Summary:  A little light summertime story about Adam who isn’t happy with the way his summer is going until he’s faced with robbery and jail.  It turns out better than that sounds.
Rating:  PG   Word Count:  3978

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And the Living Is Easy

“It’s summertime and the living is easy. No cattle drives. All the branding is done. No snow on the roof that needs to be shoveled. The run-off is done. We can go to town without worries. There are flowers blooming in the high meadows.”

Hoss was leaning back in a chair on the porch of the Ponderosa ranch house looking out over the yard. It was Saturday afternoon. Soon he and Joe were headed to town to attend a party at the home of Joe’s friend Mel. It promised to be a good party so they had plans to stay overnight in town and meet their father at church the next morning. Joe had a few observations about summer before he was ready to ride. They had plenty of time to check in at the hotel, get freshened up, and get to the party.

“Summer is wonderful because gals are looking for carriage rides and picnics. There are socials and dances as well as all the parties and wedding receptions with all those chances to meet more gals.”

“Joe, is that all you think about, gals?”

“No, I’m thinking about all those horses Adam is going to buy on this trip. You know, Adam, you ought to think about enjoying summer a bit more.”

Hoss saw the upturn in Adam’s lips and decided to tease him a bit more.

“Yeah, last week you missed the Fourth of July celebration with all them fireworks and the box social. Heck, there was a bunch of ladies asking about you. You think about doing any of these fun things instead of all these trips you’ve been taking.”

It was good that Hoss and Joe had their horses ready for a ride. They had to run to them to get away.

“Hoss, I didn’t know he was that ornery.”

“Yeah, I guess summer don’t agree with him.”

What Adam didn’t agree with was that he had drawn the short straw every time that summer regardless of how the decisions were made. Joe and Hoss always had a reason why they couldn’t do the task or take the trip so Adam ended up doing all of them. Now, none of the tasks or trips was arduous, but he hadn’t had any social time or leisure time in almost two months. Ben got a few grunts in response to questions he asked as Adam packed his saddlebags and thought perhaps it would be best if he left well enough alone. When Adam found that Sport had a sore leg and he couldn’t take him, it seemed to be the fitting topping on a pile of things that had been heaped on him.

Saddling another horse, he left then expecting to arrive at his first destination on Monday morning. He did but the man he was supposed to meet was ill so he made arrangements to see him on his way back in two weeks. Continuing on then to his next stop almost five days further away to make a deal for horses, he ran into some trouble and never got there.

The horse he rode was not prime quality. His saddle was worth more than the horse. He carried little money as all transactions were going to be made through a bank and a broker. None of that seemed to matter to the men who robbed him. Mistakenly thinking that because he had so little of value, he was safe turned out to be a huge mistake.

“Take off your boots too. I like your hat and your coat too. There, you can keep the rest.”

“Oh, you’re so generous.”

“You got a smart mouth on you, mister. We didn’t shoot you, but that could change if you keep talking.”

Wisely, Adam said no more as the men rode off with all that he had. From his pocket, he took out a jackknife, a small tin of matches, and the simple map he had. By his best reckoning, it was over twenty-five miles down the road to the next town. But if he went cross-country, there was a small town only about five miles away. Without boots, hat, or coat, and with no water, he opted for the shorter walk. It still took him most of the day having to be so careful where he walked and doing his best not to injure his feet.

Late in the day, he arrived in the little town and sat down on the wooden boardwalk in front of the general store. He was hot, tired, hungry, and thirsty. Looking around, he realized there was no telegraph line in the town which was going to complicate things. It did have a small bank, but he doubted he could manage to convince them to try to get money in his name. Contemplating his options, he heard a sweet voice from behind.

“I’m sorry, but my father says you have to get off the walk. You will scare the customers away.”

Standing and turning to face the young lady, Adam knew how he must look. It had been a hot day so he was wearing a light cotton shirt which had gotten torn a bit and was dirty from his walk through brush and high grass. He had not shaved that morning not expecting to see anyone so that worked against him too. Smiling to show he meant no harm, he tried to explain.

“I’m sorry too. I was waylaid by some outlaws this morning who took everything I had including my boots. I walked here as it seemed the best solution at the time. However I see now that there is no telegraph in this town so I cannot contact anyone to let them know I need help.”

The smile, the dimple, and the cultured tones of his explanation won her over immediately. Her father however was an entirely different matter. Coming out, he waved a broom.

“Get away from here. We have laws against tramps and vagrants. You can’t come in here begging and stealing and get away with it.”

“I wasn’t planning on doing those things.”

“Oh, so you gonna say you got money?”

“Well, no, as I was explaining to your daughter, I was waylaid by outlaws this morning.”

“Sure, and outlaws always waylay tramps and vagrants.”

Apparently someone came up behind Adam then because the shopkeeper looked beyond Adam for his next statement.

“I suppose you’ll take care of this now. I got a store to run.”

Turning, Adam faced a sheriff who had a pistol aimed at his belly.

“Whoa, I’m not armed.”

“Empty your pockets.”

“I don’t have much. As I said, I was waylaid by outlaws who took everything I had.”

“Yeah, we hear that kind of story a lot. Now, empty your pockets.”

The sheriff took his jackknife gingerly making sure Adam made no sudden moves, and pocketed that as well as the tin of matches and the small map. Any attempts by Adam to explain anything were met by orders to shut his mouth. Adam was marched to the one cell jail house and locked in a cell before he was questioned further. It is difficult to argue with a sheriff who has a pistol aimed at you.

“Now, what’s your name?”

“Adam Cartwright.”

“Listen, you keep lying to me, I’m gonna think about charging you with more than vagrancy.”

“That’s my name.”

“All right, but if you think for one minute you’re gonna tell me you’re one of them Ponderosa Cartwrights, I am gonna charge you with more, and you’re gonna end up on a work gang. You hear me?”

“I hear you.”

“Now, what were you doing wandering into our town?”

“I guess you could say I was looking for help.”

“You mean you wanted food, shelter, clean clothes, and something to drink. You didn’t have no money on you, so we know how you was gonna get those things.”

“We do?”

“Yep, it’s why we lock up vagrants. Now, you can work at the livery stable to pay your fines or you can take a job as a swamper at the saloon. Both jobs pay enough to get you your meals. You can sleep in the hayloft at the livery stable. It’s warm enough so you’ll be plenty comfortable there. You get caught stealing, and you know what you’re gonna face. Is that clear?”

“What if I don’t want to work in the stable or the saloon?”

“Penalty for vagrancy is thirty days in jail.”

“So, I would be right here for thirty days? No work to do? Just stay here?”

“Yeah, pretty awful way to spend a month of summer, don’t you think?”

“I can think of worse ways. Can I get a book to read?”

“I suppose you could.”

“You don’t by chance play chess, do you?”

“No, but I like cribbage and checkers. Hey, does that mean you plan to take the thirty days?”

“I’m considering it.”

“You’d be the first who ever done that. Usually they take the job and get out of town here first chance they get.”

“When would that be?”

“Stage comes through here to drop off the mail once a week. Most of the time, there’s room for a passenger or two. If they want to go, I keep their wages and give them a ticket out of town instead.”

“That’s very generous of you.”

“Thank you.”

Apparently the sheriff did not recognize nor appreciate sarcasm.

“You don’t by chance own the livery stable and the saloon, do you?”

“I do. It works out pretty well that way, doesn’t it?”

“It certainly does for you.”

“You listen here. I keep the peace in this little town, and I work this job for almost nothing. Everybody here knows the arrangement. Works out for everyone.”

“Yes, I understand. Now, can I get some water? I’m very thirsty, and I would like to clean up a little at least.”

“I suppose I’ll have to take care of all that seeing as how you want to stay in that cell. I guess you’ll need a pot too and a blanket. I’ll have to get you a cup for drinking and a towel. Damn, it’s expensive to keep someone in that cell. You sure you aren’t willing to take a job? You could work during the day and sleep on that cot at night.”

“No, I’m just fine right here. It should take about two weeks for my family to come looking for me. They can pay the fine when they get here.”

“Two weeks? Boy, they sure must not care that much for you if it takes them two weeks to know you’re missing.”

“No, I was on a trip and I’m supposed to be back in two weeks. That’s when they’ll know I’m missing. Of course it might take a bit longer. They might think I was delayed. Then they’ll have to find me which isn’t going to be that easy as I veered off course. Hmm, I hope they get here by the end of the thirty days. I don’t like the prospect of working in a livery stable or as a swamper.”

About an hour later, Adam was washing himself when he heard an exclamation and turned to find the same young lady from the general store standing there staring at him. She had a tray of food which he assumed was his dinner, but her focus seemed to be that he was shirtless. He grabbed his shirt and quickly donned it.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have another shirt and wanted to clean up. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“Oh, you didn’t offend me. I didn’t mind at all. You don’t have to button it up either unless you want to do that. In fact, you could take it off again and give it to me. I’ll wash it and bring it back to you.”

“That would be wonderful. I like a clean shirt, but my other shirts were in the saddlebags the outlaws took.”

“I could wash your trousers too.”

“Ah, I definitely don’t have anything else to replace them.”

“I could hold up the blanket and you could take them off and then pull the blanket around you.”

“How about we think about doing that after I have dinner. I assume that is my dinner you’re holding.”

“Oh, yes, it is. I’m sorry. Of course, you don’t want it to get cold, and you must be hungry.”

She slid the dishes through the slot in the door and the cup between the bars. Adam began eating and drinking immediately.

“My name is Adam, by the way. I apologize for not introducing myself sooner.”

“That’s perfectly fine. You had other things on your mind. I’m Melissa.”

When the sheriff returned to the office, he found Adam sitting on the cot, naked and wrapped in a soft muslin sheet, and reading a book by the light of the lamp which had been brought closer to the cell.

“What’s gone on here?”

“Melissa brought my dinner, and she was so kind as to offer to launder my clothing. She held up the blanket and I took them off where she could not see.”

Always the gentleman or nearly so, Adam failed to mention that she had dropped the blanket lower and lower as he undressed until she must have gotten quite a look at him. He didn’t realize that until he turned around to hand the clothing through the bars, and she jerked the blanket up higher. Red cheeks and then the grin she couldn’t hide gave her away though.

“You’re quite the mischief, aren’t you. Oh, don’t be embarrassed. I like it. I would bet your father doesn’t though.”

“No, he would be furious to know what I’ve done so far. I’ll wash your clothing at a friend’s house so he won’t know.”

Noticing Adam scratching a bit where the blanket rubbed against his chest, Melissa asked if there was a problem.

“Only that these blankets and my skin never seem to agree. It will be fine when you bring my clothing back.”

“But that won’t be until tomorrow, and it’s warm tonight. You won’t want to sleep with that blanket covering you. I’ll bring you something more comfortable.”

Expecting clothing, Adam had been surprised when she brought a muslin sheet from her father’s store.

“We have so many of these in the storeroom, he’ll never miss one. Oh, and I arranged for you to have a book. I heard the sheriff tell my father that you had asked about having a book. They laughed about a vagrant wanting a book, but I thought if a man asked for one, it meant he wanted one. You do want one, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes, I do.”

“My friend, Denise, has more books than anyone in town. She brought one for you.”

The tall young woman behind Melissa stepped forward to hand a book to Adam through the bars of the cell. Hoping that it wasn’t a dime novel, Adam waited for her to produce it, and he couldn’t have been more pleased to see she had a Charles Dickens book in her hands. Charles would have been furious to see another of his works published without his permission, but to Adam, the book was gold.

“Denise, I cannot thank you enough. Melissa, you are an angel, and Denise, you are a treasure. This town is blessed to have two beautiful and entrancing young women in it.”

Then he grinned at them and showed the dimple. If they could have hugged and kissed him, they would have. Denise had one more thing to ask though.

“We have another friend, Robin, and she wonders if you sing and perhaps play guitar. She walked by earlier and thought she heard singing. She said it was quite good. Her father used to play guitar and we would all sing along, but he’s passed.”

“I do play some guitar, and I enjoy singing.”

“I think she wants to bring the guitar to you and have you play it. Would you do that? She’s kind of shy and gets a bit anxious about doing things like that.”

“I would be pleased to do that especially being asked by a beautiful young woman.”

For the next four weeks, Adam did indeed find that in summertime, the living can be easy. He read his book and then another and another. Denise it seemed liked a lot of the same books he did. He led sing-a-longs from his cell. When some of the ladies in town heard the singing and then heard about the reading, they had an idea. He had a visit from a couple of them apparently too shy to come alone, they came in a delegation. Pleased to meet three more ladies, he introduced himself to Lisa, Ina, and Joanne.

“We understand you like to read including poetry.”

“We were wondering if you could do some readings for us.”

“We have a women’s club and all the ladies want to hear you read some poetry.”

“I certainly have the time, but do the ladies want to meet here in the jail? I’m afraid I cannot dress for the occasion either as these are the only clothing I have.”

“Oh, I’m sure the sheriff will let us meet here. We can all fit in if we move his desk.”

“We can help you with the clothing.”

“Oh, yes, one of our members is married to the man who owns the general store.”

Within a day, dressed in a crisp white cotton shirt and black trousers and new slippers, Adam began doing poetry readings for the women’s club who gathered in the small office forcing the sheriff to go elsewhere while they held their meeting.

One of the boys in town found a chess set in the attic of his home, and Adam gave chess lessons to some of the brighter children in town. The sheriff wouldn’t let him have a straightedge in his cell, so one of the ladies who shaved her husband regularly, came in each day and gave him a shave through the bars of the cell. The one thing he missed was having a bath, but the sheriff wouldn’t let him out of his cell.

“I let you put one foot out on that street, those folks are gonna get you on a horse and hightailing it outta town. That would undermine my authority, and I ain’t gonna let ’em do it.”

When Adam’s sentence was up, there were many who were disappointed because he had become an integral part of the town in the month he had been there. His family had not shown up, but it seemed to be all right as it gave him one more week to enjoy the summer. Who did show up were the outlaws who had first robbed him. They rode into town as Adam was waiting for the stage that would take him to the next town where there was a telegraph line and he could get money to buy a horse and ride home. He walked back to the sheriff’s office and asked to use the sheriff’s pistol.

“Why do you need a pistol?”

“The men who robbed me rode into town. I think I’m better equipped to deal with them than you are. You can back me up if you wish.”

“You’re better than me?”

“Let me show you.”

A few minutes later, the sheriff carried a shotgun across his arm and followed Adam toward the saloon where the three men had gone. Pushing the doors open, Adam walked in to find all three standing at the plank bar.

“I believe you have my horse outside and probably the rest of my belongings. You’ve got my hat and boots on.” The last part was addressed to the tallest of the three.

“Well, lookee here. We got Mister Fancy Clothes thinks he can take all three of us.”

That was enough to convince the sheriff that Adam was telling the truth about the three. He stepped up beside him.

“I can take two. The sheriff will take one. With a scattergun, it won’t be pretty. You can drop your guns now or take your chances.”

The tone of Adam’s voice and that shotgun the sheriff was holding almost made them do as he told them, but one man drew taking the choice away from the others. It was over quickly. They were no match for Adam and the sheriff working together. Looking at the bodies, the sheriff shook his head.

“I don’t suppose you want your clothes back.”

“I want my hat and boots and my pistol. You’re right about the rest.”

Taking those items, Adam walked out to claim the horse and saddle that belonged to him. He got his saddlebags with his extra clothing, found his coat, took a bedroll, and took the cooking kit. Adam let the sheriff take the other horses and saddles and the rest that was of value. It would go into the town coffers to pay for the burials and pay his salary. Pulling some papers from the pocket on his saddle, Adam opened them to show the sheriff.

“You’re really Adam Cartwright?”

Grinning, Adam nodded.

“I have enjoyed my vacation in your little town despite its rather, shall we say, awkward beginning.” Turning to the crowd that had gathered, he thanked them too, and then he called for Denise’s parents and Robin’s mother and stepfather to come to him.

“Your daughters would like to continue their schooling. Being a nurse and a teacher are noble goals. I hope you will allow them to do it.”

“We would, but none of us has the money to send them to those schools they need.”

“I suspected as much, but now I can help. Will you go to the bank with me?”

In the bank, Adam wrote out two bank drafts to sponsor the young ladies in their schooling.

“These can be used to put these two young ladies through school. I hope they can do for your town what they did for me.”

When that was done, he got his horse and headed for home arriving there five days later. His father and brothers had just returned from a fruitless search for him.

“We telegraphed the auction manager, and he said you were never there. We telegraphed your first appointment, and he said you had been there but had arranged to come back in two weeks but had not yet come back. We have spent a week searching for you.”

“So, let me get this straight. Based on what you said and figuring in travel time, you waited a week before you even missed me?”

“Son, sometimes you take longer than planned on these trips.”

“But I send telegrams when I do.”

“Usually.”

“So it’s my fault?” When Ben left the question hang, Adam decided he knew what to say. “I was waylaid on the road and they took almost everything. I found my way to a little town, but because of how I looked by then and because I had nothing, I went to jail as a vagrant. I spent a month in jail, and it was glorious. Joe, you are right. It’s summertime, and the living is easy. Now, I’m going into the washroom if Hop Sing will heat some water. I haven’t had a bath in more than a month, and I really need one. No, actually, I really want one, and maybe a glass of brandy while I soak.”

Adam left his family standing there speechless and decided he would only answer their questions when they were nicer to him. That made him grin again. There were so many pleasant memories from this summer. He couldn’t remember being unhappy.

 

Tags:  Adam Cartwright, jail / jailed