He who spares his rod hates his son,                                                                                                                             But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.                                                                                                        Proverbs 13:24 New American Standard Bible         

The brightly-lit theater on the crowded Sacramento street beckoned passersby to enter. A tall dark haired man in a red and white uniform was taking tickets at the door. Twenty-eight year old Adam Cartwright handed him their tickets and was surprised to see a frown form on the man's lips.

"Are you sure you want to take the boy in there?" the ticket taker asked, gesturing toward the slight curly haired boy at the man's side.

Adam's eyes narrowed and he put his arm around his youngest brother's shoulders. "Of course we do. What would you suggest--leave him on the street corner?"

The ticket-taker shook his head and looked at the potential patrons. "You do realize this show is for adults?"

Ben reached out and put a hand on his oldest son's arm. "Adam, are you sure?"

Adam turned around, slightly annoyed. "Of course I'm sure Pa. I've seen this show before, and although the humor is a little adult, there is absolutely nothing risqué."

Ben held up his hands in surrender and chuckled softly. "Okay, if you say so. I trust your judgement." He turned to his two younger boys. "Let's go in, but I want you two on your best behavior--understood?"

"Yes sir," Hoss said, as he ran his fingers through his thinning hair. He still couldn't get used to the fact that in Sacramento you didn't wear your hat all the time like you did back home. Twenty-one year old Hoss felt almost naked without his hat.

Little Joe imitated his brother and raked his fingers through his brown curly hair. Then he looked up at his father and grinned. "Of course, Pa. We'll behave just like always."

Ben arched an eyebrow at his youngest and gently grabbed the boy by the collar of his new blue suit. "I haven't been particularly impressed with your behavior this summer, so I suggest you behave better than 'always'."

A crimson flush crept up Joe's neck, then turned his face pink, but it didn't disguise the smirk. "Yes, sir."

The four men walked into the theater and joined the crowd of patrons milling about waiting for the show to start. The furnishings in the main room were very elaborate, gilt-edged mirrors decorated the walls and deep red velvet curtains fringed with gold masked the stage.

Adam glanced around the room, trying to recognize anyone. Two hundred people were invited to his best friend Jacob Dayton's wedding and it would stand to reason that he would run into a few friends. The well-produced plays put on at the Jackson Square Theater usually drew a crowd of well-educated men and their female companions. Or at least it had six months ago when he was last in Sacramento. Of course the theater players were different, but that shouldn't make a difference. Adam scanned the sign on the easel by the stage that read "The Lady's Companion." He realized he hadn't seen the play, but from past experience with the theater it should be good.

Hoss tugged at the collar of his pale blue shirt. He looked at his little brother who was scanning the room and the elegant furnishings. Hoss bent down and whispered in Little Joe’s ear. "Ain't this a fancy place?"

Little Joe nodded and watched the waiters carrying silver trays of champagne to the patrons. He glanced at his father who was busy discussing the cool of the late August evening with an older man. As a waiter passed by, Little Joe snagged a glass of champagne and quickly brought it to his lips. After the first sip, the crystal glass was ripped out his hand by his oldest brother.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Adam hissed as he glared down at the boy.

Little Joe stuck his hands in the pockets of his blue suit and gave his oldest sibling a sheepish grin. "Just thirsty, that' s all."

"That innocent face doesn't work on me and you know it," Adam said, and grabbed his youngest brother's collar and pulled him close. "Now behave yourself or I'll regret bringing you here."

Little Joe rolled his eyes and nodded. Adam can be such a stick-in-the-mud.

Finally shaking himself loose from the elderly man, Ben returned to his sons. "Shall we find our seats?" he said as he draped a protective arm around Little Joe's shoulders. His youngest rewarded his with an ear-splitting grin.

"Right over there, Pa," Hoss said pointing to a well-appointed box to the left of the stage. He beamed at his oldest brother. "Adam got us the best seats in the house."

"Let's make use of them then," Ben said with an indulgent smile toward his middle son. His two younger boys rarely made it to the city and he knew they were both enjoying the sights. He looked at his oldest son who was slightly ahead of him. It was hard to believe that Adam was going to be standing up at the altar as best man for his friend Jacob in two days. Ben had known the Dayton family since they moved to Virginia City fifteen years ago. Jacob and his younger brother Josh were close to Adam and Hoss in age and the boys had grown up together. Ben shook his head. It just wasn't the same since the Dayton boys had moved to Sacramento last year. Of course Jacob had been very successful as an architect and had found himself a beautiful woman to marry, but Ben hadn't heard how the younger boy was doing.

Little Joe pushed aside the velvet curtains that enclosed their box seats and walked over to the last chair on the end. He quickly sat down on the wooden chair with a red velvet upholstered seat and motioned for his older brother to do the same. Hoss ambled in behind and sat next to his younger brother. The two immediately started whispering and pointing to the elaborate stage.

Ben and Adam remained standing and exchanged smiles at the excitement of the boys. Even though seven years separated the two brothers, they were very close and usually managed to get into trouble.

"Joseph," Ben said softly.

Little Joe looked up at his father, knowing what the request was going to be. "Yes, Pa?" he said, trying to paste a trustworthy look to his face. As usual, he wasn't able to succeed.

"I suggest you sit in between Adam and myself," Ben said, pointing to the empty chair next to him.

"But Pa, I really want to sit on the end here by Hoss," Little Joe said, hoping to coerce his father into a little freedom from parental control.

Ben put his hands on his hips and adopted a no-nonsense pose. "Joseph. I suggest you do as I asked."

Joe wrinkled his nose in dismay. He'd never have any fun if he got stuck sitting between his Pa and Adam. "But…" Joe began.

"I warned you once already tonight, Little Joe," Adam said sternly. "Don't make me sorry I brought you here."

The boy glared at his oldest brother, whom he considered too bossy. "Doggone you Adam…"

Ben's eyes darkened and his voice deepened. "Joseph! I believe I told you to sit next to me. I expect my wishes to be obeyed."

Not willing to tempt fate so early in the evening, Little Joe relented. "Yes, sir," he grumbled and turned to Hoss. "Sorry about that older brother--maybe next time."

Hoss grinned and patted his baby brother's arm. Although it was usually a lot more fun when he and Little Joe got to sit together at functions, it rarely happened. They did have a tendency to stir up a little trouble when they were together and he knew Pa had their best interests at heart.

Joe did as instructed and sat between his father and oldest brother. It was a familiar place, but not one he enjoyed. He hoped the play would be a good one. Chancing a glance at Hoss, he winked. Adam's taste in entertainment wasn't usually on the same level as the two younger Cartwrights', but Little Joe had high hopes for this play.

The heavy velvet curtains were slowly drawn back and a portly older man began to sing in a deep baritone. He was stylishly dressed in a black suit, the spare tire around his middle almost concealed by a white vest.

"A man is not whole without a wife. Only in marriage does he share his life," he sang as he twirled the edges of his handlebar mustache.

Little Joe leaned forward in his seat and looked at Hoss. He was rewarded by his brother wrinkling his nose in disgust. Joe did the same, until a hand on the back of his jacket pulled him forcibly back in his seat. Chancing a glance at Adam, he wasn't surprised that the expression on his oldest brother's face wasn't a funny look like the one Hoss gave him, but more closely resembled a "this is your last warning" look. Little Joe swallowed loudly. Joe was very familiar with that look, so he turned and watched the play.

The man continued to sing, and Little Joe watched as best as he could. The props tried to give the stage the appearance of an upper-crust living room complete with a green velvet settee and coffee table. It took another two minutes for Little Joe's mind to wander. What are the chances of another sip of that champagne? He chanced a glance to the right and noticed that the waiters were all watching the play. He looked up at his older brother who was obviously absorbed in the play. Why does Adam have to keep such a close eye on me? Why did…..

A soprano joined the baritone on the stage. Little Joe rolled his eyes-is there no end to this? A plumpish middle aged woman in a too-tight green dress took the arm of what was obviously her husband on the stage. They continued to sing of love blooming within the confines of marriage.

Little Joe’s boredom grew by leaps and bounds. He looked to his right and saw that Pa was deeply engrossed in the play. A glance to his left confirmed Adam was also mesmerized. Tempting fate once again, Little Joe leaned forward and looked past Adam. Luckily he caught Hoss’ gaze. His middle brother mouthed the word "boring." Joe smiled and nodded in response. Just as he opened his mouth to speak a sharp slap to his thigh made him sit up. He grinned sheepishly at his Pa and directed his attention once more at the stage.

After some more boring singing, at least in Little Joe's opinion, the husband left for a business meeting after the wife had begged unsuccessfully for him to stay home. The matronly woman exited the stage and the curtains closed as the first act ended.

Comments on the play were whispered among the audience members gathered in the rows of seats before the stage, and the contents of the private box did the same.

"That voice, so deep and resonant. He just took control of the stage, didn't you think Pa?" Adam said as he looked over his little brother's head at his father.

"I agree Adam, and the soprano joined beautifully. The duet about the joys of children was very moving also." Ben pursed his lips and gathered his thoughts as he spoke to his eldest. "They added a depth of emotion to the words that was hard to miss."

Beneath the two elder members of the family's gaze, the two younger were having their own discussion of the play. Little Joe's consisted of sticking his finger half-way down his throat and pretending to gag, and Hoss fighting hard to contain the laughter that threatened to erupt from his large body.

Ben noticed the bent over form of his youngest about the same time Adam turned and saw Hoss' red face.

Adam glared at his younger brother and slapped Hoss on the back. "Knock it off, boy. This is a respectable place and they don't want to be insulted by you laughing at them."

Hoss sobered quickly and took a deep breath. "Sorry, Adam." The softhearted boy surely didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

About the same time, Ben jerked Little Joe back in his seat until he was sitting upright. Little Joe chewed on his lower lip in the face of his father's displeasure. "How many times do I have to tell you to behave? I thought we had this discussion before the play started, but I can see once again that you have chosen not to listen." Ben lifted the boy's chin until they were looking eye to eye. "You will not get another warning--understood?"

Nodding his response, Little Joe turned to the stage. He shrugged his shoulders and pulled on his collar, trying to get comfortable once more in the blue suit jacket. If they'd quit yanking on me this suit would stay new a lot longer.

Several moments later the curtains opened to reveal an elaborate bedroom scene. A brightly polished brass bed dominated the stage, black satin sheets folded down to beckon entry. Little Joe glanced quickly at his Pa, and after deciding the coast was clear he leaned forward and looked quickly at Hoss, his thoughts mirrored in his older brother’s eyes. Maybe this is going to get better after all.

A woman who appeared to be in her late twenties glided to the center of the stage and caressed the satin sheets. Pushing her shoulder length blonde hair off her shoulders, she strolled over to the prop window and peered out, giving the impression that she was waiting for a visitor. Fingering the gold-brocade robe that was tied loosely at her trim waist, she began to sing a bawdy tune.

"Although flowery phrases and words such as love transform the world into a beautiful place, I speak in a different language." She put her hands to her lips and whispered loudly. "Lust."

A crease lined his forehead as Ben glanced over Little Joe's head at Adam, but wasn’t able to catch his eldest’s gaze. I hope Adam is right about the content of this play. It is definitely headed in a direction I don't approve of for my little boy. Ben looked down at Little Joe who was leaning forward in his chair.

The woman pranced to the far edge of the stage, the exaggerated sway of her hips catching the attention of every male in the room. She put her left foot up on a chair and pulled her robe open slightly to reveal a shapely leg with a black lace garter resting just above her knee. Smiling at the all-male audience, she continued with the next verse.

"Love is talked about in church and social circles galore, the word I adore is spoken in whispers or not at all." Once again, she put her hands to her lips and whispered, "Lust."

Little Joe scooted forward in his seat to get an even-closer look, and flashed an ear-splitting grin at the beautiful woman on the stage. This play is getting better by the minute. Maybe this is why Adam seemed to like going to the theater so often. Although he found it hard to picture the overly serious Adam ogling the scantily clad woman. He looked to his left, and saw Adam's eyes riveted to the performance. Okay, now I can--yuck.

The actress sashayed over the left side of the stage and stood directly in front of the box filled by the Cartwrights'. She smiled at Joe as she continued with the next verse.

"This blessed union produces children by the score," she paused and caressed Little Joe's smooth cheek. "But I prefer to speak of lust." To punctuate the final word of the verse, in one fluid motion she untied the strings keeping the robe closed and dropped it. The brocade robe cascaded down her slim hips and ended in a puddle of fabric on the floor. Miss Elizabeth Shanley stood naked before her audience.

All four Cartwright men gawked at the unexpected sight before them, and then each had a vastly different reaction to the nudity.

Adam was stunned and slunk down in his chair with his hand covering his face. Hoss whistled softly and Little Joe just stared. Ben’s jaw dropped, but he quickly recovered and grabbed his youngest boy around the chest with his left hand and slapped his right across Little Joe's eyes. The quick movement effectively hid the voluptuous curves of the actress from the child's sight.

Little Joe tried to shake off the restraining hands of his father. "Pa! What're you doing! I'm trying to watch the play!" he pleaded as he struggled.

Ben held the boy firmly and spoke in a low voice. "I know very well what you are trying to watch young man." He turned to his eldest. "This is your opinion of nothing risqué?"

Adam's face was crimson but he managed to spread his fingers apart and peek at his father. He took a deep breath and sat upright in his chair to try and tried to regain a little dignity. "I didn't know Pa-I swear. You know I wouldn't have brought Little Joe and Hoss here if I thought they were going to have… have… you know."

"What other things have you been doing in this city that warrants my observation?" Ben said, his gaze searing into his eldest. After a moment, Ben turned his attention back to the still struggling boy in his arms. "I believe Little Joe and I are headed for the hotel." Ben noticed that Hoss still had his eyes glued to the entertainment. "Hoss, you will be joining us."

"Ummm, Pa, I think I'll stay here with Adam," Hoss managed to utter, unable to tear his gaze away from the undulating woman on the stage.

Ben's tone barely concealed his anger. "Son, that wasn’t a question, it was a statement. Adam, I think you should come with us too."

Deeply embarrassed, Adam nodded and stood. He grabbed Hoss' upper arm. "Let's go. "

Hoss started to protest but decided against it. No reason to make Pa and Adam mad. I certainly got my money's worth.

Ben pulled Little Joe to his feet and backed out of the theatre box, struggling to keep his hand tightly over the boy's eyes. "Joseph! Hold still!"

Little Joe feinted to his left and then quickly moved to his right, briefly dislodging his father's hand. He got one last glimpse of the naked woman and was flattered when she blew him a kiss. Ben quickly regained his grasp and dragged the boy out of the box seats.

Adam had an equally rough time hauling his younger but bigger brother out of the seats. Finally he whispered "Pa is really mad!" The four small words broke Hoss from his reverie, and he left with his older brother.

The cab ride back to the hotel was a silent one. Adam was too embarrassed to speak and just silently watched the buildings pass from his place next to Little Joe in the buggy.

Ben was still very angry but was trying to see the funny side of the situation--not succeeding--but trying. He was certain that Adam was as upset as he was. A glance at the younger two boys however revealed a different reason for their silence. Hoss seemed to be trying to mentally conjure up the picture of the naked actress. Ben's lips curled in a smile. His middle son had never been overly interested in girls-maybe this would encourage him to see them in a new light. Little Joe was silent, a word that was rarely associated with the boy-but he certainly wasn't still. The youngster was squirming on the seat, trying to keep the questions he wanted to ask at bay. Ben wasn't certain just how much the boy had seen of the naked woman, but he knew Joe had gotten at the very least a full-body view. Ben hadn't had the birds and bees talk with his youngest yet, and wondered if his two older boys had taken care of that conversation for him. He smiled inwardly, well he had wanted to show his younger sons some new and exciting things on this trip, he was certain they had gotten more than they had bargained for.

The next day, Jacob Dayton, Adam and Hoss Cartwright walked along the stone path that meandered through the gardens surrounding the St. Raphael's Catholic Church. The wedding rehearsal would start in another fifteen minutes and they were discussing the sights and entertainment available in the thriving city of Sacramento.

"The Evans Street museum Adam, is the best place to visit," Jacob said with a smile. "The paintings there are absolutely exquisite."

"I agree, I'm planning on taking Hoss and Little Joe there tomorrow." Adam looked over at his large brother and noticed the unhappy expression. "Don't worry, there are lots of great restaurants in the area too."

Hoss brightened considerably and laughed. "You know me Adam, I'll go anywhere on a full belly."

"The opera too, Adam--you should take them there will you're in the city," Jacob suggested.

The two younger boys who brought up the rear were having a similar conversation, at least it concerned the sights of Sacramento. Josh Dayton at twenty-one had his own ideas about entertainment, and had always found a ready participant in the much younger Little Joe.

"Down on First Street, there is this place called the 'Gentlemen's Club' and they have gambling going on all the time. Any time of the day or night, there's poker, black jack, billiards…" Josh said, eager to inform his young friend about his favorite pass times.

Little Joe grabbed Josh's arm and held a finger to his lips to signal silence. After the three older men walked several steps and hadn't noticed they were no longer being followed, Little Joe gestured to the bushes on the side of the walkway. "I need to know more about this without the possibility of being overheard," he whispered. "They'll never miss us."

The two boys slipped down a path to the right and waited until they couldn't hear the others. "Good idea. I wouldn't want old Adam to overhear anything. He doesn't think you're old enough to have a good time," Josh said.

"Am I going to be able to get in this 'Gentlemen's Club' and see for myself?" Little Joe asked, well aware of the problems his youthful appearance could cause.

"They might kick up a little fuss, but eventually they'll let you in. Just flash some money around and we won't have any problems. You did bring some cash with you didn't you?" Josh said as he sat down on a stone bench hidden from the path by a tall evergreen hedge.

Joe nodded and glanced in the direction his brothers' had gone. Pa would be real mad at him if he found out Little Joe had slipped away, but he had planned for this wedding for weeks. "Of course I did. It wasn't easy, but I managed to scrape together fifty bucks. Should at least let me do a little gambling."

Josh raised his eyebrows. "Fifty bucks huh? Not bad for a little kid," he said not succeeding in hiding a lop-sided grin.

Little Joe's eyes narrowed and he balled his left hand into a fist. He shook it threateningly at his friend. "Josh, you know…"

Josh held up his hand in self-defense. "Whoops, sorry I forgot how sensitive you are about that." When he saw Little Joe had forgiven him, he continued. "Seriously, though how'd you come up with that much money?"

Little Joe snickered as he thought back to the scams he had pulled in the last month. "I think I can honestly say that just about every kid in Virginia City under the age of twenty has empty pockets. Between the checker matches, bets and black jack games I've been playing I don't think anyone has enough money to buy a penny stick of candy."

Josh nodded in satisfaction. "I knew you were up to the task. Does your Pa or brothers' have any inkling what we're planning?"

"Are you crazy? If they did they wouldn't let me out of their sight." Little Joe stood on tiptoe and peeked over the top of the hedge, concerned about the possibility of being overheard. "But I sure don't want to get caught."

Josh ran his hand through his dark blonde hair and contemplated the horror of their plans being discovered. Although he was a tall man, he hadn't really had that much experience fighting. Josh much preferred to talk his way out of a situation and didn't like the thoughts of a tussle with either Hoss or Adam. "You think I'd like to get you caught? I don't want to have to deal with your old man or brothers' any more than you do."

An hour later, Ben sat in the pew in the center of the St. Raphael's church on Elm Street and watched the wedding rehearsal take place. He realized he had only been in a Catholic Church four times, and was certain Marie wouldn't approve that he hadn't taken Little Joe as he had promised. He could hear the commotion from the bride and her attendants in the entryway as Josh and his groomsmen filed out to stand to the right of the altar. Ben smiled at Little Joe, looking so young and sweet despite the grown up suit. Somehow instead of making him look more adult, the green suit only emphasized his youth. Hoss followed his baby brother, uncomfortable in the dressy clothes and tugging at his collar. Josh, the groom's younger brother came behind, suave and self-assured as always. Adam, calm and cool, and then the groom. It hardly seemed like Jacob was old enough to get married let alone run a successful law firm like he did. He watched as Jacob took off his eyeglasses and rubbed his eyes, a nervous habit that Ben recognized. So he appeared calm and cool, but you couldn't fool everyone.

The sweet sounds of an organ broke him from his thoughts. He almost chuckled as he saw Hoss give Little Joe a shove to start him walking down the aisle to meet the bridesmaid he was partnered with. Ben could see the scowl Joe gave his older brother even from this distance. Ben watched as his youngest glided down the aisle, graceful as always. The new green suit was a perfect compliment to his eyes, and the short jacket emphasized his son's trim waist nicely.

His partner, the bride's youngest sister met Joe slightly behind Ben's pew. She was a petite girl with raven black hair and was roughly the same height as his son. Ben smiled as he watched Joe gracefully extend his elbow, saw the girl take it and begin their trek back to the white marble altar.

Little Joe caught his father's eye and noticed the wistful look in the deep brown eyes. He winked at his father and was gratified to see him smile.

Movement to his left drew Ben's attention, as the bride's mother joined him. Elvira Lawford was an elegantly attired woman in her fifties and was happy to see her daughter finally getting married. "Well, Mr. Cartwright I think our two youngest make quite a pair don't you?"

"Please call me Ben," he smiled as he turned to her. "I agree they do make a handsome couple."

"You must return the favor and call me Elvira. Yes, it's too bad that Little Joe is so young." She watched Hoss walk down the aisle and extend his arm to a tall red-haired matron. "Your middle boy Hoss, how old is he?"

Ben started to get uncomfortable. Was this woman so callous as to try and marry off her daughter at the wedding rehearsal of her other child?

Elvira noticed. "Oh, I'm sorry Ben. I realize what that sounded like and that's not what I'm doing." She paused to gather her thoughts. "It's just that Serena is well, a handful and I'd hate to have her wild ways rub off on your younger boys."

Ben chuckled softly and smiled at the woman. "I think you might have to worry in the other direction with Little Joe. My little boy doesn't need any help getting into mischief, and Hoss' thoughts don't usually run in that direction."

Elvira hid a smile behind a perfectly manicured hand, several diamond rings glinting in the light. "It's probably a good thing Serena and Little Joe aren't closer in age then. Could you imagine what could happen if they really hit it off?"

"No, and I'm sure I don't want to." Ben shook his head as he realized they had missed both Josh and Adam walk down the aisle to retrieve their partners. He saw a pale blonde girl walk down the aisle, dip her hand into a white wicker basket and gently toss imaginary flower petals to the floor. He turned to Elvira. "I know the matron of honor is Laura's friend, and the other bridesmaids are your older daughters, but who is this child?"

"Her name is Felicia and she's Laura's goddaughter."

Ben looked at the young girl and then up at the altar at his youngest son who was talking as usual. He managed to catch the boy's eye and gave a stern shake of his head, gratified to see Little Joe stop talking. "Although I'm not up on such things as weddings, I would have thought her natural partner would have been…"

"Little Joe," Elvira finished for him. "Yes, he would have been. However Jacob insisted that your youngest would have 'kicked up a fuss' I believe he said, if Little Joe had to be the ringbearer."

Ben chuckled, glad that the groom knew his boy so well. "I have to admit Jacob was right about that. Joseph doesn't like to be seen as a child by any means and I'm sure being partnered with the little girl would have caused quite a scene."

Elvira glanced around the church before returning her attention to the handsome silver haired man beside her. She leaned close to him and whispered. "I'd hate to have the society matrons know about it though, but we did stretch a few rules here and there with this wedding. True etiquette prohibits children younger than fifteen in a wedding and Felicia is fourteen and a half. I know your boy is even younger."

Ben nodded. "Joe won't be fourteen until Halloween."

Elvira watched as the priest tried to keep the boy quiet. "I bet he keeps you on your toes."

Ben rolled his eyes and flashed her a smile as he stood to go rescue the priest from his youngest son. "You have no idea."

After the wedding rehearsal was over, Ben and Adam Cartwright and Samuel and Jacob Dayton were in the hotel bar having a drink. The elegant gilt fixtures and marble bar were a far cry from the saloons in Virginia City and the liquor was a cut above the customary beer and whisky served there.

Ben took a sip of his wine and looked at Samuel. "Does it seem like these two are old enough to be even thinking about getting married?"

Sam shook his head. "It sure doesn't Ben. It seems like only yesterday we were on the Ponderosa looking after a pack of unruly little boys."

Jacob took a drag off his cigarette and winked at Adam. "Fathers' never seem to want their 'little boys' to grow up do they?"

"No, they certainly don't." Adam looked at the cigarette, and said, "Speaking of unruly little boys, do you remember…"

Marie Cartwright and Abigail Dayton had been gone all day to help prepare for the annual Virginia City Founder's Day Picnic. Back at the Ponderosa, Jacob and Adam had wandered off together, discussing the merits of several of the local schoolgirls. Josh and Hoss had gotten their fathers' permission to go down to the pond and look for tadpoles.

The afternoon had gone well for the two pairs of boys. Ben and Samuel however had been placed in charge of keeping an eye on a small but very active toddler and had failed miserably.

"He's gotta be around here somewhere Ben!" Samuel yelled, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice. "He was just here a minute ago."

Ben ran out of the barn. "He's not in there," he said putting his hands on his hips and panting. They had been searching frantically for ten minutes without even catching a glimpse of the curly haired eighteen month old.

"Okay, lets be systematic. We checked the house, the barn, the corral, and the bunkhouse. Where else would he go?" Samuel asked trying to remain calm. He had seen how fast Little Joe could move and knew the boy could be just about anywhere.

"The woodpile? He's not allowed to go near it, but he's always wanted to climb on it," Ben said as a crease formed on his brow.

"Let's head there then. I tell you Ben, I don't know how you keep up with that baby at your age," Jacob said as they hurried toward the long row of stacked logs that sat behind the storage shed past the corral.

"I'm no older than you are, old man," Ben said with a worried grin.

Samuel returned the grin. "That's true but Josh is almost nine--Little Joe isn't even two yet."

The two men lapsed into silence as they approached the woodpile, afraid that if Little Joe was there and climbing they might scare him and cause him to fall. As they peeked around the corner they were disappointed by both what they saw and what they didn't see.

What they didn't see was the baby Cartwright boy. What they did see were their two oldest sons' smoking forbidden cigarettes.

Adam's jaw dropped when he saw his father's head poke around the corner of the pile of split pine logs. He knew he was in major trouble. Cigarettes were a taboo topic on the Ponderosa and he had willfully broken the rules.

Jacob was concerned as well, but more for his friend than for himself. Sure, his Dad would be mad, and he would be restricted to the house, but oh well. He did feel guilty though, he thought.

An angry bellow came from just over the crest of the hill. "I said no!"

"Hoss! Pwease!" The sound of Little Joe's wailing could be heard all the way to the woodpile.

Ben's let out a sigh of relief and glanced at Samuel. "At least my middle son follows instructions," Ben said as he caught sight of Hoss carrying a kicking and fighting Little Joe in his arms.

Hoss and Josh walked up to a pair of angry fathers'. "I'm sorry Pa, we didn't notice he was following us until we got down to the pond."

Ben smiled and took Little Joe from his middle son. "That's allright son. I know how hard he is to keep track of," he said and then turned to his youngest son. "Baby, what were you doing following Hoss?"

"Fwogs, wanta see fwogs," Little Joe lisped staring angelically into his father's eyes.

Ben looked sternly at his small son. "You know you aren't allowed to leave the house alone."

Little Joe shook his head, his unruly curls falling on his forehead. "Went 'wif Hoss, Papa."

Ben looked over at Samuel then back to his boy. He opened his mouth to explain, but realized it was futile. Before he could speak however, his youngest piped up again.

"Go 'wif Hoss!" Little Joe yelled adamantly.

"Hoss, will you and Josh take him back to the house and lay him down for his nap? I'll be up shortly after I deal with a discipline problem I have recently uncovered," Ben said as he glared at his oldest son.

Hoss looked at Adam and noticed how pale he was. His big brother was in a lot of trouble, he didn't know why, but the signs were all there. "Sure, Pa. We'll take care of it."

"Thanks, son." Ben set Little Joe down on the ground. "You listen to what Hoss tells you-okay precious?" he said as he tousled the golden brown curls.

Tiny hands balled into fists and the toddler stamped his bare foot on the ground. "No nap! Papa no!"

Ben rolled his eyes. I'm too old for this--will it never end?

Hoss grabbed a small hand and Josh took the other as they dragged Little Joe toward the ranch house.

Ben surveyed the two teenagers before him. "I have a little unfinished business to attend to," Ben said as he looked over at the other man. "What about you?"

"I know I certainly do," Sam said glaring at his oldest son.

Ben looked at the two boys, who seemed to suddenly find the ground fascinating. "I think it would save time on my part anyway if we had this discussion in the barn--what do you think Adam?"

Adam grimaced, and raised his head. "Pa, no please," he pleaded. It would be too embarrassing to be given a tanning in front of his friend.

Jacob chanced a glance sideways at his friend. Adam was really in for it. He looked up at his father and was concerned that the look on his face mirrored Ben Cartwright's. Surely not. His stepmother Abigail didn't believe in corporal punishment and since their wedding day four years ago there had not been a single tanning administered in the Dayton household. It was only a cigarette, surely Dad wouldn't break his promise because of one cigarette.

Samuel stared down at the two guilty boys before him. "I tend to agree with you Ben. I've warned this youngster over and over again about how much trouble he would be in if I ever caught him smoking. I think he needs a little more discipline than he has been getting." He reached out and grabbed Jacob by the upper arm.

Ben smiled at his friend. He didn't agree with Abigail Dayton's views on punishment and felt his friend should take charge of the household once again. "Good for you Sam. That way they'll both have a hard time sitting down in school tomorrow--I've always believed that misery loves company." He grabbed Adam by the neck and led him toward the barn.

Once inside the barn, Ben closed the front and back doors to muffle the noise. The horses were all out in the pasture on the lazy Sunday afternoon so they had the barn all to themselves. Adam and Josh backed up against the far wall, both nervously watching their fathers' every more.

Sam watched as Ben slowly unbuckled his bed and pulled it from his belt loops. He noticed that Adam became more agitated as soon as the strip of leather was in his father's hands. Ben walked over and took hold of his son's upper arm and pulled him toward the wooden chair in the corner. Even though he was seventeen years old, Adam still had some growing to do and his Pa was a head taller than he was. Even if he had the inclination to physically fight the tanning, Adam knew he had no hope of winning. "Pa, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to…"

Ben was unconvinced. "Didn't mean to disobey me? Blatantly disobey I might add. We've had this conversation many times boy, and you know I don't approve of smoking cigarettes, especially by someone of your tender years."

"I know, but…" Adam began.

The walk to the barn had caused Samuel's temper to ease somewhat. His wife Abigail would be furious if she found out he had thrashed Jacob. No physical punishment of the children was one of the things she had insisted upon before she had agreed to the marriage. He loved his wife dearly and didn't want to upset her, but Jacob had completely ignored the rules of the household.

When Ben and Adam stood before the chair, Ben paused. "Whose cigarettes were they?"

Adam paled but didn't answer.

"I expect an answer to my question, boy," Ben said firmly.

Unable to let his friend take the blame for his purchase, Jacob answered. "They were mine, sir."

Angry once again, Samuel unbuckled his belt.

"Dad! Think about Abigail!" Jacob pleaded backing away from his father.

As he pulled his belt from the loops, Samuel answered. "The only person I'm thinking about right now is my son, who I've told many times not to even consider touching a cigarette or there would be dire consequences. When I told you that, a tanning for disobedience was not my intention. However, now it is."

Returning to the present, Jacob took another drag off his cigarette. "You know, I think that was the only time I was ever really afraid of you Dad."

"Abigail was certainly furious with me over it," Samuel said as he took a sip of his wine.

"Bah!" Ben said and waved his hand in the air dismissively. "Did the lad good, I've always felt a swat on the seat of the pants did more good than ten minutes of lecture." He looked over at Adam. "It kept this boy in line, just like it did Hoss."

Jacob grinned. "And Little Joe?" he said as he pointed to the curly haired boy who was talking up a storm with Serena Lawford.

Ben shook his head and laughed. "Some boys need a few more swats than others. But he'll learn, or else spend the next several years standing up."

After the rehearsal dinner and desert had been served, Little Joe squirmed in his chair anxious to leave the stuffy room. Taking a sip from the glass in front of him, still slightly indignant that his father hadn't allowed him to sample the wine, he plotted his escape. Pulling at the collar of his white silk shirt he saw Hoss and Adam leave through the side exit heading for the porch. Pushing his chair back from the table, Little Joe stood up ready to join them. He glanced in his father's direction, a habit that usually got him in trouble, and his gaze was met by the chocolate brown eyes of Ben Cartwright. A quick shake of his Pa's head indicated the answer to his unposed question, and a dejected Little Joe sat back down in the chair, the seat of his green wool trousers gliding smoothly across the crushed velvet upholstery.

Serena grabbed his hand. She had witnessed the boy's attempted escape and wanted to leave herself. "C'mon Joe, if the two of us just get up and leave, it's not like they can chase after us--right? I mean, we are walking up the aisle together on Saturday. It would stand to reason we might have things to discuss--right?"

Little Joe looked at her and smiled. He liked the way she talked. Straightforward without any question of the hidden meaning--and she was pretty. Raven black hair piled on top of her head with curly tendrils framing her face and pale blue eyes that seemed to harbor some secret or dream. He wondered what was hidden behind those eyes and hoped he would find out. He looked out the door to the porch where his two brothers had departed moments ago. Definitely not that direction, he decided. "Which way?" he whispered.

"Just leave that up to me. Get ready. Okay, now don't look in your father's direction, because he's giving you a mean look right now," Serena purred softly.

Little Joe swallowed loudly and bit his lip. "He is?"

Serena nodded as she continued to watch the table at the far end of the room. "Okay, now he's talking to my mother. So… the coast is clear, let's go." She grabbed his hand and they both took off, trying to be as quick yet graceful as possible. They barely avoided knocking over a servant clearing the dinner dishes, but finally made it through the east door and out into the gardens.

Little Joe untied his string tie and stuck it in his pocket. "Whew. I'm sure glad to be out of there."

"I couldn't agree more. Just to be safe though, lets walk out into the gardens and then we can have some privacy," Serena said as she straightened the creases out of her lavender gown.

Little Joe looked at the beautiful girl. He knew it wasn't proper for them to be alone together in the gardens. He also knew his Pa would definitely have something to say about it. Oh, well. I wanted to have some fun in Sacramento. "Shall we?" Little Joe said as he offered his arm. He smiled at the grin she shot at him. "I've been practicing, I don't want to make a fool of myself in front of all those people you know."

Taking his arm she looked directly into his hazel eyes. "I don't think we have to worry about that."

They walked around the marble fountain and down the steps onto the lush green carpet of grass. They strolled along an evergreen hedge, clipped low to reveal the wrought iron fence behind. When they were about a hundred feet away from the hotel, Serena pointed to a small wooden bench beneath a rose arbor.

"Let's sit down here, Little Joe," Serena said.

Little Joe eyed the narrow white bench. "You sit down Serena. I'll just make myself comfortable right here," he said as he sat on the grass and wrapped his arms around his knees.

Serena looked around at the gardens, then down at the boy at her feet. He was handsome, and very young with his whole life ahead of him. She had felt young once. But now all she felt was trapped with no hope for a life of her own choosing.

Little Joe looked up at her and saw the sadness behind the pale blue eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?" he prodded gently.

She smiled and sidestepped the question. "You know roses are my sister Laura's favorite flower," she said as she pulled a yellow bud from the trellis. Inhaling the heady fragrance she smiled at Little Joe. "What do you think my favorite flower is?" she said as she tossed the rosebud onto the boy's lap.

Little Joe picked it up and sniffed the pale yellow bud. "My mother's favorite flower was a rose, so I've always been kind of partial to it," he said as he threaded the stem through the buttonhole on his lapel. He paused and looked at his companion. "I see you more as a lily, tall and straight-unbending no matter how strong the winds are around you."

Smiling, Serena said, "How I wish I was like that. But I feel just like this rose, only with all the thorns cut off."

Joe returned the smile, realizing she was avoiding what was really bothering her, a trait he was also blessed with. "Do you want to talk about what is really swimming around in that pretty little head of yours, or do you want to continue discussing the finer points of gardening? Because I'll tell you," he said as he plucked a blade of grass. "I'm not really up on the latest word on fertilizer."

Serena chuckled and lowered her head. "What makes you think that I have something I want to talk about?"

Little Joe pulled himself to a kneeling position before her. He touched her chin and raised it so she looked into his eyes. "Because although I know I'm devastatingly handsome, if you had romantic thoughts on your mind you probably wouldn't have picked the youngest man in the room."

"Well maybe I like young men," she said haughtily, raising her chin even higher.

"Well, then you would have good taste. But I don't think your thoughts for a romantic evening included sneaking out from under the nose of a potential beau's father--did it?" Joe asked with a twinkle in his eye.

Serena smiled and shook her head. "Okay, okay. I admit it." She took a deep breath and pulled Little Joe's hands to her lap and intertwined his fingers with hers. "I asked you out here because you remind me of when I was a little girl."

Little Joe wrinkled his nose in disbelief. "I what?"

Serena smiled and shook her head. "That came out wrong. I mean when I was young and I had so many hopes and dreams for what my life would be. And now…"

Joe laughed softly. "And now at the ripe old age of twenty-two you have nothing left to live for? That can't be true."

"How would you like it if all you did all day was sit around and read books, and do needlework. Then, when you are allowed out of the house, you are always supposed to be on the lookout for a husband?"

Little Joe wrinkled his nose in distaste. "I can't say I'd like it much. Is that how you spend your days?"

Serena nodded sadly and stroked the strong hands in her lap. "What do you do at home?"

Little Joe smiled, recognizing her desire to change the subject-a ploy he often used at home. "Well, in the summer I mostly do ranch chores, like fix fence and help with the cattle. Unfortunately school has already started in Virginia City, so when we get back that's what I'll have to do."

"Have to do? Don't you like school?" she asked, looking deeply into his hazel eyes.

Little Joe shook his head. "I can't say that I do. I mean some of the books are okay, like when we read about volcanoes and foreign countries, but most of it is just boring. I have other things I want to do."

"Like?"

"Well, I want to be the best bronco-buster Nevada has ever seen."

"But isn't that very dangerous?"

Little Joe's eyes were dancing as he talked about his plans. "Well of course. But if a little danger wasn't mixed in, what would be fun about it?"

Serena raised an ebony eyebrow and looked at her young friend. "What does your father say about it."

Little Joe scowled and pulled his hands away. He sat on the ground once again and looked up at his friend. "He won't even consider it. Says I'm not old enough and it's too risky."

"I tend to agree," she said softly.

He looked at her and shook his head sadly. "For some reason I thought you would understand. I guess I was wrong."

"But I do. Just as I can tell by looking in your eyes that you have another dream--a deeper one you haven't talked about."

Little Joe thought for a minute before answering. How was she able to read him so easily? He hadn't told anyone what he wanted to do--not even Hoss. His family just wouldn't understand. "I do, but we were talking about you before we got sidetracked. What are your dreams that were hopelessly dashed by your lifestyle?"

Serena smiled and joined Little Joe on the ground, not caring what it did to her silk dress. She ran her fingers along the edge of Little Joe's lapel before answering. "This jacket is exquisite. It's French--isn't it?"

"Sort of," Little Joe answered and hoped she would let it drop.

"Sort of?" she parroted back at him.

Little Joe wrinkled his nose and decided to tell her the truth. "When my mother was alive she had her dresses made by Miss Babette, who owns the best dress shop in Virginia City. Mama didn't like to let me out of her sight, so I had to go with her when she was getting her clothes made. So when I was there I would play in the store." He smiled, remembering playing hide and seek with the dark-haired proprietor while his mama tried on clothes. "Well, after my mama died Babette kind of became like an aunt to me. So, when she heard I was going to Sacramento she insisted that she make my clothes. She went to design school in Paris and still has lots of friends there, so it is kind of French," he said as he stroked the hunter green wool. "So, although I wouldn't admit it to anyone else, my suit was made by the finest ladies' dressmaker in the state of Nevada."

Serena hid her smile behind her small hand. "To be blunt, you have innocently hit the nail on the head."

"Huh?"

"I haven't shared this with anyone, other than my sister Laura and she says it's just a silly dream." Serena looked down at her manicured nails and then up at Little Joe. "I've always wanted to design dresses. Oh, not like the ones you see around here. I want to design the clothes you like you see in magazines from Paris. I've wanted to visit there since I was a little girl. To see the countryside, the museums and best of all, I've wanted to attend the Selaise' Academy of Design to learn how to make the exquisite creations that grace the finest dressed ladies in all of Europe." She smiled. "I know this is silly, but I've packed many times, just planning to sneak off with no real strategy in mind. I'd just throw my sketches into a valise and start walking down the front staircase at home. But I wouldn't get far. I'm too practical. Little girl wishes don't get you on a boat to Paris, or a place to stay once you arrive." She looked up at her newfound friend. "So when I say I envy you-I mean it. I've realized that wishes don't always come true. I would give anything to return to the days when I did believe that somehow, I would escape the future that has been planned for me."

Little Joe studied his new black shoes for a moment before speaking. "I've always wanted to go to Paris."

Serena looked deep into his eyes and saw he was telling the truth. "But why?"

Little Joe pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. "My mother, well she died before I was five. I remember bits and pieces about her but not very much. She grew up in New Orleans, but according to my Pa had bad memories of the city. I want to go there too, but she was born in France. My father gave me her diary from when she was a little girl in Paris. She described the beauty of the city so vividly that I want to go there. I want to see the places she visited, to eat the foods she described, to see the flowers in the springtime and the snow in the winter and…." Little Joe paused. "I suppose it's kind of silly, to want to go somewhere you've only read about in a diary."

"I don't think it's silly at all. I think it's a beautiful dream, and when you're older you can go wherever you wish."

"That's part of it you see. I don't want to wait until I'm older. My mama moved to New Orleans when she was fifteen. I want to see the city how she saw it, from a…."

"Child's eyes." She finished for him.

Little Joe scowled at the word 'child', but realized she hadn't meant any harm. "Well, not a child's eyes, but I don't want to be any older than she was. It just wouldn't mean as much to me."

"Have you ever packed your bags?"

"No, I'm a little more impulsive than you are. If I packed my bags and walked down the steps at home, I wouldn't think about the details until I was on the boat headed for France."

"I don't suppose you could convince your father that he should take you?"

"I haven't tried. He's so busy with the ranch and all …" He paused. "And if he said no, it would crush all my hopes." Little Joe smiled and looked at the dark-haired girl "I have a little over a year until I'm fifteen, so I have some time before I make my move."

"You do realize just taking off for France could be dangerous--don't you?" Serena said, concerned for the boy.

"Of course I do. But sometimes you have take the first step and everything else falls into place," Little Joe said confidently.

Serena took a deep breath and stood. "I'd like to believe you, but experience has taught me otherwise." She offered her hand to Little Joe, who took it and pulled himself to his feet. "We should probably get back, it's getting late. Your father will probably be looking for you."

Little Joe shook his head as he brushed off the seat of his trousers. "I don't think so. He was leaving at nine o'clock to go meet Mr. Edwards at the train station. He's going up to San Francisco on the night train to conduct business there tomorrow," Little Joe said and offered Serena his arm, which she gladly took.

"He will be back for the wedding won't he?" Serena asked as she held tightly to Little Joe's arm. They walked quickly toward the hotel, the fireflies buzzing about their heads.

"Sure, he'll be home tomorrow evening. Just some papers that need to be signed or something. But since we're leaving Monday afternoon he wouldn't have time to do it if he waited till after the wedding."

"I see. It's too bad you have to go home so soon, I would like to get to know you a lot better Joe Cartwright," she said as they walked back to the hotel. The outside lamps had been lit near the hotel, but the path they traveled on was in almost complete darkness.

Joe grinned, revealing perfect white teeth. "We have the rest of tonight and all day Saturday." He paused and thought over the girl's situation and decided he might be able to help. "You know, my friend Miss Babette might be able to do something about that fancy school in Paris."

Serena sighed. "Don't get my hopes up Joe."

"What's life without hope?" he said. They sat in silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts.

"I really like talking to you Serena, it's almost like having a sister." Joe said shyly.

"We'll have to see what we can manage about spending more time together. What are you doing tomorrow?" Serena said with a smile.

Joe scowled. "Adam is taking Hoss and me to some boring old museum."

Serena lifted the hem of her gown as they ascended the steps to the hotel. "I'm sure it won't be so bad, after all it could be worse. You could be in school."

"I guess you're right. I would have liked to have gone to a…umm." Little Joe paused, realizing that telling her he wanted to find a saloon and have a couple of drinks on the sly wasn't the best thing to mention to her.

Serena smiled, knowing where boys' thoughts often traveled. "Say no more, I know what you're thinking, and I'm certain it doesn't involve something as educational as a museum."

Little Joe grinned sheepishly as they reached the top step. The pair walked to the center of the patio by the fountain and watched the glow from the lamps dance in the flowing water. Serena grasped his lapels and pulled him close, their noses touching. "I want to thank you for listening to me Joe. It's been a long time since I felt comfortable enough with anyone to talk about my hopes."

Adam and Hoss had been looking for their baby brother for the past hour. After wishing their father a safe trip and promising to look after Little Joe, the brothers had decided they had better locate their young charge. Unfortunately the Dayton-Lawford rehearsal dinner was not the only event taking place in the large hotel. It took the pair twenty minutes to finally decide that the boy wasn't among the hundred or so couples dancing in the large ballroom. A quick sweep of the hotel bar proved fruitless, as well as a search of their suite in the vague hope Little Joe had grown tired and headed for bed. As a last resort before starting a street by street search of the city, they realized they hadn't looked through the vast gardens behind the hotel. As soon as they stepped through the French doors and saw the young couple silhouetted against the lamps by the fountain, they knew they had found their quarry.

Adam stalked over to the fountain, Hoss following behind. The frantic search had taken an otherwise enjoyable evening and turned it into a nightmare. Adam was mad at himself for failing to keep a close enough eye on his baby brother. The boy seemed destined to end up in trouble given the slightest opportunity. Adam grabbed Little Joe by the collar and pulled him away from the girl.

"What do you think you’re doing boy!" Adam yelled.

Little Joe was afraid of the anger in his oldest brother's face. Hoping to find a kinder expression he turned to Hoss to explain. ‘It wasn’t like that Hoss. We were just talking and I …"

Adam grabbed Joe by the upper arm and whipped him around to face him. "You'll explain to me, boy. I’m the one who is in charge here as you well know."

"Like... like I said, we were just…" Little Joe stammered, unable to control his nervous habit when Adam was obviously livid.

"I'm sorry about this Adam," Serena said as she brushed a silky tendril of hair away from her face. "We really were just talking, and Joe was just trying to make me feel better."

Adam glared down at the girl, not releasing his grip on his youngest brother's arm. "Well find someone a little older to make you ‘feel better’."

"C'mon, Adam. No harm was done," Hoss said calmly, all anger at Joe dispersed once they had found his baby brother. "What do you say we take the boy upstairs and get him all settled in for the night."

"What're you talking about Hoss?" Little Joe said as he turned and studied his older brother. "It's early."

Hoss smiled as he looked at Joe. "It's after ten o'clock and Pa told us to get you to bed early. So let's go." Hoss took Joe's other arm, and pulled him toward the doors, leaving Serena Lawford to fend for herself.

Jacob Dayton lounged on the bottom step of the grand staircase that wound its way up to the second floor of the hotel. When the Cartwrights' came through the doorway, he put his plan into action. "Hey Hoss, I've been looking for you. Melissa Sue Dresden wants to dance with you."

Hoss blushed. He had been keeping an eye on the red-haired beauty since spying her at supper.

Adam smiled indulgently. "Go on Hoss, I can handle our wayward young brother here."

Hoss scrunched his nose, but looked wistfully toward the crowded ballroom. "Are you sure Adam?"

"Sure go on, I bet with some convincing old Jacob here will keep me company upstairs."

Jacob nodded and grabbed a bottle of wine from the waiter. "Sure thing--you go look for that little lady and have yourself a good time."

"What d'you say we all have a good time and head back in to the dance?" Little Joe piped up. He had plans for this evening and they didn't include going to bed while his Pa was conveniently gone. The words "billiards" had been mentioned several times by some of the gentlemen in the group as well as Josh. It was a game Little Joe was most eager to try. Poker was still his favorite game of chance, but he was certain billiards would prove a welcome diversion from the long and tedious wedding and reception.

"I don't intend to chase you around this hotel again tonight, so the three of us will just head upstairs for the evening," Adam said evenly, his tone daring his little brother to disagree.

An objection had already formed on Little Joe's lips, but Jacob covered the boy's mouth with his hand. "When will you learn Adam, this is the only way to keep the kid quiet. Now let's go."

In the spacious living room of the Cartwright’s suite Adam and Jacob lounged on the overstuffed furniture, each held the stem of a wineglass loosely in his fingertips. After sending Little Joe to bed, the two old friends had been reminiscing about old times.

Jacob kicked off his shoes and put both his feet up on a brown leather footstool. "I'm tired of all this wedding talk, what’s happening in Virginia City? It seems like forever since I’ve been there."

"Nothing remarkable, same old same old," Adam said with a yawn. It had been a long day after an embarrassing night and he was tired.

The wine had caused Jacob to talk even faster than usual. "Hey do you remember when we were kids and we sneaked into the tent at that circus in town and saw the dance of the 100 veils with that-what was her name Lucinda?" Jacob fanned himself with his hand. "We got an eyeful that day. Whew! Veils do something for me to this day."

Adam rubbed his eyes and flushed. "Oh God, don't remind me. I took Pa, Hoss and Little Joe to the Jackson Square Theater on Wathern Street.

"You did what!" Jacob said as he sat upright in his chair, almost spilling his glass in his haste.

Adam nodded.

"But that’s a …." Jacob said in disbelief.

"Now you tell me. It didn’t used to be," Adam said as he took another sip of wine.

Jacob's eyes danced. "So, what …happened?"

Adam rolled his eyes and forced a fake grin. "The lead actress dropped her robe right in front of our box."

Jacob chuckled, enjoying his friend's discomfort. "You're kidding."

"I only wish I were. I thought I'd die of embarrassment right there." Adam smiled. "I must say both my little brothers' no longer have to wonder what the unclothed female form looks like. It was dancing not five foot away from them, and let me tell you-it wasn't the ballet."

Jacob chuckled again, as much from amusement at the mental picture as the look on his friend's face. He could imagine Adam trying to impress his family with how much he knew about the city and its culture and then to take them to a glorified peep show. "What did your father say?"

"Don't ask…. It wasn't pleasant. At least he waited 'till the other two were in bed."

"Hey remember when we weren't supposed to go in that old swimming hole near Elk Creek?"

"Oh God yes. There was a dead--what sheep or something in it? It smelled just awful and we were doing the dutiful big brother babysitting duty with all of the little ones."

Jacob nodded. "Yeah, Little Joe was all of what three? We turned our back for just a minute and he was in that stinking water, then Hoss went in after, then Josh. Yuck!"

Adam laughed. "But who got in trouble--us. Like it was our fault the little kids were so fast."

"Remember how mad our folks were?"

"How could I forget." Adam thought for a moment. "Although I think they were madder that we tried to get cleaned up and not say anything about it, than the actual swim."

"I can still hear the lecture, first from my Pa, then yours, then back to mine. Then, after causing all that ruckus Little Joe comes out of it without getting into any trouble at all. That kid does have a knack for always coming out on top."

Adam chuckled. "You haven't seen some of the more recent escapades, out-on-top isn't the word I'd use. Over-Pa's-knee is more like it."

"Well, all I can say is it's about time he got caught for some of his mischief."

Adam heard the clock chime eleven times. He was slightly surprised that Hoss wasn't back yet, but it was Sacramento and the night was young. Hoss had a right to enjoy himself.

"I don't think Hoss' will be back soon," Josh said guessing what Adam was thinking.

"Why?"

Jacob rubbed his chin and offered his friend a tentative smile. "Well, Melissa Sue is what we call, a .. a… grabber."

Adam's eyes darkened at the thoughts of his naïve younger brother having to deal with a woman who couldn't keep her hands to herself. "Please explain that term to me, before I tend to get a bit upset."

Jacob shook his head quickly. "No, not that. She, well she grabs onto you and won't let you get away. She had a hold of Josh earlier in the evening and the only way he could get rid of her was to tell her Hoss was very interested in her," he finished with a sheepish grin.

Adam smiled his momentary flash of anger gone. "Some friend you are. Letting my little brother take the heat for yours."

"Speaking of little brothers, remembering some of the times that I stayed at your house, I was kind of surprised the kid went to bed as easily as he did," Jacob said as he looked toward the bedroom Little Joe was sharing with Hoss. "From what I remember he usually kicked up quite a fuss especially when there was a party going on."

Adam's brow furrowed. He hadn't even given it a thought. Little Joe had been in there fifteen minutes and he hadn't heard a sound. "You don't think…."

"He's awful quiet in there," Jacob offered.

"Well, the boy is supposed to be asleep," Adam reasoned.

Jacob studied his fingernails, then looked up at his friend. "But, he is your brother."

Adam swallowed loudly. It would be just his luck to be sitting out here drinking while his baby brother sneaked off. Be reasonable. We're on the third floor. Even if he is limber there is no way he's going to jump. Adam tried to hide his uncertainty. "We're on the third floor. He couldn't get out even if he tried." Adam said shaking his head.

"One question. Who got first pick of the rooms?"

"Joe did," Adam backpedaled. "I mean he's a little kid. If he wanted first pick that was fine with the rest of us."

Jacob exhaled slowly. "You do realize the rooms on the north side of the hotel have fire escapes leading down to the first floor exits?"

Adam pasted a grin to his face. "No." He shook his head, denial setting in. "He couldn't know. Could he?"

Both men moved at the same time. Adam leapt off the couch and landed a foot in front of his friend and they ran to the bedroom. Throwing the door open in haste, it banged loudly against the doorframe. One glance to the left confirmed Little Joe was not in either of the double beds.

"The window Adam, he's going out the window!" Jacob yelled.

Adam darted across the room, reaching the window just in time to grab Little Joe's trailing foot as he stepped onto the fire escape.

The boy tried to pull his foot free, but knew it was useless. He knew he was caught and reluctantly turned to face his brother's anger. Little Joe flinched at the furious expression on Adam's face.

Grabbing the back of Little Joe's suit, Adam pulled the boy inside, then dragged him to the center of the room. "Just what in the Sam Hill did you think you were doing?"

Little Joe clasped his hands behind his back and stared at his feet. Two more minutes and I would have been gone.

Adam's voice deepened. "I asked you a question boy and I expect an answer," he said, trying to calm the anger that coursed through his veins.

"Getting a little fresh air?" Little Joe said earnestly as he looked up. He gave Adam his most innocent look, but knew it was futile. His oldest brother was rarely fooled.

"Do you have any idea what you were letting yourself in for out there!" Adam said as he pointed to the window. "You could have been robbed, beaten or even killed for that matter. You're just a little kid for Pete's sake."

Jacob rubbed the bridge of his nose. The oldest and youngest Cartwright's certainly knew how to push each other's buttons. He turned around and noticed a comfortable overstuffed chair by the bed. Taking a deep breath he walked over and sat down, crossing his legs. He hadn't seen one of these battles in a long time.

"Damn it Adam, I am not a little kid!" Little Joe said glaring up at his older brother who stood almost a foot taller. "If you'd just leave me alone we'd get along fine."

"Leave you alone? That's a laugh. If I did let you alone God only knows where you'd end up," Adam said, winning the battle to keep his anger under control. He turned away from his baby brother and slowly removed his suit jacket, tossing it to his friend. "Hold that for me a minute will you?"

Little Joe's anger cooled slightly. If he could keep Adam mad he had a chance that his older brother would get so angry he would stalk out of the room. He watched Adam calmly unfasten his gold cufflinks and tuck them in the pocket of his black trousers. The boy's anger turned to fear as his brother rolled up first his left shirtsleeve, then his right. Little Joe's eyes darted nervously towards the door but knew he'd have to get past the long-armed reach of his oldest brother and the odds of success were slim.

His tasks completed, Adam rubbed his hands together and looked at his baby brother for the first time in over a minute. He could tell the boy was nervous because Little Joe was biting his bottom lip-a dead giveaway. "Joe.." he said firmly as he walked toward his brother.

Little Joe retreated, all anger and defiance gone--his sole purpose now was avoidance. "Adam, I'm sorry. I didn't really mean to yell at you…"

"Well, baby brother I must say I'm glad you apologized." Adam smiled, but there was no warmth in the smile. "But you are still going to get what you've earned," he said as he continued to advance on the small boy.

When he backed into the dresser against the far wall, Little Joe knew he was caught. He held both hands in front as he resorted to his second last option-begging. "Adam, please…don't…"

Adam grabbed the front of Little Joe's shirt and pulled the protesting boy over to the bed nearest Jacob. Locking eyes with his young brother, Adam said. "One of these years you are going to learn to obey me and then we can stop having these little discussions over my knee."

Little Joe wrapped both his hands over his brother's hand, trying to gently free himself. "Adam, don't…"

"You're going to get what you deserve. Pa'd give you the same thing or worse if he had caught you, so..." Adam sat down on the bed and pulled the struggling boy across his lap. As Little Joe's hands snapped back to protect himself, Adam quickly grabbed both wrists and held them together out of the way with his left hand.

"Adam, please…"

"If you had been a little more mindful of my authority half an hour ago we wouldn't be having this conversation," Adam said as he flexed his work-callused right hand.

Little Joe squirmed around so he could look at Adam's face. The grim determination showed in the set of his older brothers' jaw. Joe returned his gaze to the floor and slipped regretfully into his last option--prayer.

Jacob watched the two brothers locked in an eternal struggle for control. Adam, the older brother who knew what was best, trying to keep the younger safe from harm. Little Joe who always struggled against bonds placed upon him by much older siblings and a father whose last child was born later in life. As he watched his friend raise his hand to start the spanking, he wished he had been strong enough to take the same road with his younger brother.

Adam brought his hand down sharply on his baby brother's backside, wincing slightly as the sound of the blow rebounded back to his ears. He continued to whack the boy on the bottom, and by the fifth blow a groan escaped Little Joe's lips. Adam smiled wryly, his baby brother was a seasoned veteran of spankings, thrashings, tannings, canings-whatever you wanted to call them and didn't show pain quickly or easily. Adam raised his hand and brought it down four more times, earning a moan with each crack.

"Adam…please," Little Joe muttered through clenched teeth as another blow fell on his unprotected backside.

The eldest Cartwright brother continued as if he hadn't heard the plea for mercy. Adam decided the punishment was complete when his hand started to lose all feeling after the seventeenth blow and Little Joe's subdued groans had increased to anguished yelps. He released his brother's hands and let them drop to the floor, but held the boy on his lap a moment longer. Adam rubbed the Little Joe 's back to offer some comfort, then pulled him to his feet.

Little Joe couldn't help but instinctively rub his sore behind. He bit his lip as he asked the question he was afraid to hear the answer to--it could make this spanking feel like a slap on the wrist. "Are you… are you going to tell Pa?"

Adam stood and walked over to the window and looked down on the street below. Even at this hour there was a maze of activity, a maze his brother could easily have been in the middle of--with not enough street sense to get himself out of. He turned and looked at the small boy, trying to hide the pain his punished backside must be giving him. Adam knew what he should do; his Pa had a right to know. But Adam did have a soft heart--even though he kept it well hidden. His mind and his heart wrestled for a moment, but the unshed tears in his baby-brother's eyes tipped the scales in the boy's direction. While the innocent looks Little Joe gave Hoss and most of the other residents of Virginia City were enough to convince them of just about anything, it took the raw emotion evident in the boy's eyes to convince an older and wiser brother. He would keep his silence. Adam decided-he wouldn't tell Pa. But he'd keep the boy guessing. "We'll see how you behave tomorrow. I might be convinced to not mention tonight's attempted escape."

Little Joe nodded, not trusting his voice to speak.

Adam walked over to his young brother and raised the boy’s chin. "However, for the remainder of our stay I believe you’ll be rooming away from temptation and in with me."

Little Joe took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay."

After tousling the boy’s hair, Adam went to the bureau and pulled out a nightshirt and tossed it to his brother. "Allright-go on. I want you in bed in five minutes."

Joe nodded and walked to the door.

"Little Joe…"

The boy turned to look at his oldest brother, the fear still visible in the leaf green eyes.

Adam raised his eyebrows. "I’ll check this time."

Joe nodded and walked through the door, followed shortly by Adam and Jacob. The young boy went into the other bedroom without a fuss, and the other two resumed their former places on the sofa and chair.

Jacob picked up his glass and swirled the wine until it almost reached the rim, then looked at his friend. "Does your Pa know that you spank him?"

After taking a sip from his glass, Adam answered. "Sure-but only when Pa’s away, and then only with my hand. Why?"

"Just wondering, that’s all."

Adam continued to explain. "He needs to respect my authority. Plus, if something should happen to Pa, I’m his legal guardian."

Jacob nodded and inspected the rim of his glass.

"Something’s bothering you-out with it? Is it the wedding?"

"No, not at all. I’m very excited about Laura being my wife and starting our lives together." Jacob paused. "It’s just, well seeing you and your brothers again makes me think of the way things used to be before we left Virginia City." He stood and walked over to the window. "I’m afraid Sacramento hasn’t been a good influence on Josh. He seems to spend all his time gambling, fighting, drinking and/or chasing inappropriate women."

"Are you sure you aren’t over-reacting?"

"I don’t think so. I ran into a lawyer friend of mine, Gabriel Bryne last week. In the past three months he has bailed Josh out of jail four times." Jacob returned to the chair and sat down. "I just don’t know what to do. Maybe if I’d been a stronger older brother like you are…"

Adam held up his hand, sensing where the conversation was headed. "Now wait a minute Jacob, you can’t compare my relationship with Little Joe to yours with Josh. I’m fifteen years older than Joe is. The two of you are only six years apart. That’s more like me and Hoss and believe me there is no way I would’ve taken Hoss across my knee like I did Little Joe. First off, he’d have broken both my knees," Adam said, gratified to see a smile cross the other man’s lips, "and second the age difference isn’t enough for parental authority."

Jacob pushed his hair off his forehead. "Maybe you’re right. I just wish…"

"Have you mentioned it to your Pa?"

"No, I guess I probably should though-huh?"

"Wait ‘till after the honeymoon. We have more important things to think of at this point than wayward younger brothers." Adam grinned. "Now this actress at Jackson Square Theater, she had the longest legs I've ever seen…."

The Saturday afternoon wedding had gone smoothly, except for Jacob dropping the ring on the floor and having it roll under the front row pew. However, several seconds and a few layers of dust later, Little Joe had located the gold band and saved the day.

At the Ritz Hotel, there were four hundred guests milling about after a delicious dinner. It was early evening and the dancing would begin shortly. Little Joe looked out the window that overlooked the spacious gardens, and thought about the past summer. The majority of his days had been spent restricted to the ranch for mischief. Regardless of the consequences, he was going to bust loose here. When he got back home he would be forced into the endless days of school once more. One glance to his left told him that Adam was less than three feet away on his left-it would definitely be hard to accomplish, but he was going to have a good time while in the big city--Sacramento had better watch out.

Joe noticed Adam's eyes follow him as he danced with Serena. His father and brothers' hadn’t let him out of their sight all evening. Unfortunately Pa had noticed him walking stiffly this morning and Adam had felt the need to relay the news about his attempted escape. A stern lecture and one sorry Little Joe later, they had told him he wasn’t to leave their sides unless given express permission. Serena had even been forced to promise to return him after they had finished dancing.

As they whirled around the crowded ballroom, Serena pointed to a short man in his late thirties. "That’s Alistair Brooks over there with the dark hair and the grey suit."

Joe appraised the man before replying. "What about him?"

"He’s the man my parents want me to marry," she said staring deeply into Joe's eyes.

Little Joe took another look at the man, and noticed that he was watching them intently. "He seems nice enough."

Serena shook her head, a dark curl dancing on the shoulder of her green dress. "The eyes, Little Joe—you can always tell by the eyes. His are cold and hard with streaks of cruel running through them."

Little Joe smiled wryly and tried his latest Adam imitation--arching an eyebrow. "Streaks of cruel?"

"You think it’s funny but I’m serious. I’ve seen it before; you have to watch his mannerisms. He doesn’t want to let me out of his sight, and he doesn’t really want me dancing with anyone else. It’s like he wants me all to himself, and doesn’t want me to have any friends or contact with anyone but him. But I don’t care—I don’t like him and I’m not going to marry him." Hoping to change the subject to a more pleasant topic she looked deep into Little Joe ’s eyes. "Now your eyes are full of fun, mischief and longing. But I do think you want to grow up too fast."

Joe frowned at her as they continued dancing. "I’ve got a lot of stuff I want to do."

"I know, I know. But let’s enjoy the evening shall we. Speaking of mischief, watch this." Serena pulled Little Joe close until their faces were almost touching. "Now look at your brother over there by the punch." Two heads turned as they both looked over at Adam. His brows were raised and he looked angry. "See, I’ve noticed if I do that, or this…" she cupped her hand around his head and whispered in his ear. "It makes your brother very angry," she whispered, then released him and they continued the waltz. "But it is fun."

Little Joe chuckled. "You’re determined to get me in trouble--aren’t you?"

"Joseph Francis Cartwright, I haven’t known you that long, but I can tell from the twinkle in your eyes that you have plans for tonight that can get you in a lot more trouble than the silly games I’m playing. Do you want to share?"

Joe thought for a moment before responding. "I’d like to but I shouldn’t. If I get caught I don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable situation. And…" Joe tugged on a dangling black curl that had escaped the dramatic upsweep she had worn at the wedding. "Don't call me Joseph Francis Cartwright. It makes me nervous."

She smiled, dismissing the reference to his full name. "How gentlemanly of you to want to keep me out of an uncomfortable situation—but I’m going to worry if I don’t know at least something."

Joe paused, contemplating the best decision. On the one hand, if something drastic did happen to him and Josh, no one would even know where to look. On the other hand, if pressed for information Joe didn’t know if Serena could hold out against his Pa or Adam.

"Little Joe…" Serena said, running her finger down his cheek.

"Okay, I’ll give you a hint. It involves billiards and a club that Josh goes to."

"Isn’t that risky? I haven’t known Josh that long, but from what I understand he doesn’t run in the best circles."

Little Joe shook his head. "I just want to see billiards played, and maybe try my hand at it, or play a couple of games of poker. I’ll be back long before I’m missed. You’ll see."

Serena looked at her young friend and was worried about his safety. "Okay, but you be careful—understand?"

Little Joe gave her a head-turning smile. "I’m always careful."

Serena caressed his shoulder. "Did I tell you how handsome you look tonight?" The cutaway black tuxedo with tails did indeed look very dashing on the boy. "And not at all like a monkey-suit like you said the other night."

"It is too a monkey suit. But at least there are four of us monkeys walking around here," Little Joe said, indicating the other groomsmen who all wore identical tuxedos with white shirts and black cravats. "All we need are some bananas and we'll be all set."

The music stopped and the young couple walked over to where Adam was standing.

"Here he is Adam, safe and sound just like I promised," Serena said with a devilish glint in her eyes. "I better go check on the bride—see you later Little Joe," she said as she turned and threaded her way through the crowd.

Adam shook his head. "That woman!"

"Oh, c’mon Adam she’s just jerking your chain. If you could’ve seen the look on your face when she was whispering in my ear—it was priceless. I would’ve sworn you had smoke coming out of your ears," Little Joe said as he poured himself a glass of punch.

After realizing the close embrace and whispers were a ploy to get his goat, Adam was feeling a little better. "So, she’s up to no good just like a certain baby brother of mine—huh?" Adam said, putting his right arm around Little Joe ’s shoulders and taking the glass of alcohol laden punch away from the boy with his left.

"She’s really nice Adam. I think you’d like her a lot if you just got to know her," Joe said as he looked earnestly up at his oldest brother.

"I guess we didn’t exactly get off on the right foot together. Next time I talk to her I’ll try and be a little nicer," Adam said as he sipped the punch.

A heavy-set woman in her late twenties walked up to them. She pushed her horn-rimmed glasses higher on her nose before speaking. "Adam Cartwright is it?"

Adam glanced sideways at his little brother before speaking. "Yes, ma’am."

Sticking out her meaty hand, the woman continued. "I’m Rosalita Simpson, but you can call me Rosey. I understand you went to Harvard."

"Yes, I did," Adam said, bewildered as to where this conversation would lead.

"I also understand you advocate woman being allowed to enter the higher institutions of learning," she said as she placed a meaty hand on his arm.

"Yes." Adam was uncomfortable with this conversation already and wondered how this unattractive woman had singled him out in a room crowded with four hundred guests.

"I would like to try to convince you that your opinion is detrimental to women, and the consequences of what could happen if this shameful excuse for woman's liberation is allowed to happen." Rosey tightened her grip on Adam’s arm and pulled him toward one of the side rooms.

Adam tried to detatch himself from the woman, but without making a scene there was no way he could get loose. Ever, the diplomat he tried words. "I’d love to ma’am, but I have to keep an eye on my baby brother here," Adam said, glancing hopefully at Little Joe.

"Don’t worry Adam, I know how much you love stimulating conversation with a pretty young lady," Little Joe said and was rewarded with a warm smile from Miss Simpson. "I’ll go find Pa and stay by him."

Adam turned pleading eyes on Joe. "I don’t think that is such a good idea…"

"I’ll be fine. You go enjoy yourself," Little Joe said as he hid a snicker with a cough. "Oh, Adam?"

"Yes?" Adam said, the hope returning briefly to his dark brown eyes.

"You stay out just as late as you want. We can sleep in tomorrow—Oh and Miss Simpson?"

"Yes child?" the matron asked, her smile revealing uneven and discolored teeth.

Little Joe jumped at the sight of her smile. "Uh, um, Adam also likes to talk about the differences between the North and the South—just in case you tire of education as a topic."

"Ah, a northerner are you?" Rosey said as she turned to her unwilling companion. "I was born in Charleston myself-never did understand the northern ways. We’ll be talking for hours--you mark my words," she said as she dragged Adam into the secluded parlor that adjoined the ballroom.

As he watched the couple leave, Little Joe pulled out his pocketwatch. Eight-thirty. He looked around for Pa and saw him talking to a group of men, and headed over in that direction. One obstacle down, two more to go.

Twenty minutes later, Little Joe was standing by his father listening to yet another lecture about his attempted escape Thursday night. Joe saw movement to his left coming from the arched doorway that served as the entrance to the elaborately decorated ballroom. Phase two of his plan was in motion.

The widow Paulive Simonson and Miss Edwina Leslein sought out their quarry like a couple of lionesses after an antelope. He stood in the corner, his silver hair neatly combed back from his forehead, the charcoal grey suit a classic cut that emphasized his masculine build. He held a glass of punch in his right hand, and his left was placed around the shoulders of a young boy.

The two women stalked over to the corner, their heels clicking on the polished marble floor. Miss Leslein was the first to arrive and stood before Ben Cartwright. Ben looked down at Joe who shrugged, and then back up at the new arrivals. "Yes, may I help you?" he asked with a quizzical smile.

"You must be Ben Cartwright, I'm Miss Leslein, and this is my friend Mrs. Simonson…. We understand you are from Nevada and have a beautiful ranch…..We would like to hear all about it if you don't mind……Oh, and Lake Tahoe, we've heard about that, how it is pretty cold year round…..Oh and..." the woman said without a pause.

Ben and Joe listened to the woman talk non-stop. They couldn't have gotten a word in even if they had tried.

"Now hush up Edwina," the older matron said. "Excuse my friend gentlemen, she does go on and on." She pursed her lips and slowly looked at Ben starting at the tip of his head, traveling down his torso, lingering on the area around his crotch and then all the way down to his boots. "My, my," she said as she licked her full lips. "They do grow them big in Nevada don't they?"

Ben flushed crimson. He was speechless.

Miss Leslein pursed her lips, and walked over and stood next to Little Joe. " Paulive, you're embarrassing the man."

"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Cartwright, but my husband has been dead for ten long years, and we just don't see handsome men like you around all the time," Mrs. Simonson apologized as she fanned herself with a meaty hand. "And the heat can get to a lady sometimes you know."

Miss Leslein turned to the boy beside her and ruffled Little Joe's curls with a bony claw-like hand. "Sonny-boy why don't you find some toys to play with and let the adults talk in private."

"Yes, ma'am," Little Joe said with a grimace, fighting the urge to jerk away from her touch.

Mrs. Simonson grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him into her ample bosom. "Now Edwina, even though you are a teacher you don't know a thing about raising children. Boys this big don't play with toys," she said, trying to impress Ben with her knowledge of children.

Little Joe coughed and pulled away, trying to catch his breath after the overpowering aroma of her perfume. "That's okay, ma'am. I'm sure I can find something to do," he said giving her a smile and a wink, which she returned.

Little Joe had just turned on his heel to leave when Ben grabbed his arm. He glared at the boy, but when he turned to the ladies he was smiling. "I'm sorry ladies' but I can't let the boy out of my sight in a big city like this--boys do get into mischief, as I'm sure you know."

"Now Mr. Cartwright," Mrs. Simonson began solicitously, you do have two older sons don't you?"

Swallowing loudly, Ben answered. "Yes, but…"

Detaching his grip from Little Joe, Miss Simonson took his arm. "I'm sure your son is more than capable of finding one of his big brothers and standing next to them, and leaving his father to attend to more important…business, shall we say?" She smiled and winked at Ben.

"But…" Ben's eyes searched wildly for an avenue of escape.

Miss Leslein grabbed his other arm and peered at him over the wire rims of her glasses. "I'm beginning to believe Mr. Cartwright that you aren't enjoying our company. That wouldn't be the case--would it?"

Ben shook his head quickly. He couldn't be rude to the ladies', it just went against his nature. "No, of course not, it's just that…" he backpedaled.

"I thought not." Miss Leslein said as they cleverly maneuvered the widower toward the settee. She looked over her shoulder at Little Joe. "Run along son, your father, Paulive and I want to talk about that large ranch of yours, and plans for the future."

"Yes, ma'am," Little Joe said, fighting to contain a giggle.

As he left his Pa’s side a twinge of guilt ran through Little Joe. He didn’t really want his Pa to have to deal with the two old ladies, who had seemed so nice until he mentioned the fact that his father was single. Then it was if they smelled blood. Oh, well it was too late at this point to do anything about it, Joe thought.

Hoss was standing next to the beverage table, where several large crystal punchbowls filled with an array of brightly colored punch dotted the lace tablecloth.

"Say boy, is it my turn to baby-sit now?" Hoss said with a snicker as he watched his little brother saunter over.

"Very funny," Little Joe said as he peered into Hoss’ cup, which contained a deep red liquid. "What’s that taste like?"

"Some kind of cranberry stuff—but it does have a kick to it."

"Let me try it," Little Joe said as he reached for the cup.

Hoss quickly raised the crystal cup until it was out of his smaller brother's reach. "Not a chance. You aren’t drinking anything with liquor in it while I'm on babysitting duty."

Little Joe put his hands on his hips and cocked his head. "C’mon Hoss give me a break. It is a party you know."

"Yes I do, and if Pa lets you have some that’s fine. But I’m not going to take the fall for you getting tipsy."

"All right-fine. Be a spoil-sport," Little Joe said as he crossed his arms. "But think back to when you were my age, didn't Adam ever slip you any liquor at a party?"

Hoss was prepared for that line of questioning. "As a matter of fact he did—and when Ma and Pa found out about it we were both in major trouble. I’m just trying to prevent the same thing from happening again." Hoss brought his cup to his lips and drained it and offered his baby brother a big smile, but couldn’t resist rubbing a bit of salt into the boy’s wounds. "Sure is tasty though."

Little Joe wrinkled his nose. We’ll see who gets the last laugh tonight brother, we’ll see. Joe had scrambled to find another companion for Hoss for the evening since Melissa Sue had definitely rubbed him the wrong way out last night. Little Joe knew that it would be the easiest for him to slip away unnoticed from Hoss. His middle brother was easily pre-occupied and a pretty face would definitely do the trick. Joe looked over at his friend Josh who was lounging in the doorway that led to the garden. He held the chain of his pocketwatch in his hand and was swinging the expensive watch in wide arcs.

Little Joe threw up his hands. Phase three was late. He looked over the crowd and sighed in relief when Lacey Chapman walked through the crowded and over to the table. She was a pretty girl, with dark blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. She was also very shy. Hoss had noticed her earlier in the day and had mentioned to his little brother just how pretty he thought she was. Her one drawback, at least in Little Joe's eyes was the fact that she was so tall--at five foot ten, she was at least five inches taller than he was. However, to his large brother Hoss she was petite and it was Hoss who had admired her. It had taken some convincing on Joe's part to get the shy girl to come over, but he had told her they would be near the punch bowl and she could just pretend she was thirsty.

Hoss was tongue-tied when the vision in green walked over and stood next to him. Little Joe elbowed his shy older brother and motioned for him to get a glass of punch for the lady.

Hoss ran his hand through his hair and swallowed loudly. He fervently wished he had some of the refinement that Adam exuded or the natural charm that his baby brother possessed to make him more attractive to the opposite sex. Summoning his courage, Hoss took a deep breath and turned to the girl. "Could I get you a cup of punch, Miss …?"

She smiled at him and their eyes met. "It's Miss Chapman, but you must call me Lacey, and of course you can get me some punch Mr. Cartwright. How kind of you to offer," she said in a soft voice.

As Hoss poured the punch into a crystal cup, he returned the smile. "I'm glad you got thirsty, Miss …, I mean Lacey. I think you are the purtiest gal here."

"Why thank you," she said as she accepted the glass. "For both the punch and the compliment. I understand you live on a ranch in Nevada. I've always wondered what the open spaces would be like--oh and the mountains. You have to tell me all about them," Lacey said, a wistful look in her blue eyes.

Joe watched the two of them, truly glad that they had hit it off. His older brother really deserved to find someone nice, and if Little Joe could help provide it for him so much the better. He caught the glance of Josh and gave him the thumbs up sign, then held up one finger to signal how long it would take to detach himself from the happy young couple.

"Hoss," Little Joe began. "Why don't you and Miss Chapman take a walk in the gardens? It's a beautiful evening…"

Hoss looked over at his baby brother, slightly ashamed that he had forgotten all about him in the face of his lady friend. "I don't know Joe, I'm not supposed to let you out of my sight."

Joe shrugged. "Whatever you say Hoss, but it won't be very romantic with me standing right next to the two of you all evening."

Scrunching his nose, Hoss looked over at Lacey. "Hmm"

Little Joe gave him his most innocent look. "Tell you what. Pa's busy with a couple of older ladies, so I'll just go over and find Adam and stay by him. How about that?"

Hoss looked once more at the fine features of Lacey, and then back to the guileless face of his younger brother. "Don't you leave his side--you understand me boy?"

"Sure, sure--don't worry about it. Just have a nice time," Little Joe said with a grin.

Extending his elbow to the lady, Hoss said. "Care to take a stroll in the gardens with me?"

Lacey grinned, and put her hand on his arm. "I'd love to, kind sir."

With a wink for Joe, Hoss led Lacey Chapman to the secluded gardens of the Ritz Hotel, a pleasant evening walking among the flowers and shrubs on his mind.

Joe waited until he had seen them leave through the arched doorway, then looked for his Pa. Sighting him in the far corner of the room, and obviously occupied he looked for his oldest brother. Adam wasn't in sight. Little Joe almost skipped over to Josh, freedom foremost on his mind. "Ready?"

"It's about time, Little Joe," Josh said with a trace of irritation. "I though you'd never get away."

Joe grinned. He had learned to just let it go when Josh got cranky. "Well lets get going then, I had to sacrifice two toes when I was dancing with Rosey to convince her to talk to Adam. I don't want to be seen sneaking out of here."

An hour and four unsuccessful escape attempts later, Ben felt like a caged lion. He was seated on the settee, an unattractive woman on each side, and had noticed the amused looks of passersby for quite some time. The spinster and the widow had been alternately fawning over him and arguing with him for what seemed like an eternity. The spinster and the widow-it sounded like a play that he could see at the horrid theatre Adam had taken them to. Good lord, he had to get away.

"So Mr. Cartwright, let's cut to the chase." Edwina Leslein said as she rearranged her wrinkled brown dress over her lap for the twentieth time. "Exactly how long have you been looking for a wife?"

Ben's eyes flew open wide and he almost dropped the cup of punch he was holding. "Who told you that?" Ben managed to squeak out as he set the cup down on the table. If that damn Sam Dayton had saddled him with these two old bats there would be hell to pay.

"Come now don't be shy, Ben," Mrs. Simonson said and tugged on his arm, pulling him closer to her on the settee. "Your charming youngest boy told us all about how lonely it is for you on the ranch…"

Miss Leslein stubbornly tugged on Ben's arm that was next to her. "and how difficult it is for you to manage all that land plus three sons. With my school teaching experience, I would be able to lend a hand…"

Ben was stunned. He quickly stood up--his two companions, who refused to let go of his arms rose with him. He scanned the room, his deep brown eyes desperately seeking a glimpse of golden brown curls. Not finding his quarry, but noticing Hoss by the punch bowl, he smiled at the two women. "Ladies, I'm sorry to say but my youngest son has pulled a little trick on the two of you. I am not looking for a wife now, and will not be in the future," he said prying their hands off his forearms. "Excuse me, but I'm going to go find my baby son and explain to him--in no uncertain terms--how unkind it is to manipulate people," Ben said and stalked off toward Hoss.

When Ben reached his middle son and his lady friend, he heard the tail end of their conversation. "I’m so glad your little brother sent me over to keep you company, Hoss. I've had a wonderful evening," Lacey said sweetly as she kissed him on the cheek. "But I must be going. I hope to see you again sometime," she said as she walked over to re-join her parents.

Hoss beamed at the girl's retreating back, but the fact that Little Joe had a part in his wonderful evening didn't set well. "I’ll have to thank him," Hoss said aloud as he surveyed the crowd. "Now where did that little rascal go?"

Ben tapped Hoss on the shoulder. "Oh hey Pa--have you seen Little Joe?"

"No, I haven't," Ben said angrily. "But that boy managed to saddle me with two of the most irritating women I've ever had the displeasure to speak with!"

Hoss grimaced in the face of his father's anger. For his little brother's sake, Hoss hoped the boy was with Adam. "Well he went over by Adam, oh, I'd have to say an hour ago."

Ben gritted his teeth but forced a smile. "What do you say we try and locate the two of them."

"Yes, sir."

The two men searched the ballroom, finally entering the large parlor that was at the back of the hotel. "There's Adam, Pa." Hoss said gesturing to his eldest brother who was boiling with rage at the unattractive-bordering on ugly woman seated beside him. Not everyone would have noticed how angry he was, but Hoss knew the signs. "I think he needs rescuing too."

Pa and Hoss walked over to the settee and noticed the relief in Adam's eyes when they stood before him. "Excuse me, Miss ?" Ben said with a smile.

Adam forced a smile. "This is Rosey, Pa. She and I have been having a … a … wonderful discussion about education and politics," he said through gritted teeth.

Ben smiled at the woman. "I'm sorry to interrupt Miss Rosey, but could I steal Adam away from you? We have some important things to discuss."

Rosey frowned, but knowing there was no other polite answer capitulated. "Of course you may."

Adam started to rise, but Rosey put a vice-like grip on his hand. "I'd like to finish our conversation later Adam. I'll be right here."

Adam nodded and forced a smile to his thin lips. "Sure, maybe I'll see you later." He turned to Ben and Hoss, and mumbled under his breath. "Let's go."

The three men walked over to the doorway that led to the gardens, Ben barely able to contain himself until they were far enough away from the other guests so not to be overheard.

"Where’s Little Joe?" Ben hissed all resemblance to the usually calm patriarch of the family gone.

Adam looked bewildered and stared at his father. "What're you asking me for? He’s with you two."

Hoss rolled his eyes, his usually ever present patience gone in the wake of the escape of his baby brother. "Does it look like he’s with us?" he said angrily.

Ben looked over Adam's shoulder and noticed Rosey was about to join them again. "Uh, your friend is behind you son."

"Friend?" Adam said as he smiled and turned around. The smile froze on his lips.

"Oh, Adam would you thank your delightful baby brother for me? He told me how much you missed having someone to talk to concerning important issues and that the two of us would hit it off immediately. He was so right. I’m looking forward to talking to you again, and maybe I'll take a visit to Virginia City in the near future." Rosey patted her hair and turned on her heel.

Adam was speechless, but he managed to clench his hands into fists. "I'll, I'll…"

Ben clapped his oldest on the back. "I know, but you'll have to stand in line behind me. I have my baby boy to thank for the Widow Simonson and the spinster Leslein," Ben said tersely. He surveyed the room once more, looking for the youngest occupant. "But we have to find him first."

Adam put his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes. The boy had done it again.

"I can't believe they let that little kid in there!" Detective Dave Starsky said, finding it hard to remain hidden behind the doorframe of the restaurant across the street. He had just watched Josh Dayton and a young boy enter the "Gentlemen's Establishment" without so much as a sideways glance from the man at the door.

"Will you be quiet! This is supposed to be a stake-out. If you keep shooting your mouth off, we'll never catch the Fratelli mob in there!" his partner, Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson called from his position by the window.

"Detectives!" Captain Dobie, the portly man in charge of the operation hissed. "I've got twenty police officers here and you are supposed to set an example. Will you shut up! This is just the first of the "busts" and these bastards won't go willingly. So be ready. We're not going to let those mobsters gain a foothold in Sacramento like they have in San Francisco."

A couple minutes later, Officer William Fritz kicked in the front door to the gambling den, and lumbered in to the room as fast as his massive body would take him. "You're all under arrest!" he shouted, as his fellow officers fanned out into the dimly-lit room.

The unruly mob started to throw chairs and drinks at the new arrivals, and then fought with the police officers and each other. Little Joe was firmly entrenched in the middle of the fight and had already thrown two punches and was drawing back his fist for a third when Officer Fritz grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away from the fray. "Are you crazy boy? You’ll get yourself killed in there."

Little Joe struggled for a moment then was still. There was no use fighting the officer--the burly man outweighed him by a good 125 pounds.

After the fight was over, the Police Officers put handcuffs on all the prisoners, but Fritz hadn't relinquished his hold on Little Joe's arm. "What should I do with this one Captain? He’s a juvenile for sure."

"Well, what do we have here?" Captain Dobie said as he looked down at the curly-haired boy before him. "Does your daddy know that you’re not at home?"

Little Joe wrinkled his nose in disgust. He had very little experience with the law, and other than Roy Coffee’s small jail back home had never even been to a police station. Caught without a clever response, the boy just shook his head.

The police captain had four children of his own, now all grown and moved away. He could see the boy was scared and felt a little fear thrown into him now might set him in the right direction for the future. "I didn’t think so. What’s your name?" he demanded.

Little Joe looked into the Captain's eyes and reacted with his typical bravado. "I’m not going to tell you."

Starsky and Hutch exchanged glances, and read each other's minds. This was going to be fun.

Captain Dobie was taken back. Most kids were so cowed by being arrested that they answered any question asked and volunteered scores of information to make things as smooth as possible when their parents were contacted. He decided to push a bit harder. "I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that smart answer, and I’ll ask the question again. What is your name boy?"

Josh spoke up. "Just tell him. They’re going to find out anyway."

Little Joe stomped his foot angrily. "Shut up Josh! This whole thing was your idea anyway. Maybe it'll buy me some time to think of a way out of this mess."

When the rest of the prisoners were loaded into the wagon, Starsky said. "Captain, I think the boy better ride with us-we don't want him in with the rest of that crowd." He pointed to the wagon filled with loud-mouthed and drunken men.

Captain Dobie shook his head, wondering what to do with the smart-mouthed boy.

"Uh--Captain?" Hutch prodded.

"Yes, yes take him with you," Dobie said dismissively, but took hold of Little Joe's chin as they walked by. "Make no mistake, son--I will find out your name."

Chuckling, Josh leaned back against the side of the police wagon. "Good luck," he called and smiled as Little Joe was led to a carriage filled with officers for the ride to the Police Station.

After depositing the prisoners in the cells in the basement of the police station, Starsky led the cuffed Josh Dayton to the holding cell next to the large room inhabited by the detectives. Hutch followed, hanging onto Little Joe who was struggling to get loose.

"It's not gonna work boy. You might as well just calm down and tell me your name," Hutch said, as he pushed the boy through the cell door and hastily pulled it closed.

Joe grabbed the bars. "I'm not telling you, so you might as well quit asking!"

Starsky chuckled. They had tried every legal, and a few questionable tricks to try and get the youngster to part with his name--all to no avail. He hated to say it but he admired the little snot. "Okay, so you're not going to tell us. Let me ask you something, how'd you learn to withstand such rigorous questioning--I mean Hutch and I consider ourselves experts."

Little Joe grinned, and relaxed slightly. "All it takes is a very determined father and two older brothers." His eyes clouded as he contemplated the wrath of his father.

Josh laughed, unconcerned with their predicament. "Hey detective, this is a much nicer room than you usually give me--what's the deal?"

"It's not for your benefit, I assure you. We don't want the boy downstairs with all the riffraff that comes in on a Saturday night. Although I'm not sure he's in better company in there with you," Hutch said with a scowl.

Josh bent double with laughter. "See kid, I told you this was a good idea!"

Little Joe's temper rose quickly and he grabbed Josh by the shoulders and shook him. "You think this is funny! My father is going to kill me!" he shouted.

"Don't worry about it, kid." Josh pushed the hands away, and snaked an arm around his young friend and tried to comfort him.

Joe backed away and started to pace. The small room didn't leave much ground to cover, so he nervously raked his fingers through his curls. "Easy for you to say. You're not in for the trouble that I am."

"I don't know what you're so worried about. It's not like the police can really do anything to you," Josh said as he nonchalantly leaned against the wall and studied his fingernails.

Little Joe stopped his pacing for a moment. "Them?" he said as he pointed to the detectives lounging around at their desks. "I’m not worried about them at all—it’s my father I’m worrying about—and Adam. They are going to kill me," he shut his eyes for a second imagining the lecture and worse which was going to happen. He took a deep breath. "Aren’t you even the slightest bit concerned?"

Josh sat down on the bed and leaned back against the wall. "Naahh--It'll be easy. All I have to do is call my friend who's a lawyer and get him to bail us out. Shouldn't take more than a couple of hours."

Little Joe blew out the breath he had been holding. Maybe things will turn out all right after all. Yes, he would still be in trouble. But with some clever explaining maybe he could avoid a major scene. It all depended on if his Pa or brothers had noticed him missing.

Captain Dobie had listened to the conversation with amusement. He was used to Josh Dayton calling one of his slick lawyer friends and getting off without so much as a slap on the wrist. The young boy with him was a different story. The laws in Sacramento were a great deal different from the wilder cities in California-they took the law seriously in this town. The heavy-set man walked around the corner and peered into the cell at the young prisoner. "I hate to bust your bubble there son, but it won't be that easy."

Two heads turned in his direction. "Excuse me sir? What do you mean by that?" Little Joe asked, his former feelings of dread returning. He walked over to the bars that separated them and grabbed one in each hand and looked at the Captain through the narrow opening.

The Captain took a long draw on his pipe. "You see when the accused is under eighteen years old, which you aren't convincing me you are boy-no matter what you say-the only way we can release the child is into the custody of a family member."

Thinking quickly, Little Joe walked over to Josh and clapped his arm around the older man's shoulder. "Well, it's a good thing you are with me then tonight isn't it--brother."

Captain Dobie laughed and shook his head. "Nice try, but no cigar. I've known Josh here for two years, ever since he first started causing trouble in my precinct. I also know that he is the youngest son of Samuel Dayton." He intensified his gaze at the young boy before him. "Would you like to try and convince me that you're his older brother now?"

Little Joe stuck his hands in his pockets and groaned miserably before turning pleading eyes to the Captain. "You have no idea the trouble I’m going to be in." A twinkle appeared in the deep green eyes. "Isn’t there any way..."

"No, there isn’t," the Captain said curtly, stopping the request before it left the boy’s lips. "The laws governing juveniles are very strict in this city. No exceptions. If you are under eighteen the only way you can get out of that cell is with a parent or family member."

Little Joe opened his mouth to protest, but the Captain held up a hand to stop him. "Save your breath. The only person who could conceivably save your hide is a circuit judge and he won’t be in his office until Monday morning. I’m fairly certain you would be missed before then, so… tell me your name."

Little Joe couldn't meet the steely-eyed gaze of the seasoned police veteran. He was caught and he knew it. He walked over to the cot and sat down, then drew up his knees and wrapped his arms tightly around his legs. One sentence repeated over and over in his mind. Don't you dare leave this hotel boy, or you'll regret it every time you sit down for a month. Joe rested his forehead on his knees. This trip could have gone so much better.

"If you tell me your name, and how to get in touch with your parents I'll try and intercede with your father. After all," Dobie gestured toward Josh. "I'm sure he realizes you were influenced by your friend there."

Little Joe didn't raise his head from his knees. "It won't make any difference what you say. But thanks for the offer."

Captain Dobie looked over at Starsky and Hutch and shook his head. "I'd enjoy sitting down on that cot if I were you son, from the sounds of it you aren’t going to have a pleasant evening after we locate your father."

Little Joe groaned in response, but didn't speak. He thought back to all his plans for the evening. Convincing three horrid and one shy woman to keep his family occupied. The bets he had placed at home and all the stuff he did to come up with the $50.00 to get into a game. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the money. Didn't even get a chance to bet a dime. He stuffed it back into his pocket. Ideas whirled through his head, potential plans for escape, but each one had at least two drawbacks-the cell door was locked and there were at least ten men lounging at their desks in front of the cell. Realizing that once again, charm was the only weapon at his disposal, he decided to use it when the Captain returned.

Hutch was leaning back in his chair, reading the evening newspaper. A wedding announcement on the society page caught his attention. "Hey Starsky!"

His dark curly haired partner was busy stuffing his face with a sandwich. He looked up and said, "What?" Shredded bits of lettuce dropped from his mouth onto the file folder on the desk before him.

Hutch wrinkled his nose in disgust. "How can you eat that stuff? You're disgusting."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. What'd you want?" Starsky said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Oh, yeah. C'mere and look at this announcement."

Starsky reluctantly put his sandwich down on his desk. He carefully licked all of his fingers to get the traces of mayonnaise that clung to his fingertips, then rose and walked over to his partner's desk.

Hutch pointed to the article. "What do you think?"

Starsky looked over at the two young men they had captured this evening. "Would explain the fact that they both have black tuxedos on. I'll bet we have a couple of the groomsmen cooling their heels in the holding cell."

"Let's head over to the Ritz and see what we can find out."

"That sounds like a plan, detective--lets do it."

Half an hour of frantic searching later, Sam Dayton, Ben, Adam and Hoss Cartwright were convinced the two young men were not at the reception any longer.

Jacob came over to the group of concerned men that was huddled in the corner. "I just talked to a friend of my brother's. He said Josh mentioned something about a men's club where they play billiards and gamble."

"They’d never let Little Joe in there, he’s just a kid," Hoss said, looking to the others for re-assurance.

Adam shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Little Joe can be very convincing, he got us all companions for the evening without too much trouble--didn't he?"

A slight commotion at the entrance to the ballroom drew their attention. Two police detectives, identifiable by the badges they had recently pinned to the lapels of their jackets, walked into the reception.

Ben's eyes narrowed and he looked at Sam. "I bet we've located our missing sons."

Starsky and Hutch recognized Sam Dayton from his picture in the newspaper from his attendance at a charity ball several months ago. They walked over to the group of men.

"I hate to tell you this Mr. Dayton, but your son Josh is in jail--again I might add. This time he has a young boy with him," Hutch said with a frown.

"Are they allright?" Ben asked.

Hutch turned to the grey-haired gentlemen, who looked like he was angry enough to spit nails. "I take it the kid belongs to you?"

Ben nodded and repeated his question. "Are they allright?"

Starsky noted the concern in Ben's face, and the rigidity of his posture. This was a concerned father. "They're both fine. The young one is pretty scared, but hiding it well--and Josh…" he shrugged. "The same as always. Pretty smug."

"We need someone to come down to the station house to take care of a little business," Hutch said as he ran a hand through his straight blond hair.

"I'm ready," Ben said and turned to Sam. "You going?"

Sam nodded and turned to Jacob. "I'm sorry this had to happen on your wedding day, son."

Jacob gave his dad a quick hug. "Don't worry about it--just take care of Josh and see to it that he stays out of trouble."

"I will," Sam said.

"I'll go too, Pa," Adam said.

Ben shook his head. "No, son. This is a father's job. You two groomsmen should stay and help out with the guests." Ben smiled knowing his littlest boy was safe--at least until he got a hold of him. "Oh, Adam?"

"Yes, Pa?"

"Your friend is coming toward you, and she looks most eager to talk," Ben said and hid a chuckle with his hand as Rosey walked up behind his oldest son. He then turned to Sam. "Well, friend should we go bail some unruly boys out of jail?"

Dave Starsky pointed to the stairwell. "Mr. Dayton, Josh is on the lower level in Cell number two. Mr. Cartwright, my Captain wants to see you. If you would take the stairs to the next floor his office is the first one on the left."

"Thank you," both fathers said, and then walked down the hall of the Sacramento Police Station and stopped at the entrance to the stairway.

Sam put a hand on his friend's arm. "You take the cab back to the hotel Ben. I think Josh and I are going to go for a little stroll and have a father-son talk."

Ben smiled. "Are you sure?"

Sam nodded. "You know I think it's much easier when the boys are Little Joe's age. Unfortunately my problems with Josh won't be solved by a few well-placed smacks on a boy's behind."

Ben raised his eyebrows. "It will be more than a 'few', let me assure you."

"I know Ben. I just wish I had done the same thing with Josh about ten years ago. I have a feeling he and I wouldn't be taking this little stroll tonight if I had."

"Good luck."

"Same to you-old friend."

"Don't worry, I think my little discipline problem will be back on track faster than I can say 'bend over'."

Sam smiled and walked down the stairs that led to the holding cell where his wayward son was kept.

As he watched his friend leave, Ben was certain Sam had the much harder task. Taking a deep breath, he climbed the stairs that led to Captain Dobie's office. When he reached the top, he knocked once.

"Who is it?" Came from the depths of the office.

"Ben Cartwright-I'm here about my boy Joseph," Ben called through the closed door.

"Come in-please come in."

Ben pushed open the door, and was greeted warmly by Captain Dobie, a heavy set-man with a sizeable belly. After shaking hands, Dobie gestured Ben toward a chair and sat down behind his desk. "I'm very glad to see you Mr. Cartwright, I was about at my wits end about what to do with the boy. If we hadn't figured out who he was by morning, I would have had to call juvenile services and get him placed in foster care."

Ben slowly rubbed his palm across his forehead. What was he going to do with his youngest?

The captain could see the man was torn. "Mr. Cartwright the boy really didn’t do anything against the law, except being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In fact, I didn’t really even formally charge him with anything—just brought him down to the station to keep him out of trouble and throw a little scare into him. He’s mighty frightened about facing you."

Ben brightened, after hearing Little Joe wasn't in trouble with the law. "Well he should be. We are going to have a very 'necessary little talk', let me assure you."

The Captain smiled and nodded. "Just what he needs. A word of advice to you though," he said as he steepled his fingers on the paper-strewn desktop.

Ben leaned closer. "I’m listening."

"Keep him away from Josh Dayton. He’s headed for trouble and your son seems like he’s easily impressionable."

Rolling his eyes, Ben responded. "That is the understatement of the century-let me assure you. We'll be heading back to Virginia City on the Monday afternoon stage so I don't think keeping him away from Josh will be a problem." He thought for a moment. "Does Sam Dayton know about the troubles Josh has gotten himself into?"

The Captain shook his head. "No, but I aim to tell him. It isn’t my place because Josh is old enough to do as he pleases. But I have a notion that Daddy is holding the purse strings and he will be none to happy about the life his youngest has been leading."

"I think that’s a good idea. Josh would probably be able to charm his way out of this latest arrest, but if Sam knows there is a history of problems it will make a difference."

Captain Dobie stood, and pulled his pants up higher around his ample waist. "Shall we go see your boy?"

Ben grinned as he climbed wearily to his feet. "Lets."

Captain Dobie pulled open the door to his office and walked down the narrow flight of stairs, Ben following behind. Once they reached the main floor, the two men walked side by side-the Captain nodding to police officers as he passed. "I kept him in a holding cell next to the detective's desks. I didn't want him around any of the other men we picked up, and then when we couldn't convince him to give out his name, we sent Josh down to the basement with the others."

"Divide and conquer tactics?" Ben chuckled.

Dobie answered him with a short laugh. "Exactly-didn't work though. Still wouldn't tell us who he is. Joseph you said his name is?"

Ben nodded. "But we call him Little Joe."

"Little Joe it is. The holding cell is just a little further down this hall."

Ben put a hand on the Captain's arm and stopped him. "I'd really like to thank you and your men for going to all this trouble for my son. He can be a bit unruly at times, but at heart he is…"

Captain Dobie patted the man's hand. "A good boy. I can see that, as can the rest of the men here. That's why we went to so much trouble to keep an eye on him, and make sure he was returned to his father unharmed." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It's hard raising good kids in the city, we don't run into them a lot. That's why it was, well kind of a pleasure to have a boy as full of sass as your son in here-kind of makes us think of the way we'd like it to be."

"Thank you," Ben said softly.

The Captain smiled in return. "I don't think your son will be thanking me…"

"I'll take care of my son-don't you worry about it," Ben said with a determined look on his face.

"I have no doubt in my mind, Mr. Cartwright, no doubt at all," Dobie said and resumed walking.

They rounded the corner and saw a maze of desks, each holding stack after stack of paper. Ben recognized the two detectives who had been at the reception and nodded at them. Hutch raised a hand in greeting, and Starsky gestured toward the cell at the corner of the room. "We didn't tell him," he mouthed.

"Good," Ben said softly, deliberately keeping his voice low so it wouldn't carry in the large room. He walked over to the far wall, rounded the corner and looked at the lone inhabitant of the holding cell on the second floor. His son was lying on the bunk, his arms crossed behind his head staring at the ceiling. He looked calm, cool, collected and like he hadn't a care in the world. Ben knew when Little Joe caught sight of him, his demeanor would change instantly.

Captain Dobie, Starsky and Hutch had followed Mr. Cartwright over to the cell to watch the show. They stood beside him, unwilling to miss the boy's reaction to his father's arrival.

"Joseph Francis Cartwright!" Ben shouted.

Little Joe immediately looked toward the cell door, and his jaw dropped. After the first initial shock, he jumped to his feet and nervously bit his lip. After a moment, he started getting dizzy until he realized he had stopped breathing. He cautiously sucked in a breath, and gave his father a half-smile. "Pa? How'd you get here?"

"Exactly the question I have for you, boy," Ben said in a clipped tone.

The Sergeant who was hovering nearby searched through a ring full of keys before finally locating the correct one. He pushed the steel key through the lock and turned it, gratified when he heard the click. Pulling open the cell door, he backed away and watched Ben Cartwright enter the cell.

Ben stalked over to where his son was and stood towering over his youngest. "Joseph on a scale of one to ten where do you think this little escapade lies?"

Little Joe closed his eyes, then opened them slowly. Realizing he was still in the holding cell and his Pa was glowering at him, he knew his fervent prayer for divine intervention had gone ungranted and he had better answer the question. "Four?" he said hopefully.

Ben grabbed him by the arm and smacked him sharply on the behind, to the amusement of the police officers gathered there. "Try a nine, baby boy."

"Pa, it was just…" Little Joe said as he tried to twist out of his father’s vice like grip.

Ben added another hard swat for good measure. "This is just the beginning I assure you. You will truly regret what has gone on here tonight." Keeping a tight grip on Little Joe ’s arm, he pulled him out of the cell and toward the exit.

"Where’s Josh?" Little Joe asked, concerned that his friend was being left behind.

"His father is going to bail him out."

Little Joe grimaced. He was certain Josh didn’t want his Dad knowing where they had escaped the reception and gone to a gambling den.

"I wouldn’t concern yourself about him at the present time Joseph. You have more than enough to worry about."

"Yes sir," Little Joe answered, as they left the room.

As Captain Dobie and the two detectives watched the Cartwrights' leave the station house, each had a grin on their face. Having the boy in the station house had proved an interesting diversion from the horde of criminals they now had locked up in the basement. The Fratelli mob were an unruly bunch, and shortly the building would be flooded with shyster lawyers all with ready cash to turn them loose on the city again.

"It’s good to see a father who still believes in firm discipline," Hutch said with a chuckle.

Starsky nodded and pulled out a chair. He sat on it backwards, facing his partner. "I wouldn’t want to be in that boy’s shoes when they get back to the hotel. I have a feeling he’s going to spend a fair amount of the next hour across his father’s knees."

Hutch pulled out a chair and sat down next to his desk. "After what that kid pulled tonight, I had a hard time not doing it myself."

"I have a feeling that Mr. Cartwright is more than capable of handling the punishment for his son," Captain Dobie interceded.

"From the scared look on the kid’s face I’d have to agree with you." Starsky said and pulled out a pen. "Did you see the look on the kid's face when Layton told him that those 'ladies' we brought in were actually men all dressed up?"

Hutch chuckled. "Transvestites-the sort of thing he'd never see in Virginia City, I guarantee."

Ben pushed open the door to the room Little Joe shared with Adam, a razor strap held tightly in his hand. He was glad to see that his son was obeying his orders and had undressed. The boy was pulling his blue and white striped nightshirt over his curly head.

When Little Joe finished pulling the nightshirt down over his hips, he noticed what his father held in his hand. The three-inch wide strip of tanned leather was guaranteed to send a shiver of fear into even the most disobedient boy. His heart had leapt to his throat when Pa had told him to get undressed. Little Joe guessed he had taken whippings as many different ways as he could think of, but once, only once had Ben ever used a razor strap on his bare behind--a year ago when Joe had broken Cochise against the direct orders of his Pa and brothers. He remembered the incident vividly--it seemed like forever before he was able to sit comfortably again. Little Joe closed his eyes and shuddered-praying this wouldn't be occurrence number two.

"Pa, I can explain…." Little Joe started, although truthfully he had no idea what to say.

"Joseph, I'm not interested in any excuse you may have!" Ben Cartwright roared. "Until I say you can speak you will stand there, look at me, and listen."

Little Joe nodded numbly and looked at his father standing so tall before him. Tears started to form in the corners of his eyes as he realized this was all his own fault. There was no one to blame, no way to talk his way out of the situation.

Ben stroked his chin and stared at the floor for a moment, before looking at his young son. He hated to discipline his children, and as he aged it became more and more difficult, especially with Little Joe. But the boy had to realize that disobedience had a price tag, and it was time to pay the bill. The thoughts of what could have happened to his baby son ran through his mind as he stared at Joe, a forbidden trip to gamble away from the sight of his Pa and older brothers the most pleasant of his thoughts. "Joseph to say I'm very disappointed in your behavior would only be the tip of the iceberg in this case."

Little Joe closed his eyes and grimaced.

"Look at me!" Ben roared.

Little Joe snapped open his eyes and looked at his father, fear forming a ball in his stomach.

"To blatantly disregard any instructions I had given you." Ben stopped talking and started to stalk back and forth. "No, that is too mild a description for what you did this evening. You managed to not only compromise your safety, but you shamelessly affected three innocent people's lives while you did it. I might excuse the attentions of the spinster, the widow, and the shrew to Adam and myself as an inconvenience, but you toyed with the feelings of those three women and that is unforgivable. Adam and I had an altogether miserable evening, then when we found out you had skipped out of the reception the evening worsened."

Little Joe watched his father stalk back and forth, his eyes darting from the blazing red of his Pa's face to the worn brown leather strap in his hand.

"You were instructed to not leave the sight of me or your brothers'. Did my baby son do ask he was told? No! He chose to disregard that order, which was based on his youth, experience and concern for his safety--not as a means to prevent him from having fun. You ignored this order knowing full well what the consequences would be if you were caught. So, you cooked up an elaborate scheme to hide your departure from the reception, hoping to return before you were missed."

Ben's pace lessened as his temper gradually cooled, and his coloring returned to a near-normal shade. This was the stage Joe dreaded the worst, when the anger had passed and his father's attention turned to the physical part of his punishment.

Joe chewed on his knuckle, hoping and praying in vain some act of God like an earthquake would open up the ground and swallow him whole. It was not to be.

Ben advanced on his son and grabbed him by the arm and hauled a protesting Little Joe over to the bed. He threw him across his lap and lifted the boy's nightshirt, then crossed Joe's wrists behind his back. He noticed the pattern of bruises on the buttocks and shook his head. The after effects of Adam's spanking hadn't even faded and here Little Joe was in the same position again. He grabbed Joe's wrists with one hand and raised the razor strap with the other.

Joe squeezed his eyes shut and prayed that occurrence number two wouldn't be as bad as the first one. For the second time that evening, his prayers went unanswered. The first lick of the razor strap stung like a swarm of bees had decided to form a line and attack his unprotected buttocks. He fought the urge to squirm, knowing he was expected to lie still-but realizing the battle was lost before it began.

The second stripe added to his naked backside didn't draw Joe's attention away from the first one, only broadened the stinging area. Joe bit his lower lip as his eyes began to water, knowing it was only a matter of time before the tears would fall.

Eight more licks and Little Joe's behind was a mass of screaming welts. He couldn't hold his tears or his tongue any longer. "Pa! Stop!"

"Joseph, the next time I hope you will remember this little episode and follow my instructions," Ben said calmly.

The tone of his father's voice said it all. His punishment was far from over. Joe's breath caught in his throat and he began to cry softly.

The tears were falling in earnest as the next few blows fell, and Joe couldn't remain still any longer. He wiggled, not so much to squirm out of his father's grasp, but to cause his father to only hit glancing blows on his agonized backside.

The next morning, Ben and Hoss were lounging in the parlor of their suite, a silver coffee pot and china cups on the table in front of them. Adam pushed open the door to his room and walked out, still bleary-eyed with sleep. He had only been able to shake Rosey at midnight, and then he had to be blunt to the point of rudeness to get rid of her.

"Well, it's about time. I thought you were going to sleep the day away," Ben asked from his place on the couch. " Is your brother awake?" He picked up a cup of coffee and took a sip as he waited for Adam to answer.

"Awake? You mean did he sleep," Adam said as he padded over to the coffee table in his stocking feet. "He's in the same position he was when I tried to make him go to bed last night, kneeling on the window seat staring at the street."

"That boy," Ben said as he shook his head. "I just don't know what to do with him."

Adam poured himself a cup of coffee and then walked over to the chair and flopped into it. He rubbed his tired eyes as he remembered the conversation of the previous evening after he and Hoss came back to the suite. Ben was visibly shaken at the antics of his youngest son, and swore the boy would never fall to the depths where Josh Dayton had plunged. "Pa, I know you'll find this strange coming from me, but I think you need to talk to him."

"Talk! I already lectured him last night until I was blue in the face," Ben said as he slammed his cup down on the table.

Hoss shook his head as he joined the conversation. "Not, lecture-talk. He's really upset. Like Adam said, he didn't sleep all night. If we look back on the whole sordid escapade, all he really did was try to get a taste of the nightlife in Sacramento. You need to realize that Joe hasn't really had a chance to see much of anything other than Virginia City. Yes, I know Adam took him to the museum and we did a few things around town. But he is still a country boy at heart, and I'm sure it didn't take much convincing on Josh's part to get him to check out that club."

Ben calmed as he listened to his sons. "So what are you suggesting?" he said as he stroked his chin.

"Just explain to him that he has growing up to do, and he's not ready for what Josh is trying to throw him into. Might make him feel better," Hoss said.

Ben nodded and looked to Adam for confirmation.

"I agree, Pa," Adam said a she ran his hand through his sleep-rumpled dark hair. "Although I'm still mighty riled with him over that abominable shrew he saddled me with last night. Rosey was anything but a beautiful sweet-smelling flower."

"You're riled?" Ben chuckled. "I had to put up with two, the widow and the spinster and I hope to never, ever run into those two again!" He stood and walked over to Joe's door and pushed it open. Before he went through the doorway, he gave his two sons a wink to indicate he was going to follow their instructions.

When Ben entered the spacious bedroom, he saw Little Joe was still at the window. "We need to have a little discussion, Joseph," Ben said, and motioned the boy over to him.

Little Joe nodded and hung his head. He hated these "morning after" lectures almost as bad as the tannings themselves. He slowly walked over to his father.

Ben sat down on the bed and patted the mattress beside him.

Joe looked at him in consternation. "Pa?"

"Oh, sorry son, I guess I forgot," Ben said sheepishly. "Why don't you kneel on the floor and we'll talk."

Little Joe curled his lip. Sure it was easy for you to forget, he thought as he rubbed his sore backside.

After Joe had knelt on the wool rug and was facing him, Ben began. "I want to talk to you about your little side trip last night. I know there are many things in this world that you are eager to experience, but you must understand that you are not ready for these things yet."

Joe curled his lip in response.

"Do you remember…." Ben stopped and re-considered the sentence that was on his lips. Of course the boy didn't remember when Hoss and Adam were thirteen, he was too young. "You are allowed to do almost exactly the same things as Hoss and Adam were at your age, with a few exceptions.

"Exceptions? Like what?"

"Well, Hoss was never allowed in the kitchen, for instance."

Little Joe grinned. He wasn't surprised at that restriction-the rest of the family would never have anything to eat otherwise.

Ben patted his youngest on the shoulder. "You see son, when you are raising children you take their needs and temperament into account when you make the rules. But if Adam or Hoss were your age and had pulled what you did last night they would have gotten the same punishment that you received-make no mistake about it."

"But Pa, there are so many things that I want to do…" Little Joe said as he bit his lower lip.

"I know son, and the time will come. You'll do all the things your brothers do now, in time. I know that you don't like to hear it Precious, but you are just a boy yet. The gambling and drinking," he raised his eyebrows at Little Joe "and women--will all come later. You just have to wait."

Little Joe's lower lip trembled and his eyes misted. "But it's hard."

Ben pulled him into an embrace. "I know it is son, and that's why I'm here. To make sure the temptation doesn't outweigh what you're mature enough to handle--at least not without dire consequences."

Little Joe pulled back and looked into his father's eyes. "I'm sorry about last night Pa, I really am. Sometimes I just don't think."

Ben stared at his son, weighing what his words would be. "The trouble is Little Joe, that you do think. You just disregard that little voice inside your head that tells you what you should do; in favor of the one that says it would be fun. That's why we have to keep discussing your behavior over my knee-so you understand. Do you have any idea what could have happened to you last night?"

"I know, but I just wanted to see them play billiards Pa--that's all," Little Joe said hopefully.

"I see, and why this sudden interest in the game?" Ben said, thinking back to the matches he had seen in the past.

Little Joe shrugged his shoulders. "I've never seen it before Pa--I just wanted to see how it's played."

A light went on in Ben's mind, of course his son had never seen it. The closest billiards table was in Reno and Joe hadn't been there since he was five. "Why didn't you say something to me, or Adam if you were so interested?"

"Would you have taken me to see a match?"

Ben's jaw tightened. "Joseph you know I generally don't approve of children in establishments that serve liquor--I would have shown it to you in a book, or we could have talked about it."

That's why I didn't ask you, Little Joe thought to himself. He wanted to experience life and all it's pleasures, not read about them in a stuffy old book. The museum trip of a couple of days prior flashed through his mind. Or look at pictures of things in stuffy old museums.

As if he could read his son's mind instead of merely his expression, Ben said knowingly. "That's why you didn't ask--wasn't it. If you had, it would have tipped me off that you might be planning something like last nights trip--isn't that right Joseph?"

"Ummm," Little Joe fought to think of something to say that wasn't stretching the truth too badly.

"Joseph I asked you a question and I expect an answer," Ben demanded.

Joe nodded and studied the pattern of flowers on the carpet beneath his knees.

"An answer Joseph--not a nod, not a shrug. An answer."

"Yes sir," Joe said as he looked at his father. He couldn't meet the stern look in the dark brown eyes for long, so he guiltily looked away.

Ben stood and walked to the window. He watched the busy street below and then looked back at his youngest son who was kneeling by the bed. Such a trial Little Joe was, and Ben worried he wasn't doing right by him. He had been much younger when Adam and Hoss were adolescents and had the added blessing of Marie by his side. Now, to have to deal with the most difficult child of all, and alone on top of it. Ben hoped he was up to the task. But he had to admit, the boy was also a joy. Much more affectionate than his two older brothers, Ben could always count on a hug or a touch. Ben noticed how tired his son looked, and the dark circles under Joe's normally sparkling green eyes. He remembered Adam saying that the boy hadn't slept at all. "What d'you say we go have some breakfast?" Ben said, and mentally added then we're coming back here and you are going to take a nap.

"Sounds good to me, Pa," Little Joe said. "A nice hot cup of coffee sounds good too," he added impishly.

Ben smiled and rolled his eyes; his son always had to push. "Joseph, when will you ever learn? You're not old enough to drink coffee."

"I know, Pa but soon--huh?" Little Joe implored.

Ben put his arm around his son's slim shoulders and guided the boy through the door. Too soon, Little Joe, too soon.

Hoss pushed open the six-panel oak door and entered the hotel room his two brothers shared. He walked over to the window and pulled back the heavy crimson velvet curtains to let the late afternoon sun peek into the room. His baby brother had been asleep since eleven and it was almost six. Hoss walked over to the large brass bed and sat down, his weight causing Joe to shift his position on the mattress slightly. The boy was lying on his stomach; his young face turned to the right so Hoss could see his eyes were still tightly closed.

Hoss shook Little Joe's shoulder gently. "Punkin, Pa told me to wake you up for supper."

Little Joe yawned and his eyes fluttered. When he opened his eyes he saw Hoss on the bed beside him he grinned. He shifted his weight to rise, but when his backside protested he grimaced.

"A might sore?"

"Just a little," Joe admitted, chewing on his lower lip. How was he going to sit through supper?

Hoss smiled and patted his baby brother on the shoulder, then reached into a bag he had placed on the floor. "I thought you might be, so I went to one of those fancy apothecary places and got some salve. The clerk said it should fix you right up," he said as he set the small jar on the nightstand.

Joe smiled in gratitude. "Thanks Hoss, that'll help. Now all I have to worry about is the stage…"

Hoss grinned broadly. "Got something for that too." He once again reached into the bag on the floor and pulled out a square feather pillow. "Just the thing to set on that stage seat for a trip back to Virginia City."

Joe breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad. He could always count on Hoss to make life a little easier.

"I also got you something to take your mind off your sore backside during the trip too. When we were at breakfast you seemed so excited about that detective stuff, that I found this at a bookstore next to the Apothecary." He held up a brown leather book, the title "So You Want To Be A Detective" tooled in gold on the front.

Little Joe's grin stretched from ear to ear. "Thanks Hoss!" he squealed and gave his big brother a hug.

Hoss patted his baby brother's back. "You're welcome." He had known that Little Joe would be appreciative and liked doing things for him. Adam had been just as kind to him when Hoss had been a boy. It was just something older brothers' did for the younger ones. He thought for a moment about the trouble Little Joe had caused in the past few days. The boy always had been a handful and Hoss felt certain Joe would continue to be. But he was such a likeable little cuss. He watched Joe on the bed eagerly reading the new book. He didn't envy Pa or Adam the task of keeping Joe in line and was glad that he and his baby brother could be just friends.

The next day, the four Cartwright men waited in the elegant parlor of the Lawford mansion, the home of Jacob Dayton's new in-laws.

"Wow--this sure is a grand place isn't it," Hoss said in awe as he leaned on the fluted cherry wood columns that separated the parlor from the entrance.

"Gilded cage," Little Joe muttered as he sat down gingerly on the green velvet settee.

"What was that?" Ben asked, certain he wasn't like the phrase that came out of his son's all-too-often-smart mouth.

Little Joe winced, and thought that wasn't supposed to be out loud. "Nothing."

"I asked you a question Joseph," Ben demanded, a frown dragging down the corners of his mouth.

Little Joe shrugged his shoulders and studied the floor. "I said it's nothing more than a gilded cage--at least according to Serena." He shifted around on the sofa trying to get comfortable. The aftereffects of the razor strap incident were still fresh on his mind, or should he say backside. The settee was heavily cushioned, but still not enough to alleviate all discomfort.

Adam sat down next to Little Joe and slid his hand across his brother's shoulders, trying to keep the boy still and out of trouble. "Kind of strikes me the same way."

Further conversation was halted by the arrival of Samuel and Abigail Dayton. Their new daughter-in-law had insisted they be the guests of her parents for the duration of their stay in Sacramento.

"Ben, so good to see you before you left," Samuel said as he shook hands warmly with his friend.

Ben smiled. "Well I'm glad to see the both of you too." He turned to Abigail. "So, Mrs. Dayton how did you like staying in a place this grand?" He said as he gestured around the elaborate room.

"It's beautiful," Abigail said as she looked at the three Cartwright boys who had immediately stood when she entered the room.

Mr. and Mrs. Lawford joined their guests, and invited them once more to sit down. They did so and the conversation continued.

"I'm so glad the newlyweds decided to go to New York for their honeymoon. It's such a wonderful city," Elvira Lawford said, as she looked her husband for agreement.

Mr. Lawford nodded. "Yes, I agree my dear. A wonderful city full of many exciting things to discover."

"I'm afraid I found Boston to be a little more interesting when I was at school back east," Adam said.

Elvira's ears perked up. A wealthy single man in their midst, college educated even and she hadn't even tried to bring up Serena and her un-betrothed status. She would remedy that fact shortly. "So you went to school in the East. Harvard, I assume?"

"Yes, of course." Adam smiled, showing his even teeth. He knew where this odious woman was headed even before she spoke the next words.

"My youngest daughter, Serena-she would love to hear all about Boston. She's very interested in architecture also," Elvira said, after recalling a conversation with Jacob about the dark haired man's interests. "She is not yet betrothed you know, and a handsome older man like yourself could be just what she needs."

Little Joe fought to contain a giggle. Serena liked architecture? He was quite certain that wasn't the case, and his new friend and Adam seemed to get along like fire and water.

"Ah, yes--I've met your daughter Serena. It seemed to me she like much younger men than myself, however," Adam said and glanced in Little Joe's direction.

Joe had the grace to flush. He really couldn't say anything with Pa and the Lawfords' there, but he would have a few choice words to say to his oldest brother later.

Elvira frowned, and a very unattractive crease lined her forehead. She reached up and traced the line with her finger, willing it away. "I'm sure I don't understand what you mean…."

Abigail hastily steered the conversation in a different direction. She had seen Little Joe with Serena at the reception, and although she knew the girl to be headstrong and independent--she was certain nothing improper had occurred. The girl had confided many things to her while they had shared the same house and Abigail felt that Serena was being pushed in a direction she definitely didn't want to go. Plus, it never hurt to change the subject. "Oh, Ben you must see the gardens around the house. They are truly the best part. Let's all take a walk through them shall we?" She fanned her face with a fan made from ostrich feathers. "Plus, it's very warm in here and it'll be cooler outside."

Little Joe stood quickly, eager to avoid any more pressure on his sore behind. He wanted to hurry them along to the garden, but his Pa had always taught him to speak only when spoken to with adults. Of course, Little Joe didn't usually follow that instruction, but felt with the way events had turned out in Sacramento and his plans with Serena--he thought it might be better at least outwardly obey his father.

Serena had waited for them to walk into the garden. It was she who had suggested to Mrs. Dayton how much cooler it would be to take a stroll around the grounds. She watched them behind a tall boxwood hedge and waited for her chance.

Adam followed Mrs. Lawford and the rest of the adults, but couldn't help but notice that the well- manicured gardens seemed to be copied from the latest fashion-without regard to the likes and dislikes of the owner. They were beautiful, but lacking any charm, whimsy, or real ingenuity-the things that come from someone who loves to garden.

Hoss grabbed his oldest brother by the arm. "You reckon this'll take long? My feet are killing me in these new boots," he said gesturing down to his recently purchased black boots.

"You never know," Adam whispered. "Depends how much interest we show I guess."

"Well I vote for none. Let's get out of here as quick as we can. Maybe we can get a snack before we leave on the stage," Hoss said, already envisioning a sack full of red-hots. He turned around whispered. "Hurry up Little Joe, and be real quiet. We don't want them to think we're interested in this gardening stuff."

Little Joe nodded and grinned, but continued to hang back several feet from the group. If Serena was going to meet him, it had better be soon. The stage was leaving at eleven thirty and it was after ten o'clock now. No sooner had the thought entered his mind, than a hand shot out from behind the hedge and pulled the slight boy into the thicket.

He was so surprised he almost called out, but a feminine hand was across his mouth. "Shh," Serena whispered. "Just let them continue on." She listened to her mother drone on about the chrysanthemums and the hydrangeas in bloom and when they rounded the corner by the fountain she relaxed. "Whew--that was close."

"Close! You almost scared me to death." Little Joe massaged his right upper arm. "And how'd you get so strong? Embroidery take that much strength?" he said, cracking a wry grin.

Serena chuckled and clenched her fist in front of her friend's nose. "I'll show you how much strength it takes to embroider if you don't shut up!"

"Allright, allright. I never did like needles anyway." Little Joe noticed the portfolio lying on the ground near a bush. "Oh, good-you did manage to sneak your sketches out of the house then?"

Serena nodded and smiled sadly. "It's not like anyone really wanted to see them anyway. My mother told me that I shouldn't waste my time sketching, that all I needed to do was concentrate on my feminine wiles and catch a man." Serena picked up the portfolio and handed it to Little Joe, who tucked it under his arm. She took his other hand and they walked quickly back to the buggy, both eager to hide the evidence.

Little Joe offered a quick smile to the driver as he climbed down from the back of the buggy. He had made certain when they left the hotel that his bag was on the top, and had no trouble putting Serena's sketches in his suitcase.

Unbeknownst to the two, the remainder of the group had ended their tour of the gardens and had seen Little Joe jump down from the carriage. Ben's eyes narrowed in displeasure as he watched the girl run her fingers down his young son's cheek then give him a quick kiss on the lips. She pulled a small package out of her pocket and held it in her hand, the silver paper evident even from the distance.

Serena looked over at the gardens and saw company. She slipped the present into his jacket pocket, pecked him on the cheek and ran off in the opposite direction.

Little Joe guiltily looked over at the entrance to the gardens and saw Pa, his brothers and the rest of the adults walking towards him. He traced the outline of Serena's kiss on his lips, and was ashamed to admit that he was blushing. When he saw the displeasure evident on his father's face Little Joe swallowed hard. If luck was with him today, they hadn't seen anything. Unfortunately, lady luck had a bad habit of deserting him when he seemed to need her the most.

When the group reached him, Little Joe shot a worried glance toward Hoss who shrugged. Not a good sign, Joe decided. He looked up at Adam and saw disapproval behind the deep brown eyes. His musing was stopped further when Pa slipped his strong arm around Joe's shoulders, and squeezed tightly--a little too tightly for comfort.

Samuel smiled when he saw the tight hold his friend held on his youngest son. "Too bad you have to leave so soon."

"I know, but we have to get this one back to school," Ben said angling his head toward Little Joe. "He’s missed the first week already."

Little Joe shrugged out of his father's grasp and rolled his eyes.

Samuel laughed. "I see he feels the same way about school as Josh did. Better get that corrected right now. I never did have much success with Josh." His eyes dropped to the ground and he paused. After a moment, he looked his friend in the eye. " I’m really sorry about the incident with Josh and the police, Ben."

"I cast no blame in your direction Sam. I am very displeased with Josh however." Ben looked down at Little Joe. "This one," he tapped Joe lightly on the behind, gratified to see the boy jump. "I think has learned his lesson. And if the tanning alone wasn’t enough, I have a feeling three days on a stage coach and then another one on horseback will reinforce it very nicely."

Little Joe groaned. It was going to be a long trip back.

The small room at the stagecoach departure station was empty except for the four Cartwright men. Joe had spent a very anxious buggy ride from the Lawford's home trying to decide just how much his Pa and brothers' had seen of his interlude with Serena. Since no conversation on the trip had even touched on the subject, Joe had with his customary flippant ways decided he was home free. However, the hard bench seats where his father and brothers sat were just a little too hard for his sore bottom so he had been leaning against the doorframe watching the ladies pass by the station.

"Joseph, come here and sit down son," Ben called from the corner.

Little Joe scowled but walked across the room and sat down next to Hoss as instructed, facing his Pa and Adam.

"I noticed you and Serena became close friends in the short time you were together Little Joe," Ben asked, noting his youngest was squirming uncomfortably on the seat across from him.

Adam opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by the glare from his baby brother.

Joe decided to see where this line of questioning was headed. "Uh, yea Pa. She’s real nice," he said, offering his father a slight smile.

"I see, how old is she?" Ben asked, raising his eyebrows.

Little Joe smiled, a trace of fire in his eyes to match the one in his pants. "I thought it wasn’t polite to ask a lady her age?" he said as he shifted on the sight.

Ben returned the smile. The boy did have a way of turning the tables when you least expected it. He turned to Adam on his left, the question in his eyes.

"She’s twenty-two Pa," Adam said, disapproval evident in his tone of voice.

Ben nodded and returned his attention to Little Joe. "I see. What did she give you?"

"Huh?" A crease lined Little Joe ’s forehead. Did they see him slip the sketches in his suitcase? There would be big trouble. How would he explain the drawings of dresses to his father and brothers? Plus there was much more in his suitcase that would cause problems. He then thought of the present in his pocket and hoped it wouldn’t be too incriminating.

"The present Joseph," Ben said evenly, gesturing at his son's breast pocket. "She slipped a present into your pocket and I would like to know what it is."

"Umm-I don’t know," Little Joe backpedaled, then gave his Pa a small shrug.

Ben was not deterred. "Well open it then."

Little Joe played a card he had heard both Adam and Hoss use in the past. "It's personal Pa."

Ben’s eyes darkened. "I’m sure it is son, but since you aren’t even fourteen yet, I feel as your father I have a right to see any ‘personal’ things my little boy may receive especially from members of the opposite sex."

But P-Pa," Little Joe stammered.

"Joseph!"

"Yes, sir," Joe said. He knew better than to turn to Adam for help because his opinion was surely worse even than Pa's. He thought of Hoss briefly but didn't want to place his middle brother in a difficult position. Realizing there was no choice; he reluctantly pulled the small package out of his pocket. He unwrapped the silver paper and pulled out a jeweler's box. He flipped open the top to find a silver band ring, two intertwined hearts in the center. He handed it to his Pa, then opened the card:

Ben glared at his youngest son as he handed the ring to Adam.

Adam looked inside the ring and read the inscription aloud. "A dream is held forever if shared by two." His dark eyes narrowed as he frowned at Little Joe. "Exactly what dreams do you two share, baby brother?"

Little Joe studied the floor of the waiting, then traced patterns on his thigh with his finger, trying to look anywhere but at the pair of angry eyes across from him. "Umm… I can't tell you," he backpedaled.

Adam cocked an eyebrow. "Why not?"

Joe reluctantly looked up from the floor and sought out his oldest brother's eyes. "I promised Serena."

Ben leaned forward and reached out, touching Little Joe's chin. He firmly turned the young face toward him. "Normally I would commend you for keeping your promise. This is a different situation however and in light of your recent transgressions I feel I need to know. Now, I want an answer--what dreams?" Ben ordered.

Little Joe looked earnestly into his father's eyes. "But Pa…" He instinctively knew by the tone of his father's voice that the conversation was headed down a path he didn't want to travel.

Ben dropped Joe's chin and stood. He grabbed the boy by the upper arm and pulled him to his feet and swatted him once on his already sore backside. "I'm waiting."

Little Joe grimaced and chewed on his lower lip.

When he realized no answer was forthcoming, Ben spoke again, more forcefully this time. "Joseph, I want an answer and I want it now!"

The answer danced in Little Joe's mind. It really wasn't that bad and there was nothing his Pa could do about it anyway-especially if he neglected to mention the part about them scheming to get her to Paris. It was still breaking a promise however, something that Little Joe didn't do easily.

Ben pulled back his hand, ready to add another swat. "Wait, Pa!" Little Joe interjected, covering his backside with his free hand. "We both want to uhhh.." Little Joe paused, and changed his mind on what he was going to say. "Travel to Europe."

Ben dropped the boy's arm and grabbed him by the shoulders, his thoughts taking him places where no father of a thirteen-year-old should have to go. He looked deep into his son's expressive green eyes. "Together?"

"Not necessarily," Little Joe said, his unruly curls choosing that moment to fall down on his forehead.

Ben softened and brushed the curls back on his youngest's forehead. "Where would you like to go son?"

Little Joe grinned shyly. "I want to go to Paris, Pa."

Ben slid his arm around his son. "Maybe in a few years we'll see." He took the ring from Adam and handed it back to Little Joe. "It was a nice sentiment Joseph, but I really don't think you need to be receiving gifts from young ladies as old as Serena. We’ll let you keep this one but no more—understood?"

"Yes, sir," Little Joe said and breathed a sigh of relief. His plans were safe for the moment.

Several hours after they had left Sacramento, Adam watched Joe as he continued to read the new detective book Hoss just bought him. Finally, he had had enough. The boy should be reading things to further his education and enhance his mind, not third-rate comic book stories. He looked at Hoss. No matter how well intentioned.

Adam began a well-rehearsed lecture on appropriate reading material for a thirteen-year-old. "….and so Joe, Charles Dickens….."

"Shut up Adam!" Little Joe said, not taking his nose from the book.

Adam was tired and cranky after the long and dusty trip, and was just aching to pick a fight. He had been rehearsing his dissertation since they had left Salt Flats and was eager to finish his lecture. "Keep a civil tongue in your head, boy or I’ll…"

"Boys, boys. Let’s try and get along for the remainder of the trip please," Ben said with more than a touch of annoyance then turned to his youngest son. "Joseph, apologize to your brother please."

Joe snapped his book shut and glared at his father. "But he started it!"

A headache had started behind Ben's right eye, and he could tell it was going to get worse if he didn't stop this fight before it started. "Joseph I'm in no mood to argue. If you persist in acting this way I assure you there will be no winner. I think it's already tough enough for you to sit on that seat-but it can be worse," Ben said clearly meaning the action. "Now apologize!"

Little Joe bit his lip as he looked at his Pa. This was not the time to argue the younger versus older brother war. If he were smart, he'd just let it go and apologize. He looked over at Adam and saw the smirk almost hidden on his lips. Little Joe narrowed his eyes and glared at him. Just before Little Joe threw caution to the winds, he thought to himself-Well, nobody ever accused me of being smart. Little Joe stuck out his tongue at his smug older brother, and was gratified to see the smirk on Adam's face immediately leave. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to savor the new expression because he felt his left arm being jerked and the next thing he knew he was across his father's lap. Little Joe didn't even try to stop the six sharp swats that landed on his backside. Although the pain was intense because he was already sore--it was worth it.

His hand still poised in mid-air ready to deliver another smack, Ben asked. "Are you ready to apologize now?"

Taking a deep breath, Little Joe nodded but continued to stare at the floor. "I'm sorry Adam."

Ben brought his hand down anyway, adding the final swat then pulled his youngest to his feet. "See it doesn't happen again. Now sit down and keep a civil tongue in your head--understood?"

Joe couldn't help but rub his sore backside. "Yes, sir." He carefully sat down on his pillow next to Hoss. This trip, there was no other way to describe it--it sucked.

After a long day in the stagecoach, Pa had decided to make it an early evening for himself and his youngest son at the hotel. However, Adam and Hoss were sprawled in uncomfortable wooden chairs at the Shortbranch saloon in Indian Wells, a small town just over the Nevada border. An old man on an even older piano was serenading them and everytime the man hit a wrong key Adam winced. Various sizes and shapes of girls floated amongst the tables, their gaily-colored dresses trying to brighten up the drab and fight scarred establishment.

Adam took a sip of his fifth beer. None of the girls were impressive enough to warrant a second look. He looked at his younger brother whose eyes were darting around the room. "Okay, out with it. What's bothering you?"

Hoss smiled slowly at his older brother. "You can always tell can't you?"

"I've known you since you were born boy, of course I can. Now what is it?" Adam said, wiping his damp hands on his black pants.

Hoss looked into his beer and then took a sip. "Well, I'm kinda worried…." He set his glass down and stared into his beer.

"I can't help if I don't know what the problem is," Adam said lightly. He knew sometimes Hoss had to be drawn into an admission of what was bothering him, and he knew how to do it well.

"Dang it Adam, this new teacher that's coming to Virginia City," Hoss said quickly. "I heard from Susan Partridge that he's just the meanest thing alive."

Adam chuckled. The rumors concerning the new teacher had been started by the school board to strike fear into the hearts of the students. "And how would she know?"

"She heard it from Roy Coffee, and I bet he'd know." Hoss said, the worried expression never leaving his face.

Adam reached out and patted his younger but larger brother's hand. "Don't worry about it Hoss."

"Not worry about it," Hoss sputtered, his temper starting to flare. "Are you forgetting our baby brother will be in his class? We both know Little Joe has a penchant for trouble, but he's basically a good boy. If this teacher thinks he can…."

Adam shook his head. "Calm down, calm down. If I tell you something, do you promise never to mention it to Little Joe?" The glare he got from Hoss forced him to add another line. "It's for his own good."

"Allright. What?"

"This teacher, Eli Waldoch. He does have a reputation for being a disciplinarian. But we needed someone who could handle the class. I don't have to remind you what happened last Spring do I?" Adam drained his beer.

Hoss shook his head. The McNaughton brothers had been playing with fireworks and had burned the school down. They were basically good boys too, but the last teacher hadn't been able to handle the class and had given up on trying to keep order on a day to day basis. "I was sure glad Little Joe was home that day."

"Me too. But anyway, this Mr. Waldoch has been teaching for twenty years. I've looked over his records myself and he has a glowing history of successes-even with difficult students."

"You ain't saying Little Joe is difficult are you?"

Adam threw the question back "Are you saying he isn't?"

"Well, he's..he's…" Hoss' attention was momentarily diverted as a lithe blonde saloon girl slid behind his chair.

"He's difficult," Adam finished for him. "I know he's not mean-spirited or anything, but when a child is smart like Little Joe is and refuses to reach his potential it's hard on the teacher. You remember when he started school--he was a year and a half younger than the other first graders and he could already read and write way better than they could."

Hoss nodded.

"But when he started formal schooling, he began just doing the minimum to get by. I mean he learns allright, but never pushes himself. He's just content to let the days pass and cause trouble."

Hoss remembered. He also knew something that Adam didn't. That part of the reason Little Joe had learned so well when he was small was because his mother and oldest brother had helped him and shown great interest in his learning. When Little Joe had entered the Virginia City School, Adam had just left for Boston and his Mama had been dead for almost a year. Little Joe had been five and a half and Hoss fourteen and he had seen the pattern starting even then. Even though Pa had tried to reinforce how important learning was to his youngest son, Joe had been too upset and angry to listen.

"The school board decided to start a rumor to get the children on their best behavior for when Mr. Waldoch starts. From what I understand he's a very nice man, but accepts no foolishness in the classroom. He's been back east for a long time, but wanted to come west to tackle some new challenges. I must say we have a big challenge for him on the Ponderosa," Adam said draining his beer and motioning for another.

Hoss nodded, and accepted the explanation. "If you say so, Adam, I'll believe you, but you know I don't take kindly to anyone messing with my little brother." The bartender set another foam-topped beer in front of Adam. Hoss pointed to the beer. "You better take it easy there, we've got another long day in the stagecoach tomorrow."

Adam waved his arm dismissively. "I know what I'm doing, little brother." His eyes darted around the room and he noticed a new addition to the line-up of girls. Adam realized that it had been over a month since he had managed to "have a private little visit" with one of the saloon girls' back home and this newcomer was just what he needed. He stood and dropped some coins on the table. "Uh, I'll be gone a while. You take care of yourself-you hear?"

Hoss nodded and drained his beer.

"Oh, and remember--not a word to Little Joe about Waldoch," Adam said and walked over to a petite brunette.

Half an hour and some sweet-talk later, Adam was in the girl's bedroom. When he had spoken to her she had responded in the most delightful French accent and he had been charmed instantly. The room reflected her background, all shades of peach and soft green--vaguely reminiscent to Adam's mind of Louis VIII. His mind abruptly changed direction when he felt a tongue slither in and out of his ear.

The girl traced a finger down the V created by his open shirt and swirled patterns in his dark chest hair. She slowly forced his buttons through the holes and eased the shirt off his muscular shoulders. It fell in a pool on the floor. "Now that's what I call a manly chest," she purred seductively. The saloon girl ran her hands over his chest, pausing to delicately dip a finger in her mouth to moisten it, then traced it over his left nipple. "Have you ever been with a French woman Monsieur?"

Adam's head was swimming, whether from desire or the beer he wasn't exactly sure. He didn't have the strength to answer. His mind was focused on the beautiful woman who was having her way with him.

The woman admired the abundant luxurious dark hair that ran the length of his chest and swirled down past his belt buckle. She dropped to her knees before him, unbuckled his belt and slid the black leather strip from the loops.

Adam's mind was fighting for control. Her accent was familiar--so familiar. It soothed him, yet fired desire in every fiber of his being.

As she unbuttoned the top button of his pants, his mind desperately searched for the reason behind the familiarity, but his body just wanted release. "Mademoiselle?" he whispered huskily.

Dark green eyes looked up at him, her desire as strong as his. "Oh, Cherie--don't call me that." She wet her pink lips hungrily, as she stared at the finely chiseled face-this handsome hunk of man that she wanted nothing more than to possess.

Adam closed his eyes, letting the lilting tone of her voice caress his body. He took a deep breath to try and hold back his desire. "What should I call you?"

She giggled and pushed her wavy brown hair out of her eyes. "Oh, Cherie--my name is Marie…"

Adam's eyes flew open and his desire fled--instantly. A door opened in his mind--now he remembered. He pulled backwards away from the clutching hands at his thighs. He quickly buttoned his pants and threw his shirt and belt over his shoulder. He reached in his pocket and pulled out some coins and dropped them on the dresser. Adam rushed out the door and clattered noisily down the stairs.

As soon as he spotted the table where Hoss still sat, he sprinted over. Reaching the table he noticed nine empty shot glasses in front of his brother, and eight empty and one full glass in front of a man who rivaled Hoss in both weight and girth. "We're leaving--now!"

Hoss was startled both by his brother's unexpected entrance and appearance.

"Adam you look like you've seen a ghost-what's the matter?" Hoss said, trying to avoid slurring his words but failing miserably.

"Never mind," Adam said as he slipped his black shirt on and buttoned it. "Let's get back to the hotel."

Hoss nodded and rose. He offered his hand to his competitor who was having a hard time remaining upright. "What d'you say we call it a draw--huh?"

The man fell over in his chair and landed with a thud on the floor.

Hoss snorted and looked at Adam. "I guess I got my answer huh?"

Little Joe punched his middle brother in the arm. "Move over Hoss!" he said from his place standing next to the bed. A snort was the only response from the large man. Little Joe hated trips where Hoss was drinking. As the smallest brother, he always had to share with the biggest. Normally this was okay, once Hoss was asleep he usually didn't move. But when Hoss had been drinking, he tended to be very restless and boot his younger sibling all over the bed and floor.

A yawn escaped Joe's lips, and he ran his hand through his sleep-rumpled curls. It was the fourth time he had wound up on the floor this evening and he was anxious to try and get some rest. He rubbed his sore backside. Of course, it never failed that each time he was booted out of bed he landed on his behind. This landing position had the unfortunate result of aggravating an existing ache that a three-day stagecoach trip had done nothing to help.

Little Joe looked over Hoss to the broad expanse of bed on the opposite side of his brother. It looked very inviting, but also dangerous. Joe had been seduced by the open space an hour ago, and had ended up crushed against the far wall unable to move or breathe. Luckily his brother's ear had been close to his mouth. Although his feeble cries for help had not woken Hoss out of his slumber, a sharp bite on the ear lobe had roused him enough to at least roll over. If that hadn't been the case, Joe might have not survived the night. He sighed. It was hard being the youngest.

Deciding to try one more time, he punched his middle brother in the arm again. No response. "I give up!" Joe said and layed down on the floor next to the bed. He curled up as best as he could on the cold, hard floor and fell asleep instantly.

A snort from Hoss woke Adam, and his mind wandered back to the thoughts that had been invading his sleep. When Pa had returned home from New Orleans with his new wife, Adam had been almost fourteen-exactly the age Joe was now. Adam could remember it like it was yesterday. The first time the Marie entered the house it had been like a breath of spring. Her golden brown curls were piled high on top of her head and her sea-green satin gown was rumpled from travel but beautiful all the same. Her voice--so unlike any he had ever heard before, soft and lilting with a French accent'. It was all his little boy fantasies come true-except for one thing; she was his stepmother. How he had wanted her--as only a boy can fantasize of something that was never meant to be his. A twinge of guilt touched his heart. He had been so mean to her at first, whether it sprang from jealousy or guilt at his hidden desires he wasn't sure. He looked at Pa sound asleep on the far side of the bed.

It had taken over a year and help from his friend Jacob to make him come to terms with his new stepmother. Adam smiled. The birth of his beloved baby brother had been icing on the cake. He looked over at the other bed, shocked to see its lone occupant. He sat up quickly, and saw the window was still shut. He frantically looked around the room and was ready to wake Pa when he looked at the floor beside the bed. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Little Joe lying there, his head atop his curled arm using it for a pillow. He frowned when he saw the boy was shivering and his teeth were chattering, the thin cotton nightshirt he wore not enough protection against the chilly September air. "Joe," Adam whispered.

No response.

Adam stretched a long arm out and gently shook the boy.

"Huh?" Little Joe said groggily and leaned up on one elbow.

"Hoss kick you out?"

Joe nodded and rubbed his eyes, not fully awake.

Adam scooted over in the bed and pulled back the covers. "C'mon in, there's room."

Little Joe smiled and stood, the weariness set deep in his bones. The warm bed looked very inviting, so he pushed aside any thoughts about being grownup and gratefully slid into bed with his oldest brother.

It was early evening and the Cartwrights' were glad to reach Reno, where their horses were stabled. Their luggage would continue on with the stagecoach and arrive in Virginia City in two days. After a long day in the coach, all three boys were looking forward to a nice soft bed to rest.

Ben looked at his three boys, none of whom would even remotely pass for healthy. Little Joe was laying face down on the bed and looked tired enough to fall asleep instantly. He had eaten very little supper and had been fidgeting and shifting around in the coach all day. That thrashing will be remembered for a long time. He looked at Hoss who was lying on the bed next to Little Joe. His middle son had his arm over his eyes and seemed to be praying for death. Ben proceeded to the last of his sons Adam, who seemed to be holding his stomach in pain. He had also eaten very little. A smile curled Ben's lips and he spoke. "So boys, what d’you say we head over to the saloon for a beer?"

Little Joe jumped to his feet, his sore backside and the long stagecoach ride forgotten. "Sure Pa! Let’s go."

Adam swallowed hard. "No thanks Pa—I think I had enough to drink last night to last me for quite a while."

Ben looked over at his middle son. "Hoss?"

"I think I have to agree with Adam, Pa," Hoss said never taking his arm from his face.

Ben smiled at his two older sons, then looked down indulgently at his youngest. "Well, Joseph what do you say we head…"

"Over to the saloon?" Little Joe said with an ear-splitting grin. Was his Pa finally going to let him sample the delights of an always-denied trip to a saloon?

Ben shook his head, bursting his son’s bubble. "No, son—the general store. A nice cold sarsaparilla sounds good right now—doesn’t it?"

Little Joe wrinkled his nose and turned on the charm. "A cold beer sounds better, Pa."

Ben shook his head once again, more decisively this time. "I don’t think so. When you’re older, we'll get you a beer. Right now I think a sarsaparilla will be fine."

"Aw, c’mon Pa, I’ll be fourteen soon. That’s old enough," Little Joe said petulantly.

Adam moaned from the bed, and clutched his still-aching head. "Right now I don’t feel old enough."

Ben and Little Joe didn't make the trip to the general store or even to a saloon. Instead, they spent the evening at Frank Muillard's home, an old friend of both Ben and Marie's.

"No, Joe. You need to bend over a little farther on the table and grip the cue a little tighter," Frank said from his place on the oxblood button-tufted sofa

Joe nodded and pulled back on the cue and thrust it forward, sending the balls scattering across the green felt billiard table. He was happy to notice both a striped seven and three-ball land in the corner pocket. They had been at Uncle Frank's all evening and Joe could honestly say this had been the best part of his trip to Sacramento. Not only had he learned to play billiards, but also Pa had let him have a glass, albeit a small glass of brandy. The icing on the cake had been the stories that Frank had told about his mother.

Joe leaned over the table once more. "Six ball in the corner pocket." Little Joe had also learned that his mother had loved to play billiards, even though it wasn't considered ladylike to do so. The soft thunk the ball made as it slid into a pocket was a common sound as the evening wore on.

Ben and Frank sat on the sofa in the far corner of the room. Both men were nursing a glass of brandy as they watched Little Joe clear the table. "You know Ben, I haven't seen that youngster in ten years, but I'd recognize those curls anywhere." Frank stared into his glass and swirled the deep red liquid. "He's the spitting image of her. Makes me sad that Marie isn't here to watch him grow up."

"I know. Many times I've wished that I could share the good times and the bad with her. I bet she'd know how to handle him when he gets into trouble. It's hard for me to discipline him sometimes because he is so much like her." Ben paused, the sight of his wife filling his vision for a moment. "I start to punish him, then I get to thinking what she'd have done, and then I look into those green eyes of his…."

Frank chuckled. "And to make a long story short, you let him get away with murder."

Ben scoffed. "I wouldn't go that far, but I think I am more lenient with him than I was with my two older sons," he said with a smile.

"That'd have to be because of sheer volume of trouble wouldn't it? I remember Adam and Hoss as being two levelheaded boys who got into an occasional bout of mischief. If I know Marie's boy, he's into mischief on an almost daily basis."

Ben chuckled. "You certainly know Marie's boy then, Frank. Because you just described life with Little Joe. Do you know he sneaked out of the wedding reception and got arrested by the police?"

Frank smirked.

"Funny, you think that's funny?" Ben said with a raised eyebrow.

"Marie and my sister Eloise climbed out of the window at the convent school in New Orleans and went to the circus. They came home at three o'clock in the morning to a waiting Mother Superior with a cane in her hand," Frank said with a snort. "If you could have heard Marie telling the story you'd have sworn the circus was the most exciting thing in the world. Her eyes just burned with fire and she had the brightest smile on her lips." He paused and a frown replaced his grin. "It's hard to believe both she and Eloise are gone now."

Their increasingly somber mood was halted by the subject of their discussion. "Eight ball in the center pocket," Little Joe called cheerily from the table. It looked like billiards was going to be another game he excelled at.

Both Ben and Frank smiled at Joe as the black ball made its way into the pocket.

Frank stood wearily. "Good job, Little Joe. It looks like you didn't need much of my teaching at all."

Little Joe leaned on the pool cue. "Maybe I'm doing well because I had a good teacher."

Frank smiled and ruffled the brown curls. "Ah, my boy. You have learned one important thing in life already. Flattery will get you anywhere."

Little Joe handed Frank the cue and pulled the balls out of the pocket. He racked then into the center of the table, ready for Frank to have his turn.

Two hours and three games later, Ben sat on the couch with his arm around his youngest son. Frank sat on the corner of the pool table, finishing a glass of brandy.

Ben absently played with his son's curls and noticed the boy stifling a yawn. "Well, I don't want to overstay our welcome Frank, and Little Joe is tired."

Little Joe shook his head. "No, I'm…" He broke into a yawn. "not."

Ben raised an eyebrow. "Well, I am. Plus we have a hard ride to the ranch tomorrow." He stood, pulling Joe with him. "I'll be back next month to bring you the contracts for that timber deal."

"Thank you, Ben." Frank looked at the young boy and tousled his curls. "Don't wait so long before you visit next time young man."

Little Joe offered a shy smile. "I won't sir. I'd like to hear some more stories about.." Joe yawned once again. "My mama."

"Well, I have lots of them. You and I'll have to spend some time together next time you get a school vacation--how about that?" Frank asked, the big house already closing in on him now that his guests were leaving.

"I'd like that, sir." Little Joe said shyly.

Adam and Hoss paced back and forth in the hotel room worried because it was after midnight and their father and youngest brother still hadn't arrived. When a key slid into the lock, Adam quickly jumped into bed and grabbed a book. Hoss didn't know what to do, so he just stood there waiting.

When Ben pushed the door open, he saw the worried expressions on their faces. "I never expected the two of you to be waiting up for us," he said, knowing that his two older boys would be awake.

"Well, it is kind of late, Pa," Hoss said with a shrug.

"I believe I know how to tell time, son. And I believe I'm fully capable of taking care of my youngest boy," Ben said with a raised eyebrow as he put his arm around Little Joe.

"It's just that…." Adam started, gesturing towards Little Joe. "He's a little young to be out so late."

Ben raised his eyebrow once again. With the age differences between his two older boys and Little Joe, it really did seem like the boy had three fathers. There had been many discussions between himself and especially his eldest over raising the boy, ones that Ben hadn't always won. But he was still the boy's father, and would do as he saw fit.

A sly grin curled Joe's lips. "Pa let me drink brandy."

Adam raised his eyes questioningly to his father.

"Yes, I did," Ben said to his oldest, then directed his gaze to his youngest. "But don't take that as permission to have a glass in the future--understood?"

Little Joe nodded, and yawned.

Hoss grabbed him by the back of the neck. "C'mon youngun, I'm plumb tuckered out. Let's head to bed."

"Please tell me you haven't had anything to drink, Hoss?" Little Joe asked hopefully.

Hoss scratched his head. "Not a lick, why?"

"Nevermind, lets just go to bed." Little Joe answered with a yawn.

Ben reined in his horse as he saw the stream come into view. "Let's take a break and let the horses get something to drink," he said. They had been riding steadily for two hours and it was time for a short rest.

Joe dismounted stiffly, his legs were cramping so badly from standing in the saddle he thought he'd land flat on his face. Little Joe patted Cochise on the nose and dropped her reins in front of the fast moving little stream. He walked around trying to get some feeling back in his legs, then lay face down in the grass and stretched out hoping to ease the constant pain from his aching backside.

An evil grin lit Adam’s face as he saw Little Joe lying on the grass. He silently crept over to his brothers' and stuck out his boot to nudge his baby brother in the butt.

"Adam!" Ben called, frowning.

Adam stopped what he was planning and looked over at his father. A stern shake of the man’s head made him drop his plans for tormenting his little brother. Adam slowly walked back over to Ben.

Ben patted Adam's arm. "Let’s leave him alone for the trip huh? He’s having a hard enough time as it is."

"But, it’s tradition….." Adam started, recalling the many times he and Hoss had teased their little brother after a punishment.

Ben's lips compressed and his jaw tightened. "Well the tradition is suspended in this case. When we’re back at the ranch, fine." Ben paused. " I think you’d be a little more considerate of your brother’s situation if you recalled some of your more memorable moments in the saddle after a tanning."

"Me?" Adam said, trying in vain to sport the innocent look his baby brother achieved so effortlessly.

"I seem to recall you getting up very early so you could walk part-way to school on more than one occasion, young man. And," Ben pointed a long finger at his oldest son, "Kneeling in the back of the buckboard when we all went to church, and ….."

Adam spread his hands in surrender. "Allright, allright. I’ll leave the kid alone. But Pa, you have to realize that part of the fun of being an older brother is tormenting the younger ones."

"You think I don’t know that? But Little Joe has more on his mind than just his uncomfortable riding position." Ben studied his young son lying in the grass, his look one of consternation. "Look at him, can’t you tell he’s wrestling with some problem?"

Adam rubbed his chin. "Well, he has been real quiet since we started riding. I just assumed it was because he’s uncomfortable."

"Well, I’m sure that’s part of it, but I think there’s more to it," Ben said, his eyes never leaving his young son.

"What do you think it is?" Adam asked as he realized Joe had been acting strange and chastised himself for not realizing it sooner.

"He’s probably worried about school starting again. His vacation is over and it’s back in the harness so to speak. I’m sure he’s heard the rumors about Mr. Waldoch, and is a little concerned," Ben said, hoping his suspicions were true.

Adam scoffed. "Little Joe concerned about a teacher? I seriously doubt that Pa. There hasn’t been a teacher in Virginia City that he hasn’t been able to wrap at least half way around his little finger. He won’t realize the new situation until the first time he’s rapped across the knuckles."

Ben smiled. "I know your brother has a way of bending people to suit his needs. I’m afraid he inherited that from his mother. I’m sure in five or so years when he's negotiating contracts for the Ponderosa we’ll all be glad he can do it. But right now, it just makes his childhood all the more difficult for the rest of us."

Hoss had been removing a stone from Chubb's shoe when he noticed how quiet his little brother was. He walked over and sat down next to Joe. "How you holding up boy?"

Little Joe turned around to make sure they were alone and then offered his brother a sad smile. "Not so hot, older brother. I don’t know how much longer I can stand it. And we’ve got at least another two hours until we get home."

"Yeah, I’d guess you are right about that. Gonna be a long ride for you," Hoss said shaking his head.

"I’d really rather walk home than ride. I know it’d take longer, but it’d be a lot less painful," Little Joe said as he put one fist on top of another and rested his head on top.

"Let me see what I can do, boy," Hoss said as he tousled his brother’s curls. He pulled himself to his feet and walked over to his Pa and Adam. "What if you two rode on and Little Joe and I followed you at a little slower pace?" Hoss asked hopefully.

Ben looked over at his youngest son who hadn’t moved. "That bad huh?"

Hoss nodded. "He doesn’t want to say anything but he’s hurting pretty bad. I know you two have that meeting with the teacher tonight and you don’t want him to know about it. So I figured if we kind of took our time getting home, you would be out of the house already when we got there. I can just tell him you have a meeting in town or something." Hoss paused and looked over at Little Joe. "Would make it a lot easier on him."

Ben looked to his eldest. "What do you think?"

Adam rubbed the stubble on his chin. "It has been a rough couple of weeks for him. Entirely his own making of course, but… It would be easier for us to slip into town."

"All right Hoss, we'll do it your way. Make sure you have him get his things ready for school in the morning." Ben said.

Hoss grinned. "Yes, sir. You can count on me."

Hoss led his horse down the narrow path into the woods, his young brother following a short distance behind. They had been walking for just over three hours and Hoss' feet were killing him. He entered a small clearing in the forest that was surrounded by large pine trees. Hoss dropped Chubb's reins and the chestnut gelding started grazing contentedly. The large man sat down on a rock and pulled a blade of grass, chewing on it absently.

Little Joe entered the clearing a minute later. When he saw his brother resting, he dropped Cochise's reins and stretched out face down on the grass.

Hoss had noticed his brother's somber mood and hoped to do something to remedy the situation. "Something's been bothering you all morning boy--do you want to talk about it?"

"I think you know what's been bothering me. That is the reason we're walking," Little Joe said sullenly.

"Naww--it's more than that. Are you worried about that new teacher of yours?"

Little Joe shook his head and propped his chin on his hands. "You know I don’t think about problems till they get here."

"I hear he’s supposed to be pretty mean," Hoss prodded. If there was a problem now was the best time to get it figured out.  Little Joe would certainly clam up if his Pa or Adam asked.

Little Joe snickered and looked over at the guileless face of his older brother. "That’s a story that the school board made up."

Wonderment danced across Hoss’ broad face. ‘How did you ……"

The expression on his beloved older brother's face cheered Joe somewhat. "Haven’t you figured out by now I’m just full of surprises Hoss?"

Both boys chuckled and spent a few moments resting in silence. All too soon it seemed to Little Joe, Hoss stood up and offered a hand to his baby brother to help him rise. Little Joe accepted it gratefully.

"I don't suppose you want to ride for a little while?" Hoss asked hopefully.

                                                                                END OF PART 1