Summary: Winter Wanderings – Use a setting of winter or Christmas for your sourdough. “Quinn the Eskimo”, “Hello Dolly”
Rating: G, Word Count: 2276
Quinn the Eskimo – The subject of the song is the arrival of Quinn (an Eskimo), who changes despair into joy and chaos into rest, and attracts attention from the animals.
Hello Dolly – This is the story of Dolly Gallagher Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker, as she travels to Yonkers, New York to find a match for the miserly “well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire” Horace Vandergelder.
Scrubbing down the floor of the cabin so the lady would be happy here for a couple of days, Adam Cartwright was thinking mostly of Hoss and his wife, Dolly. They were so happy together. But Adam wished for that same kind of happiness for himself which had so far eluded him, and those thoughts intruded. However, he was going to do all he could to make one lady, at least, enjoy this winter holiday as much as she could.
Once he had the floor of the cabin as clean as it was going to be, he pulled the rope that secured a bundle of greenery he had cut that morning and used it to decorate around the windows which he had packed tightly with rags to keep out any drafts. The pine boughs would effectively camouflage his work while making the whole room smell sweet too and banish any of the musty smells left that his cleaning hadn’t removed.
There was a basket of food and wine covered with a nice damask tablecloth which he removed and used to cover the small table. He set a hand-carved candle holder in the center of that. It had been a gift from his brother Hoss, and he couldn’t think of a better time to use it. With a thick candle set in the center of it, there would be a nice romantic glow over dinner. He had two lanterns to set on the mantle and another two to set on the small cabinet by the stove. The lighting would be adequate and romantic. It was perfect in his estimation.
Rolling out a rug he had brought in earlier, he wondered if there might be some romancing happening there, but he quickly banished the thought knowing that the comfy warm bed was a better place for the couple. He had already put fresh crisp linens and a thick comforter on the bed. On the table next to the bed was a small box of chocolates.
Looking around the room, he couldn’t think of anything else to do except wait. Smiling at the sound of a carriage, he knew he didn’t have to do much of that either. Setting the basket of food and wine on the cabinet, he turned and waited for the door to open wanting to see the look on her face when she saw the preparations he had made. He wasn’t disappointed either as her smile couldn’t have been broader. He grinned in
response.
“Hello, Dolly!”
For the 2018 October Sourdough Starter (Asking the Right Cartwright) I wrote about a young lady asking Hoss to the Harvest Dance. In the story above Hoss was asked to the Harvest Dance by Millie O’Connor, niece to Clementine Hawkins. However, since that dance the two have been moony-eyed but can’t seem to get beyond that. Enter Dolly Levi, a lady friend of Adam’s with a talent for matchmaking. Adam asks her to help get Hoss and Millie together. Let’s see what happens…
Making the Match
“I’m telling you this is an impossible task. I put my hand in and he nearly bit it off. You will never get them together, much less by the Ponderosa Christmas party.”
“Oh ye of little faith. Do you doubt my skills as a matchmaker or as a woman, Adam?”
“I would never doubt your skills as a woman, Dolly, but you’ve been warned. I think you will have met your match in my brother.”
“Pah, just eat your pie. Here he comes. Let me see what happens for myself, then we shall see if you’ll be eating your words along with that pie, dearie.”
****
“Evening, Hoss. I’m glad to see you.”
“Evenin’ Miss Millie. Think I’ll have some pie an’ coffee, an’ sit here by the window.”
“Uh, sure Hoss.”
****
“That’s it? He eats the pie, drinks his coffee, and leaves?”
“Yep.”
“You saw their eyes, right?”
“Yep.”
“If two people needed to be together, it’s those two.”
“Yep.”
“Well, time to get to work. Just leave everything to me. And don’t say ‘yep’.”
*****
“This note came for you my dear.”
“Thank you, Aunt Clemmie. ‘Dear Millie, I don’t know what I was thinking yesterday. I wanted to invite you to have pie with me but, well, I was too nervous. After the dance last month, my brothers said it only takes a moment to meet the right gal, and I had that moment with you. Can we meet on Saturday for another piece of pie and talk? -Hoss Cartwright’
“Oh my, this is wonderful. I’ll wear my pink dress, where my hair down , and hang ribbons down my back.”
*****
“What you got there, brother?”
“Looks like a note for me.” ‘My dearest Hoss. I keep thinking about how much fun I had at the harvest dance, and sure do miss being with you. Would you come on Saturday for more pie? – Millicent O’Connor’
“Well, ain’t that somethin’. I was feelin’ rather bad about last night at the cafe. Now it seems I got a chance to make things right. Guess I’ll be headin’ to town tomorrow.”
“Better put on your Sunday clothes, brother.”
“Right. Thanks Joe.”
*****
“Goodness Hoss, I didn’t think you’d come after all the snow we got.”
“Ah, this snow wouldn’t have kept me away. I just had to meet you here.”
“I’ve got warm apple pie and hot coffee.”
“That sounds mighty fine, Miss Millie.”
“Oh, Hoss, just call me Millie, please?”
“Uh, Millie, before I forget. Would you like to come to our Christmas party at the Ponderosa?”
“I’d love to Hoss. That is if you’ll be my escort?”
“Oh shucks. Of course I will.”
*****
“Don’t give me that look, Dolly Levi. I will never doubt your matchmaking skills again.”
“They’ve been dancing the entire time. Ahem, looks like Hoss spied the mistletoe.”
“Yeah, Hoss has been seeing her so much he’s hardly been around to get any work done.”
“Is that a complaint, Adam? You did ask for my help.”
“Oh, no. No complaint. I’m thrilled to finally see them together. Pa and Joe are betting on an announcement from them quite soon.”
“Well, it takes a woman to get things moving before the parade passes by. So what about us, Adam?”
“What about us?”
“I believe you owe me for my help in getting them together.”
“Oh, well, look up.”
“You sly devil. I’ll accept the kiss for now. But you know my fee is much higher.”
“So you’ve reminded me a few times. We’ll discuss that later. May I have this dance, Miss Levi?”
“It would be my pleasure, Mister Cartwright.”
———–
A/N – I based this off the musical Hello Dolly, and for fun tried to incorporate as many song titles into the story as I could. Can you find them? (Hint: I used 8 titles.)
Quinn the Eskimo
Ben watched, fascinated, as Quinn efficiently and quietly tamed their most spirited stallion. Ben had never met a horse whisperer before. Quinn had asked to work with the horse, saying his method was gentle yet more effective than the usual bronco busters. He’d insisted that this proud horse needed to be tamed, not broken. Ben agreed as long as Quinn stayed safe. The Eskimo had winked, reassuring Ben and started. As he watched, Ben wondered if this method could be taught.
The man had walked into their lives a few weeks ago. Ben had suspected his heritage from his body build and clothing. Almost effortlessly, Quinn had gotten along with the men and avoided the usual hazing. He also bonded with the animals, including the finicky Sport. Ben’s heart yearned to hear from Adam, who hadn’t written in some time.
Two weeks later, the only ones at the house were Ben, Hop Sing and Quinn. In the late morning, Ben answered a knock at the front door.
“Quinn! Is everything alright?”
“Yes. I have message for you.”
Ben nodded as Quinn stepped inside and pulled a sealed envelope out of his pocket. “Promise to read when you’re alone, and not tell anyone.”
“How can I without knowing what it says?”
“It important, or you not get message.”
“Alright, I promise.”
Quinn handed his boss the letter and silently returned to work.
Holding the blank envelope in his hands, Ben turned it over. After a moment, he shook his head at his own reluctance. He slipped it into his vest pocket and then found Hop Sing to tell him he’d be in his room for a bit. The cook absently nodded and continued his lunch preparations.
Ben quickly climbed the stairs and went to his room. After closing the door, he also locked it. With shaking hands, he used his pocket knife to slit open the envelope. He pulled out the paper. The handwriting was familiar. With trepidation, he began to read.
Once upon a time a prince and his son left the city to travel to a distant land. It took them years to reach their destination. Along the way, the father remarried and had two more sons. The father became king of the land where the trees touched the sky, and his sons grew into strong, good knights.
One son had his own dreams and left to pursue them. Unfortunately, there were evil sorcerers who wanted to destroy the family and its kingdom. They kidnapped the son and kept him captive.
A cold chill went down his spine before he continued…
They replaced him with an impostor and had letters written supposedly in his hand telling false tales of his travels. The son eventually escaped and was safely hidden. He began to unravel the plot. One day, the father got a message from him warning him that the rest of his family and his kingdom were in danger. It warned that the danger was both inside and outside the kingdom and to avoid undertaking risky treaties or adventures. The king heeded that advice and never let anyone know of the message nor suspect he knew anything but the bad news he might receive about his traveling son. In time, the plots were exposed, and the son returned.
They lived happily ever after.
It closed with an intricate drawing of their original cabin. Changed with time, only he and Adam could recognize it.
New resolve followed Ben’s silent tears. He’d do all Adam asked. And if he wanted it, Quinn had a place here forever.
As Ben looked at the small cabin he’d started to build, snow began to fall, quickly covering the ground. The cabin wasn’t yet ready to move into, it didn’t even have a full roof. Adam and Hoss sat in the wagon that was still their temporary shelter. Ben looked at them worriedly. Where could he take them to be warm? He didn’t know the snow would come so early. Ben sighed as he worried about the weather, his home, and his young sons.
“Hello, the cabin,” a voice called from behind Ben.
Ben turned and saw a man dressed in furs riding towards them. He raised his hand in greeting. “Hello.”
“My name is Quinn from the far north. I’m also known as the Eskimo.”
“I’m Ben Cartwright. In the wagon are my sons Adam and Hoss. We’re new to these parts. I’m not used to this much snow and don’t know what to do since we don’t have shelter from the snow.”
“I have a cabin just a short ways from here. You’re welcome to stay there. I’ll help you with your cabin right now.
The snow is supposed to be bad this year.” Quinn offered.
“Thank you.”
“Let’s get started.”
The men started working. The snowfall had eased up, so, in what seemed like no time, they finished the cabin by nightfall.
“Stay with me at my cabin and I can help you with furniture and food.”
“Thank you, Quinn.” Ben shook the man’s hand gratefully.
The men gathered their things and Ben followed Quinn in the wagon.
At his cabin, Quinn told the boys his story of being up north where it was very cold, and he would go hunting or fishing among other adventures. The boys gave Quinn the Eskimo their full attention. After he was done, Ben put them to bed.
The next day, Quinn helped Ben gather up food, furniture, furs, blankets and any other essentials, and they headed off to the cabin. They all set up beds, chairs and other things in the cabin. Ben looked around and was grateful to now have a place to live and stay dry during the winter. When the boys ran off and found their room, Ben turned to thank Quinn but he was no longer there. He looked around and went outside to see if the Eskimo had been outside but he wasn’t there, either. The new-fallen snow hid any tracks. Ben shook his head realizing that Quinn left just as he came to the Cartwrights. He offered up a silent prayer thanking the Lord for sending Quinn and prayed for the mystery man’s safety.
A Note from the Brandsters. This was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders site. Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.
