Written for the combined Pinecone\/Chaps and Spurs Challenge, 2013. \u00a0The prompts were violet, honey, drew, cast, and fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended against Robert Vincent Wright’s script. Original plot is\u00a0property 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 Moon Blind<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t love her, Adam,\u201d said Joe in a conspiratorial whisper around a wad of bread shoved into his cheek, making him appear as a squirrel carrying a cache of acorns. He resumed chewing the moist glob.\u00a0<\/span> <\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you so sure?\u201d asked Adam, nose wrinkled in disgust at the sight of his brother\u2019s open-mouthed chomping.\u00a0<\/span>
Joe swallowed then smiled as if he were a fox satisfied after a meal of hen. \u201cThe way she kissed me. A woman only kisses like that to make a man jealous. Don Ricardo didn\u2019t even raise an eyebrow when he caught us.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYou\u2019re just moon blind,\u201d said Adam as he stabbed a clump of scrambled egg with his fork.<\/span>
Joe made a noise in his throat to indicate he disagreed. \u201cShe slapped me after Don Ricardo didn\u2019t even demand satisfaction. I think she knows he\u2019s only marrying her for money. Shame he thinks that chest holds a fortune. You know, I bet he\u2019d break off the engagement if he knew the truth.\u201d<\/span>
Adam pointed the business end of his fork at his youngest brother. \u201cYou don\u2019t have any proof.\u201d He set the fork down and plucked up a strip of bacon, biting off the crisper end. Through the crunching he said, \u201cMiss Dubois seems to love him.\u201d He swallowed then licked a dab of grease off of his thumb before pointing his forefinger at Joe. \u201cShe wouldn\u2019t have slapped you if she didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cBut I\u2019m telling you Ricardo doesn\u2019t love her,\u201d said Joe, leaning forward, elbows pressed against the table.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cThat\u2019s none of our affair. Besides, Mr. Dubois, his daughter, and Don Ricardo are our guests.\u201d<\/span>
Heavy footsteps on the stairs briefly interrupted the conversation.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cMorning,\u201d said Hoss as he set his napkin in his lap and reached for the bowl of eggs. He nudged Adam to pass the toast.<\/span>
\u201cThose robbers come back?\u201d asked Hoss around a mouthful of half-chewed food.<\/span>
\u201cNo,\u201d answered Adam over the rim of his coffee cup. He cocked his head in Joe\u2019s direction and said, \u201cBut younger brother is moon blind over that girl.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI am not,\u201d said Joe, rolling his eyes and propping his right ankle on his left knee.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cI swear, Joe, if gals were flowers you\u2019d be the busiest bee for miles around, always flittin\u2019 here and there to make honey,\u201d said Hoss. He reached across the table and stabbed a thick piece of ham with the tip of his knife and drew the meat back to his plate without leaving any drippings on the table cloth. \u201cNext thing, you\u2019ll be pledging your everlasting love to that there Miss Dubois.\u201d<\/span>
Joe scoffed and poured another cup of coffee. He remembered the invitation in Michele\u2019s eyes when she\u2019d stood frightened against the tree, then the press of her lips against his own and her hands pulling him close, the scent of violets in her hair and on her skin.\u00a0<\/span>Michele Dubois is a beautiful girl in the sunlight but a goddess in moonlight<\/i>.<\/span>
Coffee sloshed over the rim of the cup and onto his thigh as Joe was startled out of his reverie by the snap of Hoss\u2019 fingers. Joe snorted through his nose as he slapped his napkin at the dark stain on his clean trousers.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cYou\u2019re right, Adam. Little brother\u00a0<\/span>is<\/i>\u00a0moon blind.\u201d Hoss scooped more eggs onto his plate but slyly watched Joe.<\/span>
Joe\u2019s voice rose in pitch in disbelief. \u201cYou two are the ones who are blind. How come Don Ricardo rides off every morning, leaving Miss Dubois all alone? If she was my affianced, I sure wouldn\u2019t spend my time elsewhere.\u201d<\/span>
Adam leaned back in his chair. \u201cDon Ricardo knows she\u2019s worried about her father since last night proved he\u2019s not fully recovered from that previous encounter with those men. Besides, Don Ricardo is looking over the Ponderosa for ways to improve his own hacienda.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cGood morning,\u201d said Ben as he strode down the stairs. \u201cEat hearty, boys\u2014there are plenty of neglected chores to do today.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI fixed the porch,\u201d said Joe, through a smug smile.<\/span>
\u201cGood,\u201d said Ben with a nod. \u201cIt only took my prodding and a pretty young lady to show off for to do it.\u201d<\/span>
Joe\u2019s smile faded. He returned his right foot to the floor and slumped in his chair.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cThat\u2019s the only way to make Joe do anything,\u201d mumbled Hoss around a mouthful of flapjack.\u00a0<\/span>
One side of Adam\u2019s mouth quirked up but he didn\u2019t hide his smirk behind his napkin fast enough. His smile withered under his father\u2019s scathing gaze.<\/span>
Ben pointed at Joe with his knife as he said, \u201cYou concentrate on your chores, Joe, and leave Miss Dubois to find her own amusement. Understood?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYes, sir,\u201d mumbled Joe.<\/span>
The rustle of fabric and dainty footsteps brought an end to conversation. All four men pushed back from the table to greet Michele Dubois.<\/span>
\u201cGood morning,\u201d said Ben with a smile. \u201cHow\u2019s your father this morning?\u201d<\/span>
She nodded in greeting and said, \u201cPap\u00e1 thinks he should be out looking for those men. I told him if he eats all of his breakfast, then maybe he\u2019ll have the strength to do so.\u201d She craned her neck to look at the kitchen entrance. \u201cIs his tray ready?\u201d<\/span>
As if on cue, Hop Sing emerged from the kitchen bearing a tray laden with several plates and a steaming cup of coffee.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019ll take that,\u201d said Joe, reaching for the cook\u2019s burden.<\/span>
Hop Sing scowled and said, \u201cYou finish breakfast. Missy come with Hop Sing.\u201d<\/span>
The other Cartwrights took their seats but Joe remained standing, watching until Michele reached the top of the stairs.\u00a0<\/span>
Ben cleared his throat and Joe\u2019s eyebrows drooped in disappointment as he sat down.<\/span>
\u201cMoon blind,\u201d Hoss mumbled into his coffee.<\/span>
Before Joe could loose a retort, Adam asked, \u201cAny ideas about last night\u2019s attempted robbery?\u201d<\/span>
Hoss shrugged a shoulder and said, \u201cMaybe it was a lucky guess.\u201d<\/span>
Ben shook his head. \u201cNo, I think someone\u2019s passing information to them.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cDon\u2019t look at me,\u201d said Joe, raising his hands.<\/span>
\u201cWe should cast a wider net, find them before they try again. I\u2019m going to head into town and talk to Roy. You boys get your chores done.\u201d<\/span>
A weak chorus of, \u201cYes, sir,\u201d arose from Adam and Hoss.<\/span>
\u201cBut what if Miss Dubois, or her father, needs help or . . . .\u201d began Joe.<\/span>
\u201cI mean it, Joseph. If you pay half as much attention to the wagon as you have to Miss Dubois you\u2019ll have it fixed in no time at all.\u201d Ben\u2019s dark eyes, like twin pieces of coal, fixed on his youngest until Joe dropped his gaze to his plate.<\/span>
\u201cYes, sir,\u201d muttered Joe.<\/span>
\u201cMoon blind,\u201d said Adam under his breath as he cut off a generous bite of ham from the slice on his plate.<\/span>
\u201cStop calling me that,\u201d said Joe, eyes flashing in indignation. \u201cYou and Hoss let them get away. Twice.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI don\u2019t recall you rounding them up last night,\u201d said Hoss.<\/span>
\u201cIt was dark and . . . .\u201d<\/span>
Draining his coffee cup, Ben wiped his mouth and tossed his napkin onto the table. \u201cThat\u2019s enough, boys. I\u2019m going to town so get the chores done.\u201d<\/span>
Adam winked at Hoss as the front door closed. \u201cLittle brother tried to romance Miss Dubois away from Don Ricardo last night. Shame the moon didn\u2019t work in Joe\u2019s favor.\u201d<\/span>
Joe leaned on the table, propping his cheek against his fist. He gazed at the stairs and sighed.<\/span>
\u201cMoon blind for sure,\u201d muttered Hoss as he plopped another flapjack onto his plate.\u00a0<\/span>
The End<\/span>
February 2013<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>01 Apr 2013 05:53 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Moon Blind\u00a0His brother’s sure do have Joe pegged! \u00a0Very nice fill-in to the story.*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"star\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bonanzabrand.info\/efiction\/images\/star.gif?ssl=1\")
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>02 Mar 2013 04:27 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Moon Blind\u00a0With little story you showed the Cartwright family life as I imagined it always. A little brother teasing, a father who knows his sons and special his youngest. You wrote it so graphic that I could see this scene in my head. Thanx for this story. JoeC*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>01 Mar 2013 09:43 pm\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Moon Blind\u00a0Good scene for this episode. \u00a0I love the repetition of “moon blind” throughout. \u00a0You’re on a roll, Patina, with these challenges!*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>01 Mar 2013 10:43 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Moon Blind\u00a0I love the light heartedness in this piece! It’s good to see just a happy banter between the boys for once. you write these conversations so well, patina!Author’s Response: Thank you, faust! Light, family moments such as this are fun (for me) to write. I’m so glad to know you enjoyed it!<\/i>*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>01 Mar 2013 04:58 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Moon Blind\u00a0Brotherly love at its best… Moon blind, all three of them.Author’s Response: Thank you, BluewindFarm!<\/i>*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n