3rd Act
Ben

Exactly twelve years ago I had met Marie in New Orleans for the first time. A strange feeling between sadness and happiness came over me when I went through the old letters that we had written to each other before we got married. My heart felt heavy as I held my first letter in my hands … well, it wasn't exactly a letter – it was more a note and it wasn't even witty. But it worked. The secret admirer eventually turned into her husband. The thought made me smile and as much as I still grieved about her death, the knowledge that she will live forth in Little Joe was comforting.

With a sad smile I turned to her picture: "He's a great boy and he's so much like you." Speaking to a daguerreotype was silly, I knew that. But it helped. Especially on days like this.

Carefully I put the pile of old letters in the corner of my desk and went back to the book work that had to be finished by today, when suddenly the door opened.

I expected my boys coming home from school. However, Hoss was alone and had an agonized look on his face. It seemed like Joe had been kept after class. He picked a quite convenient day because I couldn't be too angry with him at his mother's and mine anniversary. I just hoped that it wasn't anything serious.

Like always, Hoss tried to pick up the pieces for Joe. I knew that I should be proud of him for helping his little brother like this… and I was. But I was also tired of hearing the same old excuses from Hoss. He should have known by now that they didn't work with me.
Besides, Joe had to learn to face up to his own mistakes.

A few minutes after I had sent Hoss outside to finally take care of the wagon, Joe stepped silently through the front door – the way he always did when he was feeling guilty.

"Joseph, is that you? Come here, please." I probably sounded a lot stricter than I intended to because Joe walked up to me as if he was going to break into tears any second.

"Your brother has already told me. Give me the note.", I said calmly. I never wanted any of my boys to be afraid of me. I had to suppress a smirk when Joe started his dog-eye routine. Marie had exactly the same look on her face when she wanted to trick me into something.

Even though I love him so much… no… because I love him I couldn't let it pass.

"Joseph, being late three times in one week is way too often."

"I know, Sir. I'm sorry." Little Joe sounded a lot sorrier than he actually was. I knew him well enough to sense that.

"You oversleeping has to stop, and it will stop right now.", I said strictly and paused for a second in order to think of the right incentive for my youngest. "Until the end of next week you will go to bed at seven, is that understood?"

"Seven!? But Pa!? That's much too early! Only little kids go to bed at seven!"

Joe's contriteness had suddenly vanished into thin air and I felt the urge to add a sore behind to his punishment. Joe knew better than to argue about the consequences for his actions. But instead I took a second to control my temper and added calmly: "… and if you keep whining, it will be two weeks."
The expression on my boy's face showed me that I had made myself clear this time.

He confirmed me by squeezing out a "Yes, Sir."

"Now you better go upstairs and do your homework... and then you will get your chores done. Your work-ethic leaves a lot to be desired lately. And mind your brothers while I'm in town this evening."

"Yes, Pa." Joe trotted upstairs as if I had just sentenced him to death. I shook my head and chuckled at the sight.

As I walked outside I saw the broken barn door from the distance. Yesterday I had told Adam to fix it but it seemed like my oldest had better things to do. I left it to Hoss to tell him, got my horse out of the barn and rode to town.

After I had finished the business with my lawyer I went to the Silver Dollar. That hot sun was making me thirsty and while I enjoyed a cold glass of beer I couldn't overhear the name "Cartwright" at the table behind me. I leaned closer to the separating wall and listened closely to the conversation:

"You should've seen how Chuck Miller licked that oldest Cartwright kid at the poker table.", a man said. "He got 50 bucks out of him… and the boy still owes him. Seems like them Cartwrights ain't that loaded after all."

I felt my temper rising and pinched my nose. Of all people? How could Adam get into such a mess?
The urge to give him a piece of my mind started to fill my chest but I dropped the thought quickly. He was an adult. Therefore it was his problem, not mine.

My anger ceased as I remembered what had happened to me on Burberry Coast about 25 years ago: I had lost two month wages and a saddle in a poker game. On my way home I was so embarrassed that I told people that Indians had stolen my saddle. Learning about the dangers of gambling the hard way seemed to be hereditary.

That day dinner was different. Hoss' mind was somewhere in the clouds and I saw in Joe's face that he wasn't happy about his new bedtime-arrangement. Whereas my oldest seemed to be in a particularly bad mood… and I knew exactly why.

During dinner, I kept an eye on my pocket watch. "Joseph, finish up and then off to bed.", I said as the clock hit seven.

My youngest leaned to the left and looked unbelievingly at the grandfather's clock before he stood up reluctantly. I expected him to complain about not getting any desert but he had obviously remembered that arguing was a waste of time.

After Joe had left without any desert, Hoss denied his. Was that some kind of brotherly loyalty? Sometimes I didn't quite understand those boys of mine.

After Hoss had left the table, Adam finally spoke up. For a second I thought he would confess to me.
But I soon realized what he had in mind. To get a clean slate he was willing to sell his beloved stallion. On the one hand I felt sorry for him but on the other it served him right and it would for sure keep him away from the poker table.
This experience was going to be a lot more effective than any lecture I could give him. If he really wanted to sell his stallion, so was it then. It made me proud that Adam took the responsibility for his actions.

The next morning was just as odd as dinner. Joe was not only on time, he was almost two hours early and I have never known him to be so eager to go to work. I was staggered when he asked Adam if he could help him with his morning chores. Normally he even complained about his own work.
How could sending him to bed early leave such an expression? Maybe there was a lot more lying on his conscience that I didn't know about… or he was growing up and wanted to take up more responsibilities on the ranch. Well, I guess the first explanation was more likely.

After Adam had left for the lumber camp and Hoss and Joe had gone off to school, I took a moment and enjoyed the silence. Slowly I walked upstairs to get my vest and saw that the blinds in Hoss' room were still down. I had told him a thousand times to let some air into his room in the morning.
A little annoyed, I opened the window for him and on my way out, a piece of paper on his bed cabinet caught my eye. What in the world was Hoss doing with my note to Marie? Was he sweet on a girl and used it as an inspiration? I took the note with me and put it back to my other letters before riding to the upper pasture to look after the herd.

When I came home from work, Adam was already standing next to the cabinet, taking off his hat and gun-belt.

I was more than surprised when he told me that he didn't want to sell his stallion after all. Did he play another game of poker or was Chuck afraid to lose his work and cancelled his debts? I wasn't sure how Adam did it but he proved to me once again that he had grown into an adult and could take care of his own problems.

Thank you all for your comments!