{"id":14348,"date":"2001-12-15T13:39:24","date_gmt":"2001-12-15T18:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14348"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:05:10","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:05:10","slug":"christmas-presents-by-beckys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14348","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Presents (by BeckyS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong> \u00a0A last-minute shopping trip almost ends in tragedy. \u00a0Christmas morning finds all marveling in the blessing of family.<\/p>\n

Rating: \u00a0G \u00a0(2,740 words)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear Readers — \u00a0This story was written over fifteen years ago for my own pleasure, and I’m happy to share for others to enjoy. \u00a0I know some readers may wish\u00a0there was more, but is how I saw fit to write this story. \u00a0Since I no longer write Bonanza fan fiction, I ask that you honor my request to not post comments asking\u00a0for the story to continue.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Christmas Presents<\/strong> \u00a9 December 2001, 2017<\/em><\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright walked softly up the stairs, a cup of coffee in each hand.\u00a0 It was a cold winter morning, and in spite of the fire now blazing merrily in the fireplace, visible steam rose from the surface of both cups.\u00a0 He reached the landing and shifted the right-hand cup to his left, balancing them easily as he tapped softly on the first door on the left.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t hear any response, but chose to enter anyway.\u00a0 His eyes adjusted to the darkened room, and he discovered why the man in the bed hadn\u2019t heard him: uncharacteristically, he was sleeping on his stomach, his black hair almost completely covered by the comforter.\u00a0 The bedclothes were in a disarray more typical of his youngest, and one night-shirted arm was draped over the side of the bed, the long fingers nearly touching the floor.<\/p>\n

He set the cups on the nightstand, careful not to knock them against the music box and framed picture that had occupied that space for the last twenty years, minus the time his eldest had spent in Boston at school.\u00a0 With the hard-won wisdom of later years, he was glad he\u2019d lost the fight to keep Adam on the ranch \u2013 he knew now that if he hadn\u2019t let his son go back then, Adam would simply have left later and quite possibly never returned.\u00a0 Four years\u2019 absence had been hard to endure, but it was better than losing him completely.<\/p>\n

As he almost had yesterday.<\/p>\n

With small, gentle tugs, he pulled the comforter down to his son\u2019s shoulders, needing to reassure himself that Adam was, basically, all right.\u00a0 He\u2019d be hurting today, sore and bruised and stiff, but bruises healed and the painful, stiff muscles would loosen with rest and moderate use.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s face came into view, a map of all he\u2019d endured yesterday.<\/p>\n

The long, dark lashes rested on wind-chapped skin, and fatigue still gave his eyes a bruised look.\u00a0 The gash on his right cheek was a long, swollen weal, and fresh blood crusted the corner of his mouth where he\u2019d apparently broken open his damaged lip again in the night.\u00a0 The red and purple scrape on his forehead was angry-looking, but close inspection didn\u2019t reveal any sign of infection.\u00a0 It would soon turn a glorious rainbow of colors, though.<\/p>\n

Ben hadn\u2019t found any broken ribs or seen any indication of internal damage when examining his son after he\u2019d collapsed on entering the house last night, but he was still glad to note that Adam\u2019s breathing this morning was regular and deep.<\/p>\n

What a nightmare.<\/p>\n

What was supposed to have been one of the most joyous evenings of the year had been fraught with tension and outright fear when a winter storm had blown in unexpectedly before his sons returned from their last-minute Christmas errands in town.\u00a0 Hoss and Joe had staggered in not long before dusk, propping each other up across the yard from the barn and through the door.\u00a0 Ben had ushered them to sit on the hearth near the fire while Hop Sing sped to the kitchen and back for warm bowls of stew and hot coffee.<\/p>\n

Hoss had practically inhaled his meal, but Joe couldn\u2019t manage the spoon until he\u2019d held the warm mug in his hands for several minutes.\u00a0 Ben helped them out of their jackets and simply tossed the garments on the floor, a breach of house rules that brought a spark of humor to Joe\u2019s eyes.\u00a0 He was too cold to say anything coherent, but Ben knew he\u2019d hear about it later.\u00a0 He rubbed their backs, assuring himself that they were warming up, and that they\u2019d be all right.<\/p>\n

Then he\u2019d asked the question.\u00a0 Two words that brought the room to devastating silence.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s not here?\u00a0 His horse is still in the barn . . .\u201d Hoss dropped his spoon into his bowl with a clatter.<\/p>\n

Ben sank into the red chair.\u00a0 \u201cHe took the gray for new shoes \u2013 said he wanted to treat you both to lunch at the International House \u2013 a sort of an early Christmas present.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes widened with bewilderment and fear.\u00a0 \u201cWe didn\u2019t see him, Pa.\u00a0 Not at all.\u201d\u00a0 He traded a look with Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cIf he\u2019s out in that storm\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head and finished what his brother couldn\u2019t say.\u00a0 \u201cAin\u2019t no way we\u2019re gonna find him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben stared at them in shock.\u00a0 It was Christmas Eve \u2013 he couldn\u2019t lose his son on Christmas Eve . . .<\/p>\n

He rose suddenly and strode to the table by the front door, grabbed a muffler and wound it around his neck, then slid into his coat.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss lumbered to his side, still stiff from the cold.\u00a0 \u201cYou cain\u2019t go out there, Pa; you\u2019ll freeze to death!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m warmer and likely better fed than your brother,\u201d Ben retorted.\u00a0 \u201cYou two stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t go out there alone,\u201d Joe began, but Ben cut him off.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither one of you is going anywhere.\u00a0 You\u2019re half-frozen as it is, and you wouldn\u2019t last another ten minutes in this weather.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head slowly.\u00a0 \u201cYou won\u2019t neither.\u00a0 It\u2019s one of the worst snows we\u2019ve had.\u00a0 You go out there, and we\u2019re gonna be huntin\u2019 more than a brother tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben scowled in fury.\u00a0 \u201cSo you\u2019re telling me to forget Adam?\u00a0 To let him die out there in the snow so I can stay here warm and comfortable?\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe I\u2019m hearing this.\u201d\u00a0 He pulled his gloves on with fierce tugs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t like that at all,\u201d Hoss said stubbornly.\u00a0 \u201cYou know if there was any chance of findin\u2019 him, I\u2019d be first on the trail.\u00a0 But you ain\u2019t been out there.\u00a0 You cain\u2019t see more\u2019n a few feet in front of you, and that wind\u2019ll blow you right off o\u2019 your horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe had dropped his head in his hands, and when he spoke, his voice was muffled.\u00a0 \u201cHoss is right, Pa.\u00a0 You go out there now, and we\u2019ll lose both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou two don\u2019t seem to understand,\u201d Ben said furiously as he jammed his hat on his head.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t not<\/em> go.\u00a0 I can\u2019t leave Adam out there and not do everything within my power to find him.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t leave any of you out there.\u201d\u00a0 He twisted the knob on the door and jerked it open.\u00a0 \u201cEven if it kills me.\u201d<\/p>\n

And then he\u2019d seen a terrifying, wonderful shape approach the doorway through the storm.\u00a0 Snow-caked and staggering, his eldest fell into his arms.<\/p>\n

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~<\/p>\n

The gray was dead, ironically saving Adam\u2019s life in the process.\u00a0 They\u2019d fallen not a half-hour out from the house, and the horse\u2019s warm body had kept Adam from freezing to death as he lay unconscious.\u00a0 He\u2019d woken several hours later, but it was a couple more before he could pull his leg free and begin to stagger home through the worsening wind.\u00a0\u00a0 The storm didn\u2019t hit, he\u2019d told them in a brief moment of lucidity, until he was within view of the house, but it arrived with such bone-shaking strength that it had taken him hours to complete what was normally a ten-minute walk.<\/p>\n

Ben had allowed Hoss and Joe to help their brother upstairs, but after that he chased them from the room, insisting that he only needed Hop Sing.\u00a0 He tried to make it sound like he was concerned for their welfare \u2013 that they both needed rest after their own battle with the storm \u2013 but the truth was that he was furious with them.\u00a0 How could they abandon their brother?\u00a0 How could they believe he would abandon one of his sons?<\/p>\n

He gazed down at the man who slept so peacefully before him.\u00a0 It was Christmas morning, and he wished desperately for some of that peace for himself.\u00a0 He could only believe he\u2019d somehow failed to pass on that most important of all lessons, to love your family.<\/p>\n

He sighed deeply, then was faintly amused to hear the sigh echoed by his son.\u00a0 \u201cAdam?\u201d\u00a0 He waved one of the cups of coffee near his son\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n

It twitched, and the black eyebrows drew together in a sleepy frown.\u00a0 \u201cPa?\u201d came the muffled answer.\u00a0 \u201cS\u2019that coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben set the cup aside for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cSure is, son.\u00a0 Hop Sing fixed it up just the way you like it.\u201d<\/p>\n

A slow smile spread across Adam\u2019s face, and he blinked his eyes open.\u00a0 He looked around, not moving, and raised an eyebrow in question.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019d it go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust set it on the table for a minute while we get you turned around and a bit more organized.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d\u00a0 But then he tried to turn over, and his next words were lost in a groan.<\/p>\n

Ben helped him ease onto his back and added several pillows to prop him up.\u00a0 \u201cA bit sore this morning?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

That earned him another raised eyebrow, this one with a slightly more sarcastic tilt.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, a little.\u00a0 I think I\u2019ll just lie here a while until my arms and legs decide they belong to me.\u201d\u00a0 He reached out eagerly for the coffee as soon as Ben brought it into view.\u00a0 He sipped cautiously, but once he determined it wasn\u2019t blisteringly hot, he drank deeply.\u00a0 \u201cAhh,\u201d he sighed.\u00a0 \u201cThanks.\u00a0 All the way home, I kept thinking about a hot cup of Hop Sing\u2019s coffee, how good it would taste.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled.\u00a0 \u201cGlad I could bring you one, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sipped again.\u00a0 \u201cI wondered if I\u2019d make it, but somehow I just kept putting one foot in front of the other . . .\u201d\u00a0 He grinned suddenly.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe all that time on the trail.\u00a0 Kinda got to be a habit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s smile abruptly seemed forced.\u00a0 Adam set his cup in his lap and studied his father.\u00a0 With an instinct born of the years of hardship they\u2019d shared, he knew suddenly that something was very wrong.\u00a0 \u201cWhat is it, Pa?\u201d he asked softly.<\/p>\n

His father didn\u2019t answer for long minutes, but he held still and silent, patient in his waiting.<\/p>\n

Finally, Ben spoke, his voice harsh and cracked.\u00a0 \u201cI almost lost you.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was more, there had to be.\u00a0 \u201cNot the first time,\u201d he commented over his coffee cup, his tone encouraging his father to continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss and Joe,\u201d he began, but then stood suddenly and strode to the window to stare out at the snow.<\/p>\n

In sudden alarm, Adam set the cup down and raised himself up higher in the bed.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re all right?\u00a0 They got home, didn\u2019t they?\u00a0 I thought I saw them last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re fine,\u201d he snorted, then went on sarcastically.\u00a0 \u201cA fine pair, indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam settled back into the pillows a bit.\u00a0 \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head and returned to his chair.\u00a0 \u201cNothing.\u00a0 Nothing for you to worry about.\u00a0 You just rest up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Adam said, a clear warning in his voice.<\/p>\n

Ben sighed, not at all sure he was about to do the right thing.\u00a0 As angry as he was, he didn\u2019t cause trouble between his boys.\u00a0 He knew his eldest well enough, though, to be sure Adam wouldn\u2019t let go until he knew all the details.\u00a0 \u201cThey tried to keep me from going after you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course they did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s head jerked up.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t believe I\u2019m hearing that from you of all people, Adam!\u00a0 I raised you boys to care about each other!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam reached out, placed his hand on his father\u2019s knee.\u00a0 \u201cYou did, and we do,\u201d he answered.\u00a0 \u201cBut we care about you, too, Pa, and I can understand that, believing I had to already be dead, they couldn\u2019t face losing you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow could they have known that it was too late?\u00a0 It obviously wasn\u2019t, yet they gave up on you anyway.\u201d\u00a0 Ben rubbed his hands over his face.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m not trying to set you against them, son.\u00a0 I\u2019m just deeply disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam took a deep breath, trying to find the words that would help his father.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t be disappointed in them, Pa.\u00a0 You weren\u2019t out there \u2013 they were.\u00a0 They knew how bad the storm was.\u00a0 They knew that if I was still alive, I\u2019d likely found some place to hole up until the storm blew itself out.\u00a0 And if I hadn\u2019t, then chasing after me wouldn\u2019t have done any good, and would have gotten you killed as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben stared at him, unbelieving.\u00a0 \u201cAre you trying to tell me that you wouldn\u2019t have been the first one out the door to search for one of your brothers?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I would have.\u00a0 Just because I understand their perspective doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019d do the same thing.\u201d\u00a0 Then the smile faded from his face, and he shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d have been wrong, though.\u00a0 Pa, I was coming up from the gully.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sat back in his chair.\u00a0 The gully was in the opposite direction from town \u2013 he never would have found Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you would have died, looking.\u201d\u00a0 Adam\u2019s gaze was steady, unyielding.<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t have stayed home, son.\u00a0 I just couldn\u2019t have . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d\u00a0 A touch of a grin raised the uninjured corner of his mouth and a slight, teasing dimple appeared.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s something different in the way you feel about someone you\u2019ve diapered.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben stared at him, then started to laugh.\u00a0 The knot in his gut eased, and he realized his son was right.\u00a0 Hoss and Joe couldn\u2019t understand, wouldn\u2019t understand until they were fathers themselves.\u00a0 God willing, they\u2019d never have<\/em> to understand that gut-wrenching fear\u2014\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s just be grateful you found your way home when you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPunctuality pays off,\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n

They were still laughing when they heard a hesitant knock on the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome in,\u201d Adam called.<\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe sidled through the door, obviously sizing up their father\u2019s mood before speaking.<\/p>\n

\u201cUh,\u201d Hoss started, \u201cyou feelin\u2019 better this morning, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA few sore muscles, but I\u2019ll be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe snuck a look at Ben, and whatever he saw must have reassured him because he asked, \u201cWell enough to come downstairs?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam traded looks with his father.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s downstairs?\u201d<\/p>\n

Even Hoss snorted at that.\u00a0 \u201cChristmas, that\u2019s what!\u00a0 Durned if all that cold didn\u2019t freeze your brain.\u00a0 It\u2019s Christmas morning\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfternoon, actually,\u201d Joe interrupted.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014an\u2019 Hop Sing has dinner almost ready\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe jumped in again, \u201cAnd we haven\u2019t opened our stockings or any of our presents\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough!\u201d Ben roared.\u00a0 \u201cYour brother was almost killed last night, and today all you can think about is your presents?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe glanced at each other, then down at the floor.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not the presents,\u201d Hoss began uncomfortably.\u00a0 \u201cSee, we\u2019ve been sittin\u2019 downstairs starin\u2019 at the tree an\u2019 all them presents all morning and thinking\u2014\u201d he glanced at his oldest brother, but couldn\u2019t find the words to explain.\u00a0 He looked at Joe again.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes glimmered with unshed tears.\u00a0 \u201cWe were talkin\u2019 about what it would\u2019ve been like if Adam hadn\u2019t come home.\u00a0 How bad it would be if he died in that storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe figured we\u2019d never want Christmas again,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

Joe nodded.\u00a0 \u201cBut he\u2019s here, and he\u2019s gonna be okay\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss broke in with a smile that brought sunshine right into the room.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s the best present we could get, an\u2019 we want to celebrate.\u201d\u00a0 He looked dubiously at his older brother.\u00a0 \u201cIf\u2019n you\u2019re up to it, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grinned.\u00a0 \u201cOh, I\u2019m up for it.\u00a0 I may need a little help getting out of this bed\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He immediately had two helpers at his side.\u00a0 Joe pulled down the covers and got him sitting up.\u00a0 Adam tried to swallow a groan, but Joe knew him well and stayed at his side a moment, hand resting lightly on his shoulder, eyes shadowed with concern.\u00a0 Once he was sure his brother was all right, though, he turned to the dresser to find pants and a warm shirt.<\/p>\n

Adam reached for Hoss, who took his arm to help him to his feet, steadying him until he caught his balance.\u00a0 He winced at the various aches and pains, but managed a wink over his shoulder at his father along with a single word, \u201cDiapers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben moved out of the way and watched his two younger sons helping, no, coddling<\/em> his eldest.\u00a0 He smiled at how Adam, the most independent and self-sufficient of them all, allowed it.\u00a0 Adam \u2013 the bridge between them.\u00a0 Part father, part brother, seeing both sides because he\u2019d lived both roles all his life.<\/p>\n

The best present . . . <\/em>\u00a0No, he hadn\u2019t failed at all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
From the Brandsters\/Librarians — Any comments that do not respect the author’s wishes as posted above shall be removed.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Tags: Adam Cartwright, Angst, Ben Cartwright, Hoss Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0A last-minute shopping trip almost ends in tragedy. \u00a0Christmas morning finds all marveling in the blessing of family.<\/p>\n

Rating: \u00a0G \u00a0(2,740 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8546,"featured_media":5835,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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":[23,41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-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\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14348","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\/8546"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}