Summary:\u00a0 An unhappy brother, an old house, and a celebration gone wrong . . .\u00a0 this Prequel is set in 1855 when Adam is 24, Hoss is 18, and Joe is 13.<\/p>\n
Rated:\u00a0 K+<\/p>\n
Word Count:\u00a0 5787<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ponderosa Ranch, Utah Territory, 1855<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter One<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s shortshanks?\u201d Hoss asked as he sat down at the dining table. \u201cDang, that smell\u2019s good, Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n The cook placed a soup tureen on the table and removed the lid. Steam rose from the still bubbling contents.\u00a0 \u201cYou like, Mr. Hoss. Molo tunny.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMulligatawny,\u201d Adam said, inhaling the aromas. \u201cChicken, if I\u2019m not mistaken.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI sure do like chicken!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEat.\u00a0 Little Joe have suppa early. Finish chores after.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam ladled the aromatic soup into his bowl and started to fill another bowl for Hoss but stopped and simply pushed the tureen in his direction.\u00a0 \u201cYou heard the man. Eat up.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n With their father in St. Louis on business, the running of the ranch was left to Adam and that included keeping up with the bookkeeping, which normally he didn\u2019t mind at all. But tonight, hunched over the ledgers on his father\u2019s desk, he wished someone else were here to do them.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t claim he was actually working on the books since all he had done since supper was stare at the columns pondering a larger, more complex problem and its source.<\/p>\n Home from college for a year now, things were running smoothly.\u00a0 The ranch hands had finally acquiesced to his authority.\u00a0 Pa had begun to warm to some of his newfangled<\/em> ideas.\u00a0 He and Hoss were once more on firm footing.\u00a0 He\u2019d even broken through the defensive walls erected by Joe when he had first returned. In fact, not only did the kid now willingly accept his help with homework, but often sought his advice on an essay or his perspective on a thought-provoking topic.<\/p>\n Adam looked again at the sheet in front of him. There was nothing wrong with it, he was certain. But it didn\u2019t add up.\u00a0 Oh, the figures were correct and the math was solid but it didn\u2019t feel right.\u00a0 He snorted. That was something Joe would say.<\/p>\n Standing abruptly, Adam went to the safe and removed the prior year\u2019s ledger.\u00a0 When he found the corresponding page to the current year, he resumed his seat at the desk and compared the pages line by line.\u00a0 The second time through, he found it\u2014a missing entry.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cYou about finished in here, Hoss?\u201d\u00a0 Adam said as he opened the barn door.<\/p>\n Bent over Chubb\u2019s hoof, Hoss exclaimed, \u201cDadburnit!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe started favoring this leg.\u00a0 I thought it was just a loose shoe, but it\u2019s a stone bruise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get some ice,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0 After he returned and they finished tending to Chubb, he sat down on a hay bale and pulled out a piece of straw to chew on while Hoss finished grooming his horse.<\/p>\n \u201cYou come out here for a reason?\u201d Asked Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Just to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMust be somethin\u2019 or you wouldn\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. Something\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Adam. It\u2019s not like you to beat around the bush.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe mention anything to you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout what?\u00a0 What\u2019s he done wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing. He\u2019s not in trouble, if that\u2019s what you\u2019re getting at. He just seems\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014moody?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe both know what \u2018moody\u2019 looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss laughed. \u201cYeah. Slammin\u2019 doors, sulking, talkin\u2019 back, and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014not eating,\u201d Adam finished.<\/p>\n \u201cHe ate dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot much, according to Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t give me that look. I\u2019m not Pa and I\u2019m not worried about the quantity of what Joe\u00a0 ingests.\u00a0 Quality, maybe, but not quantity.\u00a0 That\u2019s your department.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you saying I eat too much?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam threw his hands up.\u00a0 \u201cPeace, brother.\u00a0 I only wanted to know if you\u2019ve noticed anything off about him.\u00a0 That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss put away the brushes and slapped the dust off his pants before grabbing Adam by the elbow and hauling him to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go ask him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou really think he\u2019s going to talk to us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOlder brother, he talks to all of us\u2014just in his own time and his own way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut \u2018all of us\u2019 aren\u2019t here.\u201d<\/p>\n The brothers stopped dead in their tracks halfway out the barn door.<\/p>\n \u201cPa,\u201d they said in unison.<\/p>\n Adam slapped the heel of his hand against his forehead. \u201cHe\u2019s missing Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWorse than that,\u201d Hoss groaned. \u201cPa\u2019s gonna miss Joe\u2019s birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter Two<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright had started a birthday tradition with his first-born son as he and Adam crossed the country in search of his dream.\u00a0 Extra pennies, never plentiful, were carefully set aside at every opportunity throughout the year so that on his special day, Adam could have his heart\u2019s desire for dinner.\u00a0 Sometimes the choices were modest:\u00a0 a chicken pie or omelet with asparagus or whatever ethnic regional specialty was prevalent wherever they were living at the time.\u00a0 Once, on his 10th birthday, when Adam said he wanted the biggest steak you have with all the trimming<\/em>\u2014a phrase often overheard, but not understood\u2014he saw his father surreptitiously check his purse before nodding to the waiter. And when his father ordered only a bowl of broth and coffee, he was ashamed.\u00a0 Although hungry enough to eat every morsel himself, he insisted his father share the platter that was served.\u00a0 His remorse made it Adam\u2019s worst birthday so far but the glimpse into his father\u2019s psyche made it one of his best memories ever.<\/p>\n This year, Ben\u2019s absence cast a shadow over everyone.\u00a0 No matter how many times Hop Sing asked about his special dinner request, Joe said only that he wanted his father home for his birthday. Hop Sing could serve bread and water for all it mattered, as long as Pa was there.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, you read Pa\u2019s letter. There is no way he can get here in time.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll make it up to you when he arrives.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2019s right, short shanks. I bet Pa brings you somethin\u2019 real special from St. Louis. You can wait a little longer, can\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want anything. No presents. No special meal.\u00a0 Only Pa.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you understand?\u00a0 I ain\u2019t never had a birthday without Pa.\u201d Joe hung his head and walked silently and slowly upstairs to his room.<\/p>\n The three men looked at each other and sighed.\u00a0 When they heard the bedroom door close, Hop Sing shook his head sadly and padded off to the kitchen mumbling.<\/p>\n Adam, sitting on settee with his feet on the plank table, said, \u201cI almost wish he\u2019d throw a tantrum. Something. Anything other than this quiet stoicism that\u2019s so unlike him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Now you know how the rest of us feel when you do the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh\u2026forget it.\u201d Hoss turned his back on Adam and jabbed the logs with the fireplace poker.\u00a0 When one of the logs tumbled sending a shower of sparks up the chimney, he exclaimed, \u201cThat\u2019s it!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it that Little Joe likes better than riding fast?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs this meant to be a riddle?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, think. What does he talk about nearly as much as horses?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFishing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u00a0 Why don\u2019t we take Joe and some of his school chums to Mud Lake for a party? We could camp overnight, have a fish fry, sing songs, tell ghost stories.\u00a0 Whaddya think, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m game, but it\u2019s not what I think that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe agreed, reluctantly at first.\u00a0 But then, after he talked to his friends and the designated weekend approached, he began to get excited and the shadow that had enveloped the house and its inhabitants lifted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter Three<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHappy birthday, Little Joe,\u201d Hoss said.\u00a0 \u201cTime to get up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s still dark out,\u201d Joe complained.<\/p>\n \u201cThat it is, kid,\u201d said Adam. \u201cCome on, shake a leg. Hop Sing\u2019s got hot cakes and sausage for breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYippee!\u00a0 Be right down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWear your long johns, it\u2019s chilly this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n When Joe scrambled down the stairs he saw the grandfather clock said 4:30.\u00a0 \u201cWhoa! Why are we leaving so early?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re taking the hay wagon and picking up Mitch, Tuck and Seth at the trading post in Genoa. Figured it\u2019d be more fun than riding trail in the dark,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cPlus, you can get some more shut eye if you\u2019ve a mind to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m too excited to sleep!\u00a0 This is going to be great,\u201d Joe ran to each brother and gave him a hug.\u00a0 \u201cThanks so much for doing this. How much do you want to bet I\u2019ll have so much fun I won\u2019t even miss Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCareful,\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 \u201cYou know what Pa says about you becoming a riverboat gambler.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n When they came over the last rise, Hoss commented on the number of wagons at the Eagle Station trading post. \u201cWonder what people are waitin\u2019 on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe.\u201d Adam drew out the one-syllable word with a mounting sense of dread.\u00a0 \u201cJust how many friends did you invite?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody!\u00a0 Ain\u2019t it grand?\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t as bad as Adam had feared.\u00a0 Not everyone milling about intended on coming along as it appeared parents were only dropping off Joe\u2019s classmates.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is just wonderful of you boys to do this for Little Joe,\u201d said Mrs. Devlin. \u201cYou know,\u201d she whispered, \u201cevery year he gets so sad around his birthday, missing his mama as he does. Mitch said that with your father in St. Louis, Little Joe\u2019s spirits have been lower than a snake\u2019s belly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2019m,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n Tuck\u2019s mother, exclaimed, \u201cThirteen! Can you believe it, Adam? It seems like just yesterday the boys were babies.\u00a0 Marie would be so proud of how he\u2019s growing up, and you and Hoss have a lot to do with it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, she would. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, excuse us ma\u2019am,\u201d Hoss pulled Adam aside and spoke through a clenched jaw.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019re we going to feed all these kids?\u00a0 What if the fish aren\u2019t biting? We don\u2019t have enough bedrolls or fishing poles.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take care of it.\u201d Adam walked into the center of the gathering. \u201cFolks, could I have your attention please.\u00a0 We\u2019re happy that so many of you are willing to help my brother celebrate his birthday, but, ah, the thing is, we\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Adam\u2026 Hoss,\u201d Mr. Devlin interrupted. \u201cWe know you\u2019re used to the whirlwind that is Little Joe, but we also suspect you didn\u2019t count on all of these children, am I right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, to be honest, Mr. Devlin\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014What my older brother means to say is that we consider it a blessing that Little Joe has so many friends, don\u2019t we Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, of course, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014but nothing,\u201d Mr. Devlin continued. \u201cThe women folk made lunches for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd an extra big one for you, Hoss.\u00a0 We know how you like to eat,\u201d said Mrs. Devlin. “Just be careful you don’t eat too much.”<\/p>\n \u201cAh, shucks, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you all just run along and have a wonderful day.\u00a0 We parents will be at the lake by sunset to help with the fish fry and bonfire. Adam, I hope you brought your guitar because I plan on dancing tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll bring my fiddle,\u201d said Mr. Grundy.<\/p>\n \u201cGot my harmonica right here,\u201d Sam Logan added, patting his vest pocket.<\/p>\n \u201cLand sakes, the day\u2019s wasting away,\u201d said Mrs. Pruitt. \u201cChildren, go ahead and climb in the wagon and don\u2019t forget your blankets, jackets, and hats.\u00a0 It\u2019ll be cold by nightfall.\u201d<\/p>\n The children did as they were told while Mr. Devlin and Mr. Pruitt lashed their fishing poles to the side of the wagon. When everyone was aboard, the promised picnic baskets appeared and were loaded last before the tailgate was raised and they were off.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Mud Lake was shallow enough the Cartwrights didn\u2019t have to worry about non-swimmers, although Adam reminded Hoss one could easily drown in a cup of water if the circumstances were right.<\/p>\n \u201cGosh darn it, Adam!\u00a0 You would have to say that. Now I\u2019ll be frettin\u2019 all day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust keep your eyes on those fishing and I\u2019ll take care of entertaining the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you have in mind?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmm. Birding, or collecting leaves? Maybe a lesson on the geography of the area?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss wrinkled his face. \u201cI think Little Joe might prefer something a little more exciting like a\u2026 like\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHunting for buried treasure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah!\u00a0 That\u2019s more like it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen it\u2019s a good thing I bought some trinkets at the trading post.\u201d Adam laughed at Hoss\u2019s expression. \u201cAnd, yes, some candy, too, but only if you promise not to eat too much of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you ain\u2019t a wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI learned a few things over the years raising two brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n Curious why his brothers had their heads together, Little Joe moved forward in the wagon and climbed on top of the toolbox behind the wagon seat. \u201cAre we there yet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know we\u2019re not,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cThen whatcha whisperin\u2019 about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBig ears should mind their own business, short shanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is my business,\u201d said Joe. \u201cIt\u2019s my birthday!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, is it? I\u2019d forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAd-am!\u201d Joe socked his brother in the arm.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Ad-am.\u00a0 Cut it out,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n \u201cI tell you what\u2026first we fish then after lunch we\u2019ll go on a treasure hunt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA treasure hunt?\u00a0 Whoopee!\u00a0 Hey, ya know there\u2019s probably caves around the lake where pirates coulda buried their treasure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph Francis Cartwright!\u00a0 What did Pa tell you about staying out of caves and trespassing on land that don\u2019t belong to you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw shucks, Adam.\u00a0 We can pretend, can\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as that\u2019s all you\u2019re doing. Otherwise the law will be after you!\u201d<\/p>\n As Joe scrambled back into the wagon bed, he yelled to everyone, \u201cAfter we fish, we\u2019re gonna look for missing treasure!\u201d<\/p>\n Unfortunately, treasure wasn\u2019t the only thing that went missing that afternoon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter Four<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean Carolann is missing?\u201d Hoss asked. \u201cSpeak up, boy!\u201d<\/p>\n When Ron Grundy, age 11 started crying, Hoss knelt down and hugged him tight.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Ronny.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t mean to scare you, I\u2019m just worried about Carolann is all.\u00a0 Can you tell me what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2026 she,\u201d Ronny hiccupped. \u201cDisappeared. Do ya think the Indians got her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Ron. The Washoe have already moved south to their winter camp and regardless, they wouldn\u2019t have hurt her because they\u2019re our friends. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI-I guess so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere did you last see her?\u201d<\/p>\n Ron pointed. \u201cUp that hill where the shipwreck is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShipwreck?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an old house.\u00a0 Joe said we could pretend it was a shipwreck but we had to stay away from it \u2018cause it wasn\u2019t safe and anyone who went near it would have to walk the plank but that it was a sure sign that there was treasure nearby so we followed our captains and \u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhoa!\u00a0 Captains?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRemember at lunch when Mr. Adam told us all about pirates?\u201d When Hoss nodded, Ronny continued. \u201cSeth is Blackbeard. Mitch is Black Bart Roberts, Tuck is Calico Jack, and Joe is Captain Kidd.\u00a0 Oh, wait.\u201d Ron dug in his pocket and handed Hoss a crumpled piece of paper.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA list of all the kids.\u00a0 Mr. Adam said to mark off everyone\u2019s name who returns to camp to make sure no one else is missing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Mr. Adam now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s lookin\u2019 for Carolann.\u00a0 He told me not to tell anyone but you about Carolann and he told all the pirates to come back to camp.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks. Is the first crew back gonna get a prize?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a great idea, Ronny.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich one are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know me, I\u2019m Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that silly.\u00a0 Mr. Adam told us all about the famous pirates. Which one are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, who\u2019s left?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain Morgan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, you\u2019ll be Captain Morgan\u2019s first mate from now on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYessir, cap\u2019n!\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n As he climbed the hill, Adam had to admit that from a certain angle the corner of the house did look like the prow of a ship and the rest of it was certainly a wreck. The tall weeds and wild grasses blowing in the wind on the boulder-strewn hillside added to the illusion of a ship run aground.\u00a0 He stopped to listen to the wind as he tried to recall Homer\u2019s exact words but all that came back to him was something about the Sirens warbling Odysseus to death with the sweetness of their song.<\/p>\n Buffeted by a sudden gust of wind, Adam lost his balance and went tumbling down the rocky hill.\u00a0 Before he lost consciousness, he heard the sirens\u2019 warble once more.\u00a0 Carolann?<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n When the pirates and their crews returned to camp, Hoss pulled the captains aside into a parley.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did Adam send us back, Hoss?\u201d Little Joe asked. \u201cWe was just getting started.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre all the children in your crew here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe rest of you?\u201d<\/p>\n Mitch and Tuck affirmed their crews were all present and accounted for.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about you, Seth?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t guess. You either know or you don\u2019t.\u00a0 Is Ron Grundy in your crew?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I gu\u2026 yes, he is.\u201d<\/p>\n Feeling sick, Little Joe climbed up on top of a rock and surveyed the camp. \u201cCarolann is missing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right short shanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Seth kicked the dirt. \u201cIf you knew that, then why bother asking us.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe jumped down from the rock and stood toe to toe with Seth who was a foot taller than him.\u00a0 \u201cBecause,\u201d Joe jabbed Seth in the chest, \u201che wanted to know if anyone else was missing.\u00a0 We know these kids, my brothers don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBack off, shorty,\u201d Seth growled.<\/p>\n Mitch stepped in between the two friends, pushing Seth back while Tuck stood in front of Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, that\u2019s enough,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cWe need to find Carolann and quickly.\u00a0 She could have just lost her bearings and is wandering around or she could be hurt.\u00a0 Seth, you\u2019re coming with me. Joe, you\u2019re in charge of the camp. You, Tuck and Mitch entertain the kids, but don\u2019t tell them about Carolann. Keep them calm and together. No one goes off on their own. And no one goes near the water. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir,\u201d said Tuck and Mitch in unison.\u00a0 Seth grumbled.<\/p>\n Joe stood with his feet planted, hands on hips, and stared at Hoss. \u201cWhere\u2019s Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe went looking for Carolann after he sent you all back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll fetch Carolann\u2019s coat for you,\u201d said Mitch.<\/p>\n \u201cGet ours, too,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYours, mine, and Tuck\u2019s.\u00a0 And canteens, too.\u00a0 Hoss and Seth are staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow wait a doggone minute,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cThink about it, Hoss.\u00a0 What happens if a parent shows up early and no adult is here?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss gulped.<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u00a0 I invited everyone. It\u2019s my responsibility to find Carolann. You and Seth keep the others entertained and get the fire ready for the fish fry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow are we going to keep those monsters busy?\u201d Seth asked.<\/p>\n Joe thought a moment and then snapped his fingers. \u201cI saw butcher paper in the toolbox. Tell \u2018em Adam realized they couldn\u2019t hunt for treasure without a pirate\u2019s map. Have them each make one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are they going to draw with?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss can show them how to make charcoal sticks. That can be part of it, everyone can make their own.\u00a0 By the time you\u2019re finished, we should be back with Carolann and Adam, right men?\u201d<\/p>\n Mitch and Tuck said, \u201cAye, aye, Captain Kidd!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe,\u201d Hoss squeezed the back of his little brother\u2019s neck and leaned down to whisper in his ear.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re wearin\u2019 13 real fine.\u00a0 Pa\u2019d be proud.\u00a0 Mama, too.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n \u201cHold still, Adam, don\u2019t fight me.\u201d Joe had torn a sleeve off his shirt and was trying to bandage his brother\u2019s head after cleaning the wound.<\/p>\n \u201cJ-Joe? What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like ya fell down the hill and hit your head on that rock,\u201d said Mitch and then he snickered.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always said Adam was hardheaded.\u00a0 Look, the rock\u2019s cracked where he hit it!\u201d<\/p>\n Ignoring the laughter at his expense, Adam said, \u201cWhat are you boys doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLooking for Carolann, but we found you first.\u00a0 Can you stand?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tried but immediately sat back down. \u201cI need to clear my head.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe handed him his canteen. \u201cWhy did you come up here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRon said you told them this was a good spot for treasure hunting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did sort of say that,\u201d Joe admitted, \u201cbut I also said it was too dangerous and they should stay off the hill.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could have sworn I heard Carolann, but that\u2019s when I fell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard her up there or down here?\u201d\u00a0 The bewildered expression on his brother\u2019s face said it all.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, you stay with Adam. I\u2019ll check out the house. Tuck you look down below.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful, Mitch,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Calls of \u201cCarolann\u201d continued for another 15 minutes but there was no response.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe Ron was wrong,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0 Although his head still hurt, his thoughts were becoming clearer.<\/p>\n \u201cHush!\u201d Tuck said. \u201cDid you hear that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHear what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShhhhh.\u00a0 Be quiet and listen.\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n They all heard a muffled cry nearby.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s coming from back of the house,\u201d Tuck said.<\/p>\n \u201cAt least she\u2019s crying,\u201d Joe said. \u201cThat\u2019s a good sign, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCould be.\u00a0 Mitch, did you see a trap door in the house?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about outside?\u00a0 An entrance to a root cellar maybe?\u201d<\/p>\n Mitch shook his head. \u201cWait! There was a scrap heap about twenty feet from the back door.\u201d<\/p>\n As they approached the pile of debris, the cries\u2014although still faint\u2014were definitely louder.<\/p>\n \u201cCarolann! We\u2019re coming. Hold on,\u201d Joe called and plunged ahead without thinking.<\/p>\n In an instant, Adam grabbed his brother around the waist and lifted him up into the air falling backwards with Joe in his arms as the hole that had swallowed the girl widened.<\/p>\n Mitch lay on his stomach and crawled carefully to the rim. \u201cI see her!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMitch! Get way from there!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I see Carolann. \u00a0She\u2019s down pretty far. I don\u2019t think I can reach her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t even try,\u201d Adam said. \u201cNot until we shore up the edge.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitch crawled back to where the others were and sat up.\u00a0 \u201cAh, I think you\u2019re smothering Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n When Mitch loosened one of Adam\u2019s arms, Joe gasped for air.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, I couldn\u2019t breathe,\u201d he said as he sat up and straddled his brother\u2019s waist.\u00a0 \u201cYou okay, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour heart was poundin\u2019 something fierce.\u00a0 You weren\u2019t worried about me, were you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Only about how I was going to tell Pa I killed his baby son.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, shuck, big brother.\u00a0 Gonna take more than a little hole to do me in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good, because you\u2019re going to have to go down that hole to get Carolann.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI \u2026 what?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam lifted Joe off his stomach and sat up.\u00a0 \u201cTuck, see if you can pry some siding off the house to build a platform.\u00a0 Make sure the boards are solid, no dry rot.\u00a0 Mitch, run back to camp and tell Hoss we need rope and the rear axle off the wagon. Just the rod, not the wheels.\u00a0 Go!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re serious about the hole,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou bet.\u00a0 Carolann, can you hear me?\u00a0 It\u2019s Adam Cartwright. Are you hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy ankle hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to get you out of there. Just hold on a little while longer, okay sweetheart?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cO-Kay.\u00a0 It\u2019s awful dark down here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll gather dry grasses to make a torch,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to need several when the sun goes down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere are the boards, Adam.\u00a0 I picked the straightest ones I could find.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood job, Tuck.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to lay these around the hole like we\u2019re building a log cabin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOverlapping so the walls can support the hoist.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u00a0 You\u2019re a natural born engineer, Tuck.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Platform built, rod in place with a rope swing, Adam lowered Joe into the black hole illuminated by the torches which cast eerie shadows all around.\u00a0 It was a slow process as Adam inched the swing down while keeping an eye on the sides of the hole.\u00a0 After an interminable time, Joe yelled, \u201cI\u2019ve got Carolann!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSend her up first,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n Carolann was three-quarters of the way up when one side of the platform cracked dropping the rope swing down a foot.\u00a0 She screamed and everyone\u2019s heart skipped a beat.<\/p>\n Adam brought the young girl to the surface as quickly as he could.\u00a0 While Tuck got her into her jacket and wrapped her ankle with a scarf he found in her pocket, he lowered the rope swing to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can leave you there, if you\u2019d prefer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? And let Hoss eat my fish?\u00a0 Not on your life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHurry, it\u2019s getting cold up here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cComplain, complain. It\u2019s always something with you older brothers.\u00a0 Okay, I\u2019m ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly, Joe began to rise to the surface.<\/p>\n \u201cOw!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Asked Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cRocks. The sides are caving in!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPull!\u201d Adam yelled, and Tuck, Mitch, and even Carolann started pulling frantically.\u00a0 To Adam the seconds were hours until he was finally holding his brother once more. \u201cDon\u2019t ever do that again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee what you were missing when you were away at college?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter Five<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, wake up. Adam,\u201d Little Joe begged, tugging at the covers that were wound around his brother\u2019s body.\u00a0 \u201cThe Marshal is here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarshall who?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot a who, a what.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet up, Adam!\u00a0 A lawman\u2019s after you just like you said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of the damage ya did to that old house!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a dilapidated ruin.\u00a0 How much damage could there be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnough that the law\u2019s after you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell him to\u2014\u201c Adam managed to open one eye wide enough to see that the kid\u201413 or not\u2014was scared. It was a sobering thought actually.\u00a0 The kid was nearly buried alive and what scared him most was his brother being in trouble with the law. \u201cTell him I\u2019ll be down shortly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBetter hurry.\u00a0 He don\u2019t seem the patient type.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA lawman never is.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n The visitor stood inside the front door.\u00a0 As he descended the stairs slowly, Adam took in the man\u2019s appearance.\u00a0 He was attired formally in a black frock coat, vest and cravat and Adam was glad he had chosen his Sunday best over his normal ranch clothes.\u00a0 The man was of better-than-average height, but not as tall or wide as brother Hoss.\u00a0 His hairline started well back of his forehead and ended with thick curls hugging his ears.\u00a0 Prominent cheekbones and nearly invisible eyebrows over sunken eyes coupled with a thin nose gave an almost skeletal appearance to his face.\u00a0 But the oddest feature was a thick two-inch long brownish-red beard not on his face but under the chin and went from ear-to-ear along the jaw line.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry to keep you waiting, sir. I\u2019m Adam Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n The man extended his arm to shake hands.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph Heywood, U.S. Marshal appointed by the Utah Territorial Legislature.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are a part of the Mormon group that created Carson County last year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are well informed, sir.\u00a0 We hope to encourage others to settle in the valley.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy father Ben Cartwright has spoken highly of your efforts.\u00a0 He is especially interested in the building of schools, as you can image given the age of my youngest brother, also named Joseph, by the way.\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid there\u2019s no hope for me or my middle brother, Eric.\u201d Adam gave a quick jerk of his head toward Hoss who stood stock still near the grandfather clock with his hands on Joe\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cPleased to meet you, sir,\u201d said Hoss, moving forward to shake hands.<\/p>\n Still wide-eyed, Little Joe did likewise but quickly returned to Hoss\u2019s shadow after saying, \u201cHi.\u201d<\/p>\n An awkward silence ensued as the Marshal surveyed the room and took in the measure of each Cartwright.<\/p>\n Adam inhaled deeply. \u201cI\u2019m not sure why you are here, Marshal.\u00a0 Might it have something to do with our gathering at Mud Lake?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt might.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHas someone complained?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey have.\u201d The Marshal read confusion on the older Cartwrights\u2019 faces.\u00a0 \u201cThe owner filed a complaint about the condition of the property following your departure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow wait a durn minute. That lake\u2019s on open range and there wasn\u2019t any no trespassing sign or fence to keep people out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy, Hoss. \u00a0Marshal, I admit we were there, but I can assure you we were not responsible for the overall condition of the property, which, I might add is deplorable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want to tell me exactly what you are responsible for, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot really,\u201d Adam said under his breath.<\/p>\n \u201cSay again?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease be seated.\u201d Adam gestured to the settee and he took Ben\u2019s chair.\u00a0 Hoss sat in the blue chair with Joe on the arm.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing! Could we have some water, please?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a busy man, Mr. Cartwright, with a large territory to cover. I don\u2019t have time for refreshment, but I do appreciate you not offering coffee or tea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve read the Word of Wisdom.\u201d<\/p>\n The Marshal blinked several times, thinking perhaps he had underestimated Adam Cartwright. \u201cPlease get on with your version of what happened to the home in question.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe HOME?\u00a0 That\u2019s a rather grandiose term for the pitiful structure we found there, don\u2019t you think?\u00a0 Or haven\u2019t you seen it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have not, as yet. In deference to your father\u2019s position in the community, I wanted to hear what you had to say before I began a physical inspection.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing at that moment brought in a tray with a carafe, tumblers, and an assortment of fresh pastries.\u00a0 Despite his earlier comment, the Marshal accepted a glass of water and helped himself to an apple turnover before continuing.\u00a0 \u201cWhat qualifies you to determine the quality, or lack thereof, of someone\u2019s home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s an architect!\u201d Little Joe said proudly and rather loudly, earning a scowl from his oldest brother. \u201cAnd an engineer, so he knows things,\u201d Joe added defiantly before shrinking back behind Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle brother here is right.\u00a0 Adam helped our Pa design and build this ranch house,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that was before he even went to college and got smarter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough, Joe,\u201d Adam said. \u201cThe Marshal doesn\u2019t care about my qualifications. He wants to know why we were trespassing on allegedly private property, am I right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAllegedly?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would have to visit the land office to ascertain whether someone had actually purchased the property or was squatting.\u201d<\/p>\n The Marshal picked up a second turnover, peach this time, and said, \u201cPerhaps it would be best if you start at the beginning and tell me how you came to be at Mud Lake instead of enjoying the lake up here in the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCatfish.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI beg your pardon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCatfish are abundant at Mud Lake, making it easy for the children to have a successful fishing experience. Everyone who wanted to, caught at least one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI caught seven,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re good,\u201d said the Marshal.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I am. My brothers taught me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what about those who didn\u2019t want to fish?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey gathered wood for the campfire,\u201d Adam said, discerning where this line of questioning was headed. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of dead trees and branches around the lake, so the rest of us gathered wood for the evening fish fry and bonfire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are saying that you did not remove siding from the home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot for cooking or for the bonfire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand the house is not visible from the lake. How did you come upon it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA child found it while hunting for buried treasure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of treasure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFossils, arrowheads, trinkets I salted the area with earlier in the day.\u00a0 That sort of thing. Anything that captures a child\u2019s imagination when it comes to treasure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd who led this treasure hunt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u00a0 The older boys were Pirate Captains and the other children were their crew.\u00a0 It was quite an educational afternoon, their learning about that aspect of history and all.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nudged Hoss and rolled his eyes causing Hoss to cough which earned both of them another scowl.<\/p>\n \u201cOne child went missing.\u00a0 She had fallen into an unmarked hole near the old house. The only way to get to her was to build a platform to support a sling of sorts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich you engineered.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I did. I used the materials that were available to me, including what usable siding there was from the house and the axle rod from our wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou cannibalized your own wagon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u00a0 Given the urgency of the matter and taking into consideration weight and size limitations, Joe was the only person suited to go down the hole and he was nearly buried alive in the process.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can see that your brother is all right.\u00a0 The girl is also?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, aside from a sprained ankle.\u201d<\/p>\n Out of the corner of his eye, Adam saw Hoss put a protective arm around Joe at the mention of\u00a0buried alive<\/em>.\u00a0 The kid was shaking, no doubt from the memory, but also from the prospect that his brother might face criminal charges no matter how frivolous they might be.\u00a0 He knew it was a risk, but he decided to gamble.\u00a0 He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and steepled his fingers.<\/p>\n \u201cMarshal, my father carefully schooled me and my brothers in property rights and in our responsibilities as citizens to not only to obey the law but to treat the land with respect. I freely admit I am not conversant in the current laws promulgated by the Utah Territorial Legislature as I have been out of the territory for five years and only recently returned.\u00a0 But ignorance of the law is no excuse.\u00a0 And so, whether the person who lodged a complaint with your office is a legitimate landowner or a squatter, I\u2019ll replace the siding I removed and fill the hole so that no one else is injured by the hazardous conditions on the property.\u201d<\/p>\n The Marshal turned to Joe and Hoss and asked if anything in their brother\u2019s story was missing or if they had anything of value to add.<\/p>\n Joe stood up straight and looked the man in the eye.\u00a0 “My birthday was the reason we were at the lake, and I invited the others, so I’m responsible, too.\u00a0 I’ll help with any work that needs to be done.”<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Mr. Cartwright … and young Joseph …\u00a0 for your candor.\u00a0 I will be visiting the property in question in the next week and will let you know the results of my investigation.\u00a0 Good day.\u201d<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n On the road down the mountain, Marshal Heywood crossed paths with Ben Cartwright on his way home after a long and arduous journey.<\/p>\n When Ben asked to what did they owe the pleasure of his company, the Marshal replied, \u201cThe pleasure was all mine, Mr. Cartwright. You have a remarkable family. All that was missing was you.\u201d<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n Author\u2019s Note:<\/p>\n Written for the 2021 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament.\u00a0\u00a0 The game was Five Card Draw and the words and\/or phrases I was dealt were:<\/p>\n Eat too much
\nComplain
\nGamble
\nShadow
\nMarshal<\/p>\n