Summary:\u00a0 The Cartwrights are snowed in for a few days
\nRating:\u00a0 G 8,150 words<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Snowed In<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Adam gave his brother a dark look. \u201cDo you mind?\u201d\u00a0 he said, sarcastically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked up. \u201cWhat?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam pointed to the coffee table where his brother\u2019s hands were resting. \u201cThe pounding!\u201d he said. \u201cDo you mind?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss clasped his hands in his lap. \u201cSorry,\u201d he said, as he stared at the ceiling.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam narrowed his eyes and began to strum his guitar again, humming softly to himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell his pounding ain\u2019t any more annoying than that noise you\u2019re making, older brother,\u201d said Joe, from his position in front of the fireplace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis noise<\/em> as you call it, is music,\u201d replied Adam in a sniffy tone. \u201cYou should appreciate fine music.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI would if I ever got to hear any,\u201d retorted Joe meaningfully as he poked at the fire and then sighed. \u201cIt sure is boring in here with nuthin to do. How about we play some checkers again, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shook his head as he continued to stare at the ceiling. \u201cNah!\u201d he said. \u201cI ain\u2019t playing with you no more, little brother. Ya cheat too much.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe tried to look offended. \u201cI do not cheat!\u201d he said indignantly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa do,\u201d answered Hoss, putting his hands behind his head. \u201cDon\u2019t he, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure does,\u201d said Adam, continuing to strum on his guitar. \u201cAll the time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI do not!\u201d said Joe. angrily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked up from his position at his desk. \u201cWould you three please keep the noise down?\u201d he asked wearily. \u201cHow is a man to concentrate when there\u2019s all that arguing going on?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shot his father an indignant look. \u201cPa, these two reckon I cheat at checkers!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo you do,\u201d said Ben mildly as he turned back to the account book on his desk again. \u201cNow be quiet about it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his father an indignant look and then scowled at both his brothers, stood up and began to pace up and down in front of the fireplace. \u201cThere ain\u2019t nothing to do in this house,\u201d he complained. \u201cThree days of heavy snowing \u2026. How much longer can this go on for?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe law of averages says that it\u2019s got to stop soon,\u201d said Adam. \u201cBut I wouldn\u2019t count on it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe snorted. \u201cWho ever heard of a law that says how much it should snow?\u201d he said derisively. \u201cThat\u2019s just plain dumb, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rolled his eyes. \u201cThe law of averages means \u2026 oh never mind,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat\u2019s the point of trying to explain anything to you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t dumb!\u201d said Joe. \u201cFirst you call me a cheat and now you call me dumb! You watch out Adam, or I\u2019m gonna pound you!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stopped strumming and gave his youngest brother a look through narrowed eyes. \u201cI\u2019d like to see you try,\u201d he said in a low voice. Joe took a step towards him, but stopped as their father once more spoke.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf I hear one more thing out of any of you, there\u2019ll be trouble!\u201d\u00a0 Ben shouted. \u201cFind something to do or I\u2019ll find something for you!\u201d\u00a0 He gave Hoss an angry look. \u201cAnd stop that pounding!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss gave his father an apologetic look. \u201cSorry Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cI reckon I might mend some of this here tack then.\u201d He picked up a bridle that had been discarded on the table and began to work on it half-heartedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly there was a movement behind them and Hop Sing entered the room, gave them all an angry look and put some plates on the dining room table. \u201cNo get any work done with Cartwrights in house!\u201d he said, glaring at them all as if were their fault.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed and rubbed his temples wearily. \u201cI\u2019m sorry about that Hop Sing,\u201d he said, for the fifth time that morning. \u201cBut it really isn\u2019t our fault that we can\u2019t get outside. This snow is a problem for all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d said Joe grumpily. \u201cI\u2019d sure be out there if I could.\u201d\u00a0 His face brightened. \u201cYou want me to try the front door again, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I don\u2019t!\u201d retorted his father. \u201cLast time you tried that you got snow all over the floor in the entry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing reached out and hit Joe on the side of the head. \u201cYou no dirty up clean floors again!\u201d he said angrily.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell it weren\u2019t my fault if the snow was piled up so high,\u201d said Joe defensively as he rubbed his head. \u201cHow was I to know?\u201d\u00a0 He sighed again. \u201cWish I could just get to the barn to see the horses.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCharlie will feed them,\u201d said Adam mildly. \u201cHe can get there easier from the bunkhouse than we can from here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI suppose so.\u201d\u00a0 Joe sighed again. His face brightened again. \u201cHow about I get some more dry wood from the back porch then?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd where do ya think you\u2019re gonna put it?\u201d asked Hoss, indicating the pile of wood next to the fireplace. \u201cYou\u2019ve already brought in enough wood ta last all week.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe began pacing again. \u201cWell it\u2019s something to do,\u201d he muttered. \u201cThere ain\u2019t anything to do!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou could try reading a book,\u201d suggested Adam. \u201cIt might do you good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d chuckled Hoss as he continued to braid the bridle in his hands. \u201cExpand ya mind a bit, younger brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave them both an unhappy look, but nevertheless walked over to the bookshelf and began to appraise the books there. \u201cWhat\u2019s this one about?\u201d he asked suddenly as he took one off the shelf. \u201cHamlet.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Shakespeare,\u201d said Adam, stopping his humming for a moment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh him<\/em>!\u201d said Joe with a disgusted look on his face. \u201cHe can\u2019t even spell properly. I don\u2019t know why you like reading his stuff so much, Adam.\u201d Adam merely rolled his eyes, but didn\u2019t bother replying. \u201cHow about this one?\u201d asked Joe. \u201cIvan \u2026 Ivan \u2026 hoe \u2026 what\u2019s that one about?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKnights,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNights?\u201d\u00a0 asked Joe. \u201cWhy\u2019d anyone wanna write about nights?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot nights,\u201d replied Adam. \u201cKnights \u2026 knights with a k.\u201d\u00a0 Joe looked confused. \u201cLike in the middle ages,\u201d continued Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d said Joe, taking the book off the shelf. \u201cThat sounds OK. There might be lots of fighting in it then.\u201d He settled down on one of the chairs in front of the fireplace and started to read.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence for a few minutes in the room, only interrupted by Adam\u2019s strumming and humming. Hop Sing came back in again and looked at them all before snorting and going upstairs. \u201cHop Sing ain\u2019t too happy with us being here,\u201d observed Hoss. \u201cI sure hope he don\u2019t take it out on us like he done yesterday with that awful lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe can\u2019t help it if the cellar door is snowed under,\u201d said Adam. \u201cThere\u2019s plenty of food in the kitchen in the meantime.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss wrinkled his nose. \u201cYeah,\u201d he said. \u201cBut all the fancy preserves and good stuff is down in the cellar,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m getting sick of plain old sandwiches.\u201d\u00a0 He rubbed his stomach. \u201cWhat I would give for a good piece of cake or a cookie!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing got no time for baking cakes and cookies!\u201d retorted the cook as he came down the stairs and heard Hoss\u2019 remark. \u201cToo busy picking up all day from messy Cartwrights who in house and not go outside!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s fer lunch Hop Sing?\u201d asked Hoss hopefully, ignoring the cook\u2019s remark.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCheese sandwiches,\u201d Hop Sing replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss wrinkled up his nose as Hop Sing left the room. \u201cHe knows I don\u2019t like cheese,\u201d\u00a0 he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not the only one in this house, brother,\u201d said Adam. \u201cSome of us do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey Adam, what\u2019s incriminate<\/em> mean?\u201d asked Joe suddenly looking up from his book.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cImplicate,\u201d said Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked thoughtful. \u201cWell then, what\u2019s implicate<\/em> mean?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sighed. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you just get Pa\u2019s dictionary instead of asking me all the time?\u201d he said, in a frustrated tone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe made a face at his brother before getting up from his chair and walking over to his father\u2019s study. \u201cCan I please borrow your dictionary, Pa?\u201d he asked, getting it down from the shelf. \u201cCertain people are too lazy to tell me what certain words mean.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cI\u2019m glad to see you taking an interest in expanding your vocabulary, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked over his father\u2019s shoulder. \u201cIt\u2019s this book I\u2019m reading,\u201d he said absently. \u201cIt\u2019s got hard words in it.\u201d\u00a0 He pointed to the ledger on Ben\u2019s desk. \u201cYou\u2019ve made a mistake there Pa,\u201d he added. \u201cThat should be 23 \u2026. Not 32.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked a bit surprised as he checked the figures. \u201cSo it is,\u201d he said. \u201cThank you, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome,\u201d said Joe smugly, giving Adam a superior look. \u201cI\u2019m not completely dumb, in spite of what some people may think.\u201d\u00a0 Adam simply ignored the remark and continued to sing softly under his breath. Joe settled down with his book his one hand and the dictionary in the other and there was silence again. \u201cHey!\u201d\u00a0 said Joe after a few minutes. \u201cThis Ivan \u2026hoe guy is all right. He sure can fight.\u201d\u00a0 He gave Hoss a look that his brother had seen many times before and had learnt to be wary of. \u201cHey Hoss \u2026..\u201d he began.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked up. \u201cDon\u2019t ya even think it, little brother,\u201d he interrupted, quickly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked defensive again. \u201cThink what?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhatever ya was thinking,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cI know that look and I ain\u2019t gonna start fighting you with swords or some such nonsense. Your ideas always get me inta trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his brother a hurt look. \u201cWhen have I \u2026.\u201d\u00a0 he began and then stopped. \u201cWell anyways, it would be fun to try fighting with swords.\u201d\u00a0 He sat forward eagerly in his chair. \u201cWe could try it with them epees. The ones that belonged to my ma. Come on Hoss, what do ya say?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss opened his mouth, but before he could speak Hop Sing flounced back into the room and banged a platter down on the table. \u201cLunch!\u201d he announced angrily, before flouncing out again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n All four Cartwrights got up and walked to the table. \u201cCheese,\u201d groaned Hoss, opening one of the sandwiches. \u201cHe done cheese again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI like cheese,\u201d said Joe happily as he seated himself at the table. \u201cStop complaining, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI wish you would all stop complaining,\u201d said Ben wearily as he seated himself as well. \u201cI\u2019m sick and tired of all the complaints from the three of you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell you must admit that it\u2019s tiresome being stuck in the house as we are,\u201d said Adam, mildly. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s all right for those of us who know how to amuse ourselves, but some people \u2026\u201d he shot Joe a quick glance. \u201c\u2026 well, some people just don\u2019t know how to occupy their minds very well and that leads to tension.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMeaning me, I suppose!\u201d retorted Joe angrily. \u201cI can occupy my mind just as well as you can Adam. I \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBoys!\u201d interrupted Ben. \u201cI am sick and tired of all this bickering! Now stop behaving like children and eat your lunch in a civilised manner!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was silence around the table for a few minutes as everyone concentrated on their food, while Hop Sing flounced in and out of the room giving everyone dark looks as he put various items on the table and then took them off again. \u201cI think that Hop Sing has had enough of us,\u201d observed Adam in a low voice when the cook had gone into the kitchen for the third time. \u201cHe\u2019s giving us enough hints to that effect.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell I don\u2019t blame him,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cIt\u2019s hard enough for all of us, but Hop Sing is trying to get on with his work while we\u2019re underfoot. His work doesn\u2019t stop just because ours has for a few days.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs right!\u201d said Hop Sing, creeping in from the kitchen. \u201cToo much to do in house! Always too much to do!\u201d He plonked the coffeepot down on the table and glared at everyone accusingly. \u201cAnd extra work when all Cartwrights sit around house all day!\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe we could help you, Hop Sing,\u201d suggested Adam, giving the man a polite smile. \u201cAre there any chores we could do?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 face brightened up. \u201cYeah,\u201d he said. \u201cI could help ya in the kitchen if ya like?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing gave him a slap on the side of the head which made Joe begin to giggle. \u201cYou stay out of kitchen!\u201d Hop Sing said sternly. \u201cYou just want help self to food!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss gave the man an aggrieved look. \u201cAw no, Hop Sing,\u201d he said. \u201cI weren\u2019t thinking nothing like that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure you were,\u201d giggled Joe. \u201cYou\u2019d do anything to get near those cupboards. Sides,\u201d he added smugly. \u201cYou heard Hop Sing. He don\u2019t want us messing around with his work.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not quite what he said, young man,\u201d said Ben. \u201cHop Sing may not want you in his kitchen, but I think that Adam\u2019s suggestion is a very good one.\u201d He turned to Hop Sing as Hoss and Joe gave Adam dark looks. \u201cSurely there are some chores that the boys could do for you while they\u2019re stuck in here Hop Sing?\u201d he said. \u201cSomething to make your work easier and keep them busy as well?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m plenty busy,\u201d said Joe quickly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam snorted. \u201cYou were only talking awhile ago about how there is nothing to do in here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe rolled his eyes at his brothers. \u201cYeah, but that was before there was work involved,\u201d he whispered. \u201cShut up, will ya?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat will do,\u201d said Ben sternly before looking at Hop Sing again. \u201cWell?\u201d he said. \u201cWhat can the boys do to help you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing thought for a moment. \u201cThey can clean out rooms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe groaned. \u201cAw, come on Hop Sing! Anything but that \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben held up a hand to silence his youngest son. \u201cHop Sing is right,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are certain bedrooms in this house that are a mess.\u201d He looked directly at Joe who tried to look innocent at the remark. \u201cIt\u2019s a good opportunity for a good spring clean of those bedrooms,\u201d continued Ben. \u201cAnd it will keep you all apart from each other and there\u2019ll be no more of this bickering.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI agree,\u201d said Adam smugly. \u201cYour room is a disgrace Joe \u2026 and Hoss\u2019 isn\u2019t much better.\u201d He leant back and crossed his arms over his chest. \u201cThat chore should keep you busy all afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt will keep all of you busy,\u201d added his father, looking directly at him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy room is spotless,\u201d countered Adam. \u201cIt always is \u2026 you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPlenty messy papers hiding in corners,\u201d said Hop Sing, pointing a finger at him. \u201cNeed going through.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam sat forward again. \u201cIf you\u2019re referring to my architectural drawings,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll have you know that each and every one of them is \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat will do!\u201d shouted Ben. \u201cI have had just about enough of this! All three of you can get up to your rooms until suppertime. And if some of you,\u201d he looked at Adam. \u201cIf some of you don\u2019t have as much to clean out as others \u2026\u201d he looked at Joe. \u201cThen you can occupy yourselves up there doing other things. I have put up with everyone\u2019s bad tempers all morning and I have no intention of putting up with this constant squabbling for the afternoon as well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam raised an eyebrow. \u201cWe\u2019re a bit too old to be sent to our rooms, don\u2019t you think?\u201d he asked sarcastically.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stood up and flung his napkin onto the table. \u201cWell, then \u2026 act your age!\u201d he said. He strode over to his desk and sat down, clearly giving his sons the clear signal that as far as he was concerned the conversation had finished.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked as Hoss and shrugged before getting up and heading towards the stairs. Hoss looked at Adam and shrugged before getting up and following him. Adam sat in stony silence for a few minutes and then looked Hop Sing. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said in a grudging tone. \u201cJust to keep the peace.\u201d He stood up and followed his brothers to the stairs. Hop Sing watched him go, shrugged and then began to clear the table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 00000000000<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA man just can\u2019t win around here,\u201d muttered Ben under his breath as he put down his pen and glanced at the clock. First it had been so noisy that he couldn\u2019t think straight and now it was so quiet that it was unnerving. With the boys all in their rooms and Hop Sing busy in the kitchen, the silence was deafening and he found that he just couldn\u2019t concentrate at all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He stood up with a sigh and began to pace up and down the large room. If the truth be told, he was just as restless as his three sons and now that he was alone in the room he could show it. He walked over and looked out of the window where the snow was piling up on the sill so high, that it was almost impossible to see anything outside at all. Surely this snow couldn\u2019t go on for much longer? What was it that Adam had said earlier about the law of averages?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head and headed for the kitchen, suddenly unwilling to put up with the silence for a moment longer. As he entered the room, Hop Sing looked up from the bench where he was busily rolling out some pastry. \u201cWhat you want?\u201d he asked abruptly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNothing,\u201d replied Ben, sitting down on a stool and looking at what Hop Sing was doing. \u201cWhat are you making?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing frowned. \u201cYou sound like one of sons,\u201d he said accusingly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben gave a short laugh. \u201cI suppose I do,\u201d he said. \u201cSo \u2026 what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBeef pie for supper,\u201d replied the cook and then added as if it was an afterthought. \u201cMight make sons in better mood.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure it will,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cBetter than using cheese sandwiches, anyway.\u201d He looked at Hop Sing for a reaction and was pleased to see a small twinkle in the other man\u2019s eyes. \u201cThose boys of mine have been giving you a hard time,\u201d Ben added. \u201cBeing underfoot and all, haven\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing shrugged. \u201cIs all right,\u201d he said and then his eyes twinkled again. \u201cBut you not tell them so.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cOh I won\u2019t,\u201d he said. \u201cAs a matter of fact, I\u2019ve been thinking how nice it is to actually spend some time together. We\u2019re all so busy lately that we don\u2019t see as much of each other as we should. If we\u2019re not all working on different things out there on the ranch, the boys are off at night in town of seeing their young ladies.\u201d He gave a sigh. \u201cRemember when they were younger and we all spent our evenings together?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he said shortly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes misted over as the memories came flooding back of a young Adam poring over his books, Hoss usually tending to some small creature in a box or whittling and Little Joe toddling around having to be constantly pulled away from the fireplace or something else that he was desperate to get into. \u201cThose were the days,\u201d Ben said half to himself. \u201cThey grow up too quickly, Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing said nothing, but simply nodded as he continued to roll out his pastry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd Marie \u2026 Mrs Cartwright,\u201d continued Ben. \u201cShe was always in there sewing or knitting something for one of the boys.\u201d He sighed again. \u201cI miss those times.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded. \u201cSo do I,\u201d he said, in a rare moment of admission.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled at him. \u201cRemember that time when Hoss brought home the young bird?\u201d he said. \u201cHe was trying to teach it how to flap it\u2019s wings when it suddenly took off and I had to spend the rest of the evening getting it down from the rafters before it burnt itself to death, going too close to the fire?\u201d Hop Sing nodded and they both laughed. \u201cAnd Little Joe wanted to know if we could eat it for supper and Hoss got so mad!\u201d chuckled Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd time when number one son was learning guitar from Missy Cartwright,\u201d added Hop Sing. They both looked at each other and laughed again. \u201cHe very bad at it then,\u201d said Hop Sing. \u201cHe better now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt took him a while though,\u201d added Ben. \u201cI silently cursed that guitar many nights, I can tell you.\u201d He sat in silence for a moment, a faraway expression on his face. \u201cAnd the night when Hoss was teaching Little Joe to walk down the stairs when he was first up on his feet,\u201d he went on. \u201cAnd he ended up falling.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBlood everywhere,\u201d said Hop Sing. \u201cAnd Missy Cartwright all upset.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cThe boy was fine \u2026 but his mother \u2026 well that was a different matter.\u201d He smiled. \u201cJoe sure has fallen down those stairs a time or two since, hasn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing nodded. \u201cNumber three son always falling,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd not just on stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo many memories,\u201d sighed Ben. \u201cRemember Joe falling off the roof? We were all sitting in the living room after he\u2019d been sent to bed \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd him climb out of window to go to barn without you see,\u201d finished Hop Sing. \u201cBig trouble that night.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes indeed,\u201d said Ben. \u201cAnd I suspect that wasn\u2019t the last time he did that either.\u201d He looked at Hop Sing who merely shrugged. \u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019m not asking you to tell on him. I know what that son of mine is capable of Hop Sing and I\u2019m sure there have been many nights over the years when he\u2019s used the roof a time or two to get in or out of his room.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was a loud noise from above and Ben stood up. \u201cSpeaking of which,\u201d he said. \u201cI might just go up and see how those bedrooms are coming on. It\u2019s far too quiet down here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing chuckled to himself as Ben left the room, his own memories of his<\/em> boys filling his mind as he worked. He began to hum a soft Chinese lullaby as he rolled out the pastry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The first room Ben checked on was Adam\u2019s and, as he suspected, it was very neat and clean. \u201cTold you there wasn\u2019t much to do in here,\u201d said Adam, from his position on the bed. He was surrounded by large sheets of paper which he\u2019d been going through and Ben went over and sat next to him, picking one up to read. \u201cThe mill,\u201d he commented. \u201cYou designed this when you were first home from college.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked over his shoulder. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cFunny how I thought I knew so much back then. Now, if I were designing that today I\u2019d make this area here a lot bigger and put this part back there \u2026\u201d He pointed to the plans. \u201cStill \u2026 it\u2019s a good mill,\u201d he said conceded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt turned out just fine,\u201d replied his father, putting down the paper and picking up another one. \u201cWhat\u2019s this one?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam blushed slightly. \u201cJust some doodlings,\u201d he said. \u201cNothing special.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben tried to make sense of it. \u201cIt almost looks like \u2026\u201d He hesitated. \u201cA ship?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was just fiddling with some ideas,\u201d said Adam, obviously embarrassed. \u201cLook Pa! Look what I\u2019ve found! I thought these were thrown out years ago.\u201d He looked across at his father, his eyes shining.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked. \u201cHouse plans,\u201d he said. \u201cThese are your original drawings for this house, aren\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d said Adam, putting them on the bed between them and bending over them. \u201cThis is so funny \u2026 look how I\u2019ve done this!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell you were only ten when you first started them,\u201d said Ben, giving him a smile. \u201cNot bad for a ten year old, I\u2019d say.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd to think that I honestly believed I was designing the house,\u201d said Adam with a chuckle. \u201cYou let me think that all the time you were building it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you did<\/em> design it,\u201d said Ben, giving his son an innocent look. \u201cI took a lot of notice of your ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd changed a lot too,\u201d said Adam, grinning at his father. \u201cAnd added to them. In fact \u2026 the finished house bears very little resemblance to these plans at all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shrugged. \u201cYou were only ten,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd you were so excited at having some input into the place. I didn\u2019t have the heart to not include you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam lay back on his bed and put his hands behind his head. \u201cRemember how we had to keep roping off the stairs when we were working on upstairs here each night?\u201d he said. \u201cAnd Little Joe would stand down there and cry to be let up here?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat boy certainly was a climber,\u201d said Ben. \u201cHe would have been up here in the way and hurting himself if we hadn\u2019t roped them off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd when we got to finally spend the first night in our own rooms up here?\u201d continued Adam in delight. \u201cAnd Hoss couldn\u2019t sleep in the dark by himself? So he ended up in with me anyway \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c\u2026 and then you both ended up in with Marie and I because you thought you heard noises,\u201d continued Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c\u2026and then Joe thought he was missing out on something and yelled until someone went in and got him \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201c\u2026 and then we all spent the night together in the one room,\u201d finished Ben. \u201cLord knows that night I was wondering why I\u2019d bothered to build so many bedrooms. Marie said \u2026\u201d his voice trailed away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMarie said to just give it time,\u201d Adam prompted him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d said Ben. \u201cAnd she was right, of course. By the next night everyone was sleeping in their own rooms. I certainly married a sensible woman.\u201d He got up and walked over to where a picture of Adam\u2019s mother was on the dresser. \u201cYour mother was too. In fact, all your mothers were very level-headed women.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam was silent. It wasn\u2019t very often that his father referred to his mother and he silently willed the man to go on. \u201cYour mother used to say that I was the dreamer out of the two of us,\u201d said Ben, smiling down at the picture. \u201cAnd she was right. I was always the one with my head up in the clouds dreaming of what our life would be like and she was the one making the practical plans of how to achieve those dreams.\u201d He turned to face his son. \u201cYou\u2019re very like her you know \u2026 practical.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always thought that you were a very practical person, Pa,\u201d said Adam, his soul thrilling at the talk of his mother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cI learnt to be,\u201d he admitted. \u201cBut that was later on when necessity ruled my life. In the early days when I knew your mother she was the practical one.\u201d He sat down on the bed again. \u201cI wish you could have known her,\u201d he said in a low voice. \u201cThat has been one of the biggest regrets of my life you know son \u2026 that you never knew your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded and both men were silent for a moment. \u201cMe too,\u201d he said finally. He reached over and picked up the small music box that he always kept beside his bed. He opened it and the small strains of music filled the air. It was the one thing he owned that had belonged to his mother and he cherished it. \u201cRemember when you were angry with me for playing with this once?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was when we first met Inger \u2026 Hoss\u2019 ma. She gave it to you to play with and \u2026\u201d His eyes misted over. \u201cI was mighty screwed up back then,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI couldn\u2019t stand the thought of having lost her \u2026 your mother \u2026 and every time I heard that music it brought her loss back to me. Inger helped to me face the fact that I had to get on with life for my sake \u2026 and yours.\u201d He reached over and stroked the box. \u201cI\u2019m glad that you have it,\u201d he said. \u201cYour mother loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam nodded. \u201cI was so proud when you gave it to me for my birthday the next year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat was Inger\u2019s idea actually,\u201d admitted Ben. \u201cShe thought it would be good for you to have it.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cShe was a fine woman,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe sure was,\u201d agreed Adam. He sat quietly for a moment, deep in thought and then said. \u201cPa? Do you mind that \u2026. well \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked at his son in surprise, thinking how unusual it was for Adam to be lost for words. \u201cWhat is it son?\u201d he prompted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell … Ma … that is, Inger \u2026 did you ever mind that I thought of her as my mother?\u00a0 I never wanted you to think that I was replacing my real mother with her \u2026 but \u2026\u201d He shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to relate to someone that you never knew,\u201d he finished lamely.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben put his arm around his son\u2019s shoulder. \u201cOh Adam, son,\u201d he said. \u201cPlease never think that. I\u2019m so pleased that you had someone in your life that you could feel that way about \u2026 even if she wasn\u2019t in our lives for very long. She certainly left an impression, didn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMmm,\u201d said Adam, looking away and staring out of the window.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben clapped his son on the back and stood up. \u201cWell, I\u2019ll leave you to all this,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd son?\u201d Adam looked up. \u201cNever apologise for having feelings about someone. Your mother would have wanted you to be close to Inger.\u201d He patted the young man on the shoulder and walked out of the room, down the hall and stopped outside Hoss\u2019 room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As expected, Hoss was sitting on his bed looking at everything he\u2019d pulled out of his dresser drawers and cupboard with a puzzled expression on his face. \u201cSomething wrong son?\u201d asked Ben, leaning against the doorframe and trying not to laugh at the young man\u2019s face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss scratched his head. \u201cKinda, Pa,\u201d he said. \u201cI done took everything out, but now I\u2019m kinda not sure about where to start putting in back in again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben laughed. \u201cJust take it one thing at a time son,\u201d he said as he walked into the room and sat down on the bed. \u201cWhat\u2019s in those boxes?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss grinned at him and opened the first box. \u201cI found these at the back of my cupboard,\u201d he said. \u201cTake a look \u2026 see \u2026. remember when I collected these bird\u2019s eggs?\u201d He held up a smaller box and opened it to reveal dozens of small different coloured eggshells. \u201cI spose I shoulda got rid of em \u2026 but to be honest I kinda fergot they was there.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cI never knew a boy for collecting things as you did son,\u201d he said. \u201cBirds\u2019 eggs \u2026 rocks \u2026 animals \u2026 you were always bringing something home.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss dipped into the box again. \u201cLookee here Pa,\u201d he said, as excited as young boy. \u201cMy marbles! I was pretty good at playing marbles, now that I think about it,\u201d he added. \u201cBout the only thing I could win at when I was at school.\u201d\u00a0 He opened the small bag and tipped the marbles onto the floor, scattering them in all directions. \u201cI could even beat Joe at this,\u201d he said happily. \u201cI was right good at it.\u201d He lined up two of the marbles and began to shoot one at the other with his thumb, causing it to spin across the floor. \u201cSee? I\u2019m still as good as I was then,\u201d he said proudly. \u201cYa wanna have a game Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben laughed to see the child that still lived inside the large man that was this second son of his. \u201cNot right now son,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded and laughed as well. He gathered up the marbles and replaced them carefully in the bag. \u201cWell mebbe Joe and me will have a game later,\u201d he said. \u201cYa know Pa? It\u2019s kinda nice finding things like this \u2026 kinda makes the memories of when I was a kid come back in a way. Ya know what I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI do son,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cMemories are very important things to hold onto. Without our memories life would be dull.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI reckon you\u2019re right Pa,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cCept \u2026\u201d His eyes clouded over.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cExcept?\u201d prompted Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shrugged. \u201cCept \u2026 well \u2026 some memories are kinda sad.\u201d He looked up at his father to see if he understood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded \u2026 knowing what he was referring to. \u201cI know son,\u201d he said. \u201cBut they\u2019re still good to have. We can\u2019t have the good memories without a few sad ones mixed in there too. Life isn\u2019t like that.\u201d He put a hand on his son\u2019s shoulder. \u201cBesides,\u201d he said. \u201cMarie wouldn\u2019t want us to be sad when we remember her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded. \u201cI know,\u201d he said. \u201cOnly \u2026 thinking of her makes me wonder sometimes.\u201d He glanced at his father again. \u201cIt makes me wonder how you got through it all Pa. I mean \u2026 I only have bad memories of when she died \u2026 but you \u2026 you\u2019ve got bad memories about when all three of our ma\u2019s died and that must be so terrible sometimes. How do you stand it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes misted over. \u201cI\u2019m not sure son,\u201d he said. \u201cI only know that the love I had for the three of them stood by when me I needed it and I got through those times because of it. I still feel very upset over their deaths at times, but other things keep me going.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah?\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cYou three boys for one thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss made a face. \u201cAnd we don\u2019t make it easy fer you at times, do we? Reckon I\u2019m sorry bout how we\u2019ve been getting on each other\u2019s nerves these last few days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all right son,\u201d his father replied. \u201cEveryone is just tired of being shut up indoors.\u201d He glanced at the window where the snow was pelting against the glass. \u201cIt has actually been reminding me of when you were all younger and we spent the evenings together. Hop Sing and I were talking about it just a little while ago in fact.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss grinned. \u201cI remember that,\u201d he said. \u201cYou used to read to us or tell us stories bout when you were a sailor and all the places you\u2019d go.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded as the memories came flooding back. \u201cSo I did,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d forgotten that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t,\u201d replied Hoss. \u201cYou sure told good stories Pa. Sometimes made me wanna go and visit all them places too.\u201d He thought for a moment. \u201cThen sometimes not,\u201d he conceded. \u201cI reckon I\u2019m happier here on The Ponderosa than anywheres else.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou think a lot of this ranch, don\u2019t you?\u201d asked his father, studying his expression carefully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCourse I do,\u201d said Hoss immediately. \u201cAin\u2019t nowhere else on earth like it, I reckon.\u201d His face took on a faraway expression. \u201cI remember when I was a kid and you\u2019d take me out hunting or fishing for a few days. Them were times I\u2019ll also think of as the best, Pa. There\u2019s nothing like waking up in the early morning and smelling the fresh scent of the pines and see a clear blue sky above ya.\u201d He grinned at his father. \u201cReckon I\u2019m a mountain man through and through.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben slapped him on the back. \u201cI reckon you are, son. After all, that\u2019s what your name means \u2026 a Hoss is a large friendly mountain man.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s me then,\u201d said Hoss in a satisfied voice. \u201cYa know what Pa? I can\u2019t ever understand people who wanna go off and see the world. It just ain\u2019t me. The Ponderosa is where I\u2019ll stay.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pleased to hear it son,\u201d said Ben. \u201cMakes me think that all the work I\u2019ve put into this place over the years has been worth it, when I hear you talking like that.\u201d There was a loud noise from down the hall and they both started. \u201cWhat was that?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shrugged. \u201cNo idea,\u201d he replied. \u201cBut it\u2019s coming from Joe\u2019s room, so it could be anything.\u201d He gave his father a strained look. \u201cWhy\u2019d my room have to next to his?\u201d he asked. \u201cI\u2019m always having to hit on the wall to shut him up at night with all his goings on in there. Lordy, but that boy can make a noise!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe can make a mess too,\u201d said Ben, standing up. \u201cAnd if he knows what\u2019s good for him he\u2019ll be cleaning it up this minute!\u201d he shouted. Immediately there was a scrabbling noise from the next room and Ben winked at Hoss. \u201cI might just go and check on what your younger brother is up to in there,\u201d he said. \u201cGet all this stuff packed away now son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He left Hoss still looking at everything on the floor of his bedroom with a puzzled expression, and walked next door to Little Joe\u2019s room. His third son was lying on the floor pushing a pile of things under his bed. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Ben demanded. \u201cYou were told to clean up this room, not simply hide things.\u201d He walked into the room and pushed some things off the bed so that he had room to sit down. \u201cHonestly Joseph,\u201d he added. \u201cThis room is a mess!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe sat up and gave his father a wistful smile. \u201cIt ain\u2019t that bad,\u201d he said. \u201cI know where everything is this way.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI have no idea how,\u201d said Ben, looking around at the piles of clothing and other articles strewn all over the floor, the bed and the dresser.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnyway,\u201d said Joe defensively. \u201cI don\u2019t really see the point of tidying something up when it\u2019s only gonna get messy again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to get messy again if you put things away in their proper places each time you\u2019ve finished with it,\u201d he said. \u201cYour problem is that you just aren\u2019t organised, son.\u201d Joe shrugged as if it didn\u2019t matter. \u201cMy days as a sailor taught me the importance of being neat,\u201d continued Ben.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe made a face. \u201cPa, is this gonna be a lecture?\u201d he asked. \u201cCause if it is, then I\u2019ll save you time and just put the things away without it, if you like.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not too old to tan you know, young man,\u201d said his father, giving him a mock-stern look. \u201cNo more back-chat if you don\u2019t mind.\u201d He watched as Joe made a half-hearted attempt to put a few pieces of clothing in his dresser drawer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI spose old Mr Perfect in there has finished his room,\u201d said Joe, indicating Adam\u2019s room across the hall with his thumb.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re referring to your brother Adam, then he really didn\u2019t have much to tidy in the first place,\u201d replied Ben, trying to keep a straight face. \u201cHe knows the value of neatness.\u201d He raised an eyebrow as Joe muttered something under his breath. \u201cWhat was that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNuthin,\u201d said Joe. \u201cOnly \u2026. I can\u2019t help it if I\u2019m a disappointment to you Pa.\u201d He studied a shirt in his hands, as if it was very interesting to him all of a sudden.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben jerked. \u201cA disappointment to me?\u201d he said in astonishment. \u201cWhere on earth did you get an idea like that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe shrugged. \u201cOh \u2026 well, it\u2019s just that you\u2019re always talking about how Adam can do things real good and how Hoss is such a nice person and all \u2026 I just thought \u2026\u201d His voice trailed away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben reached down and put both his hands on his son\u2019s shoulders. \u201cJoseph, look at me,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have not for one moment of your life been a disappointment to me. In fact, you\u2019ve brought me so much joy in my life, that I couldn\u2019t possible let you know how much. If I talk about your brothers a lot … well, I\u2019m proud of them \u2026 just like I\u2019m proud of you too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe looked up into his father\u2019s eyes. \u201cReally?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally,\u201d replied Ben firmly. \u201cYou\u2019re all different, that\u2019s all. I value Adam for his common sense and his ability to think and reflect about things \u2026 I value Hoss for the thoughtful and caring person that he is \u2026 and I value you for the enthusiasm and joy you bring to life. I love you all and I\u2019m proud of you for being the men that you\u2019ve become.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grinned at his father. \u201cI never knew that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I should say it more often then,\u201d replied Ben. \u201cThat\u2019s something I\u2019ll have to remember for the future. Whatever you do in life Joe \u2026 I\u2019ll be proud of you. No matter what you do or don\u2019t achieve \u2026 as long as you give it your best, that\u2019s all that matters.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe thought for a moment. \u201cWell then \u2026\u201d he said looking around him. \u201cI reckon that this is the best I can do right now. I might not be a neat as Hoss or Adam, but this is the best my room can be. OK?\u201d Ben shook his head, his eyes twinkling. Joe shrugged again. \u201cWell, it was worth a try,\u201d he remarked and began to clean up again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben reached down and pulled the things out from under the bed that Joe had recently pushed there. \u201cDon\u2019t forget these,\u201d he said, grinning at the look on his son\u2019s face. \u201cThere\u2019s probably a whole lot more under there too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe lay down on the floor again and pushed himself under the bed. \u201cYou\u2019re right!\u201d he shouted. \u201cHey there\u2019s some great stuff under here!\u201d Ben watched as one thing after another was thrown out from under the bed, finally followed by Joe\u2019s head. \u201cLook at all this Pa!\u201d he said in delight. \u201cAin\u2019t it great?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked and made a face as he picked up a mouldy half-eaten sandwich. \u201cJoseph!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe took it from his father and placed it into the trash bin next to his bed. \u201cNot that,\u201d he said. \u201cThis \u2026 look!\u201d He picked up a small knitted horse and stroked it. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen this for years,\u201d he said. \u201cMy horse \u2026 and look \u2026\u201d He opened a wooden box. \u201cMy soldiers. Gee, I had a lot of fun with these.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled down at the sight of his son \u2026 who was always telling everyone who would listen how very grown-up he was \u2026 with his childhood toys. \u201cMaybe you\u2019d like to give them to a needy family with children?\u201d he asked with a twinkle in his eye.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his father a shocked look. \u201cNo,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cI mean \u2026 I\u2019m sure we can find other things to give to families who might need things \u2026 but not my soldiers \u2026 and definitely not my horse. I remember taking this to bed every night,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI remember you howling the house down when it couldn\u2019t be found once,\u201d said his father. \u201cNone of us got any sleep that night.\u201d He hid a smile as Joe placed the horse gently on his bed and arranged its legs properly. \u201cYour mother knitted that for you,\u201d Ben added. \u201cI remember that Adam said at the time that it looked more like a cow than a horse and she got offended.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell I didn\u2019t care what it looked like,\u201d Joe said. \u201cYou know what Pa? After my Ma died I used to lie in bed at night and pretend that she was sitting next to me while I was cuddling that horse. I helped me get to sleep. And sometimes \u2026.\u201d He hesitated. \u201cSometimes I used to creep into your room and take that shawl that she always used to put around her shoulders. It smelt of her for a long time and I used to keep it in my bed and smell it when I couldn\u2019t go to sleep. I used to pretend that she was still alive.\u201d He blushed slightly. \u201cI suppose that was a bit dumb,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shook his head. \u201cNot dumb at all,\u201d he said. \u201cIn fact I used to leave it out for you to take.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his father a surprised look. \u201cYou did?\u201d he asked. \u201cYou knew that I was doing it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded. \u201cYes,\u201d he said. \u201cTo be honest son, I did it too \u2026 with one of her nightgowns.\u201d There was silence for a few minutes as each of them was lost in his own thoughts of the woman they had both loved.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly the silence was broken by a loud exclamation in the room next door, following by the sound of heavy pounding footsteps. Hoss appeared at the door, a broad grin nearly splitting his face two. \u201cHey guess what?\u201d he boomed. \u201cThe snow\u2019s stopped!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWonderful!\u201d shouted Adam from his room and Joe immediately got to his feet in great excitement and ran to the window.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt has!\u201d he shouted, just as excited as Hoss. He turned to face them all, his eyes shining. \u201cBet I\u2019ll make it out there before you Hoss!\u201d He ran to the doorway of his bedroom and tried to jostle his large brother out of the way, but Hoss stood firm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s ya hurry little brother?\u201d he said, still grinning. \u201cSick of being inside, all of a sudden?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSick of you, more to the point,\u201d shot back Joe, matching his brother\u2019s grin with a large one of his own. \u201cOut of the way, Hoss!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoseph!\u201d called out Ben, surveying the still-messy room. \u201cWhat about all of this?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe gave his father one of his best puppy-dog expressions. \u201cI\u2019ll do it later Pa,\u201d he said, trying to sound sincere. \u201cPromise!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben hesitated for a moment and then waved his hand. \u201cAll right,\u201d he said. \u201cOff you go.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe grinned at his father before ducking under Hoss\u2019 arm and taking off down the hallway. Hoss shook his head. \u201cYa coming Adam?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn a minute,\u201d replied his older brother, smiling at him. \u201cSure will be good to get some fresh air.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stood up. \u201cMake sure your younger brother puts on his coat!\u201d he called to Hoss who was disappearing after Joe down the stairs. \u201cYou know what he\u2019s like!\u201d He bent down and began to pick up some of Joe\u2019s discarded things that were strewn all over the floor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cComing?\u201d asked Adam, leaning on the doorframe as he watched his father.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded and continued to work. \u201cI\u2019ll be down presently son,\u201d he said. \u201cYou go on ahead.\u201d Adam smiled at his father and disappeared. Ben placed several of Joe\u2019s pieces of clothing in the top dresser drawer, grinning at the sound of the front door banging loudly followed by a loud angry exclamation by Hop Sing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He walked over to the window and looked down into the front yard. Adam was already shovelling snow with great vigour off the front porch, while Hoss was manfully wading through the deep snowdrifts towards the barn, probably to check on the animals, Ben considered. As for Joe, he was simply standing in the middle of the yard, his head back and a huge smile on his face as he took deep breaths of the fresh air.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suddenly, Joe bent down, picked up a handful of snow and threw it at his eldest brother. Ben smiled at the sound of his youngest son\u2019s distinct high-pitched laugh and the way in which he immediately gathered himself up another handful of the white powder to use a second time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam hesitated for a moment, then dropped his shovel and picked up a handful of snow himself, hurling it at Joe with such force that it nearly knocked him off his feet. Joe was about to throw a second snowball at his brother when Hoss appeared from inside the barn and Joe\u2019s missile immediately changed direction. The snowball hit Hoss directly on the top of his head, knocking off his hat in the process. Once again, Joe\u2019s high-pitched giggle rang out across the yard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss hesitated only long enough to give Adam a quick glance and then, as one, they moved on their younger brother, pinning him to the ground as they rubbed snow in his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben leant against the frosty windowpane, smiling in delight as he gazed down at his three raucous sons having fun in the snow. They reminded him of young puppies and he considered for a moment that now matter how old they became there was still a lot of the boy inside the man of all of them. He laughed aloud at the sight of Joe struggling to get to his feet while his brothers continued to pile snow on top of him and then without any more ado turned to go downstairs to join his sons outside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary:\u00a0 The Cartwrights are snowed in for a few daysThe End<\/span><\/h1>\n
\nRating:\u00a0 G 8,150 words<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":41001,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1008,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-30-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=63578"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63578\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=63578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=63578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=63578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}