Summary: When a dispute over a cattle drive and promises made causes a rift between Hoss and his wife, Hoss gets a bit of wise counsel from his niece.<\/p>\n
Rating: G, Word Count: 1600<\/p>\n
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A Lesson in Love<\/strong><\/p>\n Hoss and Jenny had been married for a few months and had decided to go on a trip to San Francisco to get away from the ranch work and spend time together. He had been busy with the ranch, and she had been busy with the dress shop.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t wait to go on vacation. I know I need it. We\u2019ve had so many women needing new dresses,\u201d Jenny said as they finished dinner.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be nice to get away. Especially from Little Joe. He\u2019s been making me a part of his pranks,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n Jenny chuckled. She knew all too well Joe\u2019s antics. He had even roped her into a few pranks. There were a few times Joe almost went too far, and she stopped him before anyone was harmed.<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t Ben say something about a cattle drive coming up?\u201d Jenny asked as she watched Ben settle by the fire with his traditional after-dinner pipe.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, he did. It\u2019ll be around the time we leave. He said that I didn\u2019t need to worry about it and that he\u2019ll go on it,\u201d Hoss reassured.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good.\u201d<\/p>\n Jenny gathered the dishes and took them to the kitchen. Hoss followed suit as they did the dishes.<\/p>\n Hoss worked alongside his brothers and father a few days later. They were working on the posts for new fences. Ben had been walking to get his canteen when his foot went into one of the holes he had forgotten about and fell. He heard the sickening crack and cried out in pain. The brothers ran to their father worriedly. Adam knelt by Ben and felt his leg. \u201cIt\u2019s broken.\u201d They made splints to keep the injury from getting worse. Joe and Adam carefully put him in the wagon and took him to the house. Hoss rode to get Doctor Martin.<\/p>\n A while later, the doctor put a proper splint on Ben\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Ben, but you\u2019ve got to stay off that leg for six weeks,\u201d Dr. Martin said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019ve got to help with the cattle drive,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry but you won\u2019t be able to.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sighed then turned to Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Hoss but you\u2019re going to have to go in my place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJenny isn\u2019t going to be happy about this,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI know she won\u2019t and I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded then headed downstairs to talk to his wife.<\/p>\n Mary was the first to shoot off the settee as she saw Hoss coming down.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s Grandpa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s fine. He broke his leg.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad he\u2019s all right.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss smiled and turned to Jenny. \u201cJenny, I\u2019m going to have to take Pa\u2019s place in the cattle drive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about our trip?\u201d Jenny asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to do it when I get back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can get someone else to go on the drive,\u201d Jenny pushed.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I can\u2019t. We can\u2019t get anyone this late. You\u2019re going to have to stay here too. Someone has to take care of Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, I can\u2019t believe you\u2019d do this to us! You said we\u2019d go no matter what.\u201d Jenny said, raising her voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Jenny, but I have to help with this. It\u2019s important,\u201d Hoss argued.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, our trip was important! Am I not important to you? We\u2019ve hardly seen each other because you\u2019re always here and I\u2019m always working. This time was for us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know it was important. But these cattle are going to a very important man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to stay here. I want to go to San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we will when I get back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll be gone for weeks! It\u2019ll be too late for us to go then,\u201d Jenny yelled.<\/p>\n Before Hoss could reply back, Jenny turned and stormed out of the house slamming the door. Hoss looked in surprise at the door. Mary had been watching the exchange quietly. She hated the yelling and didn\u2019t know what to think of her aunt and uncle yelling at each other. She watched as Hoss went upstairs then came down with a bedroll and then gathered food and left.<\/p>\n Adam walked downstairs a few minutes later.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was all the yelling about? Where did Hoss and Jenny go?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Hoss and Aunt Jenny got into an argument because Uncle Hoss is going on the cattle drive and not on the trip with Aunt Jenny. They both stormed out. Uncle Hoss has a bedroll with him,\u201d Mary reported.<\/p>\n Adam sighed. \u201cWe can\u2019t find anyone else this late.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what Uncle Hoss told Aunt Jenny. I\u2019m going to go talk to Uncle Hoss,\u201d Mary said.<\/p>\n \u201cMary, this isn\u2019t for you to get into. This is for Hoss and Jenny to work out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa, do you think they\u2019ll work it out? They just went two separate directions,\u201d Mary pointed out.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right. I\u2019ll go find Jenny and talk to her. Maybe I can explain the cattle drive to her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll find, Uncle Hoss. I have an idea where he\u2019s at.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou too.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary got on her horse and followed the tracks Hoss left. She noticed that he set Chubb off to a run. He had a head start and it was getting dark. Mary hoped she could find him.<\/p>\n Hoss had gone to his favorite spot. He set up camp and started a fire. He settled down and watched the fire snap and crackle. His mind went to the argument. He sighed. It was a stupid argument, and he should have been more aware of Jenny\u2019s needs. A twig snapped and he sat up. He grabbed his gun.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s there?\u201d he called out.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Hoss, it\u2019s me. It\u2019s Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n She came out of the shadows.<\/p>\n \u201cMary, what are you doing here?\u201d Hoss asked, standing up and putting away his gun.<\/p>\n She walked up to the campfire and sat by him.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d you find me?\u201d Hoss asked, settling back down.<\/p>\n Mary gave him a look. \u201cYou\u2019ve shown me this place many times and told me you like to come here to think. It was obvious where you\u2019d be.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss chuckled. \u201cYeah, I guess I forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you want to talk about what happened?\u201d Mary asked.<\/p>\n Hoss sighed. \u201cYou heard the argument.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I did and I thought you might need someone to talk to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSince your Grandpa\u2019s hurt, I have to take his place at the last minute with the cattle drive. Jenny got mad \u2018cause she doesn\u2019t understand that I have to help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, think about this, Jenny doesn\u2019t know much about cattle drives and what goes into it all. She does know it\u2019ll take a long time for the drive. She\u2019ll have to stay at the Ponderosa to help take care of Grandpa but for her safety too. I\u2019m sure she doesn\u2019t want to for fear of being in the way. My pa told me that my ma felt that way when you all were gone,\u201d Mary explained.<\/p>\n Hoss listened and nodded. \u201cYou\u2019re right. I\u2019ll have to explain it to her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa went to go talk to her. I came to talk to you. But it\u2019s a bit too late to head home tonight,\u201d Mary pointed out.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right. Did you bring your bedroll?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, I did. It\u2019s on my horse.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary started to get up, but Hoss got up.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t need to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss got Mary\u2019s things and came back to the camp. He set it out for her.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome, sweetie,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Hoss, are you mad at me and Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor getting into your business with Aunt Jenny.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss smiled. \u201cNo, I\u2019m glad you both did. You put sense in my head about it. Your pa can explain the cattle drive to Jenny better than I can.\u201d<\/p>\n It was Mary\u2019s turn to smile. Hoss waved Mary next to him and he put an arm around his niece. She leaned against him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad I have you to help set me straight, Mary. I know the argument was stupid. I couldn\u2019t help but lose my temper. Guess, I\u2019m kinda sad too that Jenny and I have to postpone our trip.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand. Let\u2019s get some sleep and we\u2019ll head back home in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss let go of Mary and they got into the blankets. Mary fell asleep but Hoss stayed awake a while longer. He stared into the dying fire until he finally felt sleepy.<\/p>\n The morning found Hoss and Mary going to the Ponderosa. Jenny was on the porch waiting for them. When they got off their horses, Mary took care of them as Hoss went to Jenny.<\/p>\n \u201cJenny, I\u2019m sorry for getting angry last night. Mary explained a few things to me,\u201d Hoss apologized.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s I who should apologize, Hoss. I know that this is important, and you need to go. Adam explained the cattle drive to me. I\u2019ll stay here and take care of your father along with Mary and Jimmy. Will you forgive me for being angry?\u201d Jenny asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to forgive. I love you, Jenny.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss pulled her into a tight hug lifting her off the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you too, Hoss,\u201d Jenny said into his vest.<\/p>\n Hoss, Adam, Joe and other ranch hands set off for the cattle drive the next day. The boys waved to their family as they headed east. Six weeks later, Hoss and Jenny found themselves in San Francisco at a grand hotel. It was Ben\u2019s gift to them as well as an extra week. The couple shared smiles as they planned their activities over the next two weeks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From the Brandsters.\u00a0 The story was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders site.\u00a0 Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.<\/span><\/p>\n
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