Summary: After suffering a tragic loss Ben learns true friends are really family.
Rating: K+
Word Count: 822
Ben Cartwright took a seat in the back of the room. The race for mayor was in full swing, and the Viginia City’s Ladies Society was holding a political rally. Ben sighed as he listened to the speaker. He wasn’t here by choice. Hop Sing had badgered him all morning to get out of the house, and out from under foot. “Mista Cartwright sit and mope too much. Honorable Son not be happy with father.”
“I know Hop Sing, I just…” Ben’s thoughts trailed off and he grimaced remembering the tirade Hop Sing went on upon hearing his excuses. The best thing to do at that moment had been to retreat with his hide intact.
“Ya doing okay, Ben?” Roy Coffee asked as he slid into a vacant seat.
“What?” Startled out of his thoughts, Ben hadn’t heard Roy approach.
“I saw ya ride into town and sure was happy to see you. You haven’t been to town since… I’m sorry, Ben, I didn’t mean…”
Ben held up a hand. “No need to apologize. It has been a while.”
Both men sat silently and pretended to listen to the speaker until Roy chuckled and Ben looked at him. “If Hoss were here, he’d say a big mouth don’t make a big man.”
Ben chortled and nodded. “And Joe would say any man you have to tell not to squat with his spurs on shouldn’t be running for office. And you’d sure as shooting would have to tell this one.” Both men started guffawing at the image the phrase evoked. When heads turned and glared at them, they quickly stood and left. “We’re as bad as they are.” Ben choked out, then sobered. He was shocked, he had laughed, actually laughed. Ben didn’t think he would ever find humor in anything again and here he sat with Roy doing exactly that.
“How is Hoss doing?” Roy asked.
“About like the rest of us – as good as can be expected.” Ben nodded, acknowledging the pressure of Roy’s hand on his shoulder. “Round up is in full swing and it’s helping him to stay busy.” Ben remembered Hoss leaving that morning and looking at his plate, still half full. Hoss was eating only to please Hop Sing. Like Ben he didn’t have much of an appetite. Meals had lost their enjoyment. Food, even Hop Sing’s best dishes, were tasteless. Meals were now a means to an end. That end was Hop Sing’s constant rants about them not eating and he should move back to China.
“How ‘bout coming down to the office for a cup of coffee?”
“Maybe another day, Roy.”
Roy nodded his understanding. “Another day then.”
Ben reached for Buck’s reins, but before he mounted, he took a deep breath and slowly released it. Turning back, he called out to the sheriff’s retreating back. “Roy.” When his friend turned around Ben gave him a shaky smile, “Thank you.”
Roy nodded and walked away. When he could hear the hoofbeats he turned and watched his friend ride off and frowned. “I’m sorry you feel the need to say that.” Roy whispered. Roy had witnessed how the so-called friends had been treating the Cartwrights. At first, they were there for them, always offering help or to be there. Pestering them for the latest information, but later when the family needed them the most they were gone. Grief is like a yellow fever epidemic. The true friends were there to fight and stayed to listen to the memories and stories. They continued to treat them the same as they always did.
**********
Ben gladly turned Buck’s reins over to the hand who greeted him when he rode up to the Ponderosa. When he walked into the house Hop Sing was there waiting.
“You back already?”
Ben scowled at the cook. “Yes, I’m back. Is there a problem with that?”
“Only if Mista Cartwright cause Hop Sing more work. Mista Hoss be home soon and needing to be fed.” Hop Sing looked intently at Ben before nodding. “You sit, I get coffee.”
“How about some of that new tea you have hidden away?”
Hop Sing humphed and grumbled as he headed back to the kitchen.
“With some honey.” Ben called out only to hear a tirade of Cantonese coming from Hop Sing’s kingdom. “And some of those cookies you’ve got tucked away.”
Hanging his hat, Ben paused and touched the jacket hanging there and realized his heart was a little more content, something that had been missing since that awful day. Thanks to the friends who insisted on dragging him back to the land of the living. Friends who are so much more than just friends. They’re family.
***The End***
A/N: Written for Bonanza Brand’s 2023 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament. The words/phrases dealt to me were:
“A big mouth don’t make a big man.”
Honey
“Don’t squat with your boots on.”
Epidemic
Political Rally
Excellent mystery! Very sad to see a loving father, like Ben, in the throes of grief. I could feel his sorrow. Thank goodness for Roy.
Joely
Well, now my nosy self wants to know what happened. Lovely little bit here and really touches on the way of grief. Well done.
An excellent mystery with grief, tests of friendship, and even bits of humor and all of it is so intriguing.
Great way to integrate the required phrases into the story — and bring in the whole family by doing so. Very touching … thanks.
A story that packs a punch. Thank goodness for true friends, like Roy, who are there for the long haul. Thank you for contributing a story!
The tough times do reveal true friends and Roy was one of the best. I too would love to know more of the events but this is the perfect length to enjoy and share Ben’s grief.
Short and bittersweet, and the last paragraph is a beautiful summation, both wistful and hopeful.
How good that the Cartwrights have good friends in bad times, and I hope they will have better ones soon.
Une lecture qui remue tout mon intérieur. La veste, comme une épitaphe sur laquelle Ben pose les doigts.
I hope there will be more to this as I’m anxious to know who they were grieving and what happened to land them in this to begin with.
A heartwrenching story. God bless true friends!
I love the hidden mystery in this story which allows the reader fill in the blanks. The message is a great one, too. A nice addition to the PPPT.
Good story. Grief can be hard to navigate.
Good job! You’ve proven that it doesn’t take a lot of words to make an impact.
This is a fascinating, if bittersweet, story of grief and friendship. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Good story about how grief is handled over a period of time.
The race is off to a good start. Love Little Joe’s comment, not to vote for someone who squats with spurs on. Cartwrights had had more than their share of fair- weather friends.