Bonanza: "His Father's Son."

Chapter One

Joe Cartwright is outside in a ditch with a shovel in his hand as he digs into a watering hole in the scorching heat as the noonday sun beams down on him. He continues to dig through the mud and finally stops to take a rest as he looks up at the cloudless blue sky and then wipes the sweat from his brow.

He had worked for his Pa nearly all his life with hardly any complaints, but ever since he had married Alice and started a family of his own, he began to long for something more, something better for his family. He also started questioning whether he was meant to stay on the Ponderosa forever like he had thought. His thoughts are interrupted when Candy comes up to him on horseback. "Hey, Joe." "Hi, Candy." Joe says as he gets back to digging. Candy gets down off of his horse and then can't help but let out a soft chuckle as he crotches down in front of him near the edge of the hole and tells him. "You know it's funny. I can remember being right where you are now, stuck in that watering hole with you and Hoss watching me in your dry clothes while I'm knee deep in mud, sweat and brush. I must say it's quite nice for a change." "Oh, there's gonna be some changes all right." Joe remarks as he continues digging. Candy grins as he replies. "Yeah, I said that exact same thing too." Joe looks at him and asks in annoyance. "What are you doing here?" "Your Pa sent me here to see how it was going." Candy tells him. Joe scoffs a bit as he replies. "Why? Does he think I can't handle the job or something?" "No. I'd say you're doing just fine." Candy responds. Joe then says in annoyance as he continues digging. "Well, he doesn't need to keep checking up on me, I'm not five years old anymore." "Naw, you look at least ten." Candy jokes. Joe looks at him in annoyance and responds. "Very funny."

Candy grins and Joe then stops digging and rests his gloved hands on top of the shovel as he then asks Candy. "Candy, let me ask you something, don't you ever get tired of working for my Pa? I mean, don't you ever dream about having a place of your own? Making your own living?" Candy shrugs his shoulders a bit and replies. "I don't know, maybe. I just don't see any reason to leave. Your Pa's always treated me right, he's never given me a reason to want to leave. You and your Pa are really the only family I got. I mean who else would pick me to be their kid's godfather, huh?" Joe looks down and then gives a small smile as he responds. "Yeah." He then sighs and wipes the sweat from his brow as he tells him. "Well, I'm done with this, can you help me up?" "Sure." Candy says as Joe throws the shovel up over the hill and Candy holds his hand out to him and Joe takes it as he uses his other hand to push himself up over the hill when they hear the voice of one of Ben's hands, Andy call out. "Hey, Candy!"

Candy turns his head to him and responds. "Yeah?" He loosens his grip on Joe and Joe begins to slip. "Whoa!" Joe then falls into the murky water splashing it around him. Joe comes back up out of the water soaking wet with dirt and moss all over him. He spits out the murky water as Candy gives a nervous chuckle and says. "Heh. Sorry old buddy." Joe looks up at him with a stern expression on his face, trying to fight the urge to pound him.

Later that evening, Alice Cartwright is setting the supper plates and silverware at the table as little Sara Marie squirms around in her high chair. She then picks up her bottle and throws it down on the floor and lets out a soft giggle. Alice turns her head and sighs. "Sara Marie.." She says in a somewhat stern tone as she walks over to her. "How many times have I told you not to throw your bottle down, young lady?" She bends down to pick up her bottle and places it on her high chair. She then goes back to setting up the table when she hears the door open and the voice of Joe saying. "Alice, I'm home." She finishes placing the supper dishes on the table as she tells him. "You're just in time, supper is almost..oh!" She gasps at seeing Joe covered in mud and puts her hand over her mouth as she tries to hold back laughter. "Why are you all covered in mud?" She asks with a bit of a chuckle. "Oh, I fell into a watering hole, Pa was having me clear out." He tells her. "Oh, well, supper is almost ready." She says. "I made a roast with potatoes, it's on the stove." "Sounds good." He says when little Sara Marie throws her bottle down on the floor again.