Adam and Beth stood at their large, upstairs, Master bedroom window, and watched as a massive cloud of  snowflakes came swirling in across Lake Tahoe, and started covering the ground of  ‘Bourne’s Meadow’ - their ‘little corner’ of the Ponderosa -  in a white mantel. He reached one arm around Beth’s waist, as he looked down at her, and smiled. “We’re in luck, Beth. Looks like we got the house finished in time !” She smiled up at him. “ It’s not finished yet, Adam. You said so last night… Though I can’t imagine what’s left to do - it looks pretty finished to me !” Adam lowered his arm, and reached for her hand. “ You’re mostly  right, Beth. But come on downstairs for a minute - then you’ll see.” He led her to their dining room, and walked over to a piece of moulding, that surrounded the large window, and pointed to one nail - at the very top, in the very middle - that still stuck out about an inch or so. She looked at him questioningly, as he said, “ Be back in a minute…” He pulled on his hat and jacket, and opened the door. A flurry of snowflakes had been carried by the westerly wind, and penetrated the porch overhang, and had blown through the door, before he’d managed to shut it behind him. A few minutes later, he returned - hammer in hand - and, walking over to that piece of moulding, raised it towards that one nail. With great satisfaction, he whacked it a few times, then the nail’s head sat flush against the moulding. “ NOW it’s finished !” , he announced, with a broad grin. “That’s the very last nail - and we’ll always remember JUST where it is !” He leaned to kiss her cheek, as Beth reached her arms around his neck. “Oh, Adam - you do like a bit of ‘ceremony’, sometimes, don’t you, sweetheart ?” He just nodded, and smiled, as he reached his arms around her waist. “Of course - just one of many memories, to come, in this house of ours…” As he kissed her again, they were interrupted by Sarah, stomping down the stairs.“ Good morning, Ma and Pa - when’s breakfast ?!” Beth smiled to her daughter. “Now you’re finally downstairs, I can begin cooking it ! It’ll just be a few minutes, Sarah. Can you set the table for me, please ?” Sarah made herself busy, getting the dishes and cutlery from the buffet,  and putting them where they needed to be, as Beth got busy frying up  the bacon and eggs breakfast for them all. While his ‘two girls’ were preoccupied, Adam crept out to the barn, and returned carrying two items, that had been hidden in that barn, for a couple of weeks. He placed them - side by side - by the mammoth sized stone fireplace, in the great room. He then walked into the kitchen, just as Beth was dishing up their breakfasts. He helped her carry in their plates, and they took their seats around the table. Adam was smiling, as he began his meal - looking forward to Beth’s reaction to the two new ‘pieces of furniture’ that had been added to the room. When they finished eating, Adam stood, and went to Beth’s end of the table. “ I have a surprise I made for you, sweetheart. Come see.” He took her hand, and Sarah followed them, as he led her to the fireplace. There, sitting side-by-side, alongside the hearth stones, were two beautifully carved  babies’ cradles. Beth took one look, and the tears of happiness started to flow. “ Adam , did you really make them yourself ?!” He just nodded. “ Yep. Every  stroke of the carvers knife,
and every last screw. What do you think ?” She reached up to wipe the tears away, a little. “They’re just beautiful, Adam - just beautiful !!” Sarah knelt down, and ran her hand along the fine, dark, walnut coloured, wood. “They’re so cute, Pa ! I love the little lambs, carved into the wood !” Adam smiled again. “I got that idea from my own cradle, my Pa made for me. Unfortunately, after being passed down to my two younger brothers, it’s best days are behind it, now, though…” Beth looked surprised. “ You still have it, Adam ?” He sighed. “ Yeah. It’s the one thing Pa always kept - the ‘first bed’, of his three sons - thought it was somehow lucky. It’s tucked safely away in the hay loft….” Beth drew him to one side, and whispered, as Sarah continued her careful inspection of the two cradles. “Adam, why two, though ? We don’t even know if we’re having twins, or not, yet…” Adam smiled slowly. “ Well, Beth. Like you’ve mentioned in the past :You’re a twin yourself, and twins do run in your family. I just thought we’d be prepared… Besides, even if twins aren’t ‘in the cards’ - this time - who knows what the future
holds ?  With our record - I just  know that we’ll need that other cradle, in the future…” He winked slyly, and pulled her tenderly into his arms, then he glanced towards the window over his desk, in the office area of the large, great room. “ I think we’d better make a move soon, to head into Virginia City. We still have to pick up the last of our furniture, and get you to your doctor’s appointment, too, Beth. It looks like the snow will be piling up, before too much longer.” She smiled up at him, then nodded in agreement. On ALL counts……

Adam walked out to the paddock, through the lightly swirling snow, and grabbed the two Belgian draught horses :  ‘Belle’ and  ‘Beau’ -  that great wedding gift from Hoss and Joe - and named by Sarah -  and led them towards the drive shed, to hitch them up to the large buckboard. By the time the horses were harnessed, and connected to the wagon, both Beth and Sarah had come outside - bundled up nicely, in their warm winter clothes - and ready for the long drive into town. Adam helped each of them up, then clambered up himself, between them, into the driver’s seat. With a slap of the long lines on those two dark Palomino coloured backs, they were on their way. It was a snowy  4th. of December, 1860. Just six days before Sarah’s tenth birthday - and Little Joe’s eighteenth  - and just three weeks before Christmas…
They pulled into the barnyard of the other house, on the Ponderosa, and Adam called out, as he pulled his team to a stop. “ Hello - anybody home ?!” The door of the large, rambling ranch house opened, and Ben, Hoss and Joe hurried outside. Adam grinned.
“ Hi - I’ve come to pick up some ‘muscle’ to help me with the furniture-any volunteers?” Hoss and Joe both laughed, and Joe  answered  his question. “You know it was already arranged, Adam ! We’ll be ready in a few minutes.” Pulling on their jackets, they headed towards the barn, to saddle their horses. Ben smiled as he approached their wagon. “How are you all ? It’s been such a long time !” Adam smiled at his Pa. “ Pa, it’s only been about a week since we moved out - not that long !” Ben shook his head. “I know that, son. I guess I’m still not used to you all not being here. The house seems kind of empty - till Hoss and Joe get home, of course.” Adam grinned cheekily again. “ Yeah, I guess Hoss does kind of  help to ‘fill the house’, doesn’t he ? ” Ben laughed. “ That’s one of the things I miss, by not having you living here anymore, Adam - your  wonderful sarcasm. I won’t tell him you said that, though !” A few minutes later, Hoss and Joe lead their horses from the barn, and, mounting up, fell in beside Adam’s wagon. Ben raised one hand, to wave them off. “ Now, you all be careful. And - Hoss, Joe - if the weather really starts to get bad, you stay at Adam’s and Beth’s for the night. Don’t want to have to come looking for you in a blizzard ! Take care, you five !” Adam steered the wagon around the corner of the barn, and they were on their way.

The snow had pretty much stopped falling, as they got to Virginia City, and the sun was peaking out from behind  a few remaining clouds. Adam drove the wagon down the main street, towards the Wells Fargo freight depot, where the last of their furniture had arrived from San Francisco. He pulled the team to a stop, then hopped down, and entered the small warehouse. He glanced around, as he called out the depot manager’s name. “ Pete ? Are you here?” He heard footfalls behind him, and turned to see Pete approaching him, his hand held out in greeting. “ Howdy, Adam. Got your things right over there. Just arrived about two days ago.” Pete walked over, and pulled off the protective canvas tarpaulin. A beautiful  dark brown leather settee, and two matching high backed, winged, arm chairs, caught the sun that shone through a nearby window. Adam smiled. “ They look just great, Pete. Thanks.” Just then, Hoss and Joe entered the warehouse, and started helping Adam load them onto the big buckboard. Pete joined them, as they finished loading the last piece. “Here, Adam. You can borrow the tarp - help protect them on the drive back to the ranch.” Adam smiled, as he took the tarp from his hands, and passed it up to his younger brothers. Joe and Hoss started pulling it over the precious cargo, and tying it into place. “ That’s wonderful, Pete. Thank you very much.” Moments later, he climbed up onto the buckboard ,and they headed for the outskirts of town, and Dr. Paul Martin’s office. He parked the buckboard by the good doctor’s hitching rail, and left Hoss and Joe to watch over the team, as he, Beth and Sarah, entered the small practice. They were greeted by Paul’s grinning face, and his bright blue, smiling, eyes. “ How are you feeling, Beth ?” She smiled. “I’m well over the morning sickness - thank goodness - other than that, everything seems to be just fine !” He lead her into his examination room, and closed the door, to check her  more closely. “ Hmm, you seem to be a little big for just over three months gone. You look more like four or four and a half months, Beth. You’re starting to show already.” She looked surprised. “Oh. Is that a bad thing, Paul ?”  He smiled in reply. “It’s only bad if you don’t want to have twins. And, it looks like that just may be the case here…” He placed his hands very tenderly on her abdomen, and looked thoughtful, as he gently palpated her. “ It’s hard to tell, Beth. Then, again, one baby could be in front of the other… Let’s get out the old stethoscope.” He held the horn shaped equipment up to her abdomen, and placed his ear over the narrow end of it. He shook his head slowly. “ I hear something in there - but it’s hard to tell if it’s one heart, or two. I’m going with twins, though, just based on your size…” Beth called out happily to Adam.
“ Adam ! Come quickly ! ” He rushed,  breathlessly, through the door. “ What is it, sweetheart ?!” She just started to laugh, in pure joy. “ Paul thinks we’re having twins ! Twins, Adam - imagine that !!” Adam drew her into his arms, and Sarah rushed in, too, on hearing the commotion. When her parents told her the good news, she just grinned.

“ Guess it’s a good thing you made two cradles after all, isn’t it, Pa?!” Adam reached over to tenderly stroke her hair. “It sure is, Sarah. It sure is !”
A few minutes later, they had all climbed aboard the buckboard , and Adam had reined the team around, to head back down the main street of Virginia City again. They enjoyed the Christmas decorations that adorned all the store fronts : beautifully scented pine
boughs, and wreaths, with sparkling, colourful, glass decorations adorning them.  With the light coating of fluffy snow, covering everything, the city really was getting into the whole Christmas spirit. Adam turned to Beth  “Do you ladies need anything in town, while we’re here ?” Beth just smiled up to him. “With Sarah’s and Joe’s  birthdays being six days away, and Christmas being only three weeks - do you really have to ask ?!”  Hoss and Joe both grinned, and nodded in agreement, from their horses’ backs, and Adam smiled to himself. “ No - I guess not. I have to go pay a feed bill, at the feed store. How about I meet you ladies back here in about half an hour ?” Beth smiled again, and Sarah just giggled. “Alright, Adam. But make it an hour, instead, sweetheart….”Adam just shrugged, as he helped them down. “ Fair enough. An hour it is…” Hoss and Joe rode off, too, to look after their own  shopping. He steered the wagon back down the street, and stopped in front of the feed store. After the payment had been made, he headed to the Virginia City livery stable….

He was greeted by Miguel, as he stepped down. “ Hello, Adam - Come to pay for that dapple grey gelding ?” Adam put a friendly arm around the young man’s shoulders, as they walked into the busy stable together. “ Sure have, Miguel. Beth hasn’t stopped talking about that little horse since the day we rented it back in August. It looks just like the horse she had as a kid, apparently. She’ll be so surprised getting it for Christmas, won’t she ?! Now, remember Miguel - I’ll have it picked up Christmas eve afternoon by one of the hands, if I can’t make it into town myself, okay ?” Miguel smiled at his old friend. “ Sure, Adam. We can board him for you till then. My boss already has the bill made out. It’s in the office.” Within a few minutes, Beth’s very special present had been paid for - plus his board for three weeks - and Adam was heading back to the main street’s  ‘Cass’ General Store and Emporium’. He checked his pocket watch, and seeing that he still had about half an hour or so, decided he’d kill the time in the saloon, across the street. Sam was working there, and smiled at Adam, as he came through the door.“ I sure don’t have to ask you how married life suits you, Adam - you look really happy.” Adam grinned, as Sam handed him his ‘usual’. “ I am, Sam. Thanks.” The half hour had soon been ‘wiled away’, making small talk, and hearing all the news in town, then Adam left to meet up with Beth and Sarah again. He watched as they came out of the store - their arms full of carefully wrapped packages - and he rushed over to help load them onto the buckboard. “ Just what IS all this stuff, Beth ?!” She grinned. “ You shouldn’t ask that question this close to Christmas, Adam - you know that !” He nodded in agreement, then “ Sarah, do you have your letter to Santa Claus ? Want me to check the spelling ? You know what a stickler old Santa can be, when it comes to spelling and grammar…” He winked to Beth, as Sarah removed the ‘document’, and an envelope, from a coat pocket, and held it out to him. He read down the page quickly. “Hmm, let’s see… ‘Dear Santa, How have you, Mrs. Claus, all the elves, and the reindeer , been ? I have been fine, and tried to be as good a girl as I can be - most of the time. But here is a small list of what I’d like to have - I don’t want too much, Santa… a rifle, a new saddle pad for Rebel, a new dress for Emily’ -  that’s your dolly, right ?” Sarah nodded, wide eyed. He continued reading - “…‘a new puzzle, a book about animals, a colouring book and crayons, and candy’ ” He then folded it up, and handed it back to her. “ Spelling and grammar looks just fine, Sarah. And I’m sure that Santa will appreciate your honesty, too, as far as your behavior goes…”, and he winked at her. She put the letter in the envelope, then handed it to her Pa again. “ Does the address look alright, Pa ?!” Adam smiled, as he read the child like scrawl  ‘Santa Claus, North Pole’ carefully written across the front of the small envelope. “ Looks just fine. That should get it there, Sarah. Here’s a penny for the postage.”  Adam pulled the coin, from his pocket, and handed it to her, then she happily dashed to the post office, just a few doors down the street, as her parents watched her go. “Oh, Adam, that is so cute.  That’s such a nice way to get to know what she wants, isn’t
it ?”

Adam smiled, as he reached one arm around her shoulders. “You know, there’s a part of me that hopes she never ‘figures it out’, Beth…” Just then, Hoss and Joe rode up, both loaded down with parcels, too, which they quickly placed onto the rapidly growing pile of packages, placed carefully around the furniture, in the back of the buckboard. Adam smiled. “That’s quite a collection back there. In all that buying, did Sarah get a birthday present yet ?” She grinned up at her Pa. “No, Pa, but I know what I want - a jackknife, for whittling and carving, and a paint pallet set.” Adam raised one eyebrow.
“That’s kind of a funny combination - why would you want that ? ” Beth suddenly laughed. “Don’t ask, Adam - she has her reasons, I’m sure !” Beth winked at her daughter, and Sarah giggled. Adam shrugged, as he reached some more money from his pocket. “If that’s what you really want, sweetie, here you are !” Sarah rushed into the store, with her Ma hot on her heels. They’d soon returned with the purchases, and climbed onto the buckboard again. As Adam turned the team towards home, with Hoss and Joe falling in beside them, on their own mounts, the snow began to fall again, gently blowing up the street.

By the time they’d gotten near the ‘main house’, on the Ponderosa, the snow really was starting to pile up. Joe and Hoss made a quick stop to let their Pa know they’d be spending the night at Adam and Beth’s home. No need to make the ride back to their own home, in the dark, snowy cold - after helping Adam unload the furniture, at his home - especially after Beth’s offer of sharing a delicious beef stew with them ! The sun had almost set, as they drove, and rode, their way up the long drive of Adam and Beth’s home, between the corrals, on either side. As they pulled to a stop in front of the large ranch house, Hoss grinned. “You know, Adam - I like the fact that you made your house mostly like ours. It’s almost like coming home, twice !” Adam smiled as he stepped down from the wagon, then carefully helped Beth and Sarah down. “I’m just glad I had your help - and all our ranch, hands, too - to get it built as fast as we did. I couldn’t have done it without ALL of you.” As Beth and Sarah rushed into the warmth of the big home, Adam, Hoss, and Joe, got busy unloading the buckboard. All the parcels were carefully carried in, and placed to one side, in one of the spare bedrooms, then the three of them got busy unloading the furniture. The couch was placed, and centered, in front of the fireplace, while the two chairs partially  ‘bracketed’  each end of that comfortable settee. They then hurried back outside to unhitch the team, and unsaddle Chubb and Cochise. It wasn’t long before all the horses had been watered and fed - and shut up safely, in their stalls, in the warmth and shelter of the barn. The three men walked back to the welcoming ranch house - hunched over, in the circling snow, their hats pulled low over their foreheads. As Adam threw the door open, they were met by a roaring, crackling  fire in the massive stone fireplace - it’s warmth enough to heat the entire great room. The smell of the delicious beef stew wafted in from the kitchen, and Adam smiled as he shook the snow from the brim of his hat, hung it up, then removed his coat and holster. “Smells like dinner is just about ready !”

The ‘stew fixings’  that Beth had put on the stove to ‘slow cook’  over the reddened logs- hours before - were cooked to perfection. As they took their places around the table, Beth looked to her daughter. “ Sarah, would you like to say the grace this evening?” She nodded enthusiastically. “Okay, Ma !” They all bowed their heads as she began. “Dear God. Thank you for the bounty you have put before us. And a special thank you to Daisy. Amen”. As they all raised their heads, and began their meals, Adam looked to his little girl. “That was very nice, Sarah - thank you. But who’s ‘Daisy’ ?” She looked to her Pa, with great seriousness, as her brow furrowed a little. “ She’s who’s in the stew, Pa. I think if we’re going to eat someone, we should at least know their name…” Adam rolled his eyes, and looked to the heavens - sorry he’d even asked - as his two younger brothers tried very hard not to laugh out loud, at their little niece. Adam watched as his youngest brother’s face got redder and redder, and the tears were in his eyes, as his whole body began to shake. The mouthful of water, that Joe had just taken in, suddenly spewed right back out, again, through  his nose, as he could hold back no longer - a very loud ‘guffaw’ suddenly escaped him, as Hoss joined in, too, with his usual belly laugh. Even Beth couldn’t help but smile at her little girl’s explanation. Adam handed Joe his napkin, to wipe himself off  with , and Joe’s eyes were just twinkling, as he commented, “ Sarah, I think that’s a very good policy you have there…” Adam held up both his hands, as a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. He flashed a sideways glance - and a wink - at  Beth.
“ Okay, now let’s all just settle down. ‘Thank you, Daisy’. Now - can we just eat, please ?”  The stew was so delicious that they each had a second helping - and Hoss, a third - as the meal continued. As Hoss took that third helping, he grinned at his sister-in-law. “ Beth, if I can ever fine a nice gal, that’s as good a cook as you are - I’d marry her in a minute !” Beth smiled at her big, gentle, brother-in-law. “ They are out there, Hoss. And they’d be just as lucky to get you, too.” The big man blushed a little, as he hung his head. “I guess they are at that, Beth. I just ain’t  never found the right one, yet.”

When dinner was finished, and the dishes were washed - with help from Hoss and Joe, to show their appreciation, for the tasty meal - they retired to the small gaming table, of the great room, to play cards. After a few hands had been played, Sarah decided that she’d had enough, and was dealt out. As the game continued, Adam glanced over to see Sarah rummaging through the stack of firewood, beside the big fireplace, and carefully removing the smallest  sized pieces, and his curiosity got the better of him. “Watcha  doing , Sarah?” The sudden sound of his voice, in the quiet room, startled her, and she jumped a little. “ I thought I’d practice some carving with my new knife, Pa.” Adam nodded his approval. “Good idea, Sarah. ‘Practice makes perfect’. But be careful - that’s a pretty sharp knife. Don’t want to lose any fingers, do we ?” Sarah shook her head, and smiled. “ No, Pa. I’ll be careful.” She gathered up the pieces of wood she’d selected, and hurried up the stairs, to her room…..
As the evening wore on, the cards were put aside, and coffee was served - along with a cake, baked by Beth, just the day before. Adam went upstairs to retrieve Sarah - to share that cake with. As he reached her room, her door was closed. He tapped it lightly, and when there was no reply, he opened it slowly. Sarah was already in bed, fast asleep, after her long day. A layer of wood chips was strewn across her floor - evidence of her carving or whittling efforts - and Adam shook his head. Using his hands, he quickly swept them up, and tossed them into her fireplace. After adding several more logs, for some overnight warmth, he kissed his daughter ‘Good night’, and crept down the stairs again. He was smiling by the time he got to the bottom of the stairs, and his three other family members looked to him. “Sarah’s already asleep - we’ll just have to save her a piece of that cake, I guess…” Beth smiled in agreement. “You should have seen her room, Beth. Looked like a beaver had been in there - wood chips all over the place. I’ll have to have a word with that daughter, of mine, again, about cleaning up after herself…” Adam sat on the settee, and reached for a piece of that cake. Beth nodded in agreement. “ She does seem very keen about that whole carving thing, doesn’t she ?” Hoss chuckled. “That may be my fault. I told her, back in the Summer, about that horse you carved for Pa, when you was a youngin’, Adam. Guess she remembered it, and wants to try her hand at carving, too…” Joe tilted his head thoughtfully to one side. “Well, I can’t remember the last time I saw a child that wanted to emulate their Pa more than Sarah does.  So, it makes sense to me, too. You should be proud, Adam.” Adam grinned, and winked, at his youngest brother. “ I am, Joe.” Just then, the clock struck ten o’clock. Hoss yawned, then stretched. “ Don’t know about yo’all, but I’m ready to turn in. Good night !”  The big man stood, then leaned to kiss his sister-in-law lightly on the cheek. “ That was a great dinner, and a lovely evening, Beth - thanks ! See yo’all in the morning !” He strode off towards one of the guest rooms, and Joe, flashing a smile, and a “ Goodnight, and thanks ! ”, too, followed him, to his own. Adam stood, and walked to the big, new, leather chair, where Beth sat, then held out his hand. “ Bed ?” She smiled. “ Bed !”

The snow that had started that day, continued overnight, leaving a generous coating of snow across the land. With the swirling winds - carving the snowdrifts into ornate works of ‘white art’, and the snow laden pine trees all around their home - and, indeed, right across the large ranch - the Ponderosa really was getting into the whole Christmas spirit. By the time another week had gone by, the 10th. of December - a  sunny, bright, albeit, cold Monday - had arrived, and the Cartwright family was celebrating Joe’s and Sarah’s birthdays, with a special family party at Adam’s and Beth’s home. Beth and Hop Sing had been kept busy making birthday cakes - one for each of them - and planning a feast fit for the occasion. Sarah had settled on a chocolate cake - with chocolate icing, of course, her favourite - while Joe settled for a white cake with matching icing, both cakes decorated with sweet multi-coloured icing flowers. The family gathered happily around Adam’s and Beth’s dining room table. After the main course meal of roast beef was devoured, a rousing chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ was sung, as Ben carried in Joe’s cake, and Adam and Beth each took an end of the platter carrying Sarah’s cake. Joe and Sarah each made a wish, and took a deep breath,  to blow out the candles on each of their cakes. Adam smiled, as he looked to his daughter. “ What’s your wish, Sarah ?” She just shook her head, and her pigtails bobbed with that motion. “ I can’t tell you, Pa, or it won’t come true !” He nodded, as he raised one eyebrow, then grinned.  “Sorry, Sarah, guess I forgot about THAT little ‘technicality’…” Joe smiled, as he reached for the knife, to cut the cakes. They were soon sitting around the table, enjoying the fruits of Hop Sing’s and Beth’s baking labours.

With Christmas now being just two weeks away, and Sarah’s school Christmas Pageant being one week away, Sarah was kept busy practicing her singing. She’d been chosen by her teacher - who had picked out her sweet voice, above every other child in her class -  to sing a very special solo rendition of  ‘Oh, Come All Ye Faithful’, to close out that pageant. Adam had patiently taught her that song, and they often sang it together, to be sure that she would learn all the notes, and the words, flawlessly.
There was great excitement in the cold, crisp, winter air as Adam drove their team of Belgian horses - hauling a roomy, straw filled sled - to the other house on the Ponderosa. It was a frosty Tuesday night, the 18th of December.  With several blankets on board - to warmly wrap the passengers in, on their way to the pageant - Adam pulled the team to a stop, and called out happily. “Ponderosa Express!” His Pa and brothers came bustling out their front door, and clambered up onto the sled. They all settled into the soft straw, and pulled the warm blankets around themselves. Hoss grinned. “This was a great idea, Adam - a ‘hay ride’ into town !” It wasn’t long before the two youngest members of the family - Sarah and Joe - were giggling, and laughing, and throwing the straw at each other. Even Ben was laughing at the antics of the two, and his dark brown eyes were just sparkling..

 “ Now, you two be careful, or we won’t have any straw left for the ride home !” As the journey into town continued, under that black, starry, evening sky, Sarah and Joe did settle down, and the family was soon singing Christmas carols together. Their songs seemed to rise up, and fill the very air itself, with the beautiful sound of their voices. Adam and Beth sat side by side in the driver’s seat of the large sled. Beth’s arm was tucked around Adam’s, and they were warmly bundled up in a large blanket, themselves. They smiled to each other, as the wonderful concert  - of their family’s voices - continued behind them. The trip was soon over, and Adam pulled the team to a stop in front of the school house. There were already several other sleds there, their teams of horses dozing in the darkness.
The Cartwrights climbed down, and busily swept the straw off each other, before entering the cozy school house. Lovely, colourful, handmade Christmas decorations hung around the large room, and a cheerily decorated Christmas tree sat off in one back corner. The desks had been moved aside, and many chairs filled the large room in several long rows, with one central aisle. Even a bright red velvet curtain had been installed across the front of the classroom - carefully strung along an apparent lasso - dividing the slightly raised ‘stage’ area, from the audience. As the parents, friends and relations of the various ‘performers’ took their seats, an excited ‘hubbub’ could be heard behind that curtain. In due course, the curtains were drawn aside, by a couple of the young students, and the program began. A young blonde boy stepped onto the stage, and announced the first item on the program. “The grade twos will now re-tell the story of the Nativity.” He stepped off the stage, and the players took their places in, and around, the small stable set. It looked very accurate, in detail, as even a couple of live sheep milled around the small stable …. An even younger boy recited the story, as the various players acted out the scene. A soft wave of laughter ran around the room, as the young narrator referred to ‘the three wise guys’, as the story continued. The exciting ending was the birth of the baby Jesus, himself - a small dolly appeared from under ‘Mary’ and was held high by  ‘Joseph’ - “ Baby Jesus has been born!”, he exclaimed. 

Several small angels, in softly coloured flowing costumes,  were hustled onto the ‘set’,  with loudly whispered prompts, to complete the scene, and the story .Several of the kids were grinning, and started waving out at the audience, and great applause erupted, as the curtains were closed again by the young volunteers, to prepare for the next part of the show. After several minutes of banging and scraping noises, the stage had been emptied, and the curtain opened again to the sight of a group of students, assembled in a choir formation. The young master of ceremonies again took his place on the stage and announced “ The grade threes and fours will now sing some carols, and the grade ones are the snow flakes.” Adam looked to Beth, who sat beside him.“ They’re the ‘snowflakes’ ?” Beth just smiled, and shrugged, as they soon found out just what the young boy had meant. As the choir began singing, a small group of children -  obviously the grade ones, in ‘snowflake costumes’ - started dancing, prancing, and swirling, around the assembled group of singers. Adam grinned, and thought it was a pretty nice affect, all things considered…
As the evening wore on, the various grades performed their part of the pageant. A great offering, with great expression, of  ‘The Night Before Christmas’,  was read aloud by a young boy - complete with a very convincing beard…

The Cartwright family’s excitement was growing, as the pageant was nearing its end. It was Sarah’s turn to ‘shine’. As the curtains were opened, one last time, the show’s host made his final announcement of the evening. “And, now, to close the pageant, Sarah Cartwright will sing ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’.” The boy stepped off the stage, and Sarah walked out to its very middle. Her face was a little flushed, as she glanced around the large room, at all those assembled people, then she caught sight of her family, and smiled. The teacher began to play the introduction to the song on a small, upright piano, and Sarah’s sweet voice started to fill the room, as she began to sing. About halfway through that lengthy song, she suddenly caught sight of one of her classmates, in the audience. He was pulling faces at her, and giving her the ‘thumbs down’ sign… That one cruel gesture suddenly knocked down all of Sarah’s self confidence. It was more than she could stand - and she abruptly lost her way in the song. She hesitated for a moment, and she felt her cheeks start to burn. She just couldn’t remember where she was in the song, and her heart, and spirit, just sank, as she dropped her head. Out in the audience, Beth suddenly looked to Adam, and reached for his hand. He just whispered, “It’ll be alright, Beth”, as he slowly stood up, and made his way across the row of people beside him, to the central aisle, that ran between the many seats. As he started the  walk, up that aisle,  Sarah suddenly heard a very familiar baritone singing voice, coming from the audience, and she looked up again. Adam had picked up the words of the song, right where she’d left off…He smiled, and nodded at her, as he continued singing, and  walked up the aisle, towards the stage. Sarah suddenly started singing again, too, for all she was worth….Adam had soon reached the stage and - as he stepped up onto it - the entire audience had also joined in, in singing that beautiful carol. He took Sarah up into his arms, and she reached hers around his neck, and their hazel eyes met. “ See, Sarah ? The ‘faithful’ are ALL helping you out !”, then he smiled, and kissed his girl. As the song ended, moments later, the audience erupted in tumultuous applause - for Adam, and his daughter - as he stood with her, cradled in his arms, on that empty stage…

Adam lowered Sarah to the floor again, and took her hand, as they stepped down from the stage, and made their way up the now crowded aisle, as the audience filed out of the school. Sarah suddenly spotted the boy - who had temporarily ‘ended’ her performance - and, releasing her Pa’s hand, wormed her way between the people, and confronted him. “See, Johnny? You were really mean!  But my Pa helped me out, and everyone ELSE liked our singing. So, there!” Then she popped him one right in the face…She quickly made her way back to her Pa - who had seen what had just happened - and took his hand again, as Adam glanced down at her. “What was THAT all about, Sarah?” When she told her Pa the ‘sad tale’, he just nodded. “ Well, fair enough. This is ONE time that you’re NOT going to get into trouble, for fighting. He really deserved that punch….” Then he winked at her, and smiled…..

Days later, Sarah climbed up onto Rebel’s back, and reined her away from the school house’s paddock. She urged her little mare into a trot, then a gallop, as she made her way down the main street of Virginia City, heading for the road that would take her home. The school’s Christmas holidays had begun - two weeks of glorious freedom. It was Friday, the 21st. of December - and Christmas was just four days away. She made good time as she rode along through the snowy landscape. The pine trees that lined the trail, on either side of her, were coated in fluffy white. The sky was a clear, brilliant blue and her breath - in the cold air - encircled her head, in a foggy cloud. Far off to her left, she could see the smoke rising from her Grampa Ben’s house’s chimney. She smiled at the welcoming site, but thought she just wanted to get home - to her OWN home - that day. She urged Rebel into a lope, and had soon reached the rim of the hill by the pond, about a mile from her Grampa’s home. As she made her way along the trail, Rebel suddenly lurched off to one side, and downward. The mare’s hooves had found the edge of the trail, under the heavy snow, and she was starting to slide down the hill, towards the frozen pond below. Sarah pulled frantically on the mare’s head - trying to turn her again - but it was too late. The little horse had totally lost her footing, and was barreling - out of control - down that steep hill. Try as she might, Sarah just couldn’t stay in the saddle. She was thrown into a snowy bush, and watched as Rebel continued sliding down the hill, and into deeper and deeper snow that had drifted there.….Absolute panic gripped her heart, as she called out frantically, “ Rebel ! Rebel ! ” When the horse finally came to rest, Sarah watched as she desperately thrashed around in the deep snow - snow that came right up to her back. Sarah knew she had to get help, and started pulling herself up the hill again - grasping onto the branches of the bushes that still poked above the snow. She finally got to the top, and knew that her Grampa’s house was closer than her own, so started to head towards it. When she’d finally made her way through the deep snow, and arrived in the barnyard, she hurried to the door, and threw it open. “Grampa Ben ? Hoss ! Joe ! Hop Sing?” There was no answer in the empty house. She turned to go, and thought maybe she could borrow a horse, at least, to get home on. When she walked into the barn, all the horses were also gone - being used by the various members of her family, and all the ranch hands. She resigned herself to the fact that she was not only totally alone, but had a very long walk ahead of her, to get back to her own home, and to get help for Rebel….

Beth stood before the stove in her cozy kitchen, stirring a large cauldron of homemade soup. She heard the door of the great home open, and close again, as Adam had arrived home after a day’s work, on the large ranch. He removed his gloves, and started blowing into his hands, then rubbing them together, as he walked into the kitchen. “ Man, oh man,  is it ever cold out there.. I can hardly feel my hands and ears, and I think parts of me have disappeared entirely … But the soup smells real good, though, Beth !” She turned to him  and she smiled slyly at his little  ‘disappearing parts’ joke. “ I can always help you find them later, Adam… There’s fresh coffee on the stove. Help yourself.” He reached his arms around her, and kissed her cheek tenderly. “Now, that sounds like a date….” He winked at her, as they parted again. He’d soon grabbed a cup, tipped in some sugar, then sat at the kitchen table, his hands wrapped around the warm vessel, then took a sip.
“ Ahhh, that’s better…..”  He sat, grinning to himself, at Beth’s ‘offer’, then  glanced around. “ Where’s Sarah ? Not home yet ?” Beth just shook her head. “No. I guess she’s visiting with some of her friends - you know, last day of school before a holiday, and an early dismissal.” Adam shook her head. “No, Beth. I don’t think so. She knows the rules, in the winter months : straight home, and use the same trail, every day. It was always the rule when I was growing up, and it’s always been Sarah’s rule, too. Hmm….Maybe I’d better ride out and meet her…I guess she is just dawdling along somewhere…” Adam knew that he couldn’t let his real concern be known to Beth, and worry her too. “I’ll be back in a while, Beth.” He headed for the door of their home, then broke into a dead run, as he headed across the barnyard, and rushed into the barn. He quickly saddled Sport - again - and headed for Sarah’s ‘daily trail’ between their home, and town…..

Sarah wasn’t sure just how far she’d walked in the cold, winter landscape. It had been about a two mile walk - round trip, alone - from Rebel to her Grampa’s house, and back again, and she felt like she’d at least walked a couple of more miles, further than that, by the lowness of the sun, in the afternoon sky. She had never felt so cold in her whole life, and she started to cry. She wiped the tears away, as they fell, and watched as they literally froze onto her mittens. The little girl was really starting to worry - her home was still so far away, but she estimated that her Grampa’s house was almost just as far away, too, so there was no turning back, either. With great resolve, she continued trudging along. Hoping – against  hope - that someone would come and find her. And soon….

Adam had already ridden along, for some time, and had pushed and urged Sport along the snowy trail, squinting into the bright sunlight - towards the horizon - looking for Sarah. It felt like the temperature was still falling, and desperation was starting to set in. Then, there on the horizon, he spotted a small figure, in a bright blue coat and leggings, huddled, and head down, against the wind. He kicked Sport into a gallop, and headed for that little figure. His heart was clutched with fear, as he saw the young girl stumble, then fall, into the snow. When he reached her, he yanked Sport to a stop, and hurtled off the saddle, and fell to his knees beside her. He pulled her into his arms. “ Sarah ?!” The little girl opened her eyes slowly, and a small smile spread across her little face. “ Pa !” Her lips were blue, and her face red, from the cold. Adam held her in his arms, as he headed back to Sport, and lifted her into the saddle, facing her backwards. He clambered up, and reached his bedroll from the back of his saddle. Unfolding it, he wrapped it around the both of them, and unbuttoned his own jacket, so his daughter could cuddle against him, for warmth. “Sarah, you have to undo your coat, and put your arms around me - I have to get you warmed up, sweetie.” She nodded her head silently, popped open her buttons, then reached her arms around her Pa - across his back, and under the warmth of his jacket - and nestled her cheek against his chest. He felt so nice and warm, after her chilling ordeal. Adam watched as the tears started to fall down her cheeks “ Pa, Rebel fell down the hill, by the pond, at Grampa’s house - we have to go help her !”  Adam nodded in reply. “ We will, Sarah, but I have to get you home, first, sweetie.” He pulled the blanket up over her head, for some extra warmth, then pulled Sport’s head around, and began the long ride back to their ranch house. It was well after sunset when Adam and Sarah rode into the barnyard. Adam called out, and Beth threw the door open, and rushed out to them, worry etched into her face. Adam climbed down, and reached Sarah into his arms. “ I think she’s okay, Beth. I found her in time…” They walked back to the house together, then Adam sat the little girl onto the settee in front of the fireplace. They pulled off her coat, hat, mittens, boots, and leggings. Adam hurried to the stairs, and called back over his shoulder “ I’ll get her nightgown, Beth. And some blankets.” He rushed up the stairs - two at a time - as Beth  gently rubbed Sarah’s arms and legs, to keep the circulation going, and warm her up, even further, still. By the time that Adam came down the stairs again, Beth had already helped Sarah out of her snow dampened clothes, and, reaching for her nightgown, pulled it over her head. Sarah reached her arms into the sleeves, and a small smile came across her face again. “ Thanks, Ma. I was so cold.” Adam just nodded at his daughter, and smiled. “ You’ll be alright, Sarah. Beth, I’ll go look after the stock.” As he closed the door behind him, he said a silent prayer of thanks.

Adam tipped a generous ration of oats into Sport’s feed tub, and gave him an extra flake of hay, in his manger, after the horse’s long, hard day, then refilled his water bucket with fresh water. Once the rest of the stock were fed, and watered, he paused to pat his horse’s neck fondly, before he left the barn. “ I owe you one, buddy…” When he made his way back to the house, Sarah was sitting up on the settee, wrapped warmly in several blankets, and sipping hot soup, from a large spoon. She looked up at her Pa, as he walked over to her. “ Pa, when can we go get Rebel ?” Adam looked into the hopeful hazel eyes of his girl, then glanced to Beth, who stood behind her. Beth shook her head sadly - she knew, as Adam did, that the horse was in real trouble: Trapped in deep snow, on a cold night. There was no use heading out till first light, in the morning, as the cloudy, overcast night, would be far too dark to launch a rescue mission for the  horse. Adam sat beside his daughter, and forced a smile.“  It’s too dark to go get her now, Sarah. She’ll be fine till the morning…I’ll go get her then…” His little daughter nodded her head in absolute trust, and faith, in her Pa. A faith that Adam only wished HE had, in finding the little horse, safe and sound….It was a mostly sleepless night for Adam. He was just waiting for the hour to come when he could get up, and head out, to rescue Rebel, estimating that if he left at about five a.m., that would mean he would be reaching her as the sun rose. As the five o’clock chime rang out from the grandfather clock, in the great room, Adam was heading sleepily down the stairs. He pulled on his coat and hat and buckled on his holster. He reached some ammunition from the drawer, in the cabinet, beside the door, and grimly reloaded his gun. He only hoped that he wouldn’t have to use it…He had soon saddled Sport, then removed the big Belgian, Beau, from his stall, and lowered the horse’s big collar around his neck. If anyone could haul a horse out of deep snow, and up a steep hill, it was Beau. Adam grabbed a couple of long lengths of rope from a hook, and a spare lasso, and attached them to the back of his saddle, then headed out, leading Beau, as he rode Sport. It was a long, dark ride out to the pond, and the sun was just about rising as he reached that distant point. When he got to the hill’s rim, he could see Rebel at the bottom. She was standing quietly - snow up to her back - till she smelled the other horses, that had just arrived , and looked up to see Adam. She whinnied loudly, then started to struggle in the snow, again, eager to be freed from her ‘snow prison’. Adam climbed down from Sports back, then tied Beau to a nearby tree. Tying one ‘climbing rope’- his own linked lassoes -  to the horse’s large collar, he started to repel himself down the hill, the other two ropes safely draped over each of his shoulders.

By the time he got to Rebel, she had settled down again, relieved to see a familiar face, Adam guessed. He carefully dug around the horses abdomen, then pulled one of the ropes around her, just behind her front legs. He tied off the rope, and pulled its long end between those front legs. The second rope was placed snugly about halfway up her neck, and around the other rope, to help keep the horse from getting tangled on the long pull up the hill. Using his lassoes, Adam hauled himself up the hill again - carefully gripping the ends of the ‘pulling ropes’, as he made his way to the top again. He stopped for a few moments- to catch his breath, at the top of that hill - then walked to Beau, and tied the two ropes to the big horse’s collar. Adam smiled at the big gelding, then patted his neck. “Well, it’s all up to you now, Beau…” He untied the horse from the tree, to lead him away from the hill’s crest. He watched as the long lines - attached to Rebel - tightened, as Beau leaned into his collar. The horse pulled with all his might, and Adam glanced down the hill to watch Rebel, as she was slowly pulled out of the deep snow, and up the hill. It was hard work, and very slow going, for Beau, but Rebel eventually scrambled over the crest of the hill, and stood, shaking nervously. She looked around - wide eyed - and whinnied loudly. Adam dropped the lead line - attached to Beau’s halter - and rushed over to the mare. She was standing pretty solidly, and was only favouring her left foreleg a little - obviously sprained, in her long tumble down the slope. A miracle, for sure, Adam thought. He thought it best that he get her to his Pa’s barn, to look after her sprained leg. Trying to get her back to his own distant home would only aggravate the injury too much. After removing the ropes, and coiling them safely up again, he mounted Sport, then grabbed Rebel’s reins, and Beau’s lead line, and headed for his Pa’s place.

As he worked gently on Rebel’s leg - massaging in the liniment, then bandaging it carefully, Hoss entered the barn, to do the morning feed. His eyes widened, as he spotted his older brother, tending to Rebel. “Adam, what are you doing here ?! ” As Adam told him the story, and all the events of the last twenty four hours, Hoss’ eyes widened again. “Sounds like you were real lucky, Adam. Between Sarah, and Rebel - I hate to think what could have happened - to both of them…” Adam nodded solemnly. “ I know just what you mean. We were VERY lucky, Hoss.” He paused, then looked to his younger brother again. “ Hoss, Rebel’s  gonna be laid up for a while - think you could look after her, for a couple of weeks, for me. Till I can get her home ?” Hoss grinned. “You bet I can, Adam - anything for my little niece, and her horse ! And my big brother, too, of course!”

The next few days went by slowly, and Adam made a nearly daily ride to his Pa’s place, to check on Rebel, and her healing progress, and to help Hoss, with her care. Sarah went with her Pa most days - the two of them riding double, on Sport - when she wasn’t busy at home, preparing her Christmas gifts. As Christmas eve morning arrived, Adam made the ride into town to pick-up Beth’s horse, under the diversion of ‘paying a bill’, in town. Once the horse was picked up, he made the trip back down Virginia City’s main street. As he passed the Lonestar Leather saddle and harness shop’s front window, he glanced in. There - on display - was the nicest saddle he’d ever seen. Glossy black leather - with silver trim - and a matching bridle. He pulled Sport to a stop, and stepped down. After tying Sport, and the new horse, to the hitching rail, he entered the small store, and took a closer look at that saddle - it really was nice, and would look great on the dapple grey gelding. And, Beth would need her own saddle…..He looked around to see Jake, the storekeeper, walking towards him, smiling. “ Nice saddle, isn’t it ?”Adam grinned in agreement. “ Sure is - but I don’t have the cash with me to pay for it - and the bank is closed, for the holiday. Could I just put it on the ranch account, for now, Jake ? Pay for it in a day, or two ?” The man smiled. “ Sure can, Adam. That would be fine.” As the transaction was made, Jake offered to throw in a saddle blanket - a nice grey, white and black woven wool Navajo design. The horse was soon all decked out in his new tack, and Adam was on his way home. When he got back to the ranch, he was very careful to keep out of view, as much as possible, and he sneaked into the barn through the back door…. 
Once the horses were unsaddled, and safely in their stalls - with a good feed ,for all the horses, in the barn- Adam made his way  across the snowy barnyard, and back to the house. He had to stifle his smile, as he entered the large home, so as not to raise any suspicions, in Beth… 

It was finally Christmas eve, and Sarah was putting the last of the paint - and finishing touches - on her little wood carving of her Pa’s horse, Sport. She had already finished Buck, Chubb and Cochise.  Cochise - with his fancy pinto markings - had been the hardest to complete. Sarah had had to make several trips to her Grampa Ben’s house - borrowing Sport, with pencil and paper, in her saddle bags - to check, and recheck,  and document, the gelding’s pretty markings, so her  ‘paint job’ would be accurate, to the last detail. Her Ma would be getting a sampler from her, as a Christmas gift : a beautifully stitched, and embroidered, tapestry, in bright colours. The alphabet she had carefully stitched across the top of the ‘material document’, along with the numbers zero through nine, and the body of the sampler contained a pretty good rendition of their home, surrounded by several pine trees, with Lake Tahoe, and the mountains on it’s western shore, in the background, carefully included. She had stitched on the words ‘Merry Christmas, Ma - 1860’, and her name, ‘Sarah Cartwright’, at the very bottom, so her Ma would always remember when she’d received it, and who from. It really was quite a ‘work of art’, and Sarah had the multiple pin pricks,  in her fingers, to prove it, too !

As Sarah dabbed the last of the white paint onto Sport’s fourth leg, she smiled. It was finally all done. She placed the little carving on her dresser - to finish drying - then rushed down the stairs, to get some wrapping paper. Her Ma and Pa were relaxing on the settee, in front of a roaring fire, sipping hot apple cider. The huge Christmas tree - harvested right on the large ranch, just a few days before, and dragged home by Belle - stood beside the crackling fire, in all its glory. Decorations adorned each branch - some homemade, with great love, and care. The other, more ornate decorations - made of colourful glass, in  various Christmas shapes of angels, reindeer, pine cones and poinsettia flowers and berries - also took their own special place, on the tree. A seemingly never ending strand of threaded popcorn wrapped its way around and around the great tree, and a pretty angel - with pink wings, blue robes and a golden halo - sat on the very top.
Adam and Beth looked up as Sarah  hit the bottom of the stairs, running. “Ma, where’s the wrapping paper, and string ?!” She looked just so excited, Beth could only smile at her daughter.   “It’s all in the closet of the second guest bedroom, Sarah, top shelf.” Sarah rushed across the great room, through the dining room, and disappeared down the short hallway - beside the kitchen -  leading to those guestrooms. She’d soon returned, her arms full of the colourful paper, and large ball of string, and just rushed past them, again, as she hurried back up the stairs, a big smile on her face. Adam turned his head, to grin at Beth. “She really does get into the whole Christmas spirit, doesn’t she ?” Beth leaned her cheek against his shoulder, as she nestled in a little closer to him. “She certainly does. She’s spent so much time in her room, the last few weeks - I guess it’s been her  ‘workshop’. I do occasionally find a few woodchips on her floor - she’s certainly been busy up there, doing something !” Just at that moment, Beth felt a little bit of  a ‘rippling’ movement, in her abdomen, and reached for Adam’s hand. “Quick, Adam. Feel right there.” She guided his hand to the very spot, and Adam smiled, as he felt the ‘little rumblings’ inside of her. “ How about that - feels like they’re really ‘swimming around’ in there, doesn’t it ?!” She smiled in reply. “ They certainly do - it sometimes feels like they’re having a real dance in there. You know, it’s funny. They often make those little ‘rippling’ movements right in the front, then I can feel one of them just about at my backbone - I can feel them all over…” Adam’s eyes widened a little, as he continued to rest his hand on her.“ They certainly do get around, don’t they ?!” , and he chuckled a little. “This will be the only time that you’ll really  know just where they are though, Beth.” She grinned, as she reached to kiss him. “ Yes, I know. And I treasure every moment of it…”

Meanwhile, upstairs, Sarah was busy wrapping her presents. Each little horse she’d lovingly carved - one each for her Grampa Ben, Hoss, Joe and her Pa - and her Ma’s sampler. She very proudly tied the string around each package, then gathered them up in her arms, and headed towards her bedroom door, to carry them downstairs, and put them under the tree. Then disaster struck. Her Pa’s gift slipped out of her arms, and landed on her floor. Before she knew it, she’d accidentally stepped right on it. She heard a very ominous cracking sound, and a sob escaped her throat, as she rushed to put the other packages on her bed, then bent to inspect her Pa’s gift. It didn’t take long to realize that she’d broken off one of the little horse’s legs, as she could feel it moving around inside the paper. What could she do ?! Nothing - she had no glue… Her Pa would be receiving ‘damaged goods’, on Christmas morning, and the knowledge of that made her start to cry..….A short while later - after she’d composed herself, a little - she carried the other presents downstairs, and placed them carefully under the tree. Her Pa’s gift remained, alone, upstairs, sitting on her dresser, in her room…Adam held out one arm to her, after the presents had been placed under the tree. “ Come join your Ma and me, Sarah.” The little girl sighed deeply, as she cuddled against her Pa, her Ma on his other side. She sat in abject silence for some time, then looked up to them. “ Do you mind if I go to bed ? I’m really tired…” Adam glanced to the grandfather clock. “ It’s only eight o’clock, Sarah. You can stay up a little longer. Santa won’t be here for a while, yet, I’m sure…”, then he winked at Beth. Sarah just shook her head sadly. “ No thanks, Pa. I’m going upstairs…” They watched as she walked slowly up the stairs, her head downcast. She just felt so bad…

Adam sighed, as he watched her disappear from their view, at the top of the stairs. “ Now that is an unhappy little girl, Beth. Why don’t you get a couple more drinks, and I’ll go see what’s wrong ? ” Beth nodded, then stood to head for the kitchen, as Adam headed for the stairs. When he got to Sarah’s door, he could hear her crying, so he opened the door quietly. As he did so, Sarah reached something behind her back, and turned her head, quickly, to look at him. “What is it, Sarah ? Christmas eve isn’t a time for tears…” Adam sat on her bed beside her, and another few tears fell from Sarah’s eyes. “ I’m so sorry, Pa. I carved you this horse, then I dropped it, and accidentally stepped right on him.  I broke his leg…” She held up the little broken horse - now unwrapped, again - so her Pa could survey the damage. Adam took the small horse, tenderly, into his hand. It looked just like Sport - from the bright chestnut colouring, to the four white socks, and right down to the blaze on his face. He reached a gentle arm around his daughter. “He’s beautiful, Sarah. He looks just like Sport - you did a fine job. But we won’t have to ‘shoot him’ - because of that ‘broken leg’ - I can glue him together again. He’ll be as good as new…” Then he grinned at his little daughter. “Let’s take him downstairs - right now - and fix him, okay ?” Sarah rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes, to remove the last of her  tears, then a little smile appeared again. “ Okay, Pa…” Adam stood, then reached out his hand, for hers, and they walked downstairs, together.

Once the calamity of the horse’s broken leg had been resolved, and the figure was lovingly repaired, Adam had a happy daughter again. The little horse was given a place of honour : right on the mantel shelf, over the large fireplace. The three Cartwrights were sitting, cuddled together,on the settee, in front of the fire, as the grandfather clock struck nine o’clock. Adam and Beth were both enjoying another hot apple cider, and Sarah was sipping her way through a large mug of hot chocolate. All of them just enjoying each other’s company, and looking at the Christmas tree - its branches alight with many brightly glowing candles. At length, Sarah tilted her head back, to look to her Pa. “ Pa, I remember, last year, when Grampa Ben told us the story of why we light candles on the Christmas tree. It was really nice, wasn’t it ?” Adam grinned, as he remembered being told the same story, years before, when he was a boy. “It’s one of my favourite stories, too, Sarah. But I’m thinking that it’s starting to get late. You’d better get to bed, before Santa gets here…” Beth smiled at Adam’s comment, and looked to her daughter. “ Your Pa is right, Sarah. Off you go, now !” After a hug and a kiss - for both her parents - Sarah was off like a shot, sprinting up the staircase.

A short while later, Adam and Beth checked on their daughter - to be sure that ‘Santa’s’ visit wouldn’t be ‘interrupted’. When they quietly entered her room, they saw their girl sleeping peacefully, curled up all cozy, like a little ball, under her many covers. They closed the door again, quietly, and crept to their own room. What a bounty of gifts there were, stored on each of  their top shelves, of their large wardrobe armoires. They carried them downstairs - several, each, at a time - till the underside of the tree was filled to full capacity. Brightly wrapped packages, of all shapes and sizes. And all carefully labeled with each recipient’s name…. Adam grabbed one with his name on it - and started shaking it vigorously:  It made the most interesting, and intriguing, rattling sound… “Now, that’s enough, Adam - you don’t want to ruin the surprise !” He blushed a little, as he heard Beth’s voice, and  turned to her again. “ Alright - I guess I can wait till morning…” She tucked her arm in around his. “ Yes - you’ll just have to - let’s get to bed. I’m guessing that, with Sarah,  we won’t get to sleep in tomorrow morning…”
After Adam had banked the fireplace in the great room, and the candles on the Christmas tree had been carefully extinguished, they climbed the stairs sleepily. He paused on the landing, as Beth continued on ahead of him. He looked out across the great room. The shadows from the flames in the fireplace danced across the walls, and the scent from the fresh pine Christmas tree filled the room. Tomorrow would mark his first Christmas, in his own home, with his own family, and he smiled. His Pa and brothers - and, of course, Hop Sing - had all been invited for the Christmas feast : the largest two turkeys had been carefully selected from their joint flock, and both Beth and Hop Sing had been kept busy with the baking : mince and apple pies, fancily decorated Christmas cookies and shortbreads, and a very special selection of gingerbread men : one for each member of the family,  in their own ‘likeness ’, elaborately decorated in colourful icing. It was a tradition begun years before, by Hop Sing, when the three Cartwright brothers were little more than boys, as a special little ‘sweet cookie gift’ for his  ‘adopted ’ family.

When Adam got to their room, he quickly undressed ,and slipped under the covers. He grinned as he watched Beth get undressed. Layer after layer, as it was  ‘peeled off ’, it seemed to him…He wondered sleepily - just in passing - why women wore SO much !
Beth pulled on her nightgown, turned down the small oil lamp, on her bedside table, and slid into bed beside him. As they leaned to kiss each other  ‘Good night’, Beth grinned. “It’s funny, isn’t it, Adam? Just a year ago, we were two single people, just leading our lives. Now, here we are: we ‘found’ our child, got married, a new home, and perhaps two more babies on the way…” Adam reached one arm around her, as she settled her cheek into his shoulder. “ Yeah. I guess we have a lot to be thankful for….” Beth sighed, as she tilted her head back, to look at him. “Adam, do you remember how we met?”
He quickly searched his memory, and came up with the answer. “Wasn’t it Frank Rogers, who introduced us? At that Summer Festival dance, at the end of our second year of college ?  Though I had noticed you around the campus, for a while - the previous two semesters, at least….” Beth smiled at the memory. “Yes, that’s right. And I had seen you around the campus for a while, too. I remember all the girls were attracted to that  ‘Nevada cowboy’..Adam looked to her, in honest surprise, and amusement. “ They were ?!” Beth smiled again. “ Oh, yes. You must have known, Adam. You were the cutest boy on campus - so all the girls thought, anyhow…The ‘unobtainable one’: Adam Cartwright - ‘the son of a wealthy rancher’. Though you came across as a bit of a loner, though…” Beth heard his throaty little chuckle in her ear. “ Well, how about that ? I thought YOU were the ‘unobtainable one’. All the fellas talked about Beth McCord - ‘prettiest girl on campus’ - you were considered ‘unobtainable’, too. And, yeah, I guess I was a loner: I was there to get that architectural degree, and nothing else seemed to matter - until I met you, Beth. We began seeing each other after that first meeting, didn’t we? Then it turned into a true ‘courtship’ and, well, as they say : ‘the rest is history’…” Beth shook her head. “ I do remember that one fight we had. We’d been courting for several months, then I heard whispered rumors, around our dormitory,  of  ‘another girl’. I was so mad - and hurt, Adam. It broke us up, remember ?” Adam grinned. “ Oh, I sure do. Just a jealous girl, telling lies, to break us up. It didn’t really work though, did it ? Not a month later, that Spring Dance came along. I plucked up all my courage, marched right up to you, and asked you to go with me. You believed me : that the rumors were just that, and agreed to go. And that’s when I asked you to marry me…” Beth smiled at the memory, too, as she snuggled in a little closer to him. “ Yes. That was a pretty ‘special night’, wasn’t it ?” Adam smiled slowly, at the very intimate memory, of that long ago evening : The first time they’d made love together. “ It sure was. Months of  ‘NO, Adam…’ suddenly turned into  ‘YES !…’ ” His eyebrows raised, momentarily, and his hazel eyes just sparkled at her. “…caught me right off guard, I can tell you… first time – in MONTHS - I hadn’t been ‘prepared’ for THAT eventuality..”, and he heard Beth chuckle softly, into his shoulder. “Well, Adam – if you had – we wouldn’t have had Sarah, would we ?”  Beth sighed in reflection, at the memory. “ I guess it was just meant to be…” Then, from far off, downstairs, they heard the eleven o’clock chime of the old grandfather clock. Adam sighed. “ We’d better get to sleep. Sarah will - undoubtedly - be up before we know it…” He reached to kiss Beth’s cheek, then moved one hand tenderly over her stomach. “ Good night, babies…” Sleep had soon found them…

Their door being slammed wide open, and a loudly, and happily shouted “ SANTA’S BEEN !” was the first thing to greet Adam and Beth that morning. They were both awakened by the calamity, and they each rolled over to see Sarah’s  little silhouette, in their doorway, as she was bouncing up and down, excitedly. “COME ON - GET UP!” She took off, and Beth and Adam looked to each other, then Adam glanced at their alarm clock “ Oh, well. Five thirty… only half an hour earlier than usual, I guess. Well - Merry Christmas !” He leaned to kiss Beth, then they each hurriedly got out of bed. Pulling on their dressing gowns, they headed downstairs. Sarah was already busily rummaging around, under the tree, when they reached the bottom of the stairs. All the packages labeled for them were pulled out onto the floor. Sarah was very pleased to see that new saddle blanket for Rebel, and not one - but TWO- new dresses for Emily - her dolly - and a large colouring book, with a huge selection of colourful  crayons. Santa also ‘came through’ with a beautifully illustrated book about  ‘Animals of the World’ and a couple of large puzzles, and board games. Several packages filled with different sorts of tasty candy were soon unwrapped, and passed around, along with some more brightly coloured packages, that turned out to be a selection of new clothes, for their growing girl. Adam’s first package, to be opened, was that ‘rattley’ one, from the previous night. As he hurriedly pulled off the colourful paper, and opened the box, he found a beautiful new pair of shiny, black leather, cowboy boots - from Beth - and a small jar, filled with dried beans. A ‘clever diversion’ that would explain the  rattling noise, he’d heard - and he smiled at her. “ Very clever, Beth. Thanks - just what I need , sweetheart !”, and he reached to give her a hug. Beth found several packages especially for her - her favourite bath salts, and perfume. A lovely little gold locket necklace, a couple of pretty blouses, and some new casual jeans - to fit her ‘expanding’ figure. Then Adam got to the more practical gifts of socks and underwear, new shirts and jeans, and the like. All in black - Beth knew what her man liked, and needed….Sarah’s last package to be opened was a small envelope, and she ripped it open quickly. There was a carefully hand written note in it, and she read it aloud, to her Pa and Ma.:

 Dear Sarah,
I mostly filled your ‘order’, but couldn’t get you the rifle you wanted: We don’t make those at the North Pole. You really need your Pa to get that for you.  Please accept this Gift Certificate, for that rifle.
Love, Santa

She looked wide eyed to her parents. “ Gee, Pa - isn’t that funny ? Santa’s writing looks a lot like yours. But he gave me this ‘Gift Certificate’ - isn’t that great ?!!!” Adam tossed a sideways  ‘Oops!’ glance, to Beth, and winked at her, then turned to Sarah again. “ That is great, isn’t it ? We can go into town tomorrow, and get it for you, Sarah.” Sarah reached for the last present, for her Ma. “ Here, Ma. This one’s from me.” Beth tore off the paper to reveal the beautifully stitched sampler - by Sarah’s own hand - and she felt a sudden lump in her throat.“ It’s just beautiful, Sarah. Thank you so much.” Sarah grinned happily. “ See, Ma ? I sort of ‘stitch’ signed,  my name - right at the very bottom - so you’ll always remember who you got it from !” Beth smiled, as she reached to hug her girl. “Oh, Sarah - I’d never forget, sweetie !” Just at that moment, Adam remembered something... “ Beth - you have one more gift, but it’s out in the barn…” She looked at him questioningly. “ Out in the barn ?!” He nodded once. “ That’s right - we’d better get dressed…” He took her by the hand, as she stood, and they all headed upstairs. After a fast wash, and a shave, Adam was soon putting on his clothes, and heading downstairs again. He was met by Sarah, and an excited Beth, as they had already both gotten dressed, and were waiting for him by their door. They pulled on their outer clothes, and headed outside. Their feet crunched on the glistening snow, as they walked across the barnyard, and entered the barn : Adam couldn’t wait to see her reaction. “All right - cover your eyes…” Beth complied, and  he steered her carefully to the very back stall of the barn. “ Okay, you can open your eyes now…” Beth removed her hands from her face, and gasped. There, in the stall, was the dapple grey gelding. “ Oh, Adam - you DID get him, for me - I was SO hoping you would !” Adam smiled, and his eyes just twinkled at her. “Yeah - all those ‘heavy hints’ you’ve been dropping - since August - really worked, Beth !”  Sarah just squealed in excitement. “ WOW - he’s neat Pa - so pretty !” Adam slowly spun Beth around. “ I figured you’d need your own new tack, too…” Her eyes widened - even more - as she saw the lovely, silver trimmed, black saddle, and matching bridle, hanging on the rack, opposite. The pretty black, grey and white Navajo saddle blanket was just perfect, too. “Thank you, Adam. He’s just beautiful. It’s all beautiful…” She reached her arms around Adam’s neck, and gave him a kiss. “What are you gonna call him, Beth ?”  She smiled broadly, and chuckled. “ What else do you call a dapple grey, but ‘Smoky’ ?!” Adam nodded once. “ Yeah - that suits him, for sure. Well, let’s get all these horses fed - so we can have some breakfast !” The three got busy feeding and watering Sport, Jupiter, Belle and Beau.  And, of course, the newest addition to their ‘horse family’, ‘Smoky’…

It was soon to become a wonderful  ‘Christmas on the Ponderosa’, for the WHOLE family, for, as three o’clock rolled around, Ben and the boys, and Hop Sing, were arriving at Adam and Beth’s home. Adam heard the commotion of them arriving outside, and rushed to the door, and threw it open. They’d all arrived in his Pa’s sled.“ Put your horses up in the barn, Pa ! I left hay and water in two of the spare stalls.” Within a very few minutes, the horses had been taken care of  ,and the four visitors were making their greetings at the door. Ben looked around the great room, his brown eyes just sparkling. “Your home looks lovely, Beth. It’s beautifully decorated !” He passed her several brightly packaged Christmas presents, and she smiled as she took them from his hands.
“Thank you, Ben. It’s our first Christmas here - so we kind of pulled out all the stops !” Hoss’s nose was busy, as he sniffed the air. “ Mm, mm. That turkey sure smells good !” Adam grinned at his younger brother. “ You mean ‘turkeys’, Hoss. We knew if you were coming, there’d better be at least two…”, and he winked at him. Joe laughed out loud. “You got that right, Adam. Brother Hoss, here, has a very good appetite. But, then, he always has had !” Hop Sing stepped forward, his hands filled with several platters. “ I bring cookies, pies and gingerbread men, Beth. And ‘good appetite’, too !” Beth grinned at him. “ Right in the kitchen, Hop Sing - this way !” The two hurried off to the kitchen, as the Cartwright men removed their coats, hats, and holsters, then made themselves comfortable, around the great room. Adam reached a bottle of brandy, and several glasses - from the china cabinet - to pour everyone a celebratory drink. Beth and Hop Sing had soon returned from the kitchen, and as they all raised their glasses, in a Christmas  toast, then lowered them again, an excited  Sarah spoke up. “When can I give them their presents, Pa ?!” Ben - who always had been ‘young at heart’ - chuckled at his granddaughter. “ How about right now, Sarah ? I can’t wait, either!”  Adam smiled, by way of response, and the presents were soon passed around to everyone. Ben, Hoss, and Joe were especially pleased - and impressed - by Sarah’s carving and painting abilities, as they each opened their gifts, to find the small wooden replicas of each of their horses. Adam, Beth and Sarah opened their presents, too, from the other family members, and thanked them gratefully. A nice selection of games and toys for Sarah, and more practical items of clothing, and household items, for Adam and Beth.  There was one big box left, from Ben - marked for both ‘Adam and Beth’ - and they quickly tore off the wrapping, and opened the large box. Inside was a beautiful, shiny, brass and crystal oil lamp chandelier, that Adam had once mentioned to his Pa, during the construction of their home. Adam had thought it would look beautiful in their combination Master bedroom /sitting area upstairs. But their budget - when building, and furnishing, a whole home - just didn’t leave room for such an extravagant item. Adam smiled as he lifted it carefully out of the box. “Ah, Pa - thanks. This is just great - it’ll look beautiful up there, in the Master bedroom !” Beth reached her arms around Ben, to hug him warmly. “Yes, thanks so much, Ben. It’s just lovely !” Ben grinned, as he tenderly hugged her back “ Well, I thought that with those babies on the way - you’ll need all the light you can get, for all those through-the- night-feedings !” Adam just laughed, and his hazel eyes just shone.  “Yeah - right - but don’t remind us, Pa !” His brothers heartily joined in, in that laughter…as did they all.

The smell of turkey filled the house, and as five  p.m. rolled around , the turkeys were judged to be ready to eat. The Cartwrights gathered around the prettily decorated dining room table, and Adam took his place at the head of that table. Two large, beautifully cooked turkeys sat before him, on their platters, as he happily raised the carving knife.
“ Okay, now who’s for a leg ? Keeping in mind that there’s only four !” Hoss and Sarah both chirped up “ I’ll have a leg, please !” The rest piped up, in turn : “White meat for me, please, Adam !” He got busy, carving up the turkeys, as each person’s plate was passed along to him, then returned to its owner, filled with the mouth watering servings. The vegetables were passed around, from person to person, in their serving dishes, as was the gravy boat. They were all soon digging into the delicious meal. Hop Sing was the first to speak up. “ Very nice dinner, Beth. You good cook - almost good as Hop Sing.” Beth smiled at his comment “ Why, thank you, Hop Sing. I’ll take that as a compliment.” 
Everybody had seconds - the turkey was just scrumptious. By the time dessert came around, it was served up in the great room, with coffee. It was proven, yet again, that both Beth and Hop Sing were terrific bakers, too, especially when it came to mince and apple pies… Adam smiled, as he helped himself to a second piece of apple pie, with a generous serving of freshly whipped cream, dolloped onto the top of it. He sighed as he finished it, a few minutes later, and leaned to place his plate and fork on the coffee table. “ Okay - I’m ‘officially full’ !”  Ben had just finished his pie, too, and smiled. “ I think that’s a safe thing to say about ALL of us, son !” Hoss grinned.“ Not me - I could eat one more piece ! ” and he stood, to reach for a slice, as his family all smiled at him, and his apparently ‘hollow legs’…

Once the dishes had been cleared away, and washed - a chore that everyone helped with - they all settled to relax around the great room again. Sarah found a comfy spot on her Grampa Ben’s lap, and, after a few minutes of cuddling contentedly there, tilted her head back to look at him. “Grampa Ben, can you tell us your story, again, of why we light the candles on the Christmas tree ?” He smiled down at his young granddaughter. “ Of course I can, Sarah. As long as there are no objections, from anyone else ?!” Ben looked around the room to see smiling faces, looking back at him. “ Well - all right, then…” And so he began to tell that wonderful tale - what had really become a Christmas tradition, in the Cartwright home. Beth cuddled into Adam, as she sat beside him, on the settee, listening, then whispered. “Your Pa is just wonderful, Adam.” He leaned to kiss her forehead gently, then winked at her. “Yeah. I know… ”As the story ended, Joe spoke up. “How about another Christmas tradition - Pa, and my brothers, and me, singing a few Christmas carols ?!” Adam - who was always ready for some singing - was the first one up, and to stand in front of the fireplace, as his Pa and brothers joined him there. After they’d sung a few of their family favourites:  Joy to the World, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Deck the Halls, and Jingle Bells, they were ready to take requests from their ‘audience’. Sarah came up with the first request. “ Pa, how about you singing ‘The New Born King’ - that’s one of my favourites !” And so he did. Followed by another Sarah request : Joe singing  ‘Santa Got Lost in Texas’ -  a little song which always made Sarah laugh ! After Adam and Sarah had begun singing “ Oh Come All Ye Faithful”, together, the whole family joined in, in the singing of  that lovely carol. Once the song had come to a finish, Sarah looked to Hoss. “ Hoss, can you tell us the story of  ‘The First Christmas Trees’ ?” He smiled at her, as he took a seat in one of the large arm chairs.“ I sure can, sweetie.” Now, it was Hoss’ turn, for his little niece to curl up cozily, on his lap, as the story was told.

The evening wore on pleasantly, and, before they knew it, the grandfather clock  had chimed the hour of nine o’clock ,and Ben stood slowly. “ Is that really the time ? I think your brothers and I better get moving - we have a long drive back home, and an early morning after that…” They were soon all gathered at the doorway, pulling on their outer clothes, and saying their ‘goodbyes’ and ‘thanks’ again. Adam reached an arm around Beth’s shoulders, as they waved their family off ,a few minutes later, then closed the door.“ That was a nice Christmas, wasn’t it ?” She smiled up at him. “ It sure was…   one of the best I can ever remember !” As they glanced over to the settee, they saw Sarah had already sat back down, and was sitting leafing through her new animal book. Adam reached out one hand, to ruffle her hair, as they approached her. “ I think it’s time for bed for you, Sarah. It’s been a long day…” She looked up at her Pa sleepily, “ Okay, Pa..” and headed for the stairs. “We’ll be up in a while, to tuck you in, sweetie.” They watched as she climbed the stairs, and disappeared from view. Beth sighed. “ It was a good day, wasn’t it ? But, I’m thinking I’d better get the rest of the meat off those turkeys, though, and get some soup on to simmer…”Adam nodded in agreement. “ Sounds good. I’ll go see to Sarah…”

By the time he went upstairs, and got to Sarah’s room, she was just climbing into bed. Sarah reached her arms out to him, and gave him a hug, as he sat beside her. “Are you ready for a story, Sarah?” Her brow furrowed a little, as she looked to him. “Pa, can I talk to you about something?” Adam gave a little shrug. “ Sure, Sarah. What do you want to talk about?” Adam swung his legs up onto her bed, and stretched along the length of it, as he clasped his hands behind his head, and leaned back against her headboard, to look at her again. Then the conversation started that every parent will eventually hear…. “Well, Pa, I was wondering something. A few of the big kids, in school, say only babies believe in Santa. And when we were outside, earlier today, I looked up at the roof. There weren’t any reindeer tracks up there - anywhere - and the only tracks around the house and barn were horse tracks, and our own. How did Santa get up there, on the roof, without leaving any marks anywhere, in the snow ?” Adam looked into those innocent hazel eyes of hers, and spoke gently. “ Well, what do you think the answer is, Sarah ?” She shook her head slowly. “I’m not sure, Pa, that’s why I’m asking you…Is there really a Santa ?” Adam lowered his arms, again, then reached one arm tenderly around her.
“Well, Sarah. That’s an ‘ages old’ question you’ve just asked me there. If  by ‘Santa’ you mean giving to the people we love and care about the most - then, yeah - we’re all ‘Santa’ . It’s what makes Christmas fun, isn’t it, if you look at it that way ?” Sarah nodded her head in agreement. “Far as one man, in a red suit, going from home to home, giving gifts away, then - no, Sarah, there isn’t - but it’s fun to think there is, isn’t it ?” He paused, as he looked down at her sweet little face again, and she nodded her head. “You know, Sarah, in a very few months, you’ll have a couple of little brothers or sisters. It would be real nice if you kept the whole ‘Santa legend’ going - just for them - so they can have all the fun, and wonderment, at Christmas time, that you’ve had all these years. If you do that Sarah, you’ll have almost as much fun as them. You’ll see - just like your Grampa Ben, Hoss, Joe and I have had, sharing the ‘Santa legend’ with YOU, since you were a little girl. Would you do that for your Ma, and me, Sarah ?” As their eyes met, again, Sarah’s face broke into a wide grin. “Oh - I sure will, Pa !” She reached her arms around him, and gave him another big hug, and a little kiss on one cheek. Adam smiled. “Well, now all that’s settled - how about a story ?” Sarah smiled in reply, and reached her favourite story book, from her bedside table, and handed it to him. “You pick one, Pa. I don’t mind which one - I just like to listen to you, and all those funny voices you do !” Then she cuddled against him.

As Adam wished Sarah a ‘good night’, then left her room, a while later, he glanced up the hallway to see the light from an oil lamp shining through his and Beth’s bedroom door. When he entered through the double doorway, he saw Beth was curled up with a book, in the sitting area, of the large room. “Our ‘little girl’ is growing up, Beth. We had the  ‘Santa’ discussion tonight…” He sat on their bed, to pull off his boots, as Beth looked to him. “ I remember that ‘little talk’ myself, as a  child…How did it go - was she disappointed ? ” Adam stood up again, and began unbuttoning, then pulling off, his shirt. “ No, I don’t think so. Typical Sarah - took it pretty much in her stride. She has agreed to keep the whole  ‘Santa legend’ alive for any siblings that come along, though…” Beth smiled. “ Well, that’s good. I’ll go tuck her in, and kiss her ‘goodnight’, too…” Beth slipped the bookmark into her book, then after resting it on the small  reading table, beside her chair, stood and headed out along the darkened hall. By the time Adam had undone his jeans, and pulled them off, had a little wash, then climbed into bed, Beth had returned. She was soon undressed, and changed into her nightgown, and slipped under the covers. Adam had laid down with his back to her, and she cuddled into it, as she reached one hand around his broad chest. Adam smiled, as he placed one hand tenderly over hers, then he felt a funny little ‘rippling movement’ against the small of his back, and he turned his head slightly. “ What is that ? Is that the babies moving around back there ?!” Beth laughed softly into his shoulder.  “Yes - I thought I’d share them with you…” Adam just grinned from ear to ear. “ Well - how about that…” He’d soon fallen asleep, with the gentle movement of their twins, against his back…

Adam was good to his word, and the next morning - after the chores were done - he and Sarah headed out to Virginia City, to buy her rifle, and pay for Beth’s ‘horse gifts’. With Rebel still being laid up, Beth allowed her to ride Smokey into town, with her Pa, that day. It was a lovely sunny, yet cold, day - and the light’s reflection, off the mantle of snow, was practically blinding, as they rode along through the bright, snowy landscape.
First stop in town was to the livery stable. Once that transaction was finished, they headed to Gilmore’s Gun Shop. Adam paused before they entered the shop, and put out one gentle hand, to stop Sarah. She turned to look at him questioningly, as Adam rested one hand on each of her shoulders, and gazed down into her young face. “You know, Sarah, buying you a rifle is a very big step in your young life. Your Ma and I decided you were ready for this privilege: You’ve proven you can handle responsibilities. You  do your chores without being told - most of the time - and you keep up your school work, and keep your room tidy…. Your Grampa got me my first rifle when I was just about your age, Sarah. But it does come with responsibilities, too.” Sarah’s nose wrinkled a little. “Responsibilities, Pa ?” He nodded once. “ You bet. Many of your friends at school - especially the ‘city kids’ - don’t have the privilege of a rifle. And it’s up to you to make sure that none of the other kids are handling it, or playing with it, to keep everyone safe. You cover a lot of  land, going back and forth to school, and working on the ranch . It’s  only ever to be used for your own protection, Sarah. And even then : only after I’ve given you some shooting lessons. If you break any of the rules, you’ll lose these rifle privileges. Do you understand, Sarah ?” She smiled up at him. “ Yes, Pa, I understand .” Adam smiled as he moved one hand to ruffle her hair.  “Good girl. Let’s go get that rifle
of yours…”
They’d no sooner entered the shop, than Sarah’s eyes lit up as she reached for a 12 gauge, double barrel shot gun. Adam reached out ahead of her, however, to intercept HER reach, and steered her towards a much smaller - and more practical - .22 caliber, multi-shot, lever action rifle .“ Here, Sarah. You don’t need a ‘cannon’- the recoil alone, on that 12 gauge, would probably knock you over…Try this one. Let’s check it for size.” Adam reached it down into her arms, and she posed happily with it, as she raised it up, and placed the butt of the stock against her shoulder. Adam shook his head. “ It’s a bit long for you - let’s try another one…” He replaced that rifle with a little bit shorter one, and Sarah ‘struck the pose’ again. It was just right. “ That one looks good, Sarah. How does it feel ? What do you think ?” Sarah smiled broadly. “ I really like it, Pa !” He nodded once, and looked at his daughter with great pride. “ Good. You’ll need a rifle scabbard, and some ammunition for it…” He wandered around the store, selecting the necessary items, as Sarah carried her new rifle carefully, barrel down, by her side - her Pa had taught her that much, already…The shop owner - Martha –  reappeared from the store room, carrying several boxes of ammunition, and smiled at Adam, as the two Cartwrights approached the cash register, then glanced down to Sarah. “ First rifle, Sarah ? I guess you’re really excited !” The little girl grinned up at the woman. “ Oh, I sure am, Miss Gilmore !”Adam smiled, as he handed the woman the cash. “Thanks, Martha.” She quickly counted out Adam’s change, and handed it to him. “You’re very welcome, Adam. You two take care, now !”  Adam doffed his hat, at the woman, and smiled, as they left. When they got outside again, Adam attached the brand new scabbard to her saddle, and slid the new rifle into it. Adam noticed that Sarah was smiling practically the whole way home again…

The excitement of Christmas was soon over,  and the celebration of the arrival of a New Year - 1861- took it’s place. A formerly lame Rebel - after that tumble down the snowy slope, by the pond - got better, and made the journey back to her own home  being ridden by her young owner, Sarah, with her Pa by her side, on Sport. Routines were begun again, as the Christmas break came to an end, and school started once more. The nearly daily ride around a large chunk of the ranch continued - shared by Ben, Hoss, Joe, and the ranch hands : checking on various populations of the cattle herd, and being sure that they had enough to eat. Large sleds of hay were often dragged out to those populations, to supplement their diets. The winter wore on, but Spring came early that year. By the time  the middle of March rolled around, most of the snow - that had been much heavier than usual, that season - had mostly melted back, and there was a feeling of Spring in the air. The cattle were starting to calve, which kept the Cartwrights - and their ranch  hands - on their toes,  and busy, and helping out at those calvings, when necessary. Then began the long, arduous work, of getting all those new calves branded, with the familiar pine tree brand…

Beth kept getting larger and larger, as her pregnancy continued. Adam - the very dutiful, expectant Pa - made sure to accompany her to every doctor’s appointment, to have her progress checked, by Dr. Paul Martin. Since Adam hadn’t been around when Beth was pregnant with Sarah, it was a whole new experience for him, living with a pregnant woman….and he commented, as such, at one of her April appointments….
Paul smiled, as he removed the stethoscope from Beth’s abdomen. “ Well, everything sounds fine in there, Beth. I can definitely hear two healthy little hearts beating !”  Beth smiled in reply. “I feel wonderful, Paul - though it is a little harder getting around, and up the stairs, than it used to be !” He tilted his head thoughtfully to one side. “ I think it would be better for you to not use those stairs, till after you have the babies, Beth. I’m sure you and Adam could use one of your downstairs bedrooms, till then ?” He looked to Adam, and he nodded in agreement. “ I’ve been trying to tell her that, Paul. But she is a woman with her own ideas !”, and he winked at him. Beth chuckled, then gave Adam a playful little swat on his chest. “ Oh. All right. I’ll listen to my Doctor, then !” She started for the waiting room, but noticed Adam lingering behind, so closed the door behind her, after she’d left. Adam turned to his doctor. “Paul, can I talk to you about something?”
The doctor saw a look of confusion, and almost exasperation, on his old friend’s face, and smiled. “Go ahead, Adam. I’ll help you if I can…” Adam had removed his hat, and twisted it in his hands, a little, as he began to talk. “ Well, Paul. You see - it’s the strange food cravings she’s always having. Usually at about three o’clock in the morning…And her mood swings! One moment she’s practically chasing me around the bedroom, and the next she’s almost bouncing pots and pans off my head - I just can’t seem to do anything right, some days - I want my ‘old ’ Beth  back !” Paul placed a friendly arm around his shoulders. “You’re just experiencing what many expectant fathers experience, Adam. Women’s bodies go through so much change, when they’re pregnant. Changing hormones, the weight gain, and other things - they can’t help it, Adam. It’s best if you just try to understand that, and be as patient as you can be, with her. Besides, it won’t be too much longer - a few more weeks, I’d say - since ‘multiples’ often arrive a little earlier, than a single baby does…” Adam nodded thoughtfully in agreement. “ I’ll sure try, Paul. And, thanks.” The doctor smiled again.“ By the way, Adam. It goes without saying that  I want to be alerted, as soon as possible, when she does go into labour.” Adam chuckled, and his hazel eyes just twinkled, as the dimples deepened in his cheeks. “ Oh - you don’t have to worry there, Paul. I’ll get to town - in record time, no doubt - when THAT happens !” Paul clapped one hand on Adam’s back, and laughed out loud “ Sounds good, Adam. You take care of her, now - see you again, real soon !”

Beth was good to her word, and later that evening, Adam began the fairly arduous task of moving all of Beth’s clothes – and his own -  into one of the downstairs bedrooms. After every drawer was filled, and the closet was full, they walked to the kitchen, to enjoy a cup of coffee, together. As Beth reached the coffee pot over Adam’s cup – and he caught her side view silhouette  – he suddenly realized just how large she was getting. “ Beth, I’m starting to think that Paul’s ‘due date’ calculations may be wrong – either that, or that’s one large set of twins in there…” Beth sat across the table from him, with a sigh, as she filled her own cup with the steamy beverage. “ That’s something I’ve been meaning to mention, Adam. There’s a lot of movement going on – and I’m starting to think that it isn’t twins at all…” Adam chuckled. “ It better be twins – Paul still heard two heartbeats today…” Beth lowered her cup onto the table, and gazed at Adam for a few moments.
“He used to think that is was one baby – then he finally detected that second heartbeat. What if he is wrong, again, Adam ?”  He just smiled. “ What do you mean, ‘wrong’ ? He heard two heartbeats – so there’s two babies. Isn’t that how it usually works ?” Beth just smiled slowly.  “Well, look at the size of me. I’ve never seen a woman as big as me, that was just expecting two babies…” Before Adam could respond to that, Sarah suddenly trotted into the kitchen, carrying her math notebook.“ Pa, I’m having a bit of trouble with my Arithmetic tonight. Can you help me, please ?” She plopped down onto the chair beside him, and slid the notebook in front of him. Adam picked up her pencil, to check her work, but his eyes, and mind, really were on Beth. He finally looked down, and scanned the columns of numbers.“ These first five are correct Sarah. But these last five – you forgot to carry from the ‘tens’ column. See ? Try doing them again…” He slid the book back in front of his daughter, and handed her the pencil. Sarah got busy, once more, and the sums were soon added up, and passed back to her Pa, for approval. Adam grinned, as he checked her figures. “ They’re fine now, Sarah. Good work. Any other homework to be done ?” Sarah shook her head, and her pigtails bobbed with that motion. “ No, Pa. Just a bit of reading – one chapter of the story we’re studying.” Adam nodded his approval. “Fine. Why don’t you kiss your Ma goodnight, then go upstairs, and get that reading done ? I’ll be up in a while, to tuck you in.” Sarah smiled, as she stood, and reached her arms around Beth, and gave her a peck on the cheek.  “  ’ Night, Ma !”, then hurried off again. Adam smiled again, as he watched her go. “ She’s always in such a hurry, isn’t she ?” Beth nodded her head in reply – then a little grin pulled at the corners of her mouth. “ And it seems she’s maybe not the only one having ‘math problems’ around here, either.…”

As the Cartwright family sat around the dining room table, the next morning, eating their breakfasts, Sarah seemed to be a little distracted. She poked at her scrambled eggs, and barely touched the crispy bacon, that had been placed on her plate. Beth looked to her daughter. “You’d better hurry up and eat your breakfast, Sarah. You still have to feed the horses, and turn them out - you’ll be late for school.” Sarah scowled a bit. “ Ma - do you think I work hard around here ?” Adam answered that one. “ Yes. We all do, Sarah. It’s what running a ranch is all about, isn’t it ?” Sarah frowned a little again. “ Pa - you get paid by Grampa Ben to do your work – how come I don’t get paid  to do mine ?” Beth just looked to her daughter. “ It’s different, Sarah. Your Uncles are all adults, with things to pay for, and your Pa has a family to support. Your Pa gets his share of the profits, from the ranch, after the ranch expenses are paid. Your Uncle Hoss, and  Uncle Joe, get the same…” Adam held up one hand to Beth, then looked to his daughter again. “How much do you think you should ‘earn’, Sarah?” Sarah considered that for a few moments. “ I think $5 a week would be fair, Pa.” Adam nodded once. “ Fair enough. But if you’re getting a salary - like me - you’ll have to start paying for  your living expenses - just like me, too.” Sarah wrinkled her nose. “Living expenses ?” Adam half smiled. “ Why, sure. Hmm, let’s see…How about twenty five cents per meal, twenty five cents for your horse’s feed and bedding, a day. And I’ll give you a real deal for your room – ten cents a night. How does that sound ? ” Sarah’s eyes widened. “ That sounds great, Pa. Thanks !” Beth just smiled, at her daughter, as she was doing the math in her head - the same as Adam - and knew where it was leading… “If you’re finished eating, Sarah, you can be excused.” The little girl hopped up, and rushed to the door, slamming it behind her. Adam started to chuckle. “ I remember that conversation with my Pa, when I was Sarah’s age. The whole ‘salary thing’ lasted one week - I seem to remember….” He winked at Beth. The week soon went by, and Sarah was more keen, than usual, on doing all her chores - looking forward to that big pay packet, at the end of the week…

Friday evening rolled around, and it was time to collect her first salary. Sarah was so excited, as she stood before her Pa, her hand held out. Adam was seated at his desk, in the great room of the ranch house, and opened a drawer, to remove a sheet of paper, and a pencil. “ Okay, Sarah. Let’s tally up your expenses, here. Three meals a day, times seven days, is twenty one. Multiply that by twenty five cents per meal , comes to…” Adam did the calculation quickly  “…$5.25. Now, your horse – at twenty five cents a day – comes to….$1.75. Your room – at ten cents a night - comes to seventy cents. For a grand total of … $7.70. Hmm – it seems you owe ME money, Sarah …” Adam glanced up to his daughter, and saw her face just crumble. “ But – but, that’s not fair, Pa. I worked so hard, and don’t have anything to show for it !” Adam reached for her hands, and pulled her tenderly onto his lap. “ Oh – now, wait a minute. You’ve had your own horse to use – all the food you can eat – and your own room – for a long time, now. It didn’t cost you a penny, because I paid for it all…I did that because I’m your Pa, and it’s MY job to provide for YOU, Sarah. And your Ma – and the twins, too, once they arrive…You see, Sarah ? You had a pretty good deal, going here, before you started earning a ‘salary’…” Sarah just looked to her Pa.“ Oh - I guess I did, at that…. Pa – I’ve decided I don’t want a salary any more. It all costs too much !” Adam smiled at his daughter. “ So – back to ten cents a week – no, let’s make that a quarter – ‘pocket money’ - is good for you ? I’ll  just ‘throw in’ everything else…” A small smile spread across her face again, as her Pa winked at her. “ Okay, Pa. That sounds fair…”

Adam was good to his word, and his daughter got that ‘raise’. It was handed out the following week, as they sat down to dinner, on another Friday night… “Here you are, Sarah. Ten and ten makes twenty, and five more makes twenty five cents,” as he counted the coins into her eager hand. “ Thanks, Pa. It looks like so much more when there’s a lot of coins – doesn’t it ?! “ She smiled over to her Pa, and he nodded in agreement. “ I’ll keep that in mind, Sarah.” And he winked at her. The meal was moving along quietly, till Sarah suddenly piped up. “ The kids in school were asking me what we’re going to call the babies. I didn’t know what to say. What are we going to call them ?” She looked to her Ma and Pa, and they both smiled. Her Ma was the one to answer. “ Well, Sarah your Pa and I have been talking a little bit about that. I think that if there is a boy he should be called Adam, after your Pa.” Adam nodded, and smiled. “ I like the name Wyatt for a boy, myself. Or maybe Shane…” Sarah frowned. “ But, what if it’s a girl ?” Adam shrugged. “Well, how about Lillian? That was my maternal grandmother’s name…” Beth nodded in agreement. “ I like your choices, Adam. I also like the name Rose. So pretty, and feminine – and it was my maternal grandmother’s name, if we want to go that route, far as naming them….” Sarah looked one to the other. “ How about Mariah for a girl ? There’s a Mariah in my class – and she’s really nice…I like the names Carter and Cooper, too, for a boy…” Adam’s eyebrows rose momentarily, as he looked over to Beth again. “ ‘Carter’ and ‘Cooper’, hey ? I like both those names. What do you think, Beth ?” She just smiled. “ I agree, Adam…” Sarah again looked from one parent to another. “ But if we have two boys, the one NOT named after Pa may get a bit jealous…”
Adam tilted his head thoughtfully to one side. “ True enough, there.” Beth’s face suddenly lit up. “ If we have two boys, how about calling one of them ‘Addison’ – that means ‘son of Adam’.” Adam shook his head. “ I don’t know, Beth – ‘ Addison’ – sounds a little ‘hoy paloy’ for a ‘rancher’s kid’…” and he smiled. “ It wouldn’t have to be his ‘every day’  name, Adam. It could just be one of his other names…” He nodded again. “ Yeah - guess that makes sense… How does this sound, then ? If there’s two boys: ‘Adam Wyatt Cooper’ and  ‘Addison Shane Carter’. For a girl, ‘Lillian Rose Mariah’. Every day names of….hmm… how about Wyatt, Shane or Rose ? That way, we get to use everybody’s suggestions !” Beth nodded in agreement.“ We just named them, Adam ! Now all we have to figure out is are we having boys, girls, or both !” Adam laughed out loud. “ I guess we’ll find that out soon enough.” Sarah nodded in agreement, then “ But what if it IS two girls ? What then ?” Adam reached one hand out to tenderly hold his daughter’s. “ Then it’ll be back to the old drawing board, won’t it ?!” Sarah just giggled, in reply.

April came to an end, and a lovely, warm May, began. Beth continued going to see Doc Martin on a now weekly basis. He was amazed at her size – and remarked, as such, on one of her visits. “ My, my, Beth – you are getting quite large.” He held the stethoscope up to her more than ample abdomen. “ I still only hear two heart beats, though – but you are a good size for sure, Beth. I think that it’s time to perhaps really start to take it easy. Rest as often as you can – and let your daughter, and husband, take over as many of the household chores, as possible. Looks like you’ll need all your strength concentrated on delivering these twins…” He lowered his stethoscope, and smiled to his patient. She nodded in agreement. “I’ll do that, Paul, if you say so. Though Adam has been telling me that for a few weeks, now. But he works so hard all day – and Sarah is at school – it just doesn’t seem fair that they do the housework, too, when they get home !” Adam, who had stood quietly to one side, listening, reached his arms around his young wife. “ Now, you just listen to your doctor, Beth – even if you won’t always listen to me” – and he winked at Paul – “ Paul knows what’s best – and it’s just what we’ll do, too…”

They soon fell into the routine of both Adam and Sarah doing the bulk of the housework, at the end of their work and school day. Sarah got the dinner started, when she got home from school, and Adam found out all about how to do the laundry, with help from Sarah. The household cleaning chores were also split just about down the middle – between the two of them. Dusting was done daily - to keep it all manageable - and cleaning the floors was found to have to be done with less frequency, and took less time, if dirty boots were removed BEFORE entering the home… It all went pretty well, and as Adam and Sarah fell into the daily routine of housework, they really came to realize just how much work Beth REALLY did, every day…

It was just past the middle of the month – the 18th   of May, a Saturday - when Beth awoke very early, that morning, to a ‘twinge.’ She sat up, slowly, in bed, and Adam felt the movement. He rolled over to look at her, through sleepy eyes, and disheveled hair. “Are you all right, Beth ?” She just nodded slowly. “ Yes. I think so. The babies are just having a bit of a ‘kick fest’ in there, this morning, I guess.” Adam rose up, pulled on his jeans, and shirt, then went to Beth’s side of the bed, to help her stand up. A little ‘service’ he’d been providing, for a while, since she’d gotten so big. “ Okay, up you come, sweetheart..” She stood up, with his help, then glanced to the tall, revolving, framed oval mirror, near their bed. “ Oh, look at me Adam - I’m a ‘whale’ !” He smiled at his young wife. She’d become quite self conscious, about her appearance, over the last few weeks – a woman who was usually very fit, and active, around not only the house, but the ranch, too - and it seemed to be getting to her, a little. “ You’re not a ‘whale’, Beth – you’re my beautiful little ‘Mother-to-be’…” He kissed her very tenderly on the cheek, and grinned at her. “ ‘Little’ isn’t really one of the adjectives I’d use to help describe myself, Adam. ” Then she smiled again.
Adam had soon washed, and shaved, then headed to the kitchen, to begin making the breakfast for them all, leaving Beth in the bedroom, to prepare for her day. Once he had stoked the stove with firewood, lit it, and put the water on to boil – to make some porridge, for them all - he trotted up-stairs, to wake Sarah up. He knocked lightly at her door. “ Six o’clock, Sarah. Time to get up !” After hearing the usual chipper “ Okay, Pa !” he headed downstairs, again. Then he heard it – a sudden desperate cry, from his and Beth’s bedroom. “ Adam ! Help !” He rushed in to see Beth doubled over, and leaning against their dresser. Her face was very flushed, as she looked over to him - “ I think the babies are coming !” Adam took her tenderly into his arms. “ Alright. Now just relax – here, Beth – lay on the bed for a minute. I’ll be right back…” He laid her down gently, and pulled the covers over her, before heading for the doorway. He left the room calmly, then broke into a dead run, as he ran down the hallway, across the dining room, the great room and on up the stairs, to Sarah’s room. She was just coming out through her doorway, as he got there, so he took one of her shoulders in each hand. “ Sarah , your Ma has gone into labour. You need to get downstairs, and look after her, while I go for the doctor !” Sarah’s eyes were as wide as saucers, but she simply nodded, as Adam took her hand in his, and they hurried down the stairs again. By the time they got back to the downstairs bedroom, Beth was lying calmly on the bed, and a small smile crept across her lips, as she saw the two pale white faces that greeted her, as they entered the room. Sarah hesitated by the door, as Adam went over to her, and picked up one of her hands gently into his. “ How’re you feeling ? I’m going for the doctor – Sarah will stay here with you, till I get back …” Despite his best efforts to remain cool, and calm, to Beth he just looked so worried. Beth pulled herself into a sitting position. “ Adam, I think we can have breakfast first, darling – it’ll take hours for the babies to get here. I only just went into labour, after all..” Adam glanced down, at her enormous abdomen, then looked up again, and smiled. “ Well, if you’re sure, Beth ?” She just nodded, in reply.
As they sat around the bed, a short while later, digging into their porridge, Adam couldn’t take his eyes off of her. With every bite she took, for every time she shifted a little under the covers, he asked if she was all right. She assured him that she was : she felt it was going to be a very long day…

When the meal was finished – and after being assured by Beth that she was fine - Adam hurried to the barn, to turn out the stock, and give them their hay in their paddocks. Once the dishes were cleared away, washed, and put away – with Sarah’s help - Adam felt it was time to go for Doc Martin. He wiped off his hands in a dish towel, as he entered their room again, and sat beside her. “ I’m going into town for the Doc, Beth. I’ll leave Sarah here, and send Pa back, to keep you company. Do you think you can manage alright ?” She just smiled wanly, as she placed one hand gently onto her stomach. “ We’ll be fine, Adam.” He leaned to kiss her, then “ I’ll be back as fast as I can !” He stood hurriedly, and headed for the door. He pulled on his hat and holster, then sprinted to the barn. He tacked Sport up in record time, swung up into the saddle, and dug in his heels. He practically flew across the width of the Ponderosa that May morning – the vision of his pregnant wife, in the forefront of his mind, the whole journey…

When he got to the other house on the Ponderosa, he yanked Sport to a stop, and hurtled off the saddle, then rushed to his Pa’s door. Throwing it open, he  dashed into the great room , and spun around, looking for him. “ Pa ? Pa ! Where are you ?!” Just at that moment, hearing the commotion, Ben ambled down the stairs. By the excitement of his son, it didn’t take him long to figure out what was going on. He smiled as he approached him. “Is it Beth ? Is she in labour ? “ Adam – who was totally out of breath, by this time, managed to wheeze out “ YES – come quickly ! You gotta go to her Pa – help Sarah - and I’ve gotta get the Doc !” Ben could see the strain, and emotion, on his son’s face, and his hazel eyes looked to be  just about twice their normal size, in the excitement of the moment, so he put a reassuring hand on each of his shoulders. “ Now relax, Adam. Take a breath. When did she go into labour ?” Adam turned his head wildly, to look towards the grandfather clock, and did the quick math. “ Umm…Maybe three hours ago ?” Ben nodded. “ Okay – you’ll need a fresh mount. Ride Chubb into town – I’ll let Hoss know. I’ll take your brothers, and hitch up the buckboard. We’ll meet you back at your place.” Adam nodded once.“ Thanks, Pa !” and turning, rushed out the door again. He jogged to the barn, and grabbed Chubb from his stall. He threw a saddle and pad up onto the horse’s back, then pulled on his bridle. After hauling him outside, he catapulted himself up onto the big horse’s back, and lit off down the road, towards Virginia City. Adam had ridden full tilt right across the width of the Ponderosa, on Sport, that morning, and now he was galloping on Chubb, down the dusty road, that would take him to Doc Martin’s, at the outer eastern edge of the town. He felt that he hadn’t ridden so long, and hard, since the ride he’d made between the Goat Springs Way Station, and Virginia City. A wild, danger fraught, twenty five mile ride, just about a year previously, to prove that Bill Enders HAD killed Toby Barker, in a hold up, at that very way station…

When he finally got to town, and pulled Chubb to a stop, at the doctor’s office, the horse was absolutely saturated, and dripping with sweat, and stood heaving, and gulping in lungfuls of air. Adam patted the horse’s neck fondly. “I owe you one, Chubb…” He rushed into the doctor’s office, and spotted him as he came out of his examination room. “ Paul ! Beth’s gone into labour !” Paul grabbed his hat, coat, and medical bag. “ Let’s go, Adam.” The doctor’s rig was tied up outside, and Adam glanced over to Chubb, as he climbed up beside the doctor, then remembered what his Pa had always taught him :
 “A good rancher always looks after his horse…” Adam just shook his head slowly, ashamed that he’d nearly forgotten his Pa’s teachings, and about that faithful  horse, and his well being. “ Paul – it’s Chubb – he’s exhausted – I should get him to the livery, first…” The doctor looked to the spent, sweat soaked animal , and nodded in agreement. “ Of course, Adam. We have the time – we can drop him off on our way.” Adam took hold of Chubb’s reins, as they passed him, and rushed off to the stable, just a few  minutes away, on the western side of the town. After a hurried explanation to Miguel – the stable boy - they were off to the Ponderosa, at full speed…
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ben, Hoss and Joe had just pulled their buckboard up to Adam and Beth’s home .Ben clambered down off the big rig, but not before passing the long lines to Hoss, who had ridden beside him, on the bench seat. “ I want you boys to unhitch the team, and turn them out into the paddock. We’ll be here for a while, I imagine…” He strode into the house, as his sons looked after the team of horses. Ben removed his holster, and hung his hat on one of the hat pegs, by the door, and looked around, then called out. “ Beth ?” He heard her reply “ I’m in here, Ben” coming from one of the spare bedrooms, by the kitchen, so walked towards it. When he entered the small room, he saw Beth lying on the bed, and Sarah sat beside her, holding her hand. When her Grampa entered the room, Sarah stood hurriedly, and rushed to him, and threw her arms around his waist, in greeting – relieved to see someone else there to share her worry with. Ben stroked her hair tenderly, and smiled down at her, then looked to Beth. “How are you doing, Beth ?” She looked to her daughter. “ Sarah, why don’t you go get your Grampa and me a nice cold drink ?” Sarah nodded solemnly, and left the room, as Ben looked to Beth again. “Well?” She appeared tired, to Ben, as she looked to him again.  “ I don’t know, Ben. There seems to be a lot of movement…more so than with Sarah… I think they’re trying to decide who’s going to be born first …” She smiled wanly, and Ben took her hand. “ Don’t you worry, Beth. Adam and the doctor will be here, soon. And Hoss and Joe came along to keep Sarah occupied. It’ll all be fine…”

Once their drinks had been finished, Beth was starting to feel worse, as her labour pains continued, intermittently. She reached her empty glass onto her bedside table, as Hoss and Joe very timidly knocked at the bedroom door – half afraid at what they may see…When they were called inside, they each held their hats in front of themselves, and looked quite uncomfortable about it all. Hoss looked quite flushed, and was fidgeting, and Joe just looked embarrassed, not knowing where to look… Beth smiled to her two brothers-in-law.“ Why don’t you two take Sarah out to the lake – get some fishing in – that should help pass the time ?”  “Yes, ma’am,” Hoss mumbled, then “ I mean - okay Beth. Come on, Joe ...” and grabbed his brother’s arm, as he hauled him out of the room, with Sarah trailing after them. Ben smiled as he watched them go. “ I apologize about those sons of mine – I’m afraid they haven’t had too much experience with babies coming into the world.” Beth reached for his hand again, and gave it a little squeeze. “I haven’t had too much experience, myself, Ben…” As he smiled at her, Beth realized just how dark his brown eyes really were. Yet they looked so soft, and kind, to her, in the dim light of the bedroom.

Adam and Doc Martin  were about three quarters of the way across the Ponderosa when it happened. They’d just slowed down, to take a tight curve in the road,  that twisted its way between several rocky outcrops, when one of the rear wheels detached, and went hurtling past them, as the buggy ground to a three wheeled halt. Adam pulled the team to a stop, and cussed under his breath… “ Oh - Sorry, Doc…Well, we have to keep going…” Adam leapt down from the disabled buggy to inspect the damage. Not only was the wheel’s keeper nut missing, but the axle had broken. As he straightened up again, and sighed deeply, he glanced over to Paul. “ Is this horse broke to ride ?” Paul nodded his head slowly.” Well -Yes, Adam. He is. But we don’t have a saddle !”  Adam just grinned in reply. “ We don’t need a saddle, Paul. I’ll steer – you’ll just have to hold on tight…” Adam quickly unhitched the horse, and removed all the harness off of him, except for the bridle part. Hauling himself up onto the horse’s broad back, he held one hand out to Paul. “ Well, come on – ‘times a wasting’ – let’s go !” Paul – who wasn’t that much of a horseman -  swallowed hard, once, clutched his medical bag, and grabbed Adam’s hand. He half jumped – and was half pulled - up onto the horse’s back.  With one hand holding the reins, and the other a generous clump of  the horse’s mane, and with his legs tightly gripping the horse’s sides, Adam turned his head, just a little, to speak.  “ Hang on, Paul - here we go !”  Adam pulled his hat a little lower on his forehead,then took a tight hold of the horse’s mane again, then laid the heels of his boots against the horse’s flanks and, with that, the horse bounded off : being ridden by a very experienced cowboy, and a not so experienced ( at riding, anyway…) doctor, clinging on tightly, behind him….

A short while later, a large cloud of dust swirled up into the air, as they galloped up Adam and Beth’s laneway, between the corrals on either side. Both Hoss and Joe saw the cloud of dust arise, and hurried back to the ranch  house - from the rocky  shore of Lake Tahoe, right behind it - since they hadn’t heard the familiar jingle of a horse under harness arriving. Adam hauled the horse to a stop, in the barnyard, just as Joe and Hoss rushed over to them. Hoss pushed his hat onto the back of his head. “ Well, what happened to you two ?!” Paul slid silently to the ground, and rushed towards the house. Adam swung down off the horse’s back, too, then glanced to his brothers. “No time to explain now. Can you cool him out for me, please, Hoss ?” With that, he tossed the reins into Hoss’s waiting hands then he, too, hurried off towards the house, hot on the doctor’s heels.

On entering the house, Adam hung  his hat onto one of the hat pegs, then, unbuckling his holster, tossed it onto the sideboard. He was just about to walk off to the bedroom, when his Pa stood up from the settee, and stopped him. “ Wait, Adam. The doc’s in with Beth, checking her out. Why don’t you sit down, and relax a while – you’ve had a heck of a day already, son. And it’s really only just begun…” As Ben’s voice trailed off, Adam looked to his Pa and smiled. “Guess you’re right, Pa..” Adam lowered himself into one of the leather winged arm chairs – the one nearest the kitchen, and the hall, that led to the guestroom, where Beth lay. Adam glanced to the small clock on the dining room wall : it read ten minutes past noon – Beth had been in labour for just over six hours… 
It seemed to Adam that he’d sat there forever, when Paul appeared from along the hall again. He sighed as he approached Adam’s chair, and Adam stood hurriedly, took a couple of steps towards him, then peered into the doctors face. “ How is she, Paul ?” The doctor shook his head. “She’s progressing well in her labour..” Adam looked to his Pa, then back to the doctor, and they could both hear the strain in his voice, when he spoke.
 “Just what does THAT mean – how much longer is it going to take, Paul ?!” The doctor put a reassuring arm around Adam’s shoulders, and guided him back into his chair again. “It means, Adam, that having babies isn’t an ‘exact science’. The time varies with each woman, and that Beth probably has some hours to go before the babies are actually delivered. If I were you, I’d get in there and give her all the support you can. I’ll be right here, if there’s any change.” For just a moment, Adam looked helplessly from his Pa to the doctor. Then he turned on his heel, squared his shoulders, straightened his back, and moved towards Beth’s room. Ben took one step to follow him, and the doctor reached out to stop him.“ No, Ben. These are HIS children being born today. He has to be the one to be with his wife, and comfort her, as much as he can….” Ben’s gaze went from Adam’s back, to Paul’s face again. As their eyes met he sighed, then nodded in agreement. He knew the good doctor was right.

Adam hesitated before entering their bedroom. He could feel his own heart just pounding in his chest, in trepidation. He swallowed hard once, then drew up all the emotional strength he could muster, before entering through the doorway. Beth smiled over to him, as he approached her. He sat on the edge of their bed, beside her, then reached a small blue face cloth from a bowl of cool water, that had been placed on the bedside table. After wringing it out, he folded it into a narrow strip, then placed it tenderly on her forehead. He smiled, as their eyes met. “ How are you doing, sweetheart ?” Beth reached for one of his hands, and squeezed it a little. “ I’ve felt better, Adam...” Just at that moment, she closed her eyes, and winced, as another pain absolutely engulfed her. Her grip tightened on Adam’s hand. He felt absolutely helpless, as he sat there, and just moved his other hand, to tenderly enclose hers. She moaned very quietly, then opened her eyes again, and sighed. “ That was a pretty strong one, Adam…” and a single tear fell down her cheek. Adam reached one hand up, to gently wipe it away. He could see the pain reflected in her beautiful blue eyes. “ I’ll stay right here with you, Beth. For as long as it takes…”

The afternoon wore on. Adam hated seeing his Beth in so much pain. He would wipe her brow with the cool face cloth, gently rubbed her back for her, retrieved cool drinks from the kitchen, held her hands, just trying to do anything that would make her more comfortable. Doc Martin periodically checked  her progress. Each time this happened, Adam would retreat to the great room, for those few minutes, and get some much needed emotional support from his Pa, before going back to Beth’s side again.
Out by the lake, Hoss  ,Joe and Sarah were still fishing. As they sat in the sun dappled shade, by the lake’s edge, Sarah kept looking to the ranch house, and the small window that opened into her parent’s temporary downstairs bedroom. She turned to her two uncles, and they could see the worry on the young girls face. “ When do you think the babies will be here ? It’s taking an awfully long time…” Hoss stood and ambled over to the young girl, and sat down beside her. He put one big strong arm around her shoulders, then kissed her gently on the cheek. “ Sarah, having a baby can take a long time, sometimes. My Pa told me once that my Ma took just about all day to have me. And you have to remember that your Ma is having two babies…” Sarah looked down to the ground, as she considered what Hoss had just told her. Moments later, she raised her head, and there were tears in her big hazel eyes. “ I’d like to go back into the house, please. Just in case Ma needs me…” It was at that very  moment that Hoss and Joe realized that perhaps they hadn’t been fair to Sarah – perhaps none of them had been -  taking her from her Ma, on the very day that her own siblings were being born. Without a word, Hoss and Joe stood, and each held a hand out to their niece. Sarah stepped between them, and took each of their hands, into her own, as they walked back to the ranch house, together.

It had just turned 4:40 in the afternoon, as Adam sat slumped, in one of the chairs, his forehead pressed against his raised hand, as his elbow rested on the arm of that chair. Doc Martin was in checking Beth – again. Adam glanced up as he heard the ranch house door open, then close, as Hoss, Joe and Sarah entered the great room. Sarah rushed to her Pa, and threw her arms around his neck. Adam reached her onto his lap, and just held her there, for several moments, as a few tears fell down her cheeks. “ Hey, what’s this ? Don’t cry, Sarah. Your Ma’s in there having your little brothers or sisters for us. She wouldn’t want you to be crying…” Sarah gazed right into her Pa’s eyes. “ Can I go see her – please, Pa ?”Adam glanced to his Pa, and Ben just shook his head, ever so slowly. Adam’s eye’s looked to Sarah’s again. “Well, she’s pretty busy in there, Sarah. I don’t think it would be a good time right now…”  Just then, Doc Martin came rushing out into the great room again. “ Adam – I think you’d better come – it’s time…” Adam kissed Sarah gently, then he stood with her - still in his arms - then sat her down into the chair.
“You wait right here – it shouldn’t be long now, Sarah..” Ben, Hoss, Joe, and Sarah, watched as Adam rushed breathlessly after the doctor, then they both disappeared down the hallway, as they headed back to Beth…
Adam took his place, at Beth’s side, and lovingly held her hand. The same as he’d been doing for, seemingly, so many hours…Paul and Beth both got busy. He was soon coaching his patient  through the final steps… “ Okay, Beth, now breathe – that’s a girl - and push…push…” The beads of sweat stood out on the doctor’s forehead, as he continued his instructions. “..and push…We have the top of a head here – lots of dark hair, by the look of it…” Adam glanced to Beth, and half smiled at her, as her grip tightened on his hand. The first of their babies was nearly here… Beth’s face was contorted, partly in pure concentration, but mostly in pain, and fatigue, as Paul repeated
 “ push… and push, and… one more time, Beth !” With one last supreme effort, the baby had arrived, and Paul just beamed. “Well, we have a handsome baby boy !” Paul took out his pocket watch : it was 5:13. Adam and Beth just hugged each other, and the tears trickled down both their cheeks, as Paul quickly cut the cord, washed the baby off in the warm water of the wash stand bowl, then dried him off in a fluffy towel, and laid him on Beth’s bosom. They just looked in absolute wonderment at  their son, and Beth reached out one hand to gently caress his tiny head - a tiny head covered in black wavy hair – just like his Pa’s. “ Welcome to the world, Wyatt…”Adam moved his hand towards his son’s hand. It was so tiny, yet those tiny fingers wrapped around Adam’s index finger. He just grinned, and his hazel eyes just shone, as a couple of more tears appeared in them. “ Beth – he’s beautiful – just beautiful…” He reached to kiss her tenderly on one cheek, as Beth reached her arms up, to hug him. Paul sank back into the chair, beside the bed, and wiped his brow. “ Now don’t forget we’re not done here, yet. That’s one down, and one more to go,  remember !”

Paul was right. Within five minutes, Beth was delivering their second child, with Paul coaching her – just like with Wyatt . “Okay, Beth you’re doing fine – don’t forget to breathe, now…and push, push…good girl….we have another head with black wavy hair, here!….okay Beth…push…push…..nearly here…one more big push….” Beth  bared down, with all her might. Paul just smiled - the baby had arrived. It was 5:18 …
“You have another handsome baby boy…” Once again he quickly cut the cord, and washed and dried  the baby, then laid him beside Wyatt, on his Ma’s bosom. Beth, again, reached out to stroke the baby’s tiny head. “ Well, welcome to the world, too, Shane…” Beth looked from one baby to the other. “ They look identical, Paul.” He just smiled, then nodded in agreement.” Yes – they are…” Adam checked each of them over, very carefully, and tenderly – counting fingers and toes… They were all there... Then he noticed something : Wyatt had a tiny mole on a very intimate part of his anatomy - just like he did, and he grinned. “ Look at that Beth – ‘like father, like son’…” Beth smiled, wanly, as she checked out the tiny mole on the left cheek of his little bottom, then sighed. “ At least we’ll be able to tell them apart, Adam…” He winked at her, and his hazel eyes were just twinkling, as he leaned in to kiss her again…
As Paul sat back and watched the happy couple, fawning over their two newly arrived sons, he suddenly thought that Beth still looked a little bigger than she should have, after having two babies. And that’s when it happened. Her water broke. Again….

The doctor’s eyes widened. “Three ?” He was, frankly, worried, at the thought of a third baby. Beth had held up pretty well delivering Wyatt and Shane. But she was totally exhausted, and to deliver a third baby would possibly take the energy she didn’t have left…
Adam looked to Beth. She looked so pale and tired – in his eyes, too – and he wondered if she had it in her to deliver a third baby. That’s when he started to worry. “ Doc, can I see you  for a moment ?” The doctor nodded solemnly, and they stood, and walked into the hallway. Paul could see the absolute worry on Adam’s face. “Well, what do you  think, Paul ? Can she do it ? ” He shook his head slowly. “ Honestly ? I just don’t know Adam. She’s just delivered two babies, and she’s exhausted. To deliver a third…” His voice trailed off, as he shook his head again. Adam felt his heart was in his throat, as he went to talk to his Pa. As he entered the great room, he saw that only his Pa was there, sitting in one of the leather winged chairs, with his back to him. He guessed that the other three Cartwrights were out looking after the stock – for that, he felt thankful. It would be hard enough talking to his Pa, and holding it all together…
As Adam approached  the chair, he reached to place one hand on his father’s shoulder. Ben turned to his son, and smiled, thinking that he was bringing the good news. When he turned to see Adam’s face, he realized that perhaps he wasn’t…

Adam felt a sudden lump in his throat. There was happiness, mixed with a sense of sadness, somehow, and apprehension, in his voice, as he began to speak..
“Congratulations, Pa. You have two new grandsons… But Beth…There’s a third baby, Pa... Paul is really worried….” At that point Adam broke down, and his Pa stood to hold him. “ Easy, Adam. Beth’s a strong woman. We can get through this. We have to try, son…” Adam raised his eyes to look at his Pa again, and his voice started to waver, as he thought the worst. “ It’ll be just like my own Ma, all over again…” A sob escaped him, and his Pa held him a little tighter. “ Now, you don’t know that, Adam. Nobody does - only God. Go to her, son. She’ll need all the love, support, and prayers, her family can give to her, now…” Adam’s head was downcast – and a million thoughts crowded his mind - as he headed back to the bedroom again .As he got to the doorway, he tried to pull himself together, as much as he could. The doctor stood off in one dark corner of the room, as Adam approached the bed, to sit in the chair beside it. He took one of Beth’s hands into his own, and managed to force a smile. “ Well, Beth. One more to go, sweetheart…” She looked to him, and closed her eyes. Adam saw a single tear fall down her cheek, before she opened them again.“ I’ll try, Adam…I’m just so tired…” At that moment, a sharp labour pain hit, and she gasped a little. Adam tightened the grip on her hand, and said a silent prayer.

The time went by slowly. Paul kept checking on her, with each labour pain. Despite the apparent contractions, that third baby just didn’t seem to be moving down, the way it should have. Another hour went by, and Paul was getting really concerned. He checked Beth’s pulse, and it was weakening. The baby still hadn’t dropped enough to even help Beth out with the use of his forceps. The doctor was running out of options…He called Adam into the hallway again, and spoke quietly to him. “ I’ve done all I can. That baby just isn’t budging….” He paused, as he placed a gentle  hand on each of Adam’s shoulders, and looked into that set of worried hazel eyes. “It’s all in God’s hands now, Adam…” That comment hit Adam like an arrow, to his very heart and soul. “ But – you’re a doctor ! There must be something you can do ?!” Paul just shook his head slowly. “ I’m  sorry, Adam…” He walked off slowly down the hallway, shaking his head, leaving Adam behind, there...
Adam was absolutely numb, as he turned to go back to Beth’s side. As he entered the room, her eyes were closed, in her pale face, and her breathing seemed to be very shallow to him. His two baby sons were lying peacefully, in their cradles, that had been brought in earlier in the day. Two cradles built by his own hands…  As he looked into those two angelic little faces, framed with the same dark, wavy hair, as his own, his tears began to flow. “Oh, Beth…” Adam collapsed to his knees, by the side of their bed, then reached across her, and just held her, tenderly, in his arms, as he buried his face in her bosom. He started to sob, uncontrollably, and  his breath was coming in little more than gasps, when it came at all… Some time had gone by –Adam wouldn’t have been able to tell you how much – when he suddenly felt a set of very gentle, and apparently feminine hands, on his shoulders. He raised his tear stained face slowly, and looked around. There was no one there – no one he could see, at least – but he could feel someone’s presence in the small room. A presence he felt a familiarity about, somehow. Then he somehow remembered: That loving touch he’d felt as a new born. A touch he hadn’t felt since… “ Ma ?” He held his breath, just for a moment ,as that wonderful, warm, tender, loving feeling spread right through him, and seemed to reach his very soul. He just closed his eyes slowly, as the tears continued to flow down his cheeks, and  his head dropped down, and came to rest softly on Beth’s bosom again. Then his voice sounded in absolute despair... “… Please help us, Ma…” A few moments later, he felt Beth stir, so he lifted his head. She opened her eyes slowly, and the colour started to return to her cheeks, a little. As she turned her face to him - just for a fleeting moment – it wasn’t Beth’s face looking at him at all – it was his own Ma’s face, and she was smiling at him…  Adam blinked just once, almost in disbelief, then the vision was gone, and it was Beth again, lying there. She reached for his hand. “Adam, I just felt the strangest thing…” He reached out one finger to her lips, to silence her. “It’s all right, Beth. I felt her too…It was my Ma…” He smiled, as Beth slowly pulled herself into a sitting position again. “ I know I can do this, Adam…” Adam leapt to his feet, and called out. “ Paul, come quickly!” The doctor rushed into the room, and couldn’t believe what he saw. Beth looked to be absolutely back to normal, and he could practically feel her regained strength radiating from right across the room. He smiled, as he rolled up his sleeves again. “ Okay, Beth. Ready when you are…”

It was a short time later - 7:01 p.m. - when Beth safely delivered their third child. A tiny, yet beautiful, baby girl – with the same light auburn hair, as her Ma’s…Beth and Adam reached out to touch her, at the same time, as Paul placed the infant on Beth’s stomach.
There were tears in both Adam’s and Beth’s eyes as they said, almost  in unison, “Welcome to the world, Rose…”
The unseen spirit of a very loving grandmother smiled, in a shadowy corner of the room, then slowly drifted away again, to where she’d come from…Her work was done. 

A few minutes later, Paul sat in the chair beside the bed, and just watched the two new parents, with their three new babies. Adam sat on the double bed, beside Beth, with a freshly diapered Rose, lounging contentedly against her Pa’s shoulder. Beth raised first Wyatt, then Shane, up to her bosom. After a couple of false starts, the babies’ instincts took over, and the two of them were soon nursing away, hungrily. Adam watched, in absolute awe, at his two sons, enjoying their first meals, together. Beth was just a picture of absolute  contentment. Paul leaned forward, as he reached to check the infants, once more. “They’re doing just fine, Beth. And so are you!” Adam shifted Rose to his left shoulder, then reached out his right hand, to shake Paul’s. “ I don’t know how to thank you, Paul.” The doctor smiled, as he took Adam’s hand into his. “Well, we all saw a miracle here, today. I still don’t understand where you got that sudden strength from, to deliver Rose, Beth. I’m just so glad, and relieved, that you did, though.” Adam and Beth glanced to each other, and grinned. That was one little ‘detail’ of the day that would remain private - for now, anyway. Paul stood, a few minutes later, and reached Rose from Adam’s arms.  “How about seeing if Rose can nurse, too, Beth ?” Paul passed Adam his two sons, as Beth raised Rose to one breast. Like her brothers – a couple of false starts - then she suddenly got the knack of it, and was soon nursing away happily. As Paul looked from one parent to another, he was hard pressed to tell who looked the happiest: Beth, feeding her baby daughter, for the very first time, or Adam, leaning back against the headboard, with his new born sons, laying peacefully, in each of his arms. Paul smiled broadly. “ It’s moments like this that make me feel that we doctors are some of the luckiest people on Earth – just getting to share all this joy, with brand new parents…” He paused, as Adam and Beth smiled at him. “I’m thinking, Beth, that we should get you freshened up – I’m sure your family would like to meet the new family members, too…” Adam nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Paul. They must be wondering what’s happening in here. Besides – I have to get the other cradle for Rose…” Paul looked at him questioningly. “ You mean, you’ve got one ? But I only thought you were having twins – why do you have three cradles ?” Adam glanced to Beth, then looked to Paul again. “ I still have the cradle my Pa made for me, and my two brothers. Pa had always kept it – he thought it was ‘lucky’… Maybe it is ?” Adam winked to his doctor, then, with Paul’s help, placed his two sons into their cradles. As Paul stood again, he clapped one hand on Adam’s back. “ You give me about fifteen minutes to get your young family ready to meet everyone, Adam !”  Adam just grinned, then headed off down the hallway, to the great room, and his waiting family. As he entered the room, he saw four sets of worried eyes look to him. By Adam’s look of absolute elation, they knew everything was alright, and they all smiled, at him. Adam just raised his arms, momentarily – in pure joy, celebration, and relief – “ They’re all here – safe and sound – two boys and a little girl – and they’re all JUST beautiful !”  Adam broke down, in tears of thankfulness, as his family rushed over to him. He looked to his Pa, then held out his arms, to embrace him.
 “ Congratulations, ‘Grampa’…” Ben moved to his son, and just held him tight. He knew just the way that Adam was feeling, at that very moment- he’d felt the same way himself, three times…..As they parted , Hoss and Joe clapped their big brother on the back, in congratulations, too, and Sarah leapt up into his arms “ Wow - three babies, Pa-THREE ! – I’m just so happy!” Adam reached up one hand, to wipe his tears away, then kissed his young daughter’s cheek. “ I’m so happy too, Sarah. But you and I have to get that other cradle, out of the barn, for your little sister.” As he lowered Sarah to the floor again, and started to head towards the door with her, he glanced back. “ If you give Paul about fifteen minutes, to get them all ready, we’ll all go to see them, alright ?”
The three other Cartwrights nodded, and smiled, in agreement.

When they got to the barn, Adam climbed the ladder, and walked to the very back of the loft. He found the cradle, behind a mound of hay, safely wrapped in a heavy tarpaulin. He knelt down, and carefully pulled the tarpaulin to one side. There it was -   his cradle. He ran one hand along its dark walnut, finely carved sides – carved by his own Pa’s hand. Then he noticed it : a tiny china music box, adorned with several cherubs, and delicate flowers, tucked back under the wooden canopy, and carefully nestled into a small blanket. Adam reached for it, then raised it to his lips, and blew a light layer of dust off of it. He smiled, as he turned it over, and twisted the small key on the  bottom of it, to wind it up. A somehow familiar tune tinkled into the air around him - a tune he’d only heard, only one other time, since he was a day old. Adam listened quietly – as a lifetime of memories flooded through him - till the little music box slowly wound down, again , and stopped. Standing up once more, he reached those two precious items – both cradle, and music box - into his arms, and headed back to the house.

As he and Sarah entered their home again, they suddenly heard a familiar Chinese voice bellowing excitedly from the kitchen. Hop Sing hurried into the great room, a broad smile spread across his face, as he approached them.  Adam looked absolutely incredulous.   “Hop Sing, what are you doing here ?! This is your weekend off, isn’t it ?” The Chinaman reached the cradle from Adam’s arms. “ Hop Sing hear about baby arrive, in town. Hurry back home, to help. You think I miss arrival of grandchild of Mister Ben, and baby of Mister Adam ?..... Adam, I clean cradle for you….Dinner ready very soon…” Adam grabbed for the music box, just before Hop Sing hustled back towards the kitchen again – the cradle tucked under one arm – muttering away in Cantonese, as usual, under his breath. The five assembled Cartwrights just all started to laugh, and Ben shook his head slowly, as his dark brown eyes just twinkled. “ God bless that man – always there, just when you need him !” That was the general consensus of  the whole family.

Just then, Paul appeared from along the hall. “ The newest Cartwrights are ready to meet their family !” They all hurried along the hall, and jostled into the bedroom. Beth sat in their bed – absolutely beaming – the three babies nestled into her arms - as the family gathered around her. Adam steered Sarah to the side of the bed, and sat her down. She reached  out, very tentatively, and gently stroked the head of each of her siblings.
“They’re so small, Ma !” Adam grinned, then winked at Beth. “Yeah, they are – though that’s a good thing, given the circumstances, Sarah…” Beth just smiled in agreement, there…
The good doctor cautioned everyone that the babies were so new,  tiny, and sensitive - having just been born into the world - that it would perhaps be better if everybody just looked at them, instead of perhaps passing them around, to share with each family member. So, look at them they did ! The family crowded around the bed. Ben greeted each of his new grandsons, and he practically teared up as he did. He looked from Wyatt to Shane in near disbelief. With their identical facial features, and dark wavy hair framing their cherubic little faces, they looked exactly like Adam. He smiled. “ Oh, Adam – they’re YOU, all over again, aren’t they ? What a  handsome pair !” But his smile widened – if that was even possible - as he leaned over Rose, who reached up a tiny hand, and grabbed Ben’s chin, for just a moment. “Oh, she looks just like you, Beth ! She’s just beautiful !” Adam smiled, as he tenderly stroked his daughter’s wavy auburn hair. “ I think she likes you, too, Pa..” Hoss’s turn was next, so he reached out a cautious hand, and gently moved it across each of their heads. “ Dadburn – they’re tiny, Beth - and just LOOK at all that hair, between the three of them !” He chuckled, as he stepped back. Joe’s turn was next, as he stepped from behind Hoss’s large frame, and moved his hand tentatively towards each of them, in  turn, to feel the’ lush pastures’, of each tiny head. Both he, and Hoss, just stood grinning, at their two new nephews, and niece.  At that moment, Paul entered the bedroom again. “ I think it’s time that we let this new Mother have a bit of dinner, and a well deserved rest.” The family agreed, and filed out of the room again, leaving Beth and Adam behind.

As Adam sat on the bed, beside her, again, he unwrapped the little music box , he’d carried in with him, and wound it up once more. As the music started to play, Beth reached for it, and lifted it up, to carefully inspect the finer details, of the beautiful little china piece. “ It’s just lovely, Adam. Where did you get it from ?” He sighed, and his hazel eyes softened. “ It was in my cradle, in the loft. It belonged to my Ma – it had been a gift from my Pa…He once said that Ma had played it the day I was born – it was the first music I ever heard…” They listened to the little box in silence, till it wound down again. Beth turned to her husband, once the music had finished, and just smiled sweetly over to him. “ And now OUR sons, and daughter, have heard the very same music box, Adam, on the day that THEY were born !” Adam grinned, as he reached to tenderly kiss his wife’s cheek. “ Yeah – I guess they have. I somehow love the ‘continuity’ of that, Beth !”

 

                                                                    
The End