{"id":15337,"date":"2017-10-29T17:01:42","date_gmt":"2017-10-29T21:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15337"},"modified":"2026-03-19T10:33:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T14:33:01","slug":"when-worlds-collide-by-jc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15337","title":{"rendered":"When Worlds Collide (By JC)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Unexpected guests arrive at the Ponderosa on Halloween night. Written for the Michael Landon 2017 Birthday Challenge, it includes a\u00a0re-imagining of events depicted in “The Strange One” (Season 7).<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (3702 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Author’s Note:\u00a0 I love to write stories like this occasionally if for no other reason than to remind myself not to take “me” too seriously. Remember, this is AU (which to me means almost anything goes), and if you’re wondering whether or not there is a sister in this one, the best answer is “it depends.” Explanation offered in this crossover of a ‘different’ kind. Readers with a quirky sense of humor, sally forth and conquer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

(Any resemblance to the\u00a0Ties That Bind<\/a> series is unfortunately unavoidable. The author has agreed not to sue.\u00a0 Just sayin’…)<\/p>\n

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WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was a dark and stormy night, October 31, 1860-something, and the Cartwrights had just settled in for the evening. The inclement weather had deterred even the most intrepid trick or treaters, leaving Joe and Hoss with the happy dilemma of what to do with all the Halloween goodies Hop Sing had diligently prepared.<\/p>\n

They were halfway through a five gallon bucket of popcorn balls when Joe heard a noise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Hoss was sucking popcorn kernels from his teeth.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t hear nothin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pa glanced up from his Rancher’s Almanac. \u201cIt was probably just the wind. Feet off the furniture, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe complied with an eye roll he made sure his father didn\u2019t see. \u201cThere it is again. I think someone\u2019s at the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this weather?\u201d Pa looked doubtful.<\/p>\n

Joe pried the popcorn bucket from Hoss and unlatched the door to greet their Halloween guests. Two dark figures stood on the porch.\u00a0 \u201cAren\u2019t you a little old for trick or treating?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery funny,\u201d said the tall one. \u201cDidn\u2019t you hear me knocking?\u00a0 Boy, I sure didn\u2019t see this storm coming. It blew up out of nowhere about the time we got in view of the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bucket slipped from Joe\u2019s hand. \u201cAdam, is that you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, it\u2019s me. Stop being a wise guy and let us in, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, sure, of course!\u201d<\/p>\n

By this time Pa and Hoss had joined them, and everyone was trying to talk at once.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to have you home again, son,\u201d Pa beamed as he embraced him.\u00a0 \u201cI knew you couldn\u2019t stay away forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome back, brother,\u201d said Hoss, grinning and clapping him on the shoulder. \u201cWhere\u2019ve you been all this time, anyhow?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked confused. \u201cSacramento. You knew that\u2019s where I went.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo foolin\u2019?\u00a0 When we didn\u2019t hear from you we thought maybe you\u2019d drowned at sea or somethin\u2019,\u201d said Joe. \u201cHow many years has it been now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about? It\u2019s only been two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u00a0 It certainly seemed a lot longer,\u201d said Pa. \u201cAnd who is this lovely young lady?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe was about to ask the same question as Adam removed her dripping cape.\u00a0 He saw the worried look that passed between them before she answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m your daughter, don\u2019t you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s face lit up like the sunrise on Lake Tahoe, with a smile as wide as the sky. \u201cWell, this is the best news! I\u2019ve always wanted a daughter. Welcome to the family, my dear! I was beginning to think none of my boys would ever get married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, why didn\u2019t you write and let us know you were gettin\u2019 hitched, you sly old dawg?\u201d Hoss chucked him on the arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cCradle robber\u2019s more like it,\u201d said Joe, thinking she looked awfully young. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name, little sis?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes were wide. \u201cAdam…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s weird,\u201d said Joe. \u201cDoesn\u2019t it get confusing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, no more games,” Adam groused.\u00a0 “I\u2019m wet, and none of this is funny!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, are you married or not?\u201d Joe demanded.<\/p>\n

The response he received was a withering glare.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes that mean no?\u201d<\/p>\n

Pa frowned.\u00a0 \u201cIf you\u2019re not married, then why would you risk this young lady\u2019s reputation by squiring her around the countryside late at night without a chaperone?\u00a0 I raised you better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. \u201cI have no idea what\u2019s going on here, but for sanity\u2019s sake, this \u2018young lady\u2019 is my sister, your daughter, Jillian Cartwright, and unless everyone has gone stark raving mad since I left here, you know that!\u201d\u00a0 His voice went up an octave at the end, and in Joe’s experience that meant he was ready to spit nails.<\/p>\n

Hoss looked appropriately shocked, but Pa looked a little nervous when he asked, \u201cUm, who is your mother, dear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie Cartwright,\u201d she answered in a small voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWrong!\u201d exclaimed Joe. \u201cMarie was MY mother. You\u2019re just an imposter trying to steal our inheritance!\u201d<\/p>\n

The girl burst into tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, you mean old thing, you done made her cry,\u201d said Hoss, scowling at him. \u201cHere, doll\u2014use my handkerchief.\u00a0 You\u2019re gonna ruin your pretty blue dress.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sniffled. \u201cThank you, but I don\u2019t own any blue dresses.\u00a0 I\u2019m not allowed to wear them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I hate to break it to ya, but that\u2019s as blue as any dress I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n

A look of horror crept over her face as she examined her attire.\u00a0 \u201cNOOO!\u201d\u00a0 She glanced wildly around the room.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a dream, that\u2019s all it is.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to wake up in the morning in my own bed and everything is going to be just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Jilly. We\u2019ll get to the bottom of this one way or another.\u201d\u00a0 Adam guided her over to a chair and sat her down.<\/p>\n

The four men stared at each other, waiting for someone to speak. Adam shifted his gaze to the room, frowning as he surveyed the four walls.\u00a0 \u201cThis isn\u2019t right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat isn’t right?\u201d asked Pa.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis room. The stairs are on the wrong side.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re right where they\u2019ve always been,\u201d said Pa. \u00a0\u201cJust the way you designed it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI designed it, but not this way.\u00a0 This is a mirror image of my design. Everything here is backwards. You see it, don\u2019t you, Jilly?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d Poor kid, she looked like a scared little rabbit.\u00a0 Joe was beginning to feel sorry for her, imposter or not.<\/p>\n

Pa frowned. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you what else don\u2019t make sense,\u201d said Hoss. \u201cAdam, didn\u2019t you say the storm hit just about the time you got here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe knew exactly what Hoss was getting at.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s been storming here for two hours, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow could that be?\u00a0 We had a clear sky and a full moon all the way from town, and suddenly there was a thunderclap and a burst of lightning\u2014so close it made my hair stand on end.\u00a0 After that it was a like a curtain dropped, and then the rain.\u201d He looked around the room again. \u201cWhat the heck is happening?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know, but ever since we brought that spooky gal in here, things just ain\u2019t been right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat spooky gal?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one upstairs with Doc Martin.\u00a0 Me ‘n Joe found her passed out in the bushes while we was out huntin\u2019 the other day so we brought her home. She knew all kinds of things that nobody even told her, and then she kept hollerin\u2019 somethin\u2019 about a fish and an arrow that didn\u2019t make no sense at all. Like I said, spooky.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTirza?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNO,\u201d said Joe, \u201cand NEVER say that name in this house again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s Tirza?\u201d asked Jilly.<\/p>\n

Joe narrowed his eyes at her. \u201cShe Who Must Not Be Named \u2013 didn\u2019t you hear me?\u00a0 Sheesh, you\u2019re somebody\u2019s little sister, all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

She returned the frown. \u201cI don\u2019t think I like you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ll admit, our guest is a rather strange young woman,\u201d said Pa. \u201cShe can\u2019t help the fact that she\u2019s different. Second sight is both a gift and a curse. Her own people turned her out because they didn\u2019t understand her. Fear of what they don\u2019t understand often leads folks to do things they soon regret.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, do you believe in that stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, I may not understand it, but I can\u2019t dismiss it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither can I,\u201d said Dr. Paul Martin, descending the stairs.\u00a0 \u201cIn fact, I think this woman is clairvoyant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cClaire who?\u00a0 She told us her name was Marie,\u201d Hoss frowned.\u00a0 \u201cThat makes her spooky AND a liar. I say we get rid of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cClairvoyant is not a person\u2019s name. \u00a0I\u2019ve read a little bit about it. It means someone who has the ability to see things before they happen. Or sometimes they may see things that have already happened even if they have no prior knowledge of them,\u201d Adam explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was going to say that.\u201d\u00a0 The good doctor sounded a little perturbed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d better be quick if you want to beat Mr. Know-It-All,\u201d Joe grumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is she?\u201d asked Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer ankle is improving, but I’m afraid she has a terrible case of low self-esteem.\u00a0 My recommendation is a healthy dose of Cartwright hospitality for the next few days, at least. And a parcel of land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can manage that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Martin turned to Adam. \u201cSo the prodigal has finally returned, eh? It\u2019s good to see you, Adam. It\u2019s been a long time.\u00a0 And who is this young lady?\u201d<\/p>\n

Just then spooky Marie came hobbling down the stairs.\u00a0 She stopped in front of Adam, and her big eyes grew larger as she stared at him. \u201cFish\u2026and arrow\u2026and something black! Danger…beware!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee what I mean? No sense at all,\u201d said Hoss, shaking his head.<\/p>\n

Spooky Marie persisted. \u201cFish\u2026in the stars, and \u2026arrow in the lightning!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd something black, huh,\u201d said Joe, \u201cor maybe, someone IN black?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s wearin\u2019 black.\u201d Hoss crunched down on another popcorn ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly,\u201d said Joe, folding his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that got to do with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know\u2014you\u2019re supposed to be the smart one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should not be here!\u201d Spooky Marie warned Adam. \u201cYou do not belong. She does not belong.\u201d She pointed to Jilly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel funny\u2026\u201d Jilly murmured.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me take a look at you,\u201d said the doctor. \u201cHmm. \u00a0Her pulse is thready, and her skin is clammy.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like the look of things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe it\u2019s the blue dress,\u201d Joe surmised. He\u2019d had a bad feeling about it from the start.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s more than that,\u201d said Dr. Martin. \u201cWho is she, by the way?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam screwed up his face, looking a little constipated.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a long story, and you\u2019re probably not going to believe it, but I\u2019ll try to make it quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a rather fantastic tale,\u201d said Dr. Martin afterwards.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew you wouldn\u2019t believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say that. I\u2019ve known you for a long time, Adam, so I\u2019m inclined to believe you on that basis alone. I do know there are a lot of things in this world that defy rational explanation.\u00a0 I wonder\u2026 Have you ever heard of something called a parallel universe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean an alternative reality where a nearly identical world exists at the same time in a different dimension?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked.<\/p>\n

His family stared at him.<\/p>\n

Dr. Martin looked surprised. \u201cYes. So you have heard of it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m just a really good guesser.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it has certainly never been proven,\u201d said the doctor. \u201cBut in theory, that\u2019s how it could be explained\u2014parallel worlds, each with a Cartwright family, with at least one apparent major difference, and possibly more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut which one is real?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth of them, though your reality is the one into which you were born.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a daughter,\u201d Pa said wistfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, not exactly. She was born into the other reality, as was this Adam. Where is your Adam, by the way?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know,\u201d said Joe. \u201cWe haven\u2019t heard from him in at least two years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d said Pa. \u201cThis Adam is just as good. He and Jilly can stay here. We have plenty of room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may not be possible,\u201d said the doctor. \u201cPerhaps Adam could stay, but Jilly doesn\u2019t exist here, and she seems to be fading.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss dropped his popcorn ball on the floor.\u00a0 \u201cOh, Lordy!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes doubled in size. \u201cNow that\u2019s what I call spooky!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jilly had fallen asleep in the blue chair, which was clearly visible through her transparent body.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d\u00a0 Adam exclaimed.<\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s tone was both demanding and pleading. \u201cPaul, for the love of Zachary Pete Taylor, can’t you do something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, I\u2019m a doctor, not a metaphysics expert!\u201d<\/p>\n

Aroused by the commotion, Jilly sat up, fully materialized. \u201cWhy is everyone shouting?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were about to disappear, that\u2019s why,\u201d said Joe.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d stay awake if I were you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam directed a frown at Joe.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s no need to scare her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe scare her?\u00a0 She\u2019s the one scaring me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all right\u2014we\u2019ll figure it out,\u201d Adam assured her.\u00a0 \u201cStop yawning!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m so tired\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul, what happens if she\u2026you know\u2026\u201d asked Pa.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, like I said, I\u2019m not an expert, but my guess is one of two things.\u00a0 Either she goes back to her own reality\u2026or\u2026not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean, like \u2018poof\u2019?\u201d asked Joe, sweeping his hands in the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cPossibly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, ‘poof’ is not an option\u2026not on my watch! If I don\u2019t get her home, I\u2019ll be in real trouble with my other Pa.\u00a0 You, Miss Clairvoyant,\u201d Adam gestured to Spooky Marie.\u00a0 \u201cYou must know something about this. What was all that business about the fish in the sky and the arrow in the lightning?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd somethin\u2019 black\u2014don\u2019t forget that,\u201d added Hoss with a frown, indicating his continued mistrust of their unusual house guest.<\/p>\n

\u201cFish in the stars,\u201d she corrected Adam. \u201cI do not know what it means.\u00a0 I only know what I see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that\u2019s a big help,\u201d said Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cFish in the stars,\u201d mused the doctor.\u00a0 \u201cCould that be Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cPisces is a constellation first catalogued by the Greco-Roman astronomer Ptolemy; in Latin it means \u2018the fishes\u2019,\u201d Adam explained.\u00a0 \u201cI studied that in college.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe smirked. \u201cOf course you did. \u00a0But what does it mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, but coincidentally, the sky was full of stars tonight. In fact, I was pointing out the Big Dipper to Jilly when we saw the lightning\u2014a glimmer at first, followed by a big flash. And then the stars were gone. It was pitch black. For a second there was nothing, and then we were in the middle of the storm.\u00a0 It was almost like coming out of a tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I think you\u2019ve hit on something.\u00a0\u00a0 Imagine this\u2014the heavens and the elements clicking into place like tumblers in a lock, creating a momentary ripple in the universe.\u201d The doctor paused before continuing. \u201cPerhaps you and Jilly just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat could explain how we got here, but right now I\u2019m more concerned about how to get back.\u00a0 We can\u2019t go the way we came, can we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt may be possible,\u201d said Spooky Marie, in an eerie tone. \u201cThere are many doors open on All Hallows Eve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, so what do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake the road back just as you came.\u00a0 You must be at the place where you met the storm when the moon is in the Seventh House and Jupiter aligns with Mars.\u201d*<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen is that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwenty minutes, give or take.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter hurry, Adam,\u201d said Joe. \u201cShe\u2019s goin’ out again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJilly, wake up!\u201d<\/p>\n

She blinked and yawned.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m up. You don\u2019t have to yell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYell, yell, yell\u2014everybody in this family yell!\u201d Hop Sing entered from the kitchen and handed Jilly a small paper sack. \u201cYou take donuts in case you get hungry. Hop Sing\u2019s best recipe, very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d She peeked inside the sack and smiled. \u201cThese are my favorite. How did you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodbye, my dear.\u201d Pa kissed her tenderly on the cheek.\u00a0 \u201cIf I did have a daughter, I\u2019d want her to be just like you.\u201d He turned to Adam. \u201cI know it\u2019s selfish of me, but I wish you didn\u2019t have to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Pa,\u201d Adam assured him.\u00a0 \u201cI have a feeling the other Adam will be home soon. He couldn\u2019t stay away forever any more than I could.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure I am. And, uh, when he does come back, maybe you should consider giving him a freer hand around the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pa’s eyebrows lifted. \u201cI\u2019ll give it some thought.\u00a0 Good luck, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe followed them outside to the buggy. The horses seemed anxious, but at least the rain had let up.<\/p>\n

\u201cJilly, I\u2019m sorry I was mean before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry I said I didn\u2019t like you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe other Joe, where you\u2019re from\u2014what\u2019s he like?\u201d<\/p>\n

A corner of her mouth turned up. \u201cHe\u2019s a lot like you, actually\u2014sort of a wise guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you two get along?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, very well.\u201d<\/p>\n

She had a great smile, he decided. It was the kind you can see in a person’s eyes when they really mean it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad. So long, little sis,\u201d he grinned.\u00a0 \u201cTake her home, Adam, and take good care of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do my best. Stay outta trouble, Joe,\u201d he called over his shoulder as the team lunged forward into the night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll try.\u201d Can’t promise, though.<\/em><\/p>\n

The front door creaked open behind him. \u201cCome on in, Joe.\u00a0 We\u2019re about to play charades\u2014you, me, \u2018n Pa against Hop Sing, Doc, and Spooky.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAw, Hoss\u2014I don\u2019t feel like charades, not tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, it\u2019ll be fun, and we need you.\u00a0 You\u2019re the best player.\u00a0 Come on, Joe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The sound of his name roused him.\u00a0 \u201cWhat? Is it my turn?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour turn for what?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought we were playin\u2019 charades. Where is everybody?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou musta been dreamin\u2019. \u00a0Pa\u2019s in the kitchen, Hop Sing\u2019s gone to bed, and Adam\u2019s in Sacramento.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s in Sacramento?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, don\u2019t you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess it was a dream.\u00a0 Did you eat all those popcorn balls?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNaw, there\u2019s plenty left.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pa came back from the kitchen with a cup of coffee and settled in his chair to read his new Rancher\u2019s Almanac.\u00a0 \u201cFeet off the furniture, Joe. How many times do I have to remind you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was still raining, as it had been all evening.\u00a0 Joe was trying to recall the rest of his dream before it slipped away entirely when he heard a noise.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d \u00a0Hoss was licking powdered sugar from his fingers as he polished off another of Hop Sing\u2019s donuts. “I didn’t hear nothin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMust have been the wind,\u201d said Pa, glancing up from his reading.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere it is again. Someone\u2019s at the door,\u201d said Joe. An odd feeling washed over him.<\/p>\n

Pa looked doubtful. \u201cWho on earth would be out in this weather?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I know who.\u201d\u00a0 Joe opened the door.\u00a0 \u201cAdam, it is you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it\u2019s me.\u00a0 Didn\u2019t you hear me knocking?\u00a0 Let me in, I\u2019m soaked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be a wise guy, of course I\u2019m alone.\u00a0 Who would be with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe weren\u2019t expectin\u2019 you back so soon,\u201d said Hoss.<\/p>\n

\u201cI finished early, no need to hang around.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we\u2019re certainly glad to have you home, but you could have stayed in town tonight and avoided the storm,\u201d said Pa.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t raining in town, just a few clouds. I had no idea I\u2019d be riding through a gully washer or I would have stayed. Did I mention the lightning?\u00a0 It was like nothing I\u2019d ever seen. Boy, am I starved. Is there anything in the kitchen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s some stew left.\u00a0 I\u2019ll have it warm for you by the time you get into some dry clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa.\u00a0 That sounds great. What is it, Joe? You\u2019ve been staring at me like I\u2019ve got two heads ever since I walked in the door.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, I just woke up. Guess I’m still a little groggy.\u201d\u00a0 He shook off the dream. Dreams had nothing to do with real life, he reminded himself, no matter the similarities. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, so am I.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Adam\u2014you didn’t meet any haints on the road tonight, did ya? It is Halloween, ya know,\u201d Hoss grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cFunny you should ask, because something did spook me a little, at least at first. That big black stud that belongs to the Jameson brothers must’ve gotten loose during the storm; he nearly ran me off the road.\u00a0 I saw that fish and arrow brand plain as day in the lightning before he shot off like a bat outta hell. He is one prime piece of horse flesh. I sure wish he was ours. Hoss, do you think they\u2019d sell him?\u201d<\/p>\n

His family\u2019s chatter wafted from the kitchen along with the aroma of simmering stew, coffee, and cider; and Joe inhaled it all, there on the sofa in front of the crackling fire.\u00a0 He smiled as he closed his eyes. \u00a0Outside, the storm held steady, but in the great room of the Ponderosa ranch house, at that moment, all was right with the world.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Epilogue<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next day, Hoss returned from town with a wagon load of supplies and the mail, plus one item that was not on anyone\u2019s list.<\/p>\n

It appeared to be a woman\u2019s cape.<\/p>\n

\u201cI found it right where I turned onto the main road.\u00a0 I reckon it must\u2019ve belonged to somebody passin\u2019 through.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks like the rain got the best of it, but I\u2019d say this was a pretty expensive garment, so whoever lost it was probably a person of some means,\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 \u201cThere are initials embroidered in the lining\u2026JMC.\u00a0 Joe, do you have any idea who that might be?\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head slowly. \u201cNo, can’t say I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

They’d have thought he was crazy if he’d said the first thing that came into his head. No, it was just a coincidence, anyway.<\/p>\n

Wasn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The end<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Happy Birthday, Mike.\u00a0 Thanks for the memories. Love you always.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you enjoyed this story, check out \u00a0A Stop at The Shady Villa (by JC)<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*From “The Age of Aquarius” — lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Bonanza character acknowledgements: “Spooky” Marie appeared in “The Strange One” (Season 7) written by Stephen Lord and Jo Pagano, on which this story is based in part.\u00a0 Aficionados will recall Tirza from “Dark Star” (Season 1) written by Anthony Lawrence.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, Family, Hop Sing, Hoss Cartwright, Jilly Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright, Paul Martin, Sister<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0Unexpected guests arrive at the Ponderosa on Halloween night.\u00a0Includes a\u00a0re-imagining of events depicted in “The Strange One” (Season 7).<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 K+ (3702 words)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10253,"featured_media":4581,"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":[7,1008,4,61,29,27,40],"tags":[408,1334],"class_list":["post-15337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-u","category-family","category-humor","category-missing-scene","category-halloween","category-whi","category-challenges","tag-mlblc","tag-the-strange-one","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-4-id","wpcat-61-id","wpcat-29-id","wpcat-27-id","wpcat-40-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2097,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Calamity-on-the-Comstock-2.jpg?fit=500%2C379&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15348,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=15348","url_meta":{"origin":15337,"position":0},"title":"Joe Cartwright – Magician! 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