Chapter Two: The New Hand

When the Cartwright boys got done with their business in town, they rode with Amer to the Ponderosa, where Amer was introduced to Ben Cartwright.

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After Ben welcomed Amer to the Ponderosa, Little Joe showed him to the bunkhouse. On the way there, Little Joe showed Amer the stables and barn.

A group of hands were in the barn when Little Joe and Amer entered.

"I'd like you to meet Amer Esper," said Little Joe to the other hands, "he's a new hand."

"He looks too small to be of much help out here," said Abram Brady with a laugh.

Several other hands laughed as well.

"He took on five men down at the Silver Dollar," Little Joe said.

"Were they grown men or little boys?" sneered Abram.

"They're grown," said Amer, "hitting a child's like hitting a woman, present company excluded."

"Hey!" exclaimed Abram, getting the insult.

Abram lunged for Amer, but Thomas Deeg and Bill Paxton held him back.

"That's enough outta you two," warned Little Joe, "come on, Amer. The bunkhouse isn't far from here."

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After getting settled in the bunkhouse, Amer went to find a Cartwright so he could get something to do. He found Adam by the horse trough.

"Adam, what can I do?" asked Amer.

Adam thought about it for a moment, taking Amer's small size into account.

Seeing Little Joe sawing some gigantic logs a little further away, he said, "Well, Amer, why don't you help Little Joe saw up those logs over there?"

Amer looked at the youngest Cartwright and agreed.

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"Adam sent me to help you with these logs," Amer told Little Joe.

"Alright," said Little Joe.

He dropped his saw, and picked up a two man saw.

"Take the other end, Amer," said Little Joe.

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Reviews:

Spots on a Pony: Thank you. I'm sorry. I wanted the reader to know exactly what Amer looked like from the start, without having to piece it together here and there like I should've written. Center is easier for me to write in. I thank you for your honesty and constructiveness. Most people would flame me for my mistakes, but you have not, and I appreciate it a lot.