Summary:\u00a0 Watching after Little Joe proves to be a challenge when Ben has to leave him with a babysitter.
\nRating: G (12,800 words)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Babysitting<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I could tell when the man entered the room that something was wrong. He seemed to be agitated and looked around quickly as if seeking reassurance.\u00a0 I felt it was up to me to put him at his ease immediately, for after all who better than myself to sort out any issues that he might have? I\u2019ve lived in this town for nigh on thirty-five years and if there is anything to be sorted out here, then I\u2019m usually the one to do it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n People here sometimes call me bossy, but I just laugh and tell them I\u2019m an organiser. They should be happy that I\u2019m the way I am, for I\u2019ve noticed a time or two that most of them are grateful to me when they need my help. Just like the poor man tonight.\u00a0 He was obviously a stranger in town\u2026got off the stage this very afternoon with two boys.\u00a0 I make it my business to check out who gets off the stage each afternoon.\u00a0 It pays to know exactly who\u2019s in town at any given time.\u00a0 In a town the size of ours it\u2019s not too hard to keep track, but most people are amazed that I always seem to know.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Can I help you Sir?\u2019 I asked politely as I approached the stranger. He was a tall good-looking man with silver hair and the brownest eyes I\u2019d ever seen.\u00a0 He had a kind face underneath the worried expression that he was wearing and I could see from the way he looked me up and down that he was no fool.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Ma\u2019am,\u2019 he said as he tipped his hat. \u2018I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of the doctor,\u2019 he said. \u2018I assume there\u2019s one in town?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018There certainly is,\u2019 I replied, happy to be able to help him. \u2018Dr Forbes is his name.\u00a0 His office is right down at the end of the street.\u00a0 Can I help you with something, Mr\u2026?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He hesitated. \u2018Cartwright,\u2019 he replied. \u2018Ben Cartwright\u2019s the name. Thank you ma\u2019am.\u00a0 My son isn\u2019t well and I\u2019m a bit anxious about him.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018One of the two boys you had with you this afternoon?\u2019 I enquired. This sounded like it was getting interesting. He gave me a strange look. \u2018I noticed you getting off the stage with the two youngsters,\u2019 I explained.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes,\u2019 he said. \u2018The older one isn\u2019t feeling too well, I\u2019m afraid.\u2019\u00a0 He turned to go.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Perhaps I\u2019d better show you the way,\u2019 I volunteered. It was beginning to sound like he\u2019d need my help and I was quite willing to give it if it meant that I could find out what was going on.\u00a0 Our town is so dull at times that I have to find my entertainment where I can and Mr Cartwright sounded like he might be just the distraction I could use right about now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t want to put you to any trouble,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No trouble at all,\u2019 I replied and pushed him through the open doorway. I led him quickly down to Dr Forbes\u2019 office and entered the door. \u2018Dr Forbes!\u2019 I called. \u2018Someone to see you!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The doctor entered the room, wiping his hands on a cloth. \u2018Who is it?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Man by the name of Cartwright,\u2019 I replied as I indicated him. \u2018His son is sick and I think you should go and see what you can do for him.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The doctor gave me one of his funny looks. He and I don\u2019t always see eye to eye, as the man thinks he knows better than I do at times.\u00a0 He should know by now that I\u2019m usually right about things that happen around town.\u00a0 I suppose he\u2019s still young and inexperienced.\u00a0 He\u2019ll learn. He turned to Mr Cartwright. \u2018What\u2019s wrong with your son?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s got pains in his stomach and head and he\u2019s running a high fever,\u2019 explained Mr Cartwright. \u2018It\u2019s only just come on in the past hour or so, but I\u2019m really worried about him Doctor.\u00a0 I\u2019d appreciate it if you\u2019d come and take a look at him.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Just like I already told you,\u2019 I interrupted. \u2018You do need to see him.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The doctor gave me one of those looks again. \u2018Thank you for your opinion, Mildred,\u2019 he said. \u2018I\u2019ll come immediately, Mr Cartwright.\u00a0 Where is the boy?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s up at the hotel,\u2019 said Mr Cartwright. \u2018We\u2019re just passing through town on our way home from San Francisco and are stopping here overnight.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I followed the two men out of the office and up to the hotel.\u00a0 They hadn\u2019t actually invited me, but I knew that my assistance would be needed so I stuck close to them.\u00a0 Neither of them seemed to even notice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright led us up the stairs to the first floor of the hotel and opened the door of Room number 4. On the bed lay the boy in question.\u00a0 He was a big lad with sandy hair and lovely blue eyes that were contorted in pain as a wave of sickness overcame him.\u00a0 He looked up at his father. \u2018Hi Pa,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright was obviously very concerned about the boy.\u00a0 I could tell from the way he leant over him and stroked his hair. I felt that he had good cause to be.\u00a0 The boy was obviously definitely running a fever and needed immediate attention, so I told the doctor so at once.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Thank you, Mildred,\u2019 Doctor Forbes replied, without looking at me. \u2018I think I can handle it from here.\u2019\u00a0 He bent over and began to examine the boy, watched by his anxious father.\u00a0 At that moment I was startled by a movement from the corner of the room and turned in surprise to see the other boy seated in a chair next to the wall. In my excitement I had forgotten about the younger of the two boys and I took the opportunity to size him up now while the others were occupied.\u00a0 He was only little, with a mop of curly hair and the greenest eyes I\u2019d ever seen.\u00a0 To tell the truth he looked like a bit of a scamp.\u00a0 He was studying the boy on the bed with a worried expression on his face, so I walked over and began to put his mind at ease.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Hello,\u2019 I said, bending down to take a closer look at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Hello,\u2019 he replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What\u2019s your name?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Joseph Cartwright.\u00a0 What\u2019s yours?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m Mrs Mildred Tanner,\u2019 I replied. I believe in being direct with children, as I feel it\u2019s the best way to earn their trust. \u2018Don\u2019t you worry about your brother.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be fine.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Are you a doctor?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I thought what a bright little thing he seemed to be. \u2018No, I\u2019m not a doctor,\u2019 I replied.\u00a0 \u2018But I\u2019m sure that the doctor will take good care of him and help him to get better.\u2019 At that moment the doctor straightened up and began to speak.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He definitely has a fever,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I snorted. \u2018Anyone can see that,\u2019 I answered. \u2018What are you going to do for the boy?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He gave me another one of his looks. \u2018I\u2019m most concerned Mr Cartwright,\u2019 he said. \u2018We\u2019ve had several cases of influenza in the town recently and your son is showing all the classic symptoms.\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid he\u2019s rather a sick boy.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright looked even more worried. \u2018What can we do for him?\u2019 he asked anxiously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ll have to keep his temperature down with cold compresses,\u2019 replied Dr Forbes.\u00a0 \u2018I can give him some medicine as well.\u00a0 The main thing though is that he should be isolated as soon as possible in case this is spread.\u2019 He glanced across at the little boy sitting on the chair. \u2018Especially from any other children,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright\u2019s eyes darted across to his little son as well. \u2018Of course,\u2019 he said. He ran his fingers through his hair in a distracted fashion and I could sense immediately what was running through his mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I stepped forward. \u2018I\u2019ll look after the little boy,\u2019 I volunteered. \u2018I\u2019d be happy to do it while you\u2019re with your sick son.\u2019 Mr Cartwright hesitated. \u2018There there,\u2019 I said as I patted him on the arm. \u2018You really don\u2019t have any choice but to ask someone to do it and I\u2019m the obvious choice, you know.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Doctor Forbes spoke up. \u2018The little boy shouldn\u2019t be here,\u2019 he said. \u2018It would be really dangerous for a boy his size to be exposed to this kind of thing. Mildred is right.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright still hesitated and I could see that he was torn between having his son go with someone he didn\u2019t know and looking after his other sick boy. \u2018I\u2019m a parent myself,\u2019 I said soothingly. \u2018I\u2019ve raised three children Mr Cartwright and I know a thing or two about them.\u00a0 He\u2019ll be fine with me I can assure you. I only live across the street\u2026that white house over there.\u2019\u00a0 I pointed through the window at my neat little home proudly.\u00a0 \u2018Thirty-five years I\u2019ve lived there.\u00a0 My husband Reg was the Sheriff here until he passed on two years ago.\u00a0 I can assure you I\u2019m trustworthy.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright nodded. \u2018Yes,\u2019 he said. \u2018I\u2019m sure you are, Mrs\u2026.?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Tanner,\u2019 I said. \u2018Mildred Tanner.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He nodded. \u2018Thank you, Mrs Tanner,\u2019 he said. \u2018I\u2019m most grateful to you.\u2019\u00a0 His eyes travelled once more to the boy on the bed. \u2018I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d do without your kind offer to be honest.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I patted his arm once again. \u2018You just concentrate on getting that boy well,\u2019 I said. \u2018Young Joseph and I will get on just fine, won\u2019t we?\u2019\u00a0 I gave the little boy a nice smile, but he just stared back at me.\u00a0 I held out my hand to him. \u2018Come on then Joseph,\u2019 I said warmly. I\u2019ll show you where I live.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The little boy frowned. \u2018No!\u2019 he said firmly. \u2018I\u2019m staying with my Pa and my brother!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I returned the frown. I wasn\u2019t used to being told no. \u2018Your father needs to look after your brother for a while and you can\u2019t stay here,\u2019 I explained. \u2018You\u2019ll be coming with me.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No!\u2019 he repeated and hopped down off the chair and ran over to his father, throwing his arms around the man\u2019s legs. \u2018I wanna stay wiv you Pa!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright bent down and stroked the child\u2019s hair. \u2018Joe, you have to be a good boy and do as Mrs Tanner says,\u2019 he explained. \u2018Hoss isn\u2019t well and I need to look after him for a while.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m gonna look after him too!\u2019 declared Joseph. \u2018I\u2019m gonna help ya Pa!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright shook his head. \u2018No son,\u2019 he said. \u2018You can\u2019t stay here while Hoss isn\u2019t well. You might get sick too.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t care!\u2019 he declared. \u2018We can be sick together.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright shook his head again. \u2018Well, I do care Joseph.\u00a0 I can\u2019t look after two sick boys at the same time.\u00a0 You don\u2019t want me to be worried about you too, do you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph shook his head. \u2018No.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Then do as I ask and go with Mrs Tanner.\u00a0 It\u2019s only for a little while.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Will you come and get me when Hoss is better?\u2019 Joseph asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I promise you I will.\u00a0 As soon as he is better.\u00a0 All right?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph nodded reluctantly. \u2018Yes,\u2019 he said in a quiet voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright put his son\u2019s hand in mine. \u2018Now go with Mrs Tanner,\u2019 he said. \u2018There\u2019s a good boy.\u2019\u00a0 He turned back to his other boy on the bed anxiously. \u2018Thank you,\u2019 he said to me over his shoulder. \u2018I\u2019ll come and get him as soon as I can.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I led the child from the room, down the staircase and out into the street. I had to pull him a bit, because he stubbornly refused to pick up his feet and dragged them in the dirt.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t worry me though.\u00a0 I\u2019ve had plenty of experience of dealing with stubborn little boys and this one wasn\u2019t about to get the better of Mildred Tanner! \u2018Come along child,\u2019 I instructed him. \u2018No dawdling.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n My remark only caused him to drag his feet even more, so in the end I was forced to stop and point my finger at him. \u2018Now look here!\u2019 I said sternly. \u2018You Pa is up there worrying about your brother.\u00a0 You don\u2019t want to cause him any more trouble, do you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He glared at me and stuck out his tongue. \u2018I don\u2019t like you!\u2019 he said cheekily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Rubbish!\u2019 I retorted. \u2018I\u2019m not here for you to like or dislike child! The only thing that matters is that I keep you safe until your Pa comes to get you.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I wish he\u2019d come now!\u2019 he declared. \u2018I don\u2019t wanna come to your old house anyways!\u2019\u00a0 He stuck out his tongue again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I bent down and put my face close to his. \u2018I think you\u2019re a rude young man,\u2019 I said in a low voice. \u2018And if you don\u2019t start behaving yourself I might just have to teach you a lesson in manners.\u2019 To my relief he shut his mouth and was quiet.\u00a0 I felt the resistance go out of him and he allowed me to lead him meekly to my house after all.\u00a0 I honestly didn\u2019t want to scare the child, but it was necessary to be rather firm with him if I was to get him to cooperate with me.\u00a0 By the time we reached my front door he seemed to be much more willing to obey my instructions, in fact he entered without a fuss and looked around with those big green eyes of his.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Would you like a drink of milk?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph shook his head. \u2018I don\u2019t like milk,\u2019 he said. \u2018Can I have coffee instead?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I stared at him surprised. \u2018Your Pa doesn\u2019t let you drink coffee, does he?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph frowned slightly. \u2018No,\u2019 he said. \u2018Not zactly. But you can if you want to.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well, I don\u2019t want to,\u2019 I said firmly. \u2018Coffee is not good for little boys.\u00a0 You\u2019ll have milk and like it.\u2019\u00a0 I poured him a glass and he took it reluctantly. \u2018Come on,\u2019 I instructed. \u2018Drink it up.\u00a0 It\u2019s good for you.\u2019\u00a0 He frowned even more and took a few small sips. \u2018More,\u2019 I instructed. \u2018You want to grow up big and strong, don\u2019t you?\u2019\u00a0 He nodded thoughtfully and took a couple of large swallows. \u2018That\u2019s better,\u2019 I said. \u2018Now let\u2019s sit down here and have a talk, shall we?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I sat down on the sofa and patted the spot next to me for him to sit on.\u00a0 I noticed that he did as instructed, but sat as far away from me as he could manage.\u00a0 I took up my knitting and he watched my clicking needles with a fascinated expression on his face. \u2018What ya doing?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Knitting,\u2019 I replied. \u2018Haven\u2019t you ever seen anyone do it before?\u2019 He shook his head. \u2018Doesn\u2019t your Ma ever knit?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shook his head again. \u2018I don\u2019t know iffen she does,\u2019 he said. \u2018She lives in heaven.\u00a0 Can people knit in heaven?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I stared at the child.\u00a0 So the poor little mite had no mother!\u00a0 How sad! \u2018I suppose you can do anything in heaven,\u2019 I said finally. My curiosity got the better of me. \u2018Did she go to heaven a very long time ago?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The little boy sighed. \u2018Yep,\u2019 he said. \u2018Ages and ages ago when I was five.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018How old are you now?\u2019 I asked. He didn\u2019t look much more than that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m seven,\u2019 he said. \u2018Most folks think I\u2019m still a little boy though.\u00a0 It\u2019s cause they think I\u2019m puny.\u00a0 I ain\u2019t though!\u2019 he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well if you keep drinking up your milk you won\u2019t be,\u2019 I assured him and noticed that he immediately took a huge swallow.\u00a0 I smiled at him and he returned the look with a grin, the milk making a ring around his mouth.\u00a0 He really was a cute little thing, I decided. \u2018So,\u2019 I continued. \u2018What made your Ma go to heaven?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looked at me as if I was stupid. \u2018God did,\u2019 he said. \u2018Don\u2019t ya know nothing?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s not very polite,\u2019 I said sternly. \u2018I meant \u2026. was she sick?\u2019<\/p>\n He thought for a moment. \u2018No I don\u2019t think so,\u2019 he said. \u2018She fell off a horse and broke her head off at the neck.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Oh dear!\u2019 I exclaimed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His eyes grew wide as he began to embellish his story. \u2018Yeah, and my Pa asked the doctor to fix it for her but he couldn\u2019t stick her head back on straight\u2026 so God made her go to heaven. Pa put her in a big box first though.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018You must miss her dreadfully,\u2019 I said. I was beginning to get quite interested in his story.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yeah!\u2019 he said with a sigh. \u2018Pa does too.\u00a0 And my brothers.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018You have more than one brother?\u2019 I asked, genuinely interested.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep!\u2019 I\u2019ve got two brothers,\u2019 he said. \u2018Hoss is the one that\u2019s sick.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Hoss?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yeah\u2026. Hoss.\u2019\u00a0 He obviously didn\u2019t think that any explanation was necessary about the unusual name. \u2018Adam is the other one.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Is Adam older or younger than you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He giggled. \u2018Adam ain\u2019t younger than me!\u2019 he said. \u2018He\u2019s grown up like Pa.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I see.\u00a0 Is he at home waiting for you to come?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Nope!\u2019 he said sadly. \u2018He\u2019s gone away.\u00a0 A long ways away.\u00a0 He don\u2019t like us no more.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I frowned. \u2018Really?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep.\u00a0 He went to live in Boston with his Grandpa.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I see.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He goes to College there to learn lots of eddacashion stuff.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Oh. And you want him to come home do you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His eyes widened. \u2018Yeah I do!\u2019 he said eagerly. \u2018But he can\u2019t, cause Pa said it\u2019s too far and he\u2019s gotta wait until the College is finished.\u2019 He sighed. \u2018It\u2019s gonna been another long time yet.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m sure the time will pass quickly dear. So your Pa looks after you and your brother now that your mother is dead?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yeah.\u00a0 My Pa looks after us real good. He says I\u2019m a caution to look after sometimes.\u00a0 I think that means he likes it.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I hid a smile from him and tried to look serious. \u2018I\u2019m sure he does,\u2019 I said. The child was really quite entertaining and I was really beginning to enjoy his chatter. \u2018So where do you live?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018On our ranch.\u00a0 It\u2019s called The Ponderosa.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s a pretty name.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He wrinkled up his nose as if he was considering my remark. He had a cute little nose. \u2018I guess so,\u2019 he said after a moment. \u2018Pa named it after the trees.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Ponderosa Pines,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Ya know bout our trees?\u2019 he asked in wonderment. \u2018Have ya been to our ranch?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No dear,\u2019 I said. \u2018There are lots of trees like that.\u00a0 Where exactly is your ranch?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Near Virginia City,\u2019 he said. \u2018I go to school there. Hoss does too.\u00a0 We don\u2019t like it though.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Oh?\u00a0 Why not?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve got a real bossy teacher,\u2019 he said. \u2018I don\u2019t like bossy people much.\u2019 He stopped and looked at me anxiously. \u2018You\u2019re kinda bossy, ain\u2019t ya?\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I gave him a stern look. \u2018That\u2019s not very nice,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He frowned. \u2018I don\u2019t mean to be rude,\u2019 he said. \u2018But you are!\u2019\u00a0 He gave me a consoling look. \u2018Don\u2019t worry though\u2026.my brother Adam is bossy and I guess I like him. I might learn to like you too.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Not your teacher though?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Nah!\u00a0 She\u2019s too strict!\u00a0 Me and Hoss don\u2019t like going to school cause old Miss Jones is boring too! We don\u2019t want ta learn eddacashion stuff like Adam does.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018A good education is very important for you!\u2019 I said firmly. \u2018I\u2019m sure you Pa would agree with me.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His eyes widened again. \u2018Oh he does!\u2019 he assured me. \u2018He\u2019s always telling us that.\u00a0 Only trouble is, that I keep getting into trouble while I\u2019m getting it.\u2019 He put a hand over his mouth as if he had said too much and looked at me anxiously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What do you get into trouble for?\u2019 I asked. \u2018I was beginning to become quite charmed with the child.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Lots of things,\u2019 he said warily. \u2018Sometimes I don\u2019t even know what for. Guess it\u2019s like Pa says and I just attract trouble.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I smiled at him. \u2018I\u2019m sure you don\u2019t mean to,\u2019 I said kindly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He thought for a moment. \u2018Sometimes I do,\u2019 he said honestly. \u2018But mostly I don\u2019t. Pa spanks me sometimes when I get in trouble.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018You probably deserve it,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Probbly,\u2019 he agreed, unperturbed. \u2018Pa sure spanks hard though. He\u2019s got a big hand.\u2019\u00a0 He rubbed his bottom absentmindedly. He stared at me for a moment. \u2018Do you have any little boys?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018My boys are all grown up now,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Did you spank em when they was little?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I certainly did!\u2019 I said. \u2018And they deserved it too.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Where\u2019s your husband?\u2019 he asked, looking around as if he expected him to pop out of a cupboard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He died,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Like my Ma,\u2019 he said sadly. \u2018Did he go to heaven too?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m sure he did,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Maybe he\u2019s met my Ma up there?\u2019 he asked eagerly. \u2018Pa says she\u2019s an angel, so if he looked out for someone with wings he\u2019d find her.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018There are lots of angels in heaven,\u2019 I said. \u2018Many more than you could count.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Really?\u2019 he said in amazement. \u2018I didn\u2019t know that.\u2019\u00a0 He began to bounce on the sofa. \u2018Hey this is a good sofa!\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Keep still,\u2019 I said. \u2018Little boys shouldn\u2019t bounce on furniture like that.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018OK,\u2019 he said happily. \u2018My Pa don\u2019t let me do that at home neither.\u2019\u00a0 He glanced across the room. \u2018Hey!\u00a0 There\u2019s a cat!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s my Fluffy,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Does he live in your house?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018How come?\u00a0 Do you have rats in here?\u2019 he looked around excitedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No I do not!\u00a0 The very idea of it! Fluffy lives in here to keep me company.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Hop Sing has cats,\u2019 he said. \u2018They live in the barn though cause they get to eat the rats out there.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018And just who would Hop Sing be?\u2019 I found that I was very curious to know.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s Hop Sing,\u2019 he said as if that explained everything. \u2018He\u2019s in our family too.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What does he do in your family dear?\u2019 I prompted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Oh everything!\u2019 he said vaguely as he began to bounce again. I stopped him with a look. \u2018Sorry. He cooks our food for us and cleans our house.\u00a0 Stuff like that.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I see,\u2019 I said as I folded up my knitting. \u2018Speaking of which, I think its time we had something to eat, don\u2019t you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His eyes lit up. \u2018Are we having candy?\u2019 he asked hopefully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No. We\u2019re having some supper,\u2019 I said firmly. \u2018Come into the kitchen and you can help me get it ready.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He trotted after me obediently and sat on a chair next to the table as I began the preparations. \u2018I don\u2019t like that,\u2019 he said, pointing to the stew I was heating up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018How do you know?\u00a0 You haven\u2019t tried it yet.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He scrunched up his nose. \u2018I just know,\u2019 he said. \u2018I don\u2019t like them things neither.\u2019\u00a0 He pointed to the pot of vegetables.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well you need to eat some of them,\u2019 I said. \u2018They\u2019re good for you.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looked at me, but said nothing.\u00a0 By the time the meal was ready, he had quite a stubborn look about him and I had a feeling I was in for a bit of a battle to get him to eat.\u00a0 I was prepared for it though.\u00a0 Raising three boys of my own had taught me a trick or two and I wasn\u2019t about to give in to this scamp over his eating habits.\u00a0 I believe in children eating what\u2019s put in front of them and I wasn\u2019t about to take any notice of his objections.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018There you are,\u2019 I said as I put his plate in front of him. \u2018Eat it up.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He simply looked at me and crossed his arms in front of him. \u2018I told you I don\u2019t like it,\u2019 he said stubbornly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I heard you,\u2019 I replied as I began to eat mine. \u2018But you\u2019re still going to eat it.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shook his head. \u2018No I\u2019m not,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I nodded mine. \u2018Oh yes you are,\u2019 I said pleasantly. \u2018I won\u2019t have you starving on me.\u00a0 I promised your father that I\u2019d look after you and I mean to do it.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the mention of his father an anxious look came into his eyes and he frowned. \u2018When will my Pa come for me?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018When he can.\u00a0 Your brother needs him now. Eat it up.\u2019\u00a0 I put a fork in his hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Maybe Hoss will die like my mama did,\u2019 he said and his eyes filled up with tears. \u2018Maybe God will take him to heaven.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not now!<\/em> I thought. Couldn\u2019t this have waited until after our meal?<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m sure he won\u2019t dear. But you have to be a brave boy and do as you\u2019re told until your Pa gets here. Now eat.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He absentmindedly took a bite and then said with his mouth full. \u2018Maybe I\u2019d better go and see if he\u2019s OK.\u2019\u00a0 He started to get off the chair, but I held on to him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Your Pa wants you to eat your supper, not go over there and get in the way,\u2019 I said firmly. \u2018Now if you don\u2019t eat more of that I\u2019ll have to feed you like a baby.\u00a0 Do you want me to do that?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shook his head firmly. \u2018No,\u2019 he said, his eyes getting wide as he looked at me fearfully.\u00a0 He put another forkful of stew into his mouth and chewed for a few minutes. I poured him another glass of milk, which he looked at suspiciously. \u2018I just had one of them,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That was an hour ago,\u2019 I said. \u2018Little boys need lots of milk to make them grow big and strong. Don\u2019t you want to grow up big?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He nodded. \u2018Yeah,\u2019 he said as he took another mouthful of stew. \u2018My Pa is big.\u00a0 So is my brothers.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018So I noticed,\u2019 I said. \u2018My boys always drank their milk and they grew up big as well.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He nodded thoughtfully and took a gulp of his milk. I was pleased to see that over half of his stew was gone. \u2018You\u2019ve done very well,\u2019 I said.\u00a0 He grinned up at me and I thought once more just how cute he was.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Is that enough?\u2019 he asked, looking at his plate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I think so. Come on now and I\u2019ll get you ready for bed.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He gave me a horrified look. \u2018I ain\u2019t sleeping here!\u2019 he said. \u2018My Pa will come for me soon.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No dear.\u00a0 Your Pa won\u2019t be able to come for you tonight.\u00a0 You\u2019ll have to sleep in my spare room.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018But I ain\u2019t got no nightshirt,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I hadn\u2019t thought about that.\u00a0 Of course I should have thought to bring the child\u2019s things with me.\u00a0 I thought for a moment.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t prepared to take him back over to the hotel for fear that he might cause another fuss about staying there.\u00a0 \u2018We\u2019ll find something you can wear,\u2019 I said. \u2018Come on and I\u2019ll show you.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I gotta go first,\u2019 he said, squirming around on his chair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Come on,\u2019 I said. \u2018Out the back.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I led him to the back door and grabbed a lantern to light our way as we went to the outhouse. I opened the door and he looked up at me fearfully. \u2018Have you got spiders what live in there?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I smiled at him. \u2018You\u2019ll be fine,\u2019 I said soothingly. Just be quick. I\u2019ll stand here with the light for you.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But the little boy shook his head. \u2018Uh uh,\u2019 he said, backing away. \u2018I don\u2019t gotta go now after all.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Don\u2019t be silly. You\u2019ve had two big glasses of milk.\u00a0 You must have to go.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shook his head again. \u2018Uh uh,\u2019 he said firmly. \u2018I ain\u2019t going in there.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well how about I fix you up a chamber pot in your room then?\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His grin returned at my words. \u2018OK,\u2019 he said happily and to my surprise took my hand.\u00a0 He really was quite an affectionate little thing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We returned to the house and I took him into the spare room, where he proceeded to run straight to the bed and bounced on it a few times. \u2018This is a good bed!\u2019 he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I pulled him to his feet. \u2018Stop bouncing!\u2019 I said. \u2018I\u2019ve told you about that before.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018OK,\u2019 he said as he looked around in an interested fashion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Now let\u2019s find you something to wear,\u2019 I said as I opened one of the drawers of the bureau. \u2018How about this?\u2019\u00a0 I withdrew one of my old blouses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph gave me a disgusted look. \u2018That\u2019s a girl\u2019s dress!\u2019 he said. \u2018I ain\u2019t wearing that!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a nice blouse,\u2019 I said. \u2018And no one\u2019s going to see you in it!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I ain\u2019t wearing no girls things,\u2019 he stated firmly as if that was an end to it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Oh all right,\u2019 I said crossly as I searched again. \u2018Well it will have to be this.\u2019\u00a0 I pulled out an old shirt of my husbands that I\u2019d kept.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Hey, that\u2019s all right,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well let\u2019s get you undressed then, shall we?\u2019 I said as I bent down in front of him and began to undo his shirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He wriggled. \u2018I can do it,\u2019 he said as he pushed my hands away. He took off his shirt and then sat down to take off his boots and socks before standing up again and looking at me. He really was a skinny little thing, I thought.\u00a0 No meat on him at all. He frowned at me. \u2018Ain\u2019t ya gonna turn your back?\u00a0 Ladies shouldn\u2019t watch a man getting dressed.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I hid an amused smile at his modesty and turned my back politely. Well hurry up then,\u2019 I said. \u2018I haven\u2019t got all night.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Ready,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I turned and smothered another smile.\u00a0 He looked so cute in Reg\u2019s shirt which trailed all the way down past his feet and dragged on the floor.\u00a0 I reached over and rolled the sleeves back for him. \u2018Now face and hands,\u2019 I said. \u2018Here.\u2019 I watched as he gave his face a cursory flick with the washcloth and then took it from him and began to scrub his neck and his ears.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Ow!\u2019 he yelled. \u2018That hurts!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Be quiet,\u2019 I said. \u2018My sheets are not going to be dirtied by the likes of you. Now use this and then get into bed.\u2019\u00a0 I pushed the chamber pot towards him and smiled as he lifted the shirt and began to do his business into it.\u00a0 Judging by how long he took, his brave words about not having to go outside were nothing but a lie. I thought how funny it was that he didn\u2019t want to take off his trousers in front of me before, but was quite willing to bare all as he filled the pot. \u2018Finished?\u2019 He nodded. \u2018Well, into bed then.\u2019\u00a0 I turned back the covers for him and he scampered under them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I sat on the edge of the bed, feeling that he might be uneasy in the strange room and he gazed back at me with those huge green eyes. \u2018What about your prayers?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He put his hand over his mouth. \u2018I forgot,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well I don\u2019t think that God would mind just this once if you said them in bed,\u2019 I said. \u2018Join your hands.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He joined his hands immediately and began to pray:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n God bless Pa and my Mama up in heaven.\u00a0 Bless Hoss and make him not go to heaven to be an angel. Bless Adam and his Grandpa in Boston and help him find a eddacashion real quick and come home. Bless Hop Sing and make him not go to China. Bless Mrs Tanner and help her not to be lonely for her husband in heaven too. Make me a good boy and not get another spanking from Pa. Amen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He smiled up at me. \u2018Was that all right?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I nodded. I was pleased to see that someone had taught him well.\u00a0 \u2018Do you go to Church?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He gave a huge yawn. \u2018Yep.\u00a0 Pa makes us go every Sunday.\u00a0 It\u2019s real boring but.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I patted his curls and was surprised to feel how soft they were.\u00a0 He really had beautiful hair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Where do you sleep?\u2019 he asked with another big yawn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Just next door.\u00a0 I\u2019ll leave a lamp on in case you need me through the night.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I won\u2019t need you!\u2019 he declared bravely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well you might get lonely.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looked at me. \u2018Do you get lonely?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Sometimes.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018So does my Pa.\u00a0 He gets lonely for my Mama and for Adam. You should take a trip.\u00a0 That\u2019s what we\u2019re doing so we won\u2019t get lonely.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Are you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep.\u00a0 Pa took us to San Francisco for a whole week.\u00a0 We got to see lots of things.\u00a0 There\u2019s big ships in the harbour there.\u00a0 And there\u2019s some ocean too. Pa showed us.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Did you like the ships?\u2019 I asked, continuing to stroke his hair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep.\u00a0 My Pa knows all about them ships.\u00a0 He used to sail on em before he came out West.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Did he?\u2019\u00a0 Mr Cartwright was certainly a man of many talents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep.\u00a0 He was a sailor.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Are you going to be a sailer one day?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Nope. Not me!\u2019 he declared. \u2018I\u2019m gonna be a rancher like my Pa is now.\u2019 He gave another huge yawn and I noticed that his eyes were half shut.\u00a0 He put his thumb into his mouth and turned over onto his side. Within a minute his eyes were fully closed and he was sleeping soundly.\u00a0 I turned down the lamp and left the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As I cleaned up the supper things, I thought about the child in the other room.\u00a0 He certainly was an interesting little scamp.\u00a0 The way he talked non-stop was better to me than a book and far more entertaining! Suddenly there was a knock on the front door and I opened it to see Mr Cartwright standing there. \u2018Come in!\u2019 I said. \u2018How is your boy?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Much the same,\u2019 he said. \u2018The doctor is sitting with him for a few minutes. I just came to see how you and Joseph are getting on.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s fast asleep,\u2019 I said, motioning to the spare room.\u00a0 He looked around the open doorway and we both smiled to see the little boy, thumb stuck firmly in his mouth sleeping soundly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t know how to thank you,\u2019 Mr Cartwright said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Don\u2019t mention it,\u2019 I said. \u2018He\u2019s been no trouble.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Are you sure?\u2019 he asked, with a lift of his eyebrow. \u2018He can be rather\u2026. um \u2026lively at times.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Nothing I can\u2019t handle,\u2019 I said firmly. \u2018He ate a good supper and has been as good as gold.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Are you sure you\u2019re talking about my Joseph?\u2019 he asked with a smile. \u2018Good as gold isn\u2019t exactly the expression I\u2019d use to describe him.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m sure,\u2019 I replied. \u2018I\u2019ve raised three boys of my own Mr Cartwright.\u00a0 There\u2019s nothing he could do that would surprise me. Now you go back and be with that other boy of yours and leave Joseph to me.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Thank you,\u2019 he said with an amused expression on his face. \u2018You don\u2019t know what a relief it is to know that he\u2019s in safe hands.\u00a0 I\u2019ll try and get back first thing in the morning.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018If you do, could you please bring over some clothes for him?\u00a0 I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll be too happy in one of my old blouses tomorrow.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright smiled. \u2018I certainly will,\u2019 he said. \u2018Good night.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hours later I was in bed myself and in a deep sleep when I felt myself being shaken and a small voice say, \u2018Are ya awake?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What is it dear?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence for a moment. \u2018I can\u2019t sleep in that bed no more.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Why?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s all wet.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I sighed, my mind racing back to the many times when I\u2019d gotten up in the middle of the night for this for one of my boys. I threw back the covers reluctantly. \u2018Come on then,\u2019 I said. \u2018We\u2019ll have to fix it up.\u2019\u00a0 I took him by the hand and led him back to his room.\u00a0 The bed was indeed wet and I resolved that he was with me another night that he wouldn\u2019t be getting milk that late again.\u00a0 I stripped the sheets quickly and set them to soak, replacing them with clean ones and putting him between them without a word. \u2018Now go back to sleep,\u2019 I said. \u2018And if you need to do that again, then get out of bed and use the pot.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He put his thumb into his mouth. \u2018I will iffen I wake up before I need to go,\u2019 he said sleepily.\u00a0 I sighed and went back to bed, feeling grateful that all my boys were now grown up and off my hands.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t miss the late night interruptions at all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The next morning I awoke as usual and went straight in to check on him.\u00a0 He had managed to fling himself sideways across the bed and was all tangled up in the bedclothes, but was in such a deep sleep that he didn\u2019t even wake when I straightened him and them up again.\u00a0 At least the bed was dry this time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I washed and hung out the soiled sheets and was busy preparing breakfast when I heard another knock on the front door. Mr Cartwright was standing there with a bag in his hand which he held out to me. \u2018I brought Joseph\u2019s things,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Come in.\u00a0 How\u2019s your boy?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looked relieved. \u2018Better,\u2019 he said. \u2018The doctor has just been to check on him again and he\u2019s breathing easier now.\u00a0 Doctor Forbes seems to think that the danger has passed.\u2019\u00a0 He hesitated. \u2018If you wouldn\u2019t mind me relying on your kindness for a while longer though, I really need to get some rest myself while Hoss is still asleep.\u00a0 I was wondering if Joseph could stay with you for a bit longer?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Of course,\u2019 I said. \u2018He\u2019s still asleep.\u00a0 Come and sit down and I\u2019ll get you a cup of coffee before you go back.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He hesitated. \u2018Well, just for a few minutes,\u2019 he said, easing himself into a chair. \u2018Thank you.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I could see that the man was exhausted and my heart went out to him. He looked through the open window and saw the sheets blowing in the breeze. \u2018I presume that was Joseph,\u2019 he said as he took the coffee. \u2018I\u2019m sorry about that.\u00a0 He does it sometimes when he\u2019s upset or worried about something.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I brushed his remark aside. \u2018It\u2019s all right,\u2019 I said. \u2018As I told you before I\u2019ve had three boys of my own.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At that moment there was a movement behind us and a little figure appeared in the doorway. \u2018Pa!\u2019 cried Joseph as he flung himself onto his father and hugged him around the knees. \u2018I knew ya\u2019d come!\u2019\u00a0 He grinned up at the man delightedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright picked him up and put him on his lap. \u2018Have you been behaving yourself?\u2019 he asked as he ruffled the boy\u2019s curly hair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Sure have!\u2019 Joseph said, with a sideways glance at me as if to reassure himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s been very good,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Is Hoss better now Pa?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright nodded. \u2018He certainly is.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Can I see him?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No not yet.\u00a0 He\u2019s still asleep.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Can I go with ya now?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His father shook his head. \u2018I\u2019d like you to stay with Mrs Tanner for a bit longer Joseph.\u00a0 I need to get some sleep and then I\u2019ll come and get you.\u00a0 All right?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The child looked uncertain, but answered in the affirmative. \u2018Of course it\u2019s all right,\u2019 I said firmly.\u00a0 \u2018We\u2019ll have lots to do this morning, won\u2019t we Joseph?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He gave me another sideways look, then leant forward and whispered into his father\u2019s ear in a voice that we could all hear. \u2018She wants me to wear girls clothes.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright tried not to laugh. \u2018I\u2019ve brought your clothes with me,\u2019 he said. \u2018Here.\u00a0 You go and get dressed while I wait.\u2019\u00a0 The little boy took the bag and scampered into the bedroom happily while I prepared breakfast for us both.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Would you like to stay for breakfast?\u2019 I asked, but he stood up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Thank you, but I\u2019d better be getting back to Hoss now.\u00a0 Thank you for the coffee.\u00a0 I\u2019ll come and get Joseph as soon as I\u2019ve had some sleep, if that\u2019s all right.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Where ya going Pa?\u2019 asked a voice behind him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Back to see Hoss,\u2019 he replied as he knelt down in front of his son. \u2018Now you be a good boy for Mrs Tanner. All right?\u2019 Joseph nodded silently and watched as his father left and shut the door behind him. I bent down and straightened his suspenders and put a plate of breakfast on the table for him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He wrinkled up his nose at the sight of it. \u2018I don\u2019t like that,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I took no notice, but began to eat my own. \u2018Eat it,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He got a stubborn look on his face, but picked up his spoon and put some eggs into his mouth. \u2018What we doing today?\u2019 he asked, spitting some on the tablecloth as he spoke.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Eat with your mouth closed,\u2019 I said sternly. \u2018I\u2019m sure your Pa doesn\u2019t let you talk with your mouth full.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shook his head. \u2018Nope,\u2019 he said through another mouthful. \u2018He don\u2019t.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Then don\u2019t do it.\u2019 I watched as more eggs made their way onto the tablecloth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018All right,\u2019 he said.\u00a0 Eggs were flying in all directions now.\u00a0 I sighed and began to mop them up. \u2018What we doing first?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018First we have some chores to do.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph frowned. \u2018I do chores at home,\u2019 he said. \u2018I ain\u2019t supposed to do em when I\u2019m on holidays.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I frowned right back at him. \u2018Well while you\u2019re staying with me you will,\u2019 I said. \u2018Come on.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve finished spraying those eggs around we\u2019ll get to them and then we can go to the shops for a bit.\u2019 His eyes lit up at this suggestion and he followed me outside, wiping his mouth on his shirtsleeve as he did so. \u2018First we have to gather the eggs,\u2019 I said, thrusting a basket into his hands. \u2018You get them while I feed the chickens.\u2019\u00a0 He did as he was told, gathering the eggs efficiently.\u00a0 I could see that the boy was well used to farm chores.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Soon he came back with the basket half-filled. \u2018Is this enough?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s very good,\u2019 I said. \u2018Now you can watch while I milk the cow.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I can do that,\u2019 he said, adding as I looked suspicious, \u2018Honest! I do it all the time at home.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018All right,\u2019 I said. \u2018I\u2019ll watch you then.\u2019\u00a0 I sat and watched as he expertly began the milking process. \u2018So you can,\u2019 I said. \u2018Who taught you how to do that?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018My brothers,\u2019 he said. \u2018They said that the quicker I learned how to do it the quicker they didn\u2019t haveta.\u2019 He sighed. \u2018I wish I had a little brother to teach things to so I didn\u2019t have ta do em no more.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Maybe one day you will,\u2019 I replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shook his head as he milked. \u2018Uh uh.\u00a0 Pa says we can\u2019t have no more brothers in our family cause we don\u2019t got no Mama to have em for us. Guess I\u2019m just stuck being the youngest.\u2019\u00a0 He sighed again. \u2018I hate it.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Why is that?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Cause everyone tells me what to do all the time,\u2019 he said. \u2018Pa and my brothers and Hop Sing and Miss Jones and \u2026. and everyone.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I suppose it is hard come to think of it.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He warmed to his topic. \u2018Sure is!\u2019 he said firmly. \u2018I mean it ain\u2019t like I\u2019m a baby no more. I\u2019m bigger now, but they still tell me what ta do.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I nodded sympathetically. \u2018Well don\u2019t you think you need it sometimes?\u00a0 You told me yesterday that you get into trouble a lot.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He frowned as he thought about it. \u2018Probbly,\u2019 he admitted. \u2018But I don\u2019t hafta like it!\u2019\u00a0 He gave me an impish sideways glance and squirted the milk towards Fluffy who was walking by.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Don\u2019t do that!\u2019 I admonished him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He gave me an innocent look. \u2018I was just thinking that he might be thirsty,\u2019 he said. \u2018I was just giving him a drink.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He can drink out of his bowl just as he always does,\u2019 I said. \u2018Come on, that\u2019s enough milk now.\u00a0 We\u2019ll go across the street to the store and get some things.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph jumped up from his stool. \u2018Things for me?\u2019 he asked excitedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No!\u00a0 Things for me,\u2019 I replied. I reached out and ran my fingers through his unruly hair. \u2018We\u2019ll see if we can this mop straightened out before we go as well.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Within moments he was seated on the bed and scowling as I tried to pull a brush through his curly hair. \u2018Ow!\u2019 he yelled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m being careful,\u2019 I said. \u2018Just sit still.\u00a0 Honestly child, I\u2019ve never seen hair so think!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Ow! My Pa says it\u2019s hard ta keep in check. Ow!\u00a0 That hurts like the devil!\u2019\u00a0 He put his hand over his mouth as he realised what he\u2019d said. \u2018I mean\u2026.\u2019 His eyes got wide as he looked at me for a reaction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s enough of that kind of talk!\u2019 I said. \u2018What would your Pa do if he heard you using words like that?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Probbly spank me,\u2019 he said. \u2018He says my mouth works before my brain.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well I tend to agree with him.\u00a0 Keep still.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Ow!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I continued to brush through his curls, hearing a slurping noise as I did so.\u00a0 I turned his face around to look at me and saw that he was sucking on something. \u2018What are you doing?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I gotta loose toof,\u2019 he said, opening his mouth to show me and wriggling it gingerly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well I can take care of that,\u2019 I said. \u2018As soon as I finish here we\u2019ll tie a piece of string on that and it\u2019ll come out quick smart.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He gave me an appalled look. \u2018Huh?\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ll tie a piece of string on it and the other end to the door,\u2019 I explained. \u2018Then when we shut the door your tooth will come out. It\u2019s quick and easy.\u00a0 I used to do it all the time for my boys when they were your age.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He clamped his mouth shut and put his hand over it, saying between gritted teeth. \u2018No way!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well how does your Pa do it?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He just lets em fall out by themselves,\u2019 he said. \u2018Once I swallowed one and we had ta wait two days to get it back again.\u2019 He grinned proudly. \u2018I got it myself.\u00a0 Pa said he wasn\u2019t gonna go fishing fer it!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I swallowed. \u2018I\u2019m not surprised. I think the string idea is better.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shook his head firmly. \u2018You ain\u2019t gonna tie no string to my toof!\u2019 he declared. \u2018I\u2019ll bite you iffen you try!\u2019\u00a0 He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me fiercely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I shook my head, deciding the fight wasn\u2019t worth it. \u2018Well have it your own way,\u2019 I said. \u2018But if you were my little boy I\u2019d sure be doing it.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m glad I\u2019m not your little boy,\u2019 he said. \u2018You\u2019re too bossy!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I pointed a finger at him and held up the hairbrush. \u2018Would you like a taste of this?\u2019 I asked. \u2018Don\u2019t think I wouldn\u2019t do it either\u2026.I don\u2019t take sass from anyone, especially a little boy like you.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He clamped his jaws shut again and put his hands behind his back to cover his backside.\u00a0 We glared at each other for a moment and then I said. \u2018Well, come on.\u00a0 We need to get to the store.\u2019 I put on my bonnet and picked up my baskets from the front hall and beckoned to him to follow.\u00a0 As we left the front gate I was surprised to feel his little hand reach out to grab mine and hold on tight.\u00a0 I looked down at him as he stared around with wide eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Where are we going?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Over there,\u2019 I replied, pointing to the General Store. \u2018Come on.\u2019\u00a0 I pulled him across the street and we entered the store together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well who do you have here Mildred?\u2019 asked Bob Conwell from behind the counter as he stared at Joseph.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018This is Joseph Cartwright,\u2019 I said. \u2018He arrived with his father and brother on yesterday\u2019s stage.\u00a0 I\u2019m looking after him for a while.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph pulled himself up to his full height. \u2018I\u2019m looking after myself!\u2019 he declared to the man. \u2018She\u2019s just letting me stay in her house is all.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bob gave the boy an amused grin. \u2018Are you?\u2019 he said. \u2018Well pleased to meet you Joseph Cartwright.\u2019 He turned to me again. \u2018What can I get you today Mildred?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As Bob filled my order I watched Joseph out of the corner of my eye, well aware of the sorts of things young boys can get up to in a store full of interesting things.\u00a0 To my relief though, he simply walked around looking at things without touching them. I smiled at him and he returned the look. \u2018Would you like a stick of candy?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His eyes lit up. \u2018Yes Ma\u2019am!\u2019 he said eagerly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well, you pick one out then.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph put his finger on his lip as he studied the glass jars on the counter. He frowned in thought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Hurry up!\u2019 I said. \u2018It\u2019s not that hard is it?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He frowned even further. \u2018Yep, it is,\u2019 he said. \u2018You got some different ones to what we got in our town. It\u2019s hard ta choose.\u2019 He thought for another minute. \u2018I\u2019ll have that one!\u2019 he said finally, pointing to a red and white striped peppermint stick.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Thank you,\u2019 he said as Bob handed it to him. I was pleased to see the boy had manners at least. \u2018Where we going now?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Down here,\u2019 I said. \u2018I didn\u2019t really want to take the child into the ladies apparel store, but I didn\u2019t have much of a choice as I knew that my parcel of new undergarments was waiting to be picked up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As we entered the store, Joseph\u2019s eyes widened. \u2018Wow!\u2019 he said. \u2018We don\u2019t have a store like this in our town!\u2019 he said in a loud voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m sure you do dear, you just haven\u2019t been inside it that\u2019s all,\u2019 I replied.\u00a0 After all, why would the child have cause to?\u00a0 He had no mother or sisters and so the whole concept of women\u2019s clothing would surely be an unknown one to him. He looked around with wide eyes as he sucked on his peppermint. \u2018Sit down there and don\u2019t move,\u2019 I said. \u2018I\u2019ll be back in a minute. When I looked over moments later, he was fingering a pair of bloomers. \u2018Joseph!\u2019 I said. \u2018I told you not touch anything!\u2019 He immediately put his hand down, but continued to study the garment intensely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly there was a tug on my skirt and I looked down to see him standing beside me. \u2018What\u2019s these things for?\u2019 he asked, pointing to a large pile of corsets on the counter. I cleared my throat. \u2018Nothing for you to worry about!\u2019 I said sharply as Beatrice behind the counter smiled at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Isn\u2019t he cute!\u2019 she said. Joseph scowled up at her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Go back and sit down,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He took the peppermint stick out of his mouth. \u2018But I want to know what these are for!\u2019 he insisted, pointing once again to the corsets.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re called corsets. They\u2019re for ladies to wear under their dresses dear,\u2019 I said. \u2018Now go and sit down.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Why do they wear em?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018To give them a nice figure,\u2019 I said. \u2018Sit!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He sat down, but continued to question me. \u2018What\u2019s numbers got to do with it?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Not that kind of figure.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well, what kind?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Beatrice laughed. \u2018You\u2019ll start to notice when you get older,\u2019 she said. \u2018Maybe your Pa could tell you about it.\u2019\u00a0 Joseph nodded, seemingly content with this suggestion and I breathed a sigh of relief as he put his candy back in his mouth and began to suck on it noisily. Soon we were on our way again and had just begun to cross the street when Joseph gave a loud cry and sank to his knees. I hastily knelt down next to him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What is it dear?\u2019 I asked anxiously. \u2018Aren\u2019t you well?\u2019\u00a0 I put my hand on his forehead, certain that I was going to feel a fever.\u00a0 Thoughts of his sick older brother up in the hotel flashed through my mind and I hated the very thought of having to tell his father that his youngest son had also come down with the dreaded influenza. \u2018Let me feel your forehead,\u2019 I said over his loud wails.\u00a0 To my surprise, however, his forehead was quite cool.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I stared at the distraught boy in my arms. \u2018What\u2019s the matter\u201d I asked. \u2018Where does it hurt?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018In my mouth!\u2019 he yelled, and indeed I saw a trickle of blood from between his parted lips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Open up,\u2019 I said, really concerned now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He opened his mouth and yelled. \u2018My toof! It\u2019s gone!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I felt a rush of relief through my body and I released it by giving him a slight shake. \u2018Your tooth!\u2019 I said angrily. All this fuss over a tooth?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It came out cause I was sucking on my peppermint!\u2019 he wailed as he struggled to get out of my arms. \u2018It dropped out somewheres!\u2019\u00a0 He began to crawl around on his hands and knees in the dirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Joseph!\u2019 I said angrily. \u2018Get up! You shouldn\u2019t be crawling around in the middle of the street like that!\u2019\u00a0 But the boy took notice of me and continued to search for the missing tooth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Here it is!\u2019 he said, his sunny smile returning as he held up the small white tooth and then thrust it into his pocket.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I pulled him to his feet and began to dust us both off. He bent down, picked up his dirty peppermint stick that he\u2019d dropped and wiped it a couple of times before putting it back into his mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Joseph!\u2019 I said. \u2018That\u2019s dirty!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He pulled it out of his mouth and inspected it. \u2018Ain\u2019t dirty no more!\u2019 he declared. \u2018I sucked the dirt right off it!\u2019 He stared at me, challenging me to take it away from him. I wondered at myself as I merely shook my head, grabbed him by his sticky hand and pulled him towards my gate. Once again, the fight just didn\u2019t seem worth it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As soon as we reached the living room I sank down onto the sofa, feeling quite exhausted.\u00a0 There was something about this child that sapped the energy from me and I was beginning to understand what his father had meant.\u00a0 I felt quite sorry for the man putting up with this sort of thing every day.\u00a0 No wonder he looked exhausted.\u00a0 \u2018Show me your mouth,\u2019 I said wearily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph opened his mouth obediently and put his tongue through the space where his tooth used to be. \u2018Ain\u2019t bleeding now,\u2019 he said. \u2018I sucked all the blood away.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Good,\u2019 I said. \u2018Now why don\u2019t we just sit here and have a nice quiet little nap.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Why?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Because I\u2019m tired.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I ain\u2019t!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well I am!\u2019 I said crossly. \u2018Now sit still for a few minutes!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I closed my eyes for a moment and listened to the silence around me.\u00a0 It was nice not to hear his constant chatter and I relished the quiet. Suddenly I heard a loud yowl and felt Fluffy land in my lap.\u00a0 I opened my eyes and saw Joseph standing innocently in front of me with his hands behind his back. \u2018What did you do to him?\u2019 I asked him suspiciously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shook his head. \u2018Nothing,\u2019 he said, but I noticed that his eyes didn\u2019t meet mine.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Joseph!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looked up at me. \u2018Well I only wanted to see!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018See what?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018How far his tail would stretch,\u2019 he mumbled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Did you pull Fluffy\u2019s tail?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes ma\u2019am,\u2019 he said in a quiet voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018You\u2019re a naughty boy!\u2019 I said angrily as I soothed Fluffy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph looked contrite. \u2018I\u2019m sorry,\u2019 he said. \u2018But his tail was all curled up and I wanted to see\u2026..\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I held up my hand. \u2018I know!\u2019 I said angrily. \u2018How far his tail would stretch!\u2019\u00a0 I pointed to the corner. \u2018Well you can just go and sit in that corner young man until you\u2019re ready to behave yourself!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He stood his ground. \u2018Are ya gonna spank me too?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ll think about it!\u2019 I said. \u2018Now go!\u2019\u00a0 He slunk over to the chair in the corner and sat down facing the wall. I closed my eyes again, determined to get at least a couple of moments of peace, when I heard another noise.\u00a0 Wearily I opened them again, to see Joseph picking up a picture frame from the floor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018How did that get knocked over?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Musta been Fluffy what knocked it over,\u2019 he said innocently<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018You know very well that Fluffy is here on my lap,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He mighta done it quickly and then got back on your lap before you opened your eyes,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Joseph did you touch that picture frame?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He put his head down. \u2018Yes ma\u2019am,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Face the corner and don\u2019t move until I tell you to!\u2019 I said angrily. \u2018Do it!\u2019\u00a0 He turned away from me again and put his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands as he stared at the wall. I closed my eyes to a blessed two minutes silence. Unfortunately I couldn\u2019t stand the suspense after that length of time and had to open them again to check that the child wasn\u2019t up to any mischief. I found that he was staring at me silently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What are you looking at?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Do you wear them corset things?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Don\u2019t be impertinent,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What\u2019s impertant mean?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Rude!\u2019 I replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I ain\u2019t being rude!\u2019 he declared. \u2018I just wanna know iffen you wear them corset things to get a good figure.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Ladies don\u2019t talk about things like that,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Why?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Because they don\u2019t.\u2019\u00a0 I sighed wearily and got up from the sofa. \u2018Let\u2019s get some lunch now shall we?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018OK,\u2019 he said happily and followed me out to the kitchen. \u2018When\u2019s my Pa coming for me?\u2019 he asked as he watched me slice some bread and begin to make some sandwiches.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Soon I hope,\u2019 I replied grimly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t like that,\u2019 he said as he pointed to the meat that I was cutting.\u00a0 As usual, I took no notice of him and put his plate in front of him. \u2018Don\u2019t want no milk,\u2019 he said as I poured him a glass. Again I took no notice. He stared up at me. \u2018Didn\u2019t ya hear me?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I certainly did hear you,\u2019 I replied. But you\u2019ll drink it like before.\u2019 He scowled at me, but took a big swallow before biting into his sandwich.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018This afternoon we\u2019re going to have a rest,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I ain\u2019t tired,\u2019 he said, between bites.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t care,\u2019 I said crossly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He scowled at me. \u2018I could do some more chores for you while you\u2019re taking a rest,\u2019 he suggested.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I shuddered. \u2018No thank you Joseph,\u2019 I said. \u2018I\u2019d prefer to keep my eye on you all the time.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s what my Pa says,\u2019 he said happily. \u2018I think its cause he likes me.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I raised my eyebrow. \u2018I\u2019m sure that\u2019s why,\u2019 I said sarcastically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Cept sometimes my Pa has to leave Hop Sing to look after me when him and Hoss go out to work.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018And what do you do then?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Oh\u2026 lots of things. Sometimes I play with my soldiers and sometimes I look at my books what Adam gave me.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I had a bright idea as to how to keep him amused and give myself some quiet time as well. \u2018I think I have some things that might amuse you,\u2019 I said. \u2018If you\u2019ve finished we\u2019ll have a look for them.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph swallowed the last of his sandwich and gulped down his milk. \u2018I\u2019m finished1\u2019 he declared as he got down from his chair. \u2018Where are they?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I led the way into the spare bedroom and pulled a large trunk out from under the bed. \u2018Here we go!\u2019 I said. \u2018These things used to belong to my boys when they were little.\u2019 Joseph\u2019s eyes widened as I lifted the lid and he almost fell into the trunk as he leant over it in his excitement.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Wow!\u2019 he said. \u2018What\u2019s them things?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re building blocks,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He frowned. \u2018I\u2019m too big for them!\u2019 he said. \u2018What else ya got?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I lifted up a baby\u2019s rattle. \u2018Well maybe these are a bit young for you,\u2019 I acknowledged.\u00a0 \u2018But you might find something in here that you might like. You have a look while I lay on the bed for a bit.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I lay down and watched as he rummaged through the trunk and pulled out a couple of books.\u00a0 He settled down and opened the first one and I closed my eyes while I listened to the silence. After what only seemed like moments later, I opened them again with a start to see both books abandoned on the floor and the building blocks strewn around haphazardly.\u00a0 I smiled.\u00a0 It seemed that he hadn\u2019t been too old for them after all.\u00a0 I sat up with a start, realising that I must in fact have fallen asleep. I looked around. \u2018Joseph!\u2019 I called, but there was no answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Angrily I got off the bed and walked into the living room. \u2018Joseph!\u2019 I called again. \u2018Where are you?\u2019\u00a0 Again there was no answer and I began to panic slightly as I saw the back door open. \u2018Joseph!\u2019 I called across the back yard. \u2018Where are you?\u2019 Only silence greeted me and I began to get really worried until I heard a muffled voice from inside the outhouse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m in here!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What are you doing in there?\u2019 I asked through the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What do you think?\u2019 he yelled. \u2018I haven\u2019t finished yet neither.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well hurry up!\u2019 I said. As I waited for him, I thankfully felt my heart slowing down again to a normal pace.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know how I would have explained to his father that I\u2019d lost him and I was just thankful that I didn\u2019t have to try.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After a few moments he opened the door and emerged, pulling up his suspenders. \u2018Can\u2019t even go to the outhouse without people telling me what to do!\u2019 he muttered as he shook his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I swatted him on the behind gently. \u2018There\u2019s no need to be rude!\u2019 I said. \u2018I was only worried about you. Now come back inside.\u2019 I decided at that moment that any thought of a nap was a futile one and so resigned myself to the inevitable. \u2018Let\u2019s sit down here for a while,\u2019 I said and got my knitting out again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Are ya gonna do that again?\u2019 he asked. \u2018Do ya do it everyday?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Not every day, but most,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What ya making?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018A blanket.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What for?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018The orphans in Sacramento. There\u2019s a home there where they live.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What\u2019s a orphan?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a boy or girl who has no father or mother.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He thought for a moment. \u2018Then I must be half a orphan cause I don\u2019t have a mother.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018There\u2019s no such thing as half an orphan.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes there is! I\u2019m one!\u2019 he declared. I decided to let it drop. \u2018What\u2019s their home like?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s big.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018My home is big.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Is it?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep.\u00a0 It\u2019s the biggest house ever.\u00a0 Pa built it himself.\u00a0 Adam helped.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Did he?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep. That was before I was borned, so I didn\u2019t get to help em. After it was finished my Pa went and found my Mama and then they got married. After that Pa put some stairs in the house and some rooms up the top of them. I was borned there.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Were you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Uh huh.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss wasn\u2019t though.\u00a0 Adam was borned in Boston.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018And where was Hoss born?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018In Missouri. His Mama got killed by Indians.\u2019\u00a0 He pulled his arms back and imitated shooting a bow and arrow. \u2018They shot her like this.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Oh dear!\u2019 I said. \u2018Your poor Pa!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep.\u00a0 He picked up baby Hoss to carry him and told Adam to walk behind him though and they kept walking till they came to Nevada.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018And how did your brother Adam\u2019s mother die?\u2019 His story was more intriguing than anything I\u2019d heard in a long time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018She died when he got borned,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s very sad.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep.\u00a0 My Pa\u2019s got all their pictures on his big desk. I look at em sometimes, but he tells me not to touch em like you did with your picture.\u2019\u00a0 He glanced over at the picture he\u2019d dropped before. \u2018Who\u2019s that man?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s a picture of my husband Reg.\u00a0 He was the sheriff here before he died.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ve got a sheriff in our town too. His name is Sheriff Coffee.\u00a0 He\u2019s Pa\u2019s friend.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Is he?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Uh huh. He lets me visit his jail sometimes.\u00a0 He says that one day I might get to stay there if I keep going in the direction I am.\u2019\u00a0 He smiled happily at the thought of it.\u00a0 \u2018I don\u2019t know what direction it is though. Guess its west where our ranch is. Pa might let me stay in that jail when I\u2019m grown up.\u00a0 I heard Sheriff Coffee say he might have ta let me one day cause of me being a challenge to everyone. What\u2019s a challenge?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Its\u2026. Well, its something you have to work at.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He frowned. \u2018Guess he means me doing my chores or something then.\u2019\u00a0 He grinned. \u2018Sheriff Coffee\u2019s nice!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He sounds like he is dear.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Was your husband a nice sheriff?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I thought so.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Did he ever shoot anyone and then lock them up in his jail?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He tried not to, but sometimes he had to.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m gonna get a gun when I get bigger.\u2019\u00a0 He looked at me sideways. \u2018I\u2019m a real good shot already!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Are you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep.\u00a0 I practise with my Pa\u2019s gun.\u2019\u00a0 He gave me another glance to see if I believed him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Do you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep. And his rifle too. He lets me.\u2019\u00a0 He gave me a furtive look and bragged,\u00a0 \u2018He tells me to.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I was determined not to let him see me ruffled, however I couldn\u2019t resist pulling him into line over that statement. \u2018Little boys shouldn\u2019t lie,\u2019 I said severely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He frowned. \u2018Wasn\u2019t zactly a lie,\u2019 he said. \u2018He will tell me to when I\u2019m bigger.\u2019 I gave him a stern look and he hung his head and said nothing. After a moment he lifted it again. \u2018I\u2019ve got a pony and when I\u2019m twelve Pa says he\u2019s getting me a big horse.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That will be nice.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m gonna get a pinto. Do ya know what a pinto is?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a black and white horse.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looked at me with new respect. \u2018How come ya know that?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Because I do.\u00a0 I know a lot about horses.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018So do I,\u2019 he said. \u2018We\u2019ve got lots of horses on The Ponderosa.\u00a0 I help Pa round em up sometimes.\u2019\u00a0 I gave him another stern look. \u2018Well kinda,\u2019 he said sheepishly. \u2018He lets me watch.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Does your Pa run the ranch all by himself?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No! It\u2019s too big. Adam helped him before he didn\u2019t like us no more and went to Boston. Hoss helps sometimes when he\u2019s not at school, but mostly the other men help.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Which other men?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018The ones in the bunkhouse.\u00a0 Charlie\u2019s in charge of em. He\u2019s our foreman.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I see.\u2019\u00a0 It sounded like Mr Cartwright\u2019s ranch was in fact quite big.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Sometimes I visit the men in the bunkhouse,\u2019 said Joseph. He gave me another sideways look. \u2018Pa don\u2019t mind.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Does he know you go there?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He didn\u2019t answer that particular question. \u2018They have good times in the bunkhouse,\u2019 he said instead. \u2018They play cards and have cigars too. I\u2019m learning how to play with them cards.\u00a0 They\u2019ve got hearts and diamonds and other things on em and you can bet.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018You don\u2019t bet?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Nah! But sometimes I put the money in the middle for the men.\u00a0 They let me. The cigar smoke ain\u2019t nice though.\u00a0 My Pa don\u2019t smoke cigars.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s good.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He smokes a pipe. He can make the smoke go in circles right up to the ceiling. I poke em with my finger.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I was beginning to get quite dizzy with his constant chatter and wondered how long he would keep it up for. \u2018Why don\u2019t we have some quiet time for a while?\u2019 I suggested.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018OK,\u2019 he said happily. There was silence for about thirty seconds. \u2018Did your husband smoke a pipe?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I sighed. \u2018No.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m gonna smoke a pipe when I get bigger. Or maybe cigarettes.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Cigarette smoking is a nasty habit and I would hope that you wouldn\u2019t do it.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He gave me his stubborn look again. \u2018I can iffen I want to!\u2019 he declared. \u2018I\u2019m gonna drink beer too!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I hope that you won\u2019t!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Adam drinks beer sometimes.\u00a0 I seen him.\u00a0 Pa was angry with him cause he fell down on the front porch.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good idea to talk about that sort of thing dear.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Why? Adam went in the Saloon and Pa was angry.\u00a0 I\u2019m gonna go in the Saloon when I get bigger.\u00a0 They\u2019ve got harlots in there.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I dropped my knitting. \u2018Joseph!\u2019 I said shocked. \u2018Don\u2019t you dare use language like that!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His eyes widened. \u2018What did I say?\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I stared at him. \u2018That\u2019s not a nice word,\u2019 I said finally.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looked puzzled. \u2018Which one?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018The one that you used,\u2019 I floundered, quite speechless for once.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Harlots?\u2019 he said, then put his hand over his mouth at the expression on my face. \u2018I didn\u2019t know it was a bad word!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Where did you hear it?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018In the bunkhouse. The men said they could get them in the Saloon. I think it\u2019s a kind of drink.\u00a0 Is that bad?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s not a kind of drink and you are not to use that word again!\u00a0 Do you hear me?\u2019 He nodded at me with his eyes wide. I resolved to let his father know of the boy\u2019s trips to the bunkhouse, which were obviously not in his best interests.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For a few moments there was silence, with Joseph in obvious deep thought. \u2018Mrs Tanner?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018If \u2026 you know, that word\u2026 isn\u2019t a drink, then what is it?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s something that you don\u2019t need to worry about.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He sighed. \u2018That\u2019s what the men said when I asked. They laughed and said I\u2019d find out when I\u2019m bigger.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I certainly hope that you don\u2019t!\u2019 I said severely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He studied me for a moment with a serious expression on his face. \u2018Do you like to fish?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I shook my head slightly with the effort of keeping up with him. \u2018I haven\u2019t fished for a long time,\u2019 I said. \u2018It\u2019s not something I usually do.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I like it!\u2019 he said. \u2018I\u2019m good at it too.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Are you?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep.\u00a0 Sometimes I catch fish and Hop Sing cooks em for supper. Pa won\u2019t let me go by myself but.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Where do you fish?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018In the lake.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Is it a big lake?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looked at me surprised. \u2018Don\u2019t you know the lake?\u2019 he asked surprised.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s Lake Tahoe. It\u2019s the biggest lake in the whole world.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I have heard of it of course. I just didn\u2019t know that was the lake you meant. Is your ranch near Lake Tahoe?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep. Our ranch is the whole of one side of it.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I told you before that little boys shouldn\u2019t lie Joseph.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m not lying!\u2019 he declared with such spirit that I began to wonder if this time he was in fact telling the truth.\u00a0 If he was, then his father\u2019s land holding must be extremely vast for Lake Tahoe was, as he said, just about the biggest lake there is. At least in these parts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I learned ta swim in that lake,\u2019 he continued. \u2018And my Mama\u2019s grave is there too. Pa take me to visit it sometimes and we put flowers on it.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I gave him a comforting look. \u2018I\u2019m sure that makes you and your Pa feel better,\u2019 I said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Sometimes Pa cries when he goes there.\u00a0 I seen him.\u00a0 He sends me to get the flowers and then he cries. He don\u2019t know I\u2019m looking at him.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Your poor father!\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018He misses my Mama cause she\u2019s up in heaven.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m sure he does.\u2019 I was beginning to feel very sorry for Mr Cartwright. Even if only half of what the child had told me was true, then the man had had a very tragic life. Suddenly there was a knock on the front door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph sprang to his feet. \u2018I bet that\u2019s my Pa come to get me!\u2019 he declared and ran to open it before I could stop him. \u2018Pa!\u2019 I heard him cry and turned around to see the man sweep his little boy up into his arms and hug him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Hello there!\u2019 he said. \u2018Have you been a good boy?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yep!\u2019 Joseph declared. He hugged his father around the neck. \u2018Have you come to get me this time Pa?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright laughed. \u2018I most certainly have,\u2019 he said. He tipped his hat at me. \u2018Mrs Tanner,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I smiled. \u2018Everything all right?\u2019 I asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes.\u00a0 Hoss is much better and he\u2019s eating now,\u2019 he said. \u2018We\u2019ve both had a good sleep and I\u2019m going to take this scamp off your hands. I\u2019m sure that will be a relief for you.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018What\u2019s a relief?\u2019 asked Joseph.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018You,\u2019 said his father, giving him a tickle. \u2018Now go and get your bag and make sure all your clothes are in it while I talk to Mrs Tanner.\u2019\u00a0 He put the little boy down on his feet and swatted him gently on the backside as he pushed him towards the spare room.\u00a0 Joseph ran off eagerly to do as his father bid him to.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I really don\u2019t know how to thank you,\u2019 Mr Cartwright said. \u2018I hope he didn\u2019t talk you into the ground.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Well I must be honest and say that he nearly did,\u2019 I said. \u2018He doesn\u2019t mean anything by it though.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018I know, but he can be rather wearing,\u2019 his father replied.\u00a0 \u2018I am so grateful to you for doing this. If ever you\u2019re over Virginia City way please feel free to drop in on us and visit.\u00a0 I really feel like I\u2019d like to repay the favour you\u2019ve done me today.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018No trouble at all,\u2019 I said. \u2018I actually quite enjoyed it.\u2019\u00a0 I was surprised to realise that I was telling the truth. \u2018One thing though Mr Cartwright.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Yes?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018You might just want to question that child about his visits to your bunkhouse. I think he\u2019s picking up some rather unsavoury words there.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He raised an eyebrow. \u2018I will,\u2019 he said. \u2018Thank you for alerting me to that fact.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph ran into the hallway and smiled at his father. \u2018I\u2019m ready,\u2019 he declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright looked down at his son and motioned to me. \u2018What do you say?\u2019 he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph looked back up at his father. \u2018I say let\u2019s go!\u2019 he replied with a grin.\u00a0 Mr Cartwright shook his head slightly, then bent down and whispered something into his ear and the boy turned to me as he held out his hand. \u2018Thank you for letting me stay with ya Mrs Tanner,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I shook his hand solemnly. \u2018Thank you Joseph. I enjoyed having you.\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mr Cartwright tipped his hat to me again, took the boy\u2019s hand and walked out.\u00a0 As I stood and watched them walk towards the gate I heard Joseph say, \u2018Pa, why do ladies wear corsets under their dresses?\u00a0 What\u2019s a figure?\u2019<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I gave a sigh of relief and shut the door firmly and smiled as I listened to the silence around me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Baby Sitting\tLittle Joe proves to be a challenge when Ben has to leave him with a babysitter.The End<\/h2>\n
\nRating: G (12,800 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":41001,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,1007,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-joe-cartwright","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1007-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=62690"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62690\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=62690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=62690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=62690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}