{"id":35155,"date":"2020-12-25T00:21:32","date_gmt":"2020-12-25T05:21:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=35155"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:38:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:38:52","slug":"returning-home-by-bluewindfarm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=35155","title":{"rendered":"Returning Home (by BluewindFarm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bonanza Brand<\/span><\/strong>
\n~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~<\/span><\/strong>
\n* Day 21 *<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Summary:\u00a0 Memories of family and Christmases past are shared between brothers.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 2,770 Words<\/p>\n

Note:\u00a0 This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Returning Home<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Christmas morning dawned early and noisily; after settling Cochise in the barn, Joe thrust open the front door to the heart of the Ponderosa shouting, “Merry Christmas!”\u00a0 Bearing gifts for family and friends, he hollered, “Where is everyone?!”\u00a0 Thirty minutes later the family, including Hop Sing, sat at the dining room table eating a hearty breakfast; it almost felt like old times, but with a few notable exceptions.<\/p>\n

After eating their fill, the family moved to the great room.\u00a0 Luxuriating in the warmth provided by the flames dancing in the fireplace; they exchange gifts.\u00a0 After the last present was unwrapped, Joe handed Ben an envelope.<\/p>\n

Setting his pipe aside and raising an eyebrow.\u00a0 \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the gift I know you\u2019ve really wanted these past few months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben pulled out a sheet of paper and read.\u00a0 Looking up, “This is a signed contract for the old foreman\u2019s cabin.”<\/p>\n

“Yeah, I got to talking with one of the new hands Candy hired, seems he already sent for his wife and son.\u00a0 I thought the cabin would be the perfect residence for the family.”<\/p>\n

Sitting forward in his chair, “Are you sure?” inquired Ben.<\/p>\n

Nodding, \u201cWe\u2019ll need to do some repair work on the place,\u201d Joe responded, ignoring the tears welling in Ben’s eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean, more than you already did?\u201d Jamie asked; smiling at Joe\u2019s nod.<\/p>\n

Having begun cleaning up all the discarded wrapping paper and ribbons, Hop Sing paused next to Ben\u2019s chair and said, \u201cWe need rearrange upstairs!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe’s cackle sounded throughout the room as the others eagerly began talking one over the other to welcome Joe the rest of the way home.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Joe?\u201d Later that Christmas afternoon, Jamie shouted up the darkened staircase leading to the attic.\u00a0 \u201cJoe?\u00a0 You up there?\u201d\u00a0 He heard the ceiling boards creak as whoever was above walked across the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah Jamie, I\u2019m up here.\u201d\u00a0 Without waiting for his younger brother to respond or climb the steps, Joe returned to the trunk he had been searching.<\/p>\n

Entering the domain of yesterdays long past, Jamie looked around at the various items and trunks placed in storage; a baby bed, dressing table, and a rocking horse were set in one corner.\u00a0 Set against one wall was a bookshelf filled with camping gear and cooking supplies which had seen better days.\u00a0 In another corner, he spied a bed and trundle.\u00a0 Finally seeing Joe he inquired, \u201cWhat\u2019cha doing up here?\u201d<\/p>\n

Kneeling, Joe carefully lifted a wrapped package out of one of the trunks.\u00a0 Standing, he carried it to the table where he\u2019d previously set a lantern and other items he\u2019d already retrieved.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Working to untie the strings which fastened the brown paper around the item, \u201cOh, sorry Jamie.\u00a0 What\u2019d you need?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust curious what you were doing up here?\u00a0 I know it\u2019s a little much, what with Pa and Hop Sing orderin\u2019 the hands around, getting ready for the party tonight.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Pointing he asked, \u201cWhat\u2019s in that package?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMemories.\u201d<\/p>\n

‘Well that\u2019s clear as mud,’<\/em> Jamie thought to himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry Jamie, it\u2019s just\u2026. It was a difficult decision to make, to come back and live in the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know Pa\u2019s real happy you decided to move back into your old room, that you won’t be staying at the foreman\u2019s cabin anymore.\u00a0 It was the perfect Christmas gift you gave Pa this morning, ya know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know.\u201d\u00a0 Turning to face his young brother, \u201cYou do understand why I wasn\u2019t ready to move back into the house until now, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shrugging his shoulder, \u201cNot really.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a family and\u2026.\u201d\u00a0 Swallowing heavily, \u201cI wasn\u2019t ready to come home and have it be as if Alice and the baby never existed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess after losing everything in the fire, there\u2019s not a lot left to remember her, huh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence echoed between the floorboards and the rafters, and ran along the walls; surrounding the brothers like a scratchy old, wool blanket.<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Joe slowly revealed the item, \u201cWell, when I decided to move back, I remembered Hop Sing had packed up a lot of the stuff from my old room that I didn\u2019t take with me when Alice and I moved into our own home.\u00a0 Items I left because I didn’t feel they belonged with me, now…. since I was…. married.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gulping at the sad memory of his former sister-in-law, \u201cSo, now that you\u2019re back, what are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, looking for some of my old things to put back in my room, make it so it doesn\u2019t look like a guest room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess that makes sense.\u201d\u00a0 Hooking his thumbs over his waistband, \u201cWith as many people who\u2019ll be here tonight and eventually end up staying, I can see you not wanting any a them thinking they can squat in your bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his hands Joe held what he had been looking for, an exquisitely carved box that slid into a matching wooden sleeve, about eight inches, by six inches, by two inches.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow!\u00a0 That\u2019s beautiful.\u00a0 Where\u2019d you get it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss carved this for me a long time ago as a Christmas present.”<\/p>\n

“Looks like an oversized matchbox.” Jamie observed Joe moving the box part back and forth within its sleeve.<\/p>\n

“Yeah, it does.\u00a0 If I remember correctly, the second year Adam was away at college, he\u2019d sent me some books as a birthday present.”\u00a0 With a brief laugh, “I know he called them penny-dreadfuls, they were stories about pirates and their adventures, but at least they kept me interested in reading.\u00a0 Hoss and I spent a lot of time in my bedroom late at night reading them.\u00a0 I guess at some point I told Hoss I wish I had a treasure chest and for Christmas, he gave me this.\u00a0 I started keeping all my treasures inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWouldn\u2019t it have been easier to make it with hinges instead of having to carve something to slide it in and out of?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, but you have to remember, back then\u2026 It wasn\u2019t easy to purchase things; money was tight, what with the Ponderosa growing and all.\u00a0 And brackets this tiny\u2026would have been considered frivolous and they would have cost too much when you included the expense of shipping and the possibility of them getting lost in transit.\u00a0 When I was younger, most of the gifts we gave each other were truly from the heart, not so much store bought as they tend to be today.\u201d<\/p>\n

“I wouldn’t call your gift to Pa, store bought.”\u00a0 Jamie looked on, watching Joe finally slip the box out of its sleeve.\u00a0 Among the readily visible items were marbles, arrowheads, quartz rocks, coins, and\u2026 \u201cA thimble?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt belonged to my mother.\u00a0 A few years after she passed, Pa and Hoss were redoing the wall to the right of the fireplace, converting the area to a gun rack.\u00a0 Anyway, while I was helping to clear out all the debris,\u201d holding up the thimble, \u201cI found this.\u00a0 The story Pa told me was one day Ma and a friend were sewing a Christmas quilt, and I guess I kinda had some fun with all their swatches.\u00a0 After receiving a paddling for being naughty, I had to help Momma clean up the mess.\u00a0 Later, when she returned to her sewing, she could never find this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Returning the thimble to the box, Joe pull out a small, satin pouch.\u00a0 Next, he opened the drawstrings and upended the contents into the palm of his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cA watch?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not a watch, but it does look like one.\u201d\u00a0 Pressing the top button as if it were a pocket watch, the lid popped up revealing a compass.\u00a0 \u201cAdam gave this to me before he left.\u00a0 The last Christmas he was here, he gifted it to me.\u201d\u00a0 Joe quieted; remembering back to that day.\u00a0 \u201cThe next morning Adam told us he would be leaving the Ponderosa in the spring; said he wanted to go places, to see things he\u2019d only read about in all those books he was always reading.\u00a0 Pa wasn\u2019t surprised, though I remember his eyes brimming with tears.\u00a0 Later, I accidentally overheard them talking and Pa said when he saw Adam give this to me, he knew the announcement was coming.”<\/p>\n

“Yeah, Pa’s always good an knowing things that we think we’re keeping from him.”<\/p>\n

“I always wondered how Pa did that too.\u00a0 But this time…. See, Pa gave this to Adam before he left for college.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh wow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clearing his throat, Joe continued, \u201cThat night, when we were heading to bed, Adam asked me to stop by his room.\u00a0 He motioned me to settle on his bed, something he hadn’t done since I…. before he went away to college.\u00a0 After he sat on the chair at his desk, he told me of how Pa had given this to him; explaining that whenever things became too difficult or if Adam ever felt that he couldn\u2019t finish what he\u2019d started\u2026\u00a0 Pa told him to open this and it would point him true.\u00a0 \u00a0Adam told me that whenever I began to doubt myself, all I had to do was pull this out and it would guide me true, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jamie interrupted, \u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u00a0 I know a compass always points North; but what\u2019d that have to do with doubting?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Adam, it was the fact that Pa had given this to him.\u00a0 It was a way to be reminded that Pa always had faith in him, to be able to follow through with the direction he chose; to go to college and graduate.”<\/p>\n

“Okay, but what about you?\u00a0 You always seem so confident.”<\/p>\n

“Jamie, you have to understand.\u00a0 When I was a lot younger, Adam and I butted heads for a long time. I was jealous of everything he had and could do after he returned home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYounger brother syndrome?\u201d Jamie offered while pulling out a chair from next to the table and taking a seat.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, something like that.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess every younger brother thinks they know more or can do anything the same as their older brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe saw the chagrined look, knowing Jamie spoke from experience(1)<\/sup>.\u00a0 With a brotherly punch to his sibling\u2019s shoulder, \u201cJust remember, I was once your age.\u201d<\/p>\n

Resting his chin on his hands, elbows leaning on the table,\u00a0Jamie attempted to lighten the mood and forget his own disaster, \u201cEven though it mighta been a long time ago?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gently shaking his head with a smile, Joe continued, \u201cYeah, a long time ago. Anyway, I always thought I was so much smarter and knew so much more and could do anything better than Adam did because I didn\u2019t have to go away from home to learn it.\u00a0 The harder he was on me, the more I felt as if I didn\u2019t belong, that I wasn\u2019t a real Cartwright.\u00a0 Took my own Grand Swing to realize that all the time Adam spent trying to teach me, he was trying to make things easier on me; so I wouldn\u2019t fail as spectacularly as he did.”\u00a0 With a brief huff, “Anyway, Adam went on to state that even though I’d been the recipient of Pa’s ‘United with stand, divided we fail’ speech(2)<\/sup>; he wanted me to understand why the world’s best explorers kept a compass to guide them.\u00a0 Said family was all well and good, when they were around, but sometimes, a traveler or a man had to seek his own counsel; and a compass was the most valued possession he could own.<\/p>\n

\u201cGifting this was Adam\u2019s way of handing over the reins of the Ponderosa to me, letting me know he had faith in me taking over as Pa\u2019s right-hand man.\u00a0 But…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou?” Jamie interrupted, “Why not Hoss?”\u00a0 Sitting up straight.\u00a0 “No disrespect, but shouldn’t that have fallen to Hoss, since he was older than you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never asked Adam that.\u00a0 But you know\u2026.knew Hoss.\u00a0 He was too gentle to get really tough on the men when it was necessary. \u00a0Can you imagine Hoss trying to negotiate some of the contracts that kept the Ponderosa going?\u00a0 \u00a0He was happier working with the men and the animals than he was doing anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling at some of the memories Joe’s comments invoked, “Yeah, that was Hoss.”<\/p>\n

Giving a short snort of breath through his nose, almost in disgust at himself, “There were so many times after Adam left that I was mad at him for leaving.”\u00a0 Seeing Jamie’s eyes enlarge, “I thought it was his ultimate revenge by not turning over the reins to Hoss.\u00a0 Oh, I never said anything to Pa, but I was angry….feeling Adam dumped everything on my lap and took off to who knows where; and left me with both of my brothers laughing at me.\u00a0 God, how many times did I say, ‘On my own’ or ‘Me do’ when I was a small child; I might have been more eloquent in my teens, but the sentiments were still the same.\u00a0 And then when I really needed him….”\u00a0 Closing the lid he’d earlier opened, “In the quiet of my room, long after Pa or Hoss had gone to bed, I’d eventually pull out this compass and open it….”\u00a0 Fisting the compass tightly, “Holding this was something tangible, proof that someone had faith in me.\u00a0 Yes, it was given to me by Adam, but ultimately it was Pa’s gift and that meant so much more; that Adam was willing to part with it.\u00a0 By the next morning, I’d come downstairs and know exactly what my plan was to complete the task.\u00a0 And Pa never knew of all the times I wanted to give up<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Jamie snickered.<\/p>\n

“You’re probably right.”<\/p>\n

Watching Joe heft the compass in his hand, “So, I take it there’s more to coming up here than just redecorating your bedroom?”<\/p>\n

Turning to face his brother, and placing a hand on his shoulder, “I\u2019ve been lost for a while, ever since I…. Alice and the baby died, but more so since I tracked down their killers.”<\/p>\n

“You should be proud of what you did,” Jamie stated, his face expressing his confusion. “You tracked those men down and brought those murderers to justice!” The pitch of his voice rose in excitement.<\/p>\n

“Not all of them; those who died haunt my dreams.\u00a0 Even after all the late-night talks Candy had with me out on the trail, he couldn’t dissuade me from my vengeance.\u00a0 Maybe…. If I’d left it to the authorities, it’s possible that all of them would have stood trial for their roles in Alice’s death.\u00a0 That’s also part of why I couldn’t live here; fearing the disappointment I\u2019d see in Pa’s eyes.”<\/p>\n

“No one ever held their deaths against you, not Pa, not even Clem.”<\/p>\n

“I did.”\u00a0\u00a0Joe reflected for a few moments before he slipped the compass into his shirt pocket.<\/p>\n

“Are you going to talk with Pa?”<\/p>\n

\u201cIn time.\u00a0 Right now, I just want to get settled back in the house.\u00a0 Though I will say that Adam was right.” Joe headed for the doorway carrying his matchbox treasure chest and patting his shirt pocket with his other hand, “This has always pointed me true in the past. And in order for it to help me find myself, I realized, I needed to come home.”\u00a0 Looking back to Jamie, “It sure has gotten quiet downstairs.”<\/p>\n

Standing to follow his brother,\u00a0\u201cBut what of everything else?\u201d Jamie motioned back to the items on the table.<\/p>\n

“I have what I need for right now.”<\/p>\n

Jamie picked up the lantern and made his way to the doorway.<\/p>\n

Looking serious at his brother’s approach, Joe said, “It’s not just the compass that will help me, but, the meaning behind the gift.”\u00a0 He wrapped a hand around the back of Jamie’s neck and gave him a squeeze, “Coming home, and talking with you has helped, too.”\u00a0 Dropping his arm and shrugging his shoulder, “As for those, I\u2019ll come back and move them into my room later.\u201d\u00a0 Turning in the doorway, “I suggest we get downstairs to see what Pa and Hop Sing are up to.\u00a0 Besides, I can smell the spiced apple cider all the way up here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to spike the punch bowl?\u201d<\/p>\n

Raising his eyebrows, \u201cAnd what do you know of spiking the punch?\u201d<\/p>\n

Laughingly Jamie answered, \u201cNothing Joe.\u00a0 Nothing at all,\u201d as he passed his brother.<\/p>\n

Administering an on-target-swat to the seat of Jamie’s pants, Joe remembered the many times he had been the recipient of such from Adam, or Hoss, or even their Pa.\u00a0 With a loft to his step, he followed his brother downstairs, to hearth, family, and friends.<\/p>\n

Merry Christmas Everyone!<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

May the love of family, home, and hearth always guide you true.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Character<\/strong>:\u00a0 Jamie Hunter Cartwright
\nGift<\/strong>:\u00a0 Matchbox and compass\u00a0 (bet you thought it was a thimble)<\/p>\n

Inspired by:\u00a0 Forever
\nDirector:\u00a0 Michael Landon
\nWritten by:\u00a0 Michael Landon, David Dortort (creator)<\/p>\n

Author’s Note:\u00a0 In my mind\u2019s eye, I never thought it would be that easy for Joe to return to the ranch house after events in ‘Forever<\/em>‘.\u00a0 So, I saw him staying at an ‘old foreman’s cabin’ until he was ready to live once more in the home where he grew up.<\/p>\n

References: (1)<\/sup>The Grand Swing and (2)<\/sup>The Quest.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s adventure in sewing was first recounted in Aunt Dinah aka The Christmas Visitors<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Link to the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar – Day 22 – The Paper Toy-Theater by Sibylle<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a0 Memories of family and Christmases past are shared between brothers.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 2,770 Words<\/p>\n

Note:\u00a0 This story was originally written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":5835,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_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":""},"categories":[1009,23,61,13,40],"tags":[1062],"class_list":["post-35155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brothers","category-drama","category-missing-scene","category-whn","category-challenges","tag-advent-calendar","wpcat-1009-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-61-id","wpcat-13-id","wpcat-40-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1259,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61229,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61229","url_meta":{"origin":35155,"position":0},"title":"Making New Memories while Remembering Christmases Past (by Fanofoldtvshows)","author":"Fanofoldtvshows","date":"December 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary The Cartwright s and Hop Sing make new memories while talking their favorite past Christmases. 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Rating: G\u00a0 (50 words) Written for the 2025 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar","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\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49961,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49961","url_meta":{"origin":35155,"position":2},"title":"Remember, Remember (by faust)","author":"faust","date":"December 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 No one signed up for the fourth, so this day was opened to all members in the Forums to try their hand at writing poetry for the season. 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