Summary: This is a sequel to “I Was Hot” and is Marie’s response to her toddler son’s interruption of what had been planned as her grand party. However, a suggestion that she take the story and own it becomes her plan and this is the story of her execution of that plan.
Rating: PG  Word count: 1747

Hot series:

“I Was Hot” (by BettyHT)
She Was Hot (by BettyHT)

She Was Hot

            On a Tuesday during the worst of a Sierra Nevada skin-searing lip-blistering heat wave, two-and-a-half-year-old Joseph Cartwright startled Marie Cartwright’s gala guests by appearing at the top of the stairs wearing only his shirt. Appalled, the ladies had hastily retreated to their carriages without proper gratitude to their hostess for her gracious gift and refreshments lovingly prepared. Worried about the stories those women might be telling, Marie got some advice from an unlikely source, her eldest stepson. Adam suggested Marie go to town and tell the story in her own special way, making it her own and controlling the narrative. Warming to the idea, she thought about how she could tell the story with a strategy for her delivery and the possibility she might succeed.

On Thursday, Marie announced she was ready to go to town. Ben got the wagon ready and got the list from Hop Sing to add to Marie’s list. After the long ride to town, he stopped at the newly opened general store and helped Marie from the wagon. She said nothing but nodded and went in to greet the store owner who, within a minute, made reference to her party.

“Quite the scene at your home a few days ago. I’m sorry to hear that. I hope it wasn’t too disappointing to you.”

“Oh, it was terribly disappointing. You see, when I came here, I had heard stories of how brave and hardy the women here in the western regions were. There were so many who talked about how they had stood against so many dangers. I was amazed then to see such weakness displayed.”

“Huh?”

“Well, my little son, and you all know that my Joseph is a small boy and has yet to grow strong and tall like his brothers though we know he will one day. Well, he is only a wee little boy of less than three, and hasn’t learned all his social manners yet. It has been beastly hot as we have all suffered so terribly from. In fact, my poor roses have been wilting so much I can barely smell the fragrance, and I do miss that so much.”

“Uh, Missus Cartwright, about the party?”

“Oh, yes, the gala. Yes, well, little Joseph was napping, but he got so hot is was like a terrible fever to him. You know what men do when they have a fever. They begin to throw off their bedding and their clothing to try to cool their poor bodies down. Oh, my, I shouldn’t be talking so boldly, should I?”

“It’s all right. I would just like to hear the rest of the story.”

“Oh, yes, you want to know about the gala and what happened. Well, I look back now and all I can do is chuckle at the whole scene. It was so funny. My little boy appeared at the top of the stairs in only his shirt. I inquired quite logically of course why he wasn’t wearing the rest of his clothing. In the best imitation of his father’s voice, he declared. ‘I was hot!’ Well, I thought that was the most darling and funny thing I had heard in some time. We chuckled again and again about it that evening. The whole family thought it quite hilarious although I did admonish my little one that it is impolite to appear in front of guests that way. In the future, he is to stay in his room unless fully clothed. I’m sure he understands now, although at his age, one can never be sure.”

“But, the ah, gala, Missus Cartwright, what happened with the gala?”

“Oh, yes, well my, that was perhaps the most hilarious part. One little child without his pants and a whole roomful of ladies ran off like an Indian war was looming. One would think their very lives were in danger by the distress they claimed and the speed at which they retreated. The swish of skirts was nearly deafening as they went at full speed to the yard demanding their carriages to dash away as if little Joseph was somehow going to chase them down and destroy them with the sight of him. The redness of their faces was greater by far than it had been when they arrived in the heat of the day. One would think they had never seen that part of a small boy. I am glad they did not hurt each other by crashing into one another in their rush to get out the door. It is a wide door, but a dozen ladies trying to leave at once was a bit too much even for that generous opening, and then the race to get the carriages on the road was another near catastrophe. I’m so pleased no one was hurt in the escape from the terrible danger they all felt they were in.”

A couple of ladies had silently slid out the door during the telling of the story unwilling to take the ridicule they were sure was coming their way if they stayed. The laughter they heard as they hurried away only reinforced the idea that running away was the best solution for the moment. They knew they should never have been telling the story in town. No one could match Marie Cartwright’s ability to spin a tale. They regretted telling the stories meant to humiliate her. They were paying the price for that.

Two of the men who had been in the store sauntered over to the saloon expecting to find Ben Cartwright having the one drink he usually had when he brought his wife to town to buy supplies. They found him leaning on the rough-hewn bar conversing with a few men who owned land in the area. They were discussing prospects for selling timber to towns if any developed here as they had in California and to the railroad if it ever ventured this far west.

“Hey, Ben, heard about your little Joseph and him showing his wee thing to the ladies.”

“Can’t be such a wee thing if he scared a roomful of ladies with it.”

There was an outbreak of laughter at that.

“Yeah, that’s pretty much the story your wife told. I guess the boy’s gonna have to grow into it then. Teach him to keep his pants on though, would you?”

“Of course.”

“Damn good story your wife told over in the store. It’s a heck of a lot funnier than what my wife told me when she got home. Don’t know if I got the guts to repeat this new version, but I know I will at some point. It’s too damn funny to keep to myself. I can just see my wife turning tail and running away because a little ankle biter left his pants in his room.”

Ben smiled in satisfaction knowing there likely wouldn’t be any ladies telling any more stories about the gala. They would probably be quiet about it hoping the whole story would die a quick death. They would be extra nice to Marie too and they would say nice things about her and her parties because they now understood how well she could use her words to skewer anyone who crossed her when her temper was hot. And Ben remembered too who gave her the idea. He was developing a new respect for Adam and his abilities. As Ben loaded the supplies, he noted how satisfied Marie looked sitting on the bench seat. When he climbed up beside her, he had to ask.

“Mission accomplished?”

“Oh, yes, and I enjoyed it. I thought I would be embarrassed, but it was actually fun. And you? Did it work as you suspected?”

“Yes. I think any ladies who were there will be very reluctant to say anything negative. In fact, there may be some apologies. Most husbands don’t like wives who make trouble. They want peace.”

When the couple arrived at the ranch, it was dusk. Marie and Ben had spent so much time in controlling the narrative that they had allowed too little time for their purpose in town. They wasn’t enough time for the practical tasks they needed to get done in town. Even so, they were late and getting later by the minute until they finally arrived home which was a great relief to their sons especially the eldest. It didn’t matter to Marie who acted with distinct pleasure when she stepped down from the wagon and hugged her eldest son.

“Why did I get a hug and a kiss?”

“Because you are smart and you are clever.”

Although he was embarrassed, Adam was still profoundly grateful for the praise. It was the kind of thing he craved, To have Marie say the words and his father nod in agreement was gold and silver. He blushed a little but still wondered at what had happened and could it really have been as successful as his parents seemed to think. The answer came in only a couple of days.

On Sunday, Ben and Marie packed up the children and headed to town to attend church services. There, many indeed offered apologies for having left the party so abruptly and gave invitations to tea and other events.

“Marie, I’m so sorry to have left your wonderful party in such haste. I was such a fool to get caught up in the flurry of others. I should have stayed.”

“Yes, Marie, you were so generous and gracious. I apologize for my actions that day and hope you can forgive me.”

“Marie, words cannot express my shame at what we ladies did over your gorgeous child’s little indiscretion. We are ashamed at our actions and hope that you would be gracious enough to forgive us.”

Marie had become the most popular guest for any lady in town to have at her home. She accepted some of the invitations but had to decline many because of the volume. She did reward those who gave the most sincere and heartfelt apologies for their actions. All the way home, she was smiling. When Marie was smiling, the whole family was smiling. Indeed they were. Little Joe did ask why they were all smiling. Adam told him it was because of him. It was the best answer Little Joe could imagine so his smile was as wide as anyone’s even his mother’s. No one was bothered by the heat at least for a short time.