand and his wife.\u00a0 A young Little Joe is especially drawn to the wife.\u00a0 The true meaning of Christmas revealed once again. Rating:\u00a0T \u00a0due to language \u00a0(24,300)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Joe-copy-7.jpg?fit=594%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Joe-copy-7.jpg?fit=594%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Joe-copy-7.jpg?fit=594%2C592&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48142,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48142","url_meta":{"origin":2008,"position":3},"title":"A Love Series #3 &#8211; A Love Grown (by AH83)","author":"BZTrailRiders","date":"February 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: After a great loss, Adam and Emma learn to move on and soon fine love can grow from unexpected sources.\u00a0 Rating: PG, Word Count: 6499","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Adam Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"Preserving Their Legacy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BTR.png?fit=442%2C255&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12737,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12737","url_meta":{"origin":2008,"position":4},"title":"Ghost Wagons (by GinnyF)","author":"Ginny F","date":"October 23, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Tall tales?\u00a0Ghost Stories?\u00a0 Or did it really happen? Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (850 words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Brothers&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12148,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12148","url_meta":{"origin":2008,"position":5},"title":"First Notch (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"September 1, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \"Sooner or later, the day will come when a man will force you into a shootout, and there will be no way out of it, except kill or be killed.\" Adam shared a bit of wisdom with his youngest brother the day that Joe was permitted to wear a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/LJshadow1.jpg?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/LJshadow1.jpg?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/LJshadow1.jpg?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/LJshadow1.jpg?fit=720%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2008","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\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2008"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2008\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}