{"id":14838,"date":"2017-07-22T23:18:55","date_gmt":"2017-07-23T03:18:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14838"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:41:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:41:08","slug":"obscuration-by-psw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14838","title":{"rendered":"Obscuration (by PSW)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/strong>WHB for Winter Kill. Returning from Montana, Ben, Hoss, and Joe witness a rare natural phenomenon. Written to celebrate today’s total solar eclipse — those two and a half minutes may possibly be the very coolest thing I have ever seen.<\/p>\n

Rating: K Word Count: 1899<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Obscuration<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what do you think, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright hid a smile.\u00a0 The question had been thick in the air since he, Hoss, and Joe had left Matt Canderson\u2019s little spread in northeastern Montana nearly an hour ago.\u00a0 The only surprise, really, was that it had kept for this long.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t<\/em> surprised which of his sons had finally broken.\u00a0 Joseph hadn\u2019t nearly the patience of his larger brother\u2014not even this more responsible, more mature version of his youngest son that had been slowly appearing over the past years.<\/p>\n

He pulled Buck up and waited for Chubb and Cochise to circle back around.\u00a0 Truthfully, he still wasn\u2019t sure what<\/em> he thought \u2026 but they had to try something<\/em>, and this seemed as logical as anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they all make a good case.\u201d\u00a0 He turned and peered back the way they had come, although they could certainly no longer see anything of the ranch behind them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but what do you<\/em> think?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shrugged and nudged Buck into a walk.\u00a0 Hoss and Joe fell in on either side.\u00a0 \u201cI think we can\u2019t afford to keep losing stock to winter kill like we have, and neither can any of our neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really think these Montana cattle will do it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, they sure seem to survive the winters here well enough.\u201d \u00a0Hoss leaned forward to peer around Ben.\u00a0 \u201cBetter numbers all around than what we\u2019ve been havin\u2019.\u00a0 Seems like there\u2019s sure gotta be somethin\u2019<\/em> keepin\u2019 them alive through the cold season.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey certainly seem hardy enough,\u201d Ben agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe wasn\u2019t arguing, really.\u00a0 Ben suspected he was more tired than anything, and unable to work up much enthusiasm one way or the other right now for the potential project.\u00a0 They were all<\/em> tired, after such a long trip and so many stops in so many corners of Montana, and in no good shape to be making decisions about anything that would affect the strains of their larger herd (and possibly those of their neighbors as well).\u00a0 It was why he\u2019d insisted on making this a fact-finding mission only.\u00a0 If bringing in cattle from Montana to breed into their stock still seemed like the best alternative after they were home and rested, they could either go back next year or pay someone to bring some number of cows to them.\u00a0 Maybe he was being overcautious, given the distance and time involved \u2026 but there were other avenues to try, and \u2018most expensive\u2019 or \u2018most effort involved\u2019 didn\u2019t always translate to \u2018the best\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we\u2019ll talk about it more tonight, once we camp,\u201d Ben finally offered.\u00a0 \u201cI want to get some distance behind us yet today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

They made good time for the next several hours\u2014enough that Ben was torn when they topped a hill and found themselves looking at a nice little lake lying in the valley below.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t as late as he\u2019d planned to travel (probably no more than three thirty), but the small body of water was clear and inviting, and Ben decided suddenly that they all deserved a little rest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t we stop there for tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

His boys were surprised, but neither of them argued.\u00a0 They were as worn out as he, even without the extra thirty years added on.\u00a0 Joe squinted as they started down the hill.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it getting a little dimmer out here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben frowned, peering around them.\u00a0 Everything looked the same to him\u2014hot and sun-drenched.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t see how it could be.\u00a0 There\u2019s barely a cloud in the sky.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss snorted.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe you\u2019re just catchin\u2019 up with your elders, little brother.\u00a0 Won\u2019t be able to see any better than any of the rest of us before long.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNah.\u201d\u00a0 Joe cackled softly, nudging Cochise down the hill.\u00a0 \u201cCan\u2019t be that.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the time they reached the lake, however, it had become abundantly obvious that not only were Joe\u2019s eyes not failing, but they were still far better than either his father\u2019s or his brother\u2019s.\u00a0 A murky \u2026 gloominess, for lack of a better word, was definitely settling across the land, visible to Ben and Hoss now as well.\u00a0 Ben dismounted at the near bank and patted Buck as the horse lowered his head to drink, peering uneasily around them.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm coming in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Hoss protested, \u201cyou said it yourself.\u00a0 There ain\u2019t a cloud out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what is it?\u201d Joe snapped, stuffing his gloves in his saddlebags with unnecessary vigor.\u00a0 \u201cIt doesn\u2019t just get dark while the sun\u2019s out!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben stilled Hoss\u2019s comeback with a quick hand, determined to end the fight before it began.\u00a0 His sons were obviously feeling the same apprehension that had settled into his own gut, but wrangling over the obvious wouldn\u2019t get them anywhere and would only put him into a bad mood.\u00a0 Hoss grumbled softly, but kept whatever he had to say to himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that, Joseph.\u00a0 And yet \u2026\u201d\u00a0 Ben waved a hand at the land around them, and realized that he was forced to squint in order to see it clearly.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t dark<\/em> \u2026 but it was<\/em> like twilight under a full sun.\u00a0 Like he was peering through a darkened window pane.<\/p>\n

Like the dull discoloration before the most severe of storms that they had experienced while traveling by wagon across the broad, flat plains so many years past, when hail and even tornadoes might strike with very little warning.<\/p>\n

There were no clouds<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was squinting around them, blue eyes flickering uneasily between sky and land.\u00a0 \u201cYa think we should find shelter?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t know what to think.\u00a0 This was something completely outside his experience \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cIs anybody else \u2026 a little cooler?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sounded tentative, as if he hated to bring one more unexplainable factor into play, but Ben had already noted the decreasing temperature for himself.\u00a0 Nothing drastic, but he was definitely not so hot as before, nor sweating as profusely.\u00a0 He shivered, though the action had nothing to do with the temperature around them, and gathered Buck\u2019s reins.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and yes.\u201d\u00a0 He nodded across the lake.\u00a0 \u201cThere are trees on the other side.\u00a0 We\u2019ll head over there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow will that help?\u201d Joe demanded.\u00a0 Ben ignored his youngest son\u2019s tone.\u00a0 The boy didn\u2019t mean anything by it.\u00a0 It was simply Joe\u2019s way to grow angry when frightened.\u00a0 Ben couldn\u2019t blame him\u2014he was becoming uncomfortably close to frightened himself, as the laws of nature appeared to be bending around them.\u00a0 Of course, he would normally not tolerate such a tone directed at him<\/em> \u2026 but now did not seem the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, but let\u2019s go there all the same.\u201d\u00a0 He leveled a glare over Buck\u2019s back, cutting off whatever protest was on the tip of Joe\u2019s tongue.\u00a0 The boy just didn\u2019t always know when to stop \u2026\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, unless you have something constructive to say, keep it to yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

His son\u2019s jaw clenched, but the head of tangled hair nodded.\u00a0 \u201cSorry, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Joe gathered up the pinto\u2019s reins, and tugged Cochise along after Chubb and Buck.<\/p>\n

They were maybe halfway around when darkness fell.<\/p>\n

It was sudden, not the gradual dimming of the past minutes.\u00a0 Cochise threw up his head, nickering, and Joe called out sharply.\u00a0 \u201cPa!\u201d\u00a0 A flock of birds rose in a rush from the trees, their dark shapes seething across the water.\u00a0 The horizon and the lake itself glimmered with a pale light, as if reflecting earliest dawn.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss this time.\u00a0 Ben turned sharply, and stared up into a solid black circle surrounded by glowing, hazy halo, and the confusion cleared in one brilliant, glorious rush.<\/p>\n

He laughed aloud, feeling foolish.\u00a0 Anxiety swept away in a rush of giddy delight.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn eclipse!\u201d\u00a0 Ben seized Joe\u2019s shoulder and shook hard.\u00a0 \u201cBoys, it\u2019s an eclipse of the sun!\u201d\u00a0 He gaped into the sky and felt tears of awe well into his eyes, marveling at the shimmering white tendrils. \u00a0Just to the right, the tiny point of a star shone in the late afternoon sky.<\/p>\n

That he should see such a thing \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s \u2026 what is that?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019s nose wrinkled as he thought.\u00a0 \u201cThe \u2026 the moon\u2019s coverin\u2019 the sun?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben dropped Buck\u2019s reins and reached for Hoss\u2019s shoulder as well, thankful that his buckskin was more placid than the excitable pinto.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, exactly.\u201d\u00a0 He eyed the darkened heavens, pointing out two more stars.\u00a0 \u201cOne of the older sailors on my first ship, when I was a cabin boy, saw a total eclipse near Philadelphia when he was very young\u2013he didn\u2019t remember many specifics, but he described the sun just as we see it here.\u00a0 I was terribly impressed with the story, but I never thought \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben fell silent, drinking in the sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen!\u201d Joe whispered.\u00a0 \u201cIs that \u2026 crickets?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was.\u00a0 The chirp of the night creatures was hesitant, confused, but there was no mistaking it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoys, this is \u2026 this is something we won\u2019t see again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s hand came up to grip his shoulder, and Hoss\u2019s wide grin gleamed in the weird darkness.\u00a0 \u201cLook at them birds, Pa.\u00a0 They still don\u2019t know which end\u2019s up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t think Cooch does, either,\u201d Joe laughed, releasing Ben to pat his horse firmly, murmuring beneath his breath.\u00a0 The pinto snorted, clearly not appeased.\u00a0 Before Cochise could work himself up further, however, a shaft of searing light edged the white halo\u2014and suddenly the darkness lifted, as quickly as it had come.\u00a0 Cochise snorted and shook his head, settling.\u00a0 The crickets stilled.\u00a0 The birds\u2019 frantic circling slowed, and they began to settle back into the trees.<\/p>\n

Ben stepped away from his sons, peering around them.\u00a0 \u201cIt seems so bright.\u00a0 I would imagine it\u2019s no better now than it was right before it went dark \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed, and rubbed Chubb\u2019s dark neck briskly.\u00a0 \u201cWe know better now, though, right?\u00a0 Heck, it don\u2019t look dim at all anymore.\u00a0 Good boy, Chubby.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do at that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands, <\/em>Ben thought with deep satisfaction.\u00a0 He patted Buck and whispered a few words of approval into the black-edged ears.\u00a0 Then he eyed the brightening lake and the blue sky, laughed, and pulled his horse back around.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell \u2026 I suppose we don\u2019t need to hide in the trees anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~<\/p>\n

Historical note:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A total solar eclipse occurred in North America on August 7, 1869.\u00a0 It entered the United States near Simpson, Montana, and moved southeast.\u00a0 Given the timing of Winter Kill in the series (Season 12), I thought this might work out \u2026 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

A total solar eclipse also occurred in North America on June 24, 1778, and could be seen near Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

The lighting and temperature descriptions in this story come from our own observations during today\u2019s eclipse.\u00a0 The animal observations (other than the horses, which I just kind of made up :-P) were adapted from the reports of a friend today, and from online descriptions of the 1869 eclipse.<\/p>\n

I know that eclipses could be predicted at this time and before \u2026 but I don\u2019t know how widespread that information might have been, or how likely people outside the path of totality (or \u2018belt of obscuration\u2019, as it was called in the 1800s) would be to know one was coming.\u00a0 In watching today\u2019s eclipse, we were curious how it would be to experience a total solar eclipse without actually knowing it was coming \u2026 and I got to kicking it around, and so this little story was born.<\/p>\n

Historical eclipse info taken from Almanac.com and Pantagraph.com.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s bible verse is Psalm 19:1.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Ben Cartwright,\u00a0Family,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: WHB for Winter Kill. Returning from Montana, Ben, Hoss, and Joe witness a rare natural phenomenon.<\/p>\n

Rating: K Word Count: 1899<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10468,"featured_media":14837,"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":[23,616],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-whb","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-616-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1363,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/IMG_2291.jpg?fit=1194%2C1200&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":46851,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46851","url_meta":{"origin":14838,"position":0},"title":"The Voice (by Imogene)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"November 24, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0A voice visits Joe during the night Rating:\u00a0 G Words:\u00a0 1,520","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6506,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6506","url_meta":{"origin":14838,"position":1},"title":"One Shot (by rh2006fan \/ HeatherF)","author":"heather","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0\u00a0 A normal trip to the saloon turns tragic. I wrote this back in the summer, you may need some tissues with this too... Warning: Character death Rated:\u00a0 T (1,450 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/coming-soon-9.jpg?fit=320%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12288,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12288","url_meta":{"origin":14838,"position":2},"title":"Renewal (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"July 1, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0When Joe becomes sick with cholera and his life slowly begins ebbing away, Ben's faith is put to the test. Rated: \u00a0G (8,690 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11320,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11320","url_meta":{"origin":14838,"position":3},"title":"Blink of an Eye (by Cheaux)","author":"Cheaux","date":"December 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Missing scene from Season 7\u2019s \u201cThe Fighters\u201d written by Robert L. Goodwin Rating: \u00a0T \u00a0\u00a0Word Count:\u00a0 792","rel":"","context":"In "Ben \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Ben \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1015"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/The-Fighters.png?fit=929%2C608&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/The-Fighters.png?fit=929%2C608&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/The-Fighters.png?fit=929%2C608&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/The-Fighters.png?fit=929%2C608&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3136,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3136","url_meta":{"origin":14838,"position":4},"title":"Resolution from Despair (by Rona)","author":"Rona","date":"November 10, 2004","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A WHN for the episode Shanklin, tying up some of those loose ends.\u00a0 Rated:\u00a0 T \u00a0 (10,215 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/ontheporch.jpg?fit=400%2C320&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":63574,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=63574","url_meta":{"origin":14838,"position":5},"title":"The Snake (by JoanS.)","author":"JoanS","date":"March 16, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A snake causes chaos in the Cartwright house. Rating\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a02,140 words","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14838","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\/10468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14838"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14838\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14837"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}