What Happened Next: The Flapjack Contest
Written
by: Kathleen O’Neill
Joe
stumbled backward into the saloon, keeping his eyes fixed on his father and
Adam, standing with Hoss at the stage. His father was sharing a laugh with his
brothers, probably at his expense. But then Joe saw Ben glance over at the
saloon, his face a grim mask. Joe’s heart leapt to his throat when Ben took a
stride toward the saloon, but relief flooded over him when Clem approached Ben,
and after some brief discussion, they walked toward the sheriff’s office. Joe
craned his neck and watched his father until he disappeared with the sheriff.
“Help
ya, Joe?” Sam raised his voice, startling Joe who
nearly fell out through the doors.
Regaining
his balance, Joe turned wide eyes to the bartender, “Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. I, uh,
need to buy another window pane.” Joe’s face grew pained in anticipation of
Sam’s reaction, and his hands grasped each other in worry.
“Another one?” Sam hollered. “Ain’t that four now? And two of ‘em today!” The man had
his feet planted apart and his hands on his hips were fisted.
“Yeah.”
Joe said quietly, his mouth pulling into a small bow. His large, sad green eyes
looked up and regarded the man.
“Oh
all right!” the man said in exasperation and threw his bar rag down. “But that
means rent on another room for a week, at least!” Sam pointed a thick finger at
Joe.
“I know, I know already.” Joe blew out his cheeks with a sigh and his eyebrows
lifted in relief.
“You’re
sure working hard at stayin’ outta
trouble with your Pa!” Sam joked as he brought the reservation book from behind
the bar.
“Yeah,
but I’m not so sure it’s workin’.” Joe said
nervously. He cast a nervous glance at the swinging doors and paid Sam three
dollars and fifty cents. He eased over to the doors and peered over them toward
the sheriff’s office. Nothing. He looked over at the
stage where his brothers were unloading Adam’s baggage. Joe’s face took on a
pale, sickly expression as he turned and made his way up the stairs to remove
the windowpane.
-----------------------------------
Joe
stepped carefully down the stairs, carrying the prized sheet of glass.
Perspiration beaded his face, more from nerves than heat. He saw an older man
talking to Sam.
“What
do you mean you ain’t got a room for me?” the old man
exclaimed.
“Just what I said.” Sam gave Joe an angry look over the old man’s
shoulder. “I’ve rented all but one and that one’s taken!”
“Well,
I’m gonna go call that old man out there an out and
out liar! He told me there’s always plenty of rooms to
rent here. Low cost, decent food and plenty o’ liquid refreshment!” The old man
cleared his throat. “Let me see your rental book!” Sam reluctantly gave the
open book to the irate man. He quickly looked at the name and shook his head,
shoving the book back at Sam.
Just
then, Ben walked into the saloon. Joe’s eyes widened and he started talking a
blue streak to his father again. “See, Pa! I already got the windowpane!!
Pretty as you please! Come on Pa, let’s get home, so I
can take care of puttin’ it in, okay Pa?” Joe
resisted the urge to pull at Ben’s sleeve.
“Good,
Joe. Just a minute son, alright?” Ben said, frowning
at Joe’s hand that seemed to be grasping at him. “I said, just a moment, Joseph.”
Joe nodded and tried to smile through his suffering.
“Well,
Ezra, didn’t I tell you the rooms here were clean, affordable and all the
comforts a man could want?” Ben said proudly, slapping the man on the back. Joe
looked at Sam with worried eyes.
“I
don’t KNOW about the rooms...., what’s yer name? Ben?
They’re all RENTED! And you, you old goat are an OUT AND OUT LIAR!” And the old man,
grabbed his satchel and left the saloon in a huff. Ben stared in shock at the
swinging doors. He looked at Sam questioningly, who shrugged his answer. He
turned to look at Joe, who met his father’s gaze with an ingratiating grin and
the familiar look of innocence. Ben didn’t know what this was about, but he was
pretty certain his youngest knew something. His eyes narrowed as he nailed Joe
with his gaze. Joe wilted underneath the scrutiny and examined his boots
Ben
made a low sigh, which sounded for all the world like
a growl. “Let’s go home!” Ben jerked his head in the direction of the door. Joe
scooted past him quickly and walked ahead of his father. As they began to step
off the sidewalk, the old man started up his complaint again. This time to other passengers just off the stage.
“That’s
right! No rooms! Four rooms rented to one man, named .....
uh......Joseph Cartwright....I believe!”
Ben
stopped in mid-stride, as did Joe. Ben slowly turned around and fixed his son
with a deadly black countenance. Joe froze. He attempted a smile, but it faded
quickly. “Joseph, you wanted to talk about this later? Well, we suuuure are.” Ben took a death-hold grip of his son’s arm
above the elbow, which made Joe’s eyes water. Joe swallowed hard and held onto
the pane of glass for all he was worth as he and his father made a quick walk
to the wagon.
“Adam,
I’m going to stay in town for a while longer. See that this young man gets that
window fixed and doesn’t disappear.” Ben looked at Joe. “I want to talk to him
when I get home.”
Joe’s
eyes half closed and he looked at his feet. ‘This is bad. This is very bad,’ he
thought to himself.
“Hoss,”
Ben said, “I’m going to pick up the contest money, and the reward money. We’ll
sort it all out at home.” Ben made a circle with his hand between all of them.
“Yessir.” Hoss fiddled with the team’s reins. He looked at Joe
and at Adam. Hoss’s face showed how much he hated
conflict in his family. He climbed up in the wagon seat to avoid as much of it
as he could.
Joe
watched his father walk to Buck, mount up and ride to the Sheriff’s office.
Adam looked from Ben to Joe and back twice more, settling on Joe. Adam tilted his
head at his youngest brother.
“Well,
well, well!” Adam clasped his hands and rubbed them together in delight. “I was
disappointed that I missed out on whatever has been going on for the last two
weeks, but I’m sure glad I got back in time for the finale!” Adam smiled a
broad, white smile at Little Joe, who returned an angry stare.
“Oh,
Lordy,” Hoss said under his breath. He clucked at the
horses and flipped the reins to urge them forward. Joe sat in the back with the
windowpane and tried to avoid the gleeful smiles Adam cast his way.
Ben
walked his horse up to the hitching post in front of the sheriff’s office and
dismounted. He flipped the reins twice around the rail and stepped onto the
walk. Within two long strides he was at the sheriff’s door and he walked in
without knocking.
“Clem.”
Ben offered in greeting.
“Hello,
Ben. Coffee?” Clem said, holding the coffee pot.
“Sure.
Thank you. Clem, about that …. bank robber you have
locked up here.”
“What
about ‘im?” Clem asked.
“Mind
if I talk to him?” Ben asked, standing tall and looking directly into Clem’s
eyes.
“No,
I don’t mind, Ben. Ya ain’t
gonna make any bets with him are ya?”
Clem smiled.
“No.
I’ve seen enough wagering for a while.”
“He’s
right in through there.” Clem motioned to the door.
“Thanks.”
Ben opened the door and went in to the cell area. Once he saw Cunningham, Ben
closed the door behind him.
“Mr.
Cunningham,” Ben stated.
“Yeah,
that’s right.” Cunningham turned and looked at his visitor. “Hey, you’re that
fellow….”
“Ben
Cartwright.”
“Yeah. Joe’s daddy.”
Ben
nodded.
“How
can a I help the likes of Mr. Ben Cartwright?”
“I
just have a question for you. How much money were you willing to take off my
son?”
“All
he would offer.”
“How
much did he offer?”
“One
thousand dollars, all tolled.”
Ben’s
face flushed red and then the color drained from his face. “One…. thousand
dollars?” he almost whispered. “Got any proof?” Ben said quickly.
“Ask
the sheriff. He’s got all my marks,” Cunningham said lazily.
“Thank
you, Mr. Cunningham,” Ben said as he left the cell room.
“Clem,
Cunningham says I can look at his record book. May I see it?”
“Sure, Ben.” Clem rummaged around in the middle desk drawer. “Here it is.”
Ben
opened the book and turned three pages. He scanned down the list and found the
first bet Joe had made
for one hundred dollars, payoff of five hundred if he won. A little further
down he saw the second bet. Slapping the ledger shut, Ben thrust the book at Clem.
“Thank
you, Clem. That’s all I needed,” Ben said. “Wait, I need to collect that reward
money and the contest money.”
“Oh, sure Ben. I can help you with the reward money. But you’ll have to see the banker
for the other reward, that’s from the bank trustees, and you’ll have to visit
Sam for the contest money.”
Ben grimaced. “Alright.”
Clem handed him
Hoss
pulled the horses to a halt near the porch. Joe scrambled out of the back of
the wagon and drew the windowpane glass toward him. He took it up in a protective
grasp and wordlessly headed for the house.
“You
know, Hoss? If I didn’t know him better, I’d say that Joe is showing a lot of
responsibility, hustling to get that window fixed.”
“Shut
up, Adam.” Joe said as he entered the house.
Adam
raised his voice. “Watch your tone, boy!” His remark was met by a ferociously
slammed door.
“Aw,
Adam, lay off will ya. Poor fella’s
got enough problems already.”
“And
only himself to blame, I am certain.” Adam smiled and patted Hoss on the
shoulder.
Hoss shook his head and led the horses to the barn.
Adam
looked up as Hoss entered the great room and then returned to his reading.
“Joe upstairs?” Hoss asked.
“I
imagine, haven’t seen him come down.” Adam said without looking up.
Hoss
silently mounted the stairs. He walked down the hall to Joe’s bedroom and
knocked on the door. “Joe?”
“Yeah,
come in.” Joe answered
Hoss
opened the door and saw Joe struggling to set the windowpane in the window.
“Here,
let me help ya.”
“Thanks!”
Joe smiled.
Joe
quickly applied the putty to the glass and they slid it in place. Hoss pressed
and pulled on it to make sure it seated properly.
“Well,
that ought to do her, Joe.” Hoss wiped his hands on his pants.
Joe
smiled slightly in response.
Hoss
dragged a chair from the desk and turned it around. He eased his bulk onto the
too-small chair and folded arms in his lap. Joe sat on the bed and raised
troubled eyes at his big brother.
“Joe……you
got yourself a peck a trouble don’t ya, boy?”
“Yeah.”
Joe said despairingly.
Hoss
squinched his face up as he made an effort to
understand his brother.
“Why
didn’t you do like I told ya Joe? Ya
shoulda laid it all out to Pa, the whole truth, the
whole miserable story!” Hoss looked at his brother earnestly.
“Hoss,
remember we went over this before. Imagine what Pa would do if I told him the
truth?”
“Little
brother, it looks like you’re gonna have to tell him
that truth anyhow, plus fessin’ up to some outright
lies!”
“Stop
talkin’ like that, you’re making me upset again.”
“Well,
you better plan on stayin’ upset for a while, Joseph.
I don’t see no way out a this for ya!”
Joe
stayed silent.
“Well,
I’m gonna go downstairs and get started on cleanin’ those rifles.” Hoss said and left the room.
Joe
finished cleaning up the floor around the window, thinking over what Hoss had
said.
Ben
crossed the street to the bank. The bell tinkled as he drew the door open and
closed again. Looking around, he only saw the assistant banker and approached
him.
“Mr.
Hennessey, I’ve come to pick up Joseph’s reward money.” Ben smiled.
“Oh,
yes, Mr. Cartwright. It was left in an envelope for you. Here you are! And tell
that fine son of yours we are deeply grateful for his unselfish act today.”
Ben
cleared his throat. “Uh, yes, yes. Unselfish. I will
tell him.” Ben didn’t try to hide the aggravation he felt. “Thank you.”
“Good
day, Mr. Cartwright!”
“Yes,
Good day.” Ben replied flatly.
Ben
left the bank and decided to walk down to the saloon, rather than ride. He didn’t
mind having to come back for Buck after his final errand. The stretching would
do him good; clear his head. He tipped his hat at the ladies he met on the way.
He also overheard whispers about Joe’s bravery, heroism and Hoss’s
appetite. It was putting him in a fouler mood than before. Finally, he arrived
at the saloon. He fairly burst through the swinging doors. Sam nearly dropped
his bar rag when he saw the formidable figure of Ben Cartwright standing before
him.
“Sam,”
Ben said with not a little authority. “I’ve come to collect Hoss’s
contest money, if you please.”
“Oh,
yes, Ben! I’ve got it all ready. The boys hurried home, eh?” Sam laughed a
little too readily, as he handed Ben the cash.
“Yes, … they’ve … gone … home,” Ben growled.
Sam
chuckled and then concentrated on polishing the wooden bar. Ben didn’t leave
however.
“I
understand that you were helping Joseph out with some windowpanes. You ….. startin’ a general store, too,
Sam?” Ben’s wry smile did not ease the barman’s discomfort.
“Uh, no, Ben. Ha, ha, ha, that’s right funny there.” Sam laughed.
Ben
just leaned on the bar and looked at Sam.
Sam
cleared his throat. “Oh, dang it, Ben. What was I gonna do? That son of yours was tryin’
in the worst way to stay outta trouble and he was
just in a real fix and I didn’t just give ‘em to ‘im,
you know. He paid me for ‘em, fair and square, Ben.”
Sam worried a little that he sounded like he was babbling.
Ben
smiled. “Is that all?” He narrowed his gaze and his eyebrows dropped low.
“Shoot,
Ben. The glass was already set in the windows! I couldn’t rent the rooms
without windowpanes, could I? So, Joe offered to pay for the windowpanes and
one week’s rent!” Sam sputtered.
“On how many rooms?” Ben questioned.
Sam
squirmed under the interrogation. “Four.”
Ben
didn’t look surprised. “Got a receipt, or a record?”
“Sure.
Wrote it all down in ma book!” Sam produced the green
leather cashbook and pushed it toward Ben.
Ben
opened the book and read in Sam’s round hand, ‘Joseph Cartwright, one room,
$3.50’ four times in a row. Ben pursed his lips and his brow furrowed. “Thank
you, Sam.”
“Any time, Ben. A real pleasure.” Sam called as Ben strode out
of the saloon.
Sam
rolled his eyes heavenward and went back to polishing the bar.
Ben
crossed the main street to avoid the gossip regarding the morning’s events. Gratefully, he
reached Buck without one single encounter or overheard conversation. He checked
the cinch, tightened it and was just reaching for the reins, when he felt a
velvet glove rest on his hand.
“Oh,
there you are, Benjamin! I’ve been looking all over town for you!”
Ben
tipped his hat and smiled. “Well, Miss Hanson, how are …”
“I
just can’t get over Little Joseph and his wonderful, heroic feat this morning!
Why, you have raised such a valiant young man, Benjamin! So much like his
father!!” Miss Hanson broke into a delighted giggle.
“Yes,
thank you, Miss Hanson. If you’ll forgive me, I really need to….”
“Oh
Benjamin, won’t you and your delightful sons come to dinner next Sunday?” She nearly
jumped up and down in anticipation.
“Yes,
of course, Miss Hanson. But I really need to get back to the ranch, if you
don’t mind!” Ben desperately collected the reins and quickly shook hands with
the woman. Mounting, he tipped his hat again and urged Buck into a trot.
Miss
Hanson waved her handkerchief at Ben as he rounded the corner near the
International Hotel. He raised his hand in acknowledgement and rode away.
Ben
loosened his neckerchief and opened the top button of his shirt. He slowed Buck
to a gentle walk and took several deep, slow breaths. Why did
he feel as if he’d had the wind knocked out of him, he wondered. Soon,
the cool breeze off the pines and their scent eased his mind.
Hoss
came down the stairs, crossed to the gun rack and took two rifles down. He set
them on the coffee table and crossed back to the gun rack, opened a drawer and
took out a rag, some oil and a metal cleaning rod. Adam’s eyes followed his
younger brother as he crossed back to the settee, set his materials on the
table and sat down.
“Cleaning
those rifles finally?” Adam queried.
“Yep.”
Hoss answered without looking up.
“How’s
the kid?” Adam asked as he read.
“He
did a fine job on that window.” Hoss wasn’t giving.
“You
know what I mean. How’s his mood?” Adam pressed.
Hoss
examined the gun and said, “About what you’d expect, I guess. If you’re so
worried about ‘im, why don’t ya
git up there and see for yourself?”
“You
coddle him enough, without my help,” Adam replied
Hoss
was silent as he continued working.
Joe
stood up and moved his chair back to the desk. He looked around the room, and
smoothed the back of his hair as was his habit. Walking to the newly installed
window he looked out onto the yard. Joe chewed on his lower lip as his mind
worked overtime. Pa would be riding up soon and Joe wondered what his mood
would be by then. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Go downstairs where
Adam was? Go talk to Hop Sing? The cook
would probably give him an earful too. Sighing, Joe sat down on the bed, then
lay back with his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. He swore he could
hear his heart beating through his shirt.
The
sound of a horse trotting into the yard, roused Joe
from sleep. He didn’t need to look out the window. He knew it was his father’s
horse. Buck had a funny way of “paddling out” his right foreleg, which produced
an unusual gait.
Hoss
looked up at Adam. “Pa’s home.”
“Get
ready,” Adam said quietly.
One side of Hoss’s mouth raised
in a half-scowl. “Yeah.”
Soon,
strong footsteps were heard on the porch and then the front door latch opened
forcefully and the door swung open and closed as Ben came in. He hung his hat
on the peg, slid the knot on his neckerchief and drew it over his head, then
hung it around the crown of his hat. Ben unbuckled his gun belt, rolled it and
set it on the sideboard, careful to not scratch the wood with the gun.
Looking
around the room, Ben asked, “Where’s Joseph?”
“Upstairs,”
Hoss offered.
“Would
you get him please,” Ben said, more than asked.
“Yes,
sir
Ben
cast a look at Adam, then walked to the fireplace. He
picked up the poker and jabbed at the fire a little, as Hoss, followed by
Little Joe, came down the stairs.
Ben
turned around. “Joseph, please sit down, Hoss? Adam? I’d like you to stay too.”
The
three brothers exchanged glances, signs of the silent communication that they
shared and which amazed Ben, usually. Today, the charm of it was lost on him.
He felt old.
“Now,
as you know, there has been a fair amount of money made, spent and loaned
between the three of you. As I told you I would, I have collected the rewards
and the contest money in town. Joseph, due to your, uh, heroic actions this
morning, you won, as you know, five hundred dollars from the bank for capturing
a bank robber and another five hundred dollars reward from the sheriff for
turning in a wanted man.” Ben’s face almost smiled. “Here is your money.” Ben
handed a thick group of bills to Joe.
Joe’s
face brightened. ‘Maybe things are going to go a lot better than I thought
today.’ He mused to himself.
Adam’s
face took on a suspicious expression as he watched Joe fold the money into his
billfold. Joe returned a gleaming, open-mouthed grin at Adam.
“Hoss,” Ben said. “As the champion flapjack eater in the territory, you are the deserving winner of five hundred dollars.” Ben laughed, patted Hoss on the back and handed him the five one hundred dollar bills. Hoss counted the money and then counted it again, enjoying the feel of the large bills. His smile quickly turned to a frown when he saw Joe staring at him expectantly.
“Uh…
Hoss,” Ben cleared his throat. “I understand that you were going to loan your
five hundred dollars to Joe, am I right?” Ben asked. “He would pay you back and
it would teach him a lesson, as you said.”
“Phssshhhh.” Hoss complained. “Yeah, that’s right,
“Now.
Joseph, I believe you owe your brother Adam fifteen hundred dollars for the
ruby,” Ben said sternly.
Joe was about to holler about the gem being fake but one look from Ben,
extinguished that thought. He looked at his father sorrowfully.
“Here
you go, Adam. Use it in good health.” Joe mumbled unhappily.
“Thank
you, little brother, and ….. tough luck, huh?” Adam’s
face was split by a huge, wide grin as he held the money.
“I
do have one concern though, boys,” Ben advised.
All
three looked at him intently.
“Adam.”
Ben rubbed his index finger across his lips and then held his finger up. “It
seems to me that it isn’t ‘quite’ right for you to make a five hundred dollar
profit on a fake ruby.”
“FAKE?”
Adam hollered.
“Yes,
it was made of glass and quite destructible, I’m afraid, son,” Ben told him.
Adam’s
mouth hung open in shock. He didn’t move for a while. Then he slowly counted
out five hundred dollars in fifty-dollar bills and handed them wordlessly to
Joe.
“Joe?”
Ben nodded toward Hoss. Joe grimaced and then handed the five hundred dollars
back to Hoss, who quickly stuffed the money into his vest pocket.
“As
a matter of fact, Adam, I am of the opinion that it isn’t right for Joseph to
pay one thousand dollars,” Ben’s voice started to raise, “for a
broken ruby that his eldest brother was stump-brained enough to buy, without PROOF
OF AUTHENTICITY OR APPRAISAL!!!” Ben’s voice echoed off of each beam in the
large room’s ceiling.
Adam
pursed his lips and looked off to the right and gazed at the fire, after the
berating. Ben kept his eyes on his eldest. Adam, stunned, drew the one thousand
dollars out of his billfold and held it out to Joe.
Joe
reached out tentatively and took the money. “Really, Pa?
Heck, I…”
“I
AM NOT FINISHED YET!!” Ben hollered. Joe startled at the roar of Ben’s voice. Ben
slowly stalked over to Joe. “Stand up. STAND UP!!”
Joe
leaped to his feat.
“It
hasn’t gone unnoticed by me that you have, for the last seven weeks, stayed out
until three or four in the morning more nights than not … GAMBLING! You said
nothing about the ruby for three days.” Ben held up three fingers in Joe’s
face. “THREE DAYS! While I continued to check the post office
for Adam’s valuable PACKAGE!” Ben looked up and fixed Adam with a dark
glare.
Adam
looked at the floor.
Turning
his attention back on Joe, Ben continued. “AND, I know all about the FOUR rooms
you rented at the saloon in order to get more windowpanes! And while I’m at it,
young man, I am well aware of the bets you made that you could NOT even ATTEMPT
to pay if you had lost. Something tells me that I would have had to pay for
them!! So, your money, your one thousand dollars will go in the bank to help
pay off any future destructions you
cause on the ranch or in town! I must have re-furnished Sam’s saloon
fifteen times in the LAST FIVE YEARS! And finally, on top of all of this, you
lied to me. At the stage, you said ‘I don’t bet,
Joe
slowly brought the money up between his and his father’s face. “Um….here you go,..
Ben
took the money from Joe. “Thank you.” Ben growled without removing his gaze
from his youngest. “Now, you take yourself to the Sheriff’s office and speak to
Clem. He has all the bets that were collected by Cunningham. You will go with
him and distribute back to the citizens of
Joe
smiled broadly. “Oh, yes sir, Pa! I’ll go right now!”
Ben
nodded in Joe’s face. “I’m not finished with you, young man. When you return
from town you wait for me in the barn.”
Joe
quickly ducked away and to the door, looking behind him as he slipped out of
the house.
Hoss
shook his head. “That danged, Little Joe, he gets in more scrapes than any ten
people I know.”
Ben
turned to Hoss. “And YOU! When are YOU going to learn
to not follow him INTO those scrapes?”
Hoss’s
eyebrows raised in misery as his eyes looked down at his fingers, his mouth
turned into an unhappy grimace. “I keep askin’ mahself the same thang. Well, ah
guess I better git started on evenin’
chores, Pa,” Hoss said, and lifted his large frame. Tucking his hands in his
front pockets, he walked to the door with his head lowered.
Adam
watched Hoss leave the house. He fully realized it was no mistake he and his
father were now alone in the great room. He had been looking everywhere BUT at
his father during the “conversation” between all of them. Now, it was
impossible to avoid the man. Without looking up, Adam knew that his father,
still standing, was staring at him. The discomfort played across his face, Ben
noticed and tried not to smile. Adam raised his head and looked up at the stout
image of his father before him. Ben held his gaze for a moment, then walked to
the coffee table and sat on it.
“Let’s
hear it,” Ben stated with just the slightest bit of amusement in his voice.
“Hear
what?” Adam asked cautiously, then remembered how his
father did not appreciate questions for answers.
Ben’s
eyebrows lowered and he sighed. “Hear how my college-educated, world-wise,
level-headed, ELDEST son managed to spend one thousand dollars on a worthless
ruby!”
“Oh.
That.” Adam smiled and scratched the side of his neck. “Well, Pa, it’s a….
“Wait!”
Ben held up a hand. “It’s a long, sad story?”
Adam
chuckled uneasily. “Yeah, it is, as a matter of fact.”
Ben
continued to look at him.
“Well,
you remember how I wrote you that I had run into that old friend of mine, Aaron
Smyth, who wanted to sell the ruby?” Adam questioned.
“Yes,
the Clipper Captain, go on.”
“Well,
it wasn’t exactly the Captain.”
Ben
gave Adam an impatient puzzled look and started to say something.
“Listen,
Ben
raised his eyebrows.
“Apparently,
she and Aaron were behind in their property taxes. Aaron hadn’t told Diana, but
she found out. She knew Aaron was worried about it and was working hard to
catch up on the payments. She wanted to pay it off, so she decided to sell the
ruby. She showed it to me and the next day I withdrew the money from my account
in
“And
between the three of you, none of you knew the ruby was a fake?” Ben asked.
Adam
didn’t answer him.
“Am
I to assume that by not answering my question, it means that you DID know the
ruby was a fake and that you were going to sell that ruby, AT A PROFIT, to some
poor, unsuspecting fellow on the stage?”
“There
was no fellow on the stage offering me fifteen hundred dollars for the ruby. I
made it up.”
“WHY?”
Ben barked.
“Well,
as soon as I saw Joe standing there saying he wanted to buy the ruby, I knew it
was gone. I figured it wasn’t your fault or Hoss’s
fault. And with that guilty as sin expression on Joe’s face, well, I knew he
had managed to lose it somehow. I…..thought I’d scare the pants off him a
little.” Adam tried to suppress a smile.
“I
see. No harm done, I suppose,” Ben offered.
“Yeah.”
Adam smiled, satisfied. “I’ll, um, go out there and help Hoss, since Joe will
be in town during evening chores.”
Ben
pursed his lips and nodded as Adam stood and walked to the door.
“Adam.”
Ben called. “Tell me the truth. Did you know the ruby was a fake?”
Adam
opened the door but paused. “Let me put it this way,
Ben
stood up and looked at the door. Shaking his head, yet smiling, he crossed the
room to his desk. ‘She sure must have been a beautiful woman to snooker Adam
like that.’ Ben thought to himself. He sat down to organize his letters and
mail, but the sight of the photographs on his desk caught his attention as they did
each day. He gazed at the portraits in turn, Elizabeth, Inger,
Marie and warmth flooded through him as he thought about each of his sons.
Adam
stopped on the porch. He had closed the door behind him, but his hand still rested
on the doorknob. He shook his head. “I’m glad I could ‘help’ a friend,” he
sighed to himself. “Oh, I sure helped a friend alright. Helped
her to one thousand dollars!” Adam let his hand drop from the doorknob
and he slapped it against his leg in disgust.
“Fake!
I can’t believe I bought a fake ruby!”
The End.