{"id":5967,"date":"2007-07-03T16:11:32","date_gmt":"2007-07-03T20:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5967"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:11:22","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:11:22","slug":"naming-the-newest-cartwright","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5967","title":{"rendered":"Naming the Newest Cartwright (by Patina)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0<\/span>9th story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 The Cartwrights try to decide on a name for the coming baby.<\/p>\n

Rating: K+\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Word Count=2542<\/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

Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page<\/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

Naming the Newest Cartwright<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marie was sitting on the settee, sewing a dress for the coming baby. The material rested on the bulge made by the newest Cartwright. She sighed in boredom, set aside the dress, stood up, stretched, and headed for the kitchen. Hopefully, Hop Sing had left the sugar cookies sitting on the counter.<\/span>

The opening of the door caught her attention. Ben came in with a sack of coffee for Hop Sing. \u201cHow\u2019s my favorite mother-to-be?\u201d<\/span>

She smiled and replied \u201cI hope I\u2019m your favorite. I wouldn\u2019t want to be second to Bonnie.\u201d Her mare had been bred when Ben had decided that riding around the ranch would be a danger to mother and child.<\/span>

Ben stopped for a kiss before continuing to the kitchen. When he returned, he carried a small plate loaded with cookies. Taking one for himself, he brought the plate to Marie. She took the plate, went over to the coffee table, and set it down.<\/span>

As she munched on one, Hoss and Adam came in. While Adam shut the door, Hoss crossed the room to the table to get some cookies. \u201cThose are for Mama\u201d said Ben. \u201cMais non, mon chere. You may have as many as you\u2019d like, mon fils. Hop Sing has more in the kitchen.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cDo ya think the baby\u2019ll like cookies?\u201d asked Hoss around a mouthful of crumbs.<\/span>

\u201cThe baby won\u2019t have teeth, mon fils.\u201d<\/span>

The look on Hoss\u2019 face made her laugh. A sudden pain made her gasp with surprise.<\/span>

Ben crossed to her in two strides and grasped her by the elbow. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, darling? Should I send for the doctor?\u201d<\/span>

Marie still looked surprised. Finally realizing she was holding her breath, she exhaled slowly and looked at Ben in wonder. \u201cThe baby kicked.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cShe did?\u201d he asked with excitement. He placed a hand on her belly, hoping to feel his child move. His reward was another strong kick. \u201cCome over here, boys\u201d he encouraged.<\/span>

Adam and Hoss went over to their step-mother. She grasped a hand from each son and placed it on her belly. \u201cI don\u2019t feel nothin\u2019\u201d said Hoss. \u201cBe patient\u201d said Ben.<\/span>

Nothing happened for several minutes. Adam was about to pull his hand away when the baby kicked directly under it. His smile went from ear to ear as said \u201cThat\u2019s gotta be a boy. He kicks really hard.\u201d<\/span>

Hoss was disappointed that the baby didn\u2019t kick the side he was on. \u201cIs it gonna kick me too, Mama?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI don\u2019t know, mon fils. Perhaps the baby is finished for now.\u201d Marie kept Hoss\u2019 hand pressed to her belly, but nothing else happened. Ben and Adam removed their hands so the little boy could place his other hand on her belly. The baby decided to stretch. Hoss\u2019 eyes widened with wonder as he felt his sibling move. \u201cHow\u2019s it do that, Mama?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cDo what, mon fils?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cMove in there. How\u2019s it got room?\u201d<\/span>

Marie giggled and looked at Ben. \u201cThe baby has enough room but sometimes needs to stretch a little. That\u2019s what you felt just now.\u201d<\/span>

Hoss\u2019 eyes again widened in wonder. \u201cWhen\u2019s the baby comin\u2019 out?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cNot for a few more months.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cHow will it get out?\u201d<\/span>

Marie turned scarlet and Ben cleared his throat. \u201cWhy don\u2019t we find out what Hop Sing is going to make for supper?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cDo ya think he\u2019ll cook up some stewed apples?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cHe just might. Let\u2019s go suggest it to him.\u201d<\/span>

Ben steered Hoss for the kitchen, leaving Marie alone with Adam. She noticed the boy was lost in thought. \u201cMarie?\u201d he asked.<\/span>

\u201cOui, mon fils?\u201d she asked as she sat down on the settee.<\/span>

\u201cI know you and Pa think the baby is gonna be a girl, but what if it\u2019s a boy?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat do you mean, mon fils?\u201d<\/span>

He was trying to figure out how to be tactful. \u201cWon\u2019t a boy need less\u2026frills?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cIt won\u2019t matter for the first several months. The baby won\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWon\u2019t people talk about a boy in frilly clothes?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThey won\u2019t notice the clothing. People want to see a baby\u2019s face and hands. Besides, a girl is expected to be dressed in lace.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat if the baby is a boy?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYour pere is sure the baby is a girl. I also believe so. Why are you sure this child will be a boy?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThere aren\u2019t many girl Cartwrights.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cPerhaps this baby will add to the number of Cartwright filles.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhats?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cGirls.\u201d<\/span>

Adam pursed his lips in thought. Marie was hoping Adam would drop the subject. \u201cCan\u2019t you make some non-frilly clothes just in case?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat did Hoss wear as a baby?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat do you mean nothing?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cJust a diaper. We kept him wrapped in a blanket. He was a big baby.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat did he wear as he got older?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cFor a while, Pa and I put him in feed sacks.\u201d Marie raised a skeptical eyebrow. \u201cWe\u2019d cut out the bottom and make some holes for his arms.\u201d At a face from her he added \u201cWe didn\u2019t have money for store-bought clothes. So we made do with what we had at hand.\u201d<\/span>

Ben and Hoss returned from the kitchen before Adam could continue his story of how his brother had been clothed. Hoss was contentedly munching on an apple. It turned out that Hop Sing was going to make stewed apples for supper.<\/span>

\u201cSit down, boys\u201d Ben said as he sat on the coffee table opposite Marie. \u201cLet\u2019s discuss a name for the baby.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWill we give it a real name and then a regular name?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d asked Marie, confused.<\/span>

\u201cMy real name ain\u2019t Hoss, but everyone calls me that.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cUncle Gunnar said we should. Pa said we\u2019d call you both and see which fit. You were so big that Hoss seemed better than Eric.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cLet\u2019s just stick with one name for the baby for now. We need some girl names.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat about boy names?\u201d asked Adam. Marie just looked at him. He seemed so determined to be right.<\/span>

\u201cYour mother and I believe the baby will be a girl. Let\u2019s concentrate on girl names.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cBefore Hoss came, you said a boy would be named for Grandfather Cartwright. If the baby is a boy, are we gonna call him Joseph?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cJosephine would make a lovely name\u201d said Marie. \u201cThat was the name of Napoleon\u2019s empress.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWe could call her Josie\u201d said Hoss with a smile.<\/span>

\u201cI was thinking a girl could be named after my mother\u201d suggested Ben.<\/span>

\u201cWhat was her name, mon cher?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAnne.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAnne Cartwright\u201d said Adam thoughtfully. \u201cIt\u2019s kinda\u2026bland, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat was your mama\u2019s name, Mama?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>

\u201cHer name was Simone.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI like Anne better\u201d said Hoss.<\/span>

\u201cHow about Anne Marie?\u201d suggested Ben hopefully.<\/span>

\u201cAnne Marie Cartwright\u201d said Marie. She smiled and said \u201cIt\u2019s very pretty.\u201d<\/span>

\u201dThat\u2019s too girly\u201d complained Adam.<\/span>

\u201cWhat\u2019s your suggestion?\u201d asked Ben.<\/span>

Adam shrugged his shoulders and said \u201cIs Joseph the only boy name you\u2019ve got?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cMy pere\u2019s name was Francois\u201d said Marie as a suggestion.<\/span>

\u201cFrance who?\u201d asked Hoss wrinkling his nose.<\/span>

\u201cYou would say Francis\u201d she replied.<\/span>

\u201cWhat about Frances if it\u2019s a girl?\u201d asked Adam. \u201cWe could call her Frank.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cFrances Cartwright\u201d said Ben. \u201cWhat do you think, darling?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI think Josephine sounds prettier.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAre you quittin\u2019 on Anne Marie?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>

\u201cNot yet\u201d said Ben. \u201cYour mother and I just want to have a few names picked out before the baby arrives. We\u2019ll know which name to choose when we see her face.\u201d He smiled at Marie.<\/span>

\u201cWe have Anne Marie, Josephine, and Frances. Three very pretty names\u201d said Marie.<\/span>

Adam was surprised that Marie included his girl name suggestion. \u201cIs the only boy name Joseph?\u201d he asked.<\/span>

\u201cIt looks that way\u201d said Ben. \u201cI\u2019m sure this baby is going to be a girl.\u201d \u201cSo am I\u201d answered Marie.<\/span>

\u201cWhat color is her hair gonna be?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d asked Marie.<\/span>

\u201cDo we get to pick that too? I think her hair should be yellow, like yours, Mama.\u201d<\/span>

Marie had to stifle a laugh. \u201cWe don\u2019t get to pick the baby\u2019s hair or eye color. God will do that for us.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cOh\u201d he answered disappointedly.<\/span>

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you boys go outside and play for a while?\u201d suggested Ben. It was a few hours until supper and he wanted to relax for a while with his wife. The boys went out the door as told.<\/span>

Ben moved from the coffee table to the settee and put his arm around his wife\u2019s shoulders. She laid her head against his shoulder and sighed. The baby was starting to leave her tired most days. She kept telling herself three more months and she could be pretty again.<\/span>

\u201cMon cher?\u201d\u00a0<\/span>

\u201cYes, darling?\u201d\u00a0<\/span>

\u201cDid you and Adam really dress Hoss in feed sacks?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWho told you that?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAdam. He said that there was no money for clothes so you dressed Hoss in what you had. Since he was so big, the only thing that would fit was a feed sack.\u201d<\/span>

Ben chuckled. \u201cWhen Hoss was an infant, we just kept him in a diaper. When he could walk, Adam made clothes for him with fabric I bought. Like Adam, he wore dresses until diapers were no longer needed.\u201d<\/span>

Marie laughed in response. Finally getting some breath, she said \u201cAdam is worried about the baby being clothed in dresses. He says people won\u2019t be able to tell if the baby is a boy or girl. I suppose people could see that Adam and Hoss were boys.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI\u2019ve never seen Adam quite so determined to have his way about something\u201d said Ben.<\/span>

\u201cPerhaps he wants to feel as if he has some say in regard to his sibling.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cHe wasn\u2019t this way at all with Inger. I wonder why he is now.\u201d<\/span>

Lifting her head from her husband\u2019s shoulder, Marie asked \u201cDo you really have to wonder?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d he asked, looking into her eyes.<\/span>

\u201cHe wants the opposite of what I want. Perhaps if I said the baby will be a boy, he would say it will be a girl.\u201d<\/span>

Ben kissed his wife\u2019s forehead and said \u201cWe won\u2019t know for sure until the baby comes.\u201d With a hand on her belly, he added \u201cI hope we\u2019ll have a girl.\u201d<\/span>

She kissed him and said \u201cSo do I, mon cher. But I will be just as happy with a boy.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cSo will I, darling.\u201d He kissed her again.<\/span>

Outside, Adam and Hoss were holding a jumping contest between two toads they found near the water trough. \u201cWhy do ya think the baby is gonna be a boy?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>

\u201cBecause I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cBut why?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI\u2019m a boy and you\u2019re a boy. That means Pa always has boys.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cHow do ya know Mama hasn\u2019t decided to have a girl?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI told you, Hoss. Look, you and I have different mothers, right?\u201d Hoss nodded his head. \u201cThat means Pa somehow decided we would be boys. Besides, Pa has a brother and he has a boy. There aren\u2019t many girl Cartwrights. Understand?\u201d<\/span>

Hoss thought about that while he held his toad. After several minutes he said \u201cI guess a boy would be okay.\u201d<\/span>

At supper that evening, Hoss was enjoying a second helping of stewed apples when Marie suddenly hiccupped. She blushed a bright pink, put a hand to her mouth, and said \u201cExcuse me.\u201d Hoss giggled.<\/span>

\u201cThat baby must think I\u2019ve eaten enough\u201d she said.<\/span>

\u201cHey, Mama?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cOui, mon fils?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAdam and me talked it over and if you don\u2019t wanna have a boy that\u2019ll be okay.\u201d<\/span>

Marie looked across the table at Ben, who gave a slight shrug and a smile, and said \u201cMerci, mon fils. Your pere and I would like a girl, but we will love a boy just as much.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYou won\u2019t be mad if it ain\u2019t a girl?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cNo, mon fils. Your pere and I will be happy with the baby God gives us.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThat\u2019s right, Son. Your Mama and I want a healthy baby.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cA girl might not be too bad\u201d said Adam. \u201cWe could teach her to ride a horse and how to fish.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWe could even show her how to pick up toads\u201d said Hoss.<\/span>

Marie and Ben were smiling at each other as Hoss and Adam talked about all of the things they could teach a girl to do. She hoped that Ben would get the princess he wanted. And she loved the idea of a little girl in frilly dresses being doted on by the Cartwright household. All she really wanted was a healthy baby that would grow to adulthood. When she thought of the son she had lost those many years ago, she became quite melancholy. There was so much excitement in regard to this baby and with her loving husband here at her side, she knew everything was going to be all right. Whether the baby was a boy or a girl.<\/span>

Ben raised his glass and said \u201cTo Anne Marie, Josephine, or Frances Cartwright.\u201d He and Marie then drank from their glasses while Adam and Hoss clinked theirs together. Marie then said \u201cTo Joseph Cartwright.\u201d The boys\u2019 glasses clinked together again. \u201cTo the newest Cartwright\u201d said Adam. This was followed by clinking glasses. \u201cTo whatever God give us\u201d said Hoss. Ben replied \u201cAmen!\u201d and both Marie and Adam laughed as glasses were clinked together.<\/span>

Marie knew this child was coming into a house filled with love, which lifted her heart. The newest Cartwright was most likely to be spoiled rotten by parents and siblings alike. And she knew that Adam would adore this child regardless of how he felt about her. Maybe she could make a few non-frilly dresses, just in case this was a boy.<\/span>

Another loud hiccup brought her out of her thoughts. Marie joined in the laughter as she poured another glass of water. Petite Anne Marie certainly knew how to get attention already, she thought as she sipped some water.\u00a0<\/span>

The End<\/span>
July 2007<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Presents 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

\n
Reviewer:\u00a0<\/span>ljlover2001\u00a0Anonymous<\/span>
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>19 Jan 2011 11:22 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Naming the Newest Cartwright\u00a0This was a lovely story and I like the way you portray the younger CartwrightsI suppose it was likely that Ben wanted a daughter when Joe was on the way, as he already had two sons. And Marie, too, probably would have liked a girl, now that she had inherited two boys. But I’m very glad they had a boy as gorgeous as Little Joe LOLLittle Joe foreverLynneAuthor’s Response:<\/i><\/i>Thank you so much, Lynne.\u00a0 Ben probably would’ve loved to have had a daughter to spoil but thank goodness he and Marie had Little Joe.*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Reviewer:\u00a0<\/span>jojay\u00a0Anonymous<\/span>
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>14 Dec 2009 08:58 pm\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Naming the Newest Cartwright\u00a0Being the center of attention started early!\u00a0 Good story.Author’s Response:<\/i><\/i>Thank you, jojay.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a09th story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 The Cartwrights try to decide on a name for the coming baby<\/p>\n

Rating: K+ Word Count=2542<\/p>\n

The Battle of Wills series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}