Rating: K

Word Count=2472

Summary: An important letter arrives for Adam. The letter contains news that will change his life.

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended. Original plot and characters are property of the author. This story is for entertainment and no money was made from it.

Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page.

Back to the Beginning

Ben headed into town to see his attorney, Hiram Wood, about a timber contract. He hoped the Missouri-Pacific had accepted the terms he had put forth for consideration. Chances were it had been, but he’d rest a bit easier knowing that it had. After all, Hiram always checked every contract thoroughly to make absolutely sure that he remained a very satisfied client.

Entering Hiram’s office, Ben took off his hat and shook the dust off of sleeves. “Good afternoon, Hiram. It sure is a scorcher out there.”

“Good afternoon, Ben. You look pretty nervous. Worried about that contract?”

“What? Oh, I’ve got something else on my mind. Did the Missouri-Pacific find my terms acceptable?”

“They’re still reviewing it. Hopefully we’ll know something before the end of the week. Would you care to come with me to the Silver Dollar for a cool glass of cheer?”

“No thank you, Hiram. I’ve got to check the mail and then get back home. Let me know as soon as you hear about that contract.”

“I sure will, Ben.” Hiram got up, walked around his desk, and escorted Ben out of the door. He locked up and watched Ben walk down the sidewalk. Something was definitely on that man’s mind. Hiram hoped that Marie and the boys were doing well.

Ben went over to the stage office to see if the mail had arrived. “Good afternoon, Jesse. Any mail for me?”

Jesse, one of the clerks, smiled at Ben. “Yessir, there is.” He reached into the Cartwright mail slot and pulled out several envelopes. “There’s one with a fancy seal on it,” he said handing over the letters.

Ben reached for his mail and glanced through the envelopes. There it was!! He was so excited to see Harvard on the front of an envelope He practically danced in place as he looked at it. He couldn’t wait to get home to share this news! 

“You all right, Mr. Cartwright?” asked Jesse.

He looked at the clerk with eyes shining with pride and said, “I’m just fine. I’ve got to get home. Give my best to Sally.”

“All right, Mr. Cartwright. I sure will.” Jesse just shook his head and smiled as Ben went out of the office at a quick walk.

Ben met Roy Coffee on the street and Roy certainly noticed Ben’s beaming face. “What’s the news, Ben? Ya look like yer goin’ ta bust into a jig. Is Marie expectin’?”

“No,” replied Ben. “But I can’t tell you yet because I haven’t shared the news with the boys. I’ll let you know soon, though.” And with that, Ben continued down the sidewalk.

On his way to the livery stable, Ben almost bumped into Paul Martin. “Slow down, Ben! How are your wife and boys?”

“I’m sorry, Paul. I didn’t see you there.”

“What’s got you in such a hurry?”

“I’ve got important news to share at home.”

“It must be good news with that look on your face.”

“It’s not just good, Paul…it’s great!”

“Would you give an old friend a hint?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. If Marie found out I told someone else first, she wouldn’t be too happy with me.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want to break up a happy marriage. Be careful heading home.”

“I will, Paul. I’ll see you later.”

Ben hurried to the livery, paid Frank, and got Buck. He wanted to push the horse in his excitement, but the news would keep no matter how quickly he arrived home. Buck sensed his rider’s urgency, though, and covered the distance in a ground-eating stride.

Had it really been 17 years ago that he and his infant son headed West? Where had the time gone? It was sometimes hard to believe that Adam wasn’t a boy anymore. He’d been a young man for many years now. His oldest helped out with running the ranch, writing bids for timber and cattle contracts, and balancing the books to make sure everyone got paid on time. He even helped with looking after his younger brothers. 

He’d have to be sure to wire the Captain. Adam’s grandfather was going to be so pleased. And proud. Ben had a feeling that it didn’t take too much prodding for the Captain to be proud of his grandson. 

When Ben arrived home, Hoss and Little Joe were in the barn playing with a litter of kittens. “Well, Boys,” said Ben, “have you finished your chores for today?”

“Shore did,” answered Hoss. 

“And I helped Hoss with his,” added Little Joe, holding up a tabby kitten for Ben to get a better look at. 

“You shore do have a big grin on yer face, Pa,” said Hoss, looking at his father curiously.

“Where’s Adam?” he asked his boys.

“I dunno,” answered Little Joe with a shrug. “He don’t tell me nothin’.”

“Ah think he’s been down at the lake,” said Hoss. “Ya want us ta go get him?” 

“No, he should be back soon enough. He knows Hop Sing will scold him if he’s late for supper. I’d appreciate it if you two would take care of Buck for me and then come in and clean up.” With that, Ben practically skipped to the house. Hoss and Little Joe could only look at each other and wonder what was possibly going on.

“Do ya think Mama and Pa are gonna have another baby?” asked Hoss. 

“But I’m the baby,” replied Little Joe.

“Well, Ah was the baby once. Then you were born. Ya probably cain’t be the baby forever, Lil Joe.”

“Mama says I’m her petit homme.” 

“She’s got the lil right,” said Hoss with a snicker.

Little Joe stuck out his tongue and gave his kitten a last cuddle before putting it in the empty stall with its mother and littermates. He then waited for Hoss to pull the saddle and bridle off of Buck so they could begin to brush the horse down.

“Why would Mama and Papa wanna baby?” asked Little Joe. “Babies smell bad and can’t do nothin’.”

“Ah dunno,” answered Hoss. “Mama shore liked it when you was a baby. She carried ya everywhere and showed ya off ta everyone she saw. Mebbe she wants ta feel like that again.”

“Well I don’t wanna baby,” said Little Joe with a slight frown.

Adam came into the barn while Hoss and Joe were rubbing down Buck. “Hello, Brothers,” said Adam as he waved with a flourish. 

“Hey, Adam,” said Hoss, “Pa shore is happy this evenin’. Do ya know what’s got him smilin’?” 

“Nope,” answered Adam. 

“He looked like he wanted to dance,” added Little Joe.

“Do ya think Mama and Pa are havin’ another baby?” asked Hoss. 

“I’m the baby” Little Joe whined.

“Aw come on, Lil Joe,” replied Hoss, “they’re allowed to have more than one. Maybe Mama will have a girl this time, huh?” 

“Yuck!” said Little Joe.

“Girls aren’t that yucky,” Adam replied with a grin and a smile in his eyes. Luckily, Little Joe hadn’t followed his oldest brother and Betsy to the lake. “Just think how much fun a little sister might be. I bet Pa and Marie sure would fuss over a little girl.” With that, he headed for the house.

Hoss and Little Joe looked at each other and grimaced as they said, “A girl?!?”

Adam entered the house and saw Marie and Pa standing near the fireplace. There certainly seemed to be an air of excitement. “What’s the news, Pa?” Adam asked warily.

Marie took Ben’s hand as he told Adam, “We’re waiting on your brothers.” Adam thought that maybe there was some truth to another baby being on the way. Marie did look a little flushed and his father certainly looked happy enough to climb up on the roof and dance. 

The front door opened and Hoss and Little Joe walked in. “Have a seat, Boys,” Ben said gesturing to the settee.

“Don’t you want us to clean up first?” asked Hoss.

“That can wait a few minutes,” Marie answered. 

“We’re really dirty, Mama,” said Little Joe, “and I think we should clean our faces first.” Adam and Hoss looked at Little Joe oddly since he never volunteered to wash his face.

“No, Boys, come sit down,” said Ben. Adam and Hoss sat on opposite ends of the settee and Little Joe settled between them. “Now,” said Ben, “your mother and I have some exciting news to share with you.” 

“Noooo!!!!” screamed Little Joe. “I’m the baby!!!” With that, Little Joe ran up the stairs as if he had been shot from a cannon. The smile quickly faded from Marie’s face as she looked at the now empty staircase. “I’ll go to him, Mon Cher,” said Marie, giving Ben’s arm a squeeze. “You share the news with Adam and Hoss.”

Ben still looked happy, but not as giddy as he did before Little Joe’s outburst. “Boys, what do you think we’re going to talk about?” asked Ben slowly.

“Why, that you and Mama are havin’ another baby of course,” replied Hoss.

“And you, Adam? What do you think we’re going to talk about?” asked Ben.

Adam said, “I don’t know, but I guess it’s not about a baby.” 

Ben reached into his vest and pulled out the letter from Harvard. “Son,” said Ben, handing the letter to Adam, “this came in the mail for you today. I couldn’t wait to get home to share the news with everyone.” 

Adam slowly took the letter from his father’s hand and stared hard at the seal on the envelope. Harvard University was embossed there. His hands trembled as he opened it and then he slowly withdrew the letter. 

“Who’s it from, Adam? asked Hoss. 

“Harvard,” was all Adam could squeak out.

“Who’s that?”

“It’s not a who. It’s a school.”

“What’s it say?” asked Hoss.

“The Dean of Admissions,” Adam said quietly, “congratulates me on my acceptance into Harvard and he looks forward to seeing me in September when I report for classes.”

With a loud whoop, Ben grabbed Adam by the arms and lifted his eldest off the settee. “I knew you could do it, Son!” said Ben. He had regained that look of insane glee and looked as if he might just burst into a jig.

At that moment, Little Joe and Marie came down the stairs. Marie could tell by Ben’s actions that Adam had received the news they had been anxiously awaiting. “We never doubted that you would be accepted, Adam,” Marie told her eldest step-son with a large smile. Adam disentangled himself from his father and gave his step-mother a hug and kiss. She added, “I’m so proud of you, Mon Fils.” 

Hoss looked at Little Joe and whispered, “Adam is gonna go to school. He ain’t never gone before.”

“Ain’t he kinda old?” asked Little Joe.

The whole family heard Hoss and Little Joe. “I want to go because I want to learn more than I know now,” replied Adam.

“What more is there to learn?” asked Hoss. “You shore are really good with math and measurin’ things,” he added. 

“And you read real good, too,” added Little Joe. 

Adam suppressed a laugh and answered, “I want to learn more about engineering, architecture, the world.”

“Will the same kids from the school here be going to school with you at this Harvard?” asked Hoss.

Adam shook his head and replied, “No. You have to fill out an application to go to college and many of the kids here are satisfied with the education they’ve received. I want to learn more.”

“Will there be girls there?” asked Little Joe wrinkling his nose. 

“Yes,” answered Adam with a grin.

Marie gave Ben a look. If her husband hadn’t talked about girls with their oldest son yet, he should before Adam left for college.

Adam was deliriously happy until a morose thought penetrated his mind. “Can you afford to send me back East, Pa?”

“Of course we can, Son. Your mother and I knew this day would arrive eventually. I don’t want you to be concerned about the price of an education. Just promise that it won’t ever interfere with your ability to think.”

Adam just laughed at that. “I promise it won’t, Pa.” He then gave his father and Marie large hugs. They just didn’t know how much this truly meant to him. 
He would be going to Boston. Would Grandfather be happy to see him? He hoped so. 

“When’s Adam gonna hafta leave fer this Harvard place?” asked Hoss.

“Not for several months yet,” answered Ben.

“We can do some fishin’ before ya leave,” said Little Joe with some excitement.

“There’s a lot of things we’ll have to do before I leave,” said Adam, ruffling his youngest brother’s hair. He was going to miss this little dynamo.

“Well, let’s see what Hop Sing has prepared for our supper,” said Marie. She went into the kitchen with Hoss and Little Joe in tow to check on their meal. Ben again hugged Adam. “Son, I am so very proud of you. I know that you will learn everything that Harvard has to offer.”

“I won’t disappoint you, Pa.”

“You’ll never be able to do that, Son.”

The End
September 2007