The Cherry Tree Saga – #3 (by Robin)

Summary:  Part Three of the Cherry Tree Saga

Word Count:  8600

The Cherry Tree Saga

Part 3 of 15

Chapter 1

Adam was coming home from Boston.

His family had all waited for months for his decision. Now, Adam was finally coming home.

“Joe, I asked you all week to get a hair cut after school and you didn’t obey my order. I am going to meet you at the schoolhouse today and take you directly to the barber. You had your chance to be responsible on your own. You had a chance to go with Hoss and somehow squirmed out of that and this is it. I am tired of people looking at you in church like you are a shaggy sheep.”

Last week Ben would have been shouting at the boy, but this morning he was in too good a mood to lose his temper.

”Maybe we should get him some pink hair bows if he wants to keep all those curls.” Hoss teased, reaching past his brother for another helping of fried potatoes.

“Hair bows. Hair bows!” Joe shouted. “I’m not a girl!”

”Gee Josephine… sure could fool me!”

Joe’s spoon flew across the table. Hoss ducked just in time and the utensil crashed into the wall over his head.

”Enough!” Ben bellowed immediately, stopping the teasing before Joe could throw any more silverware or reach for the crockery. Ben pointed his finger at his youngest boy. “Haircut today. No arguing. I will be meeting you at the school house door and take you directly there myself.”

Joe had looked up at him and seemed about to say some thing to protest when Hoss stood up, wiped his chin and said “Joe, let’s go.”

No fighting or griping for once from either son. Just off to work and school with no fuss. Ben couldn’t figure that one out but he was not going to complain.

It was a grand, grand day and his son was coming home.

Adam was coming home to the Ponderosa.

Chapter 2

Each morning that week Hoss had accompanied Joe to school. He had contrived reasons to be in town each day. Normally, his father would have seen through his boy’s deceptions, but he was weary and didn’t seem to be paying close attention to what was going on. It was easy for the two youngest Cartwrights to come up with reasons for Hoss to be in town early each morning. They also found some reason for him to still be around to meet Little Joe at the end of the school day.

The two brothers rode into Virginia City in the buckboard. Hoss mentally went over the list of chores his Pa had reviewed with his middle son the night before. He would deliver the papers his Pa had worked on for the lumber bid to Mr. Levi Victor at the lawyer’s office. Then he would bring the letters Ben and the boys had written Adam to the post office at the general store. Next Hoss had to pick up the machine parts for the mill and supplies that Mr. Lowell had gotten for them.  The freight wagon was finally due into Virginia City this afternoon with the mill parts.

 Pa could be finished with his morning chores while Mr. Victor would review the lumber bids. When Ben finished with all his work and meetings he would meet up with Hoss at the Lowell’s store and help finish loading up the wagon. At the end of school, they would be ready to take Joe to the barber and if all went well with the bids, Ben promised his boys a nice dinner at the hotel.

His mouth watered as Hoss thought about dinner at the hotel. Chicken and dumplings. Mm mm.

As the buckboard bumped along the muddy road, Joe was unusually silent next to him.  While Hoss contemplated the prospect of chicken and dumplings, his younger brother was lost in thought about Adam’s battle plan. “Failure is not an option,” Adam had written to them. “Cartwright Brothers stick together.”

Each morning this week. Joe would ride into town with Hoss in the wagon and get to school on time That is what Hoss had told their father. The big brother was making sure the little brother was not tardy. That was not totally true but the Cartwright brothers did not want to tell their father the entire story. The two boys figured Ben would either want to get involved himself or he would be mad at his sons for their shenanigans.

Neither son told Ben that the idea was part Adam’s battle strategy.

“Little Joe, if Pa knew Adam was somehow behind this plan, he might get mad at all of us.” Hoss explained as they walked out to the wagon.  Hoss was dead wrong. If his Pa knew of Adam’s involvement, Ben would have been very proud and touched at the closeness of his three boys. He would be especially delighted that Adam was still watching out for his younger brothers from thousands of miles away.

Dear Hoss,

I need you to do some older brother work.

 I got some crazy letter from Little Joe today and the best I can figure out is that someone is bullying him at school. Don’t forget you promised to watch out for him while I was away.

I wager, if you make a very noticeable presence in the schoolyard you will scare any body likely to bother Little Brother without having to punch anyone in the nose or break any heads. I surely don’t want Roy Coffee putting you in jail for smashing some schoolyard ruffian nor do I want you to embarrass Joe by letting Pa get involved. Just scare the beans out of whoever it is and call it a day.

I miss you all very much.

Affectionately,

Your older Brother, Adam

PS try to get Joe to tell you what the ledger list he sent me was all about. He listed every female in Virginia City and all the restaurants like he is writing a mail order bride business. I can’t believe he is old enough to be noticing girls but Joe has always been quite a handful.

A.

Hoss and Joe had made careful plans. One night before dinner as they cleaned out the stalls and tended to the horses, they had a serious brother-to-brother planning session.  At first Joe wanted Hoss to just walk into the schoolyard and pound Fischer, Beck and the other bullies into bloody mush. He listed all the reasons his big brother would excel at such a task and how much of a community service this would be to all the small boys in Nevada territory. Joe was tired of getting picked on and tired of getting punished for being in fights that he didn’t start but “sure was going to finish.“

Hoss nodded sympathetically and put his arm around his small brother’s shoulder and told him “Joe, I ain’t going to break anyone’s arms or wring anyone’s neck for any reason.”

He then outlined Adam’s plan of “scaring the beans out of the bully”.  No one but Daniel Lowell, Joe’s best friend in school would be in on the plan.

”Joe, we got to do it the way Adam said. He knows better and we gotta follow his plan. He is real smart.”

For just an instant, Joe had trouble remembering what Adam looked like and it scared him. He already had trouble picturing his mother’s face all the time and not being able to remember Adam was very frightening to the little boy.   He couldn’t lose another person.

Hoss said he would scare the big boys, not beat them and they would be so scared that they would never bother him or any of the other kids again. Joe would be safe and the big boys would be scared. That is what Adam had decided.

 “You trust me Little Joe?” Hoss asked.

”Sure Hoss, I trust you. Always.”

”Trust Adam?”

Joe hesitated for a minute. He was having trouble remembering what Adam looked like. He closed his eyes tight and tried to recall his brother’s face. He tried to remember Adam’s voice. All of a sudden it all rushed back to him, Adam was carrying him up the stairs and putting him to bed after his Mama died. When Little Joe would wake up in the night with nightmares he would go into brother’s bed for comfort.  Joe remembered Adam playing his guitar on the porch and singing each evening in the moonlight and Adam teaching him to swim in Cherry Creek. Joe thought of his big brother Adam holding him on the saddle in front of him teaching him how to ride, telling him how well he was doing.

“Sure, Hoss, I trust him.  Always.”

”Then this is what we will do. I’ll just be around the school yard and just let those fellers know that no one messes with the Cartwright boys.”

Chapter 3

Monday morning was the first day of the challenge. According to Adam this was the key to their plan.

“Remember what Adam said, Short Shanks. “ Hoss cautioned Joe. “Hold your temper.”

Hoss pulled the buckboard behind the schoolhouse and quietly walked behind Little Joe into the schoolyard. Many of the students knew who he was but more of them had moved into town after Hoss was no longer attending school.

“Who’s that big guy coming into the school yard with your pal, Joe Cartwright?” Jack Fischer asked Daniel Lowell. “His father?”

“No, it’s his big brother, “ Daniel answered. “His Pa is way bigger and way meaner.” The idea had just popped into Daniels head. “Way, way, way bigger and way, way, way meaner”

“This guy looks pretty big,” one of the other boys commented.

“Don’t be a moron,” Fisher shoved his friend.  

Jack Fischer surveyed the scene. The newcomer was bigger than his father, the mine superintendent, wider too. Hoss glared at Jack, Tucker and some of the older boy with a frightening look. Walking behind Little Joe, he had picked up a branch from the ground. The branch was about as thick around as Jack’s wrist and the guy just looked at Jack and snapped it in two over his knee. It sounded like a shot.

The boys looked at each other warily.

“Bet he could snap a fellows arm like that,” Tuck said hoarsely.

Hoss glared at Jack. Jack turned his head.

“Who is that? Jack asked one of the smaller kids. “Who is that with Little Joe?”

“Gee that’s his brother,  Hoss.” Said Katie Wallace. He used to go to school here. But not any more.”

“Heard he kilt a man with his bare hands “ said a disembodied voice from  the edge of the crowd of kids.

Tuck looked to see who had spoken last but couldn’t figure it out.

Daniel stuck his head around the corner of the outhouse and snickered. He had to stuff his fist into his mouth to stifle his laughter.

Miss Lambert pulled the bell rope and another school day began. The children filed noisily into the schoolhouse and the older boys followed. Hoss Cartwright leaned against the schoolhouse gate and glared as menacingly as he could.  Each morning that week, Hoss watched from the edge of the schoolyard until the boys went inside. Each day the older boys speculated what he was doing loitering around and stayed on their best behavior under the watchful eye of Hoss Cartwright.

“That big guy is watching out for his brother so watch out what you do.”  Cautioned Fisher.

“Gee Jack, I heard he killed a few guys before we moved here. “ said one of the other boys.

 “Snapped someone’s arm and leg off in a fight at the Bucket of Blood,” another added.

“No it was a guy’s arm in a fight in the Silver Dollar. Then Hoss hit him over the head with the own arm.” another added luridly.

“Then why isn’t he in jail?” Fisher asked.” Or hung?”

”Maybe they couldn’t find a rope strong enough.”

”I don’t know about you boys, but I’m steering clear of him. Don’t want to rile his temper and get my arm broke. My Pa will break my neck if I get my arm broke.” Tuck added.

“Why don’t one of you boys ask Nancy Coffee about that Hoss Cartwright.” Fisher directed.” Her father is the sheriff and she would know what’s what.”

Wednesday, at lunch, Tuck Beck and one of his pals sidled up to Nancy Coffee as she sat on a bench, near the steps eating a sandwich with some of the other small girls, including Kate.

“Watch out girls, here comes trouble,” Kate warned seeing the boys approach. “They probably want to steal our desserts. Kate had chin length straight brown hair with bangs cut straight across her forehead. She had no desire to be teased by the big boys and was unwilling to let them steal her pie.

“Nancy, “ Tuck started. “I heard that big Hoss feller kilt a man. What do you have to say about that?”

Nancy took another bite of her ham sandwich and slowly chewed. What could Tuck be talking about? She knew the Cartwrights her entire life. Her Pa and Mr. Cartwright were good friends. Secretly, she hoped to someday marry Little Joe, and Hoss was the sweetest boy she knew. The only thing she ever saw him kill was a platter of her Mother’s fried chicken at the church potluck dinner last month. Hoss would have licked it clean if Mr. Cartwright hadn’t pulled the platter out of his hands.  What ever was Tuck talking about?

Bet he was just teasing her like those big boys always did lunchtime. Nancy thought nervously.

Well, she would show him. Nancy thought. She would tease him back. Just like her best friend, Katie had told her she should do when they teased her.

“Sure Tuck, he kilt a man…. And he ate him up like fried chicken.” Nancy was proud that she was holding her own with her tormenter.

“You better watch out for Hoss.” Kate added seriously. She moved her pie behind her back.

The two boys skulked away to tell the rest of the group what Nancy had told them.

“Hoss Cartwright killed some guy and et him and fed the bones to the chickens,” they breathlessly told the other boys.

By Wednesday night, the Virginia City School house was abuzz with stories of mass murder and mayhem perpetuated by Hoss Cartwright through out Nevada Territory.  Thursday, Fisher came up with a bright idea. All this stuff about Hoss just did not sit well with him. If the guy was a murderer, why did Miss Lambert greet him each morning with a hug when he walked up with Joe? And why didn’t Sheriff Coffee have him in a cell? Fisher was a bully but he was not stupid.

Fisher decided to learn more about this. That day, on his way home after school he walked into the Virginia City Sheriff’s office.

“Sheriff Coffee, sir” Jack walked up to the Sheriff’s desk and respectfully took off his hat. Roy Coffee writing in his log bog and looked up.

 Despite being a very competent sheriff, Roy was totally unaware of the gossip swirling around the schoolyard that week. Perhaps if the rumors were originating from one of the saloons or poker tables, the Sheriff’s sharp ears would have picked up on the latest update of the “Hoss is a cannibal and murderer saga” However he was not in the habit of lingering around the school yard to eavesdrop on brewing trouble amongst the youngest citizens of Virginia City.

“What can I do for you, Jack?“

”What do you know about Hoss Cartwright?”

”Hoss? Well, son, Hoss is a fine feller. What do you want to know about?”

“No particular reason. I…I just heard something about him some sort of trouble or something.”

”Not that I heard of… unless the dinner bell isn’t loud enough. No, young Mr. Fischer, Hoss is a fine fellow.” Sheriff Coffee chuckled.

Fisher tipped his hat and thanked the Sheriff. Jack smiled to himself, proud at his cleverness.  By Friday morning, Fisher had decided that there was no reason to worry about Hoss and he could return to being the lead beast in the wolf pack roaming the edges of the schoolyard. They had wasted the entire week fearing some “nice feller” and they had to catch up on their “fun” before the end of school for the week. They had a whole week’s worth of teasing and fighting and ear tweaking to make up.

Chapter 4

Little Joe inched his body away from the corner wall. If he took slow, tiny steps, maybe nobody in the school house would notice he was sliding his body out of the punishment corner and turning just enough to see out the widow.  Most of the children were hard at work in their copybooks or quietly listening to the story Miss Lambert was reading to the first graders.

“And the boy with the hatchet told his father the truth. “ she read.

Joe glanced through the schoolhouse window again. His brother, Hoss was carrying a lumpy burlap sack of something over one shoulder and loaded that into the back of the half filled Buck board. Little Joe saw his Pa ride up beside the wagon and tie his horse up at the hitching rail in front of the Lowell’s store. Ben must have finished up his business at the bank. Joe hoped he couldn’t see into the schoolhouse and see what was going on with him.

“If I could see if he was smiling then I could tell if he is still in a good mood and got the bid. Then when I get dismissed he won’t shout at me.” Joe wondered how he would extricate himself from the lecture and punishment this time.

“Joseph, how many times have I warned you about fighting in school?” He could hear Pa’s voice inside his head.” How many times Joseph?”

Joe was really sure he would be shoveling out stalls for months this time, maybe years.

“I can not tell a lie, Father. I chopped down your cherry tree with my little hatchet, “ Miss Lambert droned on.

Chapter 5

Prudence, the youngest red haired Lowell girl, the one that was called Puddin, was especially attached to Little Joe Cartwright and he to Puddin. Joe would deny this connection if anyone asked but Puddin proudly would tell anyone that Joe was her hero.  It was late in June two years after Adam had gone east. A number of families, including the Wallaces, the Cartwrights and the Lowells decided to spend a pleasant Sunday afternoon picnicking on the outskirts of Virginia City. The day was sunny and warm and everyone came together in high spirits.

They devoured huge quantities of Mrs. Coffee’s fried chicken, Mrs. Wallace’s ham and Hop Sing’s special potato salad until they all thought they would burst. The children ran off to play leaving the women and older girls to gossip while they cleaned up the mess and put out the pies and cakes for desserts. The men headed off  towards the willow grove by the creek to  fish and nap and share a bit of liquid refreshment from the jug that Hays Newkirk  was carrying.

“You children don’t stray far,” one of the women hollered.” And keep a close eye on the little ones.”

Before Joe and Daniel had realized, Hoss and the other older boys had taken off up the trail following the men and left them surrounded by a bevy of little girls.

“I know, let’s play house. I’ll be the Mama and Daniel is my husband,” said Rebecca Newkirk grabbing the boy’s arm. “And Puddin’ is our baby. Come on Puddin’.” She put her arm around the little girl’s shoulders.

“OK, and Little Joe is my husband,” said Nancy Coffee as she grabbed the sleeve of his yellow plaid shirt, smiling at her selection. “And we have ten children and live right here.” She laid out ten pinecones carefully wrapped in checkered napkins like swaddled infants. “Mrs. Little Joe” hung the matching tablecloth between two pine trees for a wall and started tracing the outlines of their dream cabin in the pine needles.

Easy going, eight year old Daniel was used to being surrounded by his sisters and fell right into the imaginary household. Little Joe on the other hand was mortified and embarrassed. His face took on the look of a trapped stag caught by a pack of hungry wolves.

“I don’t want to play house !” Little Joe squealed.

”Well, you have to Joe Cartwright !” Nancy demanded, her hands on her hips.

“Oh no I don’t!”

“Oh yes you do !” added Kate. Her pretend husband was already sitting at her pretend dinner table waiting for her to serve his pretend dinner.

”Sure Joe, play,” Daniel urged. “It’s not so bad. And then we can get to that cherry pie first before anyone else realized that dessert is set up.”

Joe thought for a second. Was an extra slice of pie worth utter humiliation at the hands of his “wife” and 10 pinecone babies? It was a hard decision. Joe swiftly weighed his options and quickly decided to play his trump card, escape embarrassment and succeed in snagging that pie all in one fell swoop. His hazel eyes twinkled.

“Ok, “Joe smiled crookedly. “I’ll play. But I am the sheriff just like your Pa, Nancy and I have to ride out with my posse to catch some bandits who robbed the bank.”

”OK. “ Nancy nodded taking his hand. “Husband come inside and …”

”Oh no, Nancy, I have to ride out now with the posse. Sheriff Cartwright has to catch those varmints “ He squirmed from her grasp and ran off toward the creek “I’ll be back as soon as I round them up or for dessert.” Little Joe shouted over his shoulder.

“Husband, you forgot to kiss the babies !” Nancy shouted to his back as he escaped. Kate picked up one of the pinecone babies and hurled it at his head, “You come back here Joe Cartwright!”

Joe ducked and ran as fast as his bare feet could carry him. He was halfway up the hill before he glanced over his shoulder to see if he was followed by his “wife”.  He was surrounded by heavy greenery, but as he came to the top of the trail he could hear the sound of rushing water and smell pipe smoke. Sheriff Joe Cartwright slowed down and listened carefully to the men’s voices on the other side of the bushes.

Joe picked up a thick L-shaped twig. “Got my trusty gun here and I can out draw any bandit west of … west of… the Mississippi. “ Joe tucked the stick into his belt.  Hmm, looks like I found the bad guys. Joe thought. I can round them all up and get that cherry pie reward. He laughed out loud thinking how he outwitted Nancy. He dropped on all fours and crawled slowly under some bushes to the edge of the willow grove. He could hear Mr. Wallace playing on a guitar and some laughter.

”And the other sailor said where’s my duck ?” said a deep voice. His Pa! The other men roared with laughter at Ben’s joke.

”The bandits have kidnapped my Pa !” the brave young sheriff decided.  Young sheriff Joe Cartwright pushed aside the leaves with his left hand. He realized he could see his father and all the men sitting next to the creek but they didn’t even know he was there hidden among the greenery.

“Just like being invisible”. Little Joe thought. The men looked like they were having a pretty good time. One had a fishing line in the water. Kate’s father was strumming a tune on a guitar and singing some song that Adam used to sing.  Joe listened for a minute to the familiar tune.

The men were passing around Mr. Newkirk’s jug . Each man, in turn took a long swallow, wiped off the top and passed it on to the next. They were laughing and joking and had no idea that Joe Cartwright and his invisible posse were lurking about.

“Hmm”,  the sheriff said out loud to his posse. “They  thought they could outwit me but this lawman always gets his bandits and his pie too.” Joe stood up and brushed off his hands on the front of his new yellow shirt. He trotted a few yards down the trail, up stream from the men.

“Whoa pony,” the pretend sheriff told the pretend pinto. Joe pushed aside the shrubbery to take another peak. “ Whoa pony, we got our selves the biggest bandit of them all. ”
There, sprawled on the grassy bank, taking a nap with his head leaning against the trunk of a thick willow was his brother Hoss. His fishing pole was stuck in the soft, sandy bank of the creek. Willows hung over the  banks on either side, their branches a fragile tracery of bursting green in the bright spring sunshine.

Little Joe looked up at the tree. “I could climb that willow and capture that whole bunch of desperados. Wait here men,” he ordered the invisible posse.  Joe grabbed hold of one of the lower branches and swung himself up. His bare toes dug into the rough bark. Like a monkey, he climbed up about fifteen feet and felt for the twig pistol stuck into his belt. Hoss was snoring away at the foot of the tree.  From where he sat up in the willow, Joe could see all around. The men were talking and laughing. He could see the water of Cherry Creek far below him. The water was pretty high and fast from the last few weeks of rain and the snows melting on the mountains. “That was why they told us to watch out for the little kids,” Joe thought as he watched the torrents of water rush down stream.

The previous summer, his brothers had taken him swimming just at this very spot. The water was pretty deep over here, but by summer, not nearly as fast. The boys had spent a hot afternoon leaping from the banks into the creek. Once, Adam had climbed up a tree and jumped in to show off. The splash he made was enormous. It was a willow tree much like the one Little Joe stood in right now; maybe even this tree.  Adam told Joe that someday he would show him how to do that jump, but right now Joe was too small. It would be too dangerous. The trick, Adam told him was to push off hard and to hit the water not the bank otherwise you could break your neck.

Up stream, Joe could see all the girls skirting the edge of the creek. They had given up their game near the picnic tables and were picking some of the wild flowers that grew along the edge of the creek. Both Molly Newkirk and Nancy were holding huge bunches of yellow centered daisies as Kate skipped along behind them. Puddin trailed at the end of the line tossing pebbles into the rush of water. The women had finished laying out the dessert and had sent them up the hill to call the men for coffee.

“Come have dessert !” Katie shouted down stream to the men.

“Hmm, Pie!” thought the brave young sheriff. “Men, we better round up these bandits and head back to Virginia City for our reward.”

Joseph  looked down. Below him, Hoss was snoring loudly taking his nap. Little Joe decided to tease him. He reached into his pocket and found a small ball of twine and unrolled it. Hanging on to the branch with one hand, Joe lowered the end of the sting until it hit Hoss. It didn’t work right and kept getting snagged on the slender willow leaves or blown crookedly away from its target.  Joe pulled up the string and carefully tied the stick gun to the end. Just enough weight! He slowly lowered the weighted twine through the leaves and gently swung it back and forth until it tapped Hoss’s nose. Hoss swatted at it in his sleep. Joe swung it in a wider arc and it smacked his brothers temple.

“Wasssat ? “ Hoss jumped up rubbing his head and swatting at the annoyance. High above him Joe giggled.

“I’ll get you, little brother ! “ Hoss hollered looking up at the young sheriff laughing above him  in the willow tree.

Hoss angrily jumped up and started climbing up the tree to catch his tormentor.

“I’ll get you, Little Joe !” Hoss threatened.

”Oh no you won’t !” Joe quickly climbed higher. He agilely scrambled to a higher limb over hanging the stream.

Down creek, the men heard  the ruckus and looked up to see the Cartwright boys.

Roy Coffee tugged on Ben’s arm and pointed  up at a colorful spot in the willow.  “Looks like we have some kind of yellow bird up in that tree, Ben,” chuckled  Roy . The crowd of men laughed at the scene up stream.

“And it looks like his brother is going to wring that bird’s neck if he catches him.” Joked Hays Newkirk taking another pull from the bottle.

Ben stood up and turned  to watch Joe scramble to higher perch. “Joseph! Hoss!”

Suddenly, the warm air was split by a shrill female scream from up the creek followed by loud splash.

”Puddin’ fell in ! “ Kate screamed. Puddin fell in  !”

The little girl had been throwing pebbles, leaned over too far and lost her balance. She was quickly caught up in the rushing water and pulled under by her heavy shoes and tangled woolen skirts.

“Puddin’!” Nancy shouted . “Help !”

Joe could see it all from his tree. For an instant everyone was frozen in place. Mr. Lowell stood riveted to his spot next to his fishing pole Puddin’“

Ben could see the little red head sucked below the rushing water as the little girl was swept down stream.

Little Joe hesitated for just an instant and leaped from the willow branch into the creek.

“Push off, push off” he heard his brother Adam’s voice inside his head.

In a split second Hoss saw his little brother’s yellow shirt fly by his head. Joe’s slight form was arcing over the stream, his arms and legs whirligigging like four windmills as he tried to take flight away from the bank and hit the water.

“Joseph !” Ben bellowed.

The plummeting boy hit the water with an enormous splash. The momentum of his jump carried Joe deep into the water. Down, down he went.

Joe had remembered to hold his breath and he kept whirling his arms and kicking as he hit the bottom of the creek and pushed off. His lungs were bursting as he popped up to the sunlight. His ears were filled with the rush of the stream.  Joe took a good gulp of air as he broke the surface. The torrent pushed him down again and water filled his eyes. For an instant, the current spun around Joe and he panicked. Then, he saw  a flash of red hair, as Puddin was swept past him. Miraculously, he stretched out his hand and grabbed hold of her arm and held tight.

Their heads broke the surface again as the current swept them down creek. Joe hung tight onto Puddin’s jacket as they bounced against some rocks and he pushed her up towards the surface of the rushing water.  He started to sink, water filled his nose and mouth. He wasn’t sure if he could hold his breath and hang on to the little girl much longer.

Just as he was swallowing a mouthful of creek water, he felt something yank him to the surface. Large, strong  hands grabbed onto his yellow collar and pulled him to the side of the stream. Joe held tight to Puddin’ as Ben and Mr. Lowell dragged the two children to the grassy bank.

For an instant Joe was all spun around. Every one was hollering and someone was pounding him on his back as he choked and tried to catch his breath. Joe was face down on some grass as his Pa  was squeezing him and pounding on his back as creek water and most of his lunch was vomited onto the bank.

“Breathe boy, breathe.” He heard his father urging.

Somewhere he heard a child crying and a lot of hollering. People were rushing all around him. Finally Joe stopped choking and caught his breath.  Roy was wrapping him in his coat and someone was giving him a swallow from the jug of whiskey.

“This will warm you up, Boy.” Hays told him.

Little Joe was shivering and cold and just wanted to go home.

Where was Puddin’ ?

“Puddin’ ” Joe choked hoarsely. He started to choke and cough again. His mouth tasted creek water, like mud and vomit. He spit some sand onto the ground and wiped his mouth on the sleeve of Sheriff Coffee’s jacket. Joe looked down at the jacket and saw the silver badge pinned on the front of  the jacket and pressed his hand on it. “Where is Puddin’ ?”

He heard someone crying very loudly and attempted to see who it was but couldn’t see as his father was holding him so close. All he could see was feet and legs as he looked up from the ground.

“Puddin is fine, Joe. “ said Sheriff Coffee. “ You sure thought fast. She’s just fine. You saved her.”

Mr. Lowell came closer with his daughter in his arms so Little Joe could see for himself. Mrs. Lowell was hanging onto her too. The cold little girl was bundled up in a blanket like one of Nancy’s pine cone babies and all Joe could see was her pale face and her round blue eyes.

“Joe, I don’t know how to thank you for what you did,”  Jacob Lowell  said. “You have a brave boy, Ben. I told you his heart is in the right place even if he does tend to leap in with both feet before he looks, “ Lowell smiled.

Chapter 6

Prudence, the youngest red haired Lowell girl, the one that was called Puddin, was wearing new hair bows. Jack Fischer knew that those hair bows could cause quite a ruckus if he just tweaked things right.  For the fourth day in a row, that big Hoss had hung around the schoolyard eyeing them until the students went inside the schoolhouse.

That was Jack’s cue to start acting up.  At morning recess he gathered his pals around him and said “Well fellers, I think we can stir up a little fun this afternoon. That jail guard Hoss Cartwright seems to have taken leave of his post. They all laughed and poked each other at the thought of making up for such a quiet week.

“Just watch my lead.” Fischer smiled. “Those kids need a bit of stirring up, especially that Little Joe.”

The morning wore on and by lunchtime the children were ready to burst out into the fresh air and enjoy their lunches.

“Joe, sit by me and Kate,” Nancy Coffee called to him. The two girls were sitting on the wooden steps leading up to the school door.  “My Ma sent some cookies for you.”
Kate laughed at Nancy’s foolish attempt at flirting with Joe. She wiggled her freckled nose at Joe who grinned back at her.

“Oh Joe, don’t you just LOVE Mrs. Coffee’s baking. I know you tell me that all the time. You said just the other day, there is nothing you would rather have than Mrs. Coffee’s delicious cookies. She made a silly lovesick face and Joe giggled.

“You know, Nancy.” Katie continued, “Joe said that just the other day if your Ma wasn’t already married to your Pa he would consider courting her just for all those delicious cookies she sends him.”

Joe laughed and moved closer. Joe gave Kate’s ear a friendly yank. No girl in town could make Joe laugh like brown eyed Kate could. They had a special friendship and often teased each other. Kate was the only girl who didn’t get rattled when one of the boys tossed mud balls at her or put a frog in the girl’s lunch bucket. Only Joe knew that Kate was the one who hung a pair of long johns off the school flagpole the night before school opened. It was their secret.

Joe sat comfortably on the step below the girls and opened his lunch bucket. “OK, “ he thought. I made it through a full week of school with no problems, no fights. Adam’s plan worked. He had done just like Hoss told him. “Be patient, Little Brother. Be patient like Pa and be smart like Adam. Hold your temper.” Hoss would be proud of his decision to sit on the steps and steer clear of any problems.

On the other side of the school yard Joe could see the big boys roaming around like a wolf pack surveying a flock of sheep. He took a bite from his sandwich and watched. Jack Fisher was pointing at someone or something and laughing. The wolf pack separated and moved in among the smaller boys and girls and started nipping their heels.

Joe was looking down into his lunch bucket to see what else he had to eat when a shriek filled the air.

“Give that back ” Puddin wailed at Beck as he grabbed at her hair ribbons.

“Leave my sister alone, “ Daniel hollered as he chased her tormentor. Beck took off with Puddin and Daniel in pursuit across the muddy yard. They ran at an angle toward the steps.

Before Joe realized what he was doing he had jumped off his step and ran after them. He lowered his head and barreled into the bullies back. Despite being far smaller,  Joe caught him just right in the back of his knees and knocked him onto the mucky ground falling on top of him. Daniel tripped over the two and fell into the tangle of arms and legs.

Caught between the two boys, Joe started punching Tucker Beck but since he was sandwiched between Daniel and his enemy, he couldn’t stand up quickly enough to get a good shot at him. Before he could extricate himself from the pile up, Fisher and one of the other older Town boys yanked Little Joe to his feet from the back.

“My, my what do we have here ?“ growled Fisher as he and the other boy pinned Little Joe’s arms back. Daniel sat in a heap on the ground.

Tucker stood up slowly, brushed himself off as Daniel lay sprawled on the ground. Tucker swung his meaty fist and gave Joe a solid punch in his gut knocking the wind out of him.

“Stop!” screamed Kate. She grabbed Joes lunch bucket from the step and threw it at Fischer’s blond head barely missing him. It crashed against a tree with a clatter.

“Back off you little mosquito” Jack growled at her.

Alerted by the screaming and the crash of the metal lunch bucket, Miss Lambert ran out of the schoolhouse door. “Stop ! Stop right now ! There is no fighting in this school.. Who started this ?”

”Gee Miss Lambert, Little Joe knocked Beck and Daniel into the mud for no reason and I just had to pull him off before someone got hurt.” Fisher looked up at the teacher convincingly. He placed his boot on Daniel’s hand and stepped down slowly pinning his hand into the mud.

“Isn’t that so, Daniel?” Fischer smiled. He pressed his foot harder on Daniel’s hand.” Tell the teacher that is so.”

Trapped, Daniel nodded.

Joe was doubled over still trying to catch his breath and couldn’t speak up fast enough.

“Joseph Cartwright you get inside this minute. You are in big trouble, “ Miss Lambert ordered.

His Pa was not going to be pleased. No indeed his pa was going to be mighty displeased with him. He didn’t hold his temper and once again was in trouble.

Chapter 8

The freight wagon rumbled down the muddy street. It had been delayed half a day by the rutted roads, and the inexperience of the new helper, Cyrus Carnigan. The driver, Frank Stanley pulled up the team in front of Lowell’s hardware  store and jumped down to see where the storeowner wanted him to unload.

“There‘s the school house.” Frank smiled as he looked across the street and smiled. He took off his hat and mopped his brow with his bandanna. He ran his fingers through his dark hair.

“There’s the schoolhouse where pretty Carly Lambert was the school marm. Frank thought.  “Cy let’s get this delivery done !”

Cyrus Carnigan, was in a rush to deliver this last load and make his way over to the Bucket of Blood saloon. This was the worst job he ever had and the idea quitting and of continuing out to California seemed mighty appealing.

“A beer would sure taste good” he said aloud.” Mighty good.”

“Just do your job first, “ answered Stanley. “ We got a lot to unload here and horses to tend before you’ll be drinkin’ any beer. Did you check that axle like I told you ?”

“Sure, sure,” Cyrus lied. “get off my back.” California sure looked better and better.

Stanley was a worse nag than his last boss and Cy was glad to leave that guy with a broken nose when he left. The wagon was filled with crates and wooden barrels loaded far to high and poorly balanced. The machine parts Ben had ordered for the lumber mill  were caught at an awkward angle between  a jumble of trunks and boxes.

“Afternoon Mr. Cartwright, Hoss.”  Frank called down from the freight wagon. “Looks like we have those crates you’ve been waiting on.”

Ben Cartwright looked up at the freight driver sillouetted against the glaring late afternoon sun. With his broad shoulders and black hair and the sun glaring behind him, for an instant, Ben could have sworn the driver was Adam.

“Afternoon Frank.” Ben smiled shading his eye with his hand. “Glad those crates are here. My boys were coming into town every day this week waiting for you. Got Hoss here out of a lot of chores though.”

Hoss overheard and grinned widely. He also had an excuse to see pretty Andrea Lowell each day too, Hoss remembered. She was the nicest and prettiest girl in town but he was really to shy to tell her how he felt about her.  His father knew something was going on with the boys. Pa wasn’t fooled by the stories he and Joe had contrived to get him into town. Hoss chuckled to himself. Ben might be tired out, and worried but he still knew every move his boys made.

“Where’s Mr.Lowell ? Have any idea where he wants us to unload this wagon ?” Frank asked the Cartwrights.

Just then Andrea walked out the front door of the store. Hoss smiled at her and she winked at him. He blushed beet red and wished he could think of something clever to say to her but was at a loss for words.

“My father said to bring that wagon in back, by the alley. He said to take it slow. It’s a tight squeeze. He’ll meet you out back.”

“Sure Honey, “Cyrus smirked.” And where’d you get all that purty red hair , you sweet thing ?”

 Hoss was shocked. How could someone talk so disrespectfully to Andrea that way ? Before the boy could say something, the dark haired freight driver spoke up.

”Keep a polite  tongue in your  head, Boy”, Frank reprimanded his helper. “Sorry Miss Andrea. “ he added touching a hand to the rim of his hat. “gee yap !”

He tapped the reigns on the back of the tired team and carefully drove the unbalanced freight wagon down the tight alley way between the Hardware store and the adjacent stable.

“Check that axle once we unload this freight Cy. I don’t like the way this wagon feels.”

Father and son watched the lumbering freight wagon squeeze down the tight alley. Ben stepped up to the back of his own buck board and started to shift some of the parcels that Hoss had already loaded.

“Hoss, lets rearrange this stuff so we can leave some room on that side of the buck board for the crates for the mill.” Ben directed his son. He reached over to shove a grain sack closer to the nail kegs. “Looks like we will be done here just in time for school to let out and drag Joe down for that hair cut.”

“Just tell him if he gives you a hard time, we’ll tie him behind the wagon by his hair and make him run behind.” Hoss joked. “Oh Josephine, run faster.”  Hoss squeaked in imitation of a little girl.

Ben laughed loudly slapping his son on the back.  Ben could see Jacob Lowell through the front widow of the store and waved his hand in greeting. “See you round back, Ben !”

It was the last words Ben Cartwright ever heard his friend say to him.

Chapter 9

Ben and Hoss continued to load their wagon as Cy pulled the freight wagon around the back of the Lowell’s store. Suddenly, they heard an ear splitting crash and the sound of a scream and horses whinnying in fear. Andrea came running out the front of the store shouting “Mr. Cartwright, Hoss, Help! Come quick !”

The Cartwrights ran down the alley as fast as they could and immediately saw the freight wagon wedged against the wall of the store tilted at a crazy angle, the result of the off balanced load splitting the axle.

Ben saw that the wheel was broken off, and that Jacob was lying sprawled under the fallen wagon He looked as if he were in an awful lot of pain. Ben dropped to one knee in the dirt beside him.

“Jacob, can you hear me ?”

Jacob’s had moved and his eyes opened but they had trouble focusing on Ben’s face.  All that came from his lips was a fearsome moan.  The corner of the wagon rested on Lowell’s chest, crushing him into the dirt. The contents of the freight wagon had tumbled out burying him and overflowing all over the yard. Cy stood next to the wagon frozen at the scene his negligence had caused. He grabbed the bridle of the horse nearest him and steadied the team.

Frank ran out  of the back door of the store screaming “Damn you Cy ! Unhitch the team before they spook more. Andrea Go run for the Doc,”

Mrs. Lowell ran down the steps after Frank. She turned white at the scene of her husband trapped beneath the wagon. “Jacob ! Please help him.”

“Hoss, quick, Boy, Help me off load, “bellowed  Ben grabbing a wooden case and heaving it as far as he could. “Frank, get that beam. Maybe we can lift the wagon up and pull him out.” Ben pointed to a pile of lumber near the shed.

Frank yanked a long length of wood from the pile and hoped  to heaven that it was going to be as strong as they needed it to be. With much heaving and sweating, and a few choice cuss words, he and Ben wedged the beam  up under the side of the wagon. Mean while Hoss was pulling off crates and boxes from the wagon and tossing them helter skelter in attempt to lighten the weight of the tipped freight wagon. Cy shook him self and started helping Hoss. He grabbed one end of a big trunk and Hoss the other and they yanked it to the ground.

“Mr. Cartwright this should do it,” Frank said pointing at the beam. “Stand clear boys and give me a hand.”

Hoss and Cy jumped clear off the wagon and grabbed a place on the beam.”Put your backs into it.” Ben directed. “All together on three. One, two, three.”

The three men pushed down on the board and the wagon creaked loudly, moving up a few inches. It was enough for Ben to pull Jacob Lowell free.

“Hold it for a minute,” Cartwright directed the others. He had no desire to be crushed under the wagon if it dropped.

As gently as he could, Ben pulled Lowell out from  under the wagon by the armpits. By now, the man was only semi-conscious, but still, he groaned in pain.  The wound was starting to bleed heavily. Ben didn’t think there was much chance of saving him. He had seen men crushed like that before when he was at sea and a mast fell on a mate during a storm. But no matter what, but he had to try to save the man’s life.

“Ok, we’re clear !” Ben shouted as he pulled the store owner completely free of the wagon’s crushing load. Blood gushed from Lowell’s chest drenching  Ben’s hands and shirt as well as puddling on the ground beneath him. Hoss, Frank, and Cy released their grip on the lever and the wagon crashed noisily down into the dirt.

Andrea and Doctor Martin ran down the alley way followed by a crowd of curious onlookers. Ben and Frank carefully picked up Jacob and carried him inside followed by the doctor, Andrea and the victim’s silent, shaken wife.

A minute later Frank stepped outside grim faced “ I’m going to go get those Lowell kids from the school. If they want to see their Daddy alive one last time, I better hustle.”

Hoss stood silently, not knowing what he should do.

Cy looked ashen and kicked at the wagon.

Chapter 9

Joe glanced through the school house window again. His brother, Hoss was carrying a lumpy burlap sack of something over one shoulder and loaded that into the back of the half filled  wagon.  Little Joe saw his Pa ride up beside the wagon and tie his horse up at the hitching rail in front of the Lowell’s store. Ben must have finished up his business at the bank. Joe hoped he couldn’t see into the schoolhouse and see what was going on with him.

Joe glanced back to the classroom, lost in worry about how his father would punish him. The next time he looked out the window he saw the freight wagon pull up by the Lowells, full to overflowing. Then it pulled in back. All of a sudden there was some sort of big noisy commotion across the street.  Suddenly he could see Frank bolt across the street and burst into the school. He walked briskly over to Miss Lamberts desk and loudly said “Where is the Lowell kids ? They got to go home quick.”

Totally confused and surprised to see Frank in her classroom, her eyes widened and Miss Lambert pointed out Daniel and Puddin’.  In an instant Frank scooped up Puddin in his arms and grabbed Daniel by the arm and walked quickly out of the school house. Puddin started to scream as she had no idea what was going on.

“Hush up. Your ma needs you home, right now.”

Joe could see Frank and his two friends rush across the street to all the commotion.  In an instant Little Joe jumped out of the corner and dashed out the door to follow his friend.

“Joe Cartwright, you come back here.” Miss Lambert screamed as he ran out of the school. He rushed across the street and saw his brother Hoss pale leaning against the wall, his head pillowed on his arms crying.

 

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