Hello, friends! This story is the continuation of the 'Smoke Rings In The Dark" universe with Adam Cartwright and Evangeline Williams as our leading couple. I hope you enjoy this sequel and I look forward to reading and responding to all comments on it! This story is much, much longer than the former so I beg your indulgence as we go along. Thank you for reading, here is Chapter One!

* = historical character

** = episodic character

The patriarch of the Ponderosa frowned as he stepped outside the San Francisco Bank* in Gold Hill,* Nevada. His meeting with the heads of the mining outfits had gone fairly well except for one thing. William Sharon*, the Nevada agent for the San Francisco Banking company, had expressed private and intense interest in one small mine in particular that was, as of yet, untested and unproven. Ben knew that Adam had high hopes for Johnny Lightly's** new enterprise and had been working with him for the past few months on the project but, what was of such urgent interest as to attract an important man like Sharon? Ben slowly trotted down the bank steps and mounted up on Buck. As the horse traveled the short distance to Virginia City, Ben mulled over what had occurred during the last few years to lead up to the present situation.

Young Johnny's legs had been paralyzed at one point almost four years previously while breaking horses for the Cartwrights. The family had brought him back to full health before assisting him and his new wife, Anne,** in starting up a small ranch next to the Ponderosa. Willing to teach the ins-and-outs of ranch matters, Adam had readily taken the young wrangler under his experienced wing and recently, Johnny had developed the idea of starting a mine on a piece of land had just been purchased by himself.

Adam had told Ben that there was a good chance of there being silver in it but further testing had to be done first. Now, Ben wondered if there were certain parties who knew more about the venture than his son did. The town appeared on the horizon and Ben shook his head to dispel his concerns. With the thought that he was going to have to talk with Adam as soon as the Ponderosa was eventually reached, Ben resolved to first stop by and see how the new charity restaurant building was coming along. Maybe then he'd stop at Johnny's ranch before heading home...the young man could possibly shed some light on the inquiries made by the bank agent.

I* * * * *I

Virginia City was bursting at its seams on this sunny, cool Saturday in May. Buggies filled with merry picnickers, cowhands dressed up for an afternoon on the town, pedestrians trying not to get run over and businessmen attempting to go about their duties; they all filled the streets to capacity and were a source of excitement to the young woman standing outside of a newly-constructed building. She craved the energy exuded from the town and today even more so as she admired what she had aspired to create. The large two-story structure stood proudly upon the ashes of The King's Palace, a saloon that had been burned to the ground by a madman three weeks before.

Evangeline Williams smiled as she thought on the purpose for this new establishment and how different it was from the one run by Thomas Gaynes, the now-deceased business partner of her father. During Gaynes' colorful escapades of those three weeks before, he had orchestrated an elaborate kidnapping plot against Evangeline, Joe Cartwright had been severely beaten and the scheming man had also been the ultimate cause of her fiancé, Adam Cartwright, being rifle-shot and then bed-ridden for quite some time. With herself escaping, Gaynes being killed by his own bartender and Adam on the mend, all had gradually solved itself in time.

Now though, Evangeline couldn't help but still feel some indignation at all she, her fiancé's family and her father had been put through for some petty revenge. She thought Thomas Gaynes to be despicable and as she gazed on the sign above the door of this new building, she felt satisfaction at rebuilding something good from the ashes of his life. His death and the death of his saloon would now provide a new foundation upon which kindness could flourish.

A deep, familiar voice from behind broke through her musings. "Good day, Evangeline. How is the restaurant business going since the last time I saw you?"

Evangeline turned about and smiled back at Adam's father. "Just fine! The workers are finishing up with the inside as we speak. What are you doing in town if I may ask?"

"I've just come from Gold Hill, had some business to take care of. Are you still coming out later to talk to Adam?" Ben came to stand next to her.

Her pale-blue eyes took on a shine at the mention of her fiancé's name."Oh, yes, I just have a few things to take care of and then this little endeavor is ready for business! Adam's architectural plans have turned out even better than I could have ever imagined."

Ben's eyes traveled over the new white paint of the false front and the painted sign of Margaret's Helping Hand nailed above the door. A soft smile came to his face at the name of Evangeline's deceased mother being made part of this house of mercy. "It's looking wonderful. When do you open?"

Evangeline smiled and she wiped her hands on the apron tied around her pink dress."As soon as the supplies that Adam had Hoss order arrive from Carson City. Do you want to come in? I could show you around."

Ben nodded and the two stepped through the white picket fence and entered the attractive yet serviceable building. Ben marveled at how resourceful his future daughter-in-law was at putting together something like this on such short notice. A couple of months beforehand, Adam had told him that Evangeline was tired of not being able to do anything in town except live in that huge house alone that her wealthy father had built for her. So, Adam had suggested thinking about a project to keep her busy. With some thought, she had then come up with the idea of a service establishment for any and all unfortunates in town. If a meal was needed or a bed required for the injured or a temporary hospital in the case of an epidemic or a safe place for the homeless; "The Helping Hand", as it was coming to be called, would be there to provide it. It would also be self-sustaining as a small restaurant, giving folks a quiet and charming place to sample some good, home-cooked food.

Evangeline couldn't hide her pride upon Ben's praise of the efficient design of the rooms upstairs and the larger rooms for work downstairs. Before the crazed attempt on his life, Adam had drawn up the plans for the building but she had overseen the workers as they carried out those instructions. Using her father's sizable donation, she had also overseen the furnishing of it in a homey style. Now, it was a cozy sanctuary for all those unable to care for themselves without some fellow human kindness. She stood in the middle of the sitting area with her hands planted on her hips and turned slowly to admire the new windows being put in.

Ben chuckled when the morning sun highlighted the disheveled brown hair under her kerchief. He was more and more thankful every day that he had never pushed his eldest to marry sooner because if he himself had pressured, a great treasure would have been missed. She is proving herself to be as industrious and as stubborn as Elizabeth was too, he mused with a distant smile.

"What has you looking so fond, Ben?"

Ben smiled at Evangeline. "Just thinking about how much you remind me of Adam's mother. She could do anything she set her mind to as well."

Evangeline blushed at the implied compliment. Ben's approval was becoming more and more important to her over the past weeks ever since they had bonded while Adam had been ill from his gunshot wound. For the four months that she had been courted by Adam Cartwright, his father hadn't seemed to approve of her or her wealth or her father's wealth. But, in reality and unbeknownst to her, Ben had simply been worried that his son was being made a conquest of a spoiled, rich girl bent on having her own way. Ben had no problem with any young woman his sons took a fancy to just as long as she genuinely reciprocated the affections. During the suspense-filled days following Adam's dire injury, Ben had come to see the depth of Evangeline's true devotion and love for his eldest son. His thoughts were broken again by her voice as she moved past him with a swishing of skirts upon the dusty floor.

"Let me show you the kitchens and dining area!"

Ben followed the excited girl into the next long room, the kitchen. He commented that the cook that would be hired would be more than happy to have such a nice space to work in. He was surprised when Evangeline commented that she definitely would be happy with it.

She then laughed at his astonished expression. "Don't look at me like that! I'll have you know, Mr. Cartwright, that I'm a very accomplished cook. Hasn't Adam told you? He's rather partial to my roast beef sandwiches and strawberry shortcake."

Having remembered his son's praise, Ben looked sheepish. "I just thought since the cook at your house always seems to do everything..."

"That I can't cook? My father insisted on having a cook to keep the burden off myself so I do tend to let her earn her wages whenever possible. But, I greatly enjoy preparing food and besides, we'll be only serving simple and hearty meals here. She will be helping me though if I need it as part of her duties. Oh, I'll show you the dining room, follow me!"

Evangeline led Ben off into a side room that had a door leading to a separate sidewalk outside for customers. The red-checkered drapes on the sunny windows and the little bell above the door promoted a cozy atmosphere in which to dine. There was a large fireplace as well on the far wall of the room to keep the chill of winters down to a minimum. Candles and arrangements of summer flowers graced the white tablecloths. After Ben had finished admiring what she had to show him, she invited him to sit at one of the round tables.

"Ben, I did have a question to ask of you and since you stopped by, I'll ask now instead of this afternoon. Adam's birthday is coming up soon in about a week and I was wondering what you usually did for him. I asked him but he didn't seem to want to talk about it, all I could get out of him was the date."

Ben sighed and lowered his head before looking into Evangeline's questioning face. "When he was younger, I made sure that we had some kind of celebration but once he came back from college...we haven't really acknowledged it since. I suspect that Hoss gives him a gift every year and we all usually go out on the town that night but he won't allow anything else."

Evangeline was confused a little. "But why? Why wouldn't he want to celebrate?"

"Didn't he tell you how my first wife died?"

"He just mentioned that she died when he was a baby but..." Evangeline shrugged in an earnest manner.

"She died in childbirth...his birth. She survived long enough to see him and name him but then...within a few minutes she was gone." Ben lowered his head again to fight the memories of his Elizabeth's hand closing the lid of her music box...of her head lulling on the pillow and her beautiful eyes closing.

Evangeline covered his hand with her own. "I see...he didn't tell me that...," she gently said.

Ben stood and went to one of the large windows to gaze out onto the crowded street. "He wouldn't. I think he feels that it was his fault somehow and he just doesn't want to deal with it. No celebration equals no guilt, I suppose, in his mind at least...I gave up trying to talk him out of it years ago."

Evangeline sat in silent and pondering thought until interrupted by a workman sticking his head into the doorway. He asked where she wanted the boxes of kitchen utensils that had arrived and she told him she'd be there in a moment. She rose from the table and stepped to Ben's side. He was inspecting the new windows and made some comment about how he liked the curtain material but Evangeline had begun to learn about Ben Cartwright's evasive tactics.

She got his attention by placing her hand on his left forearm and spoke softly but deliberately, "Ben, I'm sorry for all that you have suffered and for all that Adam has suffered. But, it is behind you both now and he's going to have a wife soon who loves him and wants the best for him. I plan on nurturing good in my marriage to your son and I want to start with this. So...with your permission, I would like to organize a very special dinner at my house next Friday. Would you make sure that he's there? The rest of you are more than welcome to come too if you'd like but he absolutely has to come...Please? Will you do it for me, Ben?"

Ben bit his lip in quick thought then nodded and grinned at the little conspiracy between them. "Sure, anything for my favorite daughter-in-law."

Evangeline graced him with one of her dazzling smiles and kissed his cheek before leaving to attend to her responsibilities. Ben left through the dining room door and the tinkle of the bell followed him down the short sidewalk to his horse. He chuckled at the quiet strength of his soon-to-be daughter. As he mounted up and cantered out of town towards the Lightly ranch, his thoughts turned to the other matter that had worried him not too many minutes before.