When I started this story earlier this year I had only just started watching Bonanza, I think I was about halfway through season one when I was writing this chapter and wasn't well acquainted with the layout of the Ponderosa ranch house. In this chapter I wrote that Ben's room was the one downstairs (I've got no idea how I came to that conclusion lol) but I realised upon continuing to watch the series that it was the guest room. I correct that little deviation from the series later on in the story, I just thought I'd mention it to you all however.

I hope you are enjoying the story so far, I promise it gets better as it goes along (coinciding with me getting a better grasp on the characters) and I would love to read your feedback. Don't hesitate to drop a review, it would be much appreciated.

Chapter 2

Ben Cartwright was at his desk, working on the ranch ledgers when he heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching fast. Closing the book he stood up and went over to the window as a familiar paint horse was ridden into the yard. Little Joe brought his horse to a stop at the front of the porch as he walked out, jogging over to him with a look of worry on his face. 'What's going on?'

'Adam found a girl in the forest, she got attacked by a wolf-' Little Joe replied, breathless from the fast ride he'd just ridden. 'She's alive but only just, they're bringing her back here. I'm going to fetch the doctor.'

He nodded. 'I'll get a room ready.'

'Right Pa.'

Joe turned his horse, heading out of the yard at a fast gallop and he went back into the house. He looked around for the cook then called out loudly. 'Hop Sing?'

'Yes Mr. Cartwright?' He replied as he came out of the kitchen and joined him in the living room.

'The boys have found an injured girl in the forest, they're bringing her back here-'

'Hop Sing knows what needs to be done.' He interrupted. They'd had more then their share of injured guests and he'd become quite acquainted with what needed to be prepared. 'Water boiled. Bandages brought out.'

'Thank you Hop Sing. We'll put her in my room downstairs for now, I don't know how badly she's hurt and it'll be easier then taking her upstairs. It'll be closer to everything as well.'

'Yes Mr. Cartwright. Hop Sing go prepare for girl.'

The Chinese man disappeared into the kitchen again and Ben went to the window to watch for the arrival of his sons and the injured girl.

'How is she?' Ben asked, hurrying up to Adam as he and Hoss brought their horses to a stop in the yard. 'Joe's gone for the doc, we've got my room ready for her.'

'She's still holding on, barely.' Adam replied, gently passing her down to his waiting father's arms then dismounted.

'My word.' He exclaimed, raising his eyebrows as he looked over her. She was wrapped in one of the boy's blankets, her face and lips way too grey for his liking.

'Let's just get her inside.'

Ben nodded, carrying the girl towards the door as Hoss hurried ahead to open the door. 'What happened to her?'

'Found her caught in a trap we'd set for the wolf and the wolf found her. She made it out alive, the wolf didn't.' He followed his father onto his room and pulled the covers back on the bed so his father could lie her down, Hoss leaving them to go tend to the horses. 'Killed it with a knife while her leg was still in the trap, she wasn't going down without a fight.'

'I can see that.'

Adam checked the girls leg again, loosening the tourniquet slightly to get the blood to her lower leg flowing again. Her leg would still bleed each time he loosened it, his father feeling her wrist for a pulse while he tightened the tourniquet again. 'Hopefully Joe gets back with the doctor soon, there's nothing else we can do for her.'

Ben looked over at the clock as Adam continued pacing the living room floor, the doctor still in the bedroom working on the girl. It had been hours and yet he still hadn't come out. Adam had been silent since the doctor had arrived, a look coming into his eyes that he'd seen before. The look of him believing that something was his fault and guilt eating him up inside. From what he could make out from Joe and Hoss, Adam had been the one to lay out the traps. He knew Adam hated using the traps and for good reason because they were cruel. It wasn't guaranteed they'd catch what they were trapping for either. Adam had also been the one to find the girl. He ran a hand over his head, leaning back in his chair. He had questions that wouldn't be answered for sometime he expected. How'd the girl end up there anyway. Who was she? Where'd she come from-

'How is she doc?'

Adam's voice broke off his train of thought as he got up from his desk, the doctor closing the door quietly behind himself. He walked over, waiting for his answer.

'I'm not going to lie to you gentlemen.' Doc Martin exclaimed as he turned around to face them. 'You've got one very weak and injured child in there. Not only has she got those injuries from the wolf attack and the trap, that girl's been shot.'

'Shot?' Ben asked with a tone of horror in his voice. Who'd shoot a young girl?

He nodded, his expression grim. 'In the back. Looks like it happened a month or so ago, she's been running with it in her. That wound healed up some but it was opened again during her fighting with the wolf I imagine. I've pulled the bullet out and I've fixed her up the best I can. Infection is your main concern now, with the amount of wounds and how much blood she's lost it won't take much for it to be too much.'

'But does she have a chance?' Adam questioned after a moment, concern evident in his tone. He was worried about her and with cause. It didn't take much to know the girl was in a bad way.

'If we can prevent infection and she has plenty of rest and careful nursing then she might just pull through. She was in that trap a long time Adam, since yesterday morning is my estimation. She's got a lot stacked up against her, malnourishment, blood loss, not to mention the fact she mightn't want to live either.'

Hoss interrupted with a frown. 'Why'd you say that?'

'She's been beaten and badly too, I can still see bruising in some places that's older than from what she sustained yesterday and not to mention the scars she has on her.' Paul replied. 'That girl's got more history written on her then in one of your books Adam, she's been through something bad.' He raised his eyebrows and he turned back to Ben. 'She's going to need someone to keep a close eye on her for the next couple of days. I'll give you as much assistance as I can but I honestly don't hold much hope for her. I'll be speaking with the Sheriff, he might know who she is or where she's from.'

'Alright, I'd appreciate that Doc.' Ben replied, visibly disturbed by what the doctor had revealed. 'Thank you for your help.'

'No problem Ben, I just hope it's enough. I'll walk myself out.'

Hoss looked up at his father, all four men rather shaken by what the doctor had said. 'Beaten? Shot? What kind of monster hurts a child?'

'Unfortunately some men take pleasure in beating those who cannot fight for themselves against it.' He exclaimed after a moment, feeling himself being angered at the doctors revelation. 'No one deserves that kind of treatment.'

'I'd like to get my hands on whoever did this to her.' Little Joe added angrily, his temper flaring. 'See how they like it, a taste of their own medicine-'

'Joe, getting angry about it ain't going to help her. Not at least till we can find out who did it to her.' He looked at Adam who was standing with his arms folded in front of himself. 'Where there any signs of anyone else being around where you found her?'

He shook his head. 'Only tracks were of hers and the wolf. If she had a bullet put in her a month back she must have been running since then.'

'Well, I guess the next thing to do is speak with the Sheriff like the doc said, see if he can find out if there's anyone looking for her, find out who she is.'

'Your not going to make her go back to whoever was beating her Pa, are you?' Hoss asked with concern in his voice.

'No Hoss. Until we find out what exactly happened she's not leaving here. She's in no condition to be moved anyway. Those days of her receiving that kind of treatment are over.'

The first thing the girl became aware of as she slowly regained consciousness was the pain, the pain coursing through every part of her body, immobilizing her. It hurt, everywhere hurt. She was no stranger to pain, she'd lived through it before but this, this was worse than anything she'd ever been through before. She tried to move, a slight whimper escaping her lips and she didn't try again.

'Sssh, it's alright.' She could hear the low tone of a man speaking, felt something soft and cool touch her forehead. 'Your alright, you're safe now.' Every fibre of her being wanted to scream, to run. She wasn't safe, not when there was a man beside her. She wanted to do something but the pain immobilized her like a dumbstruck deer. She could feel someone touching her arm, unable to help the flinch that convulsed her whole body. 'It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you.' She heard him speak again and whimpering softly in pain as it coursed through her body. Oh why couldn't the darkness claim her again. 'Come on now, open your eyes.' The man spoke softly, somehow surprisingly soothing her beyond her will. Her eyelids fluttered, trying to gain strength to wake and see who was speaking to her. 'That's a girl, you can do it.'

She opened her eyes, taking a moment to adjust to the dim light and glanced up at the man looking down upon her. A man with dark black hair and kind brown eyes. He lifted his hand to take what was on her forehead, the girl flinching at his movement. 'It's alright.' He spoke again softly, his voice strangely calming almost. 'I'm just taking the cloth to wet it down again.'

Adam stood up, walking over to the other side of the room where the basin of water was and wet the cloth again. He could feel the girl's eyes following him, slowly and softly walking back to the bed and sat down again on it beside her. 'I'm not going to hurt you.' He soothed, seeing the fear in her eyes as he placed the cloth back on her forehead. 'I'm Adam Cartwright, I found you out in the forest and brought you back to my father's house. You're safe here, no one's going to hurt you.' He watched her eyes, the girl still wearing an expression of fear, verging on terror as she looked at him. She had the right to be suspicious of him, considering the treatment she'd had. 'Would you like some water?'

She thought about it for a moment. Her throat and lips were dreadfully parched, her mind trying to figure out when was the last time she'd been able to drink. After a moment she looked back at him then nodded as much as she was able and he smiled kindly.

'Good girl. Now I need to lift your head up a little bit, I'll try to be gentle but you've gotten yourself in a little bit of a mess.' Her neck was bandaged, her wounds from the wolf stitched closed to prevent further bleeding. Grabbing a pitcher on the table next to the bed he half filled the glass of water then gently as he could lifted her head and put the glass to her lips. The girl took her first sip gingerly then began to guzzle it and he had to take it away. 'Easy, you're liable to make yourself sick.' He cautioned, waiting a moment before he let her drink again. This time she drank slower, finishing off what was left in the cup and he placed her head back on the pillow. 'Good girl. Do you want some more?'

She nodded again, watching him as her mind raced with questions. Why was he being so kind to her? Who was he? Why was he doing this for her? Except for her mother and step father she'd never experienced such kindness and gentleness before. He lifted her head again gently, the cool water filling her mouth as he held the cup to her lips. She was thirsty, so so unbelievably thirsty. She drank slowly, savoring the feel of it in her mouth and looked back up at him. He smiled again at her, his smile somehow reassuring her that he was a good man.

The girl finished off two full glasses of water before she shook her head when he asked her if she wanted more and he placed the cup aside. 'Feel a bit better now?' The girl nodded and fixed the cloth on her forehead again. 'You've had us worried for you, you've been out cold for three days.'

Three days? Her mind exclaimed in horror, trying to figure out what day of the week it was. How long had it been since she was hurt?

'Easy, it's alright.' He soothed gently again as he saw the look in her eyes. 'That's a bit of a shock, isn't it?' The girl nodded. 'You've been quite sick I'm afraid but you're getting better now. Your fever's lower and your wounds are starting to heal up.' The girl didn't take her eyes off him, listening intently to every word he spoke to her. 'Do you think you're up to telling me your name?'

She opened her mouth after a moment, trying to speak but found she couldn't. Her throat hurt, it felt like something was pressing down on her neck. She tried again, this time able to speak barely audibly her name. 'Missie.'

'Missie?' He repeated to make sure he'd heard her correctly and she nodded. 'That's a pretty name for a pretty girl.' She blushed a little and he chuckled. 'How old are you Missie?'/p

'Twelve.'

'Twelve?' She nodded once more. Twelve. His mind repeated in disbelief. God, there was no reason on this earth for her to be beaten the way she had been. He'd seen the scars, the bruises when he and his father had changed her bandages. He hadn't noticed them when he'd been tending to her in the forest but he'd been abhorred when he'd seen them the first time. She was so young to have been treated like that. It made the fact she'd gotten caught in the trap he'd set make him feel worse. 'I'm just a little over twice your age. Do you have any family?'

Missie shook her head, tears coming to her eyes at the mention of her family and she looked away, trying hard not to cry. She couldn't help it though, large tears dripping down her cheeks but she made no sound. She flinched as she saw the shadow of Adam's hand pass over her face, waiting to be hit for crying but no punch came. Instead his calloused fingers gently wiped the tears off her flushed and warm skin.

'I'm sorry Missie, I shouldn't have asked.' He apologized, wiping her tears away. The girl stopped crying after a moment, looking back at him. 'Do you want something for the pain? The doc left some medicine for you.' She nodded and he grabbed opened a bottle of powder, tipping a teaspoon of it into a little bit of water and stirred it up. Lifting her head he brought the glass to her lips and she drank it, grimmansing at the bitter taste. 'Doesn't taste good does it?' She shook her head after he'd laid her back down and he placed the glass aside. 'It'll help you get some sleep too though, you do need your rest.'

The girl nodded, still looking at him. She hated the quiet almost as much as she hated being around men but somehow this man seemed to calm her. His voice wasn't rough or nasty, he spoke soft and gentle and it helped to alleviate a little bit of her apprehension. Maybe he could be trusted. 'Story?'

'You want a story?' He chuckled, amused at the request and she nodded. 'Alright, how about I tell you about where you are then and about my family?' She nodded again, this time only flinching slightly as he touched the cloth to make sure it was still wet. 'Your on the Ponderosa, a hundred thousand square miles of grazing and timber land. My Pa owns the ranch, my brothers Hoss and Little Joe and I help run the ranch. My Pa is called Ben, I think you'll like him. He's a good man, fair and honest. Hardworking too. Then there's my younger brother Hoss. We call him that cause he's built like a horse.' The girl chuckled a little, only a short shallow chuckle but it was still good to him to hear it. 'He's a big gentle giant really, loves looking after the horses and he's good at it too. Little Joe's our youngest brother, he's only seventeen and I don't know how he does it but always manages to get himself into some kind of mischief that Hoss and I end up getting him out of. Then there's me. I'm the oldest and kind of a foreman around here. I like reading books and doing stuff like that in my spare time. Do you like reading?'

'Can't read.' She replied in that weak, soft and raspy voice.

'I'll just have to read to you then.' The girl nodded, a faint smile on the corners of her lips as her eyelids grew heavier. 'I'll let you sleep now, you get some rest.' The girl nodded again as she closed her eyes, Adam carefully getting off the bed and sat down in the chair beside her instead, watching her. Even though his Pa had told him it wasn't his fault the girl had been caught in the trap the guilt was still pressing on him. He made a fist, placing it down hard on the armrest of the chair. If only he had stayed with his convictions about the traps and not put them out, choosing to keep after the wolf instead none of this would have happened.