Summary: Ben receives an unexpected visit and discovers a part of his eldest son’s private life…

Rated:  MA  WC  5300

Trapped 

Six o’clock pm! In desperation, Ben Cartwright helped himself to a cup of tea, alas almost cold, and bit absent-mindedly into a cookie. He was annoyed with himself for having waited, as if he ignored that his three sons had been training for the Big June Rodeo. As soon as they had finished with their work, they used to dash to the corral. Tea was the least of their worries.

At this stage of his thinking, Ben heard the noise of a trotting and the scrunching of bad lubricated wheels, and he stood up. He drew back the cretonne curtains that were covering the window and saw the assistant of the sheriff get down from a carriage with a man he didn’t know but that could identify as a Marshall because of the insignia of his office. The man showed a brooding, impassive and rigid face.

Puzzled, Ben opened the door. “Hello, Auguster ! Good evening, Mister, Mister…”

« Pearson, Ted Pearson, Federal Marshall. Could you spare us a few minutes ?”

“Of course, gentlemen ! I even can offer you some tea if you like it not too warm.”

“No, thank you, Ben”, Auguster replied eyeing up the bottle of whisky. Seeing what, Ben took it out and poured a drink to each of his guests.

“And now, Auguster, what’s the matter ?”

“A matter of high importance, Ben, an affair of State. I told Mr Pearson that you were a citizen beyond reproach, a man of duty and that you were trustworthy.”

Ben was impressed. It wasn’t usual to hear Auguster pronouncing so solemn words.

“What I am to disclose, Mister” Pearson interrupted, “is an official secrecy. I brought a Bible for you to swear upon it. We need your help, which implies we’re obliged to reveal some confidential information, but we can’t take the risk of an imprudent divulging.”

Ben having taken the oath with a look of deep conviction, Pearson, at last, decided to get to the heart of the matter.

“The story starts at the time of the war between Texans and Mexicans. When the Mexicans understood that the men defending the Alamo would not surrender, they let women and children evacuate the fortress. One of the women was carrying under her clothes the map of several munitions dumps. We were in 1848. This woman kept jealously the map during thirteen years and then, feeling she was dying, she revealed its existence to her two nephews, her closest relatives. She didn’t know that one of them was a member of a secret society that plans to run off with several states or territories in the West, California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and build a new country, a new nation, of course controlled by the society. The man seized the map and we were warned, a few weeks ago, by his cousin who, after hesitating a long time – because this sect is terrorizing every people approaching it – decided to ask for our protection. We must take action at once : these criminals surely want to take advantage of the civil war to mobilize all their army contingents to carry out their project, using the Texans’ munitions they’re alone to be able to localize.”

Ben nodded gravely : « But, how can I help you ? »

“We arrested a woman in Sacramento. She’s a cabaret’s singer. We learnt that she flew away from the sect but she knows where the map is hidden. Only, she refuses to disclose it.”

“So what ?” Ben asked, intrigued.

“Women of this kind, trading on her charms, is perfectly aware that she has more to fear from those she would betray than from policemen. After all, we don’t have much against her, she doesn’t accost customers in the street. She’s supported by a few bourgeois that have her nights reserved for, except when the man she’s lost her heart to, is staying in town.”

Ben understood even less what was the policemen’s point.

“You know, Ben” Auguster stammered, turning scarlet, “those girls, there’s only one person having influence on them, it’s the man who can have them without paying.”

“This is a very interesting story”, Ben exploded, “but I fail to see why you’re telling me”

“Here is the thing we found on her bedside table” retorted Pearson, throwing a picture in Ben’s hands.

Ben jumped : the fine and male face smiling in the middle of the oval frame was his eldest son’s.

“There’s no doubt, it’s definitely Adam”, he said in a flat voice.

Pearson leant down towards him and asked : « Did you know your son was going around with this girl in Sacramento ? Did you notice any weird behaviour ?”

“That would indicate he has something to do with the secret society, that’s what you mean ?” Ben asked with a curt tone. “In that case, I can assure you that my son is as loyal, honest and patriotic as I am and that…”

The door opened, interrupting the end of his declaration and his three sons came in, with the rosy cheeks and the good colour that can be seen on men’s face when they have just practised some very physical exercise in the open air Seeing that their father had company, they approached, grinning, to greet his guests but stiffened at discovering the three fellows’ grim look. Ben asked Hoss and Joe to go upstairs to their room, what they did with a surprising docility and stopped as soon as hidden from sight at the passage’s corner.

Both the sheriff and the Marshall had forgotten them, their attention focused on Adam. Pearson was thinking : “It’s important not to rush things. Better play with him as a cat with a mouse. He is an essential piece on the chessboard but he could as well belong to the conspirer’s group.” Auguster had always been impressed by Adam. He turned to Ben, tacitly imploring him to take over the running of the conversation. Just what Ben had in mind.

Adam sat down, surprised by the heavy atmosphere prevailing in the room. He glanced with a questioning look at his father’s stern face. Ben stood up, imitated by the two other men and the three threatening figures gathered around the young man’s armchair.

“Do you know where this picture comes from ?” Ben asked, holding out to his son the daguerreotype representing him.

Adam looked Ben straight in the eye : “Yes, I know. I recognize the frame and I’d like to know how it came into your hands. What did happen to Birgit ?”, he questioned, addressing directly to Pearson, “and first, who are you ?”

“You can speak the truth, Pearson, I answer for him” Auguster said, for once being equal to the situation. Deciding to stake his all, Pearson told his story again. Hoss and Joe didn’t miss a scrap of it. When it was finished, silence fell down in the large room. Adam was staring at the end of his boots, thoughtfully. His three apparent interlocutors as well as the two hidden ones, were holding their breaths, waiting for his reaction.

“Birgit as a member of a secret society”, he said, at last, as if continuing aloud what he was thinking, “I can’t believe it.”

“What do you know about this Birgit ? How did you meet her ? What happened between you and her ?” Ben couldn’t get his questions out fast enough.

Adam wished he could reply that it was none of his business and that nobody, even his father was entitled in interfering in his privacy, but he realised soon enough that his country’s safety was at stake and that he had no card to keep up from people defending it. Doing his best to keep a neutral and equal tone, he declared :

“I’ve been knowing her for almost two years. It was during a trip to Sacramento. I’m used to go there when I need to buy seeds. Since I had a few hours spared, I decided I would take advantage of it to buy new clothes. In the main street, I was stopped by a gathering. There were a dozen of strait-laced middle-class women insulting a very pretty little girl. She was bravely holding out at them but it was obvious that she wouldn’t be able to make a step without having her hat torn off. I know neither what they were blaming her for nor how they had come to this point but I offered her my arm and cleared the way for her. While I was escorting her to her shopping, she told me she was singing in a luxury night club and she invited me to take her home after the show. I admit I didn’t consider refusing. She’s a splendid-looking girl. Her voice is a little silly but very sensual when she sings. Wasp-waisted, round and firm rump, perfect legs that she was showing when dancing the French-cancan. I can assure you that I wasn’t the only man to be tantalized at the sight of her laced-rimmed thighs.”

While Adam was talking, a light had appeared in his eyes. At hearing his evocation of the pretty girl, even Pearson felt the need of passing his tongue over his dry lips. The more Adam was going forward in his account, the more he was persuaded that between him and the appealing Birgit, there was no more than a physical attraction… or if he actually was a member of the sect, he definitely was a very talented actor.

“I’m sure”, Adam went on, “that the first night, she gave herself just by way of gratitude, since I had proved to be gratuitously chivalrous with her. Men who pay for her favours by night, at broad daylight, stand at their wives’ side and can’t find words scornful enough to speak about her. They believe they will be forgiven by offering costly jewels but they’re not. This first night, we were just like two children having pleasure, without any idea of past or future. The famous “carpe diem”. The following day, I found myself standing in front of the cabaret’s exit, having walked there quite mechanically. When she saw me, I don’t know what came over her, she took out from her blouse a handful of dollars and held it out to the man that was escorting her and said : “Take back your money. As long as my friend will stay in town, nobody will get to my bed, whatever the price being offered. You’ll wait until he leaves.” And from now on, that’s the way things happen. As soon as I appear in town, she shuts her door in her… gentlemen’s face. I was afraid for her to loose her customers but she’s so desirable that they wait for her patiently.”

“All this story sounds exact, Mr Cartwright”, Pearson said, “we controlled it before coming. But what’s happening, once the door closed, that’s what we’d like to know. What are you talking about ?”

Adam stared at him angrily : “I thought I had been clear enough. What more details do you want me to tell you, Mr Pearson ?”

Pearson made with his hand what he hoped to be a placating gesture. “Don’t misinterpret my words, Mr Cartwright, I just want to learn what you know about her. Did she say anything about her past, her life ? If you can think of something that could help us…”

“Nothing at all. Believe me, she’s only for me a charming and voluptuous mistress. Don’t forget I’m not living in Sacramento and, in total, I must have passed only fifteen or so nights with her, no more. At that rate, we don’t have much time for conversation. No, you’d better not look for indications I don’t have but think of a strategy. Didn’t you say you arrested her ?”

“Yes, she’s in jail but we’ll have soon to release her.”

“Would you allow me to see her ?”

“I wish to do so. I plan to take you to Sacramento to-morrow but…”

“But ?” Pearson turned his hat between his fingers : I can’t take any risk, Mr Cartwright and, first, I can’t bet on your innocence. Whatever your father’s protestations, so as Sheriff Auguster’s, you’re a suspect. You could perfectly be a member of the gang and this would explain the sudden infatuation of our singer for your person. You must admit” he added, turning to Ben and Auguster, “that it’s quite unusual for a loose woman to rebuff a customer having already paid, under the pretext of love at first sight. Consequently, I’m taking you to Sacramento”, he finished, talking to Adam, “but handcuffed.”

Ben fumed with anger : “You have no right to do that. Adam did nothing wrong. He put up no resistance. On the contrary, he confessed his adventure without forgetting anything. I’ll not let you do that.”

Adam stood up and laid a reassuring hand on his father’s shoulder : « Of course, you’ll let him do that. It’s not a bad idea, on the contrary, it’s the best way to approach Birgit. Nothing can induce her to speak except if she thinks she has to rescue me. Don’t forget she’s risking death if she’s too much talkative… That’s why”, he went on addressing to Pearson, “I insist on warning you that I will cooperate at one condition, you will do all what’s necessary to protect Miss Bard. We’ll talk more precisely about that in due time. Now, let’s go to bed. May we offer you hospitality, Mr Pearson ? So, we’ll be able to leave earlier to-morrow.”

“You don’t understand, Mr Cartwright. You’re already arrested and you will spend the night in Virginia City’s jail. I will certainly not stay in the Ponderosa, on your ground, just to give you an opportunity to prepare your escape.”

“All right, I’m following you”, Adam replied hastily in order to repress an explosion from his father. And he held obediently his hands out to the Marshall to be handcuffed. “Maybe you could allow my father, under Auguster’s watch, to prepare a change of clothes. Birgit is not used to see me dirty with sweat and stinking.”

Pearson nodded. Moving together silently, Hoss and Joe took refuge in Hoss’ bedroom. After packing his son’s clothes, Ben went to his bedroom to pack for himself.

“What are you doing ?” Auguster asked.

“You don’t think”, Ben retorted going downstairs, “that I’m leaving my son struggling alone with you and these bandits. I’m accompanying you to Sacramento, you can’t prevent me from doing so.”

“Thank you, Pa », Adam said while going through the door. And above all, if you take something for reading, choose the Three Musketeers, it’s arranged where the walls have got ears.”

The door was closed over this sibylline sentence. As soon as they heard the carriage going away, the two boys ran downstairs “What did he mean ?” they asked their father, forgetting they were supposed not to have heard anything.

In spite of the seriousness of the situation, Ben couldn’t help but smiling : “He wanted to warn me that you had listened to the conversation, that’s why he alluded to the walls having ears, and he was giving me the advice to take both of you along with me.”

Hoss’ big cheeks split in a broad smile but Joe was left unsatisfied : “So, the meaning of the Three Musketeers is : take my brothers with you ? Why ?”

“Of course !” Ben retorted, poking him. « don’t you remember ? One for all, all for one.”

“Oh yes !”, Joe suddenly exclaimed looking inspired. “Anyway, he got into a fine mess, big brother, and for once, it’s not me.”

“Whether him or you, there’s always a woman behind.”, Ben concluded. “And now, hurry up to bed, to-morrow, we wake up at dawn.”

******************************************************************

Pretty Birgit was fretting in her prison. Crude décor ! Whitewashed walls, without anything to catch the eye except for the mirror she had obtained with difficulty from her jailers. She came close to it and watched sadly the picture reflected. A blond lock escaped to her chignon’s pins was hanging miserably along her cheek, the colour of which was becoming candle like. The shadows, under her eyes swollen with tears, were forming a mauve moon. Future will not be all roses, she thought. What was the most enviable fate ? Going on turning around this cage without opening her mouth or find freedom again but probably also death at the first corner of the street ? For six days, she had been asking the question to herself a hundred times.

Mechanically, she readjusted her hair and pinched her cheeks to have it pink. It was more an instinct than a necessity, since she had no one to seduce. The kind of female dragoon that was keeping her was a monster of insensibility. At the very moment she was having this thought, the dragon entered, holding her button-boots.

“Put it on” she barked, “they’re waiting for you for a questioning.” Resigned – she was getting accustomed to these sterile questionings with three men doing their most to lead her into traps – se slipped her feet into pretty white and pink boots, matching her jacket – the one she was wearing the day she was arrested. Then, she followed, with that sullen pout she was familiar with, her doorkeeper’s greenish-yellow skirt.

When she entered the Marshall’s office, she understood at first sight that something new had happened. A man, a prisoner, surrounded by two colossuses, was there, his back turned to her, facing the policemen. A millstone fell around her neck. Had they arrested one of the Organization’s members ? In that case, the only right behaviour was to tight her lips, since any remark could be taken for an acknowledgement.

Then, suddenly, she recognized the prisoner’s figure. It wasn’t a man from the Organization, it was Adam, her Adam they had captured. What did they want from him ? He had nothing to do with all that… Well, of course, they didn’t know that. She hadn’t realized that anyone who had approached her could be suspected.

“Good morning, Miss Bard”, lieutenant Twisthead said, while Adam was turning his face to her. “I think you know this gentleman ?”

« Hello, Birgit ! » Adam hastened to say, afraid that his girlfriend could make the mistake to deny their relationship.

For the two years this relationship had been lasting, Birgit had been unable to explain the effect Adam’s voice and sight had on her. She could hold one thing for certain : she was literally losing her head for him.

“You can’t help it, my dear, that’s the way life is”, her friend Jane had declared categorically. “You’re crazy about him. We all come to that, one day or another. And people who don’t know that are to be pitied. Look at me, with José…”

Birgit’s mind abandoned the enumeration of José’s turpitudes and reasons explaining that Jane even didn’t care and came back to the present. Twisthead had just lectured her about the risks she was taking. If she stuck to her attitude, and so, and so… The only thing she had retained was that they intended to let her alone, half an hour, with Adam. After a few minutes with new pompous declarations, the door was closed and the lieutenant and his guards disappeared.

Adam lifted over his head his two wrists tied together with handcuffs and, forming a circle with his arms, dropped it down along her back and stopped around her waist. “You see”, he said, “it will not prevent me from kissing you.” She formed a cup with her hands and laid it around the well shaped chin blackened by a nascent beard and pressed her lips on her beloved companion’s. For one short instant, she forgot everything. The subtle scent of a well soaped rider emanated from Adam. He was smelling leather and lavender and fresh morning. He was kissing her with a tongue at the same time gentle and imperious, taking possession of her just by this subtle contact of their lips. It had been so, Birgit thought, from the first minute their eyes had met ; he had cast an owner’s glance at her and she had acknowledged him as such…

Adam broke the hug and invited her to sit down : “Now, let’s have a talk, time is limited.”

He told her, in a few words, how and why he had been arrested. “They think I’m your accomplice and a member of this famous secret society. If you don’t talk, I’ll be judged and hanged.”

Tears formed at Birgit’s eyes : “But, it’s not possible. I am going to tell them you’re innocent and have nothing to do with all that… They have no evidences…”

« They will have if they want. However much honourable I can be known in Virginia City and my father being the richest man in Nevada, even so, it didn’t prevent them of throwing me in jail.”

“But why do they do that ? There’s no point in arresting an innocent.”

“There’s a point. It’s the only way they found to have you confess the place where the map is hidden.”

“But Adam, if I do so, I sign my own death warrant. As soon as they’ll release me, I’ll be murdered.”

“Not if you follow my advices. Listen to me : you will inform the police that you will reveal the map’s hiding-place only when they will have seriously “cleaned” the spy network. How many people are they in this group ? Do you know them ?”

“I can’t say if I know them all. As a matter of fact, they are only ten or so leaders. Others are only executants; they don’t attend the board’s meetings.”

“How on earth did you get into that sect ? And how did you learn an information so much protected as this famous hiding-place ?”

“Simply because I was sleeping with the boss, the headmaster of the plot. Besides, he wanted to be called General. He used to tell me he would make me a queen and, at the time, it flattered me. But I soon realized that all I won in the deal was to get bored during long evenings while these gentlemen were redoing the world, drowned under cigar’s smoke. Then I told Ronny I didn’t care about his ambitious ideas, that I liked only dancing and having fun and I was leaving him. I said him : don’t worry, I’m not interested enough in your plot to have the temptation to talk about it and the only secrets I’d like to reveal are those of the Parisians fashion designers.”

She laughed slightly. “I swear you I was sincere. Think of it : I’ve been knowing you for years now, did I breathe a word ?”

“No, I must admit it and I wonder how the police managed to track you. Anyway, our strategy is clear : you must give them the list of these people who used to fill your sitting-room with smoke, and stay silent about the hiding-place as long as you will not be sure that they are definitely rendered harmless. Afterwards, I will assure your protection myself, with my father and brothers’ help. I will not leave you , neither by day nor by night, so, he’ll be very smart the one who’ll approach you.”

Such a prospect could not but please Birgit but she feared that Adam might underestimate the organization’s power. The leaders were certainly not men so easy to arrest. But he showed himself so persuasive that she finally gave up.

The negotiation with Twisthead was less easy. Adam wanted Birgit and himself to be released while Twisthead maintained, not without reason, that they would be more secure behind their solid jail’s bars.

Ben’s arrival, flanked by the Governor of California, took the heat out of relations. Ben underlined that, although it was imprudent to let Birgit come and go in Sacramento’s streets, her austere sojourning in jail wasn’t, for the dancing girl, an encouragement to show herself cooperative.

“Let’s join comfort and safety”, he concluded, “and put her under house arrest. As for my son, I think he got enough results to convince you that he hasn’t to be suspected.”

Twisthead hesitated whether he would, or not, explain to Ben that, facing as cunning and dangerous bandits as their enemies were, Birgit’s so-called confessions could be a trap and that his suspicions towards Adam staid intact when the latter helped him out of his awkward position.

“In any case, I can’t abandon Birgit. The game I asked her to play is too perilous. I demand to be put under house arrest with her.”

“It’s not very correct”, Ben let out without thinking further.

Adam couldn’t help laughing, in spite of the seriousness of circumstances. “I don’t think” he said after having calmed down, “that decency is our main worry at the moment. Moreover, from that part, the harm is already done.”

Ben showed an embarrassed smile. Deep inside himself, he was quite a puritan, even if he had had, in the past, a few love affairs with actresses or dancing girls. Only, he had difficulty admitting that his sons, in their youth, wouldn’t follow the path he considered as being normal : court a maid from a good family, under careful and, at the same time, indulging parents’ eyes and marry her. But Adam was twenty-eight years old and still a bachelor. Taking time to reflect, it was normal to consider that he had not reached this age still being a virgin. Ben realized that, by sense of modesty, he had always eluded the question about Adam or his brothers as well.

Lost in his thoughts, he had walked mechanically and became aware of his arriving, with the others, at Birgit Bard’s home. A middle class, well polished abode, a little unexpected for a hussy.

Adam’s voice reached his ears : « Pa, please, bring back Hoss and Joe, I need you all. I don’t really trust the police to protect Birgit”.

Ben rushed away and came back, a quarter of an hour later, flanked by his two youngest sons.

“Since he placed several sentinels around the house, Twisthead agrees for you to stay inside with us”, Adam, who had negotiated during his father’s short absence, explained. “What you have to guard, it’s the chimney and the parlour’s window. That’s the only one opening on a wall without a door. As for me, I’ll watch Birgit directly, night and day…”

“I see”, Hoss couldn’t help joking, “you intend to shield her with your body”, but a black glare from his father brought back his laugh into his throat.

They organized their life without difficulty. Hoss, Joe and Ben who were allowed to leave the house took on the contacts with the outside world. Meanwhile, the police made a long painstaking job to break up the organization, helped by Birgit’s pieces of information.

But…

One night, Adam found a scorpion in the hip-bath. He smashed it.

One morning, Joe, waking up, caught sight of dynamite’s bar falling from the chimney. He had just the time to catch it and throw it back as far as possible in the garden.

Another day, while he was coming back from shopping, Hoss saw a shadow slipping along the wall, out of the sentinel’s sight. At the end of a silent fight, Hoss found no less than three guns and two daggers on his unconscious opponent.

When a kitten was discovered dead after having lapped up the milk prepared for Birgit, Adam decided that she would not eat anything else than eggs and the garden’s fruits gathered by his brothers.

The following Sunday, Twisthead entered and shook effusively Adam’s hand.

“We put inside more than a dozen. I think that, now, we can definitely believe in your innocence and also that the main part of the danger is behind us. In any case, you’re, from now on, free to go where you like. I think there is no more risk and Birgit can reveal the hiding place.”

Adam showed less optimism : “I’d like to believe you but I will only breathe when Birgit will be far away, at thousands miles from here. So, I’ll take advantage of your offer and go outside.”

He walked away, found a hackney and asked to be driven to the most luxurious hotel in Sacramento. There, he asked for a specific room, climbed upstairs and knocked at the door. A white haired man opened. Adam staid with him for almost two hours and then, they both went out. With his top hat and his dark grey cape, Adam’s companion had a distinguished look that could rarely be seen among the Sacramento’s citizens.

Adam introduced him to his father who was taking a breath of cool air in front of Birgit’s door. “Pa, may I introduce you to Lord Chichester ; my father”, he said nodding in the English lord’s direction.

Then, he invited the man to get into the house and called Birgit. She smiled recognizing one of her “callers” but failed to understand why her lover was taking this man to her. Intrigued, Ben had followed Adam inside.

“Birgit, I just had a long talk with Lord Chichester. He’s aware of the situation, the entire situation”, Adam emphasized, staring directly at her eyes. “He’s all right to marry you and take you with him to England.”

The young lady cried out protestations. Adam asked Lord Chichester if he would be kind enough to excuse him and, drawing Birgit by her wrist, he led her to the parlour. After closing the door, he explained to the alarmed and crying girl that it was, for her, an unhoped-for mainstay.

“You have to put an ocean between America and you, if not, I’ll always be fearing for one of them to have slipped through the set.”

“But I love you”, she sobbed, “and no one else, only you.”

“Me too”, Adam half lied since he was more feeling desire and compassion than love for the beautiful creature he was holding in his arms. “And it’s because I love you that much that I’m begging you to obey me. Besides, I don’t give you any choice. Either you leave with Harold, or I immediately abandon you.”

Birgit cried again for a long time but, at the end, she gave up. With a broken voice, she gave her agreement to Lord Chichester. “But I will not leave before to-morrow », she made clear, and, lifting her head towards the two men, the one she was in love with and the one she would share the life of, she gave both of them a challenge look. “I claim, I demand”, she emphasized, “a last love night before I become Lady Chichester.”

The following morning, Birgit and Adam had rings under their eyes when they parted. Birgit was clinging to her lover but the latter pushed her into the coach while, from inside, Lord Chichester was pulling. After closing the door, Adam ordered the driver not to spare the horses and leave as soon as possible, while a sorry head was appearing at the door.

****************************************************************

The return to Ponderosa was silent, everyone respecting Adam’s meditation and life went on. Around one year afterwards, Adam received a long missive and his father saw his face darkening while he was reading.

“What’s the matter, Adam?” he asked, worrying.

“Lady Chichester informs me that she gave birth to a little girl, well…” (Adam made a quick mental calculation), more than three months ago. She says she’s the spitting image of her father and she called her Eve.”

“I would have been more careful when I chose your first name,” Ben groaned. “How imprudent to place you under the aegis of the man who lost Paradise because of a woman ! But it was your mother’s idea…”

The End