ben's Guestbook

Marie listened to everything that Ben had to say and since he couldn't see her through the phone, she began to smile as if she was plotting something. But she would never tell Ben that, instead she used her the sweetest tone she could. She was disguising what she really thinks, which was the fact that she was going to take Ben's misery and use it to her advantage. "Ben, my love, I will be home in a couple of days. We are just about done here, and then I will be back in your arms," she said in her sweetest and most loving voice. "And when I get home, I will do my best to make sure that you aren't as stressed as you are now," she told him. "But for now, just hold on for a little while longer," she told him. Then she went on to reply to everything he had just told her, starting with making things fair for everyone, which was just a ploy to become the queen of the Ponderosa.

"I know you don't like having rules, but sometimes they are necessary," she told Ben. "And in this case, I think it is necessary to have them," she told Ben. "And I think that Inger and Elizabeth would agree with me," she told him, knowing in the back of her mind, she knew they wouldn't, even if their life depended on it. But when he said he would truly think about it, she knew she had at least planted a seed of doubt in his mind when it came to Lynda. "Anyway, you thinking on it is all I really ask," she told him as she moved onto Adam and Hoss both being in the hospital. "Aww, my love, things really haven't gotten bad since I've been gone, huh?" she asked feeling sorry for leaving him to deal with things by himself. "But you know those boys are strong and they know that they have lots of love and support behind them," she told him, knowing that she was at least right about that.

Then she moved onto Andrew and him holding everything together. "I hope he knows that he as a brother and sister that he can count on," Marie said as she tried to hold her anger back a little bit. "Yes, Joe and Jennie are young and have a bit of a wild side, but you and I both know they can do the work if they really have too," she told him in a calm but firm voice. "So, there is no reason that Andrew needs to be taking on all the responsibilities, especially since he has two wonderful siblings that are more than willing to help," she told Ben. Then her tone softened as she heard Ben tell her that he loved her. "I love you too Ben. And always remember that you are not alone. You have me, you have our children, you have a strong family to walk beside you no matter what is going on," she told him. "Now, why don't you go take a nap, my love," she told him. "You sound like you haven't sleep in over a week," she added.

"I love you too Ben. And I will see you soon, my love," she added and then they said their goodbyes and soon hung up. Inger could help but think about the words that Ben had told her and a smile came over her face as well as a little blush. She and Michael went out and did their thing until it was time for their flight. They had everything packed and loaded before they even checked out of the Bohemian hotel. As they were driving to the airport, she still thought about the words that Ben had said to her, and even though she was doing her best to stay positive about her son's condition, she still could feel the worry deep inside of her. As she was looking out the window of things and people that they were passing, Inger couldn't help but say a little prayer that god would spare Hoss and let him pull through this.

Meanwhile, back at the hospital, an exhausting Ben made his way down to Inger's office. But not before telling Laura where he was going. He also told her that if there was any change in Hoss's condition to immediately come and get him. Laura said she would and for him to go get some sleep. Ben nodded and then went to the maternity ward, where Inger usually worked and where her office was, and after asking Inger's assistant to unlock her door, she nodded and did that. Inside Inger's office was a nice big couch with a blanket draped over it. The temperature in her office was set to a comfortable setting, so Ben knew that he wouldn't have a problem falling asleep. Ben let out an exhausting sigh and then after locking the door behind him, he made his way to the couch.

Lynda smiled as she watched Ben express the emotions she knew he had been holding in for what seemed like ever. It made her heart sing with joy to see him this vulnerable and yet strong at the same time. This also helped ease some of the stress she had been carrying, even though she still had a lot of things she needed to tell him, starting with the divorce papers that she had Andrew keep in his safe in the office, and her changing her will, though this was something that would benefit Joe and Jennie in the end. She knew she also needed to tell Ben that she did talk with Joe and Jennie and all three of them worked things out. But all of that could wait, she knew that Adam and Hoss needed her and those two were top priority. So, after a few more minutes of just holding each other, they let each other go and Lynda drove them straight to the hospital.

After arriving at the hospital, Lynda parked in her personal parking spot and then her and Ben got out and headed straight for the emergency entrance. But before they walked in, Lynda stopped and turned to Ben and began to speak. "Before we go in, there's couple things I want you to know. First thing is that you and I still have a lot to talk about before we can start to put our love back together," she told him in her softest wife tone. But then she changed her tone from wife to doctor as she began to speak to him. "And the second thing I need you to know is, while I'm with Adam, I need you to wait out in the waiting room," she told him. She held up a hand to keep him from speaking as she continued. "It's going to be cramped in there and I don't need you falling apart on me while I'm trying to pay attention to Adam," she told him. "Then once I'm done with Adam, I will check the results of Hoss's tests and you and I can sit down and make a plan as to what to do next with him," she told him. "Understand?" she asked him more in her doctor tone than her wife tone.

Marie listened to everything that Ben had to say. In the back of her mind, she knew her plan was working and soon she would be queen of the Ponderosa. She knew she just had to go with the flow for a little while longer and then she would be able to make all the changes she wanted. Finally, when Ben was done speaking, which to her he did sound a lot calmer. That made her very happy to hear the calmness in his voice. "Keeping you grounded is what wife is supposed to do, and you know I take my job as a wife very seriously," she told him. "And one of the things that I'm supposed to do is make sure that you know that you are loved and doing a great job as a husband, father and rancher," she added. "So don't be so hard on yourself," she added as she moved on to some of the other things he had told her.

Even though Ben sounded calmer, Marie could still feel the tension he was feeling, even through the phone. Marie couldn't help but feel bad for Ben and yet, she knew this was one step closer to getting what she wanted. Finally, Marie was ready to speak to Ben again, this time. "I hate being right, considering I know how much you love her," she told him in her most warming voice she had as she went on speaking to him. "And I hate to say this, but maybe you should lay down some rules for Lynda to follow," she added. "I know this sounds like you're being mean towards her, but you aren't. You are just making things a bit more fair for everyone," she told him. "Don't take this the wrong way, but she's been getting away with a lot lately," she added. "And I can't tell you how it makes Inger and Elizabeth feel, but speaking from personal experience, it kind of upsets me that you let her get away with so much," she added, knowing what she was saying was only putting another nail in Lynda's coffin.

"Of course he will help you in anyway he can," she told Ben happily. "He loves Joe and Jennie as if they were his own," she told Ben. "And of course we will be home soon. There is just a couple of things I want to do first, but then I promise you that we will be home afterwards," she said. Then it hit Marie like a ton of bricks, she never asked about Adam, Andrew and Hoss. She knew if she didn't check in on them, he might get the idea that she didn't care about them, which in her own way that she kept hidden deep down, she really didn't. So, Marie cleared her throat and went on to change the subject as she spoke once again. "By the way, how are Adam, Andrew and Hoss doing?" she asked Ben. "We've been so busy talking about other things that it completely slipped my mind to ask you about them," she told him honestly and in a very sorry tone, to which she hoped he was buy.

"I meant every word I said," she told him softly and warmly. "And I know that our babies know just how hard you are trying," she told Ben with a smile on her face. She knew she had broken through and now she could slowly work his mind to work the way she wanted it to, which meant that her plan was working great. "And as for the cars, you have no idea what they will do when you let them pick one out," she told him. "Not only will show them that you are still there for them, but that you care and love them more than anything in the world," she told him in her warm and loving voice as she was wrapping up her conversation with Ben. "Like I said before, it's my job as a wife to make sure you see the best in you, even when you can't," she told him. "I'll be home very soon, but in the meantime, always remember, my dear sweet Ben," she told him. "That I love you very much and you are always in my heart," she told him.

"That's just part of my job as a wife," she told Ben once he was done speaking. She could hear the worried and fear in his voice, so she kept hers calm and relax and warm, even though she, herself was worried. Inger then went on to speak, always keeping the same tone. "You're welcome sweetie, and you know I love you too," she told him softly and with a smile on her face. She knew that Ben couldn't see it, but could feel it, which eased her mind a lot. Then Inger went on speaking and answered him about losing Hoss. "My love, we won't lose our son," she said. "He knows that he's not fighting this battle alone, so he's not going to go anywhere," she told him as she went back to reply to everything that he told her. "Of course he will be," she told Ben as she agreed with him over what he said about Hoss always be their son. "And someday, when he had kids of his own, he'll know what to do because he has such a wonderful dad," she added still smiling.

Inger couldn't help but laugh as she remembered Hoss teething and how she didn't want to put him down after she got him to sleep. "Part of that was because I knew if I put him down, he'd start crying again. But mostly it was because I loved having him so close to me," she said honestly as she thought about what Ben had just said about some things never changing. "Oh, I don't know about that. I mean, some things have changed and even though I miss holding him in my arms when he was a baby, I know he'll always be my little baby," she said as she let out a soft and content sigh as she moved onto the thought of Hoss and Laura being together. She couldn't be happier that Hoss and Laura were together. She always hoped that he would find someone to love him just as much as she did. Inger then went onto speak about Hoss and Laura's relationship.

Inger nodded in agreement even though Ben could not see it. Then she let out a laugh as another memory came to her. "Remember when you first met Laura? You had such reservations about Hoss being friends with her," Inger said as she once again let out a content sigh. "You even tried to keep Hoss from seeing her and how it went from a peaceful home to hell on earth really quick?" she said laughing. "You went so far as to buy him so new toys to try to get him to forget about Laura, which Adam and Andy played with most of the time," she said still giggling. "But it was the school incident that brought you around the most. Remember how kids made fun of Hoss because he had an accident. I swear the look on your face when you found out an 8-year-old went off on an entire school because of what they did to Hoss," she added as she moved onto the subject of Lynda.

"She's always looking towards the good, even when things look their worst, Lynda always manages to find the silver lining," Inger said. "That is part of the reason I like her so much. And I know you trust her or else you would not have married her," Inger said with a giggle as she was trying to be funny. Then Inger got serious as they were talking about the hope that Lynda brings to the family. "That's good because sometimes, hope is all we have," she told him, knowing he understood what she was talking about as she went on speaking. "And while you are holding onto that hope with both hands, try to save some room to hold onto her too," she told Ben. "She's not only another rock that you can lean on, especially with everything going on with Hoss, but if we lose her, I'll have to transfer my job," she said half serious and half playful. "And I am loving the children's ward at the hospital," she said with a chuckle.

"Like I said, the earliest Michael could get was midnight, so we will be there sometime early tomorrow afternoon," she said. "But believe me, we will be there," she added. "And as for you, I know I gave you a key to my office there on the children's ward," she told Ben. "Why do not you go catch yourself a nap. Laura's with Hoss and Lynda's keeping an eye on his vitals," she added. "And I'm sure that someone will come and get you if something changes or gets worse," she added. "The last thing we need is you in the hospital while our son is fighting for his life," she said as she was about to get off the phone with Ben, but remembering something before hanging up. "Oh, and when you go lay down on my couch in my office, make sure that the receptionist knows you are in there so that she can make sure you aren't disturbed unless it is from Laura or Lynda. If people find out that my office is unlocked, they might think it is me and just walk right on in," she told Ben.