Chapter 9

Back on the Ponderosa they were getting ready for their cattle drive also. Hoss was going into town to get all the supplies for the drive.

"Hoss, you have a telegram here."

"OH, thank ya." Hoss stopped to read his telegram from Adam. He was shocked when he read about the marriage. And that he is leaving on a cattle drive also. He was hoping they'd both end up in Sacramento at the same time because Pa would be with them and Hoss would make them talk things through now that Adam was married there would surely be children along soon. Now he was surely going to tell Pa about the telegram.

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"Hey Pa, where are ya? Pa?"

"Over here Hoss."

"OH, there ya are. I got another telegram from Adam."

"OH, what does he have to say this time?"

"Well Pa, ol Adam done gone and got himself married and all."

"Married! Did he say who too?"

"Nope, and he's leaving on a cattle drive on Monday to Sacramento."

"Oh is he now? Well perhaps we'll see him in Sacramento."

"That's what I'm hoping Pa. I miss Adam somethen fierce."

"Well, I guess we'll have to see. Did you get everything for the drive?"

"Ya I did Pa."

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**Back in Wells**

It was Monday morning and Adam was up at three thirty getting ready to go back to the ranch to start the cattle drive to Sacramento. Ann was up packing things for him and making him a good breakfast to start his morning out right.

"Ann, you are a wonderful woman. You take good care of me."

"You're a wonderful man Adam. You deserve to be taken good care of."

"Well my love, I must go now. I love you and I will send you a telegram of where and when I will arrive in Sacramento. You can take the train there alright. And be careful."

"Alright Adam. I love you and I'll miss you terribly. Stay safe ok."

"I will. Now give me a kiss." they kissed as deeply as passionate as possible and Adam left.

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The cattle drive started on both ranches this morning. It will be hard for Adam and Ann being apart for four weeks. Ann wasn't the only one that Adam was missing however, being on this cattle drive was bringing back memories of the drives with his family on the Ponderosa. He was so hoping that his father had been really thinking about why he left to begin with. Was his father ready to at least meet him half way on some things he wanted to do on the ponderosa? Or maybe Adam would just go back with Ann and claim his part of the ponderosa and start his own little ranch and do the things he wanted to do with his father. This is something he had four weeks to think on.

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