{"id":10252,"date":"2014-12-30T11:44:37","date_gmt":"2014-12-30T16:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10252"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:11:31","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:11:31","slug":"a-rainy-day-tale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10252","title":{"rendered":"A Rainy Day Tale (by MissJudy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0<\/strong>Marie and Ben\u2019s attendance at a funeral in town leaves Adam at the Ponderosa to watch six-year-old Hoss, and seven-month-old Little Joe. The day of babysitting gets started with only minor difficulties, but takes a frightening turn as a late-season thunder storm hits the area, trapping the\u00a0parents in town overnight, and making\u00a0the boys rely on all that they’ve learned to get by alone.<\/p>\n

Rating: K \u00a0 Word Count:<\/strong> 12,862<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Rainy Day Tale<\/strong><\/p>\n

One<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure we should do this,\u201d Marie said again as she put their sleeping baby in his bed.<\/p>\n

Ben walked over to embrace her, and spoke quietly so as not to disturb their seven-month-old son. \u201cThe boys will be fine without us for a few hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA few<\/em> hours is a long time, Ben,\u201d Marie countered, flashing him a worried look. \u201cAnything can happen in a few hours, and what if it goes on longer than that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam took care of Hoss for long periods of time, Marie, and that was when he was only as old as Hoss is now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie pouted, \u201cBut our little Joseph…will Adam know what to do if he cries or\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, darling,\u201d he soothed even as he cut in to stop her anxiety from building further. \u201cHe knows what to do. You\u2019ve fed Joe, changed him and rocked him to sleep. He usually sleeps for a few hours this time of day anyway, so he\u2019ll probably just be waking up when we get back. Besides, he\u2019s not a new infant. He\u2019s sitting up and nearly crawling\u201d Ben could see Marie\u2019s concern lingering in the deep lines that wrinkled her forehead when she was uncertain. \u201cHoney,\u201d he said with an urgent edge, \u201cWill is expecting me to say a few words at his wife\u2019s grave in an hour, and I don\u2019t want to be late.\u00a0 He\u2019s been very good to us since taking over the store in town. He carried us all last winter, never asking for a penny when we got snowed in and lost several of our herd. I\u2019m thankful we were able to sell a few head this summer to pay him back. And that\u2019s not the only reason I want to be there.\u00a0 I know how hard it is to lose a spouse, especially when you have children like Will does. Anne was a good woman, and I\u2019m honored that Will asked me to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you know exactly what he\u2019s going through right now. I\u2019m sorry. This is important, and we\u2019ll get moving.\u201d She brushed his cheek with a soft kiss. \u201cI wish we could take the boys with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill wants today to be a quick ceremony to bury Anne, and it will go far more quickly if the children aren\u2019t around.\u00a0 He\u2019ll have a proper memorial service when the traveling preacher comes through next month\u2026if winter holds out that long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie fanned herself as she nodded. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem like it\u2019s this late in the season with the weather so warm and sticky the last few days. It feels like August instead of November.\u201d She leaned into the cradle and cooed softly, \u201cGoodbye my little one. You be a good baby for your brothers and I\u2019ll see you as soon as I can.\u201d After placing a kiss on his curly dark hair, she wiped a stray tear from her cheek, and squared her shoulders as she turned to face her husband. \u201cI\u2019m ready. Let\u2019s go before I change my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple found Hoss and Adam playing checkers when they got downstairs. \u201cWho\u2019s winning?\u201d their father asked as he wrapped his arm around his oldest son\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am,\u201d Hoss declared, before laughing. \u201cBut I think Adam\u2019s lettin\u2019 me. That\u2019s okay though. I ain\u2019t so good as he is and it\u2019s the only way I can beat him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam snorted. \u201cI\u2019m not \u2018lettin\u2019 him win so much as he\u2019s cheating. He keeps telling me to look at things and then moves pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben chuckled. He knew that Adam would never look away if he really wanted to win. He suspected he allowed the deception to keep Hoss from losing interest.\u00a0 Yet he had no doubt that before the game was finished, Adam would play without \u2018letting\u2019 Hoss do anything outside the rules, and then explain why he was doing each of his moves to teach his younger brother how to play better and win without tricks.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two ready to go?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to get moving right now.\u201d Ben became thoughtful for a moment. \u201cDid you two cut some of those late-blooming flowers as I asked?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re in a jar of water in the wagon, Pa,\u201d Hoss said proudly. \u201cWe wedged them into a box so they won\u2019t spill on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie gave the youngster a peck on the cheek. \u201cThank you.\u201d Giving Adam a serious look, she began her list of instructions. \u201cJoseph might sleep the whole time, but if he doesn\u2019t, you can just play with him. He\u2019s dry, but there are diapers upstairs in case you need them. Put the dirty ones in the soaking bucket.\u00a0 He\u2019s full now and only eats about every six hours so he should be fine until we\u2019re back. \u00a0If he seems hungry, you can try giving him water with a spoon to keep him satisfied until I\u2019m home. He sits up now\u2026and he can roll from place to place, so change him somewhere he can\u2019t fall if you turn away or have to reach for something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben took her hand and led her to the door as she was still talking. \u201cC\u2019mon, darlin\u2019. Joseph will be ten before we get out of here.\u201d He sent Adam a wink over his shoulder. \u201cOur son will do fine. He\u2019s been around babies before, and he\u2019s very resourceful.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Ben had brought Marie to the Ponderosa a little over a year ago, and after a few misunderstandings, and getting used to being a family of four, things had run smoothly. Marie had been pregnant when she\u2019d arrived at the ranch, but her symptoms had been mild enough for her to keep it a secret until she felt that Adam and Hoss were confident enough in their new family to welcome another child. In fact, Ben had remained so clueless about his wife\u2019s condition that he only came to realize he was going to be a father again when Marie refused to ride a beautiful horse he\u2019d chosen for her. He\u2019d been confused and hurt at first, thinking it was the perfect gift for someone who liked to ride. Then he\u2019d added up all that he\u2019d seen over the last couple of months. Taken individually, they could have been an illness, a little weight gain, or some moodiness based on the complete upheaval of her life. Taken together, they pointed to something entirely different.<\/p>\n

Joseph Francis had arrived in their room at the top of the stairs: the first Cartwright born on the Ponderosa. He was a small baby compared to his two older brothers, but he was strong and healthy, and with the way he was already trying to pull himself up on things, they figured he\u2019d be walking by ten months.<\/p>\n

The news of another child on the way had given Ben some sleepless nights. He\u2019d prayed that all would go well this time, and his children would continue to have a mother.<\/p>\n

It had upset him at first that Adam had said he didn\u2019t need a \u201cmother,\u201d and called Marie by her name instead of by a maternal appellation. Father and son had knocked heads about it, but Ben had finally come to understand that it was his son\u2019s loyalty to Elizabeth that disallowed his son from calling another woman, Mother, rather than disloyalty to Marie…or disobedience to his father. She and Adam had worked it out, and it did make sense considering that even at 13, he was taller than Marie, and the boy had<\/em> always shouldered work and responsibility far beyond what was normal for a child his age. Ben had finally relaxed when he\u2019d seen the two find their common ground and interests. His oldest son had strong opinions, and so did his wife, so the two didn\u2019t always agree, but they were getting along fine. And sometimes, when Adam let his guard down, Ben had seen him accept a good deal of Marie\u2019s \u201cmothering.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss on the other hand, had completely accepted Marie into his heart, and had called her, Mama, from the first day he\u2019d seen her standing in the doorway of their new house when they had arrived home from New Orleans. He thought his new mother was beautiful and perfect, and he\u2019d do anything she asked of him\u2014at least anything that didn\u2019t involve washing up or straightening his room.<\/p>\n

Two<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss stood at the door waving goodbye as Ben and Marie drove away and then returned to their game of checkers.<\/p>\n

The younger boy gave a nervous laugh. \u201cI ain\u2019t never been alone out here without Mama and Pa close by before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you scared?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe a little. But they\u2019s only gonna be gone a few hours, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019 s right, Hoss. No need to worry. We\u2019re Cartwrights and nothin\u2019 scares us.\u201d Adam winked at his younger brother and then looked back at the checker board. The pretending phase was over and the teaching part was about to begin. \u201cLook at your last move, Hoss,\u201d he said as he pointed to the black checker. \u201cNow look at where my pieces are.\u201d<\/p>\n

The little boy looked at the board in deep concentration. \u201cUh oh,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n

Adam laughed. \u201cUh oh is right. My king can move either direction, and I can pretty much take every piece you have left on the board right now.\u201d He saw Hoss\u2019s frown and suggested, \u201cHow about I give you a do-over on that move and see if you can make a better play.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a few minutes of studying all the possibilities, Hoss moved a different checker and looked up to see Adam smiling. \u201cWas that what you was thinkin\u2019 I should do?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYup! Now you\u2019ve got me pinned back on my side and you can get your own king with your next turn.\u201d He reached over and tousled the seven-year-old\u2019s hair. \u201cIsn\u2019t it nice to really win, instead of using subterfuge?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s top lip curled up as he squinted. \u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUsing your brain to win, beats cheating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their conversation was cut short as a wail drifted down the narrow stairway. Hoss paled at the noise. \u201cI thought Mama said he\u2019d sleep a long time.\u201d He gave Adam a lopsided smile. \u201cThey can\u2019t be that far down the road yet, you want me to run and get them back?\u201d<\/p>\n

The older boy shook his head. \u201cWe\u2019re fine, Hoss. Babies never do what they\u2019re expected to. If they\u2019d told us he\u2019d be awake soon, he\u2019d have slept all day. But in this case, they thought he\u2019d sleep, so he\u2019s waking up.\u201d He pushed back from the table and gathered their game pieces and board into a cloth bag and put them on a shelf were they belonged.<\/p>\n

Hoss was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, hopping from foot to foot. \u201cHurry up; he sounds like he\u2019s dyin\u2019 up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam leaned against the wall across from Hoss, putting his arm out to stop the boy from heading up. \u201cLet\u2019s give Joe a few minutes first. Marie doesn\u2019t let him cry long, but she does wait to see if maybe he burps or something, and falls back to sleep. If we rush up right away, he\u2019ll be awake for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the screaming strengthened instead of quieting, Adam finally led the way up to Ben and Marie\u2019s bedroom, and cracked open the door for a peek inside. The two boys were assailed by an odor so strong that Hoss gagged.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t never smelled anything so bad in my life!\u201d he giggled as he pinched his nose and continued on in a nasally twang, \u201chave you, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe it. That\u2019s just about the worst thing ever\u2014even worse than skunk. Where\u2019d you ever smell anythin\u2019 badder?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grinned wryly. \u201cYou forget\u2026I had to change your diapers, and this is nothing compared to what you used to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026\u201d Hoss\u2019s cheek reddened, but as he thought about it he started to laugh. \u201cSo is that why Pa used to call me a \u2018Little Stinker\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

The oldest Cartwright didn\u2019t know whether to laugh or cry when they made it to Little Joe\u2019s crib and saw what awaited them. He was grateful that the crying stopped and Little Joe smiled and raised his arms when he saw his brothers standing over him. \u201cUn uh,\u201d Adam told the baby as he bent over to inspect the damage. \u201cI\u2019m not picking you up until I figure out what you did here, first.\u201d The diaper hadn\u2019t been a match for Little Joe\u2019s efforts, allowing leakage of its odorous contents onto the boy\u2019s gown, torso, legs and bedding.<\/p>\n

The color in Hoss\u2019s cheeks went white as he looked over at Adam in horror. \u201cHow\u2019d he even do that? He\u2019s so little, and there\u2019s so\u2026much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bigger question is how are we gonna clean this up.\u201d Adam\u2019s nose wrinkled as he considered their options. \u201cYou stay here and keep him occupied while I run down and get water ready. We\u2019re going to have to soak him a bit to get that off, and it\u2019s warm enough outside it\u2019ll be easier to do it out there instead of carrying that messy water out to dump it when we\u2019re done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. \u201cHow do I do what you said\u2026you know, keep him occupied?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTalk to him. Maybe shake his rattle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do I say to a baby?\u201d he whined.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t care so much what you say; they just like hearing your voice.\u201d Adam thought a moment. \u201cTell him one of Marie\u2019s stories, or even about playing checkers or something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam headed back upstairs after taking some time to get water warmed for the bath, and a fire going under the laundry tub. He smiled as he heard Hoss explaining how to get a king after moving your checker across the board, and how \u201cyou never want to try cheatin\u2019 with Adam, cuz he don\u2019t take kindly to it.\u201d He stopped outside the door to listen his brother continued, \u201cBut when you and me play, Little Joe, I\u2019ll let you cheat at first \u2018til you learn how to do it right.\u201d When he walked in the room, he saw his youngest brother staring in rapt attention as he listened. He was surprised again at the assault of smells hanging like a sulfur fog, and moved to open the window, fanning the air until there was some exchange of fresh for foul.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d prepared two tubs outside: one for Joe, and one for the soiled clothes and bedding, so he didn\u2019t bother trying to separate them now. He rolled everything towards the smelly baby, and lifted the entire bundle, holding it at arms-length as he went down the steps, out the door and around to the south side of the house where the sun was the warmest. When they reached the laundry tub, he held Little Joe under the arms and had Hoss strip the rest of the mess off, letting it fall into the soapy water to soak. The next dilemma was how to bathe Joe without fouling the bath water and having to start over.<\/p>\n

Luckily the nightgown had a large enough neck that Hoss and Adam were able to slip it downwards instead of pulling it over his head. With nothing left to worry about but skin, Adam ordered, \u201cFill that jug, Hoss, and we\u2019ll rinse him off first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s deadly grimace was only disturbed by his frequent gagging as he tried to clean the worst of it. The whine returned as he suggested, \u201cWhy don\u2019t you let me hold him and you do this part?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam snarled, \u201cBecause he\u2019s squirmy and you\u2019d drop him. You\u2019re just about finished anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

The remainder of the bath was accomplished easily with Little Joe seeming to enjoy his second dip of the day. He splashed at the bubbles and had both older boys laughing at his antics.<\/p>\n

Adam knew the cleanup efforts had taken a good amount of time, and he was already anticipating Marie\u2019s return. He didn\u2019t mind watching his brothers but he was pretty sure Little Joe was going to be hungry sooner-than-later with what he\u2019d managed to accomplish since his mother had fed him, and the oldest Cartwright son had no way to fill in for that need.\u00a0 Once the clean diaper and gown were in place, Adam had Hoss sit on a blanket and hold the baby while he finished washing out the linen and emptied the tubs.<\/p>\n

An eerie sensation swept over him as he glanced at his little brothers and saw Hoss staring at the western horizon with a look of pure terror. He followed the boy\u2019s line of sight and saw the approaching line of swirling green clouds, followed by a heaving thunderhead, the color of night.<\/p>\n

The sun was still shining, but by Adam\u2019s reckoning, the storm would hit soon. He sprang into action, grabbing Little Joe and ordering Hoss to follow him into the house. \u201cMake sure he doesn\u2019t get into anything he shouldn\u2019t,\u201d he told his younger brother after putting Joe on the braided rug in front of the fire place. He hollered, \u201cI have to get the stock into the barn. I\u2019ll be back as soon as I can,\u201d as he ran out the door.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Three<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben had practiced giving his eulogy on the wagon ride while Marie coached him. \u201cSlow your delivery in that part, Ben,\u201d she\u2019d advised. \u201cYou\u2019re making some significant points about the need to rely on friends at this sad time, and you want the others from town to know that you\u2019re talking to them as well as to Will.\u00a0 You might even mention them by name to emphasize how we\u2019re becoming a community.\u201d<\/p>\n

There had been nothing more than a small trading post in the area bordering the foothills of the Sierras when Ben and his two sons had come to the area and started trapping and buying parcels of land. The post had been owned by a man named Slim, who\u2019d kept the place running until Will Cass had come along and bought it, suggesting that the growing town might do better with a general mercantile. The change of hands had taken place about the time Ben and Marie had returned the previous year. With a decent store, a growing ranch in the area, and a few settlers deciding to stay put, the settlement had taken off\u2026at least by modest standards.<\/p>\n

Will and his wife had two children who were near ages as Adam and Hoss, so Anne\u2019s death hadn\u2019t left Will in such dire straits as Ben had found himself in when he\u2019d become a widower with infants. But the owner of the Ponderosa knew that there were long, frightening days and nights ahead as Will tried to manage both his business and family. Ben also knew that he<\/em> couldn\u2019t have made it this far if not for the help and kindness shown by those he\u2019d met during his journey west, and he intended that the Cartwrights would help the Cass family any way they could.<\/p>\n

The burial began with Ben reading a few Bible passages, and once the pine box was lowered, he began to speak his prepared words. Marie had calmed down once they\u2019d gotten a few miles from the house, and she seemed to have left her worry behind as she\u2019d taken the Cass children under her wing while their father saw to the last details at the gravesite. But now as Ben spoke, he could see clouds of worry moving across his wife\u2019s face again. At the point where she\u2019d told him to slow down, she was now giving him her \u201cmake this fast\u201d glare and he wondered what had changed. He couldn\u2019t help noticing that her eyes were focused above him rather than at him, and he took a moment at the end of a sentence to glance over his shoulder. The approaching storm looming to the west had sprung out of nowhere, and was barreling in on them like a runaway wagon. At the same time those thoughts were registering, the first line of wind foretelling of the rain to follow, swirled the loose dirt from the grave making the attendees cough and rub at their eyes.<\/p>\n

Ben ended his remarks quickly and recited the Lord\u2019s Prayer before grabbing a shovel to fill in the hole before the storm hit. Will and the other two men there lent a hand while Marie headed the women and children back to the store.<\/p>\n

She was standing in the doorway as Ben and the men rushed in, and pulled her husband aside. \u201cWe need to go home now!\u201d she whispered sternly.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head and pulled her to him. \u201cIt will serve no purpose to go now. That storm is too close. It cooled off a lot with the first winds, and anytime that happens, it\u2019s going to be a bad one. Those greenish clouds might even mean a tornado, although we don\u2019t normally get them up here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember seeing that one in the distance when we came across the plains,\u201d she said, as she blinked back tears. \u201cBen,\u201d she looked into his eyes. \u201cThe boys are out there alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pulled her close. \u201cI know that. But we need to stay here until this blows over. We can\u2019t outrun it, and getting caught in a twister or flooding creek won\u2019t help the boys. This rain can turn those wagon ruts we follow into slippery chutes that might overturn the wagon if a wheel catches wrong on a downhill slide.\u201d He tipped her face upward and met her forehead with his. \u201cI promise that we will leave as soon as possible, and the boys will be fine. They\u2019ll be safe in the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose Adam\u2019s been through this too,\u201d she said with a pinched, angry look.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been through some serious storms.\u201d He winked even as his hands trembled on Maries shoulders. \u201cWe can go from summer to winter in the blink of an eye out here. Adam\u2019s experienced that, so he has some idea of what\u2019s coming. More importantly, he\u2019s got good instincts.\u201d<\/p>\n

A rolling clap of thunder seemed to announce the beginning of the hail that pelted the roof of the store, drowning out all conversation. Marie pulled her husband\u2019s head down until she could holler in his ear. \u201cI know he does, Mr. Cartwright, but he\u2019s thirteen. I can\u2019t imagine how he will handle this. Hoss won\u2019t be much help and Little Joe cries when it thunders.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Ben saw Marie\u2019s tears spilling onto her cheeks, and felt her first hiccupping sob against his chest, he felt compassion along with a taste of the same fear she was experiencing. But he walked her quickly to a quiet corner of the storeroom where he made her sit on a nail cask. \u201cI know you fear for our children; I do too. I also know that you lost one child and you are probably terrified that you could lose another. But we just laid a man\u2019s wife to rest; that\u2019s what\u2019s real. Your fears<\/em> are coming from what you are imagining could happen, and we can\u2019t do anything about that now. If you show your fear, the people out in that store will be afraid too, especially the Cass children. You\u2019re a strong woman, Marie. I saw your strength in New Orleans, and on the trip west. I ask that you control your tears when we go back in there, and we\u2019ll help Will get lunch served as he\u2019d planned. My hands are going to shake and my knees will be a little weak until we get back home and make sure everything is all right, but we\u2019ll do this together, and trust that God will keep his eye on those boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

She reached up to touch his cheek, and smiled weakly. \u201cYou\u2019re right; I don\u2019t like it, but you are right. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam was shivering when he flew through the back door with an armload of the laundry he\u2019d done earlier. He set the bundle on the table and asked Hoss, \u201cIs everything going all right in here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, but you\u2019re done now and will be stayin\u2019 inside, aren\u2019t you?\u201d Hoss\u2019s voice held the telltale quiver of someone who was nearing panic. \u201cBaby Joe ain\u2019t doing so well with that thunder startin\u2019 and I ain\u2019t so positive what to do if he starts in to cryin\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou keep talking to him,\u201d the older brother encouraged. \u201cYou did a really good job upstairs. Joe likes your voice, so tell him how to catch a fish and I\u2019ll be in as soon as I get some wood.\u201d The temperature outside was dropping rapidly as the storm arrived, and although the house was still warm from the days of humid weather, Adam knew it wouldn\u2019t take long for the damp hot air to be replaced by damp chilly air. He\u2019d managed to get their horses from the corral into the barn, even though the storm was spooking them. He\u2019d also shooed the chickens into their coop and moved the other animals to the shelters in their pens and shut the doors. Luckily he\u2019d helped his father chop and stack wood for the stove just yesterday, so all he had to do was carry it inside.<\/p>\n

Hail began pelting him as he gathered the last armload, and ran for the house. He hollered, \u201cYow,\u201d as a large chunk hit his head, just as he got to the door.<\/p>\n

Hoss looked up; eyes wide with fear as the rocklike pellets started pummeling the house. \u201cWhat\u2019s that racket, Adam?\u201d he asked warily while he watched his brother rub his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome and look.\u201d Adam waited until Hoss was next to him. \u201cIt\u2019s hail. We haven\u2019t had anything like this in a few years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed nervously. \u201cWhy they\u2019s almost the size of snowballs! I see you rubbin\u2019 at your head; did one a them nail you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYup, and it hurts.\u201d He steered Hoss from the door to close it. \u201cLay some of those logs in the fireplace while I go stoke the stove.\u201d Adam found the rope Marie used to dry clothes in the house during the winter, and strung it across the kitchen using the hooks they\u2019d put in to make it a simple process. After hanging Little Joe\u2019s bedding, he joined his brothers by the fireplace to help him get the blaze going. \u201cYou did a good job putting those logs and kindling in, Hoss,\u201d he said as he lit the match. \u201cThis should take off in no time.\u201d<\/p>\n

With his brothers\u2019 attention on something other than him, Little Joe managed to roll himself to the table before he was noticed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa there, little dogie,\u201d Adam laughed as he picked him up and carried him over to the window to watch the weather. \u201cLook at this Hoss.\u201d He pointed to the yard. \u201cThe hail is so thick in some spots it looks like we had snow.\u201d The pounding on the roof stopped as quickly as it started, and Adam opened the door to see what was going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s scary out here,\u201d the middle brother whispered as the three of them stepped out into the yard. \u201cWhy\u2019s it look like that, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

The sky was a greenish gray, and cast a similar hue on the world below. There was no wind; no rain\u2014just silence. Adam swallowed hard as he remembered a similar looking sky once when they were traveling in the wagon train. It had been a harbinger of the severe weather that had followed. He\u2019d never seen a tornado in this part of the country, but there was no reason there couldn\u2019t be one. His fear had been kept at bay while he\u2019d been working, but now, the full weight of their situation hit him. He raced through the memories of what they\u2019d done during that previous storm, and began planning what he\u2019d do if the worst did happen. He was encouraged when he walked farther into the yard and noted that the clouds were moving west to east rather than in a circular pattern. Still, he could see the dark clouds following close behind, and he knew this particular storm was just getting started.<\/p>\n

The green haze gave way to darkness as the winds picked up and the air chilled further. Adam grabbed Hoss\u2019s hand and ran toward the house while the first drops of rain splattered on the remaining hail and dirt, creating splashing fountains of muddy water. They stopped inside the door to watch as the rain fell with such velocity and quantity that they couldn\u2019t even see the barn across the yard.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it gonna flood?\u201d Hoss\u2019s words came out in clipped fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d There hadn\u2019t been rain for several days, so Adam knew that the ground could absorb a lot of moisture before water would accumulate. But the rain was pounding so hard and fast, he wasn\u2019t sure there was time for it to soak in. If that happened, it could flood very quickly. It would all depend on how long this part of the storm lasted. One thing he realized as his stomach did a flip, was that his father and Marie wouldn\u2019t be home anytime soon. In fact, he hoped they were still in town rather than caught somewhere in the open. He pushed that image aside as he considered what he needed to do next.<\/p>\n

He was thankful that despite the thunder and lightning, his baby brother hadn\u2019t started crying as he usually did. And while Hoss was shaking and scared by the events taking place, he too was putting on a brave face. It was so dark that Adam lit lamps to brighten the room, and grabbed a few books. \u201cC\u2019mon over by the fire, and I\u2019ll read while we wait for this to pass.\u201d Hoss sat on the ledge of the hearth and Adam propped Little Joe on his lap as he began reading a book about a shipwrecked family, called Swiss Family Robinson<\/em>. He was only a few pages into it when he felt a warm wetness spreading across his lap. He groaned, \u201cSeems like we need a change again.\u201d He held Little Joe at arm\u2019s length and headed upstairs. \u201cLuckily it\u2019s just wet this time,\u201d he called back to Hoss. \u201cWe\u2019ll be back in a minute.\u201d After a diaper change for the baby and a change of pants for himself, Adam returned, this time placing a leather pad under Little Joe, and he began to read again. A quick glance toward the window confirmed what he\u2019d heard upstairs with the heavy rain pounding the roof. It wasn\u2019t quite as dark as it had been, but the amount of rain falling had not lessened. The eldest Cartwright son had to take a deep breath to calm his voice as his nerves began to jangle.<\/p>\n

Five<\/strong><\/p>\n

The women had managed to put out the refreshments they\u2019d brought to the gathering, and the group had nibbled as they tried to act nonchalant about the thunder that rattled the windows and the deafening sound of rain hitting the roof above them. Will laughed as he handed out new buckets for his guests to place around the room where water had snaked its way under shingles and dripped to the floor.<\/p>\n

Ben was proud of his wife. She\u2019d organized the lunch and cleanup, and she was now occupying the children by teaching them a simple card game. He knew she was nervous, because while they\u2019d watched the sheets of rain occluding everything beyond the pane of glass a few minutes earlier, her fingers had clenched as she\u2019d held his hand, and her nails had dug into his calloused palm. He\u2019d smiled at her, and whispered, \u201cThey\u2019ll be fine.\u201d Her brief nod and sigh had done nothing to relieve the strength of her grip, and he\u2019d finally removed his hand from hers and wrapped his arm around her shoulder to pull her close.<\/p>\n

Marie joined her husband again once the children were able to play the game on their own. Will walked up behind the couple and spoke softly. \u201cI\u2019m sorry you\u2019re stuck here. You must be concerned about the boys. I can\u2019t promise that they\u2019re not in any danger, but I do know that these storms can be spotty. It might be pouring here, and only drizzling 10 miles away.\u201d<\/p>\n

They nodded, and Ben said, \u201cThat\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides,\u201d Will added, \u201cIf I was to leave my children with anyone, it would be Adam. That boy is the most resourceful and responsible teenager I\u2019ve ever known. I wish my son was more like him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie laid her hand on his. \u201cThank you, Will. We know how difficult this day is for you, and we don\u2019t want you worrying about our boys too. The ranch hands are close by the house, and I\u2019m sure they returned if they sensed danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben raised his eyebrows and gave Marie a half smile after Will moved on to his other guests. \u201cDid you just tell a lie? I thought you told the boys it was never all right to lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did say that, but that\u2019s because they\u2019re children, and don\u2019t know how to lie properly.\u201d She grinned back. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t know that it\u2019s not true. Hugh knew that we were coming to town and the boys would be alone. I think he\u2019d go through the fires of hell if he thought they were in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree,\u201d he answered as he gazed back out at the sheets of falling rain. Ben knew that Hugh was a good foreman, and<\/em> a good man who cared about the Cartwright family. He\u2019d already brought Adam under his wing, taking him along on short drives to teach him how to move cattle. He\u2019d even given him a pet name, calling him, Young Cartwright, instead of Adam. Hugh liked teasing Hoss and would chase him around the yard playing tag, but he usually just smiled sheepishly at Little Joe. Ben suspected that babies scared the stuffing out of Hugh, yet the veteran drover doted on the youngest Cartwright, whittling toys for him, and even making a rattle out of dried leather that he\u2019d filled with small stones.<\/p>\n

But today, Hugh and his men were up in the hills bringing the herd down to winter pasture, and with the raging storm, Ben knew they had their hands full just controlling the frightened beef. If the fates were kindly favored, the storm hit when they were near a confined area, and they got them penned a bit. If not, they\u2019d be chasing strays until snow stopped their search. A storm like this could result in the loss of many head and the cash they\u2019d have brought at sale.<\/p>\n

Marie looked at the clock behind the store counter and tugged on her husband\u2019s sleeve. \u201cIt\u2019s nearly four,\u201d she said as she tried to control her shaking voice. \u201cLittle Joe must be hungry by this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben patted her hand gently and smiled down at her. \u201cAnd I\u2019m sure he\u2019s expressing his displeasure at your absence in the loudest manner possible. But,\u201d he paused until she smiled back, \u201cAdam will figure something out. He\u2019s a watcher.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean by that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe observes everything we do. You used to say it unnerved you when you\u2019d see him watching how you did things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember. I asked him once why he was so interested, and he said that he wanted to know as much about everything as he could.\u201d She stood taller, and said, \u201cHe will think of something,\u201d with far more conviction than she felt. He voice set with steel as she added, \u201cBut we will leave<\/em> here as soon as humanly possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Six<\/strong><\/p>\n

With the warmth of the fire, a change of diaper, and the calm tone of his brother\u2019s voice as he read aloud, Little Joe had fallen asleep on Adam\u2019s lap. Hoss was stretched out on the rug in front of the hearth listening carefully as the story unfolded, and as Adam stopped to turn a page, he asked, \u201cWhy\u2019s them folks called the Swiss Family<\/em> Robinson?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam checked the front of the book to confirm his thoughts before answering. \u201cIt was written by a Swiss man named, Johann Wyss. I suppose he made the family Swiss like he was.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger boy scrunched his face into a series of creases. \u201cWhat\u2019s Swiss mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was from Switzerland. That\u2019s a country in Europe.\u201d Adam knew that Hoss was a bright child, but there was little call for him to know geography just yet. He was learning how to read with Marie\u2019s guidance and doing very well, but his studies were limited to the three \u201cR\u2019s\u201d at this point. \u201cBring Pa\u2019s big green book over to the table and I\u2019ll show you where it is on the map.\u201d Their father had a beautifully illustrated atlas that Adam had spent many hours studying over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cOoph,\u201d Hoss grunted as he set it down. \u201cThat\u2019s one heavy book!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had switched Little Joe around to sleep on his shoulder, and carried him to the table. He paged through until he came to the map of the world and pointed toward the small Swiss country on the continent labeled Europe. \u201cThat\u2019s where the book was written.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss asked, \u201cSo where\u2019s us on this map?\u201d<\/p>\n

The opposite page showed a map of North America and Adam pointed out the general area where the Ponderosa sat. \u201cMuch of this part of the country hasn\u2019t even been mapped well yet,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa should write a book about us and call it the\u2026ah\u2026something\u2026Family Cartwright. I guess I need to know what we are before I can name it right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam tried not to laugh but chuckled in spite of his resolve. \u201cThat\u2019s a good idea. When you think about it, we\u2019re kind of doing what the Robinsons did. There wasn\u2019t a shipwreck, but we came to an area that we made into our home with nothing but what we\u2019d brought along in the wagon. Maybe we aren\u2019t quite as isolated as they were, but we still learned to live on the land and make do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what are we?\u201d the youngster asked in a serious voice.<\/p>\n

The older boy\u2019s eyebrows rose. \u201cI\u2019m not sure what you mean.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell that family was Swiss; what are we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm. The name Cartwright is English, and means that our ancestors were cart makers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed. \u201cCart makers? I wish we\u2019d a been kings or somethin\u2019 like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be disappointed. The artisans in a town\u2014like cart makers\u2014were well thought of.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we\u2019d be the English Family Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam smiled. \u201cWell, I would be because my mother\u2019s name was Stoddard and that was English too. They were horse breeders back in history. But your mother was Swedish, and Marie is French, so,\u201d he winked, \u201cwe\u2019d have to be the English, Swedish, French, American Family Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss waved the idea away with a snort. \u201cThat\u2019d be too long a name. We\u2019ll have to come up with somethin\u2019 better\u2019n that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou work on it,\u201d Adam laughed as he stood. \u201cI\u2019m gonna put Joe down for a nap, and then see about making something for us to eat. I bet you\u2019re hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t we wait for Mama and Pa? They should be home soon.\u201d Hoss\u2019s face held a hopeful smile as he asked the question<\/p>\n

Adam turned back at the bottom of the steps. \u201cThey can\u2019t come through this weather. They\u2019ll get back as soon as they can, but I\u2019m guessing they\u2019re still in town waiting out the rain.\u201d He saw his younger brother nod forlornly. \u201cI\u2019m not a good cook, but I think we can sop some bread in scrambled eggs and fry it. You like that sprinkled with a little sugar.\u201d<\/p>\n

The little boy\u2019s eyes brightened. \u201cSure, that\u2019d be good! I\u2019ll get the pan and a bowl ready while you toss Baby Joe in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss was looking out the window when Adam came back down, and the older boy wondered what was so fascinating that it would keep the child from going ahead with lunch preparations. He joined him, and gulped when he saw what was mesmerizing his brother. \u201cWow,\u201d he breathed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah; wow.\u201d Hoss echoed.<\/p>\n

Rain was still falling hard and fast, but now the ground was saturated. Water was already pooled in lower areas and the liquid edges of those hollows were rapidly moving toward one another, threatening to cover the entire yard between the house and the barn. Their home was built on a platform, but the barn was at ground level and Adam realized that water would soon reach the doors. He ran to the kitchen and grabbed slickers for himself and Hoss; handing it to the wide-eyed youngster when he returned. \u201cPut this on. We have to fill those empty feed bags with sand and block up the doors to the barn before it floods.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss was so nervous at the new development that he had trouble getting his shirt sleeves through the stiff canvas. \u201cWhat about Baby Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s asleep. We\u2019ll check him in a while. Marie leaves him to sleep while she works outside.\u201d He released a deep sigh. \u201cBesides, I don\u2019t know what I\u2019d do with him if we had to take him out there with us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam remembered that there was some fairly dry, sandy soil under the roof of a lean-to at the back of the corral they used to keep the feed-hay dry. After making a quick stop in the tool shed for a spade and the bags, they got to work with Adam shoveling while Hoss held the sacks open. They stacked the filled bags on a wheeled cart to move them over to the barn. While struggling through the soggy dirt, Adam quipped, \u201cHey, Hoss, you realize our ancestors would have been the ones who made this carts back in the middle ages.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy laughed. \u201cMaybe if they\u2019d a been kings instead, they could\u2019a hired someone to build them, and we\u2019d be so rich we could buy bags already filled with sand.\u201d<\/p>\n

After lining the front side of the barn with a double barrier of bags, Adam sent Hoss in to do a quick baby check. The water in the yard already covered the child\u2019s feet as he sloshed back, and reported, \u201cHe\u2019s awake and crying, Adam! His face is so red, that his head looks like it\u2019s gonna pop!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked back across the yard while the heavy rain pounded down on his hat, and ran off the brim like a pitcher spout. What he saw developing made his heart pound faster. They\u2019d managed to control the water\u2019s entrance into the barn, but now it was creeping up on the house, and he knew they should reinforce those entry-points as well. \u201cGo wait by the sand,\u201d he ordered Hoss and then loped his way through the water. Once inside the house, he rummaged around until he found the carrier Marie wore to hold Little Joe on her back while she worked. It was a canvas knapsack with holes at the bottom for Joe\u2019s legs and it came up high enough on his body that he wouldn\u2019t tip out. The shoulder straps would fit Adam\u2019s body fine, although Marie had to tie them together with a rope in front to keep them from sliding down her arms.<\/p>\n

He groaned loudly as he walked into his father\u2019s bedroom, figuring it was better to get his frustration out of his system that way instead of hollering about finding Joe wet again. Adam changed the diaper and then wrapped his brother\u2019s short legs in a blanket, creating makeshift pants to keep his lower limbs warm while in the carrier, and slipped one of Marie\u2019s home-knit sweaters onto the uncooperative baby\u2019s arms before nestling him into the contraption and slipping it onto his back. He\u2019d taken his wet slicker off and had to replace that, covering Joe in the process. With the baby on his back, he could only get the top two buttons closed, but he figured that would let enough air flowing around him to keep the child from suffocating.<\/p>\n

He carefully plodded through the muck back out to Hoss, and they filled more bags with sand. Adam was thankful that for whatever reason, Little Joe had stopped crying, and judging from the kicking and babbling going on under the coat, he seemed to be enjoying himself.<\/p>\n

Adam had no idea how long they\u2019d worked shoring up the barn and house doors, but it was starting to get dark again, and this time it wasn\u2019t the storm. He was thankful that they\u2019d finished their work before evening, and patted his younger brother on the back as they headed toward the house. \u201cYou did a good job, Hoss. I couldn\u2019t have done it without your help.\u201d<\/p>\n

When they reached the porch, Adam looked Hoss over and realized he was soaked from the bottom of his coat down to his feet, and said, \u201cStrip down out here and I\u2019ll hang your wet stuff in the kitchen while you get into a nightshirt, robe and dry socks.\u201d With Hoss off doing as he\u2019d been told, Adam removed his own wet outerwear and was amazed and thankful that Joe had stayed mostly dry under the heavy canvas coat. Still his skin felt cool, and Adam knew he\u2019d have to warm him up quickly. As he looked from the dying embers in the fireplace to the few pieces of wood sitting in the bin, he realized he\u2019d need to bring in more logs before he could get out of his soggy clothes. He waited for Hoss to return to keep an eye on Joe before he shrugged back into the wet coat and headed back out into the blowing rain.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d already carried several armloads of wood across the water-covered yard between the wood shed and the house, and had set the logs by the door; asking Hoss to carry move them to the bin. The pile inside had grown to an amount he was sure would last through the night, and he was hurrying back with the final load, thinking ahead to getting dry, warm and fed, when his foot hit a deep, slippery pothole hidden under the water. There was an audible and sensory pop as his ankle twisted. Fortunately<\/em> his forward momentum sent him sprawling face down in the mud instead of collapsing on the injured joint. Unfortunately<\/em>, not all of the logs he was carrying went flying during the awkward fall, and he landed on the ones he\u2019d been holding closest to his body. The pain in his ankle and chest were bad enough that he felt dizzy and nauseated as he tried to stand. The tumble had left him soaked to the skin and covered in mud, and he snorted in a brief moment of wry humor when he saw his hat floating away on the current of water moving through the yard in what he mentally dubbed, the Ponderosa River. The nausea passed as he stood a little longer, and he sighed with relief as his ankle held when he brought his weight to bear on it. It hurt, but Adam figured that if it held him up when he took a step, it would mean that no bones had broken. He limped back to the shed to grab dry logs, and stepped carefully on the way back to the house. The ground beneath the water was so slick that he wondered how he\u2019d managed to move through it at all, and he looked heavenward as he sent a quick thank you for being able to stay on his feet as long as he had.<\/p>\n

Hoss was waiting in the doorway as his brother finally appeared out of the darkness, and he hollered, \u201cWhat\u2019s takin\u2019 you so long? Baby Joe is startin\u2019 up to cryin\u2019 again.\u201d<\/p>\n

His brother\u2019s news was the final straw: the insult added to injury. Adam stopped, and let the cold rain saturate him as it had the ground. It ran through his hair, dripping down his forehead and snaked its way into the collar of his coat, drenching anything beneath it that had remained dry. His ankle and chest were throbbing, and he felt worn to the bone. For a moment, he toyed with the idea of turning around and running away. The feeling passed, and he grinned as he started moving forward again, thinking that he couldn\u2019t really \u201crun\u201d anyway. And he was a Cartwright, and the English, Swedish, French, American Family Cartwright always did the best job they could. After tossing the last logs into the house, he held his arms out and let the rain wash away the dirt and sludge. He stripped out of his wet things at the door, hopped to the steps on his good leg, and used the walls of the stairway to ease his way up to his room without uttering a word. Once he was dry and attired in his nightclothes and slippers, he made his way back down to build up the fire and deal with his hungry brothers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Joe\u2019s starvin\u2019\u201d Hoss suggested when Adam came down the steps. He gave his brother a good looking over. \u201cWhy\u2019re you limpin\u2019? And yer one ankle looks a lot bigger than t\u2019other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re very observant,\u201d Adam grumbled. \u201cC\u2019mon, kid, we\u2019re not done yet. Let\u2019s build up some heat in here and light more lamps. Then we\u2019ll see about fixing some food.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven<\/strong><\/p>\n

The endless stream of water flowing down the hill and across the rutted road past Cass\u2019s general store had begun to ease as the rain slowed to a drizzle. The friends who\u2019d holed up together in the store had made a run for their homes as the rain had diminished, leaving only Marie and Ben with Will and his children. Marie was pacing the perimeter of the room, looking out each window as she passed by.<\/p>\n

Will pulled Ben aside, speaking quietly. \u201cI know your wife will want to head for home now that the worst of it is past, but won\u2019t it be too treacherous now that it\u2019s nightfall?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that, and you know that, but it will take some convincing to make Marie accept that. She\u2019s ready to walk home if she has to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat cabin next door is still furnished and there\u2019s clean bedding in the chest. Why don\u2019t you convince her to spend the night there and leave at first light.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you two talking about?\u201d Marie asked with a wary look as she made her way over to the two men. She looked pointedly at her husband \u201cI thought you\u2019d be getting ready to go now that the rain is ending.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben took her hands. \u201cWill suggested we use the cabin next door for the night. I think we should accept.\u201d Marie tried to object, but he went on. \u201cWe don\u2019t know what might have happened out there during all that rain, and it\u2019s a long way home. The roads to our place weren\u2019t great to start with, and they may have washed out. And you know there are some sections that are tricky to pass through even in the daylight. At night, on slippery roads, they\u2019d be deadly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t it be just as deadly<\/em> tomorrow?\u201d she asked with a pout.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, but at least we\u2019ll be able to see what\u2019s ahead and we can work our way around the worst areas. We\u2019ll borrow saddle horses instead of taking the wagon so we won\u2019t needs roads. You\u2019ll have to ride a full saddle to give you stability, and we\u2019ll need to find some warmer clothing. It\u2019s cooled down already, and I\u2019m sure by tomorrow it will be cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure Anne had things you can use, Marie,\u201d Will offered. \u201cI\u2019d give my coat to Ben, but it would be too small.\u201d He thought a moment, and added, \u201cI\u2019m sure we can find a heavier shirt in the store, and Jim Wright is close to your size.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie wasn\u2019t happy about the plans, but she agreed they made the most sense. It wouldn\u2019t help their children if they didn\u2019t make it home at all. She moved off to a quiet corner and prayed, asking that the good Lord watch over their sons and give Adam courage, patience, and the presence of mind to cope with his brothers. She knew that Little Joe was a sweet, easy-going baby, until he was hungry or wanted attention. Then he\u2019d cry and carry on until he got what he needed. He\u2019d never had to wait long, and she grimaced, suspecting that Joe\u2019s reaction to a delay would not be pleasant for his two older brothers.<\/p>\n

Eight<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam blew out a breath as he finally sat down in the rocking chair in front of the blazing fire. He gingerly raised his left leg onto the hearth and examined the large blackish-blue bull\u2019s eye that had formed around the bone in his ankle. The swelling had increased too, now encapsulating his foot, and making his toes puffy. He yelped when he pressed the skin near the bruising, and decided that this was the point of injury. The throbbing had stopped in favor of numbness\u2026unless he pressed on it, and he cautioned himself not to do that again.<\/p>\n

The other two Cartwright sons were lying on the rug, taking in the warmth of the fire. Hoss was up on his elbow making faces at his baby brother while the recipient of the performance expressed his delight with giggles and squeals. Adam was relieved that all had gone as well as it had during the day, but he was still worried about the rising water outside. He\u2019d checked again before he\u2019d sat down and felt great relief that the drizzle had ended. The air had cooled so much over the day that he thought he had seen a few snowflakes swirling in the breeze. The problem that remained was even though the rain had stopped, the saturated ground was still rejecting water, and the runoff would continue to drain toward lower ground.<\/p>\n

Their first cabin had been built on a small rise, but the work hands had set this house to get the best views, and nestled it in the trees so they hadn\u2019t had to do a lot of clearing. That decision had put the residence on ground that was even with what surrounded it, and from the way the water had moved during the day\u2019s storm, there was a natural drainage area running through the middle of the yard between the house and barn. There hadn\u2019t been a storm like this since they\u2019d begun living in the house over a year ago, but there had been some indication of a problem with the spring thaw. He and his father had talked about building a ditch to divert drainage from higher ground around the back of the house and into the pasture. But there\u2019d been more important things to accomplish, and the situation had gone unresolved. Adam suspected his father was thinking about that decision right now, and hoping it hadn\u2019t cost him dearly. Yet he was excited in spite of the work he\u2019d had to do to keep things from flooding, because the erosion from the storm would show them exactly where to place the swale and what areas in the yard needed to be filled in.<\/p>\n

His attention came back to the present when he heard Hoss say. \u201cUh oh, Adam, Joe looks like he\u2019s getting\u2019 ready to blow again.\u201d He knew instantly what was happening when he saw the baby\u2019s face turning red as he strained. He looked over at Hoss, and both boys began to laugh. They laughed so hard that tears were running down their cheeks before the deed was accomplished, and then Little Joe began giggling too.<\/p>\n

This time the diaper held tight and cleanup was quick. \u201cWould you like me to read more from the Robinson book?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah\u2026it\u2019s good and all, but I\u2019m tuckered out and wouldn\u2019t listen so well.\u201d He waited a minute before asking the question he\u2019d asked earlier in the day. \u201cIs our house gonna flood, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

The older boy limped to the door and checked again. \u201cNope. I think our work with the sandbags did the trick. Water came up about halfway onto the ones by the porch, but it\u2019s going down now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The youngster smiled. \u201cThat\u2019s good,\u201d he said in a yawn. \u201cCan I ask you somethin\u2019 else?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow come you know so much?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew what to do when Joe\u2026exploded this morning. Then you knew what to do when the rain started, and how to make sandbags, and you even knew what to feed Little Joe when he was starvin\u2019 to death.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m older for one thing, and I learned a lot when we were on the way west, and then from Pa when we settled here. I knew what to feed Joe from back when you were a baby we and had to give you cereal or milk-soaked bread from when you were just a couple weeks old, because otherwise you wouldn\u2019t last more than an hour or two before you\u2019d be hungry again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss giggled. \u201cI still like to eat.\u201d His eyes rose as he bit his cheek. \u201cYou know what I don\u2019t understand is why Mama always says she\u2019s gonna go to feed Little Joe and then she goes upstairs without no food. How\u2019s she feed him without taking anything along?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grinned as he thought back to a time when he\u2019d thought his father had given Hoss away because another woman had taken him after Inger had died. Pa had tried to explain the reason for it, but he\u2019d finally given up and just said Mrs. Henkel was helping them out for a while. Adam discovered the reason himself, after he\u2019d gone into the wagon while she was nursing. She\u2019d taken the time to explain what she was doing and that she could do it because her baby had died just before Hoss had been born. She\u2019d called it a blessed providence that Hoss was a child without a mother, and she was a mother without a child.<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s question made Adam wonder if he should tell his brother about it. Hoss had seen calves and colts nursing and he could probably make the connection from the animal world to the human species if he wanted to. But he was tired and didn\u2019t care to answer all the questions that were bound to crop up from such a revelation, and simply replied, \u201cAsk Marie; she\u2019ll explain it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two older boys played a game of checkers while Adam held Little Joe who grabbed at the pieces and chewed on the edges. When the yawning at the table became too frequent to ignore, Adam declared it was time to sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m kind\u2019a scared to be alone tonight,\u201d Hoss confessed. \u201cCan I sleep with you Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can do even better than that. It\u2019s chilly upstairs, so we\u2019ll bring our blankets down and sleep in front of the fire\u2026you know, sort of camp out.\u201d The idea was well received and Hoss ran up to gather the bedding they\u2019d need, nearly tripping on the steps as he carried it all down. Adam set up two areas for himself and Hoss, and then emptied out the large drawer from the cupboard and padded it as a crib for Little Joe. After a cookie for the middle brother and a little more milk and bread mush for the baby, he got the two settled for the night.<\/p>\n

Adam found that he was tired, but not sleepy, so he limped to the kitchen and cleaned up the dishes from supper, folded the laundry that was already dry, and stoked the stove to create more warmth to heat the room more for the wetter things, before sitting at the table to read.<\/p>\n

Nine<\/strong><\/p>\n

After making supper at the Cass house, Marie slipped over to the cabin to make up the bed. Ben had gone over earlier to start a fire, and when she finished setting things to her satisfaction, she sat in the chair by the fireplace and allowed herself to shed the tears she\u2019d been holding back. It wasn\u2019t that she was angry at the turn of events, it was the gut wrenching uncertainty that plagued her heart and mind. The \u201cwhat ifs\u201d turned over and over as she imagined the worst scenarios to drive out the positive thoughts she\u2019d held in place all afternoon. She was doubled over in a sob when Ben opened the door, and came rushing over.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie,\u201d he soothed as he held her tightly. \u201cI\u2019m worried too, but a sense of peace came over me this evening, and I know our children are fine. I imagine they\u2019ll be mad because we didn\u2019t get there like we promised. They\u2019ll be hungry, tired and the house will be a mess, but they\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

She lifted her head and touched his cheek. \u201cYou always give me hope and make me brave, Benjamin Cartwright. I felt it from the first time you spoke to me, and the only reason I rejected you at first was to see if you\u2019d come back.\u201d She kissed him tenderly. \u201cI was so relieved when you did, because I was already in love with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ten<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d Adam blurted as his head snapped up. He wiped away the drool that had accumulated on his chin and looked over to see Hoss standing next to him by the table. \u201cDid you say something?\u201d he asked the wide-eyed child.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t sleep\u2026or maybe it\u2019s I can\u2019t stay asleep, and wondered if you\u2019d come by us now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The older brother glanced over and was overjoyed to see Little Joe sleeping soundly. \u201cI guess I can do that. Do you need anything before we turn in?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss grinned. \u201cWell, maybe you could tell me a story first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShould I read a little more now? That might do the trick.\u201d<\/p>\n

The youngster\u2019s eye twinkled in the lamplight as he crawled onto his brother\u2019s lap. \u201cI was thinkin\u2019 maybe you could tell me the story of the Family Cartwright<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam had told his little brother this story many times, but Hoss never got tired of hearing it. He always wanted to have it told from the beginning. He wrapped his arms around the little boy and began:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was once a brave seafaring man named Ben Cartwright, who wanted to leave his ship behind and sail across the plains in a wagon.\u201d He normally embellished this part greatly, but with the late hour and the sleepy child on his lap, he moved the story along.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright married a beautiful woman in Boston and had a son, Adam. But sadly, the lovely Elizabeth passed away, and the man and his infant son had to go on alone to find their destiny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019d you go?\u201d Hoss asked, as he always did.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made our way to Ohio with Pa working many jobs along the way to save up enough for the trip west.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me about Uncle John,\u201d Hoss prompted.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa and I stayed with his brother John and his family for a little while. They were nice and I had other kids to play with, but then we had to get moving on to our goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Cousin Will lied, right?\u201d the younger boy added.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just time to leave, but there was some trouble too. I don\u2019t remember all of it, but Will, who was about my age, broke an expensive clock and then blamed me for it. When I said that wasn\u2019t true, Uncle John said I lied, and Pa decided it was time to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid Pa believe you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course he did, but Pa didn\u2019t want to make trouble. Pa hoped Will would tell the truth someday, but he figured that was best left between Uncle John and his son. He paid for the clock and we headed toward Missouri.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is where it gets good, right, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right. It was a long way to Missouri, and the weather was bad that summer. It was either raining and cold, or so hot you couldn\u2019t breathe. It took its toll on me and I got sick, so Pa and I pulled into a little town in Illinois. Pa decided we\u2019d stay there so I could rest better, and he could work because our money was running low again. But in that town we met a beautiful woman with a Swedish accent who was very kind to us. She gave me \u201cmedicine\u201d, as she called it, and sat with me when I had to stay in bed while Pa was working.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss whispered, \u201cThat was my mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that was your mama. I liked Inger from the very first time I met her. Pa was pretty grouchy at first, and didn\u2019t want her to think we needed charity. But your mama was so sweet that Pa finally saw how nice she was, and he got to know her better. We both loved Inger, and Pa decided she would make a perfect Cartwright. We bought a bigger wagon after they got married, and we headed towards St. Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

The little boy looked up at his brother and smiled. \u201cI like this next part the best,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlong the wagon trail in Nebraska, Pa and Inger had a baby boy, and they named, Eric. I named you Hoss because that\u2019s what your Uncle Gunnar said Pa should call a son if they had one. You were a big baby from the start, and pretty cute too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s all I want to hear tonight.\u201d Hoss said as he laid his head on his brother\u2019s chest. \u201cI\u2019m pretty sleepy now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew that sometimes Hoss wanted the entire tale retold, but tonight he didn\u2019t want to hear about his mother\u2019s bravery at Ash Hollow or the journey after she died. Tonight, he just needed to remember that Inger was beautiful and kind, and how she fell in love with a traveling man and his little boy, and that\u2019s how he came into the Cartwright family saga. \u201cC\u2019mon then,\u201d he said as he slid the child from his lap. I\u2019ll put a few more logs on the fire and we\u2019ll snuggle up and get some rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

In minutes the room became silent except for the rhythmic breathing of the three children who slept in the fire\u2019s glow.<\/p>\n

Eleven<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSee, I told you he\u2019d make it back here,\u201d Marie called to Ben as they brought their horses to a stop at the edge of the yard. She was pointing to Hugh, who was exiting the barn.<\/p>\n

The worried parents had slept restlessly, and had already been up getting ready when there\u2019d been a knock on the door. Outside were the same friends and neighbors who\u2019d been with them at the burial the day before. They bore gifts of breakfast, warm clothes and two saddled horses to get the couple on their way. The outpouring of concern had brought Marie to tears, as she\u2019d thanked them. They\u2019d eaten hurriedly and had gotten on the road with the first rays of light.<\/p>\n

The ride that normally took under an hour had taken nearly three, as they\u2019d been forced to slow down or pick their way around the worst of the washouts and boggy fields. Ben had been relieved to see the house and outbuildings from a distance\u2014all still standing. But he hadn\u2019t been able to see the condition between the buildings until they\u2019d gotten to where they\u2019d stopped. He waved to Hugh and motioned him over, rather than moving their horses into the mud.<\/p>\n

Marie wanted to jump off her horse and run to the house, but Ben laid a hand on her arm, and said, \u201cLet\u2019s wait to hear Hugh\u2019s report first.\u201d Ben greeted his foreman with a hearty handshake when he finally found a way over to them that didn\u2019t involve tromping through the sludge. \u201cLooks like we lost the outside stock,\u201d Ben commented as he nodded toward the empty corral. \u201cI suppose they spooked when the storm hit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugh shook his head. \u201cNo, sir, they\u2019re all in the barn or their pens. It\u2019s gonna take some cleaning to get that barn straightened out again, but them sandbags along the front kept everything dry inside or it would have been a real mess. I was just about to let some of them animals out and get workin\u2019 when I heard you ride up. \u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you get here before the storm hit?\u201d Marie asked as she blew warm air through the stitches of her knit gloves onto her freezing hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Ma\u2019am. I just got here myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice held an edge of panic. \u201cDid you see the boys? Are they all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t seen them yet, but I saw smoke comin\u2019 from the chimney so I figured they was all right.\u201d He removed his hat and scratched his head. \u201cBut now you mention it, I\u2019m surprised they didn\u2019t come out when I got here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie was off her horse and headed toward the house before Ben could stop her. He handed the reins of their horses to Hugh and ran to catch up. \u201cSlow down, before you fall and hurt yourself,\u201d he ordered as he pulled her to a stop. They hadn\u2019t been able to see the front of the house from where\u2019d they\u2019d been, and now he could see the sandbags piled up against the porch, back door, and the sides exposed to the rushing water. The watermarks staining them indicated that the water would have gotten into the house if they hadn\u2019t been put in place, but it seemed far too much work for a teenager and six-year-old to have accomplished. Yet, if Hugh hadn\u2019t been there, then he reasoned that it must have been the boys, and Ben\u2019s chest swelled with pride.<\/p>\n

Ben walked ahead of Marie, picking his steps carefully until they could step over the feedbags and get to the door. She pushed past him into the house, stopping abruptly to look around the room, and then back at her husband.<\/p>\n

The interior was tidy except for the washlines strung across the room holding an assortment of clothing. There was a lingering scent of fried toast in the air, letting her know the boys had cooked. Her eyes finally came to rest on their three boys\u2026still asleep on the rug in front of the fire.<\/p>\n

She looked up at Ben and took his hand. \u201cThey did so much work, they must have been exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n

He could only nod for fear of revealing the catch of emotion that would have shown in his voice. He led his wife over to the tangle of arms and legs, and bent down to nudge Adam gently.<\/p>\n

The oldest son rubbed at his eyes as he awoke, and smiled broadly when he realized who had poked him. He stood and tried to take a step towards his father, but his ankle gave way and he tumbled forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Ben asked after catching him, and helping him to the rocker.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnkle.\u201d Adam grimaced in pain as he lifted his leg and pointed to the swollen, black-and-blue appendage. \u201cFell last night,\u201d the young man explained in clipped words; his eyes widening in panic when he realized he was having trouble breathing. \u201cChest hurts,\u201d he squeaked out as his breathing became labored.<\/p>\n

Ben opened the buttons of his son\u2019s nightshirt and saw the streaks of bruising along his ribs. \u201cDid this happen in the same fall?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cHolding wood for\u2026\u201d he choked out as he pointed toward the fire.<\/p>\n

Hoss was awake too and came over to pat his brother\u2019s back. \u201cI\u2019m sure glad yer back, Pa,\u201d he said before turning his concern to Adam. \u201cHe fell bad outside, but other than limpin\u2019 and that\u00a0 big ankle he got, he didn\u2019t seem hurt too awful bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

A nod from the wheezing teen confirmed his younger brother\u2019s assessment.<\/p>\n

Marie joined in helping Adam after checking Little Joe. \u201cYou probably have a bad sprain, sweetheart,\u201d she cooed as she examined the injured ankle. \u201cGet that shirt down further so I can see how bad those bruises are on his chest,\u201d she commanded her husband. \u201cOh, these are bad too,\u201d she said after looking them over and pressing against them, eliciting only hissing and grimacing. She patted his shoulder after pulling his gown back into place. \u201cI\u2019m guessing you stiffened up overnight, and got it all to hurting again when you moved too fast just now. You\u2019d have had severe pain and trouble breathing from the beginning if you\u2019d broken ribs. Let\u2019s get you up to your room now so you can rest.\u201d As he limped off toward the steps, holding onto Ben\u2019s arm, she caught up and kissed his cheek. \u201cThank you, sweetheart. Your father promised you could handle whatever came your way, and he was right. You are an amazing young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cyoung man\u201d blushed as he mumbled a thank you in a breathy wheeze.<\/p>\n

Twelve<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam began to feel better soon he got settled his own soft bed. Marie quickly brought cool compresses for his head and chest, while Pa and Hoss fashioned a poultice for his ankle out of the cold mud from the yard.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d drifted off for a while, but awoke when his father came back to check on him. \u00a0\u201cIt must be pretty cold outside,\u201d Adam commented. \u201cI noticed how chilly your coat felt when you caught me earlier, and that mud was freezing cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a thin coat of ice on the puddles already,\u201d Ben confirmed as he pulled a chair to the bedside. \u201cAnd it\u2019s gotten windy. But that should help things dry out pretty fast.\u201d He patted his son\u2019s shoulder. \u201cHugh and I looked around outside and saw all the things you did to protect our stock and the buildings. Marie was grateful that everything inside was in such good order too, and,\u201d he grinned widely, \u201cHoss told us about Little Joe\u2019s \u2018explosion\u2019 and how you took care of both of them all day. I forgot how we made that bread mush to feed Hoss, but I\u2019m glad you remembered. Joe seems to have done well with it and if you hadn\u2019t tried that, he would have been pretty unhappy. In fact\u2026\u201d Ben looked toward the door and listened for a moment to make sure no one was coming up the steps. \u201cMarie admitted that she will give Joe some of that at night to make him sleep better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa. Hoss helped a lot too,\u201d Adam revealed with a look of pride. \u201cHe\u2019s so tall that I forget how young he is, but he had to watch Little Joe when I was busy, and he did a good job loading those bags with me. I counted on him yesterday, and he really pitched in without grumbling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like a little boy I used to know,\u201d Ben remarked softly as he sat forward. \u201cYou were always a big help to me, son. You could drive the wagon when you were barely six. And after Inger died\u2026well\u2026I admit that you took care of Hoss and a lot of other things when I got too busy to handle it all. So maybe Hoss did such a good job because he had a good big brother to learn from.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had both of us, Pa. I learned what I know from you. We were the Family Cartwright, setting off to find our home\u2026and now we\u2019re here building it just like you always dreamed we would.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben leaned over to kiss the top of Adam\u2019s head. It wasn\u2019t something he did since the boy had grown into a young man overnight. But his fatherly heart was so proud and filled with love that he reclaimed the little boy who\u2019d traveled so many miles at his side with the gesture. \u201cYou should rest more,\u201d he said; his voice husky with emotion. A gust of wind outside swirled dancing snowflakes past Adam\u2019s window, and they both watched for a moment. \u201cAre you warm enough?\u201d Ben asked with a shiver.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Pa. Marie has enough blankets on me to give me a fever.\u201d Father and son shared a laugh. \u201cHey, Pa,\u201d Adam added, \u201cI\u2019m really glad you and Marie are back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Ben Cartwright,\u00a0Family,\u00a0Marie Cartwright,\u00a0Storm<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0Marie and Ben\u2019s attendance at a funeral in town leaves Adam at the Ponderosa to watch six-year-old Hoss, and seven-month-old Little Joe. The day of babysitting gets started with only minor difficulties, but takes a frightening turn as a late-season thunder storm hits the area, trapping the\u00a0parents in town overnight, and making\u00a0the boys rely on all that they’ve learned to get by alone.<\/p>\n

Rating: K \u00a0 Word Count: 12,862<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":3763,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bens-3-sons.jpg?fit=960%2C720&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10252","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10252"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10252\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10252"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10252"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10252"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}