Summary:  Written for Day 3 of the 2021 Advent Calendar.
Rating: G
Word Count:  907

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

The Letter

 

The thwack, thwack, thwack of an axe striking wood filled the air, mingling with a few errant snowflakes that fell from the iron gray sky. A chill wind blew down from the Sierra Nevadas, ruffling my dark hair and picking at my thick, woolen coat with icy fingers, but that didn’t bother me much. I was used to the harsh winter weather, and though it was cold enough to spit snow, I’d experienced far worse.

Picking up another log, I placed it on the stump, and brought the axe expertly down on the piece of wood, splitting it neatly in half. My blood thrummed through my veins, warming my body with the exercise as I settled into a good rhythm.

“You know, if you keep that up we’ll have enough firewood for the rest of this winter and well into the next,” a familiar voice said, and I paused.

Off to one side, pa stood with one arm wrapped around my step-mother’s waist. “Well, there’s no harm in being prepared,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.

“Oh, I think we’re prepared all right, mon petit fils,” Marie said dryly, gesturing to the pile of stacked wood that I had cut over the past few days. It was rather large, come to think of it, but I enjoyed swinging an axe. Chopping wood may have started off as a punishment when I was younger, but now, I found the task oddly comforting.

“I’m not that little,” I grumbled halfheartedly. I was sixteen after all and stood head and shoulders over Marie. “I think you may be right about that,” I said louder, cheeks turning pink from more than just the cold breeze as embarrassment set in. “Since it looks like I’m done here, I can take Hoss and Little Joe to pick out a tree if you want?”

Marie’s green eyes glowed with happiness as she nodded. “That sound’s perfect, Adam. Joseph has been begging to go get our Christmas tree for the past few days.”

It had been more than a few days. More like a few weeks. The little tyke was finally old enough to understand just what Christmas entailed – toys, treats, and a later bedtime – and he was suitably excited for it. He babbled to anyone who would listen about how he couldn’t wait for Christmas. He’d been a, relatively, good boy, and was confident that jolly Old Saint Nick was going to bring him a pony. A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I thought of the sturdy, little, grey mare that pa and I had secretly been gentling since August. Joe would be over the moon when he saw her.

“Then I guess I’ll ask Hop Sing to make us some sandwiches and round up the boys for the trip.”

I planted the axe into the stump and turned to go, but Marie’s voice stopped me. “Adam, wait.”

Curious, I glanced her way.

Both she and pa eyed each other and shifted nervously.

Butterflies erupted in my stomach. Whatever they wanted to tell me, it couldn’t be good. I scoured my mind, trying to remember if I’d done anything that they would reprimand me for recently, but came up empty.

Pa cleared his throat. “I know Christmas is still a ways away, but your mother and I couldn’t wait that long,” he dug around in his pocket and pulled out a travel-worn letter. “When I went to town last week to pick up some groceries, this was waiting for you.”

He passed the missive to me and I slowly read the name on the return address:

Harvard College*

My mouth went dry. “Is this…?”

They nodded. “Go on, son, open it,” pa said.

Slowly, I unsealed the letter and began to read. My hands shook so hard that I could barely make out the words, but one line in particular stood out to me. “I-I got in. Pa, they accepted my application!” I said, hardly daring to believe it.

For so long I’d dreamed of getting a better education and now my dream was becoming a reality. It was…it was….

Overwhelming. I was equal parts elated and terrified.

“Just think of it, Adam, this time next year you will be a college student! Oh, I’m so proud of you, mon petit fils, I knew you could do it. I knew!” Marie laughed, embracing me. I peered over he shoulder to see pa standing there, eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“My son the college student,” he murmured as a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Pushing all of my doubts aside, I smiled back at him as he pulled both Marie and I into his strong, capable arms. There was time enough later for fears. For now, I was going to bask in my joy.

As if on cue, the clouds broke and a shaft of sunlight appeared, glinting off of the snow and dazzling my eyes.

“Merry Christmas,” I whispered in pa’s ear.

As he let go of me, a single tear slid down his cheek and he looked at me with all the pride in his heart. “Merry Christmas, son.”

~ Finis

*Harvard College (later dubbed Harvard University) did not have an architectural class until 1874, but I figure if Bonanza got to stretch the truth occasionally, why can’t I? 

Chosen character: Adam

Activity: chopping wood

Link to Day 4 of the 2021 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar:  The Gift of Giving by faust