Summary: Adam Cartwright faces danger on the Mississippi River.

Rating: PG

Word Count: 2,229

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Adam Cartwright, the oldest of Ben Cartwright’s three sons, waltzed onto the main deck of the River Rose as it floated slowly down the Mississippi River. It was a beautiful autumn evening, and the band played a jaunty tune for its patrons. Placing his hands on the smooth wood, Adam leaned on the side railing and breathed in the cool night air.

Suddenly his arm was jostled by an older well-dressed man trying unsuccessfully to steady himself.

“Lord, love a duck!” the man exclaimed in a gin-soaked southern accent. “Aah’m so sorry, stranger,” he said to Adam, nearly falling as he stumbled away.

“Not at all,” Adam replied helping the man regain his footing. After making sure the gentleman had a firm grasp of the railing, Adam took a minute to assess the stranger. The man was wearing a very expensive suit and hat and had a gold pocket watch attached to his waistcoat.

“Name’s Silas Greevestone,” the man slurred as he introduced himself, his breath smelling of spirits.

“Adam Cartwright. Is there someone here with you that can help you to your cabin?”

“Mah daughter is he-yah somewhere abouts. Her name’s Clara,” he said pronouncing the name in his southern drawl “Clayre-uh”.

Just then a beautiful blonde woman in a frilly lavender dress ran up to Adam and Mr. Greevestone. She was the picture of a true Southern belle.

“Pa! Are ya a’right?” she exclaimed in a smooth accent like her father.

“Aah’m alright, mah dear,” Silas answered. “Clara, this he-yah’s Adam Cartwright.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Adam responded tipping his hat to the lady.

“Likewise, Aah’m sure,” Clara returned politely. Turning to her father, she said in a lowered tone, “Now, Pa, ya know it’s dangerous bein’ out ‘n about when you’re this tipsy. No doubt they-yur’s bad men ohn this he-yah riv-ah,” she said as she cast a worried glance in Adam’s direction.

The oldest Cartwright smiled warmly, pretending he hadn’t heard her remarks.

“Oh, nonsense. Aah’m fine,” Silas insisted loudly.

“Ya need to go to bay-ehd, Pa,” Clara emphasized.

“Let me help you get him to his cabin,” Adam offered holding out a helping hand to the gentleman.

“Thank ya kindly,” Clara replied gratefully after a slight hesitation. Together Adam and Clara guided Silas Greevestone to his cabin where he flopped down on the bed and began snoring almost immediately.

“Thanks ever so much, Mister Cartwright,” Clara said as soon as the cabin door was shut. “I must apologize fo-wah mah father. He’s not normally quite that inebriated.”

“That’s no problem,” Adam returned with an understanding smile.

“Sometimes mah father is unaware of his surroundings when he’s drunk.”

“Liquid courage can do that to a man.”

“Yes, he’s braver than a dawg that ain’t met a porcupine yet.”

Adam laughed.

“Ya got family, Adam?”

“I have a father and two younger brothers.”

“They he-yah with ya?”

“No, they’re at home. I have some business in New Orleans and thought I’d take a boat trip down river for a few days.”

“Where’s home then?”

“Nevada.”

“That’s a powerful long ways from he-yah.”

“Yes, it is. Where’s home for you?”

“St. Louis. We’re just goin’ down to New Orleans to catch a boat fo-wah Europe.”

“Just the two of you?”

“Fo-wah sho-wah. Mah ma died several years ago, ‘n mah father wanted to do some travelin’. So, I decided to go ‘long with him to keep him out of trouble,” she replied with a wry smile.

“Sounds like quite a chore,” he smirked.

“Oh, I don’t mind it. I love mah father dearly.”

“I can tell,” Adam smiled. “It’s getting late. Would you like me to escort you back to your cabin?”

Clara looked at him closely for a moment before answering, “Thank ya, Aah’d appreciate it.” Her room was right around the corner and after saying their goodnights Adam returned to the railing where he’d met the two Greevestones.

As he stood there, he noticed three men talking amongst themselves and making small gestures toward the cabins. One of them had red hair as wild as a mustang while the other two had curly brown hair that they’d tried to slick back. But all of them gave Adam the distinct feeling that they were predators eyeing their chosen prey… rich folks. No doubt they’d already witnessed Silas’ drunken display and marked him as their “next meal”. If Adam could tell just by looking at him that Silas was a wealthy man, what else could these three scoundrels deduce?

*****

The next day Adam saw Clara and her father in the dining room of the riverboat. Silas was at least sober now and was enjoying a lively conversation with his daughter… and the red headed man that Adam had seen the night before. Instantly Silas saw Adam and beckoned him over.

“Adam! How nice to see ya ah-gain!” Mr. Greevestone exclaimed. “You’re welcome to join we’uns fo-wah breakfast if you’d lak.” The red headed man looked askance at Adam as if he were as welcome as a rattle snake at a square dance.

“I’d be happy to,” Adam replied smoothly as he sat down between Silas and the red headed man.

“Adam Cartwright, this he-yah is Mr. Simon Caldwell,” Silas said introducing the two men.

“My friends call me “Slick”, Mr. Greevestone, and you are one of my friends,” Simon Cadwell corrected with a laugh turning his attention back to Clara. Clara blushed slightly as she looked to her father.

“Slick, it is then,” Silas agreed good naturedly.

“Appropriate nickname,” Adam thought. “He’s already got them in his pocket.”

The four of them ate breakfast conversing on many topics, but the rest of the morning passed without incident, although Adam did keep a sharp eye on Mr. Simon “Slick” Caldwell until he left the dining room. His two confederates, though, didn’t show their faces until mid-afternoon.

*****

Later that day, Adam sat on the deck of the River Rose reading a book he’d brought to keep himself company. His chair was in a secluded area on the port side of the boat where it was shady and quiet and peaceful.

“They’re ripe for the pickin’,” a voice spoke in a gruff whisper. Adam’s attention was immediately alert.

“Did you get a load of how Slick handled them?” another voice snickered shrilly.

“He certainly lived up to his name.”

“He was so slick he could hardly keep his clothes on!”

“Indeed! Well, tonight’s the night. The ship’s gonna put in at Memphis for the night where Tom’ll be waiting with the horses.”

“Sounds good,” the voice concluded and almost immediately after that Adam saw the two brunette men from the night before walk down the stairs from the upper deck and enter the saloon.

“And I’ll be waiting for you,” Adam smirked as he turned his attention back to his book for a little while longer.

*****

It took some doing to convince Silas and Clara of the impending danger from Slick Caldwell and his friends. But in the end, they believed Adam and agreed to his plan.

“I can’t believe I fell fo-wah that man’s kindness after admonishin’ father about the dangers of travelin’ own the riv-ah,” Clara regretted.

“Sometimes it’s hard to recognize danger even when you’re expecting it,” Adam assured her.

“Well, we certainly ‘preciate this, Adam. Who knows what might have happened without ya,” Silas added.

“As long as everything goes according to plan, we’ll give those men a taste of their own medicine,” Adam grinned.

*****

Evening came and faded into night, and the plan was set in motion.

Silas and Clara Greevestone entered the lounge and sat down at an empty table. A waiter promptly came over to the two of them.

“Anything I can get for you?” he asked pleasantly.

“Well…” Silas mused, furrowing his brow.

“Oh father, I forgot mah book en mah cabin. I’ll be right back,” Clara suddenly said.

“I’ll wait fo-wah ya,” he responded as she left the room.

“Shall I wait for her to return?” the waiter inquired.

“Quick! I’ll have a Whiskey Soda,” Silas immediately requested. “Wait – make that two. But once she gets back, just bring me coffee.”

“I understand, sir,” the waiter replied with a wink and immediately brought Silas’ drinks.

He’d downed the first glass quick enough but the second was interrupted by the presence of Slick Caldwell.

“Well, howdy, Mr. Greevestone!” he said thumping him on the back good naturedly.

“Howdy, to ya too, Slick,” Silas answered in kind.

“Whatcha got there?”

“Just a drink.”

“Well, let me buy you another.”

“No, thank ya. This is all I can really have without Clara findin’ out.”

“Just one more. And I’ll even join you.”

“Well, that’s mighty kind of ya,” Silas agreed as he drank his second whiskey before the waiter brought over two more drinks. Slick took one and clinked it against Silas’. They both drank and set the cups back on the tray.

“Another?” Slick asked.

“No, thank ya. I should go find Clara. I reckon she’s bin’ gone too long,” Silas said as he excused himself from the table.

“I’ll go with you. Just in case something’s happened to her.”

“Ya don’t have to do that.”

“The safety of a dear lady is at stake. I insist.”

“Alright. Suit yourself.”

Together they left the lounge in search of Clara. Silas leaned on Slick’s arm for support as his feet were unsteady.

“You ok there?”

“Fine. Just a bit taard I reckon.”

“We’ll find your daughter and get you into bed then,” Slick said with a dangerous glint in his eye. They turned down a brightly lit hallway and Silas looked around confused.

“Where are we goin’?” he asked.

“To see your daughter,” Slick answered darkly just as they stopped at a cabin door. He opened it and shoved Silas inside the dark room.

“Slick? What’s goin’ own? Where’s mah daughter?” Silas yelled in feigned alarm.

“Oh, she’ll be along soon. But in the meantime, I want the money, old man, before my friends get here. Come on now…where is it?!”

“Mon-ey? What mon-ey?”

“Oh, come on, I know you’re loaded with it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about, Sir!” Silas insisted straightening up.

“Well, maybe I’ll just make you remember,” Slick threatened as he stepped over the threshold. He barely got two steps inside when a fist came flying out of the darkness and connected with his jaw, knocking him out cold.

“Excellent hit, Adam!” Silas praised as a match lit up the darkness to reveal the young Cartwright’s face. Adam shut the cabin door and grabbed some rope off the floor.

“One down, two to go,” he said as the match extinguished itself. “Can you tie him up in the dark? The others should be coming with Clara soon.” And as if on cue, Clara did quickly appear on the other side of the louvered door. With the kerosene lamp behind her, Adam could see that her hands were tied behind her back, and she was being escorted by Slick’s two pals.

“Boss? We got her,” one of them whispered loudly.

“Come on in,” Adam replied trying to sound as much like Slick as possible. The two men didn’t even hesitate as they opened the door and pushed Clara inside. Adam took the opportunity to jump out at the unsuspecting men. One of them went down fairly easily and Clara and her father tied him up as well. With a final blow, Adam sent the last man flying over the railing and into the dark, murky Mississippi river below with a very loud splash.

“Man overboard!” a sailor cried out.”

“When you haul him aboard, detain him!” Adam called to the crew as they prepared to bring the criminal back on deck.

“Oh, Adam! Ya were incredibly brave ‘n clever!” Clara gushed.

“They didn’t hurt you, did they?” Adam asked concerned.

“No, I’m fine.”

“That’s good. We’ll hand them over to the police in Memphis, and then we can be on our way.”

“I hope the boat trip to Europe won’t be as eventful as this li’l journey was,” Silas joked.

“Let’s hope so,” Adam agreed.

“Any chance we’ll see ya en Europe?” Clara inquired looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

Adam thought about it for a minute. It’d be nice to travel through Europe… to see the old country and the ancient architecture that he’d studied in college. But he knew that he needed to get back home. His family would be waiting for him.

“Maybe one day I’ll make the trip, but for now my place is on the Ponderosa.”

“Sounds excellent, mah boy! Your father should be proud of ya,” Silas said patting his shoulder just as the River Rose’s bell rang out for the approaching port of Memphis.

***The End***

 

Written for the 2025 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament. This year we played 7-card stud where we were dealt seven cards and had to use a least five cards, each of which was assigned a word or phrase. The words/phrases I kept were:

He’s braver than a dog that ain’t met a porcupine yet.

He was so slick he could hardly keep his clothes on.

As welcome as a rattlesnake at a square dance.

As wild as a mustang.

Lord, love a duck!