Summary: It’s not long after Marie enters the lives of the two Cartwright boys when Adam is confronted with an unexpected question by Hoss. Learning more about Hoss’ deepest wishes, will Adam be able to ignore them just out of his own stubbornness?

Rated: K+  (1,340 words)

Didn’t See That Coming

Patiently, Adam leaned against the wooden commode while watching Hoss clean his teeth thoroughly with tooth powder. When Hoss changed afterward from his daytime clothing into his sleepwear the boy asked reluctantly, “Adam?”

Adam recognized the certain tone in Hoss’ voice immediately. With a feeling of foreboding he knew something ‘big’ was coming. His ‘little’ brother normally only sounded like that when he had something on his mind which really bothered him. But over the years he’d gained enough experience in calming Hoss down whenever he was worried about something. Therefore Adam stayed relaxed. His only reaction was a casually answered, “What?” to encourage Hoss to continue.

That said, until now Adam hadn’t paid much attention. This however changed abruptly when Hoss asked his question and shared his deepest thoughts with his older brother.

“When Pa and Marie get married will Marie become our mom Adam?” Hoss’ voice was filled with hope.

Surprised and mixed with emotions, Adam couldn’t hold back his impulsive and bitter sounding retort.

“She will never be our mother. You know that. Our mom is dead, Hoss,” Adam replied, more furious than intended.

Apparently shocked by Adam’s harsh reaction, Hoss looked at him wide-eyed. He admired his brother, and he wasn’t accustomed to Adam getting angry at him. Usually Adam was very patient when Hoss asked him a question. But this time Hoss could sense there was something wrong.

For a few moments Hoss got the impression his brother looked somewhat upset and this scared him even more. But he didn’t understand what it was and why Adam was so agitated. What was wrong with Marie? Hoss found her really nice. He liked her, and he felt that she truly liked him too. She wasn’t just being kind. He could sense the difference.

Adam knew immediately he’d said too much. The way Hoss stared at him made it obvious. Adam tried to calm down. It wasn’t Hoss’ fault their Pa had met this woman and now harbored this absurd idea of marrying her.

“Come on, Hoss. It’s late.” Adam gently laid a consoling hand on Hoss’ shoulder. “If you go to bed now I promise I will read you a fairytale,” he said kindly and hoped that his distraction would work.

“Even Peter Parley’s Tales of the Elephant?” Hoss asked cheerfully and went to his bed, giving Adam the book from his nightstand.

Adam smiled at Hoss’ blitheness and didn’t hesitate to agree. “Sure, but I bet you know it by heart already,” he laughed.

“Naw…” Hoss answered solemnly. “But I like it best,” he explained while he was lying down and pulling the blanket to his chest.

“I thought so,” Adam sighed and took a seat at the edge of Hoss’ bed; then he began reading out loud. He didn’t know how often he’d read the book to Hoss. It seemed the little one just couldn’t get enough of it. But Adam was willing to do it one more time especially when it would help Hoss forget his prior loss of self-control.

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Adam read out the chapter about the Elephant and three more to Hoss , the Racoon, the Frog, and the White Bear. After closing the book and returning it to the nightstand, Adam stood up.

“Adam…, what’s wrong with Marie? Why don’t you like her? Is she a bad person?” Hoss asked quietly. His worry, especially about this last question, was evident.

Obviously the stories hadn’t helped much to put Hoss at ease.

“No, Hoss. Marie isn’t bad,” reassured Adam the five-year-old.

“Then why don’t you like her?” Hoss demanded to know. “Pa likes her, and I like her too. She makes Pa laugh, and she can make those yummy flapjacks,” Hoss stated happily.

“Pa could laugh with the two of us just the same,” Adam retorted, but without the fieriness from earlier. “I don’t think he needs Marie to make him laugh. Up to now we’ve gotten along perfectly well without her, and if you’d want flapjacks Hop Sing sure knows how to make them.”

Adam could hear that he sounded desperate, childish and maybe even a tiny bit whiny, but he couldn’t help it. His father’s wedding to Marie was not a thing he was very enthusiastic about.

“I think she makes Pa happy,” said Hoss seriously, interrupting Adam’s thoughts. Adam held Hoss gaze. For a view seconds neither brother spoke a word.

“I think you should go to sleep now,”Adam said gently when he finally found his voice and broke the awkward silence.

“Okay,” Hoss agreed. “But will you promise me to try and like Marie maybe just a little bit better?”

Adam couldn’t help but smile at his little brother’s persistence. “I promise,” he said.

“Good!” With a satisfied grin Hoss turned on his side. “Goodnight, Adam,” he said, stifling a yawn.

“Goodnight, Hoss,” Adam whispered back and quietly left the room.

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Deep in thought, Adam went to his own bedroom. While undressing he came to the conclusion that Hoss was right. Their Pa really liked this woman. Not that he needed his brother to tell him so. No! Adam also knew far more. His Pa was in love with Marie. Adam could see that much. She gave him something Adam and Hoss obviously couldn’t, and Adam had seen this happen once before.

At the time his Pa had met Inger, Adam had seen Ben similarly happy. He remembered how proud his father had been when Inger had agreed to his proposal and how even prouder he had been sometime later when he’d learned about her pregnancy. At this time they all had been so happy.

But he also remembered the deep grief the two of them had felt after Inger had died. Adam didn’t want this to happen to his Pa. He couldn’t bear seeing his father suffer again.

On the other hand Adam had seen the hope in Hoss’ eyes. Hoss wanted a mom. It hadn’t been right to tell him he’d already got a mother as he didn’t have any memories of Inger at all.

Adam knew how he had felt when Inger had come into their life. With Inger, his Pa and he had finally become an ordinary family like all the others around them. After all those years alone with just his father, all of a sudden Adam had a mom. Not just a picture. No. A real person! Someone who had listened to him, who had laughed with him, put him to bed and read out to him. She’d also hugged him and taken care of him whenever he needed it and his father hadn’t had enough time to do so.

So yeah, Adam knew how it felt to be loved by a mother. A heavy sigh escaped Adam as he realized he couldn’t deny Hoss this. His brother deserved a chance to have his own experiences. Adam was pretty sure Hoss wouldn’t enjoy his new found bond with Marie as much as he should if he got the impression Adam couldn’t feel the same way.

Okay, little brother, you have won, Adam thought with a grin.

In the future, and for Hoss’ sake, he would not only be polite but much kinder to Marie. “I will give her a chance, though I still cannot promise I will really like her,” Adam mumbled softly. Once the decision was made, he turned out the light. Smiling, he went to sleep.

THE END

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Thank you, Dodo, for the wonderful help and beta. You did a great job!

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Disclaimer: Bonanza and its characters are created by David Dortort and originally aired on NBC. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended. Other characters then the originals are the property of the author.