Summary: After an attack from a Paiute tribe leaves Candy and his wife, Hannah fighting for their lives, they receive help from an unlikely ally. This is the eighth story in my Forever Reimagined series and written from Hannah’s point of view. 

Rating: PG 

Word Count: 7,256

Forever Reimagined series: 

Book 1: Vengeance is Mine (By MelissaR1992)

Book 2: No More Promises (By MelissaR1992)

Book 3: The Second Honeymoon (By MelissaR1992)

Book 4: Remember Me (By MelissaR1992)

Book 5: Once In A Lifetime (By MelissaR1992)

Book 6: The Most Precious Gift of All (By MelissaR1992)

Book 7: To Love, Honor, and Cherish (By MelissaR1992)

Book 8:  Trapped (by MelissaR1992)

Book 9:  Amelia, My Love (by MelissaR1992)

Chapter One 

It was mid-afternoon as I stood in the kitchen preparing supper. Candy would be home soon and I wanted everything to be perfect for him. We had only been married four months, but they had been the happiest four months of my life. 

That same happiness spread to the Cartwrights as well when Alice Cartwright gave birth to a son; Benjamin Joseph. It had been a difficult delivery. Joe was with his pa in Placerville when Alice went into labor. He barely made it back in time for the birth. I helped Alice through the labor until Doc Martin arrived. He’s a beautiful boy; handsome like his daddy. 

Seeing the joy on Joe and Alice’s faces had Candy and I wondering when we would hear the pitter patter of little feet of our own. We wanted to start a family, but we also weren’t in a hurry either. 

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hoofbeats from outside. I took a peek out the window and saw Candy dismounting his horse. He was earlier than expected. I laid the knife down in my hand on the counter and wiped my hands on my apron before I made my way into the living room. 

Candy hung up his hat as he greeted me with that smile that always makes my heart flutter when I saw it. I could tell he had been working in the hot sun all day since his clothes were dusty and his forehead was stained with sweat. 

“You’re home early,” I noted. “I wasn’t expecting you until later this evening.” 

“Yeah, Joe and I finished the work Ben gave us to do a little early, so he sent us home.” 

Normally I appreciated Ben Cartwright’s thoughtfulness and generosity, but he picked the worst time to be generous. 

I glanced over at the messy kitchen. “Oh, well, I’m sure you must be hungry, but I’m afraid supper is going to be a little late.” 

Candy flashed a half-smile at me. “That’s fine, I’m not in a hurry. I’m gonna go get cleaned up.” He snuck a kiss on my cheek. “I’ll be back.” 

He was so understanding and there I was making such a fuss over it. I wanted to be a good wife, but I think maybe I was trying a little too hard. I breathed a sigh of relief before I returned to the kitchen. 

Supper was uneventful. Candy and I asked each other about how our days went; the usual conversations we would have at dinner. I thought I heard Candy mention something about missing cattle, but I couldn’t be certain because of the terrible headache I had. I also didn’t have much of an appetite. The smell of the roast beef made me sick to my stomach. I must be coming down with something, I thought. Candy finished his plate while mine had barely been touched. I hoped he hadn’t noticed. 

After the supper plates were washed and put away, I got myself ready for bed. As I slipped under the covers, a wave of nausea hit me. I heard Candy come into the room and I pulled the covers tighter around me. 

I felt Candy’s hand touch my shoulder and I turned to him. He flashed a smile and asked me if everything was all right. I faked a smile and nodded. 

“Mm-hm, why do you ask?” I rolled onto my back with my head resting on the pillow as I fixed my gaze on him. 

“No reason.” He then changed the subject and I was grateful for that. “I was thinking…how about after church tomorrow, I take you on a picnic over by the lake? I know a great spot for fishing.” 

I gave a faint smile. “That sounds like a lovely idea.” 

“Good. Are you sure everything’s all right?” he pressed. 

I moved my hand up to his face and gently caressed his cheek. “Yes, everything’s fine,” I assured him. “Now, no more worrying about me, husband. All right?” 

“All right,” he grinned. “Goodnight.” 

We exchanged a kiss and Candy laid his head down on the pillow. I let out a deep sigh. If I had told him I wasn’t feeling well, he’d have me make a visit to Doctor Martin and it would ruin our plans. Maybe I would feel better in the morning, I thought. I moved closer to Candy and laid my head against his bare shoulder. I felt him slip his arm around mine and I finally drifted off to sleep. 

***

The next morning, I struggled to get myself out of bed and get dressed for church. I still hadn’t felt any better from the day before. I stood in front of the mirror as I fumbled with the buttons on my dress. I felt it odd that it was the same dress I had always worn and yet it felt tighter than usual that morning. 

I saw Candy walk into the bedroom through the reflection of the mirror and I couldn’t take it any longer. 

“Candy, would you help me with this, please?” I begged. 

“Sure.” He came up to me and took hold of the back of my dress. I caught him crinkling his eyebrows. “Hm. That’s strange,” he muttered. 

“What is?” 

Candy tugged on my dress with a grunt. “I think there’s something wrong with this dress. I can’t seem to get it buttoned.” 

I gave a frustrated sigh. “I was afraid of that. I must have gained a little weight.” 

Candy scoffed. “Gained a little weight? Are you kidding, you eat like a bird.” 

I guess he did notice I hadn’t eaten. I confessed, “I just haven’t felt very hungry lately.” 

I held my breath and winced as Candy finally managed to get the dress buttoned. “There.” 

I breathed a sigh of relief and turned to my side as I smoothed my hand over my midriff. I found myself staring before Candy asked, “What’s wrong?” 

I turned around and answered, “Nothing. I better get your breakfast ready.” 

I started to move, but stopped suddenly when I felt a little faint. I placed my hand up to my head and nearly lost my balance before Candy rushed to my aid. 

“Whoa, hey. Are you all right?” 

I scoffed with a smile, “I suppose I shouldn’t have done that.” I turned to Candy and assured him, “I’m fine. I just got a little dizzy is all.” 

He suggested, “Maybe before church, I should take you into town and have you see Doc Martin.” 

I knew he would say that, so I responded, “Oh, that isn’t necessary, I’m sure it’s nothing.” 

“Well, I’d feel a whole lot better if you did,” Candy argued. 

I sighed in irritation. “Candy…” I glanced over at him and saw the worry on his face. I knew I wouldn’t convince him otherwise, so I gave in. “All right. If it makes you feel better I’ll go.” 

He flashed a big smile and I couldn’t help but giggle at how adorable he looked. We both headed into the kitchen and had breakfast together before taking off in a buggy to Virginia City. 

After we arrived in town, Candy pulled the buggy to a stop next to the office of J.P. Martin. Candy offered to go with me, but I reassured him that I would be fine and to go on ahead to the church and wait for me. 

I sat on a table as Doctor Martin did his examination and I described all of my symptoms to him. 

“I just haven’t felt myself lately, doctor. I’ve been more tired than usual and I get these dizzy spells that come and go.” 

“I see.” Doctor Martin removed his ice cold hands from my throat and pulled out his stethoscope. “What about your appetite?” 

“Well, not very good. I haven’t been able to eat much at all lately which is strange considering none of my clothes seem to fit anymore.” 

I rambled on as Doctor Martin nodded his head. “Mm-hm.” 

He removed his stethoscope and didn’t say a word. His silence made my whole body tense. “What do you think it is, doctor?” 

“Well…what do you think it is, Hannah?” 

I found that to be an odd question. Wasn’t he supposed to know? I shrugged, “Well, I don’t really know. It almost sounds like I might be preg…” 

I froze and lifted my head up—staring wide-eyed at Doctor Martin. 

Doctor Martin smiled and told me, “And that’s just what my diagnosis would be.” 

I slid down off of the table in excitement. “Are you absolutely sure?” 

“I’m positive. I’m usually never wrong in these cases and besides the fact of the strong fetal heartbeat I picked up just now. My congratulations to you and Mr. Canaday.” 

I thanked Doctor Martin and hurried out of his office. 

I couldn’t believe the news as I raced over to the church. I never even suspected that I might be pregnant. 

I spotted Candy standing near the doors of the church and made my way over to him. He turned and moved away from the steps. 

“Well, what did he say? Is everything all right?” he asked. 

I started to open my mouth, but hesitated. Not here, I thought. I needed to wait for the perfect opportunity to tell him. I tried to hide my excitement as I answered, “Well, he said there was nothing wrong with me and that I was in perfect health.” 

“Oh,” Candy breathed in relief. “That’s great to hear. The Cartwrights are already inside waiting for us.” 

“Well, let’s not keep them waiting.” 

With his arm around my shoulder, Candy and I headed inside the church. I couldn’t stop smiling all throughout the service. I expressed my gratitude and thanked the Good Lord for giving us this blessing. I was so eager to tell Candy he was going to be a father, but I also wanted to break the news to him in a special way. Maybe later that night at supper when we’re alone, I thought. That would be the perfect opportunity. 

After church, Candy and I said our goodbyes to the Cartwrights and headed off in the buggy to the lake for a picnic lunch. 

Chapter Two

It was a beautiful day for a picnic and my appetite returned enough for me to enjoy it now that I knew it was only morning sickness I was experiencing and it would pass. 

After we packed up our things, Candy took me out on a boat for fishing. The rocking of the boat brought back the morning sickness, but it was tolerable. Besides, I was too distracted by the view to care. There was a gentle breeze as I stared at the tall pinewood trees swaying back and forth in the wind. It was always so peaceful here on the Ponderosa. I was so enchanted by its beauty, I barely heard Candy ask me, “Something on your mind?” 

I shifted my gaze over to Candy who was smiling at me; his hat pushed back showing off his curls. I opened my mouth and answered with a not very convincing, “No. Why do you ask?” 

Candy shrugged, “You’ve just been quiet, that’s all.” 

I hung my head down as I pressed my lips together. “I suppose I have.” 

“Anything you want to talk about?” 

I wished he wouldn’t have asked that. It made it that much harder to resist the urge to just blurt it out. I shook my head in response. 

Candy glanced at me and pressed, “Are you sure?” 

I nodded with a smile. “Mm-mm. Now why don’t you stop staring at me and catch us supper.” 

His expression turned serious. “Well, that’s a little difficult, ma’am, but I’ll try.” 

I couldn’t help but giggle at that. He leaned forward and gave me a gentle kiss. Candy’s hand jerked and he tightened his grip around the pole as he reeled in his catch. 

I know he suspected something by the way he seemed to study my face, but he didn’t pry and I was grateful for that. After we caught enough fish, we headed back over to the buggy. I held Candy’s hand while he held the string of fish he caught in the other. 

We made our way over a steep hill when Candy came to a stop. I lifted my head and saw him staring ahead of him. “What is it?” I turned and saw smoke in the distance. “Where did that come from?” 

“I don’t know. Come on.” 

Candy took hold of my hand and we followed the trail to the smoke. 

We moved past the trees and came across a campsite. To our surprise the smoke that we saw was coming from a teepee. We had come across an Indian campground. 

Candy informed me, “It looks like Paiutes have settled here.” 

“Yes, but you and the Cartwrights have come across them in the past,” I reminded him. 

“Yeah, but not all of them were friendly—and they weren’t camping on Ponderosa land either.” He sighed, “We better head over to the ranch and let Ben know.”  

Candy and I turned around and started back in the direction we came when an arrow flew through the air and landed right next to us. 

“They’ve spotted us. Run!” 

Candy grabbed my hand; dropping the fish he caught in the process and we hurried through the trees. We ran as fast as we could when I started to feel lightheaded. I stopped to catch my breath. 

“Are they following us?” I panted. 

Candy scanned the woods. “I don’t see them, so maybe they….” 

Suddenly I felt a jolt of pain through my shoulder that nearly took my breath away. I looked down and saw an arrow had pierced my right shoulder. I froze as I stared at my blood trickling down the arrow. I lifted my head up and saw the look of horror on Candy’s face. “Candy?” My eyelids grew heavy and I felt Candy’s arms around me just before everything went black. 

I found myself slipping in and out of consciousness as I felt the wind whipping past my face and heard the rustling of trees. With my head buried into Candy’s chest, I heard his voice echoing, “Just hold on. Stay with me now, we’re almost there.” 

Was it real or was I only imagining it? I shifted my gaze to the right and saw what looked to be a cabin. We reached the door and Candy broke it open with his foot before we hurried inside. 

Candy gently laid me down on a cot. I moaned as my shoulder burned with excruciating pain. I lifted my head slightly and saw Candy near the window, gun in hand. I prayed he wouldn’t have to use it. I cried out in pain and Candy rushed back over to me. I felt his warm hand against my forehead as he examined the arrow in my shoulder. 

“It doesn’t look too deep, I’m gonna have to get it out.” 

He frantically searched the cabin; opening cabinet doors. He found some cloth and a bottle of whiskey. He came back over to me and set them down on the table near me. He pulled up a chair and informed me, “I have to warn you right now, this is gonna hurt.” 

How could it hurt worse than it already does? I thought. 

He wrapped his hand tightly around the arrow and cautioned, “I need you to lie as still as you possibly can. If the point breaks, we’re gonna be in a lot of trouble.” 

“Just get it out,” I pleaded. 

Candy slowly began to remove the arrow. My body tensed as the pain intensified. I moaned and whimpered, trying very hard not to scream. Candy effortlessly pulled the arrow out as I cried out in pain. 

Candy breathed a sigh of relief before he got rid of the arrow and hurriedly grabbed the cloth; applying pressure to the wound. 

“Put pressure here.” 

I moved my hand and pressed it down over the blood soaked cloth. I noticed Candy’s hands trembling. It was a good thing they were steady when he pulled the arrow out. 

He slipped into the next room and came back out with a bedsheet, ripping it at the seams. I started to slip into unconsciousness again when I heard Candy whisper, “Hey, stay with me. Stay with me now.” 

The sound of his voice was just enough to keep me awake. 

“I’ll need to clean the wound.” 

Candy grabbed the bottle of whiskey and poured some onto the cloth. He removed my hand and applied the wet cloth to my wound. I grimaced as I gripped my hands tightly around the edges of the bed. Candy apologized profusely to me and applied a fresh cloth to the wound. He then wrapped my shoulder with the bed sheet and tied it tight. “That should hold it for now. How does it feel?” 

My throat felt hot and dry as I swallowed hard. “Awful,” I croaked. 

“I know, but there’s not much I can do until we get you a doctor. The only thing we have to worry about now is you getting an infection.” 

That wasn’t the only thing we had to worry about, I thought. Candy picked up the remaining whiskey and offered it to me. “Here, it might ease the pain a little.” 

As tempting as his offer was and despite how much pain I was in, I didn’t want to harm the baby. 

I shook my head and cried, “No. I can’t.” 

“Why not?” 

I blurted, “Because I don’t want to harm our child!” 

Candy crinkled his eyebrows. “What?” 

I closed my eyes tight as they filled with tears. “I’m pregnant, Candy.” 

I reopened my eyes and shifted my gaze on Candy whose eyes widened in shock as he stared at me; knowing he now had two lives to worry about. 

Chapter Three

Candy hadn’t moved or said a word since I revealed the pregnancy. I couldn’t take his silence anymore. 

“Please, say something,” I pleaded. 

Candy finally spoke, his voice trembling. “I need to try and get you a doctor.”

I scrunched my eyebrows. “Candy, did you not hear what I said?”

“I heard what you said,” he gritted. 

The irritation in his voice wasn’t very reassuring. It wasn’t exactly the reaction I was expecting, then again given our circumstances, it was terrible timing on my part. 

We were interrupted by a noise from outside. Candy put his finger up to his lips and crept up to the window with his gun held up in front of him, hiding in the shadows. A figure walked through the door. My breath caught in my throat as I laid there paralyzed with fear. He came out of the shadows and I saw his face. 

He stood tall like a giant; wearing a feathered headband and poncho. His skin was brown, but his eyes were a striking blue. Almost as blue as Candy’s. Strange, I thought. I had never seen an Indian with blue eyes before. He locked eyes on me when Candy moved out of the shadows and pulled his gun on him. 

“Don’t move.”

The Indian with the blue eyes slowly lifted his hands while Candy closed the door behind him. 

“How many more of you are out there?” Candy demanded. 

The Indian crinkled his eyebrows. “I do not understand.” 

His voice sounded almost like a white man’s, yet he looked like an Indian.

Candy repeated, “How many of your people are out there?”

“It is just me. I live here alone.” 

Candy told him in a sharp tone, “Well, there’s a whole camp a little less than a mile from here full of your people. One of them just put an arrow into my wife.”

“I do not know anything about that. And they are not my people. I don’t know what you want, but this is my cabin. I don’t mean any harm.” 

“Yeah, well I’m not taking any chances. Over there.” Candy motioned his gun towards the chair.

The Indian removed his knapsack along with the dead rabbit he was carrying over his shoulder. It looked like he had just come back from a hunt.

He took a seat in the chair and Candy took a seat across from him with his gun still pointed at him. I know Candy was being cautious, but I didn’t think he was going to hurt us. After all, we did break into his home. 

“What’s your name?” Candy asked. 

“Ayaan. It is the name my mother gave me.”

“Where are you from?”

“I was born in the Dakota territory.”

“Well, are you aware that you’re on Ponderosa land?”

His eyebrows crinkled. “What is a Ponderosa?” 

“It’s the name of the land my boss owns. A fella named Ben Cartwright. Heard of him?”

“I do not know this man you speak of. I just settled here a few days ago.”

I couldn’t help myself. I stared at him with curiosity as I spoke. “Your eyes. They aren’t like anything I’ve ever seen before. 

“I am only half-Indian by birth. My mother was a Shoshone and my father was a white man. He was killed by my mother’s tribe after they discovered that she fell in love with a white man. They wanted to be married, but the tribe wouldn’t allow it. Soon after my father was killed, my mother discovered she was pregnant. She didn’t want to risk my life so she left the tribe and never looked back. She gave birth to me and named me Ayaan which means “gift”. I was a gift to her from God. I was raised to know my father’s God, not the god of the Shoshone. My mother taught me a lot of things from her tribe. She also taught me the ways of the white man.”

“Where is your mother now?” I asked.

“She died a few years ago.”

My heart broke for him even though I had only just met him. “I’m sorry.”

Ayaan looked sternly at Candy. “So you see those Paiutes out there are not my people. They are my enemies.” 

I believed his story, but Candy didn’t look too convinced. Although he hasn’t always been very trusting of people. He said it wasn’t until he met the Cartwrights that he began to trust people again. 

Ayaan glanced over at my shoulder. “If you are in need of any help, I can help you. I know a little about those type of wounds.”

Candy stated in a sharp tone, “We don’t need your help.” 

I stared at Candy in disbelief as I shouted, “Candy!”

“I will not hurt her,” Ayaan promised. “I give you my word.”

Candy exchanged a few quick glances between me and Ayaan before he slowly lowered his gun and nodded in approval.

Ayaan rose from the chair and made his way over to me. 

I love Candy, but he could be a little overprotective at times. He had been on his own for so long with only himself to look after. But when he has people he cares about, he’s fiercely loyal and protective. Those are some of the qualities I admire about him. 

Ayaan knelt down next to me and smiled—one that was very warm and welcoming. 

“What is your name?”

“Hannah.”

“Hannah. In Hebrew it means favored one. In the Bible, Hannah was favored by God and blessed her with a son.”

“I’m familiar with the story,” I told him. 

I must admit, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities to my own situation. I wanted to say it was a coincidence, but I wasn’t sure.

Ayaan looked over at Candy and asked, “And what do I call you?”

“Candy.”

“Candy. Strange name for a white man.”

With a half-smile, Candy responded, “Yeah, well, it taught me how to fight.”

I pressed my lips together, trying to hold back a smile as Ayaan examined my wound. He placed the cloth back over the wound and said, “I have some sage leaves that might help with infection.”

My heart skipped a beat as panic began to set in. “Are you saying it’s infected?”

“No. You are not in any danger now. But you will still need a doctor.”

Candy informed him, “Well, that’s going to be a little difficult with those Paiutes out there watching us.”

“Well, there is nothing that can be done now. Your wife is not well enough to travel. You are welcome to stay here for the night.”

I gave him a warm smile. “Thank you.”

Ayaan nodded his head and went to get the sage leaves. 

After he applied them, he offered us some food. The thought of food made me sick, but I didn’t want to decline his offer after he had been so kind to us.

Ayaan served us some leftover beef stew he made from the other night while he ate the rabbit he caught. I didn’t mind since I didn’t think I could handle the smell or the taste of rabbit. Even the aroma of the beef stew he heated over the stove was enough to make me lose my appetite. 

Ayaan handed Candy a bowl of stew before he went into the kitchen to skin and prepare the rabbit. 

Candy glanced over at me and asked, “You think you can eat something?”

I took a brief pause before I nodded my head. Candy gently placed his hand over my back and helped me up, causing the room to spin around me. I moaned and Candy asked me if I was all right. 

“I will be as soon as the room stops spinning,” I groaned. 

I caught Candy smiling as he handed me the bowl of stew. I picked up the spoon and slowly took a bite. The taste wasn’t bad, it was actually quite good. My stomach on the other hand felt differently. I forced myself to swallow. I looked over and saw that Candy hadn’t even touched his yet.

“Aren’t you going to eat yours?” I asked.

“No, I’m not hungry.”

I knew he was lying. I could hear his stomach from where I was sitting. 

“Candy, I know you’re worried, but Ayaan seems like he wants to help us.”

“Yeah, or lead us right into a trap.”

“If he were with them, he would have already told them we were here, don’t you think?” 

“I don’t know,” he sighed. “All I care about right now is making sure that you…and the baby are safe.” 

I played around with the stew. “Candy, I really think we should talk about that.” 

“Right now all I’m worried about is getting us out of here alive.”

I hung my head down in silence before I heard Candy ask me, “How long have you known?” 

“I found out from Doctor Martin just this morning,” I confessed. 

He gave a frustrated sigh. “Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“I was looking for the right time to tell you. I wanted it to be special.” 

“Well, how’s that working out for you?” 

I didn’t appreciate his snarky tone with me. It took all I had in me to hold my tongue because I knew it wouldn’t help matters if we lost our tempers. “I’m sorry. I know you’re angry.” 

“You should have told me. Then maybe I…I wouldn’t have brought you this far.” 

I knew then he was really angry at himself. It calmed a bit of the anger I was feeling towards him. I reassured him, “Candy, it isn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known there would be Indians around here.” 

He laid his head back against the wall. “Maybe.” 

I moved my gaze on the floor, trying to fight the tears that were starting to form. He still hadn’t mentioned how he felt about the baby. 

I heard him sigh before he spoke. “Look. If it were any other time, any other place I…” I lifted my head up to him before he then told me, “I’d be the happiest man you ever saw.” 

A smile escaped my lips. It was all I needed to hear. He returned the smile and I knew everything would be all right. I glanced over at his plate and said, “Would you at least try and eat something? You need your strength too.”

“All right.” 

I felt a relief wash over me. The only trouble now was getting us out of there alive. I looked over at Candy and saw him eating the stew. He was halfway finished already. I guess he was hungrier than he thought. 

Chapter Four 

I ran through the forest as Candy’s voice echoed through the trees. I found myself slipping further and further away from him as he called out my name. I turned my head back and forth—crying out to him when I felt a warm hand against my forehead. My eyes fluttered open and I gasped as my whole body jerked forward. 

“Easy. Easy now,” Candy whispered as he laid me back down again. He brushed his hand against my forehead and I saw his eyes widening. “You’re burning up.” 

“Let me take a look.” Ayaan removed the cloth and examined my wound. “The sage leaves do not seem to be helping. The wound is becoming infected.”

My breath shuddered. An infection could make me lose the baby. And I couldn’t let that happen. 

“No, I can’t lose this baby. I can’t,” I cried. 

I felt Candy’s soothing hand over my forehead. “Shh, no. No, you’re not gonna lose it.” 

Ayaan’s head perked up. “Baby? You did not tell me she was with child.”

“I didn’t know either until a few hours ago,” Candy told him. 

Ayaan sighed. “She is going to need a doctor a lot sooner.”

I felt my eyes start to get heavy again as Candy and Ayaan’s voices faded and I drifted into unconsciousness. 

When I opened my eyes again, I saw Candy with his back turned walking over to the door. He had a cup of coffee in his hands. Was it morning already? I looked over at the window and it was pitch black outside. 

I heard the voice of Ayaan say, “You’re still awake.”

Candy turned around and I shut my eyes tight, pretending to be asleep. I overheard their conversation.

“She is a good woman. You are a very lucky man.”

“Yeah I am. I honestly don’t know what I did to deserve her.”

“I see the way you look at her and the way she looks at you. My mother described that kind of love. She felt it with my father.”

“I didn’t really know my father. He and my mother died when I was a boy. I was born on an Army post. My father was a Sergeant. One of the best Fort Delaney ever had.” 

There was a pause before I heard Candy say, “I never properly thanked you for helping us. I’m sorry if I was a little rough with you.”

“You were worried about your wife.”

“It still doesn’t excuse it. I guess it’s still hard for me to be trusting of people. But I’m working on it.”

“I think that is something we have in common too. I have no place with anyone. I am a half-breed. I’m not a full Shoshone nor am I a white man.”

“Look, maybe you should talk to my boss, work something out.”

“There is no talking with a white man when you look like me. They do not listen.”

“My boss will. He not only listens, he cares. This cabin? It’s one of his line shacks. It was the first place I knew to go to when my wife and I ran from those Paiutes. I also know that beef you got is Ponderosa brand. I’d know that taste anywhere, it’s good beef. I saw the mark. It’s the shape of a pine tree. My boss said he had some cattle missing. He thinks they may have wandered off from the herd. I think I just found one of them.”

“I didn’t know they belonged to your boss. I had been without food.”

“I know, I believe you. I really think you should talk to him.”

“Do you trust this Ben Cartwright?”

“Yeah I do. I trust him with my life.”

“Then I will talk to him.”

I opened my eyes and smiled before I closed them again and drifted off to sleep for real that time— wondering what I did to deserve a good man like Candy. 

***

I opened my eyes again and that time to an awful headache. I put my hand up to my head as I looked over and saw Candy asleep near my bedside with his back against the wall and a blanket covering him. He stirred a little as his eyes fluttered open. He looked over in my direction and immediately made his way over to me. 

“Hey beautiful.” 

“Hey handsome.” 

He flashed that smile and I felt like I was in Heaven. He wrapped his hand around mine and asked, “How are you?”

“As good as can be expected I suppose.”

He stared into my eyes and paused before he told me, “Ayaan said we need to start moving. Those Paiutes are on our trail. We need to get you to a doctor, we’ve waited long enough. You think you can walk?”

“I think so.” 

“Come on.”

Candy wrapped his arm securely around my waist while I leaned on him for support. We walked out the door and I saw Ayaan on a beautiful black horse, holding the reins of another horse next to him.

“We need to hurry,” he said.

Candy helped me onto the brown and white horse and then mounted on the horse himself. Ayaan handed him the reins and Candy turned to me.

“Hold on.”

That wouldn’t be difficult, I thought. I wrapped my arms around him and next thing I knew, we were moving along the trail.

On our way to the Ponderosa, we were spotted by Paiutes and got ambushed. Ayaan yelled for us to take cover. It all happened so fast. My mind was still a little foggy from the fever. Candy pulled me by the arm and we hid in the bushes. Candy told me to stay there, but I was frightened for him. He reassured me he would be all right and that he couldn’t leave Ayaan alone. He gave me a long lingering kiss as if it would be our last. He stared into my eyes and said, “I love you,” before he disappeared into the bushes. 

I admired his bravery. He had always been brave. But he could also be very stubborn. He was outnumbered. Minutes seemed like hours as I waited for his return before I heard rustling coming from in the bushes. I held my breath when Candy and Ayaan appeared. 

I sighed in relief. “Oh, Candy, thank goodness, you’re all right.”

I ran into his arms when I heard a groan escape from his lips. I pulled away and looked into his eyes. “Are you all right?” 

“I’m alright,” he huffed before he shifted his gaze over to Ayaan. “There’s gotta be another way around them. Any ideas?”

“We could start a diversion or a distraction,” Ayaan suggested.

“Yeah, but how?”

Ayaan pulled out his bow and arrow and aimed it near a tree. He fired the arrow and it landed right in the middle of the tree. A Paiute appeared from out of the bushes when Ayaan snuck up behind him with a knife in his hand. He clamped his hand over his mouth and stabbed him with the knife.

I closed my eyes and flinched as I held onto Candy. I knew those Paiutes were savages and would kill us without question, but it was still hard to see one human being killing another. 

Ayaan signaled for us and Candy took my hand before we fled from the bushes. We started to move when a Paiute appeared from behind a tree. I gasped when he threw a spear and hit Ayaan in the chest.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, “No!”

Candy quickly fired a shot at the Paiute and he fell over to the ground dead. 

Ayaan pulled the spear out and slowly started to fall right before Candy caught him and gently lowered him to the ground. 

Candy assured him, “We’ll get you to a doctor, just hold on.”

“No. It’s all right,” he wheezed. “I want to join my mother and father now. They were the only family I had left. But I have made friends. I am at peace now.”

Ayaan gave a faint smile and breathed his last breath before passing peacefully in Candy’s arms.

My eyes filled with tears and I buried my head in Candy’s shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me as we mourned the loss of our friend. 

***

Candy buried Ayaan behind a tree. He made a cross out of a tree branch and rope. After we paid our respects and said our goodbyes, we headed off to the Ponderosa. 

Candy said we couldn’t turn back and get the horses because the Paiutes could still be out there, so we made the rest of the way to the ranch on foot. 

I felt my wound bleeding again and I started to feel lightheaded. I held onto Candy who I noticed was starting to look a little pale. I knew he didn’t get much rest the other night, but his breathing was labored and he seemed to be weakening. Something was wrong. Before I had time to ask him anything, we made it to the ranch. 

Candy burst through the door and anxiously called out to Ben who hurried out of the kitchen. He noticed our disheveled appearance and exclaimed, “Good heavens, what happened?” 

Candy answered, out of breath, “She was shot with an arrow by Paiutes. She needs a doctor.”

Ben crinkled his eyebrows. “Paiutes? I didn’t know there were any around here.”

Candy informed him, “There’s a whole camp of them a few miles from here.” 

“Well, thank goodness you made it back here. I’ll have Jamie ride into town and get Doc Martin.”

Ben walked over to the door when Candy took a few steps and then collapsed right onto the floor.

I gasped. “Candy!” I bent down to him and turned him over. I searched his whole body and discovered blood covering his left side. I lifted up his shirt and found a stab wound. The blood must have blended into his red shirt, so it wouldn’t have been noticeable. “Oh, dear God, no,” I cried. 

Next thing I knew, Ben was right there next to me. I didn’t even notice Hop Sing who had wandered into the room wondering what the commotion was about. 

I became hysterical. I heard Ben say, “Hop Sing, get her upstairs, now.” 

Hop Sing took me by the shoulders and rushed me up the stairs as I cried Candy’s name over and over again. 

It turned out when Candy left me alone to help Ayaan, he didn’t come back unscathed. How he was able to keep it from me, I didn’t know. Maybe he didn’t want to frighten me. It was a miracle he lasted that long. 

Doc Martin stitched up his wound as well as mine and told us to rest for a couple of days. We certainly could have used it. 

I opened the door to one of the guest rooms and saw Candy lying in bed with his shirt off and a bandage around his waist. I took a seat at his bedside and gently brushed my hand against his forehead when he stirred and opened his eyes. He gave me a weary smile. “Hey.”

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Just dandy,” he quipped. 

His sense of humor was still intact, so that was a good sign. 

“The doctor said you lost a lot of blood. You scared me half to death.”

“That dad-blamed Paiute snuck up on me. I told Ayaan not to say anything because I knew you’d worry.”

“Of course I would.”

Candy moved his hand over mine and asked, “How are you?”

“I’m alright. Doctor Martin said the infection was mild, so I guess the sage leaves that Ayaan gave me helped more than he thought.” 

“What about the baby?” 

“The baby’s fine. The heartbeat is as strong as ever.” He flashed a big smile which warmed my heart. I leaned forward and pressed my lips against his. I felt his hand wrap around my waist when we were interrupted by knocking at the door. 

We quickly stopped and noticed Ben standing at the door. My face turned bright red. “Oh. Mr. Cartwright,” I said, embarrassed. 

Ben chuckled softly as he stepped further into the room. “I was just checking to see how you both were doing.” 

“Just fine,” I replied.

“I can see that,” Ben noted before he slipped his hands inside his pockets. “Doc Martin just told me the wonderful news. Congratulations.” 

I thanked him before Candy spoke. “Ben? There’s something I need to discuss with you later.” 

“Well, whatever it is can wait,” Ben responded. “After all you both have been through, it’s best to just get some rest.” 

We both agreed to that. After Ben left the room, however, Candy said to me, “I better get started on building that room.” 

I stared at him as my mouth opened in disbelief. “Now, just a minute, husband. You heard what Mr. Cartwright said. You need to rest first. Doctor Martin said I’m only a few months along. We have plenty of time for that. 

Candy scoffed. “I feel fine. I could have that room built in an hour.”

I shook my head and leaned in closer to him as I smoothed my hand over his bare chest. “I hope this child is not as stubborn as you.”

He looked me sternly in the eye and informed me, “Well, we have a problem then because his mother can be just as stubborn.”

I giggled at that because of how right he was. Even if I didn’t want to admit it.

***

Candy told Ben the whole story of what happened with Ayaan a few days later. Candy asked Ben if he would have listened to Ayaan. His response was that if we trusted him, then he would have as well. I had no doubt.

I visited Ayaan’s grave a few months later. I had been taking flowers to him every few weeks. Candy accompanied me sometimes. I knelt down to Ayaan’s grave and placed the flowers in front of the cross that Candy had made for him. There were times I wished he was still there with us. But I know he’s at peace now. It’s what he wanted. I slowly got back up from the grave and felt a tiny little kick. I smiled and placed my hand over the growing child inside of my womb. The child I wished Ayaan could have gotten to meet.

I turned around and saw Candy waiting for me beside his horse. I took one last look at the grave before I walked back over to him. He helped me onto the back of his horse and we rode off down the trail. 

The End