{"id":36466,"date":"2021-05-30T01:09:16","date_gmt":"2021-05-30T05:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=36466"},"modified":"2025-09-25T15:38:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T19:38:35","slug":"obloquy-by-cheaux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=36466","title":{"rendered":"Obloquy (by Cheaux)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 Ben is compelled to defend Marie’s honor.\u00a0 A prequel written for the Mother’s Day Challenge. Events and people occuring in the episode Marie, My Love<\/em> (Season 4, Episode 20) are referenced.<\/p>\n

Rating:\u00a0 T<\/p>\n

Word Count:\u00a0 1900<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Jack Frost\u2019s paintbrush had already colored the eastern Sierra autumnal foliage red, purple, and orange by the time Indian Summer arrived, but instead of bringing hot, dry days, the weather was as humid as a bathhouse in August and just as thick. The Cartwright\u2019s one-story log cabin home still retained the heat of the day and there was no air movement in the alcove of the great room that housed Ben and Marie\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

In her third trimester, Marie was beyond uncomfortable.\u00a0 It was not that the circumference of her womb was too great; in fact if anything, she was mildly concerned that she was smaller than usual at this stage of pregnancy. With her first child, she had been as big as a house nearly halfway through her term, but now at nearly eight months she had let out her waistband no more than a couple of inches. No, tonight it was not size that was troubling; it was that she was hot, sticky and ludicrously swollen.<\/p>\n

Try as she might, sleep would not come.\u00a0 Absentmindedly, she traced small, concentric circles on her abdomen with both hands as she ruminated that Jean, her first husband, had been a large man and his son would no doubt have taken after him if he had lived.\u00a0 But Ben was also tall, and it stood to reason that his child would be big also.\u00a0Just look at Hoss!<\/em>\u00a0 Marie shuddered at the very thought, wondering how Inger had ever survived out on the prairie with no doctor at hand.\u00a0Mon Dieu!<\/em><\/p>\n

The baby answered her plea with a swift, Herculean kick.\u00a0Petit mais fougueux<\/em>! Small but feisty!<\/p>\n

Cradling her stomach with both hands she rolled to her side, curling into herself and panted until the spasm was over.\u00a0 Je vous salue Marie, pleine de gr\u00e2ce.<\/em>\u00a0 Hail Mary, full of grace.<\/em>\u00a0 When the pain eased, she raised her chin toward Ben and shifted her position slightly in order to watch the rise and fall of his barrel chest. Gently, she wove her fingers through the mat of black curls adorning his torso and, closing her eyes, matched her breathing to his.<\/p>\n

At some point she must have dozed for when she awoke, Ben had already left their bed to do morning chores. \u00a0She pulled on her robe and walked barefoot towards the kitchen, stopping by the small bedroom to check on the boys.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s bunk was empty, but Hoss was still sound asleep. She untangled his legs from the light summer quilt and rolled him over to stop the soft snores.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing had left the coffee pot on the dining table along with a pictogram of a crudely drawn tree and a basket.\u00a0 She poured a cup and nestled in the blue wingtip chair by the fireplace drawing her feet under the folds of her robe.<\/p>\n

Without warning, Ben burst into the house slamming the heavy front door into the credenza and stomped through the great room to where his desk was, oblivious to her presence. Since their marriage, Marie had rarely seen her husband in such a fury. The energy with which Ben tore open the drawer was so forceful that he upended it causing its contents to drop to the hardwood floor with a thud.\u00a0 Furious, he flung the drawer to the side, picked up a rosewood box with both hands, and placed it in the middle of his desk.<\/p>\n

Shaking with rage, Ben opened the lid and beheld its contents.<\/p>\n

Marie closed her eyes, visualizing the two French dueling pistols nestled in the purple velvet lining along with a powder horn and a bullet mold.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarius,\u201d they whispered in tandem, although neither heard the other over the shouts coming from Adam has he ran into the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa! Pa!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben snapped the lid shut and tucked the box protectively under his arm.\u00a0 \u201cGet out of my way,\u201d he growled, pushing past his eldest son and continuing out the door, blind to the fact that his actions caused the tall, lanky twelve-year-old to topple.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, you can\u2019t do this!\u201d Adam yelled, his arms windmilling in a vain attempt to regain his balance before landing on his backside.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, but I can, and I will!\u201d Ben\u2019s voice drifted through the open door as he mounted and spurred his horse into a gallop without so much as a backward glance.<\/p>\n

Marie unfolded her legs and moved quickly to her stepson\u2019s side, helping him stand. \u201cQue s’est-il pass\u00e9? <\/em>\u00a0What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam, embarrassed by his outburst started to turn away but when he felt his stepmother sway, chagrin turned to concern, and his hands reached out to steady her.\u00a0 \u201cAre you all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJe me suis lev\u00e9 trop vite.<\/em>\u00a0 I stooped quick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam chuckled. \u201cI think you meant you stood up too quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOui<\/em>,\u201d she said again, drawing a large breath and letting it out slowly. \u201cWe teach each other, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOui<\/em>,\u201d Adam said. \u201cCome sit down. Do you want some water?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIl fait chaud, n’est-ce pas?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it is very warm. I\u2019ll be right back. Ah.. Je reviens tout de suite?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBien.\u201d Marie continued to breathe in and out slowly only opening her eyes when she felt a glass pressed against her hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cMerci, mon fils<\/em>,\u201d she said after taking a long drink of cool water. \u00a0She set the glass down on the low plank table hand hewn by her husband. Marie stroked the smooth finish with her fingertips marveling at the depth of color he had achieved with walnut and linseed oil. \u00a0She sighed and sat upright with her back straight and her hands folded in her lap.<\/p>\n

\u201cDites-moi pourquoi ton p\u00e8re \u00e9tait en col\u00e8re ce matin.<\/em> Tell me why your father was angry this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s lips parted, and his eyes darted from side to side, but he remained rooted to the spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it because of what happen at the Gathering?\u201d she asked, watching, slightly bemused, as Adam weighed his words. She\u2019d seen the same concentration on her stepson\u2019s face when he played chess\u2014hovering his hand above each piece thinking four or five moves ahead in order to determine the best course of action.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what he was thinking,\u201d he said at last, placing the onus on himself rather than betraying his father.<\/p>\n

But Marie knew exactly what her husband had been thinking. Marius and that damn southern culture of honor. Hadn\u2019t they agreed to leave that all behind when Ben asked her to come west with him?<\/p>\n

On the way home from the Gathering she had told Ben about the incident only in passing, commenting that it was the last time she would attend until after the baby was born.\u00a0 Held on the first Saturday of every month at Washoe Lake, the mountain men, trappers, Paiutes, Shoshoni, and the few settlors in the area gathered to shares news and gossip, and trade goods. With no towns within 100 miles, it was the only means of procuring the supplies needed for the long winter ahead.<\/p>\n

She omitted the way the trader named Bouchard had treated her. Never mentioned she was charged more than others. Never told Ben the names he called her behind her back. Of course, the trader wasn\u2019t the first person to cast aspersions about her character or to utter vicious insinuations about her pregnancy to anyone with earshot\u2014or beyond.<\/p>\n

The problem yesterday was that Bouchard had done so within Hoss\u2019s hearing.\u00a0 At age six, the boy hadn\u2019t fully understood the meaning of the words spoken, but he had heard the snickers, had seen his big brother\u2019s red cheeks and balled fists, had seen her wipe hot tears from her cheeks, and he had clung to her side the rest of the day.<\/p>\n

When Ben demanded to know why Hoss had been so upset, Marie spoke only of rude behavior, but left out specifics.<\/p>\n

They had arrived home well after dark and there was stock to be tended, food to prepare, and baths to be taken, so the subject was forgotten. Or so Marie had thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam? Is there more?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI-I told Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTold him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we were doing chores.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t lie, Marie. He asked me straight out and … and I told him.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThat Bouchard called you … a whore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMon Dieu!<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 Marie wrapped her arms around her torso and rocked forward and back. \u201cSainte Marie, M\u00e8re de Dieu, priez pour nous.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMarie?\u201d Adam asked, unsure why his step mother was asking for the Virgin Mary to pray for her.\u00a0 Was it because of what he had said, or ….<\/p>\n

\u201cMama! Are you all right? Is it the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJ\u2019irai bien.<\/em> I\u2019ll be fine.\u00a0 Find Hop Sing. He\u2019s in the forest collecting roots and bark.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t leave you alone!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not alone.\u00a0 Hoss is here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s six!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAllez maintenant!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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

It was late afternoon before Marie heard Ben ride in.\u00a0 Relieved, but nevertheless apprehensive, she sat up in bed and awaited his entrance.\u00a0 She smiled as Hop Sing immediately assured him that she and the child she carried were fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cBaby come own time. Stubborn like parents,\u201d he said before returning to the kitchen to prepare the evening meal.<\/p>\n

Ben grumbled something she couldn\u2019t hear and hung his hat and coat on the hook before striding firmly, if somewhat hesitantly, toward her. When he reached the bed, he stood over her, his brown eyes staring intently into hers. She matched his gaze and did not flinch.\u00a0 He drew a stool near and took her hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re well?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than well … Adam called me mama today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s wonderful!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you duel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I came to my senses before I reached the Washoe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. Am I not worth defending?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was not reluctant to defend your honor only unwilling to leave you a widow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCould you not have defeated Bouchard?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose pistols Marius gave me haven\u2019t been cleaned in years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI could have lent you my epee,\u201d she teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would have needed a broadsword like that young attorney we read about. What was his name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbraham?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that\u2019s it. Abraham Lincoln.\u00a0 From Illinois. When he was challenged to a duel last month, he chose broadswords instead of pistols.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was taller than his opponent, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy more than half a foot! He cut down an overhead tree branch with one swing of the sword to demonstrate his reach. After that, his opponent withdrew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBouchard is taller than you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded.\u00a0 \u201cNot seven inches taller, but enough so to give me pause.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLa discr\u00e9tion est la meilleure partie de la valeur.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t know how valorous I am, but your husband is most discreet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead whereupon she put her hands behind his head and pulled him into an open-mouthed, decidedly unchaste and passionate kiss.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are the boys,\u201d he gasped, unbuckling his belt.<\/p>\n

\u201cFishing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben wasted no time in removing the rest of his clothing and sliding into Marie\u2019s arms.\u00a0 \u201cRemind me to finish that upstairs bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut not now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely not now, my love.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014The End\u2014<\/p>\n

Author’s Note:\u00a0 Any misspelling or wrong use of the French words is unintentional.\u00a0 If you are a native French speaker, please PM me with corrections. Thank you.<\/p>\n

The Abraham Lincoln incident is true.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Summary:\u00a0 Ben is compelled to defend Marie’s honor.\u00a0 A prequel written for Brand’s Mother’s Day Challenge. Rating: T Word Count: 1900<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":15250,"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":[1008,30,40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","category-prequels","category-challenges","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-30-id","wpcat-40-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1001,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Marie-2.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":36485,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=36485","url_meta":{"origin":36466,"position":0},"title":"A Rose for Mama (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"April 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Adam and Hoss have a surprise for Marie Rating - K, Word Count - 748","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Hoss"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Hoss","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1090"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/A-Rose-for-Mama.png?fit=419%2C314&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":61701,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=61701","url_meta":{"origin":36466,"position":1},"title":"“I Was Hot” (by BettyHT)","author":"BettyHT","date":"January 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: This is a prequel in which Marie's grand gala for the ladies of the area is interrupted by a son in a most shocking way as two other sons cavort elsewhere. 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This story deals with the family immediately before and after Marie\u2019s death. Ben loses the children\u2019s trust when he runs off after Marie\u2019s death. 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Can Ben babysit Little Joe and prepare for his guest?","rel":"","context":"In "Humor"","block_context":{"text":"Humor","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=4"},"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":5440,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5440","url_meta":{"origin":36466,"position":4},"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":685,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=685","url_meta":{"origin":36466,"position":5},"title":"The Greatest Love Of All (by Terri)","author":"Terri","date":"July 20, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 How will Ben react to the new love in Marie's life? \u00a0\u00a0 Rated: K+ \u00a0WC 1100","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36466\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/15250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}