Summary: A young Little Joe wants to know which of his brothers will be getting him a special gift for Christmas, but Adam isn’t in the mood for spilling secrets. A short holiday story set during the early years of the Ponderosa.

Rating: G  Word Count: 739

Author’s Note: This story was inspired by a real conversation my sister had with our kid brother one Christmas. He is the perfect source for new Little Joe material.

The Christmas Secret

December 1848

“Hey, Adam? Can I ask you a question?”

“If it’s anything like your last question, save it.” The eldest Cartwright boy resisted the urge to massage the bridge of his nose as his baby brother stuck his lower lip out in a pout. It was sickeningly adorable, but Adam wasn’t about to cave.

“It’s not. Why’re you always ‘specting things like that?”

Focusing harder on the book in front of him, Adam bit his lip, his only defense against the oncoming chuckle. “I suspect things about you, Joe, because you’ve proven time and time again that you can’t keep your nose out of other people’s business.”

“Hey, you can’t, either!” The six-year-old accused, shoving a tiny finger in Adam’s face. “You and Pa are always talkin’ ’bout other people’s business!”

Lord, give me strength, Adam thought briefly as he closed his book, having given up on reading for the third time that evening.

“That’s because we’re trying to run a business, Joe. Now, remind me when your bedtime is again?”

“I can’t go to bed yet!” Panic seized the child’s face and he latched onto Adam’s sleeve. “I still have to ask my question!”

“Then, for goodness’ sake, Joe, ask it!”

“All right, all right! Don’t rush me!”  Pausing for a long moment to think, Joe gazed up into Adam’s eyes and whispered, “Who did you get for the gift exchange?”

The question came as no surprise at all. In fact, Adam had been expecting it, waiting for it to find its way out into the open.

“Joe,” he began, using up every ounce of patience left on the ranch, “that’s the same question you asked ten minutes ago.”

“No, it’s not! I rearranged the words!”

“It’s still the same—!” Picking up his book once more, Adam sighed. “Never mind. Why don’t you go find Hoss or something?”

“Aw, come on! Hoss won’t tell me who he got! Come on, Adam, I just have to know! If you don’t tell me, I’m gonna die!”

With all the indifference in the world, Adam turned the page. “I’ll be sure to bury you under that old climbing tree you love.”

“Adam!”

Clapping the book shut, Adam fixed a sly gaze on his little brother. “All right. I’ll tell you who I got if you tell me who you got.”

“What? But I forgot who I got!”

That… was a bit concerning. Nevertheless, Adam shook his head. “Go ask Pa, then. He’s supposed to be helping you with your gift, anyway.”

“Oh, he forgot, too.”

“Joe,” Adam said slowly in a valiant attempt to rein in his irritation, “there’s absolutely no way Pa forgot which name you picked out of the hat.”

“But he did! And now I don’t know who I got…”

Oh, please.

Adam sighed as Joe worked up a few tears.

“Maybe if you tell me your person, then I can try ta guess who I got.” Leaning close, Joe lowered his voice to a whisper. “Just tell me real quiet in my ear. Hoss’ll never hear.”

“Hoss isn’t even here.”

“Which is why he’ll never know who you got! Come on, Adam, please?”

It only took a brief moment for the idea to cement in his head. Mimicking Joe’s conspiratorial whisper, Adam gestured for his brother to lean in closer. “All right. Come here.”

As Joe pressed his face into Adam’s coveted personal space, his eyes lit up like a thousand Christmas candles. It almost made Adam feel bad for what he was about to do next.

Almost.

“Now, don’t tell anyone,” Adam whispered, “but I got Pa for the gift exchange.”

And with that, he gave his brother a pat on the head before sauntering up the stairs.

“I knew it! I knew it all along!” Joe exclaimed even as realization dawned on him seconds later. “Hey! Wait a minute!”

Adam quickened his steps.

“You didn’t draw Pa’s name! He’s not even part of the exchange! Adam!”

Escaping to the safety of the second floor, Adam swallowed down a laugh. Despite the distance, Joe and his eagle ears would be sure to hear it. It wasn’t as if playing tricks on his baby brother was one of his favorite pastimes, but he couldn’t have Joe’s curiosity spoiling the gift exchange. Again.

Well, he decided with a grin, he would just have to make sure to get Joe something extra special this year for the exchange.

The End