A Battle of Wills – #6 (by Robin)

Summary:  Part six of A Battle of Wills

Word Count:  12,300

 

 

A Battle of Wills

 

Spring 1870

Virginia City Nevada

 

Chapter 1

“If you help me unwrap these things, we can wash them up and put them away in the dining room breakfront. Won’t that be a nice surprise for your father when he gets home?” Kate Cartwright asked her ten-year-old son Sam. Their housekeeper was upstairs changing the bed linen and cleaning the bedrooms.

Katie was still trying to get the new house in order. Every few days, Adam carted things in from storage in the Ponderosa or more new things were getting delivered from the freight station. Kate was delighted at how their beautiful house was finally getting finished. Adam had done a wonderful job in his design and the house was nicer than either them had ever imagined. It was truly their house together as a family, just as Kate had hoped. Adam had included a study for himself and a writing room for her on the first floor off the formal dining room. The ceilings were high and Adam never had to complain about feeling crowded or bumping into things as he had been in the little house she had inherited from Aunt Mim.

Sam wasn’t really interested in unwrapping one more dish or carrying any more packages for his mother. But he was curious about what might be in the big packing case. Maybe his mother was mistaken and something more exciting was in the box than dishes or glassware or linens. Maybe his grandfather and uncle sent him something as a surprise from Boston and his mother was playing a trick on him. Maybe Uncle Joe sent him some monkeys or toys or a new atlas. They had been gone almost a month and Sam missed Ben and Joe Cartwright very much. Uncle Joe had to go back east for an operation on his hand and shoulder and Grandpa went with him. Sam was getting a bit angry that he, Sam Cartwright, personally had not gotten even a letter from them yet. His grandfather sent him regards in the letters he wrote to Sam’s parents but the boy wanted his own mail.

Kate had pried open the wooden crate containing the new glassware and china that had been shipped all the way from Boston. She hoped the store had sent the items packed securely and nothing had gotten broken in transit.

She saw that the crate was filled with straw and each glass had been wrapped in a sheet of newspaper. “Be very careful, Sam. These thing will break very easily.” Sam shook his head in disappointment when he saw no monkey leaped out and there were no books in the crate. Just more dishes and nothing for him. Had Uncle Joe forgotten all about him?
Kate reached into the case and felt around for a wine glass. She pulled it out and carefully unwound the piece of newspaper from the glass and held it up. It was perfect and not damaged. “One set is for Grandpa, to replace the ones that were broken. I think this is one of them. The ones for us are a bit different. These have flowers in the pattern.”

Sam realized he was stuck. His mother had been right and it was just a boring packing crate. No monkeys, no interesting books, no toy soldiers, just more boring things for the fancy new house.

Working side by side, Sam helped his mother unwrap the entire case. Dozens of glasses paraded down the kitchen table and a stack of tattered newspaper sat on the floor. “Mama, these papers are from Boston,” Sam said holding a sheet up. He read the masthead to his mother “The Boston Herald”

“The store is in Boston. Your father had Dennis O’Mara arrange for them to ship them out. The store certainly wasn’t going to use the Virginia City Enterprise”

”They should Mama, our paper is the best paper.” He said proudly. His mother was currently the publisher of the newspaper that had been started by her aunt and uncle years earlier.

Kate laughed at his innocent compliment. “We can find out the Boston news from three months ago if you read these to me while I wash up.” Kate could see that her son was annoyed that the box was not for him. No matter how many times she and Adam had tried to explain how ill Joe was, Sam refused to understand and had started to take his absence personally. First Sam had lost Uncle Hoss and now Uncle Joe was gone for months.

She started washing the glasses in the dishpan as Sam randomly picked up a sheet and started to smooth it out. “They had a big blizzard in Boston last December, “ he told her reading the torn newspaper. “There was 27 inches of snow and the winds blew trees over in Boston Common.”

“That’s an old piece of news. It is spring now. I am sure all that snow has melted by now. What else, Doc?” Kate asked as she reached for another glass.”

” A dog bit a man on his leg and the dog died but the man lived.”

”Good for the man.” She put a glass down on the drain board and picked up the next. She held it up to the light coming in through the large kitchen window. “These certainly are pretty wine glasses.”

Sam was quietly reading the next sheet. It was only the top half of the story but he was trying to figure out what it said “Mama, who is William Cartwright? Is he some relation to us? Do you know? It says right here that he is in jail for a murder in Boston.”

Kate put down the glass she was washing and wiped her hands on her apron. Kate pulled the sheet of paper out of Sam’s ink smudged hands. “William Cartwright indicted for murder,” she read aloud just as Adam walked into the kitchen from the back porch.

 

Chapter 2

Spring 1853

Virginia City Nevada Territory

“The stage won’t arrive any sooner if you keep running up and down the street, son.” Ben Cartwright firmly told Little Joe.

“Sit down on the bench before you get run over by a freight wagon, Joe,” Adam directed his little brother. He leaned on the wall of the Overland Stage Office and put his boot up on a crate sitting in front of the office. He was already getting a little annoyed with his young brother’s hopping around like a grass hopper on a hot griddle. They had a long trip in front of them.

“But Pa, I’m going to be sitting in the stage coach all the way to Phoenix. I can’t wait.” Ten year old Joe exclaimed excitedly.

”Do you think Sheriff Coffee was right, Pa? You think they got all the horses that was stolen?” Hoss asked his father as he snagged Little Joe’s suspenders and pulled him off his feet and onto the bench next to him. “Sit down Short Shanks before Pa decides to leave you at home.”

”And the horse thieves too Pa!” Joe added as he fell backwards across the lap of his husky sixteen-year-old brother as Hoss yanked him down again. He tipped his head and watched the passing traffic from his upside down view. Joe was determined not going to be left behind on this adventure. It wasn’t often that his father took him out of school to go on a trip. Maybe he would forget to make him go back to school all together. Little Joe sincerely hoped so.

Since the previous spring, it was increasingly difficult for Joe to be in school. First he had been ill and missed many weeks while he got better and then Virginia City had a series of interim teachers. None lasted more than a few months at a time and now the school board was once again looking for another replacement. This was part of the reason his father was willing to let him miss classes for a few weeks. Ben made him carry his schoolbooks and told him that Adam would make him keep up with his studies on the journey.

Joe was excited that he was being included with the men on this journey. He would help bring the horses back to the Ponderosa. Most of all he was happy that he could spend time with his biggest brother, Adam who had just come home from college to stay.

“Ben Cartwright! Are you waiting for the stage too?” the deep, gravely voice of Levi Victor called. “Are you boys going to Phoenix also? Or are you just here at the stage to see your father off?”

”No sir, Mr. Victor. Pa is taking all of us with him.” Joe piped up. He jumped up from the bench and ran over to greet his father’s attorney. Levi ruffled the boy’s brown curls affectionately. He knew Ben’s youngest boy since he was born. Even before he was born as Levi had assisted Ben with some legal difficulties he had with the New Orleans Police when he brought Marie back to the Ponderosa.

The attorney pulled an expensive cigar from his jacket pocket and put it in his mouth. Then he took a fancy silver pocketknife and opened the cigar nipper. As he had been doing for years, he handed it to Little Joe and held the cigar so that the boy could clip off the end. It was their own little ritual that had started when Little Joe was not even in school yet. Then the attorney lit the cigar and took a puff blowing a smoke ring over Joseph’s head. Joe smiled admiringly wishing he could learn to blow smoke rings too.

’I’m not sure how long this trip will take and I need the boys to help bring the horses back to the Ponderosa. Roy Coffee got a wire from the Phoenix authorities saying that they had the thieves in custody and that whole string of my missing horses. I figured I could get a few more wranglers down that way if I need. If they are wrong, I won’t need to be bringing any of my own men with me besides my boys.”

” And Levi, don’t go offering to defend the horse thieves while you are down there.” Adam quipped.

The men all laughed. Levi Victor was famous for winning difficult cases and often took the side of the underdog.

“What is taking you all the way to Phoenix, Levi?” Adam asked. He took his foot off the packing case and took a few steps closer to Mr. Victor.

“Defending some gent was accused of shooting some saddle tramp who took liberties with his young daughter. The little girl died.”

Before the Cartwrights could hear more gruesome details of the lurid murder and the dead girl, another passenger arrived. She was a tall, attractive woman. She was wearing a severely tailored raspberry silk traveling suit and a modest chapeau decorated with a small maroon velvet rose. This outfit was a stark contrast with the type of glittery flouncy dresses she usually wore at the Altamont Saloon.

“Miss Barbara ! Good day!” Victor tipped his hat. She offered Levi her gloved hand and smiled warmly at him.

Miss Barbara had been his second client after he opened his legal practice in Virginia City. Ben Cartwright had been his first. He had defended “B” against a murder accusation. She had been charged with shooting a miner who had killed an Indian woman. The poor woman was just walking down the street and the drunken miner shot her down for no apparent reason. The man was later found in the alleyway behind the Altamont Saloon with a bullet in his heart. Miss Barbara was declared “not guilty” and the miner’s death was declared a suicide.

“Miss B., May I present my friend Ben Cartwright?” Levi Victor introduced the saloon gal to the tall rancher.

“Yes, we’ve met.” She squeezed his arm affectionately and looked directly into his dark brown eyes. Ben smiled and nodded.

“Good to see you too again, Adam .” She smiled warmly at his oldest son. Adam and Ben glanced briefly at each other and then turned to look at the sky. The clouds suddenly looked extremely interesting to both the father and the son.

Joe looked at Hoss who shrugged his broad shoulders. The pretty saloon lady knew his Pa and big brother, Little Joe noticed. A lot of people in Virginia City knew the Cartwrights.

The stagecoach clattered down the street in a cloud of dust and stopped in front of the Overland Stage Office. The driver jumped down and the stage and started to pile the bags on the top of the carriage and the “shotgun” guard tied them down with a rope. Hoss tossed their bags up to them as the passengers started to climb into the stage.

“Pa, can I sit up top with the driver?” Joe pulled on his fathers vest.

“No, son. Get inside. You go sit between Miss “B”and Mr. Victor. All Ben needed was to have that rascal son of his jumping around on top of a bouncing coach and flying off when they hit the first bump.

“Can I have the window?”

“Certainly sweetie. I’ll sit in between you two handsome gentlemen.” She patted Mr. Victor on the arm.

Ben offered his hand to Miss Barbara and assisted her into the coach. “Thank you, kind sir,” she smiled squeezing his hand and looking right into his eyes. Ben blushed. Hoss and Joe had never seen their father turn red like that before and certainly never on the main street of Virginia City.

”Oh no, let Joseph sit in the middle,” Ben insisted. He knows Levi will be smoking his cigar and stinking up the coach. “Joe let the lady have the window seat to start.” Ben was always chivalrous around all women, no matter who they were or what they did.

Joe found himself sort of squashed in the middle between Mr. Victor and Miss Barbara. At least he is riding facing forward Joe decided. “And Miss Barbara smells very nice.” he thought appreciatively.

“Sweet heart, we can switch seats when ever you want. You just tell me,” she pats Little Joe on his head and smoothed his curly brown hair off his forehead. “Your hair is lovely, Joe.” He smiled at her compliment. He knew he had nice hair and all the ladies loved to pat his head.

 

Chapter 3

The stage trip was going to be three days long and this was only the first day. The journey was boring, hot and dusty but the only choice the Cartwrights had for their trip to Phoenix. The only saving grace was that their fellow passenger for the long journey was Miss Barbara from the Altamont Saloon.

“What brings you here Miss Barbara?” Hoss asked from the opposite seat of the coach. He was usually shy but somehow Miss Barbara was very easy to talk to. He was sitting in the middle, sandwiched between his father on his right and Adam reading a book on his left.

”Oh, I am on my way to visit my mother. She has a place just outside of Phoenix and I make it my business to see her at least once a year. I usually go in October when the weather gets cooler. I don’t do well in the heat.” She fanned herself with a perfume-scented handkerchief.

Hoss thought “Gee, I never thought bar ladies had mothers.” There were all sorts of exciting rumors about who Miss Barbara was that were murmured amongst the residents of Virginia City. Some say she had runaway from her father, a wealthy industrialist in Pittsburgh. Other stories claimed she was a gypsy or a former nun who had left a convent or European royalty. Still other tales said she had been married to an Indian chief or a rich doctor in New York or even Senator Douglas.

“I do like to bring her pretty things. She so appreciates them.” Miss Barbara reached into the small carpetbag that was at her feet. She pulled out something purple that was sheer and soft and flowing. “The purple fabric swung with the rhythms of the rocking coach. “I purchased these stockings for her in San Francisco. Nonni so loves purple.”
Hoss stared at the sheer garment that was fluttering from Miss Barbara’s hand across from him. Little Joe’s eye bugged out. He had never seen such an intimate item of lady’s apparel so near and certainly never expected to see such a garment waved inches from his face in the close quarters of the stage.

Across from Joe, his father cleared his throat and Miss Barbara looked his way. She smiled and quickly placed her mother’s stockings back into her bag.

“Lovely shade of purple, Miss B. You must give me the name of the store in San Francisco. I am sure my own dear mother in New York would love something just like that for Christmas,” Mr. Victor said from the other side of Joe.

Adam chuckled and read his book more intently.

“Adam, that must be a pretty humorous book you are reading,” Ben said staring at his oldest boy.

“Yes, sir. It’s very humorous, much more humorous than I could have ever predicted.” He slid down in his seat and put the book up in front of his face hoping none of the other passengers could see his sly smile.

“Would you like some candy? Anyone?” Miss Barbara reached into her bag. “I know you like peppermints, Joe.” She turned to Little Joe and handed him a red and white candy stick.

“Thank you M’am,” he smiled. How did she know what his favorite candy was? It was like someone had told her all about him.

“And you like lemon drops.” She handed a white paper wrapped package to Hoss.”Pass them around and share them.”

”Do you have anything sweet for me, Bee?” Mr. Victor laughed in his deep gravelly voice.

“No Levi, dear. Next time. Maybe.” She adjusted her hat with the velvet rose. And winked at Adam sitting across from her.” And next time for you too, Adam.”

Now it was Ben’s turn to laugh at his oldest son’s red face. Little Joe’s eyebrows climbed onto his forehead, and Hoss buried his face in his hands and chuckled at the exchange.”

Adam became much more interested in his book and their father found the view from the window suddenly very interesting.

 

Chapter 4

As the day wore on towards late afternoon, the coach lurched and bounced on the road to Phoenix. Levi Victor regaled them with another tale of a courtroom battle and Adam asked him about some case that he heard of when he was at college in Boston. A ship sank killing his friend’s father.

“That’s maritime law, Adam. I don’t have much call for that in Nevada. Not in Arizona either.” Mr. Victor chuckled. He took a puff on his cigar and blew a smoke ring over Little Joe’s head.

Stuck between Adam and his father, Hoss fell asleep. He was snoring loudly with his head was thrown back and his mouth was wide open. Little Joe watched the spectacle and wished he had a paper wad or a checker or a pebble to toss at his brother’s cavernous maw. Maybe something living, he imagined, like a worm or a frog or a fly.

Ben looked across at his youngest child. He had taken off his hat and the heat and perspiration had made Joe’s hair curl up even more than usual.” Didn’t I tell you to get a hair cut before we left, son?”

” I kind of forgot, Pa.”

His father shook his head. Getting a haircut was an ongoing battle between them. “First thing when we get to Phoenix, I’m marching you into that barber shop myself. You look like a …” Ben struggled to think of what awful thing the mop of curls made his son look like.

“An angel? Goodness, Little Joe. I think your hair is very beautiful. I’m sure all the little girls in schoolhouse think so too. Your father has three very attractive sons,” Miss Barbara ruffled his hair affectionately and twisted his curls around her long, slender fingers.

Little Joe’s eyes grew heavy as the heat and the motion of the stage made him drowsy. As he dozed off, Miss Barbara wrapped her arm around him and pulled him close.

”Lean on my shoulder and take a nap. You’re not crowding me one bit.” Joe smiled his sweetest smile and fell asleep cuddled onto Miss “B”. For some strange reason, each of the men in the coach instantaneously felt jealous of the small curly haired boy.

Suddenly they all felt themselves jolted awake as the driver whipped the horses into a gallop. The stage lurched forward and Hoss woke up with a start. Joe opened his eyes and realized something terrible but very exciting was happening. Shots rang out from the guard on top of the coach and a bullet shattered the wood near the door on the left side of the coach over Ben’s head.

“Indians!” Levi shouted pulling out his pistol and leaning out the window on the right side of the stage.

Ben Cartwright started shooting at the attackers from the left side of the coach. Adam drew his pistol and leaned out of his window on the left and shot at the Indian who was trying to climb on the back of the stage. Just as Miss Barbara pushed Joe to the floor of the coach, he saw a body fall past the window as the shotgun guard was killed and fell from the top of the stage.

Pa no one is driving! Hoss hollered as he realized the team was wildly out of control.

More shots range out as the Paiutes chased the runaway stage down the road.

The stage lurched and bounced as shots filled the air around the coach and the passengers fought for their lives.

The coach tumbled down an embankment and flipped over on its side spilling the passengers about. The team broke loose and ran for the hills dragging the broken harness behind them.

From the crest of the hill, Ka-Pusta and he braves waited on their horses and watched as the stage passengers climbed out to assess their damage.

 

Chapter 5

The body of the driver lay off to one side under a piece of dusty canvass that Adam had torn from the coach.

“If the horses hadn’t run off, I think we could have pulled the coach upright and continue on our way.” Ben told his boys. His head was throbbing painfully and he closed his eyes for a minute to see if that helped. Blood was streaming from the gash in his forehead and Miss Barbara was calmly attempting to bandage it with a strip of fabric she had torn from her petticoat.

“I think you are right, Pa. The coach looks pretty undamaged.” Hoss told him walking slowly around the coach.

Joe was still trembling against Adam. His brother had his left arm around him and held him close. “Don’t worry, Buddy, Pa will be all right.” He kept his eyes on the horizon watching for the Indians to return. He held his pistol ready in his right hand.

Joe watched Miss Barbara bandage his Pa. She looked up at the frightened boy and said “Don’t worry, your Pa has a hard head. I’ve seen him get hurt worse than this and still have a fine night …”

Hoss looked at Joe. Joe shrugged. Pa did have a hard head. He once heard Hays Newkirk tell him that when Pa was breaking a horse and got thrown.

Adam interrupted her “ Do you think the Indians are coming back?”

Levi Victor shifted his weight and slid down behind the overturned coach closer to Hoss. His fine suit was clearly ruined. His arm hung limply at his side.

Hoss reloaded the dead driver’s rifle and then reached around to reload his father’s Colt “I surely hope not. How much ammunition do we have, Adam?”

”Don’t worry about them coming back tonight. The Paiutes won’t go into battle at night. They feel if they were killed in the dark, their souls won’t go to rest,” Miss Barbara told the men.” But this is Ka-Pusta’s band and who knows if he will thumb is nose at what his ancestors did. He tends to make up his own rules and tell people that he is a spirit or a ghost. For years he has been telling his followers that people from the stars and the moon talk to him.”

“You certainly knew a lot about the Indians Miss Barbara,” Hoss commented. He lined up the canteens he found and realized they didn’t have much water.

Little Joe nodded. This mysterious lady certainly knew a lot about many things. He hid his face against his brother’s black shirt.

“Pa is going to be fine, Joe. Don’t worry.”

“I have some of that brandy you like Ben.”

The tall rancher opened his eyes weakly and nodded. She pulled a small sterling silver flask from her purse. She gently lifted his shoulders and held it up to his lips. “Just save some for Levi. We still have to set that arm of his.”

Ben? The brandy that he likes? Seems like Miss Barbara knows his Pa pretty well. Joe thought. Maybe they are friends. Pa has lots of friends in Virginia City.

She handed a second flask to Mr. Victor. “Drink this down Levi. We need to set your arm.”

The boys watched as Mr. Victor drained the entire flask without pulling it back from his lips. He closed his eyes and shuddered as the fire liquid hit his throat and burned its way into his empty belly. They all sat and looked at the attorney as his face got red and his eyes watered over. Hoss expected to see steam come out of the man’s ears.

“Okay, we need to do this while Levi is drunk, boys. Levi, I don’t know how much you can understand of what I’m saying, or if you even want to hear it, but I’m going to set your arm. I once worked in a hospital and helped with this a few times at the Altamont when one of our customers got a bit to energetic dancing. Or whatever.” She put the empty flask out of the way.

”There was once this big shot fellow, Ira who hurt his Achilles tendon with one of my gals…she wore a fur coat but never you mind. Now I need one of you boys to get back behind him and hold Levi.”

“Okay Miss B., tell me what to do.” Hoss immediately volunteered and moved towards Mr. Victor.

“Okay, Hoss, sit him up against you and get behind him. Put your arms around his chest and hold on tight to him. Joe, you may want to just help hang on to his legs ‘cause he is going to want to come right up off the ground.” The saloon lady instructed.

Little Joe sat on Mr. Victor’s ankles. She hoped the boy had enough weight to hold down Levi, but she had no other choice.

”When I tell you Adam, You are going to have to pull his arm and set it. We can’t wait.”

The saloon lady hiked up the long skirt of her traveling suit and kneeled next to Mr. Victor” Adam, you ready?”

He wanted to say no, he would never be ready for it, but Adam shook his head yes, as he braced himself for the pull on Levi Victor’s broken arm.

With Adam’s response, Miss Barbara pressed her hands on Levi’s chest for counter-pressure. She then instructed, “Hang on to him. It’s going to be a jolt. Okay, on three, one, two, three.” Adam had Levi’s right arm in his hands and pulled it out and towards him with a jerk until the bone popped back in. Hoss and Little Joe watched Adam work and each felt the need to cringe. Joe squirmed around on top of Mr. Victor’s boots as he thrashed about and the small boy struggled to hold the man’s feet down. It was like riding a bucking horse.

As soon as Adam yanked his arm, the attorney screamed. “Yowch Jezzz!” It was obvious he was in pain no matter how much brandy he had sucked down. He was trying to move, but each Cartwright brother held tight to him and waited for his cussing to quiet. Mr. Victor had a very colorful vocabulary.

“Now give me that piece of wood,” Miss Barbara told Little Joe. He slid off Mr. Victor’s boots and got the piece of wood Hoss had earlier pried off the stage at the saloon lady’s direction. Using the wood as a splint, she tied it in place using strips of cloth she had torn from something pink and flowery that was in her luggage. Then she took Nonni’s purple stockings and used them to make a colorful sling to hold up the broken arm. “Maybe a bit too frilly for your tastes Levi, but it will serve until we get out of here. Its more Stanley Fischer’s tastes” She threw her head back and laughed at the image. The boys were clueless what Mr. Fischer might have to do with frilly and purple but Miss Barbara thought it was pretty funny. Mr. Victor looked ridiculous but relieved that his arm was set.

Adam and Hoss sat with him as he settled down and collected himself. Miss Barbara and Little Joe went over by Ben Cartwright. She adjusted the bandage around his head and he covered his father over with Adam’s jacket.

About an hour later Joe sat down next to Mr. Victor. Levi put his arm around the boy’s shoulders. “Hope I didn’t kick you too hard, son.”

Joe shook his head, “No sir. I’m fine. Is your arm feeling any better?”

”Let me put it to you this way, boys. After drinking all that whiskey from the Altamont Saloon, I’m not feeling much pain.” Adam laughed.

”Mr. Victor will you still be able to defend that man in Phoenix? Hoss asked as helped the lawyer to sit up.

“One of the strategies to a skillful defense is to distract the jury from the opponent’s argument. Now tell me Hoss, what is more distracting than a diaphanous purple sling?” Levi joked. His face was pale and beaded with perspiration but he seemed to be doing fine now that his companions had set his arm.

He pulled his last cigar out of his stained vest and called Little Joe to his side. “Give me a hand lighting this up, son,” he smiled weakly.

“You are incorrigible Levi,” Miss “B’ told him sitting down on the ground near Hoss.

“Nothing is more effective to tell a tale than a reformed reprobate, boys.”

”Now you,” she pointed at Little Joe. “Go over by your Pa and lay down next to him and keep him company. I am sure he will be waking up very shortly and besides having a whopping headache he will be just fine. You make sure that he is nice and comfortable and maybe even get real close and keep him warm.”

Adam smiled at Miss B. She knew Joe was scared to death that their father was all

Right and the little boy was totally worn out. She clearly knew that the boy would be best served by going to sleep next to his father.

”Thanks Miss Barbara,” Adam smiled. “I’ll take the first watch. Hoss, go sleep and I’ll wake you up in a few hours.”

 

Chapter 6

Miss Barbara was right. The Indians did not attack in the dark. They waited until the first rays of the dawn were coloring the Eastern sky.

Sometime in the early morning hours, Ben Cartwright woke to pain in his legs from having fallen asleep with his youngest son wrapped around him. He was feeling very uncomfortable. As he tried to move, Little Joe stirred next to him.

Ben remembered where he was and what had happened as he fully woke. His head throbbed and he raised his hand to his forehead and touched the cloth that Miss Barbara hand bandaged his head with.

He patted his son and spoke softly to him. Joe quieted. Ben laid there a while longer enduring his legs asleep as long as he could and then knew he had to get up. He tried to slowly lift Joe but as he tried to move him, Joe immediately was awake.

“Pa? I’m thirsty “Pa, “ he heard the boy whisper. “Do you want some water?”

Before either Joe nor his father were fully alert and thinking logically and clearly, Little Joe Cartwright stood up and walked away from the campfire and scurried toward the creek on the other side of the rocky outcropping. He moved quickly away from the safety of Hoss and Adam standing guard and right into the waiting arms of the shadowy figure hiding in the brush.

The Indian reached out and roughly grabbed the boy as he walked past.

“Let me go!” Joe shrieked. “Help! Hoss! Pa! Adam! Help me!” Ka-Pusta had snuck up on them as the stage passengers slept and snatched the boy just as the sun started to rise.

Suddenly alerted by the screams, Hoss ran out into the open, from behind the overturned coach and chased after the Indians who were carrying his little brother. “Let him go” Hoss bellowed and tried to fire at the Indians. Before he could even get off at shot, a brave on horseback charged at him. The warrior jumped from the back of his horse and threw Hoss down on to the ground. A second brave jumped from his pony carrying a spear and pointed it at the husky boy’s throat.

From behind the coach, Miss Barbara realized what was going on and leaped to her feet and screamed “Lezem gain Ka-Pusta”

Ka-Pusta carried Little Joe kicking and wriggling under his arm. The angry brave pulled a long knife from his belt. He put the sharp blade up to Little Joe’s neck.

“No!” the brave bellowed. “I will take them both!” he clutched Little Joe’s hair in one hand and kept the knife against his throat with the other. The other brave held the spear to Hoss.

“Don’t move Joe,” Hoss whispered from the ground. “Don’t you move a muscle.” Joe truly wished he had listened to his father and gotten his hair cut before they left Virginia City.Little Joe belatedly realized that he’d managed to make a bad situation much worse, and his lower lip started to tremble.

“Mit ein hintn sitst mennit oif tsvei ferd. You can’t sit on two horses with one behind Ka-Pusta.” She hollered back to him. She started to climb on top of the over turned coach.

“Gibb a chazzer a fingervil er de gantesh hand! Give a pig a finger and he’ll want the whole hand! These white devils are pigs.” Ka-Pusta called back to her.
The brave poked the spear into Hoss’s chubby stomach. The boy cringed but bravely stayed as still as he could.

“If I hadn’t let any of them on our land…” Ka-Pusta started.

“Ka-Pusta Ven di bobeh volt gehat baystim, volt zi geven a zaideh. “ Miss Barbara shouted back. She was standing on the side of the coach, totally exposed to the Indian’s view. “That is the past. Let the past remain in the past. You can say ‘if’ for the rest of your days and you would not change the fact that a squaw can’t be your grandfather. Let both of these boys go. Right now!” She raised her fist angrily.

“I will take over the Paiutes and the Apaches and the Bannocks and the Commanches and the Rickawackies! And together we will chase the white devils from the land!”

“A groiser oiven-a kleine challah A big oven and a small loaf !” she argued with the raging Paiute. Now she was going to get personal with him.

“A kluger vaist voser zogt. A wise man knows what he says.” Ka-Pusta eyed Little Joe who was frozen in fear as the Indian screamed his threats at Miss B.

“A nar zogt vos er vaist. A fool say what he knows,” Miss Barbara countered. She glanced down at the other passengers who were reaching for their guns and scurrying for cover behind the stage.

“Pa, what should we do? “ Adam looked anxiously at Ben.

“Don’t shoot until I tell you.” Ben answered as he watched helplessly as the angry Paiutes held his sons’ lives in their hands. His head still throbbed from the blow he had received the previous day. He rolled over and grabbed the dead driver’s rifle and edged over to Adam.

“Do bist ein klayna putz, Ka-Pusta! You have big dream Ka-Pusta but a small manhood and a weak brain like always. Why did the Paiutes send you and your small band off to be a lost tribe wandering in the desert? You can show your strength by overpowering boys but don’t have the means to lead your own people. Let them go! Lezem gain!” She shouted again.

There was silence. Ben held his breath. Would Miss Barbara be able to talk his sons back from Ka-Pusta?

”Hold your fire, son. They have a knife at Little Joe’s throat.” Ben ordered. Levi scrambled over to the Cartwrights. “Ben what are they going to do? We can’t let them ride off with those boys.”

From behind the cover the overturned coach, Adam took aim at Ka-Pusta. There was no way he was going to let that crazy Indian harm either of his brothers but they were so far off and he was not sure he could make the shot. Even if he could hold his hands steady he was not sure if he could hit Ka-Pusta and not his little brother. Even if he slid over and got the rifle that was under the coach Adam was unsure if he could shoot Ka-Pusta.

If he missed they surely would kill Joe and Hoss. He wasn’t sure Ka-Pusta and the brave were within range. If he missed, Ka-Pusta would cut his little brother’s throat right in front of them. Adam held his breath. He waited for his father to tell him to shoot.

He could see his little brother squeeze his eyes closed as Ka-Pusta tugged painfully on his curly hair.

Suddenly Ka-Pusta shoved Little Joe into the ground and shouted orders to the brave who had the spear at Hoss’s belly. Both Indians turned and walked over to the rest of the mounted Indians. They spoke for an instant and Ka-Pusta swung onto the back of his horse. He bellowed a blood-curdling shriek as he led his men off at a gallop.

Miss Barbara ran out from behind the stage with Adam at her heels. She scooped up Joe from the ground and wrapped her arms around him. Adam helped Hoss to his feet and they hustled them back across the field to the over turned stagecoach.

Joe ran over to his father. Ben was reclined against the wheel and reached out his arms to the boys. Joe threw himself against his father’s chest and Ben held him close. Hoss sat trembling next to them.

“Are you boys all right?” Joe nodded. For once, he was quiet and unable to speak. Ben sat with Joe in his lap holding his son tightly. The rancher felt relief with every breath his son took.

Hoss said,“Miss Barbara, I sure never expected you to know how to give that Ka-Pusta a what for. Thanks for saving me and Little Joe.”

Levi Victor nodded, “Quite amazing display of litigation Barbara. Ever think of becoming a lawyer? “ With his uninjured hand, he automatically reached into his vest for another cigar but realized that he had smoked the last one the night before.

Suddenly they heard the thunder of galloping horses approaching. Ben reached again for the driver’s rifle and Adam drew his pistol.

“White Devils!” Ka-Pusta called to them. “White devils! Van Sen! Lice!

They all looked over the edge of the coach and saw Ka-Pusta leading the runaway stage team. “Here are your mangy horses! Leave my territory. An alter freint iz besser vi neich tsvai! One old friend is better than two new ones.”

Only Levi Victor knew that jealous comment was directed to, Miss Barbara of the Altamont Saloon. Ka-Pusta implied that his former wife had some sort of involvement with Levi Victor and Ben Cartwright. Levi Victor unconsciously put his hand up to his receding hairline and tried not to think what it would feel like to be scalped by a jealous Ka-Pusta.

Miss Barbara screamed back at him “Putz Besser alain aider geman Ka-Pusta. Better alone than with a lowly mate.”

Adam looked at Miss Barbara and smiled to himself. The rumors about her being a gypsy or a princess or the daughter of a prince were not true. Maybe the one about living with the Indians was not so far fetched.

 

Chapter 7

Boston 1870

Dennis O’Mara allowed Joe and Emily more privacy than older brothers would approve of, but he felt the two should be enjoying themselves. Both Emily and Joe had experienced rough times in the last year. The Cartwrights were still mourning the death of big Hoss and Joe had spent most of the last year convalescing from the serious wounds he had received at the hands of the Carson City Gang. Then Joe reinjured himself on the horse. The poor fellow was cooped up here in Boston when he was dying to get back home to the Ponderosa. Maybe Emily was just the tonic that boy needed to brighten up his stay in Boston.

And Joe Cartwright was certainly putting a smile on his Emily’s pretty face.

Dennis knew Joe was brought up in a good family and sincerely respected his sister. For years, Dennis had heard the jokes and talk about Little Joe, the rogue, the lothario, the Romeo, but he found it rather amusing and without much merit. The few occasions that Dennis had spent time with Adam’s family in San Francisco or on the Ponderosa he saw that Joe was a decent sort with a good heart. He loved to have fun and play tricks but when the chips were down there was no one, beside Adam, that Dennis would want backing him up. .

Joe never had done anything to dishonor a woman but he simply liked to flirt a lot. The youngest Cartwright brother liked to have a pretty girl on his arm and enjoy himself. He clearly knew there were certain woman that you took liberties with and others that you married. And Joe knew which category Emily O’Mara fell into without Dennis reminding him.

Dennis O’Mara also knew his sister. Joe Cartwright had met his match as far as Emily being able to stand toe-to -toe with him. She had more starch in her backbone than any other member of the O’Mara family, himself included. The poor girl just had bad luck when it came to finding a suitable husband. First there was that awful situation with Wilkes Harrison. Unfortunately when Emily finally found happiness with Dr. Richard Jansen, the poor man died just weeks before the wedding from typhoid fever. Emily certainly had more than her share of heartbreak.

Adam Cartwright was his business partner and oldest friend and would most certainly make sure that his brother treated Emily respectfully. Adam had protected Emily in the past and would certainly continue.

 

Chapter 8

Boston 1870

Joe couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so instantly comfortable with a woman. He didn’t feel the need to try to impress her or to charm her to him as he usually did when he met a female who attracted him. Besides he was in too much pain and discomfort to consider flirting with anyone, no matter how beautiful. At first she seemed a bit formal and stand offish, but his father reminded him that this was Boston and people had different manners than he was used to out west.

He thought back on how years ago Katie’s Aunt Mim had told him to stop chasing after the bubble headed giggly girls. “Foolish blondes”, Mim had called them. She had said, “Looks fade and stupid is forever.” Emily was beautiful and smart and didn’t giggle or whine. Her calmness radiated through the room each time she came to visit. Joe laughed to himself when he realized she wasn’t blonde either. She had beautiful chestnut brown hair.

”I’ve known your brother since I was six or seven years old and Dennis brought him home for Christmas night dinner. I feel like I know you that long too, Joseph.” She said from her seat near the window.

”Me? Why would you feel you know me? We just met.” Joe settled back down on his pillow. His shoulder wasn’t too bad as long as he didn’t move. His hand was wedged comfortably between two folded pillows and the pain killing medicine that the nurse, Mrs. Shelly, had given him was finally taking effect.

“Adam used to tell us all about his family and the Ponderosa all the time. He sometimes would even read pieces of the letters that your family wrote to him. I loved hearing all about the Wild West and his little brother who was a cowboy. I thought you were a little boy sheriff or something.”

Joe laughed “ A little boy sheriff? Where did you get that silly idea from?”
”Don’t forget I was only about six years old. Some girls had fairy tale princes fighting dragons. I think Adam would put us girls to sleep with stories that he embellished a bit. Quite a bit I suppose. Didn’t you once run away with another boy when your father was gone?”

Joe laughed.” Pa and Hoss were on the fall drive and left me with the foreman’s wife and I was pretty angry about being left behind. And I missed my Pa something fierce. I decided I would go catch up with them. I had Dean Newkirk run off with me. I even managed to get him on a horse behind me. I think he started to cry when it got dark and I had to bring him home. We were both crying. Adam told you that?”

She nodded.” Except I think he added that you caught some horse thieves or cattle rustlers and brought them to jail on your way home for dinner. And then lived happily ever after. And ate all your vegetables too. I think he had the president giving you a medal for bravery too. Or maybe it was the queen of England. And the one about the long johns on the flagpole. He was so sure you did it and made some one else take the blame. A little girl, I think.”

”It was his wife.”

”Whose wife? The foreman? “

”No, Adam’s wife. Katie.”

”Kate?” Emily laughed. She couldn’t imagine Kate Cartwright being such a rascal as a child. Adam was madly in love with her and she was rapidly becoming a noted author.

“ Sure, Kate was the one who put her father’s long johns on the flag pole. She was way worse than I ever was. But Katie was a lot smarter and never, ever got caught. Bet you were the best behaved little girl.”

”Me? Oh no. I just think no one ever noticed. Don’t forget I’m the sixth child in the family. It’s Dennis and the six of us girls and by the time I came along, I think I got lost in the shuffle. My youngest sister Peg was the rebellious one. Adam used to say that she was a real match for you.”

”Adam sure told you a lot about us over the years.”

“Adam missed you all.”

Joe was surprised to hear that remark. Adam had left them to travel around. If he had missed them so much why did he leave?

”Don’t forget when he came back here a few years ago, Adam used to have Sunday dinner with us a few times a month. And very often he would stay with Dennis when he was traveling. I live with Dennis and Amanda when I am not at the school.”

”So you were always well behaved?”

“Not always, but compared to Peg and everything else that was going on, no one paid me much mind. I guess I got lost in the shuffle. My father’s ship sank when I was only seven. Mother passed away when I was twelve and Peggy and I kind of got shifted around from Uncle Sean to my married sisters and Dennis until Amanda suggested Miss Phipps.”

”Miss Phipps?”

”The girl’s school that Amanda had attended. That is where I teach now. I loved it there so much. I would go home on the vacations to Amanda and Dennis and their children. I was so happy at that school, I even came back after I graduated. For a few years I have been teaching French and Latin and fill in as the assistant to the head mistress. If it wasn’t for Amanda and Dennis I don’t know what would have become of me. And your darling brother too.”

”Adam? Was he a Miss Phipps girl too ?” Joe laughed trying not to move too much. He was beginning to feel fuzzy headed from the medicine. He noticed his lips were getting numb and his eyes were getting heavy. The pain in his shoulder was diminished to a dull throb. He thought he was pretty funny with that comment about Adam but maybe it was just the painkiller.

“No, he and Dennis threatened a gentleman on my behalf. I take that back he wasn’t much of a gentleman. Adam and Dennis once threatened a man on my behalf … never mind. Perhaps, I’ll tell you another time, after you know me better. Anyway you look like all my chatter wears you out. I better let you rest and go to sleep.”

Joe reluctantly closed his eyes. He wanted to talk to Emily more. Even if he couldn’t talk he wanted to look at her but really was sleepy. He hated being so easily worn out. He’s had to remember to ask Adam whom he and Dennis had threatened on Miss Emily’s behalf.

 

Chapter 9

“I suppose I’ll be leaving pretty soon.”

You don’t have to play nursemaid, Pa” Joe flashed back. “I’ll be fine, you do what you need to do.”

“I know that, tough guy.” Ben responded lightly, hoping to avoid sending Joe into a rage. “Do you need anything before I go out?” He moved around the hospital room, putting the newspaper, a bowl of fruit, and a water pitcher along with a glass within Joe’s reach on the white enameled bedside table.

Joe laughed and pointed at the door. “Go! Stop fussing over Me.” he commanded in mock anger.

“ I’m heading out the door, son. Doctor Meyer will be in later.” He rearranged the pillow behind Joe’s arm.

“Just go already. You are making me crazy. Emily is going to come by soon to visit and the nurses are just down the hall. Go check out what those Boston Central railroad men want to do about the lumber and see if Hays sent any telegrams about the prices he was offered on those horses. We still have a ranch to run even if I am in the hospital like a pitiful soul Pa.” Ben laughed at his son’s impatience. Was he really concerned about the ranch or was he feeling well enough to want to be alone with Emily O’Mara.

“Do I have to act like the Bull of the Woods from my sick bed? I’m in pain Pa,” he grinned. Then he dramatically pulled the covers over his face. “I’m dying Pa and you still need me to tell you what to do to keep the ranch from disaster and bankruptcy.” Then with all his clowning around Joe moved at the wrong angle and banged his shoulder on the head board and winced with the pain. He hoped his father didn’t notice. If he did, Joe hoped that he thought it was part of Joe’s joking, not real pain.

Ben just smiled at his son. “It’s my job to worry about you, Joe.” he responded laughing. “Maybe I should have done a better job and you wouldn’t have wound up here. I should have ordered you to stop…”

“Pa you know I am not very good at taking orders.”

Ben was relieved to see Joseph finally feeling better and joking around like his old self but he still regretted that he hadn’t forbidden him to break horses. Maybe this all could have been avoided. They would never know now.

”I’ll be back after dinner.”

The twinge of pain faded and Joe was ok for the moment.
”Good bye already!” and tossed a book at his father’s retreating back. “And make sure the Boston Central adds in the mileage on the lumber prices. And bring me some clean nightshirts. I can’t wear the hospital kind and maintain either my dignity or my priceless reputation as Joseph Francis Cartwright, respectful gentleman. This is Boston, Pa. They have more formal manners here.” Joe teased his father with the same words Ben had used on him. “And some pie or cake or something like that too.”

 

Chapter 10

Emily leaned over and kissed him back warmly. Joe pulled her closer with his one good arm wrapped firmly her slender waist. “I missed you, Em.” Joe flirted.

“I missed you too, Joseph. I was so worried about you, “ She smoothed his hair out of his hazel eyes. “You look much better.“

“Only because you are here. I was pretty miserable yesterday. Ask the nurses.”

She smiled and rubbed his cheek gently with two fingers. “You shaved.”

”Pa did it for me. The nurse thought I might have slit my throat one handed. I didn’t want you to complain that I was rubbing your face raw if I kissed you. He pulled her face closer and tried to kiss her again.

“Please Joe, don’t.” She pulled away from him nervously. A curl escaped from her perfectly combed upsweep.

There was a knock at the door and Emily pulled out of Joe’s embrace. “Joseph someone is here.”

Joe looked at the tall, dark haired man smiling in the doorway. He was wearing a well-tailored black pinstriped suit and a conservative dark tie. His dark eyes twinkled at the scene before him. The visitor was holding a neatly wrapped package in one hand and holding his hat in the other. “Well, well, despite what Pa wrote, it seems that you are not as sick as I was led to believe.”

“ Adam!“ Joseph shouted joyfully. “Come in! Come in! I didn’t think you would be here until next week at the earliest! Emily, Adam is here!” Joe couldn’t be happier to see his brother.

Emily couldn’t be more delighted to have an interruption from Joe’s attentions. The young man was very handsome, but she was vaguely uncomfortable with their growing closeness. Emily found it frightening to find herself thinking so frequently and intensely about Joseph Cartwright.

“Adam, it’s so good to see you again.” Emily gave him hug and a warm sisterly kiss on his cheek. She had known Adam Cartwright since she was five or six years old and her brother Dennis would bring him home for Christmas night supper. She never imagined she would ever meet Adam’s brother no less finding herself falling in love with him.

“Joe, Let me go get you some fresh ice water and you two visit. “Emily blushed that Adam had seen her kissing Joseph. She grabbed the white enamel pitcher from the dresser top and hurried down the corridor.

Joe threw his good arm around his brother’s neck. “Hey Adam! How is Katie? I didn’t think you would be here so soon. Where is my boy Sam? “

The questions tumbled excitedly from Joe’s lips. He was terribly homesick.

Adam hugged Joe back. “He’s with Pa. We saw him as we walked into the hospital. They don’t normally let kids up here so Pa took Sam to get some dinner.” Adam stared at Joe’s cast and the bandages around his shoulder.

“Don’t you have enough sense to stay in one piece Little Joe? How are you feeling, Buddy.”

”Not bad. I’ve been better and I’ve been worse.” Joe was never one to complain. He would have shrugged, but his shoulder would hurt if he did.

“Looks like you have a pretty nurse to keep you company.” Adam handed Joe the package. “It’s a new book. I thought you might be bored but I guess I never expected you find a new lady friend so fast.”

.”Guess, even though I’m all smashed up, I haven’t lost my charm.” Joe grinned “And you thought Emily might be spoken for Adam.”

Adam handed Joe the book he brought for him. “Need any help unwrapping it?”
Joe waved his cast in the air. “I’ll manage, just undo the string and I can gnaw off the rest.”

Adam laughed and snapped the string between his hands. “Here, Buddy. It’s Mark Twain. You and Emily? I really thought she would be married by now. Or is she? Better watch out if she is, Joe. Leave it to you to find a pretty one to keep you company. Just don’t wear yourself out.”

Joe winked.” I’ll be sure to watch out. “

”I thought Emily was engaged to a doctor, Joe. What happened? “

Joe frowned. “Dennis said the guy died last summer. Just about the same time Hoss was killed. Maybe that’s why he didn’t tell you. Or maybe he did and you just don’t remember. Just about a month before the wedding. He died of typhoid. Emily took it really hard and that is why she is living with Dennis and helping with his children. She teaches at a girls school and is tutoring Robert in Latin this summer.”

”That’s really terrible Joe. Just before the wedding too.”

The two brothers were silent for a minute but Joe could not keep quiet for very long. He had too much quiet sitting in the hospital room and he was happy to see his brother.

‘How long are you staying. I am sure Pa is glad to see you arrive. He is itching to get back home. And to tell you the truth, I can’t wait for him to go. He hovers over me too much.”

”I’m here for as long as you need.” Adam gingerly sat down on the edge of the high hospital bed. He didn’t want to jostle his brother unnecessarily.

”What do you mean? “

“I’ll be here as long as you need me.”

”What about your wife? She is having that baby soon. You can’t leave Katie for so long on my account, Adam.”

“Guess who decided she would be better off here than home?”

”Kate is here? Here in Boston?” Joe eyes widened.

Adam smiled and nodded “ We figured she was feeling pretty fine and to be honest she decided the traveling now was less difficult for her than me being here in Boston and Kate staying in Virginia City until I get back. Katie even convinced Phil Bartlett to come back as the editor in the Enterprise for a while for her.”

”Phil? I thought old Phil the famous journalist was wandering around the country writing and lecturing.”

”He was but he said he owed this much to Katie. Don’t forget, The Enterprise gave Philip his first job. This way, Pa can go home and run the Ponderosa. And I get to show my family around Boston for a while.”

Joe shifted around in the bed. “Sounds like a good plan, big Brother.”

“ Looks like the baby might be born in Boston, like Pa and me.”

Joe’s face suddenly got serious. He leaned forward and grabbed a handful of his brother’s suit jacket. “Adam, you’re not thinking of staying here are you? Moving all of you back to Boston?”

Adam shook his head. “My wife thinks just like you do, Joe. She made me swear on a stack of bibles that we were only visiting. She keeps reminding me that Sam starts back to school in the fall and all the things that are not quite finished in our house. We are going back to Virginia City with you.”

”You promise?”

”Not to worry. This is only a long visit. I promise.” Adam patted Joe’s arm. “And you know I always keep my promises, Joe. All of us are going home as soon as you are all healed up and can travel. All of us.”

Joe felt relieved. For just an instant he feared that his brother would keep his family in Boston. He sagged back down on the pillows.

“Where is Katie?”

”She was pretty worn out so I insisted she turn in. We all are staying at with Dennis and Amanda. Pa too.”

“And the eight O’Mara kids!”

“Joe, it’s a huge house. Your brother is partners with a successful man who had an extremely successful father in law.”

”Who left it all to Dennis.” Joe added and his brother laughed.

“Any way, Amanda and most of the children are leaving for Europe soon and it will be much quieter there by the time you get discharged from the hospital. Sam has never seen so many noisy kids in one family. He asked if it was a school when we got there. “

Joe laughed. “Dennis’s house is big enough to hold half the Federal army and a tribe of Indians too. Can’t wait to see Sammy. I miss him terribly.”

“He was worried about you. I need to check something out in the courthouse but I’ll arrange for the hospital to let Sam visit and stay with you when I have to be out.”

”Talk to Miss Shelly the nurse. She finds me quite irresistible. She’ll break any rule to let my nephew visit. Just tell her you are my brother and she will do anything you want. Even if you aren’t as irresistible as I am.” Joe smiled. “Emily will show you who she is.”

“I would be more than glad to pitch in if Pa wants to go back home. I owe you more than I can ever pay back Joe, you know that.”

Joe reached out his good hand. “Thanks, I missed you a lot Adam.”

”I missed you too Joe. When is Pa set to go home?”

”I’m not sure. He wasn’t clear on how long you were going to stay and when you were sending Sam out and” .Joe stopped. He waved the plaster cast up in the air. “Damn it I really hate this. Do you realize you were sending a ten year old kid out here to nursemaid me and button my shirt and wipe my nose for me.”

”Calm down. I know patience was never your strong suit but from what Pa wrote to me it won’t be that much longer.”

”I just am bored to death. When I’m not in pain, I’m fed up with the boredom and being stuck inside.”

”Doesn’t look like that you are too bored with Miss Emily. And you were never one to let only one hand stop you from …”

”Hey watch where you are going with that Adam.” Joe grinned impishly. “She’s pretty reserved Adam. Don’t forget this is Boston and she is a very proper lady.”

”Like I said, when did that ever stop you?”

“Adam!” Joe got surprisingly defensive of the young lady’s honor.

“ Anyway, how else would I get you out east. We met a friend of mine on the train on the last stretch between New York and Boston and he wants to meet you. He said something about you helping him select some horses.”

”Horses?”

”Who knows maybe for fox hunting or Polo or something.”

“Polo?”

”You know, the game all the rich snooty guys play on horses hitting a ball around with mallets.”

Joe laughed at the image of a bunch of Adam’s college friends, rich Easterners sipping champagne on the back of fat Shetland ponies playing some type of ridiculous game.”

“Well la Dee dah. Polo horses for the fancy set.”

All of a sudden Adam’s face looked grim.

“And we need to check this out too. This is what I need to go to the courthouse to check out. Maybe to the City jail too.” He handed Joe a ragged piece of torn newspaper. Most of the story was missing and Joe could read the top half of the story.

The headline proclaimed “William Cartwright Indicted on Murder Charges”

 

Chapter 11

“Amanda, I have a secret for you.”

”What is it Peggy?” She asked her young sister in law. Amanda was settling the girls in the blue guest room that was their usually place when they stayed in Boston on school vacations. “Do you need your dresses pressed for tonight, dear. I want you both to look lovely for the opera. Dennis will be home soon with Adam Cartwright. Your brother is picking him up at the dock.”

Peggy repeated, “Amanda, Emily has a beau. Don’t tell her that I told you.”

”Good for Emily! How nice for her.” Amanda opened her young sister in laws trunk and started pulling out dresses and crinolines. She gently placed a lavender ruffled dress on the bed next to a pale yellow lace trimmed dress. “Which one are you wearing tonight?”
”His name is Wilkes Smith and Em said he is very handsome and clever and she thinks he might just propose.”

”Smith? How did she meet him? Who are his people.”

Peggy lifted up the lavender dress and said” I think I will wear this one. Emily said she is wearing the pale green with the embroidery that you got her last time she was here. “

”Yes, you two will look so darling standing together. Let me do up your hair. So who are these Smiths?”

”I think he told Emily they have money from his uncle, from the railroads or investments out west or in the war or something. I don’t recall. She met him at the spring cotillion that she was chaperoning. I think he is the friend of one of her student’s or the brother or cousin. Maybe she said the uncle. I don’t recall other than she finds him very appealing. He certainly has swept her off her feet, Amanda.”

”Really? How lovely. Are you still seeing young Mr. Preston?” Amanda so wanted Dennis’s sisters to make good matches. Amanda had married Dennis for love and they were wealthy too from his hard work as a partner in Stoddard and Bruce. She wanted the same happiness for Emily and Peg. She also wanted the fun of giving a big wedding for each girl.

Emily laughed. “Yes, I think he will be at the opera tonight with his parents and Dennis can tell Mr. and Mrs. Preston Senior that he is willing for Kenneth to ask for my hand if he is so inclined.”

”No dear, not at the opera. That is not polite. I will ask them to come for dinner and we can discuss that properly. And what about this Wilkes Smith? Do you think Dennis needs to speak to him about his intentions?” Amanda started arranging her young sister in laws hair as the two women stood in front of the full-length mirror. “I do like it up with some flowers in it.”

”Hmmm, Emily is so in love with him but let her tell you what she wants Dennis to do. “ Peggy looked at Amanda’s reflection in the mirror as she spoke. “He sounds so wonderful. Maybe we should have a double wedding?”

”Oh no, I want to make each of you a big elaborate wedding of your own. Just as Dennis and I did.”

”I met him once. Wilkes took both of us for a Sunday drive and to tea. Emily made him.”
“Did you now? “

”Yes, he is very dashing. He clearly couldn’t keep his eyes off my sister,” Peggy giggled. “They kissed too.”

 

Chapter 12

Dennis O’Mara and Adam Cartwright walked into the entrance of the O’Mara home. A stampede of small boys rushed into the foyer to embrace their father and greet the visitor. A bronze statue of Zeus teetered on a marble topped mahogany table as the boys flew past. Dennis Junior threw himself into Adam’s arms and his three younger brothers embraced their father’s partner around his legs.

“Boys, boys, let Adam at least get his coat off before you knock him down. He just arrived. He’ll be here for a few weeks.”

”Aunt Emily and Aunt Peggy are here to from Miss Phipps, Adam,” Junior reported.

“Mama said to remind you to get ready as soon as you can. Don’t forget you have the opera tonight.”

”Opera? “ Adam smiled. “I barely arrive from London and you are dragging me off to the opera? My trunks haven’t even arrived from the boat.”

“I think you left a dress suit here last time and you can wear that. You know Amanda’s ideas. And my sisters love it so. Come with us. You can sleep tomorrow, Cowboy. I need your company to keep me awake anyway.”

Adam handed Junior his bag and put his hat on little Robert’s head and smiled. ”How can I refuse such an enthusiastic invitation.” Adam quipped sarcastically.

“You like this kind of music, Adam. Just give me a poke if I doze off.”

 

Chapter 13

The opera was wonderful despite the fact that most of the performance Adam had to reach across Peggy and nudge Dennis awake as Amanda poked him in the ribs with her elbows from the other side. Once, he even started to snore in the middle of an aria and Amanda pinched his ear so hard he yelped. Fortunately they were in box seats and no one in the audience could detect where the noise had come from.

At intermission, Emily told them she would take her brother for a stroll outside the concert hall. “Maybe the fresh air will wake him up,” she told the rest of the family.

As they waited for the second half of the performance, Adam escorted Amanda and Peggy into the crowded lobby. Many of their friends were there and Amanda enthusiastically greeted them and introduced Adam to all the unattached women hoping to make a match. Adam smiled and nodded politely but cringed at her blatant attempts to find him a wife among her friend’s daughters and sisters.

“Look, Amanda. There he is! Wilkes Smith,” Peggy pointed to a handsome blonde man standing in the middle of a knot of people. As the crowd around them shifted, they could see the man had his hand protectively on the arm of a blonde woman next to him. They were standing with Adam’s old friend Ted Flanagan, former Territorial governor and Mr. and Mrs. Jansen, acquaintances of Dennis and Amanda O’Mara and another younger couple.

“Let’s go say hello to him,” Peggy tugged at Adam’s coat. He was totally oblivious to why this Wilkes person was causing such a stir in the two O’Mara ladies but being a gentleman, Adam allowed himself to be dragged across the lobby to meet the man. No one could ever refuse Amanda’s demands. Besides he was glad to see Governor Flanagan again. Maybe Ted had been on the Ponderosa recently and could tell him about his family.

“ Ted, good to see you!” Adam shook his hand.

”Adam Cartwright! Imagine meeting you at the opera in Boston! May I present Mr. and Mrs. Richard Jansen Sr., Dr. and Mrs. Meyer and Mr. and Mrs. Wilkes Harrison? My dear friend Adam Cartwright of the Ponderosa ranch. Who are these lovely young ladies?”

”Mrs. Dennis O’Mara and her sister-in law, Miss Peggy O’Mara. Dennis is my business partner.”

Peggy turned pale as she realized handsome, elegant, polite Wilkes Smith was standing with his wife, Mrs. Wilkes Smith. A married man was courting her sister. She clutched Amanda’s gloved hand in hers. Adam looked down at the two women who were suddenly and uncharacteristically silent. He raised his eyebrow at Amanda and shook hands all around the circle of elegantly attired operagoers.

“Look there are the Prestons. We must go say hello.” Peggy tugged them all across through the crowd as quickly as she could.

“Amanda,” she gasped at her horrifying discovery. “Wilkes Smith is a married man!”

Adam looked at the two women and tried to fathom what was going on in the lobby of the opera that could be so upsetting. His dark eyes flashed from Amanda to Peggy. “What in the world is going on here, Ladies?” Adam folded his arms across his chest.

“Oh Adam! Emily is in love with Wilkes Smith and he is very married!” Peggy’s gray eyes filled with tears.

From the other side of the lobby Amanda could see her tall, sandy haired husband and Emily approaching as the second act was about to begin. “Adam, please. I don’t want an embarrassing confrontation Don’t you dare say a word to Dennis until we get home. I don’t want him to cause an embarrassing scene in front of an entire opera audience by him thrashing that despicable man right here and now.”

Continue on to Battle of Wills Part 7

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