Before Hoss could talk to Ben, Hop Sing said that dinner was ready. While they were eating, Ben said, "Adam, Hoss, Joe, now that your sister is allowed outside to play, I would like the three of you to shovel the snow off the pond so she and Mike can go ice skating. Since many hands make light work, take some of the hands with you."
After dinner, Hoss and Joe started putting their coats on but Adam sat down in his chair with a book. "Come on Adam. Pa said for the three of us and some hands to shovel the snow off the pod," said Joe.
"There is absolutely no need for me to accompany the two of you and some hands to clear the snow off of the pond," replied Adam. "you and they are quite capable of doing it without my help."
Joe could see that Cat was getting upset with Adam because he didn't want to help clear the pond off for her so he asked, "Are you sure that sitting there with a book is such a good idea older brother. Our sister is getting upset and you know what happens when she gets upset."
"She will be fine and so will you. The sooner you, Hoss, and the hands get started, the sooner you'll finish and be back here. I am going to sit here and enjoy my new book." It wouldn't be long before he would regret his words.
"Lassie, Chief, Adam promised me that he would help take the snow off the pond so Mike and I can go skating but now he says he won't do it. He's being mean. Make him stop."
Adam put his book down and started getting up as soon as Cat started talking, but it was too late. He was only half way out of his chair when he was attacked by the two dogs who started chewing on him. "Alright Cat. Make them stop. I'm going to help Hoss and Joe."
"No. Not until you're wearing your coat and going out the door with Hoss and Joe! You promised me that you would take the snow off the pond but now you're breaking that promise!"
"Cat, please call your dogs off. I can't get my coat on while they're chewing on me. I promise that I will go with Hoss, Joe, and some hands to take the snow off the pond for you."
"Ok, but if you don't, I'll let them chew on you all night. Hoss, Joe, please tell me if Adam doesn't help you."
"Don't you worry Punkin," said Hoss. "I'll make sure he does his share of the work. I'll make sure that Joe does too."
"Thanks Hoss. You're great."
As the brothers walked out the door, Adam said, "Those dogs have sharp teeth. My legs hurt from where they were chewing on me."
"Well brother," said Hoss. "As yore always tellin' me and Joe, ya got what ya deserved."
"Hoss is right," added Joe. "You made a promise to our sister and tried to break it. Did you really think that she wouldn't get upset with you?"
Adam knew that his brothers were right and didn't say anything else as they walked to the bunk house.
Joe knocked on the door and Pete opened it. "Adam, Hoss, Joe, come in out of the cold. What brings you out here this afternoon?"
"We need some volunteers," answered Joe. "We need to clear the snow off the pond so Cat can go ice skating and it won't take as long if there are more than just the three of us doing it."
"Let me get my hat, coat, and gloves, and I'll help." He turned around and asked, "Any of you fellas want to help clear the snow off the pond so Cat can go ice skating?" Since all of the hands were quite fond of Cat, they all got up and put their hats, coats, and gloves on.
While they were walking to the pond, Hoss said, "Adam, ya done told me and Joe to think about what the three of us can do for Little Sister's birthday and we decided that we want to make a tree house for her down at the pond. It's gotta be big enough for six kids and two dogs and it's gotta have a way for the dogs to get up into it. Ya know as well as we do that ifn the dogs can't get up there, Cat won't go up their either."
"We found a pair of oak trees that are close together and right at the edge of the pond," continued Joe. They're not old trees, look pretty sturdy, and have some good limbs overlapping each other. You're the expert, but if we build it right, the tree house should last as long or longer than the one you made me did."
"It should have windows and a door that close so's the kids an' their stuff won't get wet when it rains," added Hoss.
"Alright. I'll look at the trees and draw some plans for a tree house for Cat. The two of you come up with a very good gift for her and I can tell that you gave it a lot of thought and have some excellent ideas."
With the ten regular hands and Cat's brothers shoveling snow, it only took about an hour to clear the snow off the pond. Pete and some of the other hands had also brought some brooms to finish clearing the snow that the shovels wouldn't take care of. Once the pond was completely clear of snow, Adam said, "Men, thank you very much for all of your help. I'll let Pa and Cat know that all of you helped and I'll also ask Hop Sing to make supper for you tomorrow as it's a bit late to start preparing two meals today." After the hands had left the pond, he turned to his brothers and said, "Please show me those trees you were looking at. I need to make sure that they'll hold a large tree house." Hoss and Joe showed him the trees they thought would be good to build the tree house in. Adam looked them over, jumped up, grabbed a low hanging branch and hoisted himself up onto it.
Joe watched his oldest brother with amazement as Adam climbed up into the tree and said, "Gee Adam, I didn't think you had it in you to climb a tree anymore."
"If you would pay attention to the things I do baby brother, you wouldn't be so amazed that I am still able to climb a tree. This tree is fine. Now let me check the other one. I need to make sure that there aren't any rotten branches in them." Seeing his brothers standing right underneath the tree, looking up at him, Adam found a branch that had a lot of snow on it. He stepped onto it and bounced, causing all of the snow to fall onto his brothers.
"Hey!" exclaimed Hoss and Joe together. "What'd you go and do that for?"
"I did it because I could and I wanted to."
"You wouldn't have done it if Cat had been here!" declared Joe.
"That's what you think. I guarantee that if our sister had been here, she would be covered in a lot more snow than the two of you are. When I was finished with her, she would look like one of those snowmen that the kids built in the yard."
"Sure Adam. Of course she will." said Joe. "Hoss and I can't wait to see you running away from her dogs once she digs out of the snow. Heck, I'll bet that Pa, Hop Sing, Grandfather, and all of the hands would love to watch that too."
"Yore right about that little brother," said Hoss in agreement. "It shore would be a funny sight to see ole Adam here runnin' away from little sister's dogs. Heck, we could bet chores on how far he'd get afore them dogs started chewin' on him."
After inspecting the second tree, Adam climbed back over to the first one, lowered himself onto the low branch he had used to get up into the tree, and dropped down to the ground. He bent over as though he had lost his balance and when he stood up, both hands were full of snow, which he threw at his brothers. A brief snowball fight ensued with Hoss and Joe both attacking their older brother, who lost the fight. Once the snowball fight was over, he said, "I'm proud of both of you. You picked a very good pair of trees. They're only about forty years old and baring anything like fire or disease, should still be alive long after Cat has grandchildren. I don't know that our tree house will last that long, but as long as we keep it in good repair, her children should be able to enjoy it for many years. I'll start making some sketches after Cat goes to bed tonight. I don't want her getting curious about what I'm drawing so I'll keep that sketch pad in my room and at the bottom of my trunk while we're in Boston."
While Adam, Hoss, Joe, and the hands were clearing the snow off the pond, Cat and Mike were having their own brand of fun. "Let's make a bunch of snowballs and throw them at the next person that comes outside," said Cat.
"That sounds like a good idea," replied Mike. "If it's Hop Sing, do you think he'll get mad at us for throwing snowballs at him?"
"I don't know. I hope not. I don't want him to be mad at me."
"I don't think he'd get mad at you. Mitch said that Joe told him that Hop Sing loves you like you were his daughter. Now we need to start making snowballs before someone comes outside."
Hop Sing looked at the number of eggs that were left over from breakfast and decided that if he was going to make biscuits and more cookies, he needed more eggs. He took the eggs from the basket and put them in a bowl. After putting his coat and gloves on, he took the basket and went outside to get more eggs. He saw Cat and Mike making snowballs and decided to have some fun with them. He walked around the corner of the house, out of sight from the children and began making snowballs. Once the basket was overfull, he snuck up behind the pair of children and hit each of them with a snowball. Mike and Cat were surprised at the sneak attack to their backs and turned around to see who had spoiled their ambush. They couldn't believe it when they saw Hop Sing standing there laughing at them. Before they could react, he hit each of them with another snowball. This time, the children reacted and a snowball fight ensued.
When the hands returned from the pond, they laughed quietly at the scene taking place in front of their eyes. Not wanting to distract the children or Hop Sing, Pete went around the bunkhouse before crossing the yard to the house. He knocked on the door and Ben opened it. "You and Captain Stoddard need to put your coats on and come outside right away. You're not going to believe your eyes." Ben and Abel did as Pete said and started laughing when they saw what was happening in the yard.
Hop Sing and the children continued throwing snowballs at each other for a few minutes when he noticed the trio on the porch laughing at them. He signaled the children to come to him and whispered something to him. Before Ben, Able, and Pete knew what was happening, they found themselves being hit with snowballs.
"Oh Ho," cried Abel. "So that's the way you want to play it Granddaughter. Never fear. This old sailor has never lost a snowball fight in his life." He stepped off the porch, bent over, made a snowball, threw it, and hit Cat with it. Ben and Pete joined him and began throwing snowballs at Hop Sing, Cat, and Mike. Adam was tired of watching everyone else have fun, so he made a snowball and hit Joshua with it. Hoss and Joe also threw snowballs at the hands, who reciprocated in kind. Soon, there were snowballs flying all over the yard, with everyone laughing the entire time.
The snowball fight had been going on for about fifteen minutes when the Devlins drove their sleigh into the yard and laughed at the snowball fight happening. Mitch wanted to join Adam, Hoss, and Joe, but his father said, "No son. Stay here and let them have their fun. You and Joe have the rest of the winter to have snowball fights with each other and Hoss. Cat and Mike are leaving for Boston next week and may not have the opportunity to throw snowballs at Ben and Abel again until next winter."
Hop Sing saw the Devlins drive into the yard and also noticed that Cat was getting tired. He held up one hand to stop the snowball fight. "Everybody brush snow off and go in house. Number one son bring wood for stove. Number two son get milk. Number three son get eggs. Missy Cat, Mr. Mike help Hop Sing in kitchen. Hot cocoa and cookies be ready ten minutes."
Everybody followed Hop Sing's instructions and after brushing the snow off themselves and each other, went into the house. Joe grumbled about having to get eggs but stopped when Hoss threatened to put him into a snow drift head first. Hop Sing noticed that Cat and Mike were cold so he said, "No want Missy Cat get sick again. Get warm by fire then help in kitchen."
Ben was the last one to enter the house and when he saw the children sitting in front of the fire he said, "I thought Hop Sing said for the two of you to help him in the kitchen."
"He did," answered Mike. "But we were cold and he told us to sit here and get warm first. He said that he didn't want Cat getting sick again."
"I'm sorry that I questioned the two of you. I should have known that you wouldn't just be sitting there unless Hop Sing told you to. Be sure that both of you are good and warm before helping him."
When Cat and Mike went into the kitchen, Hop Sing handed them two sacks containing tin cups and plates. "Give one plate, one cup to everybody," he said. "Hot cocoa and cookies almost done." When the children returned to the kitchen, Hop Sing handed each of them a tray with cookies on it. "Everybody get three. More in oven. Be ready five minutes." They carried the trays into the great room and told everyone that Hop Sing said they could have three cookies each. Hop Sing followed them, carrying two pitchers of hot cocoa, set them down on the table and told the men to help themselves. Cat and Mike followed him back into the kitchen where he took more cookies out of the oven, put them on trays and told them that everyone could have three more. After giving everyone three more cookies, the children were told that the pitchers of hot cocoa were empty, so they carried them back into the kitchen. Both of them were upset because all of the cookies and hot cocoa were gone and nobody had saved any for them. Hop Sing just smiled and told them to go and sit by the fireplace, which they did. A few minutes later, he walked out carrying a tray with sixteen cookies and a pitcher of hot cocoa on it. "Missy Cat, Mr. Mike get eight cookies each. They no complain when Hop Sing ask them to help and no complain when everybody eat all cookies and drink all hot cocoa."
"Hop Sing, you gave the children too many cookies," said Ben. "They won't eat their supper if they eat that many cookies."
"Supper not for long time yet. Mr. Mike and Missy Cat be hungry before then. Eat big supper and dessert too." Ben knew that there was no use in arguing with Hop Sing because he rarely won their arguments.
When all of the hot cocoa and cookies were gone, Pete signaled to the rest of the hands that they needed to take their plates and cups into the kitchen. Before Cat and Mike could get up to take their plates and cups into the kitchen, Pete walked over to them and took the cups and plates from them. "Gee thanks Pete," said both children together.
"You're very welcome. The two of you brought everything except the pitchers of hot cocoa out here so I thought I'd take care of your plates and cups for you." When he walked into the kitchen, Pete noticed that Hop Sing had hot water on the stove to wash the dishes with. He fixed the dishwater and said, "Hop Sing worked hard to make the hot cocoa and cookies for us, so I want everybody wash and dry their own plate and cup and put them on the table. I'll take care of mine, Cat and Mike's."
Hop Sing couldn't understand what was taking the hands so long to carry their plates and cups into the kitchen so he decided to take a look and see what was happening. When he walked into the kitchen, he was very surprised to see all of the plates and most of the cups stacked on the table, while Pete dried the last cup. "Hop Sing thank you very much. You save him lot of work."
"It's the least we could do," replied Jeff. "Even though you didn't have to, you made Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for us and invited us in for hot cocoa and cookies after the snowball fight. We know that Cat asked you to make Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for us, and since you already had a lot of people to cook for, you could have said no, but you didn't."
"Jeff's right," said Dave. "Those meals were wonderful and we really enjoyed them. We also enjoyed your hot cocoa and cookies today. You are a very busy man and have a large family to take care of, but you have taken time to do some nice things for us, so we did this for you. If you ever need any of us to do something for you, all you have to do is ask and it will be done."
"Hop Sing appreciate offer and thank you very much again. Will ask if help is needed."
Once the last cup had been dried, the hands walked back out to the great room, got their coats and gloves, said "Thank You" again, and left. Hop Sing noticed that the family had put their dirty cups and plates on the table and said, "Mr. Pete and rest of hands wash and dry own plates and cups. They do Missy Cat and Mr. Mike plates and cups too. Why family be lazy and not do same?"
Mitch stood up and took his parents' plates and cups from them and walked into the kitchen. He washed and dried them and put them on the table with the others before returning to the great room.
"Hop Sing is right," said Abel." "Hop Sing does a lot for this family, we have a bad habit of taking advantage of that, and we need to stop doing that and help him more." He, Ben, Adam, and Hoss got up, picked their plates and cups up from the table, carried them into the kitchen and washed them. Joe however, just sat on the settee as though he was expecting the dishes to wash themselves or someone to do it for him.
Hop Sing became angry with Joe for being so lazy but instead of going to the kitchen for his spoon, he tried a different tactic. "Puppies, everybody but number three son wash plates and cups. Number three son very lazy and be mean to Hop Sing. Make him stop be lazy."
Joe wasn't able to move fast enough to keep the dogs from chewing on him. "Hey! That hurts! Stop it!" I'm going now!"
When he picked his plate and cup up, Cat said, "Lassie, Chief, you can stop now but watch him. If Joe doesn't wash his plate and cup, you can chew on him again."
Hop Sing followed Joe and the dogs into the kitchen and watched while he washed and dried his plate and cup. He petted the dogs and said, "Good puppies. Hop Sing give you special treat for supper."
While Joe was in the kitchen, Adam looked at the almanac and seeing that no snow was predicted for the next three days, decided that he and his brothers would take the children sledding the next day. When Joe returned to the great room, he said, "Joe, I just looked at the almanac and it's not supposed to snow for the next three days. We should take the kids sledding tomorrow. This may be the last chance for them to go sledding before we leave for Boston next week. I'm going to go and get Jasper. Would you please ride over to the Ingalls and tell them what we're going to do? You might want to tell them that you're going to keep your promise and take Carrie sledding also. That way she won't feel left out."
Once Adam and Joe had gone, Mr. Devlin said, We have Mike's trunk in the sleigh. Where do you want me to put it?"
"Mike, please show your father which bedroom you're using," said Ben.
When Mike and his father came back downstairs, Cat said, "Hey Mike, let's go outside and play some more."
"That's not a good idea," said Ben.
"Why not?" asked Cat.
"You were very sick for almost two weeks and today is the first time you've been allowed outside to play since you got sick. You and Mike played outside for over an hour this morning and again after dinner. I don't want you to get sick again and that's what will happen if you get too cold and tired. Your brothers are taking you and your friends sledding tomorrow, so I think it would be best if you played inside until supper is ready."
Before Cat could reply, Mike said, "He's right Cat. You don't want to get sick again and miss the trip to Boston, do you?"
"No. That would be really bad. We could play checkers if you want to. When Joe gets back, we can ask him to let you use his marbles and we can play in my room."
Cat took the checkers game out and she and Mike played a game. When they were done, Mike started resetting the board and Ben said, "Cat, please come here."
Mike looked at her and she just shrugged her shoulders before getting up and walking over to her father. "Yes Pa?"
Ben pulled her into his lap and hugged her tightly. "I've been so busy lately with the books and making sure that we have enough supplies and food for us, the cattle and horses to last the winter, that I haven't had much time to spend with you. I wanted you to know that I have seen how hard you have been trying not to run in the house ever since you and Andy talked. You have only started to run three times and stopped after only a few steps so I haven't needed to say anything to you about running in the house. I am very proud of you for keeping your promise and your uncles will be too when I write to them." He hugged her again and said, "Since I have you right where I want you and I l love hugging you, I have decided that I am just going to keep you right here in my lap forever. Then I'll be able to hug you all the time."
"That's great! Now I won't have to go to school every again. Mike, you should get your Ma or Pa to hug you all the time too. Then you won't have to go to school either."
The Devlins laughed at Cat's statement and suggestion to Mike. "Well Ben," said Dan. "You seem to have a little problem on your hands and I want to know what you're going to do about it."
Ben pretended to think and said, "I'll have one of the boys drive the buggy to town. I can hug Cat the entire way there and I'll sit with her in school and hug her all day."
The Devlins laughed at Ben's reply. "That's not going to work Ben," said Mary. "You'll be a huge distraction and Susan Winter will be very upset with you. Also, if you think that Cat has problems with some of the older boys and Annabel White now, wait until you spend an entire day at the school. She will be teased no end until she gets very angry and starts a fight."
Ben let out an exaggerated sigh. "You're right of course, so I guess I won't be able to keep her in my lap forever and hug her all the time. Alright Scamp, Mike has the checkerboard reset. Go and play another game with him." He hugged her one more time and said, "I love you very much and am very happy that you're my little girl now."
Cat got down off Ben's lap and said, "I love you too. I think."
"You little stinker," laughed Ben. "I think that we're going to start calling you skunk instead of Cat. Just for that, I should tickle you until you wet your pants. Then I'll go to the school and tell all of your classmates about it."
Before Ben could follow through on his threat, Cat hurried over to the table to play another game of checkers with Mike.
Adam arrived at the King ranch about forty five minutes after leaving home. He knocked on the door, which was opened by Mrs. King. "Hello Adam. What brings you here this afternoon?"
"Hello Betsy" he said walking into the house. "I've come to get Jasper. I looked at the almanac and it's not supposed to snow for the next three days, so my brothers and I are going to take the kids sledding tomorrow. Also, the three of us and the hands cleared the snow off the pond so they can go ice skating too. Cat, Grandfather, and I are leaving for Boston next week, so this will probably be the last time they'll be able to go sledding and skating this winter." I promise that if it even looks like it's going to snow, I'll either bring him home or Pa can adopt him. I know that Cat won't mind if he does."
"Say, that would be great," said Jasper in reply to Adam suggesting that Ben adopt him. "I'd love to have Cat for a sister and live on the Ponderosa."
Jasper's parents laughed. "I'm afraid not son," said Ted. "Your mother and I love you too much to let Mr. Cartwright adopt you. Besides that, if he adopted you, Cat would want him to adopt Mike too and I don't know if Adam would want four younger brothers."
"I'll take this one and his buddy and you and the Devlins can work out a plan on who gets Joe first and for how long."
"You don't mean that, now do you?" asked Ted.
"Yes I do. There have been too many times when he's done everything he can to get out of doing his fair share of the work and Hoss and I are tired of it. He's also become incredibly selfish. That and his laziness are starting to rub off on Hoss. Mary's been staying on the Ponderosa to help take care of Cat while she was sick. Ask her how he acted while our baby sister was so sick. Jasper, if you're coming with me, you'd better get your night clothes, ice skates and sled and saddle your horse. I want to get home before dark. Mike's already at the Ponderosa and Joe's gone to get Laura and Mary."
Jasper didn't wait to be told twice. He got his hat, coat, and gloves and rushed out to the barn to saddle his horse and get his skates and sled. He was back in the house before ten minutes had passed and said, "Lucky is saddled, my night clothes are in my saddle bags, and my skates and sled are tied to the saddle horn."
"Ok. Let's go then. We have a long ride and I want to be home before dark," said Adam.
Mike and Cat played four games of checkers and Joe still wasn't home when they finished the fourth game. "Pa," said Cat. "Mike and I played four games of checkers and Joe still isn't home yet. Can we please get his marbles out of his room so we can play in my room? We're tired of playing checkers."
"Yes you may. However, if you find any money in with Joe's marbles, you have to share it with me."
"If we find any money in Joe's marbles, we're going to go to town and buy a lot of candy, peanuts and sarsaparilla. Then we're going to go to the Bucket of Blood and drink some beer and play cards," replied Cat.
"I see," said Ben. "And what are you planning to do with any money you win playing cards?"
"I'm going to send it to Miss Kitty for Uncle Matt's new saddle. Maybe there'll be enough to buy him a new bridle and saddle blanket too."
"Aren't you going to share any of it with me?"
"No. 'Cause you already have lots and lots of money and I don't."
Ben laughed at Cat's plans and said, "Go ahead and get Joe's marbles. I'll tell him that I gave you permission to get them."
The two children said, "Thanks," and raced up the stairs to Joe's room.
"Catherine, Michel," called Ben. "You are not supposed to be running in the house and you especially are not supposed to be running on the stairs. It isn't safe. Now walk back down here and then walk up and down the stairs five times."
The two children looked at each other, laughed, shrugged their shoulders and walked back downstairs, glad that their punishment wasn't worse.
"Because they've been cooped up inside for so long, they have a lot of pent up energy," said Dan. I think that we should let them go outside and run some of it off for a little while, say twenty to thirty minutes. They can play on the swing, pull each other on a sled or race the dogs. Mike will keep an eye on Cat to make sure she doesn't get too tired or cold. As long as she warms up by the fire, she shouldn't get sick again."
"Alright," replied Ben. "We'll let them go out and play for another thirty minutes and hope that helps to get rid of some of their excess energy."
When the children returned to the bottom of the stairs for the last time, Dan said, "We have decided to allow you to go outside and play for thirty minutes in hopes that it will help to get rid of some of your excess energy. You may play on the swing, pull each other around on a sled, race with the dogs, anything to keep you moving."
Cat and Mike looked at each other in amazement. "Thanks Pa. Thanks Mr. Devlin," came the replies as they hurried to get their hats, coats, and gloves on and go out the door before the adults changed their minds. Thirty minutes later, two tired children walked into the house, sat in front of the fire and drank some hot cocoa before walking upstairs to play marbles.