Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bonanza nor any of the original Cartwright characters.

Only thing I can lay claim to in this story are the characters "Mariah", "Jacob" and the old man "Jim"...along with the storyline.

For Jacob's Sake

Chapter Ten

Scene Seventeen

Mariah stood in front of the fireplace staring at the wood burning inside of it. The storm threatening to take place outside was nothing compared to the one already raging inside of her. She was sure anyone from any amount of distance could see the black clouds emitting themselves from her; and, if they looked close enough-the fire in her eyes.

Hoss stood at the top of the stairs watching Mariah strap on her gun belt. He figured trying to talk her out of anything was probably darn near useless; still he had to try. By the time he descended the stairs she had her coat and hat on. "Ya know my Melinda has Little Jacob. Joe and the others are already out there lookin' fer Mr. Jones. In fact, the way it is goin' I bet ya they haveta come in. I mean it is a gonna be rainin' out there soon."

"I never let a little bit of rain stop me before. I am not letting it stop me now." She looked at him with a bit of disbelief on her face.

Hoss's shoulders slumped slightly, "Da ya really think he would want ya out in that stuff once it hits? Do ya think any of us do?"

Mariah stiffened and her voice rose slightly, "It was not my idea to down right insist that we each take turns sitting with him! I have been a part of this family long enough! Every one of you should have known that if I can not be up there then I have to be out there looking for that creep! Mr. Jones will stand trial for what he has done!" Rain poured out from her eyes as the words rushed out like a gush of wind being pushed out from the inner most part of her soul. Within a matter of only a couple of minutes the rain was once again quickly replaced by fire. However, when she spoke again her tone had softened, "I am not asking you to agree with what I do; nor am I asking you to give me your blessing. I am only asking you to understand. Ben did what he had to do. Now, I am doing what I have to do!" She headed for the door.

Hoss knew she spoke the truth. The moment his pa had realized there was someone with a rifle on the roof-and that the barrel was pointed at Adam's back-he had sprung into action. Before anyone knew what had happened Ben lay on the ground with a bullet in him that had been meant for his oldest son. Lightening had flashed though Mariah's pale blue eyes as the thunder rippled through her scream.

It was Little Joe who had ran around the back of the house and seen Mr. Jones riding off on his horse. Adam had ridden hard for the doctor and then he and Little Joe had set off with Roy and others to look for the wanted man. What Hoss had been trying to figure out was why on earth the man had tried to kill Adam when they were all nearby. The man must be letting his greed make him go plum loco. It was the only way Hoss could make any sense of it!

"What do I tell pa when he comes to?" Hoss asked as his stepmother opened the door.

"Good grief! What kind of question is that? Tell him the truth! He will not be surprised!" Mariah hurried out the door and into the barn to get her horse.

SCENE EIGHTEEN

Little Jacob sat on the porch of his Uncle Hoss and Aunt Melinda's home; tears ran down his face. It broke Melinda's heart to see the sight as she walked out of the house. Making her way over to where her nephew was she sat down beside him. For a moment she just sat quietly holding her hands together.

After a minute or so she turned head slightly and asked, "Want to talk 'bout it?"

At first Little Jacob shook his head but then changed his mind, "Why did that man hurt grandpa? Grandpa never did anything to him! Is grandpa going to die and be with my mother? And with my brother?"The tears rolling down his cheeks had slowed down but they still rolled off his cheeks at a rapid enough pace.

Her eyebrows rose ever so slightly. Up to the moment her young nephew asked his questions Melinda did not realize he didn't know his father had been the original target. Well, the child was traumatized enough; she sure wasn't going to be the one to 'set him straight'. Wrapping her arm around his shoulders, she gave him a hug, "I sincerely hope not. We, all of us, desperately want him here with us. As far as why the man shot him? I think that is something yer pa should be explaining to you not me."

Little Jacob's voice trembled, "I want to see grandpa. I want to talk to him. Please, I gotta see him!"

For a moment Melinda hesitated; finally she stood up, "I will go get Eric, you go get yer horse.

She hoped she was doing the right thing. Heaven knew that, just like the rest of them, Little Jacob needed something to hold onto.

0O0

Adam turned when he heard footsteps in the doorway. He couldn't help but grin as Little Jacob ran into his open arms.

"I thought Hoss was with pa." Melinda walked over and stood by the bottom of the bed. It hurt to see her father in law still laying unconscious.

"I got in a little while ago," Adam sighed as he held his son close and kept an eye on his father.

"Little Jacob wanted to come over." Melinda looked at Adam and, with her eyes, sent the message, "Hope it was okay."

When Little Jacob wiggled out of his father's arm and started to climb up on the bed Adam made sure the lad sat at his grandfather's feet.

"I want to stay with him too." Little Jacob curled up on the bottom of the bed. The sight was too much for Adam; he got up and went out into the hallway. 'Blasted, pa! If anyone got hurt it was not supposed to be you!' He leaned against the hallway wall and bowed his head.