Chapter 23

All Is Well That Ends Well

It was long after dark when Juliet finally came down the stairway. She looked exhausted and worn, disheveled and uncomfortable, but she smiled at the men who rose from their seats by the hearth.

“Adam’s sleeping,” she said softly. She looked down and smoothed her skirt. Her eyes stayed at the bloodstained fabric for some time. At last she took a deep breath and then she straightened her back, composed her features and continued in a far more formal voice, “And I think I shall retire now.”

Ben crossed the room to join Juliet at the foot of the stairs. He was tired and sore and he wanted nothing more than to sit on the rocker next to his injured son’s bed at last, drinking in the sight of his eldest just—living. But before he was allowed to give in to his fatherly concerns he had one more responsibility.

“Miss Heatherstone, it’s getting late. Why don’t you stay the night, and Hoss’ll escort you back to Virginia City tomorrow morning?” he asked with an inviting hand-gesture.

“Mr. Cartwright!” Something in her demeanour changed abruptly and considerably, and the likable, friendly young woman was replaced by—well, there was no other way to put it: by Her Royal Majesty, the Queen of England. She was all indignity when she lectured him, “It would be highly inappropriate for me to stay the night in a house with four men. Not alone and without a chaperone. And anyway, I still have some work to do tonight.” She turned to Hoss in one quick sharp motion that nearly made him jump back. “You had better take me home right now, Hoss.”

“Miss Juliet, it’s getting’ mighty late—”

“Oh, I can go on my own in the dark of night, if it is too much a trouble for you.” The way she said it, it became quite clear that she had no intention of riding to Virginia City alone.

“Hoss, get the buggy ready, you can tie Miss Heatherstone’s horse to it. It will be safer to drive her than to take her for a ride.” Ben’s tone equaled Juliet’s in decisiveness. He was too tired for any arguments tonight. Hoss simply nodded and went out to obey his father’s orders.

“Thank you, I appreciate that very much.” Juliet gave Ben a benign smile, which make him forget the Queen’s attitude in an instant. The velocity of her changes in personality nearly made his head swim. “I shall count on you to keep me updated on Adam’s progress in recovery, Mr. Cartwright. I might be passing by and—”

“You might be passing by? How on earth are you supposed to be passing by? We’re the only people out here.”

Juliet didn’t even blink. She straightened and, impossibly, became even taller. “Yes. I might be passing by. And in that case, I should like to look in on Adam—if you don’t mind.”

Ben sighed. “No, Miss Heatherstone, I don’t mind at all. I’m very sure Adam will be grateful for some company during the next few days. Come by whenever you please.”

“I’ll do that, thank you.” Juliet flashed Ben a surprisingly wide and genuine smile. When they heard the sound of hoofs and wheels from outside, Juliet picked up her shawl from the credenza. She arranged it delicately around her shoulders. “Well, I’d better be on my way now.”  She extended her hand to Ben. “Good night, Mr. Cartwright. Take good care of Adam and give him my best.”

“Good night, Miss Heatherstone. Thank you for caring for my boy. Without you he—” Ben’s voice was thick and, with a shake of his head, he tried to clear his thoughts from the unwanted images that attempted to invade. “Well, I’m just grateful you went to look for him. And, and for your taking care of him. I know it has taken quite something for you to—do what you did.”

“I did what I had to do. At least I like to think so. Well, to be honest, what I’d really like is stop thinking about that at all.” She actually blushed at this. Ben registered it in wonder. He never thought her capable of blushing.

“However, I’m deep in your debt, Miss Heatherstone,” Ben replied. “I hope to see you again soon. This house will always be open for you.”

Juliet received his words with a graceful nod, and let him lead her out onto the yard and help her to the seat of the buggy.

Ben watched Hoss and Juliet waving their good-byes to him. He saw Hoss crack the whip and slowly direct the buggy from the ranch yard out into the darkness. He turned to go back into the ranch house, but stopped dead and shook his head chuckling when he heard Juliet’s voice ringing out of the darkness:

“Come on, make them move, Hoss, and make them move fast—I’ve got articles to write!”