Disclaimer: I do not own Bonanza or the Cartwrights. No copyright infringement is intended on Alex Sharpe’s magnificent script. Original plot is the property of the author. This story is for entertainment.<\/span><\/p>\n Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page.<\/p>\n No More Security<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u00a0seen Adam madder\u2019n a hornet several times, but I\u00a0ain\u2019t never seen him mad enough to spit nails into fence posts. When Lil Joe won that race, I\u00a0was a winner, too. I\u00a0put money on his horse even though me an\u2019 Adam was runnin\u2019 that hayburner of ours. Lafe was bein\u2019 crowded by folks who\u2019d won so I\u00a0couldn\u2019t mosey my way over to git what was due me.<\/span> <\/p>\n
Ol’ Adam had to hand over that new rifle of\u00a0his since he put it up as security for borrowin\u2019 Lil Joe\u2019s money. Just when I\u00a0thought my older brother couldn\u2019t git no madder, Lafe come over an\u2019 gave me my winnins. The look in Adam\u2019s eyes coulda blasted a tunnel through solid rock. An\u2019 his voice\u2014there was an edge to it I\u00a0hadn\u2019t heard since him and Pa argued over windmills.<\/span>
Adam can\u00a0usually ride herd on his temper right quick-like, but when he gits riled he makes me think of a bear that\u2019s been tryin\u2019 to steal honey from a hive of\u00a0bees\u2014his hair kinda bristles, he stands real tall, an\u2019 he snarls. I\u00a0was tryin\u2019 to think of a way to tell him why I\u00a0bet on Lil Joe, but there weren\u2019t no words comin\u2019 to my mind. All I\u00a0could think to do was offer to buy him a beer. That only made him madder.<\/span>
Next thing I\u00a0know, he\u2019s thrown down that new rifle scabbard an\u2019 his hat. All I\u00a0could think to do was back up, but he started comin\u2019 at me. Then he took off that coat of\u00a0his an\u2019 gave it to Lafe. Well, he thought he gave it to Lafe but it fell on the ground an\u2019 I\u00a0don\u2019t think he cared none. When he took off his gun, I\u00a0knew I\u00a0was in fer it. He ain\u2019t thrashed me since we was kids, an\u2019 even then I\u00a0was bigger\u2019n him.\u00a0<\/span>
Last time I\u00a0gave Adam a poundin\u2019 it was for tryin\u2019 to steal Regan from me. Well, I\u00a0thought he was tryin\u2019 to at the time. Turns out he just wanted to show me what kinda woman she really was. I\u00a0was so mad I\u00a0lit into him with all a my might. Strange thing was he didn\u2019t even raise a fist to stop me. If\u2019n it hadn\u2019t bin for Pa an\u2019 Lil Joe comin\u2019 out to the bunkhouse, I\u00a0mighta done him some real damage. Now I\u00a0was wonderin\u2019 if I\u00a0should just let him get this outta his system or try to stop him with a quick jab to the jaw.<\/span>
I\u00a0threw my winnins to the ground thinkin\u2019 to distract him. Mebbe if\u2019n he saw the money, he\u2019d stop to get it an\u2019 go buy his rifle back. But he just started rollin\u2019 up his sleeves so he could git down to business.<\/span>
Just as I\u00a0started to turn tail to get outta there, Adam grabbed my shoulder an\u2019 spun me \u2018round. That wicked right hook of\u00a0his got me in the eye. Afore I\u00a0could get in a punch, he socked me one in the gut. Was that enough for him? Nope. Then he gave me a hard jab to the jaw an\u2019 then another punch to the gut. Seemed like he shoulda got that anger outta him but he was still comin\u2019 at me. Where was Pa an\u2019 Lil Joe? Why weren\u2019t they puttin\u2019 a stop to this?<\/span>
I\u00a0reached out an\u2019 pushed Adam in the chest, thinkin\u2019 he might fall over so I\u00a0could get somewheres safe. All I\u00a0did was make him take a step back so he could get set up for another round at me. An\u2019 boy howdy, he sure delivered! Those fists a his were near flyin\u2019 against my face the way a beaver\u2019d slap his tail agin the water. That brother a mine sure can\u00a0punch when he makes up his mind to give in to anger.<\/span>
One a his blows finally caught me on the chin. My head snapped back an\u2019 I\u00a0went over like one a them big ol’ pines we timber for lumber. I\u00a0laid there in the street wonderin\u2019 if\u2019n he\u2019d switch from his fists to his boots. I\u00a0sure was hopin\u2019 his temper was spent.<\/span>
He leaned over on his knees for a minute an\u2019 then reached out his hand to me. I\u00a0didn\u2019t know if\u2019n it was a trick to get me on my feet so he could pound me some more. It looked like his anger was gone, so I\u00a0went ahead an\u2019 reached for his hand. He helped me up, got his bandana outta his pocket, an\u2019 handed it over to me so I\u00a0could clean up my face. Then he gave me a pat on the shoulder an\u2019 headed fer Pa an\u2019 Lil Joe.<\/span>
Seems like he noticed all a his belongings in the street then. After a shake of his head, he picked up his gunbelt, coat, and hat. But when he got to that rifle scabbard I\u00a0thought he might build up to another thrashin\u2019. Turns out he just looked at it for a bit an\u2019 then picked it up. Pa asked him if ever\u2019thin\u2019 was all right an\u2019 he said it was. Lil Joe was lookin\u2019 mighty nervous, though. He prob\u2019ly figgered he was gonna be next to feel Adam\u2019s fists.<\/span>
I\u00a0was right surprised when Lil Joe offered to give Adam his rifle back. Ol’ Adam took a deep breath an\u2019 then told our lil brother he done won it fair and square so it was his now an\u2019 he\u2019d best take care of it. Lil Joe promised ta keep it polished an\u2019 clean. Then he said he\u2019d buy us all beers over to the Silver Dollar. I\u00a0wasn\u2019t gonna say no to my lil brother springin\u2019 for the beers for once. Adam said a beer sure sounded good. Pa looked mighty pleased that Adam wasn\u2019t angry no more an\u2019 Lil Joe was tryin\u2019 to make peace. Me? I\u00a0was just glad the race was over with an\u2019 ever\u2019thin\u2019 could go back to the way it usually is.\u00a0<\/span>
But then Pa clapped me on my back an\u2019 said, \u201cAbout that money I loaned you for side bets.\u201d I\u00a0picked my\u00a0green backs up, counted out what was owed to Pa, and put the rest in my pocket for later. I\u00a0sure hope I\u00a0don\u2019t never hafta borrow money from Lil Joe again\u2014there just ain\u2019t enough security in the world to cover a loan from him.<\/span>
The End<\/span>
October 2007<\/span><\/p>\n
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