Summary:  An alternate ending to the episode, The Savage
Rating:  Teen  (775  Words)

The Brandsters acknowledge that the authors are the owners of their stories.  Should an author included in this project reach out to us and indicate they do not wish their work to be archived in the Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library, we will remove their stories.  We would also be happy to change the contact information for any authors who wish to continue to have their stories archived in the Library.

The Savage (WHN)

Adam Cartwright, clever, cunning and smart knew only one way to ease the pain in his heart. To erase the pain, the suffering, the dying, the grief, he would rescue his Ruth from the Shoshones’ belief…

It had been one year since Adam’s relationship with Ruth, and his loss was slowly, painfully destroying him. He could not remember at any time in his life when he had such pain before. His father and brothers did their best to help Adam, but Adam’s love for Ruth clouded his mind. He had so much love for his family, they knew that, but Adam was not complete. He would go out on midnight rides with Sport and would never tell what he did. Only tonight, he would go on his last ride and find his heart.

He would ride through the fire, the wind, the hailstorms and water, his love for Ruth was strong, for that’s why he sought her…

He wrote a note to his family, telling them not to follow him if he didn’t come back for a while. He told them not to worry, and hesitated, then wrote, “I love you all.” He put the note on the table downstairs, and left the house. Sport was happy that Adam came out, but not surprised. In fact, the horse had been waiting for him so that they would go on their usual ride. Adam quickly saddled him, and they left. No one (except Adam) could’ve known that Adam’s faithful horse would take Adam to his death.

For Adam knew his heart would wither, if he could not soon be with her…

Adam rode off the safety of the Ponderosa.

Ruth always kept a look-out for Adam. Somehow, she just knew he would find her. She had saved the tribe, but they discovered that she was just a mere woman, not a spirit. She was to die soon. So, she knew that if she died with Adam, she would be happy. But she didn’t want Adam in danger. Some how she knew that he understood the danger.

But Adam knew Ruth and he would die, but that was not what made him cry. What made him cry, was the suspense of wait, so Adam set off, to fulfill their fate.

Adam went back to her old home sight in the small canyon, then followed the tracks that were left from her going with the Indians. He followed them for many months, unaware that his family was a month away from him. And finally, he saw the camp, and they were bringing her out of a tent. Some how, their eyes met, and she looked up to Heaven, and Adam understood. He nodded, to let her know that he would try to save her. Gun drawn, and fiercely yelling, Adam rushed into the camp.

What chance would they have, to keep their love? I’ll tell you. It gets stronger when they reach Above.

The sudden attack frightened the Indians for a moment, and Adam grabbed Ruth, the two of them running into the woods, chased by the enraged Shoshones. Hand in hand, they ran fast, hoping that maybe, just maybe, they would survive. But as if it was purely meant to be, two arrows struck them at the same time, and they fell. With the Indians not too far away, Adam managed to gather Ruth in his arms. Both of them were dying fast, so Adam said, “I’ve found my heart, my one true love, now it’s our time to go Above.”

When the Indians caught up to them, they had smiles on their faces. They were together in Heaven, with the LORD, and Jesus. Who could be happier?

Epilogue…

Adam and Ruth were buried by the Indians. When Ben, Hoss, and Joe found the camp, the Indians told them what had happened, and where they had buried the two. Devastated, the family took the bodies home and had a funeral for them. They were buried near the lake. They were both 30 years old.
Later that night, the Cartwrights just stood on the porch, staring into the night. But all three of them heard Adam’s words, “My dear family, I found my heart. I found the heart, that had been apart. My dear family, you have my love, but it was my time, to go Above.”

For the rest of their lives, the Cartwrights found peace.

The End