While the Cartwrights were eating supper the very next evening, Doc Martin returned with a telegram tucked safely in his pocket. Hop Sing greeted him at the door and ushered him in.

Ben rose from his chair and – always the courteous host – asked if the doctor would like to eat. With a nod, the doctor looked grateful and sat down.

"Where's Adam?" he asked, looking around and finding the eldest Cartwright son absent from the table. "I told him to start eating regular food. I assumed he would be eating at the family table."

Hoss sighed. "He won't come down t' eat. Says he'd ruther eat in his room 'cause it's better than trying t' eat with complete strangers."

Doc Martin accepted a plate from Hop Sing and helped himself to the pork roast, potatoes, and green beans. "I was afraid of that. I've been catching up on some reading today - articles in the medical journals that have to do with brains and how they work. Good reading, and I learned a lot. Apparently, Adam is acting as expected. He feels disassociated because he remembers nothing. He prefers privacy right now."

Ben couldn't stand the suspense any longer. "Did you hear from Dr. Montrose?"

With a twinkle in his eyes, the doctor pulled the slip of paper from his pocket. "As a matter of fact, that's what brought me here at this hour. Dr. Montrose himself has almost more patients than he can handle."

Little Joe sighed and stared at his plate. Hoss stabbed at his roast.

"But!" Continued the doctor. "Dr. Sam Nielsen, an associate in Dr. Montrose's practice, has agreed to take on Adam as a patient. Dr. Nielsen appears to be quite well-qualified, starting with graduating summa cum laude from a most prestigious medical school back East. The list of credits is quite extensive. Here. Read them for yourself." He handed the telegram across the table to Ben who read the credits aloud.

"Quite impressive! When do we leave for San Francisco?" Ben asked with a broad smile.

"You don't. Dr. Nielsen is coming to Virginia City! On the noon stage in three days. I was so excited that I left that part of the message in my office."

"Coming here?" Little Joe could hardly contain his excitement.

"Dadburnit! That's the best news I've heard in days!" Hoss could barely contain his own excitement.

Ben's face lit up like a thousand candles. "Well, of course it's wonderful news. And I hope that Dr. Nielsen will stay here with us for as long as necessary!"

Doc Martin beamed. "I knew you would say that, so I took the liberty of extending the invitation for you. I didn't think you'd mind."

Ben laughed out loud. "Of course I don't mind! Just three more days. And I'll be there to meet the stage when it arrives."

Hop Sing, who had been standing in the shadows, began to cackle and clap his hands with glee. He would see to it that the house was extra-clean and that the guest room was comfortable. Mentally he began making a list of the supplies he would need in town. After all, a doctor from San Francisco would be used to the very best meals in the West!

Upstairs, alone in his room, Adam picked at his meal. He heard the laughter and the loud voices and felt very alone. And afraid. He looked at the picture beside his bed – the picture of his mother – and was grateful that he wouldn't have remembered her anyway. She had died shortly after his birth. Her name was Elizabeth but he only knew that because he had been told by the man whom he was supposed to call "Pa." "Hoss" and "Little Joe" were his brothers. His own name was "Adam". "Hop Sing" was the Chinese cook. They all lived on a big ranch called "The Ponderosa." This was what he had been told. It was the sum total of everything he knew.

Downstairs, when the meal was finished and while walking the doctor outside, Ben asked if he should tell Adam that the doctor would be arriving.

"Definitely! Adam doesn't need any surprises," Doc Martin answered. "I don't need to examine Adam any more. He's healing very quickly physically. But I do want to be with you when you meet the stage. I'm anxious to meet this Dr. Sam Nielsen."

Ben had explained to him that a doctor – a noted specialist in the fairly new field of psychiatry – would be arriving soon. Adam shrugged morosely at the news and showed little interest. He showed little interest in anything. During the following days, he continued to stay in his room. Ben, Hoss, Little Joe and Hop Sing took turns taking his meals to him and trying to make conversation. But Adam had very little to say and his attitude made talking uncomfortable. He had pulled a book from the shelf – a book of poetry – and began reading it. It made him feel at ease.

Not quite knowing how to handle this situation, Ben and his sons – and Hop Sing – let Adam have his privacy. Doc had told them not to push Adam too hard, but nobody knew quite what "too hard" was. They kept their conversations limited to things like the weather, the new calves that had been born, and things that they were doing around the ranch. Adam tried to seem interested but he fooled nobody. And he certainly didn't want to be bothered by a doctor who wanted to find out what was wrong with his brain. He just wanted to be left alone to read.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ben and Doc Martin waited at the stage depot. Ben couldn't remember when he had been so nervous, but the doctor kept reassuring him that everything would be "just fine." Ben fidgeted and fretted anyway. Doc Martin kept smiling.

The stage arrived, the driver jumped down, and several people began disembarking. Ben searched their faces, trying to decide which one was Dr. Nielsen and had just about come to the conclusion that the new doctor wasn't on the stage. He watched as Doc Martin approached the stage and was helping an attractive brunette woman navigate the step down. The two talked briefly as they shook hands. Ben was confused. He was even more confused when a grinning Doc Martin approached him, smiling woman in tow, and made an astounding introduction.

"Ben Cartwright, I'd like for you to meet Dr. Sam Nielsen. Dr. Nielsen, meet my good friend, Ben Cartwright, the father of your new patient."

Ben was astonished but managed to shake hands with the woman.

"You're Doctor…..Sam…Nielsen?" he asked lamely.

The woman laughed. Turning to Doc Martin, she scolded, "You didn't tell him, did you?"

Doc Martin let his eyes drift away momentarily. "Uh…No. I don't think I did tell him."

"That seems to be something you failed to mention," Ben muttered, but in a kind way. After all, this woman had come a long way to help his son; he certainly didn't want to be rude.

"Mr. Cartwright," began the woman. "If you had known I was a woman, would you have consented to let me work with your son?"

"Dr. Nielsen, I wish I could tell you that it didn't matter. And I guess it doesn't. I've read your credentials and you are obviously more than qualified. I don't know quite what to say." Ben began fidgeting again.

Turning to Doc Martin, Ben looked him in the eye. "Why didn't you tell me yourself? You obviously knew – probably from that part of the telegram that you 'left' in your office."

"Now, Ben. Dr. Nielsen has a good point. Would you have allowed her to come here if you'd known she was a woman?" Doc Martin was still grinning.

Dr. Nielsen broke into the conversation. "I'd bet dollars to donuts that you've been had, Mr. Cartwright. Obviously, this fine doctor standing here, grinning like a goat eating briars, told you that my name is Sam Nielsen. That's true. But 'Sam' is short for 'Samantha.' I'm a woman, I'm a doctor, and I'm very good at being both." She paused. "But if you're at all uncomfortable with having me work with your son, I'll get back on the stage tomorrow and head back to San Francisco. No hard feelings. It won't be the first time that being a female doctor has been a problem."

Ben liked this woman. There was something very kind about her, even with her being so forthright.

"Dr. Nielsen," he said, "I have no problem with your being a woman doctor. But I don't know if my son will or not. All we can do is see how things work out."

"Please call me 'Sam,'" she said, laughing again. "Calling me Dr. Nielsen sounds so formal. And I agree with you. Let's see how things work out with your son. I believe his name is 'Adam'?"

"Yes, his name is 'Adam'. And I'll try to remember to call you 'Sam' if I can. I've never called a doctor by a first name, so this will be new to me."

"If we're going to try to maintain a family atmosphere, we need to be on a first-name basis. Do you mind if I call you 'Ben'?"

Ben laughed for the first time. "Not at all. But, if I had told you to call me 'Mr. Cartwright', what would you have done?"

A shake of her head with a giggle. "I'd have called you 'Ben' anyway."

Yep, Ben approved of the woman. She had a contagious laugh; she was forthright without being rude. She was attractive and delightfully sassy. But how well would she act in performing as a doctor?

Doc Martin laughed at this woman doctor, but he couldn't go with Ben to the Ponderosa for introductions. Mrs. Elvin was having her first baby, and he needed to be with her right now. Explaining the situation to Ben, Doc Martin shook Sam's hand, then Ben's, climbed into his buggy and drove away.

Gathering Sam's luggage, Ben led the doctor to his buckboard, helped her in, and they were on their way to the Ponderosa.

"Tell me all about Adam," requested Sam. "I need to know as much as I can before I meet him. I need to know what kind of man he is, what he likes, what he doesn't like, his hobbies, his education, his hopes and dreams…"

And, in the time it took to reach the Ponderosa, Sam knew a lot about her patient. Ben was exceedingly good at condensing the needed information.

Sam was ready.

Hearing the buckboard's arrival, Hoss, Little Joe and Hop Sing opened the front door and hurried outside – just in time to see Ben helping a woman down from the high seat.

"Joe, that's a gal!" Hoss muttered.

Joe cocked his head. "It sure is! Maybe she's Dr. Nielsen's nurse?"

Hop Sing shook his head and muttered in Chinese. Then he backed silently into the house.

Taking Sam's elbow, Ben led her to meet the two men.

"Hoss. Joe. I'd like you to meet Dr. Nielsen. Dr. Sam Nielsen. Sam, this is my middle son, Hoss, and my youngest son, Joseph."

Hoss couldn't help it. As he shook the woman's hand, he gawked as he welcomed her and shook her hand a little too long. Joe was more subtle and asked not to be called "Joseph." He couldn't think of anything else to say. Both sons were thinking, "This is the doctor?"

Sam's lips twitched slightly as she stifled a laugh. "I don't guess you expected to be invaded by a female, but here I am! And, please, call me 'Sam'. 'Doctor Nielsen' sounds so stuffy and so formal!" She made a face and rolled her eyes.

Her comical expression made Hoss and Little Joe laugh in spite of their surprise at the fact that she was actually a doctor. In an instant, the tension in the air was completely gone. Ben was impressed. She had used the same ploy on him and it had made him feel quite at ease.

Hoss and Little Joe both retrieved the luggage, whispering as they did so.

"How 'bout that? A female doctor." This from Hoss.

"Boy, Adam's gonna hit the roof for sure when he meets her!" This from Little Joe.

Sam and Ben entered the house. Sam's eyes took in everything in quick order.

"What a beautiful home you have, Ben," she said. "Very comfortable, very well-appointed, very welcoming."

Hop Sing appeared, his slanted eyes looking at the visitor curiously and with a wee bit of animosity.

"Oh, I mustn't forget to introduce the most important man on the Ponderosa," Ben said smiling. "This is Hop Sing, the best cook, housekeeper and friend you'll ever find."

Sam surprised Ben completely as she bowed formally, in Chinese tradition, and addressed Hop Sing in his native language.

A broad smile began to spread across Hop Sing's face as Sam spoke. The more she spoke, the broader his smile became as he bowed and then answered her in Chinese.

With glee, Hop Sing turned his eyes to Ben. "Missie Doctor Sam's room all ready. Coffee ready to pour. Sit, please."

Ben chuckled to himself. Hop Sing was always quite formal with women visitors to the Ponderosa until he got to know them well. Sam was working wonders already. Could she work wonders with Adam?

Sam was anxious to meet Adam but knew that manners came first. "Coffee sounds wonderful. I'd love to sit down for a few minutes, Ben, if that's all right with you."

And so they sat and talked. One woman, three Cartwrights, and even one Chinese cook. Meanwhile, the fourth Cartwright remained upstairs, steadfastly reading his book of poetry. Time flew by. Hop Sing excused himself as he headed for the kitchen to prepare the evening meal. Sam hadn't meant to sit for so long, but she truly enjoyed the company of these men. However, the time had come for her to meet Adam.

"I'll make the introductions," Ben announced rising.

"No, Ben. It's better if I meet Adam by myself. He doesn't know that I'm the doctor yet, even though you've told him that a doctor is to arrive. We need to talk about this, just the two of us." Sam looked steadily into Ben's eyes. "Give me a thirty-minute warning before supper is served."

Having been told where Adam's room was located, Sam walked up the stairs alone.

"Oh, Lordy," Hoss moaned.