I do NOT own Bonanza or any of the original Cartwright characters.
* I do not ever remember seeing a back way to the Cartwright's barn, but for the sake of the story, it has one now.
Star's Hope
Chapter Five
The sun was rising higher by the minute as Ben and Brooke sat on the porch watching Hoss fixing the nearby fence. They had to chuckle as Star was using the play tools Hoss had made for her to work alongside her big brother. Brooke had not thought it lady like, but given in because it meant Star was able to be around Hoss when he was nearby the house. When Little Joe and Rosa came around the corner of the barn all work ceased. It was too early in the day for Little Joe and Rosa's visit; what was up?
Little Joe couldn't contain his excitement as he helped his wife down from the wagon; his face was glowing and he had the silliest grin on his face. Rosa's face was as bad as his was. Ben and Brooke knew right off the bat what was up, but they kept their mouths shut. "Hey, Hoss stop that and come over here!" Little Joe shouted, and then added when he saw Star. "You come here to, sis!" Hoss and Star both obliged him and hurried over.
"What's up, Little Joe?" Hoss asked once he standing in front next to the house, and Star was on her mother's lap. He was curious as all get out though, for he hadn't seen Little Joe this excited in a long time. That being the case, he figured it must be pretty exciting news. He was all for good news. After all, there were enough negative things out in the world, the good made up for it. At least, it did in his eyes.
"Yeah, son. What are you so all fired excited about?" Ben wanted to add "Don't you know what's coming?" as he was ninety percent sure he knew what was going on. He didn't though. He figured he'd only get a glare for Brooke if he did.
"We're going to have a baby!" Little Joe and Rosa both said at the same time.
Hoss stared from Ben and Brooke over to Little Joe and Rosa and let out another holler. "At least this one won't be keepin' me awake!"
Not having his father's news, Little Joe naturally assumed his brother was talking about the day he, Little Joe, was born. He gave his brother a look that said 'Good Grief!' Rosa was grinning from ear to ear; she thought Hoss' reaction was funny. Ben jumped to his feet and slapped Little Joe on the back. "Congratulations, you two! When's the baby due?"
Little Joe was still beaming as he looked at Rosa and back to his father. "Doctor said May 1." Little Joe felt like he was walking on air. He figured nothing could surprise or shock him more than Rosa walking in and telling him he was going to be a father. That is, he didn't think so until Star spoke up.
Star had just learned the months of the year and, as soon as her brother answered Ben, she shot back, "Ma's goin' have her baby before you do." That announcement had the same affect on her brother and sister in law as cold, spring water had upon someone when it, the water, was thrown in their faces. Little Joe's mouth fell open, and Rosa took a hold of her husband's hand as she too looked at Ben and Brooke.
It was Brooke who broke the silence. Her face was as bright as Rosa's. "Close mouth Joe. You hear good. We have baby too."
Little Joe closed his mouth, but he couldn't stop staring. He didn't know why, but he'd convinced himself the only reason Brooke and his father had married was for Star's sake. He figured the marriage was purely a platonic relationship because of it. Now, with the announcement of a half brother or sister coming, that idea went flying out the window. It was Hoss choosing to clear his throat that got Little Joe to stop staring. Immediately, he was embarrassed by his behavior. "Well, I guess congratulations are due two times over. Wait until Adam hears about this. He'll never let us live it down."
Ben was puzzled by his youngest's statement. What would it matter to Adam if Little Joe was becoming a father? What would if matter to him when he read the letter his father had sent him informing him about Brooke's condition? Hadn't the man said that he expected to hear that at least one more child had been added to the Cartwright clan? Hadn't it been Adam who had told his baby brother that he would be the first to become a father, when it came to Ben's sons? What did Little Joe mean?
Little Joe smiled as he could see his father's confusion. He cleared up the matter when he started laughing and said, "We were crazy enough to bet Adam he would be the first to add any more children to our family. We really should have known better." They seldom won any bet they made with their oldest brother. He, Adam, had a way of winning the majority of bets that Little Joe or Hoss had ever made with him. Oh, more than once, the two had sworn up and down that they 'had him' and said Adam would be the one who would owe them, not the other way around. They'd been proven wrong on more than one occassion too.
Hoss might have said something else, but he saw a movement in the barn and hurried towards the building. Startled by the man's actions, Little Joe and Ben hurried to catch up with him. By the time the three reached the barn and stepped inside, no one was around. Still, Ben and his sons were shocked to see the back door, the one Hoss had put in just the week before, standing wide opened. They all looked at each other and said asked the same question at the same time. "Who opened the door?"