{"id":46814,"date":"2023-12-24T20:07:13","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T01:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46814"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:37:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:37:21","slug":"the-milk-of-human-kindness-by-puchi-ann","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=46814","title":{"rendered":"The Milk of Human Kindness (by Puchi Ann)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bonanza
\n~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
\n* Day 18 *<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0Man and Nature conspire against the Cartwright brothers making it home for Christmas.
\nRating:\u00a0 G
\nWords: 8,220<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

The Milk of Human Kindness<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cJoy to the World!\u201d lustily sang Hoss and Little Joe as they rode the snow-dappled trail toward home, eyes and hearts aglow despite the cold.<\/p>\n

Looking back over his shoulder, Adam shook his head chidingly.\u00a0\u00a0Much as he loved singing Christmas carols, he couldn\u2019t afford to take the risk.\u00a0\u00a0After all, he was again the featured soloist in the church\u2019s upcoming Christmas program, as he had been since Little Joe was a wee babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.\u00a0\u00a0Belting out a song in the frosty wind of this late December midmorning was an outright invitation to laryngitis, if not something worse.<\/p>\n

He would not, however, have missed the yearly tradition of this trip into the hills for anything.\u00a0\u00a0The pack mule trailing behind Hoss was all but bare-backed now, though it had been loaded to capacity on the upward climb.\u00a0\u00a0Several of the families who had shared the bounty it originally carried would have spent a much bleaker Christmas without the Cartwrights\u2019 yearly visit.\u00a0\u00a0Now, all of them had a turkey or ham, potatoes, yams, raisins and oranges for their children\u2019s stockings, as well as enough staples to last them until the snows thawed.<\/p>\n

Their last stop had been at the Milfords, who were prosperous enough not to need the supplemental supplies.\u00a0\u00a0Amos, however, didn\u2019t hunt much anymore, so the Cartwrights always provided the Christmas turkey for their old friends.\u00a0\u00a0It wasn\u2019t purely charity, either, for they usually ended up carrying home a good supply of cookies, fruitcake and\u2014if they were lucky\u2014homemade pies that were even better than those Hop Sing turned out, though, of course, they never told him that.\u00a0\u00a0Little Joe had insisted that Hoss started smacking his lips before they got within five miles of the Milford Ranch.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo such a thing,\u201d Hoss had indignantly protested, \u201cbut I can sure smell pie baking.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He sniffed the air and added with a sharp nod, \u201cYup, that\u2019s apple.\u00a0\u00a0Since it\u2019s your favorite, little brother, I might save you a piece, maybe even two if\u2019n you behave yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot even your nose is that good,\u201d Little Joe had snorted, but when they got there, sure enough, Martha was pulling two fresh apple pies from the oven, specially made to tempt Little Joe\u2019s appetite, since in her opinion, he didn\u2019t eat nearly enough.\u00a0\u00a0Adam and Hoss both knew better, because they\u2019d seen their little brother in action at the table and knew what he could pack away, when motivated, but most women took one look at that slender frame\u2014downright scrawny, Hoss always said\u2014and put double helpings on his plate.\u00a0\u00a0There\u2019d been plenty to go around, though, and they\u2019d all feasted last night on Martha\u2019s succulent beef, roasted with potatoes, carrots and onions, and slathered with her intense brown gravy.\u00a0\u00a0She\u2019d even added peas in cream sauce because she knew Adam favored them.\u00a0\u00a0No one ever bothered to prepare anything special for Hoss himself, of course, because Hoss liked everything, as long as it wasn\u2019t cheese, and left no doubts as to how much he\u2019d appreciated the meal.<\/p>\n

They\u2019d spent the night and lingered over breakfast, which had given Martha time to put together a batch of fried apple and dried peach pies for them to take with them.\u00a0\u00a0It had meant a slightly later start than Adam preferred, but he felt certain they could still make it home before dark, maybe even with some pies left for Pa, who especially liked the hand-held pastries.<\/p>\n

As the wind picked up, even the younger boys\u2019 zest for song faded, and when the snow started to fall, disappeared altogether.\u00a0\u00a0Hard to sing anyway with their mouths muffled behind thick woolen scarves, gifts from another recipient of this year\u2019s Christmas bounty, for almost every family, in whatever small way they could, had proven the truth of the Scripture: \u201cGive and it shall be given to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Snow fell faster and started to pile into wind-swept drifts.\u00a0\u00a0Leaving the pack mule with Little Joe, Hoss pushed Chubby forward until he was riding side-by-side with his older brother.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cReally startin\u2019 to blow, Adam,\u201d he called for, even now, he had to raise his voice to be heard above the storm\u2019s roar.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMaybe we oughta hole up somewheres \u2018til it blows over, huh?\u00a0\u00a0Them boulders up ahead would make a windbreak, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe won\u2019t make it home by nightfall if we do,\u201d Adam shouted back, \u201cand you know how Pa worries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded grimly.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYeah, but leastwise, he won\u2019t come out lookin\u2019 for us, not with that broken leg.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWanna bet?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0By habit, Adam arched an eyebrow to accompany his skeptical tone, but between the scarf over his nose and the hat pulled low over his eyes, it went unseen.<\/p>\n

Hoss hadn\u2019t really caught the tone, either, but he knew his big brother and responded in kind.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNot really,\u201d he said, mouth twisting like he\u2019d just bitten into a raw persimmon.\u00a0\u00a0That went unseen, too, for the same reasons.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cGuess we can push on awhile, if\u2019n you think that\u2019s best.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s try,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s just snow so far, no ice underfoot for the horses.\u00a0\u00a0Another hour, at least.\u00a0\u00a0Then if we have to stop, we\u2019ll at least be close to one of the line shacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, beats nestin\u2019 behind a pile of boulders, any day,\u201d Hoss said, letting his mount drift back to convey the decision to Little Joe.\u00a0\u00a0He\u2019d only gone a couple of strides, however, before he spotted a dark shape on the horizon.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cRider comin\u2019 up behind us,\u201d he called back to Adam and rode forward to meet the man.<\/p>\n

The unseen eyebrow arched higher than before as Adam turned his horse to watch the encounter.\u00a0\u00a0A rider?\u00a0\u00a0Out in this weather?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They were, of course, but they had a purpose and had only gotten caught by the storm.\u00a0\u00a0Perhaps this man had, too, or\u2014speculation died as he saw the man raise his rifle.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHoss!\u201d he called in warning and drew his own weapon from its leather scabbard.<\/p>\n

Hoss had seen that man\u2019s action, too, and was in process of pulling out his own rifle, but not fast enough.\u00a0\u00a0The man fired, and Little Joe, who had turned in his saddle to see what the commotion was about, toppled into the snow as he took a slug to his right shoulder.\u00a0\u00a0Adam reacted first, firing off a shot, and his aim was true.\u00a0\u00a0As the man fell from his horse, Adam urged his own mount forward.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCheck him out!\u201d he yelled to Hoss as he turned toward his fallen brother.\u00a0\u00a0With one last concerned look at Little Joe, Hoss gave a grim nod and rode toward the intruder.<\/p>\n

Adam first gathered up the reins of Joe\u2019s panicky horse.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cEasy, boy,\u201d he soothed, running his gloved hand down Cochise\u2019s muzzle.\u00a0\u00a0He regretted the delay in getting to his brother, but in this weather, they couldn\u2019t afford to lose a mount, either.\u00a0\u00a0Besides, Little Joe would kill him if he let any harm come to his beloved Cooch.\u00a0\u00a0The horse secured, he turned to his brother, who lay panting in the snow.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s all right, boy,\u201d he said in almost the same tone he\u2019d used with the horse.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019ll be all right,\u201d he soothed, praying it was true.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d Little Joe quavered, perplexity painting his pinched features.<\/p>\n

Why, indeed?\u00a0\u00a0What sort of man rides up on strangers and just lets fly a bullet?\u00a0\u00a0Adam wanted answers to those questions himself, but he had none to give his younger brother.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI don\u2019t know, Joe,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cDoesn\u2019t much matter now.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s see what damage he\u2019s done.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He opened his brother\u2019s fleece-lined jacket, which was thick enough to have absorbed some of the bullet\u2019s impact.\u00a0\u00a0That hadn\u2019t done them any favors, however.\u00a0\u00a0If anything, it had slowed the bullet enough to ensure that it stayed in the shoulder, instead of passing clean through, which would have been easier to deal with.\u00a0\u00a0The pool of blood congealing in the snow absurdly made him think of maple syrup poured on snow for candy back East, but its bright red color reminded him of its deadlier significance.\u00a0\u00a0So much, so quickly\u2014he had to stop it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is he?\u201d Hoss asked, coming off his horse with unaccustomed alacrity.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine,\u201d Joe answered, though weakly enough to negate the word.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHow\u2019s . . . he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe ain\u2019t gonna hurt nobody no more,\u201d Hoss said, kneeling at Adam\u2019s side and running his palm over his little brother\u2019s now hatless head.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe need to get him under shelter,\u201d he said to his older brother.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBetter be the line shack, you reckon?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cLet me get the bleeding stopped, if I can, and we\u2019ll head out.\u00a0\u00a0Can you handle all the stock?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Hoss said, getting up to gather up Cochise, the pack mule and the stranger\u2019s horse, with the man\u2019s body tied to it, and tether them to his own sturdy mount.\u00a0\u00a0Much as he\u2019d prefer being the one to carry Little Joe, he knew he was better with animals than Adam, so it made sense for him to wrangle them and let older brother deal with wrangling younger one, no small task in itself.<\/p>\n

Mercifully, Adam was able to staunch the blood flow, and Hoss lifted Little Joe into the saddle in front of his other brother.\u00a0\u00a0Little brother, of course, protested that he could ride, but neither of them paid the least attention to that fool notion.\u00a0\u00a0They were soon underway, straight into a driving wind and snow that just kept coming.<\/p>\n

They couldn\u2019t go fast.\u00a0\u00a0Even if Little Joe had been able to stand the pace, the animals couldn\u2019t, but they plodded steadily down the mountain, hoping against all reasonable hope that they could make it before nightfall.\u00a0\u00a0They couldn\u2019t, of course.\u00a0\u00a0Adam had known that from the start, but every minute out here was a minute the little brother slumped listlessly in front of him could ill spare.\u00a0\u00a0The sun dipped lower and lower on the horizon, until the last slim ray of hope sank, and they were left with only the light of the crescent moon to guide their way.\u00a0\u00a0Adam thanked heaven for Hoss and his unerring sense of direction in those dim hours.\u00a0\u00a0Even he had veered off at one point, but he\u2019d quickly realized his error and set them back on course for the shack.<\/p>\n

The night was black, the stars snow-obscured, when they finally reached their destination.\u00a0\u00a0Relief and necessity surged energy into their exhausted bodies.\u00a0\u00a0Hoss secured the animals temporarily and then reached to lift Little Joe down.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet him inside,\u201d Adam ordered.<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded, although he felt a mite perturbed that Adam thought he needed to be told that. Though something else weighed on his mind, Little Joe came first with him, too, and Adam ought to have known that.\u00a0\u00a0He had his little brother inside and laid on one of the two rough beds in the single room before Adam had time to secure his own mount and get inside.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe need some wood,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSee what you can find, close by.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will,\u201d Hoss said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCheck the wood box, though; might be enough to start with, but we\u2019ll need more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ll check.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0As was the Cartwrights\u2019 habit, they\u2019d stocked each line shack with a full wood box before the weather turned cold, but since the buildings were open to any passerby who needed them, this one might have been depleted by now.\u00a0\u00a0Still, it was worth checking, since any wood Hoss brought in was likely to be damp, at best.<\/p>\n

While Hoss headed back outside, Adam stripped off his wool coat and laid it over his younger brother.\u00a0\u00a0Little Joe immediately pushed it away.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNo,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou need . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHush,\u201d Adam ordered softly as he again pulled the coat up to cover the shivering boy.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cJust \u2018til I get the fire started and knock the chill off the room.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling too weak to fight a battle he was bound to lose anyway, Little Joe turned his face to the wall and accepted the inevitable.\u00a0\u00a0Even with the extra cover, he still shivered, but it did help.<\/p>\n

Satisfied that he\u2019d be obeyed, at least for now, Adam went to the wood box.\u00a0\u00a0It wasn\u2019t full, showing that someone had made use of this cabin since they\u2019d stocked it, but neither was it empty.\u00a0\u00a0He pulled out enough wood to start a fire and lit it with one of the lucifers he always carried.\u00a0\u00a0Then, sparing a glance at Little Joe, he decided to take stock of what other resources their unknown visitor might have left them.\u00a0\u00a0Opening the storage cabinet set in the back corner of the shack, he flourished a relieved grin.\u00a0\u00a0A few cans of beans, some flour, salt and even a sack of oatmeal, although that had been significantly depleted.\u00a0\u00a0What gave him the most immediate satisfaction, though, were the two blankets folded on the top shelf.\u00a0\u00a0He took one down and warmed it in front of the flickering fire; then he retrieved his coat and laid the warm blanket over his brother.<\/p>\n

Little Joe opened his eyes in surprise; then, with a smile, he snuggled beneath the toasty cover.<\/p>\n

Hoss came in with a load of loose branches.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHey, you did find somthin\u2019 in the wood box!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood thing, apparently, if that\u2019s the best you could find,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n

Hoss frowned.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThis was just to get you started, big brother, in case you didn\u2019t find nothin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The eyebrow arched instinctively, visibly this time, but Adam quickly lowered it.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSorry,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI meant it as a joke.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He knew his flat delivery often meant his jokes could be misinterpreted as genuine censure.\u00a0\u00a0Apparently, that had happened this time, when he wouldn\u2019t have hurt the big guy\u2019s soft heart for anything in world.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, okay.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Hoss, as usual, was quick to forgive.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWell, I\u2019d best get out there and wrestle up enough to see us through the night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI need you here.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Lowering his voice, he added, \u201cWe need to get that bullet out, and that is a two-man job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s face crunched with distaste.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMore like three or four.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Their kid brother was brave, to a fault sometimes, and he didn\u2019t like bein\u2019 held down one bit.\u00a0\u00a0Neither did Adam need the boy movin\u2019 while he was operatin\u2019, and for sure, he was gonna be the one doin\u2019 that!\u00a0\u00a0Good as Hoss was at doctorin\u2019 critters, he couldn\u2019t bear the thought of cuttin\u2019 into this one, at least not so long as there was a steadier choice close to hand.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll\u2014uh\u2014get some water heatin\u2019 for you, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mouth askew, Adam accepted the obligatory destiny of being the firstborn and set about finding whatever knives the shack might provide.\u00a0\u00a0In the end, the best choice seemed to be his own pocketknife, so he squatted by the fire and held it to the flames.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cGet him ready,\u201d he said to Hoss once he\u2019d hung the kettle of water over the fire.<\/p>\n

Hoss grimaced slightly, but went at once to his little brother\u2019s side.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHey, Shortshanks, gotta get you ready for Doctor Adam.\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t you give me no trouble now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe . . . never,\u201d Little Joe said.\u00a0\u00a0His voice was faint, and he seemed to need a breath between each word, but at least he was still jokin\u2019, a good sign, Hoss reckoned, though he had a feelin\u2019 it wouldn\u2019t last.\u00a0\u00a0His hands were gentle as he stripped Little Joe of his coat and then his shirt and covered him again with the blanket.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s another one in the cupboard,\u201d Adam said as he approached, hot knife in hand.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhy don\u2019t you warm it and lay that across him, too.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Turning back to Joe, he said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCan\u2019t have our patient uncomfortable, can we?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0And though he hadn\u2019t felt his own bolstering smile, he was satisfied to see it returned, however weakly.\u00a0\u00a0Once the warmed blanket was in place, he said to Hoss, \u201cHold him.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Little Joe pushed against the restraining hands, Adam said with all the big-brother authority he could muster, \u201cDon\u2019t fight us, Joe; this is hard enough without that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry,\u201d Little Joe said, sinking dejectedly into the mattress.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need for that, either, little buddy.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Then, taking a calming breath, Adam raised the scalpel and made a steady, precise incision at the site of the entrance wound.\u00a0\u00a0The next few minutes were hellish for all three Cartwright brothers: for Little Joe, the unmitigated pain; for Adam, the torture of inflicting it; for Hoss, the knowledge that he was doing the one thing his brother hated more than the surgery itself.\u00a0\u00a0Thankfully, it was over in minutes, for the bullet wasn\u2019t embedded deep, and Adam\u2019s instincts about where to find it were well-nigh as good as Doc Martin\u2019s himself.\u00a0\u00a0By the time he had the surgery completed, the incision stitched and the wound bandaged, Little Joe had fallen into either unconsciousness or sleep, but his breathing was steady, far steadier than Adam\u2019s own at this point, and the older brother sat back in the satisfied knowledge that he\u2019d done all he could.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou can quit holding him now,\u201d he said to Hoss, relief putting a slightly jocular tone into his voice.<\/p>\n

Embarrassed by how hard he\u2019d still been gripping his younger brother, Hoss raised his hands as quickly as if a robber or, worse yet, Sheriff Coffee had just ordered him to \u201cstick \u2018em up.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Then, seeing Adam\u2019s lop-sided grin, he realized how silly he must look and put his hands down.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou did good, Adam, real good.\u00a0\u00a0You reckon he\u2019s gonna be okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon,\u201d Adam replied.\u00a0\u00a0He wasn\u2019t as certain as he sounded, but he\u2019d done all he could, and barring complications, he thought Little Joe\u2019s own inner resources, which were legendary in this department, would see him through to recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cI best see to things outside, then,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

For a moment Adam stared at him blankly.\u00a0\u00a0Then he said, \u201cOh, more wood.\u00a0\u00a0Right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the horses need a mite more seein\u2019 to,\u201d Hoss added.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight again.\u00a0\u00a0Thanks, Hoss, for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, big brother.\u00a0\u00a0Thank you for . . . you know . . . everything.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He jutted his chin toward the occupied bunk, and then since he\u2019d never bothered to take off his coat, headed straight out into the cold once more.<\/p>\n

Stretching the nervous tension out of his muscles, Adam warmed himself by the fire for a few minutes and then set to work putting together a meal.\u00a0\u00a0Hoss was probably ready to eat a grizzly raw by this time, and his own stomach was growling loud enough that his hungry brother might mistake him for one.\u00a0\u00a0He looked at Joe for a moment and shook his head.\u00a0\u00a0Probably not.\u00a0\u00a0Hopefully, the kid would sleep \u2018til morning, but if he did wake up in the mood for food, it wouldn\u2019t take long to heat the small amount he was likely to eat.\u00a0\u00a0Joe never had much appetite when he was ailing.<\/p>\n

The pickings in the cupboard were a little lean, but there\u2019d been a few rations left on the pack mule, not to mention those fried pies Martha had packed for them to carry home.\u00a0\u00a0Those would make a feast of beans and\u2014well, flapjacks, he supposed.\u00a0\u00a0He had salt and saleratus, as well as flour, but it was hard to make fluffy biscuits without either milk or lard.\u00a0\u00a0Flapjacks were a little more forgiving.\u00a0\u00a0Since he would need some melted snow to use in place of milk, he snatched up the coffee pot, made a quick check on Little Joe and headed for the door.\u00a0\u00a0He could get what he needed only a few steps from the door, and the kid should be all right alone for that long.<\/p>\n

The wood Hoss had gone out to fetch lay piled beside the door, along with some supplies the pack mule had carried, and the stock were settled inside the lean-to attached to the shack, but there was no sign whatsoever of the big man himself.\u00a0\u00a0Instantly concerned, Adam loudly called his brother\u2019s name.\u00a0\u00a0Hearing no response, he started into the yard, then stopped abruptly.\u00a0\u00a0He couldn\u2019t leave Little Joe alone, but neither could he silence the roar of fear that suddenly filled the silence of the night.\u00a0\u00a0If something had happened to Hoss, he couldn\u2019t abandon him, either.\u00a0\u00a0At least, Little Joe was safe inside, and he was still asleep.\u00a0\u00a0Decision made he headed around the side of the shack, where, thankfully, he ran straight into his other brother.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you answer me?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I was comin\u2019 to do,\u201d Hoss protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not deaf,\u201d Adam snorted.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAll you had to do was give a shout.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0His eyes narrowed.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cUnless, of course, you were up to something you\u2019d rather I didn\u2019t discover.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The sudden wince that crossed his brother\u2019s face and his quick hiding of something behind his back told him he\u2019d guessed right, but what on earth could Hoss have gotten up to out here that had to be kept secret?\u00a0\u00a0Some Christmas surprise?\u00a0\u00a0Hoss could be a five-year-old kid when it came to Christmas, and his youngest brother was just as bad, but the makings of a Christmas surprise seemed in short supply in the midst of a snowstorm.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhat are you up to?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t mean to fret you none, big brother.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Hoss, who had a natural talent for seeing through people, had accurately discerned what lay behind Adam\u2019s sharp tone.\u00a0\u00a0He pulled a tool from behind his back.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI just found this here spade in the lean-to and figured, maybe, I oughta give that man some kind of burial, enough to keep the wild animals from gettin\u2019 to him, leastwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned,\u201d Adam spat, face hardening, \u201cthe wolves are welcome to that animal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Adam, you don\u2019t mean that,\u201d Hoss protested.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t I?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Adam shook his head in bewilderment and something close to disgust at his brother\u2019s naivet\u00e9.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWell, if you think you\u2019ve wasted enough time on utter nonsense, I\u2019d appreciate your bringing in what I sent you out for in the first place!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI done finished, big brother,\u201d Hoss said, his voice hardening, as well, \u201cand I\u2019ll get them other things in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Adam said, though the way he said it was anything but.\u00a0\u00a0He scooped snow into the coffeepot and stormed back inside, leaving Hoss shaking his head.\u00a0\u00a0He gathered up the supplies first, in case Adam needed something for the meal he was fixing, and followed his brother in.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need anything here?\u201d Hoss asked, lifting the bag he carried.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot now,\u201d Adam said brusquely.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cToo bad all that milk of human kindness you\u2019re feeling for the unworthy isn\u2019t the real thing.\u00a0\u00a0Might improve these flapjacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t that I\u2019m feelin\u2019 all that kindly toward the man,\u201d Hoss said, \u201cbut, doggone it, Adam, it\u2019s Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, what?\u201d Adam scoffed, face lemon-puckered.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPeace on earth, goodwill toward back-shooters?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot goodwill.\u00a0\u00a0I can\u2019t go that far,\u201d Hoss said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIf\u2019n he was alive, I\u2019d be all for givin\u2019 him a taste o\u2019 this.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He held his doubled fist up to Adam\u2019s face.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBut he ain\u2019t alive and it\u2019s Christmas and . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said that already.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoggone it, Adam, I know I ain\u2019t good with words like you, but, well . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Christmas,\u201d Adam said, huffing with disdain, \u201cand . . ?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it ain\u2019t a time for carryin\u2019 grudges,\u201d Hoss sputtered.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMore one for forgivin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cForgiving!\u201d Adam hissed softly, mindful, even in his anger, not to wake his injured brother.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIf ever anyone didn\u2019t deserve forgiveness . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of us ever do, do we?\u201d Hoss asked.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAin\u2019 that why that little baby came so long ago, \u2018cause we didn\u2019t deserve forgivin\u2019, just needed it.\u00a0\u00a0I ain\u2019t about to tell you I feel it, not for someone who hurt my little brother, but I reckon I got enough of that milk of human kindness, or just plain forgiveness, to keep the wolves from tearin\u2019 him apart, and another thing I reckon, older brother, is that you do, too!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t count on it,\u201d Adam said, but the hard edge had left his voice, and he knew that for all his oratorical excellence, this was one debate he\u2019d lost to his less eloquent, but so much wiser younger brother.\u00a0\u00a0With that concession, something stony inside him crumbled, and for the first time since he\u2019d fired that fatal shot, he felt able to breathe, deeply and freely.\u00a0\u00a0The increased flow of oxygen helped him relax, as he acknowledged the universal truth that forgiveness was always more for the giver than its receiver.\u00a0\u00a0He couldn\u2019t voice it yet, but as he handed a plate of flapjacks to Hoss, he managed a contrite smile, and the beaming one he got in response told him that his unspoken apology had been received and accepted.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s it look?\u201d Hoss asked, yawning as he rose from the second bunk.\u00a0\u00a0Throughout the night he and Adam had traded places every two or three hours, one in the bunk and the other watching over Little Joe.<\/p>\n

Adam turned from the open doorway.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cClear and quiet,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI think the storm\u2019s blown itself out.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He closed the door behind him and came back toward the fire to warm up again.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCoffee\u2019s made,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou want flapjacks or oatmeal for breakfast?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss scowled.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI don\u2019t suppose we got any syrup for them flapjacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh-no,\u201d Adam replied, \u201cbut there is fatback to go with them.\u00a0\u00a0Personally, I\u2019d recommend the oatmeal, for its extra warming value.\u00a0\u00a0Might benefit you on the trip home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss almost gaped in surprise.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou think Joe\u2019s ready for that yet?\u00a0\u00a0I figured . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou figured right,\u201d Adam hurried to say.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI didn\u2019t mean Joe, just you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s mouth clamped in a determined line.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI ain\u2019t leavin\u2019 the two of you alone,\u201d he finally sputtered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you are.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Adam held up a restraining hand as he saw Hoss\u2019s mouth start to open in protest.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re overdue now, and if you don\u2019t get home to restrain him, I guarantee our pa, broken leg or not, will be hoisting himself onto a horse to come find his lost little boys.\u00a0\u00a0We can\u2019t have that, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s mobile face grimaced at the picture Adam had painted.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNo, but . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am perfectly capable of caring for our little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill you quit with the buts?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Adam sounded perturbed, but wasn\u2019t.\u00a0\u00a0He hadn\u2019t expected his edict to go down easily, given the close bond between Hoss and Little Joe.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt has to be this way, Hoss; you know it does.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lips compressed, Hoss nodded grimly.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSure would like to see him come to before I left, though, so\u2019s I\u2019d know he was on the mend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter if you don\u2019t or, rather, better if he doesn\u2019t see you leave.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Adam laid a consoling hand on his younger brother\u2019s strong shoulder.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou know he\u2019d try to crawl out of bed and go with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lips loosened, though Hoss couldn\u2019t quite manage his characteristic wide grin yet.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cReckon he would, at that.\u00a0\u00a0He sure does hate to worry Pa.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He sobered again.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHas he been awake at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, a couple of times, briefly,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSorry.\u00a0\u00a0I guess I thought he\u2019d done that when you were sitting with him, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo such luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam patted the shoulder still beneath his palm.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019ll be all right, buddy, and I\u2019ll get him home safely.\u00a0\u00a0Now, flapjacks or oatmeal?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOatmeal, I reckon, if\u2019n I got that long, cold ride ahead.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He found his coat and thrust his arms into the sleeves.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m gonna gather up some extra wood for you, so\u2019s you won\u2019t have to leave Joe to fetch more.\u00a0\u00a0Might even set up a rabbit snare out back, so\u2019s you could make him a better meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch appreciated,\u201d Adam said as he headed to the cupboard for the cereal.\u00a0\u00a0Glancing at his youngest brother as he passed the bunk, his thoughts formed an almost-prayer: keep him asleep awhile longer.\u00a0\u00a0Much as a final goodbye would mean to Hoss, it really would agitate Joe, and he didn\u2019t want to face that until the departure was a fait accompli.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Hoss tied the pack mule and the stranger\u2019s horse to Chubby\u2019s saddle horn.\u00a0\u00a0Seeing that as he stepped outside to see his brother off, Adam drawled, \u201cYou\u2019re forgetting something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d Hoss\u2019s brow wrinkled in bewilderment.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake Cochise with you,\u201d Adam stated more plainly.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou can cut our unwelcome guest\u2019s crowbait loose if you\u2019re worried about managing the extra animal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cManaged comin\u2019 here, didn\u2019t I?\u201d Hoss snorted.\u00a0\u00a0Things fell into place for him.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou don\u2019t want Little Joe ridin\u2019 home by hisself?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather he didn\u2019t,\u201d Adam admitted, \u201cand that\u2019s exactly what he\u2019ll want if Cochise is here.\u00a0\u00a0Unless we plan to spend the winter in this less-than-auspicious shack, we\u2019ll probably have to head out before it\u2019s wise to put too much strain on that shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u00a0\u00a0Well, you tell Shortshanks I\u2019ll take good care of his ornery pinto.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0When Hoss started toward the lean-to, he heard Adam call his name and turned back.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been some snow melt by now, and the closer you get to nightfall, the more likely it is to freeze over,\u201d Adam cautioned.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIf ice underfoot makes it too treacherous to manage that much stock or if it slows you too much, cut them loose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2014I will,\u201d Hoss conceded and then gave his brother a big grin.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cExcept for the ornery pinto, of course.\u00a0\u00a0Worth my life if\u2019n I lose that one!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew it was a joke, but he answered soberly.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNo, it isn\u2019t.\u00a0\u00a0Fond as Joe is of that fool horse, I suspect he\u2019s fonder of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe a mite,\u201d Hoss chuckled.\u00a0\u00a0He fetched the pinto from the lean-to and tied him to the string of other animals and then mounted his own strong black.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSee you in a few days?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHope so,\u201d Adam said, lifting a hand in farewell.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cTake care, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a reassuring grin and a wave, Hoss was off and Adam moved back inside.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cJust you and me now, kid,\u201d he whispered to his thankfully still-slumbering brother.\u00a0\u00a0He had a feeling Little Joe would put up a fuss when he discovered Hoss was gone and had left him behind.\u00a0\u00a0At least, Adam hoped he felt strong enough to do that.\u00a0\u00a0As for himself, he missed the big guy already.<\/p>\n

Adam lay down on the bunk and closed his eyes, intending just to rest them for a few minutes.\u00a0\u00a0Predictably, given the amount of sleep he\u2019d lost the previous night, he soon drifted into the land of dreams, where fat rabbits obligingly hopped into sizzling skillets to prepare a feast for him and his baby brother.\u00a0\u00a0If only<\/i>, he thought as his eyes opened on the bare and cheerless cabin.\u00a0\u00a0Probably too soon to hope for anything to be in Hoss\u2019s snares, but it wouldn\u2019t hurt to look.\u00a0\u00a0He rose to check on Joe before going outside, but suddenly became aware of soft moaning and hurried to his brother\u2019s side.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cLittle buddy?\u201d he said, resting a hand against the boy\u2019s flushed cheek and felt its warmth radiate against his palm.\u00a0\u00a0Fever, of course, but that was to be expected with a bullet wound, and it didn\u2019t feel too high.<\/p>\n

Little Joe\u2019s eyes opened and fixed on his brother\u2019s face.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAdam,\u201d he said, sounding relieved.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow you feeling, kid?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cO-kay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam felt his lips frown and immediately schooled them into a slight smile.\u00a0\u00a0So, Joe was no longer protesting that he was fine, just okay.\u00a0\u00a0It was a step down, but only a small one.\u00a0\u00a0He could live with that and, more importantly, so could Joe.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWant something to eat?\u201d he suggested.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe pickings are sparse, but I can rustle you up some flapjacks or, maybe, oatmeal?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Horrible suggestions for an invalid\u2019s first meal, and he wasn\u2019t surprised when Little Joe winced and shook his head.\u00a0\u00a0Well, he wouldn\u2019t push it for now.\u00a0\u00a0Then he saw his brother\u2019s gaze scan the room and knew the moment he\u2019d dreaded had arrived.\u00a0\u00a0He wasn\u2019t wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Hoss?\u201d Little Joe asked.<\/p>\n

Adam took a slow breath as he contemplated giving an evasive answer like \u201coutside,\u201d in hopes Joe would accept it and go back to sleep, but that would only put off the inevitable.\u00a0\u00a0Laying a hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder, he said, \u201cI sent him home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe reacted slowly, first looking only puzzled.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWithout us?\u201d he finally asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor now, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The puzzlement deepened and then the green eyes brimmed with grief.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMe?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam thought about prevaricating, but even this weak, Joe would see through it, so he answered honestly.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFor your sake, yes . . . and for Pa\u2019s.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0It seemed like time to draw his ace from the bottom of the deck.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t want Pa to worry, would you?\u00a0\u00a0We were already overdue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa . . . worry anyway.\u00a0\u00a0I . . . I can make it,\u201d Little Joe, but the lack of energy with which he said it denied every word.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet,\u201d Adam said, voice kind, but firm.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou need time to strengthen up, little buddy.\u00a0\u00a0Two or three days and then we\u2019ll go.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Unless Hoss\u2019s snares turned out to hold a bounty of rabbits, they wouldn\u2019t have enough food to stay much longer.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, Little Joe remained unaware of that challenge.\u00a0\u00a0As it was, he turned his face to wall, but Adam was pretty sure that it held, at best, a pout and, at worst, outright anger . . . toward him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

By the next morning, Little Joe was strong enough\u2014or perhaps more pertinently, hungry enough\u2014to accept a tin cup of oatmeal for breakfast, though he declined a second helping, small as the first had been.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHome today?\u201d he asked as Adam helped him lie down and covered him again.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Adam drawled out what he was sure was the expected, though hoped-against response.\u00a0\u00a0He didn\u2019t know whether the silence that met it was a sign of acceptance or just prevailing weakness.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNeed anything?\u201d he asked, almost perfunctorily.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm,\u201d Little Joe said dreamily.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou think I could have one of those warm blankets again?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, little buddy,\u201d Adam said, then asked with concern, \u201cAre you chilled?\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe shook his head.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cJust feels . . . good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we do want you feeling good, don\u2019t we?\u201d Adam said in a lighter tone as he took one of the blankets covering his brother and began to warm it by the fire.\u00a0\u00a0In a few minutes he stripped the other blanket off, replacing it with the now-warm one, and turned back toward the fire.\u00a0\u00a0His brother\u2019s voice stopped him.<\/p>\n

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

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

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy does a warm blanket feel good?\u201d Adam asked hopefully.\u00a0\u00a0He hoped what Joe was asking was that simple, but he doubted it.\u00a0\u00a0Simple was not a word that usually described anything his little brother was bothered about enough to ask that question.<\/p>\n

Little Joe shook his head.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNo.\u00a0\u00a0That man.\u00a0\u00a0Why\u2019d he shoot me?\u201d<\/p>\n

With a sigh, Adam sat down again.\u00a0\u00a0Sending an arrow prayer toward heaven that the answer he gave would suffice,\u201d he said, \u201cIf you mean why you, instead of me or Hoss, probably because you were closer.\u00a0\u00a0If you mean why shoot at all, I can only speculate that we had something he wanted badly enough to kill for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe chewed his lower lip.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFood, you think?\u00a0\u00a0Maybe he was just hungry, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam counted to ten, but bitterness still laced his words when he responded, \u201cHe could have had that for the asking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHard for some,\u201d Little Joe said, stifling a yawn.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cTakin\u2019 charity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t excuse it,\u201d Adam insisted.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBesides, we don\u2019t know it was food he wanted.\u00a0\u00a0Just as likely he wanted our horses or even money.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Seeing a troubled frown cross his brother\u2019s face, he softened his tone.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cTruth is, we\u2019ll never know, but it\u2019s nothing for you to fret about.\u00a0\u00a0Just get some sleep, little buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u00a0\u00a0Tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s voice dropped to a whisper.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll warm this other blanket.\u00a0\u00a0Then I\u2019m going outside for a bit, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The word trailed off as Little Joe drifted to sleep.\u00a0\u00a0That he hadn\u2019t asked why Adam was leaving wasn\u2019t a good sign, but Adam decided to take his blessings where he could get them.<\/p>\n

While Adam stood before the fire, warming the second blanket, he huffed with both exasperation and relief.\u00a0\u00a0Why did he have to be cursed with little brothers so willing to excuse the inexcusable?\u00a0\u00a0Then a wry smile lifted one corner of his mouth.\u00a0\u00a0Speak the truth, boy<\/i>, he told himself.\u00a0\u00a0That\u2019s not a curse; it\u2019s a blessing, and you\u2019ve definitely been its beneficiary a few times.\u00a0\u00a0Only pity is you\u2019ve got so little of that milk of human kindness yourself.<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0He glanced over at his brother, and his expression softened still more.\u00a0\u00a0Wish I had some real milk for your oatmeal, kid, and maybe, some cocoa for hot chocolate.\u00a0\u00a0Better for you than coffee, but you\u2019d probably give that to Cochise, too!\u00a0\u00a0Feisty nag might even prefer it to coffee.<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0He shook his head.\u00a0\u00a0If wishes were horses, cocoa-drinking ones, no less.<\/p>\n

Laying the second blanket over Joe, he asked himself whether Joe, or even Hoss, would forgive so easily if they were the ones on the worrying side of this equation.\u00a0\u00a0Hoss, probably, since he\u2019d already met the test with the kid he loved more than life itself.\u00a0\u00a0But Joe?\u00a0\u00a0He\u2019d seen once before how Joe would respond in the same situation, when Red Twilight had shot Hoss in retaliation for accidentally killing his brother Willie.\u00a0\u00a0Joe\u2019d had a gun to man\u2019s head, ready to pull the trigger, and only Adam\u2019s intervention had stopped him.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re a pair, aren\u2019t we, little buddy?\u201d he whispered, softly so he wouldn\u2019t wake Joe, \u201cand neither of us will ever rise to the saintliness of our other brother.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The brotherly bond, however, had proven time and time again that it could conquer the lesser drives of their hearts, and Adam thought it always would.\u00a0\u00a0Then, slipping on his coat, he made the short trek to the snare Saint Hoss had set up for them, praying that, for Joe\u2019s sake, that effort had been rewarded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Adam inhaled the satisfying aroma of broth simmering in the pot and the still more enticing one of rabbit frying in the spider.\u00a0\u00a0There\u2019d only been one rabbit caught in the snare, and it wasn\u2019t the plumpest he\u2019d ever seen.\u00a0\u00a0Still, it would supply all his little brother was likely to eat tonight, and perhaps there\u2019d be another by morning.\u00a0\u00a0Whether it was the aroma or the pain evidenced by the soft moaning coming from the bunk, Little Joe began to stir, and Adam moved at once to his side, laying a hand on his forehead.\u00a0\u00a0Still feverish, not enough change to determine if it was higher or lower, but as the green eyes opened, they appeared unglazed, and that, to Adam, signaled at least slight improvement.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething smells good,\u201d Little Joe said.<\/p>\n

Improvement, indeed, if the boy\u2019s appetite was returning!\u00a0\u00a0Adam tested the water.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFried rabbit and I made some broth from it, too, if that\u2019s more appealing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess it oughta be,\u201d Little Joe said with a half-smile, half-frown.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhatever you think best, older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rarity of such compliance sent Adam\u2019s eyebrow into automatic arch, but he wasn\u2019t about to turn it down.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cLet\u2019s start with the broth,\u201d he suggested.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThen if you want more, we\u2019ll try solid food.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh-huh.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The yawn that followed convinced Adam that he\u2019d better serve up that broth right away.\u00a0\u00a0The warm broth, however, seemed to perk Joe up, so Adam gave him a small piece of rabbit.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cUm, good,\u201d Little Joe said.\u00a0\u00a0Then before he took his second bite, he asked, \u201cWhat day is it, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam hesitated a moment.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThursday,\u201d he said, hoping that would suffice.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t, of course.\u00a0\u00a0Joe was alert enough now to know what Thursday represented.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s Christmas Eve?\u201d he asked.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBut\u2014but you\u2019re supposed to sing that solo in the church program tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam tried, somewhat less than successfully, to shrug off his disappointment.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s always next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turmoil started to swirl in Little Joe\u2019s expressive eyes.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Adam gently cupped his brother\u2019s cheek.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNone of this is your fault, little buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Joe said, \u201cbut you should\u2019ve left me with Hoss, so\u2019s you wouldn\u2019t have to miss it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d rather be here,\u201d Adam said, and as the words formed on his lips, he knew he meant them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we gonna leave in the morning, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sighed.\u00a0\u00a0The kid was nothing if not persistent in pursuit of anything he wanted.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI think you need a couple days\u2019 more rest before we try that, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Adam,\u201d Little Joe said with his best five-years-old pout, \u201cWe\u2019ll miss Christmas altogether.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a little old to still believe in Santa, aren\u2019t you?\u201d Adam said, trying to make light of it.<\/p>\n

Little Joe frowned.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYeah,\u201d he said gruffly, \u201cbut Christmas is about family bein\u2019 together, not split half in two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we will be, just a couple of days late,\u201d Adam persisted.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou don\u2019t think for a minute that Pa and Hoss will celebrate Christmas without you, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe snuffled.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNot sure Hoss can keep out of his Christmas stocking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam grinned.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPossibly not.\u00a0\u00a0He is fond of the orange that\u2019s always in its toe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe chuckled.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cGuess I won\u2019t begrudge him that much Christmas cheer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore meat?\u201d Adam suggested, but his brother shook his head and yawned again.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cGet some sleep, then, kid.\u00a0\u00a0Maybe Santa will bring us another, preferably fatter, rabbit.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Santa hadn\u2019t provided a second rabbit, but that was just as well, Adam decided when he took a good look at the sky on his way back to the shack early the next morning.\u00a0\u00a0To the north, dark clouds were forming, the kind that could portend the type of storm that had driven them here in the first place.\u00a0\u00a0The choice was obvious: put his kid brother on a horse sooner than he thought wise or stay here indefinitely.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Given their scarcity of supplies, the decision was obvious, and Adam made it quickly.\u00a0\u00a0Back inside, he went at once to his brother\u2019s side and gently shook him awake.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cLooks like you\u2019re gonna get your wish, little buddy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm?\u201d a still groggy Little Joe murmured.<\/p>\n

\u201cChristmas,\u201d Adam said, and that one word aroused Joe\u2019s attention, to his older brother\u2019s infinite amusement.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re gonna be home for Christmas after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Little Joe was instantly and fully alert.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThanks, Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t thank me,\u201d Adam scolded.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019d still rather it was the other way, but Father Christmas and Mother Nature have ganged up against me.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0He explained quickly about the storm sky and the need to get home while they still could.\u00a0\u00a0Then he made what slim preparations he could for the journey home, thinking the benefits worth the brief delay.\u00a0\u00a0He fried up all the fatback they had left, to eat on the journey, and since he had previously set a pot of snow over the fire to melt, it took little longer to cook a small batch of oatmeal, the kind of stick-to-your-ribs warmth both he and Joe needed.<\/p>\n

Breakfast eaten, he left the utensils unwashed, saddled Sport and prepared his brother for the journey.\u00a0\u00a0Bundling Joe in coat, scarf and hat, he then warmed the blankets by the fire a final time before dousing it and wrapping the boy up as warmly as he could.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHow\u2019m I \u2018sposed to handle Cochise like this?\u201d Little Joe protested.<\/p>\n

Adam groaned inwardly.\u00a0\u00a0He\u2019d forgotten about that unsavory little discussion still to be had.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou aren\u2019t,\u201d he said in a no-nonsense voice, all he had time for.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI sent Cochise home with Hoss, so you\u2019re riding double with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Adam.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0The whine in Joe\u2019s voice was palpably irritated.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo argument, Joe.\u00a0\u00a0Better for the horse and better for you, and we can\u2019t really spare the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

In better health and circumstances, Little Joe certainly would have argued, but even he saw the necessity of leaving soon.\u00a0\u00a0He was glad, too, that his favorite mount was safe and warm, back in the Ponderosa barn.\u00a0\u00a0Maybe Hoss would even feed Cochise a special apple or carrot for Christmas dinner.<\/p>\n

Lifting his bundled brother into the saddle, Adam mounted behind him, and the long quest began.\u00a0\u00a0He couldn\u2019t go fast.\u00a0\u00a0The horse couldn\u2019t manage that, with both snow and snow melt still covering the ground.\u00a0\u00a0Neither could Joe.\u00a0\u00a0Adam kept a steady pace, though, hoping to keep one step ahead of the dropping temperature, which would turn that snow melt into treacherous ice.\u00a0\u00a0An hour into the journey, snow again began to fall, and the wind behind them grew fiercer.\u00a0\u00a0Praying he\u2019d made the right decision in leaving the cabin, Adam pressed on, as Little Joe leaned back against him and drifted to sleep.<\/p>\n

Long, silent hours he plodded through the piling snow, which seemed to fall heavier by the minute.\u00a0\u00a0Tired as he was and exhausted as he knew Joe must be, Adam couldn\u2019t afford to stop, other than to rest the horse a few times and take a few bites of flapjack-wrapped bacon.\u00a0\u00a0Even then he didn\u2019t dismount, fearing he couldn\u2019t get his brother back in the saddle again.\u00a0\u00a0A breather for Sport and on they went until at last they were on Ponderosa land.\u00a0\u00a0On a summer\u2019s day, an hour would have brought them to the house.\u00a0\u00a0Today?\u00a0\u00a0At least, twice that, maybe more, as the storm grew to gale proportions.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHang in there, little buddy; we\u2019ll make it,\u201d Adam said to his unresponsive brother.\u00a0\u00a0That didn\u2019t matter, he admitted with a wry grin beneath his woolen scarf; he\u2019d said it more to encourage himself than Joe, anyway.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Inside the Ponderosa ranch house, the stockings were still hung by the chimney with care, in hopes the whole family soon might be there.\u00a0\u00a0Both Ben and Hoss, the best weather prognosticators in the family, had read the signs and knew that if Adam and Joe didn\u2019t make it in today, it might be weeks before they saw them again.\u00a0\u00a0Neither said \u201cif ever,\u201d at least not aloud, but both knew that was a possibility, too.\u00a0\u00a0So, their anxious ears caught every sound beyond the door, and their troubled eyes peered through the front window again and again . . . hoping.\u00a0\u00a0As the sun slipped toward the horizon, that hope faded in Ben\u2019s heart, and when Hoss again headed for the window, he said, \u201cThey\u2019re not going to make it, son, not today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon,\u201d Hoss said, but he kept moving toward the window.\u00a0\u00a0Gazing out, he saw nothing but snow, snow on snow like that song Adam had been practicing for the Christmas program he\u2019d missed last night.\u00a0\u00a0Then his eyes squinted into the fading sunlight, for he thought he\u2019d seen something, a dark silhouette against the pink-orange glow.\u00a0\u00a0He bit his lip, afraid to trust his own eyes at this point.\u00a0\u00a0Then he saw the silhouette turn toward the house and he knew.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s them, Pa!\u201d he cried joyously, heading for the front door.\u00a0\u00a0Instinct made him look back over his shoulder, and he pointed an admonishing finger at his father.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cYou stay put,\u201d he ordered.<\/p>\n

Ben, who\u2019d been reaching for his crutches, sank back in frustrated submission, for he knew Hoss was right: he had no business out there.\u00a0\u00a0He could trust his middle son to give his other boys whatever help they needed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Within the walls of the great Ponderosa ranch house, the Cartwrights were all gathered around the radiant fireplace, enclosed in a tumultuous privacy of storm, as the wind continued to blow and the snow to fall.\u00a0\u00a0All was peaceful, warm and serene.\u00a0\u00a0Hop Sing had scraped together a last-minute feast without once threatening to go back to China, his biggest disappointment being Little Joe\u2019s continued preference for sleep, rather than food.\u00a0\u00a0The others, however, had done happy justice to the meal and three of them were now settled, each with a steaming cup of coffee in hand (and Hoss with a gingerbread man in his other).\u00a0\u00a0Little Joe was lying on the settee, drifting in and out of sleep, and each time he woke, his contented gaze went straight to the towering pine festooned with ornaments and topped by a homemade angel.\u00a0\u00a0The others knew he should probably have been in his bed, but no one suggested it.\u00a0\u00a0Tonight, it seemed more important just to be together.\u00a0\u00a0By mutual consent, presents would wait until tomorrow, and in all the years to come, they would remember and cherish the greatest gift they exchanged that Christmas\u2014each other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

\u00a9 December, 2023<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My phrase: \u201caround the radiant fireplace, enclosed in a tumultuous privacy of storm\u201d from \u201cThe Snow-Storm<\/a>\u201d by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
\nMy character:\u00a0 Little Joe<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The characters of Red and Willie Twilight appeared in \u201cVengeance,\u201d a season-two episode written by Marion Parsonnet, David Dortort and Fred Hamilton.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The song Adam planned to sing at the church program, quoted in brief by Hoss, was \u201cIn the Bleak Midwinter,\u201d written by Christina Rossetti and Gustav Holst.\u00a0\u00a0And if you\u2019d like to learn how Adam became the featured soloist at Christmas programs from Joe\u2019s infancy up, you\u2019re invited to read \u201cA Performance to Remember<\/a>,\u201d written for the 2017 Advent calendar.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Link to Bonanza Brand 2023 Advent Calendar – Day 19 – To Build a House<\/strong><\/a> by faust<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0Man and Nature conspire against the Cartwright brothers making it home for Christmas.
\nRating:\u00a0 G
\nWords: 8,220
\nWritten for the Bonanza Brand 2023 Advent Calendar<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":5835,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1009,23,13],"tags":[1062],"class_list":["post-46814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brothers","category-drama","category-whn","tag-advent-calendar","wpcat-1009-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-13-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":708,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":61185,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61185","url_meta":{"origin":46814,"position":0},"title":"The Meaning of Christmas (by PatD in PA)","author":"Pat D in PA","date":"December 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 An explanation of Christmas, between brothers. Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (120 words) Written for the 2025 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38119,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=38119","url_meta":{"origin":46814,"position":1},"title":"Snow Angels – Pt II (by Sierras)","author":"Sierras","date":"December 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Joe revisits his mama's Christmas 1844 journal entries. \u00a0 Written for Day 17 of the Advent Calendar Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 Words: 859","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/30wreath.jpg?fit=450%2C549&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":40556,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=40556","url_meta":{"origin":46814,"position":2},"title":"Be a Friend (by Sierras)","author":"Sierras","date":"December 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Can a gingerbread man help Little Joe make a new friend? Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 Words: 560 Written for the 2022 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar","rel":"","context":"In "Joe Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Joe Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1007"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Christmas_angel_229x350.jpg?fit=229%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":15611,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15611","url_meta":{"origin":46814,"position":3},"title":"Shepherds (by Sierra Girl)","author":"Sierra Girl","date":"December 25, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"This image was created for the 2017 Advent Calendar - Day 10 Summary:\u00a0 Christmas greetings. Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 \u00a0(30 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Humor"","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Advent.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61188,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61188","url_meta":{"origin":46814,"position":4},"title":"Timber! (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"December 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Oh, what fun there is on the Ponderosa at Christmas Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (110 words) Written for the 2025 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar","rel":"","context":"In "Humor"","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61190,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61190","url_meta":{"origin":46814,"position":5},"title":"In Loving Memory (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"December 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 The longing of Christmas past memories. Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (100 words) Written for the 2025 Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46814","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\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46814\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}