Adam Cartwright had only one thing to say to Leo Hodge the station manager of Virginia City. “Has the train from Fort Delaney arrived?”

Leo shook his head. “No, sir, Mr. Cartwright.” He answered, switching his Southern cigar from his right side of his mouth to his left. “Say, Mr. Cartwright, is it true that you’re gettin’ Candy Canaday to come help out on the ranch again.”

Adam nodded. “Yes, that’s right why?”

“Well, we all just never thought you would need help running the Ponderosa.” Leo replied. “Around here we all hold you in the same regard as your father. We all consider you to be a leading man of our community. You are so…so superlative.” Leo smiled proud at finally being able to use a big word. He did try to “better himself” even if he did not finish grammer school.

Adam smiled. There was two ways to take that. But since the rest of the speech was so complimentary Adam took the last part to be a compliment as well. “Thanks, Leo.” He answered. “You know Candy, don’t you? Will you point him out to me when he appears?”

“Sure I will, Mr. Cartwright.” Leo answered.

“Well?” Sophie Cartwright asked as her husband as he climbed back in the wagon.

“Not yet.” Adam answered looking around. Sarah had come into town earlier. “I feel like a criminal.” He admitted. “I’m looking behind shadows for Sarah and Joe.”

“It’s your ranch, isn’t it?” Sophie asked.

“It’s our ranch.” Adam corrected his wife. “Joe and mine. We have to run it together.”

“You saw how well that worked.” Sophie gently reminded her husband.

“I know. I know.” he answered. Then he sat in silence for several moments.

“There’s the train.” Sophie suddenly announced and Adam leaped down from the wagon. He held a hand out for his wife who jumped gracefully down to stand at his side. “Which one is Candy do you think?” she asked.

“You seem to know more about the young man then I do.” Adam answered. “You tell me.”

Sophie made a face at her husband. “Just for that I will.” She walked towards the platform.

There were three men that got off the train. All three stood awarkdly on the platform looking around. But Sophie picked out one dark haired man with a big smile and a red bandanna tied around his neck. She approached the man, her husband right next to her. “Candy Canaday?” she asked.

The man looked at her and smiled. “That’s right, Miss, and you are…?”

“She’s Sophie Cartwright and I am Adam.” Adam cut in amazed at his wife’s ability to tell which man it was.

“Adam Cartwright.” The man smiled. “I have heard many good things about you. I am sorry to hear about the death of your father.”

Adam acknolwdeged his thanks with a nod of his head. “I am sorry to bother you and take you away from your last job.”

Candy laughed. “I wasn’t working.” He answered. “I was loafing. I was actually at Fort Delaney looking into getting a job and settling down with Ann. She’s a widow now you know and her father is dead, too, so nothing stands in our way now.” Then he laughed. “Not that you want to hear about my troubles. I was glad to get your letter, Mr. Cartwright.” He smiled his radiant smile. “I was getting bored at the fort and Ann won’t leave until I get a good job and can promise her a good home.”

Adam laughed and held out his hand. “Well, Mr. Canaday, you have a good home with us.”

Sophie smiled and looked at her husband. “Let’s be informal.” She said. “I am Sophie, he is Candy, and you are Adam.”

“Adam was dubious.

“If you’re worried about respect, don’t.” Candy reassured Adam. “My dad was in the army. I know all about respect.” This was said with a cynical frown.

Adam laughed. “All right. Candy it is. Now come on. The ranch house has changed some since you left. But you can have any room you want.”

“Well, actually, Mr. Cartw..er Adam, if you don’t mind I’d like the foreman’s house.”

“Well, sure you can have it if you want it.” Adam answered suprised. “it needs alot of work.”

“I know, sir. I’ll fix it in my spare time.” Candy assured him.

“Then its yours.”

“Thank you, Adam.”

“I still don’t see why you want it.” Adam frowned.

“It’s Ann.” Candy answered. “She promised that if I kept this job for six weeks she would marry me. I have not been doing much since I left here.”

Adam smiled and grabed Candy’s bag. “Our wagon is this way.” He said. “Let’s go back to the Ponderosa.”

It was nightfall by the time they returned home. Adam and Sophie sat in the back of the wagon while Candy drove. He had insisted on it. “See that constellation up there?” Candy called back as he turned into the drive of the ranch.

Adam and Sophie looked up. “The Big Dipper.” He whispered to his wife.

“It’s the Big Dipper.” Candy announced. “I used to lie in my bed at the fort and look at it. It was so lovely.”

“I bet you made promises to your girl under those stars.” Sophie, ever the sentemelist smiled.

“Sure I did.” Candy drew the horses up in front of the house. “And every single one was broke.”

“It’s not too late.” Sophie smiled as her husband jumped down off the wagon.

“I know that.” Candy smiled gaily. “Look here.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of rock. “See this, Missus Cartwright.”

“Sophie.” She answered. “What is it?”

“It’s a part of a meteor that fell from the sky and hit the area not far from the fort. I took part and Ann took part. It was a promise rock. We made promises on it.”

Sophie smiled. “How sweet.”

Adam looked over at Candy as he jumped down from the wagon and offered his hand to Sophie. “Not too sweet, I hope.” He murmured under his breathe.

“What, darling?” Sophie turned from Candy to her husband.

“Nothing, Sophie.” Adam replied. “Coming in, Candy?”

And as Candy nodded and offered his arm to Sophie, Adam started wondering if asking Candy to come down and help out was such a good idea.