Summary – Jamie learns first- hand about a special trait of the Cartwrights.<\/p>\n
Rating – K, Word Count – 1270<\/p>\n
The Cartwright Vigil<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cHey Jamie, you better get down to breakfast before Hoss eats it all!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jamie\u2019s eyes snapped open at the sound of Joe\u2019s voice and the sight of bright sunlight streaming through the window. He threw the covers back and rolled out of bed then suddenly grabbed at the night table when the room dipped and stars flashed before his eyes. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhoa there.\u201d Jamie squeezed his eyes shut until the sensation passed. \u201cMust have gotten up too fast.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Feeling rather tired he threw on some clothes and headed downstairs. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s \u2018bout time you came down. Here\u2019s some hotcakes and bacon. Hop Sing\u2019s fixing some more eggs for ya.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jamie sat and began to eat. Despite his fatigue he was hungry. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAre you ready for your big day, Jamie?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cUh, yeah, I guess. Look Joe I don\u2019t want to put you or Hoss out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAh come on Jamie, it\u2019s no trouble. Pa promised to help you train your new horse and since he got called away, Hoss and I are glad to help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He finished eating as Joe finished his cup of coffee. \u201cI guess we better get to it then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jamie rose from the table, wobbled a bit then headed to the door to get his hat and jacket. Joe and Hoss exchanged glances but said nothing. <\/span><\/p>\n In the corral, a chocolate brown Morgan gelding was running around the perimeter. Jamie held out an apple and the horse came to him immediately. \u201cAt a boy, Dodger. That\u2019s a good apple ain\u2019t it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As Joe and Hoss looked on, Jamie slipped into the corral and saddled his horse. He was going to train him to be a cutting horse. It was the first step to getting Jamie ready for working with the stock and going on his first cattle drive next summer. <\/span><\/p>\n Once Dodger and Jamie were ready, the three brothers rode out to the pasture where a dozen heifers had been gathered. \u00a0Jamie watched from the sidelines while Hoss described the moves Joe and Cochise made to single out one cow. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOkay, now Jamie you try it. It ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 you ain\u2019t done before, \u2018cept this time you got real cows to work with. \u00a0Take your time and let\u2019s see if Dodger can do some of it himself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The first pass didn\u2019t work so well as the cattle scattered in twelve different directions. Joe, Hoss and Jamie worked to gather them again, then Jamie gave it a second try with Joe coaching him. Rider and horse began to work as a team and managed to cut two cows from the herd. \u00a0As Joe let out a holler of praise, Jamie slid out of the saddle, landing hard on his back. <\/span><\/p>\n Joe jumped to his \u00a0brother\u2019s side as Hoss drove the cattle to another part of the pasture. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJamie? Hoss! He\u2019s passed out and he feels like he\u2019s got a fever.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take him back to the house. You bring his horse then ride for the doctor. Get George to find someone to get those heifers back to the herd.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Joe lifted Jamie\u2019s limp body up to Hoss and watched for a moment as the two rode away. Mounting Cochise, he carried out his tasks as fast as he could. <\/span><\/p>\n In town, once Doctor Martin was on his way to the ranch, Joe sent a telegram to his father, telling him of Jamie\u2019s illness. Ben was two days away so Joe knew it was going to be up to him and Hoss to care of Jamie until Pa arrived home. <\/span><\/p>\n At the house, Paul\u2019s diagnosis of a fever and sore throat were a relief for the brothers. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd what about the fall, Doc?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThankfully the fall didn\u2019t cause any injuries. I\u2019ll call again tomorrow. Just follow Hop Sing\u2019s advice and Jamie should be fine in a few days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThanks Paul. Ya don\u2019t need to worry. He\u2019s in good hands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know he is, Hoss. You\u2019re Ben\u2019s boys and he taught you well. I\u2019ll see myself out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Hoss and Joe shared a look as Jamie stared at them with rheumy eyes. \u00a0\u201cWhat did he mean, Pa taught you well?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Before Joe could answer Hop Sing arrived with tea and broth for Jamie. \u201cBrothers leave, Jamie eat then sleep.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Jamie\u2019s dejected look made Joe pause at the door and mouth, \u201cI\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jamie smiled weakly as he accepted the broth from Hop Sing. <\/span><\/p>\n Over the next twenty-four hours, Jamie\u2019s fever escalated. Joe and Hoss set up shifts to tend to Jamie until the crisis passed. Hop Sing fixed light meals for the brothers to eat in Jamie\u2019s room, knowing they would not leave until the fever broke. <\/span><\/p>\n Jamie would awaken from time to time and notice Joe or Hoss sitting by the bed. He would try to say a few words, or hear them reading to him, or drink some broth they gave him, then drift back to sleep. <\/span><\/p>\n By the second day, he woke up to a cool hand pushing matted hair from his face. He leaned into the hand and opened his eyes. Dark brown eyes crinkled at the corners and Jamie heard the familiar voice. \u201cGood morning, son. How are you feeling?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBet-ter.\u201d \u00a0Jamie couldn\u2019t seem to make his voice work right and frowned at the pain in his throat. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSorry, I shouldn\u2019t have asked right now. Doctor Martin says your throat will be sore for a few more days but your fever is broken. You\u2019re on the mend now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jamie nodded but continued to stare at his father. Ben noticed and figured Jamie wanted to talk. He retrieved a pen and some paper from Jamie\u2019s desk and handed it to him. <\/span><\/p>\n Jamie wrote his question despite his shaky hands. \u201cWhat did Doc Martin mean that you taught your boys well?\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Perplexed at the question Ben showed the paper to Joe and Hoss just as they entered the room with a tray of food. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh that. Sorry Jamie. I never did explain that since your fever became worse. Do you remember me and Hoss being here, by your bed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jamie nodded. <\/span><\/p>\n Joe placed his hand gently on his father\u2019s shoulder and the two shared a knowing smile. \u201cWell, since this the first time you\u2019ve ever been really sick you haven\u2019t experienced what we call \u2018The Cartwright Vigil\u2019. Joe sat on the edge of the bed as Hoss took his place at the foot, smiling down at his littlest brother. \u201cYou see, whenever we would get sick\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Hoss interrupted with a nod toward Joe, \u201cOr injured.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYeah, or injured, Pa would stay by our bedside until we were better. During the rough times, he wouldn\u2019t leave no matter what. Even after we became adults, he still stays with us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Expressions of warmth and understanding were shared by the older Cartwrights. Hoss looked back at Jamie. \u201cSo that\u2019s what Doc Martin meant when he said we were Ben\u2019s boys an\u2019 he taught us well. Doc knew you were in very good hands with me an\u2019 Joe takin\u2019 care of ya.\u201d He winked at his father. \u201cWe learned from the very best caregiver there is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jamie reached for his Pa\u2019s hand and gave it a good squeeze. He swallowed and managed to squeak out his heart-felt words, \u201cI must be pret-ty luck-y to have all three of you then.\u201d \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Laughter filled the room. Jamie\u2019s smile remained as he sank into his pillow and drifted back to sleep, secure in the knowledge that someone would be sitting in that chair when he next awoke. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:<\/strong> Family, Jamie Hunter Cartwright<\/p>\n