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

Summary: Adventures in ‘riding herd’ leads one brother on a merry chase.
Rating: G
Words: 550
Written for the 2023 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar

“Jingle Bull, Jingle Bull, Jingle all the way.”

It was Christmas Eve, and the Ponderosa was adorned with twinkling lights, cheerful decorations and of course the smell of pine.

Our Adam, the usual epitome of seriousness, couldn’t help but feel the infectious joy that filled the ranch at this time.

Hoss and in this case, his sidekick Little Joe decided to get another bull, whom Little Joe named, “And This Is No B.S.”

Pa agreed to the purchase due to the bloodline, also suggested that the name be changed to “Ferdinand” as on his papers. So, Ferdinand became a new addition.

The Cartwright boys (men) alternate each Christmas Eve to watch the livestock, giving the ranch hands a much-needed rest.

Three days ago, Hoss broke two fingers dealing with the B.S. As the night fell, Adam the ever responsible one, decided to watch the livestock in place of Hoss.

“Thanks, big brother, I owe you one, I will do two years next time.”

“Next year, will be just fine” Adam smiled, tipping his hat as he left.

In the midst of his patrol, Adam came upon a rather odd sight.” And This Is No B.S”—oops Ferdinand, had managed to escape his pen and was now gallivanting freely across the pasture covered from head to hoof in an array of colourful Christmas decorations.

Baubles and a Chinese lantern dangling from his horns. Tinsels wrapped around his neck and jingle bells (meant for the sled) adorned his tail. Thus, creating a sight that was quite amusing.

Unable to stifle his laughter at the sight, Ferdinand turned into a festive spectacle which Adam found himself engaged in a merry chase around the ranch, trying to corral the festive bull. With each attempt to approach Ferdinand, the bull seemed to dance away, creating a happy-carefree show under the moonlit sky.

Littel Joe, entering the ranch house, “Hey guys, you got to come and… and see this.”

The hours passed and as the world revolved from night to day. Adam found himself still in the exhausting pursuit of Ferdinand, who had it in his head to turn the escapade into a game of Hide and Seek, bellowing, “You can’t find me, hahaha!”

Adam giving his head a shake, “Did I hear that?” He must be more tired than he thought.

The world indeed revolved from night to day as Adam found himself in a situation where the once quiet ranch was filled with laughter and a sense of joyous chaos by all who were watching. At long last with the help of everyone, Adam managed to get Ferdinand back into his pen, still adorned with an assortment of Christmas decorations that would be a tale to be shared for years to come.

As the sun rose on Christmas morning, the Ponderosa ranch was filled not only with the usual sounds of a holiday, but also with laughter and the memories created during Adam’s hilarious adventure with Ferdinand, the bull who became the star of an amusing Christmas tale in the Ponderosa history.

——

My Phrase: “The world revolved from night to day.” from “Christmas Bells” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

My Character: Adam.
Inspiration from Season 5, Episode 15-Ponderosa Matador.

Ferdinand aka And This Ain’t No B.S.

“Hey Adam-“Why did the world revolved from night to day?’
 “You’re going to tell me anyway, so tell me.”
“Because it wanted a suntan.”

Link to 2023 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar – Day 7 – The Magic of Christmas by BettyHT