More than Enough<\/strong><\/p>\n\u201cHoss!\u00a0 What are you doing here?\u00a0 How did you find me?\u201d\u00a0 Joe yelled as he ran across the yard to stand in awe of his brother.\u00a0 \u201cI saw you in the room that night but I thought I was just dreaming,\u201d he said staring up at the most beautiful sight he\u2019d seen in a while.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Punkin, I\u2019m so glad to see you, I could just\u00a0 . . . . \u201c\u00a0 And he did; Hoss grabbed Joe in his arm and squeezed as if he would not let go.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, now, we just got him sorted out with the damage to his ribs.\u00a0 Don\u2019t you go and mess him up again,\u201d Nick said smiling at the antics between the two brothers.\u00a0 Folding his arms across his chest, and leaning his head to one side, he studied the two and marveled at the vast differences in appearance.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry, Joe. I ain\u2019t hurtcha none did I?\u201d Hoss asked as he settled his brother on his feet again.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you can\u2019t hurt me no matter how hard you tried.\u00a0 It just ain\u2019t in ya,\u201d Joe responded squeezing his brother\u2019s arms.\u00a0 \u201cAnd if you did, I wouldn\u2019t mind \u2018cause I\u2019m so doggone glad to see ya, Hoss.\u00a0 I\u2019ve missed you something awful,\u201d Joe said.\u00a0 Tears sprang to his eyes as Hoss drew Joe into his shoulder, concealing the emotion that threatened to topple Joe\u2019s carefully constructed image.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, let me introduce you to everyone,\u201d Joe said extricating himself from his brother\u2019s strong arms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Joe, I think I know these folks quite well, seeing as how I\u2019ve been hanging around here for nigh on to \u00a0six weeks keeping my eye on ya,\u201d Hoss said sheepishly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u00a0 You\u2019ve been here for six weeks?\u201d\u00a0 Joe looked thunder struck when the realization that home was so close to him for such a long time.\u00a0 \u201cRamrod, you knew my brother was here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Nevada, we all knew,\u201d Nick said rubbing the back of his neck and clearing his throat.\u00a0 \u201cWe, uhmm, thought it best that you decide when you were ready to go home rather than some overbearing, overly protective big brother who thinks you need a mother hen.\u00a0 So we just, uhmm, sat on ole Hoss here \u2018til you were ready to go home.\u00a0 If we had to wait another month or two, well Hoss would have just had to wait,\u201d Nick Barkley responded resting his hands on his hips.\u00a0 \u201cNow, if you two don\u2019t mind, I\u2019m going to gather the men and we\u2019ll get to our day\u2019s work.\u00a0 Joseph Cartwright, I\u2019m glad I had the pleasure to know you and your big brother here and I certainly do plan to get down to Virginia City to make sure they\u2019re treating you the way a man should be treated.\u00a0 And Hoss, you can tell that other brother that I\u2019ll be keeping my eye on him.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that said, Nick Barkley barked out an order, slapped his hat on his head, patted Joe on the shoulder and was off.\u00a0 Joe just looked on in amazement as he realized that, although he had more than enough people looking out for him, he had just earned himself yet another mother hen.\u00a0 Fortunately, this one lived many, many miles away.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that goes for me as well,\u201d Mrs. Barkley quietly said as she stepped to her house guest.\u00a0 Taking his arm, she escorted Joe to Cochise and gave him a peck on the cheek.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve enjoyed the few days you\u2019ve been a guest in my home and I hope we get a chance to meet again soon.\u00a0 Hoss, please take care of him and make sure the both of you get home to your father.\u00a0 I know he must be worried sick right now.\u00a0 Please go before I demand that you both stay a little longer.\u00a0 I would love for you to me Audra and Jarrod,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I guess me and little brother here must be on our way,\u201d Hoss said smiling and shaking his head as the dust settled from Nick\u2019s departure.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThank you, again, for all you done for Joe here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMa\u2019am, I\u2019ll make sure our path\u2019s cross again.\u00a0 Maybe in the spring our families can meet in San Francisco,\u201d Joe answered as he hugged Mrs. Barkley.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to miss you, too, and I\u2019ll wire you when we get home.\u201d\u00a0 With a swing mount and a tip of his hat Joseph Cartwright turned Cochise and pointed his horse\u2019s nose in the direction of home.\u00a0 \u201cHoss, let\u2019s get to it.\u00a0 We have a lot of road to travel before nightfall!\u00a0 Yeeehoo . . . .\u201d\u00a0 And with that excited shout Joe put the Barkley Ranch at his back and the Ponderosa in his sights.<\/p>\n
Hoss eventually caught up with Joe and they began the long journey back toward Virginia City.\u00a0 Knowing that there would be many days and nights he would spend with Joe, Hoss held all questions and discussions about Joe\u2019s time away until later.\u00a0 He was just glad the see the black and white pinto and feel the close companionship he always enjoyed with his little brother.\u00a0 Hoss smiled quietly as he looked to his left, feeling the familiarity to which he was accustomed.<\/p>\n
Their journey took three weeks of travel, with the brothers stopping in small towns along the way to purchase supplies or have a good meal in a boarding house or saloon.\u00a0 Finding a bed that was more comfortable than the camps they set up along the way was a treat every now and then.\u00a0 Hoss and Joe enjoyed their trip home, with much laughter, hunting, fishing; all the things they missed during Joe\u2019s time away.<\/p>\n
At night, the crispness of the air let Hoss know that they needed to push further each day so that they could be home before the first heavy snow. They were within a week from the ranch house on Thanksgiving Day and had their meal with strangers in a boarding house.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, do you think Pa\u2019s still upset with me for leaving the way I did?\u201d Joe asked as they sat on the beds in the boarding house.\u00a0 The fullness from dinner and the warmth in the room made Joe\u2019s eyelids dip slowly.<\/p>\n
Looking at his handsome brother across the room, Hoss smiled and said, \u201cJoe, Pa was not angry with you at all. He was upset with Adam, the hands and the fact that you didn\u2019t come to him.\u00a0 Pa was sad because he couldn\u2019t help you with the situation and that you were hurting and alone.\u00a0 He was upset that he didn\u2019t stop Adam from riding you and felt that had he done so, that dust up would not have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was wrong for leaving the way I did. I just couldn\u2019t face Adam or the hands who were there.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t know what they told the other men in the bunkhouse that evening and I was afraid to face them, too,\u201d Joe answered as he played with the knots tied in the quilt he lay on.\u00a0 \u201cI was more embarrassed that I cried in front of them than what Adam said.\u00a0 The longer I stayed away, the harder it was for me to turn around and go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did you manage to make it all the way to Stockton, Joe?\u201d Hoss asked as he, too, began to feel the effects of a full belly.\u00a0 A long yawn let Joe know that this part of the tale would have to wait \u2018til later.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long story, Hoss and I\u2019m too sleepy to tell it and you\u2019re too sleepy to hear it.\u00a0 Let\u2019s talk tomorrow morning when we head out,\u201d Joe asked rolling over on his side and tugging at the quilt.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood idea, Joe.\u00a0 Get some sleep and we\u2019ll talk in the morning,\u201d Hoss answered.\u00a0 He lay there listening to the sounds of the house and hearing Joe\u2019s breathing even out.\u00a0 Getting quietly out of his bed, he moved to stand above his brother and watched him sleep.\u00a0 Hoss pulled the quilt up to cover Joe\u2019s shoulder and patted him on top of his head.\u00a0 He thanked God for their journey and for helping him reach his brother and bring him home.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019ll be back home in a few more days, Little Joe.\u00a0 Just a few more days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Joe gave Hoss a full understanding of his travels and people he interacted with during the time he was away.\u00a0 On the way home, Joe answered all the questions Hoss had and found himself drawing even closer to this brother than he was before he left home. \u00a0He opened his heart fully to Hoss who listened attentively and gave Joe ideas about how to handle some of the issues he wrestled with. \u00a0Joe did not think their bond could have been tighter, but now he knew different.\u00a0 He and his brother made a tighter connection to each other than they ever experienced.\u00a0 As they prepared the final camp before arriving home, Joe replayed the events that led to this evening in his mind.<\/p>\n
So much had happened to him as he travelled; the people he met and worked with were important in his live now and he felt richer for having met them all.\u00a0 Replaying those places in his mind made him smile, shake his head, and chuckle quietly to himself.\u00a0 The elderly lawyer he worked with for a few weeks made him smile.\u00a0 Joe had never worked in an office before and he enjoyed the conversations with Attorney Jenkins at night as he talked about the books he read, encouraging Joe to read them as well. He took Mr. Jenkins on outings in the carriage and they talked incessantly about horses and breeding operations and processes.\u00a0 Joe was impressed with Mr. Jenkins knowledge of different kinds of horses and how to strengthen a herd.\u00a0 Mr. Jenkins enjoyed his young companion\u2019s enthusiasm and interest in all the topics they discussed.\u00a0 Joe gave Mr. Jenkins a purpose again as he shared his vast knowledge with this very bright young man.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Mr. Jenkins fell ill after Joe was there for a month or so and passed away in his sleep one night.\u00a0 Having no family to take care of his estate, Joe closed up the office and the large house and after the funeral, mounted Cochise and left.\u00a0 \u00a0He carried the pain of that loss in his heart as he travelled, alone, to his next destination.\u00a0 Joe\u2019s heart broke as he recalled that he was the only one there to mourn Mr. Jenkins\u2019 passing and Joe smiled knowing that he made the gentleman\u2019s last days on earth enjoyable.\u00a0 Tears rolled down his cheeks that evening as he made camp, alone in the dark.<\/p>\n
Joe shook his head as he remember the ranch with the wild hands where he learned to play a better hand of poker and\u00a0 watched men drink themselves to a stupor every night.\u00a0 Joe stayed on this ranch for a few days as he didn\u2019t like the atmosphere of disorder, drinking, and the general lack of cleanliness. He then found his way to the Barkley ranch and to a family that was now his and he claimed them with joy and pride.<\/p>\n
Joe\u2019s experiences since he left home were more than enough to let him know that his happiness would be found in one place-back on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 His eyes closed, relishing the feelings as he remembered finding out that Hoss had been following him since he left home that day.\u00a0 My brother stayed away from home to make sure I was safe. Again, Joe chuckled quietly to himself as sleep consumed him.<\/p>\n
Joe was awakened by the brilliant sunlight peeking through the boughs of majestic Ponderosa pines that gave the ranch its name.\u00a0 Hoss stirred nearby, and so began the final day of travel.\u00a0 The brothers were within two hours of the ranch house and could not wait to reach the confines of their home.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, I\u2019m not waiting for you to cook beans and bacon this morning.\u00a0 I\u2019m going home,\u201d Joe said as he quickly gathered his bedroll and prepared Cochise for the ride to the barn.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m with you, Punkin,\u201d Hoss said. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to get to that table for lunch this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go, then.\u00a0 I just gotta get home now,\u201d Joe said feeling the anticipation of reuniting with the rest of his family course through his system.\u00a0 Tears burned at the back of his eyes as emotions of all sorts surfaced and Joe fought hard to contain them.\u00a0 Fear at seeing Adam again and not knowing what that reunion would be was present, but the overwhelming joy at seeing his father and feeling the strength of the embrace he had known all his life pushed aside the fleeting feelings of fear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got to get to my Pa,\u201d Joe said as his voice trembled.\u00a0 Tears rolled down his cheeks as he attempted to wipe them away.<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy there, Punkin.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be there shortly,\u201d Hoss said as he tried to help Joe collect himself.<\/p>\n
Taking a deep breath, Joe swung smoothly into the saddle and took off for home.\u00a0 Riding at an easy gallop, he passed all the familiar sights.\u00a0 Hoss followed behind also enjoying the scenery and especially the flash of black and white as he watched Cochise easily manage the familiar trail.<\/p>\n
When the road opened to a wide meadow, Joe drew Cochise to a slow walk.\u00a0 Along the edge of the meadow stood Sport, indicating that Adam was working nearby.\u00a0 Taking in a deep breath, Joe waited for Hoss to catch up with him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to talk to my brother,\u201d he said as he straightened his back and squared his shoulders.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cStay here and we\u2019ll come to you when we\u2019re done.\u00a0 I want to go home to Pa without him knowing that I\u2019m here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe, we\u2019ll do this however you want.\u00a0 I\u2019ll just wait right here \u2018til you\u2019re ready,\u201d Hoss responded.\u00a0 With a nod and a tight smile, Joe turned Cochise and headed toward Sport.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s horse responded with a whiney and a toss of his head and Cochise acknowledged the familiar stable mate in like manner.\u00a0 As the horses greeted each other, Joe ground tied Cochise and went in search of his brother.\u00a0 It took a brief moment before he found Adam marking trees.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdam,\u201d Joe said.\u00a0 His brother turned to face the little brother that he had not seen for over six months.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe, oh thank God, Joe!\u201d Adam said as he dropped his tools and headed toward the brother he longed to see.\u00a0 Grabbing his brother and pulling him close, Adam hugged him tightly.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, so sorry Joe.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t mean to hurt you the way I did. I hope you can forgive me, brother.\u201d Adam said holding Joe tightly.\u00a0\u00a0 Uncharacteristically, Adam Cartwright let the granite wall of control crumble and he wept as he held onto Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll never hurt you again, never,\u201d he said through the tears and emotions that consumed him at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdam, Adam,\u201d Joe cried as he, too, held on to his brother.\u00a0 Tears that were an expression of the emotions surging through him were allowed to flow unchecked and uncontrolled.\u00a0 \u201cDone, Adam.\u00a0 It\u2019s done.\u00a0 I\u2019m home, Adam, I\u2019m home.\u00a0 All I want is my family, my home.\u00a0 It\u2019s all done and over,\u201d Joe said as he and Adam continued to cling to each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, you\u2019re here, too.\u201d\u00a0 Adam said as Hoss moved quietly to join his brothers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYea, older brother, I\u2019m home,\u201d Hoss answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cForgive me, Hoss. I\u2019m sorry I hurt Joe the way I did and I know I hurt you, too,\u201d Adam said as he reached out the pull the third brother into the embrace.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s over, Adam.\u00a0 We\u2019re home to stay and it\u2019s over,\u201d Hoss said as he grabbed Adam\u2019s arm and pulled both brothers into the strength of his embrace.\u00a0 \u201cPa\u2019s waiting for us somewhere and I think it\u2019s time we go find him,\u201d Hoss said releasing the two men.<\/p>\n
\u201cPa\u2019s at the house working on the books.\u00a0 I left him about an hour ago so I know he\u2019s still at it.\u00a0 Let\u2019s go home,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n
The Cartwright brothers ended their journey home and found themselves looking down on the ranch house from a distant vantage point.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m home,\u201d Joe said as he led the brothers toward the ranch house.\u00a0 Just as he rounded the barn, Joe saw a sight that he had denied himself for months.\u00a0 His father walked out onto the porch and shoved his hands into his pockets.\u00a0 Leaning against the post near the door, Ben Cartwright looked up to see the black and white that he longed to see for months, followed by Sport, and then Chub.\u00a0 All three horses with all three sons together.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoseph,\u201d he whispered quietly as he took a deep breath and moved to greet his sons.\u00a0 \u201cJoseph,\u201d was all he could say as his throat tightened and tears ran down his face.\u00a0 Joe dismounted easily and walked into his father\u2019s open arms.\u00a0 Ben pulled Joe to him in a crushing embrace that conveyed the depth of love and joy he felt.\u00a0 No words were needed as the thoughts and feelings were transmitted from one heart to the other in the tight embrace.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe, let me look at you, boy.\u00a0 Are you alright?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m better than fine, Pa.\u00a0 Hoss took good care of me like always,\u201d Joe answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHoss, come here, son.\u00a0 I\u2019ve missed you,\u201d Ben said as he pulled his much larger son into a strong embrace.\u00a0 Even though Hoss was a large man, Ben was able to embrace him, too, with a strength that conveyed his feelings.\u00a0 Hoss responded by holding onto his Pa the way Joe did.\u00a0 He did not release the embrace until he felt his father relax his hold.<\/p>\n
\u201cHop Sing!\u201d Ben called over his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy you yell? All time yell Hop Sing name.\u00a0 You yell, Hop Sing go back to\u00a0 . . .\u201d Hop Sing responded as he came from the kitchen door and entered the yard.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Hoss, Little Joe?\u00a0 Boys come home.\u00a0 Boys come home!\u201d He walked slowly to stand in front of Joe, wiping his hands on his apron, the cook opened his arms and embraced Joe.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe come home, Hop Sing very happy.\u00a0 Not go back to China now, Hop Sing stay and take care of Little Joe,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cLittle Joe and Hoss hungry.\u00a0 Hop Sing make breakfast and lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walking to stand in front of Hoss, Hop Sing wrapped his arms around the big man.\u00a0 \u201cHop Sing glad you home, Mr. Hoss.\u00a0 Good son to go take care of Little Joe.\u00a0 Happy to cook again, family whole with no missing pieces.\u00a0 House noisy, boots on floor, boys come in from work every day, Hop Sing cook much food, Mr. Hoss eat all, Hop Sing very happy,\u201d he said as turned and headed back to the kitchen leaving the Cartwrights in a flood of Cantonese.<\/p>\n
\u201cInside, boys, let\u2019s go inside,\u201d Pa said as he pulled Joe to him again.\u00a0 The reunion continued through lunch and on into the night as Joe recounted his adventures and described the people he met.\u00a0 Ben sat and listened to the stories Joe shared that included the heartbreak of losing a friend in the attorney.\u00a0 His Joe found friends so quickly and they really cherished him as well as evidenced by the overflowing guest room.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe, before you turn in, there are some things that have been sent to this house from people we didn\u2019t know.\u00a0 I placed them in the guest room for your return.\u00a0 The most recent ones came from Stockton and they are not be opened until Christmas day.\u00a0 There are some others packages, scores of crates, and letters from an attorney. If you want we can take a look now or wait until tomorrow,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m tired now, Pa.\u00a0 Tomorrow morning after breakfast we can take a look at it all,\u201d Joe said yawning.<\/p>\n
\u201cHop Sing have warm bath ready for little Joe.\u00a0 Water heating for Mr. Hoss,\u201d Hop Sing said from the kitchen.\u00a0 \u201cBoys rooms ready for bed when time to go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Hop Sing.\u00a0 I sure did miss you when I was away and not because you\u2019re a good cook.\u00a0 I just plain ole missed you,\u201d Joe said as he headed for his bath.\u00a0 Hop Sing began chatting away in his native language and Joe laughed and responded in Cantonese.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat boy never ceases to amaze me,\u201d Ben said.\u00a0 \u201cHe left home and endeared himself to people all along the way, so much so that we have a room full of things they sent him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019m headed up to bed, boys.\u00a0 I\u2019ll see you in the morning.\u00a0 Let\u2019s sleep a little late if you want.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure Hoss and Joe will need it.\u00a0 Then we can have breakfast together and see what\u2019s in the boxes in the guest room.<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds like a good plan to me,\u201d Adam said.\u00a0 \u201cGoodnight, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019ll lock things up and turn in soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood night, son.\u00a0 By the way, how are you and Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter than when he left.\u00a0 I made some horrible mistakes with him and I apologized for them.\u00a0 I think we\u2019re just fine, Pa, just fine,\u201d Adam said as he smiled.\u00a0 \u201cI feel better tonight than I have since my little brother left home because of me.\u00a0 I caused everyone a lot of unnecessary pain and I am so sorry for that.\u00a0 But like Joe said, it\u2019s done and we\u2019re whole again.\u00a0 Good night, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n
The beds were comfortable and warm that night.\u00a0 Hop Sing made sure Joe was at peace before he turned in, patting him gently on the head.\u00a0 As Joe closed his eyes, he heard the door open and felt the weight of someone sitting on the side of his bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoseph,\u201d Ben said looking down at his son.\u00a0 He reached down and pulled Joe into his arms and held him close as he rubbed his son\u2019s back.\u00a0 Rocking back and forth, Ben cried into Joe\u2019s hair, thanking God for returning his son to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love you, Pa.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry I left like I did.\u00a0 I\u2019m home now and we\u2019re fine,\u201d Joe said trying to sooth his father as he accepted the embrace as he did when much younger.\u00a0 He gave his father the latitude to hold him close until he relaxed his embrace.\u00a0 Laying his son down, Ben bent down and kissed Joe on the forehead.\u00a0 \u201cIf you leave me like that again, it won\u2019t be Hoss who comes to find you, boy, it will be me,\u201d Ben admonished as he wiped the tears from his face.\u00a0 \u201cAnd won\u2019t you look silly with you old Pa following you around the countryside until you decide to come home?\u201d Ben laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should try that one day, Pa.\u00a0 You know, just the two of us.\u00a0 We could run away from home and have an adventure,\u201d Joe said sleepily.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can count on it, son.\u00a0 One day, we\u2019ll just do that.\u00a0 Good night.\u201d Leaving the room, Ben looked back at the sleeping form of his youngest and began plotting their escape that would happen in the spring.\u00a0 \u201cYep, Joseph, we will do exactly that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Breakfast the next morning was a noisy affair, with Hop Sing bustling around the table, making sure Joe and Hoss had all they needed.\u00a0 He cooked his best breakfast for them that morning and was planning a big dinner with some of Joe\u2019s favorite dishes.\u00a0 There would be no work done on this day as Ben wanted to keep all three sons close to him.\u00a0 He wanted to enjoy their togetherness and banter.\u00a0 Ben Cartwright wanted to enjoy his boys.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, let\u2019s go to the guest room to see what is in those boxes and packages,\u201d Hoss said pushing away from the table.<\/p>\n
The family members all moved to the guest room.\u00a0 As Ben opened the door, Joe was faced with rows of boxes stacked to the ceiling around the room.\u00a0\u00a0 The bed was covered with small packages and letters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did this come from?\u00a0 How did it get here?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Joe, all these boxes and crates arrived by several wagons a few weeks ago and the packages have been drifting in since you left.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t know what was going on so Pa and I just stacked everything in here until you came home.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a hammer, you best get busy,\u201d Adam said leaning against the wall.<\/p>\n
Taking the hammer, Joe opened the crate closest to him.\u00a0 Removing the hay used to package the contents, Joe found scores of books.\u00a0 Looking at the other crates, he assumed that the others contained books as well.\u00a0 As he opened several others, he found volume after volume of beautifully bound books, some of then used, but most of them new and unread.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe, who would send you a library?\u00a0 Who did you meet that was well read to this level?\u201d Adam asked as he brushed the books to clear away the packing materials.\u00a0 His eyebrows scrunched together in confusion and amazement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAttorney Richard Jenkins.\u00a0 I worked for him for a while and I told him about how there was no library in Virginia City and if the citizens didn\u2019t own their books, they didn\u2019t have books to read,\u201d Joe answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s a letter from an Attorney Clive R. Cummings from San Francisco, Joe.\u00a0 Maybe this will explain it,\u201d Hoss said as he handed Joe a letter from the stack of packages on the bed.<\/p>\n
Opening the envelope, Joe found a letter that was dated two weeks after the death of Richard Jenkins and a bank draft in the sum of $10,000.\u00a0 Quickly reading the letter, Joe found that Attorney Jenkins left the money to Joe in his will with instructions to use the funds to build a library in Virginia City and to use the books to start the library collection. \u00a0Hoss handed Joe more letters from Attorney Cummings that contained information regarding a source of funds dedicated to the library and one fund source for Joseph Cartwright to finance the equestrian portion of the Ponderosa. The account would sustain the business for many years.\u00a0 One letter informed Joe that he would need to return to San Francisco to meet with Attorney Cummings to hear the reading of the will as he was the only beneficiary of the Jenkins estate.<\/p>\n
\u201cPa, this is more than enough for a library.\u00a0 What on earth?\u00a0 Adam?\u201d Joe asked completely confused and bewildered by the gifts, the letter, and the summons to San Francisco.\u00a0 \u201cPa, I didn\u2019t know him long and he just gives all this to me?\u00a0 I don\u2019t understand any of this,\u201d Joe said with confusion clearly displayed on his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoe, I\u2019m just as overwhelmed as you are.\u00a0 I mean, you are the one who met the attorney and caused this to happen.\u00a0 We\u2019ll have to sit down and figure this one out,\u201d Adam said scratching his chin. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019ll need to speak to Hiram about this as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other packages were from people he met on his journey. The final large package came from Stockton and the Barkley Ranch.\u00a0 Joe opened it on Christmas Day to find a beautiful saddle, a handgun, a black Stetson hat, work gloves and hand knitted scarves for all his family members. The Barkleys sent bottles of wine from their wine cellar and Mrs. Barkley sent a bottle of brandy especially for Ben, expressing her desire to meet the man who raised such wonderful young men without the help of a mother.<\/p>\n
As the snow settled in on Christmas Day, Hop Sing prepared a meal for the family.\u00a0 The four men opened gifts and continued their tradition of enjoying Adam\u2019s music, singing carols together, and gobbling down the wonderful cakes and cookies that flowed from Hop Sing\u2019s kitchen all day.\u00a0 The discussion about the development of the equestrian operation at the ranch was lively and energetic.\u00a0 Ideas flowed around the table as the brothers chattered excitedly.\u00a0 Joe sat quietly, thinking about Mr. Jenkins and his generosity.\u00a0 \u201cPa, is it alright that I accept all this from Attorney Jenkins? No one has ever done this for me and I feel like it\u2019s too much,\u201d Joe said quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSon,\u201d Ben said reaching out and taking Joe\u2019s hand.\u00a0 \u201cI think you made this gentleman very happy the last few days of his life and you gave him a purpose for all the money he had saved.\u00a0 We will comply with his wishes in building the library first.\u00a0 After we go to San Francisco in the spring, we\u2019ll decide about the rest,\u201d his father answered.\u00a0 These ideas put Joe\u2019s concerns to rest for the time being and he dug into his meal with enthusiasm.\u00a0 Soon he, too, chattered excitedly with his brothers for the remaining of the meal.<\/p>\n
The Cartwrights spent the remainder of the evening planning the construction and opening of the Virginia City Public Library that would be funded by donations from the late Richard Jenkins, Attorney at Law.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Tags:\u00a0 ESB,\u00a0ESJ,\u00a0Hoss Cartwright,\u00a0JAM,\u00a0JHM,\u00a0Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright,\u00a0JPM,\u00a0SJS<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Summary:\u00a0 This is the sequel to Enough.<\/p>\n
Rating K+ \u00a0Word Count: 4952<\/p>\n
Enough Series, links to stories within the series are included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1181,"featured_media":2425,"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":[23,41,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-hurtcomfort","category-challenges","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-41-id","wpcat-40-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":3901,"today_views":2},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Da-brothers-bonanza-16935311-400-264.jpg?fit=400%2C264&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4494,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4494","url_meta":{"origin":9741,"position":0},"title":"One Hour (by JoeC)","author":"JoeC","date":"October 28, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: In one hour good and bad\u00a0can happen.\u00a0 Rating T (675 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61600,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61600","url_meta":{"origin":9741,"position":1},"title":"Just One More Day (by Annie K Cowgirl)","author":"Annie K Cowgirl","date":"January 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u201cThe whole town\u2019s plum full of yellow bellies,\u201d I muttered under my breath as I prodded Chubb into a ground-eating gallop, leaving the disgraced major in the dust. 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Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (390 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/00001_Advent1.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/00001_Advent1.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/00001_Advent1.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/00001_Advent1.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15348,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15348","url_meta":{"origin":9741,"position":3},"title":"Joe Cartwright – Magician! 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