The
Widow
Ben
paced slowly in front of his boys like a captain inspecting his crew. “I’m
waiting,” he said, his voice deceptively calm. He halted in mid-stride,
pausing long enough to glare at each of them seperately.
Adam took a deep, cleansing breath. Holding his tongue was the wisest option at
the moment -- especially with Pa on the verge of exploding. Did he really think
Adam had anything to do with this? Why, he’d rather die than have supper with
Buffy Lou Nichols. Her irksome, incessant giggling was still ringing in his
ears. True, she was a beauty, but she simply wasn’t his type. He preferred
girls who had just a tad more intelligence than the average fence post.
“Adam?” At the sound of his name, Adam’s eyes popped open. “Was this your
idea?”
Adam’s jaw dropped. “Are you out of your mind?” he retorted without thinking.
Ben’s eyebrows lifted and he took a step back, shocked at the insolent
response.
Adam cleared his throat and smiled apologetically. “Come on, Pa,” he said,
mellowing his voice. “You know I’d never do a thing like that.”
Ben studied at him a moment longer then nodded slowly and moved on. “Hoss?”
Hoss gulped. Beads of perspiration broke out across his forehead. Pa couldn’t
really think he was guilty, could he? Liberty Nichols was a good friend,
but nothin’ more. She was near as big as he was, could belch louder than anyone
he knew and she was the territory champion arm wrassler to boot. But, Hoss
didn’t have eyes for her. His pa knew darn well he’d been sparkin’ Ellen
Butterfield for near on a week now. All he could do was tell the truth.
“No sir, Pa. I’d never invite no one out to dinner without lettin’ ya know
afore hand.”
Ben nodded, finding the explanation reasonable. He gave Hoss a small smile then
moved on to the last and most probable suspect. “Joseph?”
Little Joe sighed, dreamily staring into space. Penny Nichols was the prettiest
gal in all o’ western Utah. Some day he planned to marry her. Yes sir, he had
it all worked out. He’d get himself all gussied up, maybe slap on some of that
fancy-smelling cologne of Adam’s then ride into town on his trusty steed, get
down on one knee and propose, just like a prince in a storybook. ‘Course, there
was that little problem of first getting her ma and older sisters suited up properly,
but he had a plan and if it went accordingly, Penny’s hand would be his in no
time at all. He sighed again, images of Penny dancing through his mind. Her
strawberry blonde curls, her cute little freckled nose, that sweet,
straight-toothed smile and those long, dark lashes….
“Joseph!” His father’s voice completely shattered the dream. “Fix your eyes on
me when I’m talking to you, boy!”
“Y-yes sir, Pa.” He blinked and looked up at his father with a sweet smile,
figuring his wide-eyed innocent routine was the best option. Being the
center of Ben Cartwright’s intense scrutiny was enough to make a preacher
squirm. But, Joe was as used to it as a person could be.
“So, Joseph,” Ben said, folding his arms across his chest, his voice low and
menacing. “Tell me, was it your idea to invite Lotta Nichols and her daughters
to dinner?”
“M-me, Pa?”
“Yes,
YOU!”
Joe’s
smile faltered slightly; his entire face twitched for the briefest moment while
fear battled with bravado, but he recovered in no time and a full-fledged smile
reappeared. Under the circumstances, he felt it was in his best interest to
avoid a direct answer; instead, he sort of shook his head and shrugged a
shoulder, hoping that cute and clueless might buy him some time to come
up with something. He really didn’t understand why his pa was so mad, or
why his family was bein’ so darn uncooperative. Couldn’t they see that he was
doing this for them? His pa didn’t have much time left, Joe figured, and he
shouldn’t be nearly as picky as he was being. The widow Nichols was
downright googly-eyed over his pa, and she was a nice old gal. Joe
was certain she probably had a lot of good qualities, but how would his pa ever
find out if he didn’t at least give her a chance?
Ben moved his hands to his hips and stood up straight and tall, his most
intimidating stance and one he hoped would get results -- although with his
youngest son nothing was ever a certainty. “Well, I’m waiting.”
“Um…I-I guess i-it was my idea, Pa.” Maybe things would go better if he owned
up to the deed right off. He forced another smile, although he could tell it
lacked confidence.
“And who, may I ask, gave you permission to do this?”
“Well, a-actually, uh…H-Hop Sing said it was okay.” His smile faded to a
sour pucker, as his perfect plan continued to deteriorate.
“Oh really, and since when is Hop Sing in charge around here?”
Joe tilted his head, looking confused. “Well, heck pa, since before I was born,
I reckon.”
Adam and Hoss both chuckled at that, so Ben cleared his throat and turned to
the older boys. “Well now,” he said with a false smile. “Since you boys find
this so amusing, perhaps we should invite the Nichols out again sometime?
Perhaps tomorrow?”
Adam choked and Hoss looked horrified. Joe, on the other hand, beamed at his
father. “Oh could we, Pa?”
“NO!” All three shouted in unison.
Joe’s shoulders slumped and his lower lip thrust out. “You might find that you
like ‘em if you give ‘em a chance,” he mumbled. “’Sides, you ain’t gettin’ any
younger, Pa.” Oops, maybe he shouldn’t have added that last little bit. He took
a step back, hoping he’d be out of reach, or at least have a decent head start.
Ben squeezed his eyes closed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He counted to
ten in an effort to calm himself. It wasn’t working. “Joseph, I am not that
enfeebled, yet – although thanks to you I seem to be growing old much sooner
than I expected.”
“The widow Nichols thinks you’re real young, Pa,” Joe said, his tone
eager, “and she says you got a real fine —“
Ben held up a hand, unable to take it any longer. “Not another word,” he said,
using all of his remaining calm. “Just…just get to your room!”
“But Pa, don’t ya wanna know--”
Ben stabbed his finger in the direction of the staircase. “NOW!” he thundered,
making all three boys cringe.
Joe didn’t need to be told again. He raced up the stairs two at a time. If
that’s the way they were going to thank him, well – fine. They could all be old
and lonely and womanless for all he cared. It’d serve them right. Joe, however,
did not intend to live his life that way. Visions of Penny again danced through
his head as he lay back on his pillow with a wistful sigh. If he didn’t get
Penny’s ma and sisters married off, he just might end up old and lonely and
Pennyless. He couldn’t give up yet. He’d have to come up with another plan.
Besides, his pa and brothers needed his help, whether they knew it or not.