Summary:  Knights in shining armor to the rescue or owners after a trespasser? The brothers have never met anyone like Martha and Paul Jackson’s niece
Rating:  T  29,950  words

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Though the Library already contains stories from this author, this story was forwarded by Corina to be included as part of this project.

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INCORRIGIBLE

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

Ben Cartwright looked at his good friends, Martha and Paul Jackson. It was obvious that the Jacksons were embarrassed that their niece, Dee, was late arriving at the Ponderosa for a planned lunch.

“Women are always late for everything,” Ben said with a smile. As an afterthought, he added, “And being late doesn’t always apply just to women. As you can see, all three of my sons haven’t arrived yet. They should have been here quite a while ago.”

Martha patted Ben’s shoulder. “I’m sure ‘the boys’ will be home soon. And we must remember that this lunch was rather spur-of-the moment.” Martha had always been quite practical and forgiving.

“I’m not even sure that Dee will be coming at all,” Paul added. “She…uh…often marches to the beat of a different drummer. The only thing that makes me think she might show up is the fact that we’ll be discussing horses and cattle. I don’t think that there’s a critter alive that she dislikes. She and Hoss will probably get along quite well – they share a love for animals.”

Martha’s eyes brightened. She had hopes that there would be a “love match” between her niece and one of the Cartwright “boys.” Along with her other attributes, she was an incurable romantic. And she also adored the whole Cartwright family.

As a matter of fact, Ben and his sons had helped the Jacksons build their home when she and Paul first moved to Virginia City. Adam and Hoss had been very young then, and Little Joe must’ve been four or five years old. But he was old enough to tote a hammer and some nails and a small water bucket. Adam and Hoss had worked almost as hard as grown men. Then Ben had sold Paul a small herd of cattle and a string of horses – it was because of the Cartwrights that the “Diamond J” ranch had gotten started. It was a small ranch, not nearly the size of the Ponderosa, but the Jacksons had made it into a profitable business and were thus fairly wealthy now in their own right. The only things that the Jacksons lacked were children, so Martha considered Adam, Hoss and Little Joe “her boys.”

Hop Sing entered the room. “Flied chicken get cold! You eat now!”

“Hop Sing, your cold fried chicken is just as good as your hot fried chicken. We’ll wait a little longer.”

Hop Sing muttered to himself as he disappeared into the kitchen.

Paul laughed out loud. “That Chinaman never changes, does he?”

Ben laughed also. “No, he doesn’t. And I wouldn’t want it any other way. Now, tell me about this niece of yours. I believe you said she was from Oklahoma Territory?”

“You’re right,” Martha began. “She was born and raised there. Actually, her brothers have their own ranch which is quite lucrative. Dee’s mother and father went back East, and Dee asked if she could ride along with them and stop off and visit us for a while.” There was a strange “catch” in Martha’s voice. “Apparently, ‘a while’ is an unknown amount of time. She’s been with us for a month now…”

Paul interrupted. “Not that we don’t love her, you understand. But, as I said, she’s ‘different’. There’s never a dull moment with her around.”

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

And just where were the Cartwright “boys”? During the time that Paul and Martha had arrived at the Ponderosa, the three brothers were hurrying home. But Hoss had found a baby bird which had fallen out of its nest and he had struggled to put it back. He wouldn’t leave until he saw the mama bird return to the nest to feed her young.

 

As they headed toward the Ponderosa, knowing full well that they were going to be a little late, they saw a woman on horseback, racing at break-neck speed at a distance not far away.

 

Joe stood up in his stirrups to get a better view. “Looks like she’s in trouble!”

 

As one, the brothers galloped in the direction of the runaway horse. Never let it be said that any Cartwright wouldn’t help a damsel in distress.

 

Adam took an indirect route and intercepted “the damsel,” pulling her off her horse, holding her with one strong arm, and slowing Sport to a stop. He expected to see a tearful female, grateful for his help. That was not what he got.

 

What he got was a wildcat of a female who fought him so hard that they both tumbled to the ground, she in a sprawl which showed her petticoats and legs. This was one furious female!

 

“What in the hell do you think you’re doing? Take your clammy hands away from me!” she hollered as Adam tried to give her a hand to help her to her feet. “I’m perfectly capable of standing up by myself!”

 

He never saw the punch coming. She had balled up her fist and hit him squarely on the cheekbone, a punch so hard that he reeled backward a few steps, his hand to his cheek. What kind of “damsel in distress” hits a man who probably saved her life?

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

Hoss was now on the scene and was followed by Joe, leading a beautiful Appaloosa stallion as he approached. The horse had no saddle or bridle.

 

“Are you insane?” the woman shouted at Adam. She looked at Hoss and Joe who sat in stunned silence. “How dare you molest me! If I could find my gun, I’d shoot you right here!”

 

“Gun?” Hoss echoed. “Ma’am, there’s no need for a gun. We saw you was in trouble…”

 

“You idiots! I wasn’t in trouble! Thor and I were just having a good run – he likes to stretch his legs every now and then!” The woman stamped her foot and, when she did, her small gun fell out of the pocket of her skirt. She grabbed it and waved it around.

 

While she was trying to decide which man to shoot, Adam grabbed her arm – and the gun. 

 

“Put that thing away before you hurt yourself.”

 

The woman snorted. “I learned how to use a gun when I was little. There’s nothing wrong with my aim. And that man there (pointing at Hoss) is too big for even a child to miss!”

 

Hoss spoke in quiet tones. “Ma’am, what we seen looked like a runaway horse. We thought you was in danger and needin’ help. We were mistaken but you ain’t gettin’ no apology from any of us for tryin’ to do the right thing.”

 

The woman scrutinized Hoss and decided that there might be some merit to what he said. Maybe these three men weren’t robbers or thieves or killers or God-knows-what. Besides, the man looked sincere.

She turned her attention to Joe who was still holding onto the rope around her horse’s neck. He apparently was the youngest of the three men.

 

“Thor doesn’t like ropes,” she said stiffly. “Please remove it.”

 

Joe looked benign enough and did as he was told. “Where’re his reins and saddle?”

 

“I seldom use a rein with a bit. He hates a bit in his mouth. Barbaric things, bits are.” In a swish of petticoats, she moved to stroke her beloved horse to reassure him.

 

“Uh, where’s his saddle at?” Hoss asked. It was an innocent question.

 

The woman snorted. “Under my petticoats.”

 

Silence. The brothers didn’t know what to say or think or do.

 

Rolling her eyes, the woman sighed. “Of course it’s not under my petticoats. Are you all mentally unstable?” She shook her head. “I hardly ever use a saddle. Don’t need one.”

 

More silence. 

 

Adam finally broke the stillness. “It’s not unusual any more to see a woman riding astride, but it is unusual to see a woman riding without a saddle. It’s just not done around here. It’s most unusual.”

 

The woman looked at Adam and felt immediately attracted to his good looks. Her track record with handsome men had made her shy away from them, so she took an immediate dislike to this man who had just spoken to her.

 

“I’m unusual to begin with,” she said, almost defiantly. “I’m not a mealy-mouthed, helpless twit like most other women.”

 

Rubbing his cheek, Adam dimpled at her. “So I see.”

 

“You remind me of somebody,” she said as she tried hard not to look at his dimples. Then she added, “Probably a picture of Lucifer that I saw in a book once.”

 

Whispering quietly to Joe, Hoss asked, “Who’s Lucifer?”

 

Joe whispered back, “The devil.”

 

“She saw a picture of Adam in a book?”

 

“No. She… Aw, I’ll explain later.”

 

With hands on her hips, the woman finally got around to an important question. “Just who are you three yahoos?”

 

Hoss answered. “I’m Hoss, this is my younger brother, Little Joe, and the man with the bruised cheek is our older brother, Adam. Cartwright. And you’re ridin’ on Ponderosa property. What I’m tryin’ to say is that you’re trespassin’.”

 

“What Hoss means is, if I give you back your gun and you decide to shoot one of us, you could be hanged as a trespasser and a murderer.” Adam, whose cheek was decidedly beginning to be a fine bruise, grinned.

 

“Ponderosa? Cartwright? You’re Ben Cartwright’s sons?” The woman, more interested in Adam’s bruise than in what he was actually saying, looked uncomfortable for the first time. When she spoke, all she could say was, “Uh-oh…”

 

CHAPTER FOUR

 

The woman, whom Adam correctly assessed as being close to his own age, leaned against the big Appaloosa. 

 

“I guess I’d better tell you who I am and why I’m here,” she said reluctantly. “I’m Dee Jackson, and I’m supposed to meet my aunt and uncle for lunch at the Cartwright home. Now I’m gonna be late, and I’ll never hear the end of it from my Aunt Martha.”

 

“We’re all gonna be late. And Pa’ll be madder than a hornet!” Hoss said as he and Joe mounted up.

 

Dee tried to avoid looking at Adam’s handsome face, dimples and hazel eyes. “Will you give me a leg up? We’d better hurry!”

 

Adam had had plenty of time to scrutinize Dee. She was almost as tall as he was, had hair that was neither brown nor blond but was somewhere in between, and it hung loosely in natural waves across her shoulders. Her eyes were a slate gray, and her lips were just full enough to intrigue him. Her blouse was just tight enough to give the impression of a fullness beneath, and her waist was so small that he could probably span it with his hands. He felt a crackle of chemistry run through his body.

 

“Are you deaf?” Dee asked impatiently, interrupting Adam’s thoughts.

 

“Nope. Just looking.”

 

“Well, stop ‘looking’ and give me a leg up. This damn skirt won’t allow me to get up on my own.”

 

With a low chuckle, Adam reached for Dee’s extended lower leg (and a shapely leg at that) and lifted the spunky female onto Thor’s back.

 

By the time the quartet reached the house, it was apparent that Dee was an expert horsewoman and needed neither saddle nor bridle nor reins nor bit. Thor responded to every touch of Dee’s knees at his sides and the touch of her hands on his neck – even at a full gallop. It was hard to impress Adam Cartwright, but he was most definitely impressed.

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

As the group arrived at the Ponderosa, the first person to emerge from the house was an irate Hop Sing who greeted them angrily with a mixture of Chinese and English. Dee could only recognize a few words – two of which were “flied chicken.”

 

She slid from Thor’s back, straightened her blouse and her skirt, and looked at Joe.

 

“Who is that maniac? Is this an insane asylum?”

 

Hoss, hurrying to tie up Chubb, responded. “No, ma’am, that’s our cook and he’s plenty mad that we’re late for lunch.” Hoss wasted no time in tying up his horse and heading for the front door, only a few steps in front of Joe.

 

The Jackson’s buggy was already tied up, and Dee gave a deep sigh. “Aunt Martha and Uncle Paul are here. I’m in deep trouble.” 

 

She tried not to look at handsome Adam who seemed less concerned about the lateness of the hour than his brothers were.

 

“When we explain why we’re late, they’ll understand.”

 

“Not Aunt Martha. Lateness for a meal is a sin. Uncle Paul will furrow his brow and rub his eyes when he finds out what happened. And that bruise on your face is downright ugly. I’ll really be in trouble when they learn the facts.”

 

Adam gave a low chuckle as he took her elbow to escort her into the house. She snatched her arm away. 

 

“You seem to have a ‘thing’ about touching me. Stop it!”

 

“That ‘thing’ is called ‘manners’, Dee. Get used to it.” Adam tightened his hold on her elbow as he guided her to the house.

 

CHAPTER SIX

 

Ben met them at the door with Martha and Paul right behind him. Introductions were made, and Dee gripped Ben’s hand firmly as she was welcomed into the house.

 

“Dee, you’re late,” sighed Martha. 

 

“I know,” Dee answered. “But it couldn’t be helped. My apologies to Mister Ben and to you and Uncle Paul.”

 

Ben spoke to Adam. “What kept you so long? And where did you get that bruise on your cheek? Have you been in a fight?”

 

“Hoss found a baby bird on the ground, so he had to put it back up in the tree and wait to see if the mama would return. She did.” Adam stopped. “The bruise? One might say I accidentally encountered an…’immovable object’.”

 

Dee smirked. Paul’s brow furrowed and he rubbed his eyes. He intuited that the bruise had something to do with Dee. Almost everything had something to do with Dee…

 

Hoss and Joe, having already greeted Martha and Paul, were standing at the dining room table. Hop Sing, in a snit, was bringing out the food. The delicious aroma filled the room.

 

“Eat now,” said Hop Sing. It was hard to tell if it was a question or a command. But nobody bothered to wonder which it was. They just all sat down.

 

Adam deliberately pulled out a chair for Dee. She glowered at him but allowed him to seat her and to push her chair under the table.

 

As soon as Ben had returned thanks, Dee’s hand shot out toward the chicken-laden plate. She scooped up several wings.

 

Joe looked at her curiously. “Dee, there’s more than enough chicken here to fill you up. Please take some larger pieces.”

 

Looking at Joe as though he had two heads, Dee responded. “Don’t you folks know anything? The wings don’t have a bunch of meat on ’em, but the taste is sweeter than that of the rest of the bird.”

 

“Dee, please try to be on good behavior today,” Martha begged.

 

“I’m always on good behavior,” Dee replied as she helped herself to creamy mashed potatoes and green beans.

 

Paul’s brow furrowed and he rubbed his eyes. Maybe having Dee come to lunch was a mistake…..

 

He, of course, was right.

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

 

Dee, for the most part, seemed quite ladylike. She was an excellent conversationalist and knew when to listen and when to talk. Adam wondered if she had actually been afraid when he ‘rescued’ her and if that had been the reason for her belligerence.

 

And then it started. Ben, having not been able to finish his conversation with Martha and Paul as to Dee’s life, began asking innocent questions.

 

“Dee, I understand that you went to finishing school back East. How did you like it?”

 

“I hated it! A whole bunch of women wadded up in one area learning the ‘finer niceties’ of life. Everything was geared toward landing a man and being a good wife, how to present afternoon teas, and just exactly the right things to say – even if you have to lie. It took me exactly one week to break every rule in that school.”

 

That was not the answer Ben had expected. “So you chose to attend another school?”

 

Martha interrupted. “She didn’t go to another school. She went to Europe instead.”

 

“What Aunt Martha is trying not to say is that I got kicked out of the first school and that no other school would accept me.”

 

Adam couldn’t resist. “And why was that?”

 

Dee brightened and smiled. “I’m incorrigible.”

 

CHAPTER EIGHT

 

Martha bent her head and sighed. Paul rubbed his eyes. Ben covered his mouth with his napkin to hide his smile. Joe giggled.

 

“What’s that mean?” Hoss asked. He’d never heard the word before.

 

“It means that I was willful. Unruly. Uncontrollable.” Sneaking a quick peak at Adam’s bruise, she added, “I guess I still am.”

 

Adam dimpled at her, and she felt goose bumps on her arms. She liked the feeling but was mad at herself because she actually liked it.

 

“I did go to Europe and discovered more than I could’ve learned from just reading about those places in a book. Though I did do a lot of reading on my own – books that I would’ve been made to read in a school atmosphere. And I met my husband in France.”

 

“You’re married?” Hoss was astonished.

 

Dee snorted. “Not any more.”

 

Martha fidgeted in her chair. “France is a very romantic place, you told me. And you wrote that Pierre was a wonderful man.”

 

Dee ate her last mouthful of chicken. “Oh, yeah, Pierre was a very nice man. Too bad he couldn’t seem to keep his pants on when he was around other women. I tried to have the marriage annulled on the basis of ‘loss of consortium’. When that didn’t work, I went to ‘Plan B’. I finally caught him ‘in the act’ and exacted my revenge.”

 

Adam, the instigator, gave his most innocent look. “What revenge did you get?”

 

“I threw a knickknack at him.” Dee smiled happily. “Pierre’s chances of ever becoming a father are slim and none. Forget the ‘loss of consortium’ annulment thing. He was delighted to give me a divorce.”

 

Paul, who had been holding his tongue, finally exploded. “Mercedes Jackson! That’s quite enough!”

 

Dee didn’t look the first bit contrite but apologized anyway. “Forgive me. If a thought comes into my head, it flies right out of my mouth. Anyway, it’s the truth.”

 

“Your given name is Mercedes?” Hoss asked. 

 

“Uh-huh. But I don’t like it. It sounds too high-highfalutin’.”

 

Joe looked at Ben. “What does ‘loss of con…’”

 

Ben tried not to laugh. He felt Dee’s comments, refreshing though they were, shouldn’t be discussed at the table. “I’ll explain it to you later, Joseph.”

 

Lunch was over, thank goodness. Hop Sing brought in the coffee urn and began clearing the plates. Dee looked at him.

 

“That’s the best fried chicken I’ve ever tasted. I don’t know what herbs you used to cook it, but they all blended together beautifully.”

 

The Chinaman grinned broadly. “You good judge of cooking skill. You come here, eat every day. Hop Sing make special food just for you. Nobody here appreciate Hop Sing’s efforts.”

 

Dee laughed. “I can’t come every day, but I’ll try to come as often as possible. Thank you for your most kind invitation.”

 

“Hop Sing, we all appreciate not only your cooking but everything else you do for us. If we seem ungrateful at times, forgive us. We should never take you for granted.” Ben’s tone was soft, his words came from the heart, and Hop Sing knew it.

 

The Chinaman blushed, poured coffee for everyone, then skittered away into the kitchen.

 

Ben rose and suggested that everyone move into the living room with their coffee. There was business that needed to be discussed.

 

CHAPTER NINE

 

The Spring round-up was held yearly and was designed for the surrounding ranchers to spot their own brands on their wandering cattle, cut them out of the herd, and then drive them back to their rightful property. Because Paul and Martha’s cattle were fairly close to the Ponderosa herd and always tended to stray onto Cartwright land, the bulk of the Jackson herd would require more effort. There would also be the hunt for wild mustangs to add to the strings of horses that each owner already had. It would be a very busy time of hard, hot work of branding new calves and horses and re-branding when necessary.

 

Adam leaned against the fireplace mantel, a toothpick clenched between his teeth, and continued to watch Dee. He finally surmised, correctly, that Dee’s smile didn’t have to manifest itself in upturned lips – her nose crinkled long before an actual smile touched her lips. And her slate-gray eyes twinkled with glee at the same time her nose crinkled. Her “innocent” look didn’t necessarily mean “innocence.” It meant only that something shocking might be spoken soon. Instead of being wary of her, Adam found that he was quite drawn to her. The toothpick switched from one side of his mouth to the other, a sure sign that he was deep in thought. 

 

The shadows were growing longer, signaling the approach of twilight. Martha, Paul and Dee were saying their good-byes. The group went outside and Paul reached over to boost Martha into the buggy when Hoss spoke.

 

“Thor ain’t here. I guess he runned away. Joe and me’ll go look for ‘im and bring ‘im back.”

 

“Thor never runs away,” Dee stated. “He just wanders off to explore.” 

 

With that being said, Dee pursed her lips and gave a low whistle. Within a minute, Thor appeared.

 

“Told ya!” Dee looked triumphant.

 

Adam stepped forward, anticipating that Dee would need a ‘leg up’ onto Thor’s back. Dee’s nose crinkled and her eyes twinkled.

 

“Haven’t you touched me enough today?” Dee’s tone was confrontational. 

 

“Just trying to be mannerly,” Adam responded coolly.

 

“Oh, hell,” said Dee. 

 

Paul’s brow furrowed and he rubbed his eyes. “Dee! Speaking of manners, be sure not to forget your own! And watch your mouth. Ladies don’t swear!”

 

Dee could have climbed on a rung of the fence corral and swung a leg over Thor’s back. That had been her plan. Instead, she turned her innocent face to Adam and spoke in a sugary-sweet tone. “Thank you, Adam. I would love for you to grab my leg and hoist me onto that big ole horse’s back. How could I ever do without your help?”

 

As Adam touched her extended calf, he whispered, “And it’s such a beautiful leg, too. I’m so glad that I can be helpful.”

 

Dee whispered back, “That’s an ugly bruise. You ought to hide out at home for a week until it disappears. Maybe you’ll even have to miss the round-up.”

 

“Don’t count on it, Miss Incorrigible.”

 

Dee snorted but her lips actually turned up into a smile. She didn’t want to be attracted to Adam but she was anyway.

 

“Thank you, Mister Ben, for such a lovely meal and for being such a good friend to my aunt and uncle. People like you are hard to find. You’ve been a great help to them over the years.”

 

Ben saw the sincerity in her face. “Martha and Paul are exceptional in their own right. Our two families are always going to be good friends. Please come visit whenever you can – you’re a friend now too.”

 

The Cartwrights waved as the Jacksons rode away. It was only then that Ben burst into laughter.

 

“That Dee! She’s more of a handful than Martha and Paul know what to do with. No wonder Martha looks a little frazzled!”

 

Hoss and Joe laughed, but Joe spoke. “Pa, would we have had a ‘session’ in the woodshed if we talked like that?”

 

Ben shook his head. “I don’t know. What category does Dee fall under?”

 

Adam said only one word, his smile showing no malice. “She said it. She’s incorrigible.”

 

Thinking back on the day, Adam realized that he had missed most of the discussion of the upcoming round-up while he was concentrating on Dee. He should have been paying attention….

 

CHAPTER TEN

 

That night at the Ponderosa, there was a question and answer session being held. The first thing Ben wanted to know was the origin of the bruise on Adam’s cheek.

 

“Dee hit me,” Adam answered as casually as he could.

 

Ben looked at his eldest son. “You mean she slapped you.”

 

“No, Pa. She balled up her fist and punched me just about as hard as any man can punch.”

 

Hoss added with a grin, “She did, Pa! I seen it! That gal just hauled off and smacked Adam a good ‘un!”

 

Joe snickered and nodded. Adam shot both his brothers a dirty look.

 

Ben was quite confused. “Adam, what did you do to her?”

 

“All I did was rescue her from what we thought was a runaway horse. She fought me so hard that we fell down and, when I offered her my hand to help her up, she punched me. What should I have done? Hit her back? I figured she was just scared of three strange men – you know, the ‘fight or flight’ thing when you’re scared…”

 

Ben rubbed his chin. “The horse wasn’t a runaway?”

 

“Aw, Pa. You saw that stallion. He looked gentle as a baby. But he shore can run!” Hoss thought for a moment and then added, “I ain’t sure that I ever seen an Appaloosa with markin’s like that. Almost solid gray from the head to the back with them huge black spots only on his rump.”

 

Joe put in his two cents’ worth. “And he had vertical stripes down his hooves, too.”

 

“Enough about the horse!” Ben boomed. “Didn’t you tell Dee who you were?”

 

“There wasn’t time. It all happened so fast. When we finally did get around to introductions, it was late in the way of things. When she found out that we were Cartwrights, headed home for lunch, the damage was already done. She introduced herself and then we headed home.” Adam rubbed his sore cheek.

 

Joe looked at his father. “She cusses, Pa! How many females do we know who do that?”

 

Ben smiled. “None. Ladies just don’t speak that way.”

 

“Dee seems to be the exception. As she says, she’s ‘incorrigible’.” Adam grinned.

 

“Uh, Pa? What does ‘loss of consortium’ mean?” Both Hoss and Joe edged closer to Ben when they saw that his dark cheeks flushed a wee bit.

 

Adam, who had bitten into an apple with a loud chomp, sat back and waited to see how Ben would answer this one.

 

Ben thought for a moment. “It means that Dee and Pierre didn’t have ‘relations’.”

 

Adam, loving the idea of being an instigator, feigned confusion. “Sure they did, Pa. Dee’s got relatives here and in Oklahoma.”

 

Hoss and Joe’s heads swiveled towards Adam and caught the twinkle in his eyes. They knew exactly what Ben had meant but decided to play along with Adam.

 

“Not ‘relatives’. ‘Marital relations’! What I mean,” Ben boomed, “is that they didn’t share a bed! It was a sexless marriage!”

 

All three brothers burst into laughter, and Ben knew he’d been ‘had’. 

 

“I should take all three of you into the woodshed for being deliberately obtuse! I’m going upstairs to bed now to get away from my ‘incorrigible’ sons!” Ben, who loved a good joke – even when it was on him – tried to look furious but failed. But he did go upstairs, the sounds of laughter ringing in his ears. His sons couldn’t see it but there was a smile on their father’s lips.

 

“I sure wouldn’t want to share a bed with that gal,” Joe opined.

 

“Me too neither,” added Hoss. “I wanna have children when I marry. That gal is dangerous with a knickknack!”

 

“Pierre got what he deserved,” surmised Adam. “She caught him cheating on her and got furious. And rightly so. She got her revenge.”

 

Joe looked at Adam’s bruised cheek. “Yeah. Furious like she was today. Good thing she didn’t have a knickknack to throw at you.”

 

Adam threw the apple core at his youngest brother while Hoss laughed out loud. Joe dodged and ran for the stairs, followed by a still-laughing Hoss. Adam sat and thought about Dee. He actually liked her spirit and her forthrightness. He wondered if she was covering up her real feelings by being so…so…incorrigible. He smiled and then went upstairs to bed. He dreamed of gray eyes and a crinkled nose.

 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

 

When Uncle Paul had that stern look on his face, Dee knew there would be trouble. She sighed quietly to herself as she sat down on the sofa.

 

“Explain yourself, Mercedes,” Paul scowled. “You embarrassed your Aunt Martha and me – first by being late and then by your conversation and bad language.”

 

“You were always such a sweet and loving child. Now I hardly know you. What happened?” Aunt Martha looked sad.

 

“I know I’ve stayed here much longer than I should have. I’ll pack my things and head back to Oklahoma. The last thing I want to do is cause you shame or embarrassment.”

 

Paul shook his head. “Honey, we don’t want you to leave. But we need to understand some things. You knew that we were supposed to have lunch at the Ponderosa, but you weren’t sure you would go with us. Then you arrived late enough for the chicken to be cold, and Hop Sing was angry. That bruise on Adam’s cheek from an “immovable object” was not expounded on, so I know you had something to do with that.”

 

Dee’s face was honestly sincere. “I just lost track of time about the lunch. I was grooming Thor. I guess I wanted to show him off a little to your wealthy friends. Then I knew I’d be late, so I climbed on Thor’s back and rode as fast as I could to the Ponderosa. By the way, your directions were excellent.” 

 

Dee tried to smile, but neither Aunt nor Uncle was moved.

 

“All of a sudden, three men began chasing me. I didn’t know who they were or what they meant to do. One caught up with me and pulled me off Thor’s back. I was truly afraid, so I slugged him. When we finally got around to introductions and I learned that they were Cartwrights, there was no way to undo the damage that I had done.”

 

Dee could see that Martha was beginning to thaw – and Paul had gone back to rubbing his eyes. He always did this when he didn’t know what else to do.

 

“Your conversation at the table was inappropriate,” Paul finally said.

 

Martha’s eyes got wide. “You were positively uncouth!”

 

Dee knew she was no longer in trouble. This part of the conversation she could handle.

 

“I don’t mean to be uncouth. But you have to remember that I was raised with two brothers who said what they meant. Out loud. And, Uncle Paul, you have to remember that your own brother swears like a sailor! My mannerisms and speech come naturally. I wasn’t trying to shock anybody – I was just telling the truth.”

 

Paul was caught. His brother (Dee’s father) had always spoken his mind, sometimes with words that should never, ever be used in mixed company. Dee’s mother was not above saying “damn” or “hell” when she thought it appropriate.

 

Martha spoke softly. “Please try to do better from now on. Especially with the Cartwrights. We owe them so much for all their help and for their friendship. Promise me that you won’t trip any more women in the General Store. Promise me that you won’t throw rocks at men on horseback in town. Promise me that you won’t throw peas at the children when we go to dinner at the Hotel. The folks in town, I think, are actually afraid of you.”

 

“Nah,” Dee responded. “The kids enjoyed the pea-fight. We had fun. But I promise not to trip anybody again or chunk rocks at horses.”

 

Dee was referring to the only three instances that her Aunt and Uncle were aware of: that Hagitha Benson was a snob, and so was her bratty daughter. Dee had been trying to trip Esmerelda, the little twit, but had missed and tripped Hagitha by mistake. As for chunking the rock at Oswald’s horse, well, he deserved it. He had called Paul “Pauline” one too many times. The fact that Oswald’s bucking horse might have caused some damage when it ran through the livery stable doors never entered Dee’s mind. Uncle Paul would’ve had a stroke if he knew that Dee had sneaked into the Bucket O’ Blood, dressed as a man, and had drunk a beer and then made a handful of money by winning at stud poker. There were other “infractions” that Martha and Paul couldn’t actually attribute directly to Dee, and Dee wasn’t about to tell on herself.

 

This conversation seemed to be at an end. Dee rose.

 

“I need to check on Flower and Squeak. I’ll rub the horses down, too. Then I’ll wash up and help cook dinner, if that’s okay.”

 

As far as Martha and Paul knew, “Flower” and “Squeak” were two cats that Dee had found. She was always finding stray animals and bringing them home.

 

“I promise to try to act more ladylike in the future,” Dee said over her shoulder as she headed toward the door. She hadn’t lied. She had promised to “try.”

 

CHAPTER TWELVE

 

It was two days before the round-up, and the streets of Virginia City were swarming with people. Both husbands and wives came in to get supplies for the next several days. Some men were at the blacksmith’s shop getting horses re-shod. Some single women, knowing that eligible rancher bachelors would be gone for the duration, came into town to buy material for the after-the-round-up festivities. Children were playing in the streets.

 

Paul, Martha and Dee had brought the buckboard into town and parked it in the long line of wagons right outside the General Store. The Cartwrights were heading for the store themselves and parked at the end of the line. Even from that distance, they could see people looking in the store windows and standing just outside the door, craning their necks to try to look inside. Some of the folks were laughing and some were just gawking. One thing was for sure, there was a lot of screaming coming from inside the store.

 

Sheriff Roy Coffee was hurrying toward the store when Ben stopped him.

 

“What’s going on in there?” 

 

Roy shook his head. “Heard there was some kind of fight going on. I gotta check it out.”

 

“We’ll go with you,” Ben responded.

 

All four Cartwrights plus Roy pushed their way through the crowd and entered Mr. Lester’s General Store. They were quite taken aback by what they saw. There was, indeed, a fight going on.

 

This is what they saw. Hagitha, wielding her ever-present umbrella (she didn’t want to freckle) and trying to bash Dee on the head. Esmerelda (who was fourteen years old) was sitting on the floor eating jelly beans from an overturned jar. Martha Jackson was standing in a corner with a horrified look on her face. Paul Jackson was laughing so hard that he finally collapsed into a chair. Only the top of Mr. Lester’s head could be seen over the top of the counter. And Dee, with a fur hat on her head, was lobbing jelly beans at Hagitha with a slingshot.

 

Hoss wrapped his big arms around Hagitha and held her still. Hagitha was quite large herself, and only Hoss could perform such a feat. Adam headed straight for Dee and wrapped his arms around her. She immediately brought her foot down on his instep – a painful thing, but Adam didn’t dare let go. Dee’s fur hat made him sneeze but he held Dee’s arms at her sides while Martha wailed in the background.

 

Turning her head around to face Adam, Dee muttered, “What is it with you? You got a fetish about touching me? Lemme go!”

 

Adam, despite the pain in his foot, looked at Dee through his hazel eyes. “Not a chance in hell. I plan to have children one day.”

 

Dee made an angry gurgling noise in her throat and once again faced Hagitha.

 

Roy looked around and saw jelly beans scattered across the floor. Nothing was broken or otherwise disturbed.

 

“What in Heaven’s name is going on here?” he demanded.

 

“I want you to arrest that woman,” Hagitha screeched. “She’s trying to kill me!”

 

Dee snorted. “You started it. I’m just defending myself.”

 

“All right! Everybody is going to my office right now and we’ll get this whole thing straightened out! Now, march!”

 

Hoss let go of Hagitha who brandished her umbrella until Hoss took it from her. Adam released Dee. They all marched to Roy’s jail. Esmerelda grabbed a last handful of jelly beans and ate them happily as she began the walk with her mother.

 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 

Roy’s office was full to the brim. Hagitha’s husband, Oswald, the president of one of the banks, had arrived on the scene, having left his desk when someone told him that his wife and daughter had been taken to jail. Martha was crying, and Paul was trying hard to not laugh. Hagitha snatched her umbrella from Hoss’s hands. Everyone was talking at once.

 

Roy banged on his desk. “Quiet! I will hear from one person at a time. And only one person! George Lester, you speak first and tell me what happened.”

 

“Well, Roy, I don’t rightly know. I had my back turned, fetching canned goods for Bob March. The commotion started about then.”

 

“Since you saw nothing, go back to the store and bring me back an estimate of whatever damages were done. Then I’ll come to the store and whatever bill is outstanding will be paid. By someone.”

 

George did as he was told, delighted to get out of Roy’s office.

 

Hagitha, pretending to weep against Oswald’s vest, held on to her umbrella. Esmerelda sat off to one side and finished eating the last jelly bean.

 

“That woman (pointing at Dee) tried to kill me. First she let a rabid rat try to bite me and then she tried to put out my eyes with rocks!” Hagitha sniffled and then blew her nose loudly on Oswald’s handkerchief.

 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

 

“A rabid rat?” Roy looked confused. He turned to Dee. “You brought a rabid rat into town?”

 

Dee was very calm but she was angry. “First of all, I did not bring a rabid rat into town.” The fur hat moved around on the top of her head, and she put whatever it was in her lap. “As anyone can see, this is a ferret. His name is Squeak.”

 

Martha interrupted. “I thought Squeak was a cat!”

 

Dee sighed. “You never asked me what kind of animal Squeak was so I never told you. He lives in the barn and so you never saw him.”

 

“Will you please get to the point?” Roy sounded exasperated.

 

Dee continued. “I didn’t know that Squeak was in the buckboard. He’s sneaky sometimes. And when Aunt Martha, Uncle Paul and I went into the store, I guess he got scared and came looking for me. Something startled him so badly that he jumped onto Miss Hagitha’s shoulder and then she started screaming. He ran to me immediately and found – for safety’s sake – the highest place on my body, which is my head. He tried to make himself small and hung onto my hair.”

 

Esmerelda piped up. “Ferrets have fleas.”

 

“You and your mother probably already have fleas.” Dee shot both mother and daughter a withering look. “Squeak is very clean, so you didn’t get any from him.” Dee’s nose crinkled and her eyes sparkled. Adam noticed this right away and tried to fight back a grin.

 

Hagitha wailed again. There seemed to be no way to shut her up, and Roy’s ears were beginning to ring. Ben and Joe went outside where they had a good laugh. Adam and Hoss would fill them in later on the rest of the details.

 

Since Dee seemed to be the only calm one in the group, Roy turned to her. “Continue.”

 

“Miss Hagitha came at me with her umbrella and tried to hit me, but I scooted out of the way. She kept chasing me around the store, trying to bash me. I was afraid she’d hit Squeak by mistake, so I kept moving. All this time, Esmerelda had her sticky fingers in the jelly bean jar, and it turned over, the contents of the jar spilling on the floor.”

 

Dee took a breath. “I picked up a slingshot on my way around the “toy table” and grabbed a jelly bean. I did not load the thing with rocks. I most certainly did not try to put out Miss Hagitha’s eyes. I could’ve if I’d wanted to. I’m as good with a slingshot as I am with a gun. I fired below Miss Hagitha’s neck. If you’ll look, you’ll see a few multi-colored stains on her blouse.”

 

It was true. Hagitha’s blouse had smatterings of red, black and green on it. “She was aiming at my eyes, and I want to press charges. I could’ve been killed or maimed!” Hagitha wailed again.

 

“Well,” said Dee, “you could’ve done me serious damage with that umbrella. And you might even have killed Squeak. I’d like to press charges for assault and battery with a deadly weapon.”

 

Hoss, who could contain his laughter no longer, stepped outside to join his father and younger brother. He laughed until tears ran down his cheeks. When Ben asked what was happening, Hoss brought him up to date between fits of guffaws. Adam was the only one left who could explain the rest of the story.

 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

 

Roy wanted to laugh. Really, he did. But he kept his composure.

 

“Is that ferret a pet?” he asked Dee.

 

“He kinda is. I can hold him and stroke him and he’s comfortable with me. But he’s a wild creature, too. I don’t feed him because I don’t want him to get used to people in case he decides to bite somebody. He forages for his own food.” Dee stroked Squeak’s long body gently, reassuring him.

 

Roy thought a moment. “But you brought him to town?”

 

“Not on purpose. He hid in the buckboard. Aunt Martha and Uncle Paul even didn’t know he was there. Like I told you, he apparently got scared and tried to find me for safety.”

 

Hagitha began wringing her hands. “She tried to kill me!”

 

“With jelly beans?” Roy’s lips curled into a smile. “I don’t think I can find a legal statute that says anybody has ever been killed by being hit with jelly beans.”

 

“Well, she could have blinded me,” Hagitha added.

 

“Sheriff Roy, if you’ll step outside, I’ll show you how good my aim is using a slingshot. If I had been aiming for eyeballs, Miss Hagitha surely would be blind now.”

 

Roy was filled with curiosity, so everybody stepped outside. 

 

“See that tin can in the street? Can you hit that with a rock?”

 

Dee snorted. “Any damn fool can hit that. Pick something more difficult.”

 

Roy looked around. Across the street was a small rock in the dirt. A very small rock. “Can you hit that?” He leaned down and picked up an even smaller rock, handing it to Dee.

 

Dee still had the slingshot in her hand – she had forgotten to leave it at the store. She loaded Roy’s rock into the slingshot, barely aimed, and let the rock fly.

 

Ping! The projectile hit its mark dead-on, knocking the stone target across the street up onto the boardwalk.

 

“I rest my case,” Dee said happily.

 

“Well, I’ll be,” muttered Hoss. “That gal knows what she’s doin’.” 

 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN 

 

All Roy could do was to nod and then usher the group back into his office. He turned to Hagitha.

 

“An umbrella, used correctly, could fall under “a dangerous weapon” category. If what Dee says is true, then she can file charges against Hagitha.” Roy didn’t know what else to say. “Is there anyone here who can verify that Hagitha started the trouble?”

 

Paul, whose veracity was never questioned, answered. “Hagitha started it. Dee tried to get away, but she finally had to defend herself.”

 

“You can’t believe Paul,” Oswald said sternly. “He’s the girl’s uncle.”

 

Just at that moment, George Lester appeared with a small slip of paper in his hands. And he swore that he saw Hagitha chasing a weaponless Dee around the store. He also saw Esmerelda eating as many jelly beans as possible.

 

“Dee, do you want to press charges?” Roy asked.

 

“Aw, forget it, Sheriff Roy. It’s not worth the trouble.”

 

Her face florid with anger still, Hagitha spat, “Don’t do me any favors.”

 

“Well, I guess you could spend several nights in jail, sleeping on a cot that probably has bedbugs.” Dee knew what the response would be.

 

Oswald made a tacit decision as he took the list of “damages” from George Lester. “We’ll pay for the damages, and I’ll see that Hagitha and Esmerelda go back home for the rest of the day.” He pulled more than enough money from his pocket to give to George.

 

“No charges. Restitution has been made. Case closed. Now get out of here, all of you!” Roy’s head ached and he wanted to rest. The group dissembled quickly, and Roy was left with blessed quiet.

 

Adam took the slingshot from Dee and handed it to George. “I believe this came from your store. We’ll see you in a while.”

 

George headed for his store. All four Cartwrights headed for the Bucket O’ Blood where Adam filled in the rest of the story. Surreptitiously, he removed his boot, rubbed his foot and then put his boot back on.

 

Ben looked at his eldest son. “Another run-in with that ‘immovable object’, son?”

 

Adam heaved a sigh, nodded slightly, and ordered a whiskey instead of beer. Supplies still had to be bought and, judging from the line of buckboards and wagons, it would be a while. Maybe the whiskey would kill his aching foot before it was time to load up.

 

Hagitha and Esmerelda went home where Esmerelda was violently ill from ingestion of too many jelly beans. Martha, Paul, Dee and Squeak climbed into the buckboard. There were still supplies to get.

 

Dee stroked Squeak. “I’m really sorry, Aunt Martha. I tried to be good. I really did.”

 

Paul’s brow furrowed and he rubbed his eyes. 

 

Martha spoke. “Mercedes, one more bit of trouble from you, you’ll have to go back to Oklahoma. I don’t think I can stand any more trouble.”

 

“If Squeak stays in the barn, can I still check on him and Flower?”

 

Paul spoke. “If Squeak ever comes into town again or if he sneaks into the house, I’ll personally take him far off into the woods and let him loose.” 

 

Nobody even thought to ask what kind of critter “Flower” was….

 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

 

That night, the Cartwrights all visited the ranch owners to ensure that all was in order for the next day’s round-up. Ben and Joe headed one way and Adam and Hoss headed in another direction. Adam definitely wanted to see Dee again. He didn’t quite know what to think of her, but she was definitely a challenge. Adam loved challenges. Hoss chose to go with Adam because he knew Martha would be making her usual plethora of different kinds of pies – nobody could make pies like Martha could!

 

Paul and Dee were sitting on the front porch, enjoying the cool night air. Some of the ranch hands were talking to Paul while Dee sat cross-legged on the floor of the porch, leaning against a post, wearing bib overalls. She listened intently as Adam spoke to the men about where to meet and the times to be ready. The ranch hands nodded and left, leaving Paul, Adam and Hoss to pull up chairs and to pour glasses of lemonade from the pitcher on the table.

 

Hoss’s blue eyes gleamed. “I smell pies!”

 

Paul’s smile was wide. “Martha’s got them all out of the oven and they’re cooling a bit. You will stay for dessert, won’t you?” He already knew the answer. 

 

Hoss grinned. “Ain’t nobody kin drag me away from Martha’s pies.”

 

All three men chuckled. Hoss’s penchant for pies was well-known.

 

There was a comfortable silence then. But only temporarily.

 

“Scat, you thieving cat! Shoo!” Martha’s voice was angry.

 

She appeared, somewhat disheveled from the heat of the kitchen and from wielding a broom at the cat. She sat down in the only other chair available, her hand firmly clenching a broom.

 

“Some cat, probably Dee’s, was eating one of my pies! I think I scared him away, but I had to bring everything in the house to keep the other pies safe.”

 

“Um, Aunt Martha? Did you put the pies on the ledges under the windows?” Dee had the strangest look on her face.

 

“No, dear. I guess I got over-zealous and made more pies than usual. You know how men are about eating my pies. I had to put some on the back porch. I guess the cat smelled them and decided to help himself.” Martha sighed.

 

“What did the cat look like?” Dee asked, the odd look still on her face.

 

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s dark out there. I didn’t have my lantern with me. I can poke each crust and tell if the pie is cool enough to eat without any lights. I think the cat was black.”

 

“Um hmm,” responded Dee.

 

Adam watched Dee. She was surreptitiously looking around for something. Then she gave a slight flinch. Very slight. Only Adam noticed.

 

Martha rose from her chair, went inside the house, and then returned with a tray with plates of apple pie. She was so proud as she announced that this one was cool enough to eat. Hoss always got the biggest slice – it was just tradition.

 

As Adam took a bite of the apple pie, he noticed that Dee flinched again. But she said nothing. Adam waited – something was amiss. He was right.

 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

 

Dee had a sinking feeling that she knew who the culprit was. But, when she felt a gentle bump on her arm, she knew her instincts had been right. 

 

She whispered, “Hello, Flower.”

 

A little black face poked between her arm and her waist and then disappeared. Then the whole body of the critter appeared.

 

Martha screeched, and the men instinctively drew their legs up on their chairs. Well, everybody except Hoss. He just looked.

 

Dee sighed and spoke louder. “Hello, Flower.”

 

“That’s ‘Flower’?” Paul was appalled. “I thought that he was supposed to be a cat!”

 

Dee squirmed. “She’s kind of a cat. Sort of…” Her voice trailed off. “You and Aunt Martha never asked me what she was.”

 

Martha jumped up and grabbed the broom, brandishing it like a weapon.

 

Flower was frightened and immediately took cover in the bib of Dee’s overalls.

 

“That’s a polecat,” Adam said, almost as if the devil himself had appeared.

 

“And you’re obnoxious,” Dee shot back at him. “She’s a skunk. And now she’s frightened.”

 

Flower seemed to be running laps under Dee’s bib overalls. Dee reached in and grabbed the first thing she could get her hands on. She made a face as she realized she had grabbed Flower’s tail.

 

“Oops, wrong end,” Dee muttered. “Flower, do hold still. Nobody here will hurt you. You can sit in my lap.”

 

Hoss’s face was the only one that showed no signs of shock.

 

“Aunt Martha, put the broom down and then sit in your chair. Everybody just be quiet for a minute.”

 

The silence was deafening. Slowly, Dee pulled out the black-bodied, white-striped creature. Dee stretched out her legs, spoke softly, and deposited the “offender” atop her legs. Flower’s bright eyes looked all around as Dee stroked her.

 

Silence reigned. There was a point where Dee was afraid that Aunt Martha had stopped breathing.

 

Adam was mesmerized. He was used to Hoss showing up with all kinds of animals, but Hoss had never brought in a skunk!

 

“Flower, did you eat one of those pies?” Dee turned the skunk around to look into her eyes. “Let me smell your breath.”

 

Flower gnashed her teeth and hissed.

 

Immediately, Dee held the critter by the nape of the neck with one hand. With the other, Dee used two fingers to point at her own eyes and then pointed them at Flower’s eyes. Something passed between woman and animal, and the hissing stopped. No words were spoken. Dee put her face up to Flower’s pointed snout. 

 

“Flower! You did eat a pie! I can smell it on your breath!”

 

If a skunk could look guilty, Flower certainly did.

 

“Aunt Martha, I’m sorry.” Dee’s face and voice were sincere as she put Flower back in her lap. “If the pie was on the back porch, she smelled it and could reach it. You usually put the pies to cool on the window ledge, out of harm’s way. I don’t think Squeak likes pies, so everything would’ve been safe.”

 

Dee looked around. “Oh, for God’s sake, put your feet back down on the porch. Flower isn’t an attack skunk, and she isn’t rabid. She just knows a good thing when she smells one. Like Squeak, I never feed her. She forages for herself. This time she foraged for something that smelled really good.”

 

Flower turned over in Dee’s lap, exposing her underbelly. 

 

“See? She’s sorry. She won’t do it again.”

 

No, nobody could see that she was sorry. A skunk is a skunk is a skunk.

 

CHAPTER NINETEEN

 

“Well, I’ll be,” Hoss said, breaking the ensuing silence. “She’s a cute thang, ain’t she? I like her name.”

 

Dee looked at Hoss gratefully as she rubbed Flower’s tummy. Flower made some kind of a noise in her throat – rather like a growl.

 

“That critter is gonna bite you!” Aunt Martha grabbed the broom and held it at the ready.

 

Uncle Paul rubbed his eyes. He actually was afraid to open them.

 

“Aunt Martha, she is not gonna bite me. She’s laughing. Can’t you tell? I found her ticklish spot and she’s having a wonderful time.”

 

“Skunks have a bad reputation,” Hoss said. “But they really don’t mean nobody no harm.”

 

Another grateful look from Dee. 

 

Adam, completely out of character, asked if he could hold Flower.

 

Dee snorted. “She’ll bite you! But Hoss can hold her. He knows what to do. Here, I’ll show you. Whoever she goes to is the one she knows she can trust.”

 

Flower was put on her little feet on the porch. She looked around with her bright eyes, sizing up the situation. She looked back at Dee.

 

“It’s all right. Go ahead.”

 

With a rolling waddle, Flower crossed the porch, hesitated for a moment, and went straight to Hoss.

 

Again, Hoss knew all there was to know about animals’ natures. He knew to not pick Flower up immediately. Instead, he put one big hand down and let Flower sniff to her heart’s content. When she was certain that Hoss was no threat, she promptly sat down on his boot and let herself be stroked. Her coat was silky and shiny. She looked at Hoss, and Hoss looked at her. Then he just scooped her up and put her in his lap. “Ain’t you a purty li’l thang,” he said. “Your name suits ya.” 

 

“This is crazy,” Paul said. “No skunk acts like that.”

 

Martha released her grip on the broom as Flower turned over in Hoss’s lap and allowed him to rub her belly. Hoss’s huge hand was gentle, and she growled happily. 

 

Adam made a face. “The inmates are running the asylum.”

 

Dee turned to Adam. “Do shut up! Not everything fits into the cubbyholes that you store in your mind!”

 

“Mercedes! That remark wasn’t necessary!” Paul’s voice was stern. “Now you apologize right this minute!”

 

Dee was silent, her jaw clenched tightly as she gazed into Adam’s handsome face and hazel eyes.

 

“Adam, I’m sorry…” Martha stammered.

 

Adam shook his head. “It’s time for us to leave. We all have several busy days, starting tomorrow.”

 

Hoss sighed as he put Flower on the porch. She waddled back to Dee.

 

Hoss kissed Martha on the cheek. “The pie was delicious.”

 

“It certainly was,” Adam added, trying hard to take his eyes away from Dee’s.

 

The two Cartwrights left, but Adam could feel Dee’s eyes on him. He looked back. He was right. Dee was still holding Flower but she was looking right at him.

 

Paul rubbed his eyes again. “Dee, do you have anything else hidden around here that Martha and I don’t know about? Animal? Vegetable? Mineral?”

 

Dee smiled. “There’s nothing else. Except Thor, of course.”

 

“The same fate that I promised about Squeak holds true for Flower. I’ll put them both in sacks and take them so far away from here that they’ll never find their way back. No more trouble, young lady.” Paul always meant what he said and said what he meant.

 

“I promise that both Squeak and Flower will not come in the house. But I can’t promise that they won’t be seen roaming around the ranch.” Dee said this as she put Flower on the top step and gave her a gentle push. Flower waddled away.

 

“Mercedes, Mercedes,” Martha sighed. “Whatever are we to do with you?”

 

CHAPTER TWENTY

 

The Cartwrights were the first ranchers to arrive at the appointed place to set up camps and chuckwagons. Hop Sing had already made the first pot of coffee, a welcome drink at this hour of the morning. Hoss and Joe had inspected the holding pens for the mustangs and joined Adam and Ben for a cup of coffee. This meadow was the perfect spot to use as a base camp because of its size, location, fresh water and lush grass. About fifteen ranchers met here every year at this time, some to keep, sell locally or sell to the Army the mustangs that were caught. The area was referred to as simply “The Rendezvous.”

 

Adam was just reaching for another cup of coffee when the distant sound of horses’ hooves could be heard.

 

“Hey, Pa! Are the horses so used to this place that they’re coming to us now?” 

 

Because the area was so grassy, there was no dust. But the mustangs were definitely headed in the right direction. When they got close enough, there was no mistaking Dee’s Appaloosa stallion driving the mustangs forward. And, yes, Dee was atop Thor.

 

“Open the pen!” she hollered as she pointed to the pen closest to her.

 

“That’s Dee!” Joe yelled as he ran for the gate to open the pen.

 

And, slick as a whistle, Dee drove the mustangs through the gate, shouting for Joe to close it up as the last mustang went in. By Hoss’s estimation, there were about twenty horses milling about in the enclosure.

 

Ben and Adam reached Dee quickly.

 

“Where are the others?” Ben asked, confused.

 

“What others?” Dee was more confused.

 

“Who helped you round these horses up?” Adam made things more clear.

 

“Nobody. Thor did it on his own.” Dee actually grinned as she dismounted. Then she gave a sly look. “Thor knows where all the mares are. He’s a prodigious breeder.”

 

Hoss had no idea what “prodigious” meant, but he had no trouble with the word “breeder.” He looked at Dee and grinned back at her.

 

“If you’re right, there’ll be a fine new crop of foals this year.”

 

Dee’s grin turned into a beautiful smile. Her whole face lit up as the fingers of dawn began to light up the meadow.

 

Adam chewed on a piece of a twig. He had questions.

 

“How’d you get the mares away from the stallions? They’re very protective of their harem.”

 

Dee’s beautiful smile disappeared as her expression turned serious. “Simple. I sent Thor into that side canyon way back there. Thor’s an alpha male and the stallions from both harems knew better than to get into a big fight. Thor just trotted away with his winnings.”

 

Adam continued. “I take it you weren’t riding Thor at the time. And I see that he now has a saddle and a bridle. Did he just stop in the middle of things and let you mount up?” Adam was sure that no woman could have accomplished this wrangling feat alone. Somebody must’ve helped her.

 

“I sat on a rock while Thor was bringing out the herds,” Dee said, an edge to her voice. “When all the horses were far enough away from where they’d been, Thor came back to me. I got into the saddle, and here I am. What’s so strange about that?”

 

Adam leaned against the pen, close to Hoss.

 

“You ever heard of such a story, Hoss?”

 

“Nope. But if Dee says it’s so, then it’s so. Some folks have horse sense. And some horses have ‘people’ sense.” 

 

Ben could feel that the air was charged with tension and was much relieved when he saw wagons and buckboards and the other ranch owners arriving. Adam gave Dee a final shrug and then turned and walked away. There was much to be done that day and he couldn’t waste time trying to get information out of Dee. He’d have a talk with her later.

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

 

It was a very productive morning for wrangling and branding mustangs. By the time of the noon meal, almost two pens were full of horses that had been branded and who would soon be picked over by the ranchers.

 

Having ascertained, for Martha’s benefit, that neither Squeak nor Flower had sneaked into the wagon, Dee plopped down for a well-deserved rest, a huge sandwich, fried potatoes, and a large mug of milk. All the ranchers and the drovers took advantage of the creek – fed mostly by ice-melt – to keep things cold. Paul sat down next to his niece and stretched out his legs as he ate.

 

“Can’t remember when we’ve had such good luck in finding those herds of horses. If things keep going like this, we may be through by the end of the day.”

 

Dee nodded. Her back hurt, her neck hurt, her arms hurt and her legs hurt. But she wouldn’t complain about these things. She knew that almost every other person was as sore as she was. She finished her sandwich, gulped her milk, and decided to wander around and meet some of the men she hadn’t met earlier. Paul continued to laze in the shade – he knew how to conserve energy.

 

In her wanderings, she ran into Adam who was quick to inform her that this was no place for a woman.

 

“When we were at your house discussing the round-up, you didn’t complain. Or was it that you were so busy watching me that you weren’t paying attention?” Her eyes danced and there was a crinkle in her nose.

 

“What makes you think I was watching you?” Adam asked, knowing he was guilty.

 

“Because I was watching you,” came Dee’s answer.

 

“Really? And why was that?”

 

“Because I expected you to throw a fit when you knew I’d be herding mustangs and separating cattle. You strike me as a man who likes his women feisty but you also want control. You can’t really control anything in a round-up, and you wouldn’t want your woman exposed to such dangers. I don’t think you want a true side-by-side partnership. Anyway, when you didn’t say anything, I knew you weren’t listening.”

 

“This kind of work is too rough for a female. She could easily get hurt – or trampled and killed.”

 

Dee snorted in contempt and considered knocking the snot out of Adam. “Don’t underestimate this female. I grew up on our ranch and have been doing this very same thing since I was young. And I’m still here – intact.”

 

“Are you trying to tell me that you’ve never fallen off a horse during round-up?” Adam didn’t know what else to say to drive his point home.

 

“Of course I’ve fallen. That’s why I use a saddle now. It gives me something to hold on to. Thor is very quick and very savvy. If I fall off, he stands beside me and shelters me until I get back in the saddle.”

 

Knowing that he wouldn’t win this particular conversation, Adam changed the subject.

 

“Where did Thor come from?”

 

“My brothers were on good terms with the Nez Perce in Wyoming. We all liked the way Thor looked and acted. So we traded for him.”

 

“What did you trade?”

 

“Twenty of our own horses. Thor wasn’t cheap. He was wild and unbroken. Still is. But he and I have an understanding, and he allows me to ride him.”

 

“I’d like to ride him,” Adam said. He knew that there was never a horse he couldn’t eventually ride. If Thor was that good of a horse, he’d try to buy him from Dee.

 

“You can but you can’t,” Dee countered.

 

“What?”

 

“I mean you have my permission to ride him but I’ll make you a bet that you can’t stay on him for five minutes. You get three tries. If you can last for that amount of time, I’ll give Thor to you.”

 

“Fair enough.” But Adam had a feeling that he had asked for more trouble than he realized. It was too late to back down now.

 

“The only caveat is that you have to use my saddle. And reins. You can’t put a bit in Thor’s mouth.”

 

Adam nodded and looked around. He was almost relieved when he didn’t see Thor. Dee wouldn’t offer to give Thor away unless she knew something that Adam didn’t…

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

 

With a low whistle from Dee, Thor appeared. Adam made sure that the cinch was tight and then he mounted up. In less than fifteen seconds, he found himself on the ground.

 

“That’s once!” Dee said.

 

A crowd of men began gathering around to watch. There was nothing else that Adam could do but to try again. He just wouldn’t accept the fact that he had been thrown so quickly.

 

On his second try, Adam stayed atop Thor for almost thirty seconds before he hit the ground – hard – on his backside. There were snickers from the other men. “Looks like Adam Cartwright has met his match!”

 

“That’s twice!” Dee was grinning.

 

For his third try, Adam gripped more tightly with his legs and pulled the reins low across Thor’s neck. If a horse can look bored and annoyed, Thor did just that. He held completely still while Adam waited for the bucking to start. Finally, one giant leap into the air followed by a roll in the grass, and Adam found that he was on the ground. Again.

 

“Three times. That’s it!” Dee was chortling.

 

Adam dusted himself off. He was angry – he had discovered a horse he couldn’t ride (and it happened in front of men who knew him to be the best rider in the Territory) and because a woman could ride Thor without a saddle or reins.

 

“You win,” he said as he stalked past Dee and headed down to the creek to wash the dirt and grass off his face.

 

“There’s only one man here that I know who can ride Thor,” Dee called out.

 

Adam turned. “And who might that be?”

 

Dee pointed her finger at the man in question. “Hoss.”

 

Hoss looked around. “Who? Me? I ain’t near’s good as Adam.” 

 

“If Hoss can ride him, will you give him to Hoss instead of to me? Adam’s curiosity got the best of him.

 

“Nope. I just want to prove that Thor can be ridden by someone other than me.” Dee shrugged.

 

Sighing, Hoss approached Thor, moving quietly and talking in gentle tones. The big Appaloosa’s ears perked up. Hoss climbed into the saddle – and waited for the explosion that never came. Gently, Hoss touched Thor’s sides with his spurs. It wasn’t long before Hoss and the stallion were cantering around the meadow. When they returned, Hoss climbed down with a grin. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that horse,” Hoss said, a big grin on his face.

 

By now, all the men were laughing or clapping or whistling. An embarrassed Adam walked up to Dee.

 

“All I want from you is to know the reason why Hoss wasn’t thrown.”

 

“Simple.” Dee’s eyes sparkled. “Hoss has a certain affinity with animals. They sense that he means them no harm. Thor likes Hoss. He doesn’t like you. And I’m not sure that I do either!”

 

Dee wheeled around and headed back to the Jackson wagon for another sandwich. She was hungry.

 

All Adam could say was, “Damn!” He headed back to the creek and plunged his whole head into the icy water. He needed to cool down.

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

 

By the end of the day, enough mustangs had been captured and branded to satisfy each rancher’s quota. Drovers had herded them back to the individual owner’s property and made sure that the corrals were sturdy – and high enough – to keep the animals inside without being able to jump out. The drovers would be back late that night, get a little sleep, and then start herding cattle the next day.

 

Dee slumped against a tree. She was bone-tired and so sleepy that she could hardly eat. But, when Hoss appeared, she tried to look like all was well.

 

“Hi, Hoss!” She tried to sound bright and cheerful.

 

Hoss smiled. “I aim to snag me a big piece of one of them pies that Martha made. You won’t tell on me, will ya?”

 

Dee smothered a giggle. “Not only will I not tell on you, I’ll help you figure out which one you want and you can smuggle it away.”

 

“A whole pie?” Hoss’s eyes got wide.

 

“Yep. Which kind do you want?”

 

“That apple and cinnamon kind. Lordy, Hop Sing better not find out. He’ll never feed me again. But ain’t nobody kin make a pie like your Aunt Martha.”

 

The co-conspirators hatched a plan and walked casually over to the Jackson wagon. While Hoss engaged Paul and Martha in conversation, Dee kept low and silently sniffed each pie. When she found the one Hoss wanted, she snatched it and ran back to her spot under the tree.

 

“Why, Hoss! You haven’t even asked for a piece of one of my pies yet. Are you ill?” Martha touched Hoss’s forehead to make sure he didn’t have a fever.

 

“No, ma’am. I ain’t sick. But Hop Sing’s feelin’s’d be hurt if he knew I was askin’ somebody else for food. I’ll be back tomorrah night when Hop Sing’s runnin’ low on dessert. ‘Night, ma’am’.”

 

Hoss scurried to find Dee and the purloined pie. Dee had already cut it into slices that could safely be carried under Hoss’s shirt when he went back to join his family. To celebrate their coup, each one ate a slice, relishing the taste of sweet cinnamon and tart apples.

 

“Kin I ask you a question?” Hoss wiped the crumbs from his face.

 

“Of course,” Dee answered as she reached over and brushed a few crumbs from Hoss’s vest.

 

“Why did you embarrass Adam like that today? About ridin’ Thor?”

 

Dee looked into Hoss’s blue eyes and got a little defensive. “He asked me if I would let him ride Thor. I told him that he had my permission but that he wouldn’t be able to stay in the saddle. He made a fool of himself. He didn’t need any help from me to accomplish that feat.”

 

“Adam’s a proud man, Dee…”

 

“He’s arrogant!

 

“No’m, he ain’t. He’s confident in what he can do. And one of them things he’s really good at is ridin’ horses – or breakin’ ’em. He ate dirt today. That happens sometimes. But he never loses. He gits right back on and tries again and again until he wins.”

 

Dee was touched by what Hoss said but she was also still defensive. “How should I have handled it then?”

 

“If you knowed that Adam couldn’t ride Thor, you shoulda just told Adam ‘no’. But you let him make a fool of hisself in front o’ his friends. That hurt him somethin’ horrible.” He paused. “I don’t reck’n I know why I could ride Thor and Adam couldn’t. Maybe Thor don’t like Adam, like you said. Maybe I jest git along with animals better. But my ridin’ Thor was a mistake and only added insult to injury for Adam.”

 

Hoss was neither trying to hurt Dee’s feelings, nor was he acting angry. He was simply telling the truth.

 

“Why did you go ahead and ride Thor anyway?” Dee asked, hearing the pain in Hoss’s voice.

 

“Adam and me are diff’rent in a lot o’ ways. I didn’t know for a fact that I could ride that horse. I got carried away. I already apologized to Adam about that. I think he understood that I needed to be good at somethin’ too. For once. I ain’t educated like Adam. I don’t read books. Women skeer the bejesus outta me most o’ the time. But Adam, well, he’s good at most ever’thin’. Now the guys are teasin’ him somethin’ awful. He smiles and laughs, but he hurts inside.”

 

Touching Hoss’s face gently, Dee responded. “I’ll make it right, Hoss. I promise. I guess I’m so used to the sniping that Adam and I aim at each other that I didn’t think. Wounding someone’s pride is a terrible thing. I’ll go talk to Adam.” Then, “Thank you, Hoss, for confiding in me.”

 

Hoss nodded, tucked slices of pie into his shirt and walked away, whistling. Dee knew what she had to do. But would it work out?

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

 

The last person Adam wanted to see that night was Dee. The teasing he had been subjected to had hurt him. Ben had tried to soothe his feelings, but it didn’t work. The embarrassment was still there.

 

Dee approached the four Cartwrights.

 

“Adam, can I speak with you for a moment?” Dee’s voice was soft.

 

Shrugging, Adam answered. “Anything you have to say can be said in front of my family.”

 

Taking a deep breath, Dee stood her ground. 

 

“All right. I came to apologize for today. About riding Thor.”

 

Adam sipped his coffee. “What’s to apologize for? I finally found a horse that I can’t ride.”

 

“Yeah, about that.” Dee paused and took another breath. She never lied and now she would have to tell a whopper. “I conned you into doing what I knew couldn’t be done. Thor was hot and tired and in a bad mood. I can tell when he gets like that, and even I won’t ride him then. He’s not been ‘broken’ and I know what I can and can’t do with him.”

 

Adam’s curiosity was piqued. “You said that he just didn’t like me. But he liked Hoss and that’s why Hoss could ride him – bad mood or not.”

 

All four Cartwrights stared at Dee, waiting to see what would come next.

 

“I lied,” she finally said, telling yet another lie. Thor really did not like Adam. Thor didn’t like most men. “Thor saw you as an alpha male, and he himself is an alpha male. You challenged him while he was in a bad mood already. Somebody had to win – this time it was Thor.”

 

“Hoss had no trouble,” Joe interrupted.

 

Dee had to think quick. “Joe, Hoss outweighs every man here. If you were Thor and had Hoss on your back when you were already hot and tired and cranky, would you go to the effort of trying to buck him off?”

 

Dee didn’t miss Hoss’s conspiratorial wink. She took a risk on hurting Hoss’s feelings about his size. The risk paid off because Hoss shot Dee another wink.

 

“And your point is?” Adam asked, unsure of where this whole conversation was going.

 

“The best time to ride that crazy App is first thing in the morning when he’s fresh and in a good mood. 

Will you try again tomorrow?” Dee held her breath as she leaned against a rock for support. 

 

Adam shrugged as if he didn’t care one way or the other. But he did care. A lot.

 

“If I ride him, are you going to give him to me? That was our bet today.”

 

“No, Adam. I won’t give him to you because I love that horse. I knew today was a bad day and that I wouldn’t lose my bet. But tomorrow’s another day. The bet is off.”

 

Adam feigned indifference. “I might ride him in the morning. I’m not saying anything for sure just yet.”

 

“Good enough,” replied Dee as she turned to leave. Then she turned back around.

 

“Uh, Adam?”

 

“What now, Dee?”

 

“Well, it’s your attitude toward Thor. You can’t just hop on his back without so much as a how-de-do and expect him to accommodate you.”

 

Hoss spoke, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Maybe he should ask Thor if he’d like to dance?”

 

Ben boomed, “Hoss!” 

 

But even Adam chuckled at the thought. “And exactly what do you propose that I do?”

 

Dee didn’t mince words. She never did. “You wouldn’t bed a woman for the first time and just jump on her without any kind of gentleness first, would you?”

 

Ben choked on his coffee. Hoss gaped, and Joe giggled. Adam’s eyebrow shot up to his hairline. For a minute, he couldn’t speak.

 

“No,” he answered slowly.

 

“Then you need to approach Thor with soothing words and a less challenging attitude. He responds well to kindness. He won’t feel like he has something to prove. You must remember that Thor is still wild with an unbroken spirit. He won’t feel he’s being challenged.”

 

Adam considered this possibility. He grudgingly decided that Dee just might be right.

 

“We’ll see if I’m in the mood in the morning.”

 

“That’s all I ask,” Dee said as she turned to walk away.

 

But Adam had one more thing to say. 

 

“If I ride Thor, you have to give me something in return.”

 

Dee’s heart pounded. “And what would that be?”

 

“A kiss.”

 

One Cartwright father and two Cartwright brothers were astonished and speechless.

 

“On the cheek?” Dee asked hopefully.

 

Adam dimpled at her. 

 

“Nope. Right smack dab on the lips.”

 

Dee’s heart skipped several beats. Then she answered. “Oh, hell! You’ve got a deal! And I hope Thor throws you into the middle of next week.”

 

Her legs trembling with the thought of kissing Adam made it difficult to walk. She had to make herself look nonchalant.

 

When she was out of sight, she headed for the picket line. Thor wasn’t around, so she gave her usual low whistle. Thor took his time appearing, but he finally approached Dee. The two stood together for a long time while Dee stroked his velvety nose and talked to him.

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

 

The meadow was alive with people eating breakfast when Adam approached Dee. He tried to exude a confidence he didn’t feel. If he couldn’t ride Thor today, he’d be the laughing-stock of the camp. On the other hand, if he did ride Thor, he’d win a bet that would take Dee down a notch. 

 

“Time to ride,” he said as he leaned against the Jackson wagon wheel.

 

“Thor?” Dee asked.

 

“Why not?”

 

Men looked up when they saw Adam and Dee head for the picket line.

 

“Hey, Adam! You gonna try to stay in the saddle this time?” This was a teasing but stinging comment from one of the men.

 

Adam ignored the remark, but men left their breakfasts to fall into a group to watch and see what was going on.

 

Thor, nibbling on some lush grass, looked up and saw Dee. And saw Adam, too. One ear went back flat against his head. 

 

“I still get three tries, right?” Adam asked quietly.

 

“Yes.” Dee tried not to let Adam know that she was worried.

 

Dee had been up early, had saddled and bridled her horse – still not using a bit in Thor’s mouth – just in case Adam had decided to show up.

 

Old ways die hard, and Adam forgot what Dee had told him last night. He just climbed into the saddle, grabbed the reins, and dug in with his knees. Thor bucked for a long time, but Adam held on for as long as he could. He hit the ground with a thud, and Thor moved blissfully away to another patch of grass.

 

There was laughter among the watching men. Adam could feel his face redden. He glared at Dee, who walked up to Thor and led him back to where Adam was rubbing his shoulder.

 

Whispering, Dee said, “You forgot what I told you last night, you idiot! Now try again!”

 

Adam approached Thor with a non-aggressive but confident stance. He spoke in gentle tones and then rubbed Thor on the neck and withers as he put his foot in the stirrup and swung into the saddle. So focused was he that he didn’t see Dee make the “V” with her fingers to her eyes and then back to Thor’s eyes. Thor’s ears, both of which had been flat against his head, were now halfway standing up as he listened to Adam’s calm voice. Or was it some message that Dee had sent? Nobody would ever know.

 

Thor began bucking and kicking mightily. Dee sighed, but Adam was glued to the saddle. The men who had teased Adam so mercilessly the day before were now shouting words of encouragement. Adam could feel the strain on his arms and legs and, just before he knew he could hold on no longer, Thor stopped bucking and held still. Adam’s lips moved but his words couldn’t be heard; he rubbed Thor’s neck gently and the stallion’s ears perked right up. There was a walk, then a trot, then a canter and then a full-out gallop all around the meadow, with all the men cheering at the same time.

 

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Dee looked around. There was Hoss with a huge grin.

 

“Thank you, Dee,” Hoss said quietly.

 

Dee snorted. “I didn’t do anything. Adam did it all by himself.”

 

“Uh-huh,” was Hoss’s response, his blue eyes twinkling.

 

Adam and Thor arrived back at camp where Adam dismounted, rubbed Thor’s neck again and loosened the cinch. He had a look of pride as he adjusted his hat and walked straight toward Dee.

 

“Piece of cake,” he said with a big grin. “Now it’s time to collect on that bet.”

 

“Here? Now?” 

 

Adam took off his hat and gathered Dee into his arms. He kissed her – hard and long – and, when he drew away, he chuckled. “Just wanted to make sure I got my money’s worth.”

 

He walked away while Dee stood rooted to the spot and just gaped. She realized that she was trembling all over and she dared not move lest her legs give out on her.

 

From all the men came a roar of laughter at Dee’s florid face. Adam’s air of confidence had returned and he never looked back. He never questioned why he was able to ride that stallion today when yesterday had been such a disaster. Nobody else questioned it either. 

 

Dee knew. She finally was able to stop trembling and walk to Thor’s side. “You did really well, Thor. Really well.”

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

 

Herding the cattle, separating them into groups according to individual brands, and then doing some branding was harder work than rounding up the mustangs. Tempers flared, horses balked, men fell out of their saddles and there was a lot of swearing going on. Even so, by the end of the first day, more than half of the detested work was done.

 

For this job, which entailed going through a lot of scrub brush, Dee had opted to wear chaps. Adam was used to seeing her in a cowboy hat, shirt and jeans, but the chaps just seemed to outline her backside to the fullest. He had trouble keeping his eyes off her. And, sometimes, he had equal trouble hiding the fact that his body reacted to the sight of her. There were many times he had to shift in his saddle to be more comfortable.

 

Dee didn’t tote a gun. She had her favorite slingshot in her back pocket and carried a large pouch of smooth rocks which she hung over the saddle horn. When asked about this, her answer was that the sound of gunfire would stampede the herd. But a well-placed rock would only annoy cattle who just didn’t want to move or to stay in place. Her ploy worked well, and she was often summoned from one herd to another just to lob rocks at stubborn steers. Because the stones were smooth – she had gathered them from the edge of the creek – they did no damage other than to cause a stinging sensation.

 

She noticed that Adam had stopped watching her, so she took a small stone, loaded it into her slingshot, and lobbed the stone at Adam’s leg. He looked around, not realizing what had happened, and saw Dee stick her tongue out at him and then ride away. He grinned to himself.

 

Of course, he wasn’t aware that Dee had been watching him as much as he had been watching her. She was fascinated by him – those eyes, that dimple, that barrel chest with curly hair peeking out from under his shirt. His legs looked strong. He didn’t bother to shave – nobody did – and the stubble on Adam’s dark skin was quite attractive. And then there were his hands – graceful but full of strength. She had fantasies then and, more than once, she got distracted from her job.

 

That night, as cowboys had done for years, out came the guitars and banjos and harmonicas and even an accordion. The traditional songfest had begun right after supper. Some men could sing well and some men couldn’t. But everybody sang along – rollicking songs, happy songs, sad songs – it didn’t matter. It was just fun to sit around the campfire and take part in tradition.

 

The fire was burning low, and it was almost time to turn in for the night. Except for those men who rode night guard and who kept the cattle from wandering away again. One man asked Adam to sing “When the Campfire is Low on the Prairie.” This happened to be yet another song that Dee knew – and she knew most of them – so she borrowed a guitar and played along with Adam. He was surprised that she could play the instrument, and he was impressed at her harmony. What started out as a song that everybody sang turned slowly into a duet – beautifully sung and very haunting. 

 

When the song was finished, the men scattered for their bedrolls. The few women who helped with the cooking, crawled into wagons to keep the dew off them.

 

“I didn’t know you could sing and play the guitar,” Adam said later, down by the creek.

 

“There’s a world of things you don’t know about me,” Dee answered without sarcasm.

 

“Like what, for instance?” Adam leaned against a tree and gnawed on a toothpick.

 

Dee was feeling mellow. “Well, you know I traveled through Europe, and you know that I never finished school. But did you know that I’ve spent my life making wrong choices in men? Pierre was one. I knew I shouldn’t have married him, but I did anyway. He was the first wrong choice and hurt me deeply. I made several wrong choices after that. I built up a wall against men, and it’s doubtful that I’ll ever trust any man again. A long time ago, I wrote a poem about my life, but I don’t remember all the words. I think I was drunk at the time.”

 

Adam saw the sincerity in her face and could almost feel her pain. He swapped the toothpick to the other side of his mouth and sat down, continuing to lean against the tree. He wanted to know whatever she could tell him.

 

“Try to think of some of the words. Or paraphrase them. I’m a sucker for poetry.” This last remark was without sarcasm and was intended to put Dee at ease. It worked.

 

[Author’s Note: This is a real song, with some changes on my part, sung by “Charlene” many years ago.]

 

Dee tried to remember as she sat down in the grass. 

 

“I’ve been to Georgia and California and anywhere I could run. 

Took the hand of a bold Frenchman, and we made love in the sun. 

But I ran out of places and friendly faces because I had to be free. 

I’ve been to paradise, but I’ve never been to me.”

 

Adam was quiet. Dee had a faraway look in her eyes as she told more.

 

“Sometimes I’ve been to crying for unborn children who might have made me complete. 

I took the sweet life and never knew I’d be bitter from the sweet. 

I’ve spent my life exploring, the sort of whoring that costs too much to be free. 

I’ve been to paradise, but I’ve never been to me.”

 

Dee gave a small laugh, embarrassed. Adam didn’t laugh – Dee had an insight into herself that some folks never have. 

 

“Is there more?” Adam asked quietly.

 

“Yeah, some kind of drivel about being to the Isle of Greece and sipping champagne on a yacht. And something about seeing things that a woman ain’t s’posed to see.” She stopped as she realized that Adam was gently playing with the hair at the nape of her neck. He made no other move.

 

Now, totally embarrassed, Dee got up quickly. “Somebody should sew my mouth shut. I’m on night guard duty – gotta go.”

 

As she turned, Adam spoke. “Don’t build a wall around yourself. Maybe you made some bad choices before, but you can learn from your mistakes. Not all men are bad.”

 

“Yeah, right,” Dee answered sarcastically. “And the sun sets in the East.”

 

Adam knew that Dee had made a dent in her protective wall just by talking things out. Would she ever tear the wall down completely?

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

 

Because of the beautiful weather and because the cattle seemed unusually cooperative, the separation of the herds was finished by nightfall.

 

Even Martha commented on this phenomenon. “I can’t remember when things went so well. How delightfully unusual.” 

 

She looked around for her niece and couldn’t find her. She just assumed that Dee was with the Cartwrights – she seemed to be hanging around them a lot. Dee seemed to be showing an interest in Adam lately, and Martha decided that Adam might be “the one” for Dee. He certainly knew how to handle her.

 

In reality, Dee was sitting cross-legged on the ground playing poker. And winning. A handful of men had sat in on the friendly game but, as Dee continued to win, they just stood around and watched as the game continued with only a few men left. Just when it seemed that Dee had gotten the other players’ money, she would lose and the men would get their money back. 

 

Hoss stood behind Dee and whispered. “It ain’t ladylike to play poker.”

 

“I know,” Dee answered. She looked at her cards. “Call,” she said to the three men left. She lost the hand but, as she told them to deal her out, she still had five dollars more than she started with.

 

“Hoss, don’t tell on me,” she whispered. “Martha will send me back to Oklahoma for sure if she knew I’d been playing poker.”

 

“I been watchin’ you for a while,” Hoss whispered back. “Where’d you learn to play so good?”

 

Dee smiled. “My brothers and my dad taught me. I win when I choose. I had no intentions of taking too much money from those men.”

 

“You win when you choose? Do you cheat?” Hoss looked horrified. 

 

Dee looked into Hoss’s guileless blue eyes. “Just mark it up to ‘woman’s intuition’.” 

 

The sounds of music could be heard, and the two walked together for the last night of singing. Again, when the campfire got low, it was time to end the evening. But the men wanted to hear one last song. It was the same one that Adam and Dee had sung the night before. Dee found a guitar being pushed into her hands, and then Adam sat down next to her. Their harmony was simple, beautiful, and moving.

 

Martha smiled as she climbed into the buckboard and pulled the cover around her. Paul would be riding night guard tonight, and she wouldn’t be listening to his snoring in her ear for a while. She was sure that Dee and Adam would make a lovely couple. She drifted off to sleep.

 

But the singing wasn’t over yet. There was one song that the men from night guard had heard Dee sing as she made the rounds of the different herds. Nobody could really understand the words because Dee’s voice was low and gentle. But the melody seemed to stick in their minds. 

 

“Will you sing that song we heard last night while you were on night guard?” one cowboy asked.

 

Dee blushed. “It’s not a cowboy song. It’s a love song. My mother taught it to me.”

 

“Sing it anyway!” voices demanded.

 

“It’s called ‘The Blessing’.” Dee was reluctant to sing on her own, but nobody else knew the words. So, strumming the chords lightly, Dee sang the love song. She didn’t know it then, but she would sing it again – to the man she fell in love with. And that man was very close to her right now.

 

When she finished singing, she returned the guitar to its owner and then disappeared. Nobody knew where she went, but there was no cause for alarm. After all, “nature’s call” was never questioned.

 

That wasn’t the reason Dee walked away. She had some thinking to do.

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

 

With the round-up being over, things soon returned to normal with ledgers to update and chores to be done. But tonight was the big party which was traditionally held at the Ponderosa – it was the only place large enough to hold a multitude of people. Somehow, time had been found to decorate both the inside and outside of the house – there were streamers and Chinese lanterns and more food and punch than was necessary. Nobody ever went hungry at the Ponderosa. What wasn’t eaten was wrapped in brown paper and was taken home to be eaten later. Though there was no exact time set for this party, people knew to arrive around six o’clock or so. And they could bring their children who would play tag or horseshoes or marbles. The fire outside showed an enormous side of beef on a spit, being slowly turned and sizzling and crackling as it cooked.

 

Families always brought food – fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, fresh bread and biscuits, jars of honey and jam. This was a time for bonding with friends. Hop Sing had help from his cousins, and they all scurried around, making sure that nothing was lacking.

 

The Cartwrights were the ultimate hosts – greeting each family with a genuine warmth. No person ever arrived at this party who wasn’t made to feel welcome. The musicians had arrived and began playing soft music in the background. The ambiance was complete.

 

The Jacksons were afraid they would be too early, but they soon realized that the party was already in full swing. Martha and Paul greeted Ben and then took Martha’s pies to be set out on tables that were already overloaded.

 

Hoss was the first to notice Dee. “Hey, look at that gal!” He dug an elbow into Adam’s side. 

 

Adam did a double-take. He had gotten used to seeing Dee in jeans and chaps, so her transformation tonight took him by surprise. His intake of breath was sharp.

 

Dee had chosen a butter-yellow dress, low enough to be provocative but high enough to still be decent. The fitted bodice was just tight enough to show her curves but loose enough to still be “decent” (this was according to Martha’s standards). Small clusters of handmade daisies dotted the waistline and then were scattered around on the soft, full skirt. Dee had chosen sleeves and a neckline that showed off her tan from the round-up without leaving lines of white skin to show. Her wavy hair, bleached by the sun, was swept up behind her head in an intricate braid woven with the same small daises that were in her skirt.

 

Both Hoss and Adam walked forward to greet Dee. Adam spoke first.

 

“How stunning you look tonight!” His eyes started at the top of Dee’s head and went all the way down, very slowly, with a slight pause at the bodice of the dress.

 

“Oh, for God’s sake, Adam! Get that wolf’s look off your face! Hoss, make him stop!”

 

“Cain’t do that, Dee. I cain’t take my eyes off’n you neither!”

 

Adam gave Dee one of his lop-sided, dimpled grins. “You’ve caught the attention of half the men here. If you don’t believe me, just look around.”

 

What Adam had said was true. Men were, indeed, flashing appreciative looks in her direction. And now Joe appeared with his girl-of-the week, Maggie. Introductions were made, and then Adam took Dee’s elbow and steered her towards the house for some punch.

 

Hoss watched as Adam and Dee walked away. There was a strange look on his face. Was it sadness?

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

 

The food was delicious, as always. Dee had tried to pace herself but she soon realized that, if she didn’t slow down, every seam in her dress would pop.

 

Hoss sidled up beside her during one of the times Adam had actually left her side.

 

“Yore plate’s empty,” he noted.

 

“And it’s gonna stay that way. I’m as fat as a tick now!”

 

Hoss chuckled. “You hide it good.” Hoss wanted to pay Dee a compliment, but he knew he wasn’t as good with words as his brothers.

 

Dee put her hand on Hoss’s arm. “This is a wonderful party, Hoss. I’m so glad that I’m here.”

 

“Me too. I have something I want you to see…” The sentence didn’t get finished before Adam walked up.

 

But Dee knew Hoss hadn’t finished what he wanted to say. “See what, Hoss?”

 

Adam rolled his eyes. “There’s a nest of baby squirrels in one of the trees. But you’ll need a ladder to see them. They can wait until another day.”

 

Hoss’s face fell, and Dee noticed that fact right away.

 

“Baby squirrels most certainly can not wait! Hoss, how high is that nest?”

 

Hoss’s face brightened. “I kin boost you up there so’s you kin see. Don’t need no ladder.” He glared at Adam.

 

Adam shook his head, muttering about something that Dee didn’t quite catch. “I’m going for more punch. May I get you some?”

 

Dee was on her feet. “Not now. Maybe later.” 

 

She grabbed Hoss’s hand. “Show me! Show me!”

 

And off they went, leaving Adam with a strange look on his face. Jealousy?

 

At any rate, Hoss couldn’t boost Dee high enough to see the nest.

 

“Hoss, how did you even know the nest was here?”

 

“I climbed up there and looked.”

 

“Hell, Hoss. Why didn’t you say so?”

 

With that, Dee took off her shoes and began climbing the tree. Hoss hesitated and then, afraid Dee might fall, climbed up after her. Fortunately for both of them, the tree was large with very sturdy limbs.

 

With Hoss telling her which direction to go, Dee finally saw the nest, perched in a small corner next to the tree trunk. Dee leaned her head around a bit until she could see the newborn babies.

 

“Hoss! Look at them! Are they not absolutely precious!”

 

Hoss, sitting on a branch lower than the one Dee was perched on, answered. “There ain’t nothin’ purtier than newborn creatures.” His voice was low and gentle.

 

“Will the mother come back to tend to them with me sitting here?” Dee was worried.

 

“Yep. Jest so long as you stay quiet-like.”

 

“Well, I’m not leaving until I see that those babies have a mama!” 

 

So Hoss and Dee sat high up in the tree in companionable silence. And the mother squirrel did come back, making a sound of warning for Dee to move away. 

 

Adam appeared and saw no ladder, but he did see Hoss sitting on a branch. Above and to Hoss’s right, there was a flash of yellow material.

 

Despite his size, Hoss was an excellent tree-climber. But how had Dee gotten up there?

 

“Hoss? Dee?” Adam called.

 

“Oh, hush!” Dee called down. “Mama just came back to her babies.”

 

“I’ll get a ladder,” Adam called again, ignoring Dee’s request.

 

“Hell’s bells!” Dee swore. “I climbed up here without a ladder. What’s so important that we have to come down right now? I could sit up here all night and never be bored. Why don’t you come up?”

 

“Not a chance. I’ve seen baby squirrels before. Besides, the dancing is starting. If you don’t come down here, I’ll come up there and get you!”

 

There was a quiet conversation between Hoss and Dee, but Adam couldn’t hear the words.

 

Hoss came down first, followed immediately by a flash of white petticoats, bare legs and feet, and then the yellow dress material.

 

Touching Hoss’s arm one more time, Dee smiled. “Thank you, Hoss, for showing me the babies. Aren’t they just adorable?”

 

Hoss’s face glowed.

 

Dee turned to face Adam. “As for you, it would be best to remember that you don’t tell me what I can and can’t do or when I can or can’t do it. I wouldn’t miss the dancing for all the world, but it could’ve waited a little longer.”

 

She smoother her hair and her dress and put on her shoes. Adam took her elbow, but she pulled away.

 

“I am perfectly capable of walking inside by myself.” And, with that, she flounced away into the house.

 

“Incorrigible,” Adam said.

 

“Yep.” Hoss grinned.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY

 

Dee was the “belle of the ball” that night and the look on her face reflected her happiness. Even Joe, who was a little afraid of Dee and her barbed tongue, danced with Dee – with Maggie’s permission, of course.

 

Hoss, the most shy of the Cartwright clan, asked Dee to dance.

 

“Why, Hoss, I thought you’d never ask! Of course I’d love to dance with you!” Dee’s tone was genuine.

 

“Um, Dee, I ain’t the best dancer in the world.”

 

“Oh, I think you don’t give yourself enough credit. You look like you’re doing fine as far as I can tell. And I’ve been watching.”

 

Hoss blushed at the thought that Dee had been keeping him in sight. If the truth be known, she had actually been watching all the men – and every now and then had sneaked peeks at Adam. He was studiously ignoring her.

 

Hoss carefully put his arm around Dee’s waist and swept her out onto the floor. For a man of Hoss’s size, he was quite light on his feet. Dee had no trouble following him and enjoyed the dance immensely. She was sorry when the music ended. But Hoss was sorrier. For one moment in time, he had danced with the most popular girl at the party.

 

“Hoss?” Dee looked into a pair of blue eyes. “Will you dance more with me tonight?”

 

Hoss was delighted. “Why, shore I will! If’n you really want me to.”

 

Dee nodded and smiled. “I really, really do. But there’s a gal over there who keeps shooting me dirty looks. I think she likes you a lot.”

 

It was, of course, Bessie Sue that Dee was referring to. And Hoss liked Bessie Sue – as a friend. But Bessie Sue had a bigger agenda in mind.

 

“She’s really a nice gal,” Hoss admitted. “But she’s husband-huntin’ and I shore hope I ain’t on that list!”

 

Dee gave her most serious look. “Don’t ever get roped into something that you know you’ll regret. I’ve made that mistake several times. I…”

 

“You’re monopolizing the prettiest girl at the party,” Adam said as he interrupted Dee’s conversation. 

 

Neither Hoss nor Dee had seen him walk up. Bessie Sue took this opportunity to drag Hoss onto the floor for another dance.

 

“Hmphh,” replied Dee.

 

“Are you still mad at me?” Adam seemed to be serious.

 

“No. But what I said outside still goes.”

 

“Understood. I was out of line. I apologize. Now, Miss Jackson, may I have the pleasure of what’s left of this dance?”

 

“Thank you, kind sir.” Dee made a slight curtsy.

 

And then she was in Adam’s arms, whirling around the floor, floating on a cloud, gazing into hazel eyes. Adam was a strong leader and, though he made intricate moves, Dee had no trouble following him. She got lost in his dimples and the feeling of his hand in hers. She tore her eyes away from Adam’s and saw Hoss looking at her. She winked at him and received a strange look in return – a look that confused and concerned her. She turned her attention back to Adam’s dimples until the dance was over.

 

Someone tapped Adam on the shoulder. He turned to see his father standing there with a smile on his handsome face.

 

“If I’m ever to have a dance with this lady, I have to steal her away before she leaves the floor.” 

 

Adam looked at Dee. “Does my father have a right to steal a girl this way?”

 

“Fathers always take precedence,” Dee said, her nose crinkling and her eyes dancing.

 

Taking Ben’s extended hand, Dee left Adam’s side and began another dance with yet another Cartwright.

 

Ben, too, was an excellent leader. He didn’t involve himself in the intricate steps that Adam had shown, but the feeling of floating on a cloud was the same that Dee had experienced with Adam.

 

“I think my sons are smitten with you,” Ben smiled.

 

“I think Joe is terrified of me,” Dee smiled back. “But he danced with me anyway.” Then, “You have quite remarkable sons, Mister Ben. You’ve raised them well.”

 

Ben chuckled. “Did I hear something about your climbing a tree earlier? In that dress?”

 

“Mister Ben! Would I do something like that?”

 

“Absolutely!”

 

Dee threw back her head and laughed heartily. She hadn’t laughed like that in a very long time.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

 

Dee was thirsty after that dance, so Ben walked her over to the punch bowl and filled a glass for her. Then he excused himself to have a conversation with one of the other ranchers. Dee’s eyes drifted around the room and happened to fall on Esmerelda whose face was one of abject misery. Not one boy had asked her to dance all night, and there were several boys there who were close to her age or just a bit older. Esmerelda couldn’t help the fact that she was rather unfortunate-looking. And she couldn’t help the fact that her mother was a twit. Dee remembered the days when she herself was that age and was a perpetual wallflower. It was a hard time for Dee – very painful. Her heart went out to the poor girl. Dee decided to go talk with Esmerelda and made her way over to the far wall.

 

Just as Dee was closing the gap, Hoss appeared in front of Esmerelda and said something. The young girl’s face lit up as she stood and took Hoss’s hand. Hoss had felt the girl’s pain and had taken the time to do something about it! They were dancing! Hoss’s feet hardly moved, and still Esmerelda stumbled occasionally. But the smile on her face touched Dee’s heart. Bless Hoss, he was sensitive to the core. Dee strolled back to the punch bowl, a smile still on her lips.

 

“A penny for your thoughts,” Adam said as he touched Dee’s arm lightly.

 

Dee shook her head. “I’m just enjoying this whole party. It’s wonderful!”

 

Wiggling his eyebrows, Adam grinned. “Would you like to take a stroll outside in the cool night air? Maybe look at the moon and stars for a while?”

 

Dee giggled. “Adam Cartwright! You look like a lecherous old man when you do that eyebrow thing.”

 

Adam chuckled. “That’s because I am a lecherous old man. Well, not old, but still lecherous.”

 

Dee thought for a moment. The time was right. She and Adam needed to talk. She had so much to tell him, and she knew just what she wanted to say. They slipped away unnoticed.

 

The night air was refreshing. Dee hadn’t realized how warm she was until the air touched her skin. She had goosebumps. Maybe it wasn’t the air – maybe it was knowing that Adam was next to her. Taking a seat on the bench under the pines, Dee pulled off her shoes and wiggled her toes.

 

“Women’s shoes must’ve been made by a man with a sadistic streak,” she said as she made a face. “I should’ve worn my boots. They’re definitely more comfortable.”

 

Adam stretched out his long legs and, at the same time, put his arm around Dee’s shoulders.

 

“What is it with you always touching me?” Dee said this with none of her usual sarcasm.

 

“I happen to like touching you,” came Adam’s soft answer. “I’d like to touch you more often.”

 

Dee turned her face to his. She knew that the kiss was coming and, at the last minute, Dee turned her head. Adam’s lips touched her cheek. The look on his face was one of surprise.

 

“Adam, we need to do some serious talking. Will you just listen to everything I have to say without interruption?”

 

Adam looked at Dee’s earnest face and nodded. He had no idea what was on Dee’s mind.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

 

Eventually, Adam and Dee walked back into the house. Adam’s arm was around Dee’s shoulders and both people were smiling but, if anyone took the time to look closely, it was apparent that there was tension beneath the smiles. And one person looked very closely. What had happened?

 

Adam swept Dee onto the dance floor once again. Dee seemed a wee bit stiffer than before, but she didn’t miss a step.

 

Hoss tapped Adam on the shoulder as the last dance of the evening began. Adam relinquished his hold on Dee and she seemed almost relieved.

 

Hoss was quiet at first, as though he were in deep thought. Then, “Are you okay? Is there anything wrong?”

 

Dee shook her head and smiled at Hoss. But it wasn’t the brilliant smile from earlier that evening.

 

“Everything is fine, Hoss. I guess I’m just tired. And my feet are killing me! And I ate way too much tonight, but the food was delicious. I guess I’m a pig – I sure did eat like one!”

 

Hoss smiled slightly at Dee’s comments. But he wasn’t buying any of them. He kept his mouth shut and finished the dance.

 

There was a mass exodus as guests left the Ponderosa, most with food to take home. The Jackson family was almost the last to leave.

 

“I think this is the best party you’ve ever had, Ben!” Martha said as she gave Ben’s hand a squeeze. 

 

Ben answered. “Martha, you say that every year!”

 

“And every year it’s the truth!” Paul added as he shook hands with each of the Cartwrights.

 

Dee kissed Ben, Hoss, and Joe on the cheeks. She hesitated slightly when she got to Adam but ended up kissing him on the cheek too. 

 

“Thank you all for such an outstanding evening. You are the consummate hosts!” She then looked at Adam. “This has been an evening I won’t soon forget.”

 

Paul hoisted Martha into the wagon. Dee took off her shoes and climbed in. There was a wistful look on her face as she waved goodbye.

 

Hoss stopped Adam as they were just outside the front door. Ben had gone inside, and Joe had taken Maggie home. 

 

“What happened ‘tween you and Dee?” Hoss asked, rather conversationally.

 

“What do you mean?” Adam had a quizzical look on his face.

 

Hoss shrugged. “When the two of you went outside during the dancing. You were gone for quite a while.”

 

Becoming defensive, Adam’s answer was curt. “Nothing happened. We talked. Anyway, it’s none of your business.”

 

Hoss had a strange look on his face. “You’re right. It ain’t none of my business. I just hate to see that gal get hurt.”

 

Adam’s answer was sarcastic. “Nobody can hurt Dee. She’s hard as nails.”

 

“No.” Hoss answered quietly. “No, Adam. She ain’t.”

 

The brothers walked into the house without another word being spoken. But both minds were whirling.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

 

The Army wanted saddle-broke horses, so the next several days were spent in accomplishing that feat. And, when Paul’s top hands, Jake and Rex both ended up with broken bones, the Jacksons drove their horses to the Ponderosa. It was there that the differences between Adam and Dee seemed to be rather settled.

 

Ben noticed the difference right away. Martha was in the kitchen helping Hop Sing get food together. Paul had gone to town. Dee was leaning against the fence, watching as Adam climbed onto the back of one of the Jackson’s mustangs. And Dee was cheering Adam on! If Adam got thrown, Dee would shout, “Get back on ‘im, Adam! Show ‘im who’s boss!” And, when the critter was finally settled down and could be ridden, Dee would shout, “Good job!” This was certainly an odd change of events.

 

Ben spoke to Hoss and Joe while they were waiting their turns. 

 

“Is something odd going on between Adam and Dee?”

 

Joe had noticed the same thing.

 

“She’s actually nice to Adam. Except for that time she stuck her tongue out at him.”

 

“They had a talk at the party the other night. Guess they worked things out.” Hoss seemed subdued.

 

Only Ben noticed that there seemed to be a “catch” in Hoss’s voice as he spoke. He knew his sons well, and he surmised that perhaps Hoss had more of an interest in Dee than anyone knew. Ben also was aware that his sons never fought over the same woman. Wisely, the patriarch kept his thoughts to himself.

 

Adam approached his brothers. 

 

“Time for you two to start earning your keep. I’m taking a well-deserved break!”

 

With that, he headed for the water pump, put one hand on the pump and then stuck his head under it to wash the dust off and to get a cool drink of water at the same time.

 

Dee sneaked up behind him and began pumping the water. Adam didn’t look up, assuming that he was getting help from one of the hands. The water gushed so fast that Adam sputtered.

 

“Whoa! Are you trying to drown me?”

 

Looking up, he saw Dee standing there grinning. Not smiling. Grinning.

 

Adam slowly removed his chaps and then, with a grin of his own, threw the chaps over Dee’s head and spun her around in circles. Then he threw her over his shoulder and toted her back to the shade of a big tree where he deposited her. 

 

“Ewwwwwww!” Dee screeched as she extricated herself from the chaps. “I don’t think even Flower could make anything smell this bad!”

 

She threw the chaps back at Adam. He had a wide grin on his face. Not a laugh. Just a grin.

 

Martha brought out a pitcher of lemonade and poured two glasses. Dee and Adam clinked glasses and then sat in the shade for a long time. Talking.

 

Hoss noticed this as he climbed atop a large mustang. Dee wouldn’t be cheering for him. It was obvious that Dee was interested in Adam. Hoss sighed and then turned his attention to the bronc that he was riding. His feelings were bittersweet – Adam and Dee seemed to be happy. He should be happy for his big brother, but somehow he just couldn’t be.

 

“Let ‘im loose, boys!” Hoss called, turning his attention to the mustang.

 

What he didn’t know was that, while he was riding, a pair of slate-gray eyes were watching him.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

 

The Jacksons and the Cartwrights ate the evening meal at the Ponderosa that night. All the Jackson’s horses had been saddle-broke by the end of the day and had been herded back to the Diamond J ranch by some of Ben’s men.

 

“Hop Sing, you’ve outdone yourself all day,” Dee chirped as she put the last bit of dessert in her mouth. 

 

The Chinaman smiled as he cleared the table. He disappeared into the kitchen, humming in his off-key voice, pleased as punch.

 

“Hoss,” Dee touched Hoss’s arm. “How’re those baby squirrels?”

 

Hoss shrugged. “Don’t know. Haven’t looked at ’em lately.” Hoss, of course, wasn’t telling the truth.

 

“You haven’t checked on them? Hoss Cartwright! Maybe the mother left them or ran off or got eaten by a hawk! I’m going to check on them right now! Will you come with me?”

 

Hazel eyes turned to Hoss and saw Hoss’s face light up.

 

“I can climb that tree better this time. I have on jeans instead of a dress. Last one to the tree is a rotten egg!” Dee sprinted from the room and headed for the door.

 

Hoss looked at Adam whose lips had turned up at the corners. “Go, Hoss! You sure don’t want to be a rotten egg!”

 

Happily, Hoss raced out the door to join Dee in the “squirrel watch.”

 

Dee was already taking off her boots when Hoss caught up with her. She was smiling. Not grinning. Smiling up into Hoss’s blue eyes.

 

“I can’t wait to see if those babies are okay,” Dee said breathlessly. “Adam could care less about them. I don’t know if he has a sensitive bone in his body.”

 

Hoss gave Dee a shove up to the first branch.

 

“I thought you two’d made peace,” Hoss replied as he pushed up on Dee’s dangling leg.

 

“Oh, we did,” came the answer. “I’ll tell you about it some time.”

 

Up into the tree the duo went until they could each peer into the nest. The baby squirrels now had their eyes open, and the mama was there with them. She looked at Hoss but didn’t run away.

 

“Hoss, is there any critter that’s scared of you?”

 

“Not none that I know of.”

 

When it was time for the Jacksons to head home, Hoss and Dee were still sitting in the tree. Their tones were hushed but happy.

 

It was then that Ben had a gut feeling. He didn’t know about Dee’s feelings, but he sure did know about Hoss’s!

 

And so did a hazel-eyed brother.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

 

The Army folks had come to look over the strings of horses that some ranchers wanted to sell. And Paul and Martha were delighted that all of the ones they had wanted to sell were immediately bought. Paul stood with an Army bank draft in his hands and whistled happily at the amount.

 

“Let’s celebrate and go to Carson City for a shopping spree for a few days!”

 

Martha clapped her hands in excitement. She knew that Carson City was a place where Paul could find things necessary for the ranch and that she herself could find all kinds of goodies that Virginia City didn’t have.

 

Dee smiled at her aunt and uncle. They had opened their home to her for a visit that had lasted way too long. They had put up with Dee’s attitude and the trouble she had either caused or was otherwise involved in. Dee wanted to give them time to themselves for a change. So she declined going.

 

“Why, Dee! It’s going to be so much fun!” Martha protested when Dee opted to stay on the ranch.

 

“I know, Aunt Martha. But I really want to stay here. I hope you understand.”

 

Martha immediately thought with her heart. “Is there a certain Cartwright that you don’t want to leave?”

 

Dee blushed. “I guess you could say that. Besides, I won’t be alone here. The ranch hands will be here too. I know what needs to be done, and I can keep an eye out on things.”

 

Paul and Martha exchanged knowing looks and smiled. They decided to leave first thing in the morning.

 

Dee was glad. She had some things on her mind, personal things, that needed to be tended to. And now she wouldn’t have to answer any questions for where she was or what she was up to.

 

It was early afternoon the next day before Martha and Paul left. Dee waved goodbye and waited until the buckboard was out of sight before she whistled for Thor. Dee was a woman on a mission…

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

 

Dee was disappointed when she arrived at the Ponderosa and found that only Ben was home, working on his ledgers. He had sold all of the Cartwright mustangs that he had intended to sell when the Army men had arrived yesterday. He was delighted to hear that the Jacksons had had the same good fortune.

 

“Where’s the rest of the family?” Dee tried to sound nonchalant, but Ben could see right through her.

 

“Hmmm. Joe and Adam are supposed to be mending fences. Hoss mentioned something about seeing Bessie Sue, I think. Or did he do that yesterday?” Ben feigned a lack of memory.

 

“Oh,” Dee said. “Well, I just stopped by to let you know that Aunt Martha and Uncle Paul have gone to Carson City for a few days. I’m happy to be chief-cook-and-bottle-washer for a change. I kinda like the idea of looking out after the ranch all by myself.”

 

“Dee, you know you have a place to stay – here – if you get lonesome or need help.” Ben gave Dee his most serious look. 

 

“Thank you, Mister Ben, but I’ll be just fine. If I’m not, you’re close enough to ride for help.”

 

Ben walked Dee to the door and made sure that she had climbed up on Thor’s back safely. He waved as she rode away. There were several questions that Ben had wanted to ask but, being a good father, he kept his mouth shut. It was most difficult.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

 

Dee decided to head to Virginia City to pick up some items that she knew Aunt Martha needed. Well, if the truth be known, Dee really wanted to look at some material for a new dress or maybe just a new skirt and blouse. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

 

Feeling free and easy, kicking Thor into an all-out gallop, she headed for town and for the General Store. She didn’t see three men at the top of the ridge on the way into town, but they saw her. They were strangers and didn’t know Dee. All they could see was a person in overalls riding a very fast horse. They wanted that horse, and they were used to getting what they wanted – one way or the other! They followed Dee into town. Dee was blissfully unaware of their presence.

 

As luck would have it, when Dee stopped in front of the General Store, Hoss was just exiting with a small sack in his hand. At first, Hoss didn’t see Dee because he was focused on some little kids standing outside the store with their noses pressed to the window. Hoss grinned as he hunkered down and passed out one piece of candy to each child. In return, he got big hugs from the little boys and kisses from the little girls. Dee’s heart was touched and warmed.

 

“Is there candy in that bag for me?” Dee asked with a smile as she approached Hoss.

 

“Dee!” Hoss was genuinely surprised. 

 

“Aunt Martha and Uncle Paul went to Carson City for a few days, and I couldn’t decide what to do with myself. So I went to the Ponderosa to see what was happening there.” Dee avoided saying that she was looking for a certain Cartwright. 

 

“Adam’s mending fences,” Hoss said, a wee bit of terseness in his voice. He didn’t mention Joe’s name.

 

“I was told that you might be with Bessie Sue,” Dee countered.

 

“Wonder where Pa got that idea?” Hoss scratched his head. “I ain’t seen her since the party.”

 

“Are you two…you know…a couple?” Dee asked. 

 

Hoss thought that this was none of Dee’s business and started to say so. But he didn’t. “We see each other from time to time. Not on a steady basis.”

 

Changing the subject, Hoss looked at Thor. No saddle. Just a halter. “Ain’t you gonna tie him up?”

 

“Oh, he never gets tied up. He may wander around a bit but he won’t go far.”

 

“Didja come into town to shop?” Hoss really didn’t know what to say or do.

 

“The thought crossed my mind. Then I realized I had no way to carry a bunch of stuff home, so I thought I’d just window-shop.” Dee had thought quick on her feet. Then she asked, “What brings you into town instead of getting stuck mending fences?”

 

“Had to go to the bank and check the mail and get supplies for Hop Sing. Pa’s got his head buried in the books and he likes for the house to be quiet. I was just headin’ home.”

 

“Hoss?” Dee played with a tendril of hair that kept escaping from underneath her hat. “Do you have to get back home right now?”

 

Hoss gave Dee a confused look. “No. Why?”

 

“Well, I thought we could just hang around for a while.”

 

Hoss looked up at the sky. “It’s gonna get dark soon. How ’bout we have an early supper?”

 

Dee brightened at the thought but then she frowned. “Hoss, I can’t go anywhere dressed like this.”

 

“Sure ya kin,” Hoss laughed. “We kin go to that little cafe down the street. The food is good, and there’s plenty of it. Nobody cares what folks are wearin’.”

 

Dee smiled her brilliant smile. “Oh, Hoss! Let’s do! I want to talk to you about something anyway.”

 

Alarm bells went off in Hoss’s head. He just knew that Dee wanted to talk about Adam. But he had unwittingly set this stage so he was stuck.

 

Hoss and Dee walked toward the cafe. Thor followed along behind them. Hoss’s buckboard stayed in front of the General Store. He hadn’t got the supplies yet but figured he could load them up after supper. He was curious as to what Dee wanted to talk to him about. Even if his feelings got hurt by spending time talking about Adam.

 

Three pairs of eyes watched them as they went into the cafe and sat by the window. There was no way to steal a horse right in plain sight…

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

 

Contrary to what Hoss had thought, the meal revolved around Dee’s questions about Hoss as a child and what he was like growing up. They both found that they had a lot in common in their youth, and supper had long since been over. Still, the two of them talked.

 

Dee learned that Hoss had always been teased about his size and how he had always felt like he was on the outside looking in. Hoss learned that Dee’s problems had been that she had always been too tall and skinny and had become incredibly insecure. Dee learned that Hoss had turned to an interest in animals of all kinds. Dee had done the same thing.

 

Dee sipped her last cup of coffee. “There’s one big difference between us, Hoss. You, by your own admission, grew uncomfortable with women. I, on the other hand, finally stopped being a skinny kid. I was still tall but, by then, guys had grown taller. I found myself becoming quite popular.”

 

Dee started to say more, but shut her mouth as she finished her coffee. 

 

Hoss knew that Dee wanted to say something and urged her on. 

 

“I…well…I’ve done some things…um…with a few men…that a lady shouldn’t do. I’m ashamed now to admit it. If I had it to do over again, things’d be different.”

 

Hoss knew exactly what Dee was saying. “We’ve all done things we ain’t proud of, Dee. But, there’s always the hope that we learn to do better as time goes by.”

 

Dee sighed and remembered that Adam had told her basically the same thing. “I have this very strange attraction for certain kinds of men. The ones who like a challenge, who love me and, when the challenge grows boring, they leave me. Pierre was one of those men. I wasn’t woman enough to hang on to him. So now I just guard myself by being…er…difficult to get along with.”

 

Hoss finished his coffee. “You don’t seem to have your guard up with me. And Pierre was an idiot to treat you like he did. You’re more than enough woman for any man if you’d just relax and be yourself.”

 

Dee looked into Hoss’s honest face. “I don’t think I know how to ‘relax’ any more. And I’m not sure that I really know who I am.”

 

“You’re relaxed with me,” Hoss said quietly.

 

“Yes,” Dee answered as she stood up. “Yes, I am.” She had a very serious look on her face but said no more.

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

 

Leaving the cafe, Dee whistled for Thor. He appeared from seemingly out of nowhere. Dee started to say good night to Hoss, but then a sly smile appeared on her face.

 

“Hoss, you wanna have a little bit of fun before we leave town?”

 

Hoss lips turned slightly upward. “Exactly what kind of fun? It don’t involve that slingshot you’re totin’, does it?”

 

“Hoss!” Dee laughed. “No, it doesn’t involve my slingshot. And nobody will get hurt. C’mon, follow me over there.” Dee pointed to a saloon that she knew she wouldn’t be recognized in. Nobody knew it, but she supplemented her income from her family by playing poker. She didn’t need much money, but she wouldn’t ask Aunt Martha and Uncle Paul to help her out. She had already mooched off them for too long now.

 

“Dee!” Hoss was horrified. “You cain’t go in there! That’s a rough part of town! Whatcha wanna do in there anyhow?”

 

“Play a few hands of poker,” Dee said, crinkling her nose. “Just enough hands to get some pocket money.”

 

Hoss immediately fished into his pocket and held out an unknown amount of money. “Here, gal. Take this. But I ain’t lettin’ you go into that saloon.”

 

Gently, Dee pushed Hoss’s hand away. “I don’t want your money, Hoss. You didn’t take me to raise.”

 

“Well, you ain’t goin’ in that place. Lord only knows what could happen to you in there!”

 

“That’s why I want you to go with me,” Dee replied. “You can keep an eye on me. I’ll stay long enough to win just a little money and then I’ll be ready to leave.”

 

“No!” Hoss was adamant.

 

Dee was stubborn. “Then I’ll go by myself.” 

 

She turned and walked toward the saloon.

 

“Oh, Lordy,” moaned Hoss who decided that he’d better go with her. “C’mon, Thor. We need you close by so Dee can get outta there in a hurry.”

 

Thor was obliging and walked toward the saloon along with Dee and Hoss.

 

“Let me borrow your vest,” Dee whispered.

 

“My vest?”

 

“Do you want the men in there to know that I’m a woman?” Dee hissed.

 

As Hoss begrudgingly shrugged out of his vest, Dee did something with her hair and hid it under her hat. Then she rubbed a little dirt on her face and overalls. When she donned Hoss’s vest, she did look rather mannish.

 

Dee giggled. “C’mon, Hoss.”

 

“Oh, Lordy,” Hoss moaned again. But he went.

 

And so did the owners of the three pairs of alert eyes.

 

CHAPTER FORTY

 

Dee looked around as she entered the saloon. It was dusty and dirty, and she fit right in. Some of the men knew Hoss and stopped him to say howdy. Dee, on the other hand, was looking for just the right table – and she found it. She wouldn’t play poker with anyone who looked down-on-his-luck, but she would play poker with folks who looked like they could afford to lose a few bucks.

 

Meanwhile, Hoss was trying to extricate himself from conversations with men who knew him. By the time he could get away, Dee was already sitting at a table, drinking a beer and holding a handful of cards. Apparently, in the low light, nobody realized that she wasn’t a man. Hoss stood by the bar, watching the room with eagle eyes.

 

By and by, the men at Dee’s table dropped out – they were playing for low stakes and knew when to leave with the money that they had. It was then that three strangers walked in. Hoss’s instincts told him that there would be trouble, and he tried to catch Dee’s eye to signal that it was time to leave. And she almost did leave.

 

One of the strangers spoke. “Who’s App is that outside? Fine-lookin’ animal. Looks like he’s fast.” He already knew that Thor was fast because he’d seen him run.

 

“My horse,” Dee answered.

 

“I wanna buy him.”

 

“Not for sale.”

 

“I’d pay a pretty penny for him.”

 

“Nope. Not for sale.”

 

“How ’bout if we play cards for him? Winner gets him.”

 

Dee had that gleam in her eyes – and she wore that sly smile.

 

“My name’s Hank,” Dee lied. “Sit down.”

 

“This here is Red. That’s Scully. I’m Pete.” The men sat down and ordered more beer and a new deck of cards.

 

And the game was on. Dee deliberately fumbled with her cards to give the impression that she was just some “rube” trying to play a game completely over her head. Apparently, the three men couldn’t tell that she was a woman – they just accepted her as “Hank.”

 

Hoss smelled trouble and sat alone at a table close to Dee. She seemed to be losing almost every hand. And Hoss knew why. Pete was cheating. Finally catching Dee’s eye for an instant, Hoss cut his eyes to Pete, then back to Dee. She gave a slight nod.

 

Dee could spot a cheater at cards a mile away. She had been taught well by both her brothers and her father. But she had to lose a few hands because, if she won every time, she herself would be accused of cheating. So she lost a few hands and won a few hands. She won more than she lost. And her pile of winnings began to grow.

 

“Where’re you from, Hank?” Pete asked in a conversational tone as he dealt the next hand.

 

“Everywhere,” Dee answered. “Right now, I work for Paul Jackson.” 

 

Too late, she realized that she had said too much. But Red was already drunk, and Scully was well on his way to being oblivious. Pete appeared to be tipsy, but that could be a ruse. Dee looked outside and saw Thor through the window. All was well.

 

Scully fell asleep over his cards. Red was slurring his words. Hoss had a look of deep concern on his face.

 

“Let’s raise the stakes,” Dee said. She could afford to with all that money in front of her.

 

“Fine by me,” replied Pete who raised the ante, announced that deuces were wild, and dealt from the bottom of the deck.

 

Red fell over his chair and staggered to the bar. That left Dee and Pete at the table. Hoss kept one eye on Dee and the other on Thor.

 

And then Dee started to win. A lot. Pete went through Scully’s pockets for more money and then asked Red’s help.

 

Now, Pete was dealing the cards. Dee snickered to herself. The man was cheating and wasn’t even good at it. Dee did something that she usually never did. She looked at her cards and smiled. Pete caught the smile and knew that Dee must have a really good hand, but he wasn’t worried. His own hand could lead to something good if he could play his cards right.

 

“Dealer takes two,” he said and looked at Dee.

 

“None,” Dee answered, a smile playing about her lips.

 

The money in the middle of the table began to grow as the betting began. Pete couldn’t stand it any more.

 

“Call.”

 

Dee laid her cards down and smiled. “Three deuces. You can read my cards any way you want, but I still win.”

 

Pete hollered in disgust and threw his cards in the air. “That can’t be right!” he protested. “You can’t possibly have three deuces!”

 

“You’re not as good a cheater as you think you are,” Dee said evenly as she collected her winnings and stuffed them into her overalls. “Now you don’t get the horse and I’ve got your money.”

 

Pete was still stuttering in anger as Dee walked out the door with Hoss following closely behind her.

 

“He’s awful mad,” Hoss whispered. “He ain’t gonna take this lightly.”

 

“Probably not,” Dee answered as she returned Hoss’s vest, let her hair down out of her hat, and washed the dirt off her face.

 

“Dee, did you…uh…cheat?”

 

“Hoss Cartwright! I told you a while back that I win when I choose. Surely you didn’t think I’d lose Thor to that moron!”

 

Hoss shook his head. “I gotta load supplies and git home. You stay right here with me so’s I kin keep an eye on you! And I’m takin’ you back to the Diamond J, too!”

 

Dee started to protest but decided that there were some things Hoss needed to know. The ride home would be the perfect time for a very serious discussion.

 

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

 

Hoss had paid for the supplies earlier, and now he shouldered bags of flour and sugar and other boxes as he loaded them into the wagon. Dee helped with the smaller things and then walked toward Thor, getting ready to swing onto his back. But she got only one foot off the ground before something stopped her forward progress and she found herself hanging in mid-air. Hoss had grabbed the back of her overalls and carted her to the seat in the wagon.

 

“I tole ya that I was gonna take you back to the Diamond J. Now you jest sit right there. Thor can follow us to your place.”

 

Dee gaped and then made a face. 

 

“You coulda warned me that you were gonna snatch me off my feet. You scared the life out of me!”

 

Hoss climbed onto the seat next to Dee. 

 

“You said you wanted to talk. You kin set right here and talk ’til I see that you’re home safe and sound. You been playin’ with fire tonight – I feel responsible for you.”

 

“Dammit, Hoss!” Dee crossed her arms. “I can take care of myself!”

 

“Watch yer mouth!” Hoss warned. “No reason for you to talk like a muleskinner.”

 

Dee gave Hoss the silent treatment for a while. Hoss pretended not to notice and whistled as he headed toward the Jackson’s ranch. Dee realized that Hoss, for all his gentleness, was not a pushover. 

 

Finally, Dee broke her silence.

 

“Do you think Adam would’ve let me play poker?”

 

Hoss had thought right – Dee wanted to talk about Adam. It made him sad, but he answered anyway.

 

“Nope. He wouldn’t o’ let you near that saloon to begin with.”

 

“Then why did you let me go in?”

 

Hoss shrugged. “Curiosity maybe. But I was right there to protect you.”

 

“Adam wouldn’t have protected me?”

 

Hoss looked at Dee’s face. She was serious. 

 

“The way you two take pot-shots at each other, he mighta just left you there.” Then a sigh. “No, if he’d o’ let you go in to begin with, he’d o’ protected you too.”

 

Dee gnawed on her bottom lip for a moment.

 

“What does Adam think of me?”

 

Hoss thought for a minute before he answered.

 

“We all like you, Dee. But Adam sees you as a challenge. He loves to play chess. You two move around the chessboard like dancers – you allow yourselves to get close but you two still keep just enough distance between you.”

 

“I had a talk with Adam. The night of the party. Did he tell you what I said?”

 

“Nope. Adam don’t repeat private conversations.”

 

“We came to an understanding, Adam and I. We decided to make peace.”

 

“Adam’s a good man, Dee,” Hoss said truthfully, though his heart hurt a bit. “He can be gentle and sensitive. He works hard. He’s good with money. He’s smart and talented.” Hoss looked at Dee. “And he’d make you a good husband. He’d never cause you no worries. Ever.”

 

Dee was startled. “You really love Adam, don’t you?”

 

“Yes’m. I do.”

 

“Hoss, Adam knows that I’m not interested in marrying him. He’s just the kind of man that I’ve always been attracted to, and I told him so. But the attraction that I feel is just not the ‘marrying kind’ of attraction. He agrees that he feels the same way. Besides, there’s somebody else…”

 

Dee didn’t get to finish her sentence because Thor had made his way to the front of the wagon, blocking its progress. Dead ahead was the Jackson’s ranch house. To the right were three horses, tied in the trees.

 

“You expectin’ company?” Hoss asked quietly.

 

“No. And the barn door is open.”

 

“Didja forget to close it when you left?”

 

“Hoss, Thor doesn’t stay in the barn. He runs free all the time. That door was closed when I left.”

 

Hoss reached for his gun.

 

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

 

“Wait, Hoss,” Dee whispered. “Let’s get a closer look before we decide what to do.”

 

Hoss nodded but didn’t put away his gun and helped Dee out of the wagon. They stayed low in the bushes and walked as silently as possible toward the house. Thor stayed back at the wagon, an unusual move on his part.

 

Now there were only a few trees left to hide behind. Hoss listened. Dee listened. They both looked at the barn. Nothing. Three riderless horses, tied in the woods, plus one open barn door equaled nothing good.

 

“Go get Pa,” Hoss whispered.

 

“Not a chance,” Dee hissed. “You might need help.”

 

This wasn’t the time to argue. Soon there was the sound of something scraping and squeaking. 

 

“That’s the back window,” Dee said. “It always sounds like that.”

 

Hoss’s eyes swept over the barn and the bunkhouse. Both were dark and quiet. But, all of a sudden, Hoss grabbed Dee’s arm.

 

“Look in the front window to the living room.”

 

Dee looked. Somebody had lit a match. And, in the short time the match gave its light, Dee and Hoss saw three men.

 

Dee gawked. “That’s Pete from the saloon! I think he’s got his idiot friends with him!”

 

“Uh-huh. Let’s see what they do.”

 

The match went out, so Dee and Hoss waited. One man came out, holding something in his hands. It looked like a large box. Then he went back inside.

 

“Aunt Martha and Uncle Paul keep extra money in a small safe in the living room. Is that it sitting on the porch?”

 

Hoss started to stand up, his gun ready, but Dee was thinking fast.

 

“Wait, Hoss. I have a better idea.” She looked Hoss dead in the eye. “Do you trust me, Hoss?”

 

“It’s to dangerous for anything but a gun, Dee.”

 

“Listen. If you start shooting, the ranch hands will come out and start shooting at anything that moves. Both of us might get shot in the excitement and the robbers may get away. I asked you if you trusted me. I have a plan. Please, Hoss. Trust me.”

 

Hoss knew that time was of the essence. He was afraid for Dee but she seemed hell-bent on something. Right now, she was filling her pockets full of big, sharp rocks.

 

“Dee, that slingshot cain’t do what a gun kin do.”

 

“It’s just our back-up plan,” Dee said as she filled her pockets. “Wait here for me. I’ll be back in less than five minutes. If I’m not, shoot the thieves!”

 

Before Hoss could stop her, Dee ran like a deer and disappeared into the barn. Then she came out, running low, and headed out of sight. Hoss held his breath. Time was ticking away. And then, suddenly, Dee was by Hoss’s side.

 

“What in hell didja do?” Hoss whispered.

 

“Shhhh. You sound like a muleskinner.” 

 

“We cain’t wait any longer. Stuff is piling up on the porch.”

 

“If I’m right, we won’t have to wait long.” Dee crossed her fingers.

 

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE 

 

Only a few seconds passed, and then all hell broke loose. From inside the house came shouting, the sounds of furniture being overturned, screams of pain and panic, and then the front door burst wide open. The man who ran out happened to be Scully, his eyes wide with fright. Dee took aim with her slingshot and hit the man square in the forehead. He dropped to the ground and didn’t move.

 

Hoss grinned. “Guess I don’t have to shoot that one.”

 

“Nope.” Dee loaded up her slingshot again.

 

Pete and Red practically fell out the front door. Red looked like he was doing a jig, his legs going every which-a-way and his arms grabbing at his head, neck and shoulders. Dee lobbed several rocks at him, and he fell to the ground and rolled around and shouted obscenities.

 

“Sounds like a muleskinner,” Dee quipped as she fired another projectile.

 

By now, the bunkhouse was emptying as the ranch hands ran to the scene, guns in their hands. All of a sudden, they turned around and fled back to the safety of the bunk house. The door closed and so did the windows.

 

The last man to emerge from the house was Pete. He was coughing and dragging one leg behind him. He was kicking furiously to try to rid himself of something.

 

Dee lobbed three large rocks, and Pete fell to his knees. He continued to kick.

 

As Dee and Hoss approached the men, their eyes began to water and their noses began to run. Then the odor hit them fully and they coughed. There is no worse smell than that which a skunk – and a scared and angry one at that – can give off.

 

Dee walked up to Pete, trying hard not to breathe too deeply. Pete’s eyes and face were wet with tears, and his nose was running down past his chin. 

 

“Get that thing off me!” he half-cried.

 

Dee bent down and pulled Flower from Pete’s pant leg.

 

“Good girl!” Dee stroked Flower and popped her into the bib of her overalls.

 

Pete was bleeding badly, but it was hard to know if the blood was coming from bites or from rocks.

 

Red was writhing on the ground while Squeak ran laps all over his body, scratching and biting. 

 

“Please, help me,” Red whined. “I think I’m bleeding to death, and I can’t breathe!”

 

Dee picked Squeak up in her hands and praised him. Then she put him on her head and ran to the bunkhouse while Hoss held his gun on the three men. Scully was beginning to regain consciousness and was the least injured.

 

Dee banged on the bunkhouse door. 

 

“Come out here and give us a hand!” Dee demanded.

 

“Who’s ‘us’?” A voice called back from within the bunkhouse.

 

“Hoss and me, you cowards!” Dee called back. “We’ve caught ourselves three men trying to put the ‘five-finger-discount’ on stuff in the house. We need your help.”

 

The ranch hands slowly appeared, wearing wet bandannas over their noses and mouths.

 

Hoss took over. “Somebody ride hard to the Ponderosa and get my Pa and brothers.” Five men fled, happy to leave the smell behind.

 

Hoss pointed at one man. “Go to town and get Sheriff Coffee. And be quick.” That man was as eager to escape the scene as the others had been.

 

Hoss held his nose again. “The rest of you, git these three yahoos away from the house. Get ropes so’s we can tie ’em up!”

 

“You!” Scully looked at Dee through swollen eyes. He recognized the overalls which was about all he could see. “You tried to kill us!”

 

Dee’s nose crinkled. “If we had been trying to kill you, Hoss would’ve just shot you on the spot.” 

 

Dee smiled at Hoss as she wiped her eyes. Hoss blew his nose and tried to breathe what little fresh air there was at a good distance from the house.

 

By the time the Cartwrights and Sheriff Coffee arrived, all three robbers were tied together. They looked like they had been in a battle and lost. Which, of course, was the truth.

 

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

 

Thanks to a windstorm that had come up, Flower’s “essence” was blowing away from the group. But some of the awful smell still lingered. There still was a lot of coughing going on. The thieves had gotten the brunt of it, and their eyes were watering and swollen.

 

Roy held his nose briefly. “Can someone explain to me just exactly what happened here?” He looked at the three bleeding men sitting on the ground.

 

Adam fanned his hand in front of his face. Joe held a handkerchief to his nose. Ben was stoic and tried to breathe as little as possible.

 

Hoss got right to the point. “These men were tryin’ to rob the Jacksons, but Dee ‘n’ I caught ’em. The stuff they planned to steal is still settin’ on the front porch.” 

 

“Dee? Were you in the house when this happened?” Ben looked genuinely concerned.

 

“No, Mister Ben. Hoss and I were in town. We got home late and found these morons already in the house.”

 

Adam immediately recognized the fur “hat” on Dee’s head and was also aware that there was a lot of movement beneath the bib of her overalls. He said nothing. He wanted to hear the whole story.

 

The three thieves said nothing.

 

“Dee and I was havin’ dinner at the cafe,” Hoss began. “And then we stopped at the ‘Red Garter’ for a while.”

 

“Hoss! You know better than to go to such a rough place – much less take a lady there!” Ben was aghast.

 

“Mister Ben, it was my idea. I wanted to play a few hands of poker.”

 

“Poker?” Joe’s eyes lit up. “Did you win?”

 

“Joseph!” Ben boomed.

 

“The ‘Red Garter’ doesn’t allow ladies inside,” Adam said dryly.

 

“Well, I had to disguise myself.”

 

“Disguise yourself?” Roy didn’t know what else to say.

 

“Uh-huh. I borrowed Hoss’s vest, put my hair under my hat, rubbed some dirt on my face and just walked right in.”

 

“Hoss? You let her do this?” Ben looked at his middle son in surprise.

 

“Pa, you know there ain’t no stoppin’ Dee when she has her mind set on somethin’.” Hoss looked miserable.

 

“I was getting ready to leave when these…these…miscreants walked up and wanted to buy Thor. I told them that he wasn’t for sale. Then we finally decided to play poker for him. I won. I kept Thor and all the money.”

 

“She cheated,” Pete muttered.

 

“Well, you should know. You cheated and not very well at that.”

 

Roy held up his hand. “Can we please get to the crux of the matter?”

 

Dee’s nose crinkled. “Hoss and I weren’t in a hurry to get home, so we took our time.”

 

Adam’s eyebrow shot up to his hairline.

 

“When we got here, Thor blocked our way to the house. That’s when we saw that there were people inside. We recognized them. So we made a plan.” Dee didn’t take credit for the fact that it was her plan.

 

“We sent Squeak and Flower into the house. They don’t like strangers. And they reacted just like we knew they would.”

 

Scully looked confused. “You sent who in?”

 

Dee pulled Squeak off the top of her head and fetched Flower out of her overalls. “Hoss didn’t even have to use his gun.”

 

“Liar,” growled Red. “Look at all this blood. Scully has a bullet hole in his head, and I have one or two in my leg.”

 

Dee snorted and pulled out her slingshot and the rest of the rocks. “There wasn’t any shooting.”

 

The ranch hands, sitting farther away from the smell, verified that there had been no gunfire.

 

Roy looked at Scully’s forehead. Sure enough, there was no bullet hole. And there were no bullet holes in either Pete or Red’s legs. Bloody cuts, deep, but no bullet holes.

 

While Dee returned Squeak and Flower to the barn, Hoss brought in the three horses which had been hidden in the trees. He also pointed to the porch. 

 

“That’s what was being stolen,” he said simply.

 

Roy had to go look to be sure. There was a small safe, Martha’s good silver, and some jewelry. This was definite proof that the house had, indeed, been robbed.

 

Roy rubbed his eyes. “I can’t put these men in my jail. I’ll never get the stink out of it.”

 

Ben stepped forward. “Hop Sing has a cure for everything. Let’s go to the Ponderosa and see what he can come up with.

 

“We need a doctor!” Pete shouted.

 

“Shut up!” Roy demanded. He was tired and angry and, besides that, he was beginning to smell too.

 

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

 

Indeed, Hop Sing did have a cure for skunk smell. An old Chinese remedy which probably wasn’t even Chinese. It involved a variation of tomatoes, vinegar, and other ingredients. All the Cartwrights stripped off their clothes and submitted to Hop Sing’s “remedy.” While they washed, clean clothes were provided for them. Dee had a room to herself and doused herself generously, washing as best she could. She ended up wearing Hoss’s nightshirt.

 

As for the robbers and Roy, they got doused with all their clothes on. The vinegar and tomatoes burned the cuts and scratches and wounds of three very bad men. Roy was stoic as Hop Sing poured more of the concoction over him. And the “remedy” worked – almost completely. By the time this whole process was finished, there was just a slightly unpleasant odor.

 

Roy, with several of Ben’s ranch hands, headed for town along with the three “miscreants.” Hop Sing cackled happily as he made more of his “remedy” – just in case it might be needed again.

 

Dee looked glum. “I’m gonna be in big trouble.”

 

“Why? You saved the house from being robbed.” Ben looked confused.

 

“I promised Aunt Martha and Uncle Paul that Squeak and Flower would never come in the house. But now it just reeks of skunk.”

 

Ben’s voice was soothing as he looked in the direction of the kitchen. 

 

“Don’t worry, Dee. Hop Sing has a cure or a remedy for everything under the sun.” Ben rose and headed toward the kitchen. 

 

Dee spent the night at the Ponderosa. The next day, she wore some of Joe’s old clothes and, with the help of the Cartwrights, put the house back in order and used Hop Sing’s cleaning solution. It was also fortuitous that the wind continued to blow through the open windows – it helped lessen the stench. Dee hoped, by the time that Martha and Paul returned, that they wouldn’t notice anything amiss. They would have to be told, of course, of the facts about the attempted robbery, but maybe Dee could gloss over the fact that Squeak and Flower were the true heroes of the night.

 

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

 

Things began happening in a hurry. For one, the three robbers were wanted by the law everywhere from Arizona to Nevada for several bank robberies and a murder. Dee received a big monetary reward – which she shared with Hoss. Hoss didn’t want to take the money but Dee almost stuck it in his shirt. Instead of hurting Dee’s feelings, Hoss ended up taking the money. 

 

The second thing that happened was that Martha and Paul were returning from Carson City and, as fate would have it, the couple ran into Clem and a few other men who had been hastily deputized to return the thieves to Utah. They would be tried there for murdering a bank teller. Clem informed them about the attempted robbery at their own ranch. But he failed to tell the complete story.

 

The third thing that happened was that Martha and Paul sped to the Diamond J to make sure that Dee was all right. They truly loved Dee and knew that “things” could be replaced but that nothing in the world could replace their niece.

 

The fourth thing that happened was, upon arriving at the ranch, the Jacksons found Dee busy at work polishing furniture. They didn’t know that Dee had been cleaning the house every day with Hop Sing’s “cure-all-smells” to get rid of the skunk odor. As far as Dee could tell, the house smelled good, even if there was the overpowering odor of citrus and pine.

 

The fifth thing was that, unfortunately, Martha had a nose like a bloodhound. No amount of citrus-and-pine could disguise the underlying smell of eau de skunk. After ascertaining that Dee was unhurt and that nothing was missing, Martha became angry.

 

“You promised not to bring that skunk in this house!”

 

Dee bowed her head. “Yes, ma’am, I did.”

 

Paul rubbed his eyes. “I told you what I would do if Flower or Squeak crossed the line.”

 

“Yes, sir.” Dee looked so sad that Martha actually felt sorry for her.

 

“It’s for the best, Dee. Those critters are friends. Paul will take them together, far enough away, and they won’t be coming back here. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is.”

 

Dee nodded. “I understand.” She sat down on the sofa, her face a picture of misery.

 

The sixth thing that happened involved Hoss. He rode up with more bottles of cleaner that Hop Sing had brewed up. He found Paul heading towards the barn, a burlap bag in each hand.

 

“Hey, Paul! Welcome home!” Hoss’s grin was broad.

 

“Hoss! What brings you out here at this hour of the day?”

 

The men shook hands. Hoss pointed to the burlap bags. “Going huntin?”

 

“Nope. Gonna get rid of a skunk and a ferret. Dee let Flower in the house and she sprayed everywhere. Squeak and Flower are friends, and I don’t wanna separate ’em so I’m gonna take ’em off far into the woods…”

 

Hoss was confused. “But, Paul, they saved you from being robbed!”

 

“What?” Paul shouted.

 

Hoss gave the pertinent facts in a nutshell, and Paul took the sacks back into the house. Hoss followed with his bottles of cleaner.

 

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

 

“Martha! Martha! Where are you?” Paul called.

 

“Quit that hollering!” Martha scolded as she emerged from the kitchen. “I’m right here. Oh, hello, Hoss.”

 

“Come sit down in the living room with Dee,” Paul said. “Hoss has some very interesting news to tell us. Things that we need to know. Now.”

 

When Martha and Paul were seated, Hoss began to speak.

 

“I ain’t one to mind somebody else’s business, but there’s things you need to know. Both Squeak and Flower are heroes.”

 

“What?” Martha exclaimed.

 

Hoss told the whole truth from beginning to end – he included everything from supper to the arrest of the three bad men.

 

Martha was astonished. “You mean that Flower and Squeak actually saved our things? And not one shot was fired? Dee, why didn’t you tell us that to begin with!”

 

Dee sighed, but her nose crinkled. “I broke a promise. And I didn’t think I’d be forgiven.”

 

“Paul, you shoulda seen Dee! She shoved those critters in through the window and then high-tailed it out to where I was hiding and watching. She wouldn’t let me shoot. Nobody got hurt. Except for those three criminals. Squeak and Flower took care of them purty quick. They were almost happy to go to jail. As I see it, you don’t need no guard dog out here – not when Squeak and Flower are around.” Hoss looked absolutely delighted.

 

Martha held Dee’s hand. 

 

“Dee, I don’t know what to say. I didn’t have all the facts. Paul and I owe you and Hoss a heartful of thanks.” She paused. “But you were in a saloon? Playing poker? Girl, what’s gotten into you?”

 

Dee’s nose crinkled more, and her eyes sparkled. “It seemed the thing to do at the time.”

 

“Hoss, you allowed Dee to go into that saloon? I won’t even go there! And you let her play poker?” Paul was incredulous.

 

Hoss looked at Paul. “I had a lapse in good judgment.”

 

Paul looked from Hoss to Dee and then to Martha. “It would seem that all is well, thanks to two critters – and to Hoss and Dee’s quick thinking.” He pointed his finger at Dee. “But this doesn’t mean that we will tolerate any four-legged animals in the house again. Is that clear?”

 

“Yes, sir!” Relief was written all over Dee’s face.

 

Martha looked at Hoss. “Bring your family to supper tonight, please. I’d like to thank them all for their help.” She had a sneaky look on her face. “I’m having cherry pie for dessert.”

 

Hoss grinned. “Yes, ma’am. We’ll be here!”

 

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

 

A meal at the Jackson’s ranch was always a pleasurable experience. Martha was an excellent cook and she loved being in the kitchen. Tonight was no exception. Conversation centered around the Jackson’s trip to Carson City and the purchases made there. Paul spent a lot of time discussing some new-fangled ranch equipment that he had bought. Paul made it clear that, if these things worked like they were supposed to, the Cartwrights could try them out for themselves. Nobody mentioned the three bad men. After the meal was over, Martha shooed everybody out of the house while she and Dee cleaned the dishes. Ben and Paul sat out on the front porch – Ben with his pipe, Paul with his cigars. Adam leaned against the porch railing; Joe and Hoss sat in chairs. Everybody was waiting for that promised cherry pie! 

 

Dee had set out so many candles all over the house that Martha feared a fire would start, but the scent of the candles covered up the odor that only Martha seemed aware of.

 

“The candles give the house a warm glow,” Ben observed. “But I don’t remember any place where there’ve been quite so many that smell so good.”

 

“I brought them over last night,” Adam said, poking a toothpick in his mouth. “I don’t think there’s a candle left in the General Store.”

 

Hoss looked at Adam. “You bought ’em? You were over here last night? I thought you was asleep when I went to bed.”

 

Adam shrugged. “I had an idea that these particular candles might come in handy. I saw them in town yesterday so I bought them and brought them to Dee.”

 

Ben could feel the tension between his two sons but didn’t know what to do. This was a problem that Adam and Hoss had to work out between themselves.

 

“If you’d have asked, I’d have ridden with you.” Hoss seemed a little upset.

 

“It was no problem. I think I can handle a saddlebag full of candles by myself. And, like you said, you’d already gone to bed.”

 

Hoss was silent. He didn’t know that Adam had seen Dee last night. His mind wandered. Adam had never mentioned candles yesterday. Why? How long had Adam stayed? What was happening between Dee and Adam? Was Adam hiding something?

 

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

 

Dee appeared with the cherry pies and passed out plates and forks to everyone. She noticed that Hoss wouldn’t look at her but that Adam seemed to be boring through her with his eyes. She felt uncomfortable momentarily. Then Martha arrived with coffee, and Dee just enjoyed sitting on the porch with good friends.

 

Hoss, who usually just plowed into Martha’s pies, ate slowly. Every now and then he would look quizzically at Adam and then at Dee and then would return his attention to the pie or the coffee.

 

“Hoss,” Martha queried. “I made that pie in a hurry. Is something wrong with it?”

 

“No’m. I guess I’m jest full from that big meal you fixed.” Hoss was only partially fibbing. He had certainly eaten his fill earlier.

 

Adam, the sensible one, decided to change the subject. Hoss was obviously uncomfortable, and Adam’s heart went out to his brother.

 

“I heard that Doc Martin had his hands full with those three men that Hoss and Dee caught.”

 

“Adam!” Ben’s tone was sharp. “I don’t think this is the time…”

 

Paul laughed and waved his hand. “Ben, it’s all right. Martha and I have talked this over, and we’ve decided that this will make a good story for a long time. If you look at it, parts of it really are funny!”

 

Joe snickered. “That one guy that got a rock in his forehead thought he’d been shot. It took Clem and Roy both to hold him down long enough to get sewn up!”

 

Dee’s lips twitched and her nose crinkled. Even Hoss smiled at the thought.

 

Adam’s toothpick went from one side of his mouth to the other. He dimpled. “Another guy swore that he’d been shot several times in the leg. I heard that he screamed to high Heaven while Doc Martin was working on him. As good as Dee is with that slingshot, I figured he’d be one less man to be a father.”

 

Dee’s lips turned upward and her eyes sparkled.

 

“My aim was off. Otherwise I would’ve hit just where I planned to.”

 

Unconsciously, every man on the porch crossed their legs tightly. Just the thought of where Dee had been aiming was mentally painful.

 

“What were their last names? I’ve forgotten already. They were very bad men.” Martha sipped her coffee.

 

“They probably didn’t really have last names. They were probably bast…um…’mistakes of nature’.” Dee corrected herself just in time.

 

“Mercedes!” Martha chided – but she didn’t really sound too angry.

 

“I didn’t say it, Aunt Martha. I almost did but I caught it just in time.”

 

Paul, who usually was rubbing his eyes by now, laughed long and hard. And the tension in the air was broken and was replaced by a comfortable silence. Hoss attacked his pie with gusto.

 

There was a momentary silence and, in that moment, there was a scraping sound – like something was being dragged across wood.

 

“Uh-oh,” Dee muttered as she looked around.

 

“Oh, my,” Martha said. “I must’ve left a pie plate on the back porch.” And, for once in her life, Martha smirked.

 

“Aunt Martha!” Dee said, astonished. “You know that Flower is stealing another pie!”

 

“It was only a slice, Dee,” Martha answered with yet another smirk. “It’s the least I could do as a thank-you to Flower.”

 

At that moment, the critter in question waddled up the steps and crawled into Dee’s lap. Dee looked at Flower and giggled at the tell-tale crumbs on the skunk’s snout. A small shadow passed by from the corner of the house. The light from the lanterns on the porch illuminated the figure – and there was Squeak, dragging the pie tin off into the woods.

 

“I guess Squeak likes cherries rather than apples.” Martha tried to look innocent and failed.

 

The uproar of laughter scared Flower off into the night as she followed Squeak. Martha had made her peace with Dee’s “critters.” The laughter went on for a long time.

 

CHAPTER FIFTY

 

The night was drawing to a close, and the Cartwrights had shaken hands with Paul and had hugged Martha. Adam walked unusually fast to his horse with Hoss close behind him.

 

“Hoss, stay here,” Adam whispered. “You have to.”

 

“Nope. I ain’t gonna hang around where I’m just in the way.”

 

“In the way?”

 

“I’m tired o’ hearin’ Dee talk about you.”

 

Ben stepped between the brothers. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you two, but I want it to stop right this minute!” Ben, of course, was lying. He knew exactly what was wrong.

 

Fortuitously, Dee approached and put her hand on Hoss’s arm. 

 

“We didn’t get to finish our talk the other night. Please stay and let me finish what I started.”

 

Hoss sighed. He was a gentleman and didn’t know how to say “No.”

 

Joe swung into his saddle with a grin. He knew something was up – he just didn’t know which brother to point a finger at.

 

Three Cartwrights rode off, leaving Dee standing in the yard with Hoss. 

 

“Uncle Paul, I’m going down to the pond for a while. I’ll be back later.”

 

Paul nodded as he picked up the pie dishes. Martha collected the coffee cups, and husband and wife disappeared inside the house.

 

Dee gave her usual low whistle for Thor. To Hoss, it seemed like forever before the stallion showed up. Hoss dreaded this conversation because he knew what the end result would be.

 

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

 

The pond was actually a warm spring and, upon arriving there, Dee slid off Thor’s back. She and Hoss had ridden in silence all the way there. Reluctantly, Hoss dismounted and tied Chubb up to a tree branch.

 

“Come sit with me,” Dee said. “Let’s take off our boots and socks and let the water run over our feet.”

 

“Naw,” Hoss answered. “I can talk with my boots on.”

 

“Hell’s bells, Hoss!” Dee swore. “Oops, that slipped out.”

 

Hoss almost smiled. He felt like he was walking to his death before a firing squad. He knew that Dee would tell him that she had changed her mind, that she loved Adam and that she wanted to marry him. Hoss also knew that she’d be picking his brain as to how he thought Adam felt about her. Or, had Adam and Dee already made plans when Adam had sneaked off to Dee’s last night with the candles?

 

Dee shook her head. “It’s been a wonderful night, Hoss. Let’s let our inner children out and just splash in the water.”

 

Dee walked to the gently sloping bank of the pond and, rolling up her pants’ legs and shucking her boots and socks, she plopped her feet into the water.

 

“Hoss, this is sheer bliss,” she said without turning around to see the look on Hoss’s face. He was making a hard decision, but make it he did. He sat by Dee – not too close – and rolled up his pants’ legs, removed his boots and socks, and stuck his feet in the water. Dee had been right: the warm water around his feet really did feel good and relaxing.

 

Dee looked into the water and wiggled her toes, trying to find the right words to say so that Hoss would understand.

 

“Before the robbery, we were talking about Adam. I was trying to tell you that there was somebody else that I was interested in.”

 

Hoss said nothing. Dee had said she didn’t want to marry Adam, and now she was telling him that there was another man in her life. He didn’t look at Dee. He stared off across the pond.

 

“Hoss, you know that you don’t fit the mold of the kind of man I’m attracted to,” Dee began.

 

“Yeah, I know. You like ’em tall, dark and handsome and you like ’em to be a challenge.” Hoss’s voice was unusually rough.

 

“That’s true…” Dee began.

 

“And I sure ain’t dark, handsome or a challenge. I’m just me. Plain ole Hoss.” There was bitterness in his voice.

 

Dee sighed. “I’m not going about this the right way at all. There’s so much I want to tell you, but the words keep coming out wrong.”

 

Hoss answered. “Just speak out plain.”

 

“Okay, I will,” Dee said with just a bit of bite in her voice. “Hoss, you are not dark and handsome. But you’re something else entirely. You’re beautiful. Beautiful on the inside and the outside.”

 

Dee leaned over and touched Hoss’s chest. “Your heart is enormous and extremely sensitive to other folks’ feelings. And that goes for animals, too. Animals know who they can trust. It’s a shame that people don’t learn what animals already know.”

 

Hoss looked at Dee, his curiosity piqued.

 

Dee took Hoss’s hands. “You’ve got these huge hands that are so gentle. So kind. You could break an ox’s neck if you ever wanted to, but you can hold Flower as tender as though she were a human baby. You’re slow to anger. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you angry. I get the feeling that, before you’d fight anyone, you’d have to be pushed into a corner. You say you’re scared of women. But you’re not scared of me. Lord knows, Little Joe still gives me a wide berth. Adam uses his dry wit and a sharp tongue to duel with me.”

 

Dee paused to catch her breath. Everything was coming out in such a rush.

 

“I’ve told you about me, about my past, about other men. But you don’t judge me for what has happened. You simply accept me for who I am. As far as being a challenge, you handle me gently. I can’t promise that I’ll change completely. I’m a free spirit and, like Thor, I can’t have a bit in my mouth. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

 

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

 

Hoss thought. His mind was spinning, but he felt that what Dee was saying was a good thing.

 

“I’m trying to understand,” was all he could say.

 

“I had a talk with Adam at the party. I told you that. He and I decided that we just weren’t right for each other. We’d always be taking slices out of each other and, the one who could cut the deepest would be the biggest loser. Adam came over last night to talk some more. I told him what was in my heart. He completely understood. I asked him to talk to you, to kinda feel you out to see what was in your heart.”

 

Hoss’s heart was now beginning to pound. “I thought…”

 

Dee put her fingers to Hoss’s lips. “Hush. I have more to say, and if I don’t say it now, I’ll lose my nerve.”

 

Gnawing on her lip, Dee continued. “Do you know the difference in loving somebody and being ‘in love’ with somebody?”

 

Hoss thought back to many years before. Unable to speak, he just nodded.

 

“Then you know that being ‘in love’ comes straight from the heart. Oh, sure, there’s physical attraction. I felt it when I met Adam. But there’s more than just physical attraction that has to be present. It’s that wonderful feeling that comes from the heart.” Dee stopped. “I’m just going on and on, around in a big circle. And getting nowhere.”

 

Hoss smiled. “Oh, you’re getting somewhere.”

 

Dee ventured a smile of her own. “I know a song. You’ve heard it before, at the round-up. But it says the things I can’t seem to say on my own. Can I sing it to you even though you’ve heard it before?”

 

Hoss vaguely remembered a song but couldn’t remember the words.

 

[Author’s note: “The Blessing” is a song on a “Celtic Woman” CD.)

 

Softly, Dee began to sing.

 

“In the morning when I rise,

I bless the sun, I bless the skies.

I bless your lips, I bless your eyes.

My blessing goes with you.

 

In the nighttime when you sleep,

Oh, I bless you while a watch I keep –

As you lie in slumber deep,

My blessing goes with you.

 

When your weary heart is tired,

If the world would leave you uninspired.

When nothing more of love’s desired,

My blessing goes with you.

 

When the storms of life are strong, 

When you’re wounded, when you don’t belong.

When you no longer hear my song –

My blessing goes with you.

 

This is my prayer for you,

There for you, ever true.

Each, every day for you

In everything you do.

 

And when you come to me

And hold me close to you,

I bless you…

And you bless me, too.”

 

Dee reached out and cradled Hoss’s cheek in her hand, running her thumb over Hoss’s lips. “I bless you, Hoss. But I don’t know if you bless me.”

 

Hoss’s answer? Dee felt her body being pulled to Hoss’s chest, felt his big arms surround her, felt the pounding of his heart, and finally felt his gentle kiss – soft and sweet as a butterfly.

 

“I bless you, too. I have for a long time.” There was such joy in Hoss’s blue eyes. “But I never believed you coulda shared what I felt.”

 

Dee’s eyes brimmed. “You underestimate yourself, Hoss.”

 

And then she kissed him so hard that he actually fell backward into the grass. The kiss was passionate and full of promise. And, when his body began to react to the purely physical side of the passion, it was with great effort that Hoss sat up. In the silence that followed, man and woman held hands and smiled at each other. Then there would be another kiss or two or three. That lasted until the first fingers of dawn lit the sky.

 

Neither one of them had to say those three special words. When true loves comes to two people, the heart does all the talking.

 

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

 

Hoss and Dee were married several weeks later. It wasn’t a formal wedding. Dee wore her yellow dress with the daisies, kissed everybody goodbye, and was handed into the buggy by Adam. He dimpled at her. 

 

“You’ve got to stop that touching!” Dee teased.

 

“Yeah, Adam. I think my wife’s totin’ a slingshot somewheres.” Hoss laughed good-naturedly. “She’s still incorrigible, ya know.”

 

“Take care of Flower and Squeak and Thor!” Dee called back to her aunt and uncle. Dee’s mother and father and brothers had yet to be introduced to these animals – that would be Aunt Martha’s job. Aunt Martha had finally developed a warm spot for the four-legged “children.”

 

The newly-married couple drove away. And the first stop? At the pond with the warm spring. And it was there that the union of Hoss and Dee was complete. Thor standing not far away, reared up on his hind legs, and then galloped off to find a mare as willing for him as Dee was for Hoss. Thor’s new territory would be wherever Dee and Hoss chose to live.

 

And what about Squeak and Flower, you might ask? Why, naturally, they would end up living with Hoss and Dee in a special place in the barn.

 

THE END