{"id":3426,"date":"2010-10-25T16:31:29","date_gmt":"2010-10-25T20:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3426"},"modified":"2026-07-22T12:03:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T16:03:41","slug":"to-the-sky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3426","title":{"rendered":"To the Sky (by LC)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>A glimpse of life\u00a0with the Cartwrights as\u00a0seen by an injured bird. A prequel. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K \u00a0WC 1400<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0To the Sky<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“Hey there, little one. What\u2019s happened to you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gentle hands scoop her up with the same amount of care she showed the eggs she laid last spring. It hurts, a lot, and she protests the movement with a flurry of flapping wings that only makes the pain worse. The hands tighten slightly, not allowing her to escape, yet not jarring her injured wing at all. After a moment or two of pointless struggle she stops suddenly, yet her dark eyes never leave the face of this strange creature who\u2019s taken pity on her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s better, pretty lady. See, I ain\u2019t gonna hurt ya. I jest wanna fix that busted up wing o\u2019 yours. I cain\u2019t leave you out here for the buzzards to get.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though she can\u2019t understand the words, his tone is kind and calming and his continued murmurs as he walks keep her still. He stops a moment and there\u2019s a strange pounding sound followed by a soft squeak.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, how many times do I have to tell you that you can open the door yourself?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa, my hands is full!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI see that they are. Well, what have you got there, son?\u201d\u201cA hurt bird. She done gone and broke her wing.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLemme see, Hossie!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The hands suddenly plunge downward, setting her into a frenzied panic again. She\u2019s brought against his chest and the dark calms her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCareful, Joe! You\u2019ve done gone and scared her!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI-I not mean to, Hossie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Joe. Don\u2019t cry. Wanna help me take care of her \u2018til her wing heals?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWeally? Fank you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, why don\u2019t Joseph and I go look for a place for her to stay? You can go ask Marie to help you set that wing. She\u2019s with Adam in the kitchen, helping him study.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, Pa. Thanks!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She\u2019s being moved again, into warmth and good smells. She makes a soft little noise, unsure of what will happen to her and too tired to do anything about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEric, there you are! What have you here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a birdie, Mama.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, dear. She\u2019s hurt herself, hasn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Can ya help me fix her wing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, the likelihood of that bird\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHush, Adam; there is no need to say such things. Of course I will, mon cherie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The hands that have been holding her loosen their grip, and she finds herself being transferred to another\u2019s grasp. These hands are slightly larger, and the finger that softly strokes her head has a tenderness that only comes with practice. As she\u2019s gently cradled there is a general bustle around her for awhile and then something touches her broken wing. Fresh pain washes over her and she struggles against her tormenter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHold on, birdie; we\u2019re only tryin\u2019 to help ya!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

His voice, so innocent and kind, once again quiets her, though the hurt continues as her wing is splinted and wrapped and she occasionally chirps piteously. Finally it is done, just as the voices from before\u2014a big one and a little one\u2014return.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHossie, Hossie, we found a biwd cage! And I maked a nest!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, it is lovely! Did your Pa help you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Pa is tall and I is not. He weached it down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI am so very glad that your Pa is good at weaching.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCover your eyes, Joe! They\u2019re gonna kiss!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m never going to get any studying done with all of you crowded in here!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam. You apologize.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? I haven\u2019t done anything, Pa!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou will not use that tone with your mother and me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSorry then.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry for being rude. I pray that you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I\u2019m going up to my room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2026. Oh, Ben. You two are so alike!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe shows no respect for authority, Marie. I can\u2019t approve of such behavior.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe is ambitious and only frustrated when his dreams seem crowded out by the noise of the little ones. Tell me that you were not once that way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHossie, I can wook yet?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was different. Back in my day one didn\u2019t speak to his elders with anything but respect unless he was asking for a tanning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMama, can I have my bird back?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She twitches uncomfortably, the rise and fall of voices unlike the peacefulness of the forest that she usually enjoys. The hands have not stopped their continual stroking of her feathers, but she grows fearful at the noises and movement that surround her. She is relieved when she is transferred back into the first pair of small hands and only fusses a little when she is placed on the ground surrounded a wall of twigs”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere ya go, birdie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere she gonna live, Hossie?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe barn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa, I wanted her ta stay in my room!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat is an animal, Hoss. Not a person. People stay in the house, animals stay in the barn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYessir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you wanna come help me get her settled out in the barn?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBirdie stay in Joe\u2019s room?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNah. Pa says she has to live in the barn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Okay. Wet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWoah, Joe! Lemme carry that. We don\u2019t wanna hurt her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The ground pitches under her a moment before steadying itself. Curious, she hops to the twigs and peers between them, surprised to see the world moving past her. Looking up she sees the face of the creature that first picked her up, and looking down she sees a smaller creature who\u2019s gazing at her with wonder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe wookin\u2019 at me, Hossie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe probably thinks you\u2019re a good lookin\u2019 fella.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe pwetty, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t she? But she\u2019s gonna be even purtier once that wing heals and she can fly again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fly?<\/em>\u00a0Of all the noises they\u2019ve made, this one is the only one that makes sense to her. It whispers of fragrant spring breezes rustling through her outspread feathers, of a patchwork of fields spread out below her, of a thousand places to be and no need to visit any of them. She chirps softly, longing for the time when her wings will again sustain such sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

It gets cold, and she smells piney air as the twig-contraption continues to move, and then suddenly it\u2019s warm again and she\u2019s surrounded by the sound and smell of beasts. The ground jolts slightly and the creatures step away to gaze at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLittle lady, this is where Pa says ya have to stay. It\u2019s warm here, and my pony\u2019ll keep an eye on you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHossie?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat her name is?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI dunno. What do ya think it should be, little buddy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOw.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOw?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u00a0ow.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Who-who. An ow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you mean an owl?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. Ow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Joe, she ain\u2019t an owl. Owl\u2019s have big eyes and go \u2018hoo-hoo\u2019. She\u2019s got little eyes and goes \u2018tweet tweet\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Kitty?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, she ain\u2019t a kitty either! Think of\u2026of\u2026of a Bible name or somethin\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMoses?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a boy\u2019s name. She\u2019s a girl.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh. I not fink of any names.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about Carrie?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI carry cage now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUm, nevermind. We\u2019ll ask Mama what she thinks we should name her. Come on. Birdie\u2019s all set for now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanna watch birdie!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUh-uh. Come inside.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, you ain\u2019t allowed to stay out here alone! I wanna go inside!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, no!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll teach ya ta play checkers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWeally?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWet\u2019s go! Mama! Mama! Hossie gonna teach me checkers!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She watches them go, the little one soaring out in front and the other one following more slowly. She likes the other one, the one who\u2019d found her. Once they are gone, she settles herself to exploring her new home. A pile of straw is the only feature in the twigged-in space, and she busies herself with rearranging the straws into a soft nest which, once completed, she snuggles into. It\u2019s warmer here than it was in her perch in the tree and she\u2019s content. Content to wait here until her wing is healed and she can take to the sky\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Summary: \u00a0A glimpse of life\u00a0with the Cartwrights as\u00a0seen by an injured bird. A prequel. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K \u00a0WC 1400<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":10183,"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_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Female_House_Sparrow.jpg?fit=2239%2C1490&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3426"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3426\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}