{"id":1711,"date":"2013-12-17T17:21:56","date_gmt":"2013-12-17T22:21:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1711"},"modified":"2025-08-01T13:29:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T17:29:18","slug":"silent-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=1711","title":{"rendered":"Silent Night (by BluewindFarm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>: \u00a0<\/span>After an unusually hectic day, there is only one wish requested on Christmas Eve.<\/span><\/p>\n

Written in response to Rider’s Christmas Challenge. \u00a0The challenge was to take a Christmas song or the premise and use it as the basis for a Cartwright story.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 <\/strong>K \u00a0\u00a0(2,610 words)<\/span><\/p>\n

The final page contains comments\/reviews left on the old BonanzaBrand Library.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Silent Night<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cBut Papa, will Santa still come?\u201d asked four-year-old Joseph Francis Cartwright, who\u00a0had let go of his father\u2019s hand\u00a0to run\u00a0across the floor to look out the window that stood behind the dining table. The dark and curly haired little boy\u2019s eyes lit with the wonder of watching the large snowflakes lazily fall from the sky.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m sure that Santa Claus will manage to come tonight. He wouldn\u2019t want to disappoint the children of the world,\u201d Ben was able to explain and look all serious at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think he got my letter?\u201d Little Joe asked as he half-turned and looked up to his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he received the letters that you and your brothers sent,\u201d Ben replied as he walked to stand behind his youngest.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026 Does he bring us everything we ask for?\u201d Little Joe inquired, a bright smile illuminated his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, mon petit babe, come from the window. It\u2019s too cold for you to be standing there,\u201d Marie Cartwright stated as she sat on the settee across from\u00a0the hearth; the fire was warming the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cBenjamin, please\u2026 Would you close the shutters and pull the curtains closed to help keep the dining room warm for breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Momma\u2026 It\u2019s snowin\u2019\u201d Joe appealed, using every expression of hope he could bear on his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, why don\u2019t you go to your mother,\u201d Ben suggested.<\/p>\n

With eyes expressing his desire to stand in front of the window, Joe waited.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, son, when little boys are bad, Santa brings them lumps of coal instead of their heart\u2019s desires.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s eyes widened, reflecting that he had forgotten that fact. Joe hurried across the room and crawled into his father\u2019s leather chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa, me be good so Santa bring me all my toys, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPetit Joseph, Santa can\u2019t possibly bring you everything that you wrote on your list,\u201d Marie answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why? I been good\u2026\u201d protested Little Joe with a cute little pout.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf he brought you everything, he wouldn\u2019t have room for all the gifts for other deserving boys and girls,\u201d answered Marie.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes he have to give gifts to girls?\u201d Joe bore a disgusted look upon his face and he tried to conjure up a method to get all his toys.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you not wish for your mother to receive any presents from Santa?\u201d Ben asked as he picked the boy up from his chair, sat down, and placed his youngest on his lap.<\/p>\n

\u201cMomma not a girl,\u201d declared Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot now, son, but when she was your age, she was a girl,\u201d Ben smiled as he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d mouthed Little Joe as he thought on that idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrrrrrr,\u201d Hoss proclaimed as Adam held the door open and the two oldest Cartwright sons entered the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre the horses all taken care of, boys?\u201d Ben inquired as he tamped down the tobacco in his pipe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir, Pa,\u201d answered Adam as he helped remove the scarf from around Hoss\u2019 face so the boy could speak.<\/p>\n

\u201cI gave \u2018em their oats and they ate like pigs,\u201d laughed Hoss. \u201cAdam cleaned their stalls and put in fresh straw, and I also gave \u2018em their hay and filled their water buckets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBoys, come stand in front of the fire,\u201d called Marie as she had turned on the settee to address her step-sons. \u201cHop Sing should have breakfast ready shortly.<\/p>\n

The two proceeded around the furniture and readily stood in front of the fireplace and basked in its warmth.<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa said Santa comes tonight,\u201d declared Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly for good little boys,\u201d teased Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI been good!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSays who?\u201d taunted Adam. \u201cYou broke two of Hop Sings eggs yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMomma said it were an aky-dent,\u201d declared Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas an accident, mon petit,\u201d corrected Marie.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee!\u201d Joe called out, followed by sticking out his tongue towards his oldest brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou keep doing that, Little Joe, and Santa won\u2019t bring you anything but a lump of coal,\u201d answered Adam.<\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s bottom lip began quivering at the thought that he might not receive any gifts.<\/p>\n

Unable to see his youngest upset in such a manner, Ben looked to his oldest and gave him a knowing glance, then said, \u201cI think he\u2019ll overlook that slight transgression, Joseph, but let\u2019s not do it again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Papa,\u201d Joe quietly answered as he turned to cuddle into his father\u2019s shoulder in an effort to hide his tears, having been warned twice in a matter of minutes that he could get coal instead of gifts for Christmas.<\/p>\n

Setting his pipe down, Ben proceeded to comfort his youngest, who they all knew\u00a0tried so hard to be good. The loving father rubbed circles across his son’s back and spoke soothing words that just wouldn\u2019t cheer the boy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Little Joe,\u201d Adam stated as he left the warmth of the fire and knelt by his father\u2019s chair. \u201cIt\u2019s just that I don\u2019t want you to get in trouble with Santa; I want you to wake up in the morning to find gifts with your name under the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe hiccupped as he cried.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell you what, little brother. After lunch,\u201d Adam looked to Marie, \u201cwhy don\u2019t you and I get all bundled up and go outside and play in the snow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie nodded her approval.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Little Joe,\u201d Hoss chimed in, \u201cWe can build a snowman or a snow fort and have a snowball fight.\u201d The middle brother came to stand beside his father in an effort to help comfort his youngest sibling.<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cMomma said it were okay,\u201d Hoss encouraged.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t fight\u2026\u201d Sniff. \u201cFighting is bad\u2026\u201d Sniffle. \u201cDon\u2019t want no lump of coal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, snowball fights are different than other kinds of fighting,\u201d explained Adam.\u00a0 \u201cWhy, Santa would be mighty upset if we didn\u2019t have a snowball fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peeking out from his father\u2019s arms, Joe looked up and saw his Papa nodding.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can all go outside after lunch,\u201d Ben stated and smiled.<\/p>\n

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

The family had bundled up in preparation of a snow-filled afternoon, Ben and Marie cuddled together on the porch deck and watched as Hoss and Joe ganged up on Adam. The boys\u2019 giggles and laughter rang across the yard.<\/p>\n

Throughout the afternoon, as the ranch hands made their way in from the range, each one stopped by, bid the Cartwrights a Merry Christmas and handed each one of the boys a brown paper package before they headed to the bunkhouse for the night.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cJoseph?!\u201d Marie pleaded as she again gave chase to the boy who was running and squealing around the great room of the ranch house.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t catch me!\u201d Joe squealed as he raced towards the staircase.<\/p>\n

Adam stopped Marie and said, \u201cLet me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSanta\u2019s coming!\u201d From the top of the stairs, Joe looked back, and through the window behind his father\u2019s desk, he saw the snow falling again. Racing back down the steps, Joe yelled, \u201cIt\u2019s snowing again!!!\u201d and eluded Adam\u2019s grasp as he ran towards the front door.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold up there, young man!\u201d Ben\u2019s voice boomed as he closed the door he had just entered through, having seen the frustrated appearance of his wife and witnessed the miniature tornado as his little legs carried him to wherever the boy wanted to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa, It\u2019s snowing!\u201d Joe squealed in delight and continued to bypass the door and head towards the dining room window.<\/p>\n

Adam finally was able to corral the boy as he raced away from his father, who had approached him from the other side of the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cUgh! Joe, you\u2019re a mess!\u201d Adam stated, having picked up the boy to find his hands and his face all gooey and sticky.<\/p>\n

\u201cDown! Me want down!\u201d Joe hollered and began kicking.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, stop it or Santa won\u2019t bring you any toys!\u201d<\/p>\n

The young boy stopped kicking, but Adam\u2019s warning didn\u2019t do anything to stop his protests at being restrained from the snow.<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you put him down for his nap?\u201d Ben inquired. \u201cHe\u2019s never this wound up after taking a nap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did put him down for his nap, ch\u00e9ri.\u201d Marie answered her husband as she approached her oldest step-son to take the squirming bundle from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie, I think it would be best if I carried him to the bath house,\u201d offered Adam, hoping to keep the dress his step-mother wore clean.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t want no bath! Wanta play in the snow!\u201d Joe squirmed.<\/p>\n

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

When their mission of bathing the youngster was accomplished, Adam and Marie looked at each other and had to give a laugh. Both were soaking wet from trying to keep Joe in the bath tub.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll finish drying him off, Marie. Why don\u2019t you go upstairs and change before supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Adam. Are you sure you\u2019ll be okay with him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will. Go on.\u201d After watching his step-mother\u2019s departure, Adam turned his attention back to his fidgety, naked brother. Adam scolded, \u201cJust hold still, Joe!\u201d all the while trying to dry the boy\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d protested Joe as he made good his escape from his brother\u2019s grasp and darted out the door Marie had inadvertently left open.<\/p>\n

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

While changing into dry clothes in the master bedroom, Marie complained to her husband, \u201cI just don\u2019t understand. He\u2019s never been this\u2026 I don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, sweetheart; he\u2019s usually so much quieter after his nap.\u201d Ben gave a small chuckle.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just what do you find so funny?\u201d Marie dared ask as she placed both fisted hands upon her hips.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie, I\u2019m not laughing at you, but the situation. Joseph can fall asleep anywhere, in the blink of an eye, and usually, waking him up is the problem. When he was running around<\/p>\n

the great room, he just looked like a tornado spinning around trying to evade you and Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cPA!\u201d Hoss hollered. \u201cHELP!\u201d He tried to work with his brother to stop Little Joe\u2019s naked rampage through the house.<\/p>\n

Marie and Ben stopped at the top of the staircase and watched the scene below with incredulous expressions upon their faces, their youngest child successfully evading his brothers’ efforts in capturing him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJOSEPH!!\u201d Ben bellowed, \u201cThat will be enough!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben purposefully strode down the steps and approached his son. As angry as he felt at the boy\u2019s antics, he couldn\u2019t be mad at the cherubic face as the boy continued to laugh and giggle.<\/p>\n

Picking up his son, he handed him to his wife so that she could see that he was properly dressed for supper.<\/p>\n

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

Supper was a rambunctious affair as Joe couldn\u2019t sit still or keep focused on eating, even with the shutters closed and the drapes drawn, Joe kept chattering about the snow and Santa.<\/p>\n

As the others attempted to settle down in the main room as was their routine after supper, Joe was constantly going from one person to the next, inquiring about the presents Santa was to bring later that night. He asked if they needed to leave sugar cubes or grain or hay for the reindeer as well as milk and cookies for Santa.<\/p>\n

Hoss was the first to bid his family goodnight and Adam soon followed.<\/p>\n

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

The fire had been banked after the final gifts were placed under the Christmas tree. Ben stood on the mid-landing, his arm wrapped around his wife\u2019s waist, feeling the warmth of love abound within their home and hearts.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre they all asleep?\u201d Ben quietly asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe Hoss was asleep before his head touched the pillow,\u201d answered Marie as she rested her head to her husband\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam is finishing up one of his studies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Joe?\u201d Ben dared ask.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext year, remind the men to refrain from giving him so many sweets.\u201d Marie sighed. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen a child so exasperatingly, uncontrollable. He ate so much candy; I can\u2019t believe all the candy the men gave him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo he\u2019s asleep?\u201d Ben inquired.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo hours after his bedtime, he finally fell asleep on the rug in his room. He just dropped.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo maybe we\u2019ll be able to enjoy a Silent Night?\u201d Ben stated as he escorted his wife the rest of the way up the stairs and to their room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can only hope, Mon Amour.\u201d<\/p>\n

***** Merry Christmas to All*****<\/p>\n

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

Story Tags: Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, Christmas Challenge (Rider\u2019s), Hoss Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright<\/p>\n

\n

\n<\/div>\n

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

\n
Reviewer: <\/span>Chavel47\u00a0<\/span>
\n Date: <\/span>31 Dec 2013 10:24 pm Title: <\/span>Silent NightAlways enjoy reading stories about how the Cartwrights’s days were in the early days. The pouting quivering lip and the running like a tornado seemed just how one would picture a young Joe.Author’s Response:<\/i><\/i>Chavel, thank you for spending some of your New Year’s Eve reading my story.\u00a0 I too enjoy peeking at the days that made the boys the men who we came to love.\u00a0 I’m sure there were a few more ’emotions or actions’ that could have been added, but little peeks allow the reader to envision the scene to their own fulfillment.**********<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Reviewer: <\/span>Anonymous<\/span>
\n Date: <\/span>26 Dec 2013 10:48 am Title: <\/span>Silent NightAww, so cute! Little Joe sounds like he was a handful.Author’s Response:<\/i><\/i>I imagine he was quite the handful.\u00a0 Remember him running all through town in Rose for Lotta?\u00a0 Yep, he must have been a handful as a child.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
**********<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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Reviewer: <\/span>Puchi Ann<\/a><\/span>
\n Date: <\/span>23 Dec 2013 10:01 pm Title: <\/span>Silent NightVery sweet story. \u00a0I don’t think I’ve ever seen the ranch hands’ depicted as giving gifts to the Cartwright boys, but it’s a nice touch. \u00a0But no candy next year, guys–LOLAuthor’s Response:<\/i><\/i>Puchi, I\u00a0agree, but candy did seem to be\u00a0one gift\u00a0they could afford and would want to give, especially as the boys were still young.\u00a0 Let’s just hope they remember no candy next year, at least for Marie and Adam’s sake…**********<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Reviewer: <\/span>Maria Vaz<\/span>
\n Date: <\/span>20 Dec 2013 02:02 pm Title: <\/span>Silent NightI loved to see this little huricane in action! Thanks a lot!Author’s Response:<\/i><\/i>Maria, I only thought of him as a little tornado, you must have a more vivid imagination in order to get a ‘sweet-rushing’ Little Joe into a little hurricane!\u00a0 That makes the imagry even more dire!!!\u00a0 (tee hee hee)\u00a0 Thank you for reading and reviewing!<\/span><\/p>\n
**********<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Reviewer: <\/span>JoeC<\/a> \u00a0<\/span>
\n Date: <\/span>19 Dec 2013 08:47 am Title: <\/span>Silent NightWe don’t know for sure if Joe was like this as he was young but I my mind I could see him this way. At least with so much sugar. Nice little Christmas story. Thanxs. JoeCAuthor’s Response:<\/i><\/i>JoeC, no we don’t know for sure whether Joe was like this all the time (doubtful), but with all the sweets he was given by the ranch hands…\u00a0 I can just see him sitting on his bed, eating all his candy instead of taking his nap, and then the sugar rush…\u00a0 At least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!\u00a0 I’m glad you enjoyed the story and thank you for leaving a review.<\/span><\/p>\n
**********<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Reviewer: <\/span>sklamb<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>
\n Date: <\/span>17 Dec 2013 11:18 pm Title: <\/span>Silent Night<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe’s enthusiasm is irresistable, even if he’s also more than a little irritating…but I’m sure he looks sweetest to Marie and Ben when his eyes are tightly closed! Thank you for this sweet glimpse of a happy family!<\/span><\/p>\n

Author’s Response: <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

SKL, always irresistable and\u00a0only a little irritating, especially after a ‘sweet’ fueled day.\u00a0 Yes, Marie and Ben believed he was the sweetest with his eyes tightly closed.\u00a0 I’m glad you enjoyed.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: After an unusually hectic day, there is only one wish requested on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K \u00a0\u00a0(2,610 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":1242,"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_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1008,30,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","category-prequels","category-challenges","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-30-id","wpcat-40-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1711","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\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1711"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1711\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}