{"id":23251,"date":"2019-08-05T21:37:15","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T01:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=23251"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:39:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:39:39","slug":"security-redux-vcls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=23251","title":{"rendered":"Security Redux (by Cheaux)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0 A WHN for Season 4\u2019s \u201cThe Hayburner.\u201d\u00a0 When last we saw our intrepid heroes, Adam was in <\/span>measured and methodical <\/span>solitary pursuit of Hoss, whilst Joe and Ben made a wager<\/span> on the outcome . . . with security, of course.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 K+
\nWord Count:\u00a0 3,000<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, setting, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Security Redux<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In due course, life returned to normal after the \u201csecurity\u201d incident . . . an altogether distasteful experience wherein brother Hoss bet against the thoroughbred racehorse the two of us owned and had entered in the Virginia City\u2019s Annual Sweepstakes, certain he was a shoe-in.\u00a0 Ennis Milford\u2019s little black horse, ridden by Joe, won instead. The kid, who couldn\u2019t rub two nickels together the day after pay day, walked away with $500 for training and riding the animal, plus 100% ownership of the thoroughbred, and my new rifle.<\/p>\n

While Hoss and Joe\u2019s relationship remained on equal and warm harmonious footing as always, the temperature between myself and my brothers cooled a bit, but perhaps I was the only person to notice it.\u00a0 Not that we don\u2019t care for each other, of course.\u00a0 One can\u2019t be a Cartwright Son and not have an abiding love of family.\u00a0\u00a0 No.\u00a0 Certainly not.\u00a0 On one level I was pleased that my youngest brother had put into practice all those lessons about saving money, but another part of me\u2014a very large<\/em> part I have to admit\u2014was disturbed Joe had learnt the lesson quite so well.\u00a0 If I am honest with myself, which I most generally am, what stuck in my craw was that I had been so easily duped.<\/p>\n

Every time I saw my new rifle in Joe\u2019s scabbard, my mood grew darker until one day Pa pulled me aside.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam this has to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

I knew full well what he meant but played the innocent.\u00a0 \u201cWhatever do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know exactly what I mean, young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since I was a young man, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re acting like one now, pouting because you got hoodwinked by your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe won a fair race and his strategy was impeccable.\u00a0 Kudos to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Hoss played the odds and won a bet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAgainst our horse! \u2026 and I do not pout.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pa nearly choked while lighting his pipe.\u00a0 All he said was, \u201cJeremy Walker.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJeremy? \u00a0 Oh, him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes him.\u00a0 <\/em>You sulked for a fortnight when you lost your prized blue agate marble in a fair chess match because he outplayed you.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was ten.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t lose because of your age.\u00a0 He skunked you because you underestimated him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I underestimated him.\u00a0 He was five!\u00a0 We found out later his mother paraded her child prodigy around to all the camps placing bets on the side.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you learned a hard lesson \u2026 to do your research.\u00a0 Know your opponent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I knew my brothers.\u201d \u00a0I muttered under my breath.\u00a0 Pa raised his eyebrow but had the decency to not comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do about it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I know you.\u00a0 You are not going to let this go.\u00a0 That\u2019s what you\u2019ve been stewing about \u2026 how to get even.\u201d<\/p>\n

I pursed my lips, drew in a full breath and held it.\u00a0 Until I couldn\u2019t.\u00a0 \u201cBah,\u201d I spit out, dismissing Pa with a wave of my hand.\u00a0 Trouble was, he was right.\u00a0 I wanted to get even in the worst way.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t the rifle or the money.\u00a0 It was\u2014okay I admit it\u2014damn fool pride.\u00a0 I\u2019d been outsmarted and out maneuvered by my brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmit it,\u201d Pa said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been looking for an opportunity to recoup my losses.\u00a0 But I do not pout!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you say so, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

All things come to those who wait.<\/p>\n

Last winter\u2019s record snowpack high in the Sierras was matched by a hotter than normal spring and summer.\u00a0 The rapid snow melt flooded rivers and streams and swelled the creeks that fed Washoe Lake.\u00a0 Given the high winds prevalent in the area during late summer, the Virginia City merchants combined resources to offer the first annual Washoe Regatta with a $1,000 purse to the winner in each of two categories.<\/p>\n

Joe could talk of nothing else at dinner after the Territorial Enterprise printed the announcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on,\u201d he urged Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cWe can use our old fishing boat out in the shed, plug up the holes and give it a new coat of paint.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be fun!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno.\u00a0 I ain\u2019t much on sailin\u2019.\u00a0\u00a0 Sorry, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo offense taken.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho said anything about sailing?\u00a0 We can row!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt says right here,\u201d Joe picked up the paper and read out loud.\u00a0 \u201cParticipants may either sail or row a boat no longer than 12 feet in length.\u00a0 One person to a boat.\u00a0 The number of participants will determine how many heats are held.\u00a0 The winner of the final heat in each category will receive $1,000.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno.\u00a0 Maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

I cleared my throat.\u00a0 \u201cIt says only one person in a boat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou enter, Little Joe,\u201d Hoss said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll help you fix it up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNah, it wouldn\u2019t be any fun without you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you both enter?\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, that wouldn\u2019t be fair, Adam.\u00a0 I\u2019m stronger than he is.\u00a0 I\u2019d beat him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo brother shouldn\u2019t race against brother, is that what you\u2019re saying?\u201d\u00a0 Unfortunately, Joe\u2019s reaction to Hoss\u2019s challenge obliterated my subtle dig.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, wait a minute. \u00a0I could win easy!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you figure, short shanks?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I don\u2019t eat half a cow at every meal, that\u2019s why.\u00a0 My boat will be lighter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour <\/em>boat?\u00a0 We only have one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could build you another,\u201d I offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d do that, Adam?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe happy to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d have to make sure each boat weighs the same,\u201d Pa said.\u00a0 \u201cOtherwise it wouldn\u2019t be fair, would it?\u201d\u00a0 He looked pointedly at me.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course.\u00a0 Skill alone will determine who wins.\u201d\u00a0 There wasn\u2019t much skill in rowing a boat on a flat, shallow lake; muscle yes, but not skill.\u00a0 Now sailing–maneuvering a boat against the wind–that would have been a real test.<\/p>\n

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

I wound up building two identical boats because the old one was rotten through. Although the extra work set me back on other chores, I was proud of the final effort.\u00a0\u00a0 Predictably, Hoss picked blue paint; Joe selected green.\u00a0 I used the same amount on each.\u00a0 We took the boats to the freight yard in Carson City and had them each weighed.\u00a0 When the scale registered nearly two pounds more for Hoss\u2019s boat than Joe\u2019s, he protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are ya doin\u2019 to me, Adam?\u00a0 You takin\u2019 sides here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u00a0 I <\/em>wouldn\u2019t do that.\u201d Then I remembered I had widened and reinforced the seat and used significantly more wooden nails on Hoss\u2019s boat.\u00a0 I remedied the matter by adding ballast to Joe\u2019s boat until the weight was equal.<\/p>\n

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

We got an early start on race day.\u00a0 Hop Sing packed half a dozen picnic baskets and layered stacks of blankets in the wagon to protect the boats.\u00a0 We all started out with our jackets on because it was still nippy in the morning up on the mountain.\u00a0 By the time we reached Bowers Mansion, on the westside of the lake, we were comfortable in shirtsleeves and vests. I caught a glimpse of Eilley Bowers but she was busy overseeing the feeding of the race contestants so I shouted over heads that I would catch up with her later.\u00a0 Hoss drooled over the feast being served but took only a chicken leg and a piece of sourdough bread with jam, as if skimping on lunch would give him an edge in the race.<\/p>\n

After my brothers were finished eating, I helped them launch their boats into the water.\u00a0 An enterprising youth of about eight years volunteered to guard them for two bits each.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuard them against what?\u201d\u00a0 I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlaggards and thieves!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye.\u00a0 And what are you then?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a pirate!\u201d said the sandy-haired boy with freckles.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the notorious Washoe pirates no doubt.\u00a0 Keep a sharp eye then, mate.\u201d \u00a0I paid the boy because neither of my brothers had any coin claiming they hadn\u2019t wanted to add any extra weight to their personage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you\u2019re not wearing socks or long johns either.\u201d\u00a0 Joe averted his eyes and Hoss blushed.\u00a0 \u201cOh, brother.\u201d\u00a0 I shook my head and climbed aboard the wagon to move it to the south end of the lake where the finish line would be.<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you going to wish us luck?\u201d Joe shouted as I pulled away.<\/p>\n

I raised my hand in the air and drove on.<\/p>\n

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

I thought the lawns of the mansion were crowded, but the south lakeshore looked like a carnival.\u00a0 Merchants from Virginia City and a few from Carson had erected tents to shelter their goods from the sun.\u00a0 There were games for children and adults alike, all variety of food, several makeshift saloons, and of course a betting area with blackboards listing the contestants in the various heats and the odds.<\/p>\n

Because the winds wouldn\u2019t come up until later in the afternoon, the rowboat races were first.\u00a0\u00a0 Pa went to the Regatta\u2019s official tent and paid the registration fee for my brothers. \u00a0There would be three heats, six in each heat; the first two to cross the finish line in each heat would race in the final.<\/p>\n

As I stood watching the blackboards, Pa asked who I was going to bet on.<\/p>\n

\u201cTim Shanahan is looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou aren\u2019t going to bet on your brothers?\u00a0 I see Joe is in the first heat; Hoss in the third.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMmm.\u00a0 I suppose, if I must.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must,\u201d Pa stated flatly.<\/p>\n

Wagers made; we went out to the finish line. The report of a gun carried across the water and the first heat was off.\u00a0 The wind was calm and the water flat; only the wake of the other rowers would offer any resistance.\u00a0 Joe got a good start and had the advantage of the smooth water in front of the bow.\u00a0 He easily pulled one, then two boat lengths ahead and was starting to coast when Charlie Owens made his move.<\/p>\n

Pa and I shouted encouragement though I doubt Joe heard us with the screaming going on from all the spectators.\u00a0 There would be a lot of people with laryngitis tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Whether he heard us or not, we saw him put his whole body into each stroke, lying almost flat each time he pulled the oars to his chest.\u00a0 Slowly he regained the lead and finished first.\u00a0 He and Charlie would advance together. \u00a0They were slapping each other on the back when I saw blood on Charlie\u2019s shirt . . . Joe\u2019s hands were bleeding.\u00a0 Before I could get to him, Hop Sing appeared with wet cloths, salve and bandages. \u00a0Pa gave him a canteen and I started massaging his shoulders.\u00a0 I had an odd sense this was a prize fight rather than a regatta.<\/p>\n

Martin Grogan and Miles Herman advanced from the second heat.\u00a0 Hoss and Jason Ferber made the cut in the third heat.<\/p>\n

While the race officials towed the six finalists and their boats back to the starting line, Pa and I went to the tent where men were clamoring to place their bets.\u00a0 Miles was the favorite; Joe was somewhere in the middle; Hoss was the long shot;<\/p>\n

Pa and I exchanged doleful looks.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s get a beer,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

The aroma of beef on the spit, fried chicken, and a dozen other mouth-watering smells wafted on the breeze as we fought our way through the center of the crowd.\u00a0 Hawkers were everywhere. Children running up and down.\u00a0 Dogs barking.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is worse than the circus,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWeather this year has been hard on folks.\u00a0 They\u2019re eager to blow off some steam.\u201d<\/p>\n

I elbowed my way into a saloon tent and came back with two mugs of beer.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s sit on those rocks by the water and enjoy the breeze.\u201d\u00a0 As soon as we settled, I said, \u201cHere\u2019s to Hoss and Joe, champions to the end, no matter the odds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGlad to hear you say it, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWere you afraid I would really get even?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had hoped not, but I didn\u2019t know for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho do you think would have won?\u00a0 No, don\u2019t answer that,\u201d I said.\u00a0 \u201cAnswer this:\u00a0 what would you be willing to put up to back a bet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor security, you mean?\u201d Pa laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy hand-tooled leather saddle.\u201d<\/p>\n

I whistled appreciatively.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about you?\u201d Pa asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy new pair of boots.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report of a gun sounded the start of the final race.\u00a0 We drained our mugs and returned them to the saloon, then headed back toward the finish line.\u00a0 The wind was increasing.\u00a0 About halfway there, a strong gust blew Pa\u2019s hat off.\u00a0 I chased it and he held it down with one hand after pulling it low over his forehead.<\/p>\n

\u201cUse your neckerchief to tie it down,\u201d I shouted.<\/p>\n

Without warning a series of explosions rocked the air and people started screaming and running every which way.\u00a0 Another forceful gust had kicked up the fire in the barbecue pit, sending embers flying. \u00a0One of them landed on the Regatta\u2019s main tent which burst into flames and consumed boxes of fireworks meant for the night\u2019s finale.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow strong do you think the wind is,\u201d I shouted at Pa.<\/p>\n

\u201cSteady at thirty knots, I\u2019d say.\u00a0 The last gust was twice that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d better get to the finish line.\u201d\u00a0 My words were lost, so I took Pa\u2019s elbow and pointed.\u00a0 He nodded and we bowed our heads to walk into the wind.\u00a0 Several times we were pushed backwards.<\/p>\n

When we reached the shore\u2019s edge, we scanned the water.\u00a0 The wind had wreaked havoc with the boats.\u00a0 I spotted Hoss\u2019s bright blue boat, but I couldn\u2019t find Joe\u2019s green one as it blended too easily with the lake\u2019s turbid water.\u00a0 I borrowed a pair of binoculars and handed them to Pa on demand.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver there,\u201d he shouted.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s capsized!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe swims like a fish and the water is shallow.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry, he\u2019ll make it to shore.\u201d\u00a0 I sounded more optimistic than I felt.\u00a0 True, the water was only 12 feet deep in the center, but there were lots of shrubs and branches under the surface that a foot or a body could get caught in.\u00a0 Pa saw through my bravado.\u00a0 He thrust the binoculars at my chest and started running along the shoreline to get closer to where he last saw the green hull.<\/p>\n

Buffeted by the winds, I held my ground.\u00a0 I\u2019d long ago lost my hat and did my best to shield my eyes against the sun and dust and still see what was happening.\u00a0 Another boat had capsized; one made it to the eastern shore; two others had crashed into each other and were moving in tandem wherever the wind took them\u2014locked in mortal combat like two stags.\u00a0 Five boats accounted for.\u00a0 Where was the sixth?<\/p>\n

Someone tugged my sleeve.\u00a0 I looked down to see my little pirate friend with his arm extended and knelt down to follow where his finger pointed.\u00a0 There was Hoss\u2019s broad back headed east instead of south, but then he turned toward the center of the lake.\u00a0 Every time the gusts pushed him eastward, he did a course correction toward the finish line in a zig zag manner.<\/p>\n

Soon, everyone was cheering Hoss on.\u00a0 Hearing the commotion, Pa came back to find me.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph?\u201d he asked with tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll find him, Pa.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s here in the crowd somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Only he wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

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

Hoss\u2019s boat crossed the line and ran aground right in front of us.\u00a0 Rising up out of the water from the stern of the boat was Joe, who was immediately embraced by Pa.\u00a0 Thinking Hoss was too exhausted to get up, I went to help him out of the boat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t move.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, son, do you need a doctor?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u00a0 Nothin\u2019 like that, Pa. Just don\u2019t want to come outta the boat right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not?\u00a0 You won, you big lug!\u00a0 Go up and collect your prize!\u201d Joe encouraged.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy ever not?\u201d \u00a0Pa was getting a little testy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI split my pants,\u201d Hoss mumbled, his words lost in the wind.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss shouted, \u2018I split my pants!\u2019\u201d just as the wind calmed a bit.<\/p>\n

There was a moment of silence and then the crowd burst out laughing.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing approached.\u00a0 \u201cI bring blanket from wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt had better be a BIG blanket,\u201d Joe laughed.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cHoss Cartwright is disqualified,\u201d Judge Pedersen declared from the reviewing stand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe reached the finish line first,\u201d Joe argued.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou pushed him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wind pushed him.\u00a0 I only told him which oar to pull to stay on course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly one person to a boat.\u00a0 He\u2019s disqualified!\u201d<\/p>\n

True to his nature, Joe argued the semantics.\u00a0 \u201cThe rules say only one person in <\/em>a boat.\u00a0 Hoss was the only person in the boat.\u00a0 And he was the only one to cross the finish line.\u00a0 He wins.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd sided with Joe.\u00a0 They booed the Judge off the platform and ostracized him the rest of the day and some time thereafter.<\/p>\n

The race organizers consulted the racing book, overturned the ruling, and awarded Hoss his prize money.\u00a0 He surprised everyone when he split it with the other five finalists.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly fair thing to do,\u201d he said. \u201cThat ol\u2019 Zephyr could\u2019ve capsized any one of us.\u00a0 And Adam, here\u2019s half a what I won betting against our horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to do that, Hoss,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, I do. \u00a0It wasn\u2019t right of me to bet against our horse.\u00a0 Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re forgiven, Hoss.\u00a0 What about you, Joe?\u00a0 You willing to give my rifle back?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHeck, no.\u00a0 I won that race fair and square, just like Hoss won this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just got one thing to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Hoss?\u201d Pa said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m starvin\u2019!\u00a0 Let\u2019s eat!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Pa and I stood in the doorway of Hoss\u2019s bedroom.\u00a0 The man\u2019s giant bed held not only himself but also Joe, splayed across the foot of the bed, arm thrown protectively over Hoss\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you smiling?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all won today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow so?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss crossed the finish line with Joe\u2019s guidance.\u00a0 Joe won his argument with the judge, thus ensuring Hoss got his prize money.\u00a0 Hoss shared his prize with others, including you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what did you win?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u00a0 I won the security of knowing no matter what, my sons are there for each other.\u00a0 Always.\u00a0 It\u2019s the best prize ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Written for the 2019 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament<\/p>\n

The suits were:\u00a0 Location of story (clubs); object desired or coveted (diamonds); person to be avoided (hearts); calamity (spades)<\/p>\n

The words dealt were:<\/p>\n

Explosion
\nLaryngitis
\nJudge
\nHand-tooled leather saddle
\nNew boots<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: A WHN for Season 4\u2019s \u201cThe Hayburner.\u201d When last we saw our intrepid heroes, Adam was in measured and methodical solitary pursuit of Hoss, whilst Joe and Ben made a wager on the outcome . . . with security, of course. <\/p>\n

Rated: K+
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