"If it would have been your son Joseph, Marie, you wouldn't have done it." 17 year old Adam looked at his step-mother.
"How dare you," first time in six years Marie slapped his oldest son, "How dare you, Adam Stoddard Cartwright, accuse me of loving one of my sons more then other." Marie looked into Adam's eyes, "you still doubt, that I love all you three as my sons, you, Hoss and Joe, you are my sons. I remember so well when I first stepped in from that door and saw you two, I started loving you as my sons and no one can change that, even if you tried Adam. I love you all equally, no one of you more than other." She took two little steps towards Adam and caressed his cheek. "I would have done what I did to Hoss and Joe too." She raised her finger when Adam started to say something. "Let me finish, hear me out, before you throw more of your accusations to me. You wouldn't have been happy with Elena, because she loves another one, would you have been happy in a relationship, even marriage with a woman who loved another and wouldn't tell you because she don't want to hurt you. And because of that I told her to think little more before answering to you and I reminded her that you would be away in college for four years, Elena is a country girl, she wouldn't be happy in a big city and she don't have the strength to wait you. I know I hurt you and I'm sorry, but I did it because I want you to be happy." With that she turned away, before she reached the stairs she heard, "Ma,"
She turned around again, "Yes, Adam."
"I'm sorry and I love you." Marie smiled, "I love you to." Neither of them didn't know that month later Marie would be gone.