{"id":60821,"date":"2011-04-19T08:42:17","date_gmt":"2011-04-19T12:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=60821"},"modified":"2025-11-26T08:51:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T13:51:43","slug":"love-me-by-aclover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=60821","title":{"rendered":"Love Me? &#8211; by ACLover"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summary:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every parent&#8211;and kid&#8211;has that kind of day. Patience is tested, and tears are shed&#8230;but at the end of the day, a father&#8217;s love endures.<br \/>\nWord Count:\u00a0 1875\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rated: G<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>The Brandsters acknowledge that the authors are the owners of their stories.\u00a0 Should an author included in this project reach out to us and indicate they do not wish their work to be archived in the Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library, we will remove their stories.\u00a0 We would also be happy to change contact information for any authors who wish to continue to have their stories archived in the Library.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Love Me?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was not, he had to admit, the first time they had gone head to head. It was however, the first time he had done so alone, without the aid of the soothing angel who alone was able to keep reign on the little copy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, sir, if they made it through this, then he would be a changed man!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In more ways than one, he thought, ruefully, certain a new batch of gray was creeping along his once dark hair.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The little maiden herself stood before him, carbon copy of the man who faced off with her now. She was a daddy&#8217;s girl in looks, right down to the dark, luxurious lashes that curled above dark eyes. Ringlets tossed in annoyance at his supposed stupidity, and the mamma&#8217;s girl&#8211;as she was, in every particle of spirit and heart&#8211;left no doubt as to whose temperament she had won.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is not to say that the child loved the man before her any less&#8230;quite the contrary, she loved him to a fault. Mamma doted, and Daddy did not&#8230;and that was where the flaw came in. Mamma could be depended upon to let the five year old get her own way, after all, and Daddy stood firm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Isabel, this is not up for discussion.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dark, curl-adorned head fastened it&#8217;s gaze on his eyes. Full name already?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;You will wear this dress, and you will stop this fussing!&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She shook her head, decidedly, as if there could be no doubt about her own will being fulfilled, at any rate. &#8220;Mamma lets me choose!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Isabel. Now.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That was an order the little queen never dared to ignore, and she snatched the hated dress from his grasp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam sighed. One down, who knew how many more to go, before Emma returned.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next scuffle was directly after lunch&#8211;some invention conceived in the throes of desperation&#8211;and brought about by a person Adam would have least supected to rouse the sleeping dragon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In truth, though, and if he were playing fair&#8230;he would have to admit that the erruption was really his own fault. Bella was this way because she was allowed to be, of course.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She was at the age where naps were forbidden yet needed territory, and he had just made up his mind to send her to bed, when what should he hear but a buggy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For one crazy, hopeful moment, he thought it might be Emma, back early&#8230;but, alas, it was none other than his brother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Howdy, Adam!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam nodded, and waved. His brain whirled as his heart tried to convince his head that Hoss didn&#8217;t know any better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I see you brought the kids.&#8221; He commented dryly, and Hoss grinned.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Yep! Jennie set to cleaning, and we hadta clear out, sure enough, else she&#8217;d sweep us up!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam could see delicate Jennie doing just that, and he had to smile. Besides, it&#8217;s not like Josh and Halle are any sort of trouble, he reasoned.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Right?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sure, right. What could go wrong?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How could he have been so stupid?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hoss gathered up his dirt-encrusted young ones, and shot an apologetic glance at Adam, which only made him feel worse. How dare Hoss apologize for something he had no hand in? That his children had simply been bystanders in?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I shore am sorry, Adam. Didn&#8217;t mean for it ta work out this way.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam smiled&#8211;granted, it was pinched&#8211;and clapped his brother on his shoulder. &#8220;Don&#8217;t worry about it, Hoss. It wasn&#8217;t your fault.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus consoled, Hoss, children, and buggy departed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam spun to face his daughter, just as dirty and thrice as impatient at the end of the game.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which, apparently, had been dirt baths, or some such nonsense. Purposeful mess-making was a better name for it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Isabel Marie Cartwright, you had better have an explanation for this!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, he added silently, I&#8217;d better think of one for Emma.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She stared at him, big dark eyes welling up in what appeared to be tears.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He exhaled, angry at himself and her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I&#8217;m sorry, Daddy! It&#8217;s an accident!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He doubted that, but, then why was he bending to her ploys?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She knew she had won. When the redeeming order to &#8220;clean it up&#8221; came, she nodded, solemnly, and laughed as only a five-year old can inside herself.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About the same time as he heard the crash, he realized it had been too long since he&#8217;d heard any noise from the spitfire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking the steps at his accustomed two at a time, he reached the spot of the calamity in record time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A vase lay shattered on the floor. More importantly, it lay shattered on the floor of a room Bella had no business in!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Isabel!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Curls swung out, and the meek criminal appeared before him. &#8220;I knocked it, Daddy.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I can see that! Who gave you permission to be in this room, young lady?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;No one, Daddy.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He stared at her, in her calm and tranquil ease, and she stared at him, in his simmering angry state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Correct. Would you mind telling me why you are in here, then?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She shrugged, and thought better of it when he stepped towards her. &#8220;I&#8217;m sorry! I didn&#8217;t mean to!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That had been used once before today. &#8220;Isabel, I&#8217;ve had it. You may spend the rest of the day in your room.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She stared up at him, unblinking. What? Daddy was so mean! &#8220;All day? Mamma-&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Isabel! Mamma doesn&#8217;t do what I&#8217;m about to, either!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She backed out, and he heard her door shut in quiet disgust.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The vase glared at him in all it&#8217;s ugly fury, as if the spirit of the little queen still lingered in the fragments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">About a half-hour later, the darling was at his elbow. &#8220;Daddy? Can I go outside? Please?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The please did it to Mamma every time, and Daddy couldn&#8217;t really mean the rest of the day, could he?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He could.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;No. I believe I told you to stay in your room, Isabel.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;But Daddy! I wanna play!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;And I want you to behave!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;That&#8217;s no fair!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He resisted the urge to do more than lift her, carry her back to her room, and shut the door.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He rested his head on the table-top.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling guitly, the least bit, he ventured to her room before dinner. The indignation and anger that swept him when he saw her room empty was righteous, indeed, and his furrowed brow made it clear that the little queen had reached the end of the ride.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He strode outside, boots pushing through the dust, eyes alert for the dark-haired little imp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When he found her, his heart burned cold.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The stream ran with unusal strength this year, especially in this season, and there she was, suspended over the water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before his voice could make it, she had fallen in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fallen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He sprang forward, and what took place all happened so fast he forgot it afterward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He yanked her from the stream, and she clung to his neck, no trace of the pertinent little miss remaining.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And then, when they had reached the house, he did something he had never done before.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He punished her in anger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The door shut on her sobs, and he rested his warmed palm on his stubbly cheek. Lord. How did he make it this far?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He lay there, pillow clamped in between his teeth, trying not to cry. The body beside him shifted, and a warm arm crept carefully over his side.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Adum?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sniffle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I luvs ya, Adum.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He didn&#8217;t trust himself to speak.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;What ya done were real bad, Adum. Pa said so.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Silence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;He luvs ya, too.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the night wore on, he was convinced his Pa didn&#8217;t love him, not really&#8230;or else why would he have done what he had?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I&#8217;ll never do that to my kids, he thought bitterly, Never!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But he awakened to the touch of his Pa&#8217;s hand, gentle and strong, on his back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And he decided, in the sleepy silence of the love between them, that maybe his Pa did love him. Maybe that was why he did what he had to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam groaned, and knew he wouldn&#8217;t be able to sleep tonight. He hated himself for failing, for doing this&#8230;but, when he thought about it, he would have done the same, even had he given himself time to cool off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He rolled over, and came face to face with a wet one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Bella! You scared me!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She burst into sobs, and he sat up, swinging his feet over the side of the too-empty bed. Strong arms gathered her into him, and she rested her head on his chest. It comforted her to hear the heart beat steadily within.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He rocked her, pausing only when she stopped his movement to look up into his face.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Daddy? Do you love me?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The arms tightened around her, as if desiring to block out the fear and doubts the words invoked. &#8220;Of course. Daddies never stop loving their children, moppet.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Even when they&#8217;re awful bad?&#8221; She gulped, tremulously, and tangled her fingers in his shirt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Even then.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;How do they do that, Daddy?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;God made them like that, Bella. When you love someone, you do what you have to, even when it hurts you&#8230;to hurt them.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She shuddered, quietly, and cuddled up to him. &#8220;I love you, Daddy.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He dropped a kiss onto the sweet-scented head. &#8220;I love you, moppet.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">***<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emma arrived back in high state, welcomed by her husband and daughter, the former kissed on her arrival; the latter subjected to no end of lavish affection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It wasn&#8217;t until that night that the two, husband and wife, were able to talk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;And how is Kaya?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Doing well, darling, and such a boy! He kicks and screams&#8230;has Pat&#8217;s lungs, I fear.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adam chuckled, and pulled her down to him. &#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you.&#8221; He nuzzled into her neck, and she shivered from the warm breath.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I&#8217;ve missed you, Adam.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was tempted to forego on the whole conversation, but he sat up, taking her hand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Emma, we need to talk.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;What about, love? You look so serious.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Bella.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Oh? Is she all right? She wasn&#8217;t sick, was she, you know she needs-&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Em. She gets away with murder, you know.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Oh, Adam. I will not have my baby spoiled by harshness!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;And I will not have her killed because of disobedience!&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emma looked at him, seemingly disbelieving. &#8220;Killed? What happened?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The stream incident took little time to convey, and he saw every emotion play out over her expressive face. &#8220;Adam. We might&#8230;might have lost her.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;I know.&#8221; He squeezed her hand. &#8220;We can&#8217;t risk it, Emma. She needs a firmer hand, and if you love her&#8230;&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Then you do what you have to.&#8221; She finished, and leaned in to kiss him. &#8220;When you love someone, you take care of them. Right?&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He nodded, running his hand down her cheek. &#8220;Exactly right.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, to all the times when the child had occasion to wonder if he &#8220;loves me?&#8221;, then the answer was given.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And this child grew up to pass it on, to learn that love doesn&#8217;t change when it is that kind of love, and that there can be no doubt where there is the best kind of love.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The End<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Brandsters Note: Thank you to Corina-Zoeller for forwarding this story to include within this project.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_60821\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"60821\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif?resize=16%2C16&#038;ssl=1\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary:\u00a0\u00a0Every parent&#8211;and kid&#8211;has that kind of day. Patience is tested, and tears are shed&#8230;but at the end of the day, a father&#8217;s love endures.\u00a0<br \/>\nWord Count:\u00a0 1875\u00a0 \u00a0 Rated: G<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12436,"featured_media":41001,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","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":[1005,7,23,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-cartwright","category-a-u","category-drama","category-humor","wpcat-1005-id","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-4-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":149,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49892,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49892","url_meta":{"origin":60821,"position":0},"title":"The Savage (WHN) (by Katie)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"August 6, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 An alternate ending to the episode, The Savage Rating:\u00a0 Teen\u00a0 (775\u00a0 Words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Adam Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49277,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49277","url_meta":{"origin":60821,"position":1},"title":"The Cartwright Family (by LindaBl)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"May 22, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Synopsis:\u00a0A cute new song about the Cartwrights Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 Words:\u00a0 270","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Family&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1008"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":60983,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=60983","url_meta":{"origin":60821,"position":2},"title":"Better After Death (by Cas008)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"December 2, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: A ghost from Adam's past returns with memories of love. Rating:\u00a0 PG\u00a0 Words:\u00a0 960","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Adam Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49897,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49897","url_meta":{"origin":60821,"position":3},"title":"Hoss&#8217; Meditation (by Katie)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"July 25, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 I think we underestimated Hoss Cartwright Rating: G\u00a0 (690 words)","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Hoss Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Hoss Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1006"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47845,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=47845","url_meta":{"origin":60821,"position":4},"title":"Snow, Falling Softly (by Adah)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"December 17, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Synopsis:\u00a0Hoss communes with Nature while thinking about the unique characteristics of each member of his family and their ties to the land. Rating:\u00a0 G Words:\u00a0 1,200","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26921,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=26921","url_meta":{"origin":60821,"position":5},"title":"Family (by Conny1971)","author":"VCLS","date":"December 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: A Christmas Greeting.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Writing Challenges&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Writing Challenges","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=40"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/00001_Advent1.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/00001_Advent1.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/00001_Advent1.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/00001_Advent1.jpg?fit=791%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60821","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\/12436"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=60821"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60821\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41001"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=60821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=60821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=60821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}