I do not own Bonanza or any of the original Cartwright characters.

Keeper of My Heart

Chapter Ten

Adam and Gabriella laughed as the shut the door to the hotel room. They couldn't help it. Out of all people to bump into when they'd entered the lobby (after Mrs. Randall had taken the baby) they would choose to bump into a man of the cloth. Reverend Hepworth was temporarily filling in for Virginia City's regular preacher and was still getting to know the people in his congregation. While he had met Ben and his two younger sons, he'd only heard about the oldest son who was missing. That being the case, he did not associate Adam Thompson with Adam Cartwright. With no one but his wife in the lobby, Adam had taken advantage of the moment and asked the preacher to marry Gabriella and himself. Now the two were alone and Adam meant to keep it that way for awhile.

Gabriella laughed when Adam lifted her up and whirled her around in a circle. "Careful Adam! There's furniture in here!" He only laughed some as he set her on her feet and pulled her close.

"I don't have to see to know that one." He then grew quiet as his hands again ran themselves over her face. "I'll learn a trade, girl. You won't have to be the one supporting us for very long. I promise you that much." He meant it to. As much as Gabriella loved the outdoors and trapping, she'd freely admitting that, if she was going to marry him, he had to understand she'd stand by him as long as he did all he could to be independent. That was an idea he had no problem agreeing with.

Gabriella ran her hands up his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck. "What about that baby, Adam? What if they can't find the couple's relatives? What if they don't want to take on the responsibility of raising him? We could stay here in Virginia and raise him. Even the sheriff said we were more than welcome." She had fallen in love with the infant child the moment she'd pulled the blankets out of the wagon. Still, Adam was her first priority and she didn't want to push him away. After all, they'd just decided to be man and wife as it was. That being the case, she wasn't speaking in a tone that said she would push the issue, just one that showed her concerns for the child.

"You're more than welcome to stay here." Sheriff Coffee sat behind his desk as Gabriella finished telling about what they'd found and why they'd come to him. While Adam did not recognize Roy's voice, there was something about the man that screamed familiarity. He would have told the man everything and asked him about things, but like the lawman, he losing his hearing to the young infant in Gabriella's arms. "I have no problems with the two of you caring for the child while we search for relatives who might take him, as long as you stay close to Virginia City." Okay, so the lawman had a legal and personal reason for the last statement, but he wasn't about to tell Adam or Gabriella that. Well, not before he had a chance to talk to Ben.

"Adam?" Gabriella wondered if she'd made a mistake in suggesting they take the child in for good if needed. Maybe, he wanted more time with it being just the two of them. It would be understandable.

He pulled her even closer, so close she felt as if they might as well be one. "Don't worry. One way or the other, the child will have parents. I just hope he likes Shakespeare." Gabriella would have started laughing, but Adam was kissing her, gently at first then, as the fire began rising, with more passion than he'd ever allowed himself to. "I want to see you, I need to see you." Adam's hands wandering up and down her back as his mouth moved down her cheek and onto her neck.

For a split second, Gabriella could see an injured Adam lying on the ground unconscious. Had she known she was saving the man who would wind up becoming her husband, would she have stopped? It was a thought and question that quickly disappeared as Adam, who had unbuttoned the shirt she wore, ran his hands underneath her inner clothing and up the front of her in order to get more pictures. At least, that's what he'd said he was doing as he slid his hands in.

"When you meet the right woman you'll find yourself in middle of a fire hotter than you ever thought possible." Adam could see the man he knew to be his father speaking to him in what he assumed was a living room. While he could not hear his voice, he could still hear the words. He let out a small groan as he removed his shirt and lay her down. He couldn't believe how badly he wanted her, how bad he needed her.

"What did I do to deserve having you?" He ran his hands down her now bare sides, but gave her no chance to answer as his mouth covered hers once more, only this time he slid his tongue inside of it. Gabriella let out a muffled groan of her own. Time seemed to drag as Adam took his time taking various "pictures", something Gabriella found herself begging him to take plenty of. By the time he'd removed any item that stood as a barrier between his bride and himself, Adam couldn't have stopped himself if he wanted to, nor could she have asked him to.

"A..d..am!" Gabriella cried out as her hands pressed down upon the back of his bare shoulders as they began molding themselves into one. Nothing more was said as the two lost themselves in what felt the same as if they were riding up and over the mountains they'd just left, only somewhere along the line an unseen force had taken over the reins and leading them to places neither one had ever been before. Neither one knew what the future would bring, didn't know if they'd be raising the orphaned boy or bringing another life into the world after consummating their marriage, but for now it didn't matter. All they needed was each other.