"I know you don't want to be away for the children's first day of school, but the Ponderosa needs this timber contract, and Joe..." Ben trailed off.
Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose, and Ben realized his oldest son was about to lose his temper. He took a deep breath. He hated to plead, but he needed Adam to handle the negotiations.
"I know, Pa, Joe isn't well enough to make the trip." Adam sighed. "All right, I'll go."
"Why don't you and Julia both go? It will give you both a break from the Ponderosa, and you won't be in meetings all the time. You can take her shopping, go to a concert, a play..."
"I said I'd go. You don't have to..." Adam took a deep breath. Since moving back to the Ponderosa, he'd enjoyed spending more time with his family and he didn't look forward to leaving. "I'll tell Julia."
He went upstairs and found Julia in their room. She was sorting through the mending, but she stopped when he came in. He looked irritated, and she asked, "Is something the matter, love?"
"I need to go to Sacramento to bid on a timber contract, and I'll be gone when the children start school."
"All right." Her manner was so mild that Adam was startled.
"You don't mind?"
"Of course, I mind, but I've heard you talking with your father and brother, and I know that they've rather let the business end of things go since Hoss died. It's all right, Adam. I understand." As she spoke, she moved closer to him and caressed his cheek. He caught her hand and kissed the palm.
"You could come with me. I won't be in meetings all the time."
Julia started to refuse to leave the children, and then she saw the hopeful expression on his face. "All right. The children will be fine here with Hop Sing, Hop Ling, their grandfather, and Uncle Joe. I'll come with you."
For the first time that day he smiled. "You will?"
She nodded. "My mother told me my first responsibility was to my husband - to keep him happy."
He pulled her close and kissed her. "I'm glad you listened to your mother."
...
Elizabeth sat at the dining table, playing with her oatmeal. Joe came down the staris and saw her. "Hey, slowpoke, hurry up! You don't want to be late for your first day of school, do you?"
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes, and Joe sat down next to her. "What's the matter, Beth? Are you missing your Papa and Mama?"
She shook her head. "I'm afraid no one will like me, Uncle Joe."
He put a consoling hand on her shoulder. "Beth, you had friends in Philadelphia, didn't you?"
She nodded. "Yes, but Philadelphia was so different from Virginia City. What if the girls here don't like me?"
Joe pulled her close. "Beth, you're a very likeable girl. I like you, Grandpa likes you, Cochise likes you, Bessie likes you..." When Joe named his pinto and the family's milk cow, Elizabeth giggled. "You just be as sweet and nice at school as you are here at home, and you'll make plenty of friends." He hugged her, and she kissed his cheek. "Now eat up and I'll go saddle Mr. Butler for you."
He went out to the barn where he heard Abel and Eric arguing. "You can't tell me what to do," Eric said.
"I'm can - I'm older and smarter," Abel said and Joe shook his head. Abel was definitely Adam's son. "You can't go to school with us, Eric, you're too young. Mama said so." There was a thud and then an "Ow! Stop throwing stuff, Eric! I'm telling!"
Joe hurried inside. "Hey! What's going on here?"
Abel and Eric turned to face him. "Abel's trying to boss me, Uncle Joe. He says I can't go to school with him and Elizabeth. He says I have to stay here all day with Mama because I'm the baby! I'm not a baby!"
Abel glared at his brother. "He's in the way, Uncle Joe. I'm trying to saddle Miss Betty, and he's in my way." Joe waited to see if Abel would tell on Eric for throwing something, but Abel was quiet.
"Eric, come and help me tack up Mr. Butler for your sister." He put his hand on the little boy's shoulder and gently pulled him into the horse's stall. They saddled and bridled Mr. Butler and then Joe tossed Eric into the saddle and led Mr. Butler out of the barn and up to the house.
Elizabeth was just coming out and she smiled when she saw her little brother on Mr. Butler.
Eric smiled at his sister. "Look, Elizabeth, I'm riding Mr. Butler. He's a lot bigger than my pony."
"You're a good rider, Eric. You look good on Mr. Butler."
The little boy beamed at her as Joe lifted him down and boosted Elizabeth into the saddle. He handed her the reins. "Have a great day, sweetheart."
Abel rode out of the barn, and he and Elizabeth set off down the road together.
Eric let out a long deep sigh, and Joe bit back a grin. "Well, Eric, you ready to get to work?"
Eric looked up at him. "Work?"
"Yeah, I've got a lot to do today, and I need some help. Think you're up for it, buddy?"
Eric smiled and took Joe's hand. "What do we do first?"
...
They were weeding the garden when Hop Ling came out carrying two small pails. "Mr. Joe, Elizabeth and Abel forgot their dinners. They will be hungry."
"Eric and I will take them to school. We can stop in Chinatown and get those spices for you." He took the pails, and he and Eric went to the barn to saddle Cochise.
As they rode along, Joe pointed out deer grazing in the distance, a hawk flying high, a fox running into the woods. They reached the Virginia City School long before noon. Joe dismounted, and, lifting Eric down, took the dinner pails to the door. He opened it carefully, and saw a young woman with light brown hair standing in front of the class. She looked at him. "May I help you?"
Joe and Eric stepped into the room. "My niece and nephew forgot their dinners."
At the sound of his voice, Elizabeth and Abel turned in their seats and smiled. The teacher said, "You may get your pails."
The children moved quickly and quietly, and Joe handed them their pails, nodded to the teacher, and he and Eric backed out the door. As they walked towards Cochise, Eric looked up at his uncle and said, "You have to be quiet in school, don't you, Uncle Joe?"
Joe nodded. "Yes, you do. You have to be quiet and listen to what the teacher tells you."
Eric thought for a minute. "I like to talk, Uncle Joe. I'm glad I don't have to go to school yet. I'd rather help you work."
Joe laughed and tossed Eric up on Cochise. "I'm glad you like to help me, Eric."
...
That afternoon Ben, Joe, and Eric were in the great room. Ben was in his favorite red leather chair reading the newest issue of The Territorial Enterprise which Joe had picked up during his trip to town. Eric was napping on the settee, and Joe was reading On Walden Pond. They heard hoofbeats in the yard, and Ben looked up and smiled. "They're home from school."
He and Joe stood up and went outside. Elizabeth and Abel had dismounted, and were leading Miss Betty and Mr. Butler into the barn. Ben and Joe followed them, and helped them untack the horses. "How was your first day of school?" Ben asked.
Abel sighed. "We have homework."
"Did you met anyone nice today?" Joe asked Elizabeth, trying not to sound as anxious as he felt.
"Yes, I made friends with Betsey Cass. Her name is Elizabeth, too, but everyone calls her Betsey. Hop Ling put two cookies in my dinner pail, so I shared one with her."
Joe smiled and stepped out of the stall to look at his nephew. "How about you, Abel? Did you make any friends today?"
Abel grinned. "Yes. Todd Landry and David Devlin and Mike Phillips. Todd brought a mouse to school, and we were going to put it in the teacher's desk this afternoon, but it got away when we were playing with it at dinner."
Ben and Joe exchanged a look. "I'd say that was a lucky thing for you, Abel."
"Grandpa, it was just a little mouse."
"Mmm-hmm," Ben said.
They went inside where Hop Ling brought out three glasses of milk and a plate of cookies. "Thank you, Hop Ling," Elizabeth said.
Abel helped himself and took a bite before saying, "Thank you, Hop Ling." He chewed and swallowed before following Hop Ling into the kitchen. "Hop Ling, I have three friends. Could I have four cookies tomorrow so we can all have one at dinner?"
"Yes, Abel. What did you do today with the two I gave you?"
"We broke the cookies in half and shared them."
Hop Ling smiled. "That was a good solution. I will give you more tomorrow."
"Thank you, Hop Ling," Abel said, and he left the kitchen.