When it was time to go and meet their father and cousin in Virginia City, Adam, Hoss and Joe all wanted to go, and kept arguing about just who was going to go. Finally, Hop Sing couldn't stand it anymore, so he stormed into the living room where the brothers were arguing and scolded them. "You stop arguing! I tell you father when he come home. Little Joe no go last time, so he go this time! Little Joe no baby. You stop calling him that Adam. You father no like it when you call Little Joe a baby! Adam, Hoss, you got work to do, go do it. Little Joe, you get buggy and go get you father and Missy Cat."
Adam started to protest that he was the eldest and should be the one to get their father and Cat when Hoss said, "Hop Sing is right Adam. Joe couldn't go with us when we took Cat back to Dodge from Arizona, so he should be the one to go now. We'd better get our work done before Joe gets back with Pa and Cat. Pa's going to be angry enough when Hop Sing tells him we were arguing and that you called Joe a baby. He'll skin us alive if the barn isn't cleaned out and all that wood cut and stacked." Adam knew that Hoss was right so he didn't argue with his brother. All three brothers grabbed their hats and coats and headed out the door. Joe got the buggy hitched up and started for town while Adam started cleaning the barn and Hoss started cutting and stacking wood.
Joe timed his arrival in town so that he would be there about fifteen minutes before the stage arrived. That way the horses wouldn't be standing out in the cold winter air for too long. When the stage still hadn't arrived thirty minutes after he got to town, he decided to take the horses over to the livery stable. Since they wouldn't be at the stable for very long, Dave wouldn't charge him anything to keep them and would also help him hitch them up when the stage finally did arrive.
When the stage finally showed up, two hours late, Joe was glad he had taken the horses to the stable. Dave told him to go and meet the stage while he hitched the team up. When the stage stopped, the driver opened the door so the passengers could get out. Ben had a hard time keeping Cat from climbing through one of the windows while they waited their turn to exit. He got off the stage and helped Cat to get off. As soon as he set her on the ground, she saw Joe and ran to him. "Little Joe!" she squealed with delight. "I hoped you would come and get me."
Joe picked his cousin up, hugged her and said, "Hi Squirt. Of course I came to get you. I missed you lots and just had to be the one to come and get you. I can't believe how big you've gotten. Now, I've got to see if Pa needs help getting your things from the stage, so I'm going to have to put you down for a little while when we walk over there." Joe kept Cat in his arms until they walked back over to the stage where he set her on the ground and told her to stay right by him. "Hi Pa. Do you need help with all of Cat's things?"
"Hello Joe. Thank you but I only packed one bag for her. She's only going to be here for two weeks and didn't need to bring a lot with her. Where is the buggy?"
"It's over at the livery stable. I didn't want the horses standing around in the cold air for too long, so when the stage was late, I took the buggy over to the stable. Dave said it was ok to keep the horses there until the stage got in."
"That's very good thinking son. I'm proud of you. Although, I must admit that I am surprised to see you. I didn't think that Adam would let you come. How did you get him to let you?"
"You'll have to ask Hop Sing about it. Adam will kill me if I tell you, but I am getting real tired of him calling me a baby."
"Alright son. I won't say anything to Adam until after I talk to Hop Sing. However, I do plan on having a long talk with him about calling you a baby. You're going to be sixteen on your next birthday and it's time he started acting like it. I'm also going to have a long talk with him about riding you hard every time he gets caught being mean to you or calling you a baby. He may be twelve years older than you but if he's going to act like a spoiled child, I'll treat him like one. Let's go and put the bags into the buggy. We've had a long ride and it's still a long time until supper, so I think we'll get a little something to eat while we're in town. I know from experience that hungry five year olds are grumpy five year olds."
The three of them started to walk over to the livery stable when Roy Coffee spotted them and walked over. "Welcome home Ben." Then he picked Cat up, gave her a hug and said, "Well, if it isn't my favorite Cartwright. I've missed you a lot and I'm glad that you've come to spend Christmas here with your Uncle Ben and cousins."
Cat hugged him back. "Hi Sheriff Roy. I missed you too. Uncle Ben, I have to use the outhouse."
"I'll take her Ben," said Roy. "I've already got her in my arms, so I may as well keep her for a few more minutes."
"Thank you Roy," said Ben.
After Roy walked off with Cat, Joe said, "I wish that Cat was going to be here longer than two weeks."
"So do I son. I didn't want to say anything in front of Cat, but it won't be too many more years before she comes to live with us permanently. Matt and I had a talk while I was in Dodge and he pointed out that it won't be much longer before she's too old to share that little room with him. He plans to send her here to live with us and let me adopt her."
"What about Aunt Kate?" asked Joe. "Can you adopt Cat while her mother is alive?"
"I talked to the judge while I was in Dodge and he said that since it's been more than three years since anyone has heard from Kate, there won't be any problem with me adopting Cat. All I need to do is have Jarrod draw up the papers asking the court to say that Kate has abandoned her daughter and give me permission to adopt her. He said that no judge would deny the request and if they did, to come back to him and he would sign the papers. Don't say anything to Cat about what I just told you. I don't want her getting all excited, thinking she's going to be staying here forever and then be upset when I take her back to Dodge in two weeks."
"Don't worry Pa. I won't say anything to her."
"Thank you son. I knew I could count on you. Here comes Roy with Cat. Now we can get a little bit to eat and then head for the Ponderosa."
Roy walked up to Ben and Joe, still holding Cat in his arms. "I could get used to this, you know. If you're not careful, I'm liable to steal this little one right out from under your nose."
Ben just laughed. "I'd be willing to bet that with her antics, you would be bringing her back in less than a week. We're on our way to get a little bit to eat before heading home. It's still several hours until supper and I know that Cat is getting hungry. A light meal won't spoil her appetite. Would you like to join us?"
"Don't mind if I do. Thank you. With this little one in town, I may just invite myself out to the Ponderosa for supper a lot in the next two weeks."
Ben laughed at his friend. "You know that you're welcome any time. I think that Hop Sing is planning a special supper in honor of Cat's homecoming. Why don't you join us tonight too?"
"As long as I can sit next to my favorite Cartwright, consider it a date."
Ben and Joe laughed at Roy. "That's fine Roy. I'll make sure you sit next to Cat. Why don't you come out around five thirty? I think Hop Sing is planning supper for six o'clock and you know how much he hates it when anyone is late."
Before Roy could reply, Cat piped up, "I'm hungry Uncle Ben. When can we eat?"
"We'll go and get something right now Kitten. Remember, Hop Sing is making a very special supper for you, so we can't eat a lot right now."
"Ok, I'll try not to eat a lot, but I'm real hungry."
"I know little one but Hop Sing will be very sad if you don't eat the special meal he's fixing just for you. We'll get you enough food so that you're not real hungry any more but will still be able to eat supper."
The four of them walked over to the hotel restaurant with Roy insisting on carrying Cat. They had a light meal and then Roy walked back to his office while Ben, Joe and Cat went to the livery stable to get the buggy and head for the Ponderosa.
Meanwhile, Adam was fuming that Joe wasn't back yet with their father and cousin. "I told you he couldn't be trusted," he said to Hoss. "He's still a baby and can't be depended on to do anything right. He probably got lost on his way to town."
"Adam, you're just mad because Joe got to go and pick up Pa and Cat instead of you. Joe's going to be sixteen on his next birthday and that's hardly a baby. You'd better not let Pa hear you calling Joe a baby. You may be twelve years older than Joe, but that won't stop Pa from using a razor strop on you if he catches you calling Joe a baby. You know as well as I do that Joe didn't get lost. The stage was probably late and they probably stayed in town to get a quick bite to eat."
"Now why would they do that when Pa knows that Hop Sing is planning a big supper?"
"Because Cat is only five years old. It was a long trip and she's probably hungry. It's only two o'clock and supper is planned for six. You know as well as I do that's way too long for a little tyke like Cat to go without food. It hasn't been that long since we took her from Arizona to Dodge. In case you've forgotten, we were stopping every four hours so Cat could eat. You're just sore because you didn't get your way and you can't push me around the way you do Joe. You'd better get that burr out from under your saddle before I do it for you. And you'd better figure out how to make Pa believe you didn't mean it when you called Joe a baby 'cause you know that Hop Sing is going to tell him about the argument and you calling Joe a baby if Joe hasn't already."
"If Joe said anything to Pa, I'll make him regret the day he was born. I'll ride him so hard he'll wish he was living in Dodge with Uncle Matt and Cat. If he even sneezes funny, I'll have him bottom side up across my knees."
Before Hoss could answer his brother, Hop Sing walked in. "Adam, when you father get home, I going to tell him what you plan to do to Little Joe. You act like spoiled child because Joe get to take buggy to get Missy Cat. Little Joe no baby. He be a man soon. You already man but act like little boy. It time you start acting like man instead of little boy. You oldest boy and should take care of little brothers, not be mean to them and treat like babies. Only reason you no treat Hoss like baby is because he bigger than you. Mr. Ben no going to be happy with you when Hop Sing tell him what you say you going to do! Wood box in kitchen almost empty. Hop Sing need more wood to cook supper for Missy Cat. You go and get wood for kitchen!" Adam knew better than to argue with Hop Sing, so he filled the kitchen wood box.
Ben, Joe and Cat arrived at the ranch about an hour and a half after leaving town. Cat eagerly greeted and hugged her cousins but the biggest hug was reserved for Hop Sing who looked at the girl and began fussing. "Missy Cat too skinny. Why Mr. Matt no feed her enough? She need to stay here where Hop Sing fatten her up. I make big meals for her when she here. Make her fatter before she go back to Mr. Matt." Then he went back to the kitchen to finish making his welcome home supper for Cat.
The family laughed at their cook's rant. Before following Hop Sing into the kitchen, Ben told Adam to take care of the team and buggy and Joe to take Cat upstairs and show her the room she was going to be sleeping in. Adam was still in a bad mood and said, "Why can't Little Joe do it? He didn't have any problems hitching the team up, so he shouldn't have any problems unhitching them and putting them up."
"I didn't say that he would have a problem," replied Ben. "I told you to do it and I expect to be obeyed. You are setting a very bad example for your cousin. Cat is at a very impressionable age and if she sees you acting like a spoiled child, how do you think she is going to act when she is told to do something? You and I are going to have a long talk later. I don't like your attitude toward Joe lately and I aim to put a stop to it now. And, yes, I know that you have been calling him a baby and that is going to stop right here and now. Before you go taking it out on him, he didn't tell me. Hop Sing did just before I left to go to Dodge. I just didn't have time to do anything about it then but I have the time now and I will do something about it. Now go and take care of the team and buggy. They've been standing out in the cold far too long."
Adam went to take care of the team and buggy while Ben started to go into the kitchen to talk to Hop Sing. Just then, Hop Sing came out of the kitchen. "Little Joe, I need more wood in kitchen so I can finish making big supper. You please bling me more wood?"
"Sure Hop Sing. Give me a minute to get Cat settled with a picture book and then I'll fill the wood box for you."
"I want to go with you," said Cat.
"I'm not going anywhere Cat," replied Joe. I'm just going to bring in some wood for Hop Sing."
"I want to come with you. I can help. I'm not a baby any more."
"Ok. You can come with me. Let's get your hat and coat on. It's cold outside and I don't want you to get cold." Joe got Cat bundled up in her hat and coat and then they went outside to bring wood into the kitchen.
Ben was in the kitchen when Joe and Cat came in. Both he and Hop Sing laughed at the sight of Cat struggling to carry one piece of wood. "Thank you Missy Cat. Thank you Little Joe. Now I can finish cooking supper. I have big surprise for Missy Cat for dessert."
"I may as well do the rest of my chores now. That way I won't have to worry about them later," said Joe. "Come on Cat. You can help me if you want to."
After Joe and Cat walked out, Hop Sing told Ben everything that had happened since he left to get Cat. "Thank you Hop Sing. I am going to have a very long talk with Adam tonight. I don't know what is wrong with him lately, however, if he doesn't stop acting like a spoiled child, I am going to treat him like one." Meanwhile, Cat helped Joe finish his chores. Ben was still in the kitchen and he and Hop Sing both had another good laugh at the sight of five year old Cat helping Joe carry the pail of milk. "I wish I had a way to get a picture of that," Ben told Hop Sing. "That is a memory I would like to keep forever."
"Me too Mr. Cartright, me too," said Hop Sing.
Five thirty rolled around and Roy Coffee knocked on the Cartwright's front door. Hoss answered it and told Roy to come in, hang his coat with the others and join the family in the living room. Soon Hop Sing told everyone that supper was ready. He had prepared a meal fit for a king. There was steak, potatoes and gravy, vegetables, and fresh baked bread. He even prepared a small steak for Cat so she wouldn't have to eat a piece cut from someone else's. Roy got to sit next to Cat. After everyone finished eating, Hop Sing brought out his surprise dessert for Cat. He had made a large chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and gave her the first piece. She was so excited that she got up from her chair and gave him a big hug. She insisted that he join them for dessert and Ben told Hoss to get a chair for him.
After everyone was finished eating, Roy said, "That was delicious Hop Sing. You outdid yourself tonight. It's a good thing I don't eat like that every night or my poor horse wouldn't be able to carry me. Ben, thank you for the invitation. This was the best meal I've had in a long time. Unfortunately, it's time for me to head back to town. If I don't leave now, I'll be too tempted to just move in so I can spend all of my time playing with Cat and eating Hop Sing's cooking." Everyone walked to the door with him where he bent over, picked Cat up and gave her a big hug. "I'll see you soon Sweetheart. You be good and have fun while you're here." Cat hugged him back, told him goodnight and said that she would be good.
Since it was already eight thirty, Ben told Cat that it was time for her to get ready for bed. "Say goodnight to the boys. I'll be up to tuck you in and read you a story in a few minutes." Cat hugged her cousins goodnight and walked up the stairs to the bedroom she would be using. A few minutes later, he walked up the stairs, read a story to Cat, kissed and hugged her goodnight, tucked her in and blew out the lamp. Once he was back downstairs, he told Adam and Hoss what he had already told Joe about Cat coming to live there permanently in a few years. "Besides the fact that I miss her a lot, that's the main reason she's going to be spending school holidays here. It will make the transition a lot easier when she does move in." Adam asked the same question Joe did about Cat's mother and Ben told him what the judge had said.
Hoss and Joe knew that their father wanted to talk to Adam alone, so after they discussed Cat's future living arrangements for a little while, they excused themselves and went up to bed. Once Hoss and Joe were gone, Ben told Adam, "It's time you and I had a long talk about your attitude toward Joe lately. I never thought I'd see the day when one of my sons was afraid to come to me with his problems out of fear for what one of his brothers would do to him. Joe isn't a baby anymore and hasn't been for a long time. He's going to be sixteen on his next birthday and doesn't deserve to have you calling him a baby and threatening him at every turn. If you continue to act like a spoiled brat, I will start treating you like one. You may have turned twenty seven just before Thanksgiving, but if you don't stop bullying Joe and calling him a baby, I will use a razor strop on you. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Because the next time we need to have this discussion, it will be in the barn. Now, I am going to bed. It's been a long several days and I'm exhausted. Think about what I said. Start acting like you're twenty seven because I don't want to have to treat you like you're six. Goodnight son. And remember, even though I'm angry at you, you are still my son and I love you very much." With that, Ben walked upstairs, leaving Adam alone with his thoughts.
Cat got up early the next morning and helped Joe with his chores. She held the basket for him while he gathered eggs and she helped him fill the wood boxes and carry the milk pail into the kitchen. Cat had never decorated a Christmas tree before, so Ben and the boys had decided not to do it until she was there. Ben asked Adam to ride into town and invite Roy out to help decorate the tree. Roy gladly accepted the invitation and rode out to the ranch with Adam. Cat insisted that Hop Sing help decorate the tree too, which he gladly did. When the tree was all decorated, Hoss picked up the angel that went on top, handed it to Cat, picked her up and stood her on his shoulders. "Put it all the way up top Cat," he told her. "The angel always goes on the very top of the tree." Then Adam took out his guitar and everyone sang carols.
Christmas vacation on the Ponderosa was a lot of fun for Cat. She helped Joe with his chores every day and went for long horseback and sleigh rides with her uncle and cousins. When it snowed, Joe showed her how to make snowballs and everyone, Ben included, had a snowball fight. When they went back into the house, they found that Hop Sing had made a big pot of hot cocoa and some cookies for everyone. Every night after supper, they all gathered around the Christmas tree where Hop Sing laid out hot cocoa and cookies and Adam played his guitar and everyone sang carols.
A few days before Christmas, Ben had some business to take care of in town, so he took Cat with him. While they were there, they ran into Mrs. Michaels, the lady who taught the children's Sunday school class. Ben introduced Cat to Mrs. Michaels, who thought she was precious. "Would you like to be in our Sunday School Christmas play in church?" she asked Cat. "You can be an angel with the other young children. I know that we have an extra costume that will fit you perfectly."
Cat looked at Ben who nodded. "Yes please," said Cat. "But I don't know how."
"That's easy," said Mrs. Michaels. "You'll stand with the other young children and when it's time, all of you will say, 'Glory to God in the highest and peace among men with whom He is well pleased.' I'm sure that your uncle and cousins will help you remember what to say. We're going to be rehearsing in the church tomorrow afternoon at three. Ben, why don't you bring her then so she can meet the other children and we can get a costume for her?" Ben agreed and Mrs. Michaels said, "Good then. It's all settled. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon at three."
Cat was so excited she could hardly contain herself. When she saw Roy, she ran up to him and said, "I'm going to be an angel Sheriff Roy. Mrs. Michaels just asked me." Roy picked her up, hugged her and said he was very glad for her and he would be sure to be in church on Christmas Eve to see her. When she and Ben got back to the Ponderosa, she ran up to her cousins and Hop Sing and told them what she had told Roy. They all hugged her and told her they were very happy for her. Hop Sing even said that he would go to church to see her in her angel costume. That night after supper, before singing carols around the Christmas tree, Ben, Adam, Hoss and Joe all helped Cat remember the line she was supposed to say with the other children. Before long, she could say it without any help.
After they finished singing Christmas carols, Adam said, "It's a beautiful night and the moon is shining brightly. Why don't we take Cat on a moonlight sleigh ride around the Ponderosa? She's never seen it by moonlight before." Everyone thought that was a great idea. Hoss volunteered to hitch up the sleigh. Cat was so excited and wiggled so much; it took both Adam and Joe to get her hat, coat and mittens on her. A few minutes later, Hoss came in the house and said that the sleigh was ready and everyone went outside. Ben brought some extra blankets to make sure that no one, especially Cat, got cold. Adam surprised everyone and told Joe to drive. He went back into the house and emerged a few minutes later with his guitar. "There's no reason we can't sing Christmas carols while we're out for a sleigh ride. It's Cat's first real Christmas since she was a baby and she's only going to be here for a few weeks, so we may as well let her have as much fun as possible."
Just before they started out, Adam whispered something to Joe who nodded in agreement. About thirty minutes into their ride, Joe stopped the sleigh in the middle of a large meadow. Adam leaned forward and told Cat to look up. She did as she was told and her mouth opened in amazement. The sky was full of more stars than she had ever seen in her life. Adam told her that some groups of stars appeared to draw pictures. They were called constellations and had names. He pointed out the dippers to her and told her what they were called. She looked at the stars and said that they did kind of look like water dippers. Cat was having a lot of fun and didn't want the ride to end. "I wish we could do this all night," she told her uncle and cousins.
"I know Sweetheart," said Ben. "We'll stay out a little while longer and then we need to get you home and into bed. If the weather stays nice, we'll take the sleigh to church on Christmas Eve and go for another long ride on the way home." They stayed out for another hour and then Ben told Joe it was time to head for home. When they got home, they found that Hop Sing was waiting for them with hot cocoa and Cat asked if he could go on the next sleigh ride with them. "Sure Kitten," replied Ben. "Hop Sing is more than welcome to come with us if he wants to. Now, it's way past your bed time so drink your hot cocoa and get ready for bed."
"Ok Uncle Ben," came the reply. Ten minutes later, Hoss found Cat asleep on the floor in front of the fireplace. He got the rest of the family and Hop Sing and they all laughed at the sleeping child who had wanted to stay on the sleigh ride all night. Ben picked her up, carried her upstairs and put her to bed.
The next afternoon, he took her to town so she could rehearse the Christmas play with the other children. Mrs. Michaels found a costume for her and introduced Cat to the other children, including two sisters, the younger of which would eventually become her best friend. Ben greeted the girls' parents. "Hello Charles, hello Caroline. It's a pleasure to see you again. Your girls sure are getting big. How old are they now?"
"Hello Ben," replied Charles. "Mary is seven now and Laura is five. Is that your niece, the one who lives in Dodge? She sure is cute. How old is she?"
"Yes, that's my niece, Catherine. We call her Cat. Hoss nicknamed her Wild Cat when she was two. She's five now, just like your Laura. Yes, right now, she lives in Dodge but sometime between now and her tenth birthday, she'll be coming to live with me permanently and I'll adopt her. With your permission, I'd like to bring her to your house after Christmas and let her spend a few hours playing with your girls. She needs to spend time with girls her own age."
"That's fine Mr. Cartwright," said Caroline. "We would love to have Catherine spend some time with our girls."
"Thank you. Will the day after Christmas be good for the two of you? I don't want to inconvenience you."
"That will be just fine," said Caroline. "Why don't you bring her over around ten and she can eat dinner with the girls."
The children finished rehearsing the play and Cat walked up to her uncle. "Cat, this is Mr. and Mrs. Ingalls. They are the parents of the two girls you were talking to. I'm going to take you to their house on the day after Christmas so you can spend a little bit of time playing with children your own age."
"That will be fun," said Cat. I like Mary and Laura. They're nice." Just then, Mary and Laura walked up to their parents. "Guess what?" said Cat. "Your Ma and Pa said I can come over and play with you the day after Christmas."
"That will be fun," said Mary.
"I wish it was the day after Christmas," said Laura.
The adults laughed at the three girls and Ben was glad that Cat wanted to spend time with girls her own age. The adults and girls said goodbye to each other and left the church. "How would you like to invite Sheriff Roy to supper on Christmas night?" Ben asked Cat. Cat practically ran all the way to Roy's office. When they got there, Roy stopped doing his work, picked Cat up and gave her a big hug.
"Hello Sheriff Roy. Come to supper on Christmas."
Roy and Ben both laughed at Cat's invitation. "I would love to come to supper on Christmas Day," said Roy as he hugged Cat again and kissed her cheek. "What time should I be there?"
"Why don't you come around four?" said Ben. "I'm not sure what time Hop Sing is planning supper for, but I'm sure that Cat is going to want to show you everything Santa brings her."
"That's great. Four it is. I'll be there with bells on."
"Fine," said Ben. "I'll see you in church tomorrow night and at the house on Christmas Day. Now, I've got to get that wild thing in your arms home. It's almost supper time and Hop Sing hates it when anyone is late for a meal."
"Uncle Ben, when is Santa Claus coming?" Cat asked at supper.
"He's coming tomorrow night," Ben answered.
"Will he know I'm here instead of with Uncle Matt?" she worried.
"Don't worry Kitten," he reassured her. "Santa Claus knows where all children are all the time. He will bring your presents here, but when we get home after church tomorrow night, you are going to have to go straight to bed or he won't come."
"Ok Uncle Ben, I will, but what about the sleigh ride?"
"We'll be home from our sleigh ride in enough time for you to be in bed asleep before Santa comes. Now, finish your supper. Hop Sing will be upset if you don't eat and you won't get any hot cocoa and cookies."
Cat finished her supper and after Christmas carols, hot cocoa and cookies it was time for a story and bed. Cat found herself wishing that Christmas vacation would never end so she wouldn't have to go back to Dodge.
The next day was Christmas Eve and Cat was so excited she could hardly eat breakfast. Nobody could figure out if she was more excited about the play at church or Santa coming. After breakfast, everyone went for a ride. Before anyone else could, Adam picked Cat up and put her on his horse. They rode out to a place high above Lake Tahoe so Cat could see the whole lake. Her eyes opened wide at the sight of the big lake and the land around it. "All of the land from the middle of the sides and back this way belongs to the Ponderosa," he told her.
"Can I go fishing there?" Cat asked.
"I'll take you in the Spring when you come for Easter," Adam told her.
"When I grow up, I'm going to live here forever," said Cat.
"Of course you are," said Adam. "We wouldn't have it any other way."
"Right now, it's time to head home for dinner," said Ben. "Then I want you to rest for a little while before supper. I know that you don't want to be sleepy in church tonight. You don't have to nap," he said before Cat could protest. "I just want you to rest. Maybe Adam will read a story to you. Then after supper it will be time to go to church."
The church was packed for the Christmas Eve service and all of the children were excited about their play. Cat was glad to see her new friends again and they were glad to see her too. The play went off with no mistakes and even the little angels said their line on time. After church, all of the children got hugs. Roy picked Cat up and told Ben that he was going to steal her. "You couldn't afford to feed her Roy," teased Adam. "She eats almost as much as Hoss does." Everybody, including Hop Sing, had a good laugh at Adam's comment. Roy carried Cat out to the sleigh, put her in and wrapped a blanket around her.
Since he rarely went out with the family, Hop Sing was given a seat in the front of the sleigh with Ben and Cat. They enjoyed a leisurely ride around the Ponderosa and Ben stopped at Lake Tahoe so Cat and Hop Sing could see the moon and stars reflected in its waters. When they arrived back at the house Hop Sing said, "Missy Cat go take off pretty dress and get ready for bed. Hop Sing make hot cocoa for everyone." A little while later, Cat came downstairs dressed in her night clothes and Hop Sing brought hot cocoa and cookies into the living room.
"Uncle Ben, can we take Laura and Mary for a sleigh ride?" asked Cat.
"I'll have to ask their parents, but I think they would enjoy a sleigh ride."
"Can we go ask them now?"
"No Sweetheart, not now," laughed Ben. "It's time you were in bed. Remember, Santa Claus comes tonight and he won't stop here if you're not in bed asleep." Now finish your hot cocoa, say goodnight to the boys and go upstairs. I'll be up to tuck you in shortly." Cat wanted Santa to come, so she finished her hot cocoa, hugged her cousins goodnight and ran up the stairs. She was sound asleep shortly after Ben tucked her in and blew out the lamp.
Once they were certain Cat was asleep, Ben and the boys began getting her presents from Santa out of their hiding places. There were so many gifts that there wasn't enough room for all of them under the Christmas tree. "Would anyone care to make a wager as to what time our little Wild Cat wakes up tomorrow morning?" asked Hoss.
"What are the stakes?" asked Joe.
"The loser does the winner's chores the day after Christmas," answered Hoss.
They all agreed to the little game and Ben wrote down the time everyone, including himself, thought Cat would wake up in the morning. Christmas Day dawned bright and clear and Cat was up before the sun was above the horizon. She ran downstairs to see if Santa had come and her eyes grew wide with excitement when she saw all of the gifts under the Christmas tree. She ran back upstairs and into Ben's room where she jumped onto his bed. "Uncle Ben, come see! Santa Claus came last night! Come see!"
Ben rolled over and looked at the clock next to his bed. "Five o'clock," he mumbled. "It looks like Joe won. I had forgotten how early little kids get up on Christmas morning."
"Come see Uncle Ben! Santa Claus came!"
"Alright Cat. I'm coming. Go and wake your cousins up."
Cat ran to each of her cousins' rooms hopped on their bed and told them the same thing she had told their father. They all got up and walked downstairs where they discovered that Hop Sing had anticipated Cat getting up very early and already had a pot of coffee waiting for them. He also had some hot cocoa ready for Cat. Then Ben started handing out the gifts to Cat and his sons. Cat got dolls, clothes, toys, and a new bow and quiver for her arrows. There was also a new saddle, blanket and bridle for her. Ben asked Adam and Joe to get a large gift out from behind the tree and give it to Cat. It was a doll house and dolls that had been carved by hand and brightly painted. "Your father, Adam, Hoss and Joe made that for you right after you were born," Ben said. "We thought you'd like to have it now that you're not a baby any more. We'll put it upstairs in the room you're using now and that will be your bedroom whenever you come here." Cat hugged her uncle and cousins tightly.
"There is one more gift for you," said Adam. "But we need to have shoes on before you see it because it's outside." Before he could suggest that they wait until after breakfast, Cat ran upstairs to get her moccasins.
One she was out of earshot, Ben said good naturedly, "Well Joe, it seems that I will be doing your chores tomorrow. You hit the nail on the head. She woke me up at five o'clock. I was sure that she'd sleep until six thirty. It's been so long since you boys were that little, I'd forgotten how excited little kids get on Christmas morning." Cat reappeared and was dismayed to find that her uncle and cousins did not have their boots on yet. Ben laughed at the expression on her face. "Alright, alright, we'll get our boots on." As soon as all three of them had their boots on, Cat started to run out the door. "Hold it right there little one," Ben said. "You're not going outside without your coat, hat and mittens on." She reluctantly allowed her cousins to help her into her things and ran out the door.
Hoss caught her before she got far, picked her up and put her on his shoulders. "You can't go running through the snow in your night clothes Cat. You'll get sick if you do. So, you just stay right there on ol' Hoss's shoulders and I'll take you to where we're going." They walked out to the barn and he set her down inside the door. The others arrived at the same time and together they walked inside. There, in a stall between Cochise and Sport, was a grey pony.
"His name is Dusty," said Joe.
"He's yours to ride whenever you're here," said Adam.
"Now, when we go riding, you won't always have to ride with one of us," said Ben.
Cat hugged her uncle and cousins tightly. Then she hugged Dusty and started to lead him out of the stall. "Where are you going?" asked Ben.
"I'm going for a ride on Dusty."
"Not in your night clothes, you aren't," replied her uncle. "We'll all go for a ride later. Right now, we need to get dressed, do chores and eat breakfast." Cat was disappointed but didn't argue. After breakfast, Adam saddled Dusty for Cat and the whole family went for a ride.
Roy arrived for supper at four and Cat showed him all of her presents and took him out to the barn to see Dusty. Roy admired all of her gifts and said that he thought Dusty was a very nice pony. After he brought the food out of the kitchen, Hop Sing was also invited to join the family for supper. Afterward, everyone went into the living room, sat around the Christmas tree and sang carols one more time. Then Ben invited Roy and Hop Sing to join the family on a moonlight Christmas sleigh ride. They all had a good time and when Ben noticed Cat yawning, he turned the sleigh and headed for the house. After some hot cocoa, Roy said he had to go back to town and Ben said it was time Cat was in bed. Roy hugged Cat and said goodnight and Merry Christmas to everyone. After he left, Ben carried Cat upstairs and put her to bed.