Summary:  A famous painting, a beautiful girl, and a lost memory reunite a man with his family.  

Rated: K+ (5,810 words)

Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa
Men have named you
You’re so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only cause you’re lonely
They have blamed you
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile

Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there, and they die there
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art

 

   “This is one of the most ridiculous books I’ve ever read!” Little Joe Cartwright exclaimed, slapping ‘The Fate of a Picture,’ one of his paperback novels down on the couch.  “The idea of a picture bringing a family together!”

 

“It could happen, Joe.” Adam Cartwright turned from the table where he sat opening a package that he had just bought in town.

 

“In fiction, maybe.” Joe retorted standing up and walking towards the table where the rest of his family sat.  “But never in real life.  Sometimes those stories just make me SO mad!”

 

Ben Cartwright looked up from Adam’s purchases over at his youngest son.  “Then don’t read that trash, Joe.” He answered.  “I’ve told you before that it will do you no good.”

 

Little Joe tried to laugh it off.  He knew his father was right but he loved the surge of emotions that those novels gave him.  Besides, even Adam had admitted that he liked to read certain novels of that nature.  ‘Although they were never as graphic in my day.’ Adam would always make sure to say.  As if that would make it all right, Joe would sniff.  Adam pulling back the wrapping on a picture and lifting it up for his family to see brought him back to the present.  “What do you think?” Adam asked.

 

Little Joe looked at it for a few seconds, confused.  “It’s a very beautiful girl.” He answered.  “Her smile is rather strange.”

 

“Ah love her hair.” Hoss Cartwright cut in.  “But her smile is so different!”

 

“Who is that?” Joe demanded.  “Is that some girl from around here?”

 

Adam shook his head and ran his fingers gently over the picture.  “No, Joe.” He replied.  “This is the Mona Lisa.  She is one of the greatest works of art.”

 

“She might be very beautiful.” Joe agreed.  “But she is rather strange looking.”

 

“She is beautiful.” Adam answered his mind on the picture.  “I always wanted a picture of her for my own.  Yes, Joe, she is strange but therein lies her beauty.  Many men have wondered about her smile and the look in her eyes.  It remains a secret as to what she is smiling at.”

 

“Perhaps to tempt a lover?” Joe suggested his mind on a girl in town who had a nice way of smiling at the boys.

 

“Or perhaps to hide a broken heart.” Adam mused.

 

“Whateva’ ‘tis,” Hoss asked, “Whatcha gonna’ do wit it, Adam?”

 

“You are more than welcome to let it hang down here, Adam.” Ben cut in.

 

Adam smiled and picked it up.  “Thank you, Pa.  But I am going to hang her in my room.  Joe and Hoss do not appreciate Mona Lisa as I do.” and then he turned and headed towards the stairs.

 

When he had disappeared Joe turned to Hoss.  “Did we not appreciate it?” he asked.  “All I said was that she had a strange smile.”

 

“And so she does, Joe.” Ben smiled standing up.  “But let Adam have his little dream.  The Mona Lisa is beautiful and dead.” He smiled again.  “And I would rather he fall in love with her than with Cynthia Newcomb, that girl in the saloon who has been watching him so carefully.”

 

*******

 

The picture hung in Adam’s room for many years.  His family finally got used to coming into the bedroom and seeing the picture on the wall.  It had become a part of Adam.  But then one day Joe and Hoss walked into his room to discover him taking the picture off the wall.  At first they just stopped and stared.  The wall would look so blank without her.  Then finally Joe spoke.  “Adam, why are you taking Lisa down?”

Adam turned at the sound of his brother’s voice.  “It’s no use, Joe.” He answered sadly.  “I can’t leave her up there any longer.”

 

“Have ya met another gal, purteir than yar Lisa?” Hoss asked.

 

Adam smiled.  “No, Hoss.” He answered.  “There is no other girl like Lisa.  But I cannot just sit here and look at her picture.  It’s not that I don’t love the West.  I do.  But I am going East.  I want to see the world.  I want to see the real Mona Lisa.” He stopped and sighed.

 

“Ah thought the real Lisa was dead.” Hoss cut in.

 

“She is.” Adam replied.  “I meant the real picture.  This is just a copy an artist’s imitation.”

 

Suddenly a thought hit Little Joe and he whispered, “Adam, do you mean to say that you are leaving us?”

 

“Not forever, Joe.” Adam answered.  “Oh, no, not forever.  For a little while.  But only a little while.”

 

“Does Pa know you are going?”  Joe asked.

 

Adam nodded.  “We talked about it last night.  Pa agrees to let me go.  I’ll be back, Joe.  I promise.  Meanwhile would one of you like to take care of Lisa for me?”

 

“She belongs in your room, Adam.” Joe answered.  “I don’t want her.”

 

“Hoss…” Adam offered.

 

Hoss shook his head.  “I’m wit’ Joe.” He replied.  “Leave her heer.”

 

Adam smiled.  “I don’t want you to be sad every time you see her.” He said.  “I’ll tell you what.  I’ll put her in the attic.  We hardly ever go up there and soon you will forget my love for Lisa.”

 

“We’ll never forget your love for Lisa.” Joe answered.  “It is as much a part of you as you are.”

 

Adam smiled and clapped his brother’s shoulder.  “Thanks, Joe.” He smiled.  “I knew you would understand.”

 

******

 

It had been a long time since Hoss had gone up to the Cartwright attic.  But as he climbed the stair with Jamie and Candy close he could not help smiling.  There were so many memories here.  There in the corner was an old trunk with all of Marie’s clothes.  The rocking chair that she had sat in when Joe was a baby rocked mournfully in the corner perhaps pushed by the wind that would occasionally sneak in through a chink in the wood.  Games that he and his brothers had played with as a child intrigued Jamie, while Candy stopped in front of a picture covered by a large white sheet.  “Hoss,” he inquired, “what is this?”

 

Hoss turned from the cracked vanity set where he had been standing looking in the mirror.  He was smiling, but as he turned and saw what Candy was pointing at a sad look crept into his eyes.  “That?” he answered slowly.  “That ‘twas Adam’s gal.  Do ya want to see ‘er, Candy?  Ya can pull off the sheet but be very careful.  She was a part of ‘im.”

 

Candy reached up and very carefully pulled the sheet off of the picture.  Staring back at him was a very lovely but mysterious girl.  “The Mona Lisa!” Candy drew in his breath sharply.

 

“Do you know her?” Jamie inquired.

 

“No.” Candy laughed.  “The Mona Lisa is the name of this picture.  The girl has been dead for many years.”

 

“Oh,” Jamie smiled running his fingers over the picture.  “Did your brother love this girl, Hoss?”

 

Hoss smiled and rubbed Jamie’s head.  “Tat’s right, Jamie.  Ole Adam thought she was the putteiest girl around.”

 

“What’s it doing here?” Candy asked.

 

“Adam moved it ‘ere when he left for de East.” Hoss answered.  “Ah’d most forgotten ‘bout it.”  He smiled.  “Wouldn’t ole Adam be surprised ta know twas still ‘ere?”

 

Candy smiled.  “Hoss, can I hang the picture in my room?” he asked.

 

“Whael, shore.” Hoss replied.  “But why?”

 

“It is a very pretty picture.” Candy answered evasively.  “I like it very much.”  Then he picked it up and headed towards the stairs.

 

******

 

“I’m sorry, Mister Cartwright.” Candy repeated for what must have been the hundredth time that day.  “We did everything we could.”

 

“I know you did, Candy.” Ben Cartwright replied, “and I am very grateful.”

 

“I saw him sink.” Little Joe started his green eyes gazing lost into space.  “I tried to reach him but I couldn’t.”

 

Ben stood up from his desk and walked towards his son.  “Joe, it is not your fault.” He tried to reassure his son although he knew that his own heart was breaking.  “Hoss died the way he would have wanted to die; helping someone else.”

 

Joe buried his face in his hands.  “Oh, Pa!” he whispered.  “Pa!” and then he burst into tears.

 

Ben gathered his boy in his arms as he had done when Joe was just a child.  His own eyes filled with tears.  Candy watched them for a minute then quietly went up the stairs to his own room.

 

It was several hours before a knock on the door startled Candy.  He walked to the door and threw it open to see Ben Cartwright standing there.  Ben’s eyes were red and swollen.  “Joe’s just gone to bed.” He whispered.  “May I come in, Candy?”

 

“Of course.” Candy stepped aside and let Ben enter the room.  “Are you all right?”

 

“No.” Ben answered honestly.  “I don’t think that I ever will be.  But I did want to stop by and thank you for everything you did for Hoss.”

 

“I’m sorry I could not do more.” Candy replied.  “At least I could have looked harder for his body.” He continued in self-reproach.

 

“The current was too strong.” Ben assured him.  “You could never have found him no matter how hard you had looked.” He gazed around Candy’s room for a minute and smiled.  “That picture?” he asked pointing to a picture above the head of Candy’s bed.  “Where did you get it?”

 

“The Mona Lisa?” Candy asked.  “Hoss found it in the attic and let me have it.  She is lovely, isn’t she?”

 

Ben nodded.  “She certainly is.  You know my son Adam loved her.”

 

Candy smiled sadly.  “I know.  Hoss told me.  He was a good man, Mister Cartwright, a fine son.”

 

“A fine son.” Ben repeated.  “Yes, he was.  I could wish for no more.  It is a fitting tribute to a man like Hoss.” He stopped for a moment then turned to walk back out the door.  “Thank you for talking to me, Candy.  Good-night.”

 

“Good-night, Mister Cartwright.” Candy gently closed the door behind Ben and looked up at the Mona Lisa.

 

*********

 

There was a pounding in Hoss Cartwright’s head and a ringing in his ears.  Lights flashed before his eyes alternating with moments of blackness.  He could hear voices and tried anxiously to sort them out.  There was a woman talking and a man’s voice answering her.  Hoss could feel a cold rag being laid across a hot spot on his head and the woman saying, “That bump on his head looks so bad, Henry.  Are you sure he’ll be all right?”

 

“Faith an’ of course ‘ell be, Maggie.” The man answered.  “Once ‘h wakes up ‘ell be as good as ‘eva.”

 

Hoss carefully opened his eyes.  A stout balding Irishman sat next to him.  Hoss was lying in the back of a wagon and bending over him her hand resting on his head was a lovely girl with green eyes and a fetching smile.

 

“See, ma lassie.” The Irishman smiled.  “He’s gettin’ up niw.”

 

Hoss tried to smile but his head still ached and his mouth felt parched and dry.  He licked his lips and the man immediately handed him a canteen.  “’Though I dinna know why you want it, laddie.” His green eyes twinkled.  “After you must ‘eve swallowed ‘alf of the river.”

 

Hoss pulled himself into a sitting position and drank greedily from the canteen.  “Thank you very much.” He smiled at them.

 

“Well, lookee ‘ere, Maggie.” The man teased.  “It talks after all.”

 

“Henry, don’t be silly.” She looked over at the man then back at Hoss.  “My name is Maggie O’ Conner and that joker is my husband Henry.  What is your name, young man?”

 

“It’s…it’s…” Hoss started, then paused.  Why what was his name?  I don’t remember,” he answered confused, “I don’t even know where I am from.  You say I was in the river.”

 

“That’s right.” Maggie nodded.  “Henry pulled you out.”

 

“I don’t even remember how I ended up in the river.”  Hoss scratched his head trying desperately to recall the circumstances that had led up to this moment.

 

“Poor lad!” Maggie exclaimed sympathetically.  “Why you must have hit your head harder than we thought!”

 

“Faith, an’ that you must.” Henry agreed.  “Why, Maggie, he must have ‘mnesia.”

 

“’Mnesia?”  Maggie repeated puzzled.

 

“I think he means amnesia, ma’am.” Hoss answered.  “I’ve heard of it.”  Somewhere in the back of his mind he thought that he was talking differently than normal but he could not place his normal.

 

“But where are you from?”  Maggie asked.  “Who are you?”

 

“I don’t remember.” Hoss answered.  “That is one of the conditions.  You can’t remember anything.”

 

“Oh.” Maggie fell silent for a moment.  “Well, we are moving back to Boston.  Why don’t you come along with us?  Maybe something will trigger your memory and you can always return if it does.”

 

“Tat’s a wonderful idear, Maggie.”  Henry agreed standing up and jumping off the wagon.  “You come wit’ us, laddie.  An’ ifn your memory never returns I have many friends in Boston who can ‘elp you find a job and a ‘ome.”

 

“Thank you very much.” Hoss replied gratefully.  “That is very kind of you.”

 

“But we cannot keep calling you laddie.” Maggie smiled as her husband walked towards the front of the wagon.  “We must give you a name.  Do you have a preference?”

 

Hoss shook his head.  “You found me.” He answered.  “You name me.”

 

“Henry…” Maggie turned to her husband.

 

“It’s your idea, Lassie.”  Henry replied.  “You name him.  Get up, mule, get up.” He clucked to his horse.

 

“How about Walter Mason?”  Maggie inquired.

 

“I like that.” Hoss answered.  “Thank you very much.”

 

“Faith, an’ its a pleasure.”  Henry smiled.  “After ah saved yourn life you’re almost like a son to us, or at least to Maggie.”

 

Maggie smiled.  “Get up Henry.  Get up.”

 

*****

 

Boston was a big wonderful place to Hoss Cartwright now known by the name Walter Mason.  The buildings were like none that he had seen as he, Henry, and Maggie rode the train through the great place that Maggie called the West.  He could spend hours just standing on the corner of Main Street and watching all of the traffic hurry by.  But he had promised the O’ Conners that he would find a job and with his life story in his pocket, that Maggie had invented for him, he headed towards the first door that had a help wanted sign.  It was an import business and they were looking for a man to do some deskwork.

 

Hoss, in a suit tailored just for him, looked quite impressive as he walked into the office.  The man sitting behind the desk looked Hoss over critically then offered him a chair.  “New to Boston, are you, Mr. Mason?”

 

“That’s right.” Hoss nodded.  “I’ve been out West the last few years.”

 

“And before that?” the man inquired.

 

“I was from New York.” Hoss answered.

 

“What do you do?”

 

“Desk work mainly.” Hoss replied.  “I was a lawyer’s assistant.”  Somehow this did not seem true.  But he knew of no other life then the one that Maggie O’ Conner had invented for him.

 

“Tired of that?” the man continued.

 

“Just looking for a change.” Hoss replied.

 

“Well, this is it.” The man answered.  “My name is Patrick Clyde and I own this business.  I like you Mr. Mason.  You are an honest looking man.  I’ll give you the job.  It pays ten dollars a week, which is not much but right now it’s the best I can offer you.  You start next week Monday.”

 

“Thank you very much.” Hoss stood up and shook the outstretched hand of his new employer.

 

Patrick Clyde smiled as Hoss walked out the door.  “That’s a nice young man.” He remarked to the walls.  And if the walls could talk I am sure they would agree.

 

 

 

Lisa Burns was the type of girl who had that very special and mystic smile.  The first time she met Hoss Cartwright they were both walking down Main Street.  Hoss’ head was in the clouds.  He had just been promoted from his lowly desk job to first assistant to Patrick Clyde.  He had a nice little amount of money in the bank and, despite the fact that he still could not recall his life before his accident, he was happy.  Lisa was looking down at the street, angry that her boyfriend of three years had sent her a letter from England saying that he had met another girl and that he no longer loved her.  The two collided into each other.  Hoss almost knocking the girl down.  He put out a hand to steady her and looked down into the darkest eyes he had ever seen.

 

“Oh, Miss, I’m sorry.” Hoss exclaimed.  “Are you hurt?”

 

“Not much.” She laughed nervously.  “Just startled.  Its not every day I get run over.”

 

“I truly am sorry.” Hoss leant down to pick up her pocketbook that had dropped to the ground.  “Can I help you?”

 

“No.” She smiled.  “I just need a minute to catch my breath.”

 

“You can catch it in the import company.” He offered.  “I work there and we do have chairs.”

 

Lisa smiled up at him again.  Somewhere deep in his mind Hoss remembered seeing that smile but he could not place it.  “Thank you very much, Mr…”

 

“Mason.” Hoss introduced himself.  “Walter Mason.”

 

“Lisa Burns.” Lisa smiled again as Hoss took her arm and led her into the office.  “It is very kind of you.”

 

“It’s the least I can do.” Hoss replied, leading her over to his desk.  “After all, I was the one that was not paying attention.”

 

“Don’t blame yourself.” Lisa laughed, it was a pretty golden laugh and Hoss liked it.  “I had my mind on other things and was not watching where I was walking.  I should have seen you coming.”

 

“AW shucks!”  Hoss blushed and Lisa smiled.  “There is quite a bit of me to see isn’t there?”

 

Lisa cocked her head and looked carefully at the big man.  “Well,” she smiled.  “There is enough for me to have seen you.  But…” she stopped for a moment, “I like it anyway.”

 

“Why, thank you, ma’am.” Hoss helped Lisa into a chair.  “I like you, too.”

 

Lisa smiled.

 

There was a pause for several moments while Hoss shuffled some paper on his desk and Lisa watched him.  “Do you like me well enough to have dinner with me?” Hoss finally looked up and asked her.

 

She clapped her hands.  “I though you would never ask!” she confessed.  “I would love to have dinner with you, Mr. Mason.”

 

Hoss smiled at her.  She was a very pretty girl and this looked like the start of a new life for him.

 

 

 

“I, Walter Mason, take you Lisa Burns for my lawful wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.”  Hoss looked deep into the eyes of the girl standing next to him.  It had been two years since he first ran into Lisa on the street of Boston.  Together they had decided to make a new life together.

 

The bride’s eyes were radiant and her smile, although still mysterious, lit up her whole face.  She was marrying the man of her dreams, tall, strong, handsome in his own way and a successful businessman.  Yes, Hoss had come far since the accident.  He now managed the Import Company that had first given him a job when he came to Boston.

 

Maggie O’Conner leaned over to whisper in her husband, Henry’s ear.  “Aren’t you glad you rescued him?” she inquired.

 

Henry smiled.  “Ah’d rescued ‘im, anyways.” He replied.  “‘E Shore does look ‘appy, don’t ‘e?”

 

Maggie nodded.  “I wonder who his family is.” She whispered.  “I bet they would be glad to see him now.”

 

Henry watched Hoss carefully.  “Ah bet ‘e was a rancher.” He finally replied.

 

“Impossible!” Maggie retorted.  “Look at what a good businessman he is.  I’m willing to place my money on him being a college educated man.”

 

“Whateva.” Henry grinned.  “Ah’m just glad ‘e looks so ‘appy.”

 

And Hoss was thinking, “How beautiful Lisa is!  She has such a lovely smile.  I think the happiest day of my life was when she said ‘yes.’  God, make me a good husband to her.  And whatever I was in my past life before the accident don’t let it be anything she would be ashamed of.”

 

Lisa, her eyes dancing with some sort of supernatural happiness, was thinking too.  “Is this just some wonderful dream?  Will I wake up and find that I never even knew a Walter Mason?  There he’s said it…It’s over.  I’m Mrs. Walter Mason, I’m his wife!”

 

“Lisa,” Hoss whispered, and she turned her face up to him.

 

“Oh, Walter, I’m so happy.” She breathed and he smiled.  Surely, he had never done anything wrong, with a bride like Lisa, with this little piece of heaven on earth, he could not have.

 

 

 

“Lisa, I feel horrible for you.” Hoss spoke coming into the house one spring day.  “This is the second time in three years that out wedding tour has been cancelled.”

 

“Oh, Walter, darling, don’t be concerned.” Lisa looked up from the floor where she lay with their baby.  “I’m just so happy now that I don’t mind not having a wedding tour.”

 

“But I did so want to take you to Europe.” Hoss threw his hat on a chair and dropped to his knees beside his wife and daughter.  “I know you said you always wanted to go to the Old Country.”

 

“So I do.  So I do.  But I can wait.” She smiled.  “My parents did not get to go until just before my father died.”

 

“Well, I don’t want to wait that long.” Hoss gently placed his finger in his daughter’s hand.  Millicent’s tiny fingers curled around his.

 

“Walter, its all right.” Lisa smiled.  Her smile had not changed with marriage.  She still had that mystic, questioning smile that had enchanted Hoss in the first place.  “I’m so happy that I don’t mind if I never see Europe.  So long as I have you and Millicent.” She stood up and gathered the baby in her arms.

 

“Wait, a minute, love.” Hoss stood up too and gently laid a hand on her arm.  “Maggie said she would take care of Millicent and Patrick is willing to let us go to Europe.  Do you want to go?”

 

“Oh, Walter, I’d love to.” Lisa exclaimed her eyes dancing.  “When can we go?”

 

“As soon as you’d like.” Hoss replied.

 

“But Millicent…”  Lisa started.

 

“Maggie will take good care of her.” Hoss promised.

 

“I don’t know, Walter.” Lisa said sadly. “I don’t want to leave her.”

 

“Oh, darling,” Hoss smiled.  “Don’t ruin your wedding tour.  Come on.  Two weeks surely cannot hurt.”

 

Lisa smiled.  “All right, Walter.  You win.  I’ll be glad to get out of Boston and see the world with you.”

 

“I love you, Lisa.”  Hoss leant in for a kiss.

 

“I love you, too, Walter.” She smiled and returned it.

 

 

 

“I can’t believe that we’ve been gone for a week.” Lisa exclaimed as their train came to a halt just a few blocks from the Louvre in Paris. “With everything we have done, Walter, it seems so much longer.”

 

Hoss stepped down from the train and grabbed his wife’s hand.  “I know.  Isn’t this lovely?”

 

“Oh, yes.”  Lisa agreed happily.  “I’m so glad we decided to do this while we were still young, Walter.  I love this trip so much.”

 

“I’m sorry it could not have been sooner.”  Hoss whispered to her as they walked towards their hotel.

 

“Don’t be silly, Darling.” She answered.  “It means so much when you have to wait for something.”

 

Hoss smiled.  “Shall we drop our bags off here and then go to the Louvre?” he inquired.  “That is, if you like art.”

 

“I love art.” She answered.” And there is one particular picture that I want to see.”

 

“Which one is that?” Hoss asked opening the door to the hotel.

 

“The Mona Lisa.” Lisa replied.  “Everyone has said that I resemble the lady in that famous picture.”

 

A strange look crept into Hoss’ face as though he was trying to remember something from long ago and far away.  Lisa looked at him, concerned.  “Walter, are you all right?”  She inquired.

 

Hoss laughed strangely.  “Yes, I’m fine, Lisa.” He replied.

 

“We don’t have to go to the Louvre if you are not feeling well.” Lisa assured him.

 

“I’m fine.” Hoss repeated.  “It’s just what you said about the Mona Lisa…Somehow I remember that.”

 

“Well, you should.” Lisa laughed.  “It’s one of the worlds most famous paintings.”

 

“No, No, not that.” Hoss answered.  “Something about my past life.”

 

“You mean before your accident?” Lisa whispered.  She had been told everything including the amnesia and lived in a sort of fear that one day her husband’s memory would return and he would forget the life they had led together.

 

Hoss nodded.  “But I still cannot place it.  There was a man…” he murmured, “He had dark hair and eyes.  He had the picture.”

 

Lisa’s heart leapt up to her throat.  But then Hoss laughed.  “I’m all right, darling.  Come on, let’s store our bags here and go to the Louvre.”

 

 

 

Lisa saved the Mona Lisa for last.  Not because she loved it more as it was that she realized that it might trigger her husband’s memory.  She wanted every moment she could with Walter.  Who knows, Lisa, shuddered, he might be a wanted criminal.  But somehow as she looked up at this broad shouldered, kind man she could not believe that he was a criminal.  ‘I’ll always love him.’ She thought fiercely.  ‘No matter what he was.’

 

Finally, though, the couple stopped in front of the lovely painting by Da Vinci.  Lisa stared at it for a moment without really seeing it.  She was watching her husband.  Hoss was going through an interior struggle.  The painting looked so familiar and yet he could not place it.  At the same time he did not want to place it.  What if it did bring back his memory and he found he had another wife or he was a wanted criminal?  His struggles were so great between wanting to know and not daring to find out that beads of sweat broke out on his brow.  Lisa, looking up, saw them, and handing her husband her handkerchief she smiled, “Find out, Walter.  I will love you no matter what.”

 

Hoss took her in his arms, thinking to himself how like the Mona Lisa his wife was.  Then he dropped his arms from around her and stared back at the picture.  His clenched hands rolled the handkerchief into a little ball and his eyes closed.  Then he whispered as if it came from far away and at a great effort, “Adam!” and suddenly it all came back to him.  Of course that was it!  He was Hoss Cartwright of the Ponderosa in Nevada and he was helping a poor settler and his family cross the river.  He opened his eyes expecting to see the rushing river around him and the settler thanking him for his help.  What he saw was Adam’s picture, a pretty girl watching him anxiously and a room full of pictures.  “What happened?” he asked.  “Where’d everybody go?”

 

Lisa smiled sadly.  His memory had returned but he had forgotten the life he led with her.  “My name is Lisa Mason.” She started.

 

“Lisa.” He repeated.  “Like the Mona Lisa?  Ole Adam alway’ was fond of her.”  Pardon me, ma’am.” He smiled.  “My name is Hoss, Hoss Cartwright.  My Pa owns the Ponderosa.  Could you tell me where I am?”

 

Lisa placed her hand on his arm.  “It’s a long story.” She answered.  “There is a cafe just outside here.  Why don’t you come with me and I will tell you everything.”

 

 

 

“Ya mean to tell me ah’ve been livin’ in Boston for nigh on six years?” Hoss asked when Lisa had finished.  “My Pa ne’er knew wha’ happened?”

 

“I’m afraid not.” Lisa answered.  She did not want to tell him that his family had probably given him up for dead.

 

“And Ah was married to you.” Hoss asked.  “And we had a baby gurl?”

 

Lisa nodded.  “Yes.”

 

“Whael, whateva ah was ah sure had good taste.” Hoss smiled at her.

 

Lisa laughed.  “Thank you.  As for what you were, Wal…Hoss, you were a businessman.  And a very successful one, too.”

 

“Me a successful business man?”  Hoss repeated.  “Ah shore can’t believe it.  Ah never did take to figures and such stuff.”

 

Lisa laughed again.  “Why you really are Western aren’t you?”

 

“’Fraid so, ma’am.”

 

“How wonderful!” Lisa clapped her hands.  “I always did want to go West!”

 

“Whael, Ma’am, Lisa…” Hoss started and blushed.  “Ifn you don’t mind the fact that ah ain’t a successful businessman any more and once ah get my head on straight ah’d be more than happy to have you come out and meet my Pa and my brothers.”

 

“I would like that very much, Hoss.”  Lisa smiled and placed her hand in his.

 

 

 

“PA!” Joe Cartwright called running into the house.  “There’s a lady out here.  Says she wants to talk to Ben Cartwright.”

 

Ben Cartwright stood up from his desk.  No matter how hard he tried he was not getting any younger.  Even with Adam home again he still felt old and useless.  Ever since Hoss died his wanderlust had returned and he found himself going for more and more long walks, leaving the ranch business to Adam and Joe.  They were capable boys.  Adam was the brains and Joe the legs but they desperately needed Hoss who was always the brawn.  Still if a lady wanted to see him he had better look at least half way ready.

 

He walked to the door and stepped outside.  A very pretty young lady, looking something like Adam’s Mona Lisa, stood beside a wagon a baby in her arms.  “My name is Lisa.” She said.  “Mr. Cartwright, I have a gift for you.”

 

Ben looked interested.  Here was a strange girl offering him a gift.  Behind him he could hear Joe and Adam admiring the girl’s figure and he shook his head.  When would those two grow up?  But he turned back to the girl and asked, “What is it?”

 

Lisa turned and beckoned up the road behind her.  A man riding a horse came cantering into the open space in front of the house.  It took Ben a few moments to realize that the wide smile and big man was his son Hoss.  But once he realized it there was no stopping him.  He was young as a schoolboy again as he gathered his son in his arms, thrilled and delighted at the return of his boy.

 

When Hoss finally released himself from his fathers embrace he put his arm around Lisa and said, “Pa, Adam, Joe, I’d like you to meet my wife Lisa and our daughter Millicent.”

 

 

 

“It’s a miracle!” Candy exclaimed bouncing Millicent on his knee.  “You must have floated farther down river than we thought.  No wonder we never found your body.”

 

Hoss laughed and hugged his wife close.  “’Twas a miracle, all rite.” He agreed.  “Best miracle of all.”

 

“But how did you ever recover your memory?” Adam demanded, eagerly.

 

“We were at the Louvre on our delayed wedding trip.” Lisa furnished the information.  “The picture of the Mona Lisa brought back his memory.”

 

“Ah remembered that picture ya had, Adam.” Hoss took up the story,  “And suddenly twall came back.”

 

“Well, we are very glad.” Ben Cartwright exclaimed looking as though he had sped ten years.  “And very grateful to the people who rescued you.”

 

Lisa smiled.

 

“You know.” Joe remarked.  “Lisa, your smile is so much like the Mona Lisa’s.”

 

“You think so, Joe?” she asked.  “Many people have told me that.”

 

“Ah think ‘tis.” Hoss smiled at her.  “She’s my Mona Lisa, Joe.  The bright picture that led me home.”

 

“Home?” Ben asked.  “Do you plan to stay here then?”

 

“Whael, ah can’t go back to the business.” Hoss answered.  “So ah might as well move back home.  That is if ya can take me back, Pa, and Lisa is willin’”

 

“Lisa is willing.” She wrapped her arm around his neck.

 

“And I can always take you back in.” Ben smiled.  “Of course we want you back, son.  We have missed you so much.”

 

“Ah wish ah could say the same.” Hoss frowned.  “But seein’ as ah did not know who ah was missin’”

 

“I think he missed you.” Lisa cut in.  “He would sometimes get a look in his eyes that when I asked him about it he would tell me that a part of him was missing.  That part,” she smiled, “is right here on the Ponderosa.”

 

Ben’s eyes filled with happy tears and that night when he took his walk, this time with his son and daughter-in-law, he made it a point to walk down by the river.  While Hoss and Lisa sat on the banks and threw pebbles in from the shore, Ben stopped a moment and thanked the river for giving him back his precious son.  “You took my boy.” Ben whispered, “and you give me back a man with a lovely wife and daughter.  I’ll never forget what you have done and I am grateful.”

 

He turned to see his son kissing Lisa.  Ben smiled and turned back towards the river.  He could no longer yell at Hoss for kissing his girl.

 

THE END

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.