Summary: Ben\u00a0pays for the night\u00a0before, much of which he can\u2019t\u00a0remember.
\nWritten for day 24 of the 2021 Advent Calendar.
\nRating: G
\nWord Count: 1400<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bonanza <\/p>\n Hair of the Dog<\/strong><\/p>\n Crash!<\/p>\n Darkness!<\/i><\/p>\n Trapped!<\/i><\/p>\n The two thoughts collided in Ben\u2019s head like dynamite.\u00a0\u00a0Something large covered his head but he could see a pinprick of light through a gap, his salvation.\u00a0\u00a0Breathing hard, he clawed his way into the light and immediately regretted it\u2014his eyes felt as if ice picks were stabbing deep.\u00a0\u00a0He scrunched his eyes shut and groped around, realizing he was in his bed and it was the pillow that had covered him. Rolling onto his back, he pulled the quilt up over his face and burrowed into the darkness.<\/p>\n His mouth felt as if it were wadded with cotton and he ran his tongue over his lips.\u00a0\u00a0Getting a drink of water meant emerging into the light again, an experience he was wary to repeat.<\/p>\n He couldn\u2019t remember getting home but home he was and in his own bed, clad in his nightshirt.\u00a0\u00a0And socks.\u00a0\u00a0Fragments of last night\u2019s Christmas party came to mind.\u00a0\u00a0A vague recollection of dancing.\u00a0\u00a0Soft lips.\u00a0\u00a0A glass or two of punch.<\/p>\n As he lay in the warmth of his den, he tried to think of what the crashing sound had been.\u00a0\u00a0It didn\u2019t sound like dishes splintering into thousands of shards, nor did it sound like furniture being knocked over by Hoss and Joe roughhousing.<\/p>\n Ben flipped back a corner of the quilt to let in a small amount of light and to reach for his pocket watch on the side table.\u00a0\u00a0He squinted at the watch face then snorted at the hour.<\/p>\n He would\u2019ve liked nothing more than sleeping in or staying in bed all day but the ranch didn\u2019t run itself.\u00a0\u00a0He threw back the quilt and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Ben scrunched his eyes closed and waited for the nausea and dizziness to pass.\u00a0\u00a0When it finally did, he took advantage of the moment and stumbled to the end of the bed, picked up his robe, and struggled into it.<\/p>\n The pounding in his head returned and Ben rubbed his temples to banish the noise.\u00a0\u00a0But it didn\u2019t work.\u00a0\u00a0Padding out into the hall, he leaned against the wall to steady himself.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If I wasn\u2019t home, I\u2019d swear I was shanghaied and on a ship sailing God knows where<\/i>.<\/p>\n Ben held the stair rail in a death grip as he made his way to the first floor.\u00a0\u00a0He grimaced at the squeak of the stair that had long needed fixing but he\u2019d put it off for years because the noise alerted him when his sons were home safe and sound after a long night in town.<\/p>\n Two of his sons sat at the table.\u00a0\u00a0The sound of an axe banging against wood carried in from outside.<\/p>\n Joe hid his grin with his cup but the merriment in his eyes couldn\u2019t be disguised by the steam rising from the coffee.<\/p>\n Enjoy it while you can, Joseph<\/i>.<\/p>\n Adam said, \u201cHop Sing!\u00a0\u00a0Pa\u2019s up!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss strode in with an armload of wood for the fireplace.\u00a0\u00a0He slammed the door shut with his foot.<\/p>\n Ben winced and raised his shoulders nearly to his ears.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d said Hoss as he let each piece of wood heavily land on the sturdy hearth.<\/p>\n Ben adjusted his robe and made his way to the table.\u00a0\u00a0Stubble rasped against his fingernails as he scratched an itch on his cheek.\u00a0\u00a0Reaching his chair, he closed the shutters to block out the offending light.<\/p>\n Adam smirked over his cup but poured steaming coffee for his father.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cDid you sleep well?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben answered with a noncommittal grunt.<\/p>\n Hoss joined his father and brother at the table, figuring to get a second breakfast with Hop Sing cooking up more scrambled eggs and bacon.<\/p>\n \u201cExercise self-control when drinking liquor. A hangover is punishment enough for overindulgence,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cPublic displays of drunkenness are an embarrassment to yourself and to the Ponderosa.\u00a0\u00a0People are quick to judge and gossip spreads like wildfire,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n Throwing my own words back at me,<\/i>\u00a0thought Ben.\u00a0\u00a0He started at the sound of Hop Sing\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look like Little Joe with overhang.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s hangover,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need special remedy,\u201d the cook said as he set down a serving bowl of freshly scrambled eggs and a platter of bacon<\/p>\n Ben lifted a hand in refusal.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNo, coffee will do just fine.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Having watched his boys\u2019 reactions to Hop Sing\u2019s \u201cspecial remedy\u201d over the years, he wasn\u2019t eager to sample it.\u00a0\u00a0Stuff smelled like ginger-laced mud.\u00a0\u00a0A wave of nausea rippled from Ben\u2019s belly to throat and, fortunately, only yielded a belch.<\/p>\n Hop Sing grabbed up the coffee pot and returned to the kitchen to refill it.<\/p>\n Ben nearly spilled the contents of his cup at a pounding on the door.\u00a0\u00a0He put down his cup and set an elbow on the table so he could rest his forehead in his hand. \u201cSomeone get that.\u201d<\/p>\n The sound of boot steps let Ben know one of his sons obeyed him.<\/p>\n \u201cMiz Hawkins, what are you doing here?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve brung a remedy for your pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben clutched his robe and pulled it close across his broad chest.\u00a0\u00a0He stood and walked round the table only to be confronted with his pint-sized guest.<\/p>\n Clementine Hawkins carried a small basket, which contained a pint jar with a bright red ribbon looped around the jar\u2019s neck. The ribbon was tied in a fancy bow.<\/p>\n The widow took in Ben\u2019s hair in need of smoothing down and his bloodshot eyes.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCoo, Ducky, you need hair of the dog this morning, you do.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing trotted into the room with the refilled coffee pot.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHair of dog?\u00a0\u00a0Get fleas,\u201d said the cook.<\/p>\n Joe couldn\u2019t hold back a high-pitched giggle and it was joined by Adam\u2019s deep chuckle.<\/p>\n Clementine offered the basket but Ben hesitated, as if it were filled with roiling rattlesnakes instead of a jauntily-decorated jar.\u00a0\u00a0At a nudge from Hoss, he accepted the basket.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it?\u201d Ben asked, afraid to learn the answer.<\/p>\n \u201cEgg nog with a generous dollop of Jamaican rum.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Clementine, but this isn\u2019t necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt were a grand dance last night, but we \u2018ave unfinished business.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0She pulled forth a bedraggled sprig of mistletoe from her reticule.<\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes widened and flashes of the night before played in his mind.\u00a0\u00a0Clementine cutting in when he danced with other ladies.\u00a0\u00a0Clementine trying to lead him under the mistletoe when they did dance.\u00a0\u00a0Seeking refuge by the punchbowl.<\/p>\n She handed the mistletoe to Hoss, who hadn\u2019t moved since the encounter between his father and the widow.\u00a0\u00a0He craned his neck to get his brothers\u2019 attention then winked.\u00a0\u00a0Hoss held the mistletoe high over the widow\u2019s head.<\/p>\n Clementine leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and puckered up.<\/p>\n Ben held his robe tighter and looked as if he were ready to bolt for the stairs.<\/p>\n Hoss took his elbow to make sure his father couldn\u2019t escape.<\/p>\n Ben nervously licked his lips, as if this he was a nervous young man about to plant his first kiss.\u00a0\u00a0At a squeeze on his elbow, he leaned over and gave the widow a brief peck.<\/p>\n \u201cThat were hardly a kiss at all,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u00a0Clementine grabbed Ben by the shoulders and stood on tiptoes as she pulled him to her for a long kiss.<\/p>\n She sighed with content when they separated.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d<\/p>\n A flush as deep as the red robe colored Ben\u2019s face and neck.<\/p>\n Hoss escorted her to the door and watched until her buggy rounded the barn.<\/p>\n Joe leaned back in his chair, holding his stomach, as he laughed so hard tears streamed down his face.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Adam slapped the table as he laughed.<\/p>\n Ben handed the basket to Hoss.\u00a0\u00a0He then headed for the stairs to the refuge of his bed. \u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d Ben muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you ain\u2019t sobered up now you might as well give this a try,\u201d said Hoss as he pulled the jar from the basket and held it aloft.\u00a0\u00a0He dissolved into a gale of laughter, adding to the cacophony raised by his brothers.<\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t even look back as he climbed the stairs; he just clung to his robe and what remained of his dignity as he turned the corner on the second floor.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Character: Ben<\/p>\n Activity: Sleeping in<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
\n* Day 24 *<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n