FAMILY AGAIN?<\/strong><\/p>\nHoss Cartwright walked up to the bar and ordered a beer, as he waited for the beer to come he scanned the bar. He was in a small town on the outskirts of Texas. He was on his way home from escorting a Mexican family back to their home. He has been on the trail for days, when he came across this town so he stopped and got a room at the hotel. He thought he owed it to himself.<\/p>\n
He noticed a poker game going on and watched it for minute as he did a man with brown wavy hair and a green jacket joined the poker game. He had his back to Hoss, but Hoss knew that was his brother. That was Joe, he knew it was. But what was he doing here? Hoss\u2019 heart was beating fast and he was sweating. He didn\u2019t move toward his baby brother, just watched him. His hands were shaking as he tried to drink his beer. He wanted to go over to him, but his feet seemed to be glued to the floor. He didn\u2019t know what to do. Should he leave and not let Joe know he saw him, or should he go and grab him. He wanted to do the latter. He frowned; he didn\u2019t know what Joe would want him to do.<\/p>\n
“Uh, Joe.” The man sitting across from Joe said. He could see the big man staring at his friend\u2019s back. He didn\u2019t know who this man was, but he was big and looked like he wanted to go after Joe.<\/p>\n
Joe looked up, “What is it Paul?”<\/p>\n
“I don\u2019t want to alert you or anything, but there is a big man staring at you. He looks like he could break you in half.”<\/p>\n
Joe frowned, “Where?”<\/p>\n
“Well, he\u2019s coming toward you now. He\u2019s behind you.”<\/p>\n
Joe turned around, as he did Hoss was standing directly behind him.<\/p>\n
Joe stood up slowly as he faced his brother for the first time in almost a year.<\/p>\n
“Dagburnit, little Joe.” Hoss said as he grabbed him in a bear hug and squeezed him tight.<\/p>\n
Joe hugged his brother back, “Stop Hoss, I can\u2019t breathe.”<\/p>\n
Hoss released his brother and looked at him. “You look good little brother.”<\/p>\n
Paul looked up, “Little brother?” He questioned.<\/p>\n
Joe shot him a look, “Paul, guys this is my brother Hoss.”<\/p>\n
They all nodded at him.<\/p>\n
Paul looked at Joe and started to ask a questioned but Joe shook his head. Joe looked back at Hoss, “Well let\u2019s go talk Hoss.”<\/p>\n
Hoss nodded and the two of them left. They went to a diner and sat in the corner so they wouldn\u2019t be disturbed.<\/p>\n
“Well Hoss what are you doing here?”<\/p>\n
Hoss frowned, “I could ask you the same questioned Joe.”<\/p>\n
“I live here Hoss, I run the livery stables and break horses. I own my home; it\u2019s about a half-hours ride from here. Now what are you doing here?”<\/p>\n
“I ain\u2019t looking for you Joe, if that what you were thinking. I wanted to, but Pa and Adam told me not to. I was coming back from escorting a family to Mexico. I was on the trail for days and need to rest.”<\/p>\n
Joe nodded, “it\u2019s good to see you Hoss.”<\/p>\n
Hoss nodded, “You too Joe. I\u2019ve really missed you. Life ain\u2019t the same without you. Can\u2019t you come home now?”<\/p>\n
Joe shook his head; “I can\u2019t Hoss you know that. I ain\u2019t welcomed there anymore. Um, how is Pa, and Adam?”<\/p>\n
Hoss frowned, “Okay I guess.”<\/p>\n
Joe nodded and looked down, he missed them a great deal and the betrayal he felt still hurt. He could hear their words in his head now and it hurt just like it did when it happened and that was a year ago. “That\u2019s good Hoss.”<\/p>\n
“Are you still with Renee?”<\/p>\n
Joe\u2019s eyes filled with anger, “Yes Hoss.” He snapped roughly.<\/p>\n
“Hey, Joe easy. I was just askin\u2019.”<\/p>\n
“Sure, you were hoping I wasn\u2019t so you can run back and tell them two that they were right and I was wrong. Well you can tell them that they are wrong, I was right. Tell \u2018em we\u2019re married and we\u2019re happy. You tell them that Hoss and while you\u2019re at it tell your father that he is missing seeing his first grandchild.”<\/p>\n
Hoss stared at him in shock; “You have a child? What is it a boy or a girl?”<\/p>\n
Joe smiled for the first time since Hoss had come across him. “A boy Hoss, he\u2019s only a couple days old but he\u2019s healthy and as cute as can be.”<\/p>\n
“How big is he?”<\/p>\n
“Oh he\u2019s little Hoss, like I was. He\u2019s a tough little cuss though. He eats like a horse. He is wonderful and I am the luckiest person in the world. He\u2019s perfect.”<\/p>\n
Hoss grinned at his baby brother, “I\u2019m happy for ya\u2019 brother. Do you think I can see him?”<\/p>\n
Joe frowned as he thought over his brother\u2019s request. He wasn\u2019t really mad a Hoss, even though Hoss didn\u2019t get his back when he need him to. But it was Hoss after all, he looked at him and nodded, “Sure ya\u2019 can Hoss. We can go right now if ya\u2019 like. I\u2019m sure Renee would love to see you.”<\/p>\n
Hoss stood up, “Then let\u2019s go, I have a nephew I gotta see.”<\/p>\n
Joe nodded and the two brothers left.<\/p>\n
Hoss stared at Joe\u2019s small home; it had a beautiful front lawn with flowers growing in the garden. There was a white picket fence going around the yard. The house itself was small and white in color. There was paint chipping in several places and two windows with boards over them. The porch looked old and like it would fall threw.<\/p>\n
Joe looked at him and noticed the look on his face; “Hey, I know it ain\u2019t much yet, but jus\u2019 wait until I fix it up.”<\/p>\n
Hoss looked at him and blushed, “Ah Joe it\u2019s perfect.”<\/p>\n
Just then a lady with long dark brown hair came out of the house. She smiled as she saw her husband.<\/p>\n
Joe went over to her and too her in his arms and kissed, “Renee, baby, Hoss is here.”<\/p>\n
She looked at him with questions in her eyes, but he only smiled and nodded toward his brother.<\/p>\n
Hoss came up to his sister in law, he took his hat off as he smiled at the woman that broke up his family by no faults of her own. “Hey there Renee, you look good.”<\/p>\n
She reached up and hugged him, then kissed him on the cheek. “It is good to see you Hoss.”<\/p>\n
He smiled and kissed her back, “Now let me go see that young’un.”<\/p>\n
They went in and Joe showed off his son. He was indeed small, but he was feisty little thing. Hoss loved him as soon as he saw him. He looked at the child and could see Joe when he was that age and his heart broke at the thought of Joe being so far away from them.<\/p>\n
Hoss looked at Joe; “Can I hold him?”<\/p>\n
Joe nodded and gave him the baby.<\/p>\n
Hoss stayed for dinner that night and then Joe set him up a place to stay.<\/p>\n
“Joe,” Hoss said as Joe gave him a blanket.<\/p>\n
“Yeah?”<\/p>\n
“Are you happy little brother?”<\/p>\n
Joe frowned and sat down; he took a deep breath and looked at Hoss. “Kind of Hoss, I love my family and couldn\u2019t be happier than I am with them. I have a great job and great friends, but there is something missing. I guess I would be happier if you were in my life Hoss.”<\/p>\n
“Just me Joe?”<\/p>\n
Joe nodded as he stood up, “Yeah, just you Hoss. I couldn\u2019t be happy with them two in my life.”<\/p>\n
“But they\u2019re your brother and your father.”<\/p>\n
Joe looked at him with angry and hurt eyes, “No they\u2019re not Hoss.”<\/p>\n
“Joe, please forgive them.”<\/p>\n
“Have they changed their mind Hoss?”<\/p>\n
Hoss looked down, “Uh no, Joe they haven\u2019t.”<\/p>\n
“I ain\u2019t welcomed in his house any more Hoss. He told me that. Do you remember that night?”<\/p>\n
Hoss frowned; he remembered it all to well. It was the night that changed his life forever. “I remember Joe, but it\u2019s been a year and dagburnit Short shanks, I jus\u2019 miss ya.”<\/p>\n
Joe looked at Hoss as tears came to his eyes, “I missed you too, you big lug.”<\/p>\n
Hoss reached over and hugged his brother.<\/p>\n
The brothers held each other for a long minute. Then Joe pulled away; he looked at his brother. ” How long can you stay?”<\/p>\n
“A couple days.”<\/p>\n
“You sure?”<\/p>\n
Hoss nodded, “I\u2019m sure.”<\/p>\n
Joe grinned; it felt great to have family around again. “Well I\u2019ll let you sleep.”<\/p>\n
Hoss nodded, “I am awful tired little brother.”<\/p>\n
Joe walked away; he turned and looked at his brother. “Bring your appetite to breakfast, my wife loves to cook a big breakfast.”<\/p>\n
Hoss grinned, “I think I can do that with no problem.”<\/p>\n
Joe nodded, “Good night brother.”<\/p>\n
“Night Joe.”<\/p>\n
After Joe left, Hoss stretched out; he had wanted to come up with a way to get his family back together. It wasn\u2019t the same at home with out Joe.<\/p>\n
Joe sat out on his porch after he left his brother. It sure did feel good to see Hoss again; he didn\u2019t realize just how much he missed him until he saw him. Hoss was so much more then a brother, he was Joe\u2019s best friend. Joe felt like such a big chuck out of his life was missing. If Joe wanted to be completely honest he would admit that he missed Adam and his father as well. But he quickly shook his head to get rid of the sad memories of his father and brother. He knew he should forgive them, but he was still so mad and hurt. Why did they do what they did? How could they turn their back to him?<\/p>\n
“Joe,” Renee said quietly as she came out on the porch.<\/p>\n
He looked at her and smiled, “The baby asleep?”<\/p>\n
She nodded, “Yeah, he just went down.”<\/p>\n
He nodded and turned away from her.<\/p>\n
“Joe, honey are you okay?”<\/p>\n
Joe looked at her and pulled her down on his lap. “I\u2019m okay sweetie, jus\u2019 thinkin\u2019 is all.”<\/p>\n
“You miss your father and Adam don\u2019t ya\u2019?”<\/p>\n
Joe stiffened, but didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n
“It\u2019s okay to miss them Joe, they\u2019re family.”<\/p>\n
“Not anymore.”<\/p>\n
“Maybe they\u2019ve changed their minds.”<\/p>\n
Joe shook his head, “No, Hoss says they haven\u2019t.”<\/p>\n
“Joe, I\u2019m so sorry about it.”<\/p>\n
“Renee, stop it. It\u2019s not your fault.”<\/p>\n
She stood up and then kissed him. “I love you Joe Cartwright.”<\/p>\n
He smiled, “I love you too, Renee Cartwright.”<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ll leave you to your thoughts.”<\/p>\n
Joe nodded.<\/p>\n
Renee went inside.<\/p>\n
Joe looked at the moon as he went back to his thoughts. He remembered, shortly after he met Renee and he went home in a real good mood.<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n
His father was sitting at his desk doing some paper work when Joe came in. “Hey Pa,” he called as he took his gun belt off.<\/em><\/p>\nBen Cartwright looked up and smiled at his youngest son. “Hello son, you seem to be in a good mood.”<\/em><\/p>\n“I am Pa.” Joe stated as he went over to his father. “I met a girl and she\u2019s wonderful Pa.”<\/em><\/p>\nBen smiled; his son fell in and out of love a lot. At nineteen Joe had broken more hearts then most men do in a lifetime.<\/em><\/p>\n“Oh and who\u2019s the lucky lady?”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe plopped down, “Her name is Renee Anderson Pa. She just moved here a month ago. She has long dark hair and dark blue eyes and the most beautiful face you have ever seen. When she talked it was like music. Ah Pa, she\u2019s the best girl I\u2019ve ever met.” Joe sang happily. He was so absorbed in what he was saying that he didn\u2019t notice his father\u2019s face cloud over when he mentioned her name.<\/em><\/p>\n“That sounds nice Joe.” Ben said without emotion.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe looked at his father, “What\u2019s wrong Pa?”<\/em><\/p>\nBen looked at him, “Anderson? Is that what you said her name was?”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe nodded, “Yeah, why?”<\/em><\/p>\n“I useto know an Anderson. I was just wondering if it\u2019s the same.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe shrugged, “Don\u2019t know. It might. She did say her family was from the area.”<\/em><\/p>\nBen frowned as he turned back to his paper work. “Go finish your chores Joe. I have to finish this paper work.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe stood up and frowned. “Pa what\u2019s wrong?”<\/em><\/p>\n“Nothing Joe, now do as I say.”<\/em><\/p>\n“But Pa\u2026” Joe started.<\/em><\/p>\n“Would you please just do as I say young man.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Pa listen to me\u2026.”<\/em><\/p>\nBen looked at him, “Joseph,” he snapped roughly. “Go out and do your chores and leave me to mine! I do not have time to listen to you babble about another girl.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe stared at his father in disbelief. He didn\u2019t deserve this outburst. Besides he had already finished his chores before he came in. He was in such a good mood over meeting Renee that he did his chores without really thinking about it.<\/em><\/p>\n“What are you waiting for boy? Get!” Ben yelled at his confused youngest son.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe shook his head and stormed out.<\/em><\/p>\nBen shook his head after Joe left. He didn\u2019t want Joe anywhere nears an Anderson, they were a bad bunch of people that couldn\u2019t be trusted. No, Ben thought Joe will not get involved with the likes of an Anderson. He would talk to Adam about the best way to approach the subject with Joe. He just knew that Joe could not be aloud to date this girl. No matter what he had to do Ben would stop the relationship before it got carried away. Adam had dated an Anderson years ago. She was no good and broke his heart. She had family that gambled and took high risks. The Anderson family almost killed Ben\u2019s family and there is no way Ben can forgive and let Joe\u2019s relationship go on. He knew all of the Andersons were a bad bunch of people and he was sure that would include Joe\u2019s new girl friend. Ben frowned, he didn\u2019t like to put his nose into his sons personal business, but this time he would have to. Joe just can\u2019t be aloud to get involved with her. Ben would use all of his parental rights to stop him.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe went out to the barn; he went over to Cochise and started to rub her down. He didn\u2019t understand his father\u2019s outburst at all. He was in such a good mood over meeting Renee. He was sure his father would have been happy for him. He shook his head as he remembered how his father yelled at him. It just doesn\u2019t make any sense. Joe signed and his thoughts went to Renee again. She was so perfect; her hair was so silky and pretty. Joe wanted to run his hands threw it. He could stare into her eyes all day if possible.<\/em><\/p>\n“Hey Joe, ” Adam came in and said.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe looked at him, “Hey Adam.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Are you okay?”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe nodded, “Yeah, I was just thinking is all.”<\/em><\/p>\n“What about?”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe grinned, “I met a new girl Adam.”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam grinned back at him, “And who is it today little brother?”<\/em><\/p>\n“Her name is Renee, Renee Anderson.”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam frowned at the mention of the last name.<\/em><\/p>\n“What Adam? Now you look like Pa. What is wrong with you and him?”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam frowned, “Sorry little Joe. I dated an Anderson once. She really hurt me. I know it ain\u2019t the same Anderson, but the name just struck a nerve.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe frowned, “Oh I\u2019m sorry Adam.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Don\u2019t be Joe.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe grinned, “I can\u2019t wait for you to meet her Adam. She is so great.”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam nodded, “Well come on little brother let\u2019s go in.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe frowned, “Pa is in a bad mood. He yelled at me for no reason.”<\/em><\/p>\n“I\u2019m sure he\u2019s over it now. Come on now.”<\/em><\/p>\nThe two brothers walked in together.<\/em><\/p>\nBen looked up as they came in, “Hi Adam, little Joe.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Hi Pa,” Adam said.<\/em><\/p>\n“Pa, ” Joe said.<\/em><\/p>\nBen frowned; he could see the hurt in his youngest son\u2019s eyes. “Joe, I\u2019m sorry about snapping at you. I was just real tied up in this paper work. I shouldn\u2019t have snapped at you.”<\/em><\/p>\n“That\u2019s okay Pa, I didn\u2019t take no offence to it.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Okay, Hoss should be here soon. We\u2019ll have dinner then.”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam nodded as Joe went to the kitchen to help Hop Sing.<\/em><\/p>\nBen walked over to Adam, “Did Joe tell you about his new girl?”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam nodded.<\/em><\/p>\n“Do you think it\u2019s the same Andersons?”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam frowned, “I don\u2019t know Pa. I don\u2019t remember a Renee. But she could be related to them. If she is it won\u2019t be good for Joe.”<\/em><\/p>\nBen nodded, “I know. I can\u2019t allow him to date one. The Andersons are bad bad people and she\u2019ll hurt Joe I know it.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Well Pa now you know you can\u2019t tell Joe who can date. He\u2019s not boy any more.”<\/em><\/p>\nBen shook his head; “I will stop this Adam.”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam frowned and turned away from his father as he looked toward the kitchen to insure Joe was not coming out. He looked at his father again. “Pa think about it okay? He\u2019s nineteen and stubborn. If you tried to force your opinion on him you could push him away. He\u2019d choice her just to prove you wrong.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Do you really think he would out right disobey me?”<\/em><\/p>\n“I think if you try to forbid him from seeing her, he might.”<\/em><\/p>\nBen signed, “Maybe I should see if she is one of the Andersons we knew. She may not be.”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam nodded, “That\u2019s true. Let\u2019s just wait and see what happens okay?”<\/em><\/p>\nBen nodded.<\/em><\/p>\nHoss walked in the front door as Joe came out of the kitchen with some food and announced that it was time to eat.<\/em><\/p>\nThe four Cartwrights sat down and ate supper. The conversation was kept light, Ben and Adam wanting to avoid talking about Joe\u2019s new girlfriend. Hoss didn\u2019t know anything about it, and he didn\u2019t notice the slight tension that was in the room. “So Joe, what did you do today?”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe smiled at his brother, “Ah Hoss while I was in town today I met the most beautiful girl you have ever seen. I asked her to the dance and she said yes. Her name is Renee and Hoss she is just amazing.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Well little brother I\u2019m real happy for ya\u2019.” Hoss said.<\/em><\/p>\n“You didn\u2019t tell me that you invited her to the dance,” Ben said.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe looked at him, “I guess I forgot Pa. It ain\u2019t no big deal though.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Joe, you have to ask permission to go to a dance.” Ben tried.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe just grinned at his father. “Oh, but Pa you already told me I could go.”<\/em><\/p>\nHoss nodded, “He got ya\u2019 there Pa, you told us all we could go.”<\/em><\/p>\nBen nodded, “I guess I did huh?”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe bobbed his head up and down. “Then y\u2019all will be able to meet her. You guys are jus\u2019 gonna love her she is so perfect.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Will her family be there?” Adam asked.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe shrugged, “I suppose so, but I ain\u2019t real sure.”<\/em><\/p>\n“I am looking forward to meeting her,” Ben said.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe grinned and went back to eating.<\/em><\/p>\nThe next several days passed quite quietly for the four Cartwrights. Saturday finally came and the boys all dressed for their dates.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe left first; he arrived at Renee\u2019s in a half-hour.<\/em><\/p>\nRenee came out to greet him as soon as she saw him.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe stopped in his tracks as he looked at her. She was a beautiful sight to behold. She had her hair down with it softly hanging around her face. She wore pretty blue color dress that seemed to fit her just completely right.<\/em><\/p>\nShe looked at him with her dark blue eyes; “Do I look alright?”<\/em><\/p>\n“Oh, my dear you are just about the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.”<\/em><\/p>\nShe smiled, “Oh Mr. Cartwright, you flatter me.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe grinned as he took her hand and kissed it.<\/em><\/p>\nRenee introduced Joe to her family. She had a sister and three brothers, and then he met her father and her uncle.<\/em><\/p>\nSandra, Renee\u2019s sister looked at Joe, “Are you related to an Adam Cartwright?”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe nodded, “Yeah, he\u2019s my brother.”<\/em><\/p>\nShe raised her eyebrows when he said that; “You must be little Joe?”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe nodded, “Yes ma\u2019am. Did you know Adam?”<\/em><\/p>\nSandra nodded, “Yes I knew your brother.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe nodded, “We really must be going.”<\/em><\/p>\n“We\u2019ll be there shortly.” Her father called. “And Mr. Cartwright, I hope you will behave yourself.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Oh yes sir I will.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Will your family be there?”<\/em><\/p>\n“Yes sir, they will.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Good, I look forward to talking to them.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe nodded and took Renee\u2019s hand and they left.<\/em><\/p>\n“I am nervous about our families meeting.” Renee admitted.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe signed in relief, “So am I. I don\u2019t know why either.”<\/em><\/p>\nRenee looked at Joe she was really attracted to him; she wouldn\u2019t let their families come in between them. This was the man she was meant to be with. “Joe, let\u2019s not worry about it. We\u2019ll have a good time anyway.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe nodded, “Yeah we will.”<\/em><\/p>\nThey soon arrived at the dance; Joe saw his family as soon as they walked in. Joe took Renee over to the punch and got two drinks. He handed one to Renee. Hoss came over and Joe introduced the two of them.<\/em><\/p>\nAfter that the young couple spent most of the dance on the dance floor. Renee loved being in his arms, but she could feel the eyes of the other young ladies at the dance.<\/em><\/p>\n“Why are they looking at me like that?” She asked Joe.<\/em><\/p>\n“They\u2019re in shock.” He told her simply, “They\u2019ve never seen such a beautiful creature before.”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam looked at his father as he watched his young brother and Renee. “She looks like Sandra,” he said quietly.<\/em><\/p>\nBen nodded, “She does doesn\u2019t she?”<\/em><\/p>\nAdam signed; he looked at the door as Renee\u2019s family walked in. He paled suddenly.<\/em><\/p>\nBen followed his son\u2019s gaze and frowned, “Ah damn.”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe didn\u2019t notice the dirty looks that were going between his family and Renee\u2019s family. They were just to absorb in each other to notice anything at all.<\/em><\/p>\nMr. Anderson came over to Ben and Adam, “Mr. Cartwright.” He said coldly.<\/em><\/p>\nBen nodded, “When did you get back?”<\/em><\/p>\n“A month ago. I see my baby girl and your baby son are really hitting it off.”<\/em><\/p>\nBen frowned, “Don\u2019t you worry, I plan to put an end to it as soon as I can.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Do what you must, but I think they\u2019re happy.”<\/em><\/p>\n“I don\u2019t want my son involved with an Anderson.” Ben snapped roughly.<\/em><\/p>\n“That is your choice, but I think you should just let it go. They make a good-looking couple. What was in the past is over with.”<\/em><\/p>\nBen shook his head and walked away from him, Adam followed him.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe took Renee home after the dance then headed home himself. He stopped at the lake half-way home and just sat by the lake and stared at the still water. He couldn\u2019t get Renee out of his mind. He knew without a doubt that she was the woman for him. He would spend the rest of his life with her. He already loved her and hated to be away from her. He could see her having his children, he knew that their life together would be perfect and so happy.<\/em><\/p>\nHe laid back so he could look at the stars and soon spotted the star he considered being his mother. Joe\u2019s mother died when he was only five years old. His father told him that his Mom was up in the sky looking out for him and had pointed at the very star Joe was now looking at and told the young boy that that was his Mama. So whenever Joe felt like he needed to talk to his mother all he had to do was find that star and talk to her. He did that now, he told her all about Renee and hoped she would approve of his new love.<\/em><\/p>\nJoe sat up several hours later; he frowned as he realized that he must have fallen asleep. He stood up and stretched, he hopped up on the wagon and headed home.<\/em><\/p>\nAfter he put the horse up and unhitched the wagon, he went in. He was surprised to see his father sitting by the fire with a glass of brandy in his hand. Joe frowned, he could tell that his father has had too much to drink. He wondered why sense his father didn\u2019t drink unless something was bothering him.<\/em><\/p>\n“Where have you been Joseph?” Ben demanded. “Do you realize it is almost four in the morning? May I inquire what type of company you must be keeping to have such late hours?”<\/em><\/p>\nJoe stared at his father, “Pa if you must know, I feel asleep at the lake.”<\/em><\/p>\n