Summary:\u00a0 When Little Joe finds a badly injured stranger on the Ponderosa, the Cartwrights’ lives are nearly turned upside down.<\/p>\n
Rating: T
\nWord Count: 21,027<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Romancing the Ponderosa series<\/strong>:<\/p>\n The Redhead\u00a0(Book 2)<\/a> Mrs. Little Joe<\/strong><\/p>\n Chapter 1<\/p>\n Reining in Cochise, I look out at the field in front of me. Patting Cochise on the neck I\u2019m about to turn and head back to the house, when I see a man stumbling along in the field not quite a hundred yards away from me. Drawing my gun, I turn Cochise with my knees and trot out to meet the man. But before I\u2019m halfway to him, he collapses hard into a heap. Snapping my reins on Cochise\u2019s flank, I gallop the rest of the way, hurriedly re-holstering my gun and leaping to the ground before Cochise has even stopped.<\/p>\n Turning the man over, I gasp. The man is apparently young, his face smooth and soft looking. But his youth isn\u2019t what makes me gasp. The man\u2019s face is battered, black and blue, with blood oozing from gaping wounds. Wounds that weren\u2019t made from a hand, but something else, like the butt of a pistol or a small horse whip. Feeling wet warmth on my hand, where it lays on the man\u2019s arm, I look down to see it covered in blood. Pulling back the man\u2019s sleeve, I can\u2019t help but cringe. His arm is torn to shreds, and from the looks of it by some sort of whip.<\/p>\n I bend and pick the man up. Since the whole situation doesn\u2019t seem right and has me a little spooked, I talk to the unconscious man while I remount Cochise, \u201cWell, you ain\u2019t that big of a man, that\u2019s for sure. You seem mighty thin; you hardly weigh a thing!\u201d<\/p>\n Riding back to the house as fast as I can without dropping the little man in my arms, I can\u2019t help but wonder who this man is and why he\u2019s on the Ponderosa. It also seems a little funny that during this whole time, with the man\u2019s fall, getting picked up, and now bouncing along on Cochise, that his hat hasn\u2019t moved a bit. It\u2019s like his hat\u2019s glued to his head or something.<\/p>\n \u201cCooch, I know it’s silly of me to be thinking of this man\u2019s hat and all, but it just doesn\u2019t want to fall off. If I went through all that, my hat would have already been off and gone!\u201d I comment to my horse, trying to settle my nerves.<\/p>\n Coming up to the front of the house, I yell, \u201cPa, come quick!\u201d<\/p>\n The front door opens and Pa comes out, Hoss and Adam following. Seeing the man, all three rush over and take him from me. Dismounting, I answer Pa\u2019s questions while Hoss carries the man into the house.<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph, where\u2019d you find that boy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn the west pasture, Pa. I don\u2019t know who he is, he collapsed before I got to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe looks badly beaten!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot just his face either, but his arms. I\u2019m not sure about his back or chest, I didn\u2019t stay around long enough to look that far but tried to get him here as fast as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Walking into the house with Pa, I see Hoss and Adam bending over the man, gently wiping the blood from his face. Hanging up my hat, I take off my jacket. Throwing it down on the table, I roll up the sleeves of my creamy tan shirt, ready to help.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, take off the poor boy\u2019s hat! You can\u2019t bathe his face with it in the way!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa!\u201d Adam answers for him.<\/p>\n \u201cDadburn it, Pa! This dang hat won\u2019t come off!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, won\u2019t come off? It’s not like it’s glued on or something, it’s a hat!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, that hat hasn\u2019t come off the whole time the boy\u2019s been with me.\u201d I comment.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, ladies use hat pins to keep their hats in place, maybe this boy has some sort of pin holding his in place.\u201d Adam says as he runs his fingers along the inner edge of the hat. When he runs his fingers along the right side of the hat, he freezes for a second, and then slowly pulls a long black hat pin out of the hat\u2019s brim. \u201cJust what I thought, a hat pin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut why would a boy\u2026\u201d Hoss\u2019s words stammer to a stop as Adam pulls the hat off of the boy\u2019s head, and a long dark brown braid slowly untwists itself from where it\u2019s been coiled on top of the boy\u2019s head.<\/p>\n Feeling my eyes go wide, I manage to stammer out, \u201cHe\u2019s not a boy, but a girl!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly.\u201d Adam says looking up at me. \u201cI had a feeling he really was a girl dressed up like a boy. Look at how small she is, no boy is that small, plus look at her face, no boy\u2019s face is built that delicate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had no idea! All I saw was that his, I mean her, face was beaten and bloody.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell it’s a good thing you brought her home, son.\u201d Pa says laying his hand on the back of my shoulder. \u201cBut now we can\u2019t help her like we would have if she were a boy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, I can go get the Doc.\u201d Hoss volunteers.<\/p>\n \u201cYou do just that Hoss.\u201d Then turning back to me, \u201cLittle Joe, go upstairs and get the spare room ready. We\u2019ll carry her up there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa.\u201d I say as I run up the stairs.<\/p>\n After I come back downstairs, I tell Pa that the bed\u2019s ready. Walking over to the couch, where the girl lays still unconscious, I bend to pick her up and carry her upstairs, when Adam pushes me to the side. Bending down, he gently picks her up and cradles her to his chest. Looking back at my angry face, he smiles, \u201cJoe, go change your shirt.\u201d<\/p>\n I quickly look down at my shirt. The front is streaked with blood where the girl\u2019s arm and face had rested on my chest. I begin unbuttoning my shirt as I walk back across the big room to grab my green jacket from off the table. Holding my jacket up I look for blood stains and find a few across the left side. Turning, I take my jacket to the kitchen to give to Hop Sing, so he can wash the blood out.<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Mr. Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you wash the blood stains out of my jacket?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, right away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, and this, too.\u201d I fling my shirt at him. Hurrying across the room and up the stairs, I peek into the spare room to see if the girl is awake yet. But since she isn\u2019t, I continue on to my room to get a new shirt.<\/p>\n Coming out of my room, I finish buttoning my shirt as I walk back, but hearing Adam\u2019s voice, I quiet my steps. I stop and lean against the wall beside the door where Pa and Adam can\u2019t see me. I know I shouldn\u2019t eavesdrop, but I can\u2019t resist.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, I just don\u2019t understand, why would someone do something like this to a man, let alone a young girl?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, son, there are lots of cruel people in this world. I just don\u2019t know.\u201d From the sound of Pa\u2019s voice, I can tell he\u2019s slowly shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, Pa, she felt so thin when I carried her up here. The person who did this to her deserves to be killed. To have this done to her is one thing, but then not knowing whether her face will be scarred for the rest of her life is an entirely different matter.\u201d I hear Adam sigh angrily and begin to pace the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, just imagine how Little Joe feels. He\u2019s the one who found her. The open agony on his face when he told me where he found her, made me ache for him. And then to find out that it\u2019s actually a girl! We all know how Joe is when it comes to a pretty girl, but a girl beaten nearly to death! I can\u2019t imagine what he\u2019s going through, he\u2019s only a boy after all!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking of Joe, where is he?\u201d Hearing Adam walking towards the door, I quietly run on tiptoe back to my doorway. Walking normally, with my boots clicking, I go back to the spare room making it look like I just came out of my room. Sticking his head out of the door, Adam sees me coming out and tells Pa, \u201cAh, here he comes now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see you changed your shirt, Little Joe.\u201d He smirks at me as I walk into the room. Giving him a small cocky smile, I walk over to Pa where he\u2019s sitting on the edge of the bed studying the poor girl\u2019s face. Looking up, he pats my arm.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything is going to be alright.\u201d He stands up and walks towards the door. Looking back at Adam and I, he says, \u201cI\u2019ll be right back. I\u2019m going to have Hop Sing make some coffee and heat some water so we can clean her face.\u201d<\/p>\n Once the sound of his footfall on the steps is gone, Adam turns towards me and begins to talk, \u201cWhat I can\u2019t figure out is why she\u2019s dressed like a boy and not like the pretty girl she apparently is? And not only just dressed like a boy, but she had all her hair under that hat. Why? I just don\u2019t understand it.\u201d<\/p>\n While Adam is talking, he walks over to the girl and picks up the end of her braid, fiddling with it between his thumb and finger. It’s like he\u2019s trying to see how soft it is or something. He has such a dark, quizzical look on his face, that I can\u2019t help but ask, \u201cOlder brother, what are you figuring?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, the only logical thing I can think of is that she\u2019s hiding and doesn\u2019t want her identity known.\u201d He drops her braid and fingers the slits in her sleeve, where bloody torn flesh peeks out. \u201cBut then by the looks of this shirt, she was wearing it during the beating.\u201d<\/p>\n Hearing Pa walking down the hall, both of us look towards the doorway. He comes in carrying a bowl, which I assume is the warm water he went to get, and a handful of soft rags. Sitting the bowl on the small table by the door, he dips one of the rags in the water. After ringing it out, he walks back to the bed, waving me to the side so he can reach her better. Adam and I both watch as he gently dabs at a swollen gash on her face. All of us cringe when the rag comes back red. Pa lays his palm tenderly on her forehead, pushing back small, sticky strands of brown hair. Looking to the right of him, where Adam stands, he says, \u201cAdam, go get a bowl of cool water, I didn\u2019t realize she was burning up like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa.\u201d He says walking out of the room.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, do you think she\u2019ll live?\u201d I have to ask, even though I\u2019m not sure I really want the answer.<\/p>\n \u201cI think she will, but then I\u2019m no doctor. As long as these wounds don’t get infected and the fever goes away, I think she\u2019ll make it.\u201d He puts the wet, red rag in my hand, which I carry back to the bowl of now useless warm water. I\u2019m about to dip it in the water to rinse it out, when I hear a horse gallop up outside. Dropping the rag, I quickly walk to the window and see Hoss dismount Chub.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Hoss, Pa, but the doctor\u2019s not with him.\u201d I say as I quickly leave the room and run down the stairs. I\u2019m halfway across the big room, when Adam beats me to the door. He swings it open and angrily questions Hoss before the fella even has a chance of getting all the way in the house.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s the doctor?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Adam, he wasn\u2019t in town, so I left him a note saying to come right quick once he gets the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you say what we need him for in the note?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Adam, I said that we found a little gal, who\u2019s in awful bad shape.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Adam, what do you supposed we do now? It\u2019s not like we can just undress her like we would if she were a boy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Little Joe. What do you suggest we do?\u201d He yells back at me, the stress of the day making his temper flare.<\/p>\n \u201cNow don\u2019t you go gettin\u2019 mad at me, Adam! I didn\u2019t do anything but bring that girl home, just like any of us would have done!\u201d I point my finger at him and pull myself up to my full height.<\/p>\n Adam steps closer to me and grabs the front of my shirt, lifting me a little higher, so that we\u2019re eye to eye, \u201cYounger brother, don\u2019t you get smart with me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHa! You think that was smart? I\u2019ll show you smart!\u201d But before I have a chance to even say anything else, he punches me hard in the jaw. Falling backwards, I scramble back to my feet. Running towards him, I punch him in the face. When he falls back I see blood streaming out of his nose. He quickly gets me back by punching me in the gut, which causes me to flip back and hit a chair, knocking it over.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, Little Joe, knock it off!\u201d Hoss yells at us, but neither of us listen as we continue to throw punches. Yet both of us know that Hoss can, and will, break our fight up.<\/p>\n \u201cBoys!\u201d Both of us stop at the sound of Pa\u2019s voice. I quickly wipe my hand across my mouth, not at all surprised at the blood on my hand. All three of us turn to look at Pa where he stands on the top step and from the looks of him, he\u2019s real mad. His chest is heaving and his hands are fisted at his sides, but the look on his face tells me exactly how made he is. His mouth opens and closes and then opens again, \u201cBoys! We\u2019re all upset at the state that young girl\u2019s\u00a0 in, but it\u2019s no reason to pick fights! I expect you to act like men, not brawling fools!\u201d<\/p>\n He steps down until there\u2019s only the bottom half of the staircase and a mere ten feet between us and him. Looking between Adam and I, he takes in Adam\u2019s bloodied nose and my busted lip. As he shakes his head, I know he\u2019s not done yelling at us yet. But then he turns and barks out, \u201cAdam, where\u2019s that water I sent you down here for?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn the kitchen table, Pa, where I sat it before letting Hoss in.\u201d Adam calmly says walking back to the table.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, get the brandy, and bring some more cloths, too. We need to get those wounds cleaned.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n All three of us follow him back upstairs and into the room. Adam sits the bowl of cold water beside the warm water Pa had brought up. I put the extra cloths and brandy on the desk that\u2019s on the other side of the room.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile you boys were downstairs I rolled her over and she doesn\u2019t appear to have any wounds on her back. It seems to be just her face and arms that were injured.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what do you plan on doing, Pa?\u201d Hoss stands at the foot of the bed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, my plan was to cut off her sleeves and bathe her arms that way.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam leaves the room as I walk to the left side of the bed. I can\u2019t help but try and imagine what her face looked like before. I look up at Pa where he stands across from me on the right side of the bed. Adam hands Pa the pair of scissors that he went to find.<\/p>\n Taking the scissors, Pa begins to cut off the girl\u2019s left sleeve at the shoulder. He pulls it gently away from her torn skin and hands it to Adam, who lays it on the desk next to the bottle of brandy. Pa hands me the scissors and points to her right sleeve. I know he wants me to cut off the other sleeve since I\u2019m on that side of the bed, but just the thought of what\u2019s underneath it makes my eyes burn and my hands tremble. I quickly look up at Pa and he gives me a reassuring nod. I begin to gently cut at the thin fabric above her shoulder. Once the sleeve is free from the shirt, I cut down the length of it instead of gently pulling it down like Pa did. Lifting her thin, torn arm up I pull the fabric out from under it. Before I even lay her arm back down, Adam\u2019s hand appears to take the other sleeve, which I gladly give him.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, bring the brandy and those cloths.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam lays both into Pa\u2019s outstretched hands. Pa looks at Hoss and I before he uncaps the brandy bottle. He soaks a cloth and bends to begin wiping the gashes on her left arm, when he quickly stops and says, \u201cBe prepared to hold her down, she\u2019ll probably wake up from the pain this brandy will bring.\u201d<\/p>\n All three of us brace ourselves ready to gently keep her from moving should she wake up. Brandy burns like fire in wounds, so if the pain of it doesn\u2019t wake her up she might be too far gone. I pray she wakes up, I honestly don\u2019t care if she screams bloody murder at this point.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 2<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We all hold our breath waiting for her reaction as Pa lays the brandy-soaked cloth on one of the gashes. A small hissing sound escapes from her swollen lips. Seconds later her eyes open, revealing glassy green eyes. She rolls her head to the side and looks at Pa. She looks at him with fearful eyes as she tries to jerk her arm away from him, where he\u2019s still dabbing away at that gash. She begins to mumble, which makes Pa look up and all of us lean in closer. With our movement, her eyes take in each of our faces, the fear getting deeper with each look.<\/p>\n “Please, don\u2019t hit me!\u201d She whispers in a fear laden voice.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, child, we won\u2019t hurt you.\u201d Pa reassures her, yet she still looks scared to death. \u201cI\u2019m trying to help you. See, I\u2019m cleaning your cuts. I\u2019m sorry that it hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like some water?\u201d I ask as her eyes travel back across our faces and stop and stare at me. I can\u2019t help but find her eyes beautiful despite their feverish look.<\/p>\n She tries to say something, but nothing comes out. She gives a very slight nod instead, which from the pain in her eyes must mean it hurt horribly just to do that. I start to walk across the room to get her a small glass, when Pa stops me, \u201cLittle Joe, just wet a rag and hold it to her lips. We don\u2019t know when the last time she had something in her stomach and I don\u2019t want her to get sick on top of all this.\u201d<\/p>\n I dip a rag in the bowl of cool water and hold it to her lips. They part and her little tongue appears, giving the rag a feeble lick. I smile as her eyes slowly close again. Pa continues to clean her arms and face. During the whole thing she only lets out a few whimpers and by the time Pa\u2019s completely finished, she\u2019s fallen into a restless sleep.<\/p>\n As Pa lays a cool, wet rag on her forehead, he turns his head to look at Adam. \u201cThat\u2019s all we can do for her right now. We\u2019ll take turns watching her through the rest of the day and tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c I\u2019ll take the first watch, Pa.\u201d He replies before I even have a chance to say anything.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, since she\u2019s resting right now let\u2019s go downstairs and drink that coffee I had Hop Sing make.\u201d We all start for the door, but I stop halfway across the room. Turning, I look back at the poor girl laying there ripped up arms exposed to the air.<\/p>\n \u201cYa comin\u2019, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019ll be down in a minute, Hoss. Save me some of that coffee, will ya?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing, little brother.\u201d As Hoss disappears down the hall I walk back to the bed and ease myself down onto the edge. Keeping my eyes from trailing the length of her arm, I reach out and gently cradle her small hand between my two larger ones. Just looking at her arms makes my blood boil and from the way she looked at us, begging us not to hit her, I know for sure that a man did this to her. But the question is, what man? Adam is right, this man deserves to be killed.<\/p>\n \u201cToo bad you didn\u2019t tell us your name before you went back to sleep.\u201d I rub my thumb across the back of her hand, \u201cI bet you have a real pretty name. Only a girl with eyes as beautiful as yours deserves a downright pretty one.\u201d<\/p>\n Her lashes flutter slightly, which makes me stop rubbing my thumb over her hand. Breathless, I lean a little closer, but she doesn\u2019t wake up. Sighing, I give her hand a pat before standing up to leave the room. Pa will probably be back up here to get me if I don\u2019t get downstairs soon.<\/p>\n I walk slowly down the stairs for some reason feeling exhausted and defeated. I flop myself onto the sofa putting my boots on the table. Pa gives me a look as he hands me a cup of coffee. I quickly take my boots off the table, \u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Taking a drink of the hot coffee, I look around at everyone. To my right, Hoss looks worried from where he sits slouched low in a chair. Adam looks to be in deep thought with a dark look on his face from where he stands with his foot resting on the fireplace. Sitting in the red chair to my left Pa looks sad and slightly disturbed. Now that I think about it, I probably look tired and agitated just like I feel.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I better get upstairs since I\u2019m taking the first watch.\u201d Adam tramps back up the stairs, making it only up the first half, when Pa\u2019s voice stops him.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, if she wakes up or seems worse, come get me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing, Pa.\u201d He continues up the stairs and disappears down the hall.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I sit with her after Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy, of course, but you need to get some sleep, it\u2019s already late as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go up to bed as soon as I put Cochise in the barn. He\u2019s still standing out there with his saddle on.\u201d I move to get up, but Hoss waves at me to sit back down.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, Little Joe, I\u2019ll take care of him when I\u00a0 take care of Chub. Both of \u2018em are still out there all saddled up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, thank ya kindly, Hoss. I\u2019ll go on up to bed right now.\u201d I give Hoss\u2019s arm a slap as I walk by. Once up the stairs, I turn to peek into the girl\u2019s room. Looking in, I see Adam just settling into a chair, he\u2019s pulled up close to the side of the bed, with a book. I give the doorframe a small rap with my knuckles to get his attention. He turns to look at me. \u201cI just wanted to tell you to wake me up, so I can sit with her when you\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOk, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ll just let you get back to your reading.\u201d I quickly say after I see the look he gives me. Hurrying back down the hall to my room, I make the quick decision to sleep with my clothes on so I don\u2019t have to throw them back on in a hurry when Adam wakes me up. If Adam wakes me up, that is. By the look he gave me, he just might try to sit up the whole night without letting anyone else relieve him.<\/p>\n I fall asleep a lot faster than I expect but wake up to the sound of hurried boot fall and Adam\u2019s voice, \u201cPa, come quick! She\u2019s delirious.\u201d<\/p>\n I jump out of bed and am in the hall before I\u2019m even completely awake. I see Pa run into the spare room, Adam right following like a shadow. Hearing a loud yawn and heavy footsteps, I look over to see Hoss rubbing his eyes, clearly confused, \u201cWhat\u2019s goin\u2019 on, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know! All I heard Adam say is that she\u2019s delirious!\u201d I quickly push past him and hurry into the room. Hoss follows behind me so closely I can feel his breath on the back of my neck.<\/p>\n The first thing I see once I\u2019m in the room is Pa and Adam on either side of the bed, trying to calm the thrashing girl. Her head tosses back and forth while unintelligible words come out of her mouth. But then she starts to sob and the words surprisingly become clear, \u201cPlease don\u2019t hit me again! Step-pa! Please, not again! I won\u2019t go to Virginia City! Please, stop!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSsh, child, you\u2019re safe. Your step-pa can\u2019t hit you anymore. We won\u2019t let him.\u201d Pa tries to hold her arm down since she\u2019s flinging it all around trying to protect her face.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, don\u2019t hit me again! Please\u2026\u201d her voice quiets as she continues to sob, taking deep shuddering breaths. Just watching her causes tears to come to my eyes and a lump to form in my throat, which I vainly try to swallow down.<\/p>\n When her sobs and shudderings stop and they\u2019re replaced by small, agitated breaths, Pa stands up. Turning to face all three of us, he lets out a deep sigh, \u201cWell, boys, we know now who did this to her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but who\u2019s this step-pa she was begging to not hit her again?\u201d Adam sounds angry.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll have to wait until she\u2019s in her right mind to find that out. If she\u2019ll tell us, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe moment I know who he is, I\u2019m going to hunt him down!\u201d Adam begins to pace the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cYou will do no such thing, Adam! Once we find out who this man is we\u2019ll notify the sheriff and let the law take care of this. I won\u2019t have my son take the law into his own hands!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve taken the law into our own hands before, Pa, what\u2019s the difference this time?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want you charged for murder if this man has allies who\u2019ll testify in his favor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMurder! This man is worse than a murderer and he might end up being one should she die!\u201d He yells, waving his right arm out, left hand on his belt. \u201cAnyways, I didn\u2019t say I was going to kill the guy, all I said was that I was going to hunt him down. I\u2019ll give him a very large piece of my mind but I won\u2019t kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n Letting out a moan, the girl stirs a little at the noise that Adam\u2019s making. She needs quiet, not the sound of Adam\u2019s big mouth. \u201cAdam, simmer down will ya! You\u2019re disturbing the poor girl!\u201d<\/p>\n Turning towards me, he\u2019s about to yell back but what I said must have registered in that hard head of his. Quickly looking down at the girl, he makes sure that she\u2019s no longer being disturbed.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, go to bed. You won\u2019t be any help to her in that state.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa, I think I will, I am quite tired. But I don\u2019t want Little Joe sitting with her while she\u2019s like this.\u201d<\/p>\n Seeing my angry face, Pa quickly interjects, \u201cLittle Joe and I will sit with her. Now go to bed, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam leaves the room, but not without giving me another one of his looks first. Standing meekly in the doorway, Hoss looks like he wants to say something but isn\u2019t sure if he should. Glancing up at him with a small smile, Pa says, \u201cGo back to bed, Hoss. Someone needs to get some sleep around here tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOk, Pa.\u201d He turns, the sound of his bare feet telling me he makes it back to bed.<\/p>\n Pa slowly sits down in the chair that Adam had pulled close to the bed. Looking quickly around the room and not seeing another one, I walk back to my room to get a chair. Coming back with it, I place it next to the bed on the side opposite of Pa. Grabbing the bowl of cool water and a cloth, I hand them to Pa as he asks.<\/p>\n He begins to sponge her forehead attempting to lower her very high fever. Continuing to dip the cloth making it cooler and sponging her forehead, she drifts off into a deep sleep. Leaning back in our chairs, we both know there\u2019s nothing else either of us can do.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 3<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I must have dozed off for a little because I wake up with a start when Pa shakes my arm. I don\u2019t remember where I am at first but then Pa\u2019s words bring it all back to me, \u201cJoseph, she\u2019s awake.\u201d<\/p>\n And sure enough she is. Leaning forward, I rest my elbows on my knees and stare into clear, green eyes that stare quizzically back at me. Laying his hand gently on her forehead, Pa checks to see how warm she is. \u201cIs her fever gone?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I think so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShould I go get Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not yet we don\u2019t want to bombard her with too many faces at once.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan I please have some water?\u201d The quiet, tired sounding girlish voice catches Pa and my attention.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy, yes, of course.\u201d Pouring her a small glass and gently lifting her head, he holds it to her lips. She takes a few feeble sips before Pa stops her, \u201cThat\u2019s enough for now, we don\u2019t want you getting sick on us.\u201d<\/p>\n Laying her head back down she turns, looking at me again. Her eyes are a beautiful color of green like I\u2019ve never seen before. They look even prettier now that the feverish glaze has cleared out of them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are you looking at me like that?\u201d Her quiet voice sounds slightly angry.<\/p>\n Hearing Pa chuckle quietly to himself, I answer, \u201cYour eyes, I\u2019ve never seen eyes that color before. I find them quite beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh! I\u2019ve never had anyone tell me they were beautiful before. Well, except for my Pa. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c You\u2019re welcome, I\u2019m Joe Cartwright, but you can call me Little Joe.\u201d Smiling, I point across the bed, \u201cThis is my Pa, Ben Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n Rolling her head in the direction of Pa, she gives him a small smile, which must have hurt because it immediately turns into a grimace. \u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cartwright. I\u2019m really sorry you have to see me like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, too, miss. My sons and I are glad to be able to help you, so don\u2019t feel sorry.\u201d He chuckles. \u201cNow that you\u2019re awake it would be nice to know your name. We\u2019ve all been calling you, \u2018the girl\u2019 or \u2018that girl\u2019, and I feel you\u2019d appreciate being called by your actual name instead.\u201d<\/p>\n Hesitating for a moment, she looks back and forth between Pa and me, \u201cMy name\u2019s Hannah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Hannah, welcome to the Ponderosa!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe…the Ponderosa?\u201d\u00a0 Her stammering words are emphasized by wide almost frightened eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, the Ponderosa Ranch. I assume you\u2019ve heard of it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHeard of it? Who hasn\u2019t heard of it?\u201d A small merry laugh slips out of her throat but sobering quickly, she\u2019s serious again. \u201cIt\u2019s just your family\u2019s kindness is quite a shock to me. I\u2019ve always been told the Cartwrights were unmerciful men who would shoot and kill anyone that dared to trespass onto their thousand acre spread. But apparently the people who told me this didn\u2019t truly know who you Cartwrights really were.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have shot and killed trespassers in the past, but we try to be as helpful and kind to others as we can. Most people who say that kinda thing about us either hate us or they\u2019re just jealous that we have something they don\u2019t. Anyways, who told ya that?\u201d Leaning back in my chair, I cross my arms across my chest.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, just some people.\u201d Lowering her eyes, she looks away from both of us.<\/p>\n Standing up, Pa stretches his back. Setting the glass of water on the desk, he picks up the clock, facing it towards the light. Putting it back down, turning to look at Hannah and I, he says, \u201cWell, since it’s five in the morning, Little Joe and I will leave you alone to get some sleep. I\u2019ll be back later to clean the wounds on your arms again and bring some food.\u201d<\/p>\n Jumping up out of my chair, I pull it away from the bed. Turning to Hannah, I touch the top of my head, tipping an invisible hat, \u201cI\u2019ve had a fine time visiting with you, Miss Hannah.\u201d<\/p>\n Smiles at me despite the pain it causes as it pulls on the gashes across her face, she replies, \u201cThe pleasure\u2019s all mine, Mr. Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n A grin splitting my cheeks, I walk to the door. Turning once more, I look back at her. Pointing my finger in her direction, I correct, \u201cIt\u2019s Little Joe to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hearing her giggle quietly to herself, I pull the door shut behind me. Walking together down the hall, I turn to go down the stairs with him but he lays his hand on my arm, \u201cLittle Joe, go back to bed for a few hours. You didn\u2019t get that much sleep last night and we have a full day\u2019s worth of work ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t get that much sleep either, Pa. Anyways, I dozed off for a little while sitting in there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t tell Adam,\u201d Quickly looking behind him, he lowers his voice, leaning in a little closer, \u201cbut I dozed off for about two hours, too!\u201d<\/p>\n Throwing my head back, I let out a laugh; not because he admitted to sleeping on the job, but because he\u2019s failing to not laugh. We know how serious Adam is and how he would be in a boiling rage if he knew someone slept on the job. Too busy laughing, we don\u2019t hear Adam\u2019s door open. He\u2019s there standing beside us before we know what\u2019s what.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd may I ask, what\u2019s the joke?\u201d He asks, his hands behind his back while he rocks forward on the balls of his feet, brows raised.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, nothing, don\u2019t worry about it.\u201d Pa says, slapping him on the shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd why are you not still sitting with the girl?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s sleepin\u2019.\u201d Sticking my thumbs into my belt, I rock back on my heels.<\/p>\n \u201cI figured that but what about her fever, has it gone down any?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer fever\u2019s completely broken and she was awake for a little bit.\u201d Pa tells him.<\/p>\n \u201cDid she say anything while she was awake?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah, she talked alright.\u201d I tell him. \u201cShe told us her name\u2019s Hannah and that our kindness shocked her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would our kindness shock her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, she\u2019s been told that the Cartwrights are an unmerciful lot of men, who shoot and kill people that dare to trespass on their thousand-mile acre spread.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody knows we\u2019re not like that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I told her, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, sure I hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs there anything else I should know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet me think.\u201d I playfully scratch my chin. \u201cWell, she\u2019s got a real pretty laugh and the most beautiful pair of green eyes I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course things you\u2019d notice. I bet you told her that, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly the part about her eyes.\u201d Shrugging, I grin. \u201cAnyways they\u2019re such an unusual shade of green that even Hoss would notice them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are a very unique shade, Adam. In fact, now that I think about it, I\u2019ve only ever seen one other person with eyes that color.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s that, Pa?\u201d Adam asks.<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Lilia Craddock.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Craddock!\u201d Adam and I\u2019s voices blend as we nearly chorus the name like church ladies in the choir.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t mean that little miner\u2019s wife who used to walk up and down the street in Virginia City years ago, do you?\u201d Adam asks, a look of confusion on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cWait a minute! I remember how she used to drag a scrawny little boy around behind her.\u201d I say, snapping my fingers.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what about this boy, Joe?\u201d Pa asks, but by the look on Adam\u2019s face I can tell he knows where I\u2019m going with this.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, he always wore a hat and kept his face bent low so you couldn\u2019t see it. I bet that he was Hannah dressed in boy clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a possibility, but why would her mother let her run around dressed like a boy?\u201d Adam begins to pace in front of the staircase.<\/p>\n \u201cA mining town is a rough place filled with greedy men who\u2019ll do anything for money. Her mother probably dressed her like that to protect her, especially since she\u2019s such a pretty girl.\u201d Pa explains as he turns, beginning to go down the stairs, calling over his shoulder, \u201cI\u2019m going to send Hop Sing to town to buy her some new clothes. Dresses and skirts, plus whatever else a girl needs, he\u2019ll know what to buy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut, Pa, what about breakfast?\u201d I ask, hurrying after him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always think with your stomach, don\u2019t you, Little Joe?\u201d Adam follows me down the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not always, but I didn\u2019t have any supper last night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNone of us did. You don\u2019t hear me complaining, do you?\u201d But right as the words come out of his mouth, his stomach growls loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cNot complaining? I think your stomach is doing that for ya, older brother!\u201d I laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll cook some eggs so Hop Sing can leave earlier.\u201d Pa takes off for the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly eggs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop complaining, Joe.\u201d Adam shakes his head.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t worry, I ain\u2019t complaining, I was just thinking about our other brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just what were you thinking about our other brother?\u201d Sitting down in his blueish green chair by the staircase, arms crossed over his chest, he yawns.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, ya know how Hoss is in the morning.\u201d Propping my foot up on the table, I gesture with my hands. \u201cHe wants a good hot meal. Plus if there\u2019s only eggs, he might eat \u2018em all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we get our share before he wakes up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what if the smell of \u2018em cooking wakes him up? He\u2019s gonna be real hungry, not eating supper and all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there\u2019s a way to fix this problem of ours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe go help Pa in the kitchen.\u201d Standing up, he walks across the big room towards the kitchen, \u201cYa coming or not, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah, you better bet I\u2019m coming! Maybe Pa\u2019ll let me make some pancakes to go with them eggs. What kinda eggs do figure Pa\u2019s making, anyhow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have no idea, but there\u2019s only one way to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 4<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We hear Hoss before we see him. There\u2019s a thump followed by heavy footfall and then we see the big fella himself at the top of the staircase. Pausing on the second step, he sniffs the air. Adam and I have finished filling our plates and it seems just in the nick of time, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I smelled hot food a cookin\u2019.\u201d He exclaims, \u201cI\u2019m so darn hungry, I think I could eat fried bear fat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSee, Adam, just like I told ya, he\u2019s real hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s a good thing we\u2019ve already got our share.\u201d Looking down, he gazes hungrily at his plate filled with scrambled eggs and four or five pancakes.<\/p>\n Sitting down, Hoss begins to fill his plate, almost taking all the eggs and six or seven of the dozen pancakes that are left.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Hoss, take it easy, Pa hasn\u2019t got his yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh I\u2019m sorry Little Joe, but I\u2019m just so dadburn hungry.\u201d He scraps about a quarter of the eggs back off of his plate and onto the platter.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, Hoss,\u201d coming out of the kitchen, Pa carries a plate, \u201cI\u2019m glad to see you\u2019re up and ready for the day. I hope you slept well last night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMornin\u2019 Pa.\u201d He replies before shoveling eggs into his mouth. \u201cI couldn\u2019t stop thinking about that little gal laying upstairs, how\u2019s she anyhow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, she\u2019s doing better. Her fever broke around five o\u2019clock and she was awake. She talked to Little Joe and I for a bit before we left her to sleep for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat she\u2019d tell ya?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe said her name\u2019s Hannah, but she didn\u2019t tell us her last name. Pa thinks she might be Mrs. Craddock\u2019s daughter.\u201d I chime in since Pa\u2019s got a mouth full of pancake.<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Craddock? You don\u2019t mean that little miner\u2019s wife from Virginia City, do ya?\u201d Pausing, he looks at us before shoveling more grub into his mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the only Mrs. Craddock we know of.\u201d Adam points out, lifting his forkful of eggs.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I thought she had a boy, not a pretty little gal like…what\u2019s her name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer name\u2019s Hannah.\u201d I remind him and he nods his head.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d ya figure out she\u2019s that Mrs. Craddock\u2019s daughter, Pa?\u201d Hoss asks, turning towards him.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Little Joe pointed out that her eyes were such an unusual shade of green. The color of her eyes reminded me of someone, but I couldn\u2019t remember who until Joe was telling Adam about them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then it just sorta clicked in your head, didn\u2019t it Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I guess that\u2019s how you\u2019d put it, it just sorta clicked into place and I remembered Lila Craddock\u2019s eyes being that very same shade of emerald green. It\u2019s truly such an unusual shade and I guess that\u2019s why I remember them.\u201d<\/p>\n We continue to eat in silence, all of us deep in thought when Hoss starts talking again, \u201cThese pancakes Hop Sing made sure are good!\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly looking up from my plate, I peer at Hoss, \u201cHop Sing left for Virginia City over an hour ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then, who made all this good food?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa made the eggs.\u201d Adam puts in.<\/p>\n \u201cDid he make them pancakes, too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou made \u2018em!\u201d He looks shocked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, ya didn\u2019t think I could cook?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no not that Little Joe. I just didn\u2019t reckon your cooking tasted this good, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Pa start to laugh but I just glare at Hoss. \u201cGee thanks, Hoss. It\u2019s not like I cooked mesquite beans, or something!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Little Joe mesquite beans aren\u2019t that bad, ya just gotta plug yer nose when ya take a bite to keep from smellin\u2019 \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, boys, since we\u2019re all finished here, I\u2019m going to take a plate of food up to Miss Hannah.\u201d Scooting his chair back, Pa stands up, carrying his plate into the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, Little Joe?\u201d Glancing over at Hoss, I find his face scrunched up in a very worried look.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe done ate up all the food, what\u2019s Pa gonna take up to little miz Hannah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa filled a plate before you came downstairs, it\u2019s been sitting on the stove keeping warm this whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh good, I wouldn\u2019t want the little lady to go hungry on account of me eating up all the grub.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, don\u2019t worry about it, Hoss! I could always make some more of those pancakes you liked so much!\u201d Laughing, we carry our plates to the kitchen.<\/p>\n In a few moments all four of us are standing in the hallway outside of the spare room. Pa knocks, \u201cMiss Hannah, it\u2019s me, Ben. I\u2019ve got a plate of food for you, may my sons and I come in?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on in, Mr. Cartwright.\u201d Her voice sounds cheery<\/p>\n Looking back at us, he hesitates a moment, \u201cMy sons, too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019d like to meet all of them now.\u201d<\/p>\n Opening the door, Pa enters with all three of us following behind him. Looking around Pa, I see Hannah sitting up in bed looking a lot better than she did two hours earlier. Her face is split in a huge grin and those green eyes of hers are sparkling away. Hearing Adam take a quick breath behind me, I turn to look at him and find he\u2019s entranced by her. Catching me looking at him, he quickly hides his emotions behind a mask of indifference. The fact that he finds her attractive makes me feel a sudden burst of jealousy and a sense of responsibility for her, which I guess comes from the fact that I found and brought her home.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, how are you feeling now, Miss Hannah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cQuite better, Mr. Cartwright. Those few hours of sleep helped tremendously, but I find myself feeling just about half starved lying here with all the smells of that fine food wafting up from downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam, Hoss, and I all look at each other, shocked that Hannah talks so fancy, especially if she\u2019s really that miner\u2019s daughter. She must have had some fine learning in order to talk like that. Even Adam doesn\u2019t talk that fancy and he went to school back East.<\/p>\n \u201cGood! I\u2019ve brought you a plate of that fine smelling food.\u201d Handing her the plate and a fork, she lays it on her lap.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, thank you, Mr. Cartwright! It all looks so delicious. Would you please give my compliments to whoever cooked it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will, if you\u2019d please call me Ben and not Mr. Cartwright. It makes me feel old coming from someone like you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll only call you Ben if you would be so kind as to just call me Hannah.\u201d Swiftly cutting a bite of pancake, she pauses, \u201cNow, please, don\u2019t forget to give my compliments to the cook.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Hannah, you can give them yourself, because you see, I made the eggs and Little Joe made the pancakes.\u201d Pa explains. \u201cWe don\u2019t normally cook our own food but I sent our cook, Hop Sing, to Virginia City to buy you some new things since we ruined your shirt trying to clean your arms up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d she looks down at her arms like she just realized that they\u2019re bare, \u201cyou didn\u2019t have to buy me new clothes, but I thank you for it anyways. I guess I\u2019d better go easy on this food since I haven\u2019t eaten anything since yesterday morning. Ben, the eggs are delicious, and Little Joe, I\u2019ve never eaten a better tasting pancake!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Hannah.\u201d I smile as she continues to eat. After a few more bites, she lays the fork down, taking a deep breath. Turning her head, she looks past me at Adam and Hoss, who’re standing behind me out of the way.<\/p>\n \u201cI presume these are your other sons?\u201d Waving her hand in the direction of Adam and Hoss, she looks at Pa.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, my oldest son, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hannah.\u201d He bows slightly at the waist in true gentleman fashion.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, it\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, too.\u201d Giving him a nod, she smiles prettily.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd my middle son, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHowdy, Miz Hannah.\u201d Stepping up to the bed, he holds out his hand for her to shake.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you do, Hoss?\u201d Her hand completely disappears into his meaty paw.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, just fine, ma\u2019am!\u201d A huge grin spreads across his wide face.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, you already know my youngest son, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yes, the pancake maker and,\u201d grinning, she cocks her right brow up, \u201cthe young man who gives eye color compliments.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope I didn\u2019t offend you.\u201d I feel a little bad, but don\u2019t know why. \u201cI was just saying what I thought was obvious and I meant every word of what I said about them being beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, it just caught me off guard is all. The only person who\u2019s ever told me they were beautiful was my Pa, who\u2019s dead now.\u201d Quickly looks down at her plate, her eyes fill with tears.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry if I brought back memories.\u201d Sitting on the edge of the bed, I cover her hand with mine, trying to comfort her the only way I can think of.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Little Joe, I don\u2019t have very many memories of my Pa but that one is very special to me.\u201d Looking up at me, I watch the tears stream down her bruised cheeks.<\/p>\n \u201cHannah, would you like to talk about it?\u201d Pa asks, sitting down on the other side of the bed while Adam and Hoss plop into the chairs beside us.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really have a choice, do I?\u201d She gives Pa a small, sad smile. \u201cI knew I\u2019d have to explain everything and I guess now\u2019s the time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy Pa, Rhett Craddock, and my Ma, Lilia, moved to the Nevada<\/span> Utah Territory back around the time that gold was first found here. I was just a little girl at the time and when Ma saw how rough the mining town was, she made me dress in boy clothes so the men wouldn\u2019t hurt me. Pa spent so much of his time digging and panning for gold that he was almost never home. The times he was home, he always fell into a deep sleep from sheer exhaustion. Once the mines were officially up and running, Pa began working in the Ophir Mine. He died in that mine when the timber collapsed and Ma and I hadn\u2019t seen him for two days. The last thing he told me was that my eyes were like emerald gems and that every time he looked at me he saw my Ma.\u201d Adam shifts behind me, no doubt remembering the time he spent trapped in that very same mine and then afterwards helping that Dutchman build new honeycomb timbering in it.<\/p>\n \u201cMa married out of necessity six months later. I begged her not to, that we would make do somehow, but she married him anyway. Cyl Lunberg, the drunkest, meanest, and ugliest man in the whole mining camp. They were married for about two years before he beat her to death during one of his drunken rages one night.\u201d Stopping for a moment, she tries to keep her emotions in check, \u201cThat was a year ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019ve had to deal with his drunken rages for the past year, haven\u2019t you?\u201d Pa asks her.<\/p>\n She only nods, tears continuing to stream down her cheeks. Pa pats her hand for a moment, \u201cI presume this isn\u2019t the first time he\u2019s done this to you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no it\u2019s not, he uses a small piece of braided whip.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t mind me asking,\u201d leaning up, Adam rests his elbows on his knees, \u201clast night while you were delirious, you said something about Virginia City. What did you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t like me to go to Virginia City, he thinks I parade myself through the saloon, I really go to get supplies from the general store. But yesterday he came home earlier than normal and was extremely drunk. He found me about to leave for Virginia City, something I always try to do when he\u2019s down in the mine. His temper flared and out came his little whip.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut how did you get on the Ponderosa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI went to one of the miner\u2019s widows who used to be close friends with my Ma and she loaded me in a cart. The next thing I knew, she had dropped me off in a pasture beside the road. She told me to start walking south and that somebody would find me and take care of me. I started walking and I probably walked for about an hour before I collapsed. The last thing I remember was seeing a horse riding towards me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe found you but I\u2019m the one who discovered that you were actually a girl and not the boy he thought you were.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just how did you find that out?\u201d She asks, looking suspicious.<\/p>\n \u201cI removed your hat.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 5<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Going back downstairs, Adam, Hoss, and I leave Pa with Hannah while he cleans her wounds again. About to sit in the living room, we hear a wagon pull up outside. Quickly going to the door, since I\u2019m the closest, I open it, hoping maybe it\u2019s Doc Martin.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, who is it, Joe?\u201d Adam asks, walking up behind me.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing get lots of things for girl.\u201d He holds up a few items,\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cSee pretty dress, skirts, and plenty of underclothes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood job, Hop Sing! Hannah\u2019ll love these things.\u201d I grab a package from the back of the wagon as Adam and Hoss snatch the others.<\/p>\n Carrying all the packages upstairs, we find the door to Hannah\u2019s room shut. Hoss lifts his hand to knock but Adam stops him as Pa\u2019s voice drifts through. Holding his finger to his lips, he signals us to be quiet.<\/p>\n \u201cHannah, thank you for sharing your story with us, it must have been a hard thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was but I couldn\u2019t keep it from you all. It wouldn\u2019t have been right of me, especially with all you\u2019ve done for me in the short amount of time that I\u2019ve been with you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have to ask, since I find myself rather curious, where did you go to school? You talk so well for somebody like yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean like a poor miner\u2019s daughter who dresses like a boy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I didn\u2019t mean to offend you in the least, I just didn\u2019t know how else to put it, you see?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Ben, I completely understand.\u201d The sound of her laugh floats through the air. \u201cMy mother was a schoolteacher for five years before she married my Pa; she was almost an old maid by the time they tied the knot. She had a very strong love for books and proper talking, so she drilled correct grammar into my head at a young age, plus I have her love of reading and when I\u2019m not busy, I like to get lost in a good book. Yet despite all of that, Ma made me talk like a typical miner’s child whenever we were in town or around other people. It would have stuck out too much, she said me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, yes, I can see it sticking out alright!\u201d Pa chuckles. \u201cMy son, Adam, loves to read as well. He actually went to college back East in New England.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, what did he study?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cArchitecture. He designed and built this very house; I figure it will stand for another hundred years or more.\u201d<\/p>\n Hearing Pa walk around, all of us inch backwards and then down the stairs so we don\u2019t get caught eavesdropping. Laying the packages on Pa\u2019s desk, I step over to the sofa and flop myself on to it. Adam paces in front of the fireplace again while Hoss sighs from his chair.<\/p>\n \u201cYa figure Pa\u2019s tellin\u2019 little miz Hannah all about us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt sure sounds like he\u2019s telling her about Adam, compared to him I don\u2019t think we\u2019re much, Hoss.\u201d I snort.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, compared with his book learnin\u2019, I ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 but a big bumblin\u2019 idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Hoss, there\u2019s work to do outside.\u201d Getting up, I strap on my holster before following Hoss outside. We leave Adam to his quiet brooding by the fireplace.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Little Joe, ya don\u2019t figure Adam\u2019s gonna try an\u2019 track down miz Hannah\u2019s step-pa, do ya?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. I want that man put in jail just as much as Adam does, but I think we should do what Pa says and let the sheriff handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I think that\u2019s the smart thing to do, too.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019re saddling our horses, getting ready to go and look for strays when Adam walks into the barn. Going over to his horse, still looking a little moody, he throws the saddle over to the horse\u2019s back and begins to cinch it down. Hoss and I stay clear away from him, not wanting to add to his mood or get snapped at. Swinging into my saddle, not even bothering to use the stirrup, I follow Hoss out of the barn. Adam joins us in the yard, \u201cPa said to check the south pasture and mend any broken fences.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs Pa comin\u2019?\u201d Hoss asks.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, he\u2019s staying in the house so someone\u2019s around if Hannah needs anything. He came downstairs right after you two went outside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s get a move on it then.\u201d I turn Cochise in the right direction.<\/p>\n We check the south pasture and find only three breaks in the fence, which we quickly fixed. By the time we make it back to the house it\u2019s already after noon and probably close to one o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n \u201cOowee, I sure am hungry!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAren\u2019t we all, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Little Joe, I figure we are, but I might be a tad bit hungrier than ya.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith all this talk about food, you\u2019d think that\u2019s all you two ever think.\u201d Adam shakes his head at us. He\u2019s in a little bit of a better mood but Hoss and I know he\u2019s still thinking about Cyl Lundberg.<\/p>\n We stop and wash up before going into the house. Getting a good look at my reflection, I see a dust covered young man, \u201cI think I\u2019ll go change real fast before lunch, older brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, you a little dusty?\u201d Adam asks, arms crossed and a small grin on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and I don\u2019t want to scare our new little lady friend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh shucks, Little Joe, she won\u2019t get scared of a little ole trail grime, she grew up in a mining\u2019 town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that Hoss, but can\u2019t a fella at least try to look nice for a pretty gal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think maybe I should change, too?\u201d He looks down at his clothes that\u2019re just as dirty as mine.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, come on, Hoss, can\u2019t you see, Joe just wants to impress the girl.\u201d Laughing, Adam slaps Hoss on the back as they start walking to the house. Looks over his shoulder at me, he calls, \u201cAnyways, Little Joe, there isn\u2019t enough time. Lunch is probably already on the table, we\u2019re late, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n Swiping my hand through my hair, I try to at least fix it as I follow Hoss and Adam into the house. Stopping to hang up my hats and holster, I hear a cheery laugh come from around the corner at the table as I hear Pa say, \u201cAnd then there was this time when Little Joe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just what did I do this time, Pa?\u201d Stepping around the corner, I feel my jaw drop.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, cat got your tongue?\u201d Adam slaps me on the back, but when his head turns in the direction of the table, I watch his eyes go wide.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s gotten into you two? It ain\u2019t like you\u2019ve never seen a purty little gal before.\u201d Turning towards Hannah, Hoss says, \u201cNow, miz Hannah don\u2019t let their starin\u2019 bother you, it\u2019s just we didn\u2019t expect you down here so soon like, and especially not all prettied up like you are, you see?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it!\u201d She laughs. \u201cI practically shocked the socks off myself when I stepped in front of that mirror. I haven\u2019t worn a dress since I was knee high to a grasshopper!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I hope you don\u2019t mind me saying this, but you just might be the prettiest gal I\u2019ve ever laid my eyes on.\u201d Finally getting my tongue back, I pull out the chair next to her. She smiles up at me and despite the now scabbed lines going across her face, I find it a beautiful smile. \u201cI take it you\u2019re feeling better?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yes. Almost one hundred percent better, in fact,\u201d she explains. \u201cYou see, it takes a lot to get me down and when I do get down, I typically bounce back pretty fast.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just never would\u2019ve thought, with the way you were delirious and all last night, that you\u2019d be sitting here at the table with us so soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I normally don\u2019t get a fever but I guess all the moving around I did yesterday brought it on.\u201d She fiddles with the steak on her plate.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry to interrupt, but the way you said normally, I take it this happens to you quite often.\u201d Ignoring the filled plate in front of him, Adam watches Hannah.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout every other month, sometimes two.\u201d Avoiding eye contact with all of us, her voice lowers to a whisper, causing all of us to lean in to hear.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery other month!\u201d Adam exclaims, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just leave?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have anywhere else to go, Ma and Pa were all the family I had and they\u2019re gone.\u201d Letting out a sigh, she continues, \u201cMy step-pa threatened to marry me off and when I protested, he beat me nearly to death and to make it worse, he was sober that day. It\u2019s been almost two months and that place on my back is still tender to touch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou poor child! Who\u2019s the man he wants you to marry?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOld Man Lloyd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe I\u2019ve ever heard of him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never heard him called anything but Old Man Lloyd. He looks and smells as if he hasn\u2019t had a bath in twenty years and he\u2019s never seen without a whiskey bottle in his hand. He’s always so drunk, I\u2019m honestly surprised he can even stand up, but to make things even worse, he\u2019s nearly old enough to be my grandfather.\u201d As she looks at Pa, a big grin spreads across her face instead of the grimace or even tears I expected to see. Her right brow goes up towards her hairline as she says, \u201cJust the man to fulfill every girl\u2019s romantic dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n Her attempt to make light of the situation impresses me, it takes guts to have a cheerful spirit when you\u2019ve lived a rough life. I can\u2019t even begin to imagine what Hannah\u2019s been through but I do know that I won\u2019t let her go through anymore. And from the look on Adam\u2019s face, it looks like he\u2019s going to make sure of it as well.<\/p>\n Since we\u2019re all done eating, we push away from the table. Offering my arm to Hannah, which she takes, I lead her to the sofa.\u00a0 Sitting down beside her, about to start a conversion so I can get to know her better, I hear Adam walk to the door. Looking over my shoulder, I watch him strap on his holster and slap on his hat as he says, \u201cI\u2019m going to ride into Virginia City, I\u2019ll be back in a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\n Glancing up quickly, Pa clearly knows what Adam\u2019s up to, \u201cI\u2019ll go with you. There\u2019s a few things I need in town.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 6<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sitting together, Hannah and I talk for nearly two hours. We’re laughing about a story Pa had told her this morning, when I suddenly hear horses ride up outside. Hearing them too, she stops laughing and looks up at me, a question written plainly across her face.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, it\u2019s probably just Pa and Adam.\u201d I tell her, walking to the door. Throwing it open, I look out into the yard and find Pa and Adam swinging down from their saddles. Both look worried as they stride over so I know there must be trouble. \u201cWhat\u2019d ya find out, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, nothing good, that\u2019s for sure.\u201d He sighs, smacking his gloves on his palm.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got news from town and none of it\u2019s nice.\u201d Adam chimes in, tossing his hat on the table.<\/p>\n Hearing the swish of a skirt, I glance over my shoulder to see Hannah gliding towards us. Placing her hand in the crook of my left elbow, which just happens to be bent because my hand\u2019s resting on my belt, she looks up at me with a small grin and I quickly smile back at her. I\u2019m finding out she has a little bit of a bold streak and I\u2019m liking it so far.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no use in just standing here,\u201d Pa takes off towards his chair across the room, \u201clet\u2019s sit down to discuss this. Joe, where\u2019s Hoss? I want him to hear this, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss\u2019s out in the barn, one of the hands brought in a lame horse about an hour ago.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, go get him!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir!\u201d Stepping out the door, I sprint across the yard to the barn. Entering, I see Hoss just finished wrapping the lame horse\u2019s leg, his back\u2019s to me, so I yell, \u201cHey, Hoss!\u201d<\/p>\n Jumping a little, he yells back, \u201cDadburn it, Little Joe, don\u2019t sneak up on me like that! What you want anyhow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa wants you in the house, they found out some bad news in town.\u201d<\/p>\n Hurrying back to the house together, I see Adam already sitting next to Hannah on the sofa as we walk through the door. Feeling a little jealous, I throw myself into an easy chair. I can tell by the smile Adam sends my way that he\u2019s enjoying the little bit of jealousy he\u2019s stirring up.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I guess I\u2019ll get straight to the point.\u201d Pa starts, \u201cAfter getting the few things I needed in Virginia City, Adam and I rode into the mining camp where Hannah lives. We were going to try and find Cyl Lunberg to turn him over to the sheriff, but apparently Lunberg left town yesterday afternoon around the same time Hannah would have been dropped off on the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLeft town! Cyl never leaves town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Hannah, he did, and he didn\u2019t just leave town, he left a lot of trouble behind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kinda trouble? Surely nothing we can\u2019t handle.\u201d Getting up, I move over to sit on the sofa arm next to Hannah. Leaning back into the couch a little, her face goes pale, making me slightly worried.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore Lunberg left town he promised Old Man Lloyd Hannah\u2019s hand in marriage.\u201d Adam continues where Pa left off, \u201cBut the only problem is, Hannah disappeared so Lunberg then promised to find her for Old Man Lloyd by Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy by Saturday?\u201d Hoss asks, his brow all wrinkled up.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the day Old Man Lloyd plans on marrying Hannah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust how does Cyl plan on finding me?\u201d All the color comes back to her face as she leans up with a small, nearly mischievous looking smile.<\/p>\n \u201cOld Man Lloyd told us he went to find some men who he plans on using as a posse to find you. Lunberg told Old Man Lloyd he\u2019d search every town and ranch within twenty miles of the Ophir Mine.\u201d<\/p>\n As Hannah falls back on the sofa, Adam and I lean in, thinking she\u2019s fainted or something, but no, she just has her eyes shut tight while her closed lips tremble slightly. By the way her shoulders are shaking, it looks like she\u2019s sobbing yet when her eyes finally pop open, she lets out a cheery laugh. She keeps laughing until tears run down her cheeks. Staring at her in amazement, none of us at all get what the joke is.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s, he\u2019s leading a\u2026a,\u201d wiping her cheeks, she tries to catch her breath, \u201cmarrying posse! Sounds just like something good ole Cyl would do, he ain\u2019t that smart and this just proves it even more. A posse to find the missing bride of the oldest man in the whole darn mining\u2019 camp!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt actually does sound rather ridiculous when you put it that way.\u201d Pa’s laugh floats through the air, mingling with Hannah\u2019s higher pitched one.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s not!\u201d Jumping to his feet, Adam up begins to pace. \u201cThose men will be armed, and not only armed, but drunk, too and we all know what a drunk man with a gun can do. Who knows how many men Lunberg will round up, and there\u2019s only four of us here who can fight back?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m awfully sorry to have put your family in danger like this, Ben, I truly am.\u201d Getting slowly, she walks towards the staircase. up and slowly walks towards the staircase. He starts to say something, Pa stops as she walks past the stairs to the rifle rack. Pulling out one, she inspects it. Putting it back, she turns towards Adam, right brow cocked saucily up, \u201cMr. Cartwright, I wouldn\u2019t be so sure about only having four. How many cowboys y’all got on this ranch?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout half a dozen, why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey loyal? Can you count on \u2018em?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, they\u2019re loyal but they have work to do, which doesn\u2019t involve fighting a posse of men who\u2019re looking for a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA fight you ain\u2019t willin\u2019 to lose your hairy hide to, am I right?\u201d She gives him a cocky smirk, hand saucily on her hip. Trying not to grin, I glance over to see Pa discreetly hiding his own smile behind his hand. But Adam sure isn\u2019t cracking a grin, he looks so mad I\u2019m surprised there ain\u2019t steam coming out of his ears.<\/p>\n \u201cI never said that! I\u2019m willing to defend you if needs be, but I can\u2019t help wondering whether or not you\u2019ll just end up going along with Lunberg and marrying Lloyd anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever in a month of Sundays would I even dream of marrying Old Man Lloyd, you\u2019ve seen the man!\u201d Walking towards Adam, she stops directly in front of him, leaving only about two feet of space between them. Sticking out her hand for him to shake, she quietly says, \u201cI\u2019m terribly sorry for the way I\u2019ve spoken to you, I only did it to see what direction this was going and how much help I would be receiving. Will you please forgive me?\u201d<\/p>\n With a look of shock and surprise, Adam shakes her hand, \u201cYou\u2019re forgiven. You sure have a way of changing your speech when you want; one moment you talk like a lady and the next like a saloon girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something I\u2019ve had to learn to do over the years.\u201d Walking back across the room, she plops down beside me, \u201cNow for the fight that\u2019s bound to happen, you don\u2019t just have four people, you have five.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just who\u2019s this fifth person?\u201d I ask, completely amazed at the bold and almost wild girl Hannah is turning out to be.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy me, of course!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can shoot?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI sure can,\u201d she grins up at me, \u201cI can shoot an apple off of a bear\u2019s head from a mile away without even takin\u2019 a hair off of him!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s something I\u2019d sure like to see!\u201d I laugh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 7<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The next day as I go about doing my chores, I find that I have an audience. Leaning with her back against the fence, head slightly cocked to the right, left hand resting on her cheek, Hannah watches me crawl around on the ground trying to fix a wagon wheel. Peeking out from underneath it, I look at the pretty picture she makes standing there like that, her light-yellow skirt swishing softly around her ankles. All of her waist length, dark brown hair is down and blowing gently in the breeze. Catching me looking at her, she smiles so I grin back, knowing I\u2019ve been caught staring.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, never seen a man work before?\u201d Joking, I crawl out from underneath the wagon.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, quite the contrary,\u201d she steps away from the fence towards me, \u201cI\u2019ve never seen men do anything but work. Work till they\u2019re so tired they fall asleep standing. But the type of work you\u2019re doing is so different from what I\u2019m used to seeing, that I can\u2019t help but find it fascinating.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFascinating? I wouldn\u2019t call fixing a wagon wheel fascinating.\u201d As I walk over to get a drink of water from the bucket, she follows me, leaning with her shoulder against the barn wall. \u201cWhat type of work are you used to seeing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMining.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with mining?\u201d I drop the dipper back into the bucket.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you know, men going down into the earth digging for something that they think will make them rich because they assume riches will make them happy. But in the end all they get is either death or a crucial health ailment.\u201d Reaching over, she twirls the dipper around in the bucket, pulling it out full. She moves it to take a drink but then with a mischievous grin, she dumps all of it over my head.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! What\u2019d ya do that for?\u201d Shaking the water out of my eyes, I hear her laugh as she skips out of reach.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I don\u2019t know,\u201d shrugging her shoulders, her grin gets larger, \u201cI guess I sorta figured you were hot after all that hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s just see how you feel about gettin\u2019 cooled off!\u201d Taking off after her, she lets out a shriek and runs around the wagon. Both of us laughing, I chase her towards the water trough and grab her around the waist. Swinging her up to throw her in, I move to toss her in but she grabs onto my arm and the front of my shirt.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Little Joe!\u201d Her screeches mix with the giggles still bubbling out of her, \u201cPlease, don\u2019t, I\u2019m sorry!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yes I will!\u201d Laughing, I feel her nails dig into my arm. \u201cYou got me wet now it\u2019s your turn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat in tarnation is going on out here?\u201d Pa asks, walking over from the house. \u201cJoseph, what are you doing to that poor girl?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I was just… um…goin\u2019 to dunk her in the water trough.\u201d Sheepishly, I put her gently back down, watching Pa\u2019s right brow go up and a small smile play on his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just why were you going to dunk her in the water trough?\u201d He asks as Hannah quietly slips behind me.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you see, she dumped a dipper full of water on my head, so I figured it was only fair if I got her wet, too.\u201d Pa\u2019s eyes watch something behind me and he starts to smile but quickly stops himself.<\/p>\n \u201cLogical. I\u2019m glad to see you\u2019re using your head, Little Joe.\u201d He nods with sarcasm. Giving him a little sassy smile back, I know that he\u2019s really thinking what an immature kid I\u2019m acting like.<\/p>\n Suddenly I feel a shove from behind and with the way I\u2019m standing, it makes me lose my balance. With a splash I fall into the water trough. Shaking the water out of my eyes yet again, I see Hannah practically bent in half with laughter and Pa nearly in the same position.<\/p>\n \u201cHa, ha, ha, very funny.\u201d Slowly standing up, I cup water in my hands and throw it in Hannah\u2019s direction. Laughing even harder, she steps backwards, out of my range. Reaching down, I scoop up more water, sending it in Pa\u2019s direction this time.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, don\u2019t get me wet! I have to go back inside.\u201d Still hooting with laughter, he shakes his finger at me.<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew she was going to do that, didn\u2019t you?\u201d I ask, stepping out of the water trough, a puddle forming at my feet.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I did, but it didn\u2019t hurt you any to get all wet.\u201d He slaps me on the back. Walking over to Hannah, he puts his arm around her shoulders. \u201cI\u2019ve got a little surprise for you, Hannah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you do!\u201d Looking up at him, she looks like an eager little girl and the expression makes her look years younger.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I figured since Hoss and Adam were out scouting around today and won\u2019t be home until supper,\u201d he walks with her towards me, \u201cI\u2019d have Hop Sing pack you and Little Joe a picnic lunch. Little Joe oughta know a good picnic spot and a young girl like you needs to have some fun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019d love that! I haven\u2019t been on a picnic since before my Pa died.\u201d Turning, she looks at me expectantly. \u201cLittle Joe, would you please take me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I will, Hannah,\u201d I give her a smile, \u201cjust let me go change into some dry clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n About ten minutes later, Hannah and I are riding to a place I know will be the perfect spot for our picnic. Once we\u2019re there, I help her dismount her chestnut horse. Standing with her hands clasped in front of her stomach, her green eyes take in everything around us.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Little Joe, it\u2019s absolutely beautiful.\u201d She breathes, looking up at me, her eyes shining like stars. \u201cIt looks just like a painting!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, that\u2019s why I brought you here.\u201d Rubbing my hand down my shirt, I continue, \u201cI don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019m just about half starved. Let\u2019s get this blanket spread out so we can see what Hop Sing packed for us.\u201d<\/p>\n She spreads the blanket out as I pull the picnic basket off of Cochise\u2019s back, handing it down to her. Opening it, she pulls out two empty plates, a platter of fried pork chops, a bowl full of fluffy mashed potatoes, an uncut loaf of bread, and a whole apple pie. Lowering myself gently onto the blanket, I try not to spill any of them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a feast! Hop Sing sure packed a lot, I hope you and I can eat all of it.\u201d She exclaims, glancing around at all the food with wide eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t worry about it,\u201d chuckling at the look on her face, I know in the back of my mind she\u2019s probably never seen this much food at one time, \u201cI\u2019m hungry and when I\u2019m real hungry, I can almost out eat Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Peering over at me, her right brow raises suspiciously,\u00a0 \u201cYou sure don\u2019t look like you\u2019ve ever eaten that much in your whole life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because I work it off.\u201d Filling our plates, our hands bump every now and then as we scoop the food out of the many dishes in front of us. By the time we\u2019re done, her plate is nearly as full as mine; apparently she\u2019s taking advantage of the abundance while it\u2019s here or she can really eat if she wants to it.<\/p>\n \u201cI figure Hoss does an awful lot of work, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, yeah, of course, but he\u2019s such a big fella it just seems to stick to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess he would look rather funny if he were as skinny as Adam and you.\u201d She giggles.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d look like a big twig or something, all tall and willowy.\u201d I joke.<\/p>\n While we finish our platefuls of food a peaceful silence relaxes around us. Setting my empty plate and fork in the basket, I lay down on my back, stretching out with my hands behind my head. Hannah begins to pick up the rest of the food that\u2019s left and as I offer to help, she just waves for me to stay put.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, Hannah, you\u2019re what I call a right pretty girl.\u201d I comment.<\/p>\n \u201cYou really think so?\u201d Watching her, I see her cheeks go rosy, pink in a blush as she glances over at me with a shy, pretty smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t just think so, I know so.\u201d Propping myself up on my elbow, I reach out and tip her chin up so she\u2019ll look me in the eye. \u201cI like you a lot, Hannah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow can you like me when you\u2019ve only just met me?\u201d Her eyes dart back and forth between mine with a quizzical, searching gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes you don\u2019t have to know a person for a long time to like them.\u201d Cupping her still bruised cheek in my hand, the softness of it surprises me. There\u2019s still scabbed cuts streaking across her face and I figured her cheek would be a little rough but it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cBut how can you know I\u2019m not a bad person? I haven\u2019t done anything yet to prove myself to you and your family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to; I can tell you\u2019re a good person.\u201d Having to know her answer, I ask, \u201cDo you like me, Hannah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Little Joe, I like you. I think you\u2019re a very handsome, charming, funny young man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA lot?\u201d<\/p>\n As she slowly nods, I lean in closer. Her eyes slip closed just before my lips touch hers and I feel her hands move up my back as I deepen the kiss. Leaning into me, we hear a horse approaching fast behind us and she quickly jumps away from me, her fingers resting gently on her lips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 8<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rides up hard, like the devil himself is chasing him as I jump to my feet, hand near my gun, ready to be pulled out if needs be. Letting his horse dance in front of me, he calls down, \u201cLunberg\u2019s posse is about two miles away from the ranch. Pa wants you and Hannah back at the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink there\u2019ll be trouble?\u201d I ask, feeling Hannah put the basket into my hand before beginning to fold the blanket.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, there\u2019ll be trouble alright, Lunberg\u2019s posse nearly tore Virginia City apart; They killed two men and destroyed the inside of the saloon.\u201d He reigns his horse in, making him stop moving so he doesn\u2019t have to shout. \u201cRoy is bringing three deputies out with him to the ranch and they should already be there. He said when the posse left town they were drunk and mad as hell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s get going.\u201d Swinging the basket and blanket onto Cooch\u2019s back, I move to help Hannah onto her horse, but she\u2019s already in the saddle. I leap onto Cooch just as Hannah and Adam take off towards the house; I\u2019m right behind them in seconds.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a way to spoil a romantic moment!\u201d I mutter under my breath. Hannah\u2019s a little bit in front of me so I take advantage of the view and watch the way she moves in the saddle. It\u2019s like she\u2019s one with the horse, the way their movements blend together is spectacular. And to think she told me this morning she\u2019s only ridden a few times yet she rides like an accomplished rider, apparently she\u2019s just a natural, either that or she lied to me. But that thought doesn\u2019t sit right so I push it out of my mind. Surely she wouldn\u2019t lie about something like that, especially after she\u2019s already told us so much.<\/p>\n I like the way that Hannah didn\u2019t show fear at Adam’s news, she just started to do what needed to be done in order to leave fast. I\u2019ve known girls in the past who would have frozen up with fear at news like that. Not only freeze up on you, but you would have to lead them gently by the hand and speak softly to them or else they\u2019d start screaming their pretty little heads off. But then, of course, Hannah knows Lunberg better than any of us, and she knows how far he\u2019s likely to take this thing.<\/p>\n We\u2019re at the house within minutes, where Pa\u2019s waiting on us by the hitching post. As we dismount, he tells Adam and I to take the horses to the barn where Hoss is waiting for us. Grabbing Cooch\u2019s reins while Adam snags Hannah\u2019s, we go into the barn.<\/p>\n Inside Hoss and one of the deputies sit with rifles across their laps near the door. Standing when he sees us, Hoss takes Hannah’s horse from Adam and leads him to his stall.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, go ahead and put Cochise in his stall, I\u2019ll get to him in a minute.\u201d He calls me over his shoulder. We normally take care of our own horses, but I do as I\u2019m told, knowing there must be a reason behind it. Hoss\u2019s deep voice drifts across the barn towards me, \u201cAnyhow where you been, Little Joe? Adam and me have been home for nearly half an hour now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI took Hannah on a picnic up by the lake. It was Pa\u2019s idea, and Hannah wanted to, so I took her.\u201d I snap, the stress of everything about to happen making me edgy.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, and I take it was Pa\u2019s idea for you to get some kissing in, too.\u201d Adam sounds angry. Looking over, I find him standing there with his hands on his hips.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, don\u2019t you start, too!\u201d My temper flares as I point my finger at him. \u201cYou\u2019re probably just jealous that you weren\u2019t the one to kiss her first, I\u2019ve seen the way you look at her when you think no one is watching.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will admit that she\u2019s a pretty girl, but Joe, we barely know her. She could be just as bad as her stepfather for all we know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I oughta!\u201d As I leap towards him, Hoss yanks me back by my waist before I can get close enough to do any damage.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, now you stop that, you hear. That posse can be here any minute and the last thing we need is you and Adam fightin\u2019 over that little filly up at the house.\u201d He shoves me towards the barn door. \u201cNow go see what Pa needs you to do.\u201d<\/p>\n I storm over to the house, my boots kicking up more dust that they should as my chest heaves in and out with each angry breath. How dare Adam accuse Hannah of being just like her step-pa, it just ain’t right! Why would he beat her if she were just like him? Adam\u2019s just jealous because she likes me more than him.<\/p>\n As the door opens and Hannah\u2019s slightly pale face looks out at me, I feel my anger evaporate like steam off of a pot of boiling water. Walking in, my hand on her shoulder, I see Roy talking to Pa at his desk. Looking quickly around the room, I discover it\u2019s just them; the other two deputies Adam told me about must be posted somewhere outside.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Joe, there you are,\u201d Pa says, looking up, \u201cI want you to stay in the house with Hannah. Adam, Roy, and I are going to ride out and see if we can talk some sense into this posse. Hoss and Danny are guarding the barn, Bill\u2019s in the bunkhouse, and Todd\u2019s around somewhere outside.\u201d<\/p>\n We nod at each other as he stands up, grabbing his hat. He follows Roy out the door, but just before pulling it shut, he sticks his head back in and calls out, \u201cHannah, don\u2019t worry, everything\u2019s going to be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n Hannah and I stand staring at each other, listening to their horse\u2019s hoofbeats fade into the distance. Letting out a quiet sob, she runs towards me as I open my arms. She sobs while I rub my hand up and down her back trying to give her a little bit of comfort.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no reason to cry, Hannah,\u201d I murmur in her ear after her sobs quiet into soft, little whimpering breaths, \u201cyou heard Pa, everything\u2019s going to be alright. Don\u2019t worry, I won\u2019t let your step-pa take you back, I\u2019ll kill him first, or die trying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t talk like that Little Joe!\u201d Leaning back, she looks up at me, eyes red rimmed and cheeks wet. \u201cJust because your pa says everything\u2019s going to be alright, doesn\u2019t mean it will! I know that man, and the men with him, and just what they\u2019ll do. Little Joe, it won\u2019t be pretty! I don\u2019t want you or any of your family to get hurt because of little ole me. I\u2019m not worth it, Little Joe, and I\u2019ll never be!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if I think you\u2019re worth it?\u201d Putting my hands on either side of her face, I make her look me in the eye. \u201cEvery time Pa\u2019s said everything\u2019s going to be alright, it almost always is. As a matter of fact the very night you had that fever, Pa said those very words. And look at you now, you\u2019re almost all the way better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess you\u2019re right,\u201d she sighs, \u201cbut I won\u2019t just stand here and let your family get killed, not on my watch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere, that\u2019s more like it!\u201d Bending down, I give her a quick kiss. \u201cI think the first thing we oughta do is get our guns ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Walking together towards the rifle rack, we each choose one. Quickly beginning to load mine, I look over and see Hannah doing the same. She didn\u2019t lie about being able to shoot a gun, the way she\u2019s loading those shells shows that she knows what she\u2019s doing.<\/p>\n \u201cYou ever shot a rifle before?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, many times. I\u2019m not too good with a pistol but rifles, they\u2019re easy. You see, my Pa taught me how to shoot before he died and I\u2019ve kept on practicing ever since but we only ever had a rifle.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI could teach you how to shoot a pistol sometime, I\u2019m a pretty fair shot myself.\u201d I offer with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI just might take you up on that, Little Joe,\u201d She laughs, loading the last shell into her rifle. \u201cbut I think we should see whether or not we can survive today first.\u201d<\/p>\n Grinning back at her, I lay my rifle down on the table as she suddenly stops smiling and turns her head, listening and I hear it also. It sounds like galloping horses coming from the direction Pa, Adam, and Roy went not even half an hour ago. I didn\u2019t think they\u2019d be back this soon, but maybe the posse was closer than they thought.<\/p>\n Walking over, I throw the door open. Looking out I find Pa, Adam, and Roy swing down from lathered horses. Adam takes all three horses into the barn while Pa and Roy hurry to the house.<\/p>\n \u201cWere you able to talk to them, Pa?\u201d I ask, stepping out of their way and back into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, they\u2019re past the point of trying to talk to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs it bad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, it\u2019s bad alright, worse than I expected.\u201d He turns to look at Hannah who\u2019s still by the table, \u201cHannah, I want you to go to your room and I want you to stay there until I tell you can come down. Take the rifle with you and stay away from the window.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d She picks up the rifle but doesn\u2019t move towards the staircase. \u201cBen, I\u2019d like to hear what you\u2019re going to tell Little Joe. I want to know what you think is going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOk, but as soon as I\u2019m done I want you in your room.\u201d Walking over to the staircase, she leans her back against the railing. \u201cWell, Lunberg has about twenty men in his posse and all of them are so drunk they can barely stay in their saddles. They\u2019re a little less than a quarter of a mile away, that\u2019s why we\u2019re back so soon. When Roy tried to talk to them they demanded to have Hannah and when we said we weren\u2019t going to give her to them, they fired some shots at us. But thankfully they\u2019re so drunk their aim was off. I just don\u2019t understand why they want Hannah so badly; it can\u2019t just be to marry Old Man Lloyd. There has to be something else, yet I can\u2019t figure out what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Striding over to the rifle rack, he pulls one out as he door swings open and Adam stomps in. Throwing his hat down on the table, he begins to anxiously pace. Hannah looks around at everyone before turning towards me and asking, \u201cLittle Joe, I know it\u2019s a rather foolish question, but would you please walk me to my room?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, of course.\u201d I follow her up the stairs. Stopping in the doorway of her room, she turns towards me and she gives me a small smile. Since she looks like she wants to say something, but doesn\u2019t know how, I ask, \u201cDid you want to tell me something?\u201d<\/p>\n She looks quickly down at the floor before glancing back up at me. \u201cLittle Joe, I\u2019m really sorry about all of this. I should have never gone to that widow\u2019s house and just dealt with it myself like I always have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be sorry.\u201d Stepping closer, I wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. \u201cI like helping a pretty girl like you get out of trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I don\u2019t think your father and older brothers do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yes they do. Hoss has the kindest heart of any man I know, he hates seeing anything hurt, especially pretty little gals and my Pa\u2019s nearly as soft hearted, too. Adam\u2019s serious and sensitive, but once you get to know him you find out he\u2019s really a great fella with a pretty big heart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just have this weird feeling that Adam doesn\u2019t like me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrust me, he likes you, he\u2019s just different about trusting people, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I guess I\u2019d better get in my room and quit wasting your time.\u201d She tries to break free from my arm, but I quickly pull her closer, kissing her nice and slow before letting her go. She pulls back, one hand on a flaming red cheek as I turn to walk down the hall.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe,\u201d she calls after me, \u201cbe careful and don\u2019t get yourself shot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t worry, I won\u2019t!\u201d I laugh. \u201cAnd stay away from that window!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 9<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I make it downstairs just as Adam, Pa, and Roy finish talking. Grabbing their rifles, each takes a post within the big room; Adam\u2019s at the window behind the kitchen table, Pa\u2019s at the window behind his desk, and Roy covering the front door. Snatching my rifle off the table where I\u2019d left it, I look between the three and can\u2019t help wondering where I\u2019m supposed to be in all this mess. \u201cHey, Pa, where do you want me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCover Roy from behind.\u201d<\/p>\n Moving over behind Roy, I hear gunshots and yells mingled with hoofbeats outside just as I lean my back against the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re here.\u201d Roy says even though we all know it. \u201cOnce they get close to the house, I\u2019m going to go outside and see if I can try and talk some sense into them now. Little Joe, I want you to come and cover me, keep your gun out in plain sight to show them we\u2019re not playing around. Ben, Adam, I want you two to stay in the house, and don\u2019t come outside unless you\u2019re needed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRoy, but don\u2019t you think it would be better for Joe and me to switch places?\u201d Pa\u2019s voice drifts around the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, these men need to see somebody new standing up to them. And not only new, but young.\u201d I hear Adam mutter to himself. \u201cNo offense to you Adam but these men are going to be hard to take down, and we\u2019ve got to use what few men we have to do it. I\u2019m not saying you\u2019re not as good, but Little Joe here is a good, fast shot and, he\u2019s what I need out there with me.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s more yelling and gunshots outside and now they sound closer. Pa starts to chuckle as he watches them dismount in the front yard, \u201cI know this is no laughing matter, but they\u2019re all so drunk that five or six of them just fell from their saddles onto the ground, they\u2019re not getting back up either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Little Joe, you ready?\u201d Roy asks, his hand already on the door latch.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d Nodding, I push myself off the wall, cocking my rifle.<\/p>\n Opening the door, he steps outside with me following right behind him, my rifle laid across my arm, ready to use and fire if I need. I take a good look at the men who\u2019re coming to take Hannah. And what I see disgusts me; men so drunk they\u2019re staggering on their feet, eyes all glassy looking. I presume the man in front is Lunberg. He\u2019s got sagging cheeks and a potbelly, clearly showing the fact that he\u2019s a drunk. His clothes are dirty and so thin and torn that Hop Sing would refuse to use them as rags.<\/p>\n \u201cCyl Lunberg,\u201d Roy calls out and the same man I was watching starts walking towards us, \u201cI want to talk to you about Hannah Crawford.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well, she\u2019s my stepdaughter,\u201d I can smell the liquor on him from ten feet away, \u201cand that makes her my property. I have a right to her and I want her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe that just because she\u2019s your stepdaughter makes her your property; she\u2019s a human being, not a piece of livestock.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLil ole Hannie girl\u2019s been under my care ever since her ma died.\u201d Pausing, he takes a swig from the whiskey bottle tied to his belt. \u201cHer ma wanted me to take care of her and that\u2019s just what I\u2019s a doin\u2019. Ya see I\u2019ve found a man who wants to get hitched to that scrawny lil brat and I won’t leave or rest until I get her to that preacher.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Mr. Lunberg, you can\u2019t force any person to get married so why don\u2019t you let Miss Craddock make that decision. Who\u2019s the man who wants to get married to Miss Craddock?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOld Man Lloyd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs he with you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course he\u2019s with me, he wants to see his lil bride.\u201d He gives us a creepy smile before turning around and yelling, \u201cOld Man Lloyd, get over here!\u201d<\/p>\n The old man who walks over to Lunberg can\u2019t be a day younger than eighty. He sways while he walks and looks worse than I\u00a0 expected with his clothes in worse shape than Lunberg\u2019s and a stringy white beard that goes all the way down to his belt accompanied by just as greasy shoulder length, white hair. It looks like he hasn\u2019t taken a bath in at least ten years and he smells like it, too. The wind is blowing towards us from behind them and I have to keep myself from gagging on the smells of liquor and dirty old man that are drifting over to us. It doesn\u2019t seem to faze Roy, he just keeps on standing there, a blank expression on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you\u2019re Old Man Lloyd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, siree, there\u2019s only one Old Man Lloyd, and that a be me.\u201d He slurs.<\/p>\n \u201cOld Man Lloyd, tell me, just why do you want to marry Miss Craddock?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c \u2018Cuz she\u2019s a purty lil gal, despite her wearin\u2019 britches an\u2019 all. None of \u2018em gals at the saloon pay me any mind, an\u2019 I want me a real purty one, so\u2019s when ole Lunberg told me miz Hannie would marry me, I jumped at the chance.\u201d He takes a drink from the bottle that\u2019s resting in the crook of his right arm.<\/p>\n \u201cBut what if Miss Craddock doesn\u2019t want to marry you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, then ole Lunberg will get her for me. That\u2019s what I paid him twenty dollars fer, ain\u2019t it? An\u2019 he\u2019ll get her, even if he has to whip \u2018er into shape again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLunberg, do you admit to beating the girl?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, of course, I do! That little brat needed taken down a notch or two.\u201d As he takes another swig from that bottle of his, a hot fury starts to eat me up inside and with the way Roy\u2019s dilly dallying around it just might take control. I know I\u2019m hot headed and tend to\u00a0 lose my temper easily, but this man\u2019s a murderer and woman beater, Roy needs to do something real soon or else I\u2019m going to end up doing it for him.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Lunberg, I\u2019m going to have to arrest you on account of what you just admitted to and what Miss Craddock has told the Cartwrights.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t arrest me! I ain\u2019t done nothin\u2019 wrong, I\u2019s only taken my little whip to her backside a few times. There ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 wrong with that!\u201d Lunberg stretches himself to his full height, his face getting redder by the second.<\/p>\n \u201cAin\u2019t done nothing wrong, my foot!\u201d My anger is getting the better of me and I can\u2019t keep quiet any longer. Waving his hand at me, Roy signals me to calm down, but I\u2019ve had enough. \u201cIf you\u2019ve only taken your whip to her backside, then how do you explain the marks on her face and the scar on her back? Or the fact that you beat her mother to death?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, lookie here, no wonder ole Hannie girl doesn\u2019t want to leave!\u201d He croons, looking at me like he\u2019s just seen me for the first time despite the fact that I\u2019ve been standing here the whole time. \u201cWith a good-lookin\u2019 feller like you around, why would any gal want a leave, right, boys?\u201d<\/p>\n All the men with him let out whoops and hollers and I feel my patience begin to wear even thinner. If Roy doesn\u2019t do something real fast, it just might get ugly. He must feel my impatience because once the posse simmers down, he takes a step closer to Lunberg.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve already said it, but I\u2019ll say it again. You\u2019re under arrest Lunberg.\u201d He takes another step towards him. \u201cI want you on your horse and ready to ride.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019s a don\u2019t think that\u2019s gonna happen, Sheriff.\u201d Pulling out a pistol, he points it right at Roy\u2019s chest. I quickly pull my rifle up to my shoulder but he starts talking again, \u201cI was a wantin\u2019 Old Man Lloyd to get a lil looksie at Hannie girl and that\u2019s just what I\u2019s a gonna do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if she ain\u2019t here?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, she\u2019s here alright, I\u2019s a know that for certain.\u201d He spits on the ground. \u201cYou see, purty lil feller, I went an\u2019 talked to one of those wider women back at the camp an\u2019 I got me some answers as to Hannie girl\u2019s whereabouts. An\u2019 those answers got me here, right here on the ole Ponderosie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m guessing you had to beat the answers out of the poor widow woman, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I did, maybe I didn\u2019t,\u201d Grinning, he cocks his gun. \u201cbut now I want what I came for an\u2019 I aim on gettin\u2019 it one way or the other.\u201d<\/p>\n Someone runs towards the door inside the house as Pa\u2019s deep voice shouts out, \u201cHannah, don\u2019t do it!\u201d<\/p>\n The door swings open, then loudly slams shut. I want to turn around to look but I don\u2019t dare take my eyes off of Lunberg. The door rattles again and Hannah\u2019s voice comes from the other side, \u201cAdam, let me go, I won\u2019t let Little Joe get hurt!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t let you go out there! Lunberg\u2019ll take you again, do you want that?\u201d Adam sounds angry and slightly winded. \u201cThey\u2019re all armed, it\u2019s dangerous out there! Do you want to get yourself killed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, let me go! If it\u2019s so dangerous then why\u2019d you let Little Joe go out there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Little Joe can take care of himself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, let the girl go.\u201d<\/p>\n The door flies open behind me again, this time staying open. Lunberg looks past me and I watch an ugly, wicked grin spread across his face while Old Man Lloyd rubs his eyes, amazement written plainly on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, didn\u2019t think she was a pretty girl?\u201d Hearing her skirts swish across the ground behind me, I feel her hand on my lower back. Stepping to the left, she fully exposes herself to Lunberg. I quickly try to step in front of her but then notice her hand move slowly down my back towards my leg. Shifting slightly in front of me, her skirts blocking my gun belt from view, she slips my gun out of my holster and hides it behind her skirt. A pretty smart move on her part, that is as long as she can shoot it where she aims.<\/p>\n \u201cYour ma sure did ya a favor dressin\u2019 ya up in man\u2019s clothes.\u201d Lunberg slowly looks her over top to bottom and she shifts slightly, his stares clearly making her uncomfortable.<\/p>\n \u201cGet behind me.\u201d I whisper to her,<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Little Joe, I want to tell Cyl something,\u201d she takes a deep breath, \u201cCyl!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, lil Hannie girl\u2019s gonna talk to an ole buzzard like me.\u201d Letting out an evil sounding laugh, he keeps that pistol pointed right at Roy\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019ve got something to say to you, so you better listen and listen good!\u201d I can feel the fury building up inside of her. \u201cI won\u2019t marry Old Man Lloyd; I flat out refuse and I won\u2019t go with you either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you’ve made up your mind an\u2019 now I\u2019ve made up mine,\u201d Turning, he points that pistol at Hannah, \u201csince ya won\u2019t marry Old Man Lloyd, ya won\u2019t marry any man!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHannah!\u201d Throwing my left arm out, I shove her behind me as Lunberg shoots. My upper arm takes the bullet and I drop my rifle, falling backwards. Hannah catches me from behind as all hell breaks loose.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 10<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Quickly regaining my balance, I pull Hannah out of the range of fire. The window in Pa\u2019s office shatters and he begins shooting just as I hear the same come from Adam. Hoss and Danny begin firing from the barn and their shots are quickly followed by Bill\u2019s coming from the bunkhouse and Todd\u2019s somewhere near. The posse is firing back but in their drunken state, their shots aren\u2019t doing much. They start to fall one by one, hitting the ground like limp rag dolls.<\/p>\n Even though Old Man Lloyd is lying dead at his feet, Lunberg continues to shoot in our direction from where he stands behind one of the porch posts. His wide girth sticks out past the post yet he’s so drunk he doesn\u2019t realize it. I would shoot him myself, but my rifle\u2019s lying on the ground just out of reach and Hannah has my pistol.<\/p>\n \u201cHannah, give me my gun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut, Little Joe, you\u2019ve been shot!\u201d She exclaims, laying it in my right hand anyways.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t answer her as I get Lunberg in my sights but my shot is off. Trying again, I fail. My aim with my right hand isn\u2019t any good and I know it, yet I’m desperate. Hannah moves beside me, I don\u2019t pay her any mind. Suddenly she takes off running into the middle of it all.<\/p>\n \u201cHannah! What the heck are you doing?\u201d Continuing to send bullets in Lunberg\u2019s direction, I watch her as she makes it to my rifle. Realizing what she\u2019s trying to do, Lunberg shoots at her as I send a bullet towards him but it misses. Cursing my useless left arm, I watch his bullet hit her in the leg taking her down. But to my surprise, she uses the fall to her advantage, rolling over and grabbing my rifle where it lays beside her. Quickly pulling the hammer back, she fires, hitting Lunberg in the lower gut. She fires off two more quick shots, smacking him directly in the chest and he falls dead to the ground, the thud of his body loud in the now silent yard. And just like that it\u2019s all over.<\/p>\n The remaining posse men quickly mount their horses and ride out when they see that their leading man is dead. Quickly jumping to my feet, I hear the door slam open behind me but I get to Hannah first. I bend down next to her as Pa, Adam, and Roy check to see if Lunberg\u2019s really dead or not.<\/p>\n \u201cHannah.\u201d I gently lay my right hand on her cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be ok, Little Joe,\u201d she gives me a small smile, \u201cI had to do it. When you took that bullet for me, I realized my life would always be the same as long as Cyl was alive, so when I saw all your shots missing, I knew what I had to do. Anyways, now we\u2019re even, we\u2019ve both got a bullet hole.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I guess you\u2019re right.\u201d I smile at her attempt to make light of the situation. \u201cHannah, you\u2019re the bravest girl I\u2019ve ever met.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell don\u2019t you think we oughta get you two into the house now?\u201d Adam interrupts. Looking up, I see Pa, Adam, and Hoss standing over us. Bending down, Adam gently picks Hannah up, while Pa helps me to my feet, telling Hoss to go get the doctor.<\/p>\n Adam carries Hannah up to her room upon her request as I slowly sit down on the sofa. Coming over to me, Pa start unbuttoning my shirt. After he inspects my bullet wound, he slaps me on the back, which causes pain to shoot up my arm. \u201cYou\u2019ll be alright, it\u2019s not that bad. The bullet just needs to be removed; you\u2019ve been hurt worse before.\u201d<\/p>\n Both of us turn at the sound of Adam walking down the stairs. Showing us the blood on his hands, he walks past us towards the kitchen. Pa and I quickly follow him, both of us wondering where the blood came from.<\/p>\n While he washes his hands, he turns to look at us, \u201cHannah\u2019s leg was bleeding pretty bad but she\u2019s got it stopped now. The bullet\u2019s in quite deep, I\u2019d say about an inch or so in right above her knee.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe let you look at it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but only because she couldn\u2019t get the bleeding to stop by herself. She needed a little bit more pressure than she could apply herself, so I helped her.\u201d He glances over at me as he continues, \u201cJoe don\u2019t worry, I didn\u2019t look at anything but the wound. I know how you feel about her and I\u2019m sorry for the things I said to you earlier, I was wrong and I realize that now. Can you forgive me, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Adam.\u201d Resting my hand on his shoulder, I give it a sharp squeeze.<\/p>\n We walk back into the big room together and Pa goes over to his desk. Leaning against it, his expression turns thought as he starts to speak, \u201cHannah\u2019s a very brave young lady, I never thought she’d have the gumption to shoot her own stepfather.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, she did, and not only did she do it, but she also made a fair job of it, too. Shooting him again so he wouldn\u2019t die a slow death thanks to that gut shot was probably the nicest thing she could have done for him.\u201d Sinking back in a chair, my arm begins to throb something fierce.<\/p>\n \u201cEither that or she just got trigger happy and wanted him dead fast.\u201d Adam watches me as I slowly bend and pull my arm across my bare chest. \u201cHurt bad?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no, it\u2019s just fine!\u201d Squishing my face into a painful expression, I purposely exaggerate it knowing it will make them laugh. \u201cJust fine I tell you, just fine! It only feels like someone stuck a nice hot Ponderosa brand on me instead of one of those cows!\u201d<\/p>\n As Pa and Adam begin to laugh, I slide further down into the chair, the look of pain and suffering still on my face. Of course, they just laugh even harder.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, come on Joe, you\u2019re going to be alright!\u201d Laughing, Adam sobers quickly, \u201cHannah\u2019s in worse shape than you are, do you hear her complaining?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but then she\u2019s not in the room. Anyways, I don\u2019t think she\u2019d complain, she\u2019s a tough gal. Just so you know, I\u2019m worried about her, not my own hide.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss should be back with the doctor soon and then he\u2019ll have both of you fixed up in no time.\u201d Pa pours himself a brandy. \u201cWould either of you care for a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take one, maybe it\u2019ll help with the pain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019d Roy disappear to?\u201d I ask, taking the little glass from Pa.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s outside checking on the men that didn\u2019t run away, well at least the ones who are still alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Opening the front door, Roy walks in. After laying his hat on the table by the door, he comes to stand next to Pa, who offers him a drink. Taking it, he sits down, relaxing like Pa asked him to. After looking over at me where I sit still slouched down in my chair, empty brandy glass in my hand, he asks, \u201cYour arm hurt bad, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNah, I\u2019ll be ok once the slug\u2019s out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about the girl, is she alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, despite taking a bullet to the thigh, she\u2019s alright.\u201d Pa sighs.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you know how bad it is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe asked me to help her stop the bleeding and it appears to be about an inch in.\u201d Adam tells Roy as we all hear a horse and buggy pull up outside.<\/p>\n \u201cThat must be Hoss with the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 11<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After the doctor takes the bullet out of my arm, I walk upstairs to go see Hannah. The doctor took care of her first since she was the worst of the two of us and he told me she was alright, but I have to make sure she\u2019s alright myself. Knocking on her door, I call, \u201cHannah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome in.\u201d Her soft voice drifts through the wooden door.<\/p>\n Slowly opening the door, I stick my head in and find her lying flat on her back, right arm folded under her head. Closing the door behind me as I step all the way into the room, I ask, \u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I figure about as good as I can after getting shot in the leg.\u201d She smiles as I gently sit down on the edge of the bed beside her. \u201cHow about you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout the same, except\u2026\u201d I purposely trail off, trying to rouse her curiosity.<\/p>\n \u201cExcept what?\u201d Cocking her brow at me, she raises herself to a sitting position.<\/p>\n \u201cExcept I got shot in the arm not the leg.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery funny.\u201d Letting out a fake laugh, she crosses her arms over her chest. \u201cMine should hurt worse than yours, my bullet went in farther. But then, of course, it could hurt just as bad, I\u2019ve never been shot before so how could I know? Have you ever been shot before?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, yeah, plenty of times, it hurts for a couple of weeks and then you\u2019ll have a pretty scar to show for it afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust what every girl wants, a bullet scar on their thigh.\u201d She laughs but then she stops, she grins at me, tapping her chin with finger. \u201cYou know something, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, and what might it be?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou lied to me earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI lied to you! What do you mean I lied to you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you told me you wouldn\u2019t get shot, and what did you go and do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, I didn\u2019t get shot on purpose, I took that bullet so it wouldn\u2019t hit you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Sobering down, a sad look makes its way over her face.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d I ask, laying my hand over hers, worried I said the wrong thing.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t help wondering,\u201d Her eyes leave mine, resting on my slinged arm before traveling across my chest, down my right arm and finally stopping where my hand lays on top of hers, \u201cif it would have been better in the long run if I took that bullet instead of you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHannah, how could you think, let alone say something like that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, don\u2019t you realize I have nowhere to go, no family to speak of?\u201d She grabs my hand. \u201cAt least when Cyl was alive I had a roof over my head. Now I\u2019m just living off of your family\u2019s charity; eating your food, sleeping in your bed, and wearing clothes that your money bought.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut, Hannah, having you here has brought so much to our family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll I\u2019ve brought to your family is trouble. Even though I haven\u2019t actually seen it, I\u2019ve caused trouble between you and Adam; I can tell something\u2019s between you two.\u201d Reaching up, she caresses my cheek. \u201cAnd you, if I\u2019d never come here, you\u2019d never have gotten hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam and I fight all the time, don\u2019t worry about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I don\u2019t like coming between the two of you, it\u2019s not right for me to split a home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHannah, don\u2019t you see, Adam and I have had things come between us before. In fact, one time it was so bad that he almost left for New England.\u201d I squeeze her hand tight so she\u2019ll listen good. \u201cI\u2019ve gotten shot before, and I probably will again, so don\u2019t feel bad about any of this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I hope you don\u2019t get shot again, it could end up being really bad next time.\u201d Squeezing my hand back, she gives me a small smile.<\/p>\n Giving her a quick wink, I raise her hand to my lips, \u201cYou know, Hannah, there\u2019s been something missing in my life and I didn\u2019t even know it but I think I\u2019ve finally found it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just what\u2019s that?\u201d She asks, her face displaying her curiosity.<\/p>\n \u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe?\u201d Pointing a finger at herself, her curiosity turns to shock.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you.\u201d I nod. \u201cI told you earlier that I thought you were a right pretty girl, and I meant every word of it, but since then I\u2019ve found out that you\u2019re so much more than just pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just what do you think I am?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019re brave for what you did out there today, you\u2019re calm in an emergency, and kind to others, thinking of what a burden you are to them, even though you aren\u2019t.\u201d Pausing, a grin stretches across my face. \u201cAnd I also think you love to have fun, whether it be dunking people in the water trough or filling your belly on a picnic.\u201d<\/p>\n A big smile pushes her blushing cheeks up as her eyes fill with tears, \u201cYou really mean all of those things about me, Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, I mean it, I wouldn\u2019t have said it if I didn\u2019t. Hannah, I believe you\u2019re brave, smart, kind, funny, and beautiful gal and I don\u2019t tell girls all that unless I\u2019m serious. Now, don\u2019t get me wrong, I\u2019ve told a few girls that they\u2019re beautiful but I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen a girl as pretty as you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI knew there had to have been other girls, but only a few?\u201d As her right brow goes up, all her sass comes back.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, more than a few,\u201d I sheepishly admit, \u201cbut none of them matter now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, you can really put a damper on a girl\u2019s plans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, what plans?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, laying up here while the doctor was tending your arm, I started doing some hard thinking about my future. I realized I can\u2019t continue to live off of your father\u2019s charity,\u201d holding up a hand, she quiets me when I start to interrupt, \u201cso I made a decision. A very hard one, Little Joe, one that I now regret but I have to do it. Once my leg\u2019s healed enough for me to be on my feet again, I\u2019m moving to Virginia City to find a job.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHannah, you can\u2019t, the only job for a girl like you in Virginia City is at the saloon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019ll get a job there if I have to. Do you go to the saloon when you\u2019re in town?\u201d After seeing my nod, she quickly looks down at her lap, but not quick enough to keep me from seeing the tears streaming down her cheeks. \u201cWell, Little Joe, we\u2019ll see each other whenever you come to town.\u201d<\/p>\n Reaching out, I gently grab her chin, tilting her face up so she\u2019ll look at me, \u201cHannah, can\u2019t you see what I\u2019m trying to tell you? I love you Hannah, I love you more than anything in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n Big tears fall off her cheeks and onto my wrist as she starts to sob, \u201cI love you, too, Little Joe, It would just break my heart to have to leave you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen don\u2019t, Hannah, stay right here on the Ponderosa with me. Let\u2019s have a life here together and we can raise a bunch of little ones, however many you want!\u201d I exclaim getting excited. \u201cHannah, will you marry me and make my life complete?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes!\u201d She sobs, tears still dripping down her cheeks. Leaning in, I kiss her, tasting her tears and wetting my cheeks with them. Pushing back, she lets out a cheery laugh, \u201cI just thought of something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be Mrs. Little Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what, I like the sound of that!\u201d She giggles as I lean in, kissing her again.<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Little Joe, I\u2019d love to be called that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, don\u2019t worry, honey, we\u2019ll make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 12<\/p>\n Running down the stairs, I make such a ruckus that Adam, Hoss, and Pa look over to see what\u2019s going on. Pa hurries over towards the staircase, \u201cJoe, what\u2019s wrong, she isn\u2019t worse is she? The doctor just left but someone can go get him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, nothing\u2019s wrong!\u201d I wave for them to follow me up the stairs. \u201cHannah and I want to tell you all something.\u201d<\/p>\n All four of us walk up the stairs and into Hannah\u2019s room together. She\u2019s still sitting up in bed, a huge grin splitting her rosy, pink cheeks as she waves to Pa, Adam, and Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, what\u2019s this that you and Little Joe wanted to tell us?\u201d Pa asks, noticing our excitement as he crosses his arms over his chest. \u201cApparently it\u2019s something important, both of you sure seem wound up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou tell them, Little Joe.\u201d Reaching up, she touches my hand.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you see, Pa, Hannah and I, we\u2019re going to get married!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarried!\u201d All three shout in unison. Looking down at Hannah, I grimace but she just gives me an encouraging smile and squeezes my hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, married.\u201d I repeat, not knowing why I feel so jittery inside.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, son, if this is what the two of you want,\u201d he says after what I\u2019ve said has sunk in, \u201cthen I congratulate the both of you!\u201d<\/p>\n Reaching out, he shakes my hand and then turns to Hannah, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her. Taking both of her hands in his, he leans in close, kissing her on the cheek, \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted a daughter and I\u2019d be proud to have you as one, I couldn\u2019t be any happier. You\u2019re such a brave, sweet girl, that you\u2019ll make all of us Cartwrights proud to have you as family. Congratulations Hannah!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, thank you, Ben!\u201d Throwing her arms around his neck in a hug, she looks like she\u2019s going to cry again. \u201cI was so worried you wouldn\u2019t approve since we barely know each other.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHannah, sometimes you don\u2019t have to know a person that long to know they\u2019re that special someone in your life you find yourself not being able to live without.\u201d He tells her, wiping the tears off her cheeks.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, thank you so much for understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry child, I understand.\u201d Standing up, he lays a hand on each of our shoulders. \u201cI wish you both happiness and a long life together whether it be here on the Ponderosa or elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, don\u2019t worry, we aren’t planning on leaving the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m glad to hear that.\u201d Looking at all of us, turning halfway around in order to see Adam and Hoss, where they stand at the end of the bed, he exclaims, \u201cThis calls for a celebration, I\u2019ll go get the sherry!<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss come swarming in to give us their congratulations as soon as he\u2019s out the door. Nearly ripping my arm off as he shakes my hand, Hoss croons, \u201cLittle brother, you did a fine job findin\u2019 yourself this little filly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never been called a filly before but I figure that\u2019s a real big compliment coming from you, Hoss!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2019um,\u201d reaching out, he shakes her hand a lot gentler, \u201cI congratulate you, miz Hannah. Now, if my little brother here gives you any trouble, you just tell me and I\u2019ll skin his ornery hide for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t worry, I will, just as long as you won\u2019t skin him too bad. I don\u2019t want to have to fix him up too much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, I\u2019ll skin him just enough and that\u2019s it.\u201d He winks, his serious tone matching hers.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Hannah, you shouldn\u2019t have to get Hoss to skin Joe for a while,\u201d Adam says, slapping me on the back, \u201che should behave himself at least for the first few months. Congratulations to both of you and Hannah, I’m so proud to have you as a sister.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Adam.\u201d They share a special smile as he shakes her hand.<\/p>\n Coming back into the room, Pa carries the sherry and glasses on a tray. Sitting it on the desk, he pours a glass for everyone. After handing one to each of us, he lifts his in the air, proclaiming, \u201cI propose a toast to the marriage of Joe and Hannah!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo Mr. and Mrs. Joe Cartwright.\u201d Adam chimes, lifting his glass.<\/p>\n \u201cTo miz Hannah and Little Joe.\u201d Hoss raises his glass high above his head.<\/p>\n Holding our glasses up to join the others, huge grins on our faces, Hannah and I only have eyes for each other.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 Family,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n
\nLeo (Book 3)<\/a>
\nRose, My Love (Book 4)<\/a><\/p>\n