Summary:  Part seven of Sins of the Father, Sins of the Sons

Word Count:  11,600

 

 

                                  Sins of the Father, Sins of the Sons

 

 

Conflicts between Ben and Meg.

Doctor Martin’s Party erupts in discord.

 

Chapter 1

 

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis O’Mara

Boston, Massachusetts
August 10, 1874

Dear Mother and Father,

I am writing to inform you that I am extending indefinitely my stay here with Aunt Emily and Uncle Philip in Virginia City. I have decided not to return to Boston and go to college right now or ever. There is nothing that will change my mind.

If you won’t permit me to work for Uncle Sean at the Golden Shamrock, as I have always wanted, then I might as well stay right here in Nevada. There is nothing you can say or do that will make me return to Boston and do what you want me to do.

There is no need for you to even send me any money for my living expenses as Aunt Emily has said I am welcome to stay with them. Even if you won’t permit her to do that, I shall earn my own way and find my own lodgings.

I plan to seek employment have been at the newspaper office assisting Philip or I can even work with Adam at your office here in town. William Cartwright also said he could offer me wages doing carpentry. I am also trying to convince Joe Cartwright and Mr. Cartwright that I would like to try working at the Ponderosa but Joe said I have to learn to ride a horse much better.  I am trying hard.

I can even work in one of the mines if you some how make all these people refuse to hire me.

In other words, I am not coming back.

There is also a business that I am interested in purchasing here in Virginia City. The owner is retiring and I know I am well suited to the operation of this type of concern.

I know you both want me to go to college like my brothers, however this is not what I chose to do.

Your devoted son,

Robert O’Mara

 

*****

 

Meg Cartwright rode Goldie into the yard at a break neck speed. Forgetting what Joe had told her about how his mother had been killed and how his father got upset when one of the family galloped into the yard, Meg came racing up her honey blonde hair flying loose.

Just at that moment, Ben Cartwright strode out of the bunkhouse with the new hand that Casey had brought around for him to hire. Ben was startled by the suddenness of her approach and concerned that she could get hurt by her own carelessness. As she leaped off Goldie, Ben shouted at her that she was being reckless. He was alarmed as well as simply concerned for her safety. Unfortunately Meg took his harsh tone as a criticism of her competence as a rider and as an escalation of their ongoing discord.

The day before, Meg had observed at supper that the south pasture looked worn and told Ben that the herd should be moved to another area of the ranch by the end of the week.
”Meg, I certainly know when and how to move my cattle. I already told the men to take care of it.” Ben said in an annoyed tone. He was not used to anyone telling him how to run the Ponderosa and certainly not a pretty, young woman. She was only making dinner table conversation but Ben got his hackles raised and Meg was annoyed that her advice had been rejected as being foolish.

Joe was still washing up and didn’t even know the comment was made. He sat down and launched into his own story about some horses that had broken loose and how he and his men had to round them up and just assumed his wife and father we quiet because he was such a talented storyteller. He got called away in the middle of dinner to handle a disagreement between the new man, Johnny Sylvester and one of the visiting cavalry troopers over a card game in the bunkhouse. The two combatants had torn up the place and each other pretty badly and the Captain in charge of the detail wanted to speak to Joe.

By the time he returned to finish his dinner, Ben had retreated to some paper work at his desk and Meg was putting Eric to bed. Weary from a long day, Joe thought everything looking very normal and peaceful in the ranch house.

The next day, Meg and Ben had words over the care of a horse. Meg, herself had picked out for the Ponderosa at a recent sale. What started out that afternoon as a slight bristling between Ben Cartwright and his daughter in law over whether a new mare was ready to saddle break, grew into a battle royal over Eric by nightfall.

The child was filthy from playing in mud around the barn while Joe and some of the men finished up the last of the carpentry on the new barn .The child was filthy from head to toe and desperately needed a bath. His ears and hair was filled with sawdust, sand and bits of straw. Unidentifiable gunk had fallen down his collar and into his underwear when he had tossed it the air imitating snow falling. The child was too dirty to even set foot in the house and his grandfather had to undress Eric on the back porch and wash him up in the kitchen. Ben tried to carefully wash his hair by pouring water over his muddy hair and soaping him up with a bar of yellow soap. Eric hated that chore but Ben persisted.

The child was silently cooperating until Meg innocently walked into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. As soon as Eric saw his Aunt he started to wail, as he preferred her to bathe him. It was one of the few reminders he had of the gentleness of his mother though he was unable to communicate that to anyone.

“Meeeeeeeeeg!” Eric shrieked as Ben sat him in the tub. “Help! Meg!” He attempted to squirm from his grandfather’s hold and slipped into the water splashing Ben with sudsy water. Ben was instantly soaked to his skin and shouted loudly at Eric.

“Sit still and stop making a mess, boy!” Ben roared trying to hang onto the slippery child. “You are going to fall and get hurt.” Puddles sloshed across the pine floorboards.
Eric shrieked louder and tried to scramble out of the tub and get to Meg. He slid backwards into the tub with a big splash.

“Get back here, Eric!” Ben hollered trying to hang onto him so he wouldn’t escape or get injured.

“Why are you yelling at him?” Meg scooped Eric up as he dripped down the front of her blouse. Eric wrapped his wet arms around her and screamed louder. “Meg! Help me! Save me!”

“I’m not yelling!” Ben shouted trying to gently put Eric back into the tub. This only made the boy cling tighter to Meg and scream louder.

“Why are you giving him a bath? Don’t you know how to do it properly?” Meg asked trying to calm Eric down.

Ben got indignant at what he perceived to be a marked criticism of his ability to tend his own grandchild in his own home. “I certainly know how to bathe a boy! I raised my three boys and gave more baths to those boys than I can count! Who do you think bathed your husband? Queen Victoria? President Lincoln?”

Eric howled and both Meg and Ben wound up hollering at each other louder and louder. Hop Sing had rushed down the stairs with an armload of towels and fresh clothes for Eric and slipped in the puddles as he got into the kitchen. He crashed to the floor and started to rant in Cantonese.

Just at that moment Joe, walked in the kitchen door right into the middle a of a discussion of his brothers’ child hood bathing, how of all the Cartwright brothers, Joe hated getting his hair washed the most and how Meg should mind her manners as well keep her nose out of the care of the Ponderosa livestock.  “I certainly know how to wash hair and when a mare is ready to be broken or cattle moved to another location!” Ben roared. The dishes rattled in the cupboard and Eric screamed louder.

“That horse is too young and your are scaring this poor child with your shouting!” Meg countered. “And why are you yelling?”

“What is going on?” Joe shouted above the din. He whistled between his teeth as if he was breaking up a fight between disgruntled poker players in the bunkhouse. He helped Hop Sing to his feet just as Eric leaped out of Meg’s grasp and hightailed it out of the kitchen leaving a trail of suds and water. The wet naked boy hid shivering under the dining room table and wouldn’t come out until Joe crawled in after him and gently coaxed him out. He sat trembling from the shouting more than the cold.

At that moment, Joe was the only dry and rational person in the house but that ended as soon as Eric wrapped himself around his uncle and decided that Joe was the only one who could touch him. He wanted no part of anyone who was yelling or fighting. Joe wound up finishing Eric’s bath and he and Hop Sing managed to dress him in his nightshirt and comb his yellow hair.

By that time, Meg had dashed up the stairs to change into a fresh dress. Still in damp clothes, Ben stomped out of the house and slammed the heavy door behind him. Then he rode off in a huff to Virginia City.

Joe and exhausted Eric ate a silent dinner alone with Hop Sing complaining in the kitchen about the mess and the food that was going to waste. Meg refused to come downstairs despite Joe pleading with her and Eric fell asleep with his head in his plate while his uncle was upstairs. Joe had to wipe the potatoes out of Eric’s hair before he carried the boy up to bed. Then the boy woke up in tears and made his uncle sit with him and hold him until he fell back asleep.

Joe attempted to wait up for his father but by midnight, Joe had turned in and Ben still had not returned. Meg pretended she was asleep when Joe slid into bed beside her but he knew she had been crying when he saw her puffy face and red eyes in the moonlight.

“Are you sleeping?” He whispered as he moved closer to Meg.

“Yes, I’m sound asleep.” she lied moving nearer to him. He wrapped himself around her protectively and she rested her head against his chest and didn’t say another word. Lying cocooned in his arms, she knew she was thankful Joe had finally come to bed. Meg couldn’t decide if she was angry or scared or both. Eventually they both fell asleep in each other’s arms.

When Ben rode in after breakfast the next day no one dared say anything about the fighting or where he might have been the night before. Meg gave him wide berth and decided from then on any comments she had for her father in law were best relayed through her husband.

 

Chapter 2

 

Territorial Enterprise

September 15, 1874

Dylan Dennison Appointed District Attorney

Attorney Dylan Dennison has been appointed chief District Attorney of Storey County. “I hope that a quick trial and fast application of harsh punishment will rid this community of crime, “ Mr. Dennison said as he was sworn in to office. “If we intend to become civilized as the East we must eradicate violence and criminality with a firm hand. We have close to 20, 000 inhabitants in Virginia City and are rivaling San Francisco.”

“There is no reason that a horse thief or murderer can not be brought to a quick hanging when convicted. Dylan J. Dennison is the just right man to do that,” said Judge Hiram Oakhurst. “It takes a hard man to do a hard job.”

Dennison will take office on the first of October.

 

Burglar Avoids Capture

Miss Jacqueline Lassiter and her young sister Mary Fran narrowly avoided attack on when they walked in on a burglary in progress on their home. “Good thing those young men had accompanied my daughters home from church and chased after the intruder,” said their widowed mother Mrs. Lassiter.

Roy and Clement Foster Jr., sons of Sheriff and Mrs. Clem Foster and Casey Newkirk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hayes Newkirk gave chase immediately but the intruder avoided capture.

Second Woman Found Dead

For the second time in less than a month, the battered body of a woman was found in the rear alley behind a Virginia City Saloon. The remains of Delia Snit were found early Tuesday Morning behind the Rusty Bucket Saloon. There are no suspects. The victim was employed in that establishment and was last seen by the bar tender, Cosmo Calcagno and several customers leaving with a blonde haired customer around ten PM.

“She was a decent young woman who came on hard times,” said Reverend William Felcher briefly at her funeral.

“We have no suspects at this time in this crime and there are indications that both women were victims of the same man,” said Sheriff Clem Foster.

 

Ladies Guild Expands Demands

The murder of yet an additional saloon maid spurred the expanding movement among Virginia City residents to close down the saloons, sporting houses and other such establishments.

“This is the devil in action!” said Mrs. Margaret Butler at a recent meeting of the Virginia City United Temperance League. “Shut down the dens of iniquity!”

 

Chapter 3

 

“You know, Ben. You were wrong about that horse,” Hays Newkirk looked his boss in the eye. “I wouldn’t start gentling that horse till next spring.”

They were leaning on the corral fence watching Joe put some horses through their paces for the captain from Fort Churchill.

“I know. Meg told me that the horse was too young.” Ben kept his eye on Joe making the sale.

It is a nice piece of horseflesh… just not ready for saddle quite yet. Sort of delicate but it is gonna make a good cow pony.” Hays said stroking his beard. His formerly blonde hair was all white. His wife claimed that Hays went white haired over night when Al Striker’s gang killed their son Deputy Dean Newkirk.

Ben didn’t say a word and kept his dark eyes on the men and horses on the other side of the corral.

“Joe’s wife is a fine woman, Ben. She really loves your boy and would do anything for him.”

Ben nodded not taking his eyes off his son as he brought the last string of horses out of the corral. “Looks like the army was pretty happy with this bunch.” Ben observed pushing his hat back on his head.

 “Meg helped Joe buy those horses last year.” Hayes reminded his boss. “She made some good choices; the horses and Joe both. Can’t fault her on the good choices she made, Ben.”
He hated to admit he was wrong and Meg was right. “Think I have to apologized to my daughter in law.” Ben said softly.

“I think you should,” Hayes nodded in agreement. His blue eyes twinkled with the idea of his stubborn friend admitting he was wrong. “She an awfully nice girl and Joe sets great store by her, Ben. She loves your boy more than you realize. Don’t make your boy chose between you and his wife.”

Ben nodded silently. He knew what that was like.

“Then you think I better tell her I was wrong?” Ben said looking at the horse run on the other side of the corral.

“I think you should do just that, Boss,” Hays nodded.

“Thanks for your ear Hayes. “
Hays smiled. Joe Cartwright always knew just how to handle his father. Sometimes it meant asking a friend to speak for him.

 

Chapter 4

 

Adam,
I truly appreciate the wonderful design you made for my new house. It is far lovelier than I ever dreamed possible. You have always been a talented young man but this plan is exceptional.

B.

Virginia City,

September 1874

The September night was unusually warm. The crowd of celebrating guests Victor house was adding to the heat. The party honoring Doctor Martin was in full swing with a long line of friends giving testimonials to Paul Martin’s medical skills and friendship to the community.

Looking especially handsome in his new charcoal broadcloth suit that he had purchased on his last trip to San Francisco, Ben Cartwright had started the ceremonies by raising his hands to call the assembled crowd to attention. He began by presenting his long time friend with the marble bust of Hippocrates on behalf of the Cartwright family.

“In addition to taking care of my family through countless illnesses and injuries, Doc helped deliver two generations of Cartwright babies. One of the first babies he helped into the world when he came here to what was still Nevada Territory was my youngest son, Joseph. And Joe has been keeping Paul busy ever since. And Doc Martin delivered my newest grandchild Jessica Eleanor Cartwright not quite a year ago.”

”He does mighty fine work!” Joe hollered with a broad grin. “Hope to add to his work very soon!” He hugged Meg who kissed him soundly. The guests all laughed and applauded the idea that the young married couple would be starting their own family.

Mr. Dodd, the school superintendent exclaimed over Doctor Martin’s help to the school children of the community and Jack Fischer, as a member of the school board made a long-winded speech. Children sang and recited poetry written for the event and other patients exclaimed stories of how Doc had saved them or members of their family over and over again.

Next, Clem Foster made Paul an honorary deputy with his own silver badge mounted on a polished plaque on behalf of the support he gave to serving the community. Will Cartwright, representing the volunteers of the Virginia City Fire Department presented him with a new leather fire helmet that was labeled “Chief Doctor- VCFD”.

Doctor James Chong representing the Chinese Community and Merchants Association made a speech describing how Paul encouraged him when he was a boy and supported him in his own medical practice over the years.  Mrs. Butler of the Ladies Guild presented Doctor Martin with a leather bound bible. Reverend Billy Felcher succinctly talked about all the charitable deeds Doc had performed for the poor and indigent. Doctor Martin thanked them all with tears welling in his eyes.

Finally the ceremonies and speeches ended and refreshments were served.

“Now, lets go home. You promised we could leave early,” Joe tugged at Meg’s hand trying to depart.

”Oh no, not yet. Please. I’m having such a good time. Let’s stay a bit longer,” Meg pleaded squeezing his hand affectionately. “The musicians are starting again. Let’s dance a bit. We haven’t danced in so long!”

 “Just a bit longer.” Joe conceded. He was glad she was having fun and couldn’t resist her request to dance. “Guess I better take a turn or two on the dance floor with the prettiest girl here.” He looked around the crowded dance floor and caught a glimpse of his father’s broad shoulders and silver hair but could not see who his partner was as the dancers whirled past.

Meg smiled and pulled him into the swirling couples. Meg would later regret their decision for a very long time.

Joe hugged her tightly to him as they danced. ”Meggie you drive me wild,” Joe whispered in her ear. “Good thing we got married and you made an honest man of me!”

Meg threw back her head and laughed.

 

Chapter 5

 

The birthday party for Doctor Martin was in full swing. The Victor home was filled with people having a wonderful time.

”My Stanley John had to come home just last week and finish the school year here in Virginia City.” Melissa Fischer said. “He had just left Virginia City and had to come home.”

“That boy’s schooling back east cost me an arm and a leg Adam. As an educated man, and a fellow member of the school board, you certainly know the importance of an education. Nothing is too good for my son, Stanley John.”  Jack Fischer droned on like the pompous self impressed braggart he was. “Too bad his school burned down. First an outbreak of typhoid fever and then a flood and then the school has a fire. All the boys were sent directly home. The headmaster wrote us a lovely personal letter.”

 His wife stood silently next to him watching him pontificate. Melissa Fischer had still retained the beauty that had made once her the most popular girl in Virginia City but the passing years and her miserable marriage to Jack had tarnished her luminous glow. It was not an easy job being Mrs. Jack Fischer but Melissa found many other ways to amuse herself.

“Stanley John will be a great help to me in my business.” Jack bragged. “He is a very clever boy. He will be the third generation in the Fischer mining business.” No body loved Jack Fischer as much as he loved himself. I he could have married himself, he would have been the happiest man in the entire world.

“Hopefully not the third generation of obnoxious womanizers,” Kate whispered to her husband. Adam chuckled at his wife’s cynical comment. He tried to find a way to extricate himself from the conversation before Meg and Joe came out to the congested front parlor of Levi Victor’s large house. Neither Adam nor Kate wanted to make a public scene. The house was so crowded that they were trapped in the corner with the Fishers.

“Katie, isn’t that Philip and Emily over there? Let’s go say hello and tell Mrs. Victor how wonderful the party is so far,” Adam attempted to pull Kate gently by her arm.

 Melissa blocked her exit. “I am so very proud of Stanley John,”

”I’m sure you both are proud of Stanley. He has grown to such a handsome young man,” Kate smiled politely. She could see how anxious Adam was to move away from the Fishers.

 The front door opened and a group of people surged into the foyer crowding Adam and Kate further into the corner. Young Stanley walked out into the foyer. He was medium height; broad shouldered and slim hipped and had wavy brown hair and a smile for the young lady on his right. He bore little resemblance to his husky blonde father or to his late grandfather, Stanley. To Kate Cartwright, young Stanley looked vaguely familiar as he smiled at each pretty girl in the crowd.

 “He’s a very clever lad, not like that strange, insane, feeble minded little nephew of yours, Kate.” Melissa snipped.

Adam glared at her his mouth set in a hard line. He tried to see a way to get away from the Fishers. He was in no mood to argue having spent most of the afternoon shouting back and forth with his brother.

“Yes, feeble minded and strange indeed,” Jack agreed with his wife. She put her hand on his arm and smirked at Kate and Adam.

“Jack, watch what you say about my family. You are looking for trouble,” Adam warned.

 “Eric Cartwright is a moron, an imbecile and should be locked up out of the public view forever! And throw away the key too. He barely speaks and never looks you in the face. He makes noises like an animal.”

”A dog,” Jack corrected. “The child even barks like a dog.”

”The boy barks like a wild dog and even bit my son.” Melissa described to everyone who would listen to her ranting. “Disgusting!” She shuddered dramatically just as Joe and Meg came through the arched opening from their turn on the dance floor. As Joe walked into the foyer he overheard Melissa loudly repeat the belittling remark about Eric.

Joe fiddled once with his stiff collar, then resettled his freshly brushed suit on his shoulders and clenched his fists angrily. His temper was already sizzling from the afternoon. He didn’t need much more to set off an explosion.

“Did your son tell you how he was tormenting Eric?” Adam retorted. “My son Sam had to protect his little cousin from a bully… a bully who was almost a grown man picking on a helpless little boy.”

“The child is insane!” Melissa snapped loudly. “He should be drowned like a defective puppy that no one wants!”

“Shut up Melissa,” Joe snapped at the horrific comment. “Shut up right now! Eric is getting better every day,” Joe was oblivious to the crowd around him watching him holler. He couldn’t believe how Melissa could be so cruel and insensitive.

“That child should never be out in public!” Melissa added spitefully shaking her head.

“Shut your mouth or I’ll shut it for you!” Heads turned at the angry rude remark Joe Cartwright had just made. No gentleman would ever address a lady in that tone.

 A stout woman on the other side of the room in a beige lace gown gasped out loud at Joe’s threat. “My goodness!” Margaret Butler declared in a shocked tone. She was a long time friend of Jack’s mother and never was fond of Joe Cartwright or his impertinence.

Adam turned, desperately trying to stop Melissa Fischer’s cruel tirade. He stepped towards his brother at the same time. Joe wouldn’t need much more provocation to start swinging.

Jack stopped halfway through his next sentence. “You Cartwrights should keep that horrible, defective child away from public view,” he added to his wife’s appalling remark. “Lock him away.”

Meg could see Joe’s shoulders stiffen, his jaw clench. Adam was hemmed in by the crowd and couldn’t physically get in between Joe and the Fischers. He gave his brother a withering look hoping Joe would stop.

Joe Cartwright’s face was flaming with anger by now “Joe, please don’t make a scene. Let’s leave now. I don’t want to dance any more.” Meg pulled on his jacket sleeve hoping to tempt Joe enough that she could head off a scene. But it was too late. Meg would have had a better chance halting a stampede of wild mustangs. .”Please Joe, stop!”

 Joe yanked his arm from his wife’s desperate grasp. “Stay out of this, Meg.” Joe stepped forward. “Would you like to say that again Jack, only this time, say it to right straight my face?” Joe’s voice was menacing, his hazel eyes flashing with anger, body hard like a set bear trap ready to snap tight on Jack’s fat throat. Joe was staring intently at Jack Fischer’s blood shot blue eyes.

 Meg heard Adam suck in his breath as he managed to reach out and clutch Joe’s arm but it was too late. “Calm down, Joe. He’s not worth your getting all riled up and disrupting Doc’s party, ” Adam ordered holding on to his brother’s blue sleeve. “You know Jack is a blow hard.”

Angrily Joe jerked free from his brother’s grasp and whirled towards Jack Fisher. He had spent the afternoon arguing with Adam over just this issue and in his mind it seemed like his older brother was siding with the Fischers once again. Joe really would have preferred slapping Melissa, but hitting a woman was not an option. Joe clenched his hands into fists as he tried to control his temper. His father had always told him to respect women, but he had absolutely no respect for this woman. How could she say such horrible things about a poor child?

Melissa stared silently at Joe Cartwright standing next to her bloated, priggish husband. Joe looked even handsomer than he had years earlier when she used to kiss him in her father’s parlor on a cold winter afternoon. For an instant she hoped Joe would manage to knock her husband down and hurt him as he had years ago in another fight at the Newkirk wedding.

Turning around slowly Joe glared at his life long enemy, “Jack, I almost killed you last time I fought with you. Don’t think you want to take that chance again, Fischer!” Joe growled. He clenched his left hand into a fist and held it under Jack’s nose.

“Joe, Honey stop. Cool down. You are going to spoil Doctor Martin’s party.” Kate pleaded to her brother in law. She knew the burning rage Joe had inside him for Fischer and how protective he was to Hoss’s only child.” Don’t pay attention to idiots and fools.”

Quickly turning on his sister in law Joe snapped back. “You stay out of this Katie!”

Adam stepped forward and pulled Kate protectively behind him, out of the way of any impending fisticuffs. Adam wasn’t sure if he should try to pull his brother off Fischer so he wouldn’t cause an embarrassing scene in front of the entire community or just let his brother get in a few punches first and then try to separate the two combatants. Jack certainly deserved a thrashing for his remarks but Adam hated to have Doc Martin’s birthday party spoiled by a fight.

”Jack you sure don’t know when to quit. Do you? You need to pick on a little boy now?” Joe shoved Fischer’s shoulder with a straight arm. “Do you!” Joe bellowed pushing him again so that Jack was backed into a doorframe in the foyer. “Answer me, you bloated piece of mine slag! Do you want a little kid to say ‘uncle’ for you and eat dirt? Do you?”

Jack lurched forward and grabbed Joe’s arm angrily. “You never had very good manners Joe. I always said you cowboys should stay back on the ranch with the cattle and the horses and.. ”

“And all the timber you need to buy from me from your mine?” Joe bellowed. Jack held onto Joe’s arm. Taking the advantage he reared back and swung his fist at Joe. Joe pulled loose and ducked as Jack came at him. Fischer was huskier, but Joe was faster and more agile.

Hearing the commotion, Ben Cartwright followed by Miss Barbara and Judge Marsden rushed out of the dining room. “Joseph!” Ben hollered seeing his son in the middle of the disturbance. He couldn’t push his way through the gawking crowd fast enough to do anything to head off the fight.
”Jack you are so damn stupid. You couldn’t be any dumber if I cut your fool head off.” Joe stood up and shoved Jack back into the wall with two strong hands. He pinned the larger man up against the paneled wall with a thud. Holding his face against Jack’s, Joe raged on as he grabbed Jack by his lapels.

 “ You don’t know when to quit, Jack. This is not the schoolyard and I’m not going to say ‘Uncle’ while you make me eat dirt. You just quit and leave me and my family alone.”

“You just stay away from my wife, Cartwright.” Fischer countered loudly. He out weighed Joe by at least thirty pounds but he knew he was flabby and out of shape and no match for Joe Cartwright even if the younger man was calm. Now he was facing an enraged man whose temper was getting hotter.

”Tell your wife to stay away from me!”  Joe countered.
”I’ll do what I want to do. I always have and you will regret ever having had this conversation with me, Joe.”
”Will I? “ Joe’s angry hazel eyes met Jack’s cold gray blue eyes.
”Mark my words, Joe Cartwright. You’ll be sorry forever starting up with the Fischers…for you and my wife. You and your whole family will regret this.” Jack threatened.

Joe froze for a moment at the bizarre accusations about Melissa and the ominous threat. In that brief instant, Fischer had the opportunity to pull his lapels out of Joseph’s grip. They both stood there glaring at each other.

“Jack, don’t start anything with me unless you are ready to finish it,” Joe growled.

Meg grabbed her husband’s arm “Stop! Right now Joe. Stop please!” She had no idea what had occurred earlier and also had little sense of the years of discord between Joe and the Fischers.

The music stopped and more people crowded out into the hallway to hear the argument. Hearing his son’s name being called and the loud voices Ben Cartwright tried futilely to push his way through the guests but was stuck in the dining room arch way.

Jack started to smile weakly and squirm out of trouble just as he had his whole life. “Excuse me, Joe. Didn’t mean to get you so riled up…” Sweat beaded his forehead. Having had that experience on more than one occasion, Jack was not about to push Joseph Cartwright any further. Not right away, Jack would do what needed to be done in his own sweet time.

 

Chapter 6

 

Dear Dennis,

I can tell by your last three letters how upset you and Amanda are regarding Robert’s decision to stay out here. I am keeping close watch on your boy as if he was my own son. He is living with Emily and Philip and they make him toe the line more than any boarding school proctors. Joe suggested we should all keep him working too hard to get in any sort of trouble and that is what we are all doing.

 Robert has been working for Kate at the paper and helping my cousin Will with some construction work on that house I designed. We make sure he wakes up early every day, goes to church every Sunday and has dinner with some member of the family each night. So far he has been very responsible and his worse mishap was getting a poor haircut.

My father and Joe will be taking Robert and Sam with him next week to move some of the cattle up down to winter pasture. Amanda, don’t worry, there are no wild Indians or bandits or wolf packs anywhere in the area for years. Joe and his men will make sure Robert is fine. Joe even has been helping him learn to ride and has assigned him a big lumbering mare as his mount.

To force Robert into your idea of the future, Dennis is just wrong. That boy won’t do what you decide for him. When did Robert ever do what his mother and father told him to do?

Look at it this way: did we do what our fathers decided for us?
Amanda, my sweet, who did you father want you to marry? Not Dennis. I won’t say more on that awful deception. How ever, all’s well that ends well as we all know.

Dennis, neither you nor I are doing just what our fathers did or living where they did. Our own fathers did not do what their fathers did for a livelihood. Times change and men follow their own dreams, not their father’s dreams for them. Your father came to Boston from Ireland. At least Dennis Junior and Francis are working with you in Boston. I fear my boy won’t be working for me as a man. Maybe one of my girls will marry a man who will be working with me as you did with Amanda’s father. I suppose it is foolish to think of Jessica married as she barely has started walking. She follows Elizabeth around everywhere her sister allows her.

Look at my family. My father and I started out in Boston and wound up here. Hoss was born along our way here. Only my brother Joe is living where he was born and doing what his father did for a living. Isn’t it a strange turn of events that my wild little brother is the one staying in one place, working the Ponderosa with my father as a settled down family man? He is doing a fine job of it too.

 I suspect my own son will be going East to college and becoming a doctor as that is what he expresses interest in doing or journalism. He may decide to run the Enterprise. If he does, that will be the third generation of Katie’s family in that business as she inherited the paper from her Aunt Mim.
So, I suppose only Little Joe and my wife are the only “sons” in their father’s footprints.

Fondly,

Adam

PS I don’t know what business Robert is considering but I will be sure to find out for you and make sure he is not being flim flamed or bamboozled by a drifter.

 _______

Dear Robbie,

Here is the bank draft for the loan I offered you. I hate to come in between you and your parents but you have a fine opportunity out there in Virginia City. I be sorry you aren’t going to join me at the Golden Shamrock but your place sounds mighty elaborate. Maybe I can pack my bags and come out and see this grand place. Hope I am not too old to make the trip.

Make sure Adam tells you how to put that money in the bank or under a rock. Or your mattress until you finish out this deal.

I love you lad, no matter what you do.

Good luck to you,

Uncle Sean

PS Give Em a kiss from me and send my best to Joe and all.

 

Chapter 7

 

Virginia City

September 1874

 Sam Cartwright and Casey Newkirk walked into the busy barbershop. The owner had broken his arm when his capacity for beer didn’t match his intake and he fell down the stairs leaving the Altamont saloon. The remaining barber was hard pressed to keep up with the busy crowd of men and boys looking to spruce up on a Saturday night. Many had come in from cattle drives or were miners with wages burning holes in their pockets.

 “So, do you think she would go to the dance with me? I really like her an awful lot.” Casey Newkirk asked Sam Cartwright. The two friends sat on battered wooden chairs in the crowded barbershop waiting their turn squashed between a dirty, unshaven miner and a husky, light haired cowboy around Casey’s age.

“I don’t know, Casey. She is really older than you are.” Sam said gently. He knew Casey was smitten and the lady had no romantic interest in him.

”Trudy is awful nice and pretty. I like her an awful lot.” Casey sighed.”Do you think she is too old for me?”

“I like her too. So does Eric. So do my grandfather and most people in town. Everyone likes Trudy Magee. She is really nice and pretty but way older than you and she is looking to get a husband. She looks at you like a friend, maybe a younger brother, not a husband. What did she say when you asked her to go to the dance that time?” Sam asked his best friend.

”She said no. No thank you, Casey. She said that I was sweet to ask.” Casey looked at his boots. “Think I should ask her again? Maybe she will change her mind.”

“What do you think?” Sam really didn’t want to come out and push his pal’s nose in it.

“Trudy said I was sweet?” He smiled hopefully. Casey didn’t have a mean bone in his body and really didn’t mind being called sweet.

Many old and young ladies had told Sam that he was sweet. He preferred being told he was irresistible or romantic or handsome. Occasionally Sam toyed with aspirations of being called a “rogue”. When Sam was small he heard a pretty girl call his Uncle Joe a handsome rogue and that sounded like a pretty good aspiration. It was much better than being sweet. “She tells my little sister she is sweet. I think she likes Stanley John Fischer and he likes her too. They were sitting together in church last week. You are not going to win her over so find another girl.” Sam said decisively sounding like Adam Cartwright giving advice to his own son.

 “How about Jacqueline Lassiter. You can marry her sister and then we can be brothers?” Casey smiled at his friend.

“Brothers- in- law. The Lassiter girls sure are mighty pretty,” Sam blushed thinking of how much he liked Mary Fran Lassiter.

 Casey took off his hat and scratched his shaggy blonde head. “Think we should go to the other barber shop? “

“The one across from the Enterprise? They probably are just as busy. Besides did you see how that barber cut Robert O’Mara’s hair? He looks even worse than my Uncle Joe when Elizabeth cut that chunk out of his hair. He had to keep his hat on for the last two weeks.”

The husky light haired cowboy chuckled next to them “Guess you fellas got to wait for the crowd here.”

Casey nodded. “Guess so. You new in town?”

”Yup. I came from Stockton. Just passing through. I helped the marshal bring in some horses and a guy that stole ‘em. Sheriff Foster is booking the thief now.”

”Really? A horse thief? What’s your name? “ Sam eagerly hoped to get more of the story. If he wrote it up, he could get his mother to put it in the Enterprise. She had already let him write up some obituaries and many of the town counsel meetings and the news about the new volunteer fire company.

“Johnny Sylvester,” the newcomer shook hands with the other two.

“I’m Casey Newkirk and this is my friend Sam. You from Stockton?”

”Not really, I lived all over. Been on my own since I was twelve. “

”Twelve?” Sam was surprised. “That’s awful hard to be on your own at twelve.”

”Yeah.” Johnny said with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “Didn’t have much choice. I managed.”

” Where were you from before that?”

”Gee, all over. Santa Fe, Denver, Phoenix. I was born in San Francisco.”
”Me too!” Sam smiled. “I was born in San Francisco too but I want to go back east to college in a few years. Like my father.”

Casey looked at his friend. He had never heard Sammy come right out and say what his future plans were but he was not surprised. Sam was a very good student and his father was on the school board. “Not me, I’m gonna stay right where I am. Maybe someday, I can be the foreman on the ranch like my father. I want to work for Joe. Just like my Pa worked for Mr. Ben.”

“You were born in San Francisco?” Johnny looked at Sammy. The younger boy nodded.

Three more men squeezed into the barbershop. One of them was picking his teeth with the end of a burned match. The other two looked to be miners coming off their shift.

“But my mom was from here and we moved back to Virginia City when I was six. She runs the Enterprise. And my father’s family is all here too.”

”My mother was from here too. She hated this town. She said it was full of rotten, evil people. Mean rotten people who should burn in hell.” Johnny’s eyes narrowed and his face twisted with venom. “She said that every day of her life until the day she died.”

”Really?” Casey said. His lake blue eyes grew wide with amazement. He had never seen someone’s expression change so fast from a smile to burning anger.

Sam was silent for an instant and swallowed hard. He had seen someone flash anger in an instant like that, Al Striker. “Why would your mother say that? There are all sorts of people here. Just like any town. Nice ones, bad ones. Mostly nice ones.”

” Sure, there are plenty of nice folks here abouts. What about your father? Was he from here?” Casey asked in his usual friendly fashion.

Johnny nodded.

“My father is a ranch foreman and I work there too. Maybe someday I’ll be the foreman too. We work for Sammy’s grandfather.” Casey chattered on. “If you are looking for work, Mr. Ben needs a few hands. We are moving the herd to winter pasture soon.”

“Where is your father now?” Sam asked.

”My father? I never met him. He wanted no part of my mother and no part of me neither. Never did. Ma wouldn’t even tell me his name. She said he didn’t want no part of us so we shouldn’t even want anything from him. Not even his name.“ Johnny answered tersely. His cold gray eyes were on the barber finishing up on his customer. The barber offered the customer a choice of bay rum or lilac water.

”She said there is all bad people in Virginia City. Like Sodom and Gomorrah in the bible. All except some brothers who once helped her out when she was in a bad way. They took care of her and gave her some money to start over in Frisco. There was three of them. She said all but them three brothers was gonna burn in the fires of hell.”

“They were the only nice ones in the whole town?” Casey couldn’t imagine someone being that furious an entire town and all the people in Virginia City.

Johnny snapped. “Think my Ma would lie?” He tilted his head and looked at Casey and Sam threateningly. The newcomer rose halfway out of his seat. Sam slid a bit closer to Casey. The blonde haired cowboy put his hand protectively on Sammy’s shoulder. Casey always watched out for Sam since they were small boys.

”Hey Johnny, we ain’t saying nothing about your Mama.” Casey smiled his friendliest smile and put his hand gently on the other boy’s arm. Johnny flinched as if Casey had threatened him.

No, that is not what we said,” Sam tried to take the conversation in a different direction. He sure wasn’t looking for a fight in the crowded barbershop. “  Who were these nice brothers?” Despite Johnny’s threatening demeanor, Sam was intrigued with the story. Instead of a one-column news story about a horse thief, maybe there was even more of a story here.

“She never told me their names. Just that there were three brothers who helped her out and let her stay on their ranch outside of town. Big ranch she said. Real big. And she said one of the brothers was a real big fella, real big like a grizzly bear. Those brothers took care of her when she was ailing.”
Casey raised his eyebrows in amazement. “That sounds just like your Pa and your uncles, Sammy. They was three brothers and Hoss was real big. Bigger than most of the men here abouts.”

”Maybe. The Ponderosa sure is a real big ranch, too.” Sam agreed. A couple of cowboys opened the door of the shop, noticed the crowd and crossed the street to the Silver Dollar instead.

”It’s the biggest ranch in these parts. Sam just won’t brag about the Ponderosa. Your Pa and Joe and Hoss were always nice to people and help people out when they have troubles. Mr. Ben also.”

Sam smiled proudly. “I suppose it could have been them. Grandpa always says we have to help out people when they have troubles.”

“Maybe it was them, maybe. She said the rest of this town should burn in hell. Especially my father.”

”What was your mother’s name? “ Sam asked thinking that he would ask his father at dinner if he knew the woman.

“Sheila Sylvester. My mother’s name was Sheila Sylvester. She’s dead.”
”Next!” The barber hollered swiping off his chair with a white towel.

“That’s me!” Johnny Sylvester jumped up. He immediately had a friendly smile on his face as he walked over to get his blonde hair cut.

“Strange, scary guy,” Sam said softly.

“So you think Trudy is going to the dance with Stanley or I should ask her again?” as usual, Casey was oblivious to half of what was going on around him.

_______

Territorial Enterprise October 3, 1874

Fire Department Holds Fundraisings Next Week

Friday evening, Engine Company #1 will hold an evening of musical entertainment and frivolity featuring performances by many local talents followed by dancing. Engine company # two will be holding a fall fund raising festival next weekend at the fair grounds west of town. There will be competitions among all the fire companies, a ladder drill as well as cake sale by the ladies auxiliary and various booths sponsoring games of chance and skill. Saturday night Engine Company #4 will be holding their Annual Ball in their firehouse.

 

Chapter 8

 

Virginia City, Early October 1874

 Sam Cartwright sat on the wooden bench beside the make shift stage. He had finished playing his guitar and singing with his father and was basking in the glory of friends and neighbors complimenting his performance. Adam had gone off with Katie, Eric and the girls to watch some of the firemen in competitions but Mary Fran Lassiter had ignored all the other boys to accept Sammy’s invitation to keep him company and enjoy the show from close up. The young couple sat as close as they dared on a makeshift wooden bench behind the stage.

Clem Foster stood to the side watching the crowd glad that every thing was going smoothly. He was hoping to catch any pickpockets working the crowd or keep a lid on any outbursts or fights before they flared up. Phil Bartlett keeping the sheriff company and took notes for his next edition of the paper.

”Any thing new on those saloon girl murders, Clem?” Phil asked.

“Not a thing. I am beginning to think who ever did it is long gone. Maybe a traveling peddler or a saddle tramp, some drifter passing through town.”
”Someone passing through? Can I quote you?”

Clem shrugged. “Is that is the best news you can come up with Phillie? The sheriff say there is no news? Thought you would be playing the piano in this show. That would be an interesting story for the paper.”

Phil threw back his head and laughed. “The piano? Sam, did you hear that?”
”My Pa said you played pretty well, Phil. Why not?” Sam teased back. “Write a story about your old musical career. Uncle Joe taught me that song you wrote too.”

“Can you sing it?” Mary Fran asked. “I like how you sing, Sam.”

”Don’t think you should Doc. That’s not the kind of song you want to sing to a pretty young lady,” Phil advised with a friendly laugh. The light flashed off his glasses as he gave his advice.

 “Maybe you can get a new job or at least a new piano out of it for your wife.” Clem smiled. He thought of one piano that would soon be available and decided to ask Ben Cartwright to check out what was being done with it. Emily Bartlett would love to have a piano like that one.

The next act finished and another crowd of well wishers surged around the corner of the stage. Jack Fischer walked confidently up to Sam Cartwright and smiled his phony friendly smile. The boy looked up at the man his family had always known as a neighbor and business associate. Fischer’s smile flickered to icy cold in an instant and he said “I know who you are boy you are not a real Cartwright, boy. We all know that.”

Sam, who had been lost in glorious thoughts of his great performance and how he could ask Mary Fran to dance, looked up at the man who he had known most of his life. He wasn’t quite sure what Mr. Fischer was talking about. “Sure I am Mr. Fischer,” Sam didn’t understand for a minute what Mr. Fischer was talking about. “I’m Sam Cartwright, Adam Cartwright’s son.” He leaned his guitar against the bench and stood up and offered his hand to the larger man.

His parents had always told him to stand when an adult spoke to him, shake hands and look another man right in the eye. He innocently assumed Mr. Fischer just didn’t recognize him, as many adults hadn’t recently. Sam had grown almost six inches that year and his voice had deepened. Often people didn’t recognize him when they saw him alone, even people who knew him most of his life.

“May I present Miss Mary Fran Lassiter, sir?” Sam smiled. He couldn’t believe his good fortune that the pretty girl was sitting with him and he could show her off.

“How do you do, Mr. Fischer,” Mary Fran said. She had hoped Sam would come to the back tent and dance with her.”Sam are you almost ready to go? The dancing is starting very soon and I wanted give you the dance I promised you. Before Clemmie or any of the other boys dance with me.” Mary Fran was having a wonderful time. Most of the boys had reserved a dance with her and she was delighted to be the center of attention. It was one of the first times since she lived in Virginia City that her mother had allowed her to go anywhere on her own. Her mother had grown up in Virginia City and brought her two pretty daughters back after her own father died.

“I know the name you use, boy,” Jack smiled. He knew exactly how he would embarrass the boy and Jack got great delight in that. The fact that a pretty, strawberry blond girl was watching the entire scene added to his pleasure.

“Your father isn’t Adam Cartwright. Your real father is a bank robber who would have been in jail or even hung had he not been shot by your own mother! You are going to wind up just like your father.”

Mary Fran looked at Sam and then at the husky man who was telling this horrible story. Her own father had died when she was an infant. Sam was frozen and for once in his life couldn’t think of any thing to say. His heart pounded in his chest and he started trembling. Mr. Fischer had brought up the one thing Sam feared most in the world; his real father Al Striker and his growing up to be evil, just like him.

Just as Fischer finished his verbal assault, Joe and Meg had come around the corner of the stage. They had wanted to compliment the boy on his performance and bring him some lemonade. Spying Jack standing next to his nephew, Joe could see by the look on Sammy’s pale face that something was terribly wrong.

“Jack, leave that boy alone!” Joe rushed over. Meg was close behind.

Jack turned his head to face the boy’s uncle. The look of insane hate on Fischer’s face sent a shiver up Meg’s spine. She had never really seen that side of the mine owner. Joe had described it but Meg had never seen it first hand and secretly thought Joe had been exaggerating.

Joe grabbed Jack by the shoulder and spun him around angrily. Sam bolted away from the stage area leaving his guitar and Mary Fran. Meg dashed after the boy.

“First you start up with one of my nephews, with Eric. Now I catch you picking on Sam. You don’t like my nephews do you? You hate them.”

”I sure do. I hate them all. All of you Cartwrights,” Jack growled.

“Why?” Joe bellowed. What did those boys ever do to you, Jack?”

”Because they all remind me of you, Joe!”

”Me?? Aren’t you ever done?”

”Never,” Jack pulled out of Joe’s grasp just as Clem and Philip Bartlett tried to end the disagreement. Clem pushed Jack away from Joseph. Phil grabbed hold of Joseph’s shoulders and urged him to calm down. Neither of them had heard Jack’s comment to Sammy.

“Joe stop!” Phil pleaded. “Don’t let Jack get your goat. Don’t start up with him. They are starting the races soon. Lets head over there and see which fire company wins.”

“It’s not me starting with him. Can’t anyone see what he is doing?” Joe shouted loudly. He couldn’t believe how Jack was still able to stir up a fight and then try to look like he was just an innocent bystander.

“I’ve only just started.” Jack threatened in a low voice. He stared angrily at Joe.

”Calm down. The both of you!” Clem roared” A few firemen came around the side of the tent drawn by the noise.  Some of Fischer’s miners walked over to see what was going on and stood near their boss eyeing Joe. They all were very burly and very drunk.

“Hey Mr. Fischer. Do you need a hand?” one of them said. He punched his calloused fist into his hand with a loud smack and inched forward.

 Joe looked like he was pretty heated up and was ready to pound Fischer one more time.

”You need our help, Mr. Fisher?” One of the miners called stepping towards Joe. One of the firemen, a member of Will Cartwright’s company started rolling up his sleeves. “Hey Joe! Tell him to put up or shut up!”

“Stay out of this,” Clem said firmly. He certainly didn’t want a brawl breaking out between a bunch of drunken miners and firemen egged on by Jack Fischer. “Do I have to run the both of you in or are you gonna stop acting like two stupid kids in the school yard?” Clem shouted at Jack and Joe.

“Me? You heard Cartwright. He is threatening me. I want to press charges,” Jack said. He suddenly put on an indignant façade that fooled no one. “Arrest Joe Cartwright, Sheriff. Do your job! I pay taxes here and I demand you do what my taxes pay for.”

 “Joe is threatening you? Don’t think I heard anything.” Clem snapped at him “I’ll see you down town in my office a week from next Tuesday, Mr. Fischer. That is if you still want to press charges.”

 

Chapter 9

 

Meg Cartwright rushed out of the noisy tent into the still cool evening air trying to catch Sam. She saw the boy race down the back alley to the livery stable and followed after him.

She gently pushed open the creaking wooden door and stood for a minute allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness inside.

Meg remembered how often she used to find comfort in the barn when she was a girl and had a fight with her father or later on when her mother remarried to Fred Thackery and she was upset about some problem and needed some time alone.

“Sam?” she called softly. “Sam are you all right? Where are you?”

For a moment there was no sound other than the stomping of a horse and the distant sound of the music and crowds at the fair.

“I’m over here,” Meg heard Sam call from a few feet away. “I’m over here, Aunt Meg. Don’t make me go back. I can’t.”

“Sammy? Are you all right? I heard what that big bloated idiot said.” Meg sat down next to the boy on at bale of hay. In the distance she could hear the crowd cheering at the winners of some competition. “Sounds like one of the races just ended.”

“He said I am not a Cartwright, Aunt Meg. That my Pa is not my real father.” The distraught boy was struggling not to cry.

“Adam Cartwright is your real father, “ Meg said calmly. She shifted her skirt so she could sit a bit closer to the boy and put her arm around his trembling shoulder.

“That is not what Mr. Fischer said. You heard what he said,” Sam sniffed. He bit his lip and swallowed hard trying in vain not to cry. He was scared at how much hate he felt for Al Striker. And he was afraid, just as Mr. Fischer had said that some day he would be just like him. He had never said that to anyone. It was as if Jack Fischer had tapped into Sam’s worst nightmare and then held the boy down and rubbed his nose in that fear.

“I don’t want to grow up to be like Al Striker.” The boys voice cracked. Meg took his hand in hers and looked directly into his fearful eyes.

”For goodness sakes, Sammy. Why would you ever think that?” As long as Meg knew this boy, he had been one of the gentlest and most dependable and honorable youngsters she had ever met. Sam was patient and gentle with Eric and did everything he could to help out his parents.

 He was the complete opposite of the angry misfit who had been Kate’s first husband. Sam was nothing like the man who had lead a gang of venomous outlaws and shot down Hoss in cold blood while robbing a bank. Al had even tried to kill the rest of the Cartwrights in a vain attempt to steal Sam from his mother.

Sam shrugged, afraid to say what had been his darkest most dreaded fear. “I don’t want to be like him, like Al.” The boy’s hands were trembling. “He was the worst, meanest man who ever lived.”

”Sammy, you are going to be whomever or what ever you decide to be.”

“Mr. Fischer said Adam isn’t my real father. He said Al is my father and I will be just like him.” Sammy struggled not to cry but he was loosing the battle. His sobbed loudly.

Meg pulled him closer to her and held him against her shoulder as he wept.

“Who took care of you when you were sick and did home work with you and taught you to play the guitar and be the fine young man you are? That is your real father Sammy.” Meg smoothed Sam’s wavy brown hair off his forehead.

“You don’t know how I feel, Aunt Meg,” Sam sniffled trying to choke back his tears. He was mortified by his own behavior.

“Sure I do. Fred Thackery is my step father…that is why I call him Daddy.”

“I didn’t know that,” Sam scrubbed his hand across his eyes. He was embarrassed that Meg had seen him crying like one of his little sisters.

“My papa died when I was twelve years old. He was killed.” Meg sighed. Then she said out loud to Sam sitting in that dark barn what she had never really admitted to anyone.” He wasn’t the nicest man. He used to be angry an awful lot and yell at my sisters and me. Especially me. He used to hit me for no real reason. Papa wished he had boys and would tell me I was too smart for my own good.”

Sam looked up at her sympathetically. “That must have been awful for you, Aunt Meg. Why would he be mad that you were smart? Being smart is good. It is something to be proud of.”

“That was the very last thing he ever said to me, that I was too smart for my own good.” Meg was shocked that she was sharing this story with her nephew. She had never even told Joe this story, but once she started she couldn’t stop. The words flew free from her heart.

“He used to hit us a lot of times when he got angry.”

”Your Pa hit you? He hit a little girl?”

Meg nodded. She realized that probably her angry, cowardly father hit her because she was a little girl and couldn’t fight back.” My mother married Fred Thackery and he raised me like his own daughter, as a Thackery, just the same as my brothers. No better, no worse. Just the same. Just like Adam raised you as his own son, his real son, Sam Cartwright. All of you the same, honey. You and Elizabeth and Jessica. Right?”

Sam shook his head in agreement. “My Pa raised me as a Cartwright,” Sam smiled. “He adopted me officially too, Auntie Meg. He had Mr. Victor draw up all the legal papers. Mr. Victor showed them to me. Pa asked me if that was what I truly wanted. I told him that was really happy that I was Sam Cartwright, I said that to him. Mama and he took me to the judge when all the papers got signed. Pa said that we were stuck like glue.”

”Guess that makes him your true father, from love and from the courts too, Sammy.”

Sam nodded. “I guess so.” He smiled weakly. He had never thought of things in those terms. “He is my true father from all that. The judge said irrevocable, forever. He said that in the courthouse.”

“That means no one can change that, ever or take it back. Forever, Sam. Forever a Cartwright no matter what mean, small minded, nasty, stupid men say. Don’t pay mean folks any mind when they say mean spirited things. Jack Fischer is a despicable mean small man. My papa was like that. He said very mean cruel hurtful things just to make other people feel low and him feel higher.  Fred Thackery taught me that about small mean people.”

“He did? Mr. Thackery said that?”

”Fred is my true father.”

 Sam nodded. He was beginning to understand just what Meg was saying.
”Fred, my Daddy, said to me ‘ Don’t let their mean words hurt your heart.’ Some folks are just angry and jealous they can’t stand anyone else to have love or happiness.” Meg hugged him. “Adam is your real father and you are a real Cartwright Sam,”

She took out her lilac scented hanky and gave it to the boy. “Wipe your nose. No Cartwright lets a Fischer get them down. Hold your head up and walk proud. And no Cartwright walks around with a runny nose either.”

Sam threw his arms around his aunt’s neck and she hugged him close to her. “You are a very good boy and will a very fine man, like all the other Cartwright men. Like your father, Adam Cartwright.”

“Thanks Auntie Meg.”

”And am I your real Aunt? As real as Aunt Nancy? And Auntie Mim? Who loves you and worries about you when you have troubles and cheers for you when you do a good job and shakes her finger at you when you don’t? Who bakes you the best darn chocolate cake in the state?” Meg teased him.
Sam laughed. By the Fischer definition, probably the only blood aunt was Mim Foster, Kate’s aunt. By Meg’s definition they all were.

“You, my Aunt Meg!” Sam threw his arms around her. “I love you so Aunt Meg. I love you for real, for ever and if Uncle Joe didn’t already marry you already, I would marry you when I got old enough.”

“I love you Sam Cartwright.” She hugged the boy tightly. The words just rolled out of her lips. It wasn’t easy for Meg to tell anyone that she loved them. This sweet boy had lived through so many difficult things that were so much like the tragedies she had survived. A wonderful man who chose to be their father out of love, the love in a good heart, had blessed both of them.

Meg pulled the boy to his feet and dusted the bits of straw off his good clothes. He was already taller than she was, as tall as Joe. Sam was almost a man but still a child. “Go inside and ask that pretty Mary Fran to dance or win her a prize at one of the booths or something. She will be glad you asked before Clemmie Foster stomps her feet black and blue. He dances like a big oaf, not like a Cartwright.”

Sam smiled proudly. “Mama said that I dance almost as well as my Pa and Uncle Joe.”

“And don’t pay that nasty damn fool Jack Fischer any mind.”

Sam nodded and ran back to the fair with out a backward glance to his aunt.

Kate came out of the shadows near the barn door. She had been listening to Meg reassure her son. She had fought her normal protective nature to rush in and tend to her child but held back when she realized that Meg was doing a better job calming Sam than she ever could. “Thanks for helping him Meg. I truly appreciate it.” She hugged her sister in law “You said all the right things.” She mentally cursed Al Striker. He had been dead for years but the wounds he had made in her life, in her son’s life never ended. The pain would just submerged to the bottom of the lake and then pop to the surface like a rotting corpse.

 “What are Aunts for?” Meg said. “I know how he felt. Fred was a wonderful father. Just like Adam. My father was not such a nice man. He was bitter and jealous and angry all the time.”

“Fred is a wonderful man.” Kate said.

Meg nodded “So is Adam. Sam is very lucky that you and Adam got married. I was very lucky my mother met Daddy. Both of us were very lucky.”