Ben Cartwright smiled at his wife. June Cartwright tried to smile back. But a scream stopped her. Ming Su chattered away in Chinese. Ben wasn't worried though. He had been by the sides of three of his past wives while they had given birth to his other sons. No problems had arisen. Ben expected this one to be no different. Why should it be?
Suddenly there was a new cry in the room. Ming Su wrapped up the baby in a little blanket and carefully handed it to Ben.
"You have a little girl." She said. Ben turned to show June, but was surprised to find her asleep so soon after the birth.
"June?" Ben asked and used his free arm to lightly push on her shoulder. June's arm fell limply off the side of the bed. Ben's smile fell from his face. Ming Su felt for a pulse frantically.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Cartwright. I'm so sorry." She apologized. Ben Cartwright looked at her.
"Don't worry, Ming Su. You didn't do this. She-she just...it was her time." Ben choked out. Quickly he left the room. Once in the hallway he stopped and leaned back against the wall. The baby in his arms blinked up at him. Not a sound came from her. Ben smiled sadly. Gently he hugged the infant to him, wanting to be as close as he could to the last piece of June that he had.
"Pa?" Asked a small voice. Ben turned to see his two eldest sons, Adam and Eric, or Hoss. "Is that our little brother?" Adam questioned. Ben smiled and knelt so that his sons could see their sister.
"No, this is your little sister." Ben corrected. Hoss' eyes lit up.
"What're ya goin' ta name her, Pa?" He asked excitedly.
"I don't know." Ben answered. "What do you think we should name her?"
"Well, I always thought that if I was born a girl, I'd want to be named Phyllis." Hoss said after some thought.
"Or Philadelphia." Adam offered. Hoss nodded with enthusiasm.
"Okay, Philadelphia June Cartwright it is then." Ben announced. The least he could do for his late wife. Tomorrow, he would give a small funeral.
Fourteen years later
"Now, Philly!" Hoss shouted at his little sister. He tried to heft himself over the fence to catch up to Philly, but found he couldn't. As he ran all the way around to the gate, Philly carefully mounted the mustang and gripped the reins as it went wild. Ben Cartwright jogged up to the scene and, at the sight of his daughter on a wild horse, began to shout and run to the corral. But by time he got there, Philly had the horse trotting about domestically. Ben jumped the fence and ran to the horse.
"Philadelphia! You could've been killed!" He scolded. Philly smiled at her father.
"Do I get to go with you and Adam to Virginia City?" She asked. Ben's angry expression was replaced by a half smile.
"Alright." He finally consented. Philly yee-hawed and dismounted. Happily she kissed her father's cheek and ran back to the house.
"Adam! Joe!" She called. Her older brothers came out from inside the house.
"What is it, Philly?" Adam asked.
"I'm goin' with you to Virginia City today!" She crowed happily. Joe chuckled.
"Not like that you're not." He said, motioning to the dirty britches his sister was wearing. Philly placed her fists on her hips.
"What's wrong with this?" She demanded. Adam smiled and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Just take Joe's word for it. Now go inside and get a dress on." He said and pushed her toward the house. Philly pouted and went inside angrily. A half-hour later, Philadelphia came back out in a white dress with a jade green sash across her middle. Her blonde hair was let to lie in its natural curls on her shoulders.
"Pa, how am I supposed to ride like this?" Philly demanded. Joe and Adam laughed.
"You're not riding a horse, you're going to ride in the wagon." Hoss explained. Philly rolled her eyes and hopped up onto the hay bales. Joe laughed and jumped up beside her. Adam and Ben got into the seat in front of them.
An hour later, the wagon rumbled into town and stopped in front of the general store.
"Stay here, Philly." Ben said and led Joe and Adam into the store. Philly crossed her arms and tried to pout, but her surroundings were too irresistible. Carefully she climbed down from the wagon and began to walk down the street. A loud shout came from one building and a man fell through the swinging doors. Philly laughed and ran to see what was going on.
The man ran back inside, only to be thrown out again. When he tried to go in a third time, Philly saw the man's attacker. The tall woman came out and pushed the man back to the ground. Philly smiled at the sight of a woman in leather britches carrying a gun. The woman caught her smile.
"What're you looking at?" She demanded.
"Just admirin'." Philly answered.
"Admirin' what?"
"I wish I could wear britches off of the Ponderosa." Philly laughed. The woman's eyes widened.
"The Ponderosa? Wait, are you a Cartwright?" The woman asked. Philly nodded.
"Yup. Why? Are you looking for work?" She asked. This woman couldn't be bad at riding.
"Well, yeah. I was told the Ponderosa was almost always hiring."
"That depends on who's applying for the job." Adam said as he came up behind Philadelphia. "I thought Pa told you to stay put." He whispered to Philly. Before she could say anything, the woman spoke.
"I'm not a criminal. I'm just a girl looking for some honest work. I was thinking that maybe someone in this town could use a maid, or someone to help with cattle, or something.
"So, what d'ya say, Adam?" Philly asked. Ben and Joe finally joined them.
"Who's this?" Ben asked. The woman walked forward and held out her hand.
"The name's Tetrison. Rose Emily Tetrison. I'm just askin' these two about a job." Rose answered.
Ben nodded and shook her hand.
"Well, I'm Ben Cartwright. So all job decisions would be up to me. What are your qualifications?"
"I can cook, ride, clean, herd, anything little odd job you need done." Rose answered. Ben thought for a moment. Adam and Little Joe both looked at Rose through suspicious eyes.
"Alright. You're hired."
