The Play
By Deborah A. Demko
“I still don’t think it’s a good idea.” blurted Hoss.
“Ah, what are you worried about older brother?” asked Joe. “I think it’s a great way to get folks’ attention.”
“Yeah? Well, if’n ya ask me, I still say it’s gonna be a big mistake.”
“That’s your problem. You always worry before there’s anything to worry about.”
Hoss scowled at his younger brother as the two continued walking along the
streets of Virginia City. Joe was all twinkly-eyed and jouncing along with
not a care in the world. He was quite confident that his brainstorm would
provide plenty of participation thereby generating enough money for the repairs
needed to the orphan’s home.
They made their way to the Opera House for the benefit and came upon Sheriff Roy Coffee.
“Howdy Roy,” called out Joe. “All set for rehearsals? Only a few more days before the big event.”
“Sure am, Little Joe. Can’t believe how Mrs. Wiggins talked me into doing this.
“It’ll be fine Roy. This will be the best benefit for those orphans Virginia City has ever seen.”
The three made their way into the Opera House and headed toward the stage
where the play rehearsals were being held. Hoss was still none too excited
about this. That’s not to say he didn’t think it was a great idea to raise
money for the orphans. He was all for that. It was just the way Joe went
about handling this. A big nagging ache was building up in Hoss’ head which
usually indicated that Joe’s idea would have consequences somewhere down
the line.
On stage was the benefit committee consisting of Mrs. Wiggins, Mr. Burns,
and Mrs. Tulane. Miss Sarah Parkins sat in the front row all set for viewing
the dress rehearsal with some of her orphans. The kids were real excited
about being able to see a real, live play. Tommy Burk and Melinda Harris
were even more tickled. They were chosen out of all the other orphans to
actually be in the play.
Clapping her hands together quite loudly Mrs. Wiggins called for attention.
“All right you would-be thespians. Gather round now.”
“What’s a thes-these-thepin?” queried Hoss.
“That’s just a big fancy word for actor, Hoss. Kinda like the fancy words our older brother Adam likes to throw at us.”
“Oh. Then why can’ts folks just use plain words?”
“Shush. Mrs. Wiggins is getting…”
At that point, Mrs Wiggins began her usual round of encouragement to all
the participants. They went through each scene demonstrating some of the
ways folks in Nevada Territory live including farming, cattle ranching, as
well as some of the hardships. The conclusion was set mainly for the big
city folks coming in from San Francisco.
At the end of rehearsals for the day, Hoss and Joe set out for home. Joe
was still grinning from ear to ear over how well things had gone. Hoss was
unusually quiet and had the appearance of being surly.
“Hoss? What’s up big brother? Didn’t things go well at rehearsal?” Joe
was trying to encourage Hoss who had performed better than ever that day.
“It’s nuthin.” Hoss murmured as he set his gaze towards the horizon.
“Look, Pa and Adam are due back tomorrow from that lumber deal in Reno.
Don’t you think the two of them will be proud of us for our part in this?”
“I still ain’t so sure. Them posters you put up could be a big mistake.”
“I told you Hoss, stop your worrying. Everything is gonna be alright.”
Hoss kept his thoughts to himself. Once his little brother Joe got an idea
in his head, there wasn’t much anybody could do or say to change it. Best
to just ride it out and hope for the best.
+++++++++++++++++
Friday morning dawned with a blazing sun in the sky and only wisps of clouds.
It looked like a great day for the orphan’s benefit. The stage with Ben
and Adam was due in at 4 that afternoon affording them enough time to be
able to see the benefit play.
After a hearty breakfast, Hoss and Joe finished their morning chores as they
wanted to get into town early enough for the benefit and to meet Ben and
Adam.
Hoss was starting to get butterflies in his stomach. Doing the rehearsals
hadn’t been so bad but now second thoughts were starting to creep in.
Joe gave his brother a good natured slap on the back.
“What’s up, Hoss? Not getting cold feet at this point?” Joe couldn’t resist
his little mischievous way of joshing with his brother.
“Give it a rest Joe.” Hoss mumbled as he continued to harness the horses into the buggy.
“Ah come on bro, you know I don’t mean nothing by it.”
“Wall, I still hope Pa don’t get the wrong impression is all.”
Joe proceeded to saddle up Cochise. Looking over the back of his favorite
steed, he put on his concerned face. “Look, nothing can go wrong. Even
Roy Coffee went along with it.”
“I hope so for your sake.”
Joe gave his brother a worried look as he cinched up the saddle. His big
brother always seemed to see trouble whenever Pa and Adam went away.
Having finished harnessing the team, Hoss and Joe started on the long trek
to Virginia City. Chubb was tied onto the back of the buggy for later as
Ben and Adam would need the buggy for their luggage. Joe trotted alongside
of the buggy whistling.
In Virginia City, Hoss took the buggy over to the livery stable as it would
still be awhile before Pa and Adam would be needing them. Joe took care
of Chubb and Cochise giving them a good back rub. Completing this little
chore, the two headed off to participate in some of the other events before
the play that night.
The stage came in late once again, showing up at the depot just after six
pm. Ben Cartwright stepped out and stretched his legs. “These long stage
rides really cramp up the ole muscles.”
“Yeah. I know what you mean Pa.”
“Now where are those brothers of yours? They were supposed to meet us here.”
“They have to be around here somewhere. Maybe they went over to the saloon when they learned the stage was late.”
The two left their luggage at the stage depot and ambled down towards The
Bucket Of Blood. Just as they were about to enter, Ben’s attention was caught
by a poster on the outside of the saloon.
“THUNDERATION! What the devil is this?” bellowed Ben.
“What is what, Pa?”
Ripping the poster off the wall Ben handed it to his eldest son. “This!! Read it for yourself!”
Adam took the poster and began to read out. “Wanted For Bank Robbery. Joe & Hoss Cartwright.”
Handing the poster back to his father Adam commented, “Seems your younger sons have been up to something once again.”
Ben turned and with his dark eyes burning grabbed the poster out of Adam’s
hands crumpling it up and throwing violently on the ground.
“Well, I am gonna get to the bottom of this just as soon as I see Roy Coffee.”
With that said, Ben made a beeline straight for the sheriff’s office with
Adam hot on his heels. Bursting into the office he called out, “Roy? Roy?
ROY?” But there was no answer.
“Where could he be?”
“Maybe he went out to get something to eat. It is around dinner time.”
Adam looked up at his father as he placed his hands on his hips.
“Then we are going to search this town from one end to the other until we find him. I want some answers.”
Ben grabbed the office door handle and stomped out. Adam let out a deep
sigh before slowing turning around and following his father.
They went up one street and the other for several hours but no Roy Coffee.
Along the way, Ben kept ripping off those offending posters whenever he came
across one.
Sounds of laughter and gaiety were drifting from the Opera House. Ben looked
at Adam who only shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea what all the commotion
was over there.
Straightening himself out, Ben aimed in the direction of the Opera House.
Surely someone there would either know where the sheriff of Virginia City
was or at least have some answers as to why Hoss and Joe are on a wanted
poster.
Ben burst into the Opera House while Adam tagged mildly behind. Adam was
not sure what Pa would do when he caught up with his two younger brothers.
Adam and Ben stepped into the main area of the theatre and Ben almost did
a double take. They had come in at the end of a play it seemed. And who
should be up on stage? None other than Sheriff Coffee, Hoss and Joe.
Ben’s jaw dropped open and his eyes opened as wide as they could as he stood
there, gazing, unbelieving, at the scene being played out before him. Next
to him, Adam at first crossed his arms across his broad chest before raising
his left hand to partially cover his face as if to stifle a giggle. Moving
his hand to the bridge of his nose, Adam raised his eyes upward to the stage
where his brothers and Roy Coffee were acting out a scene in the play. One
could imagine the grin behind the hand of the eldest Cartwright.
The scene was depicting two outlaws being caught and jailed for bank robbery with Roy playing the sheriff.
Ben turned to look at Adam in disbelief, then back to the stage and once
more to Adam as if looking for some kind of logic. A quizzical look dominated
the brow of the patriarch of the Ponderosa.
Shaking himself out of his temporary confusion, Ben leaned his head in Adam’s direction.
“Do you have any idea as to what is going on here?”
“Beats me Pa. It sure isn’t Shakespeare.”
Adam’s dry wit wasn’t lost on Ben as his lips pulled together ever so slightly
to indicate his dissatisfaction over the answer to his question.
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
“Sorry Pa, I couldn’t resist.” Adam let out a low chuckle while his eyes darkened a tad as they sparkled with amusement.
The two stood there until the finale of the play and for the actors to take
their final curtain call to the applause of the audience.
Joe and Hoss had noticed the other members of their family during the final
scene and after the curtain dropped made their way over to Ben and Adam.
“Hi Pa. Adam. Welcome back. What did you think of our play?” asked Little Joe.
“A Play? Is that what this is all about?” quizzed Ben as he stared at his youngest.
“Sure Pa, what else did you think?” began Joe. “We put this on for the orphans
to help raise money to fix up their home. Mrs. Wiggins got the idea when
some big shot tourists from San Francisco wanted to come out and learn some
more about life here in the Sierras.”
Hoss just stood silent beside his brother. He knew that look in Pa’s eye.
Adam was still on his father’s right side, arms crossed, with that half laugh
of his etched on his face.
“Son, I am sure you meant well. I mean about helping the orphans, but why
in tarnation are all these Wanted posters all over Virginia City?”
“Oh that. Well…umm…” Joe hesitated as he rolled his shoulders and coughed
to clear his throat. “That was my idea. Ya see it was kinda like a little
publicity stunt thing. You know to draw attention to the play.”
Ben stared at Joe taking all this in. He was still amazed at how Joe’s mind
could work to conceive such ideas. “Hoss, did you go along with this?”
Hoss timidly lifted his eyes toward his father and hunched up his shoulders.
“Gee Pa. I tole Joe that it might be taken the wrong way by some folks…”
“Ok. Ok” interrupted Ben. “But did Roy Coffee know about all those Wanted
posters? I can’t believe he would go along with this scheme?”
Roy was just coming up the aisle as he heard Ben’s last comment. He knew
he had to come rushing to the boys aid since he did go along with it.
“Ben! Hey Ben”
“Roy? What is all this about these Wanted Posters with my boys faces on them for some play? Did Joe talk you into this?”
“Now Ben, calm down,” started Roy. “I’ll admit that maybe it was a bit of
a gamble but it sure drew folks from all over to come see this here play.
Why we made near over a thousand dollars to fix up that orphans home and
provide them with some new clothes and all kinds of things.”
Ben still had difficulty in grasping the whole situation. The fact that
Roy went along with it didn’t make things easier for him.
“But why Wanted Posters? What if some gun happy bounty hunter happened to
come across them and try gunning for my sons?” Ben’s concern for his sons
edged out his initial anger of finding the Wanted Posters now that he knew
neither Joe nor Hoss had really been in trouble.
“Ben, didn’t you read the entire poster?”
“I read what it said. Wanted for Bank Robbery. Joe & Hoss Cartwright.”
“Ya didn’t read the smaller print towards the bottom of the poster?”
“What small print?”
“Come on and I’ll show you.” Roy took the lead and headed out of the door
to the front of the Opera House. Ben, Adam, Hoss and Joe followed behind.
At the front of the Opera House was another Wanted Poster. Roy took it down and handed it to Ben.
“Now look and read the whole poster.”
Ben took the Wanted poster in his hands and began reading out loud.
“Wanted for Bank Robbery. Joe & Hoss Cartwright. Robbed Bank in Virginia
City.” A little further down was written some smaller print. “A play adaptation
of some of the hardships of life in the West. Benefit proceeds to go to
supporting the orphans of Virginia City.”
Ben dropped his arms down still clutching the Wanted poster. His face was
full of the expression of a man who looked beside himself. He glanced sideways
first to Joe, then to Hoss and finally to Adam.
With a look of resignation, Ben knew that it didn’t pay to argue any further.
Besides he could always talk to Joe later about how dangerous this publicity
stunt for the play could have been.
“All right boys. Guess that explains everything. Let’s go home. I don’t
know about the rest of you but I am tired and can’t wait to get home for
some of Hop Sing’s good cooking, a hot bath and bed.”
“Sounds good to me Pa.” Joe was right pleased with himself. His publicity stunt turned out all right after all.
Hoss breathed a sigh of relief and stretched his eyes skyward thanking the
All Mighty that his little brother had once again averted trouble.
Adam put a hand on each of his brother’s shoulders before commenting.
“Well, let’s go before Pa changes his mind and decides to give a lecture on this.”
Whereupon the four Cartwrights headed to the livery stable to gather the
buggy and the horses before heading back home to the Ponderosa.
The End