A/N: The part with the Vanderhorts was from a Stranger passed this way, in the original plot they brought him and was going to leave with him and it took ben accidentally busting Inger's photo to snap him out of it, also the part about the wolf was from My brother's Keeper, instead of shooting at the wolf, and Little Joe getting shot and wolf bit they go slower and get the wolf, then get hot and Willow gives birth. They do not meet the Reardons or are blackmailed by the minors, and the scenes with Clay are from the First Born. I am showing that the girls' presence is starting to change history for the better in some cases, but in the long run who knows. Also I edited the first 7 chapters and replaced them, with near identical chapters with better spelling. Now since I started from season four and now am going to season five, I will have to take a serious detour from the episodes. Since the Laura Dayton arc will not be happening and neither will several others.
The houses for Adam and Hoss's families in nearby Ponderosa tracks of land being built quickly, well relatively quickly, for 1863 it was being built quickly in 2014 they would have been built, decorated and moved in already. Three days after Drew was born, Izzy turned 9. It was just her family and her best friend Becky. She was so happy. She never wanted a big party. She has a few presents, books, a few new dresses, candy, a new jump rope, puzzles, and Adam had officially adopted her.
"You really want me?"
"Of course I do, you're my daughter." Adam said, and suddenly he had his arms full of 9 year old. He lifted her up, and spun her around she squealed.
"Papa!" and laughed so did he and everyone else. A few days after her birthday, Willow was home with Drew. Adam and Ginny rode out to the new house with Livy and Izzy. He pointed to the construction project that men were working on.
"Now usually, I would build it myself, but Pa agreed to hire the men to build the two houses. Because we have enough men the houses should be ready just before the winter sets in. There will be five bedrooms enough room for all us and whoever else comes along, there will be a kitchen and a dining room, a nice big main room, We'll have a bathing room, and a laundry room, neither as big as the one down at Grandpa's house but still very nice. Hoss's house has a very nice Canning room and herb room since Willow likes doing those things." Ginny smiled at him. "And our house has a small work room for Livy to do her woodworking…."
"Thank you." Livy beamed at him.
"Will we have a barn Grandpa house has a barn." Izzy said.
"We'll have a small barn, not a big one like grandpa has and a few horses, and cow and chickens, so will Uncle Hoss and Awilla…..Grandpa is making sure of it, he wants his Sons and their families well taken care of."
"Are we still going to have breakfast with Grandpa and Uncle Joe sometimes and Awilla and Uncle Hoss….." Izzy asked worried.
"Well not every day." Ginny said "But remember when we lived in Chicago, Aunt Willow didn't live with us anymore and we still all had brunch and dinner together on Sundays, maybe we could do something like that….." She looked at her husband.
"Sure Dizzy girl, we'd be having Sunday supper together no matter since it's after church but I'm sure we could have breakfast together sometimes too. But they'll be good things about living here like Becky's house is closer and we have an Apple tree in our yard and your room will have a window seat."
Izzy giggled. "Those are all Good things, Papa. But won't Grandpa get lonely with only Uncle Joe to keep him company."
"We'll still see him all the time, Diz." Livy said. "We'll still be living on the Ponderosa."
"Will the house have a name?" Izzy asked from in front of him. Livy and Ginny were on their own horses but she was sitting in front of him.
"Well we come up with one." Adam said.
"We should name it Steve."
Ginny laughed. "that's not a very good name for a house, Dizzy girl. We'll come up with something else."
Later that afternoon, Willow was changing Drew's diaper. Ginny was standing near her.
"You know there as much as I love it here there are certain things I miss. Indoor plumbing, Al's Italian Beef, and disposable diapers."
Ginny chuckled. "Tell me about it. I have to wash those things. That's all you miss…."
"there are things I miss, but nothing that I can't live without. Not really….I mean I miss Andy and holly but"
"I know, he's be so pleased that you named Drew after him." She finished up and redressed him and lifted him into her arms. And places him in the detachable basket part of the cradle that Livy had built for them so he could be moved around, it clicked into a set of wheels, and a stand, so it was like a pram and a cradle at the same time she was still working on
the crib for when he got bigger. Right now it was in the wheels. She was kind of innovative and brilliant. She'd be turning 17 on the same day as Joe. So they were having a dual party in a little less than a month and half the eligible bachelors in town couldn't wait to come to court her.
Before they knew it, it was Livy and Joe's Birthday party, well just before, Ginny was brushing out Izzy's hair she had on a new party dress, and her hair would be braided she was allowed to stay up for the event. Drew was a whole Month old today. So he would be showed off until his bedtime and She would get to stay up a whole half hour after hers.
"Sit still you little monkey so I can brush and braid your hair….." Ginny teased as soon as Izzy did she had her hair braised in record time in a fishtail braid. When the party started all the young men were gathered around Olivia, the men were congratulating Hoss and Adam, Ben, the mothers Willow and Ginny, Joe was waiting for his date. Izzy mostly stayed with Becky who was allowed to come tonight and would sleep over in her room after the party was over. They mostly played games.
"Mrs. Cartwright he's so big…." A woman said.
"Yes, he is, he was about 10 pounds when he was born just like his father. Hoss is a big man you know." Willow said. The others winces in sympathy.
"Hoss, he's a fine boy." A man said to Hoss who was looking at his wife and child from across the room.
Hoss grinned "that's a fact, My Willa gave me a wonderful son. Andrew Benjamin Eric Cartwright, Drew. I asked why we needed such a long name she said for when he was in trouble. She said her big sister used to get her with Willow Annalise McCabe….I 'spose it's a good idea, in case he becomes a doctor or a lawyer or some such for him to have a fancy name sides just Drew Cartwright…."
"Looks like it's time for Drew to go down for the night Sorry, ladies." Willow said to the ladies she walked over to Hoss. "I'm Putting drew down do you want to come with me, or stay here, babe."
"I'll come with you."
Eventually Ann, Joe's girlfriend doesn't come but her father is brought to the party after having a stroke, Izzy and Becky are sent up to bed and Livy stays with them telling the stories and getting them to go sleep. It is discovered that she was murdered and soon Mrs. Gibson a neighbor is murdered as well, Joe knows who did it, goes about trying to confront him, despite not having any evidence. It works out though no matter how emotionally wounded Joe is from the experience, the family once again survives and keeps going.
When the girls has been in the past a year. Adam took his wife and child into town for lunch, they were really getting supplies, but they stopped at the hotel and got lunch. When they went to the mercantile Izzy got candy, and red licorice and gum drops. Not long after the family and Hoss in particular befriends an Italian immigrant family, and Ginny does some translating for them.
Nice to meet you, Mister Bianci, I am Misses Cartwright I am Married to Adam, this is my sister willow is married, to Hoss, and this is my daughter Isabelle…." Ginny said instantly
"nice to meet you Senoras Cartwright, that's a beautiful baby you have….." Looking at Drew.
"Thank you." Willow said. "His name is Drew, it's short for Andrew. He's two months old" Mr. Bianci's son, became enamored with Hoss because his father wouldn't stand up and fight, but Izzy didn't like that.
"You should be nicer to your father." Izzy said to Mario not long after he met.
"He's a coward."
"no he's not, those men had guns you're only given one life. Carrying a gun or fighting back makes you a target he was doing what he had to do to come home to you." It was eventually resolved not that Izzy knew how. She had more important things to do, Adam and her were having an important talk.
"Izzy do you wish I didn't carry a gun?" he put her on his lap.
"Sometimes but I know you hafta. You have to right?"
"I do. It's for protection, more than anything your daddy he carried a gun didn't he."
"Only when he went to work, but I see what you mean we living in a different time now. Papa?"
"Yes, Sweetheart."
"if you could you'd walk away right?"
"Yes, if it was an option I'd absolutely choose to walk away. I would never look for trouble or put myself or someone else in danger the gun is for protection only, and only when there is no other choice." She snuggled into him. He sighed happily.
"That's good, and Uncle Joe, and Uncle Hoss, and Grandpa feel the same way"
"Absolutely. Do you have a problem with guns, Izzy?"
"No, I got no problem with guns."
"That's what's the problem."
"My problem is sometimes people use them do to bad things, but sometimes people use rocks and axes and wagons to go bad things too I guess."
"That's true, little one they do."
"Why do people do bad things Papa?"
"Why did your Mama spank you last week Izzy?"
"Because I said something mean to Becky, We got in a fight and I took it too far."
"Why did you do that?"
"Because I wanted to win the argument and I wasn't thinking, I didn't mean to make her cry though. I apologized right away even before Mommy spanked me."
"Well, that was the right thing to do, but Dizzy girl, in that moment you wanted to win that argument consequences or no consequences and so do people who do bad things, people want things, they want money, prestige, power, and they don't always care how they get them. So they do bad things."
"Just be careful around the other people with guns not everyone follows the same rules as you do." He held her tighter.
"I promise." He hugged her and she held on to him like she might lose him. He lifted her up and held her tightly. Summer was well on its way to starting and Hoss was happy as can and told everyone that would listen all about his son. Adam and Hoss houses would be finished by the end of the fall. Early in the summer Charles dickens came to visit in the town having issue with the town newspaper printing his work with his permission Ginny was excited to meet him, more excited than anyone else, as a Historian this was not something that probably the single most important moment of her scholastic life. Adam understood that. Charles looked at her oddly when she had write in one of the first editions of his books, but didn't question, she'd bought a second copy of a book they already had. Not long after Adam and Ginny visit James Callan, a man married to an Indian who emotionally tortured and drinks because of it. A day with Ginny and he was whipped into shape. And had started conspiring with his wife.
Suddenly before anyone knew it was the end of August Drew was holding up his head on his own, and laughing, smiling, mimicking everyone's facial expressions, he's babbling away, rolling over, doing push-ups, he loves the wooden toys his Alivy made him. One Morning they were all eating, Drew was in the bassinet nearby.
"We're almost finished with the high chair and the crib." Livy said. "Hoss and Joe are both helping me when there's time, but I'm doing most of the work."
"Thank you Livy…." Willow said.
"Anything for my adorable Nephew." Livy said. Izzy narrowed her eyes in jealousy but said nothing.
"So, Livy I hear you have a Beau." Joe said teasing.
"Well….I….uh, maybe….." she stammered.
"Who is he?" Adam asked as is brother in law, he felt he had the right to ask.
"Jasper Norris, His dad, him and his younger brother Thad are opening a cabinetmakers shop in town. Norris and Sons, We met at church he's really nice he's from Indianapolis originally, but they've been moving west for about five years since his Mom died. His stepmother Jenny, his two little girls, three years and one, Ellie and sally, he's so sweet with them. His father was a Master Carpenter and Cabinetmaker in Indianapolis and he taught his sons everything he knows. He lost his left eye because of a childhood accident on the trail, none of the other girls my age like him very much but he's still handsome even with the patch and I told him it makes him look rakish it made him laugh and we started talking. He's really funny and smart, and we started talking about my woodworking and I really like him Adam. He's charming and nice, and sweet….and I want to get to know him better, can we invite him and his family to a Sunday picnic Uncle Ben?" She had taken to calling Ben Uncle Ben since Grandpa didn't fit, and Papa didn't either which was what her sisters called him.
"I think that can be arranged Livy." He smiled.
The next day, Ben rode into town and went to the Cabinet makers shop. Inside he found a Middle aged man approximately 40 years old, with blonde hair a matching beard, and midnight blue eyes, wearing, wearing blue pants and blue checkered shirt.
"Can I help you?"
"I'm Ben Cartwright."
"George Norris." They shake hands."
"I was thinking of commissioning some furniture, Both my sons are having houses built for their families they'll be ready by the end of autumn, I need to know how much of the basic things, tables chairs, cabinets, couches, beds I can get done here and how much I have to special order from out of town."
"Well I'm a master carpenter and Cabinet maker, I have both my sons, and two other cabinetmakers, a pair of Negros I took under my Wing, brothers, Daniels and Crawford Pratt. Good men, loyal as all get out. We can built An entire house worth of pieces in that time, but not two."
"Also My Younger son's bed, has to be larger than average he's a big man. I can provide Lumber….."
"I understand why don't we talk about what you need from me….." After talking for about 45 minutes about what they needed.
"Also I'd like to invite you and your family to a Sunday picnic at the Ponderosa after church this week…."
"Not that I'm not flattered but why?"
"My Son's sister in law who he, and by extension I have custody of, Livy is sweet on your oldest boy Jasper. Adam won't let her spend time with him unless we get to know him and his family….."
"I don't blame him I have three daughters myself. We'd be delighted to come. You know He hasn't had much luck with women since that accident on the trail, the doctor had to remove his eye, when He was 14, and when he got to Colorado we bought a proper patch. Your girl, she sees past that, told him he looked rakish. She doesn't seem to mind."
"If you don't mind me asking what happened?"
"We were camping for a while, some fool decided to make a still, it didn't end well." Ben nodded. "We'll get started right away, and have the pieces ready for the houses when come November, I can even coordinate with the other cabinet and furniture makers if you give me their names."
They shook hands. That Sunday after church, the Entire Norris clan showed up at the Ponderosa they picnicked at the river. George and jenny, Willow, and Hoss, Adam and Ginny, Jasper and Livy, Ben, Drew, Sally, Izzy, Ellie Thad, and Sarah the Norris's 13 year old daughter. Drew was on his mother's lap, Ellie and Sally were near playing near their mother, Sarah was mooning over Joe who was fishing with Thad. Izzy was teaching Ellie and Sally Simon says, and other games she knew. She also had her ball, and they were playing a rolling game. Jasper and Livy spent time together. The next morning was a new day and everyone had to get up and do their chores and get ready for a new day, and a new week.
