The Prank

It was the moment he'd been waiting for. The entire family was finally sound asleep. Even Pa's snoring could be heard from the room across the hall. Little Joe slipped out of bed and put his house shoes on.

When Walt had told him about it, he'd said the water had to be the same temperature as the person's arm. Little Joe snuck down into the kitchen and heated up a pot of water. He then spent a good twenty minutes mixing the hot with cold until he felt he'd finally reached the right temperature. Chuckling to himself, he poured the warm water into a basin and tiptoed with it to Hoss' room.

Hoss was sleeping soundly, on his side with both arms dangling limply in front of him. Little Joe placed the basin of water on the floor and held his breath as he carefully picked up his brothers arm and set it down slowly in the water.

Hoss' eyes flew open in horror and he bolted out of bed. Joe saw the wet spot near his groin and began to cackle with pleasure. Hoss, still half asleep, realized that the mishap was due to his little brother. He tackled Joe and they crashed against the dresser heavily.

Both Ben and Adam raced into the room. "What in tarnation!" Ben cried as he and his oldest worked to pry the two apart. When they saw the condition of Hoss' night clothes, he flushed crimson with embarrassment. In spite of the fact that Hoss had nearly killed him, Joe still giggled with satisfaction. Angrily, Ben shoved his youngest out of the room.

Adam turned to Hoss, but could think of nothing he could say that wouldn't just increase his brother's embarrassment. Quietly, he turned and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

When he heard Joe's steps on the stairs, Hoss pushed his chair back from the table. "I've got work to do," he mumbled. As soon as Joe reached the table, Hoss headed for the door. Adam glared at his youngest brother and followed, leaving Joe at the breakfast table alone with his father.

He cleared his throat. "G'mornin', Pa."

"Good morning," Ben said, obviously not in a good mood. "I suppose you would think this is a good morning."

Silently, Joe poured himself a cup of coffee.

"I don't suppose you have an explanation for last night?"

"Well, Pa, Walt told me that he heard if you put somebody's wrist in warm water, it makes them pee the bed, so of course I had to find out if it was true." Glancing at his Pa, Joe thought if it were possible, smoke would be emanating from the man's ears. He lost some of his confidence. "Well... I guess... I didn't HAVE to find out..."

Ben grunted. "Well, young man, you are going to be responsible for buying your brother a new mattress. You'll go to Virginia City today and order it."

"Yessir," Little Joe mumbled.

"And it might be prudent for you to think up a very good apology."

"Yessir."

"You know what will make you feel better, Hoss?" He didn't wait for his brother to answer the question. "Revenge." Hoss halted his horse and Adam rode up beside him, where he also stopped. "What Little Joe did to you was inexcusable. If you ask me, he needs to be put in his place."

"Pa'll make him do somethin'."

"Sure, he will. But it won't be enough. You know all Joe has to do is give Pa that look, and whatever his intentions, Joe'll be skipping free and easy before the day's out."

Hoss brought his eyes up to his brother's.

"I have an idea. I'll even help you with it."

Slowly, Hoss lifted his head. "Let's hear it."

So it was, that at 2:00 in the morning, Hoss and Adam snuck into Little Joe's bedroom with a glass jar filled with fire ants.