Summary:
Category: Bonanza
Genre: Western
Rated: PG
Word Count: 1700
The weather had been unusually cold, with heavy snow falls earlier than previous years, which had meant the Cartwright family being confined to the Ponderosa ranch. Apart from shoveling snow and looking after the chores around the ranch, the Cartwright’s had been unable to get out and it was beginning to bother the youngest member of the family Little Joe.
Adam and Hoss, his older brothers, were able to occupy themselves. Adam caught up with his reading and Hoss had found a book on Animal Husbandry which he had decided to read to help him with his endeavors to save all animals in need of help.
Their father, Ben, always had paper work to catch up with. But, Joe seemed to be at a loss to find anything to occupy himself with. At the age of 17, Little Joe found that he was bored with the inactivity and he was beginning to annoy the other members of his family.
“Joseph.” Pa looked across at his son with some degree of annoyance. “Will you please stop walking around kicking the furniture and making lots of noise?”
“Well, what do you expect me to do?” answered Joe, his voice sounding somewhat belligerent.
“Don’t you take that tone with me, boy.” Ben showed his anger in his voice, which sounded threatening.
Adam caught Joe’s eye and tried to signal him to quiet down and not annoy their father, who he could see was beginning to show signs of being on a short fuse. They were all finding the unusual inactivity difficult.
Joe looked apologetically at Pa. “Sorry, Pa,” he answered quietly. “Do you think we might go into Virginia City today? There hasn’t been any snow for a couple of days.”
“Joseph, we would not get past the barn, never mind into Virginia City. Where’s your sense, boy?” Ben had lifted his head fleetingly but had then continued with his paper work.
Joe felt as if anything he wanted was dismissed and nobody cared what he wanted. He was definitely feeling sorry for himself.
Adam gave him a sympathetic look and said, “I’m sure we will be going into Virginia City again soon. What is it you want to go into Virginia City for, or is who you want to go into Virginia City for?”
“Could it be for that little gal Lara Cassey?” Hoss had started listening into the conversation. Lara Cassey was the temporary sheriff’s daughter. Roy Coffee had gone to San Francisco for a month’s holiday and Jeb Cassey had arrived, along with his daughter, to relieve him.
His daughter was lovely and Joe had taken a real shine to her. He was worried that all the young guys in Virginia City would be sparking her and she would forget about him.
“Maybe,” answered Little Joe. He hadn’t wanted to discuss Lara with his father listening, as Ben had only recently had a long talk with Joe about showing respect for the opposite sex and Joe’s need to always be involved with all the lovely young women in Virginia City. Ben had high expectations of how his sons should behave and thought that Little Joe sometimes went beyond what Ben expected from him.
Adam caught the look on Joe’s face and he realized that Joe didn’t want to discuss Lara at this time. A look went between him and Hoss and they changed the subject. Ben still seemed engrossed in his paper work. Adam and Hoss knew their little brother very well and often had to intervene to keep him on the straight and narrow path his father laid down for him at his young age.
Adam got up and stretched his legs. “What say we go into the barn Joe, and give the horses some more breakfast. We can consider what the weather is doing today”?
“Oh great, Adam!” said Joe enthusiastically, heading for the door.
“Put your big coat on, Joe.” Pa always had to remind Joe as he was always in such a big hurry that he often forgot it might be cold outside. Joe had recently had a bad bout of flu and he was still occasionally coughing and looked a little pale.
“Ok, Pa,” answered Joe, “although it means I can hardly move when I have it on.”
“No arguments, Joe.” Pa walked over to his sons, who were standing by the door. “You have only just recovered from that illness and if you let yourself get really cold, you will go down with another bout of something.” He gave Joe a look which meant comply or else.
Adam and Joe walked out into the blinding whiteness of the snow.
Adam sidled up to Little Joe and under his breath said, “About time you realized that Pa is always going to be on your back if you don’t put your overcoat on.”
“I’m fine,” answered Joe his voice a little loud. “I don’t need looking after. I’m not a little boy. When is he going to realize that?”
“Joe, he still talks to me and Hoss like we were children, haven’t you noticed?” Adam chuckled and Joe also smiled at the thought. It was true; his father was always over-cautious with all of them.
The brothers went into the barn where heat was rising from the horses who snickered a welcome. Joe slipped out of the barn door which they had both just entered, and over his shoulder, he said to Adam, “I think I’ll go for a walk. I don’t think the snow is as thick as it looks.”
Adam raised his eyebrows and answered, “You’d better hope that Pa isn’t watching out of the window because he won’t be happy about this.”
“Too bad.” Joe sounded brave, but he knew if his father appeared, he would soon back down. Their father was particularly good at keeping them in line with his loud voice and very occasionally using his belt. Joe had not had to contend with physical punishment for some time and he hoped perhaps he had grown up too much for that. “I’m only going for a walk”.
“It’s your funeral.” Adam thought he’d better follow to keep an eye on Joe but just as Joe started to put one foot in front of the other, he heard his father call from the door to the Ponderosa ranch.
“Where do you think you’re going, Joseph?”
Oh, damn, Joe whispered to himself. “Nowhere, Pa; just warming up.” Joe sounded all innocent in his reply. Adam smiled to himself.
Ben also smiled to himself, knowing that Joe’s intention had been to get away from the Ponderosa.
“If you are going to help Adam with the horses, you need to be in the barn, I believe.” Ben gave a knowing look at both Adam and Joe, and they both knew he had guessed what Joe was about to do.
Joe joined Adam, who said, “I told you he will be keeping a close eye on you.”
“Well,” said Joe, “tomorrow I’m going somewhere, regardless whether Pa says I can or not.”
“You’re asking for big trouble, Joe. Pa won’t have any qualms at using his belt on you if you don’t comply with his rules. You’re not too big yet, you know.”
Joe flushed at the thought he could still be disciplined that way but thought Adam was probably right. Adam gave Joe a sympathetic brotherly look whilst thinking to himself, oh boy this kid is heading for a showdown.
“Why can’t you just enjoy the pleasures of winter, Joe?” Adam tried to keep his voice soft and not cause Joe to try to fight him as well as Ben. “We can take things a little slower, not have our butts and hands nearly frozen to death all the time. Not be knee-deep in mud and slush. These things will return very shortly. Enjoy the peace and warmth of the house and look forward to the Spring.”
“I suppose.” Joe shrugged his shoulders. “That’s probably alright for you; you’re older. But I don’t like being cooped up.”
Adam lightly smacked Little Joe on the arm. “Who are you calling old, little boy?” He knew that would annoy Joe. “I’m in my prime, I’ll have you know”.
“Ok,” Joe answered, “what about Pa then? He’s really old then if you are in your prime.”
Ben had just come out to the barn to see what his two sons were up to and caught the end of their conversation. “Oh yes,” he interrupted, “who’s old”?
“Oh hi, Pa.” Joe looked at Adam, hoping he might say something in his defense.
“I’m not so old that I can’t give you a good hiding,” Ben said, sounding really annoyed looking at Joe. But then his look softened and he said, “Why don’t you and Adam join us in the warm house and have some hot chocolate. Hop Sing says it will be really nice and will warm those of us with old bones like me and Adam”.
“Sorry, Pa. I know you’re not really old, especially when I see you doing all the work that you do.”
“Don’t try and butter me up now, Joe, and don’t try and sneak out tomorrow, as I’m going to keep a close eye on you. I’m not stupid. I know you’ll try it but I will give you a good hiding if you do, so beware.” Ben sounded and looked threatening.
“Ok, Pa, I’ll try and be happy to be confined to the house. Like Adam says, there are some compensations for being stuck in, like hot chocolate”.
“Yes, let’s go then.” Ben put his arm round Joe and gave him a hug. He knew his son would comply with his request for now, but he wouldn’t be Joe if he didn’t rock the boat a little in a few weeks.
Adam, Ben, and Little Joe ran back to the warm Ponderosa ranch and joined Hoss around the fire for some hot chocolate.
***The End***
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