{"id":12672,"date":"2007-05-13T21:06:27","date_gmt":"2007-05-14T01:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12672"},"modified":"2026-07-22T13:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:58:09","slug":"a-moment-lost-by-calim11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12672","title":{"rendered":"A Moment Lost (by Calim11)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/strong>What Happened Next for the episode \u201cVengeance\u201d<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (4,250 words)<\/p>\n

Author\u2019s Note:\u00a0 The idea for this story was based on a review I received by Marianne on my previous story \u2018A Moment (WHN Vengeance). Thanks!<\/em><\/p>\n

A Moment Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Moment<\/a>
\nA Moment Lost<\/a>
\nA Moment Later<\/a>
\nA Moment Feared<\/a>
\nA Moment Given<\/a>
\nA Moment Revisited<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0A Moment Lost<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright!\u201d Mary yelled from below. \u201cMr. Cartwright!\u201d she repeated quickly kneeling next to Adam\u2019s still form as he lay sprawled facedown on the floor of the great room. Joe promptly turned at her call and stopped on the landing.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t stop, Joe,\u201d Ben warned. \u201cHoss has to get back to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Joe called holding fast to his bigger brother until Ben finally turned an annoyed glance toward his youngest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d came the flinty question. Joe inclined his head and Ben\u2019s brow furrowed in question.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam,\u201d was all Joe said,<\/p>\n

Ben finally followed his look and immediately sucked in a breath at the sight below. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d he asked, instantly letting go of Hoss\u2019 arm to start back down the stairs two at a time, quickly kneeling next to his fallen son and planting a hand firmly on his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cRed shot him,\u201d Joe informed him as Hoss grasped the railing for support.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?!\u201d Ben\u2019s mind obviously wasn\u2019t functioning for he couldn\u2019t comprehend what his youngest was telling him. Adam had been standing at the barn. He\u2019d seen him.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cRed shot him, Pa,\u201d Joe repeated, \u201cbefore I could get to him. For a moment I thought he was dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben shot a look back to his youngest then tenderly took hold of Adam\u2019s shoulder and gently turned him onto his back, wincing at the blood oozing down his boy\u2019s face and neck and onto his shirt. \u201cI didn\u2019t know he was . . .\u201d He stopped himself, unable to announce to the world that he\u2019d not even noticed his son was hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t see him fall,\u201d Mary admitted, maneuvering Adam\u2019s head into her lap and using her kerchief to stem the flow of blood. \u201cI just heard a thud and he was on the floor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t hear her as he leaned in close. \u201cAdam? Son, can you hear me?\u201d he called, seeing Adam\u2019s mouth open as his son took in a breath followed by a glazed look through half-opened eyes. Ben gave him a reassuring smile and lightly placed a hand against his cheek. Slowly a corner of Adam\u2019s mouth barely turned up just before his eyes slipped shut again, his head resting against his father\u2019s comforting hand that trembled with shame. \u201cHow could I not notice?\u201d he whispered as the smile left his face, each word laced with sorrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, don\u2019t . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t what, Joseph?\u201d Ben answered, looking up at the two still standing on the landing. \u201cI looked right at him and didn\u2019t see. How could I not see that my own son had been shot?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was me, Pa,\u201d Hoss gave him, \u201cme and Joe you was worried about the most. Adam . . . well, Adam\u2019s always taken care o\u2019 things. No reason not ta think this wouldn\u2019t be the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he did take care of things,\u201d Joe added. \u201cHe stopped me from killing Red.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe so,\u201d Ben answered holding tightly to Adam\u2019s arm as if he would disappear. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t change this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI looked right at \u2018im, too, Pa,\u201d Hoss sadly admitted. \u201cI saw my big brother with a smile on his face and worry in his eyes for us both. I saw nothin\u2019 else.\u201d He bowed his head and suddenly clutched Joe\u2019s arm a bit harder. \u201cShortshanks . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s head snapped about at the tone, seeing sweat pop out on Hoss\u2019 forehead, and held on tighter himself. \u201cI gotcha,\u201d he answered helping his brother the rest of the way up the stairs and toward his room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should send someone for the doctor,\u201d Mary stated looking at Ben\u2019s anguished face. \u201cMr. Cartwright, Adam needs a doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pulling his eyes from his son\u2019s face, Ben looked at her, his world finally coming back into focus. \u201cWhere\u2019s my head?\u201d he admonished himself leaping to his feet. \u201cKeep watch. I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rushing out the door, he raced for Buck. If he could catch the deputy . . .<\/p>\n

**********<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, he\u2019s got a concussion,\u201d Paul Martin began as he began unrolling his sleeves, \u201cand a nice new part to his hair.\u201d He smiled then, always happy to impart a bit of humor when the news he delivered wasn\u2019t life-threatening, and turned to Ben and Joe, realizing his quip hadn\u2019t actually reached them. He exchanged glances with Hop Sing, who merely shrugged.<\/p>\n

The good doctor\u2019s evening had started out nice enough as he\u2019d sat down to his first quiet meal of the week. Slapping open the Territorial Enterprise and lifting the first spoonful of soup to his mouth, he heard the frantic rapping at his front door begin . . . and the soup was forgotten. Something had happened at the Ponderosa and he was needed. As he eased old Barney out of his stall and quickly buckled on the harness, he wondered about these friends of his and how they always seemed to be getting themselves into some kind of trouble, whether they looked for it or not. Ah, well, he had to check on Hoss anyway.<\/p>\n

And now it was a couple of hours later and the Cartwright boys were not in any danger . . . at least not at this hour. Snapping his bag shut, the doctor pulled his coat from the bedpost and slipped into it, looking at both Ben and Joe and knowing they were barely aware he was in the room. Something else was going on. He\u2019d just ask Hoss.<\/p>\n

Paul turned to Hop Sing. \u201cThe wound is deep,\u201d he continued, \u201cbut not as serious as I originally thought. Just make sure you change the bandages twice a day for the first couple of days and make sure he drinks plenty of water and gets enough to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe eat and drink,\u201d Hop Sing agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood man,\u201d Paul answered with a grin as he caught Joe finally looking at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid he wake up at all?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor about two groggy minutes, enough time for me to guarantee that his brains weren\u2019t too scrambled. I\u2019m sure he won\u2019t even remember I was here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019ll be all right?\u201d finally came from Ben, his hand resting on Adam\u2019s foot as he watched him sleep.<\/p>\n

Paul nodded. \u201cYes, Ben. He\u2019s got that hard Cartwright head. Something like a bullet won\u2019t keep him down for long, which means you other Cartwright\u2019s will have to make sure he stays in bed. A couple of day\u2019s rest should reduce any double vision he may have; after three days, he should be able to walk a straight line with some help.\u201d He shifted his attention back to Hop Sing. \u201cI\u2019ve left some headache and sleeping powders. He\u2019ll probably want one or both when he wakes up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, Doctor Paul,\u201d the cook answered as Paul turned back to Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s nothing else you need to tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Ben said absently.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there something else?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben finally looked at Paul as if just noticing he was in the room. \u201cAh, no, no nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben just shook his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d Picking up his bag, the doctor headed toward the door. \u201cI\u2019m going to check on Hoss, Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI right behind you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should go with them, Joe,\u201d Ben said as he moved to sit in the big overstuffed chair near the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, I\u00a0 . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on,\u201d Ben insisted. \u201cI\u2019ll sit with your brother awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hesitating, Joe\u2019s eyes moved from father to brother, wishing Adam was awake. He needed to speak with him, needed to thank him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Joe finally answered and headed for the door, looking back a final time before quietly exiting.<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t even hear him go, too busy listening to his own inner voice placing blame as he stared at his injured son.<\/p>\n

When he\u2019d left Adam on the floor, Ben had ridden like the devil was after him, catching up to the deputy only ten minutes later, returning to find Adam draped in the Indian blanket, Joe and Mary wrapping a makeshift bandage about his wound.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d felt so helpless . . . he always felt helpless when one of his son\u2019s was hurt, always began questioning the wisdom of settling in this wild country. \u2018Stop it, Pa\u2019 came to him in the tone of a miffed older son and he rubbed his neck. Just hearing Adam\u2019s voice in his head reminded him of his tunnel vision and he pounded his leg with the flat of his hand.<\/p>\n

How could I only see Joe and Hoss? How could I not notice blood streaming down your face?\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Leaning toward the bed, Ben picked up Adam\u2019s hand and ran his fingers along the back of it, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on that face that looked so pale and vulnerable, trying to ignore the bright white bandage that encircled his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to be fine, son,\u201d he began with a weak smile planted on his face like some party mask, its intention of relief and comfort not reaching his own heart let alone his sad eyes. \u201cProbably have a whopping headache when you wake up but you\u2019ll be fine after a few days. Um, Joe told me what happened . . . in the barn. I was so worried he was going to . . .\u201d\u00a0 Shaking his head, Ben replaced Adam\u2019s hand on the bed, patted it then straightened out the bedcovers around it, returning nervous hands to his lap to fidget with his pants.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss is fine,\u201d he continued, \u201cand Joe, well, he\u2019ll be fine, too. You should\u2019ve seen us trying to get you up the stairs though. I think you might have some bruises in some odd places.\u201d The words were hollow and Ben sat up straighter and cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

Why was this is so difficult? It wasn\u2019t like those hazel eyes were drilling into him, pinning him down with their intensity. Adam was asleep, lost in slumber and away from a father who ignored him . . .<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s hand quickly moved to his brow as he tried to rub away his thoughtlessness. He hadn\u2019t seen anything but Hoss, then Joe, and was so relieved that Red was still alive. Adam was standing and speaking . . . and then he was on the floor. Cursing, he sprung out of the chair and moved toward the window, turning angry eyes to the darkening heavens above as he plunged hands into his front pockets.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, this dreadful day was drawing to a close, the setting sun sending streaks of gold racing across the sky as it ran from the darkness that would soon envelope it. Such beauty splashed before him should have brought peace and would have if not for an unconscious son behind him. Rubbing his face, Ben had to remember it was a good thing Adam slept soundly in his own bed and not at the undertaker\u2019s — that all his boys were in their own beds — and he knew tomorrow would be a better day because of that very fact. Of course it would depend on whether or not he could face this son with anything other than regret.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Adam,\u201d Ben finally uttered, burying his face in trembling hands, then stomped his foot and wiped away the tears burning his eyes. \u201cThis is ridiculous,\u201d he muttered, taking a deep breath and turning to face his boy, moving to sit on the side of the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was so consumed with fear,\u201d he began as he ran a hand over Adam\u2019s stubbled cheek, \u201cthat Joe was going to do something he\u2019d regret that when I saw the deputy dragging Red out of the barn, my relief . . . well . . . that\u2019s all I saw. I barely registered you standing there, barely heard your voice. God help me, I don\u2019t even remember what you said.\u201d He rubbed his face again. \u201cIt\u2019s all such a blur. What could\u2019ve possessed me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Whoever said confession was good for the soul didn\u2019t know what the hell they were talking about!\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThen you were on the floor,\u201d he continued, looking back toward the window, chewing on his lower lip. \u201cI didn\u2019t even hear Mary call out. What\u2019s the matter with me? How could I not have seen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Adam\u2019s always taken care of things,\u201d Paul answered for him as he walked back into the room to lean against the bedpost. Ben looked toward his friend who held his gaze with a tender smile. Hoss was a good talker. \u201cAnd Joe has always been the one to fly off half-cocked. You don\u2019t have to watch Adam like you do Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut there was blood, Paul,\u201d Ben stated. \u201cAs I think back, I must\u2019ve seen it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou saw it but it didn\u2019t register.\u201d Paul could see the anguish on his friend\u2019s face, knowing now where it was coming from. \u201cBen, you\u2019ve had a hellish week. Your mind\u2019s been with Hoss then Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd never with Adam,\u201d Ben sighed. \u201cNever with Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul sighed too. He\u2019d tried and knew nothing he said would make a difference. Only Adam could make a difference. \u201cBen, just be grateful that all your boys were here and looked after each other. That\u2019s all that really matters.\u201d He patted his shoulder. \u201cTry and get some sleep. I\u2019ll be back in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

A somber Ben moved off the bed and returned to the chair, plopping heavily into it. Propping his head on his hand, he thought on what Paul had said.<\/p>\n

The boys had<\/u><\/em> been here for each other as they always were, and because of it, Hoss and Adam hadn\u2019t been killed and Joe hadn\u2019t fulfilled his promise to his brother. They\u2019d succeeded. And yet, only fault and uncertainty filled him. Once again, he\u2019d taken Adam for granted, dismissed him like he didn\u2019t exist and now he\u2019d been shot and was in bed. Ben laid back his head and groaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of a father am I?\u201d<\/p>\n

*********<\/p>\n

There it was again. Adam was sure he\u2019d seen it this time \u2013 a familiar shadow moving hurriedly past his door. At least he thought it was a shadow. For all he knew, it could just be a figment of his imagination, an imagination that was doing double duty these last couple of days as in everything came at him in two\u2019s. He only remembered one Joe the day before but then he wasn\u2019t really all there at the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n

There . . . a sigh. Unless his hearing had also been affected along with his vision, that sounded real enough and he decided to throw caution to the wind. If no one was really there, no one would know he was talking to a figment.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, is that you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The shadow moved then, he was sure of it this time, coalescing into the familiar figure of his father coming towards him.<\/p>\n

Aha! I was right!<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam sat up a bit straighter, grabbing the bedcovers for just a moment to steady himself, then draped a faint grin across his mouth, hoping it would clear away any vestiges of the hammers pounding away in his head. As Ben approached, he tried to catch his eyes. The task proved difficult at best.<\/p>\n

You\u2019d think with two of him standing, there one of them would look at me.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, son?\u201d came the weary question, interrupting Adam\u2019s meandering thoughts. There was that sigh again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t seen you in almost two days, Pa . . . at least I think it\u2019s been two days. Do I smell or something?\u201d Adam joked, hoping to put something on that haggard face besides a frown. It didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not,\u201d came the strained answer.<\/p>\n

Adam squinted then, trying to focus on one of those faces before him, catching something familiar and pursed his lips. \u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d came the rapid answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing, huh? Pa, you\u2019re standing in this room but you\u2019re not actually here. Tell me what\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben fiddled with the bedpost then walked to the window gazing out into the night as he\u2019d done two nights before. Thousands of stars graced the dark sky, shining down upon the earth like diamonds as crickets made it known this wouldn\u2019t be a silent night. And it did nothing to sooth him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not Hoss is it?\u201d came Adam\u2019s worried question.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, he\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe? He seemed okay yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

How do I admit that he was forgotten, dismissed, tossed away, while feelings for someone else interfered?\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Adam patiently waited. Of course, that was about all he could do since the powders Paul left behind seemed to slow everything down. It suddenly reminded him of those moments when he\u2019d faced Red\u2019s gun and shrugged it off. He had to concentrate as best he could since something was up and he just needed to know. He dragged his lethargic attention back to Ben as his father cleared his throat.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to . . . apologize, son,\u201d Ben finally managed, fingers playing with the curtain.<\/p>\n

Ah oh, he\u2019s got me at a disadvantage here. Well, sound halfway intelligent.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor what?\u201d Adam asked, hoping his tone didn\u2019t indicate that he was totally befuddled, trying desperately to remember what Ben had done. It wore him out.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor what,\u201d Ben repeated with a slight laugh.<\/p>\n

Okay, now Adam was completely confused and not just from his concussion. Not only was he uncertain which father to look at, but the little hammers in his head were beginning to pound way too loud for his liking, not to mention how the room would shift into a nauseating swoop and whirl every so often, making his stomach lurch up toward his throat. So with eyes tightly shut, he leaned back against his headboard, one hand at his temple and the other clutched across his stomach, and was pretty sure of one thing – he didn\u2019t need any more confusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Adam began in a strained voice, \u201cif you plan on standing here all night and making any less sense than you already do, would you at least mix up some of Paul\u2019s medicine in that water for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Ben asked turning to see his boy in obvious discomfort and quickly reached for a packet of powder and a waiting water glass. \u201cOf course, son. Here,\u201d he said, handing it to Adam. The strong grip that caught his hand forced him to look up.<\/p>\n

\u201cTalk to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

There<\/u><\/em> were those hazel eyes and they burned into Ben, catching him like a fish on a hook. There was no way out of it now. As Ben dropped into the chair, Adam released him, watching his father brush back his silver hair and let go with another heavy sigh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t see . . .\u201d\u00a0 Ben faltered, making Adam furrow his brow which then caused him to grimace at the pain that caused and close his eyes again. He felt a hand on his leg and nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo on,\u201d Adam urged, rubbing his forehead as he drank half the glass.<\/p>\n

\u201cI, ah, I didn\u2019t see that you were hurt . . . in the barn. All I . . . all I saw was . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam opened his eyes when Ben didn\u2019t continue, a half smile decorating his face. \u201cAll you saw was Joe,\u201d he supplied, downing the rest of the concoction. Ben nodded. \u201cAnd you feel guilty about it don\u2019t you?\u201d Ben nodded again. \u201cAnd why am I not surprised?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was then Ben fully expected to see much deserved disappointment on display. Instead all he saw was compassion and understanding followed by a low chuckle. A chuckle!<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam,\u201d Ben began sitting ramrod straight in the chair, confusion on his face. \u201cI didn\u2019t see you. I saw only Hoss then Joe. It was like you weren\u2019t even there. How can you laugh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I know you, Pa,\u201d Adam said through a smile. \u201cYou didn\u2019t do it on purpose. I<\/u><\/em> didn\u2019t even notice I was bleeding \u2018til just before I decided to check out the floor up close. Then I was just happy it was over and I knew you\u2019d take care of things and I was off the hook. It\u2019s not easy wrestling with my little brother\u2019s emotions and I was worn out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I should\u2019ve seen it,\u201d Ben continued not willing to be released from his guilt so easily. \u201cI\u2019m a father, damnit! I\u2019m supposed to see these things!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam reached out, Ben taking his searching hand in his own. \u201cPa, think of what you\u2019ve gone through this week. Hoss was shot in the back and nearly died, then Joe at his hot-headed best was bound and determined to kill Red, and you were being pulled from front to back. I saw the relief on your face when Red was dragged from the barn; I knew what you were thinking \u2013 thank God Joe didn\u2019t kill him. I was thinking that, too. There\u2019s nothing wrong with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it was you, Adam. Joe told me it was you who stopped him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam just shrugged. \u201cI reminded Joe of a few things is all. He<\/u><\/em> did the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben knew what Adam had done, knew how thankful Joe was that he\u2019d been there, how\u2019d he\u2019d saved Joe from making the biggest mistake of his life, and he didn\u2019t want any credit. How typical.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll that matters now is that those moments are behind us and we can move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s just it,\u201d Ben tried to explain. \u201cOf those moments, I\u2019ve lost a most precious one \u2013 you, and for that I\u2019m sorry. Of all the things I could do to you, ignoring you shouldn\u2019t be one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTruth be told, I\u2019m not fond of being ignored either,\u201d Adam said with a smirk, thinking he saw a bit of one – or two – appear on his father\u2019s face. \u201cThink of it as a momentary lapse. Caught up in the moment, you lost track of things but then quickly picked up the pieces. I\u2019m just happy to take a few days off and let my younger brother do all the work for a change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI heard that,\u201d floated in as Joe walked past, an empty tray in hand, drawing a snicker from Adam followed by a hissing breath as a heavy hammer fell behind his eyes forcing him to ease back down to his pillow. Ben took the empty glass from him before he dropped it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf what you\u2019re looking for,\u201d Adam continued turning a squinty look back to Ben, \u201cis an acceptance of your apology . . . then you are forgiven.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy as that?\u201d Ben finally asked as he eased the covers up to Adam\u2019s shoulders, cracking a bit of a smile that his son returned.<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy as that,\u201d Adam answered, letting loose a breath and closing his eyes. \u201cNow, if you don\u2019t mind, your \u2018lost moment\u2019 would like to get some shuteye before these hammers in my head decide to build something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, son,\u201d Ben answered with a quiet laugh, holding the back of his hand against Adam\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight, Pa,\u201d were his final words as Adam leaned into his father\u2019s hand, Ben leaving it to rest there until his boys\u2019 breaths deepened into sleep. Leaning over, he blew out the lamp, dousing the room in darkness tempered only by the faint aura of light provided by the bright stars shining through the window.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight, son,\u201d Ben whispered, brushing his hand down Adam\u2019s arm and moving to the foot of the bed, taking a moment to think on how lucky he was to have been blessed with such fine sons, and cast a glance heavenward. Without those three women, none of his boys would be here, and, even though he felt he\u2019d stumbled, he\u2019d been forgiven and that lost moment had been regained.<\/p>\n

Ben smiled then, truly smiled, and headed out, leaving Adam\u2019s door ajar, and stopped at the top of the stairs. He fixed his eyes on the wall next to the Grandfather clock to the place where his oldest could have died at the hands of Red Twilight if time or fate hadn\u2019t intervened; outside was the barn where his youngest saved himself and his middle boy . . . well, he\u2019d managed to surprise them all by surviving in body and soul. How very lucky they\u2019d been.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Adam asleep?\u201d came Hop Sing\u2019s voice from below drawing Ben\u2019s wayward attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. He\u2019s down for the night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. He saw only two of me today. He getting better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing! I can\u2019t find the cookies!\u201d Joe called from the kitchen as their cook rolled his eyes. \u201cHoss wants some before bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Hoss get no more cookies. Warm milk only,\u201d came his exasperated cry.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou<\/u><\/em> tell him then. I\u2019m not going back up there without at least one cookie.\u201d<\/p>\n

A flurry of Cantonese flew through the room as Hop Sing darted back toward the kitchen and Ben shook his head.<\/p>\n

A moment he thought lost had been regained by a simple acceptance of an apology. He\u2019d dwell on the thoughts he still harbored no longer than it took him to walk down the stairs, sit in his chair and light his pipe. True, they would always linger in the background but Adam wouldn\u2019t want him to worry about it. Joe and Hoss would tell him the same thing. They\u2019d tell him to think on what he still had.<\/p>\n

And, yes, he had many things in this life. A beautiful home on beautiful land, respect and friends, and he had the thing that bound him to this earth \u2013 three miraculous sons who carried the Cartwright name with honor and trust.<\/p>\n

Yes, he was truly blessed.<\/p>\n

*****End*****<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Next Story in the A Moment Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Moment Later<\/a>
\nA Moment Feared<\/a>
\nA Moment Given<\/a>
\nA Moment Revisited<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 What Happened Next for the episode \u201cVengeance\u201d<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (4,250 words)<\/p>\n

A Moment Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":125,"featured_media":375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1008,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","category-whn","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-13-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/125"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12672\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}