{"id":3337,"date":"2010-12-24T12:21:08","date_gmt":"2010-12-24T17:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3337"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:23:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:23:37","slug":"an-undercover-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3337","title":{"rendered":"An Undercover Christmas (by ljlover2001)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 It’s almost Christmas Day, but ten year old Little Joe can’t wait and is desperate to find out what big brother Adam has bought him. \u00a0However, when he goes looking he finds a lot more than he bargained for. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ (3,160 words)
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


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

An Undercover Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cJoe, no matter how many times you ask me,<\/strong> I am not going to tell you what I am buying you for Christmas,\u201d said Adam, as his youngest brother picked up speed and broke into a run, in order to keep up with his long legged oldest sibling.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam was making his way from the barn to the house, at the end of a long day in the saddle. Not only had it been tiring, but it had also been freezing cold and all Adam wanted to do was get into a hot bath and soak away the day\u2019s aches and pains, along with the grime.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cBut I really need ta know,\u201d went on Joe, now talking to his brother\u2019s retreating back.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam turned around to face the ten year old and said, sternly, \u201cNo, Joe, you don\u2019t need to know. You need to know what time school starts, so you\u2019re not late and you need to know how to read and write, so that you can follow instructions and balance books, but you do not need to know what your present is. Nothing will be gained from you finding out now, instead of on Christmas Day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cOh, something will be gained, brother, cos I won\u2019t be pestering you, all the time, to know what you\u2019ve got me. So, you\u2019ll be happy and so will I, cos I will know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Adam sighed, deeply, and fought back the urge to throttle his baby brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cWell, I might not have bought you anything at all, because, as we all know, only good boys and girls get gifts and since I\u2019ve been home from college I haven\u2019t seen much evidence of you being good. But, and it\u2019s a big but, if I have bought you something, then you will find out on Christmas Day, and not before, as that\u2019s how it works. Now, if you will excuse me, I need a bath, and a hot cup of coffee, before supper,\u201d and, this time, Adam made it to the bath house.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe had no time to reply, but was angry with Adam for not telling him what his present was. Since Adam had returned from college, after an absence of four years, the two brothers had found it hard to regain the closeness they had known before he left. Little Joe considered himself to be all grown up, now, and far removed from the 6 year old who had cried, pitifully, as his eighteen year old brother disappeared from view, on the stage that day.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u2018I\u2019m gonna find out, Adam, whether you want me to, or not,\u2019 thought Joe, and he headed for the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

When he entered the main room, he found that it was empty, and a sly grin spread across his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u2018No time like the present,\u2019 he thought, and ran up the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Knowing that Adam was likely to be in the bath for a good while, Joe decided that now was the ideal time to go and search his eldest brother\u2019s bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a rule amongst the family that no one was to enter another person\u2019s room, without permission, and so Joe quickly knocked on Hoss\u2019 door, and then on his father\u2019s, just to make absolutely sure that they were not in the house. Nobody answered the knocks, so Joe gently opened Adam\u2019s bedroom door, and slipped inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The young boy loved his brother\u2019s room and had often gone in there, when Adam was away at college, as it made him feel closer to his absent sibling. Ben hadn\u2019t scolded Joe, the first couple of times he\u2019d done this, as he understood how much the little boy was missing Adam, but after the second time he did tell Joe not to go into Adam\u2019s room any more. Mostly, he did stay out, but there were a few more occasions when Joe sneaked in, fortunately without being caught.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

As he entered this time, Joe looked around, in appreciation, at the tidiness of his brother\u2019s room. Although he would never admit it, he was envious of Adam\u2019s ability to keep his things in such an orderly fashion. Every time Joe attempted to tidy his own room, it never looked as good as Adam\u2019s, and it very soon became untidy again.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe walked over to the armoire, as he felt this was the most likely place to hide a gift, and he opened the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cAh, ha,\u201d he said, out loud.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

There were definitely some presents stashed away at the bottom of the armoire, and Joseph knelt down in order to examine them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The first package that Joe pulled out was obviously an item of clothing, as it felt very soft.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u2018I hope this isn\u2019t my present,\u2019 thought Joe. \u2018Clothes are boring and I was hoping for a new bridle for Shadow.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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

As Joe unwrapped the package, he quickly realised that this was not a gift for any member of the family. It was a garment that only a woman would wear. Being just ten and living in an all male household meant that Joe didn\u2019t have any direct contact with a woman\u2019s wardrobe, but he used to go with his mother when she visited her favourite dressmaker, Mademoiselle Babette, and he had seen similar items in her store.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u2018Why has Adam got ladies undergarments in his armoire?\u2019 thought Joe, and then he giggled. \u2018Maybe he\u2019s got a girlfriend and he wants to see her in this get up?\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Then he had another thought, which stopped him laughing. \u2018Pa wouldn\u2019t like Adam to be looking at a lady wearing only this. He doesn\u2019t even like him looking at the saloon girls and they don\u2019t wear much, but they do wear a bit more than this.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Despite him being cross with his brother, on occasions, Joe didn\u2019t want Adam to fall foul of their father\u2019s anger, as he knew, to his own cost, how scary that could be. So, as he knelt on the floor, he tried to think of what he could do to protect his brother. He decided that the best thing to do was to take the offending article and hide it elsewhere. If Adam couldn\u2019t find it, then he couldn\u2019t give it to the lady and Ben wouldn\u2019t get to hear about it. He stuffed the underwear down his shirt front and ran to his room, closing Adam\u2019s armoire door and his bedroom door so that Adam wouldn\u2019t know he\u2019d been in there.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Once in his room, he placed the article in a drawer, covering it up with his own clothes, so that it couldn\u2019t be seen.<\/span><\/p>\n

He stayed in his room until he felt that his heart rate had returned to normal. It had been really scary being in Adam\u2019s room and then finding such a garment, and it had affected him more than he first realised.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

He suddenly became aware of someone coming up the stairs; it was Adam. He knocked on Joe\u2019s door and when Joe told him to, he came in the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhy are you hiding up here, little buddy? Are you sulking because I wouldn\u2019t tell you what I\u2019ve got you for Christmas? I didn\u2019t mean to upset you, but I just think it\u2019s nicer when you get a surprise, on the day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe smiled up at his brother.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cI\u2019m not sulking, Adam, and now I\u2019ve thought about it, I agree with you, a surprise is nicer,\u201d said Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cWell, Pa and Hoss are home, now, so shall we go down and have supper?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cSounds good to me,\u201d said Joe, and the two brothers headed down the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

For a couple of days, Joe forgot about the extra item in the drawer, in his room. But then, Hop Sing demanded that he tidied up his room.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cLittle boy make lots of mess. Hop Sing not have time for cleaning up after bad boys who don\u2019t put clothes away,\u201d announced the cook, after supper, one evening.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cJoseph, how many times have we told you not to leave your room in a mess?\u201d demanded Ben. \u201cHop Sing has enough to do, without you making extra work for him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cSorry Pa, Hop Sing,\u201d said Joe. \u201cIt\u2019s Saturday tomorrow, so I will tidy it up, then, okay?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cNo, Joseph, you will go and do it, now,\u201d said Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cBut Pa, it\u2019s Friday and me and Hoss play checkers, cos I get to stay up a bit later,\u201d replied Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cNot tonight you don\u2019t, young man, as your bedroom needs your attention,\u201d said Ben. \u201cSo, you can go up to your room, now, tidy it up and then go to bed. And maybe, in future, you will not leave it in a mess.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe knew there was no point arguing with his father, and so, with a muttered \u2018Goodnight,\u2019 he headed off up the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

When he walked into the room, he could see that Hop Sing wasn\u2019t exaggerating about the mess; it was pretty bad. Although he was annoyed about being sent upstairs so early in the evening , he did feel a bit guilty for having left his room in such a state, and he set to and started tidying it up. As he was putting his clothes away, in the drawers, he came across the ladies\u2019 undergarment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u2018Oops,\u2019 he thought. \u2018I best get rid of this before anyone else finds it.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

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

He carried on clearing up the room and when he was finished, he had a fairly large pile of dirty clothes that needed taking down to the wash house. He tucked the garment in the middle of his clothes and went down the back stairs, in order to avoid the main room. After depositing the dirty laundry in the wash house, he went out to where Hop Sing disposed of the trash, and he threw the undergarment into one of the bins. He then returned to his room, before he was missed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben was pleased with the way that Joe had knuckled down and cleaned up his room, when he came up to say goodnight to the boy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cGood job, son, now please try and keep it like this,\u201d he said, as he tucked Joe into his bed and gave him a kiss.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cI will, Pa, and please will you tell Hop Sing I\u2019m real sorry about the mess,\u201d said Joe.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cOf course I will, although you can tell him yourself, in the morning,\u201d replied Ben.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

Joe was mindful that it was getting ever closer to Christmas and so he really tried to stay out of trouble over the next few days. And he was doing very well, until Hop Sing went to dispose of some trash, and returned to the house carrying the aforementioned lady\u2019s undergarment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhy was this in trash?\u201d asked Hop Sing. \u201cWhich boy mixed this in with the makings for Hop Sing\u2019s compost?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The reaction to the item of clothing was a mixed one, in the Cartwright household.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Ben looked horrified, Hoss turned bright red, Adam jumped up out of his seat, and Joe tried to sneak out of the door through which Hop Sing had just come in.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cStay right where you are, young man,\u201d thundered Ben, and Joe did as he was told.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

He fixed all three of his boys with a stern glare and just said one word, \u201cWell?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Hoss said nothing, for two reasons. Firstly, he was too embarrassed and secondly, he knew nothing about the history of the offending garment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Adam was not so quiet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cIt\u2019s mine,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe burst out laughing when Adam said that.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cAnd I\u2019m sure you look real good in it, too, big brother,\u201d he said, when he was able to speak.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cThat\u2019s enough out of you,\u201d said Ben. \u201cCarry on, Adam, as I trust there is going to be more to your story than just \u2018it\u2019s mine.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cYes, Pa, there is. When I say that it\u2019s mine that is not strictly true. It was bought by Ross as a gift for Delphine, but he asked if I would keep it at our house, until Christmas Eve, as he didn\u2019t want her to find it. He said that she was like a small child, when it came to gifts, and if he tried to hide it in their home, she would surely find it, and he wanted it to be a surprise. He had to order it from the Sears catalogue and he had it sent to me. I put it in the bottom of my armoire and was going to give it to him after the church service on Christmas Eve. I most certainly didn\u2019t throw it out with the trash. I\u2019m not sure just how much it cost, but it wasn\u2019t cheap, and now I am going to have to order another one for Delphine, to replace this one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Once Adam finished speaking, all eyes were trained on Joseph. The boy felt very uncomfortable and tried to look at anything in room rather than at any of his family.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Eventually he said, \u201cWhy are you all looking at me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cBecause I am guessing that you are the one who knows all about this, Joseph,\u201d said Ben. \u201cAm I right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cAnd I am thinking the same thing,\u201d said Adam, angrily. \u201cEspecially after you were so keen to find out what I had bought you for Christmas. Did you go snooping in my room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe realised that there was nothing else he could do, but confess.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cYeah, I did go snooping and I\u2019m real sorry that I did, cos I got it all wrong, and now I\u2019ve messed up Delphine\u2019s present and everyone\u2019s mad with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Hoss, who had said nothing, so far, could see that Joe was genuinely upset. And, as was often the case, he found himself feeling sorry for his baby brother, so wanted to help him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhat did ya git wrong, little brother? Iffen it was an accident, I\u2019m sure Pa and Adam\u2019ll understand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Once again, Joe found it hard to look at his family, as he tried to explain.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cIt was that day when you came home and you were real cold and you said you were gonna have a bath, Adam. I was trying to get ya to tell me what you\u2019d bought me for Christmas, and you wouldn\u2019t, so while you were in the bath house, I snuck in your room and tried to find my gift. I didn\u2019t find it, but I did find that,\u201d said Joe, pointing at the garment. \u201cWhen I saw what it was, I was real worried, cos I thought you\u2019d bought it to give to a girlfriend, and I knew Pa would be real mad with you, if you gave something like that to a girl. So, I thought the best thing to do, was to get rid of it. I hid it in my room, for a while, then I threw it out. I was just trying to help you, Adam, cos I didn\u2019t want Pa being mad with you, especially at Christmas. I guess I\u2019ll havta give you the money to buy a new one for Delphine, won\u2019t I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

As Joe told his story, Adam\u2019s anger began to abate.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cI doubt if you have got enough money to buy another one, little buddy,\u201d said Adam. \u201cI am not happy that you went into my room when you know you are not supposed to, but I do admire your reasons for trying to get rid of Delphine\u2019s present. You are absolutely right; Pa would have been really angry with me, if I had bought such an item for a girlfriend. It would have been totally inappropriate, and I thank you for wanting to protect me from Pa\u2019s wrath. But, the fact remains that you went into my room, without my permission, and if you hadn\u2019t done so, then none of this would have happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cAdam is absolutely right, Joseph,\u201d said Ben. \u201cYour snooping has meant that Delphine now doesn\u2019t have a present from her husband, and as Adam was asked to look after the gift, it is his responsibility to provide a replacement. That is going to be expensive and there is no guarantee that the new garment will arrive in time for Christmas. Therefore, I think it is up to Adam to decide what your punishment will be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Joe looked over at his oldest brother and waited for the axe to fall. Since Adam had returned from college, he had seemed far more serious, and less approachable, than the Adam that had left, four years earlier. He was also now a man, no longer a boy, like Joe and Hoss, and Joe was rather scared about what Adam would do to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cWe have already established that Joe doesn\u2019t have the money to buy a replacement present, so that means I will have to buy it. As Pa said, it was my responsibility to look after the gift for my friend, and as it has now been damaged, I have to get another one. So, I think that to pay me back, Joe should do some extra chores, just for me. Does that sound okay to you, Pa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cYes, son, it sounds fine to me. What do you think, Joseph? It\u2019s either that, or you don\u2019t have any Christmas presents and we give the money we would have spent on you, to Adam, to pay for Delphine\u2019s gift.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cI\u2019d rather do the chores, Pa,\u201d said Joe. \u201cAnd I am really sorry, Adam, for going in your room when I shouldn\u2019t have done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Epilogue<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Adam ordered another undergarment for Delphine and it arrived in time for Christmas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joe worked really hard for his big brother and Adam was very pleased with the way that Joe accepted the punishment and performed all the tasks asked of him. It showed him that his little brother was beginning to grow up. Mind you, the chores that Adam asked Joe to do were ones that the boy particularly enjoyed, as they mostly involved working with the horses. And spending time with his big brother was also no chore for Joe, as it enabled them to rebuild the closeness they had known, before Adam left for college.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only did Adam buy Joe a new bridle for Shadow; he bought him a new saddle, too.<\/span><\/p>\n

And the Cartwright family had an especially good Christmas, now that Adam was back with them, after an absence of four years.<\/span><\/p>\n

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL FROM THE CARTWRIGHTS OF THE PONDEROSA.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little Joe forever<\/span><\/p>\n

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

December 2010<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 It’s almost Christmas Day, but ten year old Little Joe can’t wait and is desperate to find out what big brother Adam has bought him. \u00a0However, when he goes looking he finds a lot more than he bargained for. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K+ (3,160 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":13526,"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_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1126,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/G-1-DVS.jpg?fit=574%2C690&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15735,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15735","url_meta":{"origin":3337,"position":0},"title":"Christmas Time (by Indiana)","author":"indiana","date":"December 25, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"This story was written for the 2017 Advent Calendar - Day 21 Summary:\u00a0 Tears of disappointment turn into a lesson of compassion for a brother. Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a0720 words","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5514,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5514","url_meta":{"origin":3337,"position":1},"title":"Great Minds (by deansgirl)","author":"deansgirl","date":"May 1, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0It's Christmas time on the Ponderosa and the family is ready to exchange gifts. Rated: K+ (2,440 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":53159,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=53159","url_meta":{"origin":3337,"position":2},"title":"The Christmas Secret (by Harpistforhim)","author":"HarpistforHim","date":"February 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: A young Little Joe wants to know which of his brothers will be getting him a special gift for Christmas, but Adam isn't in the mood for spilling secrets. A short holiday story set during the early years of the Ponderosa. 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