Welcome Bonanza Friends

Story of the Month

“Lemme down, lemme down!”  A small voice demanded and small fists pummelled at the thick wool jacket his older brother was wearing.

            “Nope,” came the firm response. 

            The snow on the sidewalk had turned to a brown sludge that was deep enough to cover boot tops on a four-year-old.  The street was awash with mud and melted snow, which splashed up at passers by as wagons and horses made their way down the main thoroughfare.  Adam had no intention of allowing his little brother to get wet or dirty.  He knew if he did it would be an invitation for a lecture from his stepmother and things had been going well between them recently.

            Joe continued to struggle and pointed toward the brightly lit window of Cass’s mercantile.  “Wanna see…” he shouted.

            Adam was reluctant to move from his position on the corner of the street.  He could see both ways here. It was important to keep an eye out for his stepmother’s emergence from the store, but even more important, to see the door of the dress shop halfway down the side street.  The sixteen year old wasn’t interested in dresses but he was interested in Jennie Morton who had just disappeared inside.  With two weeks to go before the church Christmas social he wanted to be sure she was his date and had not accepted an invitation from one of the other boys’.  He’d been trying to catch her alone all week but she was either in class or with a group of giggling girls.

            “Adam, wanna see!”  Joe repeated loudly as he struggled to get out of his brother’s arms again, giving a firm kick to Adam’s midriff.

            “Stop it,” Adam responded giving his little brother a shake. 

            Hoss had been standing with his nose pressed against the window but at Joe’s shout and Adam’s angry response, he turned around.  “Lemme have him.  We can look in the window and wait for Mama, and you can go make eyes at Jennie Morton.”  Hoss grinned.  He’d been waiting all week to tease his older brother about his latest obsession.  Adam was a great brother and companion most of the time but girls were becoming more important to him than brothers lately. 

            Adam glanced between the stores and he was sorely tempted.  He’d only be a minute and what could happen in a minute.  Past experiences and one look at his little brother should have warned him but the pull of Jennie’s blonde curls and china blue eyes was too great.  “Okay, but don’t let him get down on the sidewalk and call me if Marie finishes her marketing.”  He handed the wriggling bundle over to Hoss who carried Joe to the window.  As soon as he had handed over his charge Adam headed down the hill and out of sight.