Mr. Henry T.P. Comstock
A Continued Episode
"Boy!" Ben called, then continued as Little Joe turned to him. "I believe we had a conversation before I gave you permission to go to this dance. Do you recall?"
Little Joe's smile abruptly fled with the hope that his Pa had forgotten his tryst with Princess Saratucci in light of the discovery of silver. He bit his lip and suddenly found the ground beneath his feet fascinating.
"Joseph!"
Little Joe grimaced and raised his head to meet his father's stern gaze. Pa's face was flushed and his mouth was set in a grim line. Not a good sign. "Yes sir?" he said meekly.
"Do you remember the conversation?"
Little Joe pulled at his lower lip nervously. "Sort of."
Ben raised an eyebrow. "Sort of? Is that how you listen to my orders?"
"Well, you said not to stir up the Paiutes," Little Joe said trying not to squirm in the face of his father's anger.
"Yes, I did." Ben paused. "Did you follow my instructions?"
Little Joe couldn't meet his fathers gaze anymore and studied the ground. "No."
Hoss and Adam watched the scene with amusement. They couldn't count how many times this exact same scenario had been replayed, and they knew what the consequences would be -- a little brother who rode standing in his stirrups for a week or so afterwards.
*****
Ben paced back and forth in his youngest son's room, his intense displeasure filling the room. "Do you have any concept of the trouble you could have caused tonight?"
A sheepish grin was Little Joe's response as he remembered the fun he had had before the unfortunate arrival of the Chief and his father.
Ben sensed where the boy's thoughts were and smacked him on the backside.
Little Joe jumped and winced, his thoughts immediately returning to the lecture.
"You could have started a Paiute war with your shenanigans, boy."
Joe tried a smile out on his father. The odds were slim that it would work, but he had to try. "But, Pa, it wasn't like I forced her to go or anything. I just asked her to go to the dance with me. She was more than willing."
Ben rolled his eyes and stopped in front of his son. He glared down at the boy. "She's a Paiute girl, princess even. They have an entirely different set of rules concerning appropriate behavior between young ladies and men.
Little Joe couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips. His Pa was certainly right about that aspect anyway, and LJ had the hickies on his neck to prove it. Princess Sara was anything but a shy, innocent Indian girl. He adjusted his neckerchief slightly, hoping any evidence was safely hidden by the fabric.
"What is that grin for?" Ben asked sharply.
"Nothing, Pa," Little Joe said and studied the floor once more.
Ben scowled. Was there even more going on here than he realized? His tone dropped to the low, even tone that LJ knew signaled his father's most intense displeasure. "Joseph, I don't know if you realize just how angry I am with you. But even if you don't understand, I'm certain you will feel it.”
Little Joe's eyes flew to his Pa's face, fear dancing in his emerald eyes. "Pa, c'mon. It was just a date."
"Yes, it was. But it was a date that went against my instructions for you to stay away from the Paiutes." He grabbed his youngest son's chin and tilted it up so Little Joe was forced to look him in the eyes. "Were my orders unclear Joseph?"
Joe wrinkled his nose. "No, sir."
"Then I can only interpret your actions tonight to be of the most serious kind -- blatant disobedience. Am I correct?" Ben said, not loosening his grip on his son's chin.
Little Joe bit his lip and didn't answer. The only response he had to give would only get him into more trouble, so silence seemed to be the best option -- if he could get away with it.
"Joseph, I asked you a question and I expect an answer. Blatant disobedience. Am I correct?"
Little Joe put his hands behind his back, covering his bottom before answering. "Yes, sir."
Ben let go of Joe's chin. "And what is the punishment for blatant disobedience in this house when you are sixteen years old?"
"Aw, Pa..."
Ben glared at him as he waited for an answer.
Little Joe scuffed the floor with his boots. "A tanning."
Ben nodded. "A very well deserved one." He slid his belt from his loops. "And one whose effects will last several days longer than those hickies on your neck, I might add."
Joe's mouth dropped open. How could Pa know? A worse thought -- how bad was this tanning going to be, now that he did know? His father didn't approve of boys his age being alone with girls even, let alone the prolonged kissing and touching that had taken up the first part of his evening with Princess Sara. Joe backed up until he was against his bureau. "But Pa, I’ve got that string of horses to break for the Johnsons tomorrow," he said hopefully.
Ben advanced on his young son until he was standing right before the boy. "Yes, I’ve thought about that. Your brother Adam told me he would be more than willing to take your place." Ben smiled inwardly at the scowl that crossed Joe’s face. "So, thanks to him, I will be able to give you the tanning you so richly deserve." He grabbed Little Joe by the upper arm. "C’mon son. Let’s get it over with," he said and started to drag the boy over to the bed.
"Pa…" Little Joe whined, "Isn’t there some other way?" He would have liked to have pried his Pa’s fingers off his arm, but knew that would only add to his punishment. No, humble and apologetic was the only way to start off a tanning, the only way that ensured it would be over the quickest.
Ben stopped and looked at his son. "As a matter of fact there is."
Joe did a doubletake. "There is?"
"Yes, the next time you can obey my instructions, and then you won’t end up across my lap again." Ben pulled the boy across his lap and raised his hand which clutched the doubled belt tightly. "So please remember this tanning the next time you think about disobeying me Joseph."
*******
Adam and Hoss sat on the sofa in the great room, listening to the crack of belt against bottom and the strangled yelps of their youngest brother. Both knew that silence was impossible when on the receiving end of a tanning from Ben Cartwright.
Hoss cringed at the sound. "That boy can sure get into trouble, Adam. What’re we going to do about it?"
"I’m hoping Pa will be able to get through to him sooner or later." Adam took a sip from his coffee cup and smiled. "Or at the very least, we’re going to have to buy Pa a new belt for Christmas. I think over about the last three months he about has that one wore out.”
Hoss grinned. “I seem to recall Pa wearing one out on your backside too, older brother.”
Adam laughed in return. “Fair enough, but you have to admit the two of us together never got into half the trouble our baby brother has gotten into, and he’s got a few years before he’s grown up yet.”
“Well, it’ll certainly be entertaining, to say the least,” Hoss said and contemplated the future.
*****END*****
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