Summary:  A prequel story that includes the Milfords  from The Hayburner.

Rating:  G  (9,630 words)

 

A Moment Just Before Dark

It was a moment just before dark, the division between the fading light of day and the beginning of the night. It was an instant of stillness and motion, of life and death.

 

The last fiery light of the setting sun brightened the sky just above the mountains in the west. The rest of sky was turning a luminous indigo. The shadows were long and inky dark.

 

Playing with his two year old brother in the barn yard of the Milford’s new home, eight-year-old Adam Cartwright glanced to his left for an instant. Something was moving in the shadows. He initially thought that the animal that had bolted into the yard was just a hungry deer. Ever since the Cartwrights had arrived at the Milford’s new place two days earlier, Mrs. Milford had been griping that the emerging green shoots of her vegetable garden were being devoured by hungry deer and rabbits. She had vigorously complained that if her husband Enos didn’t hustle and put up a secure fence, they would loose their entire crop before it even got started
More often than not, Ben Cartwright’s friend, Enos Milford, and his wife Cora visited the Cartwrights at the Ponderosa. This time, the three Cartwrights had come to visit the Milfords. They planned on staying for about a week.

 

For quite a while, the Milfords had been trying to piece together the money to buy some land. Once they finally had the money, they took their time finding just the right place. Frequently, Enos Milford would come to Ben Cartwright to discuss available land, and the two men would examine the maps and contracts and evaluate the pros and cons of the particular spread. Was there enough grazing land? What was the water supply? Was the terrain level or rocky? Sometimes Ben would accompany Enos to examine a potential land purchase while Cora remained at the Ponderosa minding the two Cartwright boys. After the interminable search, the Milfords finally found just what they were seeking. They bought the land and started to put together ranch.

 

Young Adam had been looking forward to this trip for months. Since the Cartwrights had settled on the Ponderosa a few years earlier, Ben realized it was the longest Adam had lived in one place his entire life. When Ben pointed that out to his dark-haired son, Adam told him that as much as he loved the home they had built, he also loved traveling. He said that he wasn’t quite sure which he favored more, but he would ponder on it.

 

The boy truly delighted in seeing different places, meeting new folks, learning unusual things. The unsettled nature of life on the trail had never bothered him one bit. Adam frequently said he wished they could take a trip somewhere. Pa smiled and declared that Adam had wander-dust under his skin from traveling his entire life. He insisted that Adam needed to put down roots and get used to being settled in one place. It was time to call the Ponderosa his home.

 

Ben had searched the frontier for years and had finally found their land — land where he was building a home and a future for his two boys. He was content in the knowledge that he and his sons would sleep in the same place tomorrow, next week, next year, secure within stout log walls and a solid roof. “We finally have the place that we dreamed of for so many years, son. We will stay forever. We will build this ranch for you and your brother.”

 

Adam didn’t say a word. He wasn’t quite sure about all this, but he wasn’t going to argue with his father. For as long as Adam could remember, his father had talked about his dream: a fine, big ranch where they could raise horses and cattle and stay forever. Pa would describe their ranch in detail, sure that he would eventually find the place. It would have plenty of green pastures and tall trees that touched the blue sky near a river or a lake or, if they were really lucky, both. Pa promised they would be warm and cozy in the coldest winters and have plenty of shade and cool water in the hottest summers. He had said they would someday have a wonderful house with a big stone fire place and a tight roof that was theirs alone.

 

Now his Pa had finally found the place he had hungered for all the years. It was just like the Promised Land in the Bible — everything in its own good time. Adam knew that finally, after years of wandering, his Pa was content, and that was good enough for Adam. Adam’s little brother, Hoss, seemed pretty content too, but it really didn’t take much to satisfy his easy-going baby brother.

 

On the other hand, young Adam wasn’t quite sure that he really wanted to stay in one place forever. Now that they finally had the Ponderosa, he wasn’t really positive if this ranch was his own dream as much as Pa’s. The boy wasn’t quite sure what would please him as much as this ranch pleased his father. The boy didn’t want to tell his Pa that he wasn’t sure if this was the Cartwright family dream or just Pa’s dream. Adam didn’t know what his own dream was, so he just kept silent on that subject. He figured there was no sense stirring up trouble if you were really uncertain about something. The boy respected his Pa and loved him fiercely. There was no way he would ever hurt his father’s feelings. So Adam just held his tongue and decided finding his own dream would come along in its own good time.

 

That’s what folks always said — everything in its own good time.

 

Deep in the frigid winter, after being snowed in for close to three weeks, Adam had come up with the brilliant idea of taking a trip once they finally got dug out. He brought it up over supper. Weary from long days of work in the bitter cold and so preoccupied with worry that their growing herd wouldn’t make it through the winter, his father didn’t even respond. At first, Adam was disappointed, but then after he thought about it, he realized that while Pa hadn’t agreed to his suggestion, but he hadn’t disagreed either.

 

One frosty night, after a blue sky day with just a bit of unexpected warmth in the air, Ben brought up Adam’s suggestion. Adam was amazed. Pa had remembered his proposal. His Pa brought it up again while they were in front of the fireplace getting ready for bed. The two boys were putting on their nightshirts as quickly as they could so they could jump right into their bed for the night.

 

“Do you remember last week when you suggested we should take a trip, Adam?” Ben asked.

 

“Yes, sir, I do.” Adam nodded; he wondered what his father was going to say. The boy quickly tugged his nightshirt over his head.

 

Then, to Adam’s delight, Ben proposed a visit to the Milfords. “Hays Newkirk came by today, and I hired him on as the foreman. You remember him, don’t you?”

 

Adam nodded. The Newkirks had come west on the wagon train with the Cartwrights. After Inger was killed, Mrs. Newkirk had helped Ben take care of his children, especially his infant son, Hoss. Mrs. Newkirk had quickly included the motherless Cartwright boys with her two daughters, one of whom was only a few weeks older than Hoss. At some point, the Newkirks and the Cartwrights parted. Each family went their own way.

 

Recently, Ben had learned that the Newkirks hadn’t had the same success he had. Ben offered to hire his old friend on as the Ponderosa foreman. After he failed at farming, Hays Newkirk decided he would do better to work for someone else on their ranch than to struggle on with his own spread. Hays was thankful for the opportunity to start over on the Ponderosa, and Ben was glad to have the dependable, easy-going man at his side.

 

“He’s a mighty good man and very hardworking. He will be a big help with things expanding here on the Ponderosa,” explained Ben. “The Newkirks should be settled in a few weeks. As soon as the weather warms up, as soon as we are situated with spring chores and able to get away from the Ponderosa, we can go visit the Milfords and have Mr. Newkirk watch over things here for a few days.”

 

Ben quickly eased Hoss’ flannel nightshirt over his head before the child got too tangled up. Then he swung him up on the bed. “We could be a big help to my friend, Mr. Milford. He is planning on doing some horse trading. He needs to clear some of his land and put up a few corrals. Adam, you could help with some of these chores and by minding Hoss. Should we go?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the shivering boy answered. ”Yes sir!” Adam’s eye lit up despite the cold draft blowing through the cabin. He scrambled up into bed beside his little brother. “Yes sir!”

 

“We might even have some extra stock to share with the Milfords by then,” Ben proposed. He tossed another log on the fire and banked it properly so they would stay warm all night “That sorrel mare should foal by then and that would be a fine gift for the Milfords. What do you think, boys?”

 

Adam reflected upon the exciting proposal for less than an instant. “That would be a mmmmighty fine ggggift, Pppa.” His teeth chattered from the bone chilling cold. The shivering boy dove under the covers, hoping that the sheets would warm up quickly.
”Mmmighty fine,pppppaaaaaaaaaa,” Hoss echoed, snuggling down under the covers. The boy agreed with whatever his father and older brother said, even though he had little idea what they were discussing. The little boy yawned widely, patted his round stomach and smiled contentedly. Pppppaaaa!”

 

“See, Pa. Hoss agrees with us,” Adam said as he settled under the covers. His dark eyes were bright with the idea of the trip.

 

“Three Cartwrights, three votes. It’s unanimous, boys,” Ben declared. He blew out the candle and climbed into his own bed on the other side of the room.

 

Adam closed his eyes and tried to imagine what it would be like to see Mrs. Newkirk and the girls again. Adam couldn’t quite picture what she looked like but was sure he would recognize her when she arrived. Maybe Hoss would too.

 

Then Adam thought about the visit he and his Pa and Hoss would make to the Milfords. The eight-year-old boy was thoroughly delighted with the idea of a journey away from the ranch for a few days. He was especially looking forward to seeing Mrs. Milford again. She always made a fuss over him and his baby brother, Hoss, in the nicest sort of way. She would grumble a bit that their necks needed scrubbing and their hair needed trimming, but she also would cook all sorts of fine things that Adam loved. She always had a new shirt or jacket she had sewn for them. She would tell Pa he was doing a mighty fine job of raising his two motherless boys on his own and declare they were fine, strong boys. That would always make Pa proud and happy, too. Adam liked to see his Pa smile and be proud of him.

 

Adam imagined the grand time the Cartwrights would have as they explored the Milford’s’ new spread, stuffed themselves on Cora Milford’s fine cooking, and tried out something new. Maybe Mrs. Milford would be happy to know that the Newkirks were coming to live on the Ponderosa. Pa said women folk liked to have other women around for company. Maybe Mrs. Milford and Mrs. Newkirk would both bake up some pies for him? With that thought in his head, Adam fell asleep and dreamed of the Newkirks arriving on the Ponderosa riding on a huge blueberry pie pulled by a team of horses.

 

**********

Ben Cartwright had tied the white faced cow to the stout log post holding up the roof of the lean to. He had left her little bull calf grazing on the meadow beyond the cabin for the time being.

“I’ll milk her each morning and at the end of the day with evening chores. Ben explained as he and his sons walked toward the lean to. Still not quite awake from his nap, Hoss yawned and quietly trailed behind his father and brother.

“Son, give the cow some feed so she stands patiently and will look forward to milking. Some cows will only stand still if they’re given grain or hay to munch on while you go about your business,” Ben handed Adam the feed bucket. The boy carefully poured it into the feed stand without spilling any.

“Yes, sir,” his serious older son nodded.

Not wanting to be left out, Hoss gathered up some hay from the stack in the corner and held it up to the cow’s mouth. She lazily ate what the fair-haired little boy offered.

“This girl seems a bit skittish right now, but she should settle in pretty soon. Don’t you boys go jumping and being noisy around her. Take it slow and easy. Don’t startle her or she might kick at you or bolt.” Both boys knew that moving cautiously around livestock was an absolute rule. Startled animals, just like startled people, would respond rapidly.

“She’s the first milk cow we ever owned all to ourselves,” Adam pointed out.

“What do you boys think we should we call her?” Ben asked.

“Johnny?” Hoss suggested. The little boy fed the hungry cow another handful of hay.

“You can’t name a cow Johnny. Johnny is a boy’s name!” Adam pointed out.

Ben laughed heartily. “This is a lady cow, son. We can name her little bull calf Johnny if you want, but we need a girl’s name for our cow.”

Adam thought for a minute and said, “How about Betty? Johnny for the bull calf and Betty for our milk cow? What do you think Hoss?”

His little brother nodded enthusiastically in agreement. “I like Betty.”

“Then Betty and Johnny it is, boys,” Ben said. He wiped off the cow’s udders with a scrap of feed sack and set the new milk pail in place.

With his hands were on his knees, Adam bent over to watch his father’s strong hands squeeze the udders and let go again. Milk spurted noisily into the new tin pail. Pretty soon, Ben built up a steady rhythm. Creamy white milk started to fill the shiny new tin bucket in steady spurts.

“Milk!” Hoss exclaimed. “Look, Adam, milk!” His bright blue eyes wide with wonder and delight.

“Ponderosa milk. We’ll have more than enough for drinking and churning butter, now,” Ben declared proudly. It was a fine feeling to know he could fill the hungry bellies of his two growing boys and have food to spare for the men he was hiring on.

“And we can even make some cheese,” Adam pointed out enthusiastically.

“Oh no!” Hoss curled up his nose at the mention of cheese. The little boy shook his head and said firmly, “No cheese, Pa. Just butter.”

“Don’t you like cheese, Hoss?” Ben asked without looking up from his milking. “Mrs. Newkirk said she would be glad to do the cheese making.”

“No cheese, Pa.” the little boy shook his head. “Uh uh. No sir.” He kept his eyes fixed on his father’s large, strong hands as the milk bucket filled. “Just milk and butter.”

“Milking looks easy, Pa. Real easy.” Adam decided after watching for a few minutes. “I know I could do that.”

“Do you think so? “

“I can do it,” Adam insisted.

“It does take a bit of practice, son.” Ben was proud of the boy’s self-confidence but didn’t want his son to get in over his head. Adam always paid careful attention to his father’s instructions. The clever boy wanted to learn everything he could and was quick to pick up things. He rarely had to be shown things more than once. A proud smile flickered across Ben Cartwright’s face.

From the corner of his eye, Cartwright saw his curious younger son stepping a bit too close to the fidgety bovine’s rear quarters. Without losing the rhythm of his milking, the rancher said firmly “Hoss, step away.” The obedient little one immediately scurried to the far side of the lean-to and watched from a safe distance.

“And I don’t want either of you nosing around this cow on your own until she settles in. Steer clear of her unless I am here. Is that clear?”

”Yes, sir,” both boys said automatically.

“Adam, come here. Give it a try, son,” Ben let go of the two teats he was working on.

Adam reached for the teats. They were warm and moist and kind of sticky feeling. Adam squeezed, but no milk came out. “How did you get so much milk to come out at once? “

“Like this,” Ben said. He showed his son how to squeeze his thumb and first finger at the top of the teat and to keep that tension and tightness on that thumb and first finger and then squeeze down on the second, third, and finally the little fingers. The boy tried again. This time Adam got some milk. It wasn’t a large squirt, just a little one, but he had succeeded.

Adam glanced sideways at his father and saw a flicker of a proud smile on Pa’s face. “Good job, son. It will take a bit of practice, but you’ll eventually learn how to milk.” Ben continued working on the two teats closest to him. The milk was streaming thick and fast. Adam still had hardly managed to get much milk out of Betty, but he knew Pa was proud of his efforts. That was more than enough for him.

The boy tried three or four times but soon let go because Ben wanted to finish quickly. “Other chores need to be done, Adam. You’ll get the hang of it eventually. You’ll take over the milking. Then you can teach your brother, just like I showed you. Meanwhile, leave Betty alone when I’m not around until she settles in, Adam.”

Adam liked the idea of taking over the milking. He would teach his little brother to do things just like Pa taught him. That would make Pa proud of him. Nothing was more important to Adam Cartwright than making his father proud of him.

**********

Adam decided to surprise his father by having the chores done for him when he got back to the house. All winter long, while they were snowed in, Pa had more time for his schooling. He taught Adam ciphering and reading and how to write. Now that the snows were melting, Pa had far too much work to do to spend time with Adam on lessons. Adam tried to study on his own between doing his chores and minding his brother, but wasn’t making much headway without Pa’s guidance. He couldn’t make heads or tails out of division. The boy was hungry for book learning and the singular treat of his father’s undivided attention. After pondering on his problem, Adam came up with a plan. He would take on Pa’s evening chores, so that he would be free to do some book work with Adam after supper. It seemed like the perfect solution.

“Pa will be back real soon, Hoss. Let’s get this all done for him. Then Pa can take it easy after supper and read to us,” Adam said as he hurried towards the lean to. Their father had ridden out after lunch to check on their growing herd. He firmly told Adam to stay right near the cabin and to mind his brother. He would be back in a couple of hours, certainly before dark.

Adam couldn’t wait to surprise his father with a good part of his work already done, a fine bucket of milk and the table set for supper. If he was able to do the evening chores for Pa, that would be a fine, impressive thing. A fine impressive thing would make Pa mighty proud of him too.

As usual, Hoss agreeably followed his brother’s request as best he could. He scattered feed for the chickens. The little boy also helped Adam wash up the dishes from lunch and set the table for supper. He would rather be playing tag or pitching stones into the creek, but he dutifully did just what his brother told him to do.

“Now you watch while I milk the cow, Little Brother,” Adam directed Hoss. As rushed as he was, Adam remembered to wash the cow’s udders with warm water and dry them with a scrap of empty feed sack before the milking. He wanted to do the job perfectly, just like Pa would. Pa wouldn’t want any dried mud or manure falling in the milk bucket and spoiling everything.

With the cow in place, contentedly eating her feed, Adam took a deep breath and pulled the little wooden milking stool up to Betty’s side. The boy tried to sit just like Pa did, but he couldn’t quite do it. Pa was far taller than he was, and his arms were longer, so when he put the milking stool where Pa put it, Adam couldn’t quite reach the cow. He had to stand up again and pull the stool closer.

Nervous Betty swung her tail and almost hit Adam in the face. She eyed the boy warily and tried to step away from him.

Adam sat down on the stool. Next he leaned forward, his forehead placed firmly into the cow’s flank. Then all he had to do was squeeze out the milk like he had watched Pa doing.

Adam reached for the two hind teats. He grasped the teats and squeezed, but squeezing was to no avail. Not one drop of milk came out. He flexed his small hands and gripped harder. He pulled down, once, then again. This produced no milk, only an uneasy sidestep from nervous Betty. The cow barely missed stepping on Hoss.

“Adam?” Hoss said uneasily as the cow stepped closer. “No milk?”

“Get out of the way! Get out of the way! ” Adam hollered sharply. Adam’s nervous voice was a bit too loud, too harsh for Hoss. The frightened little boy ran into the far corner of the lean-to and hid behind a crate, out of Adam’s view.

Betty mooed fearfully and pulled sharply on the rope halter. Adam took a deep breath. “Take your time, just take it slow,” Adam whispered to himself as he rubbed his hands together to warm them a bit. Maybe his hands were too cold. It was clear that the uneasy cow sensed that the inexperienced boy was milking her instead of Ben Cartwright.

“Nice Betty. Good girl.” Adam said in a trembling voice. The boy gave the frightened cow a pat on her flank. His hands were so small compared to Pa’s; the teats were so long. Perhaps if he restricted his squeezing to the lower teats he could do it.

He gave the teat a squeeze and something squirted out. Milk! But it didn’t stream, warm and creamy, into the pail; instead, it splattered into his palms and onto his pants. Suddenly Adam heard the sound of hoof beats as his father rode into the yard.

”Pa!” Hoss screamed from his hiding place in the corner of the lean-to. He was happy to know his father had returned to rescue him. “Help me, Pa!” All the shouting unsettled the cow even more.

“Adam! Hoss! What are you doing in there!” Ben demanded furiously as he swung from the saddle. He was cold, and tired and hungry. All that he wanted to do was wash up and eat some sort of supper, do his chores

“I’m … I’m… “Adam stammered, realizing there was more milk in his pants than in the pail. He awkwardly picked up the milking stool and the pail. He stepped backward, knocking over a shovel which crashed loudly into the manure rake.

The frightened cow mooed and pulled hard at the halter Adam had tied to the post holding up the lean to roof. She mooed again and pulled violently on the rope.

“Betty! Stop. Stop! Whoa!” Adam hollered as the frightened cow pulled down the post and half of the roof collapsed with a creak followed by a loud crash. Hoss shrieked in fear as splintering wood and shingles fell around the two boys.

“Don’t either of you move!” Ben ordered as he quickly hefted up the corner of the fallen roof, freeing the cow and his crying sons. Adam was pinned next to the cow. Ben couldn’t see his little one, but could hear the child calling for him.

“Pa!” Hoss wailed from where he was crouched down in the corner behind the crate. “Help!” Despite his father’s orders, little Hoss immediately wriggled out from his hiding place, ran out and hung on his father’s leg, wailing.

“Adam, now you come here, but slow and easy!”

 

The milking stool in his left hand, empty bucket in his right, Adam trembled his way to his father.

 

Still holding the corner of roof up, Ben glared at Adam. “I told you to stay away from the cow when I wasn’t around.”

Adam bit his lip and nodded. He wanted to wail and cling onto his father like his brother was doing but knew he shouldn’t. “I wanted to…”

Ben cut him off. He was still holding up the edge “We will discuss this later, boy. Right now, I have to get the cow out of there. You run and get a fence post from the stack near the corral.” With his younger son clinging to his leg, Ben held up the collapsed lean-to, and Adam managed to shove the fence post under the roof enough to hold it off Betty. Then his furious father coaxed the cow out into the yard.

 

“Now, you both go into the house. Adam, tend to your brother and then wait for me to tend to you,” Ben said sternly.

 

Instead of spending the evening reading with Adam, Ben had to tend an injured cow and prop up the remnants of the collapsed shed. By the time Ben went inside, Hoss was sleeping across the foot of his father’s bed. Adam was sitting next to him on the milk stool, his hand holding Hoss’ as his little brother finally slept. The filthy, wet boy had sat like that for an eternity, alone in the dark, thinking of the trouble he had made, waiting for his father’s punishment. All the boy wanted to do was free up his father’s time by doing some of his chores. All Adam wanted was to learn long division and have his Pa read to him. A disaster resulted.

 

“What in the world were you doing, Adam? Do you know your little brother could have been killed? I count on you to follow my orders when I’m not around!” Ben growled. He wanted to bellow, but a glance at his sleeping younger son forced him to keep his voice low.

 

It didn’t matter how loud his father spoke, the effect was just the same to Adam. He wished his father would beat him rather than give him a lecture. Pa was disappointed in him. Adam had disobeyed every rule his father had ever made. “Please, Pa, just give me a tanning and be done with this,” Adam pleaded.

 

“You could have gotten your brother killed!” Ben whispered angrily once again. “Do you know how disappointed I am in you?”

 

“Pa, I just wanted to help you do your chores. I didn’t mean to get Hoss hurt or hurt Betty or pull down the shed. I swear, Pa. Please, just give me a tanning. You can tan me every day for the next week. For the next month. Every day until I die. Please, Pa. Tan me until I die from it,” Adam burst into tears and wept loudly. “I’m so sorry, Pa. I didn’t mean to disappoint you. “

 

“Adam…,” Ben words caught in his throat. Adam never cried like this, not for years, not even when he was sick or hurt. The boy hadn’t cried like that even when Inger was killed right in front of him.

 

“I didn’t mean to disappoint you, Pa,” Adam sobbed. “I would die rather than ever hurt my brother. I swear, Pa. I swear.”

 

“Sounds like you did a lot of thinking about this, Adam,” Ben said gently.

 

“I did, sir. I really did,” Adam wept. He had sat in the dark cabin for what seemed like two eternities holding his baby brother’s hand until Hoss fell asleep. “I’m so sorry that my brother got hurt, Pa. I didn’t mean for him to get hurt. Not ever.”

 

“Sounds like you punished yourself far better than I ever could, Adam,” Ben said. He pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to the boy. “Wipe your eyes and blow your nose.”

 

Humiliated by his own tears, Adam slowly collected himself and stopped crying. He blew his nose and wiped his eyes just as his father had directed, then handed him back his handkerchief. “When you tan me, Pa, you should really do it out in the barn. I sure don’t want to wake up Hoss.”

”Like I said, Adam, it sounds like you punished your own self, far better than I ever could.” Ben looked carefully at his sleeping younger son. Other than a scratch on his cheek, the boy looked fine — filthy but fine. He adjusted the crooked bed covers around the boy. “Right now, I’m too hungry and my arms far too tired from hauling up that shed roof to be taking you over my knee.”

”Is Betty all right?” Adam hesitated to ask.

 

“She will be. I don’t think she’ll be letting anyone milk her for a good long while. I put her in the corral with her calf.”

”I’m sorry, Pa. I’ll never disobey you again. I’ll make sure I take good care of my brother, too. I swear, Pa. I swear.”

Ben nodded wearily. “Let’s just go to sleep. Morning will come before you know it.”

 

**********

 

“So, Enos, when is that fence around the vegetable patch getting built?” Mrs. Milford demanded as she set more food on the table. Mr. Milford sat at the head of the table. The empty chair opposite him was for his wife when she finally sat down. She usually spent most of supper time jumping up and down to serve up more potatoes, refill cider glasses or check on something set to cook on the hearth. If she finally did get to sit down, Enos was usually swallowing the last bite of his meal.

 

Mr. Milford greedily took a second portion of fried ham off the platter, despite the company at the table. His wife glared furiously at him. Adam was very surprised that Mr. Milford just grumbled back that she was a nagging old lady, and he would get to building a fence when he was good and ready.

 

“After all,” Mr. Milford snapped, “Ben and me have to make a corral for that new colt, and then I am busy moving those cattle in for spring round up. Wolves and coyotes are moving down from the hills and are hungry for some nice young critters. Can’t afford to loose any stock. When me and Ben finish with our herd, I’m going over to the Ponderosa and help him with his. Then, I’ll put up that fence! No sooner! I‘ll put up that fence when I’m good and ready and not a moment sooner! Not a moment sooner!”

 

“By then the deer and the rabbits will have eaten all the seedlings!” Mrs. Milford pointed out. She put a heavy platter of boiled potatoes, turnips and carrots on the table. “These here are just about the last from the root cellar, and I don’t want to hear your griping when there is none and I’m feeding you corn meal mush three times a day.”

 

“I said that I’ll do it when I’m good and ready, woman!” Mr. Milford repeated.

 

“Maybe I should just use that rifle that is hanging up next to the door,” Mrs. Milford suggested.

 

Adam’s jaw dropped. Was Mrs. Milford threatening her husband? Would she shoot Mr. Milford for not fencing in her garden? Maybe Pa should offer to build the fence for Mrs. Milford? Maybe he should offer if Pa didn’t? He really didn’t want to see Mr. Milford get shot over a fence.

 

“Sounds like a good idea. I would enjoy some nice venison or rabbit stew. Wouldn’t you, Ben?”

 

Adam saw his father smile and nod, and then after a moment’s consideration, he took a bite of bread and then another. Ben Cartwright wasn’t about to get in the midst of an argument with another man’s wife. “A venison roast would be a fine treat. So would some fried rabbits,” Ben said with a serious face.

 

“Now, pass me the gravy, Woman!” Mr. Milford ordered.

 

Ignoring her husband, the woman slowly and evenly ladled out gravy onto the mound of potatoes she had mashed on Hoss’ plate. She had seated the two boys next to each other on one side of the rectangular wooden table opposite their father.

 

The little boy’s blue eyes widened, and he stuck his chubby finger into the steaming brown gravy rivulet and licked his hand enthusiastically. “Mmm! Good!”

 

“Hoss!” Ben shook his head, reprimanding his younger boy.” Use your fork, son!”

 

Adam automatically pulled his baby brother’s fingers out of the food and automatically echoed Pa’s orders. “Use your fork, Little Brother!”

 

“That’s right, sweetie,” Mrs. Milford cooed as she handed the younger child a fork. She wrapped his chubby little fist around it and helped him spear a bit of boiled carrot and guided it into his open mouth.” I’m mighty glad you boys like my cooking. It’s not very often I get compliments. Not often at all. I have a fine pie for dessert. Dried apple! And tomorrow, you two boys can help me make a nice cake. I might even have a bit of nuts or raisins left to put in it.”

”Can I stir the batter, ma’am?” Adam asked hopefully. “I can stir real fast and whip it up smooth and light.” He remembered doing that with Inger, Hoss’ mother. “I promise I won’t spill one drop.”

 

“Certainly! It would be mighty nice to have a fine helper in my kitchen for once.” Mrs. Milford scooped the remainder of the potatoes onto Adam’s plate before her husband could grab the bowl from her. “You are far too skinny, Adam Cartwright. Eat more! And you can lick the bowl tomorrow, too!”

 

“Thank you, ma’am! I sure do love your cooking. Pa does too. Don’t you Pa? Isn’t this a fine meal?”

 

Ben smiled and nodded. “This is a very fine meal, Mrs. Milford. I can make do with putting a plain meal on the table, but I am sure my boys are weary of my cooking.”

 

“Oh no, Pa. You are a fine cook. And Hoss loves your cooking too,” Adam added, speaking for his brother, who was devouring his food.

 

“Thank you, son,” Ben smiled, though he knew Adam was just being a good son. “I can’t prepare anything fancy. And certainly don’t even try to do any sort of cake baking. Just simple fare to fill our stomachs. This is extremely good.”

 

“Good!” Hoss said waving his spoon. “Good! More!”

 

“More please, ma’am,” Ben automatically corrected.

 

“Please, ma’am,” Hoss repeated with a sweet smile.

 

“It certainly does my heart good to see you boys enjoy my cooking and hear your sweet compliments. Its not often I get compliments.” She stared directly at her husband. “Not very often at all, Mr. Cartwright.”

Enos Milford blushed redder than his red flannel undershirt and squirmed in his seat. He took a big forkful of the limp cabbage and exclaimed enthusiastically, “Mighty fine supper, Wife, mighty fine. Best boiled cabbage I ever did eat in all my born days.”

 

Adam could see Pa was fighting back his laughter. The boy wasn’t quite sure what his father thought was so funny about boiled cabbage, but he knew he shouldn’t ask right now. Mr. Milford was Pa’s very good friend. Adam was trying extremely hard to use his very best manners and was helping Hoss use his best manners too. Maybe he would hunt for some wild greens and early onions and garlic for Mrs. Milford to fry up with bacon.

 

Later on, when everyone was in bed, Adam asked his father about what had gone on. Early on, Pa had taught Adam that some questions were best asked in private as Adam might accidentally be impolite or hurt someone’s feelings otherwise. The boy had learned his lessons well.

 

When his Pa climbed into bed next to his two boys in the loft of the cabin, Adam mentioned how the harshly the Milfords spoke to each other. In whispers, the boy confided that it made him feel a bit uncomfortable to be there listening to Mr. and Mrs. Milford arguing. “They peck at each other all the time.”

”Indeed they do,” Ben agreed.

 

“But Pa, shouldn’t they be doin’ that sort of discussing in private? I never heard husbands and wives fussing at each other all the time. Even when we were in the wagon train and folks were living close to each other. ”

”Well, son,” Ben Cartwright explained softly as he tucked the coverlet around Adam’s slender shoulders and settled sleepy Hoss into his usual spot between them. “Some folks do, but I wouldn’t worry. I think that’s just their way. Mr. and Mrs. Milford love each other in their own fashion.”

”In their own fashion? Then why do they nip at each other so much?” Adam asked in a whisper.

Ben shrugged.” I suppose they aren’t used to having other folks around to hear their discussions. It’s awfully lonely out here all winter, and they must have forgotten what it’s like to have other folks around to hear their comings and goings.”

 

Adam nodded with a serious look on his face. “I guess they are sort of like us, Pa.”

”Like us?”

”We are used to being just us Cartwrights with no one else around for most of the time. You and me and Hoss just take our bath right in the front room, in front of the fireplace, but we sure wouldn’t do that if we had company visiting.”
Ben smiled. “No, I don’t think so. Especially if the circuit preacher and his wife were having Sunday dinner on the Ponderosa with the Newkirks and their girls.”
”Oh, Pa!” Adam gasped at the idea of the Newkirk’s girls seeing him in the all together. Then realized his father was teasing and he giggled. He quickly clapped his hand over his mouth so as not to waken his little brother or the Milfords down stairs.

 

Ben continued in a soft voice, “Son, I think these folks are having a rough time getting started on their new place. That’s why I offered to come up here for a few days, so we could give Mr. Milford a hand. He needs direction on how to work his cattle and help hiring on some hands. Something has been going after his new calves, and we need to move them down closer to the homestead where they will be safer.

 

“A wolf? A cougar? Coyotes?” Adam whispered. He remembered that the previous night he heard some critter howling in the middle of the night. He just snuggled closer to Pa and fell back asleep. “A big bear?”

Ben yawned. “Maybe. I’ll have to see if there are any tracks to tell me. All the varmints are hungry after the long winter and are looking for something to eat. I want you to keep close to the house. Keep track of your brother and help Mrs. Milford while I ride out to the herd with Mr. Milford in the morning. Then we’ll be digging more holes for the fence posts in the afternoon. Hope you don’t mind staying back here at the house with your brother.”

 

“I don’t mind one bit. We can help Mrs. Milford with her chores.” Adam smiled in the darkness, thinking of the fine pies and cakes Mrs. Milford promised.

 

“And Adam, be sure to stack up the fire wood I cut for Mrs. Milford and listen to what she says.”
”Yes, sir, “Adam said. He settled into his pillow and thought for a bit. “Pa, you and Ma didn’t pick at each other like that. You never fought. You spoke nice to each other all the time and never said cross words and picked at each other.”
Ben smiled at Adam’s reference to Hoss’ mother. “No, we didn’t. Inger could cool the hottest tempers with her soft voice and gentle words.”

 

“She did, Pa. I remember.”

 

“Your brother has her easy-going nature,” Ben observed. He leaned on his elbow and admired his fair-haired younger son. “He even sleeps with a smile on his face.”

 

Adam looked at the sleeping child and nodded. “Yes, sir. He sure does. Bet he is dreaming of helping Mrs. Milford make a pie. Did you and my mother fight like that? Like Mr. and Mrs. Milford?”

 

“Oh no!” Ben shook his head. He couldn’t remember ever having a cross word or conflict between him and Elizabeth. Ben knew his memory was probably faulty. He only remember the good things about his first love, that and how much he missed her. Inger had taught him that truth.

 

Ben and his second wife had their disagreements, but they sorted them out and compromised. Sometimes Inger gave in to him, but just as often, Ben gave in to her. Most often, they came to a satisfactory solution that merged both their views. Inger had been very good at that. She was good at so very many things. More importantly, Inger Borgstrom taught Ben Cartwright that he could love again after he thought his heart had turned to ice.

 

**********

 

As he nibbled on the crust of his bread, Little Hoss was transfixed by the Milfords arguing again. Next to him, Adam also watched intently.

 

The boy recalled that, when he was very small, before Pa had married Inger, they had seen a puppet show at some sort of fair in whatever town they had landed in. The place was very crowded, and Pa had hoisted Adam high on his shoulders. From his perch, Adam could see the lady puppet and the man puppet fighting and pummeling each other with sticks. The noisy crowd watched and hooted and laughed, but Adam fearfully clung to his father. He was not quite sure why people thought fighting, screaming dolls were funny. Pa told him they were called Punch and Judy and that some folks enjoyed that type of joking. Adam was still a bit scared; he didn’t understand how dolls could come alive and talk and slap at each other. Then Pa took him around back of the stage and showed him how the performers manipulated the puppets and made them move like they were alive. The man even let the boy try out one of the puppets and examine how it was operated. Adam liked that part the most and started playing at being a puppeteer just like that man. He still often put on his own puppet shows for Pa and Hoss by ducking down behind a table or the big trunk and putting Pa’s socks over his hands to be the puppets. He could keep Hoss entertained for long stretches while Pa was gone doing chores.

 

“Eat your supper, boys. Don’t dawdle,” Ben said when he noticed Adam and Hoss staring.

 

“Yes, sir, “Adam said elbowing his brother on the bench beside him. “Eat your supper, Hoss.”

 

“Maybe he needs another piece of bread.” Mrs. Milford put a second thick slab of bread slathered with butter on the boy’s plate. Adam reached over, took the bread, and tore it in half and then half again. Adam put the four small pieces back on Hoss’ plate.

 

“He tends to drop things, ma’am. No sense letting him drop a whole piece and having it go to waste,” Ben explained Adam’s behavior.
”It does a body good to see a child with such a hearty appetite. Both your boys are a pleasure to have visit. You are doing a fine job raising them, Mr. Cartwright.”

 

“They both make me proud,” Ben said modestly. Then he smiled at his boys.
”Hoss gets as much on his face as in his belly, ma’am.” Adam giggled.

 

“Son, when you two are finished eating, you take Hoss outside and wash him around a bit. There is a bucket by the door. Put on your jackets too. It’s getting cold with night coming on.”

 

“Yes, sir,” said Adam. He was quite used to tending to his baby brother most of the time since it was only Pa and his two boys. Pa always said they all had to work together and take care of each other. “Can we play outside a bit? It’s not really dark yet. ”

 

Ben glanced across the room to the open door way. He could see the sun setting behind the hills. “You may play for a little bit but stay within hollering range and keep watch on Hoss.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Adam nodded. Hoss jumped off the bench he and Adam had shared and ran to the door. Standing on tiptoes, he was able to knock his jacket from the hook. He shrugged into it before Adam was even near and ran out the door. Adam followed close behind, still pulling on his own jacket.
”Wash up, the both of you!” Ben reminded the boys as they ran out the open door of the cabin.

 

“The Milfords sure squabble an awful lot,” Adam commented to Hoss. The smaller boy shrugged. Adam dunked the wash rag in the bucket and wrung it out. He watched the water dribble onto the dry boards of the partially built porch and run into a knot hole near his toe. “Soon enough we’ll be going bare foot, Little Brother.”

”Soon enough,” Hoss agreed. He preferred bare feet.

 

Adam dipped the toe of his boot into the drip and traced an “A” on the board. “

 

“’A’ for Adam,” he told his little brother imitating how their father had taught Adam to read.

 

“Adam,” Hoss repeated.

 

Then, the older boy draped the wet wash rag around his hand molding it into a puppet. “A for Adam!” he made the rag puppet say in a squeaky voice.

 

“Adam,” Hoss repeated a second time, though he had no idea what his big brother was doing.

 

Then Adam repeated the action again, this time tracing a different letter. “’H’ for Hoss.
”No more!” Hoss shook his head. He was tired of that game. He just wanted to run and play tag. “Catch me, Adam.”

 

Adam scrubbed the wet rag across his own face and then gestured for his brother to come closer. “First, let me wash that supper off your face, Brother. Don’t squabble with me.”

 

“Squabble, squabble, squabble,” Hoss repeated in a squeaky voice just like Adam had given his wash rag puppet. He didn’t know what the word meant, but he liked the way it sounded as it rolled off his tongue. To the little boy, it was a lot like the sounds a goose made or a duck. “Squabble, squabble, quack, quack!” Hoss flapped his arms like wings. “Squabble, squabble!”
Adam laughed. “Squabble, squabble!” From the corner of his eyes, Adam saw a shadow move on the other side of Mrs. Milfords vegetables. In the gathering darkness, Adam assumed it was just another hungry deer sneaking in for a nibble on the vegetable shoots.

 

“Come here, Hoss,” Adam ordered his sticky little brother. He would quickly wash up his brother just like his father had directed. Then the two brothers would chase that pesky deer out of Mrs. Milford’s garden. Nearby was the scattered pile of fire wood. Adam figured if shouting didn’t rout the deer, he could pitch a couple of pieces of wood at it.
“Squabble, squabble,” Hoss giggled. Then he yawned widely. The little boy really had no idea what Adam was talking about, but he had a full belly and was feeling happy and a bit tired.

 

The older boy dunked the rag into the wooden water bucket again, wrung it out and reached out to pull his younger brother closer. “Come here, Little Brother and let me wash you up. It’s getting on bedtime and you are all greasy and sticky. I ain’t sleeping with the likes of you being all full of ham grease and gravy and crumbs and Lord knows what. Bet you have potatoes in your ears.”

 

“Uh uh!” Hoss shook his head and stepped back. “No, no, Adam!” He knew the water in that bucket was cold, and he certainly wasn’t quite ready to turn in for the night. He took a few steps away from his brother, trying to avoid the inevitable.

 

“Come back here, you!” Adam ordered in a harsher tone.

 

Hoss shook his head “No!” Then he jumped off the Milford’s porch and repeated “No! No! No!” If he could get Adam to chase after him, that would make a very good game. Who wanted to go to bed when there a fun game to play?

 

“No? You come right back here, Hoss Cartwright!” Adam ordered. He stamped his foot loudly on the wooden porch and tried to sound like Pa did when he gave orders.

 

“No! No!” Hoss laughed. He shook his head and stuck out his tongue at Adam.” Catch me!” The little boy ran off around the corner of the Milford’s cabin past the helter skelter pile of newly-cut firewood.

 

“You come back here right now, Hoss Cartwright!” Adam hollered. He flung the rag back into the bucket. It hit with a loud splash. The bucket tipped over and rolled off the porch with a loud crash. Adam jumped off the low porch and sprinted after his baby brother.

 

Just as Adam skittered around the corner of the cabin, a shadow leaped from the thick underbrush.
The shadow quickly ran across the vegetable patch. At first, Adam thought the animal that bolted into the clearing was a hungry deer. It wasn’t a deer. It was a ravenous coyote that had come down from the hills looking for a calf or a spring lamb to run down and devour. Instead, the beast found little Hoss Cartwright.

 

The hungry predator hit hard and quick. It launched itself with enough force to easily knock the little boy over. In a split second, the snarling coyote was on Hoss’ back, biting the back of his head and his neck. Hoss could smell the rank, musky odor of the beast’s fur and feel its hot breath of on the back of his neck. As he lay face down on the ground, the struggling little boy raised his arms to protect his head and neck. The child’s terrified shrieks echoed off the mountains.

 

“Pa! Pa, come quick!” Adam shrieked. “Pa!”

 

Adam instinctively sprang into action. He grabbed a rock and then a second and threw them as hard as he could at the coyote. Then he ran over to the pile of split firewood and snatched a stick. With all his strength, he hurled it at the hungry beast that held little Hoss in its jaws. Then he snatched another, a long stout limb. The boy ran at the animal and swung his stick like a club. He kicked the creature hard on the flank and yelled, “Hey! Stop! Let go! Let go, let go, let go!” He pounded the devil hound from hell with fury.

 

Inside the cabin, Cora Milford had just poured her guest a second cup of coffee. She had finally sat down to listen to the men discuss their plans for moving the cattle while some water heated for dishwashing. Suddenly, the adults realized that the boys’ shouts were not just the sounds of children playing. Something was seriously wrong. Ben stood up from his chair just enough that he could see through the open door of the Millford’s cabin. On the far side of the yard, he could see Adam flailing away at something in the shadows. Ben heard Adam’s panicked shouts for help and his baby’s screams. He leapt to his feet and rushed out the door with Enos close behind.

 

“Pa! Pa! Come quick!” Adam pleaded as he swung the length of fire wood at the animal.

 

Ben Cartwright was determined to rescue his children from that snarling wild beast before it was too late. There wasn’t time to go back inside for a rifle. Ben yanked the ax from the chopping block by the wood pile and dashed toward the underbrush. Enos hesitated for an instant, looking for a weapon close at hand. He grabbed the shovel that was leaning on the fence post of the half built corral.

 

Enos charged toward the coyote swinging the shovel and bellowed, “Get out of here, you no good!” Together, the two men chased the coyote out of the clearing to edge of the woods. The coyote ran between two stumps and disappeared into the darkness.
Quickly scooping up Hoss, Ben Cartwright turned around, ready to hurry away to the sanctuary of the cabin. Suddenly, the coyote that had been retreating an instant earlier spun around and came rushing back at him.

 

With all the strength he had, Adam hurled his last piece of wood at the coyote and yelled “Pa, watch out! It’s coming for you!”

 

Enos furiously swung the shovel at the growling coyote again and again, hoping the coyote would fully retreat. The hungry, snarling animal lurked on the edge of the thicket glaring at the humans. It wanted its prey. The hungry coyote wanted the trembling little boy clinging fearfully to his father’s neck.

 

“Adam, walk real slowly behind me,” Enos directed in a firm voice. “Real slow.” He tightly gripped the shovel in both hands, ready to swing if the coyote sprang at them. Adam immediately stepped behind the protection of the husky man.

 

As quickly as it started, it ended. A shot rang out. With a yelp, the coyote fell dead.

 

“That will show you!” Cora Milford shouted angrily from the porch.
Ben hurriedly got Hoss inside. Adam lingered at the door to the cabin. The boy nervously paced back and forth, waiting, watching. One minute, his eyes were on his brother and father, the next minute Adam stared at the dark shadows, fearing another wild animal. He desperately wished he could go inside and hide but just as desperately knew he had to stand guard, to make sure everyone was safe.

 

Cora shoved the dinner dishes to one side of the table. “Put him down here, Ben,” she directed. “Enos, take that hot water off the stove and bring me a basin. Let’s get this poor baby cleaned up.”

 

“Is he ok?” Adam asked from the doorway.

 

“Easy, Hoss.” Ben gently lay his frightened son down on the table and pried Hoss’ fingers from his father’s shirt. He quickly pulled the clothes off of his crying child. He and Cora tried to assess the child’s injuries. The coyote’s sharp fangs had bitten through three layers of his undershirt, shirt and jacket, bruising the child but, fortunately, hardly breaking his skin.

 

“Looks like Hoss is none the worse for the wear,” Enos pronounced in amazement.

 

Adam, relieved to hear Mr. Milford’s pronouncement, finally stepped close enough to take a good look at his little brother.

.

Ben wrapped the sobbing boy in the quilt Cora handed him and held him close in his arms. Hoss hung on to his father for dear life. Soon the frightened child stopped crying.

 

“Is Hoss ok, Pa?” Adam asked in whisper.

 

Ben nodded and opened up the quilt a bit so Adam could see his brother’s face. The exhausted child had fallen asleep.

 

“Thank the good Lord!” Cora sighed. She suddenly sat down on one of the battered wooden kitchen chairs. She held up her hands for everyone to see. “Look at this. My hands are shaking.”

“Good thing they didn’t shake when you aimed at that coyote, Cora!” Enos declared.

 

“Good thing,” Ben agreed. “I’ll be forever grateful for what you did saving my boy, Cora.”

 

“Heck, she was aiming at me!” Enos teased in an attempt to ease everyone’s mood. Now that the awful incident had ended and they knew the little boy was barely injured, Milford couldn’t resist.

 

Not realizing Mr. Milford was joking, Adam gasped.

 

“Don’t worry, son, Mr. Milford was just joshing,” Ben said, holding Hoss close. “You were a very brave boy protecting your baby brother, Adam. I’m proud of you. And I’m not joshing.”

 

“I always will watch out for him, Pa,” Adam answered. “Always. And I’m not joshing.”

 

*****End****

Thanks to Gwynne for all her help!

 

Tags:  Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, Hoss Cartwright, Joe / Little Joe Cartwright