Thanksgiving in California

By BJ Carter

Rated: G+

I too give thanks for the characters we grow fonder of each day and thanks to those who originally created them, and brought them to life.

The week had been the longest in history. Not a chore undone, not a fight or quarrel, in bed on time, up on time, Ben wasn't sure these were his sons. But they kept their word and onThursday night at the supper table Pa made the announcement. "We are all going to San Francisco for Thanksgiving."

"Even Hopsing?" Joe asked.

"Yes, even Hopsing, he answered, that is if he wants to go?"

"Hopsing very glad to go, have many relatives in San Francisco, will not be any bother to Cartwright family, be happy to see all of other family."

That night after supper Adam and Joe were playing checkers, Joe was too excited to watch what he was doing and Adam was beating him very badly without trying. Hoss was playing with the cats and throwing little bits of wood in the fireplace. Ben had been reading his Bible, but put it on the stand next to him, "Hoss since your brothers seem tied up at the minute let's take a walk out to the barn for a few minutes."

Hoss looked surprised, and swallowed hard, "Ok, Pa, did I do something wrong?"

The other two boys stopped the game and waited for Pa's answer. "Not that I know of, I just need to talk to you that's all."

Hoss was nervous, as he got out to the barn he started raking the hay back into the stalls that the animals had kicked out. Pa came in and sat down one of the milking stools. "Hoss I want to talk to you about the trip and about Emily. I know you two will want to spend some time together, and I want to remind you about talks we have had about young ladies."

Hoss sighed, relieved at the subject of this "talk", but then turned a little red at Pa's meaning. "You don't have to worry, Pa, I won't do nothing you wouldn't approve of with Em. I like her a lot, but I remember everything you said. Is that what you really wanted to come out here for?"

"Yes, but I also wanted to say that --- well, here goes, I don't want to have to be on all three of you every minuted about things. If you three end up in a mess like the last time all six of you got together, do I need to say more?"

"NO, SIR, Hoss said louder than he intended, to be honest, I am not sure when my backside stopped hurting last time, and it comes back any time I think of it. This is the "be good" speech we usually get before a trip, right?"

"Yes, but this time I wanted to talk to each of you alone, don't let on to your brothers, I want to make them wonder about what we said, ok?"

"Sure Pa, make them twitch a little, ok by me."

Pa went back in the house, and sat down, Hoss came back in, going to bed now was all he said and went in the bunk room. Adam looked at Joe, Joe rolled his eyes and looked back. Now what.

"Game finished, boys?"

"Yes, sir," Adam answered.

"Adam, put up the game and Joe and I will go have a little talk outside."

Joe was pale when the got in the barn, "What did I do?" he said to Pa when he walked in, "what ever you heard, it ain't true."

"Well son, stop saying ain't, I've not heard anything, he said, should I have?"

"No, sir, can't think of a thing."

"Joe, I brought you out here to remind you to be on your best behavior when we are on this trip, all of you got into some serious trouble the last time you were together and I don't want a repeat of that this time, do I make myself clear?"

"Is that all, dadburn it Pa, you scared me to death for no reason. He looked up at his Pa's face, he was not smiling. "Sorry, just glad you weren't mad about something, cause I have been trying so hard to stay out of trouble. I will continue to be good in San Francisco, I have had more tannings in the last 6 months, I don't think my butt could take much more anyway."

Then Pa smiled, "Get in the house and don't let on to Adam, just send him out." As Joe walked by Pa, Ben popped him on his backside hard, Joe turned around and looked at him in shock. "Don't get in the habit of yelling at me, or saying dadburn." Joe smiled and took off to the house.

Adam, third and last, Ben smiled to himself waiting for the oldest of his chicks to come into the barn. Elizabeth, he thought, you would be so proud of this child, as I am, he is talented, good hearted, loving, and most of all growing into a fine strong man. I just have to remind him every once in a while, who is still in charge.

"You wanted me Pa?"

"Adam I just wanted to remind you of the trouble the last time I let the six of you loose in the mountains, this time you will have all of San Francisco to get into, do I need to say more?"

Adam turned a little red, "No, sir, getting a lickin' at 21 and 18 will probably stick for a long time for both Alex and me. We will be careful this time, and I will remember all you have said about right from wrong, if it kills me, he smiled. Alex and I have written a few times, we have talked about it. I or rather we will be as good as possible, I promise."

"Good night, son, Ben said as Adam started back to the house, oh, and this time if Miss Alex needs her backside smacked, let her mother do it!" Adam turned red, laughed and went inside.

That night in the bunk room, three "boys" had trouble sleeping, the excitement was to great, and they all kidded each other about how scared they were when Pa took them to the barn. They all agreed this time would be different, NO TROUBLE.

Saturday morning they were on their way to San Francisco.

As they got off the stage, they all twisted and turned and bent over. It had been a long trip, but finally they were in San Francisco. Joe and Adam were wide eyed taking in every tall building every fancy lamp post, you name it they looked at it. Hoss on the other hand was hungry, "Pa when are we going to eat my dadburn stomach is growling like a bear."

They had been at the station about five minutes when a two carriages came around the corner as fast as the drivers could take them almost looked like they were racing. "Ben, glad you made it he heard one driver yell, took us a while to get two carriages we thought would be big enough for all of us and the luggage." Lesley was driving one, Alex the other, like mother like daughter.

"We just got here, glad to see you." Lelsey got down off the seat and proceeded to hug Ben, who in turn planted a kiss on her forehead. This did not go unnoticed by six sets of younger eyes. Alex proceeded to reach for Adam, but he quickly made sure that a hug was all anyone could see. Em immediately started talking about the animals Hoss and she had been writing to each other about. Joe and Lee took off to the back of the carriage.

"I didn't think you were ever going to get here, Lee said, I have so much to tell you and show you."

"It was the longest trip I have ever had to sit through, my butt is nearly as sore as after the raft trip," Joe said and laughed reaching back to rub his backside.

"Joseph, where did you get off to?" Ben yelled.

"We are right here Pa, didn't go far just looking up the street." Joe answered.

"We better get back."

They loaded up the carriages and started for the house. They dropped Hopsing off at his uncle's. Lesley told him he would be more than welcome at the house if he decided to come over and gave him her address. "Miss Lesley very kind, Hopsing may come by later, but right now must visit extremely large family."

They got to the house, Lesley and the girls had a big meal all ready for them. Hoss was truly grateful. When dinner had ended, Ben and Lesley went to the parlor to sit and catch up. The others followed them in two by two. "Pa before it's too dark, Alex and I want to go look at some of the other town houses around the neighborhood, ok?"

Ben looked at Lesley, "what do you think, Lesley?"

She ran her eyes over the room, "You know what I said before they got here, brand it in your memory, so I don't have to on your backsides." Ben added, "the same here."

"Pa, is that a yes?"

"Go, but be back by dark." Off they went, Adam catching Alex's hand as they left.

Em and Hoss headed for a stable that was built at the back of the house. "We don't have many animals, in the city they frown on that sort of thing, but we can keep our riding stock."

Joe and Lee headed up stairs to Lee's room, "Joe it's been a long day don't get too involved, I want you to get some sleep tonight, understand."

It was all Joe could do not to back talk, and tell him he wasn't no baby. But to his on good fortune he kept his mouth shut, no point getting in trouble the first night. "Yes, sir." But he took off, figured out of Pa's sight out of his line of fire.

Em and Hoss had already came back in to the kitchen. Hoss was eating more pie. Just as Pa had got up to go to the door to look out for Adam, he and Alex walked up to the door. "Good timing, son." Adam turned a little red, but said nothing.

Em had moved into Lee's room, and gave her's to Adam. Ben had one of the guest rooms next to Lesley's and the other one was for Hoss and Joe.

"Just think if we had all boys, we could have paired them up by age," Ben said with a laugh. Lesley countered with "or all girls".

Ben wasn't sure thinking about it which would be worse, all girls, all boys, or like it was now. He shook the thought out of his head, we are only here for a visit, you don't have to guess which would be worse.

Joe and Lee bedded down, Hoss and Em also. That only left the older children and the parents. Lesley brought in a bottle of sherry, "how about a night cap before bed?" She poured four small drinks into some petit sipping glasses. Adam looked at Pa, he nodded very slightly his ok.

"I find that this is a very good relaxer after a trying day, Lesley said, and it will help get the knots out from all that riding before you go to bed." She was right.

They were all seated around the breakfast table. "Lesley and I have decided that you all can have the morning free, go out and explore and enjoy yourselves, and be back by 12:30 for lunch."

That opened the flood gates it wasn't long before they were alone in the room, six sets of legs had started moving and were out the door.

"I hope they are careful, Ben said, I have never gave them a town this size to play in, not alone anyway."

"Don't worry the girls have already mapped it out and I am sure they will be ok, she said, famous last words, right?"

The laughed and sat looking at each other. "Ben, I was so glad to get your letter saying you would be here for Thanksgiving. I really didn't know how much I was going to miss you until I was gone from Eagle Station."

"Same here, he answered, it was like all of a sudden I had no one to meet for lunch on Wednesday's and no one to share my day with, you were just gone."

"Ben I don't think I am ready for what this sounds like, she said and looked down at her hands sitting in her lap.

"Yes, I know, these feelings are so new, and old, at the same time, he responded, I have tried not to compare them with the way it was with my wives, but they just keep coming back at me."

"Same here, I have only been in love once, but it is the same, only different, she said, oh, for Pete sake Ben, we sound younger than the kids!" and then came that laugh again.

"I don't know what is in the cards for us Lesley, but I want to go slow and just enjoy each other, is that all right with you?" he asked.

"Thank you, I didn't know how to say it, I am very attracted to you Benjamin Cartwright, but we have a history with others and six children between us, and I would like to just slow down and enjoy ourselves. We can relax with each other, and not have the pressure of a deep commitment. Much more than friends, but less than anything permanent."

"Well, now that we have figured out what we are doing I think, how about we go see what kind of timber sales are available in this little hamlet of yours, ok?"

They got up and started for the business district of San Francisco.

****

Alex took Adam into the main part of San Francisco. There were tall buildings and most of all lots of people. Adam was so excited everywhere he looked he pointed out something different. Alex then took him to a big building with stone steps. "I think this will be a place you will find very interesting, it is one of my favorite places." She had seen it before, but she was getting such a thrill seeing Adam enjoying himself.

They went in, books, books, and more books. Adam had never see a library with so many books. Even in New Orleans when he was a child the public library was not half this big. "It is magnificent!" "Shhhhhhhhhhhh!" someone hissed. "Sorry."

"Well Em, where do we start? Hoss asked, it is your town."

"I think you would like the waterfront," she said.

"Isn't that one of the places we were not supposed to go to with out....he did not get to finish his sentence, Em had already started off and caught a taxi carriage, "come on, it's ok."

The driver never gave any _expression, Em paid for the ride. Hoss was lost in the sight of the biggest ships he had ever seen, at least remembered seeing. "This is great, where do they all come from?"

Em took hold of his hand, "let's go down and talk to the sailors, they will tell us, I did this when we first got here, they love to talk about the ships and where they have been."

"Em, your mother lets you come down here?" Hoss asked.

"To tell you the truth, this is my second time, after Ma found out I was here the first time, I got a blistered backside and told never to come back." she confessed.

"Great now you put both our butts in trouble!"

"Naw, it will be ok as long as we are together, she said I could not come back, she didn't say I could not come back with someone." she answered.

"Em, sometimes you reason things just like Little Joe, and that's scary, Hoss said, but as long as we are here we might as well enjoy it."

****

Joe and Lee had gone over to a friends house, Chris had just got a new thing called a bi-cycler and everyone was trying to ride the thing. It had a big wheel in front and a small one on the back. The seat was way up near the top of the big wheel. "That looks like fun," Joe was ready to get his turn.

It was getting easier, at least he wasn't falling as often, when Joe looked up at the sky. The sun was directly overhead. "Lee we better get ourselves home quick, I make it to be about noon."

"Awe, Joe it can't be that late already," but she ask Chris who told her it was 12:05 on his timepiece. "Guess you are right, how did you know?"

"Pa made me learn a lot about things to watch for when you are hunting and such, one was telling the time by the sun, we better run."

****

Joe and Lee got into the house just as the grandfather clock, struck the half hour point after 12. "Ma, we are home."

No answer.

****

Hoss and Em were busy talking the captain of a big three masted ship when it hit Hoss that they might be late, "sir could tell us the time, please?"

"Sure it is 12:30."

That did it Hoss grabbed Em hand and off they ran to catch the first transportation back to the side of town they were supposed to be on.

Em opened the front door, she and Hoss slipped in, they had made it about half way into the entrance hall, when they heard a voice behind them, "Does this look like 12:30 to you son?"

Hoss froze in his tracks, Em beside him, they slowly turned around. There was Joe and Lee laughing their heads off, covering their mouths not to make a sound. "Dadburn you Little Joe, when did you learn to do Pa's voice so well? I ought to pound you good for that."

Lee and Joe broke down after that and fell on the floor laughing. After the shock, Em and Hoss saw some humor in it also. Especially since their parents were still not home.

"You mean ol' Adam hasn't made it home either?" Hoss was smiling at the thought of big brother being the first one in trouble on this trip.

"No, and it is already 1:00, if Pa gets home before he does, I pity Adam
and Alex." said Little Joe.

"Someone is coming to the door, Joe can you do that voice again?"

"Sure, just watch ol' Adam pass out!" said Joe.

They all got behind the curtains near the door, but just as Em opened it and they started to pull their prank, a large man stepped into the house. Hoss held his breath and peeked out from the curtain, sigh of relief, it was not Pa. It was a messenger, with a note for Adam. "I am his brother, I can take it if you want me to." Hoss told the man. He handed the note to Hoss.

"It says to Adam, but I think we ought to see what it says, with that Hoss opened the note, we can always seal it back."

Adam: we have been detained at one of the ship manufacturers. After lunch you all can entertain yourselves until we get home. Make sure you are home by 5:30 to dress for dinner, we are going out. See you this afternoon. Pa and Lesley

"Wow this is great now we have the rest of the day, Hoss said, and now we can scare the pants off of Adam when he comes in."

****

"What do you mean is it 1:20, Adam said to Alex, as she was pointing to the big clock in the middle of the library.

"I don't know where the time went, but some time during the last few rooms we have been looking in the clock took off, Alex explained, and we are in hot water for sure."

"All we can do is run and hope they are in a great mood when we get there."

The other's had plenty of time to work out the joke they were going to play on their older siblings. As Adam and Alex came rushing in an hour and 10 minutes late, red faced, hearts pounding, and out of breath. Hoss was waiting. "Where have you two been, Pa is fit to be tied."

The red in Adam's face paled quickly, "Where is he?"

Em stepped in, "He and Ma went looking for you two about 10 minutes ago, you were already an hour late, boy are they mad."

Joe and Lee got in on the act. "Pa said something about eating Thanksgiving dinner standing up as he went out the door," said Joe. "And Ma was mumbling something about not seeing the light of day for a month," said Lee.

Adam looked at Alex, she was nearly as green as he felt. They all went in to the kitchen and sat down at the table. "We have already ate, you two want something?" Em asked.

"Not me", Adam answered. "Nor I," from Alex.

The sat there for almost another half hour before Hoss said, "Oh, by the way big brother you got a message a while ago, a man in a funny uniform brought it. Now where did we put that think? Oh, yeah there it is." He handed Pa's note to Adam.

The four accomplices started moving away from the table and out toward the back door. Adam had his mind on other things, but opened the note back up from the sealing job Em had done on it. Slowly Adam read the note. "DAMN!"

He pitched the note to Alex. She read it, "you little sons-of-a-----Irish farmer!"

"Oh, oh, when she starts with that line it is time to run like hell," Em said to Hoss, and all four of them headed for the back yard with Adam and Alex on their heels.

The next thing you know the six of them were all in a pile, punching and kicking, pulling hair and ears. As quick as the fight started, it turned into a romp, no one could tell who was laughing the hardest.

"You four better remember, what payback are like, we will get even!" Adam and Alex shook hands and lay back on the grassy lawn, still laughing and trying to catch their breath.

They got up and went back into the house. Everyone went up stairs to clean up and be ready when their folks got back. "Hey Adam, bet your bottom was twitching thinking about Pa out looking for ya, Hoss said, and the reason I know is mine was all the way home, when Em and I were late."

"Yeah, it was, makes you wonder if you every out grow that feeling?" Adam pondered.

They all sat around in the parlor waiting for their parents to get home. "I wonder what is keeping them?" Em asked.

"Well we did get ready real early, it is only 3:15, they said 5:30," Hoss answered.

"Hey Adam what did you decide to tell Pa when you were over an hour late getting home?" Joe asked.

"Yeah, Lee added, you too, Alex, did you have some whopper lined up?"

Adam looked at Joe with out _expression. "We were going to tell the truth, we simply got busy in the library and lost track of time, just that simple."

Alex added, "We are older you know, it is not like we are children and can't tell the truth to our parents."

"Oh yeah, right, Joe said, that is why you looked like someone shot you when we told you Pa and Miss Lesley was out looking for you, real confident in your position as one of the adults." HA!

"Hey Adam do you remember that time in, now what was that little town we lived in, oh yeah, Bixby, anyway do you remember when you tried to sneak back in the house that night?" Hoss was not helping his brother's mood by bring up that subject.

"Yes, I remember, now drop it."

"Oh, Adam, it has gone to far now, I want to know, Alex begged, after all we share a common thread, after the raft incident."

"Ok, I might as well tell since we have to sit here, and no one is going to give me any peace unless I do. It was about 3 in the morning. We had been living in a small house behind the trading post in this little town. Pa had us living there while the stock recovered and he made some money to get us on west."

"Never mind the small stuff, get on with the story," Em prompted.

"Like I said it was about 3 in the morning, I had been slipping out a few nights to be with a bunch of guys I had met in town. We just hung out and told tall tales and laughed, most of the time we weren't gone more than an hour or so, but this night one of the guys had took some beer from his pa's saloon, and had a "penny dreadful" with him. We had all had some of the beer, not more than half a glass, and were taking turns reading the book out loud to each other, some of the guys couldn't read."

"How old were you Adam?" Alex asked.

"About Joe's age, cause Hoss was around 7 and Joe had just started talking, I still think that was a big mistake, Pa teaching him how, and that night for sure. You see we had two bedrooms, Hoss and I were in one and Pa and Ma in the other. They put Joe in a crib against the wall outside the two rooms in the kitchen, so he would be near the cook stove heat. I entered very quietly, it was silent in the house. I knew Hoss slept like a log so I wouldn't have to worry about him. I got in and the only light was in Pa's room, a lamp turned way down low. I moved over toward the room, and would have made it except for a small brown head popping up and yelling "AWE DUMB, AWE DUMB", as loud as he could.

Joe had not mastered saying Adam yet, he called me AweDumb. Pa jumped out of bed at the screaming, stubbed his toe on a chair and nearly fell into the kitchen. Ma turned up the lamp and when the light hit me, I was standing with my hand over Joe's mouth trying to get him to shut up. Been trying that for about 12 years now." Joe stuck his tongue out at him.

"Oh, Adam, what did your Pa say?" Lee asked, trying to hold back the laugh that was building in her.

"He stood up, walked over and took Joe out of my hands and handed him to Ma, she took him to their bed to get him back to sleep. Then he turned, I knew I was dead, all I had left to do was lay down and wait for the undertaker. He looked at me and said, "do I smell beer?" I nodded. "GO to bed, now!" I did just what he said and closed my eyes, that was the longest time til dawn I ever spent."

"AweDumb, that kinda sounds like Adam, doesn't it?" Joe looked up and Adam, who promptly pushed him over on the couch. "Get on with it," Joe giggled.

"There is nothing more that was all that happened that night, end of story." Adam said.

"If you don't tell the next morning, I will," Hoss said and rolled his eyes at the girls.

"You couldn't remember that you were to young." Adam reminded him.

"Maybe so, but I know what Pa told me a few years later, when he thought I was fixin to try to do the same stupid thing you did, so tell."

"Pa got up, I could hear him in the kitchen, I just lay there praying he would forget I was alive. Didn't work, he came in and told me to get dressed and meet him out in the shed they used to store extra stock for the store. It wasn't the first time I every seen him mad, but this time it was directed at me. First he told me about the evil of drink, then about the danger of sneaking out of the house at night, then he lectured on disrespect and disobedience, and then to top it off about putting my hand on Joe mouth. By the time he was finished, I was ready for him just to put me out of my misery. I didn't know what misery was till after he was really finished. He took me down over his knee and I had missed the belt he had in his hand earlier, I missed seeing it, but he didn't miss with it. I don't think I was sitting with any comfort a week later when we left that great town of Bixby."

"Oh, Adam, that is awful. You would think they never did anything wrong when they were young the way they treat us, Alex said, I know I went to a party with some of the girls that I was in school with about five years ago, we stayed out past the time Pa thought we should be home. Same ending to my story. I walked in all happy and full of the evening, only to end up over his knee getting my backside busted with his razor strap, and he waited until all I had on was my nightgown. Problem is I know for a fact he gave my grandparents a lot more hell than we ever did, they told me."

"Oh, yeah and Ma's no angel either, I heard her mother talking one day to Pa about the time she went out and "forgot" to come home on time, too.

"Her Ma took a switch to her," Lee was saying.

"I can't understand it either, I am not going to do my children that way, said Em, I am going to remember what it was like to be young.

"I wonder what is keeping them?"

****

Ben and Lesley had left the Middleton shipping line office and had entered a small cafe near the harbor for a late snack. "I hope out children got home ok and got my note," Ben said.

"I told you not to worry, that messenger service is very dependable. Let's just eat a bite for now, I want to take you somewhere special this evening."

It was about 3:30 when they had finished and started back down the docks, Ben looked over and saw a man pulling a woman down the street, he jumped over some ropes and grabbed the man causing him to fall backwards into some boxes on the dock. The girl immediately took off running, Ben decided it was over and started back to Lesley. The man managed to get up and grabbed Ben from behind, as he turned around he put his back to Lesley. She jumped and hung on to his back, beating him on the head with her parasol, trying to get him to let go of Ben. About that time three other men came up and pulled her off of the him. He turned loose of Ben just as Ben came around and hit him on the jaw. One of the newcomers then hit Ben over the head with a club.

When Ben woke up he was sitting in a cell, "It is about time you woke up, what do you mean attacking a police officer like that, you and that woman of yours?"

Ben looked over at the guard sitting outside the cell. "Where am I," he asked.

At the China Street Station was the only answer he got.

"How long have I been here, and were is Mrs. Baker?"

3 hours, and in the next room, were the answers this time. Three hours he thought, the boys must be wondering if I fell off the earth. "Can I speak to Mrs. Baker, or someone to get out of here?"

"Judge will see you Monday, you and the fancy lady you had with you." the guard answered.

"MONDAY", what do you mean MONDAY!" Ben blasted out, forgetting about the headache he had when he woke up.

"It's after 5, the day before Thanksgiving, you think a judge is going to come back to work before Monday, ain't gonna happen mister, now sit back and relax, you ain't goin' no where," the guard went back and sat down near the door, and even after Monday if you don't have bail money you may still be here."

"What are the charges?"

"Disorderly conduct, hitting a police officer, and helping a crook to get away, he said, is that enough for ya, now shut up!"

***

For about the umpteenth time, Adam had walked over to the grandfather clock, and it was still ticking away. It was now 6:30, and not another word from Pa.

Alex too, was getting antsy about them. "Adam, my mother is unpredictable most of the time, but not were she has made definite plans. She told me last night where we were going, and had all the arrangements made ahead of time. This is not like her, not at all."

"I know it isn't Pa either, I don't want to scare the others, but I am afraid something has happened to them, Adam said in a whisper to Alex, and I don't know how long I can sit here and wait without doing something to find them."

"When are we going to look for Pa and Miss Lesley?" Joe asked. Lee right along side of him saying, "we can't wait much longer, there is no telling what might have happened."

"Don't get so riled up, they are not that late, and we don't know where to start looking anyway, so just go find a game or something the four of you can play."

"Don't try that crap on me Adam Cartwright," Lee said, "I will do as I please."

Adam made a move toward her and she backed up quickly. "If you don't go and play with Joe and the others, you can go sit on the sofa and keep your mouth shut. I may not be my Pa, or your Ma, but when they are gone I am in charge, and I will smack your backside for disrespect of me just like they would. Don't believe me ask your sister."

Lee looked over to Alex for help, but all she got was a shrug of her shoulders and a "I wouldn't call his bluff if I were you, he can hit pretty hard."

Adam knew he was really only in charge of Hoss and Joe, but if he could convince the others he was, that was ok too.

"Hoss come over here a minute, please," Adam told him.

Hoss got up and came over to Adam, "what you want big brother." He always called him that when Adam was in his "in charge mode".

"Can you keep the other three busy for a while, Alex and I need to go look for our folks, and I don't want Joe and Lee underfoot, please."

Hoss didn't want to, he wanted to help too. But he decided that the older ones would probably get more done without them, and if staying would help out he would do it.

****

Lesley was so mad even her teeth were mad. She yelled out at the guard, "I want to see my lawyer!"

"Shut up lady, and I use the term loosely, you can talk to him Monday when you go before the judge."

"MONDAY!, you can't be serious, I have children at home and Thanksgiving dinner to prepare, you damn well can't keep me till Monday.

"Yeah, right, be quiet and let me get some rest, I have worked all day and I don't need some high priced tramp telling me what is going to happen."

"HIGH PRICED TRAMP!" what do you mean by that remark," Lesley demanded.

"Don't make me spell it out for you, girly, just because you dress a little better than the rest, and smell better, when you walk the docks you are still a tramp."

"Oh, my gosh you think I am a, a, a, fallen woman?" Lesley had to laugh, and I suppose you think Ben has bought me for the evening?"

"Look lady I don't care if you are or if you ain't, but get quiet before I throw a bucket of water on a." Lesley sat down and shook her head, the girls are going to have a fit over this one and I wonder where they have Ben.

***

It was after 9:30 when Adam and Alex made their way into the police station, "We want to report two missing persons," Adam said.

"And who might that be?" the man at the front desk asked.

"Benjamin Cartwright and Lesley Baker, they are our Ma and Pa?" Adam answered.

"Ain't missing."

Aren't missing, Adam almost said to correct the officer. "What do you mean, do you know something about them?"

"Right inside that door you will find him, she is on the other side." he answered.

"What are they doing in jail, Alex asked, and can we see them?"

"Sure you go that way and I will take your young man here to see his Pa."

Lesley was pacing the cell when Alex walked up, "Why hello mother, fancy meeting you here."

Ben was laying on the bunk, his arm over his eyes, trying to think how he could get word to the boys he was ok and what to do to get him out. He heard a noise of someone clearing his throat, he put his arm down and raised himself out of the bunk. Stand there with a big, smug look on his face was his son, Adam. "Well Pa looks like you have yourself in one fine pickle, now don't it, what do you want me to tell Joe and Hoss?" The look on Ben's face told him that was probably the worse thing to say, and he would regret it later, if Pa had anything to do with it.

"I can think of at least 3 ways to take that smug look off of your face son, shall I ask the guard to open this door and let you in?"

Adam had already regretted what he said, but his look changed immediately.

"What do you want me to do, Pa?, he asked as meekly as possible, Alex is next door with Les, ah Miss Lesley.

"The problem is we have to have a judge to set the bail here and they have left for the holiday. We may have to face the possibility that we will be here through the weekend. You are going to have to be in charge until we can arrange bail, son."

"Pa, Adam said in a whisper, what did you do?"

"Nothing"

"What," Adam yelped.

"Well, nothing that was intentional, I thought I was saving a young lady from a man who was mistreating her on the dock, come to find out he was a police officer, Ben explained, but no one managed to convey that information until it was to late."

Adam then had to turn his head or face making his father mad all over again.

Too late, "ADAM!"

"Sorry, Pa, it's just hard to believe it's you in there."

"Times up, kid, you have to leave now," the guard said.

Adam didn't like the kid remark, but best not to rile the guard. He turned and started out the door, "We will do what we can, Pa, and don't worry about the others, Alex and I can handle them."

When he got to the door there was Alex waiting for him. "Is she ok?"

Alex looked like she was going to bust. "Adam, they think Ma is like a, well like one of the girls that work for Jack in Eagle Station!" Getting that out she started to laugh and almost fell over. "Only as she put it a high priced one."

"Oh, boy this is not going to be easy, what did she tell you to do?"

"We will have to get in touch with Mr. Nichols, he is Ma's lawyer, he will help, we just have to find him."

"Well, no time like the present, lets get out of here."

"Kids, I don't know what you are up to, but I would just leave them here til Monday, that man has a real temper problem, and could use the time to cool off, I heard him threaten you in there. And, the ah, lady, maybe she would really like the time off."

The two just looked at each other and started smiling. "We thank you sir for your concern, but I can assure you four days in jail will not change his temper, and Miss Lesley is not what you think she is, we will be back." With that Adam and Alex headed out the door to find someone to get their parents out of jail.

***

As they got back to the house to regroup and find the addresses then needed, the door blasted open. "It's about time you got back, where the hell have you been," Lee was a bit angry. "Did you find Ma?"

"We found them, where is everyone?"

"Em took off to look for you, Hoss went to look for her, Joe and I have been waiting, but if you had been gone much longer we would have been gone, too."

"GREAT!" Adam yelled, I told him to stay here, so much for being in charge. Alex, please get the addresses, we need to hurry."

Joe came around the corner, "where's Pa?"

"He is ok, the both of them are in jail." Adam answered, then wished he had not told them.

"WHAT!", good grief Adam, what did they do?"

"Calm down they will be ok, it is just a case of a mistake. I don't know all the details, but we are working on it, Joe you just have to stay here and wait, I am doing everything I know how to get them home. PLEASE stay here. Promise?"

"Ok, he said with a large degree of thought, but hurry."

Alex was back with the addresses, and they started out the door, Joe you and Lee stay put, and if Hoss and Em get back tell them to stay too. Pa said I was in charge till he gets back, and I will smack anyone who makes waves right now, and I mean "ANYONE" he finished as he looked at Lee.

***

Hoss had just circled the last block around the housing area when he found Em. "Boy, howdy am I glad I found you, dadburn it girl, why did you take off like that, scared me to death."

"I couldn't sit there any longer Hoss, I had to do something."

"Well we better get back, if ol' Adam comes in and I ain't there he will explode."

They hurried back to the house. When they got there all they found was a note.

Hoss, Adam, came back, Pa in jail, Lee and I are going to get them out. Adam said for you and Em to stay here--Joe and Lee "DAD BURN that kid, Pa is in JAIL, what else can go wrong this day? Oh, no Lord ya don't need ta answer." Hoss turned to Em, we have no choice, we have to go and find those --- brats."

Lee and Joe left about 10 minutes after Adam, "thought you promised we would stay? Lee said. "We did stay he just didn't say how long." Joe answered, he knew that wasn't the right thing to do, but he just had to do something.

They told the driver of the carriage to take them to the jail, "Which one?" "Ah, the big one, Joe answered he didn't know there could be more than one jail in a town. Lee paid the driver and got out, Joe and she raced into the building.

"Whoa, there kids, what is the hurry, a man in a dark suit said as they flew into him, and what are you doing here this time of the night?"

"Sorry mister, we are looking for our Ma and Pa."

"What makes you think they are here?"

"Adam said so."

"Who is Adam?"

"My big brother, I don't mean to be rude, but we can't talk now mister we have to find them."

The man's eyes twinkled as he watched them. He was a very distinguished man tall and wide shouldered with graying hair and pale blue eyes dressed in a very expensive suit, but they never noticed. "Well, lets see what I can do to help, ok?"

****

Adam and Alex had found Mr. Nichols, he was getting ready for bed and was none to happy to be summoned to the door. "Mr. Nichols, I am Alexandria Baker, Lesley's daughter. Mother has got a problem, and she sent me here to get you."

"What can't be settled after Thanksgiving, or at least daylight?" he grumbled.

"She is in jail charged with being a prostitute, and hitting a policeman, is that bad enough for you, now she pays you good money, get your clothes on and come on, damn it." With that she stamped her foot.

Adam, just looked shocked that she would first, talk like that, and second, talk like that to an adult. Pa would have had his hide seven ways from Sunday if he heard he had said and acted that way to another adult. Boy these Baker girls were something.

Mr. Nichols was not impressed by her performance, but got dressed anyway and they started to the jail. When they got there, the guards brought Ben and Lesley out of their cells, they looked at each other, Lesley rolled her eyes, Ben just shook his head.

Mr. Nichols was talking to the man sitting behind the desk. "I don't care if she is the Queen of Sheba, she ain't getting out of here without a judge saying it's ok, I have a family to support and I ain't losing my job over a brawler and ah, ah, his girl friend."

This had gone on for almost half a hour, Ben could feel the anger building in him, but worked on biting his lip as he had told the boys to do so many times. Lesley seem unchanged, every once in a while, that laugh would come out for brief spurts, when it did it would take the edge off of Ben's anger. How could you be mad and listen to that wonderful laugh.

About the time they were going to just give up Mr. Nichols turned around, coming in the door was Joe and Lee. "What the blue blazes are you doing here?" Pa said directed at the kids."

"Told you he wouldn't be too happy to see us, Joe said to the man they had found at the other jail, he gets a little angry at times, but just watch that vein in his neck that will tell you when he is gonna tan somebody." The man just laughed. and Pa just glared at Joe.

"May I be of service to you, he asked, I think we can solve this problem and get these people home for Thanksgiving, just what are the charges?"

"Judge Barrington, Mr. Nichols said in shock, what are you doing here this time of the night?"

"Hello counselor, I met two lost children at the courthouse, they seemed to be quite stressed about their parents, I came over to help if possible, now what are the charges?"

The man behind the desk, told the judge what he wanted to know. "Well it seems like a simple rescue turned in to a complicated mistake. Mr. Cartwright, it seems you have a small temper problem, I fine you $500.00 for striking the police man," Ben's mouth dropped, he in no way had that kind of money, but because of the situation the judge continued, and your need to help a lady in distress, I will reduce it to $5.00. Ms. Baker you to seem to have a wicked way with a parasol, same $5.00 and an apology from the city for mistaking your occupation. Now, take these kids home it is late, and enjoy the holiday. OH, and Mr. Cartwright, I hope the vein in your neck goes down before you get home." Ben just turned red.

As he turned to leave, two more young people came running into the building, almost knocking the judge down a second time. "Pa!" you ok?"

"I take it this one is your, and the female yours?"

"Yes, your honor", Ben said and Lesley shook her head.

"Any more out there I should watch out for?"

"No, sir, Ben said, just these six."

"GOOD, and good night."

They thank him, and he proceeded out the door. The man behind the desk had already pulled out Ben and Lesley's personal items. Lesley insisted on paying the fines, after all she didn't get to take him to dinner. And the whole group started back to the Baker house.

"Hoss, I though I told you to stay at the house, and Little Joe, you promised to stay there and wait for Hoss, Adam said suddenly remembering and his temper building, how did you get here?"

"Aw, knock it off Adam, Pa's back and you ain't in charge any more." said Little Joe.

"Maybe not at this minute, but I will be again, and I owe both of you, remember that."

"Sounds like I have some catching up to do on your activities today, Ben said, but let's wait till we get back to the house, let's just enjoy the ride in SILENCE."

They got the message.

****

As they went into the house, Ben turned and said, "It is very late all of you get up to bed, he looked over to Lesley and she nodded, tomorrow is, or rather today is Thanksgiving, so get some rest there is a holiday to celebrate."

Ben and Lesley started into the parlor, as Hoss, Em, Joe and Lee started up the stairs. Adam and Alex started to follow their parents into the parlor. Ben stopped so fast Adam ran into him. "Son, what part of all did you miss?"

"Oh, we just thought you might want to talk, I guess not, sorry, ah, ah, guess I, ah we, will get to bed too. Good Night!" Guess there would be no brandy tonight. Adam caught Alex's hand and started to the stairs, "You can let go of her hand too, you can get arrested in this town for that!" Adam quickly let go of her and started up the stairs.

Lesley fell down on the sofa, laughing so hard she could not breath. "Oh, poor Ben, I bring him to California for Thanksgiving and end up getting him thrown in jail. Can you ever forgive me? Playing knight in shining armor got him in trouble again."

"I'll have you know it was not the first time I was ever in jail, not that I want the boys to know everything about my past, but if you don't quit laughing at me, I may be forced to make it difficult for you to enjoy sitting down to dinner tomorrow, how would you like that Miss Lesley?"

"Let me think about it, no I don't think I would like that, I seem to remember my husband having enough of my humor once or twice ending with my having a problem sitting, no I don't think I will go that far tonight." She got up, have to start cooking very early, better get a little sleep. Ben stood up in front of her, tilted her head back and give her a "much more than friends" kiss. "I 'forgive' you." He then turned her around and popped her backside as she started off. "Remember that is just a start if you start telling the boys anything." he laughed and sat back down on the sofa.

"Yes, sir Mr. Cartwright, sir." But after she went around the corner she slipped back and hit him in the back of the head with a throw pillow, and ran.

***

The next morning found all of the kids in Adam's room. "How are we going to handle this Adam, Hoss was asking, you know it is gonna be hard to look at Pa and keep a straight face."

"Tell me about it, I already got in trouble the first time I saw him in the cell. We just have to let them say something first, and keep our comments short and sweet."

"And, Alex threw in no one tells about yesterday, not the coming back late, not the leaving without permission, nothing, got it!"

"We aren't stupid, big sister, Em said, we aren't about to tell and get our damn butts busted on Thanksgiving."

"You keep talking like that and we will. Ma has warned you enough times about it." Adam started to remind her about the way she talked to the lawyer, but held back.

"Yeah, Pa would have the soap in your mouth, or a belt on your behind faster than you could spit, if he heard you," Joe added, "just ask Adam."

"What is he talking about Adam," Lee asked although Joe had told her the story about Adam getting tanned for language a while back.

"Never mind, and I am not telling that story so don't ask." Adam said with a flat tone. Joe still believed he had got a tanning, couldn't tell that one.

"You girls up? Get down here and start helping or we will be Christmas getting finished."

***

The table look wonderful, golden brown turkey and all the trimmings. Hoss had seen at least ten pies in the kitchen, this was going to be a meal to remember.

Ben started to sit down, Lesley made him move to the head of the table. Each of her three girls sat facing his three boys, her at the end of the table facing Ben. Ben, please bless this table for us.

"Lord we have gotten through another year since we celebrated this feast, it is with your help and love that we made it. What is good in our lives comes from you, food, family, friends, shelter, love, all we need we receive from you. We give thanks this day as we a country celebrate the right to worship as we choose and do give you the thanks and praise. Amen."

"All right, around the table, what are you thankful for this year."

"Awe, Pa we got to do that?" Joe asked.

"Yep" and you are first."

"I guess, I know, I am thankful I stayed out of trouble long enough to get to come here for Thanksgiving, and glad Pa and Miss Lesley got out of jail."

So much for not saying anything, Adam thought, and a collective moan was heard from all the others at the table. Hoss kicked him under the table.

"What did I say?" Joe asked innocently.

Although the rest of the meal went off without a problem, Joe still noticed a certain look Pa kept giving him as they ate.

When they were done the boys got up to start taking the dishes to the kitchen, "Don't bother, boys, I gave my servants the day to be with their families, but they insisted on coming back late today and cleaning up from my party. They are wonderful people I am so lucky they work for me." They all went into the parlor to play some games and just sit and relax.

Even Hoss said he was to full for his fourth piece of pie, "Wonders never cease, Ben had said, hard to believe that."

"Pa can I ask you one question about yesterday?" Joe asked.

Ben moved his hands down to the belt he had just unbuckled so he could breath from all the dinner he had just eaten, "I know I am in a mellow mood son, but if you want to chance it, go ahead."

"Oh second thought, Lee where are the checkers."

Lesley and the girls had gone up to bed. Ben was left with his sons in the parlor, the way they had planned.

Hoss had started to get up to go, too, when Pa told him to sit back down he wanted to talk. Never a good sign Joe had thought.

"Boys we have had a beautiful day here and don't look so worried Little Joe, I just want to clear up a few things. I was arrested for striking an police man, helping someone get away from the police, and disorderly conduct. These are serious charges, but I think you should know what really happened. He then told them the whole story. Lesley is up stairs talking to the girls, because of certain things we thought it was best if we talked to you this way. Now you know what happened and that should be the end of it. I do know that a lot of rules have been broken in my absence. You two did not heed what Adam told you to do and he was in charge. They looked at Adam. No he didn't say anything other than what I heard last night. Adam, I can't say your conduct has been everything I would ask for either, but I am sure if I need to know something it will come out sooner or later. Now tomorrow we all start fresh, but I expect you three to do what you promised before we left home. I won't be overlooking disrespect or disobedience again this trip, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir," came three voices.

"Pa, how long are we staying here? Adam asked, I though we would be going home by the end of the week."

"Well, after Lesley took me to a couple of places here in town, I have found that they are in need of timber, special timber, and we have it at home. I hope to make some contacts tomorrow, but several places will still be closed for Thanksgiving, seems like in the big city they want more time off, silly isn't it. So, I may have to wait until the start of next week to be able to talk to the ship building companies. We may be here as much as another week. Oh, and Joseph I talked to Lesley about it, and she says there is no reason why you can't go to school with Lee starting Monday."

"WHAT", Joe said much louder and faster than he should have, I won't go to school here I don't know anyone and I have my own school at home."

"Joseph, what did I just say about obedience, don't tell me you won't do something I just said you would, that is a sure fire way to get you standing instead of sitting, and you know it."

"But, Pa," he started.

Ben stood up his belt was still unbuckled, "are we going to end this day badly after all, son?"

Joe's eyes got wide, "No, sir, I sure hope not."

"Me too, he answered back, now the three of you get to bed, tomorrow I want to do some more looking and making lists of the companies I need to talk to, you three will have another day to take in the city with the girls. Lesley, I think, has plans for us this weekend, but I am not sure what they are. Off to bed now."

Adam, hung back for a few minutes. "Something wrong son?"

"I was just wondering if you though it would be a good idea for me to go with you tomorrow. I would be glad to help if you need me."

"Thanks son, I will always 'need' you but take the day and enjoy, you have worked very hard lately, you, in fact all of you, need a few days. I may have need for you go with me on some of the meetings next week."

Adam's chest that had fallen when Pa said no at first, and puffed up when he told him he would be needed next week. This would give him more time with Alex and still help Pa when he wanted him. He had to spend some more time, with Alex, he just hadn't figured that girl out. One minute she was a book reading, calm, sweet young lady, the next she was a spitfire telling people what to do and getting mad when it didn't happen. One minute she was refined, the next her language was out of a saloon.

"Something else, son," he asked after looking at Adam's face suddenly get very intense.

"Pa, I notice that Alex is a lot like her mother, have you figured her out yet, cause the daughter is a real puzzle?" Adam blurted out.

Ben laughed in spite of himself, "No son, I haven't, but I think we are in for a hellava ride with these two." Adam looked shocked at his father's words, but he too, laughed. The two of them started up the stairs to bed.

THE END and the beginning