Ben Cartwright gave no thought to the sound of
boots coming rapidly down the stairs, nor did he think anything when a small
object streaked past. “Joseph!” he called without looking up from his
ledger. “No running in the house!”
“Okay, Pa!”
A moment later, he heard more boots tramping
down the stairs, which finally caused him to look up and wonder aloud, “What
the devil is going on?”
His two older sons paused then began walking
slowly forward. Hoss was stooped down, holding out a blanket; from appearance
one would think he was fixing to calm a skittish horse. “Now, jus’ hold still,
little fella,” he said in his most soothing voice.
Ben sat forward, resting his arms on the top
of his desk, his curiosity growing.
“Don’t worry, Pa.” Hoss assured him with a
smile. “We’ll catch him.”
Catch whom? Joseph?
“Don’t do it, Joe.” Adam spoke in warning.
“Come on, buddy. Be reasonable.”
Ha! Ben had to laugh out loud at that one.
Apparently they needed to be reminded of whom they were dealing with. Maybe
they’d been out in the sun a little too long that afternoon.
“Yeah, little buddy, if’n you go outside
everyone’s gonna see that yer…” Hoss gulped and looked guiltily at his father
then lowered his voice. “They’ll see that you’re nekid!”
Ben stood and walked around the desk. This, he
had to see.
“So, the horses is nekid too.” The boy was
standing in the entryway, naked as the day he was born -- with one exception.
He had his boots on.
“Th-That’s different, Joe. Horses ain’t the
same as people.”
“I don’t care. I ain’t puttin’ no clothes on
and you can’t make me!”
Adam muttered something to Hoss and gestured
for him to half circle around. Apparently they thought they were going to trap
their little brother. This ought to be good, thought Ben. But, before the boys
could put their plan into action, the door opened and closed and Joseph was
gone. Ben shook his head and laughed.
“That little….”
“Adam!”
“Sorry, Pa.”
Ben walked past them, opened the door and
waved them back. “Just let me handle this, boys.”
They both shrugged, Hoss looking relieved and
Adam looking as if he doubted his father’s capabilities. Well, he’d just have
to show them who wore the boots in this family. So to speak.
The ranch hands had gathered around the corral,
some of them snickering and Ben could hear that a few were trying to coax Joe
back inside. Once a path was cleared, they found the little imp watching them
from the other side of the fence.
“Joseph, what on Earth are you doing?” Ben
asked.
“I’m hidin’.”
Ben thought about pointing out that the corral
in broad daylight wasn’t exactly an ideal place to hide, but figured, at the
moment, it wouldn’t be a wise thing to say. “Well,” he smiled, trying to be
diplomatic. “I think it’s time you come inside with Pa, now.”
“I ain’t gonna put no clothes on!” the boy
declared.
“Why ain’t….” Ben cleared his throat and began
again. “Why don’t you want to put your clothes on, son?”
“Cause my skin hurts,” he answered
plaintively, blinking up at his father with woebegone eyes. It never ceased to
amaze him how this one’s mood could swing from one extreme to the other in the
blink of an eye.
Ben leaned over the fence and looked closer at
the boy. Pretty near every inch of his little body was as red as a ripe tomato.
Ben winced in sympathy. “Well now, son, it looks like you have quite a sunburn
there.”
“Will it go away, Pa?” Joe asked, solemnly.
“Of course it will,” Ben assured him lovingly.
“Now, come on. Let’s go inside.”
“But, if I go inside you’ll just make me put
clothes on and I don’t wanna!” And just like that he was at the other extreme.
“Well, you’ve already got your boots on….” He
said with fatherly patience, hoping to convince the boy that putting the rest
of his clothes on couldn’t be all that bad.
“A man should always wear his boots, Pa!” The
ranch hands all snickered and Ben turned what he hoped was a meaningful glare
on them. He wondered when he had lost all control.
He considered letting Adam take over, but
decided against it. The boy was already too arrogant for his own good. Turning
back to his youngest, he put his hands on his hips and attempted to look his
most authoritative. “Joseph, be reasonable.” Lord, had he really just
said that?
“I ain’t puttin’ no clothes on.” Joe stomped
his boot, his little fists clenched in anger.
He heard the ranch hands all chuckle again,
but they made themselves look busy before Ben could catch them. “Joseph,
you’re going to find your bottom hurting a lot more than it already is….” he
warned.
Joe folded his arms across his bare chest and
jutted his chin out stubbornly.
Ben’s jaw was beginning to ache from grinding
his teeth. He could go over the fence and try catching the boy, but he had a
feeling that he’d end up looking even more foolish than he did now. Perhaps
they could rope him like a calf? Of course then folks might talk. Not
that they weren’t going to be talking already.
“Joseph Francis, you come out of there this
instant!” he demanded. But Joe only backed away.
Adam and Hoss climbed up on the fence.
Apparently they’d mustered a little sympathy for their poor father and
so renewed their efforts to talk sense into their young brother.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t working.
Suddenly a new voice was added to the mix. Ben recognized the voice immediately and hope sprung inside him. Other than the few English words tossed in at random, Ben had no clue what the man was saying, but that didn’t matter because apparently Joseph did. His eyes grew wide and he nodded to the man. Then with his head hung low, he walked toward his father and climbed between the fence rails. “I-I’m sorry, Pa,” he said with the utmost contrition.
Ben looked around noting that all eyes were on
him. He quick grabbed the boy and swung him up into his arms, lest he decide to
make a break for it. Then trying to maintain what dignity he had left, he
frowned at Joseph. “Well, discuss this upstairs in your room, young man.” Joe
sniffled.
“What you all stand around fo’?” Everyone was
startled when Hop Sing suddenly began ranting and shaking his finger at the
ranch hands. “Mr. Cartlite not pay you to stand here! You done with all work?”
The hands shook their heads in unison. “Then go! Do yo’ work…!” The orders were
completed in Chinese, but the hands seemed to have no problem translating the
message. They returned to their duties without hesitation.
Hop Sing smiled and bowed to the ‘master of
the house’. “Everything fix now, Boss. You go! Take little boy inside.”
Boss? Ben wondered what had ever given him the
idea that he was in charge? He didn’t question the man however; he simply
nodded and obediently carried his son into the house.
___