{"id":35435,"date":"2020-12-23T10:42:56","date_gmt":"2020-12-23T15:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=35435"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:38:55","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:38:55","slug":"the-christmas-afghan-by-missjudy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=35435","title":{"rendered":"The Christmas Afghan (by Missjudy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>: A cold ride home in the pelting snow, followed by a sweet conversation with his father, gives Adam a memorable Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong> G<\/p>\n

Word Count<\/strong>: 6734<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Christmas Afghan <\/strong><\/p>\n

(Christmas Eve 1828)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben glanced lovingly at the petite, beautiful young woman clutching his arm as they stepped out into the light snowfall following the Christmas Eve service at the sailor\u2019s chapel near the harbor. He\u2019d been invited to accompany Abel and Elizabeth Stoddard to church, and then home for coffee and Christmas cookies while opening the gifts waiting for them under the tree.<\/p>\n

He’d met Elizabeth when he\u2019d returned from his first voyage with Captain Stoddard, and he\u2019d been instantly smitten. It had taken him a couple more years of serving under the strict captain, before feeling confident enough to petition him for the right to call on his daughter. At times he\u2019d worried that Elizabeth might fall in love with another before he was worthy of her company, but that concern was mitigated by the fact that Abel Stoddard kept a tight blockade of protection around his only child.<\/p>\n

Ben nearly hadn\u2019t made it as a sailor. His early voyages had been fraught with weather waging battle on any clipper ship captained by Abel Stoddard, with Ben Cartwright as mate. High seas and raging storms had made adjustment to life on deck … or on any part of the ship … pure misery. He\u2019d suffered seasickness so severe that he\u2019d lost several pounds, after choosing to forego meals rather than spew them over the railings into the sea. Thankfully, while there was still the odd swirl in his innards when the ship bottomed out in the trough of a 20-foot wave, he\u2019d acclimated to the constant movement, and had thrived since then.<\/p>\n

The best thing to come out of his agony, was that the way in which he\u2019d handled those initial woes had been observed by his crusty captain, who eventually told of his admiration for the young man\u2019s tenacity. He\u2019d always shown up for his post, doing his job the best he could, no matter how awful he\u2019d felt, and his service had been rewarded with promotion after promotion, until now he was wearing the uniform of an officer. On the next sailing, he would command the ship anytime Captain Stoddard was away from the wheel.<\/p>\n

His request to court Elizabeth a few months ago, had been met with a stern look by the gruff seadog with the distinctive goatee. But then he\u2019d smiled and asked why Ben had waited so long.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a lovely service,\u201d Elizabeth said as she looked up at him and smiled gently.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou seem very lost in thought, Ben. Is anything wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

His grip on her hand tightened for an instant. \u201cI was just remembering the journey to your side, my Love. One day soon I hope to be in a position to make a request of your father that will allow us to walk like this forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFather thinks a great deal of you already.\u201d Her smile waned a bit as she saw the thoughtful look lock back in place on her escort\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI appreciate that he does. My fear comes in whether that will be true after we return from our next trip where he\u2019ll observe my mettle as his top officer. I wouldn\u2019t want him rethinking his decision regarding you, should I prove unworthy of the role.\u201d He winked. \u201cI\u2019m sure all will go fine. Captain Stoddard is a fine teacher. The more important reason to wait, is that I\u2019ll have enough money saved up after that to offer us a good start. It\u2019s important to me that you not want for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elizabeth stopped in her tracks, and frowned at the handsome man in his dress uniform. \u201cI am fine with waiting a bit to make this official, but don\u2019t you ever believe you, and one day our children, won\u2019t be everything I need, Benjamin Cartwright.\u201d Ben\u2019s startled expression made her laugh. \u201cYou\u2019ll get a strong woman in me, Sir. I\u2019ll not be afraid to speak my mind, and I won\u2019t be askin\u2019 for your permission to do so, even if you are an officer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA strong mate is exactly what I need.\u201d He longed to kiss her there and then, but Abel was walking behind them, conversing with another old salt, so he respected the decorum demanded by the situation. That didn\u2019t stop him from pulling her a little closer to his side as they began walking again.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook,\u201d she pointed towards the gas lamps illuminating the dark harbor street. \u201cIsn\u2019t it the most beautiful effect with the snowflakes shimmering like diamonds in the light?\u201d She held out her gloved hand and a perfectly formed white flake came to rest on her palm. \u201cIt looks like star!\u201d she said excitedly. \u201cThink about this star when you\u2019re out on the sea, Ben, and always follow it home to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you like your pipe, Father?\u201d Elizabeth asked after Abel had unwrapped the gift from Ben.<\/p>\n

The Captain turned the well-shaped, beautifully grained, briar wood pipe to admire it. \u201cVery much so, my dear. It will need a breaking in of bite and tobacco, but I shall look forward to it. Thank you, Benjamin.\u201d He noted the young man\u2019s blush. Abel knew the pipe had cost a small ransom, and even more commendable about the gift, was that this young man who would undoubtedly be his son-in-law one day, had paid attention in choosing it. Someone trying to impress the father of the woman they were courting, or a young sailor wanting to impress his captain, might have chosen an ornately carved pipe made of meerschaum. While artistic and lovely to look at, their fate was set as an adornment in a pipe rack rather than becoming a useful item. Ben Cartwright had chosen one of simple wood, a fine finish, and a solid feel to the bowl that would rest comfortably in his hand. He had chosen wisely.<\/p>\n

With his gifts opened, Abel stretched before draining the last of the tea from his cup. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long day, and since we\u2019re expecting guests tomorrow, I should get to bed.\u201d He issued a stern look at Elizabeth and Ben who were sitting on the floor near the tree. \u201cI expect you\u2019ll want a few minutes to exchange your gifts and say goodnight. But be mindful of the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

After hearing the bedroom door shut upstairs, Elizabeth reached for one of the gifts Ben had slipped under the tree for her. \u201cI know you\u2019re my guest, but I love presents, and want to see what this is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was hoping you\u2019d open it next.\u201d Ben watched her face as she slipped the ribbon from the plain brown paper, and pulled back the edges to reveal the brush and comb set he\u2019d gotten for her at a stop in Ireland during his last voyage. \u201cDo you like it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know me so well, my darling. I will think of you each night and morning when I brush my hair. The inlay is so beautiful. It\u2019s almost too lovely to use, but I promise that I will.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI chose it because the wood it\u2019s made of is strong, yet the decoration is delicate, intriguing and exquisite: just like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for both the gift, and the sentiment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s one more for you.\u201d Ben reached under the tree again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wrapping slid off quickly and Elizabeth\u2019s eyes widened as she removed the stopper from the bottle of cologne and inhaled deeply. \u201cWhat a wonderful light scent! And the bottle is so pretty too!\u201d After a glance towards the steps to be positive they were alone, she leaned forward to kiss him. She didn\u2019t linger though, pulling a large soft package from under the tree. \u201cThis is for you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Laying the package on his lap, he loosened the bow and peeled back the wrapping made of brown paper, similar to what he\u2019d used for her gift, but Elizabeth had painted ornaments and snowflakes on it to make it festive. The gift, once bared, left him at a loss. He knew little of women\u2019s crafting, but from the intricacy of the pattern, he figured this was crocheted. Whatever it was, it consisted of identical, small cream and golden squares, connected and bordered with rows of brown. He remembered his grandmother having a shawl with a similar pattern that she\u2019d made with bits of yarn remaining from other projects. This prompted him to wonder if Elizabeth saw him as a man who would spend his evenings wrapped in a shawl? Fighting for words, he considered how large it would be when laid out, based on the size of the folded piece, and finally said, \u201cThis … must have taken so many hours of work. It\u2019s lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elizabeth nearly bounded from the floor, grabbing the bundle from his hands as she did, and unfolded it for him to see. \u201cIt\u2019s an afghan, my love! Father said that you\u2019ll have private quarters on your next sailing. I made this so you can wrap up warm and snug at night. And,\u201d she winked at him, \u201cI\u2019ll infuse a little of your lovely perfume into the yarn, so you will think of me doubly, every time you use it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben took it from her hands and flipped it over his back, still holding the front edges, and then pulled Elizabeth close as he wrapped them both inside. \u201cIt will indeed remind me of you. I shall hold it every night as I fall asleep and thank God that you were so thoughtful as to worry about my comfort.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two young lovers lost track of time as they moved closer to the fire and sat, wrapped in the afghan while the logs turned to embers. A loud, \u201cAhem!\u201d startled them.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur guests will be arriving for Christmas dinner and you two will still be sitting there,\u201d Abel teased. \u201cYou may pick up where you left off tomorrow, but now, Ben must head to his room at the inn, and my daughter to her bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christmas Eve (1863)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam groaned as he opened the door of the general store and looked out into the hazy darkness. When he lingered on the threshold, the store owner came up behind him, and peered over his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks like snow for Christmas,\u201d he told Adam, and then grimaced. \u201cI suppose that\u2019s not great news for you, having to ride home in it tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam chuckled. \u201cWont\u2019 be the first time I\u2019ve ridden home in snow.\u201d He stepped fully onto the boardwalk, with the shopkeeper following him to retrieve the products he displayed outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not coming down hard yet\u2014more like a thick rain shower than heavy flakes,\u201d he told Adam, as he passed by with a stack of galvanized pails. \u201cThe temperature isn\u2019t cold enough for it to stick yet either, and I\u2019ll pray it lets up until you get to the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll let you know if that prayer is granted next time I see you.\u201d Both men laughed, while Adam stepped into the street, and stroked Sports nose before stuffing the smaller items into his saddle bags, and tied the large cotton bag holding the rest to his saddle horn. He called out, \u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d as he attempted to clear some of the wetness from his saddle with his coat sleeve, before mounting up. Smeared was a better description of his efforts, and when he dropped his leg across Sports back and let his weight sink onto the cold, wet leather, he felt the distinctive misery of every rider: moisture finding its way through the weave of his pants and long-johns to provide a freezing jolt to his legs that made him shiver from head to toe. It would ease as the heat from his body, now trapped against the well-oiled leather, would eventually begin to warm him again.<\/p>\n

The shopkeeper waved to his departing customer. \u201cSafe travels, and a merry Christmas to you and your family as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The fine snow that resembled fog when Adam first saw it from the store vestibule, eased as he left the main street of Virginia City. Perhaps the prophesy of it being of short shower would prove true. Approaching the road towards the ranch, he tamped down his frustration over the necessity for the night ride, and concentrated on the road in front of him. For all the times he\u2019d taken this same stretch, he felt he should know every hole and menacing section by heart. He didn\u2019t. There was a full moon above the clouds tonight, creating muted light, yet he allowed another frustrated groan after recalculating the length of his trip, adjusting for a slower speed.<\/p>\n

His plans for this day before Christmas, had been made during breakfast and included a few simple fence repairs in the morning, followed by a quick trip to Virginia City to pick up a few Christmas gifts that had been promised for today. He couldn\u2019t be grouchy about this since there\u2019d been a time after a heavy snow in November, where it seemed unlikely that any further shipments would make it to town until spring. But warmer weather had returned, clearing the roads, and wagons had rolled into town again, bringing along the gifts for his family, he\u2019d ordered back in summer. A further kindness had come from the wife of the shop owner, who\u2019d anticipated he\u2019d have no time to fuss with them tonight, and had wrapped everything in bright paper, leaving a description attached to each package, noting its contents.<\/p>\n

He had mentioned making the last-minute trip that morning, adding an offer to pick up any items still needed by his family or Hop Sing. That eased his mind now, knowing that while there\u2019d be disappointment at his not getting home for the feast Hop Sing had prepared, his late arrival wouldn\u2019t cause worry.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t even late yet, although it was dark. Under normal circumstances and good moonlight, he\u2019d be able to make it home in time for dinner. But with the heavy clouds racing above him and the wind picking up, he suspected the weather wasn\u2019t about to allow an easy journey. If the conditions worsened, the trip home could take hours, bringing him to the ranch closer to bedtime than suppertime.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

There was no joy in being proven correct about his weather hunch. The downfall began in earnest a few miles outside of town. Icy shards of sleet were propelled by a strong northerly wind, strafing at his exposed skin, and causing a layer of slush to form on the road.<\/p>\n

His mind returned to that morning when he\u2019d set out to make repairs on fences damaged by that earlier snow. What should have been simple, had become complicated when a curious group of beef had made their way over to him while he worked. A rogue wind had sent them running\u2014right over the downed fence he\u2019d been repairing\u2014ruining the work he\u2019d already done\u2014and adding to the total amount of work needed. It had taken longer to reset the additional posts and boards, but what took the most time was rounding up the wayward steers that seemed intent on a frolic. With winter officially marked on the calendar, he had to get them on the right side of the barrier. Fences would go down eventually with drifting snow, allowing some cattle to wander away, but they had to be contained as long as possible so they\u2019d have the feed and hay provided by the ranch once the last of the grass was covered with snow.\u00a0 Despite the setback in his schedule those roaming steers had created, and their probable escape in the future, his conscience hadn\u2019t allowed him to let them go free just yet.<\/p>\n

That choice had set the need for another choice to make right now, while he was still closer to town than home. With stinging pellets of ice melting on his pants legs, and snaking down the neck of his coat, he considered whether he should turn around and stay in town tonight. The deciding factor came as he pictured his family gathered around the tree tomorrow morning while he\u2019d awaken alone in a hotel room. The image made him adjust his hat more securely onto his forehead, turn up the collar of his coat and nudge Sport ahead.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

He saw light in his brother\u2019s bedroom window when he finally slipped from Sport\u2019s wet back and opened the barn door. It was impossible to tell how long the trip had taken, but there were times when the sleet had turned to rain, and other times when it had became a solid wall of fluffy white flakes, making him slow to a snail\u2019s pace so as not to wander off the road.<\/p>\n

His feet made squishing sounds in his boots as he slipped the saddle from Sport, and tossed it over the stall to dry. Every piece of his clothing was saturated, yet he hadn\u2019t realized just how uncomfortable he\u2019d become until was upright and walking. His legs and hands were stiff and cold, and his wet clothing stuck to his skin, making every step and bend irritating as he gathered the brush and towels needed to dry Sport, and then provide him a well-earned meal of oats and hay.<\/p>\n

With his faithful horse settled comfortably, he grabbed his bags of gifts, blew out the lamp and walked wide-legged to the house to keep the seams in the wet slacks from rubbing his skin any rawer. A quick glance through the glass of the back door, revealed that Hop Sing must have finished up and gone to his room already. Hoping not to alert the cook to his presence and getting him from whatever pastime he was enjoying, he opened the door quietly and slipped inside, depositing his bags on the table, hoping the damp paper would dry smoothly. The house felt warm, prompting a happy sigh. The quiet in the adjoining rooms, indicated his family had probably gone to their rooms as well. He tamped down his disappointment at not having some company while he unwound from the tense trip, but he also knew he was too exhausted to have provided much in the line of good company anyway.<\/p>\n

The aroma of the earlier meal still hung in the air, and he followed the scent to a plate of food left warming for him at the back of the stove. His joy at the thought of a hot meal vanished as he reached the stove and realized there was no warmth left in the cast iron beast. That disappointment vanished when he began to shiver violently, and he concentrated on getting changed before worrying about food.<\/p>\n

The empty living area greeted him as he left the kitchen, but there were still flames licking the logs in the fireplace. His next decision came quickly: adding new logs to the hearth to build a nice fire while he got shed of his wet clothing.<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019 snoring was audible when Adam passed his bedroom, but he could still see a strip of light at the bottom of his father\u2019s and Joe\u2019s doors. Not wanting to get stopped now; he bypassed those rooms as quietly as possible and shut his door silently once inside.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing had laid a fire for him, but it hadn\u2019t been lit. He accomplished that with hands shaking so hard, he\u2019d had trouble lighting the match. It would take a while for it to warm the room comfortably so he continued with his initial plan of warming up downstairs.<\/p>\n

His wet boots were nearly impossible to remove, requiring him to practically stand on his head to get the leverage needed to accomplish the long and sturdy tug to break the suction and begin moving his foot through the wet leather uppers. The rest of his disrobing took equally as long, with each item seeming glued to his skin. He only wore a nightshirt when he was ill or there were guests staying upstairs, but tonight he dug under a stack of pants in his bottom dresser drawer, and selected the biggest one he owned. It hung past his wrists and down to his ankles when it settled into place on his shoulders, and the soft fabric brought instant soothing to his icy skin. Adding socks, slippers and his blue robe\u2014the warmer of the two he owned\u2014to his \u201cdinner attire,\u201d he exited as quietly as he\u2019d arrived and hurried back to the roaring fire, standing directly in front of it. He chuckled to himself, thinking that as cold as he felt, he might start melting like a block of ice.<\/p>\n

He would have pulled his favorite chair closer, but with their traditional, huge Christmas tree occupying that corner of the room, it had been set off against the wall behind the staircase for the duration of the holidays. Feeling suddenly too tired to stand, he sat on the edge of the large wooden table behind him: one of favorite perches when he needed to think things through or have a heavier conversation with his father.<\/p>\n

As warm as the fire was, it was still losing ground to the bone-deep cold he felt on the inside. Food would help with that\u2014some hot coffee at least\u2014but his fatigue overwhelmed his ambition, and he slouched forward, dozing off without realizing he was doing it. Noise from the stairway startled him awake, and he turned to see his father, similarly attired in nightshirt, robe and slippers, heading down the steps.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t hear you come in, Adam. After that a good meal, I dozed off faster than expected. I\u2019m thankful you made it home tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a moment at the edge of town, when I weighed a few chilly hours on the road against a hot meal and a good whiskey in a hotel room. It was an easy decision. I am sorry I missed Hop Sing\u2019s dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s enthusiastic, \u201cThere\u2019s a plate warming for you,\u201d dropped off to a frown. \u201cBut I\u2019m sure it\u2019s cold by now.\u201d<\/p>\n

A nod. \u201cI was hoping to encourage a few embers in the stove to warm the coffee, and see what you\u2019d had for dessert though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skirting the seating area by the hearth, Ben stopped near the dining room table, and leaned on the back of a chair. \u201cI heard ice pellets smacking the windows while I pretended that I wasn\u2019t worried about you, and tried to read.\u201d He grinned at his son. \u201cYou must have been soaked and freezing when you got here. Stay put and thaw out; I\u2019ll see to finding something warm and sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cCome sit on the settee, Son, and I\u2019ll set out our little feast on the table you\u2019re using as a chair.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s head jerked upwards making him momentarily dizzy. \u201cI dozed off again,\u201d he admitted as he joined father on the couch and took a look at the plate of sweets his father had brought out. \u201cHop Sing outdid himself on the cookies this year. I\u2019ve never seen so many different kinds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I\u2019d have to raid his cookie crocks* for these, but Hop Sing set a loaded plate on the cupboard for you. He knows you well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss and Little Joe must have been tired out.\u201d Adam twisted around to view the grandfather clock. It\u2019s not that<\/em> late, and they\u2019re both in bed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Joe\u2019s up there trying to wrap gifts. I heard him grumbling about not being able to tie a bow, when I passed his door. But you\u2019re right about being tired. They got caught in the beginnings of the snow that moved through late this afternoon. It wasn\u2019t enough to slow them down, but the wind got cold on the ride home.\u201d Ben poured two good-sized mugs of hot coffee, before retrieving the brandy decanter from the sideboard and adding a dose to each cup.<\/p>\n

The added distance from the fire in changing seats undid some of the warming effects, and Adam began to shiver so hard he needed both hands to guide the mug to his lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really are chilled to the bone!\u201d Ben headed for the credenza, pulled out a brown-edged afghan with milky beige squares, and draped it over his son\u2019s shoulders. \u201cThis should help.\u201d<\/p>\n

It still took a few minutes of being wrapped in the amply sized afghan, and a refill of his mug\u2019s contents before Adam finally let out a long sigh. \u201cI would have been fine if I hadn\u2019t dozed off. There\u2019s something about those brief snaps of sleep that unsettle your whole body.\u201d Feeling more comfortable, he got to work on the plate of cookies, and was reaching for his fifth, when he glanced at his father. \u201cWhy are you staring at me, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben laughed softly. \u201cNot at you, Adam. I just realized something about that afghan you\u2019re using to warm up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam raised his arm to get a better look at it. \u201cDidn\u2019t this belong to my mother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe made it for me the first Christmas we began keeping company. I\u2019d seen Elizabeth early in my service on the Wanderer with Abel, but I waited until I\u2019d made a little more of myself before asking his permission to court her.\u201d His expression became wistful. \u201cWe had that Christmas, and one more after our marriage. Yet, I remember both like they happened yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAn afghan seems like a less-than-romantic gift for a first Christmas together,\u201d Adam said with a teasing tone and grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was so like your mother to know what I needed before I knew I needed it. She\u2019d heard from Abel that I was to have a private cabin because of my new rank, and she also knew that it would be cooler there than in the below-deck crew quarters. I used that afghan every night as the chilly air slipped through the hull boards.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you tell me once that you proposed to her that night?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe weren\u2019t ready just then, but by the time I returned from the next voyage, I knew two things for sure: I wanted a life on land, and your mother next to me every day of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGrandfather often said he didn\u2019t understand how you could walk away from the salt air so easily, but he respected your choice.\u201d Elizabeth\u2019s son smiled at his father. \u201cSo, what did the young ship\u2019s officer give my future mother that night?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA comb and brush set from Galway, made of fine wood with mother-of-pearl inlays, and a bottle of cologne from Limerick. It smelled like a fresh hillside of flowers.\u201d He chuckled quietly. \u201cI left the afghan at the Stoddard house until we sailed, knowing that if I\u2019d have brought it to the inn where the sailors lived between voyages; it would have disappeared. Between Christmas and sailing, your mother infused the yarn with that cologne, so that when I\u2019d pull it over me at night, there\u2019d be a waft of that fresh scent to remind me of her. She was a very smart woman.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not fond of sailing, mostly for the physical misery it causes me, but I envy your travels.\u201d Adam looked over at his father. \u201cWhen did you give her the music box I have?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe left that winter for Amsterdam as soon as the harbor cleared of ice. That\u2019s where I found the music box. I guess I proposed when I gave that to her on my return.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guess you proposed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t recall actually saying the words. We both just knew it was time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just said that it was that particular voyage that impacted your decision to leave the service. May I ask what happened?\u201d Adam was truly curious. He and his father had talked many times about his time on the water, but never about his final decision to leave the sea behind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noticing that Adam\u2019s cup was empty, Ben offered, \u201cHow about a refill before I explain it to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo coffee this time,\u201d Adam replied as he reached for the carafe. I intend to sleep well tonight, so maybe just another drop of this fine elixir. \u201cAnd I know you\u2019re stalling, so tell me what you\u2019re thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were many wonderful things about that life: mostly related to seeing new places and meeting different people. Yet, if I\u2019d have continued in shipping out from Boston, I would have sailed to the same ports. Boston ships, especially the company that owned the Wanderer, serviced the ports of northern Europe and Great Britain. I\u2019d have had to change shipping lines or go to New Orleans to enlarge my sphere of new experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I didn\u2019t think about that. Grandfather didn\u2019t seem to mind the routine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbel was a sailor in his soul. He\u2019d come through the ranks from swab to captain extremely fast, and he held a high position with the company that let him choose his routes. He loved every part of sailing, and each voyage was as exciting as the one before. But … as I matured and began to think about marriage and having a family, I took a closer look at the life of a sailor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you conclude?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you that your mother was a very smart woman. I\u2019d hunker into that afghan every night, and smell her scent, and all I could think of was being with her: not just during brief visits to restock, but every day. Abel beat the odds at having a decent family life. Elizabeth and her mother doted on him and they had each other during his absence. Yet when your mother spoke about her childhood, it was obvious that Abel missed every amazing moment of it. He was gone to sea when she\u2019d taken her first steps; spoken her first words; lost her first tooth, and he missed every joy and heartache she experienced.<\/p>\n

Ben sighed deeply. \u201cWhen her mother became ill, she withheld the truth from Abel. He heard of her death without ever knowing she was sick. One night as I stood on deck and gazed eastward, it struck me that I\u2019d left home for the sea because I wanted to see what was beyond that eastern horizon. I\u2019d enjoyed the job and my success, but my roots on an Ohio farm began to call me to look at what I couldn\u2019t see on the western horizon. The decision was easy to leave one for the other because I wanted a life where I\u2019d be with my wife and children every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo second thoughts?\u201d Adam asked sincerely.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. My plan was confirmed when I considered the lives of the men I served with. Most of them were married. But the constant absence and problem fraught shore leave when they did get home, made for miserable marriages. The lack of a solid homelife, left them seeking comfort in every port we visited. The outcome of this was that their loyalty to family was overturned by loyalty only to their own needs. I knew I could never have lived that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eye grew wide. \u201cYou\u2019re not saying that …?\u201d<\/p>\n

Not understanding his son\u2019s reaction, Ben went over what he\u2019d just said, and then laughed loudly. \u201cI\u2019m not talking about Abel Morgan Stoddard. He loved the sea ferociously, but he loved his wife and daughter equally, and he\u2019d never have strayed from either.\u201d He reached over to grasp Adam\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m sorry if I gave you pause. I do think that in Abel\u2019s life, the sea was both an angel and a demon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe hinted at much the same thing to me when I was in Boston, and he described the turmoil he experienced when he lost his ship. I admire that he managed to find his way again, and he has probably become an even better man for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe faced some mighty demons during that time, and won. I also don\u2019t mean to imply that my decision to leave the safety of Boston behind and head west made life any simpler. But despite the length of our sojourn to get here, and taking on a few stowaways along the trail; we faced everything together, and our challenges made us stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded, but remained silent as he considered the information his father had shared. \u201cI\u2019m thankful you made that decision, Pa. I can\u2019t even imagine my life if you\u2019d have been gone most of the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a long yawn and stretch, Adam stood and began folding his mother\u2019s creation. \u201cI have memories of being wrapped in this on chilly nights in our wagon, way back to Uncle John\u2019s place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave his son a half-smile and a nod. \u201cYou can\u2019t possibly remember this, but you were wrapped in it far earlier than that. There was pure chaos the day I left Boston with you and Mrs. Callahan, the woman I\u2019d hired to travel with us until you were a little older. We\u2019d been mindful in packing, yet I still had four cases to wrangle, as well as keeping an eye out for you and her. Just before leaving, I went upstairs to see if she was ready to go, and I saw that afghan, still draped over the end of our bed. There was simply no room to pack it, and I had to resign myself to receiving it from Abel one day when we were settled enough to have an address.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did we end up having it? Did Grandfather post it to Uncle John\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMrs. Callahan sent me downstairs, saying she needed to apply a fresh diaper before we left. She must have seen that I was getting a little frazzled. Abel was following me around, trying to impart every word of wisdom he could think of, and you\u2019d awakened fussy and refused to be comforted.\u201d He smiled at his son. \u201cI always figured you knew something was off that morning, and you made sure we knew you weren\u2019t happy at not being consulted about it or put in charge of something.\u201d<\/p>\n

He laughed when Adam shot him a dirty look. \u201cI think that was the last time you were ever helpless or at least not in control,\u201d Ben continued, despite his son\u2019s reaction. \u201cYou knew exactly what you wanted and how to present your case to get it, by the time you were two.\u201d He couldn\u2019t help laughing again when Adam blushed. \u201cI\u2019ll stop teasing you and get back to the story. Mrs. Callahan was a fine woman, and she must have understood how much that afghan meant. When she came out the door a few minutes later, she had you wrapped up like a Scotch egg in it, and remarked that you\u2019d stopped crying as soon as she began folding you into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a lovely thing for her to do. I appreciate it now, even as I seem to have back then.\u201d Adam tried to stifle his yawn, but it wouldn\u2019t be denied and came out loud and long, causing a sheepish grin. \u201cIf I want to be in top gift-opening shape in the morning, I should head for bed.\u201d He took a step towards the credenza to stow the blanket, but stopped. \u201cI\u2019m still on the chilly side, so I\u2019ll take this along.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both men\u2019s attention was drawn towards the steps as Joe started down carrying a shifting pile of his wrapped gifts.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, hi Adam! Glad you made it home safe. Hoss and I made a bet as to whether you\u2019d stay in town when the weather changed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you bet on me making it home or staying put?\u201d His brother\u2019s flaming cheeks gave him the answer. \u201cI hope you didn\u2019t lose too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a friendly bet, carrying bragging rights as to which one of us knows you better. I should have known he\u2019d win.\u201d He set his gifts around the tree. \u201cIf you two haven\u2019t looked outside lately, you don\u2019t know that it\u2019s snowing pretty good now. Hopefully it won\u2019t last long or Roy and Paul won\u2019t make it out for Christmas dinner tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s still a few cookies and some coffee in the pot, if you\u2019d like some,\u201d Ben told his youngest as he started clearing the table.<\/p>\n

Joe took a good look at the two others with him. \u201cI\u2019d stay up if you two were in any shape for a rousing conversation. But I think Older Brother is going to fall asleep standing up if we keep him down here any longer. And after wrangling that paper and ribbon and working in the cold all day, I\u2019m ready to call it a night too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee you in the morning then,\u201d Adam told them before another yawn that prompted a similar response from his brother and father. He was about to leave, but returned to his father\u2019s side, slipping his arm around the older man\u2019s back. \u201cThanks for the snack and the memories tonight. I enjoyed the feast of conversation and confections.\u201d<\/p>\n

The clock struck midnight as Adam reached the bottom step. Turning back, he smiled broadly. \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The fire in Adam\u2019s room had warmed the air and his bedding in his absence, but a lingering chill remained deep inside. During his long trip home, when the sleet was pelting him and the swirling snow blinding him; there had been a moment when he\u2019d realized that had the snow come down any harder, camouflaging the road and topographical markers he used to navigate in the dark, he would have had to hunker into whatever rock overhang or shelter he could have found until daylight. Each forward step Sport had taken, had been accompanied by his rider\u2019s steady mental hum of petition that conditions wouldn\u2019t worsen. He\u2019d breathed in relief and thanks when the barn\u2019s outline had become visible ahead, and he offered further thanks that he\u2019d gotten home safely, and for his father\u2019s company on this Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

After arranging the afghan on top of his other covers, he took his mother\u2019s Bible from his desk and sat on the edge of his bed to read the first twenty verses of the second chapter of Luke. He wanted to spend a few minutes in thought about the nativity story, but found his eyes closing on their own. Rather than giving a half-hearted effort, he decided to try again in the morning when his father would read the same passage at breakfast: a Cartwright tradition going back as far as his memory. Placing the book on his bedside table, he slipped under the covers. The draft created by moving the sheet and blankets into place around him, produced a pleasant fragrance that he instantly recognized. Memories swirled in his head, taking him back to the days when he\u2019d stayed with Abel in Boston.<\/p>\n

He’d recognized both objects his father had spoken about giving Elizabeth that Christmas eve long ago. They\u2019d both still remained on her dresser, seventeen years after her passing. At times when he\u2019d felt homesick or carrying a weight of uncertainty, he\u2019d gone to her room in hopes of finding her presence still there along with her possessions. He\u2019d looked at her books, held the brush, and opened the cologne, wondering if she\u2019d worn the scent. Now he knew that she had.<\/p>\n

It was that fragrance he noticed now. Was it possible that a remnant of the cologne his father told him Elizabeth had placed there more than thirty years ago, still remained embedded in the fibers of yarn? Logic would say it had been laundered too many times for that to be true, but Adam didn\u2019t worry about logic tonight.<\/p>\n

Tonight, he simply let his mind drift up to the woman he knew only through recollections and memories, and breathed deeply. Tonight, he simply accepted her presence as a wondrous gift, and drifted to sleep with her afghan pulled close to his heart.<\/p>\n

The End<\/strong><\/p>\n

*As I wrote this, I thought back to when I was a child. There were no Tupperware containers yet, and my mother always baked huge batches of cookies to get us through all the family dinners over the holidays. Those cookies were stored in earthenware crocks. Layers of cookies were separated with waxed paper, and we\u2019d simply eat layer after layer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: A cold ride home in the pelting snow, followed by a sweet conversation with his father, gives Adam a memorable Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

Rating: G<\/p>\n

Word Count: 6734<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":5835,"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":[1005,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-cartwright","category-drama","wpcat-1005-id","wpcat-23-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"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_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35435","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\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35435"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35435\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}