Chapter 1
Things could go either way when farming the land. Either you were blessed with an abundant crop, good weather and a healthy strong herd of cattle or it would seem that God and the elements had banded together to bring ruin to your door.
Ben Cartwright ignored the rain lashing at his face, his steely dark eyes fixed on the carcass at his feet. This was the forth cow they had lost this month. And still the storms raged on. Would there be no end to this accursed weather.
He watched as the gate swung open once again in the raging wind.
"Joe tie it up, " he bellowed fiercely.
His youngest got back up from where he was hit and grabbed the gate once more slamming it into place.
"Find a strip of leather and secure that latch," Ben ordered.
The twenty six year old nodded ignoring the spot of blood on his head beginning to drip on to his nose.
"Tie it up Joe," his father bellowed again.
~o~
Work in the lumber yard was grinding to a halt as men slipped around in the mud and carts full of timber began to sink.
Adam spun around as the roar of rolling timber came to his ears.
"Get out of the way," he roared over the wind.
He didn't need to shout, men scattered in all directions as timber rolled off the cart.
Thankfully all were accounted for with just a broken foot to be taken care of,"
"Take him into town," Adam ordered as two men carried the injured man towards a wagon.
Adam stopped. "Hay, don't go near that," he shouted, startling a young boy worker who had ventured too near the upturned cart. He walked up and swatted him away.
"Hoss, come on, help me with this,"
As torrents of rain lashed down Adam and Hoss righted the cart and with others, began piling the logs back on. It was back breaking work especially considering they had already done it once and the driving rain grew steadily worse.
~o~
Adam and Hoss trudged into the house and dropped their gear at the door. The fire was blazing and the smell of beef stew wafted from the kitchen. They hobbled to their rooms for a cursory wash and a change of clothes. Joe was sitting at the table already eating when they came down. He sat with a hand propping his head up as he ate, his eyes looking ready for sleep. Ben joined them soon after and Hop Sing served them beef stew and dumplings.
"Mr Cartwright want bread with his meal?" the Chinese cook asked.
Ben waved him away.
"Adam did you sort out that order for the Denver and Wilks mine?" He asked.
Adam just nodded with a grunt as he ate.
"The whole contract, extra long support beams?"
"I told you Pa, the whole contract," Adam spoke with irritation as he tried to eat his meal in peace.
They all looked up from their meals as there was a knock at the door. Hop Sing bounded from the kitchen.
They looked on as an elegant middle aged lady walked in holding the hand of a small child.
"Ben, Adam, Hoss, Joe, so nice to see you all again," she smiled.
They were at a loss, she looked familiar but they couldn't place her. Ben came out of his seat and went to greet her.
"Can we help you ma'am?" He asked.
He looked down at the child, a prim little thing with dark hair and a sallow complexion. She wore a fine fur cost and ornate little fur hat framing her doll like face.
"You don't remember me Ben, no of course you wouldn't, how would you remember with all the fine guests you've had to stay."
"Mrs Banning!" Ben affirmed. "What brings you here, dear lady,"
Ben tried to be polite but the very last thing they needed was house guests. The ranch was falling apart.
"Hop Sing, please take their bags to the guest bedroom. You must stay the night," Ben nodded, a light emphasis on The Night.
"That is kind of you Ben but I don't think you will be quite so accommodating when you hear what I have to say,"
Ben's face darkened as he waited for the punchline. He knew she had come here with a mission.
"This child Ben, this child is your granddaughter."
The boys looked at each other.
"What nonsense is this?" Ben muttered angrily.
"This is Malinda's child, born out of wedlock to Malinda and Adam Cartwright," she stated.
Adam came round the table to stand with his father.
"What are you talking about?" He snapped.
Before anyone could continue Hop Sing had the presence of mind to intervene.
"We go to kitchen and get some cookies," he took the child's hand and led her off in that direction.
"Don't try to deny it Adam, you and Malinda. You ruined her life, no man will want her now."
"Mrs Banning, you know that this is complete nonsense. What say you just give it up and move on."
"I'm very hungry, it has been a long journey."
Ben turned to his cook. "Hop Sing, lay a place at the table for Mrs Banning and the girl. You will forgive us if we don't eat with you, we find we have no appetite."
Ben turned and took a seat by the fire. Adam went out to check on the horses in the barn. Joe went to his room, he didn't know what to make of it. It refuelled all his old feelings about Adam and Malinda. Had Adam slept with his fiancé?.
Only Hoss still remained at the table. It had been a tough day and he had already missed a meal. He'd be damned if he'd miss another one.
Mrs Banning tried to engage him in conversation but he went on eating. He answered her queries politely as only Hoss could but he would not follow up with conversation of his own. At one point he glanced at the girl as a dirty little tin face appeared from a fold in her dress and she pretended to feed bread to it.
Mrs Banning saw it too. A look from her and the tin face was hastily hidden back within the velvet folds of her dress.
The boys made themselves scarce for the rest of the evening. They hadn't the energy to deal with Mrs Banning and her lies. Joe was particularly upset about it but hadn't the energy to confront Adam. He had gotten soaked in the rain and had to put up with his father ordering him around like a child in front of the other hands this was just the icing on the cake.
Hop Sing brought the child to the guest room upstairs. He found her wandering the halls upstairs strangely devoid of Mrs Banning's attention. As she went to fetch her night gown something fell to the floor. It looked to be an old tin bottle in the shape of a soldier with a faded warn face and military hat. It was wrapped in a rag supposedly to keep it warm. She snatched it up quickly and placed it in the bed.
Hop Sing took this in without comment.
"Missy alright now, missy go to bed?"
She nodded as she went to the pitcher to wash her face.
Ben sat smoking his pipe by the fire, Mrs Banning sat across from him.
"I'm not much for lies Ben, at my heart I am an honest person. So, with that in mind I will tell you, the child upstairs is not Adam's. But I guess you figured that out for yourself."
"Yes I did, which leads me to my next question, what do you want?"
She smiled ruefully. "The old chestnut Ben, money. Money will save your son's reputation. I have nothing, you have everything you can spare a little. What is ten thousand after all when it means that your first born will marry well and be fully excepted in polite society. It's not much to ask,"
Ben leaned forward as he spoke "be clear on this madam, the only reason I don't fling you out of this house tonight is that child upstairs. But at first light tomorrow I want you gone from this house."
Unmoved by the man's obvious anger she smiled charmingly "I'm sorry you feel that way Ben, you have made a poor decision. The beggarly sum of ten thousand would have settled the whole matter."