Sleigh Bells

By Sadiespinner Dec. 2005

“I hewers em’ yep, its em, alwight!”

“No you don’t, now get down from that chair, yer gonna fall and I’m not getting in trouble again cause’ of you!”

“Nuh-huh…I cans sos’ hewer em’”

The chubby blond boy stood on tiptoe once again to press his little nose against the pane of glass, making a little circle in the frost covering.

“If you don’t watch out yer gonna freeze yer nose to that glass an’ then yer gonna be stuck, till spring, and miss out on Christmas, and Pa ell’ be real mad, an” (“Yeah, mad allright and who is he gonna be mad at . . . ME!”) That thought interrupted his scolding. Shaking his head the slim dark haired boy put down the book he appeared to be reading, but had his ear tuned to any sound coming from outside.

Turning from his precarious perch, the younger boy glowered as fierce as he could, being all of 3 years old, and having seen this_ _ expression on both his Pa, and big brother often enough in the last few weeks he figured he did a pretty good job of it.

“Is that supposed to scare me? Herumph! better not let Pa, no, better not let St. Nicholas see that!”

The dark brows rose over the dark eyes glinting in the light of the fire crackling merrily in the fireplace. He waited for the effect to hit. When the younger boy simply snorted and turned back to his original objective his older brother sighed dramatically. Getting up he dragged himself reluctantly away from the warmth of the hearth.

“Hoss, how many times do I have to tell you, we don’t have a sleigh, so you can’t be hearing sleigh bells, there ain’t, I mean aren’t (He had been practicing better grammar lately in hopes of proving to his Pa how mature and grown up he was, in so doing Pa might relent and let him do more important things, than keeping an eye on Hoss.)

“Aren’t any, you can’t have sleigh bells without a sleigh!” He was getting just a bit tired of repeating this.

Arms now folded across his little chest, which he puffed out to better make his point, he re-faced the boy now standing next to him. Blue eyes met dark Hazel.

At that moment a gust of wind battered against the side of the little cabin, startled by the fact he could feel it right through the wall, the younger boy leaped into his brothers arms. Both went reeling and landed with a thud.

“OOWWW.”

Adam Cartwright sat slowly up, he was furious. He shoved the younger boy from his chest, vigorously rubbing the back of his head.

“Whatch do that fer?”

The younger boy’s eyes filled with tears, he rubbed his arm, which his brother had landed on as it was around his back when they fell.

“S-sowwry Ad-em, I gots sc-sc-scarried, the win’ blowed wrrigt frew the wall, an’ an.”

“Well didn’t I tell ya ta get down, in the first place?”

Dragging his arm over his face, the little boy’s head nodded in defeat. ‘Uh, huh.’

“But Ad-em I wreally hearded em’. . . hones.’ ” The chubby fingers crossed over his heart so contritely, as two big tears rolled down from his eyes.

“Sigh, Okay, so you think you heard Sleigh bells, maybe someone was passing by on the road over near the woods.” Reaching out he ruffled his baby brother’s soft hair.

A small smile turned the corners of Hoss’ mouth. His little nose had a red spot right on the tip from pressing it to the glass.

“Common’ come sit by the fire, you are shivering.”

Adam stood, dusting the seat of his pants gently. Hoss was much bigger than most 3 year olds, and heavy to boot. Hoss sat there looking up, he adored Adam, and for the most part
rarely questioned anything he said or did.

Extending his arm he let Adam help him to his feet and with a protective arm around his shoulders he went over to the fire. Adam sat him down on the floor in front of the bench, closer to the fire and took the blanket from the small wooden bench and draping it around his own shoulders he sat next to Hoss and wrapped them together pulling him up close.

“There, better now? How bout’ I read ta ya?”

The little blond head leaned into his shoulder and nodded, snuggling even closer. Adam began to read. His soft voice seemed to keep time with the crackle and snap of the logs as they burned. The wind whispered around the corners and kissed the windows, leaving another layer of spidery crystals.

Ben Cartwright rode home through a soft falling snow, he was bone tired, his hunt had not gone as he wanted, and it would be rabbit again.

Things were extra harsh and tight this year due to early snow and lack of provisions getting through, that’s why he had almost wanted to beg the small Oriental man he had found along the road to come with him, but he had slipped away into the trees before Ben had the chance. No matter how slim his food supply, Ben could never in good conscience not offer help to anyone less fortunate than himself. At this moment he did not feel all that fortunate, but he had his sons, they were fortune enough for him, worth more than all the silver or gold in the world.

Reaching his little homestead, his actions were more of routine than conscious thought as he led his horse into the barn. Slowly and with effort he finished his chore and catch in hand he crossed the short distance to his front door. Lifting the latch letting himself and a small snow squall in at the same time. Adam lifted his head at the touch of cold air at his back, the blanket had slipped down to his waist, but still protected Hoss. Turning he grinned, Pa was back, now he could relax. Being sure he did not wake his sleeping brother he extricated himself and hurried over. Ben had shed his coat, hat and muffler, his warm brown eyes apologetically met those deep hazel. It was what he did not say held the message, (Sorry but we are having rabbit again.)

The boy took the catch and heading towards the small kitchen area, called over his shoulder, “Don’t matter Pa, we can find a way to make it taste different.”

Pain and pride warred in the man’s heart. “Yes, son perhaps we can.” he whispered.
(When did this little boy get so grown up, and wise?) Shaking his head Ben went to stand by the fire and realized the little lump all curled up in the blanket. “Well, well, what have we here, what ever are you doing sleeping on the floor?”

Adam had returned and shrugging he explained. “I was reading while we waited for ya, and guess the fire made us sleepy.” He looked up hoping his Pa was not angry for his letting little Hoss sleep on the cold floor. To his relief and embarrassment, Pa encircled him in a great warm hug, pressing Adam’s head to his chest. “Thank you son, for taking such good care of your little brother all the time for me, I know it is hard work.”

“Naw, Pa, but . . . “

There was a knock on the door, startling and at first frightening both boy and man. Ben put his finger to his lips and motioned Adam to get down next to Hoss. His first impulse was to argue he wanted to stand by his father, then realized where he was most needed, sinking instinctively to cover Hoss with his own body.

The knock came again, hesitant then more firmly.

Ben crept silently over and pulled his gun from the holster he had curled up and hung on a peg.

“Who are you and what do you want?” He harshly spoke in a loud whisper, hoping to be heard without waking and scaring his sleeping baby boy.

“It Hop Sing, I wish thank you, come help, as you ask.”

The soft accented voice shivered, as did the small body not really dressed for the weather.

Ben let a slow smile ride up his face as he turned to see the dark eyes peering at him over the top of the bench. Nodding he opened the door.

“Come in my friend, and welcome, Adam come here and meet Mr. Hop Sing.”

A hand shot up in protest. “No, not Mr. You Mr. I just Hop Sing.”

Ben began his own protest but before his words left his mouth, Adam had come up to the little man and taken his bags with a dazzling smile, as Hop Sing bowed to him he did so in return. “Hi Hop Sing, how many ways to do know how to make rabbit?”

From over by the fire a small muffled voice was heard to say.

“I did so hears jindle bewlls.” Then a little blond head popped up sleepily rubbing his eyes. “Oh hiya, mister . . . oops hiya Papa, he scrambled over to be gathered up in a big hug, he smelled all warm and sweet, and his Pa breathed in his innocence deeply and gave him a shinny eyed smile a mile wide.

“Hi yourself young fella,’ have you been good for your brother?”

For a fleeting instant there was a shadow over his face.

“Sure he was Pa, we both were, huh little brother?”

“Yep.”

“Good. Because you know who is watching right?”

Both boys nodded but Adam had a twinkle of mischief in is eye.

“Sure do Pa.” Then he turned his attention to the little man watching the exchange between this big strong, no nonsense, man whom now showed such gentle tenderness and purely glowed with love for these boys.

“Honorable Fatha’ go take boys by fire get warm, evley thing be Okay, Hop Sing here now, he take good care of Cartlights, know lots ways to make Labbit and, much more, you see, I go fix chop-chop.”

A Great smile bloomed on his face, stretching from ear to ear. Hop Sing nodded he had found a home.

Ben turned, Hoss on his one arm and his other hand over Adam shoulder. “Well I guess that’s settled, what do you think boys?”

“Yummm.”

“I think you made a wise choice sir, but how did he know we needed a cook, not that you are a bad cook, it’s just well, I mean,” his voice began to wind down as he floundered in an attempt to get out of the mess he was creating for himself. His father merely raised his brow in that way of his and waited.

“Are you quite finished with that hole you just dug, it must be at least 10 feet deep.”

Adam hung his head, biting the side of his lip.

Ben knew what he had been doing, how grown up he was attempting his input to be.

“Thank you for your vote of confidence in my judgment Adam.”

The boys face went deep red, he shifted on his feet, as Ben sat down on the bench Hoss in his lap he brought Adam down alongside him. Wrapping his arm around both his boys he sighed.

Silence but for the sound of shuffling in the kitchen area, and the pop and crackle of logs,
reigned for a few minutes more.

“Papa, yous heared em’ didnch’?”

Adam rolled his eyes muttering under his breath, here we go again.

“What son?”

“Them jindle bewlls, the ones’s on th’ s-s-lay, what Adam says we don’t got.”

Adam shook his head and put it in his hands.

Ben hid a smile and put a very serious look on his face, except for the quick wink for his eldest son.

“Well, Hoss, I might have, what did they sound like?”

The little boy shrugged, hand turned up, blue eyes sparking, “Gee Papa, doncha’ fink I knows whats jindle bewlls soundses wike?”

“Like maybe Saint Nicholas, might have been passing by to check up on a certain two little boys?”

Both sets of eyes went so wide Ben had a hard time not laughing right out loud, one Blue set full of awe and a hint of worry, the other deep Hazel, had a brow arched over one eye it looked suspicious and hesitant at the same time.

Hoss grinned at Adam, “See, I telleded ya thems was jindle bewlls.”

Adam opened is mouth to reply but the slight tip of his father’s head, changed his answer, he swallowed his rebuttal and instead replied. “Yep, little brother, you were most likely right, aren’t you glad now that we both were soooo gooood while Pa was out hunting?”

The look that passed between brothers this time Ben could not ignore, a great rumbling laugh bubbled up and he felt his eyes start to get watery.

Just in the Nick of time, from far away on the crisp air, there came a faint tinkling, very like that of a sleigh belle jingling. Not long after a small gust blew a little snow under the front door and a handful of pine needles laid in it.

The End.

Do You Believe? I do.

Sadie.

Also, God sends us Angels whenever we need them, but you can never tell who or what they might look like.

May the peace and love of Christmas cover you all, and may you never stop believing in the magic of this Season, or the reason we celebrate.

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