{"id":48199,"date":"2023-12-15T20:15:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-16T01:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48199"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:37:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:37:34","slug":"boys-will-be-boys-by-michele-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48199","title":{"rendered":"Boys Will Be Boys (by Michele B)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: Seventeen year old Hoss gets entrusted to collect the payroll from the bank and get home. Simple as that, or is it? Part of the Bonanza Trailriders Legacy.<\/p>\n

Rating: G, Word Count: 11,298<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Boys will be Boys<\/b><\/p>\n

By<\/span><\/p>\n

Michele Bennett<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 1<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cAww, c\u2019mon, Adam. Let me go. I kin do it,\u201d Hoss implored between bites of his breakfast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Hoss. Pa left me in charge. And if anything happens, I\u2019ll catch it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

“I kin do it. It ain\u2019t that hard. I only hafta ride to town, pick up the money for payroll from the bank, and ride right back. See? I know what\u2019s gotta be done. I kin do it. Let me help ya. Yore all busy here with building the new stable and all\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam considered his brother\u2019s words. He knew Hoss meant well, and sincerely wanted to help. But he was only 16 years old, after all, and that payroll money was extremely important.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll think on it a little while more, brother. That payroll has to be made. Men count on us to get it to them. What if something happens? What if you\u2019re robbed? Or worse? Or what if a storm comes up?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny of that stuff could happen if\u2019n you go, too! I kin do it, I know I kin. I wouldn\u2019t\u2019a asked to do it if\u2019n I didn\u2019t think I could handle it, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe, who\u2019d been listening intently to one brother, then the other, chimed in. \u2018Hey, Adam! I\u2019ll go with him! I\u2019ll keep an eye on him!\u201d It seemed like a good idea to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Both Adam and Hoss turned slowly to eye the small boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, might I remind you that you are only eleven. How could you possibly help Hoss if something were to happen? Hmm?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, if he fell off his horse, I could ride for help.\u201d Little Joe rubbed his chin. \u201cHmm, and if robbers came after him, I could run away and get the money here safe!\u201d he announced, triumphantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d leave me to the robbers?!?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo get the money here safe, I might have to, Hoss,\u201d he answered, with all sincerity in his voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, thanks fer all yer help! But no thanks!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? Don\u2019t you care about the payroll money?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you care about ME?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam stepped in then, since the conversation seemed to be heading off track.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, you two. None of that is going to happen, because Hoss is not going, and you\u2019re not going with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWHY!?\u201d echoed both younger brothers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Pa left me in charge, and I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a very good idea for either one of you to go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe was the first to let his displeasure be heard, \u201cI don\u2019t never get to do anything to help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam decided the better part of discretion was to let that comment go without a response.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three brothers sat and finished their meal in silence. Each was thinking about the exchange they had had.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, just before everyone was ready to depart, Hoss tried again. \u201cAdam. I mean it. I wanna help. No one knows we gotta git more money from the bank for payroll. Most of the time, the money\u2019s here, in the safe. Nobody knows Pa hadda take most of it with him, and we gotta pull more out. I won\u2019t even be noticed ifn\u2019 I jest ride inta town and mosey inta the bank. C\u2019mon, Adam. You know you ain\u2019t got time to do it today. Let me help, ya, please?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam contemplated all that Hoss had said. It was all true. Most of the time, the money for payroll WAS in the safe. Pa HAD taken a large chunk of it with him to pay for the new bull he was purchasing \u2013 as Se\u00f1or Delgado did not trust American banks. Hoss might be all right riding back with money in his saddlebags and no one notice. But all it would take would be one stranger to notice the boy going into a bank and coming back out with a bank bag and guess it was a large chunk of money. They could follow him and rob him anywhere along the trail. It was too much risk.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, it was also true that Adam was tied up with the new horses they had just driven down from the cliffs. They were pastured out near the creek, so as to calm them, but Adam intended to add onto their stable; and if he had to take his time to go to town, it would put his building plans behind schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s argument was just plain silly and would not be entertained any further.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam turned to Little Joe first. \u201cLittle Joe, I will need you to start cutting wood while I lay out the stable. I\u2019ve already cut and stacked quite a bit, but now I think it\u2019s not enough, and I can\u2019t handle both cutting and building alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAww, Adam do I gotta do that?? Why can\u2019t I ride to town for the money. NOBODY would steal it from a little kid!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s preposterous, and you know it. You\u2019re not going to town, and I really am not going to argue with you about that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen Hoss can\u2019t go, either!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss chimed in, \u201cHEY! That\u2019s not fair! He ain\u2019t the boss. You ain\u2019t the boss, Little Joe!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo what! If I can\u2019t go, you can\u2019t go, so there.\u201d He was feeling triumphant in his declaration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then Adam spoke. \u201cActually, I think Hoss will have to go\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWHAT!!\u201d Again simultaneously, both younger brothers declared.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYep. I need to get that stable built, so Hoss, I need you to go to town and get the payroll money and be quick about it. I\u2019m nervous enough as it is, to send you and not go myself. And. I don\u2019t know. I have a really bad feeling about a big storm blowing in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBetween now and this afternoon? Naw. I ain\u2019t feeling like that, Adam. I think it will be all right.\u201d Hoss said, even though secretly he agreed with his brother\u2019s assessment that a storm could be brewing. But so intent was he to prove to his big brother that he could be a huge help while Pa was away, he shook off his own intuition.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow I gotta chop wood and cut it for a stable. Great! Fine \u2018helper\u2019 I get to be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam addressed his youngest brother, \u201cLittle Joe, if you\u2019d rather stay inside and catch up on what I suspect is weeks\u2019 worth of homework you\u2019re behind in, I think that would be fine, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat ain\u2019t no kind of choice, Adam! I wanna go with Hoss to town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not staying in town, there is no \u2018fun\u2019 to be had in his trip. He\u2019s going straight to the bank, and then straight back here, right Hoss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss nodded vigorously. \u201cYeah! I ain\u2019t gonna have no fun, Little Joe. Jest pick up the money and high-tail it back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat still sounds like more fun than chopping and nailing wood,\u201d came the whispered response from the table\u2019s smallest occupant.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 2<\/b><\/p>\n

With Adam\u2019s last instructions fresh in his mind, Hoss set out for town. As he rode, he kept eyeing the sky. Maybe he\u2019d been hasty rebuffing Adam\u2019s remonstrations about a storm. It was feeling like one was brewing\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018No matter,\u201d he thought. \u2018I\u2019ll git to town, git in, git out, and be more\u2019n halfway home before it gits real bad. I wanna make sure Adam knows I kin be trusted to do what he, or Pa, asks me ta do.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

He rode somewhat quickly, though not too quickly as to tire his horse. He did have to ride back just as quickly, or maybe more, if the brewing storm came in before he returned home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once he arrived at the bank, Hoss thought a little more about this assignment. He hadn\u2019t thought about what if the bank manager didn\u2019t believe he should give Hoss such a large amount of money? \u2018Maybe I should\u2019a got a letter from Adam for the bank. What if they don\u2019t give me the money?\u2019 he mused to himself as he walked into the building.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time he entered the building, Hoss had himself worked up into a real fret. There were several people in line in front of him. He watched and waited anxiously for his turn. He smiled at a few people he recognized from town. Mostly, he tried to act nonchalant, in case there was a bank robber lurking nearby \u2013 so frightened was he that Little Joe\u2019s proclamation would come true!<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, it was his turn at the window.<\/span><\/p>\n

He smiled as he greeted the teller. \u201cHowdy, Seth. You doing okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFine, Hoss. How\u2019s the family?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood, we\u2019re all good, thanks. Say, Seth, Adam sent me ta pick up a couple hundred dollars ta meet payroll. Can you help me out?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Seth looked shocked. \u201cWow. That\u2019s a lot of money, Hoss. Your Pa know about this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, see, Pa\u2019s out of town, and me\u2019n Adam\u2019s gotta make payroll day after tomorra, and we ain\u2019t got the money to do it, so he sent me inta town to git it!\u201d Hoss announced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seth frowned. This was unusual. \u201cIt isn\u2019t usually done this way, Hoss. I don\u2019t know about this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know, Seth. But the thing is, Pa\u2019s gone, and Adam was too busy to come himself, so I come. I mean, I guess I should\u2019a brung a letter or something about this, but we was hurrying and all, since a storm\u2019s brewing and I ain\u2019t sure how much time I got, and\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Seth put up a finger, and then turned and went into a small office behind the teller\u2019s stands. After quite a few seconds, he emerged with the bank president, Mr. Hollingsworth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hollingsworth addressed Hoss. \u201cWell, young man, what can we do for you today?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, ya see, sir. I come to town to withdraw money from my Pa\u2019s account so\u2019s we kin pay our hands. Pa\u2019s out of town, and Adam\u2019s tied up and he sent me ta git it. I guess I should\u2019a got him to write it all down, but we was in such a gol-darned hurry, I reckon I forgot about somethin\u2019 like that!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Hollingsworth smiled at the large boy. \u201cNo worries, son. As long as you sign for the money, so\u2019s your Pa is aware of the withdrawal, I\u2019m sure we can accommodate it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh? How kin he be aware of it if\u2019n he ain\u2019t even here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Hollingsworth smiled patiently again. \u201cWhen he comes in, I\u2019ll show him the paper, and he\u2019ll become aware of the withdrawal at that time. We wouldn\u2019t want him to be taken unawares about it, would we?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh, no sir, we wouldn\u2019t. But me\u2019n ole Adam would fer shore tell him soon\u2019s he gits home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you will, son. But this just protects me. And the bank, of course. And your father\u2019s account.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss nodded, and thought to himself, \u2018No wonder Adam wanted to take care of this himself. This stuff shore is complicated!\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Hollingsworth gestured for Hoss to follow him into his office, so Hoss stepped beside the gate and went into the small office. He looked around, since he\u2019d never been in this office before. He thought to himself, \u2018I\u2019d shore hate to work here. There ain\u2019t no winders, and no way ta see the outside\u2026no, sir. This place wouldn\u2019t be any fun ta work in\u2026\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Then he heard the bank president calling to him, \u201cHow much did you say you needed to withdraw, son?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh? Oh, I think Adam said a couple of hundred, uh, two hundred, should be enough.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVery well, then. Here is the withdrawal paper. See? Here is the amount. And here is where you will sign for it, please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss looked it over, as though he was very interested in every word! \u201cUh, huh. It looks fine, sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man pointed again, \u201cHere is where you sign.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss took the quill-tipped pen and wrote his name, as clearly and neatly as he could. While he did that, the man went into the safe and came back with a stack of bills in his hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Hoss.\u201d He handed Hoss the money.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Mr. Hollingsworth.\u201d Hoss took it in his hands and started to walk out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Hollingsworth stopped him. \u201cUh, Hoss. Wouldn\u2019t you like to count it, to make certain the amount is correct?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh? I gotta do that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, no. You don\u2019t\u2019 have to. It\u2019s just that it\u2019s quite a large sum of money, and I might have counted wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut you count money all the time, don\u2019t ya, Mr. Hollingsworth? How\u2019s come you could mess up the count?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThings can happen, son. Take a moment and count it, please. I\u2019ll feel better about things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss shrugged, and counted out the money out loud, making little piles on the banker\u2019s desk as he went. Mr. Hollingsworth wasn\u2019t sure he\u2019d ever seen anyone take such a time to count out their money before, but he was patient, and let the young fellow have his way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, the counting was completed. Hoss spoke directly to Mr. Hollingsworth. \u201cYes, sir. It\u2019s all right, sir. Thank you fer showin\u2019 me the right way to do that. I\u2019ll be gittin\u2019 now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss picked up the piles, and tried to hold them all in one hand as he started for the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mr. Hollingsworth spoke now. \u201cThat\u2019s quite a lot of money. I think it would be best if you took it out of here out of sight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh, do you have a money belt, or a bag to put it in?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh! Uh, no, sir. I don\u2019t. I guess I didn\u2019t think that through, neither. Dad-burn it! I\u2019m jest not very good at this banking stuff, sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t fret, Hoss. Here,\u201d he handed Hoss a non-descript bag. \u201cPut the money in this bag, then transfer it to your saddle bags when you get to your horse. Just bring the bag back to me whenever you come into town again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Mr. Hollingsworth. I shore do appreciate all yer help with all this. It\u2019s a lot more complicated then jest takin\u2019 the money out, ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The man smiled at the large boy again. \u201cYes, son, it is. Be safe now, you hear?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. And gulped. Now he was wondering if this was such a good idea or not. Well, no matter. It was done now, and he needed to finish the job and get the money home safely.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Hoss rode down the street toward the road that would take him home, another figure rode out as well. He had seen the young man bring a bag out of the bank and surmised it held a fair sum of money, and he determined it would be easy pickin\u2019s to follow the young man out of town, overtake him and rob him of his bounty.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss got only a few miles out of town when he first felt it. A rain drop! The weather wasn\u2019t going to hold for long, so he picked up the pace a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

He gazed at the sky, not stopping as he did, as he now knew time was not on his side. He was rewarded for the effort by a few droplets in his eye!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDang nab it! Adam was right agin!\u201d he mumbled to himself. He kicked his horse to hurry him along even faster now.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then Hoss had another strange \u201csensation.\u201d He had been laughed at and teased whenever he said his head itched when ever anyone was following him, but he believed it, and his head was itching now! He kept riding, but turned quickly backwards, almost as if to check on his saddlebags, and that\u2019s when he caught of glimpse of him! Hoss knew then. He WAS being followed! His heart began to race a little. He tried to act normal, all the while trying to formulate a plan as to how to either lose the fellow or evade being overtaken.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the two men rode, the rain began in earnest; coming down in sheets, wind whipping, followed by lightning and then thunder. Hoss talked softly to his horse. The last thing he needed right now was a fidgety horse. He had to slow his pace, as the quickly-falling rain had caused some of the trails to become muddy. Then the washes started running. Hoss knew it wasn\u2019t a good idea to cross a running wash, as it could take a horse\u2019s feet out from under him, and the rider might find himself being swept away in the rushing water; crashing into rocks and tree limbs along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss had been taught by his father and his older brother that if anyone was following you for evil purposes, the best thing you could do was become \u201cinvisible.\u201d At first, Hoss had laughed at that proposal, as anyone could see it would be impossible for someone Hoss\u2019 size to become invisible. But they had persisted and taught him what that meant: hide among the trees, over a ridge, in a cave, or below the sight line. Do whatever you needed to do in order to make yourself appear to have just disappeared to the one following you. With that instruction now coming to his mind, Hoss thought frantically.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Where can I go to get invisible in this downpour?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss had two things going against him: the rain and the washes running harder with each minute. He had to be careful where he led his horse, so as to stay out of the rushing water in the washes. He was zig-zagging, riding up and over, or jumping washes when he could, sometimes changing course to try to get the other fellow to make a fatal mistake without making one himself. He tried to think of something he could do that would give him an edge over his potential robber. Then he remembered! There was an old abandoned mine just past the next ridge, between the rocks. He and his brothers had come here and played when he was younger. Adam had discovered it and had brought Hoss here. He had, in turn, showed it to his little brother. Because of the structure of the entrance, it was almost completely hidden. When one was inside it, it was as if the mine didn\u2019t exist at all. He hoped he could find it in this deluge.<\/span><\/p>\n

He quickened his pace, hoping he wouldn\u2019t cause his horse to stumble, as he searched for just the right cluster of rocks. He had to stop to consider where he was. He certainly did not want to lead the robber directly to where he would be hiding! He thought he saw the rock formation ahead. The entrance to the mine had been carved out so that when one looked at the front of the rock face, you could not see there was anything there! Adam had guessed that the miner who had once inhabited it had carved it out on purpose this way, so others could not find his mine and jump him for it. This design may have worked in one sense but had a downside too. Once inside, one did not have a very good view of anyone who may be walking up to the mine entrance. But Adam had explained that it was very unlikely anyone would guess this to even be a mine, much less to walk up to it unannounced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss decided that was his only option at this point, since the rain wasn\u2019t stopping, and his shadow was still somewhere behind him, probably waiting till they rode into a clearing in which to overtake him. He waited until another flash of lightning illuminated the sky, then in the cover of the extreme darkness that followed, he quickly jumped off his horse. He was able to grab only the rifle in his scabbard, and then swatted his horse on when the inevitable thunderclap sounded. Like most animals the Cartwrights owned, this one was well-trained enough that he would now head for home on his own. Hoss hoped the robber would be quite a ways away from him before he realized the horse he was following had no rider!<\/span><\/p>\n

He quickly scampered over to the entrance to the mine and ducked inside. He ran to the far wall, leaned against it, facing the entrance \u2013 rifle in hand \u2013 and waited to see if the robber had seen his moves. He stood like this for what seemed like hours, and in fact, it may have been, the rain never diminishing.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 3<\/b><\/p>\n

Adam was quickly losing patience with his youngest brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, will you hurry up and trim those logs? I need that lumber!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m working as fast as I can! I\u2019m just a little kid, remember?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI remember that you were the \u2018little kid\u2019 who thought he could take on the big job of going to the bank and bringing back the payroll for our wranglers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would\u2019a liked that job better\u2019n this one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you would. But part of being a team means being willing to do whatever job is assigned to you. I needed you here, NOT on the road to town, with lots of money in your saddlebags.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss would\u2019a been a bigger help to ya here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo doubt, and when he gets here, he will help. And in the meantime, you could be a bigger help if you\u2019d work a little harder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sighed, looked off toward the road to town, and picked up the axe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam tried to keep up a pace Little Joe could handle, but he really wanted to get this job done, and Little Joe wasn\u2019t helping in that regard. Adam tried another tack.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI need you to pick up the pace some, boy. It\u2019s important to get this done so we don\u2019t lose these ponies we just rounded up. If this storm gets here, they\u2019ll spook and we\u2019ll likely lose half of them or more. It\u2019ll take a couple of days to round them back up again. Can you please put a little more effort into this? You\u2019re all I\u2019ve got till Hoss gets back, and I can\u2019t finish this alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou and Hoss could\u2019a got it done a lot faster. He\u2019s way bigger than I am\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook. I\u2019m tired of you using your size to your advantage all the time. It\u2019s not MY fault you were born last, or that Hoss is so much bigger than all of us\u2026we have a job to do and we have to work with the resources we\u2019ve got, so pick it up!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, okay. I got it,\u201d he replied, while still working at a snail\u2019s pace \u2013 AND continuously gazing down toward the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a small while, Joe asked, \u201cAdam? You reckon Hoss is okay? He ain\u2019t coming yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe hasn\u2019t been gone long enough, yet. Don\u2019t worry, I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be fine. Hand me that saw for a minute, will ya?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sighed. Adam was like a dog with a bone when he had something in his mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Within a short amount of time, sunny skies began to make way to clouds. The wind picked up a bit, which both brothers welcomed. Then the clouds moved in to cloud the skies entirely. Adam heard a clap of thunder and they both stopped working and looked at the sky.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh, oh!\u201d Little Joe commented. \u201cThat ain\u2019t looking too good, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know. Let\u2019s keep working for awhile. I got a feeling we\u2019re about to get chased out, so let\u2019s try to get this one section done first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe ought to be getting inside, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe will, but let\u2019s keep working until we can\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat don\u2019t make no sense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKeep working! If we can get this section done, the stable\u2019s more than halfway finished. I\u2019ll feel better about leaving it that way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t feel better if I git hit by lightning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam felt the same way. He also kept an eye on the sky.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, the threat of rain gave way to the real thing, and the downpour started.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam grabbed the tools that would rust in the rain, thrust them inside the barn. Then they made a mad dash for the house. Once they got inside, they shed their wet clothes and dried off near the fire. Both brothers began to wonder what had become of Hoss. Was he out in this storm? Well, of course he was! Otherwise he\u2019d be home with them, warming by the fire, wouldn\u2019t he? Neither would let himself ask the other that obvious question. They just both sat and stared into the fire and fretted with each subsequent thunderclap.<\/span><\/p>\n

Minutes passed. Minutes became hours. They mostly sat, dried off now, but still fretting over Hoss\u2019 late arrival. The silence between was only accentuated by the grandfather clock keeping time near the front door. Neither wanted to glance at it because it would remind them of how many hours they had waited with no sign of Hoss. That rhythmic silence was broken when Hop Sing announced supper was ready.<\/span><\/p>\n

Supper without Hoss, who was definitely overdue now. Adam considered what options he had. He could go look for him. Silly idea, he reasoned, since he had no idea how far toward town or the ranch house Hoss might be. Compounding that thought was the knowledge that the storm raging outside would have covered up any tracks he might have left for them to follow. No, Adam reasoned again, there would be no possibility of finding Hoss until the rains stopped.<\/span><\/p>\n

As they made their way to the table, Joe decided the \u201cspell\u201d had been broken, and he could ask the obvious questions he\u2019d been contemplating.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam? Do ya think Hoss is okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to maintain a semblance of outward calm for the little boy, Adam smiled and answered, \u201cI\u2019m sure he is, little Buddy. Hoss knows how to take care of himself. He\u2019s probably found a cave or another water-tight spot to sit this one out. It\u2019s really coming down. He\u2019d avoid washes and rushing water if he could, so he\u2019ll stay safe, and that would slow his ride to get home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut what if he couldn\u2019t avoid the rushes? What if he drowns? What if he\u2019s already in trouble? Shouldn\u2019t we go look for him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook, there\u2019s nothing we can do now. It\u2019d be impossible to find any tracks to see where he might be in this weather. There\u2019s really nothing we can do until the storm quits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe still looked worried. Even more so every time there was a bright lightning strike and thunderclap.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019s okay, Little Joe. Hoss knows enough to stay safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut what if it\u2019s robbers? What if somebody chased him and robbed him and\u2026and\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow hold on, there\u2019s no reason to think there are robbers anywhere near him, or here. Don\u2019t go inventing more trouble. It\u2019ll only make your mind go crazy. Best to think he\u2019s just holed up until the storm passes. I\u2019m sure that\u2019s it. That\u2019s what I would do, and Hoss knows to do that, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To himself, Adam was thinking, \u2018I hope that\u2019s it. Otherwise, if anything happens to him, it\u2019ll be my fault for relenting and letting him go into town. What was I thinking? He\u2019s just a kid. I shouldn\u2019t have let him talk me into giving him this much responsibility. He\u2019s too young. He wouldn\u2019t know if he was being followed. He isn\u2019t carrying a sidearm. He can\u2019t really defend himself.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

The two brothers barely ate their supper, so worried were they both. Neither wanted to alarm the other with their wayward thoughts, but both were basically thinking the same thoughts about what might have happened to Hoss. Adam wanted to rush right out in the raging storm, against any possibility of actually being able to find Hoss and go look for him. Little Joe just wanted to cry.<\/span><\/p>\n

They sat and listened to the weather. It didn\u2019t seem to want to lighten up at all. Hour after hour it poured. And raged, and came down in sheets. They both became more and more restless as day turned to night. They were absolutely powerless to go look for their brother. Adam tried to read his latest book. Joe tried to read his latest dime novel. Neither could concentrate on the reading material in their hands, but neither did they want to voice their worst fears.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

When the clock struck eight o\u2019clock, Adam stood up and announced, \u2018I\u2019m going to bed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe was incredulous. \u201cWhat!? With Hoss out in this storm, you\u2019re goin to sleep?!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt I\u2019ll sleep, but I need to try. At first light, I intend to go look for him, storm or no storm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This made Little Joe feel better. \u201cYeah! Me too!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen let\u2019s try and get some sleep\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As they turned to go up the stairs, they heard a horse whiney. They both looked quickly at the front door, then at each other. Then they rushed to the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe yelled as they ran, \u201cHoss!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They ran headlong out into the rain to the horse\u2026.the one Hoss had ridden into town.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Hoss\u2019 horse! But where is he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Joe.\u201d Adam walked the horse into the barn and out of the relentless rain.<\/span><\/p>\n

He looked the animal over carefully, looking for clues as to what might have happened to his rider.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs he hurt? Did he stumble? What happened to Hoss, Adam?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told you, I don\u2019t know. The horse looks fine. Doesn\u2019t look like he\u2019s hurt in any way. Hoss might have been thrown.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf he was, wouldn\u2019t there be dirt or mud or something on the horse where he went down, too?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded, \u201cNormally, yeah, I\u2019d think so. But in this storm, it\u2019s possible any clues like that have been washed away as the horse ran through the storm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he got hit in the head with a tree branch? Do ya think that\u2019s what happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no way to know. If there had been blood on the saddle or the horse, it would have been washed away now, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019ll we do now, Adam?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStick with the original plan. We\u2019ll get some rest, then head out at first light.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam unsaddled the horse and set the saddle and blanket on the top rail of the stall. He quickly rubbed the horse down.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Adam turned to leave the barn and head back into the house, Joe went back over the horse, inch by inch, looking for some kind of clue. He untied the saddle bags and noticed something.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, he thought he might have something. \u201cHey, Adam! Look at this!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam turned and walked back to the stall. \u201cWhat did you find?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe rifle is missing from its scabbard. I think Hoss has it with him. He got off deliberately, I think.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe thought it through enough to take the rifle. Good thinking, Joe! I think maybe my first thought was right. Hoss found a place to shelter out of the weather.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam then turned to leave the barn, and Joe followed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once inside the house, Joe set the saddlebags down on the table in front of the sofa. It was too heavy to be empty, so Joe looked into the bags. There he found the bag of money.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he didn\u2019t get robbed. Look. Here\u2019s the payroll money.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam took the bag of money from Little Joe. He pulled the bills out and counted it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all here.\u201d He put the bag down on the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s it mean, Adam? Where\u2019s Hoss? How come his horse came home with the money, but no Hoss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI still have to guess he got thrown, maybe in the rain, horse stumbled, and he was down\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but he\u2019s got his rifle. That sounds like he had time to dismount rather than be thrown.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHmmm, yeah, you\u2019re right.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know for sure what happened. What I do know is, we\u2019re going out looking for him tomorrow morning. Let\u2019s try to get some sleep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam put the bag of money in the safe, and the brothers then climbed the stairs to their respective rooms.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 4<\/b><\/p>\n

In a darkened mine, Hoss suddenly snapped up and leveled the rifle in his hand. He looked around, adjusted his eyes to the dark. A very loud thunder clap had awakened him from sleep. He had to think hard to remember where he was.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then it all came back to him when lightning flashed outside the mine and threw some illumination into it. He had taken refuge in an abandoned mine, had been hiding from a possible robber, had his rifle and was keeping watch on the entrance to the mine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Apparently, he had fallen asleep, and now needed to assess if he was safe. Or if he was even still alone in the mine. He stood very still until the next flash of lightning. He tried to quickly take in the whole area where he had been standing. It appeared he was alone. He waited for the next flash of lightning. And the next. He did this several more times. Each time he looked, he turned in a little different direction, trying to determine that he was truly still all alone in the mine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once he was almost certain he was alone, he pushed off away from the wall and moved around the mine a little. He had no candle or lantern to illuminate the mine shaft permanently, but thought it was probably better not to do so, as he wasn\u2019t sure how long he had slept, or where the would-be robber might be. He was hoping his horse hadn\u2019t been stopped and the saddlebags searched. He also knew that if his horse showed up without him at home, his brothers would know there was a problem, and they would come looking for him. As soon as the rain stopped, that is. Since it was still raining pretty hard outside, Hoss figured he might as well make himself comfortable in his make-shift refuge and try to sleep some more. He really wanted to eat something, but he\u2019d not thought he would be gone this long, so he had not brought anything with him. Besides, he didn\u2019t exactly have time to take anything he might have packed with him when he dismounted!<\/span><\/p>\n

He stretched his legs, his arms, twisted his back to work out the kinks, and then slid to the floor, knees up near his chest, rifle across his knees. He leaned his head back against the hard rock wall behind him. He thought he should probably stay awake. After all, he knew he did snore pretty fiercely, and he didn\u2019t want the would-be robber to hear and be led directly to his hiding place. He obviously hadn\u2019t thought about the amount of noise a very loud thunderstorm was making outside! He fought hard to stay awake, but even with his stomach growling fiercely, he was very stressed out from his ordeal.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, exhaustion won out over hunger, and he was fast asleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unbeknownst to him, the would-be robber had actually given up the search after Hoss dismounted and disappeared into the mine! The man had no idea where the rider had gone, but the weather was miserable enough to make the reward of an easy robbery not so easy anymore. He had tried to listen for the sound of the young man\u2019s horse\u2019s hooves. All he could hear was the thunder He tried to track the horse, but the rain was making that an impossible task. He also knew the perils of running water and unlevel ground. He surmised the young man might have been thrown into a wash and been swept away, and he didn\u2019t want to meet the same fate. So the chase had to be abandoned, and the man headed back to town. As much as Hoss was irritated by the weather, it had actually saved him from a robbery, and possibly worse.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

The oldest and youngest brother were having more trouble sleeping than was their largest brother. He was cold and uncomfortable, but sleep did not elude him. He fell into a deep sleep but tried to keep himself from snoring \u2013 not sure if his would-be robber was still around and stalking him.<\/span><\/p>\n

They, on the other hand, lay each in their own beds staring at the ceiling, praying and hoping Hoss was okay. With each lightning strike and thunder clap, they became a little more concerned for his safety. Each envisioned him being thrown into a wash and fighting to keep from being thrown against rocks and tree limbs that might be carried away in the wash as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

After just a few hours, Adam came to the conclusion that he wasn\u2019t going to be able to sleep. He got up, pulled on his pants and tip-toed down the stairs to make himself a cup of coffee. He stoked the fire, then sat at the dining table, with only the glow of the fire illuminating the room and sipped his coffee. He tried to formulate a plan for how to search for his brother. He knew they were probably going to have to ride almost all the way to town and then back-track. He hated the idea of losing so much time from building the stable, but decided, too, that it was his own fault for allowing Hoss to take on this fool\u2019s task. Why didn\u2019t he go himself? Why did he allow Hoss to go while he knew \u2013 no, not knew, but SUSPECTED \u2013 the weather was just about to break.<\/span><\/p>\n

He spent the entire night either fretting about how they were going to be able to find Hoss or chiding himself for allowing Hoss to go in the first place. He knew he had to find him. He knew he could never live with himself if anything had befallen his beloved brother. He tried not to think these thoughts, but they kept coming. Like the waves that swept across the lake during a storm of this magnitude.<\/span><\/p>\n

The only respite he could find in all of his self-recriminations was the fact that he had not allowed Little Joe to go with Hoss! He would make this right. He would find Hoss and everything would be okay. He would see to it.<\/span><\/p>\n

If anyone could have read his thoughts, they would have recognized just how similar they were to the kinds of thoughts his father would be having at a moment like this.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 5<\/b><\/p>\n

Before the sun rose, before the first rooster crowed, all was silent in the Ponderosa ranch house. All, that is, except one lone little boy, who dressed quietly and slipped out his bedroom door. He tip-toed, so as not to awaken his oldest brother. He made his way down the hallway, making sure to step over the few squeaky floor boards that he knew of. He took one last peek behind him just as he rounded the landing and stepped down onto the first stair on his way down the steps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then he spotted his brother \u2013 the one he had been making great pains to avoid \u2013 sitting at the dining table drinking a cup of coffee. At that sight, all pretense of staying quiet left him and he plodded loudly down the remaining steps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked up at him and smiled. \u201cGood morning! Shall I guess what you\u2019re doing up so early?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I was going to head out to search for Hoss, but you\u2019re up already.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I thought we were both going. Were you planning to head out without me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe.\u201d Joe scratched his head, his hair all askew from his slumber.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a dumb idea, Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?! You think I can\u2019t find him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo more than I can. Think about it. It\u2019s rained all night, barely dried out now. There will be no tracks to find. He\u2019s likely in some cave or cracks in the hillside somewhere. We don\u2019t know when he left town, or how far he might have gotten before the rain started. I\u2019m not sure I know where to start looking. Did you have any thoughts?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I just thought we ought\u2019ta start looking, is all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we will. But first we ought to have breakfast, and make a plan. It could be a long while before we get to stop, or if we stop. We\u2019ll search until we find him, Little Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, did you have a plan in mind?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Just then Hop Sing walked into the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBoys up early. What wrong? Where Hoss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss holed up during the storm, we think. We\u2019re heading out right after we eat.\u201d Adam explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing answered, \u201cHoss big boy. Find way home okay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t have his horse, Hop Sing. It came in without him during the storm last night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing\u2019s eyes got very big. \u201cOh! Not good. Boys go find him. Bring big boy home, chop, chop!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe chimed in now. \u201cWe will! As soon as you feed us!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing fix big breakfast now. You take food. Hoss be very hungry when you find. He need eat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And with that, he turned quickly and padded out to the kitchen to fix breakfast for the oldest and youngest Cartwright brothers, and to pack enough food to take to Hoss when he was found.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam turned to Little Joe. \u201cI\u2019m going to get dressed while he\u2019s cooking. Maybe if you saddled three horses now, we could leave as soon as eat and save some time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGood idea!\u201d And Little Joe jumped up from his seat and ran out the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, Hoss snorted awake quickly. He looked around his make-shift camp. Although it was light outside, it was very dark in the mine shaft. He gave his eyes time to adjust, then looked around. When he was certain he was still alone, he made his way to the entrance to the shaft. He peered out without actually going out. He still wasn\u2019t certain the robber wasn\u2019t following him. He held his rifle at the ready. His stomach was growling fiercely, so unaccustomed was it to being empty for this length of time!<\/span><\/p>\n

He winced. He was dirty, tired, hungry, a little frightened to leave his hiding spot, and anxious to get home, even though he had no horse. He peered out a little bit further. Then he allowed himself to walk out into the sunlight. He looked up at the sky. \u2018At least we\u2019ll have no rain today,\u2019 he thought.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was anxious to head for home, yet apprehensive about running into the robber on foot. He took just a few steps at a time. He climbed to the top of the cave face he had used as his shelter. He stayed close to the ground and looked around him. He could see almost 360 degrees, so he had a good vantage point from which to assess any danger. Everything that twitched or moved caught his eye. He didn\u2019t see anything that posed a danger, but after actually being followed by someone who probably wanted to do him harm, and rob him of his money, he was taking no chances.<\/span><\/p>\n

He lay on top of the rock formation for a good long while, looking around and trying to see if he could see anyone on horseback. He could see where he\u2019d come from through the trees, so he especially watched in that direction, supposing that if the robber had holed up as he had, then he would also would be emerging into the sunlight about now.<\/span><\/p>\n

He tried to remember everything his big brother had taught him about moving through the trees silently, invisibly. When he felt he was ready, he slid down from his position of height and started toward home, avoiding walking directly on the road. Every few minutes, he\u2019d turn around and check behind him, then move awkwardly against a tree for protection from a shooter.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the back of his mind, however, he sensed that the man wasn\u2019t following him anymore, because his head no longer itched! Not scientific, he knew, and his brother Adam had commented that his method made absolutely no sense, but Hoss swore it was true, and he trusted his instinct in the matter.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, the two brothers mounted up and headed out from the ranch house. Hop Sing had provided them with about ten pounds of food, which they stashed in the spare horse\u2019s saddle bags. They tried to protest that he\u2019d only been gone one day, but Hop Sing insisted that with as many meals as Hoss had missed, he\u2019d need it all! It was true that he hadn\u2019t eaten since breakfast yesterday, but no one really could get that hungry in just one day, could they?<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

They rode toward town, silently at first.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe spoke first. \u201cAdam? What if we can\u2019t find him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll find him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut if we don\u2019t?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would you ask that? Of course we\u2019ll find him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019ll be pretty mad if we don\u2019t find him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam stopped riding. He sat back and looked at Little Joe for a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, we\u2019ll find him. I told you, he holed up to get out of the rain. He sent his horse on home so the money was safe. He\u2019s safe. He\u2019s fine, and we\u2019ll find him. Now don\u2019t be thinking the way you\u2019re thinking. We\u2019ll find him today and bring him home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam started riding again, then added, \u201cAfter we feed him, of course.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That made Little Joe laugh and lightened his mood.<\/span><\/p>\n

About two hours later, they rode into town. They made their way straight to the bank. Adam wanted to determine exactly what time Hoss left town.<\/span><\/p>\n

He came out and told Little Joe what Mr. Hollingsworth had told him. They now had a time frame to work from. Adam surmised that was just about the time the storm rolled through, so Hoss probably hadn\u2019t gotten very far before he was forced to seek shelter.<\/span><\/p>\n

They rode for about a half hour and then Adam announced, \u201cIt think this is probably when it started raining too heavily to go much farther. We\u2019ll make the same assumptions I think Hoss would have made. Let\u2019s pretend it\u2019s starting to rain very heavily. What do we do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe didn\u2019t know what to make of Adam\u2019s \u201cpretend\u201d game, but he trusted his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019d just try to ride home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThink, Little Joe! Look at these washes. You know how fast they can run if it rains for any length of time. They were probably running pretty good after a little while yesterday. They\u2019re still filled with rain. You\u2019ve got to avoid washes when they\u2019re running, or they\u2019ll wash you away\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut what if Hoss couldn\u2019t avoid them. What if he was washed away?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we said that couldn\u2019t be, because then he wouldn\u2019t have had time to grab his rifle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yeah, I forgot. That\u2019s better than what I was thinking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam smiled over at him. \u201cDon\u2019t\u2019 worry, I thought it, too, at first. But I believe he knew enough to avoid the washes, and then he found a place to hide. I\u2019m still not sure why he felt he needed to grab his rifle, though. Maybe just to keep it from getting wet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Neither one wanted to voice their secret thoughts: Hoss felt in danger and thought he needed his rifle, even though he could no longer ride his horse. What did that mean? They weren\u2019t sure. But they knew they wanted to find him as soon as they could. They rode on.<\/span><\/p>\n

They looked on either side of each wash they crossed, thinking to themselves that Hoss probably wouldn\u2019t have taken the path they were taking. He would have avoided the washes, crossing the road to get above or below where the water was rushing the hardest. Nothing they did gave them any clue where Hoss had been, or where he had gone, though.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 6<\/b><\/p>\n

Hoss walked toward home, zig-zagging on and then off the main road to avoid being seen, just in case the would-be robber was still out there somewhere. He got off the main road at a place where he knew there was a small stream. He sat down beside it and knelt to drink. It felt good to put something in his stomach after so many hours, but he reminded himself not to drink too much and become sick. He still wasn\u2019t out of complete danger yet. He was a man on foot with only a rifle. And another man had followed him to rob him yesterday. That man may or may not still be stalking him, and he needed to keep his wits. He looked around again. He didn\u2019t sense that anyone was around, but he didn\u2019t want to let down his guard.<\/span><\/p>\n

He stood up, dusted off his pants, and headed in the direction of home once again. He was feeling faint after more than 24 hours with no food. He needed to keep moving, keep getting closer to home. But he also knew he was at least a couple of hours from home on foot. And he was very hungry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly, as if awakening from a dream, he remembered! He had his rifle! He could just bag a squirrel or rabbit and have food. But what if the robber was still around? He\u2019d hear the shot and come toward it. And even if the robber wasn\u2019t around, it would take time to buid a fire and cook his prey. Might even be impossible, as wet as everything still was. So as good an idea as that sounded at first, Hoss abandoned it almost as soon as he thought of it. He would just keep walking toward home, listening to his stomach growl for food with every step.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam and Little Joe rode. They continued riding. They scoured the countryside, looking behind trees, and into ravines with each step. Neither wanted to verbalize what they were both thinking: What if Hoss had been washed off the trail by a rush of water? How could they find him? Would he still be alive? Neither knew the other was thinking the same thoughts, and neither wanted to be the one to say it.<\/span><\/p>\n

So they rode. And they looked. They looked behind every bush. They stayed to the trail, except where it crossed a wash. They tried to imagine what Hoss would have been doing in the torrential rain they had had yesterday. They avoided the washes, moving their horses as though the water was still rushing through them. In this way, they hoped to get a clue as to what had happened to Hoss. They hoped to figure out where he had spent the night, and where he was now.<\/span><\/p>\n

With the sun high overhead, Adam announced they were stopping to eat. Little Joe didn\u2019t like the idea.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon, Adam. We can keep going. Hoss hasn\u2019t eaten either, so if he can keep going, so can we.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know that he\u2019s still going anywhere. We need nourishment to keep our thoughts straight. We need to take a few minutes and sit and refresh and think things through. We\u2019re stopping over here near this boulder.\u201d He gestured toward a large rock with a few small rocks that had fallen around it.<\/span><\/p>\n

They dismounted and sat on the smaller rocks, their backs resting against the larger one. Adam unpacked the food they had brought, but not the food designated for Hoss. They would not give up on the idea that they would find him and he would be very, very hungry. They ate in silence. Once or twice Little Joe thought he wanted to ask Adam again if he thought they would really find Hoss safe, but he knew what Adam thought and didn\u2019t want to upset him. He was plenty upset himself!<\/span><\/p>\n

Neither brother ate much but they made a pretense of eating. They were both so lost in thought, neither noticed the other hadn\u2019t eaten very much at all. Finally, they looked at each other and nodded, and packed away the rest of the food and mounted up again.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam decided they needed to try a different plan of attack and said so.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook, we\u2019ve been going in this direction for quite a ways. I\u2019m not sure Hoss got this far, if he came this way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we\u2019ve basically been going in a straight line toward the ranch, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that\u2019s the way to get home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what if Hoss didn\u2019t go that way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh? Why wouldn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. Maybe he really did pick up a \u2018follower,\u2019 someone who was bent on robbing him. He might have ridden in such a way to elude him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen how will we ever figure out which way he went? Or where he is now? Or maybe while we\u2019re out here traipsing around, he\u2019s home already?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll good questions. Let\u2019s think on each one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So as they rode, the brothers discussed the possible scenarios for each potentiality Adam had listed. If Hoss had picked up a follower, what would he have done? Try to evade him. What if the follower wasn\u2019t seen until much later than they started tracking. What if the rain started much later than they started tracking? There were too many variables, and Little Joe was getting weary just thinking about how difficult a task it was going to be to find their brother. So Adam chose a likely scenario and went with it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just say Hoss got quite a ways out of town before the rain came. That means he was on the road a longer time than we were. Let\u2019s get back to the road and look closer to home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe just shrugged.<\/span><\/p>\n

They steered their horses back onto the main road and trotted toward home. After quite a long ride, Adam stopped and said, \u201cOkay, let\u2019s say this is where Hoss was when it started raining. Now let\u2019s assume he started looking for a shelter here somewhere. So he dismounted around here somewhere. Look for anything that could be used as a shelter from the rain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They slowly walked their horses, still being careful to stay out of the washes, as Hoss would have done that, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suddenly Little Joe yelled, \u201cADAM! Look! There\u2019s Hoss\u2019 hat!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He jumped down and ran to pick it up. He showed it to Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re close, Adam! We\u2019re close!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re close to where he was, Joe. Don\u2019t go getting ahead of yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. So now which way?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s make a circle around where the hat was and see if we can see anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe nodded and started circling. Adam stayed mounted and did the same thing, making slightly larger circles than Joe was.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam thought he found some tracks in the mud, so he dismounted. Sure enough! There was a boot print of a very large boot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe! HEY, JOE! OVER HERE!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe came running. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam pointed to the ground. \u201cFootprints. I think it\u2019s Hoss\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe smiled up at him. \u201cDo ya think we\u2019re close to finding him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded as he scanned the countryside.<\/span><\/p>\n

He remounted his horse. \u201cLet\u2019s see if we can follow his tracks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe jumped onto his pony as well, and they rode off. Now they had a direction in which to go.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam spoke as they rode. \u201cThese tracks have to be from this morning, because anything from last night would have been washed away in the storm. I think if we follow these tracks, we\u2019ll find him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After following the tracks for quite a ways, Joe commented, \u201cIt looks like he\u2019s headed toward home, Adam.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI agree. But I sure would like to find him. He\u2019s tired and hungry, I bet. He\u2019ll be happy to see us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They continued riding and following the tracks in the mud. They led onto the road, then off again. That didn\u2019t make any sense, but they followed as best they could. They knew the general direction he was going, so whenever the tracks led off into the grass, they just stayed to the road and waited until they came onto the road again. Always the tracks led closer and closer to the ranch house.<\/span><\/p>\n

When it became obvious they were headed toward home, Joe asked, \u201cAdam, if he\u2019s headed home, why don\u2019t we just ride home and wait for him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s pretty hungry by now. And thirsty, I bet. I think we need to find him. He might not make it all the way home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Little Joe was very concerned over that statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI meant he might pass out from hunger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They rode a while longer, and then Joe started giggling.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s so funny, little buddy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was thinking about Hoss, fainting from hunger. We\u2019ve always laughed about him threatening to do that. Wouldn\u2019t it be something if he really DID it!?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Then both brothers laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Hoss was getting weaker by the step. He tried to keep putting one foot in front of the other, but his eyesight was getting blurry, and his feet felt like they weighed a half-ton each. He just wasn\u2019t sure he could go any further. He stopped and looked up. He knew it was past noon. It had been over 30 hours since he\u2019d eaten. And all he\u2019d had to drink was a little water from a stream. He didn\u2019t drink a lot so as not to cramp his stomach. Now he was shaky, and knew he needed to find something to drink or munch on soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

He surveyed his surroundings. He knew where he was. He knew there was a little stream not too far off to the east, so he veered off the road once again, and headed for the stream. He knew he needed to sit in the shade and have a drink. But he also knew he had to get home. No one knew exactly where he was, and he knew that each time he got off the road to evade a possible robber, he was also making it harder for his brothers to find him. It didn\u2019t matter any longer. He had to have some sustenance, even if it was just some water from a small stream.<\/span><\/p>\n

He stumbled to the stream, practically fell into it, and began to drink. He tried to stop himself, but he was very thirsty. He drank until he threw up. Then he went back and drank some more. At last he was sated and lay back on the grass. He just had to rest. He felt like if he rested a little while, he\u2019d be able to catch a squirrel or rabbit and cook and eat it. That would build his strength back up so he could continue walking the rest of the way home. Those were the last thoughts he had\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe and Adam continued following the tracks. Each time they veered off the road, they tried to follow them. If that didn\u2019t work, they\u2019d move up the trail and pick them up again. Over and over, they followed the same pattern. They had no idea why Hoss kept getting off the trail. He knew the way home from here. All he had to do was stay on this road, and then turn west another couple of miles north.<\/span><\/p>\n

At one point, when he\u2019d veered off the road again, they had trouble finding his tracks back on the road again. They made larger and larger circles around the area where he\u2019d gone off the road but couldn\u2019t find his tracks back onto the road. They rode back to where his tracks were last seen on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam got down and examined the tracks. He stood up and told Little Joe what he suspected.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks like he\u2019s getting tired.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s still a long way from home, and he knows it. Do ya think he stopped to rest?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam gazed off in the direction that the tracks went off the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s over this way?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked that way, too. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Why don\u2019t we ride that way and find out?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam mounted up and they did just that.<\/span><\/p>\n

They rode, slowly, looking for more tracks in the ground until Little Joe yelled to Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cADAM! THERE HE IS!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He took off in a dead run. He saw his brother lying on the ground. He raced to him and jumped off his pony even before the animal had stopped.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss! Hoss! Wake up, Hoss! Are you all right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He looked up at Adam, who was approaching at a high speed also.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs he all right, Adam? He ain\u2019t dead, is he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam jumped down and felt for a pulse.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, he\u2019s alive. He\u2019s probably just exhausted. And hungry. Get a canteen, will ya?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d and Joe ran to get his canteen. He handed it to Adam, who held Hoss\u2019 head and called his name.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, c\u2019mon. Have a drink. Hoss, it\u2019s us. You\u2019re all right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss was still in a fog, weak and tired. But mostly he was hungry but heard the voice; the familiar voice. He forced his eyes open and saw Adam smile at him. He looked over Adam\u2019s right shoulder and saw his littlest brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey fellers. What are you doin\u2019 here?\u201d He smiled a half-smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss! You\u2019re okay!\u201d Joe jumped past Adam and hugged Hoss\u2019 neck.<\/span><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/span><\/p>\n

The ride home was slow and laborious. Hoss was anxious to get home, but still weak, even though he\u2019d eaten some of what Hop Sing had sent. Adam wouldn\u2019t allow him to eat all he wanted, as he wanted to get home, and not have to stop for Hoss to vomit every few yards! So Hoss was rationed the food. A few mouthfuls every few hundred yards. He hated to wait, as he was very hungry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, why cain\u2019t ya jest let me eat? If\u2019n I need to upchuck, I\u2019ll be sure yer outta the way\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, you\u2019re fine. It\u2019s better this way. Besides, you\u2019ll thank me later when you\u2019re not too sick to eat a full meal that Hop Sing will cook especially for you, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, ya, I guess I wouldn\u2019t wanna spoil Hop Sing\u2019s fun, would I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe could only laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 7<\/b><\/p>\n

Since the stable project had been put on hold to search for Hoss, all three brothers got on it early the next morning after giving Hoss the rest of their search day to rest. While they were waiting for him to regain his strength, Hoss had told them about his ordeal, the robber who never got any money, and the old abandoned mine he had used as a shelter. They marveled at his ingenuity and resourcefulness in the face of such a frightening situation. However, it was agreed they should probably not let their father know of his ordeal. It was unanimously agreed they would keep him from knowing about the entire incident.<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to accomplish their pledge, they need to complete the stable as quickly as possible, as they\u2019d lost a couple of days due to rain and searching for Hoss. The next two days they worked feverishly to complete work on the stable, as their father was due home soon. Adam had designed an easy build for it. It was really only enlarging on the stable they already had and they had only to complete three sides. After they had all cut some more trees and prepped them, Adam worked on finishing the sides of the stable, and then Hoss and Joe came behind and nailed the rails into place. There was only one side of fencing left to complete. Contrary to the normal way of the Cartwright brothers, all three worked in partnership, with no bickering or disagreements. This made the work load lighter and helped them complete the project sooner. They wanted it done before their father arrived, so they did not have to explain any lapses in time.<\/span><\/p>\n

That was not to be, however. As they were still working on the final side, lining up the poles for the gate, Ben Cartwright rode up. Hoss saw him first, as he looked up just as his father rode out of the trees and into view.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, fellers! Pa\u2019s home! Howdy, Pa!\u201d he announced, just a little bit too nonchalantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled and waved. Then when he got closer, he greeted them all.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, Adam, Little Joe. Mighty fine job, boys. Looks like it\u2019s almost done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam spoke for the group. \u201cUh, yeah, just about done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think you said it would take so long.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh, yeah, Pa. I didn\u2019t think it would, but we had a pretty bad storm that held everything up a few days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe wanted to help, \u201cOh, yeah! BIG storm! Thunder, lightning, everything! A whole day and a whole night!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, sounds like quite a storm all right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He looked from one to the other. They all had their \u201cinnocent\u201d faces on. Something had gone on. He knew it. He just didn\u2019t know how to arrive at just what it was.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, no other problems? Just a big storm?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam: \u201cWell, it was quite a storm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss: \u201cYeah, really big storm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe: \u201cBIG! We couldn\u2019t work in it, Pa! Lightning, thunder, roads washed out, everything!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben: \u201cYeah, so you said. Roads washed out? Was that a problem here? How did you find that out?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam: \u201cUh, no, what he meant was \u2013 well, they could have been washed out. It was very bad everywhere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss: \u201cThere tweren\u2019t no way to work in that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe: \u201cNo, and he could\u2019a been struck with lightning, Pa!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa: “He? He who?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam: \u201cUh, no, he means we just couldn\u2019t work outside during the storm. He – us, Hoss, me, any of us – could have been…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa: \u201cI see. No, I\u2019m sure you wouldn’t want to work out in that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He studied them some more. Something was up, it was obvious. No one was talking but looks were being exchanged between them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEverything else went smoothly, then? Just the storm? Making payroll wasn\u2019t a problem?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He thought he saw something. Little Joe quickly looked over at Hoss, Hoss looked at Adam. Adam spoke up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo. No. No problem. The men got paid. No problem with payroll. We did have to go to the bank for the cash, but you knew that. No. Everything here is right as it can be. Yup.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss: \u201cYup.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe: \u201cYup.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

All three nodded. No one said another thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben: \u201cNothing else I should know, then?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam shook his head vigorously, \u201cNope, can\u2019t think of a thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss: \u201cNope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe: \u201cNope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben: \u201cNo. Hmmm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He knew something was up but wasn\u2019t sure he\u2019d ever find out what it was. But did it really matter? The stable was almost c ompleted, no one was hurt or dead, things seemed to still be intact. The ranch was still standing.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, they all still did what they needed to do. And whatever had happened, had seemed to have brought them closer together, so for that fact alone, it had had a positive effect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben decided. \u2018Just let it go, Ben. Let it go.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, boys will be boys. And what a parent didn\u2019t know about that was probably a good thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

The end.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a9 2018<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: Seventeen year old Hoss gets entrusted to collect the payroll from the bank and get home. Simple as that, or is it?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rating: G, Word Count: 11,298<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9861,"featured_media":48346,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2,1006,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-actionadventure","category-hoss-cartwright","category-prequels","wpcat-2-id","wpcat-1006-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":660,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Hoss-1-Any-Friend-of-Walters.jpg?fit=2016%2C1512&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":48039,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48039","url_meta":{"origin":48199,"position":0},"title":"Fourth of July Fun (by AH83)","author":"BZTrailRiders","date":"July 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Adam gets a Fourth of July surprise. Rating: K, Word Count: 720","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Preserving Their Legacy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BTR.png?fit=442%2C255&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5816,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5816","url_meta":{"origin":48199,"position":1},"title":"Big Brother Lessons (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"December 3, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a012th story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 Hoss wants to learn how to be a good older brother to his new sibling. Rating: K Word Count=2598","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5847,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5847","url_meta":{"origin":48199,"position":2},"title":"Ducks in a Row (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"June 3, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Rating: K Word Count=2177 Summary:\u00a0Two year old Hoss comes across some hatching ducklings. Will Pa let him keep his new friends?","rel":"","context":"In "Humor"","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/LastHunt65.jpg?fit=583%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/LastHunt65.jpg?fit=583%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/LastHunt65.jpg?fit=583%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13143,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13143","url_meta":{"origin":48199,"position":3},"title":"The Shooting (by the Tahoe Ladies)","author":"Tahoe Ladies","date":"July 12, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 There's a robbery and hostages.\u00a0 Decisions to be made and the consequences to suffer. 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