A Home for Rose

By: Deanna

It had been six months sense Hoss and Rose had gotten married. The special ordered furniture that they had made while on their honeymoon had caused a delay for them to move into their house. Things at times have gotten a little hard on the young couple due to the close quarters and also that Rose didn’t have a house of her own. She took over the cooking duties on Hop Sing’s days off, this helped some, but Ben could see that it still bothered Rose that she did not have a home of her own.

Rose tried hard not to let these irritations show, when she was around Hoss, but at times it was more that she could take. It seemed that everytime she wanted to be alone with him, one of his brothers would need him to do something. If Ben was around and saw that she was beginning to get irritated, he would “redirect” his sons into doing something in town so that they could have sometime together…alone.

About two weeks before Rose’s birthday, Hoss and Ben were in the barn talking. “Pa, I just don’t know what to do about Rose, she seems to be to be sad all of the time, she acts as if she is trying not to take me away from work; like work is more important than she is.” Ben looked at Hoss “Hoss, we all know that it has been hard on her to live here with all of us men. I know that she feels like she has to share you with the rest of us. It’s still a month until spring round up and two weeks until her birthday, why don’t you take her on a little trip for her birthday

Hoss looked up at Ben with a worried look on his face. “Pa, she won’t go on a trip. She feels guilty if she thinks that she is taking me away from my chores, even for an afternoon. I know that she would throw a big ol’ fit if she felt like she was keeping me from doing the things that I needed to get done before the roundup.” Hoss turned away to finished his chores and gave a heavy sigh. “Thanks Pa, I’ll think of something. I know that you are right and we do need to get away, but I also know that she would not go on a long trip right now.”

Ben left the barn and saw Rose walking toward the barn with a basket full of food. “Evening Mr. Cart…Ben, is Hoss still in the barn?” Ben smiled at Rose ‘s discomfort even after six months being in the family and said “Yes dear, he is. He is in Chubb’s stall. Are you and Hoss having a picnic tonight?” Rose gave a little giggle and said “Well…um… Ben, this seems to be the only way that I can be with him. He had been so busy lately , that I hate to interrupt him during the day.” Ben smiled and winked at his daughter-in-law and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep Adam and Joe out of here while you are having your supper.” Rose gave a little smile to Ben and then kissed him on the cheek. Ben smiled as he watched Rose quickly walk into the barn. Ben thought to himself, “Now if I could just find two more like her.”

Hoss was working and didn’t hear Rose walk in. The sight of her handsome husband rubbing down Chubb took her breath away. She walked toward him as quietly as she could, hoping to take advantage of these few minutes of time together before they would get interrupted. She placed her arms around him and placed a big kiss on his back. Hoss laugh and pulled her around in front of him, leaned over and gave her a very deep kiss. “That was a happy surprise” Hoss looked down at Rose who was playing with the buttons on his shirt. She slid her hand up his chest running her fingers through the hair, sending shivers up his spine, and pulled him down to her and returned his kiss with all of the passion that was building up inside of her. She gently pushed away from him and walked over to the pile of hay in the corner of the barn, picked up two blankets and spread one on the hay and one on the floor. She sat down and coyly called him over to her as she began to take out the food in the basket. He went over to a bucket of water and washed his hands then walked toward her.

When he sat down, Rose handed Hoss his plate and began to fix hers. He took the plate away from her and pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “You feel so good,” he said huskily, “I have missed our evenings together. Maybe the furniture will be here soon and then we can move into our house.” Hoss looked down at the plates and smiled. The food was cook to perfection. While they ate, Hoss thought this would be a good time to bring up her birthday. “Rose Darlin’ is there anything special that you would like for your birthday?” Rose looked up at him, touching his face, and said, “A night alone with you would be the best birthday present that you could ever give me. I know that the spring round up is coming up so I don’t want to take you away from your duties here on the ranch. Maybe after we could take a longer trip, but as for now a few days at that old cabin where we spent our honeymoon would be wonderful.” Hoss leaned over, place her plate on the ground, pulled her close to him, and gave her a kiss. The kind of kiss that made Rose want to abandoned herself to her husband and cast her concerns to the wind
A while later they came into the house. Rose went to the kitchen and Hoss joined his family in the Great Room. “Pa, you know that Rose’s Birthday is in two weeks and I was wondering if you would mind if we disappeared for a few days.”

Ben smiled at Hoss “No Son. If you want to take her on a trip I don’t see why not; as long as you are back by the round up next month.”

“Thanks Pa, but she won’t go on a long trip right now, but maybe after the round up and the branding we could do that. Right now she just wants to go up to the cabin by the lake and spend a few days there. I’ve got two weeks to get it ready, so in the morning I’m going to ride over there and check out and see what needs to be done to make it ready.”

Rose walked out of the kitchen and said her goodnights to the family. She walked over to Hoss; he kissed her and said. “I’ll be up in a minute, I’ve got to talk over some things with Pa.” The happy look that she had in her eyes disappeared. He took her in his arms and whispered. “Honey, I promise I’ll be up in a few minutes” and then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

Ben walked over to Hoss as Rose went up the stairs. He placed his hand on Hoss’s shoulder “Son, we can talk later. I think that you should go upstairs to your wife.” “Thank you Pa, I don’t know what I did, but I better go and see.

By the time that Rose reached their bedroom, tears were rolling down here cheeks and feeling ashamed for her actions. When she married Hoss, she knew that she was going to have to share him with the Ponderosa Ranch, but at times it just got to be a little hard for her to do that. She changed into her nightgown that was Hoss’s favorite. It was one that she bought in San Francisco for their honeymoon. “Maybe when he sees me in this he won’t be mad at me for acting like a child.” She said as she was brushing her hair, Hoss walked in. Rose turned around and went into his arms.

The tears flowed down her cheeks and onto Hoss’s shirt. With every tear that fell, the more that his heart broke, she looked up at him and said “ Baby, I’m sorry. I acted like such a child, please forgive me. I know that this is a very busy time for you and here I am acting like such a spoiled little girl. Forget what I said about the special night. I know that this is not the best time for that. Go back down and talk to your family about what ever you need to talk about.

Hoss lifted her chin up to him and sweetly kissed her. “Sweetheart don’t cry, first off you are my family, second, we were talking about you and the special night that I have planned, third, there is nothing to forgive. I know that this has been hard on you. Our plans have not come together like we thought. Yes, I have been very busy, but Honey nothing, and I do mean nothing is more important than the time that we have together.” Hoss stepped back from her and said, “You look so good tonight, I have missed you so much these past few weeks.” Hoss picked up Rose and began to kiss her with great and deep passion. He walked over to the bed, gently placed her on the bed. Rose looked into his eyes and said “Let’s not talk any more, we have this moment, so let’s not let it go to waste.” She pulled him down to her and began to kiss him and she unbuttoned his shirt.

The next morning Hoss woke up before the sun can up. He looked into the face of his beloved wife, he look into her sleeping face. How could she think for one moment that this ranch could ever come before her? Didn’t she know that she is the reason that his heart beats, she is the air that he breathed? He though about how he could help her to believe that she is the most important thing to him. He began to stroke her hair as she began to wake up.

“Good Morning Dearest.” Rose said as she raised her head from Hoss’s shoulder and laid it on his chest. What do you have planned for today” Hoss smiled at her sleepy face. “I’ve got some work to do close to the lake, why don’t you meet me up there and we have lunch together.” Rose’s head popped up and she smiled at him and said, “that would be a wonderful idea. Are sure that it would not disrupt your day” Hoss pushed back her hair from her serene face, smiled and said, “Darlin, how many times do I have to tell you that you could not disrupt my day. I am part owner of this ranch, so I think that I can enjoy lunch with my wife anytime I want.” Rose snuggled closer to his firm, muscular body. He had a way of making her feel so safe and secure.

Later that morning, Rose was in the kitchen preparing their picnic lunch. She asked one of the hands to hitch up the surrey. She was filled with excited anticipation, thinking about having lunch along with her beloved. When she finished packing the basket, she went upstairs to get herself ready. She put on Hoss’s favorite dress, went outside and began her journey to the lake.

Arriving at the lake, she saw Hoss finishing up his work. Hoss saw Rose driving toward him. It amazed him still, to realize how truly blessed he felt. He had been given this beautiful, caring woman as his wife and here she was coming to him to bring him his lunch. Hoss walked toward the surrey and helped Rose down.

“Good afternoon my love, are you ready for lunch?” Rose asked as she put down her basket and returned his kiss. “Girl, you know that I am, I didn’t think that you would ever get here. Embracing her, he leaned down and gave her a deep and passionate kiss. Rose delightfully threw her arms around his neck and returned the kiss.

After lunch Hoss was lying in Rose’s lap as she played with his hair they began to talk about the coming events. “While we are gone on the round-up, why don’t you go into town and spend some time with your brother.” Rose looked down at him and smiled. “I was thinking about doing just that. I have not gotten to spend much time with him lately. He has been seeing Ashton Miller, you know the preachers at Carson City’s daughter. I think that it is getting serious and I need to check it out.” Rose leaned over and whispered to Hoss “I don’t want to talk about Dervin any more” Hoss drew her down to him and kissed her in ways that made the world go away. How they both had missed these mid-day meetings. That would soon change when they would be able to move into their house.

They laid on the blanket cuddle together as Hoss was beginning to drift off to sleep, Rose took in deep breaths. She loves to breathe in his manly scent of horse, leather and wood. Rose raised up and asked, “By the way, what are you working on up here?” “Sweetheart, lay back down and quit asking so many questions. It’s a surprise and I aim to keep it that way.” Rose lay back down and smiled. She knew his weakness and she would find out what this surprise was.

The next few weeks were like they were back on their honeymoon. They spent every moment that they could together. They just seem like they couldn’t get enough of each other. If Hoss took the afternoon off, Rose would remember what Hoss said and just enjoyed it.

The day before her birthday, Hoss came into the house and met Rose with a kiss that made her heart skip a beat.

“Come with me out to the barn” Hoss whispered in her ear. She followed him out and when they entered the barn, she saw Chubb and her horse Ginny, packed for a trip. “Hoss, what is all of this, you know that we can’t leave the Ponderosa right now, it’s to close to the round up.” Hoss looked at Rose with a glee in his eye. “Who said anything about leaving the Ponderosa, Just get on Ginny so you can start enjoying your birthday surprise.”

Rose looked at Hoss in wonder, “but I thought I told you to forget that. We could spend that night together after the round-up.” Hoss looked down at Rose and started to speak. Rose started first. “I know what you said, and I do thank you for this trip. All right, let’s go to my surprise. Let me go inside first and pack a bag and tell the family good-bye.” Hoss laugh and said. “No need to pack a bag, I’ve already got your clothes at the surprise place and the family already knows that we are leaving. They helped me get it all together.”

The couple rode into the woods. When they came into the cabin that the used for their honeymoon Rose looked up at Hoss and began to cry. She felt so blessed to have married such a thoughtful and caring man. Hoss lifted Rose off Jenny and carried her into the cabin. It looked very much it did that first night. There were candles and flowers everywhere. The bed was made up in the same fine lace and linen sheets. She couldn’t believe it. He had not forgotten one single detail. Touching his face, she began to kiss him with a passion that came from deep within her soul. This is the feeling that use to scare her, but now, uses it to express the deep and tender love she had for her beloved man.

Hoss stood her on the floor and began to undress her as she undressed him. They made love that night with as much passion, want and desire as they did that first night.

The next morning Hoss woke Rose up with a sweet tender kiss.

“Happy birthday Darlin’, did you sleep well?” Hoss said as he began to kiss her again, more deeply.

“As much as I would love to stay here with you this morning, Birthday Girl, breakfast is on the table and we have a lot of things to do this morning.” Hoss said as he began to roll out of bed.

Rose sat up and saw the feast that lay on the table. She reached for her dressing gown and slippers and walked over to the table. She couldn’t believe what she saw before her. The table was filled with all of her favorites. Blueberry pancakes, bacon, ham, biscuits and gravy, eggs, and grits. There was also a pot of tea with honey.

“How…where…who…” Rose looked at Hoss with questioning eyes. Hoss laugh and said, “Ole Hop Sing met me half way this morning. I hope that you’re hungry, because we’ve got a long day a head of us, so we better get to eating before it gets cold.

After breakfast they took a ride. Rose loved this special time that they had together. They stopped in the woods and Hoss helped her off of Ginny, took out a bandana and placed it over her eyes. He picked her up and said “Now to your birthday surprise.” Rose laid her head down on his shoulder. She nussled his neck and said, “have I told you lately that I love you.” Hoss smiled and said, “Not in the last hour, so you best say it again” He leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head. At the end of their walk, they walked into the yard of their house. Hoss put her down and removed the blindfold. She couldn’t believe what she saw, the house was finished. This caused a round of jumping into Hoss’s arms and kisses. “Honey, calm down so that we can go into the house.” Hoss said as she was still kissing him. They walked into the house and she saw that it was finished on the inside as well

Not only finished but also the furniture was all in place. Sitting in the middle of the dining room was two large crates. Hoss let her down so that she could open them. He gave her a tool to open the top and then went and sat down on one of the chairs at the dining room table. He was anxious to see the look on her face when she pulled out the silver and china.

When Rose opened the box and moved the hay that was on top, she looked like a little girl on Christmas morning. She couldn’t believe her eye’s when she pulled out a rose covered teacup. She placed it on the table and ran over to Hoss and sat on his lap. “Thank you , thank you, thank you.” She screamed as she kissed his face.

Hoss laugh and said “Hold on Darlin’, you have one more box to open. She got off his lap and bounced over to the box. When she opened it she saw silver place settings that had roses climbing up the handles. She dropped the lid and ran back over to Hoss and began another round of kisses and thank you.

“I can’t wait to move the rest of the things over here.” Rose said as she danced across the room. Hoss smiled “Honey, didn’t you notice that your piano is here, and if go up stairs you will see that one of the guests bedroom and our bedroom has it’s furniture already.

“You mean, it’s ready for us to move in?” Rose jumped with anticipation “Hold on little gal! We have to go back to the house in the morning to get our clothes and things, but if you want to spend the night here tonight we can.” Rose began to jump some more, “ O yes Hoss that would be wonderful.”

They spent the rest of the day walking over the ground. Hoss showed her were he thought that the garden would go, where the hen house could go. He showed her the barn and all of the other out buildings. With each new sight, Rose’s face glowed brighter and brighter. She couldn’t believe it. She now had a home to call her own.

They walked through the kitchen door, on the table and counters where enough supplies to stock the pantry and have a picnic lunch and supper. Rose looked up at Hoss and smiled “You have thought of everything.” Hoss laugh and said, “well, I can’t take all of the credit for all of this, I just asked Hop Sing to fix couple of boxes of food to get us started until we can get to town and get more supplies. Together they started to stock the pantry with the canned goods that Hop Sing sent over.

When that was finished they took the basket of food that was sent over for lunch and went to the dining table and ate. “I think that the food taste much better eating it here in our home, don’t you think Darling?”

Hoss laugh and said “Yea Sweetheart, I think that it does.” He leaned over and sweetly kissed her. “I think that I will give you some time to get settled while I go back to the cabin and get our thing so that we will be able to stay here tonight.” With great joy, Rose said, “That would be wonderful! I saw that the crates from Mother had not been unpacked and I can’t wait to get the dishes and silverware unpacked and washed as well.

Hoss helped her to get the table cleared and then took off to the cabin to get the things from there.

While Hoss was gone, Rose began to unpack the dished and silverware. She took them to the kitchen and began to wash them. With each dish washed, Rose felt more and more excited about what she was doing. She was washing dished and silverware that her beloved picked out for her in a kitchen that he built for her.

When the dishes were washed and put up in the china hutch Rose began to unpack the things that her mother sent. Each figurine, picture, and whatnot that was sent was lovingly found a special spot. The last thing that was unpacked was a set of candlesticks that belonged to her great-grandmother. She remembered as a little girl, listening to her tell the stories of her putting them in the window so that her great-grandfather could see them as he was coming in from the fields. She walked over to the front window, pulled back the curtains and placed the lit candle on the windowsill.

Hearing the clock chime the hour Rose thought to herself “Hoss will be home soon.” Rose walked into the kitchen and began to warm up the stew and cornbread that Hop Sing sent over for their supper. She went to the china hutch and pulled out the needed dishes and glasses to set the table.

Hoss rode into the yard with the bags from the cabin. He stopped and smiled as he saw the light coming from the house. He looked in wonderment as he saw the tiny flicker of light coming from the front window. He couldn’t imagine why Rose had a candle in the window, but it did bring a joyous felling to his heart. It reminded of the stories that his pa told him as a little boy about how the ships would use lighthouses to help them come to dock at night.

Walking in the door, Hoss could smell the wonderful aroma of Hop Sings stew and cornbread. Within moments Rose was before him. “Welcome Home, Beloved.” Rose smiled, “Doesn’t that have a wonderful ring to it.” She stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a sweet kiss. “Supper is about to be placed on the table, go wash up and we will eat.

After supper and the dishes were washed, dried and, put away, Rose joined Hoss on the settee were he was reading a book of Shakespeare’s Sonnets. She snuggled in close as he began to read her favorite number 40. “O Hoss, you remembered!” She snuggled closer as he read.

That first evening in their new home was spent in each other’s arms as Hoss read the much loved sonnets to the one that makes his heart beat. The night was spent very much the same way. Her becoming more and more the reason that his heart beated and him becoming more and more her joy of life.
The next few weeks were spent get use to the new house. Hoss couldn’t believe the change that had come over Rose. She was back to her old self.

When Hoss came home from a long day of minding fence, he was met at the door with an aroma that made his mouth water. The air was permeated with the smells of the Roast Beef, Roasted Potatoes, and bread that Rose was had cooked for supper. The table was set with Rose’s Grandmothers China, silver and crystal. Hoss began to think hard, what had he missed. He knew that it was not their anniversary, it was neither ones birthday. He was racking his brain thinking what all of this was about, when he saw his beautiful bride coming down the stairs.

“Come sit down at the table darling, supper is ready” Rose gave Hoss a kiss and took him to the table. She brought in the roast beef cooked to a perfect medium rare. Just the way that Hoss liked it. The roasted potatoes, bread and green beans were already on the table. After being in the rain all day this was a wonderful to come home to this wonderful meal and his beautiful wife.

After the meal was finished and the dished were washed and put away. Rose joined Hoss on the settee. “Darlin, tell me about your trip to town.” Hoss said as he pulled her closer to him. “Well, I went to the post office to get the mail, we got a letter from Mother, went to Jones’s Mercantile to get some new material, went to the church to see Dervin, dropped off your order at the lumber yard, and made a visit to Dr. Martin”. When Rose said Dr. Martin’s name Hoss sat up, with fear in his voice looked into her eyes. “Sweetheart are you alright? Are you sick? What have you not told me? Is this why you are always so tired”

Rose smiled at Hoss, touched his face and said “Yes, there is a reason that I have been tired lately. We are going to have a baby” A look of shock came over Hoss’s face. “A ba…baby.” Tears were beginning to form in Hoss’s eyes. He couldn’t believe what he had heard. They were going to have a baby! He hugged her, but a little to hard, until Rose let out a little moan. “O baby, I’m sorry! Did I hurt you?” Rose smiled “No Darling I’m fine.” He placed his hand on her stomach and leaned over and gave her a kiss.

The next five months were pretty uneventful. Rose’s mood swings were minimal at least what she would show Hoss, and at night when the baby started to kick, Hoss would start at her stomach with amazement that his child would soon be in his arms.

On a cold winter morning Rose came down the stairs to fix breakfast when her labor began. Hoss can in from the barn just in time to see Rose double over in pain.

Hoss ran over to her and helped her back up the stairs to their bedroom. Honey I’ve got to go over to Mrs. Anna’s House are you going to be alright for a few minutes?” Rose tried to ease Hoss’s worried face. “I’ll be fine the pains are about 20 minutes apart so we have a little time”
Hoss leaned over and gave Rose a kiss and ran down the stairs to the barn to saddled Chubb. They left the barn like a streak of lightning riding toward Anna Davis’s House

When he rode in to Anna’s yard, Hoss started to scream “Mrs. Anna, Mrs. Anna it time, the baby is coming.” A little white haired lady came out of the house putting on her coat. Hoss jumped off of Chubb and ran into her barn and hitched up her horse and buggy. When she arrived into the barn. Hoss was almost finished with the buggy.

Anna looked at Hoss and smiled. “How close are the pains, son.” Hoss looked at her calm face, took in a deep breath and said “When I left, they were 20 minutes apart.” Anna patted Hoss hand and said, “everything will be alright. I’ll go to your house and you go get your family.

Anna went toward Hoss’s house and Hoss started toward the Ponderosa to get his family.

“Pa! Joe! Adam!” Hoss shouted as he came riding into the yard like the devil himself was after him. “It’s time, it’s time.” Ben came out of the house. “Son, what is all of the shouting about”. Hoss caught his breath “It’s Rose…the baby…it’s time…I’ve got to get back…come now! Mrs. Davis…already…at the… house.” Hoss turned Chubb around and left the yard as quick as he came.

Ben ran into the barn. He told one of the ranch hands to ride to the church and tell Rev. Pickard that his sister was having her baby. Adam and Joe had already gotten Buck ready and were almost through with Sport and Chochise. They all rode as fast as they could to Hoss and Rose’s house.

The three road into the yard, They could hear Rose’s scream, and Hoss running up the stairs. They walked into the house and sat down as Mrs. Davis ordered Hoss to leave the room. Ben led Hoss to the settee and sat him down. Ben thought, “ O Inger, I wish you were here. I know that we would all be much calmer if you were.” He looked at his worried son and said. “ Now son, you know that men are not allowed at a birthing, and especially when Anna Davis is in charge. Don’t worry, everything is going to be alright. It’s all now just a waiting game.” That was just what worried Hoss the most, the waiting. He tried to be strong, but the longer that he had to wait…the more that he couldn’t sit still. When he couldn’t sit any longer, Rev. Pickard walks into the house. “How is she?” Ben looked at Dervin; “It’s going well. Mrs. Davis is with her and everything will be fine. Hoss and I are going outside to take care of the horses, would you like to come with us?”

Hoss looked at his father and said “Pa, I can’t leave the house, what if Rose needs me.” Son, now I know how you feel, but if she needs you, you will be able to hear her outside just as well if we were in here.” Hoss looked at his father and walked toward the door. The three of them went to the horses and took them all to he barn, where they rubbed them down and fed them. When Hoss finished, he was much calmer. That was until he heard Rose scream again. He dropped the brush and ran back into the house. He stepped onto the porch just in time to hear a cry of a baby. A big smile came across Hoss‘s face. “Pa! Dervin! Come quick.” Both men ran out of the barn towards Hoss. They said together, “What is it. Is Rose alright?” Then they heard a soft cry of a baby and both just looked at Hoss who was standing and staring at the door. “Ben placed his hand on Hoss’s back and softly said. “It’s alright Son, go in and meet your new child”

Hoss smiled at Ben and when into the house as Mrs. Davis walked down the stairs. “Well, Papa would you like to meet your new daughter.” She placed a tiny bundle in Hoss’s big arms. “Hold her while I get her mama ready for visitors. At the saying of his wife's name Hoss looked at Mrs. Davis. “Is she all right. When can I see her? Tell her that I love her.” They all smiled at Hoss. “It will be a few more minutes, I’ll call you when you can come up. “ He looked down at his baby girl and then looked at the rest of the men in the room. He couldn’t believe what he was holding. Ben took the baby and tears began to flood his eyes “Hoss, she looks just like your mother.” Hoss looked down at her and smiled. Mrs. Davis walked back down the stairs, took the baby, and told Hoss that he could come up and see Rose.

He walked into the bedroom and saw Rose sitting up in the bed taking the baby from Mrs. Davis. His emotions were so full that he dared not speak. He just walked over and sat on the bed and kissed his wife. “Isn’t she beautiful, I was thinking that I would like to name her after her two grandmothers. How about Inger Elizabeth Cartwright. Hoss picked up the picture of his mother that was on his chest of drawers and smiled. “Did you hear that Mama. Your little boy is now a pa himself.” He kissed the picture, sat it down, and went back to Rose who was holding a sleeping Baby Inger. Gave them both a kiss. Yes, Hoss was now a father. His life was now perfect.

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