Chapter 11

The next day, Joe and I had arranged to go on a ride around the Ponderosa. Upon the horse I was borrowing, a steady bay mare, I waited for Joe. Soon he came out of the barn with Cochise. As I was watching, Joe swing-mounted, which I had never seen him do before.

"Show-off!" I teased.

He grinned at me. "Not intentional."

I laughed as we rode off.

We spent a lovely day just frolicking about, roaming the countryside.

As we rode up to lake, I sighed while remembering that evening there.

Joe looked at me quizzically. "What's that for?"

"What?"

"The sigh."

"Oh, I realize I sighed." I laughed. "Oh, I was just remembering the other evening here."

"You enjoyed it, huh?"

"How could I not enj – " I stopped when I saw a twinkle in his eye. "Ohhh."

Joe laughed and I soon joined in.

The hours passed by in a blur, but the events were pretty clear. We rode around the property, cantered in open fields, had plenty of laughs, but, most of all, had a really good time.

The ride finished with singing, and after I had groomed my horse (on my insistence), I happily went back to the hotel.

Joe and I had agreed on another ride the next day, except to another part of the Ponderosa – one that Joe had planned to take me to as a surprise. I could hardly wait!

So after a few hours of on-and-off sleep, I finally awoke at six and decided to get up. I had a quick breakfast a couple of hours later, then happily set off to meet my Joe.

"Morning." Joe greeted me with a kiss.

"Good morning!"

I rode the same horse as the day before. We started our ride.

We ended up at the foot of some tall, beautiful, rugged mountains.

"Oh, my!" I exclaimed, looking up. "How beautiful they are!"

Joe nodded his agreement, then turned his eyes to me. "And so are you."

We dismounted and sat down in the grass, enjoying the companionable silence. After a few minutes, Joe took my hand and kissed it.

"What a beautiful hand."

I giggled as his lips brushed my flesh once again.

"Long and slender…" he paused. "In fact," he said. "I can see only one way to improve it."

I tipped my head to the side. "How?" I asked, puzzled.

He took something small out of his pocket. "By putting this on your finger."

I t was then I saw what the object was. It was a beautiful ring, a gold ring with a small diamond. "Oh!" I gasped.

He slipped the ring onto my finger. "Will you…?" he left the question lingering in the air.

I nodded. "Yes, Joe." I replied. "Yes."


Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Ben, Adam, Hoss, Little Joe, HopSing or Roy Coffee; I DO, however, own all other characters. I do not own 'Bonanza' - this belongs to the writers of the show. I do, however, own the story and is protected in my name by the Australian Copyright Law dating back to 2006.