Bonanza: "The Legacy of Joe Cartwright."

Chapter Six

It's been hours since Doc Martin had told Joe that he would need to go in and surgically remove the baby or else both the baby and Alice would die. A million thoughts go through Joe's mind as he anxiously waits in the next room.

Meanwhile, Ben assists Doc Martin with the surgery as he holds the lantern up for him while he operates on Alice. Ben looks over at an unconscious Alice as he tries to keep his hand steady. It's not the first time he's had to assist with a surgery and not the first time for a loved one. He remembers having to watch his son Hoss being operated on by the same madman who shot him and how agonizing that was for him. And he knows now that if something were to go wrong, he'd have to watch his daughter-in-law and grandchild die right in front of his eyes. He was used to watching his loved ones die after having witnessed all three of his wives' deaths, but this time it would be the wife of his son. And he can't bear the thought of his son going through the pain he's felt with losing a wife. His thoughts are interrupted by Doc Martin who tells him. "Keep that lantern still, Ben." Ben realizes his hand was shaking and he then tightens his grip around the lantern as he pushes back those thoughts and redirects his focus on helping Doc Martin.

While waiting in the living area, Candy pours another cup of coffee. He offers Joe a cup. "Do you want any coffee, Joe?" Joe turns his head to him with his hands folded underneath his chin as he replies, softly. "No, thank you." Candy sets the coffee pot down and walks back over to Hannah who is sitting down at the kitchen table.

Joe sits there hoping and praying that his wife and baby will make it through when all of a sudden he hears the wailing of a baby crying. He lifts his head up as the door opens and Ben comes out of the room holding a baby wrapped up in a blanket. Ben chuckles and then tells him. "You have a son, Joseph." Joe gets up from his seat as Ben walks over to him. He then hands the baby over to Joe who takes him in his arms. The baby squirms around in his arms as he makes a soft cooing noise and looks up at him with big brown eyes. His mother's eyes. Joe's eyes fill with tears as he gives a soft chuckle and then says to Ben. "I have a son."

Candy and Hannah walk up to him and take a look at the baby as Hannah says. "Oh, he's beautiful." Candy pats Joe on the shoulder as he tells him. "Congrats, Joe." Joe then remembers Alice and looks up at Ben and asks him. "How's Alice?" Ben had gotten so caught up in the joy of his new grandson that he had forgotten about Alice. "I..I don't know." Ben says.

The door then opens and Ben and Joe turn their heads to see Doc Martin come out of the bedroom while wiping his hands with a towel. Joe then asks him, anxiously. "Doc..my wife." "She's stable." Doc Martin tells him. "But she's very weak, she's lost a lot of blood." Joe then asks. "Is she gonna be alright?" Doc Martin sighs as he responds. "Well, only time will tell, but if she's strong and I believe she is, she'll make it." Hannah then speaks up and asks Doc Martin. "And the baby? Is he alright?" Doc Martin smiles as he replies. "Yes, he's just fine. A strong and healthy boy." Joe stands there in somewhat of a daze as Doc Martin then tells them. "I'll stay here and monitor Alice through the night. I need to make sure she doesn't get an infection from the incision. I'll let you know if there's any changes." "Thank you, doctor." Ben says. Doc Martin then goes back into the bedroom as Joe looks back down at his newborn son in his arms.

It's nighttime as Joe, Ben, Candy and Hannah are all waiting in the living area. Joe is sitting down at the kitchen table while Hannah and Candy are sitting next to each other on the couch with Hannah holding the baby. Ben is leaning against the fireplace with a cup of coffee in his hand while little Sara Marie is on the floor playing with her doll. Joe rubs his temple as he fights the tiredness trying to overtake him.

Ben takes another sip of coffee and he looks down to see little Sara Marie nodding off. He smiles and then looks over at Joe as he whispers. "Joe." Joe doesn't respond and Ben then calls his name a bit louder. "Joe." Joe looks up and Ben nods his head towards Sara falling asleep on the floor as Ben then says. "I think it's someone's bedtime." "Oh." Joe responds and starts to get up from the table when Candy speaks up and says as he gets up from the couch. "I can take her." "No, it's alright, I'll do it." Joe tells him as Candy picks Sara up off the ground and Candy responds. "It's no problem, really, I don't mind." Joe then says to him a bit sternly. "I said I'll do it, she's my child and my responsibility not yours!" Ben then speaks up and says. "Joe. Let Candy take her, it's alright." Joe looks at Ben and then Candy and doesn't respond as he looks down and then heads out the door.