"Grandpa! Grandma! You're home!" Eric shouted as Ben and Joyce drove into the yard. He waited until Ben pulled the buggy to a stop, and then ran out to greet them. As Ben climbed down, Eric hugged his legs. "I missed you, Grandpa!"
Joyce slid over to Ben's side of the buggy, and he helped her down. She'd barely touched the ground before Eric wrapped his arms around her skirt. "I missed you, too, Grandma." She put her arm around the little boy. "We missed you, Eric. Where's your coat?"
"In the house. It's not cold," he shivered.
Ben laughed and picked him up. "No, it's not cold enough to make you shiver."
"Welcome home," Joe said as he came outside. He shook hands with his father and kissed Joyce on the cheek. "I'll take care of the horse and buggy, Pa."
Adam followed him. "I'll get the bags, Pa. You and Joyce get on into the house."
Julia gave Ben a hug and a kiss on the cheek before moving onto Joyce. The women hugged and walked into the house with their arms around each other's waists. Ben watched them and smiled. The ladies in his life were getting off to a good start.
...
Elizabeth and Abel slipped down to the landing. The adults were downstairs, and it was almost midnight. Adam and Julia, Ben and Joyce, and Joe were sitting around the fire waiting for the clock to strike. Ben had opened one of his prized bottles of wine, and poured a glass for everyone. As it tolled midnight, they rose and held their glasses up as Ben toasted. "Here's to a bright New Year and a fond farewell to the old; here's to the things that are yet to come, and to the memories that we hold." Everyone drank to the new year, and exchanged hugs and kisses.
Elizabeth thought, Uncle Joe looks so alone. She studied her uncle, and in the lamplight, decided she would help him in his courtship of Mary Rogers.
...
"Is everything ready?" Adam asked as Julia came downstairs.
"Yes, but I don't see why the children and I need to move to town," Julia said.
Adam sighed. "We've been through all this, Julia. The winter months are hard here. The Ponderosa can be isolated for weeks when the snow falls, and I won't...I can't risk Elizabeth and Abel riding back and forth to school. They're too young to stay alone in town, so I've reserved a suite at the International House for the three of you."
"Eric..."
"Eric will be fine here with me. Besides, Hop Ling, Hop Sing, Joe, Pa, and Joyce will be here to help. Hop Sing and Joyce can run the house. It's only for a few weeks, darling. Please don't make this any harder than it is."
Julia studied her husband's face. His eyes were sad, as if he were missing them already. She stroked his cheek, and he caught her wrist, planting a kiss in the palm of her hand.
Joe came in just then. "The buggy's ready. I've saddled Sport and tied him to the back of the wagon."
"Thanks, Joe."
Adam helped Julia with her cape before shrugging into his overcoat. Elizabeth and Abel came downstairs with Eric dragging behind them. Joe picked up their bags and carried them out to the buggy. As Adam helped Julia into the front seat, Joe tossed Abel into the back and turned around to help Elizabeth up. As he lifted her, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm going to miss you, Uncle Joe."
He hugged her. "I'm going to miss you, too, Beth."
"When Papa comes to see us, will you come with him? And bring Eric?"
"Sure."
She kissed his cheek, and he put her in the back next to Abel. Adam lifted Eric up to Julia's lap, and turned to Joe. "I'll bring Eric back with me on Sport."
Adam slapped the reins on the horse's back and, as they left, Elizabeth and Abel turned around and waved. "Bye, Uncle Joe."
...
There was little traffic on the road to Virginia City, but the town's streets were busy as women and children moved in from the outlying farms and ranches for the hard winter months. Adam drove carefully and parked the buggy in front of the hotel. He lifted Eric out, and helped Julia and Elizabeth down before taking their bags. Abel hopped down on his own, and went to his father. "Papa, I can help you." He tried to lift one of the bags, and half-dragged, half-carried it up the steps. Adam watched him and smiled at his effort.
They went inside, and Adam signed the register before leading his family upstairs to their suite. He took their bags and Eric and Abel raced each other up the stairs. "Hurry up, Papa!" Eric shouted.
"Shhh, boys, not so much noise," Julia shushed them. She looked at Adam. "I'm not sure this was such a good idea."
He unlocked the door, and carried the bags inside. Julia followed him. "There are two bedrooms and a sitting room," he said. Julia opened the doors and looked inside. "Elizabeth, you and I will share the big bedroom, and Abel, you'll be in the smaller one."
"Where will I be, Mama?" Eric asked.
Julia and Adam looked at each other. Adam picked the little boy up. "You'll be with me, son. Elizabeth and Abel will be here to attend school, and you'll help me, Grandpa, and Uncle Joe run the Ponderosa."
Eric looked at his mother, and his eyes filled with tears. Julia wiped them away. "Now, Eric, you know I depend on you to take good care of Papa."
He nodded and sniffed. Adam put him down, and Julia pulled him to her. "That's my good son."
Adam took his family downstairs for dinner. The children were on their best behavior, and Adam found himself staring at each beloved face, trying to memorize their expressions. Afterwards, when it was time to leave, Adam hugged Julia tight. "I'm going to miss you," he whispered.
"You better," was all she said, but he saw tears in her eyes when he released her. He kissed Elizabeth and Abel goodbye before picking Eric up. The little boy was crying, and he buried his face in Adam's neck. As they left, Adam rubbed his back and murmured, "It's all right, son. We'll see Mama, Elizabeth, and Abel again soon."
They were on the road home, and Eric had stopped crying. He was still sniffing, but he looked up at Adam. "Papa, I know what we should do to keep from being so sad."
"What's that?" Adam asked.
"We should sing," and Eric began to sing, "Three blind mice, three blind mice, see how they run, see how they run..."
Adam listened for a minute before joining his voice to his son's, and they sang their way home.
