Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bonanza nor any of the original Cartwright characters.
Only thing I can lay claim to is the characters "Mariah", "Jacob" and the old man "Jim"...along with the storyline.
For Jacob's Sake
Chapter Seven
Scene Eleven
Ben was sitting at the outside table working when Little Jacob walked out of the house and sat down next to the child sized brown wooden table his Uncle Hoss had made him. It was all Ben could do not to start laughing. The child had picked up some papers that had been lay on the table. It wasn't that picking up the papers was funny but the way Little Jacob was leaning back in his chair and holding the paper up; he looked like he was trying to look like his father, uncles or even him.
"Any good articles?" Ben did his best to sound serious; he didn't want to hurt his grandson's feelings.
"Not really," Little Jacob put the paper down and looked up at his grandfather, "Was my real grandmother's pa really a sea captain? Is it true that he did not give the sea up willingly?"
Ben grinned, "I do not know where that came from but, yes, on both accounts. I think someone took the man's blood out and put salt water in it instead."
Little Jacob laughed, "I would like to see that! I only asked 'cause Uncle Joe and I were playin' 'round and he started acting like a sea captain. Pa walked in on us and made a comment 'bout the sea and his grandfather."
"I see," Ben smiled, "Is there anything else you would like to know?"
"Yes, who's Miss Rosa? Pa told Uncle Joe he would never get Miss Rosa to take him seriously if he became a captain of a ship."
His grandfather chuckled, "I believe you call her Miss Carlsson."
Little Jacob about fell off his chair, "WHY would he want my schoolteacher to notice him! He knows how to read and write!"
That got Ben to laughing, "It is nothing you need to worry about," he stopped laughing when Jacob's joyful mood stopped abruptly. It had him concerned, "Is there something else?"
Little Jacob's face grew somber, "When is pa gonna stop bein' mad at me?" There was a hurt look in his eyes and in his voice.
Ben was shocked, "Your father is not mad at you. What makes you ask such a thing?"
Little Jacob eyebrows raised slightly, "He has to be mad. I can not go anywhere without someone with me. It was Uncle Hoss yesterday, Uncle Joe this morning and I am not to go anywhere now if you can not see me."
Ben felt his heart go out to the child. They should have realized that sooner or later he would begin wondering what was up; after all, he was a very observant child. He was about to try to explain things the best he could when Hoss came riding up.
"I was gonna go fishin'," he smiled down at Little Jacob, "Wanna come with me?"
The child's eyes lit up. He loved to go fishing with his Uncle Hoss! In Little Jacob's mind the man was a big friendly teddy bear, "May I grandpa?"
Little Jacob pleaded.
Ben chuckled and nodded towards the barn, "Go get your horse," once the boy disappeared into the barn he looked at Hoss, "He thinks Adam is still mad about his taking off on his 'little camp-out'. I was going to try to explain without scaring him."
Hoss shook his head slightly, "Poor kid, one of us shoulda said somethin' befer now. Guess we let ourselves get to worried 'bout protectin' him from whatever Mr. Jones intentions are. Adam is right-any man hidin' who he really is best be watched like a hawk."
Ben watched as Little Jacob led his horse out of the barn, he lowered his voice, "Just do not be surprised if you wind up being the one doing the explaining."
"I will do that if I haveta but," Hoss nodded towards the house, "Don't ya think ya should say somethin' to big brother? After all, Little Jacob is his son." he might have said more but his nephew had mounted his horse and was heading for him.
"Have fun fishing," Ben smiled at his grandson then looked at Hoss, "I will worry about Adam."
Scene Twelve
The wind began blowing gently through the air as Hoss and Little Jacob rode towards their favorite fishing spot. They both laughed as they tossed back one joke after another.
Once they were sitting down near the stream Little Jacob looked up at Hoss, "I think I got pa in trouble."
Hoss's eye rose in surprise, "Why da ya say that?" He asked as he put a worm on his nephew's fishing pole.
"You heard grandpa, he was gonna worry about him." Little Jacob took the pole Hoss handed him. He figured anytime someone was worried about another person-and they weren't missing-that person must be in trouble.
Hoss thought for a moment. He knew Adam was worried about his son; he couldn't blame him. If Eric Jr. was older and it was him? He'd be going up a wall. He had to help Little Jacob understand in some way how Adam felt without telling him everything. He might down right scare the child if he did that.
"I have a few questions fer ya," Hoss helped the lad bring in the fish that had just taken the bait, "I do not expect ya to answer them one by one-jist to think 'bout them while I do the askin', ok?"
Little Jacob nodded, "Okay."
"How did ya feel when yer ma and yer older brother both fell ill and passed away? What did ya do? How did ya feel when those fellars robbed the stagecoach and took yer pa? What kind of things did ya do even after he came back home?"
Little Jacob's eyes opened wide, "Pa is scared he will lose me too? He is holding onto me the way I did to him? He is a grown up not a kid!"
Hoss shook his head and chuckled, "Let me tell ya somethin', us grown ups? We may be older than ya and, in some ways, we do know more but we are only human. Yer feelin's? They do not jist go away 'cause ya done grew up. Understand?"
"I guess I do," Little Jacob grinned as he tilted his head and thought a moment, "Maybe we should ask pa to come fishin' with us next time."
Hoss chuckled, "We jist might."
0o0
"Pa!" Little Jacob burst through the doorway and found himself practically running into his uncle, "Sorry, Uncle Joe, is pa here?" He held up the fish he had caught.
Joe grinned. He knew the small fish looked huge to a nine year old boy, "He went into town with pa and Mariah," Joe smiled at his nephew but the look he shot Hoss as the man entered told him his younger brother was worried about something, "He should be home soon."
"Ya need anything, Joe?" The look on Hoss' face sent the unspoken message 'Do I need to stick around?'
"Pa wanted you to stay until they got home so Melinda came over a little while ago. Eric Jr. is asleep."
His eyes added 'Prepare for trouble'.
"Well, Jacob," Hoss looked at his nephew, "we best get those fish where they belong."
"Got to cook them first," Little Jacob grinned up at his uncle, "Yer stomach would not appreciate raw fish."
"Ya been listenin' to yer Uncle Joe too much." Hoss glared at his younger brother. Little Joe wasn't paying attention...he was too busy laughing.