{"id":15473,"date":"2017-11-21T18:00:54","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T23:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15473"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:40:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:40:36","slug":"blessings-of-friendship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15473","title":{"rendered":"Blessings of Friendship (by AC1830)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>After a last minute cattle drive that almost drove Hop Sing away, can the Cartwrights hope to have a calm Thanksgiving? Perhaps with a little help from some friends.<\/p>\n

Rating – K\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Word Count – 1288<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Blessings of Friendship<\/strong><\/p>\n

Calm had finally settled over the Ponderosa. \u00a0Afternoon rays of sun peeked through the pines, creating patterns on the ground all around the ranch house. \u00a0It had been a difficult Autumn with much rain and a last minute November cattle drive to San Francisco. \u00a0All four Cartwrights ended up going as well as Hop Sing as chief cook, since some of the hands were already gone for the winter. <\/span><\/p>\n

Finally back at home, the five men felt they would never get clean from the mud and water they had encountered but the drive was successful. \u00a0They had sold the cattle at a good price and would now have the funds needed to purchase some grazing land in the Spring. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss lumbered down the stairs to join his family by the fireplace while they waited for dinner to be served. \u00a0They\u2019d only been back home for two days so were trying to settle in before the holidays and snows began. Joe was sitting on the settee, nibbling on an apple, his feet resting comfortably on the table. \u00a0He stared at the dancing flames in the fireplace as he spoke.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho are we going to invite to our Thanksgiving dinner this year Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben put his pipe down and addressed his son. \u201cJoseph, kindly remove \u00a0your feet from the table.\u201d \u00a0As soon as Joe complied, Ben continued, \u201cWe\u2019ll just have Paul and Roy this year. \u00a0I promised Hop Sing we\u2019d keep it simple.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss lowered his big frame down to the hearth. \u00a0\u201cYeah, after all that happened on the \u00a0drive I\u2019m just thankful Hop Sing is still with us. \u00a0I thought fer sure he\u2019d be in China by now and I\u2019d be wastin\u2019 away from starvation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Resting a book of poetry on his lap, Adam couldn\u2019t resist a jab at his brother. \u00a0\u201cIt would take more than a few days for you to waste away Big Brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone chuckled except Hoss who frowned. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey, ain\u2019t no laughin\u2019 matter. \u00a0I really thought Hop Sing was a goner when that boulder rolled over the chuck wagon after the mudslide.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but it was the flood that had me spooked. \u00a0When I saw him floating down that river, and I couldn\u2019t get to him fast enough…\u201d \u00a0Joe let his voice trail off and threw his apple core into dancing flames. \u00a0\u201cGood thing older brother was there with his lasso.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam nodded, \u201cAfter we got him out and dried off, it was all I could do to keep him from staying in San Francisco when we got there.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s dark eyes looked at each one of his sons. \u201cAnd don\u2019t forget, one of the promises we had to make to him was no more cattle drives for a year and a simple Thanksgiving meal. \u00a0So we\u2019ll just have Roy and Paul over.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Joe sat straight up and snapped his fingers. \u201cHey I just remembered. \u00a0They\u2019re bringing a couple of lady friends with them.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?? \u00a0You\u2019re kidding, right?\u201d \u00a0Adam nearly dropped his book.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNah, it\u2019s true. Straight from the horse\u2019s mouth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAhem.\u201d \u00a0Ben cleared his throat and glared at Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry Pa. \u00a0Yeah, Roy asked me if it would be alright when I was in town yesterday. \u00a0He said to keep it quiet and that both ladies would be a surprise to us but I got a feeling he knew something we wouldn\u2019t like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it\u2019s probably that Paul and Roy don\u2019t want to be seen with any lady friends. \u00a0It would sure start the tongues to wagging.\u201d \u00a0Adam said as he stretched out his long legs toward the fire. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hoss stood and stretched his back then moved away from the hearth. \u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re just afraid, older brother, that they might be bringing some lonesome female to hitch up with you.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey wouldn\u2019t do that…would they?\u201d \u00a0Joe nearly sprang off the settee, his green eyes flashing. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou boys have some mighty suspicious minds.\u201d \u00a0Ben puffed on his pipe, an amused expression on his face. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPa you don\u2019t understand what it\u2019s like having nearly every mother or father in town trying to get one of their daughters, nieces, cousins or whatever married to one of us. \u00a0All they want is to get a rich husband for them.\u201d \u00a0Joe\u2019s voice rose about two octaves.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben put his pipe down and laughed. \u201cIt\u2019s not that bad boys.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Being the more logical one, Adam tried a different approach. \u201cYes, but Pa you do understand though, since a certain someone has tried to rope you at the town dances a few times.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben went pale and his black eyes glared at Adam. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough! I need to speak to Hop Sing about the menu. \u00a0You boys best stop your own tongue waggin\u2019 and get to your chores\u201d. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYessir\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOk Pa\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHrmph.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Thanksgiving Day arrived and the Cartwright household was in near chaos. \u00a0After Hop Sing\u2019s near fatal cattle drive experience, the family wanted to help him all they could. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ben took on the role of director, telling his sons what chores to do to help Hop Sing get the food ready. \u00a0Hop Sing allowed Adam in the kitchen to help with chopping, since he, being the oldest, could be trusted not to nibble or steal food. \u00a0Hoss and Joe were relegated to chopping wood and fetching whatever Hop Sing needed. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, the four Cartwrights were all in such a tizzy over who the ladies were that were coming for dinner that none of them could focus on their assigned tasks for long. \u00a0After the diced carrots were knocked to the floor, the kindling scattered outside the kitchen door, and a few dishes were dropped, Hop Sing finally lost his patience with all of them. \u00a0\u201cYou go far away and leave dinner to Hop Sing! \u00a0Go now or I go to China and never come back!!!\u201d \u00a0Muttering in his native language he began to clean up the mess and get back to preparing the meal. <\/span><\/p>\n

The men scurried and found other places to be away from the house for the next two hours. <\/span><\/p>\n

When Hoss\u2019 stomach started rumbling the family decided it might be safe to return to the house and get ready for dinner. <\/span><\/p>\n

Once they were cleaned up and dressed in their best suits, the Cartwrights settled in the living room to await their guests. None of them was willing to bring up the subject of their guests so they waited in silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sound of horses in the yard and a loud knock on the door almost had the men jumping out of their skins. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hop Sing shuffled out of the kitchen shaking his head at the skittish grown men. \u00a0He opened the great wooden door and cheerfully invited their guests inside. \u00a0Four pairs of eyes widened in surprise at seeing Daisy Slade on Roy\u2019s arm and Clementine Hawkins on Paul\u2019s arm. \u00a0No one moved until Hop Sing happily announced that dinner was ready and invited everyone to sit at the grandly decorated table. Once Ben regained his senses and calmed his nerves, he offered an opening toast. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo the blessings of friendship.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone lifted their wine glasses in cheerful agreement. <\/span><\/p>\n

That meal turned out to be one of the best Thanksgiving dinners the Cartwrights had ever had. The conversation was light and full of laughter, compliments over the meal and desserts filled Hop Sing with pride. <\/span><\/p>\n

After their guests returned to town, father and sons helped their cook and friend clean up, thus sealing the fact that the venerable cook wouldn\u2019t be going back to China any time soon. \u00a0Hop Sing\u2019s heart was so full of joy he knew he couldn\u2019t think about leaving anytime soon. Well, at least not until Mr. Cartwright asked him to join another cattle drive. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Happy Thanksgiving to All<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Ben Cartwright,\u00a0Hop Sing,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n

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

Summary: After a last minute cattle drive that almost drove Hop Sing away, can the Cartwrights hope to have a calm Thanksgiving? Perhaps with a little help from some friends.<\/p>\n

Rating – K WC – 1288 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8333,"featured_media":15475,"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_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1953,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Z-ben-toast.png?fit=506%2C402&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23255,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=23255","url_meta":{"origin":15473,"position":0},"title":"The Englishman and His Wayward Horse (by Sierra Girl)","author":"Sierra Girl","date":"August 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: It should have been a routine cattle drive. 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As one strange event after another occurs about them, the Cartwrights are drawn into the web of mystery surrounding the man. 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