Author's Note: Someone reviewing my others stories asked for a story about Hoss. Sorry I forget who as it was a while ago and I came up with this one. It came about as part of my Role of a Father scenario but I'd decided to make it a separate story. I hope that you enjoy it. As usual reviews are always welcome, especially positive ones.

Please note that the same warnings apply for this story as my others. There will be old fashioned style discipline mentioned in the story including spankings or the threat of them. If this bothers you then don't read it. It was the way of things back in the times this story was set yet still people complain about us writers writing about it. The fact is that children were disciplined in this way and like it or not ignoring that fact would be detrimental to the truth of the story. I will ignore or delete reviews which just complain about the content so don't bother writing them.

Disclaimer: All recognisable characters do not belong to me they belong to David Dortort and the other writers of Bonanza episodes. I hope that they don't mind my borrowing them. I try to make the characters as true as canon they made them, but use my creative license on occasions to expand on situations that we never saw them deal with.

"It's your fault we're in here you dumb…."

"If you boys don't hush up I'm gonna be given ya all a reason to be making a noise. Now, hush up whilst I write my reports." Exclaimed Sheriff Roy Coffee.

The largest of the three boys sitting on the bench next to the wall in Sheriff Coffee' front office in the jail, used his elbow to nudge the boy next to him.

"Hey quit it!"

Roy Coffee slammed down his pencil and went to get to his feet when Hoss Cartwright opened the door to the jail.

"Roy, you hear anything about….?" Hoss started before he saw Roy's angry face and followed his gaze to the far wall were he could see 3 suddenly very nervous young boys.

"Oh, what you got here, Roy?"

"3 boys who don't know when to shut up, is what I got Hoss and I'm fixing to set them straight about minding their elders," Roy grumbled and he glared at the boys who looked down at their feet in embarrassment.

"What'll they in here for?"

"Playing a bunch of pranks around town and stealing things from the mercantile and possibly Mrs' Fosters apple pie right offa her windows shelf!"

"WE DID NOT, WE AINT STOLEN NUFFIN!" yelled the large boy.

"BE QUIET!" Yelled the sheriff, making the boy jump in alarm.

Roy turned to Hoss and took a deep breath before he spoke, "Hoss, I ain't heard nothing more about those reports of cattle thieves on the run from Carson City. You can tell your Pa that I'll send word if I hear anything, but just the same I'd station extra guards on your land around the herd just in case. Now I'm kinda busy here as you can see so if there's nothing else….."

Hoss gestured to the boys, "I haven't seen them around town, know you who they belong to?"

"Nope, won't tell me, yet. I don't reckon I've seen them around town, but I do know that I've had me 6 complaints today about boys throwing bad eggs and flour, making a mess in the livery stables and a variety of stuff going missing from windows ledges and the mercantile when I was trying to locate them that did it, I caught them 3 running wild in the town."

"Why haven't you found out where they come from?"

"I'm trying to write up the reports just now, Hoss. Clem has gone off to send telegrams to Reno for the prison wagon to come and get the Walker brothers and so I can't go off to find out anything. I also can't put them boys in the back, what with the Walker brothers being such nasty critters."

"What you gonna do with the boys, Roy?"

"Well I've asked Clem to see if there's any reports come in about any runaways whilst he's down the telegraph office as I'm thinking that these boys are maybe not even from around here. I'll probably have to keep them here tonight but I'm not looking forwards to having to keep them in this here office."

"See….told ... ya….he's gonna find out and send us back?" whispered the smaller of the boys.

"I ain't going back, no way! We'll wait until he's asleep and then make our move. He's an old man and when he nods off we'll sneak out, it don't look like he's gonna be able to lock us up. I hear him tell the other Mister that he's got some bad men in the other cell and he doesn't want to put us back there with them." Whispered one of the young boys.

"But how we gonna get away? Where we gonna go Mike?"

"I dunno, but I'll think of something…."

"Will you boys HUSH UP and stop that whispering, it's rude."

"Can't even whisper now…" grumbled the older boy. Unfortunately for him Roy Coffee might be old, but his hearing was still pretty darn good.

"Boy ya getting on my last nerve, now SHUT UP and if you so much as sass me one more time. I'm gonna take making sitting down comfortably a distant memory."

The middle boy slowly put his hand on his older brother's arm and squeezed it tightly. "I think he means it, Mike."

"I sure do boy. Now the 3 of ya be quiet! I'll be talking to you soon enough and then I'll get you all some grub. Until then please don't make me follow through on my promise or I can assure ya, you'll me mighty sorry."

Roy turned back to Hoss, "Sorry about that Hoss, but as ya can see I got me a difficult situation here."

"So I see, when do you think the prison wagon will be coming in?"

"Oh tomorrow afternoon I guess, if the message gets though."

"Well alright Roy I'll let you get back to your reports."

"Thanks; Hoss say I said hi to your pa and ya brothers will ya."

"Sure will, Roy, and…." Hoss leant in towards the older man and whispered, "Good luck sorting out them 3."

Roy rolled his eyes and nodded, "Thanks I think I'm gonna need it. Boy I'm getting tired of the pranks the young'uns are getting up to in town these days."

Hoss stood up and chuckled as he put on his hat, "You feeling old, sheriff?"

"More and more every day, son." But he grinned at Hoss.

Hoss turned to face the boys before he left the office, "You young'uns don't give the sheriff any more trouble you hear?" he said sternly fixing them with a firm glare.

When he received 3 silent nods he smiled, then winked at Roy and left the jail.

"Sheriff, some of the lines are down..." Clem said as he strode into the jail office.

Roy waved his deputy over and stood up so that they could talk quietly making sure to keep a close eye on the 3 young miscreants.

"Sheriff the prison wagon will be on its way and should be here Wednesday but not tomorrow as they've gotta pick up another prisoner in Carson City to take for Trial in Reno. I've tried checking about the missing children but the lines between Carson City and Placerville are down and Stanley's been told that they're probably not going to be able to get anyone to fix it for a few days. We can't keep them boys here for that long. What are we going to do?"

Sheriff Coffee drew in a breath and released it slowly, trying to calm his racing heartbeat as the young town doctor had told him to when he was getting frustrated.

"Clem, is there any room at Ms Mary's guest house?"

"You're fixing to put them there? She's not gonna be happy to look after them on their own and besides, don't you think they'll just runaway if there's no one keeping an eye on them?"

"Well you got any better ideas, Clem? I can't put them in the cells now can I? Iffin we didn't have any other prisoners then we mighta been able to do that but I can't put them back there with the Walker brothers."

"No you sure can't do that, sheriff," Clem sighed and rubbed at his neck. "I ain't got any better plan for you Roy, but I think you'll have to do some mighty fine talking to Ms. Mary to get her to agree."

"Yeah, I reckon I will at that. Mind the place will ya, Clem. I'll go and see what I can fix up and I'll bring the boys some grub back with me. Can ya get them some water and, make sure that they know that you won't stand for any sass neither."

Clem Foster nodded, "I'll keep a good eye on them for you, sheriff."

He walked past Roy and filled 3 whiskey glasses with water from the jug and took them over to the boys. "Here, I'm sure that you're thirsty. Now I'm gonna be minding you for a while whilst the sheriff goes and gets you some grub. Whilst he's gone you should know that I'm not so patient as him, so you best not try and sass me if you know what is good for you. Understand?"

The 3 boys nodded silently and each took a glass of water and started to sip at it.

Roy Coffee hid a smirk and then left the office to go and arrange for some food for the boys from the café and then to go and see if he could make arrangements for them to stay at the guest house run by Ms. Mary Clements.

Mary Margaret Clements to state her full name, was a feisty Irish widow who ran a small but homely guest house in D Street. Her charges were reasonable and she often looked allowed children to stay with their parents but Roy had no idea if she would agree to mind his 3 charges for the night. Oh Mary could handle the boys if they misbehaved he was pretty sure of that, but Roy had no idea if she would want the responsibility.

After calling into the café and arranging to return to collect the boy's food in 30 minutes, Roy headed for D Street and the guest house.

"No, I'm sorry Roy; I can't, not without their parents. I'm not offering a free babysitting service here you know!" Mary exclaimed.

"Oh now, Ms Mary I know you're not, but what else am I gonna do with 'em?" Roy asked with his hat in his hands.

"I've no idea to be sure, but I know that they're not staying here?"

"Mary, I'm sure that you can handle 3 young boys, they're only maybe 7 or 8, and surely someone like yourself can deal with that!"

"Oh I sure can, Sheriff Coffee and I have no problem with reprimanding naughty children staying here with their parents who try to run around my house or mess with my things, but like I already told you I'm not running a babysitting service. I'm trying to run a respectable guest house, Sheriff and I can't do that and be nurse maid to 3 troublesome boys. How can I look after my guests and do that, hmm?"

Roy Coffee sighed and refused the cup of coffee the guest house owner tried to thrust into his hands. "I'm sorry Ms. Mary, you're right of course. Thank you for the offer of the coffee but I've got to go and see if I can find somewhere to keep those young'uns safe for the night."

"Sheriff Roy, I'm really sorry I couldn't help you with those children, but my first priority has got to be to my paying guests. You understand don't you?"

"Yeah …I understand Mary. Well, I best be off and see what I can do, good day to ya."

"Good day, Sheriff. I hope that you do find someone to help."

"Yeah, so do I or it's gonna be a long night…" muttered Roy under his breath as he walked out the door.

Roy tried the International hotel, and the other two not so well run guest houses in town. He was really hoping that neither would be able to offer to take the boys for him, but he wanted to be able to assure himself that he had at least tried. Getting 'no' answers from all three, he looked at his watch and realised that he needed to go and collect the boys food and return to the jail house to relieve his deputy.

On his way back to the café, he passed the Bucket of Blood and was almost bowled over by Hoss Cartwright coming out of the door. Roy actually fell down the boardwalk steps onto the dusty street when Hoss bumped into him.

"Hey, I'm sorry, Roy." Hoss said offering the older man his hand.

"So you should be, Hoss," grumbled Roy as he walked back up the steps onto the boardwalk.

"I thought you were minding your young charges Roy. Who you got holding the fort?"

"Clem," replied Roy. "I've been out trying to find somewhere safe for them to stay the night and maybe two, just until I get rid of the Walker boys and find out where they come from. Trouble is the prison wagon might not be here until Wednesday and the telegraph lines are down between Carson and Placerville so I can't even find out if the orphanage is missing some boys."

"You find somewhere for them to stay yet?"

"Nope, gonna have to keep them at the jail and find them some blankets to make up beds on the floor in the front office I guess."

"I'll take them."

"What?"

"Let me take 'em home with me, Roy. Caroline and I can keep 'em safe and you know I'll be able to handle them. After all I've had me a lot of practice with my younger brother and his mischief making."

Sheriff coffee wiped his brow with his handkerchief, "Ah….I don't know, Hoss your kind of soft, aren't ya?"

"I am not!" Hoss said indignantly. "Are you saying that I'd be given the run around by 3 young boys? What are they 7, maybe 8 years old? Damn it, Roy I can handle those boys and so can Caroline. Don't you worry none, we'd be able to keep them under control."

Roy held up his hands in apology. "I'm sorry Hoss; I didn't mean it to come out like that. I don't mean you're a softie and aren't man enough to hand children. What I mean was that I'm not sure that you and Caroline could handle 3 sassy little boys all in one go. After all neither of you has any experience parenting. Boys their age get into all sorts of mischief and mayhem together and taking on 3 at once…..well I just think that it might be a bit much for ya is all."

Hoss' face fell and Roy put his hand on the younger man's shoulder. "Hoss Cartwright….. Dang it…I'm sorry boy, I know you and Caroline wanted so much to have children and I shoulda thought more about what I was saying. Look, I think for what it's worth that you'd make a great Pa to someone and Caroline the way she supports the women having babies would be a good Mama…..but 3 boys, …..well…it's a lot of responsibility."

"It's only overnight, maybe even a few days, Roy and you ain't got a better offer have ya?"

"No, I sure haven't." Roy shook his head and looked at the ground before removing his hat and running his right hand through his thinning grey hair. It would certainly solve his problem for tonight and he was certain that the boys would be more comfortable than sleeping down on his office floor. Also he and Clem wouldn't have to worry about keeping an eye on the young boys and dealing with the Walker Brothers at the same time, let alone doing their rounds in town at night.

"Alright Hoss, if you're quite sure, you can take the boys back to your place until I can get rid of my prisoners and find out where the boys really belong."

"Thanks, Roy. I won't let you down and the boys will be safe with us."

"I know they will, son but I bet you're gonna have to have eyes in the back of your head whilst you've got 'em." Roy slapped Hoss on the upper arm, "Come on, you can help me get their grub and you can take 'em home with ya. But I gotta tell you, son don't you be complaining to me that you don't get any sleep!"

Both men laughed and Hoss followed Roy to collect the food from the café.

The boys were given plates of food and another glass of water and Roy poured Hoss some coffee and the two men chatted whilst the children ate.

"Clem, the boys will be going with Hoss to his homestead until we get rid of the Walker Brothers. Why don't you go and get some rest and come and relive me around 10 tonight?"

"Thanks, I will sheriff, take care Hoss. I hope you know what you've talked yourself in to." Chuckled Clem as he shook hands with Hoss and then put on his hat. He admonished the boys to listen to everything they were told to do at Hoss' home and left the jail to go and get some shut eye.

Roy and Hoss watched Clem walk out the door but then there was a lot of yelling coming from the cells.

"Hey sheriff, how come those mangy kids are getting fed and my brother and me ain't?" yelled Franklin Walker.

"Because they're needing a good meal more than you. Now be quiet, you're gonna get your meal at 6 like I told ya!" The sheriff yelled back.

"Don't damn well seem right that you're feeding kids before us though. What about our damn rights here, eh sheriff? Surely us men got more rights than them f'ing kids." Yelled the younger Walker brother Clyde.

Roy Coffee shook his head and sighed deeply, "Excuse me, Hoss, but I gotta go and have a word with my prisoners. You boys make sure you listen to Mr Cartwright until I get back, right?"

Roy waited for the boys to acknowledge him with a nod of the head and then he stormed back to the cells.

"Now you see here, boys you're in jail which means that I'm in charge, not you. I don't appreciate it when my prisoners start demanding things, especially when I got three impressionable young'uns in my front office having to listen to ya cursing up a storm. Now I know you think ya bad men, but iffin you don't keep your mouths shut then I've a mind to not feed ya any meals at'll, excepting bread and water like the old days. And ya can wait until you get to the prison for a decent meal."

"But…." Clyde started.

The sheriff held up his hands to interrupt, "I mean it boys, don't think I won't do what I said. I'm tired and I'm just not in the mood to deal with ya. So, it's your choice, shut ya yapping and cursing until I get rid of these kids or eat bread and water. What'll it be?"

Clyde looked at his brother Frank who nodded reluctantly. "Alight sheriff, but that meal you're getting us better be worth it!"

"It'll be d… uhm better than you boys deserve, considering all you've done but the law says I gotta make sure that you get looked after until you are outta my hands so I'm gonna do my duty. Now you keep the cursing outta my jail and I'll go and sort out getting these kids outta my jail house." With that Sheriff Coffee turned on his heels to head back to the front office.

Whilst Roy was in the back with his prisoners Hoss was getting acquainted with the boys. Taking a seat on the sheriff's desk he looked at them, "You boys looked like you're enjoying Ms. Lucy's grub. Pretty good isn't it?"

The boys all nodded and continued to shovel the stew into their mouths in between biting on the bread rolls as if they hadn't eaten in days, which is what Hoss believed, had happened anyway. He was almost correct, they had actually stolen the pie from the window ledge to share earlier as they hadn't eaten since yesterday morning, when they ran out of the loaf of bread and jerky they had stolen from a house on the way to Virginia City.

When the boy's spoons were scrapping the bowls, they dropped them and used their fingers to scoop up and lick the last of the gravy before draining their glasses of water and then larger boy burped loudly.

Hoss chuckled at that and was fixed with a firm glare from the young boy which only made Hoss chuckle even more. "My, you boys sure were hungry, weren't ya?"

"How you doing out here, Hoss?" asked Roy as he closed the door between the front office and the cell block.

"We're just fine Roy. The boys have finished their stew and I gotta tell ya they sure were mighty hungry. Why I think they could have eaten a horse between them if it was put in front of them."

"That right? Well I guess that means that they'll be fighting you for food if you take them with ya, you sure you still wanna take them home?" Roy asked smiling widely.

Hoss guffawed, "Yeah I'm sure, 'sides Caroline's used to people with pretty good appetites." He rubbed his ample belly causing Roy to chuckle. "Yep I'm sure will be just fine, Roy."

"Suit, ya self." Roy went and stood in front of the boys. "Right, you boys listen up and listen good. This here is Mr. Hoss Cartwright. He's kindly offered to take you home to his place tonight and maybe to stay another night whilst I wait to get rid of my prisoners. Now whilst you are there, I expect you to mind him and do everything he tells ya or I'm gonna come and bring you back here and you'll have to stay in jail. Mr. Cartwright and his misses are real good people and they'll take good care of ya whilst I find out where you come from so as we can let ya parents know and they can come and get ya. Ya all understand?"

The boys looked at each other anxiously but then nodded that they understood. Roy turned back to Hoss, "Alright, Hoss they're all yours, take 'em away."

"Thanks Roy, don't worry about anything, we'll be just fine. OK Boys, I got my wagon out the front, come on lets go."

The boys rose and Hoss gently put his hand on the shoulder of the young coloured boy, Ray who immediately winced as if in great pain. "Hey now, I'm sorry, I didn't think I was that heavy handed."

"You ain't Mr…Ray…done…..."

"SHUT IT MIKE!" yelled Ray. And he pushed the other boy out the door.

Hoss was quick to stop the boys fighting, "Hey now, there's gonna be none of that. You boy, what was ya gonna say?"

Mike looked at Ray who shook his head at his friend causing Hoss to be suspicious. Hoss knelt down on one knee in front of Ray, and carefully lifted the boys shirt away from his collar and he saw the shoulder was bruised with purple and yellow bruising showing. "Roy, ROY! Get out here!" Hoss bellowed.

The sheriff ran down the steps, "What is it Hoss?"

"Take a look at this. You seen this?"

The sheriff looked and paled, "No, Hoss, I never saw it and the boy didn't get that under my watch! How'd ya get all that bruising boy?" the sheriff asked.

Ray looked down at his feet and refused to answer, so the sheriff turned to the other boys. "Either of you boys know how this happened?"

Both of the young boys nodded, "Well, are ya gonna tell me?" Sheriff Coffee asked.

Both boys shook their heads slowly and Ray breathed a small sigh that his friends were keeping his secret.

Hoss released the boys clothing and slowly stood up. "Roy I don't know who did this but if I ever find out I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to stop myself knocking his block off!"

The sheriff nodded, "You won't have ta, if I find out I'm gonna do it and then make sure he gets locked up. You better take the boys to the doctor. Hoss, I'm real sorry I didn't know about this. You want to take the others and leave me with looking out for him?"

"No, NO. I'll take all the boys to get checked out then I'm taking them home. I'll sort out the doctor's bills and get him to write ya a statement of his injuries for the record."

Sheriff Coffee slapped the younger man on the back. "You're a good man, Hoss Cartwright your pa would be mighty proud of ya."

Hoss inclined his head and grinned, "Ah shucks, Roy stop embarrassing me, it ain't nothing. Alright boys, we'll leave the wagon here and we're going to all go see the doc."

At the boys alarmed faces he held up his hands, "Hey don't ya worry now. Dr. Simon is a real friendly doctor and he ain't gonna hurt ya none. Might even get a lollipop from him if you're good. Come on then. See ya later Roy."

"If you're sure Hoss, make sure the doc drops that statement off tonight will ya? I can't leave the jail until Clem relieves me at 10."

"I will, Roy. Alright young'uns lets go." Hoss pointed the direction of the doctors and Hoss and the boys slowly trudged down the boardwalk.