"Adam, if you hurt yourself anymore then you are hurting; you will be in bed for a month!" Maria said from upstairs with a slight chuckle in her voice.
"Maria, I am fine darling don't go worrying your cute little head over me," Adam replied.
"Then try walking down the stairs alone," Maria said and went a head of him. She went down and sat down on the couch next to Joe with a sigh.
Adam started down the stairs and tried to hide the pain, "Don't worry, I'm fine," were the first words out of Adam's mouth.
"Then why do you have a painful look written in your eyes?" Maria asked as she went over to him.
"I," he started, "Fine, you win this one, my leg does hurt, and I did hit it on the bed."
"See, I told you to take it easy Adam," she said softly putting his arm around her shoulder to help him walk down the stairs rest of the way.
"I know, I just don't want you to worry too much over me," Adam told her.
"Get used to it," she said with a smile making him smile in return.
"Wow older brother, I think she worries more over you then the three of us do," Hoss said and Adam chuckled as he sat down.
"Would you like some coffee Adam?" Maria asked not wanting to answer Hoss's question.
"Yes please, I'll help," Adam said.
"No you sit or you'll be tied to that couch Adam, you will not be hurting that leg more then it does now." Maria told him and he started to stand up, "Sit Adam."
"I'm not a dog darling," he told her standing up.
"Adam Benjamin Cartwright sit down please," Maria ordered with a smile.
"No Maria Ann Hoad," Adam said since they were talking and they told each other their middle name.
"Ben, do you have any rope, this kid of yours will learn to sit and not hurt his leg when someone says to," Maria asked.
"You wouldn't?" Adam asked.
"Keep testing me and you'll find out," she told him standing straighter to look him a little better in the eyes.
He stood his ground, "I can walk to the kitchen Maria."
"To bad," she told him and before anything was said they heard something hit the door. Maria's eyes went huge.
"What is it?" Adam asked and they heard whatever it was hit the door again. She jumped and hid her face in Adam's shirt. He put his arms around her and held her close as Ben, Joe and Hoss opened the door.
"Who are you?" Ben asked.
"Maud Hoad, you have my granddaughter Maria," she said getting ready to use the whip again.
Maria came out, "Why are you here?" Maria asked softly. Maud used the whip and Maria caught it, "Don't even, I am sick of this whip and the abuse, I'd rather stay here where I know I won't be hit all the damn time by a whip because I won't do what you want me to."
"Why you," Maud said and took the whip and went to hit her but Adam grabbed the whip and pulled it out of Maud's hands, "give it back."
"No, you have no right to hit her with the whip," Adam said angrily.
"She's my kin, I can do what I want," Maud replied.
"To bad, around here you won't be doing that," Adam said as he watched Maria step behind Joe a little more when a guy came over, "who are you?"
"I'm Josh Martins, we're to be married," Josh said.
"No, No we're not, I'll never marry you," Maria said as she went to Adam. Adam put his arm around her.
"But Maria, I loves ya," Josh said.
"To bad, I don't love you, never have and your drinking ruined everything," Maria replied, "plus, I like someone else."
"This looser?" Josh asked pointing to Adam. Joe, Hoss and Ben got pissed at that comment along with Adam.
"He's not a looser like you," Maria replied, "in the short time I've known him he's been sweeter, kinder, and nicer and better to me then you ever will or have been. At least when we argue he won't haul off and hit me."
"I didn't mean any of it," Josh told her.
"Yes you did, also, I trust Adam not to try to force me to have sex with him like you've tried many times, just leave," Maria said and ran inside and up to Adam's room.
"You tries to force her?" Maud asked.
"I was drunk," Josh replied and Maud forced her whip out of Adam's hand and started using it on Josh. Adam went inside and up to Maria's room but stopped at his when he heard crying coming from it.
Willow went over to Maud, "grams, enough," Willow said softly.
Maud stopped and looked at Ben, "I hears you have fancy house? I'd like to see it if you don't mind?"
Ben held out his arm, "Not at all, you're welcome over any time you want." They all went inside, well all but Josh. Josh got on his horse and left.
When they all went inside they all stopped and smiled at the site on the stairs, Adam and Maria were kissing. They pulled apart, "I'm sorry you had to hear all that stuff outside."
"It's alright sweetie and it's the past, it doesn't matter," he told her and looked up when he heard someone clear his or her throat, "Pa, how long have you all been there?"
"Long enough son," Ben replied and laughed at the site of his oldest child's cheeks grow red.
Maria glanced up; "awe, Adam's embarrassed," she said with a smile, "Adam, you better not."
"You better run darling," Adam said and she took off, "Joe, Hoss help catch her!"
All three boys went after her, "Oh this ain't fair now, three against one?"
"Fair for me," Adam said. She stopped for a second and Adam grabbed her but the two of them fell into the watering trough.
"Adam Ben," was all she got out and he kissed her, "brat."
"Got you," he said as he got up then helped her out of the trough.
"Now we need to change, I'll be in my room kind sir," Maria told him with a chuckle.
"I'll be in my room," Adam said and went up to his room. Maria was in her room softly singing as she cleaned herself up. He stopped and listened to her for a few minutes then went to his room.
A few moments later Maria came out of her room now clad in a dark green dress that has a white design on the chest area. She went downstairs and sat on the couch. Unsure on what all to say or do at the moment.