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The Road That Will Lead Me Home

The early morning sun was lightly filtering through the lace curtain at the window and remnants of the sunrise breakfast could still be seen on the dinning room table. The soft steady tick of the Grandfather clock as it counted away the minutes was the only sound that could be heard in the great room on the Ponderosa this morning, until a deep chuckle filled the air.

Adam and Alissa were having some private moments saying their goodbyes before Adam left with Hoss to mend any fences that were down in the lower pasture. They were the only two left in the room while the rest of the family patiently waited outside. Adam sat in the blue chair with Alissa contentedly sitting on his lap until she heard him laugh. After hearing Adam's reaction to her latest comment about them being apart, she let out an exasperated sigh then shifted and adjusted her position on his lap. Still, she couldn't help but smile at him as she watched his hazel eyes twinkle with amusement at her latest comment, so she lovingly reached up and stroked his cheek.

"I know, I know, it won't be eternity, but it sure will seem like it while you are gone, so don't you laugh at me!"

"Oh, sweetheart, I know it will be hard on you. But you have to agree, your comment about eternity is rather amusing beings I am only going to be gone three days."

Alissa sat up straighter as she frowned at Adam. "Three days! You said two days. Now it will be three days that we are apart?"

"Now don't get so upset. I am hoping it will only take us two days to check and mend any broken fences. But just incase we run into more fences down than we expected, it may take three days. You act like this is the first time we have been apart. You do remember we were apart when you were kidnapped, don't you?"

"Yes I know, but that was different. I was trying to get back to you and the time didn't seem to matter so much. Now I will be staying here trying to find things to keep me occupied, and because of the hanging I can't even go to town and see my friends! So three days will definitely seem like forever!"

Adam let out another soft chuckle. "Oh now it has changed from eternity to forever."

Taping his chin with one of his long, slender fingers as if he was thinking, Adam couldn't help but grin wickedly. "Hmm, I wonder which is longer?"

Giving Adam a slight pinch on his side Alissa crossed her arms. "Oh now you are making fun of me!"

After letting out a fake grunt from being pinched, Adam laughed and pulled her close.

"No, sweetheart, I am not making fun of you. But you are exaggerating just a bit. I know it will be hard, but it just couldn't be helped. Hoss and I have to be the ones to do this job because Pa just can't spare anyone else. Joe has to finish up overseeing the last of the horses for the Calvary's order that is due next week. And even though Pa wouldn't admit it, it is an awfully hard job and I would rather he not have to do it. So it falls to Hoss and me."

Giving Alissa a tight squeeze he kissed the top of her head as he held her close. "So please be understanding, little one, alright?"

"I know, and I really do understand. I am just venting and I'm sorry if I sound childish about this. I guess I keep having a funny feeling about us being apart. I can't put my finger on it, but it just seems as if it will be longer than you think. Besides, I can't help it if I love you so much and hate to be apart from you for very long. I do realize though that ranch life will have us apart many more times in our future, so I guess I might as well start getting use to it."

Lifting her head to meet his gaze Ali quickly changed her mood as she flashed a saucy grin. "But can I help it if you are just so handsome and sexy for this poor, love struck girl that I can't be without you very long before succumbing to a full out faint!"

Adam practically lost Alissa off of his lap as he tried to hold in his laughter at her amusing remark. But he easily grabbed her and put one arm around her back and the other under her legs as he stood up with her in his arms. She was a little startled at first, but soon put her arms around his neck as she felt herself being swung around.

"Oh my beautiful and delightful girl, you have made me laugh and smile more since you came into my life than I ever did before. And we both know that you are definitely not the swooning type, so I don't think that will ever happen," Adam chuckled, as he leaned over and lightly kissed the tip of her nose.

"You do know this time apart will be hard on me too! So don't forget, we will look at our moon every night and think of each other and I will be home before you know it. Now kiss your lord and master and make it good so I can think of nothing else when I am looking at that moon."

Adam lowered his head and when their lips met, all that Alissa could think of were his strong arms holding her tight and his sweet mouth seeking the warmth of her waiting lips. At first he teased the entrance of her mouth, but soon his kiss intensified and the thought of giving him a piece of her mind for the "lord and master" comment quickly vanished as she became lost in the velvety softness of his mouth.

The sound of someone clearing their throat finally brought them back to reality. "Sorry, Adam, but Pa told me to come and get you cause it's time to get going." Joe blushed slightly for the interruption then quietly pulled the door shut.

Regrettably ending his kiss, Adam slowly pulled back as he whispered against Alissa's lips. "It's time for me to go. Remember I love you, my little trouble maker, all the way to the moon and back."

"Yes, all the way to the moon and back, my love," Ali said breathlessly, then they shared one more long, lingering kiss before Adam gently set her back on her feet and reached for her hand as they went out the front door.

"Well it's nice to finally see you two! It's a good thing you won't be gone for a week, Adam, or we would still be waiting."

Ben couldn't help but grin as he watched Adam and Alissa come out the front door and walk over to stand beside the wagon where Hoss was sitting before he turned towards Hoss.

"Now, you sure you have all the supplies you two will need, Hoss?"

"Yes sir. I checked and double-checked and even added a few extra. I got plenty of wire and posts just incase there are more fences down than we figured. Hop Sing packed plenty for us to eat, so I'm a happy man. We're gonna stay in the line shack the first night and then camp out the next night or two, so I packed the bed rolls and extra blankets too."

Walking over and giving Hoss a brotherly pat on the back Adam smiled. "Well it sounds like you have us all taken care of little brother. Good Job! Now it seems like the only thing left for me to do is to kiss my beautiful girl here one more time, and then we will be on our way."

Adam leaned over and put his hands around Alissa's waist and lifted her up until she was eyelevel with him to give her that kiss. At first she let out a surprised squeak at suddenly being picked up off of her feet. But she quickly grinned and wrapped her arms around Adam's neck as their lips met for one final kiss. Finally Ben decided the kiss needed to end or they would be here all day with these two saying their goodbyes, so he started clearing his throat rather loudly to give them an obvious hint.

As Adam begrudgingly ended their kiss, he ran the tip of his tongue over Alissa's bottom lip ever so lightly before gently setting her on the ground in front of him. Then he went over to Sport and swung up in his saddle leaving Alissa standing with a very contented smile on her face.

Looking over at Ben and Joe, Adam nodded his head in their direction. "We'll see you in a few days, and please take special care of my bride to be."

"Of course we will," Ben answered, as he shook his head and smiled.

Then Adam turned to look at Alissa and winked and touched the front on his hat as he smiled until those dashing dimples of his appeared. "Be sure and look for that moon tonight, sweetheart."

"I will, cowboy," Ali replied smiling slyly, as she continued to enjoy the sensuous feeling that his tongue had left on her lips from his final kiss.

"Well you better get on the road you two so you can get started on the down fences, and please be careful and watch out for each other." Ben's expression softened as he tapped the side of the wagon.

"We always are." Hoss grinned as he tipped his hat at Alissa and slapped the reins against the horses to start them on their way.

Alissa continued to stand in the same spot for the longest time as she watched Adam and Hoss leave the ranch until she could barely see them in the distance. A single tear started to roll down her cheek as she blew a kiss in Adam's direction.

Seeing how sad Alissa was acting, Ben walked over and put his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, honey, he will be back before you know it."

"Oh I know. I guess I am just being overly emotional today."

"That's understandable, after all you two are in love. And believe it or not, I remember how that was. Now then, tell me what you plan to do while he is gone?" Ben squeezed her shoulder to try and comfort her.

"Well, I think I might catch up on some reading and maybe learn a few new recipes from Hop Sing."

The two of them started walking towards the house with Ben's arm still around Alissa.

"That sounds good and should keep you busy. I am going to be pretty busy myself. I have some paper work to catch up on first and then I promised Sheriff Coffee that I would come to town and help during the hanging."

Ali looked startled as she turned to Ben. "I thought you said it is dangerous in town during this time?"

"It can be, and that is exactly why the sheriff asked me to help him and the deputies keep the peace."

"But will you be safe?"

"Oh now don't you worry," Ben said fondly, as he looked down at Alissa's worried expression.

"I have done this a few times before and I know what to do, so I will be just fine. Joe will be here with you and of course Bill and several of the other hands will be here too. So you will be well taken care of."

"Oh, I am not worried about that. I just want you to be safe."

"That is sweet of you to worry about me, Alissa, but all will be fine. Now let's go and see what Hop Sing has to snack on, shall we? I didn't eat much breakfast and I am hungry!"

"Me too," Ali laughed, as the two of them went in the house in search of some of Hop Sing's tasty baked goods.

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The morning went by quickly after Alissa found the book Romeo and Juliet and had decided to read it. The story of the fated lovers was just what she needed to take her mind off of Adam being gone, even though she knew it ended badly for them. But she finally grew tired of reading this sad story and set the book down and stretched before standing up.

"Geez, I think my foot went to sleep. I was into that story so much that I didn't even realize I hadn't changed my position," she laughed, before rubbing her foot trying to make the tingling go away. After a few minutes with her foot returning to normal, Ali yawned and stretched once more before letting out a sigh.

"Hmm, I definitely need some exercise now and I know just the thing for me to do. I will go and give my beautiful horses a good brushing, and then go down and watch Joe with the new horses," Ali said out loud, as she headed for the stairs.

Of course she was talking to herself as usual because Hop Sing was the only one left in the house beside her, and he was in the kitchen. And Ben had left for town about an hour before promising to return home later tonight. As Ali headed for her room to change into clothes that were more appropriate for chores, she hummed softly to herself as she walked up the stairs.

A few minutes later she was standing in front of her armoire trying to decide what to wear when she spotted the jeans that she had been wearing when she first came to the ranch. After Adam had taken her to town to get new clothing, she had put them in the back of her armoire and only worn them a time or two because Adam and Ben didn't really approve of them. They were tight, she had to admit, and she smiled when she remembered the look on their faces when she had worn them. But hey, she thought, neither one is here now so maybe I will wear the whole outfit I had on that day…just for kicks.

Reaching for the blue blouse, short jacket and jeans, Ali pulled them from the armoire and went and sat down on the bed to remove her shoes. But as she started to take off her shoes to put on her work boots, a thought came to her. Why not wear my old boots too? The boots she had arrived in had a rather high heel and she only had to wear them a few times before she realized they were definitely impractical for this century. And so she purchased some boots with a low heel to do chores and go riding and put the modern boots into the armoire and forgotten them. After rummaging through the back of the armoire, she finally retrieved the boots and went over to her mirror and held the whole outfit in front of her as she looked at herself in the mirror.

"Well you certainly do look modern again, Ali gal. But why not go for the whole effect and wear my modern underwear too. Then I will feel like my old self from head to toe," she decided, as she set the clothes on her bed and went to the dresser to retrieve her modern underwear that was hidden safely away under her other underclothes. She had often thought about getting rid of them after Rebecca had been snooping in her room and discovered her bra. But she just couldn't do away with the few things that still tied her to her own time, so she just continued to keep them hidden.

Twenty minutes later Ali was dressed in her modern clothes and couldn't help but feel like her old self again. The clothes Ben had purchased for her to wear now were really quite lovely, but she just couldn't help but miss the feeling of dressing as she did in her own time. For a moment she became rather melancholy as she looked into the mirror at the girl she use to be and thought of her life as it was before she had stepped back in time. But she quickly shook the feeling off as she thought of her new life with Adam. He really was the man of her dreams, and even though she missed a lot of the modern conveniences, her place was with Adam now.

As Ali took one last look in the mirror she had to giggle. "Well this probably isn't the best outfit to go and work with horses, but I don't care. Today for a little while I am just being my old self and be damn with comfort!"

As she headed out the door she suddenly remembered one final thing she needed before she left her room and quickly grabbed the watch Adam had given her off of the dresser and stuck it safely in her pocket.

"Hop Sing, I will be in the barn," Ali called out, as she grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table and then reached for her cowboy hat from the hat rack and headed out the front door. As soon as she got close to the barn Freedom started running back and forth along the corral fence tossing his head up and down trying to get her attention.

"Don't worry, my beauty, I see you. So are you ready for a good brushing? I bet that will make you feel good. And when I am finished with you, I will work on Shylo. Then if I can get Joe or Bill to go with me, maybe we can go for a short ride when I am finished."

Climbing through the rails and into the corral, Ali walked over to Freedom and hugged him around the neck before letting him have the apple that she had tucked away in her pocket. He was smart though and knew it was hidden in her pocket, so he kept nudging her as she laughed and pushed him away before finally retrieving it and holding it out for him to enjoy.

"Oh, my sweet boy. You knew I had a treat for you in my pocket, didn't you? You are just too clever and know me too well, boy." She laughed softly, as she stroked him with her free hand trying to untangle his mane with her fingers.

Ali let Freedom finish his apple before she gave him a kiss on his forehead and tehn headed for the barn with him casually following behind her. She never needed a rope or halter to take him with her because he would just follow her wherever she went. She had never trained him to do this; he just always wanted to be close to her whenever she was with him and would follow her just like a faithful dog. Soon they walked into the barn and she settled him into one of the back stalls before she went for the brush to begin his brushing. But something odd caught her eye as she was heading for the tack room, so she quickly turned and faced the wall at the back of the barn.

"HOLY CRAP… THE DOOR IS BACK!"

Alissa couldn't believe her eyes as the door that she had come through so many months ago was now right in front of her on the back wall of the barn. Or at least it looked like the same door. She couldn't be sure though. She had checked for it so many times after she first arrived. But each time she checked, there was nothing on the back of the barn but a few spiders and the blank wall. So why now, Ali wondered, as she slowly went towards the back of the barn and stared at the door that had suddenly appeared from nowhere?

She wasn't sure if she should get close to it at first so it took her a minute to finally get up the courage to walk over to the wall. She decided to study it for a moment longer before carefully putting her hand on the door. It really looked the same and even felt rather warm to the touch, just like it had so many months ago when she first came here. Of course all those months ago when she had first gone back to the barn to leave after her discussion with the Cartwrights, the door wasn't there. It was like it had disappeared into thin air. Adam and Joe had thought she was crazy and told her there was no door in the back of the barn and figured the bump on her head had caused her to have hallucinations.

But gradually she came to the conclusion, that for some reason, she had traveled back in time to a real Ponderosa and real Cartwrights. It had seemed rather crazy at first, but as time went on she settled in and accepted her new life. And the rest is history she thought, as she pondered what to do about the door.

"What should I do? Should I open it or should I go and get Joe so he can see it too?" Ali muttered, as she paced back and forth in front of the door trying to decide what to do.

"I know they both thought I was crazy at the time, but now I can prove it. Okay, so go and get him silly and quit standing here talking to yourself!"

Ali kicked at the dirt in front of her as she kept talking to herself. "Yes, but what if the door leads Joe to the future if he opens it? I sure wouldn't want anything to happen to him because if me. Maybe I should just open it myself to see what happens."

Ali started nervously twirling her hair around her finger as she kept trying to decide what to do.

"Yeah, but if I wait too long and it disappears then I have nothing to show Joe to prove there really was a door. Nope, I am going to show it to him so they will finally know where I came from. I just hope Joe can take the shock of it all, not to mention my Adam when he gets back."

Ali sighed in resignation as she turned and headed for the front of the barn.

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Climbing up on the corral rail Ali pulled her hat lower over her eyes to block the hot sun. As she sat on the rail she looked around before finally seeing Joe over by the hands as they held on to one of the new horses waiting for Joe to mount.

Cupping her hands Ali shouted over to Joe. "Joe, I really need to speak with you right now! It is an emergency!"

As soon as Joe heard this, he left the hands and quickly ran over to Ali.

"What's the matter? Are you hurt? What is the emergency, Ali?" Joe demanded, as he stood at Ali's feet worriedly looking up at her sitting on the rail.

"No, I am not hurt. But I do need to show you something in the barn. You have to come right now or it might disappear again!"

"Are you kidding me? You had me so worried and all you want to do is show me something in the barn? Is it a snake or something?"

"No, Joe, it's not a snake. But it is really important and you must come with me right now!" Ali insisted, as she jumped down off of the railing to stand in front of Joe and grab his arm.

"Look Ali, I am just getting ready to ride that new horse over there and I can't come right now. But if you just wait here for me to finish, then I will go with you and see just what emergency has you all bothered."

Joe grinned as he lightly tapped the front of Ali's hat tipping it down over her eyes. "Now just go and sit on the top rail and be patient, or as patient as you can be, and I will come with you when I am finished."

Then he turned and went back to the frowning hands who weren't very happy with having to keep holding on to this nervous horse while waiting on Joe to finish his conversation.

"Men, you're all alike! Stubborn mules that never listen!" Ali complained, as she climbed back up on the top rail.

"And you Cartwrights are the worst!" She yelled over in Joe's direction, but he was too involved to hear her.

"I guess I will just have to wait for him to finish because there is no changing a Cartwright's mind once it is made up."

But after watching Joe for a few more minutes as he got ready to sit the new horse, Ali angrily kicked the railing with her foot.

"I can't wait for him, I need to get back to the door to make sure it hasn't gone," she muttered, as she jumped down from the corral and hurriedly walked back to the barn.

Freedom was still in the back stall waiting as Ali entered the barn. Realizing she had left him in the stall, she walked over and let down the rope at the front of the stall and rubbed his ear.

"I'm sorry, beauty, but I got sidetracked. You need to go outside now because I don't know how long it will be before I can brush you…so get going, boy."

Ali gently slapped his rump to send him on his way, but Freedom didn't budge.

"Go on now boy…get going!"

Ali slapped him again but Freedom started eating on some hay as if he didn't have a care in the world.

"Freedom, you are as stubborn as the Cartwrights!" Ali grumbled, as she shrugged her shoulders and then turned to look at the back wall.

"Well, it's still there, Freedom. What do you think I should do? Maybe I will just open it a little to see what is there. Then I will have an idea what to expect before Joe gets here."

Deciding that is what she will do, Ali slowly walked over to the back wall and stood right in front of the mysterious door.

"Alright now, Ali, are you sure you want to do this? Maybe I should just leave it alone and see if it goes away. Or maybe it only appears to me and when Joe comes he won't see it and really think I am loco. Plus, I don't really want to go back to my own time now that I have found Adam. I am happy here."

Ali leaned in closer to the door and put her hand out to touch it. "Maybe I will just open it and step in just to see what happens. But what if I end up going somewhere else in time? This really has been a bizarre experience for sure, Freedom. What do you think I should do?"

Freedom moved his head up and down as if agreeing with her then went back to eating.

"Well a lot of help you are, boy," Ali laughed, as she continued trying to decide what to do.

"Okay, I have never been a chicken about things before and I'm sure not going to start now. I think I will just open the door and see what is there because not knowing is driving me crazy," she declared, as her hand slowly reached for the doorknob.

Ali quickly touched the doorknob then nervously pulled back her hand. But eventually after letting out a long, slow breath, she grabbed the doorknob and turned it slowly as she pulled the door towards her. At first the door seemed to stick, so she gave a hard tug before it finally opened and she stood in front of the open doorway. It was very dark and she couldn't really see anything at all, so she leaned forward slightly to get a better look. Suddenly a strong gust of wind came out of the doorway and blew her hat off of her head with its force. Ali turned around to get her hat, but before she could bend down to retrieve it, she was sucked into the doorway and the door slammed shut behind her as the mysterious door disappeared once again.

All the noise startled Freedom as he backed out of his stall and then headed out the barn as Joe was starting to come in.

"Hey, boy, what's got you so spooked," Joe exclaimed, as Freedom ran past him almost knocking him over.

"Ali, are you in here?" Joe called, as he walked into the barn.

When there was no answer Joe looked around for her until he got to the back of the barn.

"Where are you, Ali? And just what was so important that I had to come here so urgently and now you aren't even here."

Joe was furious with Ali for taking him away from his work and frowned as he started to leave. Then he spotted a hat lying on the ground in front of the back wall. He walked over and picked it up. As he studied the hat he soon realized it was Ali's hat, which was rather odd because she was nowhere in the barn.

TBC

Well my lovely readers, I know it has been a long time since I posted, but I have been very busy with real life. Plus I have had a major case of writer's block. So it took me a while to decide where I wanted this story to go, and so I let my muse take us on a new adventure. I know some of you might be a little surprised at where this story is going, but I have had several readers ask me about what Ali might do about her other life, so this is how I chose to tell the story. Now you all know how determined Ali is when she wants something, so a little thing like a few centuries is NOT going to keep her apart from Adam for long. So hopefully you will let me know what you think as you see what she has to do to get back to the love of her life. ~ Sierra