{"id":7431,"date":"2014-05-08T11:04:24","date_gmt":"2014-05-08T15:04:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7431"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:12:14","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:12:14","slug":"fight-club","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7431","title":{"rendered":"Fight Club (by southplains)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>\u201cIf I\u2019ve told Joe once, I\u2019ve told him a thousand times to\u00a0keep those elbows in!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 We’ve all heard Adam utter those words while Joe is getting himself thoroughly beaten by Jean Millain in the “Julia Bulette” episode.\u00a0 This is the story behind that line.<\/p>\n

Key words: Julia, Bulette, fight, young, fighting, brother<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ \u00a0<\/span>WC 4200<\/p>\n

Fight Club<\/strong><\/p>\n

1852<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam examined Joe\u2019s left eye and winced.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIs it black?\u201d Joe asked him.<\/p>\n

\u201cA very deep purple, actually,\u201d Adam said. He cocked his head, appraising the damage more closely, and added, \u201cWith some dark blues thrown in. It\u2019ll look even better tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sighed. \u201cDon\u2019t tell Pa, Adam. He\u2019ll be mad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sighed too. Pa would find out about the fight the second he laid eyes on Joe\u2019s face. But Adam didn\u2019t bother to point that fact out to his brother. Instead he asked, \u201cWho was it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe scowled and jerked out of his grasp. \u201cNone of your business. Anyway, it don\u2019t matter none who it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chewing thoughtfully on his bottom lip, Adam eyed him. \u201cNo, I guess it doesn\u2019t. Want to tell me how he managed to get such a solid punch in?\u201d<\/p>\n

Staring at his boots as he kicked at the dirt, Joe shrugged. \u201cHe was bigger than me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most<\/em>\u00a0of the boys in school were bigger than Joe, but Adam did him the kindness of not mentioning that. Besides, Joe\u2019s smaller size had never stood in the way of him keeping pace, so chances were that it wasn\u2019t an issue now. Adam casually returned his attention to the saddle he had been polishing. \u201cDid you forget to weave in and out like Hoss and I showed you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe considered. \u201cNo, I did that real good. We went round and round for a good long while, and I kept weavin\u2019 in and out just like you and Hoss told me to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked up at him. \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s scowl vanished to be replaced by a huge grin. That grin never failed to startle Adam due to the fact that it so often came only seconds after a fit of bad temper; it was like watching the sun break through a thick brace of dark clouds after a bad storm. Always such a full smile, with nothing careful about it. It often managed, though, to be a huge source of annoyance to Adam, for it often made it too easy to forgive Joe even when he was clearly wrong. It worked on Pa. It worked on Hop Sing. It worked on Hoss. It worked on everybody, sometimes even Adam himself.<\/p>\n

This time, though, he didn\u2019t know whether to be annoyed because he didn\u2019t know whether Joe was wrong or not. He didn\u2019t know any of the details. And so far Joe hadn\u2019t seemed much inclined to give him any.<\/p>\n

So he asked again, \u201cAnd?\u201d He hoped the questioning wasn\u2019t going to take all day like it sometimes did. For a kid who wore his heart on his sleeve, Little Joe could be reluctant to come forth with the particulars involved in a situation like this.<\/p>\n

Not today, though, thank goodness. Today was one of those times when it took only a few gentle pokes before Joe gave a little sigh and then launched into the story. \u201cAnd Harvey kept swingin\u2019 and missin\u2019. And then he got really mad and swung so hard he fell. Right on his backside.\u201d Joe smiled bigger, obviously enjoying the memory.<\/p>\n

Adam wasn\u2019t distracted by his smile this time, for Joe had inadvertently handed him a clue regarding the culprit who had tried to rearrange Joe\u2019s face. Harvey. Adam only knew of one Harvey who was young enough to be in school.<\/p>\n

\u201cHarvey Middleton? Are you telling me Harvey Middleton did this to you?\u201d The wisps of anger Adam had felt when he\u2019d first seen Joe\u2019s black eye stirred to life again. Harvey Middleton was three years older than Joe and probably outweighed him by a hundred pounds.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s scowl returned. He clamped his mouth shut and looked disgusted. He hadn\u2019t meant to let that slip, Adam knew. But his reaction told Adam that he\u2019d been right; his opponent had indeed been the Middleton boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat started the fight?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s mouth crimped tighter.<\/p>\n

Adam shook his head. \u201cAll right, all right. So if you were ducking and weaving and it was working, how\u2019d you get hit so hard?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell…I got tickled when he spun around and fell like that. There he was, talking about other people bein\u2019 so clumsy…\u201d<\/p>\n

Ah, another unintentional clue. Harvey had been insulting someone, and it hadn\u2019t set well with Joe. It was doubtful it had been the boy himself whom Harvey had deemed clumsy. Joe was small, but the boy was exceptionally spry on his feet and anything but awkward in his movements. No, he\u2019d been angry on someone else\u2019s behalf. Adam was almost certain of it.<\/p>\n

But finding out exactly whose honor he had been defending could wait. Joe was involved with relating the story now, and all Adam needed to do was hold on for the ride.<\/p>\n

\u201c…and then he fell, and I swear, Adam, he looked just like a big ol\u2019 turtle on his back, heavin\u2019 around and tryin\u2019 to get up to come after me again.\u201d Joe sighed, and his smile faltered. \u201cI started laughin\u2019 so hard I guess I didn\u2019t see him comin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMmm. Not a good move on your part.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I shoulda backed further away before I started laughin\u2019, I guess,\u201d Joe said, his voice so rueful it made the corner of Adam\u2019s mouth twitch. He coughed to subdue the chuckle that threatened to rise from his throat, and tossed aside the cloth he\u2019d been using to clean the saddle. Standing, he moved to stand in front of Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cShow me how you did it,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow I did what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way you moved around before you got distracted and let Harvey hammer on you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe weavin\u2019 thing, you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, the weaving thing.\u201d Adam doubled up his fists and took on a fighter\u2019s stance. \u201cCome on. I\u2019ll try to hit you, and you concentrate on trying to make me miss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe grinned again, obviously enjoying the thought of an opportunity to show his oldest brother what he could do. He got into position, bouncing a little on his toes. \u201cOkay, Adam. You asked for it. Ready?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grinned back. \u201cReady.\u201d They circled one another, and Adam\u2019s left fist reached out to tap Joe on the shoulder\u2014a big-brother type of punch, hard enough to knock him off balance a little and maybe even hard enough to sting some, but not hard enough to really hurt him.<\/p>\n

Joe shook it off. Adam hit him again.<\/p>\n

\u201cOw!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou aren\u2019t paying attention. Come on, now. Focus. Pretend I\u2019m Harvey Middleton.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s young face set in frowning concentration. Adam swung again\u2014and this time he missed when Joe bobbed and slipped to the left. Another swing, and another miss. And yet another.<\/p>\n

Adam grinned his approval. The kid really was astonishingly fast. Too bad his concentration time hadn\u2019t lasted longer with Harvey Middleton.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, you\u2019ve got the ducking and weaving part down to a science, all right. When Harvey got the jump on you, did you swing back?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked insulted. \u201cOf course I did. Do you think I was just gonna stand there and let him pound on me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s brow rose. \u201cDid you actually\u00a0land<\/em>\u00a0any of those punches?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell…some of \u2018em.\u201d He gave a gloomy shake of his head. \u201cDidn\u2019t seem like he felt \u2018em much, though,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cI see.\u201d He cleared his throat and pushed his shirt sleeves up. \u201cAll right, let\u2019s go again. This time, I\u2019ll move around and you try to hit\u00a0me.<\/em>\u00a0Let me see what you\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a few wild swings from his little brother that did little more than slice through air, Adam called a halt. \u201cWhat we need to do is refine your technique.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe pursed his lips, considering. \u201cI don\u2019t know if my technique can be re-fined. I think it\u2019s about as fine as it\u2019s gonna get.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to learn how to jab.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe pushed his chin forward in stubborn denial. \u201cI already know how to jab.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen show me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe struck out with an enthusiastic punch, which Adam deftly blocked by catching Joe\u2019s wrist. Joe\u2019s face fell.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee?\u201d Adam said. \u201cThat\u2019s not a jab. It\u2019s too wide, too slow. Your opponent can see it coming. A jab is like this.\u201d Adam lashed out at the air with a movement that made Joe\u2019s eyes widen in awed approval.<\/p>\n

\u201cGee, you\u2019re right. That\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0faster,\u201d he said, and tried another punch, which Adam again easily stopped.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not just faster. When you jab at your opponent, you move your arm in a different way. Like this.\u201d He demonstrated. \u201cYou kind of wind it up a little, sort of like the spring under a buckboard seat. That way it has a little more snap by the time it reaches the other guy\u2019s chin.\u201d He moved around behind Joe and took the boy\u2019s fists in his own to guide them through the movements. \u201cStart with your lead hand, the one you\u2019re going to jab with, near your chin. As you shove your fist forward, rotate your body a little\u2014\u201d He dropped Joe\u2019s hands to turn him. \u201c\u2014like that. Gives the punch more power. Keep your elbows in, or you lay yourself wide open. And at the same time, you need to move your other fist into the guard position at your chin. Did you remember to guard your face when you were scrapping with Harvey?\u201d The scathing look Joe shot him from his blackened eye made him laugh. \u201cSorry. Guess not. Tell you what\u2014you work on that jab, and the guarding part. We\u2019ll work on other types of punches after you get that down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Intrigued interest lit Joe\u2019s face. \u201cThere are other kinds of punches?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but the jab is the most important. That\u2019s the one you\u2019ve gotta practice. It\u2019s the foundation of boxing. Trying to fight without it is like riding a saddle with no horse underneath\u2014you aren\u2019t going to get very far.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded, full of enthusiasm. \u201cI\u2019ll practice hard, Adam. I\u2019ll get this down, and then you can show me those other ways of punching.\u201d He began to dance around the barn, boots kicking up spurts of dust and hay as he threw his fists this way and that. Suddenly he halted directly in front of Adam. All signs of a smile were gone from the boy\u2019s face. \u201cHoss ain\u2019t clumsy. He\u2019s just so strong he don\u2019t always know to hold back, so sometimes he breaks things. Ol\u2019 Harvey Middleton is just too dumb to know the difference between strong and clumsy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ah, so that was it. The real reason behind the fight. Adam looked into his kid brother\u2019s eyes, wide with hopeful entreaty, and gave him the confirmation he needed. \u201cWe all know Hoss isn\u2019t clumsy,\u201d he said gently. \u201cBut you can\u2019t always make people see reason, Joe, and you can\u2019t always take the mean out of somebody, especially by using your fists. You know that, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe swallowed, and then nodded. \u201cI know. And Hoss wasn\u2019t even there to hear, so his feelin\u2019s didn\u2019t get hurt. But when Harvey started saying those things, somethin\u2019 inside me just got all burnin\u2019 hot and my breath started comin\u2019 all fast and everything, and the next thing I knew, I was throwin\u2019 punches. The wrong kind,\u201d he added glumly. \u201cThe kind that miss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam drew his bottom lip in between his teeth, debating as to what to say. He\u00a0wanted<\/em>\u00a0to tell Joe he was proud of him. He\u00a0wanted<\/em>\u00a0to say that he\u2019d done the right thing by taking up for Hoss. But the fact was that his kid brother had always had a temper, and now, even at ten years old, it was becoming a formidable thing. And that raging temper, so quick to appear and so explosive, made Adam uneasy; it was a trait that made Joe, already a reckless sort of kid, apt to get himself into scraps he wouldn\u2019t always be able to haul himself out of.<\/p>\n

So Adam did the best thing he could.<\/p>\n

He gently turned Joe around and nudged him forward. \u201cGo back to practicing, Joe. Keep working on those jabs. That\u2019s it. You\u2019re getting it. Keep those elbows in. That\u2019s it. Joe, elbows…elbows<\/em>, Joe!\u201d<\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

1857<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDang, what\u2019d they do to you, boy?\u201d Concern hoarsened Hoss\u2019s voice as he laid a gentle finger along the bruising on Joe\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n

Joe pulled away, irritation plain on his face. \u201cIt ain\u2019t all that bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat isn\u2019t all that bad?\u201d Adam asked as he came around a corner of the barn. \u201cHey, you two, I\u2019ve gotten a wagonload of fence posts still sitting here that need to be unloaded\u2014\u201d He stopped short as he got a look at Joe. White heat rose up inside him. His youngest brother had obviously been badly beaten. \u201cMy God, what happened?\u201d Adam nudged Hoss\u2019s fingers out of the way to investigate the damage himself, only to have his hand slapped away.<\/p>\n

\u201cMind your own business, both of you.\u201d Joe turned his back and, head held low, led Cochise into the barn.<\/p>\n

Hoss slid a dark glance toward Adam, then back toward the barn door where Joe had disappeared. \u201cLooks pretty bad, don\u2019t it? That eye will be off-color for weeks. As swollen as it is…well, he\u2019s lucky. I thought at first the jaw bone might be cracked, but he let me look long enough to decide it\u2019s still in one piece. His bloody nose I\u2019m still not too certain about.\u201d<\/p>\n

As hard as his teeth were clenched together, Adam thought his own jaw might be in danger of cracking. \u201cWho did it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked. He wouldn\u2019t say.\u201d Hoss\u2019s voice was tight with controlled anger.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he\u2019s\u00a0going<\/em>\u00a0to say,\u201d Adam snapped, and headed for the barn, Hoss on his heels.<\/p>\n

A half hour of cajoling and shouting, reasoning, and insults resulted in no further information from Joe. At last he effectively ended the conversation by stalking to the house, trying without success to hide a limp. His brothers followed him inside, only to watch him escape upstairs to his room, shutting his door behind him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind, Adam,\u201d Hoss said grimly. \u201cWhen Pa gets home you can bet your last dime he\u2019ll find out what happened. Then we can take care of it.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cThat was no little beatin\u2019 that kid took. Did you see the bruise peekin\u2019 out from the collar of his shirt? If I didn\u2019t know better, I\u2019d say it looks like a boot print.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw.\u201d Neither that mark nor any of the others marring Joe\u2019s face would escape Pa\u2019s notice, Adam thought. The boy would have to \u2018fess up, and it was for his own good. Whoever had been involved in this incident had gone too far.<\/p>\n

Hoss gazed up at the stairs with a thoughtful expression. \u201cBeen a good while since he\u2019s taken a bad lickin\u2019. I don\u2019t know as I\u2019ve ever seen him take one this bad. Hard to say if this was a fair fight in terms of numbers or size,\u201d he said, and his face hardened as he added, \u201c but I don\u2019t much cotton to a man who\u2019ll stomp on a fella\u2019s chest when he\u2019s down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPretty poor sign of character,\u201d Adam agreed, and then shook his head. \u201cHow does he get himself into these messes? He was just picking up a spool of wire from town. That\u2019s it. How can he continuously get involved in trouble with so little effort?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss frowned. \u201cLittle Joe sure enough has a penchant for flushin\u2019 out any scuffle within a twenty-mile radius and inserting himself smack dab in the middle of it, don\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

He sure did.<\/p>\n

Pa was just as adamant about finding out the specifics of the fight as Adam had expected he would be. After turning Joe\u2019s face this way and that and inspecting the bruises covering his face and body, Pa\u2019s concern and worry gained a hard edge. He demanded to know exactly what had happened, and even Joe\u2019s legendary hardheadedness couldn\u2019t hold up forever. At last he grudgingly admitted that a lady had been involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lady? All this\u2014\u201d Pa waved a hand in vague indication of Joe\u2019s darkening bruises and shiny swellings \u201c\u2013over a\u00a0girl?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Joe, sitting in his interrogation spot in the middle of the settee, stared sullenly at the floor while Pa rattled off all the ways he had erred. Finally Pa straightened and threw up his hands. \u201cI swear, Joseph, sometimes I don\u2019t know what to do about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Joe failed\u2014wisely, Adam thought\u2014to offer up any suggestions as to \u201cwhat to do about\u201d him, Pa sighed in angered frustration and sent him up to bed without supper. Hoss waited\u2014another wise move\u2014until Pa had gone to bed himself before sneaking a plate of leftovers up to Joe.<\/p>\n

Adam waited some time himself before slipping into Joe\u2019s room. One thing he had learned about his youngest brother\u2014keep asking questions and sooner or later everything would come spilling out. Often things he refused to tell Pa eventually came out when he was talking to his brothers. Sometimes it took awhile, but it almost always worked.<\/p>\n

Hoss was still in Joe\u2019s room, sitting on the side of the bed. He and Joe looked up at him, Joe\u2019s expression forlorn and Hoss\u2019s grim. Adam looked from one to the other and then back again, aware that something had transpired between them, but not sure what it was. Some part of the story had been told, certainly.<\/p>\n

Adam cleared his throat. \u201cEverything all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything\u2019s just fine. Joseph here is gonna finish drinkin\u2019 this glass of milk, and then he\u2019s gonna get some shuteye. He\u2019ll be feeling better in the mornin\u2019.\u201d He winked at his younger brother, but there was an edge of something in Hoss\u2019s expression that made Adam\u2019s gut clench.<\/p>\n

Once they were out in the hallway and pulling Joe\u2019s door shut behind them, Adam shot Hoss a questioning look, but Hoss shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go out to the barn. I don\u2019t want Joe overhearin\u2019 us. Pa neither. Not yet, anyway.\u201d Once out in the barn, Hoss told him how the boy had taken on a couple of miners.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemy Fulton and Pete Richmond? They\u2019re full grown men!\u201d Adam had barely gotten the enraged words past his lips before he was turning and grabbing up his saddle. Hoss\u2019s hand on his arm pulled him up short.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam . . . I don\u2019t think us goin\u2019 after those two is the answer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you telling me you think we should let two grown men beat up a fifteen-year-old kid?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. No, I ain\u2019t sayin\u2019 that. In fact, I\u2019m darn sure plannin\u2019 on ridin\u2019 in with you and moppin\u2019 the street with those two. If they got any brains left in their skulls when we get through with \u2018em, they ain\u2019t never gonna lay a hand on Joe again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine. So let\u2019s go.\u201d Again Adam turned toward Sport\u2019s stall, and again Hoss stopped him. Adam\u2019s brow rose. \u201cWhat?\u201d he snapped.<\/p>\n

Struggle showed itself in Hoss\u2019s expression. \u201cIt\u2019s what the fight was about,\u201d he said finally.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, heaven knows this isn\u2019t the first time Joe\u2019s fought over a girl, but Hoss, those two\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLady,\u201d Hoss broke in. \u201cHe said \u2018lady,\u2019 not girl. Adam, the fight was about Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their eyes locked for a long moment, a moment full of old grief and the fear of new heartaches come to pass. Then Adam swore softly and gently set his saddle down.<\/p>\n

He let his eyes close, trying to get his emotions under control as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Memories over a decade old swirled through his head, thoughts of times when doors had been closed to Marie and therefore to the Cartwrights. Thoughts of women on Virginia City sidewalks moving their skirts aside so as to not let them brush against Marie\u2019s. Thoughts of ugly rumors, of wild stories all the more painful because they included thin strands of truth. Thoughts of secrets kept.<\/p>\n

Opening his eyes, he blew out a long, slow breath. Secrets kept within a family were the most dangerous kind of all. Those were the kind of secrets spoken of only in whispers, secrets kept sealed behind walls that could be toppled at a moment\u2019s notice. Walls that were mortared together with nothing more than sheer force of will. Walls like those that had been erected over time for the sake of protecting Marie. Protecting the family.<\/p>\n

Protecting Joe.<\/p>\n

And today those walls had been breached. How much damage had been done?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did they say to him?\u201d he asked quietly, and he heard the brittleness in his own voice as he tensed for the answer.<\/p>\n

Hoss sighed. \u201cAbout what you\u2019d expect. They weren\u2019t quite grown themselves when Marie was alive, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut they heard things back then, saw things, and they haven\u2019t forgotten,\u201d Adam finished for him, and let his shoulders sag in sudden weariness.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they ain\u2019t forgot.\u201d Hoss\u2019s voice was edged with hurt, with anger and regret. \u201cJoe didn\u2019t believe none of it, of course, so we\u2019ve got that on our side.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank God for small favors,\u201d Adam bit out.<\/p>\n

They ain\u2019t forgot.<\/em>\u00a0No, they would never forget. Not Remy and Pete, not the whole stinking town. Adam realized he had let himself begin to hope that the stories attached to Marie would eventually fade away, but what had happened to Joe today was proof that such hope was nothing more than wishful thinking.<\/p>\n

A sudden surge of rage made him smash his fist into a supporting timber with force hard enough to raze the skin from his knuckles. He shook his hand out and then rubbed it with the other hand, mindless of the tiny drops of blood that fell from his fingers and thankful for the mind-clearing pain.<\/p>\n

Hoss never moved, only watched him and waited.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t the last time this is going to happen,\u201d Adam said to himself as much as to Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can take care of Pete and Remy\u2014we\u00a0will<\/em>\u00a0take care of Pete and Remy, but there will be others who will drag it all back up again.\u201d<\/p>\n

And having “it” dragged back up over and over would eventually destroy their kid brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got a high mountain to climb, Adam,\u201d Hoss said carefully, \u201cand we ain\u2019t gonna be standin\u2019 there every time somebody tries to push him off the side of it. The way I see it, the best way to help Joe is to make sure he\u2019s got what it takes to stand up to all comers. Because you and I both know enough about him by now to know that he\u2019s gonna take \u2018em on whether he stands a decent chance or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

They stood staring at each other in the darkened barn, their distress honing itself into a sharp, thin blade of determined intent.<\/p>\n

They did things differently after that. So it was that on any given evening, the barn rang with shouts\u2014shouts of anger, shouts of encouragement, shouts of triumph. The three Cartwright brothers slugged back and forth through the barn\u2019s interior whenever they had a spare moment. They worked on technique. They worked on speed. They even worked on \u201cfightin\u2019 dirty\u201d, as Hoss put it. And to Pa\u2019s credit, when he discovered what was going on, he grumbled something about \u201cfire and brimstone\u201d but otherwise left them to their own devices with only a warning not to \u201cbring it into the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

At last the day came when Joe when landed a one-two punch to Adam\u2019s belly and nose that sent him sprawling backward into the dust. Stars swam before his eyes, and warm wetness trickled from his nose. He\u2019d seen it coming, and he\u2019d tried with everything he had to get out of the way. He hadn\u2019t been able to. Stunned, he let his head fall back into the dirt.<\/p>\n

And he grinned.<\/p>\n

*********<\/p>\n

1859<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m tellin\u2019 you, give that kid a little more time and he\u2019s gonna be able to beat that Frenchman,\u201d Hoss insisted as he hoisted his unconscious little brother up to lie across the saddle in front of Adam. Behind them, Julia\u2019s Palace was still filled with raucous laughter and boisterous celebration, the sounds of it spilling out onto the street along with yellow light from the door and windows.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Adam agreed, smiling as he caught sight of Jean Millain through the window, still gingerly touching his nose. \u201cNot today, but someday. Someday soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

They set out for home, and the movements of the horse elicited a small, miserable groan from Joe.<\/p>\n

Hoss chuckled. \u201cHe sure got the better of you tonight, didn\u2019t he, little brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam whacked Joe in the middle of his back with a slap full of stinging, brotherly-type sympathy. And though he was pretty sure Joe hadn\u2019t yet come around enough to hear, he said it anyway.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, how many times do I have to tell you to keep those elbows\u00a0in?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0\u201cIf I\u2019ve told Joe once, I\u2019ve told him a thousand times to\u00a0keep those elbows in!\u201d\u00a0 We’ve all heard Adam utter those words while Joe is getting himself thoroughly beaten by Jean Millain in the “Julia Bulette” episode.\u00a0 This is the story behind that line.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC 4200<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":5894,"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":[1009,23,61,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brothers","category-drama","category-missing-scene","category-prequels","wpcat-1009-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-61-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2194,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Lake-Tahoe-Sunset-Blue.jpg?fit=300%2C600&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3683,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3683","url_meta":{"origin":7431,"position":0},"title":"A Different Time, A Different Place (by GinnyF)","author":"Ginny F","date":"December 29, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0\u00a0 My version of \"Juliet Bulette\" Rated: MA (8,900 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/Julia-Bulette1.jpg?fit=432%2C441&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7144,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7144","url_meta":{"origin":7431,"position":1},"title":"Beauty is the Lover’s Gift (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"March 24, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0When Joe falls sick with a fever after Julia Bulette\u2019s death, Ben remembers his relationship with Julia. Rated:\u00a0 MA (8,380 words)","rel":"","context":"In "MA-Rated \/ R-Rated"","block_context":{"text":"MA-Rated \/ R-Rated","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=690"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5138,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5138","url_meta":{"origin":7431,"position":2},"title":"Consequences (by Sassybrass)","author":"Sassybrass","date":"April 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe must know about his father's past with Julia Bulette, even to the point of pushing his father into a lie.\u00a0 Set shortly after \"The Julia Bulette Story\".\u00a0 Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0WC 1900","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/4Cartwrights.jpg?fit=849%2C541&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/4Cartwrights.jpg?fit=849%2C541&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/4Cartwrights.jpg?fit=849%2C541&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/4Cartwrights.jpg?fit=849%2C541&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35404,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=35404","url_meta":{"origin":7431,"position":3},"title":"A Book: A Gift of Reading (by fanofoldTVshows)","author":"Fanofoldtvshows","date":"December 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A box of gifts arrives with a sender that intrigues the Cartwrights. Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 1,609 words Note:\u00a0 This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1085,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1085","url_meta":{"origin":7431,"position":4},"title":"Death, Defiance and a Fine Day for a Swim (by DBird)","author":"DBird","date":"July 16, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Adam and Joe find their own way through grief, on a summer day at the lake. A WHN story for the episode, \"The Julia Bulette Story.\" \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a06000","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3123,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3123","url_meta":{"origin":7431,"position":5},"title":"The Quick and the Dead (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"April 24, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Adam has something to tell his brothers, but Joe doesn\u2019t want to hear it.\u00a0 Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 (3,215 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/BenHossAdam.jpg?fit=800%2C569&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BenHossAdam.jpg?fit=800%2C569&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BenHossAdam.jpg?fit=800%2C569&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/BenHossAdam.jpg?fit=800%2C569&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7431","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\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7431\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}