DISCLAIMER: Bonanza and the Cartwrights do NOT belong to me. Any input would be greatly appreciated as I'm still pretty new to this fan fiction thing and-I'm still trying to work on my writing skills. The current 'rating' is K but-if understand the rating system-it may change to K+ (that is what you put if there is "too much violence" right?)

MARIAH

"Chapter One"

(OPENING SCENE)

At first no one paid attention to the stranger riding into town; that is, not until they took a second look. It was a woman dressed in black boots, dark pants, a white shirt and a tan jacket with fringes up and down the sides of it. Her long dark brown hair hung down to the middle of her back unrestrained; though her head was covered with a black hat. She wore a pistol on her side.

The woman knew people were staring at her as she rode through town; she was used to it-didn't really care anymore. Give her a good book or put her to work with horses and cattle? She'd be just fine. Only when she saw two gentlemen sitting at a table talking to the various men looking for work did she stop.

The older gentleman sported white hair while the younger one sported little hair and looked big as an ox. It had to be them. If it wasn't guess she'd just wind up making a fool of herself. She'd done that before.

She couldn't explain it but it didn't surprise her. As she dismounted and walked toward the men with the reigns to her horse in her left hand it was as if the waters were parting; the applicants that were ahead of her stepped aside looking at her they needed their eyes checked.

"May I help you, Miss?" Ben Cartwright smiled politely though he was puzzled to as what she wanted from him.

"If you're Mr. Cartwright you can. I'm looking for work and," she hurried to finish as they sat straight up, "I can hold my own with the best of them. If you don't believe me you can always ask your son, Adam."

Shock waves went from the top of their heads to the bottom of their feet; their eyes widened and it was all they could do to keep their mouths shut. It was Ben who found his voice first.

"And just how do you know my oldest?"

Before she could answer another voice spoke, "Hello, Mariah."

Ben whirled around. Adam and Little Joe sat in the wagon they'd brought to town. Ben would have asked why Adam wasn't home looking over the current lumber contracts but he didn't have the heart to. Adam didn't make it to town much anymore; not since his accident.

Not knowing anything about his accident; nor of its consequences, Mariah only nodded, "Hello, been a long time."

"If you're smart, pa," Adam spoke to his father but kept his eye on Mariah, "You'll hire her."

Ben watched as his sons drove the wagon out of town then turned the woman before him. Was his son crazy? Hire a woman as a ranch hand? That was absurd! Still; he looked from the woman before him then to the wagon that was almost out of sight. Adam had actually said he wanted her hired? 'I'm crazy' Ben told himself, "Alright, we do need extra help around the ranch but where am I supposed to house you? I'll not have you in the bunkhouse with the men."

She grinned, "It is not me you have to worry about, but" she mounted her horse and grinned, "I'll sleep out in a tent if I have to. I've done that before too."

Ben and Hoss watched her ride away before turning their attention back to the men still trying for a chance to work on the famous Ponderosa.

SCENE ONE

Adam sat in his wheelchair behind his father's old oak desk looking over some lumber contracts. He did his best to concentrate. That was hard though; his mind kept wandering back in time. A time before Laura, Will and the blasted accident that put him in the chair (okay, he might be out of the chair if he hadn't pushed himself to stand up. What choice had he had though? It was the only way to get Will and Laura married. As it was he hadn't gotten ten feet in the house when pain shot up his legs and into his back forcing him to the floor. He'd never walked since).

Mariah. Adam sighed as he sat back in his chair. There was a woman a man best watch himself around. She had a wicked left hook and he'd never seen anyone jump, kick and hit with the moves she used. He'd heard Mr. Jacobs talk about the time a couple ranch hands decided to have their way with her—only to find themselves with broken jaws, broken teeth and laying on the ground in major pain.

"Adam?" Ben tapped the desk with his hand, "You in there?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Adam sat straight up and picked up the papers before him, "I got lost in my thoughts."

"I hired that woman but," he stood with his hands on his hips, "you have any idea where to put her?"

"In the bunkhouse," Adam smiled, "If those five men out there think they can handle her? I want to watch-after I put a hundred dollars on her. If you don't like that-give her a tent. She's done that before."

Ben stared at his son. He couldn't believe his son had just spoken those words, "I'll not have her in the bunkhouse and there is no way she's spending her time in a tent. I guess we can give her the guest room for now but," he paused, "we have to figure something else out. How do you know her anyway?"

Adam grinned, "I met her when I went to Carson City three years ago; she was working on the Jacobs' ranch. As far as figuring something else out? Fine with me- but you tell her," he rubbed his chin; as another memory came back to him. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Even in my condition I'll face an angry grizzly bear before I tell her what to do; outside of her job that is."

Ben shook his head and headed back outside.

SCENE TWO

"Too bad," Mariah shook her head; Little Joe had just finished explaining to her what had happened to land his older brother in his chair, "I'm just glad he found something to do instead of wallowing in self-pity." She swung the ax she was holding and split yet another log.

"Why do you do men's work anyway," Little Joe did his best not to sound rude, he was fixing Adam's ramp-one of the boards had started to split.

Mariah smiled, as she finished splitting the last log, "When one's parents are blessed with seven daughters before they get a son; and you're the second to oldest guess who gets to go outside and work with one's father."

Little Joe smiled, "You do."

Mariah chuckled, "You're young but not stupid."

They both looked towards the front door when it opened. It was Adam.

"Thanks," Adam smiled as he watched his younger brother drive the last of the nails into the board.

"No problem," Little Joe stood up, "If you'll excuse me, I have other commitments to keep."

"Other commitments," Adam watched as Little Joe went back into the house then looked at Mariah, "what do you want to bet he's got his eye on a pretty gal again?"

Mariah drove the ax into the stump she'd been splitting logs on, "That would be a fool's bet. May I ask you something?" she looked at Adam's legs then raised her eyes to his face.

Adam shrugged, "Go ahead but I thought I heard Little Joe telling you about this," he smiled and added-due to the confused looked on her face, "The window was slightly opened."

"Oh, well," she pulled the chair Mr. Cartwright had left setting outside over and sat down, "it's not about how you got into the chair anyway. Your father and Hoss were helping you with some exercises this morning. May I assume there is hope of you walking again?"

Adam sighed, "It's been two year now; so, I doubt it. We only do those exercises because the doctor insists it's necessary; something about the circulation in my legs."

Smiling she stood up, "Well, you take care," She then headed for the barn, "You all know the places to look for me if I'm needed."

Adam shook his head and had to chuckle. As a 'hired hand' she'd refused the guest bedroom but Pa had not budged when it came to the bunkhouse nor did he like the idea of a tent. The two had finally compromised; the loft had a guest.