The Earth Moved
By Karen Faye Rodgers
“Please Papa?” Five year old Little Joe asked. His smile reaching all the way to his eyes as he waited for his father’s answer.
Ben studied his son, then looked over at Adam, “Joe I’m not…”
Little Joe stopped him, “please Papa…you and Adam are going. Can’t me and Hoss go too?” the little boy’s eyes pleading with his father again as he waited.
“I don’t want to see
“Oh come on Hoss, it’s gonna be fun don’t ya think?” Little Joe mischievously smiled.
Hoss studied his brother and sighed. ‘Why does he always gotta be so cute?’ he asked himself as he thought about going away for a week.
Adam hesitated before speaking knowing that he might be
making the big mistake by agreeing with his brother. After all Little Joe’s
sixth birthday was going be while he and his father was in
“I think you should let him go Pa…after all his birthday will be while we’re gone,” Adam pointed out before adding, “I’ll watch after him while you go to your meetings.”
“You make a good point… and it would give use all a chance to spend that Thursday together.” Ben looked over to his youngest son who was pushing around his breakfast on his plate, “alright we’ll all go.”
Joe jumped up and headed over to his father and climbed into his lap, “thanks papa…” he said as his little arms went around Ben’s neck.
Adam gave his father a quick smile before wiping his mouth with his napkin, “I’d better get to my chores.”
Joe pulled away from his father and looked over at Adam, “can I help ya?”
“You are going to finish your breakfast before you do anything young man,” Ben told his young son and had to stop himself from laughing out loud when his son sighed and slowly headed back to his chair saying, “yes sir.”
Adam walked over to retrieve his hat and coat before turning to face his brother, “when you get finished I’ll be in the barn.”
“Thanks Adam,” Joe smiled and started eating his breakfast.
Three Days Later
Adam helped his little brother get out of the stage and watched as Joe reached up his arms to him, “hold me?”
Picking up his brother he watched as Joe looked around. “Sure…what do you think of the big city Joe?”
“It sure is big…” he swallowed hard. He had never been to
Ben glanced over to his youngest son and ruffled his hair, “just stay with us and you won’t get lost.”
“Alright Papa…but for now can Adam carry me?” he asked hugging his oldest brothers neck.
“It’s alright with me if it’s alright with your brother,” Ben answered as he looked up at the stage coach driver pointing out their luggage.
“It’s fine with me pa.” Adam said tickling his brother.
Two Days Later, Beach
Ben spread a blanket out on the sand and watched as his three son walked barefoot in the waves. The sound of his youngest son’s delightful giggling was a sound that Ben loved as he watched his sons and was glad that they all took this trip together.
After a few moments watching his sons playing in the water Ben pulled his own boots off and headed over to them. Then all four found themselves making a sand castle.
Little Joe went to his older brother and motioned for Adam to come to his level. He started whispering something in his brother’s ear and watched as Adam nodded in agreement.
“I think this sand castle looks great,” Adam started, “but it seems that Joe wants to have a sand castle contest. Two people per team and see which team can make the best castle.”
“He does…does he?” Ben asked looking down at his son.
“Sure do pa… and I want Adam on my team that will leave you and Hoss to work together,” he happily said.
“Alright if a contest is what you want, then a contest you will get…but first things first we need to have lunch.”
“Do we gotta eat first, Papa?” Joe asked.
“We most certainly do…now you go one and get over to the blanket,” His father instructed him.
Joe had eaten a good size lunch as Hoss watched him and could tell that his little brother had something cooking up in that little mind of his, “what are you up to Short Shanks?”
“I ain’t up to nothing…”
“You sure look like you are,” Hoss said studying his bother’s face.
“Nah…just thinking about the contest…is all. Hey Adam are you finished eating yet?” He asked putting his plate to the side and drinking the last of his water.
“Sure am,” Adam put his plate to the side and watched as Joe crawled into his lap and whispering something to him.
“That sounds like a good plan…” Adam glanced over to his father, “Pa, me and Joe are going to walk down the beach a ways and start our castle. We want ours to be a surprise.”
“Alright you two run on and me and Hoss will clean this up before we start ours,” Ben smiled as he watched his oldest and youngest sons walk off.
Soon Joe was running back to where his father and Hoss still sat, “Papa, we need the twine that was tying the sandwich’s wrappers together for our castle.”
Ben reached into the picnic basket and handed the twine to his son, “here you go.”
“Thanks,” Joe said as he took off running to where Adam stood waiting for him.
“Good this should work out great,” Adam assured him, “now you go get some small sticks for me.”
“Sure thing,” Joe said before taking off again.
Two hours later both castles were finished and Joe was next to his father at his and Hoss’ castle, “that’s nice Papa, but you have to come see mine and Adam’s now.”
Ben gave one last look at his and Hoss’ work of art then followed Joe and Adam to theirs. He stopped when he saw what had taking his two sons so long to make, “I think we have a winner.”
Hoss’ mouth dropped, “that sure is something.”
There in front of them was a replica of the Ponderosa Ranch house with a barn and a little sick corral. Adam smiled at his little brother and gave him a wink.
Joe’s eyes were beaming with joy as he tried to wink back at his brother but ended up just blinking his eyes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was getting late when Adam pulled the carriage in front of the hotel. Joe had fallen asleep in his father’s arms and nothing was about to wake the bundle of joy.
A few minutes later all three of the older Cartwright’s were watching the youngest sleep peacefully.
“I’m heading on to bed too…today just tuckered me out,” Hoss said as he headed for the adjoining room. “Night Pa…Night Adam.”
“Goodnight,” both Ben and Adam said in unison.
“I’ve got to go met Mildred and Scott Comb down in the dinning room for some coffee,” Ben explained to Adam as he headed for the door.
“I think I’m heading to bed too. You have fun and I’ll see
you in the morning
“Have a good night sleep son,” Ben smiled as he opened the door.
“I will and you too,” As the door closed behind his father, Adam headed on to the room that him and Hoss were sharing.
Later, Dinning Room
Ben reached the table where his old friends sat already having some coffee, “thanks for meeting me here,” Ben greeted.
Mildred looked up at the sound of his voice, “why Ben Cartwright, its has been a long time.”
“Too long,” he agreed.
Scott stood so he could shake Ben’s hand, “we were pleased to hear that you where bringing all three of your boys on this trip.”
“Yes, the first day was filled with business, but today was wonderful,” he smiled remembering the day that was full of great memories for him and his sons.
“This is Joseph first time in
“No, he came once when he was three with his mother.”
Mildred noted the sadness that filled her friend’s face and voice, “how are things going at the ranch after Marie’s accident?”
Scott feared that his wife’s questions might be a little hard for Ben and patted his friend on the shoulder, “you don’t have to answer that if it’s too difficult.”
Mildred shook her head, “Oh Ben, I didn’t think before I asked…”
“No it’s alright…it was hard at first, but day by day it gets better. I really don’t know what I would have done if it wasn’t for my boys,” he admitted.
“You said in your letter’s that Adam was going off to college?” Scott changed the subject.
Ben gave his friend a grateful look and smiled, “yes he
likes a school in
“Ah, so this isn’t just a fun trip for him?” Mildred beamed.
“No, he had a little work of his own to do while here.”
Scott cleared his throat, “well on a better note I finished making your son’s present for his birthday.”
Ben’s face lit up at the news, “you did?”
“Yes, I have them at my house if you are ready to go get them. I would have brought them, but they are a little heavy.”
“That’s no problem, after all with Joe’s birthday tomorrow it is perfect timing for me to pick them up.”
“I thought you might…it’s a good thing that I only live a block away,” Scott teased.
“I think we can get it over here in no time,” Mildred said getting to her feet. “Are you two ready?”
Few Minutes Later, Comb House
Scott pulled the sheet off of his work bench to reveal a toy village made of wood, “well here you go.”
Ben picked up one of the horses and was amazed at how much his friend seemed to get done, “I didn’t expect to see so many toys.”
“You sent more than enough wood for me to make what we had planned and more,” Scott beamed.
“You did a great job Scott,” Ben was glad that he thought of his friend when trying to figure out what to give his son for his birthday. Scott had always loved to make toys for his own son before an accident claimed his son’s life.
“I believe he’ll like this Ben,” Mildred assured her friend.
“Yes, he is going to love it…after all it is made with Ponderosa pine. He might like that fact as much as he would anything else. He really loved to sit under those pines and just sleep.”
“I hope he enjoys them as much as I enjoyed making it. It was a…” he stopped as he felt the room shake. “Quick find cover.”
Hotel Hoss’ and Adam’s Room
Hoss could feel someone shaking him as he tried to sleep. He was hoping that whoever it was would just leave him alone.
Across the room Adam was awaken by the force of the shaking of their room and knew exactly what was causing it, ‘earthquake,’ he thought to himself as he made his way out of bed, “Hoss wake up.”
“Adam, stop shaking my bed…” Hoss mumbled as he turned over.
“Hoss it’s an earthquake…you have to get somewhere safe.” Adam told his brother as he heard an ear piercing scream, ‘PAPA!!!’
“Hoss wake up!” Adam shouted and was relieved to see his brother had obeyed him.
“What is it?” Hoss asked as he quickly got to his feet.
“I’ve got to get to Little Joe…you find something strong to get under…” with those final words Adam rushed into the next room where his little brother was still screaming, “Papa…Papa…”
Adam pulled Joe into his arm trying to calm the frightened boy, “it’s alright, Little Buddy.”
“I want Papa…where’s Papa, Adam?” Joe was crying out to his brother.
“Listen Joe we have to find a safe place…”Adam started toward the doorway but wasn’t able to get to far before the chandelier fell against his back and knocked him down.
Joe screamed as his brother started to fall and he was dropped from his brother’s arms. After hitting the hard floor Joe turned to see Adam unconscious on the floor. He crawled over to him and started patting his arm, “Adam wake up…pleease wake up…”
In his room, Hoss was positioned under a table when he head his brother cries, “Short Shanks,” he called out as he knocked the table over getting to his feet rushing to the next room to find Joe with head lent against Adam’s sobbing, saying over and over again, “pleease Wake up…pleease wake up”
Pulling the child into his arms Hoss brought him to the desk across the room and made sure that he was safe before going back for Adam.
Comb’s House
As the earthquake started Mildred rushed over to her husband, “we have to get out of this basement.”
“Stay calm, we just have to get to a safe place…come Ben there is a table across the room that should work.”
Ben nodded and rushed across the room to where the table sat and made sure that his friends were under it before he crawled under as well. Hearing a crackling sound Ben watched as the two lanterns tipped over and the flames started spreading throughout the room.
“Scott, we have to get that fire out!” Ben shouted to his friend as both men got to their feet and started battling then flames.
“There are some old blankets in the corner that we can use,” Mildred called out as she came out of her hiding place and headed for the blankets.
“Mildred, get back under that table… Ben and I can put the fire out,” Scott shouted as he rushed to his wife’s side noticing the beam above her was about to give way.
He was able to push her out of the way before the beam landed across his back knocking him to the floor unconscious.
“Scott noooo!” she cried out rushing to his side.
Across the room Ben heard her cry out, but was working hard to put out the flames. After a moment the shaking stopped and Ben was able to get the last of the fire out and turned his attention back to Scott and Mildred.
Ben’s and Joe’s Room, Hotel
Hoss was pleased when the earthquake stopped. To him it seemed like it had lasted for hours instead of three minutes. In his arms he held a screaming Joe, “shhh Precious…it’s all over. What do you say we get out from under this desk?”
Joe shook his head, “Noooo!”
“It’s alright…” he never got the words out before the aftershock started.
“Hoss?” the little Boy grabbed on to his older brother for dear life.
“It’s going to be alright…trust me Joe,” Hoss was assuring him as the shaking stopped once again.
Across from them under a table Adam started to stir. He opened his eyes wearily and tried to figure out what had happened. Finally he remembered the earthquake and sat up quickly, “Joe…Hoss…”
His back and right side was hurting more than he could stand, but he didn’t care about that at the moment…he had to find his brothers.
“We’re under the desk,” Hoss called out as Joe lost his brother’s grip and headed over to where Adam now sat.
“Adam…” he cried out as he jumped into this brother’s lap and wrapping his arms around him as he did so.
Adam winced at the pain and tried to muffle the cry that was threatening to escape his lips, “it’s alright…”
“Where’s pa?” Joe called out, “we have to find him.”
Hoss watched his two brothers and noticed the pain on Adam’s face, “Hey Short Shanks…let’s get this brother of ours off the floor and over to the bed.”
“You alright, Adam,” Joe asked as he placed his little hand on either side of his older brother’s face and pressing his cheeks together with his hands.
Grateful that Joe loosened the grip he had around his ribs Adam smiled, “just a little sore.”
Placing a kiss on the top of Adam’s head, Joe promised, “I’m looking after ya.”
Adam couldn’t keep the grin from his face as Joe imitated the way everyone had always brushed his hair back when it was unruly, “I bet you will.”
Hoss helped Adam to the bed and checked his brother’s back to find it extremely bruised, “you sure are going to be hurting from the look of your back.”
“Going to” Adam raised his eyebrow.
Hoss paid little attention to his brother as he checked Adam’s ribs, “don’t feel like they’re broke…just bruised I’d guess.”
“Well thank you Doctor Hoss,” Adam teased.
Joe laid next to his older brother with his head laying on Adam’s arm, “can we go find Papa now?”
“I’ll go see what I can find out,” Hoss told them.
“Not with out us your not,” Adam started to protest.
“Now look here Adam…you’re hurt and I’m not so that means that you’re staying here looking after Little Joe.”
Shocked by his bother’s blunt words Adam nodded, “for now, but if you find out anything come straight back here.”
“I’ll make sure a doctor is sent up here to check you over,” with that said Hoss headed out the door.
As the door closed Joe sat up and looked at his older brother, “I’m looking after ya…”
Adam shook his head as he watched his little brother put his little hand on his forehead.
Lobby of Hotel
Hoss looked around for any sign of his father. He watched as people were working over time to check everyone in the room. He could see that there had been quite a bit of damaged done to the room.
Shaking his head he headed into the Dinning Room. He looked around hoping to catch a glance of his father, but as he looked through the room he came up empty handed.
Heading over to where a waiter stood helping and elderly man to a chair, “Excuse me, I’m looking for someone.”
“You and half a dozen other people,” the man said in no certain terms.
“I’m sure that they are, but I only am wondering if you saw a man in here with gray hair wearing a leather vest and…”
“Look if that is the best you can do at describing this man then…” he stopped when he noticed a taller man coming his way.
“What seems to be the problem here,” the man asked.
“I just wanting to know about my father…” Hoss explained.
“Ben Cartwright?” the man asked.
“Yeah, you know him?”
“I own this hotel and have met you father several times over the years as he stayed here,” he said with a smile, “name is Ron Wilber.”
“Nice to meet you Sir…is there a chance that you’ve see my Pa, me and my brothers are awful worried about him.”
“Let me see what I can find out,” Wilber turned to the waiter, “Roberts I want to see you in my office in an hour.”
“Yes sir,” Roberts said getting back to work.
Wilber walked over to the bar and talked to the bartender and soon came back to Hoss’ side, “you father left a little before the earthquake started with his friend…A mister Comb I believe.”
“Thank you Sir…Um I’m heading back to our rooms. My brother got banged up a little during the earthquake is there a doctor around these parts?”
“There’s one here staying a few days and is already checking on the second floor. I’m about to head on up there; I’ll make sure to send him on to your rooms when he gets a chance.”
Hoss nodded grateful for the help, “thanks.”
Your welcome…good luck finding your father,” Wilber shook Hoss’ hand and headed
over to the bar to talk again to the bartender.
Comb House
Ben tried one last time to move the beam off his friend without any success, “we need to get someone else down here to help me lift this.”
“I’ll go on upstairs and see if there’s anyone I can find to give us some help,” she told him getting to her feet and heading over the steps. She sighed as she reached the top and tried to push open the door above her to find it wouldn’t budge, “it won’t open.”
Ben waited for her to climb down the made his up to the top of the steps and tried to push the door just as Mildred had moments before, “we’ll I’m sure someone will be here before long.”
“You’re right,” Mildred tried to sound positive, but as she looked back at her husband she began to worry again.
“Adam knows where you live and if I know that oldest son of mine he’ll be out looking for me in no time,” Ben assured her.
Hotel Room
Adam sat watching Little Joe his protector sleeping literally like a baby. He looked up as Hoss entered the room and motioned for him to not saying anything yet. Getting to his feet he and Hoss went to their room to talk, “what did you find out?”
“Pa left with Mr. Comb before the shaking started.”
“He was supposed to be getting Joe’s present so most likely they’re at Scott’s house. You stay here and I’ll go on over there and see if their alright,” Adam had already dressed and headed over to pick up his coat and gun belt to leave.
“Oh no you don’t…there’s a doctor heading up here and you’re going to let him take a look at ya,” Hoss peaked in on Joe then turned back to his brother. “If the Doc says that you’re alright then you can go.”
“I’m fine,” Adam protested.
“You sound like that little brother of ours,” Hoss teased.
“Oh no one can be that bad,” Adam countered, “but I’m not waiting. Pa may need us and I’m going out to find him. You stay here and watch Joe till I get back,” without waiting for an answer Adam left the room in search of his father.
Walking back to his little brother side, Hoss wiped a stray hair out the way, “I’ve always wondered where you get that stubbornness from.”
Comb House
Adam looked around the outside the two story house to find the back gate wide open. He knew that Mildred liked to keep her garden open to all her friends to use when they were around and never locked it. He was thankful that she was so predictable and was even more grateful that there was a window open near the kitchen.
He easily got through the window, but not before being seen by a nearby officer. Officer Ben Montgomery headed for the window with his gun in hand wanting to catch up with the looter before they could hurt anyone.
As Adam made his way through the house he eyed the amount of damage. He remembered a conversation that he and his father had just over two years before when the Combs first bought the house.
“Scott sent a telegram today,” Ben said as everyone started to eat.
“Oh, how are they, Ben?” Marie asked.
“Very well, they finally bought a house. Seems they got a good deal,” he explained the turned to his fifteen year old son, Adam, “he’s going to be working on it this summer and asked if I could let you come help.”
“Me?” Adam asked.
“Yes, but for only two weeks. His brother Allen was supposed to help him, but had to go out of town for a few weeks and Mildred is beside herself wanting to move in.”
Marie started giggling, “I see she hasn’t changed one bit.”
“Scott said she’s already planned out her garden.”
“Oh Ben it sounds like everything is going wonderfully for
them…we must go see them or invite them here soon. I miss them living here in
“Not good,” Joe cried out.
“You have to eat something Sweetheart,” she reached down and picked up his spoon and put a little mash potato’s on it, “try this.”
“Noooo,” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
In the basement, Ben heard footsteps from above, “someone’s here.”
He climbed the steps quickly calling out, “were in the basement!”
Above them, Adam heard his father’s voice, “Pa?” He asked as he headed back to the kitchen where he had heard his father’s voice and noticed the cooking stove had slid on top of the door. He leaned down and tried to push it over, but found that with his hurt back and ribs he couldn’t budge it.
“Hold it right there,”
Looking up from what he was going Adam slowly raised from the floor, “I need your help.”
“What are you doing in here boy and why did you break in?” the officer asked.
“My father came over with his friends, but that isn’t important…what is important is that I need your help to move this stove,” Adam told the officer in no certain terms.
“Alright, but they better know you,”
“If they don’t then you can arrest me for breaking and entering, but first let’s get them out,” Adam was by now getting very agitated at the man.
“Yeah fine,” Adam assured him as he opened the door and was relieved to see his father was alright.
“Adam, I’m so glad to see you Scott is trapped under a beam, I need some help getting it off of him,” Ben shouted going back into the basement followed by his son and Montgomery.
Letting the officer get between him and his father Adam hoped that Ben wouldn’t see how much pain he was in, “let’s get this off of him.”
The three men started to lift the beam off Scott and moved it away from the injured man as Mildred rushed over to her husband, “thank goodness you got it off him.”
Ben leaned over his friend and checked for broken bones but couldn’t find anything, yet he was worried that Scott was still unconscious, “we need a doctor. We shouldn’t try to move him unless we know for sure that nothing’s broken.”
“Can you go for him?” Mildred asked.
“Yeah, I think that young man could use him too,” the officer said pointing to Adam.
Ben hadn’t even taken a chance to look close enough at his son to see that he was hurting and could have kicked himself. He knew that Scott needed him the most, but now he was concerned to see that Adam was very pale, “what’s the matter son?”
“It’s nothing Pa, I’m fine,” Adam answered not meeting Ben’s eyes.
“I can see that you’re in pain now tell me where you’re hurting Son?” Ben said coming closer to his Adam and looking him over for any wounds.
“The chandelier fell on me at the hotel and I think it may have bruised my ribs.”
“And you call that fine?” Ben asked worried his oldest son.
“Yes.”
“What about your brothers, how are they?” He asked helping his son sit down.
“Joe was pretty scared, but he’s fine.”
“And Hoss?”
Adam smiled, “Most likely pretty mad at me right about now, but he’s fine too.”
Closing his eyes Ben sent a quick thanks to the heavens then turned his attention back to his son, “pull up your shirt. I want to see you back and ribs.”
“Sure,” Adam knew that there was no arguing with his father so he just gave in before he even started to protest.
Across the room Scott started to stir. Mildred was sitting over him with a huge grin on her face, “welcome back.”
“What happened?” He asked reaching for his back and gasping as a pain shot through him.
“A beam fell on you,” Ben said coming to his side, “how do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been ran over by a freight wagon,” he whispered.
“I’m sure you do,” Ben chuckled.
It was half hour later, the doctor and
Few Minutes Later, Ben’s and Joe’s Hotel Room
Joe woke to find Hoss pacing the room, “Hoss?”
“Hey Short Shanks, I see that you’re finally awake,” Hoss said heading over to his little brother side.
“Where’s Papa and Adam?” the little boy cried out reaching for his brother.
“Adam went to find Pa, they should be back soon,” he promised picking up Joe and giving him an assuring hug.
“Papa, isn’t gone like Momma is he?” Joe asked as he started to sob.
“Don’t even think that way Buddy. Pa and Adam will both be back in no time…you’ll see.”
“But...” he started to say, but stopped as he hoped what kept going through his mind wasn’t real and his father was alright.
“What’s all this about?” Ben asked coming into the room.
“Papa…” Joe came out of Hoss’ arm and heads over to his father jumping into his arms.
Ben held Joe who wouldn’t loosen his grip on his father and cried both tears of joy and tears of relieve, “it’s alright…Papa’s here.”
After a few moments’s Joe pulled away from Ben and put his face up to his fathers. He stopped when his nose was touching Ben’s, “I love you Papa.”
To Ben those were the most wonderful words in the world, “and I love you.”
“Please don’t leave me like Momma did…please stay…” Joe started to cry again.
“Papa is here baby,” he said trying to calm the frightened child.
Picking Joe up in his arms, Ben carried him to the bed and they both laid down, “try to get some rest there are a few more hours before morning.
“You stay with me in here?” Joe asked.
“I won’t leave you…I promise,” Ben smiled as he watched his youngest son’s eye lids close.
Adam yawned, “I’m heading to bed too, I’m beat.”
“Me to,” Hoss piped up following Adam into their room.
“Night Pa,” Ben’s oldest two sons said in unison.
“Night Boys.”
Next Night, Hotel Dining Room
Watching as the waiter brought the cake out to their table, Ben spoke up “it’s time for the birthday boy to make a wish and blow out the candle.”
“I got all I want Papa,” Joe said closing his eyes and still making a wish before blowing out the candles.
“What ya wish for?” Hoss asked as Ben cut the first piece of cake for Joe.
“Nothing that I’m going to get,” Joe sadly said knowing that his one wish was for his whole family to be together.
“Why number three son look sad?” A voice behind the little boy asked.
Joe face was beaming as he turned to see Hop Sing standing there, “you’re really here.”
“Hop Sing no miss Little Boy’s big day,” the cook smiled as Joe rushed over to him and gave him a hug and a kiss.
“I missed you this week Hop Sing,” he whispered.
“I miss you too.”
After Dinner everyone headed to Ben’s and Joe’s room to hand out presents, “This is from me, little Buddy,” Adam handed Joe a long package.
“What is it?” Joe asked.
“Open it and find out,” Adam kept a watchful eye on Joe as he opened the package.
“Oh Adam,” Little Joe’s face glowed as he looked at the fishing pole.
“I figured that we can go fishing when we get home.”
“Oh boy,” Joe said eyeing his new pole.
Hop Sing came to Little Joe next, “I have something for little boy too.”
Joe’s face lit up as he took the small box from the cook. Opening it he was pleased to see a small chief’s hat.
“Oh Hop Sing,” was all the happy boy could say. Finally he found his tongue asking, “Does that mean I can help you cook more often?”
“Sounds like Short Shanks really likes it, Hop Sing,” Hoss said knowing where the idea for the hat came from. Hoss was always teasing Hop Sing that Joe was in the kitchen so much, he needs to get him one of them fancy chef’s hats.
“Glad little boy like…I must go back to cousins home. Hop Sing be back to travel with family home.” Hop Sing watched as Hoss gave him a wink and he nodded back knowing what the number two son meant.
“Thanks for coming,” Ben smiled knowing the celebration wouldn’t be complete without their dear friend.
After the cook left, Ben brought Joe to the desk where a sheet covered it, “this is from me.” He uncovered the village and watched as tears came to Joe’s eyes.
“Oh Papa, is that really for me?”
“It sure is,” Ben went to his son’s side, “Happy Birthday, Joseph.”
“Thanks pa,” Joe ran over to the desk and picked up a horse, “sure is something.”
Hoss cleared his throat, “want one more present, Little Joe?”
Joe turned around, “sure do…” he ran to his brother, “what ya got for me?”
Everyone in the room started laughing, “well let me see. Where did I put that?” Hoss teased.
“Come on…” Joe started moving around like he had ants in his pants.
Hoss handed him a nice size box, “this is something that will go with what Adam got ya.”
Adam looked at Hoss suspiciously. Joe met his older brother’s stare and smiled as he started opening the package to find a basket, “what’s this for?”
“To put your fish in, to carry back to the house,” explained.
“Why not take them on the string?” Joe asked.
“Never thought of that,” he chuckled, “look inside.”
Ben’s eyes met with Hoss’ knowing that the real present was hiding inside the basket. Joe opened the lid to find the new pair of boots that he had been wanting for weeks.
“You got them for me,” Joe beamed.
“Sure did Short Shanks,” Hoss ruffled the little boys hair, “Happy Birthday.”
Ben pulled his watch out and looked at the time, “looks like it’s time for you to head to bed.”
“But…”
“No but’s young man get ready for bed,” Ben shook his head as both Adam and Hoss started laughing, “you boys need to get ready for bed too.”
The two older brothers started to say something, but decided against it. They had another long day finishing what they had started, helping the Combs put their house back in order.
“Night Pa,” all three boys said in unison.
“Night Adam…Hoss,” Ben watched as his oldest two left the room. “Now Joe, let’s get you ready for bed.”
“Will you tell me a story?” Joe asked.
“Sure, what would you like to hear?”
“Tell me about when you were trapped in the basement,” Joe said taking off his cloths and putting his nightshirt on.
Ben waited till his son was in bed before he started the story for the tenth time that day.
The End
May 2003