I DO NOT OWN ANY RIGHTS TO ANY OF THE CHARACTERS OF BONANZA. ALL RIGHTS ARE OWNED BY NBC AND THE WRITERS AND CREATORS OF THE SHOW.
THIS IS MY FIRST BONANZA FANFICTION…. THE STORY WILL BE OFF COURSE FROM THE ORGINAL SERIES.
ADAM- ROUGHLY MID-LATE 20'S
HOSS- EARLY 20'S
LITTLE JOE- LATE TEENS
It was a cold blustery wind that whipped through the Cartwright family as they stood still and silent watching the final shovel full of dirt being laid onto the pine coffin box. Reverend Jesse had asked the gathers to bow their heads for the saying of the Lord's Prayer. After the Amen, there was a moment of silence before people started paying their last respects. In that brief moment of silence all that was heard amongst the gathers was a very small and weak cry. Ben slowly reached forward and placed a gentle hand on the shoulder of the person that the little cry had escaped from. It was the sound of the little cry that was starting to break Ben's heart. He was trying to console the person in front of him when his oldest son leaned into his ear and whispered, "What are you gonna do now Pa?" Ben looked down into the face of the person standing in front of him and then back over at his oldest son and shook his head from side to side.
"I don't know, Son. One step at a time, I suppose. But right now the first step is to get them and us out of this darn cold that's for sure." Just as Ben was finishing his private conversation with his oldest son Adam, Reverend Jess had walked over to shake hands with Ben and his boys.
"Ben, my sincere apologize for the lost. If there is anything else that I can do, please just let me and Judith know."
"Thank you Jess. Would you care to come join us for some lunch back at the house?"
"No, thanks Ben. Judith is waiting for me back home. I appreciate the offer though."
"Another time then?" Ben asked.
"You bet, Ben. Who can pass up Hopsing's amazing cooking?" Ben and Jesse shared a chuckle before Jesse headed back towards his horse and buggy.
"Pa, we really should be getting back." Adam suggested to his father.
"Yeah, you're right, Adam. Why don't you and the boys head on back to the house and we'll meet up with you there." Ben looked back at the only two remaining figures that were hovering over the fresh gravesite. Adam followed his father's gazed and noticed the same two figures.
"Pa, they must be frozen to the bone by now." Adam said letting out a heavy sigh while patting his father on the shoulder and quietly walking away with his two younger brothers in tow. Ben let out a little shiver as a big northern gust swept through him. He lifted up the collar of his heavy coat to help block the wind from him neck. He knew that if he was this cold than the two small figures hovering beside the graveside must be frozen to the bone just as Adam had mention. He watched his sons mount onto their horses and start to trot away towards the Ponderosa. Ben shuffled back towards the gravesite and softly placed his arms around the two small figures. "I think we should be heading out now."
A tiny dirty blonde head slowly looked up to Ben and replied, "If you don't mind we would like a few more minutes to say our good-byes."
"No, I don't mind at all. You take as much time as you need. I'll be over by the wagon." Ben gave another little squeeze to the figures shoulders and started to retreat back to the wagon. He only made it half way back before he heard some harder cries coming from the two. It stopped him from going any further. He so desperately wanted to wrap the two in his big arms and just take away all their sorrow. For Ben has had his fair share of lost himself. Losing three wives has been one of the hardest things Ben Cartwright has ever had to experience. He knew plenty about heartache, sorrow and pain due to the loss of a love one. Ben stopped himself from rushing over to the figures and telling them that time does heal the heart. He figured though that they were too young to fully understand that statement so instead he just crept slowly back towards them just in case they wanted or needed him.
"Please come back to us Papa." The younger of the two said falling to her knees beside the fresh gravesite.
"Gertie, Papa can't come back to us, he's gone. He's never coming back." The oldest said trying to pull his sister back up to her feet.
"But Ephraim he's all we had left? What are we to do now?" Gertie said with tears streaking down her rosy red cheeks. Ephraim pulled his sister over into a hug and wiped the tears off of her face and ran his hand down her blonde hair.
"I don't know Gertie. But there's one thing that I do know, and that is we need to stick together, if we stick together than we can get through anything. Now let's not keep Mr. Cartwright waiting any longer. I'm about as frozen as an ice cube." Ephraim grabbed a hold of his sister's hand and lead her over to where Mr. Cartwright was standing. "Sorry for keeping you waiting, Mr. Cartwright. We're ready to leave now." Ben nodded his head and strolled over to the wagon. He walked over to help Gertie into the wagon but Ephraim was quick to step in front of Mr. Cartwright. "Thank you, Sir. But I can help my sister in." Ben again just nodded in agreement and hustled back over to the driver's side of the wagon. Ephraim held out his hand to his sister so to help boost her up onto the seat. Gertie gladly accepted her brother's help and slide cautiously towards Mr. Cartwright who was already sitting up in the seat with reins in his hands. Once Ephraim was settled on the seat Mr. Cartwright signaled Pepper and Salt to giddy up. The ride back to the Ponderosa was a solemn one. Each person sitting in the wagon was definitely in their own thoughts. Mr. Cartwright kept trying to grab glances at the two younger Callahan children but he couldn't see either one of theirs eyes. Their father Jack Callahan had been one of his ranch hands for over 5 years now. He joined the Cartwright enterprise right after the death of his wife Lucy. Lucy had passed of malaria when Ephraim was 5 and Gertie was at the age of 2. That is the first time that Ben met the Callahan children. Ben instantly admired Jack and his work ethic and the two became friends immediately. Ben rented one of his cabins down towards the timber camp to Jack and his children. As Ben drove the team towards the Ponderosa he couldn't stop thinking about Jack. He had asked Jack to help break in one of the new stallions that Ben had recently purchased at the horse auction. Jack and Little Joe were taking turns on breaking; when Little Joe needed a break so Jack jumped on. The stallion had bucked Jack off, and during the fall when the horse's hoofs came down they landed right on Jack's lungs. According to Dr. Martin, Jack's lung collapsed and hence caused his death. Of course since this happened on Ben's watch the guilt was just eating him away. Because of Ben's request the consequence has now left two small children orphans. Yesterday, Ben had asked Sheriff Coffee to telegraph around to some leads that Ben had on any remaining relatives for the children. Ephraim being the oldest of the two, just 10 though, couldn't provide much information about family. So Ben sent Hoss and Little Joe down to the cabin to retreat the children's belongings, legal documents and any other papers that might help in finding a home for the children. Ben took the information that his boys brought back and relayed them to Sheriff Coffee. Hopefully they would receive an answer soon. All that Ben knew from conversations with Jack was that Lucy was from a small town in the State of Maine where she was the local school teacher. She left one summer for a teacher's convention in the city of Chicago where she met Jack. According to Jack the two fell in love instantly and were married within three weeks of first meeting each other. Her family back in Maine disapproved of her sudden marriage and the ties she had back in Maine were no longer. They moved on west to Nevada. There they settled in Carson City where Lucy was awarded the job of their school master. Jack took odd jobs in and around town. Once Ephraim was born, Lucy stopped teaching and stayed at home. The family had its ups and downs but was happy when they were all together. When Gertrude arrived she was the light of Lucy's eyes. Lucy caught the malaria roughly two years after the birth of Gertrude and it ultimately took her life. It was shortly after that day that Ben was traveling back to the Ponderosa from a trip to Carson City when his buckboard lost a wheel. Jack Callahan was the first to pass by and stopped to help Ben. It was instantly that Ben took a liking to Jack. While the two fixed the wheel together Ben heard of some of Jack's hardship. The one thing that Ben could relate to and have sympathy for was how a single father was trying to raise two young children on his own. Ben being in that place a time or two, or three, he knew what to do. So after an hour or so he offered Jack a job and a place to stay with his children. Jack accepted the offer instantly and moved his family to the Ponderosa. Ben will never regret the decision that he made that hot, dusty day. For Jack panned out to be one of his best, reliable and honest workers he had on his payroll.
Ben had spent so much time reminiscing about how he had met Jack Callahan he couldn't believe that they were already back at the Ponderosa. He slowed the team of horses down and placed the brake on the wagon and quickly dismounted. He looked up and noticed that the two Callahan children were still sitting on the bench lost in their own thoughts. Ben cleared his throat in hopes to get their attention. In deed it did bring Ephraim and Gertie out of their thoughts and both children were looking at Ben with sorrowful eyes.
"We're home." Ben stated while holding out a hand to help Gertie down from the wagon. Gertie took one look at the hand with hesitancy and quickly slide closer to Ephraim.
"It's alright Gertie. I gotcha." Ephraim reassured while jumping down and grabbing Gertie's hand to help her. Just as Gertie landed softly on the ground they heard the Cartwright's door close. All eyes shifted to the heavy footsteps coming towards them.
"Hey Pa, why don't you take the youngins in and get warmed up, Hopsing just brought out a freshly brewed pot of coffee. I'll put the team away for you." Hoss quickly started making work of unhitching the team and moving Pepper and Salt into the barn.
"Thanks, Hoss." Ben said patting Hoss on the shoulder and waiting to lead the children into the house. "Come on you two. Let's see if Hopsing could make you up some hot coco. How would you like that?"
"That would be mighty nice, Mr. Cartwright." Ephraim answered while walking hand in hand with his sister and matching Ben step for step.
When Gertie hadn't responded, Ben took it upon himself to ask her directly."Gertrude, would you like some hot coco?" Gertie shook her head up and down as the three entered inside the Cartwright's home.
"Now, Gertie, Mr. Cartwright asked you a question and he expects a verbal answer." Ephraim scolded his little sister just like his Pa would have if he was present. Ben tried to hide the smirk that was pulling at his lips.
"Ephraim." Ben said with a stern voice. Once Ben got Ephraim's attention he continued. "It's fine." But to Ben's surprise that was not the end of it.
"No, it's not fine. Just because our Pa isn't here anymore, I can't allow my sister to get away with being disrespectful. Now you asked her a question and you deserve an answer, not just a shake of the head." Ben knew that he needed to tread waters lightly with Ephraim. He could clearly see that Ephraim thought he needed to take charge of his younger sister and try to act older than his age of 10.
"Ephraim I appreciate what you're trying to do. And I understand that you think you need to fill your father's shoe by trying to correct your sister's behavior, but honestly, she's fine." Ben was hoping that he was getting through to Ephraim but without over stepping his bounds. Ephraim just looked back over at his sister who now had her head ducked down towards the ground. "Really Ephraim, no harms done." Ephraim gave in with a shrug of his shoulders and motioned for Gertie to take her coat off. The warmth coming from the giant hearth in the great room was a wonderful comfort to them all. Ben took Ephraim and Gertie's coat and hung them on the hook that was on the wall left of the door. Both children thanked Mr. Cartwright but stood waiting for Ben to invite them to sit. Ben was trying to hold back a chuckle from watching them just stand still and wait for his next move. "Hopsing?" Ben hollered out from the great room. Within seconds the Cartwright's devoted cook and housekeeper came flying in from the kitchen.
"Yes, Mr. Cartwright? Hopsing placed hot coffee on table by the fire for you and boys."
"Thank you Hopsing, it's much appreciated, but I was wondering if perhaps you could whip up two cups of hot coco for the children here?"
"Yes, yes. Hopsing right on it Mr. Cartwright. You sit and warm self by fire." Hopsing motioned for them to go sit.
"We'll do just that." Ben guided the two children over to the couch while he poured himself some coffee. As he was taking a seat in his favorite blue chair, Adam walked over from Ben's desk.
"Pa, after you warm up do you mind taking a look at this contract? Something just seems to be off with it?" Adam said sitting on the arm of the couch.
"Sure, just give me a few minutes." Just as Ben was answering his son, Little Joe came flying down the stairs. "Joseph, what have I told you time and time again?"
"Sorry, Pa. I just couldn't stand the smell of the cinnamon buns and coffee any longer." Joe said with a sly smile on his face.
"Who said something about cinnamon buns?" Hoss asked while hanging up his hat and coat.
"You and food big brother." Little Joe joked with Hoss while pouring himself a cup of coffee. Both Adam and Ben joined in with laughing at Hoss.
"Here, hot coco and cinnamon buns for children. Lunch will be ready in one hour. No fill up on cinnamon buns you hear." Hopsing warned the family.
"We won't Hopsing." Ben waved off the Chinese cook. "Ephraim, Gertrude, would you like a cinnamon bun?" Ben asked while noticing the two look at the delicious pastry that Hoss and Joe were already diving into.
"Yes, Sir." Ephraim said piping up and looking at the gooey pastry.
"Hoss, pass Ephraim and Gertrude a bun please." Ben instructed Hoss. Hoss picked up the plate and walked over so that Ephraim and Gertrude could pick out their own.
"Thank you Hoss." Ephraim said picking out a good size bun. When Hoss moved the plate over to Gertrude she responded with a shake of the head motioning a no. It was then that Ephraim nudged his sister with an elbow to her ribs.
"No thank you, Hoss. I'm not feeling very hungry." Gertie said in a very soft, low voice. Hoss paused for a minute and when Gertie shook her head no again, Hoss moved the plate onto his father. Ben was starting to get concern for Gertrude, for she hadn't eaten very much dinner the night before, and hardly any breakfast this morning.
"Gertrude, you don't know what you're missing. Hopsing sure does know how to make a cinnamon bun." Ben looked up to his boys in hope that they would join in to agree.
"He sure does, Gertie. You should at least try a little." Adam help per sway Gertie to have one. But Gertie continue to shake her head no.
"Gertie, just try to eat a little and what you can't eat, I'll finish for ya. How does that sound?" Hoss said with a huge grin on his face. Gertie still shook her head no.
"Next time then?" Ben asked placing his empty coffee cup down on the tray.
"Sure, next time." Gertie answered back in an almost whispered.
"Good, now Adam, let's take a look at that contract." Ben said getting up from his chair. As he walked over to his desk he turned back to look at the two children still sitting on the couch. "Ephraim, Gertrude, when you're finished with your coco why don't you go on up and wash up for lunch. We'll call when it's ready."
"Will do, Mr. Cartwright." Ephraim replied. Ben and Adam took a seat and starting talking over the contract. Hoss and Little Joe had ventured off to somewhere else in the house. When Ephraim was done with his coco he placed his empty cup down on the tray and looked over at his sister who was still working on hers.
"Come on, Gertie. You heard Mr. Cartwright." Gertie obeyed he brother and placed her cup down and followed him up the stairs. Their pitter patter feet on the stairs caught the attention of Ben and Adam. The two stop their conversation of the contract to watch the two youngsters go up the stairs. When they were out of sight Adam turned back to his father.
"So, I take it the Foster's didn't want to take them in?"
"No, Mrs. Foster has been feeling under the weather here lately, so Robert thought it would be best to not add more responsibilities for her. I asked the Newton's and they were only interested in Ephraim. William said they had no use for a girl. I can't possible split them up. Roy was going to check with the Smith's to see if they might take them in. But until then, I think they should stay here with us."
"Hopefully you'll hear something from Roy by tomorrow. Ephraim seems to be doing well with it all, but I don't know about Gertie, Pa. She not talking much and that isn't like her."
"I know, Son. Hopefully tomorrow. But until then we'll have to keep trying." And with that said Ben and Adam returned back to the contract.
