Hoss, My Son
Chapter 6
At eighteen months of age, Andy was a precocious talker, who had opinions on absolutely everything. As his father had predicted, with the entire family talking with him, his speech and language had blossomed once he'd arrived at the Ponderosa. Physically, however, he was still on the small side. Joe didn't know if that was still a symptom of the boy's prematurity or if it was just because he was destined, like himself, to be lighter built than the others in the family. And that was important already, because Andy desperately wanted to learn how to ride, but he was still too small for the smallest pony.
They were making their weekly trip into town for supplies in the old buckboard, and Joe decided to let his son sit on his lap and hold the reins with him. The boy could hardly contain his joy, bouncing up and down on his father's lap until he was instructed that it was important to watch the road and the horses in order to control them properly.
Neither one had yet come up with a good idea for Gertie's gift, although they talked about it every night before bed. Andy had actually come up with some reasonable, if plebian, suggestions.
"How 'bout a hat, Baba?"
"Maybe."
"How 'bout a han' tchif?"
"A handkerchief? Maybe. If we can find one that's extra special."
"How 'bout what makes girls smell pretty?"
"Perfume?"
"Yeah! Per-fyoooom!"
"I don't think Auntie Gertie would wear perfume. Auntie Pru and Auntie Sally Ann don't wear perfume."
"Auntie Poo smells like cookies." Joe laughed. Prudence liked to make cinnamon sugar cookies for the children and of course, Andy loved cookies.
"And what does Auntie Sally Ann smell like?" he asked.
"She smell like Uncle Adam!" Joe just shook his head.
Joe and Andy had looked all through Mr. Coombs' general store after they picked up their supplies but found nothing they wanted to buy for Gertie and Andy was losing patience.
"I want to stop in the Mercantile and look there, OK?
"No, Baba. I wanna go home!"
"Andy. We have only one more week until Christmas and we still don't have a present for Auntie Gertie. You can stay here on the buckboard, but you have to promise me you won't touch the reins, no matter what. I'll be as quick as I can. OK?"
"OK," the boy replied reluctantly.
Joe quickly entered the store and took a quick look around. His eye caught sight of it immediately. It was pretty, but not dainty. It was like Gertie herself; solid, honest, not pretentious but there was a simple elegance to it. Moments later, he placed the heavily wrapped package safely between two bags of flour and climbed up to the wagon seat and placed his son on his lap for the trip home.
Later that day, Ben arrived in Virginia City as well, but all his Christmas shopping had been completed already. His destination was Dr. Paul Martin's office.
Hardly waiting for his knock on the door to be acknowledged, the paterfamilias of the Cartwright clan strode into the doctor's inner sanctum under a full head of steam.
"I want to have a word with you, Paul!"
"Why? What's the matter?" the doctor replied, puzzled.
"What were you thinking, man! Taking Gertie to that, that house! A house of ill repute! She's not even sixteen. How could you even contemplate such a thing! I would have you arrested for corrupting the morals of a minor if Gertie didn't beg me to leave things be," Ben said menacingly as he bent over the other man.
"I suppose she explained why I took her there Ben?"
"Yes, she did," he replied, a little calmer than before. "But you knew that Dorothy ran a clean house, and you were unlikely to find a disease. So, we're back to the beginning; why take her?"
"Because no matter what, there's no guarantee that all the girls are going to be healthy. The men go, infect their wives, their children. It's a terrible thing, Ben. But if she's going to be a midwife, she has to know what syphilis looks like. Are you going to tell her parents?"
"No, Paul. I promised her I wouldn't. But you have to promise me something in return for my silence on the matter."
"What is it, Ben?"
"You won't take her to that, or any such establishment again. If you find someone who is infected, and Gertie must see it, have her examine them here, in your office."
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Gertie had given some thought to Christmas presents as well. She made twenty-five cents from Dr. Martin for each woman she now visited on her own. As word got passed around the area that she was training to become a midwife, a few more women had sought out the doctor to deliver their babies. She had assisted at a few deliveries already (which also brought her a few cents as well), and Dr. Martin was ready today to let her perform the next delivery with his supervision for which he'd pay her all of two dollars and fifty cents. All told, between what she had made by hand and what she could buy, she'd be able to give everyone something.
She thought she'd be nervous to handle the delivery of Mrs. Appleby's child, but this was the lady's third baby, and she was calm and gracious. Labor was only about eight hours long and before she knew it she was rotating the baby's shoulders and helping it slip onto a warm towel. The baby cried as if on cue, a lovely little boy and Gertie felt about as emotional as his parents. Doc Martin left her to handle the delivery of the afterbirth, promising the new parents that they would both return the next day.
It was mid-afternoon by the time Gertie left the farmstead. The Appleby's lived on the opposite side of Virginia City, so she took the opportunity to stop at the Mercantile to purchase one last Christmas present. Like Joseph and Andy, she had no idea what gift would be just right. She wanted to convey her fondness but not reveal feelings that obviously were not reciprocated. She looked in every corner of the store but was stymied; either the item was completely impersonal, useless, or too personal. Then, at last she saw it, sitting right on top of the counter, in plain sight. It was a box made of cedar wood with an inlaid cover and lined in red velvet. The label called it a "Man's Valet Box", and it was meant to hold small items like a pocket watch, pen knife and rings. It cost two dollars, leaving her with the fifty cents. One cent of that went for a bag of candy for Andy and another for a bag of candy for herself.
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Ben was standing looking at everyone gathered on Christmas morning around the Cartwright's tree. It was hard to believe that he had two grandchildren this year sitting at the foot of the tree, gazing at it in wonder. And there'd be a third come summer. The Whitman's were there as a matter of course. No celebration or get-together happened now without Margaret and John's presence. They were as much family as their daughters, and that of course included Gertie.
As usual, the presents were handed out and the children made a wonderful mess with all the wrapping paper. Inger got several dolls, her rocking horse and several new sets of clothes. Andy got his very first real, honest-to-goodness big-boy hat and Gertie had made him a miniature set of chaps. Hoss had made a cradle for Adam and Sally Ann and Adam had bought a very fine watch for Gertie. The entire family had chipped in and had a silver bollo made for Ben with their names engraved in the tiniest of letters on it.
Finally, only two gifts were left under the tree. Ben pulled out the larger of the two.
"This one is for Joseph," he said, handing it over to his youngest son.
"Le' me help, Baba!" Andy cried as he made to rip the wrapping paper. In seconds the cedar box was revealed. Joe opened it, to find a slip of paper inside. He smiled and read it to the family. "To Joseph, with much fondness. Gertrude." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you. This is really beautiful. I'll treasure it."
"Well, here's the last one," said Ben. "It's for Gertie."
She took the box and before Andy could rush over to "help" unwrap it, Joe scooped him up.
Once the wrapping paper was removed, there was a cardboard box to open. Inside, nestled in excelsior was an oval white china box with a forget-me-not flower painted on its lid. She opened it to find the inscription from its giver and she started to laugh as she read it; "To Gertrude, with much fondness. Joseph and Andrew."
The entire assembly began to laugh as well but were interrupted by Hop Sing. "Christmas breakfast ready everyone!"
"Wait!" cried Hoss. "There's one last present." Everyone turned to him. "Pru and I are also going to have another baby in the summer."
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Hoss came into the house a few days after Christmas. The sky outside was threatening but with the temperature hovering just around freezing, it could have rained, snowed or sleeted. Inger had been crawling for some time now, scooting around the house almost too fast for her parents to catch her. Lately she had been pulling herself up to standing on the furniture and she was saying simple sentences. When her father took off his coat and hat, she came crawling to him, excited to find out what he'd been doing since lunch.
"Paw-Paw, tell!" she crowed.
"That's her newest word, Eric. I've had to tell her about everything all afternoon long," explained Prudence.
"Okay, sweetie pie. Just let me wash my hands and face," he replied.
Inger crawled determinedly into the parlor where a blanket lay on the carpet a few feet from the fireplace. On it were her newest dolls and a pillow. She looked up at her father and then at the fireplace, where a good fire was warming the room. "Fi-er bad!" and she shook her little finger at it.
Hoss sat down with her on her blanket and pulled her into his arms. "That's right, Inger. You have to stay away from the fire, or it will burn you," Hoss confirmed. "Now, I'll tell you all about what I did while you were helping Mama this afternoon. First, I made sure the cow had enough to eat and drink. Then Peter and I greased the wagon's wheels. Then, 'cause it was starting to look bad out, we brought all the horses in to the stables, and then we brushed them all and made them look pretty and then we gave them their dinners. Now they can go to sleep."
"Goo' Paw-Paw!"
Hoss laughed. "Thank you. I'm glad you approve of how I take care of things around here, little lady. Now can you give your ol' Paw-Paw a kiss? I've been missing it all this time."
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It was New Year's Eve and Gertie had spent the morning taking care of Andy. Just as the occupants of the big house were finishing their lunch, Adam came in carrying a carpet bag.
"Hey, brother!" Joe greeted him as he gathered up his jacket and hat to head out to handle some more chores. Gertie was cleaning up Andy and Ben poured himself another cup of coffee to take over to his desk.
"Joe, got any plans for tonight?" Adam asked.
"Nah. I'll probably just have a glass of brandy with Pa," he replied.
Ben came forward. "You don't have to stay home just on my account, you know. If Adam and Sally Ann are planning something, why don't you go over?"
"Actually, Sally Ann and I are going to the dance in town. We've booked a room at the hotel, so we don't have to ride back until late morning. Come on along with us, Joe."
"I don't know…" Joe hesitantly answered.
"Oh, go on. I'll watch Andy. You go and have a good time," said his father.
"Well, I guess so, then…"
"Excellent!" Adam answered, smiling broadly. "Gertie, why don't you come along too?"
"Oh, but I can't. I don't have a dress for a dance and my Sunday best is at Pru and Hoss's," Gertie said sadly. She certainly would have liked to go, even if Joseph wouldn't pay more than polite attention to her.
"Never fear!" Adam's smile grew even wider. He held up the carpet bag. "Sally Ann sent this. Now that she's expecting, she can't fit into it anymore. She says it will fit you nicely."
"Well," said Ben stepping forward once more, "it seems like you young people have a pleasant night ahead of you."
The four of them arrived at the Palace Hotel just before supper time. Mr. Crowley, the clerk greeted them effusively; the Cartwright's were very good customers of the hotel and it's restaurant.
"Welcome. If you wouldn't mind registering, Adam. We have a lovely room for you and your wife."
"Thank you, Mr. Crowley. We were wondering if you had two extra rooms, one for my brother and the other for Miss Whitman?" Adam asked.
Crowley looked rather sad. "I'm afraid we only have one available room for tonight." He looked pointedly at Joe and Gertie. "If you would like, I could arrange the rooms so that the gentlemen could share one room and the women the other?"
Adam looked down at his youngest brother, a sour expression on his face. "This is not how I envisioned my New Year's to turn out." Sally Ann had to stifle her laugh while Joe looked as unhappy as Adam. "Yeah, I don't think I want to share a room with you again, either" he snapped.
Gertie was the only one who wasn't upset or laughing. "Don't worry about it. My parent's house is only a short walk away. I should have thought of it to start with."
Both Joe and Adam sighed in relief. "We'll stop by to pick you up before the dance starts," promised the older Cartwright.
Sally Ann's pink dancing dress fit her sister exceedingly well and emphasized all her womanly attributes. Adam was sure that his brother wouldn't be able to resist dancing with her all evening and was shocked that Joe paid only good-mannered attention to Gertie. Not that the other young men at the dance didn't take up the slack. Gertie had more than enough dance partners to fill up her card. After a few dances with old friends and Sally Ann, Joe retreated to the table set with the punch bowl and finger sandwiches. He looked thoughtful as he watched the couples swirling around the floor. Gertie was in the arms of a rather tall young man, Mike Lawrence. He was the heir to several silver mines and was considered by the mothers of Virginia City to be the most eligible young bachelor in the territory, a title that Joseph had once held. This Lawrence fellow seemed to be quite interested in Gertie, but he handled himself correctly. Joe paid attention to how closely he held her, how much he leaned over to whisper in her ear, all the smiles they exchanged. He didn't exceed acceptable boundaries, didn't glance down at her cleavage, didn't say anything to make her blush. That was good. He didn't want to have to walk over to them and pull Gertie from his arms.
"You're jealous. I can tell," whispered Adam from behind him.
Joe whipped around. "I am not. Don't say that!"
"You haven't stopped watching her with him."
"Adam, I just want to make sure that nothing inappropriate happens, that's all." But Joe wasn't terribly convincing.
"It's only seven months, two weeks and one day until she turns sixteen," Adam stated. "But who's counting? You could even marry her now if her father agrees."
"Stop it! Stop talking about her." Joe turned away, this time heading for the door, but his brother followed. Once they were on the street, Adam grabbed Joe's arm and spun him around.
"Look, Joe; I only…"
"Don't you understand, Adam? She's trying to build a life, one that is independent, that doesn't seem to include marriage and a family. I understand it, I've even encouraged her to follow her own path. Soon she won't have the time to spend with Andy and I've begun to try and explain it to him. It won't be easy for him. He'll miss her very, very much."
"And so will you," Adam said quietly.