Summary: A WHI story for the season 9 episode, Star Crossed that includes a much happier ending for Candy and Laura.
Rating PG
Word Count: 2,169
~*~
The Cartwright’s faithful ranch hand, Candy Canaday, was playing a friendly game of arm wrestling with Joe when he eyed a beautiful girl walking into The Bucket of Blood by the name of Laura Pollard. She fainted after stressing to the bartender, Bruno, about how much she needed a job and Joe and Candy came to her aid.
They paid for her meal at a restaurant and offered her lodging at Mrs. O’Brien’s boarding house. Joe and Candy brought Laura’s dilemma to Ben who agreed to help Laura and got her a job working at Mrs. Burton’s store as a clerk.
It was then that Candy started falling in love with Laura and they began their courtship. Laura’s happiness with Candy was short-lived however when a U.S. Marshal named Frank Passmore—posing as her cousin, began blackmailing Laura for killing a man in Trail City. The killing was in self-defense, but Passmore had robbed the dead man and used that against Laura to keep on blackmailing her.
When Passmore wanted her to marry Little Joe, Laura— in love with Candy, finally told Candy the truth. He urged her to go back to Trail City and stand trial. Laura was reluctant, fearing for Candy’s life, but she ultimately agreed. Candy told her to stay inside the boarding house while he went to look for the Cartwrights and inform them of what Laura told him.
However, Passmore saw Candy leave the boarding house and he confronted Laura. He demanded her to tell him why she left with Little Joe and ended up back with Candy. Laura admitted that she confessed everything to Candy and he was going to tell the Cartwrights so she could go back to Trail City and stand trial.
Passmore taunted her—reminding her that she was still wanted for robbery and murder and that no one would believe her story before he shoved her to the floor, causing her to knock over a checker set containing a hidden gun inside, in the process. She grabbed hold of the gun and slowly lifted it towards Passmore—daring him to come closer.
Meanwhile, Candy crossed the street over to Mrs. O’Brien’s having just talked to the Cartwrights about Laura. Ben instructed Candy to wait with Laura while he, Joe, and Hoss went to get Sheriff Coffee. Candy reached the entrance to the boarding house when he heard a gunshot. He paused with his gaze fixed on the doorknob—his eyes widening. “Laura,” he whispered.
He opened the door and drew his gun from its holster before he crept towards the living area. He quickly turned the corner when he spotted Passmore withering on the floor clutching at his arm—blood seeping through his hand. Candy’s eyebrows creased, then he lifted his gaze and saw Laura with a gun in her hand pointed towards the floor, trembling.
Candy lowered his gun and moved around Passmore and over to Laura. Laura shakily held the gun in her hand when Candy came up to her. “Laura?” Laura stood there motionless—her gaze held on the floor. “Laura…give me the gun,” Candy instructed, his voice soft, yet firm. He reached over and placed his hand over hers, gently lowering the gun before he loosened her grip around it and took it from her hands.
Laura’s whole body trembled when her eyes met Candy’s. Her breath shuddered and she collapsed into his arms. Candy wrapped his arms around her and held her close as she sobbed into them. He stroked her head and murmured, “Oh, Laura.”
Ben, Joe, and Hoss arrived with Roy. They rushed into the room and saw Candy holding Laura in his arms before they each lowered their gazes towards Passmore on the floor.
Candy looked over at the Cartwrights and searched their faces. He could tell that they drew up the same conclusion as him of what happened, but they just needed to convince Roy and it would take a confession out of Passmore to do it.
~*~
After Roy brought Passmore to jail, he sent for a doctor to tend to Passmore’s bullet wound and then allowed Laura to give her testimony. Laura told her side of the story of what happened in Trail City, including Passmore blackmailing her into marrying Little Joe and robbing the man she had killed in self-defense.
Roy tried to get Passmore to corroborate Laura’s story, but he was adamant in pinning the robbery and murder on Laura infuriating Candy to the point that Hoss and Joe had to hold him back from lunging at Passmore.
Roy stressed to Laura that she would need to go back to Trail City and stand trial and leave it to a jury to decide. Laura was still reluctant to go for fear of the jury finding in favor of Passmore’s testimony being a U.S. Marshal. She feared that as long as Passmore was free, she’d never be rid of him.
Candy, along with Ben, Hoss, and Joe reassured her that they would stand by her and back up her testimony all of the way. Laura felt relieved that the man she loved would be by her side through it all and it gave her hope.
***
The ride to Trail City was a long and arduous one. Roy had Clem transport Passmore to Trail City while Laura took the stagecoach with Candy. Ben, Joe, and Hoss would meet them there on their horses.
The trial took place a few days after they arrived. Laura, filled with a bundle of nerves, waited outside of the courtroom for the trial to begin when Candy came up to her.
Laura’s eyes met his and she expressed her fears to him. “What if they don’t believe me?”
“Laura, you’re innocent,” Candy declared. “The jury will see that once you tell them everything that happened.”
“But that marshal…he’s a powerful man in this town. Heaven knows what kind of influence he has here.”
Candy gently placed his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t want you to worry about that. Everything is gonna work out,” he assured her. Laura searched his eyes and believed him, but she still had her doubts. Candy could still see the worry on her face and took hold of her hand. “Hey. When all of this is over, I’m gonna take you out to dinner at the finest restaurant in town.” Laura flashed a faint smile when Candy added, hesitantly, “And then…I want us to get married.” Laura’s smile faded and her breath caught in her throat. “I love you, Laura,” Candy continued. “You told me not to give up on my dream no matter what happens between us. Well, that dream doesn’t mean a thing to me without you in it. I want a home for us, Laura—I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”
Laura stared into his eyes before a wide smile appeared. “Yes. I will marry you, Candy.”
Candy flashed the biggest smile before he took her face and kissed her.
The trial began a short time later. Laura gave her testimony to the judge while Passmore gave his. Candy tried all he could to keep his temper under control for Laura’s sake at hearing the lies spewing out of Passmore’s mouth.
Meanwhile, Ben, Hoss, and Joe had been searching through Trail City, trying to find witnesses to not only the scene of the crime that took place at the hotel Laura worked as a chambermaid, but any evidence they could find to nail Passmore.
Unfortunately, they weren’t very successful in their search before the trial, however, it was not needed. It turned out Passmore had a history of extortion and robbery from a few reliable sources. The information was enough to find in favor of Laura’s testimony and clear her of all charges.
Laura felt a great relief off her shoulders and she leapt into the arms of the man she loved. They kissed before Laura pulled back and stared into Candy’s eyes.
“Is it true about the cabin? And the dogwood? Am I really going to see it?”
Candy brushed his hands through her hair. “Yes. You’re gonna see it—all of it.”
Laura gave him the widest smile and Candy kissed her.
~*~
A little while later after they all returned to Virginia City, Candy announced to the Cartwrights of his engagement to Laura. They expressed their excitement and happiness for them and each gave their congratulations.
Ben offered to have the wedding ceremony at the Ponderosa as well as a piece of his land for Candy and Laura to build the cabin on. Candy was touched by the offer and graciously accepted. The only thing left that proved a challenge for Candy was picking a best man.
Hoss and Joe stood up straight in front of Candy with a confident smile painted on their faces. Hoss stated in a cocky tone, “Well, I think it’s obvious who the best choice for that job is, right Joseph?”
“Right you are, Big Brother,” Joe clarified with a wide smile.
“Me,” Hoss declared.
Joe creased his eyebrows at his older brother before he lifted them. “You?” Joe gave a little boyish giggle. “Oh, you gotta be spoofin’ me, you?”
Hoss’s eyebrows furrowed at Younger Brother. “You’ve got somebody else in mind?”
“Sure I do, me,” Joe answered.
Hoss gave a heart chuckle. “Oh, come on, Joseph, you must be funnin’ if you think he’s gonna pick you over me.”
The notion angered Joe. “Well, you’re out of your mind if you think he’s gonna pick you over me.”
Hoss and Joe bickered relentlessly before Candy broke it up. “Fellas, fellas, hey.” Joe and Hoss stopped their bickering and directed their attention towards Candy. “You’re not making this easy for me.”
Joe and Hoss’s postures shifted uncomfortably with guilt fully displayed over their faces. “You’re right,” Hoss acknowledged.
“Yeah, we’re sorry,” Joe expressed before he patted Candy’s shoulder. “Hey, you pick whoever you want as your best man, we’re happy for you either way.”
“That’s right,” Hoss agreed in a serious tone.
Candy took a breath and lifted his gaze towards his two best friends, dreading his vote until his face lit up with a solution. “Why not both?”
Hoss and Joe started chuckling until it registered to them what Candy said. They both tilted their heads with scrunched eyebrows at him.
…”Huh?”
…”What?”
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before,” Candy questioned with a smile. “It was staring me right in the face this whole time. You can both be my best man.”
“Y-yeah, but there can only be one.” Joe shot his index finger up. “It’s not best men, it’s best man.”
“Yeah, you don’t wanna break tradition or nothing like that, do ya?” Hoss inquired.
Candy pressed his lips together with a nod of his head before a small smile appeared. “Fellas. Since when do you know me to play by the rules?” Hoss and Joe both gave a hesitant shrug when Candy informed them, “Now, this is my wedding—well, Laura’s and mine, but it is my decision who my best man will be and I want my two best friends standing up there with me. What do you say?”
Hoss and Joe both showed their uneasiness with the idea until finally, Hoss spoke. “Ah, what the heck.”
Joe agreed as well and flashed a smile before patting Candy on the shoulder while Candy expressed his thanks.
~*~
Once a wedding date was in place, work began on Candy and Laura’s cabin. Ben offered for Candy and Laura to stay in the married couple’s cabin behind the bunkhouse if they wanted to be married sooner, but they both decided to wait until their cabin was completed.
Before long, the big day finally arrived and the cabin was complete. It was a glorious wedding reception at the Ponderosa. Candy and Laura recited their vows to each other before they said I do and were declared husband and wife.
The cabin was built near the lake where Candy had taken Laura when he first told her of his dream for them; a dream neither had ever thought possible.
One afternoon, Candy found Laura over by the lake. He wandered over to the oak tree near her and leaned against it with his arms crossed, staring at her. The sun shone brightly over Laura giving her an almost heavenly glow, adding to the already present glow she showed from the growing child in her womb. Candy was over the moon when Laura told him he was going to be a father.
Candy watched Laura with a loving gaze when he turned his attention over to the woody shrub growing from the ground near him where the dogwood was starting to bloom. It was Springtime. He smiled as he recalled Laura’s words to him about his dream. “Don’t ever stop dreaming…because it’ll come true.”
He lifted his gaze towards Laura—his heart full and content. Grateful he held onto that dream.
The End
