Summary: This is a sequel to A Young Girl’s Dream (Mary’s Story). Adam has found a new love and his children have noticed a drastic change in him.<\/p>\n
Rating: PG, Word Count: 4694<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Adam’s Changed<\/strong><\/p>\n Chapter 1<\/p>\n Eighteen-year-old Mary Cartwright finished cleaning the storeroom and went to the front to talk to Martha. Mary had been home from school for the summer. She found that Martha needed help for a while and Mary asked to work there for the summer which Martha readily agreed. She was happy to have Emma\u2019s daughter work with her.<\/p>\n Mary had been going to Vassar college in New York. She started the year before and had enjoyed it. She was taking journalism classes and astronomy. She made girlfriends at school and loved getting to spend time with them. It had been the first time in a long time she had close girlfriends. She wrote to them during the summer and they wrote to her.<\/p>\n Martha was helping a customer when Mary came to the front of the store so she started straightening the bolts of fabric. Mary had liked being busy at work. It kept her away from home. Adam had gotten married the year before to a woman named Julia Mabry. Adam felt it was time to marry again. He thought that Mary and Jimmy needed another mother. Mary didn\u2019t think so since she was seventeen and Jimmy was twelve. They could both take care of themselves. But Adam married Julia and Mary\u2019s life changed. Mary had been helping around the house one day when Julia told her that she was not going to consider Mary and Jimmy her children nor would she help them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not my flesh and blood and therefore I do not need to be called \u2018mother\u2019 by you or Jimmy,\u201d Julia said.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDid you know that Jimmy and I are not Adam\u2019s flesh and blood but he treats us as if we were?\u201d Mary retorted.<\/p>\n For that she got slapped. She tried to tell Adam but he wouldn\u2019t listen. Julia was nice and sweet around everyone else but when she was alone with Jimmy and Mary, she was not nice. Nine months later, Adam and Julia had a son they named Abel Benjamin after Adam\u2019s grandfather and father. Abel was almost a year old and the apple of his father\u2019s eye. Jimmy ended up moving to Joe\u2019s and Sarah\u2019s house to help with their two-year-old son Alexander Joseph. He was named after Sarah\u2019s father and Joe. They nicknamed him AJ. AJ loved his cousin Jimmy.<\/p>\n Mary heard the bell jingle and turned around to greet the customers. She saw that it was her Uncle Hoss and Aunt Jenny. Hoss had met Jenny at a dance last summer and they married that fall. Jenny worked as a dressmaker and continued to work even after she and Hoss were married.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, hello! What brings you two here?\u201d Mary asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve come to see you. We haven\u2019t seen you for a while and thought we\u2019d stop by,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n They gave Mary a hug.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you both. I\u2019ve been busy here and with school work. I thought I\u2019d try and write up a few articles for the newspaper and keep up with astronomy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you need a break and I think you need to come to our place for dinner tomorrow,\u201d Jenny replied. \u201cAll right, I\u2019ll come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. I\u2019ll come get you after you get off work,\u201d Jenny said.<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see you tomorrow,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n They both hugged Mary and left.<\/p>\n The next night, Mary, Hoss and Jenny were visiting during dinner.<\/p>\n \u201cHow are your classes?\u201d Jenny asked.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re really good. I\u2019m enjoying my astronomy class. Professor Mitchell is fun. She had a party at the end of the year for the students. She and her father live in a room attached to the observatory. I\u2019ve been there many times to talk to her about assignments and such. She\u2019s my favorite professor,\u201d Mary explained.<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds wonderful. Have you seen your pa lately?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n Mary\u2019s smile dropped into a frown and she looked down at her empty plate.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I haven\u2019t. Not since he got me the job at the mercantile.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was last month!\u201d Hoss said in surprise.<\/p>\n Mary nodded and fought to keep back the tears.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy hasn\u2019t he come to see you or you to see him?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n She shrugged not looking at him. She knew the reason why but didn\u2019t want to say. It was her step mother. Mary dared not say a word because she didn\u2019t know if anyone would believe her.<\/p>\n \u201cMary?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n Mary looked up at him as a lone tear escaped its bank.<\/p>\n \u201cHoney, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d he asked worriedly.<\/p>\n She shook her head not wanting to answer. They had finished and Mary got up to clear her plate and help with dishes.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, how about you talk to Mary and I\u2019ll get the dishes done,\u201d Jenny whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cIf she\u2019ll talk. I\u2019m not sure if she will or not,\u201d Hoss whispered back.<\/p>\n \u201cSure, she will. I\u2019ll shove her out of the kitchen if I have to,\u201d she said smiling.<\/p>\n Hoss chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Jenny went into the kitchen and saw Mary pump water out into the sink to start washing the dishes.<\/p>\n \u201cMary, I\u2019ll do dishes and you go talk to Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary looked at her with red swollen eyes. Jenny went to her niece and hugged her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take care of the dishes and you go talk to your uncle,\u201d Jenny said softly.<\/p>\n \u201cBut you need help with the dishes,\u201d Mary said.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I don\u2019t. Now, go talk to your uncle before I shove you out of this kitchen or take a switch to you for not obeying me,\u201d Jenny said, trying to look gruff but it made Mary laugh.<\/p>\n She nodded and wiped her eyes then walked out of the kitchen.<\/p>\n Hoss led Mary outside where they sat on the porch and looked at the stars.<\/p>\n \u201cSo why haven\u2019t you seen your pa?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n Mary sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease tell me. You used to tell me everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary looked at her uncle with tears in her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause of Julia.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about her?\u201d<\/p>\n Mary was debating on if she should tell him what her thoughts were. Would he believe her?<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s not very nice,\u201d she finally said.<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d Hoss asked surprised.<\/p>\n Mary nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cShe told me last year that she won\u2019t be taking care of Jimmy and me because we are not her flesh and blood. I \u201cShe did what?!\u201d Hoss asked angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2026she slapped me,\u201d Mary stuttered.<\/p>\n She wondered what Hoss would do.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Hoss, she doesn\u2019t care about us and neither does Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked at her in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean your pa doesn\u2019t care about you? Of course, he does. What makes you think he doesn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe hasn\u2019t written to me since I\u2019ve been to school. I get letters from the rest of the family but not him. Ever \u201cThat\u2019s because he\u2019s helping with AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, he moved there to help out but to get away from Julia and Pa. He\u2019s been writing to me about what\u2019s been going on. Julia yells at him when Pa\u2019s not around. She even hit him a few times. He tried talking to Pa but Pa wouldn’t listen. I don\u2019t know why he thought he had to marry Julia to take care of us kids. We\u2019ve been taking care of ourselves just fine since our real parents died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou two have done well since Adam adopted you two.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Hoss, watch Pa whenever the family has a get together,\u201d Mary said.<\/p>\n \u201cI will. Well, we\u2019d best get you back to town so you can get some sleep,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n The two stood and hugged. They finished helping Jenny with the dishes and cleaning up and headed to town.<\/p>\n Chapter 2<\/p>\n A few days later, Jimmy came running into the store.<\/p>\n \u201cMary!\u201d he called out.<\/p>\n Mary came out from the back.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it? Are you alright?\u201d she asked, a little worried to see her brother.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, fine. Uncle Joe said that we\u2019re going to all get together for a picnic at the lake on Saturday! Please say \u201cI don\u2019t know, Jim. I don\u2019t know if I want to see Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen come for Uncles Joe and Hoss and Grandpa. Please come, Mary. I haven\u2019t hardly seen you since you\u2019ve Mary smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, I\u2019ll be there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYippee! We\u2019ll be there at noon. We\u2019re gonna go swimming too! I gotta go and get back to school. It\u2019s recess. Bye!\u201d Jimmy ran out.<\/p>\n Martha walked up to Mary.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you going to go?\u201d Martha asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, guess I\u2019d better since Jimmy begged,\u201d Mary chuckled.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got a good brother there. Little Joe and Sarah can\u2019t stop singing his praises with how much he\u2019s been a \u201cHe\u2019s a good kid. I can\u2019t believe he\u2019s thirteen. At least with Uncle Joe married they\u2019re not getting into trouble. She cleared her throat and wiped the stray tears away then smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cYour ma was a wonderful woman. I\u2019m proud to have known her,\u201d Martha said, drawing the girl into a hug.<\/p>\n Martha had been like another mother to Mary when she got home from college and Mary was grateful to have another place to stay while she was in town for the summer.<\/p>\n Saturday came and Mary joined the family at the lake. It had been awkward at first when she saw her father but it went smoothly after Jimmy showed everyone a new trick he taught AJ. Mary kept her distance from Julia and Abel. Abel was crawling around and getting into everything while everyone was setting the food on the table. Everyone would grab him and distract him. Ben gave his granddaughter a tight hug when he had got a chance to say hello.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s my favorite girl?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m doing well. How\u2019s my favorite grandpa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m doing well also,\u201d he said then turned to see what the shouting was about.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s your only grandfather.\u201d Mary heard Julia mutter.<\/p>\n Mary\u2019s smile fell when she heard it. Ben didn\u2019t hear her since he was watching AJ mimic what his cousin was doing.<\/p>\n After the family ate, they cleaned up and nobody noticed Abel crawling towards the lake and falling in. Mary had Everyone else followed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing to Abel? Stop hurting him!\u201d<\/p>\n Mary ignored her while trying to get Abel to breathe. She sat back and sighed. It was no use. He was dead.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s dead,\u201d she announced.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s dead because you killed him! You took him to the lake and drowned him then made it look like you were \u201cIt\u2019s true, I didn\u2019t like him but I would never do a thing to hurt him. He must have seen something in the lake to fall in. I saw him and I tried to save him, not kill him,\u201d Mary explained, standing face to face with Julia.<\/p>\n She looked at her father silently begging him to stand up for her. He looked at her, walked to his now dead son, picked him and walked away not saying a word.<\/p>\n \u201cMary would never do something like that,\u201d Hoss spoke up.<\/p>\n Mary barely heard him as she watched Adam walk away.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know? She admitted she didn\u2019t like Abel,\u201d Julia said, turning to Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cJust because she doesn\u2019t like him doesn\u2019t mean she killed him,\u201d Hoss shot back angrily.<\/p>\n Tears filled Mary\u2019s eyes and before anyone could react, she ran to Major and rode off fast.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, go after her,\u201d Jenny pleaded.<\/p>\n \u201cI will,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n He and Jenny had ridden to the lake on their horses so Hoss took off on Chubb and followed Mary.<\/p>\n Hoss found Mary a few minutes later at her mother\u2019s grave leaning against it sobbing. He got off his horse and quietly went closer but stopped when he heard her talking.<\/p>\n \u201cMa, why has Pa changed? He doesn\u2019t love Jimmy or me anymore. Jimmy moved out to Uncle Joe\u2019s and Aunt Sarah\u2019s house and helped with AJ. Aunt Sarah told Pa that they needed help with AJ and Pa was fine with it! He didn\u2019t even say for Jimmy to stay and help with Abel! When I go back to Vassar I\u2019ll stay there through the summer and find a job there. Pa wouldn\u2019t care if I stayed there or came home. He hasn\u2019t really seen me since I\u2019ve been home. I blame Julia for changing Pa. Ma, why did you have to die? Why couldn\u2019t you have held on until you got home and Doc Martin could have saved you? If you didn\u2019t die, we’d still be a family. Pa wouldn\u2019t hate us and we\u2019d be happy. I miss you so much, Ma. I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary got up and turned and saw Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long have you been there?\u201d She asked quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cLong enough. I had a hunch you\u2019d visit your ma,\u201d Hoss replied, shoving his hands in his pockets and walking Mary rubbed the tears from her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re all worried about you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPa\u2019s not. He didn\u2019t even stand up for me back there. You did.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss didn\u2019t know how to reply to her statement.<\/p>\n \u201cCome back with me. I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll be at Grandpa\u2019s house,\u201d Hoss finally said.<\/p>\n Mary shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Uncle Hoss, but I won\u2019t. I\u2019m going to do some schoolwork.\u201d<\/p>\n She hugged Hoss, climbed on Major and left.<\/p>\n Chapter 3<\/p>\n The funeral for Abel was a couple of days later. All but Mary and Jimmy went to the funeral. They had the funeral \u201cGood. I don\u2019t want her to be near Marie, baby Elizabeth or Ma,\u201d Mary spat.<\/p>\n July fourth came and the town celebrated the holiday with fireworks, games and other excitement. Mary had fun with her family. She made a wide berth around Julia and her father.<\/p>\n After the holiday, it was back to work and Mary kept herself busy. The more she worked the less she had to think about things. Hoss came into the store.<\/p>\n \u201cMary, we need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m busy,\u201d She lied.<\/p>\n In fact, the store was completely empty and she had just run out of things to do. Hoss looked around then looked \u201cFine,\u201d she sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cMartha, I\u2019m taking Mary for a walk. I\u2019ll bring her back in a while,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be just fine,\u201d Martha said as she put the last bolt of fabric away.<\/p>\n Hoss took his niece by the hand and led her outside.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right, Uncle Hoss, what do you want to talk about?\u201d Mary asked as they passed by the bank.<\/p>\n \u201cYour pa,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about him or Julia. I don\u2019t want to think about them,\u201d Mary replied.<\/p>\n Just as they started by the saloon, a man was thrown out of the window and Hoss moved her out of the way just in time then they started walking again.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re right about Adam. He has changed. Ever since you mentioned it I\u2019ve paid closer attention.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, bully for you,\u201d she said sarcastically.<\/p>\n Hoss stopped and turned her to him.<\/p>\n \u201cListen, young lady, I\u2019ll take you over my knee right now in public if you don\u2019t stop with the attitude. I\u2019m trying to be on your side. I\u2019m trying to listen to you and be there for you,\u201d he said sternly.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Hoss, you already know! You listened to me. You are there for me but nothing has been done. Nothing will be done. I\u2019ll be going back to school in a month and I will stay back there. I won\u2019t come back to Virginia City until I graduate. I know that means not seeing you, Aunt Jenny, and the rest of the family but I can\u2019t be here with Julia controlling Pa. It\u2019s been a miserable summer without seeing or talking to him. Uncle Hoss, I miss my pa,\u201d Mary said breaking down.<\/p>\n Hoss held her as she cried into his chest. They found a bench and sat on it.<\/p>\n \u201cMary, we have noticed the change in your father. We haven\u2019t seen him since the funeral,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Mary looked up at him and wiped her eyes. Hoss nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHow do we get him away from her?\u201d<\/p>\n Mary rested her head on Hoss\u2019 shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. Joe and I have talked about it and have come up with nothing. We\u2019ll figure something out,\u201d Hoss They stood and went back to the mercantile. Mary felt better having Hoss tell her that her feelings about Julia and Adam were right. She was glad that she was not alone in this.<\/p>\n Chapter 4<\/p>\n Adam and Julia were going to town to run a few errands in the buggy.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich mercantile will we be going to?\u201d Julia asked.<\/p>\n \u201cMartha\u2019s,\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we should go to a different place,\u201d Julia sniffed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? We can see Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJulia, she is my daughter. I need to see her.\u201d<\/p>\n Julia turned to Adam.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care, Adam. She killed our son. Abel was your flesh and blood unlike Mary and Jimmy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJulia, I adopted them and they are as good as flesh and blood. I don\u2019t know why you\u2019ve kept me from them. You practically shoved Jimmy out of the house and Mary hasn\u2019t come by or even talked to me since she\u2019s been home,\u201d Adam said in a tight voice.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe and Sarah wanted Jimmy to live with them to take care of AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t talk about it though. You told them he could before I could have a say. We\u2019re going to Martha\u2019s Adam snapped the reins. He heard a rattle and a snake struck, missing the horses but spooking them. They ran off the road. Julia screamed as the buggy hit a hole and turned over, throwing both passengers to the ground.<\/p>\n Chapter 5<\/p>\n Ben ran in the store looking around for Mary then saw her cleaning up the buttons.<\/p>\n \u201cMary, come quick.\u201d he said out of breath.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it, Grandpa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour father is at the doctor. Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben went behind the counter and grabbed Mary\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back, Martha!\u201d Mary called out.<\/p>\n She tried to keep up as Ben pulled her running to Doctor Martin\u2019s office. They got to Doctor Martin\u2019s and saw the rest of the family pacing.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Mary asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYour father and Julia have been in an accident,\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Is Pa all right?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shrugged his shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul hasn\u2019t come out to say anything,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d Mary asked.<\/p>\n \u201cLarry McMurty found them when he was coming to town. We\u2019re not sure what happened.\u201d Joe said.<\/p>\n Jimmy was sitting on the floor next to AJ who was asleep. She looked over at him as he jumped up and ran to her. Hugging her tight as he finally released the tears he\u2019d held in. She led him back to where he had been sitting and sat with him. He still held onto her as they waited to hear from Paul.<\/p>\n An hour later, Paul came out and saw everyone asleep. He smiled to himself as he walked over to Ben and gently shook him. Ben jerked awake and looked at Paul.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul, how are they?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s wake everyone up so we can tell them,\u201d Paul replied.<\/p>\n \u201cHoss, Joseph, everyone wake up,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n Everyone woke up and looked at their patriarch.<\/p>\n \u201cPaul has news,\u201d Ben announced.<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t save Julia. I found puncture wounds in her arm. She was bitten by a poisonous snake. The venom and her injuries caused too much damage. Adam is alive. He has a broken collarbone and a sprained wrist. He\u2019s still unconscious but you\u2019re welcome to see him,\u201d Paul said.<\/p>\n Everyone started to go in but Mary. Hoss looked back and saw Mary unsure of what to do. He turned back to her.<\/p>\n \u201cMary?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at him.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you, all right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I\u2019m not. What should I say to him?\u201d Mary said in a shaky voice.<\/p>\n \u201cJust say hello,\u201d Hoss whispered and hugged her.<\/p>\n After they pulled away, he took her hand and they went to join the family.<\/p>\n A few minutes later, Adam woke up and everyone was happy to see him awake.<\/p>\n \u201cJulia, how\u2019s she?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n Everyone became quiet.<\/p>\n \u201cShe died, Adam. Paul said he did all he could but she had too much damage, and apparently was bitten by a Adam was quiet but showed no emotions. Everyone wasn\u2019t sure what to say or even how to react.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry about Julia,\u201d Sarah finally said.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n Others murmured their condolences. Mary hung back and Hoss noticed.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about we leave Mary and Adam to talk,\u201d Hoss suggested.<\/p>\n Everyone nodded and filed out. Hoss touched Mary\u2019s shoulder and gently squeezed it. She looked up and smiled and he smiled back.<\/p>\n After they left, Mary stayed where she was unsure of what to do. She looked at her father. He was bandaged around his collarbone and around his wrist.<\/p>\n \u201cMary,\u201d Adam whispered and held out his good arm to her.<\/p>\n Tears filled her eyes and slid down her face as she heard her father say her name. She ran to him and knelt by his bed holding his good hand.<\/p>\n \u201cPa, oh Pa!\u201d She sobbed.<\/p>\n He let go of her hand and gently wiped the tears away.<\/p>\n \u201cHoney, I\u2019m sorry how I\u2019ve treated you,\u201d He whispered the apology.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. Not right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it does. I treated both you and Jimmy terribly. I ignored you both. Julia kept telling me that you and Jimmy \u201cOf course, I forgive you, Pa. I\u2019m sorry how I\u2019ve been towards you. I should have spoken to you more than walking away,\u201d Mary apologized.<\/p>\n Adam smiled and took her hand and squeezed it.<\/p>\n Chapter 6<\/p>\n Mary talked to Martha about not working for a while so she could take care of her father. Martha agreed to let her go. Jimmy moved back and helped take care of Adam as well. The funeral for Julia was a few days later. Mary and Hoss did not attend. Jenny told Hoss to be with Mary while she went and represented them. Mary and Hoss stayed at the Ponderosa and sat on the porch talking.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Hoss, am I terrible for not going to the funeral?\u201d Mary asked.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, you\u2019re not. Everyone understands after what you and Adam told us about her,\u201d Hoss replied looking at When they got Adam home after the accident, Mary and Adam had told their stories to the family about Julia. Adam also told them about the accident.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Hoss, thanks for letting me talk to you since I\u2019ve been home. And thanks for dragging me out to talk even when I haven\u2019t wanted to,\u201d Mary said chuckling.<\/p>\n Hoss laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome. You know I\u2019m always here for you.\u201d<\/p>\n They heard a horse and saw the buggy coming up.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like they\u2019re home,\u201d Hoss said as stood.<\/p>\n Later that evening, after the three got home, Mary and Adam sat on the porch. Jimmy had decided to go up to bed.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s school?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really good. I\u2019m enjoying my classes,\u201d Mary replied.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat classes have you been taking?\u201d<\/p>\n Mary looked at him in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cI wrote you all about them. Especially Astronomy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t received any letters.\u201d<\/p>\n Mary felt as if she\u2019d been punched in the stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cJulia must have taken them,\u201d She said bitterly.<\/p>\n \u201cI think so. I only heard a little bit from everyone else. I felt like you ignored me when I\u2019d hear the family \u201cNo, I didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAm\u2026am I bad for not liking Julia?\u201d<\/p>\n Mary didn\u2019t dare look at Adam. He looked at her. He put his finger under her chin and turned her to look at him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you\u2019re not. From what you\u2019ve told me and from thinking back of what she did, you are not bad. I can understand why you don\u2019t like her.\u201d<\/p>\n Tears glistened in Mary\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you love Julia as much as you loved Ma?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, not at all. I could never love anyone as much as I love your mother. I thought you and Jimmy needed a mother but I see I was wrong. You both have taken care of each other and even Jimmy has taken care of AJ. You don\u2019t need a mother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, but we need a father. Oh, how we need a father,\u201d Mary said as tears slid down her cheeks.<\/p>\n Adam took her hand and squeezed it.<\/p>\n \u201cI will make it up to you both. I\u2019m so sorry I changed but I will do better,\u201d he promised.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Mary smiled.<\/p>\n All too soon it was time for Mary to go back to school. The Cartwright clan gathered around her with smiles and tears.<\/p>\n \u201cMary, we\u2019ll sure miss you,\u201d Hoss said, hugging her tight.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll miss you too. Thank you again for letting me talk to you,\u201d Mary said after he released her.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what uncles are for.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone hugged Mary and wished her good luck. Adam was no longer wearing a cast and was doing better. He was the last to hug his daughter.<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck, Mary. Write to me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will, Pa. You write too.\u201d<\/p>\n He grabbed her and hugged her tight and Mary started to cry into his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m gonna miss you, Pa,\u201d she said in a muffled voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll miss you too, sweetheart. I love you,\u201d he whispered in her ear.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n He released her and helped her on the stage coach. The stage then left and everyone waved to Mary and she back at them.<\/p>\n \u201cWelcome back, older brother,\u201d Hoss said, putting his arm around Adam\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n Adam looked at him and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n They all got into their buggies and headed for the Ponderosa to work.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Note from the Brandsters.\u00a0 This story was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders website.\u00a0 Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary: This is a sequel to A Young Girls Dream (Mary’s Story). Adam has found a new love but is she right for him and his children?\u00a0
\nMary looked at her aunt. She was beautiful with chestnut colored hair pulled up and her brown eyes dancing with excitement.<\/p>\n
\ntold her that my brother and I were not Adam Cartwright\u2019s flesh and blood either but he has treated us like we were. She slapped me for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nsince Abel was born, he\u2019s been more focused on him than me or Jimmy. Jimmy\u2019s moved to Uncle Joe\u2019s place.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nyou\u2019ll come,\u201d Jimmy begged, jumping up and down in excitement.<\/p>\n
\nbeen home from school,\u201d Jimmy pleaded.<\/p>\n
\nhelp.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBoy, Ma sure would\u2026she\u2019d get after them when they\u2019d pull pranks and stunts,\u201d Mary\u2019s voice broke slightly at the thought of her mother.<\/p>\n
\nlooked around and saw something floating in the water. She realized it was Abel and she ran for the lake. She pulled the boy out and did all she could to get the water out of him. Julia saw Mary and ran screaming at her.<\/p>\n
\nhelping him. You hated him. I know you did!\u201d Julia accused.<\/p>\n
\ntowards her.<\/p>\n
\nat the cemetery in town. Julia refused to have Abel buried near Joe\u2019s mother, Marie, baby Elizabeth and Emma. Jimmy repeated what Julia had said it was because \u201cthe town cemetery is a more suitable place to be buried than somewhere on a hill.\u201d Mary didn\u2019t laugh nor did Jimmy. Martha let Mary have the day off to spend time with Jimmy. Jimmy was watching AJ and they had fun together. Jimmy also told Mary that when Julia passes away she wants to be buried by Abel.<\/p>\n
\nat her with a cocked eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\nreplied.<\/p>\n
\nmercantile so I can see and talk to Mary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nsnake. I\u2019m sorry, son,\u201d Ben replied.<\/p>\n
\nwere old enough to take care of yourselves and they didn\u2019t need me anymore but Abel did. I was wrong in listening to her. We spoke about you and Jimmy when we were coming to town. She was angry that we were going to see you while we were shopping at the mercantile. I\u2019m also sorry that I didn\u2019t stand up for you when Abel died. I was too distraught. Will you ever forgive me?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nher.<\/p>\n
\ntalking about the letters they\u2019d received. Now I know why. I even sent you letters and Julia said she\u2019d send them. I guess you never received them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nRating: PG, Word Count: 4694<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12475,"featured_media":62121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1005,7,23,698],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-cartwright","category-a-u","category-drama","category-post-timeline","wpcat-1005-id","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-698-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BTR.png?fit=442%2C255&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48156","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\/12475"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48156"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48156\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/62121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}