I do NOT own Bonanza or any of the original Cartwright characters.

I do not know how soon this story will get completed as I have homework, a Big Valley fan fiction going and this one. I will do my best to post on somewhat of a regular basis. I have never put a T on anything only, due to the content in one chapter, I think I best. Hope you will still read and enjoy. FOR ANYONE WHO HAS NOT READ ANY OF MY PREVIOUS ADAM/LITTLE JACOB STORIES...THIS SERIES BEGINS WITH 1. HIS FATHER'S SON (now on page three) then continues with 2. FOR JACOB'S SAKE (now on page two), then 3. TO DANCE AGAIN (which, last time I checked is on the same page as this one...just farther down). If want more information on his late wife then you need to read TO DANCE AGAIN.

Affairs of the Heart

Chapter One

OPENING SCENE

Adam stood up when a knock came on the door. He was surprised to see a young dark haired woman standing on the other side. She couldn't be more than five feet three; at the most. Well, he didn't know her exact age but she had to be younger than his forty-five years. "May I help you ma'am?"

Heidi herself was taken aback somewhat. If she took ten years off of this Adam Cartwright who Mr. Kelly sent her to, and added a bit of hair, she was sure she'd have the spitting image of her late husband. Gathering her wits about her she "I'm Heidi P. Langston. I was hired to help teach one Jacob Cartwright." She smiled as she answered. The smile went from ear to ear and her eyes sparkled like diamonds.

"I was expecting someone a bit older and from Australia." Adam frowned a bit as he looked upon the 'young lady'. He had written his former father in law asked if he knew of an experienced teacher; not one that looked like she'd just gotten her teacher's certificate and sounding like she was born and raised in the United States.

She couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm twenty-eight, I've been teaching for ten years and I was living in Australia at the time Mr. Kelly approached me. How old do I need to be before I apply?" Heidi wanted to bust a gut laughing at the shocked look that came upon the man's face. "Mr. Kelly asked me to give you this." she handed the letter she'd been told to give to Adam once she'd arrived.

Adam said nothing as he took the letter and let her inside.

FIRST SCENE

Little Jacob, who didn't exactly being called 'little' anymore sat at the table doing his best to do his math; after all, he was almost twelve. Heidi—or 'Miss Heidi' as she insisted he call her-sat at the end of the table correcting his other work. 'No wonder your father sent for a tutor' she thought as she laid down her pencil, 'You are way above the school work of your peers'.

"Am I through yet?" Jacob handed her the last of the papers he'd been working on.

"You are for this morning." she started laughing as he bolted for the door and about pushed his grandfather and father both over.

"Whoa there, boy," Adam held his son by the shoulders, "You can walk out quietly then run like the wind!" All three grown ups laughed as the child did just that.

"How did you ever manage, pa?" Adam laughed as he thought on his father dealing with three growing boys and all they'd pulled on Mr. Cartwright.

"I didn't 'deal with it'," Ben smiled, "You know as well as I do one just loves their children and do the best they can is all. Paybacks come soon enough. Talk about paybacks, I best hurry to town and pick up Mariah. She'll be fit to be tied if I don't meet the stagecoach and take her out like I promised."

0000

Heids sat outside watching Hoss's boys, Little Joe's son and Little Jacob playing horseshoes. Being quite a bit older than 'the little tykes', Little Jacob had a bit of a disadvantage, but the younger boys did not seem to mind.

"Well, what da ya think of the Ponderosa?" Hoss asked her as he scooped up his youngest and put him in the wagon, his oldest climbed into the wagon by himself.

"I love it but your brother sure is quiet." she replied then wondered why she'd made the observation in the first place.

Hoss nodded, "Always been on the studious side but quiet? You must have ya nose in those books of yers. He has his own noise level, if'n ya listen ya'll hear it."

Heidi watched him leave then stood up and walked over to where Little Jacob was tossing some horseshoes by himself. "I'll play a round if you let me." She held out her hands. Hoss was right-she did have her nose in her books. It was about time she got out of them.

Little Jacob's eyes lit up as he handed her a horseshoe. He'd been trying to get his pa to play a game but he had such a work load lately that he only got to play a couple of times a week with him. Oh, not that he was complaining mind you; at least the man was playing with him again. Jacob was just happy to have someone besides younger cousins to play the game with.

Heidi was about to throw another shoe when the child threw her off guard and asked, "Have you ever been married? Have you ever had children? I mean, I know I call you Miss Heidi but my last teacher was called Miss Sarah and she was actually Mrs. Peters." She froze. She'd never talked about her family to anyone.

"Did I say something wrong?" Jacob looked up at her. Before she could reply a voice spoke up from behind them.

"Maybe Miss Heidi does not wish to discuss it." They turned when they heard Adam shut the front door and answer his son's question.

Heidi face shown how uncomfortable she was; still, she looked at Jacob, "I was married for a five years and no," she had to fight back the tears that wanted to come, "I don't have any children." It wasn't a lie; the two she'd had had both died in infancy.

"How did your husband die?" Little Jacob didn't stop to think that he may be asking questions that were not his to ask. He was shocked when Miss Heidi dropped the horseshoe and ran inside the house.

An highly irritated look came upon Adam's face; Little Jacob knew he was in trouble.