Summary: This is a sequel to A Young Girl’s Dream (Mary’s Story). Adam has found a new love and his children have noticed a drastic change in him.
Rating: PG, Word Count: 4694
Adam’s Changed
Chapter 1
Eighteen-year-old Mary Cartwright finished cleaning the storeroom and went to the front to talk to Martha. Mary had been home from school for the summer. She found that Martha needed help for a while and Mary asked to work there for the summer which Martha readily agreed. She was happy to have Emma’s daughter work with her.
Mary had been going to Vassar college in New York. She started the year before and had enjoyed it. She was taking journalism classes and astronomy. She made girlfriends at school and loved getting to spend time with them. It had been the first time in a long time she had close girlfriends. She wrote to them during the summer and they wrote to her.
Martha was helping a customer when Mary came to the front of the store so she started straightening the bolts of fabric. Mary had liked being busy at work. It kept her away from home. Adam had gotten married the year before to a woman named Julia Mabry. Adam felt it was time to marry again. He thought that Mary and Jimmy needed another mother. Mary didn’t think so since she was seventeen and Jimmy was twelve. They could both take care of themselves. But Adam married Julia and Mary’s life changed. Mary had been helping around the house one day when Julia told her that she was not going to consider Mary and Jimmy her children nor would she help them.
“You’re not my flesh and blood and therefore I do not need to be called ‘mother’ by you or Jimmy,” Julia said.
“Did you know that Jimmy and I are not Adam’s flesh and blood but he treats us as if we were?” Mary retorted.
For that she got slapped. She tried to tell Adam but he wouldn’t listen. Julia was nice and sweet around everyone else but when she was alone with Jimmy and Mary, she was not nice. Nine months later, Adam and Julia had a son they named Abel Benjamin after Adam’s grandfather and father. Abel was almost a year old and the apple of his father’s eye. Jimmy ended up moving to Joe’s and Sarah’s house to help with their two-year-old son Alexander Joseph. He was named after Sarah’s father and Joe. They nicknamed him AJ. AJ loved his cousin Jimmy.
Mary heard the bell jingle and turned around to greet the customers. She saw that it was her Uncle Hoss and Aunt Jenny. Hoss had met Jenny at a dance last summer and they married that fall. Jenny worked as a dressmaker and continued to work even after she and Hoss were married.
“Well, hello! What brings you two here?” Mary asked.
“We’ve come to see you. We haven’t seen you for a while and thought we’d stop by,” Hoss replied.
They gave Mary a hug.
“It’s good to see you both. I’ve been busy here and with school work. I thought I’d try and write up a few articles for the newspaper and keep up with astronomy.”
“Well, you need a break and I think you need to come to our place for dinner tomorrow,” Jenny replied.
Mary looked at her aunt. She was beautiful with chestnut colored hair pulled up and her brown eyes dancing with excitement.
“All right, I’ll come.”
“Good. I’ll come get you after you get off work,” Jenny said.
“Sounds good.”
“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Hoss said.
They both hugged Mary and left.
The next night, Mary, Hoss and Jenny were visiting during dinner.
“How are your classes?” Jenny asked.
“They’re really good. I’m enjoying my astronomy class. Professor Mitchell is fun. She had a party at the end of the year for the students. She and her father live in a room attached to the observatory. I’ve been there many times to talk to her about assignments and such. She’s my favorite professor,” Mary explained.
“That sounds wonderful. Have you seen your pa lately?” Hoss asked.
Mary’s smile dropped into a frown and she looked down at her empty plate.
“No, I haven’t. Not since he got me the job at the mercantile.”
“That was last month!” Hoss said in surprise.
Mary nodded and fought to keep back the tears.
“Why hasn’t he come to see you or you to see him?” Hoss asked.
She shrugged not looking at him. She knew the reason why but didn’t want to say. It was her step mother. Mary dared not say a word because she didn’t know if anyone would believe her.
“Mary?” Hoss asked.
Mary looked up at him as a lone tear escaped its bank.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” he asked worriedly.
She shook her head not wanting to answer. They had finished and Mary got up to clear her plate and help with dishes.
“Hoss, how about you talk to Mary and I’ll get the dishes done,” Jenny whispered.
“If she’ll talk. I’m not sure if she will or not,” Hoss whispered back.
“Sure, she will. I’ll shove her out of the kitchen if I have to,” she said smiling.
Hoss chuckled.
“Good luck,” he said.
Jenny went into the kitchen and saw Mary pump water out into the sink to start washing the dishes.
“Mary, I’ll do dishes and you go talk to Hoss.”
Mary looked at her with red swollen eyes. Jenny went to her niece and hugged her.
“I’ll take care of the dishes and you go talk to your uncle,” Jenny said softly.
“But you need help with the dishes,” Mary said.
“No, I don’t. Now, go talk to your uncle before I shove you out of this kitchen or take a switch to you for not obeying me,” Jenny said, trying to look gruff but it made Mary laugh.
She nodded and wiped her eyes then walked out of the kitchen.
Hoss led Mary outside where they sat on the porch and looked at the stars.
“So why haven’t you seen your pa?” Hoss asked.
Mary sighed.
“I don’t want to tell you.”
“Please tell me. You used to tell me everything.”
Mary looked at her uncle with tears in her eyes.
“Because of Julia.”
“What about her?”
Mary was debating on if she should tell him what her thoughts were. Would he believe her?
“She’s not very nice,” she finally said.
“Really?” Hoss asked surprised.
Mary nodded.
“She told me last year that she won’t be taking care of Jimmy and me because we are not her flesh and blood. I
told her that my brother and I were not Adam Cartwright’s flesh and blood either but he has treated us like we were. She slapped me for it.”
“She did what?!” Hoss asked angrily.
“She…she slapped me,” Mary stuttered.
She wondered what Hoss would do.
“Uncle Hoss, she doesn’t care about us and neither does Pa.”
Hoss looked at her in surprise.
“What do you mean your pa doesn’t care about you? Of course, he does. What makes you think he doesn’t?”
“He hasn’t written to me since I’ve been to school. I get letters from the rest of the family but not him. Ever
since Abel was born, he’s been more focused on him than me or Jimmy. Jimmy’s moved to Uncle Joe’s place.”
“That’s because he’s helping with AJ.”
“Yes, he moved there to help out but to get away from Julia and Pa. He’s been writing to me about what’s been going on. Julia yells at him when Pa’s not around. She even hit him a few times. He tried talking to Pa but Pa wouldn’t listen. I don’t know why he thought he had to marry Julia to take care of us kids. We’ve been taking care of ourselves just fine since our real parents died.”
“You two have done well since Adam adopted you two.”
“Uncle Hoss, watch Pa whenever the family has a get together,” Mary said.
“I will. Well, we’d best get you back to town so you can get some sleep,” Hoss said.
The two stood and hugged. They finished helping Jenny with the dishes and cleaning up and headed to town.
Chapter 2
A few days later, Jimmy came running into the store.
“Mary!” he called out.
Mary came out from the back.
“What is it? Are you alright?” she asked, a little worried to see her brother.
“Yeah, fine. Uncle Joe said that we’re going to all get together for a picnic at the lake on Saturday! Please say
you’ll come,” Jimmy begged, jumping up and down in excitement.
“I don’t know, Jim. I don’t know if I want to see Pa.”
“Then come for Uncles Joe and Hoss and Grandpa. Please come, Mary. I haven’t hardly seen you since you’ve
been home from school,” Jimmy pleaded.
Mary smiled.
“All right, I’ll be there.”
“Yippee! We’ll be there at noon. We’re gonna go swimming too! I gotta go and get back to school. It’s recess. Bye!” Jimmy ran out.
Martha walked up to Mary.
“Are you going to go?” Martha asked.
“Yeah, guess I’d better since Jimmy begged,” Mary chuckled.
“You’ve got a good brother there. Little Joe and Sarah can’t stop singing his praises with how much he’s been a
help.”
“He’s a good kid. I can’t believe he’s thirteen. At least with Uncle Joe married they’re not getting into trouble.
Boy, Ma sure would…she’d get after them when they’d pull pranks and stunts,” Mary’s voice broke slightly at the thought of her mother.
She cleared her throat and wiped the stray tears away then smiled.
“Your ma was a wonderful woman. I’m proud to have known her,” Martha said, drawing the girl into a hug.
Martha had been like another mother to Mary when she got home from college and Mary was grateful to have another place to stay while she was in town for the summer.
Saturday came and Mary joined the family at the lake. It had been awkward at first when she saw her father but it went smoothly after Jimmy showed everyone a new trick he taught AJ. Mary kept her distance from Julia and Abel. Abel was crawling around and getting into everything while everyone was setting the food on the table. Everyone would grab him and distract him. Ben gave his granddaughter a tight hug when he had got a chance to say hello.
“How’s my favorite girl?” he asked.
“I’m doing well. How’s my favorite grandpa?”
“I’m doing well also,” he said then turned to see what the shouting was about.
“He’s your only grandfather.” Mary heard Julia mutter.
Mary’s smile fell when she heard it. Ben didn’t hear her since he was watching AJ mimic what his cousin was doing.
After the family ate, they cleaned up and nobody noticed Abel crawling towards the lake and falling in. Mary had
looked around and saw something floating in the water. She realized it was Abel and she ran for the lake. She pulled the boy out and did all she could to get the water out of him. Julia saw Mary and ran screaming at her.
Everyone else followed.
“What are you doing to Abel? Stop hurting him!”
Mary ignored her while trying to get Abel to breathe. She sat back and sighed. It was no use. He was dead.
“He’s dead,” she announced.
“He’s dead because you killed him! You took him to the lake and drowned him then made it look like you were
helping him. You hated him. I know you did!” Julia accused.
“It’s true, I didn’t like him but I would never do a thing to hurt him. He must have seen something in the lake to fall in. I saw him and I tried to save him, not kill him,” Mary explained, standing face to face with Julia.
She looked at her father silently begging him to stand up for her. He looked at her, walked to his now dead son, picked him and walked away not saying a word.
“Mary would never do something like that,” Hoss spoke up.
Mary barely heard him as she watched Adam walk away.
“How do you know? She admitted she didn’t like Abel,” Julia said, turning to Hoss.
“Just because she doesn’t like him doesn’t mean she killed him,” Hoss shot back angrily.
Tears filled Mary’s eyes and before anyone could react, she ran to Major and rode off fast.
“Hoss, go after her,” Jenny pleaded.
“I will,” Hoss said.
He and Jenny had ridden to the lake on their horses so Hoss took off on Chubb and followed Mary.
Hoss found Mary a few minutes later at her mother’s grave leaning against it sobbing. He got off his horse and quietly went closer but stopped when he heard her talking.
“Ma, why has Pa changed? He doesn’t love Jimmy or me anymore. Jimmy moved out to Uncle Joe’s and Aunt Sarah’s house and helped with AJ. Aunt Sarah told Pa that they needed help with AJ and Pa was fine with it! He didn’t even say for Jimmy to stay and help with Abel! When I go back to Vassar I’ll stay there through the summer and find a job there. Pa wouldn’t care if I stayed there or came home. He hasn’t really seen me since I’ve been home. I blame Julia for changing Pa. Ma, why did you have to die? Why couldn’t you have held on until you got home and Doc Martin could have saved you? If you didn’t die, we’d still be a family. Pa wouldn’t hate us and we’d be happy. I miss you so much, Ma. I love you.”
Mary got up and turned and saw Hoss.
“How long have you been there?” She asked quietly.
“Long enough. I had a hunch you’d visit your ma,” Hoss replied, shoving his hands in his pockets and walking
towards her.
Mary rubbed the tears from her eyes.
“We’re all worried about you.”
“Pa’s not. He didn’t even stand up for me back there. You did.”
Hoss didn’t know how to reply to her statement.
“Come back with me. I’m sure they’ll be at Grandpa’s house,” Hoss finally said.
Mary shook her head.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Hoss, but I won’t. I’m going to do some schoolwork.”
She hugged Hoss, climbed on Major and left.
Chapter 3
The funeral for Abel was a couple of days later. All but Mary and Jimmy went to the funeral. They had the funeral
at the cemetery in town. Julia refused to have Abel buried near Joe’s mother, Marie, baby Elizabeth and Emma. Jimmy repeated what Julia had said it was because “the town cemetery is a more suitable place to be buried than somewhere on a hill.” Mary didn’t laugh nor did Jimmy. Martha let Mary have the day off to spend time with Jimmy. Jimmy was watching AJ and they had fun together. Jimmy also told Mary that when Julia passes away she wants to be buried by Abel.
“Good. I don’t want her to be near Marie, baby Elizabeth or Ma,” Mary spat.
July fourth came and the town celebrated the holiday with fireworks, games and other excitement. Mary had fun with her family. She made a wide berth around Julia and her father.
After the holiday, it was back to work and Mary kept herself busy. The more she worked the less she had to think about things. Hoss came into the store.
“Mary, we need to talk.”
“I’m busy,” She lied.
In fact, the store was completely empty and she had just run out of things to do. Hoss looked around then looked
at her with a cocked eyebrow.
“Fine,” she sighed.
“Martha, I’m taking Mary for a walk. I’ll bring her back in a while,” Hoss said.
“I’ll be just fine,” Martha said as she put the last bolt of fabric away.
Hoss took his niece by the hand and led her outside.
“All right, Uncle Hoss, what do you want to talk about?” Mary asked as they passed by the bank.
“Your pa,” Hoss replied.
“I don’t want to talk about him or Julia. I don’t want to think about them,” Mary replied.
Just as they started by the saloon, a man was thrown out of the window and Hoss moved her out of the way just in time then they started walking again.
“You’re right about Adam. He has changed. Ever since you mentioned it I’ve paid closer attention.”
“Well, bully for you,” she said sarcastically.
Hoss stopped and turned her to him.
“Listen, young lady, I’ll take you over my knee right now in public if you don’t stop with the attitude. I’m trying to be on your side. I’m trying to listen to you and be there for you,” he said sternly.
“Uncle Hoss, you already know! You listened to me. You are there for me but nothing has been done. Nothing will be done. I’ll be going back to school in a month and I will stay back there. I won’t come back to Virginia City until I graduate. I know that means not seeing you, Aunt Jenny, and the rest of the family but I can’t be here with Julia controlling Pa. It’s been a miserable summer without seeing or talking to him. Uncle Hoss, I miss my pa,” Mary said breaking down.
Hoss held her as she cried into his chest. They found a bench and sat on it.
“Mary, we have noticed the change in your father. We haven’t seen him since the funeral,” Hoss said.
“Really?”
Mary looked up at him and wiped her eyes. Hoss nodded.
“How do we get him away from her?”
Mary rested her head on Hoss’ shoulder.
“I don’t know. Joe and I have talked about it and have come up with nothing. We’ll figure something out,” Hoss
replied.
They stood and went back to the mercantile. Mary felt better having Hoss tell her that her feelings about Julia and Adam were right. She was glad that she was not alone in this.
Chapter 4
Adam and Julia were going to town to run a few errands in the buggy.
“Which mercantile will we be going to?” Julia asked.
“Martha’s,” Adam replied.
“I think we should go to a different place,” Julia sniffed.
“Why? We can see Mary.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Julia, she is my daughter. I need to see her.”
Julia turned to Adam.
“I don’t care, Adam. She killed our son. Abel was your flesh and blood unlike Mary and Jimmy.”
“Julia, I adopted them and they are as good as flesh and blood. I don’t know why you’ve kept me from them. You practically shoved Jimmy out of the house and Mary hasn’t come by or even talked to me since she’s been home,” Adam said in a tight voice.
“Joe and Sarah wanted Jimmy to live with them to take care of AJ.”
“We didn’t talk about it though. You told them he could before I could have a say. We’re going to Martha’s
mercantile so I can see and talk to Mary.”
Adam snapped the reins. He heard a rattle and a snake struck, missing the horses but spooking them. They ran off the road. Julia screamed as the buggy hit a hole and turned over, throwing both passengers to the ground.
Chapter 5
Ben ran in the store looking around for Mary then saw her cleaning up the buttons.
“Mary, come quick.” he said out of breath.
“What is it, Grandpa?”
“Your father is at the doctor. Come on.”
Ben went behind the counter and grabbed Mary’s arm.
“I’ll be back, Martha!” Mary called out.
She tried to keep up as Ben pulled her running to Doctor Martin’s office. They got to Doctor Martin’s and saw the rest of the family pacing.
“What’s going on?” Mary asked.
“Your father and Julia have been in an accident,” Joe said.
“What? Is Pa all right?”
Joe shrugged his shoulders.
“Paul hasn’t come out to say anything,” Hoss said.
“What happened?” Mary asked.
“Larry McMurty found them when he was coming to town. We’re not sure what happened.” Joe said.
Jimmy was sitting on the floor next to AJ who was asleep. She looked over at him as he jumped up and ran to her. Hugging her tight as he finally released the tears he’d held in. She led him back to where he had been sitting and sat with him. He still held onto her as they waited to hear from Paul.
An hour later, Paul came out and saw everyone asleep. He smiled to himself as he walked over to Ben and gently shook him. Ben jerked awake and looked at Paul.
“Paul, how are they?” Ben asked.
“Let’s wake everyone up so we can tell them,” Paul replied.
“Hoss, Joseph, everyone wake up,” Ben said.
Everyone woke up and looked at their patriarch.
“Paul has news,” Ben announced.
“I couldn’t save Julia. I found puncture wounds in her arm. She was bitten by a poisonous snake. The venom and her injuries caused too much damage. Adam is alive. He has a broken collarbone and a sprained wrist. He’s still unconscious but you’re welcome to see him,” Paul said.
Everyone started to go in but Mary. Hoss looked back and saw Mary unsure of what to do. He turned back to her.
“Mary?”
She looked at him.
“Are you, all right?”
“No, I’m not. What should I say to him?” Mary said in a shaky voice.
“Just say hello,” Hoss whispered and hugged her.
After they pulled away, he took her hand and they went to join the family.
A few minutes later, Adam woke up and everyone was happy to see him awake.
“Julia, how’s she?” Adam asked.
Everyone became quiet.
“She died, Adam. Paul said he did all he could but she had too much damage, and apparently was bitten by a
snake. I’m sorry, son,” Ben replied.
Adam was quiet but showed no emotions. Everyone wasn’t sure what to say or even how to react.
“I’m sorry about Julia,” Sarah finally said.
“Thank you,” Adam replied.
Others murmured their condolences. Mary hung back and Hoss noticed.
“How about we leave Mary and Adam to talk,” Hoss suggested.
Everyone nodded and filed out. Hoss touched Mary’s shoulder and gently squeezed it. She looked up and smiled and he smiled back.
After they left, Mary stayed where she was unsure of what to do. She looked at her father. He was bandaged around his collarbone and around his wrist.
“Mary,” Adam whispered and held out his good arm to her.
Tears filled her eyes and slid down her face as she heard her father say her name. She ran to him and knelt by his bed holding his good hand.
“Pa, oh Pa!” She sobbed.
He let go of her hand and gently wiped the tears away.
“Honey, I’m sorry how I’ve treated you,” He whispered the apology.
“It doesn’t matter. Not right now.”
“Yes, it does. I treated both you and Jimmy terribly. I ignored you both. Julia kept telling me that you and Jimmy
were old enough to take care of yourselves and they didn’t need me anymore but Abel did. I was wrong in listening to her. We spoke about you and Jimmy when we were coming to town. She was angry that we were going to see you while we were shopping at the mercantile. I’m also sorry that I didn’t stand up for you when Abel died. I was too distraught. Will you ever forgive me?”
“Of course, I forgive you, Pa. I’m sorry how I’ve been towards you. I should have spoken to you more than walking away,” Mary apologized.
Adam smiled and took her hand and squeezed it.
Chapter 6
Mary talked to Martha about not working for a while so she could take care of her father. Martha agreed to let her go. Jimmy moved back and helped take care of Adam as well. The funeral for Julia was a few days later. Mary and Hoss did not attend. Jenny told Hoss to be with Mary while she went and represented them. Mary and Hoss stayed at the Ponderosa and sat on the porch talking.
“Uncle Hoss, am I terrible for not going to the funeral?” Mary asked.
“Of course, you’re not. Everyone understands after what you and Adam told us about her,” Hoss replied looking at
her.
When they got Adam home after the accident, Mary and Adam had told their stories to the family about Julia. Adam also told them about the accident.
“Uncle Hoss, thanks for letting me talk to you since I’ve been home. And thanks for dragging me out to talk even when I haven’t wanted to,” Mary said chuckling.
Hoss laughed.
“You’re welcome. You know I’m always here for you.”
They heard a horse and saw the buggy coming up.
“Looks like they’re home,” Hoss said as stood.
Later that evening, after the three got home, Mary and Adam sat on the porch. Jimmy had decided to go up to bed.
“How’s school?” Adam asked.
“It’s really good. I’m enjoying my classes,” Mary replied.
“What classes have you been taking?”
Mary looked at him in surprise.
“I wrote you all about them. Especially Astronomy.”
“I haven’t received any letters.”
Mary felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach.
“Julia must have taken them,” She said bitterly.
“I think so. I only heard a little bit from everyone else. I felt like you ignored me when I’d hear the family
talking about the letters they’d received. Now I know why. I even sent you letters and Julia said she’d send them. I guess you never received them?”
“No, I didn’t.”
Adam sighed.
“Pa?”
“Yes?”
“Am…am I bad for not liking Julia?”
Mary didn’t dare look at Adam. He looked at her. He put his finger under her chin and turned her to look at him.
“No, you’re not. From what you’ve told me and from thinking back of what she did, you are not bad. I can understand why you don’t like her.”
Tears glistened in Mary’s eyes.
“Did you love Julia as much as you loved Ma?”
“No, not at all. I could never love anyone as much as I love your mother. I thought you and Jimmy needed a mother but I see I was wrong. You both have taken care of each other and even Jimmy has taken care of AJ. You don’t need a mother.”
“No, but we need a father. Oh, how we need a father,” Mary said as tears slid down her cheeks.
Adam took her hand and squeezed it.
“I will make it up to you both. I’m so sorry I changed but I will do better,” he promised.
“I know,” Mary smiled.
All too soon it was time for Mary to go back to school. The Cartwright clan gathered around her with smiles and tears.
“Mary, we’ll sure miss you,” Hoss said, hugging her tight.
“I’ll miss you too. Thank you again for letting me talk to you,” Mary said after he released her.
“That’s what uncles are for.”
Everyone hugged Mary and wished her good luck. Adam was no longer wearing a cast and was doing better. He was the last to hug his daughter.
“Good luck, Mary. Write to me a lot.”
“I will, Pa. You write too.”
He grabbed her and hugged her tight and Mary started to cry into his shoulder.
“I’m gonna miss you, Pa,” she said in a muffled voice.
“I’ll miss you too, sweetheart. I love you,” he whispered in her ear.
“I love you, too.”
He released her and helped her on the stage coach. The stage then left and everyone waved to Mary and she back at them.
“Welcome back, older brother,” Hoss said, putting his arm around Adam’s shoulder.
Adam looked at him and smiled.
“Thanks.”
They all got into their buggies and headed for the Ponderosa to work.
Note from the Brandsters. This story was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders website. Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.
