The Biggest Fireplace In All Of Nevada

Summary: It is Alexandra's second Christmas with her father, Adam Cartwright. Feeling excited and anxious about Christmas. Alexandra finds a way to help Santa deliver some special friends their Christmas wishes. Adam hasn't formally met Marty. Alexandra hasn't met Lajocci.

A.N. Sorry guys, I was struggling to get this finished before the new year. There is still more to go, but I'm heading off on a family holiday and I can't trust the internet where I'm going, so here is the next bit. Remember it hasn't been betaed. Thank you for all the reviews, I will do my best to respond ASAP.

Chapter 2: Angels

Christmas Eve

It was nearing six o'clock, as Miss Evelyn rounded her wards up, making sure they all had a coat, a scarf and mittens; ready for the Carols in the town square. She was running late, as usual. She had taken the time just after lunch to talk to the children. They had a hearty lunch of thick hot soup with plenty of fresh bread, knowing that the treats Mt Potter had arranged for a number of children with the help of Hoss Cartwright as the towns traditional Santa, would most likely spoil their appetite for anything but a hot chocolate before bed time.

The children were very excited about the picnic the next day at the Ponderosa, as well as the idea that their Christmas stocking were all hanging out there. They were told by none other than Alexandra Cartwright That the ponderosa had The Biggest Fireplace In All Of Nevada. So Santa would have enough room to come down the chimney withy gifts for all ten of them. Evelyn also discussed the plans with the children and over the last week had been getting the children to make Christmas decorations for the Town's big tree. The activity also allowed for some informal lessons and discussions about the true meaning of Christmas. Some lively discussion arose about Santa as well. Evelyn was thankful for the older children, reiterating that Santa couldn't always bring you what you exactly wanted, but a gift from Santa and the celebrations had with family and friends was the best thing about Christmas. It was the perfect way to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. A child who had been born in a manger and slept on a bed of straw. All the children seemed to understand that and Evelyn was proud of their enthusiasm and Christmas spirit. They were grateful and would use their manners once out on the Ponderosa. After all they were all family too and would make each other proud.

This had been Evelyn's third Christmas at the orphanage as its governess. She too had been an orphan, though not destitute like many of her wards. He father was a wealthy mining magnate, but worked from the eastern states. Her mother had died when she was fourteen and her father being a very busy man, had sent her to a ladies finishing school. When he too past away when she was twenty-one, her father's business partners took over his companies, and managed an investment fund from her father's shares. It left her a yearly income. Of course the young women had used it along with the minimum wage from the governing bodies of the orphanage to help with the children's educational needs.

Evelyn was amazed at this towns generosity over the last three years, and especially the families that had adopted children. Evelyn wasn't having the success of her predecessors, but the young women, was very picky about where her wards ended up. The records of the previous children showed that some had been adopted out; mainly boys who could do a hard day's work or older girls that became live in nanny's. Of course children from these parts all did a hard day's work, but for some of these children they weren't going to loving families, they were just cheap labor. Evelyn was not going to have that. She promised each child when they arrived that she would do her very best to find loving families for them. She had found good families for ten children over her years here Evelyn's only regret was having to split up Jennifer and her baby sister. The adoption process had been started just before her arrival, so there wasn't a lot she could do about it. However, the family was a good family and were besotted by the little girl. They just simply couldn't afford to adopt Jennifer as well. For her part, Jennifer a very bright six-year-old, endorsed the adoption, believing her baby sister needed a mother right now.

New children came off course and, so by the time this Christmas came around there were ten children at the orphanage. The oldest of the children was Emma, the youngest Harrison James. The chances of Emma being adopted out were becoming slim, unless she went into some sort of servitude. Emma was a great help to Evelyn and felt very part of the family they all perceived they were. In actual fact, Emma really didn't want to leave anymore. She had found a family and was needed. Evelyn was almost like a big sister to her, and truth be told both would be happy to keep things as they were. But, Evelyn's job was also to do her best by each of her wards; she knew she wasn't supposed to get emotionally invested, but she couldn't help it and these children; most who had suffered tragedy needed all the love and support they could get. Abigail Jones encouraged Evelyn to have Emma sit for a scholarship. If successful, Emma would receive free tuition to a college where she could study to become a teacher.

Harrison James had only been at the orphanage for a couple of months. The Pastor from Placerville had bought him along after his mother had died in childbirth along with Harrisons sibling. The child came with few belongings; basically the clothes on his back and a few items that belonged to his mother. His mother was without a husband and Evelyn didn't have to ask many questions to surmised that her profession was a dubious one. But, the boy had been well loved and cared for. He was physically healthy and missed his mother a great deal. The Pastor had explained to him that his mother was now an angel. He felt that Harrison would have a better chance here in Virginia City where very few people new anything about his mother and could degenerate the child's belief.

The Town Square was only a block away from the orphanage and Miss Evelyn and her crew made it in good time to greet many of the town folk already there.

Pastor Dave took the podium centered on the small rostrums laid together to form a stage. "Good evening good people of Virginia City. As the lights are lit on this beautiful tree, grown in the beautiful country that God has surely touched; a symbol of Christmas with its branches thick and protective of each other, we give thanks for this year past and the one ahead of us all. We give thanks for our town, our friends and our family as we become one family; the good Lord's children. We celebrate the birth of the Christ child with songs of prayer. So, join in. Sing as loud as your joy allows."

Adam then took the stage and played "O Tannenbaum" on his Guitar. The crowd enthusiastically joined in; reading what they could from the booklets Miss jones and her class had handed out earlier. By the end of the first song, the crowd had doubled in size and the bright candles on the tree started to glow against the setting winter sun.

Miss Jones arrived next at the podium, joined with the children's choir, which included Alexandra Cartwright; front and center. They were accompanied by Mrs. Wilburn on a small parlor organ and Mrs. Potter Smyth; Lydia Ann's mother on the flute. Each of the senior grade students then took in turns to narrate the Christ's child's story- from Mary and Joseph's journey to his birth and celebration of what that meant for the world.

"I Saw Three Ships", "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen," and "O' Come All Ye Faithful," were the first three carols sung by the choir and softly backed-up by the crowd. Encouraged by Miss Evelyn the children from the orphanage joined in with huge smiles.

"We Three Kings," came after Tommy told the tale of the three wise men, taking a detour in their travels to find the greatest king ever to be born. Adam lead this one again with his guitar and rich baritone vocals. Hop Sing, The Swede and Indra Sidana dressed in their cultures finery, arrived at the big tree to lay presents around the carved nativity scene that sat at its base.

"That's my Uncle Hop Sing" whispered Alexandra, nudging Willy Fitzgerald, who surprisingly had the purest of boy soprano's voices that Adam had ever heard. Though, the nudge to his ribs sent him reaching off key and a giggle from the crowd. "Willy! Have you got a frog in your pocket? Miss Jones' not gonna be happy ifin you have."

"No I ain't! that's was ma voice when you…"

"Oh don't worry none then," interrupted Alex. "Uncle Little Joe's voice does that sometimes; First it was his man voice trying ta come through and now every now and again his boy voice comes through. Gee, Willy ya must be starting to manure. You got hair under your arms?"

"Shhh," growled a red faced Willy. "Iffin I did I wouldn't be tellin you."

"Course not," huffed Alex. She was only trying ta be nice ta Willy, cause she knew how embarrassing a croaky voice for a boy could be. "And, I wouldn't care either, cause you're a stinker of a kid, so ya probably gonna be a stinker of a man."

Willy turned to Alexandra and was about to bop her one, when he caught Miss Jones eye, and the cue for his solo. Julia had told the crowd of the child's birth and it was now his turn to sing. He quickly turned to the front and stepped forward and started. He looked and sounded like an angel, surrounded by several other angels, who managed a decent harmony as they sung the carol; "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear."

Adam had heard the pairs exchange and moved around behind the choir. Reaching through the back line he grabbed Alexandra's white gown and pulled her back through the group. He turned her to face him, giving Alexandra a stern glare. "Alexandra, behave yourself and stop talking and annoying Willy," he whispered.

"I wasn't annoying him dad," growled Alexandra. "He..."

"Shhh!" ordered Adam, before she started a long winded explanation as what she was doing. Adam, spun her back around and sent her back through the back line with a relatively soft swat to her backside.

Alexandra pouted and rubbed her backside dramatically as she took up her spot. "Hows come I'm the one always ta blame," she mumbled to herself.

Adam returned to the stage with all the children's choir, Miss jones and their accompaniment. They started playing the introduction for "Joy to the world!" with Adam then starting the first lines. The Lord is come… Let earth receive her King… The children then joined in on… Let every heart… Prepare Him room… as he waved Alexandra over to sing the next lines with him as planned. But, Alexandra was still pouting. She shook her head, rubbed her backside and mined the buttoning of her lip at her father; letting him know, she was taking his directive literally.

Adam shook his head at the stubborn little blonde haired angel center stage; cute as it was, he wasn't about to have her ruin the song they had practiced together that afternoon out of pure mulishness. So, he called Willy over instead. Willy looked surprised, but was somewhat honored. He walked slowly over, joining Adam in singing the next lot of lyrics... And Saints And Angels Sing…

That of course got Alex's hackles up, or rather her green eyed monster emerging, so she dropped her pout and stepped forward, grabbing at Willy to pull him behind her while she joined in with the chorus…And Saints And Angels Sing… Unfortunately, she'd grabbed Willy's wings instead and they suddenly came off. Willy was annoyed and turned to grab them back out of her hands, but Alex swung left out of his reach. So, instead Willy grabbed her wings and pulled them off. Alexandra was about to let go with an explicative or an expletive, which ever came to the child's mind first.

Adam wasn't taking any chances though, so he picked up both children unceremoniously and plonked them down; one on each side of him and sung at the top of his lungs… AND SAINTS AND SA-INTS AND AN-GELS SING!

The song continued on without any more disputes, between the two shame faced angels singing beside Adam; their wings tightly held in front of their chests and halo's sagging. Joy To The World - With Truth And Grace - And Makes The Nations Prove - The Glories Of His Righteousness - And Wonders Of His Love - And Wonders Of His Love - AND WON-DERS AND WON-DERS OF HIS LOVE

At the end of the song Pastor Dave blessed the crowd, and Cheered Santa in. Hoss and his trusty sidekick Elf, Clem would arrive in a sleigh this year. After Clem's debacle with the balloon last year; the patched Santa's britches as a rough reminder, Hoss had insisted that they use the Sleigh that Adam had repaired last week. If Clem wanted to try out anymore of his inventions, he could come up with the decorations or a nifty way he could make it look like it they had flown in. But, there was no way that Hoss intended to be airborne at any time. Clem had come through with a mirror light that he'd seen in a puppet carnival show; It threw a light through a stenciled gobo of Santa in a sleigh that he had his oldest project via Sam Potters roof top towards the full moon that hung enormously on the horizon. As it Moved around, it appeared to come closer as it's shadow hit the flat of a hill behind the Saloon. There it was distinguished, as Hoss and Clem rounded C Street and came into full view of the children who chorused with a colossal cheer.

The sleigh was parked behind the big tree. There, while Santa sat on his throne and handed out sweets to the children and spoke to them about all the good things he had heard about them over the year, Santa's other helpers filled the sleigh with the many wrapped gifts they had been working on for the orphan's stockings that hung along the mantle of The Biggest Fireplace In All Of Nevada.

~oOo~

Adam had tried to grab Alexandra to have a word to her about her behavior during the carols, but in the chaos of Santa arriving, his daughter had quickly disappeared. All the children lined up to see the jolly man sitting on a red throne in the town square. Adam followed the line of children expecting to see Alexandra there. However, she was nowhere in sight of the big man.

Alexandra had recognized Santa's trusty helper immediately, not because Hoss's disguise was poor, by any means it was not, but Alex recognized the large patch on the seat of his pants as Hop Sings Handy work. She thought it was pretty cool to not only have her uncles and family as official helpers of Santa, but that suit that her Uncle Hoss wore was an original. She spotted Josh standing by the Mercantile and decided to have one last talk to him about his beliefs; surely he had to believe knowing that the real Santa had left her Uncle Hoss the suit last Christmas.

"Hey there, Josh, you still mad at me?" asked Alex, as she came to sit by him on the boardwalk.

"No Alex, I'm not mad anymore. I talked to Pastor Dave and then to my Ma and Pa last night. Sorry I was mean to you and the little kids."

"So ya believe now Josh? Ya ma gave me one of your old stockings and I seen ya done dropped Harrisons stocking in, so I put them both tagether. Santa knows just how special his stocking is."

"I believe in Christmas Alex; I ain't saying no more than that. I Don't reckon… Well I'm pretty sure Santa ain't gonna bring what Harrison wants, but…"

"He'll still get something, Josh that's important. Sides ya never know. Harrison just needs ta understand that sometimes presents need ta be a surprise that's all."

"Pastor Dave and Miss Evelyn spoke to him about that, but I don't think he understands- really."

Meanwhile Adam, had made his way over to a group of parents standing by a nice big street fire, sipping on hot drinks as they waited for their children to finish with Santa.

"Hey Adam, have some of this eggnog, you deserve it after that fine singing," offered Joe.

"Yes, it will warm you up son," said Ben.

"Thanks Pa," said Adam as he took the steaming mug. "You haven't seen Alexandra have you?"

"No but she can't have gone too far. "

"Oh Boy! I thought her and Willy were going to get into it real good up there; though it was entertaining," giggled Joe.

"Yes well that's what I wanted to speak to her about."

"Don't make too much of it, Adam. To be sure my lad was as much ta blame. I'm thinkin, they don't see eye to eye." said Willy's dad.

"A shame too," said Sam Potter, "because both of them sing like Angels."

"Yeah. Our Willy reckons it's a bit sissy t a be singing. Gets it from his mam, not me that's for sure. His Mam and Miss Jones insisted."

"Well he has a very fine voice, Mr. Fitzgerald."

"As does Adam and that don't make him no sissy," added Sam.

Wily Fitzgerald father blustered some. "I twas meanin' nothing by it, Mr. Cartwright; you know jist how kids can get ta thinking."

"I do, and I'm learning something new every day," laughed Adam. "No offence taken. Please call me Adam."

"Thanks Adam, Sean's my given."

"Fine, Sean," said Adam shaking hands. Still, I don't like Alexandra fighting. I'm still new at this father business."

"Seems to me, Adam, you're doing a fine job," said Pastor Dave.

"Yeah Adam, besides you had a lot of experience with me," added Joe.

"Thanks Joe, but I would have thought you would think I didn't do all that good a job."

"Yah you were a bit bossy, but then I turned out alright didn't I."

Adam laughed, "Yes Joe, you did. Though, I'm wondering if the good lord sent Alex along for me to re- live the experience. Maybe I should be doing things different."

"Yeah maybe; she's a girl for one, but then she's a real trooper, Adam; had some heart ache like most of us."

"Being there a being consistent is the best we can do, son," added Ben.

"It's Christmas folks and we might still have a lot more to teach these youngin's, but this Christmas they've learnt a lot," said Pastor Dave.

"I'm proud of all of them. I'll be speakin' to our Willy, Mr. Cartwright, but tonight was jist a wee hiccup Aye?"

Adam laughed, "Aye Sean; a wee hiccup."

The other parents joined in the laughter, adding bits of advice about the labors of love and parenting.

"There's a lot more to come that'll test your patience, Adam," said Ben, clapping his son on the shoulder.

"Thanks Pa." Adam nodded at his father. "Well we best be collect these youngsters; it's getting late. It's going to snow tonight."

"I reckon we got about a coupla' hour afore the front hits," said Sean.

"Hopefully, we'll be tucked up nice and warm in bed, before the kids all wake us at the crack of dawn," laughed another parent.

"Well, some of you will, but Santa's got a bit of work ta do at the Ponderosa tonight," said Ben.

"Sleighs all packed, Ben. I gotta say it's mighty fine of you to do this for all those little kids."

"Well its mighty grand of you, folk to all pitch in," replied Ben. "But, I'd like to think another plan for next year; we're exhausted," laughed Ben.

"Miss Evelyn will have her fireplace by then. Though, I've been impressed with the generosity of so many and the real Christmas spirt I've seen in this town over the last two weeks. I think we'll keep some of these traditions going. The Christmas tree, the Santa box and good wishes. There are lots of folks that can use our help and even more so our friendship," said Pastor Dave.

The crowd there all nodded in agreement as they sipped on the last of their hot toddies.

Adam still searched for Alexandra, and spotted her on the boardwalk talking to Josh. He wandered over there while the other parents slowly dispersed to gather their families and head home. Joe and Ben were the only ones left, waiting for Hoss and Clem to finish with the last of the children visiting Santa.

"Hey, Pa look Hoss is nearly Done, exceptin', that ain't no kid on his lap," giggled Joe.

Ben looked to where Hoss was and had to hide a smirk.

Miss Evelyn had lined up behind the last of charges that were visiting Santa. She grabbed Emma, the oldest of her wards, as the girl eagerly chewed on the candy Santa had given her. "Emma round up all the children and meet over at the street fire."

"You gonna sit on Santa's Lap Miss Evelyn," smiled the girl.

Evelyn laughed. "Don't be cheeky; No I just wanted to thank Ho… she stopped suddenly when all the younger children turned and looked at her. "I want to thank Santa for all the hard work he does and the joy he brings," she said.

"I thanked him too, Miss Evelyn. I'll go get the others; you got Patrick and Jennifer here with you," said Emma as she took off to where most of the children were playing.

"Thanks Emma," called Evelyn. She turned back around to find Patrick, the last of the children, sitting on Santa's knee; talking unremittingly about animals, asking all about the animals at the north pole and who looked after the reindeers, and how did one look after reindeers? Evelyn was impressed with Santa's knowledge and sincerity with boy.

Patrick was also impressed. Then to top it all off, Patrick asked Santa for a job. "So Santa, iffin ya ever need any help, or your Reindeer wrangler retires or gets tired of the work, I'd be more than happy ta come to the north pole ta help."

"Well I'll keep that in mind, Patrick," said Hoss aka Santa. "I surely will. Now I reckon your teachers waiting ta get you all home afore it gets too cold," he said dipping the little boy of his knee as he handed him a candy.

"Oh no Santa, Miss Evelyn's wants to see you," announced Patrick. He then leant over and whispered in his ear. "She partial to soft toffee, Santa, so iffin ya can maybe yer could drop some in her stocking afore ya leave, I reckon she'd be mighty surprised." Hoss nearly chocked down his own surprise.

Patrick then straightened up and pulled Evelyn forward. "Here Miss Evelyn I'm done, but iffin ya want ta get a candy ya need to sit on Santa's knee, explained the little boy as he pushed a very surprised Evelyn onto Hoss lap.

Hoss was mortified, and luckily was wearing a fairly heavy beard that hid his flushed red face. Miss Evelyn on the other hand could not hide hers so easily.

"Oh I'm so sorry, Mr. Cart…

"Ah Santa," interrupted Clem as he handed the woman the last of his candy. Then giggling, he set off to pack up.

"Ha Santa. I'm so sorry, Santa the children are so excited, they don't know…"

"It's all right there, Miss Evelyn you pay no mind. We best keep up appearances some though," suggested Hoss, actually liking the feel of the young woman sitting on his knee. She was a pretty little thing, plainly dressed some, but neat and tidy. And, while he loved to put some candy in her stocking, he contained the inappropriate thought, the boy's innocent comment had provoked, not wanting to disrespect the hard working teacher, or receive a slap in the face, even if he did think it was funny.

"I just wanted to thank you and your family, so much for the special Christmas you've provided for the children. You and the towns people have been very generous. If there's anything I can do for you and your family, please do not hesitate to ask."

"Well its been a real pleasure Miss Evelyn, though it was Alexandra's idea. And I'm just about plum tuckered out. Come tomorrow after a big Christmas Lunch I reckon I'll sleep for a week."

Evelyn Laughed. Well Santa and all his helpers deserve a big holiday. Perhaps once you've recovered you can join the children and I at the orphanage for a new Year's Eve Dinner."

Why I might jist take, you up on that. I'm partial to a good meal and good company.

"Well fantastic, Hoss. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," said Hoss. "Hey wait, said Hoss, is there anything special you'd like Santa to bring you for Christmas," asked Hoss with a jolly Santa laugh.

"No, nothing special, I've had my Christmas gifts all year, announced the young women. Healthy children, fine families, and new friends."

Hoss waved goodbye to Evelyn, excited by the young woman's invitation. As soon as she was out of sight, he jumped up and ran across the street to Sam Potters store, hoping the man had some soft toffies he could have wrapped. He passed Alexandra and Josh as they sat on the boardwalk.

"See Josh," shouted Alexandra, pointing at Santa's backside as Hoss ran past them and into the mercantile. "Did ya see that big Patch on Santa's britches? Hop Sing done fixed them up for Uncle Hoss so he could still be Santa's helper, but them there britches really belong to the real Santa. Cause he burnt his britches coming down the chimney last Christmas. Santa's real Josh. Though ya don't have to worry none this year. Uncle Hoss and dad, made real sure the stockings are hung high and we're gonna make sure the fire's all out afore we got a bed tonight."

"Okay Alex; lets jist say we agree to disagree on the Santa thing."

"We what?"

"We got different ideas, different beliefs, we should still be friends just the same. Our different beliefs aren't hurting anyone, so it's alright to be friends and still not agree on everything. I'm sorry I nearly spoiled the little kids Christmas. I'll be more careful next time."

"Ya hurtin' ya self too by not believing in miracles, Josh. Hopes a good thing."

"Not false hope, Alex."

"No such thing! My dad says there no such thing. That hope is hope, and ya can't call denial false hope… if ya don't have hope then ya got nothing. Iffin something false, then it ain't the real thing, it ain't the true thing, iffin it's a good thing then ya can't a false one; a pretend version of it; iffin you ain't got the real thing then it don't exist; ya jist don't have it; not yet anyway."

"That's confusing," said Josh.

"Maybe, I 'ain't good at explain things like my daddy can. And, I get confused some too. I remember thinking when he was talking about denial and false hope, that all I could think about was false dentures. You know; false teeth. My Great grandpa, William had false dentures. His real teeth got knocked out when a hippopotamus kicked him. He was the Ring Master for the biggest carnival you ever did see. Anyway he got a special set of front teeth made for when he would do the announcing in the big ring. Got them sent all the way from Paris France. Anyway my daddy explained that it wasn't dentures he was talking about it was denial, and that means not seeing the truth for the truth and denying what ya should or shouldn't do by convincing yourself that you is more important."

"I don't think, I'm more important, Alex. My ma's real important, and Harrison's is important- heck everyone's important, more important than me."

"That ain't rue. You're important, Josh. and I don't reckon you're in denial, cause denial would mean ya don't care at all, ya jist don't have another hope yet. It would be like grandpa, believing that the ole hippopotamus didn't kick his teeth out at all, or that he could talk proper loud enough without them, not caring iffin the audiences could hear him or not. But, he wasn't in denial. He said; Oh, well I'm still a mighty handsome fella, someone else might have ta do my job until I can figure out something. And he did, and then after a while he found an ad in a newspaper about dentures. It ain't a big important story about having hope and trying ya best, jist a silly story about teeth. But ya can't measure hope, no matter how small or big the problem or how impossible the solution."

Josh Laughed. "I get it Alex, don't stop hoping. I'm still not sure how ya great grandpa's dentures fits in exactly, but you sure do tell a funny story. "

"Yeah it was funny, and even when my great grandpa's false teeth ended up bein wooden ones, he still didn't give up hope. Finally, he got these ones made of shells, they's looked real good too. He whistled for a while, but then that was better than spitting chips."

At that point Josh, got the giggles.

"See Josh, I reckon you've had hope all along. You been hoping no one's was gonna get disappointed or be sad about stuff. That's a good hope, that's real carin' for people, but ya gotta let ya hope change or grow. So, instead ya need ta hope that something good will happen, and that people will be grateful for it, and that bein' sad sometimes can make us brave and help others not to be sad when there are times to be happy no matter how little they's might appear or silly they are… like wooden teeth," she laughed.

That got Josh, laughing again, and he wasn't the only one. Adam had stopped by the corner when he had heard the serious conversation between the two; listening unseen. While some of Alexandra's advice was a convoluted paraphrased version of their talks about hope, he was pretty proud of his daughter's compassion and insights about the world. Perhaps he was doing a good parenting job after all.

He rounded the corner. "Hey there you two. Friends again I hope."

"Yeah, we're good friends Dad, we jist agreed to disagree about Christmas, that all."

"Hey Mr. Cartwright. Thanks for all your help, yesterday."

"You're welcome, Josh. I think your parents are getting ready to go. See you tomorrow after church."

"Yes sir, thanks again. See you tomorrow, Alexandra," called Josh as he hurried off in search for his parents.

Alexandra waved her good friend off and then looked sheepishly up at her father. "You still mad at me dad, for pulling off Willy's wings?"

Adam sighed, and pulled Alexandra off the steps and sat down placing her on his lap. "Nope, though I do think it was unfair you de-angel-ling him like that."

"He de- angelled me too, dad. Hey is that even a word dad?"

"Probably not. Thing is Alexandra, I know Willy can be a bit cantankerous, but I also know he was trying hard with that singing today. It was hard to convince him to do it the first place. He thinks its sissy."

"Ohhh, gee I didn't know that. Willy sure ain't no sissy. He got mad at me when I asked him iffin he had hair under his arms, cause his voice croaked and everybody knows that when boys voices croak they's starting to change. Grandma Willameena called it puppetry."

"You mean puberty."

"Oh I do. Well, Willy got mad. Which is silly cause I would have thought he would like him becoming a man. Did you like it when it happened to you, dad? I wouldn't like getting all that hair, but then some don't get as much as others. And Willy well he's a red head so he might not get as much as some dark haired people get. How come the Paiute don't get a lot of hair dad?"

"Alexandra you're asking too many questions about hair. I don't think Willy is starting puberty; most boys and girls don't start it until they are a bit older, but some start as young as 11.

"I'm nearly eleven, dad."

"Six months off, Alexandra. Anyway, just go easy on Willy for a while, he was very self-conscience about singing and when you innocently asked him that question, you embarrassed him. You don't ask people questions like that"

"Oh, gee dad, I'm sorry. I reckon he could have thought he wasn't gonna change iffin he still had a high voice, even iffin if it is a beautiful voice."

"Yes he might have. When you see him next you might apologize to him. Tell him he has a good voice, perhaps don't use beautiful. But good."

"Just like you, dad. He wouldn't think you were a sissy. He thinks you're a real brave big man."

"Good idea."

"So I'm not in trouble then? Have I earned 't my wings back, cause its Christmas. Ya know."

"Yes, you've earnt your wings back, long before our talk here. I heard what you said to Josh. You a very special little girl, Alexandra, and besides loving you to pieces, I'm very proud of you. Your idea to hang the kid's stockings and helping Josh has made a lot of peoples Christmas special. Tiring but special."

"How come people are so tired dad?"

"Ahh, well… we've been getting ready for Christmas and Winter and helping each other out."

"That's a good tired then, dad."

"Yep sweetheart it is," said Adam before placing a kiss on her nose. "So what are you hoping for Christmas and the New Year?"

"Well dad, I'm hoping that everybody has a real good time tomorrow and are happy with all their presents. I'm hoping Santa doesn't ruin another good suit. I'm hoping I get a red pair of cowboy boots and a huntin' rifle…"

"No guns."

"A sling shot?"

"Nope!"

Alexandra sighed. "I'm hoping momma gets better. If that don't happen, I'm hoping that she don't get worsa and I get to see her soon. I hoping that I don't get into trouble with you and that I never get spanked again. Iffin I do get inta trouble, I know ya will forgive me, but I'm hoping that ya don't tell momma, so she'll worry and not get better. I'm hoping Mrs. Wilburn Sticky Nose Big Bum keeps her nose outta my business."

"Don't call people names, Alexandra."

"I'm hoping that I can control my temper and not call anyone names, even iffin they deserve them said names."

"Better," encouraged Adam. "Anymore?"

"Lots'. New comes to me every day, dad. Right now I'm also hoping that grandpa don't lose any more hair. I'm hoping that Uncle Hoss doesn't eat all that candy, I done jist saw him buy and ruin is teeth, and then end up with wooden one's; he ain't as handsome as my great grand pa. I hope one day he finds true love… with a girl… who reckons a smile as big and kind as his is the handsomest thing a man can have. I hope Uncle Little Joe acquires the good sense he was born with; I heard grandpa ask God that once, I reckon he needs some back up on that one so I done hope for it too. I hope Hop Sing finds all his cousins one day. Most of all I hope you are the happiest dad, in the whole world… all of the time."

"Right Now, I am the happiest dad in the whole world." Adam hugged and kissed her blonde bobbing head. He then picked Alex up and threw her over his shoulder. "Come on trouble… let's get home Santa's coming."

"Yayyyy! Down the chimney of The Biggest Fireplace In All Of Nevada!" Sung Alexandra.

~oOo~

TBC Chapter 3

Shout out to all of you that left great reviews. Happy New Year.