Summary:\u00a0 Marie is worried about the dangers out west.
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a05,710\u00a0 words<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Life\u2019s Hazards<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n for Helen \u2026 thanks for the idea<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben held the small wriggling child out at arm\u2019s length as he carried him into the house. Little Joe grinned up at Ben in delight, his small arms and legs going in all directions as his father tried to keep hold of him. Ben wrinkled his nose in distaste at the smell that was emanating from the child and tried to keep him from grabbing hold of him as he opened the back door. \u201cMarie!\u201d he called. \u201cMarie!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie appeared instantly from the dining room. \u201cOh thank goodness!\u201d she breathed. \u201cYou\u2019ve got him!\u201d she reached out to take her wriggling son from his father, but Ben stepped back and shook his head as he kept the child away from her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t,\u201d he warned. \u201cHe needs to go straight into a tub first.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie sniffed the air and then pulled a face. \u201cHe does indeed,\u201d she said, turning to lead the way towards the washhouse. \u201cWhere on earth did you find him?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe was having a wonderful time in the middle of the manure pile out back,\u201d replied Ben, still holding the child out at arm\u2019s length as he followed his wife. \u201cHow on earth did he get out there?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie sighed. \u201cI have no idea,\u201d she said. \u201cI only took my eyes off him for a minute\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA minute is all it takes,\u201d Ben reminded her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She nodded in agreement. \u201cDon\u2019t I know it! Still, I\u2019m sure that the back door was shut and Hop Sing is in town, so there is no way that he would have left it open.\u201d She groaned. \u201cHe must have found a way to open that one as well as the kitchen one,\u201d she continued. \u201cNow we\u2019ll have to watch him out there too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll put a lock on it the same as I did for the kitchen door,\u201d said Ben as he began to strip off the little boy\u2019s smelly clothes. \u201cThank goodness he hasn\u2019t worked out the front door yet.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe giggled with pleasure as he felt himself gradually being freed of his constricting clothing. He clapped his hands in delight and grinned up at his father, but his grin soon turned to displeasure as he spied his mother filing the washbasin with warm water from the kettle on the stove. \u201cJoe no barf,\u201d he said firmly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIndeed you are<\/em> having a bath,\u201d said his father, just as firmly as he dunked him into the tub. \u201cYou smell.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe pouted. \u201cJoe no mell,\u201d he insisted as he tried to stand up and get out.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben pushed him down to a sitting position again and took a washcloth to him as Marie sat down on a stool to watch. \u201cYou do smell,\u201d said Ben. \u201cYou\u2019re a naughty boy to go in that manure pile. Naughty boy,\u201d he repeated, wiggling a finger at his little son.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe stared at the finger in a slightly cross-eyed fashion as it wiggled in front of him. \u201cNo mack Joe,\u201d he said anxiously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben tried not to laugh as he scrubbed the little torso clean. \u201cWe\u2019ll see,\u201d he said, making no promises.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis child is going to be the death of me,\u201d sighed Marie. \u201cEver since he found his feet he\u2019s run me ragged.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled at her. \u201cHere,\u201d he said, handing her the washcloth. \u201cYou finish up with him while I get my tools and put a lock on that back door.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat are we getting a lock on the back door for?\u201d asked Adam, who had suddenly appeared in the passageway with Hoss behind him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour little brother has obviously learnt how to open it,\u201d said Ben. \u201cHe escaped into the manure pile.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss sniffed the air. \u201cYuck!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome and help me get some tools please Adam,\u201d said Ben as he folded down his shirtsleeves again. \u201cI\u2019ll need you to hold the lock while I screw it on.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head as he followed his father. \u201cThis place is becoming more and more like a prison each day thanks to that kid,\u201d he muttered. Behind them, Joe splashed happily at the water while his mother tried to get the washcloth near him without being splashed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie rushed through the kitchen door, looking in every direction at once as she scanned the front yard for a glimpse of her wayward little son. \u201cHe\u2019s over here!\u201d called Charlie the foreman as he spied the woman.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie looked across the yard just in time to see Charlie scoop up the small child as he made it through the two bottom rungs of the corral fence. Her hand went to her mouth instinctively and she gasped. \u201cOh,\u201d she breathed in relief. She walked quickly towards the corral as Charlie climbed up on the bottom rung of the fence and swung a cranky Little Joe over the top of the fence towards his mother. \u201cThank you,\u201d she said as she grabbed the boy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s all right ma\u2019am,\u201d Charlie assured her. \u201cI got him just in time.\u201d He glanced over his shoulder at the horses that were milling together in the corral. \u201cLucky he didn\u2019t make it any further but. This ain\u2019t exactly a safe place fer a young\u2019un that small. He could easily get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOr worse,\u201d added Marie as she smacked the little boy sharply on the leg. \u201cNaughty boy Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her small son glared at her. \u201cNo mack Joe!\u201d he said firmly. \u201cWanna see horsh!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d she said, just as firmly. \u201cYou\u2019re a naughty boy to run away from Mama like that!\u201d She smacked him again and he smacked her back on the arm as he tried to wriggle down from her arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHorsh!\u201d he shouted. \u201cWanna see horsh!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie ignored him and walked back towards the house with the wriggling child still in her arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut he could have been killed,\u201d Marie insisted to Ben that evening as they were getting ready for bed. \u201cYou didn\u2019t see him Ben \u2026 he was right in the corral by the time Charlie got hold of him!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThank goodness Charlie happened to be there,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course, but what if he hadn\u2019t been?\u00a0 Think what could have happened,\u201d she insisted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben put his arms around her. \u201cBut he was<\/em> there,\u201d he said. \u201cJoe is all right and that\u2019s all that matters now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie leant in against her husband and rested her head against his broad chest. \u201cI was so worried about him,\u201d she said softly. \u201cHe\u2019s driving me to distraction Ben. \u201cHe\u2019s my precious baby boy and I can\u2019t stand the thought that something could have happened to him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d replied Ben soothingly as he patted her hair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s so quick on his feet and most of the time I don\u2019t even know he\u2019s gone until it\u2019s too late,\u201d she continued. \u201cThere\u2019s so much danger around here \u2026\u201d She lifted her head and looked up into Ben\u2019s eyes. \u201cI\u2019m frightened Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no need to be frightened,\u201d Ben assured her. \u201cWe just have to be one step ahead of him whenever we can, that\u2019s all. He\u2019s a little boy who is growing up and wants to find out about the world, so it\u2019s only natural that he tries to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know, only \u2026.\u201d Her voice trailed away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOnly what?\u201d he prompted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie drew back from him. \u201cOnly out here it\u2019s \u2026\u201d She sighed. \u201cI thought I was getting used to it out west Ben, but now that Joe has found his feet I look around and I see so many dangers here that \u2026\u201d she bit her lip. \u201cI worry that he\u2019s going to get into something that we can\u2019t get him out of and I\u2019ll lose him. The west is such a big and frightening place.\u201d She buried her head against Ben\u2019s chest again and was silent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stroked her hair. \u201cIs that how you feel about it here?\u201d he asked softly. \u201cDoes it frighten you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSometimes,\u201d she admitted. \u201cI\u2019m trying Ben \u2026. really I am \u2026 but sometimes it\u2019s just all too much for me. And now with Joe \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Ben assured her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut how do you know?\u201d she insisted. \u201cHow do you really know that he won\u2019t get hurt with all these animals around? Not to mention the lake \u2026. and \u2026the wildlife \u2026. and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben lifted her face by the chin and gave her a small kiss on the forehead. \u201cI don\u2019t know for sure,\u201d he said. \u201cNo one can possibly say that they do. But consider this my love \u2026 with you and I and the boys and Hop Sing \u2026. not to mention Charlie and the hands \u2026 there are an awful lot of people around here to watch him\u2026. aren\u2019t there?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie nodded reluctantly. \u201cI suppose so,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben kissed her again. \u201cStop worrying,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019ll give you grey hairs \u2026. Believe me, I know.\u201d He ran his fingers through his dark hair that was splattered with grey and laughed, watching Marie intently until she joined him in his laughter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben handed Marie down from the buggy and then reached up to take Little Joe from Adam who was holding onto him. \u201cCome to Papa,\u201d he said, smiling at the little boy who was grinning back at him. \u201cGet down now boys.\u201d Both he and Marie waited until Adam and Hoss had climbed down and then they all headed into the mercantile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCan I look at the candy Pa while you\u2019re buying stuff \u2026 please?\u201d begged Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben ruffled the boy\u2019s fair hair. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said. \u201cBut no tasting \u2026 just looking.\u201d He turned to Adam. \u201cHave you got something you want to do son?\u201d he asked, knowing exactly what the answer would be.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cCan I go and check out the \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c \u2026 books,\u201d Marie finished for him with a twinkle in her eye. \u201cGo along Adam. I\u2019ll be quite a while here.\u201d Adam grinned at her and disappeared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI need to get to the bank and then the Livery stable,\u201d said Ben. \u201cHow about I take this one with me?\u201d He indicated Joe in his arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie frowned. \u201cThat would certainly be a big help,\u201d she said. \u201cBut he\u2019ll get in your way Ben. Besides \u2026\u201d she hesitated. \u201cThere are so many things here in town that he could get into. Maybe I\u2019d better keep him here with me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head and swung Joe up over his head and onto his broad shoulders. \u201cI\u2019ll put him right up here where he can\u2019t get into anything,\u201d he said. \u201cI used to carry Adam up here quite a lot when he was this age and it kept him quiet for ages.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2019m sure Adam was a lot quieter than Joe,\u201d replied his wife.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat about Hoss?\u201d asked Marie.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHim too,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cBut not for very long. That middle boy of ours was quite a big youngster even at this age.\u201d He laughed as he noted Marie\u2019s worried expression and he bent down and gave her a peck on the cheek. \u201cHe\u2019ll be fine my love,\u201d he said. \u201cYou enjoy your shopping and stop worrying.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t help it Ben,\u201d she said. \u201cHe\u2019s just so quick. He could get under a buggy out there before you even realise it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head again. \u201cNot from up here,\u201d he said, indicating the little boy above his head who was bouncing up and down in delight and clapping his hands at the novelty of sitting up so high. \u201cHe\u2019ll be fine,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll know where he is every minute. I\u2019ll be back later to pick all of you up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Without another word he left the building, ducking to go through the door so that Joe wouldn\u2019t hit his head. As he walked down the street he stopped to say hello to several people along the way and Joe gurgled happily and reached out to them.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell lookee here,\u201d said Sheriff Roy Coffee as Ben entered the bank to find the sheriff engaged in conversation with one of the bank tellers. \u201cWho\u2019s this up there?\u201d he asked playfully tickling Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe giggled at the sheriff and clapped his hands a couple of times. \u201cJoe,\u201d he crowed in delight and bounced up and down a couple of times, causing Ben to nearly lost his hat.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben took his hat off to save it and then winced as Joe clutched hold of his hair and pulled on it. \u201cSteady on there,\u201d he said, lifting the boy down and holding him in his arms instead. \u201cYour Papa is losing enough of that without having you pull it out young fellar.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy held out his arms to take Joe who was bouncing around trying to get to the Sheriff, when suddenly the door burst open. \u201cSheriff!\u201d shouted a man. \u201cYou\u2019re needed out here quick!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roy immediately turned and ran from the room, leaving a very disgruntled Joe pouting in his father\u2019s arms. Ben walked to the doorway and looked out to see two very drunken men standing outside the saloon facing each other. They were both swaying on their feet and shouting abuses at each other, obviously intent on shooting out whatever their differences were about. As Roy reached them, one let fly with his pistol and several people on the sidewalks ducked for cover.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben ignored his tiny son\u2019s wriggling and watched with bated breath as Roy disarmed the first man who looked quite dazed at the sound of the gun going off. Two other men took the opportunity to pin the second man\u2019s arms to his sides and take his gun from him before he could use it. Roy then gestured to them and they pushed the two men towards the jail.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The bank teller, who had come to stand next to Ben, shook his head. \u201cStupid fellars,\u201d he muttered. \u201cToo much drink fer this time of the morning. Now \u2026 can I help you Mr Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the time Ben arrived back at the mercantile a while later with Joe perched once again on his shoulders, Marie was standing anxiously scanning the street for him, Hoss next to her contentedly licking on a peppermint stick. \u201cThere you are!\u201d she called. \u201cI was afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAfraid about what?\u201d said Ben calmly as he approached her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t you hear the shooting a while ago?\u201d she replied. \u201cThere were two men outside the saloon and \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, I heard it,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI was with Roy in the bank when it happened. He got it under control. Those two will be sleeping it off in a cell by now.\u201d He pulled Little Joe down from his shoulders, much to the little boy\u2019s dismay. \u201cWhere\u2019s Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cInside, still looking at books,\u201d she replied. \u201cHow can you be so calm about it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled at her. \u201cNo one was hurt,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s all over now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, but someone could have been!\u201d she insisted as she held out her hands for Little Joe who bounced into them willingly and gave his mother a wet kiss on her neck. \u201cThis one could have been hurt!\u201d she said, hugging Joe to her protectively. \u201cOr this one,\u201d she added, putting her free arm around Hoss who gave her a confused look as he sucked on the peppermint.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMarie, none of the boys was anywhere near it,\u201d Ben said reasonably. \u201cThey weren\u2019t in any danger.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss, go and sit in the buggy,\u201d said Marie and turned to Ben as soon as the boy had left them. \u201cYou just don\u2019t get it do you?\u201d she demanded of Ben angrily. \u201cI know that they weren\u2019t hurt, but they could have been!\u00a0 Don\u2019t you see? You never know what is going to happen around this town. Today it was two drunks having a shoot-out, tomorrow it could be a runaway buggy. There are so many things in this \u2026\u201d she waved her arm around. \u201cThis rough part of the world \u2026 that none of them are safe!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMarie \u2026\u201d said Ben, stepping forward. \u201cI think you\u2019re over-reacting to all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right!\u201d she said angrily. \u201cJust like a man! Tell me I\u2019m over-reacting if you like Ben Cartwright, but I know what I know. This place isn\u2019t safe. I\u2019m taking the boys home now \u2026 are you coming?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course I\u2019m coming,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI\u2019ll get Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The trip home was tense as Marie refused to engage in any sort of conversation, but merely sat holding Little Joe towards her protectively. Ben finally gave up trying to talk to her and conversed with the two boys in the back seat instead. As they rode into the front yard, he asked Adam to take Hoss inside and then turned to his wife. \u201cMarie, we need to talk about this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie gave him an angry look and then got down from the buggy. \u201cAccording to you there\u2019s nothing to talk about,\u201d she said stiffly. \u201cApparently I\u2019m just over-reacting, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben rolled his eyes as he also got down from the buggy. \u201cI just meant \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou just meant exactly what you said,\u201d she retorted angrily. \u201cI\u2019m sorry if I\u2019m not living up to your expectations as wife, but I\u2019ve tried!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat on earth are you talking about?\u201d asked Ben incredulously. \u201cI never said \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to,\u201d she interrupted. \u201cMaybe you should have married someone who was used to all of this \u2026\u201d she waved her arm around. \u201cSomeone who would have been more at home in all of this wilderness!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI married you,\u201d he said, taking her into his arms and promptly squashing Joe in between them. The little boy let out a howl of protest, so Ben took him from his mother\u2019s arms and put him onto the ground. \u201cI love you and I married you \u2026 end of story,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie sniffed as she wiped her teary eyes. \u201cWell maybe you shouldn\u2019t have,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m not the wife you need out here Ben. I don\u2019t cope as well with all of this as I should.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve done amazingly well,\u201d he said gently. \u201cIt just takes some getting used to, that\u2019s all. It was never going to happen overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wonder if it will ever happen?\u201d she said miserably. She dabbed at her eyes again as she watched Little Joe who had found something interesting on the ground beside them and was crouched down on his small legs examining what it was. \u201cI worry about him so much Ben \u2026 growing up here \u2026 all the dangers around him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d he said gently and drew her towards him. \u201cI worry too. But we can\u2019t spend our lives worrying, can we?\u201d She shook her head miserably. \u201cLook at Adam and Hoss,\u201d persisted Ben. \u201cI came all the way from Boston with Adam as a toddler by myself and he survived. Hoss survived here as a toddler when we had hardly anything at all \u2026 and I couldn\u2019t watch him all day.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut don\u2019t you think that Joe is different?\u201d Marie asked. \u201cI don\u2019t just mean because he\u2019s mine. He\u2019s a very lively child and he runs so fast. You can\u2019t honestly tell me that Adam and Hoss were like that at his age.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2026 that\u2019s true,\u201d acknowledged Ben as he looked down at Joe who had finished examining whatever he\u2019d been looking at and was now trying his new skill of jumping. \u201cAdam was much less lively and he spent a lot of his time with me anyway. Hoss was a very placid child, that\u2019s for sure. But neither of them had two parents to look out for them as Joe does.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut what about as he\u2019s growing? I\u2019m worried that he\u2019s going to get beyond my control.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll children have to grow up,\u201d Ben reasoned. \u201cThey grow away from their parent\u2019s care in time. You need to allow Joe to be independent.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie looked past her husband. \u201cJoseph!\u201d she called. Little Joe gave his mother a cheeky sideways look before continuing to trot over to the barn. \u201cJoseph!\u201d she called again. \u201cCome back here!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d Ben boomed and Little Joe immediately stopped and gave his father a wary glance. Ben strode over to him and picked him up. \u201cNo!\u201d he said. Joe began to play with the conches on his father\u2019s vest happily, seeming to have forgotten where he had been headed seconds before. \u201cYou just have to be firm with him,\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSometimes I think he doesn\u2019t understand,\u201d said Marie.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe understands perfectly,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cWe just need to be tough with him. If we know that he\u2019s going to obey us, then it will lessen the dangers around here for him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right about that,\u201d agreed Marie. \u201cIt\u2019ll make me feel better if I know that he obeys when I call to him. I\u2019ll work on it \u2026 for all our sakes,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam put his elbows on his knees and rested his chin on his hands as he sat on the edge of the porch watching his stepmother and little brother. \u201cWhatcha doing Adam?\u201d asked Hoss, coming up beside him and munching on a cookie as he observed his older brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam pointed across the front yard. \u201cWatching them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss frowned as he sat down next to his brother and adopted the same pose after shoving the rest of the cookie into his mouth. \u201cWhat\u2019s Mama doing?\u201d he asked, trying to work out what was happening.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s training Joe,\u201d replied Adam, watching his stepmother closely. \u201cSee? She\u2019s trying to get him to stay by her when she walks.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss watched for a moment. \u201cHe ain\u2019t doing it,\u201d he said finally as Little Joe took off in the other direction towards the water trough.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie sighed as she ran after her little son for what felt like the hundredth time. \u201cNo!\u201d she called as he pulled him back by his hand. \u201cStay with Mama Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe looked up at his mother and gave her a grin, then put his arms around her legs and hugged her. \u201cLuv Joe?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie couldn\u2019t help but smile back down at him. \u201cOf course Mama loves you,\u201d she said endearingly. \u201cNow let\u2019s try again. Stay next to Mama while we walk over here.\u201d She took a few steps forward, but Little Joe took off in the other direction again. \u201cNo!\u201d Marie called. \u201cBack here Joe! Back to Mama.\u201d Little Joe took no notice of her, but this time headed for the barn as that she was forced to run after him again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back on the porch, Hoss and Adam continued to watch. \u201cIt\u2019s like training a dog,\u201d explained Adam knowingly. \u201cHe has to learn to obey so that he knows not to get into trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded wisely. \u201cOnly when ya train a dog they does what ya says after a bit,\u201d he said. \u201cJoe ain\u2019t doing nuthin Mama tells him to.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shrugged. \u201cGuess you\u2019re right,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie took hold of Joe\u2019s hand again and waggled her finger at him. \u201cNaughty boy,\u201d she said. \u201cMama said to stay with her while we walk.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe gave her another grin as he looked up at her. \u201cLuv Joe?\u201d he asked. Marie sighed as she patted the little boy on the head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly Joe spied his two brothers sitting on the porch and gave a whoop of delight. He took off on his small legs as fast as he could and flung himself onto Adam who was forced to clutch hold of him to stop him from ramming them both into the pole next to them. \u201cHi Hoss,\u201d said Joe across to his other brother as Adam dangled him on his knee. \u201cHow ya?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss ruffled his little brother\u2019s hair. \u201cGood Joe,\u201d he said. \u201cAre you being a good boy?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo he\u2019s not,\u201d said Marie wearily as she approached. \u201cHe won\u2019t do anything I tell him.\u201d She bent down and took him from Adam. \u201cI might try this inside where there are less distractions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood luck!\u201d called Adam as their stepmother disappeared with a protesting Little Joe in her arms. \u201cI reckon she\u2019s gonna need it,\u201d he confided in Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded as he took another cookie out of his pocket. \u201cI reckon you\u2019re right,\u201d he agreed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n No sooner had Ben opened the front door than he felt a tugging on his trousers and he looked down to see his youngest son bouncing up and down on his heels as he grinned up at his father in glee. \u201cHello there,\u201d he said as he took off his hat and began to unbutton his gun-belt. \u201cWhat are you up to eh?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was immediately obvious to him that Little Joe was up to a great deal. The little boy practically threw himself against the front door and slapped it repeatedly before jumping up and down several times and clapping his hands. \u201cHorsh!\u201d he shouted loudly. \u201cHorsh Papa!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Ben, as he put his gun-belt on the credenza. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to see the horses now.\u201d He tried to pick up the little boy, but Joe ran from him towards the sofa and giggled as he jumped against it several times.\u00a0 \u201cHey!\u201d said his father. \u201cStop that!\u201d Little Joe gave his father a quick glance and then ran to the fireplace, climbing up on the hearth and then jumping down from it again as he squealed. \u201cWhat is the matter with you?\u201d asked his father, grabbing him before he could topple backwards into the fire.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been like that for the past hour,\u201d said Adam, looking up from his book. \u201cHe\u2019s gone all stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour little brother is not stupid,\u201d said Marie firmly. She turned to Ben. \u201cHe\u2019s just full of energy because I didn\u2019t take him outside today.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHorsh!\u201d shouted Little Joe in his father\u2019s ear. He put his little finger up his nose and looked at Ben hopefully.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy on earth did you keep him inside all day?\u201d asked Ben as he slapped the finger away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2019ve been trying to train him as we discussed but he doesn\u2019t listen to me out there. There are too many distractions,\u201d she replied. \u201cBesides, it\u2019s much safer for him in here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed. \u201cFor heavens sake Marie.\u00a0 \u201cNo wonder he\u2019s like this.\u201d He slapped Joe\u2019s finger away again as the little boy tried to insert it into his father\u2019s nose this time. \u201cHe needs to get his energy out somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie stood up and put her hands on her hips. \u201cYesterday I wasn\u2019t training him properly and today I\u2019m not giving him enough freedom. It seems that I don\u2019t do anything right with him, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI never said that,\u201d replied Ben, taking Joe\u2019s finger out of his nose again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to,\u201d she said angrily. \u201cIt seems that whatever I do I can\u2019t win. Apparently I\u2019m a bad mother!\u201d She turned on her heel and ran up the stairs before Ben could say another word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence for a moment as Ben and Adam stared after her. Then Ben turned and handed Little Joe to Adam. \u201cTake him for me please son,\u201d he said. \u201cGo and show him the horses in the corral.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHorsh!\u201d shouted Little Joe, bouncing in his brother\u2019s arms gleefully as he tried to put his finger up Adam\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd be careful with him,\u201d added Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOK Pa,\u201d replied Adam, slapping Joe\u2019s hand away. \u201cCome on squirt.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben walked up the stairs muttering to himself, but stopped as he reached their bedroom door. He glanced in to see Marie lying across the bed sobbing. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said as he walked in and sat down beside her. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean that you are a bad mother.\u201d Marie said nothing, but continued to sob quietly. \u201cMarie?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She shifted her head slightly so that she could look up at him. \u201cWell it sounded like it,\u201d she sniffed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a wonderful mother,\u201d he said, stroking her curly hair. \u201cI couldn\u2019t ask for a better mother for my boys. Joe is healthy and happy \u2026 they all are. That\u2019s the sign of a good mother, surely.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie sat up and buried her face against his chest. \u201cThat\u2019s a nice thing to say,\u201d she said softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI mean it,\u201d he replied sincerely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no easy answer to any of this is there?\u201d she asked, looking up at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head as he hugged her to him. \u201cNo there isn\u2019t,\u201d he said as he smiled. \u201cI don\u2019t think anything is ever easy where children are concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll try to be \u2026 less intense about the whole thing,\u201d she murmured.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben planted a kiss on the top of her head. \u201cI like you just the way you are,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie ran across the front yard, waving her arms at Ben as he rode around the side of the barn with Adam. \u201cThank goodness you\u2019re back!\u201d she called.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben reined in his horse. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d he asked quickly. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie looked up at him frantically. \u201cLittle Joe is missing!\u201d she said, her anxiety evident in her voice and her expression. \u201cI can\u2019t find him anywhere!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben dismounted quickly and took her in his arms. \u201cWhat do you mean he\u2019s missing?\u201d he asked. \u201cWhen did you see him last?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She took a deep breath before replying. \u201cAbout fifteen minutes ago,\u201d she said quickly. \u201cHe was in the living room. I only took my eyes off him for a minute when I went into the kitchen to tell Hop Sing something and when I came back he was gone.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben frowned. \u201cThen he must still be in the house,\u201d he said. \u201cUnless he got out the back door.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie shook her head. \u201cNo,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s still well and truly locked. The front door was open Ben \u2026 he must have learnt how to open that one now!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh great!\u201d murmured Adam softly. \u201cThat means yet another lock on a door.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, look in the barn,\u201d instructed Ben. \u201cI\u2019ll get the men to check down near the creek while I …\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie went pale. \u201cThe creek!\u201d she said. \u201cOh Ben!\u201d Her hand went to her mouth and she stared at her husband frantically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben hugged her towards him. \u201cWe have to check,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s no telling if \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa! Marie!\u201d called Adam from the barn. \u201cHe\u2019s in here!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie gave her husband a puzzled look. \u201cHe can\u2019t be,\u201d she said. \u201cHop Sing and I checked in there already and we couldn\u2019t see him.\u201d She ran over to the barn, followed closely by Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As they entered the barn, Adam pointed into one of the stalls. \u201cHe\u2019s in there,\u201d he said. \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They looked \u2026 and saw their little boy snuggled up in a dark corner of the empty stall, half covered with hay and fast asleep. He was sucking furiously on the thumb of his left hand and the forefinger of his right hand was firmly placed in his nose. \u201cI didn\u2019t see him,\u201d said Marie, shaking her head. \u201cHe\u2019s so little \u2026 I just didn\u2019t see him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben bent down and picked his little boy up. Joe snuggled into his father\u2019s chest and snuffled slightly in his sleep without taking either finger or thumb out. Ben put his free arm around Marie. \u201cThank you Adam,\u201d he said. \u201cCould you put my horse up for me please son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He walked out of the barn, his son in one arm and his wife encircled in the other. \u201cThis won\u2019t be the last time this happens,\u201d he said to her. \u201cYou can be sure of that with this young scamp.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie put her hand on the little boy\u2019s back and rubbed it. \u201cI suppose I\u2019d better get used to it then,\u201d she said. \u201cThere\u2019s just so much I have to get used to.\u201d She reached up and fingered her husband\u2019s greying hair. \u201cI suppose the next thing will be that my hair will start turning this colour,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled at her and kissed her on the top of her head. \u201cYou\u2019ll still be beautiful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben put his arms around Marie as they leaned against the corral fence together. \u201cThat\u2019s it!\u201d he shouted to Adam who was riding a black horse around the corral proudly. \u201cLet him have his head!\u201d He bent down to whisper in Marie\u2019s ear. \u201cYou\u2019re coping very well,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She inclined her head towards her knuckles which showed white on the corral fence in front of them. \u201cI\u2019m closing my eyes most of the time,\u201d she admitted. \u201cIt\u2019s easier that way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben laughed. \u201cHe\u2019s fine,\u201d he said. \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good Adam,\u201d Marie called out and then smiled at Ben. \u201cI\u2019m getting better … don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMuch,\u201d he said and kissed her lightly. \u201cAnd not a grey hair in sight yet,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was a small movement beside them and they both looked down to see Little Joe standing on the second bottom rung of the fence. \u201cDid ya see that?\u201d asked Hoss proudly. \u201cHe done climbed up on it all by himself!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie groaned. \u201cNow he\u2019s climbing,\u201d she said. \u201cWonderful!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked up at her. \u201cAre we gonna put a lock on the stairs now?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie laughed. \u201cNo Hoss,\u201d she said. \u201cI suppose your little brother is going to have to learn how to cope with the stairs.\u201d She smiled up at Ben who smiled back at her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my girl,\u201d he said and kissed her again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly there was a shout from Hoss as Little Joe leant over the edge of the water trough and overbalanced. Marie gasped and Ben reached out, but too late to stop their little son from falling in. Ben bent down quickly and pulled the wet, bedraggled child out by the arms before Marie even had time to react further. Little Joe gasped in astonishment and then looked around at everyone in amazement as he spat out the water that he was holding in his mouth. As it dribbled down his chin he giggled and clapped his hands. \u201cNuther one!\u201d he shouted and tried to climb down from Ben\u2019s arms into the water trough again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSoon we\u2019ll be teaching him how to swim,\u201d said Ben, laughing at the horrified expression on Marie\u2019s face as he spoke. \u201cOnly joking,\u201d he said quickly. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of time for that yet.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI hope so,\u201d she replied. \u201cI can only take so much at once my love.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Summary:\u00a0 Marie is worried about the dangers out west.The End<\/span><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a05,710\u00a0 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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1008,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-30-id"],"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","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63043","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=63043"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63043\/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=63043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=63043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=63043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}