The morning light poured in his bedroom window, the reflection off the brilliant snow waking Ben Cartwright with its intense glare. In that moment between being asleep and awake, he struggled to remember what was so important about this morning. And then he was in motion, swinging his legs off the bed and quickly pulling on clean shirt and pants.

Christmas morning. Long awaited and anxiously prepared for. A time for renewal and rebirth, it promised to be a special day, much like all the other Christmases Ben had shared with his boys on the Ponderosa. But that was before. The traditional plan had been shaken, the celebration of holiday only a dim memory in light of the events the past twenty-four hours.

Stomping first one foot then the other into his boots, Ben pushed himself from the warmth of his bed, mentally chiding himself for falling asleep. A few minutes of rest was all he’d wanted when he laid down several hours earlier. Thoughts of his sons and memories of past Christmases had finally overcome the worry, and Ben realized he’d succumbed to the sleep he’d avoided.

Stepping to his window, Ben surveyed the winter wonderland below. Any other Christmas he’d have been thrilled with the sight of sun on snow, a truly beautiful scene, but this morning all he could think about was finding his sons.

Adam, Hoss and Joe. The three of them were his world. Nothing else compared to the feeling of being a father, sharing his life and holdings with his boys. It wasn’t about generosity as much as the simple truth that whatever belonged to him belonged to them. They were a family. It was an appropriate sentiment for this particular holiday, and one Ben usually spent a little time reveling in. Today he brushed the thoughts aside, instead sending up a quick prayer that he’d be able to find his sons alive.

Slipping into his vest, Ben took one more look around the yard below, then turned away. The long hours of worrying last night hit him full force as he realized that the waiting was now over. No longer forced to sit through the darkness, listening to the storm that had blown in while the boys were checking on the herd, he was free to start the search.

Quick steps took him to the door then down the hall. Knotting a kerchief around his neck as he went, Ben mentally did a quick check of what he needed to do before heading out. There were horses to saddle, saddlebags to check, the supplies already set out by HopSing the night before. If all went well, he could be on the trail within the half hour, but even that seemed too long to the worried father.

Rounding the corner, Ben had taken two steps down the stairs before he realized what he was seeing before him. The tree was just as it had been last night, its evergreen boughs filling the air with their pungent odor, each limb decorated with small candles and red ribbons. It was the view beyond the holiday décor that stopped him short, his hand grasping the railing as he steadied himself. It took a moment, maybe two before Ben fully accepted that what he was seeing was real.

The blue chair held his oldest son, Adam’s dark head leaning against the side as he slumbered. Across the room, stretched out in the red leather chair was Hoss, stocking feet resting on the hearth before the fire. And curled up on the settee under a heavy blanket, was Little Joe. The three, though obviously tired and probably still cold, were home, safe and sound.

Cherishing the moment, Ben gave thanks for the most precious gift he’d be receiving this Christmas. A special blessing. His sons.

And then the moment was gone.

“Pa.”
“Merry Christmas!”
“We’re home, Pa!”

Hurrying down the stairs, Ben heard three accounts of the previous day as his sons struggled to tell their version of being caught in the storm. Of the long hours fighting wind and snow. How they arrived so late that they didn’t have the heart to wake him, but decided to wait downstairs for him to wake on Christmas morning.

Ben loved every minute of the chaos as raucous greetings and cheerful laughter filled the air. He stepped forward as a feeling of relief flowed over him, grateful prayers filling his mind. And his heart swelled with love and pride as he stretched out his arms to touch his family.

“Merry Christmas, boys, Merry Christmas!”

The End!