"Now you remember, Little Joe. Sacramento can be a mighty dangerous town on your own." Ben completed the last of several lectures on the subject.
"I know Pa. Stop worrying. I'll look after myself and get that beef contract. You don't have to worry." Joe beamed his most confident smile at his father.
Ben, who was seated at his desk, completed the necessary papers for Joe to take with him on his first solo business trip representing the Ponderosa.
"I hope you won't give me any cause to worry. Will you?" He tilted a skeptical face to his youngest.
"Sure won't, Pa. I'll make you proud."
"Yeah, right about the time you get a wire from the sheriff of Sacramento, telling you to come fetch Joe outta jail." Hoss burst into laughter at his premonition. Adam joined in with a chuckle and comment of his own.
"Or maybe some irate father will just fill him full of buckshot and run him out of town before the sheriff even gets a look see."
"Yeah," laughed Hoss.
Joe turned and glared at his two conspiring brothers. They sat at the breakfast table lingering over coffee. The food was long gone.
"You'll eat your words, brothers. You're just jealous 'cause you ain't goin' on this trip. You have to stay here and brand instead." Hoss and Adam's faces fell once they were reminded of the hard work coming up over the next few days.
"You just hurry back, Little Joe," Ben piped up from his chair. "There'll still be plenty of work left for you."
"Yes sir." Joe's expression fell as he gathered the papers he needed and stowed them in his saddlebags. But the thrill wasn't squashed for long. As he waved to his father and rode away, pride and excitement swelled inside him. This was his chance to prove to his family that he was grown up and responsible. He intended to do a mighty fine job.
Three days later, a dusty and weary Joe alighted from the stage. His tiredness didn't dampen his spirits for long, as he brushed the dust from his city clothes and took in the exciting sights and sounds of Sacramento. Eager to prove his brothers wrong, he strode straight to the hotel where the Cartwrights always stayed. He'd make Hoss and Adam eat their words about him being incapable of closing a business deal on his own.
A couple of hours later, bathed and rested, Joe dug out the paper upon which Ben had written the address of the man he was to see about buying their cattle. He was a new buyer, one they'd never dealt with before, which actually pleased Joe. It meant he could represent the Ponderosa in his own way.
Full of confidence, Joe set off in the direction of the building. It was adjacent to the cattle yards where the Cartwright's beef ended up each year after the fall drive. He entered the front door and stopped in front of a desk.
"I'm here to see Mr Rowan." Joe smiled cheerfully at the young lady who kept books for the cattle buyer.
"Whom should I say is calling?" The girl, obviously taken by Joe's bubbly personality and young handsome features, looked him over keenly.
"Joseph Cartwright, Miss." He took off his hat and beamed a smile that she returned with enthusiasm.
"Yes, right away. I'll tell Mr Rowan you're here." She backed out of the room into another office, and Joe grinned. When his business was concluded, he might just ask her out to dinner. There were some fine restaurants in town, and Adam and his father weren't the only ones sophisticated enough to wine and dine female company in such establishments. While he waited, he cleared his throat and practiced his 'serious' voice. He wanted to make a good impression.
"Mr Cartwright, welcome."
Joe turned and saw a silver haired, distinguished looking gentleman enter the room. His hand was extended in readiness for a handshake.
"Mr Rowan, it's a pleasure to meet you sir." Joe shook the older man's hand firmly.
"And you." Rowan looked Joe up and down and a slight frown crossed his face.
"You're younger than I thought you'd be. I'd heard the Cartwrights were experienced cattlemen."
"Oh, we are, sir!"
"How many of you are there?" Rowan crossed his arms and his frown deepened. Joe was worried the meeting was already off to a bad start.
"Four of us sir: my father, my two older brothers and I."
"And your father sent his youngest son to talk to me about important business?" Rowan was obviously not impressed.
"Yes . . .sir." Joe cleared his throat, feeling more than uncomfortable. He had to make this man trust him and his ability. "I may be young sir, but I'm mature beyond my years. My father trusts me implicitly."
"Hmm!" Rowan got up and walked towards the door to his office. "Well boy, come along. I don't have time to waste with idle chatter."
"No sir." Joe hurried into the room behind him and tried to calm his nervousness.
"So Joe, tell me about your family."
"My family?"
"Yes. I'm a family man. I don't believe in dealing with anyone who doesn't hold traditional family values high in their estimation."
Joe relaxed a little. Family values were something the Cartwrights did have in abundance. Perhaps the deal would go right after all.
"Oh, you've got nothing to worry about there, sir. We Cartwrights are good, honest, churchgoing folk. My father crossed into this land with John Sutter many years ago. We cherish the land and value our friends and neighbors. We help anyone in need and feed those who can't fend for themselves."
"That's good boy. And your own family?"
"We take care of each other, if that's what you mean." Joe was puzzled about where the conversation was leading.
"And your wives? How do they feel about living on a ranch?"
"Our wives?" Joe felt a terrible pain in his gut.
"Of course. You can't be good family men without taking good care of your wives and children." Rowan tipped back in his chair and stared at Joe.
Joe panicked. He thought, no assumed they were married! All of them? It sounded like he set a great store in married men. Joe fumbled in his brain for an answer that wouldn't anger the man.
"Well, Pa is a widower. My mother died many years ago."
"Ah yes, many men have to suffer that fate. Still, having three married sons to give him grandchildren must ease the burden, eh boy?"
"Er, yes sir."
"You see, Joe, I believe if you deal with settled married men, you are dealing with honest men. For, once marriage and commitment tie down a man, he is anxious to provide for his family and its future. He's less likely to cheat and double cross. He's got too much at stake. That's why I only deal with good, family men."
"Well, never you fear, sir, we are all good . . . family . . .men." Joe tried hard not to choke on his words.
"You're a mite young to be married, boy."
"Oh no, sir, not really. I'm almost eighteen, sir. Nothing like getting married young and starting a family right away. Just like you say, nothing like marriage to make a man honorable."
Joe was feeling more uncomfortable by the minute. He hadn't exactly said he was married, but of course Mr Rowan took it that he was, along with his brothers. But, the little white lie didn't seem to matter, for once Rowan had established that the Cartwrights were "family men" he was more than willing to do business with Little Joe.
After two hours, Joe left the office feeling like a king. His brothers and father were going to be so impressed with him. He'd managed to secure a sale of one thousand head of cattle to Mr Rowan come the fall round up. Not only that, he'd managed a price that was two dollars a head higher than the one Adam had got the year before. Strutting like a peacock, he exited the building thinking about a night of celebrations on the town. He thought about going back and asking the office girl to dinner, but on second thoughts, that could be dangerous. Just because he hadn't actually said he was married, didn't mean he hadn't led Rowan to believe he was. It was much better not to jeopardize his good deal.
"Well, what do you know about that!" Ben beamed a smile at his two older sons as he stepped from the telegraph office.
"Joe's in jail, and we've gotta go fetch him?" offered Hoss.
"No, he's broke and lost the money for his stage ride home," predicted Adam with a touch of smugness. Ben looked at the pair and shook his head with pride.
"No, boys, not this time. It looks like your little brother has come of age. He writes that the deal is signed for one thousand head at two dollars a head more than last year. He'll be home on the noon stage Friday." Ben crossed his arms and looked at the disappointed, sour faces his sons pulled.
"But he can't possibly have done that without gettin" into trouble," whined Hoss.
"He's right. You sure he didn't ask to send money?" Adam grimaced and scratched his ear with frustration.
"No, boys, neither one. You just have to face it. Your baby brother is growing up, and after this, I expect you to treat him more like the adult he's becoming."
Ben was pleased with himself and the plan he'd forged. Adam and Hoss needed to see that their brother was becoming a man and needed to be given some responsibility. It sounded like Joe had been equal to the task, and he was glad for his youngest son's sake. Having two older brothers to coddle you wasn't always the best way for a young man to learn to survive in a mostly savage world. This had been a very good lesson, for all of them.