{"id":5717,"date":"2011-07-08T23:05:32","date_gmt":"2011-07-09T03:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5717"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:25:19","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:25:19","slug":"friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5717","title":{"rendered":"Friends (by BnzaGal)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Joe and his school friends have their lunch interrupted by something terrible and Joe finds that maybe he isn’t as brave as he thought he was.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0T \u00a0(10,720 words)
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was my Chaps & Spurs “Mega Challenge” contribution. It is FINISHED! now but was updated once a month using the words given to us in that month’s C&S challenge. \u00a0Rated:<\/span>\u00a0T<\/span><\/p>\n

Friends<\/strong><\/p>\n

They weren\u2019t far from the schoolhouse.<\/strong> Just down the hill and over the old skeleton of what had once been a tall tree that had fallen down before any of the five boys had been able to ride a horse. From there it was only a gentle slide down a grassy slope and a hop across two larger rocks and an overturned bucket that had disappeared from the schoolhouse pump at the beginning of the school year to reach the small island in the middle on the wide sluggish creek.<\/p>\n

Turning to look back up the slope, Joe could see the broken tip of the old tree. If the school bell rang, signalling the end of their lunch break, the friends could scurry back to the schoolhouse steps before the girls could pull all that remained of the wildflowers from their hair, dresses, and wherever else it was that girls stuffed those smelly flowers.<\/p>\n

Miss Jones wouldn\u2019t miss them at all. She was normally busy reading books filled with long confusing words and written in a language normal folks didn\u2019t use any more.<\/p>\n

The boys sneaked down here to the creek often to skip rocks or take their boots off and wiggle their toes in the cool waters. As long as they were careful to roll their pant legs up and refrained from splashing each other too much no one would be the wiser.<\/p>\n

Lunch pails were opened and the contents devoured or traded amongst the five boys who made the nearly daily trek down to their secret spot. Five pairs of feet dangled in the water. The sun shown through the surrounding trees and fell warm on young cheeks.<\/p>\n

Nine year old Joseph Cartwright bit into a sandwich made on Hop Sing\u2019s freshly baked bread. It was soft and delicious in his mouth. He sighed happily and leaned back on an elbow in the tall grass. There was nothing quite like a break from all that schoolwork to relax your best friends in the world. The world was a big place, especially to a\u00a0nine year old, but Joe was sure that he could go all across it and never find better friends.<\/p>\n

Mitch Devlin rested his half eaten apple on his knee while he reached for a fist sized stone. Out of the corner of his eye, Mitch watched the boy directly to his left, Jack Collins. A slow smile spread mischievously across his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t even think about it.\u201d Jack didn\u2019t look up from his piece of cold chicken. \u201cI got my sleeve wet last time and Miss Jones got suspicious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told her that Charlie tripped and sloshed water on him.\u201d Seth Pruitt stretched out on his back and folded his arms beneath his head. \u201cShe believed him. You do have a reputation, Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charlie Turner shrugged, \u201cPa said I was born clumsy, but then so was my Ma. She\u2019s still knockin\u2019 things over all the time it seems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReckon this\u2019ll be about the last time we\u2019re gonna get to come down here?\u201d Joe watched as another leaf drifted down from the old oak the stood thick and strong on the opposite shore.<\/p>\n

Seth pulled his feet out of the water, \u201cThe water sure ain\u2019t as warm as it used to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither are the days,\u201d Mitch sighed and tossed the rock he still held in his fist. It hit one of the stepping stones and bounced off to sink in the shallow water.<\/p>\n

\u201cHad to close my window last night \u2018cause it felt like every bit of cold air Nevada Territory has was tryin\u2019 to sneak in through it.\u201d Jack licked at his fingers left greasy from his chicken.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish summer\u2019s were three times longer than everything else.\u201d Joe grumbled. \u201cSeems like we just start havin\u2019 fun and we have to go back to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll still have good times, Joe.\u201d Jack grinned. \u201cSchool just gives us an excuse to see each other every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

A noise brought the five boys to their feet only it wasn\u2019t the school bell signalling that lunch was over. Someone was screaming. Not the kind of scream that meant a spider had just crawled through the group of girls making daisy chains, nor was it the kind of scream Miss Jones gave when she was startled by one of the boys jumping out to scare her. No, it was a scream that made cowards run in the other direction and the five friends run toward the source as fast as their short legs could carry them.<\/p>\n

Joe had always been the fastest runner and led the group across the fallen log and up the hill to the schoolhouse grounds. The fact that they were running toward trouble didn\u2019t slow them. With wide eyes they rounded the corner of the schoolhouse one after the other and nearly slammed up against the trouble that, in their young minds, they were coming to extinguish.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many kids can a town have?\u201d The gruff voice belonged to a man, heavily bearded and short. He shoved Joe toward one of the other two men who stood guns drawn and pointed at the group of children who clung to each other in fear.<\/p>\n

The man caught up a handful of Joe\u2019s hair and Joe winced a tried to pull away only to feel the hand in his hair tighten and twist.<\/p>\n

Fear ignited in Little Joe\u2019s chest. Not slowly like a piece of wood in the fireplace the fire gradually creeping into its core, but like the time the dry grass behind the Hank\u2019s Livery caught fire, quick and consuming. Joe\u2019s throat went dry in the time it took the fear to paralyze him. He couldn\u2019t even muster the voice to protest the rough way he was being handled.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, they\u2019re just children.\u201d Miss Jones tried to wrap her arms around as many children as possible and stand in front of the rest. \u201cJust leave before the sheriff finds out where you\u2019ve gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe tried to turn his head enough to study the man who held his gun at his fellow classmates. He was tall and broad like Joe\u2019s pa but harder. His jaw was set like granite. For a moment his eyes looked down and found Joe\u2019s. Joe wondered if he could read the fear in his eyes and immediately tried to replace the fear with a fiery defiance.<\/p>\n

The man smiled and the defiance all but melted from Joe\u2019s face. His smile seemed so much worse then his stony glare. \u201cPick yourself out a shield and we\u2019ll leave the teacher to her pupils.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Miss Jones pushed the students she had been hugging behind her and spread out her arms. \u201cPlease, don\u2019t touch these children\u2026take me.\u201d Her voice wavered slightly but her head raised and she looked each of the men full in the face. \u201cLet the children go.\u201d<\/p>\n

The smile hardened, \u201cDo what I said.\u201d He moved until he had his free arm around Joe\u2019s neck. Joe instinctively raised his hands to try to pull away the arm from his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cMove, Teacher.\u201d The short bearded man waved his gun at Miss Jones.<\/p>\n

She didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said, move.\u201d His voice raised and his gun levelled. \u201cFine.\u201d He growled pulling the trigger.<\/p>\n

Screams from the children erupted as Miss Jones fell to her knees, clutching at her shoulder. Joe stood frozen in horror.<\/p>\n

The one who had yet to speak moved forward. \u201cYou should have just killed her, Fin.\u201d He kicked at Miss Jones as he reached past her to wrap his hand around the wrist of Jack. Jack dug in his heels and the man had to drag him toward where the three horses waited. A swift slap across the face made Jack\u2019s feet start moving.<\/p>\n

The short one named\u00a0Al reached for one of the older girls. Elsie was sixteen and was the only girl her age who hadn\u2019t stopped going to school in order to help her mother at home or get married. She was\u00a0a nice girl\u00a0and had made Joe\u2019s\u00a0oldest brother, Adam, stumble through simple conversations before he had left for Boston and college earlier that year.<\/p>\n

Miss Jones let out a moaning cry when young Elsie screamed as\u00a0Al pulled her toward his horse.<\/p>\n

Joe found himself being tossed up into a saddle. Looking down he found the man he would be shielding smiling at him. \u201cThe name\u2019s Doug. So glad you could join us.\u201d With that Doug swung up behind Joe. \u201cLet\u2019s get going.\u201d He tipped his hat toward Miss Jones who still knelt in front of her remaining students, \u201cPleasure doing business with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Al\u00a0laughed and hauled Elsie up behind him. \u201cYes, thank you kindly, Teacher\u201d<\/p>\n

The quiet one hit Jack again before roughly depositing him atop his horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go, boys,\u201d Doug said digging his heels into his horse.<\/p>\n

Joe closed his eyes tightly as the schoolhouse disappeared behind them.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you for reading and feel free to let me know what you thought about it.<\/em><\/p>\n

C&S August 2011\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/p>\n

This months words are:\u00a0August, Majestic, Noble, Dignified, and Imposing.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Madness. Utterly chaotic madness. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and complete strangers congested the road to the Virginia City schoolhouse. Most were on foot but some had jumped on the nearest available horse and were trying to weave quickly amongst the crowd.<\/p>\n

There was nothing dignified about the scramble to ensure that it hadn\u2019t been their child taken. Not their child! There was nothing noble or decent in the way frantic mothers clawed past one another nearly in tears crying to God that it was someone else\u2019s child gone and not her own.<\/p>\n

It never ceased to amaze Virginia City\u2019s sheriff, Roy Coffee, how fast bad news traveled. On many occasions it ran faster than he did. Family members were arriving in the schoolyard and demanding their children before Roy had a chance to sort through what had happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust the three,\u201d Miss Jones held a bloody hand against a makeshift bandage on her shoulder. \u201cAll the rest of the children are here, except for the one I sent into town after you and the Doc.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy pushed his hat back on his head. He was sweating as if it were the middle of August and not the end of September. Children were whimpering and holding onto each other as if they feared they too would be taken if they let go. Younger, older, girl, boy it didn\u2019t matter, all of them were shook up. Most had streaks from tears down their dirty little faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho did they take?\u201d A father gripped strongly on the sheriff\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s my son?\u201d A mother frantically turned in circles looking for her child.<\/p>\n

\u201cFolks!\u201d Roy stepped up on the schoolhouse steps. \u201cFolks! Quiet down\u2026 please.\u201d Roy raised his gun in the air and fired. \u201cThank you,\u201d the sheriff re-holstered his gun. \u201cNow we\u2019ve got us a situation here. I\u2019m gonna need a posse and we\u2019re going to have to ride within the next half hour. We\u2019ll meet up in front of my jail.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd was quiet now. Children began to find their parents and relived parents wrapped their children in their embrace.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe men we had in the jail broke out this morning and killed my deputy, Devon.\u201d Roy clasped his fist angrily. \u201cThey stole three horses and took three of the children with them.\u201d Roy\u2019s eyes swept over the crowd and he spotted imposing figure of Ben Cartwright arriving.<\/p>\n

The sheriff prepared himself. \u201cThey took Jack Collins, Elsie Vaters, and\u2026\u201d He found his eyes meeting with Ben\u2019s. \u201cJoe Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Horror mixed with a fierce anger passed across Ben\u2019s face. Roy found himself feeling sorry for the scum that had taken young Joe. When Ben caught up to them, Roy knew he might have to restrain his friend from doing something foolish. When it came to the safety of his sons you could count on Ben to fight long and hard and never stop until his boy was safe under his roof again.<\/p>\n

Roy knew that the odds of bringing the children back alive were stacked up against them. They may lose good men, men like Deputy Devon who was lying under a blanket at Doc Martin\u2019s office. There was nothing grand or majestic about casing down murderous men, unlike the newspapers seemed to always claim. It was dangerous and gruelling, but necessary. \u00a0The lives of two nine year old boys and a sixteen year old girl were at stake.<\/p>\n

The thought of what may happen to poor Elsie Vaters should they fail flashed through Roy\u2019s brain along with images of the two mischievous, lively boys lying dead. It was times like these when being sheriff was a heavy burden to bear.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

September by BnzaGal<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Words: Anniversary, Celebration, Passing, Memorial, and Round Up.<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Roy watched his friend saddle his horse. His rough motions failed to mask the way his hands trembled. Roy knew they were going to do everything they could to recover Little Joe and the others. He could only pray that it would be enough.<\/p>\n

It was cruel how life had a way of arranging things. Roy knew that the anniversary of Marie\u2019s passing was just days away, and now her son, the only valuable thing she had left behind, was stolen away from Ben. Just when he needed the boy near to cherish and hold onto.<\/p>\n

The day would come and go with Ben on the trail of the men who had taken his son. Roy prayed harder then he ever had before that the day would not claim another Cartwright, that no other memorial stones would have to be placed on that hill overlooking Lake Tahoe, marking the place where one had gone on ahead far too soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d Roy turned to see Hoss pushing his way through the crowd of men gathered to help round up the criminals who had broken from their town\u2019s jail.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I told you to go home.\u201d Ben spoke almost harshly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Pa. But that\u2019s my little brother out there.\u201d The youth stood firmly in front of his Pa. \u201cI don\u2019t know if he\u2019s fine or hurt or dead.\u201d The last word was choked with the emotion rising in the 15 year old.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going.\u201d Hoss squared his shoulders. \u201cLittle Joe needs me. If it were Adam you\u2019d let him go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s older,\u201d Ben pulled out the excuse worn from much use.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m old enough to fight for what\u2019s mine.\u201d Hoss\u2019 pierced through Ben. \u201cAnd Joe\u2019s part of my family. I ain\u2019t gonna stand by and wait around here while he\u2019s out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben peered deeply into his son\u2019s blue eyes. He could see Inger in those eyes. He was so like his mother. Brave and willing to fight for those he loved. When had he grown up? How had Ben failed to notice what a young man he\u2019d become?<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I let you come, you\u2019ll do exactly as I say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss was already heading for his horse, \u201cI will, Pa. Promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben mounted his horse slower than normal. His eyes turned toward heaven with the prayer shared by all fathers. A prayer for the safety of his children. And he wouldn\u2019t stop praying until his children were safe under his roof once more.<\/p>\n

– C&S –\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fear. Joe had never really understood how all consuming that one feeling could be. It crowded out everything else and choked him more and more the farther they rode. His heart told him to fight back while his petrified mind told him not to move.<\/p>\n

So he sat still. Hating his fear but feeling unable to overcome it. He felt tears form behind his eyes, but he forced them back. They wouldn\u2019t make him cry. He wouldn\u2019t let them see him cry.<\/p>\n

A strong arm was wrapped around Joe\u2019s middle, growing tighter every time he wiggled. The trail had grown less and less familiar the farther they went and now he found his surroundings wholly unrecognizable.<\/p>\n

Elsie cried silently from the horse that walked directly beside the one Joe was on. Joe could see the tears track down her face.<\/p>\n

She wasn\u2019t pretty. With the sun shining down an her as they rode her hair almost looked golden. Almost. But it was a shade or two to dark, the natural highlights cancelled out by the lowlights. Her ears stuck out slightly which she often took advantage of by tucking her hair behind them. Her nose was just a fraction too short, her complexion not perfectly pure.\u00a0 A deep tan covered her observable skin. She could have been thinner in some places and fuller in others. Her eyes were a brown flecked with gold, her one truly beautiful feature. Not that she was ugly. Just\u2026 plain.<\/p>\n

Joe could remember thinking that Pa had been glad to see Adam take interest in a girl who was not gorgeous. He could remember eavesdropping from atop the stairs and hearing Pa state that she was a bright, kind, and brave girl.<\/p>\n

But Adam had been heading for college. Education would come first before he would allow himself to think seriously about courting a girl.<\/p>\n

Joe looked at Elsie. Her eyes were red, fear was written across her face. Pa had called her brave, but you couldn\u2019t see that now. Of course, Pa had thought Joe to be brave.<\/p>\n

Joe bowed his head, he was glad his Pa couldn\u2019t see how scared he was. Would Pa think less of him if he knew what a coward his son had turned out to be?<\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t help it. They were going to kill him. He knew it. How many stories had he heard of hostages being killed once they were no longer of use?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll reach that miner\u2019s cabin I told you about before night fall.\u201d Al smiled. \u201cThen from there we\u2019ll be on to Mexico. Ain\u2019t no posse that can track us through these mountains.\u201d There was a hint of celebration in his voice, as if he were already across the border.<\/p>\n

Doug shifted in the saddle to look back at where Garth rode, \u201cWe\u2019re about to disappear without a trace to never be heard from again.\u201d Doug chuckled and kicked his horse into a faster walk. \u201cAnd to think, just this morning we were waiting for our hanging in old man Coffee\u2019s jail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe tried not to shudder. Why couldn\u2019t he be as brave as he had always thought himself to be?<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

C&S October 2011 by BnzaGal<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

This month’s words were: Graveled, Cavil, Palaver, Shy, and Obloquy<\/em><\/p>\n

I have added the definitions of the words at the bottom of this chapter.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

OCTOBER<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cCome now, Adam, don\u2019t look so graveled.\u201d Evan Blaydon smiled triumphantly. Lording his knowledge and vocabulary over the rancher boy always brought that smug smile to his face.<\/p>\n

Adam tried not to let his face betray his inner struggle. He always knew that going all the way to Boston to attend college would be difficult, but he hadn\u2019t anticipated the teasing that stemmed from the fact that he had grown up out west on a ranch, working harder in a month than most of these boys would in there lifetime.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Adam,\u201d Blaydon increased his pace to keep up with the long strides of his quarry. \u201cI never thought you were one to be shy\u00a0of a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know you were offering a challenge.\u201d Adam had half a smile play over his face at the way Evan\u2019s short legs had to work to keep up with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Adam,\u201d James Firth waved a piece of paper in the air. \u201cI\u2019ve got a telegram for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned toward the one good friend he had made in Boston.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was sending one to the folks to let them know I was settled when this one came through.\u201d James passed the folded and slightly rumpled paper to Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll bet he already read it,\u201d Evan sniffed and smoothed his shirt out, checking his appearance in the window they had stopped beside.<\/p>\n

\u201cI deserve no such obloquy,\u201d James threw a little glare in Evan\u2019s direction. \u201cAdam?\u201d James noted his friend\u2019s dark look. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy brother,\u201d Adam reread the telegram for the third time. \u201cHe\u2019s been taken.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTaken?\u201d Evan\u2019s eyes left his own reflection. \u201cAre they sure he hasn\u2019t just wandered out onto the range?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, they\u2019re sure. Three men broke out of jail and took three of the school children as hostages.\u201d Adam crumpled the telegram in his fist. \u201cI have to go.\u201d Already Adam\u2019s mind was planning his journey home and calculating how fast he could get there.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what about your classes?\u201d James placed a gentle hand on his friend\u2019s shoulder. \u201cYou\u2019ve worked so hard to get here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my brother we\u2019re talking about. His life is in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you can\u2019t help him,\u201d Evan\u2019s words brought a heated scowl from Adam. \u201cI don’t want to cavil. I am being serious here.\u201d Evan raised his hands in a stopping gesture then continued, \u201cYou\u2019re a rational man, Adam. How quickly can you get back home?\u201d He didn\u2019t wait for an answer. \u201cBy the time you get there your brother will either be back safe and sound or\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate to agree with him, Adam,\u201d James tried to meet Adam\u2019s gaze, \u201cbut he\u2019s right. Did your father ask you to come?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head looking down at the crumpled paper in his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told you not to come didn\u2019t he?\u201d Evan crossed his arms.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow old is your brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNine,\u201d Adam set his jaw. \u201cThis is all just palaver. I\u2019m going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Adam\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJames,\u201d Evan cut him off. \u201cDo you have a brother? No? Well I do. He\u2019s nine years old, and I\u2019d drown myself in the ocean before I let someone walk off with him without so much as trying to help. I might get there too late to do a lick of good, but that wouldn\u2019t stop me from trying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had half a shadow of a smile on his face, \u201cThank you, Evan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evan nodded, \u201cAny time, Cowboy.\u201d<\/p>\n

–C&S–<\/p>\n

The Virginia City telegraph operator leaned back in his chair and smiled. He had just sent off a young boy with a telegram to the Fulton house with news of their first grandbaby. That was the best part of his job. He was the first one in town to know all the coming good news. Unfortunately, the door swung both ways and he had dispatched devastating news to people he knew and cared about.<\/p>\n

There was no way for him to do anything about the news he received or sent. A little more than an hour ago he had sent young Adam Cartwright the news that his brother had been taken and there was nothing he could do about it except pray. He wished he could go along with the posse in the missing brother\u2019s place, but someone had to stay behind and man the telegraph lines.<\/p>\n

The familiar sound of a message coming through brought the man to his feet. Pencil in hand he expertly wrote down the message. Would it be good news or bad? Who would it affect?<\/p>\n

A smile spread over the telegraph operator\u2019s face. He shook his greying head. Ben should have known better than that. No son of Ben Cartwright would ever stay away when a part of his family was in trouble. Even if he was too far away to help.<\/p>\n

–C&S–<\/p>\n

So this is where they would stay for the night. Joe was roughly hauled off the horse and shoved toward the other two captives.<\/p>\n

Tie their hands, Garth.\u201d Doug ordered drawing his gun and moving towards the little cabin at the edge of the small clearing. Kicking in the door, Doug disappeared inside. Two shots in quick succession sounded from inside the cabin causing Elsie to give a terrified scream.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Al, give me a hand,\u201d Doug\u2019s voice called from the cabin.<\/p>\n

Garth roughly wrapped cords around Elsie\u2019s wrists.<\/p>\n

Joe glanced back down the rocky path they had just ridden up. There were lots of places he could hide. Maybe he could\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cYou even try and I\u2019ll blow her head off.\u201d Garth\u2019s eyes were still on his rope tying. For a moment he flicked his eyes up and held Joe\u2019s gaze then turned back to Elsie\u2019s trembling hands.<\/p>\n

Joe looked back down the trail then clasped his hands together to be tied. He would just have to pray for rescue. He wasn\u2019t brave enough to try and call this man’s bluff\u2026 what if he wasn\u2019t bluffing? He wouldn\u2019t trade her life for his freedom. He couldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

The cords wrapped tightly around Joe\u2019s wrists, biting at his skin. Joe grimaced then followed Elsie and Jack\u2019s gaze. An old man, his once white beard now dripping with red, was being drug from the cabin.<\/p>\n

Elsie\u2019s sobs started again as she looked away gasping.<\/p>\n

Joe felt too sick to cry. He felt the bile choking him, but somehow he kept it down as they were herded toward the cabin, its darkened door yawning like the open mouth of a grave.<\/p>\n

How long would it be before they were dragged away and dumped in the forest like the old man?<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Dear reader,<\/em><\/p>\n

The words we were given in this month\u2019s challenge are not words I would usually use 1. Because I like to keep my stories easy to read and 2. I have a limited vocabulary and didn\u2019t know what four of them were.<\/em><\/p>\n

Since I have never heard these words before (it may just be because I live in Canada) I will give you the definitions so you can use them in your next conversation.<\/em><\/p>\n

Graveled- perplexed<\/em><\/p>\n

Cavil- nitpick, quibble<\/em><\/p>\n

Palaver- useless talking<\/em><\/p>\n

Obloquy- false accusation<\/em><\/p>\n

C&S November 2011\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

The words this month were: Meteor, Constellation, Leo, Superlative, and Radiant.<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are we stopping?\u201d Hoss dismounted with the rest of the posse. His eyes darted around the grown men,\u00a0looking for an answer to his question.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t track in the dark, boy.\u201d The older man spoke gruffly as he pulled his saddle off his horse\u2019s back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could light a lantern,\u201d Hoss looked up the dark trail, \u201cAnd the stars are out. They cast some light.\u201d The 15 year old looked up at the stars twinkling with radiant light. It was on clear nights like this that Hoss regretted not paying attention when Adam had tried to teach him the names of all the constellations. Strange names like: Cassiopeia, Corvus, and Lyra. Why did stars have such odd names? The only one he could really pronounce was Leo, but he couldn\u2019t remember which stars Adam had pointed to when he had mentioned that one.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll head out first thing, Hoss,\u201d Ben placed a reassuring hand on his son\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded silently, his eyes searching out the North Star. When his eyes located it they remained locked on the speck of light that had led many a traveler. He didn\u2019t care what its fancy name was. All he knew was it pointed north- the way back home.<\/p>\n

They wouldn\u2019t follow the North Star tonight or tomorrow, but once they had Little Joe again then they would follow that light back home.<\/p>\n

Ben watched his middle son\u2019s eyes rake across the stars then finally lock on the North Star. Ben remembered showing each of his son\u2019s that star and teaching them how to use it to find their way back home. Polaris had always led his sons home safely. Ben could only hope that the star would see them\u00a0all\u00a0home again soon.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s gaze shifted slightly as if he could see beyond Polaris and to the one with superlative wisdom and love. \u201cGod,\u201d Ben whispered to the one who had hung the stars, \u201cMy son\u2026\u201d was all the father could say before tears of fear constricted his voice.<\/p>\n

–C&S–<\/p>\n

Darkness does funny things to the imagination. It turns shadows into monsters and darkened corners into cavernous pits. Evil becomes blacker and fear becomes all consuming.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s sat wide awake, his eyes darting after ever groan and rattle the old cabin made. His ropes were off. His hands free. His breaths came in quick pants as he prepared to make his move.<\/p>\n

The soft snores indicated that their guard, Al, had at last fallen asleep. Watching children who could not escape was obviously a tiresome job.<\/p>\n

Joe quickly and soundlessly unwound the ropes that had loosely bound his feet. Jack moaned softly in his exhausted sleep. The only eyes left open besides Joe\u2019s belong to Elsie. Quietly she watched the smaller boy escape his bonds. She had tugged and twisted and strained but her ropes still held tight.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes met hers from the shadows as he crawled slowly toward her. His plan was to untie her then Jack. The carelessly opened window would allow for a perfect escape. It was a small window, but none of them would have any trouble getting through. With tied hands, Joe knew it would be an impossible task to haul yourself through the window. It was to high and too deep, but with free hands and some luck they should be able to make it.<\/p>\n

Surely the men who had taken them were tired enough to sleep through their little escape and the posse couldn\u2019t be far behind them.<\/p>\n

Elsie shook her head, \u201cNo,\u201d she mouthed, glancing at where Al slumped in his chair. She motioned with her chin to the window. \u201cGo!\u201d she whispered as he reached for the knots that held her.<\/p>\n

He wanted to. He had thought about it, considered it. But\u00a0he couldn\u2019t leave them behind. It went against everything he had ever been taught.<\/p>\n

Al snorted and shifted slightly in the creaking chair as Elsie\u2019s hands were finally freed. Her long excited fingers made short work of the ropes that held her ankles. A relieved smile crossed her face as the ropes slid away.<\/p>\n

Joe was crossing the distance between Elsie and Jack when lantern light chased away a bit of the darkness. \u201cI reckon that about far enough.\u201d Garth stood wide awake, a bored look on his face and the lantern in one hand and a gun in the other. \u201cAl, you idiot,\u201d Garth moved and kicked at the sleeping guard.<\/p>\n

Al was on his feet and snarling in less than a second.<\/p>\n

\u201cAl,\u201d Doug\u2019s voice held a warning.<\/p>\n

Al backed off and spread his hands out.<\/p>\n

Garth glared a few more moments before turning back around. \u201cGet those two tied up again.\u201d The man paused and looked back at Joe with a cold gaze, \u201cAnd make sure the little one is tied extra tight.<\/p>\n

Doug kept a gun trained on the hostages from his place in the corner. \u201cDon\u2019t try anything stupid,\u201d he warned. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to shoot you.\u201d A smirk flitted over his face, \u201cBut I will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Al roughly wrapped the ropes around Joe\u2019s wrists. Joe bit the inside of his lip to keep from crying out. When he was done, Al shoved Joe down against the wall. Joe grunted as his backside connected with the floor and proceeded to glare at Al as he reached for Elsie.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow would you like a little freedom, Girlie?\u201d Al grabbed the girl\u2019s wrists and pulled her toward himself. \u201cWould you like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsie cried out and struggled to pull away. \u201cLeave me alone.\u201d She tried to claw at Al\u2019s bearded face. The closer Al leaned toward her the farther she arched backward.<\/p>\n

Al let go of one of Elsie\u2019s wrists in order to grab a handful of her hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet her go!\u201d Joe got to his feet his bound hands clenched into fists.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou going to make me little boy?\u201d Al laughed and tossed Elsie aside as if she were no longer of interest.<\/p>\n

Joe stood his ground as Al came toward him. \u201cYou\u2019ll leave her alone or\u2026\u201d Joe couldn\u2019t think of anything to say and suddenly wished he hadn\u2019t said anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cOr what?\u201d Al backhanded Joe across the face sending the nine year old reeling back against the wall.<\/p>\n

Joe tried to shake his head\u00a0clear of\u00a0flashes of lights that streaked across his vision like meteors across the sky. \u201cPlease leave her alone.\u201d Joe\u2019s voice quavered.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease?\u201d Al laughed and walked over to pull Elsie back to her feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave her alone, Al.\u201d Garth stepped forward menacingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stay out of this, Garth.\u201d Al chuckled, \u201cShe deserves it after trying to escape.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you don\u2019t.\u201d Garth glowered. \u201cYou were sleeping on your watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right, Al,\u201d Doug grinned at Al\u2019s red face. \u201cTie her up. We\u2019re getting an early start tomorrow.\u201d He stood to his feet and crossed to where Al still stood with his hand wrapped around Elsie\u2019s wrist. \u201cI think I\u2019ll take this watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

C&S December 2011 by BnzaGal<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

This month’s words:\u00a0Betray, Conflict, Conscience, Entrance, Extinguish, Gift, Honor, Noise, Patience, and Promise.<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Joe jerked out of his fitful sleep and blinked in the predawn grey. Sitting in the chair facing them, Garth slowly stuffed a few items into his saddlebags all the while keeping his dark eyes on the three hostages.<\/p>\n

The noise of voices from outside rose sharply in argument. Joe could only make out a few of the words but enough to know that the topic was him and the others.<\/p>\n

The door swung open and Doug paused in the entrance. \u201cWe can ride faster without them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Al shoved past him and looked over to where Elsie sat against the wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll find you a new girl to play with when we get to Mexico.\u201d Doug picked up his own saddlebags and slung them over his shoulder. \u201cOne a little older maybe.\u201d A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you won\u2019t make me leave early like you did in Carson?\u201d Al ran a hand through pathetically thin hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cConsider it my gift to you.” Doug raised a hand. “I promise on my word of honor.”<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat honor?\u201d Garth snorted, standing. \u201cLet\u2019s move out. The posse can\u2019t be far behind us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why we should take the brats.\u201d Al sighed exasperatingly. \u201cThey wouldn\u2019t dare come to conflict with their kids in the middle of it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kids will slow the posse down.\u201d Garth promised. \u201cSo will the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFire?\u201d Doug frowned. \u201cWhat fire?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fire we leave for the posse to extinguish.\u201d Garth explained with patience. \u201cYou know, the one with their dear children in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never said we were going to kill the kids.\u201d Doug rubbed the back of his neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t go getting a conscience on me now, Douglass.\u201d Garth tossed a lantern to Al. \u201cYou\u2019ve never had trouble killing before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doug slowly shrugged and turned to leave. \u201cDo what you have to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Garth nodded and turned to Al, \u201cUse what\u2019s left in that lamp then sprinkle some of this around.\u201d He held up a bottle of whisky then set it on the table.<\/p>\n

Joe tried not to let his eyes betray the horror that churned in his stomach. \u201cWhy can\u2019t you just let us alone?\u201d He blurted. \u201cIt\u2019s not like we could tell the posse something they don\u2019t already know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Garth picked the whiskey off the table and stepped over to Joe. Tipping the bottle he let the amber liquid slosh onto Joe\u2019s shirt. \u201cBecause,\u201d he grinned, \u201cI\u2019m a bad man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsie started to cry her breaths coming in little gasps.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t cry, Girly.\u201d Al continued to sprinkle the fuel around the room. \u201cIt will be over soon enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack spoke for the first time. \u201cYou\u2019re worse than dirt.\u201d His face was red with anger.<\/p>\n

Garth chuckled and crossed to the door in long strides. \u201cHurry up, Al.\u201d<\/p>\n

Al broke the lantern on the floor and picked up the whiskey bottle. \u201cSorry we didn\u2019t have more time, Girly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHurry it up, Al.\u201d Doug called.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing,\u201d Al swallowed the last of the whisky and reached into his pocket for a match. Lighting the match, Al tossed it on the cot. \u201cGood bye, kiddies.\u201d The door banged close and a board was slid in place locking it shut from the outside.<\/p>\n

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

C&S January 2012! by BnzaGal<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Happy New Year Everyone…<\/em><\/p>\n

My words this month were:\u00a0\u00a0Wolf, Ice, Oak, Doorway, and Stove<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it,\u201d Jack scrambled to his feet as the flames began to engulf the cot and travel in streaks over the fuel sprinkled floor. \u201cWe\u2019re all going to die.\u201d The heat rolled toward them as if a giant stove had been opened.<\/p>\n

Smoke began to fill the room at an alarming rate. Joe\u2019s eyes darted over the room finally resting on the window they had tried to escape through earlier. \u201cWe need to get out the window.\u201d He pointed with his tied hands then swiped his wrists over his smarting eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s too tall and the sill is too deep. We aren\u2019t tall enough.\u201d Elsie coughed in the smoke and glanced at the doorway that was beginning to burn along with the old rough oak table and single chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can stand on my back.\u201d Joe moved quickly to kneel under the window. \u201cYou go first, Elsie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nodding, Elsie stepped up on Joe\u2019s back. Joe grunted as he held her full weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do I break the window?\u201d Elsie croaked.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack take off your shirt.\u201d Joe yelled above the roaring flames.<\/p>\n

Jack didn\u2019t question his friend but unbuttoned the first few buttons then ripped through the rest.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive it to Elsie,\u201d Joe instructed. \u201cWrap it around her hands so she can punch through.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust do it!\u201d<\/p>\n

The sound of shattering glass was followed by Jack\u2019s choking \u201cHurrah!\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsie grasped the outside edge of the sill and pulled herself through. \u201cI\u2019m out!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou next Jack.\u201d Joe closed his eyes and waited for his friend\u2019s weight. It didn\u2019t come. \u201cJack?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t think I know what\u2019s going to happen?\u201d Jack knelt where the air was a little clearer. \u201cWhose back are you going to stand on?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe couldn\u2019t help but shudder. He had known that from the moment he knelt down, but he had hoped his friends wouldn\u2019t realize it until they were out and safe. \u201cYour taller, Jack. I probably couldn\u2019t reach it anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t leaving you.\u201d Tears streaked down the boys sooty face.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to.\u201d Joe pleaded. \u201cThere\u2019s a shed out back. I saw it when we was riding in.\u201d Joe licked his lips and glanced at the ever closer flames. \u201cThere\u2019s probably an axe in it. Something you can use to get me out. If my hands were free I could climb out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll be right back.\u201d He stood up on Joe\u2019s back and Joe pushed upwards to a crouch to give his young friend the extra few inches he needed. Then he was free pulling himself out and yelling as he fell face first to the ground.<\/p>\n

Joe coughed and huddled against the wall watching the flames surround him. He squeezed his eyes shut and waited.<\/p>\n

–C&S–<\/p>\n

Doug looked back through the trees and saw where the smoke rose. The twinge of guilt surprised him, but he knew it would pass.<\/p>\n

\u201cThem kiddies are nice and roasted by now.\u201d Al laughed and spurred his horse into a gallop. \u201cMexico here we come!\u201d<\/p>\n

Garth looked back at the black smoke and grinned a rather wolf like grin. He swiped his hat off his head and held it to his chest in a mock salute to the dead. Then with a chuckle and a wink at Doug he urged his horse to follow Al.<\/p>\n

Doug couldn\u2019t help but give the smoke one last look. \u201cSorry, kids.\u201d With a sigh he rode after his partners. Looks like they would make it clear to Mexico after all.<\/p>\n

–C&S–<\/p>\n

Coughing, Jack shook his head as he pulled himself up. \u201cHurry\u2026\u201d He coughed and stumbled forward. \u201cWe have to get Joe\u2026 the shed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat shed?\u201d Elsie\u2019s eyes grew wide as she realized that Joe had no way of getting out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe shed behind\u2026\u201d Jack stopped in his tracks. His blood seemed to turn to ice in his veins.<\/p>\n

Joe had tricked him. There was no shed.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you for reading!<\/em><\/p>\n

See you next month \ud83d\ude42<\/em><\/p>\n

C&S February 2012 by BnzaGal<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

This month’s words: Lunatic, Interval, Pining, Moonshine, and Secondary.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>***<\/p>\n

Joe couldn\u2019t breathe. He crouched close to the ground and waited for the black smoke to finish him off and carry him away. His mind was screaming for the fresh, clear air he had taken for granted his whole life, while his heart was pining to see his family. They had always been there to pull him out of whatever scrape he was in, but not this time.<\/p>\n

A hidden bottle of moonshine exploded from somewhere in the cabin making Joe screw his eyes closed even tighter then he had been. A cough sputtered weakly from his mouth as the flames crept closer to him. He pressed his back up against the wall and clenched his jaw. The heat was all but unbearable, but it would be over soon.<\/p>\n

Joe felt as if his mind was starting to float away. He thought he could hear Jack and Elsie yelling something, but he couldn\u2019t be sure.<\/p>\n

Then suddenly his mind wasn\u2019t the only thing that was floating. He felt as if he was being pulled upward, like he was flying. Flying toward Heaven. Joe\u2019s mind pushed all secondary thoughts away and thought of how the air in Heaven must be more clean and clear than any he had ever breathed. Maybe dying wasn\u2019t so bad after all.<\/p>\n

–C&S\u2014<\/p>\n

Elsie was hysterical, or at least nearly there. Jack had never really heard anyone scream and cry like that and if he hadn\u2019t been so close to acting nearly the same way he might have thought it was funny. With her hair wild and her dress torn she did look rather like a lunatic. But Jack didn\u2019t really notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d He repeated the name over and over as the smoke poured through the window he had just come through. Something inside the cabin exploded and Elsie shrieked louder. Jack sunk to his knees his eyes wide with horror. He shook his head back and forth the rest of him seemingly paralyzed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo something!\u201d Elsie pointed her bound hands toward the burning building. \u201cWe can\u2019t just let him burn.\u201d Tears streaked down her sooty face.<\/p>\n

Somehow Jack found strength in his legs to stand. He ran to the front of the cabin looking for something. Anything.<\/p>\n

Instead he found someone.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack!\u201d Hoss Cartwright was off his horse\u2019s back before the horse could fully stop its gallop. \u201cWhere\u2019s Elsie and Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack pointed toward the cabin. \u201cJoe.\u201d It seemed to be the only word he could force out.<\/p>\n

Hoss looked at the burning cabin, horror flickering across his face like the flames that engulfed the front of the cabin.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a window,\u201d Jack finally rediscovered his voice and ran back to where Elsie had collapsed with sobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss,\u201d Ben Cartwright\u2019s voice cried out as he arrived with the rest of the posse.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack here Pa,\u201d Hoss yelled as he gripped the widow sill with his big hands. Taking a deep breath he forced himself halfway into the smoky blackness. His hands groped wildly about. \u201cJoe?\u201d He coughed as he tried to breath. \u201cJoe?\u201d His fingers brushed against something soft and Hoss closed his fingers around it. Begging God to let his brother be alive, Hoss threw his weight back and drug Joe out by the hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u201d Ben grabbed Joe\u2019s shoulders as they appeared and cradled his young son in his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet him into the fresh air,\u201d Roy yelled. \u201cThe rest of you find whatever you can use for a bucket and don\u2019t let the fire spread into the trees or we\u2019ll have the whole mountain in flames.\u201d The sheriff stood in the clearing shouting encouragements and directions at his water brigade while glancing anxiously at intervals to where father and brother knelt over Little Joe\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s father paused next to the sheriff, his eyes on where his son sat staring blankly and absently stroking the still sobbing Elsie\u2019s hand. \u201cIs the Cartwright boy going to be alright?\u201d His eyes never strayed from his son.<\/p>\n

Roy shook his head, \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d The sheriff\u2019s eyes wandered to the trail that the posse\u2019s quarry had taken on toward Mexico. \u201cHe\u2019d better be.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you for following \ud83d\ude42<\/em><\/p>\n

C&S March 2012 by BnzaGal<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

This month’s words: Guard, Forward, Basket, Frenzy, and Hare<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Joe moaned. Heaven didn\u2019t smell like he would have thought. The stench of smoke hung thick in the air he had dreamed would be clear and crisp. It was certainly disappointing. The sound was wrong too. Weren\u2019t the angels supposed to be singing? All Joe could hear was a frenzy of shouts and calls, and above that he was sure he heard the crackling roar of a fire. Joe was almost afraid to open his eyes, the thought that perhaps he hadn\u2019t been whisked up to Heaven after all made him shudder.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026 son?\u201d Joe frowned without opening his eyes. What was Pa doing here?<\/p>\n

\u201cOpen your eyes, Little Joe, come on Buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss? Joe tried to open his stinging eyes. Pain flooded his being and gritting his teeth, he screwed his eyes closed again. He definitely was not in Heaven.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it, boy. Open up them eyes of yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sheriff Coffee? Joe forced his eyes open and blinked to bring into focus the faces that leaned over him. He tried to speak, to call to his Pa, but his voice wouldn\u2019t do more than croak, choke, and cough.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t try to talk, son,\u201d Ben\u2019s cool hands brushed over Joe\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

Joe moved an arm to touch his aching head and discovered a new pain to worry about. His arm was blistered and burned. Tears welled up in his eyes. He hurt everywhere. His head throbbed; his stomach churned. His throat felt as if he had swallowed half of the flames that had nearly engulfed him.<\/p>\n

Joe locked his eyes on his father in fear that that the moment he looked away his Pa would disappear and he would find himself once again in the swirling smoke and flames.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep at it, men,\u201d Sheriff Coffee called over his shoulder before leaning forward again. \u201cYou\u2019re gonna be okay, son.\u201d The older man lightly touched Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cWe\u2019ll get you to Doc Martin\u2019s soon, and he\u2019ll make you feel better.\u201d Roy stood and turned his attention back to the men that still scrambled to put out the fire. Everything from buckets to hats to a basket leaking water from its loose weave was being used to carry water to the burning structure.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes still stayed focused on his Pa.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right, son.\u201d Ben blinked back his own tears. \u201cWe\u2019ll get you home soon.\u201d Ben\u2019s heart was still pounding. He could still feel the lingering horror that he had felt when he realized his son was in the fiery cabin. Something tightened in his gut and, even though Joe was safe, he still felt sick just thinking that Joe had nearly been burned alive.<\/p>\n

Shifting slightly Ben moved to block out as much as he could of the activities behind him. His eyes fastened on the eyes of his son as he smoothed back Joe\u2019s singed hair.<\/p>\n

Hoss slowly stood tall and guarding over his little brother. In his mind he promised him that he would never let something like this happen again.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d Jack crawled over and stopped on his hands and knees next to Ben. Joe hesitated then drew his eyes over to his friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you ever do something like that to me ever again.\u201d Jack\u2019s lip trembled.<\/p>\n

Ben placed a hand on Jack shoulder and almost echoed the boy\u2019s words.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to be okay ain\u2019t he, Mr Cartwright?\u201d Big frightened eyes looked up at Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Jack.\u201d Ben prayed he was right.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u201d Jack settled down to sit next to Joe. \u201cYou look about as bad as that hare we saw after it got caught up in the stampede.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat stampede?\u201d Ben frowned.<\/p>\n

Jack didn\u2019t answer but bit his bottom lip and looked away.<\/p>\n

Joe looked back to his Pa the smallest bit of his mischievous smile starting on his lips.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Thanks for staying with me these nine months!<\/em><\/p>\n

C&S April 2012 by BnzaGal<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

This month we were given phrases instead of words: “Barkin’ at a knot”, “Hobble your lip”, “Pulling a kite”, “Scarce as hen’s teeth”, and “Velvet couch.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Just in case you are like me and do not know the meanings of all the\u00a0wonderful\u00a0phrases we we’re given to work with- I have added the meanings here and again at the bottom of the page…<\/em><\/p>\n

“Barkin’ at a knot”\u00a0<\/strong>Doing something useless; wasting your time trying something impossible.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Hobble your lip”\u00a0<\/strong>Shut up.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Pulling a kite”<\/strong>\u00a0Making a face<\/em><\/p>\n

“Scarce as hen’s teeth”\u00a0<\/strong>Extreamly rare or hard to find<\/em><\/p>\n

“Velvet couch”<\/strong>\u00a0A cowboy’s bedrole<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The landscape grew more and more familiar the closer Adam got to the only place he had ever called home. Coming home had never caused Adam so much anxiety before. The final leg of his journey stretched on impossibly long while he leaned back against the hard bench of the stage. He knew that when he arrived there would be nothing for him to do but hear whether his youngest brother was alive and safe or dead. If he was dead, Adam might have already missed the funeral.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSuch a beautiful place isn\u2019t it?\u201d The pretty girl who sat opposite him had been trying to get his attention in different ways for the past hours. She was barkin\u2019 at a knot as far as Adam was concerned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now she leaned toward him to look out the window. The thin, oily man next to Adam raised his eyebrows and did his best to look down her dress without her noticing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

She did notice and sat back quickly with a glare in her eyes. Pulling a kite, the thin man coughed and diverted his gaze away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sugary sweetness returned to her face and she looked back to Adam. \u201cAre you familiar with this area?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up here,\u201d Adam answered, unwilling to be outright rude no matter how much he felt like it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh, so you\u2019re headed home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded and leaned forward to rest his arms on his knees and look down at his boots in hopes that the girl would get the hint that he was not in the mood for small talk.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you leave?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam closed his eyes and sighed, \u201cI\u2019m attending college in Boston.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen what brings you back?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy little brother was kidnapped and is probably dead.\u201d His tone was even and calm even though his mind and stomach churned.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No one else spoke for the remaining hour of the stage ride. Virginia City had never seen such a quiet group step down from the stage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–C&S–<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy Coffee was in his office. At least, that was what Nathan at the stage office had told him. The sound of his boots on the boardwalk thumped nearly as loud as his heart. Now was the moment he had dread since the telegram from his father had arrived.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sheriff\u2019s office door creaked as Adam pushed it open.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Roy stood from behind his desk and rubbed his sore back. His bedroll, not so loving referred to as his velvet couch, had seemed exceptionally hard this last trip. \u00a0\u201cI thought Ben told you to stay in Boston.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRoy\u2026\u201d the question caught in Adam\u2019s throat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou look beat, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTell me.\u201d Adam shut the door behind him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTell you?\u201d Roy moved toward his friend\u2019s eldest son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor pity\u2019s sake, Roy, I\u2019ve been traveling non-stop for God knows how long. Just tell me.\u201d Adam banged a fist back against the closed door. He was closer to tears than Roy had ever seen him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou ain\u2019t seen your pa yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs he dead?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy raised his hands, \u201cCalm down, son. There ain\u2019t nobody dead. Your pa brought Joe home from Doc\u2019s just this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam leaned back against the door and shut his eyes. \u201cHe\u2019s alive?\u201d He hadn\u2019t been allowing himself to even hope.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy stood and watched the relief flood over Adam. \u201cHe\u2019s not altogether unscathed, but, all things considered, we\u2019re really lucky, Adam. All three of the kids are back and safe. Happy ending to these kinda stories are as scarce as hen\u2019s teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHen\u2019s don\u2019t have teeth, Sheriff,\u201d a voice from the cells slurred as the prostrate figure on the cot removed the hat from his face and wincingly blinked toward where the two men stood.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Peter,\u201d Roy nodded to his nearly nightly companion as Peter was sleeping it off in one of his cells almost every night.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI may be slightly intoxicated from time to time, Sheriff,\u201d Peter struggled to a sitting position, \u201cBut I ain\u2019t brainless.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that, Peter,\u201d Roy turned back to Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow pigs have teeth and cows have teeth, then there\u2019s the horses, dogs, cats\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHobble your lip, Peter,\u201d Roy silenced the man before he could go through the entire list of animals with teeth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cDid you catch the men, Roy?\u201d Adam reclaimed the conversation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Roy sighed and shook his head, \u201cThey got clean way. I sure wish we\u2019d caught a hold of them snakes, but with the fire\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFire?\u201d Adam\u2019s eyes flickered with a mixture of fear and anger.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey left the kids in a cabin and set it to burn,\u201d Roy watched his young friend close his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut they got out.\u201d Adam rubbed his hand over his face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a lot to be proud about in that little brother of yours, Adam, but I reckon I\u2019ll let your Pa fill you in on the rest.\u201d Roy smiled, \u201cI bet you\u2019re rarin\u2019 to get home.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Roy,\u201d Adam shook the sheriff\u2019s hand and returned half the smile.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

“Barkin’ at a knot” Doing something useless; wasting your time trying something impossible.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Hobble your lip” Shut up.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Pulling a kite” Making a face<\/em><\/p>\n

“Scarce as hen’s teeth” Extreamly rare or hard to find<\/em><\/p>\n

“Velvet couch” A cowboy’s bedrole<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

C&S May 2012 by BnzaGal<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

This month’s words: Simon, Blind, Butter, Leap, and Cradle.<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cYour Pa can settle up with me next time he\u2019s in town,\u201d the owner of Virginia City\u2019s livery stable handed over the reins of an old, overweight, and nearly blind horse to Adam\u2019s waiting hands. \u201cShe ain\u2019t much to look at\u2026\u201d Simon scratched the back of his neck, \u201cbut she\u2019s all I have left.\u201d He patted her butter-colored rump.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Simon,\u201d Adam tugged the lazy horse toward the barn doors. \u201cI don\u2019t need her to leap over fences\u2026 just not fall over when I try to mount.\u201d Adam placed a foot into the stirrup then swung himself into the saddle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cRide safe and bring Juliet back in one piece.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJuliet?\u201d Adam shook his head and dug his knees into the horses side. To his surprise and relief Juliet didn\u2019t fall over and actually headed off at a quick pace.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–C&S–<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d Adam called out as he jumped off Juliet\u2019s back and jogged toward the front door. He wasn\u2019t sure what to expect since Roy hadn\u2019t said anything about the extent of Joe\u2019s injuries, but he knew that if Doc Martin had let him go home they couldn\u2019t be life threatening.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Ben appeared in the doorway a smile spreading over his face. \u201cDidn\u2019t I tell you not to come?\u201d Wrapping his arms around Adam for a quick hug, Ben chuckled, \u201cI should be mad at your rebellion.\u201d He held Adam back at arms length, \u201cBut I\u2019m just too happy to see you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s Joe?\u201d Adam pushed on inside and stopped when he saw Joe\u2019s curly head resting on the arm of the settee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s doing much better,\u201d Ben dropped his voice so not to wake the sleeping boys. Hoss had also fallen asleep in a nearby chair while watching over Joe as he had since Joe was in the cradle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam moved to ruffle through Hoss\u2019 hair. Hoss\u2019 blue eyes blinked up at Adam. Stifling a yawn Hoss smiled, \u201cI knew you would come.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam nodded then looked over to where hazel green eyes were silently watching him. A lump rose in his throat, \u201cHey there, Little Joe, you had me worried to death.\u201d He offered his youngest brother a smile and squatted down beside the settee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d was all Joe said before breaking his gaze with Adam and shutting his eyes again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Confused and a little worried Adam glanced over to his pa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben sighed defeated, \u201cJoe, Adam\u2019s come all the way from Boston to make sure you were safe. Don\u2019t you have anything to say to your brother? I know how much you\u2019ve been missing him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t open his eyes, \u201cI\u2019m sorry you left school and came all this way for nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor nothing?\u201d Adam frowned, \u201cI came back for you, Joe, for my little brother.\u201d He reached out to touch Joe\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe flinched when Adam touched him. \u201cFor nothing.\u201d He whispered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cJoe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam,\u201d Ben motioned for Adam to follow him and led the way back outside.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with him, Pa?\u201d Adam looked back over his shoulder. \u201cWhat did they do to him\u2026 to them? I heard they took Elsie and Jack too.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what those two have said- and if you don\u2019t count what the fire did- they don\u2019t have more than a few bruises, thank God. Although poor Elsie probably got the worst of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam clenched his fists, \u201cThey didn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben shook his head. \u201cMost of the hurts are emotional, as you can imagine. Elsie cried until she fell asleep then woke up crying later.\u201d Ben had been slowly walking away from the house as he spoke and now leaned his back against the barn doors and shoved his hands down into his pockets. \u201cJoe\u2019s the hero of the story by all accounts except his own. He hasn\u2019t said more than a few words together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me it all,\u201d Adam joined his father leaning against the barn door, \u201cFrom start to finish.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

A big\u00a0Thank You<\/strong>\u00a0to all who have continued to read this- next month will mark a whole year of C&S challenges in this one story!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0***<\/em><\/p>\n

C&S June 2012 by BnzaGal<\/em><\/p>\n

Author’s Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Well here it is. The final chapter 12 months in the making! This month\u2019s words are: Logging, Lumberjack, Legend, Babe, and Giant.<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss and I will care for your animal.\u201d Ben glanced at the tired looking Juliet. \u201cI bet it was that giant of a man Simon that tried to pass that off as a horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe wasn\u2019t all that bad,\u201d Adam defended.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill, the streets of Virginia City would have been safer if Simon had just stayed a lumberjack. I tried to tell him to stick with what he knew, but he seemed to think he understood horseflesh as well as he did logging,\u201d Ben shrugged.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that case,\u201d Adam looked back at poor Juliet. \u201cThe forests must be a much safer place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben chuckled and shook his head. Then sobering, he turned toward the house. \u201cHoss,\u201d Ben motioned for his middle son to join him outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa?\u201d Hoss stepped over the threshold and out onto the porch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou and me have some chores to get done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss raised an eyebrow and looked between his Pa and Adam, \u201cNow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now,\u201d Ben took his son\u2019s elbow and turned him in the right direction. He gave Adam a smile that said: Good luck.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded and stepped inside the house, determined to get something from his little brother. Closing the door softly behind him, Adam crossed to where Joe was sitting picking at a loose thread on the quilt that Ben had been covering him with since he was a wee babe. Marie had made that quilt in the months she had waited for her baby to arrive.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa told me told me all that happened.\u201d sinking down on the settee next to Joe he put his arm over Joe\u2019s shoulders. A moment of silence passed before Adam tried again, \u201cI\u2019m really proud of you, Joe\u201d He felt Joe stiffen slightly. \u201cYou were really brave.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Adam\u2019s surprise Joe shrugged out from under his arm and stood. The nine year old clenched his fists, \u201cDon\u2019t say that.\u201d Angry tears welled up in his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSay what, Joe?\u201d Adam said calmly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t brave,\u201d the first tear slipped down his cheek. \u201cI was a\u2026 a coward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stood and wrapped his arms around Joe and was glad when he didn\u2019t try to pull away. \u201cYou were willing to die to save your friends, Joe. If that\u2019s not brave\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was scared. So scared, Adam.\u201d He pushed away and turned his back to his brother. \u201cI shook so hard I thought my bones would come loose.\u201d A visible shudder rippled down his back. \u201cI thought I was brave\u2026\u201d he turned his tear streaked face back toward Adam, \u201cbut I\u2019m not, Adam. Not at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Adam wished his Pa was here. His Pa always knew exactly what to say. \u201cBeing brave doesn\u2019t mean you are not afraid. Courage doesn\u2019t replace fear. It moves on past the fear to do what\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n

He could tell Joe was listening. His little brother brought up a hand to swipe away the tears. \u201cNo one can go through what you did without being afraid. The difference is that you overcame the fear and didn\u2019t let fear overcome you.\u201d He smiled, \u201cTrue courage, Joe. That\u2019s the stuff legends are made of.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe hesitantly turned around to face Adam again. \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe,\u201d Adam reached out and Joe came to him for a hug. \u201cI\u2019m your brother, would I lie to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head, fresh tears wet Adam\u2019s shirtfront. \u201cI thought I was going to die, Adam. I thought I had died, and that I was never going to see you or Pa or Hoss again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joe,\u201d Adam tightened his hold on his brother, rested his cheek against Joe\u2019s dark curly hair, and let his brother cry.<\/p>\n

Ben opened the door quietly and met Adam\u2019s eyes briefly before backing out again. Love for his boys seemed to swell in his chest. He was so proud of them. He glanced back to where Hoss was filling the water trough. He was proud of all of them. They were all safe and sound and brave and strong. He didn\u2019t know what the future would hold, but he was sure, no matter what, that he could count on each one of his sons to do the right thing.<\/p>\n

Many men had come out West to make a stake and strike it rich. It could be years before the Ponderosa was anything more than a ranch struggling to keep its head above the water, but that didn\u2019t matter. Ben\u2019s family was his Bonanza.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE END!<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you all SO much for sticking with this through the twelve months of challenges! When I first started out I had no idea how I was going to finish, but with some luck- and occasionally some difficult words- this story was shaped and is now finished!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Special thanks to Cheaux for allowing us to have this mega-challenge \ud83d\ude42<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0Joe and his school friends have their lunch interrupted by something terrible and Joe finds that maybe he isn’t as brave as he thought he was.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Rated:\u00a0T \u00a0(10,720 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":162,"featured_media":5348,"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":[39,23],"tags":[16],"class_list":["post-5717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chaps-spurs","category-drama","tag-joe","wpcat-39-id","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2090,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/CartwrightFamily.jpg?fit=259%2C194&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2979,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2979","url_meta":{"origin":5717,"position":0},"title":"Captain Joe (by frasrgrl)","author":"frasrgrl","date":"November 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0This story is in response to November's Chaps and Spurs Challenge. Joe on the high seas.\u00a0 Word Count: 546\u00a0\u00a0Rated: K","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosa-lj.jpg?fit=640%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosa-lj.jpg?fit=640%2C475&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosa-lj.jpg?fit=640%2C475&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4460,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4460","url_meta":{"origin":5717,"position":1},"title":"The Gift (by JoeC)","author":"JoeC","date":"April 28, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Joe get's a special birthday present Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (553 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe-chaps-21.jpg?fit=314%2C547&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5391,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5391","url_meta":{"origin":5717,"position":2},"title":"The End of a War (by BnzaGal)","author":"BnzaGal","date":"June 30, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Written using the five words (Bachelor, Medieval, Commence, Culmination, and Tassel) from the Chaps & Spurs Challenge, June 2011. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ (1,110 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Calamity-over-the-Comstock-8.jpg?fit=634%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Calamity-over-the-Comstock-8.jpg?fit=634%2C563&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Calamity-over-the-Comstock-8.jpg?fit=634%2C563&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2929,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2929","url_meta":{"origin":5717,"position":3},"title":"No Coffee (by frasrgrl)","author":"frasrgrl","date":"April 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0The Cartwrights are out on the trail. Rated: K\u00a0 (700 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Chaps and Spurs"","block_context":{"text":"Chaps and Spurs","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=39"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/cutthroat-junction.jpg?fit=301%2C303&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2981,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2981","url_meta":{"origin":5717,"position":4},"title":"Brothers and Mud (by frasrgrl)","author":"frasrgrl","date":"April 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0This is my entry for April's 2013 Chaps & Spurs\/Pinecone Trifecta.A WHIB for Springtime. Have you ever wondered what happened between the brothers making a \"Joe sandwich\" and the mud fight? Well, here's my answer to it. 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