A cowboy's love

A Bonanza fan fiction

Disclaimer: I own no character of Bonanza. Only the story is mine.

Chapter one

Forte's adventure.

Joseph Cartwright was not a happy person. The horse he'd been trying to brand was giving him a fit.

Joseph knew it was going to hurt the horse, however, do to the recent horse thefts in the area, the Cartwright family had no choice.

The horse, whom his sister in law Mara had named Forte was living up to his name.

Joseph had finally had the horse corralled and ready to be branded when the horse reared up and broke the fence.

"You stupid horse."

Forte nickered in amusement.

A voice behind him said, "Having problems there, Little Joe?"

Little Joe turned around. It was his brother, Eric.

"Just Forte feeling his oats, Hoss. Why is it that this horse will only listen to Mara in French?"

Hoss smiled. Little Joe was referring to Hoss' wife. Mara had become a part of the Cartwright family under unique circumstances.

When Hoss married Mara, he not only became a husband, but a father to five year old Michael, Mara's son.

"Maybe its her demeanor."

"Well demeanor or not, Hoss, Forte has got to be branded. We can't take the chance that someone will steal him and brand him as their own."

Before Hoss could agree with little Joe, a wagon coming up the road towards them, caught their attention.

Hoss smiled. It was Mara and Michael. He walked out to them. He helped Mara out of the wagon.

"Hello my love," Hoss said in French.

Mara smiled. "I thought you said English only."

"It would seem my French is better than my English."

Mara laughed. "How's Joseph doing with Forte?"

Before Hoss could respond, they both heard Little Joe yelling, "Watch out!"

Hoss and Mara turned and saw Forte running towards them at breakneck speed.

Hoss acted fast. He pulled Mara and Michael out of the way of the stampeding horse.

Hoss turned around to face his brother.

"Little Joe, are you okay?"

"Yes," Little Joe replied, "I'm fine."

"What happened, Joseph?"

"I had to brand Forte. He went crazy." Little Joe sighed. "I'd better go after him."

As Little Joe was saddling up a mare to go after Forte, Hoss asked, "Do you need me to come with you?"

"Nah. I shouldn't have a problem rounding Forte up."

Hoss would never admit it, but he had a bad feeling about Little Joe going by himself. However , Forte was just a horse. What was the worst that could happen?

A few hours later, the mare that Little Joe had saddled up had returned to the Ponderosa minus Little Joe.