{"id":50517,"date":"2025-02-09T22:27:33","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T03:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=50517"},"modified":"2025-09-27T05:40:05","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T09:40:05","slug":"sweet-caroline-by-ac1830","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=50517","title":{"rendered":"Sweet Caroline (By AC1830)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: Love is in the air for one of the Cartwrights. While this older story wasn&#8217;t written for Valentine&#8217;s Day, I felt it was a good choice to post today. Enjoy!<\/p>\n<p>Rating: G, Word Count: 3618<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Sweet Caroline<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Late December<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrapping his heavy jacket about him more tightly in a futile attempt to block out the December wind, Hoss made his way to collect the mail while his brothers loaded the wagon with winter supplies. It had been a dismal two months since the Harvest Dance. Hoss had thought he\u2019d found a girl but he hadn\u2019t been able to get back to town to visit her. Now that storm clouds were building he figured it\u2019d be Spring before he got to see her again. He knew another fellow was interested and figured he\u2019d lost out once again. Slipping his hands from the warmth of his pockets to receive the mail, Hoss quickly shoved his hands and mail back into the oversized pockets and took long strides back to the mercantile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inside the store, he left the mail with Adam who was paying the bill, and went to help Joe finish loading the wagon. After the last box was loaded the brothers headed inside to warm up before heading home.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s face brightened into a smile when he handed an envelope to Hoss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThought you\u2019d like to look at this before we head out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Puzzled, Hoss opened it and quickly read the contents.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dear Hoss,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope you don\u2019t think I\u2019m too forward but since the Harvest dance I couldn\u2019t think of anyone else but you. I enjoyed meeting you, dancing with you and talking with you in the garden. Hoss, I know it\u2019s expected for a lady to wait for a man to ask for another visit, but I just can\u2019t do that. I\u2019ll be honest with you, I have been out with a couple of other gentlemen but they didn\u2019t hold a candle to you.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss you are the gentlest man I\u2019ve met and so interesting too as we talked about ranch life and how you care for all the animals.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I hope this letter finds you well and maybe, if you aren\u2019t upset by my lack of propriety, you can come to dinner at my house sometime soon.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kindest regards,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caroline Sweet<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Adam and Joe realized Hoss wasn\u2019t going to move from the front counter, they quickly ushered him toward the alley door for a bit of privacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHoss, what\u2019d the letter say?\u00a0 Is it bad news?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss looked at the letter again then handed it to Adam.\u00a0 Joe read over Adam\u2019s shoulder and let out a low whistle at the end. Before Joe could announce it to everyone in the store, Adam elbowed him in the ribs while studying Hoss\u2019 face. \u201cWhat do you want to do?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss shook his head to clear it and took the letter back.\u00a0 \u201c\u2018Reckon I need to go see her. I mean I want to go see her. But &#8211;\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam gently shoved his brother outside. \u201cGo on Hoss. We\u2019ll move the wagon to the livery and wait for you at the Silver Dollar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss disappeared around the corner and was gone for another hour. Seeing him enter the saloon, his brothers knew it had gone well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m gonna stay an\u2019 have supper with Miss Caroline an\u2019 her parents tonight. I\u2019ll get a room in town afterward an\u2019 see you and Pa at church t\u2019morrow.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before any questions could be asked, Hoss was gone.\u00a0 Adam and Joe shared smiles and prepared to head home. Neither could wait to tell their Pa why Hoss wouldn\u2019t be home for dinner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After dinner that evening, Caroline\u2019s parents remained in the kitchen while Caroline led Hoss through to the parlor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThank you for coming back tonight, Hoss. Mama and Papa were quite excited to meet you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt was my pleasure Miss Caroline. Your Pa\u2019s got a nice place here. Lots of room for cattle and growing food. Um, are you happy to be back in Virginia City?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Caroline smiled, Hoss\u2019 heart skipped a beat.\u00a0 She had the purtiest smile, in Hoss\u2019 humble opinion. \u201cYes, Hoss. Papa learned a lot about ranching in Montana but it\u2019s been good to be back around folks we know.\u00a0 Montana\u2019s very pretty but it\u2019s so far to any town from the ranch where Papa worked.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Silence fell between the couple for a moment until Hoss spoke up. \u201cMiss Caroline, I jest wanted to say that I thought your letter was very sweet. I didn\u2019t mind in the least that you wrote, in fact I\u2019m mighty glad ya did. Winter\u2019s a hard time on the Ponderosa as we can get some big snows that can keep us there for weeks at a time. I was tryin\u2019 to find a way to see you today when I got your letter.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss paused as he felt his face redden a bit after talking so much. \u201cI reckon we must\u2019ve been thinkin\u2019 the same thing.\u201d\u00a0 A smile crept across his face as he looked at Caroline\u2019s deep blue eyes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caroline smiled that sweet smile again. \u201cI reckon so.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, who would like some apple pie and coffee?\u201d\u00a0 Mrs. Sweet entered the room carrying a tray and set it on a side table by the sofa. After another hour Hoss thanked his hosts and bid goodnight to Caroline promising to meet her at church the next day. He mounted the horse he\u2019d rented and rode quickly back to town, but only with desire to get out of the icy wind. If it had been warmer he would have ridden more slowly so he could think all about the wonderful evening he\u2019d just had.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next morning, Hoss walked to the church, having returned the horse to the livery the night before. The morning was clear and crisp, and thankfully, the wind had stopped.\u00a0 Hoss grinned upon spotting his family. Judging the way his Pa smiled at him he knew his brothers had told him about the letter. Hoss didn\u2019t mind one bit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMornin\u2019 Pa.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMorning, son.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss found it difficult to ignore his family\u2019s askance expressions but he wasn\u2019t prepared to discuss the evening just yet. \u201cMiss Caroline an\u2019 her parents should be arrivin\u2019 any time now.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking Hoss\u2019 cue, Ben headed toward the church just as the Sweets rode up. Hoss walked over to greet the family and waited to walk in with them, just behind his own family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the service, Hoss asked Caroline\u2019s father for permission to take Caroline for a short ride. After receiving the go-ahead, the couple strolled over to the livery where Hoss rented a buggy. Ben, Adam, and Joe followed John and Abigail Sweet to their home for a visit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the couple rode along, Hoss and Caroline chatted about the landscape, the weather and their families. On the way back to town Hoss noted the dark clouds building over the western mountains. His heart sank but those clouds couldn\u2019t completely dampen his mood. The more he and Caroline talked the more both began to realize they belonged together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entering the drive to her house, Hoss stopped the buggy under a cluster of trees and turned to Caroline. Seeing her deep blue eyes smiling at him, he hated what he had to say. Dadburn those ornery clouds!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMiss Caroline, I had a wonderful time last night and today. I hope you did too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI did Hoss, but something seems to be troubling you. What is it?\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, it\u2019s the weather.\u00a0 You see, I want to see you again, real soon, but them clouds over the mountains yonder mean snow\u2019s comin\u2019.\u00a0 If it\u2019s a big storm I may not be back to town for a month or maybe longer.\u00a0 I don\u2019t really like that idea, \u2018cause I\u2019m gonna miss seein\u2019 you somethin\u2019 fierce.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss held her hands as he studied her face for her reaction.\u00a0 Caroline dropped her gaze to look at Hoss\u2019 hands over hers. His hands were so big compared to her small, delicate hands yet his were so gentle, so careful not to hurt, just like she knew Hoss was being right now with his words. She returned her gaze to his face and those pale blue eyes. She couldn\u2019t help but smile which made his eyes brighten as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHoss, we can\u2019t control the weather, much as I wish we could. I\u2019ll be here whenever you get to town. You know that don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A grin broke out on Hoss\u2019 face and his large, gentle hands moved up to cup her face. \u201cNo amount of snow can keep me away for long, my sweet Caroline.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suddenly, Caroline giggled and Hoss followed as they both realized how he\u2019d changed her name around.\u00a0 Catching her breath, Caroline reached up to touch Hoss\u2019 cheek. \u201cAnd you\u2019re my sweet Hoss.\u201d\u00a0 She reached up to her hair and removed a lavender ribbon and placed it in Hoss\u2019 hand. \u201cKeep this until we can see each other again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss fingered the soft ribbon. \u201cThank you. I\u2019ll keep it safe \u2018til I see you again. Wait here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He left the buggy and reached up to cut a pine sprig from a branch above him. Returning to Caroline\u2019s side, he handed it to her. \u201cThis is like the pines that grow all around the Ponderosa. Will ya keep this until I return?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caroline accepted the small branch. \u201cI\u2019ll keep this in my journal, and I\u2019ll come out here to this tree whenever I get to missing you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her blue eyes shone with tears drawing Hoss in to place a kiss on her rosy lips, then he drew her to him for a moment longer before driving the rest of the way to the house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the doorstep he explained to her parents about the snows on the Ponderosa, letting them know he\u2019d like to see more of Caroline but that it could be a couple of months before he could return to town. After that, he kissed Caroline on her cheek then left, following his family back to town. He wouldn\u2019t allow himself to look back, knowing what it would do to his heart. She stood in the cold air until he disappeared around a bend in the drive, then entered her home and closed the door. Though sad, Caroline knew in her heart she would see her sweet Hoss again. Smiling, she joined her parents by the fire in the living room and shared with them all she had learned about Hoss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Two months later &#8211; the end of February<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cartwright family was enjoying lunch and talking over plans for Spring when a knock sounded at the front door. Each man glanced at the others, then three pairs of eyes landed on Joe who surreptitiously avoided the gazes by concentrating hard on his sandwich.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOh never mind. I\u2019ll answer it.\u201d\u00a0 Adam placed his napkin on the table and headed for the door.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHello Hank. What brings you out here in all this snow? Are the passes clear?\u201d\u00a0 Adam invited their former ranch hand into the dining room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After greeting him, Ben invited him to stay for lunch. Hank willingly accepted as he dropped his saddle bags to the floor by his chair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI can\u2019t stay long, Ben, as Abigail was none too happy with me making this trip.\u00a0 But I can\u2019t rightly turn down an invitation for a meal, now can I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everyone laughed and it was Hoss who asked about the bags while Hank waited for Hop Sing to bring him a plate and coffee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, that\u2019s why I\u2019m here, actually. I stopped by to get my mail and Mike asked if I could get your mail to you since the snows were meltin\u2019 and he thought I was still workin\u2019 for you. I\u2019d heard the main road was still blocked but I knew a route I could take so I agreed to bring your mail out here.\u201d\u00a0 Hank emptied one bag onto the table. Ben took everything and sifted through it as Hank reached for the other saddle bag. \u201cAbigail also made me bring some things she thought Hop Sing could use, including some of her prize jellies. I hope you don\u2019t mind, Ben.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMind?\u00a0 Hank, you know we all enjoy Abigail\u2019s jellies and jams, and I\u2019m sure Hop Sing will be pleased to have the supplies she sent.\u00a0 Do thank her for us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHoss and I just checked the trails to town yesterday. We figured we\u2019d try to get in next week for supplies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell actually Adam, if you can\u2019t wait, you could take a couple of pack horses across the southern meadow. That\u2019s the way I came and it was easy for a horse but not for a wagon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThanks for the suggestion. We\u2019ll check it out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After eating his sandwich, Hank left and Ben passed out the mail. Hoss received a couple of his supply catalogs and two letters. Everyone figured they were from Caroline, so they weren\u2019t surprised when Hoss excused himself and headed to the barn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wanting to discuss the trip to town, Adam and Joe wondered what was taking Hoss so long in the barn. They found him sitting on a hay bale staring at the letters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam and Joe exchanged worried looks and pulled up some crates to sit on either side of their brother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam scratched his neck as he broke the deepening silence. \u201cUh, is there trouble with Caroline?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNah, she\u2019s fine. She mentioned that there\u2019s a Spring dance planned as soon as all the snow melts.\u201d Hoss brightened at that which made the brothers collectively sigh in relief.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joe nudged Hoss. \u201cSo what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss scrunched up his nose as he held out the second letter. Joe yanked it away first, read it and then passed it to Adam.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnnie Miller is asking you to the dance? Hoss, have you ever been out with her?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNah, I ain\u2019t but I did dance with her a couple of times at the Harvest Dance.\u201d He quickly added, \u201cThat was at the beginning, before I met Caroline.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss began pacing. \u201cOh Lordy, what am I gonna do? Caroline\u2019s the one I want to be with. I mean Annie\u2019s nice an\u2019 all but she\u2019s a city gal. She\u2019d never like it out here on the Ponderosa, said so herself.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWell, there\u2019s your answer. Just tell her you have another date for the dance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAh Adam, I cain\u2019t break her heart like that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHoss, you\u2019re not breaking her heart,\u201d it was Joe\u2019s turn to scratch his neck, \u201cwell, maybe just a little but at least it\u2019s the truth.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss started to speak but then Joe snapped his fingers. \u201cI\u2019ve got it. We get to town and you let me deliver a note from you to Annie. You tell her simply that you already have a date for the dance, then I\u2019ll offer to take her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cJoe\u2026.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNo really, I don\u2019t mind. She\u2019s really nice but truly Adam, she\u2019s not Hoss\u2019 type. So what do you say big brother?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam pursed his lips as he watched Hoss\u2019 face. Joe\u2019s eyebrows climbed higher after each successive minute. Finally, Hoss spoke. \u201cOkay, but you promise you won\u2019t do nothin\u2019 to make Annie sad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Joe crossed his chest. \u201cCross my heart, brother.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next day the brothers arrived in town with two pack horses so they could bring home a couple weeks\u2019 worth of supplies. They learned that the Spring dance had been scheduled for the end of March which gave them a month to get ready.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After loading up the supplies, Hoss made a beeline for Caroline\u2019s house. Seconds after he left, Annie entered the store, rather disappointed to find only two Cartwrights and neither one the one she sought. Joe stepped up and spoke to her.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMornin\u2019 Miss Annie. How are you on this fine day?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHello, Joe. I\u2019m quite fine, thank you. Have you seen Hoss? I sent him a letter and was hoping to speak to him about it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cActually, Annie, Hoss got your letter and he asked me to give you this.\u201d\u00a0 Joe slipped the envelope from his pocket.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annie took it outside and read it. Joe could tell she was distraught. He approached her. \u201cOh Joe. I\u2019m so embarrassed. I should have known. Hoss never danced with me again after he found Caroline Sweet. I guess we just weren\u2019t meant to be. Excuse me, I have to get home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAnnie, wait. I\u2019m sorry it didn\u2019t work out the way you wanted it to, but if you\u2019re willing, I\u2019d really like to escort you to the dance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annie studied Joe\u2019s face and saw nothing but honesty there. \u201cYou\u2019re not just feeling sorry for me are you Joe?\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t abide by that.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOh no Annie. I really do want to take you. I feel like we have more in common than you and Hoss would have. I\u2019ll tell you what, how about you and I go for a ride after church on Sunday. We can get to know each other better, then you can decide if you still want to go to the dance with me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annie smiled and accepted Joe\u2019s offer, then headed home to tell her Ma. Adam sauntered up behind Joe. \u201cI seem to always underestimate your ways with women, little brother.\u201d He smirked, then headed to the saloon as he saw Hoss heading in the same direction. Joe followed, eager to tell Hoss about Annie.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>March<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The snows melted pretty quickly by the time March rolled in but the passes took a bit longer due to avalanche concerns. By mid month, the road to town was clear and well traveled by two Cartwrights. Joe and Hoss were eager to get to town to see their girls but had to work in visits around Spring roundup and branding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By the time of the Spring dance, all four Cartwrights were ready for some fun. The dance was just beginning when the men, dressed in their finest suits, arrived. Ben and Adam chose to attend without ladies on their arms. Adam had heard some new families had moved to the area and was hoping to meet a new girl at the dance. Hoss and Joe waited outside the town hall for their dates to arrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Annie was the first to arrive and was greeted with a kiss on the hand by Joe as he helped her from the buggy. Joe assisted Mrs. Miller as well, who reminded the young couple of the curfew, then disappeared inside. Joe winked at Hoss as he passed, then turned to chat with Annie as they climbed the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss waited nervously for Caroline to arrive. As the strains of the first song drifted outside Hoss frowned. He looked up and down the street and finally spied the surrey in the distance. Moving toward the street, he met the ladies as they exited the surry. Mr. Sweet drove off to park the rig. When he returned, the foursome entered the hall. Mrs. Sweet immediately hinted to her husband that she wished to dance. Taking Caroline\u2019s hand in his Hoss guided her to a quiet corner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The couple stared at each other with moonstruck eyes until Hoss cleared his throat and spoke, \u201cCaroline, I have somethin\u2019 special to say to ya. Although we haven\u2019t had much time ta see each other \u2018cause of the snows, I feel I want ta spend all my time with you. You an\u2019 I find so many things to talk about an\u2019 I, well, I just cain\u2019t get ya outta my head&#8230;or my heart. What I\u2019m tryin\u2019 ta say is, would you consent to let me court you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caroline didn\u2019t hesitate one second. With misty eyes, she nodded vigorously and stood on her tiptoes to give Hoss a big kiss and a hug. At that moment, Adam nudged his father, who, after following his son\u2019s gaze, tilted his chin for Joe to turn and look. The three men sported grins as big as Hoss\u2019, who looked right at them after Caroline kissed him. The next song was a waltz during which all four Cartwrights had found a special lady to dance with. After the waltz, Joe and Annie realized they were becoming good friends with Joe hopeful it might become more serious by the end of summer. Ben had made the acquaintance of several ladies but none had filled that hole in his heart. Adam was last seen with a lovely young woman on his arm, leading her to the gardens. No one saw him again until it was time to leave for home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout the dance Hoss spent time with his family and Caroline\u2019s parents to share the couple\u2019s exciting news, then shared many dances with Caroline.\u00a0 Suggestions of a summer wedding were made but the couple chose to wait until Fall, closer to the time they had first met. That evening began a new life for Hoss, a life always filled with his sweet Caroline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The End<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8212;&#8212;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Author\u2019s Note: Written for a challenge on another site: to use a Song Title for the story theme. I chose Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sweet Caroline<\/p>\n<p>Where it began, I can&#8217;t begin to knowing<\/p>\n<p>But then I know it&#8217;s growing strong<\/p>\n<p>Was in the spring<\/p>\n<p>Then spring became the summer<\/p>\n<p>Who&#8217;d have believed you&#8217;d come along<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hands, touching hands<\/p>\n<p>Reaching out, touching me, touching you<\/p>\n<p>Sweet Caroline<\/p>\n<p>Good times never seemed so good<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;d be inclined<\/p>\n<p>To believe they never would<\/p>\n<p>But now I\u2026<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Look at the night and it don&#8217;t seem so lonely<\/p>\n<p>We filled it up with only two<\/p>\n<p>And when I hurt<\/p>\n<p>Hurting runs off my shoulders<\/p>\n<p>How can I hurt when I&#8217;m holding you<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One, touching one<\/p>\n<p>Reaching out,\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary: Love is in the air for one of the Cartwrights. While this older story wasn&#8217;t written for Valentine&#8217;s Day, I felt it was a good choice to post today. Enjoy!<\/p>\n<p>Rating: G, Word Count: 3618<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8333,"featured_media":50519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1006,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hoss-cartwright","category-romance","wpcat-1006-id","wpcat-3-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Hoss-goofy-3.png?fit=400%2C386&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50517","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\/8333"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=50517"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50517\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/50519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=50517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=50517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=50517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}