A DREAM COME TRUE
By: Deborah S.
 
 
Ben Cartwright sat at his desk doing paperwork. He looked over at Adam, who 
was learning forward in the blue chair. His son was deep in thought. Ben had 
noticed his son hadn’t been himself lately. It was like he was being pulled 
in different directions. Ben didn’t know how put it into words, but it’s 
like that dream Adam had, when he first came home, somehow haunted him.
 
Ben went back to his paperwork, looking at Adam every so often. He never 
moved. He just leaned forward in that chair, and stared. Ben walked over, 
and sat on the hearth next to Adam. “What is it son? What’s bothering you?” 
Ben asked. Adam didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know Pa,” he replied. Ben 
took a deep breath. “Son, I have noticed you aren’t yourself anymore. Like 
part of you is here, but part of you isn’t. Am I right?” Ben asked.
 
Adam sat up, and looked at his father. “You’re right. Pa, I thought coming 
home was the best thing for me, but I have this, well this urge inside of 
me, that leads me beyond the boundaries of The Ponderosa. I know I went off 
before, but I didn’t have any direction then,” Adam replied. Ben looked 
down, then put his hand on Adam’s shoulder. “Do you have direction now son?” 
Ben asked, dreading his answer. Adam took a deep breath. “When I was in 
Virginia City the other day, two men from The Central Pacific Railroad, out 
of Reno, approached me. Said they had heard about my engineering skills, and 
asked me to be a surveyor, and civil engineer for them. I have until 
tomorrow to give them my answer,” Adam replied.
 
Ben folded his hands in his lap, and looked down at them. “Have you made a 
decision son?” Ben asked. Adam leaned forward in the chair again. “I want to 
take it Pa, but I know if I do, it means leaving both The Ponderosa, and my 
family. It means giving up a part of my life, that has been a part of me, 
for so long. I don’t know what to do,” Adam replied.
 
Ben put his hand on Adam’s shoulder, and sat him up. “Son, I can understand 
how you feel. I understand how it would be hard to leave, what has been your 
life, for so long. I also know, that if you aren’t happy here anymore, I 
mean, if you feel your life here on The Ponderosa, just isn’t enough 
anymore, then you have to take the job. You have to find out where the path 
in life leads you. Adam, be honest with me, and more importantly, be honest 
with yourself. What do you want to do?” Ben asked. Adam took a deep breath 
before answering. “I want to take the job Pa, but I feel if I do, I’m 
betraying you, and Joe and Hoss, and The Ponderosa. Can you understand 
that?” Adam asked.
 
Ben nodded. “Adam, take the job. See if it fulfills you. If it doesn’t son, 
then come back home. This home, and your family, will always be here for 
you. This will always be your home, no matter where you are,” Ben said. Adam 
nodded.
 
 
A FEW DAYS LATER, Ben Cartwright was saying good-bye to his oldest son, at 
the stage. “Now you remember what I said son, your home, and your family, 
will always be here waiting for you, if you decide to come home,” Ben said. 
Adam boarded the stage, sat down, and looked out the window. “I’ll remember 
Pa,” Adam said, just before the stage took off. Ben stood there in the 
street, feeling empty inside.
 
THE YEARS PASSED BY, and Adam didn’t return to stay. He came home for brief 
visits to see his family, and The Ponderosa. As much he loved, and always 
would love The Ponderosa, Adam didn’t see it the same way, he had before he 
left. Adam had another life now, and was a different person, because of that 
life. Oh, he was Adam still, but not the Adam, who worked the twelve hour 
days on The Ponderosa, but the Adam who now worked the long hours for The 
Union Pacific Railroad. He had been offered a job with them, when the line 
reached Promontory Summit, Utah, to bring his engineering skills to their 
company, to expand their lines east from Nebraska. While Ben was proud of 
his son, he missed him, and longed for him to come home. His brothers did as 
well. As Ben Cartwright would say, it wasn't home, without all three of his 
sons.
 
Hoss missed his older brother so much, that he decided to go to Adam, if 
Adam wasn’t going to come to him. Hoss knew where Adam would be from his 
last letter. He saw some men talking over some plans by a tent. Hoss thought 
he man in the middle had to be Adam. When Adam turned around, he couldn’t 
believe his eyes. There was his brother Hoss. “Excuse me,” Adam said to the 
men he was working with. He walked, then quickened his step, to get to Hoss. 
Hoss did the same. When Adam reached Hoss, he smiled. “Hoss, you were the 
last person I ever expected to see, when I turned around,” Adam said, 
putting his hands on Hoss’s shoulders. “It’s good to see you brother,” Hoss 
replied. “It’s good to see you Hoss,” Adam replied.
 
Adam arranged to have two weeks off, with the condition that Adam stay in 
the nearest town, in case they needed his input on anything. He agreed, and 
Hoss and he set off for that town, and took a room at the finest hotel 
there. They spent the next two weeks talking about everything. The talked 
about their past, and what they felt lie ahead in their future.
 
After Hoss left, Adam felt empty somehow. He didn’t know how to put it into 
words, but he found he didn’t have the enthusiasm for his job anymore. He 
persevered with his work, but his heart wasn’t in it. One day, while working 
in his tent, without knowing it, his life was about to change. Adam was 
trying to concentrate on his work, when the news came about The Union 
Pacific Railroad, and The Credit Mobilier Scandal of 1872. Hearing about the 
scandal, made Adam decide to leave the company. He couldn’t work for a 
company that was corrupt. He packed up his things, went back to the town, 
where he and Hoss had spent those two wonderful weeks together, and tried to 
figure out, where his life would lead him next.
 
Adam didn’t have to wait long. He walked into an architecture office, and 
talked to the owner about a possible job, his direction still not clear in 
life. The owner was John Mosley, and was so impressed with Adam, that he had 
to be honest with him. “Adam, I would like nothing more, then to have you 
work for me as an architect. I’m probably going to kick myself for saying 
this, but you don’t belong here. You belong in a big city, because you have 
so much to offer. You need a challenge, and you won’t find it here, so I 
predict you wouldn’t stay here very long, if I were to hire you,” John said. 
Adam stood, shook the man’s hand, and said, ‘Thank you for your time.” The 
man stood looking at Adam. “Adam, I didn’t mean for you to leave. Please sit 
down,” John asked. Both men sat. “Adam, I have a good friend, who has an 
architectural firm in Chicago. He’s looking for someone like you to fill a 
position. He’s been looking for the right man, for a very long time. He’s 
very choosy about whom he hires. I think I found that man for him. Could you 
give me the time it takes, to wire him, and get his reply, before you make 
any other plans?” John asked. Adam turned his head, and thought. “Yes, I can 
wait that long,” he replied.
 
Adam didn’t have to wait long. That afternoon, John came to see him at the 
hotel he was staying at. “Adam, the job is yours, if you want it. My friend 
was so impressed by what I told him about you. I told him how you weren’t 
quite sure, which direction your life was taking at this moment, so he is 
willing to give you a month from today, to make your decision to take the 
job or not. Shall I wire him back, and tell him that you are considering it, 
and will let him know your decision by a month from today?” John asked. Adam 
agreed to the terms. “Will you be staying here, while you decide?” John 
asked. Adam gave it some thought before replying. “No, I need to go back 
home. That’s where I’ll find my answer,” Adam replied. “What’s at home 
Adam?” John asked. Adam didn’t even have to think before replying to that 
question. “My home, my family, and The Ponderosa,” he replied. John smiled. 
“I thought somehow there had to be a great family, behind the man I see 
before me. I have heard of the great Ponderosa Ranch, and The Cartwright 
Family. You are, of course, Adam Cartwright, of those Cartwrights. Your 
father’s reputation is known throughout the country. I now see why a son of 
his, could not stay with The Union Pacific Railroad, once that scandal hit. 
Go back to The Ponderosa, and think. See if it’s still in your veins or not. 
You have to find out Adam, before you can move on any further in your life,” 
John concluded. Adam stood, and shook John’s hand. “Thank you for 
everything, and for your words of wisdom” Adam replied. “Oh, I think you 
knew the words already Adam. I just think you needed to hear them spoken to 
you,” John said, shaking Adam’s hand.
 
 
ADAM WAS ON HIS WAY HOME TO THE PONDEROSA, and his family. He couldn’t wait 
to get home. He thought back on his visit with John, and how his words, and 
Hoss’s visit, made him decide, that he had go back home to The Ponderosa, 
and his family, where he felt he belonged, at least for now. He walked out 
of John’s office, bought his train ticket, and rushed to pack, as he only 
had an hour before the train left. Adam had to run to catch it. He didn’t 
hear the man calling his name, waving a wire for him in his hand. The man 
wasn’t able to reach Adam in time, before the train started. The man held 
the wire, as he watched the train pull out. John, who told the man who Adam 
was, saw the telegraph man. “Didn’t get it to him in time?” John asked. “No 
sir,” the man replied. “If it was important, I know where to send him a 
wire,” John said. The telegraph man handed John the telegram. You decide if 
it's important enough. I have to get back to work,” the man said, walking 
off. John opened up the wire. His heart ached as he read it. Adam’s brother 
Hoss had died the day before. His father needed him to come home. John 
thought to himself, Mr. Ben Cartwright, your son is on the way home to you, 
and on his way home, to the biggest shock of his life.
 
WHEN ADAM ARRIVED IN VIRIGNIA CITY, it was his birthday. He couldn’t think 
of a better gift to give himself, then his family, and The Ponderosa. He 
realized on the way home, that he didn’t even have time to wire his family 
that he was coming. He realized that maybe surprising them was better 
anyway. He was surprised that the town seemed deserted. Adam walked the 
town, coming to the church. The horses, and buggies around it, told Adam 
that more than likely, someone had died, and a funeral was going on. He 
walked to the right side of the church, and opened the side door, which led 
to a small room, that overlooked the inside of the church. He opened it just 
enough to see what was going on. Adam spotted his father and brother Joe in 
the front row. He automatically looked for his brother Hoss. He couldn’t 
find him with them, so he looked around the church, as far as his view would 
allow him. Not seeing Hoss, he came to the conclusion, that maybe Hoss 
stayed back on the ranch for some reason. It wouldn’t have been the first 
time, one of them had had to stay home for some reason. Adam then took a 
closer looked at his father and brother’s faces. Adam knew right then and 
there, that the person who lay in the coffin before them, was his brother 
Hoss. Without even realizing what he was doing, he opened the door, and 
walked to where his father and brother Joe were seated. The whole 
congregation seemed to “awe” at the same time. Adam saw his father and 
brother break into tears at the site of him. Adam sat down to the right of 
his father, with Joe on his father’s left. Adam broke down. The three held 
each other crying, as they mourned for their loss.
 
After the funeral, Adam sat in his blue chair. His thoughts only on his 
brother Hoss. Ben sat in his leather chair. “I’m glad you got my wire, and 
were able to get here so soon,” he said. Adam looked at his father. “What 
wire? I never got your wire,” Adam replied. “Adam, I sent you a wire. I 
assumed that’s why you were here,” Ben said. Adam replied, “No Pa, I came 
home, because I was led here, and because, I need to consider the next step 
I'll be taking in my life.” Ben reached for his pipe, though he didn’t feel 
like smoking it. He just held it in his left hand. “Adam, I heard about The 
Credit Mobilier Scandal, but then, who hasn’t? Is that why you left son?” 
Ben asked. Adam sat straight in his chair. “Yes. I couldn’t stay with them 
anymore after that, but it was more than that Pa. After Hoss’s visit, I knew 
I wouldn’t be with them much longer anyway. It was like, I was being called 
home, and then being called someplace else. I don’t know how to explain it,” 
Adam replied.
 
Ben nodded. “Hoss talked about his visit with you often. He loved you Adam. 
He said that you and he had a special bond, and he just had to see you, 
because he missed you so much,” Ben said breaking into tears. Adam rushed to 
his father’s chair, kneeling in front of him, crying himself. “How did he 
die Pa?” Adam asked. Ben looked up. “I expect him to walk through that door 
at any moment,” Ben said. “I know. I expect him to walk out of the kitchen, 
food in his hands,” Adam said, smiling through his tears at the thought. 
“How did he die Pa?” Adam asked again. “I know it’s hard on you to talk 
about, but I have to know,” Adam said. Ben paused, looking ahead, but seeing 
nothing. “He drowned Adam, saving a little girl’s life,” Ben finally 
replied. Adam closed his eyes, trying not to picture what he was just told. 
He stood, turning towards the blue chair. He tried to stop the tears, but 
they wouldn’t stop. Ben stood behind his son, and put his right hand on 
Adam’s right shoulder. “He died a hero,” Ben said. Adam swallowed, his 
throat tightening. “It’s a fitting end to him. He was also a hero to me,” 
Adam replied, before walking to his bedroom. Adam walked into his room, 
closed the door, laid down on his bed, face down, and sobbed, like he had 
never sobbed before. With all the deaths he had had to endure in his life, 
never had he hurt like he was hurting now. A few minutes later, still 
sobbing, he felt a hand on his back. He turned, and saw his brother Joe, 
standing before him. He too was sobbing. Adam stood up, and embraced his 
brother. The two brothers stood there, sobbing in each other’s arms, knowing 
that no matter how many tears they shed, it wouldn’t heal the hurt they were 
both feeling inside. It had been the worst birthday of Adam’s life.
 
That night, Adam walked into his father’s bedroom. His father was sitting up 
in bed, a book in his hands. Adam could tell his father had been crying. 
Adam walked over to the right side of his father’s bed, got under the 
covers, covering himself once he did. He smiled up at his father, before 
turning over, and closing his eyes to sleep. Ben smiled. How could his son 
had known, that he needed him to sleep with him that night? Ben put his book 
down, blew out the light, and laid down. Adam put his head on his father’s 
chest. His father put his arms around his son. Ben remembered back so many 
years ago, when Adam was just a small child, how they would fall asleep this 
very way. Ben could feel Adam’s breathing change, and was asleep. Ben closed 
his eyes, and fell to sleep as well.
 
THE WEEKS WENT BY and Adam still wasn’t feeling better about Hoss’s death. 
Maybe it was from guilt, in being away all those years, that he could have 
spent with him. He didn’t know. He only thing he was sure he of, was the 
fact, that he couldn’t stay here any longer. Adam rode into Virginia City, 
and sent off a wire to Chicago, accepting the job offer in Chicago. When he 
arrived back home, his father and brother were eating dinner. Adam sat down, 
trying not to look at the empty place at the table, to his right. Ben could 
tell by Adam's face, that he had made his decision, and what that decision 
was.
 
A FEW DAYS LATER, Adam was on a Union Pacific train headed for Chicago. He 
sat across from a beautiful woman, around thirty, he guessed. She was very 
pretty, and had long dark hair, swept up on the top of her head, and the 
greenest eyes he had ever seen, along with fair skin He wanted to say 
something to her, but he didn’t feel like talking. He turned his head away 
from her, looking at her, through the corner of his eyes, and could see her 
looking at him. She began to read a book of poems, but wasn't reading, but 
waiting. She finally got tired of waiting, and put the book down and said, 
“Well, if you aren’t going to talk to me, I’m going to talk to you. My name 
is Sarah Anderson, and you are?” Sarah asked. Adam looked at her, and had to 
smile. “I am Adam Cartwright, and I’m sorry if I appeared to be rude, but I 
have a lot of my mind,” he replied.
 
From that moment on, Sarah and Adam didn’t stop talking. They talked about 
everything. Adam told her about himself, his family, The Ponderosa, his 
brother Hoss’s death. His reason for being on that train. Sarah told Adam 
about her life. She had been married, but lost her husband three years 
prior. “He was a good man, but there wasn’t any love. He was much older then 
I. An arranged marriage by my father,” Sarah confided. Adam stood, extending 
his right hand to her, and she took it with her left. He then sat her to his 
right, put his arms around her, and kissed her. She smiled. “The next time 
you marry, I promise you, it will be for love,” Adam said. Sarah got her 
hopes up and asked, “Is that a proposal Mr. Cartwright?” Adam looked her in 
the eyes. “Yes, and it was asked with love,” he replied. “Then I accept your 
proposal, with love,” Sarah replied.
 
The train pulled into Chicago that day, and Adam and Sarah were married by 
day’s end. Two years later, they were blessed with a son, Adam Stoddard 
Benjamin Cartwright, Jr. They would call him AC, for Adam Cartwright. That 
way, they wouldn’t get the two Adam’s mixed up.
 
Two months after AC’s birth, Ben Cartwright arrived to see his grandson. 
Adam and Sarah lived in a large two-story brick home. Adam opened the door, 
not knowing his father was coming. Adam and Ben hugged each other, then Ben 
asked, “Well, where’s my grandson?” Adam smiled. Well, right now Sarah’s 
feeding him, so when she’s done, I’ll take you to see him. Where’s Joe,” 
Adam asked. “Didn’t he come with you?” Ben looked down. “No son. He’s having 
a hard time of it, with your child being born and all. He hoped you would 
understand,” Ben said. Adam nodded. “I should have known. I can only imagine 
how hard it must be for him, knowing that I am married, and have a child, 
when he lost both his wife, and unborn child, not long ago. When you told me 
about it, I wanted to come out, and be with Joe, but with Sarah having to be 
bedridden these past few months, and then being so far along in her 
pregnancy, I hope he understood why I couldn’t leave,” Adam said looking 
down. Ben noticed something wrong. “Adam, is there something you aren’t 
telling me?” he asked. Adam stood, looking out the window. “The doctor is 
concerned about Sarah’s health. She isn’t bouncing back like she should be, 
from this pregnancy, or AC’s birth. I haven’t told her, but they think 
there’s something wrong. They don’t have a name for it yet, but they’ve seen 
it before. It is something that will allow her to live a long time, but she 
won’t have her health back again,” Adam replied staring. Ben walked over to 
him, and put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry son. I know how much 
you love her,” Ben said. Adam turned, smiling at his father. “It’s that 
love, that will get us through this. Now, I think your grandson may just be 
finished feeding now. I’ll go and see,” Adam said, as he walked to his and 
Sarah’s bedroom.
 
Adam had dreamed about this moment, from the moment AC was born. He had 
imagined what it would have been like, having his father see his first 
grandchild. Ben walked into the room, and saw Sarah in bed, holding AC in 
her arms, wrapped in a blue blanket. Ben smiled at her, and she back at him. 
Ben and Sarah had met a couple of times before, when Ben would visit. Ben 
and Sarah had an almost father/daughter relationship. He always told her, 
that she was like the daughter he never had. She always told him, that he 
was like the father, she always wanted, but didn’t have. Ben walked up to 
Sarah, and kissed her forehead. He then looked at the tiny bundle in her 
arms, and peeked through the blanket at the tiny face, and his little right 
hand, opening and closing those tiny fingers. Adam was seated next to Sarah, 
holding her, enjoying every moment of this. Ben looked at his son, and 
whispered, so not to wake his grandson. “Adam, I swear I just went back in 
time,” Ben said. Adam whispered back. “How so Pa?” he asked. Ben took his 
grandson into his arms, and lifted the blanket from his face. He smiled. 
Adam held Sarah’s hand. They looked at each other, very proud, and very 
happy. “Adam, AC looks exactly as you did, when you were this age. It’s like 
having you all over again,” Ben said. “I’ll never forget this moment, for as 
long as I live,” Ben said. “I’ll never forget it either Pa,” Adam replied.
 
In 1882, Ben got a letter from Adam. He was one of the architects in 
Chicago, who were designing the first skyscraper ever to be built. It was 
going to be called ‘The Home Insurance Building.’ Adam was also helping to 
engineer the mechanical elevator, that would be used in skyscrapers as well, 
so people wouldn't have to walk all those stairs. How proud Ben was of his 
son.
 
ADAM SAT IN THE CHURCH next to his brother Joe. He couldn’t believe he was 
there again, but this time, instead of his brother Hoss, it was their 
father, that they were saying good-bye too. AC sat at his father‘s side. He 
wanted to come. He told his father, it was because he loved his Grandpa Ben, 
and he needed to say good-bye to him. He told his father how much he enjoyed 
spending his summers with him, and Uncle Joe, and hearing all the stories 
that his Grandfather told him about his father, his Uncle Hoss, and his 
Uncle Joe growing up. When the minister asked if anyone would like to say 
something, AC stood up, and walked to the podium. Adam had no idea he was 
going to do that. Adam’s fifteen year old son, who looked just like him, 
stood up there, in front of all those people, and began to speak.
 
I know you all knew my Grandpa Ben, and you’ll all miss him, but outside of 
my father, and Uncle Joe, nobody will miss him as much as I do. I used to 
love to come here, and spend my summers at The Ponderosa, and work along 
side him repairing fences, or doing the books. He’d say to me, “I’m doing 
all of this, so that someday, this ranch will be yours. You, as well as my 
sons, are my legacy. Now I’m very sad, because I’ll never see my Grandpa Ben 
again. I’ll never work along side him, or hear him tell anymore stories 
again. I wish he hadn’t died, but at least, he’s with my Uncle Hoss now, and 
I’ll bet they’re having a good time together, up in Heaven,” AC said, as he 
began to cry. Adam got up, and stood along side his son, handing him his 
handkerchief, then put his arm around his son’s shoulders. AC looked at his 
father, blew his nose, and continued. How does anyone say good-bye to 
someone that meant so much to them? I don’t know how,” AC said, looking up 
at his father’s eyes, and seeing the tears fall from them, AC reached in his 
pocket, and handed his father his handkerchief, then continued. “I told my 
Grandpa Ben once, that I promised that I would someday come here, and run 
The Ponderosa. When I’m old enough, that’s what I’m gong to, because I want 
to, and because my Grandpa Ben once told me, a Cartwright never goes back on 
a promise. I love you Grandpa Ben, and I wish you didn’t have to die, and 
I‘ll always miss you,” AC concluded.
 
Adam went back to the house, for his father’s burial behind the house, 
beside his brother Hoss. There among them, were Marie’s grave, that had been 
transferred there, and Hop Sing’s as well, who had died not many years after 
Hoss, but found his rightful resting place among Adam's family, as he too, 
had been a member of their family. As soon as the funeral was over, Adam and 
AC left. Adam wouldn't even go in the house. “Why can’t we stay a few days 
father? AC asked. “I can’t stay here. I can’t even walk in that house, with 
my father, and my brother both gone. Not now. Maybe someday,” Adam replied. 
AC worried about Uncle Joe. “Pa, he didn’t look right. Do you think Uncle 
Joe is alright?” AC asked. Adam wondered that himself. “I asked him to 
return with us, but he insisted on staying here. I hope he'll take my 
advice, and see a doctor,” Adam replied.
 
NOT TOO MANY YEARS LATER Adam returned for his brother Joe’s funeral. This 
time, just he was there representing the family, in the front row of that 
church. AC had to stay with his mother, who’s health had grown worse. She 
told Adam to go, because he should. Joe was his brother, and the last of his 
family. Once the funeral was over, Adam left. Again, he couldn't go inside 
the house. Not with his whole family gone now, and besides, he needed to get 
home to Sarah. He worried about her so. He made arrangements with the 
foreman, whom his family had trusted for years, to take care of the ranch, 
and to give Adam monthly reports.
 
Years later, Adam lay next to Sarah in their bed. He took her in his arms, 
like he always had, stoked her hair, and told her he loved her, like he had 
so many times before. Sarah smiled. Sarah loved her husband so, and hated to 
have him saddled with someone with such poor health. She knew he loved her 
enough to not complain, but she still felt guilty. One day, Adam was called 
home from his architectural business. He walked into their bedroom, seeing 
Sarah there, her doctor at her side. A thirty-three years old AC was in the 
room, hiding his tears from his mother. Adam knew this would be the last 
time he would ever walked into this room, and see his beloved Sarah in their 
bed. Adam knew he would never again lay next to her, hold her, stroke her 
hair, and tell her he loved her, like he had for so many years. Sarah asked 
to see Adam alone. Adam sat on the bed next to her, taking her hands in his, 
the tears rolling down his cheeks. As hard as he tried not to let them flow, 
he couldn’t stop them. “Promise me something Adam,” Sarah asked. Adam 
brought her hands up to his mouth, and kissed them. “Anything my love,” Adam 
replied. Sarah sounded weaker when she said, “Promise me, you’ll go back to 
your home, one more time. You need to see it my love. You have to go back to 
The Ponderosa, walk in that house, and face those graves, or that house, and 
those graves, and The Ponderosa, will haunt you for the rest of your life. 
Promise me Adam,” Sarah asked much weaker. “I promise,” Adam replied. “I 
have told AC, that I want him to fulfill his dream, and take over The 
Ponderosa. It’s where he belongs now. Promise me, you’ll go with him, when 
he goes,” Sarah asked, as she took last breath. The tears flowed down Adam’s 
cheeks, as he sobbed. “I promise,” Adam replied, laying her hands on her 
stomach. Adam thought back at that moment, to that dream he had had so many, 
many years ago, and how that dream had turned into, a dream that came true.
 
 
 
 
SO BEINGS THE STORY, ‘ONE LAST TIME.’ A SEQUEL THAT ENDS, WHERE THE FIRST 
ONE BEGAN. THE STORY OF ADAM CARTWRIGHT’S LIFE, ONCE HE LEFT THE PONDEROSA, 
AND THE STORY OF HIS SON AC, WHO WOULD LATER BE CALLED ADAM, AFTER THE 
FATHER HE WAS SO PROUD OF, WHO TOOK OVER THE PONDEROSA, BECAUSE A LOVE HE 
HAD FOR THE PONDEROSA, AND A PROMISE HE HAD MADE TO HIS GRANDPA YEARS 
BEFORE. AC REMEMBERED THE WORDS HIS GRANDPA BEN HAD TOLD HIM, SO MANY YEARS 
AGO, AND THAT WAS, THAT A CARTWRIGHT NEVER WENT BACK ON THEIR PROMISES, AND 
ONE REASON WHY, THOSE CLOTHES AND HATS WERE STILL HANGING ON THOSE PEGS BY 
THE FRONT DOOR, THAT HIS FATHER MADE HIM PROMISE TO LEAVE THERE, SO MANY 
YEARS BEFORE. AS HIS FATHER HAD SAID, THOSE CLOTHES TOLD OF THE FAMILY WHO 
ONCE LIVED HERE. THAT FAMILY THAT WAS BUILD ON LOVE, AND WORKED SO HARD, 
SIDE BY SIDE, TO BUILD THEIR LEGACY, AND HIS, THE PONDEROSA.
 
 
THE END
 
 
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