The Ponderosa – Part 1

The big fire in the big hearth in the big room crackled and spat, literally spat. Ben roused from his pretence perusal of the Territorial Express, the newspaper he had read from first to last page at least three times. Startled he jumped up from the red, leather chair. Viciously he heeled the glowing shard of timber and kicked it off of the heavy, tapestry rug. Frowning with annoyance not only at being woken from his lazy doze but that smouldering ember had already left it’s calling card in the shape of a small oblong, charred mark. Noticing too that there were several other scars dotted around on the surface of the carpet.

Picking up the paper that had fallen from his lap. He Walked over to his desk, picked up a pencil and added one word of three letters ‘RUG’ to the already started list of various requirements that he intended to purchase when next he or one of his sons went into Virginia City.

Returning to the open fire he took up the long poker. Fiddling with the logs he then shut the damper. That there was a fine fire blazing in the hearth was really not a necessity. The weather not being inclement, especially not during the day. Granted the evenings were already drawing in and becoming a mite chilly. But it was neither evening or cold enough to warrant the blazer that was warming the chimney.

Chuckling to himself he replaced his butt back into the soft leather chair and wiggled himself into a comfortable position. If his sons were here now he could hear the remarks that would be thrown at him, some caring, some disrespectful.

Adam would complain that his father was burning good money sending it in smoke up the chimney.

Hoss would take umbrage and disagree with his elder brother. He too liked to see the fire aglow. He would tell Adam that a man is entitled to burn a fire in his own home whenever he wants.

Joseph of course would add the disrespect leaving no man unturned…elder brother was too bossy…big brother needed the heat to render down some of the excess fat he was carrying, and l, his Pa, l was now an elderly man and needed extra warmth for my old bones.

The silver haired man’s smile turned wistful as he thought of his boys. He had hoped that today they would have arrived home. He had received the wire over a month ago informing him…

‘sale successful stop best price stop cash money banked stop heading home stop.

He reproached himself. They were no longer boys. They were men all three of them. He must expect that they, after pushing cows for hundreds of miles for a little over three weeks. They wouldn’t be rushing home. No, they would want to burn off a bit of steam, and rightly so. Especially as until the end of the month, when the herd in the North pasture needed moving there was very little to be done. Yet how he hated an empty house. Eating meals on his own. Sitting in front of a cold hearth, alone. Which, is the reason, he replied to his son’s that l, on a fine day have a blazer burning up the chimney. He chuckled into his chest and was once more startled. This time it was his good friend, house keeper, chef and substitute parent to his three sons.

“Mistah Ben eat now lunch on table, come now,”

Hop Sing never cut corners issuing instructions, Ben meekly obeyed. His footsteps to the table though were redirected to the big front door. The pounding of hoof beats in the yard brought a gleam to his eye and sent Hop Sing scurrying back to the kitchen muttering in Cantonese.

The smile that had lit up Ben Cartwright’s face diminished slightly when he realised that instead of his beloved boys the horses were ridden by Candy, the Ponderosa foreman and Griff, the relatively new ranch hand. By the cheerful look on both the men’s faces Ben surmised that all was well. Why, he thought do l always think or expect the worst. Maybe he answered himself because the worst had a habit of happening on too many occasions.

Raising a hand in greeting he called out for the two men to wash up and join him for lunch. At least he grinned selfishly, and told himself. l won’t be eating on my own.

Dismounting, cheerfully the men acknowledged their boss. Dousing their hands and faces in the horse trough they made their way to the house. Griff looked hard at Candy. The new man didn’t reckon a sluice in the horse trough adequate ‘wash up’ to warrant sitting at the bosses table. Candy returned the hard stare and shrugged. “Can’t keep the boss waiting, can we?”

Ben could see and understood the boy’s embarrassment. “Certainly not, and the boss is as hungry as a bear. Was that my gut growling or yours Candy?” Ben slapped each man’s back and walked them to the house.

Hop Sing as ever on top of his game, had noted the arrival of the two men and had quickly reset the table. He too was expecting the sons home. Extra slices of chunky bread and cold cuts of meat appeared out of nowhere. A large bowl of hot potato mash was placed in the middle of the table.

“Good to have you back Candy and you Griff. l hear everything went well?” Candy gulped and swallowed clearing his mouth.

“Real well Sir, the beefs arrived fat and sassy and Adam got top dollar,” Ben left a reasonable amount of chewing and swallowing time to lapse before pressing on.

“Any trouble?” Ben nodded at Griff as the boy hesitated slightly before reaching for the bowl of mash.

“Not as…” Before Candy could finish his sentence, Ben leaned back in his chair at the head of the table and yelled into the kitchen.

“Hop Sing you have forgotten…”The small man appeared at his shoulder carrying a jug full of hot gravy.

“Why you yell ole man,” proving his point by slapping the jug onto the table,“Hop Sing not forget.” Griff spluttered trying to stifle a laugh while Candy beamed a grin. Ben rolled his eyes. A gesture he would have castigated any one of his sons for, and threw both men a look of exasperated resignation.

“Candy you were saying?” Ben continued as if nothing untoward had occurred.

“Not as such, we came across a small group of Indians. Just a few bucks making fierce. Adam cut out a couple of steers and sent them away happy. A few miles further on we found them camped near a stream making short work of the meal. They’d been travelling with the old folk, women and children, they all looked half starved,” Ben nodded as he ate. Silence prevailed until Candy thinking to offer a reason for Adam’s generosity added. “Adam reckoned we’d a lost a few on the way, so’s they might as well be in the belly’s of them injun’s as lying dead on the prairie for the buzzards.” Ben had not any objection to Adam’s handling of the situation, knowing that he too would have handled it in just the same way.

“And did you loose any?” Moping his gravy with a hunk of bread Candy shook his head.

“No Sir, nary a one,” Candy grinned and back handed his mouth, wiping away traces of the thick sauce.

Directing his question to Griff who was steadily chewing his way through a second helping of everything, much to Hop Sings joy. It seemed the boy was one of those people that could eat anything and everything until the cows come home and still not put up an ounce of fat. Ben noted how well the boy looked. His wiry frame no longer hanging on his bones and the gaunt, haunted look had left his face.

“So your money isn’t burning a hole in your pocket?”

“Oh no, Sir, Mr Cartwright,” Griff stared at his employer shocked that the man should even think that he would be recklessly throwing away his hard earned cash on women, cards and booze. “l’m saving, got just about nearly enough,” Bemused but not without understanding Ben nodded his grey head at Griff’s pronouncement. Griff had come to the Ponderosa with nothing. An ex-convict given into Ben Cartwright’s custody whilst on a years parole. The boy then had to make his own decision about his future. Ben was as proud of Griff’s recovery from a bruised, resentful, cantankerous, angry young man, with low self esteem. Into a confidant, hard working, young man. Oh yes the fire and anger was still evident in the many a set to he had with the other hands and especially with Little Joe.

It was at Adam’s suggestion that Griff work alongside his brother. Little Joe handled the horses the gentling and breaking for the Army contracts and private selling on. At first it was clear that both Griff and Little Joe did more bucking with each other than they did with the horses. It was also clear that Griff had the same affinity with the animals that Joe had. Once the men had resolved their differences by way of a couple of furious but fast fist fights. Both men being put to the ground. Finally they decided that they had given enough entertainment to the rest of the hands and a shaky truce was agreed upon.

Ben had an inkling as to what the boy was saving his wages for and knew it meant more than a great deal for Griff to have something of his own, bought with his own hard earned cash. It was only by chance that Ben had found out about Griff’s quest.

Actually it was Jeb Gates the owner of the new ‘Leathersmith & Saddlery’ who had brought the matter to Ben’s attention. Ben had recently bought a new saddle for Little Joe. Not as birthday nor Christmas present, but as bonus for a job well done. Joe having single handed gentled a string of horses and then sold them on at a good profit. When Ben asked Adam his opinion regarding a ‘bonus’ for his brother. Adam had suggested the new saddle. Knowing that Joe had wanted one and also knowing that if given the cash. Although the intention would be there the temptation of women, poker and a good time would be Joe’s loss and the saddler’s loss. Little Joe was more that delighted with the gift. Declaring that apart from Cooch it was the best present he had ever had. Hoss declared that Joe was so excited he didn’t know whether to take it to the barn or to bed.

When Jeb Gates mentioned that Joe had deposited some money on a saddle Ben was more than surprised. Wondering now if Little Joe was not as pleased with his gift as he had first made out to be, but not wanting to offend, he’d stuck with it. This though Ben couldn’t understand as Adam had chosen the saddle, that Joe couldn’t pass the shop window without blowing kiss at. He had told Ben that Hoss and himself used to make sure that they had crossed the street as little brother was getting to be an embarrassment. Ben cornered Joe the very next day in the barn asking if there was any problem with the new saddle.

“Heck no Pa, best dang saddle l ever sat in,” was he sons reply. He went on to explain that he wasn’t going to use it everyday that it was going to be his Sunday best and courting saddle. Adam strolling into the barn caught the end of the conversation, and being Adam had to add his barb.

“Meaning, that you will be using it every day, as a day doesn’t go by without you courting one girl or another.” Joe had retorted that Adam was only jealous and that Adam’s saddle would be a cracked and dried up museum piece by the time he got a gal. And then rubbing salt into the wound he added, not unlike yourself elder brother. Wisely he then dashed behind his father for a safe haven.

Ben then openly asked Joe about the saddle he had placed money on at Jed’s shop. Little Joe explained that the saddle was for Griff. He knew that Griff was saving every cent. He had sneakily found out which saddle had taken Griff’s fancy. Griff had helped him with getting the horses ready for the Army contract. Joe had remembered how he felt when his Pa gave him a saddle. He knew he couldn’t afford to buy Griff a saddle and that Griff wouldn’t want that anyhow. He had decided just to place a holding deposit on the saddle. When Griff went into buy it he would be able to, and it would leave Griff with some money in his pocket for maybe a new bridle. It was at the same time Joe had suggested he keep Griff with him working the horses.

Ben recalled how his chest had swelled with pride for his youngest son. Not only for the good deed he had done, but for the success he had made of the horses and the effort he had taken in overcoming his adverse opinion of Griff. The two men had now become firm friends. Which though was almost as bad as when they were fighting, as Griff was just as adept at trailing trouble as Little Joe. Furthermore Griff, never tacked on the little to Joe’s name. The hatchet had well and truly been buried.

“You bet, first thing tomorrow, if that’s OK with you Mr Cartwright?” Ben suddenly realized that he was being spoken to.

“If what is?” Ben questioned

“My going into town sir, l reckon l got just about enough to get what l as saving for.”

“Of course you can, the two of you have still some days due to you. Take them while you can, when the boys get back there won’t be a moment to spare.” Thinking that on the drive Joe had told Griff about the change in the work schedule. Ben inadvertently let the cat out of the bag. “and with Joe wanting Griff to keep working the horses with him, Candy, if you see anyone in town looking for some work. Another couple of hands would only help matters. There is no knowing when or how many or even if any, of the crew would be drifting back.”

Griff stared hard across the table first at Candy and then at his boss. His blue eyes wide with astonishment.

“Joe wants me to stick to the horses, did he say that?” Griff couldn’t believe his ears, “are you sure, l mean…?”

“l don’t reckon Mr Cartwright could be mistaken do you?” Candy interjected barely able to hide a wide grin.

“No…no that aint what l meant, l was just…” Ben helped Griff out of his embarrassment. “Well Joseph is in charge of the horse side of things and if he says so, than that is the way it is.”

Both Ben and Candy delighted in seeing Griff’s outward display of total exhilaration. He pounded both fists on the table and yahoo’d at the top of his voice which brought Hop Sing rushing from the kitchen brandishing a hatchet.

“l’m sorry boss but l’m just so…” Griff stumbled over an apology.

“Nothing to apologise for boy. Any broken china, l’ll just dock your pay,”