By Lynne C.
"So, what are you three up to, this time?" said Ben, when he
entered
the main room of the spacious Ponderosa ranch house and found two of
his sons concentrating hard on something in their hands, while Adam
looked on, anxious to see what they had.
"Huh? Oh nothing Pa," replied Joe, when he realised that his
father
was there. He was holding on so tight to whatever he had in his hand,
he could hardly tear his eyes away from it, in order to acknowledge
his father's presence.
"It's nothing, Pa," affirmed Adam. "Just a little something
between
myself and my siblings.
"Huh?" said Hoss. Now it was his turn to look rather startled
and he
took his eyes off his hands, but only for a brief moment. "I thought
this was `tween me, you and Little Joe. Who are them siblings ya wanna
bring into it?"
"We are the siblings I want to bring into it," replied Adam,
trying to
keep his patience. "Siblings is another term for brothers."
"Oh, well, why didn't ya jest say brothers, then?" said Hoss.
"I thought I did," replied Adam.
"If it's something you boys would rather not share with me, then
that's fine," said Ben, making his way across the room. "I'm going
to
town, this evening, so if you will excuse me, I need to go and get
ready," and he headed up the stairs.
As Ben disappeared from view, Hoss looked a little upset.
"Aww, dadburnit, I sure hope we didn't hurt Pa's feelin's, none,
leavin' him outta what we're doin'."
"He'll get over it," said Joe, who, to be honest, was not that
concerned about his father's feelings, right at this moment.
"Will one of you please put me out of my misery and show us what
you've got?" demanded Adam. "We already know that I've lost out."
Joe's giggle filled the air.
"Yeah, big brother, you sure lucked out, big time. Not only do you
miss out on an evening in the company of the delectable Miss Lila, but
you've gotta stay here and do the winner's evening chores, too."
"Yes, that's true, but I won't be the only one, will I?" said
Adam.
"Only one of you will be escorting Miss Lila; the other one will be
staying here with me, and doing those chores."
Neither Hoss nor Joe seemed prepared to reveal what they had and Adam
was beginning to reach the end of his already stretched patience.
"Oh, I give up," he finally said, and he began to walk away.
"Frankly,
I don't give a damn which of you wins."
"Okay, okay," said Joe, realising he had prolonged the agony
long
enough. "I'll show you what I got," and he opened his hand, to
reveal
an extremely long match.
Hoss looked down at his match, but already knew that his would be
shorter than Joe's.
"Dadburnit," he said, again. "Of all the confounded luck."
Adam sniffed, expressing his disapproval.
"Poor girl, having to spend the evening with a boy, instead of a man."
"Don't you worry, big brother, I'm all the man that Miss Lila will
ever need."
Adam sniffed again, obviously disputing this statement.
"Yes, of course you are, baby brother," said Hoss, although there
was
not an ounce of sincerity in what he said.
Just then, Ben came downstairs, smartly turned out in a charcoal grey
suit, white shirt and silver brocade vest.
"Don't wait up for me, boys, I will most likely be quite late,"
he
said, as he headed for the door.
The boys scarcely acknowledged what he said.
"See ya, Pa," said Hoss, as Joe ran up the stairs, after calling
to
Hop Sing to heat up some water, for a bath.
It took a while, but Joe was eventually ready to go and meet Miss Lila
Conrad and take her out for a meal, and then to the theatre. The young
woman had first met Adam and Joe when she was trying to flee from a
murder charge (The Lila Conrad Story). They had offered her some help
and when she stood trial, she had been found not guilty of murder, as
she had only attacked the man in self defence. After working in
Virginia City, in a milliner's store, for a few months, in order to
earn the fare, she was now heading back home to be reconciled with her
mother. All three boys wanted to take her out, for her last night in
town, so they drew matches, to determine which of them would be the
lucky one. However, none of them had informed Lila of their intentions.
"Okay, fellas, I'm going," said Joe. "Don't forget to do
all those
chores, will ya? See you in the morning, `night."
By the time Joe made it into town and arrived at the hotel, to collect
Lila, she was already in the dining room, enjoying her meal.
Tom, on the desk, informed Little Joe where she was, and he went
through to join her.
However, the sight that greeted him made him stop in his tracks.
"Well, hello son, I didn't know that you were also coming to town,
this evening," said Ben, rising from the table he was sharing with
Lila. "We've almost finished our dinner, but you are more than welcome
to join us, isn't that right, Lila?"
"Of course it is," said Lila, smiling up at the handsome boy.
"A meal
with one Cartwright can only be improved if a second one joins us."
"Erm, no thanks, Pa, Miss Lila," stuttered Joe. "I'm looking
for some
friends of mine. As it's obvious they are not here, I'll go check the
Silver Dollar. Hope you have a nice night, and a pleasant trip home,
Miss Lila."
"Thank you, Little Joe, and please send my best regards to Adam and Hoss."
Joe just nodded to his father, and then turned to leave, but as he
made his way to the door of the dining room, Ben caught up with him.
He smiled at his boy and just said, "Age and experience, boy, age
and
experience; it wins out, every time."
THE END
Little Joe forever
Lynne
February 3rd 2009