Summary: The legacy of Ben Cartwright.
Written for day 22 of the 2021 Advent Calendar.
Rating: G
Word Count: 1057

Bonanza
~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
* Day 22 *

The Christmas Letter

Ben Cartwright was at the table in the main room of Widow Garbot’s house. She had apostrophized him a few days ago, asking him for a favor and he had agreed to come to help her. She could not see very well anymore and she had pain in her hands, so she could no longer hold a feather. Quite naturally, Ben Cartwright had agreed to write the letter she had wanted to write.

***

“Oh no, Benjamin, I don’t want to hear anything, you did say, you would help me ! , she replied with a sharp tone of voice. He just had lifted up his head, quite surprised that he had to write such a message.

“But Mrs Garbot, you shouldn’t …”, but again, the old lady’s blue eyes became hard as stone and she did silence him. So, with a heavy heart, he restarted to write the letter.

***

A few weeks later, the community of Virginia City was informed that the Widow Garbot had peacefully passed away in her sleep at the respectable age of 93. She was buried a few days before July 4, on a beautiful summer day.

***

The shock was hudge for the widow Garbot’s family when the contents of the letter were revealed. Within hours, the news did spread into town like wildfire. Widow Garbot had disinherited one of her daughters, left her without any money. The judge, as well as Sheriff Coffee and the schoolteacher had certified that the document was valid and admissible. Ben Cartwright had explained that he had tried to make her change her mind but he hadn’t succeeded. Ben, deeply hurt and ashamed by what he had been forced to do, wanted to apologize to Widow Garbot’s daughter. Mélanie Garbot knew that her mother could be very, very persuasive when she wanted something. And she understood that Ben Cartwright had had no choice. Even though he would have refused, she would have asked someone else to do it.

***some months later.

Mélanie Garbot did refuse the gift Ben Cartwright was about to give her, but he kept insisting.

“I’m going to be as stubborn and determined as your mother was. Come on, take that money. You have children to raise and I still think, that your mother had no right doing what she’s done!”

“It’s important for me. I can’t help feeling sorry for you. I had made a promise to your Ma, but I couldn’t imagine, she would do something like that. But I want you to know that each word was very, very painful to write. I tried to make her understand that she shouldn’t do this, but I couldn’t get her to change her mind. I am really sorry ! “

**** in the first days of the New Year.

Christmas had passed in a warm and beautiful atmosphere, Joe with his wife and children, Adam with his wife and children had spent sweet moments at the Ponderosa. And even if Ben, tired by the weight of winter and the years, had seemed a little diminished, he had not missed anything of the joy of all at the foot of the illuminated christmas tree.

One night when he couldn’t sleep, he got up and left the small downstairs room that had been rearranged for him so he didn’t have to go upstairs. The huge log in the fireplace was not completely consumed, he stirred the embers a little and the fire started again, warming his old bones. He slowly walked towards his desk, sat down in his chair and put on his glasses, before pulling out a sheet from under the leather desk pad. He slowly unscrewed the cap from his inkwell, grabbed one of the feather that rested on the desk. Suddenly he thought back to Widow Garbot’s arthritic hands. He too had a few pains, but he knew that the words he was going to put on the paper would be stronger than the ailments of old age. He took a deep breath and began to write:

Joe, Adam, when you’ll read this letter, I won’t be there anymore, I’ll be with your brother and your mothers. I want you to know how proud I am when I think about you and what you do with your life. I was so happy to have you as sons. So often I did realise how I could count on you. I enjoyed each moment with you, the joy of our last Christmas is something I’ll take with me and cherish it. I see how you are now : honest and good men, rich with so many qualities. None of you asked to come, nothing was spared to you, but you managed to go on with courage, determination and respect. You too did manage to dry your tears and manage to do your best, every day, even if it was hard. You have been a source of pride for me every day. And if I haven’t told you enough, I repeat here how much I love you and how much you have filled my life with joy and happiness. Be happy, my sons, take care of your family and continue to cultivate this harmony which is our, beyond our small differences and the errors that I may have done. I have already asked your forgiveness for what happened and I know that love is stronger than all of this. Our family went through it all with humility and courage and I know deep in my heart that you will be able to transmit the power of this message to your little ones. God bless you. I love you. Goodbye. Your father.

Ben stopped writting, he folded the letter and put it in an envelope, then he stood up, looked tenderly at the frames of his son Eric, of Elisabeth, Inger and Marie and slowly walked towards his room. He blew out the candle and slipped into the white cotton sheets.

***

Silence rose later on Lake Tahoe and the Ponderosa ranch was orphan. Ben Cartwright had passed away in his sleep. The letter left on the desk was read at the funeral service. It was and would remain the most beautiful message ever heard in this city. The real legacy of Ben Cartwright.

The End

Character : Ben

Activity: writing a letter

Link to Day 23 of the Bonanza Brand 2021 Advent Calendar:  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day by fanofoldtvshows