Trail Busters - 6th Story in the Alexandra Series.

Summary: Marty and Alexandra are a little put out at being left behind, while the Cartwright men go on one of the biggest trail rides in the territory. Frankly, I'm not sure what's going to happen, other than, Adam won't be too happy and Alexandra will have a lot to say… as usual.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bonanza, or any of its characters. David Dortort and Fred Hamilton created them and played with them for 14 years. The series is owned by NBC.

Warnings : Physical Discipline by a parent in some chapters.

Trail Busters

Prologue

"Alexandra!"

Adam rummaged through the discarded contents of his saddlebag, annoyed, very annoyed; this was the third time he had packed his bags for the upcoming cattle drive. Up until this moment, he'd thought that he'd just kept missing items, or that he had forgotten to pack the clean shirts Hop Sing had laundered, but perhaps he hadn't.

Adam prided himself on being ready to go on a drive at the drop of the hat. He always prepared his personal belongings well in advance in case he had to take off before dawn when the time came to get the crew and the bovines on the move.

'Always be prepared' was Adam's mantra. However, the discarded items on the bed were proof that he was NOT getting forgetful in his old age, but rather evidence of a saboteur within his midst. And it was very obvious that said saboteur was caught in the act of removing items from his saddle bag.

'Hmm what was missing?' Not his two clean shirts, not his spare pair of pants and long johns, or the small hand towel he used when a quick shave and wash was in order; no these items, now unfolded and creased, were still there; no longer in his saddle bags, but in a pile. His small journal and box of pencils were scattered on the bed, along with his latest bit of reading material that lay open; the bookmark still tucked in the tight fold of its spine.

"Alexandra!" Adam called again, growling this time, as he picked up the novel, closed it and threw it back on the bed with the rest of the pile. He tucked two fingers of each hand into a pocket of his dungarees and sighed. He looked to the door waiting for his eleven-year-old daughter to sheepishly poke her head around the doorframe. Surely, she couldn't be too far away, as this time there had been little time for the saboteur to remove items. Alexandra wouldn't dare ignore his calls for too long. Besides that, since their return from San Francisco, the child had barely been out of his sight. Alexandra had clung to him like the fur of a molting cat. He knew it was connected to her mother's death. His Pa had also reminded him of what he had been like when Inger had been killed so suddenly. The then very mature and responsible six-year-old, now in charge of his infant brother, had kept his father in sight at every move until they had made it to Eagle Bend. And then, Adam remembered what Joe had been like when Marie had died and how his father, overwhelmed by grief, abandoned his youngest child, really, all of his sons, when they needed him and feared for him, which intensified their loss. Ben reminded his son of the lesson he'd learned at that time, and to take Alexandra's clinginess as her need for stability. Alexandra needed to know the world was still a safe place and that she was surrounded by people who would always protect and love her.

Adam started to repack his items, mentally ticking them off as he went. "Damn" his shaving kit was incomplete; soap, check, brush and small cup, leather strip mirror and… no razor!

"Alexandra," he bellowed this time. The child knew she was not to touch his razor. He kept it sharp; it was his second razor, kept ready for trips, planned or unplanned. While he usually didn't shave everyday while on the trail, there were times he needed to present himself in town to a prospective buyer. Then, there was always the day of the sale and their celebration with a night in town. He and Hoss looked forward to a hot bath, shave and tasty meal before venturing into the local saloon to buy the men drinks for a job well done. Of course, there were times where a romantic interlude arose as well, though this time there would be no such occurrence, he would be saving that night for Marty, once he returned to the Ponderosa in three weeks' time.

The night of their return from San Francisco was really the only time that Adam and Marty had spent more than a quick meal or visit. It had been a lovely evening. After Alexandra and Marty had found the small watercolour of the lake, Alexandra's meadow, the little girl had told Marty all about her mother. Adam had been glad for, whatever heavenly invention happened at the lake, Alexandra's acceptance of Marty. The entire family enjoyed their time at the lake — immersed in a glorious panorama for their dusk picnic. Once they had their full of Hop Sing's fine cooking, Alexandra had dozed off, her head resting comfortably on her Uncle Hoss's huge soft thigh. Adam and Marty took the opportunity to take an enchanting walk along the borders of the lake engrossed in the glints and shimmers of the moonlight.

Flashback

Adam and Marty strolled in silence for some time, hand in hand—, just the soft breeze, the whispering breath and the feel of each other's warm skin merged in a relaxed hand clasp. Adam stopped, turned Marty to face him. "Come here," he whispered as he pulled her towards him and dropped his lips gently towards her. He let their fullness rest on hers and felt calm in the warm and pensive sensation of their souls touching.

"Hmmm, I've missed you so much," said Marty.

Adam deepened the kiss, but didn't linger too long and drew back, slowly smiling and letting his eyes wonder over her beautiful features. Her long strawberry blonde hair blew around her attractive features and the twinkle in her eye. "I've missed you too, very much, Miss Strawn," he added with amusement. He pulled her closer to him and encased her in a bear hug reminiscent of Hoss' modus operandi. "I just need some skin on skin", he murmured, as he lowered his head then into the small space between the exposed neck of the open collar of her shirt, resting his cheek against the soft skin and her gentle pulse.

Marty's blush increased his own warmth there. He discreetly kissed her before lifting his head, then moved back a step. "I beg your pardon," he grinned. "I didn't mean to take such liberties," he said tongue in cheek.

Marty's blushed again. "Well, I did wonder a bit with the skin on skin, comment. I must say… it was a little cheeky, but then…" she laughed at Adams attempt at being bashful. "I'm pleased you missed me."

"I wish I could really tell you how much," said Adam. "I needed you so much; not just another adult to share my grief, but you, Marty. I was a little afraid that I was neglecting and excluding you. I didn't know if I was doing the right thing, so I just kept everything separate; in different compartments. Well, so I thought, but tonight…" Adam paused looking for the right words.

Marty waited a moment, but when Adam said nothing else she recognized his need for some more time to think. She turned and continued walking squeezing his hand before swinging it playfully. A few minutes into the stroll, she broke the silence. "I was glad you and Alexandra got to share this journey and got to say all the things to Katherine that you did, but I must admit I was a little bit envious while you were away. Now, I feel guilty about that, because it appears I was part of in some way."

Adam stopped, struck by the thoughts he'd been trying to express. That was Marty; she expressed herself simply with sincerity. He needed to stop over thinking things; stop trying to find the perfect dialogue; stop trying to be so logical. He'd tried to beat Alexandra with logic, but it often back fired on him, because her logic was— well he didn't know what it was, but it wasn't logic in his book. Alex was pure emotion and knee jerk reactions. Marty was right. "You are very much a part of this journey," said Adam, holding a stray strand of her silky hair and rolling it in his fingertips. "Tonight at the lake was… I can't explain how the painting was here, but for Alexandra it was a sign and that's what matters."

"You don't think it was sign?" asked Marty, curious to hear his response.

"My logical brain says… well no— a coincidence, but there were a lot of coincidences on this trip, and I think deep down, my father's spiritual journey and beliefs have rubbed off on me. So my faith in truth and the goodness of people has me accepting it as sign too."

Marty wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. "I felt so far away at times," she murmured.

"I felt that too", admitted Adam. "That's why I needed just to touch you, feel your life. That makes me feel like a bit of a heel, though…"

"Don't, there were no liberties taken Adam, well not ones I didn't want. If there were, you would have felt my heel," she smirked.

Adam laughed. "I'm sure I would have, though, as you know, I'm quick to retaliate, Miss Strawn. Seriously, though, I feel a bit of a heel, because I didn't need or want that from Katherine. I loved Katherine, but I wasn't in love with Katherine. I thought I was in the beginning, but I was young. She was too and seems to have stayed in love with me."

"What would you have done if she'd told you of Alexandra in the beginning?"

"I would have asked her to marry me. I would have been very happy to marry Katherine. I was angry at first when I found out about Alexandra after all that time. I felt cheated. I wondered if Katherine thought that I would not honour our union, or that I'd take Alexandra away from her. But, that wasn't it, she was afraid that I'd be stuck in a hapless marriage, have regrets about having to stop my education. In her eyes that wasn't going to be ideal for anyone."

"She must have loved you very much," mused Marty.

"Yes. In her heart she knew there would come a time for me and Alexandra."

"I wish it didn't have to be so sad a time for you all. At the same time, it's important that you discovered all those things."

"Alexandra and I talked a lot about Katherine, talked a lot about you, and while we didn't go into the details of our romance with Katherine, I believe Katherine knew I found someone, and was happy for all of us. Alexandra has had an unusual upbringing, with lots of adults regarded as extended family members, Katherine trusted them all. I know she trusted me and therefore she would trust my judgement. Katherine knew that Alexandra will always have a family and parents that will love her and encourage her to be good, happy and the best person she can be."

"I'll be very happy to be part of that," announced Marty.

"And I am very happy you are going to be part of that too, Miss Strawn. I think I'll keeping calling you Miss Strawn, I like it."

"Hmm, well maybe, and only because it makes you think you're in charge, but not for the next three weeks," she warned. A change in her demeanor was announced with a soft sigh. "It's not fair, I'm going to miss you all over again."

"We'll have tonight?" he cheered raising his eyebrows.

"We do, but there not much of that left."

"Ahh, there's good light, and we can do some more kissing before I gallantly escort you to the Devlin's."

"Sounds like a plan," smiled Marty as she grabbed Adams collar and pulled him towards her and caressed his slightly exposed chest. She played with the hairs there, twisting one a little painfully for Adams liking, before initiating her own fevered kiss.

End Flashback.

Over the remaining days of that week, Adam had been busy with round- up preparations and Marty had been busy with the Delvin's. Marty was going to be there for an extra week while Dan got his herd to the rendezvous. As a result, Alexandra was going to be staying with Mrs. O'Shaunassey until Marty could take her back to town.

Adam was drawn back to the present. He took another look at the discarded items on the bed. There was still no response from Alexandra, and Adam marched towards the door, his patience wearing thin. He was bone tired from trying to catch up with work since their return from San Francisco and perhaps was not attuned to his daughter's motivations. Alex was probably hiding somewhere; maybe the barn, where she couldn't hear him; for if she could hear him, she would have not ignored his demanding call. He strode closer to the door when he sensed movement behind him — a gasp, a sniff.

"Hmm," he turned sharply on his heel, and paused as he scanned the room for a child that was hiding. A near transparent shadow, not the shape of a bed rail, could be seen on one side of the bed, contrasting only slightly from the floor boards seen edging the rug. Then an inch of a ruffled cotton petticoat caught his eye.

"Out! get out from underneath there, Now!" he commanded. If he hadn't been so annoyed that the child had ignored him, he would have laughed when he saw the inch of the petticoat slowly drawn back under the bed and out of sight, like it hadn't been seen but only imagined. "Alex I can see you." he announced, frustrated but calmer this time. He knew that she knew the jig was up. Neither one moved; his guess was that Alex was waiting to see what side of the bed his boots would appear at and then would quickly move to the opposite side before appearing. Adam knew his daughter; he was no dummy.

But, neither was Alexandra Willameena Cartwright. She watched her father's boots purposely strut towards one side of the bed, but before she could shimmy away, the heels rocked back, the toes pointed before they pivoted and strutted slightly faster around the bed end and to the other side. Alexandra lay still in the centre of the beds protective canopy and keenly tracked the movements with her eyes. Again, just as the boots stopped abruptly they pivoted and moved faster again around the bed. This went on for another two circuits; the boots getting faster and Alexandra rocking backwards and forwards while on her back and tracking the movements, waiting for the moment she could get out and be on the opposite side of the bed away from her father; that way she would have some time to explain— she hoped. Expecting the boots to be on the move again and aware that her father was most likely speeding this up so she would get confused and catch her off guard, she looked to the foot of the bed quickly. The boots didn't appear and a hurried glance over her left shoulder told her that this time the boots came to a complete stop. She let out a relived sigh and started to shuffle to the freedom of the empty space to her right, but then impulsively hesitated.

Adam could almost hear the kid's wheels turning in her head, as she rolled under the bed to keep up with his cat and mouse game. He had played this one with Little Joe when he was younger and had always managed to win. Little Joe's panic and impatience always overrode his logic. He was sure it would be the case again. He had mastered the art of getting his boots off on the last run, and slam them down hard next to the side of the bed. He would stand perfectly in line with them, masking them from thin sight lines from a hiding place under the bed. He knew the culprit under there would anticipate another move and not notice his leap to the other corner, where a black shirt thrown on the floor would mask his black stocking feet. Adam had to suppress a gloating chuckle when he sensed Alexandra's movement towards the side that he was now nearest to. But then, the slight movement stopped abruptly.

Alexandra instantly became immobile when an object caught her eye at the end on the right corner of the bed. Her father's black shirt was now crumpled on the floor. It hadn't been there before; what was it doing there now, she barely thought to herself? It was a worry; something wasn't quite right— like the fact that one bed post was thicker than the other. Instinct took over and Alexandra rolled to the left side of the bed and scrambled out from underneath it knocking over her father's empty boots as she stood up.

Adam jumped in surprise; outwitted by an eleven-year-old. But, this always worked, he thought to himself. "How did…"

"Gee Dad, how ya do that?" interposed Alex, stealing his words. "I swear I didn't even hear ya take them boots off. Ya must have done it while on the move; you'd make a good Magician or even A Flying Trapeze Artist; even better probably than the best bare Back Trick Rider, corse there ain't much work for them sort of performers outside of the Carnivals; ya can't ride horses around on the stage," she explained, standing with her hands behind her back, swaying innocently; the bed a four-foot-wide space between them.

TBC Chapter 2 - Smokescreens

A.N. Finally got this story started thanks to Lajoci help and insights. Thanks also to Shar-myownlittlewoodchuck for some great debates, insights and laughter.

Bear with with us folks both Lajoci and I are run off our feet. We just don't have enough hours in the day. I am happy to receive any type of review as longs as they are constructive and polite. I take all comments and opinions into account. I do this for fun,but I like how much I'm learning. And, while I have a basic plot hashed out , I'm always looking for ideas and plausible ways to have my characters act in a certain way.