Chapter 2

After spending a week in San Francisco going to the theatre, the opera house, museums, going to the beach and swimming, different restaurants, shopping in different establishments, and in between all of this they spent quite a bit of time in their Hotel room making love as this is the one thing that Rebecca loved to do these days.

Now they were almost home and couldn't wait to share their adventure with the family. When the train pulled up to the station in Virginia City they could see Ben standing on the platform waiting for them.

~0~

"Pa, thank you for meeting us."

"My pleasure son. Rebecca hello."

"Hello Pa."

"Well come on you two the surrey is right over here."

"Alright, I'll get our bags sweetheart, you go with Pa."

"Oh alright Adam."

"You look very happy Rebecca."

"Oh I am Pa. Being married is so wonderful. Especially being married to Adam."

"That's wonderful to hear. OK, here we are. There you go my dear."

"It's amazing Pa, we leave with two bags and come home with three."

"Well Adam, you did go to San Francisco."

"Yes we did. OK, I guess we're ready."

~0~

On the ride to the Ponderosa Rebecca fell asleep on Adam's chest. It had been a long trip and she wasn't used to all of this excitement of the big city and long trips.

~0~

Once they pulled into the yard of the Ponderosa Adam kissed Rebecca on her cheek and told her they were home.

"Rebecca sweetheart, wake up."

"Hmm, oh, oh yes. I'm so sorry. I guess the trip just wore me out."

"Yes, I guess it did. Come on, let's get you inside and you can have a little nap before supper."

"Oh OK, that sounds wonderful Adam."

"OK, come on."

~0~

Once inside everyone greeted them and asked how their honeymoon was.

"It was wonderful Hoss. There is so much to do in the city. It was so exciting. We went to the theatre, and the opera, the shops there, and so many restaurants."

"Well it really sounds like you two had a lot of fun there."

"Yes Pa, we did. I think I had more fun just watching Rebecca and her excitement of everything."

"Oh Adam! Well I think I am going up and lay down for awhile."

"Alright sweetheart, need some help?'

"Oh I think I can handle it Adam."

"OK, I'll get you when supper is ready."

"Thank you Adam."

~0~

"Adam I gotta say , you sure look and act different since you got married."

"Well Hoss, I would give all of that to the credit of Rebecca. She makes me feel like a whole different man. She is so loving and affectionate and I just feel so alive when I'm with her."

"Ya big brother, we can all see that. So when do you want to get started on your house again?"

"The sooner the better Joe. We bought some things for the house while we were in San Francisco and are having them shipped here. So I need to get the floors and roof on before I can bring every thing to the house."

"Well, we can start again on Monday morning if you're up to it?"

"That sounds good."

Hop Sing came in and announced that "Supper ready."

"Thank you Hop Sing. I'll go up and get my wife. Oh that sounds good."

~0~

Adam went up to get his wife in their room. She looked like an angel sleeping there Adam thought. He sat down on the side of the bed and ran his hand down her face.

"Rebecca! Rebecca sweetheart."

"Adam! Oh Adam! What is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing sweetheart, it's time for supper."

"Oh, oh alright Adam. Oh, I thought maybe you came up here to make love with me."

"Now there's a wonderful thought. But sweetheart, if we are late for supper Hop Sing will be angry with us and threaten to go back to china."

"Oh I don't think he would be mad at me, you maybe, but I am his friend."

"Of course you are. You both have one thing in common with each other. How to keep Hoss overweight."

"Oh Adam, that's not nice to say."

"No but true. Now come on let's go down and eat my beautiful wife."

~0~

"Well glad you two could make it."

"Sorry Pa, sleepyhead here wouldn't wake up."

"Sure, blame it on me."

"Adam, after you get a bit more done on your house, do you think you could ride up to the high sierra to check on those missing cattle?'

Adam paused to think on that one for a minute and then looked at Rebecca, and Rebecca didn't look very happy at all.

"Ah Pa, I'm not saying no, but I need to have a talk with my wife first before I give you a definite answer. If that's alright?"

"Oh, well of course son."

"Rebecca, would you like to take a little walk with me and get some fresh air?"

"Oh yes Adam, I think that would be a wonderful idea."

"OK, come on then. We won't be long."

"Alright son." When Adam and Rebecca were outside and the door had closed, Hoss had something to say to his Pa.

"Pa, do you think that was far ta ask Adam ta go way up there that will most likely take at least the better part of the week, and so soon after those two just got back from their honeymoon? Don't ya think they need a bit more time together before you start sending him off on long trips like this?"

"Well Hoss, someone has to do it before the snows come. The two of you will be busy in the lower pastures and getting all those settled for the winter."

"Pa, I'm with Hoss on this. We could send a couple of the ranch hands up there to do that."

~0~

Adam and Rebecca walked out to the Rose garden and sat on the bench and talked.

"Sweetheart, I could tell by the look on your face that you weren't to happy about Pa's request of me."

"Yes Adam, you're right I'm not. Adam we have only been married for two weeks, and we have only just gotten back from our honeymoon. If you go, just how long will you be gone Adam?"

"Well Rebecca, most likely four or five days. However, I wanted to talk to you about an idea I have."

"What's that Adam?"

"Well, what would you say about going on a camping trip up to the high sierras?"

"A camping trip? Oh Adam, well I don't know. Oh, you mean you want me to go with you up there to get those cattle and turn it into a camping trip for us."

"Mm hm , that's right."

"Oh well, I think that could be a lot of fun Adam. And we can be alone together at night. But where would we sleep?"

"I will take a pack horse and a couple of big tarps and rope to make a shelter by the campfire for us and lay out our bed under it. I'll take lot's of blankets and our pillows. And Hop Sing will pack enough food and water coffee and tea for you to last us."

"Oh Adam, that sounds like so much fun. When will we leave?"

"Well, most likely tomorrow if you can be ready. Oh wait, sweetheart, do you have any riding skirts or jeans to wear?"

"Well no Adam. I have never had a need for those."

"OK, well instead of leaving tomorrow we'll go on Monday. Tomorrow we will go into town and get you what you need for our camping trip. And it will be getting pretty chilly up there at night so you need to get some warm night gowns as well."

"Oh but Adam, I'm pretty sure you can pass as my nightgown and keep me warm."

"Oh well now, yes of course we can certainly arrange that." Adam took her up close and kissed her very passionately and they both felt those shivers down their spines "OK, let's go back inside and I'll give Pa my answer."

"Adam, if you hadn't of come up with this idea, would you have gone any way?"

"Nope, never."

~0~

TBC