Howdy everyone! Please allow us to introduce ourselves...we are Romirola and Tanith2011 AKA Virginia City Scribes. Some of you may already be familiar with our individual works posted under our own pen names on this site. After a year or so of discussing the prospects of co-writing together, we are so excited to finally present to you the prologue of our very first co-written story! Hope you all enjoy!

Prologue

As he loaded up hay in the barn, Griff King heard hoof-beats outside. He placed the pitchfork on the ground and went out to meet the stranger. "Howdy," he greeted. "Can I help you?"

The man, clad in all black, smiled politely as he dismounted. Looking around the yard fondly, he breathed in the familiar scent of the serene scene. He tipped his hat at the tall, lanky, and dark-haired young man before him. "You must be new around here. I'm Adam," he introduced, extending his hand. "Adam Cartwright."

Griff tentatively shook Adam's hand. "Griff King. I…"

The sound of a jovial laugh and the door of the main house opening distracted Griff and cut him off. "Adam!" Ben hailed as he stepped out of the house. Upon seeing his eldest son, he hurried to hug him.

Adam happily returned the embrace. "Good to see you too, Pa!"

"Oh, Adam." He straightened his arms and looked at Adam for the first time in years. "How long has it been, Boy?"

"Too long, Pa. Too long," Adam sighed. "But it's time for me to come back home. Doesn't look like anything even changed around here!"

Suddenly feeling out of place and awkward, Griff dropped his gaze to the ground. Unfamiliar with such familial interaction, the ex-convict looked for any reason to excuse himself from the emotional reunion. "Well, uh... I better go check on the-"

Adam's gaze shifted momentarily to the younger man when another voice caught his attention. "Well, I'll be damned!" Joe gasped in surprise as he rushed out from the stables to meet Adam. "Look what we have here!" Adam and Joe shook hands and gave each other a one-armed hug.

Griff began to back out of the barn sullenly and whispered to himself, "Guess this is my cue."

Adam, who was too busy laughing and messing up Joe's longer hair, did not notice. "Yeah, I was right, nothing's changed," he observed. "Except maybe your hair's a little longer! Pa, when's the last time Little Joe here got himself a haircut?"

Ben chuckled. "Well, now that you're here, perhaps you can persuade him to get a trim."

Joe playfully swatted away Adam's hand and began to restyle his hair. "Don't bet on it, Older Brother..."

"Hmm. We'll see about that," Adam humorously challenged. He picked up the two suitcases at his feet. "Now if you don't mind, gentlemen, let's take this reunion inside."

"Of course, of course!" agreed Ben. "Griff?" he called.

Once summoned, Griff shyly reappeared. None of the three other men had noticed his quiet escape. "Take care of Adam's horse, will ya? Thanks."

Adam pressed the reins of his rented horse into Griff's hand without looking the Ponderosa's newest employee in the eye. "Thank you, King," he said.

Griff accepted the reins but he could hold back a sarcastic mumble. "It's Mr. King or just Griff, Sir." Adam did not catch all the words and shrugged his shoulders, brushing off the comment. Griff walked away, preferring the company of the horse to Adam.

"Adam, you comin'?" Joe beckoned from inside the house, waving at his brother.

Adam rubbed the back of his neck, slightly puzzled over King's hostility. He followed his pa and Joe into the house, pushing away his confusion to make way for the joy that came from the Cartwright reunion inside.

Thanks for reading! Should you have the time to let us know what you think, we'd love to hear it in a review. See you all next chapter! :)