Disclaimer: This story was written for enjoyment and not
for profit.
`THE FAR REACHES OF THE NIGHT
Written by
Halloween
The Celts celebrated this night as the feast of Sambain. It marked the end of the summer harvest and the beginning of the cold, dark winter. Druid priests believed that in the far reaches of this night, the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead became blurred, making it possible for the spirits of the dead to cross over to this world. There are a few powerful places on this earth where the veil between the worlds is thin, easing the passage for both the living and the dead.
*************************
Joe’s mind was wandering. He looked down at the open history book on
his desk, attempting to read the same paragraph for the fourth time without
success. He was trying hard to focus on
the task that Miss Jones had given him but it was a losing battle. He had been reprimanded three times during
morning lessons for daydreaming. The
last time had been accompanied by a threatened letter home to his father and
being kept after school if he had to be spoken to one more time. A letter home would be bad enough but being
kept after school would be more trouble than Joe wanted. He had already been late getting home twice
this week and couldn’t afford a third time.
The promised consequences would not be pleasant. And his father always kept his promises. If sitting still had been difficult today, it
would be impossible tomorrow.
Joe rubbed his eyes and tried to focus once again on
the book in front of him but his mind continued to wander. If only Miss Jones didn’t drone on and on
about everything. If only his father
would let him leave school. He was
sixteen and considered himself ready to work full time on the ranch with his
brothers but thanks to his older brother Adam’s influence, he was still in
school. He wished that Adam would mind
his own business when it came to his continuing education. He didn’t want to go on to college so there
wasn’t any reason for him to continue in school. While he did appreciate Adam’s occasional intervention
on his behalf when he was in trouble with their father, his big brother could
just as easily be harder on him than their father ever was. He was never sure which way Adam would
go. He preferred him in the role of big
brother and protector rather than second father.
As Joe gazed out the window again, he wished he were
outside on this beautiful last day of October. The leaves on the trees were
brilliantly hued in shades of red, yellow and orange. Fallen leaves formed a tapestry of colors on
the ground. They produced a soft rustling as he walked through them. The fallen leaves brought back one of his few
memory glimpses of his mother. He
remembered running through leaves as she chased him. He knew she had been laughing but the sound
of her voice was fading from his memory.
He tried desperately to hold onto these few memories as the years
passed. He was afraid that they would
disappear along with the sound of her voice.
Joe continued to stare out the window, watching low
white clouds accented with gray that drifted across the deep blue sky. They moved quickly, changing form as they
passed. He still enjoyed looking for
pictures in the sky. Adam told him that
he played this game with his mother but he couldn’t remember. He did have memories of lying on his back
with his brothers watching the clouds drift by.
Adam would make up stories about the pictures that Joe found in the
sky.
Joe sighed, “When is this day going to end?”
Miss Jones sat at her desk, looking over the glasses
resting on her nose. She saw that Joe
was lost in his own thoughts again.
There was no denying it. Joseph
Cartwright was a handful to say the least.
He wasn’t bad, just mischievous and full of energy. The boy simply couldn’t sit still for long
periods of time except when he occasionally fell asleep exhausted at his desk.
Joe was the class clown, instigating practical jokes
and pranks. Miss Jones often had to suppress her own laughter because she
didn’t want to encourage him. On the other hand, he had a quick temper that he
had not learned to control, resulting in fights and outbursts. Most of the trouble the boy got into was
because of his impulsiveness and temper.
He did try to be respectful. He
didn’t always succeed but it was never blatant.
And he could be disobedient when he thought that he knew best which was
often.
As she watched Joe daydreaming again, Miss Jones
took pity on him. After all, it was a holiday.
Those hazel eyes were very hard to resist whether they were shining and
accompanied by a smile, or tear brimmed, accompanied by a trembling lip. Either one was often enough to get him out of
the trouble that he often found himself in. He had struggled to sit still and
pay attention for most of the afternoon.
She knew his father would be hard on him if she kept him after school
again. Ben Cartwright was a strict
disciplinarian. He was also a kind,
loving father. Miss Jones often marveled
at the wonderful job that he had done raising Joe alone since the boy’s mother
had died. She had often witnessed the
love and physical affection between father and son. It was obvious that Joe worshiped his father.
Miss Jones walked over to Joe. She stood beside him and gently said,
“Joseph.”
Startled, Joe sat up straight and smiled at Miss
Jones hoping that she hadn’t asked him a question that he hadn’t heard. He looked nervously at his teacher. “Yes, Ma’am?”
“Joseph, would you please clean the blackboards?”
Relieved that he hadn’t missed anything, Joe said,
“Yes, Ma’am. Is it time to go home?”
“Not quite but I think I’ll dismiss class a little
early today since it’s Halloween. I’m
sure everyone has plans and could use an extra half hour before it gets dark.”
The class responded enthusiastically to the generous
offer—everyone except Joe. He finished
cleaning the blackboards just in time for dismissal. As the class rushed out, Miss Jones
approached him. “Thank you, Joseph. I’m glad you were able to pay attention for
the rest of the afternoon. I didn’t want
to send another note home to your father and keep you after school again. Especially today. After all, it’s Friday and it’s
Halloween. I’m sure you’re anxious to
join your friends for some celebrating.”
Joe sighed, “There’s nothing I’d like better but
unfortunately I have to go straight home today.
Pa put me on restriction for being late this week.”
Miss Jones looked at Joe with sympathy. “I’m sorry to hear that, Joseph, but your
father only wants what’s best for you.
You do have to learn that every action has its consequences.”
“Yes, Ma’am.
I do know that but I don’t always think about the consequences until
it’s too late.”
“At least you do think about them, Joseph. That’s an improvement. You better get on your way home. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Bye, Miss Jones.”
Joe gathered his books and hurried out the
door. He joined his friends, Mitch and Seth,
at the hitching post.
Mitch was waiting impatiently. “Come on, Joe. Why do you always have to be late? We’re heading into town for a little
Halloween fun.”
Joe answered sadly, “I can’t go. Pa’s expecting me home. I told you that he put me on restriction.”
Seth tried to convince Joe to join them anyway. “You’re always in trouble, Joe. What harm would it do if you came with us for
a little while? We have extra time so your pa wouldn’t know. You could still get home on time. No one would be the wiser.”
“I can’t chance it, Seth. Pa was really mad at me. What if he’s in town and sees me or what if
someone tells him that they saw me? He
already lectured me on responsibility and obedience and threatened a whole lot
worse. He told me to come directly
home.”
Seth asked, “Did your pa say to come home at
“Pa doesn’t like it very much when I take his exact words
to get around something when I know what he meant. He was very clear.”
Mitch shook his head. “But it’s Halloween. You’ll miss all the fun.”
“So I’ll miss all the fun. I guess my timing wasn’t very good. I better get going. See you guys Monday. I’m on restriction all weekend.” Joe looked sadly at his friends. He mounted Cochise and rode off in the
direction of home.
*************************
Joe directed Cochise into a gallop. He rode into the gentle breeze enjoying the
feeling of harmony with his horse. He
slowed his pace when he saw Mrs. Cavanaugh waving to him. She was leaning on her cane as she stood in
the garden of her front yard. He rode
over to her gate and tied Cochise to the fence. He often stopped by Mrs.
Cavanaugh’s house on his way home from school to see if she needed help with
anything. He was rewarded with cookies
and stories. She was over eighty years
old and had lived in the area long before the Cartwrights arrived. She seemed to know everything about
“Hi, Mrs. Cavanaugh.
How are you today?” Joe asked pleasantly.
“I’m fine, dear.
I was just watering the chrysanthemums we planted last week. I’ve kept a lovely rust one for you. It’s all ready for planting whenever you’re
ready to take it.”
Joe smiled warmly at the older woman. “Thanks for giving it to me. I really appreciate it.”
Mrs. Cavanaugh returned the smile. “Well, dear, I really appreciated your help
with my fall planting. It’s the least I
can do. Would you like to come in for
some Halloween cookies?”
Joe sighed, “ I’m sorry but I can’t today. My pa expects me home. I’m in a bit of trouble again and I’m
restricted to the yard. I’m supposed to
go straight home.”
Mrs. Cavanaugh was disappointed. “I’m sorry to hear that, Little Joe. I hope it’s not serious trouble.”
“Don’t worry.
It’s just the usual stuff. I was
kept after school a couple of times this week for not paying attention and Pa
wasn’t too pleased.”
“Dear, you have to try harder to focus on the
present when you’re in school. There’s a
time and place for daydreaming. I’ll
just go inside and wrap a few cookies for you to take home.”
Joe gave her another smile. “Thank you.
I’ll take the mums with me, too.”
While Joe waited for his friend, he packed the plant
in a sack to take along. Mrs. Cavanaugh
returned to the porch carrying a sack of cookies and a small pumpkin. “Here you are, dear. I thought you might like this little pumpkin
as well.”
“Thank you.”
“Happy Halloween, dear. Be a good boy and don’t get into any more
trouble.”
“I’ll try not to,” Joe laughed. “Thanks again. Happy Halloween.”
Joe packed the bundle of cookies and the little
pumpkin in his saddlebag. Mounting
Cochise in a leap, he waved goodbye. “See you next week.”
When Joe reached the fork in the road that led to
the lake, he stopped. He knew he was
supposed to go straight home but he had made good time so far and it was still
early. It wouldn’t take that much time
to do what he wanted to do. He had a
promise to keep. He didn’t think that
his father would mind. At least, he
hoped he wouldn’t mind. He could still
be home in plenty of time for his afternoon chores. The decision made, he
directed Cochise onto the road to the lake.
*************************
When Joe reached his mother’s grave, he dismounted
and tied Cochise to a tree. He took the
flowers and pumpkin over to the stone marker.
“Hi, Ma. Happy Halloween. I brought you some flowers and a
pumpkin.”
After placing the items on the ground, Joe dug a
hole near the headstone to plant the chrysanthemums. When he was finished, he carefully placed the
pumpkin next to the flowers. He moved it a couple more times until finally
leaving it to the left of the flowers.
Satisfied with the arrangement, he stood back to admire the
results. He thought his mother would be
pleased. It looked lovely with the
haphazardly scattered leaves.
Joe returned to Cochise to get his canteen and a few
cookies from the sack. He brought the
canteen over to the flowers to water them. When it was empty, he headed down to
the lake to refill it. He climbed down
the slight embankment and stood on the shore looking out on the expanse of
water to the mountains on the far shore.
The lake reflected the deep blue and gray of the autumn sky. Clouds were gathering overhead casting dark
shadows on the water as they moved across the sky. The mountain peaks in the distance were
already gathering snow. A fine mist was
forming on the foothills.
Joe thought that this was the most beautiful spot on
the Ponderosa. He knew it had been his
mother’s favorite. He felt close to her
when he spent time here. He wasn’t sure
but he thought he remembered playing here with her. He was so young when she died that he
couldn’t be sure which of his memories were actually his or stories that he had
heard from his family. He did have a few
small remembrances that were like photographs.
They were captured insignificant moments in time. He didn’t know why they remained in his
memory. He remembered sitting on his mother’s
lap on the rocking chair in his room while she sang to him, taking a bath in
the kitchen sink, chasing a butterfly in a field, playing in the fallen leaves
and picking wildflowers for her. He was
sure that these memories were his own but he wasn’t sure of the many other
stories.
Joe squatted to fill the canteen and then sat down,
leaning back against a boulder. He ate
one of the pumpkin shaped cookies. He
closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of the sun’s warmth on his face and the
lingering memories. A gentle breeze was
blowing across the lake. It was quiet
except for the low, rhythmic lapping of the wavelets on the shore. Lost in the feeling of contentment, Joe began
to drift off.
As Joe slept, the mist slowly crept down the
foothills and began to spread across the lake.
The distant shore disappeared as the veil thickened and settled on the
water. Dark clouds gathered
overhead. The wind began to pick up
swirling the mist on the water. The sun
and its warmth disappeared behind the clouds.
Joe shivered as he felt a sudden chill. He opened his eyes surprised by the change in
the weather. He didn’t think that he had
fallen asleep but it seemed much later.
When he got up, he looked out into the thick mist. The lake appeared
desolate but beautiful in the fading light.
As he continued to gaze into the water, he saw a dark shadow forming in
the mist. He walked to the edge of the
lake to look closer. The shadow appeared
to come together trying to take form but then it dissolved into the mist.
“It must have been my imagination. There couldn’t have been anything out there,”
Joe reasoned. He didn’t know why but he
was beginning to feel uneasy.
The wind was getting stronger as it came off the
lake. It rustled loudly in the
trees. Joe shivered again. His green jacket was no longer enough to
provide protection from the cold. The
mist was creeping quickly beyond the lake into the trees on the shore. Joe picked up his canteen and hurried back up
the embankment. He poured the water from
the canteen at the base of the flowers.
“Bye, Ma.
I’ve got to get going or Pa will have my hide. Happy Halloween.”
Joe mounted Cochise in a leap. The feeling of unease was growing. He looked around, feeling the hairs on the
back of his neck stand up. He wanted to
be home as quickly as possible.
“We better take the shortest way, Cooch. I think it’s getting late. I sure don’t want Pa any more mad at me than
he already is.”
Anxious to get home quickly, Joe headed Cochise into
the forest. The few remaining shafts of
sunlight shimmered through the tall pines. They slowly faded away as Joe headed
deeper into the forest. The shadows
were getting darker and it was difficult to see the sky above the pines. The mist was everywhere. It was hard to see more than several feet in
front of him. Joe’s feeling of unease
was steadily growing stronger. As he
looked around, he was shocked to realize that nothing was familiar. He had been in this forest many times before
but he wasn’t sure where he was.
“We’re on the Ponderosa, Cooch. We can’t be lost,” Joe said nervously.
Joe looked around for anything that he might
recognize but it was difficult to see past the thick mist. His heart began to beat faster as a feeling
of panic overcame him. He tried to calm
himself as he moved cautiously along.
Tall pines and shadows surrounded him.
Without the sun as a guide, he didn’t know what direction he was headed
or what time it was.
Joe stopped when he heard a faint sound. He wasn’t sure what he had heard. He thought that it must have been the wind in
the trees but then he heard it again. He
listened closely, realizing that it was a tin whistle. The sad melody was vaguely familiar. He followed the melody further into the
forest hoping to find help.
As Joe followed, the melody became clearer and
louder. The song was strangely
comforting. After a few minutes, the music
stopped. Joe saw a cabin almost hidden
in the tall pines. He didn’t know of a
cabin in this area. But then he wasn’t
really sure where he was. With a feeling
of relief, he headed towards the small structure.
As he approached, he called out, “Is anybody
here?”
No one answered.
Joe dismounted and cautiously walked up to the door. He knocked loudly. When no one answered again, he slowly opened
the door and peeked inside.
“Hello. Is
anybody here?”
The cabin was empty. He pushed aside the cobwebs
from the doorway. He slowly entered the
room, looking around. There was a bed in
one corner alongside a rocking chair. A
table and two chairs were in the center of the room. An old stove sat in another corner. Everything was thickly covered in dust. As he continued to look around, he saw an
easel in another corner of the room.
Paints and paintbrushes were on a small table next to it. Curiously, Joe walked around the table to
look at the canvas that was sitting on the easel. It was a portrait but it was difficult to
make out the features. The painting
wasn’t finished. The canvas was old and
faded and covered in layers of dust. The paints on the table were dry. Among the paintbrushes, Joe saw an old tin
whistle. He wondered if it had been the
source of the music that he had heard but it looked too old and rusted to
produce such a beautiful melody.
Joe noticed a slight scent of roses although there
weren’t any flowers in the room. He had
a strange feeling of déjà vu. He sensed
that someone was watching him. “Is anybody here?” he called out again, knowing
that he was being foolish. The room was
too small to hide anyone.
The feeling of unease was returning. Joe was suddenly anxious to leave the cabin. He stepped outside and looked around. The mist had begun to dissipate. He was relieved to see the lake peeking
through the trees in the distance. He
hurried back to Cochise and quickly mounted.
He moved along carefully so as not to lose sight of the lake. The
landscape began to look familiar again.
He rode slowly along the shore until he came to the trail that headed
back to the road. He wasn’t sure how
long he had been lost but it seemed like a very long time. “We may be late but no more shortcuts today,
Cooch. How am I going to explain this to
Pa?” he wondered nervously.
As he looked back towards the forest, Joe couldn’t
understand what had happened. He had
lived here all his life. He knew the
area well. Where had he been? When he finally reached the main road, he
hurried home.
*************************
Adam and Hoss were coming out of the barn as Joe
rode into the yard. Joe knew he was in
trouble when he saw the annoyed expression on Hoss’s face. He expected Adam to be mad but not Hoss. When Hoss spoke, he confirmed Joe’s
fears. “Joe, you better get moving, boy,
and get your chores done before Pa gets home. I didn’t do them and I ain’t
covering for you this time.”
Hoss was usually very protective of the younger boy.
However, he had already done Joe’s chores twice this week. He was tired after a long day of work. He felt that Joe was taking advantage of
him. On the other hand, Adam knew that
Joe was taking advantage of both of them.
Joe’s charm didn’t work often on Adam.
Adam glared at Joe with dark eyes. “It’s about time you got home, boy. Why can’t you ever do what you’re supposed to
do? What happened this time? Were you kept after school again?”
“I didn’t get kept after school,” Joe replied
indignantly. “Why do you always think
the worst of me?”
“Maybe because it’s usually true. Why are you late then? Were you hanging out with your friends? You’re on restriction. Pa warned you about being late again.”
Joe became visibly nervous at the mention of his
father and the promised consequences of being late. He began to shift from foot to foot
nervously. He had hoped that his
brothers would cover for him but it didn’t seem likely now.
“I know that, Adam.
I didn’t disobey
“The long way?
What did you do? Go by way of
“You don’t have to be sarcastic. I had to make a quick stop…I… I …had
something to do.”
Adam missed the fleeting expression of sadness that crossed
Joe’s face. It had been a long, hard
day. His patience was coming to an
end. He approached Joe and stood in
front of the smaller boy.
“Really? Then
what took you all afternoon to get home?
You weren’t supposed to go anywhere.
You were supposed to come directly home.”
Joe didn’t want to share where he had been. It was his private time with his mother. He guarded his special times with her. He wanted them to belong to him alone. And he certainly didn’t want to explain to
his brothers what had happened when he tried to take the shortcut home. He was embarrassed that he had gotten lost on
the ranch and he didn’t want to admit it.
However, it appeared that he didn’t have much of a choice. Adam wasn’t going to let this go.
Joe looked down at the ground and answered softly,
“I just went by the lake and I…I…sort of… got lost.”
Adam and Hoss looked at him incredulously. Hoss burst out laughing but Adam wasn’t
amused. He was quickly losing his
temper. “Don’t you lie to me, boy.”
Being falsely accused was making Joe angry as
well. “I’m not lying. I decided to take a shortcut through the
forest so I wouldn’t be late and got a little turned around somehow. That’s all.”
Adam stepped closer to Joe. “That’s all?
You disobeyed Pa by going to the lake in the first place. And you expect me to believe that you got
lost on the Ponderosa? Stop lying,
Joe. What kind of trouble did you get
into this time?”
Joe’s anger was building. He yelled at his brother, “I’m telling the
truth. You never believe me.”
“That’s because you usually dance around the truth,
boy.”
As Joe took a step towards Adam, Hoss quickly
grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Joe struggled against his brother’s
powerful grip. “Let me go, Hoss. This is
between me and Adam.”
Hoss tighten his grip on his little brother. “Oh, no
it ain’t. You stay right where you are,
boy. We’ll discuss this without fists.”
“What’s going on here?” Ben thundered. The boys hadn’t noticed their father ride
into the yard. He had witnessed the last
minute of the exchange between his sons.
He glared at them as he dismounted.
Adam backed off immediately reading his father
well. Joe was not as adept at reading
his father or at controlling his temper.
Hoss continued to hold onto him.
He knew Joe didn’t have himself under control yet. His feelings of protectiveness for his little
brother returned. He knew Joe was in
trouble again. He didn’t want him to get
into even deeper trouble by losing his temper.
Adam had no such concerns. He may have gone easier on Joe under other
circumstances but he was too tired and too angry to care. He spat out, “Joe was late getting home
again. He just got here before you. His chores aren’t done. And he’s lying about where he’s been. He told us a ridiculous story about being
lost on the Ponderosa all afternoon.”
Hoss slowly released Joe’s arm. Joe had finally stopped struggling under the
angry glare of his father. Ben stood
with his hands on his hips staring down at his youngest son. He was an imposing figure as he stood
towering over his much smaller son. Joe
took a step back placing his hands behind his back for protection. He looked at the ground, nervously shifting
from one foot to the other.
Joe flinched as his father yelled, “Joseph, you were
under strict orders to return directly home from school. I warned you that we would be having a
necessary little talk if you were late again this week. And now you’ve added lying to your list of
transgressions. Our ‘talk’ will be more
intense this time. Do you have anything
to say for yourself?”
Biting his lower lip, Joe took another step
back. He kept his eyes on the
ground. He was beginning to think that
maybe he had made the wrong decision.
Ben’s anger rose when his son didn’t respond. Demanding the boy’s complete attention, he
shouted, “Joseph, look at me when I’m talking to you. I am waiting for an explanation.”
Joe’s pleading eyes met his father’s. They were filling with tears. His bottom lip quivered as he stammered,
“I…I’m…s…sorry I’m late, P…Pa…I didn’t mean to be but… but…I…I’m not…not lying
about where I’ve been, P…
Ben looked closely at his son. The boy was standing with his hands behind
his back, shifting from one foot to the other and biting his lower lip. This was his usual stance when in
trouble. Ben knew the tears would be falling
soon. It was very difficult to resist
the urge to take the boy into his arms.
Although he could be disobedient, Joe didn’t lie to
him. “All right, Joseph. I believe you,” Ben said softening his
voice. “Why don’t you tell me exactly
what happened before we decide on the consequences.”
Joe relaxed slightly when he saw that Ben wasn’t
quite so angry anymore. “Thanks,
“Joseph, you never mean to be late but you almost
always are.” Ben did his best to
suppress the smile that was threatening.
Adam looked at the scene with disbelief. “Pa, I can’t believe you’re letting Joe get
away with this.”
“Adam, Joseph isn’t getting away with anything. He isn’t off the hook yet. We may still be having that necessary little
talk. He may be disobedient but he
doesn’t lie to me so I would like to hear his explanation.” He turned to Joe and asked, “Did you get into trouble at school today,
Joseph?”
When Joe heard mention again of one of his father’s necessary little talks, he prayed not to be the recipient of one. He began nervously, “I…I didn’t mean to be disobedient, Pa, really I didn’t. I…I didn’t get into trouble at school today.’’ Joe paused and reluctantly added, “Not much, anyway.”
When Ben gave Joe an exasperated look, Joe hurriedly
explained, “Miss Jones had to reminded me
a couple of times to pay attention and I did.
Pay attention, I mean. She didn’t
have to write a note or anything. She
let us out a half-hour early because it’s Halloween. Seth and Mitch wanted me to go into town with
them to celebrate but I didn’t go.
Honest,
Joe went to his saddlebag and pulled out the sack of
cookies as proof of what he was saying.
He handed them to his father. “It
was okay to say hello wasn’t it, Pa?” he asked hopefully.
Ben looked inside the bag. “It would indeed have been rude if you didn’t
stop. You did the right thing by
explaining to her why you couldn’t stay and visit. Please continue with the rest of your
explanation, Joseph.”
“She also gave me a little pumpkin and some
chrysanthemums. The flowers are really
pretty,
Adam interrupted, “So where are the flowers and the
pumpkin? I suppose they got lost, too.”
Joe glared at Adam.
“They didn’t get lost. I’m
getting to that part.”
Ben stepped in.
“Adam, please don’t interrupt your brother. Let’s give him a chance to finish his story.”
“That’s exactly what it is—a story,” Adam couldn’t resist adding.
Joe was becoming angry again. He took a step towards
his brother and shouted, “I told you I’m not lying, Adam.”
This time it was Ben who grabbed Joe’s arm. “You stay right where you are, young
man. Adam, that’s enough. I don’t want to hear anymore from you. I want to hear Joseph’s explanation without
interruptions. I’ll decide if he’s
telling the truth. Joseph, please
continue.”
Joe shifted from one foot to the other as he
nervously continued. “I started straight for home after I left Mrs.
Cavanaugh. When I got to the lake road,
I saw that it was still early since we got out of school early and…. and I…I
thought maybe I had time for a quick stop.”
Ben angrily interrupted, “A quick stop isn’t
directly home, Joseph. Were my
instructions unclear?”
Joe looked at his feet again before answering
softly, “No, Sir. They were clear.”
Ben’s expression hardened. “And you decided to
blatantly disregard them anyway?”
“No, Sir. It
wasn’t like that,” Joe pleaded.
“Then what exactly was it like?” Ben asked, losing his patience.
Joe hesitated before continuing. He wasn’t sure his father would agree with
his reasoning. “It’s Halloween,
Joe brushed a tear from his cheek as he struggled
for control. Ben felt close to tears
himself. He had forgotten that it was
Halloween. He knew that Joe always
brought some small gift to his mother’s grave on holidays. It was the first Halloween after Marie’s
death that Ben discovered this. Joe
insisted on visiting his mother’s grave instead of going to a Halloween party
with his friends. When Ben had brought
him up to the lake, Joe placed a bag of treats, a handmade card and a pumpkin
near the headstone. The little boy had
looked at Ben solemnly and explained that he was keeping his promise to his
mother. Marie loved holidays. She had loved the card and wildflowers that
Joe had given her on her last Mother’s Day.
When he saw her delight, Joe promised that he would always remember her
and give her a gift on every holiday, no matter where he was. He had kept that promise faithfully over the
years. Ben found cards, flowers, wreaths,
Christmas decorations, colored eggs and other little treasures at Marie’s grave
over the years to commemorate the holidays.
These little signs of how much Joe loved and still missed his mother
always touched Ben’s heart. He knew
right then and there that he wouldn’t be having any necessary little talks with
his youngest son today regardless of the rest of the explanation.
Joe had paused in his story and was staring at the
ground again. He was fighting back
tears. Ben lifted his chin to look into
his eyes. Even more gently, Ben said,
“It’s alright, Joseph. You made the
right decision. You were right to visit
your mother and keep your promise to her.
And you were also right that I would’ve given you my permission if you
had asked. Now please go on, son.”
Encouraged, Joe continued, “I planted the flowers
and left the pumpkin. It looked really
pretty,
Ben returned the smile. “I’m sure she would have, son. She always loved the fall. Halloween was one of her favorite
holidays. She was a child at heart on
holidays.”
Joe relaxed a little more. He smiled shyly at his
father. “I walked down to the lake to
get some water for the flowers.
Everything looked so beautiful. I
sat down by that big boulder for just a few minutes to have some of the
cookies. Sorry,
Joe paused again becoming nervous at this point in
his story. He didn’t know how much trouble
he might be in with the rest of the explanation. “I...I…think I might’ve fallen asleep…but I’m
not sure. I mean I don’t think I did but
when I opened my eyes the weather had changed so much… so maybe I did. I’m really sorry,
Ben placed his hand on Joe’s shoulder reassuringly.
“It’s all right, Joseph.”
Joe always felt safe under his father’s touch. It gave him the courage to continue. “I didn’t know what time it was but it looked
late and I was afraid that I’d be late getting home. I didn’t want to be in any more trouble,
“There is an old cabin there, Little Joe,” Ben
answered. “It was there before we
settled here. It’s set far back in the
trees. It’s hard to find. As far as I know, no one has been there in
years.”
Joe was relieved when he heard his father call him
“Little Joe.” He knew that he was no
longer in serious trouble.
Ben continued, “It’s easy to get lost there. The pines are very thick. It’s hard to tell directions when the mist is
heavy. It can be disorienting. I’m glad you found your way out. You better
go on in a get washed for supper. I expect
you to do your chores right after we eat.”
“Yes, sir. I
will. Thanks for understanding,
Adam and Hoss watched them go. Hoss smiled. “Joe’s arm may be wrapped around
Pa but that boy has got Pa wrapped around his finger.”
Even Adam had to smile. “His talent for trouble is
almost matched by his talent to talk his way out of it.” He paused before adding, “And, Hoss, please
remind me to give Joe a chance to explain next time before I lose my temper
with him.”
Hoss laughed, “That’s always what I try to do, big
brother, but the two of you are the stubbornest, most ornery brothers a person
could have.”
Adam laughed as he placed his hand on his brother’s
shoulder. “I guess you’re right. It’s a
good thing we have you to remind us.”
The two brothers followed Ben and Joe into the house.
*************************
The storm that had threatened earlier in the
afternoon broke late that night. The
constant low rumble of thunder followed jagged streaks of lightening across the
sky. The wind howled outside the house
as it shook the trees.
Joe was sleeping restlessly. He was vaguely aware of the approaching
storm. Before getting into bed, he had
opened his bedroom window a few inches and turned down the lamp to a low
flicker. The lace curtains danced in
front of the window as the wind blew. The scent of roses drifted into room. Rain rattled the window when the skies opened.
*************************
She stood on
the lakeshore looking out into the engulfing darkness. The wind was growing stronger as the storm
approached. Her long auburn hair swept
around her changing face. She had seen
the boy standing on the shore earlier in the day. He looked so young and vulnerable—such a
beautiful face. Recognizable. Unforgettable. She sighed sadly as the memories came rushing
back. Tears mingled with the rain as she
wept.
It was
time. It was long past time. She had waited patiently for this
moment. She had waited for him. She quietly whispered his name into the wind.
“Joseph.”
*************************
Joe woke with a start and sat up in his bed. His heart was pounding. Thunder crashed loudly overhead as the sky lit
up. He thought that it must have been
the thunder that woke him. He hated
storms in the middle of the night. He
didn’t like to admit it but storms still frightened him. He wondered if he had been dreaming but
couldn’t recall. He had that disoriented
feeling of fright that accompanied his nightmares. As the thunder crashed again, he got out of
bed. When he saw the heavy rain coming
into his room, he went to the window and closed it. He noticed the faint scent of roses. The odd feeling of déjà vu returned.
He heard it then.
Someone was crying. The sound was
heartbreaking. Joe couldn’t tell where
the weeping was coming from. He lit a
small lamp and carried it into the hallway.
The crying stopped suddenly. He listened
closely, wondering if he had heard it at all.
It must have been his imagination.
Just to be sure that everyone was all right, he peeked into his father’s
room as he passed his door. Ben always
left his door slightly ajar at night so that he could listen for his sons. He didn’t sleep soundly until all his sons
were home and safely in their beds. Joe
often had nightmares as a child and still did occasionally when something was
bothering him. Ben wanted to be able to
hear his son if he needed him.
Joe had hoped to find his father awake but he was
sleeping soundly. He wished he were
still young enough to crawl into bed him.
He wished he could do it now. He
knew his father wouldn’t refuse but he would be embarrassed in the
morning.
Joe walked towards Hoss’ s room. When he heard his brother snoring, he knew he
was fine. He continued down the hall
until he reached his oldest brother’s room.
He quietly opened the door and looked in. Adam was sleeping with an open book on his
chest. Joe walked quietly over to the
bed. He closed the book and placed it on
the night table. He had been angry with
his brother but his anger always passed quickly when it was directed at one of
his family. Once he was sure his family
was safe and sound, he headed down the stairs to the living room.
The last embers were still smoldering in the
fireplace. Joe lit a fire to warm the
dark, chilly room. He wrapped himself in
a crocheted blanket and settled into his father’s leather chair. As he began to doze off, he heard the weeping
again. It was louder this time but he
still couldn’t determine where it was coming from. It seemed to fill the room and come from
every direction. The scent of roses
returned. After searching the room, he
walked over to the front door and opened it.
Flashes of light danced across the sky followed by crashing
thunder. Torrential rain blew into the
house. Joe quickly closed the door
shutting out the storm.
The weeping stopped.
The scent of roses was dissipating as well. Joe thought of waking someone but he didn’t
want anyone to think that he was losing it…especially after this
afternoon. It must have been his
imagination running wild again. There was
no other reasonable explanation. It was
just the sounds of the fierce storm that he had heard. Still feeling uneasy, he settled back into
his father’s chair and wrapped himself tightly in the cozy blanket. As he snuggled into the chair, he could faintly
smell his father’s pipe tobacco. It was
comforting and the next best thing to being safe in his father’s bed. As the storm began to move away, he fell
asleep.
Ben woke with a crash of thunder. He got out of bed and put on his robe. He wanted to check on Joe knowing that storms
still frightened his youngest son. He
also knew that Joe’s sixteen-year-old pride wouldn’t allow him to seek out his
father’s comfort. He lit a small lamp
and headed down the hall to Joe’s room.
He wasn’t surprised to find Joe’s bed empty. He headed downstairs in search of his
son. He stopped on the landing, looking
down at the boy sprawled out on his chair.
Joe was asleep with the blanket tangled around him. Ben smiled at the sight. He continued down the stairs and sat on the
hearth beside the chair.
Joe stirred and opened his eyes when he sensed his
father’s presence. “Hi, Pa,” he smiled.
“Hi, yourself.
Did the storm wake you, too?”
“Yeah. The
thunder was loud and then…I…I thought I heard something,” Joe admitted
reluctantly.
Concerned, Ben asked, “What did you hear?”
“I thought I heard someone crying, Pa, but it must
have been the storm.” Joe was a little
embarrassed by this admission.
Ben placed his hand on Joe’s knee, reassuring him.
“Storms can play tricks on us. The wind,
rain and thunder can produce unusual sounds both inside and outside.”
“I guess that’s all it was but it sounded so
real. I guess I let my imagination run
away with me again. I’ve been doing that
a lot today. It is Halloween and we were
telling ghost stories at recess today.
Pretty foolish.”
“We all let our imaginations run wild
sometimes. Imagination is a good thing,
son. It allows us to dream and do great
things with our lives. It’s a gift even
if we let it get a little too far away from us sometimes. Well…I don’t think I’ll be falling asleep any
time soon. Would you like to join me for
a cup of hot chocolate.”
“I’d love to.”
Hesitantly, Joe asked, “ Pa, I… I know I’m restricted to the yard but
could I please go to the lake tomorrow?”
Ben frowned, “You know the rules, Joseph.”
“I know, Pa, but I’m worried that the storm might
have upset the flowers I planted today.
Could I go check on them, please?
Maybe they’ll last till Thanksgiving if it doesn’t snow too much and I
take real good care of them.”
Ben knew how much these little gifts to his mother
meant to Joe. He couldn’t say no to his
son’s request. “You may go after you
finish your morning chores but only to the lake and right back home again. Understood?”
Joe hugged his father. “Understood.
I promise I’ll come straight home.
Thanks. I love you,
“I love you too, son. Now lets get that hot chocolate.”
*************************
After Joe completed his morning chores, he began to
saddle Cochise for the ride to the lake.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” demanded Adam
as he came up behind Joe.
“What does it look like, Adam? I’m saddling Cochise,” Joe replied
sarcastically.
Adam smiled at his brother, remembering
yesterday. “I can see that. You don’t have to get defensive. I meant, where are you going? Aren’t you restricted to the yard? Pa’s in a good mood today and I’d like to
keep it that way. It would be nice if
you could stay out of trouble for just one day.”
Joe laughed, “Don’t worry, Adam. I have Pa’s permission to go to the lake.”
“What are you going up there for, Shortshanks?” Hoss asked as he came up behind Adam.
“I just want to make sure those flowers I planted
yesterday are okay. That was a strong
storm last night. I hope they weren’t
uprooted.”
“Did it rain last night?” Hoss asked.
Joe laughed, “You could sleep through a hurricane,
big brother. I better get going. See you later.”
Adam and Hoss waved as their little brother rode
off.
When Joe arrived at the lake he was relieved to find
that the flowers weathered the storm relatively well. He reinforced them with a little extra dirt
to be sure that they held to the ground.
He found the pumpkin nearby and returned it to its place of honor by the
flowers. He promised his father that he
would come straight home so he headed back towards Cochise. As he did, he happened to glance towards the
lake and was startled to see a woman on the shore. She was standing at the edge of the lake
looking out at the still water. She was
wrapped in a gray woolen shawl. Her back
was to Joe. Her long auburn hair
sparkled in the sunlight.
Joe started down the embankment. When he was half way down, he called to her,
“Hello.”
The woman didn’t respond. When Joe reached the
shore, he gently tried again. “Hello.”
She slowly turned to look at him. “Hello,” she said
quietly.
Joe thought she was the most beautiful woman he had
ever seen. Her long wavy hair fell loose
on her shoulders. She was pale with a
slight blush across her cheeks. Her
large gray eyes were full of sorrow. A
faint scent of roses was in the air.
There was something familiar about her although Joe knew that he would
have remembered her if he had ever met her.
Concerned, Joe asked, “Are you all right?”
She smiled sadly. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Joe looked around. “Are you out here alone?”
“Yes, I’m alone.
I was admiring the lake. It’s
quite beautiful. Last night’s storm has
stripped the trees of most of their leaves.
The last days of autumn always make me feel sad. Everything is dying. It will be winter very soon.”
Joe smiled at her. “That’s true but spring always
follows winter.”
She responded to his smile with a smile of her
own. “You’re right of course, and I
suppose there wouldn’t be the miracle of spring if there wasn’t a winter before
it.”
Joe thought that she looked radiant when she
smiled. He held out his hand to her.
“I’m Joe Cartwright. Pleased to meet
you.”
She took his hand in hers. “Pleased to meet you,
Joseph. I’m Rose.”
Joe held her hand for a moment as he looked into her
expressive eyes. He was beguiled.
Finally, he asked, “Are you from around here?”
“I was a very long time ago but I’m only visiting
for a short time now. I’m staying at the
cabin in the forest.”
“That old place?
It’s a real mess. I don’t think
it’s fit to live in. I didn’t even know
that old cabin was there until yesterday.”
“It’s been there for many years, Joseph.”
“I know that now.
My pa told me that it was there before he settled here.”
“Is this your family’s land now?”
Joe answered quickly, “It is but don’t worry. You’re welcome to stay there as long as you
like. I’m sure my Pa won’t mind. I could help you clean up the cabin.”
“Are you sure your pa won’t mind?”
“I’m sure.”
Joe hoped that he spoke the truth.
He didn’t know why but he wanted her to stay.
“Thank you, Joseph.
Please thank your father for me.
I’ve already cleaned the cabin.
It’s really quite comfortable.”
She pulled the shawl tightly around her shoulders. “It’s getting rather cold. I should gather some firewood and get back
inside.”
Joe forgot that he was supposed to head directly
home. He offered, “I’ll help you.”
“If you’re sure it’s no trouble, I would appreciate
the help.”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
Rose took Joe’s arm as he helped her back up the
embankment. When they came to the top of
the hill, she looked at Marie’s grave.
“The flowers are lovely. Mums are
my favorite. The color is lovely. You’re mother is blessed to have such a
devoted son even after all these years.”
Surprised, Joe asked, “How did you know this was my
mother’s grave?”
Rose just smiled at him. “Come.
The cabin is just a little way from here. We can gather the wood as we walk.”
Joe was surprised to come upon the cabin so
quickly. It had felt like he had been
lost for hours before he came upon it yesterday. Rose invited him in. He couldn’t believe how inviting and clean it
was. A quilt with a flower design in pastels of pink and green covered the bed
in the corner. Lace curtains were
hanging on the slightly opened windows.
There was a colorful rag rug on the floor beside the bed. A rocking chair sat in front of the window
with a gold and brown crocheted blanket hung across its arm. The smell of fresh brewed tea came from the
pot on the stove. The room had a cozy
feel. Unlike yesterday, Joe felt
comfortable.
He couldn’t hide his surprise. “You sure do work
fast. It looks great in here.”
Rose’s only response was a warm smile.
Joe placed the logs and kindling in the
fireplace. He struck a match and started
the fire.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” she offered.
“Yes, thank you.”
He didn’t want to leave yet.
Joe sat down at the table as Rose placed a china
teacup in front of him. He noticed a
shining tin whistle on the table and asked, “Do you play? I thought that I heard someone playing a tin
whistle yesterday. The tune was so sad
but it helped me find my way here.”
Rose replied sadly, “I don’t play. The whistle belonged to my son. I keep it to feel close to him.” Her eyes filled with tears.
Joe was sorry that he had asked. He didn’t want to make her cry but he was
curious.
“Where is he?” he asked quietly.
“He’s dead,” she replied simply.
“I’m very sorry.”
“It happened a very long time ago.”
After pouring tea for both of them, Rose sat down at
the table with Joe. They sat in silence
for a while each lost in their own thoughts.
Joe noticed the paints and brushes on the table. “Do you paint?”
“Yes. I’m an
artist. I came here to rest and gather
my strength. It’s so beautiful
here. I thought I might do some painting.”
“I think this is the most beautiful spot on the
Ponderosa. It was my mother’s favorite
place. It’s mine too. I feel close to her here. Could I see your paintings?” Joe asked
hopefully. He didn’t want to overstep
but he did want to see them.
“I’m afraid that I don’t have any completed
paintings with me but I did start one this morning.”
She picked up the painting from the easel to show
Joe. He recognized the view
immediately. It was the lake and the
distant mountains from the shore below his mother’s grave. Instead of looking across the expanse of
water to the far shore, it looked at the near shore where the hills met the
water. The painting wasn’t finished but
Joe thought it was already beautiful.
The sky was a cloudless gray with subtle shades of blue and pink. There were aspens standing on the shore. Only a few leaves still clung to their
branches. The ground was carpeted in
shades of brown and gold.
Joe felt deeply moved by the painting. Somehow it brought back a very clear memory
of his mother. He saw her sitting on the
shore wearing a pale blue dress with a print of small flowers on the
collar. She was laughing. He could hear her voice this time. Her hair was pulled back in a single long
braid down her back. It was tied with a
blue ribbon. Joe was sitting next to her
digging with a small shovel. They were
placing found treasures in a pail. It
was filled with colorful stones. This
memory was very real. He was sure this
time he was actually remembering something that happened rather than a story he
had been told. No one else was there so
the memory had to belong to him. He
hoped that it was real.
Joe was unable to find the right words to express
how he felt about the painting. Finally,
he simply said, “It’s so beautiful.”
“If you like it so much, I’ll give it to you when
I’m finished.”
Joe couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I could really have it?” At the moment, he couldn’t have wanted
anything more.
Rose stood in front of him. She gently touched his cheek and then ran her
fingers through his hair. “Of course you
can have it. I’ll ask you just one favor
in return.”
“Anything,” Joe answered. He would do anything this woman asked even if
she hadn’t given him the painting.
“I’d like to paint your portrait.”
“Me?
Really?” Joe’s voice
squeaked. He was incredulous.
“Yes, you,” she laughed for the first time. “ I enjoy painting portraits more than
anything else. I would consider it a
great favor.”
“Sure. I’d be
happy to do it. What do I have to
do?” Joe could barely hide his pleasure
at the idea.
“Perhaps you could come and sit for me a few days
after school next week for an hour each day.
It shouldn’t take too long to complete.
We should be finished by the week’s end.”
Joe thought about it. “I’ll have to ask Pa but I think he’ll say
yes.” He suddenly remembered that he was
late again. “I have to get home. I was
supposed to be home a long time ago.”
Rose smiled at him.
“You better be on your way then.
I wouldn’t want you to get into any trouble because of me. I look forward to seeing you on Monday.”
Rose walked Joe to the door. She kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you so
much for helping me today.”
Joe blushed. “It was my pleasure, Ma’am. I’ll see you Monday.”
“Joseph, please call me Rose.”
“Okay, Rose,” he replied. “And could you please call me Joe. Only my teacher and my Pa call me Joseph.”
Rose laughed, “Joe it is then.”
“Bye, Rose.” Joe gave her a smile. He ran back to the lake. He mounted Cochise in a leap and rushed home.
*************************
Joe hurried through the front door. Once he entered the house, he lingered by the
door, hanging up his coat and hat. He
was very late. He wasn’t eager to face
his father.
Ben’s voice boomed from the table, “If that’s you, Joseph, you’d better get over
here right now!”
Joe cringed as he slowly walked over to the
table. “Hi,
Hoss and Adam continued eating trying not to look at
their brother and father. Hoss didn’t
want to see his little brother in trouble again. Adam tried not to show his amusement as he
thought, “Here we go again.”
Ben glared at Joe. “I’m waiting, Joseph. I let you go to the lake despite the fact
that you are on restriction. You
promised to come directly home and here you are, late again.”
“Sorry,
Hoss laughed, “Leave it to Shortshanks to find a
beautiful woman in the middle of nowhere.
Did you get a date, little brother?”
“Of course not, Hoss. She’s old enough to be my mother.”
Ben wasn’t amused. “All right, you met a beautiful
woman by the lake. That doesn’t explain
where you were all morning, Joseph.”
“I’m…I’m…getting to that,
“This ‘beautiful’ woman is alone?” Ben asked raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, sir.
She said that she needed time away.
Her son died some time ago but I think he’s the reason she seems so sad.
She’s an artist,
Ben knew that his youngest son possessed a generous,
caring heart. “All right, Joseph. She can stay for as long as she likes. But that cabin must be in disrepair. I wouldn’t think that it’s comfortable for
her.”
“Oh, no,
“Does this ‘beautiful’ woman have a name?” Ben asked
with a wry smile.
“Her name is
“We always welcome guests on the Ponderosa.”
Joe excitedly continued, “Guess what, Pa? She wants to paint my picture.”
Adam and Hoss both laughed. Joe gave them an angry glare. “What’s so
funny about that?”
“Just you, little brother, “ Adam chuckled. “I can’t imagine you sitting still long enough
to pose for a portrait.”
“I could do it,” Joe replied indignantly. “Besides she said that it wouldn’t take too
long. I could go there on my way home
from school for just an hour each day and still be home on time to do my chores
and homework. It would only be for a
week. It would be a good idea to check
on her and make sure that she’s okay.
She might need something. After
all, she is our guest and she’s alone.
Could I please, Pa?” Joe turned
pleading eyes towards his father.
“An uninvited guest but a guest nevertheless,” added
Adam.
Ben looked at his son’s hopeful face. “You can go there after school, Joseph, for
just one hour each day. But I expect you
home on time for supper and I expect your chores and homework to be
completed. Understood?”
Joe gave his father one of his winning smiles. “Yes,
sir. Understood. Thanks,
“I really don’t know, Joe. That’ll be up to Rose,” Ben answered. “All right.
Finish your lunch, boys. We have
a lot to do this afternoon. And, Joseph,
try not to be late again.”
“I always try,
Ben laughed, “Try harder, son.”
Joe nodded and started to eat his lunch. After a few minutes, he asked, “Pa, did my
mother ever wear her hair in a long braid down her back?”
Ben was surprised by the question. “Yes, Joe.
There were days when she claimed that she couldn’t do anything with her
hair so she braided it and tied it with a ribbon. I always thought that she looked beautiful
that way. But then she always looked
beautiful. Why do you ask?”
Without answering, Joe continued, “Did she have a
pale blue dress with a flower print around the collar?”
Ben paused.
“Yes. I remember that dress. Why the questions, Joe?’
Joe gave his father a brilliant smile. “Thanks,
Ben smiled at his son. He knew how much Joe wanted to remember his
mother. As the years passed, he knew
that it was more and more difficult to hold onto memories. He was glad for whatever small memories
belonged to Joe alone.
*************************
As promised, Joe stopped by the cabin after school
on Monday. Rose had a pot of tea and
freshly baked cookies waiting for him.
Joe was anxious to get started but didn’t know where to begin. Rose gently guided him to a chair and table
by the window.
“All you have to do, Joe, is sit here. You can do your homework or talk. I’ll let you know when I need you to be
still.”
Joe relaxed. “That doesn’t sound too difficult. I can do that.” He sat in the chair and opened his book on
the small table. He started his homework
as Rose began to sketch his face on the canvas.
He sat in comfortable silence as Rose worked. It was difficult concentrating on his
homework. He couldn’t keep his eyes off
her. After a while, she asked him to look
up at her and keep still.
Rose put down her brush after an hour. “I think that will do for today, Joe. You have to get home in time for supper. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Joe gathered his things. “Can I have a look?”
“Oh, no,” she laughed. “You can’t look until I’m finished.”
“Okay, but I can’t wait.”
“I’m afraid that you’ll just have to. Now, run along
so you won’t be late.”
“Bye, Rose.
See you tomorrow.”
*************************
Joe spent every afternoon that week at Rose’s cabin. He greatly enjoyed their time together. He sat for her while she stood behind the easel painting his portrait. He would do his homework and talk to her. It was nice having a woman to talk to. He hadn’t realized just how much he missed having his mother in his daily life. He liked hearing a woman’s point of view. He could talk to her about the things that the girls at school did that he didn’t understand. He could ask her questions about them that he wasn’t comfortable asking his father or brothers. He told her about his family. He told her about the Ponderosa.
Rose listened attentively to Joe and asked him
questions about his life. She gave him
advice when he asked. She spoke about
her feelings and the present but not about her past. Joe wanted to ask Rose about her son but he
was afraid that it would be too painful for her. She seemed happy the last few afternoons. He didn’t want the sadness he saw earlier to
return.
*************************
By the time Friday came, Joe was feeling sad knowing
that the portrait was almost finished.
He was afraid that Rose would be leaving soon. He didn’t want their afternoons together to
end. Although he had just met her, he
felt as if he had known her all his life.
She was familiar. Comfortable. He didn’t want to lose her.
Rose saw that Joe was melancholy. She recognized the sadness. She understood it, feeling the same
herself. But she knew that their time
together had to end. She was grateful
for the boy sitting in front of her.
As Joe sat quietly at the table, he thought about
Rose’s son. He wanted to ask her
questions about him but he was afraid that it might make her sad. He picked up the tin whistle and began to
turn it in his hands. It felt oddly
familiar. He imagined Rose’s son playing it.
He imagined himself playing it.
He could clearly hear the sad melody that had drawn him to the cabin
when he was lost. He remembered the tune
so distinctly that he could almost hear the words, but they were just beyond
his reach. He began to absently whistle
the tune as he held the tin whistle in his hands.
The soft melody gently touched Rose’s heart. The memory slowly emerged. She stopped
painting and listened silently. She
began to hum the melody. After a moment,
she softly sang along as Joe whistled.
“Fare thee
well, to you, my own true love, I am going far away
I am bound for
So fare thee
well, my own true love, and when I return, united we will be;
It’s not the
leaving of
Oh, the fog is
on the harbor, love, and I wish I could remain
But I know it
will be a long, long time, before I see you again
So fare thee
well, my own true love, and when I return, united we will be
It’s not the
leaving of
Joe’s eyes filled with tears as he listened to the
sad words and haunting melody. Rose came
over and sat beside him, taking his hands in hers. He still held the tin whistle. She gently touched his cheek.
“It’s so
sad,” Joe whispered.
Rose tried to soothe him. “Yes, but it’s also hopeful. It isn’t a final fare well. It isn’t a final leaving. They will find each other again.”
Joe tried to smile.
“But they won’t see each other for a very long time.”
“When two souls love each other, they will always
find each other again and again. No time
or distance is too great. They will find
each other. Believe me. If we hold those we love in our hearts, they
will never be too far away.”
“They’ll always find each other?” Joe asked softly.
Rose squeezed Joe’s hands. “Yes, always.
In time.”
Hesitantly, Joe asked, “Rose…what…what was your
son’s name?’
Rose didn’t answer.
Joe wondered if she hadn’t heard him or chose not to answer him. He didn’t want to chance repeating the
question. Finally, she replied,
“Joseph. His name was Joseph just like
you.”
Joe saw that, although Rose’s eyes were sad, she had
a slight smile on her face. Encouraged,
he asked, “What was he like?”
Rose answered, “My Joseph was very much like
you. He was full of life. Always in motion… so much energy. He made me laugh all the time. He had such a lovely smile. He loved music. He played beautiful tunes on the penny
whistle. He would play while I
sang. We spent so much time
together. We took long walks along the
lake. He was my best friend.”
Rose paused before continuing. “You resemble him, Joe, with your curly brown
hair and hazel eyes. And your love of
life.”
“What…what happened to him, Rose?” Joe asked uncertainly.
“He had an accident and I lost him.” Tears began to fall down Rose’s cheek.
Joe was sorry that he had asked when her smile
turned to tears. “I’m so sorry, Rose.
Please don’t cry. I’m sorry I
asked. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Rose took Joe’s hands in hers. “It’s all right, Joe. You have nothing to be sorry about. You didn’t hurt me. I thought that my Joseph was lost to me
forever, but you helped me find him again.”
“How did I do that?” Joe asked doubtfully.
“Never mind how, just know that it’s true.”
Rose wiped the tears from her face. “You’d better be on your way or you’ll be
late. I don’t want you to get into
trouble because of me. The painting will
be finished tomorrow if you’d like to come by to see it.”
Joe said sadly, “I wish you weren’t finished. I like coming here and spending time with
you. I’m so glad that I met you. I don’t want it to end.”
Rose sighed, “All things must pass in this life,
Joseph. I’m so happy that you came into
my life again. I’ve waited a long
time. Our time together has meant more
to me than you’ll ever know.”
Joe was puzzled. “I don’t understand, Rose.”
“Some things are just meant to be when the time is
right. Know that it’s true. This was our time. You’ll never know what
this has meant to me. You’ll never know
how much you’ve done for me. Because of
you, I was able to paint again. I will
be forever grateful.”
“I don’t know how I helped you but I’m happy if I
did. You mean so much to me. I’ll never forget you, Rose.”
“No, we’ll never forget each other. We couldn’t even if we tried. We’ll always recognize each other no matter
where we meet.”
Rose guided Joe to the door. She held his face in her hands as she looked
deeply into his eyes. She smiled a little sadly, “Thank you, Joseph
Cartwright. I will hold you in my heart
until we meet again.” She kissed his
forehead.
Joe was worried that she was saying goodbye to
him. He desperately said, “I can’t wait
to see the finished painting. I’ll see
you tomorrow.”
As he looked into her gray eyes, a rush of images
overwhelmed Joe. He heard the tin
whistle playing that sad melody as the images passed quickly. He was holding Rose’s hand as they walked
along the lakeshore. In an instant, he
saw her running along the edge of the water.
She was frantically calling his name. Then she was standing still
looking out into the water. A thick
mist blanketed the lake. She was
weeping. Her image faded into the
desolate mist. It was suddenly cold and
dark. The images were gone. Joe tried to hang onto the memories that were
quickly fading.
But how could they be memories? He had just met Rose. Joe was confused. He didn’t understand what was happening.
Although he didn’t know why, he felt profoundly sad. He felt a great sense of loss. Tears gathered in his eyes.
As she let go of his face, Rose reassured him. “Such a beautiful face. Everything is all right now because of you,
Joseph. It’s all right for you to go
now.”
Overwhelmed with feelings he didn’t understand, Joe
shivered. “Bye, Rose. I’ll come by
tomorrow to see the portrait.” He
quietly went out the door.
Rose stood in the doorway watching him leave until
he disappeared into the mist. She had
tears in her eyes. “Yes, I will see you again—another time and place. At least this time I was able to say
goodbye.”
She went back inside the cabin, closing the door
silently behind her.
*************************
After a long day of mending fences, Adam and Hoss
rode back towards home together. They
slowed their pace as they approached the road to the lake.
“Hey, Adam, do you think Little Joe is still at the
cabin?” Hoss wondered.
“I don’t know.
We’re late so he might be on his way home already.”
“I sure would like to see that painting. I wouldn’t mind meeting Rose, either. Why don’t we go up there? We could sneak a look and use the excuse of
riding home with Joe.”
Adam considered Hoss’s suggestion. “I suppose I would like to meet the
‘beautiful’ Rose. She sure captivates
Joe. I wouldn’t mind seeing her
paintings either. Okay. Let’s do it.”
The brothers turned their horses towards the
lake. Adam knew where the cabin was
located. When they didn’t see Cochise,
Adam remarked, “I guess we missed Joe but we can still say hello to Rose.”
Adam and Hoss walked up to the door and
knocked. When no one answered, Hoss
knocked louder. “I guess she’s not here,
Adam. Where could she be? There ain’t nowhere to go out here. We didn’t see her on the way.”
Hoss knocked again and the door pushed slightly
ajar.
Adam slowly opened the door and looked inside. “Hello, is anyone here?”
Surprised by what they saw, Adam and Hoss entered
the cabin. The room was in
disrepair. Cobwebs and heavy dust
covered everything. It appeared that the
cabin hadn’t been occupied for a very long time. Adam inspected the room as he walked
around. He saw the easel standing in the
corner. He picked up the faded canvas. It was a portrait that was never
completed. Although it was difficult to
make out any features under the dust, it appeared to be a boy.
Hoss looked over Adam’s shoulder at the
portrait. He finally said, “I don’t
understand, Adam. We must have the wrong
place. Joe hasn’t been coming here,
that’s for sure.”
Adam shook his head.
“You’re right, Hoss. Joe hasn’t been
coming here but you know there isn’t any other cabin. That boy has been lying. God only knows where he’s been going and what
he’s been up to. Whatever it is, you can
bet that he shouldn’t be doing it or he wouldn’t be lying.”
Adam looked at the portrait in his hands. “He must have been here though. He probably saw this painting and came up
with that farfetched story.”
“What do you mean, Adam?”
“It’s obvious, Hoss.
All of a sudden, Joe says he’s visiting some mysterious woman artist in
a cabin that he didn’t even know existed before last Friday. And he claims that she’s painting his
portrait and here we find dried up paints and brushes. And this old, half-finished portrait.”
Hoss nodded.
“I see what you mean. You think
Joe made up Rose after finding this place.”
Adam agreed, “Well, it makes sense. The boy has some imagination. I hate to be him when Pa finds out.”
“Do we have to tell Pa? Maybe we could just find out what Joe’s been
up to and take care of this ourselves.”
“Come on, Hoss.
I don’t mind covering for Joe once in a while for little things and
maybe even some big things, but not this time.
Pa trusted him and he’s been lying all week. We don’t know where he’s been or what he’s
been up to. I doubt that he would tell
us the truth if he’s been lying to
“I guess you’re right, Adam. I just hate to see him punished. Pa’s sure to put him over his knee this
time.”
“If he does wind up over Pa’s knee, it’s no more
than he deserves. I’m sorry but Joe’s
got no one to blame but himself. We’d
better be getting home.”
Hoss felt a sudden chill. “Yeah.
Let’s get out of here. It’s kind
of spooky in here.”
Adam would have laughed but he was beginning to feel
uneasy, too. He tried to sound
confident, “Don’t let your imagination run away with you, too.”
The brothers took one last look around the deserted
cabin. Adam placed the portrait back on
the easel. They closed the door behind
them and headed home.
*************************
Adam and Hoss arrived home a short time later. Ben and Joe were already seated waiting for
them to start super. Ben looked at his
sons as they entered the room.
“You boys are late.
Any problems?”
“No sir,” Hoss replied. “We finished a little
late. We thought we’d catch up with Joe
by the lake and ride home together… but we missed him.” Hoss gave Joe a sympathetic look but Joe
didn’t seem to notice.
“I guess I was already gone. Did you go to the cabin?” Joe asked.
Adam was surprised by Joe’s nonchalance. He thought that his little brother would be
showing his usual signs of nervousness by now.
Joe must know that he’d been found out and that he was in serious
trouble.
“Yeah, Joe.
We did look for you at the cabin,” Hoss replied sadly.
Joe asked excitedly, “Did you meet Rose? Isn’t she great?”
Hoss hesitantly answered, “Joe… you know we didn’t
meet her, boy.”
“Now how would I know that, big brother?” Joe looked
questioningly at Hoss.
Adam answered, “How could we possibly meet her, Joe,
when there isn’t any Rose?”
“What do you mean?” Joe looked at his brothers with
confusion.
Adam shook his head. “Come on, Joe. You’ve been caught so you might as well give
it up and confess.”
Joe raised his voice as he jumped up, “Confess to
what? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Adam glared at his brother. “You’re only making it worse, Joe, by
continuing this lie. There is no Rose or
anyone else for that matter living at the old cabin. You know it. You’ve made her up to cover for
whatever it is you’ve been up to all week.
You’ve been lying to Pa and to all of us.”
Joe’s anger was building. He pushed his chair back and took a step
towards Adam. Ben grabbed his arm. “Sit down, young man. We’ll discuss this calmly.”
“But they’re lying,
“We’re not the ones lying,” Adam spat back.
Joe tried to take another step towards his brother
but Ben tightened his grip on Joe’s arm.
He looked sternly at his son, pointing to his chair. “I said, sit
down.”
Once everyone was seated, Ben directed his question
to Adam and Hoss. “I’d like an
explanation. Just what exactly are you
accusing your brother of?”
Hoss looked sadly at Joe. “Maybe it would be best if Little Joe
explains,
“Explains what?” Joe asked hotly. Ben reached over and placed his hand on Joe’s
arm to calm him.
Adam was exasperated. “Joe, if you aren’t going to own up to
whatever it is you’ve been really doing, I’ll have to tell Pa the truth.”
Joe was confused. “I don’t know what you’re talking
about, Adam.”
“Okay, Joe.
Have it your own way. If you’re
not willing to tell Pa the truth, I will.
You had your chance to do the right thing.” Adam paused still hoping that Joe would
confess.
After a moment of silence, Ben finally said, “Out
with it, Adam.”
“Well, Pa, Hoss and I decided to ride by the cabin
and catch up with Joe. We thought that
we might ride home together. And we did
want to meet Rose. When we got to the
cabin, no one was there.” Adam hesitated
before adding slowly, “And, Pa, no one has been there for a very long
time. The place was deserted. It was covered in dust. There were cobwebs everywhere. Believe me, there was no sign of anyone
having been there for years.”
Ben looked over at Hoss for confirmation. Hoss replied sadly, “I’m afraid it’s true,
Joe was stunned. “Please, Hoss. Why are you doing this to me? Please tell Pa the truth. If you’ve been there, you know someone has
been staying at the cabin. You must have
seen Rose’s things. Please, Hoss.”
Joe looked at his big brother with pleading
eyes. Hoss shook his head with regret.
“Sorry, Joe. I’d do almost anything for
you but I ain’t gonna lie for you.”
Joe couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He couldn’t understand why his brothers were
doing this to him. He was much more
upset than angry at this point. Tears
started to gather in his eyes as he looked from one brother to the other.
Ben stood. He
was very angry. He watched the changing emotions on Joe’s face. He towered over
his youngest son as he sat in his chair.
“Well, Joseph?” he demanded.
Joe was too overwhelmed to answer. He felt completely betrayed by his
brothers. When Joe didn’t respond, Ben
mistook his silence for an admission of guilt.
He grabbed Joe by his arms and pulled him to his feet. He looked directly into his son’s eyes as he
shouted, “Joseph, I want an explanation and I want it now. I will not tolerate lying and disobedience
from you.”
Joe flinched and tried to pull back but his father
held him firmly. The threatening tears
began to fall. “Please, Pa…I… I…I’m…not
lying,
Ben felt Joe tremble as he held him. He gently released his grip on his son’s
arms. He was angry but he didn’t intend
to intimidate the boy. As far as he
knew, Joe hadn’t lied to him since he was a small boy. But Adam and Hoss would never lie to him
either. And they certainly would never
lie about Joe. There had to be some
explanation besides the obvious one that Joe was indeed lying.
Joe stood in front of his father trying to wipe the
tears from his face with the palms of his hands. Despite his anger, Ben’s heart went out to
his distressed son. Ben gently took Joe
by the arm and guided the crying boy over to the settee, motioning for him to
sit down. He sat next to Joe. He looked over to the table and said, “Adam,
Hoss, please come in here.”
Adam and Hoss joined their father and brother. Hoss sat in the blue chair by the stairs
while Adam sat in his father’s leather chair.
Ben took out his handkerchief and handed it to Joe. “Joseph, wipe your face. Please settle down. We’ll discuss this calmly and get to the
bottom of it.” Ben patted Joe’s leg and
then left his hand resting on his son’s knee.
The simple gesture and kind words helped Joe calm
himself. The continuing physical
connection with his father was comforting and needed. He took the handkerchief and did as his
father directed. He didn’t like to cry
in front of his brothers but he was having a difficult time getting his
emotions under control. He simply
couldn’t understand why his brothers were doing this to him. He had never felt such betrayal and hurt.
Joe made a determined effort to regain control. When he looked into his father’s deep brown
eyes, Joe saw sympathy. Encouraged, he
tried to explain. He stammered, “Pa,
I…I… haven’t…I haven’t been lying to you.
I’ve been at the…the cabin with Rose everyday. I…I…s… swear that I haven’t been anywhere
…anywhere else. I don’t know why Adam
and Hoss are s… saying that I’m ly…lying.
Please, P…
Joe looked anxiously at his father. Although Ben continued to look at him
sternly, he was quickly softening towards his son. He wanted to believe the boy. He turned towards his other two sons. “Well?”
Hoss hated to see his little brother so distraught
but wouldn’t cover for him with a lie. As
much as he wanted to protect Joe, he wouldn’t lie to his father. “I’m sorry, Joe, but there wasn’t anyone
there and there hasn’t been anyone there for a long time.”
Joe gave Hoss a devastated look of betrayal that cut
through his older brother. Hoss quickly
added, “Hey, maybe there are two cabins up there. Maybe we went to the wrong one.”
Adam interrupted, “I wish that were true but you
know there’s only one cabin. And there
was an old easel and faded painting inside.
It’s obvious where Joe got his idea for his cover story.”
Joe felt the tears falling again. He looked at his
father anxiously. “It isn’t a story,
Adam looked directly at Joe. He was losing his patience. “You’re only making matters worse by holding
on to this impossible story. It’s too
easy to prove it’s a lie, Joe. Why don’t
you just tell us where you’ve been and what trouble you’ve been up to?”
Joe’s anger returned. He shouted, “I told you where I was and what
I’ve been doing. I’m not lying. I haven’t gotten into any trouble. I’ve been with Rose. I haven’t disobeyed
Ben took control of the escalating argument. “That’s enough,” he stated firmly leaving no
room for debate. Ben expected and
received immediate obedience from his sons.
The boys settled back in their chairs.
Ben looked at his three sons. It was almost always impossible to determine
what Adam was thinking or feeling. He
had always hid his emotions well. But he
was angry. Hoss was obviously upset for
his little brother. He was usually Joe’s
protector no matter what trouble the boy got into. But he wasn’t taking Joe’s side now. That fact worried Ben. And Joe was barely holding himself
together. He was obviously
distraught. He was still trying to wipe
his eyes with his father’s handkerchief, which he clutched, in his trembling
hand.
“I don’t know what’s going on here,” Ben said as he
looked at Joe. “I won’t decide who’s
telling me the truth tonight. Adam and I
have a school board meeting tomorrow morning at nine. After the meeting, we’ll meet you and Hoss at
the fork in the road to the lake. We’ll
all go to the cabin together. I assure
you, we will get answers. I don’t want
to believe that anyone is deliberately lying to me but both stories can’t be
the truth.”
Joe was staring down at the floor. Ben placed his fingers under his son’s chin
and lifted his head. Joe looked into his
father’s eyes with tear filled eyes of his own. Tears were still escaping down
his cheeks despite Joe’s best effort to control them. Ben wanted to give Joe one last chance to
change his story. He asked, “Joseph, is there anything you’d like to tell me
now? I might be angry but not as angry
as I’ll be tomorrow if I find out that you’ve been lying to me all week.”
Joe whispered, “I’m not…not lying,
Ben sighed, “Very well, Joseph. We’ll settle this tomorrow. If I find out that you’ve been lying to me,
the consequences will be severe. I think
you better go to bed now and think carefully about those consequences. It’s not too late to clear this up. I’ll be up for a while if you want to talk to
me. Go on now.”
Joe stood and looked sadly at his father. He repeated softly, “I’m not lying,
Ben watched his son’s slow ascent. He couldn’t stand to see him so upset even if
it was possibly of his own making. There
was something about the situation that just wasn’t right. He called softly, “Joseph.”
Joe stopped on the landing. He turned to look down at his father with a
sorrowful expression on his face. “Yes, sir?”
His voice was barely audible.
Ben gently added, “Goodnight, son. I love you.
Sleep well.”
When he heard his father’s gentle tone and words,
Joe felt a little better. He answered, “Night,
Joe closed his bedroom door behind him. He threw himself on the bed, burying his face
in the pillows. The tears that he had
been fighting fell in earnest now. He
felt alone and completely betrayed by his brothers. How could they do this to him? How could they lie to Pa about him? He knew his father believed Adam and Hoss
over him. They were never in trouble the
way he always was. Pa trusted them.
Why would they do this? Although he had many disagreements with them
over the years, it was never anything as serious as this. It was mostly because he was the youngest in
the family and believed that his much older brothers always treated him like a
baby. Despite the teasing and many
fights, they had never deliberately lied about him to get him into
trouble. Joe felt like his heart was
breaking as his world fell apart.
Exhausted, he finally fell asleep on the covers.
*************************
After Joe went to his room, Hoss and Adam excused
themselves. They headed out to the barn
to take care of their evening chores.
They weren’t looking forward to tomorrow. They couldn’t understand why Joe was holding
onto a story that was so easy to prove false.
As they headed towards the barn, Hoss asked Adam,
“What do you think got into that boy? If
I didn’t know better, I’d swear he was telling the truth. But we were there, Adam. I would’ve believed him if I didn’t see for
myself. What could he be thinking to
lie to Pa like that?”
“That’s just it.
He can’t be thinking at all. I
don’t know what has gotten into him, either.
I hope that he hasn’t gotten himself too deeply into trouble.”
Hoss was worried.
“What do you think he’s been up to, Adam?”
“I have absolutely no idea, Hoss”
“Me neither.
Let’s get these chores done. I’m
tired and would like to turn in early.”
Adam answered, “Me too. Tomorrow is bound to be a stressful day. Let’s get this done.”
They finished their chores in silence.
***************************
Left alone in the living room, Ben settled into his
favorite chair. He was very upset by the
evening’s events. He kept turning it
over in his mind. Adam and Hoss told the
same story. He was sure that they were
telling the truth. They would never lie
to him, especially about Joe. Hoss would
usually try to cover for Joe. Ben knew
he would never accuse his little brother without cause. Although Adam was often harder on Joe than he
himself was, Ben also knew that Adam often covered Joe’s mischief. Adam would never lie to get Joe into trouble.
Ben didn’t want to believe that Joe would lie to him. But what other explanation could there
be? Yet Joe was so insistent that he was
telling the truth. He would never have
doubted Joe if Adam and Hoss hadn’t disputed his story. Joe always accepted responsibility and the
consequences of his actions. At least he
did once he had been found out. He was
so adamant this time that he didn’t do anything wrong. Joe could be disobedient but he didn’t
lie. Ben prayed that he wasn’t
lying.
Ben worried about what kind of trouble Joe might be
in. He would have to punish him
severely. He dreaded the thought. He hoped that tomorrow would provide an
explanation that satisfied both sides.
He just couldn’t imagine what that might be.
After reading for a while, Ben decided to go to
bed. He knew sleep wouldn’t come
easily. He headed towards Joe’s room to
look in on him before turning in for the night.
He found his son asleep on the bed.
He noticed his tear stained cheeks.
He reached down to brush Joe’s hair off his forehead and kissed his
head. The boy looked so young and
innocent. He looked so much like his
mother that it often took Ben’s breath away.
As he covered Joe with a blanket, he whispered, “Sweet dreams, son. I pray we can clear this up tomorrow.” He turned off the light and quietly left the
room.
*************************
Ben and Adam mounted their horses after the school
board meeting. They had avoided
discussing Joe. As they passed Mrs.
Cavanaugh’s house on the outskirts of town, they saw her standing on her porch.
“Hello, Ben, Adam.” She waved to them.
They rode up to her gate. Ben greeted her with a tip
of his hat. “Good morning, Mrs. Cavanaugh.
It’s so good to see you.” Adam
added his greetings.
Mrs. Cavanaugh looked concerned. “Is Little Joe all right? I was worried when I didn’t see him at all
this week.”
Ben replied, “No need to worry. Joseph is fine. The boy has been rather busy after school
this week.” He shook his head and added, “Unfortunately, I don’t know exactly what
he’s been up to but I do intend to find out.”
Mrs. Cavanaugh’s concern deepened. She certainly didn’t want to see Joe in
trouble with his father. “He’s a good
boy, Ben. He always stops to talk to me
and help me around here. He has a good
heart.”
Ben reassuringly smiled at her. “I know he’s a good boy with a talent for
mischief. But it appears that he may
have been lying to me about where he has been after school all week.”
“I can’t believe that he would deliberately lie to
you, Ben. Where does he say he has
been?”
“There’s an old cabin at the lake not far from
Marie’s grave. Joe says that there’s a
woman staying there by the name of Rose.
He says that she’s an artist.
He’s been going there every day after school so she can paint his
portrait. But Adam and Hoss went there yesterday. They tell me that the place is deserted.
There’s no evidence that anyone has been there in years. So it would appear that Joseph has been lying
to me but he’s adamant that he is telling the truth. If she isn’t real, my son has a vivid imagination. He describes her in detail as a beautiful
woman with long auburn hair and gray eyes.
He says that she’s sad and lonely because her son died.
“We’re heading to the cabin to try and make some
sense of this. I’m not looking forward
to it. Both stories can’t be the
truth. Adam and Hoss certainly wouldn’t
lie and hurt Joseph. I don’t want to
believe that Joseph is lying to me but I don’t know what else to think. I’m worried about what he might be doing.”
Mrs. Cavanaugh had a far away look on her face. Ben became concerned. “What’s wrong, Mrs.
Cavanaugh. Are you ill?”
Recovering she replied, “I’m fine. Ben, Adam, please
come sit on the porch with me. There’s
someone I want to tell you about. This
is all very strange.”
When they were seated, Mrs. Cavanaugh began her
story. “This is going to sound
unbelievable but what I’m about to tell you is the truth. Maybe it’s all just a coincidence. There was a woman who lived in that small
cabin by the lake before you settled here.
Her name was Rose Ryan. She was a
gifted artist. She painted beautiful
landscapes of this area. She was also
rather good at portraits, as I remember.
I always enjoyed talking to her when she came into town. She was charming and quite beautiful. She usually wore her long auburn hair loosely
about her shoulders. Her eyes were a
light gray. She was stunning. Her young son lived with her. His name was Joseph, too. He was a delightful boy. He could talk a mile a minute. He was very sweet. He often stopped by to talk to me. The boy played the penny whistle. He would play Irish tunes that always touched
my heart with the memories that they brought back of when I was a little girl
in
Mrs. Cavanaugh paused and said sadly, “It was all so
very tragic. So very sad.”
Adam asked, “Why? What happened?”
“Joseph died in an accident. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen years
old at the time. He was swimming alone
at the lake. The doctor thought he must
have dived into the water and struck a rock.
His neck was broken. The poor boy
drowned.
“Rose searched for him when he didn’t come
home. She found him on the shore. She took it very hard. The boy was her entire life. I tried to help her through her grief. I often went out to her cabin hoping to give
her some comfort. It was so sad. She had a partially completed portrait of the
boy sitting on an easel. She had started
it just before he died. She kept trying
to finish it but it was too painful for her.
But she didn’t have the heart to put it away. Every time I visited, I saw the portrait just
sitting there. It was as if she were
waiting for him to come walking in at any time to finish sitting for the
portrait. The poor dear was
inconsolable.”
Mrs. Cavanaugh paused to wipe a tear from her
eye.
Ben and Adam were finding it difficult to take in
all that they were hearing. Finally,
Adam asked, “What happened to Rose?”
“Her reason for living was gone. She spent her days walking on the shores of
the lake staring out into the water. She
simply couldn’t go on without her son. I
went out to visit her on Halloween. I
thought that the holiday might be difficult for her and that she might need a
little company. I arrived at the cabin just before dusk. She wasn’t there. I thought that she must have been walking on
the shore so I headed down to the lake.
I was able to see her from the hill.
She was walking towards the water.”
Ben and Adam listened in silence to the unfolding
story. They were trying to make sense of
it.
Mrs. Cavanaugh paused again finding it difficult to
continue. “Ben, she didn’t stop walking
when she reached the water’s edge. She
walked steadily into the water. I called
to her, yelling for her to stop but she never looked back. There was a heavy mist on the water. She disappeared into the mist. I ran down to the shore but there wasn’t any
sign of her. She was gone. I suppose she wanted to join her son. They searched for her for several days but
her body was never found. She must have
drowned.
“After a few weeks, I packed up her things at the
cabin. There were several paintings
there that I kept as a remembrance of her. But I just couldn’t pack away the
portrait she began of Joseph. It didn’t
seem right. I left it on the easel. I suppose that it may still be there. One of the paintings that I kept was a small
self-portrait. I kept it as a reminder
of our friendship. Would you like to see
it?”
Ben replied, “Yes, please. I would.”
Mrs. Cavanaugh opened her front door. Ben and Adam followed her into the
house. She led them over to her bedroom
and the painting on the wall. They
stared at the small portrait. The woman
was indeed beautiful. She appeared to be
in her thirties. Her long auburn hair
fell on her shoulders. She looked back
at them with expressive gray eyes. Her
full lips showed a hint of a smile. She
had a blush across her slightly freckled cheeks. Her expression was full of life. She certainly resembled the woman that Joe
described.
Ben commented, “She was beautiful.”
Mrs. Cavanaugh answered, “Yes, she was natural
beauty.”
Adam asked, “When did all this happen?”
“It must be over twenty-five years now.”
Adam asked, “Could it possibly be the same woman,
Pa? Could she be back?”
Ben shook his head. “How could that be? Rose Ryan would be in her fifties or even
sixties by now. Joe describes a much
younger woman. Adam, you said that there
was an old painting on the easel. Was it
the portrait Mrs. Cavanaugh describes?”
Adam answered slowly, “I suppose it could be. The face was faded and covered in dust but it
could have been a boy’s face.”
Ben stood lost in thought. “I don’t know what’s going on here but I
intend to find out. Adam, let’s go meet
your brothers. We need some
answers. Mrs. Cavanaugh, could I borrow
this portrait?”
“Yes, of course.
I certainly hope that everything is all right.”
Adam replied, “I’m sure everything will be
fine. Please don’t worry.”
Ben placed the small portrait in his saddlebag. They said goodbye to Mrs. Cavanaugh and then
headed in the direction of the lake to meet Hoss and Joe. They rode in silence for a while until Adam
finally asked, “So, what do you think, Pa?”
“I don’t know what to think, Adam. There must be a reasonable explanation.”
“Like what?
Joe’s been having his portrait painted by a dead woman.”
“I said a ‘reasonable’ explanation,” Ben insisted.
“I hate to say this, Pa, but maybe Mrs. Cavanaugh
told Joe the story about Rose Ryan and her son.
He might have retold the story as a cover for whatever it is he’s
actually up to. There’s no one staying
at that cabin.”
“I don’t know but I doubt that, Adam. Joseph may get into a lot of trouble but he
always admits to it when I confront him.
He may not tell me outright what he’s been up to but he doesn’t lie when
I ask him directly. I don’t want to
believe that he’s lying to me now. In
any event, we’ll know soon enough when we get to the cabin. And, Adam, please don’t mention any of this
to your brother. I would rather we see
for ourselves.”
“I agree,
Both men continued their ride in silence lost in
their own thoughts.
*************************
Hoss and Joe also rode silently to the rendezvous
point. Hoss had finally given up trying
to start a conversation with his little brother. Joe’s participation had consisted only of
mumbled single word answers to questions.
He continued to feel deeply hurt by what he thought was his older
brother’s betrayal. He couldn’t
understand why Hoss and Adam had lied about him to their father.
Hoss was feeling terrible himself. He knew his little brother was stubborn but
he couldn’t understand why Joe would hold onto his story when the inevitable
truth would be found out. When he
glanced at his brother, he saw that Joe’s eyes were still red and puffy from
crying. Worse still, he saw how hurt his
little brother was. Joe barely even
looked at him all morning. Although he
knew that he had told the truth to their father, he also knew that he was
partly the cause of Joe’s hurt and it broke his heart. There was nothing worse than having his
little brother upset with him. He hoped
beyond hope that there would be an explanation to this mess. He just couldn’t imagine what it might
be. It wasn’t like Joe to lie. He didn’t want to go to the cabin and
witness the scene between his brother and father that was sure to occur.
When they arrived at the lake road, Ben and Adam
were waiting for them.
Joe was anxious to prove himself, “Come on. Let’s get going. I want you to meet
Although Ben wasn’t looking forward to what they
would find at the cabin, he had to know the truth. He wanted to get it over with. “All right, Joseph. Lead the way.”
They made their way through the shadows of the thick
pines. When they reached the cabin, Joe
dismounted and ran ahead. He knocked at
the door, yelling, “Hello, Rose.”
When no one answered, Joe knocked again. He called a little louder, “Hello, Rose. Are you there?”
Joe looked over at his father and brothers. He couldn’t read his father’s
expression. They walked towards the door
to join him.
Adam finally
asked, “So where is she?”
Joe looked around. “I don’t know, Adam. Maybe she went for a walk down to the
lake. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”
“We would’ve seen her if she were at the lake. Why don’t we have a look inside?”
Joe answered, “I don’t think we should just go in
there when she isn’t home.”
Adam persisted, “Why, Joe? Are you afraid to go inside? If you want to prove that Rose is real, then
show us.”
“It’s not right to just go into someone’s home when
they’re not there but I…I guess she wouldn’t mind,” Joe responded hesitantly.
Joe slowly opened the cabin’s door. He stepped inside. He was stunned by what he saw. The room appeared the way it did when he had
first been there on the day that he had been lost. It was exactly as Adam and Hoss described
it. Dust covered the room. Cobwebs hung everywhere. The curtains and colorful quilts were
gone. The paints and brushes were
dry. Joe looked around the room in
complete disbelief.
Ben, Adam and Hoss followed Joe into the cabin. They stood inside the doorway. Adam and Hoss exchanged knowing glances. Although Ben was not surprised, he was
greatly disappointed. He had prayed for
a reasonable explanation that would satisfy both sides. Now it appeared that there wouldn’t be one.
As he looked around the dusty room, Joe was
beginning to feel panic. This wasn’t
possible. It couldn’t be happening. Rose was here just yesterday. This room was cozy and warm but now it was
empty and cold. When he turned to look
at Ben, Joe saw the disappointment on his father’s face. He was afraid that anger would soon
follow. He stammered, “P…Pa…I…I don’t
understand what happened here. It…it
wasn’t like this yesterday. I s…s…swear,
Hoss looked at his brother with sympathy, thinking that
he was in serious trouble. “Ah, Joe, no
one has been here for a long, long time.
These cobwebs didn’t appear overnight.
There ain’t no sign that anyone has been here.”
Joe insisted, “It wasn’t like this yesterday. It wasn’t.
We have to find Rose. She can
explain what happened.”
Hoss just shook his head sadly. “There ain’t no one
to find, Joe. It’s time to give up this
crazy story. Just tell Pa the truth and
maybe he won’t be too hard on you.”
Hoss looked hopefully at Ben.
Adam added, “Come on, Joe. Look around.
Does it look like anyone has been here?
Hoss is right. It will be better
if the truth comes from you.”
Joe looked around the small room. His bewilderment was obvious. He picked up
the rusted tin whistle on the table.
“This is proof. This belonged to
Rose’s son. At least, I think it
did. It wasn’t rusted yesterday.”
“It’s just an old whistle that must’ve been here for
years,” Hoss responded.
Joe was becoming visibly upset. He bit his lower lip as he shifted from foot
to foot. “I…I don’t understand w…what’s
happening here.” When he looked at his
father, he stepped back, thinking that he saw anger on his face. He stopped when his back was against the
wall with no place else to go. Joe’s
voice was barely above a whisper, “Pa, she was here yesterday. She…she really was. Please believe me. I…I…can’t explain this but she really was
here. I wouldn’t lie to you,
Joe stopped suddenly as he became aware of a faint
scent. He said excitedly, “She was
here. Don’t you smell it? It’s rose water. Rose wears it all the time. She has been here.” He looked expectantly at his father.
There was the scent of roses in the small room that
hadn’t been there a moment ago. Trying
to determine where the scent originated, Ben followed it to the far side of the
room where it was stronger. He saw the
easel standing in the corner and walked around to the front of it. An old canvas was sitting there. The painting
was covered in the same coating of dust as the rest of the room but a portrait
could be seen vaguely beneath it. He
picked up the canvas, gently wiping the dust away with his handkerchief. What
emerged from beneath the layers of dust was undeniable. It was a portrait of Joe. The likeness was extraordinary but more than
that it captured his son’s spirit.
“What’s
wrong, Pa?” Hoss asked when he saw his father’s strange expression.
“You boys better come over here and have a look at
this,” Ben replied quietly.
Curiously, Adam and Hoss walked over to their
father. They stood on either side of him
to look at the canvas he was holding.
Surprise showing on his face, Hoss looked at the
painting in his father’s hands. “Hey,
that’s Little Joe, ain’t it?”
Adam took the painting from Ben, “Let me see it.” He stared at the portrait, examining it
closely. “This is Joe, all right. But it looks old. It looks like its been sitting here for
years. Look at all the dust on it. The canvas doesn’t look new, either.”
Ben questioned, “Is this the portrait that you saw
here yesterday?”
Adam shook his head, “It looks like the same canvas
but it couldn’t possibly be the same portrait.
The painting we saw yesterday was barely begun. It did look like a boy but it was just a
rough beginning. It definitely wasn’t this
portrait of Joe.”
Joe had been listening to the exchange. He walked over to Adam to look at the
painting. When he saw the results of the
week he spent with Rose, he smiled. “I
told you I was sitting for Rose to paint my picture. She is real.
This should be proof enough.” He
looked hopefully at his father, as he asked, “Isn’t it, Pa?”
Ben put his arm around Joe’s shoulders. “It certainly is you, boy. And, I might add, it’s a beautiful
portrait. She did a wonderful job.”
Joe put his arm around his father’s waist. “It is nice.”
After a moment, he said, “Pa, I don’t understand what happened to this
room. It didn’t look like this when I
was here yesterday. Thanks for believing
me about
“There’s no denying this portrait, Joe, although I
can’t explain how it came about. It’s
you but it does look quite old—like it’s been sitting here for years. Oil paintings take more than a day to dry.”
Ben paused as he continued studying the
portrait. “I want to show you
something. Come outside with me,
please.”
All three brothers followed their father. Ben walked over to Buck and took the small
painting out of the saddlebag. He held
out the canvas to his youngest son. “Joseph, look at this, please.”
Joe took the painting in his hands. When he saw the portrait, he smiled. “It’s Rose.
Pa, where did you get this? It’s
really beautiful. I told you she was
beautiful.”
Ben tried to explain. “Yes, she is quite beautiful. Mrs. Cavanaugh gave me this painting of Rose
Ryan. Rose was her friend. She was an artist who lived in this cabin
with her son.”
Joe interrupted, “She told me she lived in this area
a long time ago. I didn’t know she
actually lived here.”
Ben put his hand on Joe’s shoulder. “Yes, Joseph.
She did live here a very long time ago.
She painted this portrait over twenty five years ago.”
Joe shook his head. “That can’t be right,
“Joseph,” Ben continued gently as he put his hands
on his son’s shoulders, “it was painted years ago. I don’t know how to tell you this, son, but
Rose died twenty-five years ago. Her son
drowned in the lake. She was consumed
with grief. Mrs. Cavanaugh saw her walk
out into the lake. She vanished into the
mist. Her body was never found.”
Joe was stunned.
His mind couldn’t comprehend what his father was saying. He had spent the week with Rose. She was real.
The portrait that she painted of him was proof. But the cabin did look long deserted. It couldn’t possibly be in such a state of
disrepair since he had been here yesterday.
Where had all the cobwebs and dust come from?
Joe felt his eyes beginning to fill with tears. He saw the concern on his father’s face. He whispered, “Rose is dead? I don’t understand,
Ben hugged the boy to his chest. “Joseph, I don’t understand, either. Sometimes things happen in this world that we
can’t explain. We’ll probably never understand
what happened here. The important thing
is that you know you’re telling the truth, son.
Somehow, some way Rose was here.
She did paint this beautiful portrait of you. This painting is very real. Maybe that’s why she was here. She never completed the portrait of her son
so maybe she needed to do this. If
anyone can bring joy back to someone’s broken heart, it’s you, Joseph. Maybe spending this time with you and painting
your portrait put her at peace finally.”
Joe looked up at his father hopefully. “Do you really think so, Pa? I hope she’s at peace and that I helped her
in some way.”
Ben wiped a tear from his son’s cheek with his
thumb. He looked into his hazel eyes.
“Joseph, I know that much is true because you are the joy in my life. If anyone can give the gift of joy to someone,
it’s you, son. I thank God for giving me
that gift everyday.”
“Everyday,
Pa?” Joe asked innocently as he looked up into his father’s eyes.
Ben smiled at his son. “Yes, Joseph.
Every single day including the days that you try my patience and end up
over my knee.”
Joe hugged his father tightly. Smiling sadly, he looked out at the
lake. “I hope that’s true,
“I know you did.”
Ben looked at his sons. “Let’s get going. Adam, please get the portrait from the
easel. I think Rose would want Joseph to
have it.”
Joe followed Adam into the cabin. He picked up the rusted tin whistle off the
table. “I think she’d want me to have
this for safekeeping.”
As he picked up the portrait, Adam looked at it
again and then looked over at his brother.
“Joe, I’m really sorry that I didn’t believe you.”
Joe smiled at his brother. “That’s okay, Adam. I don’t think I would’ve believed me either.”
Adam patted his little brother’s back. “Thanks, Joe.
Let’s get out of here.”
After Adam left, Joe stood at the door looking
around the room one last time. He knew
in his heart what happened here and it was all that mattered. As he slowly closed the door behind him, he
whispered, “ Goodbye, Rose, until we meet again.”
As they were mounting their horses, Joe asked, “Can we stop by Ma’s grave, Pa?”
Ben smiled at his youngest son. “Yes, of course.”
*************************
When they reached the grave, the four
dismounted. Joe removed his canteen and
walked over to the flowers that he had planted intending to water them. Ben joined him with his own canteen. Joe turned to his father. “I’m going down to
the lake to get some more water.”
“I’ll go with you, son,” Ben replied.
When they reached the lake, they stood together on
the shore. A low mist had settled on the
water. As they squatted to fill their
canteens, Joe noticed something leaning against a log. He was surprised by what he found. It was Rose’s painting of the lake from this
spot that he loved so much. He picked it
up with great care.
“What is it, Joseph?” Ben asked as he approached his
son.
Joe held his treasure out to his father. “It’s the
picture Rose was painting when I met her.
Isn’t it beautiful? She painted
it right here. Look in that
direction. See. I told her how much I loved it. It brought back memories of Ma that were
really mine. Not someone else’s memories
but mine. I remembered being with her
right here on the shore. We were having
a treasure hunt. I can even hear her
voice. Rose told me that I could have it
when she finished.”
“It’s beautiful.
It’s her gift to you. She must
have left it here for you to find.”
Joe stood quietly for a few minutes lost in
thought. Finally he said, “Pa, even
though we just met, I felt like I always knew her. There was something so familiar about her. I felt comfortable with her from the
start. I almost could’ve sworn that I
knew her. I think I loved her,
“I don’t know about things like that, son. I can’t explain this. There are things in this world that are
beyond explanation. Sometimes you have
to take things on pure faith. You know
in your heart what happened and that’s really all that matters.”
“I guess you’re right,
Ben placed his strong arm around Joe’s slender
shoulder. “Anything is possible, son.
Are you ready to go home now?”
Joe gave his father a flash of a smile. “Yes,
Ben pulled his youngest son into a hug. Joe returned the embrace.
“Let’s go then.
Your brothers are waiting for us.”
THE END