Summary:\u00a0 There’s turkey and then there’s turkey.\u00a0 Is it all a distraction and an excuse?\u00a0 Or is it real?
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (7,300 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Talking Turkey?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The afternoon had been quiet, maybe too quiet.\u00a0 Ben wouldn’t have minded a few interruptions in his self-enforced exile at his desk to do ranch paperwork.\u00a0 Adam was down at the branding corrals, working with the roundup crew to check and brand the remaining steers for the cattle drive.\u00a0 Little Joe had gone with him, much to his older brother’s dismay.\u00a0 “I can’t work and watch him!”\u00a0 Adam had complained.\u00a0 Ben had fixed his youngest son with a firm look and assured Adam that Joe would behave.\u00a0 Joe’s head had nodded so fast in agreement and desperation to go that Ben feared it might fall off.\u00a0 <\/em>It had been a pleasant and trouble free summer and that was Joe’s problem; he liked excitement and there had been very little for months. Today, Hoss had been working with Charlie at the back of the barn on some wagon repairs, at least Ben thought he had until he heard footsteps on the porch and the door was flung open.<\/p>\n “Pa, you gotta tell Joe to stop tellin’\u2026”\u00a0 Hoss stopped abruptly; he had been going to say ‘lies’ but he didn’t want to get his little brother into that much hot water.\u00a0 One thing Pa didn’t tolerate was lies.\u00a0 Joe wasn’t really telling lies, just stretching the truth a bit.<\/p>\n “Telling what, Hoss?”\u00a0 Ben raised an eyebrow and then set his pencil down and looked up at his middle son and waited for him to finish his sentence.<\/p>\n “Well, making stuff up.\u00a0 He had me and Charlie ridin’ all the way out to the branding corrals.\u00a0 Said Adam had had a’ accident.\u00a0 Made it seem real serious.”\u00a0 Hoss explained.<\/p>\n “And was he hurt?”\u00a0 Ben asked.\u00a0 Knowing full well that if there had been a serious accident he would have heard about it from one of the hands by now as it was almost suppertime.<\/p>\n Hoss shuffled his feet, “Kinda.\u00a0 He cut his hand.., but it weren’t near as bad as Joe was makin’ out.\u00a0 Listening to Joe you’da thought Adam was pretty near dead.”<\/p>\n Ben hid a smile, Hoss obviously didn’t think it was a laughing matter and he might have been right, “Alright, I’ll have a talk to him.\u00a0 But I think you’ll find he’s just livening things up, for a twelve-year-old boy, things have been pretty quiet this summer.”\u00a0 Ben smiled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe Cartwright stuffed hay into the net and hung it on the stall wall for his pony, Cochise.\u00a0 He was bored.\u00a0 Chores always bored him but today they were particularly dull.\u00a0 It had been a dull day.\u00a0 He had thought that helping Adam with the branding might have provided some excitement but there had only been a few calves left to brand and they were all docile.\u00a0 His older brother had dealt with them in short time and then gone on to tally the herd.\u00a0 There was nothing more boring than counting steers.\u00a0 Maybe that’s why folk suggested counting sheep when you couldn’t sleep.\u00a0 Counting steers would work just as well Joe thought.\u00a0 The only excitement had been when Adam had snagged his hand on a piece of wire left carelessly on a fence post and had sent Joe for some salve and a bandage from Hop Sing.\u00a0 He had told Hoss all about it and maybe exaggerated a little but he didn’t expect his brother to charge off to check.\u00a0 Hoss sure had been mad when he got back.\u00a0 He was startled from his daydream by a firm hand descending on his shoulder.<\/p>\n “There’s still plenty to do little brother.”\u00a0 Adam turned him around and fixed him with a stern expression.\u00a0 “If you’re done with Cochise, then the chickens need feeding.”<\/p>\n Joe sighed as if the cares of the world were on his shoulders.\u00a0 “I’m goin’.”\u00a0 His movement toward the grain bin was slow and sullen.<\/p>\n Adam shook is head and went back to his own chores, hampered only slightly by his bandaged hand.<\/p>\n The chickens roamed the yard all day and it was Joe’s task to feed them and then lead them into the hen house with grain to shut them up for the night.\u00a0 In winter these tasks could be combined but in summer, the chickens would not go in to roost until dusk, so Joe fed them before supper and saved a little grain for the difficult ones when it came time to shut them up.\u00a0 He scattered the corn in a desultory manner until the dipper was almost empty then he threw the remaining grain making the chickens leap up and flutter around him.\u00a0 He grinned, it was fun to see the birds fluttering and squawking after the seed.\u00a0 He stamped a foot and several hens flew up in fright.\u00a0 Then he did it again and then he ran through them making a noise.\u00a0 The resulting cacophony only serving to make him do it again.<\/p>\n The yell from the barn door made him stop halfway through the flock.\u00a0 “Joe Cartwright, you stop that this minute.”<\/p>\n Joe hung his head and acknowledged his fault.\u00a0 “Sorry, Jake.\u00a0 I was just\u2026”<\/p>\n “You was just causin’ trouble, that’s what you was just.”\u00a0 The old foreman muttered.\u00a0 “Birds like chickens ain’t meant to fly.”\u00a0 With that he stomped back into the barn.<\/p>\n “Then why do they got wings?”\u00a0 Joe grumbled back.<\/p>\n Once a question was in Joe’s head he had to ask it and he wouldn’t settle until he had an answer that satisfied him.\u00a0 He tried several times at supper but his brothers or his father were always talking and interrupting them would only get a reprimand. Finally, after Pa had inquired about Adam’s hand, listen to the tally figures, checked with Hoss on the barn repairs and generally commented on every aspect of the day’s work, it was his turn.<\/p>\n “Why do chickens have wings if they don’t fly?”\u00a0 He asked, his cheeky face with its button nose wrinkled with curiosity.<\/p>\n Ben didn’t hesitate long, he was used to Joe’s endless questions which seemingly had no relevance to any recent event.\u00a0 “Well, son, chickens do a fly a little but their wings aren’t really big enough to lift their bodies far off the ground.”<\/p>\n “I see’d a wild turkey fly over a fence once.”\u00a0 Hoss offered.<\/p>\n “Wild turkeys are real strong fliers, but I don’t think chickens do much flying, no need to if we feed them.”\u00a0 Adam joined in.<\/p>\n Ben nursed his coffee cup and pondered a little longer on Joe’s question.\u00a0 As a father it was always wise to check what was behind a son’s curiosity in case some experiment was planned.\u00a0 He had learned this the hard way when his eldest son was growing up.\u00a0 “Any reason why you want the chickens to fly?”<\/p>\n “Nah, not really, Pa.\u00a0 I was just wonderin’.”\u00a0 Joe responded.<\/p>\n Ben settled back only partly satisfied.\u00a0 He’d keep an eye on the hens for a few days just in case.\u00a0 In his imagination he could see chicken races or some such being planned.<\/p>\n In fact Joe forgot all about the chickens before the evening was over, he had better things to occupy him.\u00a0 He was thinking up new ways to annoy his brothers.\u00a0 There just wasn’t anything happening around here, he decided.\u00a0 A couple of games of checkers against Hoss which he won, and a disastrous game against Adam which he lost because his older brother spotted him cheating, had brought bedtime around again.\u00a0 He just had to think of something.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The next morning a golden opportunity presented itself, or at least golden, once Joe’s active imagination had worked on it for a minute or two.\u00a0\u00a0 Pa would have said he was eavesdropping but he couldn’t help it if Hop Sing was talking to Pa in a loud voice just as he reached the kitchen.<\/p>\n “Now don’t you worry Hop Sing.\u00a0 You go and look after Number One cousin if he needs you.” Pa was saying.<\/p>\n “Lil’ Joe have no one look after him.\u00a0 You go Placerville, not back ‘fore tomorrow.”\u00a0 Hop Sing looked really worried.<\/p>\n “I’ll make sure Joe understands he has to behave and look after himself.\u00a0 Adam will be in town most of the day but Hoss is only helping finishing the tally in the north pasture.\u00a0 Joe can ride out to him for the day.”\u00a0 As he said it, Ben wondered about the wisdom of leaving Joe to his own devices even for a short time.\u00a0 If Hoss wasn’t expecting him it might take an hour or more for the two to meet up.\u00a0 That boy could get into more trouble in a minute than most boys in a day.\u00a0 He shook his head.\u00a0 He had left Adam and Hoss at far younger ages. \u00a0He’d just have to trust the boy.\u00a0 He was riding in the opposite direction and couldn’t afford the time to make a detour to ensure Hoss knew Joe was in his charge.\u00a0 “I’ll call by Shaughnessy’s and I’m sure she’ll come over and cook a meal for the boys tonight.”<\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded, satisfied that his<\/em> family would be well cared for in his absence.<\/p>\n “Ah, there you are Little Joe, just the person I need to talk to.”<\/p>\n “Who, me, Pa?”\u00a0 Joe’s innocent expression would have been comical if Ben had the time to notice it.<\/p>\n All the time Ben was explaining the arrangements, Joe was plotting and planning a trick to play on his older brother.<\/p>\n “I’ll be fine, Pa.\u00a0 I’m not a baby.\u00a0 I could just stay here or go down to the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou will do as you\u2019re told.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want you wandering around on your own while that band of renegade Piautes is in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe groaned.\u00a0 \u201cNo one\u2019s seen these Piautes \u2018ceptin\u2019 old Jonas Trent and he probably saw a turkey in the brush.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been out to the lake since then and never saw nuthin\u2019.\u201d He complained, then realized his error as Ben’s eyes bored into him.<\/p>\n “Oh, you have, have you?”\u00a0 We might need to talk about that when I get back.<\/p>\n “I was just ‘zaggerating, Pa.\u00a0 You how Hoss says I do that all the time.\u00a0 I only went a little way to the lake not right there.”<\/p>\n Ben grunted.\u00a0 “Well, I don’t have time to go into it now.\u00a0 You just make sure that you ride straight out to Hoss and stay with him until he comes back for supper.”<\/p>\n “Yes, sir.”\u00a0 Joe kept his face straight as his plans began to take shape.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss had been working hard all morning tallying, which he hated.\u00a0 He’d do almost anything with the stock and enjoy it, but counting ’em was his least favorite task.\u00a0 As the warmth of the afternoon made him drowsy he had to re-count several times but now he was pretty sure he had an accurate figure.\u00a0 He rode around the herd with Jake and Charlie checking all was in order one last time and allowed his thoughts to drift to supper.\u00a0 Maybe Hop Sing would be cooking roast pork and sweet ‘taters, or maybe a hock of ham with string beans, or just perhaps it’d be chicken and dumplings.\u00a0\u00a0 As he contemplated his favorite subject, he caught a glimpse of a rider angling across the meadow toward him.\u00a0 What’s Little Joe doin’ way out here.\u00a0 He’s ‘sposed to be helping Hop Sing. <\/em>\u00a0\u00a0He voiced exactly that thought as Joe drew nearer enough to hear him.<\/p>\n Joe reined in his pony and came to a stop beside his older brother.\u00a0 He had to look way up as Chubby was a sight taller than Cochise and with Hoss atop the big black he had to crane his neck to make eye contact.\u00a0 He’d had a great day riding down by the lake by himself, skipping stones, swimming and fishing even if he hadn’t caught anything but now was the time to get his alibi fixed. “Pa said I should come out here and help.”\u00a0 Joe replied, telling the truth, if not the whole truth.<\/p>\n “Why ain’t ya helpin’ Hop Sing?”<\/p>\n “He ain’t there.\u00a0 And Pa figured it best I come out to you, bein’ as how Adam’s doing banking and boring stuff in town.”<\/p>\n Hoss had just been thinking of food and the news that Hop Sing wasn’t at home pushed all other thoughts from his head along with a good measure of common sense.\u00a0 “Hop Sing’s gone!”<\/p>\n “Yup,”\u00a0 Joe almost smirked but he remembered Adam’s advice on how to keep a poker face and restrained himself.\u00a0 “Left this morning.”<\/p>\n “When’s he gonna be back.”<\/p>\n Joe raised an eyebrow and eased himself in the saddle to hide his merriment.\u00a0 This was going better than he had hoped.\u00a0 “Didn’t say he would be back.”\u00a0 He replied, which was perfectly true as far as it went.\u00a0 Hop Sing hadn’t spoken of a date for his return.<\/p>\n Hoss’s dreams of roast pork and his other favorites were fading fast. “Does Pa know he’s gone?”<\/p>\n “Yup, that’s why he said I should come out here.”\u00a0 Joe tried to give the impression that it was all settled.<\/p>\n “But what about supper and who’s cookin’ for us.”\u00a0 The worry lines on Hoss’ forehead deepened.<\/p>\n Joe shrugged, as if food was a minor concern, “Guess Adam is when he gets back from town.\u00a0 Course he might decide to stay in the saloon with one of them girls.”\u00a0 Joe tipped his head on one side as if considering a vital question.\u00a0 “Why’s he like them saloon girls so much?”<\/p>\n “Never you mind Adam’s business.”\u00a0 Hoss admonished with a faint blush. “He won’t stay in town with Pa away and Hop Sing gone.”<\/p>\n “He don’t know Hop Sing’s gone.”\u00a0 Joe corrected.<\/p>\n Then another thought occurred to Hoss,\u00a0 “We ain’t gotta put up with Adam’s cooking.\u00a0 I mean Pa done said somethin’ about getting’ Hop Sing back.”<\/p>\n Joe shook his head, “He said he might call by Shaughnessy’s but I ain’t sure whether he said on the way to<\/em><\/strong> Placerville or on the way back.\u00a0 He never said nothin’ about getting’ Hop Sing back.”\u00a0 Now Joe had to cough behind his hand to hide his expression.\u00a0 It was all going so well.\u00a0 Hoss really thought Hop Sing was gone for good.<\/p>\n Hoss looked as though he had been pole axed.\u00a0 Sure Hop Sing threatened to leave every week but he’d never actually done it before.\u00a0 He couldn’t imagine life without Hop Sing’s cooking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rode into the yard as the late afternoon sun was cooling and dismounted by the barn.\u00a0 He was about to lead Sport into his stall when an agitated Hoss accosted him.\u00a0 “Adam, Hop Sing’s gone and Pa ain’t here and there ain’t no supper and\u2026”<\/p>\n Adam calmly shook his brother’s arm from his and held up a hand, “Slow down and tell me what ever it is slowly.”<\/p>\n Neither Hoss or Little Joe could match Adam for a cool head under fire and it exasperated them both when he refused to get het up over anything they considered a disaster.\u00a0\u00a0 Hoss took a deep breath and repeated his complaints while his older brother folded his arms and watched with an infuriatingly calm expression.<\/p>\n “Pa’s gone to Placerville, you knew that, or at least you would have if you’d been listening at breakfast.”\u00a0 Adam kept the same expression as he asked “Now, what’s this about Hop Sing?\u00a0 He’s gone where?”<\/p>\n Hoss felt an overwhelming desire to throttle his older brother but he managed to restrain it.\u00a0 “He didn’t say, just up and left.”<\/p>\n “And you were here when this happened?”<\/p>\n “Well no, course I weren’t.\u00a0 I was out tallying like Pa told me. Little Joe came out to the herd and told me all about it.”<\/p>\n “Ah, a little light is shed.”\u00a0 Adam nodded and surveyed Hoss’s agitated expression calmly. “And what exactly did our little brother tell you?”<\/p>\n Hoss’ patience was almost gone.\u00a0 “Like I done told you, he said Hop Sing was gone and there weren’t no supper\u2026 leastways he said you was cooking it and maybe Pa would get Shaughnessy but he didn’t know when.”<\/p>\n “Joe!”\u00a0 Adam’s yell made Hoss step back a pace.\u00a0 It certainly didn’t need to be loud, for as Adam had suspected, the youngest Cartwright was right outside the barn door listening.<\/p>\n “Oh, Hi Adam.”\u00a0 The raised hand and the ‘oh so’ innocent smile was all Adam needed.\u00a0 “Where’s Hop Sing gone?”<\/p>\n “Hop Sing?”\u00a0 Joe tried to bluff it out.<\/p>\n “Yeah, Hop Sing.\u00a0 You told Hoss he had gone, but omitted to say where.”\u00a0 Adam leaned back against the stall, arms folded and with a self-satisfied smirk.<\/p>\n Joe knew bluffing with Adam was a lost cause, like Pa, Adam could see through him in a minute. “Oh, he’s gone to town to look after Number one cousin.\u00a0 He’s sick\u2026\u00a0 not Hop Sing, he’s not sick, Number one cousin’s the one who’s sick.”<\/p>\n “So he’s coming back when his cousin is better?”\u00a0 Adam elaborated for Hoss’ benefit.<\/p>\n “Sure he is.\u00a0 Pa said it might be a few days though and you could cook tonight and he’d swing by Shaughnessy’s place and see if she could come over.”\u00a0 As he was speaking Joe watched the color rising up Hoss’ neck and over his cheeks.\u00a0 Hoss was mad. Could be it was him he was mad at?\u00a0 For safety’s sake he sidled around to put Adam between them.<\/p>\n “You little\u2026 you never said he’d gone to town.\u00a0 Let me at him, Adam.”<\/p>\n Hoss tried to grab his baby brother but Adam moved between them laughing.<\/p>\n “Did you ask him?”\u00a0 Adam squeezed Joe between arm and body and grinned.\u00a0 “You see with little brother, here, you got ask the right questions.”<\/p>\n “I’ll ask him some questions right now.”\u00a0 Hoss spluttered.<\/p>\n “Nope, you’ll go see what we have in the cupboards that I can cook for supper while little brother here helps me with the chores, yours as well as his own.”<\/p>\n Hoss subsided into a rumbling bear while Joe’s indignation rose.\u00a0 “Why I gotta do his chores?” he asked.<\/p>\n Adam shrugged, “You rather I left you alone with Hoss while I go cook supper?”<\/p>\n “No, I guess not.”\u00a0 Joe reluctantly conceded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the time Adam and Joe made it to the kitchen Hoss had emptied the cupboards of everything he thought Adam might manage to cook without ruining it.\u00a0 There was ham which he figured could be sliced and fried along with plenty of eggs, potatoes, onions, and carrots.\u00a0 Hop Sing hadn’t had time to make bread, so what remained of yesterday’s loaf would have to be fried too but that was fine with Hoss.\u00a0 He’d searched hard and found half an apple pie which Hop Sing must have hidden away last night or he’d would have found it for his midnight snack.<\/p>\n Adam lifted up a few items and grinned, “How many am I cooking for?”<\/p>\n “Three of us, of course\u2026\u00a0 Aww\u2026\u00a0 Adam!”\u00a0 Hoss grinned too as he realized his brother was teasing.\u00a0 “I’m plumb hungry.”<\/p>\n “You’re always plumb hungry.\u00a0 So since you’re the hungriest you can peel the potatoes and carrots and chopped the onion.\u00a0 It always makes me cry”\u00a0\u00a0 He took the biggest skillet off the hook and set it on the stove and quickly dropped a large portion of hog lard into it.\u00a0 “I’ll just fry everything.\u00a0 Joe you fetch me the small skillet for the eggs and then go lay the table.”<\/p>\n The small skillet was hanging on a hook inside Hop Sing’s pantry and Joe could only just reach high enough to unhook it.\u00a0 He handed it to his older brother and pasted on his best puppy dog look.\u00a0 “Do we hafta eat at the table?\u00a0 Pa ain’t here and we could sit by the fire and make toast.”<\/p>\n Hoss was young enough to want the same thing and besides he just knew Hop Sing had a stash of marshmallows someplace.\u00a0 “Yeah, Adam, we could toast marshmallows too.\u00a0 I think I know where Hop Sing keeps ’em.”<\/p>\n Adam worked hard at producing a big brother frown before he turned around from the stove.\u00a0 “You know Pa likes us to eat at the table like civilized folk.”\u00a0 He said, sternly.\u00a0 In truth he liked their idea better too and his brothers knew it.<\/p>\n “Aww\u2026 come on, Adam.”\u00a0 Joe pleaded.<\/p>\n The expression on both boys’ faces was too much for him. Surely it wouldn’t hurt just this once and Pa would never know.\u00a0 The little boy in him conquered the man and he nodded.\u00a0 “Alright, but no butter or crumbs or anything on the couch or Pa’s chair and we sweep up afterwards.”<\/p>\n Hoss slapped him on the back, almost knocking him on to the stove.\u00a0 “You’re the best, Adam.”<\/p>\n “Yeah, the best big brother ever.”\u00a0 Joe chimed in.<\/p>\n Adam sniffed and turned back to the stove, “Yeah, well, don’t overdo it.”<\/p>\n The ham was a little burnt, the eggs solid and the potatoes had black edges but no one complained as they gathered around the fire and ate.\u00a0 With the plates cleared away and washed, Adam brought bread and butter to the fireplace along with coffee for himself and hot chocolate for his brothers.\u00a0 He handed the bread to Hoss, “Get toasting.”<\/p>\n “Where’s the jam?”\u00a0 Joe asked. Then jumped up almost spilling his drink to go fetch it.<\/p>\n Adam had drifted into a dream, the warmth of the fire and a full belly made it easy to fall asleep. He wasn’t sleeping just remembering a time when he was younger than Joe’s age and there was no jam, just bread and milk for supper.\u00a0 He was pleased that Joe had never had to suffer such hardships.\u00a0 Those times had been hard but he had never felt deprived of love and he never resented his brother for the difference in their childhood.\u00a0 The trail had been an adventure and one he wouldn’t have missed for any amount of jam.<\/p>\n “Adam\u2026\u00a0 Adam!”\u00a0 the second time, Joe almost yelled in his brother’s ear.<\/p>\n “Uh\u2026 oh sorry,\u00a0 I was thinking.”\u00a0 Adam replied.<\/p>\n Hoss chuckled, a deep down sound.\u00a0 “Like Pa says, sometimes you think too much.”<\/p>\n “What was ya thinking about?”\u00a0 Joe asked as he set the jam down instead of handing it to his brother and began to butter his own toast.<\/p>\n Adam smiled, “Oh, about coming out here from Boston and how we never had jam, just bread and milk.”<\/p>\n Joe’s eyes widened, “You’re funnin’ us, ain’t ya?”<\/p>\n “Nope, unlike some I could mention, I don’t exaggerate nor joke about important things.”\u00a0 Adam ruffled Joe’s curls to show he was not seriously criticizing.\u00a0 “When Pa and I traveled west, we didn’t have much money and I know Pa went hungry more than once so that I could have some bread and milk.”<\/p>\n “Yeuch, I hate that.\u00a0 I wouldn’t eat it.”\u00a0 Joe exclaimed screwing his face up in disgust.<\/p>\n “I guess you would if’n you was hungry and I’d sure be powerful hungry with no meat and potatoes.”\u00a0 Hoss’ face mirrored his younger brother’s.<\/p>\n \u201cWell we did get the occasional rabbit or sage hen, but that was after we left Independence.\u201d\u00a0 Adam sat forward and fixed his youngest brother with a look.\u00a0 \u201cBedtime.\u00a0 C\u2019mon, Hoss and I won\u2019t be far behind you.\u00a0 We\u2019ll need to be up early with Hop Sing\u2019s chores as well as Pa\u2019s to add to our own.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss got to his feet, \u201cI\u2019m comin\u2019 up now.\u00a0 But I won\u2019t sleep or if I do I\u2019ll be dreamin\u2019 about food.\u00a0 Right about now roast turkey and all the trimmin\u2019s sounds good.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shook his head in amusement.\u00a0 Only Hoss could think about a roast dinner after the amount they had just eaten.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhere is that boy?\u201d\u00a0 Adam yelled at Hoss as both brothers returned from a fruitless search of the house and yard.\u00a0 \u201cThe firewood hasn\u2019t been split, there\u2019s no kindling for the stove and he hasn\u2019t even touched his yard chores.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shrugged, \u201cCochise\u2019s gone, so I guess he went off somewheres and ain\u2019t back yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust wait \u2018til I get my hands on him.\u201d\u00a0 Adam railed, doing a pretty good impression of Pa in a bad mood.<\/p>\n Hoss decided that doing his own chores and maybe Joe\u2019s too was preferable to listening to his older brother ranting and raving about the youngest member of the family, so he turned and went into the barn.\u00a0 Adam followed and in between raking, tossing, feeding and grooming he continued his diatribe on the shortcomings of Joseph Francis Cartwright.<\/p>\n Hoss kept quiet and prayed hard that Little Joe wouldn\u2019t put in an appearance until Adam\u2019s temper had cooled a little, if it ever did.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In fact Joe was having a grand time.\u00a0 He had waited until his brothers were out on the range and had saddled up the minute he was sure they wouldn\u2019t come back for some forgotten item.\u00a0 His plan for the day was a ride down to the Carson Valley.\u00a0 He knew a nice spot there where he could give Cochise a long gallop, which both of them would enjoy.\u00a0 The remainder of the day was to be spent looking for Indian sign in the foothills.\u00a0 He really didn\u2019t believe there was any danger from renegades.\u00a0 Pa was always too cautious when it came to his sons, particularly his youngest.<\/p>\n The race across the meadows had been exhilarating and he cooled Cochise with a leisurely ride to the outskirts of Carson City.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t dare enter the town in case he was spotted and word got back to his father.\u00a0 Carson City was definitely off limits.\u00a0 He headed west from the city and began to climb into the foothills.\u00a0 When he was about two thirds of the way to the summit he dismounted and hunkered down to eat the lunch he had brought with him, a chunk of cheese and a thick slab of bread followed by an apple.\u00a0 With his stomach satisfied he lay back with his hands behind his head and stared at the bluest of blue skies.\u00a0 His eyes closed and he slept.<\/p>\n He was awoken by a strange noise and he jerked awake and into a half sitting position.\u00a0 He was so startled by what he saw that his eyes went from sleepy to wide open in seconds.\u00a0 Away to his right there were feathers moving through the brush.\u00a0 He swallowed hard and focused on the spot but the feathers were gone.\u00a0 He lay flat again, his heart pumping.\u00a0 He checked his knife was still in its sheath and glanced to where Cochise munched contentedly on a patch of grass, his rifle in the scabbard on her saddle.\u00a0 The Indians must surely see the pinto and a horse to steal would be irresistible.\u00a0 Stay calm he told himself.\u00a0 Easier said than done.\u00a0 He tried to work out exactly where he was and where the owner of the feathers was located.\u00a0\u00a0 Hmm\u2026 just north west of Kings Canyon and the Indians must be along the ridge above Carson City.\u00a0 If he moved they would see him if they hadn\u2019t already.\u00a0 He carefully rolled over onto his stomach and peered at the ridge.<\/p>\n How would he ever explain this to Pa?\u00a0 Well, he wouldn\u2019t have to, it would be his body that Pa would see.\u00a0 He was just imagining how his father and brothers would receive the news of his death at the hand of a renegade band of Paiutes, when he saw two moccasin clad feet right in front of him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss glanced across at his older brother.\u00a0 Yep, ol\u2019 Adam\u2019s temper was cooling, his residual anger was now concentrated on the carrots and onions he was chopping to add to the beef in the stewpot.\u00a0 Course the stew should have been cooking much earlier and Hoss worried that the beef would be tough or uncooked or they would be eating very late tonight.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want I should peel the \u2018taters?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked as gently as he knew how.<\/p>\n \u201cWell it would be nice if someone did something around here.\u201d Adam snapped back.<\/p>\n Hoss had long since ceased to be worried by Adam\u2019s anger and he shrugged his shoulders and began choosing the biggest potatoes from the sack by the kitchen door.\u00a0 \u201cJus\u2019 askin\u2019.\u00a0 No need for you to get all het up about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam paused in the murder of an inoffensive carrot, \u201cSorry.\u00a0 I\u2019m just worried about Little Joe.\u00a0 He should have been home hours ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss nodded.\u00a0 So big brother\u2019s anger had turned to concern, like Pa\u2019s always did when one of them was missing or late for chores or a meal.\u00a0 If\u2019n Joe was to walk through that door right now the concern would be anger all over again.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019ll be fine.\u00a0 He\u2019s gotten himself into something and forgotten the time, is all.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam turned back to his carrots, \u201cYeah, it\u2019s what <\/em>he\u2019s gotten himself into that worries me.\u00a0 Maybe we should go look for him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou got an idea where?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was about to respond that he had no ideas, when a horse was heard coming into the yard.<\/p>\n \u201cThere you go.\u00a0 He\u2019s home safe and sound.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss grinned.<\/p>\n Adam slammed down the peeling knife and wiped his hands on his pants, \u201cHe won\u2019t be safe and sound when I\u2019ve finished with him,\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n Both brothers made it to the kitchen door at once and Hoss stood back to allow Adam through ahead of him, then ran into the back of his older brother who hadn\u2019t moved from the doorway.\u00a0 Hoss peered over his brother\u2019s shoulder and saw why he had stopped.\u00a0 The horse being led into the barn was a buckskin and the person leading it was Pa.\u00a0 There was no sign of Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cWe weren\u2019t expecting you back this soon.\u201d\u00a0 Adam greeted his father with a handshake when they met by Buck\u2019s stall.<\/p>\n \u201cGot finished early and figured I could make it home for supper.\u201d\u00a0 Ben replied.\u00a0 He glanced around as if looking for something or someone.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s Little Joe?\u00a0 Not like him not to be first out to meet me.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss threw Adam, a here we go<\/em>, look.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHere, let me do that, Pa.\u00a0 You must be tired after your trip.\u201d Staying with Buck was preferable to being in the line of fire when Adam told Pa that Joe was nowhere around.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, thank you, son.\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s expression changed from a smile to a wary look.\u00a0 \u201cIs there something I should know, something about Joseph maybe?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tried to look nonchalant,\u00a0 \u201cNot really, Pa.\u00a0 It\u2019s\u2026 well he isn\u2019t home yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben studied his oldest son for a moment,\u00a0 \u201cHome from where?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam bit his lip and considered his answer, \u201cWere not exactly sure, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben placed his hands firmly on his hips and positively glared at Adam, \u201cWhat you are trying not to tell me is that he went off somewhere without doing his chores and you\u2026 you who are supposed to be looking after him\u2026 don\u2019t know where.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam grimaced and then sighed, \u201cYeah, that\u2019s about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head in bewilderment, \u201cYou know that you have to supervise him every minute.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I had.\u00a0 He had enough chores to do and we were back early.\u201d\u00a0 Adam protested.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, alright.\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s sigh was the weary one of a man who had been here too many times before.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sure he hasn\u2019t gone far.\u00a0 I need some coffee and a bite to eat and if he\u2019s not back by the time we\u2019ve done then you can go look for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam glanced quickly at Hoss and raised his eyebrows.\u00a0 Pa had taken the news better than he had expected.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n An hour later they were all finishing off ham and eggs; the stew was still cooking and would have to do another day.\u00a0 Ben decided that before he left them again he\u2019d have to get Hop Sing to teach at least one of them to cook.\u00a0 All so intent on discussing where Joe might have gone that they didn\u2019t hear a horse riding up to the barn.\u00a0 The first they knew of the arrival of the youngest family member was when he burst in to the house covered in dust and full of excitement.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Hoss you shoulda seen \u2018em, hundreds of \u2018em, all flying.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben put on his best father look and fixed it on Joe.\u00a0 \u201cWhere have you been, young man?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, hi Pa.\u00a0 You\u2019re back early.\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied, trying to look innocent and unconcerned<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t \u2018Hi Pa,\u2019 me.\u00a0 It\u2019s after seven, where on earth have you been all day.\u00a0 You were told not to leave the ranch and Adam tells me your chores weren\u2019t done.\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s voice was getting lower in tone with every syllable.<\/p>\n Joe threw his older brother a none too flattering look.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t leave the ranch.\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied.\u00a0 A statement which was technically true as he hadn\u2019t crossed the fence line but he had sure been well away from the house and the yard which was what his father had meant.<\/p>\n Adam turned away, when would little brother learn that riling Pa when he was already riled didn\u2019t pay dividends.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were in the yard but invisible, is that it?\u201d\u00a0 Ben\u2019s temper was barely below boiling.<\/p>\n Joe sighed and gave up, \u201cNo, Sir.\u00a0 I rode over to the meadows and then up into the hills.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd why are you so late back? It\u2019s not that far.\u201d<\/p>\n The excitement came back into Joe\u2019s voice, \u201cSee Pa, I was\u2026\u201d\u00a0 uh, just what was I doing<\/em>,\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWell, I was\u2026 uh, \u00a0resting and there was this huge flock of turkeys and they came up to the ridge and then they just took off and flew down into the valley, squawking and gobbling like all get out, an\u2019 there was dogs chasing \u2018em and a man trying to get them together and it was real exciting\u00a0 I had ta watch to see if he caught \u2018em all\u2026 and he did\u2026 least I think he did, cause they headed off towards Carson City.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow and Hoss grunted, neither believing the tall story.\u00a0 Ben fairly bristled.<\/p>\n \u201cI have never heard such a cock and bull story in my life,\u201d he roared.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t do your chores, then you take off heaven knows where and then try to excuse yourself with a blatant lie.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s expression was one of hurt and disappointment.\u00a0 His great news was not only dismissed out of hand but he was called a liar.\u00a0 Sure he stretched the truth a bit sometimes but he wasn\u2019t this time.\u00a0 \u201cBut it\u2019s the truth, Pa, honest!\u201d<\/p>\n The \u2018honest\u2019<\/em> was one word too much for Ben.\u00a0 \u201cYou go to your room and think over what you\u2019ve told me and maybe a night with no supper will teach you a lesson you so obviously need.\u201d\u00a0 Ben pointed at the stairs and Joe reluctantly followed the pointing finger.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the next couple of days Joe was subdued.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t like being at odds with Pa but he couldn\u2019t tell Pa the truth when he had already told it once and not been believed.<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam might complain about their little brother from time to time but they missed the pranks and the laughter that he brought to their lives.\u00a0 It was just unnatural for him to be this quiet and for any of them to be at odds with Pa was uncomfortable for everyone.\u00a0 Things came to a head on the third day as the brothers were finishing off a barn repair.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we gonna do about Joe?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked.<\/p>\n Adam shrugged, \u201cI guess until Joe tells Pa the truth about what he was doing and why he was late home, there isn\u2019t much we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI reckon he is telling the truth,\u201d Hoss said, softly.\u00a0 \u201cAw, I know he stretches it a mite but he don\u2019t never lie to Pa\u2026 you maybe, but not Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cYou maybe right.\u00a0 And he isn\u2019t acting like a boy who has a secret, just one who is wrongly accused perhaps.\u201d\u00a0 He gathered up the tools and faced Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cThere is one way we might find out\u2026 go to Carson City and look for these flying turkeys.\u00a0 But if we don\u2019t find anyone who knows about them then we have to accept that Joe has moved from stretching to all out lies.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A few hours later the two brothers were propping up the bar in the Red Dog Saloon on main street and wondering who might know about turkeys.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel sorta stupid askin\u2019 folks if they seen flying turkeys.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss drank a cold draught of beer and leaned on the bar.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it\u2019s not an easy subject to bring up on first acquaintance and I\u2019m sure not asking anyone I know, they\u2019d think I was loco.\u201d\u00a0 Adam stared into his beer and tried to find a solution. \u201cmaybe we could ask around town, see if anyone has a turkey to sell for meat.\u00a0 Make a nice change.<\/p>\n Hoss began thinking of a roast turkey dinner and his stomach began to rumble.\u00a0 \u201cWhat you go say that for, I\u2019m plumb hungry now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Adam, Hoss, what you doing in town, don\u2019t see much of you these days.\u00a0 Ben keeping you too busy?\u201d\u00a0 A rancher friend of the Cartwrights\u2019 was coming up to the bar and signaling for a beer.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Monty.\u00a0 Too much work to do on the ranch to get into town.\u201d\u00a0 Adam replied.\u00a0 \u201cWe are picking up a few supplies that Will Cass couldn\u2019t get for us and picking up on the news.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, thought you might have been after one of Henry Hooker\u2019s turkeys.\u201d\u00a0 Monty gave a chuckle.\u00a0 \u201cFolks said he was mad driving turkeys over the Sierras but he sure proved \u2018em wrong.\u00a0 Sold all five hundred birds within a few hours of hitting town.\u00a0 Made himself a nice little profit, I shouldn\u2019t wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTurkeys?\u201d\u00a0 Adam tried to appear unconcerned.<\/p>\n \u201cYep, drove \u2018em over from Placerville.\u00a0 Turkeys is plentiful there.\u00a0 He saw there was a market here, since we don\u2019t see too many around these parts.\u00a0 Apparently he got to the ridge, you know the one above Kings Canyon, and the whole lot took fright at something in the brush and took off into the sky like, with one awful noise.\u00a0 Bet that was a sight to behold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,… I bet it was.\u201d\u00a0 Adam said with a nod at Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cYou buy some Monty?\u00a0 Yeah got me a few, could let you have one if you like.\u00a0 I know how Hoss likes his food.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned.\u00a0 \u201cCourse they ain\u2019t plucked or drawn yet, Hop Sing\u2019d have to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right nice of you, Monty.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss drew some notes from his pocket.<\/p>\n \u201cFive dollars is fine, Hoss.\u00a0 Same as I paid Henry.\u00a0 You can ride by my place on your way home and collect him.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam took another five dollars from his pocket book, \u201cHere take this too, Monty.\u00a0 It would take too long to explain, but it\u2019s worth every cent to see Pa\u2019s face when we put this turkey in front of him.\u201d\u00a0 He laughed and shook his head at Hoss, \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s too.\u00a0 He never thought anyone would believe him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the time Adam and Hoss arrived home, Ben and Joe were already doing evening chores.\u00a0 It was obvious from the atmosphere in the barn that nothing had been resolved.<\/p>\n Adam rode over to the kitchen and disappeared inside, allowing Hoss to take Sport to the barn.\u00a0 By the time he joined them a few minutes later he was composed and ready to do chores with a good story for their trip to Carson City.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see Pa, Hop Sing wanted some spices for tonight\u2019s meal, and Hoss and I had finished the barn repairs, so we figured you wouldn\u2019t mind if we rode over to Carson City for a beer.\u201d\u00a0 He explained.<\/p>\n Ben glared at his oldest son, \u201cIt seems no one minds me these days.\u00a0 There is always work to do.\u00a0 One job might be finished but there are plenty more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Pa.\u00a0 We\u2019ll get right at \u2018em tomorrow, won\u2019t we Adam?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss tried to mollify his father while fighting hard not to grin.<\/p>\n Joe grumbled under his breath.\u00a0 It was alright for brothers they could do what they wanted.\u00a0 He had only ridden over to Carson City same as they had, but Pa had yelled and sent him to his room, and was now watching him like a hawk.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter that he had told the truth if Pa wouldn\u2019t believe him.\u00a0 He was hurt and disappointed that Pa didn\u2019t trust him.\u00a0 But then there had been times when maybe Pa had been right not to, but this wasn\u2019t one of them.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing had already prepared supper and it was no less frosty than the previous evenings.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss had discussed the problem and decided that a total surprise was better than a simple explanation.\u00a0 The next evening Adam and Hoss came down to supper in their best clothes.\u00a0 Hoss even wore a tie, something he usually fought against.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat on earth is this all about?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked.\u00a0 \u201cWe expecting company that I know nothing about?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s smile was enigmatic, \u201cKinda, Pa.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not something you need worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe gaped then shrugged.\u00a0 There was no accounting for older brothers.<\/p>\n Once all four were seated at the table, Hop Sing brought in a large silver salver with a cover and placed it on the table in front of Ben.\u00a0 The vegetables were already on the table and for once Hop Sing didn\u2019t trot back to his kitchen.\u00a0 He remained standing to one side of Ben where he could get a good view.<\/p>\n Ben lifted the cover and stared then looked at Hop Sing and back to the salver.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTurkey, Pa\u2026 real good roast turkey.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss sniffed, appreciatively.<\/p>\n \u201cI can see that but where did it come from?\u00a0 \u201cWe haven\u2019t seen turkeys around here for more than a year.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s expression was infuriatingly smug, \u201cOh, it\u2019s one of those turkeys that Joe didn\u2019t see fly off the ridge.\u00a0 One of those, that didn\u2019t get driven from Placerville with dogs.\u201d\u00a0 He nodded, sagely.<\/p>\n Hoss could see his father wasn\u2019t impressed with Adam\u2019s sarcasm and intervened.\u00a0 \u201cWe bought it in Carson City, off\u2019n Monty Halstead.\u00a0 He got it off a fella called Hooker.\u00a0 Drove five hundred of \u2018em over from Placerville and made a lotta money, so Monty said.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s expression was one of total astonishment.\u00a0 \u201cYou mean there really was a flock of turkeys?\u201d<\/p>\n At this Joe came to life.\u00a0 He was exonerated.\u00a0 \u201cSure there was, Pa.\u00a0 Like I toldya.\u201d\u00a0 Animated as, he hadn\u2019t been in days.<\/p>\n \u201cYep, looks like, for once Little Joe wasn\u2019t exaggerating, Pa.\u00a0 A real flock of turkeys.\u201d\u00a0 Adam grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cI owe you an apology, son.\u00a0 In future if you say you\u2019ve seen a flock of turkeys, I\u2019ll believe you really have.\u201d\u00a0 Ben smiled at his youngest son.<\/p>\n The two older brothers smiled and Adam winked at Hoss.\u00a0 It was good to have things back to normal in the Cartwright household; at least for a day or two.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The basis of this story is true.\u00a0 In the late 1860\u2019s a man named Henry Hooker bought 500 turkeys for around $1.50 each in Placerville, where turkeys were plentiful.\u00a0 He drove them over the Sierra\u2019s toward Carson City. On his journey the turkeys took flight at a ridge and there was what you might call a \u2018turkey stampede\u2019.\u00a0 Hooker thought he had lost his investment but once they landed the turkeys called to one another and re-formed into a flock and he was able to continue his journey to Carson City where he sold them at $5 each.\u00a0 <\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nevada Towns and Tales \u2013 Vol. 1 \u2013 North \u2013 edited by Stanley W. Paher, Nevada Publications 1981\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n