by J. Rosemary Moss
Genre: Slash Fan Fiction (Bonanza)
Rating: PG-13
Link to Part One
~
Joe walked into the house quietly and hung up his hat and his gun belt. Then he turned toward the main room. As he had hoped, David was sitting on the settee with ledgers and checks spread out on the table in front of him.
He smiled as he watched David work for a moment—sometimes David would become so intent on the figures in front of him that he scarcely realized what was going on around him. Maybe that intensity was part of what had drawn Adam to him.
Well, that and the fact that David had been a soul desperately in need of reform. That had made him irresistible to Adam. And Adam had done a fine job reforming him, Joe thought appreciatively. Oh, Adam would always have to keep an eye on him, but Joe was pretty sure that neither man minded that.
As for himself, Joe had grown quite attached to David. He approved of the relationship between David and Adam—however horrified most folks would be if they knew—and he accepted David as essentially a brother-in-law.
"You’re still here," Joe commented, making his presence known at last.
David nodded without turning around to face him. "I won’t be going home till late tonight," he explained. "There’s a lot of work to be done on this last investment."
"The one you were talking to Adam about over coffee this morning?" Joe asked. "The one that might give Pa a stroke?"
"That’s the one," David agreed.
Joe took a seat on the arm of the settee. "From what you were saying, it sounds like you two are risking thirty thousand dollars of the Ponderosa’s money."
"That’s correct," David acknowledged as he made some notes on one of the ledgers.
"And you expect to lose that thirty thousand," Joe persisted.
David shrugged. "Probably. It’s a high risk investment—but if it happens to work, the pay-off will be enormous."
"So you’re drawing to an inside straight?"
David smiled at that. "Not quite. Our odds are a little better than that."
"Well, I’m behind you two, one hundred percent," Joe assured him warmly. "I’ll even soothe Pa for you, if this falls through."
"Thanks," David said as he turned his head and favored Joe with an appreciative wink. "But I’m still not loaning you that hundred dollars."
Little Joe groaned. "David, I’m down to my last dollar. Look," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a silver coin. "Here it is. Now you’re risking thirty thousand of the Ponderosa’s money. What’s a hundred dollars out of your own wallet compared to that? I’m good for this."
"You haven’t paid me back the last hundred I loaned you," David pointed out as he turned back to the books and added up a column of figures.
"I’ve run into some bad luck at the tables, that’s all."
David put down his pen and blotted the page. Then he turned to face Joe again. "It’s not a question of luck, Joe. Poker is largely a skill game—and you lose much more often than you win."
Joe rolled his eyes. "I’ll grant that you’re good at whist and chess, David—but even you’ve admitted that you don’t know much about poker."
"I know enough not to play without learning the odds of the game inside and out," David retorted. "And I know enough to avoid players who are better than I am."
"David, I made a thousand dollars on one hand the other night," Joe pointed out.
"Then why haven’t you paid me back?"
"’Cause I had some bad luck after that—that’s all. Full houses don’t usually lose. Look, if worse comes to worse, I’ll be able to pay you back from my wages. It’ll just take a few months, that’s all."
Joe paused and then leaned in closer to David. "Besides, I know Pa doesn’t know about this investment you and Adam have planned."
"He doesn’t need to know—Adam has his permission to invest as he chooses."
"Yeah, but Adam wouldn’t make this investment if you weren’t so keen on it. If I happen to let something slip out to Pa…" he let his voice trail off.
David raised his eyebrows at that. "Blackmail?" he asked.
"Good-natured blackmail," Joe assured him. "The same kind I’d subject Adam or Hoss to—I’m just treating you like family."
"I’m touched," David responded dryly. "And I do admire your methods. I don’t think your Pa would stop the investment—but he’ll certainly have words with Adam and me."
"So you’ll loan me the money?"
David nodded. "Yes—on one condition. Don’t use it for gaming."
Joe rolled his eyes again. "No deal. There’s no reason for that stipulation."
David took his time about answering that. "I think there is, Joe," he said softly. "Look, you’re willing to blackmail me as if I were one of your brothers. Are you willing to take my advice too?"
"On most stuff," Joe said, "but not if it concerns poker."
"I’m going to give it to you anyway. Gambling can be just as addictive as alcohol or opium, " David warned him. "And you lose a lot of money at the tables, Joe—too much."
Joe gave him a look. "This from the fellow who wants to risk thirty thousand dollars of Ponderosa money."
"Thirty thousand that the ranch can stand to lose. Even if that investment falls through the Ponderosa will still have an overall profit from other investments," David returned. "If you had an overall profit to show in poker, Joe, it wouldn’t matter that you lost one particular game. But you have an overall loss—even if you happen to win one particular hand."
But Joe shook his head at that. "Spare me the lecture. Look, I’m not addicted to poker and I will show a profit eventually. Now are you loaning me the money or shall I accidentally mention the investment to Pa?"
"If you do, I’ll accidentally tell Miss Eliza that you’ve also been courting Miss Emma—or I might mention Lillian at The Silver Dollar to both of them."
Joe cringed and then gave David a look of disgust mingled with respect. "Counter blackmail? I didn’t think that even you would sink that low."
David shrugged. "I’m just treating you like family."
"Very funny," Joe retorted. Then he let out a long sigh—David had been his best hope. Now he’d have to try his luck with Adam and Hoss.
~
Joe took a seat on the porch steps. He wanted to think for a while before approaching Adam. What sort of favor could he do for older brother to soften him up? Or what kind of exchange could he cook up?
He had one idea, but it would require quite a sacrifice.
Adam was supposed to help Hoss check on the line shacks next week—a three-day job, at least. Joe, on the other hand, had a few days off.
But those days off weren’t much use without any money. So why not give Adam his days off and see to the line shacks with Hoss? That would give Adam some time to spend with David. And Adam would be so grateful that he would willingly fork over a hundred dollars. It wouldn’t even be a loan.
Joe smiled to himself. Yeah, that would answer. All that work next week would be a pain, but at least he’d be able to show his face at the poker tables tonight.
For just a moment, David’s words about how addictive poker can be came back into his head. Joe frowned a little, wondering why he was willing to give up a few days off just to get his hands on enough money to gamble with.
But he brushed that thought aside. There was nothing wrong with enjoying himself at the card tables. Besides, David was the last one to talk. As far as Joe was concerned, there was no difference between the risks he took at poker and the risks David took with investments.
And with that thought in mind, Joe pushed himself up off the steps and went in search of Adam.
LINK TO PART THREE
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