" THE DEFIANT BOY "
BY:
Lynne G.
It had been about four months since Ben Cartwright's third wife, Marie had been killed in a riding accident, which had been a very hard time for Ben, his eighteen year old son, Adam, twelve year old Hoss and five year old Little Joe. Marie was Little Joe's mother.
Ben's first wife, Elizabeth, Adam's mother died during his birth. Ben's second wife, Inger was Hoss's mother. Ben had met her when he and five year old Adam were heading west to live. Ben and Inger fell in love and were married.
While on their way west, Inger gave birth to Hoss, who was six years younger than Adam. About three months after Hoss was born, the wagon train the family was part of, was attacked by indians, and Inger was killed. This left Ben with two young sons to raise by himself.
Three years
later, Ben, Adam and Hoss settled in the
Ben and Adam designed their house, and with the help of their neighbors and friends, their large log home and barn were built.
Ben had befriended a Chinese man named Hop Sing who came to live with him and the boys and Hop Sing helped Ben raise his sons. Hop Sing was also the wonderful cook, and house keeper and he became a loving member of the family.
Two years
later, Ben had to make a trip to
Ben spent a
couple of months in
When they returned to the Ponderosa, they were welcomed by everyone except for Adam, who wanted nothing to do with Marie. Hoss loved Marie, and Marie loved him and Adam too, and she treated them as if they were her own sons.
A few months later, Marie learned that she was expecting a baby who was due in November. Ben, Hoss and Hop Sing were so excited about the news that a new Cartwright was on the way. Adam didn't seem to share in the excitement that he would have a new brother or sister in a few more months.
On October 31, a tiny baby boy was born a few weeks early. Even though the baby had been born so early, he was in perfect health. As soon as Adam saw his tiny baby brother, he fell in love with the baby and from that moment on, he loved Marie and he loved having her as his mother too.
The baby was named Joseph Francis Cartwright. He looked just like Marie, with her brown curly hair, big green eyes and her quick temper and stubborness.
As Little Joe grew, the family treasured this little boy, who could be an angel one minute and a total mischief maker only seconds later. He was the heart of the Ponderosa.
When Little Joe turned five years old, life was perfect for this happy family. Trying to keep up with Little Joe proved to be the biggest challenge for all the Cartwrights and Hop Sing.
It was now four months following Marie's sudden death in a riding accident and life was pretty much getting back to normal, as normal could be.
Little Joe always wanted to be able to do everything his big brothers did, but at only five years old, he was much too young and too little to do what his brothers did. He had his chores to do everyday, and he did them for the most part. The one thing he hated most of all was being told that he was just a little boy. In his young mind, he was a big boy now.
One day Ben told him it was time for his afternoon nap. " I ain't tired !" Little Joe told Ben. " Joseph, get up to your room now !" Ben replied trying to keep his anger down. " No sir. Nap's is fer little boys. Imma big boy now, so I dunt gots ta hab no nap !" Little Joe angrily told Ben as he stood there glaring at Ben with his tiny hands on his hips, imitating a stance that Ben offen took when dealing with his sons.
Ben picked up his stubborn son and carried him up to his room, and sat down on the bed. " Joseph, do we need to have a little discussion now, or would you like to take your nap now? It's your choice," Ben told him. Little Joe looked at the floor as his big green eyes filled up with tears. He was sleepy, but he didn't want to admit to it. " I wanna nap please," he softly said. " Good boy. Lay down now so I can take your boots off," Ben told him. Little Joe laid down, yawned and stuck his thumb in his mouth. After Ben had his little son's boots off, he covered the boy up. He gave his son a kiss and said, " sweet dreams son. I love you." " I's wuv ya too Papa," Little Joe said as he closed hs eyes and went right to sleep.
None of the Cartwrights or Hop Sing could figure out why Little Joe seemed so angry and so defiant lately. It was a constant battle with the youngster to do what he was told.
" Little Joe, Adam and I will be back later this afternoon, so I want you to be a good boy for Hop Sing," Ben told the boy. " No, I dunt gotta be. I's can do whats I wanna do !" Little Joe shouted at Ben. " JOSEPH ! Don't you talk to me like that and don't you raise your voice to me either little boy !" Ben angrily replied. " I ain't NO LITTLE BOY ! Ya can'ts make me be good !" Little Joe yelled back. Ben gave his son a quick swat to his little bottom, and he said, " Get up to your room and stay there. Do I make myself clear?" " Yes sir. Sorry," Little Joe cried as the tears ran down his little face. He turned and ran up the stairs to his room.
As soon as Ben saw the tears on the child's face, his heart melted. " Hop Sing, I hate to leave him when he is so upset," Ben said to Hop Sing. " Mr.Cartlight, little boy be alright. He not want to be little boy. He think he big boy now," Hop Sing explained to Ben. " I know Hop Sing, but he is a little boy whether or not he likes it or not," Ben replied sadly as he and Adam left.
Hop Sing went up to Little Joe's room to look in on the boy and when he saw the little boy, he had to smile. For there on the bed was the youngster, sleeping with his thumb in his mouth, one boot on and one boot laying on the floor. Hop Sing gently took the other boot off of the sleeping child and he covered him up. He gave the little boy a kiss on his forehead, and he left the room.
A few days later, Ben took Little Joe with him out to check on a section of fence that needed some repairs. He decided to let his young son help him do the repairs, since that was big boys work. Little Joe was so excited that he was going to get a chance to help his Papa repair the fence.
Ben let Little Joe hammer some nails into the fence and Ben was surprised at how well the little boy was doing. He hammered the nails nice and straight, and everytime he finished hammering a nail in place, Little Joe would give Ben a big smile and he felt so proud of himself.
As they sat down to eat their lunch that Hop Sing had made for them, Ben looked at his young son and thought about how much he looked like Marie. " Little Joe, you are doing a wonderful job with your nailing. Every nail is nice and straight. I am very proud of you sweetheart," Ben told his baby boy. " Fank ya Papa. See' I's tolded ya I was a big boy and dat I's can do big boy fings," Little Joe proudly said. " Yes, you sure did son," Ben said as he smiled at the boy.
After lunch, they continued to work on the fence. Ben looked over at Little Joe and he could see the child was yawning and having trouble keeping his eyes open. " Joseph, why don't we take a break for a few minutes," Ben suggested. " Kay, Papa. Imma tired," the sleepy little boy replied. As soon as they sat down, Little Joe was asleep. Ben smiled as he looked at his sleeping son and he thought to himself, " You are just a little boy, baby. I hope you stay a little boy for a long time."
Ben gathered up the hammers, nails, and the wrapping from their lunch, and he put them into his saddle bags. Then he tied Ginger's reins to Dusty's saddle horn, then he went to get his sleeping little son. He carried him over to Dusty and placed him on the saddle and he climbed up behind him. He leaned the child back against him and they started for home.
Ben tried to include his young son into helping him as often as he could. Adam, Hoss and Hop Sing also included the little boy to help them as well.
One day while some of the ranch hands were breaking horses, Little Joe snuck out of his room while he was suppose to be taking his nap, and he quickly went down to the corral to watch. He then decided that he wanted to break the horses too. No one saw the little boy climb up on the fence and sit down on the top rail of the fence.
" I's gets da next bronc," Little Joe announced. All heads turned in shock when they heard Little Joe. " Little Joe, what are you doing here? You know you aren't allowed to be around these horses !" Adam yelled, as he was very concerned for his little brother.
" I ain't NO little boy, Adam. I's can break em too. Imma BIG BOY !" Little Joe shouted. Adam crawled between the fence rails, got behind his little brother and pulled him off the top of the fence. He headed for the house while holding his yelling and kicking little brother under his arm. "PUTS ME DOWN, ADAM ! PUTS ME DOWN NOW !" Little Joe was shouting as loud as he could. " NO WAY LITTLE BROTHER !" Adam shouted right back.
Ben could hear his two sons shouting at each other, so he headed outside to find out what was going on. " Adam, what's wrong ?" Ben asked as he was looking at the struggling little boy under Adam's arm. " Pa, Little Joe was down at the corral sitting on the top rail and he wanted to break one of the horses," Adam told Ben. Ben was shocked at what Adam had just told him. " Thank you son. You go back to the corral, while I will handle this little bronc," Ben suggested. " Thanks Pa," Adam replied as Ben took hold of his youngest son from Adam.
" JOSEPH FRANCIS CARTWRIGHT ! What is the meaning of this ?" Ben asked his son loudly. Little Joe put his tiny hands on his hips and said, " Imma gonna break da horses like Adam does !" " Joseph, you are NOT suppose to go anywhere near the breaking corral, and you know that. GET UP TO YOUR ROOM THIS INSTANT ! I don't want to hear anymore out of you. Do you understand me? NOW GET !" Ben angrily told his son as he gave him two quick swats to his bottom. " God give me strength to survive that five year old please !" Ben pleaded.
Ben went up to Little Joe's room several minutes later to have a talk with his little boy. " Joseph, I want you to listen to what I am going to tell you, and I don't want you to interrupt me. Do you understand what I am saying?" Ben asked. " Yes Papa," the little boy answered as he looked at Ben with that sad look on his face that had tears running down that sad face.
" Joseph, as much as you think that you are a big boy, you are only a little boy. You are only five years old. I know that you want to do the same things that your big brothers do, but those chores are much too hard for you yet. When you get bigger, you will be able to do those chores then. Adam was sixteen when he started to break horses. You are only five years old. Hoss is still too young to break horses, but since he is twelve years old, and very strong and large for his age, he can handle the harder chores, like Adam does. Sweetheart, I don't want you to get hurt, and that is why I give you easier chores to do. Your brothers had to do the same kind of chores that you do when they were little boys. Do you understand this ?" Ben asked as he put his little boy's chin in his large hand and he turned the child's head so he could see the little boy's face. " Yes Papa, but I wanna be a big boy," the youngster softly said. " I know you do honey, and you will be, but for now, you are my little boy, and I love that you are my little boy," Ben told his son. " Kay Papa. I's sorry," Little Joe softly replied. Ben picked up his baby boy and hugged him. " I love you son," Ben said. " I wuv ya too Papa," Little Joe replied.
A month later Ben, Adam and Hoss were planning on moving one of the herds of cattle to another pasture. Little Joe was listening to what his family was talking about, so he told them that he was going to help them.
" I'm sorry Little Joe, but you are too young to help move cattle yet. It is dangerous work and we don't want you to get hurt. You will stay home with Hop Sing. It won't take us long to move the cattle to their new pasture," Ben explained, hoping that Little Joe would understand.
" I's ain't stayin' home and ya can't make me either !" the little boy shouted as he glared at his family, stomped his small foot on the floor, and he also and his tiny hands on his hips too. " Don't you raise your voice at me little boy !" Ben yelled back. " I ain't NO little boy. Dunt call me dat ! I's a BIG BOY !" the child shouted back. " NO YOU AREN'T, LITTLE BOY !" Ben shouted again. Adam and Hoss were trying not too laugh at their father and little brother as the war of words continued. " I's a BIG BOY ! Imma just short is all !" Little Joe explained to Ben.
Adam and Hoss started to laugh at the last part of what their little brother had just said about being short. Ben turned around and glared at them, and he shouted, " it isn't funny."
Little Joe looked at Adam and Hoss and he again stomped his foot down on the floor and he shouted," Dunt laugh ats me. Dat ain't nice ta laughs ats me. I'm a BIG BOY, that's just short !" Adam and Hoss were trying really hard not to laugh. Little Joe stomped his foot again and he yelled, " SHUD UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
" JOSEPH !" Ben angrily said. Little Joe kept looking at Ben then back to his brothers, as he was getting even more angry. He took his hands off his hips and placed them behind him to protect his little bottom. Ben could see what his little boy was doing and he had to hold back a smile at the look on the little boy's face. " Little Joe, where are your hands?" Ben asked. " Dems purtectin' my butt. Dats where day is," Little Joe explained. That was all it took for Adam and Hoss to lose control of their laughs and they were rolling in laughter. Ben was also having a hard time trying not too laugh at what his little boy had just said.
Little Joe watched
his family laughing at him, so he turned around and ran up to his room in
tears. As soon as Ben, Adam and Hoss saw how hurt Little Joe looked, they
stoped laughing. "
" You know Pa, you are so right about everything you just said. It's so hard to say no to him, especially when he gets that look on his face, plus the tears too," Adam said agreeing with Ben. " Ya know Pa, I think it will be good fer him to see what it's like ta move the herd. He hears us talk about it, but he's never seen it. I think that's a really good idea Pa," Hoss suggested. " Alright, let's go up to his room and tell him he can come with us," Ben suggested.
As soon as they got to Little Joe's room they found the little boy sound to sleep with his thumb in his mouth and his face still wet with tears. " Ain't that just the sweetest sight ? He's just too dadburn cute for his own good," Hoss said as he smiled at his little brother. " I guess we will just have to wait to tell him," Ben said as they left the room.
During dinner that night, Little Joe was very quiet and he wouldn't look at his family. He just sat there and pushed his food around his plate with his fork. Ben, Adam and Hoss watched the sad looking little boy, and they felt sorry for him. " Joseph, you need to eat your dinner," Ben said. " I ain't hungry," he softly replied. " Whether your hungry or not son, you need to eat if you want to be a ' big boy', Ben said hoping that when the youngster heard those two words, ' big boy' that seemed so important to him, then he might eat his dinner.
As soon as Little Joe heard ' big boy', he looked up at Ben and smiled a small smile and he started to eat his dinner. Ben winked at Adam and Hoss as they started to eat again, but they still watched the youngest Cartwright. Little Joe managed to eat most of his dinner. " Good boy. I'm very happy that you decided to eat your dinner son. You have to eat to get bigger, and if you want to go with us to help us move the cattle, you have to eat," Ben told him as he smiled at the surprised look on the child's face.
" I gets ta go wiv ya ta move da moo cows?" the child asked. " Yes sweetheart, you can go with us, but I want you to do everything that I tell you to," Ben explained. " I will Papa. Imma sorry I gots all maded. I's just wanna help ya get dem moo cows rounded up and puts em in their new pasture is all. I's ain't never seen sompfin' like dat before," Little Joe explained.
Son, why don't you go and help your brothers with their chores now," Ben suggested. " Kay, Papa," the boy replied as he ran out the door and headed for the barn. Adam and Hoss could hear their little brother coming towards the barn. " Here comes mischief on two little legs," Adam said. " I sure wish I had all of his energy," Hoss said as he smiled at Adam.
" Hey there Punkin, whatcha doin' out here?" Hoss asked. " I's comed out ta help wiv yer chores," Little Joe proudly announced. " We sure could use some help little buddy. Why don't you help us feed the horses? You can help us carry the grain buckets. They are heavy and we could use you to help us carry them," Adam suggested as he winked at Hoss. " Yeah Punkin, we sure need ya to help us," Hoss said.
Adam filled his bucket full of grain and he made moaning sounds as he pretended to be having a hard time lifting the grain bucket out of the grain box. He sat the full bucket down on the floor, then he bent down to pick it up. Little Joe helped Adam carry the bucket over to Dusty's food crib. Adam then lifted the bucket up while Little Joe put both of his tiny hands on the bottom of the bucket to help Adam lift the bucket up to the food crib. Once the grain was in the food crib, Adam looked down at his smiling little brother and he said," Thanks little buddy. I couldn't done this without your help." " I's wuv ta help ya do fings," the child said. For the next thirty minutes Little Joe helped his brothers feed the horses, and give them fresh water. Then they closed up the barn for the night and started for the house.
Adam picked up Little Joe and put him on Hoss's shoulders for a piggyback ride around the yard before they went in the house for the night.
Ben could hear loud giggling coming from the yard, so he got up from his chair and he went outside to see what all the giggling was about. He had to laugh at the sight of his three sons having fun. " Papa, Imma ridin' Adam and Hoss !" Little Joe squealed. " You sure are sweetheart," Ben laughed. Adam trotted over to Ben. " Your turn Pa," Adam said. Soon Ben was trotting around the yard with Little Joe giggling away on Ben's strong shoulder's. Hop Sing stood in the doorway watching his family having a fun time. It was great to hear all the giggling again.
The morning of the cattle round up was very exciting for Little Joe. He ate all of his breakfast, then he ran up to his room to get his deputy badge, handcuffs, holster and toy gun. He then ran back down the stairs where Ben was waiting for him, with the child's hat and jacket in his hand.
" Sweetheart, why do you have your deputy badge, handcuffs, gun and holster for?" Ben asked. " Cuz ya never know whens bad mens are a comin'. I's gots ta be ready fer em," Little Joe explained. " Oh, I see," Ben replied, as he smiled at his baby boy.
Adam and Hoss were also surprised when they saw the ' little deputy' come running towards them. " I'm sure going to feel safe with you protecting us little brother," Adam told the youngster. " Me too Punkin," Hoss agreed with Adam. " Yup, ya never knowd when bad mens a comin'. Gotta be ready fer em," Little Joe explained.
Little Joe was very impressed at what happenes during a cattle round up. He did everything he was told, which was a relief for his family. They were very proud of the way the little boy was behaving. Little Joe did keep watching out for bad men, and he was very glad that none showed up.
As the
family headed home for dinner, Little Joe was busy talking about the round
up. " Papa, hows come dem
moo cows always gots ta
keep mooin'? Little Joe asked. " Yes,
Little Joe continued his defiant ways from time to time. Ben had asked Dr. Paul Martin about this and Paul told Ben that Little Joe was just going through a stage and that he would most likely continue to do that. He also told Ben that it was a common thing that the youngest child would usually do this especially with Little Joe being so much younger than Adam and Hoss.
" Thanks Paul . I just hope I can survive that little boy until he grows up," Ben told Paul. " He sure keeps you on your toes doesn't he?" Paul replied as he smiled at Ben. " You can sure say that again, but I have to say, that I do enjoy that, sort of," Ben said as he laughed.
One day Ben had to laugh when Little Joe announced that he was too young and too little to go to school that coming September. " School's just for ' big boys'," the child said. " Oh, is that so? I thought you were a big boy. You keep telling us that you are a big boy. What happened?" Ben asked as he tried not too laugh at that look on his little son's face. Adam and Hoss were also having a hard time time too with not laughing.
" Umm, ah...ya see..., um, it's like this, when I wants ta help ya, I'mma big boy, but fer school, I'mma little boy yet," Little Joe tried to explain. " Oh, I see. So you are a little boy, who sometimes is a big boy, and a little boy at other times. Right ?" Ben asked. " Yup, dats right Papa," Little Joe said very seriously. " Come here you little imp," Ben said as he grabbed his little son and he began to tickle him. Adam and Hoss joined in on the tickling too.
Ben laid his baby boy on the floor and he got down on his knee's as did Adam and Hoss and they continued to tickle the child, who was giggling and trying to hold his stomach. Little Joe had tears running down his face from giggling so hard. Hop Sing came out of the kitchen to watch his family play and it made him feel very happy to see the Cartwrights having fun again.
The End