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

*This story came about because of a few things. One…the 'what if' Marie had a daughter from her first marriage instead of a son; two, the realization that the ONLY Cartwright that would be related by blood to her would be Little Joe, and three…various marriages that exist/or have existed on my husband's side of the family (And, if I looked more into it, I'm sure I'd find a few on my side too). With that in mind, if you have a problem with the concept of Little Joe's half sister showing up and falling in love with one of the other Cartwrights , there's a simple solution…DON'T read it.

*"Soldier Rest, the Fight Is Over" (circa 1820s)

Mrs. Burke's celebrated Pollacca.

Composed and Dedicated to her, (his Pupil) by

A[rthur]. Clifton.

[aka Philip Anthony Corri, 1784-1832]

(The Words by Lieut. Hall of the U.S. Army).

Abigail, My Love

Chapter One

Hoss sat beside the bed of his wife, Abigail. He held her hand praying like mad she'd recover from bank robber's bullet. As it was, the only consolation he had was that the thief had been killed during his attempted escape. When he heard the door open, Hoss turned his head. Ben had entered the room.

"How is she?" Ben asked as he sat down, his heart going out to his son. He knew how the man felt, the whole family did. It was still hard to believe a year and a half had passed since Abigail had come into their lives.

"Holding her own," Hoss replied as he held her hand close to his chest, "I just wish she'd wake up." Adam and Little Joe entered the room just as he finished speaking.

"She'll wake up." Little Joe did his best to reassure Hoss and then chuckled, "I still remember the day she arrived in Virginia City, but you never have told us everything. I know it's because of the relation she and I share. Please," Little Joe begged, "tell us now." He really wanted to hear the story, as did his father and Adam. After a few moments, Hoss nodded. "You start pa, you and Little Joe saw her first. I'll take over at the point she and I met." Ben thought that was fair enough and began talking.

00000

*Soldier rest, the fight is over,

Rest in peace the battle's won;

Sleep untill the morn discover,

All the deeds that thou hast done,

Rest in peace, the battle's won;

Sleep untill the morn discover,

All the deeds that thou hast done.

Soldier rest thy Mistress dreaming

now thee in the battle's fray;

And her eye with pleasure beaming,

Mark'd our waving banners gay.

The singing that rose out of the stagecoach as it rolled into Virginia City captured everyone's attention. The voice, a woman's voice, was the best they'd heard in months and they couldn't help but wonder to whom it belonged. Once the stagecoach stopped the singing stopped, much to the dismay of the folks listening. They'd have preferred to listen to the voice all day.

Ben and Little Joe were standing near the mercantile as the driver opened the door. Two women, a man and a young child climbed out. The man, one woman and the child were greeted by friends. The other woman, a dishwater blonde who looked to be around twenty-four, picked up her bags and headed for the hotel. The desire to know which of the passengers had been singing quickly left Little Joe's mind as the young woman caught his attention. He hurried over to see if he could be of assistance to the young stranger.

"Hello, Miss," Little Joe tilted his hat. "Name's Joe, can I help you?" he motioned towards her bag. Maybe, if he carried her bag for her, he'd have time to get to know more about her. However, he was to be disappointed.

"Good day, sir," she kept her bag close to her and smiled politely, "Thank you for your generous offer, Joe, but I can manage just fine." She stepped around him and headed for the hotel.

From where he stood, Ben couldn't help but grin as Little Joe's face showed his dismay. However, Ben wasn't surprised when his son's face lit right back up. "Probably figures he'll just have to take the time to get the young lady to notice him," Ben thought as he too headed for the hotel, not to meet the young lady, but to meet one A. Anderson and work out a deal to buy some land and water rights that lay adjacent to the Ponderosa. He'd learned it was available two weeks before, when he saw it in an advertisement. Though, it would have been nice to have more than a first initial.

Once inside the hotel, Ben walked over to Jason, the new hotel clerk. The young man had his nose in a book when Ben tapped his shoulder; the young man jumped three feet in the air and dropped the book. "I'm sorry," Ben chuckled as the clerk picked his book up, "I didn't mean to startle you."

Jason grinned from ear to ear. "That's okay, Mr. Cartwright. I should've heard you coming anyway. What may I do for you?" He put the book away, just in case anyone else walked in.

Ben took a piece of paper out of his front pocket and opened it up. "I'm looking for one A. Anderson," he answered as he looked up from the paper, "I don't suppose he's here yet?"

Jason looked at his books then shook his head. "Only A. Anderson I have here is a young woman, an Abigail Anderson. Room 15."

Ben shook his head. "I don't understand. This letter says he'd be here by today." He needed those water rights. Both he and the clerk turned around when they heard a slight commotion behind them. Both men were appalled to see the town drunk, Tyler Huff (though at the moment he was sober), trying to get the attention of a patron of the hotel, the young woman Little Joe had tried picking up.

"Unhand me, you brute!" The woman then shocked everyone by grabbing the man's wrist with one hand, elbowing him in the stomach, twisting his arm behind his back and hurling him towards the clerk's desk. She sure had spirit!

Ben grabbed the man and marched him towards the door. "Stay out of here, and stay away from the young lady!" He opened the door and threw the man out. He turned around to see the young lady smiling.

"Thank you kind sir," she said as she held out her hand, "and I'm sorry to bother you." She spoke to Jason; the young man just smiled. He wasn't about to get mad at her for defending herself again Mr. Huff.

"You're welcome," Ben replied as he took her hand, "name's Ben Cartwright, not sir."

The young woman's eyes widened, "Ben Cartwright? Of the Ponderosa?" She kept her eyes on the man in front of her, studying his face. It was a habit she had, studying people the moment she met them.

"Yes, that's me. May I ask your name?" He smiled upon her. He was shocked when he heard her reply.

"Abigail Anderson, you wrote me inquiring some land I had inherited from a dear friend of mine, and the water rights that go with it." Abigail's eyes lit up and her smile spread from ear to ear, lighting up her whole face.

Ben felt like his jaw dropped to the floor; in all reality, it never moved an inch. Not only was he shocked that a woman owned the land, but as she smiled he was transported back through time. He was transported back and was looking into the face of his third wife, Marie. Was she, by some wild chance, related to them? He didn't know and didn't ask. After all, she'd written she'd be in town for a few weeks. He, and his family had time to get to know more about her. Right now, business came first.