I do NOT own Bonanza or any of the original Cartwright characters. Ben's memories come from 'The Pressure Game' episode.

His Wild Irish Rose

Chapter Four

Scene Seven

It was threatening to storm again as Ben and Hoss rode into Carson City; the streets were filled with people coming and going. They headed for the Sheriff's Lawson office. The lawman was behind his desk as the two men entered the building.

He sighed when he saw who it was and stood up, "Hello, Mr. Cartwright," Sheriff Lawson held out his hand, "I'm sorry to have to be the one to send that telegram."

For a moment fear grabbed at Ben's heart, the serious look on the lawman's face scared him. "Adam, my son, where is this Doctor Ashby's?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the sheriff. He had to get to his son; he had to see him.

The lawman felt horrible for the two men before him. Their love, concern and fear for their son, and brother, was evident in their pain filled eyes. "I have to go that way," the sheriff headed for the door, "I'm hoping your son is awake and up to talking to me. I can't go looking for the man who robbed and shot him without a solid description. The Ashby's could only give me a vague description of the man, as they were too far away from the barn when the man ran out and rode away."

Ben fought the anger he felt towards the stranger. If he'd needed the money that bad, he'd have given it to him personally! As it was, he followed the lawman out of the office and mounted his horse. Soon, the three men were heading to the Ashby's.

Once again Ben found his mind wandering. He'd walked into Adam's room, unintentionally let the door slam, put his hands on his hips and asked, "You 'bout ready?" Adam had turned, paused and said, "Come in here like that a few years, I'd figured I was in for a lecture or a tanning." "Neither one," he'd answered. "Just some fatherly advice?" Adam had asked. He felt bad for his son then, not knowing if he really loved Laura or was just in love with the idea of love. Ben still prayed for the day Adam would find the right woman for him for he'd seen the loneliness in his oldest son's eyes the day Little Joe and Rosa married.

Ben was brought out of his thoughts as they drew near the home Malachi Ashby and his niece shared. The good doctor was standing on the porch, almost like a statue; it was kind of eerie.

"Mr. Cartwright?" Dr. Ashby asked as the lawman and the men with him stopped.

"Yes," Ben dismounted Buck, "My son?"

"He's in there, but" he reached out and took a hold of Ben's arm as the man tried to hurry past him, "his fever is climbin' again. My niece is with him."

The sheriff shook his head, "I guess then he's in no position to talk to me?"

Dr. Ashby shook his head, "I'm afraid not. Lad's got a fightin' spirit that's fer sure, but no, he's in no position to be talkin' to anybody. You can go see him though you should know everything first." He proceeded to tell them of the bullet had nicked the spine and that it may, or may not, have affect Adam's ability to walk once he was healed. While Ben and Hoss were upset at the news they headed straight for the room where Adam lay.

Scene Eight

Adam was once again in a fog, or so it seemed to him. What was going on? He looked around and saw a light shining off to his right; he started walking towards it only to hear a voice talking to him, a voice he knew well. He turned around. What on earth? He could see himself lying in a bed, his father was sitting by the side of it, Hoss was standing at the foot of it.

"Adam," Ben was holding Adam's motionless hand and talking, "you have to pull through this, you have to be okay," Ben lifted his son's hand to his chin and held on tight, "Miss Burr and her uncle say you've been in and out of it, that your fever seems to have quite the hold on you. Please, if you can hear me, stay with us. A lot of people praying for you, a lot of them want you to stay too."

Hoss held onto the foot of the bed and started talking once his pa had quit. "Adam, I know I ain't near as smart as you book wise, so my words ain't as fancy as some of the ones I've heard you use, but ya gotta stay 'round. Ya just gotta."

Adam turned and saw the shadow of a woman in the light; he heart skipped a beat. He recognized the woman's profile from his mother's picture. He tried to speak, but could not. The woman disappeared after a moment, but the light did not. He turned back to the view of his father holding his hand and his brother's bowed head. He headed for the bed.

The pain Adam felt as he slowly opened his eyes was not as bad as it was before, and he didn't feel as hot. "Adam!" Ben's joy could be heard in his voice as he laid his hand upon his son's forehead. He was disappointed to realize his son still had a slight fever.

"He wanted the money," Adam closed his eyes and spoke, then opened them up again, "H..he got the j..jump on me, held a g…gun to to m..y ba…ck, far enough back I co…couldn't whirl around and g…get it from h…him.." Adam struggled to speak only to find his father's hand on his shoulder.

"Don't talk, rest." Ben reached behind him to get the wet rag Pepper had left on the dresser only to find Pepper picking it up. She walked around to the other side of the bed and wiped the perspiration off of Adam's forehead.

"H..have to," Adam didn't know if seeing the light, and his mother, meant he would be going or if she was just watching over him; still, he had to tell them what he knew, just in case, "it was a man by the n..ame of P..Pe..Peter Bl..Black..hi..ll."

Pepper gasped and almost dropped the rag when Adam spoke the name of his attacker. Ben and Hoss looked at her, as did Adam. "You know him?" Ben asked, as he looked upon the woman who had been spending so many hours taking care of Adam.

"Aye," Pepper shook her head, "I wish I did not. He's a would be miner and two bit gambler that's startin' ta get a name fer himself in town. If 'twas him, I am surprised he has not tried anythin' befer now."

Hoss headed for the door, "I'll go talk to the sheriff." Ben did not stop him as Adam again closed his eyes.

"F-Funny," Adam whispered as he fell asleep, "I f-feel warm all o-over ex-except for my l-legs. Th-they don't f-feel hot at all." Ben's heart felt like it someone had reached inside of him and ripped it out; he hurt for his son. Pepper hurt for the patient she and her uncle had spent hours tending to.

"There's still hope fer him, sir," Pepper had to say something; she could see the pain in Mr. Cartwright's face, "Uncle Malachi even said so." Ben only nodded as he kept his eye on his son.

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