{"id":9661,"date":"2005-09-30T17:20:51","date_gmt":"2005-09-30T21:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=9661"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:10:37","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:10:37","slug":"seeing-old-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=9661","title":{"rendered":"Seeing Old Friends (by EPM)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: \u00a0When I read that Mr. Roberts watches Bonanza to \u201csee old friends\u201d, I couldn\u2019t get the phrase out of my head. Hence, the inspiration for this story. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WC 1850 Rating:\u00a0 K
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing Old Friends<\/strong><\/p>\n

As he sat on the bench, he noticed how his hips seemed to hurt more often these days. The years of hard physical labor had taken their toll. Out of all the acreage on the Ponderosa, Adam Cartwright loved this spot most of all. He looked out through the spaces between the stones to see the brilliant blue of the Lake. It was an early Fall afternoon and the sun\u2019s warmth made him sleepy. Better not, he thought, too much to do.<\/p>\n

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

Riding home, Adam was a man whose mind struggled with conflicting thoughts and feelings. His discontent transferred itself to his horse and Sport\u2019s behavior was reflected in restlessness. If he were honest with himself, Adam would have to admit that his mind and his heart took turns pushing him away and than pulling him back to the life he had known for so long. His need to see and experience new things, to meet new people, loomed forever on his mind but somehow, his heart always brought him home.<\/p>\n

Caught up in his own conflict, Adam didn\u2019t realize he was in front of the barn doors until Sport stopped. He smiled to himself and dismounted, giving Sport a pat of apology on his long, sleek neck. His wasn\u2019t surprised when he walked in and saw his middle brother fussing with his own mount.<\/p>\n

\u201cWondered if you was comin home brother. You missed a good dinner.\u201d Hoss smiled over the stall divider.<\/p>\n

\u201cI planned on being here but I stopped up by the lake. Guess time got away from me,\u201d Adam replied, returning the smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cTime don\u2019t usually get away from you unless you got somthin’ on your mind. Feel like talkin?\u201d\u00a0 Hoss kept brushing Chubb, waiting patiently for Adam to decide whether he was ready to share what was bothering him.<\/p>\n

Adam walked out of Sport\u2019s stall. He went to the feed bin and retrieved a measure of oats. As he poured them into a bucket and placed them within the hungry horse\u2019s reach, he was rewarded with a soft whicker. He retreated and sat on a pile of grain sacks. Without looking up, he said,\u201d I\u2019m thinking about going away for awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss hesitated for a moment as he brushed Chubb\u2019s shinny coat, than resumed the rhythmic strokes. He already knew the answer to the question he was about to ask, but he wanted to be wrong. \u201cYou thinkin about takin a trip to San Francisco?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked into his brother\u2019s soft blue eyes. He felt as if a fist was squeezing his chest. He shook his head and said softly, \u201cNo Hoss, not San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men talked for a long time, neither afraid to share their thoughts. Their bond had been forged by the pain of loss and the joy of new beginnings and there was nothing they couldn\u2019t say to each other.\u00a0 \u201cWell Adam, if this is somethin you got to do than you should go ahead and do it. Can\u2019t say as I understand but that don\u2019t matter. Just promise me that you\u2019ll come home someday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew that no matter how much longer he stayed at the Ponderosa, he and Hoss had just said goodbye. They started for the house, walking a little closer to each other.<\/p>\n

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

The sun was already in the mid-morning sky when Adam awoke. He got up and readied himself for the day. As he came down the stairs, he was surprised to see his father still sitting at the table.<\/p>\n

Ben looked up from his coffee and paper and said, \u201cGood morning son— did you sleep well?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I guess a little too well. Why didn\u2019t you wake me?\u201d Adam poured himself some coffee and sat at his father\u2019s right side.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been working long hours lately and you seemed especially tired last night. Thought I\u2019d let you sleep some this morning.\u201d Ben knew something was bothering his eldest son and he hoped Adam would take this opportunity to open up.<\/p>\n

Adam gave his father a shy, half-grin and said, \u201cThanks Pa. Think I\u2019ll join Joe out in the east meadow this morning. I\u2019m sure he can use some help with those fences.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright son, I\u2019ll see you tonight.\u201d Ben watched as Adam disappeared up the stairs once more. He knew whatever it was that Adam was wrestling with would come out eventually. He tried to dismiss the feeling of dread that rose up and threatened to choke him.<\/p>\n

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

Adam took a minute to watch his youngest brother at work. No longer a boy, Joe had taken his place in the running of the ranch. He tightened his legs and Sport moved forward.<\/p>\n

Joe lowered the mall that he was about to swing and flashed a smile when he saw Adam riding toward him. \u201cAbout time brother, thought you were gonna sleep all day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I almost did! I can\u2019t believe Pa let me get away with that,\u201d Adam answered. He took off his gun than unbuttoned his shirt and put on his heavy work gloves. \u201cYou wanna pound or hold?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI been pounding all morning. It\u2019s your turn.\u201d Joe retrieved his canteen and poured a good measure over his head. His thick, wavy mane separated into soft curls. It reminded Adam of what Joe\u2019s hair looked like when he was a baby.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour mother loved playing with your hair. She was always brushing and combing those curls,\u201d Adam smiled at the memory.<\/p>\n

Joe laughed and said, \u201cBet that made Pa happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam joined Joe\u2019s laughter than said, \u201cWell, even Pa knew he\u2019d never win that battle. Your mother could be formidable when she wanted something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe was quiet for a moment. \u201cDid you really like her—my mother?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was easy for Adam to answer with no hesitation. \u201cYes, I really did like Marie.\u201d He let the mall head fall to the ground and he leaned against the handle. \u201cI\u2019m not saying it wasn\u2019t hard at first. I couldn\u2019t quite understand why Pa wanted to upset our masculine household but in time I learned to love all the things your mother brought to us— and to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe smiled as his brother reminisced about his mother. Adam didn\u2019t often open up about his growing up years but Joe learned something new each time he did. \u201cShe used to tell me stories about New Orleans and all the different kinds of people who visited there. And she\u2019s the one who encouraged me to continue with my education back East.\u201d He picked up the mall again. \u201cAfter she died, Pa remembered how much Marie wanted me to go to college and he kept his word to her. I\u2019m endlessly grateful to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe picked up a post and lowered it into the hole that he had dug. Steadying it, he watched as Adam swung the heavy mall downward over the post head, driving it further into the earth. \u201cNow that outta last awhile,\u201d Joe remarked.<\/p>\n

When his brother didn\u2019t answer, Joe said, \u201cYou ignoring me again brother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm—no, I was just thinking about how real Marie made all her stories sound.\u201d Adam cleared his throat. \u201cJoe, there\u2019s something I have to talk with you about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s body automatically tensed. His brother looked anxious and rarely did Adam ever look anxious, even if he was. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve decided to see all the places Marie and I talked about. Places I studied about in college.\u201d Adam waited, not knowing how Joe would react.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want you to go.\u201d Joe\u2019s voice was harsh with the sudden rush of emotion that grabbed at his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you don\u2019t Joe but if I don\u2019t go now, I\u2019ll never go. I can\u2019t spend the rest of my life with \u201cwhat ifs\u201d. Adam stepped toward his brother. \u201cI can\u2019t promise when, but I promise I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two men sat beneath a towering pine, sometimes talking, sometimes in silence. And when they had finished, Joe said, \u201cHave you talked to Pa yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not yet but soon.\u201d He smiled at Joe and said, \u201cWould you care to help me with that?\u201d Adam stood up.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot likely brother.\u201d Joe hesitated than asked, \u201cWill you really come home?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam reached out his hand to help Joe up. \u201cI promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Ben thought that dinner had been quieter than usual. The boys all seemed to be subdued and thoughtful. He decided to wait. He knew that sooner or later one of them would come to him. But of the three, he thought it least likely to be his eldest. Known for keeping his own counsel, it surprised Ben when Adam asked if he could speak to him later that evening.<\/p>\n

Both Hoss and Joe had retired, leaving Ben and Adam reading quietly by the sparse light of the fireplace. \u201cGuess I\u2019d better light some lamps if you and I are going to keep reading.\u201d Ben got up but before he could reach a lantern, Adam said, \u201cCan we talk for a minute Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sat back down. \u201cCertainly son. What\u2019s on your mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly, Adam felt like a little boy again. How to make his father understand? \u201cDo you remember how you felt when you left Boston all those years ago? How you kept on, no matter the hardship, because it was your dream to build the Ponderosa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes son, I remember it well.\u201d Ben lit his pipe and waited for Adam to continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going away, Pa. It\u2019s time to find my own dream.\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was strained but as soon as he said it, he began to relax.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wondered how long it would be,\u201d Ben answered. A look of confusion crossed his son\u2019s face. \u201cI knew in my heart I\u2019d never keep you forever but I hoped—-.\u201d In a voice taunt with emotion, Ben asked, \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not exactly sure. There are things to arrange.\u201d Silence fell between the two men and for the first time in their lives it seemed there was nothing more to say.<\/p>\n

Adam broke the stillness. \u201cI made Hoss and Joe a promise. I told them I\u2019d be back. I wanted you to know that.\u201d Adam watched as his father rose from his chair and walked toward him. Ben pulled him into an embrace. Everything father and son had shared through the years seemed pressed between them.<\/p>\n

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

Adam felt his head drop and he pulled himself up with a jerk. He\u2019d told himself he didn\u2019t have time to fall asleep. He looked out once more to see the sun\u2019s light sparkle on the deep blue water. His eyes came to rest on the stone tablets in front of him. He remembered all those years ago and the promise that he had made to come home again. And he had kept that promise. Now his greatest comfort came when he visited here each day. He had come home to the dream.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

9\/05<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

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

Summary: \u00a0When I read that Mr. Roberts watches Bonanza to \u201csee old friends\u201d, I couldn\u2019t get the phrase out of my head. Hence, the inspiration for this story. \u00a0<\/p>\n

WC 1850 Rating:\u00a0 K<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":5779,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[14],"class_list":["post-9661","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","tag-adam-cartwright","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2358,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Adam-Stories.jpg?fit=637%2C480&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6768,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6768","url_meta":{"origin":9661,"position":0},"title":"A Deadly Day (by rosecartwright)","author":"rosecartwright","date":"November 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Joe is home sick, but things go downhill for this young Cartwright. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ (635 words)","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\/11\/2-joe.jpg?fit=237%2C221&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13586,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13586","url_meta":{"origin":9661,"position":1},"title":"Messages (by BettyHT)","author":"BettyHT","date":"December 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Prequel stories set in the time shortly after the family has lost Marie and in the pre-Christmas season. The first one is about Adam, and the next two are about Little Joe who is sad and the couple of ways that Adam finds to bring him out of that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Prequel"","block_context":{"text":"Prequel","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=30"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Christmas.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2166,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2166","url_meta":{"origin":9661,"position":2},"title":"A Light in the Darkness (by pony)","author":"pony","date":"December 8, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Adam Cartwright is coming home ... but the path is dark and lonely. Will there be a light at the end of the road? \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K (1,355 words)","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\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza31.jpg?fit=573%2C389&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6807,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6807","url_meta":{"origin":9661,"position":3},"title":"Old Man Dizzy (by pbeaking)","author":"pbeaking","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Adam and Hoss Cartwright reflect on the memory of an old ranch hand. Rating:\u00a0 K+ \u00a0WC 800","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Hoss"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Hoss","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1090"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/A-H.jpg?fit=276%2C284&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":57061,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=57061","url_meta":{"origin":9661,"position":4},"title":"Almost Caught (by LillianMontane)","author":"LillianMontane","date":"June 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Little Joe is almost caught in a brothel when he is 17. Rating: M Word count: 1476","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Joe"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Joe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1091"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/adam410.jpg?fit=1000%2C691&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/adam410.jpg?fit=1000%2C691&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/adam410.jpg?fit=1000%2C691&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/adam410.jpg?fit=1000%2C691&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12120,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12120","url_meta":{"origin":9661,"position":5},"title":"Blundered Seduction (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"December 1, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Caught with his pants down and in a compromising situation by the one person he'd least likely want to find him as such, Joe learns three valuable lessons; no one ever died of embarrassment, chose your friends carefully, and being 16 and still a virgin is nothing to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9661","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\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9661"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9661\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9661"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9661"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9661"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}