Summary: Joe\u2019s antics and quick temper get the better of him in this fun little story based on an exchange in \u201cLove Me Not.\u201d Featuring a mischievous Joe, a tired Hoss, and a crafty Adam. A WHIB for Love Me Not.
\nRating: G \u00a0Word Count: 979<\/p>\n
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Based on the following quote from the Bonanza episode \u201cLove Me Not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss: Uh, there\u2019s some stock that\u2019s gotta be taken care of out in the barn.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Joe: Yeah, and I better help him.<\/em><\/p>\n Adam: I\u2019m more practical, I\u2019m going to bed.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Love Me Not: An Interlude<\/strong><\/p>\n By the time Joe got halfway across the yard, the tension squeezing his shoulders had begun to subside. There\u2019s no <\/span>way<\/span><\/i> he was going to be caught between Pa and Joan\u2019s little love spat\u2026 or whatever they wanted to call it.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, brother,\u201d he said with a sigh as he caught up with Hoss, \u201cI think congratulations are in order for our great escape.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Sticking out his hand, Hoss gave Joe\u2019s a hearty shake. \u201cWell done, brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n A short silence filled the air after that as the brothers surveyed the empty yard.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo,\u201d Joe began, \u201cyou said you had some stock to take care of out here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, yeah. That.\u201d Hoss just shrugged. \u201cThat was jus\u2019 the first excuse that came to my head. I don\u2019t actually got anything to do out here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, you could\u2019ve told me that <\/span>before<\/span><\/i> I followed you all the way out here!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHey, I didn\u2019t invite ya. You invited yourself.\u201d With a shiver, Hoss rubbed his hands together. \u201cI sure am tired, though. And a bit chilly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Joe agreed with a nod and a wistful glance back toward the house. \u201cFor not dancing a lick all night, I sure tired myself out. How about Pa, huh? Not inviting any girls for us to dance with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAw, he just had a lot on his mind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYeah, just not us.\u201d When Hoss made no reply, Joe took a quick look around. \u201cHey, where\u2019s Adam?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As if just noticing his brother\u2019s absence, Hoss perked up. \u201cHey\u2026\u201d he drawled. \u201cHey, yeah\u2026 Where\u2019d he go?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2026\u201d Joe made a face at the very thought. \u201cYou don\u2019t think he\u2019s still in there with Pa and that\u2026 that <\/span>girl<\/span><\/i>, do you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNah, he wouldn\u2019t have stuck around for something like <\/span>that\u2026<\/span><\/i>\u201d Hoss wrinkled his nose. \u201cWould he\u2026?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n At that moment, Adam\u2019s window lit up and the man himself peered out, his dark frame a sharp silhouette against the sudden glow of the lamp. Joe could\u2019ve sworn he saw his brother smirk as he waved down at them.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe went up to his room!\u201d Joe hissed through clenched teeth. \u201cThe creep! You know what that means, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Crossing his arms, Hoss glared up at the window. \u201cYeah\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt means while we\u2019re stuck out here, <\/span>he<\/span><\/i> gets to go to bed!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYeah\u2026 Why does he always have to be so smart, anyway?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Joe just shook his head. \u201cBeats the heck outta me, brother.\u201d Glancing back up at Adam, he cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, \u201cPa and Joan still in there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Instead of the reply Joe was looking for, Adam circled a finger around his ear and shook his head, mouthing something along the lines of \u201cI can\u2019t hear you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Joe called back. \u201cWhat do you mean, you can\u2019t hear us? The window\u2019s open!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Adam mouthed, though his expression betrayed the fact that he was anything <\/span>but.<\/span><\/i> Then, to Joe\u2019s extreme annoyance, his brother shut the window and pulled the curtain.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHey!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCome on, Joe, it ain\u2019t worth it. \u2018Sides, Pa\u2019ll hear you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 words of wisdom barely registered in Joe\u2019s brain as he snatched up the nearest rock and chucked it at Adam\u2019s window. The splintering <\/span>crash<\/span><\/i> that followed shocked a bit of sense into Joe, and Adam\u2019s reappearance solidified the situation in his mind.<\/span><\/p>\n A thoughtless decision made in anger was about to have serious consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n Quick as a wink, Joe slipped behind Hoss\u2019 larger frame, completely disappearing from Adam\u2019s view.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAll right, which one of you threw that rock?\u201d From his hiding place, Joe watched his brother\u2019s knowing eyes narrow. \u201cJoseph Francis. What a surprise. I hope you\u2019re planning on repairing the damage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Peeking around Hoss\u2019 broad shoulder, Joe had the decency to wear a sheepish grin. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Adam. I\u2019ll get a new window from town tomorrow. Just you wait!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRight. Well,\u201d Adam replied, \u201cwhile I\u2019m waiting, I think I\u2019ll retire in your room. There\u2019s a bit of a draft in here, though I couldn\u2019t begin to guess <\/span>why.<\/span><\/i> Besides, I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll be needing it for a while, what with all that work you two have to take care of out there.\u201d With a sly grin, he tipped his proverbial hat. \u201c\u2018Night, boys. Sleep tight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d Joe sprung out from behind Hoss, temper flaring once more. \u201cYou get back here! Only one person\u2019s gonna be sleeping in my room tonight and that\u2019s <\/span>me! <\/span><\/i>Do you hear me? <\/span>Me!<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAww, Joe, what\u2019s the use? He ain\u2019t listenin\u2019 anyway. \u2018Fact, I don\u2019t think he can hear ya anymore. \u2018Sides, you sorta asked for that one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Spinning on his heel, Joe crossed his arms and glared Hoss up and down. \u201cOh, and I guess you\u2019re siding with him now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t sidin\u2019 with nobody,\u201d Hoss replied, ever neutral. \u201cAnd I ain\u2019t the one who broke the window, either. I also ain\u2019t the one who\u2019s gonna stand out here in the cold while Pa and Joan have at each other by the warm fire. Lover\u2019s spat or not, I\u2019m going to bed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou mean you\u2019re gonna go back in there? Are you crazy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJoe, the only crazy ones are those who stay out in this cold when they could be up in their nice warm beds.\u201d With that, Hoss strode toward the front door.<\/span><\/p>\n Hesitance gripping his bones, Joe forced himself to follow. Maybe the coast was clear now. Maybe Joan had gone to bed.<\/span><\/p>\n Maybe it\u2019s all fine now\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The stillness within the house sent a chill down Joe\u2019s spine as Hoss opened the door.<\/span><\/p>\n Pa stood by the fireplace. Alone.<\/span><\/p>\n At first, Joe was tempted to take that as a good sign. <\/span>Maybe\u2026<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n But the look on Pa\u2019s face told Joe that their problems were far from over. In fact, they might just be truly beginning\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The end<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Family,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: Joe\u2019s antics and quick temper get the better of him in this fun little story based on an exchange in \u201cLove Me Not.\u201d Featuring a mischievous Joe, a tired Hoss, and a crafty Adam. A WHIB for Love Me Not.
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