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It had been five years since Emily’s death, but it seemed much longer to Adam Cartwright. Being a father of three triplets kept him on his toes most of the time. As a matter of fact the three five year olds kept the whole house on their toes.
Since the birth of his children, Adam had taken over all of the books of the Ponderosa. He wanted to spend as much time with his children as he could and he didn’t want anyone else outside the family to see their first smiles, giggles, and the first step. Adam knew with the support of his father, brothers, and Hop Sing they could raise these children up without a hitch.
AJ, was very inquisitive, he looked in everything, around everything, under everything, and even took things apart. Jeb on the other hand was more into causing a little bit of trouble. He liked to hide, run, and make messes, in other words, a typical boy. Beth was a daddy’s girl and loved to be read too. She loved to have a bedtime story, at naptime story, a bath story, any time anywhere, she wanted a story.
The skies over the Ponderosa were becoming dark as a storm was moving down from the mountains. Adam was finishing up the end of the month books so maybe he could have a trouble free weekend with nothing to do but his daily chores and playing with his children.
The rest of the family should be home soon for dinner and Adam knew that the quiet time would be over for the day until bedtime. By the time that the children were ready to take a nap Adam always seemed to feel like he had been on a trail drive for about a week nonstop.
The wind was picking up as Ben, Hoss, and Joe rode into the yard. Dismounting Joe turned his head towards the house, "Seems awful quiet doesn’t it?"
"Yeah I wonder if the kids have ole Adam and Hop Sing hog tied?" Hoss chuckled as he dismounted Chub and led him to the barn.
"Boys, give your brother and Hop Sing some credit. It’s not easy raising one baby at a time little lone three of them." Handing the reins of Buck to Joe. "Be a good number three son, and take care of my horse please." Ben threw Joe a wink and a grin and Joe gave that little smirk that only Joe can give. The boys took to bedding down the horses while Ben went to the house, brushing the dust off his trousers with his hat.
Adam came walking out of the study into the great room as Ben opened the door. Adam was startled, he had been so engrossed in what he had been doing with the inventory that he didn’t hear his family ride up. "Pa, you scared me to death."
Chuckling and hanging his hat on the hat rack, Ben replied with a smirk on his face, "Sorry son," Ben unstrapped his gun and placed it on the side bar nicely rolled, "what were you working so diligently on that you couldn’t hear three horses riding up?"
Adam leaned his strong muscular right arm against the wall, "Inventory Pa, I wanted to get everything done so I would have a free weekend to spend with the kids."
Ben walked over to Adam and put his hand on Adam’s left shoulder and slapped Adam on the back with the other, "Well, son, that is a job within itself when they are on a roll." Ben smirked. Adam just nodded his head because he knew his father was 100% right.
Chapter 2 "Daddyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…" The high pitched sound came from Beth who was running as hard as she could from the down stairs bedroom, that the Cartwrights had made into a playroom. "Daddyyyyyyyyy." Beth came running from around the study desk and knelt down and she ran straight to his arms which she wrapped her little arms around his neck. "Beth what is wrong sweetheart?" Her big brown eyes were as big as a twenty dollar gold piece. "Da-d-d-y…um..AJ…" she is hiccuping from crying so hard, " umm..AJ…he hitted me." She buried her face in his shoulder and kept on crying.
Adam ran his hands through her long black hair and tried to comfort her. "Sshhh…It’s ok…Where did AJ hit you?" Can you show me?" She nodded her little head that she could. She backed up and showed Adam this little scratch on her lower leg by pulling up her dress. "Well, how did he do that?" Adam asked trying to be serious because the scratch was so small that he could barely see it. "He ahh AJ um he …hit my knee wits his boot." Adam picked her up, "well, lets go in there and tell him that isn’t nice, shall we?" Beth nodded, "pank him daddy."
In the bedroom the two boys were busy playing with their toy horses and soldiers. Walking in Adam noticed that the boys were playing nicely and figured there was more to this story then what he had heard but getting the truth may not be the easiest thing to do with five year olds. "AJ, did you hit your sister with your boot?" Adam set Beth down on the bed. He then squatted down in front of AJ waiting for a reply. "Well, AJ, did you?" With his head down looking at the soldier that he was holding in his hand AJ nodded yes. Adam took his hand and lifted AJ’s little chin up so Adam was looking his son in the eye. "why did you do that?"
"Ah, Daddy, she wanted me to play dolls with her and I don’t wanna play sissy tuff…I told her no and she hit me with her doll." Adam looked over at Beth. She hung her head and said, "justa small hit daddy." Adam tried to hide the grin that was creeping in. "Well, I think that you two need to sit in the corner for 5 minutes." Jeb looked at his brother and then threw a glance at his sister and started grinning. Because he usually is the one that is sitting in a corner or getting a spanking. This was a relief. "Come on." Adam stood up and took AJ and Beth by the hand and led them into the great room. "Go get your stools." Solemnly AJ and Beth walked over by the fireplace and each picked up their stools and brought them over to the grandfather’s clock that stood tall and proud by the front door. The children put their stools down one on each side of the clock and sat down with their little noses right in the corner that the clock provided as it sat against the wall.
"No talking. Understood?" Adam asked in the sternest voice he could muster. They both nodded their heads.
Chapter 3 Ben had been upstairs cleaning up when all the excitement downstairs happened. So, he was surprised when he came down the stairs and saw his two grandchildren on their stools sitting in the corner.
Hearing his father coming down the stairs Adam looked over at him and Ben gestured and mouthed, "What happened?" Adam walked over to his father and told him the whole story and all Ben could do was smirk, because in his mind he could see Hoss and Joe doing the same kind of thing.
Jeb came walking out of the playroom with his slingshot. "Daddy can I sling my shot please?" Jeb asked while pulling the slingshot back and aiming at the ceiling. "Well, son do you remember the rules for the slingshot?" Adam questioned. "Uh huh…don’t point at anyone or animals…don’t shoot it at windows or house." Jeb puts his finger to his lips and looks up at Adam, "dat’s it." Adam gives him a pat on the back, "you are right son. Have fun and be careful." Jeb ran for the door, "thanks." Out the door went leaving it standing open. "Shut the door!" Adam yelled after him. Jeb ran back, "Sorry." He grabbed the door handle and pulled it closed with a bang.
Joe and Hoss were walking to the house as Jeb ran right between them. They both turned to see what the whirl wind was that just blew past them. "Dad burn Little Joe, wonder why he’s in such an all fired hurry?" They just shook their heads and headed in the house.
"You may get up now, put your stools up and you may go outside with your brother." Adam announced as Joe and Hoss walked in the door. AJ and Beth picked up their stools and put them up and quietly walked to the door and headed outside.
Chapter 4 The next couple of days had ran rather smoothly. No major problems, the weekend was coming and Adam was making plans for a camping trip with the children. Adam knew exactly where he was going to take them. To the prettiest spot on the Ponderosa, well as far as Adam was concerned.
Out in the barn the kids were playing. AJ opened up the door to the storeroom and moved the cobwebs out of the way and went in. Beth and Jeb look on. "AJ don’t go in there it’s icky." Beth crunched up her nose. "oh, come on ya scaredy cat." Jeb said as he pulled her along. Inside the room was all kinds of things to intrigue children, there was fishing poles hanging on the wall with a fish basket. There was a trunk sitting in the floor covered with dust. "looky here, wonder what’s in it?" AJ pondered. "Open it AJ." Jeb coaxed. "No AJ we is gonna get in trouble lets go." Beth begged.
AJ blew the dust off of the lid of the trunk and slowly opened it. Three pairs of eyes were peering down inside the trunk to see some women’s clothes and a book with photographs in it. They took the book and as they started to open it up their father walked through the door. "What are you three up to?" All three jumped when they heard Adam’s voice. "Ah nothing…just lookin’." AJ tried to explain. "Well, let’s see what all you found." Adam walked over to the trunk and squatted down to look in. He pulled out the album and started turning the pages. Beth and her brothers all huddled around Adam to see what was in the album. Memories started to flow in Adam’s mind as he turned the pages. "Who is that daddy?" Beth was pointing her finger at one of the pictures. "That? That is your uncle Joe when he was a baby." Adam pointed to another picture on the other page. "That is your uncle Hoss." AJ whistled, "boy he was a big baby too." Adam chuckled and turned the page. Adam’s eyes started to dampen with the picture on the next page. It was a picture of Elizabeth, his mother. "Who’s that lady dad?" Jeb asked. Adam ran his fingers gently over the picture. "This woman is my mother." Adam looked at his children, "your grandmother." Adam ran his hand through Beth’s hair, "and you are named after her also, Elizabeth."
Adam explained to them that his mother died also after giving him life and that he understands how they feel because he has been there also.
Chapter 5 It is the day before the camping trip and the kids are so excited that it is becoming clear that this day was going to be a long day and Adam didn’t know how long until he was awakened by his three children jumping in the middle of his bed. "Daddy, get up, lets get ready for our trip!" Jeb yelled. The other two chimed in, "yeah get up daddy." They all started jumping on his bed. Laughing Adam said, "ok ok I am up."
The children were done with breakfast by the time Adam got up and around. All Adam really wanted for breakfast was a cup of coffee. Ben, Hoss and Joe were still eating breakfast when Adam sat down at the table. Ben poured him some coffee, "Want some coffee son?" "Thanks Pa, I sure do need a cup this morning."
"How did you sleep big brother?" Joe asked while grinning at Ben and Hoss. "Slept fine…it’s just that waking up part that disturbed me." Adam answered in between sips of coffee. "Dare I ask what my children are doing and where are they doing it at?"
"Well, AJ is in the play room organizing what is going to happen on your camping trip and that includes pictures we were told." Ben answered. "I think he wants a schedule." Hoss chimed in. "Oh no…"Joe spoke up with wide eyes looking at his oldest brother. "I knew there would be one of them that would end up like you." Everyone started laughing, as Adam took his napkin and popped Joe on the arm.
"Where is Beth?" Adam asked.
Hoss knew the answer to this one. "Now she took her baby and dishes and went to have a picnic in the front yard since she has to be away from her baby this weekend." Hoss looked over at Joe, "and I do believe that Uncle Joe is baby sitting the baby." Everyone chuckled while Joe voiced his disapproval of that. "Not me, I don’t do baby sitting of dolls.
"Well that takes care of two of them, what about the last one?" Adam asked.
"Oh I know where Jeb is. He is doing something special for us since he is going to be gone for the weekend. Boy Adam I am sure glad that you are only going to be gone for two days because these kids would be going nuts. They think they are going to be gone for months I think." Joe answered laughing.
"Oh man that scares me." Taking the last drink of his coffee Adam looked at Ben. "With Jeb." Ben raised his cup as to toast or as to say ‘oh how well I know’.
Chapter 6 In the barn Jeb was trying to figure out something nice he could do for his uncles and grandpa since they had to stay home and he was going to get to go camping with his daddy. He looked around the barn and all of a sudden the idea popped into his head.
"I can take care of Uncle Joe’s and Uncle Hoss’s horse and grandpa’s horse to." Jeb got the brush and curry comb and started trying to brush down Cochise. There was one problem though. He couldn’t reach past the horse’s legs so he looked around and found a empty grain barrel and moved it over to Cochise, climbed up and started to his work again. "Ah Cochise this is better." After working feverishly for about 10 minutes Jeb decided that Joe would probably like a solid colored horse so he decided that he would paint Cochise’s white parts black. "yeah that would be a surprise for Uncle Joe." Jeb jumped off the barrel and went to the storage room and retrieved the can of black paint that had been used on the outhouse door.
Within ten minutes Jeb had Cochise painted up. It was a perfect job for a five year old. Not only was there paint on the horse there was also paint on him. Actually there was more paint on Jeb then there was on the horse. "There ya go Cochise, now ya look like the other horses."
Jeb walked over to Chub and patted him on the side. "I know just the thing for you Chub." Jeb went and got his barrel and the mane clippers. He jumped up on the barrel and grabbed a hold of the mane between Chub’s ears and whacked it off. After all Jeb thought Uncle Hoss has a bald spot so his horse should have one too. Jeb jumped off the barrel and headed toward Buck but was stopped by AJ who had entered the barn to see what his brother could possibly be doing.
"Jeb! What are ya doin’?" AJ yelled.
"Shhh I wanna it to be a surprise." Jeb smiled. AJ just shook his head and muttered under his breath, "It’s gonna be a surprise all right."
Jeb was happy in his work and was ready to show his family what he had done for them. "AJ will you go get Uncle Joe and Uncle Hoss?"
With a big smile on his face AJ replied, "Sure." AJ headed to the house he stopped by where Beth was playing, "Hey sis, you gotta see what Jeb has done."
"Whatta he do AJ?" Beth asked while fixing the hair on her doll.
"I gotta get Uncle Joe and Uncle Hoss then you will see it." AJ ran into the house. "Uncle Joe, Uncle Hoss, Jeb wants ta see ya in the barn."
Everyone looks at the excited AJ. With his mouth full Hoss asked, "what does he need I’m eatin’ breakfast?" Hoss continued chewing.
"You are always eating." Joe put his napkin beside his empty plate. "Come on Hoss." Joe got up and headed for the door with Hoss mumbling behind him still chewing the last of his breakfast.
"We better check this out too Pa." Adam suggested drinking the last swig of coffee in his cup. Ben nodded, because he knew that out of all his grandchildren, Jeb, was most likely up to something. Adam and Ben followed Joe and Hoss outside. Everyone was filing past Beth, "Where ya goin? I wanna go? What’s goin’ on?" Adam grabbed her up in a swoosh. "I don’t have a clue darlin’ but lets find out. Shall we?"
Jeb stood at the barn door with a smile on his face as big as the sierra. "Hurry up!" Jeb ran up to his uncles and grabbed them by the hand and started to pull them faster into the barn. All they could do was smile because Jeb was always excited.
When they entered the barn they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. A PAINTED paint horse and a mane less horse! "JOSEPH ERIC BENJAMIN CARTWRIGHT!" Hoss and Joe screamed at the same time. That was the signal to Adam and Ben to pick up the pace. When Adam and Ben entered the barn they found Joe walking around Cochise shaking his head and whispering to his horse, "boy what has he done to you?" Joe patted Cochise and needless to say the paint was still wet and came off on his hand. "Ya don’t like it Uncle Joe?" Jeb asked in a trembling voice. "I thought you would like to have a horse like everyone else’s." Jeb was in tears now because he thought he had done something so wonderful and his uncles were mad at him.
Adam and Ben couldn’t say anything because they were awe struck. Beth, however, thought Cochise looked good all one color and Chub had a really nice haircut. She knew better then to voice her opinion she just thought it too her self. AJ thought to himself that maybe he should start a journal as soon as he learned how to right so he could write down all the stupid stuff his brother did!
"Jeb, what were you thinking?" Adam asked as he handed Beth to Ben and walked over to Jeb. Jeb looked at the ground. "son, look at me when I am talking to you." Jeb looked up and it seemed like he was looking 20 feet up at his father’s stern look. "What on heavens earth did you think you were doing? Why would you do such a thing?" Big tears the size of Lake Tahoe came streaming down Jeb’s face. Adam knelt down in front of his son and placed his hands on Jeb’s shoulders. Adam spoke softly now, "You can tell me son, why did you do it?" With his head down Jeb was sobbing. "I was a tryin’ to do sompin’ nice since we was a gonna be gone for the campin’ trip and I wanted Uncle Joe and Hoss to think bout me."
Hoss knelt down beside his brother and nephew, "buddy," Hoss took a hold of Jeb’s hand "we NEVER could not think about you. You are our nephew and we think of all of you kids all the time. Son," Hoss looked at Adam as to get his approval to go on. Adam nodded, "Joe, grandpa, your daddy and me have you in our hearts and minds all the time." Jeb looked up at his uncle, "really?" With a big smile Hoss answered, "of course buddy." Hoss lifted Jeb’s chin with his big gentle hand in order to look the boy in the eye, "Lets face it Jeb how could we forget about you!" Hoss chuckled.
"That’s right Jeb, we will be here for you forever." Joe threw a glance over at his poor horse and then back to Jeb, "through painted horses and all."
Jeb looked around at everyone as his tears started to slow and when his eyes met back up with his fathers he knew everything was going to be all right, or, so he thought. "Guess we can git ready to go campin’ now then, huh?" He asked questionably. Adam just stared at him. "aren’t we daddy?" This was one of the hardest things that Adam had ever done but he knew that he had to do it. Adam glanced at AJ, Beth and then to his father for the strength to tell Jeb that he wouldn’t be going on the camping trip with his brother and sister. Ben just nodded and thought to himself the times he had to do something like his eldest was having to do now and how hard it was. "Jeb, you won’t be going on the camping trip with us." The tears started to flow once again. "B-b-but daddy, Uncle Hoss and Uncle Joe said it was all right and they still loved me and …" Jeb managed to get out in between the sobs. "Son, of course they still love you. We all love you, love doesn’t enter into this. You did something wrong and you have to be punished for it. So, you will be staying here this weekend helping your Uncle Joe get the paint off Cochise. Then you can spend the rest of the weekend in your room thinking about why you are not on the camping trip with us." Adam had a hard time keeping the tears back himself. Jeb pushed Adam’s hands off his shoulders. "I know why cuz YOU don’t want me goin’ with ya cuz I am bad and you don’t love me. Well, I HATE YOU!" Jeb ran out of the barn crying and head toward the house. Adam shot up from his kneeling position and headed out after him but Ben grabbed his arm.
"Son, don’t, let him have some time." Adam watched as Jeb ran into the house and slammed the door. "Son, you did the right thing." Ben tried to console with soft words and a pat on Adam’s shoulder. Adam couldn’t look at his father because he didn’t want Ben to see the tears welding up in his eyes. Adam nodded that he knew he had done right. "Well," Adam turned to face his father, "it might be right but it sure as hell hurts." Adam walked to the house.
AJ and Beth watched their father walk into the house and then they went to the porch. Ben looked to the boys and started to follow his grandchildren. "Better try to smooth things over with them." Joe and Hoss nodded.
CHAPTER 7 "Dad, we don’t haveta go camping. It’s ok?" AJ interjected. Adam knelt down in front of the children. "Look, kids, if either of you had done that you wouldn’t be going on the trip either." Adam patted AJ on the knee. "Ok? Lets go camping!" "But Daddy, Jeb said he hated you and I don’t know if’n we should go because you are going to be sad because he said that." Beth declared. She was trying to make a statement and Adam knew that but he had to try to convince them that they by going they were helping Jeb not to make the same mistake again. "Yes, Beth he said that. But he didn’t mean it. He is just mad. I understand that." He looked at both of them in the eye, "you know how I understand?" they both shook their heads no. "Because," Adam continued, "I’ve been there and done that. And you know something else, I never really meant it when I said it either." Adam didn’t know if he was trying more to convince himself of what he was saying or trying to convince them. "Daddy?" "Yes Beth?" I’ll go put my jeans on now." She jumped out of the chair and threw her arms around Adam and gave him a big hug. "love you daddy." "Love you too pumpkin." With that Beth ran in and changed her clothes.
"AJ you better go and tell your uncles and grandpa bye while I go and tell your brother bye." "okay, dad." AJ started to run to the barn and stopped and turned back to Adam who was watching him and grinning. "Love ya dad." "Love you too son."
Adam gently knocked on Jeb’s door and then opened it. Jeb was sitting on the floor on the far side of the bed. All his stuff for the camping trip was thrown on the bed and on the floor. Adam surveyed the room and slowly started to walk around the bed. "Jeb?" No answer. "Jeb? Can I talk to ya for a minute?" Jeb never moved or looked at Adam. Adam sat down on the bed. He bent down and rested his elbows on his knees and looked at his son. There were a few minutes of silence and then finally Adam started the conversation. "son, I just wanted to say good-bye and I love ya." Adam reached out to rub his son’s head and Jeb pulled away. "son, I am sorry but I had to do it. You have to learn that you can’t do things like that. I know that you thought you were doing something nice for your uncles, but son, painting a horse is just something that you should have known better then to do." Jeb got up and walked to the window and was watching his brother and sister outside in the yard. "Daddy, I am really sorry, why can’t I go I won’t do it again." Adam walked over to the window and turned his son around to face him. "I’m sorry son you can go the next time." Adam leaned down to give Jeb a kiss on the forehead. Jeb pulled away, "I really do hate you! I hope you never come back!" Jeb pushed past Adam and jumped on the bed crying.
Adam was totally hurt to the bottom of his heart. He turned and looked at his son and wanted so much to touch him and hold him but he knew he just had to go. As Adam got to the door and started to walk out he turned and looked at Jeb, "I love you son, see you in a couple of days." Adam closed the door and leaned up against the door and threw his head back against fighting back the urge to run back in there and grab Jeb and take him camping.
CHAPTER 8 It was a beautiful day for a ride. The temperature was wonderful, there was a small breeze that gently moved the leaves on the trees as the trio reached the area they were going to camp for the weekend. It was a beautiful clearing next to the lake with crystal clear water gently coming into the bank. This was the same place that Adam had brought his younger brothers right before he headed east to go to college. This had been his favorite spot since they had came to the Nevada territory.
Beth looked all around "Daddy, is this where we is gonna camp?"
Adam dismounted Sport, "Yes, pumpkin, it is." Adam went over to help Beth down from her pony, Ginger. But he was too late Beth had already jumped off Ginger and was heading towards the water. "Be careful, Beth, you might fall in and you know you can’t swim yet." "I will." Beth ran to the water’s edge and was throwing pebbles in the water.
AJ dismounted off his pony, Scout. "This is sure a purty place Dad." "yes, son it sure is. Why don’t you come on over here and help get things set up." Adam suggested as he took his saddle off Sport. "OKAY."
Things at the house was not going quite as good as it was going at the lake. Joe, Hoss, and Ben were all having a hard time. It was not easy to see Jeb so unhappy. They all knew it had to be done, but the feeling was mutual that they didn’t want to be in this situation again. This was definitely a father thing not a grandpa and uncle thing. Even Hop Sing tried to make Jeb fell better by making his favorite dinner, fried chicken, dumplings, mashed potatoes and chocolate pie for lunch!
Hop Sing sat the table and called everyone to the table. "wunch is ready Mr. Cartlight. Fixed sompin pecial for number 3 grandson." Joe and Hoss was still in the barn working on the painted horse. "Hop Sing would you please tell Joe and Hoss lunch and I will get number 3 grandson." Hop Sing nodded in agreement.
Upstairs Ben stood outside the door for a minute getting up the courage to go in. After all everyone knows that the love for the grandchild is different from your child and even though you stand behind the discipline decision of the child’s parent you are really thinking, ‘how could he do that to his son?’ Even though if it were you and your son did it you would have done exactly the same thing. Ben gave a quick knock on the door and slowly opened it. "Son, lunch is ready. Come on down and eat. Hop Sing fixed your favorite." Jeb was curled up on the bed. "Papa, I don’t wanna eat, I is mad." Ben sat down on the bed. "Jeb, there is Chocolate Pie and if you don’t get down there to get your share your Uncle Hoss will have it gone in one bite." Jeb sat up, "ain’t that da truth but Papa I just don’t wanna eat." Ben sighed, this was gonna be harder then he had thought. The chocolate pie he was sure would have worked. Well, another approach was going to have to be used. "Joseph Eric Benjamin you are going down for lunch. If you don’t want to eat, that is fine but you will come and sit at the table with the rest of us." Ben was standing over Jeb now and Jeb knew the tone and decided he would go down but he wasn’t going to eat.
Chapter 9 Adam and the kids had just got back to the campsite with their lunch. They had been fishing and had a good time. Adam was trying to have a good time for the sake of AJ and Beth, but his mind get flashing back to those words that Jeb had said, ‘I hate you!’ Adam knew that there were going to be times when his children and him would be at odds, it happens in the best of families and the Cartwrights were no different.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Beth held up the fish she had caught. Adam snapped back to the reality standing in front of him. "We gonna eat it now?" Adam smiled and knelt down in front of her, "Yep, just as soon as I get them cleaned." "Dad, can’t I help ya? AJ had his pocket knife out and was ready to start cleaning his fish. "I got my knife." AJ pulled the blade out. Now, Adam knew that cleaning a fish with that pocket knife was going to take some time and he was pretty sure that there might not be much left of the fish but AJ had to learn so, "Well, son you better get started then and I will get some firewood and get the fire ready."
"I’ll have ‘em done when ya get back." AJ grabbed up the fish and started to work.
"Come on sweetie, help me gather some wood." He put his hand out to take Beth’s but she still had her fish. "Honey, give the fish to your brother so he can clean them." She looked up at him with a quizzical look on her face. "But I wanna do mine too." "Well, Beth, I need some help with the wood, if your brother isn’t done when we get back then I will help you clean your fish, ok? But I really need some help." Beth gave the fish to her brother reluctantly. "Ok daddy, I will help you."
Beth took hold of Adam’s hand. "Thank you Beth." They headed out to find some firewood. Adam wasn’t going to go far because he wanted to be able to keep tabs on AJ just in case there was a problem.
Chapter 10 Things at the Ponderosa was not going to well, Cochise was under going quite a grooming. It was good that the paint had not dried when they started.
"Uncle Joe I is really sorry about this, I didn’t know dat I shouldn’t do that." Jeb was currying Cochise.
Joe, who was on the other side of Cochise walked around to Jeb. "Jeb it is ok. Just don’t do it again." Joe rustled Jeb’s hair. "It’s not good for a horse."
"I didn’t know dat. I was only trying to do sompin nice. How was I posed to know that it wasn’t good?" Jeb had started crying. Joe took the curry comb out of Jeb’s hand and picked him up. "Well, buddy ya sometimes just got to ask questions to find things out." Joe was not sure he was going to be able to explain this to his nephew but he knew that if something didn’t get worked out where Jeb could understand this was going to be a long weekend.
"But if’n I had a asked the question then you’d known what I was tryin to do and it wouldn’t been a surprise." Jeb was right and Joe knew it. Now how to explain it to him. Where was is brother or father when he needed them. "that is true Jeb, but … well… ok, lets think of it this way. If you had asked the question and we said it wasn’t a good idea then you would not have done it and you wouldn’t be in trouble and be here…you would be camping. Ain’t that right?"
Jeb laid is head on his uncle’s shoulder and cried. "yeah I guess." Jeb answered through the tears. "you guess?" Joe asked. "I couldn’t have still went campin’…it was a mistake." Jeb raised his head and looked at his uncle. "He hates me…cuz he would have tooken me with him…" "Jeb…." Joe was cut off. Jeb started kicking to get down. Joe tried to hold him but decided maybe that wasn’t the right thing to do so he put him down. "I ain’t as smart as AJ and Beth and Daddy…I am dumb!" Jeb screamed as he ran out of the barn and into the house and ran passed his grandpa and up the staires. Joe ran in behind him.
"What in the world is wrong now?" Ben asked his out of breath son. Joe bent over putting in hands on his knees. "Pa, you aren’t gonna believe it when I tell ya." "Well, I will be the judge of that." Hoss came out of the kitchen with a sandwich.
"What is goin’ on in here." Hoss inquired while taking a big bite out of his sandwich.
Ben looked at Joe with a raised eyebrow. "Well Joseph?" Joe sat down on the settee and began the whole story. By the time the family had finished discussing what to do. The fire in the fireplace had died down and it was time for supper.
Ben knew that he needed to talk to the boy but the problem was between him and his father and could only be fixed by him and his father. It was almost time for dinner so Ben decided that he would wait and see how things went for dinner and then he would have to handle whatever happened then.
"Hoss, would you go up and get your nephew for dinner please. He needs to get cleaned up before dinner." Hoss nodded and headed up stairs. Hoss lightly knocked on the door and opened it to find Jeb fast asleep on the bed. Hoss quietly walked across to the bed and took Jeb’s boots off of him and covered him up with a blanket. Hoss stood for a moment and looked at the dark hair little boy sleeping so peacefully. ‘How could you think anyone didn’t love you son?’ Hoss thought to himself. He took his huge but gentle hand and brushed the hair from Jeb’s face over to the side. He then bent down and gave him a little kiss on the boy’s forehead. "Sleep tight little buddy." Hoss walked out the door and quietly closed it.
Chapter 11 Dusk had fallen on the campsite and dinner there was just finishing up. Everything had been going very very smoothly. "AJ, I didn’t tell you what a fine job you did on cleaning all those fish." Actually Adam had only showed him once how to clean a fish and assumed that he would have to come back and try to figure out how to save the fish meat so they would have something to eat besides hard tack. To Adam’s surprise though everything was fine and to think he did it with his little old pocket knife.
"Thanks Dad, I just remembered what you teached me." "Ummmm son, don’t you mean taught you?" "Dad, that is what I said you taught me." Adam had to grin, "oh, okay son, my mistake."
Beth was snuggling up to Adam she was so tired. All she wanted to do was go to sleep. Adam gathered her up in his arms and stroked her hair as she laid her head on his shoulder. Adam started humming very softly and she snuggled down and was fast asleep in ten minutes. Adam got her put to bed and began getting the camp ready for the night.
When the fire was stoked and the rest of the bed rolls fixed Adam and AJ propped themselves up against a tree. Adam was taking in the breath taking view of the stars and the reflection of the stars on the lake. His mind was wondering to his son back home. ‘Wonder what Jeb is doing right now.’ ‘Does he really hates me?’ ‘How am I going to win back his love?’ Adam was so engrossed in his own thoughts he didn’t even realize that AJ was watching every move he made and was mimicking him. When Adam did notice out of the corner of his eye he had to smile.
AJ, was the one that wanted to dress like his dad, talk like his dad, do everything like his dad.
Adam picked up a piece of grass and stuck it in the corner of his mouth and slowly twirled it around with his fingers. It didn’t take AJ long to grab him a piece and do the exact same thing. Adam crossed his right leg over his left and so did his shadow. Adam took a deep breath and let it out really fast and of course little Adam did the same. This went on for awhile until Adam couldn’t take it anymore and threw his arm around AJ and pulled him tight to him and gave him a big hug. "Love you son." "Love you too, Dad." AJ and Adam fell asleep leaned up against the tree together. They were heading home tomorrow afternoon and Adam dreamed of seeing Jeb. Although it had only been a half a day it seemed like an eternity. He knew that he didn’t want to be separated from any of his children ever again.
At the ranch everything was quiet. All the Cartwrights were asleep. Or were they? What will Adam and the children find when they get home? What kind of reception will Adam get from Jeb? Stay tuned to your computer for the next installment.
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