I do NOT own Bonanza or any of the original Cartwright characters.

*I'm sorry, I forgot to say the show bounced around quite a lot when it came to the years the episodes were supposed to be in-I even recently saw one where a southern officer surrounded his rag tag troop over to the north side. That being the case, this story is set after the Civil War.

Star's Hope

Chapter Three

Star sat in between her father and mother eating the sandwiches Brooke had made. As she ate her mind wandered back to when they first entered town. There were many things she did not understand; Mr. Mitchell was one of them. She knew the few times she saw him he didn't act right; she knew he was mean, but she didn't know why. Everything he said seemed to confuse her. Was the man crazy or what? Star made both her parents choke when she asked, out of the blue, "What's a squaw?"

Ben cleared his throat and Brooke looked momentarily away; she had no desire for her daughter to see the hurt look in her eyes. After all, the child was completely innocent and shouldn't be bothered at such a young age by the likes of 'that Mitchell man'. Naturally, Star grew alarmed thinking she had just asked something horrible and would now be in trouble for it. She was relieved when he simply started talking, instead of using his angry tone of voice.

"A squaw is an Indian maiden. There is nothing wrong with that. Mr. Mitchell's lack of respect towards any of them is wrong. Do not let it bother you," Ben answered as he laid his hand upon her shoulder. He did not want her thinking she was in trouble for asking a simple question.

"Am I a squaw?" Star looked at both her parents still wearing a confused looked.

"No," Brooke answered this time, "I part Paiute, part white. Mr. Mitchell not like this." She wasn't about to try to explain to a child so young the prejudices some people insisted on holding in their hearts. Sadly, Brooke knew time and age would give the young girl that knowledge. Brooke just hoped the young girl would not let it make her bitter.

Star's eyes widened as she looked upon her mother. How could anyone not like her mother? She was kind, patience, and gentle. She cooked great, sewed the best dresses and read the best books. Star climbed onto her mother's lap and wrapped her small arms around her mother's neck and gave her as big of a hug as she could. "I think you're special."

That made Ben smile, along with Hoss and Candy; the two men had just gotten back to the churchyard after joining in on a shooting contest. Neither one bothered asking what 'that' was all about. Oh, Hoss started to only to receive a glare from his father. 'That glare' was one no one who knew Ben Cartwright well enough ignored. If he didn't want Hoss asking about it, Hoss wasn't going to. Besides, he figured sooner or later, he'd hear about it later anyway.

"Come on pumpkin," Hoss said as he held out his hand, "There's more games starting." Star started beaming from ear to ear. Ever since Adam left, Hoss had become Star's favorite brother. Of course, she never said anything like that to Little Joe. She still remembered how Hoss had blushed a little and his words when she'd told him he was her favorite. "I appreciate that, pumpkin, but let's keep that between ourselves. That is, iff'n we don't want to hurt Little Joe's feelin's. After all, he's been doin' a lot fer ya too since Adam left." She didn't want to hurt any of her brothers' feelings.

"May I, ma?" Star looked up at her mother. Brooke simply nodded and let the child go with her stepbrother. Only after the two had left with Candy did she allow a couple of tears to fall. Ben was quick to wipe them away.

"Don't let Mr. Mitchell get to you, dear. You know it doesn't matter to anyone who has an ounce of brain in their head." Ben sat next to his wife and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. It still amazed him that she'd chosen him over Adam and Candy, either of them would have done their best by her.

Brooke closed her eyes for a moment. The years she'd spent among the Paiutes ran through her mind. Some of the memories were quite dear to her; others held only pain and sadness. Then again, who had only happy memories? Who had only painful ones? If they had only painful ones, Brooke felt sorry for them. "I remember day I brought to you," Brooke opened her eyes and smiled at Ben. "You not know what to do. I much angry. I not know what to think. Take me time to see you tell truth that mixed blood not bad. I worry Star have hard time learning same thing." Brooke knew that men like Mitchell would be more than happy to tell Star what they thought about the Paiutes and other Indians, and what they thought about the marriage between Ben and herself.

Ben held his wife close. He had thought about that same thing time and time again. He couldn't help it; Star was so fair, as any white child would be. Brooke on the other hand, wasn't exactly dark, but her skin definitely leaned toward the darker Indian blood. Her high cheekbones spoke volumes too. In time, Star would realize just how much of her mother's Indian blood really showed. Then again, he knew if his daughter had a hard time learning that mixed blood made no difference it wouldn't be because of any of the Cartwrights. "She's already learning it. If she wasn't, she wouldn't have said what she did," Ben stood up, reached down and helped his wife stand up. "Now, let's go find someplace private," he wrapped his arm around his wife and started leading her down the street.

"Wonder where they're going?" Candy said as Hoss took Star from their foreman and put the child upon his own shoulders. He'd seen the look his father had been giving to Miss Brooke when he took Star away with him. "I think if you ask," Hoss replied, "I don't have to tell you." That only got Candy to blushing and walking away in embarrassment.