Chapter 2
Few hours later Little Joe finally came back from school.
"Hey Pa! Pa I'm home!" Joe yelled as he came into the house.
"Joseph, Keep it down your sister is sick in bed and needs her rest." Pa reprimanded as he got up from his seat in his study.
"What do you mean? When she left she just had a headache. Is she ok?" Panicking now because it must have escalated on her walk home. She was always mad that her sister didn't always tell the truth in how bad she was feeling. "Typical Cartwright" He thought.
"Settle down Joe. She is going to be okay, she just has a bad flu." Placing his hand on his youngest son's shoulder as he was trying to calm him down before he got too worried.
"Can I go see her?"
"Yes but only for a few moments. She still could be contagious so we are limiting your time with her. Your age can catch it quick. You will have to keep your distance. Understand me Joseph?" Ben explained.
"Yes sir. Can I go now? I just got to see her. Please?" Joe pleaded.
"Yes, Adam is in with her now and I'll come in a little bit so you don't stay too long. Go ahead." Ben explained and two seconds later Joe was running up the stairs.
"And no running in the house, Joseph." Ben reprimanded and shook his head at how many times he has had to say that to his youngest boy.
Joe walked into his sister's room and saw Adam reading a book in the chair next to her.
"Hey Adam."
"Mmm, Oh hey Joe back from school?" Adam said as he was pulled out of the book he was reading.
"Yup, Pa said I could come in here for a few minutes and then he would come in to take over." Joe explained.
"Ok, but be careful to keep your distance. Ok? Don't want another Cartwright sick, do we?" Adam softly reminded and walked out the open door.
Anna began to stir from her sleep as she heard voices in her room.
"Hey sleepy. You sure know how to get out of school." Joe joked with his little sister.
"Oh you know me always looking for a way out of school with Miss Jones!" She joked as well. Both her and Joe were not huge fans of their teacher.
"By the way during lunch Bobby Hawkins was talking crap about you being a woos and going home early. He was telling everyone that you weren't really sick but you just didn't want to face him at the end of the day because of the bet you two had over who race their horse faster than the other."
"Man, that Bobby is all talk and no brains." Anna protested annoyed.
"Don't worry. I took care of it. May get in trouble for it later but it was worth it. No one messes with my sister and gets away with it." He announced with much macho-ness.
"Joe I can fight my own battles. I'm not a baby. Plus now how are you going to explain why you got in a fight without ratting me out about betting. You know how Pa feels about us betting!" She argued and feeling slightly sick at the thought of Pa finding out and just all together nauseas because of the flu.
"Don't worry I'll figure it out. But hey at least good for you, now I get stuck with your chores. Smooth baby sis, smooth." He said trying to help her feel a little better. He could tell she was starting to feel sick as her face was going pale again. He wasn't sure if it was the flu or thoughts of Pa finding out about her betting.
"Don't call me baby. So help me even if I'm sick I'll sock you one." She said with her fists out and ready even though she was not feeling up to caring out on that threat at all at the moment.
"Nobody will be socking anyone young lady." Pa said as he was just walking in.
"Dang it. Caught." Anna whispered to Joe.
"Now, Joe I think it's time for you to get started on your chores and your sisters please."
Anna just winked at Joe. Joe just shook his head and headed to the door, "Yes sir. See ya later Anna. Feel better."
"Now, how are you feeling? Ben said as he was checking her fever.
"I'm okay, Pa." She answered not telling the whole truth.
"Yea, than why are you as white as a sheet?"
"Ok, I guess my head still feels like a dynamite is going off in it and my throat is on fire. Still feel a little nauseas but a little hungry." She explained hoping not to be pressed more about it. She hated being sick.
"Dynamite huh?' He smiled sweetly, 'Think you can try some broth? I can have Hopsing make you some."
"I think I can try Pa. Just hope it doesn't come out again."
"Well, let's hope not but we really need to get something in you to help fight this off with your medicine." Ben explained.
"Ok, Pa. Still don't like that medicine." Anna grumped.
"Well, even so you must." He said as he kissed her on the head loudly on the word 'must'. "Now I am going down to get your soup ready and you can rest a bit before I bring it up."
"K thanks Pa." She said as she scrunched up under the covers. Thinking how much better her head felt when her eyes were shut.
Meanwhile Joe was in the barn contemplating what he was going to do about his latest predicament. If only Miss Jones didn't catch him and give him a note for Pa to sign. Everything would have been ok.
"Me and my temper, Old Cooch. When am I going to learn?" Joe said talking to his faithful old horse Cochise.
"I guess I'll just give it to him after dinner. May as well not ruin dinner too. He's not going to be to happy about this." He chatted away to Cochise.
"Who, not happy about what?"
Joe took a deep breath but then realizing it was his brother Hoss let out a sigh of relief. "Oh it's just you! Good."
"Oh boy, watcha got yourself into now little brother? And I'm guessing the who is Pa. Am I right?" Hoss asked rolling his eyes.
"Yes and it was just a little fight at school. No biggy." He explained quickly not wanting any one to overhear.
"Well, good luck little brother, Pa happens to think fights are a biggy. And a little advice little brother, don't wait any longer to give him the note. You waited long enough and it can only get worse." He advised knowing all to well from that lesson.
"Well I already decided to give it to him after dinner. No sense ruining my dinner too."
"Well, good luck little brother, good luck." Hoss said as he gave his brother a pat on the back.
"Hoss! Joe! Dinner!" Adam yelled from the front door.
"Comin! Come on Little Joe! Dinner awaits!" Hoss joked as they walked out of the barn to the house.
