The Duel
by Gail G.
"I don't understand why you're so upset, Pa." Joe said, a grimace
on
his face.
Ben paced the large room. "How many times have I told you that
those things are not TOYS?"
Joe swallowed hard and held up the epee. "I know it's not a toy,
Pa. I wasn't ummmm. . .playing, I was practicing, sir."
Ben closed his eyes and shook his head. "Practicing for what, may
I
ask?" Ben stopped and stood in front of his youngest.
Joe looked down to the floor. "Ummmm. . ."
"Yes? I'm waiting, and please look at me when I speak to you."
"It's really nothing, Pa.. HONEST!" Joe yelled.
"Is that so? Well, if it's nothing, would you care to explain why
you have been practicing? And, while we are on the subject of
explaining things, how do you reckon you are going to pay for the
repairs to the settee and MY LEATHER CHAIR?!" Ben's voice started
rising and bounced off the rafters of the room.
"Pay for them?" Joe waved at the mentioned objects. "It
ain't my
fault that they were in the way when I was practicing."
Ben huffed. "Is that so? Well, it won't be my fault that your
behind is in the way when I take my belt to it."
Joe's eyes widened. "Paaaa. . .you can't be serious!
I'm. . .I'm. . .too old for a tanning."
" You aren't too old to disobey, are you? Or be deceitful and
disrespectful? To me, only a child would do those things and you
know the rules, Joseph. If you act like a child, you will be
punished like a child." Ben spoke in a disgusted tone. "You never
answered my question. Why, may I ask, are you practicing?"
Joe laid the epee down on the credenza. "You see, Pa. Mitch and I–"
The young man's explanation was interrupted when the front door flew
open. Adam walked in clutching a piece of paper.
"Adam! What's this all about? You know better than to enter the
house in such a manner." Ben scolded.
"Sorry, Pa, but I thought you would want to see this." Adam handed
the paper over to his father.
Ben frowned as he read the announcement. "JOSEPH! So, this is why
you are practicing with that. . .that. . .thing."
Joe grinned weakly. "I can explain, Pa."
"Who's idea was this? Charging the good citizens of Virginia City
to see a real dueling match to the death. Well, I never, in all my
life!! May I ask you one question, young man?"
"Yes, sir." Joe squirmed.
"Just who was going to DIE?" Ben yelled, causing the glassware
in
the hutch to rattle.
"We really hadn't thought of that." Joe said.
"How many tickets have you sold, and who is holding the money?"
"Just a few, Pa." Joe licked his lips.
Ben scowled. "Another lie, I see. How many, Joseph?"
"Ohhhh. . .a couple hundred, I guess."
"A couple hundred!!!" Ben slammed the bulletin down on the table
and
stomped toward his wayward son.
"That's it, young man, you and I are going to have a `necessary
talk'." Ben grabbed Joe's arm and dragged him to the door.
"Pa! You can't be serious!" Joe tried to pull away, causing his
father to grip his arm tighter.
"I am more than serious, young man. And when we are finished, we
are going over to the Devlin's to inform George of what you two were
up to. After that, we are taking a trip to town and you will give
back the money to every citizen that purchased a ticket." Ben opened
the door and pulled his son out into the yard.
"But Pa, if we cancel the duel, how will I pay for the settee and
your leather chair?" Joe blurted out.
"Oh. . .I think I can come up with some ways to get my money in
the `end'." Ben replied.
Adam stood in the doorway and watched as the barn door closed behind
his father and youngest brother.
Hoss came from upstairs carrying an empty plate. "What's all that
yellin' `bout?"
Adam looked over his shoulder and grinned. "Well, Hoss, it looks
like Joe is getting ready to learn the lesson of what happens when
you disobey Pa."
Hoss frowned and looked at the epee laying on the credenza. "Maybe
this time he will get the point."
Adam smiled a bit bigger. "I think this time, his backside is going
to get the message."
Adam shut the door upon hearing the first yelp from the barn. He
picked up the epee and placed it back on the wall. "I think we will
be safe for a few more weeks."
"Yeah, that's `cuz little brother won't feel like reaching up for
that thing." Hoss said.
They both headed to the kitchen–laughing all the way.
The End