Summary:  Adam is mending fences, not only physically but helping mend Hoss’s heart.
Written for day 6 of the 2021 Advent Challenge.
Rating: G
Word Count:  2207

Bonanza
~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
* Day 6*

The First Time in Years

While driving to the airport to pick up Ben, Hoss and Little Joe, we decided to go over the diabolical plan of action.

“Oh, we need to stop at the house. Patricia dropped off the certificates, they are in their frames and to show you the dress I got for Margie.”

“Okay.”

“You seem to be deep in thought, what is worrying you? Are you worried that Ben may not like the cabin or that he may be annoyed you made it almost like the Ponderosa?”

“Mmmm,” Adam said.

I put my hand on his thigh. ”It will be fine; they would like Little Ponderosa.”

Adam smiled, “Guess you’re right, let’s see the frames and the dress.”

I laughed, “Your father will be on my turf now.”

It will be the first time in over twenty odd years that Christmas will not be at the Ponderosa and dear father-in-law for the first time will not be in charge.

Adam looked at me from the corner of his eye. ”Wipe that smug smile off your face.”

“What? Me?!”

“Yes you,” he said, as he gently punched my arm.

The picture frames were left on the piano bench, they were just beautiful. Red Mahogany wood with carved H’s & M’s respectively, at the corners.

Adam said, “Thank you, they are very beautiful. Let’s see the dress.”

I laid out a green dress and red ribbons. “How about a little tinsel with that?”  Adam laughed. “Hey where is your sense of humour? Give me a hug.”

“It was fun shopping for a little girl,” Adam commented, “I bet you brought more than that dress.”

“Well, yes, it’s winter if you haven’t noticed. I’ll put these away now,” I said.

Adam said, “I see that you put some of the presents out under the tree.”

“I put extra wrapping around Hoss’ gifts to Margie, so that way he doesn’t recognize them.”

“Smart cookie,” Adam smiled, “you know he is going to ask about the tracking numbers.”

Adam had to intercept Hoss’ presents so that they were sent here. Hoss was not exactly pleased with him when he said he “accidentally” sent the receipts to me.

“Well, let’s go, the flight will be in shortly,” I said.

On the way we discussed our mode of attack. Adam will take the men to the cabin for a few days while I remain in town.

“Shawn and I will take the Cessna Citation, not the Navajo. The skis have been put on the Navajo.”

Adam’s face turned dark, “I am not comfortable with that.”

“Well, a lot of the commercial flights are cancelled.”

Still dark and brooding, he said, “Okay.”

I continued, “Okay, listen. If the weather is too bad to fly we will leave the plane in Vancouver, rent a vehicle and drive back. We will be late. The roads aren’t that great.”

Adam’s face relaxed just a tad bit.

“Announcing the arrival of air North flight 504 from Vancouver.”

I see Adam waving madly at the window. ”Curb your exuberance!” I shout.

“Shush, you’re just as excited,” he said.

As I peeked at him, Adam had forgotten about me and was already banging on the window to get their attention.

Adam rushed to the door in order to be the first in line to greet them. You would think he was away from them for a long time but it had only been two weeks.

Ben asked, “Where’s my favourite daughter-in-law?”

Adam said, “She’s your only daughter-in-law.”

“Adam, move, you’re in my way of getting hugs,” I said.

The five of us chatted at the carousel while waiting for the luggage. I was called to the Air North counter where two of the flight attendants that I knew asked me about Little Joe.

Yes, Little Joe was in his fine form. The master of flirtation. And yes, I returned with phone numbers.  “Here, these are for you,” I said, handing them to Little Joe.

Adam asked, “What’s that?”

“Phone numbers,” I said with a wink at Adam.

Adam and Ben just shook their heads.

“What did you do with Adam while he was here?” Hoss asked.

“Put him to work!” I said, “fixing fences, and I helped.”

Hoss said, “Little lady, fence mending is not women’s work.”

I replied, “Oh I know, but I had to help. We had to get it up, it was broken by a moose.”

Hoss asked, “I thought big brother, that you built a 6-foot fence?”

Adam answered, “Yep, but the moose took it down anyhow. It actually stood on its hind legs and pushed.”

“Then how big was it? I haven’t seen a moose in years,” Ben said.

Adam replied, “It stood from foot to shoulder about 6 to 6 and a half feet.”

Ben asked, “What do you think the size of the rack was?”

Adam said, “Around 6 ft. to 7 ft.  Big guy. Around 1400 lbs.”

“I would love to see him,” Hoss said.

Some people were listening to our conversation and one guy piped up and said, “You probably will if it’s the same one that’s breaking down the fences. I’ve had to fix mine twice.”

Thus, the ‘how-to-moose-and-bear-proof fences’ conversation began. Okay, I thought. I will chat with Little Joe. Wait, no Little Joe. All I had to do was look over to the counter and not only was he surrounded by Air North girls, Air Canada decided to jump in as well! I’ll just let him hold court.

The luggage started to come off, the guys were deep in conversation so I started to get them myself. I had them all ready to go when the men stopped and looked at me. Sorries all the way! It was okay, but I let them feel sorry anyway.

Adam explained to them that he will be dropping me off as I have things to do. They’ll stay at the cabin for a few days.

“They can help you put up the snow fences and check the 8-foot fence.” I told them.

“Yes dear.”

Little Joe piped up, “Did I miss something?”

Adam just looked at him in the rearview mirror. I was dropped off and then as soon as they were gone I called Shawn.  “Ready,” I said.

We were flying to Vancouver to pick up Little Margie, the daughter of Hoss’ true love, Margie Owen, who died in childbirth. Even though she was not his, he still loved her, took care of her from afar, and visited her often. She was a clone of her mother after whom she was named.

“Announcing the arrival of Pan Am 374 from Virginia City.”

Shawn and I are at the gate waiting for her. It was great seeing her again. Margie ran into my arms. ”Aunty it is so good to see you!”

“And you, my pet. How was your very first time flying?”

“Scary at first but then I was okay.”

Shawn and I looked at each other, oh boy. After introductions we hurried to get her luggage, we needed to get to the plane as I managed to get an earlier flight time because of a bad weather front coming in.

Shawn whispered to me, “Take a look at her face.”

I looked  at her, going from the big jet to the small plane, can you imagine? The storm caught up with us 5 minutes out of Whitehorse. It was a rough ride for the last bit. Margie was a ghost; she was whiter than white.

Shawn dropped us off at the house and I explained to Margie what was happening.

“Really? Uncle Hoss doesn’t  know that I’m here? Wow, this is going to be great.”

“So, the game plan is you and I are going to get manicures and pedicures. Patricia and her girls are going to join us, that way you’ll have a few friends to hang out with. You and I have two days to hang out before they get here.”

“Cool” Margie replied.

“We will be having Christmas at Patricia’s and then at the cabin you will learn skijoring* with the dogs and horses, and you will also learn how to ride a sled.** I have a small Polaris sled, and you can also watch me teach Uncle Adam how to fly with skis.”

I was met with a puzzled look so I continued, “The plane has skis.”

Adam phoned, “ We will be there in an hour.”

“Okay,” I replied and I got Margie dressed. The green dress fit perfectly, the red ribbons in her blonde hair, a little mascara, blush, and lip gloss. Smiling, I gave her a hug.

I had decided long ago not to have children, a decision that was turned around when I met and married Adam. I hope that my special Christmas gift for him will work out.

“Now, hide downstairs and we will call you as soon as they’re here,” I told Margie, “Oh, they’re here!”

“Welcome to my humble abode,” I said.  Little Ponderosa was an image of big Ponderosa and it gave Adam a sense of comfort when he’s here.

Ben said, “I love the cabin, can’t wait to come back in the summer. Adam said you were worried that I would not like it.”

I looked at Adam, “Oh he did, did he?”

Adam gave me his Adam wink with a smile. Dear God, save me.

We got everyone settled and met in the living/music room. We had a fire going, were drinking wine and decided that pizza would be the order for supper (dinner.) I ordered eight large ones – oh my goodness! Oh yeah, Hoss is here.

Adam said, “Can I have everybody sit down? Pa, Hoss, Little Joe.”  Adam looked at me, “You’re on.” he said.

“So it’s always nice to have an early gift, so we decided that –”

Little Joe piped up, “You’re pregnant!”

“NO!”

Ben snapped, “Joe, shut up and get your feet off the coffee table.”

Adam and Hoss laughed.

So we decided that Hoss should get an early gift,” I continued.

Adam gave me a hug, “Go get the gift.” So I went downstairs and got Margie and came back upstairs. She knew when to come in, she had a cue.

I stood next to Adam.

“Where’s the gift?” he asked.  At that point, Margie entered the room. The men jumped up. Hoss grabbed Margie in a big bear hug, hugs and kisses all around.

So, as the excitement died down, I said, “We’re not done yet. Baby, now it’s your turn.”

Ben, Little Joe, Hoss, and Margie sat down. I handed Adam the two frames wrapped in each of their favourite colours. Adam was already red in the face. He said, “These are also for you.”

Ben and Little Joe had no idea what they were. Margie opened hers first and looked at Hoss, “You want to adopt me? You actually want to adopt me? You’re adopting me?” she said in disbelief.

Hoss replied, “Yes, but the paperwork is going to be–” he stops and looks at Adam and tears open his gift.

Adam had me pull some strings with Jarrod Barkley to push the adoption papers through. Adam had to fool Hoss into signing them. Adam woke him up at midnight, Hoss is useless when he’s half asleep. Adam got him to sign, saying the forms were horse’s bills.

The two frames were Hoss’s adoption papers for Margie. Hoss held Margie in his arms. All four of us were still.

Adam looked at me, “Do something!” he whispered. I could see that he was holding back the tears, as were Ben and Little Joe.

“Okay,” I announced, “let’s have a big group hug and sing Margie’s favourite carol to welcome her into the family. The piano and the harps are already set up. Adam is going to play the harp.”

Ben was like, “What? I didn’t you know you could play”

“Yes,” I replied, “he learnt.”

Little Joe smirked at Adam, “And how was he as a student?”

“We will have that conversation another time,” I said.

Hoss said, “I can play the violin” causing horrifying silence.

Margie stepped up to the plate and took her first step as his daughter, “it’s okay Pa, just leave the music to uncle and auntie.” Hoss beamed with pride and joy as he was called “pa” for the first time.

Hoss came up and gave me a hug for the first time without calling me “Ma’am” or “Little lady.” He actually called me by my name. As I sat at the piano with my back to them, Adam came and gave me a hug, wiped the tear from my cheek, and whispered in my ear.

Little does Adam realize it was not just a physical fence he mended, but also mended a fence in Hoss’s heart.

Then we all sang “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”

A/N:  Referenced Bonanza episodes are “The Tall Stranger,” Season 3, Episode 6 and “Maestro Hoss,” Season 8, Episode 32.

* skijoring: [noun] a winter sport in which a person wearing skis is drawn over snow or ice (as by a horse or vehicle).

** snowmobiles are also referred to as sleds.

Character: Adam

Prompt: Mend a Fence

Link to Day 7 of the Bonanza Brand 2021 Advent Calendar:  The Secret Ingredient by mcfair_58