Just Another Day
by Lisa E.
(05/02)
***Just a note: the book, Black Beauty-The Autobiography of a Horse,
by Anna Sewell was originally published in 1877, but I have moved up its
publication for the sake of my story to some time around the year of 1860.***
‘Nurture or nature?’ Ben questioned himself (something he regretted not having
time to ponder as his own sons grew to manhood) as he watched his granddaughter
help deliver her first foal. Her smile and laughter were as bright as
the sunshine outside. Nature had given her the same love of learning
her father had.
Ben suspected his daughter-in-law had had this same love, for she had been
a smart woman and a skilled nurse. Dr. Martin had trusted her and often
wanted to know what she thought of a case, once commenting that in another
time and place, she would have been a very talented doctor or surgeon. After
she married Adam and they got to know her, the people of Virginia City had
found it easy to trust her and she was often called upon by men and women
of the Territory if Dr. Martin was unavailable for everything from birthin’
babies and setting broken bones to removing bullets.
Ben was proud of Adam for continuing to let his wife do her work after their
marriage. Not many men would have been this secure.
Adam had nurtured what nature had given to his daughter. He treasured
spending his days off and the early evening hours with her walking, talking,
reading, playing, laughing and sharing her as he played cards, checkers, chess
and plain ole’ interacting with the rest of the family. She was his
life and theirs.
Some people questioned how Adam was raising her and some places he had taken
her, like her first cattle drive at age three, but it was working for them.
Ben wasn’t one to judge; he had done some pretty risqué things himself
as a single parent raising Adam, Hoss and Little Joe. The family just
supported Adam on whatever choice he made about her care; they would and could
make anything happen.
Nurturing didn’t stop with Adam, though. Ben and his other two sons
did their part and Hoss was particularly good at this. Whether he was
paying back a silent debt to Adam for taking care of him as a baby or if it
was his love of little things, only God and Hoss knew. But it was a
sure bet that if baby Kady was not with her father, she was with Hoss.
It was he who had succeeded in nurturing her love of learning into his nature
of loving and caring for any animal.
Joseph, on the other hand, was sometimes more like an older brother than
an uncle, and in that, he seemed to nurture her naughty side. Or was
that her, his? He would often ride into Virginia City with the child
just to have an excuse to have a pretty girl help him in her care, feeding,
changing, and buying clothes, as she got older. Joe had found many a date
this way. As a school age child, Kady began searching out Joe when she
wanted to be naughty, or had been, and Joe would often take the rap for whatever
trouble she managed to stir up. He did not seem to mind; maybe he too
was paying something back to Adam for taking the rap for him as a child.
But Joe never let things get too out of hand and for that they were all thankful.
Her toddler years had belonged to her Grandfather, Ben, to nurture.
He was often home while her father and two uncles went off to tend to the
business of the ranch in the morning. Kady was, for the most part, an
easy child to care for. She would amuse herself for hours at home or
in town, accompanying Ben on business to the mercantile or bank or whatever,
it did not matter. Sometimes she would cuddle quietly in his lap, often
falling asleep as he worked at his desk. Other times she would ask him to
read to her and he would simply read whatever paper he was working on - a
contract, the ledger - it didn’t matter to her. He had taught her numbers
and letters this way and wished he had had this kind of time when his own
sons were young. Like her father before her, Kady learned well from
Grandpa Ben. She had surprised them one night at dinner, risking punishment
by speaking out of turn and correcting Ben as he was explaining one of the
new contracts to the boys. As Adam was lecturing his daughter about
her offense, Ben got up to check the contract and sure enough, she was correct.
After that incident, Ben realized all voices that had anything to do with
the ranch should be heard, and from that moment on, the “seen but not heard
until spoken to” child rule was pushed aside with family (except for dinners
out and formal dinners on the Ponderosa).
Even Hop Sing seemed to have a soft spot for the child for she could do
no wrong in his kitchen; no matter what kind of mess she left after trying
to help him. She was becoming a great cook, thanks to his nurturing.
Sometimes even Hoss couldn’t tell who had cooked what.
She was up early that morning doing her chores when her cries from the bottom
of the stairs woke the rest of the house.
“Uncle Hoss, Grandpa, Little Joe! Please come quickly!”
As the men leapt from their beds, all traces of sleep gone, they knew it
must be serious for when she used “uncle” that meant she was scared.
Hoss was the first one on the stairs, buttoning his shirt as he went.
Joe and Pa followed quickly behind, not knowing the cause for her alarm.
Not seeing anything but an open door, the men ran outside and stopped short,
looking for Kady, not sure where she went or what she wanted. Hoss heard
the faintest of noise coming from the barn and recognized the sound of an
animal in distress.
“I think Honey’s in trouble. I didn’t figure that foal to be due for
another week or two, but maybe I figured wrong,” cried Hoss as he rushed to
the barn. The others followed close behind.
Sure enough, Kady was in the stall as the horse laid there showing signs
of labor.
“Could you help her, Hoss?” she asked weakly. Having been raised on
the ranch, she knew about the miracle of life and the sadness of death and
that sometimes they traveled the same road.
“
I don’t know, Angel, let me see.” As Hoss checked Honey over, Kady
watched him carefully, noticing how and where he touched. “Can’t say
for certain, but I think she’ll be okay, just needs a helping hand.
You want to have the honors, Angel?”
“Me? I…I wouldn’t know what to …”
“Sure you do. You’ve watched me do it lots of times before. You’ll
know what to do and I’ll be right here if you get into any real trouble.”
Hoss smiled at his father and Joe. “I’ll talk you through it and besides,
you saved her life when you brought her here. I reckon this is her gift
to you for taking such good care of her.”
Knowing now was not the time to argue or reflect on Honey, Hoss easily read
her answer and as she moved into position towards the rear of the animal,
he began to patiently direct his niece in what needed to be done, sometimes
with questions and sometimes with words of guidance and support.
As Sheriff Roy Coffee and Dr. Paul Martin casually rode along and the house
came slowly into view, they were taken aback by what they saw for it was not
like their friend, Ben, to allow the door of the house to be left standing
open like that. They hoped it was nothing serious as they approached.
Hearing noises, they turned abruptly and headed for the barn, and they caught
the sounds of laughter. As they crossed the threshold they heard, Kady’s
voice.
“I did it! I really did it! Oh, thank you Hoss for letting me
do this. It is the most amazing thing I have ever done. I just…”
“Well, what in Sam Hill is going on in here?” asked Roy.
“Hi Roy, Paul,” greeted Joe. “You just missed Kady showing off her
talents as a midwife. I think Hoss has a little competition on his hands
– maybe even you too, Paul,” laughed Joe.
Roy and Paul peeked in the stall at Kady and a wet creature just trying
to stand on wobbly legs. “You did that all by yourself?” questioned
Dr. Martin.
“Well, Hoss helped me.”
“Honestly gentlemen, she did most of the work. Hoss helped very little.
She is a natural,” chimed in Ben. “Angel, you best to be going now and
get washed and changed. Hop Sing will have breakfast ready soon, I
imagine, and foal or no foal he’ll be upset if we are late today of all days.”
“Can’t I stay here a little longer?”
Ben cleared his throat. Kady stood up with no further argument.
Joe swung open the door to let her and Hoss exit. With one uncle on
either side of her, they headed up towards the main house. Ben heard
Hoss say as if to comfort his niece, “Honey and that baby need some quiet
time. They’re not going anywhere, don’t you worry. They’ll still
be here when breakfast is done.” Joe agreed.
Roy and Paul stopped off at their horses as the others entered the house.
Ben slowed his step.
“No word from Adam yet?” asked Roy as he pulled an item from his saddlebag.
“No, none,” replied Ben. “I was sure he’d be back last night to be
here for today. It’s not like him to be this late returning and not
send word.”
“I stopped by the telegraph office on my way out here this morning and there
was no message, so I hoped I would see him here,” said Paul, also removing
an item. “I told Jeff to send someone out right away if word should
come in. I figured you would be busy out here and all today. Are
you still holding the party? No one would blame you if you cancelled
at the last minute.”
“Yes. The boys and I discussed it last night and decided that the
party might just keep her mind off missing her father, so we are going through
with it.”
By the time Kady returned downstairs, the men were seated around the table
and, as was the Cartwright custom, stacked neatly next to the birthday celebrant’s
plate was a small stack of presents. Without a second glance at them,
Kady walked to the table, bent and gave her grandfather a kiss from behind
on the cheek, then came around behind Roy and Paul and did the same.
When seated, she looked to her grandfather, got the slightest of nods that
would easily go unnoticed by a stranger and spoke.
“Uncle Roy, Uncle Paul, I am so glad you could make it out here again this
year for my birthday breakfast. It would not be the same without you
both.”
Kady had inadvertently begun this custom with her grandfather’s companions
and family friends around six years ago when they were planning a luncheon
party for her at the ranch. She had gone to town to invite her friends
and the then four year old invited both. Roy declined because of work
responsibilities and the fact that his deputy was already bringing his family,
and Paul tried to explain to the child that he had rounds to get to.
Assessing the situation as only a child could, she said, “Well then, can
you come to breakfast before you go to work?” Adam and Ben looked at
each other and at both men who were chuckling to the sweet faced child looking
at them all expectantly. Like the four men who shared her life at the
ranch, these two men could refuse this child little.
“Should I tell Hop Sing to set two extra plates for breakfast gentlemen?”
asked Ben, already knowing the answer.
Both men had joined the family every year after that for breakfast and as
the parties grew in size and length, often tried to come back later in the
day if their responsibilities in town would allow.
Roy especially, being a widower with no children of his own, liked the fact
he had been at the ranch for her birth and had the opportunity to share so
many private moments of her life with the family. Most of all, he liked
the fact that she called him Uncle Roy!
Paul had delivered Kady, like he had most of the others in Virginia City,
but this child was special to him. He was not sure if it was because
he was a companion to her grandfather and had seen her father and uncles through
some rough scrapes. He suspected it was because he had not been able
to save her mother, his nurse.
When Adam first brought Melissa across the country to Virginia City, she
took residence in the tiny rooms above his clinic that Paul had set up to
house the nurses who helped him. After she and Adam were married she continued
to help him and he adored her. She died a few days after giving birth to Kady
due to complications. Paul Martin felt a profound sense of loss.
He too enjoyed his Uncle Paul status, something no other child in Virginia
City was allowed to call him.
Adam cursed himself again as he got down off his mount for a rest. “Some
short cut this is turning out to be,” he mumbled.
“What was that?” His new companion asked as she sat down next to him and
handed him a biscuit.
“Oh nothing, Kathryn, just wishing I was home. I wish we could make
better time if…well, if we didn’t have to stop so often, but my head still
hurts, feels like somewhere between a three day drunk and what my father would
describe as seasickness.”
Adam, as moody as he could be especially when sick, tried to remain calm
for the sake of his companion who he had met two days before, but today was
his daughter’s birthday and he wanted-no, he needed -to be there for her.
“What are you thinking, or do I need not ask?” She questioned.
“Just about how her day would be taking shape by now.”
“How can you know that?” she asked.
“It’s been the same for the last six years or so.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“You can tell me about it if you want. It might just give you the
feeling of being there.”
“We will see,” he replied, taking a sip of water from his canteen to wash
down the bite of biscuit she had given him only hoping he could keep it down
longer this time.
When they finished their biscuits and had mounted up again and had hit the
trail, he thought maybe it would give him the sense of being there if he talked
about it.
As Kathryn turned to look at her new friend, she saw the concentration on
his face and knew it was not from trying to stay in the saddle as before but
rather because he was deep in thought about something; his daughter, Kadence,
she guessed. What an unusual name. She would have to remember
to ask about it. She wondered if her own father had thought of her this way
after he left them. She had grown up not knowing him and her mother,
disgraced from divorce, had remarried a horrible man. But that was
her life and, for today, reuniting this father and daughter was her goal.
Kathryn spoke, “You know, I meant it before when I said I would like to
know how you know what’s going on today. I am curious to know just
how well you think you know your family. It might also ease my nerves
at meeting them and staying with you for a few days, you know, some kind
of insight into them. And boy, am I looking forward to staying with
you and a real bed and most especially, to that hot bath you promised.”
Adam chuckled. A bath, he thought, that’s all this girl-well, young
woman-wanted for practically saving his life.
Adam had been in San Francisco on the pretense of business for the family
but secretly was also looking for that extra special birthday gift if he could
find one and he had. He could not wait to see the look in his daughter’s
eyes (and his Pa’s) when she opened her new Winchester Rifle. She was
taking on more responsibilities at the ranch, and with a cattle drive coming
up and last year’s near-fiasco because she was not armed, well, he thought
it was time.
She had been taught respect for guns at a young age. First she learned to
clean and reassemble them and then to shoot and, boy, she could shoot!
Her aim was true and on the mark. She could outshoot any boy in town
in her age group at the summer picnic and, truth be told, he was very proud
of that.
He left San Francisco on time and on the right stage but it had broken down
in some no-name town with no spare axles to repair it and no telegraph to
wire for one or to say he would be late in returning. So instead of
waiting for the rider to return with the broken part, he bought himself a
horse at the livery and set off for home. He decided to take the “shortcut”
across some badlands he knew, believing it would take about five hours off
his trip but in his haste to get home to Kady, did not consider the difference
it would make that he was not on Sport, his trusty steed, but on another.
The noise of a rattler had spooked the young animal and, unable to control
him, Adam was thrown from the saddle.
Kathryn saw the rider-less horse running towards her and managed to catch
him. Though she knew she was taking her life in her hands, she headed back
the way the horse had come. Following his trail was easy in the soft
sand.
Within minutes, she came across Adam lying on the ground. Upon hearing
the approach of hooves, he drew his pistol for protection. The rider
came from behind and began to circle him.
“Friend or foe?” he asked as she came into view.
“That depends, Mister, on if you intend to use that pistol or not.
Holster it and we can be friends. Draw it on me and we will certainly
both be dead in no time considering that gash on the back of your head.” Adam
was known for being smart and this was not the time to stop, so he carefully
put his pistol away. As she dismounted, she introduced herself as Kathryn
and asked where it hurt the most besides his head and if he had any idea how
long he had been lying there. Wasting no time, she opened up her travel
bag, took out her only petticoat and cut it into strips. Using water
from his canteen, she cleaned up his head wound and bandaged his ribs. However
makeshift it was, she had done her best to help this injured stranger. By
the time she was done, it was late afternoon and she made the decision for
both of them that he needed to rest and she was not leaving him alone; so
they were making camp there for the night.
After a supper that Adam was unable to keep down, they bedded down around
the fire, he on one side and she way over on the other, both exhausted.
Before it seemed possible, it was dawn. As they ate breakfast, she asked Adam
why he had left the road in the first place. He explained why he wanted
to get home so badly. He could see that she had a hard time believing
that he missed his daughter and family so much, but he did not press the
introductions for her story yet. Instead, he offered the weary traveler
a hot bath and a place to stay at the Ponderosa for a while if she helped
him to get home. He knew she was young and had been alone and traveling
for about a month. He guessed her to be a year or two younger than
Joe and he guessed her story to be a sad one deciding that when and if she
was ready to tell it, he would listen. He liked Kathryn and hoped Kady
and the family would too. She accepted his offer and even with all
his prodding to hurry up, took her time, breaking camp that morning, knowing
with her woman’s intuition he was not ready to ride and should rest one more
day, so it was after lunch before they left. She saw to it that they
rested every couple of hours for 10 or 15 minutes so he could keep his strength
up. Adam did not like stopping but he was sore so he did.
They traveled about five hours before they set camp for the night.
He was still feeling queasy but kept his supper down with some willpower and
that was a good sign. Adam said it was still about a 12 hour ride to
home the way they were going and that tomorrow was his daughter’s birthday
and oh how he wished to make it.
He knew Kady was probably going silently out of her mind. She would
not complain out loud, that was not her way. She at times could be very stoic;
he guessed that came from him. He knew his father and brothers would
also be worried but they would not show it to Kady at a time like this.
As he went to sleep, he prayed to his wife in heaven to give Kadence strength
and asked her to see that their daughter’s birthday would go on like all the
others. Her parties were becoming legendary around the territory and
everyone was invited. He also prayed that Pa would remember to put
out his gift, a book called Black Beauty-The Autobiography of a Horse by
Anna Sewell, with the other gifts at the breakfast table, for like her father,
she just loved to read.
Adam began to speak, “She would wake up and do her morning chores, unless
Cody, the foreman’s son would come by and have them done for her by the time
she got out there.” Adam admitted to Kathryn he did not really mind
it. The kids had met a couple of years ago and this was the one gift
Cody could afford to give and was one the two had come up with on their own.
Birthdays and Christmas gifts given from the heart and not the wallet, it
made them equal on some level. Paul, the town doctor, and Roy, the sheriff,
would come to breakfast just as they had done for the last six years, then
head back to town to take care of business and would come back if their schedules
allowed. The pig and the calf would start roasting around sunup over
the open pit and the smell would just fill the air. Steve, Cody’s father,
would see to that. The family would go about their chores and morning
activities as if nothing special was going on, but you could sense the excitement
in the air.
After breakfast, Kady would be allowed to open gifts from the family, usually
books, games, new music sheets or things to occupy the night time or winter
days. Occasionally she received something larger. Just last year she
had gotten a new saddle from his father and his brothers got her a fancy bridle
and Paul and Roy got her a new horse blanket (they all kept this a secret
from Adam, knowing he would think it too much). A few weeks before,
Adam had given his permission for her to ride Honey, the Palomino he had
been forced by her to buy two years before at the cattle market after that
year’s drive.
“Forced?” questioned Kathryn. “I don’t think you are the kind of man
who would let a child force you to do anything you did not want to do.”
“No, not usually,” admitted Adam. “But this time, I was and it’s quite
a long story.”
“Got a better way to pass the hours than a long story?”
He started the story by saying Kady was allowed to spend one quarter of
the money she earned helping on the cattle drive on what she wanted.
Everyone knew that what she longed for was a real horse of her own, not just
a ranch horse like she was riding now because her skill as a rider was exceeding
anything her current pony had to offer. The family had discussed it
and all agreed to keeping their eyes open for such a horse to which she would
apply this spending money and Adam would pick up the rest of the cost.
The first day in town after the drive, she noticed a very dirty, grungy
and obviously abused horse waiting to pull a slaughterhouse wagon. She said
that she wanted that horse. When Adam said no, she responded if she
could not have that one then she wanted nothing. True to her word,
she asked for nothing and neither he nor anyone else could tempt her with
anything she usually liked. Her stubborn Cartwright heels were firmly
planted and she would not budge.
Every morning after breakfast or whenever they could not find her, they
just needed to look for the flea-bitten, neglected animal and Kady would
not be far away, for her eyes were seeing something the others could not.
The morning they were due to leave, the trip home had to be postponed when
she saw the owner take a whip to the horse for no good reason except the starving
animal was too weak to pull the loaded wagon to the slaughterhouse another
time.
“Maybe it’s time you joined those in the back of the wagon instead of pulling
it!” He scowled as he whipped the poor tired horse.
It was more than the child, taught to respect all creatures, could stand.
Not caring that she would be punished hard for it, she slipped from the back
of Sport from one side as her father mounted up the other and ran, throwing
herself at the man before any of them could stop her. True to her Cartwright
blood and temper, by the time the family and some of the hands reached her,
she was assaulting the man, arms flailing, clenched fists punching and feet
kicking. People on the sidewalk were cheering for her and jeering the
man with the whip, saying it was about time someone stood up to the way Bill
treated his horse. As the man, driven to rage by the humiliation of Kadence’s
assault, raised the leather whip to strike her, its was caught midair by the
gloved hand of a stranger who stepped from the sidewalk to prevent it from
striking the child. It was Cody’s father.
Glaring at her, Adam reached protectively for his daughter who moved into
his arms and away from the man. He then apologized for her behavior
and ordered her to do the same. Knowing it was useless to do anything else
but figuring that since she was already in trouble with Pa, a little more
trouble could not hurt her bottom that much more, she did as she was told
but added that since he was talking about sending the horse to the slaughterhouse
anyways would he consider selling the horse for $15 dollars, all the money
she had earned from the drive and saved throughout the year to bring with
her.
The man laughed and said that was half of the money the slaughterhouse would
pay.
“Here!” An anonymous voice rang out from the crowd on the side as a coin
was tossed into the dirt at their feet. More money started to fly at them.
Adam looked to his father and brothers only to see them reaching into their
own wallets and sighed, knowing this battle was lost. Hearing his sigh,
Kady started to pick up the money with tears in her eyes and as she blinked
them back she saw a pair of boots she recognized as her Grandpa’s in front
of her. She looked up at him as he reached for her, helped her up and handed
her some more money. As she took the money from him she turned back
toward the man, counted out $35 dollars and asked if that was enough.
The man gruffly said, “Yes” as he grabbed the money from her hands.
A man from the auction was there and came forward with a bill of sale for
Kadence’s father to sign, making things “legal.” Cody, who had the horse
already out of her harness and a lead attached to her halter, came forward
to hand the horse over to her new owner.
“What are you going to call her, Kady?” he asked.
Without hesitation, she replied, “Honey, ‘cause that’s what her color reminds
me of!”
As the crowd dispersed, the action over, Adam went to introduce himself
and thank the stranger who had stepped in. As the two men spoke, looking
on at the children who obviously knew one another, it came out that Steve,
a widower, and his young son were looking for work. Adam asked what
kind of work experience he had as Ben, Hoss and Joe and joined the group.
After a little discussion, Steve called to his son, “Come on, son.
We gotta go and pack. We’re moving on.”
“Aw Pa.”
“Son!”
“Yes sir.” Cody moaned. “Bye Kady,” and in a whisper he added,
“Good luck. I hope he don’t tan you too hard.”
Kady smiled, “Bye Cody, it will be hard and I deserve it, but my pa will
be fair and besides, it will be worth it because I have Honey now. I’ll
take whatever punishment he gives.”
“Kadence, tie that horse to the back of the wagon with the one you rode
here and then mount up on Sport like we planned and wait for me while I finish
here. You will be riding with me. We have some talking to do.
Do you understand me?”
“Yes sir.”
Ben put his hand on the arm of his eldest. “Son, you know I won’t interfere.
She is your daughter, but just keep in mind that her actions may been wrong
but her motives and heart were in the right place to everything she’s been
taught.” He turned and walked away.
As they left the edge of town, riders could be heard from behind coming
up on their group. Ben remarked that it must be the new hands coming
to join up with them. Kady looked back and was surprised to see Cody
and his father coming. She said nothing but just smiled to herself.
Cody and Honey in the same day – this was more than one girl could hope for.
Cody just smiled to her as he passed following his pa as he joined up with
Hoss and Joe.
“I think I’ll go ride up ahead and get better acquainted with our new help,”
Ben said as he pushed Buck into a canter, leaving father and daughter to discuss
the day’s events.
That night after dinner, Adam and Kady took a walk only to come back after
everyone else had bedded down. The next day it was not lost on Cody
that his friend was having trouble sitting on her horse, so with permission
from his father and Adam, he hung back a little so she wouldn’t be lonely
as she rode slower than she normally would.
Adam and Kathryn road in silence for a while, then realizing he felt better
while telling the story, he continued with the rest of how his daughter’s
“Birthday Day” would go. Any time after 11 o’clock, Kady’s friends would
start arriving, first the girls from town, then the boys and by noon their
families would be there also.
Women would come bringing more food, side dishes, cookies, and desserts,
things to go along with the roasted meats. Hop Sing didn’t even mind because
it meant he could concentrate on the birthday cake. There were games
like horseshoes and cards for the men and roping contests and a greased pig
chase and others for the kids, with prizes for everyone who tried. Screaming
children would be running amuck on the Ponderosa today. Parents would
take turns down by the lake, watching the swimming kids. The back room
downstairs was cleared out and a nap room was prepared for those families
that also had small children and mothers would take turns in there.
Some women even brought their quilting supplies. The only rule was there
were no rules, except for no hard liquor. This rule kept down on the
fighting.
Late afternoon would be quieter. Parents would send their oldest children
home to do the evening chores and those that didn’t have children went home
to do them themselves only to return when done. Nights were even better.
Just after dark, they would shoot off a few fireworks over the lake.
This used to be the end but as the kids got older, the party just seemed to
last longer, so the lanterns would be lit and the band would start to play
and dancing and partying more of an adult nature would begin. It was
now time for the parents to relax because in a few weeks, the cattle would
start going to market.
“Wow!” Kathryn exclaimed as they mounted up after pausing for a rest, her
mouth watering for all that roasted meat. “Sounds more like a town picnic
than a birthday party.”
Adam admitted that what started out as a small birthday party for friends
had grown over the last six years. Friends, business acquaintances, everyone
for miles were invited and the party had just grown and grown. People
came from all over the Territory. Governors and Senators had been known
to show up unannounced.
“Now I see why you want to get home.”
Ben had been watching his granddaughter all day looking for signs of stress,
but other than being a little quieter and sticking closer to the house instead
of running around with friends, she was a wonderful hostess to her guests.
He needed to remember to tell Adam what a little lady she was growing up to
be. For the second time today he questioned, was this just the nature
of her being or the nurture of her upbringing?
The party this year was a little smaller than in the past years, still over
100 guests he figured, wondering if this was due to Adam’s absence.
Those who did come were a lot closer to the family and had found time to question
him or Hoss or Joe about whether they had heard from Adam yet and said they
came mostly to help keep Kady’s spirit up. The mothers of her friends asked
how she was handling Adam’s disappearance. If and when she was out
of sight, someone would say they saw her going into the barn and sure enough,
she was in the stall with the foal she had delivered that morning. It
was almost as if she was getting strength from it as it grew stronger hour
by hour, and her horse, Honey, did not seem to mind sharing the foal with
her.
Most of the guests drifted away by the time it came to do evening chores
this year, but a few stayed until after dinner. Roy and Paul had showed
up again shortly before supper and were still there when Ben sent the boys
looking for Kady and Beverly Sue Forester, her best friend. Mrs. Forester
was like a surrogate Ma to Kady, treating her like one of her own girls.
She often included Kady in things she did with her own daughters. She had
taught Kady to mend, sew, quilt and other things little girls need to know
as they grow. Beverly Sue had been down by the horseshoe pit but said
she had not seen Kady in about an hour. Kady mentioned needing to get
something in the house and said she would meet the gang by the pit but never
showed and until Little Joe came to get her, Beverly Sue had not realized
that much time had passed. Ben thanked her, helped her into the wagon,
and went in the house in search of his granddaughter, asking his sons to say
his good byes to the few remaining guests. They were all friends and
recognized the worried look on Ben’s face, so they did not mind. Hoss
invited Paul and Roy into the house, knowing that Ben would like to relax
with them when Kady was all settled for the night. He asked Hop Sing
to make them some coffee as they set out the chessboard and the boys went
to the barn to settle the animals for the night.
Ben climbed the stairs calling her name, but he got no answer. He
checked her room and when he did not find her there, he called out again
a little stronger,
“Kadence?”
Hearing the strain in her grandfather’s voice, she replied, “In here, Grandpa.”
Ben crossed the hall and pushed open his son’s partially closed door to
find Kady sitting in Adam’s chair, feet tucked up under her, holding a picture.
Confident he knew which one he reached out for it. As the little girl released
the photograph, she looked up to her grandfather with tears in her eyes and
questioned, “Where is he Grandpa? I miss him so much.” It pained
Ben to see her hurting like this.
Ben took the photograph with one hand, and took her hand with his other,
pulling her from the chair to his embrace. “I don’t know, Angel, but
I do know he is missing you too.” Lifting her chin so he could look
into her eyes, he continued. “You are his life and he loves you very
much.”
Ben took her place in the chair and, as she climbed up onto his lap and
nestled into his warm embrace, he began to speak, “I remember when this picture
was taken. We were all in San Francisco and it was right after breakfast
when your mother let it slip to your uncles and me that she was carrying
you. She told your father the night before and as we walked downtown,
I don’t think his feet touched the ground. He saw the photographer’s
sign and said he wanted a picture to remember this day, as it was turning
out to be one of the best of his life! They were so much in love in
this picture; I can see it in their eyes and every time I look at you.”
“Will you tell me more stories, Grandpa? They make me feel good inside.”
Ben continued to talk and soon, feeling secure in his arms, she found the
sleep that had been eluding her for the past couple of nights. Ben felt
her relax in his arms but was unwilling to let this moment go. His
thoughts ranged from wanting to give her comfort to wondering how time flies
(it seemed just like yesterday he was sitting there holding a sleeping baby
and now this baby was ten years old) to finding his own comfort in her presence.
He knew someone from the house would be up soon to check on them, so he decided
to wait and enjoy the moment knowing they pass too quickly and he feared
if he walked away and turned back around to look at her, he would be looking
at her wedding day. So he just sat there with her and waited for someone
to come and remove her from his lap.
As they left he barn, Joe paused.
“What is it, little brother?” asked Hoss.
“I’m not sure. I thought I heard something, but I can’t hear it anymore.
Must have been nothing. Let’s get going.”
They made small talk as they crossed the yard and stepped up onto the porch.
“I thought there was supposed to be a party going on here. Looks more
like a funeral. You haven’t written me off yet, have you?”
“Adam?” they both cried, leaving the door ajar as they spun and turned toward
the riders.
“Well, were you expecting someone else?” He said sarcastically as his brothers
approached.
The three brothers chuckled and clasped each other’s shoulders and hugged
after Adam had dismounted.
Kathryn, standing at the head of her horse, cleared her throat. She
had never seen grown men react like that. Maybe this family really did
love one another they way he said.
“Oh, where are my manners? Kathryn, these two lugs here are my brothers,
Hoss and Joe, I told you about. This here is Kathryn and you boys can
thank her for getting me home. Where are Pa and Kady?”
“Not sure, Adam. Pa went in to find her and he didn’t come back yet.
We were just going to look for them when you arrived. You go on in and
I’ll stable your horses,” replied Hoss.
Adam turned to walk away and stumbled. Hoss’s big hands instinctively
went out to catch his brother, saying as he did, “Looks like it’s a good thing
Dr. Martin stayed on for a while. Joe, will you see to the horses while
I help him inside?”
“Sure Hoss.”
“Oh Joe. Would you hide the rifle and scabbard before you come in
until you can sneak it up to me? It’s a gift.” Adam said as Hoss led him
to the porch and a waiting Dr. Martin.
As they sat Adam down for Dr. Martin to examine, Hoss introduced Kathryn
to the sheriff and the doctor.
Hop Sing came down the stairs. “Mr. Hoss, you father need you in Mr.
Adam’s room. Little girl fall asleep in his lap and he would like you
to take her to her room.
Welcome home, Mr. Adam. I don’t think your father know you here
yet.”
Paul wasted no time getting down to the business of caring for his patient,
“Hoss, try not to wake the child and when you’ve got her, bring her downstairs
and hold to her tight if she wakes. I’m going to have your brother go
upstairs to his room and take care of him there. I don’t want her in
there just yet, but she might just wake if she hears him. Adam, you
wait in her room till Hoss gets down here. Hop Sing, will you get me
some hot water and some clean strips of cloth? I’ll need to rewrap those
ribs.”
Joe came in as Hop Sing scurried away to collect the items the doctor requested.
“What’s going on? Where are Kady and Pa? I thought they would
be here by now.” He questioned.
“Dr. Martin is just giving out orders for my care,” replied Adam.
“Joe, I am glad you’re back. I want you to man the stairs and if Kady
gets out of those massive hands of your brother’s, I need you to catch her
before she gets up the stairs to Adam’s room. Roy, I want you in the
room with us. I might need your help along with Ben’s. Got it
everyone?”
Kathryn told Joe she would fill him in on the rest as they pulled off part
one upstairs.
Hoss blocked the door to Adam’s room so his Pa and Kady, if she happened
to waken, would not see the commotion in the hall. He had his finger to his
lips as he stood there. Ben nodded in response. When Kady’s door
closed, he stepped in. “She asleep?”
Ben just nodded as he asked, “Adam home?”
Hoss nodded in response saying, “Dr. Martin don’t want Kady to know yet.
Adam’s hurt but not bad and he wants to doctor him up first. Come to
ole’ Uncle Hoss, Shortshanks,” he said to no one as he scooped the child from
his father’s lap to his massive chest.
She stirred slightly in his grip. “Where are we going?” she asked
sleepily.
“I am just gonna take you downstairs. We still got guests your grandpa
over their needs to attend to and you can sleep there in front of the fire
for a while. Would you like that?”
“Yes. Will you sit with me?”
“Of course I will. You just try and get out of my arms, you rascal,
and I’ll just have to bear hug ya.”
Ben laughed to himself, a little envious that Hoss could still pick the
child up and carry her so easily as they left the room and started down the
stairs.
Turning his attention to his injured son he whispered, “They’re gone.”
Roy and Paul helped Adam across the hall to his room. Ben stepped out of
the way; holding the door open and Hop Sing came close behind with the items
the doctor had requested.
Everything seemed to be going perfectly upstairs, Joe thought as he sat
in his position on the stairs. As he noticed the way Kathryn was looking
at Hoss and Kady snuggled in the chair, he couldn’t help but wonder what it
was that she envied; the child herself or the tender loving way the massive
man held her in his embrace? Joe silently wished Kady would still fit
in his lap that way.
A cry of pain erupted from the room upstairs breaking the silence of the
house. Surprised, Hoss loosened his grip on Kady and she sprang to her
feet. Noticing the strange woman sitting in the living room, she cried,
“Who are you? Hoss, is that my Pa upstairs?”
Not waiting for an answer, she dodged her uncle as he stood reaching for
her and she headed to the stairs until she saw Joe standing there. She
knew then that the cry had been from her father, so she flew to the front
door opening it fast - so hard it hit the credenza; and it hit again
as Hoss and Joe opened it, trying to catch Kady.
Ben, hearing the commotion, left Adam and went to her room to catch her
because he figured she would be climbing in there at her window. After
a second, he heard nothing. Hoping that they would not be in need of
Paul’s service again tonight, he crossed to the window and seeing his sons
looking around below, he opened it and called, “Where is she?”
“Don’t know, Pa, we can’t see her. It’s like she disappeared!” called
Joe.
Ben heard the board creak at the top of the stairs, and then hurried footsteps
(she’s not running, he thought as he crossed her room – that was a punishable
offense as was the trellis climbing he had caught her using to get in and
out of the house at night). “She’s in here!” He cried out as he tried
to beat her to Adam’s doorway but
he was not fast enough; she had beaten him.
He just smiled as he heard her cry, “PAPA!!!
He put his hands on her shoulders more for comfort than to restrain her
from entering. Sensing this, she reached across herself, taking his hands
in hers and squeezed, tilted her head back to look up into his face looking
for reassurance that this was real.
The board at the top of the stairs creaked again. As Joe, Hoss and
Kathryn headed up the hall, they heard Adam say, “Are you just going to stand
there, child? Or are you going to come over here and greet your Papa
like he is used to? I’ve gotten better homecomings returning from town.”
Kady looked at Dr. Martin’s smiling face as he was finishing the last couple
of wraps to finish bandaging her father and thought it would be okay.
The trio reached the doorway in time to see Adam’s arms open as Kady ran across
the room and into her father’s embrace, nearly knocking him over.
Everyone laughed aloud as Dr. Martin said, “Watch it, Kady. I don’t
want to have to rewrap him yet. I just finished!”
“Sorry Uncle Paul,” she said sheepishly, arms still tightly entwined in
Adam’s.
Adam looked up and saw Kathryn in the doorway smiling. “Well,” he
said, “What do you think of my family so far?”
Kady turned so her back was to her father’s chest but still in his embrace
to check over the woman her father was talking to, trying to figure out whether
she was the reason he was late returning or the reason he returned at all.
“They are what you described them to be,” she replied with a chuckle.
“Pa, Kady, this is Kathryn. She’s the one who helped me after my fall
and helped me return home. I hope you don’t mind, Pa. I told her
she could stay here a while if she wanted before she moved on.”
“No, that’s no problem, Son. You know no one in need is ever turned away
from the Ponderosa. I am sure I speak for the whole family, Kathryn,
when I say we are forever in your debt for helping Adam return home.”
Blushing, she replied, “Thank you, Mr. Cartwright. I appreciate your
hospitality.”
“Kady, why don’t you run downstairs and get Kathryn’s travel bag and put
it in the spare room next to yours.”
“Yes sir,” she replied, not moving from his embrace.
Adam nudged her from behind to get her moving. “And while you’re down
there, I noticed there was still a present next to your chair. Why don’t
you bring it up so you can open it?” He called.
“Well Adam, it’s good to have you back safe, if not sound. But it’s
getting late. I should be headed home. Doc, are you about done
here?” asked Roy.
“Yes Roy, I am. Adam, you take it easy. I’d tell you to stay
in bed for a day or two but that would be useless, so you just take it easy
and don’t do anything too strenuous around here. You can go up and down
the stairs, maybe a walk but no further than the barn. I’ll be back
tomorrow if I have time, if not, then the day after. Keep those bandages
tight,” he said.
“I’ll walk you out.” Turning to Adam, Ben said, “Don’t let her open her
gift till I get back, please. Joe, Hoss, will you see to it that the
guest room is all set with supplies and one of you let Hop Sing know if anything
is needed. Kathryn, I hope you will excuse me for a moment.”
Kathryn stifled a laugh as the three men answered in unison, “Yes, sir!”
As Hoss and Joe were leaving, Adam looked at her and asked, “What were you
laughing at?”
“Love, I think,” she replied. “Lots of love and respect.”
“Well it’s not too late. Would you like your payment of a hot bath
tonight? I could have Hop Sing start one.”
“No, that can wait for tomorrow, but when Kady’s done opening her gifts,
if you wouldn’t mind, I would just like some hot water and such to freshen
up with.”
“I’m sure that can be arranged after she opens her gifts. Gifts! Hey
Joe!” he called, “do you think you could sneak out and back with that gift
I asked you to hide for me?” he asked when Joe appeared in the doorway.
“Sure Adam, no problem. Where do you want me to put it?”
“Why don’t you lay it on Kady’s bed if you can sneak it in there and if
you can try not to let Pa see it. I’m not quite sure how he will take
it.”
“I guess it’s not for him or any of us then, is it?” laughed Hoss.
“Are you sure you want to do this now, brother?”
“Well I figure I am already hurt so maybe he’ll go easy on me.”
The room exploded with laughter. “Well, what’s so funny in here?”
asked Ben as he reentered.
“Nothing Pa,” Joe said as he left, calling, “Hey Shortstacks, I’ll be right
back. Got to get something your father forgot outside. I’ll be
right back in. Go ahead and open your gift. You don’t need to
wait for me, I’ll see it when I get back.”
“Okay, Little Joe,” replied Kady, coming from the spare room. “Miss
Kathryn, I found only one bag downstairs. I put it in your room for
you. Did you have another?”
“No, Kady, just the one. Do you mind if I stay while you open your
gift?”
“I don’t mind,” she said as she walked towards her father. “I hope
you don’t mind I waited till you came home to open this, Pa. It, well,
just didn’t seem right to open it without you here today. I know what
Joe said but would you like me to wait for him?”
“No, go ahead, open it.”
Adam watched her closely as she unwrapped the gift, careful not to tear
the paper, just like her mother had always done. Sometimes she reminded
him so much of Melissa. He just smiled.
“What book did your father get you this year, Shortshanks?” asked Hoss.
“It’s called Black Beauty – The Autobiography of a Horse,” she smiled at
the title, “by Anna Sewell.”
“Hmmm, sounds to me like a good book to read out loud this winter by the
fire. What do you think, Pa?”
“Well Hoss, I think that’s a great idea. Speaking of horses, Kady,
I don’t think you’ve had time to tell your Pa what you did today. Adam,
you would have been so proud!”
“Oh yeah, Pa, Honey had her foal today before breakfast and Hoss let me
help her. She is so cute. She is colored just like I hoped.”
“You delivered a foal!” Adam whistled long and low. “That’s a tough
job. Hoss must have lent you a hand.”
“Nope. I delivered Bitta myself. Hoss coached me from the side
but I did it myself.”
“Bitta?” came the reply from the men. “Is that her name?”
“That’s quite an unusual name, Kady. Are you su…”?
Kathryn cleared her throat and felt all the eyes in the room on her as she
spoke anyway thinking Kady could use a friend. “Speaking of unusual
names, that reminds me Adam. Don’t forget you owe me the origin of Kadence’s
beautiful name. I guess it’s just in her nature to chose unusual names.”
Hoss and Ben just looked at Adam to get his reaction. He just smiled
and said as he hugged his daughter tightly. “How did you choose the
name Bitta, Kady?”
“Well, I chose Bitta because she has a little bitta Honey and a little bitta
Buck in her.” She laughed.
“Bitta it is then!” said Ben.
“Bitta. I like it,” said Hoss.
“Bitta, very clever Angel,” Adam said as he saw Joe go by the door.
“Well it’s getting late, think it’s time you say your goodnights to everyone
here and by the time you’re done, hopefully Joe will be back. And there
will be NO staying up to read. That can wait till tomorrow. I
want lights out, do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” She turned to start kissing and hugging everyone goodnight
and thanking them all for a lovely day and their gifts. Joe made it
back in time to get his hug.
When she got to Kathryn, she looked at her for a moment and reached out
to hug her. Adam just smiled, knowing Kathryn needed this and listened
as his daughter spoke. “Miss Kathryn, I just want to thank you for the
best gift of all: returning my Pa to me. It’s the only thing I truly
wanted! Everything else about today is…well…like icing on a cake, just
to sweeten it.” Kathryn hugged the child back warmly. She felt
something in her heart go down as she blinked back tears and realized that
it was the wall she had built many years ago crumbling and in rushed a feeling
of love that this house was full of! It was a love like she had never known
and doubted ever existed. She could learn a lot here.
As they released the hold on one another, Kady turned back to the room of
men who loved her, said goodnight one more time and headed to her room.
No one spoke for a minute. Adam broke the silence when he asked,
“Joe, where did you put it?”
“On her bed, like you said. She can’t possibly miss it; I tied a ribbon
to it. That’s what took me so long.”
“What am I missing?” said Ben. “Tied a ribbon to what?”
“Well Pa, Adam had one more gift to give Kady,” replied Hoss.
“Could someone help me across to her room please. I want to make sure she
is still in there with it.”
Ben moved to Adam’s side, sensing that the only way he was going to find
out what the gift was to see it with his own eyes and beside Adam was the
best place to do just that! Somehow, he got the feeling his sons thought
he would not approve of this gift.
The group moved across the hall Kady had just crossed to her room, happy
and content that today was as good as a day had a right to be. When
she got to her door, her mouth just fell and she rubbed her eyes, not believe
what she was seeing lying on her bed. She crossed quickly and laid her
hands on the scabbard and though she was afraid that if she separated the
two they would disappear, she slowly separated the two laying the wonderfully
embossed scabbard to the side. She placed both hands on the Winchester .44
“Henry” repeating rifle and was running her finger over the crescent shape
of the rounded heel to grip the walnut butt stock as the family gathered in
the doorway. Hoss let out a low whistle and she turned as her other
hand moved along the iron frame to the 24 inch octagon barrel. Her eyes
sought her father’s face and when their eyes met, she asked unbelievingly,
“Is it mine?”
Ben looked at Adam, waiting for his answer. Adam caught the look and
turned back to his daughter and said, “Yes, with the same conditions with
which you handle all other guns in this house: never to be used without permission
from one of the four of us and that means we must have the time to go off
with you. Is that clear?”
“Yes sir.”
He continued. “The only condition that has changed is that I will allow
you to take it on your horse on this year’s cattle drive to use if needed,
but we can talk about those conditions later. But, if I find out you
are misusing it there or anywhere it becomes MINE until I think you are old
enough to try again. Is this clear?”
“Yes,” she replied again as she turned to lay it gingerly on her bed.
Crossing to hug her father, she said as he held her, “Thank you for trusting
me, Pa. It means a lot to me that you trust me like this. I will
NOT let you down, I promise.”
Adam let her go and told her to put the two pieces back together and give
it to Hoss and asked him to put it downstairs with the rest of the rifles
in the cabinet. When she had done as told, he said for her to get ready for
bed and he would be back to tuck her in.
As Hoss headed down the stairs, Kathryn excused herself to go to her room
with Joe following to see if the room was suitable to her and if she needed
anything else. She said she would like some warm water to wash up a
little and Joe said Hop Sing or he would be up in a few minutes with some
and he headed down the stairs.
This left Ben and Adam in the hallway. “Pa, I realize you probably
think she is a little young for this. I do too but after last year’s
drive, well, I guess I would rather not have to worry about that again and
she does have a good respect for guns.”
“I know, Adam, and to tell you the truth, I was surprised you did not get
her one for Christmas this past year and… well… I thought of getting her one
myself for her birthday for the same reason but decided you would know what
was best for your child.”
“Pa, I’m ready!”
Adam entered her room, crossed to the bed, and sat down. “I am glad you
had a good day today,” he said as he tucked the blankets up under her chin.
Bending down to kiss her, he continued, “And I want you to know I am proud
of you and your mother would have been also for the way you spoke to Kathryn
earlier. It’s late, so I want you to get some sleep. Okay?
I’ll see you in the morning at breakfast and then you can show me this new
foal, Bitta. Is that a deal?”
Kady nodded her head as she gave a sleepy yawn.
“I love you Kadence Elizabeth Cartwright. Sleep tight in God’s love
and your mother’s arms.”
“I love you too, Pa.”
And with that knowledge in his heart, Adam shut the door on another day,
and wondered what tomorrow would bring.
The End
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