Taking the Blame
"Pa's gonna be madder than a polecat with his tail in a trap!" Hoss declared shaking his head sorrowfully.
"You think so?" The twist in Adam's lips matched the sarcasm in his voice.
"Don't you?" At four years old sarcasm was lost on Little Joe.
Adam rolled his eyes and hoisted his baby brother onto his hip. If only Little Joe hadn't seen what happened! Adam sighed. The fine points of equivocating versus direct lying could not be taught to such a young child in a matter of minutes. They probably shouldn't be taught to little brothers at all. Adam admitted that fact to himself. Perhaps that was the reason he had not had much luck in training Hoss in the technique.
"He's gonna be here quicker than spit" was Hoss's nervous observation.
"Don't you think I know that? Hush and let me think." Adam tugged at his left ear repeatedly as he searched his mind for an acceptable explanation. There simply was not one. Both he and Hoss had been irresponsible, and all three of Ben Carwright's sons had not been where their father had told them to be. The fact that the destruction that resulted was wholly accidental did not mitigate the fact that they should not have been there in the first place.
Little Joe shifted in Adam's arms. "Am I gonna get a spanking?" he whispered in his big brother's ear.
Adam looked at the little boy's face and saw the tears starting to brim. "No, Little Joe. Don't worry. You didn't do anything to earn a spanking." At least not anything I intend to tell Pa. Little boys wander. I should have seen to it you didn't!
"Did you and Hoss?"
Adam did not answer. He locked eyes with Hoss and saw the worry filling the ten-year-old's eyes. "Hoss isn't gonna get a spanking either," Adam declared. With a sudden movement, he thrust Little Joe into Hoss's grasp. "Take Little Joe and go to the buckboard, Hoss. I'll talk to Pa."
Hoss took two steps and then stopped as he realized Adam intended to take all the blame. "But, Adam, I..."
"Hoss, there's no reason for more than one of us to face Pa over this. Just take Little Joe and go on." When Hoss failed to move, Adam used his best imitation of Ben Cartwright and bellowed, "I said go on!" Let me, little brother. Let me!
After a few seconds, Hoss capitulated and followed orders, trudging away with Little Joe on his hip. Adam watched until his brothers disappeared around the corner, and then took a deep breath as he turned and saw his father approaching. At least no one else had seen he and his brothers wreak havoc on the Founder's Day Display.
Ben Cartwright strode up to Adam and then stopped to stare at the wreckage beyond the boy. "Adam!" His name was a bellow that was immediately followed by a dangerously low inquiry. "Would you care to explain what happened?"
Adam shuddered before he drew in a deep breath. "It was my fault, Pa. My responsibility." That's not a lie. I was supposed to be watching them. The story he told omitted any details that would not support that statement. As he spoke, Adam prayed silently. Please let him wait until we get home. Please let him wait to tan me. And please God keep Hoss and Little Joe's mouths shut.
Riding home on the buckboard, none of the Cartwrights said anything. When they arrived at the ranch, Ben sent the two younger boys into the house and took his eldest into the barn.
Hoss slipped into his elder brother's room and walked quietly over to where Adam lay face down on the bed. Sitting on the edge, next to his brother's back, Hoss whispered, "Ya shoulda let me take some of the blame. It weren't all your fault."
Adam kept his face to the wall. "Your tanning wouldn't have made mine hurt any less."
"But it ain't fair. I shoulda..."
Adam looked back over his shoulder and hissed, "Don't you go telling Pa anything I didn't! Do you want him to think I lied!" Don't you see what's done is done!
Hoss shook his head. "I won't; I won't."
"Good." The glare left Adam's face. Then a frown appeared in his brow. "Little Joe. . ."
"He won't say nothing about nothing. He thinks he'll get a spanking like yours."
Adam bit his lower lip. Hoss won't, but Little Joe...
"He'll stop thinking about it quick enough. You know he don't like thinking about getting in trouble," Hoss offered.
If he doesn't say anything before Saturday, he probably won't think on it again. Adam sighed. "Is it time for supper?"
"Just about." Hoss stood, and Adam slipped off the bed.
"Thanks, Adam." The genuine gratitude in Hoss's voice was evident to his brother. Adam slipped his arm around Hoss's shoulders and squeezed. Then he dropped his arm and gave Hoss a sly grin.
"Your turn next time, brother." Adam nudged Hoss's side and then flashed his dimples. Hoss smiled back. They both knew Adam would only let that happen if pigs learned to fly.