{"id":5079,"date":"2002-12-15T02:49:41","date_gmt":"2002-12-15T07:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5079"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:07:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:07:07","slug":"santas-little-helper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5079","title":{"rendered":"Santa’s Little Helper (by Puchi Ann)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>With eighteen-year-old Little Joe the only Cartwright not confined to bed, the prospects for a merry Christmas appear bleak. Ben has even ordered the cancellation of the annual Christmas Eve party, but in a burst of Yuletide enthusiasm, Joe decides to host the party by himself. After all, how hard could it be? And then his carefully laid plans begin to unravel.<\/p>\n

Rated: K \u00a0WC 15,000<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Santa’s Little Helper\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Little Joe Cartwright gave a sigh of pure pleasure as he snuggled back in his father\u2019s comfortable armchair.\u00a0 He\u2019d been out in the December cold most of the day, and it felt good to sit close to the roaring fire, feet propped on the low wooden table before the hearth.\u00a0 A nice down-filled quilt would have made him feel even cozier, but Joe didn\u2019t dare give in to that much luxury; he knew if he did, he\u2019d be fast asleep in a matter of minutes and he didn\u2019t have time before supper for a satisfying nap.<\/p>\n

The eighteen-year-old was tired\u2014with good reason, he told himself.\u00a0 Ever since Hoss\u2019s horse had slipped on a patch of ice last week and dumped his older brother onto ground frozen hard enough to guarantee a broken leg from the spill, Joe had been doing extra chores and extra work around the ranch.\u00a0 To be fair, Adam had done his share, but it was hard for even two men to handle the workload big Hoss normally carried, especially during a season of the year when the Ponderosa maintained only a skeleton crew.\u00a0 And now Pa was down, too, with an ailment the doctor had called bronchitis.\u00a0 Except for his concern for his father, that hadn\u2019t added to Joe\u2019s load, because Adam had taken over Pa\u2019s responsibilities.\u00a0 The added burden was making his oldest brother crankier by the minute, though, and Joe was quite content for Adam to be late getting in tonight.<\/p>\n

That contentment didn\u2019t last long, for soon the front door swung open, and Adam blew in\u2014almost literally\u2014on the strong wind that swirled snow in after him.\u00a0 \u201cBetter close it fast,\u201d Joe called.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing ain\u2019t feelin\u2019 real tolerant about cleanin\u2019 up puddles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam closed the door and leaned heavily against it.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I \u2018ain\u2019t feelin\u2019 real tolerant\u2019 toward bossy baby brothers who think they can tell their betters what to do, so if Hop Sing pitches a fit about the puddle, you can just clean it up\u2014and get your feet off the table!\u201d<\/p>\n

Staring at his brother, Joe slowly removed his boots from the table and set them on the floor.\u00a0 \u201cBad day?\u201d he asked softly, for while Pa regularly scolded him for putting his feet on the table, Adam, being himself the biggest culprit in that regard, hardly ever did.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all bad lately,\u201d Adam sighed as he shrugged out of his sheepskin coat and hung it on the peg rack beside the front door.\u00a0 He glanced at the closed door to the downstairs bedroom, where the middle Cartwright brother had been staying since his injury.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019s Hoss doing?\u00a0 And Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss is okay,\u201d Joe reported, \u201cexcept he says he\u2019s gonna faint away from hunger if supper ain\u2019t ready soon, but Pa\u2019s fever is up some and he\u2019s coughing worse, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

As if motivated by the power of suggestion, Adam coughed in response and crossed the room with long strides.\u00a0 Spreading his hands to the blazing fire, he said, \u201cI\u2019ll check on him as soon as I\u2019ve warmed up a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll keep,\u201d Joe said.\u00a0 \u201cI was up there about ten minutes ago, and he was sleepin\u2019 sound.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood.\u00a0 Sleep will\u2014\u201d Adam bent forward, leaning a hand against the stone fireplace, as another crackling hack shook his ribs.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no,\u201d Joe moaned.\u00a0 \u201cNot you, too.\u201d\u00a0 He stood up and moved toward Adam, hand stretching toward his brother\u2019s forehead.<\/p>\n

Adam jerked away before Joe could touch him.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m all right,\u201d he muttered tersely.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s face screwed into an expression that was half doubt and half disdain, with a layer of concern lying underneath both.\u00a0 \u201cYou mean except for bein\u2019 bone-tired and cross as a bear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not cross as a bear,\u201d Adam growled as he fell into his favorite blue chair, opposite the one in which Joe had been sitting.<\/p>\n

\u201cCould\u2019ve fooled me,\u201d Joe grunted, following his brother and forcefully planting his palm against Adam\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 Though Adam tried to flinch away, Joe could feel the warmth radiating to his fingers.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re sick, Adam,\u201d he said, \u201csame as Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Adam insisted, the statement belied by another attack of coughing.\u00a0 \u201cLook, if I\u2019ve been short with you, I\u2019m sorry, and if you really want to improve my mood, fetch me a hot cup of coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe straightened up.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll fetch the coffee, but you\u2019re going straight to bed once you\u2019ve drunk it.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got fever, Adam.\u201d\u00a0 Ignoring his older brother\u2019s protest, Joe headed for the kitchen, where he informed Hop Sing that another Cartwright would be taking his supper on a tray in his bedroom, and returned with a steaming cup of coffee.\u00a0 The warm drink seemed to transform Adam\u2019s intractability into reluctant cooperation, and after checking on his father, he crawled beneath the covers of his own bed, hoping that some extra rest would ward off whatever was making him feel so achy all over.<\/p>\n

By the next morning, however, even stubborn Adam was willing to admit that he belonged in bed, and a worried Little Joe made an early morning dash into town for the doctor.\u00a0 After Paul Martin had examined his new patient and checked on Ben, he drew the only still-healthy Cartwright into the hall and placed his hands on the anxious young man\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ll be fine, son,\u201d he promised, \u201cso long as they follow orders: bed rest, plenty of fluids and regular doses of that pulmonary syrup I told you to buy at the apothecary\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got it,\u201d Joe said, \u201cand I\u2019ll make \u2018em drink it by the bottle, if it helps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Martin chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cJust the prescribed dose, please, unless you want tipsy patients.\u00a0 There is a rather high alcohol content.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMight make \u2018em easier to manage,\u201d Joe returned with a cheeky grin.<\/p>\n

Dr. Martin chucked the young man under the chin.\u00a0 \u201cNone of that nonsense, young fellow.\u201d\u00a0 His hand fell again to Joe\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYou take care of yourself, son.\u00a0 Don\u2019t overdo and get plenty of rest yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The grin faded and Joe shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cLike to follow that advice, Doc, but don\u2019t see as how I can when I\u2019m the only able-bodied man left around here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The doctor frowned, and his grip on the young man\u2019s shoulder tightened.\u00a0 \u201cYou won\u2019t stay able-bodied long unless you do as I say, young man.\u00a0 Do what you must to keep the ranch going, but no more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe gave him a half-hearted smile.\u00a0 \u201cI sort of doubt that Pa or Adam, either, would go along with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The frown lines in the doctor\u2019s forehead deepened.\u00a0 \u201cSurely you don\u2019t think your father\u2014or Adam, either\u2014cares more about this ranch than about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The smile broadened and Joe shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, of course not, but if things ain\u2019t taken care of, they\u2019re likely to hop out of bed to tend to \u2018em themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul Martin laughed in acknowledgement of the all-too-accurate analysis.\u00a0 \u201cYour job to see they don\u2019t.\u00a0 Take care, Joe, and stay out of the cold as much as you can.\u00a0 I\u2019ll check on Hoss on my way out, but I expect to find the leg mending well.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just see myself out after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Doc,\u201d Joe said.\u00a0 After shaking the doctor\u2019s hand he went into his oldest brother\u2019s bedroom and settled on the side of the bed.\u00a0 \u201cHow you feelin\u2019?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWretched,\u201d Adam admitted, hand held to his sore throat.\u00a0 \u201cSorry to abandon you, kid, but I don\u2019t feel like I could crawl, much less ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo problem,\u201d Joe assured him, although he couldn\u2019t help feeling a little daunted, now that the entire responsibility for the ranch had landed on his slim shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cJust tell me what needs doin\u2019 and I\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next several days were an endurance test for the young man temporarily in charge of the vast Ponderosa ranch.\u00a0 Much against his natural inclination, Little Joe was up early every morning, doing everyone\u2019s chores, making certain that the hands had their assignments for the day and taking up whatever slack resulted from a work crew short three men.\u00a0 He had help, of course, in the loyal ranch foreman and a handful of other trusted men, as well as advice from both his father and oldest brother, for while neither Ben nor Adam felt able to leave his bed, neither was so out of his head with fever that he couldn\u2019t answer questions, though Joe bothered them as little as possible.<\/p>\n

Once ranch duties were attended for the day and enough wood brought in to keep fires stoked in every bedroom and the great room downstairs, Joe turned nurse, providing loving care for the physical needs of his ailing family, wiping their fevered brows as they had so often done for him, often \u2018til the early morning hours of the next day.\u00a0 He had help in this, too, from Hop Sing, but the strain was beginning to show on both overworked men.<\/p>\n

Then, just when it seemed that things couldn\u2019t possibly get worse, the Ponderosa acquired one more patient and had one less caretaker for those already stricken.\u00a0 Hop Sing managed to put a pot of soup on to simmer before he collapsed in the kitchen, so supper for the invalids was provided.\u00a0 After bundling the cook into bed, Little Joe watched the pot until he thought it was done and took the first bowl to Hop Sing, to see if it met muster before serving it to the others.\u00a0 Everyone except Hoss received the liquid nourishment with gratitude.\u00a0 The big man at first looked incredulously at the bowl Little Joe handed him, and then his face screwed into a huge frown.\u00a0 \u201cWhere\u2019s the rest of the meal?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all there is, and I don\u2019t want to hear any complaints,\u201d Joe barked.\u00a0 \u201cYou think Hop Sing has nothin\u2019 better to do than fix you a six-course dinner with all the sick folks around here to tend?\u201d\u00a0 Although he knew that eventually he\u2019d have to tell everyone that Hop Sing was sick, too, he wanted to keep that worry to himself as long as possible, and stewing about how he was going to handle kitchen chores, in addition to his already past-endurable load, was making him touchy.<\/p>\n

Since Joe tended to have a short fuse anyway, Hoss saw nothing unusual in the testy retort, but reasoning that both his younger brother and the cook really did have more to do than cater him a full-course meal, he apologized and said the soup would be fine.\u00a0 \u201cCan I have a second bowl, at least?\u201d he asked tentatively.<\/p>\n

\u201cI reckon,\u201d Joe sighed, thinking he\u2019d probably have to give up his own portion to satisfy Hoss\u2019s gargantuan appetite.\u00a0 Then he straightened up and smiled.\u00a0 What did he have to complain about, compared to people stuck in bed, only days before Christmas?\u00a0 He could always make out on bread and cheese, in a pinch.\u00a0 \u201cSure, big brother,\u201d he said cheerily.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll fetch another right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss grinned, glad to see his little brother\u2019s good humor restored, but he thought no more of the sudden affability than he had of the short temper earlier.\u00a0 Joe\u2019d always been prone to lightning changes of mood, so, to Hoss, everything seemed pretty much normal, except for the meager supper.<\/p>\n

Things stopped seeming normal when Joe brought him his breakfast the next morning, a decidedly lumpy and slightly scorched bowl of oatmeal.\u00a0 \u201cDadblame it, I know Hop Sing\u2019s pullin\u2019 extra work, but soup for supper and oatmeal for breakfast ain\u2019t enough to keep a bird flyin\u2019!\u201d\u00a0 He lifted the bowl to his nose, which wrinkled in distaste at the sharp odor of burnt cereal.\u00a0 \u201cHe too busy to give it a stir now and then?\u201d he grunted.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, dadblame it, I am!\u201d Joe shouted.\u00a0 \u201cI know I ain\u2019t any kind of a cook, but I\u2019m doin\u2019 my best and the least you can\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa!\u201d\u00a0 Hoss held up a restraining hand.\u00a0 \u201cWhoa up there a minute, youngun.\u00a0 You\u2019re doin\u2019 the cookin\u2019 now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe moaned at the realization that he had blurted out what he intended to keep secret and collapsed on the foot of his brother\u2019s mattress.\u00a0 \u201c\u2018Cause I\u2019m the only one left who can.\u201d\u00a0 He gave Hoss a sheepish grin.\u00a0 \u201cI was hopin\u2019 to keep that to myself awhile longer, but I reckon that oatmeal\u2019s a regular tattletale, ain\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a sorry imitation of the bacon and eggs and biscuits and gravy and flapjacks I\u2019m used to,\u201d Hoss admitted with a chuckle.<\/p>\n

Joe straightened up.\u00a0 \u201cYou want eggs?\u00a0 I could try . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking horrified, Hoss waved off the suggestion.\u00a0 \u201cNo, no, oatmeal will be just fine, little brother.\u201d\u00a0 To demonstrate his satisfaction, Hoss took a big bite and somehow managed to choke it down.\u00a0 \u201cPa and Adam had their breakfast yet?\u201d he asked, figuring they hadn\u2019t or he would have heard the shouts of protest, even cut off downstairs as he was.<\/p>\n

Joe shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cGuess I might as well tell \u2018em up front who done the cookin\u2019,\u201d he sighed.<\/p>\n

\u201cReckon as how you might better,\u201d Hoss said with a grin.\u00a0 \u201cEasier on your ears that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Joe muttered as he stood up, \u201cand I can use all the easy I can find today.\u201d\u00a0 As he left the room, Hoss\u2019s concerned gaze followed him.\u00a0 The boy looked worn out and sounded like he was weighted down with a load too heavy to heft.<\/p>\n

Typically, when Ben heard that Hop Sing was now ill, too, his chief concern was for the extra burden that would fall on his young son.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I don\u2019t know how you\u2019re going to manage,\u201d he whispered sympathetically, for a whisper was all his enflamed throat could produce.<\/p>\n

Joe offered a sickly smile, since he also entertained grave doubts about how he would manage to keep the Ponderosa afloat in this deluge of disease.\u00a0 \u201cWell, Hop Sing made a big enough pot of soup to last through dinner, but after that it\u2019s my cooking or none, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust do your best, son,\u201d Ben urged.<\/p>\n

Adam, when told of the new problem, offered a partial solution.\u00a0 \u201cGet Smokey to help,\u201d he suggested.\u00a0 Smokey Whittaker was an old wrangler who had sometimes served as assistant cook on cattle drives, and he was conveniently housed close by in the bunkhouse.\u00a0 \u201cHe may not know how to cook more than beans, bacon and biscuits, but the men can survive on that \u2018til Hop Sing\u2019s on his feet again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it\u2019ll fill Hoss up better, too,\u201d Joe acknowledged, his countenance brightening.\u00a0 Then he shook his head, sighing.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t think beans, bacon and biscuits is quite what you sick folks need, though.\u00a0 Guess you\u2019re still stuck with me for a cook.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuess so,\u201d Adam agreed hoarsely, \u201cbut at least Hop Sing\u2019s soup will stretch further if you\u2019re not feeding it to Hoss and the crew, too, so we won\u2019t fall onto your tender mercies quite as soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe pulled the wool blanket up and tucked it tight under his brother\u2019s chin.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t be wastin\u2019 your voice spoutin\u2019 meanness, big brother; my mercies are the tenderest you got right now, and you\u2019d best be grateful for \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n

As soon as Joe left, Adam smiled at the closed door to his bedroom and whispered, \u201cI am, little brother; I truly am.\u201d<\/p>\n

The warm feeling of gratitude lasted just halfway through his first sip of the soup Joe brought him at noon.\u00a0 \u201cWhat have you done to this?\u201d Adam demanded, spewing the broth from his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, don\u2019t go makin\u2019 extra laundry,\u201d Joe scolded, hastily dabbing his brother\u2019s nightshirt with a napkin.\u00a0 \u201cI just added some extra salt, figurin\u2019 it would help your sore throat.\u00a0 Doc always says to gargle with salt water for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGargling is about what this is fit for,\u201d Adam muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot good?\u201d Joe asked, mouth skewing sideways in a quizzical expression.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot edible,\u201d Adam responded pointedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d\u00a0 Joe cocked his head and said cajolingly, \u201cGuess it\u2019s a good thing I just added it to the bowl, not the pot, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam favored him with a sour smile.\u00a0 \u201cMeaning I\u2019m your only victim?\u00a0 I suppose some might consider that a good thing\u2014namely, Pa and Hop Sing!\u201d<\/p>\n

Panic swept across Joe\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cPa and Hop Sing!\u201d\u00a0 He took off at a run, shouting, \u201cDon\u2019t eat it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Somehow the family survived Joe\u2019s cooking that day and the next and even began to show signs of returning health, though the sound of loud coughing continued to punctuate the otherwise silent nights.\u00a0 Though obviously exhausted, Little Joe started to relax.\u00a0 \u201cLooks like you\u2019re gonna be well in time for the Christmas Eve party after all,\u201d he said happily after checking his father\u2019s forehead for fever and finding it cooler.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Joseph, I don\u2019t think any of us are up to hosting a party this year,\u201d Ben sighed.\u00a0 Though he felt better, his throat was still raw, and anything beyond a shallow breath stirred up the coughing that, once started, was hard to control.<\/p>\n

The boy still residing within the seemingly mature eighteen-year-old came bursting out.\u00a0 \u201cBut, Pa, it\u2019s Christmas,\u201d the youngster cried, \u201cand the invitations are already sent and everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drawing his hand from beneath the warm covers, Ben stroked the boy\u2019s cool cheek.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I\u2019m sorry; I know it\u2019s a disappointment.\u00a0 Goodness knows, you deserve a night to dance your cares away, but I\u2019m really not well enough to consider it.\u00a0 I hate to add even this to your workload, son, but I think you\u2019d better ride out and get word to all those invited guests, canceling the party, so they\u2019ll have time to make other plans.\u00a0 Apologize for the short notice, and tell everyone we\u2019ll try for a New Year\u2019s Eve celebration, instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Pa . . .\u201d\u00a0 Joe\u2019s voice took on the characteristics of a childish whine, and that grinding sound irked his father into a curt rejoinder.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo as I say, Joseph,\u201d Ben ordered brusquely.\u00a0 He looked as though he would have liked to say more, but yet another attack of coughing forestalled the rest of the lecture.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir,\u201d Joe muttered.\u00a0 He left and dragged dejectedly downstairs and into the bedroom his middle brother temporarily occupied.\u00a0 He said nothing as he perched at the foot of the bed, but the desolation on his face told Hoss something was amiss.\u00a0 \u201cChristmas,\u201d Joe sighed despondently when asked what was wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with Christmas?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

Joe drew his knees up, ignoring the fact that the soles of his boots were on the bedspread, and huddled miserably over them.\u00a0 \u201cThere ain\u2019t gonna be none, that\u2019s what.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed.\u00a0 \u201cAw, shucks, sure there is.\u00a0 I admit there was a time earlier this year when I figured there\u2019d be nothin\u2019 in your stocking but switches for tannin\u2019 your ornery hide, but after the way you\u2019ve pitched in the last few days, all your other mischief has been paid for, so I reckon, come Christmas morning, ole Santa will have left a pile of presents under the tree for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe looked up and asked glumly, \u201cWhat tree?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss gulped in sudden realization.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u00a0 We ain\u2019t got one, have we?\u00a0 We all got laid up before time to chop one down, and I reckon you\u2019ve been too busy since to give it a thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I still could,\u201d Joe said pensively, \u201cbut it\u2019d be just you and me to enjoy it.\u00a0 Pa says I gotta ride out and uninvite folks to the party so\u2019s they can make other plans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss now looked as forlorn as his younger brother.\u00a0 \u201cAw, that\u2019s a shame.\u00a0 Folks look forward to that party all year\u2014especially the orphans over to Carson City.\u00a0 They don\u2019t get many chances for special doin\u2019s; kinda hard for them to make other plans, too, tight as money always is at the home.\u00a0 You oughta take some candy to \u2018em, at least, Joe, to give \u2018em a little Christmas cheer.\u201d\u00a0 He glanced considerately at the weary-eyed young man across from him.\u00a0 \u201cIf you got time, that is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe smiled for the first time since entering the room.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll make time.\u00a0 Like you said, it\u2019s the least we can do for kids that won\u2019t get much Christmas otherwise.\u201d\u00a0 He stood up and stretched.\u00a0 \u201cGuess I\u2019ll turn in, since I need to make an early start tomorrow.\u00a0 You need anything before I head up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust pour me a glass of water and leave it where I can reach it, and I\u2019ll be set for the night,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

Joe did as requested and leaned over to give his big brother a final tuck-in.<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s big hand closed around Joe\u2019s forearm.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t be frettin\u2019 yourself over that party, you hear now?\u00a0 Christmas may not be the merriest this year, but there\u2019s better times a-comin\u2019, and we\u2019re all gonna be here to celebrate \u2018em, at least in part thanks to you.\u00a0 Ole Santa\u201d\u2014he tapped himself on the chest\u2014\u201cdon\u2019t forget things like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling awkward, as he usually did with words of praise, Joe mussed his brother\u2019s sandy hair.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, Santa, but you\u2019d best be restin\u2019 up for your late-night travels, hadn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYup,\u201d Hoss agreed with an added measure of good cheer.\u00a0 \u201cGonna take some extra effort to hoist me into the sleigh this year, though, so I reckon you\u2019d better be restin\u2019 up, too, if you\u2019re gonna be Santa\u2019s little helper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I\u2019m hoistin\u2019 you into a sleigh, I reckon I better,\u201d Joe laughed.\u00a0 He gave Hoss a playful punch on the shoulder and left.\u00a0 After stopping in to see Hop Sing, Adam and finally his father and tending to their last-minute wants and wishes, Joe turned in himself, citing all the homesteads he had to visit the next day as reason for his early retiring.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll leave all our doors open, though,\u201d he promised both his father and eldest brother, \u201cso just holler if you need anything.\u201d\u00a0 Smokey Whittaker had promised to sleep on the settee and keep an ear out for similar cries for help from Hoss and Hop Sing, since Joe couldn\u2019t be both upstairs and down at the same time.\u00a0 Amazing how even that much help eases the load<\/em>, Joe thought, and from there his mind drifted back to Hoss\u2019s calling him \u201cSanta\u2019s little helper\u201d as he slipped a nightshirt over his head and slipped into bed.<\/p>\n

It certainly appeared that Santa could use a little help in bringing Christmas to the Ponderosa this year, and as near as Joe could see, he was the only candidate available for the job.\u00a0 He decided then and there that he would find the biggest and best Christmas tree available and decorate it as if the whole territory of Nevada would be there to see it glisten in the light of the candles tied to each bough.\u00a0 Maybe Pa and Adam would feel like leaving their beds, at least long enough to open presents, by Christmas morning, but even if they didn\u2019t, Hoss would be able to enjoy the tree.\u00a0 Doc was supposed to be bringing some crutches out from town that would release his big brother from bed.<\/p>\n

Joe yawned.\u00a0 Good ole Hoss, he\u2019d tell me not to bother, just for him.\u00a0 Always been unselfish like that, which just means he deserves a merry Christmas more than anyone I know<\/em>.\u00a0 Hoss always did his part to make Christmas merry for everyone else, even dressing up like St. Nick to pass out presents to the wide-eyed orphans from the Carson City Asylum, and Joe could tell that what was bothering his big brother most of all was the thought of those little kids going without.\u00a0 He\u2019d promised to see that they got their treats, of course, but somehow that didn\u2019t seem like enough.\u00a0 Kids like that, who got next to nothing all through the year, really needed the fun of a big Christmas party.<\/p>\n

Joe sat up, hugging his knees beneath the covers as he considered the possibility of throwing the kids a party all by himself.\u00a0 He\u2019d need a tree, of course, but he was going to get one anyway, so that didn\u2019t count as extra work, and he\u2019d need candy and presents and some kind of refreshments.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s face scrunched with dismay.\u00a0 Hop Sing always made great refreshments, but Hop Sing was sick.\u00a0 Kids didn\u2019t demand much, though; sandwiches, punch and cookies would do.\u00a0 He could make sandwiches easy enough.\u00a0 There was plenty of smoked ham and cheese in the larder, and even as inept as Joe felt in the kitchen, he could slice meat and cheese and bread.\u00a0 Nothing to that, and he\u2019d watched his pa make punch often enough to manage that, too.\u00a0 Cookies were another matter.\u00a0 Joe sighed, chin dropping to his bent knees.\u00a0 Cookies were beyond his ability, no question about that, and kids just had to have cookies for Christmas; cookies, candy and presents were what Christmas was all about at that age.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s chin came up and a smile curved his lips as sudden inspiration struck.\u00a0 The Cartwrights weren\u2019t the only ones who cared about giving the orphans a good Christmas; there were lots of kind-hearted folks in the territory, and he had to ride around to most of them tomorrow, anyway.\u00a0 He\u2019d just apply the old Cartwright charm, fix his little-lost-puppy eyes on those he knew to be good cooks, paint them an irresistible picture of those pathetic little cookie-less orphans and ask them to donate a dozen or so treats to a good cause.<\/p>\n

Sudden inspiration struck again.\u00a0 If he was throwing one party, how much more trouble could it be to throw two?\u00a0 Just make a bunch more sandwiches, mix some extra punch, ask for a few more cookies, maybe a cake or two from his closer female friends, push back the furniture for dancing once the orphans headed back to Carson and let the older folks make their own fun.\u00a0 What could be simpler?\u00a0 Explaining to Pa why he had disobeyed a direct order to cancel the party might get touchy, but that could wait for Christmas morning, when, hopefully, the spirit of the day would have Pa in much too good a mood for stern lectures.<\/p>\n

\u00a0* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Little Joe was whistling merrily as he and a couple of the ranch hands brought in the huge pine and set it up in the usual niche beside the stairs.\u00a0 Everything was going according to plan.\u00a0 The people he\u2019d visited yesterday had been more than willing to lend a hand with providing for the orphans\u2019 party, and while some of the older folks had questioned the wisdom of his hosting the second party by himself, all the girls he\u2019d told had declared their delight at the prospect of dancing with him.<\/p>\n

A few of their older sisters expressed regret that Adam wouldn\u2019t be escorting them around the dance floor, but Joe assured them with a naughty wink that he\u2019d see to it they didn\u2019t miss his older brother too much.\u00a0 He refrained from making a similar offer to Bessie Sue when she bemoaned Hoss\u2019s inability to dance on Christmas Eve.\u00a0 Joe had danced with her once last year as payback for a favor Hoss had done him, and that big gal had not only worn him out with her vigorous sashay around the dance floor, but had tromped on his foot and nearly broken it in the process.\u00a0 No, sirree, Miss Bessie Sue was welcome to come, but she\u2019d be dancing with someone else this year!<\/p>\n

After he\u2019d spoken to all the invited guests and assured them the party was still on, Joe had made a quick trip to town for last-minute supplies: a wide assortment of candy for the kids, including the big one with the broken leg, lots of small toys to tie on the branches of the Christmas tree and bigger ones to come straight from Santa, some tins of peaches and jars of pickles to set on the table with the sandwiches, and the ingredients for Pa\u2019s famous punch.\u00a0 He\u2019d had chores to do when he got home, of course, and supper to prepare for his ill family members, but there had been enough soup left to satisfy their skimpy appetites.\u00a0 It was gone now, though, so Joe figured he\u2019d have to make a fresh batch.\u00a0 Though Hop Sing wasn\u2019t feeling up to getting out of bed, he wasn\u2019t hoarse or feverish, like Pa and Adam had been, so he could surely give instructions on how to make a proper pot of soup.\u00a0 How hard could it be?<\/p>\n

Starting early this morning, Joe had selected the perfect tree, chopped it down by himself and then enlisted the help of the ranch hands in getting it home and into the house.\u00a0 They\u2019d been glad to take a break from regular chores for a job that promised the reward of an invitation to the dance.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got just the girl picked out for you,\u201d he told one of the men, who he had noticed wore especially stout-toed boots.<\/p>\n

Joe made quick work of the necessary barn chores, for he still had much to do tonight.\u00a0 First he popped a huge bowl of popcorn and toted it into Hoss\u2019s room.<\/p>\n

\u201cPopcorn!\u201d Hoss protested.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t tell me Smokey\u2019s down sick, too, and this is all I\u2019m gettin\u2019 for supper!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSmokey\u2019s fine, and you ain\u2019t eatin\u2019 none of this,\u201d Joe snorted.\u00a0 \u201cThis is for stringin\u2019\u2014for the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked touched.\u00a0 \u201cYou went and got a tree for just the two of us?\u00a0 Joe, you shouldn\u2019t have, not with all the extra work you\u2019ve already got to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to,\u201d Joe said, \u201cfor me as much as for you, but as it turns out, it ain\u2019t gonna be just the two of us, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n

A broad smile spread over Hoss\u2019s face.\u00a0 \u201cPa and Adam are better?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, they are,\u201d Joe said, \u201cbut that\u2019s not what I meant.\u00a0 They\u2019re on the mend, but I\u2019m still not sure they\u2019ll be out of bed in time for the party.\u201d<\/p>\n

A deep frown replaced Hoss\u2019s beaming smile.\u00a0 \u201cWhat party?\u201d he asked in staccato-sharp syllables.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one for the orphans,\u201d Joe said.\u00a0 He paused and added in a voice so low Hoss could barely hear it, \u201cAnd the other one, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other one?\u201d Hoss queried.\u00a0 Then realization dawned in his clear blue eyes.\u00a0 \u201cThe one Pa told you to cancel, you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShh!\u201d Joe ordered, although reason should have told him that there was no way his father could hear the conversation from his bedroom upstairs.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, that one.\u00a0 Well, I was s\u2019posed to cancel the both of \u2018em, for that matter, but Pa might understand about the orphans.\u00a0 The other, I ain\u2019t so sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d Hoss chided, \u201cyou are bound and determined to get them switches in your stocking, ain\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I ain\u2019t,\u201d Joe insisted.\u00a0 \u201cWhat I\u2019m bound and determined to do is make a merry Christmas for those poor little orphans you was frettin\u2019 over.\u00a0 You\u2019re the one that reminded me about them, so the least you can do is help out by stringing a little popcorn.\u00a0 Lots of folks is helpin\u2019, by bakin\u2019 cookies and such, and I thought you\u2019d be glad to do what little you could, but if you\u2019re too selfish to give a little time to kids that don\u2019t get parties hardly any other time of year, when you ain\u2019t got nothin\u2019 to do but lay there, anyway, I reckon I can just add this to my workload that you said you was so worried about and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, hey now,\u201d Hoss interrupted, his face glowing crimson with shame.\u00a0 For some reason Joe had always had the ability to make him feel about two inches tall, when he\u2019d been so certain a minute before that he was the one in the right.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t say I wouldn\u2019t string the popcorn.\u00a0 Sure I will, and I think it\u2019s great that you got folks to help out with the cookies and such, but about that other party, Joe . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe swept aside his older brother\u2019s concern.\u00a0 \u201cAll under control,\u201d he assured Hoss confidently.\u00a0 \u201cAin\u2019t much more work, you see, to get ready for two parties than for one, and if folks are bringin\u2019 refreshments for the orphans, only seems right to let \u2018em stay and enjoy some fun themselves, to pay \u2018em back for bein\u2019 so good to the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, maybe,\u201d Hoss conceded, trying hard to follow his younger brother\u2019s convoluted reasoning, \u201cbut I ain\u2019t sure Pa\u2019s gonna see it quite like you do.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe could usually talk circles around Hoss, but most of the time Pa and Adam somehow managed to wade through the spiral of words and see what really lay behind them.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2019s been too sick to think things through or he\u2019d see it just the same,\u201d Joe alleged.<\/p>\n

Hoss rolled his eyes skeptically.\u00a0 \u201cYou are gonna tell Pa, ain\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, sure,\u201d Joe responded with easy acquiescence.\u00a0 \u201cWhen the time\u2019s right.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled to himself.\u00a0 Christmas morning\u2014that\u2019s when the time would be right\u2014right after he gave Pa his Christmas present, which was, thankfully, a really nice one this year.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, you get to stringin\u2019,\u201d Joe ordered.\u00a0 \u201cI got to get to the kitchen and start some soup.\u00a0 I\u2019ll make a big pot, in case you want some, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh, Smokey is still okay, ain\u2019t he?\u201d Hoss asked with a hint of anxiety.<\/p>\n

Joe turned at the door, clearly perturbed by the lack of confidence Hoss was expressing in his cooking skills.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, he\u2019s fine.\u00a0 I was tryin\u2019 to be nice and give you some variety, but if you really want beans, bacon and biscuits again, you\u2019re welcome to it, big brother!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGot a positive craving for it,\u201d Hoss said as he squinted to thread the needle Joe had handed him for stringing the popcorn.<\/p>\n

Little Joe trotted into the cook\u2019s bedroom.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Hop Sing, soup ain\u2019t hard to make, is it?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 \u201cJust throw everything in a pot and let it boil, I guess, but how long?\u201d<\/p>\n

The cook muttered something in Chinese that Joe thought was better left untranslated, but since there was no other way anyone would get fed, Hop Sing finally condescended to tell the young man how to begin.\u00a0 Much running back and forth from kitchen to cook\u2019s room went on for the next hour or so before Joe brought a bowl for his instructor to evaluate.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing took a tentative taste of the broth.\u00a0 \u201cNot enough salt,\u201d he dictated.<\/p>\n

Joe nibbled his lower lip.\u00a0 \u201cYou sure?\u00a0 Last time Adam said I added too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Adam got good sense; he not foolish boy like you.\u00a0 You not s\u2019posed add anything to Hop Sing soup,\u201d the feisty little Oriental grunted.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing soup perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it was; I mean, it always is,\u201d Joe admitted quickly, both because it was true and because he didn\u2019t dare risk losing his only ally in the battle against starvation.\u00a0 \u201cMore salt, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle bit more, not whole cup,\u201d the cook cautioned.<\/p>\n

Joe looked annoyed.\u00a0 \u201cI got some sense, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot much,\u201d Hop Sing muttered.\u00a0 He scooped up a cube of beef onto his spoon.\u00a0 \u201cWhat Hop Sing tell you?\u00a0 Cut meat small, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did!\u201d Joe protested.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThis not small; this size for stew, but not have time for stew.\u00a0 Take meat out, cut smaller and cook little more.\u201d\u00a0 He tried again to chew the beef, but spit it out of his mouth in distaste.\u00a0 \u201cNo, not little more, lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s suppertime now,\u201d Joe wailed.<\/p>\n

\u201cVegetables done; take meat out, make plain vegetable soup,\u201d the cook advised after another taste test.\u00a0 \u201cAdd meat tomollow, make mo\u2019 special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe gave him a relieved smile.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s a good idea.\u00a0 They oughta have something special for Christmas Eve.\u00a0 You, too.\u00a0 I\u2019ll even sneak you a cookie or two while the doc\u2019s back is turned.\u201d\u00a0 Of course, Dr. Martin hadn\u2019t specifically prohibited cookies, but in Joe\u2019s experience, nothing that good was likely to fit a doctor\u2019s notion of good nutrition.\u00a0 What the doctor didn\u2019t know, though, wouldn\u2019t hurt anyone.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing returned a conspiratorial grin.\u00a0 \u201cNow you show good sense, like number one son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sticking out his tongue seemed to Joe an appropriate response to being compared to Adam.\u00a0 Taking the bowl back to the kitchen, he scooped the meat out of the pot and dumped it onto the cutting board, added a little more salt to the remaining soup, and after it had simmered a bit longer took a small portion back to Hop Sing for tasting.\u00a0 When Hop Sing pronounced it fit to eat, \u201cbut not good like mine,\u201d Joe ladled soup into two more bowls.\u00a0 After taking soup upstairs to Pa and Adam, he returned and picked up a butcher knife.\u00a0 Then he cocked his head and eyed the meat for a minute.\u00a0 No need to cut it smaller, he decided, since it now had plenty of time to cook.\u00a0 \u201cStew for Christmas Eve,\u201d he decided and started to hum as he tossed it all back into the pot and left it to bubble \u2018til bedtime.<\/p>\n

He decided to leave the dishes \u2018til the next day.\u00a0 That way he\u2019d only have to wash up once before the party, and, besides, he needed to get the paper cones made for holding the candy treats for the orphans.\u00a0 He dragged the round game table into Hoss\u2019s room, set it beside his older brother\u2019s bed and helped Hoss swing his legs over the edge.\u00a0 Then, seated opposite each other, the two younger Cartwright brothers chatted merrily as they snipped and pasted and tied a ribbon to the top of each cone for hanging on the tree.<\/p>\n

Finally, the containers were completed and after pulling the table back out of the way, Joe gave a mighty yawn and a stretch.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m for bed,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s been a long day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know it has for you,\u201d Hoss said, \u201cbut I gotta tell you.\u00a0 Havin\u2019 somethin\u2019 to do sure made the hours pass faster for me.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad you\u2019re throwin\u2019 this party, little brother, and sure \u2018nough glad you figured a way I could help out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe laughed.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe I can convince Pa I did it all to help you mend faster.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome to any help I can give you along them lines,\u201d Hoss chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cNow get on to bed.\u00a0 You look bushed, and tomorrow\u2019s another long day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, tomorrow should be easy, compared to today,\u201d Joe assured him, ending with yet another wide-mouthed yawn.\u00a0 \u201cJust need to finish decorating, make the sandwiches and punch and set things out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Little Joe was so certain that he had everything under control that he granted himself the luxury of a little lie-in on the morning of Christmas Eve, and none of his family begrudged him the additional rest.\u00a0 He visited his father and eldest brother as soon as he was dressed and assured them that breakfast wouldn\u2019t be long in arriving.\u00a0 \u201cIn fact, I\u2019ll make you all some nice buttered toast to tide you over \u2018til the oatmeal\u2019s cooked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, that isn\u2019t necessary,\u201d Adam insisted when the message was delivered to him.\u00a0 \u201cReally, don\u2019t trouble yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo trouble,\u201d Joe announced genially and bounded out the door.<\/p>\n

Adam sighed, wondering just how much longer he\u2019d be subjected to the tender mercies of over-salted soup, lumpy oatmeal and predictably scorched toast.<\/p>\n

Joe clattered down the stairs, made the same assurance and promise to Hoss and Hop Sing and set to work cutting off thick slices of bread for the toast.\u00a0 The loaf he\u2019d been using provided four slices, but deciding one wouldn\u2019t be enough for Hoss, Joe headed to the pantry for a fresh loaf.\u00a0 Yet though he searched every shelf, he couldn\u2019t find any bread.\u00a0 Rushing into the cook\u2019s room, he asked, \u201cWhere do you hide the extra bread, Hop Sing?\u201d<\/p>\n

When Hop Sing indignantly asserted that he never hid bread and told him it was in the pantry, Joe shook his head vigorously.\u00a0 \u201cNo, it ain\u2019t; I looked high and low.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow much blead you eat?\u201d the cook demanded.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing bake enough fo\u2019 week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe could almost feel the color draining from his cheeks.\u00a0 He had eaten and served an unusual number of sandwiches over the last few days; in fact, he himself had basically lived on them, so as to save the better food for the invalids, but surely the bread wasn\u2019t all gone.\u00a0 \u201cI mean the other extra bread,\u201d he suggested, adopting, without realizing it, the same pleading puppy eyes that had garnered him dozens of cookies from female friends.\u00a0 \u201cAin\u2019t you got some stashed somewhere, for emergency?\u201d<\/p>\n

The forlorn expression had no effect on Hop Sing.\u00a0 He merely folded his arms across his chest, repeated that the bread was all in the pantry and began to mumble something about greedy-bellied boys.\u00a0 Joe got out fast and walked back to the kitchen, scratching his head.\u00a0 What was he going to do?\u00a0 The orphans were scheduled to arrive at four that afternoon, so he had no time to ride around searching for bread to borrow.\u00a0 And he had to have bread.\u00a0 Sandwiches might not be fancy party grub, like folks were used to, but they sure as shootin\u2019 beat nothing but peaches and pickles!<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes lighted as he entered the kitchen and saw Smokey Whittaker stirring up a batch of biscuits.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Smokey,\u201d he said, gazing at the grizzled wrangler as if he\u2019d just seen his savior.\u00a0 \u201cHow are you at baking bread?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean light bread?\u201d\u00a0 Smokey laughed.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m only passable at makin\u2019 biscuits, boy; I got better sense than to tackle light bread.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you gotta,\u201d Joe whined.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re plumb out, and I can\u2019t make sandwiches without bread.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t gotta do nothin\u2019 of the sort,\u201d Smokey snorted.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t mind doin\u2019 what I can to help out in time of need, but I got too much gumption to mess with what I got no hope of doin\u2019 right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease?\u201d Joe pleaded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll set you up with a real pretty filly for the dancing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lips pursed in determination, Smokey shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll find my own filly, boy, and leave you to tend the bread-makin\u2019, though I think you\u2019d be a fool to even try.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sank into the straight-backed chair, feeling that even its solid wood was insufficient to support him.\u00a0 He propped his elbows on the kitchen worktable and tried to come up with a solution to his dilemma that didn\u2019t involve his tackling yet another new cooking skill.\u00a0 For fifteen minutes he sat there, thinking, before he faced the inevitable conclusion that the only way to get more bread was to bake it himself.\u00a0 With a sigh of despair for the way this \u201cunder-control\u201d day was unraveling, he stood.\u00a0 How hard could it be?<\/em> he asked himself as he headed for the lion\u2019s lair once again.\u00a0 Harder than taming the wildest bronc, that\u2019s how hard!<\/em><\/p>\n

Hop Sing\u2019s first reaction to Little Joe\u2019s questions about how to bake bread was to pull the covers back and try to climb out of bed.\u00a0 Joe put a quick stop to that nonsense.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t be stupid,\u201d he scolded.\u00a0 \u201cYou were the last took, and that makes you the one that needs to stay in bed the worst.\u201d\u00a0 He stood sternly by the bed, arms akimbo.\u00a0 \u201cNow, how do I make bread?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs-a not good idea,\u201d Hop Sing insisted.\u00a0 \u201cVelly hard, especially for foolish boy who not follow orders.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI follow orders,\u201d Joe protested.\u00a0 \u201cWell, most of the time.\u201d\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t help realizing in that moment that he wouldn\u2019t be in this predicament if he\u2019d followed his father\u2019s order to cancel the party, but he wasn\u2019t about to confess that to Hop Sing.\u00a0 \u201cAnyway, I\u2019ll follow yours; I\u2019ll do just like you say, just like I did with the soup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing shook his head, wondering how the boy could tell such a bald-faced lie with such an earnest face.\u00a0 \u201cJust like with soup?\u00a0 Hop Sing much wollied now.\u201d\u00a0 Seeing the chin of the boy he loved begin to quiver, though, against his better judgment Hop Sing started rattling off instructions in the art of bread-baking.<\/p>\n

Mumbling the steps over and over to himself, Joe rushed back to the kitchen and set some water on to heat, determined to watch it carefully so that it was just warm and not boiling, for Hop Sing had warned him that boiling water would kill the yeast.\u00a0 While he was waiting, Joe saw the slices of bread he had meant to toast lying on the worktable and decided he\u2019d better get those to his family fast or there would be difficult questions to answer.\u00a0 Four slices still didn\u2019t look like enough, so he cut each in half, pleased that now each person could have two apiece.<\/p>\n

When the toast was done, Joe ran a plate of it in to Hop Sing and then charged up the stairs to deliver toast first to those most likely to question any delay.\u00a0 Sure enough, as soon as he came through the door, Adam said, \u201cWell, if it takes this long just to get toast, I suppose it\u2019ll be nearly noon by the time the oatmeal arrives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe stared at him, flabbergasted.\u00a0 \u201cOatmeal?\u00a0 You want oatmeal, too?\u201d\u00a0 Then, as the incredulous expression on his brother\u2019s face reminded him of his previous promise, he sputtered, \u201cOh, yeah, the oatmeal.\u00a0 Coming right up.\u201d\u00a0 He ran down the hall to his father\u2019s room and thrust the plate of toast at his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, son, slow down,\u201d his father urged, concerned, as he had been for days, that his youngest son was being overworked.\u00a0 \u201cNo need to rush around so.\u00a0 We\u2019re not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need!\u201d Joe cried in dismay.\u00a0 If only Pa knew how great the need really was!\u00a0 But he caught himself before saying anything more incriminating and after promising the oatmeal soon, walked out of the bedroom, only breaking into a run when he\u2019d rounded the corner into the main upstairs hall.\u00a0 His feet touched half or fewer of the steps as he careened down the stairs.\u00a0 Racing to the kitchen, he grabbed the last plate of toast and, rushing into Hoss\u2019s room, practically threw it at him.\u00a0 \u201cGotta go,\u201d he yelled.\u00a0 \u201cOatmeal soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Running back into the kitchen, Joe found that the pan of water had started to boil in his absence.\u00a0 He grabbed the handle to move it off the stove and just as quickly let it go, bringing his reddened palm to his mouth.\u00a0 Snatching a dish towel from the counter by the sink, he started to remove the pan, but then he smiled and left it where it was.\u00a0 After all, he did need boiling water to cook the oatmeal, so the minor blunder had actually put him a step ahead.\u00a0 \u201cShouldn\u2019t be tryin\u2019 to do two things at once, anyway,\u201d Joe chided himself.\u00a0 \u201cGet breakfast out of the way first and there\u2019ll still be time to bake the bread.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deciding that he should at least get out the utensils and ingredients while the cereal cooked, however, he set out bowls and spoons, flour, sugar, salt and yeast and made a quick run to the spring house for milk and butter.\u00a0 Placing those on the worktable, he decided to give the oatmeal a stir and discovered it had already boiled dry.\u00a0 \u201cShould\u2019ve remembered oatmeal needs more water than bread,\u201d he muttered.\u00a0 Snatching up the spoon with which he had intended to mix the bread dough, he took a taste of the oatmeal and grimaced.\u00a0 No, definitely not done yet, although it did taste a bit charred around the edges.\u00a0 Well, that would just give it a nice roasted flavor when it was done; no need to start from scratch, especially as pushed for time as he was this morning.\u00a0 He took the pan to the pump, put more water in it and set it back on the stove to boil again.<\/p>\n

When the cereal had boiled down a second time, Joe took a tentative taste, and his face screwed up once again.\u00a0 That roasted flavor wasn\u2019t quite as nice as he\u2019d hoped, but it would have to do.\u00a0 He certainly didn\u2019t have time to start over.\u00a0 He had bread to bake!<\/p>\n

He took the cereal first to his brother Adam.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I don\u2019t wanna hear any complaints, either,\u201d he said when he handed Adam the bowl of gray lumps.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, that sounds promising,\u201d Adam sighed, but Joe had already left.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t do so good this morning, Pa,\u201d Joe apologized at his next stop.<\/p>\n

Ben could see that at first glance into his bowl, but his concern, once again, was for his youngest son, who seemed more distracted and frenzied than usual this morning.\u00a0 The strain of the last few days must be getting to the boy.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019ll be fine, Joseph,\u201d he said gently.\u00a0 \u201cYour best is always fine, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe paused long enough to give his father a relieved smile.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d he said, and then he was running down the hall again.\u00a0 As he passed Adam\u2019s room, he hollered, \u201cMy best is always fine with Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this is your best, heaven preserve me from your worst!\u201d Adam yelled back to the now empty hall.<\/p>\n

Running back to the kitchen, Joe hastily dished up another bowl of oatmeal and trotted it into Hoss\u2019s bedroom.\u00a0 \u201cIt ain\u2019t too good, but I\u2019ll do better by you later, I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa!\u00a0 What\u2019s the rush?\u201d Hoss asked.\u00a0 \u201cI thought everything was under control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe popped his head back into the room long enough to announce, \u201cIt ain\u2019t under control\u2014far from it\u2014but I\u2019m workin\u2019 on it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll explain later.\u201d\u00a0 And then he was off again.\u00a0 He prepared the final bowl of oatmeal and carried it to Hop Sing, who took one look and started ranting in Cantonese.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I know,\u201d Joe said, walking gingerly backwards with his palms held outward to ward off the angry words, \u201cbut I ain\u2019t got time to listen now.\u00a0 I got bread to bake.\u201d<\/p>\n

What ensued for the next hour or so should have gone down in history next to the Napoleonic wars or some battle of equal proportions.\u00a0 Joe measured and mixed and then plunked the whole sticky mess onto the floured table and began to knead . . . and knead . . . and knead, adding more and more flour and trying in vain to keep the dough from clinging to his fingers.\u00a0 When he felt that he couldn\u2019t possibly pound that recalcitrant lump of dough one more time, he ran down to Hop Sing\u2019s room again.\u00a0 \u201cHow long I gotta knead this stuff?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing scanned the flour-dusted figure of the youngest Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cMy kitchen look bad as you?\u201d he demanded.<\/p>\n

Joe took a quick glance downward.\u00a0 \u201cWorse,\u201d he replied honestly, \u201cbut I\u2019ll clean it up.\u00a0 Now, how much more I gotta knead this stuff?\u00a0 My arms are about to break off!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing grinned.\u00a0 \u201cWhen they break off, you be \u2018bout there.\u201d\u00a0 He pointed to the dough on Joe\u2019s fingers.\u00a0 \u201c\u2018Til dough stick to self and not to you,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Joe sighed, muttering as he turned away, \u201cbut you must have the strongest arms in the territory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing smiled and nodded, pleased that his worth was finally being acknowledged.\u00a0 Perhaps he should consider giving his other Cartwrights opportunities like this; perhaps they, too, would appreciate his work more if they had to do it for a few days.<\/p>\n

The dough finally stuck to itself and not to Joe\u2019s fingers, so he concluded that it was ready to plop into a greased bowl and be left to rise in a warm place, as Hop Sing had previously instructed.\u00a0 Since that process was supposed to take at least an hour, Joe decided he had time for a visit with, and hopefully a little sympathy from, his middle brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoggone.\u00a0 That\u2019s hard luck,\u201d Hoss commiserated when he\u2019d heard Joe\u2019s latest woe.\u00a0 \u201c\u2018Course, I should\u2019ve known you was headed for trouble when I first heard you was plannin\u2019 to disobey Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t bring that up now,\u201d Joe moaned.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t go back and change that now; it\u2019s too late to get word to folks, and, besides, think of those poor little orphans, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded slowly, though his mouth was set in a worried frown.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right about it bein\u2019 too late to cancel on the kids now.\u00a0 I just wish there was some way I could help you more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe perked up.\u00a0 \u201cThere is.\u00a0 We still need to put the candy in those cones.\u00a0 If you could do that, I could finish decorating the tree while the dough rises.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPull that game table back over and bring me the candy,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

Joe did, wagging a finger at Hoss as he left again.\u00a0 \u201cAnd don\u2019t be eatin\u2019 all the candy yourself,\u201d he cautioned.\u00a0 \u201cI ain\u2019t sure how much we got to spare.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust one piece?\u201d Hoss suggested, his face as woebegone as any orphan\u2019s could possibly be.<\/p>\n

Joe grinned and held up five fingers, and as if by magic, Hoss\u2019s countenance was totally transformed and he went to work with renewed enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

Joe finished draping the evergreen boughs over the mantle and tying all the small gifts to the tree.\u00a0 By that time Hoss had a large number of candy-filled cones ready, so Joe scooped up all he could carry and took them to the tree and hung them from the branches.\u00a0 It took several trips before all the cones were in place, and then Joe added the final touch by fixing the carved angel to the top of the tree.\u00a0 \u201cMerry Christmas, Mama,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 The angel always reminded him of his mother, and he always sent her a Christmas greeting when her representation was put atop the tree.\u00a0 Not wanting anyone else to hear and think him foolish, he normally voiced the words only inside his own head, but with no one around to hear this year, he could actually say them, and that felt extra special.\u00a0 With a warm, magnanimous feeling for the world, Joe headed back to the kitchen for the second engagement of the battle of the bread.<\/p>\n

This particular phase of the battle was actually pleasurable, for it was time to punch down the dough and Joe used the opportunity to vent his frustrations of the morning.\u00a0 When the dough was properly pummeled, he shaped it into loaves and set them aside to rise again while he rushed outside to complete the neglected chores.\u00a0 When he returned, it was time for the bread to go in the oven.\u00a0 Joe slid the final loaf in and gave a gaping yawn.\u00a0 Wandering into the front room, he flopped down on the settee to relax while the bread baked.\u00a0 Yes, sir, he thought contentedly as he curled into the cushion, the day had started off a bit frantic, but everything was once again under control.<\/p>\n

\u00a0* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Martin rapped a second time on the front door of the Ponderosa, and when again no one came in response, he opened the door himself.\u00a0 No doubt Little Joe was upstairs, seeing to the needs of the bed-bound, and simply hadn\u2019t heard him knocking.\u00a0 Knowing he was welcome at any time, Paul walked in freely and headed toward the stairs.\u00a0 Surprised to see a decorated tree, he paused to look at it for a moment; then he heard a soft snore that made him spin to his left, and he saw the youngest Cartwright nestled on the settee, sound asleep.\u00a0 Concerned that bronchitis had felled a final victim, the doctor rushed to him.\u00a0 \u201cJoe!\u00a0 Joe, my boy,\u201d he said as he laid his hand on the slumbering youth\u2019s forehead.\u00a0 No fever, at least, he noted.<\/p>\n

Joe woke with a start.\u00a0 \u201cHuh?\u00a0 Oh, it\u2019s you, Doc.\u201d<\/p>\n

He started to sit up, but the doctor pushed him back down.\u00a0 \u201cNot \u2018til I\u2019ve examined you,\u201d Paul Martin dictated, reaching for his bag of instruments.<\/p>\n

\u201cExamined?\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe bolted upright so fast that there was no holding him down this time.\u00a0 \u201cI don\u2019t need examinin\u2019; I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

The doctor sat on the table before the settee.\u00a0 \u201cAre you sure?\u00a0 You gave me quite a fright, young man, when I saw you lying there, dead to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe smiled apologetically.\u00a0 \u201cJust tired,\u201d he assured the doctor.\u00a0 \u201cBeen working pretty hard this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOverdoing, you mean,\u201d Dr. Martin scolded.\u00a0 \u201cI thought I warned you about that, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd like I told you, there ain\u2019t no one else,\u201d Joe countered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, how is everyone\u201d\u2014the doctor\u2019s nose crinkled as a sharp odor hit his nostrils.\u00a0 \u201cIs something burning?\u201d<\/p>\n

It took a moment for the suggestion to register, and then Joe leaped from the settee and raced toward the kitchen, arms waving wildly as he yelled, \u201cMy bread!\u201d<\/p>\n

Having developed a sixth sense for disaster about to strike, Paul Martin charged after him and burst through the doorway in time to shout, \u201cUse a pot holder!\u201d when he saw the young man reach for the handle to the oven door.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yeah, good thinking,\u201d Joe said.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t wanna make that mistake again!\u201d\u00a0 He grabbed a towel from the worktable, opened the oven and began pulling out the loaves as quickly as he could.\u00a0 Once they were all on the table, Joe fell into the chair beside it and stared morosely at the darkened crusts.<\/p>\n

Dr. Martin clapped a hand to the sturdy young shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cMy boy, I am beginning to understand those dark circles under your eyes.\u00a0 I wish I\u2019d known you were in need of the staff of life.\u00a0 I could have had my wife bake a loaf or two for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d need more than that,\u201d Joe moaned.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re ruined, ain\u2019t they?\u00a0 And I ain\u2019t got time to bake up another batch before\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore what?\u201d the doctor inquired authoritatively, for he had known Joseph Cartwright long enough to recognize a suspicious sentence cutoff when he heard one.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore dinner?\u201d Joe offered, his response so tentative that it immediately lost all credence.<\/p>\n

Before Dr. Martin could explore the reason behind the suspect answer, a stream of vociferous Cantonese alerted him to a more urgent need.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to check on Hop Sing before he gets out of bed in defense of his kitchen, and after that I\u2019ll see my other patients.\u00a0 Then you and I are going to have a little discussion, young man.\u00a0 I would suggest that you seriously consider giving me a straight answer the first time.\u201d\u00a0 He strode swiftly toward the cook\u2019s bedroom, leaving behind a woebegone waif slumped disconsolately over the table.<\/p>\n

When the good doctor had finished his rounds, he returned to the kitchen, where Little Joe was carefully cutting away the scorched edges of each loaf.\u00a0 \u201cThe inside looks fine, and kids might like sandwiches better without crust, anyway, you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kids?\u201d Dr. Martin demanded.\u00a0 \u201cAnd stick to the truth because I assure you that I will not be put off by the usual Joe Cartwright run-around reasoning!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust some kids that are comin\u2019 here later for sandwiches,\u201d Joe said, and judging that a change of topic might be in his best interest, he quickly asked, \u201cHow\u2019s everybody doin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell enough, but we\u2019ll discuss that later,\u201d the doctor said sternly.\u00a0 \u201cStop trying to divert me, young man.\u00a0 What kids and why are they coming here for sandwiches, of all ridiculous places?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe collapsed forlornly in the chair beside the worktable.\u00a0 \u201cPromise you won\u2019t tell Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Martin folded his arms and glared at the young man.\u00a0 \u201cNo promises.\u00a0 What mischief are you up to, young fellow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNone, honest,\u201d Joe insisted, his face earnest.\u00a0 \u201cJust tryin\u2019 to keep Christmas the way the Cartwrights always do, starting with a party this afternoon for the Carson City Children\u2019s Asylum.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere?\u201d\u00a0 Dr. Martin all but shouted the query.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always here.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe\u2019s head bobbed rapidly up and down to emphasize the logic of his statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it shouldn\u2019t have been, not this year!\u201d the doctor ranted.\u00a0 \u201cSurely it hasn\u2019t passed your notice that you are the only Cartwright standing upright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe sat up straight, chin held high.\u00a0 \u201cI noticed!\u00a0 But I can do it, even if I am the only Cartwright left standing.\u00a0 I\u2019ve got it all planned, and everything\u2019s under control.\u201d\u00a0 His gaze fell on the lopsided, slightly burned bread, and his countenance fell.\u00a0 \u201cWell, anyway, it was \u2018til this happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaking his head in consternation, Dr. Martin drew up a chair and sat down, resting his arms on the worktable.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s hear the whole sad story,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Little Joe started at the beginning, with his father\u2019s instruction to cancel the traditional parties, Hoss\u2019s concern over disappointing the orphans, his idea\u2014inspiration, he called it, with an especially charming smile directed toward the doctor\u2014to carry on anyway and to enlist the help of others in the community in baking cookies and of Hoss in preparing the popcorn garland and the horns of candy to hang on the tree.\u00a0 \u201cSo all I had to do was decorate the place and make sandwiches and punch,\u201d Joe explained in conclusion, \u201cbut then I discovered we were plumb out of bread, and so I been workin\u2019 all morning to make some and, well, you know the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, Joe,\u201d the doctor chuckled, shaking his head affectionately.\u00a0 \u201cOnly you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly you could follow your heart into this big a mess,\u201d Paul laughed.\u00a0 \u201cMore heart than brains, that\u2019s you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sensing that the doctor was coming around to his side, Joe returned a crooked smile.\u00a0 \u201cI reckon, but I think it\u2019s gonna be okay.\u00a0 Good idea, huh, cutting off the crusts?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that\u2019s it, then?\u00a0 Just the party for the orphans?\u201d Paul inquired.\u00a0 The look on Joe\u2019s face made him glad he\u2019d thought to ask what seemed to be an unnecessary question.\u00a0 He\u2019d learned over the years, however, that even the most outlandish questions were rarely unnecessary where this youngster was involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there is the dance after that,\u201d Joe said slowly, biting his lip and gazing anxiously across the table.<\/p>\n

Leaning his head back and closing his eyes, Paul Martin groaned.\u00a0 \u201cWhat dance, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the grown folks,\u201d Joe said with bright-eyed buoyancy.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re invited, of course; bring Mrs. Martin, too.\u00a0 In fact\u2014oh, hey! this is a great idea\u2014you can read A Christmas Carol<\/em> for the kids, unless you think Pa\u2019s up to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGracious, no!\u201d the doctor remonstrated.\u00a0 \u201cI brought the crutches I promised, so I think we can get Hoss up, and he can sit quietly in a nice padded chair and see the orphans get their Christmas candy, but not your father and Adam.\u00a0 I\u2019m willing to let them out of bed by Christmas morning, but they are definitely not ready to be around a crowd of people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, too bad,\u201d Joe said.\u00a0 He smiled engagingly at the doctor.\u00a0 \u201cWell, that leaves you to do the reading, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave me out of this madness,\u201d the doctor intoned ominously.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, Doc, you know how the kids look forward to hearing that story every year,\u201d Joe cajoled, \u201cand if Pa can\u2019t and Adam can\u2019t, then you\u2019re the next best choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Paul Martin said bluntly.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoc, I\u2019m surprised\u2014no, shocked is more like it,\u201d Joe declared, holding his palm to his breastbone.\u00a0 \u201cHere you have a chance to do something to make Christmas special for some poor little orphan tykes, and you won\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d the doctor repeated more firmly.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t try twisting me around your little finger, young fellow.\u00a0 Unlike Hoss, I am immune to your manipulations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss\u2014now there\u2019s someone who really cares about folks less fortunate than himself,\u201d Joe rambled on as if there had been no interruption.\u00a0 \u201cHere he is laid up in bed himself, but still wanting to do all he can for someone else.\u00a0 And all those ladies, too, taking time out from their own Christmas baking to make cookies for the kids, and all I ask you to do is read one measly little story and you think that\u2019s too much.\u00a0 Well, just forget I asked!\u00a0 I guess I can read the story, too, even though I have been overworkin\u2019 myself, like you said not to, and this\u2019ll just add more to my\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough.\u201d\u00a0 The doctor raised a remonstrating hand.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll do it, but there will be conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

The triumphant smile that had appeared on Joe\u2019s face when the doctor started to speak skewed sideways by the end of the sentence.\u00a0 \u201cConditions?\u00a0 What kind of conditions?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo things,\u201d the doctor replied.\u00a0 \u201cFirst, promise me that you\u2019ll take a nice long nap Christmas afternoon if you manage to survive the lunacy of this evening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe grinned.\u00a0 \u201cThat sounds great!\u00a0 I mean, if you think no one will need me . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one will need you.\u00a0 A nice long nap, young man, and one more thing: you need to tell your father about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I will,\u201d Joe promised easily.\u00a0 \u201cI planned to, of course, right after we open our presents tomorrow . . . or maybe I should wait \u2018til after dinner, huh?\u00a0 Don\u2019t want to spoil his appetite, do we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot tomorrow, Joseph, today!\u201d the doctor admonished sternly.\u00a0 \u201cBefore the first of your little guests arrives.\u00a0 I do not want either your father or Adam getting out of bed to investigate unexplained noises.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNoises?\u00a0 What noises?\u201d Joe asked, hazel eyes wide with complete innocence.<\/p>\n

The doctor rubbed his throbbing temple, thinking how typical it was for Joe Cartwright to focus so single-mindedly on what he wanted that nothing opposing his purpose had a chance of penetrating his brain.\u00a0 \u201cDozens of little feet running around, cacophonous cries of delight as candy and toys rain down, not to mention the sound of a fiddle and the thump of dancing feet later on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe twisted his lower lip between thumb and index finger.\u00a0 \u201cOh, those noises.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, those noises!\u00a0 Now, either you tell your father, young man, or I will,\u201d the doctor said, looking fully prepared to carry out the threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell him,\u201d Joe promised quickly, adding with a sigh, \u201cDon\u2019t seem like I\u2019ve got much choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have no choice,\u201d Paul Martin affirmed, forcing himself to keep an unyielding visage.\u00a0 \u201cAnd tell Adam, too.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t need to come bounding out of bed any more than your father does.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe winced.\u00a0 Sometimes Adam could be worse than Pa, but the young man quickly agreed to the doctor\u2019s terms and after a few more questions about the patients,\u00a0 showed Paul Martin to the door.\u00a0 Then Joe returned to the kitchen to slice the bread and make the sandwiches, reasoning that his father and oldest brother would be more receptive to a party if all preparations were already made.<\/p>\n

\u00a0* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Joe paused in the bedroom doorway, dreading his father\u2019s reaction to the message he had been ordered to deliver.\u00a0 At the moment he was less concerned about his own fate than about upsetting his father.\u00a0 After all, it had been years since he\u2019d actually had his britches warmed, but Pa wasn\u2019t strong yet and shouldn\u2019t have to be bothered with the shenanigans of a disobedient son.\u00a0 Why is it I never think of this kind of stuff \u2018til it\u2019s too late?<\/em> Joe scolded himself.\u00a0 Then he screwed up his courage and stepped into the room.\u00a0 \u201cHey, Pa,\u201d he called softly.\u00a0 \u201cDoc says you and Adam can come downstairs Christmas morning.\u00a0 Good news, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ben stretched his hand toward Joe.\u00a0 \u201cWonderful news, but come and sit beside me, son; you look exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I am, kind of,\u201d Joe admitted, \u201cbut I\u2019d just as soon stand right now.\u201d\u00a0 Out of arms\u2019 reach, just in case!<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cI\u2014uh\u2014I need to tell you something, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it, son?\u201d\u00a0 Ben patted the mattress invitingly.\u00a0 When Joe just shook his head and remained standing, hands behind his back, Ben recognized the confessional stance and his brows drew together with foreboding.\u00a0 \u201cWhat is it you\u2019ve done, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething you told me not to,\u201d Joe said, figuring it was best\u2014for Pa, at least\u2014for him to get this over with as quickly as possible.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t go gettin\u2019 all flustered, though.\u00a0 It ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 all that bad, and you really aren\u2019t up to a temper fit yet, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of Ben\u2019s eyebrows arched toward his hairline.\u00a0 \u201cWould I throw one if I were up to it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe returned a rueful smile.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, probably.\u00a0 Like I said, though, it ain\u2019t all that bad, so don\u2019t fret, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben inched up in bed, and Joe hurried over to adjust a pillow behind his father\u2019s back.\u00a0 \u201cJust what is \u2018it\u2019?\u201d Ben asked tersely.\u00a0 \u201cNo more beating around the bush, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t,\u201d Joe protested.\u00a0 \u201cTo cut to the core, you remember tellin\u2019 me to cancel the Christmas party?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben groaned.\u00a0 \u201cYou didn\u2019t.\u201d\u00a0 His tone bordered just between question and instinctive knowledge of that question\u2019s answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t,\u201d Joe said plainly.\u00a0 \u201cHoss was so upset over the orphans\u2019 missing out on their party that I decided I\u2019d host one for them anyway, and I didn\u2019t figure it\u2019d be much more work to have the dancing after, like always, so I didn\u2019t cancel that, either.\u00a0 Everything\u2019s set up and ready to go, but I thought I\u2019d better tell you, in case you heard music or such.\u201d<\/p>\n

A wry smile lifted a corner of Ben\u2019s mouth.\u00a0 \u201cWho pointed that out to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoc Martin,\u201d Joe admitted as he grinned back.\u00a0 \u201cYou know me pretty good, don\u2019t you, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cWell enough to remember that you generally reserve your confession \u2018til the deed has been done and rarely realize on your own that the truth is likely to come out sooner than you\u2019d hoped.\u201d\u00a0 He reached out to take his son\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph, I only told you to cancel the party out of concern for you and the load you were already carrying.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t simply being a spoilsport.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Joe said, squeezing his father\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cDoc says I gotta take a long nap sometime tomorrow, and I think I\u2019ll be good and ready for it, but I just had to do this, Pa, for Hoss and for those orphans.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t thinkin\u2019 of myself, honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can see that,\u201d Ben said, pride glowing in his warm chocolate eyes, \u201cand since it\u2019s the true spirit of Christmas that motivated you, I suppose I\u2019ll have to excuse your disobedience this once.\u00a0 Just don\u2019t make a habit of it, you scamp.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir, I won\u2019t,\u201d Joe promised.\u00a0 By way of further appeasement, he added, \u201cI\u2019ll bring you some cookies later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou made cookies?\u201d\u00a0 Suddenly, the flour dusting his son\u2019s shirt and britches made sense, but Ben had a morbid dread of what cookies baked by his youngest son might taste like.<\/p>\n

Evidently, that dread showed on his face, for Joe laughed and said, \u201cDon\u2019t worry.\u00a0 I asked for donations\u2014for the cookies, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben looked relieved for a moment and then his brows drew together in concern.\u00a0 For which of the refreshments had his young son not taken donations?\u00a0 Those were definitely the foods for a poor, recovering invalid to avoid!\u00a0 But Joe had already disappeared, so he had no opportunity to ask.<\/p>\n

Joe walked down the hall and popped his head into his brother Adam\u2019s room.\u00a0 \u201cYou might hear some music and noise a little later on,\u201d he said, rushing to get the words out and be on his way, \u201cbut just keep to your bed, understand?\u00a0 Doctor\u2019s orders.\u201d\u00a0 Pulling back his head, he moved toward the stairs, but his conscience wouldn\u2019t let him keep going when his brother called his name.<\/p>\n

With a sigh Joe reentered Adam\u2019s room.\u00a0 \u201cYou know we always host a party for the orphans\u2019 asylum, with a dance after for our friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought Pa told you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did,\u201d Joe interrupted.\u00a0 \u201cI disobeyed, all right?\u00a0 But I already told Pa, and he\u2019s okay with it, so you don\u2019t need to say anything more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stared at his brother in disbelief.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re doing this by yourself?\u00a0 Have you taken leave of your senses, boy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore\u2019n likely,\u201d Joe said, attempting a nonchalant shrug, \u201cbut I couldn\u2019t disappoint the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed.\u00a0 \u201cOh, sure!\u00a0 \u2018Couldn\u2019t disappoint the kids,\u2019\u201d he scoffed.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re just doing it so you\u2019ll have free rein with all the pretty girls, since neither of your brothers will be around to compete for their favors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catching the twinkle in his brother\u2019s dark eyes, Joe sported a mischievous grin.\u00a0 \u201cA fellow deserves some reward for all this work, don\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBend over, and I\u2019ll be happy to give you your just desserts,\u201d Adam suggested.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s nostrils flared, but then his face relaxed as he thought of the perfect comeback.\u00a0 \u201cSpeaking of desserts,\u201d he chirped, \u201cthose pretty girls are bringing batches and batches of cookies for the party.\u00a0 If there\u2019s any left, I might bring you a couple.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean, \u2018if\u2019?\u201d Adam demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, didn\u2019t I tell you?\u00a0 Doc says Hoss can come to the party, and considering the grub he\u2019s been getting since Hop Sing took sick, I figure our brother will have worked up quite an appetite, so I can\u2019t really promise there\u2019ll be anything left for you.\u201d\u00a0 Like any good military strategist, Little Joe know when to beat a fast retreat, so, snickering, he ducked back into the hall and scampered down the stairs, this time ignoring the voice bellowing his name.<\/p>\n

\u00a0* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Little Joe walked watchfully beside Hoss as the older boy made his way into the front room.\u00a0 Helping his brother ease into Pa\u2019s plump-cushioned chair by the fire, Joe took the pillow tucked beneath his arm and used it to cushion Hoss\u2019s foot as he elevated it on the low wooden table before the hearth.\u00a0 \u201cHow\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you move the table a little closer?\u201d Hoss asked.\u00a0 Joe did, and the big man sighed with satisfaction.\u00a0 \u201cFeels good to get out of that room, even if I can\u2019t dance with any of the gals.\u201d\u00a0 The sigh that followed sounded melancholy this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about that,\u201d Joe assured him with a clap to the shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re gonna get plenty of female attention.\u00a0 I\u2019ll send most of Adam\u2019s lady friends your way, the older ones, anyway.\u00a0 Ladies just love to mother a man, so all you gotta do is let out a moan every now and then and you\u2019ll have them eating out of your hand.\u00a0 Those gals are gonna fuss over you all night, I promise you!\u00a0 Be sure you rub it in real good to older brother tomorrow morning, too.\u00a0 He\u2019s got it coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do that,\u201d Hoss promised with a chuckle, though he had a feeling the warm glow of Christmas morning would drive all such notions from his head\u2014and Joe\u2019s too, for that matter.\u00a0 His alpine eyes lit up like those of a child as they fell on the tall pine bedecked with Christmas joys for the youngsters scheduled to arrive soon.\u00a0 \u201cLittle brother, you sure did a bang-up job on that tree.\u00a0 The kids\u2019ll love it.\u00a0 Sure hate that I can\u2019t play Santa for \u2018em this year, but it\u2019d plumb upset the younguns to see Santa hobblin\u2019 around on crutches.\u00a0 Then again I reckon they\u2019ll be just as upset when Santa don\u2019t show up at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot show up?\u201d\u00a0 Joe feigned shock.\u00a0 \u201cHow can you think Santa wouldn\u2019t show up?\u00a0 Of course, he\u2019ll be here!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s broad face beamed with pride.\u00a0 \u201cYou got someone to play Santa?\u00a0 Little brother, you plumb thought of everything!\u00a0 Who\u2019d you talk into it?\u201d\u00a0 When Joe bowed from the waist, the shock on Hoss\u2019s face was anything but feigned.\u00a0 \u201cYou?\u00a0 You gotta be kidding!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, me,\u201d Joe proclaimed, hands on his hips.\u00a0 \u201cWho else did you think I\u2019d find?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s eyes swept up and down his younger brother\u2019s lean frame.\u00a0 \u201cI was sort of hopin\u2019 you might\u2019ve asked someone a little\u2014uh\u2014rounder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I did, but Sheriff Coffee said he couldn\u2019t make it, \u2018cause the deputy\u2019s laid up with bronchitis like a lot of folks in town.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry, Hoss.\u00a0 I know I can\u2019t play the part as good as you, \u2018cause you\u2019re the best doggone Santa there ever was, but I\u2019ll do my best to fill your underwear and beard.\u201d\u00a0 He giggled at his own joke.<\/p>\n

Hoss, however, wasn\u2019t laughing.\u00a0 \u201cMy underwear?\u00a0 You\u2019re gonna wear my underwear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t mind, do you?\u201d Joe asked, surprise flashing over his face.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re the only one in the house with a red set of drawers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s belly began to shake like the bowlful of jelly described in Clement\u2019s poem.\u00a0 \u201cOh, no, I don\u2019t mind, but they ain\u2019t gonna fit, little\u2014and I do mean little\u2014brother!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe waved aside the remark.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m gonna stuff pillows underneath; it\u2019ll be fine, you wait and see.\u00a0\u00a0 The kids\u2019ll never know the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thinking that there weren\u2019t enough pillows in the house to transform Joe into him, Hoss shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cThis I gotta see!\u201d he chortled.<\/p>\n

Joe glowered at his brother, but before he could come up with the kind of saucy retort such a display of disbelief merited, he heard the sound of excited voices outside and realized that the children had arrived.<\/p>\n

Soon the house was packed with happy youngsters and older folks who had come to make the orphans\u2019 Christmas merry before settling in for an evening of fun themselves.\u00a0 The refreshments, far from being just the lopsided sandwiches Joe had felt slightly embarrassed to set out, were better than ever.\u00a0 Once the invited guests heard about the youngest Cartwright\u2019s solicitations for cookies and the illness that had made help necessary, they rightly concluded that other contributions would be welcome, as well.\u00a0\u00a0 The table wouldn\u2019t even hold all the festive food that had been brought, and no one enjoyed it more than the man ensconced by the fire and waited on hand and foot by a flock of caring females.\u00a0 Much as he would miss the dancing later on, Hoss couldn\u2019t help thinking that there were worse ways to spend Christmas Eve than having lovely ladies ply him with plate after plate of delicious food.<\/p>\n

When everyone had eaten all they wished, Dr. Martin sat enthroned in the blue chair by the blazing fire, with children perching on both of its arms and sitting cross-legged at his feet, as he began to read A Christmas Carol<\/em> by Charles Dickens.\u00a0 Little Joe stood behind Hoss, arms folded on the back of the leather chair, listening as enrapt as the children, until the doctor began to recount the visit of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.\u00a0 Then he tiptoed out to the kitchen, gathered up the two plates full of goodies he had set aside earlier, when he made up a plate for Hop Sing, and hurried up the back stairs.\u00a0 \u201cHere you go, big brother,\u201d he said, handing Adam his plate of refreshments, having already delivered a similar assortment to his father.\u00a0 \u201cI got to feeling sorry for you and decided to rescue a few nibbles before that other brother of ours gobbled down everything in sight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo generous of you.\u201d\u00a0 Adam offered his provoking brother a sarcastic smirk in return for the refreshments.\u00a0 \u201cAnd did he repay the favor by rescuing my lady friends from you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ones I\u2019m squirin\u2019 around don\u2019t need rescuin\u2019,\u201d Joe taunted, \u201cand the ones I sent his way are havin\u2019 such a good time fussin\u2019 over him that you may have to break a leg yourself to get them back!\u201d\u00a0 He laughed at the glare with which Adam responded to his twitting.\u00a0 \u201cMuch as I\u2019d like to stay and tell you all about how Hoss is getting along with your former sweethearts, older brother, I got to get into my costume.\u00a0 Almost time for Santa to arrive!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stared incredulously at the space just vacated by his youngest brother.\u00a0 Joe as Santa Claus?\u00a0 Not a sight he could afford to miss, so doctor\u2019s orders notwithstanding, he threw back the covers, crept to his doorway and peeked out.\u00a0 Down the hall, hiding behind a corner, the patriarch of the Cartwright clan was doing the same, for he, too, had been told that Little Joe was playing Santa Claus this year and couldn\u2019t resist seeing a sight like that.<\/p>\n

Joe was taking a gander at the sight himself, as he added a second pillow to produce a plumper belly.\u00a0 The reflection in the mirror was a sorry representation of the jolly gift-giver, he had to admit. The belly was padded well enough, but that only emphasized the scrawniness of the frame supporting it, and the long sleeves and legs of the red wool underwear shouted that they surely belonged to a taller man.\u00a0 Had he really fooled himself into believing that no one would notice the difference between him and Hoss?\u00a0 Joe shrugged off his sudden intuition that everyone would.\u00a0 Okay, so they\u2019d notice, but as long as he handed out plenty of presents, the kids would probably set aside any misgivings they had.\u00a0 Joe rolled up the sleeves and legs, fastened the cottony beard behind his ears, put the oversized stocking hat on his head and hoisted the sack of gifts too large to be hung on the tree onto his back.\u00a0 \u201cHo, ho, ho,\u201d he intoned, testing out his new, deeper voice.\u00a0 Not bad<\/em>, he concluded and headed out his bedroom door.<\/p>\n

He tiptoed near the head of the stairs and hid behind the wall until Dr. Martin read Tiny Tim\u2019s famous final line.\u00a0 While the children were applauding, he leaped into view at the head of the stairs and with a mighty \u201cHo, ho, ho\u201d started down at his usual devil-may-care trot.\u00a0 As his foot hit the fourth step from the top, however, the large hat flopped over his eyes and one leg of Hoss\u2019s longjohns came unrolled and caught under his foot, and then pandemonium broke loose as Santa tumbled head over heels down to the first landing, the bag of presents rolling down after him.<\/p>\n

Of course, everyone screamed and ran forward to assist poor Santa.\u00a0 Even Hoss tried to get up, but Dr. Martin pushed him back into the chair, announcing that he was Santa\u2019s personal physician and he would take matters from here.\u00a0 Before the good doctor could make his way through the bevy of children to his notable patient, however, the noise brought two other men concerned for Santa\u2019s welfare to the head of the stairs.\u00a0 Lying flat on his back, Little Joe spotted them, and thinking only of the doctor\u2019s admonition of the day before, he bellowed, \u201cGet back to bed!\u201d\u00a0 Then, fearing that a belligerent Santa might frighten the children, he shouted, instead, in his jolliest voice, \u201cI mean, ho, ho, ho!\u00a0 It\u2019s back to bed you go!\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Martin, who had finally made it to the landing, looked up and waved his disobedient patients back, assuring them that Santa would be fine.\u00a0 Grinning, Ben and Adam returned to their rooms.\u00a0 \u201cYou are fine, aren\u2019t you?\u201d the doctor whispered in Santa\u2019s ear.\u00a0 \u201cI probably should examine you, but I hate to worry the children.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, I\u2019m fine!\u201d Santa declared loud enough for all to hear.\u00a0 \u201cStairs can\u2019t hurt a man used to falling down chimneys!\u201d\u00a0 With the doctor\u2019s help, he got to his feet, all the children clapping to see him upright once again.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I have presents for all the good boys and girls,\u201d he proclaimed in booming tones as he lifted the bag of gifts.\u00a0 Squeals of delight met this announcement, and the children crowded around, each assuring Santa that he or she had been good as gold this year.<\/p>\n

One boy of about ten sidled up to Hoss\u2019s chair after getting his present.\u00a0 \u201cYou know, Mr. Hoss, I always thought you was Santa, since I couldn\u2019t never spot the two of you together, but now I reckon I was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, Billy, you ought to have figured I was just sneaking off to the kitchen for more food,\u201d Hoss said, struggling to keep a grin off his face.<\/p>\n

Billy nodded soberly.\u00a0 \u201cI reckon I should have.\u201d<\/p>\n

The last little girl to receive a new doll shyly reached up to pinch Santa\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cHave you been sick, Santa?\u201d she asked solicitously.<\/p>\n

Little Joe sat down on the table, beside his older brother\u2019s pillow-propped foot, and drew her into his lap.\u00a0 \u201cWhy, no, sweetheart.\u00a0 Santa\u2019s been working long hours, \u2018cause some of his elves have been feelin\u2019 puny, but I\u2019ve been just fine except for being a little tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

The six-year-old mother hen with blonde pigtails continued to feel his arm.\u00a0 \u201cAre you sure?\u00a0 \u2018Cause you\u2019re an awful lot skinnier this year than I remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unable to hold it back, Hoss let loose a loud guffaw.\u00a0 \u201cNo, little doll,\u201d he explained quickly while Joe glowered at him.\u00a0 \u201cSanta don\u2019t get sick, but what I heard was that Mrs. Santa put him on a diet this year, mostly burnt bread and watery soup.\u00a0 Not that it did much good in flattening his belly!\u201d\u00a0 He gave the pillows a poke with one finger and only laughed louder when Joe squirmed away, hugging his stomach protectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I think she went too far,\u201d the little girl confided as she slid off Joe\u2019s lap and took his hand, \u201cand I think you should eat lots of cookies tonight, Santa, so\u2019s you\u2019ll fill out again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will, Susie,\u201d Joe promised, adding with a vengeful glare at Hoss that he just might, in fact, eat up all there were.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t worried,\u201d Hoss cackled.\u00a0 \u201cI got plenty of pretty elves to keep me nice and round.\u201d\u00a0 He patted the belly that never needed pillows for playing the part his little brother had assumed this year.<\/p>\n

With the necessity of staying in character, Joe couldn\u2019t answer the way such bedeviling deserved, but he wouldn\u2019t have had much opportunity, anyway.\u00a0 Taking her role as Santa\u2019s keeper quite seriously, Susie pulled him to the table and began to point out tasty foods he should try.\u00a0 Santa heaped his plate full and then said that he\u2019d have to take it with him, as he had a lot of other stops to make before Christmas morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, but you eat it all,\u201d Susie admonished with a wag of her finger.<\/p>\n

Santa bent over to kiss her goodbye.\u00a0 \u201cI will, sweetheart, I will, and I\u2019ll tell Mrs. Claus that you think the diet is a bad idea, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood!\u00a0 You do that,\u201d Susie advised, waving along with the other children as Santa disappeared into the kitchen.<\/p>\n

The children sang carols after that, and Little Joe, attired in dress shirt and string tie once more, was back in time to hear most of the songs.\u00a0 Soon it was time for the children to depart, if they were to reach Carson City before time for sugarplums to dance in their heads, and after they\u2019d left, the furniture was moved back and the youthful Santa finally got his reward by dancing into the wee hours with every pretty girl in the room.<\/p>\n

\u00a0* * * * *<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0All the Cartwrights slept in on Christmas morning, but they were finally all dressed and downstairs, where Little Joe served them up his best Christmas oatmeal, promising a much tastier dinner from the party leftovers that everyone had generously told them to keep.\u00a0 Gifts were opened, loving words exchanged, and then laughter broke out as they all recalled the antics of \u201cthe skinniest Santa Claus in the history of Christmasdom,\u201d as Adam called him.\u00a0 \u201cNext year, little buddy,\u201d the man in the blue robe continued with only a twinkle in his eye to reveal that he was teasing, \u201cwe\u2019ll dye your underwear green and fix you up with your own little green stocking hat and pointed shoes.\u00a0 You make such a good little Santa\u2019s helper that I don\u2019t think it would be Christmas without a visit from our own special elf.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Hoss cackled in agreement and Joe wriggled his nose in distaste, Ben shook a finger at his eldest son.\u00a0 \u201cNow, now, there will be no elf costume for your brother next year.\u201d\u00a0 He patted the arm of his chair.\u00a0 \u201cHe deserves better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grateful for his father\u2019s defense, Joe gladly came to him, smirking at his annoying brothers as he took that protected perch.\u00a0 \u201cThanks, Pa,\u201d he said with a meaningful nod at the two brothers who obviously needed to learn from their father\u2019s example.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re quite welcome, Joseph; your praise is well deserved.\u201d\u00a0 Ben snaked his arm around his youngest son\u2019s waist.\u00a0 \u201cHowever, what I actually meant was that you\u2019ve earned something better than an elf\u2019s costume.\u201d\u00a0 He paused for a moment to be sure he had everyone\u2019s attention and to take a firmer grip on Joe before continuing, \u201cWhat we really need to outfit you in next year, my boy, is a flowing white robe and feathery wings, because you\u2019ve been a true Christmas angel to your family the last week or so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Pa,\u201d Joe whined.\u00a0 \u201cI thought you was on my side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben hugged him tight.\u00a0 \u201cI am, Joseph\u2014always, my own little angel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUgh!\u201d Joe protested, wrenching free of his father\u2019s grasp.<\/p>\n

Snapping his fingers, Adam leaned forward.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right, Pa!\u00a0 That\u2019s the perfect costume for Joe, and Hoss and I will join forces to make the halo that goes with it.\u201d\u00a0 He sent his youngest brother a wicked grin.\u00a0 \u201cAppropriately bent, battered and tarnished, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

With an expression that was anything but cherubic, Little Joe snatched up a pillow from the settee and fired it at Adam, as the room erupted once more with the warmth of Christmas laughter.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The End<\/p>\n

\u00a9 December, 2002<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0With eighteen-year-old Little Joe the only Cartwright not confined to bed, the prospects for a merry Christmas appear bleak. Ben has even ordered the cancellation of the annual Christmas Eve party, but in a burst of Yuletide enthusiasm, Joe decides to host the party by himself. After all, how hard could it be? And then his carefully laid plans begin to unravel.<\/p>\n

Rated: K \u00a0WC 15,000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":5080,"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":[23],"tags":[14,15,18,17,16],"class_list":["post-5079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","tag-adam-cartwright","tag-ben","tag-hop-sing","tag-hoss","tag-joe","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":978,"today_views":1},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/SantasHelper2.jpg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12133,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12133","url_meta":{"origin":5079,"position":0},"title":"Frightened Beyond Reason (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"June 1, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"DebbieB passed away Christmas 2021. 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