Bonanza "Remember Me."

Chapter One

It's a beautiful spring morning on Ponderosa territory as Joe and Alice Cartwright are still asleep in their bed. Alice is facing Joe as she stirs a little and opens her eyes. She smiles and then moves closer to him as she places her hand on his chest and lays her chin down on top of him as he stirs and opens his eyes to see her smiling at him. "Hi.” She says and he gives a soft chuckle as she then says to him. “Good morning, husband." “Morning, wife.” He responds. They exchange a kiss and Alice then tells him. "I'm afraid we overslept." "That's because we were out dancing til midnight." Joe tells her. She grins. "Heh. We had fun didn't we?" "We sure did. In fact it was the most fun we had together in a long time." He says. She smiles as she gazes into his eyes and responds. "And that's why I'll always remember it." Joe smiles back at her and they lean in and kiss again. 

She then lays her head down on his chest as she tells him. "I wish we could just stay like this forever." Joe looks down at her and smiles as he gently strokes her head and then responds. "Me too." She then sighs and says as she lifts her head up to him. "We should really get going, it's getting late." He sighs as he says. "Yeah, you're right." They exchange another kiss and she then starts to get up as she tells him. "I'll go check on the baby and then get dressed and get started on your breakfast." Joe then pulls her back down to him again and she squeals as he says. "Just a few more minutes, huh?" He starts kissing her again and she giggles as she says. "Joe. I'm serious, we need to get up, come on." He sighs. "Alright." She gives him another kiss and then gets up from the bed and walks to the door. 

She then stops and turns around with her hand on the side of the door. "Joe?" He looks up at her as he says. "Yeah?" "I love you." She says. He smiles and then says back to her. "I love you." She smiles back at him and then leaves the bedroom as Joe smooths his hair back and sighs and then gets up out of bed himself and gets ready for the day ahead. 

Later on that afternoon, Alice is outside walking around the Ponderosa ranch and waiting for Joe as she comes up to the stable. She folds her arms over the railing and looks at the beautiful mare inside the stable as it kicks its leg up and whinnies. Alice smiles as Ben walks up to her and says. "I see you've become acquainted with Josephine." Alice turns her head to him and she gives a soft chuckle as she responds. "Yes, I certainly have." Ben looks at the mare in awe as he says. "She's a real beauty isn't she? Joe and I found her all alone up near Wishing Creek with a lame leg, poor thing." Alice moves her hand over her mane as Ben then tells her. "Joe insisted on bringing her back to the ranch and we nursed her back to health. And now she's as strong as ever." 

Joe comes out of the house and then walks up to Alice and says to her. "Hi, sorry it took so long, are you ready to go?" She nods. "Mm-hm." Joe places his hand on her back as he tells her. "I'll go get the buggy ready." He turns and starts walking to the barn when Alice turns around to him and says. "Joe?" Joe stops and turns around as he says. "Yeah?" She walks up to him as she asks. "Do you remember when you promised to take me riding someday?" He nods. "Mm-hm." She then intertwines her fingers together and moves them around as she looks down shyly and then asks. "Well, are you still willing to teach me?" Joe tries to suppress a smirk and then replies. "Yes, but I uh..I thought you didn't want to learn?" "I know, but I changed my mind, I want to." She tells him. He smiles as he then says. "Sure, I'd love to teach you." 

She then walks over to Josephine as she asks. "How about we get started now..with this horse." Joe points to Josephine as he responds in surprise. "That horse?" She nods. "Mm-hm." He walks back over to her as he then tells her. "Well, uh..honey, I would, but that horse hasn't been broken in yet. I don't think it would be safe for you to ride her just yet." Ben then speaks up and says. "Oh, I wouldn't say that, she's a little skittish, but she's been pretty calm the last few days, so I think she'll be alright." Joe then responds in an uneasy tone. "I don't know, Pa."