A TIME FOR LOVE

Driving up in their silver Jaguar, Brian and Sarah Scott arrived at the open house, taking in the log home before them.

Sarah, with her long, dark brown hair, blue eyes and slender build, got out of the car admiring everything she saw.

Scott, her dark haired, blue eyed husband, got out of the car, only noticing his wife and how happy she seemed.

Taking in the yard and the entryway, Sarah smiled, liking the sound the wood planks made beneath her feet. Once reaching the door, she opened it, walking in with Brian closely behind. The entryway gave way to the beautiful wood ceilings and the wooden floors beneath here, Sarah felt the warmth of the room. Walking over to the fireplace, she touched some of the stones trying to picture the original family, who would have warmed themselves by it, so many years ago. Sarah felt as if the house were telling her it had felt love from those who previously lived there, and was giving that love back to her, feeling as if the house was reaching out to her in some way.

Walking in the dining room, Sarah’s eyes first went to the massive wood shutters covering the two large windows . She opened and closed the wooden shutters, then opened them, leaving them the way she found them.

The kitchen was right off the dining room and was like going back in time, like it had never been touched since the home was built. Sarah smiled looking at the massive stove and Hoosier cabinet, picturing all her antiques that would go so well in this room.

Back in the living room, she could picture her furniture and antiques as well. The far back wall would become her reading area, where she would place her two wing chairs, an end table and a lamp.

She went up each stair, taking in the workmanship that went into making it. Once upstairs she opened every door, looking into each room and picturing her antique furniture in some of them, knowing she’d have to buy more to fill the rooms, which pleased her. She loves antiquing more than anything else, probably because she loved old things.

After the upstairs tour, she headed downstairs, pausing on the landing, taking in the room below.

“You like this place, don‘t you?” Brian asked standing next to the gun case.

“Oh Brian, it’s just so beautiful and so amazing. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“Do you want it?”

“More than anything I’ve ever wanted before.”

“Then it’s yours.”

Sarah turned to him. “You mean that?”

“Of course.”

Sarah knew what Brian was trying to do. He was trying to buy her love back. Something he’d been trying to do for six months now, ever since he had his affair.

“Excuse me. Did you have any questions about the house?” a voice asked startling them, not realizing someone had walked in the room.

“We’d like to know about this house and it’s history,” Sarah replied walking towards the realtor.

Extending her hand to Sarah and Brian the realtor replied. “Hello, I’m Sandy Anderson. First of all, are you from around here?”

“No, no we just moved here from the another state. I’m Sarah Scott and this is my husband, Brian. We don’t know anything about this area,” Sarah replied.

“Well this is the house referred to as The Ponderosa Ranch House. It’s, I believe, one hundred and fifty-six years old, give or take a few years here and there. It belonged to one of the wealthiest families back then by the name of Cartwright. They owned one thousand square miles of land.”

“One thousand square miles? That’s amazing.” Sarah said.

It warmed Brian’s heart to see Sarah so happy, and took some of his guilt away from him for the affair he had.

“The house is in the exact original condition from when it was built,” Sandy stated.

“Exact? That’s amazing,” Sarah replied looking at the ceiling.

“It has always been in The Cartwright Family. Unfortunately with each generation, so much acreage became too much to handle, so more and more of their land got sold off. Now all that is left of that original ranch, is this house, the barn, and the few acres it’s on.”

“How sad. I can only imagine what the original owners went through back then to acquire all of this, only to have it sold off like that,” Sarah replied.

“Why is the family selling the house now after all this time?” Brian asked.

“My clients are moving to the East. The other members of the family get a cut out of this sale as well, so they’d rather have the money then the memories I suppose.”

“How sad. It’s a good thing that the original Cartwright’s can’t know what’s going on, because I think it would break their hearts. I’m sure they left this as a legacy to their family for all time,” Sarah replied.

“Well actually that is true, but unfortunately Mr. Cartwright only had two grandchildren, and they didn’t have that many children, and so on and so forth.”

“How many children did he have, would anybody know?” Sarah asked.

“Actually as well as realtor, I’m known as the local historian of sorts. I can tell you what I know of this family. Mr. Cartwright, Ben was his name, had three sons. Now nobody quite understands the circumstances behind it, but either Mr. Cartwright had three wives and divorced them, or he cheated on them.”

“How awful,” Sarah said and meaning it. She knew firsthand how horrible it felt to be cheated on.

“Talk is that some of them died, but that’s all we know on that subject. Well anyway, Ben Cartwright had three sons, each from three different wives. Seems he lost one of his sons to a fever when he was in his thirties. Mr. Cartwright took it so hard, that he was never the same again once he heard his son had died. Just sat in his leather most of the time, looking at his son’s empty blue chair, which sat to the right of the fireplace. Nobody was ever allowed to sit in that chair again, signifying his loss. He handed The Ponderosa over to his two other sons from that day on. One of his sons married and had only two children, and only one of them reproduced, so that’s why the lack of relatives, and the lack of interest in preserving their heritage.

“How very tragic and how very sad.” Sarah said.

“Sad but common. People died for things back then that we don’t give a second thought to nowadays. In fact , I have something to show you.”

Sandy walked over to the covered piece of furniture to the right of the fireplace. Sarah and Brian followed her. Sandy pulled off the white sheet, exposing the blue chair beneath it.

“It’s the blue chair that belonged to Mr. Cartwright’s dead son, right where it’s always been for one hundred and fifty years, give or take a year or two.”

“Oh my, it’s lovely,” Sarah said rubbing her hands across the back of it.

“It’s to stay with the house always. It’s part of the contract you must sign, that the chair has to stay in it’s exact spot. That is very important to this family.”

“Oh it will stay here, right here, I promise you that,” Sarah replied.

“Does that mean you want the house?” Sandy asked.

“Brian?”

“If you want it Sarah, it’s yours.”

“Are you sure? Are you really sure? It’s a lot of money?”

“But we will swing it. Mrs. Anderson, do you think the owners would come down to seven and a half million instead of the ten they want?” Brian asked.

“I think they may, only because not many people have this kind of money, and they are anxious to have it sold. Would you agree to buy it if I were to ask them, and they agreed to come down? They’ll ask me that question.”

“Brian?” Sarah asked.

“Yes, we’ll buy it at that price,” Brian replied.

“Mrs. Anderson, I’d like to ask you a question,” Sarah said.

“Yes Sarah?”

“I noticed there’s hole in the ceiling just above where the blue chair sits. I wonder if you could tell me about how that got there?”

“Oh probably just a rifle went off in the house. See the gun rack? The holes almost right above it.” Brian said.

“Well you are part right Brian. Seems the night that Mr. Cartwright’s son died, someone fired this shot in the house. The doctor, I believe his name was Doc Martin, was the only one in the house at the time with the dying son. Mr. Cartwright and his other two sons were off on a cattle drive at the time. Seems the doctor came downstairs to investigate the shot and never could find anyone. It’s been a mystery for many years who fired the shot and where they went afterwards.”

“Where could they have gone to?” Sarah asked.

“It’s been a mystery that’s been talked about all these years. Talk is that the doctor left the young Mr. Cartwright’s bedside, running downstairs and seeing someone sit in this blue chair. Calling to them, but getting no answer, he ran to the blue chair, but by the time he arrived, there was nobody there. The son died within an hour after that episode, because the doctor couldn’t bring his fever down.”

“How strange that the person would have disappeared like that,” Sarah said.

“Maybe old Doc Martin had a touch of the fever himself, or a touch too much of the liquor in the house,” Brian replied.

“That’s not funny Brian, a man lost his life that night,” Sarah replied scolding him.

“I’m sorry,” Brian said with holding his hands up.

After writing the offer, Sarah and Brian waited on pins and needles for word back. Two days later they learned they got the house, moving in right after.

Sarah immediately got to work decorating with her antiques, amazed at how well her things went in the house. Brushing off her blue jeans and her blue work shirt, she sat down in the blue chair to rest for a moment. Closing her eyes, she suddenly felt chilled, and decided to build a fire after her rest.

Opening her eyes, she saw a fire in the fireplace. Her eyes wide, she saw before her a completely differently furnished room then hers. Instead of a rocking chair, across from her was a burgundy leather chair. In the middle of the room was a burgundy and white striped sofa, where her dark rust country sofa once sat. A massive dark wood coffee table sat in between the furniture, a bowl of fruit placed upon it, where her pine coffee table had sat.

Looking to her right, what once was an empty gun case, now held rifles, filling it to capacity. To her left, behind the sofa, was a massive desk and a bookcase, where her reading area had been. To the left of the front door was a grandfather clock, where she had placed hers, but this one was much larger. On the other side of the door, was a large credenza, where she had placed a commode. The dining room was furnished much fancier than her antique oak dining room furniture. Sarah was startled by the grandfather clock as it bonged nine times. She thought her heart couldn’t pound any harder then it was, until she heard footsteps on the wood entryway outside. Her eyes widening from fear, she felt her body trembling at the sound of someone opening the door.

A man walked in dressed all in black. With his back to her, he didn’t see her as he took his gun belt and hat off, placing them on top of the credenza. Hearing her gasp, he went for his pistol, turned and aimed the gun directly at her within seconds.

Gasping in fear again, she drew her feet up to her body as she trembled. The unknown man, still holding his pistol, walked towards her. Standing in front of her, he accessed the situation before lowering his arm, therefore lowering the gun. Sarah began to cry. Bending down and placing his right hand on her left shoulder, the man asked, “Are you all right ma‘am?”

His words seemed to show concern. “I don’t know,” Sarah replied, now rocking back and forth.

Lifting up her chin with his hand, he looked her face over, then looked her in the eyes. Not recognizing the woman and seeing her fear, he said, “My name is Adam Cartwright, and this is my home. I’m not going to hurt you. I want to help you. Can you tell me your name?”

Looking directly in his eyes, she replied, “My name is Sarah Scott.”

“Sarah Scott. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard the name. Are you not from around here?”

“Boy is that an understatement,” she replied.

“Sarah, give me your left hand,” he said extending his right hand to her.

For some reason she did. His hand felt warm, but rough from the hard work he did. “Adam?”

“Yes Sarah?”

“Would you do me a favor?”

“If I can.”

“Will you pinch me?”

“Pinch you?”

“Please?”

“Anywhere you prefer me to pinch you?”

“Oh my shoulder?”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“It might hurt.”

“That’s the point.”

“All right, but you asked for it.” Adam pinched her.

“Ouch.”

“Told you it would hurt.”

Getting off the chair, Sarah sat on the hearth. Adam sat down beside her, the hot fire quickly warming their backs.

“Can I get you anything to drink? Some whiskey perhaps?” he joked.

“No I don’t drink. What block of time are we in?”

“You don’t know?”

“Please tell me.”

“We’re in the 1860’s. You sure you wouldn’t like that drink after all?”

“No, no. The 1860’s? How is that possible?”

“Well after the 1850’s came the 1860’s. It happens that way quite often.”

“I’m not crazy if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I wasn’t thinking you were, just confused is all.”

“Yes, I’m very confused.”

“May I get you some tea or some water?”

“No, no I’m fine now. Thank you though.”

Adam stood before her. Sarah’s breath was taken away for a moment, after allowing herself to see him clearly for the first time. Staring at his handsome face for a few moments, she worked her eyes down his masculine body, then back to his face again. His black hair shiny with some wave to it, accentuated his handsome facial features. Sarah’s heart began to beat faster at the thoughts of this man ever touching her. She felt alive inside again. She hadn’t felt alive in so long, that her feelings were almost overwhelming to her. Meeting her eyes and reading what they were telling him, he reached his right hand down for her to take, anticipating the kiss that would undoubtedly come.

Before placing her hand in his, she looked at it for a moment, before his hand closed around hers. She could feel his strength pulling her up to her feet, and into his arms. Her heart pounding, she stood before him as he breathed heavily. Taking his arms and placing them around her, he brought her body against his, as his hazel eyes gazed into her blue eyes. Not his head, but his eyes moved between her lips and her eyes a few times, before he slowly brought his head down for their lips to meet. Before making contact, he opened his mouth some taking her mouth in his. Sarah almost lost her balance when his lips met hers. Noticing this, his arms around her supported her. When the kiss was finished, he brought his head up, looking directly in her eyes. He swallowed hard as he breathed deeply.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Um, I promise you I don’t kiss women I’ve just met usually,” he said still holding her body against his. Taking his arms from around her, she caught them in her hands and placed them back where they had been. He brought her closer to him than before, repeating the kiss he had given her, with the exception that he kissed her longer and deeper. When the kiss was finished, his head brought up, he kept his eyes closed, breathing deeply, trying with all his might to get his mind on something else before releasing her. Realizing this wasn’t working, he released her, turned away from her, as he continued to breathe hard.

Sarah stood looking at his back, knowing why he had turned, seeing his broad shoulders move up and down with each deep breath he took, using this time to think her feelings through. She realized she never felt this way with Brian. Had she ever really loved Brian, she wondered. She must have - once, but not now, not after what he had done. She may have loved him, but not like she loved this man here. What was wrong with her. This man before her was a total stranger, but she felt like she’d known him all her life. He had such caring and warmth to him. Could she give herself to someone knowing she was married? Was she still married if her husband didn’t even exist in this time? She felt confused and had nobody to talk about it over with but herself, which make her all the more confused. To add to her confusion, she wondered if this man would want anything to do with her if he knew she were married. Somehow she knew he wasn’t the kind of man who would kiss another man’s wife.

He turned around taking her hand in his and leading her back to the blue chair. “NO,” she yelled. She knew if she sat down in that blue chair that she may go back to her own time. She couldn’t allow that to happen, not when she was so confused.

Taken by surprise by her reaction, he turned his head wondering why she had reacted that way. “Did I startle you or something?” he asked.

“No, no, it’s just I, I, I can’t explain it. I don’t want to sit in that chair. Please don’t ask me why, just please accept it.” The look on his face told her he didn’t understand. Leading him to the sofa, she motioned for him to sit down. “I’m sorry Adam, I just, I guess I was just so frightened in that chair that I don’t want to sit there anymore.”

Remembering how frightened she was when he first saw her, he began to understand why she would feel that way. “I understand. You were frightened and you need time to get over that.”

Sarah was so relieved by his reply to her question that she nodded and smiled. “Where is your family? Don’t they live here as well?”

Scratching the side of his neck, Adam replied, “They are away on a cattle drive with our cook. They won’t be back for awhile yet. I was the lucky one who got to stay behind.”

Thinking to herself that he wasn’t the only lucky one, she smiled at him. “I’m so glad you got to stay behind Adam.” Looking at him she could see the wheels turning in his head. “You want to ask me something, don’t you?” she asked.

Wondering how to word it he replied, “Yes I do. Please don’t take offense to what I’m going to ask you, but uh, why are you dressed like man?”

It suddenly dawned on Sarah that a woman from those times wouldn’t be wearing blue jeans and a blue work shirt. “I just am is all.”

“I take it you have other clothing?”

“No.”

“You aren’t from around here, and you don’t have a change of clothes?”

“You sure ask a lot of questions, don’t you?”

“Sorry, it’s who I am.”

Sarah knew he was intelligent and the more he asked, the more nervous she got. She had to think of an answer to satisfy him. “Well truth be known, I have heard about the wild West and was afraid if I traveled looking like a woman, that I may be abducted by the Indians or a, or a, or a, gunslinger.”

“Oh I see. So instead of being abducted by Indians or a gunslinger, thinking you are a woman, you’d rather they think you are a man, and shoot you dead with an arrow or a bullet right there on the spot instead?”

“Yes, I mean. You’re confusing me.”

“Come on Sarah, you aren’t that stupid and neither am I. Tell me the truth.”

“I told you the truth already. Why can’t you just take my word for it?”

Rubbing his hand on his chin, Adam looked at her detecting a mystery. He hated mysteries, because they ate at him until he got to the truth about them. He knew he better not push it right now, knowing he might have time to find out the truth.

“Do you have some place to stay?”

“No.”

“Do you have any money?”

“No.”

“Would you like to stay here with me?”

“Yes.”

“Can you answer in more than one word at a time?”

“Yes.”

Adam smiled, getting a kick out of her squirming. “Did you enjoy our kisses together as much as I did?”

“Yes.”

“May I kiss you again?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said getting up, walking towards the front door.

“Where are you going?”

“I feel like having fried chicken for dinner, so I have to go get a chicken.”

“And do what with it?”

“Invite it to the dance on Saturday night with me. What do you think I’m going to do with it?

“You aren’t going to kill it, are you?”

“That was my intention.”

“Well why don’t you just go to the store and buy one that’s already dead.”

Walking to the back of the sofa, he looked at her before replying. “By the time I get to Virginia City, find a chicken to buy, return here, I would be having a chicken omelet for breakfast. Not my favorite thing to eat.”

“Well don’t expect me to eat a chicken you killed.”

“Fine, you can eat it, or you can not eat it, it’s up to you.”

“I’m hungry.”

“Then eat it.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not if you’re hungry.”

“Because it’s giving it’s life for me to eat it.”

That’s why God put them on this earth.”

Getting off the couch and standing before him, she replied, “What if that chicken got an axe. I presume you chop it’s little head off with an axe.”

“Uh huh.”

“Well what if that chicken had an axe, and he chased you around the yard, and he threatened to chop off your head?”

“I’d be rich beyond my wildest dreams if I had a chicken who could do that.”

“You are impossible.”

“I’ve been told that before.”

“Well go kill yourself that chicken if you must, but don’t expect me to eat it.”

He in his blue chair and she on the sofa, they sat in silence. The only thing they could hear was the ticking of the grandfather’s clock. It’s tick, tock, tick, tock keeping perfect rhythm. Adam looked at her, smiling. She turned her head.

“Well how was the chicken?” he asked with pleasure in his voice.

“It was dead that’s how it was.”

“You ate it.”

“Only because I was hungry and had to.”

“You ate it all up.”

“I didn’t enjoy it.”

“Then why’d you eat it all up?”

“Because I was hungry.”

“Sarah, where are you from?”

“How’d we go from chickens to Sarah, where are you from anyway?”

“Because I’m curious.”

“Curiosity killed the cat, or hadn’t you heard that saying before?”

“I’ve heard it. I’ve also heard the one about having to cover up one lie with another.”

“So you think I’m lying to you now?”

“I don’t think you were honest, no.”

“Then why don’t you just send me on my way?”

“And let the Indians or the gunslingers abduct you? How would I ever live with myself?”

“You’re terrible. Why I ever let you kiss me, I’ll never know.”

“You wanted me to kiss you, as must as I wanted to kiss you and you know it.”

“Didn’t your father ever spank you when you were young?”

“No, I was the perfect child,” he lied.

“Well he should have, and often. You’re a brat.”

“A brat? No that would be my brother, Joseph. He was the brat of the family.”

“Well what do you expect? He had the perfect example of a brat in his older brother.”

“How’d you like to sleep in the barn with the horses?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Yes.”

“I’d rather sleep in the barn with the horses, then to sleep in this house with you, that’s for sure.”

“Well it’s not just the horses in the barn you know. It’s the rats as well, and an occasional snake who slithers in during the night.”

“Rats and snakes?”

“Yeah and they like nothing more than to nibble on a pretty young lady. You are a young lady aren’t you? It’s hard to tell by your clothes or the words that come out of your mouth.”

Sarah got up and stood before him. “Listen buster, I don’t have to take that from you or any other man. If you weren’t bigger than I was, I’d take you outside and show you who was boss.”

Standing in front of her, he laughed at the size difference. Sarah was overwhelmed by his size, and rolled her eyes. “What wrong Sarah, can’t find any other words to hurt me?”

“I’ll hurt you,” she replied punching him in the stomach.

“Ouch,” he said sarcastically. “Was that the best you can do?”

Sarah was mad and she pulled her fist back. He grabbed it just before it made contact with his stomach. “You let go of my arm,” she said.

“Oh shut up and kiss me,” he replied. This kiss was even better than the other two, and when it was over, he didn’t turn, but looked her in the eyes. He wanted her, and she wanted him. He carried her over to the sofa. “Tell me now if you don’t want this,” he said through his hard breathing.

“Do you want it?”

“What do you think? No I’d rather not thank you.”

“There you go getting sarcastic again, when, when all I asked you was a simple question.”

“Stop asking me questions, and just kiss me.”

(AUTHOR’S COMMENTS TO HER READERS) She did, and they did, and it was good - REAL GOOD. In fact it was EXCELLENT. Don’t you wish I’d described this scene? Well I know what happened, because I’m the writer. Let’s just say that from now on when Adam looks at that sofa, he won’t be thinking of his little brother placing his dirty boots on it. Oh yeah.

He could tell it wasn’t her first time. Hey lay there, his arms around her, her head on his chest, thinking about why it bothered him so much that he hadn’t been her first. Knowing nothing about her past, or her present, made him feel all the more uncomfortable with what had just transpired between them. Why he allowed himself to give into his feelings like that, bothered him even more. He wasn’t the type of man who would take advantage of any woman and he hoped she realized that in him.

They fell asleep on the sofa, sleeping in each other’s arms all night. At the first sign of morning, Adam awoke seeing her head and hand on his chest. “Sarah?”

“Huh?” she replied sleepily.

“I have to tend the stock in the barn. I didn’t do that last night. They’ll be hungry.”

“Huh?”

“Sarah, you can stay asleep, I just need to get up now.”

He got up and dressed, Sarah watching him. “What are you looking at?” he asked.

“A Greek God,” she replied.

“Woman you are either in love, or I have the body of a Greek God, or both of the above.”

“Both of the above,” she replied.

Adam knelt down, kissing her on the lips. Kissing him back, he pulled away. “No Sarah, not now. I have to tend the stock. My horse is probably out there eating his stall he’s so hungry.’

His tone of voice told Sarah something was wrong. “What is it Adam? What’s bothering you?”

His answer didn’t come right away. Sarah could tell he was fighting something inside himself, but didn’t understand. Taking a deep breath, he replied. “I’m not the kind of man who rushes into things like, like what happened between us last night. I had no right to force myself upon you like that.”

No he wasn’t that kind of man. Sarah could see that now. He was a man from another time, another world. No, it wasn’t even that. She couldn’t see him, even in her time, be any other kind of man. “Adam, it was my decision as well. Please don’t feel bad. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced in my life.”

Closing his eyes, he breathed in and out loudly. “I have to have more time to think through my feelings for you,” he said.

Stunned by his words, Sarah‘s face showed her surprise. “Have to think through your feelings for me? Am I so complicated that you don’t know how you feel about me?”

“I can’t lie to you Sarah. There’s something about you that I don’t understand.”

“What?” she asked.

He searched his mind for the right words, only speaking when they came. “You speak in a way of an independence and a confidence I have never known in another woman. It, it attracts me to you, but at the same time, it scares me. You have a mystery about you. Not only by not telling me anything about yourself, but there’s something more, something I, I can’t put my finger on and it’s driving me crazy.”

Turning away from him, she asked him the question that had been on her mind since she first looked at him. “Adam, if a man and a woman are married one hundred and fifty years from now, and that woman goes back in time, and she meets another man, and she falls in love with that man, is she still married to her husband, if he doesn’t exist in this time? If he hasn‘t even been born yet?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. Giving the question more thought he continued. “How could she be married if he didn’t exist? Why would you ask?”

“It-was-just-something- I, an idea I had pop into my mind is all.”

“Are you married Sarah?” Not wanting to know the answer to his question, he braced his heart for her reply, knowing he loved her, and didn’t want to lose her.

“No. I was once, but I’m not now.”

“What is his name?” he asked.

“Brian. Brian Scott.”

“I’ve never heard that name before.”

“He’s not from here. Just like I’m not from here.”

“Do you belong here Sarah Scott?” he asked.

Looking him in the eyes, she felt he knew. Maybe not that she was from another time, but he knew something. “What do you think?”

“I think it doesn’t matter to me what your past was. The woman I know isn’t the kind of woman who would up and leave her husband. The woman I know would have to have had a damned good reason to leave him.”

Closing her eyes Sarah thought back on what happened six months ago. Had it really only been six months? It felt like years to her since she could allow herself to love Brian. “My husband chose to take all the trust from our marriage away. We had a son, and his name was Adam John. He was the most beautiful little boy you had ever seen.” Tears came to her eyes as she thought about the son she lost and the husband she lost as well.

Knowing where her story was heading, Adam sat to the right of her, taking her in his arms. He wanted to protect her from the words she was going to speak. Having him hold her as he did, gave her the strength to continue. “Adam was playing out front and Brian knew that. He was, he was supposed to be watching him. He forgot he was there and he, he went somewhere and he ran over him, instantly killing him. I know it was an accident. I know that, but I just couldn’t forgive him. Not yet. I pushed him aside. He felt I had and sought the arms of another woman. I know, I know it was my fault he drifted away from me, but I, I had just lost my child, and to my mind, unnecessarily. I mean he knew he was out there playing. Why, why didn’t he remember?”

Trying to comfort her, he held her closer, his head on hers. Her tears flowed, falling against his upper chest. Closing his eyes tight, he felt her pain, as his own tears fell down his cheeks, picturing a buggy hitting her son. “It’s all right,” he told her numerous times as he rocked her.

Sarah, I can understand how you must feel. Losing a child, especially under those conditions, would be difficult to deal with. You were angry, and anger comes from someone’s dying that you love. That’s one of the first emotions to hit us. I know. I’ve been there too many times in my life. Not with a child, but with people I have loved and who have loved me. Your husband must have been filled with a lot of guilt, even though it was an accident. We’re only human, and we do unfortunately make mistakes. Sometimes we make mistakes that are worse than others. He didn’t drift away because you blamed him for your son’s death. He drifted away because of his guilt.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, I really do think so. It had nothing to do with you.”

For the first time in six months, Sarah felt light inside. Adam’s words made sense to her, and she could see Brian doing what he did for those reasons.

“I know one thing about myself Sarah Scott, and that is, that I could never turn to another woman when I had you, no matter what the reason. Maybe that‘s the difference between your ex-husband and me.”

Hearing Adam’s words, she smiled. Not just a smile, but a genuine smile of relief and of love. “Adam Cartwright, do you love me?”

“Yes, I love you. I fell in love with you the first time I saw you in that blue chair trembling.”

“I love you back.“ Sarah replied. He loved her and she loved him. She understood now the kind of man he was, and what she had to do. She had to step back and let him make the next move, knowing he would know when he was ready, and not before. He took control of situations. That was the kind of man he was, and she loved him even more for that.

The following day she got up early to make him breakfast. It brought her great pleasure.

“What for breakfast?” he asked before kissing her while she cooked at the stove.

“Chicken omelet.”

“Oh not again Sarah. Can’t you learn to cook anything else?” he joked.

They both laughed, then he kissed her again.

After breakfast, Adam went to the barn to tend to the stock. Sarah stood by the door watching him work. Seeing him do masculine work like that made her want him all the more. Brian was not the kind of man to get his fingernails dirty. Adam was and she loved him for the difference.

When he was through in the barn, he went off to do the jobs that needed to be done on The Ponderosa, making sure she locked the door behind him, and telling her of the loaded pistol that was always kept in the desk drawer. “Don’t hesitate to use this if you have to,” he told her. Before he left he kissed her good-bye. Not an affectionate kiss, but one that told her he felt comfortable with her.

After figuring out how to do dishes, Sarah decided to bake Adam a cake. Proud of herself as she gazed upon her lopsided masterpiece, she smiled thinking of his eating it. Noticing the time, she began to prepare his lunch. When he returned at noon, his lunch was waiting for him on the dining room table. Although some women from her time would find it offensive for a woman to wait on a man like this, she found it charming. It had always been in Sarah to live in another time. In a simpler time. She was an old-fashioned woman, but with some of the 21st century instilled in her. She could make it in this time, she knew she could. The one thing she knew for certain was she had never been happier in her entire life.

Finished with his lunch, Adam thanked her. Her face beaming, Sarah rose going into the kitchen to bring out the cake to him. “I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes,” she said before entering the dining room. Placing the cake on the table in front of him, she moved back, a large smile on her face, and said, “Open your eyes.”

Opening his eyes, Adam saw the cake before him. It was the most lopsided cake he had ever seen in his life, but at the same time, the most beautiful, for it was made with love. “You did this for me?” he asked.

“Yes. I wanted to make something special for you.” Placing a slice of cake on a plate, she set it before him, standing over him with anticipation as he took the first bite. After a few chews, he smiled. “It’s very good,” he said.

“Really?”

“The best cake I’ve ever eaten,” he replied. Taste wise it wasn’t the best, but taste wasn’t what mattered here. Finished with his cake, Adam decided to take Sarah to town to buy her a wardrobe. “Can’t have you looking like one of my brothers anymore.”

Adam dropped her off at the dress shop in town. Mrs. Parker was working that day and promised to take excellent care of her. For the next two hours, Sarah felt like a child in a candy store, seeing all the exquisite and wonderful old clothing, that was new, elated her. How many times had she seen clothing from this period in antique stores, and wondered who wore them. Now she was the one wearing them.

When Adam returned to the dress shop, walking out of the dressing room, Sarah wore a blue everyday dress. Her long, brown hair flowing over her shoulders, held a blue ribbon in it. Her eyes, the same color as her dress, she looked like a vision. “How do I look?” she asked him holding out her dress.

“You look beautiful.”

Mrs. Parker was enjoying looking at one then the other, then back again, smiling when she saw the affection these two people had for one another.

Once outside, Adam put her packages in the back of the buggy, then leaned against it. Noticing this, Sarah walked up to him, placing her hand on his back. “You all right?”

“Oh I’ve been better. Just don’t feel myself right now.”

“I hope it wasn’t my cake.”

“No, I didn’t feel my best before that.”

“Maybe you should see a doctor.”

“Maybe I should. It’s probably nothing, just tired is all.”

Sarah led him to Doc Martin’s office. He wasn’t in, but word was left for him to stop by The Ponderosa to check on Adam.

On the way home, Adam turned the reins over to Sarah. She had never driven a buggy before, but was doing fine as long as she took it slow. Adam lay back, his eyes closed. Two things Sarah wished she could bring back in time with her. One was a toilet, and the other was all the medical advances they had made.

Arriving home, Sarah helped Adam off the buggy and up to his room. Taking off his gun belt and boots, she lay him on his bed before covering him. Sarah didn’t want to leave him, but she knew she had to while he was asleep. She had to find out from Mrs. Anderson the name of Ben Cartwright’s son who died from that fever, while he and his other two sons were on a cattle drive.

She kissed Adam before leaving, noticing his face was very warm . Once downstairs she sat in the blue chair, closing her eyes. When she opened them, she was back in her own time. Running to the phone, she called Mrs. Anderson’s cell phone number, hoping she’d answer.

“Mrs. Anderson?”

“Yes, yes this is Mrs. Anderson.”

“It’s Sarah Scott, remember me? My husband and I bought The Cartwright home from you.”

“Oh yes, I remember you.”

“Mrs. Anderson, you told me that, that one of Ben Cartwright’s sons died from a fever in his thirties. Do you remember the name of that son and when he died?”

“As a matter of fact I do. It was on this date exactly that Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright’s oldest son, died from that fever.”

“He died today? When today and why?”

“He died a few hours from now. He was prone to fevers. He had one a year or so earlier, maybe more, and he almost died from that one as well. Some say it was his dead mother who kept him from dying. The doctor tried to save him this time, but they had nothing in those days to bring a fever down, outside of dabbing their face with a cold cloth, especially when there were no hospitals around. I don’t know if they packed people in ice back then in the middle of nowhere, or if possibly they knew about such things yet, but all I know is he did die. Talk was that his mother finally wanted him to be with her.”

“Thank you Mrs. Parker. I’m sorry but I have to go now.” Sarah said throwing down the phone, running to her kitchen. She grabbed her pain and fever reducer, then ran to the blue chair. Before she got to it, she saw Brian standing in the doorway.

“Brian?”

“Yes it’s me. Where have you been? I’ve been calling you day and night but no answer.”

“You know how I feel about cell phones I don't like to be bothered by them. I went away for a few days and I, I didn’t want to be bothered.”

“Did you go alone?”

“Yes I went alone. Why would you ask?”

“I thought maybe you found another man or something.”

“Brian, I’m sorry but I can’t talk now. Please understand that.”

“I just got home. I’ve been gone for a few days and you can’t spend a few moments with me? Do you hate me that much Sarah?”

Sarah wanted to tell him how much she hated him, but that wasn’t important right now. What was important was she had to get back in time to save Adam’s life. “Please Brian, go upstairs and get changed and settled in. Please?” She knew she couldn’t go back in time with Brian in the room.

“I guess I should. We can talk later,” he replied walking towards the stairs. Once he was gone, Sarah sat in the blue chair, placing the medicine in her lap, and holding the arms of the chair tight. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, was back in the 1850’s. Running upstairs she paused at Adam’s door, seeing a man with him. She figured he was the doctor Mrs. Anderson had told her about.

Sarah had to get him out of the room in order to give Adam the medicine that hadn’t been invented yet. She wouldn’t be able to explain it. She went downstairs, and taking one of the rifles, fired it into the ceiling, shattering some of the ceiling above her. She heard footsteps. Her first thought was to go back to her time, so she went towards the blue chair, but changed her mind remembering about Doc Martin's seeing someone in the blue chair who wasn't there when he reached it. Maybe Adam died because she went back to her time, and couldn't get back in time to save his life. Instead she ran to the stairway, hiding on the other side. Once the doctor was downstairs, she flew up the stairs unnoticed, knowing this was her only opportunity to give Adam that medicine, knowing the doctor would be busy investigating the inside and outside of the house for awhile.

Once in his room, she lifted Adam’s head up. He was so hot, it was disturbing to her. His face red and covered in sweat, she called his name. He could barely open his eyes he was so weak. “You can’t have him yet. I need him in my world still,“ she said looking up to Adam’s mother. Opening the medicine, she placed two of the pills in his mouth. Taking the glass of water from the nightstand, she slowly poured it in his mouth, hoping he was conscious enough to swallow them. Once he did, she lay him back down, hiding the medicine in his nightstand drawer, then sitting beside him.

When Doc Martin returned, he was surprised to find her there. “Hello?”

Sarah looked at him. “Hello.”

“Oh you must be this Sarah I heard about. Mrs. Parker caught me before I could leave town, and told me about you. I didn‘t know you were here. Did you hear a gunshot?” Doc Martin asked..

“Yes I’m Sarah, and yes I too thought I heard a gunshot. I was asleep in one of the other rooms, and it woke me, so I came in here to see how Adam was doing. How is he?”

“I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do. If his fever doesn’t go down, I’m sorry, but he won’t, he won‘t live much longer. Not the kind of thing I enjoy, especially having to tell his family he‘s dead.”

Sarah prayed that the medicine would start to work. “Well he hasn’t died yet. Shouldn’t you take all these blankets off of him and this clothing? I mean isn’t that keeping him too hot?”

“It’s customary to sweat out a fever,” Doc Martin replied.

“But if you take everything off, he’ll be cooler. He has no chance now maybe that way. Give him that chance,” she pleaded.

“Little lady, I can’t take off his clothes and have him lay naked in front of you.”

“Then I’ll leave the room while you cover him up halfway with the sheet,” she said before she left the room.

Doc Martin did as she asked. He knew it was a crazy idea, but what could it hurt now?”

An hour later, Sarah felt Adam’s forehead. “Doctor, he seems cooler to me, does he to you?”

Doc Martin felt his forehead, then his cheeks. “Yeah, yeah I think you’re right, he does feel cooler.”

“Oh doctor, do you think he‘ll be all right?”

Knowing how important it was to her, he said, “Yes, I really do think he will be.”

Sarah gave Adam another dose of the medicine four hours after the first. He was weak but more conscious. After washing the pills down with water, she lay him back down. He looked at her before closing his eyes again. Taking his left hand in hers, she held it. “You get some rest sweetheart. I won’t leave your side.”

Sarah and Doc Martin stayed by Adam’s side all night.

The next morning, Adam awoke weak but more coherent.

“Well young man, I never thought I’d ever see those hazel eyes looking at me again,” Doc Martin said.

“Hello Paul,” Adam whispered. He turned his head looking at Sarah. “Hi,” he said weakly.

“Hello,” she replied, still holding his hand. “You gave us quite a scare, you know that?”

“Guess I did. I’m so tired, so, so tired,” he said before falling back to sleep.

“Sarah, he’s going to be like that until he regains his strength. I hate to leave him, but I have to go see some other patients who need me as well. Would you feel comfortable with my leaving and leaving you here with him for awhile?” Doc Martin asked.

“Sure, just don’t forget to come back later.”

“It might do him good if you could make him a chicken broth. I think he’ll be able to drink it down, and it’ll help him the nutrients he needs, and help him get his strength back. Do you think you could do that?”

“I’d do anything for him,” she replied.

Once Doc Martin left, Sarah went downstairs knowing what she had to do. She could have asked Doc Martin to do it for her, but she knew if she were to stay in this time, she’d have to toughen up some. Adam needed chicken broth, and you need a chicken to make it. Sarah selected a chicken and did the dirty task of killing, plucking and cleaning it, before placing it in the pot to make the broth.

While it simmered, she went back upstairs and sat next to him again. He opened his eyes when she sat down, appearing stronger than he had earlier. It was time to give him some more medicine. Opening the nightstand drawer, she fished around for it, not finding it. She opened the drawer completely frantically looking for them.

“Are you looking for these?” Adam asked weakly, taking the pills from under his sheet.

“How’d you know?”

“I remember your giving them to me the last time. Where did these come from? I believe it says it expires in the year 2008. Want to explain? Were you the woman in that scenario you asked me about um, about if you were in the future, and about our time here if you were still married?” he asked weakly and not able to think clearly.

Sarah knew there was no way out of this. She feared once he learned the truth and her being married, he’d make her go back to Brian. To a life she didn’t want anymore, but she knew she had to answer him truthfully, no matter what he decided. “Yes Adam, I was that woman, but you have to know that I don’t love my husband anymore. I did once, but I don’t anymore. I haven’t for six months now. I can’t forgive him, or have him even touch me, for what he did to me.”

“Is it any worse then what you and I did to him the other night?” he asked weakly.

“No. I don’t know. All I know is that Brian doesn’t exist here. That I can’t cheat on him if he hasn’t even been born. That I don’t want to be with him anymore. Can you understand that?”

“I, I’m trying to.”

“Adam, I have never felt about any man like I have you. I, I love you Adam Cartwright. I love you and I went back to my time to bring you that medicine. It brings down fevers. I found out from the historian in our town, that you died from this fever and would have died last night, if I hadn’t. I couldn’t let you die. You’re my reason for living,”

“I have to give this some thought.”

“I understand. I’ve made you some chicken broth. Could you drink some now? It should be done and It’ll give you nutrients and some strength back.”

“I think I could. Not much, but some. Where did you get the chicken to make the broth?“

“I did the dirty deed.“

“You did it. The defender of chickens?“

I’d do anything, even kill chickens, to save your life.“

“Sarah, I want you to do me a favor first before we marry. I want you to tell Brian about us. You don‘t have to tell him everything, I understand why you can‘t.”

“Adam no. I can’t see Brian again. I’ll write him a letter and I’ll tell him I’m leaving him, and I’ll leave it for him, but I can’t tell him, please.”

“Do what you think is best, but do it.”

“I will. I promise.”

Sarah went downstairs, returning a short time later with the broth. She lifted his head and shoulders up, gently feeding him the broth from a tea cup. Once he finished, she lay him back down. His eyes closed, he fell fast to sleep.

A few days later, Doc Martin gave his approval for both Adam’s health and his upcoming marriage. Sitting up in his bed, and restless as hell, Adam wanted to return to a normal life.

“Sarah, I know this man, and I know he’s a terrible patient. It’s up to you to make sure he doesn’t leave this bed for seven to ten days at least. Usually I can depend on his brother, Hoss to make sure he doesn’t leave his bed, but he’s not here. He needs to build up his strength, and we certainly don’t want another session like we just went through,” Doc Martin said.

“Oh I’ll make sure he stays in bed Doctor. You can count on me,” Sarah replied.

“Good. Well Ben and his sons should be returning any time now. Tell them I will be back in a few days to check on Adam.”

“I will and thank you.”

“I’ll let myself out,” Doc Martin said before leaving.

That evening Adam awoke, feeling a little stronger. Sarah gave him more broth, this time taking it down easier.

“Adam tell me about your family. Explain about your father’s three wives. I want to understand.”

“My father was the first mate on a ship, my grandfather it’s captain. He met my mother through my grandfather, and over time fell in love with her. My father had this dream of coming out West and building his own Ponderosa, so to speak. My mother died in childbirth, and my father was left with a baby to care for, and a promise to keep that he made to my mother.”

“What promise was that?”

“To continue on with his dream and go West.”

“And then what?”

“Well when I was five, he met my brother Hoss’s mother, Inger. She was the only mother I really knew. She died not long after having my brother, Hoss.”

“How terrible. How did she die?”

“She was killed by an Indian’s arrow. I held Hoss in my arms, as I watched my mother die right in front of me.”

“How sad.”

“Yes, it was very sad. She was a wonderful person.”

“What about Joe’s mother?”

“Not only was Marie, Joe’s mother, but the only mother, Hoss ever knew. I was always the step-son, and she was the step-mother. I wasn’t really close to her. My heart was too full with love for Inger still, that I couldn’t accept Marie as a mother.”

“I can understand that.”

“I’m glad you can. My father used to give me these lectures on why I should accept her. How she was trying but I wasn’t.”

“Was she trying?”

“Maybe some, but not as much as my father thought. I was independent and hardened already by too many losses in my life, and that had a lot to do with it.”

“How sad to be so young and feel that way.”

“Life can harden you.”

“What a heartbreaking story. Thank you for telling me about it.” Sarah said.

Sitting up in bed, Adam covered himself with the blankets. Taking Sarah’s hand in his, he said the toughest words he ever had to say.

“Sarah, I love you, and I want you to stay here with me always. I want you to be my wife.”

“Oh Adam, I accept. Oh I love you so much. I’m so happy.”

“Sarah, no you don’t understand.”

“What don’t I understand, Adam?”

“You don’t understand what I was going to say next. Before there can be an us, you have to go back to your time and tell Brian. I mentioned that before when I wasn’t so coherent, but I can’t marry you until you do.”

“Why not? I told you I don’t love him. That I never want to see him again.”

“Because if you don’t, Brian will always be between us. You have to cut the connection to him. It’ll be hard, I know, but it’s the right thing to do.”

Adam dropped his head. Sarah knew it was hard for him to have her leave him and go back to Brian, but she also knew the kind of man Adam was. She should have expected nothing less from him. “All right. I’ll go back and tell him. I’ll do anything for you,” she replied.

“No Sarah, don’t do it just for me, do it for you as well. You say you don’t love him, but you had to have once. You lost a child and that can rip people apart. Search your feelings when you are back with him, and if you still want to be with him, then I’ll understand. It’ll hurt but I’ll understand. Now go.”

“Adam, I can’t leave you, you aren’t well-enough. I have, I have to get you your broth.”

“Sarah, get my broth, then go back to Brian.”

“All right.” Sarah kissed his forehead then reluctantly went downstairs first get his broth, then to sit in the blue chair knowing what she must do, but at the same time, dreading it.

Adam Cartwright lay in his bed wondering if she would come back to him or stay with Brian. He knew she loved him, but it was more then a decision about love, it was a decision of a time and of a place. She could leave Brian, if she found she didn’t love him still, and still stay in her time. If she loved Adam as much as he thought she did, then she would return to him. Worrying about it wouldn’t make it happen, he would just have to wait and see.”

Sarah returned to her own time. Shortly after Brian walked through the front door elated by the sight of her. Rushing over to her, he took her in his arms, kissing her head. “Oh Sarah, my Sarah, I didn’t know what happened to you. I was so worried. I got back from my business trip early and I couldn’t find you. Oh my Sarah, I’m so glad you are all right.”

Brian stepped back when he realized she had no emotions whatsoever for him. Gazing upon her, he feared for the worse. “Sarah, where have you been? I’ve been calling day and night and no answer. I was afraid something had happened to you, so I cut my business trip short. What is it?”

“Brian I have to tell you something. Brian, I have fallen in love with another man.”

Brian couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and yet he could. “What are you talking about? What man? Who is he?”

“His name isn’t important.”

“It sure as heck is to me. My wife tells me she’s fallen in love with another man, and then tells me his name isn’t important?”

“Brian please understand.”

“Yeah I understand. I have an affair on you, and I hurt you, so you get even with me, by having an affair on me. Well welcome to the club baby.”

Sarah slapped his face. “How dare you even compare what I have with this man to what you had with your secretary. There was not one ounce of love involved there.”

“So what you’re saying is you and this man of yours are having an affair?”

“Did I say that?”

“Not in so many words, but yes.”

“Darn you Brian anyway. You are a divorce lawyer, get me some papers and I will sign them for you so we can proceed with a divorce. I won’t fight you for anything. You can have everything, I don’t want it.”

“Sarah, you’re serious here? You hate me that much?”

“Oh Brian, I don’t hate you, I hate what we’ve become. Our marriage is over. It ended that night. I thought I could forgive you, but I can’t. I can’t stand to have, to have you touch me. If you love me, if you, if you ever loved me, then please let me go.”

Turning his back to her, Brian ran his hands through his hair. “Tell me what I can do? Is there anything I can do to change your mind? What does this man have that I don’t?”

“Brian, there’s nothing at all that could change my mind. This man loves me and I love him and I love him more than my own life. I want to be with him. I want to grow old with him. I want to have his children. I want to spend the rest of my life in his arms. I want to wake up and have him be the first I see in the morning, and the last thing I see before I go to sleep at night. I, I want to be there at his side always.”

Turning around Brian looked at her. “Did you ever love me like that?”

“No. Maybe. I might have once, but you threw that love aside when you had the affair. I would never have looked at another man for the world if you hadn’t. You know how sacred I hold our wedding vows. That’s why I gave you another chance, but hard as I tried, I couldn’t trust you again, or let you love me again, and I never will be able to. There is no marriage to save.”

Walking over to his sports coat, Brian pulled out a small package. It was wrapped in a old-fashioned floral print paper, that he knew Sarah would love . “Here,” he said handing it over to her.

“What is it?”

“Whether or not you remembered, today’s our fifth wedding anniversary. I bought you something for it, and I want you to have it.”

“Brian, no I can’t.”

“Please Sarah, I really want you to have it to remember me by. Maybe to remember the good times we had together. I’m sure there must have been some in those five years.”

Taking the gift from his hand, Jenny unwrapped it. Opening the box it held a lovely cameo necklace. “It’s lovely.” she said.

“I hope you’ll wear it.”

“I’ll wear it always. I promise.”

“Will I see you again?”

“No, you won’t. You won’t be able to find me.”

“I’ll always love you, Sarah.”

“I know.”

Adam was tired and knew he should sleep, but he couldn’t. All he could think about was Sarah and if she would return to him. She had been gone a long time now, and he feared she wouldn’t be coming back. How would he live without her? He tried not to think about it, but he couldn’t stop himself.

A half an hour later, he lay down barely able to keep his eyes open. Laying on his left side, he fell fast asleep. When he awoke in the middle of the night, his arms were around Sarah. She had come in bed with him without his knowing. Looking at her, she opened her eyes and smiled. Looking in her eyes, he smiled back.

“I was afraid you weren’t coming back.”

“I had to sign some divorce papers so Brian can go on with his life. I’ve given him power of attorney in case he needs it to finalize the divorce.”

“I feel sorry for him.”

“I do too, but Adam he brought this on himself. He found out too late that he loved me, and then my love for him was gone.”

“It’s too bad I’m so weak right now.”

“Just having you hold me in your arms is enough for me. You’ll get your strength back, and then we’ll make up for lost time.”

Brian sold the house and was packing up the one of the upstairs bedrooms. In the closet was a picture he hadn’t noticed before. Brushing off the dust, he saw it was a man and woman on their wedding day. Taking a closer look at the woman, he could tell it was his Sarah. She was in a satin wedding gown, and around her neck she wore the cameo necklace he had given her the last time he saw her. Turning his attention to the man beside her, he saw the love he had for Sarah. Brian wondered if Sarah hadn’t been right all along. He knew he loved her, but in looking at this man’s eyes, he knew he never loved her, or could love her, as much as he did.

Did Sarah go back in time somehow and marry this man? Is that why she left everything to him, and was the reason he’d never see her again. “You’ll never find me,” he remembered her saying to him. How could he when she was in another time.

Taking the picture out of the frame, a letter fell from behind it. It read:

My Dearest Brian,

I hope someday you will find this letter. I wanted you to know that everything is fine and that I am so very happy. Adam and I have had a wonderful life together. We were blessed with four boys and two girls. We now have nineteen grandchildren and more on the way.

I have never regretted leaving my world for his. He has been a wonderful husband all these years to me, as well as a wonderful father to our children, as well as a wonderful grandfather to our grandchildren.

Adam’s family has loved and accepted me from the moment they met me. I feel as if I was blessed with the most wonderful, loving and caring family that ever lived. Now I realize why the house felt like it was filled with love when I walked in it that day we attended the open house. The love Ben Cartwright had for his sons, and the love his sons had for him, is never ending, and lives on through that house.

I hope you are able to find true happiness in your life as I have. I really do wish that for you.

Love Always,

Sarah Cartwright

Brian wiped the tears from his face. He was happy for her, but sad for himself, because he saw what he had lost and what he could have had, in this time with her.

THE END

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