DO YOU REALLY THINK PA WILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY
BY Moreau
"You have to admit Adam, Little Joe didn’t think it to go this
far."
Hoss said with a hopeful but helpless look on his face.
With a sarcastic snort Adam finished his coffee and did not say a
word. This was one time those two were not going to drag his tail into
the firestorm they created. "Didn’t think, is right, as usual."
"Aww come on Adam, you gotta help me explain...." Joe said with
a more
pitiful look than Hoss.
"Like hell I will little brother." Adam said moving away from
them
shaking his head.
"Hoss, you gotta help me with Pa, when he gets back from town..."
"Sure Joe just as soon as I get that uh thing I gotta do ...and boy
that fence in the north pasture, dang if it ain’t ...needing some
fixin.." Hoss said getting up.
"Hoss!!" Joe whined.
))))))))))))
Ben made three heart felt apologies today. Two went to women who
wanted his head in a basket. One apology and thank you went to the
Sheriff, Roy Coffee. The thank you was for not arresting Joseph on the
spot. Roy told Ben he could be judge, jury and executioner in this matter.
May he live a long life, god willing, Ben will never forget the look
of Mrs. Brown and Miss Wealter’s faces as the basket sitting on
table to be bid upon started moving. As Mrs. Brown being the curious
human snoop she is, opened it and discovered a very angry baby skunk
which proceeded to made his presence known, in a all too natural way.
The basket was meant for Adam and Samantha. Joe wanted to teach Adam a
lesson for teasing him for not being able to participate in the fund
raiser of basket bidding to share a lunch with a fair maid. Still too
young, Joe decided to "liven" things up. The two women were sprayed
with the foul musk. Their loud shrieks startled a horse tied to a
tree. The horse broke it’s bridle and ran into the table of the
cakes and pies, Mr. Hubble fell backwards on the table sending a
chocolate three layered cake skyward only to have it come down onto
the new preacher.
Ben made his long journey home, the ride helped cool his anger. He put
Buck in his stall, rubbed him down and collected his thoughts. The
evening meal wafted in the air. Whenever one or all the boys were in
trouble, Hop Sing seemed to appease Ben’s anger with a good meal.
Good, I will need my strength when I take that boy to the barn
tonight, Ben to himself.
Opening the door, three sets of eyes shifted to Ben’s direction.
"Supper is almost ready Pa..." Hoss said then found real interest
in a
speck on his vest.
"That is good, because I seem to have missed lunch today." Ben
said
moving his eyes on his youngest son.
Joseph looked sick. After dinner young man, you and I will take a walk
to the barn."
"Yes s-sir." Joe managed to squeak.
Hop Sing out did himself with the "appeasing feast". Roast beef,
potatoes, gravy, green beans, and for desert coffee and baked apples.
Adam smirked, "a great last meal" he said under his breath.
Hoss looked sympathetic to Joe but could offer no words that would
satisfy their father and he knew it.
"Joseph, follow me please." Ben said not looking back heading
out the
door.
Joe stood up took a great gulp of milk and walked out the door.
As Joe shut the door behind him, Adam and Hoss gave each other a
knowing glance.
"Well, maybe in let’s say ten or twenty years, we may be sitting
around during a great dinner like this one and laugh about this day
with our families." Adam said to Hoss.
"I wouldn’t want to give my kids any ideas." Hoss said
with a chuckle.
"Now, could you imagine Joe having sons, it would be something to see
how he would handle his own boys or even worse a daughter just like
him." Adam said with a laugh.
Ben and Joe came back into the house, Joe was obviously having a
difficult time moving one foot in front of the other without hissing
in pain from the movement. He went straight to his room and shut the door.
Hoss and Adam both gave a warm sympathetic glance upward toward their
younger brother’s room. "Now, if you two dare bring this up
many
Thanksgivings from now as fodder for light conversation with my
daughters in law, god willing, and grandchildren, I will take both of
you...."
"We get the message Pa." Adam said.
Their father went to bed soon after. Weary to the bone. He checked on
Joe and then retired for the night.
Hoss and Adam had to take a walk outside to quell their chuckles. Oh
yes this will be a Cartwright story for many years to come.
The Tender End