The Bonanza cast rightly belongs to NBC as well as its superiors and David
Dortort as well as Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker and Michael
Landon. I do not own them, and in no way gaining any money off of this story,
or that of its plot. I only own the character of Leighla Lynn Cartwright.
The Cartwright's' are how they would appear in BONANZA.
Leighla is 10 years old. The story is told in Leighla's POV. A.N This Is My First Bonanza Story, So Please Be Nice! Also: A Big Shout Out And Extravagent Thank You To: Sierra Rose 22 For Proof Reading This Story
Thanks Chica!
My name is Leighla Lynn Cartwright. I just turned 10 today, so I am a big
girl now, well maybe not as big as Hoss, no one can ever be as big as Hoss.
Just ask my oldest brother Adam. He's older than Hoss by six years, but you
would never know that because Hoss is 4 inches taller than Adam. And well, a
whole 2 feet taller than my older brother, Little Joe.
Every night before I would go to bed, Adam would always tell me stories about
when he and papa were on the wagon train coming here to Nevada. He would tell
me about when Hoss was born, and how he was actually small enough to hold in
his arms.
But like I would always say to Adam, "I need to see it to believe
it."
My family is very religious, and we say grace before eating meals. (shhhh…
don't
tell anyone, but I usually pick at my meals during grace). We say our prayers
before bedtime.
And my brothers always have to come in and say, "Alright let's
hear your prayers."
I remember one time when Adam, Hoss and Pa were on a cattle drive and I was at
home with Little Joe. He came in one night and told me to say my prayers. I
asked him if I could pray about anything. He smiled at me and nodded. So, I
prayed for my teacher to get sick. He swatted me for that one.
I remember asking our reverend at church what it was like to die. And he
told me that he didn't have any first hand knowledge. But he would assume
that
you would see a bright light at the end of a tunnel, or you would see your
loved ones faces, or your life would flash before your eyes. I took those
into
consideration. And at the time, unknown to me, the reverend had approached
Adam and told him about my question.
Looking back on that day now, I knew that it really depended on how you died.
I for one know that for a fact. Because what I saw was nothing close to the
answers I received at church. In fact, I would of loved to see my mother's
face…she passed away when I was 2. Or remember the times when I would
sit on my papa's lap and he would bounce me on one knee, or Adam tucking me
in at night and reading me bedtime stories. Even Hoss when he was teaching me
how to properly take care of injured animals, or even Little Joe when he let
me ride Cochise. Maybe even Hop Sing when he was teaching me how to cook,
(okay let's not remember that one).
I would of even loved to be able to say goodbye and give them all one last
hug
and kiss. I even wish that I could take back what I said to them this
morning.
I want to tell them that I love them all, just one last time. But sadly, all
of those
thoughts, memories and actions soon faded away from me like a cry upon the
wind.
It happened so fast, that if you were to blink, you'd miss it. As I laid
there at the bottom of the creek, nestled in some rocks and grass, feeling
the
coldness of the water as it soaked my clothes and skin… I cried. I cried
for
my Pa, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe. I cried for help.
I wish I could tell them how much they have meant to me, and how happy they
have made my life. But somehow, I think they already knew.
As I laid there by myself in the dark, alone, bleeding and gasping for air,
and feeling as though my soul would soon leave this earth… I felt at peace.
At peace knowing that I was and always will be really and truly loved, and
blessed with
a family like I had.
My vision begins to blur, I feel as though I am slipping away. I faintly hear
hoof beats above me, then a scream and a gunshot. A smile slowly crawls across
my
face as I realized that my family was here, and I would not die alone.
I can't feel anything anymore, and my body is almost numb. I soon feel loving
arms wrap around my body and pull me to their chest. The smell… I recognize
it. It's Adam. I listen to his heart beating at a steady pace, sort of like
the
sound a metronome would make. And I soon realize that it is time for me to
go.
With my last breath I whisper, "I love you."
And as I begin to lose my fight, I hear the words I have been waiting to hear
since I had left the ranch.
"We love you too."
It sounded so beautiful to me. And right then and there, I knew that
everything would be alright. I knew then that they had to let me go, and so
did they as they held me tightly in their arms while I slipped away.