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<\/p>\nSummary:\u00a0 St. Nick delivers four very unusual gifts from the heart.<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0\u00a0 3,735 words<\/p>\n
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Wagon Tracks<\/b><\/p>\n
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Wagon Tracks<\/strong><\/p>\n It was a thump somewhere in the house that woke him, not the anticipation running through his veins. Little Joe Cartwright might be 18 years old, but he still got excited the night before Christmas. He had been dreaming an instantly forgotten dream, when a noise made him start, open his eyes and stare into the darkness. Without moving a muscle, he let his ears strain for further sounds, but all he could hear was silence. Joe was tempted to straighten his skewed blanket and sink his head back into the pillow, but a voice in the back of his head\u2014which sounded distinctly like his father\u2019s\u2014made him throw back his blanket and swing his legs over the side of the bed.<\/p>\n He padded over to the window and pulled back the curtain. The yard and outbuildings glistened in the moonlight, glowing with that strange luminescence only a blanket of snow could produce in the night\u2019s darkest hours. And all was quiet, all was still. Almost too still. Joe reached for his robe. It might look as though the land was sleeping, but he still needed to be certain. He tied the robe\u2019s belt around his waist, tucked his feet into his slippers and left the lingering warmth of his room.<\/p>\n His older brother clearly had the same idea. Adam was pulling his bedroom door closed behind him, his normally immaculate hair mussed. He saw Joe and raised a finger to his lips, nodding towards the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard it too, huh?\u201d whispered Joe as they reached the living area.<\/p>\n \u201cUh-huh.\u201d Adam grabbed his pistol from the sideboard. \u201cCheck the kitchen. I\u2019ll take a look on the porch.\u201d<\/p>\n The brothers went their separate ways and reconvened moments later in front of the banked fire which smouldered ember red in the shadowy room.<\/p>\n \u201cAnything?\u201d Adam let the gun hang loosely in his grip.<\/p>\n \u201cI looked in the pantry, the kitchen garden, nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam yawned. \u201cIt was probably snow sliding off the roof. Let\u2019s go back up.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe followed Adam to the stairs but stopped next to the Christmas tree, studying it from the floor all the way to the angel stroking the ceiling with her halo. The scent of the pine was strong on the freshly cut tree, and baubles reflecting the soft firelight twinkled like stars.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Adam, we outdid ourselves with this tree. Doesn\u2019t it make you feel all Christmassy inside?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt looks great, Joe. It\u2019ll look even better in the morning after I\u2019ve had some more sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam began a weary tread up the stairs.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Hoss must be home. There are more presents under the tree. Four little boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam halted. He looked in the direction of his room and sighed before turning back to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cBrother Hoss is definitely home. He got back from Placerville before I turned in.\u201d He took a step up. \u201cAnd even if I hadn\u2019t seen him, I\u2019d know he\u2019s back as the wall between our rooms has been vibrating for the last few hours.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cGotta sort out his snoring.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe ignored Adam and dropped to his haunches at the base of the tree, fingering the four wooden boxes placed under the lowest boughs. \u201cBen, Joe, Adam. Hoss?\u201d He frowned. \u201cWhy would Hoss buy a present for himself? His eyebrows snaked up his forehead. \u201cThen again, Hoss has been known to do some pretty odd things on occasion.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam leaned heavily on the bannister. \u201cThey\u2019re not from Hoss. His are at the back, by the hearth, the ones in badly wrapped tissue paper.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sat back. \u201cOh, so who do you think\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe! It\u2019s late, it\u2019s cold and I\u2019m tired. Quit the questions and go to bed.\u201d He smirked and adopted the voice he would use when Joe was small. \u201cOr Santa won\u2019t bring you any presents for being a good boy.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe was in too good a mood to take slight at Adam\u2019s sarcasm. \u201cYeah, I guess you\u2019re right.\u201d He stood, looked at the four boxes for a moment longer then, taking the stairs two at a time, raced past his brother, whispering, \u201cSee you in the morning, Adam,\u201d as he went. He heard Adam\u2019s door click shut as he was pulling his blankets up around his shoulders and sinking into his pillow.<\/p>\n Feeling even more excited than before, Joe wore a large smile as he closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Ah, Christmas, it really was the best time of year.<\/p>\n ****<\/p>\n \u201cMerry Christmas, everyone!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe announced his presence from the stairs. His father and two brothers looked up from where they were already seated at the breakfast table. After Joe\u2019s night-time excursion, he had fallen into a deep sleep which even his boundless enthusiasm for the coming day hadn\u2019t kept him from.<\/p>\n \u201cMerry Christmas, Pa! Merry Christmas, Adam!\u201d His greetings were cheerfully returned. He threw himself into his seat. \u201cMerry Christmas, Hoss. Good to see you home. That was quite a storm which kept you in Placerville.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss swallowed the bacon he had been chewing. \u201cSure was, Shortshanks. I swear I ain\u2019t seen drifts that high since I was a little fella. I sure didn\u2019t \u2018spect to spend a week in a hotel.\u201d He chased his eggs around the plate. \u201cAs soon as a stage made it through from Virginia City, I knew the passes were clear and it was safe ta come home.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing appeared at Joe\u2019s shoulder and laid a plate of hot biscuits fresh from the oven on the table. \u201cMerry Christmas, Lil Joe,\u201d he beamed.<\/p>\n \u201cMerry Christmas, Hop Sing.\u201d Joe grabbed a biscuit. \u201cAnd thanks for the present.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing\u2019s wide smile faded into a puzzled frown. \u201cPresent?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, under the tree. The four boxes. There\u2019s one for each of us, and they weren\u2019t there last evening and they\u2019re not from Hoss, so they must be from you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cHop Sing no buy present. Mister Ben tell me no buy present, so I no buy present.\u201d He looked from Joe to Ben\u2014who nodded in agreement\u2014and then shuffled back to the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cWell if they\u2019re not from Hop Sing, or anyone of us, who are they from?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben rose from the table and walked to the tree to view the items for himself. \u201cPerhaps they were delivered and Hop Sing hid them before putting them out last night.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a distant shout from the kitchen. \u201cHop Sing not get delivery. No blame Hop Sing for strange present.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben took a sharp breath. \u201cI\u2019m not blaming you, I\u2026oh never mind.\u201d He returned to the table and patted Joe\u2019s shoulder. \u201cWe\u2019ll find out soon enough who they are from.\u201d<\/p>\n The table fell into companionable silence as food was scooped from plate to mouth and consumed with enthusiasm. Joe couldn\u2019t help staring at the tree, however, and after a few minutes he lay down his fork.<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t we open them now?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sat back. \u201cYou know the rules, Joseph. Church, dinner, gifts, in that order. It\u2019s tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, Pa, can you wait until this evening to find out who they\u2019re from?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben glanced over at his two older sons. Adam sat hunched over his plate, slowly chewing, observing the exchange before him. As he met his father\u2019s gaze he raised an eyebrow in a non-committal manner. Hoss was resting his wrists on the table, his knife and fork standing to attention, a grin on his face as he awaited his father\u2019s response.<\/p>\n Joe leaned forward. \u201cGo on, Pa, just the boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben looked at his three boys in turn. \u201cOkay, just this once.\u201d And before he had even finished his sentence, Joe had whooped, thrown down his napkin and ran to the tree, closely followed by Hoss and Adam.<\/p>\n The four presents were handed out. The men sat before the fire, turning the boxes around in their hands. Each one was about four inch square, bound by a large golden ribbon tied into a bow. Engraved on the lid in elaborate golden lettering was the recipient\u2019s name. Adam placed his on the palm of his hand and held it up in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful piece of work. It sparkles.\u201d<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t wrong. The box twinkled in the light.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s going to go first?\u201d Joe was bouncing up and down on the coffee table.<\/p>\n His brothers exchanged looks with their father. Ben raised his brows and asked in a serious tone. \u201cShall we draw straws?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben laughed. \u201cGo ahead, Joe, you open your one first.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe took hold of each end of the bow and pulled, letting the ribbon gather in his lap. He then carefully removed the lid. Inside was a mass of screwed-up tissue paper which, like the box, twinkled in the light. Joe glanced up at his brothers, his face animated with excitement, and removed the top layer of paper. Beneath it was a small scroll of parchment. Joe lifted it out then upended the box letting the rest of the paper fall to the floor.<\/p>\n Hoss crinkled his nose. \u201cIs that it? A scrap of paper?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe the box was the present?\u201d suggested Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cUmm, maybe.\u201d Joe placed the box on the table and unfurled the scroll. As his eyes skimmed over the words, his eyebrows rose slowly towards his hairline.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, what\u2019s it say?\u201d said Hoss impatiently.<\/p>\n Joe sat up straight and held his arms out before him, as though reading out a proclamation in a town square. \u201cIt\u2019s a poem, I think. It reads\u2026\u201d He cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Joseph Cartwright<\/i><\/p>\n The Spirit of the Ponderosa<\/i><\/p>\n Whose joy in life bestows joy on all.<\/i><\/p>\n You giveth of your hand, generous and true,<\/i><\/p>\n Compassion, regard and a heart faithful.<\/i><\/p>\n For you I bestow this gift.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n He looked up at the dumbfounded faces of his family.<\/p>\n \u201cSomeone thinks very highly of you, son,\u201d said Ben. \u201cAnd every word they\u2019ve written is true.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, Pa, come on, I\u2019m just plain old Joe Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben rose from his chair and sat next to Joe on the table, his arm around his boy\u2019s shoulders. \u201cEvery word is true.\u201d A glance at Adam and Hoss saw them nodding in agreement. \u201cYou\u2019re generous, you\u2019re loyal, you\u2019d give your last cent to help someone in need. Believe it, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019re always so darned happy,\u201d murmured Adam, leaning back with one arm strewn across the back of the sofa. He met Joe\u2019s eye and the twinkle told Joe his older brother may be jesting, but he was sincere in what he said. Joe grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cSo where\u2019s the gift?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019s question drew blank looks. Joe picked up the box. \u201cMaybe this is the gift. I\u2019ll keep my collection of love tokens in it.\u201d There was an audible groan in the room. He laughed. \u201cAnyway, Hoss, what\u2019s in yours?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss opened his box. It, too, held a small scroll which was swiftly unrolled.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Eric \u2018Hoss\u2019 Cartwright<\/i><\/p>\n The Heart of the Ponderosa<\/i><\/p>\n Whose love for all beings transcends the boundaries of the earth.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cAw, that\u2019s nice.\u201d He looked up, his nose crinkled. \u201cWhat\u2019s it mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam slapped his brother\u2019s leg. \u201cIt means you have a big heart, brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019s cheeks bulged as he lowered his eyes and a shy smile lit his face. He returned to the scroll.<\/p>\n \u201cFor those in need, you gather in kind,<\/i><\/p>\n To heal, bequeath peace, to calm troubled mind.<\/i><\/p>\n For you I bestow this gift.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n He stared down at the words. \u201cWell, I don\u2019t rightly know what it all means, but I guess it\u2019s sayin\u2019 I like to help folks and stop \u2018em from fightin\u2019 and such.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben leaned forward and squeezed his knee. \u201cYou\u2019re a peace-maker, son, as the poem says.\u201d His brow creased. \u201cJust who\u00a0are<\/i>\u00a0these boxes from?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a mystery to me, Pa.\u201d Joe turned to his older brother. \u201cHey, Adam, it\u2019s your turn.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam dug through the tissue paper for his scroll.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Adam Cartwright<\/i><\/p>\n The Scholar of the Ponderosa<\/i><\/p>\n Whose passion to learn helps shape the world.<\/i><\/p>\n With method you plan, with heart you solve,<\/i><\/p>\n Such noble beneficence a blessing to behold.<\/i><\/p>\n For you I bestow this gift.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n The normally articulate Adam was lost for words. His mouth opened and shut as he stumbled to respond to such high praise. \u201cI don\u2019t rightly know what to say.\u201d He gazed around at his family. \u201cI\u2019ve never thought about what affect my education, or reading, or the things I\u2019ve built, has had on the town, or here. I just like to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s the same with all of us,\u201d said Ben. \u201cHoss doesn\u2019t think twice about helping someone in need, or bringing a stray home, or tending to a sick animal. And Joe gives his whole self without a second thought.\u201d Ben gazed at each of his sons in turn. \u201cRight now, I feel truly blessed.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe smiled and gave his father\u2019s shoulder a nudge. \u201cYou\u2019ve not opened yours yet, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n The scroll was soon in Ben\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Benjamin Cartwright<\/i><\/p>\n The Backbone of the Ponderosa<\/i><\/p>\n Whose strength binds blood to home and land.<\/i><\/p>\n Proving to all what a father should be,<\/i><\/p>\n With care, with love, with honesty.<\/i><\/p>\n For you I bestow this gift.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n Ben read and re-read the words, his concentration fixed on the parchment. His boys were quiet and when he looked up, three pairs of eyes were watching him. Their expressions were open, smiles playing around their lips, and Hoss was nodding gently to himself.<\/p>\n \u201cI, er\u2026\u201d Ben cleared his throat. \u201cI\u2026I think we\u2019re going to be late for church unless we get a move on.\u201d As he spoke, he was rolling the scroll up and placing it carefully back in the wooden box. He stood and waved his arms towards the stairs. \u201cGo on, on the double.\u201d<\/p>\n His sons exchanged glances as they headed towards the stairs. Joe, bringing up the rear, paused on the bottom step. He turned to see his father standing with his hands on his hips, gazing around the big room, nodding his head with pride. And Joe smiled softly as he turned and followed his brothers.<\/p>\n ****<\/p>\n The front door burst open and four cold but boisterous Cartwrights burst through, talking nineteen to the dozen and stamping the snow from their boots. Joe and Adam headed straight for the fire, stripping off their gloves to hold their palms out to the welcome heat. Hop Sing bundled out of the kitchen, a bowl of carrots under one arm and stared with consternation at the trail of snow leading through the room. \u201cOutside, outside, you take off boot! Hop Sing clean, mop floor all day, you walk dirty boot into house.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe dropped to the hearth and started to pull off his wet footwear. \u201cSorry, Hop Sing, I didn\u2019t think.\u201d Adam followed suit, stripping off his coat and boots and carrying them over to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cYou no think. Hop Sing mop, clean, cook, make bath, change sheets. You no think!\u201d<\/p>\n Ben stood inside the doorway, removing his offending attire, in too good a mood to be annoyed by Hop Sing\u2019s outburst. \u201cCalm down, Hop Sing, it\u2019s Christmas. A time for peace and maybe some leniency, on today of all days.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing scowled and turned on his heel towards the kitchen, muttering in Cantonese under his breath. But after a few steps he came back to face Hoss. \u201cHop Sing nearly forget. When Mister Hoss come in late night, stay out of kitchen. You eat carrot. Only few carrot left for dinner.\u201d He held out the bowl he was carrying, which looked pretty full to Hoss, but clearly Hop Sing was agitated by the apparent reduction in vegetables. \u201cUh, sorry, Hop Sing.\u201d The little man nodded his head once and shuffled back to the kitchen.<\/p>\n Hoss looked puzzled. \u201cI don\u2019t remember eating any carrots last night.\u201d He shrugged his shoulders and walked over to the fire, Hop Sing\u2019s accusation soon forgotten as a contented look washed over his face. \u201cDid you see, Joe, did you see Sarah Ann Granger, she gave me a kiss, jest here.\u201d His fingers hovered over his cheek. \u201cI didn\u2019t think she even knew I was alive, but she came over to me after the service and said \u2018Merry Christmas, Hoss\u2019 and then kissed me.\u201d He blushed. \u201cJest here.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe lightly punched his brother\u2019s shoulder. \u201cYou\u2019ve been drooling over Sarah Ann for months. Wonder what suddenly made her change her mind.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sat back in his chair, crossed his legs and looked up at Hoss. \u201cShe finally saw sense. She could do worse than a big galumph like you.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019s top lip curled. \u201cHuh? I\u2019m not sure if that was a compliment or not.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam laughed. \u201cIt was a compliment. It\u2019s Christmas, that\u2019s your gift from me. One compliment a year\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMister Adam, Mister Adam!\u201d Hop Sing ran out of the kitchen causing everyone to turn their heads in alarm. \u201cHop Sing forget, you get parcel.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam rose from his chair as Hop Sing ran to his side and handed him a parcel wrapped in brown paper.<\/p>\n \u201cToday? But it\u2019s Christmas Day.\u201d Adam turned to Hop Sing. \u201cWho delivered it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing not know. It in larder behind sack of potato.\u201d He ran out of the room leaving Adam turning the item over in his hands.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, don\u2019t look at it all day, brother, open it.\u201d Joe rested a hand on the fireplace as he watched.<\/p>\n Adam untied the string and parted the brown paper. It was a book, bound in what appeared to be vellum. It was upside down, and as Adam turned it and saw the cover, he dropped abruptly into his chair.<\/p>\n Ben half rose out of his seat. \u201cSon, are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s glazed eyes tore themselves away from the book. He looked up at his father. \u201cDo you know what this is? It\u2019s a First Folio edition of Shakespeare\u2019s plays.\u201d He carefully turned one page at a time.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst what?\u201d Joe leaned over Adam\u2019s shoulder, peering at the book with its intricate and dense lettering.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst Folio. It was the first time many of Shakespeare\u2019s works had been collected together in one book.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam stood up sharply, causing Joe to stumble backwards, but Adam was too consumed by the book to notice. \u201cI think this is an original.\u201d He looked up at Ben. \u201cIt\u2019s rare.\u201d Adam\u2019s face fell. \u201cI can\u2019t accept this, it\u2019s worth more than you can imagine. Who would…where…?\u201d<\/p>\n For Adam to be this flustered was almost unheard of, and Ben ambled over to his side. \u201cSon, someone has made a gift to you of this book, probably the same person who gave us those wooden boxes. We don\u2019t know who it is, so we can\u2019t return it.\u201d He looked down. \u201cBut should we? Someone has gone to a lot of time and trouble to show us how much they care and appreciate us. But for reasons we don\u2019t know they want to stay anonymous.\u201d He looked at his three boys in turn. \u201cI think we must respect this person\u2019s decision, and, who knows, one day we may discover who our most generous benefactor is.\u201d He tapped the cover of the book in Adam\u2019s hands. \u201cAnd until then, enjoy your gift.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think Adam\u2019s the only one to have received his gift.\u201d<\/p>\n Three faces turned to Hoss. \u201cSarah Ann Granger. I don\u2019t think I could\u2019ve asked for a better present.\u201d He blushed. \u201cI\u2019m gonna ask her pa iffen I can walk out with her sometime.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s going to snow again.\u201d Joe trotted over to the window behind the desk and stood on tiptoes to see out. \u201cWhat the\u2026I don\u2019t believe it!\u201d He ran to the door, grabbing his boots as he went.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, son?\u201d He was followed to the door by Ben, Adam and Hoss.<\/p>\n There, in the front yard and pawing at the snow, was a magnificent black stallion. Joe was edging out to it, one foot at a time, his hands held out before him.<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful, Joe!\u201d called out Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s that ol\u2019 stallion Joe\u2019s been chasing fer months,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cEach time he got close it hightailed away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cIt was as though the horse was playing with him. Joe would get to within an arm\u2019s length and the horse would back up, or rear, or plain run off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd now it\u2019s here,\u201d said Ben with a shake of his head. \u201cAlmost like a gift, wouldn\u2019t you say, boys?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Adam patted each other on the back and turned to pull their boots on. Joe was nearing the stallion which had stop pawing and stood watching Joe\u2019s approach. Joe reached out a hand and gently laid it on the horse\u2019s forehead. He threw a glance back at his family. \u201cWould you look at that?\u201d The horse bowed its head to the floor and on rising nudged Joe\u2019s shoulder. Joe laughed. \u201cI can\u2019t believe it. After months of me chasing you, you come right to me.\u201d He called out over his shoulder. \u201cSomeone fetch me a rope, would ya?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss was soon on his way to the barn, and the horse let itself be roped and led into the corral. Despite the chill, the four Cartwrights stood at the fence without their coats. They didn\u2019t feel the cold on his wondrous day as they watched the stallion gamble before them.<\/p>\n Hop Sing called out from the door. \u201cDinner on table, five minute.\u201d He was gone before they could acknowledge him.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I got my kiss, Adam got his book and Joe his horse.\u201d Hoss turned to Ben. \u201cYou didn\u2019t get anything, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes I did.\u201d He reached out his arms to the boys closest to him. \u201cI have my sons together at Christmas. Safe, healthy, and happy.\u201d He looked at all three. \u201cNo gift is as precious. Now let\u2019s go in before the food gets cold.\u201d<\/p>\n With arms around each other\u2019s shoulders, Ben and Joe headed towards the house.\u00a0\u00a0Adam and Hoss followed. But then Hoss stopped, squinting up at the roof.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Adam, don\u2019t they look like wagon tracks up on the roof there?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s brow furrowed. \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook, there.\u201d Hoss pointed. \u201cTwo lines like the tracks of a wagon, right across the porch roof. And there, above the kitchen, looks like hoof prints.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about? It\u2019s probably the snow having drifted down a bit. Though\u2026\u201d He took a step back. \u201cCome to think of it, it does kinda look like wagon tracks. Flatter though. Like a\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked at Hoss whose eyes widened, and together they looked back at the strange marks on the porch roof.<\/p>\n Adam laughed. \u201cNah, can\u2019t be.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss wore a baffled smile but he couldn\u2019t help thinking about the incredible gifts and the boxes with their beautifully inscribed scrolls. \u201cYeah, there\u2019s no way that…I mean, he ain\u2019t real.\u201d Hoss\u2019s nose crinkled. \u201cIs he?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam tapped Hoss\u2019s belly with the back of his hand. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s go inside.\u201d And together the two men crossed the yard as the snow started to fall, covering the mysterious tracks on the Ponderosa\u2019s roof.<\/p>\n They closed the door behind them, shutting out the growing darkness of the snowstorm. High above them a golden light shot across the heavens. Christmas for one soul never ended, but his job was done for another year. He had seen, and he had rewarded. And for the Cartwrights, who would never know for certain who had given so generously, it was to be a Christmas filled with good cheer, laughter and most of all, love.<\/p>\n Merry Christmas Everyone!<\/p>\n Click here for the 2018 Advent Calendar – Day 20 – Bright Hopes<\/span><\/a> by PSW<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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