Chapter Six

Fredrick sat in the Cartwright's living room alongside his wife. While she was talking to Ben and his son, Adam, Fredrick's mind turned back to the moment he and Mary had driven around the corner of the Cartwright's barn and had first seen the two Cartwright men standing on the porch.

It was all Fredrick could do to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary as Ben and Adam came into his eyesight. For a split second, the white haired gentleman was years younger and his hair had no sign of aging in it. The same thing happened when he looked at the man dressed in black. For a split second he was a gangly young adult. It made Fredrick wonder even more if he did indeed know the Ponderosa. While his head began to hurt again, the pain did not hit so hard as to cause any worry to either Mary or the Cartwrights.

After stopping the wagon and climbing down, Fredrick helped his wife down. "Hello, welcome to the Ponderosa," greeted Ben, who was forcing himself to speak and act as if nothing was wrong. He smiled at his middle son and his wife and held out his hand. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt or frighten Hoss in any way.

Fredrick took a hold of the offered hand and then introduced himself and Mary. Afterwards, Ben had asked them inside to 'rest a spell before he took them out to the land they'd purchased, and the small home that stood on the property. Again, Fredrick saw a younger version of this man Ben. In that moment Fredrick knew that, somehow, he knew Ben Cartwright from someplace. Still, he said nothing about the realization as he thanked the gentleman and then, holding onto his wife's hand, followed both Cartwright men into the house.

"Fredrick," Mary tapped he husband's upper arm and looked at him in concern. Ben and Adam were also keeping an eye on him. "Have you been listening to the Cartwrights?"

Embarrassed that he'd been caught with his mind wander, Fredrick apologized and sat up straighter than he'd been doing. "I'm sorry; what were you saying?"

Ben, who had noticed the look of someone who was trying to grasp something that was right in front of him, smiled. He hoped that it meant that his son would be open to the suggestion Adam had given him before Hoss and his wife arrived. "I was saying that you and your wife are more than welcome to stay here a few days, to rest up from your trip."

Adam then spoke up. "I was saying that it wouldn't be a big problem, as long as you don't mind dealing with my stepdaughters and two sons."

Fredrick looked around. Four children? The house was awfully quiet for a home that held that many children in it. The questioning look did not get past neither Ben nor his oldest, though it was Adam who spoke up. "My wife is in town with the children. They should be home soon." He would have asked his brother if he wanted someone to tell him who he was…only he felt they needed to rest first.

Fredrick looked at Mary; she looked tired even if he knew she'd never admit it if he asked. For her sake, plus the fact that there was something familiar about the Cartwright home, he nodded. "That would be great. It's been a long trip fer both of us. Though, iff'n we're gonna stay a spell," he said as he stood up, "I best go get our belongin's." He turned to go outside only to find Adam following, telling him he'd be happy to help.

~oOo~

Tabitha and her siblings were climbing down from the wagon when Adam hurried out of the house. "Fredrick" and Mary had retired to the room he had shown them to, and Adam didn't want the children to barge into the house and wake the couple up. At least, not today he didn't. "Keep your voices down!" Adam spoke sternly, but not harshly. His actions, and tone of voice, put Laura Ann on high alert.

"They're here?" she asked as Adam stopped by the wagon to help his wife out of the wagon.

"Yes, and before you ask," Adam answered as he looked at his children with the most serious expression they'd ever seen on his face, "yes, it's your Uncle Hoss. However, it's like we told you before he doesn't remember who he really is, so you call him Mister Vandervort until you are told different. Do you understand?"

"Yes, pa," the three older children answered while his youngest just looked at him as if he were totally lost.

"Go inside and be quiet." He told them as he explained that their uncle and aunt were sleeping and he didn't want them to be woken up. "I'd like to talk to your mother." Again, he heard only affirmative replies as the three older children headed inside, leaving him and Laura Ann to talk while Thomas held onto his mother's shirt and, leaning backwards, rocked back and forth.

"How did things go when he got here?" She was as curious as all get out and was praying for the best.

Adam put his hands on his hips as he turned his head and looked up at Hoss' old room, the one his brother and his wife were now using. "They were pretty tired when they got here, though from what I saw in Hoss' eyes, I think his memories are trying to come back." He hoped that was the case anyway. "I was thinking to, maybe it would be a good idea if you and the children went to visit your parents for awhile. I mean, they've been after you too visit and; well…." Adam fidgeted, afraid he'd upset his wife, if he hadn't already.

He needn't have worried as Laura Ann busted up laughing. "You're one of the bravest men I know, Adam and you're acting worse than bear caught in a trap." Truth be told though, she couldn't blame him a bit.

"I know; it's just that it would give us the time we need to get reacquainted with Hoss before one of the children slip up and say something. I'm afraid we'll either scare him off or cause a health problem, like the Martins suggested. We need to go slow at this. " One of the children slipping up had been on his mind ever since he'd read his brother's first letter.

Laura Ann sighed and shook her head. "I understand where you're coming from Adam, but my taking the children and leaving is not the answer. Though, it might not be a bad idea to tell your father we think it best if the children and I stay at the cabin for awhile. At least that way, Hoss could still get acquainted with his nieces and nephews without having them underfoot in the evening. That's when they're the most tired anyway, and more likely to slip up." Adam smiled as he knew Laura Ann was right. That being the case, he told her to go ahead and go into the house while unhitched the team from the wagon and put the animals back in the barn. It was a request Laura Ann did not fight as she leaned over, picked up Thomas and headed into the house.