High Stakes Poker

By BJ Carter

PG for a few 4-letter words and talk about the ladies of the evening

Once again I thank you for the use of your characters, without whom we would have no joy, fun, or outlets to our imagination.

The night was very dark only a slight sliver of moon was shining down as the small man slowly slipped through the edge of town and into the alley where he left a horse tied. Slowly with the reflexes of a cat he moved down the alley to the back of the hotel. There was a staircase leading up to a back door, this would be the only exit on this side, couldn't let the paying customers leave without paying now could we. As he reached the top of the stairs, he found the door lock, should have know Jack Wolfe wouldn't let that exit exist. He moved over the edge of the bannister and started inching his way down the ledge under the windows.

A larger man could not have made it but he was able to move down the edge past each open window with very little effort. The warm weather was a plus, all the windows were open. He could hear what was going on inside each one, not the words that were being said, but it was quite obvious what was happening in the rooms. The ladies were earning their money this evening.

Finally he reached the last window, he could hear sobbing in the room, "Su-lee", he whispered, no answer, "Su-lee" he was only slightly louder this time. Still no answer, but the crying stopped. Quickly he went in. The room was dark, the only light came from under the doorway. He scanned the room, adjusting to the dark. There she was on the bed, her hands above her, tied to the bedstead, her mouth had a gag in it. He moved over and sat down on the edge of the bed. The young girl pulled away as far as she could.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered, "I am here to take you from this place." She when recognized the man, as he untied her arms and took away the gag, she through her arms around him. "Uncle, it is good to see you, thank you," she said in the language she knew best, Chinese.

"We must hurry, men may come at any minute," he said as he picked her up from the bed, she was such a tiny thing he had no trouble carrying her to the window. "Go down the ledge and then the stairs, I will be behind you."

She started out, he was behind her, then she stopped, "My bundle, I must have it." she said. He quickly went back into the room, just as he found the bundle and grabbed it, a burst of light came into the room.

****

He is going to skin me alive, no doubt about it, come heck or high water, sure as the sun will come up tomorrow, he is going to skin me alive. Think, think, they say you have a great imagination, so think. Pirates, no, outlaws, no, snake, no, to dark, no if I were on time it wouldn't be dark, think Little Joe, you only have a few minutes 'til you are going to be face to face with Pa. Talking to himself only made him more nervous as he was riding toward home, THINK.

****

The man who opened the door was startled by someone in the dark room, this gave the small man the edge he needed. He bolted right for the man's midsection, and sent Jack Wolfe flying backwards into the well lit hall, and smacking the other side of the hall full force. Down he went with a thud. With the way cleared out the window the intruder went, he was happy to see that Su-lee was well on her way down the stairs, he hurried after her. As he reached the halfway mark on the stairs he went over the bannister and the two of them hurried to the horse he had left and freedom.

****

"He knows better than this," Ben Cartwright was saying to no one in particular as he was untangling harness lengths in the barn. He had just found two sets of harnesses piled up near one of the stall walls. "Looks like I will have to impress on him the value of certain items, and how to care for them, AGAIN."

"Pa are you going in to town tomorrow?" Adam asked as he entered the barn. He did not get an answer right away so he repeated his question.

"I heard you the first time, why do you need to know?" Ben barked back, as he pulled another strap free.

"You don't have to take my head off," Adam answered then he regretted it almost as soon as it came out of his mouth. Sassing Pa in this mood was never a good idea. But he relaxed when Pa answered back.

"Sorry, son, just a little preoccupied with this job at the moment, why do you ask?" he responded, "Oh, and have you seen Joseph lately?

O'boy, Joseph, that meant little brother was the cause of the wrath in Pa's voice.

"No, sir I haven't but I have been in the bunk room for about the last hour. I have a book that Aunt Ruth let me borrow, I finished it, though if you were going to town you would take it back for me, that's all."

"Was it a good one?" he asked.

"Yes, sir, about a sailor who found a mermaid. Did you ever find one while you were at sea?" he asked with a grin.

"No, the sailors who did that were usually under the influence of something else when they saw them," he answered also with a smile.

"If you see your little brother before I do, send him to me please."

"Yes, sir," he said and headed back to the house, it was getting dark and supper would be ready soon, where ever that little scamp was he better have a good excuse for being late, Pa didn't sound to happy with him already Adam was thinking as he walked back to the house.

Just as Little Joe came up to the ranch house he thought he saw someone go above all that it wasn't Pa. After all he knew he was in trouble for being late, meeting Pa in the woodshed was just courting trouble he didn't want.

Joe grabbed the handle on the door of the shed, and pulled it open. Wow, it wasn't Pa at all, it was Hopsing and a young Chinese girl. "What are you doing into the woodshed at the back of the house." As he dismounted he was sure he heard some noise back there too. He slowly walked to the back of the house, hoping. "Hopsing?" Joe asked, "Who is she?" "What are you doing back here?"

"If you will stop asking so many questions I will try to answer you," Hopsing said an quickly closed the door behind Little Joe.

"Here name is Su-lee, she is my niece, she has just arrived from China," he answered.

"Hey, that's great, but why are you hiding in the woodshed?" Joe was not about to run out of questions.

"Su-lee has got in some trouble, I had to take her from the hotel in the dark of night, she can not be found until I can find a solution to problem of her staying out of the hotel." he answered, "Do you understand Little Joe?"

"I am not as young as you think I am, why is she working for Jack Wolfe, anyway," Joe asked still not satisfied.

"She had not started to work for Mr. Wolfe, he had her locked in a room in the hotel, Su-lee was telling me as we rode to ranch, he was afraid she would run away, so he tied her in her room, she was also yelling and he was afraid she would scare off some of his customers, so he gagged her also."

"That's awful," Joe said, "wait till Pa hears this he will clobber Jack Wolfe for that, you just wait and see."

"No, Little Joe, we must not tell your father just now, I must have time to come up with solution to problem of getting her safe." Hopsing said as he grabbed Little Joe's arm and stopped him from running out the door to tell Pa.

"You mean we are going to keep her a secret from Pa?" he asked.

"A secret from everyone, please, just for a short time," he answered then he turned to Su-lee, "this is the son of the man I work for, his name is Little Joe and he is a friend," he said in Chinese.

"Can't she talk American like us?" Joe still with the questions asked.

"She can, but she is so frightened it is easier for me to talk to her in Chinese." Hopsing answered. "Now I must go in house and prepare supper, quickly, your father will be expecting it to be ready." "Please stay with her for a few minutes while I get her a blanket and something to drink and eat, then after family has gone to bed tonight, I can talk to her when she is calmer." Joe agreed, and as Hopsing was going out the door he promised not to say anything about Su-lee.

Hopsing did as he said he would and was in the kitchen working on supper when Little Joe walked into the house. Adam saw him come in, "No point in sitting down, little brother, Pa wants you in the barn as soon as you get here, besides no point in doing something you may not be able to do after you get back, now is there."

"Very funny, Adam, what are you talking about?" Joe asked.

"He is talking about you and me having a discussion in the barn, young man," Pa's voice came from behind Joe. Joe jumped about a foot off the ground, turned and looked up in his father's face. "Oh, hi Pa, what's wrong?" Joe asked, but not wanting to really know the answer.

"Where have you been, it is after dark, and supper is almost ready, you know you are not to be out after dark, and what is Paint doing just standing out there not in the barn where he is supposed to be? And speaking of the barn, why did I find two sets of harness on the ground all tangled up, I thought we had an understanding about that several months ago when Smoke was a puppy." Pa was finally running down.

"Ah, ah, ah, well Pa," Joe was thinking as fast as he could, all the time his backside was getting that tingling feeling that he was about to be bottom up in this conversation.

"Mr. Cartwright, Joe was with me in the woodshed, I called him to help me as he arrived home, he has not had an opportunity to put Paint in barn." Hopsing said to Pa.

"In the back with Hopsing, why didn't you say so son?" Pa asked.

"Well, Pa you really didn't give me a chance, but that is where I was alright," Joe said thank all the powers that be that Hopsing came to his rescue.

Pa started over to the table, stopped, and looked at Joe, "You will have all of supper time to think of a reason for the harnesses being down, we will take that subject up again after we eat, now go put Paint in the barn, and call Hoss to table."

Hoss was in the barn taking care of a new born calf whose mother was not doing well enough to let her nurse just yet. Joe came in with Paint, "Hoss, did you ever keep a secret from Pa?"

"Maybe some little ones, like the cats, but nothing big, I got my britches warmed up for that a long time ago and I decided it wasn't worth it to do it again, why?" he asked. "You keeping something from Pa?"

"Well, sort of, but it's something I swore I wouldn't tell, so doesn't that make it kind of like breaking a promise if I do tell him?"

"Sounds like you have got yourself in a pickle little brother, one I think I should stay out of, I kind of like sitting at the table for supper and enjoying it. It is supper time ain't it?"

"Yeah, Pa said to come on in, but you do agree that you can't break a promise, don't ya Hoss?" Joe whined.

"Oh, no, you ain't going to use me when Pa finds out what you are up to, you just leave me out of it, I ain't saying a word one way or the other."

"Now hurry up and put Paint up before Pa starts yelling for us."

That night as Joe lay in his bunk, thinking about Su-lee, he wondered what Hopsing was going to do with her and how she got in Jack Wolfe's hotel in the first place. Pa and made good on his promise to talk to him about the harnesses after supper, but managed to talk his way out of physical punishment this time by giving Pa his word of honor it wouldn't happen again. Two times this evening he had dodged the bullet, he did not have to explain why he was late, and the harness incident.

He wondered how long his luck would hold up, how long before Pa would be calling him Joseph again.

The next morning Joe was the first up and into the kitchen. Hopsing was busy with breakfast. "Did she tell you anything?" he whispered not knowing were his father might be.

"She told me a lot, but this is not the time to talk about it, you must get ready for school." Hopsing told him.

Wow, in all the excitement he had forgot, school was only going to be half a day today, and several of the boys had held that little bit of information away from their parents. That is why Joe had been late the day before. Some of the older boys had started teaching the younger ones to play poker. Joe knew that gambling was forbidden, but it didn't hurt to learn how to play a new game did it? The night before he had been winning. It had started with the nickel he found on the road to town. He now had thirty-two cents in his pocket, and could not wait to see if he could win more. Wendel, Jake, Sean, Aiden, and Billy Mac were all in on the game, and he couldn't wait. It also took his mind off of what was going on at home with Hopsing. Good 'ol Hopsing who had covered his butt the night before by saying he was with him.

Hopsing had kept Su-lee hidden very well through the morning. No one had any reason to go to the woodshed, until Hoss decided he needed a small block to whittle on to make a turning piece to hold the chicken coop door closed better.

"Hoss, where you think you are going?" Hopsing yelled as Hoss started into the woodshed.

"Just to get some wood, that is where I go ain't it?" Hoss responded.

"Yes, but let me get it for you, there is a big rat in there and if you see it you will try to make pet out of it." Hopsing thought of quickly.

"Awe, Hopsing you know that ain't true, but if it means that much to ya, go ahead." he answered.

Hopsing gently opened the door and went inside, but curiosity got the best of Hoss and he followed him in. "Who is she?"

If Hopsing could have he would have smacked Hoss on the head, "I told you I would get it."

"To late now friend, who is she, and why are you hiding her?" Hoss asked.

"She is my niece," and then he told Hoss the rest of the story. Hoss' eyes bugged out when he told him how Jack Wolfe had treated her. And how he hit him in the stomach getting her away from him.

"Serves him right hurting a purddy little thing like her." he said.

"Does Pa know about her?"

"No, and I would like to keep that way for a little while longer if you please." Hopsing answered.

"This must be what Joe was going on about last night, right?" Hoss asked.

"Yes, Little Joe knows, too. But he has kept it a secret as a favor to me." Hopsing answered.

"Ok, you got my promise, too, at least until something happens to force it out of me, like Pa coming for me with "something" in his hand." "You know what I mean, right?"

"I will take care of everything, thank you."

About eleven o'clock, two men came riding into the ranch. Ben went out to see what they wanted, Adam was coming out of the barn, and Hoss with Hopsing came around the house.

One of the men became familiar as he rode in, it was Jack Wolfe. "What can I do for you, Jack?" Ben asked as he looked over at the man with him.

He was wearing a badge.

"That Chinaman you have working for you stole some of my property last night, and I came to get it back." he growled back at Ben. "This here is the territorial Marshall, he is here to see to it I do."

"Well, Jack, as usual I don't know what your are talking about, Hopsing has not been away from the ranch for a week, how could he take something from you?" Ben said pointing to Hopsing.

Hopsing came over to stand beside Ben, he had a slight limp as he approached. "That proves it!" Jack yelled.

"Proves what, Jack?" Ben was getting angry and his tone was guarded.

"The one we are after jumped off my staircase leaving the hotel, could not have done it without hurting himself, and he is limping." Jack shouted.

"Marshall, I don't know what he is talking about, you can search anywhere you want, but can you at least let me know WHAT he took?"

"Su-lee!" shouted Jack, "He took Su-lee."

Pa looked at him, "I take it that Su-lee is a person?"

"That's right!"

"Well, I thought you said property, and since people are not property, and you are on mine, I suggest you give me some proof he took something or get the hell off of it," Pa remarked.

"Marshall, do your duty, arrest them!" Jack ordered.

"On what charge, I don't see any chinagirl here, and I ain't searching this man's property for no good reason, your word sir that she ain't here?" he directed to Pa.

"My word." said Pa. Hoss looked at Hopsing and swallowed real hard, but did not make a sound. The Marshall rode off, followed by a very angry Jack Wolfe.

School had let out at noon just as planned and also as planned the boys met over behind the livery. Wendell's dad owned the property, and they had pulled a table out back to sit around and play, Poker and Grownup.

Pa had left the ranch to run some errands, "Be back soon."

Adam went back to the side of the house to wash up after working in the barn for the last few hours, he heard a noise coming from the woodshed. If Joe was playing hooky, that was the place he would end up, but what was he doing in there now? Adam got close to the door and peeked in the small crack by the hinge. Oh boy, the fats in the fire now he though when Pa finds this out he will go through the roof!

Quickly Adam found Hoss, "Ok, please tell me you don't know what is in the woodshed."

Hoss looked at his big brother, "wood?"

"You do know, oh, and you stood right there and let Pa lie to a Marshall! what are you thinking," Adam demanded. "No don't tell me the more I know the more trouble I am in too."

Hoss then cornered his bother and said, "You need to know the whole story then you will be on our side."

"OUR side, let me guess Little Joe knows about this, too," Adam rolled his eyes and took both hands up to his head, running his figures through his hair." "Pa is going to need a new belt after this one, I guarantee! Well, tell me I might as well know what I am in trouble for before all hell breaks lose."

Hoss told him the story.

****

Joe was doing great, the last pot had yielded him another 12 cents. He figured he had about sixty-one cents now, a fortune. They had just dealt out the next hand. "I'll raise four cents," Joe said, "this is the biggest pot we have had all day." Finally Wendell called, and it was time to show their cards. Joe did it he had a straight and beat everyone else's hand. He didn't realize how quiet it was, he was too excited, but just as he bent over to pick up his winnings a hand caught him at the back of his neck. As the hand turned him around, he was face to face with a nightmare he used to have when he was much younger. Pa, face to face with him, and not smiling.

"What in the name of all that is Holy are you doing!" Pa demanded.

"Just playing a game, Pa, Wendell's big brother taught us a few days ago." Joe answered trying to sound calm and in control. "What are you doing in town, Pa?"

"Returning a book for Adam, and catching you gambling against my ordersand playing for money," his father answered.

"It's all their money, Pa, except for the nickel I found on the trail to town, is isn't gambling if you aren't playing with your money."

"I don't know where you got that lamebrain idea, but we are going to work on it just as soon as we get home. As for the rest of you boys, I think your parents will be very interested as to why you aren't in school also," he said.

"Pa, we only had school half a day today, we aren't playing hooky if that is what your are thinking." Joe was praying this would help.

"Then you should have been home doing your chores!" Pa responded. "Get on your horse." Pa was still holding Joe by the scruff of the neck, as he walked to Paint he was just touching the ground with each step, Pa was holding him up as they walked.

As they got to Paint, Joe tried once more to make light of the situation, "Pa, we just learned the game, Wendell's brother said it would help us with our math."

"If you want your friends to be able to practice their counting, I can pull my belt off right now and get started," Ben said, reaching down for the buckle.

Joe never said another word, he was on Paint and heading for home.

"Glad I'm not in his boots," Billy Mac said and just then he looked up to find his own father watching the story unfold in front of him. "O'boy"

***

Pa and Joe rode in to the ranch like the devil himself was on their coattails. Pa got off his horse, "I know I usually give you time to think about what is going to happen before it does, but you have had the ride home and I think we can proceed, don't you?" Ben turned and started to the woodshed, "Pa, uh, uh, how about the barn, or my room?" Joe asked trying to get him away from Su-lee.

"No time like the present to break in the new woodshed, now son," Ben answered.

"But Pa the barn is closer and I just soon get this over with," he tried once again.

"JOSEPH, are you trying to make me madder than I am, if that is possible?" With that he turned at the side of the house and walked up to the door of the woodshed. Adam and Hoss showed up to check out the commotion. They arrived just in time to see Pa jerk open the door to the woodshed and storm in. The look on his face was one of total shock, "Where did you come from?"

"China," she said, and with the grace of any good woman, fainted right in the arms of Ben Cartwright.

"Pa!" Joe hollered, "what happened?"

It brought Ben back to earth, "she fainted, it looks like." He picked her up, she was not much heavier than Little Joe. He took her into the house, "Hopsing, get some towels and water, please." Ben said as he went into the front door. He carefully placed her on the sofa.

"Mr. Cartwright, what did you do to my niece!" Hopsing asked, and then went into a tirade of Chinese.

"I may have frightened her, but all she did was faint, she will be fine." Ben told him. "What was she doing in the woodshed anyway?"

"Hopsing was hiding her there from Mr. Wolfe," Joe answered.

"He had her tied up in the Hotel, Pa." Hoss added.

"Hopsing rescued her last night," Adam added.

That thing in Pa's neck was sticking out as he turned to look at all three of his sons standing in the living room close together. They all moved even closer as he stood up from the sofa where he was sitting near Su-lee putting towels on her forehead. "Do I understand that all three of you knew she was in that woodshed" he said putting his hands on his hips, "and told me NOTHING!"

"Now Pa, calm down, it is not what you think," Adam spoke up quickly.

"I just found out maybe two hours ago."

"And I just found out this morning," Hoss said. Little Joe kept his mouth shut for a change, and just looked at his boots.

"Please don't be mad at sons," Hopsing said, "they were just quite about Su-lee because I ask, they did not mean to keep secret from father."

"Hopsing I am glad that they wanted to help you, but a Marshall was here this morning, and I lied to him about her, we could all be in serious trouble with the law." Pa said.

"Hopsing will take the blame, you did not know she was here." he said.

"Ok, now I want the story, from the beginning, if you please." said Pa. By this time Su-lee was sitting up on the sofa. "I am sorry for trouble I bring to your home, I will leave very quickly," she said.

"No one is going anywhere until I know what is going on, Hopsing would you or Su-lee please tell me?" Pa was a little calmer now.

Su-lee started her story. It seems that she and an older female companion were sailing here from China, shortly before they arrived in California, the other woman, died. The captain then demanded more money from Su-lee for passage. He told her she was not legally in this country, and he could have her arrested. She begged him to contact her family, but before she could convince him that they would pay the price, he got in a poker game in San Francisco. He bet her on a hand and lost, the winner was Jack Wolfe. He had her brought to Eagle Station about four days ago.

Hopsing then added to the story. One of the Chinese women that does Wolfe's laundry, told Hopsing about Su-lee. You see she was coming here to marry a member of the royal family that had escaped to safety in the United States from China during a revolution.

"Jack didn't know what a prize he had, did he," Hoss asked.

"Wow, was she going to be a princess or something?" Little Joe asked. In his excitement over the story, he forgot to be quiet and not call attention to himself, after all Pa was still not finished with him.

"Yes, she would have been a princess." Hopsing answered. "and she still will be."

"I had to get her out of there before he made a prostitute out of her," Hopsing said, "I am sorry for the problems I have brought with her, but I could not think of any other way to go."

"Pros-ti-toot," funny word, Joe would wait til later to ask Adam what that word was, must be a bad one though, Pa's neck jumped at the mention of it.

"Ok, is that all of the story?" Ben asked. It was Hoss's turn to tell Pa about the way Hopsing had found her, all tied up and gagged. And just as Joe had predicted, his Pa wanted to clobber Jack Wolfe.

"It is too late today, but first thing tomorrow I will go into town and see Jack, maybe I can find a solution to this, I also need to speak to that Marshall and see if Su-lee has broken in laws that we have to deal with too. "Until then, Su-lee, welcome to our home." Ben told her and for the first time he saw her smile.

Little Joe had slipped into the bunk room, while Pa was getting Su-lee settled in his room. Hopsing had tried to insist that she stay in his room, but Pa's was larger and the door opened into the house. Hopsing's was a build on, and the door to enter the room came in from the outside. Pa thought she might be safer in his.

After dinner they all moved into the living area in front of the fireplace. "Mr. Cartwright, can you explain something to me, please?" Su-lee asked.

"Of course if I know the answer, you may ask me anything." Ben answered.

"In my country women can be sold as housekeepers, future wives, and even to entertainment palaces by their fathers if the family is poor and has too many daughters, but I did not think it was a practice in America?" she asked. "Jack Wolfe said he won me fair and square and I must do as he said to pay him back, what do I owe him?"

"That is one question I plan to ask him Su-lee, first thing in the morning." Ben answered, "most people here would find what he did very wrong, and I intend to point this out to him also. A woman is not a wagering token in a poker game." "And speaking of poker games, where is Joseph?"

"I thing he turned in early, Pa," Adam said, "something wrong?"

"I caught your baby brother was playing poker in town this afternoon, and if you will excuse me Su-lee, I have an obligation as a father to complete."

Hoss and Adam shared a knowing look, Adam rolled his eyes, and Hoss bit his lower lip. They had been there too, seems like every one of "Pa's lessons" they had to learn the hard way was coming home to Little Joe this past year. Adam was afraid if Joe didn't slow down he would never make his teenage years, and if he did, he would be standing through most of them.

Pa went into the bunk room, "Joseph," are you asleep?"

"No sir, I didn't figure it would do much good to try, you would eventually come in here anyway." said Joe.

"Son, we just went through this with marbles, didn't we?" he asked.

"Yes, sir, sort of the same thing, I guess." he answered.

"I think you know it is the same thing, it doesn't matter if it is marbles, or money, you are still gambling, son. I don't want to have to do this again."

"I don't really want you to either, Pa, but rules are rules, I guess, ah I know they are."

"Do you want the list of mistakes first, and the lecture, or second?" Pa asked.

"First"

"Joseph, you are not to gamble period, no exceptions, when you have a half day at school that does not mean you don't have to come home, you do so you can get started on your chores, if you finish early then you can have free time. You knew you were doing wrong or you would not have hidden behind the livery, and you would have told me what you were doing, am I right?" he asked finally.

"Yes, sir," Joe answered wishing he would finish, he was feeling bad enough already, and he knew that everyone outside knew what was going on inside the bunk room, probably even Su-lee.

"Oh, and by the way, I haven't forgotten that Hopsing covered for you last night when you came in late, too." he added.

"How did you find out about that," Joe asked.

"I wasn't sure, but now I am." he answered.

When will I learn to keep my big mouth SHUT.

"Well son, come here and let's get this over with," Pa instructed.

Joe got up and went over to where Pa was sitting, bending over his lap he closed his eyes.

Little Joe was the first up the next morning, but only because it had been a hard night. Pa must have had an iron glove on his hand last night, he sure hoped his butt would get tougher soon like Adam said, or he would never make it. He had gotten tired of sleeping on his stomach, but that wasn't all that kept him awake, he was worried about Su-lee, and what would happen in town today. He was sure Pa would make him go to school and miss all that was going to take place there.

Joe was glad to see Pa had brought out the wagon to go to town in, sitting on that pillow at breakfast was embarrassing enough with a guest, but at least he could ride standing in the back to town behind Pa. Pa wouldn't let anybody go to town with him, and Joe was only going as far as the school. As the pulled up in front of the school Joe noticed that his friends from the "big game" were all in a huddle by the building, "See you later Pa," Joe called as he got off the wagon with a great deal of caution and headed towards them.

"Stay out of trouble," Pa said, "please, at least until you can ride Paint again."

Joe got over to the others, look back and waived at Pa, who waived back.

"How did it go?" Weldon asked.

"Got tanned, what do you think?" Joe did not want to say spanked, made him sound bigger to be tanned.

"Same here, we all did, except the McNally's, their Pa didn't see the harm." Weldon said. "there is always someone with dumb luck on their side." The bell rang and into class they went.

***

Ben went straight to Shelby's to see if she knew where the Marshall was this morning.

"Easy as pie, Ben, he is sitting right over there next to the wall eating breakfast," she said. "Want a cup of coffee?"

"Thanks," he answered and went over toward the table. "May I sit down?"

"Sure, sit away, Mr. Cartwright, what can I do for you?" he asked.

"This is hard for me to admit, but I did not know that the young lady you were looking for was on my ranch yesterday. My sons and her uncle had her hid in a shed at the back of the house." he related to the Marshall. "I am sorry to mislead you, but I gave my word in good faith." "Are there any charges against Su-lee, or I guess me now?"

"To tell you the truth, Mr. Cartwright, I don't know of any charges on anyone, Wolfe just dragged me along on what he called a theft of his property, I didn't know it was a girl until we got to your place." "So, as soon as I get done with this "breakfast" the girl calls it, I am heading out to look for people I know the law want."

"Thank you very much, sir," Pa said with a smile, "and have a nice trip."

With that he got up and started to Jack's place to settle with him.

***

Back at the ranch, the boys were getting nothing done, they could not get what was going on in town off their minds. "Adam, don't you think we ought to ride in and see if Pa needs some help?" Hoss ask for the fourth time.

"NO," for the fourth time," said Adam, "you saw what happened to Little Joe last night, I may be safe, but do you want to risk your backside on following Pa after he told us not too?"

"Maybe," Hoss mumbled back.

***

Ben walked into the hotel, Jack was standing over near the bar. "Well, Ben I wondered how long you could hold out, which one of my lovely ladies has caught you eye this day?" Jack said with a smile from ear to ear.

"Su-lee," Ben responded. "I want to know what you think she "owes" you so I can free what ever hold you have on her."

"I knew it was that little Chinaman that hit me, now she is with him, well I will go get the Marshall and this time someone is going to jail! Jack bellowed.

"Calm down Jack," said Ben matching his volumn to Jack's, "the Marshall is already out of town, and he is not interested in Su-lee, I ask him."

"Figures a goody-goody like you would go confess to the Marshall and cover your butt first." Jack said this time with no smile. "Well she still belongs to me, and I want her back."

"I asked you what you wanted for her, and I am still waiting for an answer." Ben said slowly.

"You don't have enough to cover what she costs, I have a paper saying she is mine, and that is all I need. I won her fare and square in a stud game, and I intend to keep her." Jack turned to walk off.

"What if I played poker with you for her?" Ben said to Jack's back.

"Did I hear you right, you such a God-ly man would play with me, Mr. Evil, for possession of the fair Su-lee?" the sarcasm dripped from Jack's mouth.

"If that is the only way I can get her away from you, yes." he said.

"Okay say I agree to this, what have you got to bet?" Jack asked. And remember she is worth a lot to me, you know that it will have to be a High Stakes game."

***

Ben rode back to the ranch, pulled up in the front of the barn where the boys were, "Put the team up and saddle my horse, boys, I will be back in a few minutes." he pitched the reins to Hoss, and went into the house.

"Adam, what do you think we should do?" Hoss asked.

"Easy," Adam answered, "do what he said."

"Mr. Cartwright, what are you looking for," Hopsing said watching been go through the papers he kept in a metal tin on his desk.

"Just some papers, Hopsing, where is Su-lee?" he asked.

About that time she came into the room, "You look for Su-lee, sir."

"Su-lee, I spoke to the Marshall, and you have nothing to fear, he did not think you were wanted by the authorities anywhere." he told her.

"Jack is another story, but I am dealing with him, just be patient."

"Hopsing would like to help, if that is necessary," he said to Ben, "no I mean if you have need of me.

"I hope to be back soon, with good news, just fix a celebration dinner," he said trying to sound hopeful.

Out the door he went, got on his horse and took back off to town. Adam went into the house, saw the tin open and looked inside, "did Pa take anything from here Hopsing?" He nodded.

"Hoss, saddle up, we are going after Pa!" Adam yelled as he stepped on the porch. He didn't have to tell Hoss twice.

***

Joe could not stand it any longer, his butt hurt, he was worried about Pa and what he might do to Jack, worried about the fact the Marshall might arrest Pa because he hadn't told about Su-lee, face it he was too worked up to try to sit in class. "Can I be excused, sir?" he asked his teacher.

"What is wrong, Joseph, are you ill?" the teacher asked.

"Yeah, my stomach in tossing around like a storm at sea, can I go outside for a while?" he answered trying to sound sick. Pa would be after his hide again, but he had to know what was going on.

By the time Joe had walked over into town, Pa had returned and was tying his horse to the hitching rail in front of Jack's. He took a deep breath, pulled his hat down low, and went in to deal with the "problem".

Joe knew better than to go in, he would be sent home, not know any thing, and most likely get him another spanking, so he went around to all the windows and peeked in to see if he could spot Pa. Finally he saw him sitting at ah, ah, ah, POKER table with Jack. Several ladies that worked for Jack were standing around the table, too.

Joe was so taken by what he was watching, he didn't hear anyone come up on him, suddenly he was grabbed from behind, a hand over his mouth an a arm around his middle. Next thing he knew he as in the ally behind the hotel, looking up at Adam and Hoss.

"What the hell is going on Little Joe?" Adam asked.

"Don't we have enough problems with out you swearing, what if Pa heard you again?" Joe asked.

"Enough telling what I know, tell us what we don't know, what is Pa doing with Jack?" Adam demanded. Hoss looked at his little brother saying "we need to know now, Joe."

"Well, get off me, Pa is playing poker with Jack, after telling me not to gamble, and busting my butt for it."

"Watch your mouth," said Adam. "Where are they?"

Joe showed them and together they went back to the window and peeked in a their father and Jack. Ben had a stack of chips in front of him, Jack had an equal amount. "I forgot about Pa playing poker in New Orleans," Adam said. "He was pretty good back then."

"Our Pa?" Joe said.

"Yeah, I wasn't supposed to know that he played, and he has been so against it the last few years, I guess I put it out of my head." Adam told him.

The stack of chips in front of Pa was getting bigger, Jack's smaller.

Time went very slowly, all most as if a cloud came up, Ben's luck changed. He started to lose. The stack of chips moved across the table to Jack's side. Soon, Ben was broke, he handed a piece of paper over to Jack, got up and started out of the Hotel. The look on Jack's face was one of complete satisfaction, greed, and just plain happiness.

Ben walked back over to his horse, the boys came around the side of the hotel. He looked at them, "What are you doing here?" but it was not in the tone they expected. "I though I told you to stay home, and you to go to school."

"You did Pa, but for some reason we all thought this was where we should be." Adam answered for the three of them.

"Well, no point in you not knowing, I just lost the Ponderosa to Jack."

"Ya did what?" Hoss said as he stared at Pa in disbelief.

"I can't understand it, really, I knew the possibility of loss, but for some reason, I just don't know," Pa was rambling and not making a lot of sense.

"Pssst, Pssst.......Psssst! Ben, over here," they heard and followed the sound.

There was Betty Grady, it was the first time they had seen here since she "visited" the Ponderosa as Joe's guest. "Jack cheated!" she said.

"When you weren't looking, remember when I winked at you, he traded decks."

"Why are you telling me this," Ben asked. "You know I can't, ah won't, ah...."

"I know, but the time I spent in your home was the best, de-cent-est, time I have had in a long while, you treated me like a real guest." she told them. "I can't let Jack take that place away from you, so go get him, the big rat!" With that she took off back into the side door.

All the boys had seen Ben mad before, but not like this. All the things that could stick out of his neck were and the red in his face was like a burning ember. Back into the hotel he started. He suddenly stopped and turned to face the boys who were right on his heels. He turned so fast in fact he nearly knocked them down. "GO HOME!

Pa, they all tired to say. "I won't tell you again, and I better be obeyed this time, if I'm not there will be He...ah, some very sorry young men."

Adam caught a hold of Joe and pulled him back, Hoss looked at him, no there was no doubt about it, that was not the Pa to mess around with, they got to their horses, Adam took Joe up with him and started home to wait for Pa.

Ben went back into the hotel, "JACK!" get down here, Jack came down the stairs and walked up to Ben. Ben's fist shot out and caught Jack right on the jaw sending him reeling back. "What the hell are you doing Cartwright?"

"I am going to do what I have wanted to do and kept my temper for a long time, if you were one of my sons, I would tell you to get ready for a tanning, but since you are a grown man..." with that he moved in a caught Jack right in the bread basket, doubling him over.

Jack decided he should try to fight back, but after the first two hits he wasn't sure he wanted to continue...."Ben, talk to me, what has happened?" he was stalling.

"I know you cheated me in that game, and I want you to know how it feels to be kicked in the stomach, I want you to make this right, or I will go to the town council and let them know you are a cheat, and after the word spreads I wouldn't give you odds on how long it will take for the others you have cheated to come here and nail your sorry hide to the wall of this fine establishment."

"Now, Ben," Jack said, "I know, let's play one more hand, you can pick the dealer yourself, the girl verses the ranch. Doesn't that sound fair?"

The color still had not returned to his face looking at Ben.

"All right, I pick, he looked around the room, her." He pointed to Betty. And I want you to give her enough money to get to San Francisco for her trouble, got it, no matter who wins." he said raising his fist once more at Jack's face.

"Done deal, Betty deal the cards." Jack moved to the table.

***

Back at the ranch, the boys had got home, and were sitting around the table, telling Hopsing what was going on in town, or at least what they knew and were guessing was going on in town. "Mr. Cartwright should not have bet the ranch," Hopsing was saying as Su-lee came back into the room, from Pa's.

"You mean your father is risking all you own for my freedom?" she asked. Hoss told her yes.

"Oh, uncle this is my fault, I bring you such shame in front of your employer."

"What do you mean shame Su-lee and Hopsing is part of the family," Little Joe told her. When she heard that she looked at her uncle to explain.

"It happens in this country, Su-lee, that friends can become like family to each other, but I didn't realize how much I was a part of this family until now."

"Awe, Hopsing, you didn't think we only liked you for your hot cakes did ya," Hoss told him with his most charming grin.

***

Pa rode back up to the house, he was met by the entire household. "Well I see you finally obeyed me once today," he said as he dismounted. "Hoss could you put up my horse, I need to wash up, Hopsing do you have that dinner fixed?"

"Pa!" Joe looked up at him.

"Yes, son, is there something you want?" he answered.

"What happened?" he answered with more anger than he should have to his father.

"I will tell you all about it at supper, now get washed up." and he went to the wash stand.

***

They sat down, Ben blessed the meal, and started the bowls around the table. "Pa, can't you torture us another time, were sorry we didn't stay home, but tell us what happened, please," Hoss pleaded.

"Ok, the ranch is ours again, and Su-lee can go to her wedding, and Jack will be paying for the trip, she will leave next week on the stage." he reported and stopped.

"But how did you do it?" Adam asked.

"After I put my fist in Jack's jaw and stomach he gave in and....Well, I played one more hand of poker, winner take all." he said, "but this time Betty did the dealing, I got a two first, Jack got a queen, I got another two, Jack got a six, I got a four, Jack got another queen, I got an ace, Jack got a king, then came the down card. Jack turned up another king, two pair.....but I ...

Adam jumped in "Pulled another two".

Pa smiled, "three little twos."

Joe said quickly, "and three of a kind beats a pair any day!" for which he got a pop on the back of his head from Pa. Everyone laughed.

That night after supper, the two older boys went out to the barn to do some chores that they missed that day. Pa ask Joe to come out to the porch with him.

Pa sat down on the bench, and Joe walked up beside him. "Pa, after all we have been through, you aren't go na do what I think you are, are ya?"

"You mean punish you for playing hooky from school, sneaking into town, peeking in the window at the hotel (yes I saw you), and probably a few more things I don't know about?" Joe just gulped and started to bend over.

"No, son that is not why I wanted to talk to you." Pa said. Joe popped up just like a cork in a bottle, "it's not?"

"No, I want to talk to you about what I did today. I had just punished you for the exact same time I did today, what do you think about that?" Pa asked.

"Well, I really didn't know you knew how to play, first off, and second, you are Pa, you can do what you want to." he answered.

"Yes, I am an adult and can do what I want to, but I am also a father with the responsibility of raising three sons. For the same reason I would punish you for swearing, I don't swear. I would punish you for fighting, so I don't fight. The standards I set for you three are the same ones I set for myself. Do you understand so far." Joe nodded, but he still didn't know where Pa was going with this.

"I want you to know that I am sorry I let you down today, I have always lived by the fact that I believed in an unwritten commandment, "Honor your sons", I didn't do that today either. You boys are the most important thing in my life, I want you to be able to respect me as much as I do you."

"Pa, I don't like getting spanked, but I know why every time, and I usually know when I am doing whatever it is that I will probably end up bottoms up, but I have never ever feared that you would do it without reason." Joe told him.

"Jack needed a lesson today, too, and I am proud that you could be the one to teach it to him." Joe said with a grin, he had climbed up and was sitting on his knees beside Pa.

"Then you think you understand what took place today?" Pa wanted to be sure his son knew how he felt about today.

"Sure thing Pa, and after all I really don't know anyone who would try to tan you for playing poker or fighting. Let's just say I have a freeby coming, how's that?" Joe cocked his head and looked at Pa.

Pa suddenly grabbed Little Joe, he didn't know if he had gone to far or not with that last "freeby" line, it had taken Adam almost an hour to explain what that was, and he still wasn't sure he told him everything.

But all Joe had to fear was wetting his pants if Pa did stop tickling him so hard. The boys came out of the barn to watch Pa and Joe playing.

*****

Later that night Pa went out to the barn and saddled up his horse. He rode out to the ridge overlooking the ranch he needed to make another apology, he thought to himself, sorry I almost lost you today, but the Ponderosa understood. He looked around sitting on their three horses, sitting quietly just watching him, were his sons, one had a pillow on his saddle. He never said a word, just turned and they started home. How could a man be so blessed?

I'll call.....THE END