THE LITTLE DEPUTY

By: Lynne G.

Five year old Little Joe Cartwright was very excited about going into Virginia City with his father, Ben Cartwright, who owned the largest ranch in the Nevada Territory.  This little green eyed, brown curly haired youngster was the youngest son of the three Cartwright brothers, eighteen year old Adam and twelve year old Hoss.  Little Joe was a very active child who could barely keep still or quiet, not even when he was sleeping, and he sure kept his family on their toes at all times.

When Ben told the youngster that they needed to go into Virginia City that morning, the little boy squealed with delight as he ran up the stairs to his room to get his holster and gun, his deputy badge, and his handcuffs.  As he ran back down the stairs, he grabbed his hat and ran out the door.  Ben stood there as his little tornado ran through the room and out the door. 

Little Joe helped Ben get their horses sdaddled, and soon they were on their way to town.  " Papa, I's gotts ta purtected da people of Virginia City cuz Imma deputy," the child explained.  " I'm sure you will be a big help in town," Ben said as he chuckled at his little boy who had a very active imagination.

When Ben and Little Joe arrived in town, they headed over to the bank so Ben could deposit a check.  " Hi Ben, Little Joe," Bill Walter, who was the bank manager said.  " Hi Bill," the Cartwrights greeted back.  Ben walked up to the tells window, and said, " Hi Sally, how are you doing today?"  " Hi Mr. Cartwright, I'm doing just fine.  How are you?" Sally asked.  " I'm fine Sally.  Thank you for asking," Ben replied.

" Is fings goin' good in da bank Mr. Walter?" asked Little Joe.  " Why, yes they are Little Joe," Bill said as he looked down at the cute little boy and smiled.  "  Thats good cuz Imma a deputy and I's needs ta know if'n fings are good at da bank," Little Joe seriously said.  " You sure are doing a good job at being a deputy, aren't you?" Bill said.  " Yup, Imma tryin' my bested," Little Joe said.

Little Joe walked over to Ben and he looked up at Sally and he asked her if everything was alright with her.  She looked down at a smiling Little Joe and told him that everything was just fine.  Then she handed him some play money.  " Oh, fank ya fer da money, ma'am," he said as he tipped his hat to her.  She smiled back at him.  Ben just smiled and shook his head and thought to himself, " what a little charmer he is."

From the bank, Ben and Little Joe headed over to the mail office to pick up their mail.  " Papa, you gotta go and get da the mail while I guarded da door," the child said.  " OK son, you guard the door," Ben said as he entered the mail office as he was laughing.  He told Norm, the mail clerk what Little Joe was doing, and they both laughed.  " That little one is sure a little character Ben," Norm said as he was still laughing.  " Isn't that the truth," Ben replied back.

The next stop was to Sheriff Roy Coffee's office for a visit.  " Howdy Ben, Little Joe," Roy greeted.  " Hi Roy," Ben said.  " Howdy yer self Mr. Sheriff Coffee," Little Joe said to Roy.  " Papa, Imma gonna make my rounds and check ta see if everyfin' is alright in town," Little Joe explained.  " Ok, but don't go any farther than the end of the sidewalk," Ben told the boy.  " Kay Papa," the child answered as he walked out the door.  Both Ben and Roy started to laugh.  " He sure takes his deputy job very seriously," Roy said.  " He sure does Roy," Ben answered back.

Little Joe looked up and down the street just to see if everything looked fine.  Then he started to walk along the sidewalk checking out every store to make sure everything was normal.

As he walked, he noticed two ladies walking towards him, so he stopped and tipped his hat to them, gave them a big smile and he said," Hi ladies.  How is ya taday?"  " Just fine sweetie, and how are you?" they asked.  " Imma just fine, fank ya," he said.  As they started to walk away, Mildred said to Minnie, " that Little Joe is just the cutest little boy I've ever seen, and when he gets older, he will have women all over him.  Makes me want to be a young girl again."  " Me too," Minnie replied.

Little Joe continued making his rounds.  Then he thought to himself, " Papa saided dunt go past da end of da sidewalk, but he dunt saided what sidewalk."  He smiled and looked back towards the jail, then he headed across the street to continue his rounds.  As he stood in front of the Bucket Of Blood Saloon, he took a deep breath and stepped inside, and walked up to the bar.  " Hi Bruno, I'd like a beer pleaze," he said.  Bruno looked down at the little deputy and said, " Little Joe what are you doin' in here?  You aren't suppose to be in here.  How  old are you?"  Bruno was trying very hard not to laugh at the little deputy and the look on the youngsters face.  " I's five," Little Joe told Bruno as he held up five fingers.  " I's a big boy and a deputy too," the child responded very seriously.  " I will give you a beer in fourteen years.  How does that sound ?" Bruno told the boy. " Kay, see ya in fourteen years.  Hey Bruno, is that a long time?" asked Little Joe.  " No, not that long son," Bruno answered.  " Kay, see ya.  Bye bye," Little Joe said as he walked out the door.  Bruno stood there laughing, as did everyone in the saloon.  " I wonder if Ben knows his baby boy was in here wanting a beer ?" Bruno said.  " Probably not," Ralph said who was still laughing.

As Little Joe was heading back to the Sheriff's office he noticed some bank robbers run out of the bank.  " Uh oh, bank robbers," he said out loud.  He ran over to his pony, Ginger, jumped on her and went off after the bank robbers.

Sally ran over to the Sheriff's office to tell Roy that the bank had just been robbed.  Roy ran to get a posse together, and then Ben realized that Little Joe hadn't come back yet.  " Mr. Cartwright, Little Joe went after the bank robbers ! Sally said.  " HE WHAT ??? shouted Ben as he ran out the door to get his horse.  Roy was running to get his horse too, and Ben told him that Little Joe had gone after the robbers.

Clyde, Daniel and Max had ridden for a few minutes when they realized that they were being followed, so they hid behind some very large boulders.  When they saw Little Joe, they just laughed and came out from behind their hidding place.  Little Joe jumped off Ginger, got his wooden gun out and said, " Kay ya bank robbers, drop them guns.  Ya's under rested !" Little Joe told them as he pointed his wooden gun at them.  " Well boys, looks like this little deputy got us," Clyde said as he laughed along with Max and Daniel.  " I's saided, DROP EM, and I ain't no little deputy either.  I's a big boy and deputy.  DROP EM NOW !!" Little Joe shouted at them.  The men just stood there laughing at Little Joe.

As soon as Max, Daniel and Clyde heard Roy, Ben and posse coming, Clyde grabbed Little Joe around the waist and held him under one arm.  " Drop your guns or the boy gets it," Clyde warned.  " Don't hurt the child.  Let him go," Roy begged as Ben and the posse dropped their guns.  Ben was worried sick about his son, but there was nothing he could do at the moment.

Little Joe was thinking of something to do very fast as he was being held, so he turned his head up and he bit Clyde really hard on the arm.  Clyde screamed in shock and pain and he dropped Little Joe.  Max and Daniel were suddenly distracted at Clyde's screaming and they looked at Clyde to see what had happened.  That's all it took for Roy, Ben and the posse to capture the robbers.  Little Joe stood up and pointed his wooden gun at the robbers.  " We's gotts em, we's gotts em !" the child shouted in excitement. 

" Joseph, are you alright baby?" Ben frantically asked his little son.  " I's just fine Papa.  I's helped get them robbers," Little Joe proudly said.  Ben picked up his son and held him close.  " Papa, I's needs ta help da Sheriff now.  Can't hug now," Little Joe tried to tell Ben, but Ben continued to hold his young son.  He was so thankful that the little boy wasn't hurt, and that he was safe.  He wasn't sure if he should be mad or happy with his little imp.

" Thank you Little Joe for all your help.  You sure helped get those robbers, didn't you?" Roy said.  " I's sure did.  See Papa, Sheriff Coffee needs me," Little Joe explained to Ben.  Ben didn't say anything, as he was still in shock at what had happened.

Back in Virginia City, with the robbers safely in jail, Roy, Ben and Little Joe returned all the money to the bank and Little Joe was the hero of the day. 
 Papa, can we's have lunch?  Imma hungry.  Gettin' them robbers is hard and hungry work," announced Little Joe.  Ben and Roy just shook their heads not believing at how calm the little boy was. 

Ben, Roy and Little Joe headed off to Daisy's for lunch.  " Daisy, did ya hearded what I's dun dided?  I's caughted me them bank robbers," Little Joe proudly said.  " I sure did honey.  You sure are a brave little boy," Daisy said.  " Fank ya, but Imma big boy, not no little boy no more," the child said.  Roy and Ben just shook their heads again as they looked at the little imp.  After lunch, Little Joe was given his reward, which he had to put in the bank.

For the ride home, Ben put Little Joe on Buck with him, and he sat behind his now very sleepy little boy.  Ben had tied Ginger's reins to Buck's saddle, and soon Ben and the now sleeping Little Joe headed home.  Ben couldn't believe how such a simple little trip into Virginia City had turned into what happened and that his his baby boy had helped capture bank robbers.  He still didn't believe it himself.

When Ben and Little Joe rode into the yard, Adam came out to meet them.  He reached up and took his sleeping little brother in his arms and he took the child up to his room with Ben following.  Once in the child's room, they removed the boys' boots, hat, deputy badge, holster and handcuffs.  Then Ben covered up his little boy and kissed him on his forehead.

Once down stairs, Ben told Adam and Hop Sing what had happened in town.  " Pa, your joking, right?  There's no way Little Joe could have help capture bank robbers," Adam said, still not believing what Ben was saying.  " Little boy either very brave or he not thinking of what he do," Hop Sing stated.  " I think he wasn't thinking at what he was doing," Ben said.

About that time the front door flew open and Hoss ran in.  " Pa, you'll never guess what I heard about Little Joe taday!" Hoss excitedly said.  " What did you hear about your baby brother Hoss?" Ben asked.  " I heard that he went after bank robbers and that he helped get them.  That's the craziest thing I ever heard in a long time.  Little brother is just a baby.  There's NO way he can go after bank robbers and help get em," Hoss said.

" Hoss, I hate to tell you this, but what you heard is very true.  Your baby brother DID go after bank robbers, and he DID help capture them," Ben said to a shocked Hoss.  Hoss didn't know what to say.  He just sat there with his mouth open

" Pa, where is he now?" Hoss asked.  " He's having his nap.  After we got back to town, he said he was hungry.  He said that getting bank robbers made him hungry.  He ate his lunch and before we left town to come home, he was almost asleep.  He fell asleep on the way home, and he's still sleeping," Ben said.  " I still don't know if I should be mad at him or be proud of him," Ben said again.

" Pa did ya know that when you were visiting with Roy, Little Joe went into the Bucket Of Blood and he asked Bruno for a beer, cuz he is a deputy," Hoss told Ben.  Ben sat there with his mouth open and said, " HE WHAT ?  HE DIDN'T DID HE ?"  " Yup, Bruno told Roy about it, and Roy told me when he saw me start to ride home from school.  Bruno told him that he would give Little Joe a beer in fourteen more years, and that little brother agreed ta that," Hoss said.  Ben, Adam, Hop Sing and Hoss just had to laugh at that statement.  " That boy, what are we going to do with him?" Ben asked as he was still laughing.  " Well, you could lock him up until he is 21 years old Pa," Adam suggested still laughing.  " Sounds like a good idea son," agreed Ben.

As soon as Little Joe woke up from his nap, he ran down the stairs hoping to find Adam, and Hoss so he could tell them that he had helped capture bank robbers.  " Uh oh, here comes our little tornado," laughed Hoss.  " Whoa there little buddy, what's the hurry?" Adam asked as he caught the fast running little boy.

" Guess whats I dun dided taday?" Little Joe excitedly asked.  " You did your chores?" Adam answered.  " Nope, but I dun dided em !" the child said.  " I know, ya ate all your breakfast and lunch," Hoss suggested as he grinned at his big bright eyed baby brother who was jumping up and down with excitement.  " Um, I sota ated most of it, but that ain't it Hoss.  Little Joe kept looking at his big brothers, waiting for them to guess what he had done, but they both shook heads and said that they didn't know as they shrugged their shoulders.

" I's helped get bank robbers !! Little Joe shouted.  Both Hoss and Adam winked at each other.  " You did ?? Hoss said as if was very surprised.  " Yup, I was comin' out of da saloon and I sawed em bank robbers run out of da bank, and I's ran over ta Ginger, gots on her and wented after them robbers.  When I's caughted up to em, I pointed my gun at em and ya knowed what theys dun dided---they laughed at me.  Then Papa, Sheriff Coffee and da posse comed.  Then one of them robbers grabbed me and he  helded me under his arm, so I bitted him hard, and he dropped me.  Then da sheriff and posse gots em and we's all wented back ta town.  Papa picked me up to holded and hugged me, but I tolded him it wasn't time fer holdin' and huggin', and thats we's needed to get them robber ta jail," Little Joe said.  " WOW, you sure were brave little brother," Adam said.  " Yup, I sure was, thats fer sure.  Ya dunts mess wiv da deputy here, " Little Joe said as he stuck his chest out feeling very big and proud.  " Yes sir, you sure are a tough deputy all right.  I sure wouldn't wanna mess with you Punkin," Hoss said, trying not too laugh.

Ben and Hop Sing were listening to everything Little Joe was telling his big brothers, and they both had to go outside so they could laugh.  Adam joined them and he too was laughing.  " Pa, did you see the way he puffed out his little chest?" Adam asked.  " Yes I did and that's why Hop Sing and I had to come outside so we could laugh," Ben answered.  " Little boy very funny when he explain things," Hop Sing said.  They all agreed.

Hoss picked up his little brother and he started to swing him in a circle, causing Little Joe to start to giggle.  Hoss was now laughing too, as he couldn't hold in his laughing anymore.  The Hoss laid the little boy down on the floor and he got down on his knee, and he started to tickle the child, who was now giggling loudly and trying to hold his stomach.

When Ben, Adam and Hop Sing came back inside the house, the first thing they heard and saw was loud giggling and Little Joe rolling on the floor and Hoss tickling him.  Little Joe finally got to his knees and he started to crawl away from Hoss, but Hoss grabbed him again and he started to tickle him again.

A week later Ben had a very long day ahead of him doing bookwork at his desk.  He did this every month, which he didn't look forward too.  He seemed to growl a lot which Little Joe thought was very funny. 

Little Joe had come in from doing his morning chores and he walked over to where Ben was doing his bookwork.  Ben didn't notice his little son standing there looking at him.  " Papa, can I's go inta Virginia City ta help Sheriff Coffee?" the child asked very softly.  Ben, who was so busy concentraing on what he was doing, didn't hear what Little Joe had said.  He mumbled back, " Sure, be careful."

Little Joe ran up to his room to get his, deputy badge, handcuffs, holster and gun.  He quietly came down the stairs, and softly said, " bye Papa."  Ben just growl.  Little Joe giggled very softly, grabbed his hat and he left and went to the barn to saddle Ginger, and off he went to Virginia City all by himself.

About two hours later, Little Joe reached the Sheriff's office.  He got off of Ginger, and tied her reins to the hitching rail.  " Ya be good now Ginger." he told his pony.

Little Joe looked up and down the street checking to see if everything looked alright.  Then he opened the door to the Sheriff's office, walked in and closed the door.  He noticed that Roy wasn't there, so he sat down at Roy's desk to wait.

Roy had been making his rounds of town and as he walked back towards his office he noticed Ginger tied up in front of his office.  He looked around for Buck, Ben's horse, but he didn't see him or Ben.

When Roy walked into his office, there sat Little Joe going through the latest wanted posters.  " Howdy Little Joe.  What's ya doin' here son?" Roy asked.  " Hi Sheriff Coffee.  Imma here ta help ya take care of the town," the little boy told him.  " Oh you are, are you ?  Where's your Papa?" Roy asked.  " He's at home growling," Little Joe said.  " Growling?" Roy asked.  " Yup, he was growling lots when I's left, the child answered.  " Did Adam bring you to town?" Roy asked.  " Nope.  Ginger brung me," the little boy said.  Roy was shocked that Little Joe had come into Virginia City by himself.

" Little Joe, does your Papa know where you are?" Roy asked.  " Uh huh, he tolded me ta be careful, so Imma careful.  Deputies gots ta help da Sheriff," Little Joe proudly said.  Roy thought to himself,' Uh oh, Ben ain't gonna like this one bit, that his baby boy came all the way to Virginia City by himself."

" Sheriff Coffee, can we make rounds now?" asked the bright eyed little boy.  " Alright, lets go," Roy said as he took hold of Little Joe's tiny hand and they started to makes their rounds, even though Roy had just finished doing that.  Everytime Little Joe saw a women walking towards him, he would tip his hat to her and he would say, " Hi ma'am.  How is you taday?"  Roy was getting a big kick out of Little Joe when he did that.

Roy and Little Joe had stopped at the mail office so Little Joe could get the family's mail.  Then he and Roy went over to Daisy's for lunch.  " Why Little Joe, what are you doing in here with Roy?" Daisy asked.  " Imma helpin' him make rounds.  Imma deputy ya know," the child told her proudly.

While they ate their lunch they talked about how things were going in town.  " Sheriff Coffee, is there any bad mens that we can go after?" Little Joe asked as he took a bit of his sandwich.  Roy was trying not too laugh at his ' little deputy ' with all the different facial expressions on Little Joe's face.  " No, there aren't, not since you helped get them bank robbers," Roy answered.  " That's good ain't it?" the child asked.  " Yes, that is very good," Roy replied.

As soon as they had finished their lunch and cookies, Roy and Little Joe left the cafe to continued making their rounds.  After they had finished making  rounds, Roy noticed that his ' little deputy' kept yawning and he looked very sleepy.  When they returned to Roy's office, Roy said, " Little Joe, why don't you go into one of the cells and have a nap, while I do some paper work."  " Kay, Imma sleepy," the little boy answered as he and Roy went to where the empty cells were.  Little Joe laid down and Roy took his boots off of him and covered him up.  Little Joe stuck his thumb in his mouth as soon as he laid down and was very soon in a deep sleep.  Roy stood there looking down at the sleeping angel and he smiled.  He left and went over to his desk so he could start his paperwork.  " I wonder if Ben has noticed that his baby boy is missing?" Roy thought to himself.

" Mr. Cartlight, lunch ready.  Where Little Joe?" Hop Sing asked.  Ben looked up from his bookwork and said, " he's probably outside playing Hop Sing."  " Hop Sing already look ouside, little boy nowhere in sight," Hop Sing replied.  Ben stood up and headed towards the door and he went outside.  " LITTLE JOE, LITTLE JOE, TIME FOR LUNCH NOW!  LITTLE JOE COME ON SON ! Ben shouted.  No answer.  " Little boy no answer," Hop Sing said.  Ben ran out to the barn to look in the hay loft, but he noticed that Ginger was missing.  Ben couldn't figure out where his little boy could be, since the child wasn't allowed out of the yard by himself.  " Mr. Cartlight, you eat lunch then look for little boy," Hop Sing suggested. 

Ben ran into the house and up to Little Joe's room, but the boy wasn't there.  He did notice that the his deputy badge, holster, gun and handcuffs were missing.  Ben ran back down the stairs and saw that Little Joe's hat and jacket were gone too.  He was worried sick now.

Adam had ridden into Virginia City to pick up the mail, and as he entered the mail office, Norm told him that Roy and Little Joe had already picked up the mail a little while ago.  " Roy and Little Joe picked up the mail?" Adam asked, not sure if he had heard Norm correctly.  " Yes, about an hour ago," Norm said.  " Thanks Norm," Adam said as he left the mail office.  He was now confused.

Adam walked over to Roy's office and he saw Ginger tied up at the hitching rail.  He looked around for Buck, but he didn't see him anywhere.  " How strange !" Adam thought to himself. 

As he walked into the Sheriff's office, there sat Roy doing some paperwork.  " Hi Adam.  Did ya come to get your little brother?" Roy asked.  " Hi Roy.  Little Joe is here?  Is Pa with him?  I didn't see Buck tied up," Adam said.  " Yup, he's having a nap in one of the cells.  He came into town by himself to help me out.  Your Pa doesn't know he's here.  Little Joe told me that Ben was doing paperwork, and he asked him if he could come to town to help me, and he said that Ben just growled," Roy explained to Adam. 

" OH NO, when Pa's  doing his paperwork, he concentrates so hard on what he is doing.  So if Little Joe asked him if he could come to town, Pa probably didn't hear him.  That little imp.  Is he alright Roy?" asked a concerned Adam.  " He's just fine Adam.  He helped make rounds we picked up your mail and we had lunch at Daisy's.  On the way back here he was almost asleep on his feet, so I made him lay down, and he put his little thumb in his mouth and he went right to sleep.  I've never had a deputy who sucked his thumb when he went to sleep.  Plus I've never had such a little cutie either for a deputy," Roy told Adam as they were both smiling. 

Roy and Adam looked in at the sleeping little deputy.  " He looks so innocent when he sleeps and he looks like a little angel too, but when he is awake, he's a total imp," Adam said. 

" I hate to wake him, but I better get him home before Pa panics.  First I better put our mail in my saddle bags and tie Ginger's reins to Beauty's saddle before I get that little imp," Adam said.  " I'm glad you came along Adam.  It saves me a trip out to The Ponderosa with my little deputy," Roy said.

Adam put the mail in his saddle bags, tied Ginger's reins to Beauty's saddle horn, then he went back inside to get his little brother.  He quietly and gently put the child's boots back on him, along with his jacket.  He then picked up the sleeping child and carried him out to their horses.  He handed his little brother to Roy so he could climb on Beauty.  Then Roy handed Little Joe back up to Adam.  " Thanks Roy for taking care of him," Adam said.  " No problem Adam.  He is fun to be with.  Say Hi to your Pa for me," Roy said.  Adam nodded back at Roy, as he and Little Joe headed off for home.

Ben was now on his way to Virginia City to see if his baby son had gone there.  After a few minutes, he saw Adam coming towards him with a sleeping Little Joe in front of him.

" Adam, where did you find him?" asked a very relieved Ben. 
 "Hi Pa.  He was in town with Roy.  He told Roy that he asked you if he could go and help Roy, and you growled something at him, so he left.  He's just fine Pa.  He helped Roy make rounds, picked up our mail and had lunch with Roy at Daisy's.  When they got back to Roy's office, Roy said that he was almost asleep on his feet, so he took into one of the cells and made him lay down.  Roy said as soon as he laid down, he put his thumb in his mouth and he fell right to sleep," Adam explained to Ben.  " Why that little imp !" Ben said as he sighed.

 " I went into town to pick up our mail and Norm said that Roy and Little Joe had already picked it up.  So I went over to see Roy and to find out why Little Joe was there, and thats where I found him sound to sleep," Adam said.

Ben reached over and took his sleeping little son from Adam, and he held him in front of himself and the three Cartwrights headed home.

When Hop Sing heard horses coming into the yard, he ran out the door and he was very relieved when he saw Little Joe with Ben.  Adam got off his horse, took his little brother from Ben, so Ben could get off of his horse, and then he handed the sleeping boy back over to Ben, who carried the child towards the house and up to his room, while  Adam took care of the horses.

After Little Joe was safely in his bed, Ben and Adam told Hop Sing where the little boy had gone.  Hop Sing just shook his head and went back ou to the kitchen.  " Pa, you just might have to really keep that little imp in his room until he turns 21 years old," Adam told Ben, while he was laughing.  " I think you are so right about that son.  Thank you for bringing my baby safely back to me.  I was so worried about him.  I had a feeling that he probably headed to town when I saw his badge, handcuffs, holster, hat and jacket gone, along with Ginger too," Ben said.

As soon as Hoss came home from school, Ben and Adam told him what Little Joe had done.  Hoss just laughed and said, " That boy isn't afraid to go anywhere by himself.  Maybe if he would stop to think about that, he just might stay home."  " I could have Roy fire him as his deputy," Ben suggested.  " That might be a good idea Pa, but would really hurt him," Adam said.  " I was only teasing.  I do know that when a certain little boy wakes up, he and I are going to have a little discussion.  He has to realize that he isn't allowed to leave the yard by himself, and if he continues doing that, then his little bottom will get some more attention," Ben said.  The Ben added this, " Our little deputy indeed."

THE END

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