Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended against Charles Lang’s script. Original plot is\u00a0property 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 <\/p>\n Saints Preserve Us<\/strong><\/p>\n Nellie Lynch hobbled around the corner of the barn, wishing she\u2019d told the driver to bring her up to the house rather than let her off back a ways down the road. She stopped in her tracks at the sight of the grand house and leaned heavily against the sturdy walking stick to take it all in. Ten of her humble little abode could easily fit inside the manor with room to spare. The only lack was an ostentation of peacocks strutting about the yard.\u00a0<\/span> <\/p>\n
A shout followed by a splash brought her out of her reverie. A voice deep within the well called out for help. Her eyes bulged in disbelief as the rope unwound until the spool snapped in half with a loud crack.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cDadblast it!\u201d was followed by pleas for help.<\/span>
Nellie set her satchel down and gathered her skirt. Her jaw set in determination as she shuffled over to the well. She placed her walking stick against it and then set her hands on the lip of the cool, damp stone so she could lean over in safety. A glimpse of white against the darkness caught her eye. Unable to make out the depth, she leaned further, balancing her midsection against the rim, her petticoats fluttering as she kicked her feet to keep her balance.<\/span>
\u201cHallo down there!\u201d<\/span>
\u201cMa\u2019am? Could you fetch some help?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThere\u2019s no one about, boy. You just sit tight.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI ain\u2019t going nowhere,\u201d the voice assured.<\/span>
Nellie pushed away from the stone until her feet were planted firmly on the ground. She took in her surroundings, eyes narrowed in scrutiny.\u00a0<\/span>Maybe that\u2019ll do<\/i>, she thought, looking at a large tree nearby. She picked up her walking stick and hobbled over to the tree, testing it with a few taps from her stick. Satisfied, she returned to the well.<\/span>
\u201cThrow the rope, boy.\u201d<\/span>
A chuckle boomed from the darkness. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, ma\u2019am, but I don\u2019t think you can pull me outta here.\u201d<\/span>
She pursed her lips in disapproval. \u201cDo you want to stay down there?\u201d<\/span>
Water splashed as the man moved around. The rope flew up then bounced off the rocks and fell back.<\/span>
Nellie balanced against the well\u2019s lip again, holding tight to the stone with one hand. A flash of white caught her eye and the rope sailed up. Her fingers clutched it and she threw her weight back, falling on her backside. With a loud harrumph, she gathered her legs beneath her and reached out for her walking stick. Gaining her feet, she dragged the rope to the tree and wound it around the trunk several times before tucking in the loose end. With a pleased sigh, she admired her handiwork.<\/span>
Returning to the well, she shouted, \u201cPull yourself up!\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYou sure about this?\u201d<\/span>
The doubt in the man\u2019s voice raised Nellie\u2019s hackles. \u201cWould you rather stay down there with the creepy crawlies until a parliament of owls comes up with a better idea?\u201d<\/span>
Her ears caught the sound of boots scraping against stone.<\/span>
Fingers as large as sausages emerged and gripped the outer edge of the well\u2019s mouth.\u00a0<\/span>
Nellie gulped and clutched at the cameo pinned at her throat.\u00a0<\/span>Faith and begorra! Saints preserve me and keep me from harm<\/i>.<\/span>
Sandy hair appeared followed by a florid face. The giant paused for a brief moment, both arms over the edge of the well. Then he pulled himself up and over so he was sitting on the ground, his back to the stone. Blue eyes sparkled with gratitude as he smiled up at her.<\/span>
Nellie\u2019s cheeks puffed out as she loosed a breath and she relaxed her grip on her walking stick. She tsked and shuffled over to the young man.<\/span>
\u201cAre you all right, boy?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYes\u2019m.\u201d He got to his feet, shook his arms, and then ran a hand through his thinning hair.<\/span>
Nellie looked him up and down then said, \u201cI thought my Danny ran a tight ship. How did he ever make this ranch a success with the likes of you working for him? If none of you have the sense of a smack of jellyfish, my Danny must have to shoulder most of the work himself.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYour Danny?\u201d asked the man, nose scrunched up as if he were confused.<\/span>
Nellie drew her shoulders back to stand at her full height of far shorter than the man before her. Her steely gaze lent her an air of authority. \u201cDon\u2019t pretend you aren\u2019t employed by Danny Lynch. He wrote me, told me how he built this ranch with nothing but his bare hands and a strong back.\u201d Her chin jutted forward in pride. \u201cYou should be grateful Danny took in a big lunk like you with so much bloat about the middle.\u201d She harrumphed and pointed the end of her walking stick at the man\u2019s substantial girth. \u201cWhat would your name be?\u201d<\/span>
The man looked down at his boots and fingered the seams of his vest. Looking up through his lashes, he said, \u201cHoss, ma\u2019am. Hoss Cartwright.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWell don\u2019t just stand there. Go tell Danny his mother is here all the way from Ireland.\u201d<\/span>
The man scuffed the toe of his boot through the dirt, raising a small puff of dust. \u201cHe . . . he ain\u2019t here, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/span>
Nellie sighed and her shoulders drooped. \u201cWhen will he be back?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI don\u2019t rightly know, ma\u2019am. How about you come inside and rest up. I\u2019ll go look for him.\u201d<\/span>
Hoss picked up her valise, took her elbow, and steered her to the kitchen door. He let her in and hunched his shoulders, nose wrinkled up and teeth clenched at the invective that streamed forth from her mouth.<\/span>
\u201cWhy never in my life! A dray of squirrels along with a prickle of hedgehogs couldn\u2019t have made a bigger mess! I bet my Danny has too soft a heart to dock your wages for leaving his kitchen in such a state.\u201d She picked up a pot, inspected it, and shook her head.\u00a0<\/span>
Hands on hips, she turned to Hoss and said, \u201cYou fetch my Danny and I\u2019ll get to cleaning this pigsty.\u201d<\/span>
Hoss gulped, opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it without a sound coming forth.\u00a0<\/span>It won\u2019t take a Pinkerton Agency sleuth to figure out Danny Lynch isn\u2019t the true owner of the Ponderosa<\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>
Nellie plucked up a wooden spoon covered in the remnants of a past meal and said, \u201cNow go, or do I have to smack you until the sense comes back into your head?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cN . . . no, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/span>
Hoss ran from the kitchen, relieved to be out of Mrs. Lynch\u2019s arm reach.\u00a0<\/span>Oh Lordy, wait \u2018til she sees the rest of the house<\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>
Nellie pulled an apron from a nearby hook and tied the strings around her waist. Unloading all of the pots and pans from the sink, she reached up for the lever and pumped until she was satisfied with the water level. She hummed a merry tune while scrubbing the pots and pans until they gleamed as if brand new. Next were the delicate plates and cups with their cattle motif. A contented sigh escaped her parted lips as she proudly looked around the sparkling kitchen.\u00a0<\/span>
With free work space and clean utensils, she rummaged around until she had the makings for a hearty stew. After the pot was bubbling and things again put away, she removed the apron.\u00a0<\/span>
Entering the big room, her lips tightened into a frown and she shook her head at the dust and cobwebs. \u201cOh, Danny, you need a wife to keep your house,\u201d she said aloud as she returned to the kitchen for a damp cloth and the mop.\u00a0<\/span>
She carefully inspected each knick-knack as she dusted, admiring the craftsmanship as well as her son\u2019s taste in d\u00e9cor.\u00a0<\/span>
Finishing downstairs, she grabbed up her walking stick and valise before heading for the second floor. More cleaning awaited her in each bedroom. She made the beds, dusted the furniture, and neatened the curtains.\u00a0<\/span>
Entering the last of the bedrooms, she paused in the doorway and admired the portrait of a young woman that was hung over the desk. She cocked her head, wishing her son had married pretty young lass back in Ireland and stayed home.\u00a0<\/span>If he\u2019d done that, he wouldn\u2019t live on such a fine estate<\/i>, she thought.<\/span>
Shuffling over to the window, she gazed over the front yard. Yawning, she went to the bed and lay down.\u00a0<\/span>Just a short rest before Danny arrives home<\/i>.<\/span>
She nestled into the pillows, her body giving into the weariness from travel and cleaning.\u00a0<\/span>
My Danny\u2019s a successful rancher. He\u2019s more a man than his father ever was, saints preserve him<\/i>.\u00a0<\/span>
Nellie fell asleep, her lips curled in a smile.\u00a0<\/span>
The End<\/span>
March 2013<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>25 Apr 2013 04:07 pm\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Saints Preserve UsI always wondered how she could have accomplished the feat and now we have the answer!\u00a0 Great job\u00a0working in the prompts.<\/p>\n![\"star\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bonanzabrand.info\/efiction\/images\/star.gif?ssl=1\")
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>04 Apr 2013 11:37 pm\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Saints Preserve UsCould feel the Irish flavor. \u00a0She sure was smart in how she rescued Hoss.Author’s Response: Thank you, Chavel. Glad you enjoyed it.<\/i>*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>01 Apr 2013 11:36 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Saints Preserve UsJellyfish! That alone earns you billions of kudos. Thanks a lot for a little more of Nellie, one of those farmidable elder women Bonanza gave us. How well you caught her attidude!Author’s Response: Thank you, faust! Nellie was a fun character, wasn’t she? She and Hop Sing must have been kindred spirits. And billions of kudos for the jellyfish? Hooray!<\/i>*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>31 Mar 2013 04:38 pm\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>Saints Preserve UsExcellent story (and could you tell her that Danny owns my house. I could use her cleaning skills…)Author’s Response: Thank you, Snuffybear! Glad you enjoyed it. And I’ll be happy to send Nellie your way after she’s cleaned my house. \ud83d\ude09<\/i><\/p>\n