The next morning Josh woke up and went to the main area of the camp. He saw everyone but Maria there.
"Where's Maria?" he demanded.
"Thought she was with you," Maud spoke in return.
"No, she got up after we did a few things to go sit by the lake and she never came back," Josh said and got a pissed off look in his eyes just knowing where she was.
The Ponderosa was quiet early in the morning, that was all except the clinking of pots and pans being hit together. Maria was trying to be quiet in the kitchen but with the one pan slipping out of her fingers it wasn't as easy as she thought.
She heard footsteps from up above her so she started a pot of coffee along with the bacon and scrambled eggs. She went out to the hen house that morning and as she gathered the eggs she talked to the chickens and one even let her pet it on the neck a little. After the bacon was just about cooked she started the eggs and the toast after she sliced the bread.
"Man, what smells good?" Hop Sing asked as the men made their way downstairs.
"Must be Maria's cooking, she wasn't in bed when I woke up," Adam said as he sat down to put his boots on.
Everyone smiled his way and then towards Maria's way when they heard the soft humming she was doing as she was setting the table. She didn't realize the men were downstairs as she put her hair up quick like. She quickly went back to the kitchen and placed all the food on the plates she had out for them.
She took the plates out to the table, plated the food then poured the coffee for everyone. She stood there for a moment wondering what was missing then it dawned on her that she was missing silverware and the butter for the toast. She went back into the kitchen gathered everything up and took it to the table. She placed everything where it belongs and turned to the living room.
"Oh, uh, good morning everyone, breakfast is done," she told them all kinda embarrassed that they were watching her.
Adam smiled her way, "Morning honey, how'd you sleep?" he asked as he walked over to her.
"All right, odd dreams came to me but pretty good knowing you were with me," she replied once he got in front of her.
"Odd dreams?" he asked.
"I'll tell you later, but right now, we all need to sit and eat, even Hop Sing needs to since I made enough for everyone to have thirds if they are that hungry," Maria said.
"Or just seconds for Hoss over here," Joe joked making everyone laugh.
"Probably not little brother, I'm not that hungry this morning," Hoss replied.
"What are you sick Hoss?" Maria asked joining in on the picking on Hoss.
"Oh now Maria is going to get in on this, she must be happy to be home," Ben said getting a nod from Maria, "But I have to agree with her Hoss, you must be sick son if you're not going to get seconds."
"We'll have to hurry and get ours before he does, or there won't be none left," Adam joked.
Everyone settled down and ate breakfast. When everyone was done Hop Sing and Maria both got up to clear the table.
"You sit, I clean," Hop Sing told her. She smiled and sat back down as he cleaned the table off, "Want more coffee?" Hop Sing asked everyone.
"Yes please," everyone said as they made their way to the living room.
Hop Sing nodded and went to make another pot of coffee for everyone. Maria sat down next to Adam with a sigh. Adam looked at her and she nodded letting him know she was fine. She wasn't sure how to tell him that after the 'wedding' she was forced by Josh to have sex with him.
"Well, we all should go and talk to Roy and the Judge," Ben spoke up. They all nodded and Maria went upstairs with Adam behind her.
She entered the room and didn't know Adam was right behind her, he came in, closed the door, "Maria, are you sure everything is all right honey?" Adam asked her wrapping her in a hug.
"No, it's not all right, Adam, he forced me," Maria spoke.
"Forced you, to, to have?" was all Adam could get out. She nodded and he held her close, "I love you a lot Maria and nothing can or will change that okay?"
"I love you too Adam," she replied and they started kissing. He slowly laid her down on the bed and they adjusted a little so they were on the bed more, "we should get ready to go to town," she told him but loved how his kisses felt. He pulled back and looked her in the eyes and smiled.
"We should shouldn't we?" he asked and she nodded.
"Just wait, tonight after we get married we can do all you want," she told him softly.
"I like that idea my love, let's get you into a clean dress," he told her getting up off of her. She nodded as she got off the bed, "I have the perfect dress for you."
She turned and saw him holding a light pink dress with a silver colored design on the skirt part and small silver gems on the bodice, "Oh my, that is a beautiful dress Adam, where did you get it?" Maria asked.
"A small store in Carson City, I saw it was your size, I grabbed it, got a few odd looks from the cashier, and brought it home so the day we got married you could wear it if you wanted," Adam told him.
"I love it, it is so beautiful," she said and gave him a hug, "I love you so much Adam Benjamin Cartwright."
"I love you with my whole heart Maria Ann Cartwright," Adam replied making her smile, "let's get you into your new dress."
She nodded and he helped her get out of her dirty dress and changed into her new pink dress. After she was changed and in clean clothes she sat down at the mirror Adam had moved into the room so she could do her hair and make up. When she was done she looked over at Adam who had a smile on his face.
"Let's go get married," she said with a smile on her face.
"Let's go my love," he told her in reply and they went downstairs, "wait right here and I'll announce you." She nodded and he went downstairs rest of the way.
"Where's Maria?" Joe asked unsure on why Maria wasn't with Adam, "let me guess she's taking her time?"
"Nope, I would like to introduce the soon-to-be Mrs. Cartwright," Adam said and Maria came downstairs rest of the way. Joe's eyes went huge.
"Whoa," was all Joe could think of to say.
"What?" Hoss asked coming from the kitchen, "Maria, wow, you look very beautiful."
"Thanks," she whispered suddenly getting shy around them.
Ben came into the house and smiled at the site of Maria, "wow Maria, that dress looks lovely on you, dear," Ben told you.
"Thank you, I can't believe something this beautiful looks this good on me," Maria told them all.
"Anything will look beautiful on you," Joe told her as he held his hand out for her to take. She took it and he lead her down the stairs rest of the way.
"Joe quit hitting on your sister," Adam joked with a smile making everyone chuckle.
Joe just smiled and watched as Maria and Ben hugged, "you do look good dear," Ben said.
"Thank you Ben," she said shyly.
"Let's head to town all, Adam, you can drive and the rest of us will be in the back," Ben said making everyone nod in reply.
They all go out and a couple of the ranch hands were hooking the wagon up to the horses.