{"id":12700,"date":"2016-03-16T22:12:45","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T02:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12700"},"modified":"2026-08-10T14:16:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T18:16:19","slug":"rescuing-the-stillness-by-bluewindfarm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12700","title":{"rendered":"Rescuing the Stillness (by BluewindFarm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0 WHN for The Stillness Within.\u00a0 Was it really that easy to understand and accept?<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (905 words)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Rescuing the Stillness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Last night I embraced a future; a future different from any I had ever imagined.\u00a0 I had actually decided that I would leave my home, the only home I\u2019d ever known, to begin anew.\u00a0 All because of the darkness that greeted me when I regained consciousness after that dang cat caused the nitro we were storing to explode.\u00a0 That moment destroyed any hope I had of remaining here on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Yet, in my darkest hour of self-pity, Miss Dobbs gave me a purpose, a reason to live, to see how my life could influence and be used as an example for others.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through her stubborn determination, Ellen Dobbs taught me how to see beyond the limitations of my sightless eyes.\u00a0 She restored my hope that there was a life for me beyond the walls of my bedroom.\u00a0 This woman showed me the real meaning of courage, and it had nothing to do with my fists pummeling someone senseless.<\/span><\/p>\n

But this morning, my new future shattered as I woke and raised my hand to my face; my eyes hurt.\u00a0 Sitting up, I vaguely recognized a different shade of grey and then darkness.\u00a0 I closed my eyes and moved; slowly I dared open them again.\u00a0 Standing, my room looked the same as I remembered.\u00a0 Had this all been a dream?\u00a0 No, the emotions were too raw. \u00a0Cautiously I walked across the floor to the mirror on the wall; I just had to know \u2013 was I really seeing?<\/span><\/p>\n

With my hands flat on the mirror, my eyes focused on the image staring back at me. \u00a0The words, \u2018a beautiful sight\u2019, echoing in my mind had nothing to do with being vain.\u00a0 I could see.<\/span><\/p>\n

My life had changed again. \u00a0The first person I thought of was Pa \u2013 he had to know.\u00a0 \u201cPa!\u00a0 PA!\u201d \u00a0He and Hoss rushed to my doorway.\u00a0 Turning, I counted six steps, as Ellen had taught, and looked into Pa\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 \u201cPa, I can see.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pa had aged; his face showed the stress of these last few months.\u00a0 Disbelief and hope washed over him as he reached out and wrapped me in his arms.\u00a0 Moments later, he questioned me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs good as before,\u201d I tearfully answered.<\/span><\/p>\n

And then I thought of Ellen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe I am vain. \u00a0I can\u2019t imagine how Miss Dobbs must have felt when I ran to the porch, calling for her, declaring \u2018no more counting steps or being useless\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

I hadn\u2019t known, but now I do.\u00a0 Ellen will never get the chance\u00a0to experience the joy I woke to this morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

*****<\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting in the rocking chair with my eyes closed, surrounding me was the noise of a working ranch; sounds I was oblivious to before Miss Dobbs arrival.\u00a0 Counting my blessings, the images and the colors were still there when I opened my eyes to look out over the yard.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tracks from the buggy are still fresh on the ground.\u00a0 Pa left a few hours ago to take Miss Dobbs to town so she could catch the stage tomorrow morning to return to her home.\u00a0 Her services and skills were no longer required on the Ponderosa; and there are plenty of people at the Institute for the Blind who were in desperate need of her talent.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Pa returns, I\u2019m sure Doc Martin will be following along, regardless the hour.\u00a0 And I know I should be\u00a0the good boy<\/em> and submit to Paul\u2019s poking and prodding; Lord knows how much trouble I was to him and my family.\u00a0 They know and I know, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss hasn\u2019t said much; he\u2019s been content to sit on the deck over there whittling away.\u00a0 Our relationship had deteriorated, ever since that morning I woke to find everything black.\u00a0 Gripping the arm rests tighter, who’m I kidding; I’m sure he remembers every darkened day I experienced and every darkened word I spoke.\u00a0 I hated everyone I cared about and tried my best to push them away.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t know what it was like.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want their pity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeems to me ya gone and forgot.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me?\u201d\u00a0 the bitterness in my voice just slipped out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStop stewin\u2019 on what\u2019s botherin\u2019 ya.\u00a0 Just spit it out.\u201d\u00a0 He didn\u2019t look up while whittling a piece of wood.\u00a0 \u201cTrouble shared is trouble halved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s Hoss.\u00a0 I hope he understands.\u00a0 \u201cI wasn\u2019t much of a brother to you or a role model for Jamie, wasn\u2019t much of a son either.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYa had cause.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I saw him look sideways, the corner of his mouth turned a grin.\u00a0 \u201cBut Miss Dobbs, she helped ya get past that anger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what did I do, once I could see?\u00a0 I insulted and belittled her!\u201d\u00a0 My chest heaved at the memories from this morning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYa didn\u2019t know, Joe.\u00a0 Ya reacted from yer excitement to have your old life returned to ya.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss spoke patiently.\u00a0 \u201cAnd she said she didn\u2019t hold it against ya.\u00a0 She\u2019s happy for ya.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And she was.\u00a0 I could see it in her face.\u00a0 Though her eyes had betrayed her, they didn\u2019t betray me.\u00a0 She was happy for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have my sight back, but I\u2019ll always remember what she taught me; don\u2019t give up, keep fighting the good fight.\u00a0 I snickered at that thought.\u00a0 Gently I pushed back and forth; the rhythm of the rocker and the memory of Miss Dobbs gave me comfort.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYer at peace again.\u201d \u00a0Another sliver of wood flew through the air from Hoss\u2019 knife.\u00a0 “Ya ain’t fighting yourself no more.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting back to where we were before, was it really that simple? All I had to do is stop fighting myself, and everyone who loves me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I have more important things to do.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

~The End<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A\/N:\u00a0 This story began as\u00a0an idea submitted as part of the Little Bit Challenge.\u00a0 However, once I committed to expanding the story, my muse guided me to a much simpler moment between brothers.<\/span><\/p>\n

No Beta, just me and my muse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Story idea based on the episode: \u00a0The Stillness Within written by: Suzanne Clauser, Fred Hamilton, Authur Weingarten<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags: Hoss Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 WHN for The Stillness Within.\u00a0 Was it really that easy to understand and accept?<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K\u00a0 (905 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":440,"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":[23,1007,8,13],"tags":[1318],"class_list":["post-12700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-joe-cartwright","category-short-stories","category-whn","tag-the-stillness-within","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1007-id","wpcat-8-id","wpcat-13-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\/Joe-Hoss.jpg?fit=505%2C638&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12700","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\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12700"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12700\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/440"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}