Bonanza: "The Courtship of Candy Canaday."

Chapter One

It's a hot September day in Virginia City as Joe Cartwright and his friend, foreman of the Ponderosa, Candy Canaday load supplies onto the back of a wagon. Joe is chattering away as he tells him. "And of course Alice starts to panic as any mother would, but I kept her calm like the sensitive and tender-hearted husband that I am." Candy rolls his eyes as Joe continues. "So we looked all over for her until finally." He chuckles. "We pulled open the bottom cupboard and there she was with a big pot over her head, she had crawled her way inside." He giggles. "You should have seen her, it was the cutest thing I ever saw." Candy sighs as he says. "Joe?" "Yeah?" Joe asks, still chuckling a bit. 

Candy leans back against the wagon as he asks. "Have I given any indication at all that I care about this story?" Joe shrugs his shoulders a bit as he responds, a little taken aback. "Well, I mean, she is your goddaughter, I thought you would want to hear it, that's all." "Well, I don't." Candy says rather sharply. "Can we just finish this order and get out of here, please?" "Fine, sheesh, what's got you so sore anyway?" Joe asks in annoyance. Candy then apologizes. "I'm sorry, Joe, I guess this heat's getting to me, I don't know.” He then turns around to him as he asks. “How much more we got?" 

Joe pulls out a list from inside his green jacket as he says. "We just have one more order for Pa, that timber order and then we should be all set." Candy leans his arms over the wagon as he responds. "Good. Do you think we have time for a beer..or three?" Joe gives a soft chuckle as he replies. "I suppose we could spare a few minutes. Alice is fixing supper at our place tonight, you're welcome to join us if you'd like." "No, thanks, I'm sure your Pa's got plenty more work for me when I get back." Candy tells him. "Are you sure?" Joe asks. "Yeah, maybe some other time." Candy replies. "Alright, well, let's finish getting these loaded and then check on that timber for Pa." Joe tells him. "Right." Candy says and starts to move when he spots a woman getting off of the stagecoach. 

She's wearing a bright green dress with her silky brunette hair pinned back. Candy stops and starts to stare at her in awe when Joe comes up to him and tells him. "We better get moving if you want that beer." "Uh huh." Candy mutters as he continues to stare at the woman. "Candy?" Candy snaps out of it as he turns his head to Joe. "Huh?" "I said we better get moving if you want to stop and have that beer before we head back." Joe tells him. "Oh, right, yeah." Candy replies and then helps Joe load the rest of the supplies. 

As they are finishing up, Candy and Joe hear the voice of a woman say. "Pardon me." Candy and Joe look up to see the woman with the silky brunette hair say to them. "I'm terribly sorry to bother you, but could you tell me where I could find the Virginia City hotel?" Candy can't even speak as he stares at her and Joe points to the right of him as he tells her. "It's right up there at the end of the street, ma'am, you can't miss it." "Thank you." She says and then looks at Candy who smiles at her and she gives him a small smile as she turns and walks off. 

Candy watches her walk towards the hotel when Joe taps him in the shoulder with the back of his hand and tells him. "Come on, let's go." Joe starts to move but then notices Candy staring out into the street. He looks to where he's staring and sees the woman he just gave directions to and then looks back at Candy and smirks as he then says to him. "She's a..nice looking woman isn't she?" Candy quickly turns his head to him as he tells him in defense. "I saw her first." Joe giggles and then responds. "Well, by all means go right ahead, I already got a girl, remember? In fact I have two, a big one and a little one." He gives another soft giggle as Candy realizes what he said and then says to him. "Oh, right, sorry, uh..habit." 

Joe shakes his head as he chuckles and Candy then looks back ahead of him to see that same woman being harassed by some men. Candy then nods his head a bit as he says. "Hey. Look." Joe turns his head to see the woman trying to get away from the men as Candy then says to him. "You take the little one, I take the big one?" "Why don't you take the little one, I took the little one the last time." Joe responds and then grins as he pats his shoulder and starts to move along with Candy when Joe stops and then says as he holds his index finger up. "But..you can have the girl this time." He smirks and Candy grins as they head over to the hotel.