Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended. Original plot and characters are property of the author. This story is for entertainment and no money was made from it.<\/span><\/p>\n Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A New Year, A New Resolution<\/strong><\/p>\n The four Cartwrights were sitting at the table enjoying their New Year\u2019s Day lunch.\u00a0 Hop Sing had made corned beef and cabbage against his will.\u00a0 Ben had insisted the meal would bring them luck in the new year.\u00a0 Believing oranges to bring luck, Hop Sing would have preferred to make duck a l\u2019orange.<\/p>\n Dabbing his mouth with his napkin, Ben cleared his throat and asked his sons \u201cWhat resolutions have you made for this year?\u201d<\/p>\n All three boys looked at each other before looking at their father.\u00a0 They had had such a great time welcoming the new year that they had forgotten about resolutions.\u00a0 New Year\u2019s Eve was the only time that Little Joe was allowed to consume alcohol.\u00a0 Ben chilled a bottle of fine champagne all day and then popped the cork at midnight.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam had gotten a head start on welcoming the year at the Bucket of Blood in Virginia City.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess I\u2019ll stick with the one I made last year\u201d answered Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cRemind me what that was\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, you know, not causing trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think you\u2019re confusing what you gave up for Lent with what you resolved to do\u201d remarked Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cHa, ha\u201d said Joe sarcastically.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I recall\u201d said Ben, \u201cyour resolution last year was to be a better student.\u00a0 Somehow, though, you managed to come home with fifteen notes from Miss Jones in regard to your conduct.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ll do that one again\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatcha mean?\u201d asked Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cYou gonna be a better student or come home with more notes?\u201d<\/p>\n Both Adam and Hoss burst into a fit of laughter.\u00a0 Ben had to work hard to not join in.\u00a0 Joe could be very sensitive about school.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about you, Hoss?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t makin\u2019 any fer this year\u201d Hoss answered.\u00a0 \u201cIf I resolve to eat less, I\u2019ll end up breakin\u2019 it\u201d he said while reaching for the platter of biscuits.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I recall\u201d reminded Ben, \u201clast year you resolved to help Hop Sing with his vegetable garden so you\u2019d have a greater appreciation for the work that goes into putting food on the table.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell you certainly help Hop Sing by eating enough for three people\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 Joe and Adam started laughing.\u00a0 Ben cracked a smile at that jibe.\u00a0 Hoss certainly had the appetite of three men but he did the work of five men around the ranch.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you resolve, then, Smarty Pants?\u201d Hoss asked Adam.\u00a0 Joe leaned forward expectantly.\u00a0 He knew Old Bossy Boots would probably resolve to ride him harder about chores.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Adam, what\u2019s your resolution?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI resolve to work harder this year to keep this ranch operating.\u201d\u00a0 Adam then speared another piece of cabbage with his fork.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s a fine resolution, Adam.\u00a0 You two\u201d Ben said, looking from Hoss to Joe, \u201cwould do well to emulate your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re like one of them Puritans we read about in school\u201d said Joe.\u00a0 \u201cDo ya really think that lazy hands are the devil\u2019s business?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s idle hands are the devil\u2019s workshop\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t help it if I inherited that New England work ethic from my parents.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa ain\u2019t like that\u201d said Joe cutting up a piece of corned beef.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I am\u201d answered Ben.\u00a0 \u201cHow do you think this house got built?\u00a0 Or the barn?\u00a0 Why do you think our cattle and timber operations are so successful?\u201d\u00a0 Ben tapped a finger against the side of his head and said \u201cYankee ingenuity built all of this.\u00a0 Of course, Adam and Hoss helped some.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean \u2018some\u2019?\u201d asked Adam.\u00a0 \u201cI remember helping you chop down trees and planting grass for the cattle.\u00a0 Hoss helped a lot, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou boys certainly helped quite a bit, but it was my vision of what this land could be that\u2019s made the Ponderosa so successful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad I wasn\u2019t around then\u201d said Joe with a mouth full of corned beef.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t talk with your mouth full, Joseph\u201d reprimanded Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cI doubt Pa could\u2019ve kept an eye on you and built anything around here\u201d said Adam with a snort.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t that bad\u201d said Joe with a look of disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cYour middle name shoulda been trouble instead of Francis\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing I had your mother and Hop Sing to help mind you\u201d said Ben.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d probably be completely bald today instead of gray if I hadn\u2019t had their help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen have I not been well-behaved?\u201d asked Joe innocently.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about when you drew pictures all over the figures in Pa\u2019s ledger?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cOr the time ya put some apples in the oven to see if they\u2019d turn into apple pies?\u201d added Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing shore was mad to find those apples melted all over that night\u2019s supper.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was worried about losing a business deal when your mother and I had a guest come for supper and you came downstairs in your mother\u2019s chemise, reeking of her perfume and my cologne\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss busted out laughing, remembering the stink of the house and Little Joe clad in nothing but the chemise.<\/p>\n \u201cI never did that\u201d said Joe, green eyes flashing.<\/p>\n \u201cYou most certainly did, young man\u201d said Ben.\u00a0 \u201cYour mother was so relieved that your fascination with her undergarments was short-lived.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe blushed scarlet as Adam and Hoss shook with laughter.<\/p>\n \u201cWell then, I\u2019m gonna work really hard to stay outta trouble this year\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n Hoss looked at Adam and said \u201cWanna bet?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBet what\u201d asked Adam, drying the tears in his eyes with his napkin.<\/p>\n \u201cOn how long Lil Joe can go without causin\u2019 any trouble\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cYa don\u2019t hafta bet\u201d said Joe, \u201cI ain\u2019t gonna cause no trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe bet is that Lil Joe cain\u2019t keep this new resolution of his for more\u2019n two days.\u00a0 Loser shovels snow for three months.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re on\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 He and Hoss shook hands, sealing the deal.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe that you think I can\u2019t stay outta trouble, Hoss\u201d said Joe with a pout.\u00a0 \u201cAdam has more confidence in me than you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because Adam was away at college when you really developed your trouble makin\u2019 skills.\u00a0 He don\u2019t know what all yer capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope we have a late spring then so you have mounds of snow to shovel\u201d said Joe to Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cNow boys, don\u2019t let this get out of hand\u201d warned Ben.\u00a0 \u201cI admire that Joseph really wants to keep this resolution.\u00a0 Hoss, don\u2019t let me catch you trying to make Joseph break it.\u00a0 Do you understand me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir\u201d answered Hoss.<\/p>\n After finishing their dinner, they retired to the big room.\u00a0 Joe and Hoss began a game of checkers while Ben and Adam sat in their chairs.\u00a0 Adam picked up his dog-eared copy of Moby Dick. \u00a0The book brought memories of Boston back for Adam\u2014the smell of the salty Atlantic, the ships in the harbor, the sailors out on the town between voyages.\u00a0 Out of the corner of his eye, Adam saw Hoss trying to remove one of his captured checkers from Joe\u2019s growing pile.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter keep an eye on that pile of Hoss\u2019 checkers\u201d warned Adam.<\/p>\n Joe looked at the pile and then at the board.\u00a0 Unfortunately for Hoss, he had a face that registered guilt easily.\u00a0 \u201cI know what you\u2019re tryin\u2019 to do but it ain\u2019t gonna work\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, behave yourself\u201d said Ben sternly.<\/p>\n A few seconds later, Joe yelled out \u201cI win!\u201d as he jumped the rest of Hoss\u2019 checkers.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I didn\u2019t even hafta cheat!\u201d he yelled triumphantly.<\/p>\n \u201cHmph\u201d was Hoss\u2019 only response.\u00a0 He knew he was going to have to help Joe along in getting into trouble.\u00a0 If he could get Joe to do something that would get the boy into big trouble, Adam would be shoveling lots of snow for months to come.\u00a0 He was going to have to think hard.<\/p>\n The next morning, Adam and Hoss were in the barn doing chores.\u00a0 Joe, having slept late, was at the table eating breakfast.<\/p>\n \u201cI jest know Lil Joe ain\u2019t gonna be able to keep that resolution of his\u201d said Hoss with confidence.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t try to tempt him, Hoss\u201d cautioned Adam.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m proud of him for wanting to try to travel the straight and narrow path.\u00a0 If you try to influence him in any way, the bet\u2019ll be off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur little brother don\u2019t need much encouragin\u2019,\u00a0 Trouble seems to find its way to him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust the same, he needs to be given a fair chance.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t expect him to make it more than a week anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why\u2019d ya take the bet?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he\u2019s willing to make an effort and make Pa proud.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I still believe that you\u2019ll soon be shoveling snow.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam finished grooming Sport and went to Buck\u2019s stall to muck it out.\u00a0 The boys took turns taking care of Pa\u2019s horse.\u00a0 Even though he didn\u2019t like mucking out stalls, Adam always took his turn without complaint.<\/p>\n Joe came out to the barn while Adam was in Buck\u2019s stall.\u00a0 \u201cMornin\u2019\u201d Joe said as the boy went to his pony\u2019s stall.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning\u201d Adam answered.<\/p>\n \u201cMornin, Shortshanks\u201d said Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019re ya doin\u2019 this mornin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo far so good\u201d said Joe with a wary eye on Hoss.<\/p>\n Picking up a curry comb, Joe set about grooming his pony. \u00a0He tried to keep one eye on what he was doing and the other on Hoss.<\/p>\n Hoss picked up a cloth and the tin of saddle soap.\u00a0 He began rubbing the soap into his saddle and had a flash of inspiration.\u00a0 Maybe he could over soap Adam\u2019s saddle and pin the blame on Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cCome over here fer a minute, Shortshanks\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n Joe stepped out of his pony\u2019s stall and set the curry comb on the shelf.\u00a0 He then went over to Hoss.\u00a0 Adam noted that Hoss was soaping Chubb\u2019s saddle and suspected that his younger brother was up to something.\u00a0 Not wanting Hoss to realize that he was on to him, Adam left the barn.<\/p>\n \u201cYa wanna have some fun with older brother?\u201d Hoss asked, blue eyes practically dancing.<\/p>\n \u201cI dunno, Hoss.\u00a0 Pa\u2019s expectin\u2019 me to heed that resolution I made.\u00a0 He won\u2019t be too happy if I break it the day after I made it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, c\u2019mon, Shortshanks.\u00a0 Adam needs to be taken down a peg or two.\u00a0 A little extra soap on his saddle oughta do the trick.\u00a0 Whaddya say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh-uh\u201d answered Joe.\u00a0 \u201cIf Adam got hurt, Pa would tan me so hard that I wouldn\u2019t be able to sit again til I turn eighteen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa wouldn\u2019t do that to ya.\u00a0 \u2018Sides, how would Adam know you\u2019d done it?\u00a0 He seen me soapin\u2019 Chubb\u2019s saddle, not you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2019s awful smart, though.\u00a0 He\u2019d figure it out before he hit the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYa never know.\u00a0 Sometimes I think he ain\u2019t as smart as he lets on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut he went to college.\u00a0 Of course, he\u2019s smart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBook smart ain\u2019t the same as bein\u2019 smart\u201d Hoss replied with a tap to his head and a wink.\u00a0 \u201cPa\u2019s always fussin\u2019 at him fer readin\u2019 while he s\u2019posed to be watchin\u2019 the herd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut he reads out loud to keep the steers calm.\u00a0 He sings some too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo along with me, Shortshanks, and we\u2019ll have Adam shovelin\u2019 snow \u2018til April.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI dunno, Hoss.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want Pa to be disappointed with me so soon in the new year.\u201d<\/p>\n With that, Joe went back to taking care of his pony.\u00a0 He wondered what was in this bet for Hoss, besides watching Adam shovel snow.<\/p>\n Finally finishing up, Joe headed for the house.\u00a0 He noticed that Hoss was rubbing soap on Adam\u2019s saddle.<\/p>\n Going inside, Joe saw Adam going over one of the timber ledgers.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u201d asked Joe curiously.<\/p>\n \u201cHe went upstairs to lie down for a while.\u00a0 I guess yesterday\u2019s meal didn\u2019t exactly agree with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy does Hoss think I can\u2019t make it for three days without anything happening?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss is so used to you being at the center of anything that happens that he just assumes you can\u2019t avoid temptation.\u00a0 I\u2019m confident, though, that you can make it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Adam, but why do you think I can?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you\u2019ve got a healthy dose of the Cartwright stubbornness in your veins.\u00a0 You\u2019ll make it, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n A knock on the door ended the conversation.\u00a0 Adam opened the door to see Old Man Garvey on the doorstep.\u00a0 \u201cGood afternoon, Mr. Garvey.\u00a0 What brings you out in this snow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis ain\u2019t hardly any snow, boy.\u00a0 I \u2018member back in \u201931 a blizzard that snowed me in fer four months.\u00a0 If I\u2019d a been marrit, I woulda been single afore I got myself outta that cabin.\u201d Adam chuckled at that.\u00a0 Old Man Garvey had never married and was thought to be crazy.\u00a0 The man had come out to Nevada Territory to trap and trade with the Indians in the late \u201820s.\u00a0 He was respected by whites and Indians alike.<\/p>\n Reaching into his coat, Mr. Garvey pulled out a sweet looking tabby kitten.\u00a0 \u201cI promised yore Pa one of Bessie\u2019s litter fer a barn cat.\u00a0 The young \u2018uns are weaned so this \u2018uns ready ta get ta work.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam reached out for the kitten, which hissed at him.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019ll make a good mouser, boy.\u00a0 Keep her a bit wild and you\u2019ll never hafta worry \u2018bout her goin\u2019 hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, come over here and take this kitten\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 \u201cMr. Garvey, we\u2019ve got more sacks of potatoes than we can possibly use up.\u00a0 You\u2019d be doing us a favor to take at least one off of our hands.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t take no charity offa no man, boy\u201d replied Mr. Garvey.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m asking you to do us a favor, Mr. Garvey.\u00a0 Even Hoss can only work his way through so many pounds of potatoes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if yer shore that I\u2019d be doin\u2019 yer Pa a favor.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached out for the kitten while Adam went to the kitchen to get the potatoes.\u00a0 He added a hunk of beef and a loaf of bread to the sack before tying it closed.\u00a0 Old Man Garvey wasn\u2019t as spry as he once was, but he had helped Adam and Ben set trap lines and skin their catches when they had first settled in Nevada.<\/p>\n Coming back to the door, Adam saw Joe holding the kitten out at arm\u2019s length while its paws swatted the air.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019ll calm down in a couple o\u2019 days, boy.\u00a0 Don\u2019tcha worry none, though, she\u2019ll make a fine mouser.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam handed the sack of potatoes to Mr. Garvey, who accepted it with a tip of his hat.\u00a0 Joe was still standing there with the kitten, unsure what to do.\u00a0 In a flash of inspiration, Adam knew just what to do to get Hoss in trouble.<\/p>\n \u201cGive me that kitten, Joe.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got plans for this little mouser.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe was only too happy to surrender the flailing cat.\u00a0 Adam took it tightly by the scruff and headed for the henhouse.\u00a0 This couldn\u2019t be good, Joe thought.<\/p>\n Ben came downstairs to see Joe looking out the open door.\u00a0 \u201cShut that door, Joseph.\u00a0 We don\u2019t need all of the cold air in the territory in the house.\u00a0 Where are your brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam and Hoss are out there\u201d said Joe with a jerk of his thumb while shutting the door.<\/p>\n \u201cOut there where?\u201d<\/p>\n Before Joe could answer, Adam came inside.\u00a0 \u201cOld Man Garvey came by to drop off that kitten he promised you, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, good.\u00a0 Now we should have no trouble with mice this winter.\u00a0 Did you give him some of those potatoes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir\u201d answered Adam.\u00a0 \u201cI added some bread and beef to the sack.\u00a0 You don\u2019t mind, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, of course not.\u00a0 He\u2019s been a good friend all of these years.\u00a0 He\u2019s not a spring chicken anymore.\u00a0 Thank you for seeing to him, Son.\u00a0 Where\u2019s Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s still in the barn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell him to go check on Hop Sing\u2019s hens before he comes in.\u201d\u00a0 With that, Ben went back upstairs.<\/p>\n A little too eagerly, Adam went out to the barn.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t wait to go in the henhouse with Hoss.\u00a0 That little kitten was bound to pounce on him.<\/p>\n Adam noticed that Hoss was still soaping the saddles.\u00a0 \u201cPa wants you to check on the hens when you\u2019re done in here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty much done\u201d said Hoss, putting the lid back on the tin of saddle soap.\u00a0 He put the soap and the rag away and then headed for the barn door.\u00a0 Adam helped Hoss close up the barn and then followed his younger brother to the henhouse.\u00a0 Hoss thought it odd that Adam was tailing him instead of going back in the house.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019re you expectin\u2019 ta happen?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, nothing.\u00a0 Just making sure that you see to the hens like Pa asked.\u201d<\/p>\n Getting to the henhouse, Hoss opened the door warily.\u00a0 Seeing nothing out of order in the dim light, Hoss walked in and added straw where needed.\u00a0 He noted the look of disappointment on Adam\u2019s face.\u00a0 Finishing up, they went to the house.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Pa?\u201d Hoss asked, entering the house.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s upstairs\u201d answered Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve almost made it a whole day, Shortshanks.\u00a0 Think you can make it another?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know he can\u201d countered Adam.<\/p>\n Joe just looked at the both of them, knowing that this bet had gone way beyond his behavior.<\/p>\n The next morning, Ben went downstairs early.\u00a0 He drank coffee while waiting on breakfast.\u00a0 Adam came down the stairs, buttoning his shirt.\u00a0 He helped himself to some coffee and then sat down in his chair to read another chapter of Moby Dick.\u00a0 Hoss was next to come downstairs.\u00a0 His nose was working hard, but there were no breakfast smells in the house.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s the food?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing went out to the henhouse to get eggs.\u00a0 He\u2019ll get started on cooking when he comes back in.\u201d<\/p>\n A yell and then a stream of Cantonese could be heard from outside.\u00a0 This resulted in the three Cartwrights leaping to their feet.\u00a0 Ben and the boys rushed outside to see Hop Sing outside of the henhouse.\u00a0 The cook, seeing his boss, pointed and said \u201cSome animal in there.\u00a0 It bite me.\u201d\u00a0 He held up a finger which had a small drop of blood on it.<\/p>\n Assuming a fox had made its way in there, Ben strode into the henhouse.\u00a0 Hoss was hot on his heels.\u00a0 Adam was worried that the kitten was going to be his undoing.\u00a0 Hop Sing brought up the rear of this parade with his egg basket over his arm.<\/p>\n Ben turned up the lantern to get a better look.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t see anything out of the ordinary and the hens seemed to have settled down.\u00a0 \u201cWhere was this animal?\u201d he asked Hop Sing.<\/p>\n \u201cUndah numbah ereven\u201d he answered, pointing to a hen.\u00a0 Ben went over to the hen and reached under her.\u00a0 His hand encountered something very soft.\u00a0 Lifting the hen, he saw the kitten.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s just a kitten, Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt bite me\u201d the cook said.<\/p>\n \u201cAaawww\u201d said Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cThat lil thing must miss its mama and littermates and done come in here fer company.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it can go in the barn where it belongs\u201d said Ben.\u00a0 He then tried to pick up the kitten, but it didn\u2019t want to leave its warm, comfy home.\u00a0 The kitten hissed and then launched itself at Ben.\u00a0 The little ball of fur\u2019s back paw connected with Ben\u2019s cheek as it leapt from his shoulder onto his head.\u00a0 Before the kitten could launch somewhere else, Hoss reached out and grabbed it.\u00a0 Immediately, the kitten calmed down in Hoss\u2019 hands.\u00a0 \u201cIt shore is a cute \u2018un\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Adam was too shocked for words.\u00a0 He was looking at the four scratch marks on his father\u2019s cheek.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019d better clean that up, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhose bright idea was it to put Old Man Garvey\u2019s kitten in here instead of the barn?\u201d Ben asked, trying hard to restrain his temper for the sake of the egg-laying hens.\u00a0 Neither Hoss nor Adam answered.\u00a0 Ben glowered at the both of them and assumed Hoss had put the kitten inside the henhouse.\u00a0 Stalking back to the house, Ben had his neckerchief pressed to his cheek.<\/p>\n Joe had come downstairs when Hop Sing started yelling.\u00a0 He was shocked to see Pa come in with blood on his hand a kerchief pressed to his face.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t happen to know anything about a kitten in the henhouse, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s face paled a bit, which Ben\u2019s sharp eyes noted.\u00a0 He had had such high hopes for Joseph making it a few days without causing any trouble.\u00a0 Trouble must be in the boy\u2019s blood, Ben thought.<\/p>\n Adam came inside and went to his chair.\u00a0 Hoss and Joe sat down to play some checkers while they waited for breakfast.\u00a0 Ben went upstairs to clean up.<\/p>\n Coming downstairs, Ben said \u201cI\u2019m going to have Paul look at these scratches.\u00a0 Cat scratch fever is the last thing I need.\u00a0 Let Hop Sing know that I\u2019ll be taking breakfast at the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben went out and headed for the barn.\u00a0 Joe looked between his brothers.\u00a0 He knew Adam had put the kitten in the henhouse to get Hoss in trouble, but Pa probably suspected him.\u00a0 Why had they made this stupid bet, he wondered.<\/p>\n Joe went out to the barn to see if his father needed any help getting Buck saddled.\u00a0 Ben was putting Adam\u2019s saddle on Buck.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy\u2019re ya usin\u2019 Adam\u2019s saddle?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThe cinch on mine needs to be fixed, so I decided to use Adam\u2019s.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure he won\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t you rather use Hoss\u2019?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss\u2019 is too big.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s will do just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don\u2019t ya use mine?\u201d Joe asked.\u00a0 He knew that Hoss had over-soaped Adam\u2019s saddle to make it really slick.<\/p>\n \u201cYours is too small for Buck.\u00a0 Is there a reason I shouldn\u2019t use Adam\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess not\u201d answered Joe.\u00a0 Maybe Pa would do okay.\u00a0 He was a much better rider than Adam.<\/p>\n Finally getting Buck saddled, Ben led the horse out to the hitching rail.\u00a0 \u201cYou go on inside and have some breakfast, Joseph.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be back before too long.\u201d\u00a0 Ben mounted up and headed out of the yard.\u00a0 Joe had stayed outside to make sure Pa kept his seat.<\/p>\n Before getting too far, Buck shied at a rabbit darting though the yard.\u00a0 The horse reared up in fright and his rider tried to get the animal under control.\u00a0 However, Ben slid out of the saddle and landed with a thud on his back.\u00a0 The wind had been knocked out of him on hitting the ground and he didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n Fearing the worst, Joe yelled for Hoss and Adam.\u00a0 His two brothers came running out of the house when they heard Joe.\u00a0 They were stunned to see Pa laying on the ground and not moving.\u00a0 Hoss went over to Buck and saw Adam\u2019s saddle.\u00a0 He gulped nervously.\u00a0 Adam was supposed to take a tumble, not Pa.<\/p>\n Finally getting some breath back, Ben said \u201cI don\u2019t understand why that saddle is so slick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan you stand, Pa?\u201d Adam asked with concern.<\/p>\n \u201cI think so.\u201d\u00a0 Adam helped him up.\u00a0 Ben seemed to be unhurt.\u00a0 He glanced over at Hoss, who looked enormously guilty.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened here, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI meant ta teach Adam a lesson.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t mean fer ya to get hurt\u201d said Hoss, eyes downcast.<\/p>\n \u201cDid this have anything to do with that bet you made?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir\u201d mumbled Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy can\u2019t you believe in Joseph?\u00a0 You did the saddle and put that kitten in the henhouse.\u00a0 I\u2019m disappointed with you, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t put that kitten out there, honest\u201d said Hoss, looking at his father.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re the only one who could hold that wild thing.\u00a0 Who else could have done it?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam scuffed his boot, a gesture that wasn\u2019t lost on his father.<\/p>\n \u201cYou, Adam?\u00a0 I\u2019d have thought you would have better sense than that.\u201d<\/p>\n “Guess not\u201d was Adam\u2019s only response.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like Joseph is the only one around here not causing any trouble.\u00a0 As far as I\u2019m concerned, your bet is off.\u00a0 Both of you boys will be shoveling snow until spring comes.\u00a0 You understand me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir\u201d was all Adam had Hoss could say.<\/p>\n Adam helped his father into the house while Hoss took Buck back to the barn.\u00a0 Getting Pa settled into his chair. Adam went to get Hop Sing.\u00a0 Maybe the cook had some herbs that could be used for the cat scratches.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of you, Joseph.\u00a0 You\u2019ve worked hard to keep this resolution of yours.\u00a0 I know it\u2019s probably taken a lot of effort on your part.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, Pa\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n A crash from the kitchen interrupted this happy moment.\u00a0 \u201cWho leave lid offa honey jar?!?\u201d Hop Sing yelled.<\/p>\n Ben looked at Joe who only looked at the floor.\u00a0 \u201cI got hungry last night and came down for some bread and honey.\u00a0 Guess I didn\u2019t get the lid back on the jar, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the kind of trouble I expect from you\u201d said Ben with a chuckle.\u00a0 Everything should return to normal now, he thought, since Joe broke his resolution.\u00a0 The bet was off so there\u2019d be no reason for Hoss and Adam to conspire against each other anymore.\u00a0 Ben hoped that this would be a good year for them all, trouble or not.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>29 Mar 2013 05:05 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>A New Year, A New Resolution\u00a0Making his resolution was admirable, however… with brothers like those, he didn’t stand a chance.*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"star\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bonanzabrand.info\/efiction\/images\/star.gif?ssl=1\")
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>05 Feb 2012 11:49 pm\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>A New Year, A New Resolution\u00a0Cute story. \u00a0Enjoyed seeing Adam and Hoss coniving in order to win the bet.*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n