{"id":4001,"date":"2000-12-27T12:14:58","date_gmt":"2000-12-27T17:14:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4001"},"modified":"2026-03-05T12:40:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T17:40:54","slug":"a-chill-in-the-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4001","title":{"rendered":"A Chill in the Air (by vickic)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>Through their troubles the Cartwrights are gently reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a08800<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Chill in the Air\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0The first snowflake fel<\/strong>l unobserved by the children bent over their books in the schoolroom.\u00a0 The second and third stuck to the window and slowly melted from the warmth of the room but within a few minutes the larger thicker flakes were settling on the wooden sill.\u00a0 It was not surprising that Joe Cartwright was the first to notice the snow.\u00a0 Joe could never keep his mind on lessons for more than a short time and window gazing was his preferred pass time, especially when Miss Jones was regaling them with romantic stories of her historical heroes.\u00a0 Snow and the fun it could bring were much more interesting than Sir Walter Raleigh and Queen Elizabeth of England.\u00a0 I mean who cared about some stupid queen who had lived and died more than two hundred years ago.\u00a0\u00a0 He nudged his best friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore snow.\u201d he mouthed\u00a0 \u201cIt will be heavier in the mountains, we can go tobogganing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitch nodded\u00a0 \u201cWe can try out the new one Dan and me built.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe leaned forward and tapped Seth\u2019s shoulder and pointed to the window.\u00a0 In this manner the message was carried around the room until only a handful of students were listening to Miss Jones while the others watched the snow and made weekend plans.<\/p>\n

Joe boldly raised his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Joseph.\u00a0 You wanted to ask a question?\u201d\u00a0 Miss Jones advanced toward him smiling, it wasn\u2019t often Joe Cartwright contributed anything to the class except mischief.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell sorta, Miss Jones.\u00a0 Its snowing real hard and I gotta a long ride.\u00a0 I was wonderin\u2019 if maybe we could go early?\u201d\u00a0 He grinned as his classmates nodded in approval.<\/p>\n

Miss Jones\u2019s expression changed to one of distinct disapproval.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s barely two o\u2019clock.\u201d\u00a0 She shot back at him.\u00a0 \u201cNo you may not go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Miss Jones, my father doesn\u2019t like me to be out in a snow storm and my house is almost as far as Joe\u2019s.\u201d\u00a0 Sarah piped up, earning her a big smile from Joe and Seth, her favorite boys.\u00a0 She really wasn\u2019t sure which one she preferred right now.<\/p>\n

Miss Jones walked to the window and peered out, it was snowing quite hard now and settling quickly into a thick carpet.\u00a0 Some of the children did live a long way out of town.\u00a0 She was reluctant to acquiesce to Joe\u2019s request but then again she didn\u2019t want worried parents berating her for children stuck out in snow drifts until after dark.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh very well then, I\u2019ll just give you your homework assignment and you may go.\u201d\u00a0 The uproar that greeted her drowned out most of the end of the sentence and she had to shout to be heard.<\/p>\n

Most of the children headed home but a small band of boys and a few of the more adventurous girls gathered at the top of Taylor Street.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts not thick enough yet.\u201d\u00a0 Seth observed drawing his boot through the soft snow.\u00a0 \u201cWe need it to snow for hours yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

The others nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about we meet tomorrow afternoon.\u201d Mitch Devlin suggested.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s Saturday and we can all bring toboggans or something to slide on and we try it then.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the discussion was going on Joe and Sarah had been treading down some snow and making a simple slide on the sidewalk.\u00a0 \u201cHey, there\u2019s enough for a short slide.\u201d\u00a0 Joe called and soon all of the children were trying out the few feet of slippery board.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe!\u00a0 Look out!\u201d\u00a0 Sarah yelled as her friend careered down the hill with his head down and arms outstretched to balance himself.\u00a0 She had seen what he had not; Miss Jones walking up the hill toward her house on A street.<\/p>\n

The collision was inevitable, so was the exodus of children from the scene.\u00a0 Mitch, Seth and Sarah were the only ones brave enough to stay to face the music with Joe.\u00a0 They rushed forward to help Miss Jones to her feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph Cartwright\u201d\u00a0 she stormed\u00a0 \u201c I might have known.\u201d\u00a0 She pushed the children away and began brushing down her dress and cape, which were now, wet and muddy.\u00a0 \u201cAnd Sarah Wilkins, I thought you had to rush home.\u201d\u00a0 She added sarcastically.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re sorry Miss Jones.\u201d\u00a0 Sarah said quickly before Joe could say something unforgivable.\u00a0 Sarah knew him well and he tended to speak first and think afterwards.\u00a0 \u201cWe’re on our way home now, we only stopped for a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a sound lecture from Miss Jones ringing in their ears the four youngsters set off for home.\u00a0 Before they split up to go their own ways, they had fixed to meet on Saturday afternoon at the same spot but this time with toboggans.<\/p>\n

Joe arrived home on time for once and went into the house with a big grin on his face no one could yell at him for being late tonight.\u00a0 He stamped his feet on the porch and shook his coat to get rid of the snow.\u00a0 There he had done everything right for once.\u00a0 Just lately Pa had been in a real bad mood and even the smallest misdemeanour had earned him a lecture.\u00a0 He pushed open the door and called out.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi Hop Sing, I’m back.\u00a0 It sure is cold out there.\u201d\u00a0 He dropped his books on the dining room table and peered into the kitchen.\u00a0 Something delicious bubbled on the stove and the aroma filled the kitchen.\u00a0 Joe loved this time of day; school was over and home felt warm and comfortable.\u00a0 There was no sign of the Chinese cook and he grabbed a handful of cookies from the jar and wandered back into the living room.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, hello Little Joe.\u00a0 You’re back early.\u201d\u00a0 Ben said distractedly as he came down the stairs.<\/p>\n

Joe looked up puzzled.\u00a0 \u201cNot early Pa, on time is all.\u201d\u00a0 He relaxed into a grin then his frown returned when Ben didn’t smile back.\u00a0 \u201cWhat’s wrong Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked up and smiled\u00a0 \u201cOh, nothing much, Hoss isn’t feeling too well.\u00a0 It\u2019s only a cold but you know how difficult it is to get him to stop work.\u00a0 He has a bit of a fever so I’ve made him go to bed and he’s grumbling about it.\u201d\u00a0 There was no need to tell his youngest son that it was only the last in a long line of things to go wrong this month.<\/p>\n

Joe stuffed another cookie into his mouth.\u00a0 \u201cGets him outta chores, I wish I had a cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head\u00a0 \u201cYou do not.\u00a0 You are the world’s worst patient, at least Hoss does as he’s told.\u00a0 Adam’s in the barn and you can help him with Hoss’s chores tonight.\u00a0 He’s done yours often enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw\u2026Pa.\u00a0 I don’t mind doin’ Hoss’s chores but Adam’s so darn bossy.\u00a0\u00a0 Do I have to work with him?\u201d\u00a0 he groaned.<\/p>\n

Ben smiled \u201cGo on with you.\u00a0 It won’t hurt you to try to get on for one evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe went out of the door with as much enthusiasm as a man on the way to his hanging.\u00a0 The snow was thicker now and the yard had a good covering.\u00a0 He crunched through it making patterns in the snow with his boots.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you have to take all day getting here.\u00a0 There’s plenty of work to do before supper.\u201d\u00a0 Adam complained as he opened the door and saw Joe’s slow progress.<\/p>\n

Joe waited until his brother turned his back and then stuck out his tongue as far as he could.\u00a0 He then giggled as snowflakes melted on it and made him shiver.\u00a0 He worked as slowly as possible using the same tactics he did when working with Hoss, it usually ensured that Hoss did seventy per cent of the work.\u00a0 However, big brother Adam wasn\u2019t so accommodating and after about twenty minutes he walked over and leaned on Cochise\u2019s stall.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking all day over your own pony won\u2019t get you out of looking after Chubby or Buck so don\u2019t try it.\u201d\u00a0 Adam said sternly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve already looked after all the others, so those two are your responsibility and you\u2019ve still got the logs to split and take in before supper.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to feed the pigs and collect the eggs for Hop Sing so don\u2019t take all night over it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cYou could do some more.\u201d\u00a0 He said grumpily.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve done my share and I don\u2019t intend to do yours.\u00a0 I\u2019m not Hoss.\u201d\u00a0 He threw back over his shoulder as he left the barn.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo you sure ain\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Joe muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n

He worked slowly at his chores until all except the logs were done.\u00a0 He grimaced at the wood box, it was almost empty and it would take the best part of an hour to fill it and supply each of the fires in the house with kindling and logs for the night.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His brain worked on the problem and came up with an ingenious solution.\u00a0 Tomorrow it would be Adam\u2019s turn to do the wood and in his opinion Adam was being plain mean not helping him out the way Hoss did.\u00a0 He chopped a few logs slightly larger than usual and arranged them on end in the box, then laid another layer the other way.\u00a0 This meant that the box had a lot of spaces but from the top looked full.\u00a0 Very pleased with his subterfuge he brushed the splinters off his coat and headed indoors with an armful of logs for the basket by the fire.<\/p>\n

He dropped the logs noisily into the basket and then moved over to perch on his father\u2019s desk.\u00a0 \u201cAll done Pa.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned.<\/p>\n

Ben grunted in disbelief\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThat was quick.\u00a0 I hope you\u2019ve done all your chores.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything Adam told me to.\u201d\u00a0 Joe grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell get off my desk and go wash up for supper.\u201d\u00a0 His father replied, beginning to stack away his ledgers and paperwork.\u00a0 The figures wouldn\u2019t change overnight and worrying about them wouldn\u2019t change them either.\u00a0 He tried to be optimistic but it was a hard road.<\/p>\n

Joe slid to the ground and began to take off his jacket.\u00a0 \u201cPa is it okay if I go into town tomorrow?\u201d\u00a0 he asked as casually as he could.<\/p>\n

Ben snapped the final ledger shut and stood up.\u00a0 \u201cAs long as your chores are done first, I don\u2019t see why not.\u00a0 But you be back here before dark.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe grinned. \u201cSure Pa.\u201d\u00a0 That had been easier than he had expected, Pa seemed preoccupied today.\u00a0 Although he was usually free to do as he liked on Saturday afternoons, getting permission to go to town was sometimes difficult.<\/p>\n

Next morning Joe skipped through his chores as fast as he dared.\u00a0 He tried to avoid Adam knowing that he\u2019d be given some of Hoss\u2019s chores if he was seen around the barn for too long.\u00a0\u00a0 Hoss was still in bed, lucky guy.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe had looked in on him after breakfast and he didn\u2019t seem too sick, just a sore throat and a head cold.\u00a0 Pa said he had to stay in bed and Hoss was complaining bitterly.\u00a0\u00a0 Joe had managed to extract a quarter from him to buy candy and a promise that he\u2019d share it if Joe bought it when he was in town.\u00a0 He made sure that he was ready to leave for town long before Adam got to fill the wood boxes;\u00a0 he didn\u2019t want to be around for those fireworks.<\/p>\n

A group of children had gathered at the top of Taylor street, most had toboggans or sheets of tin that would make fine substitutes.\u00a0 A few of the older boys had begun to tread down the snow on the sidewalk to make a slide and the younger ones were throwing snowballs at each other.\u00a0 Joe spotted Mitch and Seth and headed over to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got sumthin\u2019 to slide on?\u201d\u00a0 Seth asked.<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll find sumthin\u2019.\u00a0 There\u2019s plenty of sheets of tin by the old mine workings behind A street.\u201d\u00a0 He rubbed his toe in the snow.\u00a0 \u201cSticks pretty good.\u00a0 I wonder if you can slide all the way down to the canyon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitch snorted\u00a0 \u201cOnly if\u2019n you wanna get killed.\u00a0 You\u2019d have to slide on the street and cross six more streets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seth glanced from one to the other and saw a chance to have some fun.\u00a0 \u201cI dare ya.\u201d\u00a0 He nudged Joe in the ribs.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes lit up.\u00a0 He could never resist a dare.\u00a0 He moved out into the middle of Taylor Street and stared down the hill.\u00a0 Way below him was the canyon road where the ground levelled out again.\u00a0 Once started on that slope there would be no stopping until he hit\u2026no he mentally amended \u2026until he reached the track to Six-Mile Canyon.<\/p>\n

Mitch caught his friend\u2019s arm. \u201cDon\u2019t be an idiot Joe.\u201d He begged.\u00a0 \u201cThe horses and wagons on C Street never stop, you\u2019ll get yourself killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged off Mitch\u2019s hand\u00a0 \u201cYou willin\u2019 to make that dare a bet?\u201d\u00a0 he asked with a cocky grin.<\/p>\n

Seth\u2019s face broke into a slow smile.\u00a0 \u201cDollar says you can\u2019t make it to the canyon road.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded. \u201cDollar says I do.\u201d\u00a0 He took his only dollar from his pocket and handed it to Mitch.\u00a0 \u201cYou hold stakes.\u201d\u00a0 He said firmly.<\/p>\n

Mitch tried once more to talk Joe out of this foolishness but Joe was adamant he could do it.\u00a0 He chose a piece of tin that was just big enough for him to sit on with his knees hunched up under his chin.\u00a0 He could hold the sides, if he bent them up a little, but there was no way he could steer it.\u00a0 Once started he would have to trust to luck and his overworked guardian angel.<\/p>\n

Word soon spread that Joe Cartwright planned to slide the length of the street and more side bets were being placed.\u00a0 Sarah sidled up alongside Mitch.\u00a0 \u201cCan\u2019t you stop him?\u201d\u00a0 she asked her eyes wide with fright.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019ll get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitch grunted.\u00a0 \u201cAw c\u2019mon Sarah, you know you can\u2019t stop Joe once he decides to do somethin\u2019, \u2018specially when he\u2019s got a bet going.\u201d\u00a0 He felt a little guilty that his words had not succeeded and Sarah\u2019s plea only made him feel worse.<\/p>\n

Joe settled the tin sheet into the middle of the street, almost no traffic came this high and there were no adults to see him.\u00a0 One or two of his school friends gasped at his audacity but no one else tried to stop him.\u00a0 He seated himself comfortably and gripped the sides of the tin.\u00a0 For one tiny moment he was apprehensive;\u00a0 what he was proposing to do was dangerous in the extreme and his father\u2019s face flashed in front of him. \u201cJoseph Francis Cartwright why don\u2019t you ever think before you do something stupid\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>he could hear the lecture.\u00a0 He shrugged.\u00a0 It was too late now, nothing would make him back down and appear a coward in front of his friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive me a push.\u201d\u00a0 He asked Mitch.<\/p>\n

Mitch shook his head\u00a0 \u201cI ain\u2019t getting\u2019 into this.\u00a0 Seth started it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seth grunted and bent down to give Joe a mighty heave, which sent the tin sliding down Taylor street.\u00a0 The street was icy and the tin gathered speed remarkably quickly.\u00a0 Joe saw B street flash by and heard a yell from a woman on the sidewalk as he narrowly missed a cart heading up town.\u00a0 He looked ahead and saw C street looming.\u00a0 Horses and wagons were criss-crossing in front of him and he knew he could do nothing to change direction.\u00a0 As he hit the edge of the street he saw a large conestoga wagon coming from his right, he closed his eyes and prayed.\u00a0 Seconds later he opened his eyes and was amazed to see D street approaching, he had passed right under the huge wagon.\u00a0 His speed was now such that hanging on for dear life was all he could do.\u00a0 The tin raced across D street and on towards E and its final destination, F street and the canyon road.\u00a0 At the junction with E street, Joe\u2019s luck finally ran out, the sheet of tin hit a particularly large rut in the road and turned over throwing him against the front of one of the seedy saloons.<\/p>\n

Sarah and Mitch had been running as fast as they could down the sidewalk but they had to dodge other pedestrians and they were a few seconds behind the improvised sled.\u00a0 Sarah rushed to Joe\u2019s side.\u00a0 \u201cAre you alright.\u201d She cried, bending down to comfort him.<\/p>\n

Joe sat up and shook his head, which had taken a glancing blow from the sidewalk.\u00a0 \u201cI think so.\u201d\u00a0 He muttered, starting to scramble to his feet.\u00a0 His hands were bleeding where the rough edges of the tin had cut into the palms when he tipped but otherwise he was relatively unscathed.\u00a0 His clothes hadn\u2019t come off so well, there was a large tear in his jacket and his pants were covered in snow and mud.\u00a0 He tried to brush himself down but only succeeded in making things worse.\u00a0 He looked up in fear as a firm hand descended on his shoulder and gulped as he was fixed by the angry glare of the Sheriff.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf all the\u2026\u201d\u00a0 words failed the man.\u00a0 He had watched in horror as the youngster cheated death by inches and now all he could do was stare in amazement at the boy in front of him.\u00a0 \u201cYou coulda bin killed or caused an accident young fella.\u00a0 I oughta march you right off to my jail and send someone for your Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe swallowed hard again.\u00a0 Pa would not be amused of that he was certain.\u00a0 His stomach sank even further at the next voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need for that Roy, I\u2019ll see he gets home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe craned his neck and looked up into the dark eyes of his older brother.\u00a0 \u201cAdam!\u201d\u00a0 it came out in a squeak.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI saw that crazy stunt.\u00a0 Whatever made you think you could pull that off?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI almost did.\u201d\u00a0 Joe couldn\u2019t help but boast.\u00a0 He noticed that the other children had faded into the side streets at the appearance of the sheriff and he was now alone with his brother and a very angry Roy Coffee.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get smart\u201d\u00a0 Adam growled.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re in enough trouble with me over chores without getting me riled up anymore.\u201d\u00a0 He half dragged his brother to C street where his own horse was tethered.\u00a0 \u201cI came into town for a peaceful afternoon off and a few drinks this evening, now it looks like I\u2019ve gotta take you home.\u201d\u00a0 He grumbled.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s Cochise?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUp near the bakery on A street.\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied a little more quietly.\u00a0 \u201cYou ain\u2019t really gonna\u00a0 take me home and tell Pa are ya?\u201d\u00a0 he almost begged.\u00a0 Since Adam had got home from college they had experienced more than their fair share of arguments but often his big brother would cover up for him and Joe hoped this was one of those times.\u00a0 He conveniently forgot his trick to give his brother extra work today.<\/p>\n

Adam stood for a moment with Sport\u2019s reins running through his hands.\u00a0 He ought to take his brother home and make sure Pa knew what dangerous games he was playing.\u00a0 If he did he was fairly certain Joe would get a sharp taste of his father\u2019s belt.\u00a0 He agonised for a few more moments.\u00a0 He really did want to play a few games of billiards with Ross and Cal and then maybe a nice meal and a few drinks.\u00a0 His later plans included discovering if a certain dark haired beauty in the Silver Dollar would spend the evening in his company.\u00a0 Nowhere in his plans did he figure on riding back to the ranch until the early hours at least.<\/p>\n

Joe watched the various emotions play across his older brother\u2019s face and wisely kept silent.\u00a0 Whining never got him anywhere with Adam.\u00a0 He bit his lip and shuffled his feet in the dirty slush at the side of the street.\u00a0 His hands hurt and he self-consciously fiddled with the hole in his grey jacket, even if Adam kept quiet that was going to take some explaining.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d Adam sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYou promise me you\u2019ll go straight home and you won\u2019t do anything so stupid again and I\u2019ll forget I saw you.\u00a0 You owe me a day of wood chopping too.\u201d he added with a frown.<\/p>\n

He knew it was wrong but he desperately wanted a night in town, there hadn\u2019t been many since he had got back from Boston.\u00a0 Sometimes he wished he were back at college, at least there Saturday nights were a guaranteed night for drinking with his friends.\u00a0 Here he seemed very much alone.\u00a0 He and Ross had somehow lost touch and it was particularly difficult since Ross had begun courting Delphine.\u00a0\u00a0 Somehow Ross had changed while he had been away, but then he guessed they all had. \u00a0\u00a0Cal Devlin his only other\u00a0 real friend from before college had now married and although he still came drinking, he was a moaner and Adam found his company depressing.\u00a0 He longed for some intellectual company or better still an intelligent woman to spend time with him.\u00a0 He envied Ross, Delphine was beautiful and bright.\u00a0 Maybe that was the problem between them.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t that he wanted Del, more that he wanted someone like her.\u00a0 His thoughts went back to a feisty Irish girl who still filled his dreams.<\/p>\n

Joe knew that Adam wasn\u2019t really being generous to him, it was more a selfish decision but at this point he really didn\u2019t care.\u00a0 He was going to get off scot-free and that was all that mattered.\u00a0 \u201cThanks Adam, I promise I won\u2019t do it again.\u201d He said quickly before his brother could change his mind.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll go get Cooch and we\u2019ll go straight home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam watched him race off up the street and his conscience kicked in again.\u00a0 He really ought to have taken him home and made sure Pa knew what he had been doing.\u00a0 He smiled to himself, he was sure glad he hadn\u2019t had a big brother when he was Joe\u2019s age, he\u2019d never have been out of trouble.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t hurt just this once to let him get away with something.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss rolled over in his comfortable bed and sighed.\u00a0 He was hot and his head and throat hurt but most of all he was bored.\u00a0 He hated being sick.\u00a0 He could usually fight off most things but Pa had insisted that a fever meant keeping warm in bed.\u00a0 He could only remember one occasion when he had pretended to be ill to get out of a school test.\u00a0 His father had discovered the deception and he had never tried anything so foolish again.\u00a0 No, Hoss only stayed in bed when he was forced to do so.<\/p>\n

He heard rapid footsteps outside in the hallway, it had to be Joe, it was too light for Adam,\u00a0 too noisy for Hop Sing and too quick for Pa.\u00a0 \u201cJoe\u2026Joe\u2026\u201d he called urgently.<\/p>\n

A moment later his door was pushed open and his little brother slipped through the opening as if hiding from someone.\u00a0 When he saw the state of his brother\u2019s clothes Hoss could guess exactly who he was hiding from too.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhaddya want?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked impatiently.<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s face fell a little. It seemed everyone was in a bad temper these days.\u00a0 \u201cNuthin\u2019 much\u2026\u201d\u00a0 he muttered\u00a0 \u201cI was lonesome and wondered what you bin doin\u2019 today\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe immediately felt contrite.\u00a0 He knew how much Hoss hated to be stuck inside much less in bed.\u00a0 He felt the same way.\u00a0 \u201cWent into town and met up with Seth and Mitch.\u00a0 We were supposed to be tobogganing down the side streets.\u201d\u00a0 He screwed up his nose and debated whether to tell Hoss the whole story but decided against it.\u00a0 Hoss was no good at keeping secrets from Pa.\u00a0 \u201cI fell off and hurt my hand so I came home\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked a little surprised, it wasn\u2019t like Joe to give up that sort of fun for a minor injury.\u00a0 He had a feeling there was more to the story but it didn\u2019t look like Joe was going to elaborate.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou’d better get cleaned up ‘afore Pa sees ya.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss suggested eyeing Joe’s torn and muddy clothes.<\/p>\n

Joe brushed at his jacket and inspected the rather large tear.\u00a0 \u201cYou think Hop Sing could mend this?\u201d\u00a0 he asked hopefully.<\/p>\n

Hoss shrugged and settled lower in the bed.\u00a0 \u201cNot so’s Pa won’t notice it.\u201d\u00a0 He replied with a grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ll go get cleaned up and come back for a game of checkers if you like.\u201d\u00a0 Joe offered generously.\u00a0 At least it would keep him out of Pa’s way until supper.\u00a0 \u201cYou gonna be better for Christmas ain’t ya? I mean it\u2019s a good job we got the tree before you got sick but you gotta be okay for Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh sure I will.\u00a0 It\u2019s more\u2019n a week yet.\u00a0 I ain’t never bin sick that long.\u00a0 I could get up now but Pa would get mad at me.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss complained as he wriggled to try to get more comfortable.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stay put.\u201d\u00a0 Joe replied seriously.\u00a0 He didn’t want Pa mad at anyone, he wanted his father in a good mood for the next week, or at least a better mood than he had been recently.<\/p>\n

Joe’s luck was in.\u00a0 Ben was called away to a sick horse leaving Joe to eat his supper in company with his brother in Hoss’s room.\u00a0 In fact his luck held until breakfast next morning.\u00a0 He got up early and worked hard on his chores and even did some of Hoss’s.\u00a0 It seemed strange that there was no sign of Adam.\u00a0 Joe giggled.\u00a0 His older brother must have got home late and overslept.\u00a0 Pa would sure give him hell for that.\u00a0 He heard Hop Sing calling him for breakfast and headed into the wash house to get cleaned up.\u00a0 He groaned as he realised he’d have to change for church too.\u00a0 He could hear his father in conversation with Hop Sing; he couldn’t tell what was being said but the tone and the volume suggested Pa was angry.\u00a0 He found out why at breakfast.\u00a0 Adam had not come home and although trying not to show it to his youngest son, Pa was mad.<\/p>\n

Virginia City looked halfway decent with a covering of snow and the church looked prettier than usual with its decorations of evergreens.\u00a0 Without Hoss and Adam, Joe felt the full weight of his father’s bad mood and as they waited for the service to start even a slight movement was enough to earn him a glare.\u00a0 He had tried to signal to Seth and Mitch that he wanted to talk but his signals had been cut off by a stern glance from his father and Mr Devlin.\u00a0 The first hymn was beginning and Joe got to his feet glancing slightly backwards to catch Mitch’s eye.\u00a0 He caught something much better and almost giggled, his older brother was trying to slip unseen into the place beside him.\u00a0 More than six feet tall and dressed in his dark jacket and slightly rumpled white shirt, Adam wasn’t designed to slip anywhere unobserved.<\/p>\n

Joe gave him a lopsided grin as he tried to avoid antagonising his father.\u00a0 Ben had seen his oldest son and made sure Adam saw his displeasure.\u00a0 Later as they walked from the church he leaned over and spoke with a certain amount of sarcasm.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery nice that you could join us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sighed.\u00a0 \u201cIt was late and it seemed foolish to ride home in the dark when I could stay at the hotel and be here for church this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben glared.\u00a0 \u201cA small matter of morning chores wasn\u2019t considered I suppose.\u00a0 Just what were you doing all night?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam bit his lip and stared at the ground, while Joe allowed a small grin to creep across his face.\u00a0 Ben saw the grin and grunted.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t intend to say more with Joe listening but his\u00a0 oldest son was going to hear more of this later.<\/p>\n

Joe joined Mitch after church but Seth waylaid them.\u00a0 \u201cHey, where’s my money?\u00a0 I won that bet fair and square.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYou never said only one try,\u00a0 I ain’t given up yet.\u00a0 I’ll do it after school Tuesday\u00a0 Miss Jones always let’s us go early on the last day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitch almost choked.\u00a0 \u201cYou crazy?\u00a0 If the ride don’t kill ya, your Pa will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe grinned.\u00a0 \u201cPa don’t know nuthin’ Adam didn’t tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss lay back in his bed and sighed.\u00a0 He was still feeling a little tired but mostly tired of being alone.\u00a0 His father had put his head around the door when they family got back from church but neither of his brothers had put in an appearance.\u00a0\u00a0 He’d heard raised voices once or twice and half guessed that one or both brothers were in trouble for something.\u00a0 Less than a week to Christmas and he was stuck here and the atmosphere in the house was decidedly chilly and a long way from goodwill to all men.\u00a0\u00a0 He heard footsteps and then the door was pushed open and his little brother bounced in.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi, big moose.\u00a0 When you gonna get up and do your chores.\u201d\u00a0 Joe virtually leapt on to the bed and made the joints creak.<\/p>\n

Hoss grinned, a wide gap toothed grin.\u00a0 \u201cThought I’d let you do ’em for a while to make up for the ones I done for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe giggled.\u00a0 \u201cAdam’s doin’ ’em.\u00a0 Pa’s mad at him ‘cos he didn’t come home last night so he’s doin’ yours and his own to make up for the ones he missed.\u00a0 I’m s’posed to be doin’ homework but I got bored with verbs and nouns and decided to come visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell don\u2019t let Pa catch ya.\u00a0 I want him in a good mood so he\u2019ll let me get outta here.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss grumbled.<\/p>\n

Joe giggled.\u00a0 \u201cNot much chance o\u2019 that.\u00a0 He\u2019s real mad at Adam.\u00a0 It was a real good lecture on the evils of drink and women.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss had to laugh as Joe raised his eyebrows and showed from his expression that he had very much enjoyed eavesdropping.\u00a0 They chatted for half an hour before Hoss reminded Joe that he was supposed to be finishing his homework and it wouldn\u2019t do to get Pa anymore riled than he already was.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The last day of the school session was always fraught and Miss Jones was having trouble controlling the class.\u00a0 The younger ones were dreaming of Santa and the older ones just dreaming of getting out of the classroom.\u00a0 Joe Cartwright was standing in the corner following his parting prank.\u00a0 She had to admit it had been a good one.\u00a0 She had come into class after recess to find a very fine drawing of Santa and his sleigh on the blackboard.\u00a0 She was pleased that someone had made the room festive, until she looked closer and realised that each of the elves around the old man had been given the face of a teacher or a member of the school board.\u00a0 Mr Macdonald, the President of the Board, was depicted as Santa and shown with a stick urging the reindeer to go faster.\u00a0\u00a0 She was represented by a particularly sour faced fairy that happened to have her arm around an elf.\u00a0 The elf was quite obviously meant to be the artist\u2019s older brother.\u00a0 She had threatened Joe with a caning but relented and made him stand in the corner where he couldn\u2019t cause anymore trouble.\u00a0 Somehow he still managed to disrupt the class until finally, she decided that no more knowledge was going to be absorbed and she was losing the battle.\u00a0 \u201cAlright, children you may go.\u201d\u00a0 Her Christmas greeting was lost in the mad scramble to get out of the door first.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Joe’s second attempt at the sled run was all set.\u00a0 Maybe twenty or more children had gathered to watch this one and side bets were being made all around him.\u00a0 Sarah and Mitch had made further attempts to talk him out of it but to no avail.\u00a0 He was ready to go and was sitting in the middle of the street on his improvised sled trying to judge a gap on the streets below.<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright pulled up with the wagon in front of the timber yard on the corner of F street and Taylor.\u00a0 Once he had delivered this load he planned to collect Hop Sing’s supplies and head home, before the snow began again.\u00a0 He looked upwards, the sky was dark and threatening.\u00a0 That’s all they needed, to be snowed in over Christmas.\u00a0\u00a0 Hoss was already crazy with boredom and Adam, well he was no doubt missing Boston, but that was no reason to take it out on the family, or to take to drinking and heaven only knew what else.\u00a0 He heard a shout and a commotion from the next block and looked up to see a crowd of children racing down the street towards him, ahead of them a boy on an improvised sled was barrelling down the hill missing horses and wagons by inches.\u00a0 He stared for a second then closed his eyes in silent prayer.\u00a0 When he opened them again the boy was accepting the accolades of his peers as they cheered his successful run.<\/p>\n

Ben moved swiftly to the crowd and the children parted like a wave in front of him.<\/p>\n

Joe held out his hand to Seth oblivious to the imminent danger.\u00a0 \u201cHow about my dollar then?\u201d<\/p>\n

Seth scowled but nudged Mitch to hand it over.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive it back.\u201d\u00a0 Came a quiet but stern voice.<\/p>\n

Joe closed his eyes and wished the ground would swallow him up.\u00a0 Seth, Mitch and Sarah moved back leaving a wide space around Joe and his father.\u00a0 Joe opened his eyes slowly hoping he had been hearing things.\u00a0 His eyes travelled up from a pair of snow covered black boots, to grey pants and a heavy brown coat and finally to the dark forbidding countenance of his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wagon is by the sawmill, fetch your horse and meet me there in five minutes..\u201d\u00a0 Ben spoke very slowly and deliberately, his temper barely under control.<\/p>\n

Joe started to stammer a response but one look at his father\u2019s expression stopped his words.\u00a0 He was turning to do as he had been told when he collided with Sheriff Coffee.\u00a0 \u201cDon’t you learn nuthin’ boy.\u201d\u00a0 Roy shook his head in disbelief.\u00a0 \u201cI’m surprised you allowed him in town alone after last time, Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked from his son’s guilty expression to the sheriff.\u00a0 \u201cWhat last time?\u201d\u00a0 he said slowly, as Joe swallowed hard.\u00a0 Uh..oh!\u00a0 This was gonna be even harder to explain.<\/p>\n

\u201cSaturday.\u201d\u00a0 Roy explained patiently\u00a0 \u201cDidn’t Adam tell you he pulled this stupid stunt Saturday afternoon, damn near got himself killed then too.\u201d<\/p>\n

If it were possible, Ben\u2019s expression got even darker and more formidable.\u00a0 \u201cNo he did not tell me, but he will, believe me he will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stumbled up the street to get his horse.\u00a0 Things looked pretty black for his older brother and even blacker for him, he\u2019d have Pa\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0Adam to contend with.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss listened intently.\u00a0 No sounds now, he waited another five minutes and then cautiously got out of bed and gathered his robe from the chair.\u00a0 Creeping to the door he stopped and listened again.\u00a0 Adam wasn\u2019t back from his chore of taking hay to the north pasture yet and Pa had stomped down the stairs several minutes ago and he had heard the front door slam.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His door creaked a little as he eased it open and looked along the hallway.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Slipping out quietly for so big a man he inched his way the three or four feet to Joe\u2019s door and gently pushed it open.\u00a0 His young brother was curled up on the bed facing away from him, his shoulders hunched and his face buried in his pillow.\u00a0 Hoss hesitated a moment then closed the door as quietly as he had opened it and moved over to sit on the bed.<\/p>\n

He rested a hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cWanna tell me about it?\u201d\u00a0 he asked softly.<\/p>\n

Joe shuddered at his touch but firmly shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cSounded like Pa was pretty mad at you for sumthin\u2019.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t help hearin\u2019.\u201d\u00a0 he apologised.<\/p>\n

Joe grunted and realising Hoss wasn\u2019t going to leave relaxed a little.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe caught me sliding down Taylor street on a makeshift sled.\u201d\u00a0 He muttered.<\/p>\n

Hoss took a minute to understand what his brother was saying, but when he did, he gasped.\u00a0 \u201cWhew…I can see why he was so mad.\u00a0 You crazy or sumthin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you start.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s mad at me \u2018cos I cheated him on my chores and he\u2019s gonna be madder still when Pa yells at him over this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss gave a puzzled frown.\u00a0 \u201cWhaddya mean? What\u2019s Adam got to do with it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sighed and almost rolled over on to his back then stopped and looked over his shoulder instead.\u00a0 \u201cAdam caught me Saturday and told me not to do it but he didn\u2019t tell Pa, so Pa\u2019s mad at him too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss grunted and tucked his feet up under the end of Joe\u2019s quilt.\u00a0 Now he was out of bed he was beginning to shiver and feel sick again.\u00a0 \u201cSeems like Pa\u2019s mad at everyone but me.\u00a0 Ain\u2019t gonna be much of a Christmas if he\u2019s in a bad mood.\u201d\u00a0 he grumbled.<\/p>\n

Suddenly Joe put his finger to his lips\u00a0 \u2018Shhh..\u2019 he cautioned, but it was too late.<\/p>\n

The door was pushed open and Ben stood there his hand gripping the doorknob and his voice as icy as the temperature outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cErik, what are you doing out of bed?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss scrambled to his feet\u00a0 a second before Joe.\u00a0 \u201cUh…I…uh…\u201d\u00a0 He stuttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet back to bed right now and don\u2019t move from that bed until I say you can and it won\u2019t be anytime soon.\u201d\u00a0 Ben barked.<\/p>\n

He watched as Hoss almost scuttled back to bed.\u00a0 \u201cYou have chores to do young man.\u201d\u00a0 He addressed Joe sharply.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you had better start doing them properly and behaving yourself or the only thing in your Christmas stocking will be a switch.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s homecoming was no more pleasant today than it had been on Sunday.\u00a0 This time the lecture centred around his little brother and responsibility and Adam had a hard time keeping his temper.\u00a0 He knew he should have brought Joe back, but he was tired of being held responsible for his brothers\u2019 pranks and shortcomings.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t answer back but his manner was as close to dumb insolence as he dared go.\u00a0 The atmosphere, which pervaded the house for the next few days, was blacker than the winters\u2019 nights and colder than the icicles on the eaves.\u00a0\u00a0 Adam avoided his father whenever possible and was openly irritated with Joe.\u00a0 Never one to be upset for long over a punishment, Joe recovered quickly from his tanning, but he did his best to stay out of the way of both his brother and his father.\u00a0 Hoss was still smarting from his reprimand and didn\u2019t move out of bed.\u00a0 He hated to be at odds with Pa and the bad feeling that existed between them all made him feel much sicker than he really was.\u00a0\u00a0 Hop Sing padded between them getting more irritated by the hour with this crazy family.<\/p>\n

Christmas Eve morning was dark and dreary, snow threatened and the atmosphere in the house was almost as cold as the world outside.\u00a0\u00a0 Hoss was feeling much better but he didn\u2019t dare leave his bed.\u00a0 He heard footsteps going downstairs first Pa\u2019s and Adam\u2019s then after a while Little Joe\u2019s.\u00a0 A few minutes later he heard Pa\u2019s voice raised in anger again and he sighed, \u201cwhat now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Downstairs Joe had crept up to the big dark green fir tree and stood gazing at the decorations, the red and white wax candles, the strings of popcorn and the tiny wooden ornaments that reminded him so much of his mother.\u00a0 If she had been here the candles would have been lit this morning.\u00a0 Mama always lit the tree on Christmas Eve, she had said it was welcoming.\u00a0 Well it wasn\u2019t welcoming today.\u00a0 In the years since her death first Adam and then Pa had lit the candles on Christmas Eve morning.\u00a0 Today neither of them had thought of it and for one small boy a tradition had been abandoned.\u00a0 A lump formed in Joe\u2019s throat.\u00a0 He wished Mama was here to hug him and make Christmas happy.\u00a0 He saw Pa\u2019s pipe and matches on the table and the temptation was too much for him.\u00a0 He struck a match and began lighting the candles; with each new flame his spirits lifted.\u00a0 This was more like Christmas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat on earth do you think you are doing?\u201d\u00a0 his father\u2019s voice thundered in his ears.\u00a0 The matches were snatched from his hand and he turned to find his father towering over him.\u00a0 \u201cHow many times have I told you not to touch matches and candles in the house or the barn?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shrank away his expression one of hurt and disappointment.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I only wanted to light them like Mama used to.\u201d\u00a0 he almost whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo get on with your chores, you\u2019re late as usual.\u201d\u00a0 Ben snapped, his anger mixed with something he couldn\u2019t quite identify.<\/p>\n

Joe gave a quick glance up at his older brother, who was standing in the doorway watching the scene with a certain air of detachment, then, grabbing his jacket, he raced outside.<\/p>\n

Adam sauntered over to his father.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s right.\u00a0 Marie would have lit them and so would we if we hadn\u2019t both been so wrapped up in our own troubles.\u201d\u00a0 he said softly.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t wait for his father to answer but followed his little brother out to the barn.<\/p>\n

Ben gazed up at the tall tree and automatically began to light the remaining candles.\u00a0 He brushed at his eyes in an effort to clear the mist forming.\u00a0 He had a lot to do today and no time for this foolishness.\u00a0 He must spend some time drawing up a new timber contract for one of the mines and he had to prepare a proposal to show the bank.\u00a0 He needed to borrow money to tide him over the rest of the winter and it was worrying him.\u00a0 He had hardly thought about Christmas.\u00a0 Months back he had bought presents for the boys in Sacramento and he knew Hop Sing would deal with all the supplies.\u00a0 It had been one worry he had pushed away until he had time to think about it.\u00a0 What with his money problems and then Hoss being sick and Joe getting into trouble and Adam…well Adam being difficult, there had been no time.\u00a0 He finished lighting the candles and then without really looking at the tree he hurried away to get on with his work.<\/p>\n

The day passed in a haze of work and meals until supper had been cleared away and Ben was back at his desk working on his accounts.\u00a0 He was vaguely aware of Adam and Joe playing checkers but he paid them no mind and worked on.\u00a0 Several times during the evening Adam glanced at his father and then at the Christmas tree.\u00a0 He had extinguished the candles after breakfast as they usually did but they were always re-lit after supper by Pa.\u00a0 The family would then spend the evening making and eating popcorn and listening to Pa read or tell stories.\u00a0 Just before bed the boys would hang up their stockings and Pa would read the Christmas story from St Luke\u2019s gospel.\u00a0 Tonight it was almost as if Pa had forgotten it was Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

After two poor games of checkers, Joe pushed back his chair and shrugged at his older brother.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going up to see Hoss.\u201d\u00a0 he said quietly.\u00a0 His face sad and pale.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded and waited to see if his father noticed Joe\u2019s absence, when there was no sign from the desk, he got up and stopping briefly at his own room followed Joe to Hoss\u2019s bedroom.\u00a0 He quietly pushed open Hoss\u2019s door and smiled to see Joe snuggled up against his big brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot room for one more on that bed?\u201d\u00a0 he asked.<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWe can make room, cain\u2019t we Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe scooted closer to Hoss leaving Adam a small space on his other side.\u00a0 Adam settled himself comfortably and glanced at his brothers.\u00a0 \u201c We could go hang up our stockings.\u201d\u00a0 he suggested.<\/p>\n

Joe grunted.\u00a0 \u201cWhat for, I\u2019m gonna get a switch in mine for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s eyes met Adam\u2019s, their little brother\u2019s head, both showing sympathy for the youngest member of the family.\u00a0 This had to be hardest on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWant me to tell stories?\u201d\u00a0 Adam tried.<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cIf you like.\u00a0 Won\u2019t be the same though.\u201d\u00a0 he leaned against Adam\u00a0 \u201cPa sure is mad.\u00a0 I can\u2019t remember him being this mad for so long.\u00a0 He ain\u2019t never bin like this at Christmas before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019s worried about business stuff Joe.\u201d\u00a0 Adam attempted to excuse Ben\u2019s forgetfulness and black mood.\u00a0 \u201cAnd we haven\u2019t exactly been perfect sons lately, have we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019s bin mad at us before but he ain\u2019t never forgot Christmas Eve.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss said sadly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI miss Mama.\u201d\u00a0 Joe said with the hint of a sob.<\/p>\n

Adam squeezed his shoulder\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t you think maybe Pa does too?\u00a0 She always made Christmas so good.\u00a0 It must be hard for him to do it without her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always did the same things when you were away.\u201d\u00a0 Joe was almost accusing.\u00a0 \u201cPa never forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shrugged \u201cWell he\u2019s forgotten tonight so we\u2019ll have to make the best of it. \u201c He pulled out the book he had brought with him.\u00a0 \u201cHow about I read \u2018Christmas Carol\u2019 for a while.\u00a0 The part with the ghosts, eh Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe shrugged.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t be like Pa reading but it was better than nothing.\u00a0 As Adam began reading he found he was enjoying it.\u00a0 Like Pa, Adam used different voices and made it sound creepy.\u00a0 With Hoss\u2019s arm around him and Adam\u2019s voice reassuring him things hadn\u2019t changed that much, he forgot his troubles and simply felt secure and loved by his brothers.<\/p>\n

More than an hour passed and Adam heard the clock downstairs chime ten.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s pretty much bedtime, Joe.\u201d he said, reluctant to break the spell of the story but knowing it would only make Pa cross if Joe stayed up much later even on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

Joe looked up into Adam\u2019s eyes and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cBut Pa hasn\u2019t read the Christmas story yet.\u201d\u00a0 he said sadly.<\/p>\n

Hoss glanced at Adam.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019s gonna, Joe.\u00a0 It\u2019s awful late.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam closed the Dickens and made a sudden decision.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll read it.\u201d he said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be back in a minute.\u201d he added as he slipped off the bed and headed downstairs.<\/p>\n

Ben was still working at the desk, his head resting on his hand as he tried to make figures balance that were never going to be the ones he wanted.\u00a0 Adam walked softly across the room to the table behind the sofa and gently picked up the family Bible.\u00a0 It had been passed down through generations of Cartwrights and recorded all the major events of the family from birth to death.\u00a0 He glanced once more at his father as he carried it reverently upstairs.<\/p>\n

Ben caught a glimpse of a figure moving up the stairs and sat back and stretched.\u00a0 Goodness it was late.\u00a0 He\u2019d better check that Joe was in bed.\u00a0 He walked across to the staircase and as he reached the bottom step the moon came out from behind a cloud and the star at the top of the tree caught its pale light and twinkled.\u00a0 Ben looked up and with shame remembered it was Christmas Eve.\u00a0 He had been so caught up in his own troubles he had forgotten the most important night of the year.\u00a0\u00a0 He immediately began to light the candles and when that job was finished he stood back to admire the tree.\u00a0 It was one of the most beautiful they had ever had in the house.\u00a0 He recalled Christmases past and memories of the traditions the family had built over the years.\u00a0\u00a0 He must call the boys.\u00a0 It was late but they couldn\u2019t go to bed without hanging stockings and reading from the Bible.\u00a0 Those things were ingrained in his memory as part of his own childhood and certainly part of his sons\u2019.<\/p>\n

He walked to the table and reached out for the Bible.\u00a0 It was gone!\u00a0 He glanced guiltily at the stairs; Adam.\u00a0 He must have been the shadowy figure he had seen a few moments ago.\u00a0 His first Christmas at home for four years and the responsibility had fallen to him to make sure the traditions weren\u2019t broken.\u00a0 Ben wearily climbed the stairs.\u00a0 Hoss\u2019s door was slightly open and he peeped in.<\/p>\n

The three boys were comfortably ensconced on Hoss\u2019s large bed.\u00a0 Joe sandwiched between his brothers with an expectant look on his face as Adam carefully turned the pages of the Bible to find the right place.\u00a0 Ben\u2019s throat constricted and he felt a tear come to his eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cMind if I join you?\u201d\u00a0 he said softly.\u00a0 Three heads came up and three anxious faces waited for him to say more.\u00a0 He moved over to the chair by the bed and Adam automatically handed him the Bible.\u00a0 Ben took it and held it for a second before he spoke again.\u00a0 \u201cI guess I forgot what is really important for a while there.\u201d\u00a0 he said softly.\u00a0 \u201cThere are some stockings waiting to be hung downstairs and I know Hop Sing will have hot chocolate and cookies even if it is late.\u201d\u00a0 he looked at the boys with a mute appeal.<\/p>\n

Always the most volatile and the one first to forgive and forget, Joe\u2019s eyes shone and he bounced off the bed.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cC\u2019mon, or have you forgotten what Hop Sing\u2019s chocolate tastes like while you bin away, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked nervously at his father.\u00a0 He might be eighteen but just lately he had felt more like ten.\u00a0 \u201cCan I get outta bed and come down too?\u201d\u00a0 he asked.<\/p>\n

Ben smiled.\u00a0 \u201cSure son, you wouldn\u2019t want to miss out on Hop Sing\u2019s special Christmas cookies would you?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019s broad grin was enough thanks.<\/p>\n

As they followed Joe through the door, Adam leaned over and spoke to his father\u00a0 \u201cI wasn\u2019t trying to take over Pa.\u00a0 I know you\u2019ve been worried the past few weeks, maybe I could share some of the load now.\u00a0 I mean that was why you supported me through college.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cThank you, son.\u201d he said softly, a warm feeling spreading through him.\u00a0 He was a lucky man to have such supportive and forgiving sons.\u00a0 How could he have forgotten that.<\/p>\n

Downstairs he seated himself in his chair by the fire, Adam and Hoss taking their chairs and Joe making sure he was closest to his father by curling his feet under him and sitting on the table.\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t even tell him to take his feet off the furniture, it didn\u2019t seem important tonight.\u00a0 He waited until Hop Sing had brought the delicious hot chocolate and the much-loved cookies.\u00a0 The smile on the Chinaman\u2019s face like a sunrise, telling Ben he approved.\u00a0 Ben knew Hop Sing would retreat but would hover in the doorway listening, as he always had since Ben and Marie had brought him here all those years ago.\u00a0\u00a0 Was she listening too?\u00a0 He hoped so. He felt her near tonight.\u00a0 He opened the book and gently moved the velvet ribbon that Adam had placed at the verses of Luke.\u00a0 He began to read, his deep resonant baritone the only sound in the quiet house.\u00a0\u00a0“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Outside the wind increased and the snowstorm became a blizzard but it no longer mattered, inside it was cosy and warm as the family prepared to celebrate Christmas.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Merry Christmas.\u00a0 Peace on Earth and happiness for all of us in 2000.<\/p>\n

My Christmas wish for you, my special friends.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE END<\/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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:<\/strong>\u00a0 Family<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0Through their troubles the Cartwrights are gently reminded of the true meaning of Christmas. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a08800<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":41001,"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":[23,1008],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4001","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\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4001\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}