The stage carrying Matt and Kitty arrived shortly after Adam joined his family at the depot. Hoss carried their luggage to the livery stable where they had left the buggy and buckboard so the horses would not be standing out in the cold all afternoon. "Where's Cat?" asked Kitty. "I thought she'd be with you."
"She's still in school," replied Ben.
"You're making my poor little niece go to school?" teased Matt. "How could you be so cruel? Everyone knows how vicious those arithmetic tests are. One of them could very well eat Cat."
Everyone enjoyed a good laugh at Matt's comments. "Today is the last day before Christmas vacation and the children are having their party this afternoon so she's not minding it as much right now. It's going to be a while before everyone else arrives, so let's go to the International where you can get some food and we can sit and talk." Matt and Kitty ordered food and Ben told them about what happened to Cat at school on Monday and their punishment from the judge. "Thank God the boys were just a few minutes behind their sister and were able to keep her from being seriously hurt or worse. Our school board chairman scolded the rest of the children for not alerting the teacher to what those boys were doing so hopefully, the next time one of their classmates is being hurt, they'll let the teacher know."
"How badly hurt was Cat?" asked Kitty.
"Not badly at all. She was sore and has some bruises that should be gone by Christmas. Dr. Martin wrapped her ribs just as a precaution on Monday but said they didn't need to be wrapped after that unless she complained about being in pain. She rode Joe's horse to school again yesterday and I'm sure that if there wasn't so much snow, she and her friends would have raced on the way home. I've discovered that nothing slows her down for long. She was caught running with Fury in the pasture the day after Millicent Warren pulled her out of the buggy, bruising her ribs. Paul Martin told her no running for a week but those instructions went in one ear and right out the other. Matt, you should have told me about that and several other things when you allowed me to adopt her."
Matt and Kitty laughed. "What, and miss the fun of watching you figure them out for yourself? I enjoy laughing at your letters every time I get one and so do Kitty, Doc, and everyone else. Festus can't read, but he also laughs at Cat's antics when your letters are read to him. Surely the man who raised Little Joe can control one nine year old spitfire."
"I for one can't wait to read your letters once Cat becomes fully adjusted to having a family," said Kitty. "What you're seeing now isn't even close to what she's capable of. Remember, she and the Tanner twins climbed the water tower when they were only six."
"So I've heard. That child isn't afraid of anything. When her brothers hung a swing in the yard for her, she wanted them to push her high enough to touch the tops of the trees. She wants to ride Sport and Chub at the same time and jump them over every high object she sees. I want her to ride a pony and she wants to teach Fury how to fly."
Matt and Kitty laughed at Ben's statements. "She's Michael and Kate's daughter alright. I can't remember how old he was, around four I think, when he climbed into the hayloft, grabbed hold of the grappling fork rope and rode it down to the ground. He was so proud of what he had done that he went into the house and told our parents. Needless to say, they were not happy with him and when our mother finished using her wooden spatula on his bottom, he had a hard time sitting down for supper. I also seem to remember Kate jumping her horse over fences and gates when we were courting. I can picture Kate and Michael sitting up in heaven, laughing at their daughter's antics because she is so much like both of them." They talked for a little while when Ben looked at his watch, said the northbound stage was due in shortly and left with Abel, Adam and Joe to meet it. Matt looked at Hoss and asked, "How is the relationship between Adam and Cat doing? Has it gotten any better?"
"It still ain't as good as it should be, but he's workin' on it. The teacher asked Pa to bring Cat's puppies to school for the party and to ask Adam to play Christmas carols for the kids to sing. Pa let the puppies into the school from the back door and left so's when Adam got there a minute later, Cat thought he had brung them and told him that was the nicest thing he'd ever done for her. Havin' his grandfather here is helpin' a lot. He's been talking ta Adam about the way he's been treatin' little sister. Adam has been listening and working on fixin' what's wrong between him and Cat. We bathed her puppies today and that was his idea. He knew she was going ta ask her friends ta help her do it, so he said we should do it. I tell ya, Hop Sing shore was mad when he saw us using the bath tub ta bathe them pups. They probably heard him yellin' in San Francisco. He stopped yellin' when Adam promised that when we finished, the tub would be cleaner than it was when we started. Adam said Cat was happy when she told him we bathed her puppies for her."
"Good. I'm glad to hear that things are improving between Adam and Cat. How long did it take her to forgive him after he punished her for looking under the saloon door when those boys had coerced her into doing it?"
"I don't know how long it took her to forgive him but it was almost two weeks before she told him. She wasn't going to tell him but the reverend said she had to."
"Why wasn't she going to tell him?" asked Kitty.
"Because she figured if he didn't know she forgave him, he would never be mean to her again." Matt and Kitty laughed at a nine year old's logic.
When they got to the stage depot, Ben looked at Abel and said, "You don't have to meet the stage with us Abel. Why don't you go back to the International where it is warm?"
"I know I don't have to, but I am here because I want to meet Cat's family and this is an excellent place to do it. People's words and actions immediately after finishing a long stage coach ride tell a lot about them. For example, even though she's not family, when she got off the stage, Miss Russell hugged your sons as though they were her nephews and that impressed me greatly. Also, even though I could tell she was tired and hungry, she asked where Cat was rather than asking about food and a warm place to wait for the rest of the family to arrive. Even though he didn't ask, I could tell that Matt was also expecting Cat to meet the stage and was disappointed when you told him she was in school. His teasing showed me exactly how much he loves that little girl. I am eager to see how the rest of your family reacts when their stage arrives."
The northbound stage arrived a few minutes later and after introductions were made, before Rip could ask, Mark asked, "Where's Cat? I thought she'd be here to meet us."
"She's still in school Mark," replied Ben. "Why don't you go over there and let Cat know you're here? Miss Winter won't mind because they're having their Christmas party right now." Ben told him how to get over to the school and he went over there while Rip and Lucas accompanied Ben to the International.
Matt and Rip greeted each other warmly. "I wish Sam would transfer you to Fort Dodge," said Matt. I hate us being so far apart.
"And I wish you'd become marshal in a city closer to my fort," replied his brother. "I also hate us being so far apart."
"And Cat wishes both of you would move closer to Virginia City," said Adam, joining the rest of the family. "She misses both of you terribly and would be overcome with joy if you were to tell her that you were going to move close to here."
"I know she would and if I were still a lowly Lieutenant instead of a Major in command of a fort, I would ask Sam to transfer me to Fort Churchill in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I've only been in command of the fort for six months and there is no way he will allow me to transfer right now. Believe it or not, I had just written to him, requesting a transfer to Fort Dodge and was sending Matt the letter to forward to him when I got the telegram about Kate's murder. I had planned on asking him for that transfer once we got back to the fort with Cat but he took one look at the mess Major Bush had made, promoted me to Major and put me in command of the fort. I'll write to him around Cat's tenth birthday and request a transfer to either Fort Churchill or Fort Dodge, but I have a feeling my request will be denied."
"There is one person who has a slight chance of getting your request approved," said Lucas. Matt and Rip gave him puzzled looks and once they realized who he was talking about, started laughing.
"You may be right Luke," said Matt. "Our niece is probably the only one except for Julia who can get Sam to do what she wants him to do. After all, she is his favorite Goddaughter."
"I believe she is his only Goddaughter," said Ben.
"Well then, that makes her his favorite by default," laughed Rip.
Mark walked over to the school, up the front steps and into the classroom. Susan Winter saw him, walked over and said, "Hello young man. What may I help you with?"
"Hi. I'm Mark McCain, Cat's cousin from New Mexico. Uncle Ben said to come over and let her know I'm here."
"It's nice to meet you Mark McCain. I am Miss Winter. Now hang up your coat, come on in and join our party. I'll let Cat know you're here. Catherine?"
"Yes ma'am?"
"You have company."
Cat saw Mark and squealed. "Mark! You're here! Wait until you see how big Silver Chief is and you haven't met Lassie yet. They're here somewhere. The little kids are playing with them. Come and meet my friends. We're going to have a lot of fun while you're here." The two children hugged each other tightly and Cat introduced Mark to her friends, who took an instant liking to him.
"Cat's told us all about you," said Jasper. "It's too cold for fishing but maybe all of us boys and Cat can go hunting while you're here."
"That would be fun. I know I'm not looking forward to being cooped up in a house full of adults the whole time I'm here. Aunt Victoria can be real bossy when she wants to be so the more time we spend away from her, the better I'll like it."
"Me too," replied Cat. "Remember all those promises she made me after mama's funeral? Well she hasn't kept any of them. She promised to write to me all the time and I haven't even gotten one letter from her. She promised to visit before school started and she hasn't done that either. Adam, Hoss, and Joe said they'd try and keep her from bossing us around all the time, so maybe it won't be too bad, especially if Santa brings me a sled. Pa said even if Santa didn't bring me one, he'd see if Joe's was still around somewhere and if it wasn't, he'd buy me one. Then all of us can go sledding. Come and have some hot cider and cookies. They're real good."
The eastbound stage arrived about thirty minutes before school let out. As she had been when the Barkleys arrived for Kate's funeral, Victoria was not in a good mood and kept complaining about the stage ride, the fact that the train didn't go into Virginia City yet, and that she was going to have to share a bedroom with Kitty. "Where is my niece? Why isn't she here to greet me?"
Ben sighed. "My daughter is still in school and will be so for about another thirty minutes. If you're going to act like this and complain the entire time you're here, I'll gladly pay for a hotel room, stage and train fare for you to return to California. I'm sorry the house isn't as big as yours but unlike you, I didn't marry into money. The choice is yours sister. Either stop complaining or go home. I am not going to allow you to ruin Cat's Christmas."
"Ben is right Mother," said Jarrod. "You didn't have to accept the invitation to spend Christmas here. You could have stayed home with Nick and Audra. Remember, Heath and I were just as uncomfortable on the stage as you were but neither one of us is complaining. Now I suggest we join the rest of the family and have a bite to eat and some coffee while we wait for Cat to get out of school."
As they walked over to the International, Abel pulled Ben aside and asked, "Is your sister always like that?"
"I don't know Abel. She acted like that when they came here for Kate's funeral, but before that, she hadn't been here in years. I vaguely remember her complaining about how small the house was compared to hers when Cat was baptized, but that was nine years ago and I could be remembering wrong. I wonder what she's going to say when she sees Cat driving the surrey."
Once the classroom was straightened up after the party, Miss Winter reminded the children to choose two books from the school library as she would not return to the school until January tenth when school would resume until Easter. Much to Mark's surprise, Jasper and Mike hitched up the surrey for Cat, tied their horses to the back of it, and climbed in. Laura and Mary followed them. Then Cat climbed in, followed by her puppies, and told Mark to do the same and the six children and two puppies rode over to the International. Once there, she said hello to Victoria, Jarrod, and Heath. She hugged Lucas and Kitty, and saved her biggest greeting for her two uncles, hugging their necks until they were sure they were going to be looking backwards for quite some time. Abel watched and took note of Cat's reaction to each visiting family member, getting the impression that she did not care for her aunt very much. Much to Victoria's displeasure, Ben ordered hot cocoa and pie for all six children. While the children were eating, Hoss and Joe went over to the livery stable, got the buggy and buckboard and brought them to the International.
When everyone walked outside, Matt said, "You bought a bigger surrey."
"And a bigger buggy," added Rip.
"I had to. As you can see, my family did not increase by just one child. It has increased by five children. The other four spend almost as much time at the Ponderosa as they do at their own homes."
After watching the six children and two puppies climb into the front seat of the surrey and Cat pick up the reins, Victoria said, "Surely you're not going to allow a nine year old child to drive that surrey."
"Of course I am. She drives it to church every Sunday and does a very good job. Laura, Mary, why are the two of you sitting on Jasper and Michael's laps?"
"Because there isn't room for all six of us to sit in the front seat and there's a lot of grownups that need a place to sit," answered Mary.
"I don't know about everyone else, but I am not riding in a surrey with a nine year old driving it," said Victoria. "She'll probably race those horses all the way back to the Ponderosa."
"You are very wrong about that," said Adam. "Cat hasn't raced the horses while driving the buckboard, surrey, or buggy. In fact, she'll be driving the sleigh to church on Friday. Cat, please tell our aunt what the rule is for you driving."
"I have to have someone stronger than me with me in case the horses get scared and try to run away. Pa and you and Hoss and Joe say that when I'm strong enough to keep the team from running away, I won't have to have someone else with me."
"I don't know about you Victoria, but I'm quite certain I can speak for my brother also when I say we're going to ride in the surrey," said Rip. "I am eager to see exactly what our niece has learned since moving to the Ponderosa."
"Of course I'm riding with Cat," said Matt. "Like Rip, I am also eager to see what Cat has learned."
Rip, Matt, Kitty, Lucas, Adam, and Able climbed into the surrey. Knowing his sister expected him to drive the buggy, Ben said, "Joe, why don't you drive the buggy home?" as he also climbed into the surrey. As the surrey was full, Jarrod and Heath got into the buggy with their mother, Hoss climbed onto the buckboard seat and everyone headed for the Ponderosa.
Abel looked at Ben and said, "I am not very impressed by your sister Benjamin. I can't imagine why she would even think that Cat would race the horses while driving the surrey, buggy, or buckboard."
"I don't know what to say Abel. I'm not impressed by her either. Cat, you need to stop at your friend's houses so they can get their night clothes."
"Ok Pa. See Mike, Jas, I told you your Ma and Pa would let you come."
"They probably didn't want to get on Santa's naughty list," said Jasper. "It would be awfully hard to get off by Friday."
"Probably the only way they could is to let us eat chocolate cake for breakfast, dinner, and supper, and tell us we didn't have to do any chores for a whole year," replied Mike, causing all of the adults to laugh.
They laughed even harder when Laura said, "They might be able to get off if they let all of us move to the Ponderosa. Then we could play with Cat and her puppies all the time and we could eat Hop Sing's cooking every day."
When Cat turned the surrey onto the road leading to the King's ranch, Victoria said, "That's not the road to the Ponderosa. Where is that child going and why is your father letting her go that way?"
"She has to stop at three homes so her friends can get their night clothes. All four of them are spending the night. Also, Laura, Mary, and their family will be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas nights with us while Jasper, Mike, and their families will be joining us for Christmas dinner."
"Well, now I know why in his last letter, Ben said he was going to have to buy some extra tables and chairs," said Jarrod. "Is your house always that crowded?"
"It is now. You should have been there for Thanksgiving. Oh, and by the way, Joshua and Thaddeus will also be joining us for Christmas dinner. Cat wants it that way and so do the rest of us. They're becoming as big a part of this family as Kitty is. They treat Cat just like she's their sister. We've all been helping her train her colt and just like us, they give her a lot of praise for things she does right and scold her for doing things she's not supposed to be doing. Thaddeus said he caught her starting to run around the pasture with Fury the day after she bruised her ribs when Mrs. Warren pulled her out of the buggy. He said he scolded her and reminded her that if she fell and got hurt worse, it would be a lot longer than just a week before she was allowed to run again. Sometimes she listens to them better than she does us. Joshua caught her going into the pasture with Sampson, our big bull alone and reminded her of the rule that she's not allowed in there without an adult present. Since she hadn't gone into the pasture yet, she didn't get into trouble but Pa and Hoss finally explained why she's not allowed in there alone. The bull loves her and would never intentionally hurt her, but an adult needs to be present in case he steps wrong and knocks her over or steps on her. Believe it or not, once Pa and Hoss explained that to her, she stopped trying to go in with the bull without an adult present."
"That's good to hear," said Heath. "I'd be worried about her going with a big bull also, no matter how gentle it is."
"Wait until you see the two of them together. That bull acts just like a young calf around her and you aren't going to believe how big Fury has gotten and acts around her. Cat's still trying to get Adam to let that colt sleep in his bed."
Jarrod and Heath laughed while Victoria grumbled. "Mother," said Jarrod. "I highly recommend you lay down for a while once we reach the Ponderosa. You must either be tired or ill because all you have done is complain ever since we got off the stage. We're here to spend Christmas with the family. If you intend on ruining it for everyone, let me know now so I can put you on the westbound stage tomorrow afternoon. We had the shortest trip to get here. As we were able to take the train most of the way, it only took us two days to get here. It took Matt and Kitty almost five days as they had to take the train from Dodge to Denver and from there to Carson City. Then they had to take the stage to Virginia City and at this time of year, they're lucky the train was able to get through the mountains. It took Rip, Lucas, and Mark almost four days to get to Virginia City and they had to take the stage the entire way. Like it or not, Ben's house is going to be full of young children so you had either get used to the idea or go home because I'm quite certain Audra is not listening to Nick or Silas."
When the rest of the family reached the Ponderosa, the adults went into the house and, unknown to them, the children went into the barn. The boys unhitched the team and hung the harness up. Mike and Jasper found brushes, curry combs, and two crates which they stood on end. Then, with Mark's help, they helped Laura and Cat to stand on the crates and from there, sit on their shoulders. They walked into the stalls and handed each girl a brush. Hop Sing came out of the kitchen a few minutes later and asked, "Where little boys and little girls?"
Ben looked around and not seeing the children, asked, "Hoss, would you please go outside and see where the children are?"
Hoss walked outside and, seeing the barn door open, walked in. He almost started laughing at the sight before his eyes but instead, quietly left the barn and went back to the house. "Yall gotta come and see this. Ya ain't gonna believe it and I wish that photographer was still here, but Adam, ya better hurry and grab yore sketch pad and a pencil." Everyone but Victoria, who was napping, walked out to the barn and tried their best not to laugh until Adam had sketched the scene in front of them. The boys were using the curry combs on the horses' backs while Laura and Cat were brushing them.
"You kids are too funny," laughed Ben after Adam had finished his sketch. "Don't worry about the horses. We'll take care of them. Hop Sing is waiting for you to make cookies."
Adam handed his sketch pad and pencil to Hoss and took Cat off of Jasper's shoulders while Joe took Laura off of Mike's. Adam hugged Cat and said, "Hoss, Joe, while we're out here, let's show our guests what we do with our silly little sister." They started tossing her to each other like a ball while Cat laughed the entire time, even when Hoss pretended to drop her.
Matt and Rip pretended to be outraged at the way their niece was being treated. "You're just jealous because you live too far apart to do this yourselves," teased Joe.
"You're right," said Matt. "Unfortunately, Sam won't transfer Rip for several years and I'm needed in Dodge. Adam, do you always carry Cat that way and if you do, why are you doing it?" Adam had picked Cat up and put her over his shoulder.
"Yes. All three of us do. It gets her to where we need her to be faster and it's a whole lot easier to tickle her this way. It's also easier to put her in the trough when she needs a cold bath. Come on kids. Hop Sing is waiting for you to help make gingerbread cookies."
The adults sat in the great room talking and smiling at the laughter coming from the kitchen. "I can't remember the last time Hop Sing let someone else in his kitchen," said Hoss. "He usually gets after me with his spoon when I go in there."
"That's because you're always trying to steal food," teased Joe. "Besides that, Hop Sing has always acted like Cat and I belong to him so that's why he lets the two of us and Cat's friends in the kitchen."
"That's true," added Ben. "He gets upset when any of the rest of us go into the kitchen to get anything other than a fresh pot of coffee, but Cat can go in there and make all the messes she wants and he never says a word."
"Adam," said Jarrod. "When we saw each other in San Francisco last year, you mentioned that you would like to do some traveling and possibly visit Europe but you haven't gone anywhere. I was just wondering why."
"I told Pa that I would wait until after Joe graduated so he wouldn't be short handed here on the ranch. Then I woke up one morning and discovered that I now have a little sister who needs me. Besides that, someone's got to protect Pa from flying arithmetic books and my brothers don't quite seem up to the task. I don't ever remember seeing Hoss move as fast as he did the day one of those things was heading straight for him."
Matt and Rip looked at each other and burst out laughing. "I don't know what's so funny about me almost gettin' hit by an arithmetic book," complained Hoss.
"Sorry Hoss," said Rip. "We weren't laughing at you. Cat is definitely our brother's child. Michael used to do the same thing when he got frustrated with his arithmetic lessons. I lost count of the number of times one of us was almost hit by a flying arithmetic book. Matt and I helped him as much as we could but we had our own school work to do and didn't always get it finished before Michael started on his arithmetic. I think he was about Cat's age or a little older when I caught him getting ready to drop his book into the well. It's a good thing I did catch him because our father would have skinned him alive. We didn't have a lot of money and school books were expensive."
The children and Hop Sing came out of the kitchen a few minutes later and set some trays of cookies on the dining room table. "Cookies still hot! Nobody eat!" said Hop Sing. "I use spoon on anybody who eat cookies! Come children, we make mole cookies."
"AWWW Hop Sing, ya don' mean that," said Hoss. "Why I can smell them cookies all the way over here and they're just beggin' to be eaten."
"Lassie, Chief, guard the cookies," said Cat. "Don't let anybody eat them."
After the children and Hop Sing went back into the kitchen, Hoss walked over to the dining room table and tried to take a cookie, but Silver Chief nipped him in the leg. "Hey ya dumb dog! What did ya go and do that for? I was jus' tryin' to get a cookie. Ya know Hop Sing didn't mean it when he said not to eat any."
Hop Sing came out of the kitchen, yelling in Chinese and carrying his spoon. He hit Hoss with it five times, causing him to yelp in pain. "Hop Sing say no eat cookies but Number Two son no listen. Deserve to get bit and be hit with spoon. No eat cookies! No get dessert tonight!" Then he bent over, petted the puppies on top of their heads. "Good puppies. No let Number Two son eat cookies. Hop Sing give special tleat for suppel." Adam and Joe laughed at their brother.
Victoria came downstairs and asked, "What is all the yelling about?"
"The children and Hop Sing are making Christmas cookies," said Ben. "Hop Sing told us not to eat any because they were still hot. Hoss decided that he was going to take a cookie anyway and Silver Chief bit him. Then Hop Sing hit him with his spoon five times. Speaking from experience, I can tell you that he wields a mean spoon and it hurts."
"Why would the dog bite Hoss? Is he vicious?"
"No Victoria. Silver Chief is not vicious, but anybody who tries to hurt Cat will find out just how vicious he can be. Before going back into the kitchen, Cat told her puppies to guard the cookies and not to let anyone eat them. The dog was just doing as he was told to do, which is more than I can say for my middle son. Now, I want to see just what kind of job the children did on those cookies and unlike my son, I don't intend to eat one." Ben walked over to the table, looked at the cookies and walked into the kitchen. "I just looked at those cookies and you kids are doing a wonderful job. They look delicious and I can't wait to eat one. Now, since those particular cookies have holes in the tops, I'm guessing that we're going to be hanging them on the Christmas tree tomorrow. Am I right?" He heard six 'thank yous and yeses. "Now, I am wondering if you are planning to make any we can eat."
"Of course we are Mr. Cartwright, said Laura. "We've got some in the oven right now and are making more to hang on the tree and to eat."
"Well, that is very good to know. I'll leave you children to your work and I can't wait to eat one of your cookies."
Once the last of the cookies were in the oven, the children helped Hop Sing clean up the mess. "Little boys and Little girls do vely good job. Big help to Hop Sing. May take one cookie each and give one to family but Hoss. He tly to steal cookie so no get any until tomorrow. Go work on ploject in Hoss room. Hop Sing tell you when suppel almost leady."
The children did as Hop Sing said and skipped Hoss when they were giving cookies to the rest of the family. "Hey, what about me?" asked Hoss. "Don't I get one?"
"Sorry Hoss," said Mark. "Hop Sing said you don't get a cookie until tomorrow because you tried to steal one. We're supposed to help Cat with a project in your room but she's not sure what to do next. Will you please come and show us what we need to do?"
Hoss grumbled about being expected to help the children and not being given a cookie. "Go and help the kids and I'll see if I can talk Hop Sing into giving you a cookie," said Ben. "He has every right to be angry with you. You were told not to take any cookies but you attempted to anyway. In fact, it would probably help your cause if you were to go and apologize to him."
When Hoss went into the kitchen, Adam and Joe decided to show the children what they were doing in Hoss' room and excused themselves from the family. Joe picked Cat up and put her over his shoulder. "Joe," said Victoria. "Why are you carrying Catherine like that?"
"Because it gets her to where we want her to be faster without her getting in trouble for running in the house. Also, it's easier to do this..." He pulled one of Cat's boots off and started tickling her foot.
"Joseph, you know what happens when you do that, so I highly recommend you stop," scolded Ben.
Once the children were out of earshot, Victoria said, "Ben, I can't believe that you're still allowing that child to wear buckskins. She's too old for that nonsense now and you should make her dress like a girl should dress. I don't care if she doesn't want to wear dresses. You're the parent, make her!"
Ben sighed. He was sick and tired of women telling him how to raise Cat and how to make her dress. "Victoria, first of all, it is none of your business how I allow my daughter to dress. Second of all, she is happy and healthy and that is all that matters. She wears dresses when she wants to and that is fine with me. I am sick and tired of busybody women telling me how to raise my daughter and how to make her dress. Also, I will listen to your advice when your seventeen year old daughter stops acting like a spoiled brat! The subject matter closed and I do not want to hear another word on it for the remainder of your visit!"Hoss apologized to Hop Sing for trying to steal a cookie, was given one and went up to his room to help the children. Adam and Joe had already explained what they were doing with the pine cones and tree bark. Jasper looked at everything and said, "I have an idea. How about we glue pine needles to the tree bark? Then with the pine cone trees, it will look like the animals are in the forest."
"That's an excellent idea Jasper," said Adam. "Why don't you and Mark go and get some? You'll find sacks in the tack room. I'll light a fire in the stove in the small bunk room and we can spread them out to dry in there."
The boys got their hats, coats, and gloves and went downstairs with Adam who took some newspaper and kindling out of the wood box by the fireplace. "Where are you and the boys going?" asked Ben.
"We need some pine needles for the project Cat is working on. The boys are going to get some and I'm going to light a fire in the small bunkhouse stove. We'll spread the pine needles out in there and they'll be dry by tomorrow."
"How many pine needles should we get?" asked Mark.
"One sackful should be more than enough."
"What project is Cat working on in Hoss' room?" asked Kitty.
"I don't know but I'm sure we'll find out soon," replied Ben.
Mike looked at the pine cone animals that had already been assembled and said, "I've got an idea. I'll be right back." He returned a little while later, carrying some twigs. "I thought we could use these to make antlers for the deer."
"You boys sure are full of good ideas," said Joe. "First the pine needles and now the twigs for antlers. I wonder what you're going to think of next."
"Well," said Mark. "If we had the time, we could paint the outer edges and tops of the trees white to look like it had snowed some. But I don't think we're going to have time for that. We have to get this finished before Friday night and even with the six of us working on it, we'll be lucky to get it finished and wrapped on time."
"Don't forget," said Adam. "Hoss, Joe, and I are going to help too but you're right Mark. I don't think we'll have time to put snow on the trees, but then again, we might. We'll just have to see how much we have done by tomorrow night."