Chapter 1
A Woman in the House?!
"But Paaaa, it's not fair!", yelled Little Joe.
"Yeah… we don't even know her. What if she can't cook?!", complained Hoss.
Adam threw a napkin on his empty plate. "Why don't you trust me that I can take care of things?"
Little Joe bent over the table towards Ben. "Yeah Pa, Adam is here…"
"… we don't need nobody else!", said Hoss.
Soon all of the three Cartwright boys were talking at the same time, firing their complaints at an annoyed Ben who was sitting at the head of the dinner table and tried to get a word in edgewise. Suddenly he banged his hand on the table: "That's enough out of all three of you!" Joe was about to say something but decided to close his mouth and rather scrutinize the pattern on the table cloth.
"We have talked about this before… and my decision is final.", announced Ben and glared at his boys. "I will not leave you here all by yourselves while I'm on that business trip." He looked at his oldest. "Adam… I know that you can take care of things. But you will be out working with the herd all day and since there is summer break in school Hoss and Little Joe will be here all day… unsupervised. They are too young for that."
"I will be 10 in less than two months.", announced Joe proudly but was ignored by the rest of the family. They had heard this statement too often over the last weeks.
"But why can't Hop S…", said Hoss but was interrupted by Ben. "Hop Sing is in San Francisco taking care of his sick father. He will come back when he is ready to… and nobody knows when that will be."
Adam was not willing to give up yet: "Pa… we managed before. I'm sure we can manage now. Don't you have faith in your own flesh and blood?"
Ben rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. "Boys…", he said compassionately. "It is not that I don't trust you… but you are not ready to take care of the ranch and the house all by yourselves. Besides, a woman's discipline will do you good."
The three brothers glared at Ben. They were determined to protect the Ponderosa from any kinds of intruders, especially from female ones.
Ben leaned back in his chair. "Now that we have settled this ONCE AND FOR ALL I can come back to what I wanted to say in the first place: today I received a telegram from an experienced housekeeper who is willing to take the job. She will come here next week, one day before I leave for Sacramento."
The Cartwright boys stared frustrated at their plates. Then Little Joe lifted his head and banged his fist on the table: "Them women… they is nuttin' but trouble!"
Three pairs of eyes looked at Joe. "Joseph… where did you hear a thing like that?", Ben asked annoyed.
"In town… from the guy in front of the saloon."
Ben pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head while Adam and Hoss chuckled silently.
oooOOOooo
"Hurry up, boys! Ms. Duncan will be here any minute!", Ben yelled standing by the staircase fixing his tie. Adam sat in the blue chair, wearing his best shirt, and sipped on a cup of coffee. He looked uncomfortably at the fireplace, bit his lip and tapped his fingers on the armrest.
Suddenly Ben sat down on the coffee table and faced his son. "Adam, I'm relying on you to look after your brothers, especially after Joe. You are still in charge, even though I did hire help. I want you and Ms. Duncan to be… well… a team."
Adam looked tiredly at his father. "Alright… I'll do my best.", he sighed.
Ben smiled lightly, however his smile faded as he saw Hoss and Joe shuffling down the staircase.
"Joe… go back upstairs and comb your hair!", he ordered as he caught sight of his youngest.
"See, I told you that you looked like a dog.", said Hoss and got punched in the shoulder.
"Owww…", he moaned and pushed Joe against the banister.
Ben jumped up. "Joseph! Do as I say and Hoss – put your shirt in your pants and come down here!"
"Yes, Sir.", sighed Hoss and did as he was told while Joe trotted back upstairs.
Ben wiped his face and started pacing around the room.
A little later, hooves clattered in the front yard. "Joseph! Come down here this instant, she's here!", yelled Ben.
Adam stood up, Hoss frowned, and Ben prepared himself to answer the door when suddenly the door flung open.
"Is this the Cartwright residence?", asked a skinny, middle-aged lady in a light blue dress. She had a lowered pair of round glasses on her nose and smiled expectantly at Ben.
"Yes, Ma'am.", Ben said surprised. "Welcome to the Ponderosa. I am Ben Cartwright and these are my sons, Hoss and Adam."
"How do you do. I am Ms. Emma Duncan.", she said grinning and scrutinized them. "I was told that there are three sons?"
"Yes… the third one will be down in a minute… JOSEEEPH!"
"It is nice to meet you, Ms. Duncan.", Adam said emotionless.
She nodded her head. "It is my pleasure, Adam."
Hoss leaned towards his brother. "Why is she talking so funny?", he whispered in his ear.
Adam was about to answer when Ms. Duncan interrupted him. "Young man, I grew up in England and your pronunciation appears just as odd to me as mine appears to you."
Hoss looked questioningly at her. She had used too many words that he had never heard before.
"What was your name again?"
"Hoss."
She frowned. "That sounds more like a nickname to me. What is your real name?"
"Eric. But most people call me Hoss. Pa calls me Eric sometimes… but only when I'm in trouble."
"I'm not too fond of nicknames. It is nice to meet you, Eric."
"Sorry Pa, I couldn't find my comb!", yelled Little Joe as he came thundering downstairs.
Ms. Duncan put her hands on her hips. "Well, well… this must be Little Joseph." Joe slowed down and stared at the lady. The way she wore her hair reminded him of his teacher.
"I'm Little Joe…"
"Hello, young man.", she said cheeringly. "You certainly seem like a most impetuous little fellow."
Joe continued walking downstairs and raised his eyebrow. "Impe… what?", he whispered and looked questioning at his father.
Ben cleared his throat. "Ms. Duncan, why don't you sit down and have a cup of coffee? You must be tired from the trip."
She laughed. "Mr. Cartwright, 20 years ago I came all the way from England to America. What is a little trip from San Francisco to Virginia City compared to that?"
Ben smiled insecurely. "Not much, I guess."
"Besides, I am not used to drink coffee. In the old country we drink tea." Adam rolled his eyes.
"I would rather have a look at the kitchen if you don't mind."
"Well… of course. Right this way.", Ben guided her to the kitchen while the three boys exchanged skeptical looks. As soon as they disappeared behind the wall, Joe put a finger in his ear and contorted his face. "That woman's voice sounds like a rusty old wagon wheel!"
Hoss wrinkled his nose. "… and she walks like a… like an old hen."
Adam pursed his lips. "Well, Eric and Little Joseph… won't we have fun together?!", he said with a British accent. "You will help me ironing my dresses and we will drink tea and I might even teach you how to make biscuits." He looked up to the ceiling and blinked his eyes rapidly before bursting into laughter.
Joe and Hoss glared at their brother. "Deadgummit… Adam.", hissed Hoss.
"Yeah… it ain't funny!"
Adam was still chuckling when Ben and Ms. Duncan came back from the kitchen.
"My compliments, Mr. Cartwright. Your kitchen is magnificent… indeed, the entire house is magnificent.", Ms. Duncan cheered. "Now may I see my bedroom?"
"It is upstairs. Boys, get Ms. Duncan's luggage."
"Wooow!", exclaimed Joe as he saw the buckboard packed with suit-cases and bags.
"Adam, is she moving in here for good?", asked Hoss.
Adam raised his eyebrows. "Well… don't try to figure out a woman."
oooOOOooo
"What a marvelous dinner, Mr. Cartwright. I couldn't have prepared it any better."
"Thank you very much. I am glad you enjoyed it.", Ben said smiling proudly and took a sip of wine. "Ms. Duncan, in your telegram you told me that you have a lot of experience with children. Could you tell me where you have worked before?"
"Well, gladly. I spent the last three years with the most wonderful family in San Francisco. I took care of two little girls, just about your age Little Joseph." She pointed at Joe who was forcing himself to smile. "We had so much fun together. I spent the evenings braiding their hair and sometimes I put ribbons in it." Hoss had an agonized look on his face. "They were always so neat and well-behaved… oh I do miss them sometimes… unfortunately the family went through major financial distress and therefore I did not fit into the budget any longer.", she sighed." But here I am talking about myself! I want to know more about my new family. Eric… what is your favourite subject?"
Hoss startled and started to think. "Uhmmm… I don't know… my slingshot I guess."
Ben and Adam started laughing. "No, Hoss… not object. Ms. Duncan wants to know about your favorite subject… in school.", Ben said smiling.
"Oh… hmm… recess, I guess."
Ms. Duncan frowned and cleared her throat.
Ben felt like changing the subject. "Would you like to have a piece of cake?"
"No, thank you. I had sufficient.", she said and dabbed off her thin lips with the corner of the napkin.
"Gentlemen, it was a most pleasant evening… but I think it is time for me to go to bed." She yawned and tried to hide it behind her hand. "I will see you all tomorrow, bright and early." She slowly got up and left the table. "Have a pleasant night."
"Good night.", the Cartwright family said in unison.
Joe and Hoss waited patiently for her to disappear behind the staircase before turning to Ben.
"Paaaa… she will put ribbons in my hair! Don't leave us alone with her, please!", begged Joe.
"She acts just like my school teacher… can't you find somebody else?", pleaded Hoss.
Ben was tensed. He still had to figure out how to reel in this timber contract and he tried to mentally prepare for the trip to Sacramento.
Ben tapped his fingers on the table and glared at Joe and Hoss. Then he focused his oldest, who was stretching in his chair. "Adam, it's your turn now! Don't you have anything to complain about? Come on… out with it!", Ben said frustrated.
Adam scratched his forehead. "Well… I was just asking myself… where was that Paul Revere fellow when we needed him?!"
I hope you enjoyed it. Please, please comment!