DISCLAIMER: BONANZA and the original Cartwright characters are not mine...only the "guest stars" and storyline are.
Author's note: I am giving my apologizes right up front. I watched (and am re-watching) the episodes with the three sons a lot...when it comes to the later episodes? I only started watching them on You tube. That being the case, please bear with me when it comes to Candy. Adam flat out refused to be in this fan fiction so Candy got the job only...like I said, I'm just starting to really get to know him. I don't know how old he was supposed to be-I have him at roughly 27-and I get the impression he was supposed to have traveled from one place to another a lot before settling in as foreman for the Cartwrights. I hope I have understood that right.
TEACH ME TO FLY
CHAPTER SEVEN
SCENE ELEVEN
Little Joe and Hoss finished securing the string of flowers they'd been wrapping around the banister. Hop Sing was being nice enough to help put up the chairs. "Folks should be arrivin' soon," Hoss grinned as he headed up the stairs, "I think I'll jist go and check in on the groom."
"You will not," Ben appeared at the top of the stairs, "Candy will be down soon enough. Like you said we have folks that are going to be showing up. The three of you can stay down there and welcome them."
"Yes, pa." Hoss didn't try to hide his disappointment. All he was going to do was have a little fun with the groom.
"You can always tease him, later." Little Joe headed for the door as he heard voices outside.
"When? I bet ya they make themselves scarce after the party tonight." Hoss was grinning the whole time he was 'complaining'.
Ben turned around and headed for Eva's room. Once inside he smiled as Mrs. Perkins stepped away from Eva. The young woman was dressed in a white floor length gown covered with sparkling white beads. Her veil was fastened to a white head band; partially covered her face and flowed down to the middle of her back.
"She makes a fine lookin' bride if'n I do say so myself." The elderly woman smiled.
"That she does. Candy is one lucky man," Ben chuckled as he took a hold of Eva's arm, "He is also one very nervous man. How 'bout we go and see if you can settle those nerves down a bit?" He could hear their friend, Jimmy, playing on his guitar.
By the time they reached the top of the stairs the roomful of guests had seated themselves. The preacher stood near the fireplace, Candy stood dressed in a suit he'd purchased the week before and Little Joe stood next to him. At the sight of Eva in the wedding gown she'd refused to let him see up 'til now Candy sucked in his breath; which brought chuckles from almost everyone in the room. Soon he had his bride standing next to him.
"We are gathered here today..." the good reverend started speaking after Ben had found his seat on the first row.
"They sure do look good together." Ben heard someone whisper behind him. He had to agree. He hoped they would have many years together.
Ben was brought out of his thoughts as the reverend shut the book in his hands, "You may kiss the bride." he smiled at the happy couple before him.
Candy lifted Eva's veil and did just that. It didn't take long for the chairs to be moved and for Jimmy to start playing his guitar again. "May I have this dance, Mrs. Canaday?" Candy grinned and began dancing with his bride.
EPILOGUE
"I thought the idea was for one of the women to catch the bridal bouquet," Ben started laughing as Little Joe walked in holding the bouquet in his hands, "why do you have it?"
Little Joe sat down and threw the flowers on the opposite end of the couch, "Because someone thought it would be funny to run into me and thus pushing me into the women who had gathered to try to catch the blasted thing!"
That only served to get Ben laughing harder. As happy as he'd been for Candy he would love it if one of his own sons would have their wedding on the Ponderosa (Adam had married in San Francisco before moving to Australia). Who knew? Maybe his youngest would be next...of course; Ben was wise enough to keep that thought to himself.
