Joe rose early the next morning, and went out to the barn. He was milking Bessie when Hoss entered. "Well, good morning, Joseph. I see you're hard at work."
"Yeah, I thought if I got everything done, Adam might let me go to town to the carnival."
"I thought you didn't have any money."
"I don't." An idea occured to him, and he brightened up. "Say, Hoss, you couldn't lend me...?"
Hoss shook his head. "Sorry, Joe, I bought that new rifle last month, and it took every cent I had. I'm going to be sitting on my wallet from now til Christmas so I can get presents for you, Pa, Adam, and Hop Sing."
Joe grinned up at him. "Aw, Hoss, you don't have to buy me anything."
Hoss ruffled his hair. "I know I don't, Punkin, but I want to, and you'll feel different come Christmas morning."
Joe finished milking the cow and stood up. "I better get this to Hop Sing. He'll be wanting to make breakfast." Joe carefuly carried the full bucket to the kitchen and Hop Sing took it from him, sending him to wash up. By the time Joe had washed his hands and come back inside, Adam and Hoss were seated at the table and Hop Sing had brought in platters of eggs, ham, and biscuits. He poured Joe a glass of milk, and watched in satisfaction as the boy drank it down.
Adam served Joe's plate and placed it front of him. Joe waited until he and Hoss had helped themselves before picking up his fork, hoping that Adam would notice his good manners. He was quiet while Adam and Hoss talked, and, when Adam turned to him, had his answer ready when Adam asked him what he planned to do that day. "I've done all my chores and I'm going to meet Mitch and Seth in town."
"What about your homework?" Adam asked.
"I finished it last night," Joe said. There, he thought, Adam was picking on him again and for no reason. He put his fork down, and wiped his mouth with his napkin. "May I be excused?"
Adam looked at Joe's plate. He'd eaten very little. Pa and Hoss are to blame for his picky eating, he thought. He sighed and said, "Sure, go ahead." Joe picked up his plate and took it into the kitchen. He was out the kitchen door before Hop Sing could scold him for wasting good food, and rode out of the yard a few seconds later.
...
Virginia City was always busy on Saturday. Ranchers and farmers came to town to trade goods, hear the news, and visit with friends. Joe found Mitch and Seth coming out of the mercantile. Both boys looked discouraged. "What's wrong?" Joe asked.
"Mr. Spencer doesn't need us to make deliveries for him today," Mitch said.
"So? We'll go check with the International House Restaurant. They always need someone to take meals to the jail and-" Joe stopped when Seth shook his head.
"Mr. Carter's nephew is here, and he's doing the deliveries for the restaurant."
"Oh." Joe felt as deflated as his friends. With no money between the three of them, their Saturday afternoon seemed bleak. They began walking towards the carnival. At least they could be part of the crowds walking up and down the midway, gawking at the sideshows.
From his window the Professor spotted the boys, and the prettiness of one caught his eye. He stared at young Joe Cartwright. Hmmmm, he would be perfect, but how to get him away from his friends? He thought for a moment and then went in search of Roscoe Ates.
Joe, Seth, and Mitch were studying the picture of the bearded lady when a short round man in a checkered suit approached them. "Boys, would you like to earn free tickets to the shows?"
Joe and Mitch turned towards him, enthusiastic "yessirs" on their lips, but Seth answered first. "What would we have to do?" he asked.
"Just help us out here and there with the show," Roscoe answered. The boys looked at each other, and then grinned at him.
"Good," Roscoe said. "Come with me." They followed him around to the wagons. He stopped at one and knocked. "Professor, I've got you an assistant," he called.
The door opened, and the boys saw a tall thin man. "Here, boy, you help the Professor." Ates put a hand on Joe's shoulder and shoved him forward. To anyone watching it would have seemed to be a random pick among the three boys. Ates was good at his job. Joe swallowed and went with the Professor into the wagon as Mitch and Seth followed Ates down the midway.
The interior of the Professor's wagon was dimly lit, and Joe blinked several times as he looked around. There was a skeleton in one corner and oddly-shaped bottles filled with powdered substances were on the shelves. A vial of a clear liquid bubbled over an open flame on the table. The room reminded Joe of Doc Martin's pharmacy, but there was something different. He sniffed - there was a coppery smell in the room. He looked at the Professor. "I thought you were a magician."
Magnus laughed. "I am a magician of sorts - I'm a scientist, an alchemist. I search for the secrets of creation." He picked up a coin on a chain and began to spin it as he talked. As Joe watched the coin and listened to the Professor, he began to relax. Magnus smiled in satisfaction. Things were going according to plan.
...
Adam was reading when Hoss walked into the great room. "Hey, Adam." He looked up from his book. "Yes?"
"Let's go into town, get a beer, see what's going on," Hoss suggested.
Adam burst out laughing. "Get a beer, see what's going on, go to the carnival, and maybe catch up with Joe and his crew?"
Hoss blushed. "Well, yeah."
Adam put his book down, stood up, and stretched. "Let's go."
The ride to Virginia City was pleasant, and Adam enjoyed it. Since he'd been home, his conversations with Hoss had been limited to work assignments and problems with the ranch. Now he listened as Hoss told him about a piece of land he wanted to buy where he would establish a sanctuary. "No hunting allowed, Adam. Animals could come there and know, just know, that they were safe." Hoss was quiet for a moment, and Adam saw him smile at the thought. "You remember Bessie Sue Hightower?" Hoss asked. Barely waiting for Adam to nod, Hoss went on, "She likes animals as much as I do, and I'm thinking of marrying her in a few years."
Adam blinked in surprise. "Bessie Sue? Does Pa know?"
Hoss shook his head. "No, my labor belongs to him until I'm twenty - one. After that I'm going to ask him about buying the land and then I'll talk to Bessie Sue and her old man. I don't have it all planned out, Adam, but I keep thinking on it."
They had reached town by that time, and left their horses tied at the water trough in front of the Bucket of Blood Saloon. They went inside and ordered a beer, and were surprised to see Mitch Devlin come inside. The boy was too young to be allowed in a saloon, but he had flyers he was handing out, and Sam, the bartender, was allowing him some leeway. Mitch made his way around the room, handing a flyer to anyone who would take one. When he got to Adam and Hoss, they took one. "Hey, Mitch, is Joe handing out flyers, too?"
Mitch shook his head. "No, just me and Seth. Joe's helping the Professor."
Adam and Hoss looked at each other. "Who's the Professor, Mitch?" Hoss asked.
Mitch shrugged. Adam tried. "What kind of help is Joe giving him?" Adam asked.
Mitch shrugged again, and said,"I don't know. I think the Professor's some kind of magician." The boy was about to move on when Hoss put a hand on his shoulder. "So, is Joe still at the carnival?"
His voice was calm, but something in his tone brought Mitch to a full stop, and he looked up at his friend's older brother. "Yessir. Me and Seth haven't seen him since we went there this afternoon."
Hoss released Mitch and he left. Adam and Hoss were quiet for a minute, and then Hoss said, "I think I'd like to see the carnival, Adam."
"Me, too." Adam threw a couple of coins on the bar, and he and Hoss left.
