Chapter 8

The next day Dr. Martin was called to the Ponderosa or see Adam.

"Paul, come in please."

"Hello Ben, so where is my patient?"

"Right in here."

~0~

"Adam, you have company."

"Oh Paul, come in."

"Hello Adam. I hear you've had a pretty bad week."

"Yes I have. And it still hurts like hell."

"OK, let's have a look at your head first. Well, you do have quite a gash there. Seems like it is starting to close however. Rebecca did a good job of caring for it. Any headaches or dizziness, nausea?"

"On all counts."

"That says a concussion. Adam I'm not sure how many more blows to your head you can take. OK, now your leg. Well, again well taken care of. It looks pretty bad, I'll clean it up and try to stitch it up and re bandage it. First let me check your ribs."

"Auhh."

"Hurts there? A broken rib. And it looks like your kidney got a beating also."

"Ya, pretty much every where."

"OK, Adam well I'll keep an eye on that kidney, now I'll fix this leg for you, and I order you in bed rest for at least a week until this leg starts healing."

"A week? Paul, I have a house to get finished."

"Just what you don't need to do."

"Hi, can I come in?"

"Rebecca, yes I think I can us your help here. I have ordered Adam bed rest for at least a week and he says he has a house to build."

"Well he doe's, however it can wait and I believe the hands are taking care of that any way. I will make sure he obeys your orders Dr. Martin."

"Thank you Rebecca."

"You're welcome. Adam, don't look at me like that. You need to get better."

"OK Adam, I will be back in a couple of days to check on you. You can only get up to use the water closet and that's it."

"OK Paul, you win."

"Well good. OK goodbye Adam. Rebecca, can I talk to you out here?"

"Of course Dr."

~0~

"Rebecca, I'll give you this for Adam's pain. I know he is in pain although he won't admit it. Just put some in his coffee before he go's to sleep for the night."

"Oh alright. I hope he won't be upset with me. He hates taking medicine."

"It will be to late by the time he realizes what happened."

"I hope so."

"OK, I'll be going now."

"Thank you, goodbye now."

~0~

"Adam, are you comfortable?"

"I could use one thing."

"What's that?"

"My wife here by my side."

"Oh well I think your wife can manage that request." Rebecca went to the other side of the bed and laid down beside Adam and cuddled into him.

"Now that's better."

"Adam, I don't want to hurt you but I so much want to hold you and just be near you. I thought I might have lost you out there. I couldn't have lived if that would have happened Adam."

"Rebecca sweetheart, you are not going to loose me. I'm to stubborn for that. And you can hold me honey. I'll let you know where it hurts."

"But that's just it, I don't want you to tell me after I have already done it."

"OK, let's get this out of the way, I have two broken ribs right here on my left side. You know where my leg is hurt and my head. You know about my sore kidney on my left side. And right now, you are here on my right side. So, I guess you are pretty safe to hold me."

"OK, as long as it's on this side."

"Now, can I have another kiss please and then I feel like I could use some sleep."

"Adam yes you can have as many kisses as you like." Rebecca took Adam's face in her hands and gave him a long passionate kiss and then laid her head down on his chest and they both feel asleep.

~0~

It was now supper time and Pa was knocking on Adam and Rebecca's door. Adam woke up and looked down at Rebecca and then heard the knock on the door.

"Come in."

"Adam, I just wanted to let you know supper is ready. How do you feel son?"

"Not to bad right now." Adam smiled down at Rebecca

"Yes, I can see that."

"We will be right out Pa. Or Rebecca will I should say."

"Adam, the week will go by fast and you can join us at the table."

"Not fast enough."

"OK, I'll leave you alone."

"Rebecca, sweetheart." Adam rubbed his hand down the side of her face "Rebecca."

"Hm, yes Adam. Oh, are you in pain?"

"No, Pa came in and said supper was ready."

"Oh, have I slept that long? Oh no, oh Adam, you must be starving."

"Sweetheart, I'm fine. You go out and get some supper alright. I'm sure Hop Sing has made some thing for me."

"Adam, that's my job. I'll bring your plate in and mine also. We can eat together."

"OK, whatever you wish."

"Well, I wish."

~0~

"Hi, I'll eat with Adam Hop Sing."

"Good-you both eat."

"I promise Hop Sing, I'll get Adam to eat and I'll eat also."

"Here you go-two plates-two cup tea."

"Thank you Hop Sing."

~0~

"OK Adam, here we go. Here is yours and your tea. And I'll eat mine here on the side table."

"Thank you sweetheart. Looks good."

"Yes it doe's. Adam, I think the family wants to come in and visit you for awhile after supper."

"That would be nice. I kind of miss our little visits after supper every night."

"It's important to have these times with our family."

"Yes it is. Someday we will be having those little visits with our own little family."

"Oh Adam, wouldn't that be wonderful. Our own little family."

"Yes it would. But we have a lot of time for that sweetheart."

"Well as soon as you can get back to normal, maybe we can start to work on our little family of our own."

"Aw, my wife is missing our intimate time together is she?"

"Oh Adam, you have no idea."

"Well maybe by the weekend we will be able to work on that. At least try any way."

"Adam, you need to be fully well."

"I will be."

~0~

With supper over and Adam having his bandages changed and his needs taken care of the family was all getting together in the guest room to visit with Adam.

"Can we come in now Adam?"

"Of course Pa. Come in and get comfortable."

"Hey big brother, how ya feelen?"

"Oh, not to bad. I could be better."

"Well you need to get out of that bed and get back to work."

"What's wrong Joe, work getting to be to much for you?"

"Not at all, just tired of being the one to do the extra work."

"Joseph, I didn't realize we were working you that hard."

"Pa, I didn't mean it that way."

"Oh, just how did you mean it?"

"Oh heck, I don't know."

"Well, you and Hoss will have to do all the chores in the morning because I have to go and see Roy about those rustlers."

"Oh yes, are you going to charge them Pa?'

"Yes of course Adam. With a few things."

"OK, add one for me OK. They assaulted Rebecca also. I want them charged for that."

"Alright son, I'll ask Roy to do that. Rebecca what all did they do to you?"

"Pa, they just slapped me and tried to take me with them but the head guy told them to leave me."

"Alright, well that should be enough to get a charge of assault. It's against the law out here to hit a woman for any reason."

"Thank you Pa. I wish I could go with you."

"You just need to stay in that bed and do as you're told."

"So I've been told."

"Well, we should all let you get your rest. So goodnight son, Rebecca."

"Goodnight Papa."

"Goodnight Adam."

"Goodnight Hoss, Joe."

~0~

"Ok Adam, I'm going to get ready for bed."

"Alright, are you going to put a nightgown on?"

"Yes I am. And every night until you're well."

"Don't trust me huh?'

"Adam! You can't do any thing and you know it."

"Yes sweetheart, I know."

Rebecca put on her nightgown and combed out her hair while Adam watched her. He loved watching her do this.

"OK, now I am ready to get under the covers with my handsome man."

"Wonderful."

Rebecca cuddled up to Adam and kissed him goodnight. Rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. Adam drifted off to sleep after getting his medicine in his tea at supper.

~0~