Summary: There are definite advantages to being the youngest Cartwright.\u00a0 And who would know that better than Little Joe?<\/p>\n
Rating: G\u00a0\u00a0 Word Count: 657<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Little Joe Cartwright was the cutest little boy you ever saw. Just ask anyone. His Pa loved all of his three sons, but the youngest was hands down his favorite. Everyone knew that, even the other boys who oddly didn\u2019t seem to mind. That was because they agreed with their Pa. Little Joe was indeed special and could do no wrong. At least before puberty.<\/p>\n
Teenage Little Joe was quite a ladies man, but still little enough to be considered a boy when it was convenient. \u201cThat boy,\u201d<\/em> his Pa would chuckle. Such a mop top scamp to pull a gun on his father. (Of course, his brothers could never get away with something like that.) And he could cry on a dime which was a definite asset, because there was nothing more endearing or heart wrenching than a tear trickling from one of Little Joe Cartwright\u2019s sparkling green eyes as his bottom lip quivered, unless it was the way he hugged it out with his Pa whenever he was sad or upset. Awww..<\/em>.<\/p>\n Trouble seemed to follow all the Cartwrights, but Little Joe most of all. Nearly every girl he loved met a tragic end. Someone was always after him, wanting revenge, trying to kill him or maim him or frame him or marry him or just misuse him for their own entertainment. But even though he was the littlest, he proved to be the toughest. Nothing could run him off the Ponderosa or keep him from his destiny. He always bounced back, no matter who or what came at him \u2013 guns, arrows, knives, wolves, explosions, fevers, broken bones, saddle sores, silver kings, cattle barons, thugs, robbers, revolutionaries, horse thieves, rustlers, outlaws, corrupt lawmen, politicos, syndicates, kidnappers, sheepherders, squatters, psychos, sadists, social climbers, designing women, mean girls, even an evil twin. They were no match for gritty, spunky, never-say-die Little Joe Cartwright with hair equally up to any challenge.<\/p>\n If his Pa or brothers were in trouble, that\u2019s when Little Joe really shined, because they were his family, all for one and one for all just like the Musketeers. Every year for Pa\u2019s birthday he\u2019d proudly nearly get himself killed outdoing everyone else to give \u201cthe best gift\u201d which always turned out to be himself. (Pa could afford to buy his own saddle and rifle and would never use up that much Old Spice in a lifetime anyway.) And though he wouldn\u2019t admit it, sometimes he was late to his own birthday party just so he could make a grand entrance after everyone had been up half the night worrying. Pa didn\u2019t really appreciate it, but that was Joseph, the little rascal, and how could he ever really get mad at someone who is just so darned cute? Now, who wants a hug?<\/p>\n His brothers are beginning to get a little suspicious…<\/i><\/p>\n Adam has a novel idea. \u201cLet\u2019s talk about our feelings, then maybe take a vote on the hug.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss has a better one. \u201cLet\u2019s eat first. Or we could talk about our feelings while we eat. Either way I\u2019m too hangry right now to hug.\u201d<\/p>\n Pa reminds them it\u2019s not polite to talk with their mouths full. Food, then feelings, then hugs. \u201cIs that all right with you, Little Joe?\u2019<\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s lip quivers and a tear rolls down his cheek. Pa melts. He\u2019s always ready for a hug. \u201cThere, there.\u201d He strokes the tousled curly locks nestled against his chest. \u201cMy boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam is not amused. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss is getting hangrier by the second. \u201cI need food!\u201d<\/p>\n Pa glares at his less sensitive sons. \u201cYou two ought to be ashamed. You can eat anytime. And we can talk about feelings when you have children of your own. Now, go dig the new outhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe snug-huggles his Pa and grins, waggling his cute eyebrows ever so adorably. He\u2019ll never be too old for this. Aw yeah, bring it in\u2026.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n END<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are definite advantages to being the youngest Cartwright. And who would know that better than Little Joe?
\nRating: G Word Count: 657<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10253,"featured_media":13990,"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":[1008,4,1007,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","category-humor","category-joe-cartwright","category-short-stories","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-4-id","wpcat-1007-id","wpcat-8-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":false,"total_views":636,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/House-Divided.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7728,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7728","url_meta":{"origin":50522,"position":0},"title":"I’ve Got A Secret (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Little Joe knows a secret Adam would rather he did not tell. Rated: K+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a01085","rel":"","context":"In "Brothers"","block_context":{"text":"Brothers","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1009"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12932,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12932","url_meta":{"origin":50522,"position":1},"title":"Bed Time #1 – Before Bed Time (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"January 14, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 It's bed time on the Ponderosa for three-year old Little Joe. Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (6,860 words) Bed Time Series, links to stories within the series are included.","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":7631,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7631","url_meta":{"origin":50522,"position":2},"title":"Tarnished Armor (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Hoss's deceit tarnishes his armor in Emily's eyes. Rated:\u00a0K+\u00a0 Word count:\u00a02843 Emily's Sir Eric Series, links to all the stories within the series included.","rel":"","context":"In "Ben \/ Hoss"","block_context":{"text":"Ben \/ Hoss","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1017"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Cherry-Tree.jpg?fit=500%2C375&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12750,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12750","url_meta":{"origin":50522,"position":3},"title":"A Modern Cartwrights Story #3 – A Quarter\u2019s Worth of Glory: Joe in the Infernal Machine (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"January 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Headlines ripped from the daily newspaper in this modern era tale of the Cartwrights. Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (775 word) A Modern Cartwright Story Series, links to stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":13119,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13119","url_meta":{"origin":50522,"position":4},"title":"A New Year’s Renewal (by Karen)","author":"Karen","date":"July 7, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 It's the littlest things in life and the littlest one who can inspire. Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (1,045 words)","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":6784,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6784","url_meta":{"origin":50522,"position":5},"title":"Little Joe Cartwright, Thief (by pbeaking)","author":"pbeaking","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Little Joe finds himself in trouble when he is caught stealing from the mercantile. There\u2019s no denying that he did do it, but why? Now he must face his father and explain his actions. This was my first story ever. Warning: it does contain corporal punishment. 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