Bonanza FF
I do not own the copyrights to Bonanza.
This was written as a challenge and the rules were:
No less than 500 words and no more than 1300
Write it so that it could fit any of the characters in the show
Leave it to the Reader to decide who it is. There is NO wrong answer
Hand the same challenge to the readers (up to you if you wish to do it or not)
Tomorrows
'He's a stranger to himself'I think as he steps out on to the porch in the early morning hours. The chickens have finally quit their racket as I have just finished feeding them.
Looking back over that cool, but still, dry summer evening when I first found him I knew I could have left him where he was, no one would have been the wiser, but he was too injured to leave him alone; there was no way he'd have survived if left to his own devices.
"Empty eyes, he has empty eyes. Send him away, get him out of here, hand him over to the asylum."More than person has told me over the past few years, but I shudder at the thought of him being locked away in an insane asylum and where would I send him other than there? I can't expect him to handle life on his own at the moment. So...I willingly take care of him even though my relative, one in particular, had a major fit.
"He's not your responsible. And you're a single woman." My aunt's words before she'd passed on last year rang in my ears. "People are talking your lack of morals. Make him leave. You're parents would roll over in their graves if they knew what you two are doing."
What we are doing? She had to have been kidding me and the town delusional. It's all the man can do to comb his hair, get dressed and even then it is not uncommon for me to have to help him. And, besides, it's not like we share a bed. My place has more than one room; he sleeps in one and I in another with a couple to spare. Plenty of friends have been over and have seen the truth of my words; they have not kept quiet on that fact either.
Filling my bucket full of water from the well I walk up to the porch and smile and say good morning not expecting much as he has not ever responded to my greetings in the time he has been with me. He shocks me by giving a slight nod of his head, but then retreats back behind the wall he appears to be stuck behind.
"Come, let's go inside, we both need breakfast." I am not thrown for any loops when I have to tap his arm, repeat my request and-gently- turn him around and guide him back in.
"Here, sit down." I guide him to the couch promising to have our meal fixed shortly.
"Who are you?" The question was asked when he first woke up –before I brought him to my home. He only stared at me with empty eyes and said nothing. "Well, let me at least comb your hair; it's a mess." Thankfully, he does not fight me for he does indeed look neglected.
"Someday, my friend, you will talk I just know it." I set a plate down in front of him and count it a blessing he can feed himself-without my help. Tomorrow will be better; tomorrow he may speak and tell me who he is. I hang on for tomorrows.