by J. Rosemary Moss
Genre: Slash Fan Fiction (Bonanza)
Rating: PG-13
Link to Part One
~
Adam yawned and stretched and eventually got out of bed. It was a little past sunrise—he should have been up and out already. But he had spent last night tossing and turning and so he had missed out on any real sleep.
He walked over to his dresser and transferred water from the pitcher to the basin. Then he splashed some of it on his face as he prepared to shave. But afterwards he just held the strop and razor in his hands as he stared into the mirror, lost in thought. A few minutes passed before he remembered that he was supposed to be shaving.
His thoughts kept going back to his fight with David. Although he hadn’t shown it at the time, one of David’s shots had struck home—his insistence that Adam reserved the right to find fault with Little Joe exclusively for himself.
There was some truth to that. Even though Adam often took Joe to task, he didn’t like anyone else doing so—except maybe their Pa. And the possibility that anyone else might spot a real problem of Joe’s—even David—grated on him.
On the other hand, Adam thought slowly, if anyone was going to spot such a problem, David was a good candidate. He had no weakness for poker, but he did have a penchant for gambling in other ways. For the most part, he kept that penchant under control—he might indulge in some wild investment schemes, but he still made more money than he lost.
But Adam didn’t expect the same level of accountability from Joe that he expected from David—not where money was concerned, at any event. Joe had never had a good head for figures and money had always burned a hole in his pocket. Of course the kid could improve as far as managing his cash went. But that was different from insisting that the kid was addicted to poker.
No, David was just wrong on that score. And he had no right to make such an accusation.
Still, Adam had been unfair to him when they’d had their argument. He’d been too angry even to listen properly. Well, he’d re-invite David to spend a few days in Carson City to make up for it. He could use David’s help there anyway.
Yeah, a few days away for just the two of them should more than make up for the argument—and it would give David something better to do than furrow his brow over Little Joe.
Eventually Adam finished shaving and dressing and made his way downstairs; but Pa, Hoss and even Little Joe had already breakfasted and left. He shoved some leftovers into his mouth and then put on his hat and gun belt.
He spotted Hoss when he walked out into the yard. His ‘big’ brother was taking a break from chopping wood by staring into a puddle not far from the pile of logs.
Adam grinned. From the enrapt look on his face, you’d think that Hoss was staring at the horizon over the Grand Canyon—not into a mere puddle.
“What’s caught your eye?” he asked as he walked up behind Hoss.
“Stop right there and look into the puddle, older brother,” Hoss answered. “If you stand just right, you can see a rainbow in it. More than one, in fact.”
Adam smiled at that. “I haven’t seen a rainbow in a long time,” he owned.
Hoss winked at him. “Me neither—that’s why I’m willing to settle for one inside a puddle.”
Adam laughed. “Where’s David? Has he shown up yet today?”
“Not that I’ve seen,” Hoss answered. “But it’s early yet. Besides, he and Little Joe were out late last night in town. They were playing poker together.”
“What?” Adam asked. “Are you sure?”
Hoss didn’t look surprised at the change in Adam’s tone. “Yeah, I’m sure. I know you gave Joe fifty dollars in exchange for him taking your place restocking the line shacks with me.”
Adam nodded. “I’m going to use the time to catch up on some business in Carson City.”
Hoss nodded. “Well, Joe told me that David wasn’t too happy about you giving Joe the money. David thinks that Joe plays too much and loses too much—he thinks that Joe is kind of addicted, I guess.”
“Yeah, he does,” Adam confirmed. “So why did he play against Joe?”
“Well, David offered to play him one-on-one until one of them was out of chips,” Hoss explained. “But they weren’t playing for money. If David won, then Joe would lay off the tables for a month.”
“And if Joe won?” Adam prompted.
“Then he would take Joe’s place helping me restock the line shacks.”
Adam sighed. “Who won?”
Hoss grinned. “Joe. But, in fairness, Joe said he had no right to win that game—David was the better player. But Joe just kept getting miracle cards.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “So now David is stuck helping you with the line shacks next week?”
“Yup,” Hoss answered.
Adam swore under his breath. So much for re-inviting him to Carson City. “Well, that’s just perfect. I wish he had just let Little Joe alone.”
Hoss stared back into the puddle again. “Ah, there’s one more thing you ought to know, Adam.”
“What’s that?”
Hoss gave him an apologetic look before answering. “Well, Joe and I had to explain to Pa about the line shacks. You know, that it was supposed to be you and me, and then you paid off Joe to take your place, and then David lost the poker match to Joe, so he got stuck taking Joe’s place.”
Adam narrowed his eyes at him. “And?”
Hoss looked back down into the puddle and splashed at it gently with the toe of his boot. “Well, Pa wants a lot more done with those line shacks than we thought. And he don’t want just David going with me, `cause David has no experience. He—well, he wants you, me and Joe all to go. And he figures it’s just as well to take David along and show him the ropes. We might still need to use him as a hand now and then, instead of just keeping him on all the accounting stuff.”
“I see,” Adam said, somehow managing to keep his voice even. “Well, looks like I won’t be going to Carson City after all. But I suppose the business can wait.”
“Yeah,” Hoss said. “Look, Adam—you and David ain’t going to kill each other, are you?”
Adam smiled grimly but he shook his head. “No. This argument will blow over, don’t worry. Just as soon as David agrees to keep out of Joe’s affairs.”
Hoss frowned at that. “I don’t know about that, Adam. David might be wrong about Joe—but I don’t see why he’s wrong to talk to you or Joe about it.”
“He is wrong,” Adam said flatly. “I’m going into town—there’s a letter I need to mail and someone has to pick up the supplies. Want to come along?”
“No,” Hoss answered. “You go ahead—no offense, older brother, but you’re not the best company today.”
“That’s because I’m annoyed with the world,” Adam explained.
Then he stalked off to the barn, splashing his boot in the puddle along the way. He had already forgotten the rainbows Hoss saw inside it.
LINK TO PART SIX
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