The New Hand, Part Twelve

by J. Rosemary Moss

Genre: Slash Fan-Fiction (Bonanza)
Rating: PG-13

LINK TO PART ONE

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Ben set the papers he'd been perusing back down on his desk. “San Franciso?” he repeated blankly as he looked up at his oldest son. “Adam, I need you here. With that new timber contract how do you expect me to spare both you and the new hand?”

He watched his son sigh. “Pa,” Adam answered, “I can’t give you much explanation. All I can tell you is that David and I are dealing with a situation that could erupt into a scandal.”

Ben mulled that over. There was no point in pressing Adam—he had obviously made up his mind already. He would just have to trust that Adam had a good reason.

But how much of that reason concerned David Griffin? Ben’s first instinct had been to like the new hand—he was a hard working, conscientious young man, even if he was inexperienced in ranching. But then he noticed that Joe and Hoss both tended to watch him like a hawk—as if they liked him but didn’t quite trust him.

“There’s one more thing,” Adam continued, interrupting his thoughts. “Do you know Abby from The Silver Dollar?”

“I think so. The girl with the scar?”

Adam nodded. “She’s been living under David’s protection for the past month. He’s decided to marry her.”

Ben raised his eyebrows in surprise. With his looks and intelligence, David could marry a respectable girl with money. It said something for the young man, he supposed, that he was willing to do the right thing by a saloon girl. “Well, that will certainly improve Abby’s situation,” he managed. “Remind me to wish them joy.”

“You can do that tonight. If it’s all right with you, Abby will be staying here on the Ponderosa while David and I are in San Francisco.”

He narrowed his eyes at that. “Well, I suppose that would be all right—but I’d like to know what this is about.”

Adam took a seat on the edge of the desk as he responded. “Abby’s already married—to the man that gave her that scar. She ran away from him. Once David and I settle things in San Francisco, he intends to track her husband down and force him to give her a divorce. But he doesn’t want to leave her alone in the meantime.”

Ben sighed. “That’s understandable. Yes, of course we’ll offer her our hospitality.”

He paused and looked his son in the eye. “Adam, do you trust David?”

Adam gave him a wry smile. “Where Abby’s concerned, absolutely. Their marriage might have its difficulties, but his intentions are all honorable toward her. But do I trust him in general? It depends on the situation.”

That was not a satisfactory answer, but Ben knew it was the best he was going to get. It worried him—Adam didn’t have the best track record when it came to choosing friends.

Nonetheless, he was a grown man. Ben would have to set his worries aside and let Adam handle things as he saw fit.

“When can we expect Abby?” he asked.

“Tonight,” Adam answered. “David will be bringing her shortly. Then he and I will be leaving for San Francisco first thing in the morning.”

Ben nodded. “You’d best tell Hop Sing that we’ll need two more plates at dinner.”

LINK TO PART THIRTEEN