Bonanza
~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
* Day 3 *

Summary:  A Christmas surprise turns out to be most welcomed.

Rating:  G  1020 Words

Note:  This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.

The Greatest Gift

 

Ensconced in his red leather chair, Ben Cartwright let out a sigh of contentment. All around him were the sights and smells of the holiday season. The fire danced merrily on the hearth. Hints of pine and cinnamon wafted through the air. Soft feminine voices reached his ears as his daughters-in-law worked together—under the watchful eye of Hop Sing—to turn out a slew of pies: cherry, apple, pecan, and Marlborough. Glancing out the window, he saw his sons battling it out in an impromptu snowball fight like the overgrown boys that they were.

It was a perfect Christmas…well, almost. Secretly he knew there was only one thing would make it better: grandchildren.

He frowned. He was happy, truly he was. All three of his boys had finally settled down with brides of their own. However, there were as yet no signs from any of them that their families were increasing.

“In time,” he told himself. His sons were still in their prime, and somehow he knew it wouldn’t be long before the house was filled once more with the pitter-patter of little feet.

Pushing the thought aside, he took a sip of his coffee, letting the bitter liquid roll around on his tongue before he swallowed it.

The front door swung open, allowing a blast of frigid air to enter the house and it nearly stole his breath away.

“Phew! It’s colder than a polar bear’s nose out there,” Joe exclaimed, closing the barrier behind him before making a beeline to the fireplace. Shucking his gloves, he rubbed his hands together vigorously in an attempt to get some warmth into his half frozen digits. When he turned around to heat up his backside, Ben chuckled.

“So, who’s winning?’ he asked.

Joe grinned. “Why me of course.”

Ben raised an eyebrow. “I’m not so sure that your brothers would agree with you,” he replied, eyeing the puddle forming around his youngest’s feet. Hop Sing was going to lose it when he saw the mess the boy was making…but it was Christmas, and Ben was willing to turn a blind eye just this once. And maybe their cook would too. Maybe…possibly…more than likely not.

“True. Actually, I think Hoss had the upper hand when I left.”

Stripping off his coat, Joe made his way over to the rack near the door and hug it on one of the pegs, then he headed towards the settee. When he came even with the Christmas tree, he paused for a moment, glancing at the enormous pine that Hoss had cut down a few days ago. Fingers twitching, he snagged a package dangling between the fragrant branches and then settled himself on the end of the table, completely ignoring the perfectly suitable chair behind him as usual.

“I know we’ll be opening gifts later this evening, but I can’t wait anymore,” he said and slowly handed it to his father. Setting aside his mug, Ben took the present. It was a small box, around the size of his palm, and held closed with a red, satin ribbon.

“Wait a minute!” Joe cried just as Ben’s fingers closed over the end of the ribbon. “Dru will kill me if I let you open it without her.”

That elicited a laugh from the older man. Married nearly a year and already his son had his priorities straight.

Joe quickly bustled off to the kitchen to fetch his blushing bride, and soon returned with a petite redhead in tow.

“I can’t believe you’re going to do this now,” Drusilla Cartwright said, a touch of exasperation coloring her voice, but there was a fond smile on her lips, “you are such a child.”

“I know, but that’s why you love me,” Joe replied. Plopping down on the settee, he promptly pulled Dru down onto his lap, ignoring her protests. “All right, now you can open it.”

Shaking his head at his son’s shenanigans, Ben slowly untied the ribbon and lifted the lid.

There on a bed of brown paper lay a set of marbles.

Marbles? He stared down at the gift in confusion. They were well made and must have cost a pretty penny, but still…they were marbles. The last time he had played the game was when Joe was around ten years old.

“Thank you…I think,” he said, mumbling that last part under his breath.

Dru and Joe gave each other a knowing look before Dru stood up, pulling her husband with her. She stepped closer to her father-in-law’s chair.

“We saw these when we went to San Francisco last month and thought you might like to have them. Joe told me how you taught all of your sons how to play when they were younger and…well, perhaps you might want to keep that tradition going and teach our child when he or she is old enough,” she said and placed a flour covered hand over her belly.

The box of marbles was instantly forgotten as Ben scrambled to his feet. “You mean….” he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud what he hoped with all his heart to be true.

Joe smiled at him, green eyes twinkling with the excitement of all expectant parents everywhere. “You’re gonna be a grandfather, Pa,” he said softly.

Ben threw his arms around both his son and daughter-in-law, tears unashamedly running down his cheeks.

“I take it you like your present?” Joe asked dryly and the trio burst into laughter.

“Son, you and Dru have given me the greatest gift a man could ever ask for,” Ben said, releasing them from his embrace.

“Good, I’m glad. If I’d known you would react this way to a set of marbles, I would have bought you some years ago,” Joe said cheekily, earning himself a swat from his wife.

“Joseph Francis Cartwright, you are incorrigible!”

As the pair began to squabble, Ben picked up his gift and settled back into his chair with a heartfelt sigh.

He’d been right all along. It truly was a perfect Christmas.

~Finis

 

Character: Ben Cartwright

Gift: A set of marbles

 

Link to:  Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar – Day 4 – Women’s Work Matters (by sklamb)