Summary:  It’s Christmas time on the Ponderosa and the family is ready to exchange gifts.

Rated: K+ (2,440 words)

 

Great Minds

Adam Cartwright woke up on Christmas Eve with a smile. He had to make one more trip to Virginia City before Christmas. He hopped out of bed and dressed quickly. Then he walked down the hall to his brother’s room and pounded on the door. “Joe, Joe, you awake!” he called.

He heard his brother grunt and he entered the room. His brother was lying curled up in the bed his blankets pulled tightly around him. Adam walked into the room and yanked the coverlet off his brother with a shout, “Come on, Joe, get up! I’m going to Virginia City and if you want to come with me you’d better hurry!”

Little Joe Cartwright sat straight up at that. “Virginia City?” he asked rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “Yeah, I want to come. I have to pick up my gift for Pa.”

“Hurry up and get dressed then.” Adam said walking towards his brother’s door. “We should get some breakfast first.”

Adam walked down the stairs towards the table his heart light and a Christmas carol on his lips. His father and younger brother Hoss sat at the table eating a breakfast of Hop Sing’s delicious flapjacks. “Morning, Pa.” Adam smiled sliding into his seat. “Hi, Hoss.”

“Morning, Adam.” Ben Cartwright nodded at his son. Hoss said nothing. His mouth was too full of flapjacks and maple syrup. “Is your brother Joe up yet?”

“He is now.” Adam answered placing some hot flapjacks on his plate. “Hoss, pass me the syrup.”

“You two still going into town?” Ben inquired.

Adam nodded. “Got some last minute Christmas shopping to do.” Adam answered.

“Still?” Hoss asked. “I finished mine a week ago.”

Adam smiled. “I had something ordered from back East. It takes awhile to get here.”

“I ordered something from the East, too.” Hoss answered. “Mine came in last week.”

Adam smiled again. “You must have ordered sooner than me.” He answered. He was going to tell Hoss that his was much more expensive and had to be carefully handled. But he decided against it. After all it was Christmas Eve.

“You could be rite.” Hoss agreed. “I knew what I was agoin’ by a long time ago. But not you, Adam, ya and Joe always wait for the last minute.”

“It wouldn’t be Christmas unless people are all rushing around.” Joe retorted coming down the stairs and taking his place at the table. “And ‘cause you and Pa finished your Christmas shopping early someone has got to keep the rushing spirit alive. Morning, Pa.”

“Good morning, Joe.” Ben answered. “If you two are going into town you had better hurry. We’re expecting a terrible snowstorm and I want you two safely back before that.”

“Yes, Pa.” The two boys replied. Adam took a last bite and pushed his plate away from him. “I’ll go hitch the team, Joe.” He told his brother. “When you’re done eating, come on out.”

“Adam!” his father’s voice stopped him. “What about your chores?”

“Chores?” Adam stopped near the door. “Right. I forgot all about my chores. Can we do it when we get back?”

“No.” Ben answered. “Shopping can wait. Chores cannot.”

“AWW. Go on an git ya’re shoppin’ done.” Hoss smiled standing up. “I’ll do the chores for ya.”

“Hoss, you’re an angel!” Adam smiled. “Thanks.” Then he disappeared outside.

“Hoss, we owe you one.” Joe stood up. “Thanks.”

Ben watched his two sons leave and shook his head turning to his husky middle son. “They’ll never learn anything that way.” Ben told him.

“Pa, they needed to git done ‘fore the snow come in and I was willin’ to do it anyways. ‘Sides,” he smiled. “I already did Joe’s chores when I got up thins mornin’.”

Ben shook his head and stood up. “I have some things to do for Christmas, Hoss. Do me a favor and stay out of the house, all right?”

“Sure, Pa.” Hoss replied putting on his coat. “I was plannin’ on looking at some of the cattle anyways. Jist let me know when I cin come back in.”

“I’ll let you know.” Ben smiled. Then he walked over to his desk and watched Hoss leave the house and head towards the barn.

Hoss was singing gaily as he walked into the barn. In one of the stalls there was a beautiful brand new saddle. Hoss lifted up a corner of the saddle blanket covering the gift and smiled. Then he sat down beside it, took a piece of pretty paper out of his pocket and wrote, “To Pa, love Hoss.” He tacked the paper carefully onto the saddle and recovered it with the blanket. Then he stood up and walked towards the feed bucket. He had to feed the horses.
Ben Cartwright looked out the window a few times. Apparently his son was keeping busy. So he reached down under his desk and took out a number of packages still wrapped in the store bag. He sighed, ripped open the packages and spread it on the desk. Then he stepped over to the corner by the Christmas tree where they kept the paper to wrap gifts. He looked at them for a while chose three different colors and headed back to his desk. Now even he was singing and he smiled. He had always loved Christmas. He looked at the gifts spread on his desk shook his head and set a gift and the paper on the floor. Then sitting next to it Ben started to wrap his Christmas gifts determined to finish before Adam and Joe got back.
Joe Cartwright watched Adam disappear down the street towards the jewelers. He wondered what Adam was getting but he had to pick up Pa’s girt so he turned and walked towards the home of Sara Louise Andrews. Sara Louise had promised to handstitch a quilt for his Pa’s gift. When he knocked on the door Sara Louise answered it. “Come on, in, Little Joe.” She held the door open for him. “I have the quilt in the drawing room.”

She led him into the drawing room and picked up the neatly folded quilt. She shook it open and showed it to him. “Well?” she asked.

Joe looked at the quilt. It was big and thick and beautiful. There were snowflakes sprinkled throughout it, a star in every corner and the inscription, “Merry Christmas to my, Pa. Love you always, Little Joe.”

“Lovely, Lovely.” Joe took the quilt from her and folded it back up. “He’ll love it. How much do I owe you?”

“You already paid me.” She answered. “When you ordered it, remember?”

“That’s right.” Joe nodded. “I did.” He turned towards the door. “Thank you very much, Sara Louise. Merry Christmas.”

She opened the door and smiled. “Merry Christmas, Joe.” And as he disappeared down the street she laughed. “I think Little Joe is in for a surprise.” She smiled and closed the door.
Adam stopped at the jewelers and looked around. He saw Joe going into Sara Louise’s then he smiled and ducked into the store. “Merry Christmas, Sam.” He called to the jeweler.

Sam Long turned from his desk to look at Adam. “Oh, Merry Christmas Adam.” Sam Long was a professional jeweler who doubled as a watch repairman. “Come to pick up your gift?”

“I certainly have.” Adam smiled. “Is it in?”

“Came in yesterday.” Sam replied reaching into his desk and taking out the jewelry box. “Here you go.”

Adam took it carefully and opened the box. “Its even lovelier that it was on paper.” He whispered.

“It should be.” Sam replied. “That’s a real Waltham watch. Good stuff.”

“It looks it.” Adam took it out and read the inscription on the back. “To my brother, Hoss. All my love, Adam.” He smiled. “Excellent. I paid you right, Sam?”

Sam nodded. “Have a great Christmas, Adam.”

“You, too.” Adam smiled and walked out the door.
Hoss saw his brothers coming back first. He was casually riding along the road, watching the sky for the impending snowstorm and the road for his brother’s return. Adam and Joe were laughing and singing as they headed towards the house. The gifts were safely tucked away under the blankets in the wagon. But Hoss’ gift, Adam had carefully placed in his coat pocket. He did not want to risk losing it. Hoss joined his brothers with a smile. “How was ya’re shopin’?” he asked. “Find everythin’?”

“You bet.” Joe nodded and Adam agreed. “Now don’t go pickin’ through that stuff.” Joe warned Hoss as the middle Cartwright son leaned over to see what was hidden under the blankets. “That’s cheatin.”

Hoss drew back quickly and grinned. “Sorry.”

Ben looked up from the floor. His gifts were all wrapped and he had just finished setting them under the tree. He could hear his three voices as the boys came towards the house and walked towards the door. He saw Adam and Joe stop the wagon and take several packages out of the back. Hoss had put his horse away and came into the house. Ben opened the door and smiled at his sons. “Welcome home, boys. How was your trip?”

 

Christmas morning was a beautiful morning. Hoss Cartwright was the first one up. He had to get Pa’s gift out of the barn. He dressed quickly and walked softly down the steps and out the door. Outside the walked quietly to the barn and uncovered the saddle. It was beautiful, Pa would love it, he thought, as he picked it up and headed back towards the house. This Christmas he had gone all out for his family spending every penny he had earned that year. But this gift for Pa and the one he had bought for Adam were the best yet.

The rest of the family was up and at the breakfast table when Hoss came in with the saddle. “Merry Christmas, everyone.” He smiled.

“Merry Christmas, Hoss.” They answered watching Hoss set the saddle under the tree. His face fell slightly when he saw another saddle under the tree but brightened again sure it was for someone else. After all Joe needed a new saddle. Then he came and sat down at the breakfast table glad to eat a good breakfast of ham and eggs.

When the family had finished breakfast Ben suggested they do their chores and then open their gifts. The boys grumbled a little bit but agreed. Adam cast an anxious look at the saddle Hoss had brought in. He was too far away to see the label but he hoped the saddle was not for the same person. After all Joe needed a new saddle.

When the boys had finished their chores they came back into the house. Ben having done what he had to do was waiting for them. The boys grouped around the tree and Ben handed them each a gift silently. He always bought the boys something practical that they could use. This year was no different. He had bought them each a very similar knife. With one difference. The color. Adam’s was red, Hoss’ blue, and Joe’s green. Ben smiled. “I’ll always know whose knife it is.” He told them and they nodded. He never knew that one day many years later one of those knives would serve as an identifier for a lost son.

Then the boys exchanged their own gifts. Adam handed Hoss his gift from back East. Hoss tore it open with a smile. He opened the box and exclaimed, “Adam, it’s wonderful. Thank you.” He took the watch out and almost laughed. “Is this a Waltham?”

“Yes.” Adam replied surprised that Hoss would know. “Why?”

Hoss handed Adam a little box without a word. Adam tore off the paper opened the box and started to laugh. “I don’t believe it! I just don’t believe it!”

Ben looked up from the saddle that was under the tree for him from Hoss. “What is it, Adam?”

Adam held up his watch and Hoss did the same. “We bought each other the same gift.”

“I liked it.” Hoss defended himself. “And ah thought ya would, too.”

“I love it.” Adam assured his brother reading the inscription on the bottom. “To Adam, my brother. Your little brother, Hoss.”

“I think we have a problem here.” Little Joe cut in. “There’s two saddles here. One’s form Hoss and one’s from Adam.”

“So?” Adam and Hoss asked turning to Joe.

“They’re both to the same person!” Joe laughed.

Adam and Hoss looked at each other. “You bought Pa a new saddle!” Adam exclaimed.

Hoss shrugged. “I saw he needed a new one.”

“So did I!” Adam exclaimed.

Ben, sitting on the settee, started to laugh.

Joe cut in with a smile. “Well, I saw Pa needed a new saddle, too.”

A look of horror came into Ben’s face.

“But I didn’t buy him one.” Joe continued and Ben sighed. Three saddles would be hard to handle. “Instead,” Joe continued, “I bought him something else. Here, Pa.” He handed his father a gift.

Ben tore it open and held it up. The quilt looked lovely and warm. “Something you fellows didn’t think of.” Jo looked over at his brothers.

Ben looked at him strangely.

“Don’t you like it, Pa?” Joe asked.

“Son, I love it.” Then he pointed to a soft gift under the tree. “That one there, Joe, open it. Go ahead.”

Joe tore off the paper and started laughing. “And I thought I had an original idea.” he exclaimed reading the inscription. “Merry Christmas, Little Joe. Love your Pa.”

Adam and Hoss started laughing. “I think we had a little mistake here.” Adam said. “Hoss and I bought you the same gift. Then we bought each other the same gift.”

“And I bought Joe the same gift he bought me.” Ben smiled. “Well, Boys they always say that great minds think alike. I think we are more similar then we care to admit.”

The boys laughed. What a Christmas! Adam thought. Only in their family could such a mistake occur. But the rest of the family was laughing and Ben was ready to sing a Christmas carol. Adam took out his guitar and smiled up at his father. He had strummed it once and was just about to begin when Ben stopped him. “Do you mind if I give one of the saddles to Joe?” he asked. “He really does need a new one.”