Synopsis: Joe should have remembered his older brother’s advice, when he learns a lesson on how easy it is for women to be his downfall.
Category: Bonanza
Genre: Western, prequel
Rating: K
Word Count: 950
“He told me. I know he did. Something like, ‘Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.’ Isn’t that what he told me? Why didn’t I keep quiet?”
Joe Cartwright, all of fifteen years old, sat on the bunk and waited; wondering when his Pa was going to come and how he was going to explain it all. He couldn’t hide the fact that his left eye was beginning to swell shut, nor could he hide the colorful bruise appearing around his cheek bone. His stomach ached, and grew queasy as he thought about the supper Hop Sing was sure to be cooking. Right now the only thing he had to be thankful for was the fact that Doctor Martin has stated he didn’t feel there was any serious damage inflicted.
Earlier, the question had been asked and before he was aware, the answer was tumbling out of his mouth. Mitch Devlin and Seth Pruitt stood to the side, mouths gaping open and closed like trout in a stream.
The punch had come without warning, fast and furious. His head snapped to the right while stars and pinpoints of light invaded his vision. Struggling to keep to his feet, his arms windmilled around until his back connected with a tree and he slid to the ground.
High-pitched, angry words hurled beyond his grasp as the crowd gathered. Colorful skirts swished just outside the periphery of his line of sight. Someone stood in front of his assailant, hopefully restraining them. The conversation flew between the two too fast for Joe to comprehend their meaning above the buzzing in his head.
A hand reached forward, grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled him to his feet, almost. His toes barely touched the ground as a second voice assaulted his senses and another punch landed in his abdomen, forcing his breath out with a whoosh.
No one heard the thud of his body impacting the ground over the shouts of Roy Coffee attempting to break up the fight. With difficulty, Joe grasped the lawman’s words in hopes of staving off the darkness that threatened.
“Break it up! You kids, go on home! School’s over for the day.”
“If I ever!” Jethro Warton declared before striking out with his foot, catching his downed opponent on the back of the thigh.
The lawman made his way through the gathering of young people, looking to find those responsible. No one answered his request, “Who started this fight?”
Away from the group, Jethro grabbed the arm of his little sister, Emily, and began to drag her home. Several blocks from the school house, Emily regained her composure and pulled her arm from her brother’s hand.
“How dare you!”
“How dare I what? I defended your honor! I heard what that Cartwright said!”
“You had no right!”
“You best be thankful Pa ain’t the one who heard what he said. Get home, girl!”
*****
Roy Coffee had sent word to the Ponderosa that Joe was delayed in town, and that it would be best that someone come for the boy.
The front office door opened and Roy announced, “He’s going to be okay. Got a colorful shiner and is a might sore, maybe a slight concussion. Doc said put him to bed tonight and he’d be okay tomorrow.”
There was no answer other than the jingle of keys to the cells.
“You locked him up?”
‘Adam’ Joe identified the voice, surprised there was no anger.
The two continued their conversation while standing on the other side of the closed doors that separated the jail from the office.
“No, just pushed the door closed.”
“What happened?”
“Miss Jones said something about seeing Jethro Warton throw a punch.”
“Why, he’s Hoss’ age. Why would he…”
“Don’t know. Joe wouldn’t tell.”
“Is Jethro in jail for assaulting Joe? I’m sure Pa would want to press charges.”
“Jethro didn’t throw the first punch.”
“Joe threw the first punch?”
“Not sure. No one would say.”
*****
Halfway home his throbbing aches lessened as they transitioned the horses to a walk. An exasperated Adam realized it wasn’t fair to his little brother to keep the pace he’d set to get them out of town.
“Care to talk about it, buddy?”
“I should have remembered what you said. You know, silence is golden.” Joe’s arm hung loosely around his stomach.
“Pardon?”
“Emily Warton came up and kissed me.” Embarrassed, Joe turned away from his brother’s questioning eyes. “She asked me if I liked it.”
“And?”
“Adam, she’s a year older than me and she’s got four older brothers. Do you think I’m going to tell her yes?”
“If it was the truth,” Adam suggested.
“And be forced into a shotgun wedding later. No thank you.”
The brothers continued to ride quietly. Adam grew curious about how the sweet and demure Emily Warton could be so brazen as to kiss a boy, especially one that was younger than she. Adam knew his brother was a good looking kid, and he used it to his advantage at times. But there was no way his little brother could be serious about the fairer sex, not yet.
Five minutes later, Adam asked, “So, what did you tell her?”
“I told her it wasn’t as good as Sissy’s.”
“Sissy?”
“Yeah, from over at the… uh… uh…” Joe had the good grace to blush.
“That Sissy?! Oh, brother.” Adam knew who meted out the first punch.
“She sure does kiss nice.” Joe smiled and pushed his hat back, his aches and pains all but forgotten in the memory of Sissy’s kiss.
~The End
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