A blue dress

From a chair in the corner, Little Joe watched as the blonde haired lady held the green dress up in front of her and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She looked pretty, but not as pretty as his mama. He wished he had a peppermint stick.

“What do you think, Joey?”

Little Joe scowled. His name was not Joey; his name was Joe. Joey sounded like a kids’ name, or worse -- a gals’ name.

“Do you like this one?” she asked sweetly, as she watched his reaction in the mirror.

Joe shrugged; he didn’t much care what dress she picked out. They all looked the same to him. Besides, dress shoppin’ was for womenfolk, not men. He wished his brothers would get here and rescue him.

A moment later, the bell that hung over the door jingled and Hoss and Adam walked into the dress shop.

“Gotchya somethin’, short shanks,” Hoss said, tossing a little sack into his lap.

Little Joe opened the sack with a grin and pulled out the peppermint stick. “Thanks, Hoss!”

“What do you think, boys?” The lady asked, turning toward them with the dress held up and a hopeful look on her face. “Do you like it?”

Hoss blushed crimson and loosened his collar. He didn’t reckon he belonged in no dainty little shop like this. He gulped and shifted nervously from foot to foot, dreading that he might, purely by accident, see somethin’ he oughtn’t see. “That looks right purty, Miss Mary Sue,” he mumbled.

“Adam?” She asked coyly, batting her long lashes at the oldest brother. Adam Cartwright was a mighty handsome young man; too bad she hadn’t spotted him before she’d roped and tied the old man.

Adam folded his arms across his chest, leaned against the door and tilted his head appraisingly.

Joe sighed loudly and wished the lady would just pick a stupid dress and be done with it. Matter o’ fact, he wished this lady would just go away and leave his pa alone.

“That one’s very lovely, of course. But this one here,” he gestured toward a similar dress, only in a shimmering pale blue, “is such an unusual color of blue. I think it would really set off your eyes.” He glanced at Hoss. “What do you think Hoss?”

“Aw shucks Adam,” Hoss said, suddenly intent on studying his boots. “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout that sorta thing.”

Mary Sue tossed the green dress aside and went over to inspect Adam’s choice. “Oh, Adam! I think you’re right! It is beautiful!” she exclaimed, clasping her hands together with delight as she admired the blue dress with the stylishly low, lace-trimmed neckline.

“Just perfect for you, Miss Mary Sue,” Adam assured her with a twinkle in his eye. They always fell for it, he thought sardonically. He wasn’t sure if it was a Cartwright thing, or a blue dress thing, or perhaps the mixture of both, but he’d long ago realized that if he wanted to get rid of a potential Mrs. Cartwright, all he need do is get her to wear blue. The accident with Marie was completely unintentional, of course. Oh, sure, he hadn’t liked her to begin with, but since she’d already married his pa, there was no way he could devastate him further -- not after all he’d been through already, so he’d made sure that all of Marie’s blue dresses had mysteriously disappeared. He hadn’t figured she’d buy one while he was away. However, Miss Mary Sue was open season.

Joe swung his legs in the chair, wishing his brothers would get him out of there.

“Come on Joe. Let’s wait outside.” Adam said winking at his little brother.

Joe launched himself out of the chair and out then of the shop, before anyone could tell him different.

“You boys go ahead and I’ll meet you at the restaurant.” Mary Sue told them. “I’m going to try the dress on.”

“If you wear it to dinner, none of us will be able to concentrate on our food,” Adam said suggestively.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to wait fer ya, Miss Mary Sue?” Hoss, always the gentleman, asked with concern.

“No, it’s just across the street.” She said, holding the dress up and admiring herself in the mirror. “I’ll be there directly.”

Outside, Little Joe was gazing with admiration at a black and white spotted horse hitched to the rail across the street, right beside his pa’s and two brothers’. It was the most beautiful horse he’d ever seen. “I sure wish I had a horse like that,” he said softly to himself.

“Come on little buddy,” Adam put a hand on his brother’s shoulder and guided him across the street. “Pa has a surprise for you.”

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