{"id":7174,"date":"2014-05-07T16:35:36","date_gmt":"2014-05-07T20:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7174"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:12:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:12:18","slug":"dont-let-him-kill-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7174","title":{"rendered":"Don&#8217;t Let Him Kill Us (by JoaniePaiute)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"label\" style=\"color: #000000;\">Summary:\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A comedic prequel featuring 5-year-old Little Joe and introducing Tommy Coffee, Roy&#8217;s 7-year-old son. Oh, Hoss&#8230;why did you take your eyes off those two? Poor Adam&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"label\" style=\"color: #000000;\">Rated:<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0K WC \u00a03400<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Don&#8217;t Let Him Kill Us<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"chapter\" style=\"color: #000000;\">\n<p>\u201cJoseph Francis Cartwright, when I catch up with you\u2026!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joe and Tommy skidded to a halt, staring wide-eyed at each other.Adam bellowed, even louder, \u201cAnd Tommy Coffee\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The boys took off.<\/p>\n<p>Two blocks away, Hoss heard Adam yelling and froze in his tracks.<\/p>\n<p><i>Oh, no.<\/i>\u00a0Why had he let Tommy take Joe down to the mercantile for a peppermint stick? What had made him think a seven-year-old could babysit a five-year-old, even for a few minutes?\u00a0<i>Oh, Lord. What have those two done now?<\/i><\/p>\n<p>Pa\u2019s parting words rang in his ears. \u201cDo you really think you can handle this young whippersnapper?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSure, Pa. He\u2019ll be good, won\u2019t you, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSure I will.\u201d Joe had bounced from foot to foot.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell\u2026\u201d Pa had said reluctantly, glancing at Sheriff Coffee. \u201cAll right. We won\u2019t be long, boys\u2014a few hours at most.\u201d He had looked ominously at Joe. \u201cYou do what Hoss tells you.\u201d And then to Hoss, \u201cYou look out for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><i>Oh, no.<\/i>\u00a0He quickened his steps, running toward Adam\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n<p>Rounding the corner, Joe smacked into him, bounced off, and tried to bolt away. Hoss grabbed him by the collar. Tommy came flying around the corner, too, and Hoss wrapped his meaty hand around the little boy\u2019s arm. Tommy struggled briefly, but when he realized who was holding him, he stopped.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHoss,\u201d Tommy gasped. \u201cDon\u2019t let him kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlease, Hoss,\u201d Joe squeaked out, his eyes round with terror. \u201cDon\u2019t let him kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hoss took a deep breath. \u201cAin\u2019t nobody gonna kill you.\u201d He thought a second. \u201c\u2019Cept maybe Pa, depending on what you\u2019ve done.\u201d Joe hung his head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou ain\u2019t gonna tell my pa, are you?\u201d Tommy asked, voice trembling.<\/p>\n<p>Hoss ignored the question. Adam was still yelling, and Hoss wondered why he wasn\u2019t coming down the street after the boys. \u201cWhere\u2019s Adam?\u201d he demanded. Joe and Tommy eyed each other. Hoss shook them, just a little, but with enough emphasis to get their attention. \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joe hesitated. \u201cHe\u2019s\u2026he\u2019s at the International House.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s he doing there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSittin\u2019 on the porch,\u201d Joe said, glancing uneasily at Tommy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d Tommy said. \u201cI think\u2026well\u2026I think he\u2019ll be there a while.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hoss narrowed his eyes. \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he said, marching the boys toward the hotel.<\/p>\n<p>Sure enough, there was Adam, perched in a rocking chair with murder in his eye. Double murder, as a matter of fact. Joe and Tommy shrank back, and Hoss tightened his grip. Why was Adam just sitting there?<\/p>\n<p>When he reached the steps, he saw why. Adam was sitting with his right arm on the porch rail. One ring of a metal handcuff was wrapped around his wrist, and the other was fastened firmly to one of the small posts beneath the rail. And what was that on his nose? It looked like paint. Green paint. It was on his fingers, too.<\/p>\n<p>Hoss, secure in the knowledge that Adam couldn\u2019t reach him, laughed so hard he had to sit down on the top step. He laughed so hard his stomach hurt. Getting a grip on himself, he wound down to chuckles\u2014and then he looked at Adam again and broke out in loud guffaws. When he finished, he had to wipe his eyes on his sleeve.<\/p>\n<p>He had long since let go of Tommy and Joe, but they hadn\u2019t run off. They were standing so close to Hoss he thought they might just melt into him, like butter on hot bread. Joe was staring at him with those calf-eyes of his, and Tommy looked like he was going to faint any second.<\/p>\n<p>Adam had stopped yelling, but his eyes were, if anything, more dangerous than they\u2019d been when Hoss had arrived on the scene. Hoss knew his big brother hated being laughed at, but this was just too much! Unable to resist, Hoss put on his best innocent face and said, \u201cHey, big brother. Ain\u2019t you supposed to have tea with the Pendletons in half an hour?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adam gritted his teeth. \u201cYou know I am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joe, suddenly brave, snickered. \u201cAdam and Annabelle in a tree,\u201d he giggled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJoe,\u201d Hoss warned, but he was smiling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cK-i-s-s-i-n-g!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adam lunged forward, almost reaching his littlest brother. Startled, Joe jumped back. So did Tommy. Adam winced as the handcuff bit into his wrist, and for a second, Joe actually looked sorry.<\/p>\n<p>Not sorry enough for Adam, though. The vein in his temple pulsed rapidly, and he said between clenched teeth, \u201cWhen I get hold of you two, I am going to warm your backsides and then string you up for the crows.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Deciding this had gone far enough, Hoss said quickly, \u201cTommy, go get your pa\u2019s handcuff key.\u201d Tommy nodded and raced away like the devil himself was after him. Hoss pulled Joe to stand in front of him and looked him in the eye. Joe bit his lip.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOkay, Little Joe,\u201d Hoss said firmly. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joe took a deep breath. \u201cWe didn\u2019t go to do it, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNever mind that. Just tell me what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell\u2026\u201d Joe glanced nervously at Adam, who was crouching beside the post. \u201cYou know how Adam\u2019s been on my back all day?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adam protested, \u201cI have not!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, you have!\u201d Tears welled up in Joe\u2019s eyes. \u201cAlways orderin\u2019 me around. Tellin\u2019 me, be nice to Mrs. Hawkins when she give me a sloppy old kiss.\u201d He scrubbed his cheek with his palm, remembering. \u201cTellin\u2019 me, don\u2019t look in the saloon doors, when all I was gonna do was peek real quick-like. And\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJoe,\u201d Hoss interrupted. \u201cJust tell me what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joe scuffed his foot. \u201cWell, you know how Mr. Simpson is painting the mercantile porch?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah,\u201d Hoss said, glancing at Adam\u2019s nose. \u201cGreen, ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joe nodded. \u201cWell, I told Tommy how Adam\u2019s been riding me. And Tommy saw this bucket of green paint, and he had this great idea for a joke. We found this old tin cup out behind the mercantile, and we put some paint in it, and we come up here, and Adam was readin\u2019 his book, and he was kinda dozin\u2019 off, and\u2026\u201d He moved closer to Hoss. \u201cWell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGo on, Joe.\u201d Hoss tried to make his voice reassuring.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, Tommy had this turkey feather he used for a brush, and he sorta painted Adam\u2019s fingers just a little\u2026\u201d Adam, his eyes going wide with horror, stared at his fingertips. Apparently this was the first he\u2019d known of the paint. Joe gulped. \u201cAnd then Tommy tickled his nose with the feather, and\u2026\u201d In spite of himself, he started to giggle.<\/p>\n<p>Hoss turned his face away from Adam, trying to choke back his own laughter at the image of his older brother scratching an itchy nose with a freshly painted finger. Encouraged, Joe continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd he didn\u2019t even wake up! So Tommy had these handcuffs, see\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now Hoss tried for severity. He narrowed his eyes at Joe and attempted to sound like Pa. \u201cAnd just what was Tommy doing with his pa\u2019s handcuffs?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joe shrugged. \u201cHow should I know, Hoss? Anyway, he had \u2019em, and\u2026\u201d He trailed off, but it didn\u2019t matter. Hoss could surmise the rest.<\/p>\n<p>So could Adam, apparently. With deadly, terrifying calm, he said, \u201cI am supposed to be at the Pendletons\u2019 in twenty minutes. Your little friend had better get back with that handcuff key fast. And when he does\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joe hugged Hoss around the neck. \u201cDon\u2019t let him kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Just then Tommy came into view, not running now, but trudging as if someone had dropped a twenty-pound sack of flour onto his shoulders. Hoss watched him.\u00a0<i>I got a bad feeling about this,<\/i>\u00a0he thought.<\/p>\n<p>Tommy stopped a good ten paces away and said something in a very small voice. Hoss motioned him forward. \u201cCome on, boy,\u201d he ordered. \u201cGet over here and say what you\u2019ve gotta say.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAdam can\u2019t reach us here,\u201d Joe put in helpfully, and Tommy dragged himself over to the steps.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2026\u201d he started, then looked at Adam and stopped.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou what?\u201d Hoss demanded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI couldn\u2019t\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou couldn\u2019t what?\u201d He knew what was coming.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI couldn\u2019t find\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adam\u2019s roar must have been heard all over Virginia City.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAdam Cartwright!\u201d came the proprietor\u2019s voice. Ewell Thatcher stepped out of the International House, glaring first at Adam, then at the other three boys. Quickly, Adam stood, keeping his chained wrist behind his back. \u201cKeep your voice down,\u201d Mr. Thatcher ordered sternly. \u201cThis is a respectable hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSorry, sir,\u201d Adam said tightly. \u201cMy brothers were just getting on my nerves.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Thatcher peered at him. \u201cWhat\u2019s that on your nose?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUm\u2026it must be grass, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, you should wipe it off. Now, I don\u2019t mind you reading on my porch. But you three\u2026\u201d He pointed at the others. \u201cPerhaps you should find something else to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes sir,\u201d Hoss said, ushering the two younger boys off the steps. Mr. Thatcher nodded curtly and went back inside. Adam whirled around.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve got fifteen minutes to be at the Pendeltons&#8217;!\u201d he hissed. \u201cHoss, you\u2019d better think of something if you want Joe to live till tomorrow!\u201d Joe pressed up against Hoss.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEasy, Adam,\u201d Hoss said, like he was talking to a skittish horse. Come to think of it, Adam did look like that wild stallion the hands had been trying to break yesterday, especially with those cords standing out in his neck. \u201cEasy,\u201d he said again. \u201cI\u2019ll go get Mr. Addison at the livery. He\u2019s bound to have a hacksaw or somethin\u2019. Come on, you two.\u201d Taking Joe and Tommy by the hands, he started off.<\/p>\n<p>Joe tugged at him to stop a second. \u201cAdam?\u201d he asked, looking back over his shoulder. \u201cHow come you didn\u2019t want Mr. Thatcher to know you\u2019re all cuffed up?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Adam&#8217;s jaw tightened, and Hoss answered for him. \u201c\u2019Cause he don\u2019t wanna get laughed at, that\u2019s why. Don\u2019t worry, Adam. We\u2019ll be back in a jiffy.\u201d He didn\u2019t start laughing again until they were out of earshot. Joe looked up at him, eyes hopeful.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou really think it\u2019s funny, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Hoss said, forcing his mouth into a straight line. \u201cYou did a bad thing, Little Joe. You too, Tommy.\u201d They looked so mournful he just had to add, \u201cWell, all right. It\u2019s a little funny.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tommy gave him a shaky smile. \u201cBut we\u2019re still in trouble, aren\u2019t we, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hoss squeezed his hand. \u201cI reckon so, Tommy. I reckon all three of us are in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou?\u201d Joe protested. \u201cYou didn\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat&#8217;s just it,\u201d Hoss said glumly. \u201cI was s\u2019posed to keep an eye on you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Five minutes later, sworn to secrecy, Ron Addison was sawing through the chain between the two cuffs. \u201cSoon as I get through this chain, I\u2019ll have to put a cloth between that ring and your wrist,\u201d he said as he worked. \u201cThen I can saw through the ring.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow long is this going to take?\u201d Adam demanded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA while.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><i>\u201cHow long?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t rightly know, Adam. I don\u2019t do this kind of thing every day, you know.\u201d The chain popped loose, and Adam flexed his arm. His eyes fell on Joe and seemed to turn a shade darker. Joe hid behind Hoss, where Tommy had already taken cover.<\/p>\n<p>Adam slid the handcuff ring up under his jacket sleeve. \u201cLater, Mike,\u201d he said grimly, not taking his eyes off Joe. \u201cRight now I\u2019m overdue for an appointment. Thanks for your help.\u201d He moved slowly down the steps, and Joe edged around to keep Hoss between them.<\/p>\n<p>Eyes narrowed to slits, Adam said to Joe, \u201cLater.\u201d And then he was gone.<\/p>\n<p>***Annabelle Pendleton rearranged her skirts on the settee and pouted. Where was that Adam Cartwright? She glanced nervously at her mother, who sat stiffly in the yellow upholstered chair. The best silver tea service was laid out, and the china cups had been placed just so. But the guest was nowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n<p>A knock at the door made her leap to her feet. \u201cAnnabelle,\u201d her mother chided, and she sat back down in a huff. Mrs. Pendleton gracefully made her way to the door and opened it for young Adam. Annabelle stared at him\u2014and not, for once, because he was so handsome. What was that on his nose?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m so sorry for being late,\u201d Adam was saying. \u201cYou see\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Annabelle stood. Unable to keep quiet any longer, she burst out, \u201cWhat on earth is on your nose?\u201d Her mother frowned at her.<\/p>\n<p>He looked confused, then panicky. \u201cOh, th-that,\u201d he stammered. \u201cIt\u2019s, uh, it\u2019s an old family custom. For St. Patrick\u2019s Day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mrs. Pendleton regarded him coolly. \u201cIsn\u2019t that in March?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, ma&#8217;am.\u201d He laughed, a bit too heartily. \u201cThis is for the\u00a0<i>other<\/i>\u00a0St. Patrick\u2019s Day. The one in September.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mrs. Pendleton\u2019s nose lifted slightly. \u201cI didn\u2019t realize your family has Irish blood.\u201d It was plain that this would not be in his favor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo. I mean, no ma\u2019am. My father has a friend who\u2019s Irish. A good friend. A very good friend.\u201d He stopped, flustered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell.\u201d Mrs. Pendleton pursed her lips. \u201cWon\u2019t you come in.\u201d It did not sound like a request, Annabelle thought gloomily. She had a fleeting vision of her hopes for this afternoon, all dashed like china teacups on the floor.<\/p>\n<p>She poured the tea, and was pleased to see that he balanced his saucer on his knee perfectly. But when he lifted his cup with both hands, she gave a teeny cough, hoping he\u2019d look at her. He did, and she crooked her little finger at him.\u00a0<i>Oh,<\/i>, he mouthed, hooking three fingers into the cup handle and extending his pinky. She rewarded him with a dazzling smile. He certainly did have potential.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, that green nose was awfully distracting.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLovely weather for September,\u201d her mother was saying.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, ma\u2019am. Lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Annabelle put in coyly, \u201cIt should be nice for the barn dance this weekend.\u201d Well aware of her forwardness, she chose to look at Adam and not at her mother.<\/p>\n<p>Adam smiled, showing his dimples, and Annabelle was grateful to be sitting instead of standing. That smile of his always made her feel light-headed. He set his cup down on the saucer\u2014and a circle of metal, with three links of a chain attached, emerged from his sleeve and clinked onto it as well.<\/p>\n<p>All three of them stared at his saucer. Or rather, at his wrist. Or rather, at what was around his wrist.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood heavens,\u201d Mrs. Pendleton murmured.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUm,\u201d said Adam. Annabelle glared at him, thinking,\u00a0<i>You\u2019d better do better than \u201cUm,\u201d and fast.<\/i>\u00a0Thank goodness, he took a deep breath and appeared to rally. \u201cThis is\u2026well, it\u2019s in honor of my father\u2019s friend,\u201d he said in a rush. The Irishman. You see, he was jailed for something he didn\u2019t do, and on St. Patrick\u2019s Day\u2014the one in September, of course\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course.\u201d Mrs. Pendleton\u2019s voice was a veritable icicle. They sat in silence as the temperature in the room dropped two degrees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI suppose I should be going,\u201d Adam finally said, placing his cup on the table and getting to his feet. His face was stony, and he averted his eyes. \u201cI\u2019m very sorry, Mrs. Pendleton, Annabelle.\u201d He turned to go, and Annabelle jumped up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll walk you out,\u201d she said impulsively, knowing her mother was trying to catch her eye and ignoring it. Adam, still not looking at her, held the door for her, and they stepped onto the porch.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, Adam,\u201d she said quickly, wanting to say this before her mother decided to follow them out, \u201cI think it\u2019s just grand, the way you and your family always defend the unfortunates. You\u2019re downright noble, that&#8217;s what you are.\u201d He stared at her, openmouthed, something she usually hated for a boy to do. In this case, however, it was adorable. She darted her eyes toward the door. No mother yet.<\/p>\n<p>The kiss she planted on his cheek was as quick as a cat, but not nearly as light.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll be waiting for you at the barn dance,\u201d she whispered and disappeared back into the house. Dumbfounded, Adam stood stroking his cheek. A slow smile crossed his face.<\/p>\n<p><i>Oh, Little Joe,<\/i>\u00a0he thought.\u00a0<i>Maybe I won\u2019t kill you after all.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>***\u201cWell, boys,\u201d Ben greeted them. He and Roy swung down from their mounts and looped their reins over the hitching post. \u201cDid you stay out of trouble while I was gone?\u201d He had meant the question rhetorically. But when no one answered, he turned slowly and fixed them one by one with a penetrating stare.<\/p>\n<p>Joe had apparently decided the toe of his boot was the most fascinating thing he\u2019d ever seen. Tommy Coffee looked like he was about to bolt down the street any second. Hoss had his thumbs hooked in his belt and was opening and closing his mouth like a landed trout.<\/p>\n<p>And Adam. Adam was rubbing his wrist, but his expression was both pleased and smug. Ben scrutinized his eldest son. His nose looked sunburned, but how could that be? It was a crisp fall day in Virginia City, not July on the Mojave. And what was that smell? He leaned forward, sniffing. Adam took a step back as Ben caught an unmistakable whiff of turpentine.<\/p>\n<p>Ben drew himself up, bracing himself for the worst. \u201cWell?\u201d he demanded. Beside him, Roy folded his arms.<\/p>\n<p>Adam nudged Joe, who gave a startled yip. \u201cSure, Pa,\u201d Adam said with a wry grin. \u201cWe stayed out of trouble. Didn\u2019t we, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Joe gaped at Adam for a moment, then nodded enthusiastically. Ben glanced at Roy, who looked as mystified as Ben felt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTommy?\u201d Roy asked. \u201cIs there somethin\u2019 I oughta know about?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, sir,\u201d Tommy answered, and Ben thought he\u2019d never heard a boy speak so quickly or so fervently.<\/p>\n<p>Fastening his eyes on his middle son, he prodded, \u201cHoss?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUh, yes sir. I mean, no sir. I mean, nobody\u2019s in trouble here.\u201d Hoss darted a cautious look at Adam, who gave him a broad wink, which prompted a broad, relieved smile from Hoss. \u201cNobody\u2019s in trouble here,\u201d he repeated happily.<\/p>\n<p>Down the street, Ron Adam appeared in the doorway of the livery stable. \u201cAdam!\u201d he called. He was waving something shiny. \u201cDid you want this? For a souvenir?\u201d Alarm leaped into Adam\u2019s eyes, and he bolted down the street toward Ron. Ben stared after him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s that all about?\u201d he asked Hoss.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCouldn\u2019t say, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ben furrowed his brow.\u00a0<i>That\u2019s not quite the same as \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d is it, son?<\/i>\u00a0he thought, and started to say as much. Roy\u2019s hand on his sleeve stopped him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCome on, Ben,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s take a load off in my office before you head home.\u201d Ben hesitated another minute, then followed Roy toward the jailhouse. After a few steps, he turned back around. Hoss, Joe, and Tommy hadn\u2019t budged.<\/p>\n<p>He raised a finger, then let it drop. \u201cBehave yourselves,\u201d he said uncertainly. They all nodded, Joe so hard his curls flapped.<\/p>\n<p>They stepped into the jailhouse, and Roy poured two mugs of coffee from the pot on the stove. It had been sitting there so long it practically oozed into the cup. He handed a mug to Ben, who accepted it reluctantly. Looking out the window, he saw that Adam had returned, and that all four boys had sat down on a bench. They looked positively limp.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat do you think they\u2019ve been up to?\u201d he asked Roy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBen Cartwright,\u201d Roy said evenly, \u201cdo you mean to tell me that with three boys, you haven\u2019t learned?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ben frowned, puzzled. \u201cLearned what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Roy sipped his coffee. He grinned and lifted his mug as if to toast his friend.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are some things,\u201d he said sagely, \u201ca father just doesn\u2019t want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>XXX<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"notes\" style=\"color: #000000;\">\n<div class=\"noteinfo\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"toplink\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_7174\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"7174\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif?resize=16%2C16&#038;ssl=1\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary:\u00a0A comedic prequel featuring 5-year-old Little Joe and introducing Tommy Coffee, Roy&#8217;s 7-year-old son. Oh, Hoss&#8230;why did you take your eyes off those two? Poor Adam&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Rated:\u00a0K WC \u00a03400<\/p>\n<p>Little Joe, Tommy, and Annabelle Series<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t Let Him Kill Us<br \/>\nWord of Honor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":1229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1009,23,4,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brothers","category-drama","category-humor","category-prequels","wpcat-1009-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-4-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1710,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":22994,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=22994","url_meta":{"origin":7174,"position":0},"title":"Jeremiah (by Hart4Ben)","author":"Hart4Ben","date":"June 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Hoss has an unusual gift for Little Joe. A prequel challenge piece. Rating: K WC: 510","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hoss \/ Joe&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hoss \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1092"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/bullfrog-2.jpg?fit=694%2C451&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/bullfrog-2.jpg?fit=694%2C451&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/bullfrog-2.jpg?fit=694%2C451&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3119,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3119","url_meta":{"origin":7174,"position":1},"title":"The Bully (by Fozrulz)","author":"Fozrulz","date":"April 23, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe and Ellie are beat up by a bully.\u00a0 What to do, what to do..... \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ (11,060 words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Alternate Universe&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3669,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3669","url_meta":{"origin":7174,"position":2},"title":"One Out Of Six (by Heike)","author":"heike","date":"April 26, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Little Joe and five of his school mates are playing a game that may come to a deadly end. \u00a0 Rating: \u00a0K+ \u00a0WC 850","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/guiltily-looking-little-boys.jpg?fit=400%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10357,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10357","url_meta":{"origin":7174,"position":3},"title":"Hide and Seek (by bahj)","author":"bahj","date":"September 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Be careful what games you play! Rated: Family Friendly \/ Word count: 1074","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ponderosapine.jpg?fit=270%2C404&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15653,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15653","url_meta":{"origin":7174,"position":4},"title":"From the Murky Depths (by Hart4Ben)","author":"Hart4Ben","date":"March 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0While Ben is away on business, Adam is in charge of his two younger brothers. Predominantly a prequel. Rating: K+\u00a0 Word Count: 1001","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Humor&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/steam.jpg?fit=306%2C202&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25624,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=25624","url_meta":{"origin":7174,"position":5},"title":"Christmas Spirit (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"December 25, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Little Joe learns something special about Christmas, with the help of his brothers. Rating: T, WC 947","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/St.-Nicholas.jpg?fit=600%2C539&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/St.-Nicholas.jpg?fit=600%2C539&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/St.-Nicholas.jpg?fit=600%2C539&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7174","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\/214"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7174"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7174\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}