Summary: A blizzard leaves the Cartwrights with an unexpected guest for Christmas- the formidable Widow Hawkins.
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Bonanza <\/p>\n Merry Christmas, Clementine!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright stopped next to the credenza to doff his hat, coat, and gun.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCoo, Ducky, it\u2019s taken you long enough to get home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben turned and looked toward the fireplace.\u00a0 Sitting in his leather chair was a figure almost smothered in blankets and wrappers and indistinguishable in the dim light, yet he knew who it must be.\u00a0 \u201cClementine?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho else, Benjamin?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat bear of a son of yours brought me here.\u00a0 Sweet boy that one and near as strong as my \u2018Arry.\u00a0 Well, come on over \u2018ere and get warmed up.\u201d\u00a0 A hand appeared from the depths of the blankets and motioned him forward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, hey, Pa.\u00a0 Thought I heard ya.\u201d\u00a0 Ben turned toward his middle son as Hoss entered from the kitchen carrying a tray.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve got ya some more hot tea, Miz Hawkins.\u00a0 Should I put some brandy in this cup too?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust a mite.\u00a0 I\u2019m still in need of a bit more warmin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cClementine said you brought her home?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I found her bogged down in the snow and pert near frozen to an ice sickle.\u00a0 Home was nearest, so I toted her here quick.\u00a0 Since then, Hop Sing and I been working on getting her warmed up.\u00a0 Her horse is in the barn. Excuse me, Pa.\u00a0 Here ya go, Miz Hawkins.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before Ben could comment, his youngest and eldest entered with a blast of cold air.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBlazes, it\u2019s getting colder than a witch\u2019s…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u00a0 I…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFailed to notice that we have a guest.\u201d\u00a0 Ben motioned toward the mound that was the Widow Hawkins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d\u00a0 Joe peered at the figure and assumed correctly that the encased person was female.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stepped in front of his brother.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that guest would be?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMiz Hawkins!\u00a0 Her rig broke down a few miles from…\u201d Hoss\u2019s voice boomed across the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour brother came to my rescue, or I\u2019m sure I would \u2018ave joined my dear \u2018Arry before the sun \u2018ad set.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow fortunate we are to have you here safe and sound then.\u201d\u00a0 Adam heard Little Joe\u2019s soft snort, but no one else did.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe weather is getting worse?\u201d\u00a0 There was worry in Ben\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, I think we should string the ropes.\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid this might be the beginning of a real white out.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked at Hoss.\u00a0 \u201cI think he\u2019s right, Pa.\u00a0 I told Miz Hawkins that she might have to be staying for a few days.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben swallowed.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you assured her that she would be most welcome?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat \u2018e did, Benjamin; that \u2018e did.\u00a0 I do \u2018ope I\u2019ll be back \u2018ome before Christmas though.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ll be most welcome to share ours if you are not.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~*~*~\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Cartwrights spent the time before supper in preparations for the impending blizzard.\u00a0 When Hop Sing demanded they come to the table, Clementine Hawkins emerged from her cocoon and announced that since she could not dress for dinner the gentlemen need not bother. Dressed in three layers of wrappers- Joe’s topped by Adam’s and finished off with Ben\u2019s- she took the seat at the head of the table.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s eyebrow rose, and Little Joe\u2019s eyes widened, but Ben simply took the seat to her right, and his sons adjusted accordingly.\u00a0 The widow then ate heartily yet still managed to recount two dozen stories about her and \u201cdear \u2018Arry\u2019s\u201d days performing across the width and breath of the country.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, if you and Mrs. Hawkins, would excuse me, I have some personal correspondence that I really should be taking care of.\u201d\u00a0 Adam rose and headed for the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat reminds me, uh, I have some correspondence that is late too.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure after all you went through, Mrs. Hawkins, you\u2019ll want to retire soon.\u00a0 If you\u2019ll excuse me…\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe swiftly followed his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYea, Miz Hawkins, ya really should get an early rest tonight.\u00a0 So, I\u2019ll… well, I\u2019ll be seeing ya in the morning.\u00a0 Night, Pa.\u00a0 Night, ma\u2019am.\u201d\u00a0 Hoss was double stepping up the stairs before he finished talking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~*~*~\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two hours later, after convincing Clementine to retire, Ben headed to his bedroom. Hearing voices from his eldest son\u2019s room and foregoing politeness, he simply opened the door, saw his sons playing poker on the floor, and leaned against the doorframe.\u00a0 He loudly cleared his throat.\u00a0 \u201cPersonal correspondence, you said?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere are letters on the desk.\u201d Adam motioned with his hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben knew his son well.\u00a0 \u201cWritten earlier tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh, let\u2019s just say they were written earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d\u00a0 The admonishment in Ben\u2019s voice was the same as when Adam was ten.\u00a0 \u201cWhen we have a guest, I expect you boys to show the manners you were taught.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Pa, we just…\u201d\u00a0 Hoss\u2019s words trailed off as he began to sputter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe giggled.\u00a0 \u201cWe thought you might like a little time alone with the widow.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben jerked up, his hands flying to his hips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam smirked. \u201cYou have usually preferred to do your courting in private, Pa.\u201d\u00a0 Seeing his father\u2019s face, Adam could not contain his laughter.\u00a0 Little Joe and Hoss could not contain theirs either.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll have you know…\u201d Ben\u2019s voice mounted in volume steadily.\u00a0 Then he drew in a long breath. \u201cNone of you need worry about providing me with privacy for courting.\u00a0 What you should\u00a0all<\/em>\u00a0be worried about is that when this blizzard ends- and end it will – I shall still be your father, your boss, and the administer of your retribution.\u201d\u00a0 Ben turned on his heel and stalked off.\u00a0 His sons drew in deep breaths and then laughed so hard they rolled about the floor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~*~*~\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n By the morning, the wind had gained force, and the snow was falling so heavily that to set a foot outside was to be lost in a freezing world of swirling white.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCoo, now, Benjamin, those boys of yours aren\u2019t plannin\u2019 to go outside, are they?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe animals must be tended, Clementine, no matter the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut a body can\u2019t see \u2018is \u2018and in front of \u2018is face.\u201d\u00a0 Clementine shook her head and frowned. \u201cWhy…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat is why the ropes were strung to the barn and the woodshed.\u00a0 They\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe big one per\u2019aps and even Adam, but Tiny Joe shall no doubt be blown away by that wind.\u00a0 It\u2019s that fierce; it is.\u201d Clementine\u2019s voice was adamant, and her hand grabbed Ben\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHis brothers will hold on to Joe.\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry; we\u2019ve survived blizzards before, and we shall survive this one.\u201d\u00a0 He patted Clementine\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re sure, Benjamin.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Uncertain, Clementine shook her head again and then slid her arm through Ben\u2019s.\u00a0 \u201cNow, \u2018Op Sing is an excellent cook, but I was thinkin\u2019…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~*~*~\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben and Adam spent the rest of the day doing paperwork and bringing every ledger up to date.\u00a0 Hoss and Little Joe repaired a stack of tack they had brought in and then cleaned and oiled every firearm in the house.\u00a0 Clementine fluttered about asking questions and giving advice until lunch after which she disappeared into the depths of the kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When dinner ended, Ben cleared his throat and sent a look at each of his sons.\u00a0 All four Cartwrights retired to the great room with their guest.\u00a0 Adam asked Clementine if she would like to hear him play his guitar.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow that would be fine. I\u2019ve \u2018eard that you \u2018ave a fine voice, so sing out, boy, sing out.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After several solos which Clementine applauded heartily, Adam had the others join him in some Christmas carols.\u00a0 Little Joe then requested that his father read some of Dickens\u2019\u00a0A Christmas Carol.<\/em>\u00a0 As Ben\u2019s voice filled the room, Hop Sing slipped in with mugs of hot apple cider and stayed to hear the story of a miser\u2019s transformation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~*~*~\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The next morning, Little Joe came down the stairs to find the Widow Hawkins alone at the dining table drinking tea.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me, ma\u2019am.\u00a0 Is Pa…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour father and brothers are out tendin\u2019 to the animals.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen I best…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clementine shook her curls, the over-sized bow in her hair tipping slightly.\u00a0 \u201cThey said to tell you that they would see to things.\u00a0 Come eat your breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStill, I wouldn\u2019t want to shirk my duties.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think your assigned duty this morning is to entertain the \u2018ouse guest.\u00a0 Come now and eat.\u00a0 Why my \u2018Arry always filled his stomach right off to start the day.\u00a0 He wouldn\u2019t\u00a0 \u2018ave\u00a0 \u2018ad it any other way.\u00a0 Come now!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, ma\u2019am.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe took his seat and filled his plate.\u00a0 Clementine watched him as she sipped her tea and nibbled toast with jam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe wind has lessened.\u00a0 \u2018Oss thinks that the blizzard may be over sometime tomorrow.\u00a0 Of course, \u2018diggin\u2019 out\u2019- as \u2018e called it- is expected to take two even three days.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTomorrow\u2019s Christmas Eve.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe\u2019s voice held melancholy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat would all of you be doing today if there were no storm?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, today\u2019s the day for getting the tree and the greens for decorating.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, you follow Prince Albert\u2019s way, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUh, if you mean we have a Christmas tree, well, yeah, at least usually we do.\u00a0 We would have gotten it and decorated it today.\u00a0 Then tomorrow after services, we would light the candles.\u00a0 I guess this year …\u201d Little Joe shrugged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre there other decorations you usually \u2018ave?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Uh, yes, ma\u2019am!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre they to \u2018and?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe keep them in the attic.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen finish your breakfast and get to bringin\u2019 them down.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe decided it was best to obey orders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~*~*~\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clementine sat on the settee and watched Little Joe bring down his third load.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe deposited a stack of boxes and turned back toward the stairs.\u00a0 \u201cJust one more thing.\u201d\u00a0 He darted up the stairs and returned carrying only one large wooden box which he set with care on the low table. The walnut box was highly polished with brass hinges.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSomethin\u2019 special?\u201d\u00a0 Clementine ran her fingers over the glossy finish.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, ma\u2019am.\u00a0 It was my mother\u2019s.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe\u2019s tone held reverence.\u00a0 He sat down, then reached out, undid the clasp, and lifted the lid.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCoo, how beautiful!\u201d She stared at the intricately molded and painted ceramic figurines of a nativity.\u00a0 \u201cSuch fine work!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt came from France!\u00a0 My great-grandmother brought it.\u00a0 It was a gift from her husband. She gave it to my grandmother who handed it down to my mother.\u00a0 It\u2019s real special to us all, but most special to me, I guess.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe\u2019s voice was soft, and he finished with a sigh.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clementine reached out and patted Joe\u2019s knee.\u00a0 \u201cAs it should be.\u00a0 There are other special things in these boxes, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s mother Elizabeth pieced a Christmas quilt, and Pa brought it west.\u00a0 It\u2019s real nice and extra special to elder brother.\u201d\u00a0 Clementine nodded.\u00a0 Joe gave her a wry smile.\u00a0 \u201cWe used to have it out all December, but when I was ten, I almost burnt it to ashes, so it stays put away safe until just before Christmas now.\u00a0\u00a0 In that box there\u2019s some blown glass baubles for the tree that Mama Inger wrapped up so careful they made it through the wagon trip.\u00a0 Hoss didn\u2019t even start holding them until after he was sixteen saying he was scared his hands would break them.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t know why he thought that.\u00a0 Hoss\u2019s hands can be real gentle.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSometimes we over worry.\u00a0 I can\u2019t wait to see them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf the snow stops tomorrow, there\u2019s a little tree just passed the barn that we could reach.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t be as grand a one as usual, but, well, it might do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it would, but you are not goin\u2019 after it unless the snow \u2018as stopped.\u00a0 Do you \u2018ear me, Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, ma\u2019am.\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t sneak out and make Pa mad, not at Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood lad!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa has the Cartwright Bible.\u00a0 He has it out all the time, but on Christmas Eve he reads the Christmas story to us from it.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think it\u2019d be the same for him from another Bible.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMost likely not.\u201d\u00a0 Clementine looked up at the young man before her. Her eyes glowed softly with both understanding and melancholy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Hawkins…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cClementine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMiss Clementine, do you have something that\u2019s special to you at Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clementine nodded.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s special all the time, but at Christmas…\u201d\u00a0 Her voice faded away, and her eyes misted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCan I ask what it is?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy \u2018Arry gave me a porcelain angel with gold gilded wings the first Christmas we were married.\u00a0 It sits on the mantel in my bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI’m sure it\u2019s real fine.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe set his hand over the widow\u2019s.\u00a0 \u201cWe have an angel too.\u00a0 In fact, we have more than one.\u00a0 Most are pretty but one, well, Adam chewed on it when he was a baby, but Pa still has to have it on the tree.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clementine chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI have a Father Christmas with a broken \u2018and.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe bowl for the barn elf\u2019s porridge has a chip, but we don\u2019t mind, and he don\u2019t either.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe barn elf?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe grinned. \u201cYou\u2019ll find out all about that tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Noise and cold announced the entrance of the three older Cartwrights.\u00a0 Little Joe leaned over and whispered into Clementine\u2019s ear.\u00a0 \u201cBlizzard or not, we\u2019re gonna have us a real fine Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clementine\u2019s hand patted Little Joe\u2019s cheek maternally.\u00a0 \u201cWe certainly are!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With multiple Cartwright traditions, a two-day feast of Hop Sing\u2019s special culinary delights, and the Widow Hawkins\u2019 flaming Christmas pudding; they did.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~*~*~\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n May all of you have a real fine Christmas or the fine holiday that blesses you!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0~*~*~\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n My prompt was:\u00a0Almost smothered in blankets and wrappe<\/em>rs, and my assigned character was the formidable Widow Hawkins<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *Author\u2019s note:<\/p>\n The Widow Hawkins appears in the episode \u201cThe Burma Raity\u201d S3 E5.<\/p>\n If you want to know the story of the barn elf, it is told in my story \u201cRemembering the Barn Elf<\/a>\u201d, and the story that explains Elizabeth\u2019s Christmas quilt is \u201cRocky Road to California<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Link to the Bonanza Brand Advent Calendar \u2013 Day 14 – You Can’t Keep an Old Lawman Down – Patina<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n~*~*~ Advent Calendar ~*~*~
\n* Day 13 *\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n