A huge shoutout to Gaben who helped me a great deal with this chapter. Sorry that it took me so long to update this story, but now I've got some ideas to continue it.


Introducing Sara Elizabeth Cartwright

Yawning and stretching, Sara slowly sat up in the bed. When she had finished rubbing her eyes she dropped her hands in her lap and took another big yawn which then transformed into her signature huge grin when she looked up and spotted her dad.

"You look like a cat when you wake up." Adam teased, ruffling her hair.

She slapped his hand away and crawled over to him. "That's just because ya wake me up so early." She grumbled.

Adam laughed to himself then picked her up and sat her down on his lap. "So how has my little princess slept?" He asked rubbing her back.

Sara let out a deep sigh, snuggled closer to him and leaned back on his arm. Her eyelids were still heavy and she dozed off again. "Nogud." She mumbled sleepily and put her thumb into her mouth.

Adam sighed. He had tried to break her off this habit, but the eight year old still sucked her thumb when she was sleepy. Gently he sat her upright on his lap, took her hand and plucked the thumb from her mouth.

"Why didn't you sleep good? Bad dream?"

"No, jist didn't sleep well. I was worried about Black Knight."

Adam let out another deep drawn sigh. "He's getting better with every day Sweetheart. But it just takes some time until he's completely healthy again."

It had been one week since Black Knight had gotten shot. The wound healed properly, but the dog still whimpered with the pain from time to time.

"Next time, if you can't sleep come get me, okay?"

"Yes daddy."

"Come on let's get you dressed. It's the weekend and you don't want to sleep the whole time do you?"

"Of course not!" She slid off his lap and stood in front of him. "See I'm all awaaaaaake." She finished the sentence with her biggest yawn yet.

"Hmmm, so I see. I know how to wake up sleepy little girls a little faster." With this words Adam grabbed her and started a tickle-assault. Giggling she tried to slap his hands away.

"Are you awake now?"

"NOOOO!" She managed to get out between her giggles. He increased his tickling attack then he scooped her up and tipped her upside down causing her to squeal with delight. "Let me go daddy. I gotta get dressed."

Chuckling he sat Sara down on her feet and stroked her head. She had completely changed since the first time he had met her. Now she looked and behaved like a child of her age. He spun her around and gave her a playful swat as she ran towards the wardrobe.

"Don't take too long. Breakfast's nearly finished."

"Yes sir!" She mock saluted in his direction and quickly dressed herself in a pair of flap trousers. Adam waited for her and ushered her down when she was finished. Black Knight came fawning to the stairs to greet them. He still limped badly, but Sara was relieved that he at least looked better.

"Good morning!" Sara knelt down in front of him and let him lick her face. She was just about to wrap her arms around him when she remembered that he hadn't completely healed yet. "You should get well again. I miss hugging ya." She scratched his ears and headed for the table.

"Oh no you don't. First you'll wash up." Adam twirled her around and prodded her towards the kitchen.

Adam had promised to take Sara to the Founder's Day Fair, but she seemed somehow distracted. Normally she would have chatted excitedly about the trip with the whole family during breakfast.

"Hoss? When will Black Knight be well again?" She asked around a mouthful of eggs.

"Sara, don't speak with your mouth full." Adam admonished as he sipped on his coffee.

"I'm not sure lambkin. If he continues to heal this fast, then probably in about four or five weeks."

"But that's too long. I wanted to take him to Virginia City today, to the Town Fair. He will protect me from Garrett and I wanted to show him to all my friends." She complained.

"Has Garrett bothered you again?" Adam asked, feeling his anger rise.

"No, no. He hasn't been mean." She quickly assured. In fact they had been teasing each other since Garrett had sat down in the school the week after Black Knight had been operated on. He had winced and Sara hadn't been able to resist ridiculing him about that. Fortunately for them both it remained just mocking banter and they hadn't gotten in trouble.

"He hasn't hit you, has he?" Adam inquired.

"No, he hasn't done anything to me."

"And what about you?"

"I haven't done something too." She protested.

Adam just raised an eyebrow at her and continued eating his breakfast. Besides her use of the incorrect grammar in her response she was too quick to defend herself. Adam didn't believe her for one minute, but he didn't want to argue with her now. Things must not be too serious others wise Miss Evan's would have informed him. Besides, he just wanted to enjoy the day and then go to the Town Fair with his family.

Sara gave her full attention on the food on her plate. She wasn't a good liar and she knew that. And she definitely didn't want to get into trouble with her dad now. "I'm full, can I go now?" Sara asked and looked up from her plate.

Adam glanced at her and shook his head, "No, you should wait until we are all finished too."

"Yes, dad." She sighed. Impatiently she wriggled around on her chair. "Black Knight." She called and he immediately limped over to her. Sara snatched piece of bacon and gave it to him. "Here you are."

"Sara! He has eaten his breakfast. Don't give him the bacon." Hoss rebuked.

"But he should eat more Hoss. Then he get well quicker." She protested.

"No lambkin. Too much food won't help him. He would get big and slow and won't heal or get the exercise he needs. He'll get lazy too and ya don't want a big fat dog, do ya?"

"But it was only one piece Hoss."

"Sara, listen to Hoss!" Adam scolded.

Sara glared at her father but didn't protest instead she pouted, played with Black Knight's ears and scratched his neck. As soon as Hoss and Adam were finished Sara jumped from her chair.

"I'm goin' to look after Moci." Sara yelled and before her father could respond, she was out of the door running towards the barn. As she went to open the door she heard a horse approach. She looked up and saw Sherriff, Roy Coffee. Fear, motivated by Sara's bad memories of her past, kicked in and she took a few steps backwards. She shook the irrational thoughts from her mind. Roy was a friend of the family. He wouldn't do anything to her. She drew a huge breath, tucked her hair behind her ears and went to greet him.

"Good morning Miss Cartwright." He greeted smiling as he took off his hat.

"Good morning Mister Coffee." Sara replied and dropped a small curtsy. Roy dismounted and crouched down in front of her.

"How's your dog doin'?" He asked ruffling her hair.

"He's better, but he's still limping."

"Well, it takes some time for such serious wounds to heal. Well now though, I have some good news for ya. The documents have arrived."

Sara frowned, confused. "What documents?"

"The documents that make Adam Cartwright your father, all official, like."

"Really? And you brought them? Oh thank you, thank you!" She flew into his arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, then started kissing him abundantly on the cheek. Then she remembered who was in front of her and quickly released him out of her hug, blushing furiously. "I'm sorry Mister Coffee." She apologized nervously kicking her toes in the ground.

Roy laughed. "No worry Little One. I don't mind getting hugged for once. It ain't often that happens in my business."

Sara blushed even more and stuttered something nearly incomprehensible. "D-did ya jist c-c-c-come here, b-b-because o-of that?"

"No, Sara. I have to discuss something with your grandpa Ben too." Roy stood up again and turned to his horse looking in his saddlebag for the documents while Sara waited impatiently.

"Here you are." He turned around and handed her the papers. "Be kinda fitting for you to take them to Adam, I think. He will surely be happy about it."

She grabbed them and turned and ran into the house, not even thinking of thanking him. Roy didn't mind. He chuckled, happy to see such an excited youngster.

"DAD! DAD! ROY BROUGHT THEM! ROY BROUGHT THE DOCUMENTS!" She yelled bursting into the room waving the papers around.

"The documents for the adoption? About time!"

Sara jumped up on his lap and hugged him tightly. "Finally I'm really your daughter."

Adam released himself out of her hug and looked straight into her eyes. "You've been my daughter since I've told you that I wanted to adopt you Sweetheart." He stated and kissed her forehead. "Come let's sign them now." He stood up and carried her to the den, where Ben usually signed the contracts and did all the paperwork.

"Do I havta sign them too?" Sara asked eagerly glancing down on the two lines at the bottom of the second paper.

"No, I write your full name on one line and then I'll sign it underneath."

Sara fidgeted on his lap. "Go on sign it daddy."

"Sara there's something I want to ask you. Is it okay if I give you the name of my mother as your second name? Her name was Elizabeth. She died during my birth."

"Do you want that?"

"I would like it very much, but only if you do too. Sara Elizabeth Cartwright. It sounds good, doesn't it?"

She nodded, then tried to blink away the tears that had started to well up in her eyes. Sara of course felt as if she was Adam's daughter within a very short time of meeting him and his family, but now….. It was like she had an affirmation that he wanted her.

Adam set the pen to paper and wrote her full name. Sara immediately liked how it looked. First a short name, and then two long names. It looked and sounded elegant. She mused. "Dad, can we make my birthday when ya found me in the barn?" Sara pleaded, "It's my best memory, even though you blistered my hide a hundred times that day." She grumbled and frowned at the less pleasant recollections.

Adam chuckled and pulled her into a tight hug. Sara sighed with pleasure and turned around on his lap to return the hug. "Don't you know when your real birthday is?" Adam frowned. Not that he was angry with Sara, he was angry with himself. He had never asked her when her birthday was.

"I do know. It's on the sixth of August, only a few days before ya found me."

"I'm sorry for not asking Sara, I really should have asked you."

Sara waved it aside. "I didn't know that ya would become my daddy then and truth be known: I was angry at you because you spanked me so many times. I also forgot to ask you, Ben, Hoss and Joe when yer birthdays are, so I guess now we're even."

"Yes, I guess we are." Laughed Adam and stroked her head. "Well I'm happy that your behavior has improved since we first met." He said grinning.

Sara mock-frowned at him. "I didn't have any choice. Ifin I hadn't been good, you would have tanned my hide or given me more chores or given me an early bed-time or…."

Adam put a finger against her lips. "Let's not talk about such things now, Sweetheart and if you really want we can make the day I found you in the barn your birthday."

"Thanks!" She gave him a wet sloppy kiss on his cheek. "Daddy can I ask you another favor?"

"Anything you want Sweetheart." He replied and ruffled her hair thinking the child was making another special request in regards to her adoption.

"Can I wear pants in town today?" Sara gave him her best puppy-eyes.

Adam had to stifle a smirk at Sara's clever misdirection. He shook his head and sighed. "Haven't we discussed this before? Girls wear dresses, end of discussion. Most people don't even understand why I let you run around in pants at home."

"But….."

"No, Sara!"

"But you said Anything I want! And that's what I want." She protested.

"Well in the end I decide what's good for you young lady. Besides you tried to trick me." He teased lightly swatting her backside and then kissed her cheek. Sara huffed and crossed pouting her arms.

"Come on. Let's go to the lake before we head for town. I promised to teach you how to swim, didn't I?" Adam coaxed and carried her into the big room.

"You did, but I was hoping Black Knight could come with us too. Can't we wait until he's all good again?"

"It's up to you Sara, if you think you're old dad isn't good enough to play with you, then we wait until Black Knight is fine again." Adam said trying to look hurt.

Sara's eyes grew wide and she quickly wrapped her arms around his neck. "No daddy, I didn't mean it like that. I just thought that Black Knight also likes swimming. I love playing with you, even more than with Black Knight." Right after she finished the sentence they heard said dog bark.

"I was just joking with you silly, but what you said seemed to have hurt Black Knight's feelings." Adam sat her down. "Go and get your chores finished. We'll leave after lunch." He sent her away with another gentle tap to her behind. As she was out of his reach she turned around and mock-saluted.

"Yes sir!" Before he could grab her and tickle her to death, she ran giggling out of the house.

Sara's POV

Anxiously I was sitting in on the carriage waiting for the others. Of course Dad had made me wear a dumb dress he had even wanted to put a bonnet on my head.

Flashback

After forcing me to wear a printed ilea flowery dress with at least 105 petticoats, daddy then pulled out a matching pinkish bonnet.

"No, daddy, please. Don't make me wear the bonnet. It's hot and I'm already warm in this dumb dress." I pleaded, knelt down in front of him and folded my hands as if praying raising them up to him.

Laughing, he lifted me up and placed me on my own feet.

"Well that's just the point, young lady. It is very hot and you will need a hat to protect your head. But if you're that anxious about it I won't make you, you can stay home instead." He smirked.

"Okay, but can't I wear another sort of hat? What about a hat like yours daddy, not a stupid bonnet."

"The bonnet matches!" He cooed and stroked my head.

"I know that's jist it. It's bad enough wearing all these petticoats, looking like a dang ole fairy or something."

"Well there are no other hats, tell you what , you don't have to put it on until we get to town, then if you're a good girl I see if they have any cowboy hats in the mercantile that will fit you. But remember the rules Sara. No pranks, no…."

"No running around, no fighting, no teasing bla bla bla." I continued the list in a singsong rolling my eyes.

Dad however didn't appreciate my antics. He put two fingers under my chin and forced me to look at him. "Don't start already now." He warned then turned me around and swatted my behind. I gave him my biggest puppy-eyes trying to make him feel guilty about the smack, but of course it didn't work. I guess I had used them too often. Dad raised an eyebrow and gave me a gentle nudge towards the door. Sighing I went out of my room and headed down looking for my big hairy friend.

I sat down in the big red chair and Black Knight limped over to me. He lowered his giant head on my leg and looked up at me. Now these were puppy-dog-eyes. Black Knights look would always get him off the hook. HEY! That rhymed, so it had to work, but I have to better the rhyme up a bit. "Black Knights look will get him off the hook!" Well that sounded just great and I knew exactly how to test it. I ran back up to my room and grabbed the cursed bonnet. Then I ran to the kitchen grabbed some bacon and wrapped it tightly into it. With a satisfied smile on my lips I went to look for Black Knight. He was still in the same place where I had left him.

"You want some bacon, Blacky! Here you go." He carefully took the bonnet out of my hand and lay down on the ground. Grinning I watched as his teeth made large holes into the fabric. Suddenly I heard footsteps on the stairs and jumped to my feet. I didn't want to get caught. As dad reached the bottom of the stairs he immediately spotted Black Knight chewing on the bonnet.

"HEY! STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!" He bellowed running over to him.

Poor Black Knight tried to let go off the bonnet but it had gotten caught between some teeth. So now he was sitting straight up with my bonnet hanging out on one side off his mouth. I was looking at him through a window. I bit my fist trying not to laugh out loud.

"Bad Black Knight. You know you're not supposed to chew on clothes or shoes." Adam scolded crouching down in front of the dog and tried to take the completely destroyed bonnet out of Black Knight's mouth. I couldn't hold it anymore. I burst into a fit of giggles, then quickly ducked. I put my hand in my mouth again and stood up slowly until I was able to peek through the window again. Dad had finally managed to get the bonnet out of Black Knight's jaws. He was looking so remorseful that I started to feel guilty. Dad still looked angry but softened at the sight of Black Knight's big brown eyes.

"I just can't be angry at you; You hairy oaf." He chuckled and scratched Black Knight behind his ears. Happy that he was forgiven Black Knight gave dad a big wet kiss in the middle of his face.

End Flashback

So that's why I'm already sitting in the carriage waiting for the others. I felt guilty about Black Knight and I also thought that maybe dad suspected that I had given Black Knight the bonnet to begin with.

Hop Sing had tied a picnic basket to the back of the carriage as Hoss and Little Joe took their seats in the second row. They were as excited as me and just as anxious to get going. Hoss was determined to win the flap jack eating contest this year and Joe was going to be defending his champion rider title later in the afternoon. Grandpa Ben, arrived to take up the reigns, he said he was looking forward to arriving at the fair with all his family in tow and most of all his new granddaughter. I grinned and then gave him the biggest hug I could muster around his neck.

"Come on Dad, we're waiting." I bellowed.

Next thing, Dad appeared from the kitchen door, with a big straw cone hat covered in flowers. It was Hop sings garden hat, but with flowers on it. I was a little confused, but when I saw my dad's face I was worried. He was smirking and marching towards me. I'd only been around for a couple of weeks, and I'd only been part of this family for a short time, but that look on my new daddy's face was pretty easy to work out. Yup, I think he mighta guessed that I had tricked Black Knight. Before I could say anything, he pulled me down from the carriage threw me over his shoulder and smacked my bottom really, really hard.

"Excuse us for a moment will you, Pa, boys, Sara and I need to have a little discussion." Then Dad marched into the kitchen.

He sat down on a chair and stood me in front of him, between his legs. He then placed the offending disgusting looking hat on the table, "Sara, you enticed Black Knight to destroy your perfectly good bonnet. Young lady that was extremely thoughtless, rude and disobedient. It was also very unfair to Black Knight. He got scolded and you gave him extra bacon, that Uncle Hoss told you was not good for him, so that was also very selfish of you. If this family weren't so excited about going to the fair, you would be staying home with extra chores, and a very sore backside."

Before I could say anything in my defense or even tell him that I was sorry, because I didn't think about Black Knight, dad had me over his knee, and was paddling my rear end faster than Hop Sing dusted the rugs. In the first seconds I was happy about the protection the petticoats offered, but only until dad folded them up. Now only my cotton underwear protected my behind and they didn't help at all. By the time dad was finished I couldn't say very much except sob, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Dad rubbed my back for a while, then put the big straw cone hat on my head and tied the ribbon into a big bow under my chin. That's when I burst into even more tears.

"You will keep the sun off your head. You will not take this hat off unless I tell you, you can. Do you understand?"

I nodded.

"Use words, Sara."

"Yes daddy," I wailed, not only cause my backside was still hurting a lot, but also cause I think I mighta hurt Black Knight, and most of all cause I had ta wear this dang stupid hat that was much worse than the bonnet. I looked like a walking toadstool.

"Good, let's go then."

Soon everyone was sitting in the carriage. Little Joe and Hoss tried not to laugh at my hat, but they couldn't help it when I turned around and knocked my daddy in the chin with it. "Sorry daddy", I sniffed and wiped the tears away and faced the front. As the sting began to fade I was starting to feel sleepy and put my thumb in my mouth. That was the only good thing about this big hat; dad couldn't see me put my thumb in my mouth. But before long I started to nod off and my head fell forward. This time I knocked into Grandpa Ben as he tried to steer the carriage. Daddy must have caught me. He finally took the disgusting looking hat off my head and took my thumb from my mouth.

I managed to convince him to let me crawl up on his lap. Perfectly happy with my place I lay back against his chest and wrapped both arms around his waist. I started to feel sleepy and my thumb wandered automatically up to my mouth again, but before it could slip in dad took my hand in his and shook his head. I blushed and hid my face in his chest. I knew he thought only babies sucked thumbs and actually I thought so too, but it had been the only comfort for me for a long time.

"Sleepy?" He asked and put his other arm around me.

I nodded and wriggled into a more comfortable position.

"Get some sleep then. I wake you up when we're there."

I yawned and shifted again. Now I was lying lightly on my side and my head was in the crook of dad's arm. "Perfect." I mumbled and a few seconds later I was fast asleep.

Some quiet minutes later

Adam looked down at the little girl in his arms. She was adorable. Her mouth was a bit open and she snored lightly. He had to stifle a laugh. Ben looked over to him.

"Seems she gets more and more like you." He whispered smiling.

Joe giggled and so did Adam, no longer able to hold it. Sara stirred and snuggled closer to him.

"Hold still bed. Wanna sleep." She mumbled, then drifted back to sleep.

Careful not to wake her up Adam lay Sara down next to him so that her head rested on his lap and tucked her in with the rug. Then he placed the hat gentle on her, shading her from the sun streaming in from the side of the carriage.

"She really worries about Black Knight." He murmured to no one specifically.

An hour later they arrived in Virginia City. Gently Adam picked Sara up and sat her down on his lap rubbing her back. Slowly she started to wake up. She yawned and then turned it into a stretch which knocked Adam's hat of his head. It fell under the back wheels of the wagon, "Oops sorry daddy, here you can borrow mine."

Adam scowled, then tried to stifle a laugh as both Hoss and little Joe's rattled laughter became contagious and infected his father and Sara.

"Now I'm awake!" She declared, rubbing her eyes with her fists. "Come daddy let's go!" She grabbed his hand and he let her drag him off the carriage towards the tents of the festival wearing a Chinese straw hat with ribbons swaying in the wind.


Thanks for reading and I hope you liked it. Please review!