Summary:  When you least expect it, the past is right in front of you.
Rating:  T  (2,035 words)

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Confronting the Past

 

Adam was intent on convincing himself that the man he called a friend was no good, and that it was best that he was now out of his life. But still, there was this nagging feeling in the back of his mind that told him he would miss Tom Wilson. But Tom was no good. He had taken advantage of Adam’s friendship to have a good time. No, Adam thought, it’s better this way. Adam wasn’t like that, and he couldn’t fool himself. Why try? He would just have to accept it and move on. He took a deep breath and looked out into the water that Tom had saved him from. Thinking about the rescue, Adam tried to get back to his normal feelings.
One year later…

Adam and Joe had been sent to retrieve a bull down in Mexico. As they crossed the border, Joe went back to visit friends in Texas very nearby. So, he and Adam went their separate ways.

This ride was nice enough, until Adam came to the small Mexican town at the border of Texas. He was tired and hot, and was very dusty. His black clothes were no longer as black as they were. They now had shades of gray. And he was not looking forward to making the same trip back home with an ornery bull and an ornery brother. But for now, all he wanted was a beer and a bath, in that order. He stabled his horse after getting a hotel room then headed straight for the saloon. He had to send a wire to his family to let them know where he was first. Finally tired of walking everywhere, he got himself a cold beer and sat at the bar. The bartender looked at him curiously.

“You from around here, sonny?” He asked. Adam swallowed and shook his head.

“No, I’m from Nevada.” He replied, more than happy to talk to a friendly soul. The bartender nodded. In the corner of his eye, Adam could see that two men had caught on to the conversation. They edged their way to him.

“Nevada? What are you doing here?” One of them asked, as the two of them crowded around Adam to where the shoulders touched. Annoyed, and knowing that they were trying to push his limits, Adam stepped back. They turned around to face him and leaned on their elbows at the bar. Adam set his beer on a table and turned his back on the two hellions to leave, but one of them grabbed his shoulder and spun him around and landed a punch to his chin. He went sprawling on the floor.

“Me and my buddy don’t like it when people like you treat us like that.” The bigger one said, hauling Adam to his feet. But before another punch could rack his senses again, Adam’s fist went flying, then the fight broke out. Unbeknownst to him, Adam had a supporter on the other side of the saloon who had been watching him since he entered. Now he got up to help.

Adam didn’t look at the tall man helping him throw the two trouble makers out of the saloon. While stooping down to pick up his hat, Adam said, “Thanks mister. I owe you.” But he shot straight up when he heard the reply of, “The least I could do, friend.”

He was stunned as he looked in the smiling face of Tom Wilson.

***

“So, to this day, Tom Wilson lives on.” Tom said, leaning his back in his chair, after telling his old friend what had happened to him the past year. Adam looked around the Tom’s small adobe home. It was well kept, and homey. Tom had pulled a new life together in this country, and Adam couldn’t help but be happy for him…in some degree. He had been staying here with Tom for the past few days, getting over the shock of seeing Tom again. He reflected on what Tom had just explained.

He had indeed been shot, but only in the shoulder. After Adam rode off, expecting that his body be fished out, the posse found no reason to do his bidding and they headed to town to fill the report and pronounce Tom dead. Therefore, he was a free man in Mexico. But Adam had a strange feeling. He couldn’t put his finger on it.

Then he realized it. Tom was a murderer. One that got away with it. That was unsettling for Adam. But what could he do? Adam knew himself too well to just let this drop. But for now, he’d just have to play it by ear.

“Tom, how did you survive?” Adam asked, almost not believing anything he heard.

“Well, I was floating along, and this farmer pulled me out of the water and he and his daughter nursed me back to health. Then they snuck me over here. They won’t say anything about it.”

Adam frowned at the sound of that last statement, but soon forgot about it as dinner was served by Tom’s young Mexican maid, Rosita. She looked to be about eighteen. She was small, but had a soft beauty. She was gentle and sweet, and could speak English well. Adam thanked her as she put his food in front of him, and she smiled at him but walked to Tom as if she were afraid. She put Tom’s plate in front of him and retreated back to the kitchen. Tom grinned as she hurried off.

“That Rosita is a shy one. If she weren’t so pretty, I’d have gotten rid of her long ago.”

Adam looked at him with disgust as he took a sip of water. He swallowed and asked, “How did you happen to come by her?”

Tom waved his hand in the direction of the kitchen. “She was walking door to door looking for work. I took her in and she’d been working for me for a few months…She won’t leave now.”

Adam suddenly understood what Tom meant. He had done something to her and she was too ashamed to do anything about it. Adam looked suspiciously at Tom.

“So, Adam, how long will you be here?” Tom asked, suddenly serious. Adam was surprised.

“As soon as I get the bull I’ll be going home.”

Tom toyed with his glass, deep in thought. “You gonna tell about me, Adam?”

Adam hesitated. He knew what Tom was getting at. Seeing this pause, and figuring that Adam was thinking hard, Tom shook his head. “You are gonna tell. I can see it in you and I know it’s in your blood. You’re a good man, Adam. You abide the law at any cost. Remember? I almost killed you the first time.”

Adam shifted uneasily in his chair. He would feel a mite better if he hadn’t put his gun at the door. Tom was still wearing his. Tom didn’t want to hurt Adam. Adam was a good man and he was a good friend. But, he was dangerous. Tom didn’t want to go back. He’d be hanged. He had to kill Adam. With sorrow.

“We’ll talk more about this later, Adam. You can sleep over there on that cot,” Tom pointed to the cot in a dark corner of the room. Adam couldn’t even see it.

“There’s a cot over there?” Adam asked, rising to his feet to inspect it. He was glad to get off the subject for now. When all was asleep in that house, Adam would take poor Rosita and leave. But as soon as Adam found the hidden cot, his thoughts were shattered by the butt of Tom’s gun hitting him in the back of the head with terrible force. Dazed, Adam collapsed on the cot, moaning.

“With sorrow Adam, with sorrow.” He heard Tom say. Adam was slipping fast.

“But dead,” Adam mumbled. Tom sat by him on the cot.

“I hate to do this to you, Adam. I hate to make you suffer like this. But the sound of gunfire would draw too much attention.” Adam was too weak to care.

“Well….I don’t…have far…to go, Tom,” Adam said, gasping for air.

“I’m sorry, Adam, but I have my own well being to look after.” Tom put a pillow under Adam’s head. He refused to be another one of Tom’s victims.

“Adam please! Just close your eyes for a few seconds, then the pain will go away!” Tom was getting nervous. He knew Adam was stubborn, but this was ridiculous!

His spun around to the door as it was kicked in, and a young man wearing a green jacket and black gloves barged in. It was no other but Joe Cartwright! It was the perfect time for Tom’s gun to jam, so as Joe drew his gun, Tom lunged at him. The two rolled and fought on the ground until Tom had Joe pinned to the ground and had his hands clamped around Joe’s throat. Joe struggled but didn’t stand a chance against Tom. He never did, but his anger on how Tom was treating Adam gave him strength he never knew he had. Now even that wasn’t enough. The night was done when there was a gunshot. Tom stiffened, then fell limply of off Joe. Joe rolled over and gasped for air, looking for the source of his rescue. There was Adam, holding a smoking gun, and a little woman holding him up. Adam grinned at
Joe.

“Little brother, how did you get here?” Adam asked, getting to his feet with Rosita’s help. Adam clutched his head. Joe stumbled to his feet and let Adam lean on him.

“I was done over in Texas, so I came here looking for you. Someone in the saloon told me you here with Tom. I thought Tom was dead!” Joe exclaimed, but looking over at Tom’s body he added, “I guess he is now. Adam, I thought you were a goner.”

Adam shook his head, but was sorry he did. “It was a bluff. The worst he gave me is a slight concussion. Tom didn’t hit me to make it harmful, but it hurt just the same. I’m all right. I’ll explain about Tom on the way home. Joe, meet Rosita, Tom’s maid. Rosita, meet Joe.”

“Hello, Rosita.” Joe said, taking her hand and kissing it in his fashion. Rosita blushed and curtsied at him.

“Rosita, what will you do now?” Joe asked, feeling a little guilty that they killed him right in front of her. Rosita smiled. “I stay with my family. We will all be so happy to hear about Tom. He was an evil, selfish man.”

Joe nodded and the trio walked out the door to take care of the matters that needed tending to.

***

A few weeks later, two men rode into the yard of the great Ponderosa ranch house. Adam and Joe had finally made it home with the Stupid Bull, as the brothers called it, and they stuffed it into the corral. Joe dismounted and helped Adam down, ignoring his protests. They were finally home. Adam sighed as he realized he had a lot to explain when he saw the looks on Ben and Hoss’s faces as they met out in the yard.

“Adam Cartwright what the devil happened to you?!” Ben asked, seeing the state his son was in. Adam looked at Ben with irony all over his face. Joe had that expression, too.

“Well pa, I’d like to go in and take a hot bath then go to bed and explain everything to you in the morning. Maybe Joe will fill you in a little. Goodnight, all.” Adam said, hurrying to the house, smirking as Ben and Hoss crowded around Joe to hear what he had to say. Adam had the feeling of a great burden lifting off his shoulders as he knew that Tom was really dead. But he had to admit…he wasn’t about to forget about him. That was not possible.

The End

(Okay, I know it was very short, but I think I covered everything. Hope it was to your liking! -Katie)