After the storm and their meal, Adam put little Samantha back into bed, then made himself a comfortable place to sleep in the sitting room. Early the next morning Adam awoke, to find little Samantha curled up next to him asleep. He got up and put her back to bed, then started packing it was going to be a long day of travel.
Later that day while they were traveling Samantha was having a hard time staying quiet.
"Where are we going?"
"To my home." Adam replied.
"But I thought the cabin was your home?"
"No but it is on the Ponderosa which is my families land." He relied. "Samantha."
She turned her head and looked up at him "Yes."
"You know for a child who is almost four you sure speak well. Who taught you to speak so well?"
"My aunt, ever since I can remember I lived with my aunt and uncle."
"Samantha, do you know where you lived before you came here?" Adam asked her.
"San Francisco." She simple replied. She got quiet and lay against Adam chest. Adam had thought that she had fallen asleep until she spoke up again.
"Adam?"
"Yes sweetheart."
"What's going to happen to me? I don't want to go to the orphanage." She cried.
Adam stopped his horse, he got off his horse and took the crying little girl into his arms. "Shhh, no one is going to send you to an orphanage, shhh, its ok. Its going to be ok sweetie." He said while rubbing her back and trying to calm her down. His heart went out to her she was scared and all alone.
They still had a several hours to ride before they got to the house and the sun was getting low in the sky. They had made good timing by leaving the mule behind at the cabin, when they get back home he was going to send one of the ranch hands after it. The night was going to be cool and Samantha was still wearing his button up shirt and his jacket. They needed to get back to the house where it was warm.
The child in his arms had stopped crying, "Samantha, we have to keep riding, it's going to be too cool tonight for you to be sleeping out here."
Samantha nodded her head and a few minutes later they were on their way.
Hours later back at the house, things were calm and peaceful, Ben was reading by the fire while Little Joe and Hoss were playing a game of checkers.
"Dagburnit, Little Joe, stop cheating." Hoss yelled at little Joe.
"I'm not cheating, you're cheating!" he yelled back.
"You are both cheating, and you boys know how I feel about cheating." Ben interrupted them.
They didn't say anything and just went on playing their game.
"It sure is a cool night, ain't it Pa?" Hoss asked.
"Yes son it sure is."
"Hey, Pa, how do you think Adam is doing?" Joe asked.
"I'm sure he is fine Little Joe. Now I think it's time we all go to bed it's getting late."
The boys and Ben started to head upstairs, when they heard a horse ride up in the yard.
"Who could that be?" They all went to the door and opened it only to find Adam outside holding a bundle in his arms.
Ben ran outside, "Adam, son, is something wrong? You are back early."
"I'll explain everything later Pa." Adam.
"Adam, what have you got there?" Little Joe asked.
"This is Samantha. Like I said I'll explain everything later. Right now we are cold and in need of a hot meal. Hoss, will you take care of Sport for me?" Adam said walking towards the house, Ben and Joe fallowed. Once inside he laid the little girl on the settee.
"Samantha, wake up." Adam shook the little girl softly and she woke up. She opened her eyes, saw two people she didn't know, and threw herself at Adam, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"It's okay, Samantha, this is my brother, Little Joe and my father, Ben."
In a very low whisper Samantha gave them a small hello.
HopSing came into the living room, "Mista Hoss, said Mista Adam here I make him some food." Hopsing then noticed the little girl in Adam's arms, "Hopsing see Mista Adam brought home a little girl I make her something too." Hopsing left the room and within minutes had a hot meal ready.
After they ate Adam took the little girl upstairs to the spare bedroom next to his and explained to her that his room was next door if she needed anything. He got her cleaned up and into a fresh clean shirt of his and in no time the little girl was fast asleep.
After putting the little girl to bed, Adam made his way down stairs and sat down in a chair next to the fire. Adam explained to his brothers, father and Hopsing of how he came across the little girl.
"What are you going to do with her now, son?" Ben asked.
"Well Pa, I thought tomorrow I would take her to town and buy her some cloths and then ask Roy Coffee to wire San Francisco to see if she has any relatives there."
"And if she doesn't son? Are you going to send her to the orphanage?" Ben asked.
"No Pa, I promised her I wouldn't."
"Well you certainly can't keep her, son, you aren't married. You don't know how to raise a child."
"Pa, she needs me. I can't just abandon her not when she is all alone."