Summary:\u00a0 A game of Hide and Seek between Hoss and Little Joe takes an unexpected turn.
\nRating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 5,600 words<\/p>\n
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Ben stretched his feet up under his desk and felt them kick something soft. \u201cOw!\u201d He bent down and looked under the table to see Little Joe staring back up at him accusingly. \u201cYa kicked me Pa!\u201d he said, glaring at his father.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben reached down and pulled the little boy out from under the desk. \u201cWell, what are you doing down there?\u201d he asked testily. All day long the child had been under his feet and he was heartily sick of it. He knew that Little Joe was bored when his brothers weren\u2019t at home, but there were some days when, even though he loved the child dearly, Ben would have given anything for him to have someone to play with to keep him out of his hair. Today was one of those days.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was just seeing if I could fit,\u201d said Joe easily as he father deposited him on his feet. He rested his small arms on the edge of his father\u2019s desk and looked at the paper spread over it. \u201cWhatcha doing Pa?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWork,\u201d said his father, picking up his pen again and trying to focus on where he\u2019d left off with the accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat kinda work?\u201d asked Joe, standing on his tiptoes to try and see what his father was writing. When Ben didn\u2019t answer, he nodded his head. \u201cNumbers,\u201d he said knowingly. \u201cI can do numbers now Pa. I\u2019ve been practising like what Adam taught me.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded absently. \u201cGood,\u201d he said, trying to add up some figures in his head.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a five and that\u2019s \u2026 I think that\u2019s a seven. Is that one a seven Pa?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded again. \u201cUh huh,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that one Pa?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed, then looked at his son. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go and play something?\u201d he asked, trying to sound patient.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head and gave his father a miserable look. \u201cAin\u2019t got nuthin ta play,\u201d he said. \u201cI done played by myself all day and there\u2019s nuthin left ta do.\u201d His eyes lit up suddenly. \u201cI can go outside and check on the horses for ya Pa iffen ya\u2019d like me to,\u201d he suggested.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he said firmly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe started to trace a line across the desk with his forefinger. \u201cWell, what can I do?\u201d he whined.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlay with your soldiers,\u201d suggested Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shook his head before placing his chin on his forearms as he rested them on the desk. \u201cI done that,\u201d he said miserably. His head came up suddenly and his eyes lit up. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we play hide and seek Pa?\u201d he suggested. \u201cI could hide and you could come look for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben opened his mouth to reply, when suddenly he heard a noise in the yard outside. \u201cI think that might be your brother home from school,\u201d he said, trying to keep the relief out of his voice. \u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019ll play with you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes brightened immediately and he ran to the front door and swung it open, letting it hit the wall behind it with a crash. \u201cYep!\u201d he shouted. \u201cIt\u2019s Hoss all right Pa!\u201d He was about to run through the open doorway when Ben shouted to him.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou stay right where you are, young man,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cWait until your brother tends to his horse and then comes in.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe spent the next ten minutes hopping from one foot to the other in his impatience while he waited for Hoss to stable his horse. When finally Hoss did appear in the doorway, he greeted him with his hands on his hips and an accusing look on his face. \u201cWhy\u2019d ya take so long?\u201d he asked. \u201cI\u2019ve been waiting for ya Hoss.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss grinned at his little brother. \u201cI was putting up my horse,\u201d he said, not seeming to mind the tone of his little brother\u2019s voice. Hoss adored Joe and took of lot of nonsense from him at the best of times. He grinned at his father in the easy-going way that he had. \u201cHi Pa!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben returned the look. \u201cAfternoon son,\u201d he said. \u201cHow was school?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shrugged, thereby avoiding the need to reply to a question that he dreaded, for school was not his favourite place. \u201cBoy, am I hungry!\u201d he said, turning towards the kitchen. \u201cI\u2019m gonna see what Hop Sing done baked today.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d said Little Joe crossly. \u201cNow you\u2019re home ya gotta play with me Hoss!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss laughed and ruffled his little brother\u2019s curly hair. \u201cAfter I done got me something ta eat, Joe,\u201d he said, heading out of the room. \u201cI\u2019m plumb starved!\u201d Joe glared after his brother and then ran after him. Ben shook his head and sighed as he got back to his work. He knew exactly what was going to happen in the kitchen. Joe would berate his brother for wasting time while Hoss was getting something to eat and Hoss would accept everything his little brother said with an easy smile. Within minutes Joe would have organised Hoss into playing exactly what he wanted him to. That youngest son of his had such a way of persuading people to do what he wanted \u2026 including his father at times \u2026. and Ben didn\u2019t know exactly where he got it from. Whatever his charm, his brothers \u2026 Hoss in particular \u2026 usually did exactly what he wanted.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n True to form, the two of them were back within minutes, Hoss munching on a few cookies and Joe smiling from ear to ear. \u201cWe\u2019s gonna play hide and seek Pa,\u201d announced Joe happily. \u201cCan I go outside now with Hoss?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d said his father, relieved to get rid of the child for a while. \u201cMind that you both stay in the yard though, Hoss.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure Pa,\u201d replied Hoss, putting another cookie in his mouth. \u201cI\u2019ll do my chores after a bit.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMind that you do,\u201d said Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m gonna be the one ta hide,\u201d announced Joe to his brother. \u201cIt\u2019s better iffen I do cause I\u2019m littler than you and I can hide more places.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOK Joe,\u201d said Hoss easily, following his brother through the front doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you gotta count slow so I get lots of time ta find a spot,\u201d instructed Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOK Joe,\u201d said Hoss.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd no peeking!\u201d finished his little brother sternly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOK,\u201d said Hoss. He sat down on top of a tree stump and faced the wall as he began to count aloud through his chewing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMake sure ya go to a whole hundred!\u201d shouted Little Joe over his shoulder as he headed for the barn.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSeven, eight, nine, \u2026 OK \u2026 ten, eleven \u2026\u201d shouted back Hoss. He took another bit of a cookie and began to swing his legs as he continued to count.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe headed inside the barn and looked around. He frowned as he considered where to hide for a moment and then his eyes lit up. He giggled gleefully as he headed through the doorway that led into the tack room and ran straight over to a cupboard that was in the corner. Normally it held bits and pieces of leather, bridles and such, but lately Adam had cleaned it out and a lot of things were strewn around the floor around it until he had the time to finish the job. Joe opened the bottom door and got inside, crouching into the small space happily. He always enjoyed getting into small spaces for some reason and this one was just the right size for him. He giggled happily as he waited for his brother to find him.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meanwhile outside, Hoss was patiently still counting. He turned slightly as he heard Adam ride into the yard and grinned at him. \u201cThirty-four, thirty-five \u2026. Hi Adam! \u2026.. thirty-six \u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHi,\u201d said Adam, dismounting from his horse. \u201cWhat are you counting for?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cForty-two, forty-three \u2026 hide and seek with Joe \u2026. Forty-four \u2026.\u201d Hoss replied.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave a lop-sided grin. \u201cAnd let me guess \u2026. Little brother got first chance to hide, didn\u2019t he?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded. \u201cYup \u2026. Forty-eight, forty-nine \u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFigures,\u201d muttered Adam, shaking his head as he walked his horse into the barn. He unsaddled his horse and rubbed him down, before going into the tack-room and beginning to pick up all the things that he\u2019d scattered around the floor and piling them on top of and next to the cupboard.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Inside the cupboard, Little Joe listened to his brother working and put his hand over his mouth as he tried to stop himself from giggling. He found it very funny that Adam was so close to him and yet had no idea that he was inside the cupboard. He heard the sound of various pieces of tack being put up on top of the cupboard and even felt the cupboard move slightly as Adam piled a stack of equipment next to and in front of it for further sorting out later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After a few minutes the noises stopped and Joe opened the cupboard door slightly and peered outside. Adam was gone, having shut the door behind him. Joe grinned mischievously and shut the door again, waiting patiently for Hoss to come and find him.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNinety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, one hundred!\u201d shouted Hoss, finally turning around and getting up from the tree stump. He glanced at Adam who was coming out of the barn. \u201cHey Adam! Have ya seen where Joe went?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Adam. \u201cAnd even if I had, I wouldn\u2019t tell you. You\u2019re supposed to find him \u2026 isn\u2019t that the point of the game?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d grinned Hoss and ran around the back of the barn.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam grinned and went inside. \u201cHi Pa,\u201d he said, taking off his hat and coat. \u201cI\u2019m back.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow did it go son?\u201d asked Ben, looking up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam came over and sat on the edge of his father\u2019s desk. \u201cOK,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got most of the strays in the South East pasture now. I left Charlie out there to finish up.\u201d He glanced at his father\u2019s desk. \u201cYou look as if you\u2019ve still got a lot to do. Need some help?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cI\u2019d love some help, thank you. I didn\u2019t seem to get too far with all of this today.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d asked Adam sympathetically.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cJoe,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam grinned. \u201cWell, with any luck Hoss won\u2019t be able to find him for ages. That should give you plenty of time to get this done. Here \u2026 I\u2019ll read the invoices out for you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Father and son worked solidly for the next hour, going through all the invoices that were spread over Ben\u2019s desk and entering figures into the accounts ledger. By the time they\u2019d finished, they were both tired and stood up to stretch. Ben glanced out of the study window. \u201cI\u2019d better go and get Hoss onto his chores before it gets dark,\u201d he said. \u201cThank you for helping, Adam.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s OK,\u201d said Adam. \u201cI\u2019ll go and see what Hop Sing is cooking up for supper.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben strolled outside and looked around. \u201cHoss!\u201d he called. \u201cJoe!\u201d There was no answer, so he tried again. \u201cBoys! Come on out now please!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss appeared from inside the barn. \u201cI can\u2019t find Joe, Pa!\u201d he called out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow many times has he hidden from you?\u201d asked Ben, walking over and stroking Buck\u2019s nose as he whinnied in the corral.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJest once,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cHe sure is hidden real good this time. I\u2019ve looked everywhere there is and he ain\u2019t there.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cObviously not everywhere then,\u201d replied his father, ruffling his son\u2019s hair affectionately. \u201cYou go and get started on your chores now, Hoss. I\u2019ll call for Joe.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss gave his father an anxious look. \u201cYa sure Pa?\u201d he asked. \u201cHe won\u2019t come iffen he thinks he\u2019s gonna lose the game.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben raised an eyebrow. \u201cHe\u2019ll come all right or he\u2019ll have the seat of his trousers warmed,\u201d he said. \u201cNow go and get those chores done.\u201d Hoss shrugged and made his way over to the woodpile. Ben looked around. \u201cJoe!\u201d he called loudly. \u201cTime to come out now son!\u201d There was no reply, so he tried again. \u201cJoseph! Come out immediately please!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meanwhile in the cupboard, Little Joe had become tired of waiting for Hoss. At first it had been a lot of fun thinking about his brother searching everywhere for him, but after a while he had become bored and wished that Hoss would hurry up and find him. \u201cCome on Hoss,\u201d he said out loud. \u201cHurry up, will ya?\u201d When no one heeded his plea, he simply put his thumb in his mouth and sucked on it while he shut his eyes and promptly fell asleep.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d shouted Ben again, getting angry with his youngest son. \u201cI said to come out please! You\u2019ll make me cross if you don\u2019t show yourself this very minute!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sauntered out of the kitchen and sat down on the tree stump next to where Hoss was splitting kindling. \u201cJoe still hiding?\u201d he asked as he chewed on an apple.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben frowned. \u201cHe certainly is,\u201d he said crossly. \u201cI\u2019ll warm that young man\u2019s trousers for him if he\u2019s not careful. Go and see if he\u2019s in the barn please Adam, while I search around the back of the house.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI done looked in all them places,\u201d said Hoss, picking up another piece of wood. \u201cHe ain\u2019t there.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell we\u2019re going to look in them again,\u201d replied his father crossly. \u201cFinish your chores!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss made a face at Adam and shrugged. \u201cYes sir,\u201d he said meekly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam made a face back at Hoss and went into the barn. \u201cJoe!\u201d he shouted. \u201cHey! Little Joe! Are you in here?\u201d He checked in all the stalls and then behind the piles of hay in the back before climbing up into the loft and checking out every corner up there as well. Satisfied that his little brother wasn\u2019t around, he then came back outside. \u201cHe\u2019s not anywhere in there,\u201d he said to his father as Ben came back around the side of the house.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell he\u2019s not out back either,\u201d said Ben crossly. \u201cHoss, where else did you look?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEverywhere I could think of Pa,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cIn the tack room, the tool shed, round the corral. Everywhere.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow about the bunkhouse?\u201d suggested Adam. \u201cHe could have snuck in there.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe knows he\u2019s not allowed in there,\u201d replied his father tersely. He thought for a moment. \u201cStill \u2026 you never know. I\u2019ll go and check it out. Adam \u2026 you go and check out the tool shed. Hoss, you check out the tack room again.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss put down his axe. \u201cBut Pa, you told me ta do my chores now!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gave his son a steely look. \u201cGo and check the tack room,\u201d he said. \u201cNow!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes sir,\u201d muttered Hoss and gave Adam another resigned look. He went into the tack room and looked around as he had before. All the equipment that Adam had piled up was in one corner near a cupboard from when he\u2019d worked on it the other day, so he didn\u2019t bother to even look in that corner. He had just begun to search the shelves when a voice behind him made him start.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t find him on a shelf, for heaven\u2019s sake!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss turned to see Adam standing behind him. \u201cWell I don\u2019t know where else ta look,\u201d he said testily. \u201cHe sure ain\u2019t nowheres here. How bout the tool shed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cNope. That kid \u2026 always causing trouble.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss immediately looked defensive. \u201cJoe don\u2019t cause trouble,\u201d he said. \u201cWell \u2026. Not much,\u201d he added as he thought about all the times his little brother had done just that.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell if he isn\u2019t in here, then he isn\u2019t in here,\u201d said Adam with a strange logic. \u201cLet\u2019s go see if Pa\u2019s had any luck. I sure wouldn\u2019t want to be Joe when he finds him.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeither would I,\u201d declared Hoss as they left the tack room.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben knocked on the door to the bunkhouse. Even though he technically owned the building, he would never have dreamed of disturbing the men\u2019s privacy by barging straight in there. He always figured that the hired hands needed one place on the ranch where they could get away from the boss and the bunkhouse was it. He had always impressed upon his boys that they were never to go inside unless they were invited to. This was for two reasons. The first was the privacy issue of course, but the second was that he could never be sure just how much swearing, drinking and gambling went on in there and he preferred the boys not to be exposed to it. As he waited for someone to open the door, he clenched his jaw as he thought about what he\u2019d do to that youngster of his if indeed Little Joe had found his way inside.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The door was opened by Charlie, the Ponderosa foreman. \u201cBoss,\u201d he said, obviously surprised to see Ben. \u201cCan I help ya?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI hope so Charlie,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI\u2019m looking for something that might have found its way in here.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Charlie opened the door wider. \u201cWell, come in and see,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat is it exactly you\u2019re looking fer boss?\u201d he asked as Ben entered the room and looked around.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEvening,\u201d said Ben, nodding his head in the direction of several ranch hands who stared back at him in surprise. \u201cI was looking for Joe,\u201d he said to Charlie.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d asked Charlie, looking at Ben blankly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes \u2026. Joe,\u201d repeated Ben after a moment. \u201cLittle Joe? My youngest son?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d said Charlie, trying not to look confused. \u201cThe little tyke. What makes ya think he\u2019s in here, boss?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s \u2026 sort of \u2026 missing at the moment,\u201d replied Ben, his eyes scanning the large room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMissing?\u201d repeated Charlie. \u201cWell I\u2019ll get the boys organised and we\u2019ll get saddled up ta look fer him! Don\u2019t ya worry boss \u2026 we\u2019ll \u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben put up his hand to stop the man. \u201cNo it\u2019s not like that Charlie,\u201d he said. \u201cHe won\u2019t have gone far. He\u2019s still close to the house \u2026. I\u2019m sure.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow did the little\u2019un come to be lost then?\u201d asked Charlie, looking concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlaying Hide and Seek,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cWell if you do see him, please let me know straight away.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh we\u2019ll be sure to,\u201d said Charlie, winking at the men, several of whom were grinning. \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t want him ta beat ya in the game, boss.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d said Ben, stopping in the doorway as he became of several twitters of laughter circulating around the room. \u201cOh no \u2026 it wasn\u2019t like that,\u201d he said, looking a little embarrassed. \u201cI wasn\u2019t playing with him.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure thing boss,\u201d said Charlie, winking at the men again and giving Ben a knowing grin. \u201cWhatever ya say.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo really,\u201d insisted Ben. \u201cHe was \u2026.\u201d He looked around at the sniggering men and shrugged. \u201cOh never mind,\u201d he finished as he walked outside again to the sound of their laughter.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s everyone laughing about?\u201d asked Hoss as he and Adam came up alongside their father.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNever you mind,\u201d said Ben. \u201cAny luck boys?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cNope,\u201d he said. \u201cCould he have gone into the house, do you think?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see how,\u201d replied his father. \u201cWe were in the study the whole time and would have seen him come in.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe could have gone in the back door though,\u201d insisted Adam.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s no fair!\u201d said Hoss angrily. \u201cHe ain\u2019t allowed in the house in hide and seek. That ain\u2019t playing fair!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Be gave his son a frustrated look. \u201cI\u2019m not really concerned at the moment with what\u2019s fair, young man. I\u2019m only interested in finding your brother.\u201d He bit his lip as he thought. \u201cYou could be right Adam. \u201cWe should check with Hop Sing. He might have seen him come in the back way.\u201d He led his two sons into the kitchen where Hop Sing was busy preparing supper.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The cook gave them all an angry look. \u201cWhat for you come in here?\u201d he asked. \u201cSupper not ready yet.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben ignored the question. \u201cHave you seen Joe?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course see little boy. Him come into kitchen with brother before.\u201d Hop Sing hit Hoss\u2019 hand with his wooden spoon to keep it away from the bread rolls on the bench.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2026 after that,\u201d said Ben said. \u201cDid he come back by himself later?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d said Hop Sing, giving Hoss another hit on the head with the spoon for good measure. \u201cHim no come back.\u201d\u00a0 He waved his hands around in frustration. \u201cEveryone leave kitchen chop chop! No supper if keep talking!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben rolled his eyes at Adam and motioned to both boys to follow him into the dining room. Hoss left the kitchen, rubbing his head with one hand and sucking on his other hand thoughtfully. \u201cDo ya reckon he done come inta the house the back way then Pa?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI suppose he could have,\u201d replied his father. He glanced out of the dining room window where the shadows were lengthening and shook his head slightly as he refused an anxious thought to invade it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss scowled and crossed his arms over his chest. \u201cWell that ain\u2019t fair then!\u201d he declared. \u201cI reckon I won the game iffen he done come inside again. He ain\u2019t supposed ta come \u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss go outside and finish your chores,\u201d interrupted his father.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you told me ta leave em before,\u201d said Hoss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell I\u2019m telling you to do them now,\u201d replied Ben shortly. \u201cGo!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss gave his father a frustrated look and went outside, shaking his head and muttering as he went about younger brothers who cheat at games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed and looked at his father. \u201cI guess we have to search the house now, don\u2019t we?\u201d he asked wearily.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he admitted. \u201cAnd there is going to be one sorry little boy when I find him in here, I can assure you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell at least we only have to look upstairs,\u201d said Adam. \u201cIf he\u2019d come into the living room or study we would have seen him \u2026 and he didn\u2019t go into the kitchen. He must be upstairs.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe could have gone into the cellar,\u201d said Ben thoughtfully. \u201cI\u2019ll look down there while you take the bedroom upstairs.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam grinned suddenly. \u201cThat\u2019s why you sent Hoss back outside, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d he chuckled. \u201cTo stop him going into the cellar?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben raised an eyebrow. \u201cI hadn\u2019t thought of that \u2026. But now that you mention it \u2026.\u201d He chuckled. Hoss\u2019 preoccupation with the cellar was well-known in the family. He loved to get down there to check out, and sometimes sample, all the tasty foodstuffs that Hop Sing stored there. In spite of the fact that Ben had banned him and Little Joe from going down there, Hop Sing was always having to chase them both out. Joe\u2019s fascination wasn\u2019t with the food so much, as being down there to explore and Ben knew that he wouldn\u2019t put it past the boy to have taken the opportunity to get down there now.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n