Sins of the Father, Sins of the Sons

Part 3 of 11

by Robin

Say Uncle

Chapter 1

1853

 “Joseph, get out of your bed. Now, son.” Ben said gently but firmly as he walked into Little Joe’s room. His youngest boy had retreated into his room after lunch.

Joe attempted to moan convincingly as he heard his father’s footsteps walking around his room. The eleven year old  boy pulled the coverlet over his head.

“You have been hiding up here most of the afternoon son. Get up, now.” Joe heard his father walk over to the washstand.

From under his blanket sanctuary, Joe heard his father mover around the room and the splash of water being poured into a basin. Joe sighed in submission to the inevitable and reluctantly tossed back the covers. He knew he couldn’t ever disappear from his father. There was no hiding; not when Pa was insistent on his boy doing the proper thing, being well mannered and keeping a promise to a young lady.

”You better get washed up and ready, son. “ Ben directed firmly. It is getting close to the time you need to go into town.”

”I really don’t feel that good Pa.” Joe hung his head and tried to look as miserable as he could. “Not at all.”

“You are just a bit nervous son, “ Ben laughed and tossed the clean towel at the boy. “Get up and get moving! You promised that young lady you would go to her party. Put on that clean shirt Hop Sing put out for you. And your good trousers too.”

”But Pa, none of my friends will be there. Can’t you make Hoss come along with me?” he pleaded.

”Since when are you so shy, Little Joe? And most of the children you know from school will be there. Kate Wallace, Nancy Coffee, Billy Felcher.”

”Dean aint’ going.” Joe muttered pushing his face into his soft pillow.

“Dean wasn’t invited. This is a party for just the older boys and girls. Dean is still a bit too young to go to this type of cotillion.” Ben watched the boy limply get out of bed.

”Pa, my head really hurts, and my…my… stomach and my eyes.my nostrils. Maybe it is contagious. I can start a ‘demic.”
”Epidemic,” Ben corrected and stared at the boy.

“One of those too.”

”How are your feet, Joe?” Ben asked fighting a smile.

”My feet? “Joe looked down at his bare feet. He wiggled his toes.“My feet are ok…”

”Then you should have no trouble dancing!” Adam called from the hallway. Adam was leaning on the doorframe grinning at him .Joe didn’t realize his tall oldest brother was standing watching his torment and despair.

”Get out of here Adam and mind your own business.” Joe wailed. He tried to jump past his father and slam the door on his brother but Ben stepped in the way and grabbed Joe by his shoulders lifting him off the floor. He planted the boy on the edge of the rumpled bed and held him in a firm hug.

”Calm down, Little Joe!” Adam grinned. “Don’t get your dander up. You dance just fine. Here is my lucky tie for you to wear.” Adam handed his kid brother a black string tie. He sincerely thought he was being helpful to a nervous little boy.

“You’ll have a great time. Just give it a chance, Joe. “ Ben added ruffling his youngest son's hair. The boy needed a haircut but Ben thought better than to bring it up this time.

“I was nervous too going to my first dance too, Buddy.” Adam really thought he was being supportive. He had spent the last few weeks teaching the boy how to dance and act politely when having refreshment. They practiced how he would ask a young lady to dance and how a proper gentleman would bring a lovely lady a cup of punch. Both Adam and his father just assumed that was what Joe was nervous about.

“And you can put on some of my bay rum cologne, son.” Ben had put the bottle down on the marble top of Joe’s dresser. Joe ran his hand over his baby smooth face hoping that over night a whisker or three might have miraculously sprouted on his chin.

“I think you can manage this once with out a shave, Little Joe,” Adam chuckled.

” Maybe next time.” Ben added catching Adam’s eye and winking.

Joe knew he really had no way out. He was caught like a rat in a trap.

Both his Pa and Adam were assuming he didn’t want to go to the party because he was afraid of dancing with the girls. That was the furthest thing from the truth. Joe knew he was a good dancer and he loved to dance with the girls. Something else was scaring him about going to the party in Virginia City and there was no way he was going to tell his father or either of his brothers what was going on.

“Hoss and I will stop by when we finish up all our errands in town, Buddy. We’ll come rescue you if you can’t get any girls to dance with you.” Adam offered. “Hoss heard Mrs. Brown made a huge four layer cake and plenty of fine refreshments for the boys and girls.”

Joe shook his head dispiritedly knowing that he had no way out. He was trapped.

Chapter 2

At first, Little Joe had been reluctant to attend a fancy dancing party. He knew he was going to be one of the youngest and smallest boys at the event but Mary Ann Brown made such a big display over her invitation when he was in her father’s feed store with Adam. Then Mary Ann made a big fuss over Little Joe attending the event again the following Sunday in front of the entire Cartwright family after church. Joe felt that he had no choice but to accept the invitation.

Just as he began to look forward to the social event of the season and his oldest brother practiced how he should behave, the older boys at school got wind of his enthusiasm and crushed it. Led by Jack Fischer, they decided to pick on Little Joe as sport.

“Don’t let us see your face at Mary Ann’s party if you know what is good for you !” Jack warned. He had no real reason to care if Joe Cartwright came to the party or not, but it was just a nasty amusement for Jack to poke at the younger boy and a challenge to see how far he could get other big boys to follow the teasing.

Little Joe led his horse to the barn behind the Brown’s house and went through the automatic motions of stabling the horse so he could join the party. Usually he enjoyed tending to his horse but now his thought about how furious he was that Jack Fischer and his pals were ruining his good times. Joe wished that Dean or one of his other friends had been willing to come along. Mitch was just too shy to come to a girl’s birthday party. Dean wasn’t even invited. Most of his other buddies had not been invited or refused to attend. The only boy that Joe counted as a friend who would be sure to be at the party was Billy Felcher and he was not much help if it came to a fight. Reverend Felcher believed in “turning the other cheek” and Billy fought like an old lady. He usually closed his eyes and swung and prayed, hoping to land a lucky punch. Usually Joe was the one who defended Billy, not the other way around.

Joe was all alone facing his fate. Maybe if he moved fast,  he could get from the barn into the house without having a problem. If he avoided the bigger boys for an hour or so, his brothers would be coming by. Joe doubted that anyone would pick a fight with him if Hoss and Adam were around.

The boy blinked as he walked into the bright sunshine from the dimly lit barn. He felt eyes on the back of his neck and realized that someone was standing in the shadows. It was Jack Fischer and two other boys. His blonde hair was combed just so and he was wearing a fine suit his father had made for him in San Francisco.“I told you not to come to this party Little Joe. This is for town boys not you ranch kids. You smell like cattle and horses. “ Jack smirked.

Joe knew he smelled just fine. He was shiny clean and wearing the bay rum cologne his Pa had lent him.

Jack Fischer was just starting up to be mean. He loved to make his victim squirm.
”No I don’t. I smell real good. It’s your own wet dog smell you that is stinking up the yard, Jack.” Joe challenged. You smell like a wet dog with fleas. What is your dog’s name again, Jack? Jackass? Stinky? Fish face?”
Despite themselves, the other boys laughed at Joe’s clever remark knowing how much the Fischer’s bragged about their fancy pure bred dog, Brutus. His father had bought him the dog purely to compete with Levi Victor’s pure bred hunting dogs.

“Shut up Joe” Jack balled up his fists and swung at Little Joe. Joe ducked and jumped back.

“Missed me Jack! You see Jack, that's how it is. When you buy a fat ugly dog you get the smell and the fleas too. Bet you have lots of itchy fleas!” He laughed at his own cleverness taking another step back right into the arms of Tucker Beck.

 Beck grabbed Little Joe firmly by his starched white shirt. . Planting a knee in the small of the younger boy’s back, Tucker kicked him back toward Jack. “So you think I smell like a dog, Little Joe? “Jack back grabbed at Joe’s collar. “Smell this!”

He lashed out with such force that Joe looked surprised. Jack sent a hard two handed smash to Joe’s chest knocking him to the ground.  Jack yanked the smaller boy up by his arm and slammed him up against the wooden side of the barn so hard that the impact rattled Joe’s teeth.

“I told you that you shouldn’t have come to this party, Little Joe. Or any party here in town.” Jack spit out.” Didn’t I tell him boys?”

”You sure did Jackie!” smiled Brett Lever. He kicked some dirt at Joe’s newly polished boots.

Tucker Beck nodded “ Who wants you here Joe? None of us.”

Before Little Joe knew what was happening Jack pulled him up and started pummeling him furiously while Brett and Tucker egged him on.

“Make him say ‘Uncle’!” Brett hollered.

“Say ‘uncle’, Joe. Say Uncle and I will quit.” Jack pulled up on Joe’s tie and punched him in the nose. Joe fell backwards onto the dirt yard. Brett rolled him over and Jack kneeled astride him pinning the boy face down.

No!” Joe spit out.

Somehow, Little Joe  pulled his own arm out from under him and caught Jack in the eye with his right fist. Jack fell backwards.  Joe rolled out from under him and scrambled to his feet. Pulling his head down, Joe barreled into Tucker’s stomach knocking him into Brett. Joe stumbled over Tucker and fell down in a heap on top of Brett. The older two boys pushed him back at Jack.

This time Jack threw Joe face down and sat on his back. He angrily shoved Joe’s face into the dirt and ordered, “Eat the dirt Joe!”

Joe closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. “No!” he growled through his clenched jaw. “No!”

”Eat the dirt Joe and I’ll let you up,” Jack laughed loudly shoving the smaller boy’s face flat into the ground. The three bigger boys laughed as Jack held Little Joe prisoner. Fischer pushed the back of Joe’s head with his right hand and squeezed his forearm tightly with the other.

 “No! Joe squirmed as Jack flattened his face into the ground again.

“Hey what are you boys doing there? Let that little boy up!” Joe heard Mrs. Brown shouting at them from the back porch.

“Let Little Joe up!” Nancy Coffee hollered. “Let him go, Jack Fischer!”

“You boys are spoiling my party!” whined Mary Ann. “Stop fighting!”

Katie Wallace rushed down the steps and over to the squabble. Raising her foot, she was about to kick Jack’s posterior. Brett pulled at her and held her away. She bit Brett’s hand.

”Dang, Katie! Don’t go biting me!” Brett howled.

“Then let me go!” Kate ordered kicking at Brett again. She couldn’t care less if her party dress was rumpled if Joe was in trouble.

“Say Uncle!” Jack repeated to Joe Cartwright.

Katie wrenched free and ran over to Jack. She grabbed Jack’s sleeve and pulled. “Get off him you big bully. Leave Little Joe alone!”

“Girls, don’t get into this!” Tucker warned. “Don’t want you getting hurt by Little Joe!”
”Little Joe won’t hurt me you fool. Jack is beating him up and you boys better let him go!”  Kate shouted as she futilely attempted to pull Jack off her friend. “Nancy! Help Little Joe!”

Nancy and Mary Ann hesitated. They certainly didn’t want to be unladylike and get in the midst of a boy’s  brawl wearing new pastel party frocks.

”Eat the dirt Joe!” Jack ordered. He wasn’t letting up despite Katie’s valiant efforts. Joe kicked and squirmed as hard as he could but he was no match for the older and larger Fischer. The only thing that Joe could see was the dusty ground in front of him.  Suddenly Joe heard his brother Adam’s voice behind him saying forcefully  “Get off my brother, Jack Fischer! Get off now” and feel the dead weight being pulled off of him.

“Hey we were just fooling around. Weren’t we, boys” Jack grinned at Adam who angrily lifted the fourteen year old off his youngest brother. Jack was no match for muscular Adam Cartwright. He immediately backed down when he saw a grown man was interceding to stop him..

”Sure we were, Joe knows we were just fooling. Don’t ya Joe!” Brett tried to explain as Hoss Cartwright rounded the side of the barn.

“No you weren’t you big fat bullies! Adam they were beating your brother up!” Nancy exclaimed indignantly from the porch. She hoped her new pink ruffled dress hadn’t been wilted by the excitement of the melee. She hoped Little Joe would ask her to dance as soon as the combatants got sorted out.

Hoss helped Joe to his feet and attempted to dust him off. It was clear his white shirt was ruined and his good trousers were torn at the knee.” You ok, Short Shanks?”

Joe wiped his mouth with his sleeve and realized his mouth was bleeding. He nodded and tried to spit out some blood and grit.

 “You stinkin’, smelly dog!” Joe ran at Jack with his fists raised. He really wanted to hide behind his brothers, but he also knew if he looked scared Jack and his friends would just continue pounding him in school on Monday.

Hoss grabbed his little brother and held him back. “Calm down now boy!”

Joe pretended dramatically to try to pull away from his large brother’s grasp. “Hold me back Hoss! Hold me back!” He was glad that Hoss had a good hold on him and he could look like he wanted to continue fighting.

“I was just playing, Little Joe!” Jack lied. He stepped toward Joe and patted him on his head knowing that Hoss had a firm hold on to him. “Don’t go spoiling a nice party by trying to fight with me and the other boys, Little Joe. Don’t you Cartwrights teach that boy any manners?”

”Yes, Adam, didn’t your father teach your little brother how to behave in polite society?” Mrs. Brown believed Jack’s slick deception just as most adults did. “Adam, I think you should take Joseph home right now. I don’t want any fighting here.”

”But M’am!” Joe protested. He hadn’t had a chance to dance or even get a cup of punch.

“Go on home, Little Joe!” Jack smirked. “You better tell your Pa to teach that boy some proper polite town manners, Adam. He must be an embarrassment to your entire family.” He offered his arm to Mrs. Brown and smiled. “Don’t think that nasty Little Joe Cartwright will be causing any more trouble, M’am. Let’s go inside before you and Mary Ann soil your lovely gowns.”

Chapter 3

By the time the three Cartwright brothers got back to the Ponderosa, Little Joe had been given the lecture on the inappropriateness of fighting as well as sincere congratulations from his brothers on holding his own after being jumped by three older, bigger bullies.

When they walked in the front door, Ben was surprised to see his sons home so early and disturbed to see how battered and filthy his youngest boy was.

“Joseph Francis Cartwright! Look at you! Look at your good clothes.” Ben roared. He could see the boy had been fighting. “I told you the last time that you were fighting that was unacceptable.”

“Before you start in on him Pa, it wasn’t his fault and Adam already hollered at him a bit for fighting and all.” Hoss put his arm protectively around Little Joe.

”Pa! Jack Fischer started in on me first. He and the big boys jumped on me when I came out of the barn. That was why I didn’t want to go, Pa. Jack and those big boys said that they would make me eat dirt if I came. They said it was a party for town kids and I smelled. Only for town kids they said. But I told him he smelled like a wet dog!” The words spewed out of Little Joe’s mouth. He was excited and also hoping he could out argue his father before he wound up getting a tanning for fighting at a fancy party.

Adam couldn’t help but laughing at his little brothers righteous indignation and the speed at which he gave his argument.

“I didn’t say “Uncle’ Pa. I didn’t eat the dirt either. They couldn’t make me. “ Joe sputtered.

“He got some good licks in on Stanley Fischer’s boy, Pa.” Adam nodded proudly. “I suspect that boy has a pretty good shiner.” Not only had Adam taught his little brother to dance, but he had also taught Joe a mean right hook.

“That Jack and Brett and Tucker, all ganged up on me and wanted to make me say ‘Uncle’ and eat dirt!” Little Joe explained as he father tried to examine his damages.

“Adam and I came early to get some cake and found them beating on Joe.”
”I had to pull Jack off of Little Joe, Pa. Even Katie Wallace was trying to break it up.” Adam explained.

“Some time Little Joe is too stubborn for his own good, Pa.” Hoss shook his head. “What would he have done if me and Adam hadn’t come by to get him?” He hated to think how badly his baby brother would have been beaten by the older boys.
”He wouldn’t have eaten the dirt then either,” Ben smoothed his hand over Little Joe’s curly hair and smiled at his tenacious youngest boy. His new white shirt was ruined but Ben was proud of his boy’s bravery.

“No sir, not me,” Joe smiled up at his father and his big brothers. “No Cartwright is ever gonna eat dirt or say ‘Uncle” No, sir!”

“Let’s go in the kitchen and clean you up, Joe.” Adam urged.

”Didn’t eat no cake neither Pa,” Hoss laughed following his brothers. “None of us Cartwrights got to eat dirt or any of that fancy birthday cake Mrs. Brown had sitting on the dining room table.

Chapter 4

Virginia City

Spring 1859

Most of Virginia City knew that Stanley Fisher and his son Jack were philanderers of the highest order and lacked a moral compass when it came to their liaisons with women. The marriage of Jack and Melissa was a rushed union with their son Stanley John born only seven months later. The baby was called “ a premature honey moon baby” but weighed in at hefty nine pounds and had a full head of dark curly hair.

“Bet the kid has a whole mouthful of teeth too!” Little Joe joked loudly as he rode next to his family on the way to the Fischer Christening. He kicked Cochise into a trot and moved up next to Hoss.

”And a moustache too! “ Hoss chuckled but Ben shot them both a threatening look from the back of Buck.

“Heard the baby said ‘Howdy Doc Martin! So glad to meet you, sir!” Joe added. He tipped his hat at Hoss in imitation of the imagined precocious Fischer baby. Hoss laughed at Joe’s antics.

“Howdy baby! Glad you are born!” Hoss impersonated Doc Martin.
Adam turned his head so his father couldn’t see his grin as he rode next to his brothers.

Secretly Ben was glad that it wasn’t any of his sons standing up in front of the church with an ill-timed baby. Especially since about two years earlier, Joe had been seeing Melissa along with most of the young bucks in town.

Normally, Ben would have said more to Joe about his fresh mouthed remarks but he finally seemed to be getting over the murder of Amy Duprey six months earlier. There was no need to put a damper on his boy’s returning good cheer. Joe had been too grief stricken for the last months. Ben and other sons were just relieved to hear Little Joe joking and laughing again.

The murder of Amy and her sisters and their father had saddened the entire community. Little Joe Cartwright had taken it especially hard. He had been in passionately in love with Amy. The boy was with her mother and little sister Meg when the crime was discovered. He had stayed with them for weeks helping her pack up their few surviving meager belongings and to round up what remained of their cattle for sale.

 Rogue Indians were accused of the massacre, but Joe and Dean Newkirk still insisted it was white men dressed as Paiutes. Eventually, both boys gave up their public cry that white men committed the heinous deed. Privately, the two friends swore that they were right but knew they had to remain silent or wind up declared liars or fools in Virginia City. Many years later, long after the murders, long after Dean had been killed himself, Joe proved he was right. White men posing as Indians had killed the Duprey’s in an attempt to gain the ranch and perpetuate an elaborate land fraud along Cherry Creek.

 It was only in the few weeks before the Fischer’s baby christening that Joe seemed to be returning to his normal cheerful behavior. The boy rarely spoke of Amy any more and had started asking other girls to various dances and parties. No one girl would occupy Joe Cartwright’s heart so fully for a great many years to come.

Chapter 5

Virginia City

1868

Mary Fischer was a self-righteous snob. Despite her husband’s frequent trips to San Francisco brothels and his  three times a week attendance at the private upstairs rooms in the Altamont Saloon, she set herself up as the reigning queen of propriety in Virginia City. Mim Wallace despised Mrs. Stanley Fisher’s phoniness but often was forced by circumstances as the publisher of the Virginia City Enterprise to entertain Mrs. Fischer or her friends or attend events in their homes.

 When Mim’s niece Kate returned to Virginia City after her first husband, Al Striker abandoned her and her young son, Mrs. Fischer and her friend Margaret Butler dropped in on them unexpectedly one warm afternoon. They claimed they were welcoming Kate back to Virginia City but both Mim and Kate knew it was more to pry than to be cordial.  

 “And where is your husband now Katherine, darling?” Mrs. Fischer asked from the chair on Mim’s porch. Kate was helping Mim with the tea trays in the kitchen.

“We can’t hear you, dear. We will be back in a minute. I want you to have some of my special butter cookies. “ Mim lied to the two women outside. She needed to speak privately to her niece before Mrs. Fischer harassed her into revealing something Katie was not willing to discuss. Mary Fischer was like a buzzard circling an injured calf just waiting to fly in and peck on the carcass.

“Kate what do you want to do about this? There is no need to share your private business with anyone if you have no desire.” Mim looked deeply into Katie’s weary hazel eyes.

“Stupid old biddy, “ Kate thought aloud. “She should mind her own business. But on the other hand, I can’t keep up this façade forever. If I am going to come back here to Virginia City to stay, now is as good a time as any to let the truth be known. Unless you want to make it the headline story in the Enterprise Auntie. Philip Bartlett could set it in 20 point type.”

Mim laughed at the image of the front-page announcement in her paper.

 The newspaper publisher advised her niece  “Just remember, once you tell these gossips, there is no going back and regaining your privacy. Divorce in Virginia City is certainly a scandalous situation, no matter if you had no choice in the matter,” Aunt Mim reminded Katie.

 She placed some round butter cookies on porcelain plate decorated with pink cherry blossoms. “Margaret Butler and Mary Fisher are the biggest gossips in Nevada Territory. On a hot day you can get a breeze from the wagging of their tongues. Your uncle once said they got the news out faster than we could print it.”

Mim rearranged the teacups and added “ I have no patience for shallow women.”

Mim looked at the pile of golden cookies on the plate and thought twice. “No need to let them have so many of these. They are too delicious for the likes them.” She removed half of them and put them aside for Sam to have after school. “Are there any of those stale old ginger snaps left in the pantry?”

Kate smiled. No one would ever call Mim Wallace subtle.

“Auntie, I think this might just be the time to tell the town that I am here to stay.” She picked up the tray of tea fixings and carried into the porch. She set it on the table and turned to Mrs. Fischer.” And what was it you were asking me before?”

”Tea?” Mim interrupted, She picked up the teapot and started to pour. She wanted to give her niece another few seconds to make her decision firm as once she said something there was no taking back her words. Once the words were said there would be no going back.

“Yes dear, Lemon and sugar. I was just asking Katherine here where her husband was these days.”

Kate picked up her delicate teacup and took a sip and jumped right in. “We are no longer married Mrs. Fischer. He left Sam and me last fall. We are now getting divorced. Levi Victor is filing the papers.”

”My goodness. A divorce! How tragic!” Mrs. Butler responded smiling above the rim of her teacup.

They looked up to see Joe Cartwright ride up on the back of Cochise. Seated on the saddle in front of him was Kate’s six-year-old son Sam. “ Look at me Mama! I got a ride home from school! “ He shouted gleefully as Joe lowered him down to the ground. Joe dismounted and smiled widely. He had grown up playing with Kate in this house. He would still drop in on Mim like she was his own family. Joe was especially glad to have his old friend Kate move back home again after years of her living in San Francisco.

 Unbeknownst to anyone he and Hoss were already plotting to get Adam and Kate together. Much was motivated by Joe’s great affection for Kate but Joe desperately wanted to lure Adam back to Virginia City from his working in Boston for Stoddard and Bruce.

“Joe Cartwright gave me a ride on Cochise!” Sam announced loudly as if all the women on the front porch were not only blind but quite deaf too.

“Your son offered me some of Mim’s cookies for a ride and I let him twist my arm, Katie. Just don’t let Hop Sing know I like your baking better than his.” Joe grinned at Mim. Joe had been a great admirer of Mim’s baking since he was a small boy and the Cartwrights would frequently join the Wallaces for Sunday dinner. He would often steal half the plate of cookies and sneak out to the porch with Kate. While the adults discussed politics and cattle prices and the latest mine expansions, Joe and Kate was gobble up the cookies and plan pranks.

Noticing the ladies arrayed on the sunny front porch sipping tea, Joe tipped his hat and smiled sweetly “Afternoon ladies. Mighty fine weather we’ve been having.”

”Do join us, Little Joe. Can I offer you some tea or something cold?” Kate relieved to have him show up and distract the attention from her last announcement.

Joe picked up Sam and swung him on his shoulders and walked up the path. Sam snatched Joe’s hat from his head and put it on top of his own curly hair.

“Look! I’m Joe Cartwright on Cochise! “  Joe galloped up the steps to the porch. “Giddyap horsie!” Sam whooped pulling on Joe’s shirt collar like reigns.

Mary Fischer stared at the two curly heads and the impish smiles of Kate’s son and Joe Cartwright and exclaimed “ My, my Mim, If I didn’t know better I would say Joseph Cartwright and Sam here certainly have a remarkable resemblance.”

Kate choked on her tea. Even Mim was speechless at the spiteful comment.

Joe was totally outraged. There was no love lost between Joe and the entire Fisher family. He glared at the woman furiously. How dare she imply that anything beyond friendship had ever occurred between him and Katie.

“My, my Mrs. Fischer you really should know better. Kate and I hadn’t even SPOKEN in the three years before Sam was born so it would be very nice if you kept your nasty remarks to your nasty self and paid attention to your own family’s nasty behavior.” Joe snapped at her abruptly. Had Mary Fischer been a man, Joe would have raised his fists and punched anyone that made such a vile remark about Katie. A Cartwright would never strike a woman.

How could Mrs. Fischer make such a rude comment about Kate and imply that little Sammy belonged to Joe?

It was rumored around Virginia City that Jack Fischer had fathered more than one other child. One was with a saloon girl, and the other with a visiting niece of another mine owner. Both young women left town abruptly and were never seen again. Wagging tongues claimed Stanley Fischer had paid both women off to put a lid on any scandals in regard to his son.  

Mary Fischer gasped at Little Joe’s boldness. She and Mrs. Butler immediately put down their tea cups and gathered up their things in a rush to leave Mim’s porch.

”Well I never!” Mrs. Butler abruptly turned to Aunt Mim.

“Well maybe that is the problem,” Mim said. Joe threw back his head and laughed at Mim’s pointed remark.

“I must be going Mim. It is clear you have your hands full here,”

“Don’t let me keep you!” Joe shouted as the two women walked quickly down Mim’s front path.

Years later, long after Kate was happily married to Adam Cartwright, she had forgiven the entire incident.

Joe never did.

Chapter 6

The Ponderosa Ranch

1869

"Whatcha looking at, Joe?" Hoss inquired riding up along side of where his younger brother sat with one leg lazily propped over the pummel of his saddle. His hat was pushed onto the back of his head.

“That roof. That broken window. The door is hanging sorta crooked. One good wind could take this whole shack down. Looks like we have an awful lot of work to do here.”

”It’s been a hard winter, Little Joe…” Hoss said softly. “We best get started.”

“One good wind would take down this whole shack.” Joe grinned. “Maybe that is what this old place needs.”

“Don’t think Pa would think that.”

Joe sighed, “There is an awful lot to fix up here.”

Hoss winked back. “Sure thing, Joe. Sam is gonna work mighty hard this weekend. Good thing Katie and Adam sent him up here with us.”

Eight year old Sam looked back and forth between his two uncles. “Really? That was why my Mama sent me here? I thought she and Adam were really mad at me.” The little boy looked sad.

”Nope, that wasn’t what Adam said to me. Did Adam say that to you Hoss?”

The big man closed one eye and looked at Sam.” Don’t remember Adam saying anything of the sort. Katie neither. Nobody said that they were mad at you.”

”Adam was pretty mad at me for touching his things. He yelled awfully loud.” The boy looked dejected. “ I didn’t mean to spill the ink on his drawings. He yelled at me a lot, Uncle Hoss.”

Joe tried not to chuckle. As a small boy, Joe had his own troubles with Adam when his own curiosity damaged some of his older brothers papers or disrupted his books.

”Adam said you was a mighty handy boy and Uncle Joe here don’t know which end of the hammer to hold,” Hoss explained seriously to the little boy.

”That’s right, Sam. Can’t ever remember which end to hold. Hoss has tried and tried to show me but I am just useless, totally useless.” Joe teased. “Now Hoss, tell me again. Do I hold the wood end or the metal end?”

Hoss threw back his head and laughed. “That’s true Sam. Adam said you would be a mighty big help getttin’ this line shack fixed.”

”Adam said that?” Sam perked up.

”He sure did,” Hoss lifted the boy off his pony. “Your Pa thinks you are pretty clever.”

“Hard working he said. Hard working and mighty clever.” Joe added. “That is what your Pa said.” Both brothers emphasized calling Adam “Pa”.

“ That’s right, your Pa said you were real hard working. A smart boy too. Much harder working than Uncle Joe, here.”

“And certainly smarter than Uncle Hoss too,” Joe tried to sound serious but was really struggling not to laugh at this point.

Sam smiled broadly “Adam said all that about me? I mean my Pa. My Pa said all that about me?”

Hoss and Joe nodded. They knew how pleased Adam would be with the boy calling him “Pa” now that he and Katie were married rather than just “Adam”. The two brothers were secretly determined to teach Sam to do that by the time they sent him back home from the line shack.

”Who lives here?” Sam asked. He looked at the tiny wooden shack. “The house looks so empty.”

“No one, Sammy. It’s a line shack. When a cowboy is tending the stock, he may need a place to stay if he is too far to come back down to the bunk house or if the weather turns bad while he is out on the range.”

”Sometimes someone is traveling acrost the Ponderosa they need some shelter.” Hoss added.

Sam nodded. “Did you ever stay there, Uncle Hoss?”

”Sure, plenty of times. Your Pa too. One time me and Adam, your Pa that is…one time your Pa and me was out hunting. We got stuck right here in a blizzard for more than a week. That storm came down from the mountains and we were mighty lucky to have this little shack here.”

”They ate their boots.” Joe teased climbing down from Cochise and taking the reigns of the boy’s horse.

“Really? Uncle Hoss?”

“Sure, Doc. Boot stew!” Joe nodded trying to look serious.

”Uncle Joe is joshing.” Hoss said eyeing the roof. He could see there was only one worn piece that needed patching. The rest looked sound. He would have to climb up to make totally sure but it really looked like only one place was in need of repair.

”That’s right, Sammy, they ate their saddles…long john soup too.”

“No!” Sam was amazed. “Soup from underwear?”

”Sure your Aunt Mim invented it. You take a carrot and melt snow and take off your long johns and put them in a big iron kettle. Then you stir it with a long limb of a tree.”
”Joe, quit teasing the boy. “You don’t need no carrots, just a potato.” Hoss chuckled at the yarn they were spinning.

“Maybe it would really be easier to just build a new shack and this one here just fall in on itself.” Joe rubbed the back of his neck looking at the work they had to do on the old shack. “Lot of work keeping this place up.”

“Let the wild animals have it for a house. Maybe monkeys would come live here if you did, Uncle Hoss,” Sammy suggested. The boy loved monkeys. He had seen wild animals in picture books and in the circus when he lived in San Francisco. He longed for a pet monkey.

Hoss threw back his head and laughed heartily at Sam’s request. “No chance of that Doc.There ain’t no wild monkeys here about.. Maybe a cougar or a fox or some rabbits but no monkeys.”

”So, Big Brother, why not just tell Pa to let this shack fall in on itself and come back, say in a month or so. When it warms up; when the swimming and fishing is better up here and get Adam to build us a new line shack. This one sure has seen better days,” Joe took a good shot at getting out of the work they were sent up to do. “Sam here thinks it is good idea. Don’t you, Doc.” Joe dismounted. “All us Cartwright men will come up here and go fishing and swimming.”

“No chance, Short Shanks. Pa has a real special attachment to this shack.”

”Pa sure does, Hoss. I always wondered why.”

”It was one of the first built on the Ponderosa. Pa sort of thinks of this shack different some how. We better get to fixin’,” Hoss climbed down off Chubb and started to unload the supplies from the pack horse.

”Yup, good thing we brought Sammy with us, Big Brother. We sure can use the extra help of a good man.” Joe winked at Hoss. He picked up the bedroll and tossed it to the boy who barely managed to catch it without falling over his own boots. Joe slung the saddlebags over his shoulder and picked up a burlap sack of food with the other hand. “Hoss, take that tool box.”

The three Cartwrights walked into the little rough cabin. “Uncle Hoss gets the bed. The handsome guys get to sleep on the floor. It’s an old Ponderosa tradition in this cabin, Sam.”

Hoss laughed. “Biggest man gets the bed. Don’t listen to Uncle Joe if tells you anything else.”
As the boy stowed all his gear away, he noticed the initials carved beside the cupboard. The carved heart and initials was just at his eye level.

“Look! Someone put their initials over there. They carved them right into the wall. I once did that in the Enterprise Office and my mama was real mad.” Sam traced his finger on the heart that said BC/MC and a date.

Hoss leaned over toward his young nephew and place his big hand next to the boy’s small one.

”Pa did that. B.C.that is Pa. Grandpa to you. Ben Cartwright. M.C. that is Marie Cartwright, Joe’s mama. They stayed here during round up one time. I was jest little and Marie brought me up to see Pa and Adam bring the herd down. We stayed up here.” Hoss explained. “This here shack was pretty new then.”

”Where was Uncle Joe? Didn’t he come along?” Sam asked.

“No he wasn’t born yet. Don’t think he was even a twinkle in his mama’s eye yet.”

”A twinkle?” Sam asked.

The two men laughed. “Not even a twinkle.” Hoss repeated. Joe winked at him.

”Let’s go get some wood and start a fire Sammy. Let Uncle Joe finish unpacking this gear.”

Joe reexamined the date on the heart and realized that he was born the following spring. He started counting on his fingers from the date on the heart to his own birth date.

”Hoss, no wonder Pa thinks this shack is so special Joe realizes as he counts off a second time on his fingers. “Hoss didn’t Pa say I was born kinda early.”

”Yep, you weren’t supposed to be born for about a month when you showed up. Uncle Joe was always in a rush to go meet people, Sammy.”

”Sure, Adam and Hoss took me down to the Bucket of Blood for a beer, first thing. Sat me right up there on the bar and gave me a beer and all the whiskey I could slurp up and then I went dancing with all the pretty saloon gals…” Joe teased.

”Really Uncle Hoss? You and my Pa took a little baby to a saloon to drink whiskey?”

Hoss laughed and hit Joe with his hat. “Don’t pay Uncle Joe no mind, Doc. He’s just joshing you.”

”Sure Sam, I was exaggerating… I just drank beer. No whiskey. And played poker too. And I won big.” Joe teased and ran his fingers over the carved hearts on the wall. “Think I know why Pa wants this place fixed.”

Chapter 7

Nevada Territory

1875

The Bonner’s sale was being held just outside of Virginia City, in a corral with a small run down barn attached. The site was rented regularly for horse auctions, and sales or as a holding site for rancher’s herds to the railhead or points west of Virginia City. Occasionally a medicine shows or traveling revival set up tents there too.

Joe had come looking for some new horses to add to replace the ones he was breaking for the army. He brought Meg and Eric with him hoping to enjoy the sale and a day off the ranch with his family. Meg had even packed a picnic lunch.

“Bonner Brothers mix in some good horses with some pretty average stock. They also try to sell stock that is more suited to. to..” Joe couldn’t think of a word to describe the despicable, low-grade beasts that the Bonner brothers were known to pawn off on unsuspecting buyers.

“Coyote bait? The horses are more suited to coyote bait.” Meg prompted him before he used a ruder term. She grinned at Joe and prompted for Eric’s benefit. “Coyote bait Uncle Joe?”

Joe knew what word he wanted to use but would never cuss in front of a woman. He certainly avoided such language in front of Eric since Meg pointed out that he was beginning to repeat a few more words each week. “You don’t want with the few words Eric does say, for him to say something rude, Joe.” She had cautioned her husband. “Just try to be careful or you might just find Eric embarrassing you in front of Reverend Felcher in church or the fine proper ladies of Virginia City when we go to tea at Katie’s.”

”Come on Meggie!” Joe argued. Joe imagined that Billy Felcher would be forgiving of anything Eric did or said. The minister would even be pleased that Eric was speaking more. On the other hand, Joe knew his wife was absolutely correct on him watching his language.

”Would you want him saying …” She whispered one of Joe’s favorite curses into his ear “or how about…” she whispered the word he said just the night before when he stubbed his bare toe on the nightstand as he was getting into bed. “Uncle Joe? Wouldn’t want our Eric saying those words, now would you?”

Joe laughed and shook his head “No Auntie Meg. Not I. No M’am.”

His father and Adam had been after him his whole life to clean up his mouth and Meg had finally succeeded.

 “It’s a good idea to have two of us looking at his animals.”  Joe told Meg.

“I can see that. Look at the horse on the far side of the corral. He looks past being ready for coyote bait…even coyotes wouldn’t want that bag of hide and bones,” Meg laughed. 

Eric looked through the rails on the corral fence and watched the horses. “Joe? Horses! Meg! Uncle Joe!”
”That’s right Sweetie, we are gonna buy some fine stock for the Ponderosa.” Joe swung the boy up on the top rail for a better view. “Help me pick out some fine horseflesh, boy.”

Leaning against the fence, Meg casually peered at the horses. She placed her hand cautiously on Eric’s suspenders and held on to him. As much as the child never did anything very daring, she didn’t want him falling into the corral and getting hurt.  Her practiced eye immediately spotted a mare prancing around the pen. “Joe, look, that sorrel doesn’t look too bad,” she said, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice. 

“Yeah,” agreed Joe. “She’s got a nice lines. Might be some quarter horse in her. Look at the way she lifts her feet. She just might make a good cutting horse.”

“Any idea how old she is?” asked Meg.

“I took a close look at her awhile ago when you were getting Eric lunch,” answered Joe. “I figures he’s about three or four years old…like our boy here.” Joe smoothed Eric’s blonde hair as he sat transfixed by the corral full of horses.

 “Horses!” the boy said smiling just for an instant. “Horses Uncle!”

“Joe, look at that one over there, the buckskin. We can use him as working stock, breeding stock or both. You can see what a strong chest and strong legs he has, and the animal has a lot of good spirit.” 

“Looks real fine to me Meg. He looks like he would be a good choice. I like that other one near the fence too. ” Joe rested his hand affectionately on top of her hand and rubbed his thumb on top of it. ’Maybe I’ll make Bonner an offer on all of them.”

“All of them?”

”Why not? We can use them all.” Joe laughed. “And we can afford them if the price is fair.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.

“So Joe Cartwright. What kind of thing is this you are doin’ here? You’re totin’ a baby and have a pretty wife here, “ gruff voice greeted them.

Joe looked up to see Nate Bonner sneaking up behind them. “Nate Bonner, you old smelly dog” Joe grinned and shook Nate’s grimy hand.

 ”Ain’t ye gonna introduce us, Little Joe? Here I know you since you were a little thing like your boy here and you don’t introduce me. M’am. Pardon your husband’s rudeness. I’m Nate Bonner.” Nate took off his greasy hat and wiped his filthy hand on his shirt and offered it to Meg.”Mrs. Cartwright.”

”This is our nephew Eric Cartwright.” Meg lifted Eric’s hand and told him to shake hands.

“Nephew?”

”Eric is Hoss’ boy,” Joe explained.

“Nice lookin’ boy. Didn’t think you would have such a nice boy, Joe,” Nate teased. He cackled patting Eric on his head. Eric pulled back nervously and Meg picked him up.

 “This is my wife Meg Cartwright. Mrs. Cartwright to you, Bonner.” Joe wrapped his arm around his wife’s slim waist.

Meg laughed and smiled at Nate Bonner. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Bonner. I think my father sold you some cattle a couple of years back. Fred Thackery .”

“Maybe, or maybe it was my brother. Or maybe I was too drunk to recall. Too bad it warn’t you pretty lady. I would have remembered you.”

Joe laughed but shot Nate Bonner a warning look “ Mind your manners, Nate.”

Bonner threw his head back and laughed like a braying jackass. “You know we Bonners have fine manners.”
“Do you? Don’t pay this man any mind, Darlin’. He means no harm even though he has the face and the brain of a rear end of a horse. And he smells like one too.” Joe teased. The Bonners had been around Virginia City since Joe was a boy. Adam had caroused around with them before he went off to college, just before he saw the foolishness of his behavior.

 Bonner laughed again. “Rear end of a horse? Pretty funny, Cartwright. You buying horses or you just looking to give me a hard time, Little Joe?”

”We are here to buy horses, “ Meg responded firmly. Nate Bonner laughed at her quick answer. He was not at all used to dealing with women speaking up and had assumed the attractive woman with Joe Cartwright would just stand next to him and be pretty and sweet and let Joe do all the talking.

“So Joe, you came around to embarrass me in front of your pretty wife and this boy here?”

“You can just embarrass your self without any help from my husband me. We came here to buy horses for the Ponderosa.” Meg teased. Joe laughed taking Eric out of her arms. The boy hugged his Uncle tightly around his neck. Bonner’s loud voice scared him.

“We? The both of you are buying livestock? You let a gal tell you what to do, Little Joe? And you hold the baby too?”

 “My wife can tell a good horse from a bad one just as well as I can,” declared Joe proudly.

“Maybe better.” Meg added. She tossed her blond hair and stared challengingly at Bonner with her bright blue eyes flashing.

“Maybe better,” Joe agreed.

 “You are joshing me, Joseph. No pretty gal like this could read livestock better ‘n you, boy. You was born knowing horses.” Nate Bonner laughed. “So you tend the babies and she buys the stock, Joe? Don’t pull my leg.”

Ignoring the adults, Eric continued to stare over Joe’s shoulder into the corral. “Horses! Meg’s horses.”

”See even the boy here knows how good my wife is at judging horse flesh” Joe smiled at Nate Bonner.

“Meg’s horses!” Eric repeated hugging Joe tightly. “Look Uncle Joe. Meg’s horses!’

”Thought you was more of a man than that to let a pretty gal tell you what to do Joe.”

Joe glared at Bonner and challenged, “Bet you Meg can pick out the best you got in that corral. And she’ll get you to sell it to the Ponderosa for a fair price too. Not your usual jacked up price, Nate you crook.”

“You foolin’ Joe? He eyed Meg warily. “You Cartwright boys always did find the pretty ones…”

“The pretty ones and the smart ones!”Meg sassed back quickly. She patted Eric’s back as he fell asleep in Joe’s strong arms. The boy rested his face on Joe’s broad shoulder and closed his eyes contentedly.

Joe laughed.” Want to put your money where your mouth is? My wife can pick out the best stock in your corral Nate.”

“Fifty dollars, Joe.”

”Fifty dollars, Nate!” Joe shifted Eric to his left arm and shook Bonner’s dirty hand firmly.

“Sure Joe. Mrs. Cartwright. You just go right ahead. How’s about that one over there?” Bonner pointed to a black horse standing near them just on the other side of the fence.

Meg stepped forward to get closer look at the corral fence.

“Oh no. This horse has been blistered on this side to match up the lame leg on the other. Nate here didn’t want it limping and it’s pretty hard to limp on two bad legs.”

Bonner was shocked that she spotted that so easily at a distance.

“I would say the best piece of horse flesh here is that stallion over there on the other side. Look how he holds his head. There is a lot of spirit there.  I think I would offer you $500 and you would settle for $550. So why don’t we not waste time and you can take $400. I’ll just deduct the bet you lost off the cash I will give you. And throw in that sorrel mare and the buckskin and Mr. Cartwright will give you another…shall we say $400. That is eight hundred in total for all of them. And the little colt over there too. Take it or leave.  “

Bonner stood there with his mouth open and nodded.

“Nate, better shut your jaw or a fly will buzz down your damn throat and choke the fool life out of you,” Joe chuckled. “Not that anyone would come to your funeral unless it was to kick the coffin to make sure you were really dead and not just passed out drunk,”

”Dang, Mrs. Cartwright if you don’t beat all.”

”And she is pretty too!” Joe smiled at his wife proudly. “The prettiest woman in Virginia City. The prettiest woman the whole state.”

For and instant Eric woke up and patted Megs arm. “Meggie?” She automatically reached up and rubbed his back until he fell back asleep on Joe’s shoulder.

“She told you I got the prettiest and smartest wife in Nevada,” Joe bragged. “Think you can bring the horse around the Ponderosa on your way out?”

Nate nodded.” You sure better take real good care of this lady, Joe or you be a bigger fool than I thought.”
Joe laughed so loudly that Eric woke up again. The boy looked at Bonner’s laughing face and hid his own sleepy face in his uncle’s shirt.

 “Uncle Joe,” he whispered and rested his chubby cheek against his uncle’s neck.

“You got yourself a good one,” Bonner smiled admiringly at Meg.

“No need to tell me Nate, I know it.” Joe grinned.

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