While Joe has quite a busy time with a surprise visit from Sheriff Coffee, followed by a heart to heart with his oldest brother, Candy manages to have himself quite the day as well.
What Candy'd first taken as some vague form of punishment; being made to do not but menial chores such as cutting firewood out back of the house or making small repairs to tack in the main house's barn while Rosy oversaw his progress and hummed to the Cartwright family horses, Candy eventually came to realize was actually a sneaky way to keep him within easy walking distance for a visit with his convalescing best friend, Joe.
For that reason, on the day that Sheriff Coffee had come to pay Joe a visit, found out he still wasn't quite up to 'official business' type company, and subsequently told everyone else in the house the news concerning the jailing of the varmint behind the... 'incident back in town', Candy'd just so happened to be there for it.
He'd also been there when Ben had mentioned to the lunch table, only a little earlier that morn', that it was about time those poor horses of Joe's be brought back home from the livery stable, and the wagon with them.
Didn't want anyone getting it in their mind that they were abandoning any of that. Good horse flesh —and carts— were hard to come by, after all.
Candy had jumped at the opportunity, saying he'd be glad to bring everything back safe and sound. For, though he wasn't excited about leaving the ranch with Joe as out of sorts as he was, he did covet the opportunity to be the one holding the reigns of that wonderful team of Joe's once again. Even if only for a return trip home.
He'd need to remember to bring along a few sugar cubes for the pair. Poor things were probably missing their comfy stalls in their homey barn and their dedicated groom who sang to them and-
"I recon I'll go along too, Pa. Keep ol' Candy here comp'ny. And outta trouble," Hoss said, cutting across Candy's daydreams about spending time with a couple of horses.
"Fine, fine. Just be sure to return those blankets that Amos and Jody so kindly lent us, while you're there," Ben reminded, with no indication of an objection.
"Yessir, got 'em all folded and waitin'," Hoss said with a nod.
"Well, matter settled. Right after lunch then," Ben said with a nod of his own.
The arrival of the dependable Sheriff Roy Coffee had coincided with the end of lunch, and had so put a hold on their plans for the rest of the day.
But when the public servant had said his goodbyes and made to bow out early, Hoss and Candy had had the wonderful idea to accompany Mr. Coffee back to town.
"Sure, boys, the more the merrier," all he'd said before adjusting his hat and making for the hitching rail.
And that was how Candy found himself facing a set of cold metal bars, sneering at a dried out drunk on the other side and wishing he'd never agreed to win all of Festus's money off him in that ill-fated poker game.
"Oh my Lord in heaven- Why does nobody in this town believe me? For the last time, I weren't aimin' for yer scrawny friend; I was aimin' for your sorry excuse for a body," the man who found himself literally caged in the rear room of the town jail insisted with a frustrated roll of the eyes.
"Festus, it don't matter who you were aiming for; it matters who you hit, and who you hit, just happens to be very important to me."
"And me," added Hoss as he stepped up to the bars and glowered his most intimidating glower. Causing the smaller man on the inside of the enclosure to pay him even the slightest attention since he'd entered.
"What is it with this town? Some sort of conspiracy goin' on 'round here? E'rybody comin' in here, givin' me the eye; spittin' in my direction. What's so special 'bout that skinny feller anyway?" The reprobate behind the bars demanded. Switching Between scratching his head and gesticulating wildly.
Hoss took advantage of the sot's distraction and snatched a handful of the detainee's shirt in one larger than life fist. Getting a good bit more than attention that time.
"You wanna know who that 'scrawny feller' is?"
Candy glanced over at the hard edge to the usually jovial voice, and was taken aback when the behemoth standing next to him barely resembled the gentle giant he knew so well. The entirety of Hoss's impressive stature taught with an obvious and barely restrained hostility.
Then he watched as the normally kind eyes in that dark blond head sharpened to something dangerous and Hoss pulled upward until Festus's shirt seams made angry popping sounds and his boots just about lifted clear off the floor.
By that point, Candy started wondering whether Hoss coming along hadn't been a bad idea and whether maybe he ought to go get Sheriff Coffee, but then, the big man leaned in close to the one on the other side of the bars and whispered the hardest, least inviting whisper it had ever been Candy's misfortune to hear.
"He's my little brother."
Then, without warning, Hoss released the shirt from its certain doom, turned on a heel, and lumbered back out to Coffee's office. Leaving behind two gawking, stunned speechless saddle tramps. One feeling extremely grateful that he hadn't done anything to get himself on Hoss's bad side and the other making a slow retreat from the row of bars he'd likely just realized might not protect him from every threat imaginable.
Blinking his utter surprise away, Candy turned in time to see Festus nearly miss the edge of his jail cot as the shaken man plopped down. Probably to keep from falling down.
Candy pulled himself up to his full height and made sure he had the guy's attention before saying, "You're lucky he was feelin' generous today." Then, holding in a sharp smirk at the several shades whiter the unpleasant Festus went, Candy tipped his hat and added, "Till next time, 'friend'." He couldn't help the growl of a warning note accompanying the last word, and at the slight flinch it won him, he found himself feeling just a little bit like he'd accomplished something worthwhile on that trip into town.
Without another word, he followed Hoss's example and turned his back on the guy who'd freely admitted to trying to run him over. Ready to rejoin the civilized world once again.
"Like I was just tellin' Hoss here," Roy said, soon as Candy sauntered his way into the office, "I got more notarized and confirmed testimonies concerning this case than I know what to do with. Written and oral. Got some even before we rounded this Festus up and booked 'im," the Sheriff ended with a perplexed scratch of the head.
"Sounds like the townsfolk got their dander up somethin' fierce over this," Hoss observed with a ruefully entertained shake of his head.
"What can I say, boys?" Started the sheriff from where he'd sunk down for a well deserved rest in the seat behind his desk. "Folks don't like the idea of a violent, habitually drunk, generally unpleasant reprobate bein' turned loose. Much rather see him behind bars, where he can't up and run over anyone else's relations." The tone with which Coffee said his piece made it plain as day that he was one hundred percent behind the town on this one. Maybe even proud of it for the upstanding, responsible actions so many of the citizens had proven themselves willing to take.
"Oh, uh, 'scuse me Sheriff. Didn't know you had comp'ny," said a scruffy head as it started backing out the jailhouse door, which no one inside had noticed open.
"Naw, it's fine, Gus. What ya here for?" Coffee asked with a 'won't be a moment' look spared for his other two visitors.
"Heh, howdy," the guy named Gus greeted Candy and Hoss as he opened the door up proper and removed his hat in an off hand. "Just wanted to let ya know that me and Lucille and Junior'd be more'n happy to lend a hand in the build if'n yer shorthanded."
Sounding like he might have turned a good natured snort into a cough, Coffee gave the man an appreciative smile and said, "I thank ya kindly, and I'll let y'all know if'n the extra hands'r needed. Still waitin' on word from the circuit judge."
"No problem, Sheriff, we'd be happy to help. Gentlemen," Gus said with a nod to the room's other occupants, before bowing out and shutting the door back behind him.
"Uh, what's this 'bout a build and needin' extra hands for't? A perplexed Hoss directed at the public servant behind the desk.
The one who was starting to smirk and vibrate with what looked like barely restrained mirth.
"You alright, Sheriff? Need some water or-"
"M'fine, Candy, just-" Roy broke off with a chuckle. "It's just that there's a contingent here in town what thinks the judge is gonna pass down a particularly 'harsh' sentence along with his verdict. Which, they've decided, has no chance of bein' anything but 'guilty', of course."
"Of course," Candy said, a wry tilt to his mouth.
"Wait, folks think the judge is gonna order a-"
"Yep, Hoss, folks'r linin' up to offer their not inconsiderable carpenterin' experience to the build of our very own gallows. For a hangin' ain't even been ordered."
"Yet," Candy reminded. Voice and expression rather careful.
"Yeah, 'not yet'. That's what's goin' through their heads. Regular old bee in the bonnet of every man, woman, and adolescent ever held a hammer an' nail before," the Sheriff informed, shaking his head and swallowing another chuckle.
At which, Candy figured it was at least good the sheriff could appreciate the mortuary stylings of the situation's humor.
"You don't think the judge'll really do it, do ya, Coffee?" Hoss asked, glancing toward the door that separated the cells from the office. No doubt thinking of the living human brooding on the other side.
Candy found himself doing the same. Not sure how he felt about the news and what it might mean for the man who'd tried to end his life.
...And who'd nearly ended Joe's.
"Truth be told, Hoss, Candy," Roy started, giving his lip a quick chew. "I don't. For Festus's safety and for the good of the town, I'm just playin' mediator till the trial. Ain't encouragin' the notion of braidin' a fresh rope, but if'n I tell 'em out right to simmer on down, we might have a situation on our hands. So I'll let 'em play out their frustrations and by the time the judge hears the case they'll be satisfied with whatever justice he sees fit."
"Well, here's hopin'," Candy said, moving to follow when Hoss gave the Sheriff a nod and started for the door.
"Hey, if I don't see Joe by the next time y'all come to town, you let me know whether he wants to press charges," Coffee invited with a semi-serious expression. Not quite over his entertainment at certain circumstances beyond his control.
"Sure thing, Coffee. We'll see ya," said Hoss as he reached the door.
"Yeah, be seein' ya, Sheriff," Candy said with a wave as he and the middle Cartwright brother pushed their way through the door and out onto the boardwalk beyond. Where Candy made sure the door latched before turning to follow Hoss to-
Candy came to an abrupt stop when he turned and found Hoss hadn't walked more than a few feet from the door, where he was standing strangely still. Body tight and mouth twisted up in a contrite pucker.
"Hoss?"
"They're fixin' to hang 'im?" Hoss asked, hands moving to his hips as he gave the boardwalk beneath his boots a distracted stare.
"Well, it's like the sheriff said: folks got their bonnets up in a twist about it," Candy reminded. Hoping it might somehow be the right thing to say.
"Yeah, I reckon it is. You wanna know the sad thing about it?" Hoss asked, glancing Candy's way and getting himself a nod. "I want the judge to pass that sen'ence. Even though I know it'd be the wrong one. A life for a life maybe, but Festus was drunk and didn't actually end up killin' anybody."
"Yeah, I... I feel exactly the same myself," Candy admitted with a sigh. Feeling almost comforted when Hoss offered him a commiserating grimace. "And I s'pose the town prolly feels that way too. Considerin'."
"Yeah, considerin'," Hoss agreed. "There were a whole peck of people gathered 'round when Adam and me got there with the doc. Figure, if they saw the whole thing, it'd leave a nasty impression," the big brother reasoned, now staring off into the unbusy street.
Candy nodded, trying his best to ignore the echoed memory of his best friend yelling his name, as he sprinted himself right into harm's way in order to shove him to safety.
Then the hired hand took a breath before offering, "You heard what Sheriff Coffee said: the town'll settle down, the trial's gonna be fair, no one's going to be hanged, and everything's gonna be just fine."
"Meanwhile, Litt- Joe can't even get out of bed. Doesn't sound 'fine' to me," the big man said. One fisted hand moving to press against his mouth in an unintentional show of frustration.
"Hoss, Joe's gonna be fine. Your Pa, Adam, Hop Sing, even the doctor all agree that he's gonna be fine. If you're gettin' low on faith in humanity right about now, I'd put my faith in all of them. They tend to know what they're talkin' 'bout," Candy said. Giving the biggest shoulder he'd ever felt a firm, encouraging pat.
With a snort that sounded suspiciously like a sniffle, Hoss gave his eyes a rough press with his fingertips and nodded. "Yer right, Candy. I must'a just got caught up in all the..."
When Hoss petered to a stop and made a noise that sounded like he was clearing his throat, Candy looked to the ground with a nod of his own.
"Same here," he said. Feeling when a pair of, once again, decidedly gentle eyes flicked to him. "Day of? Weren't for you and Adam bein' near... I don't know what I'd'a done. Prolly Doc Rosebaum would've had two patients 'stead of just the one. Hysteria, and all that," Candy finished with a self-deprecating shrug.
"No, Sir," Hoss said, voice half insistence, half concern. "Now, I know you were shaken up, but weren't a one of us in hollerin' range wasn't. You'd'a stuck it out, found help, and things'd be just the way they are anyhow: just fine."
"...So you admit everything's 'just fine'?" Candy asked after a short pause. Feeling a sense of accomplishment when he glanced up into the considerably higher face to find that it was no longer quite so defeated.
"Why you- You're just like Joe with yer-yer-"
"Golden wit?" Candy smirked out. Pleased with the rise he'd manufactured.
Hoss blustered some, chest puffing in time with his pink tinged cheeks at having been tricked into admitting things weren't quite so bleak as they seemed.
After a good few seconds of obvious vexation though, the biggest guy around breathed out a great lungful and settled on a sheepish smile. No doubt having accepted Candy's assessment of the situation as superior to his own.
Candy found himself cocking an inquisitive brow when the friendly giant's next move was to step forward and set a hand on his shoulder. He glanced from the mitt to Hoss's face in silent, unperturbed question.
"I'm glad it's you, Candy," Hoss intoned with gentle syllables. Giving the entire shoulder under his hand a little squeeze.
"Come again?" Candy asked. Unable to make head nor tail of the statement. Nor feel the fingers at the end of that arm anymore.
"I'm glad it's you Joe found. Or, maybe it's the other way 'round but... I couldn't imagine anyone better."
"You mean that?" Candy asked. Fearing his ears might be playing a trick on him.
"Yep. 'Sides: If Adam likes you, can't be all bad!" Hoss said with a laugh that came straight from his core. Giving Candy's shoulder a soft pat before removing his hand from the smaller man altogether.
Just soft enough to not buckle Candy's knees.
"Gee, Hoss, I don't know what to say," Candy admitted. Holding back from rubbing at his arm, hoping it wouldn't carry any lasting damage from the encounter with the big guy's caring gesture.
"Well, that's all right. You'll say it anyway, soon enough," Hoss said with a happy twinkle in his eye. Taking his first step off in the direction of the livery and the Ponderosa wagon they'd come into town to retrieve. Along with Joe's poor equine pulling team.
"Wait," Candy said, jogging to catch up with the long strides. "What'll I say? When'll I say it?"
"Exactly the right thing, at just the right time," Hoss informed. Tone bordering on teasing. Not slowing his pace but making room on the boardwalk for the slighter built rancher to walk beside him. Once he caught up. "You'll know when ya say it," his only, mysterious words of explanation.
Candy decided it was a good thing Hoss was in a better mood now and that he might as well just play along and let the guy have his fun. So he walked in bewildered silence and didn't try too hard to figure out what in tarnation it was his walking buddy was talking about.
"Mind if we stop by the grocer's real quick like? Gotta pick me up a bag of peppermints," Hoss asked as the place came within throwing distance.
"For Joe?"
The big guy gave a nod.
"For the checkers games?"
Another nod confirmed it.
"But, uh, Hoss, didn't you win?" Candy asked, remembering the outcome plain as day.
"Yeah. But he don't necessarily remember that," reminded the thoughtful older brother.
"Or, maybe, that's just what he wants you to think," Candy posited. No actual suspicion behind the supposed suspicion.
Hoss gave a snort. "Tell the truth? Can't wait till he's up to his no good tricks again. Joe behavin'? Just ain't natural," he finished with a sour scrunch to his face.
"Ha!" Candy blurted. Suddenly reminded of the last good joke he and Joe had pulled. Getting the eldest Cartwright brother to smear dirt and tree dust all over his work sweated face.
It had been a sight to behold. The kicker being that neither of them had gotten a lick of backlash from it. Almost as if Adam didn't begrudge them the fun. Huh.
The grocer's was popped into, the peppermints bought and stored in a pocket, and the two started back down the boardwalk in better spirits than they'd felt in days. Least, that's how Candy was feeling. What with the peppermint Hoss'd handed him, saying Joe wouldn't miss one and that he deserved it for going to get the guy's horses from town anyhow.
The sweet treat practically melted in his mouth and made Candy glad that Joe had an older brother, or maybe two, who spoiled the youngest rotten.
"Oh, 'fore I forget," the brother in question began. "We need to stop by Doc Rosebaum's place. Adam went redder'n a brick when he realized he hadn't paid her. Completely slipped 'is mind," Hoss said as he chuckled to himself. Feet pointing him off toward the doc's office.
"Lordy, I hadn't even thought about that," Candy said, completely understanding the uncharacteristic oversight. After all, even Adam had taken the tragedy hard. Harder maybe than he let on.
"Yeah, I reckon I didn't neither. I'm sure she'll un'erstand though. Prolly happens all the time, her line of work," Hoss said, quite reasonably.
"Yeah, I s'pose when someone's hurt, wouldn't be the best time to talk about them payin' you fer services rendered," Candy agreed with a chortle.
"Guess Doc's gotta put up with a lot of late payments," Hoss agreed.
"Hey, least Adam remembered eventually," Candy said, one finger held up to make the point.
"Yep. Then reminded Pa, who decided what a fair rate was, gave me the money, and now here we are: Rosebaum, M.D.," Hoss said with a sweep of one windmill blade like arm.
"Well, after you, errand boy," Candy said, opening the door and standing with one hand held to invite his companion through first.
Hoss scoffed and clapped Candy on the shoulder as he entered the office, unawares that the cowhand in red was sure he'd be feeling the jovial gesture in the morning. If not sooner.
They paid the Doctor, bid her husband a good day, collected the team and cart, and were on their merry way. Candy pleased that Hoss elected to ride his own horse and lead rope Candy's, leaving the job of driver to the guy who'd been looking forward to this part all day.
A couple excitable, soft in the mouth horses under his reigns, Candy smiled out at the desert road before him and hoped they made it home in time for dinner.
By the time the four of them got home, the sun had waned and the majority of dinnertime had passed, but the majority of the food remained. To Hoss and Candy's unending delight.
Toward the end of the delicious meal, the man at the rightful head of the table cleared his throat and addressed the two tardy, trail dusty cow hands, letting them know that Joe had had a busy day and was already asleep for the night.
Candy felt his spirits droop at the news, not having had the opportunity for a proper visit in over a full day, but the flake off the bone chicken didn't turn to dust in his mouth and he finished his meal with a happy belly regardless. Knowing Joe was at least resting comfortably.
And, Candy thought as he lost a game of chess to a highly amused Adam, if he was lucky, that comfortable rest would be just the trick to Candy getting himself a visit with his ailing best friend. While he was awake. And up for a nice chat.
I haven't written all that much for Hoss before this point, so I'm hoping he came across well. I like to think that he's very protective of anyone in need, but especially so of those he cares for. Which definitely includes his family. :D