Chapter 3

A few days later, Sherriff Coffee and Doctor Martin came out to the Ponderosa. Ben answered the door and allowed his friends in. Doctor Martin went straight to Jane's room, where Joe was sitting with her.

"How's our little patient today?" Doctor Martin asked as he came closer to the bed.

Jane crawled in Joe's lap, who held her, while the Doctor was examining her. "It looks good. I think that you can try and walk around for a few minutes if you like."

Jane nodded and got of Joe's lap and walked from the chair where he was sitting, to the window and back again.

"Excellent!" Joe said as he scooped Jane into his arms. "Do you want to go downstairs and meet my family?"

While Joe and Doctor Martin were upstairs talking to Jane, Ben, Hoss and Adam were talking to the Sherriff.

"She doesn't have any family?" Adam asked.

Roy shook his head. "Nope. Why?"

"Because Little Joe wants to adopt her, and I told him that we'd better check with you first." Ben said.

Roy nodded. "Thank you for doing that. I don't see any reason why you couldn't adopt her. That is if she wants to live here."

The Doctor came down and said. "She'll be fine now. I told her that she could get out of bed today."

Ben walked his two friends to the door. "Thanks for coming out. Roy, we'll let you know if she decided to live with us or not."

Joe then came down the stairs with Jane by his side. "Jane, this is my father, Ben. And my two brothers Adam and Hoss. Hoss, why don't you and Jane play while I talk to Pa and Adam."

Hoss came over to his brother and Jane, picked her up and carried her outside. "What did Sherriff Coffee have to say about Jane?"

Adam looked at his father and then at his youngest brother. "She has no family. Do you still want to adopt her?"

Joe looked at his father and brother and said. "Yes, I do."

Ben smiled. "Adam, go and get Hoss and Jane."

As Adam did his father's bidding, Ben walked over to Joe and said. "You're sure that you know what you are getting us into right?"

Joe hugged his father and waited for Jane, Adam and Hoss to come in.

As soon as they walked in the door, Joe went over to Jane, kneeled down in front of her and said. "Jane, I love you very much. I want you to love here with us. Will you consider it?"

Jane started to cry and hugged Joe. "Really? You want me to live with you?"

Ben, Adam, Hoss and Joe all nodded and laughed. "That is if you want to."

"Of course I do." Jane said as he jumped into Joe's lap.

Joe held her close and said "I'm glad that you are going to consider living with us."

Later that night as Jane was getting ready for bed, she heard a noise coming from outside. She walked down the stairs and went outside where she was grabbed from behind

"Joe, help me!" Jane screamed as a hand went over her mouth.

Joe and the rest of the Cartwrights came out to see Jane being dragged away on a horse.

Joe went on his knees and said "JANE!"

Ben kneeled down next to Joe and said. "It'll be ok. Everything will be ok."