Bonanza
~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
* Day 11 *

Summary:  Christmastime on the Ponderosa with a young Cartwright family.
Rating:  G
Words:  8,620

The Perfect Christmas Eve

“Ma-ma, Ma-ma.”

The call was more of a quiet whimper. Having awoken from a bad dream, the two year old longed for the comfort she could only receive from her mother.

“Ma-ma.”

This time the call was louder, followed by a tearful cry. Mama always comes when I cry. Grabbing the railing of her crib, the girl pulled herself upright. Something was wet beneath her feet. Puzzled, she bent down to feel her bed. Wet fabric met her fingers. I can’t sleep in a wet bed; now I really have to get Mama’s attention.

“Ma-ma, Ma-ma, MA-MA!”

She began to sob, holding tight to the crib railing. Mama always came when she called her, and if she was busy then somebody else came and brought her to Mama. But what if no one came this time? What if no one heard her?

Rapid, little footfalls were heard coming down hall before a curly headed boy pushed open the door and bounded into the room. He ran over to the crib where she stood peering through the railing and patted her hand.

“Don’t cry, sissy,” the four year old said. “Mama’s comin’.” The girl sniffled and her cries quieted to low whimpers. Little Joe was here so someone else had to be here too. Mama never left her and Little Joe by themselves.

Marie entered then, the glow from the lamp she held casting spooky shadows around the dark room. The little girl’s whimpers stopped upon seeing her mother, and her face brightened up with a smile.

“There’s mama’s little angel,” she set the lamp on the dresser and opened the curtains to reveal the morning sun. “Did you sleep well?” She turned to the crib and lifted her little daughter into her arms. As she rested her arm underneath her, her face wrinkled into a disgusted frown. “Uh-oh, we seem to be in need of a change, don’t we?”

Uh-oh. Mama wasn’t happy. She’d done something to make her upset. Sierra’s face fell and pitiful green eyes looked up at her. “Si’wwa sowwy. Ma-ma mad?”

“Oh no, mon cherie, mama’s not mad.” She smiled and gave the girl’s nose a gentle tap. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up, then we’ll go get you some breakfast.”

-/-/-/-/-

Minutes later Sierra was clean and dry and dressed for the day, sucking on her thumb while giggling at the funny faces Little Joe was making at her. Marie couldn’t help but smile at her babies.

“Eat now, Mama?” Little Joe turned hopeful eyes towards her.

“Yes, Mon petit, it’s time to eat. Go and tell your father we’re coming.”

The little boy was gone in flash, his pattering footsteps could be heard racing down the hall to the stairs.

“Joseph, no running down the stairs or you’ll-”

Before Marie could finish her warning, a loud tumble was heard followed by the boy’s cry. She hurried to the top of the stairs with Sierra in her arms to find her middle son already there comforting his little brother.

The nine year old wrapped his arms around the sobbing boy and held him close. “There now, punkin, you’re ok. You’re not supposed to run down the stairs anyway. You know what happens every time you do.”

Tearfully, the little boy looked up at his brother. “Sowwy, Hoss, me jus’ forget.”

“I know, it’s ok.” He stood up with the boy in his arms. “Say what was so all fired important this time anyway?”

“I was comin’ to tell Pa that Mama and sissy was comin’.” He sniffled loudly. “I’s real hungry, Hoss.”

Hoss chuckled. “You ‘n’ me both, shortshanks. Tell you what, how’s ‘bout we go sit at the table so’s we’re ready to eat when the rest ‘a the fam’ly shows up?”

“Can I ride the horsie there?”

“Sure ya can, punkin.” He set Little Joe on the floor, turned and squatted down waiting for the boy to climb on his back. Once safely secured, ‘the horse’ let out a loud “Yehaw!” then took off at a gallop towards the dining room table laden with the family’s breakfast.

Marie smiled as she watched her middle children together. Despite only being nine years old, Hoss was big for his age, though in contrast to Little Joe’s small-for-his-four-years-size, Hoss appeared even bigger. He’d had a few jealous moments at first when his baby brother was born and realized the baby was stealing all his parents’ attention. That had soon been remedied however when Adam took him aside and had explained what being a big brother truly entailed. He’d quickly dubbed himself his little brother’s protector and thoroughly enjoyed this job of trying to keep him out of scrapes. However, even at four, Little Joe was proving to be quite the charmer and had managed to land both of them in trouble more times than not.

Sierra on the other hand, Marie couldn’t help the smirk that appeared on her face as she thought about how her baby daughter had managed to twist the entire family around her little finger and she was only two. The girl had inherited her older brother’s charm, but where Little Joe’s might reach a slight margin of limitation, Sierra’s had not failed her once, especially when it came to her father and older brothers.

The front door opened revealing Ben and Adam as they entered the house. Seeing his wife descending the stairs, Ben smiled a warm smile, his eyes lighting up.

“There’s my beautiful girls,” he said as he crossed the room to meet Marie at the base of the stairs and kissed her soundly. “And how are you this fine morning, my dears?”

Sierra giggled and held out her arms to her father. “Pa-pa!”

“We’re both quite well,” Marie said with a smile, handing the girl to her father. “Though this little missy managed to wet through her clothes and bedding again. Looks like I’ll be doing laundry today.”

“But Mama, it’s Christmas Eve,” Hoss protested. Having deposited Little Joe in his seat at the table, Hoss had taken a seat beside him.

“Yeah, Pa, you promised to take us to find a Christmas tree today, remember?” Adam said as he joined his brothers at the table, taking a seat across from Hoss.

Ben carried his daughter to her seat beside Adam. “Yes, I do remember, boys, but with Hop Sing away your mother needs us to lend more of a hand around the house.” He walked around and took his seat at the head of the table between Adam and Little Joe. “There will be plenty of time to get a tree once the chores are done here and your mother can join us as well.”

Adam and Hoss said nothing else, though their downcast expressions spoke what their words didn’t. Ben paid them no mind as grace was said, then the family began to eat. In his mind, the subject was settled.

Marie, however, sat pondering the matter as she placed eggs and bacon on Sierra’s plate. With Ben having just returned from an extended trip to San Fransisco on business, the older boys were craving their father’s attention and in some ways needed it more than the little ones. She glanced surreptitiously at both of her stepsons in turn before meeting Ben’s eye across the table.

“Why don’t you go ahead and take Adam and Hoss out to find a tree? I can manage the little ones by myself and the washing won’t take that long. Then I can get a head start on preparing for Christmas dinner too.”

Hoss looked up at her, his eyes wide with hope. Adam too, appeared to be thrilled with suggestion. All eyes then turned to Ben, waiting to hear what he would say.

Ben chewed up a mouthful of eggs before he spoke. “Well, I was planning on making it a family outing as we usually do.” He looked across the table at Marie who was trying to get the youngest Cartwright her breakfast.

“It’s good for you, Mon petit.” She lifted a forkful of eggs to her daughter’s mouth. “You must eat them.”

The two year old shook her head, her lips pressed into a tight line.

“Young lady, you will eat what your mother gives you or you will face the consequences,” Ben said, giving the girl a stern glare. “And that goes for you too, young man.” He turned his glare on Little Joe who sat moving his pile of eggs from one side of his plate to the other with his fork.

The little boy scrunched up his face in disgust. “No like eggs.”

“No egg!” Sierra exclaimed, her expression mirroring that of her brother’s.

“They’re really good,” Adam said as he scooped up a forkful and placed them in his mouth. “Mm-mm. They’ll make you grow up big and strong.”

“No eat eggs,” Little Joe pushed his plate away from him.

“Hey, Pa,” Hoss said around a mouthful of breakfast. “If they don’t eat theirs, can I have it?”

“No, because they will both eat it, and they won’t get anything else until they do.” Again both children received a stern glare from him. Little Joe chose to ignore it and continue twirling his fork in his eggs, while Sierra’s face crumpled and she began and sniffle. She turned pitiful eyes towards her mother.

“Me do it, Ma-ma?” Marie nodded placed the fork in her hand which immediately brightened the girl’s mood as she began to stab at the eggs on her plate.

“So when’re we gonna go get the tree, Pa?” Hoss asked, reminding him of the previous conversation topic.

Ben took a long sip, then set his coffee cup down on its saucer and looked across at Marie with raised eyebrows.

“I know we usually all go,” she said, “but with Hop Sip away this year I really need to get Christmas dinner preparations started. And the little ones do need their naps or they’ll be cranky later.”

“No nap, Ma-ma,” Sierra said smacking around a mouthful of eggs.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full please, Sierra,” Ben scolded the girl. Still not convinced, he looked back at Marie and said, “Are you sure, Marie? Both little children by yourself is quite a handful especially when you’re trying to get things done.”

She smiled and nodded. “Yes, Ben, I am sure. I’ll just put them down for their naps. Besides Little Joe is big enough to help me make the gingerbread cookie ornaments, aren’t you?”

The boy stopped pushing his eggs around on his plate and nodded, puffing out his chest with a proud expression on his face. “Me big boy now. Me he’p Mama.”

Ben studied his little son, who still seemed to be doing more playing with his food than eating. “Joseph, eat your food and don’t play with it.”

Big boy moment gone, the boy’s face scrunched up once again in disgust as he looked up at his father. “Not like eggs.”

“Yes, well, we all must do things we don’t like at times and right now, you must eat your eggs.”

“No, Pa, don’t like them. They’s yucky.” As if to prove his point, Little Joe followed this statement by wrinkling up his face and sticking out his tongue.

“Yucky eggs,” Sierra said copying her brother’s expression. A glare from her mother silenced her and she grabbed a piece of bacon off her plate instead.

“Joseph,” Ben’s tone was quiet but there was a warning edge to it. “I don’t care whether you like them or not, but you will eat your eggs, and you won’t leave this table until you do.”

The boy’s face crumpled and his lower lip stuck out as he turned pitiful eyes towards his mother. “Mama-”

Marie held up her hand to stop him before he even got started. “Your father has spoken. You must do as he says, Mon chere.”

Little Joe dropped his head and began to sniffle. Adam and Hoss remained silent during the exchange, not wishing to raise their father’s ire any further.

“You still think you’d rather stay home?” Ben directed a pointed look at the top of the pouting boy’s curly head.

“Yes, I think I can manage quite nicely.”

“Hmm. Well, all right, if you’re sure?” He looked at Marie and waited for her nod, which she promptly gave with a smile. “Then after breakfast you boys hurry and finish your chores then we’ll go.”

The excited expression on Hoss’ face told Marie she’d made the right decision. Even Adam favored her with a genuine smile which warmed her heart. No matter how much frustration the morning held, that smile made it all worth it. She looked at her still pouting four year old, and then at her two year old, who sat breaking the last of her bacon into pieces before dropping them on floor already littered with the remnants of her eggs and held back a sigh. Maybe it wasn’t too late to change her mind…

-/-/-/-/-

“Marie, are you sure you’ll be all right here with the children by yourself?”

Marie stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “Don’t worry, mon amour, the children and I will be fine. You and the boys enjoy your time together. Hoss has the picnic lunch I packed for you. We’ll have everything ready to start the Christmas festivities when you get back.” She wiped the sweat from her brow. “As warm as it is right now it doesn’t really feel much like Christmas though. I was really looking forward to the snow.”

Ben glanced up at the sky. The last few days had been unusually warm for the time of year. “I wouldn’t give up on your white Christmas just yet. From the looks of that sky I’d say the weather’ll make a change by sundown.”

“Ooh!” Marie clapped her hands together. “I hope you’re right.”

Ben held back his laughter though he smiled and his eyes twinkled watching his wife’s childish excitement.

“I must say I don’t envy you,” Ben said. He looked back into the open doorway as if he could see the little boy who still sat at the table refusing to eat his eggs. “I think you’ve got a much more difficult job today.”

His wife laughed. “Oh, I don’t plan to make him finish all of them. Only a few more bites.” Ben opened his mouth to protest when Marie continued. “You said he had to eat them. You didn’t say he had to eat them all.”

Ben shook his head, but he couldn’t resist a chuckle. “You’re much too soft on the boy, Marie. You’re going to spoil him.”

“A little spoiling never hurt anyone. Besides you seem to do enough of it with the littlest member of this family.”

“I do not spoil her,” Ben said indignantly. At Marie’s raised eyebrow, he sighed. “Well, maybe just a little.”

“Pa,” Adam called. “Better hurry up before Hoss eats all our lunch.”

“I’m coming,” Ben called over his shoulder.  “Hoss, stay out of that basket, son.”

“Aw, Pa, but I’m hungry,” Hoss grumbled.

“You’re always hungry,” was Adam’s response.

“Guess we’d better be going,” Ben said. “Sure you won’t change your mind?”

“I’m sure.” Marie laughed and kissed him again. “You boys be careful now and look after your father.” She called as Ben crossed the yard to join them in the wagon.

“We will, Mama, don’t worry,” Hoss said from his seat beside his father.

Adam, seated behind the wagon seat, raised his hand and waved. His other hand held a book which left no doubt as to how he planned to pass the time while riding.

“Bye, Mama!” Hoss turned to wave at her as Ben clicked his tongue and slapped the reigns on the horses’ backs. “We’ll find the biggest and bestest tree ever! I promise!”

As the wagon pulled away, Marie smiled and waved back, a chuckle escaping as she heard Adam correcting his brother’s grammar. Sierra came running out the door just then intent on heading for the disappearing wagon. She let out a cry of protest as her mother caught her before she could go far.

“Down, Ma-ma! Want go! Si’wwa want go too!”

Marie hugged the child close and patted her back. “I know, Mon cherie. Maybe next time you can go.” She carried the crying girl into the house, shutting the door behind them.

“Mama, don’t like eggs! Want to get up!” Little Joe called from his seat at the table.

His mother sighed and leaned against the closed door for a moment. Well, here we go.

-/-/-/-/-

After much protests and tears, Little Joe finally managed to swallow down the required amount of eggs. “Go play now?” he asked.

Marie nodded. “Yes, now you may go play.” The little boy shot out of his chair before she’d finished talking.

“Doey p’way?” Seated on the rug in the great room, Sierra waved her hands holding a wooden block in each one while a pile of identical ones sat in front of her.

“I play, sissy.” Little Joe plopped down on the floor beside her. “Let’s build tower.”

“Tower!” Sierra repeated in delight. “Tall tower?”

Little Joe nodded, stretching his arms as high as he could. “Tall as a tree!”

The little girl thought a moment then said in a solemn tone, “That’s tall.” She then set one of the blocks in her hands on top of the short stack her brother had started.

Marie smiled as she watched the two of them together. Perhaps now they would keep each other occupied long enough for her to get some work done. She picked up Little Joe’s plate and finished clearing away the rest of the dishes.

-/-/-/-

Sierra went down for her nap without too much fuss, and after the difficulty they’d had at breakfast, Marie decided it wouldn’t hurt for Little Joe to take a nap too. She read them a story and enjoyed their cuddles as she rocked them both to sleep in the rocking chair Ben had made for the nursery. He’d wanted to buy her one but she had insisted it would be better if he made it. She had however caved and bought store bought cushions for it after a couple of failed sewing attempts on her part.

With Sierra’s crib still in need of changing, she laid both children down in Little Joe’s bed and tucked them in, placing pillows behind her son like usual to ensure he didn’t roll off. His bed was pushed up against the wall, so she didn’t have to worry about them falling off the other side.

Once the children were down for their naps, Marie gathered up her daughter’s soiled sheet and clothing and began the process of washing them.

-/-/-/-/-/-

“Mama!” She heard Little Joe call just as she finished.

“Mama’s coming,” Marie replied as she climbed the stairs. Upon entering the boy’s room, she found him standing beside the bed while Sierra still sat under the covers crying. “Awe, what is it, mon bebe? Why are you crying?”

“The bed’s wet, Mama,” Little Joe told her, a fact which Marie had just discovered as he picked up her daughter. “I not do it, Mama. I pwomise.” He looked up at his mother wide eyes as he shook his head.

Marie smiled down at him and ruffled his wild curls. “I know you didn’t, mon ange. It’s okay. It’s nothing that won’t wash out anyway, so no harm done.” She kissed Sierra’s tear stained cheek and gave her a little tickle making the girl giggle. “Now let’s get some clean clothes on both of you, then I believe it’s time for lunch while I wash the rest of this laundry.”

“What we have for lunch?” Little Joe asked.

Marie looked at him with a smile. “I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

-/-/-/-/-

While the children ate their lunch, Marie stripped the sheets from Little Joe’s bed and bundled them with their soiled clothes. On a sudden whim, she decided to go ahead and wash the sheets from everyone else’s beds too. Wouldn’t hurt to take advantage of the unusually warm weather, she thought, and they were due to be washed anyway.

Lunch ran rather long as without her supervision, both children did more playing with their food than eating it, but it kept them both occupied and out of trouble so she didn’t mind too much. She scrubbed the sheets and laughed along with them at the tall tales they dreamed up featuring their imaginary vegetable and sandwich “characters”.

“We make cookies now, Mama?” Little Joe asked.

Needing to get the sheets hung on the line, Marie had taken them both outside where she could keep a close eye on them. She had just placed a pin on the last sheet and bent to pick up her empty basket as the little boy made his request and she smiled at him. “Yes, I suppose we can.”

“Yippee! Come on, Sissy, Mama said we make cookies now!”

-/-/-/-/-/-

“Like this, Mama?” Little Joe held a gingerbread man shaped cookie cutter poised above the freshly rolled out dough.

Marie smiled and nodded. “Yes, that’s right.” She watched as he pushed the cutter into the dough then removed it to reveal the cut shape. His beaming smile warmed her heart.

“I did it! Look it, Mama, it’s a ginger man!”

His mother covered her mouth to hold back her laughter. “It is at that. And a more perfect little ginger man I’ve never seen.” She kissed his forehead and ruffled his flour dusted curls. “Now see if you can do more just like that one.” Leaving the boy to his task, Marie turned around to check on her daughter.

To keep the girl busy and out of trouble, Marie had given her a bit of the cookie dough and a cutter to play with. Having grown bored of playing with it, she was now sitting in the middle of kitchen floor, contentedly munching on her bit of dough. “Do you like that, mon petit? Is it yummy?”

Sierra grinned up at her mother and nodded. “Yum-my!”

Marie laughed and brushed the sweat off her forehead. She went to the kitchen door and opened it, standing in the doorway a moment to enjoy the afternoon breeze. Although the outside temperature had dropped slightly since earlier that morning, it was still rather warm and the cool breeze was a welcome relief. I still don’t see how it will be cold enough to snow tonight, she thought as she remembered Ben’s prediction.

“Mama, look! I made’s ‘nother one!”

At Little Joe’s summons, she returned to his side to admire the boy’s work. “Great job, Mon petit.” She turned to counter behind him to begin making her bread dough.

“Mama?”

“Yes?” She added a little water to her bowl.

“How many more I have to make?”

“Quite a few if you want to have enough to hang on our tree when your Pa and brothers return.” A dash of salt went into her bowl next.

“We hang them all on the tree?”

Marie laughed. “I think we could set a few of them aside for eating.” She scooped out several cups of flour to add the the mixture.

“How many is that?”

“Well, I don’t really know. It depends on how many you make.” Next was several tablespoons of butter.

“Mama?”

“Yes?”

“If I make more then that means I gets to eat more?”

Marie nodded. “Yes, I suppose so.” She mixed the ingredients together in her bowl.

“Does Hoss get to eat some too?”

“Yes, Hoss, and Adam and Sierra, and your father and I will probably all eat a few.” In went an egg and the proofed yeast mixture she’d mixed earlier and she began combining them all together.

The boy stared down at the cookie dough a moment. “Then I’d better do a whole bunch more. ‘Speci’lly for Hoss ‘cause I knows he’s gonna be real hungry after all that work of Christmas tree huntin’.”

Marie couldn’t hold back a chuckle at her little son’s logic. “I suppose you’re probably right, Mon petit. Your brother Hoss does love to eat.” She spread some flour on the countertop surface and dropped the bread dough on top, beginning to knead it.

“Mama?”

“Yes, Little Joe, what is it?”

“Why do they call it tree huntin’? What do they hunt the tree with? A gun? And why they gots ta go huntin’ it anyways? Trees don’t move.”

Marie paused in her kneading, laughing too hard to continue at the moment. Little Joe turned to look at her, a puzzled look on his face. “What funny, Mama? Why you laughin’?”

Holding her hands out to the side so as not to get any more flour on him, Marie leaned over to kiss his forehead. “You are, Mon petit.”

“But I wants ta know, Mama!”

“I know you do.” She began kneading the dough again while smiling at her son. “You’ve got a very curious imagination, Mon petit. You keep asking questions. That’s the only way you’ll learn.”

“That how Adam gots ta be so smart, huh? And Pa too? He’s real smart.”

“Yes, I suppose it is.”

“I wanna be just like them one day when I grows up.”

“And I have no doubt you will be too.”

“I finished, Mama. Come look.”

Marie wiped her hands on her apron and turned around, stopping in her tracks. The place on the floor where Sierra had been sitting was empty. “Sierra,” she called looking around the kitchen for the missing two year old. “Little Joe, did you see where your sister went?”

The boy shook his head.

“No, no, no.” Marie’s eyes went to the open kitchen door and she felt panic begin to well up inside. Bread dough and unbaked cookies forgotten, she grabbed up Little Joe and hurried outside. “Sierra! Sierra, where are you?” Seeing no sign of her on the porch or around the front of the house, she ran towards the barn. “Sierra! Come on out, Mon petit. Mama’s not playing, baby. Sierra! Come see Mama.”

No sign of her in the barn. Her eyes went to the hayloft. The two year old had been told numerous times not to climb the ladder and she wasn’t even sure if she could manage it alone, but Marie didn’t put anything past her. She set Little Joe down on a hay bale at the base of the ladder.

“Sit here and don’t move. Do you hear me, Joseph?” The boy nodded, his eyes wide at the use of his full first name. “What did I say?”

“Ta sit ‘ere ‘n’ don’t move,” he repeated.

“Good boy. I’ll be right back.” Satisfied he understood her command, Marie gathered her skirts and climbed the ladder. A quick search of the hay loft revealed the girl wasn’t hiding there. She climbed back down the ladder, thankful to see Little Joe had obeyed and stayed put. One child missing was bad enough, she didn’t know what she’d do if both were lost.

She grabbed Little Joe’s hand and hurried through the barn door into the ranch yard. Where could she be? Surely she couldn’t have wondered far. Her back hadn’t been turned that long…had it? Oh, why did she turn her back in the first place. She should’ve known the girl was up to something when she didn’t hear any sound from her. Why had she had allowed her attention to be distracted by her need to get the bread started and by her son’s constant stream of questions. Please, dear Lord, don’t take this child from me too.

The gentle breeze she had enjoyed blowing through the kitchen door had matured into a strong gusts bringing a winter chill with it. The warm sun was now hidden by clouds and the afternoon temperature was falling. Marie found herself shivering. Ben was right. It would snow tonight. Her baby was out there, somewhere, and without her winter coat too. If she wasn’t found by the time it began snowing she’d…

“Mama?”

Marie looked down at the four year old clinging to her hand and she struggled to hide her fear form him. “Yes, mon petit, what is it?”

Green eyes, identical to those of her missing daughter stared up at her. “Sissy lost?”

“Yes, but we’re going to find her soon.”

“Me he’p, Mama. Me find Sissy.”

Marie scooped up her baby boy and held him close. “Dear, Lord, please help me find my baby.”

-/-/-/-/-/-

Three voices singing Christmas carols heralded the wagon’s approach as it pulled into the yard.

“And Heav’n, and Heaven and nature sing!” They finished the song with a flourish, though a little more than slightly off key, as Ben pulled the horses to a stop in front of the barn. “Whoa, boys,” Ben said to the horses. He climbed down from the wagon and looked towards the house. “Marie! Marie, we’re home! Come see the tree we got you!”

“I think you were right about the snow, Pa,” Adam said and jumped over the side of the wagon, brushing stray pine needles off his clothes. “Temperature is really dropping.”

“Bet you boys are glad I insisted you bring your jackets along now,” Ben said with a laugh as he began untying the ropes holding the tree securely on the wagon.

“Yes sir, Pa,” Hoss said as he joined his father and brother on the ground. “Why we’d be icicles by now without ‘em.” He looked towards the house, the sheets still hang drying on the line catching his eye. “We probably ought to remind Mama about them sheets there or I reckon they won’t be very comfor’able ta sleep on tonight if they’s frozen solid.”

Ben stopped and looked again at the house. “I’m surprised your mother hasn’t come out to meet us. Hoss, run inside, son, and let her know we’re home. Be quiet now in case the little ones are asleep.”

“Yes, Pa,” Hoss nodded and ran across the yard slowing to a walk when he hit the porch. That’s odd, he thought. It’s kinda cold to leave the door open. Entering through the open kitchen door, he found the room empty, unbaked cookies on the table, and the lump of bread dough on counter. “Mama?” He called softly as he rounded the corner into the dining room. Still no sign of his mother or little siblings there either. Clearing the great room and Pa’s desk area at a glance, he hurried up the stairs.

Moments later he ran back outside to where his father and brother were starting to unload the tree. “Mama’s not in the house, Pa. Nobody’s in there. The kitchen door was wide open but there’s no sign of them anywhere.”

Ben dropped the tree and turned to face Hoss. “Are you sure? Maybe she’s just upstairs putting the little ones down for a nap.”

Hoss shook his head. “I went up there and looked and they weren’t up there.”

“I’ll check the barn, Pa,” Adam said. “Maybe she was letting them playing in the hay.” He was back soon without any luck.

“Where do you think they went, Pa?” Hoss asked.

Just as puzzled as the boys were, Ben had no answer. “I don’t know, son.”

“Marie’s horse is here so they couldn’t have went into town,” Adam said.

Ben nodded. “They must be around here somewhere.” He stepped away from the wagon, his eyes searching the trees and brush surrounding the yard. “Marie! Marie, can you hear me?”

All three stood silent, listening, but the only sounds they heard were that of the whistling wind and rustling trees.

“Pa! Look there,” Hoss called and pointed into the brush behind his father. “I think it’s-”

“Marie!”

Ben’s relieved shout propelled him forward towards his wife as she emerged from the brush clutching Little Joe in her arms. Her skirt was torn in places where the brush had caught it and her usual upswept curls now hung unkempt and disheveled around her face. She looked exhausted.

“Marie, are you all right? Where have you been?” Ben pulled Little Joe from her grasp, passing him to Adam, then took his wife in his arms.

“B-Ben, I- it-it’s all my f-fault!” Marie gasped. “I-I-I should-should’ve b-been w-watching b-better. I-I-”

“Shhh, calm down, Marie,” he pulled her close to him and wrapped her tightly in his arm. “It’s going to be okay.” She clung to him, her breathing ragged as she tried to catch her breath. He looked over the top of her head at Adam. “Is the boy all right?”

Adam nodded as he checked his youngest brother over. “He seems fine to me, Pa. He was sound asleep and I don’t see any marks on him.” He gave the boy’s cheek a gentle pat. “Hey little buddy, can you wake up and tell me what’s got your Mama so upset?” The boy lifted his head from Adam’s shoulder and blinked owlishly at him.

“Hey, Pa?” Hoss said. “I don’t see Sierra anywhere.”

Ben’s hand stilled as he rubbed Marie’s back and he met Adam’s eyes. Marie’s breathing had calmed considerably and she pushed away to look at her husband.

“That’s what I was trying to tell you, Ben,” she said, brushing her hair away from her face. She recounted what happened and ended with, “I’ve been out there searching for her but there’s no sign of her anywhere! Oh, Ben, what if we never find her? It getting colder and she’s got no coat on. She’s going to freeze out here! Ben, I can’t stand to go through the loss of a child again! I just can’t!” She buried her face in her husband’s shirt as the dam broke and the tears she’d been holding back burst forth.

Ben looked wide eyed at Adam, seeing his fear reflected there. His child was missing. His daughter. His two year old daughter. He turned his eyes to the woods surrounding the house. She was out there somewhere. Marie was right…with the temperature falling and without proper winter clothing, she was in danger of frost bite or even hypothermia. Night was approaching fast too which would make it even harder to find her in the dark. They were wasting time standing around.

He gently, but firmly pushed Marie away so he could look into her face. “Marie, this isn’t helping us find Sierra. She needs you to be strong right now. You’ve got to get a hold of yourself, or you’re no good to her.” He watched as his words sunk in. She took a deep breath and nodded, wiping away her tears.

“You’re right, Ben, I’m sorry.”

Her husband smiled at her. “We are going to find her, Marie. You will not lose another child. I promise you that.” Lord, please help me keep that promise, Ben prayed silently. “Now, I want you to take Hoss and Little Joe and go in the house. Adam and I will saddle up and go find her.”

Marie shook her head. “No, Ben, I will not wait here while you look. I’m going with you.”

“Marie, it’s cold out here and you’re exhausted.”

Her eyes flashed as she glared at him. “I am her mother. I will help you search for her.” She did not raise her tone, but the firmness in it warned him against trying to make her do otherwise.

Not wishing to waste time arguing knowing he’d most likely lose anyway, Ben nodded. “Ok, let’s go inside and get you and Little Joe bundled up warmer. Adam, you and Hoss unhitch the team and get the lanterns, will you? Make sure there’s plenty of fuel in them.”

“Yes sir,” Adam nodded, handing his little brother over to his father.

-/-/-/-/-/-

“Adam, you-you reckon we’re gonna find her?” Hoss’ voice wavered revealing his fear.

It was the question which was on everyone’s minds. The sun had set and snow was falling in thick clusters making tracking useless. There wasn’t much luck trying to listen for sounds either as the whistling wind blocked out all other noises. Long since forgotten, the sheets were frozen solid on the line, and even if they had been remembered, the family had a much more pressing problem at the moment.

Adam turned his to his brother as he fought to keep his own fear out of his voice. “We’ve got to, Hoss.” He held the lantern up and peered through the blinding snow into the darkness. Pa, having strapped a bundled up Little Joe to his chest, had taken Marie with him to search the woods surrounding one side of the house, while Adam and Hoss searched the other.

A gust of wind hit Adam squarely in the face as it blew his hat off his head. No, no, no…He reached for it, but it was snatched away out of his reach. Blast it! It had taken him all summer to save up for that hat. Guess it’s a good thing I kept my old one. Though it wouldn’t help him much right now with it being back in his room. A shiver ran down his spine as icy fingers ruffled his hair and he tugged the collar of his coat higher. If I’m this cold bundled up, just imagine how cold Sierra must be. Guilt hit him. His baby sister was out here freezing and here he was disappointed about losing his hat. Shame on him. That hat wasn’t that important. It could be replaced; Sierra-

“Adam?” Hoss interrupted his thoughts. “She’s gotta be awful cold. How long’s it been?”

Adam sighed. “Too long.”

“We’ve done walked every inch a woods this side a’ the house and there ain’t no sign a her. Ya think Mama ‘n’ Pa’ve found her yet?”

“I sure hope so, Hoss.” If they haven’t- Adam stopped himself mid thought. Don’t go there. He couldn’t imagine what it would happen should they not be able to find her. Or worse…find her too late. “I can’t stand to go through the loss of a child again!” Marie had said that to Pa earlier. Again? What had she meant by that?

Some perfect Christmas this was turning out to be.

“Come on, Hoss. It’s time to meet back up with Pa and Marie at the house.”

Adam turned in the direction of the house looking over his shoulder to make sure Hoss was following close behind. Going back felt like giving up. We’re not giving up, Adam told himself. If I have to search all night I will. It’s just like playing a game of hide and seek. Yeah that’s it. She’s just hiding somewhere waiting for us to get close enough for her to jump out and…

Wait a minute…Hide and seek. That was her and Little Joe’s favorite game to play and as little as the both of them were, they always managed to cram themselves in the tightest, least suspecting places. Just like…

“Hoss! Oof!” His younger brother collided into him at his sudden stop, nearly knocking both boys to the ground.

“What’s wrong, Adam? Why’d ya stop like that fer?”

Adam looked at him and held the lantern up so they could see each other’s faces. “Do you remember this summer when we took Little Joe out fishing with us, and we stopped by the house to play a game of hide and seek with him?”

Hoss nodded. “Sure do. That little fella had so much energy we had to let him run some of it out or we’d a been fishing him out’a the pond instead’a the fish.” He chuckled a moment then sobered and looked back at his brother with a puzzled look. “Why ya bringin’ up that right now fer anyway?”

“Well, remember how we searched everywhere and we couldn’t find his hiding place?”

“Yeah, I ‘member. If he hadn’t’a crawled out of that log and yelled “Boo!” we’d prob’ly still be there lookin’ fer him.”

“Exactly!” Adam said, excitement creeping into his voice. “We’re both a lot taller than he is and, the way that opening in the log was positioned, we never would have seen him had we not known the hole was there.” Seeing his brother was still puzzled, Adam pressed on. “Think about it, Hoss! That log wasn’t that far from the house. Sierra wanders off, hears Marie calling, and -we all know how she loves to play hide and seek- so she decides to play a game with her mother and, as she usually does, looks around for a tight place to crawl into. She’s shorter than Little Joe so she looks around and sees-”

“You think she crawled into that log!” Hoss’ eyes lit up and his face split into a wide grin. “Yeah, yeah, you might be right, Adam. And Pa and Mama prob’ly don’t know about the hole either so they wouldn’t know to check there.”

Adam nodded. “Think we can find it in the dark with all this snow?”

“You kiddin’? Sure we can.” Hoss stepped around in front of Adam and started through the trees towards the other side of the house, calling over his shoulder, “Well, come on, big brother, what’re we waitin’ fer?

“Wait up, Hoss!” Adam hurried to catch up. “I’m the one with the lantern, remember?”

The boys’ trek through the snow seemed much easier now. Hope sprang up in their hearts as they made their way through the woods and across the ranch yard. No sign of Pa and Marie yet, Adam noted. Either they went inside for a moment or they were still looking. He’d bet on the latter.

What seemed to take forever, in reality was only a few minutes until they skidded to a halt in front of a rotten tree, kept upright solely by the large boulders which supported it on its leaning side. At the base was a space between the tree and the rocks just large enough for a small child to crawl between.

“Sierra? Are you in there, honey? It’s ol’ Hoss here, come on, shortcakes, answer me.” Hoss called. “I don’t hear a thing, Adam.” He dropped to his knees and stretched his arm into the opening as far as it could go. “I can’t reach it, Adam. I can feel the hole in the tree but my arm’s jist not long enough to reach inside it.” He scooted back on his knees and looked up at his older brother.

Adam studied the opening a moment then glanced at Hoss. Despite being younger, Hoss was as stocky and broad chested as he himself was leaner and of narrower build. There was no way his younger brother could squeeze in there. This thick, extra fabric isn’t going to help me much though.

“Here, hold this.” He handed his brother the lantern then began removing his gloves, winter coat, and scarf. Immediately the freezing wind made him shiver as it cut through his thin cotton shirt and his fingers began to tingle from the cold. Honestly, he wasn’t entirely sure he could fit his upper body into the opening even without the extra winter padding, but, of the two of them, Adam had better odds.

Hoss held the lantern as Adam, laid on his side in the snow, and tried to squeeze between the boulders and the log to see into its hollow interior. “Is she in there? Can ya see anythin’?”

His shoulder grated over a jagged edge on the rock causing Adam to grunt. “Hold your horses, Hoss. It’s pretty tight.” His head and shoulders in the gap, he reached one arm into the hole and felt around inside. “Hold the lantern closer.”

The hole was small so very little light was able to penetrate inside the hollow. “See anythin’?”

“Not yet, hole’s pretty narrow.” Adam moved his hand to the other side of the hole. “Hoss, she’s here!” His hand felt fabric and a warm little body curled up.

“Yahoo!” The light disappeared as Hoss jumped to his feet and did a dance in the snow.

“Hoss!”

The light came back. “Sorry, Adam. Jist got excited. She all right?”

“Think she’s asleep. Can’t see anything yet, but she doesn’t feel very cold to me. Actually I’d say she feels pretty warm considering she’s been out here for hours.”

“This here ol’ rotten tree prob’ly saved her life.”

-/-/-/-/-

Seated in his favorite blue chair by the fire, wrapped in a blanket and holding a hot cup of coffee, Adam smiled as he watched his father and Marie cuddled together on the settee, his stepmother’s head resting on his father’s shoulder. Sierra, cocooned in her own blanket, was fast asleep safe in her mother’s arms, her head resting against Marie’s chest. Little Joe too was asleep as he lay across both of their laps with one of his mother’s hands tracing tiny circles on his back. Hoss sat on the floor beside Marie, his back against the settee, mouth open wide releasing raucous snores which echoed throughout the room. As Adam watched, the boy’s head slipped sideways to rest against his stepmother’s knee.

This Christmas Eve could very easily have had a different ending.

Sierra had been lucky, Pa had said. Aside from a scraped knee and a scratch on her forehead, the child had been unhurt. The tree had sheltered her from the wind and snow and kept her warm. She probably wouldn’t even have nightmares about it. While the rest of them had been beside themselves with fear, she’d been sound asleep, oblivious to the danger around her.

Over his short thirteen years of life, he’d spent Christmas in a lot of different places and celebrated it in a lot of different ways. Some years he and Pa had been on the trail in the pouring rain, trying to stay dry underneath the wagon’s cover. Others they’d spent in a hotel room or if they’d been lucky enough, they’d been invited to supper at the house of an acquaintance. When Inger had been alive, she’d always managed to make things cheerful no matter where they spent the holiday. After she died, he’d tried to do the same for Hoss but it hadn’t been easy.

Then Pa had brought Marie into their lives. Marie loved Christmas. Granted, that first Christmas with Marie things had been a little rocky between him and his stepmother, but they had since worked things out. If he was honest with himself, he had to admit she’d even won a special of her own in his heart now. Anyway, the last few years they’d spent the holiday here on the ranch with Marie decking the house out in the most festive of ways and together with Hop Sing, she’d always prepared the “biggest, and bestest feast of all time,” as usually Hoss referred to it.

But this is what really makes Christmas, he thought to himself.

Oh, the tree they had brought, forgotten in the chaos of searching for his missing sibling, still sat undecorated in the wagon outside. He and Pa would probably bring it inside tomorrow and the whole family would pitch in and decorate it then. There was no Christmas dinner preparation started, their stockings hadn’t been hung, and who knew if there were any presents at all to go underneath the tree.

It’s all of us, being together, as a family that makes Christmas perfect. He supposed how odd it was that it sometimes took nearly losing something to realize that.

“Adam?”

Ben’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts and he met his father’s studying gaze. “Yes, Pa?”

“You look lost in thought over there. Anything you care to share?”

“Just thinking, Pa.”

“About what, son?”

“Just sort of reminiscing about all the Christmases I’ve had in my life.” Marie opened her eyes and raised her head from Ben’s shoulder, her eyes also on Adam. “There’ve been a lot of them and they’ve each been different in their own way. But out of all of them, I can’t remember when I’ve had a more perfect Christmas.”

Ben smiled at him and nodded. His eyes went to each of the faces surrounding him as his arm tightened gently around his wife’s shoulder. “I believe you’re right, son. I do believe you are right.” He kissed Marie as she turned her face towards him.

Marie favored Adam with a loving smile of her own. “Thanks to you and Hoss and even this little rascal here.” She ruffled Little Joe’s curls. “Who knew a game of hide and seek would prove to be so important?”

Ben chuckled. “Who indeed.”

“Well now,” Marie said. “It’s only Christmas Eve remember so the holiday isn’t over yet. We still have a lot of decorating to do tomorrow, and I still fully intend to make my big Christmas dinner, so I believe it’s time we all go to bed.” She gently patted Hoss’ shoulder. “Hoss, time for bed, Mon chere.”

The boy awoke with a loud snort and a grunt, shaking his head as he rubbed his eyes. “I wasn’t sleepin’, Mama. Just restin’ my eyes.”

Adam snorted and rolled his eyes as Marie winked at him.

“Well, why don’t you go rest your eyes upstairs in your bed? I’m sure it’s more comfortable than the floor.”

Hoss nodded, yawned so wide Adam wondered if it would split his face in two, then stood and made his way upstairs, calling “good night” over his shoulder.

“Time for these little ones to be in bed too.” Ben lifted Little Joe into his arms and stood to his feet. “After all, Santa won’t come until everyone’s in bed.” He winked at Adam over Little Joe’s shoulder.

Adam laughed. He was much too old to believe in Sant Claus…in fact he never really had believed in the story, but it was fun to keep up the act for his younger siblings.

“Hey, Ma?” Clad in his nightshirt, Hoss appeared at the top of the stairs. “What happened to my bed? There ain’t no sheets on there.”

“Oh!” Marie’s head jerked up with a start. She looked at Hoss a moment before she burst out laughing. Ben and Adam exchanged puzzled looks as tears began to run down her cheeks and her hearty laughter woke the sleeping girl in her arms.

“Ma-ma ‘k? Ma-ma cry.” Sierra reached her little hands up to wipe away the tears on her mother’s cheeks.

Gaining control of her laughter, Marie kissed the little hands then looked up at her puzzled husband and boys. “There’s no sheets on any of the beds. They’re all outside on line and I’m sure they’re probably frozen solid by now.” After recounting the events of the morning, the rest of the family too had a good laugh.

“Well, family, it looks like we’ll be making pallets for all of us down here in front of the fireplace tonight.” Still chuckling, Ben sent the boys to gather their blankets and pillows. “Hey, maybe this will be the start of a new tradition.”

Marie stood up from the settee, her sleeping daughter in her arms and kissed him. “You know, Adam’s right.” She smiled down at Sierra’s angelic face, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead as she brushed aside a wayward curl. “Even with frozen sheets, this is the most perfect Christmas Eve ever.”

*******

My phrase: “the sheets were frozen solid” from Christmas at Sea by Robert Louis Stevenson

My character: my OC, Sierra

Link to Bonanza Brand 2023 Advent Calendar – Day 12 – I Heard by Bells by AC1830