Bonanza Fan Fiction- Last Ponderosa Ma

Based on Is There Any Man Here

I do NOT own the copyrights to the show Bonanza or any

Of that show's characters

This is my version of the Episode titled Is There Any Man Here. And I DID use quite a bit of the show in it.

NOTE: Any establishment's names I have just thrown out - if they were really in the show I don't know about it. As all the things I watch I got what I did off you tube (and it's mental sometimes).

Also I took the liberty of messing with time frame, hence I pushed Carnegie into a earlier time than he really was.

Scene 3

Ben , the boys, their girls and Jennifer sat around the table laughing and catching up on the years since they'd seen each other. The meat, potatoes and veggies would serve as a good meal and everyone complimented Hop sing on the food.

"How about handing me some more of those potatoes?" Hoss asked Jennifer as the item was nearest her seat.

"I see your appetite I heard about hasn't diminished." Jennifer spoke politely as the man scooped a hefty spoonful of potatoes onto his plate.

"No, Ma'am. Guess it ain't." Hoss grinned wide knowing Jennifer's tone held no criticism simply an acceptance that it was the way things were.

"So, Jennifer." Ben spoke as he held a fork posed over his plate. "What brings you here? I was only expecting your father."

"I've been thinking a very long time about coming out and after I called off my wedding at the alter it seemed the perfect time to come." Jennifer bit back a chuckle as Alice practically spit out her milk.

"You left a guy standing at the alter?" Alice was stunned and -truth be told - so were the rest of the family.

"Alice, if you knew Tuttle Ames like I know him and - if you were female - you'd leave him too." Jennifer wasn't surprised when Ben laid down his fork.

"Tuttle Ames? Isn't that the successful banker I've been hearing about?" Ben's eyes narrowed -but not out of anger towards Jennifer- no, it held more of confused look than anything else.

"Yes, the one and only." Jennifer didn't stop her eyes from slightly rolling.

"What did you tell him? I mean did you tell him why you were doing it?" Hoss asked in between bites of food.

"Yes, but I think we'd best finish eating our food, don't you? Besides, I think it's something I'd rather discuss with just your father" Jennifer spoke kindly -but firmly. Her statement got Ben's sons' -and their women - imaginations going and his own mind wondering what he had to do with her walking away from her own wedding.

Hop Sing was cleaning up the table when the sound of wagon wheels could be heard outside the house. Ben went outside to find Harry smiling wide. "Good to see you old friend." Harry spoke and stuck out his hand. His smile only slightly faded when Jennifer walked out the door. "How come I'm not surprised to find you here."

"Papa, I told you I was coming out to see Ben." Jennifer hugged her father who only let out a humph. It was something that made both Ben and Jennifer bite back chuckles.

"Did you tell Ben why you left Tuttle at the alter?" Harry asked still not sure why his daughter would walk away from a very wealthy young man - proving he really didn't know Tuttle.

"I was going to since his sons had gone back out to work, but for some reason a visitor decided to make their appearance." Her gentle teasing got both men to smile. "How about I tell Ben after you two are done with business?" With that she walked back into the house.

"That daughter of mine is something else." Harry shook his head as he uncovered the mining pump he'd been hauling. "Stubborn just like her mother."

"Yes, but she appears to have turned into a very confident young lady." Ben stuck his hand into his pockets. "And a very fine mannered one at that."

"That she is. Now how about we get this contraption hauled out onto your land where hopefully I can show you how it works." Both men agreed and climbed up on the wagon to go out and meet Ben's employees.

While the men were working out in the pastures Jennifer either paced the floor thinking how she was going to handle things, or mulled through her words while helping Hop Sing around the house. Either way the lady never veered off the course she'd decided was the one she was meant to walk.

Hop Sing - more observant than some would think - highly suspected the reason , but kept his mouth shut. But to himself he could only think to chant I hope Missy Jenny stay, I hope Missy Jenny stay. She perfect for this ranch. Men need Missy Jenny.

Scene 4

The chandelier sparkled in the Apple Station Diner as Tuttle Ames sat eating a supper of steak, potatoes, vegetables, desert and plenty of wine. His banking associate Tom L. Drysdale was listening to the man rant and wave about the cancelled wedding with mild annoyance.

"She had the nerve to leave me at the alter! Can you believe those things she said to me outside the church!" Tuttle stabbed his steak furious at the thought of being rejected. "You heard her. You know I could give her everything a woman ever wanted and she has the nerve to walk out on me!"

"Well, Tuttle, you have to admit you are quite the controlling man. Maybe, she didn't like that. Besides - Mr. Cartwright is quite an attraction for the women. And - I believe - he's known for having a …gentler hand then you." Tom wasn't surprised when he got shot a dirty look.

"Men are supposed to have firm hands in order to properly control their wives, it's what makes a good marriage." Tuttle cut his meat with more force than necessary. "A strong-headed woman like that needs a firm hand or they get out of line." The man spoke with an arrogant tone -on that made even the likes of Tom stand up and excuse himself. Just then Cody Shaw walked up to where Tuttle sat down.

"Mind if I join you?" He pointed to the empty seat left by Tom.

"Sure." Tuttle then proceeded to tell the man he was going to go out to Nevada and get Jennifer back.

"And what if she doesn't come back? Sounds to me like she has her cap set for Benjamin Cartwright." The man spoke as he took the glass filled with white wine from the waitress.

"I just inform her I'll ruin the man for good if she gets him to ask her to marry him." Tuttle gloated.

"Uh, you might want to rethink that." Cody may not have been the most honest man around, but he was no fool when it came who to cross and who not to touch.

"Why not? He's just some western rancher who thinks he can throw his weight around, or influence young girls to fall for him." Tuttle chewed on a piece of meat confidently until Cody started speaking again.

"That man has more connections than you and I put together. He simply hasn't ever told anyone." Cody wasn't surprised when Tuttle's chewing slowed down.

"Like who?" Tuttle finally asked when the piece of meat was swallowed unable to comprehend a mere western rancher having enough connections to bother batting an eye.

"Carnegie for one." Cody then began to throw out names of other well-known men with more money than Tuttle ever dreamed of. Tuttle's face froze as representatives and congressmen were listed too.

"Well…" Tuttle finally unfroze. "I'm still going out. I'm going to get her back here."

"Good luck." Cody raised his glass and added -in his own head - your grave not mine.