Forgotten Past
By Miranda Rochelle Inc
Chapter 3: Uneasy Morning
Morning dawned uneasily on the Ponderosa. Ben had been the first to wake, but couldn't get back to sleep after his nightmare. He had gotten dressed and went downstairs to dwell on it over a cup (or even a pot) of coffee, on the settee, in front of the fireplace. Joe's well-being weighed heavily on his mind. He sipped his coffee and sighed heavily, staring into the flickering flames. He had come so close to loosing his youngest that night, it left a terrible foreboding feeling that had never entirely left him; which was most likely the reason he had always been so overprotective of the boy.
Adam walked down the stairs, "Pa? What are you doing up so early?" He was fully dressed as well, and looked almost as sleep-deprived as his father. Though Adam did well to cover it up, Ben could always tell when his sons were hurting.
Ben looked up, slightly startled, then smiled thoughtfully, "Couldn't sleep, you?" He already knew the answer. Adam had always been the most responsible of his sons; and he had always tried to take care of his both of his younger brothers. Joe must be the first thing on the younger man's mind.
"Me either. You keep thinking about Joe?"
Ben sighed, "That's the problem, all I can think about is cradling him in my arms." He shook his head to push the memories into the back of his mind. "He's not a boy anymore. I know that, for the most part he can take care of himself-" he stopped and sighed, not knowing how to complete his sentence. "There have been very few times in my life that I have felt helpless, and I do not enjoy it." Ben knew that Adam understood what he meant; his oldest son had been there with him when two of his wives had died, not to mention on numerous occasions when any of his sons were sick or hurt. Adam knew that that one night had nearly killed their father. He had lost three wives; all he had were his ranch and his three boys.
His heart couldn't take another loss.
"We all feel the same way, pa. But Joe's safe now. And I think that Thomson wants us to feel the stress more than anything. Otherwise he would have taken Joe when he saw him in town."
Ben sighed again, digesting Adam's words, "I'm bound and determined not to let him get to me." He looked into his son's eyes, "Though it doesn't seem to be working."
Adam sat down in the blue chair next to the settee, "I don't think it's working for any of us."
"I know it ain't workin' fir me," Hoss said, descending the stairs. He looked just the same as the older Cartwrights, fully dressed, but clearly tiered.
"I know, son," Ben answered. Hoss had always been the most apathetic Cartwright. Sometimes Ben believed that his middle son cared about everything far too much for his own good. Though, Hoss was also very close to his younger brother, which right now seemed to even further complicate things.
Adam's head suddenly snapped up, "Pa? Did you hear that?"
Ben and Hoss immediately snapped to alert, listening carefully. Hooves pounded like thunder on the ground outside their home. They jumped up and grabbed their guns, ready for a fight, there had to be at least four horses! Ben listened again before his eyes widened fearfully. "They're leaving!" He yelled as he ran to the staircase, praying that the only other Cartwright was still safe. Adam and Hoss followed closely behind.
A/N: Sorry about the cliffy...if I'm feeling generous, I might put up another chapter tomorrow. Sigh, I had such a hard time thinking up a title for this chapter. If you have a better one, I'm all for it. I'm sorry I didn't update last night, I had forgotten that it was one of those "Show Amanda how pathetically low she is in the social hierarchy of high school" nights. (a.k.a.: Winter Formal) But that's ok! My friends and I had a great time! We didn't vote for the stupid "populars" running for court, and went into another room when they were crowned! Haha! The losers "win" again!
Anywho, I wanted to thank all of my wonderful reviewers! Sam, a.k.a. Spoils the Viking, as always, luv u much! Julie/Shampoo (heehee Ranma) it's spiffy to see another anime chick who loves Bonanza! Carly, thanks a lot! And Linda, who I forgot to thank for the last chapter. Oh! We have to get all the Bonanza fans under 20 together so Sam can feel good, he doesn't think there are any! He feels lonely. Even though he shouldn't, cause he had Valkerie and me.
And of course I have to TOTALLY send my love to JULES47! All the way from Australia. Wow...that's far away. Though it probably isn't for you...hmm. I'm glad that you like it. It makes me feel really good. Especially after all the flames I got for my last story...sheesh! I thank you, with all my heart, and think that it is awesome you are such a fan. I guess I feel a lot luckier to have three eps a day! I haven't seen 300 eps though! Wow.
I think that is long enough for an author's not, don't you? Well, I would say "night" but I'm so doped up on cold medicine, I'm not going to sleep for a while yet. So adi! (short for "adios")
Sincerely,
Amanda L.'s evil clone "Miranda Inc"
P.S. ::Sigh:: I just noticed how many spelling errors there are...sheesh, no wonder my computer hates me. I make it work so hard!
By Miranda Rochelle Inc
Chapter 3: Uneasy Morning
Morning dawned uneasily on the Ponderosa. Ben had been the first to wake, but couldn't get back to sleep after his nightmare. He had gotten dressed and went downstairs to dwell on it over a cup (or even a pot) of coffee, on the settee, in front of the fireplace. Joe's well-being weighed heavily on his mind. He sipped his coffee and sighed heavily, staring into the flickering flames. He had come so close to loosing his youngest that night, it left a terrible foreboding feeling that had never entirely left him; which was most likely the reason he had always been so overprotective of the boy.
Adam walked down the stairs, "Pa? What are you doing up so early?" He was fully dressed as well, and looked almost as sleep-deprived as his father. Though Adam did well to cover it up, Ben could always tell when his sons were hurting.
Ben looked up, slightly startled, then smiled thoughtfully, "Couldn't sleep, you?" He already knew the answer. Adam had always been the most responsible of his sons; and he had always tried to take care of his both of his younger brothers. Joe must be the first thing on the younger man's mind.
"Me either. You keep thinking about Joe?"
Ben sighed, "That's the problem, all I can think about is cradling him in my arms." He shook his head to push the memories into the back of his mind. "He's not a boy anymore. I know that, for the most part he can take care of himself-" he stopped and sighed, not knowing how to complete his sentence. "There have been very few times in my life that I have felt helpless, and I do not enjoy it." Ben knew that Adam understood what he meant; his oldest son had been there with him when two of his wives had died, not to mention on numerous occasions when any of his sons were sick or hurt. Adam knew that that one night had nearly killed their father. He had lost three wives; all he had were his ranch and his three boys.
His heart couldn't take another loss.
"We all feel the same way, pa. But Joe's safe now. And I think that Thomson wants us to feel the stress more than anything. Otherwise he would have taken Joe when he saw him in town."
Ben sighed again, digesting Adam's words, "I'm bound and determined not to let him get to me." He looked into his son's eyes, "Though it doesn't seem to be working."
Adam sat down in the blue chair next to the settee, "I don't think it's working for any of us."
"I know it ain't workin' fir me," Hoss said, descending the stairs. He looked just the same as the older Cartwrights, fully dressed, but clearly tiered.
"I know, son," Ben answered. Hoss had always been the most apathetic Cartwright. Sometimes Ben believed that his middle son cared about everything far too much for his own good. Though, Hoss was also very close to his younger brother, which right now seemed to even further complicate things.
Adam's head suddenly snapped up, "Pa? Did you hear that?"
Ben and Hoss immediately snapped to alert, listening carefully. Hooves pounded like thunder on the ground outside their home. They jumped up and grabbed their guns, ready for a fight, there had to be at least four horses! Ben listened again before his eyes widened fearfully. "They're leaving!" He yelled as he ran to the staircase, praying that the only other Cartwright was still safe. Adam and Hoss followed closely behind.
A/N: Sorry about the cliffy...if I'm feeling generous, I might put up another chapter tomorrow. Sigh, I had such a hard time thinking up a title for this chapter. If you have a better one, I'm all for it. I'm sorry I didn't update last night, I had forgotten that it was one of those "Show Amanda how pathetically low she is in the social hierarchy of high school" nights. (a.k.a.: Winter Formal) But that's ok! My friends and I had a great time! We didn't vote for the stupid "populars" running for court, and went into another room when they were crowned! Haha! The losers "win" again!
Anywho, I wanted to thank all of my wonderful reviewers! Sam, a.k.a. Spoils the Viking, as always, luv u much! Julie/Shampoo (heehee Ranma) it's spiffy to see another anime chick who loves Bonanza! Carly, thanks a lot! And Linda, who I forgot to thank for the last chapter. Oh! We have to get all the Bonanza fans under 20 together so Sam can feel good, he doesn't think there are any! He feels lonely. Even though he shouldn't, cause he had Valkerie and me.
And of course I have to TOTALLY send my love to JULES47! All the way from Australia. Wow...that's far away. Though it probably isn't for you...hmm. I'm glad that you like it. It makes me feel really good. Especially after all the flames I got for my last story...sheesh! I thank you, with all my heart, and think that it is awesome you are such a fan. I guess I feel a lot luckier to have three eps a day! I haven't seen 300 eps though! Wow.
I think that is long enough for an author's not, don't you? Well, I would say "night" but I'm so doped up on cold medicine, I'm not going to sleep for a while yet. So adi! (short for "adios")
Sincerely,
Amanda L.'s evil clone "Miranda Inc"
P.S. ::Sigh:: I just noticed how many spelling errors there are...sheesh, no wonder my computer hates me. I make it work so hard!