{"id":5739,"date":"2009-05-02T21:24:55","date_gmt":"2009-05-03T01:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5739"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:13:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:13:28","slug":"a-glimpse-into-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5739","title":{"rendered":"A Glimpse into the Future (by Patina)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rated K+<\/span><\/p>\n

Word Count=4115<\/p>\n

Summary: After telling four year old Little Joe about the balls held during Mardi Gras, Marie dreams of a dance held in the future. How has life turned out for the Cartwrights? Did Adam, Hoss, and Joe turn out to be the men we know?<\/span><\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended. Original plot and characters are property of the author. This story is for entertainment and no money was made from it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Glimpse into the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTell me a story \u2018bout New Orleans, Mama\u201d pleaded Little Joe.\u00a0 The four year old was trying to further delay his bedtime.\u00a0 Marie\u2019s green eyes looked into the green eyes of her son.\u00a0 Ben would be upset with her for indulging her little boy\u2019s request, especially since he had managed to wheedle his father into letting him stay up an hour past his regular bedtime.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm..let\u2019s see.\u00a0 Ash Wednesday is in two weeks.\u00a0 Would you like to hear about the Mardi Gras balls I attended in New Orleans?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho was Marty Graw?\u00a0 Didja used to play with him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNon, mon petit\u201d said Marie with a laugh in her voice.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a festival season that begins two weeks before Ash Wednesday.\u00a0 The balls were fancy dances where the men wore tuxedos and the ladies wore their most beautiful gowns.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo the men and ladies kiss at midnight like on New Year\u2019s Eve?\u201d Little Joe asked, wrinkling up his nose.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you know about kissing on New Year\u2019s Eve?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI seen you and Papa from the top of the stairs.\u00a0 The clock banged twelve times and then Papa kissed you for a really long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie blushed crimson and said \u201cYou were supposed to be sleeping, mon petit.\u00a0 Why were you out of your bed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI couldn\u2019t sleep.\u00a0 Hoss was breathin\u2019 too loud.\u00a0 Adam was readin\u2019 and he told me to back to bed.\u00a0 I went to you and Papa\u2019s room, but you wasn\u2019t there.\u00a0 That\u2019s when I seen ya from the top of the stairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie was completely surprised by Little Joe\u2019s recounting of everyone\u2019s activities that night.\u00a0 She blushed redder thinking it was a lucky thing that she and Ben hadn\u2019t decided to welcome the new year more intimately.<\/p>\n

\u201cAin\u2019t ya gonna tell me \u2018bout the parties, Mama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, each ball was ruled over by a king and queen.\u00a0 The king was attended by pages and the queen was attended by maids.\u00a0 Each year, there was a new king and queen as well as a court of princes and princesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe yawned as his mother described the court.\u00a0 Marie hoped the boy would soon be asleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone wore masks so no one would know who they really were.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boy\u2019s eyes widened and he was suddenly alert again.\u00a0 \u201cYa mean they was like bandits?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNon, the men wore masks because they were bankers, businessmen, and landowners.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t want anyone to recognize them having so much fun, I think.\u00a0 The ladies wore masks to make them more mysterious and more beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a mask hides one\u2019s face, a person has to guess who it may hide.\u00a0 A mask allows the wearer to behave in a way they usually may not.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cDebutantes were presented to the king and queen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhats?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung ladies who are eligible to date young men.\u201d\u00a0 Little Joe wrinkled up his nose.\u00a0 \u201cAfter the debutantes were presented, there was dancing.\u00a0 Bottle after bottle of champagne was opened.\u00a0 People sometimes got quite drunk.\u00a0 Duels were sometimes fought at the balls when there had been too much drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDuels?!?!\u201d answered Little Joe.\u00a0 He had sat upright at the mention of duels.\u00a0 \u201cYa mean they pulled out swords and fought?\u00a0 What was they fightin\u2019 for?\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie crafted her answer carefully.\u00a0 \u201cThey usually fought because they thought their wives were flirting with another man too much or thought someone insulted them in some way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHas Papa ever fought a duel at a party?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not!\u201d answered Marie.\u00a0 \u201cYour p\u00e8re would never fight a man who had too much to drink.\u00a0 Now, did you want to hear about the balls?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first dance of the ball was led by the king and queen following the presentation of the debutantes.\u00a0 After the king and queen had danced for a suitable amount of time, the debutantes and their fathers took to the dance floor.\u00a0 Following that first dance, everyone was invited onto the floor.\u00a0 As the orchestra played fast music, couples would almost fly across the dance floor.\u00a0 The swish and swirl of dresses was so beautiful to see.\u00a0 Waltzes were played so couples could catch their breath.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie paused for a moment and looked down at her son.\u00a0 Little Joe had finally fallen asleep. She tucked the covers around him knowing that they would be in complete disarray by morning.\u00a0 Leaning forward, she kissed him lightly on the forehead.\u00a0 \u201cBeaux r\u00eaves, mon petit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tip-toeing out of the room, Marie stood in the hall for a moment.\u00a0 Light was shining from under Adam\u2019s door.\u00a0 Approaching her older step-son\u2019s room, she tapped lightly.\u00a0 \u201cCome in\u201d she heard him say.<\/p>\n

Opening the door, she saw Adam at his writing desk.\u00a0 \u201cWhat are you doing, mon fils, that can\u2019t wait until morning?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just trying to finish these sketches for Pa.\u00a0 I should be done in another half hour.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, mon fils\u201d answered Marie with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cSleep well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night\u201d said Adam with a smile for his step-mother.\u00a0 Then he went back to his sketches.<\/p>\n

Going back into the hall, Marie heard Hoss\u2019 snoring begin.\u00a0 Must be 9:30 she thought. \u00a0Hoss was almost clock-like in his snoring.\u00a0 No matter how early he went to bed, the noise usually didn\u2019t begin until 9:30.\u00a0 A small amused smile played on her lips.<\/p>\n

Finally entering the room she shared with her husband, Marie began taking the pins out of her hair.\u00a0 As it fell below her shoulders, she ran her fingers through it.\u00a0 Examining a tress in the lamplight, she wondered what she would look like when it was gray.\u00a0 Would it change evenly or be streaked?\u00a0 Would it just fade from blond to gray?\u00a0 Ben\u2019s hair was graying, but it was doing so beautifully, she thought.\u00a0 Someday, he would have a magnificent silver mane.\u00a0 Now, it was mostly pepper with liberally sprinkled salt.<\/p>\n

Lost in thought, she didn\u2019t hear her husband enter.\u00a0 He found her gazing into the mirror, a tress of hair in hand.\u00a0 \u201cPenny for your thoughts\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Startled, she blushed and said \u201cI was wondering how I\u2019ll look with gray hair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll be as beautiful as you are now.\u201d\u00a0 He then placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.\u00a0 \u201cThe color of your hair won\u2019t matter when we\u2019re surrounded by grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill you still think I\u2019m beautiful when my face is wrinkled?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cConsidering how wrinkled my face will probably be, you\u2019ll look absolutely enchanting.\u201d\u00a0 He began massaging her shoulders.<\/p>\n

She laughed at that.\u00a0 \u201cWhy monsieur, a lady would think you were having improper thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n

He kissed the top of her head and then her neck.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I\u2019m having improper thoughts.\u00a0 How can I not with such a beautiful wife?\u201d<\/p>\n

She stood and turned to him.\u00a0 After a passionate kiss, Ben crossed to the door and closed it while Marie began to undress.\u00a0 Once in bed, they made love like newlyweds.<\/p>\n

Afterwards, as they snuggled together, Ben asked \u201cDid you have any trouble getting Joseph to sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA little at first.\u00a0 But I told him about the Mardi Gras balls in New Orleans and he fell asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least we don\u2019t have to worry about that little scamp going to dances anytime soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie let out a giggle at that.\u00a0 With his curly mop of hair, green eyes, and bone structure she knew Joseph was going to be a handsome man.\u00a0 She hoped he would have as much of a presence as his father.<\/p>\n

Falling asleep in her husband\u2019s arms, Marie began to dream of growing old and dances.\u00a0 She dreamed that she and Ben were as elegant on the dance floor as they were now.\u00a0 He had silver hair and hers was a much lighter shade of blond with some streaks of gray.\u00a0\u00a0 A few lines were on their faces, but neither was deeply wrinkled.<\/p>\n

Banners hung in the ballroom.\u00a0 Marie was surprised to see that the banners bore the message \u201cHappy 25th<\/sup> Anniversary.\u201d\u00a0 That meant that her sons were grown and possibly had families of their own.<\/p>\n

As the music ended for this particular dance, the couples stopped and applauded the small orchestra.\u00a0 A man with a notebook approached and addressed her husband as \u201cGovernor.\u201d\u00a0 She was very surprised at that.\u00a0 Ben served on the town council, but didn\u2019t seem to have higher political ambitions.\u00a0 The Ponderosa must have become extremely successful for Ben to hold such a high political office.\u00a0 And Nevada must have become a state.<\/p>\n

Another man approached the couple and extended his hand to Ben.\u00a0 Marie thought he looked very familiar, but couldn\u2019t place him.\u00a0 The man\u2019s hair was graying at the temples and he wore a mustache.\u00a0 As soon as the man said \u201cPa\u201d she realized this was Adam.\u00a0 What a fine looking man he had become.\u00a0 She hoped he\u2019d had that college education she and Ben had talked about providing for him.<\/p>\n

Ben introduced Adam to the newspaper man.\u00a0 \u201cThis is my oldest son, Adam.\u00a0 He runs the Ponderosa for me.\u201d\u00a0 As those two men talked, Marie fanned herself.\u00a0 It had become quite warm in the ballroom.<\/p>\n

A large man approached with two glasses of punch.\u00a0 His sandy hair was thinning, but there was no mistaking those twinkling blue eyes or expressive smile.\u00a0 He handed her a glass of punch and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek.\u00a0 \u201cCongratulations, Mama\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, mon fils.\u00a0 Your p\u00e8re and I are so happy tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben, realizing that Hoss had come over, introduced his second son to the newspaper man.\u00a0 \u201cThis is my son, Eric.\u00a0 He manages the First Bank of Sacramento.\u00a0 Marie and I are always pleased when he can get away from the bank for a while and come to visit.\u201d\u00a0 Marie was very surprised that Hoss was a bank manager.\u00a0 Not that he wasn\u2019t capable, but he was such a generous boy that she would\u2019ve thought him more likely to give the bank\u2019s money away than manage it.<\/p>\n

Just as she was wondering where her Petit Joseph was, a young, well-dressed man entered the ballroom with a woman on each arm.\u00a0 The young man appeared to be quite the dandy.\u00a0 She noticed that the women on his arms seemed overly made-up, almost like cheap saloon girls.\u00a0 Adam\u2019s jaw clenched when he saw the young man and even Hoss didn\u2019t look happy.<\/p>\n

Ignoring the stares, the young man came up to Marie and kissed her on the cheek.\u00a0 Not recognizing him, she stood rather stiffly.\u00a0 \u201cStill not happy to see me, are you, Mother?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 Suddenly, she realized that the green eyes she was looking into belonged to her Petit Joseph.\u00a0 \u201cOf course I\u2019m happy to see you, mon fils\u201d she finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t you gonna introduce me to your friend?\u201d he asked, nodding towards the newspaper man.<\/p>\n

Adam stood in front of Joe and whispered \u201cWhy did you have to come here tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my parents\u2019 anniversary.\u00a0 Why wouldn\u2019t I be here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you bring those women with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese ladies looked they needed to have a good time.\u00a0 I figured this was the best place to be for dancin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t start anything, Joe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOr what, big brother?\u201d\u00a0 Joe asked, green eyes flashing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd who is this?\u201d asked the newspaper man.<\/p>\n

After a short moment of silence, Ben said \u201cThis is my youngest son, Joseph.\u00a0 He\u2019s into horses.\u201d\u00a0 Ben didn\u2019t offer to elaborate.<\/p>\n

The newspaper man asked Joe, \u201cDo you have a stable?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lighting a cigar, Joe puffed for a few seconds and then said \u201cNot one in particular.\u00a0 I just own a few fine specimens of horse flesh that race really fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie felt her stomach clench.\u00a0 Her son sounded like he was a gambler.\u00a0 Did this mean that she and Ben had to support Joseph\u2019s lifestyle?\u00a0 Did he just drift from race to race hoping to win large sums of money?\u00a0 Could a person\u2019s actions be transmitted to the next generation, she wondered?\u00a0 When she had met Ben, she was a hostess at a gaming club.\u00a0 Was gambling in her son\u2019s blood?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did you acquire your horses?\u00a0 In Kentucky?\u201d asked the newspaper man, figuring that this was going to be a better story than the Governor\u2019s anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen my parents sent me on my grand tour, I detoured to Araby.\u00a0 There I found some of the fastest horses I\u2019ve ever seen.\u00a0 I finally persuaded a sheik to part with a few of them and I brought them back here.\u00a0 Perhaps you\u2019ve heard of my stud\u2014Yankee Clipper?\u00a0 I called him that because he\u2019s as fast as those clipper ships my father used to sail on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie noticed the hard set of Ben\u2019s mouth.\u00a0 Hoss was looking at the floor.\u00a0 Adam had taken Joe\u2019s elbow and was trying to steer him away.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet go of me, Adam\u201d Joe hissed.<\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon, Joe, I think you should try some of the punch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Losing his temper, Joe swung hard at Adam and hit his oldest brother in the jaw.\u00a0 The newspaper man scribbled furiously.\u00a0 Marie was not about to have this night spoiled by scandal.\u00a0 Stepping between her sons, she said \u201cThat\u2019s enough, Joseph.\u00a0 I want you to stay, but if you don\u2019t apologize to Adam immediately, I\u2019d like you to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe flashed a glare at his mother before tipping his hat and saying \u201cSorry.\u201d\u00a0 He then stalked off to the punch bowl with his lady friends.<\/p>\n

Marie was shocked at what her Petit Joseph had become.\u00a0 How could her darling little boy be this man?\u00a0 Joseph had a temper that sometimes resulted in tantrums, but she hoped that Ben had taught her son not to raise his fists to his family.\u00a0 What role had she played in his turning out to be a gambler?<\/p>\n

Ben had stepped forward and was looking at Adam\u2019s face.\u00a0 Adam would most likely have an ugly bruise by morning, thought Marie.\u00a0 She had heard the tone of Ben\u2019s voice when he introduced his youngest to the newspaper man.\u00a0 Did he not love their son as much as Adam and Hoss?\u00a0 What had Joseph done to make his family dislike him so?<\/p>\n

A photographer approached to take Ben and Marie\u2019s picture.\u00a0 Once the couple was posed, the photographic process was begun.\u00a0 After the picture had been taken, Marie asked Ben \u201cDo you want one made with our fils?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s jaw twitched, but he called for Adam, Hoss, and Joe to come over.\u00a0 \u201cYour mother wants a photograph made of all of us together.\u00a0 Adam, you stand to my left.\u00a0 Joseph, you stand to your mother\u2019s right.\u00a0 Hoss, stand behind us.\u201d\u00a0 After everyone was in position, the photographic process began again.\u00a0 Marie wished the process could be done faster so she could have the photograph now.\u00a0 Once finished, Joe headed for the company of his lady friends while Adam circulated among the guests.<\/p>\n

Shrill laughter from the other side of the room caught Marie\u2019s attention.\u00a0 Joseph was now holding court with several young ladies.\u00a0 Her son had become a very handsome man.\u00a0 Had she and Ben spoiled their son so much that he felt no need to find work to support himself?\u00a0 Ben had made the Ponderosa quite a success and Adam must have expanded on that.\u00a0 Hoss had obviously learned the value of hard work since he managed one of California\u2019s most successful banks.\u00a0 Did Adam\u2019s and Hoss\u2019 success have anything to do with their mothers, she wondered?<\/p>\n

Turning away from Joseph, Marie gazed at her husband.\u00a0 He looked so magnificent.\u00a0 Even twenty years older, he had such a commanding presence.\u00a0 His eyes were as piercing as ever and took in everything.\u00a0 Ben felt Marie\u2019s eyes on him and excused himself from the conversation he was holding.\u00a0 He came over to his wife, took her hand, and kissed it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you happy, darling?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOui, mon ch\u00e8re\u201d she answered.<\/p>\n

The orchestra began playing a waltz.\u00a0 \u201cMay I have this dance, Madame?\u201d\u00a0 Ben asked playfully.<\/p>\n

With a flirtatious wave of her fan, Marie replied \u201cOui, Monsieur.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple went to the dance floor where other couples were swirling in time with the music.\u00a0 Ben held Marie tightly to him, his hand strong on the small of her back.\u00a0 She leaned in close to her husband and savored the scent of his cologne.\u00a0 Looking up into his eyes, she saw love and what appeared to be pride.<\/p>\n

A gunshot caused the musicians to suddenly stop. \u00a0All of the couples on the dance floor had stopped as well and were anxiously looking for the source of the shot.\u00a0 \u201cCartwright!!\u201d a voice boomed out.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re a cheat and a card sharp, Sir!\u201d\u00a0 Marie finally found the source of the shouting.\u00a0 Another dandily dressed young man had come in and was yelling at Joseph.\u00a0 This man also had the look of a gambler.\u00a0 \u201cYou also alienated the affections of my fianc\u00e9e, Cartwright.\u00a0 It\u2019s one thing to steal my money, but it\u2019s another to steal my wife-to-be!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea to what you are referring, Sir\u201d said Joe with a large smile.\u00a0 \u201cWhy don\u2019t you have some punch and we\u2019ll talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie noticed that Hoss was moving along the edge of the room to get behind Joseph\u2019s accuser.\u00a0 Adam was trying to move through the crowd to get to Joseph.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t patronize me, Cartwright!!!\u00a0 You won\u2019t ever steal another man\u2019s fianc\u00e9e again!\u201d\u00a0 The intruder lifted his gun and pointed it at Joseph.\u00a0 Hoss and Adam were trying to shove their way through the crowd to get to their brother.\u00a0 Joseph leaped forward to try to grab the gun from his accuser.\u00a0 The two men struggled as Marie watched in terror.\u00a0 Ladies screamed at the sight of the struggle.\u00a0 She could hear Ben yelling but couldn\u2019t make out the words.\u00a0 It was so hard to hear over the roaring in her ears.<\/p>\n

As Joseph and his accuser struggled, both men fell to the floor.\u00a0 The gun went off with a tremendous explosion.\u00a0 Neither man moved.\u00a0 Adam finally reached the two and pulled Joseph\u2019s attacker off of his brother.\u00a0 Marie saw the blossoming bloodstain on Joseph\u2019s chest.\u00a0 In a rage, Adam pummeled Joseph\u2019s attacker while Hoss tried to pull his older brother off of the man.\u00a0 Marie was now kneeling at Joseph\u2019s side, his head in her lap.\u00a0 \u201cNo!\u201d she screamed.\u00a0 \u201cNot my baby! \u00a0Joseph! \u00a0N0!<\/p>\n

Feeling hands on her arms, Marie struggled.\u00a0 Overcome with grief at the loss of her son, she lashed out at whoever was gripping her.\u00a0 \u201cMarie!!!\u201d She heard her name being called, but couldn\u2019t respond between her sobs.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarie!!!\u201d Ben was shaking his wife to bring her out of her nightmare.\u00a0 She was screaming in French and the only words he could understand were \u201cno\u201d and \u201cJoseph.\u201d\u00a0 Ben began lightly slapping Marie\u2019s face, hoping that would work.\u00a0 In an act of desperation, he pulled her to him, spoke soothingly, and stroked her hair.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve had a nightmare, darling. \u00a0I\u2019m here.\u00a0 You\u2019re alright.\u00a0 Ssssshhhhh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally coming to, Marie felt tears on her face and the grip of strong arms around her.\u00a0 \u201cOh, Ben!!\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cI dreamed a horrible future.\u00a0 Joseph became a gambler and was killed on our twenty-fifth anniversary.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugging her closer, Ben continued to soothe her.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s alright, darling.\u00a0 Everyone is okay.\u00a0 Our Little Joe is still four years old.\u00a0 Ssssshhhhhh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie began to calm down, taking comfort in her husband\u2019s arms and words.\u00a0 Ben asked, \u201cHow did I look?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sniffling, Marie answered \u201cMagnifique.\u201d<\/p>\n

A knock on the door got the couple\u2019s attention.\u00a0 Ben handed Marie her nightgown, which she hastily slipped over her head.\u00a0 Ben pulled the covers up to just below his chest.\u00a0 \u201cCome in\u201d he said once Marie was presentable.<\/p>\n

The door opened and three sleepy boys entered.\u00a0 \u201cWe heard Marie screaming\u201d said Adam.\u00a0 \u201cWe wanted to make sure she\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWiping at her eyes with the back of her hand, she replied \u201cI\u2019m alright, mes fils.\u00a0 It was just a bad dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe stepped forward with his stuffed bear.\u00a0 The little boy handed the bear to his mother and said \u201cHe\u2019ll keep ya safe, Mama.\u201d\u00a0 Marie pulled Little Joe to her and gave him a kiss and hug.<\/p>\n

Adam stepped forward to collect Little Joe and take him back to bed.\u00a0 \u201cAre you sure everything\u2019s okay?\u201d asked Adam with concern.\u00a0 \u201cMais oui, mon fils\u201d Marie answered with a smile.\u00a0 Adam then leaned over and kissed his step-mother on the cheek.\u00a0 Not to be left out, Hoss wormed his way between Adam and Little Joe and gave Marie a kiss on the cheek, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour mother is okay now, boys\u201d said Ben.\u00a0 \u201cWhy don\u2019t you go back to bed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night, Pa, Marie\u201d said Adam as he ushered his younger brothers out of their parents\u2019 room.\u00a0 \u201cCan I sleep with you, Adam?\u201d asked Little Joe before they were out of the room.\u00a0 \u201cSure, buddy\u201d said Adam, shutting the door behind him.<\/p>\n

Ben held Marie tightly again and kissed her forehead.\u00a0 \u201cDo you want to talk about it?\u201d he asked gently.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think my past can influence Joseph\u2019s future?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to work at a gaming club.\u00a0 What if gambling is in my blood? \u00a0What if I passed that on to our Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSssshhh\u201d was Ben\u2019s response.\u00a0 \u201cYou are as beautiful inside as you are outside.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe you could pass anything like that to Joseph.\u00a0 We\u2019ll make sure he turns out to be an upstanding young man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie relaxed and nestled herself into her husband\u2019s arms.\u00a0 \u201cBut what if\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou forget your son is half Cartwright.\u00a0 If he works as hard as Adam and Hoss, he won\u2019t have time for things like gambling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps you\u2019re right\u201d answered Marie drowsily.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure I looked magnificent?\u201d asked Ben.\u00a0 \u201cAfter all, it was twenty years in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starting to fall asleep, Marie replied \u201cYou had the most magnificent silver mane.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAny wrinkles?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

There was no answer.\u00a0 He looked down on his wife\u2019s sleeping face.\u00a0 In twenty years she would no doubt be more beautiful than she was now.\u00a0 Ben dimmed the lamp and tried to go back to sleep.\u00a0 He should have asked what Adam\u2019s and Hoss\u2019 futures held.\u00a0 And he wondered why his hair had gone completely silver in her glimpse of the future.<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n
Reviewer:\u00a0<\/span>slaine89<\/a>\u00a0Signed<\/span>\u00a0[Report This<\/a>]
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>13 Sep 2011 10:08 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>A Glimpse Into the Future\u00a0Well it’s a good thing that things didn’t turn out that way! I can’t imagine Joe that careless anymore than I can imagine Hoss running a bank. But it was an enjoyable supposition of the future, and I liked reading form Marie’s point of view.Author’s Response: Thank you, slaine. It’s hard to think of Hoss as anything but a rancher, but, at the time of Marie’s dream, anything was possible for her sons. I’m glad to know you enjoyed it.<\/i>*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Reviewer:\u00a0<\/span>Nevadagal\u00a0Anonymous<\/span>\u00a0\"star\"\"star\"\"star\"\"star\"\"half-star\"
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>29 Jun 2011 05:45 pm\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>A Glimpse Into the Future\u00a0Neat story, Patina — I love prequels!Author’s Response: Thank you, Nevadagal! I enjoy writing prequels.<\/i>*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Reviewer:\u00a0<\/span>mohegan\u00a0Anonymous<\/span>\u00a0\"star\"\"star\"\"star\"\"star\"\"star\"
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>15 Apr 2011 12:32 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>A Glimpse Into the Future\u00a0I used to wonder what my boys would be like when they were adults.\u00a0 This story really kept my attention, and I couldn’t help but chuckle when Marie was so upset by her dream and Ben just wanted to know how he looked. Good story!Author’s Response:<\/i><\/i>Thank you, mohegan.\u00a0 I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed this story.\u00a0 If only Ben had known that he’d look just like he did in her dream (lol).*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Reviewer:\u00a0<\/span>jojay\u00a0Anonymous<\/span>
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>30 Aug 2010 08:15 pm\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>A Glimpse Into the Future\u00a0If only she knew.\u00a0\u00a0 An interesting angle, very good!Author’s Response:<\/i><\/i>Thank you, jojay.\u00a0 It’s a shame Marie never got to see the men her sons became–she’d have been proud of them.*<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Reviewer:\u00a0<\/span>PBfan15<\/a>\u00a0Signed<\/span>
\nDate:\u00a0<\/span>11 May 2009 01:25 am\u00a0Title:\u00a0<\/span>A Glimpse Into the Future\u00a0Great story. Quite the descriptive nightmare, I don’t usually remember anything about my dreams that clearly.Author’s Response:<\/i><\/i>Thank you, PBfan15.\u00a0 I remember some of my dream quite vividly for days and others I forget shortly after waking up.\u00a0 Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this story.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rated K+<\/p>\n

Word Count=4115<\/p>\n

Summary: After telling four year old Little Joe about the balls held during Mardi Gras, Marie dreams of a dance held in the future. How has life turned out for the Cartwrights? Did Adam, Hoss, and Joe turn out to be the men we know?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"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":[23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1317,"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":7578,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7578","url_meta":{"origin":5739,"position":0},"title":"What’s Keeping Them Now? (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0The Cartwright boys' belles are left wondering what has happened this time.\u00a0\u00a0 Rated:\u00a0T\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a01182","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\/2015\/02\/brothers.jpg?fit=296%2C226&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62283,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=62283","url_meta":{"origin":5739,"position":1},"title":"Double Trouble (by JC)","author":"JC","date":"June 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A glimpse into the future with grandchildren on the Ponderosa. Ben gets more than he bargained for when he offers to keep Joe's twins while their parents are away.\u00a0 (Part of the Jacob's Ladder series, links below.) 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Rating: K Word Count=3791","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\/With-This-Ring.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/With-This-Ring.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/With-This-Ring.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12750,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12750","url_meta":{"origin":5739,"position":4},"title":"A Modern Cartwrights Story #3 – A Quarter\u2019s Worth of Glory: Joe in the Infernal Machine (by Robin)","author":"profrobinw","date":"January 23, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Headlines ripped from the daily newspaper in this modern era tale of the Cartwrights. Rating:\u00a0 K+\u00a0 (775 word) A Modern Cartwright Story Series, links to stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12945,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12945","url_meta":{"origin":5739,"position":5},"title":"Thenceforward and Forever Free – Book 3 of A HOUSE UNITED series (by pulitzer2016)","author":"pulitzer2016","date":"May 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: As 1861 draws to a close, the Cartwrights enjoy their first Christmas with Josie on the Ponderosa.\u00a0 But 1862 brings a number of challenges, from Adam disappearing in the desert to an influenza epidemic that threatens the entire town.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Simon Croft continues to express romantic interest in Josie,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Action\/Adventure"","block_context":{"text":"Action\/Adventure","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/BONANZA-MARVIN-2-.jpg?fit=599%2C324&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/BONANZA-MARVIN-2-.jpg?fit=599%2C324&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/BONANZA-MARVIN-2-.jpg?fit=599%2C324&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5739","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\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5739"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5739\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5719"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}