Loss Of Memory
By: Lynne G.
A couple of days later, Stoney told the Cartwrights that
he would ride with them to Placerville, so he could do his banking, and
then visit his friends before getting supplies and heading back up to his
cabin. That made everyone happy to know that they would all be riding together
for part of the way.
Before leaving San Francisco, Ben sent a telegram to Hop Sing to let him
know when they would be back home, but he didn't mention anything about
Little Joe being with them as they wanted to surprise him.
The ride to Placerville was enjoyable as the weather was nice but cool.
The Cartwrights spent the night in Placerville and had dinner with Stoney.
The next morning they all said their good byes which were very emotional,
especially for Little Joe and Stoney.
After living with Stoney for just over a year, Little Joe felt that Stoney
was his family, so they took their time saying their good byes. At least
that next month, Stoney would be coming to the Ponderosa for a visit, and
both Stoney and Little Joe were looking forward to that visit very much.
" Little Joe, I can't tell you how much I am going to miss having you
with me son. I have comed to love you as if you were my own son. I want
you to be a good boy, and take good care of Candy for me, which I know you
will. I love you Little Joe," Stoney tearfully told the boy as he hugged
him.
" Oh Stoney, I'm gonna miss you so much. You were so good to me, and
I will never forget my time with you. I will take really good care of Candy
fer ya. You have taught me so much about trapping and how to care fer furs,
and the best ways to watch out fer animal tracks. I will never ferget that.
I love ya too Stoney, and I can't wait till next month when ya come ta the
Ponderosa fer a visit," Little Joe cried as he held onto Stoney as
his body trembled.
It was hard for the Cartwrights to watch the emotional scene in front of
them, and they knew how hard this was for both Stoney and Little Joe.
" Stoney, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for finding my boy
and taking such wonderful care of him. Adam, Hoss and myself will be forever
grateful to you. We thought that we would never have that boy back with
us again. You have given us back the heart of our family," Ben tearfully
told Stoney.
With tears in his eyes, Stoney replied," Thank you Ben. You have a
wonderful son in that boy. He felt like my own son, and I will truely miss
him, but now I know that I can come to visit him and your wonderful family
anytime I want to, and that really means a lot to me."
After reading the telegram from Ben, Hop Sing was very excited to have his
family on their way home. He had missed them very much, and he had a special
' welcome home ' dinner planned for them.
The one thing that really bothered Hop Sing, was that Little Joe was still
gone. He missed that little boy more than anyone could have ever known.
Little Joe was a very special boy to him and he loved him like a son. He
especially missed the all the mischief that the boy could get into and that
special silly giggle of his. It just didn't seem right on the ranch anymore
without Little Joe around.
In the early afternoon a couple of days later, four tired and dusty Cartwrights
rode into the yard. As soon as Little Joe saw the large log house, he knew
he was finally home.
They quickly took their horses in the barn to take care of them, plus they
didn't want Hop Sing to see his big ' surprise ' just yet.
As they were taking care of thier horses, Ben glanced over towards Little
Joe, and he saw the boy hugging Tony with tears running down his face. That
brought tears to Ben, Adam and Hoss.
Ben walked over to Little Joe and put his arm around the boy. " Are
you alright sweetheart?" Ben asked as he dried the tears from his son's
face. He could feel the boy's body slightly trembling too.
Little Joe looked up at Ben through his big teary eyes and replied, "
I'm sorry Pa, but I'm just so happy to be home again. I didn't mean ta cry,
but I just can't help it."
Ben continued to hug his young son and he said, " It's alright to cry
sweetheart, and you have nothing to be sorry about. After all, it's been
over a year since you've been home, so you go ahead and cry all you want."
" Pa's right little buddy, you go ahead and cry and heck, we just might
join you in tears, especially after Hop Sing see's you," Adam stated
as he too hugged his baby brother. Hoss was standing there in tears and
too emotional say talk except he did nod at what Adam had just said.
It took several minutes for the Cartwrights to get themseleves composed
so they could go in the house. They were all very anxious to see what Hop
Sing's reaction would be when he saw Little Joe again.
As the family went in the house, Little Joe stayed outside on the porch
to wait until he would come in the house. He was so nervous, but also very
excited to see Hop Sing again. The man was very special to Little Joe and
the boy loved him very much.
Hop Sing heard the front door open, and he quickly walked to the livingroom
to greet his family home again.
" Welcome home ! Hop Sing miss family very much. Make big welcome home
dinner. Hop Sing have lot of hot water on stove for bathing too !"
Hop Sing excitedly told the Cartwrights.
" Thank you Hop Sing. It is wonderful to be back home again, and we
have all missed you too. Can't wait to get all this trail dust washed off
either," Ben said. " Sure missed your wonderful cooking too Hop
Sing !" Hoss added as he smiled and hugged Hop Sing.
" Hop Sing very happy to cook for family again. Go back to kitchen
again," Hop Sing said as he turned around, and was ready to walk back
to the kitchen.
" Hop Sing wait, before we get settled in, we have a surprise for you,
but you have to close your eyes until I tell you to open them again,"
Ben told Hop Sing. " Hop Sing not need surprise, but will do as Mr.
Cartlight say," Hop Sing replied.
Once Hop Sing had his eyes closed, he turned around to face the fireplace.
Hoss opened the front door, quietly walked out to the porch, smiled at his
little brother, and he picked him up and carried him in the house, and he
set the boy back on the floor in front of the family.
" Ok Hop Sing, turn around and open your eyes," Ben suggested.
Hop Sing slowly turned around, opened his eyes, and when he saw Little Joe
standing there, he couldn't believe his eyes. He gasped, got a big smile
on his face tears starting to run down his face, he shouted, " Little
Joe? It my Little Joe ! Oh Little Joe ! You come back !"
Hop Sing was crying as he grabbed the boy and he held him tightly for dear
life. He kissed the boy as he continued to hold LIttle Joe, and he didn't
want to let go of the boy.
Finally getting himself under control sort of, Hop Sing took a good look
at the crying boy. " Hop Sing miss little boy so much ! You real? You
not a dream ? You are real, and you are home, and you too skinny. Hop Sing
very very happy. This best day since Little Joe born !" Hop Sing cried
as he continued to hold Little Joe.
" I'm real Hop Sing," Little Joe softly replied, as he started
to get the hiccups. Hop Sing still didn't want to let go of the boy.
Hop Sing looked up over the boy's head towards Ben with questioning eyes.
" Where you find little one?" he asked softly.
Ben suggested they all sit down and he would explain everything to Hop Sing
about Little Joe. Hop Sing listened to every word Ben said, and he was amazed
how Little Joe was found with Stoney in San Francisco, and about Little
Joe's year with Stoney.
" Little Joe very lucky boy to have nice man like Stoney find you and
take good care of you. Hop Sing very anxious to meet Mr. Stoney when he
come to visit," Hop Sing said. Then he added, " Yes, this very
good day !"
After the family had all had their baths, they felt much better to have
all that trail dust off of them, and to be clean again.
Charlie, the long time forman on the ranch had come to tell Ben that everything
on the ranch went very well while they were on the cattle drive.
As soon as Charlie saw Little Joe, he gasped and he went straight over to
the boy and he held him. He was thrilled that the boy was back home again.
Charlie had known Little Joe since the day he was born, and he too, had
very much missed the little boy while he was gone. Ben told Charlie how
they had found the boy in San Francisco, and the whole story totally amazed
Charlie as well.
Charlie and all of the hands on the ranch loved Little Joe, and they enjoyed
being with the boy. They had all missed him very much.
News spread like wildfire about the return of Little Joe. All the hands
had come to welcome the boy back home again too. Roger, one of the hands
quickly rode off to Virginia City to tell Sheriff Roy Coffee and Dr.Paul
Martin that Little Joe had been found and was back home again.
Roy and Paul hurried out to the Ponderosa to also welcome the boy back home.
They had missed the boy so very much too.
It had been an extremely emotional day and a very exciting day for Little
Joe, and by early evening the boy was totally exhausted and all he wanted
to do was to go up to his room and go to bed.
After Little Joe was bed and sound to sleep as soon as his head hit the
pillow, his family didn't want to leave the boy's room, as they stood there
and watched him sleep.
" I still can't believe Little Joe is back home again. This whole thing
seems like a dream and I don't ever want to wake up," Ben softly said
as he smiled at his sleeping boy.
" I feel the same way Pa. I have to keep pinching myself just to make
sure that I'm not dreaming," Adam said. " I know what ya mean
big brother, but little brother is really here safely tucked in his bed
and sound to sleep. He looks like an angel for sure," Hoss added with
tears in his eyes.
For the next several days, every family friend had come over to welcome
Little Joe back home, and they all told the boy how much they had missed
him.
The youngster was really surprsied by all the attention he was getting,
and it made him feel good, but also kind of nervous at the same time, which
he couldn't really explain.
" Pa, why is everyone comin' over ta see me?" Little Joe asked
as he looked up at Ben with questioning eyes.
" Well son, they all care very much about you. They were all very sad
when you disappeared and now they all just want to say ' hi ' to you and
welcome you back home again," Ben explained.
Little Joe smiled at Ben and he replied, " Golly, that's really nice
of them. I guess after bein' gone fer over a year is kinda long time. Pa,
can I go and talk ta mama, and will ya come with me please?"
" Yes sweetheart, I would love to go with you. Thank you for asking
me," Ben happily said as he ruffled up his son's thick brown curly
hair.
Little Joe hadn't been to his mother's grave for a long time, and he couldn't
wait to talk to her again. He felt very close to her when he came to talk
to her.
" Hi mama. I came back home again. It's been a longtime since I was
here. Stoney found me and he took really good care of me. He gave me a new
name cuz I couldn't remember my name or anything. He named me Barry, after
a dear friend of his. That's a nice name ain't it mama?" Little Joe
said as he continued to talk to his mother with tears running down his face.
Ben was also teary eyed as he listened to Little Joe talk to his mama. Ben
missed her so very much and he silently thanked her for sending Stoney to
take care of their son while he was missing.
Little Joe had been with his friends quite lot too, and they had a lot to
tell him about everything that had gone on while he had been missing. Little
Joe told them about his year with Stoney and all about trapping and learning
how to take care of the skins so they could take them to San Francisco to
the wholesale house.
He told them about the small cattle ranch he had seen on their way to San
Francisco, about how the horses reacted to him at the stables, and also
how he felt when he saw his family at the hotel at how they seemed familar,
and then when he he got his memory back. His friends were all totally amazed
at what he had gone through.
As it was getting closer to the day when Stoney was due to get there, Little
Joe was getting so excited that he couldn't think of anything else. To him,
it seemed to take forever until Stoney got there.
The night before Stoney arrived, Little Joe couldn't sleep at all. He was
much too excited about seeing his dear friend again. Everyone was excitedly
awaiting the visit from Stoney as well.
Little Joe was sitting on the rocking chair on the porch when Stoney came
riding into the yard with a big smile on his face.
" STONEY !" the youngster shouted as soon as he saw Stoney. Stoney
jumped off his horse and quickly grabbed Little Joe and held him tightly.
They were both in tears.
" Oh Little Joe, I have missed you so much boy. How are you doing?
" Stoney asked as he took a good look at the boy, just as Ben, Adam,
Hoss, and Hop Sing had all come outside to greet their dear friend.
" I have missed ya so much Stoney. I have been takin' really good care
of Candy fer ya too, and I know he will be happy ta see ya too !" Little
Joe excitedly said.
" Welcome to the Ponderosa, Stoney ! I hope you had a good ride here,"
Ben said. " Yes, it was a nice ride. I can't tell you all how much
I have been looking forward to this day. It certainly seemed to take forever
to get here," Stoney told them.
" Stoney, I would love for you to meet Hop Sing, the real boss of the
house," Ben suggested as he grinned at Hop Sing.
" Welcome to Ponderosa Mr. Stoney. Hop Sing feel very honored to meet
nice man who find Little Joe and take good care of boy. That mean very much
to Hop Sing. Little Joe very special little boy to Hop Sing. You come in
house and get washed up and have have coffee and relax," Hop Sing suggested.
" Thank you Hop Sing. I was really forward to meeting you. Ben has
told me about you and what a blessing you are to the family. They are very
lucky to have you, and I totally agree with you about this boy here,"
Stoney said as he hugged Little Joe again.
" Hop Sing, this is the best food I have ever tasted. You are a true
master of the kitchen. I know I am going to love my visit here. You all
feel like family, and that includes you too Hop Sing," Stoney happily
told everyone.
" Hop Sing very honored at what Mr. Stoney tell Hop Sing. You feel
like family too," Hop Sing replied, as he went back out to the kitchen.
Ben spent the evening telling Stoney how he came out to the Nevada Territory
with Adam and Hoss. How they found their piece of heaven, the Ponderosa.
Then he went on to explain how he had met Little Joe's mother, and about
Marie, and about life until Little Joe had disappeared.
Stoney felt sorry for the family with all their personal losses. He was
also very impressed at how well Ben had done since he had built up the ranch,
and how much hard work was put into the ranch. He couldn't wait to see the
ranch starting the next day.
As the days went on, Stoney was totally amazed at how big the Ponderosa
was. He loved the pine forests, all the cattle, and all the horses. He got
to meet the hands, and he enjoyed what they said about the Cartwrights.
Yes, this was some special family, the Cartwrights.
Ben had given Stoney a big party so all their friends could meet the gentleman
who had found Little Joe. Stoney thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the family
friends, that now had considered him as part of the Cartwright family.
As the days went by, Stoney told the Cartwrights that he was going to retire
from trapping. That surprised all of them.
" It's just time to relax and enjoy my life. I have been thinking about
this this a couple of years now. I have been trapping since I was a young
boy, and I have made a wonderful living at it, and I have made more than
enough money to live on for the rest of my life," Stoney explained.
" Gee Stoney, won't ya miss it?" Little Joe asked. " You
know son, I have thought about that and I don't think I will, especially
having to make that long ride to San Francisco every year. It will be nice
to be closer to home and I will have more time to visit my friends in Placerville,
and all of you here on the Ponderosa. I might even move closer to Placerville.
After all it gets very lonely there up in the mountains, and the weather
is so bad during winter too," Stoney explained.
" What about you Little Joe, will you miss trapping?" Stoney asked
as he was wondering what the boy would say.
" Nope, cuz I kinda felt sorry fer all the animals. I'm happy that
they will live now," the boy replied. " You know Little Joe, I
feel the same way too. I always felt sorry for the animals too," Stoney
answered.
Stoney stayed at the Ponderosa for a month, and he enjoyed every second
of it as did the Cartwrights and Hop Sing. One of the things Stoney most
enjoyed was seeing the way Little Joe really was, full of mischief. He had
never laughed so much in his life at all the silly things that the boy could
do, plus he was very impressed at the way the youngster could handle horses
as well. The boy was a true horseman.
Stoney had promised the Cartwrights that he would come back for more visits
and he would keep them informed if he did move. He also wanted them to come
up to his cabin for a visit, and they told him that they would. Ben told
Stoney that if he needed any help with anything, just to let him know and
they would help him. That meant a lot to Stoney.
It was a very sad day for Little Joe, the day Stoney left for home. He didn't
want Stoney to leave. Stoney thanked the Cartwrights and Hop Sing for making
him so welcome into their home. He also thanked Little Joe for taking such
wonderful care of Candy for him. The horse looked great.
" You be a good boy now Little Joe, and I will see you again soon.
I love you Little Joe, and I will always be here if you need me," Stoney
said with a lot of love in his voice, and also with tears in his eyes.
" I love ya too Stoney, and I promise ta be good, and I hope ta see
ya soon too," the boy cried.
With all their good bye's said, Stoney got on his horse and rode out of
the yard leading Candy behind him.
Little Joe stood there with Ben's arms around him and he was crying hard
and his body was trembling.
Little Joe looked at up Ben through his tears and he mumbled, " Oh
Pa, I'm gonna miss Stoney so much. I wish he could have stayed here forever."
" I know son, I'm going to miss him too. He is a wonderful man, and
I thank God everyday that Stoney came into our lives when he did,"
Ben softly said as he contiuned to hold Little Joe and he let the youngster
cry. Ben knew how hard this day was for the boy, and he wished he could
take his sadness away.
Several minutes later Ben said, " You boys ready to go into Virginia
City and get supplies ?"
" Sure thing Pa, lets go. Come on squirt, and maybe we can get some
candy too while we're in town," Hoss suggested as he picked up his
little brother and threw him over one of his shoulders and they headed towards
the buckboard.
Loud giggling could be heard all over the yard, which was like music to
everyone's ears.
The End.