Summary: Chapter 1-4: Jax and Joe decided to visit the great city of San Francisco one their own. They finally made it there and are ready to explore. Adam, Hoss, and Ben are looking for the children getting angrier by the second.
Chapter 5: The Best Day Ever
Jax and Joe:
The twins woke up early the next morning ready for their next adventure. Again they headed down towards the water, this time looking for seals. They were still in awe with the buildings, but today seals were the mission.
Jax looked around and saw seals sunning themselves on the rocks and beach. There had to be about forty. They were so big, brown. Questions raced through her mind, making her wish that Adam was here to ask. Would they feel like a horse? Did they have hair that was flat from the water? Were they nice or mean? She wanted to get near them to so she could touch them and find out.
Joe wondered how they walked on land. They were so big and their flippers were so small. There was no way they moved like a steer or a horse. Joe got his answer a few minutes later. They moved kind of like a weird snake. It used its front flipper and its chest to throw itself forward. Joe thought Hoss would really like to see this. One got up and both Joe and Jax gasped. There was a little white thing so close they didn't see it before.
"Is that one of its babies?" Joe asked.
"I think so; they described them like that in one of the books Adam gave me. Should we get closer?"
"Sure," Joe said.
They started walking toward the seals and started climbing down the rocks, were stopped by a man's iron like grip. Making them both jump. Neither wanted to turn around, fearing it was Adam, Hoss, or Pa. That meant their adventure would come to an abrupt end. The man spoke and they knew they were in the clear.
"Those are dangerous, stay away from them," He said. "What are you two doing down here alone?"
"Our Pa's in a meeting so we're out exploring," Jax said.
"I told you Pa, I could go out by myself," the boy about fifteen said hopefully.
"I bet their Pa doesn't know they're here," he said looking pointedly at the twins, "Well?"
"Not this far down," Jax tried.
The man shook his head. "Where're you supposed to be?"
"Market Street," Joe said.
"I can't believe any father would let you even out of the hotel room without him. I think I may need to have a talk with him about the dangers of this city. Where are you from?" the man asked.
"Nevada Territory," Jax said.
"You're right we weren't supposed to leave the hotel," Joe said miserably.
The boy standing next to him said,
"Awe, Pa I would want to do the same thing if I could."
"And you wouldn't sit for two weeks," his father said harshly.
"Can we take them down to where we just saw the whales?" the boy asked smiling at his father.
"So you want me to reward these disobedient children?"
"No, I want you to let them have fun, before they have to answer to their Pa," the boy said, "By the way I'm Brent Burns and the is my father, Captain Burns of the Molly Mae."
"You're a Captain of a ship?" Joe asked in admiration.
"Yes son," Captain Burns said smiling.
"Can we see your ship?" Joe asked.
He looked at the little boy who was so much like his own son and couldn't say no. He had a feeling if he took them back to the hotel right now they would just sneak off again. The best way to keep them safe was to fill their afternoon making them too tired to sneak out before their father returned. He would keep them all day, but they sailed the next morning and he didn't have time. The man finally said,
"The whales first because they might move on and then I'll let you see my ship. The minute we're finished I'm taking you straight back to your hotel room and leaving a message for your father."
"Yes sir," they said.
"I'm Joe and this is my sister Jax." Joe said without thinking
The Captain seemed to get angry again,
"You brought your little sister down to the water front?" He demanded.
"Yes sir," Joe said miserably thinking he just lost them the chance to see whales and the ship.
"He made me dress like a boy. So no one realizes I am a girl. Plus I wouldn't have let him go without me," Jax said honestly.
"Young man, you should take better care of your sister," Captain Burns said shaking his head.
"Whales are down this way," Brent said excitedly.
"Thank you," Joe said.
"How do you see whales? The spend most of their time underwater?" Jax asked.
"They have to breathe," Brent said. "So how old are you?"
"We're twins. We turn twelve in October," Jax said.
"How old are you?" Jax asked.
"Fifteen. Is this your first time to San Francisco?"
"Yeah, our Pa thought it was too dangerous and we're too wild," Joe said again without thinking.
"I think he was right," Captain Burns said sternly.
"Yes, sir," they both said.
"He doesn't let me off the ship unless he's with me," Brent said miserably.
"Because you would find too much mischief, like these two kids, think if I was a Captain who shanghaied children, a thief, or worse. You can get hurt quickly in this town," Captain said looking hard at the three children.
"Yes, sir," the children replied.
"But you live on a ship," Joe said enthusiastically. Making the Captain shake his head, the child was one that didn't seem to learn from censure. He must spend a lot of time over his father's knee.
"Yeah," Brent said.
"Where did you go last?"
"China."
"No way! Hop Sing is from there," Jax said.
"Who's Hop Sing," Brent said.
"Our cook, but he's a member of our family," Joe said.
"What is it like?" Jax asked.
"Pa didn't let me off the ship," Brent said glaring at his father.
"Brent," His father said harshly. Bren removed his glare, turning back to the children.
"But the people who came on the ship, talked so fast and I couldn't understand anything they said. They brought a lot of silk and spices aboard. That's why we're here."
"Where do you go next?" Joe asked.
"East Coast, Pa is ready to head home to Boston for awhile."
"That's where our oldest brother was born," Joe said.
"Why didn't your father bring your older brother with you? So he could've made sure you stayed out of trouble," Captain Burns asked.
"Too much work on the Ponderosa," Joe said.
"Is your father Ben Cartwright?" Captain Burns asked.
"Yes sir," Jax said miserably thinking why did they have to meet the one of the few men in San Francisco who actually knew their father? The captain chuckled.
"I'm sorry that we have to sail in the morning, so I have no time to see him today."
"So how do you know our father?" Joe asked.
"I was an officer with him on Captain Stoddard's ship when we were younger. How old is Adam, now?"
"Twenty-three," Joe said quickly.
Jax wanted this conversation to end fearing the Captain would change his mind and want to see their father. So she asked,
"Do you go around Cape Horn," Jax asked excitedly.
"Yeah," Brent said realizing she was changing the subject.
"Adam said it's really dangerous," Jax said.
"It is, but it's amazing. You get to see ice burgs and penguins," Brent said enthusiastically.
"Are penguins big?" Joe asked.
"Some are, like the emperor penguin others most are smaller," Brent said.
"How about the ice burgs?" Joe asked.
"Their huge, but did you know that most of the ices burg is under the water not above."
"Really! You must read a lot to know all this," Jax said in awe.
"Yes and no, I get to see a lot of things. Pa makes sure I am always learning."
"Our pa too," Joe said.
"Look," Brent said seeing the first whale.
"What type are they?" Jax asked.
"Blue or Humpbacks are the ones you see during this time of year. They get huge."
"Really," Joe said.
"The blue whale is the biggest animal on the planet. Look at that one," Brent said pointing. "See the blowhole follow it all the way down that the tail, the head is a ways up you can see it if you look closely. I'd say it's about 80 feet."
Brent explained that they used the blowhole to breath.
One of the whales went back down and they watched its huge tail up before going under the water. Another one of the whales jumped out of the water. Making the three children scream out of pure excitement.
They stayed on the dock for close to an hour before Captain Burns said it was time to head to the ship if they wanted to see it.
Joe and Jax walked across a plank getting on the ship and walked on massive the deck.
"Come on, I'll show you the galley, where the crew sleeps, and our stateroom," Brent said.
"Brent, make sure you holler down there, remember Jax is a little girl," Captain Burns said.
"Yes sir," Brent said smiling.
The galley was extremely small and Jax said,
"I don't think Hop Sing would like this."
"Come on, we'll see where the crew sleeps," Brent said, "Jax stay up here until I check and see if it's all clear."
Jax allowed down a few minutes later looking at the hammocks where the sailors slept and asked,
"Do they fall out, a lot?"
"Sometimes," Brent said laughing as they walked back up the ladder to the main deck where Joe asked the question he had been dying to ask since he got on the ship.
"Where are the cannons?"
"We don't need cannons. We don't see a lot of pirates," Brent said.
"How do you go to the bathroom there isn't an outhouse anywhere," Joe asked.
"We go off the side of the ship or in a bucket," Brent said not realizing his father was there.
Captain Burns came on deck to make sure the children were behaving and that his men were watching their language and crude comments around the little girl. The only one being crude was his son. Captain Burns grabbed his son's arm and landed three hard smacks on his backsides.
"Oww, Pa" Brent complained.
"We do not talk about such things in the presence of young ladies," He said.
"Yes sir," Brent said rubbing his backside.
The Captain walked away.
"He's as strict as our Pa about what should and shouldn't be said in front of Jax," Joe said.
"I don't know why I should be any different," Jax said, "Sorry I got you in trouble."
"It's ok. I deserved it," Brent said smiling.
"Why do you get to live on board the ship? Jax asked.
"My mother died when I was young," Bren said.
"Ours two," Joe said.
They walked around on deck and Brent told them how the ship sailed.
"Have you ever been up in the crow's nest," Joe asked.
"Pa thinks I'm too young and none of the men let me do what Pa says I can't."
"It's the same on the Ponderosa," Jax complained.
"We better check out the stateroom. Pa will wonder where we are," Brent said.
Brent knocked and his father said,
"Come in."
Captain Burns was sitting behind his desk doing work, reminding Jax so much of her father. She was really getting homesick.
"Give me a few minutes and I'll take you both back to your hotel."
"How many days are you at sea?" Joe asked.
"Most days out of the year," Brent said.
"How do you go to school?" Jax asked.
"Don't, Pa teaches me everything."
"Lucky," Joe mumbled.
"I wouldn't call it lucky young man, he learns everything that is taught in the classroom and as his teacher I know exactly what he does with his time. So if he doesn't use his time wisely, I punish him immediately and harshly."
"At those times I wish I went to regular school," Brent said smiling.
"Finished, let's take you back to your hotel. Maybe your father is back from his meeting."
"No sir, not until six," Jax lied.
They headed back to the hotel. Once they were in the hotel Captain Burns handed a letter to the clerk.
"So they were trouble?" the clerk said thinking he could kick them out.
"No, they were well behaved. I just wanted their father to know a couple of things," Captain Burns told the snippy man. "You two stay where you supposed to for the rest of the day. Understand? If I see you down by the docks again, I'll put the two of you over my knee and wait in your room until your father comes home so he can do the same."
"Yes sir," Joe and Jax said.
"Thank you for taking us to see the whales," Jax said.
"Thank you for taking us on your ship," Joe said
"Nice meeting you two," Brent said smiling.
Captain Burns shook his head and thought those two are a handful. He did not envy his old friend. They must run him ragged. He thanked the heavens that Brent wasn't that way.
Joe and Jax ate at the restaurant, stopped in their room to get more money before heading out again. They felt the coast was clear so they ventured out again.
Jax and Joe walked down the street finding the book store that Adam had talked about.
"I can't believe how big this is," Jax said excitedly.
"Maybe they'll have the next issue of Brave and Bold."
The book store was amazing. They had never seen so many books or dime store novels. Joe was enamored with the dime store novels, while Jax looked at Jane Austin novels. Joe bought three dime store novels that he knew their father wouldn't approve of and Jax bought Emma a book that Pa may think was too old for her. Hoss would hate it because it might give her more matchmaking ideas.
They walked a little farther and saw a store full of candy and they had to stop. Of course they didn't leave empty handed.
The rest of day was full of looking at shops. Many of the owners wouldn't let them in without a parent.
"Look at that!" Joe said excitedly as they pasted a millinery .
"Should we get Pa a bowler hat?" Jax asked.
"No but we should get you that beautiful bonnet right there," Joe said laughing pointing at a green bonnet with a small flower and lace in the front with a silk wrap around it that tied into a bow.
"You could wear it would match your green eyes more than my brown ones."
"No thanks I like my hat just fine."
They watched the hatter make hats for a little while before moving on.
The next store they found sold wooden things with two wheels. They looked at its sleek design and wooden tires.
"Joe do you think you could ride that?"
"Of course. It can't be any different from a horse."
"Are you looking at the same thing I am?"
"What are you talking about?"
"It's made out of wood, has two wooden tires like a wagon, and some medal thing that I think are connected to the back wheel. What are those blocks up front?"
"No idea, but it's still just something you would ride. I can ride anything," Joe said confidently.
"I dare you to try," Jax said pointing to the sign.
Come in and try riding the modern way of travel.
"Let's go."
The clerk took them out the back of the shop where he set up an area for people to try the bicycles. Jax thought it was because he didn't want people to see how many times you fall before you could ride it successfully. If they did the man would never sell a thing.
Joe got on the very unsteady bicycle. The clerk said,
"Push yourself off and start peddling."
"Peddling?" Joe asked confused.
"Use the little blocks up front."
Joe tried doing what the man said and couldn't seem to get it. Jax couldn't stop laughing as he tried.
"I thought you could ride anything, brother," teased when Joe fell down for the third time.
"Just give me a minute." Joe said think. He knew it was just a matter of balance and coordination. He had both. He just needed to employ them.
"Last time kid," the clerk said. "I have work to do."
Joe got on it this time he was able to ride it to the end of the path without falling.
"Told ya," Joe said smiling. "I think you should try."
"I bet I'll get it faster than you."
"It's not a fair bet; you've watched me try a bunch of times."
"You're just afraid your sister will beat you."
"What's the bet?" Joe asked.
"You will have to do two of my chores for a week if I win and I have to do two of your chores if I lose."
"I wouldn't take that bet son. You were right, she will have an easier time because she watched you," the clerk said laughing.
"Bets off," Joe said.
"Coward," Jax teased.
Like Joe and clerk predicted, the bet wasn't fair because Jax got it on the second try.
"Told ya," Jax said smiling.
They walked out of the bicycle shop all smiles,
"I want one of those," Joe said.
"Me too, think Pa would get us one for our birthday?"
"I think they would be too expensive and there are no wooden paths on the Ponderosa."
Jax looked at her brother and said miserably,
"Joe, I want to go home. I miss Pa, Adam, Hoss, and Hop Sing."
"Me too, but I don't think they are going to be happy to see us," Joe said with a slight smile, "how mad do you think they'll be about us leaving the Ponderosa without permission and going somewhere we're not supposed to."
"Same as usual. Pa will give us a good tanning and restrict us to the yard for a couple of months." Jax said shrugging. Not knowing how wrong she actually was.
They decided to risk getting caught by Captain Burns and went back down to the water one more time so Joe could see the ships and Jax could see the seals. They said good-bye to both and walked back to the hotel.
Ben, Adam, and Hoss:
They spent the entire day looking for the twins. They started at the crack of dawn. The first place they stopped was the constable's office. Just like before the man was absolutely no help.
Next they headed down towards the docks. They checked about every store in San Francesco. Each place they looked, they found no trace of the twins. When they asked someone, they said kids are all over the city and shouldn't be. One man said,
"If you can't control your children you shouldn't have any."
Hoss almost punched the man, but Ben grabbed his arm holding his middle son back.
"Pa, let's go to a few hotels and see if they checked in," Adam said. He didn't think they would use Cartwright, but you never knew with those two.
By the fourth hotel, they were feeling defeated once again. They walked into the fifth; Adam asked the clerk if they had any children by the name of Cartwright registered here.
"Yes," he said and looked at Ben, "I let your children stay here because they promised repeat business. I hope that statement is true."
Ben took a deep breath and told the smug man yes.
"They said you wouldn't be here until Thursday. Thank you for coming early. I don't like boys alone in my hotel," the man said.
"Boys?" Ben asked confused.
"Pa, Jax is dressed as a boy," Adam said.
"I need a key to their room," Ben said. "Do I owe anything for the tab?"
"No sir, they paid in advance. Also, sir, this was left for you. A man brought your children back a few hours ago," The clerk said handing the key and note to Ben.
"Thank you," Ben said.
The men walked into the twin's hotel room. Once they were in the hotel Ben opened the letter.
Ben, my old friend.
I couldn't believe it when the two children I found down by docks, were yours. They were trying to climb down and see the seals. My son pointed them out to me, not wanting them to get hurt. I pulled them back up.
I hope you forgive me, but I rewarded their disobedience by taking them to see whales and my ship. Something in their eyes told me they would go on their own either way. They were extremely well behaved the entire time. I brought them back and ordered them to stay in for the rest of the night.
I wish we weren't making sail in the morning, as I would have liked to catch up.
Your friend,
Captain Brian Burns
Ben was happy to hear yet again that his children were safe. Now all he had to do was wait until the trouble makers walked through the door.
Author's Note: I know the first pedal bicycle (called the Velocipede) didn't come out until 1865 making Joe and Jax 23, but I am using the Kirkpatrick Macmillan style that was "invented" in Scotland in 1840. Most historians believe that the Kirkpatrick Macmillan bicycle is a myth because the only proof available is a magazine article that came out after 1865.
I also realize the peak season for seal birth is in March.