Summary: Adam and Joe are alone the week before Christmas. Joe gets sick, but can Adam help him? Finally bad news comes. Ben, Hoss, and Hop Sing might not make it home for Christmas.
Rating:  G    4,475 words

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The Bransters thank Corina for forwarding this story to include in the Preserving Their Legacy Project.

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A Christmas Story

The chilly wind drifted through the Ponderosa pines while the frosty white sun slipped towards the horizontal.

“Joe, hurry up back there. We need to get these strays in before it gets too dark!”

Joe glanced towards his brother, “Comin’.”

Adam turned around to look at his brother. Joe was rubbing his back and grimacing.

“You okay brother?”

Yes, just a little sore, that’s all.” Adam nodded and rode to the left to collect a straying cow. Joe shifted in the saddle, relieving his aching back. Looking up into the clear cold sky, a smile appeared on his face. When the teenager’s view returned to the trail in front of him, the smile vanished. He realized that he had become increasingly dizzy and his head was aching dully. Joe decided that he had just been outside too long. All of a sudden nausea overwhelmed him.

He tugged Cochise to a stop. “Adam, c-can w-we stop for a m-minute. My stomach h-hurts.”

Adam glanced over his shoulder to see his brother sliding wobbly out of his saddle.

He wheeled Sport around and rode back to Joe. “Something you ate?”

Joe just bent over and threw up on the ground in front of him.

Adam quickly dismounted to help his brother. “You don’t look good at all.”

He touched Joe’s small face. “You’re burning up boy. We need to get you home. Here, can you mount up?”

“I- I -, I don’t think so.” Adam brought Sport over and lifted his brother onto the horse. After mounting behind and collecting Cochise’s reins, he urged his horse homeward.

The two brothers arrived back at the ranch within an hour. By then Joe had drifted into a very restless sleep. Adam slip off of Sport and carried his 15 year old brother into the freezing house.

He sat Joe down on the nearest chair and briskly rubbed his hands together. “Dang, this is the coldest winter that I remember.”

He knelt beside Joe. “Wake up brother.”

Joe’s emerald green eyes slowly cracked open and he sat up. “Are we home?”

“Yes, Joe, you went to sleep after you got sick up there.”

Joe smiled wanly. “I feel better now. Probably a cold coming on.”

Adam worriedly placed his hand on Joe’s head. “You are getting hotter. Just sit here while I put the horses away. Then I’ll make you something warm to drink.”

Without another word, he left the cold house. Joe just sat in the blue chair and shivered. After a second, he realized that his head was pounding. He slid down in the chair and gave a dry cough.

The boy bolted back up and grabbed his throat. “OW!”

His throat was on fire. Joe got up and roamed towards the kitchen, but then remembered that Hop Sing was in San Francisco with his Pa and Hoss. He walked back into the great room, and then over to the thermometer on the wall. It was about 34 degrees in the room.

Just then Adam hurried back into the house with an arm load of fire wood. “Hey Adam, it’s so cold in here.”

He finished his sentence with a dry cough that caused Adam to look up from building a fire. “Sounds like you, have the croup or flu.”

After the fire was blazing, he helped Joe upstairs and lit the fire in his bedroom.

He tucked the exhausted boy into the bed after helping him into his night shirt. “Do you have a headache?”

Joe nodded.

“And your stomach hurts?”

Joe agreed again.

Adam got up and went out into the hall. After a minute or two he came back with a bottle. Joe’s eyes grew big and round. “Not Hop Sing’s nasty herb stuff!” he managed to croak.

Adam shrugged, “It always helps.”

Joe made a slight growling noise, but Adam still administered the herb tonic. He then left his brother to sleep.

Adam sat down in the great room. He picked up his book of Shakespeare, but his thoughts moved to Joe. The boy seemed pretty sick but he couldn’t go and get Doc Martin. He knew that Doc Martin was up in the mountains taking care of a sick family. Their little boy of about 7 years old had come all the way down to Virginia City to find help. Of course the kind doctor had returned with the boy and was treating the family. Adam frowned as he tried to concentrate on his book. He heard Joe getting up for a drink. Then everything became quiet again. After stoking the fire, he went up to check on Joe. The young boy was sitting up in his bed looking through a big book.

Adam sat down on the side and felt Joe’s head. “Do you feel better Joe?” Joe nodded and rubbed his sleeve across his runny nose.

“Don’t do that! That will spread the germs.” Adam wiped Joe’s sleeve, then patted the boy’s leg. “Now you get some sleep, ok? You look like you really need it.”

Joe nodded and slid down into the depths of his bed. “Night Adam.

Please don’t leave me up here all alone!”

Adam smiled, “Ok, I’ll get my book and be right up.” After Adam had vanished from the room, Joe stretched and smiled. Adam hadn’t been this nice since he had come back from college, which had been quite a few years ago. The young boy drifted off to sleep before his brother came back up.

It was several hours later and Adam was dozing when Joe’s yelling woke him up. Adam bolted up and grabbed Joe’s flaying arms. “Joe, Joe, wake up.”

Joe didn’t wake up, but his fevered body relaxed against the cool covers. Adam tucked him in and hurried down to the kitchen for cool water and a cloth. He went back up to Joe’s darkened room. After lighting the lamp, he bathed his brother’s body until it cooled down a little. The young man finally sank down on the chair and wiped his head. Joe had always had a bad cold or the flu every winter and just seemed to attract illnesses.

He was pulled out of his dream world to Joe’s hacking cough. “Joe, wake up little brother.”

He supported Joe’s head and helped him drink the cool water.
Finally the boy went limp again, but a second later his eyes flew open. “Adam, I’m going to…” Adam grabbed the wash bowl just in time and held it under Joe’s chin.

“Joe, I’m going to get one of the hands to go into town to see if the doc is back yet. Ok?”

Joe just nodded and wiped the tears out of his eyes, “Am I going to die Adam?”

Adam looked surprised and came back over to the bed. Sitting down, he brushed Joe’s hair out of his face, “Of course not Joseph. You just have a bad cold. I’ll bet you will be up and as good as new in a couple days.”

Adam smiled then left. He donned his heavy coat and went outside into the dark night. It was well under freezing, so he hurried across to the bunk house. As soon as he entered the smoky interior, he felt at home.

All the ranch hands greeted him heartily. “Heya Mr. Cartwright.”

Adam dimpled, “Adam.”

They all laughed then invited him to join their card game. “I’m sorry but I can’t right now. Will one of you’ll ride into town to see if Doc Martin is back?”

Shorty looked up, “What’s wrong Mr. Cart- uh, Adam?”

“Oh, Joe just came down with another cold and I wanted Doc Martin to make sure it isn’t pneumonia or the flu.”

Mike jumped up, “I’ll go Mr. – Adam. I was going to ask if I could go anyways because I wanted to pick up something I have ordered.”

Adam replied, “Thank you Mike. And if Doc Martin isn’t there, can you get some medicine? Mrs. Martin will know what Joe needs. And thank you again!”

The young cowhand nodded and followed Adam out. Meanwhile the rest of the group went back to their cards and cigars.

Adam slowly walked back across the yard and into the cold house. After checking on Joe, he stirred the fire up again and went into the kitchen to eat something. As he demolished the food that Hop Sing had left already prepared, his thoughts wandered to different subjects. He was shaken out of his thoughts by Joe’s coughing. Slowly looking up he saw his little brother standing in the doorway only clad in his nightclothes.

“Joe! You need to get back to bed this instant.”

“But Adam, I was hungry.”

Right then a racking coughing fit made him bend over. Adam just scooped the trembling boy up and carried him up the stairs.
After tucking Joe in, he smiled, “I’ll bring you something up if you will stay here.”

Joe just nodded and shut his green eyes. A little while later, Adam came into the room with a tray of chicken soup and tea.

Joe sat straight up. “Adam, I’m no invalid. Why do I have to eat like one?”

His brother looked up surprised, “Because you wouldn’t be able to keep down anything else.”

Joe’s lip quivered, but he took the tray. All of a sudden a knock sounded on the door downstairs.

Adam stood up, “I’ll bet that is Mike.”

Joe looked at Adam, “Why would Mike be here?”

“Because I asked him to go and get you some medicine if the Doc still wasn’t in town. Now finish eating.”

The young man left the room.

Mike stood on the outside off the door stomping his feet to keep warm. Finally Adam opened the door.

“Come on in Mike.”

Mike grinned, “Thank ya Adam.”

He stepped into the warm sanctuary of the ranch house. “Here is Joe’s medicine. I’m sorry but the doc wasn’t back yet. He’s due in tomorrow morning and the Mrs. said she would send him right over.”

Adam chuckled, “Thanks Mike. That sounds just like Mrs. Martin.”

Mike nodded, “And while I was at the store, Mr. Jacks sent this back with me.”

Adam took the bundle. “Thanks again Mike. For both the book and the medicine.”

He waved and went back up the stairs as Mike let himself out.

It was several hours later when Joe became vaguely aware of Adam’s soothing voice. Joe smiled. His brother was reading Shakespeare again. He opened his eyes and listened to Adam read from Romeo and Juliet.

“And then Romeo said: ‘Farewell, Farewell. One kiss and I’ll descend.’

Juliet replied: ‘Art thou gone so, love-lord, ay husband-friend?

I must hear from thee every day in the hour,

For in a minute there are many days

Ere I again behold my Romeo!’

Romeo replied: ‘Farewell!

I will omit no opportunity

That may convey my greetings, love, to thee.’

Juliet replies: ‘O thinkest thou we shall ever meet again?’

Romeo: ‘I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve

For sweet discourses in our times to come.’

Juliet: ‘O God, I have an ill-divining soul!

Methinks I shall see the, now thou art so low,

As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.

Either my eyesight fails, or thou lookest pale.’

Romeo: ‘And trust me, love, in my eyes so do you.

Dry sorrow drinks our blood. Adieu, adieu!’”

Adam looked up at that moment to meet Joe’s eyes.

Joe grinned, “Hey Adam, I like that. Read some more.” His brother nodded and continued.

“Then that scene exited and Juliet says,

‘O fortune, Fortune! All men call thee fickle.

If thou art fickle, what dost thou with him

That is renowned for faith? Be fickle, fortune,

For then I hope thou wilt not keep him long

But send him back.’”

“Hmmm, Nice, but I don’t think I like Shakespeare as much as you do Adam.”

Adam grinned, “No I don’t think you do.”

Reaching over, he touched Joe’s head. “You are still warm. I want you to take some more medicine and go to sleep ok?”

Joe pouted and buried his face in the blanket.

Adam gently pulled the blanket away from Joe. “Joseph.”

The sullen boy finally rolled back over and opened his mouth. Adam gave him the bitter medicine and left his brother to sleep.

It was in the middle of the night when Adam was woken up by Joe’s frantic screams again. He rushed down the hallway and into Joe’s room. The boy was thrashing around, trying to escape his fevered dreams. When Adam shook him awake, he still couldn’t escape the heat that was threatening to consume him.

“I want Pa,” the boy yelled deliriously.

Tears appeared on Adam’s face as he held his brother. He finally put the boy down and bathed him again and again as his prayers rushed upwards. The good Lord heard the prayers of the desperate brother, and the fever broke. The morning found the brothers sleeping side by side. The oldest with his arm draped over the youngest, as Joe was snuggled up against Adam.

As the sun popped over the horizon, a banging on the door woke Adam. He sat up and rubbed his face. All sudden he realized the fact that someone was coming into the house. He bolted out of the
bed and met the kind Doctor Martin in the hallway.

“You scared me! I though we were going to have a robbery.” Adam grinned and shook hands with Paul.

Paul smiled, “How is the young patient?”

“Last night I though I was going to loose him, but I prayed as hard as I know how, and then the fever broke.”

The doc nodded, “Fevers can be scary. Now you go get something to eat and get some rest while I check on Joe.”

Adam finally agreed and went downstairs as Dr Martin entered the sick room. Joe was waking up when he heard voices in the hall, so he had a big smile for the doctor when he came in.

“Hello, Joe. I heard that you were pretty sick last night.”

Joe grinned, “Ha ha, funny. I don’t remember much except being really hot and Adam hugging me until I almost suffocated.”

“Yes, Adam was extremely worried about you last night, young man. Now, after I check you out, you are to have a lot of rest. Is that clear?”

The boy agreed after the doctor had threatened him. Finally Paul bid Joe goodbye and left. He found Adam roaming around the great room waiting for him.

“How is he Paul?”

“He is a lot better Adam. He just has a touch of the flu. As long as he keeps eating good food, keeps warm, and stays in bed, he should be up in a few days.”

Adam bid the doctor goodbye and thanked him. That evening, after checking on Joe, who was asleep, he made his way out to the bunk
house. He wasn’t accustomed to playing cards, but he did so once in a while.

All eight of the hands looked up when Adam Cartwright entered.

“Hi Adam. I hope Joe is better,” Mike said.

The other hands greeted him too.

“Yes, Joe is a lot better.” Adam grinned, “Can I join you all?”

“Sure!”

The group played for a while in the warm bunk house. Meanwhile Joe sat pouting in his bed. Why did Adam go off to play card with the hands and leave him here? Finally the headstrong boy decided that he was going to join them. Joseph pounded down the stairs. After bundling up, he went outside and headed for the bunk house. “Adam will let me stay with them because it is warm,” the boy reasoned. As soon as Joe entered the smoky room, he began to cough. Adam disagreed with his reasoning and took him back to the house by his ear, and a swat on the backside.

At the doorway of the ranch house, Joe came to a sudden stop. “Hey Adam, isn’t Christmas next week?”

Adam pulled Joe out of the chilly wind, “Yes, Joe, but if you don’t be careful, you will be frozen into an ice cube by then.”

Joe frowned, “I’ll go back to bed if you will tell me a Christmas story.”
“Ok, Joe, you go on up, and I’ll be in there in a minute.”

As the boy ran up the stairs, Adam bolted the door and then stirred the fire. Finally he followed his brother to his room.

Sitting down on Joe’s bed, he asked, “Which story do you want me to tell you?”

Joe smiled, “How about the one from the bible?”

“Ok, but let get my bible, I have to admit that I don’t have the whole story memorized.”

Adam got up and returned with his worn bible.

And he read: “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria .So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child .While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a Saviour has been born for you, who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”
So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Joe smiled up at Adam, “Pa, Hoss, and Hop Sing ARE going to be home for Christmas aren’t they?”

Adam nodded, “Of course they are. Tomorrow when I go into Virginia City, I will telegraph them and make sure everything is ok.”

Joe nodded in agreement.

“Now you go to sleep Joe. If I remember right, Doc said you were supposed to stay a few days in bed and you have already gotten out about 5 times. Now shut your eyes and try to rest.”

Joe agreed with, “If you will sing me a Christmas song!!”

Adam finally agreed, and sang to the dozing boy.

“Away in a manger,

No crib for His bed,

The little Lord Jesus

Lay down his sweet head.

The stars in the sky

Looked down where He lay,

The little Lord Jesus,

Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing,

The poor Baby wakes,

But little Lord Jesus,

No crying He makes;

I love Thee, Lord Jesus,

Look down from the sky

And stay by my cradle

Till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,

I ask Thee to stay,

Close by me forever

And love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children

In thy tender care

And take us to heaven,

To live with Thee there.

The next day came as a sunny and warm one. Adam woke Joe up early and told him he was going into town, and if he needed anything, to go downstairs.

“Who would be down there, Adam?”

Adam turned as he left, “Oh, Sam sprained his ankle yesterday and
can’t work too much.So I asked him to stay around here in case you need him.”

Joe nodded and sleepily slid back into the protection of the covers. The boy was asleep by the time his brother had ridden out of the yard. It was an hour before the frozen Adam arrived in Virginia City. He stopped by the store, then Doc Martin’s place, and finally the telegraph office.

“Hello Mr. Lee, may I send a telegram to San Francisco?”

Mr. Lee gave a big smile, “Sure Adam, but you have one from there too.”

Adam took the telegram from the big man. It read: “Adam. Stop. We cannot come home. Stop. Too much snow. Will try to make it for Christmas. Stop. Pa.”

He slowly looked up. “Bother. This news will probably drive Joe to his bed again.”

Mr. Lee tipped his head to the side, “Is there something wrong Adam?”
“Well, Pa said they might not get home in time for Christmas.”

Mr. Lee sadly shook his head as the young man dejectedly left his office.

Adam stopped by to see Roy Coffee, his old friend and the sheriff of Virginia City.

The man greeted Adam, “Hello Adam, is there something I could do for you today?”

Adam just mumbled, “Somehow get my family home before Christmas.”

“How’s that?”

“I just got a telegram saying that Pa, Hoss, and Hop Sing might not be home for Christmas.”

“I’m sorry Adam. If another message comes through for you, I’ll send it straight to the Ponderosa.”

Adam finally left and rode home to tell his brother the grim news.
The young man did not know how he was going to break the news to Joe, but he knew he had to. Entering the house, he found a note on the table. “We r in my room.” Adam smiled at Joe’s atrocious spelling and then walked upstairs. He knocked on Joe’s door and entered. Both young men looked up from where Sam was showing Joe how to play Solitaire. Joe was wrapped up with at least three blankets, and offered his brother a smile.

“Hey Adam, any news from Pa?”

Adam sighed, “I hate to tell you this, but Pa said that they may not be able to make it home in time for Christmas. He said that there was just too much snow for it. I’m sorry Joe.”

Joe was looking down and just nodded. Adam went over and sat down beside him. “Maybe the snow will clear up. But anyways, you need to get back to bed because you look peaked.” Joe finally agreed. Sam took his game back to bunk house after goodbyes.

It was a few days later when Adam let Joe out of his bed. The boy had had a relapse for awhile and Doc Martin had come out again and sorted him out. When the doctor came, he brought with him a message from Ben. “Adam. Stop. We will be home on Christmas Eve. Stop. Tell Joe hi. Stop. Pa.” Joe had been overjoyed at the news and demanded to start decorating the house. Adam had the hardest time keeping his brother in bed, but he managed it. Finally about 2 days later Joe bounded out of bed, full of energy and singing “The First Noel.” Adam just smiled and followed Joe downstairs. After a little breakfast, Adam went out to the barn to get the Christmas decorations.

He came in smiling, “Joe, look out the window.”

The boy ran over and looked out one of the windows. “IT IS SNOWING! Can I PLEASE go out?” He wheedled.

Adam shook his head. “Not right now, but later when we go to get the tree.”

Joe nodded. “I’m so glad that Pa, n’, Hoss, n,’ Hop Sing will be home tomorrow. Shouldn’t we wait until they get home before we decorate the tree?”

“No Joe, they will be home really late, so we need to go ahead and get it so it can be decorated.”

Joe finally agreed and started to sort out all the Christmas decorations. The two brothers sat sorting among the beads, baubles, and other things until they were ready to get the tree. Adam helped Joe wrap up well and they went in search of the “perfect tree.” Finally they found it sitting alone in an opening in the woods. Adam and a couple of the ranch hands cut it down and they dragged it back to the house. It was put in place and left for the next day.

Christmas evening came and the whole family: Ben, Adam, Hoss, Joe, and Hop Sing were all together again. Christmas was a very beautiful one. The house and the tree were decorated beautifully, thanks to Joe and Adam. Their spirits were joyful and there was a great festivity going on, when…, there was a noise from outside. Ben, Adam, and Hoss gave each other a knowing smile when they recognized the bells. Joe looked up in pure shock when Santa Clause walked in through the door. Little did he know that it was Mr. Lee. Joe did figure it out but everybody still had a great time.

Surrounded by a cold, white, world sat the Ponderosa Ranch house. Inside the Christmas spirit warmed the bodies and souls of the people there, joyously celebrating the birth of a tiny baby hundreds of years before. Outside the chilly wind drifted through the Ponderosa pines while the frosty white sun slipped towards the horizontal. The family was together once more.