{"id":14984,"date":"2000-09-14T13:56:34","date_gmt":"2000-09-14T17:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14984"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:04:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:04:41","slug":"too-good-a-day-by-starlite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14984","title":{"rendered":"Too Good a Day (by Starlite)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0How do the Cartwrights enjoy a nice spring day?<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/strong>\u00a0 G (2,050 words)<\/p>\n

Too Good a Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright looked up from his ledgers for the fifth time in the last fifteen minutes.\u00a0 The fresh fragrant warm air drifting in from the open window above the desk made his mind wander.\u00a0 Trapped indoors while working on the books was not the thing to be doing on such a lovely spring day.<\/p>\n

Taking a deep breath, he closed the ledgers and stacked them to the side of his desk.\u00a0 Today was a good day to be outdoors enjoying the countryside he reasoned.<\/p>\n

Taking purposeful strides he moved towards the sideboard near the door and buckled on his gun belt and grabbed his hat.\u00a0 As he reached for the door handle he paused.\u00a0 What would the boys think of him playing hooky?\u00a0 He wondered, as he’d chastised them often enough for shirking their responsibilities.<\/p>\n

Glancing back to the confining space occupied by his paper-strewn desk, he sighed.\u00a0 Then a thought struck him, he’d take his sons their lunches, that way he’d have plausible excuse for avoiding the paperwork.\u00a0 Not to mention, getting a nice ride out around the Pondersosa in the warm inviting sunshine.<\/p>\n

Turning around, Ben made his way to the kitchen.<\/p>\n

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

Hoss grabbed and pulled out a split rail from the back of the buckboard.\u00a0 Taking a few steps back from the wagon, he threw it onto a pile not far from the break in the boundary fence.<\/p>\n

Closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, he stretched his arms to work out the strain in his shoulders that was starting to form from hauling the timber from the wagon.\u00a0 In mid stretch he opened his eyes as he heard a flock of geese fly overhead.<\/p>\n

Fascinated, Hoss continued to watch the migrating birds until they were out of sight.\u00a0 As he returned his attention to the task of unloading the heavily laden buckboard, a small movement caught his notice from the corner of his eye.\u00a0 There stood a small little fawn, he couldn’t discern whether it was a buck or a doe.\u00a0 In wonder and awe he watched the little thing as it watched him.<\/p>\n

Slowly he lowered himself to a sitting position on the ground, not wanting to frighten the little creature off.\u00a0 He had no idea how long he’d been sitting there when he spotted off to the side of the little deer, a small rabbit.\u00a0 Shortly the rabbit was joined by a couple of tiny fuzzy offspring.<\/p>\n

Hoss was enthralled as he watched the small little bunnies learned how to hop and munch on the wildflowers that were plentiful this wonderful spring day.<\/p>\n

Wood rails and fence repair, were soon forgotten as Hoss enjoyed the sights and sweet smells of this wonderful spring day before him.<\/p>\n

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

Adam rode his horse, Sport, at a nice canter up along the boundary fence north of where he’d left his brother Hoss.\u00a0 He was checking for any additional breaks which had formed over the winter which would need repair before they could move the herd back north for grazing.<\/p>\n

The warm day was making him sleepy and he stopped momentarily to remove his jacket.\u00a0 The mild sun felt good on his face and body, inhaling he smelled the intoxicating aroma of fresh clean air and pine.<\/p>\n

Refreshed, he decided there was no rush with his chore of checking the boundary line.\u00a0 He knew Hoss wouldn’t be expecting him back to help with fixing the fence until lunchtime.\u00a0 And Little Joe, he didn’t expect to see him until it was time to head home.\u00a0 Joe was supposed to check on the herd and then help his brothers with the fence, but knowing his baby brother, Adam wasn’t planning on Joe showing his face until the work was done.<\/p>\n

Deciding to indulge himself for a change, Adam pulled a small leather bound volume of poetry out of his saddlebag.\u00a0 Throwing his right leg over the saddle horn, he encouraged his mount into a nice slow pace while he read.<\/p>\n

Glancing up occasionally he continued with his tedious chore and enjoyed the nice invigorating spring day.<\/p>\n

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

Little Joe Cartwright chuckled to himself as Cochise side stepped along the edge of the herd.\u00a0 The sight of all the fat and sassy newborn calves amused him as they danced and played around their mothers.<\/p>\n

This year’s winter had been mild and the herd was in good shape.\u00a0 This would be a very good year for the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

Sitting tall in the saddle, Joe glanced around to enjoy the vista that was his home.\u00a0 The snow still capped the mountains, which were accented by evergreen trees that were tall and majestic.\u00a0 The scent of wildflowers and spring was definitely in the air.<\/p>\n

Joe considered briefly just finding a nice shade tree and wasting the day away.\u00a0 Then he remembered back to this morning when he and Adam had tricked Hoss into the chore of unloading the wagon.\u00a0 He couldn’t believe that Hoss had never discovered that he and his brother always wetted their fingers in preparation before lighting the match.\u00a0 Poor Hoss, almost burnt his fingers this time, Joe shook his head at the memory.<\/p>\n

Then again, he figured he also didn’t want to get old bossy Adam mad at him this early in the season either.\u00a0 Adam, in his opinion, had been uncharacteristically nice to him lately.\u00a0 He’d even covered for him last week when he had disappeared to go to town for a quick beer and a game of cards.<\/p>\n

Adam was definitely an enigma to Joe.\u00a0 One minute Adam was complaining about him not pulling his weight around the ranch and doing his part, then the next he was helping to cover for his misbehavior.\u00a0 Joe frowned and wondered if he’d ever understand that oldest brother of his.<\/p>\n

“Well Cochise, better go and help with the fence.”\u00a0 Joe grumbled to his horse, as he patted the animal’s neck then spurred him into a smooth gallop.<\/p>\n

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

Ben Cartwright rode to the area of the fence that his sons would be working today.\u00a0 He scanned the area and noticed that Adam and Joe’s horses weren’t nearby, which meant his two other sons were still off on their other respective tasks.\u00a0 He was shocked to see a nearly full buckboard by the fence and his middle son nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n

Looking quickly around, he found his middle son planted firmly on the ground in a cross-legged sitting position watching small animals playing in the distance.\u00a0 In wonderment, his heart warmed at the sight of his overgrown boy.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head then stifled a chuckle when he thought back to this morning; when yet again, Hoss’s two brothers had conned his big innocent and trusting son into the task of unloading the buckboard.\u00a0 Knowing that Adam and Joe would never intentionally hurt their bigger brother’s feelings; he was still amazed that Hoss never caught onto their tricks.<\/p>\n

As quietly as possible, Ben made his way over to where his middle son sat.\u00a0 Hoss was so engrossed in the sights before him he never heard his father approach.<\/p>\n

Standing over the younger man, Ben Cartwright waited a few moments before taking a large breath and bellowed, “Hoss Cartwright, just what do you think your doing?”<\/p>\n

Hoss almost jumped out of his skin at the sound of his father’s voice booming down upon him.\u00a0 Taking a large swallow, he turned a panic-stricken face upward to look at his father who towered over him.<\/p>\n

“Ah, hi Pa.”\u00a0 Was all that Hoss could say before swallowing once again, as a sheepishly guilty appearance overtook Hoss’s face.<\/p>\n

Hoss was bewildered by his father’s reaction, when Ben broke out into a large smile and began to laugh heartily.<\/p>\n

“Here son, let me give you a hand up.”\u00a0 Ben offered as he extended his right hand out to his large son.\u00a0 He was thoroughly enjoying the puzzled expression displayed upon Hoss’s face.<\/p>\n

Still a little stunned, Hoss grabbed the offered hand with his large mitt and was pulled easily to his feet.<\/p>\n

“So, where’s those two brothers of yours?”\u00a0 Ben questioned.\u00a0 Reaching around to slap his son on the back in a playful and loving manner, then clasping a hand onto Hoss’s large shoulder.<\/p>\n

Realizing his father had just been joshing with him, Hoss shrugged a response.<\/p>\n

“Don’t know, they ain’t come back yet.”<\/p>\n

“Tell ya what, why don’t you and I take a little break and have some lunch while we wait for those two scalawags to return?”\u00a0 Ben stated, as he untied his saddlebags heavily laden down with sandwiches from his horse.<\/p>\n

Throwing the bags over his shoulder and grabbing a canteen, Ben walked by his son down towards the bank of the nearby river.<\/p>\n

Hoss was a little confused, but he definitely liked his Pa’s suggestion.\u00a0 Nodding his head, he followed to join his father.<\/p>\n

Reaching the edge of the stream, the two men sat to enjoy a leisurely lunch.<\/p>\n

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

Joe Cartwright rode up to the place where he had left his big brother.\u00a0 He easily found the partially loaded buckboard, but no brother.\u00a0 Glancing around he found his father’s horse tied to a nearby tree.<\/p>\n

Panicked, he quickly jumped down from his mount and began to search the area fearing that his brother had been injured.\u00a0 His fears were quickly allayed when he found both his father and brother stretched out by the bank of the river.<\/p>\n

Stunned, but slightly amused, he stood over his father and brother with his hands on his hips.\u00a0 Both men appeared to be dozing in the nice warm sunshine.<\/p>\n

“Ahem,” Joe uttered while clearing his throat.\u00a0 It wasn’t often he caught his father goofing off.\u00a0 In fact, this was the first time his father had, as far as he knew.<\/p>\n

“Ah, Joseph, nice of you to join us.”\u00a0 Ben smirked as he sat up.<\/p>\n

Ben reached into his saddlebag that lay nearby and retrieved a wrapped parcel.\u00a0 He handed it up to his slightly astonished youngest son.<\/p>\n

“Here, have a sandwich.”<\/p>\n

Joe took the proffered package.\u00a0 Then shrugged as he sat down on the other side of his father to partake of his lunch.<\/p>\n

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

About an hour later, Adam rode up at a smooth canter.\u00a0 He had surveyed the entire fence line and found no other breaks which was a blessing.\u00a0 He stopped his horse abruptly at the scene before him.<\/p>\n

There sat the buckboard with most of its load still on the wagon.\u00a0 Joe’s horse was grazing nearby ground tied, and Buck, his Pa’s horse was tied to a tree.\u00a0 But his family was nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n

Cautiously, Adam dismounted to survey the situation carefully.\u00a0 There didn’t appear to be any signs of foul play, nor could he find any evidence of someone being injured, which would’ve required his father’s assistance.\u00a0 Still a little disconcerted, Adam broadened his scope to study the surrounding area for clues as to his father and brothers’ whereabouts.<\/p>\n

He was not amused with what he found.\u00a0 There lying by the bank of the river was his father, with Little Joe on his left side and Hoss on the right.\u00a0 Both Joe and his Pa’s shirttails were leisurely untucked.\u00a0 He noticed that Hoss and his father both had their hands propped behind their heads as they rested, and Hoss even had his right leg crossed over the other.\u00a0 All were stretched out napping and enjoying the warmth of the spring day.<\/p>\n

“Like father like sons,” Adam muttered to himself at the spectacle before him.<\/p>\n

Hearing their big brother’s baritone voice.\u00a0 Hoss looked up and grinned then winked.\u00a0 Joe just smiled his most impish smile, knowing that Adam couldn’t get mad because their Pa was with them.<\/p>\n

Well if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, Adam concluded.\u00a0 Afterall, he too was a Cartwright son.\u00a0 Finding a nice spot next to his brother Hoss, Adam reclined onto the soft inviting grass.<\/p>\n

Tipping his hat down to cover his eyes to shield them from the warm sun, Adam relaxed his body and took a deep breath of the warm inviting fresh spring breeze.\u00a0 A thought occurred to him just before dozing off with the rest of his family.<\/p>\n

“This was too good a day to waste on work.”<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Tags:<\/strong> Family<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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Summary:\u00a0How do the Cartwrights enjoy a nice spring day?<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 G (2,050 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10520,"featured_media":1805,"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],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1107,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/laketahoe.jpg?fit=960%2C640&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2748,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2748","url_meta":{"origin":14984,"position":0},"title":"The Dreaming Eagle — Book 2 — Through the Shadows (by Hooded Crow)","author":"Hooded Crow","date":"January 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Adam has a hard time with his father still disapproving of his love, he is torn apart by his loyalty to the Ponderosa and his desire to live his own life, be his own man. 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