Summary: Autumn is setting around the Ponderosa and with it comes a very dear and long awaited surprise. An October chaps and spurs story Rated: K+ (1,180 words)
Autumn Series:
Autumn’s Surprise
Autumn’s Story
Autumn’s Surprise
Summer was drawing to a close around the Ponderosa. This was the fifth autumn that Adam Cartwright had missed being with his family and Joe found himself often thinking of his older brother during this time of year. He wondered how Adam was enjoying Europe and if Europe had autumn’s like they did in Nevada—crisp and cool. It had been almost six months since they had received Adam’s last letter. It had been written from Paris in Adam’s bold script describing the beauty of France in May. But then the letters stopped and the whole family was concerned.
Little Joe—no longer little but a strong, handsome man with a look of a heartfelt sorrow—sighed as he sat by the fire. His father watched him sadly. Since the death of Hoss and the virtual disappearance of Adam, the youngest Cartwright boy had grown moody and aloof. Ben had never thought it possible but his happy-go-lucky son, Joe, was turning more and more into the stern, dark Adam.
Ben shook his head and stood up from his desk. “I’m going outside, Joe, do you want to come?” he asked.
Joe looked up at his father. “No, thank you, Pa.” he replied. “Candy and I are taking Jamie out tomorrow to bring in the harvest. I’m going to bed early.”
Ben nodded and stepped out on the porch. The late summer sun had started to set bathing the Ponderosa in its glow. Ben smiled and sat in the porch chair looking out over his empire. Here he was, the owner of the largest land claim in Nevada and he should have been happy, but he was not. He still mourned over Hoss’ death, worried over Adam’s disappearance and was concerned with Joe’s changing personality. Somewhere in the distance Ben could see the blazing flames of a fire and the smoke curling up to blend with the rosy rays of the dying sun and he smiled. The harvest was going well.
He watched the fire burn brighter and he seemed to bask in its glow. The he felt a movement by his elbow and he turned suddenly to see an Indian standing there. Despite the fact that this Indian bore the insignia of a tribe that hated white men, Ben felt no fear as he looked into the Indian’s dark brown eyes. Neither of them said a word for a moment then Ben broke the silence. “Can I help you?”
The Indian smiled and Ben felt reassured. “You are Mr. Cartwright?” the native asked. Ben nodded. Whatever it was that this Indian girl wanted he would help her. She handed him a white man’s pocketknife and asked him, “Do you recognize this?”
If Ben was startled by her perfect English he was even more surprised by the knife she balanced so well in her hand. He took it from her and nodded again. “Yes.” He replied. “That is my son’s. I bought three of them for my boys. Adam’s was red, Hoss’ blue, and Joe’s green.” He paused for a moment than asked her, “Where did you get it?”
“A man asked me to bring it to you.” She answered. “He stumbled into my tribe weak from hunger and burning with fever. The men of my tribe sought to take his life but I was able to prevent them from doing so. I took him to my teepee where I tried to bring down his fever.”
“When was this?” Ben asked aghast at the thought of how his boy had so narrowly escaped death.
“Several months ago.” She replied. “He has been sick for a long time, Mr. Cartwright. He was what we say ‘out of his head’—burning with fever but last night he was able to tell me who he was and he asked me to give the knife to his father and bring his fathers and brothers to him. Will you come?”
“Yes.” Ben replied leaping out of his chair. “Let me get my son and we’ll go.”
The teepee that the Indian girl led them to was deep in the mountain forest. The leaves brushed against Ben and Joe’s faces as they stumbled through the dense forest. At first Joe was a little afraid that the girl’s tribe would attack them but she looked at him with a smile and assured him “They won’t hurt us.”
Joe gave her a look as though he did not believe her and she laughed. “My father is the chief.” She smiled. “That is how I could save your brother’s life and why they will not harm us.”
Joe smiled at her. “Well now I feel safer.” And the girl smiled.
They were aware that they were being followed and watched by the Indians hiding in the foliage but she paid them no heed except to occasionally shake her head at a passing shadow. Finally she stopped at a teepee, the only one in sight and pulled back the opening flap. “Go on in.” she smiled. “Your son is on the cot just inside.”
Ben and Joe ducked into the low teepee. For the tall Cartwright men it was definitely too short and cramping, for the young Indian girl it was just the right height. There was a cot just inside the middle of the teepee and a man lay on it a man wrapped in an Indian blanket with his eyes closed. He opened them when the two Cartwright’s entered with a smile and stretched his arms out to them. All it took was one look before Ben and Joe rushed towards him.
He was older and paler than when they had seen him last. His eyes were just starting to regain their sparkle but his smile was the same as ever as he greeted them. “Pa. Joe.” He took their hands in his. “Where’s Hoss?”
Ben shook his head and avoided the question. There would be time to explain. But for now they had to get Adam home. Ben turned to the Indian girl. “Thank you so much.” He smiled at her. “You saved my boy’s life.”
“It was a pleasure.” She answered. “Your son is a wonderful man, Mr. Cartwright.”
Adam smiled over at her and looked up at his father. “It’s autumn, isn’t it?”
Ben nodded. “And there is quite a bit of work to do on the Ponderosa before the first frost sets in.”
Adam smiled and closed his eyes. “I’m glad to be back, Pa, I really am.”
Ben cradled his son close. They had to take him home and make sure he got plenty of rest before he was better. But for now they were out here together with nature and Adam was home.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.
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