Summary: Young Hoss helps a friend at school but soon discovers another child who has a greater need.<\/p>\n
Rating: G, Word Count: 2006<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Helpful Hoss<\/p>\n
Eight-year-old Hoss sat on a log trying to read his book when he heard a commotion going on in the school yard. He looked up and saw Billy picking on Micah Galloway. Everyone taunted and teased Micah. Hoss got up and went over to Billy.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou stop picking on him,\u201d Hoss said standing between Billy and Micah.<\/p>\n
\u201cAw Hoss you\u2019re no fun,\u201d Billy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not fun for Micah,\u201d Hoss snapped.<\/p>\n
Hoss took Micah\u2019s arm and walked away.<\/p>\n
Micah was new to school. His parents had lived outside of Virginia City, but Micah had rarely gone to school because he had to help his mother with his twin sister, Samantha, who couldn\u2019t walk or talk. He did help his father on the farm, so it was sporadic when he was able to come. Hoss had seen the Galloway family but never got to meet them. Ben met the parents at church, but they were usually quick to leave after services. Mr. Galloway was always carrying Samantha. Even though Hoss had never got a chance to talk to them, he always smiled at Samantha and she smiled back. Hoss wanted to get to know her just as much as he wanted to with Micah.<\/p>\n
Fourteen-year-old Adam was with the older boys and heard the commotion and watched Hoss with Billy and Micah. Adam was proud of Hoss for rarely getting into fights with Billy. After school, the brothers rode their horses home. Adam looked over at Hoss who had been lost in thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss looked at his older brother.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish that Billy wouldn\u2019t pick on Micah. It\u2019s not Micah\u2019s fault he\u2019s behind in school. I wish I could do something to help Micah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re already helping him. He\u2019s been doing well in school because of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss thought about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess so.\u201d<\/p>\n
They continued home.<\/p>\n
The next day, Micah asked Hoss if he could come to his house after school.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy parents would like to meet you. They\u2019ve seen you but I talk a lot about you, they wanted to meet you,\u201d Micah said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure. Let me tell Adam where I\u2019ll be so he can tell my pa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss ran over to Adam who was reading.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdam, Micah invited me over to his house after school. I wanted to tell you so you could tell Pa where I was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds good. I can come by later and get you. I don\u2019t think Pa would like you riding home alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss nodded then ran back to Micah.<\/p>\n
The two friends arrived at the Galloway home. It was a small home, but it was cozy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like your house,\u201d Hoss complemented.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks. Hi, Ma. Hi, Sam,\u201d Micah said.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Galloway looked up from her sewing and smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Micah.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMa, this is Hoss Cartwright. Hoss, this is my mother Lottie Galloway and my twin sister Samantha. We call her Sam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Ma\u2019am. Hello, Sam,\u201d Hoss said removing his hat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, Hoss. Micah has told us so much about you. I\u2019ve met your father and mother at church. You do look a little like Ben but not Marie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarie is my step-mother. My ma died when I was a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss shrugged.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still think of Marie as my ma.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lottie smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have some cookies if you\u2019d like some and milk while you do your homework.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n
The boys sat at the table by Sam and did their homework. Sam watched them. Hoss would look at her and smile. He could see the intelligence in her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMicah, could we teach her the alphabet and to read?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, I don\u2019t think she could ever learn to read,\u201d Lottie said before Micah could answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not? I know she can\u2019t talk but that don\u2019t mean she\u2019s not smart. She can learn to write and tell you what she wants. She can even learn to read and read books and learn of different places. Adam gave me his books from when he was my age. I can let both Micah and Sam borrow them,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n
Lottie looked at Hoss and saw the innocence in the boy then looked at her daughter who had hope shining in her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, I think that\u2019s a fine idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Mrs. Galloway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Micah and Hoss set to working with Sam while doing their homework.<\/p>\n
The next day, the Cartwrights went into town to buy some things at the mercantile. Hoss wandered around and heard some people talking.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh yes, the Galloway daughter is dumb. I don\u2019t know why they keep her around. She\u2019d be much better in an asylum. Perhaps if they put her in an asylum, they could live their lives and not have to always worry about her,\u201d one lady said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree, Margie. Lottie is such a sweet woman. I invited her to the quilting social, but she refused saying she had to stay with Samantha. She never gets out. How is she to make friends when she has to be home with that girl. Charles is always gone to the mines. I\u2019m surprised he doesn\u2019t just make the earth fall on him then he wouldn\u2019t have to worry about his family. Lottie would be better off with him. He\u2019s hardly home anyway. I\u2019ll bet he\u2019s so ashamed of that daughter of theirs that\u2019s why he stays working so much,\u201d another said.<\/p>\n
Hoss looked at the women speaking. It was Margie Higgins and Tabitha Potts. Hoss\u2019 blood boiled as he heard the tales the women were saying. How dare they! Hot tears filled Hoss\u2019 eyes as he walked away. He wanted so dearly to tell the women off, but he knew his father would get after him and to respect his elders. He had no respect for these women.<\/p>\n
The tears spilled down his face as he ran out and climbed into the wagon. He pulled his legs up to his chest and covered his face with his arms. He felt someone touch his shoulder and he looked up. He saw Adam with a concerned look.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Adam asked handing Hoss his handkerchief.<\/p>\n
Hoss blew his nose and calmed down and told Adam what he had heard. Adam sat and thought for a moment after Hoss was done.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, we\u2019re going to the doctor\u2019s office,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two climbed out of the wagon. Adam went to tell Ben where they\u2019d be, and they\u2019d be back in a bit. They walked into Paul Martin\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Martin, I wondered if we could make a wheelchair for Samantha?\u201d Adam asked after he told Paul the Galloways story.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t see why not. That\u2019s a good idea. It would be good for Samantha to get around somehow. Would you like to help build it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019d be in the way. I can keep helping Sam read and write. This should be a surprise for them,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a good idea, Hoss. We\u2019ll have to wait a while to start building it though since Pa and I are heading back
\neast for a week,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019ll be all right,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n
The two finished their business with the doctor and left.<\/p>\n
Adam and Ben went back east the next day leaving Hoss, Marie and two-year-old Joe who was walking around and getting into things. Ben had decided on taking Adam back east for business and perhaps seeing Abel Stoddard, Adam\u2019s grandfather. Hoss helped Marie with Joe and hardly spent time with Micah and Samantha. He missed them both.<\/p>\n
When Adam and Ben returned from their trip, Adam had something for Hoss.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a book on how to do sign language. That\u2019s how the deaf communicate. It\u2019s with their hands. We can learn it together and then you can teach Sam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is great. Can we start now?\u201d Hoss asked excitedly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two ran up to Adam\u2019s room and began their study.<\/p>\n
Hoss had got the hang of sign language and could sign. He took the book to the Galloways and told them about it and his idea to teach Sam.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s a wonderful idea, Hoss,\u201d Lottie said.<\/p>\n
She had hoped to find some way to communicate with her daughter. They set off in learning. When Michael had the day off, he\u2019d learn too, though he grumbled about it but finally gave in. They stumbled and laughed at themselves but were all learning quickly. Sam picked it up the quickest. She was excited to be able to communicate with her family.<\/p>\n
Hoss had talked to Ben about all he heard with the women and wanting to share with the congregation at church about Samantha.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s a good idea. I\u2019ll talk with Reverend Jordon about it,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n
Adam walked in the house.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, I have something for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben and Hoss walked out. In the back of the wagon was a wheelchair. Hoss gasped.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdam, it\u2019s beautiful. I can\u2019t wait to give it to Sam. Can we go now?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure. Let\u2019s go,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow about we all go?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n
He went in and got Marie and Little Joe and they climbed in the wagon and left.<\/p>\n
Hoss knocked on the door when they got to the Galloway home and Lottie answered the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, what a pleasure to see you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Galloway, we have something for Sam. May we bring it in?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. Please come in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss rushed back to his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s letting us come in. Bring the wheelchair, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, I think you should take it in. It was your idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss smiled and pushed the chair in. Lottie gasped as she saw the wheelchair.<\/p>\n
\u201cSam can now get around,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n
Tears filled Lottie\u2019s eyes as her hands flew to her mouth. Sam bounced in her chair and clapped. Hoss rolled the chair to Sam and Adam lifted Sam and set her in the chair. Sam rolled around the small kitchen and squealed with delight. She stopped and turned to Hoss and signed to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said she loves it,\u201d Hoss translated.<\/p>\n
Tears filled the adult\u2019s eyes as Sam signed and rolled around the room.
\nSunday came and Reverend Jordon got up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a request from Hoss Cartwright to speak to you. Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n
Hoss jumped up and pushed Sam to the front in her wheelchair.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have heard some talk about the Galloway family and how their daughter should be in an asylum. I\u2019d like for you to meet my friend Samantha Galloway. She can now get around because she\u2019s in a wheelchair made by my brother Adam. She can read and write with the help of me and Micah. She can also talk with her hands because my brother found out about sign language in which the deaf can talk. Sam, do you want to say something?\u201d Hoss asked.
\nSam nodded and began to sign as Hoss translated: \u201cJesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n
The congregation was silent but had tears sliding down their faces. Hoss and Sam went back to their families. Reverend Jordan stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd a little child shall lead them. We should take the advice of Jesus and follow the children who are in Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
Everyone stood and left.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss I am so proud of you,\u201d Ben said as the Cartwrights and Galloways gathered around their children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Pa.\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, we\u2019d like to thank you for all you\u2019ve done for us. You have taught us that Sam is smart and that we can talk to her and her to us. We owe you,\u201d Mr. Galloway said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was happy to do it. You are all my friends,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like for you all to come to dinner tonight,\u201d Ben invited.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d love to. Thank you, Ben,\u201d Mr. Galloway said.<\/p>\n
The families left for the Ponderosa feeling happy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
From the Brandsters.\u00a0 The story was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders site.\u00a0 Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: Young Hoss helps a friend at school but soon discovers another child who has a greater need.
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