A Hogshead of Whiskey, Part Four

by J. Rosemary Moss

Genre: Fan-Fiction (Bonanza)
Rating: PG-13

LINK TO PART ONE

~

Adam stood at Marie’s gravesite, glaring at her tombstone. It was six years after they had buried her.

"This was your job," he informed her, not bothering to keep the biting anger out of his voice. "You should have been here to see to Joe. Instead I had to take him in hand while Pa’s away—and watch him despise me for it."

There was no response from the stone. Not that he expected one, but he longed to carry out this argument in the flesh.

"And now I’m so annoyed that I’m standing here reprimanding a dead woman," he continued as he threw down his hat in disgust. Then he sighed and put one hand on his forehead.

"Marie," he said at length, "I know I gave you a hard time while you were alive, but I wish to God you hadn’t left us."

He paused again and crouched down so that he was eye-level with her gravestone. "You shouldn’t have tried to ride that horse," he told her. "You knew that devil was too strong for you. And your son is just as reckless. I hope you’re watching over him because he’s determined to break his neck."

"It wouldn’t have mattered if she was here," a voice called out. Adam nearly jumped out of his skin—that voice was a strange echo of Marie’s.

He stood up and turned around. Little Joe was a few feet back, regarding him with a half-smile. The little scamp suddenly looked older than his eleven years.

"She would’ve shook her head," Joe continued, "and told you that she couldn’t bring herself to raise a hand to me—much less a belt. Then she would’ve smiled at you, patted your cheek and left you to punish me."

Adam managed a grin. "That’s probably true."

Joe grinned back, but then his face grew serious. "Did you hate her?"

"No," he answered, taking care to meet his brother’s eyes. "I just resented her for a while."

Joe looked down at his feet. "Why?"

Adam shrugged. "I suppose because she was different from Inger. I—I was a bit brutal to your Ma, Joe. I admit that. And I’m sorry for it now."

Little Joe looked up again and Adam could see the mischief back in his eyes.

"That’s all right. She knew you were a Yankee, Adam. She didn’t expect you to have manners."

Adam bit back a smile. "You trying for another tanning, boy?"

"Nah. I just—I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pulled a dangerous stunt like that. And I didn't mean it when I said that I hated you."

He paused and stared at Adam. "And I’m impressed, older brother," he said at last. "You wield a belt just as good as Pa does."

"Yeah, well, I learned from the best."

Little Joe laughed at that and ran up to him. Adam suddenly found himself locked in a hug.

"One thing, older brother," Joe said, still clutching him. "Are we squared up now, or are you going to tell Pa?"

Adam smiled. "We’re squared up," he assured him.

They broke apart from each other and Adam retrieved his hat. "Come on, Joe. Let’s go back to the house."

LINK TO PART FIVE