T`he two lay on the shingle shore about a mile from the Ponderosa, their horses nibbling grass a few yards away. Their feet dangled in the water and they lay back to face the sky. The sun beat down on them ferociously, making them dizzy with sweat.

"The days seem long when you haven't anything to do, don't they?" She pulled a piece of reed from the shrub beside her and chewed it thoughtfully.

"You're all right. You've got your books," said Joe, still smarting a bit from her earlier remark.

"Oh, Little Joe. I don't read all the time."

"Seems like it."

"Well, you know, it wouldn't do you any harm to pick up a book now and then."

Joe sighed and turned on his stomach, his feet upside down and his toes just brushing the water. "That's what Pa says."

"Well, there you are then."

"I don't want to spend all my time reading."

"Any time would be good."

"I don't like reading. It's hard work."

"It doesn't have to be. Adam said he was pleased I read so much."

"Well, he would, wouldn't he?"

"And Miss Jones said - "

"Adam! Miss Jones! You're getting a right teacher's pet, you are!"

"If it wasn't so hot I'd give you a thumping for that. You take that back!"

"Alright, I take it back. I'm sorry." She lay back down, only partly mollified. "I guess it's this heat. We're all losing our tempers a bit. You could fry eggs on this ground."

She rolled over on her front in her turn so their heads were level. They were so alike people could not tell them apart at a distance. Dark, thick curly hair, beautiful green eyes with long lashes and such smooth skin Hoss used to laugh and say it was like a baby's bottom.

"I'm tired of being bored," he said.

"So am I. If we go home Pa'll find us some chores. I don't think I could take that."

"Neither could I. Not in this heat."

They both thought of their older brothers. Adam was 21, a young man just returned from college, and Hoss was fifteen, still boy, but also man. Physically he was as strong and big as most of the hands, but Ben knew all too well how young he was. He had argued with his Pa that spring, wanting to leave school.

"Pa, I ain't no use at school, you know that. It's just wasted on me. I've learned all I'm gonna."

"Hoss, don't do yourself down. You've got a good brain."

"No, I haven't. I work with my hands, Pa, not my brains. I'm gonna be sixteen soon. Please let me leave."

And so Ben gave in, reluctantly. He could not understand how two boys could be as different as Adam and Hoss. Little Scamp was fast following in her oldest brother's footsteps and Joe, to all extents and purposes, in Hoss's.

Hoss had started work on the ranch immediately and he and Adam worked as hard as any of the hands. The twins felt sorry for them and decided if that what was meant by growing up they'd rather stay children. They enjoyed their play and hated chores.

But today they were bored. There were no picnics or outings planned and the only thing on the horizon was stuffy old church tomorrow morning when the reverend would preach at them for an hour and tell them they were all going to hell.

"If only we could do something!" Joe exclaimed, rolling onto his back. He heard Scamp shuffling and scowled as she took her book out of her bag. "You're not reading that!" he cried, throwing it to one side.

"Hey, don't chuck my book! Anyway, why shouldn't I read it?"

"Cos you're out with me. I don't want to find you with your nose in that every time I speak to you!"

Scamp suddenly realized his jealousy and smiled. She felt quite flattered. "Well, you'd better think up something to do then."