Young Man!

In front of the living room fireplace Little Joe stood before a pacing Ben as Adam sat on the backing of the settee, and Hoss comfortably settled on the seat.

In his low commanding voice Ben said, "Young man, I've had enough with this carousing of yours and staying up late every night in town."

"But Pa …" Joe interjected.

"You're wasting your life," Ben interrupted. "You let it fritter away on gambling and drinking all hours of the night. Come morning you're completely useless!"

Little Joe raised his finger to make a point, but thought better of it.

"And these damages!" Ben raved over the sheet of paper in his hand. "How do you propose to pay for this?"

"Work, work it off, Pa," Joe said weakly.

"He's already an indentured servant as it is," Adam commented.

"You bet you'll work it off," Ben said getting up his dander. "And you'll start by no more ventures into town!"

"Aw, now, wait a second there, Pa," Joe protested. "I'm too closed up here as it is."

"Joseph, I never see you anymore," Ben reasoned. "You do your chores, or rather SOME chores, and you're gone. I look in the barn and the place is abandoned. Tools aren't put away, the place isn't cleaned up."

"All the signature trademarks that Joe's been here," Adam quipped.

"I can't stay kooked up here forever, Pa!" Joe cried. "I need to get away."

"Get away!" Ben said flustered. "Carousing around town every night isn't enough of a vacation for you?"

"I don't mean that."

"Then what do you mean?"

"Well, look," Joe reasoned. "Hoss and Adam are going to Colby. How come you never send me on errands like that, Pa?"

"They're picking up a $10,000 draft. That's a lot of money to entrust—"

Joe immediately turned to Hoss and Adam. "See what I mean? Did you just hear that?" He turned back to Ben. "You let them go, but you won't give it to me."

"Well, if you showed some maturity—" Ben said.

"How can I show maturity when you never give me responsibility?" Joe complained.

"What about those friends you spend time with? Two of them have prison records!"

"Pa, they did their time. You said yourself not to judge people."

"That doesn't mean you have to make them your best friends! They're too old for you, can't you see that, son? And what about those saloon girls you're always around?"

"They work at the saloon, Pa. You're not going to fault them for doing their job, are you?"

"Still. The friends you choose. I don't know what's gotten into you lately. I brought you up better than that."

"But you didn't bring me up like you did Adam and Hoss!" Joe cried. "When Adam was my age, he was in college. And when Hoss was my age, you were teaching him how to run the ranch. And now, I'm my age, and what's left for me?"

Ben considered. Joe had a point. He put his arm around his youngest son. "Well, maybe I have been a bit neglectful about doling out assignments to you. Tell you what. How about you go to Colby?"

Joe beamed. "You mean it, Pa?"

"Doggonit, Pa, we were looking forward—I mean that's always been our job!" Hoss protested.

"Oh, don't worry, big brother," Joe smiled devilishly. "I won't show you two up—too badly.

"Adam goes with you," Ben commanded.

"Aw, now Pa, he'll only hold me back," Joe protested. "I can make that run in three days by myself!"

"I always have two go," Ben intoned.

"What for? I'm faster, I'm lighter. I can make the run in record time," Joe argued.

"Joe, anything can happen," Ben said reasoned. "You could encounter Indians, thieves, your horse could throw a shoe. You know how dangerous those trails can be."

"Look, Pa, now I been thinkin'. There's way too much made of a simple errand. No one's going to be chasing someone on a fast run. Now that's the whole . . .inefficiency of these here runs, Pa. I'd like to prove it."

"Joe, you don't have to race there and back. Take your time. Enjoy your stay in town. Just get back in one piece."

"Well. I mean. It's just a suggestion."

"Alright, then it's settled," Ben said with finality. "You and Adam are going tomorrow, first thing in the morning. You better get some sleep."

"I've got that appointment with Brewster tomorrow," Adam said.

"Yeah, Adam's already got plans," Joe said quickly. "I can handle this alone."

"Go on," Ben urged Joe. "Get some shut-eye."

"Thanks, Pa!" Joe exclaimed. "You won't regret it!" Little Joe gave Adam a mock punch in the arm and ran up the upstairs.

Ben turned to Adam. "I want you to follow him. Keep an eye on him. You'll be able to catch up with him after your business with Brewster."

The next morning Hoss entered The Silver Dollar Saloon.

"Gimme a beer, Sam," Hoss said resting his hat on the bar.

Gibbons noticed Hoss. "Hey, Cartwright. Where's little brother Joe? Too afraid to show his face here again?"

The guys laughed.

"He's on an errand," Hoss replied. "He'll be back."

"Out of town, is he?" Gibbons persisted.

"I said he'll be back. That's all you need to know." Hoss finished his beer and left.

Gibbons sidled up to his buddy, Lem. "Hear that? Now where do you think our boy could be?"

"Who cares?" Lem answered taking a gulp of beer.

"Naw, don't you get it? He's probably on the mission to Colby," Gibbons said.

"He just got through saying Adam and Hoss do the run," Lem replied.

"You just saw Hoss," Gibbons pointed out. "He can't be here and there at the same time. And it's mighty coincidental that Joe's gone now."

"That don't mean nothing. You wanna lay a wager?"

"I'll do one better. I'll go up there and track him down myself."

"Why would you want to do a fool thing like that?" Lem said facing Gibbons.

"He'll be holding a Ponderosa draft. Need I say more?" Gibbons grinned.

"And just what do you think you're going to do? Rob him so he can come back here and sic the sheriff on you?"

"Not if one of us comes back."

"What're you driving at?"

"I unload Cartwright of his booty and start a new life elsewhere. He comes back here alone. But . . ."

"But what?"

"But if that snot-nosed kid gives me any trouble, I'll put him in his place real quick and it'll be six-foot under. Then I'll be the one coming back."

"You mess with him and the Cartwrights'll be on you like hornets. Ain't you forgetting about Big Brother Adam? He'll probably be with him."

"I ran into Amos Brewster yesterday. He's getting together with Adam to do a livestock trade today. What do you think of that?"

Lem considered. "I'd say that makes Little Joe a sitting duck, don't it?"