Brothers Help Brothers

By Tennessee

Hoss and Little Joe were riding to school when two boys stopped them. They said their names were JJ and JR; they were new at school. They jumped in front of Hoss' and Little Joe's horses.

Hoss said, "Let us pass."

"No, Hoss. You took up for some kids at school we were picking on and now we're gonna show you who's the boss of the school. It ain't you Cartwrights."

Little Joe knew they were in trouble. JJ and JR were almost as big as Hoss. "Please let us pass," he said.

"You can pass, Little Joe," they said. "But not him."

Little Joe said, "He is my brother and I won't leave him alone with you."

JJ pulled Little Joe off his horse and JR spooked Hoss' horse. When his horse jumped Hoss fell off. The brothers kept hitting Hoss and Little Joe.

Adam rode up and saw what was going on. He jumped off his horse to help his brothers. He got JJ off Little Joe and dropped him on the ground. Then Adam got JR off of Hoss, punched him, and JR fell to the ground too.

Adam helped Hoss and Little Joe onto their horses after he fetched them; the horses had run away when the fighting started. Adam knew Hoss and Little Joe were hurt bad. He needed to get them home.

When Adam saw the house he reassured his brothers, "We're almost home. You're going to be all right." He yelled for help. "Pa! Hop Sing!"

They both came running. "What happened?" demanded Ben.

"Two boys jumped them."

They helped Hoss and Little Joe into the house. Hoss' eye was bruising and he clutched his ribs. Little Joe had a cut on his face, bruises on his legs, and one black eye.

"Hoss," Ben said. "Can you explain this to me?"

"Pa, two boys at school were picking on some little kids the other day. I stopped them and they got mad about that, I guess. They jumped us on our way to school. They told Little Joe to go on but he would not leave me. So they beat him up too."

"What are their names?"

"They call themselves JJ and JR."

Ben turned to Hop Sing. "Take care of them. I'm going to town."

"I'm coming too, Pa," Adam said. "I saw the boys."

"Ok, son. Let's go."

Adam pointed out the spot where he'd come upon the fight when they passed it. They rode on to town and went to the schoolroom.

"Hello," the teacher said, surprised.

"Two boys from the school attacked Hoss and Little Joe on their way to school. Do you see them Adam?"

"Yes, Pa," Adam said as he pointed to JJ and JR. The two boys tried to run but quickly stopped when they saw their father in the doorway.

"You two forgot your lunches," Mr. White said."

The teacher stepped toward them. "Your sons have been in some trouble this morning, Mr. White. They beat up the Cartwright boys on their way to school."

Mr. White glared at his sons. "You two get in the wagon now." He turned to Ben. "I'll take care of those two when we get home. I'm so sorry." He left the school.

Ben and Adam went home, eager to make sure Hoss and Joe were ok.

"How are they?" Ben asked as he walked in the door.

"They be fine with rest," Hop Sing said.

Ben and Adam went to check on them. Ben sat on the edge of Joe's bed. "You boys stood up for each other," he said.

Hoss said, "If Adam hadn't of shown up we would have been in big trouble."

Adam smiled and replied, "Brothers help brothers."

Everyone smiled, and a few days later Hoss and Little Joe were back in school. So were JJ and JR, but they never said anything more to Hoss and Joe.

That night in bed Little Joe called, "I'm sure glad you two are my brothers."

Hoss and Adam both said, "We're glad you're our brother too, Little Joe."

The End