Found Love
A
WHN for ‘Found Child’
By: Rona Y.
“You
know, Joe,” Ben Cartwright commented to his youngest son, “I’m a bit worried
about your brother Hoss.”
“So
am I,” Joe admitted. “He’s up to something, but I don’t know what it is.” Joe
sounded quite aggrieved, Ben noticed with amusement. It was usually Joe who was
‘up to something’, dragging the hapless Hoss along with him. The sudden role
reversal didn’t sit well with him.
“Why
has Hoss gone into town with the buggy?” Ben asked.
“The
buggy?” Joe echoed. “I thought he’d taken the wagon in.” Joe had heard the
wheels, but he had still been at the table when Hoss left. Joe frowned at Ben.
“Is he sparkin’ someone?”
“I
was trying to ask you the same thing,” Ben sighed. The two men stared at each
other in frustrated silence.
Finally,
Joe shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out when he comes back.” Joe finished buckling
his gun belt around his lean hips. “See ya at lunch,
“Yes,
see you later,” Ben agreed. He watched Joe ride out of the yard, but his mind
was with his middle son. What was
Hoss doing?
*******************************
Joe
had only been back in the house long enough to wash up when the door opened and
Hoss cried, “Hey, Pa! Look who’s here!”
Hurrying
into the main part of the room, Ben looked in bewilderment at the ravishing
young lady who stood there, smiling shyly at him. He had absolutely no idea who
she was, but judging by the huge grin on Hoss’ face, he really ought to know.
Beside him, Joe was returning the smile with a great deal of interest.
The
girl had long blonde hair and huge blue eyes. She was quite tall and very
slender. “Hello, Uncle Ben,” she said. “Hello, Uncle Little Joe.”
Those
words jolted Ben back about 15 years. He blinked as a memory surfaced. “Lisa?”
he whispered incredulously. “Little Lisa?” He took a step forward as Lisa
flushed and nodded and enveloped her in a hug. “My goodness! How lovely to see
you again. What are you doing here?”
“I’ve
wanted to come and see you again for a long time,” Lisa admitted. “I finished
with school last year. My aunt died then and I had a lot to deal with regarding
her estate. I’ve kept in touch with Hoss, and he suggested I come for a visit.
I hope that’s all right?”
“Of
course it’s all right!” Ben had yet to let go of Lisa’s hand which was
sandwiched between both his big, warm hands. She felt incredibly fragile to
Ben, just as she had when, as a child newly orphaned, he had first held her on
his lap. Ben stepped back to allow Joe in to kiss her warmly on the cheek.
“You
look terrific!” Joe told her sincerely.
“I
still have Lucy,” Lisa told Joe, referring to the china doll Joe had bought for
her. “She’s in my luggage.”
“Yeah?”
Joe looked enchanted. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“Chop,
chop, lunch ready!” Hop Sing cried. Ben suddenly noticed that there was an
extra place at the table. Had Hoss told Hop Sing that they were having a guest?
He suddenly visualised Hop Sing clucking around the place that morning, doing
something in one of the guest rooms upstairs. He raised an eyebrow at Hop Sing,
who turned a bland Oriental countenance towards him and revealed nothing. But
Ben was sure that Hop Sing was a co-conspirator in this matter.
They
lingered long over lunch. Hop Sing had prepared more than his usual lunch time
repast and Ben cast him another look, which Hop Sing pretended not to see. But
Ben wasn’t angry. He was delighted to see Lisa again. The child had gone
through so much when her parents had been killed and then her uncle tried to
steal her money from her. She and Hoss had become very attached to each other
and it had been a hard parting all round when Lisa finally departed to live
with her aunt.
Watching
his two boys, Ben could see that they were both interested in Lisa. Joe
naturally flirted with any pretty girl he met, but the message he was getting
in response from Lisa was telling him quite clearly that she wasn’t interested.
For a start, she kept calling him ‘Uncle Little Joe’ which Joe now found quite
embarrassing!
But
it was Hoss who interested Ben the most. Ben had seen Hoss in love a few times
and had grieved when his love had gone awry. Now, he could see that Hoss was
quite smitten with Lisa and he hoped that she would be tactful in letting him
down easily.
*****************************
Hoss
had lost his heart to Lisa when she arrived on the Ponderosa as a small child,
shocked speechless by the murder of her parents. Hoss’ loving care had worked its
magic on her until Lisa regained the use of her voice. He had been no less
enchanted by her when she chattered away non-stop. He had loved the feeling of
her small arms clutching onto his waist as she perched on the cushion behind
him on Chubb’s broad back. As time went on and no relative was found, Hoss
began to harbour hopes that they might be able to keep Lisa at the ranch with
them, even if it did mean she turned into a tomboy.
The
parting had been hard on both sides. Lisa did not know her aunt, and the woman
was married to the man who had killed her parents. It had been hard for her to
understand why she should go away and live somewhere else and Ben’s patient
explanations clearly hadn’t convinced her.
But
after the initial period, Lisa had settled in well in
The
ranch was very much as she remembered. She had forgotten how handsome Joe was –
or had it been that she was just too young to notice? Ben was kindness
personified and Hop Sing still treated her like the child she had been, gentle
and warm, offering her cookies and milk. It was like coming home.
While
Ben and Joe got on with running the ranch, Hoss spent his time showing Lisa all
the places they had gone to when she was small. There was never a moment’s
awkwardness between them. From the second Lisa had stepped off the stagecoach,
it was like she and Hoss had never been apart.
As
Lisa began her second month at the Ponderosa, Hoss realised that he had fallen
in love with her.
*******************************
“Pa?
C’n I talk ta ya?” Hoss mumbled.
“Of
course, son,” Ben replied, putting down the book he was reading. It wasn’t
often he saw Hoss like this – hang-dog expression and shoulders slumped. Ben
was concerned. “What is it, son? What’s wrong?”
Sitting
down heavily on the sofa, Hoss gazed miserably at the floor while he tried to
think of a way to tell Ben what was wrong. It didn’t seem to matter how he
phrased it – it still sounded dreadful to him. “Pa, I-I’ve...” he stuttered.
“Just
tell me,” Ben coaxed.
“I…
I’ve fallen in love with Lisa,” Hoss confessed in a whisper, his voice laden
with shame. “An’ I’m old enough ta be her pa!”
When
there was no response, he risked a glance at Ben, his heart cringing at the
thought of his father’s disgust. But Ben was smiling at Hoss as though he found
something genuinely amusing! Hoss’ temper flared and he lifted his head and
glared at Ben. “I don’ seen nuthin’ funny about this!” he objected strenuously.
Unperturbed
by Hoss’ ire, Ben continued to smile. “Joe and I wondered when you would
notice,” he replied.
“What?”
Hoss wondered if Ben had heard him properly. “Pa, I love Lisa!”
“Yes,
I know,” Ben agreed. “And you’re probably the last person to realise it – or
admit it.”
“But,
Pa, it ain’t right!” Hoss jumped to his feet and started pacing. “I’m too old
fer her. She’d educated an’ I ain’t. What’ve we got in common? Why would she want
a fat ol’ man like me?” He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m even goin’
bald!” he cried, as though he had just noticed.
“Hoss,
love between a grown man and a grown woman is never wrong.” Ben got to his feet
and went over to Hoss, putting a hand on his broad shoulder. “Lisa is as
smitten by you as you are by her.”
“She
ain’t,” Hoss muttered, still not willing to believe. “She’s jist bein’ nice.”
“Lisa
is nice,” Ben agreed. “But it wouldn’t be nice to pretend that she loved you,
now would it? Hoss, talk to her. I think you might be pleasantly surprised.”
The
next comment was said so quietly that Ben almost didn’t catch it. “I ain’t no
good wi’ them fancy words.”
Gently,
Ben turned Hoss to face him. His middle son’s misery was displayed on his face for
all to see. Ben’s heart went out to him. “Hoss, Lisa doesn’t want fancy words.
She doesn’t want you to be something you’re not.” Ben put one hand on Hoss’
cheek. “She wants you just the way you are. She wants the words to be honest,
like you. Talk to her. For both your sakes.”
Sighing
heavily, Hoss nodded. “All right,” he agreed, although Ben thought that he
sounded like he was going to face a firing squad. “I’ll go now. D’ya know where
she is?”
“I’m
sure you know better than I where Lisa is likely to be,” Ben replied, softly
and watched as the implications sank in.
Hoss
nodded. He straightened up and squared his shoulders. “Thanks,
“Good
luck,” Ben offered. “Not that I think you’ll need it.”
“I
ain’t so sure,” Hoss shrugged, “so I’ll take yer luck. Thanks.”
As
Hoss left, Ben sent another quick prayer to the Almighty that things would work
out for his middle son.
*****************************
It
came as no surprise to Hoss that he found Lisa at the place Joe had dubbed ‘Hoss
Heaven’. Her horse was tethered on some grass and she was sitting on a rock,
gazing out at the stunning vista before her. She didn’t turn her head as Hoss
sat down beside her, yet Hoss had the distinct impression that she was glad to
see him.
“Lisa…”
Hoss began, his voice trembling. He was stunned when she put her hand to his
lips.
“Don’t
talk, just kiss me,” she whispered and placed her lips against his. Hoss
responded in kind, his arms going around her slender body and holding her
tight.
“You
must think I’m shameless,” Lisa commented some time later. “A young lady ought
not to behave like that.”
“I
don’ think nuthin’ o’ the kind!” Hoss objected. He felt rather dazed. “Lisa…”
Once
more, Lisa didn’t allow him to speak. “Hoss, will you marry me?” A deep blush
rose in her face, giving her unaccustomed colour. She dropped her eyes.
Drawing
her into his embrace once more, Hoss blinked back tears of joy. “I was gonna
ask ya the very same thing,” he responded huskily. “Lisa, I love ya more than
life itself. I do wanna marry ya, if’n ya don’ think I’m too old fer ya.”
“You’ll
never be too old for me!” she denied. “I love you, Hoss!” She flung her arms
around his neck and kissed him exuberantly. “When can we get married?”
“As
soon as we’ve told Pa an’ Joe,” Hoss replied, grinning.
******************************
The
celebration that evening was especially joyous. Joe and Ben were thrilled that
Hoss and Lisa were to marry. They knew there would be quite a few people in
town who would comment on the unsuitability of their ages, although it was not
at all uncommon for an older man to take a young wife. But that didn’t matter
to the Cartwrights. The only thing that mattered to them was that Hoss and Lisa
adored each other.
Given
Lisa’s lack of relatives, there was nothing to hinder a quick wedding and the
date was set for two weeks hence. Lisa went into town and had a dress quickly
made up. Hoss ordered a new suit. Joe proudly agreed to stand up with Hoss as
best man and a young woman that Lisa had met in church, Mary Rivers, was matron
of honour.
It
was a simple, moving ceremony. Lisa looked radiant and as Ben kissed his new
daughter-in-law on the cheek, he wondered how they could ever be happier.
*********************************
It was
something that Hoss thought regularly as he went about his new life. He and
Lisa were still living at the Ponderosa while Hoss made plans to build them a
house. He went about his work smiling all the time. Lisa continued to help out
in the house. To people who came out to visit, it seemed the whole house had a
new glow to it.
It
wasn’t long before Hoss had a simple house built and he and Lisa furnished it
together before finally moving in. As they lay in bed that night, Lisa gave
Hoss another gift. “Hoss, I’m expecting your child,” she whispered.
“Are
ya sure?” Hoss cried, incredulous with joy. “Really? Oh, Lisa!” He hugged her
hard, then drew back, looking worried. Lisa laughed.
“You
can’t hurt the baby by hugging me,” she chided. “I’m not made of glass, Hoss. I
won’t break.”
“That’s
wonderful news.” Hoss had thought he was happy before, but this news was the
icing on the cake.
Three
weeks later, Lisa lost the baby.
********************************
It
took a while for the sparkle to come back to Lisa and Hoss’ eyes, but by the
time the snow was flying and they were settling into the big house for a few
days to celebrate Christmas, Lisa was into her fourth month and glowing.
She
couldn’t believe how happy she was. She loved Hoss dearly and they often
reminisced about her days on the ranch as a child, where she sat behind him on
Buck. Although as different as chalk and cheese, they were both wise enough to
know that marriage had to be worked at and cherished and if they had
disagreements, they never let them fester.
But
the disagreements were few and far between and by the time May came, Lisa could
barely remember when she lived in
**********************************
The
knock on the door came as a surprise to both Joe and Ben, who were deep in a
hotly contested game of chess. “I guess I’ll get it then,” Joe grumbled
lightly. It had been a standing joke for years that Joe always had to answer
the door. He walked over to the door and looked surprised to see Doctor Paul
Martin, the family physician as well as an old friend, standing on the
doorstep. “Hello, Doc, what brings you out here?” Joe asked. “I haven’t had an
accident in ever so long.”
“Don’t
tell me,” Paul responded in a grumpy tone. “I’ll be facing penury if you don’t
have one soon. Don’t you know you’re the backbone of my practice, Joe? This is
just not on.” He laughed and clapped Joe on the shoulder as he came in.
“It’s
good to see you, Paul,” Ben cried, rising to his feet. “What brings you out
this way?”
“This
is a social call,” Paul explained. “Its something I like to do, but rarely get the
chance. No, I brought Mrs Biggings out to Lisa.”
“Mrs
Biggings? The midwife?” Joe looked excited, then apprehensive.
“So
I thought I would come and keep you men calm while we wait for news.” Paul’s
words told them that Lisa was in labour without being too explicit about it.
Before
long, the three men were deep in conversation and time flew by. The front door
opening abruptly a couple of hours later took them all by surprise, but they
were shocked when they realised that Hoss was standing there, his face pale and
his eyes wide.
“Doc!!”
he cried. “Lisa needs ya! Ya gotta come quick!”
Ben
felt his heart contract as he remembered the desperate struggle Marie had had
to give birth to Joe. He nodded to Joe, who looked stricken, and the two of
them grabbed their coats and hurried out. Paul Martin got into his buggy and
whipped up his horse. Hoss threw himself onto Chubb and followed while Ben and
Joe quickly saddled their mounts.
It
was a sombre group that waited in Hoss’ living room. There was no comfort for
them to give Hoss except their presence. Everyone knew that childbirth was
risky and Lisa was very slight. Hoss himself had been a big baby and Ben feared
that if Lisa was trying to deliver a baby the size that Hoss had been, things
could go very wrong.
At
length, the door to the bedroom opened and Paul stood there. His shoulders were
slumped. “You’d better come in, Hoss,” he urged.
For
a moment, Hoss stood there, frozen, unwilling to believe what Paul’s tone had
told him; Lisa was dying. If he hurried he would be just in time to say
goodbye. Hoss took a stumbling step forward, his brain too numb to even ask
about the baby – but there had been no cry.
Lisa
lay on the bed, looking as though she was asleep. Her colour was good, even
high, and her hair was spread out on the pillows. “I’m so sorry, Hoss,” Paul
said. “She had an eclamptic fit during labour. When that ended, she had another
and then a stroke. I’m sorry, I’ve done everything I can for her, but I can’t
save her. She only has a few minutes left.”
“The
baby,” Hoss breathed. “What about the baby?”
“It
was a boy,” Paul replied, sadly. “I’m afraid the baby died during the birth.
I’m so sorry, Hoss.”
Nodding,
Hoss moved the last few feet to sit in the chair by the bed. He was aware of
the midwife holding a wrapped bundle in her arms, but he paid no heed to her.
All his attention was on the girl he loved so devotedly. He took her hand,
struck at once by the utter limpness of it. “Lisa?”
The
girl’s eyes fluttered open. She looked at Hoss and smiled, but only one side of
her face moved. The other twisted horribly. Tears sprang into Hoss’ eyes.
“Hoss.” Lisa could barely speak. “B…b…b…” She gave up, but Hoss knew at once
what she wanted.
“A fine
boy,” he lied. “Erik Benjamin Joseph as we agreed.” He smiled at her, willing
away the tears, but Lisa saw them only as tears of joy. “I’m so proud of ya,”
Hoss went on. “Ya’ve made me so happy.” He thought his heart would break. “So
happy.”
A
smile flitted across half of Lisa’s face and she gave a big sigh – it seemed to
be a contented sigh. Her eyes met Hoss’ and all the love she felt for him
seemed to pour out.
Suddenly,
she began to fit again and as Hoss stared, aghast, Paul hurried to her side.
But there was nothing he could do. Lisa’s life was brutally ripped from her as
the fit went on and on. It was a relief when it was over, Lisa still at last.
Standing
in the other room, Ben and Joe heard a great wail of anguish break from Hoss’
lips. A sob broke free of Joe’s control and he felt Ben’s arm go around his
shoulder. Joe leaned into him, well aware that Ben was as devastated as he was.
At
length, Hoss emerged, his eyes red and swollen and his face tear stained.
“She’s gone,” he reported hoarsely. “An’ the babby, too.” His eyes sought Paul
Martin’s. “Doc, were it somethin’ I did?”
“No!”
Paul cried. “Hoss, believe me! There is nothing anyone could have done to
prevent this. We don’t know why this happens to some women, but I wish we did.
I’m so sorry.”
“If
it weren’t anybody’s fault, then it weren’t yers neither,” Hoss reminded him.
“I think I’d like ta be alone now.”
They
wanted to protest, he could see that, but Hoss was determined. He closed the
door behind them and went back to sit with his wife and baby. The boy looked
like Lisa, he thought and softly touched the black hair on his head.
Then
the sobs came and took him and Hoss cried like a child, unashamed of the sounds
that rent the air. He cried for the loss of his future and the joy of his past.
When eventually the storm passed, he sat up and knew that he would grieve for
Lisa and the child for the rest of his life.
All
those years ago, she had been a found child. She had found her own life and
lived it for a while before she returned and found him and become his new-found
love. His life was the richer for knowing her and there would come a time when
he would remember her without such profound sorrow.
Moving
slowly, like a very old man, Hoss went to find his family, knowing that they were
the only ones who could help him through this.
The
End
Rona
Young
February
2005