I've Swallowed The Green Dress

by gaben

2. Alexandra is very sick. As each of the Cartwrights sit with Adam and Alex, they recall some of her naughty and funny adventures. But what has she done with the green dress? Warning: spanking of a minor in some chapters.

21. My Father's Dominoes

I'VE SWALLOWED THE GREEN DRESS"2nd In the Alexandra Series

Disclaimer: I do not own Bonanza, or any of its characters. David Dortort and Fred Hamilton created them and played with them for 14 years. The series is owned by NBC

Warning: None

Previously:

Brave Bear and Little Wolf snapped to attention, on hearing the children's voices, emerging from the cave and arguing about which bushes each could use to relieve themselves. They would have laughed at the children's antics, especially the little female child wanting to observe the boy as he stood to pee, however, they were quickly drawn back to the lone figure tracking and the sudden disappearance of the two he had been obviously following. They sprang into action, on seeing two figures then suddenly appear, guns drawn on their stalker.

Chapter 21 : My Father's Dominoes.

Hoss had found a warm camp fire a little after dawn, not too far from the foothills, where the children were last seen. He followed tracks for almost half an hour before realising that they had doubled back. He gatherered his reigns, deciding it would be best to return to Roy and the Posse, but got no further than a couple of feet when two men appeared from the thick bushes with their guns drawn.

"Well now," said McCreedy, "and who might you be looking for?"

Hoss not wanting to alert these two to the posse's location, played dumb about both his and their true identity, "Oh, you boys out Hunting?" He asked. "Ya ain't seen a couple of Kids have ya? My youngin's got a little carried away with an overnight camping trip. Dang Kids, reckon they gone looking for the wild old man of the mountains, Father sky." He said trying to sound jovial, and unconcerned about the guns pointed at him.

"Really, an Old man, you say, you ain't seen this wild man have ya?"asked Johansen.

McCreedy gave him a nasty glare, "no we ain't seen no kids. We jist about to head off, hunting's been no good."

"Well then I'd appreciated ya putting ya guns away, so I cin finish my search." Hoss requested, now feeling a little uneasy, about the story he'd given them.

"Now, then?" said McCreedy, rubbing at his two day old whiskers, "Your youngin's musta been on the same trail as us, cause you been following our tracks. I might too close, I might add."

"They must have," chuckled a nervous Hoss, "should be easy ta find them though. Best I be off." Hoss swung his horse around back towards the foot hills, intending to make a run for it as soon as he could.

McCreedy watched the big man slowly trot off, keeping his gun pointed and ready for any sign of the big man changing direction.

"Meybe, we should follow him? suggested Johansen.

"I don't like none of this," snarled McCreedy, then raised his gun at Hoss diminishing figure and fired.

Hoss was far enough away. McCreedy's shot came nowhere its intended target. However old Chubb spooked at the sound and reared spinning then dropped Hoss with a thud onto the ground.

Hoss dazed for a moment, appreciated the gentle nudge Chubb was giving him, no doubt his way of an apology. He opened his eyes, and rubbed his horse's nose. Mc McCreedy's voice broke the relief of the moment, striking Hoss with a feeling of dread.

"I'm sure you'll find ya youngin's mister, and we liked ta offer our assistance," smirked the seedy convict.

"So where did ya youngin's, if there are any youngin's at all, supposedly go looking for this old man then?" asked Johansen.

oOo

Alexandra and Lajoci made their way through the scrub in search of a place to relieve their bursting morning bladders. Lajoci pushed Alex away to find her own bush before heading off to the left of the caves opening.

Alexandra, hell bent on standing up to pee was so engrossed with the concentration needed to tilt her lower body forward , holding her flap pants out of the way while maintaining a steady and direct stream, she did not see the two figures watching from the rock face above.

Panic nearly took over as the flow weakened and it looked like she was going to pee on her shoes. She quickly spread her legs further apart and yanked her pants further back, "dang it Lajoci, ya coulda let me watch for a bit," she mumbled. She finished and struggled to adjust her clothing as she made her way back to the cave, "seems like too much hard work ifin ya ask me," she declared.

Alex was suddenly grabbed from behind with a hand clasped firmly across her mouth. Her eyes went wide when she saw Lajoci in the same predicament, clutched by an Indian brave as they appeared from the bushes. These were the same braves they had run into yesterday. The ones who had tried to steal her baby cow, she struggled in her captives grasp, but he held firm. The Indian holding Lajoci, shook his head and put his fingers on his lips, ordering both children to be silent.

Little Wolf and Brave Bear scaled the rock face, back to their outpost easily, despite the continuing struggles of their detainees. They set the children down, once the flat surface of the caves natural roof was firmly underfoot, but did not release their hands from their mouths. Brave bear looked at Lajoci and spoke in his native tongue.

"You must be quiet small one, we can see the whole valley from here but you're voices will carry. You understand?"

Lajoci nodded, then looked at Alexandra, silently cueing her to follow suit.

Alexandra, shook her head. Believing the braves were here to steal her calf, she bit down on the hand of Little Wolf.

"AhOweeeee, she bites," cried the young, not so brave native, "she is like a wild animal."

"And you scream like an old woman," snapped Alexandra. "Ifin you think ya gonna jist take off with my baby calf you got another thing coming. We jist been with god, F. A. T. H. E. R. SKY ," she enunciated, "and he ain't gonna be too happy with you."

"Little one has little respect for her elders," growled Brave Bear. Then turned to Lajoci again, and spoke. "We have been watching the cave all night. Your father Yuma has instructed us so. But we have seen bad men coming. They are not our people or your people. Other men follow with guns. You must stay here until they have passed."

Lajoci nodded again. Then explained what Brave bar had just told him to Alex.

"How do they know they are bad men? How do we know they ain't jist saying that so they can steal my cow?"

"A posse follows them little one. Their tracker the gentle big man of the Ponderosa has been taken by them. We know he is a good man."

"Hey, that must be Hoss, Uncle Hoss."

"You are a Cartwright child?" asked Little Wolf, "I thought you were the daughter of Father sky? It is you that is dishonourable, you have lied."

Brave Bear, scowled at his friend then at the children, "That is not a concern at the moment. You must be silent. Yuma and the Cartwright men have asked us to keep you safe. You will stay here; we will go and meet up with the posse to warn them. Now STAY HERE, lie flat and out of sight."

"But we can help you," claimed Lajoci.

"Yes we have a gun inside with father sky, father Sky can also help," offered Alex.

Brave Bear, turned to Lajoci. "A smart brave knows when to stay and watch. You little Lajoci son of the brave Yuma must stay here, watch and care for the ah yoh tlee travieso", he scowled looking at Alexandra, "Watch the meadow, if we do not return within the hour, make your way to the village."

Lajoci's chest puffed with pride and hand signalled his understanding and oath to do as he was ordered. Brave Bear and Little Wolf, then silently made their way from the rocks and disappeared into the bushes.

Lajoci pushed Alex down to lie on her stomach, "hey not so rough, Lajoci. What did that Indian call me?"

"Brave Bear, called you naughty child. Do as they say Alex, they are fearless men who know what to do".

oOo

Ben, Yuma and Adam met up with Roy and the posse soon after dawn. Roy was becoming concerned. He had expected Hoss back within the hour, but as of yet there was no sign of him. Hoss had headed off before dawn to see if he could pick up the tracks of the escapees. It was expected he would be back once he had tracked them to the foothills.

On hearing this, Adam's and Yuma's sense of urgency had them spur their horses towards the mountains at full speed, hoping that the children were safe and perhaps Hoss had found them and not the loose criminals .

Roy was flabbergasted; he had believed the children were safe back at the village. He and his men and Ben followed Yuma and Adam with as much rush. Half way across the meadow they spotted two Indian braves heading towards them. Yuma hunted his horse faster and met them in the clearing.

By the time the rest had caught up Yuma's face told them of the conversation taking place. Adam and Ben could make out a few words of the natives language, however their body language and facial expressions made it quite clear that there was trouble ahead.

Adam turned to his father, first with relief showing on his face. Ben watched it transform to concern, "Pa the children are safe Little Wolf and Brave Bear have hidden them on top of the rocks above a cave. But it looks like Hoss came across the two convicts and has been taken by gun point to the foothills."

'Don't worry Adam, Hoss can look after himself, though he may hesitate if he feels the children are at risk."

"Let's get to those kids first. Stay close to the shrub fellas, we don't want to spook these two," ordered Roy.

The posse with Little Wolf and Brave Bear split into two, but headed in the same direction left and right and close to the bushes and foliage that trimmed the perimeter of the open valley. Once there, they stopped just before the foothills, directing each other to safe positions where they surrounded the area and could observe the journey of anybody taking the narrow path up toward the mountain, some eight foot above them.

oOo

The old man had packed most of the few belongings that he had, fitting them easily into one knapsack. He rolled a blanket and tied it to the bag. Unlike the children, he had no horse, but had enough food to last him a week. That would get him to Tucson, where he would be able to purchase a horse for the rest of his journey. He would take the children to the Paiute village, where he was certain they would safely be seen home. The Paiutes had been good neighbours and had left him alone most of these years believing he was Father Sky. They would leave basic food and blankets as homage. He trusted them to keep the children safe and hoped that they would give him his leave, back to the heavens, if he could convince them of such. Most of all though, he silently prayed that maybe, the God that he had rejected over these years would answer the children's prayers and these people would survive the famine that now faced them. He hoped that Lajoci's mother, would give birth to a healthy child, and Alexandra's father would be cured of whatever ailment that the child felt was threatening his life.

After finishing his pack, he turned his attentions to the children's saddlebags, he had packed the money at the bottom of the four bags then added the few items they had bought with them on the top. He checked the small rifle and loaded two shells in its chamber, then added the rest of the shells to their bags. He put the small riffle by the door to the second cave and tethered the calf ready to join the small caravan they would make. The old man left the cave and tied the saddled bags to both Lajoci's and Alexandra's horse then inspected the area looking for the children, "Hey you two? Ya gotta be finished by now. Get inside and get washed up, we're moving out."

"Going somewhere old man?" Asked McCreedy who, without warning appeared as the old man emerged from behind the bush where the children's horses were tethered.

The old man spun around, shocked by the sound of a voice from the past. He stared into the face of his partners of long ago, McCreedy and Johansen. He scanned the boundary for a sign of the youngin's, on tenterhooks that they may suddenly appear. He hoped that they had seen these two and used their brains and hid. It wasn't until then that he noticed the third man; a big man. Maybe these two had picked another partner, a tracker to get them out of the territory. The old man decided to stay quiet, apprehensive that they may recognise him.

"Chris? Chris, old man is that you? Why jumpin Jehoshaphat, I wouldna recognised ya," bellowed Johansen.

"Don't know ya, and don't know no Chris. What do ya want?" growled the old man.

McCreedy walked up to the old man and looked him over, too careful like as far as the old man was concerned. "Why Johansen, you got a sharp eye. I wouldn't take another look, but by jeeze ifin you ain't right, under that grey beard thar and the long hair is our old friend Chris. Well happy days I say. What you say, Chris, happy day? You been hold up here all this time, waiting for us?"

"Like I said, I don't know who you two are talking about. Now you jist best be on yer way."

"Now Chris, You wouldn't be trying ta get rid of us now would you? Why don't we all jist go inside." McCreedy poked his gun at the old man, while Johansen tied their Horses up. It wasn't until then that the old man noticed that the big man that was with them was also held at gun point.

"Why are you holding a gun on that man?" asked the old man.

"Not taking any chances," answered McCreedy, "this one' been following tracks, says he's been looking for two youngin's." McCreedy jabbed Hoss with his gun, "don't see no youngin's here mister, guess you musta made that up. You part of that posse ain't yer?"

The old man tried to hide both his surprise and concern. He hoped wherever the children were, they stayed hidden. He had to get rid of these two, maybe he best just go with them.

"Johansen, tie him up," McCreedy said pointing to Hoss, "sit him down over there, on the other side of the fire".

"What are we gonna do with him, McCreedy?"

"We are gonna at stay here till that posse don't find us."

"But what ifin they do?"

"Then we got him as a hostage. Jist pray it don't come ta thet, don't fancy havin' ta drag the huge brute all the way ta Mexico," harped McCreedy.

Johansen turned the old man and whispered, "Chris, how long you been here, where's the money? You're only gonna make Jeb madder than a cut snake, ifin ya don't come up with the money."

The old man looked at McCreedy and Johansen. He was pretty confident he could take Johansen but not McCreedy. McCreedy was a mean bastard. Yep, he was gonna have ta to go with them. He was gonna do it on his terms though.

"Hey Jeb, I got what you want, I got what's yours, and ya can have it, but ya let this man go."

oOo

Alexandra jumped up ready to run when she saw the men move towards the cave entrance with Hoss at gunpoint. Lajoci quickly grabbed her and held her down flat against the rock face that overhung the cave door. "Lajoci, but that's uncle Hoss we gotta get him away from them bad men."

"They have guns, Alexandra. Do not worry, Father sky is there remember, he surely is in safe hands."

"Meybe."

"Little Wolf and Brave Bear will bring the Posse here also, we should do as they say and stay hidden."

"I jist can't stay here and do nothin', not knowin anymore. It's bad enough with my daddy meybe being at deaths door, now Uncle Hoss. I'm gonna jist go up and sneak outside that entrance."

Lajoci rolled his eyes and pulled Alexandra down again, "wait. If you are so strong-minded to go, I will show you another way, come." Lajoci moved swiftly and confidently to the corner of the rock face and pointed to a narrow vertical shaft, "It goes down into the cave, listen."

Alex and Lajoci laid face down; sure enough they could hear the mumblings of those in the caves.

"I will go first. Follow my foot holes, Alexandra Cartwright."

Both children then made their way down the shaft slowly and carefully. Once on the bottom, they followed the sounds to their left and a narrow cavern. Within minutes they spotted a small opening into another cave area. Lajoci cautiously stuck his head through and spotted the hooded calf tethered to one of the old man pallets. He waved Alexandra forward and they crawled through the hole and took up a position by the canvas drop the old man used to separate his store from the main cavern. Alexandra saw the rifle sitting beside a box of supplies and went over and grabbed it.

"Maybe we can get this gun to uncle Hoss," she whispered.

Lajoci peeked through the curtain. He could see Hoss with his back to them his hands tied behind him. The two convicts stood on the other side their backs to Hoss and facing the old man.

"You're in no position to bargain Chris, jist get us the money, then will hold up here till the posse passes. Then meybe will head outta here and leave the big fella to his own devices. Though it might be kinda ta put him out of his misery."

Alexandra's eyes went wide, and she gasped. The old man spotted Lajoci peeking from the canvas curtain then scowled as McCreedy turned at the strange sound coming from behind their captive.

"What's back there," he growled.

"Nothin," said the old man," its jist a small cool cave I keep my stocks in."

Hoss had heard it too. He rolled his eyes surmising that it could only have been the two youngsters.

McCreedy pointed his gun, and indicated to his partner, "Check it out."

Johansen moved to the area, gun in hand and then quickly opened the canvas draw. He moved in and retrieved a very disgruntled calf wearing a green bonnet. "It's jist a little baby cow, Jeb. Hey ain't it cute, it's wearing a hat."

Both Hoss and the old man took a breath, relieved that the two children had hidden. Hopefully they stayed that way.

"What ya doing with this here baby Cow, Chris?" asked Johansen.

"I found it yesterday, wandering around. There's an Indian Village not far from here I'd say it's probably gone and got separated from its mother."

With that the baby calf moaned.

"Well it best be quiet otherwise it's gonna find a bullet in its head as well."

Alexandra was getting worried now, these men were real mean. "We gotta free Uncle Hoss, Lajoci," she whispered from their hiding spot.

She positioned her gun and headed back through the hole. Lajoci followed and grabbed her just before she entered the larger cave and pulled his knife out, "let me try and free his hands, we cannot use the gun, they have two guns, one on your Uncle and one on the old man. You stay behind the curtain."

Lajoci lay on his stomach and put the knife in his mouth and crawled silently towards Hoss's back. The old man saw him and quickly turned towards the cave door to draw McCreedy's and Johansen's attention, "Where you going Chris. You move an inch towards that opening and I'll shoot you in the leg, then shoot the big man in the head."

"The money is outside Jeb, I hid it under a rock."

"Well that's real good Chris. Glad ya come ta ya senses. We'll jist make sure there ain't no posse before we all go out there rummaging under any rocks, though."

McCreedy's threatening dialogue had distracted Johansen and given Lajoci enough time to reach Hoss and cut his ropes. Hoss never moved his hands just waved Lajoci back and pointed in the direction of their hiding spot, "Git back there and stay quiet," he hissed from the side of his mouth.

The old man visibly relaxed when he spotted Lajoci worming his way back towards the smaller cave. Just as he was almost there McCreedy sensed the movement and caught the boy in his sights, "Johansen!" He yelled.

Johansen spun aiming his gun and the small child disappearing under the canvas drop behind their captive. He moved forward as he cocked his gun. In an instant Hoss stood up and knocked the man's shooting arm in the air, effectively sending the bullet into the ceiling of the cave. McCreedy spun to take aim, though by this time Hoss was wresting Johansen and getting a good aim on the big man was difficult, "Hey I don't care which one of you I shoot, so ya might as well jist give up big man, Or meybe I'll jist shoot this old man first."

"Yer don't want ta do that Jeb, Chris knows where the money is."

"Shut up you idjit, I outta shoot you."

"No Jeb, shoot the big man."

McCreedy took aim, but before he could do anything the old man had grabbed him from behind.

The cave became a dustbowl, echoed with grunts and ooffs as the old man and Hoss fought their attackers.

Alexandra had been watching from the curtained area, as Lajoci made it back just in time . She had gasped when the younger of the two bad men went to shoot Lajoci, but her uncle Hoss had stopped him. Now God and the other bad man were fighting too.

I hafta do somethin' , she thought. Alexandra blessed herself, trying to find a prayer that may enlighten her, cause she new God was jist too darn busy right now. She tried to think of the really important sounding prayers that father Flanagan had used at church, for funerals and christenings, in that funny language, what the heck, she closed her eyes and started mumbling.

Lajoci rushed back in through the curtains, "what are you doing Alexandra? Quick we must go find the posse."

"No, there ain't any time. I'm saying a prayer for some decline intervention here so help me. Two gotta be better than one," she started to chant, "My father's dominoes are better than your fathers dominoes, My father's…"

Lajoci quickly joined in, "My father's dominoes are … What are dominoes?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. I think they're like playing cards made of wood, hmmm, maybe, they're praying cards. It's is another language Lajoci, its called Latin, and the Pope in Rome talks like it. God needs our help so jist keep prayin' in the language he probably knows bestest." Alexandra clasped her hands together and closed her eyes, "My father's dominoes are better than your father's dominoes," continued Alexandra.

"My father's dominoes are… why are your father's dominoes better than my father's dominoes? Is God better than Father Sky?" Lajoci demanded.

"No I don't reckon, I sorta thought they may be they're the same, kinda like having different names in different languages or even bein' called different names by different kinfolk. My father's dominoes are better than your father's dominoes…"

"My father's dominoes are better than… well if they're the same, then his praying cards will be the same and just as good," argued Lajoci.

"Look here Lajoci, we are trying ta get some sorta message from the heavens here , we gotta do something, and I seen Father Flanagan and you ain't, now one last time… My father's dominoes are better than your father's dominoes…"

Lajoci scowled but followed through with the chant, "My father's dominoes are the same as your father's dominoes…" however with a subtle change.

Alexandra rolled her eyes, but conceded and joined in, "My father's dominoes are the same as your father's dominoes. Come on God teach that bad man a good lesson."

The children pulled back the curtain, Alexandra aiming her gun , Lajoci with his knife in his hand, and both chanting.

Hoss still had a pretty good hand on Johansen, though, the man had been able to grab his gun after rolling through the fire. For the second time he aimed it at Hoss determined not to miss. Without hesitation, Lajoci threw his knife. A large red splotch instantly appeared on Johansen's shoulder, as his gun hit the floor without discharging.

The old man was not so lucky. He too was wrestling. But it was McCreedy who seemed to have the upper hand. The two now were in a strenuous tug of war over McCreedy's firearm, and before Hoss or the children could get to them, the gun went off.

oOo

Adam and Yuma along with Ben and the rest of the posse had heard a shot echo from the caves above. Adam and Yuma ran, scaling the small narrow path within minutes took up position at the door, trying to listen to the conversation going inside. But there were no voices just the sounds of a scuffle. Adam far too impatient started to go in when all of a sudden another shot was heard. What followed aged him almost ten years immediately; a voice that frightened the living daylights out of him.

"GIT YER HANDS UP! You are in so much trouble now, you jist done shot God."

TBC

Your Father's Dominoes

A.N. I Know too short. Sorry to end it there but I'm moving around a lot and don't know when I will be able to post. Plus we leave the Nevada territory today, so it's fitting that I post a Bonanza story from here. That's also means that I have rushed, so there may be plenty of mistakes, tell me and I will fix them. Next chapter, Lots of Alexandra rambling. I promise.