Summary:\u00a0 Ben is faced with a difficult decision that could cost him the life of one of his sons.
\nRating:\u00a0 Teens\u00a0 13,630 words<\/p>\n
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Ben Cartwright pulled the buckboard to a halt and pointed to a spot about a mile away. \u201cThere,\u201d he said excitedly. \u201cThere it is \u2026 what do you think?\u201d\u00a0 He turned to face his new wife anxiously, searching her face for a sign of what her inner thoughts might be regarding her first look at her new home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie had steeled herself for the worst, for one thing the past few weeks had taught her was that people out here certainly had it tough. She hadn\u2019t exactly been considered well off in her native city of New Orleans and had experienced her fair share of ups and downs in her time, but nothing had quite prepared for the poverty she had witnessed on her way out west with Ben. The number of his friends who had welcomed them along the way was amazing \u2026 more so for the fact that none of them could obviously afford to be hospitable \u2026 and the fact that they had shared all they had, had made her feel extremely humble. Even more to the point, she was not used to such treatment, having led the life she had and considering her cultural heritage. There were many people who found the ways of her people different and therefore threatening and she had fully expected that she was to expect the same treatment out here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even the Hendersons, whom they had spent last night with and whom Ben had entrusted his two precious sons to during the past few months while he\u2019d been down south, had not shown evidence of having much in the way of material possessions. Yet their greeting had been as warm as could be and they couldn\u2019t have been more welcoming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie knew that her arrival with Ben had come as quite a shock to all those friends they\u2019d seen along the way and she could only marvel at the way they\u2019d taken it in their stride. She had not been used to such treatment in the past and had been quite taken aback by it. Maybe she\u2019d finally found the right place to live? She gave Ben a dazzling smile as she considered that she\u2019d definitely found the right man.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As she turned to look upon the house that she would now call home, she was determined not to give the man beside her any indication that she might be disappointed, but to her delight she had no need to hide her true feelings. Her smile broadened and she clasped her hands together in delight. Instead of the tiny sod cabin she\u2019d been expecting during the past few days, she saw instead a wooden structure that looked large enough for about four rooms. To one side of it was a large chimney sitting in the open air and around that was several beams standing straight up almost as if they were still living and breathing pines simply stripped of their branches.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen, it\u2019s lovely!\u201d\u00a0 she said, her eyes shining. \u201cSo much bigger than I\u2019d imagined.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben nodded and breathed a sigh of relief. He had such love in his heart for his beautiful new bride that he didn\u2019t think he could have bared to see a look of disappointment in her lovely green eyes and the thought that he had dragged her away from her life in New Orleans and everything that was familiar to her to bring her out here to this wilderness played heavily on his mind. He would do anything to make her as happy as she\u2019d made him during these past weeks and if she\u2019d asked for a mansion he would have set to work as soon as he could to provide her with one. But how much easier it was going to be if she were content as he was to dream one step at a time?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not finished of course,\u201d he said, as he hitched up the reins again. \u201cI started with just one room for the boys and myself and then added a kitchen by the second winter we were here. By the time Hop Sing joined us I had managed to add two more rooms and now \u2026 as you can see \u2026\u201d he gestured with one hand \u2026 \u201cI was in the process of adding a larger living area before I left. I would have finished it by now if \u2026\u201d His voice trailed away, suddenly reluctant to voice the one thing that between them \u2026 the one thing that made both of them feel uncomfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf Jean hadn\u2019t died and you had to come to New Orleans,\u201d his wife finished for him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben shrugged. \u201cYes,\u201d he acknowledged. \u201cBut I\u2019ll get straight to it as soon as we\u2019re settled. You\u2019ll see, my love, it will be wonderful once it\u2019s done.\u201d\u00a0 He glanced over his shoulder at the two boys sitting on top of the luggage in the back of the buckboard. \u201cAdam has been helping me to design it,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s quite the young architect already and insisted that we have a grand plan.\u201d\u00a0 He smiled at his eldest son and the boy grinned back at him. \u201cIt includes an upstairs as well,\u201d Ben added. \u201cMaybe we\u2019ll get to that in years to come as well.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy goodness, that sounds ambitious,\u201d said Marie, also turning to smile at the boys behind her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s possible,\u201d Adam replied seriously, not returning the smile. \u201cJust involves a lot of hard work and Pa and me are gonna be real busy with other things before we can get to it. We just have to prioritise.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie tried to hide her amusement at the way in which the boy spoke. Adam was still only eleven, yet he seemed to have such an old head on his shoulders. She guessed that it was because Ben had had no option but to treat him as an adult in so many ways over the years. Her heart went out to the youngster who had been forced to grow up before his time and she vowed to try and ease the burden on him now that she was there. \u201cI\u2019m sure you do,\u201d she said, her smile fading as she met the dark gaze of her stepson. Adam stared at the woman, his eyes showing no warmth and Marie found her own gaze faltering under his look. There was something about the boy that unnerved her, and she fought against the thought that in fact she felt uncomfortable with him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After all, they\u2019d only known each other less than a day and she couldn\u2019t expect any child to warm to her so easily and so quickly. Even though Ben had written to his sons from New Orleans straight after their marriage, she was sure that her presence was a shock to both boys and there would need to be a lot of work on all their parts before they settled into their respective roles comfortably.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie forced herself to smile at Adam again and didn\u2019t flinch as the boy stared at her and then looked away. She turned as she felt a small tug on her sleeve. \u201cI\u2019m gonna help too,\u201d said Hoss, grinning up at her. \u201cI\u2019m real strong for a boy my age \u2026. Ain\u2019t I Pa?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben chuckled. \u201cYou sure are son,\u201d he said to the six year old, before winking at Marie. \u201cReal strong. I\u2019m going to need your help as well.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie instinctively reached out and smoothed down the child\u2019s sandy hair and was rewarded by a smile from him. There would be no difficulty with winning over the love of this younger boy, of that she was sure. After his initial shyness had worn off last night, Hoss had made it clear that he was ready to allow her into his heart and she was already feeling a great deal of affection for the child and his delightful ways.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The buckboard lurched suddenly and she grasped the side, feeling slightly off-balance with the movement. She instinctively put her hands over her abdomen and then took them away quickly, hoping that Ben hadn\u2019t noticed the gesture. She really hadn\u2019t wanted to voice her thoughts before they\u2019d settled, but with every day that passed she was becoming surer than ever that her dearest wish was going to become true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She smiled at her husband again, wondering what his reaction was going to be when she told him that their family was going to increase before the year was out? Hopefully he wouldn\u2019t think it was too soon and would be delighted as she was. She hugged her secret close to her heart and said a silent prayer that all would be well and that this time she would be able to give Ben the daughter that he\u2019d longed for. He had never admitted as much to her during their many talks in the past few weeks, but she felt instinctively that with two sons he would want a daughter next.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For herself, she didn\u2019t care. As long as the little one was healthy \u2026 her thoughts trailed away as they often did to the tiny grave that she\u2019d left behind her in New Orleans and her heart constricted with the familiar pain. Not that she\u2019d ever had the chance to see her baby\u2019s grave, for her husband\u2019s family had refused her even that small comfort. Since Jean had left, her mother-in-law had taken great delight in making her life a misery and if Marie hadn\u2019t thought it impossible that a woman could take joy in other woman\u2019s pain at such a time, she would have even believed that Jean\u2019s mother had been pleased when her grandson had died shortly after birth. She certainly hadn\u2019t taken much time to let her daughter-in-law know that her presence was no longer welcome in the family since there was no grandchild to bond them together. Marie had left Jean\u2019s family behind her at that point, and it hadn\u2019t been until Ben Cartwright had appeared to tell her of Jean\u2019s death on his far-away ranch over a year later that she had allowed thoughts of that family to encroach upon her life again.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben had brought sad news, but he had also brought the hope of a new life, and now that they were man and wife Marie was determined to make it a life that she would succeed at. She would provide a loving home for this man who had stolen her heart \u2026 and she didn\u2019t care how many hardships she had to face for him. As Ben brought the buckboard to a halt in front of the wooden house she held her head high with the hope of the future.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/b><\/p>\n Hop Sing looked up at the sound of the buckboard and smiled. It wasn\u2019t often that such a look came over the Chinese cook\u2019s face, for he was a man that didn\u2019t show his feelings very often \u2026 unless it was his displeasure. He had joined the Cartwright family over a year ago and had quickly become indispensable to Ben and the boys. He was cook, housekeeper and part-time child-minder all in one and there were many times when it felt like he\u2019d been part of this family for years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although he would never had admitted it, Hop Sing greatly admired Ben and had respect for the way in which the man was trying to overcome the adversities that life had thrown at him. He was also very close to Adam and Hoss, bossing them around unmercifully but always with an eye on what was best for them. Both boys accepted his gruff ways without question and would have trusted him with their lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n During the past few months since Ben had been to New Orleans and back, Hop Sing had missed \u201chis boys\u201d keenly and was now anxious to have his family back around him again. He had stayed in the cabin on The Ponderosa ranch during this time, cooking for the half-dozen hands who had been keeping the ranch going, and had gone to visit \u201chis boys\u201d every couple of weeks. Of course, he never allowed them to think that his visits were for them alone, but always had some excuse for going over to the Henderson ranch. It just wasn\u2019t in his nature to be unguarded in the way he felt about others, for his time in this adopted country of his had taught him well. Never let on how you feel about someone \u2026 for you don\u2019t quite belong here and might be hurt more if you do.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing had been hurt more than enough. Since leaving his own country he had experienced prejudice and hatred in his adopted home \u2026 more than he cared to admit even to himself. Ben Cartwright had been the first American to treat him decently and Hop Sing owed the man a lot. In fact he owed him his life, as he had been in danger of losing it the very first time they\u2019d met. If it hadn\u2019t been for Ben standing between him and those outlaws, Hop Sing would never have survived the beating he\u2019d taken. He had travelled home with Ben to recover, and had stayed on. Now he couldn\u2019t imagine living anywhere else.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing took off his apron and straightened up his jacket before walking to the door of the kitchen. He frowned as he put his hand on the doorhandle, the thought of the new missus uppermost in his mind. Adam and Hoss had told him two weeks ago of the letter they\u2019d received from their father and although he hadn\u2019t said it to anyone, Hop Sing had been worried from the moment he\u2019d heard of his employer\u2019s marriage. What was he going to do if this new wife didn\u2019t want him here? What if she were the type of woman who didn\u2019t appreciate a housekeeper and cook? Well \u2026 there was only one way to find out and Hop Sing held his head up in a defiant way as he walked out of the kitchen. He had worked long and hard to find his place in this family, and no one was going to spoil it for him!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As Ben handed Marie down from the buckboard, she looked around the small yard with eager eyes. The house looked even larger at closer inspection and she breathed a sigh of relief at the thought that she and Ben would at least have their own room. She\u2019d seen some families all cramped in together in their small cabins and she didn\u2019t relish sharing a bed with her new husband with his sons \u2026 and their housekeeper \u2026. a few feet across the room from them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her stomach felt queasy as she turned to face the man who was approaching them. \u201cYou must be Hop Sing,\u201d she said, nodding her head to him slightly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing eyed the woman up and down, thinking how fragile she looked and wondering if someone who looked as she did would know the first thing about how to run a house. She certainly didn\u2019t fit the mould of the usual frontier woman who settled out this way and he thought that she looked as if she should be back east in a large house full of servants. He nodded to her by way of response, not quite knowing what to say to such a beautiful woman and feeling decidedly uncomfortable under her gaze. \u201cMissy Cartwright,\u201d he said finally and then turned to Ben. \u201cGood to have you back Mr Cartwright,\u201d he said warmly. \u201cAll Ponderosa miss you!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to be back Hop Sing,\u201d replied Ben, looking around. \u201cThe place is looking good. Where is everyone?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMen out branding,\u201d said Hop Sing. \u201cMr Charlie start last week.\u201d He took a step backwards as the weight of Hoss landed on him with full force and the boy flung his arms around the man\u2019s waist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure is good ta be home agen Hop Sing!\u201d Hoss enthused. \u201cI done missed ya!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing hid his delight at the youngster\u2019s touch, although Marie and Ben both noted that he did nothing to disengage Hoss\u2019 grasp. \u201cYou see me two week ago,\u201d Hop Sing said sternly. \u201cNo need for fuss.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss grinned up at the man. \u201cBut I ain\u2019t seen ya here!\u201d he said, as if that explained everything. \u201cCome on Adam \u2026 let\u2019s go and see the barn and everything.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam grinned at Hop Sing. \u201cNice to see you again,\u201d he said warmly before ambling off to follow his younger brother.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben rolled his eyes in mock anger. \u201cWell I guess it\u2019s up to me to get the bags then,\u201d he said, feigning an injured tone. \u201cThe boys are so excited to be home, so I\u2019ll excuse them for not helping just this once.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing stepped forward. \u201cI get bags, he said shortly. \u201cYou take Missy Cartwright and show house.\u201d He gave Marie a pitying look. \u201cShe look like she need rest \u2026 not used to west travel.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie smiled at him. \u201cThank you,\u201d she said, pulling Ben forward. \u201cCome on darling \u2026 show me the house.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben didn\u2019t need much encouragement to be led into the house, leaving Hop Sing behind them to organise the luggage. \u201cIsn\u2019t he as wonderful as I said he was?\u201d he said to Marie.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie was too interested in the house to reply. \u201cWhich room is this?\u201d she asked, looking around.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is where we live most of the time,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cIt serves as our eating area, our living room and a makeshift study for myself and the boys when I give them schoolwork to do. In here is the kitchen and over here \u2026.\u201d He drew back a curtain that sectioned off a part of the kitchen \u2026 \u201cThis is where Hop Sing sleeps. I think he\u2019s got the warmest place in the house being off the kitchen as he is.\u201d\u00a0 He chuckled and then led his wife under the blanket. \u201cThis is the kitchen,\u201d he said with pride. \u201cI built it very large as Hop Sing cooks for so many and spends much of his time in here.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSo many?\u201d asked Marie.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAll the hands as well as the boys and myself,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cAlthough the hands take their food to the bunkhouse when it\u2019s been cooked,\u201d he added hastily, seeing his wife frown. \u201cSo at meal times it\u2019s just us. Hop Sing is always busy cooking up something.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell he won\u2019t have so much to do now that I\u2019m here,\u201d replied Marie. \u201cI\u2019m a pretty good cook myself I\u2019ll have you know. The nuns taught me well at the convent school I attended.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure you are,\u201d said Ben, placing a kiss on top of her curly hair. \u201cAnd I\u2019m looking forward to it.\u201d He drew her over to the other side of the room. \u201cThis is where the boys sleep,\u201d he said, indicating a small room with two beds in it. \u201cAnd this is my \u2026.. I mean \u2026 our room.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie looked around the room. \u201cIt\u2019s quite nice,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I can see that I\u2019ll have to give it a feminine touch.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNothing too frilly,\u201d warned Ben quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course not darling,\u201d replied his wife, already envisaging curtains and a bedcover with frills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey Pa!\u201d shouted Hoss from the other room. \u201cWe got two new calves and a foal since we ain\u2019t been here!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled and kissed Marie again on the top of her head. \u201cWelcome home,\u201d he said softly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing looked up and frowned as Marie walked into the kitchen. \u201cYou miss breakfast,\u201d he said accusingly. \u201cEveryone finish eat and leave long time ago.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie yawned before replying. \u201cI didn\u2019t realise,\u201d she said. \u201cMy goodness, they must have been up before dawn.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAlways are,\u201d said Hop Sing shortly, thinking that this new addition to the family had quite a lot to get used to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d said Marie. \u201cI suppose there\u2019s nothing left then?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing reached out and plonked a plate of food on the bench. \u201cYour breakfast all cold, but I can heat up if want.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie gave the man a startled look. \u201cNo, don\u2019t worry about it,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ll just make myself some toast.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI make,\u201d said Hop Sing, moving quickly over to the stove.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo Hop Sing, I can do it,\u201d said Marie. \u201cThank you for the offer, but \u2026.\u201d\u00a0 Her voice trailed away as the cook gave her a dark look and continued to slice the bread. \u201cThank you,\u201d she finished feebly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs no bother,\u201d said Hop Sing. \u201cBetter this way, then Missy Cartwright not mess up Hop Sing\u2019s kitchen.\u201d\u00a0 He speared the bread on a poker and held it over the stove, watching it as it began to turn brown.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie sat down and studied the cook for a moment. \u201cI really had no intention of messing up your \u2026 I mean <\/span>the<\/span><\/i> kitchen,\u201d she said defensively. \u201cI need to get to know where everything is after all and I may as well start finding out now.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot need to know,\u201d said Hop Sing firmly. \u201cYou not need spend much time in kitchen.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut I will be,\u201d objected Marie. \u201cI enjoy cooking and I\u2019m looking forward to preparing some dishes for \u2026\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHop Sing cook at Ponderosa,\u201d the man said sternly as he buttered the toast. \u201cYou not need bother cooking.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut its no bother,\u201d insisted Marie, taking the toast from him. \u201cThank you. I\u2019d like to cook some dishes for my family now that I\u2019m here. I\u2019m quite a good cook and \u2026\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeed change beds now,\u201d interrupted Hop Sing abruptly and left the room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie gave him an angry look as she bit down on her toast. She sat in thoughtful silence for a moment and then stood up and walked to the door. Outside she spied Hoss gathering eggs and wandered over to him. \u201cGood morning Hoss,\u201d she said, still munching on her toast.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 eyes widened at the sight of her. \u201cDid Hop Sing give ya toast?\u201d he asked incredulously. \u201cHe always says iffen we don\u2019t get down ta breakfast on time, then we don\u2019t get fed. How come ya got that?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie hid a smile. \u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d she said, looking around. \u201cWhere is your father?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He and Adam rode out with the men at sunup,\u201d said Hoss, picking up another egg. \u201cThey always do. Adam\u2019s lucky cause he gets ta help. I only get ta do stupid yard chores.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie smiled at the youngster. \u201cI\u2019m sure your time will come honey,\u201d she said. \u201cTell me Hoss \u2026 does Hop Sing always tell you what to do?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded. \u201cYup. He gets right angry too, iffen we don\u2019t do it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d Marie sat down and looked at the boy thoughtfully. \u201cWhat do you do all day Hoss? I mean \u2026 apart from your yard chores?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 eyes lit up. \u201cI look after my animals,\u201d he said, putting down the basket. \u201cYou wanna see em?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie gave him a lovely smile and Hoss thought she was just about the most beautiful thing he\u2019d ever seen. \u201cI certainly do,\u201d she replied. \u201cWhere are they?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn the barn,\u201d said Hoss, grabbing her hand eagerly and pulling her towards the building. \u201cCome and see!\u201d He led her into the large barn and proudly took her over to a corner where there stood several small makeshift cages. \u201cThis is where Adam and me keep our animals,\u201d he said. \u201cAdam hasta help me cause I\u2019m too little to look after em all my myself, Pa says.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie looked. \u201cBut there\u2019s nothing in them,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 face became downcast. \u201cI know,\u201d he replied. \u201cWe hadta let em go when Pa went away, cause we wasn\u2019t here ta look after em no more. They\u2019re better being free but. I usually jest keep em until they\u2019re better.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBetter?\u201d she asked, puzzled.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked at her as if she were a little simple. \u201cYeah \u2026 better,\u201d he replied. \u201cI only put animals in here when they\u2019re sick and need looking after.\u201d He gave her a shocked look. \u201cDid ya think I\u2019d put animals in cages when they weren\u2019t sick?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie shook her head. \u201cNo \u2026 but I thought maybe you kept them as pets,\u201d she admitted.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shook his head vehemently. \u201cNo way!\u201d he declared. \u201cAnimals need ta be free. Anyone knows that!\u201d He gave her a sudden smile. \u201cBut I reckon you\u2019re still learning bout things here, huh?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI suppose so,\u201d Marie admitted. \u201cI\u2019ve still got a lot to learn about life out here.\u201d She suddenly thought how strange it was that she should be voicing her thoughts to a six year old in this way \u2026 but after all, who else was there around here to talk to? Hop Sing obviously didn\u2019t want anything to do with her and everyone else was out working.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll show ya the new foal iffen ya like,\u201d said Hoss suddenly and pulled her towards a stall opposite. Marie watched fondly as the little boy sat down in the hay and fondled the young animal in a loving way. There was a lot of the gentleness she\u2019d come to see in Ben, also in this son of his. \u201cYa like him?\u201d Hoss asked, smiling up at her.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI do indeed,\u201d she said eagerly, sitting down next to him. \u201cI love horses.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCan ya ride?\u201d he enquired.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI sure can,\u201d Marie said. \u201cIn fact the very first time I saw your father I was on a horse.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019 eyes widened. \u201cYeah?\u201d he said. \u201cThen Pa\u2019ll probably get ya a horse ta ride round here.\u201d\u00a0 He looked wistful. \u201cI wish I had one, but Pa says they cost money and he can\u2019t afford one fer a boy who ain\u2019t big enough ta work on horseback yet.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie patted him on the head. \u201cWell we just might see about that,\u201d she said. \u201cPerhaps if I \u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat you do?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n They both turned to see Hop Sing standing behind them, his hands on his hips and a frown on his face. \u201cLittle boy not bring eggs inside yet and Hop Sing need them!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss immediately got to his feet. \u201cSorry Hop Sing,\u201d he said. \u201cI left em outside. I\u2019ll get em fer ya.\u201d\u00a0 He scampered outside and soon returned with the basket, which Hop Sing took from him.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKindling waiting,\u201d Hop Sing hinted. \u201cBoy need put in wood-box. Plenty other chores be done before playing.\u201d He gave Marie a hard look as if were her fault.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie stood up and brushed the hay from her skirt. \u201cWe were just looking at the new foal,\u201d she said stiffly. \u201cThere\u2019s no need to be angry with the child Hop Sing.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hop Sing\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cIs need,\u201d he said. \u201cMr Cartwright put Hop Sing in charge of boy when not here and he need get chores done before lunch.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019ll be in charge of him now,\u201d Marie replied primly. \u201cAnd by all means I agree that its is important for him to get his chores done. However, he\u2019s only six years old and he also needs time to have some fun as well.\u201d\u00a0 She turned to Hoss, ignoring the look that Hop Sing gave her. \u201cCome on, honey,\u201d she said, holding out her hand to the boy. \u201cI\u2019ll help you with your chores while we talk.\u201d\u00a0 She brushed past Hop Sing as she led Hoss out of the barn, and the cook glared after her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ++++++++++<\/b><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie ran towards her husband\u2019s horse as he pulled it to a stop and slid down from the saddle. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him, causing Adam to turn red and look away as he got down from his horse as well.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben submitted to her hugs and chuckled as he tried to extricate himself from her grasp after a few moments. \u201cWhat\u2019s all this?\u201d he asked teasingly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI missed you,\u201d she said, smiling at him before planting another kiss on his cheek.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou were sleeping so soundly this morning that I didn\u2019t have the heart to wake you up,\u201d he replied. \u201cDid Hop Sing and Hoss look after you?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie forced herself to continue to smile as she skirted around the question. \u201cHoss has shown me the new foal and we did his chores together.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben frowned slightly. \u201cThere\u2019s no need for you to help him with his chores,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d rather you take it easy and rest. You\u2019ve had a long journey and you need to recover from it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPiffle!\u201d she replied dismissively. \u201cI\u2019m fine. When will you get it through that head of yours that I\u2019m not made of glass, Ben Cartwright?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled at her. He knew that beneath the fragile exterior there was one tough woman inside his wife, but he couldn\u2019t help wanting to take care of such a precious creature now that she was his.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBen?\u201d she said as she linked her arm with his and they headed towards the house. \u201cHoss tells me that he doesn\u2019t have a horse or even a pony of his own yet. Why don\u2019t we get him one?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed. \u201cI wish I could,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I really can\u2019t afford it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She looked across at him anxiously. \u201cIs money so tight then?\u201d she asked.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo \u2026 not so tight,\u201d he replied. \u201cIt\u2019s just that every animal we have here on the ranch has to be a working animal. I can\u2019t afford any hayburners.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie looked confused. \u201cHayburners?\u201d she asked. \u201cWhat is a hayburner?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAn animal who doesn\u2019t pull their weight,\u201d he explained. \u201cThey just eat and we get nothing in return from them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d she said thoughtfully. \u201cStill Ben \u2026 the child wants one so badly. He and I were talking about riding \u2026.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stopped and stared at her. \u201cI never thought!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cOf course my darling \u2026 I\u2019ll have to get you a horse. You love riding so much that you\u2019ll need something to get around on.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie drew herself up to her full height and gave her husband a stern look. \u201cHow come you can afford a horse for me and not for your son?\u201d she asked primly. \u201cI\u2019m not having you buy me a horse and not Hoss.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI can catch a wild horse and tame it for you,\u201d explained Ben. \u201cBut that wouldn\u2019t do for Hoss. He needs something smaller.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cI\u2019ve got an idea then,\u201d she said. \u201cWhy not give him the new foal? He could look after it and when it\u2019s big enough \u2026\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben kissed the top of her curly hair. \u201cThat\u2019s a wonderful idea,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t know why it didn\u2019t occur to me.\u201d His eyes shone as he looked at her. \u201cYou really feel something for Hoss already, don\u2019t you?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She nodded. \u201cHe\u2019s such a lovely boy Ben. So gentle and sweet \u2026 just like you.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her husband chuckled. \u201cLike me?\u201d he said. \u201cYou won\u2019t always think that.\u201d He gestured towards Adam on the other side of the yard who had studiously ignored his stepmother since he\u2019d dismounted from his horse.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat one might be a bit more of a challenge,\u201d she replied. \u201cI just need to get to know him. He seems very like you Ben.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stared at his eldest son for a moment. \u201cHe\u2019s actually more like his mother,\u201d he said with a tinge of sadness in his voice. \u201cAlthough he has my stubbornness,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou \u2026 stubborn?\u201d she teased. \u201cI never noticed.\u201d They both chuckled together. \u201cBut seriously Ben, I think your boys are wonderful. I\u2019ve only know them a day and already I can say that I hope our child turns out just like them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell we don\u2019t have to worry about that yet,\u201d he said with a smile.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie hesitated. \u201cWould you mind if we didn\u2019t have wait too long to worry about it?\u201d she asked softly.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cWhat?\u201d he said incredulously. \u201cDo you mean what I think you mean?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marie nodded and was instantly swept off her feet by her husband as he twirled her around in the air. \u201cSo you\u2019re pleased?\u201d she laughingly asked when she\u2019d caught her breath again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPleased?\u201d he said. \u201cOf course I\u2019m pleased! Another Cartwright! I never thought \u2026\u201d\u00a0 He looked instantly concerned. \u201cAre you all right? I mean \u2026 with the journey and all \u2026 shouldn\u2019t you be resting?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n