I do NOT own Bonanza or any of the original Cartwright characters.

Acceptance

Chapter Three

Adam stood on the front porch watching his father ride away. Hoss and Little Joe had disappeared into the barn and Tara had stepped out of sight. Adam was shocked to have a sudden wave of panic rush over him. He felt his heart start to race and an unexplainable fear begin to rise up in him. "Adam." Tara came around the corner of the house just in time to see Adam grab the post in front of him. She hurried to the side and found him holding onto her tighter than he had in months. "It's okay, Adam," Tara said as she wrapped her arms around him, "you'll be fine." 'I hope', she had to keep any thoughts like that to herself. There was no way he could benefit from any doubts.

Adam wanted to curse, but he wasn't going to do that in front of Tara. "I'm sorry." He relaxed enough to let go and sit down, "I don't know what brought that on." He didn't, and it was frustrating.

Tara only smiled as she looked around, "That's an easy one to figure out. You were alone." She pointed in the direction Ben had gone and asked, even though she had a pretty good idea, "Where's your brothers?"

"In there," Adam answered motioning towards the barn, "but I'm at home! This shouldn't be happening here!" He found himself angry and upset.

Tara sighed and shook her head. Putting her hand over his, she said, "It doesn't matter; you were alone, being alone had to have sparked the attack. I suspect it stems from the fact you were alone when you crossed paths with Peter Caine." It was only a guess; still, it was the only thing that made any sense to her.

Adam shook his head. He had to get a grip on himself, especially with what he had to now tell his brothers about the problem they had. "I can't go around having to have pa, one of my brothers or" he stood up and walked over to the pillar, "even you with me all the time. There's got to be a way to stop these attacks from happening."

Tara sighed and joined him by the post. "Look, Adam, whether either one of us likes it or not, these attacks are going to happen for a while. You went through a horrible ordeal. I know, with me, I knew I needed to accept it and deal with it, somehow. I was blessed to be able to do so. Well, I knew it was that or run the risk I'd find myself running the danger of going back behind my wall. Adam, look at me." Tara reached up and took a hold of his chin and turned his face towards hers; he'd been looking straight ahead, "You don't belong behind a wall; no one does." His head knew that; it was his heart that was having the problem.

"You okay, Adam?" Little Joe asked as Hoss and he walked towards Tara and him. He wasn't sure he liked the, somewhat, pale look upon his oldest brother's face.

"I'm fine." Adam sat back in the chair he sat in, "But, we may have a problem to deal with." He looked at his brothers standing before him. As he went to speak he felt a slight wave of panic wash over him. While it startled him, he was able to keep his composure and speak. "I didn't tell pa, but some of our fences have been damaged on purpose." Shock waves passed through, and over, both Hoss and Little Joe. What was Adam talking about?

"Let's see iff'n I understand this right." Hoss put his hands on his hips as he looked on Adam. "We have someone trespassin' on the Ponderosa and ys didn't say anythin' to pa. Why?" He was, naturally, afraid that his brother was going back to not wanting to face things. It didn't' take Adam long to correct that thinking.

"Because that business pa left to take care of," Adam answered as he stood up and looked at both his brothers, "is extremely important to this ranch. Now, I say we need look and see if we can find anything. If not, we go into town and see if any strangers are there." It was the only thing he could think of to do.

Hoss and Little Joe didn't like the idea that Adam had left their pa out of this, but they understood why. "Okay, I'll go saddle Cochise." Little Joe headed back towards the barn, as did Hoss.

Tara looked at Adam. He was looking out over the land in front of his eyes. "I'm going to saddle my horse as well." She started for the barn.

Adam didn't like the idea of Tara going along, who knows who they'd meet up with. "You can come with us to town, but I see no reason for you to come along now."

He turned his gaze towards her. He wasn't exactly surprised when she replied, over her shoulder, "That's okay; we don't always see everything. I'll saddle my horse." She figured he'd be by her side within a split second to argue with her; she was right.

"Tara Hansen!" Adam stepped in front of her, "I told you already, there's no need for you to come with us." He put his hands on his waist.

Tara hid her grin. It felt good to have Adam fighting back like was, but he should know better by now. "I'm going Adam. Whether or not I ride with you, one of your brothers or by myself, it don't matter to me none. I'm riding."

"I thought you said your mother taught school? It's 'It doesn't matter', 'none' doesn't belong in the sentence," Adam said as he fought to control his temper, "and why are you insisting on coming with us? I'm fine."

Tara didn't feel like fighting him. "Fine? You're healing for sure, Adam. There's no denying that, nor do I want to deny it, but fine enough for me not to worry about you? What was that I just witnessed a few minutes ago? What were you just saying to me?"

Adam opened his mouth intent on arguing some more only to have it hit him like a tons of bricks; he'd scared her and she, naturally, was genuinely concerned about him because of it. "I'm sorry, I scared you." Adam softened his tone and sighed. "This is something my brothers and I need to do. No," he paused then continued speaking, "it's something I have to do, just stay here with Hop Sing." He pulled her to him and kissed her slowly. Tara found herself hanging on as if her life depended on it.

"I'll be back." Adam whispered as he let her go and walked off. Tara walked over to the porch and stood on it as she watched Hoss, Little Joe and Adam mount their horses and ride off.

"Be careful, Adam." Tara whispered, "Please, be careful."