First Love
By: Karen Faye Rodgers
The sky was a brilliant blue as the two men stepped out onto the porch. Hoss had already saddled up Buck for his father before heading out to fix a fence in the north pasture. Ben Cartwright mounted his horse and looked down at his son, “I’ll see you in a week son. Make sure that Joe doesn’t give you too much trouble.”
“Don’t worry Pa, there isn’t going to be any trouble while you’re gone. Good luck on the contract and we’ll see you in a week.” With a quick smile he added, “and make sure you get a little rest and enjoy the quiet without that baby boy of yours.”
Ben tried to hide the laughter that was threatening to come out, “I wouldn’t let Joe catch you calling him a baby.”
“Trust me Pa; I know how he can be. You just have a good time,” Adam watched as his father rode off and then headed back into the house to get started on some paperwork.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joe sat at his desk at school and listened to his classmates spelling the words that Miss Jones called out to them. He didn’t like spelling and really cared less for being in front of the class to spell the words out. For someone who loved to challenge his teacher with his pranks and mischief he was surprised even at himself at how he disliked being in front of the class.
“Joe, can you spell exercise,” Miss Jones asked taking the ten year old out of his thoughts.
“Can you say that word again?” Joe questioned with an innocent grin.
“Joseph Cartwright, you have to stop your day dreaming in class and start getting serious about your class work,” she scolded the boy. “Now can you please spell exercise?”
Taking in a deep breath, he stood up and looked at his teacher then at Mitch who was sitting beside him, “Exercise, E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E.”
“I’m glad to see that you have at least been studying you spelling words. Good job,” she smiled then going on to the next student. “Mitch can you spell suggest?”
Mitch waited until Joe took his seat then stood, “Suggest, S-U-G-E-S-T.”
“Hmmm, I think it’s time for you to spend a little more time studying with your spelling.”
Mitch just nodded as he took his seat and then looked at over at his best friend Joe, “I don’t see why we gotta learn these spelling words anyway.”
Miss Jones turned her attention from her book to the little boy’s whispering, “Mitch is there something that you want to share with the class?”
He shook his head, “n…no Ma’am.”
“Alright then, class take out your readers and start from where we left off yesterday,” she told the students as she took her seat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When class was over for the day, Joe got quickly to his feet and headed for the door before anyone else where even out of their seats. He wanted to go fishing with Mitch after his chores where done and he had decided it was best to get them done as soon as he got home. He had promised his father that he would be good while he was away and he had no intention in breaking that promise.
He had remembered his father’s words about minding his older brother, ‘Now I expect to hear a good report from your brother when I get back. Do I make myself clear?’
Oh, his father made himself clear alright, but he wasn’t going to be listening to his brother because his father wanted him to. He looked into the window of the general store and smiled when he saw the new hat in the window. He wanted his father to buy him that hat and if he had to be good for a week to get it then so be it.
He shook his head, ‘what was he thinking. A whole week without getting into trouble, boy is this going to be one long week.’
Soon he was on his way back home and day dreaming as he did so, “I hope Mitch has his work finished fast. I can’t wait to go fishing.”
“Talking to yourself Cartwright?” Mitch asked as he rode his pony closer to his friend.
“Mitch, you just took ten years off my life. Why did you have to sneak up on me like that?” He scolded his friend. Although it was his fault that he was caught off guard.
“I didn’t sneak up on ya.”
“Well, what would you call it then?” Joe asked. He wasn’t about to let his friend get off to easily about catching him off guard and not with teasing him about talking to himself.
“Let’s just forget about it. I’ll meet you in a little while at the pond.” Mitch shook his head, oh boy fishing was going to be so much fun especially since they didn’t have much homework tonight.
“See you there,” Joe watched as his friend rode off toward home, then turned his attention on the road before him, “Hey Millie, what do you say we get a little run in before we get back home?”
The pony made a dash as she went as fast as she could down the road. The wind that hit the young man’s face made Joe feel like he could do anything and to him that was the best feeling on earth. As he neared the ranch house he slowed his pony to a nice little walk and went the rest of the way to the barn.
Adam was just coming out of the house as he watched Joe ride toward the barn. “Hey little Buddy, how was school today?”
“It was alright,” he said getting off his horse. “I did real good on my spelling.” He patted Millie as he took the rein and led her to the open barn door.
Adam looked proud at his brother, “see all that hard work last night studying paid off.” He headed to his brothers side and ruffled his brother’s curly hair.
“I guess… Hey Adam?” Joe looked up as he stopped.
“Yeah?”
“After I get my chores done, can I go fishin?” Joe asked with one of his prize winning smiles.
Adam glanced over at Joe sternly, “as long as you get your chores are done and your homework.” He knew that Joe wouldn’t be happy about doing his homework first, but that was more important than playing.
“Oh come on Adam…I can do that homework when I get back home.”
“You can do it before you go fishing or you will not be going. Do I make myself clear?” Adam asked raising his eyebrow waiting for his brother’s response.
“Oh alright,” He took the reins of his horse and walked her farther into the barn.
Two hours later, Joe sat on his knees at the coffee table doing his homework when Adam came through the front door, “Hey Adam, can ya look at my arithmetic please?”
“Sure Buddy, give me a minute to take my gun belt off.”
“Thanks,” Joe turned his attention back to his last page of reading so that he could get about an hours worth of fishing in.
Adam walked over to where his brother sat and picked up the piece of paper. He looked over it carefully and noticed that half of the problems were wrong, “Joe, I think you need to rework some of these problems.”
Little Joe’s head popped up at his oldest brother, “oh Adam. They all can’t be wrong.”
“Your right all of them aren’t wrong, but about half of them are. You're going to have to stay and not go fishing; you've left me no other choice since you rushed through your arithmetic doing it half wrong.” He watched as tears came to his brother’s face, but had no other choice than to stand firm with his decision.
“That’s not fair!” he shouted at Adam before getting to his feet and heading for the door.
“Stop, right there young man!” Adam was fuming now at his brother’s lack of responsibility.
Joe stopped in his tracks then turned to look at his brother, “why should I….”
“Because I told you to… I want you to get your books and go upstairs to finish your homework,” He watched as Little Joe angrily got his books and stomped up stairs.
As Joe entered his room he ran across to his bed and started to cry, ‘Why does he have to me so mean,’ he thought to himself as he continued to sob.
After a few minutes of crying he wiped his eyes and sat up and looked at his books. He opened his arithmetic and then wiped his eyes again using the sleeve of his shirt. Joe scanned the problems he’d worked out downstairs and started redoing them. He wanted to show his brother that he knew what he was doing and just maybe he could go fishing the next day with Mitch and Hoss.
He was finished within minutes and was heading for the door when it opened and Adam appeared, “can we talk Buddy?”
“Sure, I was bringing this for you to check any how.”
“I see, well I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry you didn’t get to go fishing today. I know that you have been working hard lately with school. So what do you say that we all go tomorrow? I asked Sue Ann to go for a picnic tomorrow and I’m sure she won’t mind if you and Hoss join us.” He walked over to his brother and looked at the paper in his hand, “let me see your work.”
Joe handed the paper over to his brother and watched as his brother checked the homework, “Well? How did I do?” he searched his brother’s face for any sign of how his work was done, but Adam continued to look at the work not saying a word.
“They’re all right. You did a good job on this,” Adam praised the work of his little brother.
“Thanks Adam, so you’re not funning me are ya, we can really go fishing with you tomorrow?” his sparkling eyes revealed his excitement of going fishing with both his brothers, “can I ask Mitch to come with us?”
“Sure Buddy, and we can go dig up some worms in the morning, but I think that we should go downstairs and get some supper before Hoss eats it all,” Adam teased.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joe walked downstairs with his boots in hand and headed over to his father’s chair to put them on. He looked up as Adam came down the stairs, “I can’t wait to meet Sue Ann. Do you think that she’ll like me? You never know with them girls.”
“As long as you behave yourself I’m sure that she will like you,” Adam assured him. He tried to stop himself from laughing at his brother with his comment ‘them girls.’ He couldn’t help, but to think of how innocent his brother’s thinking was.
“Can I go over to Mitch’s and ask him to go fishing with us now?” He was watched for him brother’s ok so that be could bolt for the door, but it never came.
Adam shook his head, “not until you eat breakfast and get your chores done.”
“Oh alright,” the young man said heading to the table and taking his seat as Hop Sing brought two platters in and put them down on the table.
Hoss came into the house and headed over to the table, “Hop Sing this food looks plum pretty.”
“Hoss food ain’t supposed to be pretty,” Joe told him in no certain terms.
“Hoss eats good. Not like Little Joe, little boy needs to eat more…like brother,” Hop Sing said just before heading back to the kitchen.
Joe started giggling, “Boy he sure likes how you eat Hoss.”
“Nah, just likes it when everyone eats all his food all up,” Hoss chuckled as he filled his plate with his breakfast.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mitch watched as Joe pulled his fish onto the bank, “oh Joe, that’s sure is a big one.”
Joe face was beaming with pride as he took the hook from the fishes mouth and put it on the string with the other fish, “oh boy, Hop Sing is going to have fun cooking that baby up.
“No kidding that sure is some fish,” Mitch agreed.
As Joe put his fish in the water and placed the sick that held them into the ground. He looked over to where his older brother and Sue Ann sat on a blanket, “that Sue Ann sure is nice.”
“Yep.”
“She is pretty too, don’t you think Mitch?” Joe asked as he put another worm on his hook and put it back into the water.
“Yep…are we here to talk or fish?” Mitch asked getting irritated about his friends talking too much.
“Sure are, let’s fish,” Joe said as he gave Sue Ann one last look.
Adam looked over at his brother who kept glancing his way, “if I didn’t know better Sue, that brother of mine is sweet on you.”
Sue Anne playfully hit him on the arm, “Oh Adam, I’m sure he’s just looking at you.”
“Well, if he is sweet on you, I have to admit he had good taste,” he smiled taking her hand in his.
“Oh Adam…” she chuckled.
Adam looked down the lake to see Hoss fishing by himself, “I think that I should go see if these guys are ready to head home it’ll be dark before long.”
“Alright, I’ll get everything back into the buggy.”
Adam gave her a wink as he got to his feet and headed over to Hoss, “Hey, how’s the fishing going?”
“Oh, I think those two over yonder are getting better bites than me. I tell ya it is just puny fish that I’m catching,” Hoss complained as he got his pole ready to go home.
Adam pulled his brother’s string out of the water and smiled at the number of fish, “hey looks like you did better than you’re letting on,” he teased looked at the ten fish on the string.
“Shucks Adam, that ain’t even enough for me, what will you and Joe do for supper.”
Laughing at his brother Adam shook his head, “then we had better hope that Joe got some then.”
Joe and Mitch came running to where Hoss and Adam stood. Joe raised his fish for his older brothers to see, “look at these fish that I caught Adam.”
Adam gave a whistle, “you sure got some fine fish Little Joe.”
“Yep, sure did and look at the ones Mitch caught he was just as lucky as me,” he beamed as his friend held up his fish.
“Looks like you two found some spot to fish at,” Adam took the two stings of fish to carry to the buggy. “Mitch, are you still having supper at the house?”
“Sure am, I’ve been a waiting for that all day. My pa said he would come pick me up around eight,” the young man explained.
“Good looks like we have enough fish for an army. I’ve asked Sue Ann to have dinner with us,” Adam said as everyone headed for the buggy.
Joe’s face lit up. He didn’t know what it was about that Sue Ann, but he liked it when she was around. He just had to get her to notice him, but how?”
He watched as she waiting for them to get to the buggy then praised Hoss, Joe and Mitch on how great they had done fishing and how she loved having spent the day with them.
Joe liked how her brown eyes gleamed when she was happy. He knew for some reason this girl was different than any he’d met before.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rest of the day went by to fast for Joe who was content just watching ‘Adam’s girlfriend’ as they had spent the evening at home. Mitch finally got tired of Joe sitting around looking at some girl and headed for the door.
Seeing his friend leave Joe got to his feet and followed Mitch out, “hey were ya going?”
“I didn’t think that you would even notice that I was gone,” Mitch said sadly.
“What are ya talking about, sure I saw you a leaving.”
Mitch went to sit on the edge of the porch, “you kept looking at that Sue Ann and it felt like you cared more about that girl than you did me.”
Joe went to take a seat next to his friend, “I can’t explain it, for some reason she isn’t like the girls at school.”
“Of course not silly, she is an old woman.”
Joe started to giggle, “she don’t look too old to me. She is real pretty too; there is just something about her I like. I can’t figure it out none either.”
“You don’t think that you like a girl do ya,” Mitch asked his eyes getting bigger as he talked.
“Well, I do like her and I can’t tell you what it is, she is just well different.”
Oh Joe…you can’t be going and liking a girl, remember what you promised me last year about never going on a date with one of them.”
“I ain’t forgot and I’m not going on no date, I just think she is pretty, is all,” Joe assured him.
“Joe, don’t you know that’s Adam’s girl,” Mitch swallowed hard as he looked at his best friend.
“So, I don’t want to go out with her, but at the same time I can out smart Adam any old day.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two days later, Joe and Mitch were overcome with joy at the news that Mrs. Jones wasn’t feeling very well so they got out of school right after lunch. The two friends walked side by side to the General Store to get some candy. Before the came out they had more candy that they needed in their hands.
“Boy Joe, have you ever seen so much candy?” Mitch asked as he looked at the bag.
Joe started to giggle, “you kidding me? If my Pa found out that we bought this much candy to eat on one afternoon, he would have my hide for sure.”
“Where do you want to go?” Mitch asked as both young men headed to get their ponies.
“How about we just ride and find a spot as we go?” Little Joe said mounting Millie.
“Sounds good to me,” Mitch piped up following Joe out of town.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later, in his oldest brother’s room Joe watched as Adam got ready for his date with Sue Ann and smiled at his brother, ‘oh this is going to be fun” Joe thought to himself. “Hey Adam you know where Hoss is?”
“In the barn finishing up his chores,” Adam answered with out looking away from his mirror.
“Thanks,” Joe took off and headed to barn. Without knowing it his brother was going to help him with his plot. Joe stopped out side of the barn and looked around until he saw his brother, “Hey Hoss can you help me for a minute?”
“Sure Short Shanks, what do you need help with?”
“Well, I’m not feeling to well and I was wondering since Hop Sing was in town today could you find something for my stomach it sure hurts something awful,” Joe voice sounded a little weak as he explained his troubles to his brother.
“I’m sorry your feeling poorly Little Joe, let’s go get something for ya,” Hoss went to his brother’s side and walked close by him.
“You think Adam will stay with me, I really want him to be here, but I didn’t want to ask him with his date and all,” Joe was near tears when he stopped to look in Hoss’ blue eyes.
“No worries about that Short Shanks, I’ll make sure he’s here for you tonight and he’ll read to you if you want him too,” Hoss assured his ‘sick’ brother.
“I’m not sure; he really wants to go on this date. He won’t stay with me,” tears started falling down the ten year old’s face as he walked over to the settee and laid down.
“Hey Adam, come down here,” Hoss called out to his older brother.
Coming down the top of the stairs he looked down at Hoss, “what’s the hollering about?”
“Joe’s not feeling good and wants you. You come on down, while I go get him some medicine,” Hoss gave Adam no time to reply before he took off for the kitchen.
After hearing that his little brother wasn’t felling well, Adam went to the settee and to Little Joe side, “Hey Buddy, what’s the matter?”
“My stomach hurt something awful, could you stay with me please and read me a book,” he swallowed hard as his eyes watered up more.
“Sure Buddy, I’ll send Hoss into town to tell Sue Ann that I can’t come in. Let’s get you on up to bed,” he helped Joe to his feet and walked with him upstairs.
After getting him settled in bed, Hoss came into the bedroom with a spoon and a medicine bottle, “here you go Short Shanks. This should fix ya right up.”
Adam took the bottle from his brother and smiled, “I need you to go over to Sue Ann’s and tell her that I can’t come over this afternoon. Tell her that I’m sorry, but Joe isn’t feeling well.”
“Hey Adam,” Joe asked with a shaky voice, “Can you ask Sue Ann to come over? She sure told some nice stories to me and Mitch the other night.”
“Adam looked at Joe and raised his eyebrow trying to figure out why Joe would want Sue Ann over, “sure.” He looked at Hoss, “can you ask her to come by, if she can that is.”
“I’ll be back before you know it,” Hoss left the room and headed downstairs.
Adam opened the bottle and poured some of the medicine in the spoon, “alright little Buddy, here this will make you feel better.”
“I ain’t taking that. It tastes really bad,” Joe told his brother before turning away from him.
“Joe, you’ll only taste it for a minute or two. Come on open up so you can take your medicine.”
Joe shook his head, “no and you can’t make me neither.”
“Joe, I’m telling you to turn around to take your medicine, like a good boy,” Adam was starting to lose his patience with the boy.
“No and I’m not a boy neither. I’m ten years old that makes me a young man. Not a boy or a baby,” he shouted back.
“Then for Heaven sakes act like a young man and not a two year old.”
“I ain’t taking it.”
“Yes you are,” Adam looked at his younger brother before him and wondered what his father would do to get him to take the medicine. Finally he remembered when he was about Joe’s age he gave his father the same worries.
“You know Little Joe, if you take the medicine it will make you feel a lot better and maybe Hop Sing can make your favorite pie tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Come on Buddy just one spoon full?” He asked calmly.
“Can’t you understand English I said I’m not taking it,” Joe shouted at him.
“You are one stubborn little cuss aren’t you?”
Joe turned over, “how bad does it taste?”
Adam smiled, “not that bad at all.”
“So you’ll taste it first and if you don’t make a face, then I know that it’s alright,” Joe bargained with is brother.
Adam looked at the medicine in the spoon and then at Joe, “are you sure that’s what you want?”
“If you can take it so can I big brother,” Joe wanted to laugh out loud. Boy would Adam be mad if he knew that he wasn’t really sick. However, spending the afternoon with Sue Ann was worth it.
“Alright,” Adam put the spoon full of medicine in his mouth and had to fight hard not to gag on the awful taste in his mouth. He forced a smile to his face and said, “See…nothing… to it.”
Joe looked at his brother with a weak smile, “alright. I guess it’s my turn right?”
“You got it Little Buddy.”
Joe opened his mouth as soon as Adam filled the spoon again and swallowed the bitter tasting medication, “oh Adam, that still is…”
“Oh trust me I know just what it tastes like,” his older brother giggled. “It will make you feel better though. So tell me Little brother, what book would you like me to read?”
Joe thought for a moment, “how about you pick the book.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hoss stopped Chubb and hurried over to the door and knocked and was relieved when Sue Ann answered it.
“Why Hoss, I was waiting for Adam…is there anything wrong?” The young woman asked her worry showing in her dark eyes.
“Well, Joe’s not feeling to well and wanted Adam with him. He wanted you too, said that he liked how you told stories the other night.”
Sue Ann watched how nervous Hoss was and knew how Adam had described him was right on the money. He wasn’t use to being around woman. The young man looked as if he thought that his feet were mighty interesting as he kicked at a rock in front of him, “what is wrong with the little guy?”
“He said it was his stomach and it hurt him,” he explained never really looking at Sue Ann for more than a few seconds at a time.
“Just let me get my wrap and then I’ll be right with you. I have to get my horse saddled too,” she called out to him as she headed back into the house.
“I’ll do that for ya. Just tell me which horse is yours.”
After a few seconds Sue Ann came out of the house and followed Hoss to the barn and he saddled the horse for her and they headed to the Ponderosa.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joe jumped Adam’s man, “king me.”
“You are sure enjoying yourself to be feeling so poorly little brother,” Adam kinged the red checker piece and studied the board before making his move.
“You know, I don’t think that I want to play checkers anymore. Can you read more of that story to me,” Joe asked.
“Are you sure you want me to read? You have already changed your mind six times and I am getting tired of taking this checker board down just to put it back up again ten minutes later,” his older brother calmly but sternly told Little Joe.
“Yeah, reading is what I want ya to do,” he smiled his brother as he picked up the book and started reading ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ Again. Joe listened and started to really feel a little ill and wondered why that was.
“Adam,” he called out for his brother.
“Yeah Buddy,” Adam looked up from his book to see Joe looking a little pale, “what’s the matter?”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” as soon as he got the word out Adam jumped to his feet and headed for the basin, but wasn’t fast enough and ended up with his little brother getting sick on his shoes and pants.
Joe was about tears, “sorry.” He now remembered his and Mitch’s candy picnic and made a promise to himself never to do that again.
“It’s no problem. I’ll get you a cloth for your face and get you changed then I will go get changed.
“Thanks Adam,” Joe was feeling a little guilty about lying to his brother earlier.
The oldest brother went about the task of making Joe comfortable then headed to his own room to get washed up and changed. Before long he was at his brother’s side and took a seat, “how are you feeling Short Shanks?”
Joe smiled, “a lot better now.”
“I’m glad.”
Joe couldn’t help but wish that he hadn’t told such a lie that at the end turned out to be not far from a truth, “Adam, I think that maybe…”
Before he could get any farther, they heard the sound of horses and Adam went to the window to see Hoss and Sue Ann, “I’m going to greet Sue and will be back in a minute.”
Joe watched him leave, “way to go Joe.” The young man scolded himself.
It seemed like seconds before Hoss came into the room and headed for his brother’s bed, “how are you feeling?”
“Alright.”
Hoss smiles, “that’s real good to hear Short Shanks, real good… Adam and Sue Ann will be up in a minute they are just putting up the horses.”
Sitting up more Joe, noticed the look his brother was giving him. He knew that Hoss had always been able to figure him out most of the time and well he had a feeling that today wasn’t going to be an exception.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adam and Sue Ann were just leaving the barn when they heard a horse come into the yard. They watched as Mitch rode over to them looking as if he was mad at the world, “Hey Adam, where’s Joe? We’re supposing to go fishing.”
Walking over to his brother’s best friend’s horse Adam looked up to the boy, “sorry Mitch, Joe’s not feeling to well right now.”
“I knew it, he shouldn’t have had all that candy. I told him so,” the young man shook his head then made a face when he realized that he’s just told on Joe.
“What candy?” Adam asked.
“Did I say candy? I um…um”
“Um?” Adam asked with a smug smile.
“I think, I’d better get back home. Maybe there are a few chores that I can find to do,” Mitch turned his horse around and headed back the way that he came.
Adam glanced up to his brother’s window, “well, looks like that brother of mine has a reason for his stomach ache.”
“Oh don’t be too hard on him, don’t tell me that you never sneaked into candy and made yourself sick,” Sue Ann teased.
Turning his attention back to Sue Adam laughed, “oh not me, but there have been several times that I’ve spoiled that little guy up there.”
“I see, you can’t really blame him when he pulls a stunt like this,” Sue pointed out. She then turned serious. “I’ve been wanting to tell you something since I got here.”
Letting his mind turn to Sue, Adam forgot about his little brother for a moment, “what about?”
“Can we sit on the porch?”
“Sure,” he walked by her side as the came closer to the house and took a seat.
She sat looking at him for a moment before she started to
speak, “my pa got a letter the other day for my Aunt Rose. Seems that her
husband died and she is going to be needing someone to help her with her three
children. She has a large ranch in
“So you’re leaving?” he asked sadly. He really hadn’t known her that long, but had hoping to get the chance.
She shook her head, “yes. I leave at the end of the week.”
They sat in silence for a moment before Adam broke the silence, “we’ll I will for sure miss you.”
“The past few weeks have been nice,” she admitted as she changed her glance from Adam to toward the barn.
“Maybe we should be getting in so we can see that little mischief maker upstairs. He was asking for you to read to him. I think he is smitten with you,” Adam joked, then cleared his throat, “like I said before he has good taste.”
“I think that we should get up there before he thinks that we left him,” she teased.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Sue was finishing the last Page of the story Joe stared at her like a moon struck pup. He hadn’t even heard half of the story ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.’ She glanced up at the young man ever now and then and noticed how he stared at her and hoped that he didn’t see how she smiled at him amused at how he never blinked at all content to hear her voice. “Maybe Adam was right about his little brother.’
Joe couldn’t take his eyes off her, ‘boy she sure is pretty,” he thought to himself. He noticed that she would look at him once after every page that she read and smile knowing that she felt the same way for him that he did about her.
Finally the book was finished and Sue closed it and placed it on the nightstand. “Well, this was nice. I hope that you feel better, but I have to get going.”
Joe frowned at the news, “can’t you stay and read another story?”
“As much as I would like too, I think that it is time for me to head home. I have some packing to do,” she got to her feet and came close to him, “you feel better.”
“You going somewhere?” Joe asked sitting up in his bed real fast.
“Yeah, I am moving to where my aunt lives.” She gave him a quick smile and headed for the door.
“That’s a shame I really liked you coming around,” he crinkled his face and then gave her a grin, “oh well, on to someone new.”
Sue laughed out loud, “Oh am I that easy to forget?”
“Hey a man has to have choices,” he told her with a wink. “How did you now that I liked ya?”
“It was your brother that told me. He sure thinks that he has you pegged,” she continued to laugh. “You feel better.”
“Sure will.” He watched her leave the room and waited for the door to close so that he could get out of bed. ‘Mitch sure is missing out with not liking the girls,” he thought as he headed for the door making sure that the coast was clear he headed back into his room through the window and he had snuck out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adam sat on the settee as Sue Ann came down the stairs, “how did it go?” He questioned.
“I don’t think that brother of yours heard one word of that story. He was too love struck,” she giggled. She then took a seat next to him, “but he is over me now.”
Adam raised an eyebrow, “oh really?”
“Yes, it’s time for him to find something new,” they both broke out into laughter.
“Well, leave it to Joe to be the ladies man,” he joked. “Life is never dull with that little guy around that’s for sure.” He glanced to Sue, “Can you stay for supper? Hop Sing left supper for us before he left. All I have to do is warm it up.”
“That would be nice, but I should go and get my packing started. How about we have supper tomorrow night?” She stood and looked down to him, “what do you say?”
“Sure, Pa will be back in the morning and so will Hop Sing so he can tend to Joe, but something tells me that he will be fine.”
Joe sat at the top of the stairs and sadly shook his head…his brother was making fun of him. He turned around and headed to his room and out his window.
~~~~~~~~~~~
After Sue Ann left to go home Adam went straight up stairs to his brother’s room to check on him. He opened the door and peaked in to find his brother gone.
“Hoss…” Adam called out as he headed downstairs. He found his brother coming out of the kitchen with a cup of hot chocolate.
“What’s all the dadburn shouting about?” he asked as he sat down where a plate of cookies already sat.
“Have you seen Little Joe…he’s not in his room,” Adam said on his way to the door.
“Sure ain’t.”
“I’m going to check around outside and you look around better in here,” with that said Adam headed out of the house for the born.
The barn was dark when Adam entered. Lighting the lantern as he entered he started searching the building. He was about to give up hope when he noticed a few straws of hay falling from the loft.
He looked up and smiled. He could have kicked himself for nothing of the hayloft before. After all it was his brother’s favorite spot when he was upset or trying to hide from trouble. He quietly headed up the ladder and stopped when his head looked over the floor boards, “mind if I join you?”
“Guess I can’t stop ya,” Joe said looking up from where his head was resting on his knees.
“Want to tell me why you’re out here?” Adam asked searching his brother’s face to see how Joe was feeling.
“You were laughing at me…” Joe looked up at his brother with tears in his eyes.
“When was I laughing at you, Buddy?”
“In the house when you were with Sue Ann…you were talking about how I liked her and you both were laughing…” Joe explained as he wiped his nose with his sleeve.
“Joe I would never do anything that would hurt your feelings on purpose,” Adam started. “I remember the first girl I ever had a crush on…”
Joe’s head shot up at those words, “yeah…no kidding.”
“I was about your age when I noticed a girl named, Sarah…she had just moved to town and I was uncertain what I should say or do.”
Joe was taken off guard by his bother’s words, “you didn’t know how to talk to a girl?”
“With Sarah…I was clueless Buddy,” Adam smiled at his brother as he climbed on up into the hayloft and sat next to his brother.
A half hour later Hoss entered the barn after looking all over this place for his younger brother and was starting to get worried. Now it was like Adam had disappeared too. He saw the light coming from the loft and shook his head. ‘Why on earth hadn’t Adam come and told him that he had found Joe.’
The sight that met him as he got to the top about melted his heart. In the far corner of the loft was Joe and Adam sound asleep.
‘Ain’t that a site,’ he thought as he made sure that the lantern was alright before he headed inside to fetch some blankets for his brothers. It wouldn’t hurt anything since they were both far away from the edge of the loft.
After making sure that they were alright and checking the lantern one last time he headed for the house and up to his bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hoss knew he heard someone calling his name, but he just turned over and tried to avoid whoever it was trying to wake him.
“Hoss.”
Opening his eyes slightly he could see his father standing over him, “Pa?”
“I got in late tonight and noticed that Joe or Adam are not in their rooms… do you know where they are son?” Ben asked.
Hoss winkled his nose and glared at Ben willing himself to wake up, “hayloft.”
“Hayloft?” Ben asked. “What on earth are they doing up there?”
Yawning Hoss answered, “Sleeping.”
Ben shook his head and patted his son on the shoulder, “go back to sleep son.”
“Alright…” before his father was out of the room Hoss was already snoring.
Ben stopped for a moment at the site of his oldest and youngest son snuggled up sleeping like babies. After watching them for a moment he climbed on up to the top and knelt next to Adam, “Adam…son you need to wake up and head on to bed.”
Slowly Adam woke and smiled at his father, “when did you get in?”
“A little while ago…you go on to bed. I’ll get Joseph down from here and to his room.”
Before heading to his room Adam helped Ben get Joe down from the hayloft and back to his room.
A little while later as he looked in on his brother before he headed to bed Adam watched Joe sleep for a minute as he whispered, ‘how did he grow up so fast.’
The End