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 To Wake a Sleeping Beauty<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cartwrights had sat down to supper even though Adam wasn\u2019t home yet. The sixteen year old had spent the week breaking horses and then helping to deliver them to the Army. Ben knew his son would be home sometime this evening.<\/p>\n \u201cHow come we ain\u2019t waitin\u2019 on Adam?\u201d asked Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Hop Sing doesn\u2019t want supper to get cold\u201d answered Marie.<\/p>\n \u201cHe shore is missin\u2019 a great meal\u201d said Hoss as he cut up a large slice of the pork roast on his plate.<\/p>\n The door opened and Adam walked in, dust covering his clothes and boots. He hung up his hat and walked towards the staircase.<\/p>\n \u201cSit down and eat, Son, before you fall down\u201d said Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to wash up first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNon, your p\u00e8re is right. Come and eat. Then you may wash up\u201d said Marie.<\/p>\n Going to his chair, Adam heavily plopped himself down. Marie went to the kitchen and came back with a plate for her step-son. As he reached for the mashed potatoes, Ben cut off a slab of the pork roast and put it on Adam\u2019s plate. Hoss poured his older brother a glass of water. Little Joe didn\u2019t think it was fair that he had to be clean before supper but Adam was allowed to sit at the table covered in dirt.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did the delivery of those horses go?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cJust fine, Pa. We had no problems.\u201d Suddenly remembering the bank draft in his boot, he pushed back from the table and bent over to retrieve it.<\/p>\n Curious, Little Joe bent sideways and peeked under the table. Seeing Adam pull the bank draft out of his boot, Little Joe now knew where his brother hid things. The boy thought he could hide stuff he didn\u2019t want anyone else to see in his brother\u2019s boots from now on.<\/p>\n Sitting back up, Adam handed the draft to his father. Ben placed it in his shirt pocket for now. He\u2019d have to wait until Monday to take the draft to the bank for deposit. With a harrumph, he got Little Joe\u2019s attention and the boy popped back up, head above the table.<\/p>\n \u201cDidja have fun with the horsies?\u201d Little Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cSure did, Buddy\u201d said Adam with an indulgent smile.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen kin I go on a trip like that, Pa?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re much older\u201d replied Ben.<\/p>\n \u201cHow much older?\u201d asked Hoss. Since he was big for his age, he hoped that he would be allowed to take that kind of trip soon.<\/p>\n \u201cI wants ta ride buckin\u2019 horsies\u201d said Little Joe with excitement. \u201cI won\u2019t never get tossed off neither.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be a long while before you\u2019re doing that, young man\u201d said Ben to his youngest.<\/p>\n \u201cIn two or three years?\u201d asked Little Joe with green eyes sparkling. That was a long time in his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cOh no, mon fils\u201d replied Marie. \u201cYou are limited to your pony until your p\u00e8re and I decide otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut, Mama\u2026\u201d he started to whine.<\/p>\n \u201cNon. Hoss is not allowed to ride the broncos yet and he\u2019s ten.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo how old has I gots ta be, then?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was going to answer, but a gesture from Marie caught his eye. Looking over to Adam, he saw that his oldest had fallen asleep, a fork-full of mashed potatoes just above his plate. All Ben could do was smile warmly. The boy must be completely exhausted. Good thing he hadn\u2019t gotten in the bath, thought Ben.<\/p>\n Seeing his parents looking at Adam, Little Joe looked hard across the table and then rubbed his eyes. Nope, Adam was definitely sleeping. That just wasn\u2019t fair. Not only did he have to be clean, he wasn\u2019t allowed to sleep at the table.<\/p>\n \u201cHe must be so tired from all of the work this week. You shouldn\u2019t work him so hard, mon cher.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam works hard by choice, darling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve just never seen him like this, though. A mother worries about her children growing up too fast.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood thing he fell asleep here instead of on his horse\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n Ben laughed at that. \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was one time, when Adam was five, he fell asleep almost like this. The wagon train had stopped at a small lake for a couple of days to rest and water the stock. Adam and some of the other boys spent the first day chasing locusts in the tall grass. Everyone was amused by their antics until the boys started putting locusts down the backs of girls\u2019 dresses. We got our sons all sorted out and back to their mothers. During supper, Adam fell asleep with a spoonful of stew halfway to his mouth. Inger and I got him to bed, where he slept soundly through the second day. When he woke up, we were on the move again.\u201d<\/p>\n Marie smiled fondly, imagining Adam as a boy about Joseph\u2019s age, carefree and having fun.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam played wif bugs?\u201d Little Joe asked in awe. Hoss was usually the one who helped him collect crickets and lightning bugs.<\/p>\n \u201cMy Ma took really good care of Adam, huh?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n Ben looked across the table and saw tears in Marie\u2019s eyes. \u201cYes, Son, your Ma did and now Mama takes good care of Adam.\u201d The thank you in Marie\u2019s eyes nearly melted Ben. He knew Hoss hadn\u2019t meant to be insensitive. All the boy knew about his mother came from his father or Adam. Plus, after Ben married Marie, Adam constantly compared her mothering skills to Inger\u2019s.<\/p>\n Standing, Ben said \u201cI\u2019d better get this sleeping beauty to bed.\u201d Marie and Hoss giggled. Little Joe looked at Adam in confusion.<\/p>\n Gently, Ben removed the fork from his son\u2019s hand and sat it on the plate. \u201cDo you need help getting him into a nightshirt?\u201d asked Marie. \u201cNo, I\u2019m just going to take his boots off. He can sleep dressed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what about the dirt?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll wash out of the sheets.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe again thought how unfair things were. He was never allowed to go to bed dirty and he had to wear a nightshirt. Maybe he could go to bed dirty and sleep in his clothes when he got older.<\/p>\n Ben had picked Adam up and was heading for the stairs. Adam\u2019s head hung back and his arms and legs hung limply. Even though muscular, Adam\u2019s frame hadn\u2019t filled out yet and he was gangly. Little Joe watched their progress carefully. Adam must be in a deep sleep, the boy thought.<\/p>\n Coming back downstairs, Ben brushed the dust from his clothes. He went back to the table to finish supper. \u201cYou boys be quiet this evening so Adam doesn\u2019t wake up\u201d said Ben gesturing to Hoss and Little Joe with his fork. \u201cEspecially when you go upstairs for bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Sir\u201d they both replied.<\/p>\n When they went up for bed, Hoss and Little Joe decided to check in on Adam. Surely Pa didn\u2019t put Adam in bed fully dressed. Hoss held the lamp while they peeked in the room. Adam was lying on his back, the covers pulled up to his chest. His arms were above the quilts and his hands were one on top of the other on his stomach. His shirt was still on, because the tan sleeves covered his arms. Hoss pulled back the covers at the foot of the bed, exposing one leg of Adam\u2019s jeans. As Hoss put the covers back over Adam\u2019s leg, he and Little Joe looked at each other in surprise. Pa had put their brother to bed fully dressed. Adam\u2019s boots were on the floor at the foot of the bed. Quietly, the two boys left Adam\u2019s room and headed for their own rooms. They certainly didn\u2019t want to get caught disturbing their older brother.<\/p>\n In the morning, Little Joe got up, dressed, and headed for the stairs. On an impulse, he decided to peek into Adam\u2019s room. The boy was shocked to see Adam still in bed. What was more shocking to Little Joe was that Adam hadn\u2019t moved since he and Hoss had checked last night.<\/p>\n Now scared, the four-year old went to his parents\u2019 room in the hopes of finding his mother or father. Marie was gathering up clothes that needed to be laundered. She glanced up to see her youngest looking frightened.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, mon petit?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201dIs Adam dead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you ask that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe don\u2019t look like he\u2019s breathin\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHush. Adam is just sleeping. It\u2019s alright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s mornin\u2019. Everyone\u2019s woked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour fr\u00e8re is just tr\u00e9s tired from all of the work, mon fils. He\u2019ll wake up when he\u2019s not tired anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably in a couple of hours. Until then, play quietly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut what if he\u2019s really dead?\u201d<\/p>\n Marie picked up her hand-mirror and took Little Joe by the hand. They quietly went into Adam\u2019s room, where she held the mirror\u2019s surface below Adam\u2019s nose. Little Joe saw the mirror fog up. Marie then took Little Joe back to her room. \u201cYou see the fog on the mirror, mon petit?\u201d Little Joe just nodded his head. \u201cThat\u2019s from Adam\u2019s breath. He\u2019s just sleeping.\u201d She put the mirror back on her dressing table. Shooing Little Joe out of the room with a smile, she said \u201cYou\u2019d better go downstairs and eat some breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n Arriving downstairs, Little Joe wasn\u2019t surprised to be eating alone. Papa was probably working and Hoss was doing chores. He probably had to do Adam\u2019s too. The boy piled eggs and bacon his plate as Hop Sing came out of the kitchen with a glass of milk.<\/p>\n As Little Joe ate, Hoss came in the house. He hung up his hat and came over to the table. Picking up a piece of bacon, he said \u201cPa says I can play the rest of the day. You wanna go fishin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe looked up at his older brother and said, with complete seriousness, \u201cI think Adam\u2019s under a spell. That\u2019s why he ain\u2019t woked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard Papa call him sleepin\u2019 beauty. A witch musta used a spell on him ta make him sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s jes\u2019 sleepin\u2019. You saw how tired he was last night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh-uh. I saw Adam put his finger in his boot. He fell asleep while eatin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam had the bank draft in his boot fer safe keepin\u2019. That was all that was in there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe witch musta put the spell on that, then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Pa touched that bank draft, too. He\u2019s out in the barn right now workin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen it musta been somethin\u2019 else in his boot. When he touched it, it poked his finger and he fell asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not makin\u2019 sense, Shortshanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Marie came downstairs and interrupted the conversation. \u201cHoss, you\u2019ve already had breakfast. Let your fr\u00e8re eat. If there is anything left, you may have it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am\u201d answered Hoss.<\/p>\n Their mother went over to the sideboard and picked up her sun hat. Tying the ribbon under her chin, she said \u201cI\u2019ll be in my flower garden. You boys be quiet if you stay inside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am\u201d they replied in unison.<\/p>\n After Marie went outside, Little Joe and Hoss resumed their conversation. \u201cI can prove Adam\u2019s under a spell\u201d announced Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWait here.\u201d Little Joe got off of his chair and went into the kitchen. Hop Sing was preparing vegetables to make stew for lunch. Standing on tippy-toes, Little Joe tried to see what was being cut up on the work table.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat boy want?\u201d Hop Sing asked.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I have a pea?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeas not cooked yet. You wait until runch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I need one that\u2019s not cooked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat boy need raw pea for?\u201d<\/p>\n Trying to think fast, Little Joe replied \u201cHoss an\u2019 me are playin\u2019 marbles and we\u2019s one short.\u201d Fixing the cook with his green eyes, Little Joe raised his eyebrows in a pleading manner.<\/p>\n Unable to resist, Hop Sing went to the sack that held the peas. Pulling out a pod, he shelled the peas and handed them to Little Joe. \u201cI only need one\u201d the boy said. \u201cTake all. You might need. Now, outta kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n Returning to the big room with his prize, Little Joe waved for Hoss to follow him up the stairs. The boys crept into Adam\u2019s room. Whispering, Little Joe said \u201cWe gots ta put the peas under Adam. If he ain\u2019t under a spell, he\u2019ll wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s little hand slid under Adam\u2019s back with the peas. Adam didn\u2019t even stir. Sliding his hand back, Little Joe and Hoss waited. Nothing happened.<\/p>\n \u201cNow what?\u201d whispered Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cHe shoulda woke up. That witch musta used a strong spell.\u201d<\/p>\n Leaving the room, the pair headed down the stairs. Marie walked in with some fresh-cut flowers for the table. \u201cWhat were you boys doing upstairs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothin\u2019\u201d said Little Joe.<\/p>\n She fixed the two with a look and said \u201cYou two should play outside.\u201d Marie then took the flowers into the kitchen to put them in a vase.<\/p>\n Going outside, Little Joe and Hoss stood on the front porch, wondering how to break the spell Adam was under. \u201cMaybe we should make him look like a princess in a story.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Adam\u2019s a boy\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but in the stories, the witch always puts a princess to sleep. Maybe the witch couldn\u2019t see too good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHmph\u201d was Hoss\u2019 only answer.<\/p>\n \u201cDontcha see?\u201d asked Little Joe. \u201cThe princess can\u2019t sleep when a pea is under her back. Adam didn\u2019t wake up and we used three of \u2018em.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut in the story, the pea goes between two mattresses. You jes\u2019 put it under his back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t wake up, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat just proves he ain\u2019t a princess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt means that he\u2019s under a real strong spell. What do the princesses in the stories have?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLong hair?\u201d asked Hoss, trying to be helpful.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Flowers\u201d replied Little Joe. \u201cWe gots ta put some flowers on him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe smell of the flowers will wake him up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s the way the stories go\u201d advised Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gots ta work\u201d said Little Joe. He then led the way into Marie\u2019s flower garden. \u201cGet some of those daisies, Hoss\u201d the younger boy said. Hoss pulled up a big clump, roots and all.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019re we gonna do with these?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cMake a crown.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI dunno.\u201d<\/p>\n While Hoss was standing there with a clump of daisies in hand, Ben approached the house. \u201cWhat are you boys doing in your mother\u2019s flower garden?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPickin\u2019 some flowers for Mama\u201d replied Little Joe.<\/p>\n Ben was surprised to see a whole clump of daisies in Hoss\u2019 hand, but he didn\u2019t want to fuss too much at the boys. After all, they were trying to do something nice for their mother.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you cut us some roses, Papa?\u201d asked Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, Boys\u201d answered Ben. \u201cYour mother prizes this rose bush.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat means she\u2019ll really like it when he gives her some flowers from it\u201d said Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Boys. The daisies should be enough.\u201d Ben could always order more daisy seed. Rose bushes were harder to come by. He then headed for the house. \u201cYou boys coming?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn a minute\u201d said Little Joe. \u201cYou gots your knife?\u201d he asked his older brother.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCut off one a those branches\u201d Little Joe instructed, pointing to the rose bush.<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard what Pa said\u201d answered Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just one branch. Mama won\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss handed the daisies to Little Joe and pulled out his pocket knife. He reached for a branch and then pulled his hand back. \u201cThose thorns hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen scrape \u2018em off\u201d advised Little Joe.<\/p>\n Running the knife blade against the cane, Hoss got the thorns off. He then began to saw through the cane. Finally slicing through the stem, Hoss pulled the cutting to himself. This particular cane had half a dozen roses blooming on it.<\/p>\n \u201cNow what?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n Little Joe led the way to the door and then gestured for Hoss to be quiet. They opened and shut the door quietly, tip-toed over to the stairs, and went up. Going into Hoss\u2019 room, the two sat on the floor and pulled the daisy stems from the clump. Little Joe\u2019s nimble fingers began to weave the stems into a circlet. Finishing, the boy held it up for Hoss\u2019 approval.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go put it on Adam\u201d suggested Little Joe.<\/p>\n Coming out of Hoss\u2019 room, the boys ran into their father. Hoss put the roses behind his back. \u201cWhat are you two doing up here?\u201d His eye was then caught by the circlet of daisies. \u201cIs that for Mama?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked startled while Little Joe\u2019s mind leapt into action. \u201cYup. We\u2019s gonna s\u2019prise her. You won\u2019t tell, huh?\u201d The boy fixed his father with a puppy look. Unable to resist, Ben smiled and put a finger to his lips. With that, he went into his own room.<\/p>\n Deciding to act fast, Little Joe and Hoss went into Adam\u2019s room. Hoss placed the circlet of daisies on Adam\u2019s head and then slid the roses under Adam\u2019s hands. The two boys took a step back to admire their handiwork. A giggle started to escape Little Joe, so Hoss clamped a hand over his little brother\u2019s mouth and hauled him downstairs.<\/p>\n Reaching the first floor, they were surprised to see Hop Sing setting the table for lunch. \u201cHow marble game go?\u201d he asked, fixing Little Joe with a look.<\/p>\n \u201cGood\u201d answered the boy. \u201cI won.\u201d<\/p>\n Hop Sing shot Little Joe a skeptical look, finished the place settings, and then went back to the kitchen. Hoss noticed that there wasn\u2019t a setting for Adam. He mentioned that to Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing must know about the spell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow come?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam ain\u2019t got a plate.\u201d<\/p>\n Marie came out of the kitchen with a tureen full of stew. \u201cYou boys go wash up. Lunch is ready.\u201d<\/p>\n The two quickly washed up and returned to the table to join their parents. \u201cDo you think we should wake Adam, mon cher?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Let him sleep. He\u2019s earned it. Besides, I once slept for two days after returning from a sea voyage to Europe with Captain Stoddard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwo whole days?\u201d Little Joe asked in awe.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. The only reason I know that is because I missed a meeting with Adam\u2019s mother. She took her time in forgiving me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow could she have stayed mad at you, mon chere?\u201d Marie asked teasingly. \u201cI\u2019m sure you charmed your way back into her good graces.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTook more than charm\u201d replied Ben, blushing at the memory. \u201cI took her on a picnic. Liz fell asleep after we ate. She looked so beautiful lying under that elm tree. I couldn\u2019t help myself and I kissed her. She woke with a start and nearly punched me in the eye.\u201d Both Ben and Marie laughed. \u201cAll was forgiven when I gave her that music box and proposed.\u201d<\/p>\n Marie cherished the few memories Ben shared of his youth. She felt that hearing of his relationship with Elizabeth would help her to better understand Adam. Plus, she liked to imagine her husband as a dashing young sailor on the high seas.<\/p>\n Little Joe quickly realized that the only way to wake Adam would be with a kiss. But who could they find to do the job?<\/p>\n When they finished lunch, Marie told the boys to go outside and play. She hoped that Hoss would tire Little Joe out so he would take a nap.<\/p>\n Out in the yard, Little Joe told Hoss, \u201cWe gots ta find a girl to kiss Adam. Then he\u2019ll wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are we gonna find a girl?\u201d asked Hoss, wrinkling up his nose.<\/p>\n \u201cI dunno. Ain\u2019t there a girl in school who\u2019d do it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow would we get to town? Pa ain\u2019t gonna let us go on our own.\u201d<\/p>\n With a snap of his fingers, Little Joe had the solution. \u201cA frog!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA frog?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. If the frog kisses Adam, he\u2019ll wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut in the stories, a girl kisses a frog and it turns into a prince. \u2019Sides, how can a frog kiss Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go catch one an\u2019 I\u2019ll show ya.\u201d<\/p>\n The boys headed for a nearby pond. They each grabbed a frog, just in case. On their way back, they heard their mother scream \u201cBEN!!!!!!!!!\u201d<\/p>\n Peeking around the corner of the house, they saw Mama standing in her flower garden in front of her rose. Ben raced from the barn, fearing the worst. Marie only called him Ben when she was frightened or extremely angry. He hoped it was just that rat snake again.<\/p>\n Reaching the flower garden, Marie turned to him and pointed at her rose bush. \u201cHow did this happen?!?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe boys wanted to cut a flower for you, but I told them not to.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t you tell them to stay out of the flowers?!?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI told them to leave the rose bush alone. They had already pulled up a clump of daisies.\u201d Ben immediately realized he\u2019d said the wrong thing as his wife\u2019s face turned a deeper red.<\/p>\n \u201cThis rose bush came all the way from New Orleans. Where will I get another if this dies?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSan Francisco?\u201d Ben asked, trying to be helpful.<\/p>\n Seeing that Marie\u2019s temper was about to get out of hand, he told her \u201cKeep your voice down. Adam\u2019s still asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Little Joe saw Mama take a deep breath. Then they heard her begin to count in French. Little Joe knew she must really be mad because Mama usually only did that when he did something really bad. Deciding to sneak inside with their frogs, the boys quickly went around to the front door and let themselves in.<\/p>\n Creeping upstairs, they went in Adam\u2019s room. Adam was still laying there. With a nod at Hoss, the larger boy touched his frog\u2019s mouth to Adam\u2019s cheek. Nothing happened. Hoss did it again. Adam still slept. \u201cHold on\u201d said Little Joe as he put his frog in his pocket.<\/p>\n Little Joe went to his parents\u2019 room and took the hand-mirror off of his mother\u2019s dressing table. Re-entering Adam\u2019s room, Little Joe gave the hand-mirror to Hoss and whispered for him to hold it under Adam\u2019s nose. Hoss did as told and showed the fog on the mirror\u2019s surface to his little brother.<\/p>\n At a nod from Little Joe, Hoss touched the frog to Adam\u2019s cheek again. Nothing happened. Little Joe pulled his frog out of his pocket. He touched his frog\u2019s mouth to Adam\u2019s cheek, but nothing happened.<\/p>\n \u201cThese frogs ain\u2019t workin\u2019\u201d whispered Hoss. \u201cNow what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI dunno. That witch made a strong spell.\u201d<\/p>\n They were so engrossed with touching the frogs to Adam\u2019s cheek that they didn\u2019t hear their mother come upstairs. She peeked in her oldest son\u2019s room since Ben was worried that her tirade may have awakened the boy. \u201cWhat are you doing, mes fils?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe and Hoss practically jumped out of their boots. Hoss turned scarlet while Little Joe put his frog behind his back. Marie was shocked at Adam\u2019s appearance\u2014a circlet of flowers on his head and roses under his hands. She might have laughed if it wasn\u2019t for her sons\u2019 disobedience. Those two had butchered her rose bush and were not leaving Adam alone.<\/p>\n Marie quietly entered Adam\u2019s room and steered the two younger boys by the shoulders out into the hall and then into her room. Sitting them on the bed, she asked \u201cWhat are you doing with those frogs in the house?\u201d Before they could answer, she asked \u201cWhat are you doing to your fr\u00e8re?\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe and Hoss looked at each other helplessly. \u201cI\u2019m waiting for an explanation\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The words came tumbling out of Little Joe\u2019s mouth. \u201cA witch gave Adam a sleepin\u2019 spell. The spell started when he put his hand in his boot last night. Hoss an\u2019 me thought it was that bank paper, but the spell didn\u2019t do nothin\u2019 to Papa. We puts peas under him to wake him up but it didn\u2019t work. Then we made him look like a princess in the stories, but he\u2019s still sleepin\u2019. That\u2019s why we\u2019s usin\u2019 frogs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd what do frogs have to do with sleeping?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNothin\u2019. But if a girl kisses a frog it becomes a prince. If a frog kisses Adam, he\u2019ll wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n Marie had no idea why Little Joe\u2019s logic led him to this conclusion. There were times the boy reminded her of her Oncle Henri. People were easily exasperated by him, too.<\/p>\n Turning the conversation back to their actions, Marie asked \u201cWhy did you cut my rose when your p\u00e8re said not to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPapa never said not to\u201d answered Little Joe.<\/p>\n Marie looked at Hoss. She wanted the truth and she knew Hoss wouldn\u2019t make up a wild story.<\/p>\n Hoss crumbled under her gaze. \u201cPa told us you really like that rose bush. Little Joe said we had to have the roses fer Adam. But they didn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you boys leave Adam alone like we told you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2019Cause he\u2019s under a spell!\u201d insisted Little Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough, mon petit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s still sleepin\u2019, Mama\u201d persisted Little Joe. \u201cWe can\u2019t break the spell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam is just tired. He\u2019s not under a spell. Let\u2019s go downstairs and wait for supper. Bring the frogs.\u201d<\/p>\n Steering the boys downstairs, Marie saw them to the door. As the boys went out with their frogs, their father came in the house. Ben asked, \u201cWhat are those two up to?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry about earlier, mon cher\u201d said Marie with a kiss to her husband\u2019s cheek. With her finger, she gestured for Ben to follow her. With great curiosity, he followed his wife up the stairs. Instead of going to their room, however, they headed for Adam\u2019s.<\/p>\n Peering in, Ben was shocked at the sight that met his eyes. \u201cWhat have those two done?\u201d Ben whispered.<\/p>\n Pulling Ben back into the hall, Marie explained Little Joe\u2019s insistence that Adam was under a spell. \u201cWhatever gave him that idea?\u201d Ben asked incredulously.<\/p>\n \u201cYou, mon cher.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe? How?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou called Adam sleeping beauty. Petit Joseph already thought Adam had been enchanted because he was sleeping at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s ridiculous\u201d said Ben with a snort.<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to tell the boys that, but you may have better luck.\u201d<\/p>\n The couple went downstairs as Little Joe and Hoss came back inside. \u201cBoys\u201d said Ben, \u201cyour brother is not under a spell. He\u2019s just tired from all of the work he did this week.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss and Little Joe weren\u2019t completely convinced. \u201cHow come he ain\u2019t hungry? Hoss asked. Hunger sometimes woke the boy during the night.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause his body is too tired to care about food. Now, go to the kitchen and wash up for supper.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe and Hoss went into the kitchen. \u201cHow can Adam not be hungry? He ain\u2019t ate all day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMust be part of the spell\u201d replied Little Joe.<\/p>\n Hop Sing gave each boy a dish to carry out to the table. When all of the food was on the table, the Cartwrights sat down to eat. Little Joe noticed that there was no place setting at Adam\u2019s spot.<\/p>\n Upstairs, Adam\u2019s eyelids began to flutter. He opened his eyes to muted oranges and yellows. Must be morning, he thought. His body felt very stiff and sore as he moved his feet under the covers to stretch out his legs. When he decided to move his fingers, he felt something in his hands. Craning his neck, he saw wilted roses under his hands. He didn\u2019t know what to make of that. Noticing his shirt sleeves, he thought Marie would be upset with him for going to bed dressed.<\/p>\n When he sat up, the circlet of daisies fell onto the floor. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Adam was surprised to see his jeans covering his legs. He could understand leaving on his shirt, but his jeans? His feet were covered by his socks. At least he\u2019d taken off his boots.<\/p>\n Getting up, Adam placed one hand behind his back, stretched up, and then leaned back a bit. His hand encountered something smushy. Turning, he looked at the bed and saw what appeared to be smashed peas. He hoped he hadn\u2019t been eating in bed.<\/p>\n Going over to the washstand, he poured some water into the basin and then dipped in his hands. He splashed his face several times and then reached for the towel to wipe off the water.<\/p>\n Still feeling groggy, he changed into clean clothes. The toes of his left foot encountered something in his boot. Pulling it off, he shook the boot upside down. A marble, a checker, and a bird\u2019s feather fell out onto the floor. He just raised his eyebrows and then put the boot on.<\/p>\n Once dressed, he decided to go downstairs. He must be the first one up. There were no breakfast smells. Before he left his room, he picked up the circlet of daisies.<\/p>\n Coming downstairs, Adam was surprised to see everyone at the table. And it appeared they were eating supper.<\/p>\n Hearing footsteps on the stairs, the rest of the family looked over. Excited to see Adam awake, Little Joe jumped up from the table and ran to his oldest brother. The boy yelled \u201cWe broke the spell, Hoss!!\u201d Adam was almost knocked over by his youngest brother\u2019s hug.<\/p>\n Even though his body ached, Adam picked up Little Joe and carried him to the table. \u201cWhat spell?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Before either Ben or Marie could speak, Little Joe launched into an explanation about a witch, the boot, how Adam fell asleep at the table, how he and Hoss had tried to break the spell with peas, flowers, and frogs, and how nothing worked. Adam was even more confused.<\/p>\n \u201cYou mean I\u2019ve slept all day? Why didn\u2019t anyone wake me up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSon, you needed to sleep. You wore your body out with those horses. Besides, we took care of everything around here today.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t for a lack of trying that you remained asleep, mon fils\u201d said Marie. \u201cYour fr\u00e8res tried everything they could think of and you stayed asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, because the witch used a sleepin\u2019 spell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat witch?\u201d Adam asked, really confused.<\/p>\n \u201cThe one who put somethin\u2019 in your boot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll that was in my boot was a bank draft from the Army.\u201d Adam started to get up, afraid that he had forgotten to give the draft to his father.<\/p>\n \u201cYou gave me that draft last night, Son.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was relieved that he had remembered to do that.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was the only thing in my boot last night, Buddy.\u201d Remembering the stuff in his boot this evening, Adam pulled the marble, checker, and feather from his pocket. \u201cThese were in there tonight. Any idea how they got there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh-uh\u201d the little boy replied. \u201cThat witch put somethin\u2019 in your boot yesterday because Papa didn\u2019t go to sleep when he touched the bank paper.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour brother was exhausted, Joseph, from working all week. There was no spell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut ya called him sleepin\u2019 beauty\u201d said Little Joe insistently.<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean there was a spell, Son. Adam was just really tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll the stories say a witch uses a spell and then the princess sleeps \u2018til someone wakes her up\u201d said Hoss. \u201cMe an\u2019 Joe went over some of the stories this mornin\u2019 to make sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn case you two haven\u2019t noticed, I\u2019m not a princess\u201d said Adam with a raised eyebrow.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know\u201d said Little Joe. \u201cWe tried ever\u2019thin\u2019 in the stories but nothin\u2019 worked. That\u2019s why we knows it was a strong spell.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no witch\u201d said Marie. \u201cLet\u2019s not hear any more of this nonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n Thinking quickly, Adam looked at his younger brothers and said \u201cNow that I think on it, there was a witch. She had long flowing brown hair and the biggest brown eyes I\u2019ve ever seen. And the size of her teeth!! You just wouldn\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben steepled his fingers and watched the boys over them. Marie hoped this story didn\u2019t lead to bad dreams for Joseph.<\/p>\n \u201cDid the witch have a name?\u201d Little Joe squeaked out.<\/p>\n Taking a sip of water, Adam paused for dramatic effect. \u201cHer name was Dumpling and she could fly like the wind.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe gasped. He knew it!! There had been a witch.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Dumplin\u2019s a horse\u201d said Hoss with disappointment.<\/p>\n \u201dAnd I fell under her spell\u201d replied Adam. \u201cPa, I convinced Captain Howson to let me keep her since her temperament is too sweet for a cavalry horse.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatcha gonna do with her?\u201d asked Hoss. No one had noticed how disappointed Little Joe looked to find out there had been no real witch after all.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it\u2019s okay with you\u201d Adam said as he looked between Pa and Marie, \u201cI thought I\u2019d give her to Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben and Marie looked at each other. They would have to discuss this. Hoss had outgrown his pony and they knew they\u2019d need a horse for him to ride to and from school.<\/p>\n \u201cSo there was never no witch?\u201d Little Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNope\u201d replied Adam. Putting the circlet of daisies on his head he added \u201cAnd don\u2019t confuse me with a princess again.\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe giggled at the sight of Adam wearing the daisies and Hoss made kissing noises at his older brother. Ben rolled his eyes while Marie hoped that Little Joe would forget about witches.<\/p>\n After the boys retired for the evening, Ben and Marie talked about letting Hoss have Dumpling. On their way upstairs to bed, Marie asked \u201cPerhaps I could be sleeping beauty and you could awaken me with a kiss?\u201d She added a come-hither smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid you\u2019d never get any sleep, my beauty\u201d replied Ben, kissing her on the lips, cheek, and neck.<\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
![\"star\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bonanzabrand.info\/efiction\/images\/star.gif?ssl=1\")