Part 4

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the rights to Bonanza. The only character that

is mine is Marilyn. This was a fan fiction I did for another site, but was

never quite satisfied with, so I went ahead and redid it.

Marilyn was a beauty, and more than one eye turned her way as she got off

the coach. Her brown hair glowed softly in the morning sun. The diamond

ear rings she wore complimented her face nicely, and the dress she wore;

extremely modest as it was, was very complimentary to her figure. The

stares were ignored, the fact no one was there to greet her was not.

One of Ben's sons should have been here. This can not be good. Marilyn

turned around when Sheriff Coffee started speaking.

"Hello, young lady, may I be of help?" He could tell she had been

expecting someone and didn't quite look as if she knew what to do.

"I…" Grr.. She didn't want to lie, but she sure wasn't going to say

anything about Ben until she'd seen the man herself. Settling upon a simple

explanation, but one that was true as far as she knew the gal explained. "I

was supposed to meet one of the Cartwright boys, but I'm afraid there's

been a mix up in communication and now I don't know how to get out to the

Ponderosa."

"Well, Ma'am, this is your lucky day. I'm heading out that way myself, I

can swing by the Cartwright place and drop you off." When she looked at

his horse kind of funny he laughed. "Don't you worry, none, I can pull out

the buggy, it's not like my business is that pressing anyway."

The sheriff was not bad company the newcomer decided; especially since

he didn't pry. Course, it helped she kept the topics on his job, the area, and

life's experiences he'd had. "There's their house." He pointed to their left as

the rounded a corner.

The two story log cabin house was bigger than the ones her father had told

her about before he died six years ago. The barn was very well made, and a

sense of belonging settled over her. That was, however, a feeling she tried

not to tie her hopes to. Not since Robert, and Bill's, words were still ringing

in her ear.

"Hi, Hop Sing." Sherriff Coffee helped Marilyn get down, but then

climbed right back up to his seat. "Seems there was some

miscommunication and I found this nice lady stranded in town upon her

arrival. I don't see Ben's horse here, or the boys', so, I'll be going about my

business." Tipping his hat he left saying , " I'll see you later."

"Follow me. Ben, and sons, not home. I show you to room." The man

was curious as to who she was, but was too polite to ask.

Marilyn knew why he had asked no questions, but hated the idea of Ben

having no warning; if that was the case, before he saw her, so, she spoke up.

"Hop Sing, my name is Marilyn … Marilyn Cartwright." When his eyes

showed no registration of any sort she ventured on, "Ben's wife."

"Ben marry? He not tell me?" That stunned the little china man;

especially since his boss was always so open up on any newcomer coming

that Hop Sing would be responsible for, or maybe.." the thought that came

didn't set well, nor was it in his boss's character, but he had to ask it. "He,

you, want me to leave?"

"Oh, gracious no!" Marilyn didn't yell, but panic was definitely in her

voice. "Even if he did want something like that I'd beg you to stay." Slightly

reddening in the face she confessed she couldn't cook. "Have mercy on Ben

and stick around. He' die on my stuff." That made the cook smile, and

chuckle.

"Want me teach you?" Something about this woman, younger than he'd

expected for a wife of Ben's to be, touched him. It wasn't her looks either,

no, it was something he couldn't place. Besides, a woman who

couldn't cook? That should be a sin; at least that's what he thought, but

didn't speak it.

"Would you?"

"My pleasure." The shine in her eyes was all the thanks he needed.

"Now, I show you room."