Chapter III: Twilight images are gone

"I close my eyes

And my twilight images go by

All too soon

Like an angel passing through my room"

After the doctor had left, Hoss climbed to upstairs and entered to Mariana's room.

"Hello Sleeping Beauty," Hoss whispered. Mariana opened her eyes and smiled to Hoss. " Are you Ok?" Hoss asked.

Mariana said nothing. She started to cry.

"Everything is Ok. Don't do that little thing. Don't cry. Me and Adam and Little Joe and Pa are gonna do our best to get you better. Would you try to sleep now?". Mariana stopped crying.

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"Shhhhhhh, just sleep now," Hoss said with soft voice. He didn't notice that Adam, Little Joe and Ben had come behind the door and were now following him and Mariana. They closed the door and sneaked downstairs.

"Awwww, Hoss is sweet on her," Little Joe laughed.

"I think he is. So that's why it's going to be more difficult to him when we sent Mariana to east," said Ben. Hoss came down and Ben noticed that he was crying.

"It's Ok son. I know it's hard to separate from her but it's the best thing for her. Besides, she'll come back after getting better".

" I know Pa. But still," Hoss said.

After a week, doctor came to Ponderosa and told that he'd arranged Mariana in that sanatorium.

"Here's all what she needs. She'll be leaving afternoon and she'll come back after three months," doctor told.

"Thank you doctor. It's best for her, we know and we'll pay everything. Adam, Little Joe, Hoss would you go and pack all the things she'll need. Then Adam can drive her to town and escort her to post carriages," Ben said and boys went to pack. Mariana was awake when they came.

"Ok Mariana, you'll be going to sanatorium to east coast and return after three months. I'll take you to the station," Adam told and they started to pack, asking from Mariana what she'd like to take with her. Soon it was time to leave. Hoss was alone with Mariana in the room.

"I'll miss you really much Sleeping Beauty," Hoss said quietly.

" And I'll miss you," said Mariana. They hugged and Mariana let Hoss to carry her to carriage. Adam was waiting. Gently Mariana gave Hoss little kiss to lips. Hoss blushed and then they left. Ben, Little Joe and Hoss waved to her and she waved back. After they had disappeared, Ben patted Hoss to back and they went inside.

At the post carriage-station, Adam helped Mariana to step in carriages.

"Well, goodbye then Mariana. We'll meet again," Adam said to her.

"Goodbye Adam. Say thank you to your father for all he's done for me. And say my best wishes to Hoss and tell him that I love him. I'll come back soon".

The carriages left. She waved to Adam and closed her eyes. At last, all the nightmares had stopped and all twilight images had went away. She was alone in those carriages.

" I really love him," she whispered to herself and smiled a little. Everything was good now.