Summary: The Cartwright harvest party doesn’t quite go as planned for Ben, or his guests.

Rating: G, Word Count: 2682

The Jug of Punch

 

Ben was in a relatively good mood as he strode here and there putting the finishing touches to the many decorations in their large cozy living room. They were to have their annual end of harvest party that evening. Why shouldn’t he be happy. He had no way of knowing that one of his beloved sons would later that night admit that he had killed a man.

For all Ben knew all was right with the world and there was nothing on the horizon but a peaceful time with friends and family. Hoss and Joe were in the kitchen helping Hop Sing with the food preparations. No one would have guessed that the experienced cook from China would prefer to work alone. He listened patiently as Hoss and Joe fought over making fresh punch. He dutifully carried out his many tasks and said nothing deciding instead to offer it up for all the blessing God could give to his large extended family.

He made his delicate meat filled pies and sausage rolls managing to completely ignore the ongoing argument in the corner of the kitchen.

Hoss was now trying to take the punch bowl away from Joe sloshing the foul colored liquid everywhere.

“Darn it Joe, you can’t put herbs into the punch, you’re gonna ruin it.”

“Take your hands off the punch bowl, I’ll call Pa an’ he’ll tan you good. Hop Sing, Hoss won’t let me finish the punch an’ you already said I could do it.”

Hop Sing let them play away with it. It had them distracted long enough for him to get another batch of little pies into the oven.

“It’s more likely Pa will tan you for putting herbs in the punch.” Hoss yelled as he tried to heave the bowl upwards.

13-year-old Joe was now flaming red with anger.

Ben heard the commotion and stood exasperated at the kitchen door. He then turned and headed for the stairs. Adam was in his room humming to himself as he ran a comb through his fine dark hair.

“Adam, can’t you hear the commotion going on downstairs. Kindly stop preening yourself and come down and help.”

Adam let out a sigh, “I am not preening myself. You want me to look scruffy in front of our business partners.”

As Adam left his bedroom Ben took hold of him and steered him towards the stairs.
Adam could hear Joe’s voice as he was yelling at Hoss.

“Why don’t you just take him out to the barn and tie him to something until the party’s over.” Adam suggested.

“That is not helpful Adam. Kindly go into the kitchen and separate them. If I go, I am lightly to kill one of them.”

Reluctantly Adam headed into the kitchen, he was glad to see just little Joe. He was stirring a large bowl of punch.”

Adam peered into it. “What’s that floating near the top?” he asked pulling a face.

“That’s herbs I’ve gathered. Pa always puts herbs in the punch along with his home remedy alcohol and fruit and cloves.”

Adam had lost interest. Hop Sing was carefully sliding pies out of the oven and they smelt delicious.

“Oldest son, must not look at pies like that. Pies for guests.” Hop Sing told him.

“Ah go on Hop Sing, just one.”

“If he gets a pie then so should I,” Joe called out in his boyish voice.

Adam turned and ran at him sending Joe scuttling out of the kitchen.

He then came sauntering back and accepted the proffered little pie with a dimpled grin.

Nineteen-year-old Hoss shuffled into the kitchen looking harassed already.

“The first of the guests are in the yard. I suppose I best tend to their horses,” he muttered.

In sympathy Hop Sing handed him a little pie. It was gone with one mouthful and a grubby smile.

~o~

Before long the large living room was full of happy chattering guests. Sheriff Coffee was there and Doctor Lowery and Miss Clementine. Laura Dayton was there with her new beau Billy Tyler. He was a big, cheerful looking cowboy with large ears and an easy grin. He didn’t seem to have much in the way of conversation. As soon as they arrived, he let out a whoop of delight and headed straight to the buffet table. He took a napkin and a plate and loaded it up. Laura went over to Adam and tried hard to make it look like she was just working the room.

“Adam, it’s good to see you. You’re looking very fit and well. I’m here with Billy Tyler. I hope that won’t be a problem?”

Adam put his glass down and looked at her. He’d only known Laura Dayton about a month. For some reason she considered that to be some class of relationship.

“Yes Adam, I was expecting that look but really Billy doesn’t mean that much to me. He is sensitive and kind and knows to ask a girl promptly and not leave her waiting. He’s everything a man ought to be.”

Adam looked over at Billy. He was knocking into people wrestling little Joe and his face was looking flushed as the young boy seemed to be winning.

“Excuse me,” Adam left her side and went over. He pulled his 13-year-old brother away from the bigger man.

“Can’t you show a level of maturity for once in your life? This is an adult party.”

“He started it,” Joe shot back at his older brother.

“No I didn’t,” Billy was coming over. ”You took the last pie an I was lookin at it. That means it was mine.”

Laura was flaming red as she took Billy’s hand and led him off in another direction.

“We’ll talk soon Adam,” she called to him as she brought Billy towards a chair to sit.

“I could have taken him,” Joe frowned up at his brother.

“Yeah, but you don’t start in on people at a party, Joe. Why don’t you go get the Sheriff another drink? He’s out of brandy and I suspect you’ll need to keep in his good books for the years to come.”

Ben was having his own problems. He was trying to smile as if everything was normal but there was a very obvious smell in the living room. Ben rounded on Hoss.

“Did you walk horse dirt into this house Hoss,” he whispered urgently.

“It weren’t me Pa, it were Miss Clementine. She got it on her shoe. I tried to stir her away from it, but she just kept on talking up at me an didn’t listen too good.”

“Well, I’ll try to discreetly have a word, get a flannel and try and clean the stains on the floor, oh and open the window behind my desk. It’s a warm enough night.”

Ben smiled to the faces that greeted him as he tried to make his way over to Clementine. Hop Sing was suddenly by his side.

“Mister Cartwright, the punch. I was going to throw it away, but somebody brought it out.”

“Hop Sing, what are you talking about?”

“The punch, Joe’s punch. They are all drinking it.”

Ben glanced over as Wilber Smith. He was by the punch bowl devouring the rancid looking green liquid.

“Joe made the punch?” Ben turned to his cook.

“I was going to throw it away, but I got busy in kitchen. Someone brought it out.”

Ben startled as one of the ladies cried out. She lifted her dainty shoe to look underneath it.

“Please Miss Adelaide, let me show you to the washroom,” Ben took her arm and began leading her out.

Wilber Smith watched them go and raised his glass of punch before downing its contents in one go. Adam came up beside Hoss who was looking a tad worried.

“Hoss, did you take care of the washroom earlier or did you opt for your usual lick and a promise?” he asked.

Many others followed Ben and Miss Adelaide out to the washroom to clean their shoes and once they got there, they all had a good look at a wet towel on the ground, full bathtub of dirty water and Hoss’s work clothes splayed out on a stool complete with extra large long johns.

Ben closed his eyes and wished himself far enough away as they all cleaned their shoes and muttered about how hard Hoss works and how farming was a dirty business, but someone had to do it.

Soon after, everyone was tucking into a wonderful buffet supper as laid out by Hop Sing. Ben began to feel easy in himself knowing that the evening was winding down. He listened and laughed at the many stories Doctor Lowery was telling. Everyone laughed at the stories Doctor Lowery was telling about his patients and at the same time they all vowed never to visit his surgery.

Suddenly Joe was by Ben’s side.

“Pa, Pa please come. I need you.”

“Joe, I’m having dinner. Go and eat something and I’ll talk to you later hmm?”

“Pa, It’s Wilber Smith. I think he’s dead.”

Ben spluttered on a mouthful of wine. Sheriff Coffee looked over at him.

Ben quickly got up and wiped his mouth with a napkin. He smiled to his guests as he excused himself.

Soon he and Joe were running towards the barn.

“What foolishness is this Joe?” he asked, hoping fervently that it was just foolishness.

But no, sure enough Wilber Smith was laid out on the hay with his eyes wide open and staring. He looked ghastly.

“Joe, go to the house,”

“Pa, maybe it was the punch. He drank quite a lot of it.”

“Shhh,” Ben hissed at him. “It wasn’t the punch. He’s, er, he’s an old man. Keep that dry Joe, he didn’t have much of the punch.”

“What do you mean keep that dry Pa, keep what dry?”

“Keep it a secret, that’s what I mean.”

“Why didn’t you just say keep it a secret. I’m only 13. I can’t expect to be standing here looking at a dead man and learning new phrases at the same time Pa.”

“I know Joe, I know.” Ben put a hand to his shoulder.

“He didn’t seem tired Pa, he was dancing with Miss Dayton earlier. Pa if my punch killed him does that mean I got my first notch?”

“The only notch you’ll get is with my belt on your behind if you don’t go in that house.”

Everyone had to be told. Doctor Lowery went out and examined the patient. He came back looking grim and declaring that the man died from extremely badly made punch.

Ben looked with anxious eyes to the rest of the guests.

“Ok, who had a glass of punch?” he asked them.

Adam was suddenly by his side. “Pa, I had the punch, and it was more than just a glass.”

“Go throw up outside.” Ben pushed him in that direction.

“Well speak up, who else had the punch?”

His eyes narrowed as he noted Miss Clementine in the corner of the room. She was lying on the couch and Laura Dayton was fanning her. Ben went immediately to her side.

“Yes Ben,” Laura answered his questioning eyes. “She had quite a lot of the punch and she has been feeling unwell ever since.

Ben nodded with a heavy heart.

“Hoss, help me carry her into the spare room. She will be more comfortable in a bed.”

“Yes sir,”

Soon the poor lady was tucked up in bed. She did look ghastly pale. She whimpered to herself as she drifted into sleep. Doctor Lowery immediately went to examine her. He came out looking stone faced.

“Miss Clementine is a very sick lady Ben. There’s no point in hiding the truth. It’s out of my hands.”

“Doctor, what does that mean?”

“She’ll reach a point of crisis tonight, if she passes it, all well and good, if not ….”

The Doctor shrugged, he then went over to help himself to a sausage roll and a glass of brandy. They all just stared after him. Hoss finally broke the silence.

“I’ll stay with her Pa,”

“Thank you Hoss.”

After that there were quite a few guests who needed to lie down. They all stayed in the living room covered in blankets and moaning to themselves. Ben filled basins of water and sponged their foreheads and offered sips of water. Adam and Joe brought down more blankets and pillows to make everyone comfortable. Doctor Lowery went into the kitchen and made up a large bowl of broth with chicken and herbs. He sat down at the table and had it with bread and butter and a glass of wine.

As dawn approached everyone felt weak and worn out but as yet there were no further fatalities. Ben went into the kitchen to make some coffee. He was beyond tired.

“Hello Ben,” Wilber said as he washed his face at the sink.

“Hello Wilber,” Ben muttered as he poured the coffee. He turned and headed back into the living room sipping the strong coffee with a wince.

“Wilber!”

They all looked up as Wilber Smith sauntered into the living room.

“Wilber you’re alive!!” Ben called out.

“Course I’m alive I fell asleep in your barn. That punch was strong stuff. My head feels like I been kicked by a bad-tempered old mule.”

He put a hand up and scratched at his thinning hair.

“But we thought you were dead,” Laura said, looking up at him in shock.

“I weren’t dead. I was sleepin’ is all. Oh yeah, I sometimes sleep with my eyes open. It used to drive my good lady wife to distraction. She’d put a towel over my face at night.”

“Didn’t anyone think to check for a heartbeat?” Adam asked.

“But he was cold,” Doctor Lowery said.

“Cold, I was freezing in that there barn. I’ve slept in a good many barns in my time, but that barn would give you frost bite in the middle of a fourth of July dance off. But I forgive you Ben because that was some good party you had last night.”

Ben suddenly broke into a smile. “The punch hasn’t killed anyone, thank heavens.”

Hoss Frowned, “But what about Miss Clementine Pa, she is mighty sick an I don’t think she has reached that crisis the good doctor was talkin about.”

A door suddenly opened behind them and the lady herself staggered out of the bedroom. They all watched as she walked slowly towards the table and put a hand on it to steady herself. Ben moved forward as she suddenly looked as though she would feint. Instead, she let out an enormous belch.

“Oh, that does feel better,” she said as she took a seat at the table. “What’s for breakfast?”

Doctor Lowery flounced up from his seat and grabbed his bag.

“I have little time for such nonsense,” he said as he made his exit.

They all laughed as everyone was suddenly feeling better.

Hop Sing stood up and clapped his hands together “What everyone want for breakfast?”

“Everyone wants you to sit down Hop Sing. I’ll make some bacon and eggs for everyone and when you have had some you will go to bed and sleep.” Ben told him.

“I’ll help Pa,” Hoss agreed.

Joe built up the fire and everyone sat where they could as Ben, Hoss and Adam began preparing breakfast for the guests.

“Imagine that Doctor Lowery didn’t even check Wilber out properly.” Ben said as he fried up strips of bacon.

“But Pa, remember he was treating Adam. He said that Adam was on the brink of death an you stayed up all night with him. Turns out it was a bad case of gas,” Hoss said.

“It was not gas,” Adam muttered.

“Adam, I took a turn to sit with you the next day, I think it was gas. But anyway, I’m sure glad you got better older brother.”

“It was not gas,” Adam repeated.

The End

 

From the Brandsters.  The story was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders site.  Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.