{"id":48493,"date":"2002-03-31T19:43:47","date_gmt":"2002-04-01T00:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48493"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:05:55","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:05:55","slug":"ponderosa-2-heading-for-the-hills-by-texas2002","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48493","title":{"rendered":"Ponderosa # 2 – Heading for the Hills (by Texas2002)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 Following the story Up in Smoke…
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a07,700 words<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

The Brandsters acknowledge that the authors are the owners of their stories.\u00a0 Should an author included in the project reach out to us and indicate they do not wish their work to be archived in the Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library, we will remove their stories.<\/p>\n

\n

Thank you to Mr. Dortort who created the Cartwrights and the Ponderosa and shared them. And thank you to Ms. Sullivan who gave them new life. This story is purely for fun and is not intended to infringe on their rights or the rights of anyone else involved in these marvelous shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Heading for the Hills<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam Cartwright took a nail from his mouth and drove it into the wood with three slamming blows from his hammer.<\/span><\/p>\n

If Little Joe didn\u2019t haul his lazy hide from where he was sitting in the shade pretty soon Adam was going to put his thoughts into words \u2013 and they were going to be as hot as he was.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam slammed another nail into place. This last bit of work wouldn\u2019t take more than half the afternoon if Little Joe would just put his back into it.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Joseph?”<\/span><\/p>\n

The 12-year-old shot to his feet, dusting his hands on the sides of his pants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t have to look behind him. Even if he hadn\u2019t known Pa\u2019s voice like his own, who else could get Joe to snap to like that?<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe straightened his new, larger hat and looked up.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Is this how you\u2019ve been helping your brother with the smokehouse?”<\/span><\/p>\n

His back to Pa, Adam\u2019s eyes met Little Joe\u2019s. “I told him to rest a minute, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa wasn\u2019t fooled that easily. The silence was so uncomfortable that Adam started hammering again.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You told him to rest a minute,” Pa repeated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam paused to reach for more nails and found the tin empty.<\/span><\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t going to repeat the lie \u2013 he wasn\u2019t sure he could. “I figure we\u2019ll be finished by dinner time.” Adam\u2019s eyebrows rose as he held out the tin to Little Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

After a worried glance in Pa\u2019s direction, Little Joe hitched up his right suspender and took the tin from Adam\u2019s hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

With nothing more to do until Little Joe returned with nails, Adam turned toward Pa, hoping he looked casual as he pulled off his hat and wiped his right arm across his forehead.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Now that we have a smokehouse we ought to put some meat in it,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam raised his eyes and found Pa studying him with mild amusement. “The way you were slamming that hammer I expected to find your brother hanging off a meat hook.” He took long, easy strides to the new outbuilding. “You\u2019ve done another good job, son.” Then he looked toward the sky. “How does a hunting trip sound? Mr. Petersen said they\u2019re seeing a lot of turkeys and deer over near the Ridgetop area.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Turkey. Venison. Heck, he\u2019d even settle for rabbit. A man could only eat so many squirrels no matter how many herbs Hop Sing tried to disguise the meat with.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Huntin\u2019 trip, Pa?” Little Joe returned with more nails. “Can I go?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa studied Adam\u2019s exacting workmanship, wondering if his oldest son had inherited some shipbuilding tendencies. While he did so, Little Joe impatiently danced from one foot to the other. When he could take it no longer, he prompted, “Pa, can I?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa continued to admire Adam\u2019s handiwork. “I thought we might all go.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s eyes rounded and his mouth dropped open.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa pointed his gloved left hand Little Joe\u2019s way. “The first time you shirk your fair share of the load, you and I will be riding home.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Come on, Adam,” Little Joe ordered with a tug at his oldest brother\u2019s wrist. “We can finish this up before dinner if you just put your back in it.”<\/span><\/p>\n

+++<\/span><\/p>\n

If he ever wanted his sons to move quickly, Ben decided, he would just say the words “hunting trip”. They arranged for the Grant boys to help Hop Sing while they were gone, packed provisions and even had the horses ready before he was fully dressed the next morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Standing at the shaving mirror he could hear Little Joe sigh every two seconds as he leaned back on the windowsill.<\/span><\/p>\n

“How come you\u2019re shaving just to go hunting?” his youngest son asked, aggravation apparent. “Are you gonna shave while we\u2019re out there?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben rinsed his razor. “Yes.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“We\u2019re only gonna be gone two days, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben ignored the boy. If he didn\u2019t quit talking and concentrate on shaving even good-natured Hoss would be in to see what was taking so long.<\/span><\/p>\n

“When I have a beard I\u2019m just gonna let it grow,” Joe declared.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Girls don\u2019t like beards,” Adam replied as he leaned in the doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Who cares about girls?”<\/span><\/p>\n

In the mirror Ben watched Adam\u2019s right brow go up. “You will by the time you can shave.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Not me,” Joe argued, “I\u2019m never gonna be dumb about girls like Hoss and you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam made the mistake of smirking. From the sides of his eyes, Ben saw a small hand grab his lathered shaving brush. Luckily Adam saw it, too, and he ducked as the thing went airborne. The shaving brush hit the doorframe and splattered lather all the way to the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

His oldest son heaved Little Joe off his feet, holding him upside down, and carried him outside.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Pa!” the youngest yelled. “Pa, help! He\u2019s gonna kill me!”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben doubted that – although he had every reason to believe Little Joe was about to get his head dunked.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was buttoning his shirt when Hoss entered the room, his brow wrinkled. “How come Adam\u2019s bobbing Little Joe\u2019s head in and out of the horse trough like an apple?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Is it still attached?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss leaned forward from the waist, not understanding. “Sir?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Is Little Joe\u2019s head still attached to his body?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes sir.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Then there\u2019s nothing to worry about.” Ben leaned out the window. “Joseph, you have something to clean up in here!” He tried not to laugh at the pitiful, drowned sight of his youngest as Adam put him on his feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Aw, Pa,” the youngster wailed. “By the time I change clothes and get that done it\u2019ll be noon.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“If it is we\u2019re leaving without you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe shot to the porch and dashed into the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Did you know he could move that fast?” Hoss asked in astonishment.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ve seen him do it a time or two,” Pa replied dryly.<\/span><\/p>\n

+++<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss loved this camping site. Since it, like most things on the ranch, didn\u2019t have a name he called it Heaven\u2019s Meadow for the narrow strip of green grass that grew between the clear lake and the rock shelter area where they made camp.<\/span><\/p>\n

No one had to be told what to do. Adam and Pa tended the horses and provisions while Hoss started the campfire and Joe toted the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Course, being Joe, he used the chore as an excuse to get wet from the waist down and to “accidentally” douse the back of Hoss\u2019 shirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Dang it, Little Joe,” Hoss howled as he pulled his shirttail from his pants. He stood up, tugged his shirt over his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jaw set, he picked up Little Joe and threw him over his shoulder like a sack of feed.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hey!” his younger brother squealed. “What\u2019re you doing?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You\u2019ll find out.” Hoss waded into the water. Here in the shallows it was kind of warm but he bet back there in that deeper part it was cold.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Put me down!” Small fists beat to no avail on Hoss\u2019 back.<\/span><\/p>\n

“What\u2019d you say?” Hoss asked, his sky blue eyes full of mischief.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Put me down!!” Little Joe demanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Careful what you ask for.” Hoss swung him once for momentum and then Little Joe was airborne, screaming, with arms and legs flailing before he hit the water like a cannonball \u2013 and sank like one, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss watched.<\/span><\/p>\n

And waited.<\/span><\/p>\n

No bubbles.<\/span><\/p>\n

No little brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dagnabit. Pa would have his hide if he hurt Little Joe. He paused only to pull off his boots and throw them back to shore then ran to the deep water.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was nearly waist deep in the lake when something hit him behind the knees. He went completely under but bobbed back up to find Little Joe an arm\u2019s length away \u2013 treading water, laughing and spitting.<\/span><\/p>\n

A line formed between Hoss\u2019 brows.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hoss\u2026Hoss, I was just funning ya.” Little Joe looked around him for escape.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Funning huh?” Hoss pushed up his sleeves and grinned. But it wasn\u2019t the kind of grin Little Joe liked to see. “I\u2019ll show you funning.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s scream of protest gurgled as Hoss\u2019 large hand dunked him and held him under.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hoss!” Pa called from the shoreline. “Remember he needs air, son.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“He\u2019s pretty good at holding his breath.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Let him up, Hoss!” The good nature in Pa\u2019s voice was replaced by a tone Hoss knew better than to tangle with. He grabbed Joe\u2019s shirt collar and pulled him up then turned to face the shoreline. “He started it, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s head went back. “Don\u2019t do it, Joseph.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well he started it, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t care who started it, it stops now,” Pa warned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss was determined to have justice. “Dang it, Pa, he poured water all down my shirt.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“It was an accident.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Sure!”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hoss,” Pa\u2019s voice thickened.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I tripped!”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Tripped on level ground,” Hoss scoffed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe made a face at his brother and turned toward Pa. “Then he nearly killed me.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 hands went to his hips. “I did not. I put him over my shoulder, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You threw me so hard it practically broke my ribs!”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Joseph,” Pa\u2019s voice was getting more and more hoarse, which meant he was getting more and more dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss glared down at Little Joe. “Well if your ribs were so hurt how did you have the air to holler the way you did?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“And then \u2013 and then he heaved me into that water and for all he knew I could\u2019ve drowned.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Aw, Pa!” Hoss wailed. “You ain\u2019t believing this, are ya?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss wondered why Adam grinned and looked down. It didn\u2019t seem there was anything to smile about when Pa got upset \u2013 especially on a hunting trip, when they usually had fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

“All right,” Pa muttered. “I guess it\u2019s up to me to put a stop to this.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss and Little Joe watched in astonishment as he pulled off his belt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss held up his right hand, palm toward the shore. “No, sir, Pa, you don\u2019t need to do that.” Why was Adam still looking down and grinning? There for sure wasn\u2019t anything funny about Pa pulling off his belt even if Hoss was 17.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Pa,” Little Joe grabbed Hoss\u2019 right hand, “see, we\u2019re shaking on it right now. Ain\u2019t we Hoss?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss looked down at his little brother\u2019s worried eyes. “Yeah, Pa, we ain\u2019t ever been better buddies, have we little brother?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Never,” Little Joe agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Heads up!” Adam raised his chin as he called from shore.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss obeyed just in time to find Pa a foot away, the dreaded belt nowhere in sight. Pa wrestled him under with the strength of a bear.<\/span><\/p>\n

So that was it! Well Hoss knew how this game was played. Pa and he used to wrestle every evening when he was a kid. He came out of the water, laughing and wiping the hair from his eyes and took Pa down with a hit to the middle.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Gee, Hoss,” Little Joe said in wonder. “Think you shoulda done that?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Look out!” Hoss shouted but it was too late. Pa came to the surface like a monster, grabbed Little Joe around the waist and pulled him under.<\/span><\/p>\n

On shore, Adam shook his head. Those three were going to be a while and he was getting hungry. If they were to eat anytime soon it was up to him to dress the rabbits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond the yelling and splashing in the creek, he could hear the sounds he had learned to love as a boy \u2013 bird songs and the rush of wind in the trees. He\u2019d never heard as interesting a sound as the wind in the pines. Sometimes on a rainy day it was almost like a lonesome sigh.<\/span><\/p>\n

A crack in the brush ahead of him brought his head up. If it was something he could have shot and taken home to that empty smokehouse he was going to kick himself \u2013 the rifle was on the other side of camp.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another sound. This time it was closer. Adam eased toward the rifle, knees bent so he didn\u2019t rise to his full height and spook whatever it was. He already had enough problem with the wind at his back, carrying his scent to his prey.<\/span><\/p>\n

To his right, the horses stamped and shied, tugging at the rope line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam reached for the rifle with his right hand, eyes straight ahead. He stood quickly, aimed for the dark bulk, and fired.<\/span><\/p>\n

Click.<\/span><\/p>\n

He looked at the weapon in disbelief and opened it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The darn thing wasn\u2019t loaded!<\/span><\/p>\n

Not loaded! Pa had given him one of the worst tannings of his life when he\u2019d forgotten to reload after firing a shot when he was about Joe\u2019s age.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aggravated because he\u2019d missed a chance at something to take back to the empty smokehouse, he squatted and picked up the skinning knife – intent on preparing the rabbits again. He didn\u2019t notice the sounds had stopped at the pond until something cold splashed over his head and took his breath. In the next instant Hoss\u2019 laughter gave him away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam stood slowly, careful to place the skinning knife where it couldn\u2019t hurt anyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Sure wish I\u2019d seen your face.” His soaked, blonde haired brother chuckled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam ran his right hand through his wet hair, combing it off his forehead, while he made quick note of how clear the campsite was around them. “You\u2019re looking at it now,” he answered calmly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yeah,” Hoss shrugged at his brother\u2019s unreadable expression, “but now it ain\u2019t no fun.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam had two things in his favor: the slope of the land and the element of surprise. He barreled into Hoss and felled him like a rifle ball knocking down a squirrel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben watched his two sons a moment as he pulled off his wet shirt by the campfire. His instincts that no harm would be done were confirmed when he heard a mutter, then a laugh and then another challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe barely paid attention as Pa helped him pull his wet shirt over his head. “They\u2019re fighting, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben grinned. “What makes you think that?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s left hand shot out to point. “What\u2019s it look like?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“They\u2019ll stop when they\u2019re tired. You and I need to finish these rabbits Adam started.”<\/span><\/p>\n

That splashing around in the cold water had addled Pa\u2019s brains for sure. Anybody in their right mind could tell Hoss and Adam were fighting. Everybody knew how Adam\u2019s temper could flare like gunpowder and how Pa disapproved of the boys arguing among themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Had Pa forgotten the time the two of them tangled back in New Orleans? They\u2019d gotten into it so bad they had blood coming from their noses and lips. Pa had yelled at them but they acted like they couldn\u2019t even hear him. He\u2019d started to throw water from a pitcher on them \u2013 the way he did cats when they fought at night and kept him from going to sleep \u2013 but Ma wasn\u2019t about to let him ruin one of those expensive foreign rugs. When Pa had grabbed a hold of each of them by their shirt collars, Little Joe had spread his fingers over his eyes \u2013 sure Pa was going to smack their heads together and brain them.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019d been so busy watching Pa he\u2019d forgotten about Ma. He never made that mistake again.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Pa held them by their shirts, she came up with a slat from the plantation shutters Pa was repairing and swatted Adam\u2019s pants\u2019 seat so hard he yelped. When she was through with Hoss he had tears in his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe didn\u2019t know when he\u2019d seen Pa so surprised but Pa didn\u2019t say anything to Ma, just told Adam and Hoss to stand in the corner. When Ma left the room, Pa settled Little Joe in his lap, asked Adam and Hoss to come stand at his knees, and he talked to them about what it meant to be brothers: how they had to take care of each other and trust each other and that brothers were lucky because they had a way of communicating that was really special.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked up from the pan where he was frying the rabbit meat as Adam and Hoss collapsed on their backs, laughing like he hadn\u2019t heard them do in a long, long time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amazed, he looked up at Pa \u2013 and Pa winked at him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Life was sure peculiar.<\/span><\/p>\n

+++<\/span><\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take Little Joe long to figure out that his idea of fishing and Hoss\u2019 idea of fishing were two entirely different things.<\/span><\/p>\n

His idea of fishing involved using a pole with some line and a hook. Hoss\u2019 idea of fishing involved a nice shady spot on the green grass, his saddle nearby to prop himself against, and his hat to cover his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not that Hoss\u2019 nap bothered Joe. He\u2019d been thinking on it a couple of minutes and it seemed to him that if he put a longer line on his fishing pole he could throw it out in that deeper part of the lake and have a better chance of catching some lunch. It would sure be fun to see the look on Adam and Pa\u2019s faces when they came back in from hunting if he was cooking up fish and warming that rice Hop Sing sent along.<\/span><\/p>\n

His tongue at the edge of his lips, Joe carefully tied the fishing line to the top end of the pole the way Adam had shown him a long time ago when he\u2019d been a little kid. Walking backwards, he fed out the line from the bundle in his hand until he figured he had a good length and then he looked around for a knife. He\u2019d lost his own about the time he\u2019d burned down the outhouse and he still hadn\u2019t built up the nerve to tell Pa. Generally what Pa didn\u2019t know didn\u2019t hurt Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019d seen Adam with a knife yesterday. What had he done with it? Joe rummaged through the camp and shook his head in disbelief at how much noise he could make and still not wake Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n

There was no knife anywhere. Joe paced back to the shore, wondering if there were any really sharp rocks. By the water where they got worn smooth? Not a chance.<\/span><\/p>\n

He really didn\u2019t like the next idea when it burst into his thoughts. Pa\u2019s razor. Using anything that belonged to Pa without permission ran counter to even Joe\u2019s mischievous nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Pa wasn\u2019t here. He\u2019d never know, right?<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe hurried to Pa\u2019s camping gear and carefully located the razor. He felt one huge spasm in his stomach as he held the shaving instrument in his hand. How many times had he watched Pa work this on his leather strop and been warned it was dangerously sharp? It wasn\u2019t a toy or even a knife.<\/span><\/p>\n

But if it was sharp it would cut his fishing line in nothing flat. He\u2019d do it real quick and Pa would be none the wiser.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe ran back to the fishing line where it was stretched on the shore. He doubled the line, pulled the razor through and it sliced the stuff like it was a spider web.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wow! Pa wasn\u2019t kidding this thing was sharp.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eyes drifting to a stand of nearby bushes, Joe wondered just how sharp this razor was. He picked a switch about the size of Hoss\u2019 pointer finger, pulled it down slightly and cut at it with the razor. He had to saw just a little but the razor cut a clean, smooth edge.<\/span><\/p>\n

This was better than a knife any day!<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe looked up from his new-found wonder. Gosh something smelled awful. He gingerly poked at the brush, wondering if something had died and started rotting. Following his nose, he wandered into the trees a bit but then lost the stinking smell. Just as well, it was enough to make a man lose his breakfast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Or lunch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lunch! Oh gee! Adam and Pa could be back anytime now.<\/span><\/p>\n

He needed to put back the razor before Pa returned.<\/span><\/p>\n

But there was something on the blade. Sap from the bush? Joe started to rub at it with his thumb but recalled how it had sliced through the switch. He had no desire to find out how quickly the razor could go through his skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe it would wash off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe quickly made his way back to the lake and waded into the shallow water. He sat on his heels and dipped the knife. Nothing happened. Desperate now, he looked around. There was a small strip of sand. Pa had shown them how to scour something with sand and then rinse it in clear water.<\/span><\/p>\n

He made easy work of it. Using a glove to protect his hand, being very careful to rinse all the sand off and drying the razor on his shirttail.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the time Adam and Pa rode up with a couple of quail, Joe was studiously fishing and convinced Pa would never be the wiser about the razor.<\/span><\/p>\n

But Adam and Pa were not having a good day.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well where is it?” Pa asked Adam with no small amount of exasperation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss looked down, hiding a grin. Poor old Adam. He was so used to doing everything right that he couldn\u2019t believe he\u2019d misplaced the second knife.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam slapped at his pockets as if the thing would be there, which it wouldn\u2019t, and looked around the camp in dismay. “I cleaned it after dinner last night, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I know that son. What did you do with it then?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s deep blue eyes swung suspiciously to Joe and the youngster threw up his arms. “Why does everyone always think it\u2019s me?”<\/span><\/p>\n

His oldest brother\u2019s lips twisted to one side. “Because it usually is.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s chin jutted. “I don\u2019t know nothin\u2019 about your dumb old skinning knife. What\u2019d ya need it for anyhow? Those are birds.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“The second one wasn\u2019t a skinning knife. You can use it for more than one thing,” Pa explained, hands on his hips as his eyes roved the campsite.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Like gutting little brothers,” Adam said under his breath.<\/span><\/p>\n

“It ain\u2019t me!” Little Joe yelled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s eyes settled on him with an unspoken warning only a fool wouldn\u2019t understand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe was no fool. Hurt feelings or not, he backed down.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa threw his gloved hands into the air. He strode toward his gear. “I will never understand how you boys managed to lose two knives this quickly.” He yanked at the canvas roll, rummaged around and came out with his razor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam licked his lip. “Let me look a little longer.”<\/span><\/p>\n

But Pa wasn\u2019t having any of it. He handed the razor to Adam. “I am tired,” he said in that deliberate way of his. “I am hungry. And I am beginning to be aggravated. Sound like a good mix to you?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam closed his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll tend the horses,” Pa said. And with that he stormed from the camp.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Gee, Adam,” Little Joe said before he thought. “Looks like Pa\u2019s having all kinds of fun on this hunting trip.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss shot to his feet and put his hands against Adam\u2019s chest as his older brother stepped toward Joe. “Don\u2019t do nothin\u2019 we\u2019ll all regret, Adam. Tell you what. You go take a swim and Joe and me\u2019ll get supper going. Doesn\u2019t that sound good? The water\u2019s nice and cool and clear. Knock some of that hunting dust off of you.” Hoss turned and gave Joe as close to a glare as he could muster.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam shook Hoss off and wordlessly stomped past Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s left arm felt like someone had put it in a vise and he looked up in surprise at Hoss. “Don\u2019t you talk to him like that, you understand me?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I was just teasing him.”<\/span><\/p>\n

But there was nothing slow about Hoss. Sometimes he could read Joe\u2019s mind before Joe was aware of the thought. “You weren\u2019t teasing. You were digging under his skin. He\u2019s always looked out for you and cared for you. You show him some respect or he\u2019s just liable to make you regret it.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe tried to pull from Hoss\u2019 grip but it didn\u2019t work. Even though he recognized the truth in Hoss\u2019 words, he wasn\u2019t about to admit it. “Adam lays a hand on me and Pa\u2019ll lay into him.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss leaned down until his face was too close for comfort. “If Adam ever lays a hand on you it\u2019s gonna be for a darn good reason and I can guarantee you Pa\u2019ll lay into\u00a0you<\/u>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

After giving Joe a full minute to think about what he\u2019d said, Hoss released his little brother\u2019s arm. “Now, let\u2019s take care of these birds before Pa gets back and wants to know what we\u2019ve been doing.”<\/span><\/p>\n

That was enough motivation for Little Joe. He went to the lake for water, cautiously avoiding Adam, and returned to ready the campfire for cooking. In the meantime, Hoss worked on the quail.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Dang, Pa,” Hoss laughed as Pa returned to camp. “I hope your razor\u2019s just dull cause otherwise we\u2019ve got some tough birds here.”<\/span><\/p>\n

His back to his brother and Pa, Little Joe paused in stirring the rice.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Dull?” Pa asked. “I just stropped it.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Maybe your strop\u2019s worn out,” Hoss offered good-naturedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hardly. Though I\u2019ve been tempted to wear it out a time or two.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe cringed, finding no humor in Pa\u2019s remark. But Hoss laughed with a heartiness that indicated he found the idea of Pa using a razor strop on anyone pretty impossible. Or maybe it was just that he was too old to get tannings anymore that made him so sure.<\/span><\/p>\n

“How\u2019s it going, son?” Pa\u2019s hand rested on Little Joe\u2019s shoulder before he reached for the coffee pot.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Uh, fine Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Did you catch those fish?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, sir. Hoss was doing other stuff.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa smiled knowingly. “I\u2019m sure.” He filled another camping cup with coffee and held it up as Adam approached the fire, dripping from his swim in the lake.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded a \u2018thank you\u2019 and accepted the cup. He squatted by the fire and looked at Pa from the tops of his eyes. “I\u2019m sorry, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa gave a quick shake of his head. “We were neither one at our best. Let\u2019s call it a draw.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam smiled and looked into the trees. “I can\u2019t figure it out, Pa. Mr. Petersen saw game all through these mountains. So did the Chamberlain twins. And all we\u2019re coming across is birds and fish and squirrels.” He gave a puzzled shake of his hair and droplets of water splashed on Little Joe. “I\u2019ve seen more deer around Hop Sing\u2019s garden then I have up here.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe grinned and sat on the ground. “Maybe the animals smell Hoss,” he said over his shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

“And maybe they hear Little Joe,” Hoss shot back.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled at his boys and blew on his coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

+++<\/span><\/p>\n

“Pa?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s voice drifted to Ben that night across the gently burning campfire.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, son?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“How\u2019d you learn all that about the stars?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s one of the ways you navigate a ship, son. The other way is by the sun.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“What if you can\u2019t see the sun or the stars?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben chuckled. “Then it gets harder.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Is it really that big, Pa?” Hoss asked from Joe\u2019s left side. “Folks say you can get on that ocean and there\u2019s nothing but water.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“There\u2019s nothing but water and you can see the curve of the earth.”<\/span><\/p>\n

His two younger sons found this astonishing. By the firelight he saw his oldest son smile, close his book, and lay on top of his bedroll.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Remember when we were on that beach in Louisiana and it was nothing but water there?” Joe asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You\u2019re thinking of Mississippi,” Adam said. “Louisiana\u2019s nothing but swamps.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Is not!”<\/span><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s mostly swamps,” Hoss agreed. Then his voice brightened and Ben knew it was going to be a while before they settled. “Remember those stories we used to hear about the swamps?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“What stories?” Little Joe asked excitedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know, Little Joe,” Adam said, purposely hedging. “They were pretty scary.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I ain\u2019t afraid of nothing,” the boy bragged and Ben was glad it was dark so they couldn\u2019t see him fighting a laugh.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well,” Adam said slowly. “All right. Let me see if I can remember one.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course he could. And as he told it, Ben winced wondering how many nightmares the story would give Little Joe. He had an active enough imagination on his own. Add to that Adam\u2019s talent for making a story come alive and it was probably leading to bad dreams for Joe and sleepless nights for Ben. Unless he made Adam stay up with his youngest brother – that would be justice.<\/span><\/p>\n

The story Adam remembered was a particularly grizzly one. New Orleans was full of all kinds of tales but this one was about half-dead people who were doomed to wander in the swamps while their bodies rotted off their bones.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Stop!” Joe hissed after a few minutes and Adam obeyed. “I smell \u2018em.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Smell who?” Adam\u2019s voice betrayed no concern.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Those people in the swamp.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben smiled and Adam chuckled. “Joe, you couldn\u2019t possibly smell them. First of all, Louisiana is too far away and second of all they aren\u2019t real. It\u2019s just a -“<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hey,” Hoss said softly. “I smell \u2018em, too.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben rolled his eyes. He had no desire to hear Little Joe wake up screaming in the night out here. “All right. That\u2019s enough.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“No, Pa,” Hoss almost whispered. “I sure \u2018nuff smell them.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“You can\u2019t,” Adam argued, hoping for reason to triumph. But Hoss and Little Joe were convinced they had a whiff of the dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben sat up and put another piece of wood on the fire and his sons blinked in the light. “It stops now,” he ordered.<\/span><\/p>\n

But when he woke the next morning, Little Joe was at his left side and Hoss was at his right.<\/span><\/p>\n

+++<\/span><\/p>\n

“Dog gone it, Pa, I ain\u2019t never seen nothin\u2019 like it,” Hoss muttered. He was one unhappy camper later that morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Seems like we could leastways find somethin\u2019.” His head went down sheepishly. “We can\u2019t go back with nothing for that smokehouse Hop Sing\u2019ll never let us hear the end of it.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam looked from the tops of his dark blue eyes and put down his metal breakfast plate. “Maybe we should split up today.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben put on his best “Pa” face, hoping to hide his enthusiasm for the idea. “I don\u2019t know, son -“<\/span><\/p>\n

“We could cover twice as much territory.” Adam made his proposal softly, with great diplomacy, not eager to argue with Pa unnecessarily.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 face was as bright as the sunshine. “Yeah, Pa. Bet we could get something for the smokehouse for sure that way.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well\u2026” Ben considered his sons over his coffee cup. “You\u2019d need to watch out for Little Joe.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam blinked and swallowed at the same time. He looked like his breakfast had just soured. “Little Joe.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I can take care of myself.” The freckle-faced youngster was incensed by any suggestion otherwise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben tilted his head slightly, meeting Adam\u2019s gaze. “I thought you could go along the creek and I\u2019d take the ridge.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Little Joe,” Adam repeated slowly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. “I\u2019m sure he\u2019d rather be with his big brothers than with me, son.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam turned his head slightly but looked at Pa from the sides of his eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I can take care of myself!” The subject of the discussion was on his feet, balled fists at his waistline.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam made his decision. “Sure, Pa,” he said as he stood. “We\u2019ll take Little Joe and stay by the creek. We\u2019ll meet you at the lightning struck pine midday.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben nodded. “I\u2019ll take care of the campfire and the cleanup.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I can, ya know,” Little Joe said to Hoss\u2019 back as they walked toward the horses.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yeah, but somehow your taking care of yourself always comes down to us rescuin\u2019 ya,” Hoss observed.<\/span><\/p>\n

+++<\/span><\/p>\n

He thought he would never get rid of those boys! And now he had to move fast if he was going to get ahead of them. Ben pushed his horse, familiar with the narrow trail in the pines. From a place where the trees had burned last year, and the new growth wasn\u2019t tall yet, he stood up in the saddle stirrups and spotted his sons far behind him along the creek.<\/span><\/p>\n

Good. Memories of this were going to keep him chuckling all fall.<\/span><\/p>\n

He put his mount into a gallop that would have warranted a reprimand if any of his sons had done the same in such terrain and finally pulled up when he judged he was close to his destination. After leading his horse to the opposite side of the ridge so he wouldn\u2019t nicker to the boys\u2019 horses when they showed up, Ben carried his precious cargo down the slope.<\/span><\/p>\n

He had worked on this for weeks, ever since the first time he\u2019d said something to Adam about being so light on his feet he could sneak up on a wild turkey. Every hunter knew how wily those big birds could be. Sometimes it seemed they sensed movement a mile away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben glanced around before he left the tree line, and then walked down to the thicket just this side of the creek. It was the perfect spot. There was the thicket, then the creek, and a bluff on the other side. Sitting on his heels, he untied the sack he\u2019d made sure to keep hidden from the boys.<\/span><\/p>\n

What a fine looking turkey \u2013 even if he did say so himself. He\u2019d worked on it for the past three weeks, every evening in his room and sometimes during the day when he could think up enough chores to keep the boys away from the house. At those times, Hop Sing had enjoyed helping. First they\u2019d stitched tea-dipped muslin in the shape of a turkey\u2019s head, neck and body. They\u2019d stuffed it with everything from straw to weeds to cotton. After that had come the tedious work of finding enough chicken and bird feathers to cover the neck and then one day Hop Sing presented him with a sack of turkey feathers. He only smiled when Ben asked where they had come from. So he\u2019d spent hours poking the feathers into the muslin body. Then he\u2019d needed Hop Sing\u2019s help again to stitch red cloth under the face, near the neck, to resemble a wattle. By the time they were finished, and the turkey was completed, both had agreed that at least from a distance it was a pretty good decoy.<\/span><\/p>\n

They had taken to calling it Tom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben pushed two metal pieces into Tom\u2019s belly for legs and drove those into the dirt with his boot heel, then brushed the high grass with his hands so it didn\u2019t look broken.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back-stepping he tipped his hat to his cohort in mischief and then climbed uphill to his observation spot, hidden in the shade of the pines, to wait.<\/span><\/p>\n

And wait.<\/span><\/p>\n

And wait.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where the devil were those boys?<\/span><\/p>\n

If it were just Hoss and Joe he could understand \u2013 they could forget faster than a forgiven sinner. Not Adam. From the time he\u2019d been old enough to go to school, except for a spell when he was about 12 or so, he\u2019d always been diligent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe they\u2019d shot something, though the only rifle reports he\u2019d heard had been the ones the day Adam and he were out hunting. Maybe\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

The jingle of saddle tack reached his anxious ears and Ben leaned forward, forearms resting on his knees.<\/span><\/p>\n

Down below, a couple of yards this side of the creek, Adam rode alone. Why alone? They must have found something farther back and Adam had left his brothers to take care of it while he scouted ahead. He\u2019d rather they stayed together until they were older and more experienced. He\u2019d told them so enough times he\u2019d thought surely it had sunk in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben glanced quickly toward Tom and then back at his oldest son, riding easily on a direct collision course. He wiped his lower face with his gloved hand and then grinned widely when he realized there was no one to see him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam was as slow and methodical in scouting as he was about everything else. Just when Ben was about to shout at him that there was a turkey ahead, Adam pulled up his horse. He leaned forward in the saddle, peering at Tom over the high grass, and then slowly stood in the stirrups.<\/span><\/p>\n

That a boy, Ben silently cheered. Go on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting back down, Adam reached for his rifle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh, no. Don\u2019t do that, son. That\u2019ll ruin all the fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, as if a new thought occurred to him, Adam reset the rifle. He eased from the saddle so quietly that Ben didn\u2019t even hear the leather creak and he tied his horse to the edge of the thicket line. He deliberated on something a minute, looked in all directions, then left his hat and rifle on the horse and took a step forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam was a wonder to watch. He moved through the high grass the way Ben had seen house cats stalk prey \u2013 take a step, freeze, take another step, freeze. Where had he learned that? Had he slipped out of the house in New Orleans more times than Ben realized?<\/span><\/p>\n

With infinite patience Adam closed in on Tom, his slender body barely rippling the grass.<\/span><\/p>\n

Closer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Closer.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was almost within striking distance.<\/span><\/p>\n

BLAM!<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam fell to the ground and Tom disintegrated into tiny, floating bits of cloth and stuffing.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Dang, Little Joe, you done blew that turkey to\u2026”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Stop shooting!!” Adam screamed.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Adam?” Hoss stood up in the thicket with a wide-eyed Little Joe beside him.<\/span><\/p>\n

His heart beating again, Ben\u2019s temper launched and he stormed down the slope. “How many times have I told you not to shoot until you know what you are shooting at?!” Even his relief at seeing his oldest son struggle to his feet unbloodied but covered with stuffing could not stop his rage. “How many times have I told you not to split up? To be sure you know where every other hunter is before you shoot anything?!” By the time he reached them he was ready to have their hides. “Well?!!!”<\/span><\/p>\n

His only answer was the top of three heads as they looked down.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I have\u00a0never<\/u>\u00a0been so disappointed in you!”<\/span><\/p>\n

Wait a minute.<\/span><\/p>\n

What was going on here? Their heads were down but Adam\u2019s shoulders were shaking. And Hoss had his left hand over his mouth. Little Joe\u2019s hands were jammed so hard in his front pants pockets they threatened to tear the lining.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lowering his voice he directed them to look at him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam was first to obey, looking from the tops of his eyes while his lips betrayed a smile Ben knew well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe followed; chin up, looking from the bottoms of his eyes and down his nose as if he were seven feet tall. The dimples in his cheeks were as deep as ever.<\/span><\/p>\n

What was going on here?<\/span><\/p>\n

“I cain\u2019t do it, Pa,” Hoss shook his downcast head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben frowned. “Would you care to explain why?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll start laughing, Pa,” came the husky confession.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Laughing?” Ben repeated. Now he was completely puzzled.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, sir. If you just could have seen your face when you came tearing out of those trees, hollering at us like all get-out\u2026”<\/span><\/p>\n

Frowning, Ben looked to his oldest son. “Would you please explain to me what is so funny?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam licked his top lip and gave a slight jerk of his head toward the two wire legs \u2013 all that remained of the once-proud Tom. “We knew, Pa.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Knew.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“About the turkey,” Little Joe said. “We were coming down the creek when we saw you putting it in the ground.” Confession made, his face went a little wary.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss finally looked up, wiping at eyes that had been tearing with laughter. “I guess you could say the joke\u2019s on you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

For very little he could have run them all up the nearest tree. Except for the fact that he had to admit it was a pretty good sense of humor that could turn a man\u2019s own joke on him.<\/span><\/p>\n

He felt his lips twitch and then he made a quick grab for Little Joe, who wasn\u2019t expecting it.<\/span><\/p>\n

“No, Pa!” he yelled, a hand atop his hat. “No!” He laughed and twisted as Ben tickled his ribs. “Help!” he called out to his brothers.<\/span><\/p>\n

For the briefest of moments Hoss and Adam exchanged shrugs that communicated volumes. Then they dove in, playfully trying to tear their brother from Pa\u2019s arms \u2013 or to tear their brother apart; it didn\u2019t much matter.<\/span><\/p>\n

+++<\/span><\/p>\n

“Not even a rabbit to bring back.” Hoss muttered as they rode easily up the slope toward the house in the early evening light. “Brand new smokehouse and it\u2019ll sit empty.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, son, that\u2019s just how things go sometimes.” Ben felt more philosophical than he probably should. He, too, was tired of their usual culinary fare. But the camping had been a welcome diversion. There was plenty of time to head back, with one boy at a time, for some serious hunting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 nose went up like a wolf\u2019s to the scent. “Um, now that smells good.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe, too, sat straight in the saddle. “Gee, Pa, what do you figure that is?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben swung from the saddle and handed the reins to Hoss. “Not sure. You boys tend the horses and then come straight in. It smells like Hop Sing has dinner just about ready.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Pulling off his gloves and then removing his hat, he quickly crossed the porch and stepped into the welcoming home.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Ah, you return just in time,” Hop Sing said, smiling from the cooking fireplace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben made his way toward him. “Something smells good.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing gave a gentle, acknowledging nod of his head. “Venison steaks with special herbs.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Venison!” Ben became aware his mouth was hanging open. “Where did you get venison?”<\/span><\/p>\n

The young man shrugged nonchalantly. “Smokehouse.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes, but, where did you get it before that?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“From deer.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben counted to ten. Sometimes this one could be as exasperating as his sons and Ben had a sneaking suspicion he enjoyed doing it. “And where did you get the deer?” he asked with exaggerated patience.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Garden.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Hop Sing.” Ben put his hands on the top rail of the wooden settee to keep from clinching them at his side. “Deer don\u2019t grow in gardens.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“No, but they eat. Hop Sing tell them he tired of working hard and them eating everything. They not listen. So Hop Sing go out early in morning and shoot them.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Them? How many are in the smokehouse?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Two. Would have had three but only had two rifles.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben turned on his boot heels as Hop Sing crossed the room. “You \u2013 you got each of those deer with one shot?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing looked over his shoulder as he carried a dish of potatoes to the table. “Why? You can not do?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Well, yes, but I learned how to hunt a long time ago with\u2026” Ben shook his head. This was beside the point. “Where did you learn to hunt like that?”<\/span><\/p>\n

The young man only smiled, his dark eyes twinkling. “Don\u2019t always eat vegetables.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Their conversation fell by the wayside as Adam, Hoss and Little Joe came into the house, all talking at once and assuring Hop Sing they were starved.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben guessed they supposed Hop Sing had traded for the venison steaks, or maybe they didn\u2019t want to question their good fortune too much, because they asked no questions beyond “Could you pass the potatoes, please?” and “Are there anymore peas?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“What you bring back from hunting trip?” Hop Sing finally asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three boys studiously avoided the question, leaving Ben to stammer an explanation that they\u2019d only been able to hunt enough to feed themselves each day. “I don\u2019t think there were many animals up where we were,” he finished.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Probably because of bear,” Hop Sing stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss paused with his fork at his mouth. “Bear?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Um,” Hop Sing nodded. “Man named Harrison stop by. He kill two bear day before today in that country people call Ridgetop \u2013 you know, pretty lake not far from it.”<\/span><\/p>\n

All the Cartwright eyes met.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yeah,” Adam said slowly, remembering the rifle shots Pa and he had heard, “we know the place.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing sliced into his meat. “Man say very dangerous bears. Him say people hunting there ignore all sign – like how bad bear smell – and do very dangerous things like keep food close by. Him say despite all hunting, these people not have anything to show. You see these people?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss frowned and looked down. “Far as I know we was the only ones up at Ridge\u2026” He stopped suddenly with a pained expression and frowned at Adam who sat across the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

“This is excellent venison, Hop Sing,” Adam said quickly. “Where\u2019s it from?”<\/span><\/p>\n

Oh no, Ben thought. Not again. But to his surprise, Hop Sing gave Adam a straight answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I shoot. Both of them. They together now in smokehouse.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The boys stared in amazement.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Y-you shot it?” Little Joe asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

He sat straight, trying not to gloat. “Hop Sing man of many talents.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben touched his napkin to the edges of his lips and pushed his chair back from the table. “Hop Sing,” he said, “how would you like to go on a hunting trip?”<\/span><\/p>\n

His friend smiled. “Would be most honored.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I believe,” Ben corrected, “the honor would be mine.”<\/span><\/p>\n

+++<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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