![\"34247870sr.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/up.picr.de\/34247870sr.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nSummary:\u00a0 It\u2019s not exactly the twelve days of Christmas, but this present was the best of all.<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0\u00a0 1,180 words<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hens and Chickens or Wrench<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Three French Hens<\/strong><\/p>\n Ben and Jamie pulled cherished ornaments from a wooden box and hung them on the tree. Without Hoss\u2019s height, they had to use a ladder to place ornaments on the upper branches and set the yellow-haired angel on top.<\/p>\n Jamie removed an ornament from the box that was three pewter chickens dangling from a bar. He touched the middle one, making the three birds swing and clink against each other.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy chickens?\u201d asked Jamie.<\/p>\n Ben paused for a moment and craned his neck to look at the swaying hens. A smile briefly played upon his lips. \u201cIt belonged to Marie, Joe\u2019s mother. She was an orphan, raised in the Ursuline convent after her parents died from the fever. None of her relatives wanted another mouth to feed but the nuns always had room for one more.\u201d He wiped the corner of his eye with his forefinger, as if removing an eyelash or piece of grit. \u201cThe three French hens represent the tenets drilled into theorphans by the nuns\u2014faith, hope, and love. Marie said the nuns taught, \u2018We must put our faith in the Lord and His plan for us, hope for life eternal upon our death, and love others as we love God.\u2019 Her first Christmas here she told me, when she put that ornament up, that despite the nuns\u2019 teachings she\u2019d long ago lost her spiritual way and decided there was no larger divine plan for her. But, she put her faith in me and finally had hope for a better life away from New Orleans when I married her and brought her out here. She said Adam and Hoss taught her love could be offered and given without conditions.\u201d Ben paused for a moment in his story-telling as he picked out a spot for another ornament.<\/p>\n \u201cDid Joe know? I mean, did he know his ma had grown up without a family?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll my sons knew. What was important was we were her family. She loved Adam and Hoss as if they\u2019d been her own. Joe might as well have hung the moon and stars just for her when he was born.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you ever lose your faith or hope, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben studied Jamie\u2019s face as he reached for another ornament. He noted the boy looked expectant, as if he could take some reassurance that other people had been affected by circumstances beyond their control and come out the other side without being lost.<\/p>\n Setting the ornament back in the box, Ben walked over to Jamie and rested his hands upon the boy\u2019s thin shoulders. \u201cWhen Adam\u2019s mother died, I had a small child and a determination to go West. I thought God was a vengeful creator to take my wife from me and her baby. It took Hoss\u2019s mother, Inger, to restore my faith and give me hope for a better future. When Inger died, I kept my faith but lost hope that I would see my dream of the Ponderosa come to fruition. Without my boys, I likely would have given up and settled elsewhere, working odd jobs just to survive. It was their love for me, and mine for them, that made me determined to make a better future for all of us. Marie completed our family and brought Joe into our lives. I briefly lost faith, hope, and love when she died, but the Ponderosa, this land with its vast pines reaching for the sky and the sheer beauty of Lake Tahoe, made me realize that whatever divine plan is in store for our lives, there\u2019s always hope for a better tomorrow. My boys embody the love I\u2019d had for their mothers and I fiercely love my sons.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie had tilted his head down and looked at the floor.<\/p>\n Ben gently touched his fingertips under the boy\u2019s chin and lifted his head to look into his tear-filled eyes. \u201cI questioned the Almighty when we buried Hoss. Why my son? Haven\u2019t I suffered enough? I didn\u2019t receive an answer. Hoss wouldn\u2019t want me to dwell in despair but hold a warm place for him in my heart.\u201d He paused for a moment. \u201cYou\u2019re part of our family now. I have faith you\u2019ll find your place here and I hope that you\u2019ll come to love us.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie sniffed and wiped his nose with his sleeve. He stepped into Ben\u2019s embrace and held tight to him, holding back tears.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about Adam and Joe?\u201d asked Jamie. \u201cDo you have faith and hope for them?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben rubbed his thumb against the back of Jamie\u2019s neck, a gesture he\u2019d often used to soothe Joe when he was troubled. \u201cI have faith Joe\u2019s heart will mend as he grieves Alice. Someday, he\u2019ll meet another woman whom he\u2019ll want to marry and start a family with. And as every Christmas, I hope this will be the year Adam returns home.\u201d He leaned back to look into Jamie\u2019s eyes. \u201cAs for love, I have you to keep me young.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie\u2019s snort was a held-back chuckle.<\/p>\n The sound of a wagon\u2019s wheels carried in from the front yard.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about time Joe got back from town,\u201d Ben said with a glance at the clock. \u201cWhat could have taken so long?\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie shrugged a shoulder then wiped his eyes with the backs of his hands.<\/p>\n A cold gust of air blew in through the open door. Ben didn\u2019t even notice the chill. His mouth fell open and before he could form words he was grasped in a tight embrace.<\/p>\n \u201cLook who I found in town,\u201d said Joe. He beamed with a smile that lit up the room.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, let me look at you,\u201d said Ben. His son wore a beard streaked with gray and had a few wrinkles around his eyes. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you send a letter?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd spoil your present?\u201d asked Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cGood thing Jasper took so long finding the wrench to fix up the wheel,\u201d said Joe. He ran his hand through his hair. \u201cYou\u2019d think a blacksmith would know where all of his tools are.\u201d Joe slapped Adam\u2019s back. \u201cWell, I was waiting around and saw this old man get off the stage and thought I\u2019d best get him someplace warm before he caught his death of cold.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you callin\u2019 old?\u201d Adam asked with a swat at his brother\u2019s shoulder. \u201cYou\u2019ve got more gray in your hair than I\u2019ve got in mine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt least I\u2019ve got hair,\u201d said Joe with a wink at Jamie.<\/p>\n Adam stepped back from his father and took in the red-headed boy by the tree. \u201cYou must be Jamie,\u201d he said, taking in the boy\u2019s scrawny appearance and freckled face.<\/p>\n Jamie awkwardly stuck out a hand, unsure how to greet the man he\u2019d only heard stories about.<\/p>\n \u201cCome here,\u201d said Adam. He pulled the boy into a hug and whispered, \u201cWelcome to the family.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe joined his brothers and wrapped his arms around them. Ben wiped an eye with the heel of his palm then jammed his hands into his pockets.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Lord, for these precious gifts,\u201d he silently prayed.<\/p>\n
\n