Summary:   It’s the day before a big event, past and present, in Joe’s life, and he shares it with someone special.

Word Count:   1,832  Rated: K

                                                       Springtime Memories

Story Notes:  This was written in response to the May Chaps and Spurs challenge.

Thank you, Cheaux, for all of your help on this. You’re wonderful.

Springtime Memories

Joe Cartwright lay on his back in the middle of a lush, green meadow, dotted with wildflowers. The sun was shimmering down on him, warming him as he lazily watched the fluffy, white clouds drift by. He took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrant scent of pine infused with wildflowers, and slowly released it. What more could a man in love ask for?

A soft smile graced his face as an old memory floated through his mind, much like how the clouds were floating through the azure sky. Of the few memories he had of his mother, this place was one of them. In fact, a day like this one sixteen years before had been burnt into his memory, never forgotten and always cherished. It was the last thing Joe had done with his mother before she was taken from him because of a senseless fall from a horse.

­­_ _ _ _

“Mon Petit, stop squirming. Relax, Mon Chéri, look at the clouds. What do you see?” Marie Cartwright was lying on her back in the middle of a green meadow that was strewn with wildflowers, her four year old son was next to her.

“Don’t know, Mama. It just a big old puff ball. I don’t see nothin’ special ‘bout it.”

“Come here, Joseph.” Marie pulled her son over so that he was resting against her side. “I know it’s hard for you, Mon Petit, but with a little patience you’ll be able to see something. You just need to look.”

Joe stared up at the clouds above him, squinted his eyes, and tried to focus. “That one!” Joe pointed at a cloud directly overhead. “It kinda looks like a pony. One of ‘em indian ones with the spots, the holes are the spots.” Joe raised his finger and traced the form of a horse in the air for his mother.

“That’s right, Little Joe, it’s a horse.”

The two of them continued watching the clouds as they floated by and pointing out different shapes to each other.

Marie gave Joe a squeeze. “We better get up and eat that lunch Hop Sing made us or we’ll be in trouble.”

Joe immediately jumped to his feet. “Yeah, if he gets mad, then Hoss gets mad.”

Marie laughed as she sat up and pulled the picnic hamper towards her. “Why don’t you go play while I get this ready.” When Joe turned to run off Marie stopped him. “You stay right here where I can see you, or Mama will be mad,” she cautioned.

Joe frowned. “Yes, Mama, I wouldn’t want ya mad at me.”

Joe grabbed a basket that was sitting on the edge of the blanket and ran a few feet away. Marie smiled as she watched her son bounce around the meadow before turning back to the picnic hamper. She kept a close eye on him to make sure he never went far.

Once lunch was out and Marie was sure some of that excess energy had been exhausted, she called out to the boy. “Come eat, Little Joe.”

Without looking up, Marie heard her son approach. The next thing she knew her son was giggling and a shower of bright posies were raining down upon her. Marie couldn’t help but laugh as she grabbed Joe and pulled him into her lap. She started raining kisses on him as she tickled him until he squealed in delight and both were breathless.

Suddenly, Joe threw his arms around Marie’s neck and held her tight. The giggles from seconds before turned into sobs as he held on to his mother.

Marie was mystified at the sudden change in Joe’s emotions. “Little Joe, what’s wrong?” She tried to pull him away so she could see his face, but Joe just tightened his hold and clung to his mother.

Joe couldn’t answer, all he knew was that he felt an overwhelming sadness and fear inside. “I love ya, Mama. I’ll love ya forever,” he was finally able to get out between the sobs.

“Oh, Mon Bébé, I love you, too and always will no matter what.” Marie stroked her son’s back trying to calm the little boy.

Once Joe’s sobs had stopped and his body relaxed Marie leaned back so she could see his face. “You ready to eat now, Little Joe?”

Joe nodded his head and pulled away from Marie, but before he climbed down off her lap, he reached up and kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ll never forget today, Mama. It’s the best day ever.”

“I won’t either. It’s a special day and I’ll always cherish it.”

_ _ _ _

The next day Marie’s horse came racing into the yard and stumbled, throwing it’s rider to the ground, breaking her neck. Marie died instantly, not suffering one second of pain, but she left behind a family devastated by the death of their beloved wife and mother.

­­_ _ _ _

Joe wiped away the lone tear. “I’ll never forget, Mama.”

He sat up and grabbed the basket that was sitting next to him, the same one he had used sixteen years ago. Joe walked around the meadow filling it with brightly colored wildflowers. Once he was finished, he went over to Cochise and carefully mounted his horse, taking care not to drop a single flower.

Joe rode to the familiar bluff overlooking the lake. He slid out of the saddle, dropped the reins to the ground and walked over to his mother’s grave. He looked at the words engraved on it:

Marie Cartwright

In

Loving Memory

Five words, five little words. Five words that could never come close to touching what each member of the family felt in their hearts. Five words that took away all the possibilities life had to offer them. Five words…

Yet there were thirteen words emblazoned on his heart that meant so much more to Joe.

“Oh, Mon Bébé, I love you, too and always will no matter what.”

Joe could still see her face when he pulled away from her that day. There were tears shimmering in her eyes, but what really shone through was the never ending love she felt for her son. That was the face Joe always remembered and always would.

“Mama, I’m marrying Jenny tomorrow. I didn’t think you would mind. We wanted to take that day, a day filled with such overwhelming sadness for the family, and turn it into a day of happiness and love. Pa said that you would want it that way. He said that you wouldn’t want us to remember you with sadness. He said you would be the first one to celebrate. Pa said that you would want us to be happy. Jenny and I, we want to make tomorrow into a special day; a day to always remember you in our hearts; a day surrounded by love and laughter instead of tears and sadness.”

“You’d like Jenny, Mama. She’s great. She makes me laugh and she has this calming affect on me when I get mad. And she sure can keep me on my toes, too,” Joe laughed. “With her I feel like everything in the world is right. She’s all I want and all I can think about.” Joe brushed the pine needles off the top of Marie’s marker. “She likes picnics and watching clouds, too.” Joe shook his head as he started to laugh again. “Imagine me, Joe Cartwright, being a husband. A husband, Mama! Now, don’t that just beat all.”

With a smile on his face Joe took the basket and turned it upside down above Marie’s marker and grave, showering her with flowers, just like he did sixteen years ago.

And just like sixteen years before an intense feeling engulfed him. But instead of the sadness and fear he felt back then, today he felt a radiant and warm feeling of love course through his body, making him smile. This is what he wanted it; his mother’s blessing.

“I love you, Mama. I’ll love you forever.”

Joe brushed aside one last tear away before turning and walking away. No matter what would happen in the future, Joe would always set this day aside for his mother and return to their meadow. He would do this until the day he died.

The End