{"id":5807,"date":"2008-05-03T00:07:57","date_gmt":"2008-05-03T04:07:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5807"},"modified":"2026-02-11T10:41:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:41:29","slug":"babys-breath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5807","title":{"rendered":"Baby’s Breath (by Patina)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0<\/span>14th story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 Hoss finds a kitten in the barn and decides to bring it in the house. Marie is not happy because of the old wives’ tales of cats stealing the breath from babies. Will this kitten change her mind?<\/p>\n

Rating: K\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Word Count=3937<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended. Original plot and characters are property of the author. This story is for entertainment and no money was made from it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Battle of Wills Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Begins<\/a>
\nEducation is More than 3R\u2019s<\/a>
\nThe Shadow of Jean deMarigny<\/a>
\nA Gift Horse<\/a>
\nNew Expectations<\/a>
\nRemembering Childhoods<\/a>
\nA Room Full of Memories<\/a>
\nA New Pattern<\/a>
\nNaming the Newest Cartwright<\/a>
\nPresents from the Heart<\/a>
\nLove\u2019s Labor<\/a>
\nBig Brother Lessons<\/a>
\nNo Regrets<\/a>
\nBaby\u2019s Breath<\/a>
\nEnnui<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Baby’s Breath<\/strong><\/p>\n

Storm clouds had been building since early morning and the wind had started picking up when Ben sent Adam and Hoss out to the barn to make sure it and the horses were secured. He didn\u2019t want to have to worry about tracking down the animals in the rain and mud. Marie\u2019s mare, Bonnie, was heavily pregnant and would be foaling within the next month, so Ben didn\u2019t want the horse exposed to any dangers that could result in the death of mother and baby.<\/span>

Checking the ties across Beauty\u2019s stall, Adam grimaced at the sound of scream-crying. Little Joe was teething and the pain was causing him to wail during the day and night, leaving his parents and siblings on edge and without much sleep.<\/span>

\u201cI wish Little Joe\u2019s teeth would finish comin\u2019 through,\u201d said Adam while pinching the bridge of his nose. \u201cYou whimpered some when you were teething but you never screamed like this.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cMaybe mine didn\u2019t hurt,\u201d answered Hoss.<\/span>

The volume of the scream-crying increased and Adam said, \u201cIt\u2019s almost as if Little Joe is in the barn with us. Marie or Pa isn\u2019t bringing him out here, are they?\u201d<\/span>

Hoss poked his head out the barn door and looked towards the house and then in the other direction. \u201cAin\u2019t nobody out there,\u201d he said as he walked back to Adam. Standing in front of some stacked hay, he cocked his head to better hear the wailing noise. Going to the hay, he crouched down and began digging through it.<\/span>

Seeing his brother messing up the hay, and knowing Pa would give them a lecture before having them reshape it, Adam said, \u201cStop messing up the hay and help me with the horses.\u201d<\/span>

Feeling something softer than the surrounding hay touching his fingers, Hoss took hold of the softness and gently pulled. He was surprised to see a small gray tabby kitten hanging from his hand. The volume of the scream-crying increased as the kitten was pulled from its nest. Looking it over, he held it up for his brother to see and said, \u201cAin\u2019t she cute, Adam?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cSure. Now put it back before its mother claws you to shreds.\u201d<\/span>

Keeping a gentle yet firm hold on the crying kitten, Hoss searched through the hay for more kittens or the cat. Not finding any, he began searching through the barn, hoping to return the kitten to its littermates and mother. Since he was unsuccessful, he climbed the ladder to the loft, expecting to see a feline family snuggled up there against the coming storm; maybe the little tabby had fallen out of the loft and couldn\u2019t figure out how to get back to its family.<\/span>

\u201cGet down from there and help me with these horses!\u201d said Adam with exasperation. Pa had given them a chore to do and they needed to get it done before the storm arrived. Adam didn\u2019t like the thought of going back inside and listening to Little Joe scream for hours and not being able to escape from the noise because of the weather. He knew Hoss didn\u2019t enjoy Little Joe\u2019s screaming either but this foot-dragging over a kitten was getting annoying.<\/span>

\u201cThere ain\u2019t no cats up here,\u201d Hoss called down.<\/span>

\u201cMaybe the mother was moving her kittens and she just hasn\u2019t come back for that one yet.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cBut why would she move \u2018em when it\u2019s about to storm?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI don\u2019t know. Maybe she knows something about the weather that we don\u2019t. Besides, we\u2019ve got to finish up so get back down here and help me.\u201d<\/span>

Hoss tucked the kitten into his shirt, hoping the furry little bundle would feel safe and secure in a warm and snuggly spot. The little kitten\u2019s cries turned to mewls after it was in Hoss\u2019 shirt and that noise then turned into purring. The boy descended the ladder, careful not to bump the kitten against it.<\/span>

Finishing up with the horses, the boys headed for the barn door. Adam realized that purring was coming from Hoss\u2019 shirt. \u201cYou can\u2019t bring that into the house! Marie and Pa won\u2019t let you!\u201d<\/span>

Fixing his brother with a pleading puppy look, Hoss asked, \u201cCan\u2019t ya jest pretend that you don\u2019t know? I\u2019ll take her up to my room as soon as we get inside. I\u2019ll take care of her an\u2019 make sure she stays in my room. Please, Adam?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI\u2019m not gonna lie to Pa and Marie.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI ain\u2019t askin\u2019 you ta lie. Just don\u2019t tell \u2018em.\u201d<\/span>

Sighing loudly and rolling his eyes, Adam said, \u201cOkay. But if Pa or Marie tells you to bring it back out here, then you\u2019re gonna have to.\u201d<\/span>

Hoss\u2019 face beamed with a smile and he gently patted the bundle in his shirt. \u201cYa heard that, Stormy? Adam ain\u2019t gonna tell.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat kind of a name is that for a kitten?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWell, it\u2019s about ta storm and this lil kitten is about the same color as the clouds.\u201d<\/span>

Adam slightly shook his head. Since Hoss had named the kitten he probably wouldn\u2019t bring it back to the barn if Pa or Marie told him to.<\/span>

Arriving on the front porch, Adam grimaced as he heard Little Joe\u2019s wails. He had tried everything he could think of to comfort his youngest brother—rocking him, gently bouncing him on his knees, giving him some strips of leather to chew on, and rubbing his gums with a cold chamomile tea. Nothing had worked so far. He knew Pa and Marie were just as tired and almost at the end of their wits. Surely he\u2019d never made as much noise as Little Joe and Hoss had hardly cried at all.<\/span>

Hoss tried to adjust Stormy so the kitten didn\u2019t look as bulgy under his shirt. He figured if he could get inside and up to his room without being noticed, then he had a good chance of making sure the kitten would get settled in without any questions. Stormy again got comfortable and the purring increased in volume.<\/span>

Entering the house, the boys saw their father sitting at his desk, massaging his temples. Their mother was pacing back and forth, trying her best to comfort her crying son. Both adults had dark circles under their eyes from lack of sleep and little rest. Marie was almost surprised that she hadn\u2019t worn a hole into her Petit Joseph\u2019s back with all of the rubbing she\u2019d done to try to soothe him. It was small comfort to her that no one else could calm the baby; at least it didn\u2019t mean that her child preferred someone else to his own mother. Even Hop Sing had been trying, without success, to ease the baby\u2019s pain.<\/span>

Adam crossed the room to Marie and the two exchanged a look; she then handed the crying infant over to him. He pulled a strap of leather from his pocket and tried to get Little Joe to bite on it; the baby, however, kept turning his head away and cried even louder. Ben found himself rubbing his temples with more pressure, hoping to ease his headache. Four days ago he never would have thought that a child of his could cry so loud for so long. Adam had cried while teething but never at this volume and for this length of time. Hoss had whimpered but happily chewed on strips of leather and drooled until his clothing was soaking wet.<\/span>

Hoss took advantage of the noise and focus on his younger brother to go upstairs with the kitten. Reaching his room, he pulled Stormy from his shirt and the kitten began to mewl. \u201cSsshhh.. You stay in here an\u2019 I\u2019ll get ya some milk ta drink.\u201d He pulled back the covers on the bed, gently placed the kitten on the mattress, and covered her with the quilt. Except for a very small bump, Hoss was sure no one would notice anything.<\/span>

Picking up one of his carved wooden animals, he went back downstairs. Going over to Adam, he tried to move the horse in front of Little Joe\u2019s eyes but the baby wasn\u2019t interested. Looking over his shoulder, Adam said, \u201cLeave him alone. He doesn\u2019t want to look at it.\u201d<\/span>

Hoss went over to the settee and sat down beside Marie with a sad look on his face. She draped a comforting arm around her step-son\u2019s shoulders and drew him close. \u201cPetit Joseph will stop crying soon, mon fils.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhy do babies have ta cry so much?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cSome babies rarely cry and others\u2026\u201d Her voice trailed off as her Petit Joseph increased the volume.<\/span>

\u201cDo you think he\u2019d be more comfortable in his crib?\u201d asked Adam.<\/span>

\u201cPerhaps he\u2019ll cry himself to sleep in a short while,\u201d Marie answered hopefully.<\/span>

She started to stand and Adam said, \u201cI\u2019ll take him up and sit with him.\u201d The look of gratitude she gave him made him smile. He enjoyed spending time with his baby brother, even if it meant listening to screams that practically echoed off the walls. \u201cCome on, Buddy, let\u2019s go upstairs and lay you down for a while.\u201d While Adam headed upstairs, the rest of the family had a view of Little Joe\u2019s scrunched up, red, puffy, tear-streaked face; his little fists gripped Adam\u2019s shirt tightly.<\/span>

Ben got up from his desk and went over to the brandy decanter; pouring himself a glass, he looked over at his wife and asked, \u201cWould like a little something to soothe your nerves?\u201d \u201cMais oui,\u201d she replied. Bringing two glasses over, Ben sat down at the other end of the settee so Hoss was between his parents. Both adults sipped at the warm liquid as their son\u2019s screams continued at a slightly lower volume. A clap of thunder reminded them of the building storm. Ben looked up at the ceiling and asked aloud, \u201cDo we really need more noise?\u201d Hoss and Marie let out giggles, relieving some tension.<\/span>

Upstairs, Adam had laid Little Joe in the crib and was singing softly to the baby in Swedish. Little Joe screamed and flailed his little arms in frustration against the pain. Finally giving up, Adam rested his arms on the edge of the crib, leaned forward, and rested his forehead on his arms. It seemed that absolutely nothing was going to make Little Joe stop crying. A clap of thunder only increased Little Joe\u2019s volume.<\/span>

Needing a few moments of peace, Adam went to his own room and sat on the bed. He wished that something could be found to comfort his youngest brother and ease his pain. Actually, he hoped that something could be found to stop his youngest brother\u2019s crying and ease their headaches and tension. Pa had been in a bad mood for two days now because of Little Joe\u2019s endless crying and, as a result, had been snapping at his sons about their chores.<\/span>

The lump in Hoss\u2019 bed began moving to get out from under the quilts. All of the crying noises from down the hall interested Stormy. She slid from the edge of the bed to the floor and went to investigate. Padding softly on the wood floor, the kitten walked down the hall with her ears pricked in curiosity. Reaching the doorway where the noise was loudest, she went inside and looked around. Going over to the crib, she let out a cry of her own and was answered with a loud cry from the crib. Standing up on her back paws, she rested her front paws against the crib and looked through the bars; her little nose worked hard at deciphering the smells. The creature in there didn\u2019t look or smell like her mother or littermates, yet the kitten decided to investigate further.<\/span>

Pulling herself between the crib\u2019s slats, Stormy sniffed at Little Joe\u2019s blankets, clothing, and face. She licked at his tears, which startled the baby. He looked at the kitten and reached for it with a pudgy hand. Touching the soft fur, his eyes widened in surprise and the volume of his screaming became a little softer. Stormy sniffed at the little hand and gave it a lick; she then rubbed her cheek against it. Little Joe\u2019s screams began to subside as he looked at the kitten. A loud clap of thunder scared the kitten and Stormy rubbed against the baby\u2019s face and arm in an attempt to soothe herself. As Little Joe\u2019s cries became softer, Stormy snuggled up next to him and purred loudly.<\/span>

Worried by the lack of loud noise, Adam rushed into the room and looked into the crib. Loud footsteps alerted him to Ben and Marie hurrying up the stairs. Adam was about to reach for the kitten when his parents entered the room. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with mon b\u00e9b\u00e9?\u201d Marie asked.<\/span>

\u201cHe\u2019s okay but there\u2019s a kitten in here.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cA kitten? How did that get in here?\u201d asked Ben.<\/span>

\u201cHoss brought it in,\u201d said Adam. He had told Hoss he wouldn\u2019t lie but he couldn\u2019t deny the kitten\u2019s existence now that they\u2019d seen it.<\/span>

\u201cGet that chaton out of the crib,\u201d said Marie. \u201cIt\u2019ll steal Petit Joseph\u2019s breath.\u201d<\/span>

Looking down at his son and the kitten, Ben said, \u201cAt least he\u2019s stopped screaming.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThat animal might have some illness we don\u2019t know about,\u201d said Marie. \u201cWhat if our petit should fall ill?\u201d<\/span>

Hoss came in the room and saw his parents and brother looking into the crib. He walked over and peered down to see Stormy looking up through half-closed eyes; she was purring loudly. The boy looked at his mother with pleading eyes and asked, \u201cCan she stay with Lil Joe, Mama? Please? I promise she won\u2019t be no trouble.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cNo, mon fils.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cBut, Mama\u2026\u201d Hoss began.<\/span>

\u201cYour mother said no. Now take the kitten back to the barn where it belongs.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cBut she ain\u2019t got no mama or family ta go to. Ain\u2019t that right, Adam?\u201d<\/span>

Adam wilted under Hoss pleading look and said, \u201cHoss couldn\u2019t find the kitten\u2019s mother or littermates. It was in the barn all alone. But I never said he could keep it in the house.\u201d<\/span>

Marie was clearly not pleased with the idea of a cat in the house or one sharing her son\u2019s crib. Ben was surprised that his son\u2019s screams had turned into whimpers; if the mere presence of the kitten could cause such a calming effect then he thought it should stay.<\/span>

Taking Marie by the elbow, Ben steered her into the hall. \u201cMaybe we should let the kitten stay with Joseph. He\u2019s already calmed down a lot.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cIf he wants something soft, we should give him a stuffed toy of some sort, not a chaton. That thing was out in the barn. It could be sick or carrying some illness or\u2026\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhy don\u2019t we let it stay for now and see how things go? Maybe we can get some sleep since Joseph has stopped screaming.\u201d<\/span>

Putting a hand to her cheek, Marie frowned a bit while thinking. A nap sounded very tempting but who knew what could happen with a cat in the crib with her Petit Joseph. If the animal didn\u2019t steal her child\u2019s breath it could hurt him with its claws.\u00a0<\/span>

Hoss came into the hall looking sad and dejected. Sniffling, he looked up at his parents he said, \u201cI just wanted Stormy to have a family. She\u2019s got no one and was all alone out in the barn.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>

Marie melted at Hoss\u2019 quivering lower lip and pulled the boy to her. \u201cYour p\u00e8re and I have decided to let le chaton stay with Petit Joseph for a little while.\u201d Hoss smiled up at her through his tears. Placing a finger under his chin she said, \u201cYou must be the one to take care of that chaton since you\u2019re the one who brought it inside.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYes, Ma\u2019am! I\u2019ll take good care of Stormy.\u201d A clap of thunder reminded everyone of how the kitten had gotten its name.\u00a0<\/span>

The noise from the thunder scared Little Joe and he started to cry again. Marie rushed into the nursery, expecting to have to take the baby from the crib and walk with him again but the kitten was rubbing its cheek against Little Joe\u2019s face and purring loudly. Little Joe\u2019s cries began to subside to whimpers as he calmed down from the kitten\u2019s soothing rubbing.<\/span>

Noticing how tired Pa and Marie appeared, Adam said, \u201cI\u2019ll stay here with Little Joe if you want to get a nap.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>

Marie looked at Ben and he lifted his eyebrows as if asking why not. \u201cThank you, mon fils. Be sure to wake us if Petit Joseph should need anything.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYes, Ma\u2019am, I will.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cCan I take a nap, too, Mama?\u201d asked Hoss.\u00a0<\/span>

\u201cSure, Son,\u201d answered Ben. \u201cAdam will stay here with Joseph and if he gets tired, he\u2019ll come wake you.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThanks, Papa. Thanks, Mama.\u201d Hoss then went to his room and climbed into the bed. The boy was snoring soon after settling into his bed.<\/span>

Marie looked into the crib again to make sure the kitten wasn\u2019t trying to hurt her baby. Seeing the contented look on her son\u2019s face and hearing the purring of the kitten, she decided that a short nap would give her the energy to comfort her son again when the pain became too much for him to bear. Taking her husband\u2019s hand, she led him to their room so they could get some much-needed sleep.<\/span>

Adam reached down into the crib and stroked the kitten\u2019s soft fur. Stormy looked up through half-closed eyes and yawned. \u201cKeep an eye on him, okay?\u201d The kitten closed one eye in response. Adam then stroked his brother\u2019s soft, chestnut hair. Little Joe\u2019s only response was a sniffle.\u00a0<\/span>

Sitting on the floor with his back to the wall, Adam read from The Last of the Mohicans. Periodically, he looked up from his book to make sure that Little Joe was still sleeping. Noticing that Little Joe was noisily sucking his thumb, Adam leaned into the wall and read. After reading the same paragraph eight times, he decided to close his eyes for a few minutes; Little Joe had stopped screaming and with the house so peaceful, it was hard for Adam to not give into the silence and sleep.<\/span>

Marie had been sleeping soundly when she became aware of her Petit Joseph crying loudly. Her body tried to tell her that everything was all right and that she should go back to sleep but her mind was telling her to get up and check on the baby. Starting to sit up, she was startled to see a creature on her in the dim light; the sound of a crying baby came from its mouth. She screamed, hoping to frighten what she hoped was a dream-induced image from the room.<\/span>

Dreaming of British soldiers desperately fighting off the attacking Huron, Adam thought he could hear a woman screaming in the midst of the battle. Feeling a strong hand shaking his shoulder, Adam groggily opened his eyes and looked around. Pa was squatting in front of him, a firm hand gripping his shoulder. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Adam asked.<\/span>

\u201cYou fell asleep. Didn\u2019t you hear crying?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cNo, Sir.\u201d Adam\u2019s groggy mind tried to think but he couldn\u2019t remember hearing Little Joe cry.<\/span>

Looking at the crib, Adam was startled to see Little Joe and Stormy gone. Was the screaming woman he\u2019d heard in his dream related to the missing baby and kitten? \u201cWhere\u2019s Little Joe?\u201d he asked, starting to panic.<\/span>

\u201cEverything\u2019s okay. Your mother has him.\u201d Helping Adam stand, Ben escorted him to the master bedroom. An ashen Marie was sitting in the rocker, holding her Petit Joseph to her tightly while Stormy perched on her lap. Little Joe was sniffling and whimpering but not screaming.<\/span>

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Adam asked his parents.<\/span>

\u201cWe were sleeping and I thought I heard Petit Joseph crying. When I awoke, it was to see a strange shape that cried like a b\u00e9b\u00e9 yet it wasn\u2019t. I got up to check on your petit fr\u00e8re and found him in his crib but not breathing.\u201d Looking down at Stormy, she said, \u201cIf le chaton had not been in the crib with mon petit, he might have never breathed again.\u201d<\/span>

Adam\u2019s face paled at hearing that. He\u2019d failed his father and step-mother since he told them that he\u2019d stay awake and watch Little Joe while they napped. Seeing the guilt on his eldest\u2019s face, Ben pulled Adam to him and gave his son\u2019s shoulders a squeeze. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Pa, Marie. I shouldn\u2019t have fallen asleep. I didn\u2019t know\u2026\u201d<\/span>

\u201cIt\u2019s all right, Son. Your brother\u2019s all right, thanks to Stormy.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat if Stormy hadn\u2019t been in the crib? What if no one realized until\u2026?\u201d<\/span>

Turning Adam so he could look him in the eye, Ben said, \u201cWe aren\u2019t blaming you for falling asleep. God knows we\u2019ve all needed sleep for several days. We\u2019re just thankful Stormy was here to let us know something was wrong.\u201d<\/span>

Hoss walked into his parents\u2019 room, wiping the sleep from his eyes. \u201cWhat\u2019s goin\u2019 on?\u201d he asked.<\/span>

\u201cStormy saved Little Joe,\u201d answered Adam.<\/span>

\u201cAin\u2019t she a great kitten?\u201d asked Hoss with a huge smile.<\/span>

\u201cMais oui, mon fils,\u201d said Marie with a smile. \u201cBut you will need to make sure that le chaton has the food it needs and is properly taken care of.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYes, Ma\u2019am! I shore will, Mama!\u201d<\/span>

Going over to his mother, Hoss knelt down and scratched Stormy behind her ears. The kitten purred loudly and leaned her head back to enjoy the scratching. Marie gazed down at the fluffy little bundle and was grateful that Hoss had found the motherless creature. She thought that maybe a guardian angel had sent Stormy to watch over her petit fils and keep him safe.\u00a0<\/span>

Ben was thinking Stormy was a special cat already. She\u2019d been able to stop Joseph\u2019s crying when nothing else could and now she\u2019d alerted them when he\u2019d stopped breathing. It was a good thing that Hoss had decided to sneak the cat into the house after all.<\/span>

Even though Adam had been unhappy with the idea of Hoss sneaking the kitten inside, he was glad his brother had done it. He had fallen asleep in the silence and knew he\u2019d never forgive himself if Little Joe had died and he hated to think of what Pa and Marie would have done to him if that had happened. Maybe having a kitten in the house wouldn\u2019t be too bad after all, especially if Hoss fed it and looked after it.<\/span>

Marie was thankful that the kitten had alerted her so she could get her son breathing again. Maybe the stories of cats stealing babies\u2019 breath were just tales after all. She certainly believed that to be the case since the cat had cried to get her attention rather than staying in the crib. Her petit Joseph let out a contented sigh and snuggled into her neck; she smiled down at the kitten and swore she could see it smiling back at her as it purred loudly.\u00a0<\/span>

The End<\/span>
May 2008<\/span><\/p>\n

Next Story in The Battle of Wills Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ennui<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a014th story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 Hoss finds a kitten in the barn and decides to bring it in the house. Marie is not happy because of the old wives’ tales of cats stealing the breath from babies. Will this kitten change her mind?<\/p>\n

Rating: K Word Count=3937<\/p>\n

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