This story was written for the 2017 Advent Calendar – Day 7

Summary:  This piece is based on a reference from the Season One episode, “The Avenger”. 

Rating:  T  (555 words)

So it was, that while they were there,
the days were completed for her to be delivered.

Christmas in July 
  ~~by Truthwriter 

Jimmy sat on the porch step with his hands pressed tight against his ears, staring hard at the ground. The boy wished Doc Martin would come out and tell him to fetch more water, or peel onions for another poultice. What Jimmy hated most was the waiting. Waiting outside while his parents were suffering there in the tiny cabin, while they were there moaning and thrashing and tossing, burning with fever and summer heat.

They just wouldn’t stop moaning.

Sweat dripped and stung his eyes and Jimmy rubbed at them.

The pound of hooves on dirt caught his attention, and Jimmy raised his head just as a familiar buckskin horse trotted into the yard, its rider a tall, silver-haired man who grinned and waved.

“Hi, Jimmy!” Mr. Cartwright called.

Slowly, Jimmy stood up, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.

On the end of a lead rope, following after Mr. Cartwright’s horse, was the most beautiful piebald pony the boy had ever seen.

Reaching the corral, Mr. Cartwright brought the horses to a stop with a deep “Whoa”, then swung down and looped the reins over the fence rail. “Hot ride,” the neighboring rancher declared. He glanced over at Jimmy.  “Come here, son.”

Jimmy stayed where he was. He couldn’t take his eyes off the pony.

Mr. Cartwright looked from him to the piebald. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to go to him,” the rancher said, and he led the pony across the yard to Jimmy. Mr. Cartwright stopped with a few feet between them and said, “Say hello to your new horse.”

The words were like a cool breeze blowing through, lifting the heat and worry off for a minute. Then it lay heavy back on him again and Jimmy’s shoulders bowed. “I can’t,” he whispered.

“Why not?”

“Pa wouldn’t like it,” Jimmy said miserably. He stepped up to the piebald and held his hand out. Soft lips stretched and quivered over his palm, the horse’s breath coming in hot puffs. Jimmy rubbed the horse’s nose. “I ain’t s’posed to take anything unless I earn it first.”

“I see.” Mr. Cartwright rubbed his chin. “Well, Jimmy, this is a little different. You see, this horse is…well, she’s a Christmas present.”

“A Christmas present?”

“That’s right. And all you have to do for a Christmas present is be good. You’ve been good, right?”

“I—well—yes.” The horse was snuffling his hair, tickling and making it hard to think. “But—Mr. Cartwright—it’s July.”

Mr. Cartwright patted the piebald’s neck. “You know something, Jimmy,” the rancher said, “I think it can be Christmas anytime.” He smiled gently. “Especially when we need it most.” Holding the lead out, Mr. Cartwright said, “Merry Christmas, Jimmy.”

Jimmy took the rope, gripped it tightly and realized he grinning, and it felt a little wrong to smile when Ma and Pa could die, but he thought if they knew they would tell him it was okay.

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Cartwright.”

Faust and the Librarians would like to thank Truthwriter for participating in the 2017 Advent Calendar.

All characters contained within property of Clair Huffaker and/or David Dotort.

Link to the 2017 Advent Calendar – Day 8 – First Born by Justafan