{"id":12171,"date":"2006-03-01T19:34:15","date_gmt":"2006-03-02T00:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12171"},"modified":"2026-07-30T14:19:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T18:19:36","slug":"jingle-bells-by-debbieb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12171","title":{"rendered":"Jingle Bells (by DebbieB)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0Hoss Cartwright has found an untraditional meaning to Jingle Bells. (Not a Christmas story, just a lesson in love.)<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/strong>\u00a0 G (2,260 words)<\/p>\n

Jingle Bells<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss\u2026I\u2019m telling you\u2026there\u2019s something wrong with that colt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw\u2026it\u2019s just your imagination, Little Joe\u2026\u201d Hoss answered, studying the week old colt closely.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuit yourself,\u201d the younger Cartwright said, turning and leaving his middle brother alone with the chestnut mare and her new baby.<\/p>\n

Hoss scrunched up his face giving Joe\u2019s back a hard glare before turning again to the stall where the mare and her offspring were kept.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome here,\u201d he said to the mare as he held out a handful of sweet smelling hay.<\/p>\n

The little mare turned, almost causing the little colt to topple over as she held out her soft velvety nose and sniffed the offering in the gentle giant\u2019s hand. While she nibbled at the hay, Hoss watched the colt, concerned about what he was seeing.<\/p>\n

The little colt was searching for his mother\u2019s milk, but instead of turning to the mare, the colt turned the wrong way, bumping it\u2019s head into the side of the stall and then turning in the opposite direction, he did the same thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver here, little fella,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

The white-socked colt raised his head as if listening.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver this way\u2026here\u2019s ya mama\u2026\u201d Hoss said softly, watching the colt respond to the sound of his voice.<\/p>\n

When the colt was within reach of it\u2019s mama, he sniffed at her and then instinct replaced what Mother Nature had not given the little animal. The colt quickly began to nurse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ll be,\u201d Hoss, muttered low, not expecting that his father had been standing behind him, watching the proceedings.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

Hoss spun around at the sound of his name and then grinned at his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cYa ought not sneak up on a man like that, Pa,\u201d he said laughing nervously.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry son, but you were so deep into whatever you were doing that you didn\u2019t hear me calling out to you\u2026so\u2026what\u2019s happening here? Little Joe said there seemed to be something wrong with your new colt?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben peeked into the stall where the colt was happily nursing its mother. As far as he could tell, he couldn\u2019t see anything wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw\u2026you know Little Joe, Pa\u2026he\u2019s too quick to jump to conclusions\u2026\u201d Hoss had suspected that the colt wasn\u2019t up to par, but he hadn\u2019t mentioned it to any of his family. And then earlier that afternoon, Joe had come upon him and the colt and had recognized right off that the colt was\u2026was\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d Ben said softly, touching Hoss on the arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t nothin\u2019, Pa\u2026really\u2026the colt\u2026will be fine\u2026\u201dHoss said, stumbling slightly over his words.<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t fully convinced either way about the colt, but he wasn\u2019t going to tell his pa what he really suspected was wrong the little fella\u2026at least not yet\u2026not until he actually had too, he knew what his father would expect him to do\u2026and he just didn\u2019t have the heart to destroy such a fine specimen of horseflesh all because the poor little thing couldn\u2019t\u2026couldn\u2019t\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure about this son? You know that if any animal on this ranch is suffering in any way\u2026and we\u2019re absolutely sure that nothing can be done to prevent the suffering, it\u2019s best to put the animal down and\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNO! I mean\u2026yessir\u2026I understand that, but Pa\u2026looke\u2019em\u2026he ain\u2019t sufferin\u2019, not one iota!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben studied the new colt closely and finally nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he certainly doesn\u2019t seem to be!\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cAlright then Hoss, I\u2019ll trust your judgment on this\u2026best get ready for supper\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss smiled, though for him it was strained, he hadn\u2019t actually lied to his father, but deep within his broad chest, beat his heart that whispered to him that he hadn\u2019t been totally truthful with his father either.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be in shortly, Pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled, wondering about the worried expression that dashed across his middle son\u2019s face, convinced that something was not as it should be. He decided right then to wait\u2026Hoss with his open honesty and willingness to please would come to him, when he was ready, until then, Ben would only wonder at the sadness in the usually clear blue eyes.<\/p>\n

It was a couple of days later that Ben found his son rummaging around in the tack room, seemingly searching for something.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

The big man jumped from the unexpected noise and twirled around, his hands behind his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026hi ya\u2026Pa!\u201d he said with a look that told his father that the gentle giant was definitely hiding something.<\/p>\n

Ben grinned; his middle son was like an opened book. He tried to peek behind the big man\u2019s back, but Hoss turned sideways, keeping his secret for a bit longer.<\/p>\n

\u201cYa need me for somethin\u2019, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026not really. Adam asked that I remind you that tonight\u2019s the night the two of you were riding into town to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah\u2026shoot\u2026I plum forgot,\u201d Hoss said looking worried. \u201cTell him I\u2019ll be ready to go in a little while\u2026there\u2019s sumthin\u2019 I gotta do first\u2026that is, iffen ya don\u2019t mind, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026no, I don\u2019t mind. Hoss\u2026do you need help\u2026doing whatever it is you\u2019re intending to do?\u201d Ben asked, wondering what it was that Hoss was holding behind his back.<\/p>\n

Hoss, his blue eyes wide, shook his head. \u201cNo\u2026no\u2026thank ya Pa\u2026I can take care of it\u2026\u201d and then turned a little white when the sound of tinkling bells dingled softly from behind his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss\u2026is that\u2026bells I\u2019m hearing? Do you have bells behind your back?\u201d Ben moved to see better the thing Hoss held behind him and when he glanced up at his son, he saw Hoss swallow hard and wrinkle his brow.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

With lips puckered and a guilty look washing over his rotund face, Hoss moved his hands around to the front and held up a strip of the jingle bells used on the harnesses in wintertime.<\/p>\n

Ben almost laughed outright at the strange look Hoss wore as he held the bells up in front of his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat on earth?\u201d Ben asked. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t snowing, son that last time I looked,\u201d Ben teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cAw\u2026dadburnit, Pa\u2026I know it ain\u2019t snowin\u2019!\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughing, Ben reached out and took the bells from Hoss\u2019 outstretched hand and held them up looking at them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why these?\u201d he asked, wiggling the strap in order to make the bells jingle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need\u2019em\u2026that\u2019s why\u2026well\u2026what I mean is\u2026I need\u2026one of\u2019em\u2026just one, Pa\u2026one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I ask why?\u201d Ben said, looking doubtful.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa\u2026ya can ask\u2026but\u2026well sir\u2026I\u2019d just as soon not say\u2026right yet. I\u2026mean\u2026well\u2026I was aimin\u2019 on tryin\u2019 sumthin\u2019 first\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 expression was so intense that Ben found himself at a near loss for words. He handed the bells back to his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright\u2026I\u2019m curious to say the least, but I\u2019ll wait until you\u2019re ready to share your\u2026secret with me,\u201d he answered and then laughed lightly at the relief he saw shoot across the young man\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure\u2026I\u2019ll go tell Adam you\u2019ll be ready to go in a bit\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben turned to go but paused at the door of the tack room and looked over his shoulder. Hoss had his back to his father and was busy removing one of the bells from the leather harness. Curiosity was beginning to gnaw at his belly, but he refrained from asking more questions. Surely Hoss was on a mission!
\nIt wasn\u2019t until two days later that Ben was to find out about Hoss, his secret mission and the lone jingle bell. He was riding out to the main pasture to check on the spring foals when he happened to find Hoss leaning against the fence watching his mare and her new colt.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, hi, Pa!\u201d Hoss beamed, turning to welcome his father.<\/p>\n

Ben slid down from his saddle and leaned across the fence in the same manner as Hoss was doing. For a long moment, neither man spoke but stood in companionable silence watching the small herd of horses.<\/p>\n

And then the distinctive sound of a jingling bell could be heard carried across the pasture on the tails of the gentle wind. Ben straightened up, listening, watching and trying to find from whence the sound came.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss\u2026do you hear that?\u201d he asked, turning to his son.<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 grin was spread across his face. His blue eyes sparkled with pleasure and when he spoke, his father sensed a certain air about his son. He gave Hoss one of his looks, asking without putting to voice his question.<\/p>\n

\u201cYa see, Pa,\u201d Hoss began to explain. \u201cThat new colt of mine\u2026the one Little Joe\u2019s been jawing about somethin\u2019 being wrong with it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLooky over yonder,\u201d Hoss said, pointing across the field.<\/p>\n

Ben turned to study the horses, spotting the mare and her colt. \u201cI see them\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, ya see, Pa\u2026Little Joe was right about that colt\u2026he\u2019s\u2026he\u2019s\u2026blind\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBLIND!\u201d Ben practically shouted, silenced into disbelief.<\/p>\n

\u201cYessir\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben watched the mare and her colt closely. It seemed impossible; the colt was following along with its mother as if he could see clearly. Hoss must have been mistaken.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon\u2026are you sure? That colt is following along perfectly\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure, Pa,\u201d Hoss said as the smile began to fade. \u201cI know I should have told ya\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u2026you should have, son. A blind horse isn\u2019t much use on a working ranch. He\u2019d have to be put down\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss turned to face his father. Worry etched into his brow as he tried to explain his reasons for not having told his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2026ya \u2018member that jingle bell you found me gettin\u2019 from the tack room the other day?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell sir, what I went and done with that bell was to attach it to that mama\u2019s halter. That way, whenever she moved around, it jingled\u2026and the little colt knew right where his mama was. Look\u2026see\u2026there she goes now\u2026she\u2019s headin\u2019 for the barn\u2026she how she goes just so far and stops to look back to see if her baby is followin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

The smile had returned once more to the big man\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t sure it would work\u2026but it does\u2026see\u2026there he goes\u2026right after her. Every time he hears the jingle bell, he goes toward the sound and there\u2019s his mama!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben watched more closely. Sure enough, it was as his son had stated, everywhere the mare went, her baby followed. Ben smiled as he placed his arm about Hoss\u2019 massive shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon, how on earth did you know to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked into his father\u2019s eyes; the smile faded and a serious look of concentration replaced it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou taught me, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d Ben asked, confused. \u201cI don\u2019t understand, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Pa, its like this\u2026when I was a kid\u2026and everyone else used to tease me about my size and how mad it made me and how I\u2019d wish I\u2019d been more like them\u2026you told me that God never made mistakes\u2026that in everything and everybody he created a plan. I wasn\u2019t perfect to them other kids, but to God, I was special\u2026cause I\u2019m just me and just because I was a big ole ugly\u2026Hoss\u2026God didn\u2019t throw me away. It\u2019s the same with that colt\u2026God doesn\u2019t throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when are in need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss took a deep breath and continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times, we are the guide horse\u2026helping others\u2026that mama will watch over her son just like you watched over me when I was a little kid, and like God watched over His son\u2026your bell\u2026led me down the right paths, Pa\u2026in a manner of speakin\u2019,\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sighed deeply as pride in his son began to swell his chest. He was forced to clear his throat before he spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cSon\u2026\u201d Ben\u2019s words faltered as he found it difficult to speak what was in his heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2026you don\u2019t gotta say anything\u2026ya done said it\u2026back then\u2026back when ya was trying to teach me about how God loves us no matter what our faults might be\u2026when ya taught me that God loves all His creatures\u2026even little blind ponies. I ain\u2019t sure what\u2019s gonna happen to that fella, Pa\u2026once he ain\u2019t got his mama to lead him about\u2026but ya once said to me\u2026 \u2018Don\u2019t bargain for trouble\u2026we\u2019ll cross that bridge when we get there\u2019\u2026so until then\u2026can we just listen to the jinglin\u2019 of the little bell? That little pony might not see his mama\u2026but he knows she\u2019s always there\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss watched his father\u2019s expression with anticipation. Ben had to swallow again to clear the thickness from his throat. When he spoke, his tone was low and filled with humble admiration for the young man standing before him, a young man in whom he held a wealth of respect.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes son\u2026we\u2019ll leave the bell in place because it\u2019s a symbol akin to God\u2019s presence in our lives\u2026we might not be able to see Him\u2026but we know He\u2019s always there, if we listen with our hearts. I\u2019m proud of you Hoss\u2026you\u2019ve listened well and your actions speak for themselves\u2026you\u2019ve left me in awe and with a feeling of having accomplished a task that God set before me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss grinned at his father, though it was a might hard to see his face clearly with the tears that clouded his vision. If his father was referring to his task of raising three rambunctious boys to manhood\u2026then yes, as far as he was concerned, Ben Cartwright was a success\u2026with God\u2019s help of course and the sound of a jingling bell to guide his way.<\/p>\n

THE END<\/p>\n

March 2006<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0Hoss Cartwright has found an untraditional meaning to Jingle Bells. (Not a Christmas story, just a lesson in love.)<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 G (2,260 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9052,"featured_media":10210,"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":[1017,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hoss-pa","category-drama","wpcat-1017-id","wpcat-23-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\/12\/serious-Hoss.jpg?fit=269%2C298&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12171","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\/9052"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12171"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12171\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}