{"id":647,"date":"2011-02-01T13:33:12","date_gmt":"2011-02-01T18:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=647"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:23:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:23:35","slug":"caught-in-a-mouse-trap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=647","title":{"rendered":"Caught in a Mouse Trap (by Terri)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/span>Adam and Hoss find themselves in a tricky situation.\u00a0 Who can be to blame?\u00a0 Watch out, Joe!<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 K+ \u00a0WC 4300<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Caught in a Mouse Trap<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monday After the Dance<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Joe was in trouble and he knew it.\u00a0 The first time his head submerged under the water he instinctively held his breath, but the second time took him by surprise and he struggled to draw air into his lungs as the murky water seeped through his clothes, clouded his vision and sent panic through his brain.<\/p>\n

It seemed like an eternity before his head finally broke the surface once more and his arms flayed in all directions as he tried to find something to grab hold of before he sank for the third time.\u00a0 The feeling of drowning is not a pleasant experience and Joe fought with every fibre of his being to stay afloat, but the respite between the second and third sinking was short lived and he didn\u2019t even have time to cry out before he was plummeting underneath the water for perhaps the last time.<\/p>\n

Just when he thought he couldn\u2019t take anymore, Joe felt a hand grab his jacket collar and he was unceremoniously yanked out of the water.\u00a0 Spluttering and coughing Joe wheezed noisily as he fought to inhale the air he had been so painfully denied.<\/p>\n

Looking up at his saviour he was surprised to see his eldest brother before him.\u00a0 \u201cT-t-t-thanks Adam\u201d he finally managed to utter.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t a particularly cold day, but nevertheless Joe\u2019s teeth began to chatter and his slight frame gave him the appearance of a drowned rat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Adam demanded, surveying his youngest brother with more than a little concern.<\/p>\n

Just then Hoss stepped forward, \u201cWell you see Adam\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam snapped his fingers in Hoss\u2019s direction cutting him off in mid-sentence, \u201cNot you\u2026.. HIM.\u00a0 You will get your turn; I want to hear what Joe\u2019s got to say first.\u201d\u00a0 Adam\u2019s morning had been taxing to say the least, nothing so far had gone right, and his brothers\u2019 nonsense was just enough to push him over the edge.<\/p>\n

Joe started to shiver and he looked with pleading at his brother.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve b-b-been half drowned Adam\u201d he stammered.\u00a0 \u201cC-c-couldn\u2019t this wait until I\u2019ve dried off?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExplanation first Joe\u201d Adam replied heartlessly, leaning back slightly and crossing his arms in front of him.\u00a0 If truth be known Adam just wanted to get this out the way so he could clean up, eat supper and relax with a good book.<\/p>\n

Joe was still knee deep in water and much as he wanted to go home, the look on Adam\u2019s face convinced him he was best advised to stay put.\u00a0 Biting on his bottom lip and weighing up the consequences of what he was about to say, Joe began slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWwwell Hoss and I were just discussing the dance last Saturday night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah little brother, just tell Adam all about the dance\u201d Hoss chimed in menacingly.<\/p>\n

At the mention of the dance, Adam\u2019s countenance changed, his posture stiffened and he gave Joe his full attention.\u00a0 Joe felt his heart sink as he steeled a quick look at his eldest brother\u2019s face and noted the tightening of the mouth and furrowing of the brow.\u00a0 This did not bode well for his health.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Saturday \u2013 The day of the dance<\/em><\/p>\n

Joe had looked so forward to the dance on Saturday night.\u00a0 He had a date with his new girlfriend Mandy and was full of expectation.\u00a0 Mandy was a girl who liked to have fun and Joe was sure he would have no trouble persuading her to take a walk in the moonlight for a quick kiss and cuddle when they were alone.\u00a0 In fact if he judged right, there would be no need for persuasion, Mandy would probably be dragging him outside.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss were away from the ranch and on leaving the previous Monday they had not foreseen being home any time before the following Sunday. Joe smiled to himself; with the \u2018maiden aunts\u2019 out of the way he did not envisage any obstacles to his plans.<\/p>\n

It was early afternoon on Saturday when Joe rode into the yard after a busy morning riding fence.\u00a0 He was in a good mood and whistled as he led Cochise into the barn for a rub down.\u00a0 Stopping in his tracks he surveyed the stalls in front of him with dismay.\u00a0 Inside were Chubb and Sport happily munching on a bag of oats \u2013 his brothers were home!\u00a0 Much as he would be happy to see them; after all they had been gone for almost a week (and a week alone under his father\u2019s ever watchful eye could be trying at the best of times), he could perceive his plans for the evening being thwarted.\u00a0 Joe could only pray that his brothers would be so tired after their long journey they would be in need of an early night.\u00a0 No such luck.<\/p>\n

Just as Joe could have predicted, Hoss and Adam decided to join him on his trip into town and, as there was no time to make arrangements, they would be attending without partners, therefore, able to give Joe and his \u2018date\u2019 their undivided attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust as well we returned when we did\u201d Adam said, winking at his father \u201cif Joe has a date with Mandy Mason this evening, who knows where it could lead to.\u00a0 I can see you and I have our work cut out tonight Hoss; that Mandy is quite a girl!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss and Adam ribbed Joe all the way into Virginia City, leaving Joe under no illusions as to how he could expect the evening to progress.\u00a0 The chances of him having any time alone with Mandy were looking less and less.\u00a0 As they cantered along Joe decided he would need to come up with a contingency plan.\u00a0 In the fading light it was lucky for Joe that his brothers\u2019 could not read his mind or see the gleam in his eyes, or they may have been tempted to hog-tie him to his horse and take him straight back home again.<\/p>\n

Mandy was obviously delighted to see Joe when he entered the dance hall, but her sunny smile turned down a little when Hoss and Adam followed him through the door.\u00a0 After giving Joe a quick peck on the cheek she whispered in his ear,<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did your chaperones come from, I thought they were away this weekend?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo did I\u201d Joe whispered back, before taking Mandy by the hand and walking a short distance from his brothers.\u00a0 Joe surveyed the room forlornly, his night of freedom slipping further and further away, but that was before his eyes rested on two individuals in the corner.\u00a0 Oh boy, things were looking up, salvation was in sight and the answer to his prayers might just have materialised.<\/p>\n

Taking Mandy in his arms, Joe didn\u2019t give her a chance to refuse before he tugged her onto the dance floor and manoeuvred her to the other side of the room.\u00a0 Once out of sight of his brothers, Joe pulled Mandy to one side and began whispering furiously into her ear.\u00a0 As his plan unfolded a large grin spread over the girl\u2019s face and she clapped her hands in glee at the mischief they were about to put into action.<\/p>\n

A couple of dances later and Joe deliberately sat Mandy down next to the Mouse sisters.\u00a0 Never were two women more inappropriately named.\u00a0 Mildred and Jemima Mouse were two of the biggest, brawest women ever to set foot in Virginia City.\u00a0 Even their voices were a deception; if a man closed his eyes he could be fooled into believing that he was speaking to an angel, when in truth they were two of the most malicious women that God or the Devil ever created.<\/p>\n

After putting the first part of his plan into action, Joe quickly excused himself from the women and made his exit on the pretext of securing himself and Mandy a glass of punch.\u00a0 More importantly he did not want his brothers to suspect that he had in any way conversed with the two ladies.<\/p>\n

Mandy smiled at the sisters sweetly, only her dancing eyes gave any indication that something was afoot. \u00a0Mildred eyed the blonde, petite beauty sitting next to her with disdain.\u00a0 As far as the Mouse sisters were concerned, Mandy\u2019s slim figure gave her the look of a bag of bones in need of a good meal.\u00a0 Glancing at each other and then back at the girl, the sisters ran their hands over their ample figures and raised their heads with an air of superiority.\u00a0 They were convinced that a man liked a woman with \u2018meat on her bones\u2019 and, if that were true, in their case no man could ever be disappointed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you with the young Cartwright boy?\u201d questioned Jemima.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right; Little Joe\u201d Mandy replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm\u201d Mildred mused, \u201ca handsome enough lad, but awful skinny.\u00a0 Certainly doesn\u2019t have the presence of his older brothers.\u00a0 Hoss especially is a fine figure of a man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mandy suppressed her giggle.\u00a0 This was going to be a piece of cake; the sisters already had their eyes on the older Cartwright brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell it\u2019s funny you should say that Mildred, cause I know Hoss has commented to Little Joe on more than one occasion how attractive he finds you, and likewise Adam is quite smitten with Jemima.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mildred and Jemima were suddenly all ears.\u00a0 \u201cI would never have guessed\u201d Jemima stated in her high pitched girlish voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know men\u201d Mandy continued with a shrug of her shoulders, \u201csometimes they can be quite shy about taking the initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sisters traded a shrewd look; the Cartwright boys were quite a catch and they had set their sights on them long ago, but so far they had not received any encouragement.\u00a0\u00a0 Adam especially had never been short of partners when attending any social gathering.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou surprise me Mandy.\u00a0 I never thought of Adam Cartwright as shy\u201d Jemima piped up.\u00a0 \u201cAnd he certainly doesn\u2019t seem to lack for female company from what I have seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh that\u2019s all pretence\u201d Mandy soothed.\u00a0 \u201cBoth brothers have made it perfectly clear that when it comes to settling down, most of the girls in town would not be considered a suitable partner for them, if you know what I mean.\u00a0 In fact just recently I heard Adam comment to Hoss that he thought the Mouse sisters were such fine women.\u00a0 Now you couldn\u2019t get a better recommendation than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Mouse sisters positively beamed.\u00a0 They too thought that most of the women in Virginia City were sadly lacking, but on the other hand they had no false modesty about their own natural charms.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid Adam and Hoss escort anyone to the dance this evening?\u201d Mildred asked dreamily, already imagining herself in a white flowing wedding dress and veil.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo they didn\u2019t, they came alone and, as it happens, both of them are over by the punchbowl now\u201d Mandy whispered.\u00a0 \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go over and introduce yourselves.\u00a0 They will be so delighted.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be put off if they act coy, like I say, underneath both boys are really quite shy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam, Hoss and Joe were stood together surveying the room in front of them.\u00a0 Hoss dug his elbow into his youngest brother\u2019s ribs, \u201cHey, how come your not dancing, Little Joe?\u00a0 Mandy got tired of you already.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe gave Hoss a confident smile.\u00a0 \u201cAs if that\u2019s likely to happen big brother,\u201d he replied cockily.\u00a0 \u201cI just came to get us some punch that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell just go easy on the punch Joe\u201d Adam warned, \u201cPa won\u2019t like it if we have to carry you home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe smiled sweetly \u201cOkay Adam, I\u2019ll just have one more, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam eyed his brother suspiciously; it wasn\u2019t like Joe to comply without a fight.\u00a0 He would have to keep a closer eye on him than normal; he was definitely up to something.\u00a0 Before the conversation was able to continue, Joe could see out of the corner of his eye the Mouse women struggling to their feet and heading in their direction.\u00a0 Grabbing a glass of punch for both him and Mandy, he quickly excused himself from his brothers and, making a detour away from the advancing women, he headed back to his date.<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss watched Joe winding his way through the throng of dancers, totally unaware of the misfortune that was about to befall them.\u00a0 Hoss turned to say something to Adam, but was prevented from turning round by the bulk of Mildred standing behind him.\u00a0 Both brothers were cornered with no means of escape.\u00a0 One minute they were enjoying a glass of punch, minding their own business, and the next they found themselves out manoeuvred with no place to run.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s expression took on that of a trapped animal as he tried to step backwards away from the woman in front of him, but his retreat came to an abrupt end as he felt a solid wall behind him.<\/p>\n

Hoss was fairing no better, even his extra height and girth was not proving an advantage, as Mildred was almost looking him straight in the eye and her beam was broader than his.<\/p>\n

Joe was transfixed watching them.\u00a0 His normally confident eldest brother was backed up against the wall with a look of pure terror on his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Joe\u201d Mandy insisted, pulling on his sleeve, \u201clet\u2019s go while we have the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe was drawn back to the girl at his side and he smiled knowingly.\u00a0 Much as he wanted to witness his brothers\u2019 demise he had a much more pressing engagement and so, with a last glance in Hoss and Adam\u2019s direction, he grabbed hold of Mandy\u2019s hand and slipped out of the door and into the night.<\/p>\n

The Mouse sisters were on a roll.\u00a0 Now that they believed that the interest they showed in the Cartwright brothers\u2019 was reciprocated, they had no misgivings about letting the boys know their own feelings.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, we really were made for each other,\u201d Mildred said to Hoss, linking her arm through his, \u201cwe complement each other perfectly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Ma\u2019am\u201d Hoss replied dismally, at a total loss for something else to say.<\/p>\n

Jemima was also being just as \u2018coy\u2019 with Adam.\u00a0 \u201cI always knew you were a man of intelligence\u201d she said smugly \u201cand those girls you\u2019ve been hanging around with couldn\u2019t hold the attention of a man like you for very long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss were too much in shock to resist their advances and, less than five minutes later, found themselves in a vice like grip and whisked onto the dance floor.\u00a0 Now Hoss was not known for his dancing expertise, in fact many a girl over the last few years had left the dance floor limping when she had been perfectly all right on entering.\u00a0 But it was a different scenario with Mildred; it was not so much \u2018mouse\u2019 that came to mind as \u2018mountain\u2019.\u00a0 Hoss cried out to no avail, again and again, as his poor feet were trodden on and his shins kicked.\u00a0 As for Adam, he had never before been held so closely and, if Jemima had been taller, she may have registered the look of absolute disbelief on his handsome face.<\/p>\n

The women danced the brothers round the room several times for a very good reason; they were anxious to make every other woman in the room aware that Hoss and Adam were now wearing their brand.\u00a0 Only when Mildred and Jemima thought that the message had been received loud and clear did they make their way from the dance floor. \u00a0Linking their arms through that of their \u2018beaus\u2019, the women proudly escorted the Cartwrights to a nearby table to sit down, much to the amusement of the patrons of the dance hall.<\/p>\n

Taking the opportunity when released from Jemima\u2019s clutches, Adam rose quickly to his feet, \u2018I\u2019ll get us some punch\u2019 he volunteered.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam, let me\u201d Jemima quickly intervened.\u00a0 \u201cYou stay and talk to Mildred and Hoss.\u201d\u00a0 And with that Adam found himself almost manhandled back into his seat.<\/p>\n

While she was away Adam frantically scanned the room for his youngest brother; Joe was probably their only means of escape.\u00a0 But Joe was nowhere to be seen.\u00a0 Turning to Mildred he apologised \u201cI\u2019m sorry Mildred, but I\u2019m going to have to leave you.\u00a0 Hoss and I need to keep an eye on Little Joe, you know what he\u2019s like for getting into trouble and I can\u2019t lay my eyes on him anywhere.\u201d\u00a0 Adam made to rise, but found a heavy hand on his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you worry any about young Joseph; he\u2019s over there talking to the little Mason girl.\u00a0 They aren\u2019t doing any harm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t have time to reply or even give it another thought, before Jemima was once more pressed up against him so hard that he was afraid to breath.\u00a0 Her ample bosom was pushing into him and he feared that if he as much as moved a muscle, he may be accused of touching her inappropriately and so he sat ramrod straight, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular and his hands clasped tightly in his lap.<\/p>\n

Hoss glanced over at Adam in desperation; surely his oldest, smartest brother could find a way out of this situation.\u00a0 But Hoss didn\u2019t like what he saw.\u00a0 The desperate look in his own blue eyes was reflected back at him from Adam\u2019s dark orbs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell how about Sunday then?\u201d\u00a0 Jemima was saying.<\/p>\n

Tearing his eyes away from Hoss, Adam asked.\u00a0 \u201cWhat about Sunday?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe picnic of course\u201d Mildred and Jemima chorused together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat picnic?\u201d\u00a0 Adam asked, still finding it hard to breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe picnic after church on Sunday\u201d Mildred explained as if speaking to a small child.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u201d Jemima piped in.\u00a0 \u201cIf you boys take the buggy we can travel to the picnic together after church.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam quickly found his voice.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m real sorry ladies, but Hoss and I are travelling to Placerville on Sunday?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we Adam?\u201d Hoss asked in puzzlement screwing up his face, before the kick to his shins revived his memory.\u00a0 \u201cOh, that\u2019s right, Placerville, Sunday, mustn\u2019t forget that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh that is a shame,\u201d Jemima said, before slyly adding, \u201cWhen I think of all the trouble Mildred has gone to.\u00a0 She\u2019s been baking pies and cakes all week in preparation, it would be a shame for it to go to waste.\u00a0 Mildred\u2019s apple pie is to die for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam gave a worried look in Hoss\u2019s direction.\u00a0 If there was one way to sway his largest brother it was through his stomach.\u00a0 Hoss licked his lips and closed his eyes as he conjured up the feast, but when he opened them again and was faced with the sight of Mildred before him, his appetite quickly diminished and he shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cReal sorry ladies, but our Pa won\u2019t be too happy if we don\u2019t complete our business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss crossed his fingers and prayed that God would understand the \u2018white lie\u2019 he had just told.\u00a0 After all hadn\u2019t he been taught as a child that sometimes it was kinder to tell a lie than to hurt someone\u2019s feelings?<\/p>\n

Adam slowly let out the breath he was holding.\u00a0 Hoss had just had a lucky escape.\u00a0 If he had succumbed to the temptation, Adam would have felt it necessary to make sure his brother literally did \u2018die\u2019 for Mildred\u2019s apple pie.<\/p>\n

The dance was almost finished and Little Joe and Mandy had just made it back into the hall in time.\u00a0 Straightening his shirt and refastening his string tie, Joe looked round the room for his brothers, his eyes twinkling when he noticed them still in the clutches of the Mouse sisters.\u00a0 Due to his ingenuity, he and Mandy had been able to share a passionate embrace in the barn, out of sight of everyone, and the flush on both of their cheeks would have given the game away if there had been anyone interested in them enough to take notice.<\/p>\n

As Joe and Mandy pulled the last of the straw strands from their hair, a very subdued Hoss and Adam, with Mildred and Jemima in tow, made their way to the exit.\u00a0 Once outside Joe gave Hoss a look of mock concern,<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you all right Hoss?\u201d You look a little peaky.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust fine little brother\u201d Hoss replied, giving Joe a sickly smile that almost turned into a grimace.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need to walk us home boys,\u201d Jemima chirped in.\u00a0 \u201cPa will be waiting with the buggy, so we might as well say out goodbyes here.\u201d<\/p>\n

What happened next almost made Adam faint on the spot.\u00a0 Jemima puckered up her lips and lunged towards him.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s right hand instinctively reached down and felt for his gun \u2013 that\u2019s what he always did when he felt his life was threatened; and at this precise moment that threat seemed very real.\u00a0 Screwing up his eyes in horror he thought, not for the first time that evening, how he would rather face a herd of stampeding cattle than a kiss from Jemima Mouse.<\/p>\n

Jemima\u2019s lips closed over that of Adam\u2019s and she held on for dear life.\u00a0 Adam was almost choking for breath before she finally pulled away and he had to physically stop himself from gagging as he tried not to automatically wipe his hand over his bruised lips.<\/p>\n

Hoss had also been subjected to the same fate and when Mildred finally unlatched her mouth from his, he just stood there like a statue unable to move.\u00a0 It was only when he felt his eldest brother\u2019s sympathetic arm over his shoulder that he came out of his trance like state and looked about in bewilderment.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go home Hoss,\u201d Adam said simply, drained of all emotion.<\/p>\n

The brothers\u2019 looked towards Joe and under their scrutiny he gave Mandy a very chaste kiss on the cheek before handing her over to her eldest brother, who had arrived to escort her home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for a wonderful evening\u201d Mandy whispered; the mischief on her face, mirrored back at her via Joe\u2019s expressive eyes.<\/p>\n

On the ride home Adam and Hoss tried to analyse what had gotten into the Mouse sisters.\u00a0 Why on earth would they suddenly think that the Cartwright brothers were interested in them?<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head \u201cWell I don\u2019t know about you Hoss, but I\u2019m not going anywhere near town until those two \u2018ladies\u2019 have got the idea fixed firmly in their heads that we are not interested in them now and never will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m with you there big brother\u201d Hoss replied, \u201cthat Mildred makes Bessie Sue look positively fragile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shivered at the thought, even though the night air was warm.\u00a0 He wished again for the hundredth time he had stayed home that evening, sprawled out in his favourite blue chair, with a good book, and a glass of brandy in his hand.<\/p>\n

Joe surveyed his brothers with glee and couldn\u2019t help adding his own few words of wisdom. \u201cYou know guys I\u2019m really pleased you won\u2019t be getting together with the Mouse sisters.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think Pa would have approved either.\u00a0 Cause just think! \u00a0The way those things breed, before you know it the whole Ponderosa would be overrun with little mice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ducking the arms that swung in his direction, Joe spurred his horse into a gallop and rode off into the night, his high-pitched giggle filling the air.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Monday After the Dance<\/em><\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s legs went out from under him and he descended into the cold water once again.\u00a0 This time he was half expecting it, but that didn\u2019t mean he liked it any more than the previous times.<\/p>\n

As he spluttered to the surface and wiped the water from his face he was met with two very angry pair of eyes, one pair blue and one pair brown.\u00a0 Getting to his feet Joe kept his head down, not wanting to incur their wrath any more than necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy I don\u2019t just hold your head under the water, I really don\u2019t know, cause believe me little brother you certainly deserve it?\u201d\u00a0 Adam admonished.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I have half a mind to do it anyway,\u201d Hoss said through gritted teeth, stepping towards his youngest brother.<\/p>\n

Joe stepped back in fright, missed his footing and slipped back into the water with a splash.\u00a0 The elder brothers\u2019 laughed loudly at his plight and with arms around each other\u2019s shoulders they headed back towards the house.<\/p>\n

Finally righting himself and stepping out of the water, Joe glared at their retreating backs.\u00a0 Not bothering to turn round and look at him, Adam called over his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know Joe, I\u2019m beginning to think Pa had that horse trough put there just for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe childishly poked out his tongue as his brothers walked away, the distance between them making him feel safe enough to do so.<\/p>\n

With all the commotion Ben could ignore the rumpus no longer and with pen still in hand he strode outside into the yard. \u00a0He gave a cursory glance at Adam and Hoss before fixing his attention on Joe, who was now sitting on the ground emptying the water from his boots.<\/p>\n

\u201cWHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON OUT HERE?\u201d he bellowed.<\/p>\n

Hoss looked to Adam to give the explanation; he knew Ben would not approve of them ganging up on the youngest and smallest in the family.\u00a0 As Adam contemplated just how much of the story he would tell his father, without causing himself too much embarrassment, a voice piped up in the background.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh don\u2019t worry Pa, there\u2019s nothing much to tell.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Then when all eyes were focused on him, Joe gleefully added his punch line \u201cAdam and Hoss just got themselves caught in a Mouse trap that\u2019s all!!\u201d<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 Adam and Hoss find themselves in a tricky situation.\u00a0 Who can be to blame?\u00a0 Watch out, Joe! \u00a0<\/p>\n

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