{"id":12279,"date":"2001-11-01T12:41:02","date_gmt":"2001-11-01T17:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12279"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:05:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:05:13","slug":"turkey-day-on-the-ponderosa-by-debbieb-jenniea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12279","title":{"rendered":"Turkey Day on the Ponderosa (by DebbieB & JennieA)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/b>Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and something isn’t quite right…Adam fears that his favorite holiday will be a disaster…and he has no one to blame, except Hoss and Little Joe.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated G \u00a0WC 10,250<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Turkey Day on the Ponderosa<\/strong><\/p>\n

“There is no way,<\/strong> do you understand me young man, no way am I eating opossum for Thanksgiving!” shouted Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had been having like conversations such as this with his two youngest sons for over a month now. Why in heaven\u2019s name had he ever agreed to allow these two to talk him into keeping the old Tom as a pet? Ben rubbed his chin; he must have been out of his ever-loving mind to agree to something so stupid.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It had begun just about six weeks earlier when Hoss who was fifteen and Little Joe who was nine had begged him to be allowed to snare the Thanksgiving Day turkey and keep it in a pen to fatten up for the holiday meal. Adam had advised against it but Ben, who could rarely refuse his younger sons anything, had willingly agreed to their plan. That had been his undoing, as now the two young boys had grown attached to the gobbler and when he had made mention of eating the turkey for supper on Thanksgiving, Little Joe had burst into tears, Hoss had whined and complained all evening against the fact. Little Joe had kept them up half the night with nightmares, resulting in the entire family losing a night\u2019s sleep. Since that night two weeks ago, things had gone from bad to worse. The boys had brought home rabbit for the holiday meal, only to decide they were too cute to kill and eat. Next, Hoss had suggested squirrel and when he had found several babies, he brought them home and ended up having to hand feed them. With Hoss\u2019 natural tender heart, he then stomped around muttering for days that he would not, nor would he allow anyone to have his babies as their evening meal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben was at a loss as what to do about Thanksgiving dinner, he really wanted turkey, Adam agreed that without it, the holiday would seem just like another day to them. He had suggested chicken or roast pig but they dined on that fairly often, so neither father nor oldest son thought much of that idea. Hoss had jumped in about that time and suggested raccoon. All four had almost agreed at that point but then Hop Sing, refused to cook it, saying it went against some belief of his people to harm raccoons, so the little masked rodent had also been eliminated from the menu.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Deer and bear had been brought into the conversation, but bear was ruled out, it was too close to the time that bear went into the high country to hibernate. Deer was an option, if one could be found but neither Ben nor Adam had much time for hunting at this time of year. Ben suggested killing a calf and roasting it outside in the bar-b-q pit.\u00a0 But when the word, kill, slipped through his lips during the conversation, Little Joe again became upset at the idea of killing and eating one of the big sad eyed, soft nosed, cute as pie, baby cows, as Joe had put it to his father. They even talked about fish for the main course but after the boys had spent hours fishing, the five rainbow trout that they had brought home, were now calling the water trough, home. The boys had decided to keep them for pets instead of allowing them to become supper.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Duck and geese were abundant now, most were flying on a southern route for winter and were stopping over at dusk on the lake. Ben rather liked that idea; at least it was still in the bird family and had feathers. Maybe, just maybe he thought, Hoss and Little Joe would agree to that and then perhaps he could encourage them to release the numerous creatures that seemed to have taken up permanent residence in his barn. Tonight thought Ben, during the supper hour, I will bring the idea out into the open to see how his younger two sons would except this idea.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Suppertime arrived and Ben was thankful that all of his sons had managed to find their seats on time. Hop Sing brought the meal in and grace was said, Ben giving thanks for the blessings that each of his sons brought to him, for the health of his family and for the food that was provided. Ben also asked a special blessing for the one whom had, for many years, prepared those meals.<\/p>\n

“Adam, Hoss, Joseph, we need to decide what we are going to do about Thanksgiving supper. Now Joseph, let me finish, before you go off half cocked,” Ben said as he raised his hand in the air to silence his youngest son\u2019s protest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben knew that Little Joe would be the first to speak out against having turkey and Hoss would follow his younger brother\u2019s lead, protesting against eating any such creature that the two of them had sheltered in his barn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam continued eating his meal; he knew what had been going on with his brothers and his father. Poor Pa had made the mistake of mentioning killing the ole Tom that his brothers had penned out behind the barn and in so doing had unleashed a barrel full of tears and complaints. Adam had tried to warn his father about allowing those two to keep the turkey until such time that the death of said Tom would take place, but had his father listened? No, he had instead given in to Hoss and Little Joe, so decided Adam, let Pa figure how to worm his way out of his little problem.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Pa, I don\u2019t rightly know what to have, I jest can\u2019t see eating any of them critters Joe and I have in the barn. Don\u2019t seem right ta me somehow,” Hoss told his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe was watching Hoss as his brother explained to their father and turned to check his father\u2019s reaction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Pa, ya always said that murder was wrong, wouldn\u2019t it be murder if\u2019n ya kilt\u2019em?” Little Joe asked innocently.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, yes murder is wrong son, but this is different,” Ben started to explain. “You see son\u2026”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“How\u2019s it different? Ya goin\u2019 ta kill\u2019em, that makes\u2019em dead, then you \u2018spect us ta eat\u2019em, I\u2019d call that murder, wouldn\u2019t ya?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe cast sorrowful eyes at his father. From the other end of the table, Adam had a coughing fit.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ever since Ben had taken the boys on a hunting trip to get a turkey for Thanksgiving, Little Joe had refused to eat meat. Night after night Ben would try to reason with him about his nonsense. Joe didn\u2019t see it that way. He had never thought about the fact of eating meat involved actually killing an animal. No matter how many times Ben or Adam had tried to explain the circle of life to him, the stubborn streak in Joe would not let it sink in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He\u2019s got you there Pa,” Adam said softly when he was able to get his cough under control.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shot Adam a warning look, indicating that such thoughts be kept to himself. Adam only smiled at his father. Ben glared at his oldest, he knew he would get no help from him, Adam had tried to warn him and Ben knew that now Adam would gloat, I told you so, would soon follow. How had his oldest son become so smart, Ben wondered? And when had all this taken place?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Never mind boys, I\u2019ll think of something, we still have about two weeks before Thanksgiving Day.” Ben gave up the conversation, not sure yet what he would do, but right now he was tired of worrying about it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Later that evening, Ben rested in his favorite chair, Adam sat reading in his blue chair and Hoss and Little Joe were playing a game of checkers. Ben\u2019s thought\u2019s turned again to the holiday meal, not sure how he would handle it. Perhaps, he thought, he could send Charlie or one of the other trusted hands out to hunt a turkey. If he had Hop Sing, prepare the bird while the younger boys were away, maybe they would not realize that what they would be eating would have once been alive. Ben knew he was grasping at straws, Hoss wasn\u2019t that nieve, Joseph, on the other hand might just fall for it. Maybe he could talk some sense into Hoss and get him to go along with his idea. Ben smiled to himself, perhaps, he thought, I have just found my answer, and with that thought in mind, he ordered his youngest son to bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe had sat down at the top of the stairs listening to his Pa and Adam talk, something that he had gotten very good at doing. He couldn\u2019t make out everything that was being said but he did manage to pick up on a few words, and they included the word hunting. He quietly tipped toed down a few steps and watched them leave the house. Joe made sure that Hop Sing wasn\u2019t around and slipped out the front door, following them to the barn.<\/p>\n

Little Joe stopped short of the entranceway when he heard his father talking to Charlie. They were discussing him leaving in the morning on another hunting trip, a turkey-hunting trip! \u2018Oh, no, he ain\u2019t gonna kill a turkey,\u2019 he thought as he ran back towards the house. He slammed the large oak door and ran past Hop Sing who was starting to set out coffee for his older brother and Pa.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No run in house, Lit\u2019le Joe. Very, very bad boy. Mister Cartlight be very angry at boy for run in house.” Hop Sing shook his head as the boy ignored his command and continued running up the stairs. “No one listen to Hop Sing. Hop Sing quit. Go back to San Francisco with number 3 cousin.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Upstairs, Joe had flung himself onto this bed. “Ain\u2019t no way that man is gonna kill a turkey. It ain\u2019t right. We can eat veggies and pie for dinner, ain\u2019t gotta have meat.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now alone in his room, he thought hard about how he could stop that man from hurting one of Tom\u2019s kin. He didn\u2019t hear the door open nor see anyone enter the room, until Ben sat down on the edge of the bed. He placed a comforting hand on Joe\u2019s back and began to rub.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hop Sing said that you seemed upset over something. Anything I can help you with?” Ben continued to rub the boy\u2019s back as he spoke softly to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, Pa. I\u2019m gonna go to bed now. I don\u2019t feel very well.” Joe mumbled, trying his darnedest to sound convincing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben automatically reached and felt his son\u2019s forehead. “You don\u2019t feel warm.” Ben shifted his weight on the bed and resumed the back rub as he probed for answers. “Joseph, I sent you up to bed over a half hour ago. Why were you up again? What\u2019s bothering you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shrugged his shoulders, suddenly finding it difficult to stay awake. His Pa always had a way with his back rubs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know, just don\u2019t feel myself.” His eyes closed indicating to his father that he wanted to sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, goodnight then, son. Call if you need anything and I will be up later to check on you.” Ben took Joe\u2019s boots off and pulled up the quilt from the foot of the bed. He gently covered his son and leaned down to place a kiss on his cheek. “Sleep tight, little one.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was a rainy night and the owls had started their nightly conversation as they sat perched in the Ponderosa pines just outside Joe\u2019s window. He sat up in bed trying to rub the sleep from his eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“WHOOOM, WHOOOM.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe slipped out of the warmth of his bed and stumbled to the window. With his nose pressed tightly against the glass he strained to see the owls. His eyes grew wide with fear as he backed away from the frosted window. Joe turned around and ran to his door flinging it open. He could feel his heart racing as he ran down the hall to Hoss\u2019 room.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hoss, wake up, quick. They\u2019re comin\u2019, Hoss.” Joe grabbed a tight hold of Hoss\u2019 shoulder and shook with all of his strength. “Hurry, Hoss. They\u2019re after us.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss sat up and shoved his brother off him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What in tarnation is wrong with ya, Joe? It\u2019s the middle of the night.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hoss, they\u2019re comin\u2019. We have to hide.” Joe reached out and pulled on his brother\u2019s arm. “Come on, hurry!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Dadburn it, Joe. Who and what is comin\u2019?” Hoss allowed his brother to pull him from the comforts of his bed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“This better be good, Joe, else I\u2019m gonna skin ya alive.”<\/p>\n

“You won\u2019t have to skin me, they are goin\u2019 to,” Joe cried out as he continued to pull Hoss across the room. “Hurry, we have to get Pa and Adam.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Both Adam and his father stopped Joe in the hallway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Would someone like to fill me in as to what in God\u2019s name the two of you are doing up in the middle of the night carrying on like this?” Ben’s voice echoed in the stillness of the hallway as Adam lit the lantern on the table. “Does anyone care to know what time it is?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Pa, quick! They\u2019re comin\u2019.” Joe tried to push his father back into his room. “They are gonna kill us.” He was becoming incoherent as the sweat broke out on his young body.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben was prepared to carry Joe back into his room when he heard something or someone coming up the stairs. He motioned for Adam to take the boys into his room as he quietly pulled out a gun that he had hidden in the drawer of the table. Ben cautiously walked toward the stairs and held the lantern up so he could get a better view of what was making the noise in his home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He gasped and ran into his room, slamming the door behind him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What is it, Pa?” inquired Adam as he placed Joe on the bed next to Hoss. “Who\u2019s out there?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before Ben could answer him, Adam walked toward the door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, Adam. Don\u2019t open that door. Joseph was right, they are coming for us.” Ben sat down on his bed and drew his two younger sons towards his chest. “Get the other gun out of my nightstand and be ready to shoot, Adam.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Adam withdrew the gun from the drawer, the bedroom door was kicked in and there stood the biggest tom turkey they had ever laid their eyes on. Behind it stood a buck, a boar, four rabbits, one raccoon, two squirrels and one goose. All held hunting knives in the air ready to strike out at their enemies.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“See, Pa I told ya, didn\u2019t I?” asked Little Joe as he pulled the blanket over his head. “They\u2019re gonna kill us.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben finally found his voice and stood from the bed. “What do you want from us?” he demanded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mister, you know what we want. Revenge! Revenge for all the kinfolk that you and your sons have slaughtered over the years. \u2018Eye for an eye,\u2019 that\u2019s what the bible says. Now who dies first?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The tom turkey started toward Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“PA!! No, no, not my Pa. Adam, help him!” The cries of Little Joe woke the house as he continued to live out his nightmare.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was the first to arrive, wearing only his black jeans. He tried unsuccessfully to wake the boy from the nightmare that held him tightly in its grasps of fear. He stepped back as Ben hurried across the room. Ben knew that this had to be the nightmare of nightmares. Never before had he heard his youngest cry out in that magnitude before.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It took the better part of an hour to calm Little Joe enough to get him back into bed. Out in the hallway, Adam stopped Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“So, now what do we do about Thanksgiving dinner? It\u2019s quite obvious that all this talk about killing animals is now affecting his mental status.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben shook his head in defeat. “I just don\u2019t know what to do with that one. Dreaming of animals wanting to kill us.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben had to smile as he thought back on the story that Joe had told them in his room. “Maybe Paul could have a talk with him.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam chuckled and placed his arm around Ben\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sure, Pa. I bet Paul will love the fact that you passed the buck to him.” The laughter continued as Adam added, “No pun intended, Pa.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben slid out of Adam\u2019s embrace and headed for his room. “I\u2019m going to bed.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He stopped in the doorway, turned around and jabbed a finger at Adam\u2019s chest. “And I don\u2019t want to hear another word about turkeys. Good night, son.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe sat up in his bed. He had heard the other bedroom doors close. He slid from beneath the covers and quietly dressed himself. While he waited for the rest of the house to surrender to sleep, Joe quickly packed his satchel, making sure that he had packed his most prized possessions. He included his bag of marbles, even though most of them belonged to Hoss; his slingshot; his wooden gun and Adam\u2019s old leather holster to hold his gun. Joe made sure he also packed the photo of his mother and last but not least, Scruffy. He sneaked down the stairs, making sure that he avoided stepping on those steps that would be an instant alarm call to his family. Joe hesitated momentarily as he watched the embers glowing in the fireplace. Joe shook his head to clear the thoughts of his family before picking up the book that Adam had left lying on the planked table. He glanced around the great room and saw that his Pa had left his pipe sitting on the ashtray. He quickly snatched it up, not realizing that the tobacco had fallen to the floor, and placed it in his satchel along with Adam\u2019s book. He knew his father had another pipe in his desk and didn\u2019t think his father would be too upset about losing one of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A small smile crept across his face while holding a lantern in his hand. He thought of a way that he could light the lantern without disobeying his father\u2019s stern words that he was never to touch the forbidden matches. Joe took a piece of kindling out of the hold box and cautiously poked it into the hot embers of the fire. He used that to light the lantern allowing him to make his way through the darkness out to the barn. Joe was getting antsy as he impatiently waited for Hoss to arrive.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hey, Joe!” whispered Hoss, a bit too loud for Joe\u2019s liking, causing the young boy to jump. “What are we gonna do \u2018bout our critters.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe had taken a deep breath and decided not to harp on Hoss at the moment. “We\u2019re gonna take \u2018em with us. Can\u2019t leave \u2018em here, they\u2019ll be sure to be eaten if we do.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss decided that lifting the washtub up on the back of the wagon was out of the question. The boys were further delayed while they went in search of something to transport their fish in. Little Joe found Hop Sing\u2019s laundry tub near the side door of the house and with Hoss\u2019 help they loaded it on the wagon. Using the dipper from the water bucket, they transferred the fish to the laundry tub. After spending the better part of an hour loading their animal friends in the back of the buckboard, the two young boys struggled to hitch up a team of horses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss took hold of the bridle to lead them out of the barn. Joe closed the barn doors and extinguishing the lantern, climbed aboard to sit next to Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Where\u2019s we gonna go, Hoss?” Joe asked as he nervously glanced up at the second story of the house. He wanted to make sure that no one had heard them leaving.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Reckon we ought\u2019a go to one of the line shacks. Pa always makes sure that there is plenty of canned goods stocked up there for the winter.” Hoss gave the signal to the team and together he and Little Joe escaped the murderers that their older brother and Pa had become.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was already seated at the breakfast table when Ben joined him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Morning, Adam. I expected to see Hoss already downstairs,” he commented as Adam poured him a hot cup of coffee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He passed his father the plate of scrambled eggs.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s still in bed, along with that little one of yours.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You will need to get them up and moving, Adam. You and I have a long day ahead of us and we really need to get moving.” Ben motioned toward the kitchen as Hop Sing entered the room. “Do you have everything you need for Thanksgiving?” he asked the loyal cook.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Mister Cartlite, Hop Sing need to get supply for Thanksgivin\u2019 dinner. I find that my vegetable supply very short this morning.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Short? What do you mean short?” Adam asked as he stood from the table, drinking the last of his coffee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Just that, Mister Adam. Someon\u2019 or somethin\u2019 done took my bushel of vegetables. Apples gone too. Can\u2019t make apple pie without apples.” Hop Sing threw them a disgusted look and stormed back into the kitchen.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam held back on the smile that he wanted clearly to display, knowing already who the culprit was, and strutted up the stairs in search of his younger brothers. Within seconds, he appeared at the top of the stairs and yelled, “Pa, both boys are gone, and by the looks of it, they have intentions of being gone for awhile.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben threw down his napkin and stormed up the stairs. He stood in the doorway taking in the sight of his youngest son\u2019s room. In his haste to leave, Little Joe had dumped out his drawers on the floor and had picked through his clothes, taking only what he felt was necessary. Adam was kneeling in the middle of the pile and looked up at Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“We better get looking for those two, seems like all that Little Joe took with him was his favorite belongings. By the looks of the clothes here, it doesn\u2019t look as if he took anything to ward off the colder weather settling in.” Adam stood up and using some force, stopped the smile that twitched at his lips.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On this land, they put their brand<\/p>\n

Cartwright was their name.<\/p>\n

They killed our friends,<\/p>\n

And ate our kin,<\/p>\n

But they\u2019ll ner\u2019 do that again!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Brothers Hoss and Joe<\/p>\n

They both know<\/p>\n

A plan to save the day<\/p>\n

They worked it out a special way<\/p>\n

Now Pa and Adam\u2019ll hav\u2019ta pay.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Okay now, ya critters settle down back there and stop that there chantin\u2019,” Hoss said as he turned around and spoke to the animals.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe, who had nearly fallen to sleep, suddenly turned to his older brother, “Who ya talkin\u2019 to Hoss?” he said as he turned backward to see if there was anyone following them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss blushed slightly in the dim morning light and wondered how he could get Little Joe to understand that he could interpret the critters in the back of the wagon when they were talking to each other. He knew his youngest brother would laugh and think he had finally lost his mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Uh\u2026no one Little Joe,” he fibbed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe turned his green eyes up to his brother\u2019s face, “Yes ya were, I heard ya!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“On this land, they put their claim<\/p>\n

Cartwright was their name\u2026.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Now shut that up!” Hoss yelled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I didn\u2019t say nuthin\u2019 Hoss! What\u2019s wrong wif ya?” asked Little Joe startled by Hoss\u2019 sudden outburst.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss glanced down and saw the tears beginning to pool in his young brother\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I\u2019m sorry Punkin, I tweren\u2019t yellin\u2019 at ya. It\u2019s them critters back there, they keep chantin\u2019 and it\u2019s getting on my last nerve,” explained Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Chantin\u2019? What\u2019ll ya mean?” Little Joe asked, wondering if Hoss had gone over the edge.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Little Joe, now don\u2019tca laugh, but I can hear them and understand\u2019em when they\u2019s a talkin\u2019 to each other,” Hoss explained.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe looked at Hoss without speaking, shock clearly evident on his young face. Slowly a smile began forming at the corners of his lips and within minutes, his laughter, which was not commonplace, could be heard throughout the forest. Joe doubled over and held his sides as he continued to giggle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh Hoss,” he laughed, “Ya gotta be jokin\u2019?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Okay, don\u2019t believe me, I don\u2019t care! I should have never let you talk me into the stupid trick anyway. Pa\u2019s gonna be mad at both of us and I\u2019ll probably get blamed and end up across his lap. Dadburnit Joe, stopped that laughin\u2019 at me,” cried Hoss who was beginning to get angry with his baby brother.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe did his best to bring himself under control, but could not help it when occasionally a giggle would escape until they had finally made it to the line shack.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss unhitched the team of horses and led them to the watering trough. As he saw to the attention of the horses, Little Joe began unloading the small critters from the back of the wagon. By the time Hoss returned to assist Joe, he had managed to unload the rabbits and the two plucked chickens. Hoss stood at the back of the wagon and directed Joe to slide the turkey crate toward him. Joe was having a difficult time in carrying out Hoss\u2019 request as he succumbed once again to giggling.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Dadburn it, Little Joe,” commented Hoss as he watched his younger brother fall to his knees, overcome with laughter. “Ya\u2019re makin\u2019 me mad!” Hoss yelled as he took a swing at Joe, lightly popping the boy upside the back of the head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe swallowed the next giggle and forced himself to stand. Abiding by his older brother\u2019s request, Joe pushed the crate to the edge of the buckboard so Hoss could unload it. When Hoss returned to the wagon for the next cage, he noticed that Joe had tears pooled in his hazel eyes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What\u2019s the mat\u2019er with ya, little feller?” Hoss asked concerned that maybe he had walloped his little brother a bit too hard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s dirty hand smeared away the now fallen tears and gazed into his brother\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You\u2019re scaring me, Hoss,” whispered the boy as he wiped his nose clean using the back of his hand.<\/p>\n

Hoss glared at Joe, knowing his nine-year old brother had heard him talking to the turkey before returning to the wagon. Nonchalantly waving his hand in the air, Hoss commented.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Ah, don\u2019tcha worry none \u2018bout me, punkin. I was jus\u2019 talkin\u2019 to myself.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He held out his hand for Joe to take and pulled the younger boy to his feet. “Let\u2019s git this wagon unloaded and find us somethin\u2019 to eat. I\u2019m starving!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Minutes later the two weary runaways entered the dark shack. Joe opened the warped shutters to help brighten up the isolate cabin. Hoss rummaged through the cabinets secretly hoping that Adam had restocked the shack for the upcoming winter months. Together the boys wiped away the dust from the unleveled table and sat to eat a can of cold beans and hard tack.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss had no qualms about eating the measly meal but could see that Joe was having a difficult time with his serving.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“If ya not gonna eat it, Little Joe, pass it over. Can\u2019t have it goin\u2019 to waste. \u2018Member what Pa said \u2018bout wasting good food when so many other people in the world are less fortunate then us?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe glared at his older brother and subconsciously blamed him for not packing up something other than fruit from Hop Sing\u2019s kitchen. He shoved his dented plate across the table at Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, if ya think it\u2019s so good, then you eat it.” Joe pushed himself away from the table and stomped off to sit on the soot covered hearth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss recognized the homesick look that was etched on his brother\u2019s face and sat down next to him. He put an arm around the thin boy\u2019s shoulder and hugged him to his chest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Joe, why don\u2019t we take a breather and rest up some \u2018fore we have to tend to the live stock. I don\u2019t know about ya, but I\u2019m sure tired after gettin\u2019 up before the sun.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe forced himself to smile and nodded his head in agreement. After fetching Scruffy from his carpetbag, Joe unrolled his bedroll and laid down. The dampness that still lingered in the air caused Joe to shutter and he asked Hoss to build a small fire.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tasked completed, Hoss joined his brother on the dirt floor and closed his eyes. The mumbling he believed came from his younger brother disturbed his sleep. Hoss had grown accustomed to Joe\u2019s nightmares and pulled the blanket over his head to muffle out the sounds. It was the poking in his back that caused Hoss to throw back his blanket and sit up. It was then that Hoss realized that Joe was still curled up sound asleep. Puzzled, Hoss looked around attempting to find out had awakened him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hey, you big feller. Yea, you!” squeaked the tiny voice.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss looked down at the ground and shook his head, uncertain as to what he had seen. He closed his eyes and when he reopened them, there was Scruffy still sitting in the same place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Who ya talkin\u2019 to me?” Hoss managed to ask as he pinched himself and willed himself to wake up.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you see anyone else in the room; other than that sleeping thing you call your brother?” Scruffy sarcastically asked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss was quick to defend his little brother, not yet sure of what he was seeing. “That thing, is Little Joe. Ya of all\u2026”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss stopped himself before he could say \u2018people\u2019 and rephrased the sentence.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What I mean is, ya have known Little Joe since his Adam gave you to him,” Hoss explained still unable to understand how this was happening.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It must be somethin\u2019 I ate last night,” he pondered.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Dadburn it,” Hoss snapped his fingers and tried to reason with himself. “That\u2019s it, yea, somethin\u2019 I ate.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He grinned now accepting the unsolved mystery as to why the critters chantin\u2019 was somethin\u2019 that only he, him self could hear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Little Joe was in bed last night when I helped myself to a late snack.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss laid back down and closed his eyes, thinking that this was all a dream. The tiny paw scratched him in the small of his back, jolting Hoss to sit again.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Now what do you want?” demanded Hoss. He was tired and was getting agitated with all of the nonsense that was preventing him from taking a nap.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scruffy padded over closer and sat down to face Hoss. He pointed a stuffed paw at the sleeping form and explained.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“It\u2019s that boy over there that has worn my body down to the shape it is in now. He drags me around by one of my paws or hugs me to his chest with his skinny little arm wrapped tightly around my neck.” The dog stood at this moment and poked Hoss in the chest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Do you remember that time Joe brought me outside after that wicked rain storm?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not waiting for an answer, Scruffy continued.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not only did he keep me up all night with his screaming because of a little bit of thunder and lightening, but then he drops me in that nasty mud hole.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scruffy\u2019s eyes seemed to take on the appearance of two pieces of coal glowing in the dark.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Like that wasn\u2019t enough. That little china man shoves me under some hot soapy water and then rubs my backside up and down that fur-pulling washboard. Do you know what that feels like?No, of course not. Well, let me tell you something. My backside hurt like the devil for days on end and all that little boy could think about was holding on to my leg as he walked around the mighty Ponderosa swinging me to and fro like a leaf blowing in the wind. Talk about pain.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss could see the tears pooling in Scruffy\u2019s eyes as he described what it was like being a stuffed doggie belonging to a child. His heart went out to the stuffed critter and he reached to pull him into a hug. Scruffy held up his right paw to stop him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I ain\u2019t done yet,” he snarled, showing his pearly white fangs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“You mean there\u2019s more?” questioned Hoss, almost afraid to hear what else the dog could complain about. He had always thought of Joe loving that stuffed dog, sometimes more than life itself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scruffy wiped away the cotton filled tears and proceeded. “Do you know what it\u2019s like to have someone preventing you from breathing?\u00a0 Why that little boy never stops to think about the way he treats me. Even on the hottest night of the year, he has me tucked up under his sweaty arm with my face jammed against his damp chest. How am I suppose to get any sleep, heck he can\u2019t even let me use the pillow?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scruffy stomped his paw to the dirt floor and placed his other two paws on his hips. “Come on, I\u2019m waiting for an answer.” Scruffy thrushed his head forward and peered into Hoss\u2019 eyes. “You don\u2019t tend to cover for the boy\u2019s actions now, do you?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“No, I reckon I can\u2019t,” Hoss managed to stutter. “I can\u2019t speak for the scamp.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scruffy began to pace the floor, stopping to glare at Hoss on occasion. He finally stopped and spoke again. “I want you to be my new master,” the stuffed dog demanded, pointing his paw at Hoss in emphasis.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Me?” questioned Hoss, totally surprised. “Why in tarnations would ya want me?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The doggie hesitated momentarily before answering. “Because you know how to treat the critters with respect, that\u2019s why,” explained Scruffy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss squeezed his eyes shut. He opened them slowly and smiled at the tiny stuffed dog.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I\u2019m too old for sleepin\u2019 with stuffed critters, how abouts if I talk to Little Joe and make him understand how rough he is with ya? Would ya reconsider ya\u2019re decision?” Hoss kept his fingers crossed as he waited for Scruffy to answer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I reckon I could give him one more chance, but the first time he starts to bear handling me, I\u2019m coming to your room.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With that the little dog strutted across the floor and climbed up on to the chair near the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll sleep here for now, giving you a chance to speak to that little brother of yours. I want some changes taking place before he decides to drag me around by my ear. Heck if he keeps that up, I am bound to lose one of them.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scruffy closed his eyes, indicating to Hoss that the discussion was now over, at least for the time being.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Little Joe rudely awakened Hoss, as the boy shook his shoulder. “I\u2019m a gettin\u2019 hungry, Hoss. What\u2019s we gonna do about supper?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and sat up. The first thing he did was to look at the chair near the table and frowned when he saw Scruffy sitting there. Sighing deeply he questioned his little brother.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Why is Scruffy sittin\u2019 over yonder?” he asked pointing to the stuffed animal.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe shrugged his shoulders and replied. “I don\u2019t know, didn\u2019t you put him there?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head to help clear the remainder of his so-called dream and went in search of something more appetizing to eat than what they had eaten earlier in the day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben was totally disgusted with the way his day had begun. Now instead of getting the work finished that he and Adam had planned on doing, they had to go in search of his two youngest sons.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Come on Adam,” said Ben as he reached for his hat and buckled his sidearm on. “We better find those two before it gets dark, for sure it isn\u2019t going to get much warmer today and if we don\u2019t find them soon, both of them will be sick over the holidays.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam grabbed his hat and gun and followed his father out the door. Adam was put out about his brother\u2019s sudden disappearance but he had to admit to himself, he found it rather amusing. He had tried to warn his father, but had he listened? No. Now his father was on the verge of having a full-blown temper tantrum of his own making. Adam didn\u2019t like to see his father get that mad, but Adam also had to fight the urge not to be telling his father, \u2018I told you so\u2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Father and son had no trouble picking up the younger boys\u2019 trail. It was obvious that they had taken the buckboard, and after checking the barn and seeing all of their critters missing, they were aware that the younger two had somehow managed to carry off their menagerie of animals as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben and Adam followed the trail for most of the afternoon and by the time they arrived at the line shack, both were well past going. Tired and grumpy, they dismounted and tied their horses to some low hanging branches a short distance away and slowly approached the shack. Adam had suggested that they take the boys by surprise, seeing first what they might be up to. Curiosity was eating away at him, wondering what his brothers were doing with all of their critters here at the shack. It didn\u2019t take him long to find out. As he and his father stepped onto the porch, animals of all sorts came out of nowhere.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Stop!” squawked the big tom turkey, taking Adam by surprise.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Back off this porch, ya good fur nuthin\u2019 low down piece of pond scum!” the old fat goose shouted at Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben took a step backward and looked at Adam who had also retreated a step. His son had the same look on his face as Ben was sure he wore on his own, disbelief, shock, uncertainty, bewilderment and a bit of fear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Adam\u2026son, do you see what I see, or is it just me?” Ben spoke softly, looking in his son\u2019s direction but keeping a watchful eye on what he thought he was seeing on the porch. \u2018A talking turkey? And a goose?\u2019 thought Ben. Ben rubbed his eyes, thinking that might help clear away the scene before him.
\nAdam chanced a glance at his father but also watched Tom Turkey who seemed to be advancing on him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Did you hear what I heard? Or are we both losing our minds? This can\u2019t be real\u2026can it, Pa?” Adam asked, his voice sounding much like his youngest brother\u2019s did when he was in serious doubt about something. That is what Adam decided he was in, serious doubt!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t know, son,” started Ben and then took more steps backwards as he saw several fat rabbits advancing on him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One large rabbit wiggled his nose up at Ben. Ben stood as if hypnotized by the bunny\u2019s wiggly nose.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“See this here foot?” said the big rabbit holding up a stump where a leg had once been, “I lost it in one of your snares!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The other rabbits made rumbling sounds that came from deep within their throats, and Ben took another step backward and scratched his head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben came to his senses, or he thought he did, “Umm\u2026I\u2019m sorry about that,” stammered Ben, not knowing what else to say.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam turned worried eyes on his father, “Pa! You\u2019re talking to a stupid rabbit! And rabbits can\u2019t talk!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Well, neither can turkeys, but we both heard them didn\u2019t we? Well? Didn\u2019t we?” Ben was becoming unglued, something was terribly wrong with his world and he began to sweat despite the cool breeze that seemed to whisper throughout the tall pines that circled the old shack.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hey smart guy,” Adam turned his head to face the turkey and pointed to himself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yeah, you, in black. Who you calling STUPID?” shouted the turkey and made a dive for Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam saw the large bird closing in on him and turned to run but the turkey was quick to catch up with him and before Adam knew what had gotten a hold of him, the tom grabbed his backside and held on.<\/p>\n

”<\/p>\n

Yeoweeee!” screamed Adam as he tried to run for cover, hands swatting behind him at the big bird that refused to release it\u2019s hold on his rear end.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben watched as his son fled and decided that he had better join his son as soon as possible. But when he turned to follow, Ben stumbled over the raccoon that had suddenly appeared from out of no where. When Ben hit the ground the rabbits who had been watching from the porch, began jumping on his back, up and down, up and down. The old goose honked in his ear and began nipping at Ben\u2019s ear lobes. Ben struggled to get up but the squirrels had joined in the fun and one ran up Ben\u2019s trouser leg causing Ben to roll about the ground in the dust.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Get off me you dad burn furry little rodents,” snapped Ben trying to rise to his feet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben began flinging around his leg attempting to shake the squirrel out of his pants leg. He wasn\u2019t having any luck, what with the goose flapping her wings and honking in his ears, the rabbits jumping all over his body, he did the only thing he could think of, and that was to yell for help.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“ADAM! GET BACK HERE, NOW!”<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was still running around the yard trying to shake the turkey from his butt and as he past by his father he kicked out at the goose. The goose that was caught unaware landed on the porch honking loudly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Murderer!” she screamed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Come on boys, let\u2019s get\u2019em,” and the goose flew off the porch after Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam ran for his horse, finally having gotten free from Tom Turkey and ran quickly as the rabbits, squirrels, raccoon, boar, who by the way had been sitting on the porch laughing at the two men, all chased after the fleeing young man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was quick to mount Sport, kicking him into a run he turned and called out to his father, “Come on, Pa, I don\u2019t care if Joe or Hoss ever come home. Leave \u2018em to their critters, I\u2019m outta here!”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben saw his chance to make his break and ran to Buck, who was dancing around, frightened by all that had been going on. Ben was finally able to mount his horse and headed off in the other direction hopefully to meet up with his older son later.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The animals gave up the chase and returned to the porch to stand guard over the two young boys who had saved their lives. A sense of pride in their new duty filled each animal as they stood at attention facing Tom Turkey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Good work men, and ladies,” Tom smiled at Mother Goose. \u201cI think this calls for a song, shall we?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And the sound of their singing filled the cool evening air, and those who believed could hear the victory song that they sang.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bear and Boar and how many more?<\/p>\n

Have fought to stay alive.<\/p>\n

With a gun and a rope, and a hat full of hope,<\/p>\n

They hunted us down from here to town,<\/p>\n

We are the critters of the mighty Ponderosa!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Deer and Elk, coon and rabbit,<\/p>\n

Cartwrights are their names,<\/p>\n

Snarin\u2019 and killin\u2019 are their habits<\/p>\n

But all of us have ended their game<\/p>\n

We are the critters of the mighty Ponderosa!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam and Ben rode home in silence, neither man wanted to talk about what had happened to them at the line shack. In truth, neither man was sure if anything really had happened. Adam knew his rear end was sore, and his black trousers had a piece missing in the exact spot where his butt hurt. Adam glanced at his father and said not a word. Ben seemed lost in his own world, and Adam wondered what his father was thinking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Pa?” Adam rode up beside Ben and reached out to touch his father\u2019s arm. Ben jumped when he felt Adam\u2019s hand touch him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I\u2019m sorry, son, I was thinking\u2026You don\u2019t suppose\u2026”started Ben and then shook his head. “No, I know I\u2019m not dreaming, I\u2019m here, out in the middle of nowhere, cold, tired, angry at your brothers and I hurt all over\u2026This isn\u2019t a dream\u2026is it Adam?” Ben pulled Buck to a stop and turned to face Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stopped his horse and rubbed his behind. “More like a nightmare, Pa, than a dream. It sure feels real at least to my butt it does, but how? They sure didn\u2019t teach us anything in college about things like this.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben gently kicked his horse forward. “Let\u2019s ride, maybe those two young scamps are home by now. I didn\u2019t see anything going on at the shack, except for those\u2026no, I\u2019m just going to pretend that never happened,” said Ben and stopped once again. “Adam, I think it would be best if neither of us said anything about this to anyone, especially your brothers.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I agree, Pa.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam smiled at his father, glad that they were in agreement with each other. He would just have to let Hop Sing think he had ripped his trousers on a nail or something, he knew the little man would find the hole in his pants when the laundry was washed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Adam and his father arrived home it was very late. Quickly they put their horses in the barn and cared for their needs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I\u2019m going to bed, son, I suggest you do the same. We will worry about your brothers in the morning. For now we know they are safe at the shack.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben left Adam in the great room and slowly climbed the stairs to his room. When Adam heard his father\u2019s bedroom door close, he reached for the brandy bottle. Not taking the time to find a glass, he turned it up to his lips and swallowed several large gulps.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I could take up drinking after a night like this,” he told himself as he placed the stopper back on the bottle and returned it to its place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam climbed the stairs, each step taking more effort than the last. All the while, Adam rubbed his sore bottom and tried to find a logical explanation for what he had seen and heard earlier. As he approached Joe\u2019s room, he paused and opened the door to peer inside. The room was spotless; Hop Sing must have found the mess and cleaned it up after they had left to search for the two missing boys. Adam turned to close the door and caught his reflection in the mirror; he looked pale, tired, and haggard. When Adam turned his head from the mirror, he saw his reflection looking back at him and suddenly the face in the mirror winked at him. Adam quickly slammed the door shut and standing in the hall drew his breath in deeply, trying to fill his lungs. The only thing that Adam could figure was that he had downed the brandy much to quickly and now his mind was fogging from the strong drink. Practically running to his room and wanting this night to end, he quickly stripped his clothes and with nothing more than the flesh on his bones, crawled into bed and fell into a fitful sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam awoke to the bright sun shining through his window. Surprised that he had slept later than normally, he quickly rose from his warm bed. When he was standing on his feet, he stretched, it had been a long night and sleep had not come easy for the young man. He kept having visions of run away boys and talking animals, self images that winked at him, yes, it had been a long night and now Adam wasn\u2019t sure if he could tell what had been real and what had not been real.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam filled the large wash bowl with the fresh water that Hop Sing had left earlier that morning and washed the sleep from his eyes and shaved. Today was Thanksgiving and already delicious aromas were emitting themselves from the kitchen and making their way up the stairs. It all smelled wonderful to Adam and he could not wait to meet his family at the table.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2018Better hurry,\u2019 thought Adam to himself as he reached for a clean pair of black trousers and started to pull them on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Oh damn,” swore Adam to himself as he turned his backside to the mirror to see what had caused the pain in his rear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam turned so that he could view his backside in the mirror and was surprised to see the large bruise that was on his right cheek. Gently he rubbed the sore spot and suddenly remembered that a talking turkey had bitten him. \u2018<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No, just a turkey,\u2019 he told himself, \u2018just a plain everyday old gobbler, turkeys do not talk. Turkeys do not talk, turkeys do not talk,\u2019 he repeated to himself over and over as he walked from his room and down the stairs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Adam reached the table, his father sat alone sipping his coffee. As Adam sat down, Ben looked up and greeted his son with a bright smile.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Good morning, sleepy head. Did you sleep well?” Ben said, appearing to Adam to be just a little too cheerful.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Not really, did you?” Adam sipped his coffee and watched his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yes, thank you. I slept like a log, nothing bothered me all night, not even those old hoot owls that have roosted in the trees outside of Joe\u2019s window,” smiled Ben.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was having trouble thinking clearly and decided not to bring up the subject of what had happened the previous night. His father seemed different this morning; perhaps he was making a great attempt to put the incident behind him so Adam decided that he had better do the same. He didn\u2019t want anything to spoil today.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Sure smells good in here, don\u2019t you think, Pa?” Adam asked, trying to make conversation and keep his mind moving forward instead of retreating backwards.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Most certainly does. I hope Hop Sing fixed enough, you know we have lots of company coming today?” Ben said and wiped his mouth and stood. “Well, better get busy, I want everything finished before everyone starts arriving.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll go start my chores and then we can go\u2026” started Adam and then stopped not sure whether to mention his missing brothers or not.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cGo where, son?” questioned Ben, turning to look at his son.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Umm, go\u2026get cleaned up,” Adam stammered and reached for his hat and left for the barn before his father could question him further.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Adam opened the barn door and walked in, he was surprised to see both of his younger brothers tending to their regular chores. He stopped in his tracks as he surveyed the barn and saw that all of his brothers\u2019 critters were back as well, each in their own little cages. Without a word to either of his siblings, Adam walked to the rear door of the barn, opened it and stuck his head out. The pen where the old tom had been kept for fattening was empty. Adam stood where he was and did not say a word, thousands of thoughts and unanswered questions poured into his mind, causing him to shutter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hey, Adam,” called Hoss who had been watching his older brother ever since he had come into the barn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss tossed Joe a worried looked and Joe held his hands up, questioning the eldest Cartwright son\u2019s peculiar behavior.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam,” repeated Hoss, “Are ya okay?” Hoss asked and stepped closer to Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“What? I\u2019m sorry, Hoss, what did you say?” Adam turned from the door and closed it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“He said are ya okay?” Little Joe answered for Hoss. “Ya sure are actin\u2019 funny this mornin\u2019,” he added.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I\u2019m okay, what happened to the turkey?” Adam asked as he started his chores.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Aw, Adam, don\u2019t ya remember what today is? It\u2019s Thanksgivin\u2019. Hop Sing dun rung that ole gobbler\u2019s neck and got him on acookin\u2019,” beamed Little Joe.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The rest of the morning and afternoon became a blur to Adam. He finished his chores and decided to join his father for an early lunch. Things just didn\u2019t seem right to him and he found himself questioning his sanity. He remembered drinking the brandy late last night. Perhaps that was the cause for these strange feelings he was having. At any rate, coffee would help so he made his way to the house.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben was reading his paper, and smoking his pipe when Adam entered. \u2018He looks so rested,\u2019 thought Adam. \u2018I wish I felt that way.\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hey, Pa. I see the boys made it home,” smiled Adam as he went to the kitchen for his coffee. Minutes later he returned and sat in his favorite chair opposite from his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben lowered his paper and watched Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“The boys returned? Where did they go?” Ben wondered out loud.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s face took on a startled expression. “Where did they go? You know where they went.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Adam, son, if I knew where they went, I wouldn\u2019t have to be asking you, now would I?” said Ben, wondering what was going on with his oldest. It wasn\u2019t like him to seem so addled.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam stared at his father. No words were forthcoming for several seconds.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Pa, I think I\u2019ll go lay down for a spell. If I\u2019m not up in a couple of hours, will you waked me before our guests start arriving?”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Of course son, have a nice nap. You do look sorta beat, son. Are you sure you\u2019re feeling okay?” Ben was concerned about his oldest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“I\u2019m fine, thanks.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And with that, Adam went to his room and stretched out across the bed falling instantly to sleep.\u00a0 An hour later Adam was awoken by the sounds of the first guests arriving in the yard. He hurried to make himself presentable and joined his father downstairs. His brothers were already welcoming the first arrivals and Hop Sing began immediately to bring the meal to the table. It was only a matter of minutes before the rest of the company arrived and Ben asked that they all gather around the table, each taking their designated seats. Little Joe and Hoss had worked for hours on making name cards for the table and they were more than willing to help each guest find his or her place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was the last to be seated at the opposite end of the table from his father. As he started to sit down, he noticed the small pillow that had been placed in his seat. Turning questioning eyes at his father, Ben smiled slightly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Just in case you\u2019re still sore from where that turkey nipped you in the bud last night when you went to give him his last meal.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam returned the smile with a weak smile of his own and sat down.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He glanced around the room and smiled in satisfaction, it really was turning out to be a good day. And then one guest opened his mouth to speak; Adam\u2019s mouth dropped opened as he turned startled eyes in the direction of the speaker. The voice he heard sounded just like the sound make by the\u2026no\u2026not the talking turkey!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tom Turkish was an old friend of Ben\u2019s and living alone he had been invited to join them for the holiday. Adam cast wary eyes around the table, Martha Goosenberry sat across from Hoss, Stumpy Haire, his wife, Bunnie, and three of their children sat on the other side of the table. Adam swallowed hard, Rick Koon, a close friend of his brother Hoss, had also been invited, and with him was another friend known to all that knew him as \u2018Hambone\u2019 Boarman.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam looked at the last guests, Mr. and Mrs. Egbert McShiken, who had only been in Virginia City a few months. They had opened a small bakery in town and Hoss had quickly made friends with the couple and had insisted that he be allowed to invite them to Thanksgiving dinner. His father had agreed, and now as Adam scanned the table, he knew why each guest seemed to have jarred a memory in his mind.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam reached for his wineglass and not waiting for his father to make a toast, downed it in one swallow and quickly refilled his goblet. Without wanting to bring attention to him self, with his napkin he swiped at the beads of sweat that had suddenly and without notice formed on his brow. Realization had set in, what he had experienced the night before had been a dream, no, thought Adam; a nightmare would be more like it. Each guest and family member had played a part in his nightmare beginning from Joe\u2019s screams that the animals were going to kill all of them. Finally, the missing pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben bowed his head and gave thanks to the Almighty for bringing together his friends to share in a wonderful Thanksgiving with his family. As he finished the prayer he looked at each of his sons and smiled, silently adding his thanks for their being.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben stood and picked up the carving set. It was one that had been in his family for as long as he could remember. He jabbed the fork into the turkey and that precise moment, Little Joe yelped out as if in pain.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2018Gobble, gobble, gobble,\u2019 he cried and was quick to follow with his infectious laugh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben frowned at his youngest but felt the corners of his mouth twitch before erupting with his own laughter. The guests had joined in laughing as Little Joe fought to stay in his chair.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No one noticed how Adam\u2019s hands trembled slightly as he held the platter for his father to place the carvings on. That is, no one except Hoss. He gave Adam one of his gapped tooth grins and burst out singing, Little Joe quick to join in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On this land, they put their brand<\/p>\n

Cartwright was their name.<\/p>\n

They killed our friends,<\/p>\n

And ate our kin,<\/p>\n

But they\u2019ll ner\u2019 do that again!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Brothers Hoss and Joe<\/p>\n

They both know<\/p>\n

A plan to save the day<\/p>\n

They worked it out a special way<\/p>\n

Now Pa and Adam\u2019ll hav\u2019ta pay.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bear and Boar and how many more?<\/p>\n

Have fought to stay alive.<\/p>\n

With a gun and a rope, And a hat full of hope,<\/p>\n

They hunted us down from here to town,<\/p>\n

We are the critters of the mighty Ponderosa!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Deer and Elk, coon and rabbit,<\/p>\n

Cartwrights are their names,<\/p>\n

Snarin\u2019 and killin\u2019 are their habits<\/p>\n

But all of us have ended their game<\/p>\n

We are the critters of the mighty Ponderosa!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss and Little Joe bowed as the captivated audience clapped and cheered their enjoyment of the little song that the boys had performed. Ben shook his head, sporting a large grin on his face. \u2018Those boys of mine never cease to amaze me,\u2019 he thought as he finished with the turkey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had paled considerably and leaned back against the chair. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. \u2018This can\u2019t be happening,\u2019 he thought as he recognized the melody from what he believed to be his dream. \u2018If this day would only end now, I would be the happiest man on this ranch.\u2019<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nudged Adam in his side, snapping Adam back from his thoughts. He returned the smile that Hoss gave him and passed the turkey on to his father\u2019s guests. Ben threw him a puzzled look and Adam simply shrugged his shoulders. Curiosity got the best of him and he leaned over to Hoss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Answer one question for me, please,” he seemed to beg his younger brother.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss nodded and waited for Adam to continue.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Where did you and Little Joe learn that song?” asked Adam, almost afraid to know the answer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 laughter filled the room, bringing silence to the table. In between bouts of laughter, Hoss managed to reply.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t ya remember, Adam? Last week Little Joe and I wanted to surprise Pa with a jingle and you offered to help when we done got stuck for words.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam closed his eyes and then opened them slowly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Yea, now I remember.” was all that was said as the two younger brothers burst into another round of giggles. This time Adam, feeling immensely relieved, joined in as well.<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

November 2001<\/p>\n

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:<\/strong> Adam Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0 Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and something isn’t quite right…Adam fears that his favorite holiday will be a disaster…and he has no one to blame, except Hoss and Little Joe.<\/p>\n

Rated G \u00a0WC 10,250<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9052,"featured_media":8571,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prequels","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1406,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Ben-dining.jpg?fit=327%2C322&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1588,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1588","url_meta":{"origin":12279,"position":0},"title":"Thanksgiving (by the Giggly Sisters)","author":"The Giggly Sisters","date":"August 20, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0The lack of a turkey puts the Cartwright's Thanksgiving celebrations in jeopardy, but the Giggly Sisters help them to reflect on the true meaning of the day. 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