Written for the 2016 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Tournament.<\/p>\n
Summary: \u00a0An unexpected guest brings a lot of surprises to the Cartwright brothers. \u00a0A story told by a twelve-year-old Joe.<\/p>\n
Rated: \u00a0K\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word Count: \u00a03265<\/p>\n
Aunt Tilda<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cHey, Mitch, you\u2019ll never guess what happened,\u201d twelve-year-old Little Joe called out to his friend as he slid from his horse. \u201cHoo boy, it’s a story you won’t believe!”<\/p>\n Mitch\u2019s whole freckled face showed his eagerness to hear his friend\u2019s story right away \u2014but experience said it would be better if the two friends shared their secrets out of earshot of their parents. Therefore, he only winked at Joe and called out in his best well-behaved-boy-voice, \u201cIs it all right, Ma, if we go sit in the shade under the apple tree? I’m not feeling sick anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n And it worked even better than expected. Five minutes later, the friends not only sat by themselves under the tree but also had a pitcher of fresh-made lemonade and a plate of cookies between them.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened, Joe? Tell me. Is your father back from the round-up? Did he bring you something interesting?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he came back yesterday, but that\u2019s only a part of the story,\u201d Joe waved his cookie dramatically in the air. \u201cLet me tell you from the beginning. It all started two days before yesterday:<\/p>\n \u201cMe and Hoss were eating breakfast when we heard a buggy drive into the yard and leave again right away. We were puzzled \u2018cause we weren\u2019t expecting guests. Then we heard strange noises, like the clanking of metal and the shuffle of dragging something. I thought it was a cannon or som\u2019in and I ran to the gun rack. Had to defend our home, right? But just when I’d unlocked the safety chain someone called, \u2018Boys, come out and help me inside. It\u2019s me, Aunt Mathilda.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you didn\u2019t shoot her, Joe. Your father doesn\u2019t like for you to use the rifles, and anyway, shooting an aunt would earn you a tanning fer sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNah, I didn\u2019t, even though I wasn\u2019t sure if this aunt-woman was any better than a robber with a cannon. Hoss wasn\u2019t either, I think. I guess he also wished Adam was there. He might at least know something about an aunt we two had never heard of. So we were real careful as we went out to look at her.<\/p>\n \u201cThere she was: a white-haired woman, small as a bird, trying to drag a trunk up to the house. But it was too heavy.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know Hoss, he never can resist lending a helping hand, and so both of them were in our parlor a moment later: the small woman and the trunk. Boy, that trunk was nearly bigger than she was.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Hello Ma\u2019am, howdy. Nice to meet you,\u2019 Hoss grinned but he did nothing else. But I remembered my manners and brought her a glass of fresh water, thinking she\u2019d appreciate that after the journey. And really, she smiled at me and said, \u201cYou are just as helpful and well-mannered as your father described you. The both of you. I\u2019m very glad to be here. Benjamin did tell you about my visit, didn\u2019t he? He isn\u2019t here now, is he? He has to work with the cattle, as he wired me, but he said the three of you were here. He wanted to wire you that I would come to stay for a while, but those modern technics sometimes just don\u2019t work. As goes the saying, cobbler, stick to thy last. But there are only two of you. Where is your older brother? Is he well?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018He\u2019s out on the range, but he will be back this evening.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018On the range? Well, fresh air is so healthy, it will be good for him.\u2019 Then she turned round and said, \u2018The house is much bigger than your father told me–but then he was never a braggart.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018I can show you the guestroom. And you, Hoss,\u2019 I nudged him in the side, \u2018can bring the luggage there.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018What did you call your brother? Hoss?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018It\u2019s my nickname, Ma\u2019am.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018So I will use it too, and you may call me Aunt Tilda. How about that?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWhat were we supposed to do? We agreed; and Hoss hauled her trunk into the guest room. He let it down with a mighty thump and again we heard that rattling. Hoss and I eyed the trunk\u2014there was a mystery hidden inside, fer sure. But Aunt Tilda shoved us to the door and said, \u2018It was curiosity that killed the cat. When the time’s right I will show you what\u2019s inside, but not now. Now, my dear boys, is the moment to give me a little privacy.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAfter a while, she came out of her room, wearing an apron, and asked for the kitchen. Boy, Hoss\u2019s eyes haven\u2019t shone that bright for a long time, not since Hop Sing went out on the drive, and Hoss couldn\u2019t because he\u2019d sprained his ankle.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd when the old lady continued, \u2018It seems I\u2019m a surprise guest here, so on this first day, I will bake a cake for us. I think I can find everything I need in your kitchen. A few berries would be a lovely addition, though\u2026\u2019 You\u2019ve never seen Hoss moving quicker, even on his sprained ankle, as he grabbed a basket and said he\u2019d be back in a spell with the best blueberries in the whole country.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeems ta me, that there aunt of you was a pretty good surprise, Joe. When I\u2019m not just sick my mother gives us cookies or cake only on Sundays.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I thought so too,\u201d Joe nodded. \u201cAt first. While she mixed up the batter we chatted, and suddenly she said she thought I was bigger. You know I don\u2019t like being called small, and I got real angry but then she said, \u2018But it\u2019s not important, your father told me you are the smartest of his sons and will someday follow in his footsteps.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat lady is real smart! I always knew Adam’s no brighter than you. All he knows is books, stuff no one needs out here. What happened next?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe’d just sat down at the table when the door opened and Adam came in.<\/p>\n \u201cHe looked right dumb when he saw the woman who just served the cake and said to him, \u2018Oh Sweetie, how good you are home, I\u2019ll fetch you a plate. Sit down. Don\u2019t worry about me, I\u2019m your aunt Mathilda.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been without a cook for more than a month, so Adam\u2019s right eyebrow twitched only for a second, then he shrugged and accepted a huge piece of cake with whipped cream. Mitch, I tell you: the cake was delicious.<\/p>\n \u201cTrouble was, the first bite must have gone down the wrong way, ’cause he had a coughing fit that just didn\u2019t stop\u2014until aunt Mathilda thumped him on the back, over and over and \u00a0calling him \u2018my poor Sweetie\u2019. All Adam could do after he stopped coughing was mumble, \u2018Thank you.\u2019 And she pinched his cheek and said, \u2018You\u2019re welcome, Sweetie.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWow, that doesn\u2019t sound much like him, does it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was so out of breath, he was nearly helpless, I guess,\u201d Little Joe said with a mischievous grin. \u201cThe rest of the evening something was wrong with his voice. It just sounded raspy and small, even when he asked her\u2026you know, like this, with at least three coughing fits breaking it up, \u2018You are\u2014cough, harrumph\u2014our father\u2019s\u2014cough\u2014sister\u2014cough\u2014ma\u2019am?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe looked at him with a pitiful face and put her hand on his, \u2018Oh no, Sweetie, your father never had a sister. Don\u2019t you know that?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Yes, I know\u2014cough\u2014but I wonder\u2014cough\u2014how…\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Wondering is the first step to understanding, Sweetie,\u2019 she said, giving Adam a reassuring smile. \u2019I\u2019ll try to explain it to you.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cShe couldn\u2019t have seen him rolling his eyes because she was so engrossed in drawing lines on our tablecloth with her fork while she was explaining. Finally she poked the fork at two points and said, \u2018You see, my mother and your father\u2019s grandmother were sisters. Do you understand that?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Adam opened his mouth to answer and started again with a \u2018harrumph\u2019, she interrupted him, \u201cDon\u2019t overdo it, Sweetie. Let us call this a day and go to sleep. We’ll see each other at breakfast. Good night, boys.\u2019 And then she went into her room. I took a piece of cake with me and read my new dime novel in bed. Oh boy, it\u2019s a good one. I\u2019ll lend you it when I\u2019m finished.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe next morning she made us a great breakfast, with pancakes and sweet bread,\u201d Joe smacked his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful not to tell Hop Sing, Joe, you know how he feels about that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not an idiot, he is our<\/em> cook, remember. But that breakfast was really something. Adam was outside telling the hands what to do, as each morning when Pa isn\u2019t here, so me and Hoss started to eat.<\/p>\n \u201cOur guest smiled and said, \u2018I\u2019m glad you like my cooking. But today we have to discuss a serious matter.\u2019 She waited until we looked at her. \u2018Your future! That\u2019s the reason why I\u2019m here. When can we talk?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Maybe after work and barn chores,\u2019 Hoss answered. \u2018About six o\u2019clock.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Is your brother usually back from the range then, too?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we both nodded, she said, \u2018Six o’clock, then. I found so many dirty clothes, I think I\u2019ll be occupied today in the washing house doing the laundry. As the saying goes, there is no time like the present. The water should be hot by now. See you later then, boys.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I don\u2019t know about you, but for me, when an adult says in the morning that she\u2019ll see you at six o\u2019clock, it means a day off, right?\u201d<\/p>\n When his friend nodded, Joe continued, \u201cSo I went to the old mine. You know, the one with the half collapsed doorway and the small natural tunnel at the right side where we saw something glittering the last time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Another nod.<\/p>\n \u201cI went in deeper than ever, Mitch, and I brought this out.\u201d Joe pulled out of his left pocket a fist-shaped stone that glittered golden in the sunshine.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s only quartz, Joe,\u201d a disappointed Mitch mumbled after a closer look.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Mitch, but it\u2019s good that now we know fer sure there\u2019s no gold in the mine, especially after what happened. I scraped my knees and ripped my trousers when I crawled back\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s too bad. But still, I\u2019d have liked to go with you. Darn cold!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s better for you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you get in trouble for it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNah, not really. But Adam knows I was in the mine. When I came home I got rid of the torn trousers and changed into clean ones, but she<\/em> found it out right away. Maybe because the laundry basket was empty now, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWomen always notice things like that. My mum does it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe fussed a lot but not over the bloodstains and holes in my clothes like Hop Sing would but about my knees. She washed them, and put that stinging tincture on them, and then, because I was a \u2018brave boy\u2019, she gave me some real good candies. And as I sat there, sucking a candy and letting my knees dry, Adam came in and made this face of his as if he\u2019d like to tear me into little pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d have laughed if I hadn’t been so scared. It looked so funny when the little lady scampered between us, trying to keep him away from me and quiet him down.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Calm down, Sweetie, I have candies for you, too. You needn\u2019t steal his. Please.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018You don\u2019t understand. There are spider webs on him. Clearly, he\u2014again! It\u2019s dangerous, you know, he could be seriously hurt. Dead. I\u2019m responsible for him\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Sweetie, a little spider won\u2019t harm your brother. And look, there aren\u2019t any cobwebs.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI thought Adam would explode when he shouted, \u2018I just found his coat in the barn, covered in cobwebs and dust. I know what that means! Our father warned him more than once.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Sweetie, why would your brother wear a coat, it\u2019s so hot here. But you are right, he should have put it away last winter. No wonder it\u2019s stained with cobwebs and dust. I\u2019ll wash it right now, and everything will be fine. Your father won\u2019t be angry with your untidy little brother.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cRight then Hoss came in from the barn.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Oh Hoss, here you are, we waited for you. Now we can all go into the kitchen and I\u2019ll show you what I brought for you in my trunk.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to ignore the glance Adam shot at me as I passed him on the way to the kitchen. Anyway, what was in there was far more interesting: on the table and on all counters were laid out a lot of things: rolling pins, forms, tablets, spoons, things like that, all made of metal, and a bunch of small bottles with liquids in different colors.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018This could be your future, Hoss,\u2019 she said, waving her arms at all the tools.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Kitchen things, ma\u2019am?\u2019 I\u2019ve never seen Hoss\u2019s face get any longer.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Have a better look, Hoss. These are all the things you need to make candies. Like those over here. Try them, they are freshly made. My grandfather and my brother earned their living with it. The best candies you\u2019d find at any fair. I spoke to your father, and he thought he might even have enough money to buy you a little shop in town, so you don\u2019t have to travel. How does that sound?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018A candy store\u2026,\u2019Hoss scratched his scalp, and then his face brightened slowly.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018The most important thing is this.\u2019 She gave Hoss a little book, like a journal. \u2018In here are my grandfather\u2019s secret recipes for all his famous candies. You should have a look at them while I show your brothers what I\u2019ve got for them. That\u2019s all in the great room.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf your brother had a candy store now that would be great!\u201d Mitch interrupted. \u201cAnd what did she bring for you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA math book. To learn to balance the ranch books.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, shucks. Well, perhaps you\u2019ll need that once you’re running the Ponderosa,\u201d Mitch tried to console his friend. \u201cAnd what did she have for Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe grinned. \u201cThat was the best! She asked him to sit down with her on the settee and then she said to him in a very high voice, \u2019Look Sweetie, you are twenty years old now\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Twenty?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Surely you remember your twentieth birthday, don\u2019t you?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Oh yes, I do if I try very hard.\u2019 You know Adam\u2019s almost twenty-five.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018See, if you try hard you can. Fine! Your father told me you\u2019re quite bashful with women and in certain things a little\u2026slow. So I thought for a long time about a bride for you. And I found one.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018A bride?\u2019 Adam nearly jumped.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Yes. I have a picture of her. She isn\u2019t very young anymore but a truly good cook. The two of you could have a cozy home. She will even inherit a small house. I think you don\u2019t want children in your\u2026condition but\u2014hm, how do I tell you\u2014if it happened, she would certainly be a good mother, too.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never seen Adam as stunned as then. He was absolutely speechless, sitting on the settee and holding a daguerreotype of a motherly woman in his hands.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Do you like her, Sweetie?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really good for her that in that exact moment the door burst open, and our father came in. We\u2019d been so spellbound by everything, we didn’t even hear his horse. I was so happy he was back and couldn’t wait to tell him the news. \u2018Look, Pa, who\u2019s here. Aunt Tilda! And she has a bride for Adam and a candy shop for Hoss!\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI thought they would hug each other, but they stood still and stared. Eventually Aunt Tilda said, \u2018You look fine, Benjamin. More grey and\u2026certainly a lot bigger than I remember you.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018And I don\u2019t remember you at all, ma\u2019am,\u2019 Pa said. \u2018I\u2019m sorry. Did you say you are my cousin?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cShe was just sitting on our settee, shaking her head with her mouth wide open.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Not a cousin,\u2019 Adam said. \u2018She\u2019s your aunt, Pa, and our grandaunt. I can explain it to you.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cThen Adam started to make a lot of lines on the tablecloth with his nail, but Pa only furrowed his brows and said, \u2018What are you trying to tell me, Adam?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe \u2018Sweetie\u2019 was a little annoyed about everything that had happened those past two days, and so he said, \u2018Oh Pa, it\u2019s not so difficult to understand, she is your grandmother\u2019s niece\u2014from the Cartwright side.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s never good to use that<\/em> tone with our father, and for sure not straight after a cattle drive. Pa\u2019s brows drew together, and he thundered, \u2018You\u2019d better be a little more respectful, boy. And don\u2019t talk such nonsense. My grandmother was an only child! I never thought you were so stupid.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then the argument started for real.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018How am I supposed to know that, Pa? You never told me! It\u2019s your fault I don\u2019t know anything about my relatives.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018I\u2019m sorry I forgot to include in your education a lesson about your great grandmothers non-existing siblings. I see now it was very thoughtless of me to forget that crucial detail!\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018When did you ever\u2026\u2019<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Sorry,\u2019 this little voice interrupted Adam. \u2018I\u2019m not sure I heard right. You did say Carter side<\/em>, didn\u2019t you?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cMy father\u2019s and my brother\u2019s head snapped around.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018No, he said Cartwright<\/em>. I\u2019m Benjamin Cartwright.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAt that the old lady almost fainted. We carried her back to her bed in the guestroom. That was yesterday. This morning, after a hearty breakfast, we took her to Carson City, where her real family lives.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see, on her way there, she fell asleep, so instead of in Carson, she got off the stagecoach in Virginia City\u2014but didn\u2019t notice it. She hired old Bill Miller to take her to her family, and you know how deaf he is. She told him she wanted to go to Benjamin Carter, and he understood she wanted to the Cartwrights. That\u2019s how she wound up at the Ponderosa. I think Hoss was really sad, though, that her plans for his future weren’t going to come true, but she told him she would teach him making candies anyway. When she went inside she said, \u2018As the saying goes, all is well that ends well.\u2019 And then she smiled and closed the door.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBoy, Joe, that sounds like a right fairy tale. Is it really true?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can show you the house of this Benjamin Carter in Carson City. And the math book. My father ordered a copy for me to study for the rest of the school break.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s bad. What\u2019s about our gold-seeking? My mother said that from tomorrow I can do anything I like again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, we can still do it. The math won’t take too much time, and I\u2019ve found another place we\u2019ve never seen before. I only promised Adam not to go back to that one mine…\u201d As he threw away the worthless quartz, Little Joe\u2019s emerald eyes sparkled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Words drawn: \u00a0\u00a0bashful, spider web, round up, quartz, bloodstain<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n