Bonanza: "His Father's Son."

Chapter Three

Joe and Alice arrive by noonday in Boston as the stagecoach driver opens the door for them. "Well, here we are, folks. Boston." Joe steps out first and then Alice hands Sara Marie over to him and Alice then steps down off of the stagecoach as Joe helps her with one hand while holding Sara Marie with the other. Alice then takes her out of Joe's arms as the driver hands them their bags. "Thanks." Joe says and he takes their bags and they head over to the Kendall Hotel.

Joe and Alice walk into the hotel and Joe puts their bags down and walks up to the desk clerk as Alice takes a look around the hotel lobby. The desk clerk comes up to him as he asks. "Yes, how may I help you, sir?" "Yes, I'm Joe Cartwright, a man by the name of Phineas Jones told me to meet him here at this hotel." Joe explains to him. He looks through a set of cards and then says. "Ah, yes, Mr. Cartwright. Your accommodations have already been made for you." He taps a bell. "Front!" He then slides a booklet over to him as he says to him. "Just sign the registry here, please, sir." Joe takes the pen out of the ink and signs his name on the registry as the bellhop arrives and the desk clerk says to him as he hands him a key. "Take Mr. Cartwright's things to room 203 please." The bellhop nods and the desk clerk then says to Joe. "Enjoy your stay, sir." "Thanks." Joe replies and the bellhop takes their bags as Joe puts his arm around Alice and they head up the stairs.

The bellhop comes up to their room and puts their bags down and then opens the door to their hotel room. Joe and Alice step inside and Alice looks around the hotel room in awe as the bellhop brings their bags inside. "Thanks, oh, and uh.." Joe takes some money out of his wallet and hands it to him. "Here you are." The bellhop takes it as he says to him. "Thank you, sir." The bellhop then leaves their hotel room as Joe closes the door behind him. Alice places little Sara down in the chair at the dining table in the middle of the room with a white lace tablecloth covering it as Joe looks around the room and whistles. "This is certainly the fanciest hotel I've ever seen. Even fancier than the ones in Virginia City." "And the one in San Francisco." Alice adds. She then asks Joe as she removes her hat. "Does your brother Adam know we're here?" "Yeah, I sent him a telegram before we left Virginia City letting him know we were coming." Joe tells her as he removes his suit jacket. "Well, I look forward to seeing him again." Alice says and then walks over to her bag to unpack as she then suggests. "Maybe we can all have supper together once we get settled." "Yeah." He then comes up to her as he says. "Hey.." She stops and looks up at him as he turns her shoulders around to him. "How do you really feel about all of this? I mean I know it's a big change for us and I know I should have asked you.." "Joe.." He stops and looks at her as she tells him. "I told you I'd be happy anywhere you are. Okay?" He smiles and replies, softly. "Okay." He then places his hand under her chin and leans in and starts kissing her.

There is then a knock at the door. Joe continues to kiss Alice as she moves away and says. "Joe.." He moves down to her neck as he mutters. "Mm-hm?" "There's someone at the door." She tells him. He stops and sighs as he says. "Alright." He turns and heads to the door as Alice shakes her head, grinning.

Joe opens the door to reveal Phineas Jones. "Oh, Mr. Jones." "Joe." He says as Joe motions for him to come in. "I was just stopping by to see if you got here alright." "Yes, we got here just fine, the stage was right on time." Joe tells him. "Good, good." He replies when Alice comes up to him and Joe turns to her and then says. "Oh, this is my wife, Alice." Joe places his hand on her back as Alice smiles and says to him. "Hi." Phineas takes her hand and brings it up to him and kisses it. "It's a pleasure to meet you, my dear. You're even prettier than Joe described you." She gives a shy smile as Phineas then says to Joe. "I'll let you get settled and then we can talk business. There's a lot to do before we get started." "Well, I look forward to it." Joe says. "Yes, well, I'll be back later on to discuss everything with you, maybe even show you around. Your wife is welcome to join us, after all this will be where you'll be staying for the majority of our venture." Phineas explains to him. Joe puts his arm around Alice's shoulder as he responds. "We'd like that very much." "Good, well, I'll see you later." He holds his hand out to Joe who shakes it. "It's good to have you aboard." "Thank you, sir, it's good to be here." Joe replies and Phineas then tells him. "Please, call me Phineas. After all, you and I are going to be partners." He says and then bows his head to Alice. "It was nice meeting you, dear. See ya, Joe." "See ya." Joe says and Phineas turns and heads out the door as Joe closes it behind him. Joe then turns to Alice and says. "How about after we finish unpacking, I take you out to lunch." "I'd like that." She says with a smile. "Alright." He says as he rubs her shoulder and she then gets back to finishing unpacking their bags.