It had been a month since Adam had asked Sheriff Coffee to wire the San Francisco authorities, to see if Samantha had any relatives.

The date was November first, Samantha's fourth birthday, Hopsing was fixing a special birthday dinner and a birthday cake. After dinner and the cake, the whole family sat in the living room where one by one they all gave her their gifts. From Hopsing a beautiful China doll, from Ben a beautiful horse that looked just like Adam's, and from Little Joe and Hoss a saddle and a riding outfit. Now it was Adam's turn.

Adam walk over to the settee with a box in his hand, he picked Samantha up and sat her down on his lap.

Adam gave her the box and she opened it. Samantha pulled out some papers and then looked at Adam with a confused look on her face.

"Adam? What is it?"

"Samantha, they are adoption papers. I want to adopt you."

"You want to adopt me?" Samantha asked more in shock then a question.

"Yes sweetheart, if you'll have me."

"Yes!" she shouted as she turned around to hug him.

"I'd hoped you would have said yes." He whispered in her ear while tears rolled down his face.

Samantha pulled backed from her hug and looked Adam in the face. Adam could see the tear falling down her face.

"Does this mean I can call you daddy?"

"Yes sweetie." He said as he kissed her on the cheek. She hopped down off of Adam's lap and ran over to Hoss.

"And you Uncle Hoss."

"Yes lumpkin, you can call me Uncle Hoss." She hugged him and then went over to Joe.

"And you Uncle Little Joe." Joe laughed and hugged her.

"Yes, if I can call you Little Sam."

Samantha giggled and nodded her head yes.

Joe picked her up and handed her to Ben.

"Grandpa!" she shouted with joy.

"Yes grandpa." Ben laughed "And you little Sam, are my granddaughter."

Little Samantha gave a big yawn which was a sign to all that it was getting late.

Adam picked up his daughter and carried her to her bedroom. He got her ready for bed and tucked her in.

"Daddy?" she asked while he handed her favorite doll to her.

"Yes."

"Will you read me a story?"

"Of course I will." Adam sat on the bed and took her into his arms and told her the story of a knight in shining armor and the beautiful princess. Adam had finished his story and thought that she was asleep, until she spoke up.

"That's what you are daddy." She said looking up at him.

"I am what?"

"You are my knight in shining armor except you are my knight in black armor because you always wear black shirts. You saved me, Daddy, just like the knight that saved the princess."

Adam didn't know what to say, he was so touched by what she had said.

"Daddy?"

"Yes my little princess." He smiled and looked at her.

"I love you." She said as she hugged him.

Adam closed his eyes and choked back a sob.

"I love you too."