Fan-Fiction

Bonanza

Accidental Jump

I do not own the rights to the show Bonanza

NOTE: I know Virginia City is not a ghost town but for the sake of this storyline I am making it one. If you happen to live near, or in the town, please do not take any insult.

Scene 5

Ben had always figured when he got old and gray he'd have all his children and grandchildren surrounding him. And the idea of having youngsters of his own had not been in the picture - not even remotely. None of what he thought was around him as he sat down for breakfast.

Adam -his oldest- was nowhere in sight as he and his wife - Celeste - were still living on Australia soil with their two children; a third one was on the way. Hoss had shown up missing just the other day and his seat sat empty, Little Joe and Alice would be bringing their two little ones over later that evening - when his third son was done with his work on the ranch with their foreman, Candy. Jamie -his adopted son- sat in the chair to Ben's left and then Ben's eyes fell on little Brenda.

Brenda - a daughter he'd long ago given up hope of having. Jennifer -his fourth wife-sat to his right with a new life growing inside her. So, much for Brenda being an only child by this last wife. Jennifer heard the sigh come which came out of her husband's mouth and knew the cause.

"He'll be found, Ben. I just know it. And this table will be fuller come dinner time." Jennifer's heart went out to her husband. In spite of what people may have thought in town her husband's biggest delight was not in the land he lived on, or the house Adam had designed. No, it was in his family.

The family may not have been the one he'd thought he'd have when he was younger, but it was also one you could not buy off him for a million dollars. As long as the house stood Adam's presence would be built for it was his talent that had designed the place. Hoss' whereabouts may not be known right at that moment, but every time an animal outside could be heard, or Brenda's squeals of laughter rung out it was Hoss' face that people saw. Little Joe - and his small crew- were around often enough that it helped fill a void. And Jamie. Jamie had finally learned not to worry about filling shoes that weren't even around to fill and was quite the help when it came to anything Ben needed. Her thoughts were easily read by Ben.

"You're right. Hoss will be found and tonight this house will have more noise in it." Ben smiled and patted Jennifer's hand. It would not ever cease to amaze him she'd come out ready -and willing- to marry a man with such a vast age difference to her own.

A knock came at the door while breakfast was being ate and Jamie went and answered the door. In walked Sheriff Coffee. The look on his face showed he had no good news.

"We've asked around..." Roy nodded to his left. "There is not a soul who can tell us a da….darn tooting thing. We did find his horse and the animal's in the barn." The sheriff asked Ben if he'd seen - or heard - anything strange before -or after - Hoss had disappeared.

"Nothing I haven't told you already." Ben set his fork down. "The only odd sound we all heard as soon as Hoss stepped out back was a loud pop. It almost sounded like a gun. You were there. We all raced out expecting to see my son laying on the ground dead, but he wasn't even in sight. And his horse had run off." The disappearing act was not something he was even going to try to explain.

"Ya, that's all I've been hearing and it's driving me crazy." The sheriff then told Ben they'd go out searching again in a few hours. "Meet me in town after you finish your morning chores. I should be ready to go by then." Roy then said he'd show himself out.

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Sheriff Coffee, Ben, Little Joe, and a few other men who were close to Hoss split off into groups. Ben took the area north of the Ponderosa while the other men took the south and west. Dirt paths, roads, and even things only attempting to be trails were taken. Caves, old cabins and anything big enough to hold a man were turned over. Nothing.

"This is just nuts. It's as if Hoss really did just up and disappear from the spot he stood." Roy thought, but didn't say as he wasn't about to be locked up in his own jail cell for losing his mind.

"It's getting late, Sheriff." Mr. Bishop spoke -almost reluctantly. "We best turn in for the night."

"You're right. I hope Ben has had more luck than we have." The men with him agreed.

Ben rode up to his house feeling physically - and emotionally -drained. He'd searched every spot he could think of to no avail. When he walked into the house Jennifer didn't have to ask if they'd found Hoss - the answer was entrenched on the lines of her husband face. It was because of that fact she did nothing more than wrap her arms around his waist and hold him as close as she could -considering what was between them.

"Thank heavens, I have you, Brenda, and…" He laid a hand on her abdomen. "… this little one, I would drive myself crazy." Ben said nothing more as the two went and laid down for the night.

Scene 6

"What's in that?" Julie asked Irene as she came downstairs carrying a medium-sized brown wooden box.

"Some junk to me, but I was also told one man's junk was another man's treasure, so, I thought -since you came to see your man's relative's old place - maybe - you could make something of their junk. I know I sure can't." Julie and Hoss - who was sitting at the table - opened the box which revealed nuts, bolts, wires, and a blue square-shaped metal covering.

Hoss wouldn't have batted an eye at the stuff only Julie's eyes lit up. "You can do something with that?" He asked as he'd stood up and peered inside the open box.

"Sure, can. I…" Julie caught the look in the corner of Irene's eye out of her own. Glancing at the old woman for more than just a few seconds she bluntly asked. "You know something you are not telling us. What is it that you're not saying?" Julie's statement -along with the question - stunned Hoss, but he saw it didn't even phase Irene.

"You're right..." Irene sat down and twisted the ring on her finger. "…nonetheless people would have called me crazy -still would- if I told them the information I have in my head, but…" she looked at Julie and then at Hoss. "Please forgive me for not saying how." Shrugging her shoulders the older lady gave a lopsided grin. "….It's just that I'm a wee-bit superstitious and I don't want to jinx things. I figured this box may help us get things straightened out. I take it I was right?"

"You were." Julie smiled.

"Well, then , you get to work." Irene stood up.

"Okay." Both her guests spoke as the old woman left deciding it wasn't worth pressing the issue as long as the woman was helping out like she was.

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"Man, these are a mess." Hoss spoke as he, Julie and Irene were cleaning up the Cartwright family cemetery.

"Sure are." Julie spoke as she cleaned four tombstones with names so faded you couldn't read them. When she asked Irene whose they were the old lady chuckled as she replied 'Cartwrights?'

"Ha ha ha." Julie made a face and went back to cleaning. Once they were done the lady wasn't surprised to see Hoss and Julie head towards Emily's grave.

The grave of his wife came into sight and Hoss was surprised to only feel a slight ache instead of the major pain that had always hit before. Dismounting his horse he soon found Julie standing by him.

"What was she like?" Hoss' new friend asked softly

"Gentle and kind. Called me a beast at first, but after we got to know each other she apologized." He got a lop-sided grin on his face. "Guess I kin't rightly blame her, it ain't like I have Adam or Joe's looks.' Hoss then gave a soft chuckle. "Compared to them I reckon I do fit that category."

"Not hardly. I think you look just fine." Julie surprised herself by speaking with so much emotion. The gal focused on setting to work on cleaning the grave without looking at Hoss.

Hoss' eyes had widened and his mouth spread further across his face than it had been since the accidental jump. The man knelt down and helped pull weeds. It didn't take long for the two to have Emily's grave cleaned up therefore the two were back at the house in no time.

"What are these wires fer?" Hoss asked as he took rust off a copper piece he was holding.

"Hoss I know how to put one together and that it'll work, but …." she sighed. "compared to the one that originally put this together I'm just a plain fool." The frustration in her voice over any lack of words could be heard and Hoss put down the piece of wire he'd been working with before reaching over and putting his hand on her wrist.

"I reckon you ain't no fool anymore than I'm a beast. And iffin' you knew enough to get me out of that ….disappearing town and kin put together a …contraption…to get me home than you have enough brains in yer head for me." Julie couldn't help but smile at Hoss.

Irene -who had just brought them out a bite of food saw the look they gave each other without even knowing they were doing it. Julie, if Hoss is a beast, than your his next Beauty it was a sentence she kept to herself.

"Here's your lunch." The woman insisted Julie set aside the items and eat a decent meal.

"There's even five new baby kittens in the barn. Why not go give them some much needed attention." Irene chuckled when the two got matching grins on their faces and took their lunch outside - without being asked to do so.

The next few days Hoss and Julie spent just as much time with the kittens laughing - and talking - as they did working on the time device. Hoss learned to drive the bike - even though he didn't quite yet grasp the concept on how it ran. Julie tossed horse shoes with him -and won. "I think you're a bit too dry." Hoss picked a laughing Julie up as she'd tossed a few water balloons at him and promptly immersed her in the old horse's trough. It was only Julie calling them into the house in the evenings that got them back to work.