Bonanza: "The Return of April."

Chapter One

It's the beginning of Spring on the Ponderosa as the snow has melted and the flowers begin to bloom. It's a sunny and cloudless day as sixteen year old Jamie Cartwright sits down underneath a shaded tree to rest a spell when he hears the sound of a dog barking. He looks to his left and a big smile spreads across his face as he sees none other than April, the Irish setter running towards him. He quickly gets up off the ground and runs over to her as she happily jumps up towards him with her tail wagging. He chuckles as he bends down to her and pets her shiny and beautiful Auburn colored fur. "Hey, April, how you doing, girl?"

Tim Reilly then walks up to them smiling as he says. "Jamie old lad!" Jamie looks up as Reilly then says. "Come, April." April hurries back over to Reilly as he comes up to Jamie who says to him. "Oh, hi Mr. Reilly, it's good to see you again." "It's good to see you too, lad." He says and then adds. "You are just the fellow I wanted to see." "Oh?" Jamie replies in curiosity. Reilly nods his head forward slightly as he replies. "Mm-hm. I have a proposition for you. I wonder if you'd mind looking after me old girl for a week." Jamie's face lights up as he says. "Boy, would I! Sure! I'd love to." Reilly smiles as he replies. "I thought you would. You see, I have to make a visit to my home in Dublin, me mum has taken ill."

Jamie's expression turns to sadness as he says in a sympathetic tone. "Oh, I'm sorry." Reilly then asks. "You sure you can handle her for a week?" "Oh, I'm sure, don't you worry, she'll be just fine with me." Jamie tells him. "Alright, then. I'll see you both in a week." He looks down at April and pats her as he says. "You be a good girl for Jamie now while I'm away." He looks back at Jamie and then says. "Well, I'll be off now, give my best to your family." Reilly turns and walks off as Jamie replies. "Oh, I will. Bye, Mr. Reilly, have a good trip!" He waves at him as April goes around in a circle and then sits down and looks up at Jamie who smiles and says. "Come on, April, let's go home and tell Pa, he's gonna be happy to see you." Jamie starts walking in the direction of the Ponderosa as April follows after him and wags her tail.

Meanwhile at Joe and Alice's house, Joe is outside hammering in some boards as Alice peaks her head out the window of the house and calls out to him. "Joe?" Joe turns his head to her as he replies. "Yeah?" "Is Sara alright?" She asks. Joe smiles as he replies. "Yeah, she's fine. I got her right where I can see her." He tells her as he points the hammer a little ways in front of him at Sara who is sitting down on the grass and playing with her doll. Alice smiles as she replies. "Alright. Your lunch is almost ready." "Okay, I'll be there in a minute." He says and Alice brings herself back inside as Joe finishes hammering in the next board.

As Joe picks up the next nail he hears the sound of barking and stops and looks up as April comes running towards him and jumps up at him, startling him. "Whoa!" April tackles him as Joe falls over to the ground. Jamie quickly runs over to them as he says. "April, heel!" April barks over Joe whose back is to the ground and he flinches as Jamie comes up to her and takes a hold of her collar and says to her sternly. "April." He then looks at Joe and says. "I'm sorry, Joe. You remember April don't you?" "Yeah." He then slowly gets up from the ground as he says. "Hi, April, how are you?" She wags her tail and barks again as a pregnant Alice comes out of the house having heard the commotion and quickly waddles over to them. "Joe? Are you alright?" He wipes at his shirt and pants as he replies. "Yeah, I'm fine." She then looks at April and asks. "Who is this?" Jamie answers and says. "Oh, this is April, she's a bird dog. My friend, Mr. Reilly asked me to look after her for a week." "Oh." She then smiles at April and attempts to pet her but then hesitates. Jamie reassures her and says. "Oh, don't worry, she's friendly." Alice then places her hand over her Auburn fur and says to her. "Hello, April. She's a beautiful dog." Joe then asks Jamie. "How does Pa feel about you looking after her?" "Oh, I haven't told him yet, I was heading that way now." Jamie tells him. "Well, I'm not so sure he'll be too thrilled about her staying there, you remember what happened the last time." Joe says.