{"id":7324,"date":"2014-05-07T23:19:55","date_gmt":"2014-05-08T03:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7324"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:12:15","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:12:15","slug":"the-three-kings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7324","title":{"rendered":"The Three Kings (by Sibylle)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0<\/span>In early 1847, a winter’s night on the Ponderosa leads to an unexpected gift for the three brothers and the whole family.<\/p>\n

Prequel \u00a0Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K \u00a0<\/span>WC: 2100<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Story Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you, Sklamb, for your help and your patience. I need both ;).<\/em><\/p>\n

The Three Kings<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, are you asleep?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.”<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, please!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you want, Hoss? Why aren’t you asleep? It\u2019s \u2026 close to midnight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou ate all those cookies. Eating so many sweets before bed causes stomachaches!”<\/p>\n

\u201cMy belly never aches from eating cookies, Adam! Something woke me up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever could wake you, you sleepy bear.\u201d Adam grumbled into his pillow.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re mean! I am awake after all!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam gave up all hope of getting back to sleep. His ten year old brother was planted in front of his bed and showed no signs of planning to leave. \u201cSit down, Hoss,\u201d he sighed, as he reached for the blanket that lay at the end of his bed and passed it to his brother. \u201cWhat’s the matter?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss wrapped the blanket around himself as he answered, \u201cI\u2019ve been hearing Molly whine for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour dog? Did you let her in the house? You know how Ma feels about having animals inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I didn\u2019t. But I can hear her. She’s been whining an awful lot!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s impossible. You can\u2019t hear her from the barn. Maybe barking but not whining. You must be imagining it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it woke me up!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you dreamed it. Get back to bed, Hoss, and go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I did hear it, Adam, really!\u201d Hoss insisted, raising his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cSsht! You\u2019ll wake everyone up!\u201d<\/p>\n

Just then they heard the padding of bare feet and a small, touseled figure in a nightshirt peered into the half open doorway. \u201cI can\u2019t sleep anymore, Adam. There’s a bright light in my room.\u201d The small boy scrubbed his eyes with his fists.<\/p>\n

“A bright light? It must be the moon, Little Joe, or else Hoss\u2019s loud talking woke you up. See what you did, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t Hoss. There\u2019s a star outside my window, a star with prongs and a long tail. An \u2019omet!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, get under the covers. It\u2019s the fifth of January, you will catch a cold.\u201d Adam lifted up the bedclothes and his little brother slid quickly under them. \u201cOh, your feet are cold, Joe,\u201d Adam gasped. With a sigh of resignation he tried to make space for them all on the crowded bed and went on, \u201cJoe, you were dreaming about the book Ma read to you. There was a picture of a comet over the crib of the baby Jesus, but real stars don’t have any points.\u201d The sixteen year old thought over how to explain what stars were without confusing his four year old brother. \u201cLook, Joe. Stars are only points of light. People draw them with fancy shapes to make them seem prettier. Stars with tails exist but they\u2019re very rare. Except for shooting stars.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw it, Adam. An \u2019omet with prongs and a big tail. It is still outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNonsense, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can show you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, Joe? I always wanted to see a comet,\u201d Hoss scrambled out of bed and pulled open the window curtain.<\/p>\n

Joe darted after him. \u201cI\u2019ll show it to you, Hoss!\u201d And the two brothers stood at the window staring outside. The night wasn\u2019t very cold so only the edges of the windowpanes were frosted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can only see the Big Dipper and Orion,\u201c stated Hoss after a while.<\/p>\n

“Of course you can’t see a comet, Hoss. They’re very rare–Halley’s comet comes only every eighty years….”<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I have seen it,\u201d Little Joe unblinkingly broke into the scientific explanations of his brother. \u201cMy window looks in the other direction \u2013 to the barn. There you can see it clearly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe and Hoss, I won\u2019t hear any more about such nonsense. Now go back to your beds and let me get some sleep!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe and Hoss looked at each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam watched his brothers closing the door deliberately and pulled his bedcover back up around his shoulders.<\/p>\n

Fifteen minutes later–well past midnight, he was sure–Adam was still wide awake, and uneasy. As the oldest, he was used to feeling responsible for his little brothers. Had they really gone back to their beds? he wondered. He had a bad feeling about that. Determinedly he swung his naked legs out of bed and searched for his slippers with his feet. Shuddering, he pulled on his robe and left his room.<\/p>\n

Just as he’d suspected, neither Hoss nor Joe was in bed. Cautiously Adam crept down the stairs, hoping desperately that their parents wouldn’t wake up.<\/p>\n

The great room was empty, but the house door was slightly open, and footsteps in the freshly fallen snow led to the barn where Adam could see a flickering light. Surely Hoss wouldn\u2019t have taken a candle into the barn? Naked flames in the barn were dangerous and would make Pa furious. Without hesitating Adam run to the barn, forgetting that he had on only slippers and a thin robe over his nightshirt.<\/p>\n

He opened the door and followed the glow inside, thankful to notice that it came from a oil lamp, not a candle. The relief lasted only until he saw that Hoss was crying.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss?\u201d Adam said in a low voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cMolly is dying, Adam. She must be hurt. There’s blood and she \u2026 she can\u2019t get up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss was kneeling on the floor in the empty stall, bent over his black mongrel as she licked his hands. Little Joe stood next to Hoss, frozen like stone, staring down at his brother and the dog that he’d known his whole life.<\/p>\n

Adam knelt down in the straw too. The dog softly wagged her tail to greet him. \u201cHoss, please, give me the lamp, so I can see where she is hurt,\u201d he said in a shaking voice. Even for him it was no small thing if Molly was badly injured. He held the lamp in one hand and with the other he felt over the dog carefully. What was it there at her abdomen? Very gently, Adam probed the suspicious spot, than reached in more confidently. His face brightened up as he pulled out what he’d found. It was small, blind, and had a cream colored hide which would soon be softly furred.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe isn’t dying, Hoss, she’s having puppies.\u201c Adam held the little newborn out to Hoss, who\u00a0 looked astonished at first, but quickly relaxed as his round face shone with happiness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat have you done to yourself, Hoss?\u201d Adam inquired abruptly. \u201cYour face is all black.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBlack? Don\u2019t know.\u201d Hoss shifted the puppy into one hand and swiped the other across his face, smearing it even more.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks like ashes or soot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSoot? I haven\u2019t touched any.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWere you over by the fireplace?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes, I used an ember and a bit of kindling to light the lamp. I had to blow. Are there more puppies, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

The older boy felt around Molly again and brought out two more puppies, a second cream colored one and another black like its mother but with little white paws.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are three, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCould I hold one too?\u201d begged a little voice now.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe very careful, Joe. You mustn\u2019t squeeze it, just hold it loosely,\u201d Adam told his brother.<\/p>\n

The little boy held his breath when his big brother gave him the small puppy and tried not to grip the tiny thing too tightly, looking at Adam to see if he did it right. When his brother smiled at him he proudly stroked the little puppy in his hand with one finger.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben ran down the stairs. Incredibly, not one of his boys was in bed! Strange noises had awakened him and he had decided to make sure all was well. Cautiously he had tiptoed through the second floor carrying a lamp turned low and his gun until he noticed that all his sons were missing. Could they be robbing Hop Sings supplies together? Ben deliberated. He remembered how he and his brother sometimes had snitched cookies before Christmas at night. But wasn\u2019t Adam too old now for getting into mischief with his little brothers, and shouldn\u2019t even Hoss have eaten enough cookies by January? All the same, he had heard something from the kitchen. He ventured into the dark kitchen, but it was empty.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen? What are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned around. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to wake you, darling, but I\u2019m looking for the boys. They aren\u2019t here. I hope they didn’t go outside!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think there is a light in the barn,\u201d said Marie after a look through the kitchen window.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow dare they go running around outside in the middle of the night! But I will tell them something for sure!\u201d Ben fumed as he grabbed his coat and boots. Leaving his lamp on the kitchen table, he shoved his way through the frozen kitchen door. Marie followed close behind him.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think Ma and Hop Sing will be mad because we cut off some of our Sunday roast, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. And if they do it\u2019s too late anyway. Done is done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re only sharing our portion with her, right? And Molly needs good food now!\u201d<\/p>\n

Entering the barn quietly through the half-opened door, Ben and Marie overheard Adam and Hoss’s debate. Marie laid a hand on Ben\u2019s shoulder and they silently followed the light.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I give Molly something from my portion, too?\u201d asked Joe and Hoss gave him a small piece of meat from a white enamelled bowl that he held on his lap.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, the meat isn\u2019t too spicy? Hop Sing always puts it in that brown sauce.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we washed it and we also brought enough water for Molly. It\u2019s alright, Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben and Marie stood in the shadows silently watching the three boys sitting around the dog in the straw, feeding her pieces of meat, and cuddling her puppies. Marie looked up to Ben and, shaking her head, pointed towards the entrance. Ben nodded and followed his wife out of the barn and back to the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Ben, but I couldn’t bear it if you had scolded them. It was so peaceful,\u201d whispered Marie as she fumbled her way through the front door.<\/p>\n

Ben put his arms around her and gave her a long kiss. After that he guided her gently to the settee where they both sat in the dark huddled against each other waiting for the return of their sons.<\/p>\n

After about a quarter of an hour they heard steps and low voices before the door opened.<\/p>\n

First came Adam, wearing his robe and carrying the oil lamp, allowing Marie and Ben to make out the little procession. Adam held the door for Joe who had on Adam\u2019s winter coat, dragging behind him like a train an empty pitcher in his hand. After that came Hoss, wrapped up in a blanket and holding the white bowl. His face was now evenly grey and he had somehow contrived to turn his hands and forearms, where they poked out from under the blanket, gray as well. All three were on tiptoe and managed to be surprisingly quiet. Adam bolted the door diligently.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi, you three!\u201d<\/p>\n

The boys froze in their tracks at the sound. Joe\u2019s hand went unwillingly in search of Adam\u2019s, and even Hoss took a step back against his older brother. Adam squared his shoulders and began, \u201c Pa, we..”<\/p>\n

His father interrupted, \u201cHow many puppies did Molly have?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked surprised but answered promptly, \u201cThree.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll boys,\u201d added Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike us,\u201d beamed Joe and ran into the open arms of his mother.<\/p>\n

Adam glanced at his father doubtfully but relaxed as his Pa, smiling, winked at him.<\/p>\n

Suddenly the kitchen door opened and Hop Sing entered the room carrying a tray with six mugs of hot cocoa.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll lunning in night. Too cold. Not sleep. Cocoa will make warm again and sleepy. Drink quick and then back in bed!\u201d Hop Sing scolded them while he distributed the cups before taking the last one himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Hop Sing!\u201d could be heard a few times before silence settled down while they all enjoyed the hot sweet liquid.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you named the puppies yet?\u201d asked Ben after a while.<\/p>\n

All three boys shook their heads.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know some,\u201d said Marie softly, smiling at each boy and then at Ben. \u201cWhat do you think about Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0In early 1847, a winter’s night on the Ponderosa leads to an unexpected gift for the three brothers and the whole family.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K \u00a0WC: 2100<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":4115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,1008,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7324","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"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1211,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/frontporch.jpg?fit=439%2C305&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9912,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=9912","url_meta":{"origin":7324,"position":0},"title":"(Un)Silent Night (by heike)","author":"heike","date":"December 15, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 It's Christmas time for those on the Ponderosa... with their own Little Drummer Boy celebration. 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