by littlejoefan

The sky was white with snow, tinged with blue. As I rode along I could feel the cold enter into the very soul of me. I had slowed Cochise from a canter to a leisurely trot as we approached the forest which loomed up before us.

It was Christmas Eve. Hop Sing was cooking and complaining, Pa was out collecting firewood and Adam and Hoss were caring for the horses and cleaning the barn. It was my job to ride to town to pick up a last batch of supplies and collect the mail before tomorrow. I rather thought I had got the worst of it. The temperature was barely at zero and the winter wind cut through wool and leather like a knife. 

As we entered the trees, a silence fell, not a bird sang, not an animal rustled. Everywhere was covered in a heavy blanket of snow. I was overcome with a feeling of weariness and bleakness. I looked behind me and caught sight of something that I had not seen before. Suddenly Cooch shied. There was a shape in front of me on the ground but all I could see was one gloved hand. The body had obviously been there for some time for it was half covered in snow and I may well have ridden past it without even noticing it.  I quickly dismounted, scraped off the snow, and discovered the emaciated girl.

She was painfully thin, her clothes were almost in rags and she was so cold it nearly hurt to touch her. She was unconscious so I tried to rouse her.

“Miss?” I said, chafing and tapping at her hands and face. “Miss? Wake up!”

At first I thought she was dead but I could feel a pulse so I hauled her onto  the saddle in front of me, covered her in my coat and rode home as fast as Cochise could manage.

*

“Bring her in here,” Pa ordered as I ran in the front door, the girl in my arms. “Good God, she’s like ice! Hoss, stoke up that fire! We need as much heat as possible!”

The provisions remained uncollected, the mail would have to wait. We had to co-ordinate our forces so our strange visitor would survive.

We had no smelling salts so we tried to warm up her up with brandy. We almost enveloped her in blankets, chafed, rubbed, talked and tapped until she came round.

She was a plain girl, about twenty years old, with auburn thick hair. She groaned and tried to sit up.

“Steady, there!” Pa cried. “Easy.”

“My family!”

“Where is your family, honey?”

“Where am I?”

“My son found you in the snow. He brought you home. You were half dead. You’re on the Ponderosa. Nevada Territory.”

I don’t know if she processed the information but she looked frightened and confused.

“My family!” she repeated and burst into tears.

“Where is your family, honey?” Pa asked gently.

“I left them…We were so hungry….I am so hungry.”

“Hoss, ask Hop Sing to heat some soup.”

After she had eaten she sat by the fire in her blankets and sobbed wearily. Pa put his arm around her and she leaned into his chest, her fingers flexing into his back. Eventually he sat her on the armchair and she became calmer, staring into the flickering fire. She glanced at the tree.

“It’s….Christmas?”

“Yes, child. Tomorrow.”

“We’ve lost time.”

Her name was Harriet Simpson. They had followed the train from Missouri and had been traveling for seven months. Weeks earlier they had become separated from the others and had wandered, disoriented and lost, for many days. 

“Our animals began to die,” she continued sorrowfully. “The Indians shot and stole most of the ones that survived. They stayed near us for a couple of days until the snows truly came. We were climbing but we were snowed in. The drifts came up to our chests and the little ones couldn’t go on any more. So Pa, Jake and Mr Bryant opted to go on.” She started to shiver again, though she was fully warmed. “Jake didn’t come back.”

“Jake’s your brother?” I asked.

She nodded and wept for a while.

“The blizzards have been bad,” said Hoss. “But were you delayed? If you started in May you should’ve been well clear of the mountains before the snows came. You should be in California by now.”

She ground her teeth. “That blasted man!” she cried. “That damn blasted man! May he rot in hell!”

Pa chose to ignore the bad language. “What man?”

“When we were in Fort Bridger Pa met a man who said there was a more direct route. Some of the families wanted to try it but Ma and me and all the kids were against it. But Pa was convinced. He said it was a smoother trip, that it would cut hundreds of miles off the journey. But I don’t know, Ma and me had a bad feeling about it.” She paused and licked her lips nervously.  “But even we didn’t think he was leading us into a desert!  We lost a lot of our animals and wagons and it took us weeks and weeks. We nearly died.” 

“How you must have suffered!” Adam said.

“Can you blame us for hating him? He said he’d lead us but he never did. He left letters nailed to trees. Everything he told us was a lie. By the time we rejoined the trail everyone else was a month ahead of us.”

She told of the disintegration of the groups, the rows, the raids, the constant push to reach the Sierra before the snows came.  The small train broke up, each family group distrustful of the others. By the time they reached the mountains the snow had begun to fall and they had lost most of their animals to Indian raids or starvation.

“We tried to go further, but we were so weak and it was so steep. We were out of food and the animals began to die. So we stacked them and ate them. We took shelter in huts by a lake, but there were so many raids! And then the day came…” She was finished and could not go on for some time. It was obvious she was in a lot of pain. “I think my family is dead.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked. “Where are they, Harriet?”

“There was a raid,” she gasped. “Yesterday, I think. I’ve been walking so long I’ve lost sense of time. All our animals were gone, we were eating bones and oxhide. So we had nothing. We all started running. I ran and ran until I fell. I tried to go back but got lost. So I just walked.”

I think it was then when we realized she was lucky to be alive. The odds against her surviving were a hundred to one. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Any later and she would have died from exposure. She understood.

“They’re dead, aren’t they?”

None of us answered. “We must try to find the site,” said Pa. “There are some old cabins by Washoe lake.”

Hoss and Adam were already reaching for their hats and coats.

“I was a long way east of there.”

“She obviously headed that way. That’s the only place I can think of in this area.”

*

We left her to recover under Hop Sing’s care and formed a small unit of men to find out what had happened to her family. We knew what we were expecting as we rode along on that snowy Christmas Eve. But not one of us came away without an unshed tear.

She was right, of course. Not one of her family had survived. We found the frozen corpses covered in snow. What was hardest to witness were the children, of whom there were many. She had five sisters and brothers and four cousins. Some of the children had made it into the nearby woods only to be slaughtered in their turn.

I looked away and cursed myself for I felt tears pricking at my eyes. Fortunately it was snowing so hard no-one noticed and I saw the strange, grim expressions on my family’s faces. They were struggling themselves. 

“Why?” I managed to say after a long silence. “Why, in God’s name? They were children!”

“I don’t know, Joe,” said Pa.

“They’re evil!”

“The Paiutes are as capable of evil as the white man, unfortunately.”

“How the devil are we going to tell Harriet?” Adam cleared his throat and his voice became firmer.

“She already knows. Deep down, she knows.”

We could not even bury them as the ground was frozen solid. We travelled back and even the men were silent. As soon as Harriet saw our faces, she turned and went upstairs. We later heard her wails.

“Why me?”she wept. “My parents, my little sisters and brothers! Everyone! Why am I the only one to survive?”

We did not know what to say. I heard Pa murmuring to her. “God chose you to survive, child.”

“I should have stayed behind, looked after the others…”

“And you would be dead.”

We remonstrated with him. “Pa – “

“No, he’s right. I…I…must try to be brave.”

Trembling, with tears pouring down her face, she looked up at the huge Christmas tree, dazzled as the firelight caught on the ornaments. “I’m sorry I spoiled  your Christmas.”

“You didn’t. You made it. You believe in God, don’t you, Harriet?”

“Of course.”

“He told us to love one another, to love our neighbor as we would love ourselves. He sent his only son down to us and what better way can we honor him than by hoping you’ll let us extend our love to you?”

I smiled. “We’ll look after her, won’t we, Pa?”

“We sure will, son.”

The End

Author’s Note

This story is partially and very loosely based on the Donner Party.

smp4ever

Meals around the table were a time for the family members to gather together to share stories, laughs, disagreements, and ideas.  This morning’s early breakfast was much different.  Only two Cartwrights were at the table, and one of them was not enjoying the conversation.

“Joseph, I’ve explained to you that Adam isn’t going to be back from San Francisco until later today.  You know Hoss is still in bed recuperating from a bad cold and fever.  So, unfortunately, son, that leaves you to get our Christmas dinner.”

“Pa, have you noticed that it looks like another storm is brewing?  You want me to go out in this weather?  Can’t we just have steak?”

“We’re having that tonight for Christmas Eve.”

“How about chicken?”

Joseph, Christmas is a special holiday filled with traditions!  Goose is what we’re having.  So, if you stop complaining and get moving, you’ll make it back in plenty of time before the storm breaks.  Now off with you!  Bring back a nice fat goose!”

Hop Sing came out of the kitchen at that moment. 

“Lil Joe. Hully up.  Hop Sing have to pluck feathers, clean bird, and prepare for tomorrow’s Christmas celebration.  Have much to do:  get all trimmings ready, make cookies and pies, and prepare house for guests.  No time for foolishment!  Listen to father.  Go!”  

Mumbling to himself, Joe slipped into his winter coat.  His father handed him his scarf and gloves.  Joe took them begrudgingly and put them on.  He plopped his hat on his head while still grumbling.  As Joe proceeded to go out the door, Ben couldn’t resist giving his irritated son a swat on his backside.   

“Really, Pa?  You’re not improving my mood!” 

Chuckling, Ben said, “You’re much too young to be acting like a grouchy old man! 

Be careful, Joseph.  See you around one o’clock or before!  Stay dry!”

Joe gave his father a half-hearted wave, swung up onto Cochise, and rounded the barn much too quickly.  Shaking his head, Ben made a mental note to speak with his eighteen-year-old son about his reckless riding.  Joe never considered the consequences of his imprudent actions.

***

“Who was ya talking to, Pa?”

“It was your young brother. 

What are you doing out of bed?”

“I come down to get me some breakfast.  I feel much better and I couldn’t stay in that room, not one more minute.  Now I know how Joe feels when he’s stuck in bed.  Speaking of, where is little brother?  You said you was just talkin to him.”

“I sent him out to get tomorrow’s Christmas dinner.  I told him to bring back a big fat goose.  He wasn’t happy about going out in this weather.  Now I’m wondering if I did the right thing.  The sky is looking pretty angry.”

“Ah, Pa,  he ain’t travelin’ more ‘an two hours away.  Joe’ll be fine.  You know he and Cochise is a good team, and Joe’s a good hunter.  He’ll be back ‘fore ya know it.  Bein’ out in the cold weather might cool off that hotheaded brother of mine!”

“I suppose.”

Hoss could read by Pa’s expression that he was already worried. 

Ben opened the front door.  The wind stung his face.  A light snow had just begun to fall.  He never expected the storm to begin this soon. 

Joseph, if the weather deteriorates, forget the goose. Turn around and come home. 

***

The youngest Cartwright was heading toward Washoe Lake where some of the wild Canadian geese and Snow Geese made their winter stopover.

Biting winds started picking up.  Joe decided to remove his scarf from around his neck and tie it over his hat securing it under his chin.  This way his hat wouldn’t blow off his head and his ears would be protected. 

“I’m glad I decided to wear my long johns, wooly socks, and put those oils and wax on my boots to keep my feet dry.  Pa got this one wrong.  The snow’s already starting and it’s coming down pretty steadily.  I’ll tell you, Cooch, there had better be flocks of geese in the wetlands of the Washoe Lake area.  I wanna get a snow goose and a Canadian goose and get home.  Hoss likes the dark meat of the snow goose.  That will be my gift to him!” I know my present won’t be duplicated!” 

Joe found that pretty comical.  At least he gave himself a laugh, which he needed.  Of course Joe was just joking.  He had gotten Hoss a gift that was already wrapped and placed under the tree. 

The tree, the fireplace, a hot cup of coffee – these images came into Joe’s mind, painting a vivid  scene and causing a sigh to escape his lips.

Bringing himself back to the task at hand, Joe spoke aloud,  “The two geese should be enough. Pa said Doc Martin, Roy Coffee, a few neighbors, and a special surprise guest will be joining us. I hate secrets.  Why couldn’t Pa just tell us?  Oh well, Cooch, let’s get our job done and get home.”

Joe had a few more miles to go.  Visibility was worsening.  As he got closer, Joe could hear the honking and cackling. 

“Alright, Cochise, stay real quiet.  I’m going to get our Christmas dinner.”

Joe crouched low and headed in the direction of his future meal.  As luck would have it, many geese had hunkered down in the open water that hadn’t frozen yet.  Joe raised his shotgun, aimed, and fired. 

“Yahoo! I got two geese right in the head!” Joe yelled. 

The only problem was that he had to wade into the cold water to retrieve his prizes.  Joe didn’t care what type of geese he shot at this point.  Leaving his jacket on the shore, Joe walked into the frigid wetlands and grabbed the dead birds.  After snatching his jacket, Joe hightailed it back to Cochise.  He tied his prey onto the cantle using the saddle strings.  Thankfully, Joe had an extra shirt in his saddlebag.  He wished he had a complete change of clothing, especially another set of longjohns.  As quickly as possible, Joe stripped off his shirt and threw on the dry one, then his jacket.  His body shook from shivering.

“Okay, Cooch, let’s get out of here before I freeze to death!”

Joe had traveled more than halfway home.  The only sound he heard were his teeth chattering.  It felt much colder since the sun was hidden by the heavy clouds.  The snow was coming down harder.  It wasn’t ideal traveling conditions. 

“Pa had better give me an extra day off for doing this job!”

Joe did a lot of talking to the wind, the snow, and Cochise on this trip. 

The ride home was slower than usual because of the weather.  It was already half past one.  Joe didn’t think he’d ever make it home.  He had been out since seven o’clock this morning and was tired, cold, and hungry.  Thankfully he had grabbed an apple and a biscuit from the table at breakfast.  It was better than nothing.  Joe stopped and gave the apple to his loyal friend and shoved the biscuit into his mouth.  He was just about to mount Cochise when out of the corner of his eye Joe thought he spotted something half buried in the snow.  Moving cautiously, he got closer; he couldn’t tell whether it was an animal or …

“Oh my God, it’s a person!” 

Joe quickened his steps and knelt next to the prone form.  Rolling him onto his back, Joe felt for a pulse.  It was weak, but Joe was relieved to find one.  The body seemed to be that of an older man.  He was big.  Joe did his best to pull him toward the clump of trees for shelter from the snow and wind.  Big drifts covered the ground, but the trees did help to reduce the wind speed. The major concern was heavy clumps of snow and broken branches falling.  Joe decided to take his chances with the latter.  Trudging through the snow, Joe made his way back to Cochise to grab his bedroll and canteen.  Boots slipping, he bolted back to the man and covered him with the blanket.  Taking the scarf off his hat, Joe tied it around the man’s head.  He gently tapped the man’s face.  Showing some response, Joe put the canteen to the man’s lips.  The old guy sipped a little water.  Joe was concerned since the man’s breathing was shallow.  He knew the guy was freezing to death. 

“Pon de ro sa, Pon de ro sa,” the man started mumbling haltingly.

“Yes, this is the Ponderosa.  Hang on, Mister.  I have to get help.”

Joe went back to Cochise and removed the geese and saddle.  Carrying everything, Joe slogged back to the man.  He put the inverted saddle behind him and placed a goose on each side of the old guy.  The saddle blanket was laid on top of the bedroll already covering the man.  After settling him as best as he could, Joe returned to Cochise.  Left hand raised, he slapped Cooch on his rump and said, “Go home, boy!”

Cochise did as was told.  Joe could only pray his family would get to him before it was too late for the old man…and himself!   The wet snow was beginning to seep through his clothes and he was getting colder.

Joe returned to the man.  “Listen, Mister, we don’t know each other but I’m going to lie down with you.  Let’s hope my body heat, what’s left of it, helps.” 

Joe moved the one goose to join the other goose.  The man would be insulated from the cold by the geese on his right side.  Joe opened his jacket and slipped under the blankets on the man’s left side and pulled the scarf partly over the guy’s face.

Joe took a breath, “Here I go!” 

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Joe snuggled his chest close to the man under the blankets. 

“Listen, Mister, please don’t mistake me for your wife, if you’re married.  Understood?”  

A little smirk appeared on the man’s face but the scarf hid it from Joe.  

The youngest Cartwright did what he did best.  He started non-stop talking to keep the guy and himself awake. 

“So you were asking for the Ponderosa.  Do you have business there?  You know my Pa?” 

“Cart wright!” the guy muttered.

“Yes, that’s my family’s name.  We live on the Ponderosa.  What’s your name?” 

No response.

 “Come on, Mister, stay awake with me!”

***

Adam had arrived home a couple of hours ago.  He was welcomed by an anxious father.  Ben had been concerned about his eldest son traveling home from Virginia City after getting off the stage.  However, he was more worried about his youngest who was overdue by all calculations.

Ben was angry with himself for insisting that Joe go out to get a Christmas goose. 

“Adam, Joe didn’t want to go.  I convinced him the storm would hold off until he got home.  I thought he was just being a stubborn young man as he sometimes can be.  If something has happened to Little Joe, I will never forgive myself.”

Another voice was heard from the stairs.  “Don’t say that, Pa.  Maybe them geese was givin Joe a hard time.  Might just be takin little brother a bit longer to bag a goose, or maybe he’s on a wild goose chase!” 

Only Hoss was laughing.

“Pa, why don’t I go look for the kid?  He’s probably on his way home.  In this snow, travel is slower.”

“Adam, you only got in two hours ago, and, Hoss, don’t even think about going out!”

“Pa, we’ll all feel better if…”

Adam didn’t finish the sentence since they heard a horse.  Worried lines became smooth again. 

Adam ran to open the door.  He stared in horror. 

“Hop Sing, warm up some soup for Joe and heat up water for a bath!”

“Pa, stop!  It’s not Joe.  It’s just Cochise without his saddle!”

Time stood still, and breathing ceased.  

Ben pulled himself together and said, “Adam get the sleigh ready!

Hoss, grab some blankets and the hot stones! ”

Father and son headed out in the direction Hoss said Joe would be hunting. 

***

“Hey, Mister, come on, I told you, you have to stay awake.” 

Joe was still snuggled up against the old guy.  He figured if anyone ever saw him in this position, he’d never live it down.  With temperatures dropping, right now he didn’t care. 

“Help should be here soon.  So where are you from?  You got a family?”

Slurring, the guy whispered, “A wife and grown boy in…!” 

His words trailed off.  Joe decided to keep talking.

“Well, I live here in Nevada at a ranch on the Ponderosa.  I have a pa and two older brothers. I’m the youngest.  I guess you figured that out if I have two older brothers.”

A small chuckle escaped from the man. 

“Anyway, I am the only one who was born here.  My brother Adam was born in New England. He’s a Yankee!  Brother Hoss was born on the prairie coming across the country by wagon train. Pa decided to settle here in Nevada and not go on to California.  I’m glad he did!”

As Joe kept talking, his own breathing was becoming more labored, and wetness from wading earlier and from the snow was chilling him to the bone.

In the distance, Joe could hear sleighbells. 

“Well, Mister, that’s either Santa, a little off schedule, or my pa.  This time, I hope it’s Pa.” 

Joe got out from under the blankets.  The cold started taking its toll on him.  Wobbly legs tried to trek to an open area so he could be seen.  As the bells got louder, Joe got weaker. 

Little Joe raised his arm and yelled, “Pa!” just as he went down on his knees. 

Ben and Adam leaped out of the converted sleigh to aid the youngest Cartwright.  Ben enveloped Joe in his arms. 

“Pa, I left a man by the clump of trees under blankets.  He’s half frozen.  The geese are there, too,” Joe said with a proud smile on his face.

“Adam, go check on the man.  We have to get both Joe and that guy home as quickly as possible.”

Ben lifted his son and carried him into the sleigh.  He laid him down on the mattress in the wagon box.  He stripped off Joe’s wet clothes and wrapped him in a couple of the blankets that had been packed in the storage box with warmed stones. 

“Where are your scarf and gloves?”

Through chattering teeth, Joe said, “The old guy needed them more than me.”

Ben should have been upset with his son, but instead he felt a burst of pride.  Joe was such a good and caring young man. 

Adam yelled for his father’s help.  Ben left Joe to assist his eldest.  Adam had already removed the man’s wet clothing and rewrapped him with the blankets that had covered him. They assisted the old guy to the converted wagon with runners and laid him down next to Joe.  Two more blankets were placed over both of them. The man’s head and face remained wrapped in Joe’s scarf so he was unable to be identified.  Ben didn’t know if they’d recognize the guy anyway.  That would come later.  With the geese once again acting as insulation and the saddle placed in the back of the wagon with Joe and his frozen partner, the foursome headed out.

Ben kept turning around to check on the two victims of the harsh Sierra winters. The older man had a protective arm around Joe under the covers.  Ben smiled at the scene.

As they pulled in, Ben yelled for Hoss to come outside.  The two blankets were removed and Hoss helped Adam get the stranger inside.  Ben carried Joe.  Barking orders, he told Hop Sing to warm some blankets and get warmed water bottles ready. 

“Already done.  Make sweetened broth also.  No brandy.” 

Hop Sing was a wise man.

Ben was grateful. 

He instructed his sons to put the man in the downstairs guest room and place the warmed bottles in the man’s armpits and on his chest and groin area.  The final direction was to cover him with the warmed blanket.

Joe, asleep in his father’s arms, was swiftly carried to his room.  Hop Sing brought up the bottles and blankets.  Ben took them from Hop Sing who returned to the kitchen to fetch the broth.  The worried father placed the warmed water bottles wrapped in cozies on Joe in the same manner as he had instructed his sons.  His final action was covering Joe with the warmed blanket. 

Joe stirred. His eyes fluttered open. 

Slurring his words, Joe asked, “Pa, I think I found an old guy.  If I did, how’s he doing?”

“Leave it to you, son, to be more concerned about someone else.”

Adam appeared at the door just at that moment.

“How are you doing, Buddy?”

In a weak, halting voice, Joe said,  “Okay. but everything’s fuzzy.”

“You’re home and safe.  You’ll be fine, brother.”

“Pa, I think you’d better come with me.”

Joe and Ben flashed a concerned look at Adam.  Strangely, Adam just smiled. 

With furrowed eyebrows, Ben said, “Joseph, I’ll be back as quickly as possible.”

As Ben walked out of his son’s room, Hop Sing walked back in; this time with some sweet, warmed broth. 

“Make my Lil’ Joe feel better.”

Joe was still feeling weak, fatigued, and a bit confused.  His voice matched how he felt.  

“Thanks, Hop Sing!   Was an old man with me?”

“Yes, you found old man in snow.  He doing much better, better than you.  Said you and geese save his life.  Vely grateful.  Drink broth now.”

As Joe drank the sweetened broth,  Hop Sing thanked him for the geese. 

“Lil’ Joe good boy.  Make Christmas vely happy now.”

The treatment to circulate heat to the body’s core more safely and quickly continued over the next several hours.  During that time, Joe finally stopped shivering and showed that he was more alert.   It was only then, Joe had been allowed to doze off.  When Ben returned to the room,  Joe was drifting in and out of sleep, vaguely aware of warmed water bottles being changed.  His eyes fluttered open.  Was he dreaming? Did it appear his father had been crying?   With eyes closed again, sleep reclaimed Joe.

It was now about half past seven.  Joe was fully awake and felt almost normal.  He believed he was well enough to dress so he could gather with his family for Christmas Eve. 

Ben came into Joe’s room.

“Joseph, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Putting on my boots,” Joe smirked.

“Pa, I’m really feeling much better.  It’s Christmas Eve.  I just want us all to be together.”

“Well, since you put it like that, I guess you can handle being up for a couple of hours.  Anyway, our special, surprise guest arrived.  He’s downstairs.” 

“Then let’s go, Pa!”

Descending the stairs, Joe saw his brothers and the old man with whom he had shared the day’s frightening experience.  Joe looked confused. 

“Where’s the surprise guest?”

“Right there, Joseph,” pointing to the man sitting in the red chair wrapped in a blanket.  “Say hello to my big brother, your Uncle John, the man whose life you saved.”

Ben assisted Joe to the settee.

John looked at Joe, “Thank you, nephew. I am forever grateful to you.  You are quite an extraordinary young man.”

Joe was speechless.  His father had told him many stories about his brother, but Joe had never met him.  

Getting over the initial shock, Joe found his voice.  “I know we have never met, but I really feel close to you!” Joe said with a wry smile.

Laughter broke out.  John had already told the family how Joe had snuggled into him to share his body heat.

“I feel the same way, Joe!  Real close!”

More laughter echoed through the room.  

This was going to be a night filled with laughs, love, and heartfelt gratitude..

Eyes turned to Hop Sing as he announced, “Christmas Eve dinner is served.  Uncle John and Lil’ Joe have more sweet broth.  Rest of family have steak.”  

Joe and his uncle shot a glance at each other.   

“This hasn’t been our day, has it, Uncle John?” Joe grunted.

“Tomorrow,  you have nice roasted geese, vely special geese!”

After supper, everyone gathered around the fireplace for Ben’s reading from the Bible, Luke 2: verses 1-14  The words “truly great joy and good news!” took on special meaning.

Hot chocolate was served to all while Adam played his guitar and sang “Oh Holy Night.” 

Contentment and peace filled the room.  

“It’s been more than two hours, Joseph.  You and your uncle need to get back to bed.” 

There were no arguments from any family members.  Before retiring to their rooms, Joe and Uncle John embraced each other.  No words were necessary.  The last sound heard were doors  closing in a way that matched the peaceful mood.

Ben remained downstairs a little while longer quietly reflecting on his blessings:  Hoss was feeling better;  Adam had arrived home safely from San Francisco and helped in rescuing Joe and John; and above all, both of them were alive and on the mend.

A grateful father ascended the stairs.  Before heading to his bedroom,  Ben quietly entered Joe’s room.  His heroic son was snuggled under his covers.  Smiling, Ben bent down to kiss his youngest.  Thank you, Joseph. You have made this one of the best Christmases to celebrate.

A groggy voice from beneath the blankets mumbled,  “Thanks, Pa.  Does that earn me some extra time off, maybe a trip to San Francisco?”

Ben couldn’t resist ending the day the way it began.  A gentle swat landed on Joe’s backside.

“Seriously, Pa, is that how you show your gratitude?”

 Ben chuckled, “Sleep well, Joseph.  Merry Christmas!”

The End

Epilogue

Ben shared that his brother, who he thought was dead, had written to tell him his gold fever had been satisfied.  He didn’t become a rich man but made enough to live comfortably.  John wanted to surprise the family and visit the Ponderosa before returning home.  He calculated he’d reach the ranch by Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. 

John explained how his horse had lost his footing on the ice, tumbled, and broke his leg.  Wandering in the snowstorm exhausted him and caused him to become disoriented. 

“If this young stranger hadn’t happened upon me and cared for me, putting his own life in danger, I wouldn’t be sharing this story now.”

For the next two weeks, the Cartwrights enjoyed John’s company, sharing stories of his and their father’s childhood, about their cousin Will, and hearing tales of John’s adventures panning for gold.  They all wished they had more time together, but John had to head home.  Handshakes, hugs, and promises to visit were exchanged. 

After the departure, Joe asked,  “Pa, one of the times you came into my room, you looked like you had been crying?”

Ben nodded in agreement as a slight smile crossed his face, recalling the incident.

“When Adam came upstairs to get me, I found out the old man you came upon was my brother, our special guest.  I was so happy to be reunited with him after all these years, and even happier that both of you survived your ordeal in the snow.  Hearing him tell me what you did for him, Joseph, made me so proud of you.  I couldn’t suppress my tears.”

Joe smiled at his father, and also made it a point to tell him that next Christmas he wanted anything but water fowl!

Preparing for one of his father’s playful swats, Joe was pleasantly surprised when Ben put his arm around his shoulder instead.  Grinning broadly, all four Cartwrights turned toward the ranchhouse and stepped inside their front door feeling much richer and very content.

Author’s notes: Researched with AI -Some medical history

In the 1860s, hot water bottles were cylindrical or oval shaped and were stoneware, a type of ceramic, copper, brass, and sometimes zinc and glass. Corks were used as stoppers or screw-on stoneware/ceramic caps were utilized for sealing the bottles. In 1875, rubber hot water bottles began replacing the others.

Cozies covered the hot water bottles to prevent burning the person.  They were made from soft cloth or blanket material, wool, and cotton flannel.  

Hot water bottles were placed in the armpits, groin, and chest to warm the core body temperature of someone suffering from snow exposure;  today, hypothermia.  These body areas are where large blood vessels are close to the surface.  Heat transfers quickly and warms the circulating blood safely and effectively. 

Also in the 1860s other methods such as body to body contact, removing wet clothing and wrapping the person in warm blankets were also used.  Some people initially rubbed the affected areas of frostbite with snow,  combined with the slow warming process. 

It was also a common practice for liquor to be given to victims of overexposure to cold and snow.  However, alcohol would give a false sense of being warmed.  In reality, it caused hypothermia to worsen because it causes vasodilation which is widening of blood vessels near the skin.  This creates a temporary feeling of warmth but actually pulls heat away from the body’s core. Thank goodness Hop Sing was a wise man!

Today warmed IV fluids are the standard medical treatment.