I do NOT own Bonanza or any of the orignial characters.
Too Quiet
The night is too quiet, nothing, not even the tiniest creature was speaking. There is no noise in the house either. Pa's just sitting in his chair staring into the fireplace. Hop Sing comes out of the kitchen looks at the empty table and sighes; he goes back in to the kitchen. Me? I just sit on the couch saying nothing. No one one is saying a thing.
"I tell ya, it won't work! That timber will come falling down I tell ya!" Hoss, he tried to tell me, tried to warn me of the danger, but no, I wouldn't listen. I just knew I was right. Pa thought so too. We were wrong.
"Joe!" I heard him call my name; I turned to see him running towards me hard. I looked up and froze, out of all things to do, I froze! The timber was falling and I couldn't move…until he slammed into me and sent me flying.
My hands, I hold them up. They're scratched and bruised but I'm fine. My tears start falling again. I'm fine, but Hoss is gone, killed by those blasted logs! That's why it's so quiet. My brother, my friend, my lifesaver-on more than once occasion-is gone.
People tell us not to blame ourselves; they say it was an accident. Accident? I double up my scarred up hands. Accident yes, but he tried warn us. How do we let go of the guilt we feel in our hearts? And Adam? How do we tell Adam? He's arriving on the stagecoach tomorrow. He was coming home to stay, now? I can't help but think this accident will rob us of him too. I don't think he'll stay without Hoss here.
I stand up and head for the stairs. I am going to hide in my room. The air in the front room is thick and depressing and, did I say, it was too quiet?