The young woman watched the boy run across the street, a tall man racing after him, scooping him up in a spin and tickling his tummy as they walked back to the wagon he'd escaped from. On the wagon seat was a beautiful young woman, on her lap a bundle of squirming blanket. She was laughing hard as the man practically dumped the boy into the seat beside the woman and climbed up before he could get away again. The boy gave out a cry, but his parents laughed and the woman put an arm around him as the man clicked the horses forward.
Harmony Jefferson watched them ride past, then turned to her brother Lerato who was just coming out of the bank. "You get it?" she asked, walking over to their horses. Lerato held up his wallet and untied his horse, "Yeah I got it. C'mon, we need to get outta town before Pa and Melody come through." Harmony threw her leg over the saddle and leaned forward, "You really think this is going to work?" Lerato looked at her, then nudged his horse, Beauty, forward. "I don't know Harm, I don't know." Harmony blew out her breath and rode next to her older brother, "When Pa find's out about you withdrawing that money, he's going to be really mad. Maybe I shouldn't let you do this." Lerato reached over and grabbed her reins, stopping both animals. He looked at her hard, his eyes never once wavering from her face, "Harmony Laura Jefferson, I am your brother, and if I say that your worth it then your worth it. Besides, Pa don't scare me." Harmony shook her head and looked away from his glare. "Lerato, I can't bear the thought of Pa getting after you for helping me like this." Lerato chucked her chin, and made her look at him. "I'm going through with this whether you like it or not. Now, lets get out of here."
He released her reins and waved to the road, "We better get moving if we're going to make it to San Francisco by the end of the week." Harmony followed him, nudging Regret to follow.
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The wagon jarred and Vanessa tightened her grip on her young daughter, "Adam, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were aiming for those rocks." The six month old in her arms gargled and Adam smiled, "Who do think she sided with?" Vanessa grinned, "Me!" Adam hooted at that and put his arm around his family, "What makes you think that?" Vanessa gave him a look, then adjusted so that Nathan could lay his head down across her lap before she spoke, "I've gone long enough with being outvoted by you two, it's about time someone else stood on my side." she snuggled the baby close and kissed Hannah's forehead. Adam's hand just reached his wife's back and he ran his hand up and down her spine, "I don't know, you seem to get your way even when you're outnumbered." she gave him an evil grin and whispered, "That's because I know how to negotiate better than you do." she winked at him and Adam wrapped his fingers through her hair, "Yeah...I'll bet." he tugged gently and she giggled. "You just wait, I'll prove it to you tonight." Adam smiled wickedly, and slapped the reins against the horses backs, "Ha!"
They pulled into the main stable yard of the ranch house, and Adam was the first to the ground. He turned around to grab up his two year old son and twirled him around in his hands before setting him down. Nathan squealed with delight when his father grabbed him and clung to his legs as Adam took Hannah from Vanessa's arms and she climbed down herself. Ben came out of the house then, and spoke up, "Well then. What had you four heading into town this early?" Vanessa smiled and took back her little girl from Adam. "Hannah had a check up today with Doc Martin, and when Nate heard I was leaving he threw a fit worthy of a Cartwright and Adam had to go along." Adam rolled his eyes and grabbed his son up off the ground, setting him on his shoulders, "Nessa, you know full well you couldn't have driven that wagon without another pair of hands." Ben laughed at the look Vanessa gave her husband then took the youngest Cartwright from her arms. "And what did Paul have to say about the little princess?" The group started walking back inside, with Vanessa removing her hat and shawl, "She's as healthy as her brother at that age, maybe even better since she's had it pretty easy."
Adam snorted as he shut the door and let Nathan loose on the house. The little boy raced for a small wooden box his father had made for him, and quickly started removing every last toy in it. "Nessa, need I remind you that Hannah's birth was anything but easy?" Vanessa gave him a look and stuck out her tongue at him, "Trust me Adam, I'm the last person you need to remind about that." Ben laughed and stroked his granddaughters cheek, "You know Hannah, sometimes I think these two got married just so that they could continue fighting eachother." Hannah let out a great squeal and the parents all laughed heartily Vanessa hung up her shawl and hat, then turned to her husband, "Shouldn't you be helping your brothers with the branding?" Adam lowered his shoulders and squatted down next to his son, "I was hoping you wouldn't remember that." Ben laughed, "Well even if she didn't your brothers do. They'll be coming in for lunch in about an hour, then you can go back out and help." Vanessa grinned, "I'd better go help Hop Sing."
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Lerato pulled back on the reins and held out his hand to his sister. Harmony and Regret drew even with him, then looked around. They were on a bluff over a great blue lake surrounded by a thick green forest. "Will you look at that!" he said, tilting his head to the view. Harmony glanced around them, "It's amazing." she breathed, her eyes continuing to scan the horizon. "I wonder if somebody owns this yet." Lerato said, shifting in his saddle. Harmony raised her eyebrow at him, "A view like this? I'd be surprised of someone didn't." Lerato looked down the road, "Let's move."
They rode for another few hours when they came across another view, then another, each a great vista of open land, towering trees and rugged mountains. They kicked their horses into a gallop, and were halfway through an open glade when there was a gunshot behind them, and Lerato pulled Beauty up short. Harmony stopped Regret along side, pulling the mans hat she wore low over her brow, ignoring the fact that she still wore a woman's riding skirt and blouse. "Alright you two, you want to tell me why you were racing across the Ponderosa?" Harmony risked a glance from beneath her hat and saw what she thought was a mountain sitting on top of a rich brown horse with a stripe down his face and a younger man, not much older than herself, sitting on a beautiful paint. His hat was tilted to one side on his head and he was eying her dangerously. "Well? Are you going to answer my brother?" even his voice was cocky. Harmony looked over at her brother, who was looking at her, questioning. She shrugged, then leaned forward in her saddle, suddenly dizzy.
"Harmony, you okay?" he asked, ignoring the newcomers. Harmony nodded, taking a deep breath and sitting back up straight. Another horse came thundering up, a chestnut with a bright blaze and tossing its head. The man in the saddle wore a black hat that matched his black shirt and pants. "Joe, Hoss, what's going on?" his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and showed powerful forearms. Harmony was having trouble catching her breath, and started gasping. Her head was spinning...she couldn't stay in the saddle very much longer...
"HARMONY!" the man shouted, dropping from his horse and grabbing his sister by the shoulders. "Ugh." she groaned, and tried to get up. Her knees buckled and she fell back to the ground, "Ret, we gotta stop." she whispered, and he nodded, "Alright, alright." Lerato looked up at the men, then looked away quickly, "You sure?" he whispered to Harmony, and she nodded, "I can't stay on that horse another minute, not alone." she was breathing heavy, and Lerato knew what was coming next. He stood quickly and helped his sister to her feet. Once steady, her hand flew to her mouth and she nearly tripped over her skirts to get to the small clump of trees, and her stomach emptied. She fell to her knees again and she spat several times trying to clear her mouth of the taste.
Someone put a canteen in front of her, and she took a swallow gratefully, "Thank you." she whispered, swallowing again to prevent another upset. "You're welcome." It was the cocky one from before, "What's wrong, you sick or something?" he asked, offering his hand to help her to her feet. She ignored him, and went back to her brother. Joe raised his eyebrows at his brothers, then put the lid back on his canteen and walked back to Cochise. Hoss grinned at him then asked the newcomers, "You folks seem to be having trouble. You wouldn't mind telling us where you were headed would you?" Harmony nodded when Lerato looked at her, his arm around her shoulders and holding her gently. "My sister and I are heading fro San Francisco. I'm sorry if we were trespassing, but we can't take the main road." Hoss sat forward, "I was right, some form of trouble." Joe leaned his head to the side and put his hand on his hip, "You running from something?" Lerato nodded, "Our Pa...and our older sister." Harmony dropped her eyes to the ground, this next part always made her cry, even if it was the truth.
"What has your father done that made you run away?" it was the third one, the one on the chestnut that spoke. There was something about him that looked familiar to Lerato, but he couldn't quite place him. Lerato swallowed, "He...he sold my sister." Hoss's brow furrowed, "Sold her...." Adam leaned forward in his saddle and looked at the man carefully, "Your name wouldn't happen to be Jefferson would it?" Lerato looked at the man in black, instantly wary, "Yes...why?" Adam smirked, "Names Cartwright, Adam Cartwright. You probably know my wife, Vanessa Warrick." Harmony's eyes flew to the eldest Cartwright, "Nessa? Nessa's here?" she pulled away form Lerato's grip and walked to Adam, "Please, take me to her." Adam glanced at the girl next to his horse and then to her brother. Lerato watched Adam, "So you're Adam Cartwright?" Adam nodded, "These are my brothers, Hoss and Little Joe." The other two boys nodded, "Hi."
Lerato nodded back, then reached for Harmony, "If you wouldn't mind showing us the way, I'd really like to see her again." Harmony nodded, "Yes, please." Adam looked at his brothers again, then shrugged, "We're done for the day anyway, why not?" Joe chuckled, "Anything to get out of work, eh?" Adam grinned and winked, "I heard Nessa say something about pork ribs for dinner." Hoss's eyes brightened, "Her pork ribs?" Adam nodded, "I didn't catch what she was saying about dessert, but if she's making pork ribs, you can be sure that it'll be good." Harmony walked over to her brother and let him lift her onto Beauty's back. Lerato swung himself up behind his sister, letting Joe take Regret's lead. "Follow Joe, the house isn't much farther. Hoss and I'll be along in a minute, we've got to make sure the boys are set in for tonight."
Vanessa was just spreading the sauce over her Ponderosa-wide famous pork ribs when Hop Sing came hurrying into the kitchen, "MisNessa, there someone coming for dinner!" She looked at him, confused, "What?" she wiped her hands on her apron and followed the man outside. Joe was dismounting from Cochise when she walked outside, "Joe, aren't you home a little early?" Joe glanced at his sister in law, then turned around to help Harmony from her place in front of Lerato, "Ah, we've got it all done for today, Adam said something about pork ribs for dinner tonight and I had to come get my plate before Hoss gets in." Vanessa laughed, then walked closer to him. "Excuse me, I'm Vanessa Cartwright, welcome to the Ponderosa." she offered her hand to the girl, then shifted her head to the side and wrinkled her brow, "Don't I know you?" she said, as Lerato lowered himself to the ground. Lerato cleared his throat, "You dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?" Vanessa's eyes widened and she took a closer look at Harmony, "No...you can't be!" she said, putting a finger under Harmony's chin and looking deep into her eyes. "Harmony? Harmony Jefferson."
Harmony broke into a wide smile, "It's me, Nessa." Vanessa looked past her to Lerato, "and this can't be Lerato." Lerato nodded, his own face broken into a wide smile. Vanessa wrapped Harmony, then Lerato into a tight hug, "I don't believe it, last I heard about you two..." she was suddenly serious, "Why are you out here?" Harmony bit her lip, and looked away. Vanessa cocked an eyebrow at Lerato, then shook her head, "Come inside, the both of you." she turned to Joe, "Joe can you take care of their horses?" she glanced the animals over and shook her head, "Your father never did know what to do with good stock." she sighed, and shook her head again, "Let me guess," she pointed to the two animals as she named them, "That's Beauty, and that's...Regret." Her voice got soft as she looked at the great gelding. His coat was as black as his fathers, with a great white mane and tail that made him look like a horse out of a nightmare. "Oh, Regret..." she whispered, and sighed, turning back to Harmony, "Let's go inside. I need to keep an eye on those ribs."
Vanessa took the girl around her shoulders and led her into the kitchen. Lerato followed, removing his hat as he came inside. Vanessa sat Harmony down, and looked at Lerato, "You can wash your hands in the sink there," she waved to it, then sat next to Harmony. "Harm, what are you doing in Virginia City? The last I heard about you and your brother was that you'd been..." she looked away angrily and swallowed, "Sold for nothing better than a bottle of whiskey. And now you're out here?" She put a hand on her knee, "Harmony, dear, when you're father learns that you're out here, he's going to be fire spittin mad." Lerato was drying his hands off as he sat down next to his sister, "That's not everything, Nessa." he put his hand on Harmony's shoulder, and Harmony nodded. Vanessa's eyes moved between the two of them, "You're pregnant aren't you." It wasn't a question.
Harmony's eyes dropped to the floor, and Vanessa sat back in her chair, blowing out her breath, "Oh Harmony." she put her hand over her eyes, and bit her lip. Taking a deep breath, she removed her hand and looked at the girl, "How far along are you?" Harmony shrugged, "I'm not sure. I've only missed once, but I've always been as regular as the seasons." Vanessa hung her head, putting her face in her hands. "Oh Harmony..." Vanessa stood, walking over to the open flame where the ribs were beginning to glisten in the sauce. She turned them over, then pulled them back from the flames, just far enough that they'd stay warm until the rest of the family was ready. Once satisfied, she turned back to them, "Well, you can't say anything until you know for sure and I know a good friend that we can go see tomorrow. That means you're going to stay here overnight, as my guests." she bit her lip, thinking, "Yes, we can do it. I'll leave the children with Ben and..." Harmony gasped, and went to her friend, "Children? Nessa, you have children?!" Vanessa's face brightened and she nodded, "would you like to see them?" Harmony clapped her hands and grinned excitedly, "Oh yes!" Vanessa took her hand and led the two of them to the main room.
Joe had come in while they were talking, and was now seated on the floor and trying to entertain Nathan, who had woken from his nap near the fire and was now climbing all over his uncle as though he was a horse. When Vanessa walked in, he saw her and let out a squeal, "Mama!" although it didn't quite sound like that, but the message was clear. His mother was in the room, all his attention was hers. Vanessa clapped her hands happily and bent down to wrap hims up in a motherly hug. "Oh!" she whispered, kissing his cheek, "This is Nathan." Harmony smiled at the toddler, and he gave her a bright grin of his own, showing his new teeth. "Oh Nessa, he's adorable!" Vanessa chuckled and hefted the boy over to her hip, "Don't let his father hear you say that." Harmony gave her friend a look and reached out for the boy, but Vanessa shook her head, "No, this one show's me love rarely enough. Besides, I think you'll have better luck holding his sister." she pointed to the small pen near the fireplace, and the baby girl inside of it. Harmony's face lit up, and she looked at Vanessa carefully, "Two? You have two children?" Vanessa laughed, "I said children, didn't I? You weren't by chance thinking I was talking about Little Joe here?" Joe was now standing next to them and he gave a "hey!" that made Vanessa chuckle.
There came a squeal from the pen, and Vanessa looked over in time to see Hannah change from being on her back to her stomach. "Oh my goodness!" she said, handing Nathan over to Hannah and hurrying over to her daughter, "You did it!" she said in her happiest voice, reaching into the pen and lifting child and blanket into her arms, "My little darling, you did it!" Joe was confused and said from his place next to Harmony, "What did she do?" Vanessa brought the infant over to her friends and showed her off, "She finally rolled over!" Harmony reached out a finger to stroke Hannah's cheek but Nathan's chubby hand grabbed her finger and he shook his head, "No." he said, looking very sternly at Harmony, "No." Vanessa giggled, "It's okay Nate," the boy shook his head at his mother, "No."
Joe laughed heartily as Vanessa put her free hand on her hip, "he's got you there Nessa." he said. Vanessa shook her head, "Alright, you win little master." she looked over his head to Harmony, "C'mon, I'll show you to your rooms." Smiling, she led them up the stairs.