![\"\u00a0Rocky](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/up.picr.de\/34247888rr.jpg?resize=480%2C471&ssl=1\")
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\u201cPa!\u201d<\/p>\n
The wail caused Ben Cartwright to take several steps and open the bedroom door.\u00a0\u00a0His legs took the brunt of the collision with his night-shirt clad son.<\/p>\n
\u201cPa, Adam said we\u2019re not gonna.\u00a0\u00a0He\u2019s wrong; ain\u2019t he?\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s the first of December, Pa.\u00a0\u00a0We gotta.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben went down on his haunches and gazed directly into the eyes of the troubled child.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cOf course we will, Hoss.\u00a0\u00a0Just as always.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He rose to his full height, placed his hand on his son\u2019s shoulders, and turned the boy to face the doorway.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNow go dress.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Hoss took off.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it we must do,\u00a0mon amour?<\/em>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Ben turned and smiled at his wife.<\/p>\n \u201cA family tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n She put down her hairbrush and stepped toward him.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhat is this tradition?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s just\u2026\u00a0\u00a0You see when we, Adam and I and then Hoss, when we were on the road to California all that time, well, it wasn\u2019t as it is now.\u00a0\u00a0It was rather a rocky road and there was often little money and no place of our own at Christmas time\u2026\u00a0\u00a0Well, to make Christmas special I used stories and remembrances, and over time it became our tradition that starting December 1st<\/sup>\u00a0we take time each evening to retell a special story or remembrance especially about one of our Christmas things.\u00a0\u00a0Hoss is so young I suppose he can\u2019t remember a time when we didn\u2019t do it just that way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour Christmas things?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, we Cartwrights have some treasures tucked away for special times of the year.\u00a0\u00a0Some may surprise you though.\u201d<\/p>\n Marie smiled up at him. \u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOhhh..\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He tapped his chin.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cA slightly chipped blue bowl for the barn elf\u2019s porridge.\u201d<\/p>\n Her nose wrinkled in puzzlement.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe barn elf?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben shook his head.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNo, no, you must wait until the twenty-fourth for that recounting, my love, for it is always saved for last.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo I must wait, must I?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0His arm slipped around her waist and drew her close. \u201cBut we shall make the wait a pleasant one.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0His arms encircled her, and they kissed.<\/p>\n \u201cVery pleasant.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0She placed her hands on his shoulders and titled her head back to gaze into his face.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt seems a charming tradition, my husband.\u00a0\u00a0Why would Adam tell Hoss that it would no longer happen?\u201d\u00a0Except that he thinks I am set on breaking everything in his life.<\/em><\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes clouded.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBrothers tease brothers.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0And my eldest seems set on spoiling so many things right now.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>\u201cI shall speak with him about it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s long strides quickly took him to his eldest son\u2019s room.\u00a0\u00a0He found the boy buttoning his shirt.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Ben\u2019s tone was sterner than he had intended.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy did you tell your brother that we wouldn\u2019t be telling our stories this year?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t suppose we would.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The twelve-year-old focused on his buttons far more intently than necessary.<\/p>\n \u201cYou supposed in error, son.\u201d<\/p>\n The boy turned his back to his father and reached for his boots.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWell, if you and Hoss want to, that\u2019s fine, but, I\u2019m, well, I\u2019m too old for that sort of thing.\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019ll just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Ben had closed the distance between them.\u00a0\u00a0He took his son\u2019s arm and turned Adam to face him.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou will be joining the family just as always.\u00a0\u00a0Do you understand me, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The words were compliant; the tone and the look in Adam\u2019s eyes were not.<\/p>\n \u201cIn fact, you shall have the pleasure of telling the first story tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a pause as each held the other\u2019s gaze.\u00a0\u00a0Then Adam remembered what was always chosen as their first Christmas treasure.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYes, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Hoss squirmed in his chair.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCome on, Adam, we\u2019s all ready.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Hoss\u2019s voice filled the room, and he gazed over at his father and stepmother sitting on the settee.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019s ready, ain\u2019t we, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat we are, son.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam entered the room his arms filled with a lovely quilt.<\/p>\n \u201cOver me, Adam.\u00a0\u00a0Over me, while ya tell.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Adam complied with his brother\u2019s demanded and draped the quilt over Hoss.\u00a0\u00a0Then he took an orator\u2019s stand before the fire and fixed his eyes on his stepmother.<\/p>\n \u201cMy mother Elizabeth\u2019s family lived in the same place for many, many years and gathered many treasures.\u00a0\u00a0My mother was a very smart woman.\u00a0\u00a0When she and her beloved talked of journeying west, she knew that she could not take all of the treasures her mother had left her.\u00a0\u00a0There was a whole chest of just Christmas linens and table dressings alone.\u00a0\u00a0My mother though was very, very wise.\u00a0\u00a0She decided that if she could not take them all, she could take a piece of each of them and with each piece a special memory.\u00a0\u00a0She decided to make a unique quilt for her family to use at Christmastime.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0His hand gestured to the quilt now draped over his brother.<\/p>\n Marie had taken note of the challenge in her stepson\u2019s voice and the special emphasis Adam placed on the word\u00a0mother<\/em>\u00a0each time he said it.\u00a0\u00a0She met his eyes.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAnd a lovely quilt it is.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe talked to her cousin Emma for Emma loved my mother Elizabeth dearly as did all her family and often cried at the thought she would be leaving them. They spoke of what pattern should be used in the quilt.\u00a0\u00a0One afternoon, Emma came to my mother with a pattern.\u00a0\u00a0Emma told my mother that the pattern was being called the rocky road to California.\u00a0\u00a0My mother smiled and thought that it was fitting.\u00a0\u00a0When her loved ones used the quilt, it would be a reminder of not only the Stoddard home and treasures but a memory of the journey that had led them to their paradise in the West. So, my mother and her cousin pieced the quilt and another like it to be left with Emma and one more for my Grandfather Abel.\u00a0\u00a0They spoke of memories and filled each quilt with love.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Adam\u2019s voice grew increasing forced and brittle.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAnd each time her beloved ones use it, it is not just the quilt\u2019s warmth but her love that we feel.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Adam\u2019s gaze had become a glare, and he threw his next words toward Marie like a challenge.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAnd we always will!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He snatched the quilt from around his brother and raced from the room.\u00a0\u00a0No one else moved until after the bedroom door slammed.<\/p>\n Ben rose and took a step forward, but Marie\u2019s hand caught his arm, and when he looked back at her she gave a shake of her head.<\/p>\n \u201cHe took the quilt.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Hoss\u2019s words were a wail.\u00a0\u00a0Marie went to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI think,\u00a0mon fils<\/em>, it is Adam that has the most need of the quilt tonight.\u00a0\u00a0There are many more nights before Christmas for you to use the quilt.\u00a0\u00a0Go with your papa now and drink the chocolate that I made.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss smiled and hopped from the chair.\u00a0\u00a0Marie went to the room of her eldest and entered without knocking.\u00a0\u00a0The room was dark, but she could distinguish a lump on the bed.\u00a0\u00a0She lit the lamp.<\/p>\n Adam knew from her step that it was Marie in the room.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cGo away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI shalln\u2019t, you know.\u00a0\u00a0I am here to stay.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Adam was curled up completely covered by the quilt. She walked over and perched lightly on the edge of the bed.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI think we must make a bargain.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s head appeared.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cA bargain?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone has things that are special to them at Christmastime.\u00a0\u00a0You, Hoss, my Benjamin, and even me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are not always the same things even among families.\u00a0\u00a0My mama she loved the cake of the three kings as do I, but my papa not so much, in truth- though it amazes me- he did not favor it at all.\u00a0\u00a0Still, he did not spurn it or spit it from his mouth.\u00a0\u00a0He ate just enough to make my mama happy.\u00a0\u00a0Sometimes, Adam, we must all swallow down something to make others happy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou spoke of a bargain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou do not wish me to use this quilt.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0It was spoken as a statement not a question, so Adam did not bother to affirm it.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe bargain is this.\u00a0\u00a0This Christmas and others to come, you will allow your father, your brother, and even me to enjoy those treasures that are important to us.\u00a0\u00a0You won\u2019t sulk but will enjoy those that have meaning to you and swallow down the rest.\u00a0\u00a0For I shall have my cr\u00e8che and the cake of the three kings\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Adam straightened up.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIf that\u2019s my part of the bargain, what\u2019s yours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI shall not touch your mother\u2019s quilt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot ever?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot until you ask me to.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Marie extended her hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI never will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNone of us knows how long\u00a0never<\/em>\u00a0will be.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam reached out and shook her hand.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAgreed.\u201d<\/p>\n The bargain was made and kept.\u00a0\u00a0Each evening the Cartwrights told tales and remembrances and cherished their Christmas treasures.\u00a0\u00a0Adam found Marie\u2019s cr\u00e8che beautiful and the kings\u2019 cake easy to swallow.\u00a0\u00a0As to the quilt,\u00a0never<\/em>\u00a0lasted a year for after Adam told a gentler version of the Christmas quilt\u2019s tale, he draped the quilt around Marie as she held his baby brother Joseph.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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