One Very Hot Day

By: Lynne G.

Finally making his appearance at the breakfast table late as usual, twelve year old Little Joe quickly slid into his chair knowing he was about to hear yet another lecture about being late again to the table.

The boy could feel the eyes of his father and two older brothers on him and he swallowed hard.

" Good mornin' everyone. Sorry I'm late Pa, but this hot weather is making me so tired. It's too hot to sleep at night and it is way too hot to do chores too. I'm really sorry Pa," the boy said as he looked at his plate and he hoped that his father would understand especially the part about it being too hot to do chores.

Not really surprised at what his little brother had just said, Adam slowly shook his head as he was almost thinking the same thing. " Nice try little brother !" Adam declared trying not to laugh out loud.

Ben just sat there trying to think of something to reply back to his youngest son's statement. " Joseph, we are all over tired by this heat too, but we still manage to get up on time. I really think that if you tried extra hard and try not to think of the heat, then you can also manage to get to the table on time," Ben suggested as he glared at the youngster.

Hoss glanced over the table towards his little brother and he almost laughed at the look on the boy's face. Adam had to cough in order to hide his laugh.

Being on time for meals was very important to Ben and he had stressed that fact to his sons many times. Adam and Hoss were always on time for meals unless something had happened to make them late.

The one meal that Little Joe was late for just about everyday was breakfast as the young boy hated to get up in the mornings.

The chore of getting the boy up was usually up to Hoss, who seemed to enjoy that impossible task.

Now that his three sons were at the table, Ben explained to them what he wanted them to do that day.

" Boys I know it is going to be another very hot day and I wish we could all just releax in the shade or at the lake for the day, but that new fenceline needs to get finished as soon as possible " Ben was saying.

" But why can't we Pa ?" Little Joe interrrupted as he was afraid to look at Ben for that statement.

With a big sigh, Ben continued on. " I'll tell you why Joseph if you stop interrupting me." " Sorry Pa," Glaring at the boy, Ben had to continue on. " As I was saying , I want you three to please finish up the last of that fenceline and hopefully you can get it done today," Ben finished explaining as he saw the unhappy looks on the faces of his sons, and he did feel some what guilty. A slight moan came from the youngest along with a sick look on the young face.

" Don't worry Pa, we'll get it finished today or else, even though it is so hot again. Alright brothers how about we get started now ?" Adam suggested as he really wasn't looking forward to another day in the heat.

With Adam's statement fresh in his mind, Little Joe slid down in his chair hoping he could just vanish into the air, but he landed on the floor with a thud.

" Joseph what are you doing ? You don't need to be so dramatic son !" Ben declared as he looked at the boy sitting on the floor with that sick look on his face that he seemed to get quite offen.

" You know little buddy you have a real talent for over acting ," Adam laughed as Hoss pulled his baby brother up on his feet. Ben smiled and slowly shook his head while Hoss laughed loudly at the antics of his little brother.

In truth, Adam wasn't looking forward to working with his baby brother in the hot weather as he knew his temper and that of Little Joe's wouldn't make for a pleasant day of work.

" Little Joe, I want you to behave yourself and please do what Adam tells you to do and by all means try to keep that temper of yours under control," Ben suggested as he looked at the boy in question. The boy nodded back.

Adam thought to himself, " Yeah right. That will be the day !". Hoss was also thinking the same thing as he just wanted everything to go smoothly that day so they could get that fenceline done once and for all.

The Cartwright brothers had been working very hard for the last three weeks building the new fenceline and the heat hadn't been in their favor as it had been very hot everyday and that made the working conditions strained.

Taking several canteens each filled with fresh cool water, the brothers rode off to get their day started.

Later that morning while they were working, Hoss stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow. " If it gets any hotter out here, I'm gonna melt, dadburnit !" Hoss declared. Adam totally agreed with that statement Hoss had just made. Little Joe was also very hot and tired, but he kept his mouth shut.

About four hours later the work was going faster than the brothers had thought which made Adam feel a little better, until he looked over to where his little brother was working. He thought the boy was nailing too slow for his likes.

"Little Joe, hurry up and finish nailing up that rail !" Adam ordered. Feeling totally exhausted, Little Joe looked up at Adam and replied softly, " I'm working as fast as I can Adam. I'm so hot and tired, can't we please take a break and go to the lake for a quick swim to cool off ? Just think how great that cold lake water will feel."

Little Joe looked up at both of his big brothers with his large pleading green eyes.

" Hey Adam, I like the sound of a quick swim and that just might give us the energy to to get the last of this dadburn fence done !" Hoss eagerly said, totally agreeing with his baby brother's idea.

Adam stood there looking at the pleading eyes of his two younger brothers as he too liked that idea. With a big smile on his face he replied, " Great idea little buddy, let's go !"

" YIPPY !" both Hoss and Little Joe shouted as they ran to their horses to saddle them and off they rode to the inviting cold water of Lake Tahoe.

Little Joe was the first one to reach the lake and he leaped off Cochise and left him in the shade of the towering pine trees. The boy quickly took off his boots and socks, but left his clothes on, on purpose and he ran down to the water and jumped in. The cold water took his breath away, but it felt so wonderful.

" Hey little brother, yer suppose to take yer clothes off for swimming !" Hoss shouted as he laughed. " That boy !" Adam declared as he and Hoss had finished taking their clothes off and they quickly ran down to the water and they jumped in.

" Man this water is cold, but it sure feels good !" Little Joe shouted as he happily splashed away. " It sure does !" both Adam and Hoss shouted back.

Swimming up to his little brother, Adam decided to ask the youngster a question. " By the way little buddy, why did you leave your clothes on for ?" He knew a crazy answer would soon be heard as only his little brother could come up with.

Little Joe swam over to Adam and explained, " Well Adam ya see it's like this. It's realy hot right ?" Adam nodded as did Hoss. " So if'n I keep my clothes on and they are all wet, then the breeze will blow on my clothes and that will help me feel cooler when we go back ta work. That only makes lots of sense ya know. Good idea huh ?" the boy said with a twinkle in his big bright green eyes.

" Only our baby brother could come up with an answer like that, right Hoss ?" Adam laughed. " Ain't that the truth !" Hoss replied with a hardy laugh as Little Joe climbed up on Hoss's massive shoulders and he jumped off back into the water with a big splash.

The brothers were thoroughly enjoying their swim in the cold water as it made them feel refreshed and seemed to give them back the energy they needed again in order to finish up the fenceline.

Around an hour and a half later Adam suggested that they needed to get back to work and hopefully finish up the dreaded fenceline. He really wanted to stay at the lake, but they couldn't do that. He figured that they still had a few more hours of work to do before the fence was finished.

Adam and Hoss relunctantly left the refreshing water and went to get dried off and dressed while their baby brother stayed in the water a little longer, since he didn't have to get dressed. A couple of minutes later Little Joe slowly walked back over to his brothers so he could get his feet dried off and put his socks and boots back on.

" Thanks Little Joe for the fun time at the lake, and I tell you what, once we get the fence done, we can come back to the lake for another swim," Adam suggested as he ran his fingers through Little Joe's dripping wet hair.

" Ya mean that Adam, we can come back here, really ?" the boy shouted with excitement.

" I mean it little buddy," Adam replied as he smiled at his little brother. " Thanks Adam !" the boy said as he finished putting on his socks and boots. Hoss loved that idea too.

Little Joe ran over to Cochise, leaped up on the saddle and rode off back to the fenceline, with Adam and Hoss closely following him.

In one area of the new fenceline that they were working on that day had a small stream running through it, so that is where they left their horses so they could drink water when ever they wanted too, plus there was plenty of sweet grass they could nibble on too.

As they worked hard on the last of the fence Little Joe did feel a little cooler in his wet clothes. " Hey Punkin, are yer wet clothes helping to keep you cooler ?" Hoss asked as he wished he too had wet clothes to help him feel cooler too.

" Yup, they really are helpin', but the're gettin' kinda dry already though," the boy replied as he felt the front of his shirt and it was only slightly damp now.

About two hours later, Adam proudly said, " Here goes the last rail in place and the final nail," as he nailed in the last nail. They all felt so happy that the dreaded new fenceline was finally finished.

Looking at his two tired looking brothers, Adam proudly said, " You both did a great job and you both worked very hard today, infact you both worked very hard for the entire time we have been building this fenceline."

" Now I suggest that we gather up all the left over nails and the hammers and put them in our saddle bags and we head back to the lake for another well deserved swim," Adam finished saying.

" Oh boy, thank you Adam ! Can't wait ta jump back in that cold lake water again !" Little Joe shouted with excitement, which made both Adam and Hoss laugh.

Little Joe ran back over to Cochise saddled him and he put his hammer into his saddle bag and he leaped up on his beloved pinto and rode back to the lake with only one thing in his mind and that was to jump back in the refreshing water again.

At the lake, Little Joe quickly took off his boots and socks and he ran down to the water and he jumped in the water with a loud shout for joy.

Adam and Hoss were getting a big kick out of their little brother the way he jumped in the lake clothes and all, and they decided to leave their clothes on too as the youngster's idea of keeping cooler in wet clothes sounded good to them. They soon joined their little brother in the water.

Little Joe was having a fun time jumping off of Adam and Hoss's shoulders and landing with big splashes in the water. He would also swim underwater to do sneak attacks on them as well from below the surface.

Adam and Hoss were having a great time capturing their little brother, swinging him back and forth between them and launching him back in the water. The boy would resurface with a big loud giggle that made his brothers laugh at his silly giggle.

The cold water seemed to give the very tired brothers that little extra energy that they seemed to need again. It had been a very long hot day of hard work and now they were enjoying their free time.

As their tiredness was setting in again, Adam and Hoss got out of the water and they headed over to the shaded grassy area under a large pine tree to rest and watch their little brother who was still swimming.

" Ya know big brother, I bet that before we get home, baby brother will fall asleep on his horse," Hoss said as they watched the youngster who was now floating on his back and yawning.

" I think you're right Hoss. Look, he's non-stop yawning already. That boy amazes me. He just keeps going until he totally crashes into sleep. I am so proud of him. He worked hard today and he also played hard too, plus he had that great suggestion of going to the lake for a swim break," Adam softly told Hoss as they watched their little brother slowly walking towards them with his eyes barely open and still yawning.

" I'm so tired," the exhausted boy mumbled as he flopped down next to Hoss and he laid his head against Hoss's shoulder and he quickly fell asleep.. His brothers smiled and slowly shook their heads.

" Looks like you were right about little brother falling asleep, but I didn't think he would go so fast. As soon as his feet are dry we can get his socks and boots on and take him home," Adam suggested as he was enjoying just relaxing in the shade. Hoss smiled and he nodded at back.

Around twenty minutes later Adam suggested that they should head for home. " Wake up sleeping beauty," Hoss said as he slowly shook his little brother, but no sound or movement was made by the deeply sleeping boy.

Adam and Hoss decided to tickle their little brother's feet. " That should wake him up," Adam said as he grinned, but to their surprise, Little Joe stayed asleep.

" Geez, once he goes to sleep, there's no waking him," Hoss declared as he carefully put the boy's socks and boots on him.

Once the boy had his socks and boots on, Hoss carefully picked him up and tossed him across his shoulder with a big grin on his face and with a loving love pat on the little wet bottom, they walked towards their horses.

Just as Hoss was ready to put his baby brother on Chubb, soft mumbling could be heard coming from the boy. With hardly laugh, Adam declared, " It's about time you woke up little buddy.

Hoss put Little Joe on Cochise instead of on Chubb. Both Adam and Hoss noticed two very sleeping looking green eyes trying to look at them.

" 'Bout time you woke up sleeping beauty," Hoss teased as he ran his fingers through the wet thick curly hair of his little brother.

Feeling like he was in a daze, Little Joe mumbled, " Where am I ?" " At the lake," Hoss replied as Adam stood there chuckling.

With a big yawn, Little Joe mumbled back, " That's nice. Night Hoss, Adam." He again closed his eyes.

" Oh no you don't. Open them eyes little brother and wake up so ya don't fall off yer horse," Hoss suggested. " I won't fall off," came back the mumbled reply as the boy tried so hard to keep his eyes open.

On the way home, Adam and Hoss made Little Joe ride between them so they could keep an eye on him, but after not going very far, the boy slumped forward on his horse and into sleep.

They stopped their horses and Adam reached over to pull his little brother off his horse and he placed the boy on the saddle in front of him and he put his arms around the sleeping boy while Hoss took Cochise's reins and they continued on home.

Ben was sitting on the front porch relaxing when he heard horses approaching and he stood up. His heart skipped a beat when he saw his youngest son sitting on Adam's horse with Adam holding the boy in place on the saddle.

" Joseph !" Ben cried out and he ran over towards his baby son and Adam.

" He's fine Pa. Don't worry, he's just worn out and sound to sleep," Adam reassured Ben, who was very relieved.

Taking a good look at his three sons, Ben noticed that they were all wet. " Why are you three all wet ?" Ben questioned.

" We went down to the lake for a swim, and we finished the fenceline too," Adam proudly told Ben with a big smile on his face.

Ben felt so proud of his sons. " Thank you boys. That was a lot of long hard hot days of work, and I am so proud of all three of you.

" Thanks Pa," came from a mumbling Little Joe who still had his eyes shut, which caused Ben, Adam and Hoss to break out in laughter.

" How'd I get home ? Thought we was at the lake, I think," the boy softly mumbled without opening his eyes, but he was now standing on the ground still yawning.

" Come on and let's get some dry clothes on," Adam suggested, then he told his baby brother that he and Hoss had brought him home. A soft, " Oh ," was replied back.

" Little Joe, I want you to stay awake long enough for eat some dinner," Ben told his son. " Ah Pa, I wanna sleep, sleep cuz I'm so tired," Little Joe softly said as he was still yawning and he barely had his eyes open.

" I'm so dadburn hungry I could eat a whole herd of cattle !" Hoss declared which caused Ben and Adam to laugh. Little Joe did a short soft giggle as he was just plain to sleepy to giggle his usual giggle.

As they ate dinner, Hop Sing came into the diningroom to tell them that it was getting cooler outside and the wind was starting to blow. " We probably have big storm tonight ! Hop Sing glad hot weather gone!" Hop Sing said as he went back out to the kitchen.

" Now that is good news ! Looks like you boys got the fence done at the right time, I'd say," Ben declared.

" I guess so. Rain sounds wonderful to have again as it has been a long time since we have had any, and just the thought of cooler days again sound perfect to me," Adam happily replied. " I totally agree with you big brother," Hoss said with a big smile on his face.

After eating only a small amount of dinner, Little Joe's head was slowly starting to get closer to his plate as he had fallen asleep at the table.

" Joseph, wake up son, Ben called out. Joseph !"

Ben stood up and walked over to his sleeping boy and he sat the boy up and very carefully picked him up and carried him over to the settee and laid him down. Ben smiled at the sleeping boy and went back to finish his dinner.

" Looks like your baby brother has called it a day," Ben teased. " It sure looks that way," Both Adam and Hoss said as they finished their dinner.

An hour or so later, both Adam and Hoss decided that they too wanted to go to bed, as they were both very tired and they couldn't wait to go to bed.

" Night Pa. We'' take little brother with us and get him into bed," Adam told Ben as Hoss picked up his little brother who was in a very deep sleep.

" Thank you boys, and sleep good," Ben told them as he watched them go up the stairs and to Little Joe's room.

It didn't take them long to get the boy out of his clothes and into his nightshirt and tucked into his bed. Adam and Hoss stood there and watched their little brother sleeping while listening to the heavy rain pouring down outside and the very cool breeze coming in the window in their little brother's room.

" Ain't he cute Adam?" Hoss proudly said. With a big smile on his face, Adam replied, " Yes he certainly is Hoss. He looks so much like Marie, and just looking at him, it's like seeing her. I love this little guy so much and I am so very thankful that he is our baby brother. I just can't think of life without him, and don't ever tell him this, but I even enjoy his mischief too, well most of the time," Adam told Hoss as he continued to look at his sleeping brother.

" I feel the same way about him Adam. He sure makes life around here very interesting to say the least. I love ya baby brother," Hoss said as he gave his little brother a kiss on top of his curly head. Adam also gave the boy a kiss.

" Well, I don't know about you Hoss, but I'm heading off to bed now. Good night and I'll see you in morning," Adam told his brother as he left the room. " Night Adam," Hoss replied as he took one last look at his little brother, smiled and he too left the room and walked to his room.

A couple of hours later, Ben headed upstairs to his room for the night, but first he looked in on his sons, something he had done everynight since they were born. It was a habit that he never wanted to stop doing.

Of course Ben stayed longer in Little Joe's room as he always did. Looking down at the sleeping boy he couldn't help but smile. The boy looked like an angel when he was asleep.

" I am so proud of you Little Joe, as you worked hard on the new fenceline and you did a great job too. Both of your brothers are very proud of you too, and they told me how much they enjoyed your suggestion of taking a swim break."

" I love my precious son. Sleep good sweetheart," Ben softly said as he leaned down and he gave his young son a kiss on the forehead and then he pushed back that little curl that always seemed to be laying on the boy's forehead. That made Ben smile.

As Ben walked towards the door, he stopped and gave one last look at his baby boy, smiled again and continued on to his room for the night.

As the Cartwright family slept, the cool pouring rain continued on giving life back into the land that was so dry.

The End.

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