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 <\/p>\n Their First Noel<\/strong><\/p>\n The Virginia City Christmas pageant was going to be held Saturday afternoon. Pastor Schmidt was rehearsing with the children one last time to make sure everyone knew their cues and lines. Five year old Hoss was playing Joseph and five year old Martha Tanner was playing Mary. Adam was happy that he was one of the three kings this year; last year he had been a shepherd, which required too much time on stage in his opinion.<\/span> <\/p>\n
\u201cYou children have done well. All of Virginia City is excited about the pageant. Don\u2019t be nervous and remember that the story is about Jesus, not Santa Claus. Now, go home and get a good night\u2019s rest. I\u2019ll see all of you tomorrow at 1:30.\u201d<\/span>
With that, the children left the church and headed for their parents or ponies. Hoss and Adam went to their animals and headed for home.<\/span>
\u201cYou\u2019re gonna be good tomorrow, Hoss,\u201d reassured Adam. \u201cJust don\u2019t be nervous. You did good with your lines today.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI ain\u2019t gonna be scared,\u201d replied Hoss. \u201cPapa reads us the Christmas story every year, so I ain\u2019t gonna forget none of it.\u201d<\/span>
As their ponies carried them home, the boys began to talk about the coming baby.<\/span>
\u201cYa think Mama\u2019s gonna give us a sister?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>
\u201cI dunno.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIf it\u2019s a girl, do ya think she\u2019ll name her Mary?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI doubt it. They\u2019ll probably name a girl for Pa\u2019s mama.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat don\u2019t make sense. Papa says I was named for my mama\u2019s father. How come they wouldn\u2019t name the new baby for Mama\u2019s mama?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThey get to name the baby whatever they want. There aren\u2019t any rules.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWho was you named for?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cPa says I was named after a person in my Ma\u2019s favorite book.\u201d<\/span>
\u201dDo ya think Mama has a favorite book to pull a name from?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI dunno.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhat if it\u2019s a boy?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhen you were born, Pa said the next boy would be named for our grandfather Cartwright\u2014Joseph.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI get to be Joseph tomorrow,\u201d said Hoss with some excitement. \u201cDo ya think Papa\u2019s papa was named after the Joseph in the Bible?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cProbably.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cAre we gonna give the baby another name if we don\u2019t like the name Mama and Papa come up with?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhaddya mean?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWell, everyone calls me Hoss even though it ain\u2019t my name. I was thinkin\u2019 if Mama has a girl, we can call her Sissy. Whatcha think we should call a boy?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cMama\u2019s brother, Gunnar, told us to call you Hoss if you were a boy. Lucky for us, you were.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cDo ya think baby Jesus had another name?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI doubt it. Everyone probably just called him Jesus.\u201d<\/span>
They rode in silence for a few minutes. Adam was grateful for the quiet.<\/span>
\u201cDo ya think an angel will announce it when Mama has the baby?\u201d\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cAn angel didn\u2019t announce you.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cHow did ya know I\u2019d been borned?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cOne of the ladies in the wagon train told me to come see my new brother.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThere wasn\u2019t no angel?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cNope.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhy was there an angel for baby Jesus then?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cBecause that was different. Don\u2019tcha pay attention when Pa reads the Christmas story?\u201d<\/span>
A few more minutes of silence followed. Adam hoped Hoss was going to drop this line of questioning. The boy had so many questions about babies anymore.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cWe ain\u2019t got sheep. Do ya think an angel would tell the hands when Mama has the baby?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s gonna be an angel, Hoss.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cHow will we know when the baby comes?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cPa\u2019ll tell us.\u201d<\/span>
The boys were finally approaching the house. Adam was glad to be home; maybe Hoss would go pester Pa and Marie now. They took their ponies to the barn and then went inside the warm house.<\/span>
\u201cHow did rehearsal go?\u201d asked Ben as he saw his sons come in.<\/span>
\u201cOkay,\u201d said Adam.<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m gonna be good as Joseph,\u201d said Hoss.<\/span>
Marie entered the room with two mugs of hot cocoa. \u201cThanks, Mama,\u201d said Hoss with a big smile. \u201cThank you,\u201d said Adam very politely. The boys took the mugs and walked over to the warmth of the fireplace.<\/span>
\u201cDo you need anything for tomorrow\u2019s performance?\u201d Marie asked.<\/span>
\u201cNo, Ma\u2019am,\u201d answered Adam.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cI wanna a walkin\u2019 stick,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cJoseph is s\u2019posed to be old.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cJoseph wasn\u2019t that old,\u201d said Ben, trying to stifle a laugh, \u201cbut we\u2019ll see what we can do.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYou gonna come watch tomorrow, Mama?\u201d asked Hoss with excitement in his voice.<\/span>
\u201cOf course,\u201d answered Marie, \u201cI wouldn\u2019t miss your stage debut.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cHuh?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>
\u201cShe means she doesn\u2019t want to miss your first acting performance,\u201d said Adam.<\/span>
\u201cOh. I\u2019m glad you\u2019re gonna be there, Mama.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cShouldn\u2019t you stay home in your\u2026condition?\u201d asked Adam, hoping that Marie would remain behind.<\/span>
\u201cMais non,\u201d answered Marie. \u201cThe baby is not noticeable yet nor making me uncomfortable. I\u2019m looking forward to the pageant tomorrow.\u201d<\/span>
Ben noticed Adam\u2019s slight frown at learning that his step-mother would be attending the pageant. He knew he would need to have a talk with his older son about accepting Marie. The boy would just have to understand that his father had found both love and happiness with this woman. Ben\u2019s love for his sons had not diminished when he married Marie\u2014instead, that love had grown even stronger.<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m gonna go practice my words,\u201d said Hoss, setting down his now empty mug. He went upstairs to his room to recite his lines.<\/span>
Marie noticed that Adam was staring into the fire, his empty mug clutched in his hands. She cleared her throat and then said, \u201cI\u2019m going to check to see if Hoss needs any help with rehearsal.\u201d Ben watched her go upstairs with a feeling of sadness. Adam was going to have to accept his new mother.<\/span>
\u201cAdam,\u201d Ben said, \u201cI appreciate your concern for your mother, but she is going to come to the pageant tomorrow. Why don\u2019t you make an extra effort to be nice?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI am nice to her.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cI don\u2019t mean polite. I mean nice from your heart.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cShe\u2019s still a stranger. I don\u2019t really know her.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIf you\u2019d make more of an effort, you\u2019d see what a wonderful person your mother is.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cShe\u2019s not my mother,\u201d said Adam with a glare for his father.<\/span>
\u201cYou may not have picked her out, but she\u2019s your mother now,\u201d Ben replied, trying to keep his rising temper in check.<\/span>
\u201cYou should\u2019ve checked with me and Hoss before you married her. Don\u2019t ya care what we think?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cOf course I do. But I knew that you boys would love her like I do. Look how happy Hoss is having a mother. Why can\u2019t you be happy, too?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cBecause she\u2019s nothing like Mama. She\u2019s not generous and caring or concerned about me and Hoss. She\u2019s not\u2026\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat\u2019s enough!\u201d said Ben testily. \u201cGo up to your room.\u201d<\/span>
Adam set his mug down on the table and then marched up the stairs to his room. Ben heard the sound of Adam\u2019s door slamming shut.<\/span>
Marie came downstairs shortly after. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Mon Cher?\u201d she asked.<\/span>
\u201cI don\u2019t know why Adam is being so stubborn.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI wonder where he gets that from, Monsieur Cartwright,\u201d said Marie, sitting down in Ben\u2019s lap. She then kissed her husband tenderly.<\/span>
After the kiss, Ben said, \u201cAdam is upset that he didn\u2019t get a say in this marriage. He sort of played matchmaker between Inger and me. He\u2019ll come around as he gets to know you. I\u2019m sure of it.\u201d<\/span>
Marie let out a sigh. \u201cHoss has been so accepting. He\u2019s such a joy. I hope Adam will warm up to me.\u201d Placing her hand over her belly, she asked, \u201cDo you think this one will be like Hoss or Adam?\u201d<\/span>
Putting his hand over hers, Ben replied, \u201cI hope we have a daughter who\u2019s just like you.\u201d He kissed her then, more passionately than their previous kiss.<\/span>
\u201cHey, Mama,\u201d said Hoss, startling his parents, \u201cdo ya think Joseph would have worn a coat over his robe to keep out the cold?\u201d<\/span>
Both Ben and Marie smiled and worked hard to stifle laughs. \u201cI doubt it, Mon Fils,\u201d answered Marie. \u201cIt was very warm where Jesus lived.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cLike where you\u2019re from?\u201d the boy asked.<\/span>
\u201cWell, the winters in New Orleans were chilly but not as cold as here. I can only remember it snowing four times. When do you think all of this snow will be gone?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThe snow won\u2019t melt until spring,\u201d answered Ben.<\/span>
\u201cOh,\u201d answered Marie with some disappointment.<\/span>
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Mama,\u201d assured Hoss, \u201cPapa always keeps a fire burnin\u2019 in the winter. We always stay warm in the house.\u201d With that, the boy went back upstairs.<\/span>
Marie snuggled against Ben with a sigh; she would have to get used to winters in Nevada. Her heart would be warmer if she could win Adam over. The boy clearly did not like her. Maybe Ben was right; perhaps Adam resented not being consulted prior to his father\u2019s marriage. She had never expected to fall in love with Ben Cartwright when he came to New Orleans to tell her of her husband\u2019s death. Well, what was done was done.<\/span>
\u201cAre you sure you feel up to going to the pageant tomorrow?\u201d Ben asked with concern. Marie had been having some bouts of sickness during the day instead of just the morning.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cI don\u2019t want to miss this,\u201d she answered. \u201cIt\u2019s tres important for Hoss and Adam to know that I support them. Besides, the pageant will be held in the church, not outside in the cold.\u201d She gave Ben\u2019s hand a squeeze before she stood up. \u201cI\u2019m going to go lie down.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>
Ben was left sitting by the fire, wondering how to talk to Adam without sounding like he was scolding the boy. He had only intended to tell Marie about her husband\u2019s death when he went to New Orleans; he had never expected that he would become involved in her personal affairs. Nor did he expect Cupid to strike his heart with an arrow of love. Marie was hesitant to marry him at first, but his persistence finally paid off. On their trip home to the Ponderosa, all Ben could talk about were his sons and how happy they would be to have a new mother in their lives. He had never expected Adam\u2019s resentment towards Marie. Hoss\u2019 acceptance was not surprising considering how loving the child was towards every creature\u2014two and four legged. Adam was polite, but distant. He didn\u2019t speak to Marie unless she addressed him first. Ben was hoping that the book Marie had purchased for Adam as a Christmas present would break the ice in the boy\u2019s heart.<\/span>
Prior to their marriage, Ben told Marie about his previous wives. Marie understood that Ben still loved Elizabeth and Inger. She didn\u2019t expect him to erase the memories of the women who had borne his children. As Inger had understood that Liz lived in his heart, Marie knew that Ben had room for her, too. He knew he was truly a lucky man to have found such a wonderful woman as Marie de Marigny.<\/span>
The sound of footsteps on the stairs brought Ben out of his reverie. Adam had decided to come back to the fireplace to read for a while.<\/span>
Looking around, Adam asked, \u201cWhere\u2019d Marie go?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cShe went upstairs to get some rest.\u201d Ben noticed that Adam visibly relaxed just knowing that Marie was not on the same floor.<\/span>
\u201cWe need to talk, Son,\u201d he said as soon as Adam sat down.<\/span>
\u201cAbout what?\u201d Adam asked suspiciously.<\/span>
\u201cI want you to listen and not interrupt. I never thought I could love another woman after your mother died. She had been my whole world. I fully expected to raise you by myself as my only child. When I met Inger, I clung to the memory of your mother as a way of avoiding my feelings for her. She had so much love in her heart that she didn\u2019t care that you were not her blood child. Inger made me realize that your mother had a special place in my heart where she would always live. You, Adam, are the physical reminder of what I had with your mother.\u201d<\/span>
Adam blushed at that comment. He was pretty sure where this lecture was going, but he was not about to interrupt his father.<\/span>
\u201cInger and I loved each other so deeply and I thought I would be spending the rest of my life with her. Hoss\u2019 birth made our love so much stronger. You weren\u2019t her child, but she didn\u2019t love you any less than Hoss. As I said, she had enough room in her heart for the both of you and me as well as any future children.<\/span>
\u201cWhen Inger was killed, I had to again bury my wife. I was determined to close my heart and live only for you and Hoss. Until I went to New Orleans, I hadn\u2019t been in love with another woman. I met Marie and fell in love with her as I came to know her. You may not think so, but Marie loves you and Hoss very much. Like Inger, she loves you even though neither of you is her blood child. When she has the baby, her love for you and Hoss won\u2019t be diminished. She\u2019ll love the both of you\u2026\u201d<\/span>
Adam couldn\u2019t take this lecture anymore. \u201cWhen Marie has the baby, she\u2019ll forget about Hoss and me. All she\u2019ll care about is the new baby. Inger was special. There wasn\u2019t a mean bone in her body. She treated me like I was her son. Marie doesn\u2019t treat Hoss or me like that. She might call us son but she doesn\u2019t mean it.\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was starting to rise. \u201cIn fact, she probably plans to send us away when the baby comes. That way, you\u2019ll forget all about us and only care about the new baby.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat\u2019s enough!\u201d thundered Ben. \u201cGo up to your room and stay there,\u201d he said, pointing at the stairs.<\/span>
Adam was only too happy to comply.<\/span>
Ben was flustered after Adam left the room; he thought he could make Adam understand his love for Marie. Inger had died five years ago. Maybe the boy thought that his father would honor her memory by never marrying again. Perhaps he should have quickly remarried to a woman in the wagon train so his sons would have had a mother. If he\u2019d done that, he would never have gone to New Orleans, gotten to know Marie, fallen in love, and then married the woman he had come to know.<\/span>
Again, the sound of footsteps on the stairs caught Ben\u2019s attention. Hoss was on the stairs with a sheet wound around him.<\/span>
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d asked Ben.<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m tryin\u2019 to dress like Joseph,\u201d was the answer. \u201cHow come Mama\u2019s cryin\u2019,\u201d he asked with a puzzled look.<\/span>
Ben patted his knees to signal Hoss to come over. The boy walked over and squirmed his way into his father\u2019s lap. Ben kissed the top of Hoss\u2019 head as he held the boy to him.<\/span>
\u201cWhy did Joseph say he was Jesus\u2019 pa?\u201d asked Hoss. \u201cDidn\u2019t Mary ever tell Jesus the truth?\u201d<\/span>
Ben was caught by off guard by that question. The Bible didn\u2019t give an explanation, but he knew that Joseph had enough love in his heart for a child he didn\u2019t father.<\/span>
\u201cJoseph was the only father Jesus ever knew. Mary loved Joseph even more for loving her child, so she didn\u2019t think it was important to tell Jesus that he wasn\u2019t Joseph\u2019s blood child.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYa mean like the way Mama loves me and Adam?\u201d\u00a0<\/span>
Surprised, Ben answered, \u201cJust like that.\u201d He kissed the top of Hoss\u2019 head again. \u201cAnd words of wisdom shall come from the mouths of babes,\u201d he thought. Ben then scooted Hoss off of his lap and stood up. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go and change into a night shirt. I\u2019ll go check on Mama.\u201d They went up the stairs together.<\/span>
Entering their room, Ben found Marie face-down on the bed with her face in a pillow. Softly, he called her name. She raised her tear-stained face and looked at her husband with red-rimmed eyes. Ben sat down next to her on the bed and pulled her to him. He stroked her hair and made soothing noises.<\/span>
\u201cI would never send your children away,\u201d Marie said, gripping Ben\u2019s arms tightly.<\/span>
\u201cYou mean our children,\u201d he answered, kissing her neck.<\/span>
\u201cMais oui. Our children.\u201d<\/span>
* * *<\/span>
Adam came down to breakfast the next morning to see his father at the table alone. \u201cWhere\u2019s Marie?\u201d he asked.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cShe wasn\u2019t feeling well, so Hoss and I took a tray up to her. Hoss is having his breakfast with her.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cOh,\u201d was Adam\u2019s only response as he ate his meal in strained silence.<\/span>
Finishing his breakfast, Adam went to the barn to take care of his horse. As he worked, he thought about Inger\u2014she had been his mother even though she hadn\u2019t given birth to him. Adam had been sick when he first met Inger and she was so worried she nursed him back to health. He had quickly fallen in love with her and wanted her to be his mother. Pa took a while to come around, but even he knew Inger was so perfect.\u00a0<\/span>
During the trip with the wagon train, Mama sang songs to him and told stories. She didn\u2019t care that Adam was not her child when she knew she was expecting Hoss. After Hoss was born, Inger still treated Adam as her own child. She died trying to protect both boys. Adam doubted that Marie would risk her life to save him or his brother.<\/span>
As Adam was currying his pony, Hoss came out to the barn. Hoss fed his pony and began to curry the animal.<\/span>
\u201cWhy have ya got to be mean to Mama?\u201d Hoss asked his brother.<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m not mean to her.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYou don\u2019t talk to her.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI don\u2019t have anything to say to her.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cBut ya got stuff to say to me and Papa.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat\u2019s different.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIt just is.\u201d<\/span>
The boys finished grooming their animals and began working on their father\u2019s horse. They mucked out the stall and then began brushing the horse.<\/span>
Hoss finally broke the silence. \u201cJesus loved Joseph even though he wasn\u2019t his papa.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat was different, Hoss. Jesus wasn\u2019t a normal person.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cHow do ya mean?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cAn angel came to his ma and later announced it when he was born. Jesus was born in a barn because his ma and pa didn\u2019t have a house. The three kings followed a star to that barn because they knew Jesus was special.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI was borned in a wagon. Does that make me special?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cNo. Lots of kids have been born in wagons.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cOh.\u201d<\/span>
They went back to working in silence for a while. \u201cBut Joseph didn\u2019t care that he wasn\u2019t Jesus\u2019 papa. He took care of baby Jesus.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIt\u2019s different for a pa,\u201d answered Adam. He just knew that a man wouldn\u2019t care if a baby was his or not. Women were different because they could have babies of their own.<\/span>
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cIt just is,\u201d Adam answered, getting tired of this topic of conversation.<\/span>
\u201cPapa says that my mama didn\u2019t care you wasn\u2019t hers. She loved you a lot.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cThat was different! Mama was nice and loved everyone. She married Pa for love, not because he owned a ranch.\u201d<\/span>
Ben had been near the door, listening to his sons. Upon hearing Adam\u2019s last comment, he believed he understood the root of the problem. Adam was worried that Marie had only been interested in money. He didn\u2019t know how to convince his son that Marie married for love.<\/span>
He walked into the barn to let the boys know that lunch was ready. Hop Sing was serving lunch early so the boys could get ready for the pageant since the Cartwrights had to be at the church by 1:30.<\/span>
Ben and the boys walked into the house together. Marie was seated at the table, waiting on her men folk. A large tureen of steaming soup sat on the table, waiting to be served. A plate of sandwiches sat near the soup.<\/span>
Marie began ladling soup into the bowls as her men sat down. She handed a steaming bowl to Hoss, who smiled his thanks. Then she handed a bowl to Adam, who just said, \u201cThanks,\u201d without looking her in the eye. She then served her husband and herself. Trying to make conversation, she asked, \u201cAre you boys ready for the pageant?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI knows all my lines,\u201d bragged Hoss. \u201cI ain\u2019t gonna be scared at all.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhat about you, Adam?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cI\u2019m one of the three kings. All I have to do is wait around until my entrance. Then I hand over a box of myrrh. It won\u2019t be that hard.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cDidja have pageants like this at home, Mama?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>
\u201cOf course we did. The Cathedral was also decorated with a cr\u00e8che at the beginning of advent to remind us of the meaning of Chistmas.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cWhat\u2019s a crash?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>
\u201cIt\u2019s pronounced cresh,\u201d she answered, \u201cand it\u2019s a model of the manger scene in the Bible. There were hand-carved figures of Mary, Jesus, Joseph, the shepherds, the magi, the angel, and the animals around the manger. It was really beautiful.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cCan we have a crash, Papa?\u201d\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cMaybe next year,\u201d answered Ben. Putting up such a display would certainly cause many tongues to wag in Virginia City.<\/span>
Finally finishing lunch, Adam and Hoss went upstairs to change before leaving for town. Seeing that he had a few minutes alone with Marie, Ben told her what he had overheard from the barn door.<\/span>
\u201cBut I didn\u2019t marry you for money.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cI know that but Adam thinks so. At least we know what has caused his attitude.\u201d<\/span>
The boys came downstairs before she could reply. Everyone bundled up in coats and scarves for the trip to Virginia City. Hoss dominated the conversation with talk about the pageant and what kind of papa he believed Joseph was.<\/span>
Marie decided that singing Christmas carols would be fun. She began singing Away in a Manger and everyone soon joined in. Silent Night was next; Adam sang a beautiful counter harmony in a clear voice. By the time they approached Virginia City, they were singing O Come All Ye Faithful.<\/span>
Arriving at the church, the boys went to the back room where the other children were putting on their costumes. Children kept peeking out from behind a curtain to look for their parents. They wanted to see where their parents were sitting so they could be sure to signal during the performance.<\/span>
Pastor Schmidt signaled for Hoss and Martha Tanner to come over. The pastor placed a doll in Martha\u2019s arms. \u201cYou and Hoss will go outside and wait for the signal to come in. Pretend you\u2019ve had a long donkey ride, Martha, and place the baby in the manger when you get to the front of the church.\u201d The pastor had decided that Martha would bring in the baby so he wouldn\u2019t have to explain a delicate matter like childbirth to a five year old. \u201cHoss, you steer Martha by the elbow like Joseph would have done with Mary. Is everyone ready?\u201d<\/span>
Getting okays from all of the children, Pastor Schmidt sent Hoss and Martha down the church aisle and out the door. The pastor went to the pulpit and made his introductory remarks. Then he read from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 1 Verse 18. On cue, Hoss and Martha entered the church and made their way to the manger.<\/span>
Hoss hadn\u2019t been nervous when he was practicing by himself; now there was a church full of people. As a result, Hoss began a steady stream of talking that made Martha glare at him. This pageant was supposed to be about her, not him.<\/span>
Leading her up the aisle, Hoss said, \u201cC\u2019mon, Mary, we gotta get you and the baby settled in for the night. It shore is cold out. That poor donkey shore is tired, too. Mebbe we should bring him in. Look, there\u2019s a manger for the baby. It\u2019s a good thing we found somewhere warm to stay.\u201d<\/span>
Many parents were grinning at Hoss\u2019 performance; mo one was laughing openly. The shepherds backstage were awaiting their cue from the pastor.<\/span>
Martha put the doll in the manger as she was supposed to and knelt down next to the manger. Hoss looked down at the doll and said, \u201cI\u2019m shore proud of our boy, Mary. He\u2019s not even cryin\u2019.\u201d Martha shot a look at Hoss. This was supposed to be a special moment because the shepherds were about to come in.<\/span>
Three shepherds came out from behind the curtain. \u201cWe are but poor shepherds,\u201d announced Tommy Dotson, \u201cbut an angel told us to come here for something special has happened.\u201d One of the shepherds gave Martha a sheepskin blanket for the baby.<\/span>
Placing the blanket over the baby, Martha thanked the shepherds for their gift. Hoss couldn\u2019t help but add his thoughts. \u201cWe shore are grateful for the blanket. It\u2019s cold out and we didn\u2019t have nothing to keep the baby warm. I don\u2019t got any money, but Mary married me anyway. We don\u2019t have any money for a place of our own, so we\u2019re here in the barn. Thanks again.\u201d<\/span>
Backstage, Adam didn\u2019t know what to make of Hoss\u2019 departure from the script. He figured Hoss was nervous, but this was beyond forgetting lines.<\/span>
Hoss gestured for the shepherds to look in the manger. They looked over at Pastor Schmidt, who shrugged his shoulders. The boys went to the manger and looked down at the doll. \u201cI ain\u2019t his papa, but I don\u2019t care.\u201d A gasp went up from the families watching the pageant; Pastor Schmidt put a hand over his eyes. Martha glared daggers at Hoss. \u201cI love Jesus just like he was my own son. I\u2019m gonna be the best papa I can be for him. I\u2019m gonna teach him how to ride a pony and shoot a gun, when the time comes.\u201d<\/span>
Martha couldn\u2019t take it anymore\u2014she stood up and kicked Hoss in the shin. The boy started hopping around on one foot, yelping. Backstage, Adam was deep in thought\u2014 Jesus loved Joseph even though the man wasn\u2019t his pa. From the beginning, Mary and Joseph knew the truth, but that didn\u2019t stop Joseph from accepting Jesus as his own child. He could\u2019ve left Mary and the baby to fend for themselves instead of traveling with them. If that had happened, the children wouldn\u2019t be here at the church performing the Christmas pageant.<\/span>
Adam was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of a crash. The manger had fallen over during a shoving match between Hoss and Martha. The doll was on the floor under the sheepskin blanket. Ben and Steve Tanner approached the stage to separate their children. The shepherds had flocked to Pastor Schmidt for protection. He was sitting dumbstruck, watching his two leads shove each other around. This had never happened before in all of the pastor\u2019s experiences with the pageant. Casting Hoss as Joseph had obviously been a mistake.<\/span>
Once the two children were separated by their fathers, Pastor Schmidt announced, \u201cThank you all for coming to this year\u2019s pageant. I believe we\u2019ll end now. Merry Christmas, everyone.\u201d The pastor then slunk behind the curtain.<\/span>
Adam and the other two kings removed their costumes. Actually, Adam was relieved that he didn\u2019t have to go deliver his gift of myrrh. Hoss had made such a spectacle of himself that Adam was sure that none of the Cartwrights would be able to show their faces in Virginia City for months to come.<\/span>
Ben shepherded his family out of the church as quickly as possible. He wanted to get out of earshot and home. Someone said, \u201cThis is one pageant no one will ever forget.\u201d The remark was followed by snickering. A female voice said, \u201cThat Ben Cartwright needs to have a talk with that boy of his. I\u2019ve never heard so much blasphemy in all my life.\u201d<\/span>
After the family was loaded in the wagon, Ben headed for home. He hoped they could just travel in silence. Hoss had done more than enough talking during the pageant.\u00a0<\/span>
\u201cHow come folks thought I was bein\u2019 bad?\u201d Hoss finally asked.<\/span>
\u201cJoseph would never have acted like that,\u201d said Adam.<\/span>
\u201cHow would he have acted?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cMore dignified than you did,\u201d answered Ben.<\/span>
\u201cI thought Hoss did very well,\u201d said Marie. \u201cHis Joseph was very down-to-earth. I could imagine what fatherhood was like for him.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cStill,\u201d said Ben, \u201chis little escapade will keep tongues wagging for months to come.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cPeople will soon forget and find someone else to gossip about,\u201d she said with a pat to Ben\u2019s arm.<\/span>
Adam had a sudden realization at that remark. Other folks probably thought Marie had married his father because of the ranch. That meant they were probably gossiping about him and Hoss, too. The thought of his pa\u2019s friends and neighbors spreading lies about Marie bothered the boy greatly. Now he\u2019d find himself taking up for her to defend his pa and brother. This was definitely putting him in an awkward position. He\u2019d have a hard time hating Marie if he had to speak positively about her to other folks.<\/span>
Once they reached the Ponderosa, Ben asked Hoss to help him put up the wagon and take care of the horses. Ben wanted to have a talk with Hoss in private. He couldn\u2019t punish the boy for his performance in the pageant, but he did need to talk to his son about the seriousness of the Christmas story.<\/span>
Marie and Adam went into the house. She expected Adam to go upstairs or give her the silent treatment. As she removed her gloves and scarf, Adam asked, \u201cCan I talk to ya, Marie?\u201d<\/span>
\u201cMais oui,\u201d she answered sitting down on the settee. She patted the cushion beside her, inviting the boy to sit down next to her.<\/span>
Nervously, he complied with her request. \u201cMarie, I can\u2019t call you Ma \u2018cause I don\u2019t know you. I\u2019ll just keep calling you Marie for now. Maybe someday I\u2019ll be able to call you ma. For now, Inger is still my mama. I wasn\u2019t her child, but she loved me like I was. Pa says you love me even though I\u2019m not yours. I appreciate that you love me and Hoss, especially \u2018cause you and Pa are gonna have a baby. I won\u2019t promise that I\u2019ll ever love you like my mother, but I\u2019ll love you for Pa\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/span>
Tears were rolling down Marie\u2019s cheeks; she didn\u2019t know what to say. This was such a big step for Adam. She held out her hand to shake the boy\u2019s hand, figuring that a hug wouldn\u2019t be welcomed. Adam looked at her hand and then leaned forward to hug her.<\/span>
Ben and Hoss walked inside the warm house. Marie\u2019s sniffles caught Ben\u2019s attention. He walked over to the settee and was surprised to see Adam hugging Marie. Hoss decided that a group hug was called for and tried to worm his way between his older brother and mother. Adam blushed with embarrassment at being caught hugging Marie. The boy took Hoss\u2019 hand and led him upstairs.<\/span>
After the boys left, Ben sat down next to his wife. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he asked, giving Marie his handkerchief.<\/span>
\u201cAdam told me that he won\u2019t call me mother but he\u2019ll love me because you do.\u201d<\/span>
Ben was surprised by this. Maybe Hoss\u2019 performance in the pageant made Adam realize that blood ties weren\u2019t the only requirement for family bonds. He kissed Marie\u2019s forehead and then held her close.<\/span>
\u201cMaybe we\u2019ll have a joyeau noel after all,\u201d she said. Hearing a \u201chuh\u201d from her husband, she said, \u201cI mean a merry Christmas.\u201d Ben kissed the top of her head and she snuggled close. Watching from the top of the stairs, Hoss whispered, \u201cThank you Joseph and baby Jesus.\u201d<\/span>
The End<\/span><\/p>\n
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