While Ben is away on business twelve-year old Little Joe gets into some mischief at school. Luckily big brother Adam is around to meet with the infamous Abigail Jones.
The Brother-Teacher Conference
The Ponderosa
Early Fall of 1854
Eighteen Hoss Cartwright sat in his Pa's red chair twiddling his thumbs. Both he and Adam had just come in a while ago from checking the herd in the south pasture. Adam had taken the opportunity to spend the rest of the day reading poetry in his room. Meanwhile Hoss decided he would wait for Little Joe to come home from school and hopefully they could go fishing. Most young men would have hated to spend time with their little brother but Hoss adored Little Joe.
A few minutes later Little Joe came flying into the house, his feet sliding across the floor(Hop Sing had waxed the floors that day) and he stopped promptly behind the sofa. Hoss looked at him with a confused look on his face.
"Dadburnit Little Joe what's got you in such a rush today." Hoss commented.
"Aw Hoss you gotta help me. Tell her what a good person I am. Explain that I wouldn't hurt a fly." Little Joe blubbered out with a wounded puppy dog look on his face.
"I will little buddy but first tell me what's wrong? Hoss asked, confused by Joe's behavior.
"Yes Joe tell us what you did wrong." Said an inquiring voice.
Both Hoss and Joe turned around at the sound of the voice. Standing at the bottom of the stairs was 24 year old Adam Cartwright with his hands on his hips. He was suspicious of his youngest brother's behavior even though Little Joe was known for having suspicious behavior.
"I'm in trouble with Miss Jones and she wants to talk to Pa but I explained he wouldn't be home for another two week. She wants to talk to you!" Joe cried as he dramatically flopped himself down onto the sofa and slapped his hand over his eyes.
Adam sighed in disbelief. Of course Little Joe would manage to get into trouble when Pa was away. From the way Joe was acting it had to be serious. He just hoped it wouldn't involve a trip to the barn later.
Hoss of course was indeed concerned too. But since Adam was in charge he just had to sit back and let things run their course.
"Well then Joe let's hitch up the wagon and pay a visit to Miss Jones at the school house." Adam said coldly. He and Joe then made their way down the road from the Ponderosa to the school house in town.
The schoolhouse
Abigail Jones the Virginia City schoolmarm sat at her desk in the schoolhouse after school grading papers. Some of the scores were atrocious. Those little varmints can't seem to grasp the concept of intelligence she thought to herself.
A few minutes later she heard the sound of a wagon coming into the schoolyard. She walked over to the window and she gasped in surprise. It was Little Joe Cartwright and his brother Adam. Oh how she wished she had a mirror to check her appearance.
"Ah Adam Cartwright and little Joseph do come in and take a seat." Abigail said politely. She was mesmerized by the handsome face of Adam Cartwright.
"Thank you Miss Jones." Adam said as he did his best to sit down in the too small desk. "So what seems to be the trouble?"
Abigail composed her earlier feelings for the handsome young man and a stern look replaced her soft expression. "It seems that young Joseph and Seth Pruitt decided to play pranks on the girls. Seth did apologize to young Sara but Joseph decided to chase poor little Amy Bishop around the schoolyard with a snake. The poor girl was terrified out of her mind. Her father Luther Bishop was the only one who could calm her down."
Adam's eyes widened with surprise but on the inside he was laughing. It brought pack memories of him chasing Virginia Keith around the schoolyard with all sorts of critters when he was a boy. However he had to be serious since he was in charge of Joe while pa was away.
"Thank you Miss Jones for your concerns. I will see to it that on the way home we will stop by the Bishop's so Joe can apologize to Amy. I am deeply sorry by the distress Joe has caused for your class and I can assure you that it will never happen again." Adam told her. He felt relieved that it wasn't something worse.
"Excellent. Now Joseph I hope you have learned your lesson about chasing girls around?" Miss Jones asked.
"Oh yes ma'am." Joe said sheepishly.
"Is there anything more you need from us?" Adam asked. He wanted to get out quickly because the teacher's moony gaze was making him nervous.
"Oh no you are free to go. I will see you in school tomorrow Joseph and Adam hopefully I will see you again soon under better circumstances." Abigail said as she brushed her hand across Adam's arm.
Adam gave her a small nervous before sprinting out of the schoolhouse. "Come on Joe better get to Amy's house before it gets dark". Little Joe followed closely behind him.
Abigail watched longingly at the window as the wagon disappeared down the road. Such loyalty that man has she thought.