Josh was pacing back and forth next to the fire, "how could she? We's married," Josh grumbled as he put another log on the fire.
"She loves Adam, I saw it in her eyes the first day we were there," Willow spoke getting a dirty, pissed off look from Josh, "I mean it Josh, that girl is in love with a Cartwright."
"We's a going to Virginia City, knowing them they'll get married there," Maud told everyone, "Grabs your guns and let's go."
All the men nodded and grabbed their guns and mounted onto their horses Willow got onto a horse behind her 'husband'. Maud got onto her horse and they all went to Virginia City.
But on the way to Virginia City Maria kept looking around, she had this odd feeling that Josh and them all will be coming for her. Every twig that snapped or small rock that went down the side of a cliff made her jump a little.
"Maria, they won't get you honey, not with all of us and the guns we have," Adam told her.
"I know, I'm just scared is all," Maria replied.
"Anyone would be scared Maria, but as Adam said, no one will get you away from this family again," Ben told her and she nodded with a slight smile on her face.
The rest of the ride was a quiet one. Maria was watching the trees pass by since she likes to look at the colors of the leaves as they changed from summer to fall colors. Adam pulled the reins to make the horses stop and they all watched three dears cross the road in front of them. One of the females stopped and looked back and two little fawns came out of the woods and slowly walked across the road. The mom followed behind them.
Adam glanced over and saw a smile on Maria's face, "what are you are you thinking about?" Adam asked as he whipped the reins to make the horses walk on more.
"You'll find out later on when we're alone," Maria replied receiving a confused look from Ben, Joe and Hoss. Adam glanced her way and smiled lightly and they all went back to the silent ride to Virginia City.
When they arrived there Maria was helped off the wagon by Hoss, "Thank," she started and stopped and gripped Hoss' shirt.
"What?" he asked softly and she nodded towards the one bench and there sat Josh. Ben, Joe and Adam looked the same way then stepped around her. Adam slipped his arm around her waist and basically dragged her to the Sherriff's office.
They all got inside and Ben closed the door and locked it so no one could enter, "Ben, what's going on?" Roy asked.
"Maria's in trouble and we need to be married fast at that," Adam replied before Ben could talk.
"Oh and why's that Adam?" Roy asked.
"You see sir, my grandma wants me to marry some other guy whose abusive and last night forced me to a fake wedding and to have sex with him sir, I knew the wedding wasn't a real wedding since my grandma was the one who did the stuff the preacher would do, I am not in love with that Josh guy and they are here in Virginia City to take me away from the nicest family I've ever known and also probably to start a gun fight," Maria spoke and Adam held her close when he saw the tears building up in her eyes.
"Oh, um, well, I will go and get the judge for you two, you can get married here and if needed I will lock you two up in jail to keep that family, from taking her," Roy said getting a nod from Ben and Adam both. Maria nodded slightly also, scared that Josh and the others will get in while he's gone, "Now Ben, close and lock the door behind me, I'll knock three times to get back in."
"Alright Roy, thank you," Ben said and Roy nodded and left.
The second the door was opened Josh and a couple of his friends barged in. Roy tossed the keys to Adam who shoved Maria into a jail cell, locked her in and gave her the keys quickly. All the men were fighting and Maud came in and whipped her whip against the floor making everyone jump and stop.
"That girl is my kin, she's ta marry Josh," Maud spoke.
"No, she's over eighteen and can make her own decisions," Roy spoke as Adam snuck out and ran to go get the judge.
Adam got half way across the street when a gun shot went off and he fell to the ground. Maria unlocked the cells door, shoved her way past everyone and ran over to Adam.
"Adam? Adam, come on you can't die on me now," Maria said softly not wanting the tears to fall.
"Maria?" Adam asked softly.
"Yeah honey, it's me," she said as Ben, Joe, Hoss and Roy all ran over to them.
"The guy in the door of the saloon, he only got my shoulder," Adam spoke and got up with the help of Ben and Joe.
Maria glanced that way, "Uncle Jake!?" she called since she didn't know that he was with the family since she hardly looked at anyone.
"M-Maria?" he asked and they ran to each other and hugged, "I sorry I shot him."
"You need to call everyone off since in Pa's will it mentioned if anything happened to him Willow goes to grams and I get put in your custody," Maria told him as they went over to Ben and them, "Ben, Adam, Joe, Hoss, Roy, I would like you to meet the man who has full custody of me even though I am old enough to be on my own. This is my Uncle Jake. Uncle Jake this is the one I love Adam, his father Ben, his brothers Joe and Hoss and this is the sheriff of the town Roy."
"Nice ta meets ya, sorry for shooting you sonny, I thought you were Josh at first," Jake told Adam as they shook hands.
"It's not the first time I've been shot and probably won't be the last, Josh is in the sheriff's office," Adam replied and wrapped his good arm around Maria's shoulders, kind of to help stand a little.
"I'll go settle this all, Maria needs ta choose who she loves, not be forced ta love someone," Jake said, "Oh Maria darling, what went on in the tent?"
"He, he forced me to," was all she could get out and the anger came to Jake's eyes even more.
"I's kill him," Jake said and before anyone could stop him he rushed to the Sheriff's office. He grabbed Josh, shoved him into a jail cell along with everyone but Maud that wasn't a Cartwright or the sheriff.
"What about Grams?" Maria asked, "It was all her idea."
"She goes free, Willow needs her," Jake said. Maria nodded in reply and Willow came into the building.
"Maria?" she whispered and got arms wrapped around her in a hug.
"I'm so sorry, I tried talkin' them out of it," Willow cried into Maria's shoulders.
"I know Willa, I know," was all Maria said and then went to her grams and wanted to slap her but didn't, "Grams, the only times I want you around me is when you come to visit at least twice a month. After everything is calmed down and all then maybe more."
"You's mean it?" Grams asked.
"Yes, I mean it Grams, you are my real family, besides uncle Jake and Willow, I'm not going to banish you like I am all of them, as long as you promise to allow Uncle Jake to make all the choices for me, when I ask for the help," Maria told her.
"I promise, now how 'bouts that weddin' you and that young man of yours want so badly?" Maud asked as Maria and Adam hugged.
"How about we get the doctor and get that bullet out first?" Ben said holding his arm out for Maud to take. She took it and they all went to the doctors office.
"Adam, what happened this time?" Doc Martins asked with a chuckle.
"Accidental shooting, I got in the way when I shouldn't have," Adam lied making Doc Martins sigh.
"You better watch it, one of these times you might not be so lucky," the doc told him and Adam just nodded and tried to ignore the pain that was shooting through his shoulder. He looked over at Maria and smiled knowing that after the bullet is out he'll be the luckiest guy ever since he's getting married to the one he loves.
She smiled back and flinched a little when Doc started to pull the bullet out, "you were lucky Adam; it didn't go in as far as we all thought and it didn't hit anything. A few stitches and you'll be ready to do whatever you're in town to do."
"To get married," Joe spoke up.
"You little Joe?" Doc asked.
"No, my oldest brother and this lady," Joe said pointing to Maria.
"Oh really Adam? About time you find a lucky lady," Doc told him jokingly making everyone chuckle.
"Funny Doc," Adam said with a smirk.
"There you go Adam, you're ready to get hitched," Doc said as Adam put his shirt back on.
"Adam, I'll go buy you a clean, non-bloody shirt," Joe said and rushed out the door before anyone could reply.
"And when we get home Adam, I will sew the whole up in your shirt and get the blood out since red on white is very noticeable and trust me, I know a few special ways of getting the blood out," Maria told him.
"I have many good white shirts, you don't have to honey," Adam told her walking over to her.
"Adam get used to me wanting to do things, since after Joe gets back and we get to the judge, you'll be married to me so you'll have to get used to me wanting to do things even if you think they aren't safe," Maria told him with a giggle.
"Oh really, like what things?" he asked.
"You'll have to wait and find out Adam," she said.
Before Adam could reply Joe came in, "here's a clean shirt and the judge is waiting for everyone at the courthouse to marry you two, I ran into him at the store and he asked why I needed a white shirt, I told him and he basically ordered me to order you two to get over there," Joe told them as Adam changed his shirt.
"Sounds like Judge Wilson," Adam said with a smile, "Well my love, let's go get married."
"Let's go get hitched as everyone else calls it," Maria said making everyone laugh.
They all rushed, well ran, to the court house so Adam and Maria can get married.
When they walked in Judge Wilson glanced up, "who's walking you down the aisle Maria?" he asked.
She looked at Ben, "Would you walk me down the aisle Ben?" she asked shyly.
"I would be honored to me dear," Ben replied as Willow followed.
"Oh, be right back, you're not ready yet," Willow said and rushed to a store. Maria chuckled and then when Willow came back she put the veil on Maria for her.
"Willow, this is beautiful," Maria said as Ben put the front down over Maria's face for her.
"I bought it just for you sis," Willow said and the two of them hugged, "I'll go a head of you and stand by ya."
"Thank you sis," Maria said and Willow walked in before Maria when the music started. She went up and stood where she was supposed to. Joe and Hoss opened the doors so Ben could walk his soon-to-be daughter-in-law down the aisle to marry Adam.