Summary: \u00a0<\/b>A young Joe begs for a new story to while away another winter’s afternoon.\u00a0 Ben responds by telling how a simple request for Adam to find Hoss a new pastime rebounds on him.
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (9,500 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Snakes Alive!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe Cartwright pressed his nose to the window and peered out.\u00a0 Snow was still falling, more slowly now, but never the less it was accumulating faster than his brothers could clear it.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss, together with some of the hands, had spent the best part of the morning shoveling snow from around the house and barn.\u00a0 Joe had only been permitted out on to the back porch to split kindling and gather wood.\u00a0 He moved away from the window and back to the fire.\u00a0 Cabin fever was beginning to get to him again.\u00a0 Six days now without moving more than a few feet from the door; it was more than he could stand.<\/p>\n He settled himself on the hearth with his feet curled under him and surveyed the other occupants of the room.\u00a0 Hoss was dozing on the settee, his snore gentle at the moment, showing that he wasn\u2019t really in deep sleep.\u00a0 If he had been really away then the snores would rattle the rafters.\u00a0 Adam had pulled his chair close to the fire on the other side from Joe and was engrossed in a large tome entitled \u201cA History of Rome.\u201d\u00a0 Joe had peeked at it earlier, it had no pictures and every page had more footnotes and strange symbols than text. He debated fetching his own book from his room, a lurid detective novel, but Pa would only complain about his choice of reading material and force him to exchange it for one of his school text books.\u00a0 No, that was best kept for reading by dim candlelight late into the night when Pa was asleep.<\/p>\n His eyes settled on Pa and he smiled.\u00a0 Pa was pretending to read his newspaper but was in fact watching him.\u00a0 \u201cMust be about time for another story, huh, Pa?\u201d\u00a0 he asked.<\/p>\n Ben laid down his paper and chuckled. \u201cI was wondering when that was coming.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou tell \u2018em real good, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe decided a little flattery wouldn\u2019t hurt. \u201cAn\u2019 yesterday you said somethin\u2019 about Hoss\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a low chuckle from Adam\u2019s chair. \u201cYeah, Pa.\u00a0 It\u2019s Hoss’ turn.\u00a0 You always tell stories about me, it\u2019s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled.\u00a0 \u201cSeems I\u2019ve heard that phrase a few times in your lifetime.\u00a0 Could it be that there are more stories about you than about your brother?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep, I\u2019m the good one,\u201d A voice rumbled from the sofa.<\/p>\n Adam and Joe stared at Hoss in surprise.\u00a0 \u201cThought you was asleep,\u201d Joe grumbled.<\/p>\n Ben laughed.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s not get into comparisons, you all had your moments\u2026 still do,\u201d he added, fixing Joe with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on Pa, tell us about the snakes or the bear cub.\u201d\u00a0 Joe coaxed.<\/p>\n Ben reached for his pipe and crossed one leg over the other as he leaned back and prepared to light the tobacco in the bowl.\u00a0 \u201cDoes seem that all stories about Hoss concern livestock,\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cHis animals sure got him into enough trouble at times,\u201d\u00a0 Adam grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cMostly it was you got me in trouble, big brother,\u201d\u00a0 Hoss retaliated.<\/p>\n Adam sat up, most indignant. \u201cYou can\u2019t blame me for the crazy things you did with that bear cub,\u201d he protested.<\/p>\n Ben nodded at Hoss then raised an eyebrow at his eldest son and smiled\u00a0 \u201cNo, but he could claim the snakes were your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy fault!\u201d\u00a0 Adam shot back. \u201cHow were they my fault?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled and leaned back in his chair puffing on his pipe so that the air around him was full of faint blue smoke.\u00a0 \u201cWell, as I recall it started like this\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam\u2026 Adam\u2026 come quick!\u201d\u00a0 The loud shout roused Adam from his book.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat!\u201d\u00a0 Adam yelled back without moving.\u00a0 He was comfortable here in the hayloft and he had just a few more pages to read before supper.\u00a0 If he could just\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d\u00a0 the shout from his younger brother was more insistent and crashing noises came from below.<\/p>\n Reluctantly, the older boy rose from his hay nest and peered over the side of the hayloft to the barn floor.\u00a0 Hoss was now standing against one wall clutching something in his hands while two of the barn cats circled him meowing loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked, a trifle sharply, anxious to get back to his book before Pa called them for chores.<\/p>\n \u201cGinger and Mouser, done caught a mouse.\u00a0 I got it away from \u2018em but they won\u2019t leave us alone.\u201d\u00a0 Eight-year-old Hoss\u2019 voice was high pitched in distress.<\/p>\n Adam sighed.\u00a0 \u201cWhy\u2019d you take it away from them?\u00a0 They\u2019re barn cats, they\u2019re supposed to keep the mice and rats down.\u201d\u00a0 He slowly descended the ladder while trying to work out how to explain the facts of life, or rather death, and the food chain to his little brother.\u00a0 Being thirteen \u2013 well, almost fourteen – and the oldest was such a chore.<\/p>\n \u201cThey was hurting it.\u00a0 Lettin\u2019 it run then jumpin\u2019 on it again.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was almost in tears.\u00a0 \u201cSend \u2018em away, Adam.\u00a0 We can make it better.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s mouth dropped open.\u00a0 \u201cMice are pests, Hoss.\u00a0 They eat the grain and Hop Sing\u2019s vegetables.\u201d\u00a0 He could see his words were having no effect or rather were upsetting his brother even more.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll get rid of the cats then you can let him go again,” he suggested, knowing full well that Ginger and Mouser would only take seconds to catch it again.\u00a0 In that time he hoped to get Hoss out of the barn and away from the murder scene.<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Hoss said, firmly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m gonna keep him.\u00a0 You can make him a cage and he\u2019ll be my pet, won\u2019t ya?\u201d\u00a0 He said, opening his hands a crack to talk to the poor frightened creature he held there.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s gonna die anyway, the cats hurt it and it\u2019s scared,\u201d Adam snapped back. \u201cGive it to me, don\u2019t be so stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t stupid!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, what\u2019s this all about?\u201d\u00a0 A quiet, deep voice interrupted.<\/p>\n Both boys looked up to see their father standing at the barn door.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s got a mouse and he wants to keep it,\u201d Adam said in disgust.\u00a0 \u201cI told him he couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben walked slowly toward them.\u00a0 \u201cDidn\u2019t I also hear you say something else?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shuffled his feet a little.\u00a0 Why did Pa always put things that way, \u2018stead of coming right out and saying it.\u00a0 He knew exactly what his father meant.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d\u00a0 Ben prompted.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t mean it,\u201d Adam grumbled.<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t move and his eyes remained fixed on his eldest son.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, I\u2019m sorry I called you stupid, Hoss.\u00a0 You aren\u2019t\u2026\u201d he turned away for a moment and muttered \u201c\u2026but keepin\u2019 a mouse is.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben fought back a smile.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s see him?\u201d\u00a0 He shooed the cats away and held out his hand to Hoss.<\/p>\n Very carefully Hoss opened his hands a little, holding his thumb over the mouse to prevent escape.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s hurt, son.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a kindness to keep him,\u201d Ben tried to gently extract the mouse from Hoss\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n \u201cI can take care of him, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll ask Mama for a box and some stuff to make him a bed.\u00a0 He\u2019ll get well, I know he will.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019 looked up at his father with pleading eyes.<\/p>\n Ben sighed.\u00a0 It was hard to refuse the little fellow, not that he was so little now.\u00a0 When he looked that way he was so like his birth mother.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know son, your mother won\u2019t be too keen\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Taking the hesitancy for permission, Hoss\u2019 face lit up.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll go ask her now.\u00a0 She\u2019ll find me somethin\u2019,\u201d and with that he was gone.<\/p>\n Adam chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI wanna be there when he shows that to Marie.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben had to smile, too.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve a feeling we\u2019ll hear her wherever we are.\u201d<\/p>\n Both of them hastened their steps toward the kitchen in pursuit of Hoss; one to try to avoid the inevitable, and the other to watch the fun.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie was pouring hot milk into a cup when Hoss rushed in and she had to stop him with a shout of, \u201cHoss\u201d, before he cannoned into her.\u00a0 \u201cHey, not so fast.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled when he skidded to a halt.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s the fire?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked puzzled, \u201cWhat fire?\u201d<\/p>\n Marie chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI meant you were going so fast I was sure the barn was on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, I just wanna box\u2026 please,\u201d he added, remembering his manners as he saw his father heading across the yard.<\/p>\n Marie set the mug down on the table out of the reach of her smallest son who was safely tethered to his baby chair and turned her attention to Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cNow, what sort of box do we need?\u00a0 What is it for?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor Charlie,\u201d Hoss said eagerly, opening his hands just a fraction.<\/p>\n Afterwards, Marie congratulated herself on her composure; she was getting better at coping with sons.\u00a0 Three years ago she would have screamed, today she merely gasped and moved back a little.\u00a0 This wasn\u2019t the first shock Hoss had given her with animals and she doubted it would be the last.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s lovely, honey, but shouldn\u2019t he be outside?\u201d\u00a0 she responded gently, hoping the boy wold remove the creature quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s hurt and I want to make him better,\u201d Hoss pleaded.<\/p>\n Marie couldn\u2019t resist the eyes and she nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll see if Hop Sing has an old grocery box from Mr Cass.\u00a0 Can you hold on to\u2026uh, Charlie, while I look.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben overheard the last few words and sighed.\u00a0 If Hoss had given the mouse a name there was no hope. He smiled at his wife and whispered, \u201cThat was pretty brave for a city girl.\u201d<\/p>\n Marie giggled.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m learning.\u00a0 Just make sure it lives in a secure cage or out in the barn, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, if you really want to help the mouse we\u2019ll make a cage for it but as soon as it\u2019s well we take it out to the meadow and let it go,\u201d Ben said gently but firmly.<\/p>\n Behind him, Adam sighed and rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben insisted that, as far as possible, Sunday was a day of rest and so it had become habit on nice spring and summer Sundays for the family to spend the afternoon by the lake.\u00a0 On their return from the lake Hoss went to help his father unharness the team and Adam was detailed to help Marie unload the picnic basket and blankets and supervise Little Joe.\u00a0 At two, Joe could cause havoc in seconds if not watched.<\/p>\n Adam was so intent on following his little brother upstairs and stopping him from meddling with everything that the mouse cage wasn\u2019t the first thing he noticed when Joe ran into Hoss\u2019 room.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t until Joe poked his finger into the cage that Adam saw and gulped.\u00a0 The cage had tipped over from the table on to the bed and it lay on its side, its occupant was very still and beside the cage curled up and sound asleep was Mouser.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe, leave it,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n \u201cSeep?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, buddy, he\u2019s asleep.\u201d\u00a0 Adam took Joe\u2019s hand\u00a0 \u201cC\u2019mon, let\u2019s get you cleaned up for supper,\u201c he added, anxious to get his baby brother away from the dead mouse and too many questions.<\/p>\n Engrossed in the not inconsiderable task of washing his small, wriggling brother, Adam didn\u2019t get a chance to stop Hoss from running to his room as soon as he entered the house.\u00a0 The oldest and youngest had just finished their ablutions and were about to head through the kitchen for the table when a whirlwind hit them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou bin in my room and you let Mouser in,\u201d Hoss yelled, hurling himself at Adam. \u201cYou let her kill Charlie!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tried to hold Hoss off but the stocky little boy was too angry and soon they were rolling on the floor while Joe watched, his eyes wide.<\/p>\n The noise brought Marie who took in the scene with one quick glance.\u00a0 \u201cStop it, boys,\u201d she shouted, moving to stop Adam as he got to his feet and went to retaliate for a haymaker punch Hoss had landed while he was down.\u00a0 Placing herself between them she glared at both.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s this all about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe killed Charlie,\u201d Hoss yelled, pushing against his stepmother\u2019s hand to get to his older brother.\u00a0 Hoss\u2019 temper didn\u2019t flare as often as his older brother\u2019s but when it did he had no control over it.<\/p>\n Marie held him off with difficulty.\u00a0 \u201cAdam?\u201d she queried.<\/p>\n \u201cI did not.\u00a0 It probably died of fright when Mouser knocked its cage over,\u201d Adam yelled back.\u00a0 \u201cDamned mouse was half dead anyway, it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n It was unfortunate for Adam that they were still in the wash house.\u00a0 His next words were lost as he was yanked by his collar to the stone sink, and a wet soapy washcloth was pushed into his mouth.\u00a0 He gagged violently and looked up into the blazing dark eyes of his father.<\/p>\n \u201cNow both of you go to your rooms until you\u2019ve cooled off,\u201d Ben instructed, enforcing his words with a finger pointing to the backstairs.<\/p>\n One crying and the other still gagging from the soap, the two slunk away to nurse their wounds.<\/p>\n With a sad shake of his head, Ben looked at their retreating backs and then turned back to Marie.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I was hoping for a peaceful evening,\u201d he sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn\u2026 damn\u2026damn\u2026\u201d\u00a0 a small singsong voice was heard.<\/p>\n Both parents glanced down at the curly-haired toddler in shock.\u00a0 \u201cTwo whole sentences and he only manages to learn one word,\u201d Ben groaned.<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s latest craze was copying new words from Adam and this one obviously appealed to him.\u00a0 Added to his limited vocabulary it was likely to be used extensively for several days until a new one came along.<\/p>\n Marie bent down to her son, about to say something but Ben shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cIf we make something of it, he\u2019ll say it more,\u201d he said, softly.\u00a0 \u201cLeave it until tomorrow and if he still remembers it, I\u2019ll deal with it.\u201d\u00a0 He went over to the sink to wash his hands and sighed.\u00a0 \u201cI suppose I\u2019d better go deal with those two before supper though.\u201d<\/p>\n Marie put a hand on his arm. \u201cLeave it a while,\u201d she pleaded.\u00a0 \u201cSomeone else needs to cool off too.\u00a0 It won\u2019t hurt them to miss supper.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss was about to throw himself on to his bed when he saw the cage and Charlie.\u00a0 He carefully lifted the box on to the table and allowed the tears to fall unheeded.\u00a0 Mouser had made herself scarce when he entered the room and slammed the door.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t fair.\u00a0 All he wanted was a pet, something of his very own.\u00a0 Pa wouldn\u2019t let him have a dog, said it wouldn\u2019t earn its keep, whatever that meant.\u00a0 Adam had lots of friends\u2026 well, Ross, anyway, and he didn\u2019t have any except Adam and he hated him right now.<\/p>\n An hour passed and Hoss\u2019 tears stopped as another more pressing feeling came over him: hunger.\u00a0 Surely Ma wouldn\u2019t let him go without supper?\u00a0 No, he could hear footsteps.\u00a0 That\u2019d be Ma with something to eat.<\/p>\n The door opened and Pa came in, and he had no food with him and he looked stern.\u00a0 Hoss\u2019 tears began to surface again as he got to his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, young man, what was that fight about?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked, fixing his young son with his deep brown eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cAd…Adam kill\u2026 killed Ch\u2026Charlie,\u201d Hoss stammered through his tears..<\/p>\n Ben walked to the table and looked at the cage.\u00a0 Then he sat down on the bed and beckoned for Hoss to join him.\u00a0 He put one arm around the sobbing boy and the other hand under his chin making him look up.\u00a0 \u201cI think Charlie was just too sick to get better, son.\u00a0 He\u2019s tiny and Mouser is a big cat, he was frightened.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shuddered as he tried to stop his tears.\u00a0 \u201cAdam said\u2026 I shoulda let Mouser kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben hugged his son tightly.\u00a0 How to explain to this soft-hearted little boy that Mouser was doing his job, that rats and mice were not welcome on a ranch or in the house?<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the way the world works sometimes, son.\u00a0 When we go hunting we kill deer for food,\u201d he said softly, knowing venison was one of Hoss\u2019 favorites \u201c\u2026and if a cougar threatens the cattle we go after him.\u00a0 It\u2019s nature\u2019s way of keeping things right.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked up into his father\u2019s eyes and Ben knew that whatever was coming he would have to answer truthfully with those blue eyes on him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean Mouser was gonna eat Charlie?\u201d\u00a0 he gulped.<\/p>\n Ben hesitated a split second then nodded.\u00a0 \u201cTo Mouser he wasn\u2019t Charlie, he was just a mouse.\u00a0 And Mouser was hungry.\u00a0 Ginger and Mouser and the other barn cats are meant to catch the rats and mice that eat the grain, that\u2019s their job.\u00a0 That\u2019s why we don\u2019t feed them too much.\u201d\u00a0 He hid a smile, knowing that Hoss did feed them when no one was around.<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 eight-year-old logic was having a hard time here.\u00a0 \u201cBut if we fed them then they wouldn\u2019t need to catch the mice.\u201d<\/p>\n Again Ben nodded. \u201cBut then the mice and rats would eat the grain and the oats and there\u2019d be nothing for the horses to eat.\u00a0 The cats would still want meat, so what sort of meat would we give them?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss thought for a minute.\u00a0 \u201cThey could have some of Hop Sing\u2019s vegables and cheese\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey only eat meat, son.\u201d\u00a0 Ben watched as the various options flitted through his son\u2019s mind.\u00a0 \u201cLook, how about we give Charlie a proper burial and we try to find you some other pet.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 slowly considered the offer.\u00a0 \u201cLike a dog, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not like a dog, maybe a \u2026\u201d\u00a0 there his idea fell short.\u00a0 Like what? A dog was an expense he couldn\u2019t afford, and anyway it would be rewarding his son for fighting and backing down on something he\u2019d been adamant about for years.<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 face fell.\u00a0 \u201cA rabbit then, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was beginning to wish he\u2019d never started this conversation.\u00a0 Why could his sons always tie him in knots?\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u00a0 But first we have to talk about this fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss scraped his toe on the rug.\u00a0 \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow I want you to apologize to Adam \u2013 \u201c Ben began \u201cBut he started it,\u201d Hoss protested.<\/p>\n Ben tilted his head on one side and regarded Hoss with a frown.\u00a0 \u201cWho hit first?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss sighed\u00a0 \u201cI did, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you will apologize to Adam in the morning\u2026\u00a0 Now, let\u2019s get you ready for bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBed!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019 voice became shrill.\u00a0 \u201cI ain\u2019t had my supper.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, bed.\u00a0 I\u2019ll bring up some milk and sandwiches.\u00a0 Maybe then you\u2019ll remember to keep your temper in future.\u00a0 Boys who fight don\u2019t deserve supper.\u201d<\/p>\n When Pa spoke in that tone, Hoss knew better than to argue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam desperately tried to rinse his mouth out with the small amount of water left in his jug but no matter what he did the taste of the lye soap remained.\u00a0 He threw himself on the bed in a temper.\u00a0 How come he was in trouble? Hoss had started it\u2026\u00a0 He thumped his pillow and cursed again, then remembered why he had that awful taste in his mouth.\u00a0 He\u2019d been using those kinda words more often lately and he\u2019d have to be more careful around Pa.\u00a0 He sighed and rolled over on his back, placing his hands behind his head.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t fair.\u00a0 He always had to take care of his brothers and then when things went wrong, like today, it was always somehow his fault.\u00a0 He jumped as the door opened and immediately got to his feet.\u00a0 Pa expected respect and if it was going to help his present situation he was only too willing to oblige.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard your brother\u2019s version, now I want to hear yours.\u201d\u00a0 Ben spoke quietly as he came into the room and stood facing his oldest son, hands on hips and a stern expression on his face.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t do anything, Pa, honest,\u201d Adam began earnestly.\u00a0 \u201cHe just started punching me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you go into his room and leave the door open?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, kinda.\u00a0 Joe ran in there and I went after him but Mouser was already there. He musta been, because he was sleeping on Hoss\u2019 bed and the cage was tipped over,\u201d\u00a0 Adam explained.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe Hoss left it open or perhaps Marie\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right maybe they did but that\u2019s no excuse for you fighting with your brother.\u00a0 You\u2019re old enough to know better.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam made the mistake of rolling his eyes and answering back,\u00a0 \u201cSo I just let him pound on me?\u201d\u00a0 Adam came back, outraged, then realized that silence would have served him better.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re also old enough to know that I won\u2019t stand for insolence, dumb or otherwise,\u201d Ben responded sharply.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, sir, but how come its always my fault?\u201d\u00a0 Adam just couldn\u2019t leave well enough alone.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s lips thinned and he held his temper by a thread.\u00a0 Why did Adam always have to try to have the last word?\u00a0 \u201cMaybe because you are supposed to set your brothers an example.\u00a0 You can do that with Hoss by finding him some other interest that doesn\u2019t mean we have an endless stream of unsuitable animals in the house.\u00a0 And while we\u2019re on the subject of examples, if I hear you swearing again it won\u2019t be just the soap as a punishment, is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam knew he was getting off lightly and for once decided to take what was offered without further complaint.\u00a0 \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n Once his father had left the room he lay back and contemplated.\u00a0 Find Hoss another interest\u2026 Like what?!\u00a0 Hoss had no interest in anything but food and animals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s a mouse gotta do with snakes?\u201d\u00a0 Joe interrupted.\u00a0 \u201cYou said the story was about snakes.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed. \u201cYou\u2019d be surprised how that connection came about.\u00a0 Your mother always blamed me, but I can\u2019t see how any sensible, right thinking father could expect his sons to get from finding a suitable interest to keeping snakes.\u00a0 But then my sons always did have talents that surprised me.\u00a0 I guess I should have known better than to set Adam a task like that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n \u201cWhat ya doing?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked Ross.\u00a0 He had come over to visit and Mrs. Marquette had told him that his friend was in the storeroom.<\/p>\n Ross turned in surprise. \u201cHey, didn\u2019t expect to see you today.\u00a0 Thought you was still supposed to be doing yard chores after that little upset last week.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cI only skipped a few chores to go fishing. Pa said a week and the week\u2019s up.\u201d<\/p>\n Ross grinned. \u201cActually, I think he meant today was included.\u00a0 A week is seven days.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam grinned, too.\u00a0 \u201cHe didn\u2019t say so before he and Marie went over to Shaughnessy\u2019s and I\u2019ll be back long before he is, anyhow.\u201d<\/p>\n His friend shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cYou sure do take chances.\u00a0 What about Hoss and Joe, ain\u2019t you minding them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope they\u2019ve gone too,\u201d Adam replied, as he peered over Ross\u2019 shoulder at the boxes on the bench.<\/p>\n Ross grinned \u201cAnd it didn\u2019t occur to you that the reason you was left at home was because you was restricted to the yard, huh?\u00a0 \u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah, it occurred<\/em> to me but Pa never actually said so,\u201d Adam chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cWhat ya doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Ross moved back a little, \u201cSorting out my collection of eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEggs?\u201d Adam asked\u00a0 \u201cWhat eggs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBirds\u2019 eggs, I collect \u2018em.\u00a0 I got about twenty different ones now, see this is a Blue Jay.\u201d He held up an egg for Adam\u2019s inspection.\u00a0 \u201cCareful, they break easy now they\u2019re blown.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam frowned and gently cradled the egg in the palm of his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYou put a in hole in each end and blow the egg out otherwise it goes bad, then you can keep the shells if you\u2019re careful,\u201d\u00a0 Ross patiently explained, secretly delighted to find something he knew more about than his friend did.<\/p>\n Adam shrugged.\u00a0 There was no accounting for the strange things people collected.\u00a0 Hoss had a collection of stones and \u2026\u00a0 His brain worked overtime, an interest for Hoss, Pa had said.\u00a0 This one involved animals\u2026 Well, birds and there was nothing alive for Pa to object to and it was collecting too, which was one of Hoss\u2019 passions\u2026 maybe \u2026.\u00a0 \u201cCan you show me how to do it?\u201d\u00a0 he asked.<\/p>\n Ross raised an eyebrow. Adam didn\u2019t often admit ignorance or ask to be shown something by him, he usually knew it all.\u00a0 This was too good an opportunity to miss.\u00a0 \u201cSure, but spring\u2019s nearly done there won\u2019t be many eggs around now.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s for Hoss. Pa says he needs an interest.\u201d<\/p>\n Ross frowned.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s kinda little to do this. I mean it takes skill and -\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you can do it, I can and I can do the hard stuff for him.\u00a0 Pa keeps saying I should spend more time with him.\u00a0 It\u2019ll make them both happy.\u201d<\/p>\n The boys spent the remainder of the afternoon practicing on chicken and duck eggs to the point where Mrs Marquette reported to her husband that the chickens must have gone off laying.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s still birds, not snakes,\u201d Joe interrupted with scorn in his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Joseph, have faith.\u00a0 Your brothers never went direct at anything, and when telling me about it the more involved the story the better they thought their chances of getting off lightly.\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled at his youngest son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo you see, Hoss, it\u2019ll be fun.\u00a0 We can go egg hunting and then I\u2019ll blow them for you and you can make a nest box for them,\u201d Adam explained.<\/p>\n Hoss frowned.\u00a0 \u201cBut if you do that they won\u2019t hatch out, will they?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, no, but we\u2019ll only take one from each nest so the Momma bird won\u2019t notice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss grunted\u00a0 \u201cYou think Mama wouldn\u2019t notice if we took Little Joe away?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sighed.\u00a0 Why did his brother always complicate things?\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not the same.\u201d\u00a0 Seeing Hoss\u2019 disbelieving expression he did some quick thinking.\u00a0 \u201cYou remember that nest we found where the Mama bird had disappeared and the eggs were cold?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh huh,\u201d Hoss nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we\u2019ll look for others like that then the Mamas won\u2019t matter, because the birds will have died anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss was partly placated but only after Adam had explained that there was nothing they could do to save the birds and the two set off on their first expedition.<\/p>\n Finding abandoned nests wasn\u2019t easy and finding ones that were different made the job even harder. It occupied Hoss for the next few weeks and each weekend after his schoolwork was done Adam would help out and soon Hoss had a box with four eggs, one chicken, one duck, one sage hen and one blue jay.\u00a0 Adam had skated over the explanation when Hoss had asked if the eggs in the barn had been abandoned.\u00a0 After all, one less for breakfast wasn\u2019t gonna be missed and the hen had<\/em> walked away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One Saturday in summer Hoss was again at a loose end.\u00a0 He\u2019d tried egg hunting but apart from the chickens there were no birds\u2019 nests around now.\u00a0 Saturday was usually a time when Adam would be his companion but his older brother had other plans.\u00a0 He slipped away right after chores to meet up with his friends and Hoss was left to his own devices.<\/p>\n He had searched everywhere but there were no nests to be found; the eggs had all hatched.\u00a0 Marie saw his disappointment at the noon meal and decided to ask him to help her with an egg project of her own.\u00a0 She waited until they had eaten then while she was clearing the table she made her suggestion.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, honey, would you like to help me this afternoon?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shrugged.\u00a0 He was feeling miserable and bored since Adam had gone off with his friends.\u00a0 \u201cWhatcha gonna do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, when I\u2019ve put Joe down for his nap I\u2019m going to rescue some babies.\u201d\u00a0 She said casually, watching him from the corner of her eye.\u00a0 As she had anticipated he was eager to help.<\/p>\n Marie led Hoss to the barn where one of her prized hens was sitting forlornly in the hay, her feathers beginning to fall out and her head drooping.\u00a0 \u201cShe wants some babies but her eggs aren\u2019t hatching and she won\u2019t leave them.\u201d\u00a0 Marie explained. \u201cI think they must have gotten too cold one night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes that mean the chicks died?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked sadly.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they might have, Hoss, so we are going to find her another family.\u201d\u00a0 Marie gathered the old hen into her arms.\u00a0 \u201cTwo nights ago the coyotes got into Mrs Whittaker\u2019s hen house and killed some of her chickens and she had one hen sitting on a clutch of eggs that were almost ready to hatch.\u00a0 She managed to rescue some of the eggs and keep them warm and I offered her this little lady to finish the job that way she can replace her lost birds.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWe gonna take her to Mrs Whittaker\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n Marie had been busy filling a box with hay and she carefully settled the hen inside with a couple of the eggs to keep her quiet.\u00a0 \u201cYes, can you carry the box for me and put it in the buckboard.\u201d<\/p>\n Proudly Hoss picked up the box and with little steps and great concentration walked over to the harnessed buckboard.\u00a0 All through the drive he held the box tightly and stroked the slightly agitated hen, telling her she would soon have some babies. Marie smiled; his tender heart couldn\u2019t bear the thought of the hen being upset.\u00a0 Martha Whittaker had set the eggs in a hay filled box right beside her big kitchen stove and covered the box with more hay and a blanket.\u00a0 When Hoss carried the hen in she carefully lifted the covers and felt the eggs.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re still nice and warm and I think a couple are almost ready to hatch,\u201d she explained to Hoss.\u00a0 She smiled up at Marie.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t thank you enough for the hen, none of mine that survived are broody and, though I tried, none would take to the eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n The old hen seemed to settle almost immediately and Hoss grinned up at his stepmother.\u00a0 \u201cShe likes them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think so,\u201d Mrs. Whittaker smiled.\u00a0 \u201cNow, how about some milk and cookies for all your hard work?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss didn\u2019t need a second invitation but while he enjoyed his snack he began to wonder about the eggs.\u00a0 \u201cMama, if the eggs are kept warm will they hatch even if the Mama goes away?\u201d<\/p>\n Not seeing any harm in the question, Marie nodded.\u00a0 \u201cUsually they will, but it\u2019s better if there is another hen to take over.\u00a0 Baby chicks are a lot of work if you have to feed them and care for them.\u201d\u00a0 She suddenly thought she knew what was coming and waited for the request to have some chicks of his own.<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d\u00a0 Hoss pondered a moment.\u00a0 \u201cAdam said if the Mama goes away the babies die.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose in the wild they would but with our hens we usually notice if the eggs are being left.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled.\u00a0 \u201cNow we\u2019d better get home before your father thinks we\u2019ve abandoned him<\/em> especially as your little brother will be waking from his nap about now.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss was thoughtful on the journey home.\u00a0 If he could find some eggs where the mother had only just left them, he could hatch them out himself.\u00a0 He often came across the eggs of Prairie Hens and he\u2019d sometimes gathered them for Hop Sing to cook but now he knew they could hatch he intended to find some to keep as pets.\u00a0 Maybe he could even start his own flock of chickens from the wild ones.\u00a0 Several weeks passed but no matter how hard he hunted no eggs appeared for Hoss to hatch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One Saturday evening in early September when the two younger boys were in bed and Marie was sewing while the men folk played a game of checkers, Ben tried his usual ploy of encouraging Adam to talk about his day.\u00a0 As usual it was like pulling teeth; the boy never seemed to want to share.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what did you do today?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked his oldest son.<\/p>\n Adam glanced up from under dark lashes to see what expression his father was wearing.\u00a0 Was there a hidden motive behind the question? But Ben\u2019s face was clear and smiling.\u00a0 \u201cNuthin\u2019 much.\u00a0 We went to the stream and checked on the beaver but they weren\u2019t at home and then we just talked and stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled, at least he seemed more open and relaxed this evening.\u00a0 Just lately there had been times when he\u2019d clammed up tight when questioned and Ben suspected that things were going on that he wouldn\u2019t meet with parental approval.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s the stuff that I want to hear about before I hear from the neighbors or Jake.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cWe didn\u2019t do anything you\u2019ll hear about, honest.\u00a0 We watched Jake with those two mares.\u00a0 He\u2019s got them working real good together, says they\u2019ll be a matched pair for the buckboard.\u00a0 He got a bit of a scare when one of \u2018em nearly stepped on a snake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA snake in the yard?\u201d\u00a0 Marie exclaimed.\u00a0 \u201cWhat sort of snake?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t know, not seen one like it before and Jake didn\u2019t see it, so he didn\u2019t know, either.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben put out a hand and patted his wife\u2019s knee.\u00a0 \u201cIf Adam didn\u2019t know what it was then it wasn\u2019t a rattler, he\u2019s seen them often enough.\u00a0 What color was it, son?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam screwed up his eyes thoughtfully\u00a0 \u201cDidn\u2019t see it too clear but it was pretty, sort of striped with red and black and yellow.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve never seen one like that.\u00a0 Are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYeah. I didn\u2019t get a good look at its head but its body was striped.\u00a0 The bands went around it and it was about two feet long, maybe a bit less.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen a snake like that in New Orleans.\u00a0 We call it a Kingsnake, a Scarlet King snake, I think.\u00a0 It\u2019s harmless.\u201d\u00a0 Marie spoke with a certain amount of relief.<\/p>\n Ben agreed\u00a0 \u201cWe get king snakes around here but they are just black and yellow. I\u2019ve never seen one with red bands, they must be rare here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, at least if it\u2019s harmless we don\u2019t need to worry about Joe finding it.\u00a0 He\u2019s fascinated by worms right now and he\u2019d just see it as a big worm.\u201d\u00a0 Marie laughed.<\/p>\n Adam chuckled\u00a0 \u201cSome worm.\u00a0 At least he wouldn\u2019t try to eat it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Adam returned to the game of checkers but something was nagging at the back of Ben\u2019s mind.\u00a0 He\u2019d ask Jos\u00e9 about the snake tomorrow. Jos\u00e9 had lived around here for more years than the rest of them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss was bored.\u00a0 The summer vacation was almost over and he wasn\u2019t looking forward to going back to school.\u00a0 He wandered around the yard and then decided to go and watch the beaver.\u00a0 He was about halfway to the stream when he spotted a ground squirrel and gave chase.\u00a0 By the time he admitted he wasn\u2019t going to catch it he had wandered well away from the yard and into the sandy area below the foothills at the rear of the house.\u00a0 He shrugged his shoulders and started the long walk back.\u00a0 He kept his eyes open for other interesting animals and managed to capture a small lizard that had been peacefully sunning itself on a rock.\u00a0 As he gently put the lizard in his pocket he noticed a disturbed area of soil and three eggs peeping out of the sand.<\/p>\n Hoss bent down to examine them further.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t look like Prairie Hen eggs but they were warm and there was no bird anywhere about, in fact he hadn\u2019t seen a bird since he had left the yard.\u00a0 He hesitated for only a moment.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t collected any new eggs for ages and his attempt to hatch Prairie Hen eggs had failed.\u00a0 Maybe these would work better.\u00a0 He gathered the three small eggs into his handkerchief.\u00a0 It was a bit grubby but it made a soft bed for them and then placed it inside his hat and carried them gently home.<\/p>\n Once he got home he looked for a warm place to put them.\u00a0 By the fire would be good but it was still warm enough that Hop Sing didn\u2019t light the it until late evening and often not then. By the cook stove would be good but Hop Sing was in the kitchen when Hoss entered. The boy sidled around the table keeping his eyes on the Chinese cook.<\/p>\n Hop Sing watched.\u00a0 A batch of newly baked cookies were cooling by the window and the little cook suspected that they were the attraction.\u00a0 For once Hoss was only vaguely aware of the sugary treat nearby.\u00a0 His main objective was to find a good place for his eggs.\u00a0 There was a blanket by the stove but it was in full view. Adam\u2019s winter coat was thrown carelessly over a chair but Hoss couldn\u2019t see how that would help.\u00a0 Footsteps in the hallway made him panic a little and he retreated to the corner by the stove and prepared for his secret\u00a0 to be discovered and be forced to give up his eggs.\u00a0 As he sat down on the stool behind him, he felt a box at his back: Mama\u2019s sewing box.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t ideal but it would do for now.\u00a0 Mama wouldn\u2019t open it until after supper at least and he\u2019d have time to think of something better by then.\u00a0 He lifted the lid and gently slid the handkerchief, with its precious cargo, inside.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, are you trying to steal cookies?\u201d\u00a0 Mama\u2019s voice came to him from the doorway.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll spoil your dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shook his head.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know why she said that, he had never spoiled his supper in his life, no matter how many cookies he\u2019d eaten.\u00a0 \u201cNo, Ma\u2019am.\u00a0 I was\u2026 just\u2026 I was just checkin\u2019 what\u2019s for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n Marie smiled.\u00a0 \u201cNothing, until you\u2019ve washed up.\u00a0 Your hands are black.\u00a0 Now, go along with you and tell Adam supper\u2019s nearly ready.\u00a0 He\u2019s on the porch with Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss went to fetch his brothers.\u00a0 He debated telling Adam about the eggs but Adam would only tell Pa.\u00a0 But he did want to know what sort of birds were going to hatch so he tried to think of a way to ask without telling anything.<\/p>\n As the two older boys washed and Little Joe splashed water everywhere he carefully phrased his question.\u00a0 \u201cAdam, what kinda birds lay eggs on the ground?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam spluttered as he splashed water over his face and then cleaned off the dirt with a towel.\u00a0 \u201cGame birds mostly.\u00a0 Why?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss ignored the question and offered another of his own.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s a game bird?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam threw the now grubby towel on to the washstand.\u00a0 \u201cBirds you can eat, like ptarmigan, wild duck, sage hen, that sort of thing.\u201d\u00a0 Adam leaned back against the wall and surveyed his younger brother; something was going on here, he was sure of it.\u00a0 Hoss never was any good at hiding things.<\/p>\n \u201cKinda like chickens, huh?\u00a0 So if\u2019n we had some of these game birds it\u2019d be like keeping chickens and we could eat them?\u00a0 Pa\u2019d like that.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was trying hard to justify his eggs, so that when they hatched everyone would say how clever he was.<\/p>\n Adam shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re wild.\u00a0 They\u2019d fly away.\u00a0 You can\u2019t keep them.\u201d\u00a0 He moved closer to his brother.\u00a0 \u201cThey can\u2019t be kept as pets, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI weren\u2019t goin\u2019 to,\u201d Hoss protested, thus telling Adam all he needed to know.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere you got these eggs?\u201d\u00a0 Adam sighed.<\/p>\n Again Hoss ignored the main question. \u201cI found \u2018em and the Mama had gone but they was still warm.\u00a0 I thought maybe we could hatch \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but where did you put them?\u201d\u00a0 Adam\u2019s voice showed traces of exasperation.<\/p>\n Hoss stared at his boots.\u00a0 \u201cIn Mama\u2019s sewing box by the cook stove\u2026 I had to hide \u2018em quick and it\u2019s warm there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and so will your ears be when she finds them,\u201d Adam said, sharply, then seeing his brother\u2019s crestfallen expression he softened.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, we\u2019ll rescue them after supper and find a better place, but just \u2018til I can decide what to do with them.\u201d<\/p>\n Unfortunately the best-laid plans don\u2019t always work out, and neither Adam nor Hoss was able to get into the kitchen alone after supper.\u00a0 Hop Sing had decided that the evening was the best time to scrub the floor and he refused to allow anyone past the door once the dishes were done.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we gonna do?\u201d Hoss whispered when the two boys were eventually dispatched to get ready for bed.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing.\u201d\u00a0 Adam replied.\u00a0 \u201cMarie won\u2019t go out there until morning either and she sure won\u2019t sew before breakfast.\u00a0 We\u2019ll have plenty of time after to move them. Hop Sing always goes out in his garden in the mornings.\u201d<\/p>\n Reassured that his eggs were safe and warm for the night, Hoss allowed himself to be chased into his bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Summer mornings always came far too early for Ben Cartwright, but he wasn\u2019t a man to complain about hard work and while his sons were still brushing the sleep from their eyes he was out in the barn starting the chores.<\/p>\n He worked alongside Jos\u00e9 and Jake for a while then remembered the snake.\u00a0 \u201cOh, Adam told me about the snake in the corral yesterday,\u201d he said to Jake. \u201cHope it didn\u2019t cause too much trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n Jake shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNot too much, boss.\u00a0 Spooked the horse a bit, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMarie was worried it might be a rattler but Adam said he\u2019d never seen one like it before.\u00a0 We think it was probably a king snake, but it was unusual,\u201d Ben continued.<\/p>\n \u201cHow different, boss?\u201d\u00a0 Jos\u00e9 asked in a conversational tone.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Adam said it was red, yellow and black and the ones I\u2019ve seen are usually just yellow and black.\u201d\u00a0 Ben was surprised to see Jos\u00e9 jerk upright and drop his pitchfork.<\/p>\n \u201cDid Adam say how the bands touched?\u201d\u00a0 he demanded.<\/p>\n Ben was taken aback at the harsh tone. \u201cNo, does it matter?\u201d<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 nodded.\u00a0 \u201cIt matter, Se\u00f1or.\u00a0 \u2018Red to black, friend of Jack.\u00a0 Red touch yellow, kill a fellow\u2019<\/em>,\u201d\u00a0 Jos\u00e9 recited.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d both Jake and Ben queried, looking at the segundo with raised eyebrows.\u00a0 Jos\u00e9 didn\u2019t often quote poetry or whatever it was and certainly not in English.<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 looked up.\u00a0 \u201cOld saying, children learn to tell snakes apart.\u201d\u00a0 Seeing their puzzled faces he explained.\u00a0 \u201cKing snake have red and yellow bands with black in between.\u00a0 Coral snake have red, yellow and black bands, red next to yellow, no black in between.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCorals? \u201c Jake almost yelled.\u00a0 \u201cI seen them in Arizona, they can kill a man.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cWe don\u2019t get \u2018em up here, can\u2019t be one of those.\u00a0 Gotta be a King.\u201d<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 wasn\u2019t so sure.\u00a0 \u201cRed King snake not here, either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d better be safe and hunt it down. I don\u2019t want anyone bitten. \u201d Ben looked up as Adam and Hoss came into the barn and said their \u2018good mornings.\u2019\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat snake you saw yesterday, son.\u00a0 How was it marked?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cI told you, red, yellow and black.\u201d<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 took Adam by the arm. \u201cLike that?\u00a0 One ring after another?\u00a0 Or were there black bands between each ring?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was a little nervous at the segundo\u2019s tone.\u00a0 \u201cUh, I\u2019m not sure.\u00a0 Just bands one after another, I think,\u201d he replied.<\/p>\n \u201cThink hard, Adam.\u00a0 The yellow and red were touching, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh huh, I think so. Yes, I\u2019m sure it had red then yellow then black, then the same again.\u201d<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9\u2019s next question was interrupted by a scream from the kitchen.\u00a0 The three men took off at a run with the boys at their heels.\u00a0 The sight that greeted them would have been funny if the previous conversation had not taken place.<\/p>\n Hop Sing was standing by the stove as if rooted to the spot and across from him Marie was advancing on Little Joe, her tone coaxing.\u00a0 \u201cPut it down, sweetie, put it on the floor,\u201d she begged.<\/p>\n \u201cWorm\u2026\u201d\u00a0 Joe grinned, holding out his hand where a seven inch long \u2018worm\u2019 squirmed in the palm.\u00a0 The two-year-old was delighted with the effect his discovery had had on his mother, he\u2019d never heard anyone scream that loud.<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t hesitate or try to negotiate.\u00a0 One look at the red, yellow and black bands on Joe\u2019s \u2018worm\u2019 and he knocked it from his son\u2019s hand and stamped on it hard.\u00a0 Then he grabbed the terrified toddler and began looking for puncture marks. There were none and he sighed in relief.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere did he get it?\u201d\u00a0 he demanded of a tearful Marie, as Joe\u2019s screams began to rival his mother\u2019s from a few moments ago.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was in my sewing box,\u201d\u00a0 she said, trying to control her racing heart.\u00a0 \u201cI opened it to get out some thread to mend the strap on his pants and he grabbed one and said \u2018worm\u2019. I knew it wa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are more?\u201d\u00a0 Ben shot out before she could finish.\u00a0 At her startled look he tried to calm himself\u00a0 \u201cYou said he grabbed one, are there others?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh, yes, two or three I think.\u00a0 I slammed the lid shut when I saw they weren\u2019t worms.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Marie cuddled her son and tried to quiet his shrieks, which were slowly being replaced by sobbing and hiccuping noises.<\/p>\n Ben grabbed up the sewing box and pushing passed his two older sons, who stood wide eyed in the doorway he went into the yard with Jos\u00e9 and Jake hot on his heels.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Half an hour later, a relative calm had descended on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 The baby snakes had been dealt with and Jos\u00e9 and Jake had gone in search of the mother but without much hope of success.\u00a0 Hop Sing had gone back to preparing the evening meal but with one eye open for snakes.\u00a0 Joe had calmed down and Marie was almost back to normal too, only Hoss wore a worried frown.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t understand what was happening. Where were his eggs?\u00a0 Had Pa thrown them out with the worms?<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s brain was working overtime.\u00a0 There had to be a connection between Hoss\u2019 birds\u2019 eggs and the snakes.\u00a0 He knew some snakes laid eggs but they were harmless, then he recalled the conversation in the yard and his heart sank. He didn\u2019t know how, but he had a nasty feeling that this was going to rebound on him in some way.<\/p>\n Ben beckoned to his two older sons.\u00a0 \u201cCome here.\u201d\u00a0 He indicated a spot in front of where he was now sitting at the kitchen table.\u00a0 He watched them approach, Hoss with a worried frown and Adam with downcast eyes.\u00a0 Oh yes, they knew something about this!<\/p>\n Ben eyed them up and down for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cDo either of you know how those snakes got into the sewing box?\u201d he asked, bluntly.<\/p>\n Hoss immediately shook his head and Ben looked to his oldest son. Adam stared at his boots for a second too long and Ben began to lose patience.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at me when I\u2019m talking to you and answer my question,\u201d his tone becoming sharper.<\/p>\n Adam lifted his head and looked up through dark lashes\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not sure, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what?\u201d\u00a0 Ben demanded.\u00a0 \u201cYou either know or you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam threw a sympathetic look at Hoss\u00a0 \u201cThey might have been eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEggs!\u201d\u00a0 Ben almost yelled.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir. You see Hoss put some birds\u2019 eggs in the box to keep warm.\u00a0 He wanted to hatch them. Well, if they were\u2026\u201d Adam stumbled, he didn\u2019t know how to explain his growing suspicions.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes widened as he saw where Adam was going.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re telling me that Hoss brought some eggs into the house and you think they might have been snake eggs?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded.<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 mouth dropped open: his eggs were birds\u2019 eggs.\u00a0 Snakes didn\u2019t lay eggs, only birds had eggs.\u00a0 \u201cThey was birds\u2019 eggs, Pa and you throwed \u2018em out,\u201d he protested.<\/p>\n Ben beckoned Hoss closer and nervously his son obeyed.\u00a0 \u201cWhat were the eggs like, son?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shrugged. \u201cJust eggs, like the ones I bin c\u2019llectin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere did you find them?\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s tone was more gentle now.<\/p>\n \u201cThey was out by the old branding corral at back of the house,\u201d Hoss turned to point.<\/p>\n \u201cWere they in a nest or on the ground?\u201d\u00a0 Ben continued.<\/p>\n \u201cSort of in the sand, Pa.\u00a0 They wasn\u2019t covered much and there was no birds around,\u201d Hoss explained.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but I bet there was a snake,\u201d Ben said, half under his breath.<\/p>\n Feeling braver now that Pa appeared to have calmed down, Adam decided to add to the explanation.\u00a0 \u201cHoss told me about them and I was going to move them after breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou knew about them and didn\u2019t tell me?\u201d\u00a0 Ben exploded all over again.<\/p>\n Adam took an involuntary step back.\u00a0 He should have kept his mouth shut. He might have known it would be all his fault.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t know they were snake eggs, he just said eggs,\u201d he tried to justify himself before Pa got any angrier.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, alright.\u201d Ben waved a hand to show he understood and wanted them both to calm down.\u00a0 \u201cHoss come with me and show me where you found them.\u00a0 Adam clean that up,\u201d he pointed to the squashed remains of the baby snake.\u00a0 \u201cThen take care of Little Joe and give Marie a chance to get over the shock.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at his wife and patted her hand.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be alright. We\u2019ll find the snake.\u201d<\/p>\n By the time Hoss and Ben returned, breakfast was on the table and Adam was helping Little Joe to feed himself by cutting things into small bites.\u00a0 Not much food was being consumed though, Joe was still trying to find out where his worms had gone and why papa had squished one of them.<\/p>\n Adam and Marie both looked anxiously at Ben as he came to the table.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you find it?\u201d\u00a0 Marie asked, as she began to fill her husband\u2019s plate with food.<\/p>\n He shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, it\u2019s like looking for a needle in a haystack.\u00a0 We\u2019ll just have to be extra careful, especially in the brush.\u00a0 Jos\u00e9 says they are mostly active at night.\u00a0 During the day they bask on a rock or the sand in clear sight.\u00a0 If you boys see any snake, you are not to touch it, do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut gopher snakes and the ordinary king snakes aren\u2019t poisonous,\u201d Adam objected.\u00a0 \u201cI can tell the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t know this one when you saw it!\u201d Ben replied, his temper beginning to surface again in his anxiety.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly \u2018cos I ain\u2019t never seen one before. It\u2019s not \u2013 \u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t argue with me.\u201d\u00a0 Ben fixed his oldest son with a look, which told him to say no more.\u00a0 \u201cAnd Hoss, no more egg collecting unless I\u2019m with you, is that understood?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded. \u201cYes, sir. I don\u2019t wanna do it no more anyhow.\u201d\u00a0 The whole thing had shaken him, especially seeing his father kill the baby snake right in front of him.\u00a0 No matter that it was deadly, Hoss couldn\u2019t bear to see a living thing hurt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie did not allow the boys to stray from the front porch all day, much to their consternation.\u00a0 She worried every time Joe was out of sight. And tempers became frayed more than once.\u00a0 Eventually, she seemed to calm down and but only after Ben set the boys to doing chores with him and Joe was occupied playing with his blocks at her feet.<\/p>\n After the younger boys were in bed, Ben and Adam settled with books and Marie fidgeted.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re not still worried about the snake, are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not really.\u00a0 I\u2019m just lost for something to do.\u00a0 I usually sew in the evenings and you\u2019ve left my sewing box in the barn,\u201d she smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI could fetch it for you,\u201d Adam offered, starting to get to his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cNO!\u201d\u00a0 Marie spoke quickly and loudly. \u201cI don\u2019t want you going out there in the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben grinned and winked at Adam.\u00a0 \u201cWe can\u2019t be prisoners in the house every night.\u00a0 That snake is probably miles away in the hills.\u00a0 Go on, son, just be careful where you are walking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, it\u2019s alright, I\u2019ll do something else.\u201d Marie picked up an old newspaper.\u00a0 \u201cIt will be good to have an evening off from boys\u2019 socks and torn shirts.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam grinned at his father. \u201cWell, if you\u2019re sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d Marie said with feeling.<\/p>\n Adam chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cHoss sure does find some unlikely pets.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed, too,\u00a0 \u201cYes, he sure does.\u00a0 I wonder what it will be next?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow can you both take it so lightly? Joe could have been killed and Hoss, too,\u201d Marie scolded.<\/p>\n \u201cI doubt the babies have enough venom to kill even a child and Hoss wouldn\u2019t have touched the eggs if there had been a snake nearby,\u201d Ben reassured her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know that,\u201d she snapped.<\/p>\n \u201cC\u2019mon, honey.\u00a0 In a few days we\u2019ll all laugh about this,\u201d Ben coaxed. \u201cIt\u2019s all part of living out here and having boys in the house.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I won\u2019t, not in a few days or ever.\u00a0 How can you let the boys be in such danger?\u201d she retorted and hid behind her newspaper.<\/p>\n Ben gently pushed her paper down and looked at her. \u201cThere are dangers everywhere.\u00a0 I seem to recall a girl telling me that when she was about Adam\u2019s age she and her friends used to throw meat into the swamp to watch the alligators and water moccasins swim in to the bank.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes opened wide and he looked at his stepmother with a new admiration.<\/p>\n Marie pursed her lips. \u201cYou aren\u2019t supposed to remember that now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you, really?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked in awe.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, see what you\u2019ve started?\u201d\u00a0 Then she laughed.\u00a0 \u201cAlright, they are no worse than we were at their age.\u00a0 But you keep those stories to yourself or I might have to tell a few about a boy from Boston.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n By the time Ben finished, Joe was as much in awe as Adam had been.\u00a0 \u201cDid Mama really do that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cSo she told me,\u201d Ben smiled.\u00a0 \u201cBut don\u2019t let it give you ideas.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure her parents knew nothing about it or if they did she was punished,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe never did find that snake,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0 \u201cI guess with all of us tramping around it decided to make itself scarce.\u00a0 I wonder how it got all the way up here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot on the Stage, maybe,\u201d Joe giggled.<\/p>\n \u201cNot such a stupid idea, little brother.\u00a0 There weren\u2019t no Stage in them days but it probably crawled into someone\u2019s pack or into some supplies and got loaded on to a wagon,\u201d Hoss suggested.\u00a0 \u201cAnyhow, it was a while afore I collected any more eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam snorted. \u201cIt was weeks before Marie would let us out of the house without a lecture and poor Little Joe got carried everywhere for ages.\u00a0 It\u2019s a wonder he still remembered how to walk.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes, I think we\u2019d had the first snow before she felt safe again.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam grinned at Hoss. \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing we never told her about the rattler we found in the cemetery in Johntown a few weeks later.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cYou mean the one you blew to bits with the old shotgun?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes flicked to his father and waited.<\/p>\n \u201cYou what!\u201d\u00a0 Ben exploded, predictably.\u00a0 \u201cWhy didn\u2019t I hear about it?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cYou don\u2019t think we\u2019d have told you, do you?\u00a0 I was thirteen. I\u2019m not sure it was wise even now and I\u2019m twenty-five.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow many other things didn\u2019t I hear about?\u201d\u00a0 Ben grunted.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you\u2019d be surprised, Pa.\u00a0 You\u2019d be surprised,\u201d Adam grinned and winked at his brothers.<\/p>\n *****<\/p>\n As I live in England my knowledge of venomous snakes is limited to our own Adder, so my information comes from websites.\u00a0 I have used some licence, in that I very much doubt that the Coral Snake would have strayed as far north as Carson Valley as it is native to Arizona.\u00a0 I needed a venomous snake that laid eggs, and this is the only one in the USA.\u00a0 It also fitted the other criteria and could be confused with the Scarlet King Snake of the southern states or the King Snake that is native to Nevada.\u00a0 So forgive me for my wandering snake.\u00a0 I\u2019ve given the best explanation I could come up with\u2026 or, rather, Hoss has!<\/em><\/p>\n Vicki<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n