Forget Me Not

Chapter Fourteen

Ben opened his eyes. It took a few moments for him to remember where he was or why he wasn't alone in his bed. As his eyes focused in the darkness of the early morning hours, he couldn't help but smile as he ran his hand over the flesh of Joan's arm which lay across his bare chest. The memory of their lovemaking from the night before ran through his mind once more. It had been so many years since he'd shared his bed with anyone. As he thought about his past, Ben found himself holding Joan just a little bit tighter. James Kendall was still out there someplace. With Joan now bearing his name, Hoss had brought the preacher straight to the house, along with Sheriff Coffee, who insisted on attending the wedding, Ben found himself with a fear that something might happen to her.

Ben was brought out of his thoughts when he felt Joan's hand start to move. He smiled and turned his head. "Hello, sleepy head." The words were barely out of his mouth before he found Joan on her side, her lips upon his mouth and her hand once more wandering over his skin. Ben let out a small moan as her hands continued down his sides.

"Hop Sing will have breakfast ready soon." Ben pulled his head back and did his best to make himself focus upon his words and not on what his bride was once more doing to him. After all, daylight was burning; he really should get going.

"And your point is?" Joan whispered as she purposely moved and rubbed up against her husband. She was a fast learner and Joan was determined to see if she could get her husband's mind off breakfast and onto enjoying more time with her. Joan was more than pleased when she got the reaction she was looking for. Ben stopped talking about breakfast as he let out a loud groan as her lips joined her hands in caressing his bare skin; it wasn't long until Ben gave in and let Joan have her way. Joan smiled and continued her explorations from the night before. Hop Sing and the boys would survive without them for awhile.

Joe, who had risen and dressed before any of his brothers, stopped as he walked down the hallway. For a moment, he was puzzled by the sounds coming from his father's room. However, it didn't take long for him to realize what was going on behind closed doors. A part of him was shocked; however, most of him chastised himself for thinking his father would marry again and, for whatever reason, leave 'that' activity in the closet. He hurried away from his father's door and down the stairs to the breakfast that Hop Sing was just setting on the table; Adam and Hoss soon followed.

An uneasy silence hung around the table as the three Cartwright men ate breakfast. They had a full day ahead of them, and that included their father. They needed to talk to him, but all of them had been able to put the pieces together on their way down to the dining room, and none of them wanted to be the one to be knocking on the Ben's and Joan's door.

Little Joe had his brothers choking on their coffee when he asked very nonchalantly, "Which one of us is going to tell Pa he and Joan need thicker walls, and it wouldn't hurt to get a thicker door too?"

Adam glared at him as he wiped up the coffee that had spilled on the table when his baby brother had spoken. He knew full well the job would be his, unless he wanted one of his brothers to make matters worse. "Don't you worry about it. The two of you eat your breakfast and get to work, remember to keep your eyes open. Who knows, Mr. Kendall could show up any time and cause us more trouble."

Hoss thought about it as he took another bite of the pancakes Hop Sing had put in front of him. "Maybe, the law will get him first, iff'n it's like Roy said. Mr. Kendall's a wanted man now; he done kidnapped Pa, even if he got half the ransom money he was askin'."

As much as Adam hoped that was the case, he couldn't shake the feeling that, sooner or later, James Kendall was going to come back into their lives. He didn't like it; he didn't want it, but he knew what he felt. He also knew that debating the issue with either one of his brothers would only prove to be fruitless. "Maybe," he finally answered after another awkward silence, "time will tell."

The brothers fell into silence as they continued their breakfast. With the adjustment they'd have to make since Ben had married Joan, and the work they had to do for the day; all three men were feeling a bit overloaded. When they heard footsteps on the stairs, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe looked towards the staircase. Ben and Joan started down the stairs.

Hoss smiled at the couple who looked like they were still walking on air, Little Joe, who was still a bit bent out of shape that his father had actually married a woman young enough to be his daughter, smiled to be keep peace in the family; figuring he would adjust to it in time. Adam kept his musings to himself, but prayed his father had made the right decision.

Ben wasn't blind nor was he stupid. He could see the reservations all his sons held toward the marriage. It didn't matter though; none of them had opposed the marriage when the good reverend asked them. Ben pulled Joan's chair out for her, and then sat down f once she was seated.

"Little Joe I need you to repair some of the harnesses in the barn before you do anything else." Ben looked at his youngest, hoping the lad would not argue with him too much. He was relieved when Little Joe nodded and answered in the affirmative.

However, when he began to say he had to go into town before the next storm hit, Hoss spoke up. "I have to go in anyway, Pa. Why not just let me get the items you need?" Okay, so what if it gave his father and Joan more time together? Hoss figured they could use it.

Ben smiled, as did Joan; it would be Hoss to make such an offer. "Thank you, son, I think I'll take you up on that offer." It missed no one that he was glancing at Joan as he answered Hoss. The rest of the meal went smoothly enough; that is, considering his sons were still adjusting to the fact that Ben was indeed once again a married man and a female presided on the Ponderosa.

Once they were finished with their breakfast, Little Joe and Hoss excused themselves, put on their hats, gloves and coats as it had finally snowed in the middle of the night. They had no sooner left, than Adam finished his breakfast and excused himself as he went to work on some contracts. Adam then watched as Joan and Ben cleared the table for Hop Sing and took the dirty dishes into the kitchen. Adam decided he would talk to his father later as he didn't want to embarrass Joan.