PRIDE & PROMISES
(Based on characters created by David Dortort)
Lorne Green as Ben Cartwright
Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright
Dan Blocker as Hoss Cartwright
Michael Landon as Little Joe Cartwright
PART ONE
They'd taken their usual places at the breakfast table - Ben at its head
with his eldest son Adam opposite him. Little Joe sat on Ben's left and Hoss
on his right. They exchanged "good mornings" as they limped down the stairs
into the living room. But they were more like grunts then greetings. The
salutations were anything but genuine.
The four men sat seemingly occupied by the plate of bacon and eggs Hop Sing
had served them. The only sound was the rhythmic beat of chewing temporarily
interrupted by the gulping of coffee and the grinding of forks against the
china.
Ben stared crossly at his food. Physically he was there but his mind was
elsewhere. Little Joe yawned and picked at his eggs. They were too runny. He
hated runny eggs. He did not complain though, afraid to break the silence
that was so loud it made his ears ring.
Hoss shoveled his breakfast into his mouth like he always had. Fatigued or
not, there wasn't much that could stunt his ravenous appetite. He glanced up
from under his brow periodically to see if it was safe. It wasn't.
Adam leaned his right elbow on the table encircling his plate with his
forearm. It was like he was protecting his food from predators. There was no
reason to - there was always plenty to eat.
The three boys had been walking on eggshells for weeks. Their father had
taken on a terrific workload and had nothing on his mind but business. Adam
warned that he had bitten off more then he could chew but Ben dismissed his
son's advice. That was rare as Ben often sot Adam's opinion on everything
from town disputes to managing the Ponderosa. Yes, Adam was his son but Ben
considered him a peer and respected his sensibility and intellect. Lately
that didn't seem to matter.
The Cartwright's had received several orders of timber. They'd bid on three
jobs and been awarded all of them - something they did not expect. One order
would have been sufficient. The foursome along with their crew had been
working fourteen-hour days for over a month. Tired was too tame a word to
describe their exhaustion.
Thankfully, most of the lumber had been cut and delivered but it had delayed
their yearly cattle drive. It was quickly closing in on autumn and it would
be a race to get the herd round up and driven from the high country before
the snow flew. If it did they would be out of luck. There would be no beef
to sell. The stock had been promised and Ben intended to deliver come hell
or high water. A promise to Ben Cartwright might as well have been carved in
stone.
So, there was no rest for the weary. Adam, Hoss and Little Joe wanted at
least a few days off but were afraid to ask. Their Pa's frame of mind
prevented that. This morning the trip would begin and Ben wasted no time
downing his breakfast. He sopped up his last morsel of egg yoke with his
toast and wiped his mouth with his napkin.
"Well boys." He barked tossing the cloth over his cleaned plate. "You
ready?"
"Huh Pa?" Adam interrupted nervously. If anyone could ask a favour or their
father it was Adam. "Hoss and Joe and I were talking and we were hoping we
could... I don't know... maybe take today off - at least one day to
recuperate. We could start back to work bright and early tomorrow. Looks
like rain anyway. I sure would like to finish that book I started last
spring."
"You would, would you?" Ben frowned.
"Yes I would. Let's face it Pa, you've been pushing pretty hard lately?"
"Oh I've pushed you too hard have I?"
"Well. We got all the orders in on time. We're... a little tired." Adam
chuckled forcedly.
"TIRED!" Ben shouted. "Now listen here." He placed his elbow on the table
and pointed his finger at each of his sons. "When you boys were too young to
help around here who do you think cut the timber and drove the cattle and
mended fences?"
"You did Pa." Adam sighed impatiently.
"THAT'S RIGHT. I did!"
"Well. Aren't you tired Pa?" Little Joe piped up with a plastered grin. He
regretted it when his father glared ominously at him. Joe steered his eyes
back to the puddle of ocher that lay cold on his plate and drew lines
through it with his fork.
"Come on Pa. One day isn't going to make a difference now. Not one day."
Adam's voice was getting stronger.
"Don't you 'come on' me young man. Those cattle are sold and need to be
delivered and that's exactly what we are going to do... understood!"
"Yes sir." Adam resigned.
"Our reputation is at stake here. Can't you see that?"
"Reputation? Since when has there ever been an issue with our reputation?
We've always delivered Pa. And we will this time. And, I still don't think
one day of leisure is going to compromise our reputation or our deadline."
Adam spouted boldly.
"I don't like your tone boy."
"Well, I'm sorry if you don't like my tone. But, I can't say that I like
this obsessive attitude you've adopted lately." Adam hissed. "I thought the
Civil War had missed Nevada but it seems slavery is alive and well on the
Ponderosa."
Both Hoss and Little Joe ducked slightly at Adam's cutting remark. They
could almost feel the breeze it produced as it flew across the table.
Comments like that often passed their older brother's lips and they were
never well taken. Their faces scrunched as if they'd been pinched. They
could feel the heat radiate from Ben's face. Adam lowered his head and
sheepishly picked up his last piece of bacon and popped it in his mouth. He
did not make eye contact with his father.
"Just - whom - do you think you are talking to?" Ben retorted with fire in
his eyes.
Hoss and Little Joe stayed as still as possible. They didn't want to get hit
by whatever might get thrown next. Their eyes shifted back and forth from
Adam to Ben then from Ben to Adam. It was like they were watching a
horseshoe match. After several moments of deafening silence Adam stood and
rested his clenched fists on the table.
"Quite frankly Pa. I'm not sure who I'm talking to anymore."
Adam then walked deliberately toward the front door and grabbed his coat,
hat and holster. He left the house slamming the door behind him.
Ben remained seated with his mouth a gap. Hoss and Little Joe looked at
their father wondering what his reaction might be to Adam's dramatic exit.
"What are you two looking at?" He barked.
"Nothing Pa. Nothing."
"Well, finish up your breakfast and lets get going. Time is money boys
whether your brother thinks so or not!"
"Yes sir."
++++++++
Adam was saddled and ready and sat atop Sport. Sport was a leggy chestnut
quarter horse with four bright white socks. His coat shone like a new penny
even though the sun was masked by storm clouds. But, the sky wasn't the only
thing that was stormy. The tension in the air was thicker than molasses in
February.
Ben appeared through the front door of the house throwing on his coat like
he was wrestling with it. He walked to the barn with mission in his step.
His two younger sons followed. Adam did not acknowledge his family but
rather curled his collar up to break the wind. He leaned both forearms on
the horn of his saddle and looked off into the distance with a scowl.
He'd argued bitterly with his father before, but this time was different.
This time Adam was angry at Ben not Ben's opinion. Their Pa had changed in
recent months and the boys were feeling the pain. It would be a long drive.
At least six weeks on the trail - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The
prospect was daunting and Adam wondered if he could handle it.
He waited patiently for his brothers and father to tack up and join him.
Adam would keep his distance for a while - lay low. He was madder than a
rabid badger right now and knew he'd have to settle down before he could
even look at his Pa. If he didn't he'd say something else he might regret
and that would be it. When he simmered down, maybe by supper, he'd try and
talk again. But would Ben listen?
PART TWO
The rain did come. Steady and unrelenting. The weather just added to the
Cartwright's misery. Ben had taken the lead with Hoss and Little Joe in
single file behind him. Adam kept up but just barely. His self-inflicted
separation irked Ben and Adam knew it. It didn't make the trip any easier
and Hoss decided to fall back and keep his brother company. He hoped he'd be
received. Hoss usually played arbitrator when disagreements came up. He
figured Adam was a safer bet then Ben at this point.
"How you holding up?" Hoss asked as he rode closely beside his brother.
"Holding up?"
"Nasty weather ain't it?"
"Yep."
"Listen Adam." Hoss paused. "We got a long trip ahead of us and it's gonna
be a heck of a lot longer if you and Pa ain't talkin'."
Adam gave no comment.
"Look Adam. Pa's just tired is all. We're all of us tired. Why don't you go
on up there and talk to him. I c'ain't take this no more."
"No."
"No? Well why not dad burn it?"
"Hoss. Pa has got to realize that we are just as much a part of the
Ponderosa as he is. We put just as much blood and sweat into the ranch as he
has. And, this 'all work and no play' regiment isn't healthy for anyone."
"Yeah, but Adam..."
"No but's Hoss. You and me and Little Joe are not a cavalry regiment
dictated to by a... well, never mind."
"By a what Adam?"
"Never mind I said." He retorted curtly.
"Okay. Okay. I was just tryin' to help is all."
"Well, you and Little Joe don't need to worry. This is between me and Pa."
"Well that's where you're wrong older brother. We do need to worry."
"Oh. Why's that?"
"Cause me and Joe's gotta live ya. And lately - that ain't been easy."
Hoss picked up speed and rejoined Little Joe and Ben. His last words dangled
in the air like a swarm of bees and it stung. It made Adam feel like his
brother was taking sides. He knew he wasn't - Hoss just wasn't that sort of
person. But it sure didn't feel good. Now his self-inflicted exile seemed
anything but. All of a sudden he seemed totally alone and he didn't like it.
After several moments of thought, Adam gave in and he too picked up speed
and joined in line. Ben glanced back at him, but they did not lock eyes. It
was a minor victory for Hoss though and he and Little Joe exchanged grins.
They would spend the rest of that day just getting to base camp where they
would meet up with their trail cook and hired hands - eight in all. With
sheets of rain pelting their soured faces the men plodded on.
+++++++
"Here ya go." Hoss said as he offered Adam a plate of beans.
"I'm not hungry."
"Ah, come on Adam. Don't be so ornery. You gotta eat somethin'."
"I said I'm not hungry."
"But you ain't eaten all day."
"What are you? My mother." Adam scoffed. "I don't want any!"
Hoss seemed hurt when he turned to go back to the fire pit. Adam realized he
had no grudge against his brother and was just using him to vent. He stopped
him with a friendly tap.
"Wait." He said. "Give me those beans."
Hoss smiled and turned back to his brother.
Adam had set up his own camp. He wasn't sulking, it was just more
comfortable for now. He thought it would be easier on everyone if he and Ben
were apart even if it was just by a few yards. He thought he'd be less angry
by now, but he wasn't.
Adam propped his saddle against a tree and reclined. He'd already pulled out
his blanket and had it draped around his shoulders. He clasped a cup of
coffee hoping its heat might spread throughout his body. He was soaked to
the skin and as tired as a cowboy could get. Hoss slide down the tree trunk
scratching his back like a grizzly bear. He held the plate of beans level as
he went and sat next to his brother. He passed the beans over. Adam took the
plate and stared at it.
"Huh." Adam sniffed. "I'm almost too tired to chew."
"Me too. I c'ain't remember the last time I was this tuckered."
"You? You were too tired to eat?"
"Oh no Adam. You know me better than that. Since when have I ever been too
tired to eat?"
"True enough." Adam chortled seemingly more relaxed just by conversing with
his calming brother. "So. Do you think I'm right?"
"Right? Right about what Adam?"
"About Pa working everyone to the brink."
"Well, I guess he figures if he can take it so can we."
"Then you are on his side."
"Adam. You know I don't take sides. You're my brother and he's my Pa and
ain't nothin' gonna change that... ever."
"Hoss." Adam exhaled, gesturing his fork full of beans like he was toasting
a glass of champagne. "You're a better man than me."
"Well, I don't know if that's true but I do know one thing for sure."
"Oh. What's that?"
"I sure am a bigger man than you."
Hoss' double-entendre hit Adam over the head like a cattle prod. Hoss was
unaware his remark actually had two meanings but Adam sure did. Was he being
small about this he pondered? He'd talked the whole thing over with his
brothers before breakfast that morning but he seemed to be the only one
overly upset. He'd never been afraid of or complained about hard work
before. Could it just be his fatigue that was making him such a curmudgeon
or was he just being obstinate.
"Listen. Adam. In a few weeks the work'll all be done and Pa'll give us our
due. He always does. It's just this year's been extra busy is all." Hoss
professed. "You're just like him. You're both stubborn as mules in mud.
Don't you know that?"
"I guess I do now."
"Pa ain't never gone back on a promise in his whole life and come to think
of it older brother... neither have you."
"Well... When you're right, you're right."
"It's nice to be right for a change. It's usually me saying that to you."
Hoss quipped with a smirk. "Now go and apologize so's we kin all get a good
night's sleep. We sure could use it."
"I'll talk to Pa, but I can only say I'm sorry for what I said this morning.
I can't apologize about how he's been treating us lately. I still think I'm
right about that."
"It's a start."
"It could be the start of something else." Adam warned.
"Like what?"
"Our own little civil war."
"Oh come on Adam. That's not funny."
"I'm not trying to be funny Hoss." Adam cautioned.
"Well kin ya at least draw a truce or something?"
"I think I can manage a truce. I just hope Pa can."
"You'll never know til you try."
"Hoss. You're right again."
+++++++++
Ben sat on a makeshift bench close to the fire. He was the only one left
after the crew had devoured dinner. Some of the men had already retired.
Little Joe was busy cheating one of the cowhands at checkers while others
chatted or treated their horses to carrots and apples.
Adam approached his father pensively. He picked up the coffee pot and
refilled his cup and took a seat at the opposite end of the bench. Ben
pretended he didn't notice him, but Adam knew full well that he had.
The rain had finally moved on leaving an indigo sky filled with a mass of
stars. Adam gazed up at them, marveling at their shear volume. He sighed
deeply, then sucked in as much fresh mountain air as his lungs could hold.
"Sure am glad the rain's moved on." Adam finally muttered, hoping small talk
might break the ice.
Ben grunted if only to let Adam know that he'd been acknowledged.
"Beautiful isn't it Pa?"
Again Ben mumbled incoherently and a large pause filled the cool, brisk air.
"I'm... I'm sorry." Adam blurted. "For what I said I mean. That was a
terrible thing to say and I apologize."
"You surprised me Adam."
"Oh. How so." He questioned tentatively and then sipped his coffee.
"Comparing me to... well, I thought I raised you better than that son."
"You raised me just fine Pa." Adam said. "You raised all of us just fine.
What I said really had nothing to do with you. It's... well, it's just me I
guess."
"But don't you see. It does have to do with me." Ben put down his cup and
turned to face Adam. "Everything you boys say and do has everything to do
with me. Why do you think I built the Ponderosa. I didn't do it for me Adam,
I did it for you boys."
"Did you Pa? Did you?"
"Yes!" Ben seemed shocked that Adam would question that.
"You're a proud man Pa. And so am I. WE built the Ponderosa. For all of us.
That includes you too. YOU built it for YOU just as much as you built for
us."
Ben slumped knowing full well that Adam was right. The ranch was a team
effort.
"I know you've promised this beef. I know." Adam continued. "I want to
deliver them too. But we don't have to kill ourselves doing it do we?"
Ben did not look at Adam but rather stared at his hands - working one
against the other. The sound they made was like sandpaper on wood.
"I'm promising you now Pa. I'm promising you that we will get this cattle to
market in Stockton no matter what. And do you know why?"
"No... why?" Ben replied wearily finally looking up and into Adam's soulful
eyes.
"Because I'm a chip off the old block that's why." Adam commented allowing a
curvy
smile to take over his complexion.
His charm was blatant but Ben was still upset by Adam's insolence that
morning. It hurt and Ben was just not ready to forgive.
"Well, I'm going to hit the hay." Adam said as he smacked his hands against
his thighs and pushed himself into a standing position. "Are we alright?"
"Sure we are son. Sure we are." But, Ben was not convincing.
"Sleep well then."
"Goodnight. Oh and Adam...?"
"Yeah Pa."
"Take the rest of the day off." Ben smirked wickedly.
"Thanks Pa, I think I'll do just that."
+++++++
As Adam laid his head on his makeshift pillow knots formed in his stomach.
He knew his apology had not been accepted. It wasn't easy for him -
admitting his tongue was sharp and could wound like a snakebite. His father
had seen through Adam's attempt at a truce. Unfortunately it just wasn't
sincere. Ben knew Adam just wanted to make the drive easier. He hadn't
forgiven Adam at all.
Adam had to prove himself now. He'd work harder than his brothers and the
hands put together and then Ben would see. He'd work himself to death if he
had too. He didn't realize then how dangerous pride could be. But, he didn't
care. They'd get the cattle to Stockton - every last one of them, and that
Adam vowed was a promise.
continued in part II