Chapter 1

Hoss had never seen anything so grand in his life. A miniature carriage. Gregory Campbell was about the luckiest boy he ever met. The carriage was made of the finest wood varnished to shining perfection. The seats were of the finest leather. Real brass lamps hung from hooks on both sides. The carriage was just a perfect fit for Gregory's pony. Hoss was only sorry little Joe wasn't here to see it but the boy was home with measles and Hoss more often was encouraged to stay away from the house lest he catch it.
Even though Joe was only seven Hoss missed him. He missed his playmate. Joe was smart and said the funniest things. Sometimes he was cheeky enough to earn a quick cuff on the head by his father or Adam but Hoss loved his quick wit. The boy was fearless in his jibes at Adam and could take the drunk miners of Virginia city off perfectly much to his father's annoyance. But illness had rendered Joe quiet and he was at home being cared for by the new Chinese cook.
Hoss come to Gregory's house after school on the promise of his mothers lemon meringue pie and hadn't seen any of that yet. Gregory's company was tiresome. He was whiney and liked to play games where he seemed to always get hurt. Everything was a wrestling match with this boy and Hoss didn't mean it when he won a bout and the boy was rolling around holding a grazed knee.
But it had to be said he had some fine stuff. There was a model train in his room much like the ones you'd see in pictures in the Territorial Enterprise and he had painted tin soldiers all in a box standing to attention. There was a tree house out back, it was large and had real arch windows. Hoss saw it from Gregory's bedroom window and instantly fell in love.
"Aw let's go down and sit in it, " Hoss looked back at his friend with pleading eyes.
"If we must, " Gregory answered "Heavens, haven't you ever seen a tree house before?"
Hoss was out of the room before he could answer. He nearly ran head long into Gregory's sister Mildred.
"Do you mind, you nearly knocked me over you buffoon, " she told him coldly.
Hoss gazed at her, she was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on, like one of those China dolls at the mercantile that no one could afford. Hoss pulled his cloth cap from his head and walked slowly past her gazing at her golden hair and emerald green eyes. He suddenly felt rather scruffy. She sniffed as she headed into her bedroom.
Hoss found it hard to concentrate much after that. Although they were now sitting in the much admired tree house, his thoughts were elsewhere until Gregory suddenly spied something.
"What's that?" He pointed at Hoss's neck.
Hoss pulled the wooden charm out from his shirt, it was fastened round his neck on a leather strap.
"It's a whistle," Hoss put it to his lips and played a little tune.
The boy gasped.
"Give it to me."
"No, can't do that Adam made it for me."
"You give it to me now," the boys face was starting to flush.
"I think I'd better be going," Hoss got up to leave. Gregory went to wrestle Hoss for the whistle and was thrown to the floor. Soon the boys were rolling about on the floor of the tree house, Gregory trying to pull the prize from Hoss's neck.
"What's going on up there," both boys looked up in alarm as Gregory's father stood at the bottom of the step ladder.
"Come down here at once."
Both boys scrambled down from the tree house.
"Gregory look at your clothes," He father began, "you're a disgrace, what was all that noise, were you fighting?"
Mr Campbell gazed accusingly at his son.
"He took my whistle," the boy lied quickly.
Mr Campbell looked to Hoss. The boy ever respectful to elders took the whistle from around his neck and handed it to Gregory.
"Now young master Cartwright I think it's time you were leaving,"
"Yesser," Hoss shuffled off towards the gate.
"You're going to walk?" Mr Campbell said. "It's two miles,"
"It's a nice evening for a walk sir," Hoss mumbled as he started down the dirt track. He didn't feel like telling them he didn't have a pony.
"Strange child," Mr Campbell shook his head.

~0~

The two mile journey home seemed shorter somehow. Hoss gazed out at the lake as dusk set in and he picked the perfect spots to bring a girl for a picnic. He floated along on fanciful thoughts of bringing that girl on a picnic by the lake like his older brother Adam does. With such thoughts of her smile and her fancy parasol and matching dress Hoss was walking up to the ranch house before he knew it. He was just about to enter when a firm hand pulled him backwards.
"Have you lost your mind," Adam snapped "your face is in bits."
Looking around warily, Adam marched Hoss to the side of the house to the new wash house there. He pushed his younger brother through the door. The wash house was newly built and still smelt of fresh paint and chalk dust.
Adam pumped water onto a rag and pressed it to Hoss's face.
"You obviously don't remember when I came home after that fight with Jimmy Harper."
"Pa was plenty mad?" Hoss's voice was muffled through the rag.
"Oh yeah, he has a thing about fighting, I think he thinks we'll grow up like those thugs in the Bucket of Blood."
Hoss took the rag down from his face.
"Did it hurt much Adam?" He asked, his little face creasing up.
"No, I was drunk. I kept laughing which meant he tanned me harder."
"You were drunk Adam?"
Adam put the rag back to Hoss's mouth.
"Yeah it wasn't one of my finer moments. Don't tell Joe will ye."
Hoss shook his head.
He must have been real mad."
"He was, considering his punishment wasn't taking effect, ugh the next day though. He made me ride the whole perimeter with that sore butt and my head. Hoss if there was a ever a hell I was in it."
"You were real punished," Hoss nodded.
"That wasn't the worst of it, Marie cooked me a fried breakfast." Adam grimaced at the memory. Hoss didn't quite understand that one but let it slide.
"What was the fight over," Adam asked as he dabbed the last crust of blood from Hoss's mouth.
"Gregory Campbell wanted my whistle," Hoss said, putting a hand to his neck where the whistle used to be.
"And you gave it to him, Hoss..."
"He told his Pa I took it from him Adam, I was gonna git in trouble."
"Not if you told the truth, you need to get it back," Adam told him.
"I can't Adam, his pa thinks I tried to steal it from Gregory."
"That's all the more reason why he should be put straight. Hoss, Gregory Campbell is a spoilt rotten pup. He shouldn't be allowed to just take your property. I'll get it back for you. Just keep your head down tonight and say nothing to Pa."

~0~

So the following day Adam paid a visit to the Campbell ranch.
Clive Campbell came from the kitchen munching on a sandwich as Adam stood in the hall.
"You lookin for work farm boy, there ain't none," He sneered at the seventeen year old.
Clive worked at one of his father's many mines and had the misplaced arrogance that went with being the bosses son. At twenty two, he towered over Adam.
"I'm not lookin for work."
Clive waited to hear more but Adam was giving nothing away. He knew Clive Campbell and had no time for him.

Mr Campbell spoke with Adam eventually, though he was not pleased to hear the reason for his visit.
"Oh I can't be bothered with such a trifling matter, Gregory..." Mr Campbell yelled up.
The boy looked down from the landing and paled slightly at seeing Hoss Cartwright's older brother standing there.
"Do you have the boys whistle, give it back to him."
Begrudgingly Gregory trudged down the stairs and handed it over to Adam.
"Now if you don't mind young Cartwright we were about to dine."
Adam pocketed the whistle, smiled and tipped his hat before heading for the door. His presence was considered a trifling inconvenience to all present but one. Mildred Campbell gazed after him as he exited the house and went to his horse. With a wistful smile she decided then and there that he would be her date to the summer picnic. She was used to getting things her own way and smiled to herself at the prospect of this new conquest.