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 Fourteen: Mason's Naming

Amanda told Sheriff Coffee everything about her past and who the man was, while the doctor checked her.

Amanda and the baby were going to be fine, and Mason was too, he had fallen asleep in Adam's lap while Amanda had been telling her story.

After Amanda and Mason were settled into bed, the doctor had Adam wrap the three bodies in blankets and had Adam put them in the back of his buggy. Adam was going to go into town the next day with the letters for the ranch hands and deliver them personally.

It was the next day, almost noon and Adam was downstairs drinking coffee, watching the flame dance in the fire place.

"Penny for your thoughts." Amanda's voice floated down from the stairs. Adam turned and smiled.

"Just thinking about you and Mason." Adam said. Amanda walked down the stairs and settled into Adams lap, with her head on his shoulder.

"Are they good thoughts?" Amanda asked.

"Of course they are." Adam said chuckling. Just then they heard the pitter patter of feet upstairs.

"Here comes trouble," Amanda said, getting up from Adam's lap, "he'll probably want his spot." Adam laughed as Mason came down the stairs and immediately was in Adam's lap.

"Well it's about time your up," Adam said, "you're wasting daylight."

"Sorry Daddy," Mason said, "I promise I'll get up earlier next time."

"Ok," Adam said laughing, "who know you just might be easier to get up than Joe." Amanda laughed but her laugh cut short when there was the sound of many horses coming in the yard.

Amanda and Adam, with Mason in his arms, stood up and walked out the door. Ben and the cattle drive were home.

"Hey Pa," Adam said walking up to his father's side as he dismounted Buck.

"Hey Adam, Amanda, Mason," Ben said with a smile, "did you get that feeling you had worked out."

"Yes, Pa," Adam said his voice serious, "we need to talk when you get settled back in." Ben's smile fell.

"Did something happen?" Ben asked.

"Later, Pa," Adam said, "when we have a little more privacy."

"Alright son." Ben said.

"Daddy?" Mason asked getting Adam's attention as well as Ben's curiosity. "will you read me a story?"

"Perhaps later." Adam said. Mason nodded and Adam set him down. Mason walked over to Joe and Hoss.

"Daddy?" Ben asked with a quizzical look.

"It'll all be explained later, Pa." Adam said with a smile.

Later that day when every thing had been explained and all the questions had been answered, Adam announced his and Amanda's engagement. Mason had fallen asleep in Adam's lap while he was telling his family about how Mason had started calling him Daddy.

"Well Mason does love you I'm sure," Ben said with a laugh, "and I know you'll love him and whoever comes like your own." Adam smiled a little embarrassed, but touched that his father had said this.

"You practically raised me when Ma died." Joe said. At this statement everyone fell quiet, and Amanda felt uncomfortable. Even after all these years it was still hard to talk about Marie's death.

"Have you given any thoughts on names for the baby?" Hoss asked breaking the silence. Amanda looked at Adam and shook her head.

"No, none," Amanda said, "but Ben and I have a couple times." Hoss and Joe looked at their father a little surprised and then they began laughing which woke up Mason.

"Look you two," Ben said sternly, "you woke up Mason."

"Sorry, Pa," they both said, "sorry, Mason." Mason rubbed his eyes and looked around at everyone with a sleepy smile.

"What are you guys talking about?" Mason asked.

"Names for the baby." Adam said.

"I want to name him." Mason said suddenly fully awake.

"How do you know it's going to be a boy?" Joe asked, chuckling.

"I just know." Mason said with a big smile.

"Well what is his name going to be?" Amanda asked. Mason sat for a second thinking real hard.

"How about Stormee?" Mason said.

"Stormee?" Amanda said looking at Adam.

"It's a name out of a book I read to him once," Adam explained, "it was a story about a really brave boy who fought off Indians on his own."

"Well Stormee it is then," Amanda said, "now we just have to think of a middle name."

"Got one too," Mason said, pointing to Ben, "his middle name is going to be Benjamin." Ben smiled widely and had to turn away to hide his tears.

"Stormee Benjamin Cartwright," Adam said trying out the name, "I like it."

"Well it's settled then," Amanda said, "the name will be Stormee Benjamin Cartwright."

"What if it's a girl?" Joe asked giggling his giggle.

"Oh Joe." Amanda said, playfully punching him in the arm.