This story was written for the 2017 Advent Calendar – Day 22<\/p>\n
Summary:\u00a0 There’s disappointment when the Cartwrights can’t be home on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 1,600 words<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd all those who heard it\u00a0marveled at those things<\/strong><\/b>\u00a0which were told them by the shepherds.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Henry and Juliet appear\u00a0with permission from faust.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Christmas Magic Christmas Eve 1868<\/em><\/p>\n The Ponderosa ranch house–the sight of joyous and at times boisterous Christmas Eve celebrations throughout the years–was cloaked in softly sifting snow. \u00a0Drifts as high as the corral fence rippled across a front yard unmarked by hoof prints or sleigh tracks. Nary a candle lit the frosty windowpanes. \u00a0No wreath graced the solid oak door. \u00a0Neither the scent of hickory rose from the chimneys, nor pungent odors of cinnamon and ginger, or roasting meat wafted from the kitchen.<\/p>\n Do not be alarmed, Dear Reader. \u00a0Disaster has not befallen our beloved Cartwrights, for upon meeting the Placerville stage in Carson City and hearing the report on weather and road conditions, Ben made the decision to shelter in place at the St. Charles Hotel, where he booked a two-bedroom suite with parlor. \u00a0Had it been he and his younger sons alone, they might have risked the journey home, but the passengers they collected at the stage depot that December 24 were his eldest son Adam, his wife Juliet, and their young son Henry.<\/p>\n Juliet, pale and unsteady, went straight away to the largest bedroom with Henry in tow, alarming Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s fine, Pa, just exhausted from the journey. \u00a0Hank Monk was hell bent to get here before the storm hit. \u00a0Henry, of course, found the ride exhilarating, but even he is a bit battered after being tossed around the coach for four hours. \u00a0I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll sleep until morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re sure. \u00a0Hoss and I will take the second bedroom. \u00a0Joe can sleep in the parlor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGreat. \u00a0I always get the sofa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re the only one who fits on it, shortshanks,\u201d Hoss laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have dinner sent up from the restaurant downstairs,\u201d Ben replied. \u00a0\u201cSteaks with all the trimmings, boys?\u201d \u00a0Assents filled the air.<\/p>\n \u201cApple pie, too!\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd a bottle of something to ward off the chill,\u201d added Adam.<\/p>\n A short while later housekeeping delivered extra blankets and pillows, and a waiter brought their dinner along with two bottles of brandy.\u00a0\u00a0Little conversation took place as each devoured their meal with relish. \u00a0Afterwards, Ben poured himself a stiff drink and passed the bottle.<\/p>\n \u201cTo my sons! \u00a0Merry Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo you, Pa,\u201d the boys chorused.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though we\u2019re not at home, it\u2019s good to be together again,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cHear, hear!\u201d They all agreed.<\/p>\n When the hotel staff came to clear the dishes, Adam excused himself to check on Juliet and Henry. \u00a0When he returned he saw a pot of coffee on a warmer and four mugs. \u00a0\u201cAhh, just what I need. \u00a0Anyone else?\u201d \u00a0Hoss and Joe nodded, but Ben declined.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a long day. \u00a0I think I\u2019ll head to bed. \u00a0Hoss, try not to snore too loud.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure thing, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n After Ben closed the bedroom door, Adam asked quietly, \u201cIs he all right? \u00a0He looks thinner to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA bit,\u201d Joe said, \u201cbut he\u2019s okay. \u00a0Doc Martin put him on a diet. \u00a0That steak tonight is the first beef he\u2019s had in a month or more.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo kidding? \u00a0Well, I guess we\u2019re all getting older and need to watch what we eat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll but Joe. \u00a0He\u2019s still got the metabolism of a race horse. \u00a0Just ain\u2019t fair, I tell ya.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd his hair,\u201d Adam groaned. \u00a0\u201cSomething neither of us have seen for quite a while Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, if it makes you feel any better, I still can\u2019t grow a proper beard. \u00a0Guess I\u2019ll never be able to play Santa Claus.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSpeaking of which,\u201d Adam said, \u201cHenry\u2019s worried that Santa won\u2019t find us since we\u2019re not at the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you ever wonder,\u201d Joe asked, \u201cwhen you were traveling across the country with Pa, whether Santa would know where to find you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure, but he always did. When I got older and figured out that Pa was Santa, I always\u00a0marveled at those things<\/strong><\/b>\u00a0he found or made to put in my stocking. \u00a0I mean, there was no money and many times he went without food so that I could eat.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned. \u00a0\u201cMakes my gut clench when I think about how much he sacrificed for us in those days, even if I don\u2019t remember as much as older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is your happiest Christmas memory?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n Adam poured himself more coffee and added a swig of brandy to the cup while he thought about it. \u00a0Then his cheeks grew round and his lips parted in a broad smile. \u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s easy. \u00a0I was Henry\u2019s age. \u00a0We had stopped a few days before Christmas in a little town in Indiana, not sure where exactly. \u00a0Pa found some work on a farm and the owner let us sleep in a lean-to next to the barn. \u00a0It was small but it had a wood stove with a table and chair and a cot to sleep on. \u00a0Christmas morning instead of an apple or orange in my stocking, I found a toy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of a toy?\u201d asked Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a brightly colored wind up toy. \u00a0When I picked it up, on the bottom were two buttons that looked like big green eyes. \u00a0I pushed one and then the other, then I twisted it\u2019s lid. \u00a0And when I set it down again, it went zip when it moved, and bop when it stopped, and whirred when it stood still. \u00a0First it marched left and then marched right and then it marched under the chair. \u00a0And when I looked to find it, it was gone, and I started to cry. \u00a0But Pa laughed, turned me around, and pointed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere was it?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was right there, chugging toward me, still making zip, bop and whirring noises. \u00a0I never knew what it was supposed to be and I guess I never will. \u00a0I just knew it made me happy.\u201d<\/p>\n The brothers continued sharing memories of Christmases past until the wall clock chimed nine o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I don\u2019t know about you two, but I need my beauty sleep,\u201d said Joe. \u00a0\u201cAnd since I have this lovely sofa to sleep on . . .get out of my bedroom!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam laughed and took turns using the shared bathroom at the end of the hall. \u00a0When they came back, Joe was already sound asleep.<\/p>\n The next morning, Ben rose early and, finding Joe sprawled on the sofa in a tangle of blankets and hearing no one else stirring, decided to let everyone sleep in. \u00a0He slipped out quietly to eat breakfast in the restaurant below.<\/p>\n John \u201cSnowshoe\u201d Thompson, the mail carrier who skied twice a week between Placerville and Carson City via the Johnson Cutoff, was there having a meal. \u00a0They exchanged pleasantries and Ben asked about road conditions. \u00a0John reported in his thick Norwegian accent that the snow level had fallen to 3,500 feet, well below the elevation of the ranch.<\/p>\n Ben frowned. \u00a0It looked like they would be spending Christmas Day in Carson City. \u00a0The family would be disappointed, but they were together and that\u2019s all that mattered. \u00a0He ordered platters of eggs, ham, sausage, potatoes and pancakes with maple syrup to be delivered to the suite upstairs, along with three pots of coffee and one of tea for Juliet, and milk for Henry.<\/p>\n Joe was still passed out on the sofa, but the rest of the family was up. \u00a0Ben could hear crying and shushing coming from Adam\u2019s room. \u00a0As soon as the door opened he saw Henry sobbing on the bed being comforted by Juliet, with Adam pacing.<\/p>\n \u201cMerry Christmas, everyone!\u201d he said with a joviality he didn\u2019t feel. \u00a0Still, it wouldn\u2019t do to have any sad faces today.<\/p>\n \u201cMorning, Pa. \u00a0Where\u2019s breakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn it\u2019s way, Hoss. \u00a0Be patient.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sat up and tossed the blankets aside. \u00a0Ben noticed that his son\u2019s pant legs were wet, but before he could comment, Joe shouted, \u201cIt\u2019s Christmas! \u00a0Henry, get up. \u00a0Santa\u2019s been here.\u201d<\/p>\n Henry stumbled out of the bedroom rubbing his eyes. \u00a0\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSanta\u2019s been here. \u00a0See. \u00a0Over there under the window.\u201d<\/p>\n Henry\u2019s eyes grew round and he hiccupped. \u00a0\u201cReally?\u201d \u00a0He looked at his Papa and Mama, who looked at each other bewildered.<\/p>\n \u201cCome and see, Henry,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n The little boy walked slowly toward his uncle and peered around the sofa to where there were six stockings hanging from the windowsill. \u00a0Each stocking had an orange and a peppermint stick in it and under the sixth stocking was a feed sack tied with twine.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d he said, pointing to the sack.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there are six stockings–one for each of us–and the sack must be for you since you\u2019re the only little boy here. \u00a0Why don\u2019t you open it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMay I?\u201d \u00a0Henry looked at his Papa. \u00a0Adam, still looking confused, nodded.<\/p>\n Henry pulled the string. \u00a0His eyes nearly popped right out of his head when he reached inside and gave a squeal. \u00a0In his hands he held Adam\u2019s marvelous little toy.\u00a0\u00a0It went zip when it moved, bop when it stopped and whirred when it stood still. \u00a0Henry didn\u2019t know what it was, but he loved it just like his Papa did.<\/p>\n Both Adam and Ben had tears in their eyes as they looked at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d Adam mouthed.<\/p>\n \u201cMagic,\u201d Joe whispered.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0cSiKns1zHI<\/a><\/p>\n May the magic of the season be with you all year long.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For those readers who wish to know more about Juliet and Henry, please visit faust’s The Art-Universe<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Link to the 2017 Advent Calendar – Day 23 –\u00a0<\/span>Baby from the Forrest, Baby from the Heart<\/a> by mumu74<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Ben Cartwright,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n
\n~~by Cheaux<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n
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