Part 10
Disclaimer: I do NOT own the rights to Bonanza. The only character that
is mine is Marilyn. This was a fan fiction I did for another site, but was
never quite satisfied with, so I went ahead and redid it.
Ben continued to alternate between the sight of his late wives' graves, and
that of Marilyn. He had a hard time picturing such sweetness in the same
family as a man like Ken Richards. She'd help anyone out in need, he'd rob
the same people. She'd go the extra mile, and he'd not budge an inch. The
man had also confessed to planning the whole charade, and that his niece
knew nothing about it.
"I think it's time we got back to the house." Marilyn climbed onto her
horse. "I believe Hop Sing said something about being on time for lunch, or
we'd be getting served spare ribs."
"That joke needs to die a proper death."
"It did." Marilyn couldn't help but laughing and set her horse to running.
Ben shook his head and chased after her threatening a few things if the bad
joke wasn't set aside.
Hoss, and Little Joe, were working in front of the house when Marilyn
came racing in. They'd have thought another gun man was after her except
her face was lit up brighter than any Christmas tree, and their Pa's horse
wasn't far behind.
"Why is she running if there's no danger?" Little Joe asked as Marilyn
practically flew off the horse grinning as she made a mad dash for the
house.
"Because she, and Hop Sing, are still joking around about feeding us spare
ribs." Little Joe laughed, and Hoss turned green. Meanwhile in the house
Hop Sing, and Marilyn, chuckled at Ben's reaction, but decided maybe their
jesting should stop on that topic.
"So, do you reckon we get our new ma permanently?" Hoss asked as Ben
finished taking care of his horse. Before Ben could answer Sheriff Coffee
rode up.
"Morning, or maybe, I should say afternoon."
"What brings you out here? I thought all the trouble was taken care of."
"It is." The sheriff smiled and handed Ben an envelope. "I retrieved that
off Ken Richards. Figured I'd hand deliver it myself." His smile filled his
whole face.
"What is it?" Ben asked
"Why don't you open it and find out." Ben did just that and let out a
whistle when he saw the amount recovered from Ken's saddle bags.
'I had no idea he even had the money with him." Ben was dazed. "Marilyn
was willing to let this go?" He leaned against the porch's railing.
"Ben, I can't tell you what to do, nor can your sons, but seems to me any
woman willing to give that kind of cash up is worth keeping around." With
that he tipped his hat and rode off. Before Hoss, or Little Joe, could say a
word Ben went into the house.
Upon entering his home he could hear Marilyn laughing with Madeline in
the guest room. Therefore he ignored any paperwork and climbed up the
stairs. His feet then carried him to the open door where the women were.
"Mind if I talk to Marilyn alone?"
"Sure." Madeline quickly left doing her best to hide her smile.
"Looks like this whole mess is over with."
"Yes, I guess it is." His legal wife wiped her hands on the skirt of her
dress and stood looking out the window. "Don't worry, Ben, I promised you
I'd leave without fuss, or fanfare, if that is what you wanted. Don't worry
about your sons. They are men, not boys, they'll be just fine with me gone."
Turning around when he did not say anything she went and laid a hand on
his arm as she smiled with tired eyes.
"You have to decide what you want. And I will not lie to you. If you want
a wife who is head over heels in love with you right off the bat, then," she
sighed, "I'm the wrong woman." Shrugging her shoulders Marilyn
explained she'd always believed true love came after sticking things out; the
bad and the good. "So, you see, I'm willing to learn to love you as
deeply as possible; though I admit I instantly fell in love with the feel of the
ranch."
"But not me."
"Ben, you're a great guy, with high morals and ethics. I could easily
consent to live with you and be your wife, I've already stated that, but can
you?" Interrupting his silence to mean no she fought tears wanting to come
and turned to pack.
"Marilyn.." something in his voice caught her ear and the woman turned
back to find him bt her side. "I can live with that." He spoke softly, and
then grinned, "But I have earned the right to do this." Pulling her close he
locked his lips with hers.
"Ma's staying!" Little Joe yelled at the top of the stairs.
"Oh, brother, how old is he?"? Marilyn leaned her head against Ben's
chest. She'd kept her word and had refused to call him little; no matter how
he acted.
"Don't ask." Ben laughed. "Don't ask." Within a few days the house was filled with hustle, and bustle. Guests were arriving for the wedding of Adam
and Madeline.
Chairs were set up in the front room, and flowers hung from the wall.
Adam tried not to fidget in the suit bought for the event, and Hoss was
threatening to go hide in the kitchen if some decent food wasn't put on the
table soon.
"Reckon, you'd best get over it. No eating until after the wedding." Ben
chuckled. However much Hoss might have wanted to eat, it was the last
thing on the bride's mind, or Marilyn's for that matter.
"Oh, for crying out loud, sit still Madeline. Oh, you won't have any hair."
Marilyn was working on braiding the bride's hair.
"Okay, but I still think Pa, and you, should exchange vows along side
Adam and I."
"Think that's a little late don't you?"
"Since when?" A deep voice answered from the doorway.
"Ben! I thought you were downstairs."
"Adam's getting ansy, so, I figured I'd come and see how things were
coming along." He walked up behind Marilyn and wrapped his arms around
her waist. "So?"
"So, what?
"Since when is it too late?"
"Oh, like I could get a wedding dress this late."
"Seems to me, the one you have on is good enough."
"It's pink!"
"So? Like I care?" What he whispered in her ear got Madeline's hair
jerked.
"Hey, flirt with her later! When she doesn't have a hold of my braid!"
Fifteen minutes later music begin playing, and it wasn't just Adam who had
a bride walking towards him.
Epilogue
Adam climbed up next to his wife and sat down. Ben reached up and
shook his eldest's hand. "You have a safe journey, don't forget to write."
"We won't." Adam and Madeline spoke in unison.
"Here take this." Marilyn handed her stepson a book. "I know how you
like Shakespeare." She smiled, "It was my grandfather's."
"Thanks, Ma." Handing up another packet to Madeline the new matriarch
of the Ponderosa grinned again, "I think with that you might not poison your
groom." That set the family to laughing for while Madeline's cooking had
vastly improved, it still needed work. Marilyn kept her own lessons from
Hop Sing under tight wraps.
"Take care of Pa, he gets into a lot of trouble." Adam winked. "Might
want to watch out for Hoss and Little Joe too." He glanced over where Hoss
stood with Carrie, and Joe with his latest girlfriend.
'Oh, I will, and .." She whispered, "I think wedding bells will be coming
soon for Hoss." Adam's eyes widened, but he said nothing.
His bride pretended not to hear that and instead addressed the marriage
between Pa Cartwright, and Marilyn.
"Ya, good thing you're a bride for Ben, might keep him breathing longer."
Madeline giggled when her father-n-law pretended he was going to climb
up to the seat to give her a wallop.
Adam picked up the reigns after also bidding his brothers good-bye.
"Let's go in Ma, I think these boys can handle things on their own. I have
plans."
"I bet you do."