joe's Guestbook

Lynda couldn't help but smile as she listened to what Joe had to say. She also noticed a smile that was coming up on his face, despite the fact that Joe was trying not to. Then a thought it her as she noticed something else about Joe, which she wasn't about to say out loud. She couldn't help but notice how much he looked like Maurice and that made her smile. That also meant that Joe and Jennie's mother was her daughter, which explained why she never got along with her. Lynda shook the thoughts off before they manifested on her fact, which would bring questions that she just wasn't ready to answer yet. As Joe was eating his ice cream and taking a few seconds to gather his thoughts, Lynda decided to go ahead and speak on the things that Joe had already said. "Of course I mean it," she told him. "I have a habit of doing that, you know," she said with a chuckle and then her expression changed and went soft as she heard Joe said what he said about not seeing her as another person who just lived in the house. And that brought of the thought of when and if Lynda should tell Joe the truth about who she really was. That was when the frown came and soon Lynda looked down at the floor and then back up at Joe, hoping he didn't see the confusion in her eyes, which she did her best to try to hide. It was just at that moment that Joe started speaking again since his mouth was now empty from ice cream and once he was done speaking to her, at least for the time, which gave Lynda the opportunity to speak again, even as she watched Joe push his ice cream bowl away.

"I'm not uncomfortable around you Joe," Lynda told him honestly, which was the truth, she really wasn't. She had a smile on her face, though she couldn't help but chuckle at what he said about Jennie, even though she knew that Jennie did have a bit of a temper, but that was because she was like her mother. Lynda cleared her throat and went on speaking. "Be nice to your sister," Lynda told him. "She may have a temper, like you, because it runs in the family," she told Joe without even thinking of what she was saying. But it finally did it her as to what she said and then paused for a few minutes to rethink her thoughts, which once she had them collected and rearranged, she began to speak to Joe again, this time answering what she heard him say while she was gathering her thoughts. "And that's why I want to get you help before you end up doing something that gets you into trouble that nobody can get you out of," she told him as she reached over and gently put her hand on his. "I know you aren't a bad person, or you are doing things on purpose to get into trouble," she told him. Then Lynda's expression softened as she went on speaking to him. "Nobody is waiting for you to mess up," she said. "Everybody just wants to keep you out of the kind of trouble that could lead to prison or worse," she told him as she chuckled and got up to take her bowl to the sink as well and once Joe finished rinsing his bowl, she quickly rinsed hers. Then she grabbed her purse, keys and phone while Joe grabbed his cell phone. And soon they were out the door, with Lynda only stopping for a few minutes to lock the front door behind her. Then she walked with Joe to her truck, replying to the last few thoughts he told her. "Don't worry, they won't be out of the good stuff, but in case they are, I do know an awesome Italian place across the street from the hospital that I go for lunch, nearly everyday, that you might like just as good," she said with a chuckle as Joe walked to the passenger's side and she to the driver's side. Once they were both inside and as Lynda pulled out her keys and got it into the ignition, she turned and looked at Joe with the warmest smile she had. "I would love to help you pick something out," she added as her smile got warmer and her facial expression got softer. Then Lynda turned back to the front of the truck, turned the key on and soon her and Joe were pulling out of the driveway and headed towards Virginia City and the mall.

Lynda smiled as she continued to eat her ice cream slowly. She was listening to ever word that he was saying very carefully and when her mouth was completely empty and Joe had taken a breath, Lynda began to speak to him. "Joe, I want you to take your time at getting to know me. I want you to make up your own mind about the things I say and do," she added. "And I want you to come to your own realization that I'm not here to replace or rule over anybody. I'm here because I fell deeply and madly in love with your father, who from what I can see, has raised a fine looking boy who, despite having some problems that can be treated, will make a great man someday," she said as she stopped for a few minutes to stir her ice cream before going on with her thoughts. "I'm glad that you hear what I'm saying, but I don't want you to do anything that you aren't ready for or are uncomfortable with. I'm just happy being called Lynda and being a part of your life, even if you see me as just another person that lives here," she told him honestly and then held up her hand and began to speak. "And I'm not just saying this to make you feel guilty or anything like that. I generally want you to be comfortable with me and I want to be with you," she added. "If truth be told, I'm still a little uncomfortable around you and jennie," she told him and then paused for a little bit to eat a couple of bites of her ice cream as she let Joe maul that over in his mind. Joe and Lynda sat there eating their ice cream in silence for a little while until Joe started talking about how she didn't have to do the whole trying thing.

Lynda at several more bites as Joe was talking. When he was finally able to take a breathe and eat some of his ice cream, she took the opportunity to speak again. "Well, I'm not exactly doing the whole trying thing as you put it," she told him. "I just figured that you would want a room that you can turn into your safe space while I get to clean it and have a calm mind in the process," she said with a smile on her face. She couldn't help herself and gave Joe a friendly wink. Then she went on speaking as she was now playing with her ice cream and watching it slowly melt. "Joe, I've been a doctor for a very long time," she told him in a tone that wasn't an upset tone, but rather a somber tone. "And I've seen and dealt with a lot from patients and their families and even in my own life," she said as she paused for a few minutes and then went on. "So believe me when I say, I can handle anything you throw at me. So don't worry so much about getting patience right," she said with a smile. "Just knowing that you are trying your best is good enough for me," she added as her tone changed from a somber to a more playful and motherly tone. "Don't worry, I will only be making suggestions. Everything that I get for you today is all your decision," she said as she thought about what he said about what he said about the mall and the food court. She ate a couple more bites of her ice cream before she realized that she was done with it. She got up from the table and took her bowl to the sink and began to rinse it out, still not saying much of anything. Once she was done doing that, she turned and leaned against the sink with a huge smile on her face. "You know, the food court has some of the best food," she. So, yea, we can get a bite to at that food court when we get to the mall," she said still smiling. But it was when Joe thanked her that made her smile glow even brighter than before. "You are very welcome," she told him. "Now hurry up before all the best stuff gets bought first," she said still wearing that same bright smile.

Andrew listened to Joe as they were now in Virginia City. They had stopped for a little bit so that the horses could get some water and rest, though neither one got off their horses. Andrew couldn't help but look over at his little brother. Andrew knew it was good to see Joe smile for once, even if it was just a half-crooked smile. It was then that Joe had finished speaking what was on his mind, which a peaceful silence fell over the both of them for just a little while. Finally, after about 10 minutes of peaceful silence and them looking at the town people, Andrew began to finally speak to his little brother after he cleared his throat. "Little Joe, I understand where you are coming from," Andrew told Joe as he turned to look at him. "School isn't easy for a lot of people," Andrew added and then went on. "I know, I have tutored my fair share of people," he added. "But I meant what I said. You are smarter than what you give yourself credit for. And I understand that school can feel like you are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, because it feels that way to everyone from time to time," Andrew told Joe as he pulled away from the watering trough.

"But that doesn't mean you can't work through it with help," he added as both horses were drinking and resting before Andrew and Joe went on riding.  Andrew started thinking that he might be getting a bit too preachy, so he went on to speak about the ranch."There's nothing like being outside with the wide-open sky and the stars and moon shining over head," Andrew said as Joe soon followed Andrew's actions and pulled his horse away from the watering trough. Both Andrew and Joe began to ride once again, though they really weren't heading anywhere in particular. Andrew chuckled when he heard Joe talk about Adam and Pa coming home dirty and tired and with ripped shirts. "And there's nothing wrong with a little hard labor to make a man feel accomplished, though some of those times they came back dirty and some clothes tore was just more than work," Andrew said as he winked at Joe. "Sometimes they had to put a ranch hand or two back in line," he added as he went back to his original thought. "But like you said, there's nothing better than being out on the Ponderosa, especially when you are trying to put some knowledge inside your noodle," he said with a chuckle before he got really serious as Andrew moved onto the subject of Lynda. Andrew listened to everything Joe said and deep down, he knew that Joe did actually mean every word.

When it was Andrew's turn, both he and Joe turned their horses left and rode down to the street to the stable so that they could walk to the best restaurant that had the best and yet biggest sandwiches. Andrew cleared his throat and began to speak on what Joe had just told him. "I know that you meant every word you just told me," Andrew said as he went on speaking. "But don't you think, and don't get upset with me for asking this," Andrew told Joe as he went on asking his questions. "That maybe one way to prove that you want to be responsible and know the value of a dollar is to actually do what Lynda wanted to you to do in the first place?" Andrew asked. "I mean, and remember, don't get mad at me now," Andrew reminded Joe. "To me, that would seem like the most logical thing to do, at least to me anyway," Andrew said with a chuckle as they were getting closer to the stable in which they would board their horses until they were done eating. "I know that her way isn't very orthodox, but still, you have to admit it was a pretty good way to prove Lynda that you could handle responsibility," he added with a chuckle and then got serious again. "But I'm glad you will talk to her and give her a chance," he said as they reached the stable. "Maybe between the two of you, you guys can come up with something that would make you both happy," he said as he stopped his horse and then got off. As Andrew stood there in front of his horse, waiting on Joe, he went on speaking. "Now what do you say we stable our horses and then go have a great big sandwich in honor of our brother Hoss," Andrew suggested with a smile.

Lynda_Singer_Winchester says:"Actually, I found it most pleasing in several different ways," she said with that smirk on her face as she took another spoonful of ice cream and ate it. She knew that Joe was still feeling a bit anxious but at least they had a real dialog going on and she knew that was the first step in fixing things this rift that was between them. After listening to what Joe had to say and once her mouth was empty, she began to talk to him. "Joe, you can call me whatever you feel most comfortable with," she told him honestly. "I don't care if you ever call me mom," she added and then went on as he continued eating his ice cream. "I just want you to know that I love you as much as your other stepmothers and even your mother," she told him. "That's all that matters to me," she said sincerely before she started chuckling over what Joe said about the tree stuff. "And as for the tree stuff," she started. "I have 5 boys and 2 girls of my own with Jamie being the youngest so far, and you quickly learn how to speak in things that boys or girls can relate too. And since my boys loved climbing trees, that's what I use for the metaphors," she told him. "Between you and me, I do  believe in what I'm saying, but I'm not all that crazy about trees," she said laughing and then went on to eat some more ice cream as she listened to Joe speak about his room and his sister Jennie and for a moment she could hear disbelief in his voice.

Once her mouth was empty, she began to speak to him with a sincere tone. "Yes I'm really going to redo everything, for you, Jennie and Jamie, I kind of owe him," she said with a chuckle and then went back to being serious and sincere at the same time. "I know what I did was wrong and after living the life I have, there's still a few things that haven't left me and probably won't either," she said. "So, I'm asking you and Jennie to be patient with me and in return I'll be more patient with you two," she added as she paused so Joe could finish his thoughts and when he was done, she finished hers. "That's why I'm doing this for you guys. I want you to be able to have a place that's yours but also very calming so that those voices or whatever it is you feel you have in your head will calm down enough for you to get your thoughts together. You're welcome, but it was always my intent to ask you for your input. I mean after all it is your room and you will be sleeping there," she said laughing. "Now let's finish our ice cream so that we can hit the mall," she said as she was getting ready to take a bit but then stopped to speak once more. "And by the way, I pick great computers. After all, I have to the top of the line at work," she said with a chuckle. "But I was always going to let you choose," she added and then took a bite of ice cream

Lynda chuckled at what Joe said about his father saying Rocky Road is too messy. She too had been playing with her ice cream too before taking a bite. Once the ice cream in her mouth was gone, she began to speak to Joe in a soft and gently tone, almost like a mother's tone. "Don't believe that for a minute. I have seen your father eat Rocky Road plenty of times, even in bed," she said with a chuckle. "But yes, Rocky Road always did seem to be the perfect solution to anything and everything that could be wrong," she said as she took another spoonful and took a bit. And as she was eating it, she was listening to what Joe was saying and she couldn't help but think about the words and how she wouldn't push him to do anything he wasn't ready for, but something deep down she knew he would come around much sooner rather than later, though she thought it would be years. Once again, after her mouth became empty again, she began to speak to him on the subject one last time before moving on. "Joe, honey, I'll answer to whatever you want to call me, good or bad," she told him. "I just want you to be happy and safe and ready for whatever may come," she told him as she moved onto the tree metaphor once more before totally being done with it.

"Well, you are still growing and letting your roots take hold of the ground below you," she told him. "And that's exactly what a tree does. It just stands there taking the force of every storm that comes its way with grit," she told him. "Yes, while sometimes trees get bent and sometimes branches do break, but eventually new branches grow back, stronger and better than ever and even though the bent tree is a little mishappened, but that doesn't make it any less strong or any less important," she told him with a smile on her face. "But enough about that," she said with a happy sigh and a smile on her face. "What about a nice teal color? We can make it a little darker teal if you want, but to me, teal is fun and bright without being too bright and it's calming too," she told him as she thought about his other requests for a bookshelf, a desk, though she had a couple of ideas for this and a lock, which she figured was to stop her from doing this again, though she didn't take it to heart. After Joe was finished talking, Lynda began to speak again. "We can get all of that and maybe a few other things, like some books for that bookshelf and maybe get you both an artist desk with some art supplies and a regular desk with a computer and a few journals," she suggested with a smile on her face.