Adam Moves on with His Life

By Tennessee

This story follows Adam's Broken Heart.

Adam told Ben it was time for him to move on with his life. Adam looked great and was happy again. When all the work was done, Adam and Little Joe decided to go fishing.

Little Joe asked, "Pa, you and Hoss want to come?"

"I can't, son. I got more work to do 'round here," Ben answered.

Hoss said, "I will stay and help Pa. You and Adam have fun now."

"We will," Little Joe said. He and Adam went fishing for the first time in three months.

After Adam had received the letter from Isabella, he had hardly done anything. He did not help with the ranch. Hoss did his work for him. All Adam did was go for walks by himself and read. He read the letter from Isabella over and over every day and night. He did not talk to anyone. Sometimes he'd read a book, but most of the time he would read Isabella's letter and cry.

Little Joe said, "Pa, Adam's still reading her letter and he has tears in his eyes. How could she hurt him like that?"

Ben said, "In time Adam will forget about her. He just needs time."

The second month after the letter's arrival started like the first. Adam talked a little; as the weeks went by he didn't read the letter as much. By the third month Adam was helping on the ranch again. He did not talk about Isabella as much. In the last week of the third month, Adam got Isabella's letter and took it to Ben. "Pa, will you do something with this letter?" Ben took it and put it in the fire after Adam had gone to bed.

Adam thought about the last few months as he and Little Joe walked to the fishing hole. Little Joe could tell Adam was thinking about a lot of things, so he didn't talk to Adam for a long time. When they got to the lake, Little Joe said, "We're here, Adam."

And Adam said, "Let's get to fishing, little brother."

Little Joe smiled. "I'm glad you are the old Adam again."

Adam tousled his hair. "Me, too, little brother. Me, too."

When they got home from fishing, Hop Sing said Ben and Hoss had just gone to town. Adam and Little Joe went to the barn to do some more work. An hour or two later Ben and Hoss came back from town and went to the barn.

"Hi, boys," Ben said, and they greeted him.

Hoss said, "We have a new family in town. Their name is Goodman, and they have two daughters and they are so pretty. They're about the same age as you two. And they're coming here for supper tonight.

Adam said, "I do not want to meet any girls right now, Hoss."

Little Joe said, "I'm with Adam."

Ben said, "I would like for you to have supper with them. I told them my family would be here."

Adam said, "Not me, Pa. I'm trying to move on with my life, but I don’t need your help, Pa. I don't want a girlfriend right now."

Ben said, "Son, I'm not saying you have to ask her out. They need friends, that's all." Adam sighed and he and Little Joe agreed to have dinner with the Goodmans.

The Goodmans arrived right on time. Ben welcomed them and introduced his eldest and youngest son.

"These are our daughters, Ann and Sue," replied Mr. Goodman.

After supper Ben asked the boys to show the girls around the Ponderosa. Hoss reminded Ben that he had to go see Tess and went to saddle his horse.

Little Joe asked, "Sue, would you like to see my puppy?" She said yes and they went to play with the puppy. Adam and Ann went for a long walk.

Ann said, "I miss all my friends back home, but my pa said this is home now."

Adam could tell she was sad. "Ann, this will be your home. Wait and see."

"I hope so."

"We can be friends if you want. Anytime you need to talk, I'm here for you, Ann. That's what friends are for.

"I'd like to be friends with you, Adam." Ann smiled.

About that time Little Joe and Sue came running toward Adam and Ann. "Pa said we need to start home, Ann," Sue told her sister. They all walked back to the house. The Goodmans said goodnight and thanked Ben, Hop Sing, and the boys for their hospitality then headed home.

The next morning when Adam went to town he ran into Ann. And she was crying.

Adam asked her if she way okay. When she looked away and shook her head, he said, "Do you need a friend?"

She nodded. "Adam, it's so hard for me in a new town. You are the only friend I have here."

"That's only true now. Soon you'll make a lot of friends. Wait and see." He looked up to see Hoss and Tess approaching them.

Adam introduced Tess to Ann. The four of them went to the lake and talked. Tess and Ann became friends, but perhaps the best of friends were Adam and Ann. They spent more and more time together, and soon Adam realized he was in love with her. But he didn't say anything to Ann for a few months.

One day Adam and Ann were alone at the lake. Adam said, "Ann, we need to talk. Ann - I love you. The more time I spend with you the more I love you."

Ann replied, "Tess told me about Isabella and how she hurt you. I never want to hurt you, Adam. But Adam, you need to make sure you are over her before we can be together."

"But Ann," Adam said, "I'm over her. You are the one I dream about at night and the one I want to see every day."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ann. I love you and only you. I thought I would never get over Isabella, but the more time we spend together the more I love you."

Ann told Adam she loved him too. "But let's take it slow."

"Anything you want." He kissed her.

Back at the Ponderosa he told Hoss and Pa the news.

"See, Pa? I told you Adam was in love with her." Hoss grinned.

"I do love her, but we're going to take it slow."

Ben asked, "Does Ann love you?"

"Yes, Pa. I thought I would never get over Isabella. Now Ann is all I think about."

"Good, son. It was time for you to get over Isabella. Get on with your life."

"I have, Pa. I love Ann. I think she is the right one for me."

"Time will tell, son. Time will tell."

The End.