A/N: Sam's tender heart is exposed to a friend, in which embarrasses him.
He finds he made a mistake that caused a friend to lose something that is
very precious to her. Sam is about to go out of his way to make up for his
blunder.
Chapter 2
Wee Billy
"So what is this? Sam have you been crying again? What about this time?" teased Hamson. "Has someone been reading you that book again?"
Sam lowered his eyes as he turned away from them.
Hamson saw the rabbit cage empty and he looked at the conies he had on his string. "Oh! You thought that we have killed your old coney. We would not take that scrawny old coney for our supper. Not when we have these nice fat ones."
"Then what has happened to my Henry?" asked Sam.
"By the looks of it that knot you tied is horrible. More than likely, your coney let himself out." Hamson told him. "Look here Sam, you tie a knot like this." Hamson again showed Sam how to tie a proper knot. "Uncle Hobson, the roper would be ashamed if a Gamgee could not tie an proper knot. Now pay attention and tie it right."
Sam practiced again and finally the knot looked more like the way Hamson tied a knot.
Mrs. Gamgee walked out the door with the rabbit cuddled in her arms. "What are you all looking at? The poor thing bit through his bandages so I changed it for him."
She handed Sam the rabbit, which brought an immediate smile to his face. "Those are the finest conies I have seen. It will make for a great stew for evening meal." Mrs. Gamgee commented. "Come now boys and help your mother clean them up."
Sam untied the knot and placed old Henry back into his cage and gave him a small pile of lettuce and shredded carrots. He took his time to tie the knot just like his brother shown him.
~*~
Gaffer sent his children out to the wooded area to gather enough firewood to last them a week. Their cart was almost full as Sam and Halfred scattered out to gather great armfuls of fallen dried out branches. Hamson used the ax and cut the logs into four equal parts and Daisy and May stacked them neatly in the cart. They could hardly wait to finish the job as their mother had promised them apple pie and cider for mid-afternoon snack.
Sam notice a pony and rider heading their way. He stopped to watch it as it race towards him.
"Why it's Rosie Cotton? What are you doing on such a fine summer afternoon?" Sam asked.
"My brother Nibs broke this pony for me just last week. So I am taking him out to get use to traveling with me. We are getting to be the best of friends."
"Rosie!" shouted Halfred. "So nice to see such a lovely sight. It give a wearily worker a refreshing lift to his day."
"You're a talker, Halfred. I must say. So much charm." Rosie let Halfred ease her down from her pony. She handed Sam the reins.
"By the way, Rosie. What name did you give your pony?" asked Sam.
"His name is Wee Billy." Rosie told him.
"Wee Billy. Now that is a funny name to call a pony." Sam commented.
"None the least, Samwise. I think it is quite proper a name. I"ll mind ya not to be poking fun at such a noble a beast as Wee Billy. I love him dearly," Rosie said shortly to Sam.
Sam blushed a deep red at her retort and lowered his eyes. He did not mean to upset Rosie, he was only thinking out loud.
"And Wee Billy is a perfect name as perfect as the name Rosie, his owner. Come Rosie we are about to have mid afternoon luncheon. Will you join us? Halfred asked. "Mother has prepared a fine apple pie and cider."
Rosie smiled a big winning grind that only lit up her beautiful face and put an extra sparkle in the deep blue of her eyes.
She took Halfred's arm as he led the way back to where Hamson was cutting wood and they all walked to Bagshot Row together.
Even his sisters were in awe of her. Rosie suggested that they pick a big bouquet of flowers to give to their mother. The girls ran laughing in the near by field. Sam saw a beautiful wild rose. A soft pale pink rose caught his eye and he thought it was as beautiful as Rosie. He picked it and handed it to her. Sam could not think of anything nice to say, since his brothers paid so many compliments to Rosie. All he could do was just hand this too her and say, "This one is for you." Rosie took the pink rose and she touched Sam's cheek and thanked him for his gift. No sooner did she do that, when Hamson and Halfred came running with a string of purple Forget Me Knots and grandly told her they would never forget her. Within minutes Rosie carried the largest bunch of flowers she had ever held. Sam trailed behind them leading Wee Billy. He rolled his eyes at his brothers and watched them trying to win Rosie's favor.
When they reached Bagshot Row, Sam tied Wee Billy in the back to their fence post. He strolled over to peek at his rabbit. He wanted to show Rosie his rabbit since she seemed so interested in animals, but he could not gain her attention away from his older brothers.
May and Daisy held on to each word Rosie said as they admired her also. They too thought Rosie was the prettiest hobbit that they had ever met. Hamson and Halfred tripped over their own feet trying to please Rosie and gain her attention. They would open the door for her and pull out the most comfortable chair for her to sit. They would both run to the cupboard and fought over who would serve her a glass of cider.
"Bring a fine lass into the house and those boys move faster to finish their chores. I was not expecting you all back so soon, but I can see the cart is full. Welcome Rosie Cotton. You humble our simple home," Mrs. Gamgee politely greeted her.
"It is so nice of you to share your meal with me, Mrs. Gamgee," Rosie said as she handed the bouquet of flower to her. "We picked these especially for you." However, Rosie kept the pink rose and the purple Forget Me Knots for herself.
Mrs. Gamgee thanked Rosie for her gift and filled a vase full of water and placed the beautiful bouquet of flowers in the center of the table. She took out the apple pie and cut each one a slice. They all sat around the table talking and laughing with each other. All except Sam, he just stood in the kitchen and listened while he ate his pie.
"I have Strawberries to pick in the garden. You girls help your mother with the picking. Get the baskets and I'll make you a fine strawberry jelly for your bread." Mrs. Gamgee said as the girls rushed to find the baskets.
Hamson asked Rosie if she would like to hear a story read to her from one of his favorite books. Rosie agreed and sat down on a pillow on the floor in front of the hearth. Rosie asked Sam to join her on the pillow as they both listened to the story. Sam grinned from ear to ear as he enjoyed sitting next to Rosie. It made him feel wonderful that she had finally took notice of him.
Hamson pulled the book that he was reading last night in bed, but Halfred pushed Hamson's hand away from that book and handed him another. Hamson seeing which book he placing in his hand, he looked up, grinning at his brother.
Hamson began to read and Sam looked up in shock at his brother. How could he read from that book. It has always made Sam cry every time he heard that story. Even his mother forbid the boys ever to read this around Sam. Sam's face grew intensely red and his eyes shifted back and forth. He told himself, 'This time I am not going to cry no matter how sad the ending is.'
On and on, Hamson read, telling the story of the bravest hobbit that ever lived. The hobbit married the women he loved and how he cared deeply for her. He was found by his enemy and held captive. They tortured him endlessly and tricked him into believing his wife was still alive. For her, he told his enemy all they wanted, but in the end he found that they had killed her and he now faced his own death. In his last words was her name that he called out.and with that Sam burst into tears and ran outside. His brother's laughter followed him all the way until he reached his rabbit cage and where he sobbed openly. Within minutes Rosie was by his side.
"Sam it is okay. Please don't cry so." Rosie begged.
"Go away." Sam sobbed as he clutched his hands over his face.
"I think it is wonderful that a story could touch your heart so." Rosie tried to comfort him.
"You must think I am a baby because I cried at that story." Sam admitted to her.
"You're not a baby, Sam. I certainly do not think that." Rosie told him.
She placed her arms around Sam and brought him in to a warm hug.
"Well, brother. It looks like our plan backfired. Looks like Sam has gotten the girl." Halfred pointed out. Hamson smacked his brother in the back of the head with the book he just finished reading.
Rosie let out a loud gasp as she looked up to see Wee Billy gone from where he was tied up. Hamson and Halfred ran to see what had happen.
"Wee Billy is gone! Something must have frighten off," Rosie said in shock.
"It could have been that, but also not tying a knot proper does not help either." Hamson pointed out looking at Sam.
"I must find him. Poor Wee Billy will be scared and not knowing how to get home again. Please help me find him." Rosie begged.
"Don't worry Rosie, I will search for Wee Billy. I will find him for you. No matter where he has gone off too. I swear, I will bring him back to you." Sam told her.
"How can you find him, Sam; with so many pony tracks around. We do not know which direction he took off," said Halfred.
"Come the Gaffer's pony is still in the barn. We could ride her to find your Wee Billy." Hamson told her. "Tell mother we went searching for Wee Billy. You can ride with me Rosie. Don't fret I will find him for you." Sam took his walking stick and carefully looked over the tracks. He noticed what looked like a fresh set and began to follow them. Hamson rode in the opposite direction, so Sam continued to follow those tracks that led away from Bagshot Row.
"So what is this? Sam have you been crying again? What about this time?" teased Hamson. "Has someone been reading you that book again?"
Sam lowered his eyes as he turned away from them.
Hamson saw the rabbit cage empty and he looked at the conies he had on his string. "Oh! You thought that we have killed your old coney. We would not take that scrawny old coney for our supper. Not when we have these nice fat ones."
"Then what has happened to my Henry?" asked Sam.
"By the looks of it that knot you tied is horrible. More than likely, your coney let himself out." Hamson told him. "Look here Sam, you tie a knot like this." Hamson again showed Sam how to tie a proper knot. "Uncle Hobson, the roper would be ashamed if a Gamgee could not tie an proper knot. Now pay attention and tie it right."
Sam practiced again and finally the knot looked more like the way Hamson tied a knot.
Mrs. Gamgee walked out the door with the rabbit cuddled in her arms. "What are you all looking at? The poor thing bit through his bandages so I changed it for him."
She handed Sam the rabbit, which brought an immediate smile to his face. "Those are the finest conies I have seen. It will make for a great stew for evening meal." Mrs. Gamgee commented. "Come now boys and help your mother clean them up."
Sam untied the knot and placed old Henry back into his cage and gave him a small pile of lettuce and shredded carrots. He took his time to tie the knot just like his brother shown him.
~*~
Gaffer sent his children out to the wooded area to gather enough firewood to last them a week. Their cart was almost full as Sam and Halfred scattered out to gather great armfuls of fallen dried out branches. Hamson used the ax and cut the logs into four equal parts and Daisy and May stacked them neatly in the cart. They could hardly wait to finish the job as their mother had promised them apple pie and cider for mid-afternoon snack.
Sam notice a pony and rider heading their way. He stopped to watch it as it race towards him.
"Why it's Rosie Cotton? What are you doing on such a fine summer afternoon?" Sam asked.
"My brother Nibs broke this pony for me just last week. So I am taking him out to get use to traveling with me. We are getting to be the best of friends."
"Rosie!" shouted Halfred. "So nice to see such a lovely sight. It give a wearily worker a refreshing lift to his day."
"You're a talker, Halfred. I must say. So much charm." Rosie let Halfred ease her down from her pony. She handed Sam the reins.
"By the way, Rosie. What name did you give your pony?" asked Sam.
"His name is Wee Billy." Rosie told him.
"Wee Billy. Now that is a funny name to call a pony." Sam commented.
"None the least, Samwise. I think it is quite proper a name. I"ll mind ya not to be poking fun at such a noble a beast as Wee Billy. I love him dearly," Rosie said shortly to Sam.
Sam blushed a deep red at her retort and lowered his eyes. He did not mean to upset Rosie, he was only thinking out loud.
"And Wee Billy is a perfect name as perfect as the name Rosie, his owner. Come Rosie we are about to have mid afternoon luncheon. Will you join us? Halfred asked. "Mother has prepared a fine apple pie and cider."
Rosie smiled a big winning grind that only lit up her beautiful face and put an extra sparkle in the deep blue of her eyes.
She took Halfred's arm as he led the way back to where Hamson was cutting wood and they all walked to Bagshot Row together.
Even his sisters were in awe of her. Rosie suggested that they pick a big bouquet of flowers to give to their mother. The girls ran laughing in the near by field. Sam saw a beautiful wild rose. A soft pale pink rose caught his eye and he thought it was as beautiful as Rosie. He picked it and handed it to her. Sam could not think of anything nice to say, since his brothers paid so many compliments to Rosie. All he could do was just hand this too her and say, "This one is for you." Rosie took the pink rose and she touched Sam's cheek and thanked him for his gift. No sooner did she do that, when Hamson and Halfred came running with a string of purple Forget Me Knots and grandly told her they would never forget her. Within minutes Rosie carried the largest bunch of flowers she had ever held. Sam trailed behind them leading Wee Billy. He rolled his eyes at his brothers and watched them trying to win Rosie's favor.
When they reached Bagshot Row, Sam tied Wee Billy in the back to their fence post. He strolled over to peek at his rabbit. He wanted to show Rosie his rabbit since she seemed so interested in animals, but he could not gain her attention away from his older brothers.
May and Daisy held on to each word Rosie said as they admired her also. They too thought Rosie was the prettiest hobbit that they had ever met. Hamson and Halfred tripped over their own feet trying to please Rosie and gain her attention. They would open the door for her and pull out the most comfortable chair for her to sit. They would both run to the cupboard and fought over who would serve her a glass of cider.
"Bring a fine lass into the house and those boys move faster to finish their chores. I was not expecting you all back so soon, but I can see the cart is full. Welcome Rosie Cotton. You humble our simple home," Mrs. Gamgee politely greeted her.
"It is so nice of you to share your meal with me, Mrs. Gamgee," Rosie said as she handed the bouquet of flower to her. "We picked these especially for you." However, Rosie kept the pink rose and the purple Forget Me Knots for herself.
Mrs. Gamgee thanked Rosie for her gift and filled a vase full of water and placed the beautiful bouquet of flowers in the center of the table. She took out the apple pie and cut each one a slice. They all sat around the table talking and laughing with each other. All except Sam, he just stood in the kitchen and listened while he ate his pie.
"I have Strawberries to pick in the garden. You girls help your mother with the picking. Get the baskets and I'll make you a fine strawberry jelly for your bread." Mrs. Gamgee said as the girls rushed to find the baskets.
Hamson asked Rosie if she would like to hear a story read to her from one of his favorite books. Rosie agreed and sat down on a pillow on the floor in front of the hearth. Rosie asked Sam to join her on the pillow as they both listened to the story. Sam grinned from ear to ear as he enjoyed sitting next to Rosie. It made him feel wonderful that she had finally took notice of him.
Hamson pulled the book that he was reading last night in bed, but Halfred pushed Hamson's hand away from that book and handed him another. Hamson seeing which book he placing in his hand, he looked up, grinning at his brother.
Hamson began to read and Sam looked up in shock at his brother. How could he read from that book. It has always made Sam cry every time he heard that story. Even his mother forbid the boys ever to read this around Sam. Sam's face grew intensely red and his eyes shifted back and forth. He told himself, 'This time I am not going to cry no matter how sad the ending is.'
On and on, Hamson read, telling the story of the bravest hobbit that ever lived. The hobbit married the women he loved and how he cared deeply for her. He was found by his enemy and held captive. They tortured him endlessly and tricked him into believing his wife was still alive. For her, he told his enemy all they wanted, but in the end he found that they had killed her and he now faced his own death. In his last words was her name that he called out.and with that Sam burst into tears and ran outside. His brother's laughter followed him all the way until he reached his rabbit cage and where he sobbed openly. Within minutes Rosie was by his side.
"Sam it is okay. Please don't cry so." Rosie begged.
"Go away." Sam sobbed as he clutched his hands over his face.
"I think it is wonderful that a story could touch your heart so." Rosie tried to comfort him.
"You must think I am a baby because I cried at that story." Sam admitted to her.
"You're not a baby, Sam. I certainly do not think that." Rosie told him.
She placed her arms around Sam and brought him in to a warm hug.
"Well, brother. It looks like our plan backfired. Looks like Sam has gotten the girl." Halfred pointed out. Hamson smacked his brother in the back of the head with the book he just finished reading.
Rosie let out a loud gasp as she looked up to see Wee Billy gone from where he was tied up. Hamson and Halfred ran to see what had happen.
"Wee Billy is gone! Something must have frighten off," Rosie said in shock.
"It could have been that, but also not tying a knot proper does not help either." Hamson pointed out looking at Sam.
"I must find him. Poor Wee Billy will be scared and not knowing how to get home again. Please help me find him." Rosie begged.
"Don't worry Rosie, I will search for Wee Billy. I will find him for you. No matter where he has gone off too. I swear, I will bring him back to you." Sam told her.
"How can you find him, Sam; with so many pony tracks around. We do not know which direction he took off," said Halfred.
"Come the Gaffer's pony is still in the barn. We could ride her to find your Wee Billy." Hamson told her. "Tell mother we went searching for Wee Billy. You can ride with me Rosie. Don't fret I will find him for you." Sam took his walking stick and carefully looked over the tracks. He noticed what looked like a fresh set and began to follow them. Hamson rode in the opposite direction, so Sam continued to follow those tracks that led away from Bagshot Row.