{"id":14991,"date":"2000-09-14T13:56:31","date_gmt":"2000-09-14T17:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14991"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:04:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:04:42","slug":"second-chances-by-starlite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14991","title":{"rendered":"Second Chances (by Starlite)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong>\u00a0Ben brings Marie to the Ponderosa, and causes a rift between him and his young son. Will Adam ever forgive him?<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/strong>\u00a0 G\u00a0 (12,150 words)<\/p>\n

Second Chances<\/strong><\/p>\n

“There it is!”\u00a0 Ben Cartwright beamed with love and pride, waving an arm in a sweeping motion towards the vast land before them.<\/p>\n

Marie Cartwright looked toward the sprawling landscape that her husband indicated with awe.\u00a0 Glancing over to the man who sat beside her in the buggy, she realized that she definitely had competition for her new husband’s affection.\u00a0 Smiling at the boy-like quality of Ben’s actions, she took his arm with both her hands and leaned her head against his shoulder.<\/p>\n

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.<\/p>\n

Marie was even more impressed when they drove into the yard of the great ranch house.\u00a0 She was expecting nothing more than a large cabin.\u00a0 But what she saw was so much more, the two-story ranch home was impressive, as were the surrounding structures.<\/p>\n

“We’re home!”\u00a0 Stopping the buggy, Ben called out to the house.\u00a0 Jumping down he circled the surrey and easily lifted Marie to the ground in a smooth swinging motion.<\/p>\n

Once on the ground, Marie straightened and smoothed her skirts and raised a hand to her head to fix her hair.\u00a0 Lifting her eyes, she saw two young boys and a woman approaching.<\/p>\n

The smaller of the two boys took off at a run for her husband.\u00a0 He was chubby and exuberant, the other followed at a more reserved almost hesitant pace.<\/p>\n

“Pa!”\u00a0 Hoss shouted as he excitedly jumped into his father’s open arms.<\/p>\n

Ben caught his youngest son in mid-leap and hugged him tightly to his chest.\u00a0 He kissed the boy’s pudgy cheek before placing him back carefully to the ground.<\/p>\n

“Boy son, you’ve grown since I’ve been gone.”\u00a0 Ben stated as he rested a loving hand upon the young boy’s head.<\/p>\n

“Yep, Pa.\u00a0 Sure have.”\u00a0 Hoss replied with pride and puffed out his chest.<\/p>\n

“Adam, son.\u00a0 You’ve grown as well.”\u00a0 Ben declared as he held out a hand to his oldest.<\/p>\n

Adam walked up to his father always keeping one eye on the woman who stood behind him.\u00a0 He reached out and shook his father’s hand, then felt his father pull him into a small warm embrace.<\/p>\n

Placing an arm around each son’s shoulders, Ben turned to Marie.<\/p>\n

“Boys, this is your new mother.”\u00a0 Ben announced happily, then gave his wife a small wink.<\/p>\n

Hoss studied Adam’s reaction wanting to see what his older brother would do.\u00a0 He watched as Adam just stared intensely at the woman before them.<\/p>\n

Adam studied the young woman that stood by the buggy.\u00a0 She was not what he had envisioned at all.\u00a0 Though his father had wired that he’d gotten married, Adam really couldn’t believe it.\u00a0 Now that she was here, she wasn’t what he’d expected.\u00a0 She was young and very pretty, and he was anticipating someone about his father’s age and more plain, like Hoss’s mother.\u00a0 He didn’t quite know what to do next, so he just stood there, dumbfounded, staring at his new ‘Ma’.<\/p>\n

“Go and say Hello, boys.”\u00a0 Ben instructed giving both sons a slight shove.\u00a0 He was beginning to lose his patience over Adam’s lack of manners in greeting his wife.<\/p>\n

Adam gave his father a slight upward glance from the corner of his eye, before stepping forward and extending his hand.<\/p>\n

“Please to meet you, ma’am.\u00a0 I’m Adam.” Adam offered.\u00a0 He wasn’t certain how to address the woman before him and felt his cheeks blush in embarrassment.<\/p>\n

Marie took the proffered hand and shook it, giving the shy young man a sweet smile.\u00a0 She gazed warmly at the youth who stood before her, his thick hair was a curly dark black, his skin tanned with just a hint of freckles across his nose and cheeks, and his eyes were a dazzling dark hazel that were bright with intelligence.\u00a0 She noted that he must have gone through a growth spurt recently, as his shirtsleeves and pant legs seemed a little too short.\u00a0 Adam was about a foot shorter than her and a little on the thin side and seemed to be all arms and legs.\u00a0 She smiled as she took in the young man, remembering her own firstborn son, who would’ve been about the same age as her new stepson.\u00a0 In her heart, she believed Clay would have looked something like Adam.<\/p>\n

“This is my little brother, Eric.”\u00a0 Adam added, waving a hand behind him to Hoss.<\/p>\n

Hoss bounded forward and Marie bent to accept the open arms of the happy cherub.\u00a0 Ben’s younger son was almost the opposite of his older brother.\u00a0 Hoss had fine blond hair, with very fair skin and sparkling crystal blue eyes.\u00a0 Where Hoss was friendly and accepting, Adam was cool and reserved.<\/p>\n

“I’s Hoss!”\u00a0 Hoss corrected his older brother with a sharp look.\u00a0 He didn’t like the name Eric very much, because it was only used when he was in trouble.<\/p>\n

“Pleased to meet you, Hoss.”\u00a0 Stooping over, Marie hugged the boy warmly.\u00a0 She’d remembered what her husband told her about the little boy’s nickname, it was not ‘Horse’.<\/p>\n

Standing erect once more, she took a small chubby hand in hers, and reached out with her other hand to touch the face of the dark haired boy who still stood before her.\u00a0 She was slightly disappointed when Adam ducked his head away from her touch.<\/p>\n

Ben watched his wife with his sons.\u00a0 He was pleased to find Hoss so warmly accepting of his new mother, but he was not surprised at Adam’s reticence.<\/p>\n

“Adam, please see to the luggage.”\u00a0 Ben ordered sadly.<\/p>\n

Grateful to get away from his father’s watchful eye and the disquieting surroundings, Adam quickly moved to the buggy.\u00a0 Untying the bags, he grabbed two carpetbags and headed for the safety of the house.<\/p>\n

Shaking his head in disappointment over his eldest reactions, Ben turned his attention back to the group before him.<\/p>\n

“Shaughnessy, how did the boys behave while I was away?”<\/p>\n

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

Marie was disappointed when Shaughnessy announced she’d be leaving the following day.\u00a0 In just the short time together, she had grown quite fond of the outspoken woman and felt an ally in dealing with Ben’s sons.\u00a0 Though Marie had no trouble in bonding with the younger boy, Adam was a different story altogether.<\/p>\n

Marie noticed that Adam often stayed to himself.\u00a0 Even in their first evening together as a family, Adam had distanced himself in a far corner of the room with the new book Ben had brought him.\u00a0 He’d even rejected attempts by any member of the family to join the others.<\/p>\n

Stepping out on the porch, Marie watched as Ben and his sons bid goodbye to the family friend.\u00a0 She was surprised when Adam stepped forward and hugged the woman warmly.\u00a0 As the ranch hand drove the buckboard out of the yard, her heart skipped a beat when she saw Adam shoot her an angry glare, before running off to the barn.\u00a0 She knew then, that she had her work cut out for her with her oldest stepson.<\/p>\n

Quietly she turned and headed back into the house, she had some planning to do.\u00a0 She set her mind to finding a way to win over her stepsons.\u00a0 With Hoss, that was an easy thing to do with his warm, gentle and trusting personality, she knew he’d already accepted her.\u00a0 But to seal that relationship, she would need to win over Adam, and he would be a challenge.<\/p>\n

Initially, she felt that Adam distrusted all comers and saw everyone as a potential threat.\u00a0 As time progressed, she saw so much more.\u00a0 What she found was a very frightened and introverted little boy, who was trying very hard to be a man in every respect.\u00a0 Squaring her shoulders, she realized she had a very long haul in front of her.<\/p>\n

Just after lunch, Marie went out and found Adam chopping wood by the side of the house.\u00a0 With plan in mind, she strode over to where her young stepson worked.<\/p>\n

“Adam?”\u00a0 Marie asked sweetly from the porch.<\/p>\n

“Ah, yes ma’am.”\u00a0 Adam answered, caught a little off guard because he hadn’t noticed his father’s wife approach him.<\/p>\n

“Could you come inside and help me for awhile?”\u00a0 Marie inquired with a warm smile.<\/p>\n

Adam looked around at all the wood he had to get chopped that day, he really needed to get that done.\u00a0 But if his father found out that he wouldn’t help Marie, he’d get his backside tanned for sure.\u00a0 Nodding, Adam sat the ax down and followed his stepmother inside.<\/p>\n

Marie sat in one of the big red leather chairs in the large living room and handed a mug of hot chocolate to her young coworker.\u00a0 She smiled in satisfaction at the new arrangement of the furniture in the room, and her successful attempt to move Adam’s favorite blue chair closer to the fireplace.\u00a0 Now when Adam sat curled in his favorite chair, reading the ever-present book, he would be closer to the family.<\/p>\n

Marie was touched when Adam not only graciously took the mug of hot chocolate, but also offered a very warm and loving smile in return.\u00a0 She smiled back, not only pleased with her initial success with Adam, but at how his smile was so heart warming.\u00a0 Not realizing the passage of time, they sat chatting about books and a certain pretty little horse, whom he’d called ‘Lady’.<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright rode up to the ranch house in a dark mood.\u00a0 He’d not had a good day while out surveying the ranch.\u00a0 Up near the winter pasture he’d found a break in the fence, which cost him eleven head of cattle to the nearby swollen creek.\u00a0 Dismounting, he noticed a pile of wood and an ax but no son to be found.\u00a0 Fuming he headed for the house in search of his oldest son.<\/p>\n

Entering the house in his angry mood, he was not pleased to find his son and wife amicably chatting, with his son wasting the workday away.<\/p>\n

“Adam!”\u00a0 Ben thundered, standing near the open front door.<\/p>\n

Adam jumped at the sound of his father’s voice and spilled the hot cocoa down the front of his shirt.\u00a0 His father was angry, very angry.<\/p>\n

“Yes Pa.”\u00a0 Adam replied standing to face his father, he knew his father expected to be answered.<\/p>\n

“Come here.”\u00a0 Ben demanded pointing to a space on the floor.<\/p>\n

Adam gave Marie a quick frightened sideways glance before complying.<\/p>\n

“Ben, just a\u2026” Marie tried to explain the situation, but Ben waved a hand to silence her.<\/p>\n

As Adam reached the spot indicated by his father, Ben reached out and grabbed Adam’s upper arm and swung him around, swatting him resoundly on his lower backside.<\/p>\n

Marie watched in horror as her husband struck his young son.<\/p>\n

“Next time, you’ll finish your chores before playing.”\u00a0 Ben instructed angrily.<\/p>\n

“But Pa, I just\u2026” Adam tried to explain before his father swung again.<\/p>\n

“I will not tolerate any back talk from you young man!\u00a0 Now I suggest you get outside and finish your work.”\u00a0 Ben directed, pointing one finger to the open doorway leading to the yard.<\/p>\n

“Ben, how could you?”\u00a0 Marie yelled in anger, dismayed over her husband’s treatment of the boy.<\/p>\n

Adam fired a bitter and betrayed look back at Marie before turning for the door.\u00a0 Keeping his eyes downcast so his father couldn’t see, he hastily exited the house and made his way to the woodpile.<\/p>\n

Marie charged to her husband with fire in her eyes.<\/p>\n

“How could you?”\u00a0 She again demanded.<\/p>\n

“He’s been disobedient, and needed to be punished.”\u00a0 Ben declared, now angry with Marie for questioning his disciplining of his son.<\/p>\n

“For your information, I asked him to come inside and help me move the furniture.”\u00a0 Marie barked back just as angrily to her husband.<\/p>\n

Ben surveyed the room and for the first time noticed that the furniture had been moved.<\/p>\n

“I’m sorry, I just\u2026” Ben began to apologize before Marie interrupted him.<\/p>\n

“Don’t apologize to me, apologize to Adam.”\u00a0 Marie spat out before turning sharply on one heel, then stormed from the room.<\/p>\n

Adam fought the burning tears he found in his eyes.\u00a0 He willed himself not to allow them to fall.\u00a0 He swung the ax with all the force he could muster.\u00a0 He glanced up briefly, when he heard familiar footsteps on the wooden planks of the porch.\u00a0 Trying to keep his eyes totally focused on the job at hand, Adam felt a small grip of terror begin to overtake him.\u00a0 He was worried that his father was coming to punish him again for not finishing his chores before goofing off.<\/p>\n

“Adam\u2026” Ben stated softly, waiting for his eldest son to stop chopping wood.<\/p>\n

Knowing his father would punish him for being disrespectful; Adam paused in his chopping of wood.\u00a0 Keeping his eyes downcast, he studied the wood grain on the log before him while waiting for his father to continue.<\/p>\n

“Adam, Marie told me about having you help her.”\u00a0 Ben continued softly.\u00a0 He was very ashamed of his earlier actions and for taking his anger out on young Adam.\u00a0 “I’m sorry son.”<\/p>\n

Ben moved to embrace his son, he could see that his very sensitive child was barely able to restrain the tears that were now flooding his eyes.\u00a0 He mentally whipped himself over the harsh unfair treatment he’d meted out to this boy.\u00a0 Adam was always so hard on himself; he never really needed anything more than a scolding word.<\/p>\n

Adam noticed his father’s advance; he wanted nothing to do with the man who’d humiliated him when all he’d tried to do was be helpful.\u00a0 Adam dropped the ax and ran for the relative safety and comfort of the barn.\u00a0 Once inside he quickly climbed the ladder that led to the loft where he could lose himself in the piles of hay.\u00a0 There he finally let the tears fall and swore he’d never do anything that his stepmother asked him to do again.<\/p>\n

Hoss entered the barn about an hour later in search of his big brother.\u00a0 He’d spent the day playing happily with a new litter of pups, and was blissfully unaware of the discord between his father and brother.<\/p>\n

“Hey Adam, Ma told me to fetch ya for supper.”\u00a0 Hoss called up to the loft.\u00a0 He knew that’s where Adam went to get away from the world, including him because he was too young to climb the ladder.<\/p>\n

“I’m not hungry!” Adam yelled down in response.\u00a0 He had no intention of leaving the loft, especially if Marie wished it.<\/p>\n

Shrugging his little shoulders, Hoss turned and made his way back toward the house.\u00a0 Once inside, Hoss relayed the message to his parents.<\/p>\n

“I’ll go and get him.”\u00a0 Ben announced rising from the table, he felt he’d let this situation go on long enough.<\/p>\n

Marie reached out a hand and gently grasped her husband’s forearm and shook her head ‘no’.<\/p>\n

Heeding his wife’s wishes, Ben reseated himself and began the evening prayer.<\/p>\n

Halfway through the meal, the front door opened.\u00a0 Ben, Marie and Hoss looked up to see Adam quickly crossing the floor to the stairs.<\/p>\n

“Son, would you like to join us?”\u00a0 Ben gently called out to his son, hoping to make some type of amends.<\/p>\n

Adam froze on the first step of the stairs at the sound of his father’s voice.\u00a0 Knowing he had to answer or incur more of his father’s wrath, Adam replied.<\/p>\n

“No sir, I’m not hungry.”\u00a0 Adam turned and quickly raced up the stairs to his room.\u00a0 He shut the door and locked it behind him.<\/p>\n

Marie felt a small burning tear roll down her cheek to land on the napkin in her lap, while Ben pursed his lips and let out a deep regretful sigh when they heard Adam’s door shut.<\/p>\n

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

The next couple of days were tense ones, though Adam finally emerged early the next day, he’d built a very protective wall around him.\u00a0 He only spoke when spoken to and just enough words to answer any request and no more.\u00a0 Though he was overly polite with Marie, he hardly came near his father.<\/p>\n

But with Hoss, Marie noted, Adam still had a very warm and loving relationship.\u00a0 She watched them as Adam played checkers with his younger brother or read to him in his room at night.\u00a0 Adam was always very protective of his little brother and seemed to confide in Hoss.\u00a0 Marie fought the urge to go to Hoss and find out what was going on with Adam.\u00a0 She knew that the bond between brothers was a very special and treasured thing, and she wouldn’t violate that trust.<\/p>\n

On the third day after the misunderstanding, Adam eagerly arose and went down for breakfast.\u00a0 Today he would get to ride out and check on the herd with the other ranch hands.\u00a0 Adam quickly downed his breakfast and departed before the rest of his family awoke.<\/p>\n

Adam ran into the barn and saddled his old horse.\u00a0 He was eager to get out on the range with the other hands and to see his little filly.\u00a0 His father had promised him the spunky little mare he’d named ‘Lady’ for his birthday, that was if he behaved for Shaughnessy and had taken care of the ranch and Hoss while his father was away.\u00a0 Even though his birthday had occurred during his father’s extended stay in New Orleans, Adam felt he’d lived up to his obligations.\u00a0 Now all Adam wanted was his father to say the filly was his, hurrying he went out to watch his little Lady run.<\/p>\n

Adam spent the morning rounding up strays and making sure they got to the winter pasture.\u00a0 In the early afternoon he spotted his father, another man and the ranch foreman, Jack in the horse pasture.\u00a0 He spurred his horse when his father motioned for him to join them.<\/p>\n

As Adam neared the men, he noticed his father deep in business negotiations with the unknown man.\u00a0 They were talking about the sale of the horses.\u00a0 Adam kept silent and listened to the exchange.\u00a0 His heart dropped to his stomach when he heard his father order him to help round up all the horses, including the colts and fillies and drive them to the paddocks.\u00a0 His father had sold them to the unknown man.<\/p>\n

Adam’s eyes widened in horror as he gazed back at the horses, and saw his sprightly little filly dancing by her mother.\u00a0 Adam was too hurt to speak, he figured that his father wasn’t impressed with the way he had tended to the ranch and Hoss while he\u2019d been away.\u00a0 He looked away so his father wouldn’t see the tears in his eyes.\u00a0 Squaring his shoulders before nodding dejectedly, he rode away to obey his father’s orders.<\/p>\n

Jack sat next to his employer and studied the man intently.\u00a0 He wasn’t one to openly say anything that would embarrass or offend his boss.<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright noticed the penetrating stare of his foreman, after the horse buyer had departed with his recent acquisitions.\u00a0 It was rare that Jack had to be instructed to do his job.\u00a0 Ben returned the gaze.<\/p>\n

“Didn’t think you intended to sell them till Spring?”\u00a0 Jack inquired, hoping that would start an amicable conversation.<\/p>\n

“Well, I hadn’t.\u00a0 But recent events have me a little over-extended at the moment.”\u00a0 Ben didn’t want to discuss his financial outlay with the hired help.<\/p>\n

Even though Ben Cartwright had managed to sell his furs in New Orleans, his unexpected marriage to Marie, as well as her passage and the shipping of her belongings to the Ponderosa, found Ben with his finances strapped.\u00a0 With his now growing family, Ben found the ranch cash outlay barely breaking even.\u00a0 With winter coming and the loss of cattle this early in the season, he needed to find a way to rebuild his reserves.\u00a0 Deciding that it was more cost effective to sell the horses now, instead of trying to maintain the herd through the winter, seemed to be the best solution to his financial difficulties.<\/p>\n

Jack nodded his head thoughtfully at his boss’s response.\u00a0 Knowing that recent events included a new young wife and a very long trip to New Orleans.<\/p>\n

“Will ya be selling your horse too, Mr. Cartwright?” Jack continued, ducking his head in the direction of Ben’s mount.<\/p>\n

“Of course not!”\u00a0 Ben responded indignantly to the foreman.<\/p>\n

Jack nodded his acceptance of his boss’s response.\u00a0 He spat out a mouth full of tobacco juice onto the ground beside him, before turning back to address Ben Cartwright.<\/p>\n

“Oh, just thought you might, considering you just sold Adam’s.”\u00a0 Jack added, before spurring his horse to catch up with the other men in moving the horses.<\/p>\n

Ben sat stunned in his saddle, he’d totally forgotten about what he’d said to Adam before he left.\u00a0 In fact, he’d totally forgotten Adam’s birthday altogether.\u00a0 Normally Adam’s birthday made him a little melancholy because it reminded him of the pain of Elizabeth’s death.\u00a0 But this year had been different, this year all the pain and regret was lost in the glow of a new love, Marie.<\/p>\n

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

Marie looked up from the dining room table where she was polishing the silver flatware, when her husband entered the house.\u00a0 He looked so lost.<\/p>\n

“In here darling.”\u00a0 She called out.<\/p>\n

“Is Adam home yet?”\u00a0 Ben asked as he walked towards the dining room while looking towards the stairs.\u00a0 He bent down and kissed Marie upon the cheek in greeting.<\/p>\n

“No, not yet.\u00a0 Is there something wrong?”\u00a0 Marie could sense that her husband was troubled.<\/p>\n

With shame, Ben told Marie about the horse sale, as he paced back and forth.<\/p>\n

“Adam told me all about that little filly.\u00a0 Ben how could you have done this to him?”\u00a0 Marie was aghast over her husband’s admission.<\/p>\n

“It wasn’t intentional, I assure you.”\u00a0 Ben retorted a little miffed over his wife’s accusing tone.\u00a0 How could he admit that he’d been foolish in trying to impress her in New Orleans, and now with the loss of cattle, found himself in slight financial distress.<\/p>\n

Marie lowered her gaze back to the silver fork in her hand.\u00a0 She hadn’t meant to be so harsh with her husband.<\/p>\n

“Adam is easy to please.”\u00a0 Ben added, hoping to get back in his wife\u2019s good graces.<\/p>\n

“He is, well that’s certainly a good thing, because from what I’ve seen, it’s even easier to hurt him.”\u00a0 Marie sarcastically sniped over Ben\u2019s nonchalant attitude concerning Adam\u2019s filly.<\/p>\n

“He’ll get over it.\u00a0 I’ll get him another horse next year.”\u00a0 Ben suggested helpfully, he felt he was beginning to lose ground in this discussion with his wife.<\/p>\n

“Will he Ben?\u00a0 You seem to think that Adam takes wrongs lightly.\u00a0 He’s still a little boy Ben, not a man.”\u00a0 Marie was now beginning to lose her patience over her husband’s seemingly callous attitude toward the horse.\u00a0 Marie knew that horse was more than just an animal to Adam.<\/p>\n

“Adam is not a little boy, Marie.”\u00a0 Ben felt impelled to defend his treatment of his son.<\/p>\n

“No, how old is he?”\u00a0 She questioned, hoping her husband would eventually understand.<\/p>\n

“Ah, he just had a birthday, so he’s now eleven.”\u00a0 Ben replied.<\/p>\n

“Eleven, well by all means that makes him a full grown man!”\u00a0 Marie blurted out in frustration.\u00a0 “What were you doing at eleven Ben?”<\/p>\n

“I was\u2026” Ben paused as his memories of playing with friends, fishing along the pier and attending school filled his thoughts.\u00a0 Those thoughts were replaced with images of Adam as they traveled westward and working beside him, to build this ranch.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, he began to understand what Marie was getting at.\u00a0 For the second time today, he felt ashamed of his actions towards his eldest son.\u00a0 It was so easy for him to think of Adam as his traveling companion and helper, he forgot that Adam was just a little boy.<\/p>\n

“I see your point.”\u00a0 Ben conceded as he sat down beside his wife in dejection.<\/p>\n

Marie reached out to take his hand and squeezed it tightly; she gazed knowingly into her husband’s sad dark eyes.<\/p>\n

Ben smiled slightly and accepted his wife’s silent forgiveness.<\/p>\n

“You know some people believe Adam is a very thankless and unloving child.\u00a0 He\u2019s always distant from everyone, which some say is hateful.\u00a0 It’s like he\u2019s been some type of burden for me to have him as my child\u2026” Ben began to confess.\u00a0 He and Marie never heard the two young boys begin to enter from the kitchen.<\/p>\n

Adam stopped Hoss and they stood to listen at the entryway to the dining room.\u00a0 They hadn’t heard the whole conversation, but Adam froze at the mention of his name.\u00a0 He swallowed deeply when he heard the words his father said to his new stepmother.\u00a0 Stunned, he turned and left Hoss standing in the entryway.<\/p>\n

Hoss saw a very strange expression cloud his older brother’s face.\u00a0 In confusion, he watched Adam depart, before returning his attention back to the eavesdropping on his parents.<\/p>\n

“But Adam has never been a burden to me, in fact he’s been a blessing.\u00a0 Without him, I don’t think I could have survived after Elizabeth’s death.\u00a0 He’s always been such a reassuring strength in my life.\u00a0 He’s helped me to realize my dream, not to mention seeing me through all the bad times.\u00a0 I’m very proud of that intelligent and sensitive young man.\u00a0 I guess that sometimes I forget that he\u2019s still just a child.”\u00a0 Ben confessed.<\/p>\n

“Tell him Ben.\u00a0 Tell him, not me.\u00a0 I think he needs to hear that from you.”\u00a0 Marie comforted, studying her husband’s solemn face.<\/p>\n

Finding the conversation between his father and stepmother to be somewhat boring.\u00a0 Hoss wandered off in search of his older brother.<\/p>\n

Adam escaped to the wash room; absent-mindedly he poured a basin of water and began to wash his hands and face.\u00a0 As he held the bar of lye soap and turned it unconsciously in his hands, the words his father said echoed in his mind.\u00a0 Mentally he built up his emotional protective barrier with each painful word.\u00a0 ‘Unloving’ a brick was set into the wall and mortar added.\u00a0 ‘Thankless’, another brick added and more mortar.\u00a0 ‘Hateful’, a row was completed.\u00a0 He thought of his father telling these things to Marie, and several rows went into the wall.\u00a0 Then he thought of his little brother Hoss hearing too, and the wall doubled in size.<\/p>\n

Adam was deeply hurt and confused by his father’s words.\u00a0 He’d always tried to be a good boy and never gave his father any real trouble.\u00a0 He’d also done all he could to take care of his little brother, and help with building the Ponderosa.\u00a0 Adam guessed that his father really did blame him for the death of his mother, because his birthday always seemed to cause his father pain, and this year, his father had forgotten him altogether.<\/p>\n

Adam equated the way his father dealt with the things he loved, like links in a chain.\u00a0 First and foremost on the chain, was his father’s dream of the Ponderosa, next was his mother and when he was born, he became the third link.\u00a0 But that all changed when Inger came along.\u00a0 Adam didn’t mind moving down to fourth when his father married her, or even fifth when Hoss was born.\u00a0 But now with the arrival of Marie, Adam seemed to be dropped from the chain entirely.<\/p>\n

Adam took a deep breath and wiped his eyes with a shirtsleeve when he heard Hoss enter the room.\u00a0 He felt his heart hardened, and decided he had things he needed to think through.<\/p>\n

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

Dinner that evening was a somber affair.\u00a0 Marie noticed that something was deeply troubling Adam, and felt he was upset because of the selling of his filly.<\/p>\n

Ben had noticed Adam’s very quiet disposition and made a mental note to speak to the boy after dinner.<\/p>\n

Adam toyed with the food on his plate; he moved the meat and vegetables back and forth with his fork never placing anything into his mouth.\u00a0 His mind was still reeling from the conversation he’d overheard earlier, and what he needed to do.\u00a0 He wasn’t even aware when Marie addressed him, until his father’s deep voice brought him back to the present.<\/p>\n

“Adam, your mother is speaking to you.”\u00a0 Ben firmly stated, seeing that Adam was not responding.<\/p>\n

Adam’s eyes slowly came up from his plate and he gazed without really seeing in the direction of his stepmother.<\/p>\n

“Are you not feeling well?”\u00a0 Marie asked gently, she’d noticed Adam’s downcast appearance and lack of appetite.<\/p>\n

“I’m fine.”\u00a0 Adam answered abruptly before turning his attention back to his dinner.\u00a0 What did she care, he thought.<\/p>\n

Ben was not pleased with Adam’s tone and excused it for the moment.<\/p>\n

“Is there something wrong with your food then?”\u00a0 Marie persisted becoming more concerned with Adam’s forlorn behavior.<\/p>\n

“No, there isn’t.\u00a0 Would you just leave me alone!”\u00a0 Adam shouted in frustration and anger.\u00a0 All the hurt he’d been feeling was beginning to overwhelm him.<\/p>\n

“That will be enough!\u00a0 Adam apologize to your mother.”\u00a0 Ben bellowed in anger, he would tolerate no further disrespect from his son towards his wife.<\/p>\n

Hoss cowered in fear, looking between his father and older brother.\u00a0 He knew his father was very angry and could tell that Adam was too.<\/p>\n

“She’s NOT My Mother!”\u00a0 Adam yelled back angrily as he jumped up from his seat at the table.<\/p>\n

Ben Cartwright was now out of patience with his eldest son, he quickly rose from his chair.\u00a0 Before Adam could successfully make his escape from the room, Ben grabbed him by the upper right arm and pulled Adam towards the door to the downstairs bedroom.<\/p>\n

“Ben, don’t!”\u00a0 Marie pleaded, trying to calm the now crying Hoss.\u00a0 Fearfully, she watched as Ben slammed the door behind him and Adam.<\/p>\n

“If you want to continue to live in this house, you will keep a civil tongue and address your Mother with respect!”\u00a0 Ben bellowed, the words echoing through the closed door into the dining room.<\/p>\n

Marie closed her eyes and felt her own body convulsively jerk with each loud resounding smack she heard.\u00a0 She opened her eyes when she heard the turning of the bedroom doorknob.\u00a0 She was deeply saddened by the look of pain and lack of spirit she found, when Adam re-emerged from the room.<\/p>\n

“I’m sorry ma’am.”\u00a0 Adam mumbled with downcast tear-filled eyes studying his hands before him.<\/p>\n

Marie didn’t trust her voice to speak and felt hot bitter tears burn at her eyes.\u00a0 She nodded her silent acceptance to Adam, then heard him run from the room to the stairs.\u00a0 She closed her eyes when she heard his bedroom door slam.\u00a0 Now enraged, she glared up to her husband as he re-entered the dining room.<\/p>\n

“Thank you, very much.”\u00a0 She bitterly stated, as she folded her napkin and placed it upon her unfinished dinner.<\/p>\n

Ben looked at Marie with uncertainty, not understanding either her tone or her words.<\/p>\n

“Thank you, for making him hate me.”\u00a0 Defiantly, Marie rose from the table and without another glance toward her husband, she entered the sanctuary of the kitchen.<\/p>\n

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

Adam lay upon the bed in his room, his backside was sore and his feelings hurt unbearably.\u00a0 But he’d finally come to a decision; it was time for him to go.\u00a0 His father no longer needed nor wanted him, and he would burden the man no further.\u00a0 Quietly, he went over to his bureau and pulled out his knapsack and began to pack.<\/p>\n

“Whatcha doing?”\u00a0 Hoss asked, letting himself into his older brother’s room.<\/p>\n

“Don’t you know how to knock.”\u00a0 Adam retorted angrily, wishing his younger brother knew how to respect his privacy.<\/p>\n

Hoss first shook his head yes, then no when he realized Adam was angry.\u00a0 Shrugging his shoulders when Adam made no move to throw him out, he climbed up onto Adam’s bed.<\/p>\n

“Read me a story?”\u00a0 Hoss begged as he began to hop on Adam’s bed.<\/p>\n

“No, I’ve got things to do.\u00a0 And stop jumping on the bed.”\u00a0 Adam replied as he grabbed Hoss by the upper arms and made him sit down on the bed.<\/p>\n

“Whatcha gotta do?”\u00a0 Hoss asked innocently, now seeing Adam with bag in hand.<\/p>\n

“Packing.\u00a0 I’m gonna take a trip.”\u00a0 Adam answered.<\/p>\n

“Where ya going?”\u00a0 Helpfully, Hoss began to hand the things Adam had laid out for packing to his older brother.<\/p>\n

“I dunno, probably Boston to see my Grandfather.”\u00a0 Adam answered pensively.\u00a0 He’d never really met the man, but they corresponded frequently.\u00a0 Having no where else to go, he hoped that his grandfather would let him live with him.<\/p>\n

“Why?”\u00a0 Hoss pressed, with tears beginning to form in his blue eyes.\u00a0 He really didn’t want Adam to go.<\/p>\n

Adam could tell he was upsetting Hoss, he really didn’t want to make his brother cry.\u00a0 In fact, he really didn’t want to leave Hoss behind.\u00a0 Steeling his nerves, he sat down next to the little boy on the bed to explain.<\/p>\n

“You see Hoss, things just aren’t the same around here.\u00a0 You’ve got a new Ma, and Pa just doesn’t want me around anymore.\u00a0 So it’s just better if I left.\u00a0 I’ve been a burden to Pa long enough.”\u00a0 Adam answered sadly, hoping that his explanation was sufficient.<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded his acceptance sadly as a tear escaped and rolled down his chubby cheek.\u00a0 He remembered what his father had said about Adam from earlier in the day, and he didn’t want his Pa to be angry with his older brother anymore.<\/p>\n

“Now, how about I read ya a story.”\u00a0 Adam suggested hoping to cheer his little brother up.<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded happily as he crawled over to the pillows and made himself comfortable.\u00a0 Adam joined him a few minutes later with Hoss’s favorite book in hand.<\/p>\n

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

Adam listened for the footfalls of his father.\u00a0 He knew his father would be checking on him before he went to bed.\u00a0 Adam heard the bedroom door slowly creak open and held his eyes closed waiting for his father to depart.\u00a0 He noticed that his father lingered longer that night near his bedside, even lifting the covers over his shoulders and tucking him in gently before leaving the room.<\/p>\n

Adam patiently waited for his father to go across the hall and check on Hoss, before making his way to his and Marie’s room.\u00a0 Hearing the click to the closing of the door to the master bedroom, Adam quietly slipped out of bed.\u00a0 He slipped off his nightshirt and quickly donned the heavy woolen shirt he’d laid out on the chair beside his bed.\u00a0 Already wearing his socks and jeans, he tucked in his shirt before putting on his coat.\u00a0 Reaching under the bed he found the knapsack that he’d stashed there earlier, before grabbing his boots and tiptoeing toward the bedroom door.<\/p>\n

Slowly and carefully he made his way into the hall, he glanced down the hall to the master bedroom when he heard silent voices coming from within.\u00a0 Strengthening his resolve, Adam turned and made his way quietly down the stairs to cross the great room.<\/p>\n

As he walked by his father’s desk, he saw his mother’s china music box sitting beside her and his first stepmother’s pictures.\u00a0 He’d always cherished the little trinket and it gave him such pleasure to listen to the simple tune it played.\u00a0 Figuring his father didn’t have much use for it anyway; he reached out and took the box carefully from the desk.\u00a0 Opening his knapsack, he retrieved a shirt he had packed, and used it to carefully wrap the box before placing in into his bag.<\/p>\n

That task completed, Adam proceeded into the kitchen to fill a bag with the proper provisions, just like his father had shown him on their last hunting trip.\u00a0 As soon as the bag was filled, Adam headed out of the side door from the kitchen and stopped to put on his boots.<\/p>\n

Feeling he was completely outfitted, he checked to make sure he had everything he needed for his long journey.\u00a0 In his pocket he confirmed that he had a small tin of matches and a pocketknife.\u00a0 He also had a bag of food, a filled canteen and his knapsack, which held a change of clothing and what little money he possessed from his wages.\u00a0 Though he knew that twelve dollars and 32 cents probably wouldn’t get him to Boston, he figured it was just about enough for a stage ride to San Francisco from Genoa.\u00a0 He remembered stories his father had told him about sailing, and figured that once in San Francisco, he could sign on as a cabin boy and work his way to Boston.<\/p>\n

Stopping briefly at the barn he reconsidered borrowing a horse, but not wanting to incur his father’s wrath over stealing a horse, he decided to make the journey on foot.\u00a0 Momentarily he felt saddened, as he glanced back once more towards the large ranch house that he helped design and build.\u00a0 Taking a deep breath to strengthen his resolve, he turned to begin his long trek away from the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

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

Marie walked down the hall to put away the clean laundry.\u00a0 She stopped when she saw Hoss playing on Adam’s bed.<\/p>\n

“Young man just what do you think you’re doing in Adam’s room?”\u00a0 Marie demanded, as she entered her eldest stepson’s room and proceeded to stand over Hoss, who was lying on the bed flipping through one of Adam’s books.<\/p>\n

“Nothin’ Mama, but it ain’t Adam’s room no more.”\u00a0 Hoss answered innocently, looking up to the angry young woman standing over him.<\/p>\n

“It most certainly is Adam’s room, and you, young man will respect his privacy.”\u00a0 Marie scolded, pulling Hoss from the bed by his arm.<\/p>\n

“Nu uh, it ain’t neither.\u00a0 Cus Adam don’t live here no more.”\u00a0 Hoss responded, wriggling free from Marie’s grasp and looking back at his stepmother with his lower lip protruding in slight defiance.<\/p>\n

“What do you mean Adam doesn’t live here anymore?”\u00a0 Marie felt a sudden sense of panic at Hoss’s answer.<\/p>\n

“He done left, cus Pa don’t want him.”\u00a0 Hoss explained, not sure why his stepmother seemed so upset.<\/p>\n

Marie felt lightheaded and swayed on her feet; she needed to find her husband.\u00a0 She dropped the clean laundry onto the bed and grabbing Hoss once more by the arm, she led him from the room and down the stairs.<\/p>\n

Ben rode happily into the yard, pulling a little filly on a lead rope. Anxiously he looked around for this oldest son.\u00a0 Not finding him in the yard, he dismounted then put the filly into the corral before heading for the house.\u00a0 His wife and youngest son met him at the door.<\/p>\n

“Have you seen Adam?”\u00a0 Not noticing the frightened look upon Marie’s face, Ben greeted his wife by kissing her upon the cheek, before tousling Hoss’s hair.<\/p>\n

“He’s not with you?”\u00a0 Marie asked as her panic increased.<\/p>\n

“No, of course not.\u00a0 He was supposed to be cleaning out the barn and working on that wood pile today.”\u00a0 Ben responded, now beginning to become upset at Adam’s shirking of his responsibilities.<\/p>\n

“He’s gone, Ben.”\u00a0 Marie whispered.\u00a0 Horrified, she looked down to the small boy standing beside her.<\/p>\n

“Gone, gone where?”\u00a0 Ben asked, not truly understanding why his wife looked so distraught.<\/p>\n

“San Frisco, or Boston, or some such place.”\u00a0 Hoss spoke cheerfully, happy to oblige by answering his father’s question.<\/p>\n

“What?”\u00a0 Ben sputtered in shock, then knelt down to look his small son in the face.<\/p>\n

“He’s gone to see his Grandpa, cus you don’t want him round no more.”\u00a0 Hoss answered helpfully, he was confused by his father’s shocked expression and added.\u00a0 “Why are you sad Pa?\u00a0 You said you hated him and he was a burden.\u00a0 Pa what’s a burden?”<\/p>\n

Ben was stunned and unable to speak; ignoring Hoss’s last question, he looked about the room in disbelief.<\/p>\n

“Little walls have very big pictures.”\u00a0 Marie muttered as she raised a hand to her face.<\/p>\n

Bewildered, Ben raised his eyes to her face and realized what she meant.\u00a0 Adam and Hoss must have overheard them talking the day before.\u00a0 No wonder Adam acted so strange at dinner, my God what have I done, Ben wondered?<\/p>\n

Ben quickly rose to his feet and ran across the yard to the barn.\u00a0 He found the horse Adam usually rode still in its stall and realized that Adam must be on foot.\u00a0 Since he hadn’t seen Adam at breakfast, he assumed he must have left during the night.\u00a0 Running back to his horse he quickly mounted, stopping only briefly to inform his wife of his plans.<\/p>\n

“Marie, I’m going to go and find him and bring him home.\u00a0 If I’m not back before sundown, have some of the hands go out to start searching the ranch.”\u00a0 Ben spurred his horse in the direction he thought Adam would have taken.<\/p>\n

Marie nodded in acknowledgement and offered a silent prayer that Ben would be able to find the child before nightfall.\u00a0 She glanced down at the small boy who took her hand and gave him a small reassuring smile before squeezing his hand tightly.\u00a0 Turning, she guided the little boy into the house where she had some serious explaining to do.<\/p>\n

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

Adam trudged through the thick underbrush, it was getting late in the afternoon and he’d gone a long way since the night before.\u00a0 He wanted to sit down and rest, but he knew if he did, he wouldn’t start again.<\/p>\n

Adam couldn’t believe how tired he was, or how much his feet hurt.\u00a0 He’d done more walking than this when he came west with his father, not even seven years before.\u00a0 He paused to take a drink from his canteen and surveyed the landscape to get his bearings.\u00a0 His canteen was almost empty, so he would need to head to water to fill it up.\u00a0 He remembered there was a stream a couple of miles away where he could fill the canteen, and possibly stop for the night.<\/p>\n

Ben found and began to follow the small footprints of his son.\u00a0 He was relieved when he easily found the trail that Adam was leaving, and was surprised at how far his son had traveled in one day.\u00a0 Riding several more yards, he found another set of tracks that appeared to be following the same path as his son.\u00a0 His blood ran cold as he recognized the heavy paw prints of a mountain lion.\u00a0 Frantically, he scanned the countryside hoping for a glimpse of his eldest.<\/p>\n

Still not able to see his son in the thick stand of trees, Ben spurred his horse into a canter and rode into the brush.\u00a0 Ben had barely gone a half of mile when he finally spotted his son.\u00a0 Adam was making a slow progression down the hillside toward the stream, and was totally oblivious to the cougar, which stalked him from a couple of yards behind.<\/p>\n

Ben was uncertain as to how to proceed.\u00a0 If he yelled out to his son, that could cause Adam to start running and the big cat would begin its chase.\u00a0 But if he didn’t warn his son in time, Adam wouldn’t have a chance to try and get away.\u00a0 Spurring his horse into a gallop, Ben drew the rifle from his scabbard and charged towards his son.<\/p>\n

Adam was lost in thought as he slowly plodded along.\u00a0 He wondered if anyone had even missed him, and decided that only Hoss probably did.\u00a0 He was so wrapped up in his own misery of feeling sorry for himself, and of his sore tired feet, that he didn’t even realize he was in danger until he heard the low growl of the cougar.\u00a0 Stunned, he momentarily froze before turning around to face the dangerous big cat.\u00a0 Seeing the large mountain lion mere yards from him, he dropped his canteen and knapsack, then took off at a run.<\/p>\n

Ben watched in horror as Adam turned and fled from the approaching cougar.\u00a0 He was still too far to get in a decent shot, and spurred his horse harder.\u00a0 He felt his heart drop into his gut as the mountain lion pounced upon his son.\u00a0 Knowing he only had one chance, he aimed and fired.\u00a0 He was relieved to see his shot find its target and the big cat lay still.\u00a0 He thanked his Lord when he saw Adam shimmying out from under the very heavy dead weight.<\/p>\n

Ben jumped down from his horse and ran over to his son; he was stunned by Adam’s response.<\/p>\n

“Go away!\u00a0 Leave me be!”\u00a0 Adam screamed at his father as he pushed his arms away.<\/p>\n

“Please son, let me make sure you’re alright.”\u00a0 Ben pleaded, he could see Adam’s clothing was torn and covered in blood.\u00a0 He was uncertain as to whether the blood was Adam’s or the cougar’s.<\/p>\n

“What do you care?\u00a0 Leave me alone!”\u00a0 Adam demanded as he continued to struggle with his father.<\/p>\n

“Adam, please son.\u00a0 Settle down now; let me take a look at you.\u00a0 I can’t leave you here all alone.”\u00a0 Ben begged as Adam began to pound his small fists against his father’s chest.\u00a0 Though the blows were those of a small, frightened young boy, the pain they delivered struck deep into the older man’s soul.<\/p>\n

“Why not, you’ve left me alone plenty of times before!”\u00a0 Adam accused as he redoubled his efforts.\u00a0 Remembering all the lonely and sometimes frightening days spent in boardinghouses, while his father worked to allow them to continue their journey west.<\/p>\n

Ben closed his eyes against the pain of his son’s words and actions.\u00a0 He couldn’t believe the anguish that he must have inflicted upon his son, to result in such a response from Adam.\u00a0 He continued to hold Adam’s upper arms as the boy struggled against him, soon the resistance weakened and then stopped.\u00a0 Ben shifted his grasp to catch his son before he fell to the ground winded and exhausted.<\/p>\n

After Adam succumbed to unconsciousness, Ben assessed the damage to his firstborn.\u00a0 He found deep claw scratches upon his thighs and what looked to be a bite to his right forearm.\u00a0 Using his sleeves, he quickly made bandages to dress Adam’s wounds.<\/p>\n

He walked over and retrieved Adam’s knapsack and flung the bag over the saddle horn, before returning to his son.\u00a0 Gently, he lifted Adam into his arms and walked over to his horse.\u00a0 With great care he lifted Adam into the saddle, and holding his son in place, mounted behind him.\u00a0 Once mounted, he pulled his still unconscious child into his arms and cradled him on the long ride home.<\/p>\n

Marie paced the great room downstairs, it was almost dusk and she was becoming more frantic by the moment.\u00a0 She no longer attempted to put on a brave face for Hoss, who now watched her with fear of his own.\u00a0 She’d finally decided to alert the hands and strode toward the front door, when she heard a single horse gallop into the yard.\u00a0 Throwing open the door, she rushed outside hoping that it was Ben.\u00a0 Her heart leapt with joy as she saw her husband and young stepson, then she felt it crash to her stomach, when she realized that Adam was limp in his father’s arms.\u00a0 Running she went to help.<\/p>\n

“Ben, Ben what’s wrong?”\u00a0 Marie pleaded as she reached her husband’s horse, and watched him stumble from the saddle with Adam still in his arms.\u00a0 Seeing the torn and bloody clothing, she was horrified when Adam’s head dropped to hang back lifelessly over his father’s arm.<\/p>\n

“He’s been mauled by a mountain lion.”\u00a0 Ben mumbled absently, this had been one of the longest and most painful days of his life.<\/p>\n

“Oh my lord.”\u00a0 Marie reached out to brush the hair back from Adam’s forehead to reassure herself that Adam was still alive, before helping to lead her husband and stepson back into the warmth of the house.<\/p>\n

Hoss’s face turned white when he saw his father enter the house with Adam in his arms.\u00a0 He could see all the blood on Adam, and was afraid that he was dead.\u00a0 Frozen to his chair in the living room, he stared with mouth gaping as his father took Adam up the stairs to his room.\u00a0 He watched as Marie ran to the kitchen, only to return moments later with a basin and towels, before following them up the stairs.<\/p>\n

Ben placed Adam carefully on the bed and began to undress his son.\u00a0 He found some of the scratches and the bite to be deep, but didn’t believe that they were life threatening.\u00a0 Removing Adam’s shirt, he found deep purplish-black bruising along the boy’s torso.\u00a0 Gently, he felt along Adam’s ribs and was relieved when he found no broken bones.\u00a0 Marie joined him, to help clean and re-bandage the wounds.<\/p>\n

Once the task was completed, Ben and Marie gingerly dressed Adam in his nightshirt; then tucked him into bed.\u00a0 Ben pulled up a chair to Adam’s bedside and sat down heavily into it.\u00a0 Watching his precious child sleeping, he reached out a hand to lovingly stroke back a lock of wayward hair from his forehead.<\/p>\n

Feeling that Ben needed time to be alone with his son, Marie wiped her hands upon her apron and turned to find Hoss.\u00a0 Reaching the downstairs, she found Hoss anxiously looking towards the stairs.\u00a0 Smiling broadly, she walked up to the frightened boy and gave him a big hug.<\/p>\n

“He’s going to be just fine honey.\u00a0 Now why don’t we go and fix something for dinner.”\u00a0 Marie suggested, leading Hoss across the room.<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded eagerly in response, he was suddenly very hungry.<\/p>\n

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

Ben spent the night at his son’s bedside; it was dawn the next morning before he noticed Adam begin to stir.<\/p>\n

Adam awoke to overwhelming pain.\u00a0 His arm and chest throbbed, his upper legs burned, his feet hurt and he ached all over.\u00a0 Wincing, he forced his eyes open as he tried to move.\u00a0 He was not happy to find himself in his own room with his father sitting nearby.<\/p>\n

“Adam, how are you feeling son?”\u00a0 Ben asked, moving closer, he reached out his hand to his son’s shoulder.<\/p>\n

Adam swatted his father’s arm away.\u00a0 He didn’t want anything to do with the man.<\/p>\n

“Adam, please son.”\u00a0 Ben pleaded, watching as Adam struggled to move away from him.<\/p>\n

Adam tried shifting in his bed and found his legs screaming in agony.\u00a0 Gasping in pain, he settled for rolling over on his side with his back to his father.<\/p>\n

Ben’s heart sank as he watched his son’s struggles.\u00a0 He was at a lost as to how to proceed.\u00a0 Taking a deep breath, he tried to get Adam to talk to him.<\/p>\n

“Adam, son, talk to me.\u00a0 Please tell me what I’ve done.\u00a0 I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you, I never meant to.\u00a0 I do love you son.”\u00a0 Ben stated gently.<\/p>\n

“No you don’t, you never did!”\u00a0 Adam accused, as he turned back to face his father.<\/p>\n

Ben was stunned by the vehemence of Adam’s actions and words.\u00a0 Where would Adam get such an idea?\u00a0 Dumbfounded, he just stared blankly back at his son.<\/p>\n

“I’m hateful, unloving and thankless.\u00a0 I’m a burden to you and you don’t want me around.\u00a0 Why Pa, why did you drag me out here, why?”\u00a0 Adam felt his protective mental wall begin to crumble, causing the tears to begin to flow.<\/p>\n

Ben was horrified by Adams words and couldn’t believe his son truly believed them.\u00a0 He was ashamed to realize that Adam had overheard his conversation with Marie, and had obviously misunderstood.<\/p>\n

“No Adam, you’re not those things, and you’ve never been a burden to me.\u00a0 You’re my son, I have always and will always love you.”\u00a0\u00a0 Reaching out, Ben tried to soothe and comfort his terribly hurt child.<\/p>\n

Adam desperately wanted the reassuring embrace of his father, but the words his father had said and his actions ever since Marie arrived, had cut too deep.<\/p>\n

“Then why did you tell Her that?”\u00a0 Adam demanded an explanation, still pushing his father away.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t Adam, what you heard was just part of a conversation between adults\u2026” Ben attempted to patiently explain.<\/p>\n

“Don’t lie to me anymore, Pa!\u00a0 I heard you, I heard what you said!”\u00a0 Adam was again becoming agitated, to the point of hysterics.<\/p>\n

Ben moved quickly to the bed and grabbed Adam’s arms to keep him from striking out.\u00a0 He wrapped his own arms around Adam’s upper body in a strong embrace, both to comfort his son and to keep him from re-opening the wound on his arm.\u00a0 Ben continued to hold Adam tightly to his chest, then began to rock back and forth.<\/p>\n

“Shhh now, Adam, shhh.”\u00a0 Ben soothed as Adam began to sob.<\/p>\n

“Why Pa?\u00a0 Why?”\u00a0 Adam cried into his father’s chest, no longer able to struggle further or maintain his emotional barrier.\u00a0 Exhausted from his efforts, he drifted back into unconsciousness.<\/p>\n

Ben felt tears flow down his face, as he held his sobbing child to his chest.\u00a0 How would he ever be able to explain his words or actions to this young confused boy?\u00a0 Looking toward the door, he saw his young wife standing in the open doorway with tears streaming down her beautiful face, wetting the front of her rob.<\/p>\n

Marie had barely slept during the long night.\u00a0 She was worried about her husband, but even more about Adam.\u00a0 She hurriedly threw on her robe and slippers before running down the hall to Adam’s room, when she heard him crying out.\u00a0 She watched in horror as Adam accused his father of hating him and pushed him angrily away.<\/p>\n

Sadly, she looked to her husband and shook her head in bewilderment.\u00a0 She was at a loss as to what to do to help.\u00a0 Without a word, she approached the bed and sat down on the opposite side from her husband and Adam.\u00a0 Tenderly, she stroked the back of her stepson’s head.<\/p>\n

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

The next time Adam awoke, he found not only his father but also the doctor in his room.\u00a0 Dr. Paul Kay was a physician who traveled the surrounding area and mining camps, usually spending about a week a month near the Washoe, before heading back to his regular practice in Carson City.<\/p>\n

Adam quietly watched and listened, while the doctor gave his father the instructions for his care.<\/p>\n

“Everything looks pretty good, just keep those wounds clean and bandaged and make sure he stays in bed for a couple of days to rest.\u00a0 I believe he’ll be just fine in no time.\u00a0 If you see any swelling or redness on those scratches, you send for me immediately.”\u00a0 Dr. Kay instructed, looking at his now awake charge and gave the boy a small wink.<\/p>\n

“Thank you doctor.”\u00a0 Ben gratefully shook the man’s hand and escorted him to the door of the bedroom.<\/p>\n

“You stay with your son, Ben.\u00a0 I can see myself out.”\u00a0 Paul Kay directed before turning to address Adam, “and you, quit playing with mountain lions.”\u00a0 The doctor warned waving a finger playfully at the little boy lying in the bed.<\/p>\n

Adam shyly nodded his head in response, and felt his father’s intense gaze upon him.\u00a0 To avoid his father’s eyes, Adam continued to look towards the open doorway and out into the hall.<\/p>\n

Ben neared his son\u2019s bed and watched as Adam pointedly avoided his gaze.\u00a0 Using one arm under his son’s shoulders, Ben gently raised Adam into a sitting position then propped some pillows behind him.<\/p>\n

Now resting comfortably against the soft pillows, Adam cast his eyes downward and began to fiddle with the bindings on his arm.<\/p>\n

“You hungry Adam?”\u00a0 Ben gently inquired, hoping that Adam would respond.<\/p>\n

Without looking up, Adam shrugged listlessly while continuing to fidget with his bandages.<\/p>\n

“Look at me son.”\u00a0 Ben directed patiently.\u00a0 When Adam didn\u2019t respond he reached down, taking the boy\u2019s chin with his index finger and thumb, and tilted his son’s head upward to face him.<\/p>\n

Adam briefly glared at the man who stood over him, before pulling his head away from the light grasp.\u00a0 He braced himself for the impending storm, from his father, over his disrespectful act.\u00a0 Adam was surprised and confused, when he felt his father place a hand gingerly on the back of his neck, before kissing his forehead.\u00a0 Instead of the expected loud reprimand, Adam heard a deep sad sigh when his father left his bedside and departed the room.<\/p>\n

Ben was stunned and hurt by the anger he saw in his young son’s eyes.\u00a0 He was not surprised to find that Adam’s emotional barrier was now back firmly in place.\u00a0 He was dismayed and felt his heart ache when he realized, for the first time in Adams’ short life, he was now on the outside of that protective wall.<\/p>\n

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

Adam was deep in thought and barely noticed when his stepmother entered the room.\u00a0 In her hands, she carried his breakfast tray.<\/p>\n

“I hear tell you’re hungry.”\u00a0 Marie smiled sweetly, using her best southern charm and hoping to melt some of the ice with her stepson.<\/p>\n

Adam glanced up and nodded meekly.<\/p>\n

“Would you like some help with this?”\u00a0 Marie asked standing next to Adam’s bedside.<\/p>\n

Adam responded with a slight shake of his head.<\/p>\n

“Did that cat get your tongue too?”\u00a0 Marie questioned firmly, then gave Adam a no more nonsense warning look with one eyebrow raised.<\/p>\n

“No ma’am.”\u00a0 Adam replied quietly before lowering his eyes from her face.<\/p>\n

“Well, that’s good, I was beginning to worry that you wouldn’t be able to swallow this.”\u00a0 She smiled warmly, placing the tray onto Adam’s lap.<\/p>\n

Adam looked down at the breakfast that his stepmother had brought him.\u00a0 He found all his favorites including pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon.\u00a0 He never realized how hungry he was until he smelled the food placed before him.\u00a0 Ravenously, he grabbed the fork and dug into the eggs.<\/p>\n

Marie sat down lightly in the chair beside Adam’s bed and watched her stepson devour his meal.\u00a0 She was pleased to see Adam eating and felt it was a good sign that he was getting better, both physically and emotionally.<\/p>\n

Idly she began to make small talk to Adam while he ate.\u00a0 The conversation was mere chitchat about the weather, the ranch and his little brother Hoss, but she was gratified when he minimally responded to her.<\/p>\n

Noticing that Adam had finished eating, she rose to retrieve the tray.\u00a0 Before taking the tray, she reached out to brush a lock of Adam’s hair back from his forehead.\u00a0 She was a little hurt, yet hopeful, when he only ducked his head from her touch, but didn’t swat her hand away.<\/p>\n

Reaching the door with tray in hand, Marie turned back to look at Adam.\u00a0 He looked so lonely and forlorn lying there in his bed.\u00a0 With a sudden inspiration, Marie called out to Adam.<\/p>\n

“Adam, would you like a visitor?”<\/p>\n

Adam was a little caught off guard by Marie’s question because he thought she’d already left the room.\u00a0 Inquisitively, he cocked his head to one side before nodding slightly.<\/p>\n

“Well, don’t you go anywhere.\u00a0 I think I know someone who’d like to see you.”\u00a0 Marie smiled broadly and practically glided from the room.<\/p>\n

Marie returned minutes later with a very happy little Hoss in tow.\u00a0 Beaming, Hoss broke from his stepmother’s grasp and ran into Adam’s room.<\/p>\n

“Howdy Adam!”\u00a0 The chubby little boy exclaimed happily and jumped onto the bed.<\/p>\n

“Don’t jump on the bed!”\u00a0 Both Adam and Marie scolded in unison.<\/p>\n

Hoss froze and looked first to Adam, then back to his stepmother with a repentant look.\u00a0 Not sure who he should apologize to.<\/p>\n

“Behave young man.”\u00a0 Marie stated as she placed her hands firmly on her hips, and gave Hoss a warning glance.<\/p>\n

“Yes, Mama.”\u00a0 Hoss replied.\u00a0 He turned sad eyes to his older brother for help, and only received a small shrug and a slightly raised eyebrow as assistance.<\/p>\n

Turning on one heel, Marie exited the room with a broad smile on her face.\u00a0 Proceeding down the hall, she went in search of her husband.\u00a0 She found him sitting at his desk, attempting to do the books and failing miserably.\u00a0 She could tell his mind definitely wasn’t on ranch business today.\u00a0 Walking over to where he sat staring at the ledgers before him, Marie reached out and took his hand and pulled, indicating that he should follow.<\/p>\n

“Really Marie, I’m not in the mood.”\u00a0 Ben offered in response, totally misinterpreting his new bride’s intentions.<\/p>\n

Grinning impishly, Marie raised a shocked eyebrow in response.<\/p>\n

“Oh, but indulge me anyway.”\u00a0 She hinted, realizing her husband’s mistake.<\/p>\n

Unable to refuse his wife’s request, Ben rose and allowed himself to be led up the stairs.\u00a0 Reaching the top of the stairs, Marie stopped to face him.\u00a0 Raising a finger to her lips, she indicated that he should stay silent.<\/p>\n

Practically on tiptoes she led her husband to the open doorway of Adam’s room.\u00a0 Hesitantly, Ben began to draw back from the room when he realized what Marie had in mind, but he stopped when he saw her insistent stare.<\/p>\n

Marie had decided that what was sauce for the goose, would indeed be sauce for the gander.\u00a0 If Adam had overheard and misunderstood a conversation between her and Ben, then perhaps they could learn what was going on with Adam, by listening to what he said to Hoss.\u00a0 Afterall, Hoss seemed to be Adam’s sole confidant.<\/p>\n

“You mad at me for telling Adam?”\u00a0 Hoss asked quietly, making himself comfortable next to his brother on the bed.<\/p>\n

Adam scrunched up his face and shot a cross look at Hoss from the corner of his eye.\u00a0 Seeing his brother’s look, Hoss held his breath and felt small tears begin to form; he couldn’t bear for Adam to be sore with him.<\/p>\n

“Nah,” Adam finally answered with a little grin.<\/p>\n

Hoss happily reached out and gave his older brother a hug in thanks.<\/p>\n

“Adam?”<\/p>\n

“Ah huh?”<\/p>\n

“Do ya still want to leave?”\u00a0 Hoss asked, fearful of the answer.<\/p>\n

Adam thought solemnly for a few moments, he was beginning to feel uncertain.\u00a0 Images of his little filly and his father quickly replaced the uncertainty.\u00a0 He nodded sadly.<\/p>\n

At the doorway, Ben and Marie strained to hear a response.\u00a0 Their hearts sank when they heard none forthcoming.<\/p>\n

“Mama told me ’bout what Pa said, he didn’t mean them things and he’s real sorry.”\u00a0 Hoss added helpfully, hoping that Adam would change his mind.\u00a0 Hoss didn’t like seeing his father and brother so sad.<\/p>\n

Adam glanced briefly at his little brother before looking away.\u00a0 The wound was still too fresh and deep, and he really didn’t want to talk about it right now.<\/p>\n

Seeing Adam’s reticence to talk, Hoss sighed deeply.\u00a0 He tried to think of something else that the two of them could do, with Adam being confined to his bed.<\/p>\n

“Wanna play some checkers?”\u00a0 Hoss suggested hopefully.\u00a0 He smiled broadly when Adam nodded his assent.\u00a0 Jumping down from the bed, he ran from the room in search of the checkerboard and pieces.<\/p>\n

As Hoss rushed out of Adam’s room and down the stairs, Ben and Marie were barely able to duck into the bedroom next door unnoticed.\u00a0 Not feeling that they had made much headway in resolving the problem with Adam, they both frowned in frustration and disappointment.<\/p>\n

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

That night Adam tossed and turned in his bed.\u00a0 Visions of a very dark and scary forest haunted him.\u00a0 He found himself running, but didn’t know where he was going.\u00a0 He was all alone and afraid, hearing a deep growl he turned to find a snarling mountain lion flying towards him from the darkness.\u00a0 Fighting and twisting in his bed, Adam found himself unable to move or get free.\u00a0 He awoke with a start and found his father holding him still.<\/p>\n

“Shhh Adam.\u00a0 It’s alright son, you’re safe, you’re home.\u00a0 Lay still now.”\u00a0 Ben quietly tried to reassure Adam, holding his son in a warm embrace to comfort him.<\/p>\n

Adam momentarily accepted the solace of his father’s loving embrace, before once again pushing him away and rolling over so that his back was to his father.<\/p>\n

Feeling that he was possibly making some progress with his son, Ben tenderly assisted Adam to get comfortable once again, then covered and tucked him in.\u00a0 Lifting Elizabeth’s music box from where it now sat on Adam’s bedside table, Ben gave the key two full turns before setting it back down and lifting the lid.\u00a0 Wistfully, he listened briefly to the lovely tune and hoped it would help Adam to sleep peacefully.\u00a0 He gazed down at Elizabeth’s son with a small sad smile before departing Adam’s room.<\/p>\n

Bewildered and confused by his father’s tender actions, Adam watched his father’s departing back as he exited his room, before allowing the comforting music to lull him into sleep.<\/p>\n

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

The next morning after breakfast, found Ben Cartwright once again in Adam’s room.\u00a0 With great care he was seeing to the changing of his son’s bandages.\u00a0 Gingerly he removed the wrappings, then massaged Adam’s legs to alleviate the muscle cramping before replacing the dressings.<\/p>\n

Though it was painful, Adam observed his father and the way his touch soothed and eased the ache in his legs.\u00a0 His father’s attention and loving actions were comforting, yet puzzling to the young boy.\u00a0 Adam continued to ponder why his father was being so kind, and wondered if he might be wrong about him.<\/p>\n

When Ben completed the task of replacing the bandages on Adam’s arm and legs, he resettled his son in the bed and propped him up against the headboard.\u00a0 Once he felt his son was comfortable, Ben sat down on the bed next to Adam to face his son.<\/p>\n

Adam watched as his father sat down beside him, and once again cast his eyes downward, and began to twiddle with the bindings on his arm.<\/p>\n

Ben decided it was time for him and Adam to talk about what had happened and if possible, to make amends.\u00a0 Wanting his son’s full attention, Ben reached out and placed a hand onto either side of his son’s face, he gently lifted Adam’s head to face him.\u00a0 He smiled slightly when he noticed that Adam still kept his eyes downward.<\/p>\n

“Look at me son.”\u00a0 Ben instructed patiently and waited for Adam to comply.<\/p>\n

A few moments passed before Adam raised his eyes and looked uncertainly into his father’s face.<\/p>\n

“That’s better.”\u00a0 Ben said warmly.<\/p>\n

Adam looked at the dark eyes that seemed to bore right through him.\u00a0 He wanted to look away, but found they commanded his full attention.<\/p>\n

“Talk to me son.\u00a0 I want you to tell me what is troubling you.”<\/p>\n

Adam hesitated, unable to voice the hurt and betrayal he still felt.<\/p>\n

Seeing his son’s hesitancy, Ben took a deep breath before speaking.<\/p>\n

“I’m sorry son if I’ve hurt you in anyway.\u00a0 I’ve never meant to hurt you.\u00a0 Can you forgive me?”<\/p>\n

Adam shrugged minimally in response to his father’s request.\u00a0 He was confused and unsure what to do.<\/p>\n

“Tell me Adam, tell me what I can do to make this right with you.”\u00a0 Ben hoped that Adam would finally open up to him.<\/p>\n

“I want, I want to go and live with Grandfather Stoddard.”\u00a0 Adam said quietly, dropping his gaze once again to the quilt that covered him.<\/p>\n

Though Adam was now uncertain if that was the right thing to do, it was the decision he’d made a few days before and felt he should stick to it.\u00a0 He didn’t know what else to say to his father.<\/p>\n

Ben felt a cold knife stabbing through his heart over his son’s request.\u00a0 He couldn’t imagine a life without his firstborn son.\u00a0 He closed his eyes then inhaled deeply, before rubbing a thumb across Adam’s cheek to get him to look up at him once more.<\/p>\n

“Know this Adam, if you never know anything else in your life.\u00a0 That no matter where you are, nor how old you become, you are my son, my pride and joy, and you mean more to me than you will ever know.”\u00a0 With that said, Ben pulled Adam’s head towards him and kissed his forehead.<\/p>\n

Adam saw the tears in his father’s eyes, and felt tears begin to well in his own.\u00a0 He was even more confused, and wondered if he’d made the wrong decision.\u00a0 But now that it was said, how could he take the words back.<\/p>\n

“Adam, whenever you’ve made a mistake, haven’t I always given you a chance to make it right?”\u00a0 Ben simply asked, deciding to try another avenue to reason with his son.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded curiously in response.<\/p>\n

“Would you please consider giving me a chance to correct this one?”\u00a0 Ben inquired, hoping he’d planted the right seed in Adam’s analytical mind.<\/p>\n

Seeing no immediate response, Ben prodded. “Please, just think about it?”<\/p>\n

Meekly, Adam shrugged his shoulders, then nodded slightly.<\/p>\n

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

At noon and with picnic basket in hand, Marie escorted a very excited and happy Hoss into Adam’s bedroom.\u00a0 She retrieved a red and white checkered tablecloth from the basket and spread it across Adam’s bed.\u00a0 She watched while Hoss crawled up onto the bed and settled himself near the footboard to face his brother, she winked at his glowing face.\u00a0 Leaving the basket near Adam, she turned and strolled from the room.<\/p>\n

Both boys watched their happy stepmother exit the room before eagerly diving into the contents of the picnic basket.\u00a0 The afternoon was spent enjoying sandwiches, apples and sugar cookies while they played checkers, read books and talked about far away lands.<\/p>\n

“Adam, ya still gonna go away?”\u00a0 Hoss asked fearfully.<\/p>\n

Adam shrugged and frowned in response, he wasn’t sure what he should do.<\/p>\n

“Don’t know.”\u00a0 Adam responded when he saw Hoss’s waiting glance.\u00a0 He knew Hoss would continue to pester him until he got an answer.<\/p>\n

“If ya go, who will I have to play with?”\u00a0 Hoss asked tearfully, he knew he’d miss his big brother.<\/p>\n

Adam gave a small smile and shrugged, he never liked seeing his tender hearted little brother hurt in any way.<\/p>\n

“I’d miss ya somethin’ terrible Adam, and so would Pa.\u00a0 Please don’t go.”\u00a0 Hoss pleaded seeing the uncertainty in Adam’s face.<\/p>\n

“I let ya have this here cookie iffen ya stay.”\u00a0 Hoss offered, holding out the last sugar cookie to his brother.<\/p>\n

Adam gave his brother a shy small smile, then grinned broadly.\u00a0 Reaching out, he took the cookie from the chubby little hand.<\/p>\n

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

The following day was the first day that Adam was allowed out of bed since the attack.\u00a0 Rising early, he dressed in the new jeans and checkered shirt his stepmother had left out for him to wear.\u00a0 He was pleased to find that Marie had already washed the jeans to make them softer on his legs.\u00a0 But he wasn’t pleased to find them several inches too long in length.\u00a0 He blushed deeply when Marie chuckled at his predicament, before rolling the pants legs up to form cuffs.<\/p>\n

Adam still objected to most of his father and stepmother’s attempts to help him.\u00a0 Anticipating Adam’s resistance, his father had fashioned a pair of crutches to help support his injured legs, which would provide him with more freedom around the house and yard.<\/p>\n

Apprehensively, Ben watched while Adam maneuvered his way from the house into the yard with his brother, Hoss.\u00a0 He and Marie followed at a safe distance to watch their sons.<\/p>\n

Adam struggled with the awkward crutches and his stiff and painful legs.\u00a0 But Hoss had insisted there was something outside that he needed to see so off he went, following behind his very excited little brother.\u00a0 Adam kept his full attention on the steps to the porch to avoid tripping, as Hoss ran off towards the corral.\u00a0 Once he’d successfully completed that obstacle, he looked up to find his brother.<\/p>\n

Looking across the yard, he saw the most beautiful sight to a little boy’s eyes.\u00a0 There, dancing back and forth in the corral was his pretty little filly, Lady.\u00a0 Forgetting all about his injured legs, Adam dropped the crutches and attempted to run.\u00a0 He made it a few yards before his feet failed him, and he fell almost face first into the dirt near the corral.<\/p>\n

Ben beamed as he saw Adam’s reaction to seeing his little horse, then watched in horror as Adam stumbled.\u00a0 Racing forward, he reached his son just as Adam struggled to stand.\u00a0 With great care, he easily lifted his son from the ground and into his arms.\u00a0 Looking his son over to insure he hadn’t injured himself further, he found a very elated Adam with a broad smile brightening his handsome face.\u00a0 Without a word, Ben felt two arms encircle his neck and squeeze tightly.\u00a0 Returning the loving embrace of his son, Ben knew that he had gotten his second chance.
\nThe End<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0Ben brings Marie to the Ponderosa, and causes a rift between him and his young son. Will Adam ever forgive him?<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0 G\u00a0 (12,150 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10520,"featured_media":5719,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1016,23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-pa","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-1016-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":3265,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Marie.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5440,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5440","url_meta":{"origin":14991,"position":0},"title":"A Rose For Marie (by deansgirl)","author":"deansgirl","date":"May 1, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Adam finally learns to accept Marie as his mother.\u00a0 A special Mother's Day story, the companion story to Forever Ben Cartwright Rated:\u00a0K+ (2,850 words) Ben and Marie Series, links to all the stories within the series included.","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Marie.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Marie.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Marie.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5967,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5967","url_meta":{"origin":14991,"position":1},"title":"Naming the Newest Cartwright (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"July 3, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a09th story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 The Cartwrights try to decide on a name for the coming baby Rating: K+ Word Count=2542 The Battle of Wills series, links to all the stories within the series included.","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":36476,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=36476","url_meta":{"origin":14991,"position":2},"title":"Second Son (by Sierras)","author":"Sierras","date":"May 31, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Marie feels fear after the birth of her son, Joseph. Can she hold him forever? Rating: G Word Count: 764","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45759,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=45759","url_meta":{"origin":14991,"position":3},"title":"Ponderosa Christmas (by Judy)","author":"Judy","date":"April 17, 2000","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 An afternoon spent preparing for Christmas Rating:\u00a0 PG\u00a0 (1,085 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14352,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=14352","url_meta":{"origin":14991,"position":4},"title":"Love Has Eyes (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Adam didn't lie to his father, but Marie wasn't so sure that her stepson wouldn't lie to her. word count: 1407 Rating\u00a0 PG for references to mature subjects and corporal punishment","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Marie.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Marie.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Marie.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":63043,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=63043","url_meta":{"origin":14991,"position":5},"title":"Life’s Hazards (by JoanS.)","author":"JoanS","date":"June 11, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Marie is worried about the dangers out west. 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