{"id":46742,"date":"2023-12-24T20:14:28","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T01:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46742"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:37:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:37:20","slug":"the-perfect-christmas-eve-by-puppycuddles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46742","title":{"rendered":"The Perfect Christmas Eve (by Puppycuddles)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bonanza<\/strong><\/span>
\n~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~<\/strong><\/span>
\n* Day 11 *<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Summary:\u00a0 Christmastime on the Ponderosa with a young Cartwright family.
\nRating:\u00a0 G
\nWords:\u00a0 8,620<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

The Perfect Christmas Eve<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMa-ma, Ma-ma.\u201d<\/p>\n

The call was more of a quiet whimper. Having awoken from a bad dream, the two year old longed for the comfort she could only receive from her mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cMa-ma.\u201d<\/p>\n

This time the call was louder, followed by a tearful cry. Mama always comes when I cry. Grabbing the railing of her crib, the girl pulled herself upright. Something was wet beneath her feet. Puzzled, she bent down to feel her bed. Wet fabric met her fingers. I can\u2019t sleep in a wet bed; now I really have to get Mama\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cMa-ma, Ma-ma, MA-MA!\u201d<\/p>\n

She began to sob, holding tight to the crib railing. Mama always came when she called her, and if she was busy then somebody else came and brought her to Mama. But what if no one came this time? What if no one heard her?<\/p>\n

Rapid, little footfalls were heard coming down hall before a curly headed boy pushed open the door and bounded into the room. He ran over to the crib where she stood peering through the railing and patted her hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t cry, sissy,\u201d the four year old said. \u201cMama\u2019s comin\u2019.\u201d The girl sniffled and her cries quieted to low whimpers. Little Joe was here so someone else had to be here too. Mama never left her and Little Joe by themselves.<\/p>\n

Marie entered then, the glow from the lamp she held casting spooky shadows around the dark room. The little girl\u2019s whimpers stopped upon seeing her mother, and her face brightened up with a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s mama\u2019s little angel,\u201d she set the lamp on the dresser and opened the curtains to reveal the morning sun. \u201cDid you sleep well?\u201d She turned to the crib and lifted her little daughter into her arms. As she rested her arm underneath her, her face wrinkled into a disgusted frown. \u201cUh-oh, we seem to be in need of a change, don\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n

Uh-oh. Mama wasn\u2019t happy. She\u2019d done something to make her upset. Sierra\u2019s face fell and pitiful green eyes looked up at her. \u201cSi\u2019wwa sowwy. Ma-ma mad?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no, mon cherie, mama\u2019s not mad.\u201d She smiled and gave the girl\u2019s nose a gentle tap. \u201cCome on, let\u2019s get you cleaned up, then we\u2019ll go get you some breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

Minutes later Sierra was clean and dry and dressed for the day, sucking on her thumb while giggling at the funny faces Little Joe was making at her. Marie couldn\u2019t help but smile at her babies.<\/p>\n

\u201cEat now, Mama?\u201d Little Joe turned hopeful eyes towards her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Mon petit, it\u2019s time to eat. Go and tell your father we\u2019re coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

The little boy was gone in flash, his pattering footsteps could be heard racing down the hall to the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, no running down the stairs or you\u2019ll-\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Marie could finish her warning, a loud tumble was heard followed by the boy\u2019s cry. She hurried to the top of the stairs with Sierra in her arms to find her middle son already there comforting his little brother.<\/p>\n

The nine year old wrapped his arms around the sobbing boy and held him close. \u201cThere now, punkin, you\u2019re ok. You\u2019re not supposed to run down the stairs anyway. You know what happens every time you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tearfully, the little boy looked up at his brother. \u201cSowwy, Hoss, me jus\u2019 forget.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, it\u2019s ok.\u201d He stood up with the boy in his arms. \u201cSay what was so all fired important this time anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was comin\u2019 to tell Pa that Mama and sissy was comin\u2019.\u201d He sniffled loudly. \u201cI\u2019s real hungry, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss chuckled. \u201cYou \u2018n\u2019 me both, shortshanks. Tell you what, how\u2019s \u2018bout we go sit at the table so\u2019s we\u2019re ready to eat when the rest \u2018a the fam\u2019ly shows up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I ride the horsie there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure ya can, punkin.\u201d He set Little Joe on the floor, turned and squatted down waiting for the boy to climb on his back. Once safely secured, \u2018the horse\u2019 let out a loud \u201cYehaw!\u201d then took off at a gallop towards the dining room table laden with the family\u2019s breakfast.<\/p>\n

Marie smiled as she watched her middle children together. Despite only being nine years old, Hoss was big for his age, though in contrast to Little Joe\u2019s small-for-his-four-years-size, Hoss appeared even bigger. He\u2019d had a few jealous moments at first when his baby brother was born and realized the baby was stealing all his parents\u2019 attention. That had soon been remedied however when Adam took him aside and had explained what being a big brother truly entailed. He\u2019d quickly dubbed himself his little brother\u2019s protector and thoroughly enjoyed this job of trying to keep him out of scrapes. However, even at four, Little Joe was proving to be quite the charmer and had managed to land both of them in trouble more times than not.<\/p>\n

Sierra on the other hand, Marie couldn\u2019t help the smirk that appeared on her face as she thought about how her baby daughter had managed to twist the entire family around her little finger and she was only two. The girl had inherited her older brother\u2019s charm, but where Little Joe\u2019s might reach a slight margin of limitation, Sierra\u2019s had not failed her once, especially when it came to her father and older brothers.<\/p>\n

The front door opened revealing Ben and Adam as they entered the house. Seeing his wife descending the stairs, Ben smiled a warm smile, his eyes lighting up.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s my beautiful girls,\u201d he said as he crossed the room to meet Marie at the base of the stairs and kissed her soundly. \u201cAnd how are you this fine morning, my dears?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra giggled and held out her arms to her father. \u201cPa-pa!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re both quite well,\u201d Marie said with a smile, handing the girl to her father. \u201cThough this little missy managed to wet through her clothes and bedding again. Looks like I\u2019ll be doing laundry today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Mama, it\u2019s Christmas Eve,\u201d Hoss protested. Having deposited Little Joe in his seat at the table, Hoss had taken a seat beside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Pa, you promised to take us to find a Christmas tree today, remember?\u201d Adam said as he joined his brothers at the table, taking a seat across from Hoss.<\/p>\n

Ben carried his daughter to her seat beside Adam. \u201cYes, I do remember, boys, but with Hop Sing away your mother needs us to lend more of a hand around the house.\u201d He walked around and took his seat at the head of the table between Adam and Little Joe. \u201cThere will be plenty of time to get a tree once the chores are done here and your mother can join us as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam and Hoss said nothing else, though their downcast expressions spoke what their words didn\u2019t. Ben paid them no mind as grace was said, then the family began to eat. In his mind, the subject was settled.<\/p>\n

Marie, however, sat pondering the matter as she placed eggs and bacon on Sierra\u2019s plate. With Ben having just returned from an extended trip to San Fransisco on business, the older boys were craving their father\u2019s attention and in some ways needed it more than the little ones. She glanced surreptitiously at both of her stepsons in turn before meeting Ben\u2019s eye across the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you go ahead and take Adam and Hoss out to find a tree? I can manage the little ones by myself and the washing won\u2019t take that long. Then I can get a head start on preparing for Christmas dinner too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked up at her, his eyes wide with hope. Adam too, appeared to be thrilled with suggestion. All eyes then turned to Ben, waiting to hear what he would say.<\/p>\n

Ben chewed up a mouthful of eggs before he spoke. \u201cWell, I was planning on making it a family outing as we usually do.\u201d He looked across the table at Marie who was trying to get the youngest Cartwright her breakfast.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good for you, Mon petit.\u201d She lifted a forkful of eggs to her daughter\u2019s mouth. \u201cYou must eat them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two year old shook her head, her lips pressed into a tight line.<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung lady, you will eat what your mother gives you or you will face the consequences,\u201d Ben said, giving the girl a stern glare. \u201cAnd that goes for you too, young man.\u201d He turned his glare on Little Joe who sat moving his pile of eggs from one side of his plate to the other with his fork.<\/p>\n

The little boy scrunched up his face in disgust. \u201cNo like eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo egg!\u201d Sierra exclaimed, her expression mirroring that of her brother\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re really good,\u201d Adam said as he scooped up a forkful and placed them in his mouth. \u201cMm-mm. They\u2019ll make you grow up big and strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo eat eggs,\u201d Little Joe pushed his plate away from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Pa,\u201d Hoss said around a mouthful of breakfast. \u201cIf they don\u2019t eat theirs, can I have it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, because they will both eat it, and they won\u2019t get anything else until they do.\u201d Again both children received a stern glare from him. Little Joe chose to ignore it and continue twirling his fork in his eggs, while Sierra\u2019s face crumpled and she began and sniffle. She turned pitiful eyes towards her mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe do it, Ma-ma?\u201d Marie nodded placed the fork in her hand which immediately brightened the girl\u2019s mood as she began to stab at the eggs on her plate.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo when\u2019re we gonna go get the tree, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked, reminding him of the previous conversation topic.<\/p>\n

Ben took a long sip, then set his coffee cup down on its saucer and looked across at Marie with raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know we usually all go,\u201d she said, \u201cbut with Hop Sip away this year I really need to get Christmas dinner preparations started. And the little ones do need their naps or they\u2019ll be cranky later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo nap, Ma-ma,\u201d Sierra said smacking around a mouthful of eggs.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t talk with your mouth full please, Sierra,\u201d Ben scolded the girl. Still not convinced, he looked back at Marie and said, \u201cAre you sure, Marie? Both little children by yourself is quite a handful especially when you\u2019re trying to get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled and nodded. \u201cYes, Ben, I am sure. I\u2019ll just put them down for their naps. Besides Little Joe is big enough to help me make the gingerbread cookie ornaments, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy stopped pushing his eggs around on his plate and nodded, puffing out his chest with a proud expression on his face. \u201cMe big boy now. Me he\u2019p Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben studied his little son, who still seemed to be doing more playing with his food than eating. \u201cJoseph, eat your food and don\u2019t play with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Big boy moment gone, the boy\u2019s face scrunched up once again in disgust as he looked up at his father. \u201cNot like eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, well, we all must do things we don\u2019t like at times and right now, you must eat your eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Pa, don\u2019t like them. They\u2019s yucky.\u201d As if to prove his point, Little Joe followed this statement by wrinkling up his face and sticking out his tongue.<\/p>\n

\u201cYucky eggs,\u201d Sierra said copying her brother\u2019s expression. A glare from her mother silenced her and she grabbed a piece of bacon off her plate instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben\u2019s tone was quiet but there was a warning edge to it. \u201cI don\u2019t care whether you like them or not, but you will eat your eggs, and you won\u2019t leave this table until you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy\u2019s face crumpled and his lower lip stuck out as he turned pitiful eyes towards his mother. \u201cMama-\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie held up her hand to stop him before he even got started. \u201cYour father has spoken. You must do as he says, Mon chere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe dropped his head and began to sniffle. Adam and Hoss remained silent during the exchange, not wishing to raise their father\u2019s ire any further.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou still think you\u2019d rather stay home?\u201d Ben directed a pointed look at the top of the pouting boy\u2019s curly head.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I think I can manage quite nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm. Well, all right, if you\u2019re sure?\u201d He looked at Marie and waited for her nod, which she promptly gave with a smile. \u201cThen after breakfast you boys hurry and finish your chores then we\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n

The excited expression on Hoss\u2019 face told Marie she\u2019d made the right decision. Even Adam favored her with a genuine smile which warmed her heart. No matter how much frustration the morning held, that smile made it all worth it. She looked at her still pouting four year old, and then at her two year old, who sat breaking the last of her bacon into pieces before dropping them on floor already littered with the remnants of her eggs and held back a sigh. Maybe it wasn\u2019t too late to change her mind\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMarie, are you sure you\u2019ll be all right here with the children by yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie stood on tiptoe to kiss him. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, mon amour, the children and I will be fine. You and the boys enjoy your time together. Hoss has the picnic lunch I packed for you. We\u2019ll have everything ready to start the Christmas festivities when you get back.\u201d She wiped the sweat from her brow. \u201cAs warm as it is right now it doesn\u2019t really feel much like Christmas though. I was really looking forward to the snow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben glanced up at the sky. The last few days had been unusually warm for the time of year. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t give up on your white Christmas just yet. From the looks of that sky I\u2019d say the weather\u2019ll make a change by sundown.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOoh!\u201d Marie clapped her hands together. \u201cI hope you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben held back his laughter though he smiled and his eyes twinkled watching his wife\u2019s childish excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI must say I don\u2019t envy you,\u201d Ben said. He looked back into the open doorway as if he could see the little boy who still sat at the table refusing to eat his eggs. \u201cI think you\u2019ve got a much more difficult job today.\u201d<\/p>\n

His wife laughed. \u201cOh, I don\u2019t plan to make him finish all of them. Only a few more bites.\u201d Ben opened his mouth to protest when Marie continued. \u201cYou said he had to eat them. You didn\u2019t say he had to eat them all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head, but he couldn\u2019t resist a chuckle. \u201cYou\u2019re much too soft on the boy, Marie. You\u2019re going to spoil him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA little spoiling never hurt anyone. Besides you seem to do enough of it with the littlest member of this family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not spoil her,\u201d Ben said indignantly. At Marie\u2019s raised eyebrow, he sighed. \u201cWell, maybe just a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Adam called. \u201cBetter hurry up before Hoss eats all our lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m coming,\u201d Ben called over his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cHoss, stay out of that basket, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Pa, but I\u2019m hungry,\u201d Hoss grumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re always hungry,\u201d was Adam\u2019s response.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess we\u2019d better be going,\u201d Ben said. \u201cSure you won\u2019t change your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure.\u201d Marie laughed and kissed him again. \u201cYou boys be careful now and look after your father.\u201d She called as Ben crossed the yard to join them in the wagon.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will, Mama, don\u2019t worry,\u201d Hoss said from his seat beside his father.<\/p>\n

Adam, seated behind the wagon seat, raised his hand and waved. His other hand held a book which left no doubt as to how he planned to pass the time while riding.<\/p>\n

\u201cBye, Mama!\u201d Hoss turned to wave at her as Ben clicked his tongue and slapped the reigns on the horses\u2019 backs. \u201cWe\u2019ll find the biggest and bestest tree ever! I promise!\u201d<\/p>\n

As the wagon pulled away, Marie smiled and waved back, a chuckle escaping as she heard Adam correcting his brother\u2019s grammar. Sierra came running out the door just then intent on heading for the disappearing wagon. She let out a cry of protest as her mother caught her before she could go far.<\/p>\n

\u201cDown, Ma-ma! Want go! Si\u2019wwa want go too!\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie hugged the child close and patted her back. \u201cI know, Mon cherie. Maybe next time you can go.\u201d She carried the crying girl into the house, shutting the door behind them.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama, don\u2019t like eggs! Want to get up!\u201d Little Joe called from his seat at the table.<\/p>\n

His mother sighed and leaned against the closed door for a moment. Well, here we go.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After much protests and tears, Little Joe finally managed to swallow down the required amount of eggs. \u201cGo play now?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Marie nodded. \u201cYes, now you may go play.\u201d The little boy shot out of his chair before she\u2019d finished talking.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoey p\u2019way?\u201d Seated on the rug in the great room, Sierra waved her hands holding a wooden block in each one while a pile of identical ones sat in front of her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI play, sissy.\u201d Little Joe plopped down on the floor beside her. \u201cLet\u2019s build tower.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTower!\u201d Sierra repeated in delight. \u201cTall tower?\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe nodded, stretching his arms as high as he could. \u201cTall as a tree!\u201d<\/p>\n

The little girl thought a moment then said in a solemn tone, \u201cThat\u2019s tall.\u201d She then set one of the blocks in her hands on top of the short stack her brother had started.<\/p>\n

Marie smiled as she watched the two of them together. Perhaps now they would keep each other occupied long enough for her to get some work done. She picked up Little Joe\u2019s plate and finished clearing away the rest of the dishes.<\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

Sierra went down for her nap without too much fuss, and after the difficulty they\u2019d had at breakfast, Marie decided it wouldn\u2019t hurt for Little Joe to take a nap too. She read them a story and enjoyed their cuddles as she rocked them both to sleep in the rocking chair Ben had made for the nursery. He\u2019d wanted to buy her one but she had insisted it would be better if he made it. She had however caved and bought store bought cushions for it after a couple of failed sewing attempts on her part.<\/p>\n

With Sierra\u2019s crib still in need of changing, she laid both children down in Little Joe\u2019s bed and tucked them in, placing pillows behind her son like usual to ensure he didn\u2019t roll off. His bed was pushed up against the wall, so she didn\u2019t have to worry about them falling off the other side.<\/p>\n

Once the children were down for their naps, Marie gathered up her daughter\u2019s soiled sheet and clothing and began the process of washing them.<\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMama!\u201d She heard Little Joe call just as she finished.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama\u2019s coming,\u201d Marie replied as she climbed the stairs. Upon entering the boy\u2019s room, she found him standing beside the bed while Sierra still sat under the covers crying. \u201cAwe, what is it, mon bebe? Why are you crying?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bed\u2019s wet, Mama,\u201d Little Joe told her, a fact which Marie had just discovered as he picked up her daughter. \u201cI not do it, Mama. I pwomise.\u201d He looked up at his mother wide eyes as he shook his head.<\/p>\n

Marie smiled down at him and ruffled his wild curls. \u201cI know you didn\u2019t, mon ange. It\u2019s okay. It\u2019s nothing that won\u2019t wash out anyway, so no harm done.\u201d She kissed Sierra\u2019s tear stained cheek and gave her a little tickle making the girl giggle. \u201cNow let\u2019s get some clean clothes on both of you, then I believe it\u2019s time for lunch while I wash the rest of this laundry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we have for lunch?\u201d Little Joe asked.<\/p>\n

Marie looked at him with a smile. \u201cI guess you\u2019ll just have to wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

While the children ate their lunch, Marie stripped the sheets from Little Joe\u2019s bed and bundled them with their soiled clothes. On a sudden whim, she decided to go ahead and wash the sheets from everyone else\u2019s beds too. Wouldn\u2019t hurt to take advantage of the unusually warm weather, she thought, and they were due to be washed anyway.<\/p>\n

Lunch ran rather long as without her supervision, both children did more playing with their food than eating it, but it kept them both occupied and out of trouble so she didn\u2019t mind too much. She scrubbed the sheets and laughed along with them at the tall tales they dreamed up featuring their imaginary vegetable and sandwich \u201ccharacters\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe make cookies now, Mama?\u201d Little Joe asked.<\/p>\n

Needing to get the sheets hung on the line, Marie had taken them both outside where she could keep a close eye on them. She had just placed a pin on the last sheet and bent to pick up her empty basket as the little boy made his request and she smiled at him. \u201cYes, I suppose we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYippee! Come on, Sissy, Mama said we make cookies now!\u201d<\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cLike this, Mama?\u201d Little Joe held a gingerbread man shaped cookie cutter poised above the freshly rolled out dough.<\/p>\n

Marie smiled and nodded. \u201cYes, that\u2019s right.\u201d She watched as he pushed the cutter into the dough then removed it to reveal the cut shape. His beaming smile warmed her heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did it! Look it, Mama, it\u2019s a ginger man!\u201d<\/p>\n

His mother covered her mouth to hold back her laughter. \u201cIt is at that. And a more perfect little ginger man I\u2019ve never seen.\u201d She kissed his forehead and ruffled his flour dusted curls. \u201cNow see if you can do more just like that one.\u201d Leaving the boy to his task, Marie turned around to check on her daughter.<\/p>\n

To keep the girl busy and out of trouble, Marie had given her a bit of the cookie dough and a cutter to play with. Having grown bored of playing with it, she was now sitting in the middle of kitchen floor, contentedly munching on her bit of dough. \u201cDo you like that, mon petit? Is it yummy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sierra grinned up at her mother and nodded. \u201cYum-my!\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie laughed and brushed the sweat off her forehead. She went to the kitchen door and opened it, standing in the doorway a moment to enjoy the afternoon breeze. Although the outside temperature had dropped slightly since earlier that morning, it was still rather warm and the cool breeze was a welcome relief. I still don\u2019t see how it will be cold enough to snow tonight, she thought as she remembered Ben\u2019s prediction.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama, look! I made\u2019s \u2018nother one!\u201d<\/p>\n

At Little Joe\u2019s summons, she returned to his side to admire the boy\u2019s work. \u201cGreat job, Mon petit.\u201d She turned to counter behind him to begin making her bread dough.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d She added a little water to her bowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many more I have to make?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite a few if you want to have enough to hang on our tree when your Pa and brothers return.\u201d A dash of salt went into her bowl next.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hang them all on the tree?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie laughed. \u201cI think we could set a few of them aside for eating.\u201d She scooped out several cups of flour to add the the mixture.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many is that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t really know. It depends on how many you make.\u201d Next was several tablespoons of butter.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I make more then that means I gets to eat more?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie nodded. \u201cYes, I suppose so.\u201d She mixed the ingredients together in her bowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes Hoss get to eat some too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Hoss, and Adam and Sierra, and your father and I will probably all eat a few.\u201d In went an egg and the proofed yeast mixture she\u2019d mixed earlier and she began combining them all together.<\/p>\n

The boy stared down at the cookie dough a moment. \u201cThen I\u2019d better do a whole bunch more. \u2018Speci\u2019lly for Hoss \u2018cause I knows he\u2019s gonna be real hungry after all that work of Christmas tree huntin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie couldn\u2019t hold back a chuckle at her little son\u2019s logic. \u201cI suppose you\u2019re probably right, Mon petit. Your brother Hoss does love to eat.\u201d She spread some flour on the countertop surface and dropped the bread dough on top, beginning to knead it.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Little Joe, what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do they call it tree huntin\u2019? What do they hunt the tree with? A gun? And why they gots ta go huntin\u2019 it anyways? Trees don\u2019t move.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie paused in her kneading, laughing too hard to continue at the moment. Little Joe turned to look at her, a puzzled look on his face. \u201cWhat funny, Mama? Why you laughin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

Holding her hands out to the side so as not to get any more flour on him, Marie leaned over to kiss his forehead. \u201cYou are, Mon petit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I wants ta know, Mama!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you do.\u201d She began kneading the dough again while smiling at her son. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a very curious imagination, Mon petit. You keep asking questions. That\u2019s the only way you\u2019ll learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat how Adam gots ta be so smart, huh? And Pa too? He\u2019s real smart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I suppose it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanna be just like them one day when I grows up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I have no doubt you will be too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI finished, Mama. Come look.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie wiped her hands on her apron and turned around, stopping in her tracks. The place on the floor where Sierra had been sitting was empty. \u201cSierra,\u201d she called looking around the kitchen for the missing two year old. \u201cLittle Joe, did you see where your sister went?\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, no.\u201d Marie\u2019s eyes went to the open kitchen door and she felt panic begin to well up inside. Bread dough and unbaked cookies forgotten, she grabbed up Little Joe and hurried outside. \u201cSierra! Sierra, where are you?\u201d Seeing no sign of her on the porch or around the front of the house, she ran towards the barn. \u201cSierra! Come on out, Mon petit. Mama\u2019s not playing, baby. Sierra! Come see Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

No sign of her in the barn. Her eyes went to the hayloft. The two year old had been told numerous times not to climb the ladder and she wasn\u2019t even sure if she could manage it alone, but Marie didn\u2019t put anything past her. She set Little Joe down on a hay bale at the base of the ladder.<\/p>\n

\u201cSit here and don\u2019t move. Do you hear me, Joseph?\u201d The boy nodded, his eyes wide at the use of his full first name. \u201cWhat did I say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTa sit \u2018ere \u2018n\u2019 don\u2019t move,\u201d he repeated.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood boy. I\u2019ll be right back.\u201d Satisfied he understood her command, Marie gathered her skirts and climbed the ladder. A quick search of the hay loft revealed the girl wasn\u2019t hiding there. She climbed back down the ladder, thankful to see Little Joe had obeyed and stayed put. One child missing was bad enough, she didn\u2019t know what she\u2019d do if both were lost.<\/p>\n

She grabbed Little Joe\u2019s hand and hurried through the barn door into the ranch yard. Where could she be? Surely she couldn\u2019t have wondered far. Her back hadn\u2019t been turned that long\u2026had it? Oh, why did she turn her back in the first place. She should\u2019ve known the girl was up to something when she didn\u2019t hear any sound from her. Why had she had allowed her attention to be distracted by her need to get the bread started and by her son\u2019s constant stream of questions. Please, dear Lord, don\u2019t take this child from me too.<\/p>\n

The gentle breeze she had enjoyed blowing through the kitchen door had matured into a strong gusts bringing a winter chill with it. The warm sun was now hidden by clouds and the afternoon temperature was falling. Marie found herself shivering. Ben was right. It would snow tonight. Her baby was out there, somewhere, and without her winter coat too. If she wasn\u2019t found by the time it began snowing she\u2019d\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie looked down at the four year old clinging to her hand and she struggled to hide her fear form him. \u201cYes, mon petit, what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Green eyes, identical to those of her missing daughter stared up at her. \u201cSissy lost?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but we\u2019re going to find her soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe he\u2019p, Mama. Me find Sissy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie scooped up her baby boy and held him close. \u201cDear, Lord, please help me find my baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

Three voices singing Christmas carols heralded the wagon\u2019s approach as it pulled into the yard.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Heav\u2019n, and Heaven and nature sing!\u201d They finished the song with a flourish, though a little more than slightly off key, as Ben pulled the horses to a stop in front of the barn. \u201cWhoa, boys,\u201d Ben said to the horses. He climbed down from the wagon and looked towards the house. \u201cMarie! Marie, we\u2019re home! Come see the tree we got you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you were right about the snow, Pa,\u201d Adam said and jumped over the side of the wagon, brushing stray pine needles off his clothes. \u201cTemperature is really dropping.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBet you boys are glad I insisted you bring your jackets along now,\u201d Ben said with a laugh as he began untying the ropes holding the tree securely on the wagon.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir, Pa,\u201d Hoss said as he joined his father and brother on the ground. \u201cWhy we\u2019d be icicles by now without \u2018em.\u201d He looked towards the house, the sheets still hang drying on the line catching his eye. \u201cWe probably ought to remind Mama about them sheets there or I reckon they won\u2019t be very comfor\u2019able ta sleep on tonight if they\u2019s frozen solid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben stopped and looked again at the house. \u201cI\u2019m surprised your mother hasn\u2019t come out to meet us. Hoss, run inside, son, and let her know we\u2019re home. Be quiet now in case the little ones are asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa,\u201d Hoss nodded and ran across the yard slowing to a walk when he hit the porch. That\u2019s odd, he thought. It\u2019s kinda cold to leave the door open. Entering through the open kitchen door, he found the room empty, unbaked cookies on the table, and the lump of bread dough on counter. \u201cMama?\u201d He called softly as he rounded the corner into the dining room. Still no sign of his mother or little siblings there either. Clearing the great room and Pa\u2019s desk area at a glance, he hurried up the stairs.<\/p>\n

Moments later he ran back outside to where his father and brother were starting to unload the tree. \u201cMama\u2019s not in the house, Pa. Nobody\u2019s in there. The kitchen door was wide open but there\u2019s no sign of them anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben dropped the tree and turned to face Hoss. \u201cAre you sure? Maybe she\u2019s just upstairs putting the little ones down for a nap.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head. \u201cI went up there and looked and they weren\u2019t up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll check the barn, Pa,\u201d Adam said. \u201cMaybe she was letting them playing in the hay.\u201d He was back soon without any luck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere do you think they went, Pa?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

Just as puzzled as the boys were, Ben had no answer. \u201cI don\u2019t know, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie\u2019s horse is here so they couldn\u2019t have went into town,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cThey must be around here somewhere.\u201d He stepped away from the wagon, his eyes searching the trees and brush surrounding the yard. \u201cMarie! Marie, can you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

All three stood silent, listening, but the only sounds they heard were that of the whistling wind and rustling trees.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa! Look there,\u201d Hoss called and pointed into the brush behind his father. \u201cI think it\u2019s-\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s relieved shout propelled him forward towards his wife as she emerged from the brush clutching Little Joe in her arms. Her skirt was torn in places where the brush had caught it and her usual upswept curls now hung unkempt and disheveled around her face. She looked exhausted.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie, are you all right? Where have you been?\u201d Ben pulled Little Joe from her grasp, passing him to Adam, then took his wife in his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cB-Ben, I- it-it\u2019s all my f-fault!\u201d Marie gasped. \u201cI-I-I should-should\u2019ve b-been w-watching b-better. I-I-\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShhh, calm down, Marie,\u201d he pulled her close to him and wrapped her tightly in his arm. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be okay.\u201d She clung to him, her breathing ragged as she tried to catch her breath. He looked over the top of her head at Adam. \u201cIs the boy all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded as he checked his youngest brother over. \u201cHe seems fine to me, Pa. He was sound asleep and I don\u2019t see any marks on him.\u201d He gave the boy\u2019s cheek a gentle pat. \u201cHey little buddy, can you wake up and tell me what\u2019s got your Mama so upset?\u201d The boy lifted his head from Adam\u2019s shoulder and blinked owlishly at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Pa?\u201d Hoss said. \u201cI don\u2019t see Sierra anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s hand stilled as he rubbed Marie\u2019s back and he met Adam\u2019s eyes. Marie\u2019s breathing had calmed considerably and she pushed away to look at her husband.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I was trying to tell you, Ben,\u201d she said, brushing her hair away from her face. She recounted what happened and ended with, \u201cI\u2019ve been out there searching for her but there\u2019s no sign of her anywhere! Oh, Ben, what if we never find her? It getting colder and she\u2019s got no coat on. She\u2019s going to freeze out here! Ben, I can\u2019t stand to go through the loss of a child again! I just can\u2019t!\u201d She buried her face in her husband\u2019s shirt as the dam broke and the tears she\u2019d been holding back burst forth.<\/p>\n

Ben looked wide eyed at Adam, seeing his fear reflected there. His child was missing. His daughter. His two year old daughter. He turned his eyes to the woods surrounding the house. She was out there somewhere. Marie was right\u2026with the temperature falling and without proper winter clothing, she was in danger of frost bite or even hypothermia. Night was approaching fast too which would make it even harder to find her in the dark. They were wasting time standing around.<\/p>\n

He gently, but firmly pushed Marie away so he could look into her face. \u201cMarie, this isn\u2019t helping us find Sierra. She needs you to be strong right now. You\u2019ve got to get a hold of yourself, or you\u2019re no good to her.\u201d He watched as his words sunk in. She took a deep breath and nodded, wiping away her tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right, Ben, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her husband smiled at her. \u201cWe are going to find her, Marie. You will not lose another child. I promise you that.\u201d Lord, please help me keep that promise, Ben prayed silently. \u201cNow, I want you to take Hoss and Little Joe and go in the house. Adam and I will saddle up and go find her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie shook her head. \u201cNo, Ben, I will not wait here while you look. I\u2019m going with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie, it\u2019s cold out here and you\u2019re exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes flashed as she glared at him. \u201cI am her mother. I will help you search for her.\u201d She did not raise her tone, but the firmness in it warned him against trying to make her do otherwise.<\/p>\n

Not wishing to waste time arguing knowing he\u2019d most likely lose anyway, Ben nodded. \u201cOk, let\u2019s go inside and get you and Little Joe bundled up warmer. Adam, you and Hoss unhitch the team and get the lanterns, will you? Make sure there\u2019s plenty of fuel in them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Adam nodded, handing his little brother over to his father.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, you-you reckon we\u2019re gonna find her?\u201d Hoss\u2019 voice wavered revealing his fear.<\/p>\n

It was the question which was on everyone\u2019s minds. The sun had set and snow was falling in thick clusters making tracking useless. There wasn\u2019t much luck trying to listen for sounds either as the whistling wind blocked out all other noises. Long since forgotten,\u00a0the sheets were frozen solid<\/u>\u00a0on the line, and even if they had been remembered, the family had a much more pressing problem at the moment.<\/p>\n

Adam turned his to his brother as he fought to keep his own fear out of his voice. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to, Hoss.\u201d He held the lantern up and peered through the blinding snow into the darkness. Pa, having strapped a bundled up Little Joe to his chest, had taken Marie with him to search the woods surrounding one side of the house, while Adam and Hoss searched the other.<\/p>\n

A gust of wind hit Adam squarely in the face as it blew his hat off his head.\u00a0No, no, no\u2026<\/em>He reached for it, but it was snatched away out of his reach.\u00a0Blast it!<\/em>\u00a0It had taken him all summer to save up for that hat. Guess it\u2019s a good thing I kept my old one. Though it wouldn\u2019t help him much right now with it being back in his room. A shiver ran down his spine as icy fingers ruffled his hair and he tugged the collar of his coat higher.\u00a0If I\u2019m this cold bundled up, just imagine how cold Sierra must be.<\/em>\u00a0Guilt hit him. His baby sister was out here freezing and here he was disappointed about losing his hat. Shame on him. That hat wasn\u2019t that important. It could be replaced; Sierra-<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Hoss interrupted his thoughts. \u201cShe\u2019s gotta be awful cold. How long\u2019s it been?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sighed. \u201cToo long.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve done walked every inch a woods this side a\u2019 the house and there ain\u2019t no sign a her. Ya think Mama \u2018n\u2019 Pa\u2019ve found her yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI sure hope so, Hoss.\u201d\u00a0If they haven\u2019t-\u00a0<\/em>Adam stopped himself mid thought.\u00a0Don\u2019t go there.<\/em>\u00a0He couldn\u2019t imagine what it would happen should they not be able to find her. Or worse\u2026find her too late. \u201cI can\u2019t stand to go through the loss of a child again!\u201d Marie had said that to Pa earlier.\u00a0Again? What had she meant by that?<\/em><\/p>\n

Some perfect Christmas this was turning out to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, Hoss. It\u2019s time to meet back up with Pa and Marie at the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned in the direction of the house looking over his shoulder to make sure Hoss was following close behind. Going back felt like giving up.\u00a0We\u2019re not giving up,<\/em>\u00a0Adam told himself.\u00a0If I have to search all night I will.<\/em>\u00a0It\u2019s just like playing a game of hide and seek. Yeah that\u2019s it. She\u2019s just hiding somewhere waiting for us to get close enough for her to jump out and\u2026<\/p>\n

Wait a minute<\/em>\u2026Hide and seek. That was her and Little Joe\u2019s favorite game to play and as little as the both of them were, they always managed to cram themselves in the tightest, least suspecting places. Just like\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss! Oof!\u201d His younger brother collided into him at his sudden stop, nearly knocking both boys to the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Adam? Why\u2019d ya stop like that fer?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked at him and held the lantern up so they could see each other\u2019s faces. \u201cDo you remember this summer when we took Little Joe out fishing with us, and we stopped by the house to play a game of hide and seek with him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded. \u201cSure do. That little fella had so much energy we had to let him run some of it out or we\u2019d a been fishing him out\u2019a the pond instead\u2019a the fish.\u201d He chuckled a moment then sobered and looked back at his brother with a puzzled look. \u201cWhy ya bringin\u2019 up that right now fer anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, remember how we searched everywhere and we couldn\u2019t find his hiding place?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I \u2018member. If he hadn\u2019t\u2019a crawled out of that log and yelled \u201cBoo!\u201d we\u2019d prob\u2019ly still be there lookin\u2019 fer him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly!\u201d Adam said, excitement creeping into his voice. \u201cWe\u2019re both a lot taller than he is and, the way that opening in the log was positioned, we never would have seen him had we not known the hole was there.\u201d Seeing his brother was still puzzled, Adam pressed on. \u201cThink about it, Hoss! That log wasn\u2019t that far from the house. Sierra wanders off, hears Marie calling, and -we all know how she loves to play hide and seek- so she decides to play a game with her mother and, as she usually does, looks around for a tight place to crawl into. She\u2019s shorter than Little Joe so she looks around and sees-\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think she crawled into that log!\u201d Hoss\u2019 eyes lit up and his face split into a wide grin. \u201cYeah, yeah, you might be right, Adam. And Pa and Mama prob\u2019ly don\u2019t know about the hole either so they wouldn\u2019t know to check there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cThink we can find it in the dark with all this snow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou kiddin\u2019? Sure we can.\u201d Hoss stepped around in front of Adam and started through the trees towards the other side of the house, calling over his shoulder, \u201cWell, come on, big brother, what\u2019re we waitin\u2019 fer?<\/p>\n

\u201cWait up, Hoss!\u201d Adam hurried to catch up. \u201cI\u2019m the one with the lantern, remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

The boys\u2019 trek through the snow seemed much easier now. Hope sprang up in their hearts as they made their way through the woods and across the ranch yard. No sign of Pa and Marie yet, Adam noted. Either they went inside for a moment or they were still looking. He\u2019d bet on the latter.<\/p>\n

What seemed to take forever, in reality was only a few minutes until they skidded to a halt in front of a rotten tree, kept upright solely by the large boulders which supported it on its leaning side. At the base was a space between the tree and the rocks just large enough for a small child to crawl between.<\/p>\n

\u201cSierra? Are you in there, honey? It\u2019s ol\u2019 Hoss here, come on, shortcakes, answer me.\u201d Hoss called. \u201cI don\u2019t hear a thing, Adam.\u201d He dropped to his knees and stretched his arm into the opening as far as it could go. \u201cI can\u2019t reach it, Adam. I can feel the hole in the tree but my arm\u2019s jist not long enough to reach inside it.\u201d He scooted back on his knees and looked up at his older brother.<\/p>\n

Adam studied the opening a moment then glanced at Hoss. Despite being younger, Hoss was as stocky and broad chested as he himself was leaner and of narrower build. There was no way his younger brother could squeeze in there. This thick, extra fabric isn\u2019t going to help me much though.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere, hold this.\u201d He handed his brother the lantern then began removing his gloves, winter coat, and scarf. Immediately the freezing wind made him shiver as it cut through his thin cotton shirt and his fingers began to tingle from the cold. Honestly, he wasn\u2019t entirely sure he could fit his upper body into the opening even without the extra winter padding, but, of the two of them, Adam had better odds.<\/p>\n

Hoss held the lantern as Adam, laid on his side in the snow, and tried to squeeze between the boulders and the log to see into its hollow interior. \u201cIs she in there? Can ya see anythin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

His shoulder grated over a jagged edge on the rock causing Adam to grunt. \u201cHold your horses, Hoss. It\u2019s pretty tight.\u201d His head and shoulders in the gap, he reached one arm into the hole and felt around inside. \u201cHold the lantern closer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hole was small so very little light was able to penetrate inside the hollow. \u201cSee anythin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet, hole\u2019s pretty narrow.\u201d Adam moved his hand to the other side of the hole. \u201cHoss, she\u2019s here!\u201d His hand felt fabric and a warm little body curled up.<\/p>\n

\u201cYahoo!\u201d The light disappeared as Hoss jumped to his feet and did a dance in the snow.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss!\u201d<\/p>\n

The light came back. \u201cSorry, Adam. Jist got excited. She all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThink she\u2019s asleep. Can\u2019t see anything yet, but she doesn\u2019t feel very cold to me. Actually I\u2019d say she feels pretty warm considering she\u2019s been out here for hours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis here ol\u2019 rotten tree prob\u2019ly saved her life.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

-\/-\/-\/-\/-<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Seated in his favorite blue chair by the fire, wrapped in a blanket and holding a hot cup of coffee, Adam smiled as he watched his father and Marie cuddled together on the settee, his stepmother\u2019s head resting on his father\u2019s shoulder. Sierra, cocooned in her own blanket, was fast asleep safe in her mother\u2019s arms, her head resting against Marie\u2019s chest. Little Joe too was asleep as he lay across both of their laps with one of his mother\u2019s hands tracing tiny circles on his back. Hoss sat on the floor beside Marie, his back against the settee, mouth open wide releasing raucous snores which echoed throughout the room. As Adam watched, the boy\u2019s head slipped sideways to rest against his stepmother\u2019s knee.<\/p>\n

This Christmas Eve could very easily have had a different ending.<\/p>\n

Sierra had been lucky, Pa had said. Aside from a scraped knee and a scratch on her forehead, the child had been unhurt. The tree had sheltered her from the wind and snow and kept her warm. She probably wouldn\u2019t even have nightmares about it. While the rest of them had been beside themselves with fear, she\u2019d been sound asleep, oblivious to the danger around her.<\/p>\n

Over his short thirteen years of life, he\u2019d spent Christmas in a lot of different places and celebrated it in a lot of different ways. Some years he and Pa had been on the trail in the pouring rain, trying to stay dry underneath the wagon\u2019s cover. Others they\u2019d spent in a hotel room or if they\u2019d been lucky enough, they\u2019d been invited to supper at the house of an acquaintance. When Inger had been alive, she\u2019d always managed to make things cheerful no matter where they spent the holiday. After she died, he\u2019d tried to do the same for Hoss but it hadn\u2019t been easy.<\/p>\n

Then Pa had brought Marie into their lives. Marie loved Christmas. Granted, that first Christmas with Marie things had been a little rocky between him and his stepmother, but they had since worked things out. If he was honest with himself, he had to admit she\u2019d even won a special of her own in his heart now. Anyway, the last few years they\u2019d spent the holiday here on the ranch with Marie decking the house out in the most festive of ways and together with Hop Sing, she\u2019d always prepared the \u201cbiggest, and bestest feast of all time,\u201d as usually Hoss referred to it.<\/p>\n

But this is what really makes Christmas,<\/em>\u00a0he thought to himself.<\/p>\n

Oh, the tree they had brought, forgotten in the chaos of searching for his missing sibling, still sat undecorated in the wagon outside. He and Pa would probably bring it inside tomorrow and the whole family would pitch in and decorate it then. There was no Christmas dinner preparation started, their stockings hadn\u2019t been hung, and who knew if there were any presents at all to go underneath the tree.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all of us, being together, as a family that makes Christmas perfect.\u00a0<\/em>He supposed how odd it was that it sometimes took nearly losing something to realize that.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s voice pulled him out of his thoughts and he met his father\u2019s studying gaze. \u201cYes, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look lost in thought over there. Anything you care to share?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust thinking, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout what, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust sort of reminiscing about all the Christmases I\u2019ve had in my life.\u201d Marie opened her eyes and raised her head from Ben\u2019s shoulder, her eyes also on Adam. \u201cThere\u2019ve been a lot of them and they\u2019ve each been different in their own way. But out of all of them, I can\u2019t remember when I\u2019ve had a more perfect Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled at him and nodded. His eyes went to each of the faces surrounding him as his arm tightened gently around his wife\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI believe you\u2019re right, son. I do believe you are right.\u201d He kissed Marie as she turned her face towards him.<\/p>\n

Marie favored Adam with a loving smile of her own. \u201cThanks to you and Hoss and even this little rascal here.\u201d She ruffled Little Joe\u2019s curls. \u201cWho knew a game of hide and seek would prove to be so important?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben chuckled. \u201cWho indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell now,\u201d Marie said. \u201cIt\u2019s only Christmas Eve remember so the holiday isn\u2019t over yet. We still have a lot of decorating to do tomorrow, and I still fully intend to make my big Christmas dinner, so I believe it\u2019s time we all go to bed.\u201d She gently patted Hoss\u2019 shoulder. \u201cHoss, time for bed, Mon chere.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy awoke with a loud snort and a grunt, shaking his head as he rubbed his eyes. \u201cI wasn\u2019t sleepin\u2019, Mama. Just restin\u2019 my eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam snorted and rolled his eyes as Marie winked at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, why don\u2019t you go rest your eyes upstairs in your bed? I\u2019m sure it\u2019s more comfortable than the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded, yawned so wide Adam wondered if it would split his face in two, then stood and made his way upstairs, calling \u201cgood night\u201d over his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cTime for these little ones to be in bed too.\u201d Ben lifted Little Joe into his arms and stood to his feet. \u201cAfter all, Santa won\u2019t come until everyone\u2019s in bed.\u201d He winked at Adam over Little Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n

Adam laughed. He was much too old to believe in Sant Claus\u2026in fact he never really had believed in the story, but it was fun to keep up the act for his younger siblings.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Ma?\u201d Clad in his nightshirt, Hoss appeared at the top of the stairs. \u201cWhat happened to my bed? There ain\u2019t no sheets on there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh!\u201d Marie\u2019s head jerked up with a start. She looked at Hoss a moment before she burst out laughing. Ben and Adam exchanged puzzled looks as tears began to run down her cheeks and her hearty laughter woke the sleeping girl in her arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cMa-ma \u2018k? Ma-ma cry.\u201d Sierra reached her little hands up to wipe away the tears on her mother\u2019s cheeks.<\/p>\n

Gaining control of her laughter, Marie kissed the little hands then looked up at her puzzled husband and boys. \u201cThere\u2019s no sheets on any of the beds. They\u2019re all outside on line and I\u2019m sure they\u2019re probably frozen solid by now.\u201d After recounting the events of the morning, the rest of the family too had a good laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, family, it looks like we\u2019ll be making pallets for all of us down here in front of the fireplace tonight.\u201d Still chuckling, Ben sent the boys to gather their blankets and pillows. \u201cHey, maybe this will be the start of a new tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie stood up from the settee, her sleeping daughter in her arms and kissed him. \u201cYou know, Adam\u2019s right.\u201d She smiled down at Sierra\u2019s angelic face, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead as she brushed aside a wayward curl. \u201cEven with frozen sheets, this is the most perfect Christmas Eve ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

My phrase: “the sheets were frozen solid” from Christmas at Sea<\/a> by Robert Louis Stevenson<\/p>\n

My character: my OC, Sierra<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Link to Bonanza Brand 2023 Advent Calendar – Day 12 – I Heard by Bells<\/a> by AC1830<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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Summary:\u00a0 Christmastime on the Ponderosa with a young Cartwright family.
\nRating:\u00a0 G
\nWords:\u00a0 8,620
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