" The Horse Buying Trip "
part two
By: Lynne G.
Adam watched his two younger brothers go outside, and he slowly shook his head, now feeling a little guilty. He had always encouraged his ten and half year old little brother to read more books, so by denying the boy the two books that he had wanted so badly, made Adam do more thinking while he awaited his turn to pay for the books he and Hoss were getting.
Without really thinking, Adam suddenly found himself back over at the bookshelves, and he found the two books that Little Joe had wanted and he took them off the shelf and walked backed to the counter and he added the two books to his and Hoss's books. He now felt a little better.
As Hoss and Little Joe waited outside for Adam, they watched the people in town walking in and out of stores.
" Hoss, I even told Adam that I would pay him for the books once we got back home, but he still wouldn't let me get em," Little Joe sadly said as he looked up at Hoss.
" Well, ya can't really blame him Punkin," Hoss replied as he put his arm around his little brother's shoulder. " Yeah, I know. I really am sorry Hoss. I really am. Please believe me," the boy pleaded. " I believe ya," Hoss said as he smiled at the boy.
" Hey little brother, since Adam is still in the store, what did ya think of all them mares we saw today?" Hoss asked.
Surprised that Hoss would ask him, Little Joe replied, " I didn't like any em. I didn't like their conformation, and they just didn't look totally healthy. One mare had a slightly bowed tendon too. Several of em's cannon bones were just a little too long. Please dun't let Adam buy any of them mares Hoss."
Hoss was very impressed at everything his little brother had told him about the mares they had seen.
" Golly Short Shanks, I didn't pay that much attention to their cannon bones, but you sure did. I did notice that they didn't looked totally healthy either, and that is why I didn't care for any of them. We still have some more ranches to visit tomorrow, so if'n ya see any great looking mares, let me know by movin' yer curly little head up and down," Hoss suggested.
" Thanks Hoss, and I promise that I will let ya know," Little Joe happily replied, as he felt a little better knowing that Hoss would convince Adam on the mares they wanted.
" Sorry it took me so long in there, but there were several people ahead of me in line. Here you go Hoss," Adam said as he handed Hoss his package of books. " Thanks big brother," Hoss replied. Adam smiled at him.
Adam had Little Joe's books in the package with his books, and he decided to wait to give the boy his books until they got home.
As the Cartwright brothers walked down the street looking in the shop windows, Hoss spotted a candy store that looked very interesting to him.
" Hey Adam, can we go in there and get some candy please?" Hoss asked as he licked his lips. Adam got a kick out of the look on Hoss's face and he said, " Sure can."
Hoss and
Little Joe couldn't believe their eyes at all the different kinds of candy in
that shop. They had never seen so much candy before and they wished that
there was a candy shop in
Adam could care less about candy. He could take it or leave it, since he didn't really have a sweet tooth like his younger brothers did.
Hoss was having a hard time trying to decide what kinds of candy he wanted. Adam had told him that he could have some of every kind if he wanted, but there were some that Hoss didn't want.
Little Joe decided that he wouldn't even ask Adam if he could have any candy, knowing that Adam wouldn't let him get any. He was happy that Hoss was getting the same kinds of candy that he would have picked out. He also knew that Hoss would share his candy with him too.
As Adam watched, he quietly asked the store clerk if when he got Hoss's sacks of candy if he wouldn't mind doing the extra sacks with the same kinds of candy in them. He decided to get Little Joe some candy too without telling him.
Little Joe stood by the door watching the activies on the street, while Hoss continued to pick out the kinds of candy he wanted.
After Hoss had told the clerk the kinds of candy he wanted, he noticed his little brother standing by the door.
Walking up to the boy, Hoss said, " Hey, ain't ya gonna get any candy Punkin?" Little Joe looked up at Hoss with very sad eyes and he told Hoss," No, since big brother would just say no anyway."
" Go ahead and give it a try, and if he says no, then I will share mine with ya," Hoss suggested. " No, it's really alright Hoss. I dunt need any," the boy replied.
Noticing that Adam came out of the store with a large sack, Hoss asked him what was in the sack. " Oh, it's something for a friend of mine," Adam declared.
The next day, the brothers went to see some more mares. Like the day before, Adam told Little Joe to behave himself, and to be quiet.
As Adam and Hoss were carefully looking at the mares at the last ranch they had planned to visit, Little Joe was also looking very carefully at the mares.
The boy ran his hands up and down the mare's legs as he carefully looked at their entire bodies. He even looked in their mouths.
As Little Joe was looking at the mares, Slim Warner walked over to the youngster that he been watching ever since the boy started to check out the mares.
" You seem to know what to look for son," Slim said as he smiled at the excited looking youngster.
" Thank you sir. You have some great looking mares here. They look perfect in every way," Little Joe declared proudly. " Yes we do, and for a boy so young, you really know horses extremely well," Slim replied.
" Thank you sir. I really love horses !" Little Joe very proudly admitted.
Looking up, Adam saw his little brother petting one of the mares and talking to Slim.
" Little Joe, get away from those horses right now !" Adam angrily shouted. Little Joe walked over and sat down a large rock next to the corral.
" I'm sorry Mr. Warner. My little brother had no right to be around those mares," Adam apologized.
" Mr. Cartwright, the boy wasn't doing any harm to the mares. I must say that the boy knows horses extremely well, and he told me that I have some wonderful looking mares, and I might add, he picked out the best mares too," Slim told Adam. Adam felt like crawling in a hole.
Adam looked at Slim, then at Hoss who was now looking at the mares Little Joe had nodded to him about.
" Hey Adam, ya gotta come over here and check out these mares. They are perfect !" Hoss declared.
Adam walked over to have a good look for himself, and he had to agree with Hoss about the four mares.
" We'd love to buy these four mares Mr. Warner. They will add greatly to our horse breeding business," Adam stated.
Slim knew that the youngster had already picked out those four mares, but he didn't say anything to Adam about that, but he did turn to look at the boy and he winked at him, which made Little Joe smile.
Slim and Adam worked out a price for the mares and Adam wrote out a check and he gave it to Slim.
" Thank you Mr. Warner," Adam said as he, Hoss and Little Joe rode off with their new mares. " Thank you for your business Mr. Cartwright," Slim replied as he watched the brothers ride off, and he again thought about the boy who knew more about horses than his oldest brother did.
After all the horses had been settled into their stalls at the stables, Adam went to send Ben a telegram letting him know that they had bought four mares and that they would be home in four or five days.
While Adam was sending the telegram, Hoss told his little brother how proud he was of him for picking out the best four mares, and he gave the boy a big hug. " Thanks Hoss," Little Joe replied.
During dinner that night, Adam and Hoss talked about the mares they had bought. Adam was still a little upset with Little Joe because he was checking out the mares, plus Adam didn't want to admit that his baby brother was a better judge of horses than he was.
That evening as the brother relaxed in their hotel room, Adam was reading one of his new books, and Hoss had started to read one of his new books and he also was eating some candy too.
Hoss had offered Little Joe some candy, but the boy said he didn't want any, which really surprsied Hoss.
Little Joe sat down on a chair and he was looking out the window enjoying watching all the people coming and going. He felt a little sad, but he was excited about leaving for home in the morning.
When Little Joe had told Hoss that he didn't want any candy, Adam had heard that statement by his little brother and it also had surprised him as well. He took a good look at the youngster, and he could see how sad his brother looked and he felt sorry for him now.
Adam knew he had given the boy a hard time since he and Hoss had found that their little brother had followed them, and he had to punish the boy, but he didn't like to see the youngster so unhappy looking.
Adam laid his book down and he got up and walked over to his little brother. " Anything interesting out there ?" Adam asked as he laid his hand on the boy's shoulder.
" Just watchin' people comin' and goin' and wonderin' where they are all goin'. It's kinda interesting," Little Joe replied as he looked up at his oldest brother with questioning eyes.
" I agree that watching people is very interesting. I wonder too where they are all going. They all seem to be in a big hurry too," Adam said.
The youngster took a deep breath and he hoped that tears wouldn't fill up his eyes, as he looked up at Adam again.
" Adam, I am really sorry I was so naughty and looked at them mares, and fer followin' you and Hoss here. Please...please dun't be still mad at me. I'm also very sorry that I asked ya fer them two books too. I know that I didn't deserve them. That's why I didn't ask ya if'n I could have some candy." the boy continued.
" Adam, I really do love ya, ya know. Please...please dun't still be mad at me no more," Little Joe finished saying as his tears ran down his face.
" Oh, little buddy, please don't cry. I'm not mad at you anymore, and I know that you actually picked out those four mares. That is why I bought them. I am so very proud of you for your knowledge of horses, which I sure wasn't at your age. You really impressed Mr. Warner too. If you would like some candy little buddy, I did buy you the same kinds that Hoss wanted too," Adam very lovingly told his little brother.
Hoss was in tears as he listened to his two brothers. He was so happy that Adam was no longer upset with their baby brother that he almost shouted for joy.
As Adam held his little brother, Little Joe softly said, " Thank you Adam. Yes I would really love to have some candy...please."
" I love you too you little rascal," Adam replied. He felt so much better now that things were good between him and his baby brother. It really did break his heart to see this loving little boy so sad. There was just something special about his little brother that made it so hard to even get upset with him. He was sure that the boy had a magical way about him.
After four long days riding home with their new mares, the Cartwright brothers finally rode into the yard, and they were greeted by Ben and Hop Sing, who were very glad to have the boys home again.
" Welcome home boys !" both Ben and Hop Sing happily said. " Thanks Pa, Hop Sing, it is wonderful to be home again," Adam said as he got off his horse.
Ben was very impressed with the four new mares. " Those mares look perfect. You sure did pick out great ones," Ben said as he continued to look at the mares.
" Yes, we did Pa, but it was Little Joe who picked them out," Adam proudly said as he hugged the boy. " Oh, I see," Ben added as he looked at his youngest son.
Little Joe was afraid to look at Ben and Ben could tell by looking at the boy that he was feeling extremely nervous.
" Joseph, come here please !" Ben ordered stiffly. Little Joe began to tremble and he did what he was order to do.
As the boy stood there staring at the ground, Ben took a deep breath and began to speak. " Well, what do you have to say for yourself, young man ?" Ben was trying not to smile, as he was pretending to be upset with his little son, and he wanted to see what the boy's reaction would be.
Talking very softly, Little Joe explained, " " I'm really sorry Papa. I just wanted ta help pick out the mares. Ya can tan me if'n ya want ta. I'll go up ta my room now and wait for ya." Little Joe was in tears as they ran down his face, and he had used ' Papa ' when he talked to Ben this time. It just came out that way instead of saying ' Pa ', and the little boy didn't even realize that he had said ' Papa'.
Ben looked down at his trembling, crying son and he smiled as he held open his arms and said, " Come here sweetheart." That was all it took for Little Joe to run into Ben's loving and waiting arms.
" Oh Papa," the boy cried. " Shhh, it's alright son. I really did miss you. I love you Little Joe, and don't worry, I'm not going to tan you," Ben softly said as he held his son tightly, and kissed the top of his head.
Hop Sing had made a wonderful ' welcome home ' feast for his family, and everyone ate until they could eat no more. " Boy, Hop Sing, ya sure did out do yerself with dinner. It was wonderful !" Hoss declared. They all agreed to Hoss's statement.
After dinner, the boys told Ben and Hop Sing all about their trip. Ben was very impressed at how well the trip had gone. He knew his youngest son was an excellent judge of horses, which the boy had proved many times before.
Ben was also please to hear that Little Joe didn't cause any trouble for his older brothers either.
Adam walked over to Little Joe and handed him a package. " Here little buddy, this is for you," Adam happily said. Little Joe looked up at Adam, confused, not knowing why Adam would give him a package. It wasn't his birthday or anything.
" Go ahead and open it little buddy," Adam suggested, as the boy just sat there looking at the package he was holding in his hands.
Little Joe swallowed and he slowly began to open his package, but every couple of seconds he would glance up at Adam, who was smiling at him.
As soon as Little Joe saw the two books he wanted so badly, he gasped loudly, looked up at Adam, with tears now forming in his eyes.
" Oh Adam, thank you so much ! How ? When ?" the very excited boy squealed in total surprise.
" I knew how much you wanted them, so when you and Hoss had gone outside to wait for me, I went back over to the shelves and got them for you," Adam explained.
Little Joe gave Adam a big hug and he told Adam that he loved him. " I love you too little buddy," Adam replied as he hugged his little brother.
Hoss was really surprised by what Adam had done. He had no idea that Adam had bought the two books for Little Joe, but he was so happy that he did. Just to see the all that excitement written all over their little brother face was priceless.
" Papa, look at my books Adam bought me ! Ain't they just wonderful ?" Little Joe squealed as he was grinning from ear to ear.
" That was very nice of your big brother to buy them for you," Ben replied back. " Yup, it sure was, and I'm gonna pay him fer em too !" the youngster announced.
" No, you don't have to pay me for them little brother. They are a gift," Adam explained. " Thank you again Adam, I love em !" Little Joe replied as he was still grinning.
Adam was very happy that he had decided to buy the two books for his little brother. He knew that he had made the boy so happy with those books, and he couldn't seem to get enough of the happy looks on the boy's face sweet face.
The End