Summary: An intruder takes advantage of an innocent little boy in order to rob the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n
Rated K+<\/p>\n
WC=2328<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Santa’s Helpers<\/strong><\/p>\n The man carefully removed the flower pots and set them on the porch table before easing the window open.\u00a0 He reached through, fingertips searching out obstacles; not finding anything on the shelf or tabletop that might crash to the floor and awaken anyone, he wormed his way inside.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0As he reached back through the window for the lantern he\u2019d left outside, a cold gust of wind stirred his long beard.\u00a0 Turning up the flame within the lantern, he cast enough light to see what lurked in the shadows.<\/p>\n He startled at a pop from the fireplace and willed his heart to slow its frenzied beating.\u00a0 The glowing embers cast a cheery warmth, but he couldn\u2019t spare the time for the luxury of basking in the inviting heat.<\/p>\n Two coiled holsters with pistols lay on the credenza and a long rifle rack near the staircase held at least a dozen guns.\u00a0 He made a quick calculation of the money he could pull in.\u00a0 Men \u2013 white or red \u2013 weren\u2019t choosy about where they got guns, as long as the price was right. \u00a0And they weren\u2019t picky about who they killed; he\u2019d learned that when he\u2019d buried the bullet-riddled bodies of his Indian wife and children.\u00a0 Easy money was all that mattered to him now.\u00a0 With enough of it he could drink away memories of his family.<\/p>\n Getting down to business, he pulled an empty sack from inside of his coat and walked over to the credenza.\u00a0 He was placing a holster inside when he swatted at a sting against the back of his neck. He spun around, pistol drawn.\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s there?\u201d<\/p>\n Bare feet slapped against the staircase and a little boy, slingshot held at the ready, emerged into the pool of light.\u00a0 The man snorted and muttered under his breath as he holstered his gun.\u00a0 He snatched the slingshot out of the boy\u2019s hand and stuck it in his coat pocket before returning his attention to the credenza. Opening a drawer, he fished out several boxes of ammunition, dropping them into his sack.<\/p>\n Little Joe Cartwright looked the man over, head to toe, and his eyes widened in surprise\u2014I shot Santa<\/em>!\u00a0 The man wasn\u2019t dressed in red, but he had a fluffy white beard.\u00a0 I hope Santa don\u2019t move my name to the naughty list<\/em>.<\/p>\n A tug on his sleeve drew the man\u2019s attention.\u00a0 \u201cWhaddya want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s milk and cookies on the table.\u00a0 You want \u2018em?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u00a0 Go back to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy you got on a holster?\u201d asked Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cIn case of bears.\u00a0 Shouldn\u2019t you be asleep?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe noisily sniffed Santa\u2019s coat.\u00a0 \u201cHow come you smell like cows?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLeave me alone, kid.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s your red coat and red hat?\u201d<\/p>\n The man tugged down the brim of his brown hat. \u201cThe other coat got dirty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of the cows?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo away.\u201d\u00a0 He waved a hand for emphasis.<\/p>\n \u201cWere you givin\u2019 the hands presents?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Now go back upstairs and get in your bed.\u201d<\/p>\n The man jiggled the drawer until it slid back into place.\u00a0 Shoving the boy aside, he strode around the Christmas tree to the rifle rack.\u00a0 A chain slithered along the length of the rack, securely holding the guns.\u00a0 The man tested the chain with a jerk of his hand and he flinched as metal clinked against metal.\u00a0 A hissed, \u201cSshhhh,\u201d escaped his lips.<\/p>\n Noting a lock holding the chain secure, he whispered over his shoulder, \u201cKnow where the key is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope,\u201d came the answer from elbow height.<\/p>\n He scowled down at the boy and stepped around him.\u00a0 Turning his attention to the tree, he plucked a gold ornament off and inspected it as he held the lantern aloft.<\/p>\n \u201cThis real?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe nodded as it was obvious to him all<\/em> of the ornaments were real.<\/p>\n The man dropped it into his sack.\u00a0 Glass ornaments on the tree clinked together as he removed the gold ones.<\/p>\n Looking downward, he inspected the packages under the tree.\u00a0 All were wrapped in colorful paper secured with ribbons and bows.<\/p>\n Opening the sack wide, he said, \u201cPut those presents in here.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe looked from Santa\u2019s face to the presents and then back to Santa\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cDid you bring us the wrong ones?\u201d he asked in a confused voice.<\/p>\n \u201cWrong what?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe chewed his lower lip for a brief second.\u00a0 \u201cDid you give someone else our presents?\u201d<\/p>\n A sneaky expression crossed the man\u2019s face and his eyes glittered with avarice.\u00a0 \u201cYou know, that\u2019s exactly what I did.\u00a0 I confused your place with someone else\u2019s.\u00a0 Put those presents in here so I can make the swap.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can give the comb Pa made me ask for to someone else,\u201d Little Joe said as he crawled around the base of the tree on his hands and knees, plucking up the wrapped packages and dropping them into the sack.\u00a0 \u201cYou sure brought a lot!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re for a family with a passel of kids.\u00a0 Hurry up.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the presents landed heavily at the bottom of the sack with a loud thud.\u00a0 The man froze and cocked an ear, listening for the sounds of adults stirring from their beds.\u00a0 Satisfied that no one had been disturbed, he looked down at his little helper.\u00a0 \u201cKeep the noise down, kid.\u201d<\/p>\n With a grunt, the man lifted the sack and hoisted it over his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cPick up the lantern.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe did as told and accompanied Santa over to the alcove where Pa\u2019s desk and books were situated.\u00a0 He set the lantern down where Santa pointed.<\/p>\n The man tried to set the heavy sack down without making any noise but the contents shifted and a couple of the heavier packages banged against the desk.\u00a0 He grimaced and prepared to make a run for it.\u00a0\u00a0 As minutes passed without noise from upstairs, he relaxed.\u00a0 Blowing out a sigh of relief, he was unprepared for the noise of the clock ringing out twelve bells.<\/p>\n Little Joe giggled as Santa jumped in fright.<\/p>\n \u201cHush!\u201d<\/p>\n He leaned against the desk, palms supporting his weight, and he looked over the three pictures in shiny gold frames.\u00a0 \u00a0\u201cIs your pa one of those polygamists?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTake that back!\u201d said Little Joe as he punched Santa as hard as he could in the kidney.<\/p>\n The man grunted and clamped a hand over the little boy\u2019s mouth; he then raised a finger to his own lips.\u00a0 Little Joe nodded, so the man removed his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cMy pa ain\u2019t a pogamiss!\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe stretched his arm forward and pointed at each picture.\u00a0 \u201cThat one\u2019s Adam\u2019s and that one\u2019s Hoss\u2019s.\u00a0 They died before I was borned.\u201d\u00a0 With pride, he pointed and said, \u201cThis one\u2019s mine.\u201d\u00a0 His voice choked. \u201cShe went to Heaven to live with the angels.\u201d\u00a0 He looked up at Santa and asked, \u201cDo angels really watch over us and sing us to sleep?\u00a0 Adam says they do.\u201d<\/p>\n The man\u2019s eyebrows drew together for a moment, and then he said, \u201cI don\u2019t think they do much of anything.\u201d\u00a0 He looked down at the boy and noted the hangdog look.\u00a0 \u201cWell, maybe they do sing every now and then.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s smile beamed brighter than the lantern.<\/p>\n Figuring the frames might be worth a couple of dollars, the man decided he\u2019d collect the pictures on the way out; otherwise his little helper might alert the entire house.\u00a0 He picked up the lantern and moved over to the safe.\u00a0 Squatting down in a puddle of light he looked at the latch and gave it an experimental tug.\u00a0 His eyes narrowed in disappointment.<\/p>\n \u201cI know the numbers,\u201d said Little Joe as he dropped to his knees beside Santa.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t sneak up on me like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t sneak.\u00a0 But I know the numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n Figuring this was his lucky break, he made room for his helper. \u201cShow me.\u201d<\/p>\n The tip of Little Joe\u2019s tongue peeked out from the corner of his mouth.\u00a0 He slid the tip of his finger over the numbers above the dial and began.\u00a0 \u201cOne.\u00a0 Two.\u00a0 Three.\u00a0 Four.\u00a0 Fi . . . .\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you knew the numbers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do.\u00a0 But you didn\u2019t let me finish.\u00a0 Six, sev . . . .\u201d<\/p>\n The man wiped a hand over his face and sighed. \u201cDo you know the numbers that make it open?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cOnly Pa and Adam know those.\u00a0 Pa said me an\u2019 Hoss are too babblemouth to trust with \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmph.\u201d\u00a0 He picked up ledgers and shook them, disappointed that only receipts fell out.<\/p>\n \u201cYour pa keep any money around?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got money!\u201d said Little Joe.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s mostly for candy.\u201d<\/p>\n The man snorted. \u201cYour piggy bank ain\u2019t worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n A cold gust of air blew through the open window and Little Joe shivered.\u00a0 He looked over to the fireplace and then at the window, a confused look on his face.\u00a0 \u201cDidn\u2019t you come down the chimney?\u201d<\/p>\n Continuing to look through the contents of a drawer, the man said, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you always come down the chimney.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy lumbago is acting up something powerful.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t climb up on the roof.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s eyes narrowed in suspicion and he nervously licked his lips.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t gotta climb.\u00a0 You just land your sleigh up there.\u201d<\/p>\n His mood darkened with frustration. \u201cYou can\u2019t believe all the stories.\u201d<\/p>\n The man shut the drawer with more force than he\u2019d intended, knocking over the pictures, the frames clattering against the desk.\u00a0 \u00a0He yelped at a sharp tug on his beard.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is<\/em> real.\u201d\u00a0 Fear and awe mingled within Little Joe\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cBut you\u2019re supposed to make people happy, not steal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLeave me alone, brat.\u00a0 You don\u2019t know nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Dropping one of the pictures into the sack, he was reaching for another when he froze at the click of a pistol\u2019s hammer locking into place.<\/p>\n Ben Cartwright stood at the corner of the settee, the gun steady in his hand, the steely look on his face promising to deliver fire and brimstone to the intruder in his house.\u00a0 \u201cCome here, Joseph,\u201d he said in a low growl he hoped sounded steadier than his pounding heart.<\/p>\n Behind the boy\u2019s father stood a larger boy brandishing the poker like a sword.\u00a0 A second boy stood with hands curled into fists.<\/p>\n The man pulled Little Joe in front of him as he nestled the muzzle of his own gun within the soft curls.<\/p>\n \u201cSanta?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s voice a frightened squeak.<\/p>\n \u201cYou drop that gun and kick it over here real gentle-like,\u201d said the man as casual as if he were ordering flapjacks at the International House.<\/p>\n A blast of cold wind swirled into the room, raising pimply gooseflesh on Little Joe\u2019s shivering body.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right, Joseph,\u201d Ben said as he complied with the intruder\u2019s order, nudging the gun away with the toe of his slipper. \u00a0He took a step back, hands raised in the air.\u00a0 Hoss lowered the poker.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll set your boy loose a short ways from here.\u201d\u00a0 The man took a step back.\u00a0 As he turned, the entire room lit up and stars danced behind his eyes as darkness settled in like a thick blanket.\u00a0 He collapsed to the floor in a heap, partially atop Little Joe.<\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded in satisfaction and lowered the skillet.\u00a0 \u201cYou not steal from honorable family.\u201d\u00a0 He turned up the lantern\u2019s flame to illuminate the room.<\/p>\n Little Joe wormed his way out from under the man and ran to his father.\u00a0 Ben lifted his son into a strong embrace, clasping his son tightly against his chest.<\/p>\n Hoss nudged the unconscious man with the poker while Adam looked over the contents within the sack.<\/p>\n Tears glittered in Little Joe\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cHe was stealing and I helped.\u201d\u00a0 He sniffled, running a hand underneath his nose.\u00a0 \u201cThe real<\/em> Santa\u2019s just gonna bring me coal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTake him out to the barn, boys,\u201d Ben said, pointing at the intruder.\u00a0 \u201cTie him up and we\u2019ll haul him to the sheriff tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0 With a devilish gleam in his eyes, he said, \u201cWe\u2019ll make a Christmas present of him, won\u2019t we, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe smiled at his father and then nestled his cheek against the curve of his father\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0\u00a0 Ben carried his youngest son upstairs and tucked him into bed, pausing for a moment to smooth a stray curl back from the boy\u2019s cheek as he sleepily murmured something about singing angels.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n In the morning, Little Joe rushed downstairs, spurred on by the excitement of opening presents.\u00a0 He glanced over at the tree as he dashed for the table laden with steaming dishes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Adam and Hoss?\u201d Little Joe asked around a mouthful of flapjack.<\/p>\n Ben, pouring himself another cup of coffee, said, \u201cThey should be on their way back from town.\u00a0 Remember?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think the real Santa brought him anything?\u201d Little Joe asked as he nimbly plucked three slices of thick bacon from the platter.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly Santa knows if people are truly naughty or nice.\u00a0 Maybe he was once a nice man who just lost his way.\u00a0 Now eat your breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe stopped in mid-chew. \u201cYou think he got coal?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shrugged one shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll have to ask your brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n As Little Joe finished mopping the syrup on his plate with a large chunk of flapjack, Adam and Hoss walked in, stamping the snow off their boots.\u00a0 Once unbundled, Hoss set into a second breakfast while Adam warmed his backside in front of the fireplace.<\/p>\n \u201cDid Santa bring the bad man anything?\u201d Little Joe asked.<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss looked to their father.\u00a0 Ben raised an eyebrow in reply.<\/p>\n \u201cHe sure did, buddy,\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 With a wink for his youngest brother, Adam said, \u201cSanta brought him a comb.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat and said, \u201cLet\u2019s see what Santa brought us.\u201d<\/p>\n As the younger boys went to the tree, Ben asked his eldest son, \u201cYou gave him Joseph\u2019s comb?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s not as if Little Joe was ever going to use it,\u201d said Adam through an innocent smile before heading for the tree.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n December 2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright,\u00a0JPM<\/p>\n