Ponderosa – Present
Ben couldn’t help but tense as Adam motioned for them all to take a seat. Whatever his son had to tell them, it was big, and Ben sensed, in a way, that meant change. He’d felt it coming for a while now. His oldest boy, strong almost to the point of being rigid at times, intelligent and with a gift for perception, just, but always tempered with compassion, was also restless. Ben blamed himself for that. Every man’s dream came at a cost, and he feared that his would eventually be that of losing his first born. From the time Adam had been a small baby, they had travelled constantly. Ben, not always able to allow him to release his pent up energy, had focused instead on keeping the young boy’s mind busy; always pointing things out, asking him questions, reading to him. Was it any wonder that now, as a man, he still thirsted for knowledge and held a desire to see new places? Through the years Ben had, as much as possible, allowed Adam to travel. Most of their ranch’s outside business was handled by his oldest son, but even that didn’t seem to be enough lately. Though physically Adam’s wanderings had come to an end when Ben settled in the Sierra Nevadas, the boy’s soul had continued to move on, and Ben had always known that someday, Adam’s body was going to have to catch up with it.
He watched as Adam unfolded the letter in his hand then, briefly, their eyes met. Ben couldn’t decide what he’d seen in that look; excitement, desperation? He listened as Adam read, and then he understood, it was hope that had flashed in his son’s eyes a moment ago, but Ben’s were dashed by one word – Sissy. “Of all the people and places in the world,” Ben thought, “why does it have to be Sissy?”
Bahj,
This is simply exquisite. It is heartwarming, poignant, and
full of hope and promise. If you decide to write a sequel, I would love to read it even though my favorite character is LJ.
This was a great story. So intense. LotG of pain and grief and a nice ending. I was Glad Sissy and Meg got back together in the end. Good always conquers over evil in the end. Thanks
This story touched my heart, and you wove it seamlessly into the tapestry that is the Cartwright family. A beautiful story of love and redemption, disappointed hopes and hearts torn and broken, only to be mended again by unbreakable love and devotion.
Beautiful.
What a wonderful, multi-layered absolutely gorgeous story. It moved me to tears more than once. Thank you for this. 🙂
Bahj, I read this magnificent story last night and was moved to tears at least a couple of times. The art of accurately portraying our favorite character, Adam Cartwright, is tricky to say the least but you have passed the test with your colors flying!!! I particularly enjoyed the fact that when he found out about Sissy’s past that he showed his great love by marrying her on the spot, without hesitation. I could feel the sweet love emanating from them both throughout the story and also I loved the fact that Meg had filled Tag’s ears with the truth about his long lost parents. That part was so pleasant to read when he met them for the first time! Tag behaved as I feel Adam would have at 15, calm and easy going without that exploding anger that Little Joe always seemed to have festering toward Adam when Little Joe is that age.
Suffice as to say, I desperately want a sequel(s)!! I’ll be checking on your author category for new stories you post, thank you so much for your talent!!!!!
This was a different story in it’s order of things, but it was very good, and I loved the ending when Adam finally found Sissy and everything turned out alright for the cousins and those two, It was wonderful that Meg’s cousin took the baby, THANK YOU
This is such a beautiful story of fear and faith. I would love to have a peek at their lives a year down the road… just sayin’. Thank you, bahj.
Bahj, absolutely beautiful, heart wrenching, faith restoring…
I’d love to read of a continuation.