Summary: Hoss finds a special remembrance of his mother. A Mother’s Day Story.

Rating: G, Word Count: 852

A Rose of Memories

 

This past week in Nebraska had been a busy one for Hoss as he undertook the assignment of getting contracts signed for the procurement of cattle. Hoss enjoyed the time away from the Ponderosa, but now he was ready to undertake the journey home. The breeze felt good upon his face as he walked out of the attorney’s office and he smiled as he patted his chest where the paperwork was secured in his pocket. He looked around and noticed all the people that were moving about when it dawned upon him that Mother’s day was coming up. Immense sadness settled upon him as he thought about his mama, Inger.

Hoss squared his shoulders and quickly went to the hotel. He gathered his belongings and went to the stage depot for the ride back home. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait long as the stagecoach pulled up as he was arriving. After getting settled in, Hoss pulled out Pa’s journal and started reading about how he met Inger.

“Oh Ben, you didn’t have to do this. The yellow roses are beautiful and smell so wonderful.” Inger smiled as she buried her face in her flowers.

“I knew that these were your favorite and I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me. You have done so much for me and Adam and have brought such joy into our lives.” Ben smiled as he gently caressed her face and pulled her close to him in an embrace.

The slowing down of the stagecoach brought Hoss back to reality and he gently closed the journal as they were arriving in the town of Lewellen, Nebraska. The sun was setting in the west and everyone quickly got off and went to the hotel to secure rooms for the night. Hoss settled in and continued to read the journal, hoping to learn more about his mama. After a restless night, he got up, dressed and went over to a cafe for a hearty breakfast and some coffee while reading more in the journal. He realized that he was close to where his mama was buried and made the decision to go there to see for himself. He hurried back to the hotel to retrieve his few belongings then went over to the stable to rent a horse and took off.

Hoss arrived in Ash Hollow by lunchtime so he began to search the area for where his mama was buried. To his great sadness it looked nothing like what Ben had described in his entries. He walked around for what seemed like hours hoping to find where his mama was buried, but to no avail. He sat down in the grass so discouraged. To come and pay a visit to his mama had been something that he had always wanted to do and now that he was there, everything had changed. The landscape was so different and Hoss despaired of ever finding the burial spot.

Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a shrub of yellow roses on a hill close by that seemed to be beckoning him to come over. Hoss got up and went over to where they were. The sweet smell wafted across his nostrils and he breathed in deeply, taking in that wonderful smell. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he got down on his knees and gently touched the petals of the roses.

“Oh, mama! I don’t know if this is where you’re buried or not. I’ve been lookin’ all over for you. Yesterday was Mother’s Day an’ I wanted you to know that I miss you an’ love you so much!” Hoss buried his face in the roses as sobs racked his body.

A few minutes later, he leaned back in the grass taking in the beauty of those beautiful wild yellow roses thinking how much his mama loved them, when a cool breeze gently blew across his face. Hoss touched his cheek and smiled as he felt the most profound sense of peace that he has ever felt.

A month later, Hoss and Ben were sitting in front of the fireplace drinking coffee and listening to the heavy rain outside. Hoss looked over at Ben and smiled. “Pa, it’s so good to see this rain. We’ve been needin’ a good shower for some time an’ now it’s here. The beautiful roses that I brought back from Nebraska are sure gettin’ the good drink of water that they need.”

After the rains passed, they both walked outside, breathing the cool fresh air that comes after a good soaking rain. They headed to where the roses were planted and sat back to admire their beauty. Ben clasped Hoss’ shoulder and smiled looking over at him. “You may not have been able to find her grave, but she is here with us now. She will always be with us in spirit and the flowers are just confirmation of that.”

That made Hoss smile. As the yellow roses would grow and bloom he would always be reminded of his mama and her wonderful love.

 

 

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.