A Hold on a Cartwright's Heart
I do not own Bonanza or any of the characters, except for Amanda and Mason, they are mine. Adam is 32, Hoss is 27, and Joe is 20. No copyright infringement is intended this is just written for fun and pure enjoyment of the reader
Chapter Three: A Hold on my Heart
Doc was checking over Mason, when Adam suddenly jumped to his feet, making everyone jump. "Dagburn it, Adam," Hoss said "you about gave me a heart attack." "Sorry," Adam said "I just remembered Pa." Joe started laughing. "Well you better get out there before he thinks you forgot him." Adam glared at Joe as he headed for the door and gave Joe a whack on the back of the head. "Come on, Hoss." Adam said "help me hitch up the buckboard." Hoss got up and follow Adam out the door, with Joe still laughing.
Outside, Adam and Hoss just finished hitching up the team to the buckboard. "Do you need me to come with?" Hoss asked. "No, I think me and Pa can manage." Adam said climbing up into the seat. "See you later." Hoss said. "See you." Adam said then he nickered and slapped the reins and headed down the road.
Adam was then lost with his thoughts, which were mostly about Amanda. "Gah what's wrong with me." Adam said to himself. "She just lost her husband and she's younger than Joe, there's no way she could like anyone as old as me." Adam shook his head as he came upon the site where they found Amanda.
"Pa!" Adam yelled as he stopped the buckboard. He climbed down and looked around the horses that were hooked to the wagon had been cut from the hitching gear and most of the stuff from the wagon were stacked in a pile. "Pa!" Adam yelled again. "Over here, Adam." Adam walked a few feet forward and seen his father putting the last few scoops of dirt on top of a grave. "Hey, Adam," Pa said leaning against the shovel. "Did Amanda and Joe make it home ok?" "Yeah Pa," Adam said "the doc was there when we got there."
"Well, let's go load up that stuff." Pa said walking back to the wagon with Adam behind him. After they got everything loaded up, Adam looked around. "What should we do about those horses?" Adam asked. "We'll have to let the wolves have them," Pa said. "there's nothing we can do." "Yeah I guess you're right." Adam said then sighed as he climbed up next to his father.
The conversation back home was about the story Amanda had told Adam and Joe. Ben was quiet for a moment as he took in the girl's story. "Well, that girl is not going anywhere, with the condition she's in." Ben said "what do you think Adam?" "I think it's a good idea, I just hope she takes the offer." Adam said. Then the conversation turned to the new mining contract that Ben was trying to get.
Adam's thoughts turned again to Amanda. He was glad that Pa had suggested that Amanda should stay. Adam shook his head for the third time that day, 'No I don't like her, I'm just worried about her' Adam thought. "Adam." Ben said for the second time. Adam jumped and looked at Pa. "Sorry Pa," Adam said "lost in my thoughts I suppose." Ben laughed with knowing in his eyes.
They pulled into the yard and seen that Doc Martin's buggy was gone. Ben stopped the buckboard in front of the house. "I'll get the horses." Adam said jumping down from the buckboard. "Thank you, Adam." Ben said getting down and heading into the house.
"Hey, Pa." Joe and Hoss said looking up from their checker game. Ben put his hat on the table behind the door and began taking off his gun belt. "Where's Amanda?" Ben asked noticing that she and Mason were no where to be seen. "They went to bed after the doc left." Hoss said. Just then Adam walked in; he looked around and then assumed that Amanda went to bed. "I put Amanda's things in the barn for the night." Adam said. "That's fine, well bed sounds good to me." Ben said stretching his arms. "Without dinner, Pa?" Hoss said. "Well seeing as Hopsing doesn't get back until tomorrow and none of you have started dinner I suppose so." Ben said heading for the stairs. "Sorry Pa." Both Joe and Hoss said sheepishly. Ben just laughed and said "Good night boys." "Night Pa." All three Cartwright sons said good night.
Joe and Hoss continued playing their game while Adam took off his gun belt. Adam then sat down and picked up his book that he was reading, but his thought strayed once again to Amanda. 'Something is seriously wrong with me.' Adam thought. 'I've never felt this way before.'
Adam sighed, which caught the attention of Joe and Hoss. "You ok there older brother?" Joe asked. "I'm fine," Adam said setting his book down and getting up. "just tired I guess, good night." "Good night, Adam." Joe and Hoss said.
As Adam climbed the stairs he thought to himself. 'I'm in trouble; I think she has a hold on my heart without meaning to.'