Chapter

The Ranch

"Hold him down Casey. I said hold him."

"This one's a fighter." The calf kicked out and wriggled himself up on his hind legs.

"Dab Burnit Casey. I said hold him."

"I'm tryin'. He keeps kickin at me."

"That's cuz you ain't holdin' him right."

"Maybe we shouldn't sell this one." Hoss suggested standing over the group. "You think? He might make a good breeder."

"Being strong is good. Being feisty like he is, well let's just say we don't want to encourage those genes to spread. Maybe someday when this stock is yours the whole herd might rise up against ya." Hoss chortled.

"If I treat em right I could get them to be on my side. Think of this, I'll have my own bovine Army." This time it was Reagan who laughed aloud.

"Get back to work, general. Bring me another one Casey and this time hold onto him, dadburnit. Maybe you oughtta help him out Hoss. You could show 'em how it's done." Hoss smiled brightly at the approbation.

The summer was a nice one. Pa depended on Hoss a lot more just like Adam said he would. His work load tripled in proportion. He didn't mind it at all. Somehow he felt more grown up because of it. This is what Adam must feel like all the time. With Adam being gone he was entrusted with a lot more. Pa was sending him out with the hands on his own. He got to work right alongside them. In preparation for the cattle drive they had to first round up the different herds from high country and collect them in lower pasture. This took nearly three whole days. He and the men had to wrangle each one that had yet to be branded and hold them down while they committed the branding process, which took another five. He had a hand in each step of the process.

The highlight of the summer was when he got to help bring a calf into the world. It was breeched and Will Reagan tied a rope around the front legs of the fetus. They had him pull the rope all by hisself. They kept telling him to pull even when he was too tired. He kept pulling until the cow was completely out. It was sticky and slimy and stunk like nobody's business. But when that baby cow cried for the first time he felt a pride like he'd never felt before. The men patted his back and tousled his hair. Good job's, were plenty in store. He didn't even have to go home and brag about it. The men did that for him. His Pa was on the front porch with Little Joe running about the yard when they rode in. Little Joe joined his Pa as the men told the story like he was a hero just returned from war. Little Joe soaked it all in. He would have hugged him for it too had he not needed a bath. When the story had been told, Pa told him to go wash up. He even offered to clean and stable his horse for him. Oh yes, his Pa was mighty proud of him that day.

Hoss was really hoping that if he could prove himself out on the range that his pa would let him go on the drive. This would be his first one ever and boy he was itching to go. He thought for sure this year would be the year. As bad as he wanted to go, his Pa told him he wasn't quite old enough.

"Besides," His pa told him. "Maybe you could use a break from Will Reagan." Hopsing came out to collect the dishes from the table and stopped at Hoss's cant.

"A break from Will Reagan? Dab burnit Pa, what in tarnation would I need a break from Will Reagan for?" Ben had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing. His son couldn't see it. "I juss bout learned everything there is to know on this ranch."

"Have you?" Hopsing glanced at Ben who was doing his best to hold in his own laughter. Hopsing was fighting it back himself.

"Sure have Pa."

"Will's a good teacher then?"

"Oh gosh pa, absolutely." Hoss couldn't see what was so funny between them.

"You're too young and that's final."

"Awe shucks Pa." He raised his brows to meet his son.

"I can't say I'm too keen on this talking back neither." Hoss sauntered to his room. Ben finally let out the chuckle he'd been holding in and Hopsing joined in. Will Reagan was a good man. There was something to be said for his colorful language though. It seemed more than his work ethic was rubbing off on his boy.

After a few more days, the cowhands set out and Hoss was left behind. His work load didn't decrease however. Every day he had a whole list of chores that needed to be completed by days end. Most days he would do it too. Sometimes however his workload would spill over into the next day. He was doing a lot by himself. Whereas the earlier portion of the summer was dedicated to rustling cattle and helping the hands prepare for the drive, now his days consisted of mending fences and tending to the ranch animals. He was chewing up logs with a long saw and bailing hay. Oh there was lots of that to bale. From the feed store, to the wagons. From the wagons to the barn. From the barns to the horses and even the order would be reversed to get hay to the horses on the range or to neighboring ranches and then the process would repeat itself. It was hot and tiring and sweaty and itchy work, but he loved it. He loved every minute of it. He felt like this was what it must be like to truly be a man.

Little Joe seemed like he was coming along pretty good too. There was plenty of work for him to do as well, though most of his work was around the house. He helped Hopsing with the gardening and tending to the chickens. Sweeping and washing the walls and windows and table after every meal. Helping Hopsing with the dishes and prepping for the meals. He was kept plenty busy in the day and when there wasn't work to be done, there was fishing. Fishing was something Hoss knew all about. One area where he could really impart his wisdom. Only problem was it was difficult to keep Little Joe still long enough. He got impatient with the idleness of it. Then he got frustrated that he wasn't pulling in the fish Hoss was.

"You've got to keep it still." He'd tell him time and again. Which would eventually end up with an "I'm bored. Can't we just swim instead?" Hoss loved that too. He loved how much his Little brother needed him, cause truth be told he needed Little Joe just as much. Maybe even a little bit more.

~.~

Tom McClure, the town banker; Will Cass who owned the largest Merchant shop in Virginia City and John Marlowe a lawyer that specializes in property deeds; met Ben at the door.

"Come in, come in. What brings you out this way?"

"Mr. Cartwright. I have a proposition for you." McClure started. "As you might have heard some land is going up for sale that borders yours."

"Actually I haven't heard."

"Oh." His surprise was genuine. "Mr. Cartwright. A lot of people are looking at that land but we think you, Mister Cartwright, would make for the rightful owner."

"Why me?"

"Mr. Cartwright this land is prime stock land and has some of the largest trees in the country."

"How much land are we talking about?"

"500 acres. That more than doubles what you have now."

"Where is this land?"

"Well like I said it borders your own. It stretches out to the shoreline of Lake Tahoe."

"I can't afford that much land. You know right now, I'm trying to put a boy through college."

"Mr. Cartwright, I believe you can."

"Well, how much is it worth?"

"Only about a half mil."

"A half mil? I can't afford that."

"I believe you could do it."

"What makes you say that?"

"That's actually what we came to talk to you about. You see with your earnings this quarter and what you've got in the bank."

"I'd still come up a hundred grand short."

"Which I'm prepared to front."

"You?"

"You see it's like this. May we sit?"

"Yeah, sure, sure."

~.~

"Look at that." Little Joe pointed to something in the road as they made their way home after a day of fishing. It was a small little thing. Curious how Joe saw it. He was small too maybe that was why he saw it instead of Hoss. Of course Joe was riding at Hoss's front. That probably had something to do with it too. Hoss stopped in front of the little bird doing circles with its right wing dragging along the ground beside him. Its bright redness was dulled first by the shadows of the late day and second by the dirt that caked it. "It's hurt." Little Joe said sullen. Hoss jumped down off his horse.

"It sure is Joe." He said pulling Little Joe down, knowing he wouldn't want to be stuck In the saddle too long by himself.

Hoss looked up at the tall tree they were under. High above them a mother bird peeked over her nest, chirping away with more children under her wing.

"Should we put him back?"

"No, I don't reckon we should."

"I can climb up there."

"I got no doubts about that little feller, but somebody told me once that once a bird has fallen the momma bird has less of a chance of accepting it back."

"Well that's just silly. Why would she turn him away?"

"Maybe she doesn't have much of a choice."

"What do you mean?"

"Well it's like this. They don't have medicine like we do. She's got no way of fixin him up. So if he somehow does make it back to her he'll never be a real bird again. She'll stop feeding it cause she knows he's going to die anyways and she doesn't want to waste the food that would make her other ones strong on the one that won't make it."

"What do you think we oughtta do?"

"I think I can make it strong again. I can take it home and fix 'em up real good like. Good as knew."

"You don't think Pa's going to be mad at you?"

"Na, Pa'll be alright with it."

"I don't know. You remember how mad he got when you tried to bring home that rabbit." Joe laughed.

"That was different Joe. That rabbit was eating Hopsing's garden. Plus it bit me and scratched me all up. Pa'll be alright with this one. You wait and see." Joe shrugged. He watched as Hoss wrapped the little thing in his hanky and tucked him away in his breast pocket for the rest of the ride. Truthfully Joe was a bit excited to have a bird around the house for a while. He wasn't as in to animals as Hoss was but what boy wasn't at least a little bit fascinated by the world around them and the wild creatures it was home to. Especially the cute an adorable ones which was the category this little one fell into.

~.~

Their Pa wasn't so much angry as he was with the rabbit. He was more amused. He did question Hoss on his logic asking him where he'd heard about a momma bird turning away their little ones.

"I don't know. Maybe Reagan told me."

"Reagan?"

"May have been someone else." He didn't say Hoss was wrong. He'd just never heard that himself. "Would you have rather I have little Joe climb the tree to put him back? It was an awfully tall tree."

"No, no. I suppose not."

"So can I keep him?"

"It's just that we don't know anything about birds."

"I know birds." Hopsing offered. "I don't know lot. But I know nuff that help." Ooh his friend betrayed him. He knew it too with that sly smile. Wide and innocent but with orneriness behind his eyes.

"Fine. Hopsing will help."

The two splinted the arm as Joe looked on. Afterwards they let Joe hold him. Hopsing taught Hoss what they eat and how often he should be fed. What time of day. How to catch its prey. For three weeks they babied that bird and in return it offered them companionship.

In three weeks Hopsing had let them know he was strong enough to return to his home . Unwrapping the hanky, which was the way they transported him back, the bird on a strong wing flew high up into the tree to reunite with its loved ones. "I sure am going to miss having the little thing around." Joe remarked.

"Yeah, but I bet his ma missed him a whole lot more." Little Joe could understand that. "Come on, let's get going." It wasn't back home they were headed, just yet. It was their pa that suggested that since they were headed that way anyways, that Hoss should bring his pole.

It was only a day or two later when somebody else came home. Their presence replacing the company of the lost bird.

The men. The men had returned. Coming into the yard and slapping the trail dust off of them. The round trip took them all of three weeks. It was a quick stop for most of them as they were anxious to get into town and spend their earnings. Wash away the trail dust with a hot bath and a cold beer. The only reason they stopped by the house at all was to give Reagan a chance to hand over the bank note. Ben and the boys met Reagan in the doorway.

"There you go Mr. Cartwright. 479 head. We offloaded at 3.50 a head." Ben was shocked at the news.

"That is great news. You don't know how great this is." Ben was excited at what they came home with. His face beamed with approval. You have no idea."

"Wow. What happened to you Hoss?" Charlie asked as he went out to greet the men.

"What do you mean?"

"You've gotten bigger."

"He means taller." Leslie corrected at Hoss's grimace.

"I mean bigger too but not in a bad way. You've thinned down that's for sure, but you also bulked out. You see what I mean Chuck?" He asked the young hand as he approached.

"Yeah, I see it." Chuck answered.

"Looks like you're finally losing some of that baby fat." Charlie said.

Chuck agreed. "You've got some muscle growing under that exterior."

"Woowee." The screech came from the door. Ben opened his arms wide and lifted the aging foreman straight off his feet. Hoss and the men exchanged confused looks then burst out in laughter.

Dear Adam,

I have fantastic news. A couple of things to tell but one leads into the other. Our yield was enormous this winter. We came out with nearly five hundred head of cattle which went to market at 3.50 a head. I also won, not one, but two major lumber contracts. With what we came out with and what we have in the bank I now have the ability to try for new land that just opened up and will be available at auction. It's the greatest piece of land this side of the Sierra's and I have a good chance of winning it. 400 acres that border the southeast portion of Lake Tahoe. If we win, that would extend our property line right up against the shoreline. We'd own nearly a thousand acres and I must say are chances are looking really great. We have been very blessed.

Hoss and Joseph are doing well. Hoss has really stepped up, just like you said he would. He has been a lot of help. Carl Reagan has taken him under his wing and taught him a lot about the ranch. When they left on the drive Hoss has continued to learn about the different portions. He's committed himself to back breaking work and feels happier for it. Hoss has helped Joe come along too. They continue to be the best of friends and just having his older brother by his side has helped.

I hope all is well with you Adam. Please write when you have the chance. I would love to hear how you're doing in all your wonderful adventures.

Signed

Your Pa.

~.~

The men said he was bulking out quite nicely. Muscle was forming under his fat exterior. At first he hadn't noticed even though the men kept insisting. As he stared at himself in the looking glass now he could kind of see it himself. Boy the kids at school were going to be surprised to see him. He could picture the look on their faces as he walked through the schoolyard and into the classroom. What was Sally going to think? He stood before the looking glass on the morning of his first day back to school. His fat had turned into the muscle of a man. Maybe someday somebody might even call him the handsome one. Little Joe giggled as he walked in on Hoss bulging his muscles before the mirror. He wasn't even embarrassed by it. He just went right on doing it. What was there to be embarrassed for?

"What are you doing?" The tyke finally asked.

"Turning into a man, Little Joe. Why? You jealous?" The boy walked next to him and threw up his arms to flex his muscles too.

"Look at me, I've got muscles."

"That ain't muscle, Little Joe. Sorry to say that's all bone." He squeezed his bicep for emphases. He caught his scowl. He just about missed the look that followed as he went back to admiring himself. A mischievous mien came across the scamps face. He caught the tail end of orneriness. Unfortunately, it caught his attention a second too late. Little Joe grabbed for his pile of freshly cleaned linen off the vanity and bee-lined for the door, squealing with laughter the whole way.

"Come here!" Hoss caterwauled. He went to chase him but couldn't reach the door before Little Joe was out of it.

"You get back here, you little scamp." He shouted into the main room. He looked back into his empty room considering his options. He was going to have to go for it. He tromped after him wearing nothing but a bath towel.

"Hoss." His father bellowed. The boy stopped in his tracks. "Just when do we start coming to the breakfast table in our bath towels?" His Pa mocked scolded. As he already knew what his youngest was up to. Little Joe squealed behind the protection of his father.

"Pa. He's got my clothes." Hoss wailed. Hopsing came out placing a plate of the sweetest smelling sausages on the table. His stomach grumbled for them and his mouth watered. The cooked stopped and stared at the near naked boy in the living room.

"Boy have no clothes." He said alarmed.

"You've noticed." Ben countered

"Boy, cannot eat at table with no clothes."

"Hopsing, perhaps you might be able to enlighten. Is there a reason why the boy has no clothes? Is there none in his drawer?"

"Boys dressuh full. Wash all clothes yestaday."

He turned back to Hoss. "Would you care to explain to me why you're standing in the living room in your bath towel?"

"Those are my school clothes, Pa. I had those picked out last night and everything." Ben tried to remain stern, but a smile slipped across his lips. Ben and Hopsing broke out together at Hoss's expense.

"Yeah, yeah. Can I have my clothes back?"

"Little Joe, give Hoss back his clothes." He held at bay his own smile as he comes from around the protection of his father and hands the pile of laundry back to his brother. Hoss fake lunges for him. Little Joe steps back then lunges back but stops at the gasp from his father.

"Little Joe." He shrunk down. "I do believe you're missing a shirt too." He said in mock surprise. The boy giggled again. "Go get yourself dressed. Both of you. I want you both back here in five minutes." Joe pushed him away and ran to the room ahead of him slamming the door before he could get to it. Oh he was going to get that kid.