Little Ray of Sunshine (by Stetson1859)

Summary: Adam is trying to come to terms with Inger’s death, and finds comfort from an unexpected source.

Rated: K+  WC 897

Little Ray of Sunshine

Adam awoke all of a sudden with the sun already standing high in the sky. Slowly blinking and with heavy-lidded eyes he looked around sleepily. He needed a moment before recognition set in. But once it did he became aware of the soft rattle and sway of the Conestoga wagon he was lying in which told him they were already traveling again.

From the position of the sun Adam figured his father, who was sitting just outside on the box seat, must have left him sleeping longer than usual. Also there was a nagging feeling of hunger and a soft growling in Adam’s stomach, definite signs it was far later than his normal awakening hour.

In some way the realization left him embarrassed, mostly because by oversleeping he hadn’t done his regularly morning chores. This meant his father had done them instead, and from Adam’s point of view this wasn’t okay. On a trek it was important that everyone did their own chores unfailingly.

But Adam knew his father had let him sleep in due to the nightmares he had suffered last night.

Every time he’d closed his eyes he’d seen Inger dying again. He watched the deadly arrow strike her body, the blood on her and his father’s hands trembling. Adam couldn’t even remember how many times he had woken up screaming last night, or how often his father had held him until he had fallen asleep again. But at least at some point in the morning he had been so exhausted his mind finally came to a rest, and with it came the sleep he had longed for.

A deep sadness came over Adam as he realized the truth: Inger was gone and with her the only mother he had ever known. His little body shook from the cruelty of the thought. In the loneliness of their Conestoga wagon tears began to fill his eyes as he sat up. Adam rubbed angrily at them. He was a big boy and he wasn’t going to cry, he told himself. He wanted to be strong for his father.

The sound of a chuckle interrupted Adam’s thoughts. Curiously he crouched to his knees and crawled carefully to the cradle at the end of his bed. Cautiously he peeked inside.

Hoss was lying on his back. The blanket he had been covered with was kicked away. Still struggling, it seemed his brother was trying to chase the shadows at the ceiling of their wagon. His tiny hands were up in the air desperately gripping for something that was out of reach.

Adam watched his little brother for nearly five minutes. He could tell Hoss was having fun by the laughter and the chuckles which were coming from the baby-boy. Hoss also didn’t seem to mind that his goal was out of reach. He enjoyed what he was doing anyway. Watching the baby playing somehow eased the pain Adam felt.

Inger was right, Adam thought. Hoss was a joyful baby. A fond smile crept over Adam’s face. Carefully he lifted the baby out of the cradle. Laughingly Hoss looked at him with his bright blue eyes. For a moment Adam held his brother still in his arms and stared at him. The same color as his Mom’s eyes had been, Adam realized and he returned the smile of the baby.

“You know something,” Adam whispered at Hoss with warmth, “Mom was right, you are a little ray of sunshine.” Tenderly he caressed the side of Hoss’ head with one finger. Chuckling, Hoss reached out for Adam’s face.

“But I’ll still call you Hoss. It’s a good and strong name,” Adam explained solemnly to the baby. “So Hoss are you hungry?”

Adam knew he certainly was. He assumed it was anyway time for Hoss’ next feeding because Inger had told him that babies needed food more often.

Adam stood up and looked at the little bundle in his arms. His Mom might be gone but they still had Hoss. From now on he wouldn’t be alone with his father anymore. Somehow this thought left Adam feeling a lot better than before.

In the future not only Pa would need him, but Hoss would need him even more. Their Pa wouldn’t have the time to take care of his little brother all alone. It would be Adam’s duty to help him wherever he could. Feeling a new kind of responsibility he looked kindly at Hoss.

“Okay, little ray of sunshine. Let’s go to Pa and ask what kind of food he has in store for us shall we?”, asked Adam playfully towards his little baby-brother.

Hoss joyful chuckled in response which made Adam laugh because it seemed like an answer to him.

With a warm smile on his face, and feeling much more relieved than before Adam made his way carefully with Hoss to the front of the wagon and their Pa.

THE END

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A/N: Thank you, Dodo, for being a wonderful Betareader. 🙂

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Disclaimer: Bonanza and its characters are created by David Dortort and originally aired on NBC. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. Other characters then the originals are the property of the author.

 

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Author: Stetson1859

I am a ESL writer, living and working in Germany. Since my childhood I am a fan of Bonanza. I began to write fanfictions for Stargate SG-1 in 2004. However, today I write mostly stories for Supernatural and Bonanza.

3 thoughts on “Little Ray of Sunshine (by Stetson1859)

  1. What a cute story. what a cute baby Hoss have been with a great smile for his big brother. Adam was a good brother to his little brother Hoss. Thanks

  2. Aw … this is sweet. I love thinking that little Hoss could have helped Adam through Inger’s loss. Enjoyed this — thanks for writing!

  3. Ich bin gerade über deine kleine Geschichte “gestolpert” und muss sagen, sie gefällt mir sehr. Adam tröstet sich damit, gebraucht zu werden und Verantwortung zu haben, das passt gut auch zu meinem Bild von ihm.

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