Summary: It’s almost Christmas Eve, and the horses on the Ponderosa have something important to tell the Cartwrights.
Rating: G  Word count: 1,351

If Horses Could Talk

“Jupiter, you’re not wearing shoes!”

“Nope, the big one took them off.”

“Why?”

“Sport, now that no one is riding me or even thinking about trying to, he thinks maybe I’d like to run away free. He was talking to me most of the time he was working. He’s got a good heart even if I’d never let him sit a saddle on me. Too hard on my back.”

“He didn’t take my shoes off.”

“That was exactly what the little one said when he saw what he had done.”

“So what did Hoss have to say to answer him?”

“Oh, yeah, that’s his name. Never paid much attention to the names of those others. Never was important to me. Anyway, he said that you were older but mostly too tame to let run free. He seemed to think you would be bait for a pack of wolves before you ever had a chance to join up with any others running free.”

“He doesn’t have much confidence in me. I don’t think any of them ever thought much of me.”

“Sport, that’s not it. You were born here on a ranch so you don’t know how to run free. It’s not that they don’t think much of you. The little one does.”

“Joe does?”

“Yeah, he said you were ‘a great piece of horseflesh’ and he was gonna ride you now and then to keep you in shape until our man comes back.” Snort.

“He might find that harder than he thinks.” Snort.

Snort. Snort. “Yeah, you even gave our man trouble at times, and he’s a whole lot bigger and stronger.”

Snort. Snort. Snort. “Yeah, that’s true, but it was the other thing I was thinking about.”

“Oh, that. You mean the part about Joe not knowing he’ll be riding you a real long time. Sport, they don’t understand, do they?”

“No, Jupiter, they don’t.”

“Hey, here comes Chubb and Cooch. Cooch hasn’t figured it all out yet, so don’t say anything.”

“I feel bad about that. We can’t talk to Chubb about it because Cooch is always with him. The big guy and the little one are always together these days. Can’t peel them apart.”

“Yeah, the little one is feeling bad but won’t admit it. All he does is mope around and wait for the old one to tell him it’s gonna be all right. He’s fooling him.”

“Fooling himself maybe too. He keeps saying things like he figures your guy is coming back soon. We know that isn’t going to happen. I’m going to miss him. He kept things interesting around here and I mean in a good way.”

“Maybe we ought to come right out and tell Cooch about it.”

“You think so?”

“Well, then he would understand why the little one has been so ornery at times and so clingy at others. Plus, then we could all talk about it. We know he was always good to Chubb giving him an apple whenever he brought some to us. You know how Chubb likes his apples.”

“He liked being included too. He liked that our man didn’t treat him any different because he’s so wide. Some people make fun of him for that.”

“Yeah, but he’s gotta be big to carry such a big one.”

“Our man was smart enough to know that, and nice enough never to say anything about it.”

“Yeah, and if we tell Cooch, he won’t get so upset if he hears Joe saying he wants to ride you now and then. He’ll understand why it’s happening.”

“So, Jupiter, we’ve got a plan?”

“We’ve got a plan.”

“Hey, Cooch! Chubb! Jupiter and I have some things to tell you.”

“I’m hungry. Kin it wait until I get my grain and water?”

“Chubb, you only have to listen so go ahead. First off, we need to let the two of you know our man in black isn’t coming back anytime soon no matter what your guys have said.”

“No, he’s coming back!”

“Cooch, maybe he will, but not for a long time, a really long time. I think your man knows that, and that’s why he’s been the way he has lately. He’s been difficult, hasn’t he?”

“Well, yeah, Jupiter, he has. One minute he’s happy and pushing me hard, and the next minute, he’s jerking me around like he’s mad at me and the world.”

“So, now you know why.”

“Jupiter, does Buck know?”

“Of course he does, Chubb. He’s like the old man. He knows just about everything, but doesn’t necessarily talk about it with the rest of us.”

“Hey, Jupiter, I remember now what me and Cochise were talking about earlier. You’re not wearing shoes any more. Do they really plan to let you go?”

“As far as I know, that’s still their plan. Now, you can be sure I won’t go far from this ranch. I want to find some nice mares and have a family. But I want my get to end up on this ranch where they know how to take care of horses. I know not all will be able to run free, so if they get caught, I want them caught by the Ponderosa men.”

“So we’ll know what happens with you at least. We won’t know what happens with your man.”

“No, we won’t. Not unless he lets the others know, and they say something about what they’ve heard, But like Sport and I know, he’s not one to tell a lot about himself. I don’t think they’re going to know that much about what happens with him.”

“Jupiter, that’s probably about enough for tonight. They’ll be out here soon wondering why we’re not settling down for the night.”

“I know, Sport, but I wanted to say what I had to say because it might be my last time talking with you all.”

“We’re gonna miss ya.”

“I’ll miss you too, Chubb, and all the others, but I’ll keep in touch indirectly at least. Best wishes to you all.”

“I hope you enjoy your freedom.”

“Thank you, Cooch. I appreciate that. I know it’s hard for you to say goodbye.”

“Even harder for my guy. It’s almost Christmas Eve. Do you think I could blurt it out quick when he’s had too much to drink at their party?”

“That might help as long as he’s alone.”

“Chubb, maybe you could do the same for your guy?”

“He doesn’t usually drink too much mostly because it would take an awful lot for it to be too much for him.”

“Oh, I think as long as he’s had a healthy dose of their father’s punch, it will be enough.”

“We’ve got a plan then.”

“Yes, my guy always liked to have a plan.”

“That’s right, Sport, and it’s another reason we’re all going to miss him. That little one has plans, but we know how they usually turn out.”

And the raucous horse laughter at that did bring a couple of men from the house to find out why the horses hadn’t settled down yet for the night. The horses didn’t mind though. They always liked to see their guys. They had to wait for an hour to conclude their conversation though.

“It’s Christmas. Is this really the best time to tell them?”

“Chubb, I know you’ve got a tender heart, but if you don’t tell him on Christmas Eve, you have to wait a whole year until you can tell him.”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot we only get to talk to them on Christmas Eve.”

“Yes, on Christmas Eve, at night, as it approaches midnight, we can talk to our guys about the future so we can tell them the truth about the man in black not coming back for a long time.”

“But if they already know that is the truth, like you said they know, Jupiter, why do we have to tell them?”

“Cooch, it’s because we all know how stubborn they are. They need to hear it and stop denying the truth to themselves. Accepting it will bring them a little peace for the future.”