Summary – This short story is a sequel to From This Day Forward, where Adam brings his Australian bride, Bronwen, back to the Ponderosa.\u00a0 It begins in late April 1878; Adam and Bronwen\u2019s oldest daughter, Betsy, is now three and their second daughter, Miranda, is about two and a half.\u00a0 And their little family recently increased with the addition of their third daughter, Gwyneth.<\/p>\n
Rating:\u00a0 K \u00a0WC \u00a04300<\/p>\n
Bronwen in Nevada Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n From This Day Forward<\/a> As always, I want to thank my beta reader, Lis, for all her help, and especially for the story\u2019s title.<\/p>\n Finally, I want to remind everyone that all the characters, with the exception of Bronwen and the girls, are not my creations and I intend no copyright infringement by making use of them.<\/p>\n Blessed are the Children<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 1<\/p>\n \u201cDadburnit!\u00a0 I forgot how much fun decoratin\u2019 Easter eggs is!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss Cartwright exclaimed as he dipped half an egg in the red dye Hop Sing had prepared before dipping the other half in the blue.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam and Bronwen are sure gonna be surprised when they come for dinner tomorrow and see Betsy and Miranda are gonna have their very first Easter egg hunt,\u201d Joe said with a big grin as he dropped his egg in the bowl of bright saffron yellow dye.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s too bad Gwyneth can\u2019t hunt too,\u201d Hoss commented then.<\/p>\n \u201cAw, c\u2019mon, Hoss,\u201d Joe said, rolling his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cGwyneth is only a couple of weeks old.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019ll be three weeks old on Easter Monday,\u201d Ben said.\u00a0 He and Hop Sing sat at the other end of the kitchen table, decorating the hardboiled eggs with wax before handing them to Hoss and Joe to dye.\u00a0 \u201cBut that\u2019s definitely too little to hunt for Easter eggs,\u201d he added, smiling broadly.\u00a0 \u201cThis year, she\u2019ll have to let her big sisters do the hunting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure a dozen eggs are enough, Pa?\u201d Joe asked as he dunked the last egg in the indigo blue dye.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, for two little girls, a dozen is plenty,\u201d Ben stated firmly and Hop Sing nodded his agreement.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t forget, you and Hoss are going to have to get up extra early to hide the eggs before we leave for church tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019m not waitin\u2019 fer you, Shortshanks,\u201d Hoss said, playfully cuffing his brother\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cIf you don\u2019t get up in time, I\u2019m just gonna hide all the eggs myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere,\u201d Bronwen said, sticking her needle in her pincushion and then wriggling her fingers.\u00a0 \u201cMy new wrapper is hemmed and ready for me to wear to church tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0 She put her pincushion and thimble away in her sewing basket and Adam smiled as he returned to his perusal of the Territorial Enterprise. \u00a0\u201cI am so thankful that Mam made Easter dresses for Betsy and Miranda.\u00a0 They are lovely and our little girls are going to be beautiful,\u201d she added with a proud smile.\u00a0 \u201cKerra said she\u2019d press my wrapper for me so I\u2019d better take it to her now,\u201d Bronwen added as she stood up, carefully draping the pale green taffeta over one arm.\u00a0 Adam nodded, not looking up from the newspaper, and Maegan, Bronwen\u2019s black and orange tortoiseshell cat who\u2019d been curled up in front of the fireplace, uncurled gracefully and trotted after her mistress.<\/p>\n Just as Bronwen reached the doorway, Adam looked up from his paper and said with a smile, \u201cI think this item might interest you.\u00a0 It says here that since the law forbidding the Capital grounds be used as a playground for children is going to be strictly enforced this Easter Monday, President and Mrs. Hayes are inviting children to roll their Easter eggs on the South Lawn of the White House.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood for President and Mrs. Hayes!\u201d Bronwen said with a grin.\u00a0 \u201cI remember rolling Easter eggs when I was a little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe dyed eggs and then Pa would hide them and we\u2019d hunt for them on Easter morning,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0 \u201cNext year we\u2019ll have to have an Easter egg hunt for Betsy and Miranda.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHunting for the eggs sounds like as much fun as rolling them,\u201d Bronwen said, \u201cand I always enjoyed decorating and dying the eggs.\u201d\u00a0 Then she hurried to take her wrapper to Kerra with Maegan walking beside her.<\/p>\n Almost as soon as Bronwen left the library, high-pitched cries began to issue from the cradle at the foot of the chair she had just vacated. \u00a0Adam put down his newspaper and picked up the tiny baby.<\/p>\n \u201cYour diaper is clean so you must be hungry,\u201d he said soothingly as he paced the room, holding his youngest against his shoulder while gently patting her back.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry but Daddy can\u2019t help with that, Punkin.\u201d<\/p>\n Bronwen came hurrying in and took the baby and sat down to nurse her.\u00a0 Adam sat down and watched, a tender smile on his lips.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a hungry little girl, aren\u2019t you, Gwyneth fach,\u201d Bronwen crooned, gently stroking the dark fuzz on her baby\u2019s head.\u00a0 She turned toward Adam and said with a grin, \u201cI can\u2019t get over how much she looks like you, Cariad.\u00a0 I wonder if her hair will be curly like yours.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe may take after me, but I hope her eyes turn violet like yours,\u201d he said.\u00a0 Then he asked, \u201cWas she colicky this afternoon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA bit,\u201d Bronwen replied as she shifted Gwyneth to her other breast.\u00a0 \u201cI tried following your example and holding her on her stomach across my knees while I rocked her.\u00a0 It helped, but I just don\u2019t have your magic touch.\u201d\u00a0 He grinned smugly.<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s expression grew more serious as he asked, \u201cYou\u2019re sure it\u2019s not too early for you and Gwyneth to make the trip into Virginia City?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToo right I\u2019m sure,\u201d Bronwen replied emphatically.\u00a0 \u201cThis past week the weather has been glorious and Easter Sunday is the perfect time for Gwyneth to make her debut in Virginia City.\u201d\u00a0 She smiled down at her baby girl, adding, \u201cAnd Gwyneth wants to wear the beautiful Easter bonnet Kerra made for her.\u201d<\/p>\n After Bronwen finished nursing Gwyneth and burping her, she said to Adam, \u201cWe have a big day ahead of us, so Gwyneth and I are going up to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want to finish the paper, and then I\u2019ll be up,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you mind letting Maegan in?\u201d Bronwen asked as she stood up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t hurt her to spend the night outside,\u201d Adam commented dryly.<\/p>\n \u201cBut she would rather sleep in her basket,\u201d Bronwen said firmly and then grinned as her husband rolled his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll let Maegan in,\u201d he said and then stood up so he could kiss her.\u00a0 \u201cGoodnight, Punkin,\u201d he added before dropping a kiss on Gwyneth\u2019s forehead.<\/p>\n When he finished the newspaper, he banked the fire in the library\u2019s inglenook fireplace and then locked the backdoor.\u00a0 As he walked to the front door, he noted there was no lamplight showing under Kerra\u2019s bedroom door so she must have retired.\u00a0 He opened the front door and stepped onto the porch, holding up his oil lamp.<\/p>\n \u201cHere, Maegan.\u00a0 Here, kitty.\u201d\u00a0 When he saw no sign of his wife\u2019s pet, he called a little more loudly, \u201cHere, kitty, kitty.\u00a0 Here, Maegan.\u201d\u00a0 He waited a minute or two before saying in a disgusted tone, \u201cWell, I tried.\u00a0 Bronwen can\u2019t blame me if you refuse to come when you\u2019re called.\u201d\u00a0 He started to turn toward the doorway when he heard a meow and Maegan leaped fluidly onto the porch and then rubbed against his legs.\u00a0 Adam chuckled as he leaned over and scooped up the small cat in his free hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were toying with me the same way you would with a mouse,\u201d he commented before walking through the doorway.\u00a0 He set Maegan down and closed the door behind them and locked it.\u00a0 Then he headed up the stairs, Maegan running ahead of him.\u00a0 When he reached the top of the stairs, he headed for Betsy and Miranda\u2019s room.<\/p>\n He opened the door carefully so he wouldn\u2019t awaken the room\u2019s occupants.\u00a0 He smiled as he gazed down at his sleeping daughters, thinking how angelic they looked with their rosy cheeks and rosebud mouths.\u00a0 Betsy\u2019s silky, shoulder-length dark hair was spread on her pillow while Miranda\u2019s soft dark curls formed a nimbus about her face.\u00a0 He carefully tucked their covers in since the nights were still chilly, and then, picking up Maegan who\u2019d jumped on the foot of Betsy\u2019s bed, he silently exited the room.<\/p>\n He opened the door to the master bedroom, then set Maegan down and hurriedly closed the door.\u00a0 She scratched and mewed plaintively for a few minutes before giving up.\u00a0 Luckily, Bronwen was a sound sleeper but Adam heard little whimpers coming from the nursery.\u00a0 He hurried in and lifted Gwyneth from her cradle and rocked her gently in his arms until she fell back to sleep.\u00a0 He placed her back in the cradle very carefully and covered her with the lamb\u2019s wool blanket Bronwen\u2019s oldest brother had sent Betsy when she was a baby.<\/p>\n After gently closing the nursery door, Adam stripped down to his drawers before sliding into bed beside his sleeping wife.\u00a0 As she snuggled next to him, he thought with a sigh that it was three more weeks before they could make love.\u00a0 However, he was more tired than he realized, thanks to Gwyneth\u2019s nightly feedings, and fell asleep almost immediately.<\/p>\n As Hop Sing served the scrambled eggs and the three Cartwrights helped themselves to biscuits and sausage gravy, Ben asked his sons, \u201cThe eggs are all hidden?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss nodded since his mouth was full.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you didn\u2019t hide them so well the girls won\u2019t see them?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe swallowed quickly and said, \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Pa.\u00a0 We hid \u2018em in plain sight.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss stopped eating long enough to say, \u201cYou sure did a fine job with our old baskets, Hop Sing.\u00a0 They\u2019re pretty as a picture with all them ribbons and bows.\u201d\u00a0 Hop Sing beamed at the compliment.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to hurry, boys.\u00a0 We don\u2019t want to be late to church on Easter Sunday,\u201d Ben admonished.<\/p>\n They were all ready in plenty of time.\u00a0 Ben was attired in his best frock coat of black broadcloth and embroidered silk waistcoat.\u00a0 Hoss and Joe were wearing the more modern lounge suits where the jacket, waistcoat and trousers were all of the same material.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s suit was dark grey broadcloth and Hoss\u2019s was fawn.\u00a0 All three men wore black silk neckties, although Hoss complained, as always, that he felt as though he were being choked.<\/p>\n They arrived at the church about the same time as their friends and neighbors, Todd and Virginia McKaren and their three children.<\/p>\n After exchanging greetings, Ben smiled down at the McKarens\u2019 little girl and said, \u201cYou look very pretty, Susan,\u201d and she smiled up at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen are we gonna get a chance to see this newest granddaughter of yours?\u201d Todd asked Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cIn just a few minutes,\u201d Ben replied.\u00a0 \u201cBronwen and Gwyneth are both coming to church this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGwyneth.\u00a0 That\u2019s a lovely name, but unusual,\u201d Virginia remarked.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s named for one of Bronwen\u2019s grandmothers,\u201d Joe explained.<\/p>\n \u201cI think she said it was the name of her pa\u2019s mother,\u201d Hoss added.\u00a0 Then he said with a big grin, \u201cLook, there they are!\u201d<\/p>\n He hurried over to the surrey as Adam drew up in front of the church.\u00a0 Hoss smiled at his little nieces, who sat with Kerra on the surrey\u2019s second seat.\u00a0 \u201cHowdy, Sweet peas,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cHowdy, Kerra.\u00a0 Howdy, Bronwen.\u00a0 And howdy, Little-bitty Sweet pea.\u00a0 Look at your pretty bonnet,\u201d he said, smiling at his baby niece.<\/p>\n \u201cHello to you, too, Younger Brother,\u201d Adam said dryly.<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019s grin grew wider as he said, \u201cHowdy, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll help you down, Bronwen,\u201d Joe said as Adam tied his team\u2019s reins to the hitching post by the horse trough.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Joe,\u201d Bronwen said with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cG\u2019day, Virginia and Todd,\u201d she added as the McKarens approached.\u00a0 Seeing Virginia\u2019s stylish princess sheath dress of pale pink and white striped poplin, Bronwen was glad that even if she had to wear a wrapper, her hat of camel silk trimmed lavishly with ivory feathers and silk roses was \u00e0 la page.<\/p>\n \u201cMay I hold the baby?\u201d Virginia asked and, with a smile, Bronwen carefully placed Gwyneth in Virginia\u2019s arms.\u00a0 Joe helped Bronwen down from the surrey and Hoss held out his arms to Betsy, saying, \u201cUncle Hoss\u2019ll help you down.\u201d\u00a0 Ben said to Miranda, \u201cGrandpa will help you,\u201d and Adam assisted Kerra.\u00a0 She would be spending the rest of Sunday with her daughter Loveday\u2019s family.<\/p>\n \u201cOh my goodness!\u201d Virginia exclaimed.\u00a0 \u201cGwyneth looks just like you, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe sure does,\u201d Todd said with a chuckle as he looked over his wife\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cSee my pitty dress, Unca Hoss,\u201d Betsy said as she pirouetted.<\/p>\n \u201cIt sure is pretty,\u201d Hoss said with a smile, \u201cand so\u2019s yer hat.\u201d\u00a0 Betsy and Miranda both wore straw hats decorated with ribbons and silk flowers that matched their dresses\u2014pink for Betsy and primrose yellow for Miranda.<\/p>\n \u201cI gots new shoes,\u201d Betsy said then, holding out one foot so her uncle could admire her shiny little black boots.<\/p>\n \u201cSee new shoes, Pa-pa,\u201d Miranda said to Ben.\u00a0 She tried to hold out one foot like her sister but almost lost her balance.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, you have new shoes, too,\u201d Ben said with a fond smile.<\/p>\n \u201cNew to her,\u201d Adam inserted with a wink.<\/p>\n Ben turned to Bronwen and said with a warm smile, \u201cYour mother did a beautiful job with the girls\u2019 dresses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll tell her you said so,\u201d Bronwen responded, returning his smile.<\/p>\n Other members of the congregation arrived and the women all gathered around Bronwen and Gwyneth while Adam patiently endured the jokes about having better luck next time and getting a boy.<\/p>\n After a bit, Rev. Jordan appeared at the church door, and everyone hurried inside.\u00a0 Betsy walked between her two uncles, holding their hands while Miranda held one of her grandpa\u2019s hands and her parents and baby sister followed.\u00a0 The Cartwrights filled the front pew, and when Betsy became fidgety, Adam amused her by pulling a piece of paper and a pencil from the pocket of his jacket and drawing pictures.\u00a0 Ben picked Miranda up and sat her on his lap and gave her his watch to play with.\u00a0 The girls listened raptly as the congregation sang the hymns.\u00a0 That was their favorite part of the service.<\/p>\n \u201cAn excellent sermon, Reverend,\u201d Ben said as he shook Rev. Jordan\u2019s hand while holding Miranda\u2019s hand in his left.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was good to hear your lovely voice again, Mrs. Cartwright,\u201d Rev. Jordan said to Bronwen, and her cheeks grew pink.\u00a0 \u201cThis must be the newest member of the family,\u201d he said, smiling at the baby in her arms.\u00a0 \u201cMy word, she certainly takes after her father,\u201d he added with a grin.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, Bronwen, did you make us any of them hot cross buns?\u201d Hoss asked as they walked toward their surreys.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanna hot coss bun,\u201d Betsy said.\u00a0 \u201cPlease, Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wanna bun,\u201d Miranda began to chant.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks a lot, Younger Brother,\u201d Adam said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, girls, you may share a hot cross bun on the way to Grandpa\u2019s house,\u201d Bronwen said as she shifted the sleeping Gwyneth to her other arm.\u00a0 \u201cYes, Hoss,\u201d she said with a grin, \u201cyou may have one.\u201d\u00a0 Seeing the other men\u2019s faces she said with a giggle, \u201cEveryone may have a bun.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTry not to let them get the icing on their clothes,\u201d Bronwen admonished as the two little girls walked off with their uncles and grandpa, each holding half a bun in one hand.\u00a0 Then she said with a sigh, \u201cI know they\u2019re going to get icing on their dresses.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI expect so,\u201d Adam said, not quite able to hide his grin before taking a bite of his bun.<\/p>\n \u201cBetsy, you and me are gonna drive the surrey,\u201d Hoss said after swallowing the last bite of his bun.\u00a0 Betsy had been licking the cross off her bun and had sticky icing smeared on her mouth and chin.\u00a0 \u201cUh-oh, better let Uncle Hoss clean your face off,\u201d he said as he pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and wet it in the horse trough.\u00a0 Betsy didn\u2019t want to stop eating to have her face washed and as Joe lifted Miranda onto the second seat, Ben suggested they wait until the girls were done and then wash their faces and hands.<\/p>\n \u201cYour mama sure is a good baker, Betsy,\u201d Hoss commented as they drove behind Adam\u2019s surrey.<\/p>\n \u201cShe sure is,\u201d Joe agreed.\u00a0 \u201cI really like these hot cross buns.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you girls know the rhyme about hot cross buns?\u201d Ben asked, knowing the answer.<\/p>\n \u201cI know, Pa-pa!\u201d Betsy said excitedly, starting to turn around.<\/p>\n Hoss took one hand off the reins and put it on Betsy\u2019s shoulder, saying, \u201cSweet pea, you gotta sit still.\u201d<\/p>\n Betsy\u2019s lower lip came out in a big pout but Ben said quickly, \u201cGo ahead and say the rhyme for Grandpa, Betsy.\u201d<\/p>\n The three-year-old smiled and recited:<\/p>\n Hot coss buns Miranda joined in on the \u2018hot coss buns\u2019.\u00a0 When Betsy stopped, Ben added:<\/p>\n If you have no daughters And the girls joined him in reciting:<\/p>\n One a penny \u201cVery good,\u201d Hoss said and Joe added with a chuckle, \u201cOl\u2019 Adam\u2019s got plenty of daughters.\u201d<\/p>\n Miranda tugged on Ben\u2019s hand and said, \u201cAgain.\u201d<\/p>\n When they were still about five miles from the ranch house, they could hear the sounds of a baby crying coming from Adam\u2019s surrey just ahead of them.<\/p>\n \u201cGwyth cry,\u201d Miranda announced, and her older sister added, \u201cGwyth cries lots.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss drove the surrey so it came abreast of Adam\u2019s and called over, \u201cEverything all right?\u201d while the two little girls began to wave and shout excitedly, \u201cDaddy!\u00a0 Mama!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGwyneth is just a little colicky,\u201d Adam replied, and Ben noted Bronwen was holding the baby so she was lying on her stomach across Bronwen\u2019s knees.\u00a0 He remembered holding Joe that same way when he was an infant.\u00a0 Adam smiled at his two older girls and called, \u201cHello, Princess.\u00a0 Hello Angel.\u201d\u00a0 Then he encouraged the horses to trot while Gwyneth continued to cry.<\/p>\n \u201cGwyneth sure has a set of lungs,\u201d Joe remarked, wincing slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were a colicky baby, Joseph,\u201d Ben said, \u201cand you outgrew it.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure Gwyneth will as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Miranda tugged on Ben\u2019s sleeve.\u00a0 \u201cSay hot coss buns,\u201d she requested, dimpling.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I think we\u2019ve done that one enough,\u201d Ben said.\u00a0 \u201cHow about \u2018Mary, Mary, quite contrary\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d Miranda shouted, her smile replaced by a scowl.\u00a0 \u201cHot coss buns!\u201d<\/p>\n From the front seat, Betsy began to recite the rhyme and with a shrug, Joe joined in.<\/p>\n By the time the two surreys reached the ranch house, Gwyneth had cried herself into an exhausted sleep.\u00a0 Adam pulled up on the reins and then jumped down from the surrey.\u00a0 Letting the thirsty team drink from the horse trough, he walked to the other side of the surrey and carefully took the baby from Bronwen and headed inside the house as the other surrey pulled into the yard.<\/p>\n \u201cMama!\u00a0 Mama!\u201d the two little girls squealed as Hoss drew up alongside his brother\u2019s surrey.\u00a0 Joe jumped down immediately and walked over to Bronwen.<\/p>\n \u201cDid Older Brother abandon you?\u201d he asked in a teasing tone as he helped her down while Hoss swung Betsy out of the surrey and then tossed her up in the air and caught her.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, he just wanted to get the baby inside before her sisters woke her up,\u201d Bronwen replied with a little grin.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I never realized how much noise two little girls could make,\u201d Joe said with a lopsided grin as Betsy shrieked with laughter and Miranda squealed, \u201cMe, Unca Hoss!\u00a0 Me!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam came out then, quickly closing the door behind him before joining Joe, Bronwen and Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cI got Gwyneth settled without her waking up,\u201d he said with a smile of relief.\u00a0 Betsy, who was waiting for Uncle Hoss to toss her again, saw him and ran over yelling, \u201cDaddy! Throw me, Daddy!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam grinned as he picked her up, tossed her in the air and caught her while Hoss did the same with the giggling Miranda.<\/p>\n Ben cleared his throat and his sons set the girls down.\u00a0 \u201cBetsy and Miranda,\u201d he said, \u201chow would you like to have an Easter egg hunt?\u201d\u00a0 The girls looked puzzled so he said, \u201cYour uncles and Hop Sing and I decorated Easter eggs for you, and your uncles hid them.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing appeared on the porch then, holding the two beribboned baskets.\u00a0 \u201cOne for Betsy and one for Miranda,\u201d he said, holding out a basket in each hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI want that one,\u201d Betsy said, starting to grab the one in his right hand, but he held it out of reach.<\/p>\n \u201cMust say \u2018please\u2019,\u201d he said firmly, but with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease,\u201d the three-year-old said and he started to hand it to her, but Miranda reached out to grab it, shouting, \u201cMine!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, that basket is your sister\u2019s,\u201d Adam said firmly, holding onto her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cMine!\u201d Miranda hollered, stamping her foot and scowling at her daddy.<\/p>\n \u201cI think this is a beautiful basket,\u201d Bronwen said, taking the other basket from Hop Sing.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t you think so?\u201d she asked the men.<\/p>\n \u201cPurtiest basket I ever saw,\u201d Hoss agreed with a big grin.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d sure like a basket like that one,\u201d Joe said with a wink.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, since Miranda doesn\u2019t want it, maybe Hop Sing will give it to Uncle Joe, and he can go on the Easter egg hunt,\u201d Ben suggest, struggling to keep a straight face.<\/p>\n \u201cI want,\u201d Miranda said then, starting to reach for the basket.<\/p>\n \u201cSay \u2018please\u2019,\u201d Bronwen said.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease!\u201d Miranda said loudly, dimpling when her mama handed her the basket.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be your partner, Angel, and Mama can be Betsy\u2019s,\u201d Adam announced then.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I see an egg right now.\u201d\u00a0 He pointed to the egg sitting on the windowsill by one of the flowerpots.<\/p>\n \u201cEgg!\u201d Miranda squealed excitedly, clapping her hands before running over and trying to jump up and reach the egg.\u00a0 Grinning, Adam picked her up so she could reach the egg.<\/p>\n \u201cNow put it in your basket,\u201d he said to the excited two-and-a-half-year-old.<\/p>\n \u201cI see an egg, too,\u201d Bronwen said to Betsy.\u00a0 \u201cLook underneath the table.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see it!\u201d Betsy shrieked, running to pick the egg and put it in her basket.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hid a dozen,\u201d Ben said with a huge grin as he watched the hunt.<\/p>\n Hoss said quietly, \u201cI was hopin\u2019 I\u2019d be Betsy\u2019s partner.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and I thought I\u2019d be Miranda\u2019s,\u201d Joe added, his disappointment obvious.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand, boys,\u201d Ben said gently, \u201cbut this is a big day for Adam and Bronwen\u2014their little girls\u2019 first Easter egg hunt.\u00a0 At least we get to be part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, that\u2019s right,\u201d Hoss said, his expression brightening.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it was lots of fun decorating the eggs,\u201d Joe said with a big grin.<\/p>\n They found eleven eggs.<\/p>\n \u201cDadburnit!\u00a0 Some critter musta run off with the one over by the barn door,\u201d Hoss said in a disgusted tone.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Hoss,\u201d Bronwen said with a grin.\u00a0 \u201cEleven eggs are plenty for two little girls and six grownups, especially since we have Hop Sing\u2019s delicious dinner to eat and more hot cross buns.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam put Miranda in Hoss and Joe\u2019s old high chair while Hoss helped Betsy into the little wooden booster Adam had made for Joe so he could sit at the table when he was three.\u00a0 Joe carefully moved Gwyneth\u2019s cradle by Ben\u2019s leather chair so she would be part of the family feast.<\/p>\n As the family members, including Betsy and Miranda, bowed their heads and folded their hands prayerfully, Ben\u2019s heart overflowed with love and gratitude.\u00a0 Lord, he prayed silently before blessing the food, I am so thankful for the gift of each of my three sons.\u00a0 They are precious beyond measure.\u00a0 And I am equally thankful for Bronwen, who has become like a daughter to me and who has brought the gifts of love and happiness to my first-born.\u00a0 And, Lord, my heart is filled with thankfulness for my three precious granddaughters.\u00a0 It is such a blessing to me to watch them grow up here on the land you\u2019ve given me.<\/p>\n After the meal was finished, Bronwen insisted on helping Hop Sing with the dishes so the men took the girls outside and took turns playing horsy with them until Bronwen was finished.<\/p>\n When she walked onto the porch, Adam checked the position of sun and said regretfully, \u201cIf we\u2019re going to get home before dark, we have to go now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell your grandpa and Uncle Hoss and Uncle Joe goodbye,\u201d Bronwen said to her girls.\u00a0 They went around to each man and said, \u201cBye-bye,\u201d and then dropped smacking kisses on each man\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n \u201cSay bye-bye Hop Sing,\u201d Miranda said after kissing Joe\u2019s cheek and the grownups all smiled<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing,\u201d Adam called, \u201ccould you come here for a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing hurried out, his expression curious.<\/p>\n \u201cMiranda and Betsy want to tell you goodbye,\u201d Adam said, smiling crookedly.<\/p>\n \u201cBye-bye, Hop Sing,\u201d the girls chorused, and then they each tugged on his hand until he bent down and they could kiss his cheek.\u00a0 His face lit up and he gently caressed their chubby cheeks.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Adam and I want to thank you all for arranging the Easter egg hunt,\u201d Bronwen said, smiling radiantly at her in-laws and Hop Sing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was our pleasure,\u201d Ben said, and the others nodded.<\/p>\n As the three Cartwrights and Hop Sing watched Adam and his family drive off, Hoss said quietly, \u201cAdam sure is a lucky man.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben put his hands on his sons\u2019 shoulders and said softly, \u201cThat he is, Hoss. That he is.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Next in the Bronwen in Nevada Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Angelic Affection<\/a>
\nBlessed are the Children<\/a>
\nAngelic Affection<\/a>
\nOver the Hill and Through the Woods<\/a>
\nPrecious Ties<\/a><\/p>\n
\nHot coss buns,
\nOne penny
\nTwo penny
\nHot coss buns<\/p>\n
\nGive them to your sons<\/p>\n
\nTwo a penny
\nHot cross buns.<\/p>\n
\nOver the Hill and Through the Woods<\/a>
\nPrecious Ties<\/a><\/p>\n