Summary:  Will Virginia City and the Ponderosa survive during Hop Sing’s and his cousins and their families’ two-week family reunion in San Francisco?
Rating:  T    24,070 words

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The Brandsters acknowledge that the authors are the owners of their stories.  Should an author included in this project reach out to us and indicate they do not wish their work to be archived in the Bonanza Brand Fanfiction Library, we will remove their stories.  We would also be happy to change contact information for any authors who wish to continue to have their stories archived in the Library.

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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THE POOR SIDE OF TOWN

CHAPTER ONE

Hop Sing’s two-week family reunion in San Francisco was a big inconvenience to the Cartwrights. It was even more of an inconvenience than usual because all of his kin living in Virginia City were headed to San Francisco also. That meant there would be no cousins to do the cooking at the Ponderosa. And, to make matters worse, Ben would be out of town on business for several days. And he was the only Cartwright in the household who was a decent cook. Hoss could cook on camping trips, but nobody liked what he chose to prepare – roots and berries and what Adam and Little Joe referred to as animal fodder.

This morning, after Joe had turned the coffee into mud, and when Hoss broke the egg shells into the scrambled eggs, and when Adam had burned the bacon absolutely black, there was nothing to do but to go into town to eat. Nobody bothered to wash dishes or pans – they would be tended to at a future time. Instead of going to the hotel to eat, the three brothers decided to go to a small restaurant called “Marlen’s Cafe.” It was, of course, always referred to as “Marlen’s” – named after the owner who had an exceptionally bad attitude but was a reasonably-good cook.

“I sure do hope that Marlen didn’t get drunk last night and decide not to work today,” Joe opined.

“If he’s got a hangover, the food will still be good,” Adam remarked. “I just wish we had ear plugs to block out his constant yelling.”

“I swear! That man is mean as a snake on a good day,” Hoss retorted. “I cain’t ‘member when he’s ever been in a good mood. But I’m so hungry that I’ll chew extra loud to drown him out.”

The brothers laughed as they entered the establishment and sat down at a table which tilted precariously. All the tables had uneven legs. So did the chairs, for that matter. Marlen Huffmaster spent his money on whiskey, not amenities. Except for the food. He knew what people liked to eat and, again, he was a very good cook. His prices were less expensive than those of the hotel’s, and folks didn’t have to worry about how they looked when they walked through Marlen’s doors. Hot, sweaty, dusty, dirty, unshaven – none of it mattered because no woman would set foot inside the place. Except for the waitresses.

There was Annie, with her prematurely gray hair, who wore a perpetual smile. She wasn’t scared of Marlen and his gruffness and bad language, and she probably could’ve done everything by herself without any help. She was that good. And there was Martina who was scared to death of Marlen but who had good skills as a waitress. Other girls came and went, but Annie and Martina stayed on. And Marlen kept making money and drinking most of it away.

Today, there was a new waitress added to the staff.

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” Adam spoke, but he had to speak loudly to be heard over Marlen’s yelling in the background.

“My name is Aubrey and, yes, I’m new here. This is my second day of work,” came the answer. Aubrey looked shyly at the three brothers as she took their orders. Then she gave a little bit of a jump as she heard Marlen holler at her to hurry up. She scurried away like a frightened little mouse.

Annie poured cups of fresh coffee and looked a little sad – not her usual demeanor at all.

“I’m afraid Aubrey won’t last long here. That’s a shame because she’s really a nice gal and a hard worker. She needs this job bad. She and her Pa just arrived from Arizona a few days ago and managed to find a place south of town to live in. He works as a swamper at the Bucket O’ Blood. He has only one arm.” Annie was full of information doled out in a nutshell. She moved away to refill coffee cups.

“The south side of town,” Hoss mused. “That’s a shabby place to live. Ain’t nobody there got two nickels to rub together.” He knew that the south side was the “poor side” of town. Everybody knew it. The “good” citizens of Virginia City knew nobody in that area and always gave it a wide berth.

“That’s a shame,” Joe said. “She’s a pretty gal, in an odd way.”

Aubrey wasn’t really odd-looking. She had curly brownish-red hair and the kind of lips that a man likes to kiss. She had a smattering of freckles across her tiny nose. Her teeth were straight and white from what each Cartwright could tell. But the color of her eyes was what was “odd.” They were almost lavender which gave her a rather startling appearance. She wasn’t skinny, but she could stand to gain some extra weight on her tall body. The slump of her shoulders and her downcast eyes were a dead giveaway to her shyness.

CHAPTER TWO

Adam got a good look at Aubrey’s eyes as she began putting plates of food on the table. The reason Adam got such a good look at Aubrey’s eyes was because they widened to the size of pie plates as she dropped Adam’s scrambled eggs down his shirt front and into his lap. Indeed, her eyes were a deep lavender.

Grabbing a corner of the tablecloth and nearly upsetting all of the cups of coffee, Aubrey began wiping the eggs from Adam’s shirt. She hesitated as she slowly reached for the eggs in Adam’s lap.

Adam grinned. “I think I better do that.”

Aubrey’s face reddened. “I’m so sorry. So sorry. The plate just slipped…” Her voice trailed off. Then, “If you’ll send your shirt and pants to my house, I’ll wash and iron them and have them returned to you the same day. I’m so sorry…”

Adam continued to smile. “It was an accident, Aubrey. Accidents happen all the time. There’s no harm done.” Forgetting momentarily that Hop Sing was out of town, Adam added, “Hop Sing’ll be able to clean these things up in a jiffy.”

Marlen’s booming voice made everybody jump as he spoke to Aubrey. “You incompetent idiot! Of all the people you had to spill food on, you chose one of the Cartwrights! You’re fired!”

Aubrey had heard of the Cartwrights and of the Ponderosa. Who hadn’t? Her face went beet red and her shoulders slumped even more.

Hoss stood up. Usually slow to anger, this was a blatant injustice and now he jumped to Aubrey’s defense. “We all know that accidents happen. That ain’t no reason to fire Miss Aubrey.”

Marlen spluttered. “She did the same thing to several customers yesterday. I can’t afford to have a clumsy waitress in my employ. She can find work elsewhere. Now I have to compensate for yet another meal.” He glanced at Aubrey. “This meal will come out of your pay, young lady.”

“No, it won’t,” Adam said, straining to keep his voice level. “I still have more than enough food on my plate to eat. Hoss and Joe have full plates.” This being said, Adam fished into his pocket and pulled out enough money to pay for the breakfast. As he started to hand tip money to Aubrey, Marlen snatched the money out of Adam’s hand.

“That money will go to me,” Marlen growled. “It will make up for the extra eggs I’ll have to buy to restock my kitchen.”

Adam, usually the talkative one, was stunned into silence. But Little Joe wasn’t. “We’ll finish our breakfast here and then you’ll never see us in this place again.”

Hoss nodded and sat back down and began to eat. Joe and Adam did the same.

Marlen demanded – and received – Aubrey’s apron. Her skirt and blouse were old and patched in several places.

Annie and Martina had been watching this unfortunate event. Annie took off her apron and handed it to Marlen. “You’re a bad-tempered drunken fool, and I’d rather be a washerwoman than to work for you one more day. When Aubrey walks out that door, I’ll be walking with her.” Annie took Aubrey’s arm and steered her out the door. Her parting remark was, “Good riddance to bad rubbish!”

Martina didn’t move. She liked her job and the tips she received. Besides, as mean as Marlen was, she had a slight crush on him. She would stay and hope that other waitresses would be hired.

Marlen hated to see Annie go, but he couldn’t stop her from leaving. Maybe she would come back when she cooled down. All he could say now was, “Martina, get back to work. We’ve got a business to run.”

The Cartwrights were as good as their word. They never returned to Marlen’s place again. And, eventually as the news spread about the morning’s goings on, other folks refused to eat at Marlen’s. He would lose a lot of money for his nastiness. But things would change for the better for Aubrey…

CHAPTER THREE

While Hoss and Little Joe went in one direction to tend to some errands, Adam chose another direction. He went to the Bucket O’ Blood to do some investigating. Even at this early hour, there were a few men sitting at tables having a shot of whiskey. Adam headed towards the bar to talk to Sam.

“’Mornin’, Adam,” Sam said with a smile. “Ain’t this a little early for a beer?”

Adam smiled. “No beer for me right now. But I have a question. Did you just hire a new swamper a few days ago?”

Sam wiped a glass. “Yep. Gregory Ferguson. He can’t get a job anywhere else because he’s only got one arm. But he’s a proud man and was happy to take the job. He keeps the place spotless and he’s honest as the day is long. Not like the guy I used to have who stole money and bottles of booze.”

Adam chewed on a match stick. “I just met his daughter over at Marlen’s. She got fired because she accidentally spilled some food on me.”

Sam shook his head. “That’s a shame. They really need the money she was earning. That shack that they live in is falling down around them, and Gregory works extra hours so he can try to fix the place up.”

Adam’s match stick got swapped to the other corner of his mouth. “What do you know about them?”

“Not much. They came from Arizona in a broken-down buckboard with hardly any belongings.” Sam always knew the scoop on everybody – “poor side of town” or not. “Gregory don’t drink or gamble. Seems like a very proud man just trying to eke out a living. Having only one arm don’t give him many options for a good job.”

“I’d like to talk to him,” Adam said. “Where can I find him?”

“Oh, he starts work as soon as the doors open here in the morning. He usually stays til late at night. His daughter brings him lunch and supper. He says she’s a top-notch cook. Right now, he’s in the back unloading whiskey bottles. Go on back and see him if you’re a mind to.”

Adam nodded and turned to head to the back of the saloon. But he hadn’t taken two steps when a tall, thin man wielding a broom and a towel entered the room.

“That’s Gregory,” was all Sam had time to say.

Adam watched the one-armed man wipe the tables clean and sweep what little dust was on the floor. Not long ago, when Adam had come in for a beer, the saloon looked like a pig sty. No wonder Sam was happy with this new man.

Slim Akens and a dusty friend were sitting at one of the tables. Slim deliberately poured some of his beer on his table and flicked ashes into the puddle.

“Hey, swamper!” Slim yelled. “Come clean up this mess!”

Gregory Ferguson strode over to the table, not an emotion on his face, and wiped the table clean. When he was finished, Slim gave a wicked grin and tossed a coin into the spittoon.

“That’s your tip,” Slim said with fiendish delight.

Adam made a move toward Slim’s table, but Sam’s hand stopped him. “Just watch,” was all he said.

Gregory grabbed Slim by the neck and yanked him up out of his chair, leaving Slim’s feet dangling above the floor.

“I always am glad to accept a tip for good service,” Gregory said in a low, angry voice. “But I will not stoop so low as to stick my hand into a spittoon for any amount of money. I suggest that you retrieve it yourself.” He gave Slim a vicious shake.

With wide eyes, Slim was dragged over to the spittoon. He had certainly misjudged this one-armed man. Feeling the pressure on his neck which was causing him to drop to one knee, Slim stuck his hand into the spittoon and fished out the coin. He was gratified to realize that the spittoon was empty and clean. He handed the money to Gregory, motioned to his friend, paid Sam and then left the saloon.

“Gregory can handle himself just fine,” Sam grinned.

“So I see,” responded Adam as he walked over to speak to the swamper.

“Mr. Ferguson, my name is Adam Cartwright. I met your daughter at breakfast this morning.” Adam extended his hand. Gregory’s handshake was firm and he looked Adam straight in the eye.

“And was she a good waitress?” Gregory asked.

Adam couldn’t lie but he could skirt the truth. “She was extremely nice and served us promptly. But my brothers and I forgot to give her a tip. We were in a hurry. My Pa raised us better than that.” Adam reached into his pocket and came up with some money which he pressed into Gregory’s hand. “Will you see that she gets this money from the three of us? I won’t be back at Marlen’s today and I’m afraid I’ll forget.”

Gregory looked at Adam’s face and intuited that he wasn’t getting the whole story. He knew that he would find out later. He accepted the money, without counting it, and tucked it into his pocket with a smile.

“Thank you, Mister Cartwright. I know that Aubrey will be appreciative. My guess is that she’ll spend this money on our flower garden – and on the herb garden. That daughter of mine just loves to watch things grow and bloom.”

“Call me ‘Adam’. You’ll eventually see my other brothers, Hoss and Little Joe. Hoss is the biggest man in Virginia City, but he’s quite a pushover. Now, Little Joe is a ladies’ man, so keep your eye on him. He does some gambling, too. Give his head a good thump if he gets out of line in any direction.” Adam laughed.

“Thank you again, Adam. And please call me ‘Gregory’. If I hear ‘Mister Ferguson’, I look around for a man three years older than thunder.”

Another firm handshake, and Adam left the saloon. He liked Gregory’s attitude, and his love for his daughter was evident. He wished that the man had two arms – he would’ve hired him on the spot to work at the Ponderosa.

CHAPTER FOUR

Hoss and Joe bumped into Adam as they were leaving the General Store. The bulge in Hoss’s cheek was a dead giveaway that he had bought a jawbreaker. Quickly, Adam told his brothers what he had done.

As if of one mind, the Cartwrights decided to leave town by way of the south side. The “poor” side. They were all curious as to where the Fergusons lived. As they rode slowly by, they were saddened by the squalor that they saw.

“How do you reckon these folks get by?” Hoss’s voice was quite.

“They do what they have to do,” Joe answered.

“And now Aubrey has no job,” Adam mused. “Hold up a minute. I think that’s the Ferguson’s house.”

Indeed, one shack stood out from all the rest. The tiny front yard was full of blooming flowers in every color. There were even flowers hanging in pots from the sagging roof eaves.

“This must be the one,” Adam said. “Gregory told me that Aubrey loves flowers and growing things.”

The three brothers rode slowly by and looked at the shack. The roof needed shingles, one board was missing from the stairs to the front porch, and the whole house tilted precariously to one side.

“I kin remember when we didn’t have much,” Hoss thought aloud.

“But we had more on a bad day than these people have on a good day. We just don’t realize how lucky we are,” Adam murmured.

Joe, who could never remember a time when things weren’t good, gave a big sigh.

The brothers rode out of town without saying another word. They all realized how many luxuries they took for granted.

CHAPTER FIVE

After one more disastrous morning’s breakfast – and yet another pile of dirty dishes, pots and pans – the brothers decided they just had to find a cook. When they got to town, they happened to pass by Annie as she walked down the street toward the hotel.

“Annie!” Hoss exclaimed. “Just the woman we need to speak to!”

Annie smiled. “I knew it wouldn’t take long before you began to miss Hop Sing.”

“That’s a fact,” Joe added. “We ate at the hotel last night. We can’t keep riding into town for every meal.”

“Annie, can you cook? If you can, we have a job for you waiting at the Ponderosa.” Adam’s face was serious.

Annie snorted. “I can hardly boil water. I’ve always eaten at Marlen’s place between customers.”

“Do you know anybody who can cook who needs a job?” Joe was almost pleading.

Annie didn’t have to think long. Her face lit up.

“Both Gregory and Aubrey Ferguson are terrific cooks. You wouldn’t believe how wonderful their food tastes! I’ve eaten at their house several times, and I know good food when I taste it. Why not speak with them?”

Hoss’s smile matched Annie’s. “You reckon they’re up at this hour?”

“I’m sure they are. They’re probably eating breakfast right now. Gregory has to go to work soon. Do you know where they live?”

Adam nodded. “A little south of town. Right?” He would never have told that the Ferguson’s shack had already been found.

Quickly, tipping their hats and thanking Annie for her help, the brothers mounted up and headed for the “poor side of town.”

CHAPTER SIX

As a matter of fact, both Gregory and Aubrey were awake and eating a hot coffee/streusel cake. The aroma of fresh coffee wafted down the street even before the Cartwrights reached the shack.

Being careful to avoid the missing plank on the stairs to the porch, the brothers paused. They weren’t exactly sure what to say because this had happened so quickly.

“We can’t stand out here much longer. Surely our boots made enough noise to alert half this side of town,” Hoss remarked.

“As big as you are, you might break the porch if we stand here any longer,” Joe hissed at Hoss.

Adam sighed. “Leave the talking to me. Hoss is too hungry to make sense, and Joe can’t be trusted to say anything without putting his foot in his mouth.”

Adam knocked softly on the door and prayed that it wouldn’t come off its hinges. Gregory opened the door and smiled when he saw Adam, wondering what a rich Cartwright would be doing at this end of town at this hour of the morning. He and Adam shook hands. Gregory shook hands with Hoss and Joe and called each one by name. He laughed when he saw Hoss.

“You were right, Adam. I bet Hoss is the biggest man in town.”

Hoss blushed. He had gotten used to being described this way, but it still embarrassed him.

“The biggest and the hungriest!” Joe added and got an elbow to the ribs from his eldest brother.

Now it was Gregory’s turn to blush. “Forgive my manners. Please come in. The coffee’s hot and there’s lots of it. There’s also a big coffee cake with streusel that begs to be eaten.”

The shack was tiny. Adam guessed that the room with the curtain divider must be Aubrey’s bedroom. There was a well-worn sofa, a small table with two rickety chairs, and an ancient stove. Lined up neatly near a wall were stacks of books of all kinds. Most of them were either history books or books written by Shakespeare or Milton. The boards that made up the walls didn’t quite fit together which made Adam wonder how any human being could keep warm in the winter. But the shack was as neat and clean as it could be. There were no cobwebs, there was no dust. Everything seemed to have a place of its own. And, glory be, there were almost as many pots and pans as Hop Sing had!

Aubrey emerged from behind the curtain. Adam got a quick glimpse of a small bed – big enough for one person only. He guessed, correctly, that Gregory slept on the sofa.

Aubrey looked shyly at her guests through those lavender eyes. But she was a consummate hostess and had coffee poured in a flash. The coffee cake came out of the oven, was covered with the warm streusel, and handed out just as quickly.

“Please, gentlemen, sit down,” Aubrey said with a slight smile.

Hoss chose the sturdiest of the two chairs. Joe sat gingerly on the sofa. Adam leaned against the mantel over the fireplace. Introductions were made, and then Hoss was the first to complete a whole sentence.

“What didja do to this coffee?”

Aubrey jumped, but Gregory smiled.

“If it’s bad, I’ll make some more,” Aubrey said, flustered.

“No ma’am!” Hoss said as he took another big sip. “This’s the best coffee I ever had. What did you do to it?”

Aubrey’s face relaxed. Gregory grinned. “It’s an old family secret.” It was plain that he wouldn’t answer the question.

By now, Joe had dived into the coffee cake, the flavor of which made his taste buds burst from sheer pleasure.

“I guess this is a ‘family secret’ too,” he said as he stabbed another piece.

Aubrey now had a smile on her face. “Of course. Papa has a million recipes in his head. I’m lucky that he passed them on to me. We make a good team, don’t we Papa?”

Gregory pulled gently at his daughter’s hair. “That we do, Aubrey.” The loving gesture of father to daughter was not lost on the three men. Before each coffee cup had a chance to get empty, it was filled again. Soon, the coffee cake was all gone.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why we’re here,” Adam began. He wasn’t sure what he would say next.

“The thought did cross my mind,” Gregory answered easily.

Despite Adam’s admonition to his brothers to keep their mouths shut, Hoss spoke up.

“The truth is that we’re starvin’. Cain’t one of us cook a decent meal. We need help. Bad!”

Both father and daughter laughed out loud. Aubrey’s nose wrinkled slightly when she laughed – a small thing that would become endearing to the Cartwright clan.

Adam tried to do damage control but couldn’t stop his own low chuckle. “The truth is just as Hoss said. Our cook has taken a two-week vacation. Our Pa can cook but he’s out of town. He’ll tan our hides if he knows that we’ve come to town every day just to eat.” He stopped long enough to take a sip of coffee. It was smooth and mellow with no bitterness.

“We saw Annie this morning and she told us to come here. From what I can taste, her advice was perfect. Aubrey, would you consider coming to stay at the Ponderosa and taking over feeding three hungry men – well, make that four when Pa comes back. We’ll pay you well for what will certainly be a chore.”

Aubrey looked at her father and then answered. “It wouldn’t be seemly for a woman to be staying alone with three men. It would be positively scandalous!” Here she rolled her eyes around, eliciting laughter.

“I agree,” remarked Adam. “If you and your pa are a ‘team’, then we would like to hire you both. We have plenty of room for both of you and will pay both of you for your help.”

Gregory’s face brightened. “I could ask Sam if I could come in a bit later and leave earlier than usual. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

Adam had been thinking and had already decided to have a talk with Sam. He knew that there would be no problem.

“Will ya come out to the Ponderosa? Please?” Hoss couldn’t stand the suspense.

Gregory put his arm around Aubrey’s shoulders. She nodded her assent. “It’s a deal,” she said with a grin. Her nose crinkled slightly and her lavender eyes smiled.

“When can you come out?” Joe asked, his face serious.

“I can bring Aubrey out at lunch this afternoon. We already have vegetable soup made, and we can make some quick sandwiches. Then I can come back to town and finish my shift at the saloon. Does that sound all right with you?”

“We are quite in your debt,” Adam said as he shook hands with father and daughter. “Thank you.”

As the brothers turned to leave, Aubrey touched Adam’s arm gently and held out her hand.

“Papa gave this money to me yesterday and told me that you had forgotten to tip me. You didn’t forget. I can’t accept this.”

“A tip is given for prompt service,” Adam replied. “You fulfilled your duty. And I now have fulfilled mine.”

“But your clothes…” Aubrey’s voice trailed off.

“Nothing that soap and water didn’t take care of.” Of course, Adam lied. He hadn’t washed his clothes and didn’t plan to. He knew that the stains would set in, but he also knew he had plenty of other clothes to wear.

With that, the brothers left the house and headed for the Bucket O’ Blood. They had to talk to Sam.

When they were out of sight, Aubrey clapped her hands like a child. “We’re gonna work at the Ponderosa! Us! I’m so excited!”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Not only was Sam agreeable to Gregory’s new hours, he gave the man the whole day off – with pay – so that the two Fergusons could get out to the Ponderosa and get settled in. Adam rode back to what served as a home for Gregory and Aubrey to tell them the news and to help them make the move. There was little he could do because the Ferguson’s belongings were scant. In fact, they were downright pitiful. Their clothing, plus Aubrey’s sewing kit, fit into one decrepit satchel. Adam’s heart ached for them. Aubrey, her eyes shining brightly, ran out the back door to retrieve several small boxes of herbs. She wouldn’t leave without them. And she didn’t forget the vegetable soup. The group made one stop at the livery stable to fetch the Ferguson’s small buckboard and the mules to pull it with. Again, Adam’s heart ached for such abject poverty, but his mood soon changed. The excitement was contagious and, on the way to the Ponderosa, Adam found himself smiling and pointing out places of interest. Little Joe and Hoss intercepted them along the way, and the group arrived at the Ponderosa at the same time.

“Oh, my Lord!” Aubrey gasped as she saw the size of the house. She knew that the Cartwrights were rich but she had never imagined such a grand residence. Even Gregory’s eyes grew large – he was quite impressed.

Adam’s strong hands went around Aubrey’s waist as she was helped down from her seat on the buckboard. There was something about Adam that she couldn’t explain. Handsome, he certainly was. But this was something more – like a feeling of lightning traveling through her body. And she liked the feeling but had to remind herself that she was hired for just two weeks and, besides, Adam would never be attracted to the likes of her. Rich men just didn’t squire poor girls around town.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Both father and daughter were even more impressed upon entering the great house. Aubrey stood in the middle of the living room and slowly turned in circles, trying to take in everything she saw. Adam thought that she looked like a child in a candy store but wisely kept his mouth shut.

The three brothers, entranced with seeing such joy, crowded into the downstairs guest room which would be Aubrey’s room. It was bright and cheerful with an armoire in one corner, a big chest of drawers in another corner, and a bedside table beside a very large bed. Adam put the satchel on a chair next to the window where Aubrey was standing. The sunlight streaming in gave her face a soft and beautiful glow. Adam’s heart went “thump.” But why?

A little disconcerted, Adam instructed Hoss and Joe to get the pot of soup and the boxes of herbs out of the buckboard and then to put it and the mules in the barn. With Aubrey following along behind, Adam took Gregory to the extra room upstairs. It, too, was beautifully appointed. Gregory’s broad smile said what words couldn’t express.

The group headed back downstairs to find Hoss and Joe looking distinctly uncomfortable.

“Where do you want to put these herbs?” Hoss asked. “And the pot of soup?”

Aubrey looked at her father and then glanced back at Hoss and Joe. “The herbs can go by the kitchen somewhere so they get both sunshine and a little shade. The soup, obviously, goes in the kitchen.”

“The kitchen,” Joe repeated. His was not a happy face.

“I assume you do have a kitchen,” Gregory said.

“Uh, yeah. We have a kitchen all right,” Hoss answered.

“I assume that you have a stove. And an oven.” This from Aubrey.

“Yes’m.”

“Is there something wrong with the kitchen? Is it not stocked well enough?” Aubrey was confused.

“Uh, it’s well-stocked. But it’s kind of a mess right now,” Joe said with a big sigh. “If you two will sit down, we’ll get to cleaning it up.”

“Oh, for Heaven’s sake! How bad can it be?” This from Aubrey who headed in the direction of the kitchen.

“Don’t look…” was all Adam had time to say before Aubrey disappeared around the corner.

CHAPTER NINE

The brothers and Gregory heard a surprised yelp and something that sounded like crying. They sped into the kitchen, bumping into each other in their haste.

Aubrey was not crying. Well, actually, she was laughing so hard that tears rolled down her cheeks. The kitchen was an absolute disaster! The sink was filled with unwashed plates, utensils and glasses. Pots and pans were littered about everywhere – on the counters, on the stove, and some were even on the floor. How so much flour got onto the ceiling would forever remain a mystery. The coffee pot smelled of burned coffee grounds.

Aubrey staggered to a chair and sat down, holding an unwashed napkin to her streaming eyes. She just couldn’t stop laughing. When she caught her breath, she looked at the three brothers, their faces red as beets, she’d start laughing and crying again.

“We’ll clean it up. I promise.” Adam looked around and realized just what poor cooks and housekeepers he and his brothers were. Well, at least in the kitchen. The rest of the house just needed to have some things picked up and organized.

Gregory, smothering his own laughter, spoke. “Don’t you dare touch a thing! You may make more of a mess than things already are.” He wasn’t angry nor did he sound condescending.

“Out! Out!” Aubrey said as she dabbed at her cheeks again. “Do not come back here until you’re told to! Now shoo!” She flapped the napkin at all three brothers who fled the scene and went outside where it was safe. But they heard Aubrey squealing with delight before they got out of the house.

“Papa! Look! They have a pump to the sink! We don’t have to fetch water!”

Walking towards the barn, Joe looked at Adam and Hoss. “Can you imagine being so excited over having a pump?”

“When you ain’t got one, yeah. I kin imagine.” Hoss’s great heart was truly touched.

CHAPTER TEN

Aubrey and Gregory put one clean pot of water on the stove to heat up. No amount of cold water would ever get anything clean. They talked as the water got hot and the major clean-up began.

Adam was outside at the grinding wheel, sharpening axes. Joe was wielding a broom, and Hoss was wiping the dirt off the porch table and chairs. They could hear what was being said inside.

Gregory was apologizing to his daughter. “Your sainted mama and I always wanted the very best for you. The three of us worked our farm together, and it was hard work. You never complained. The only thing that was more important than farming was that you attended school every day to learn what we never did. Neither of us ever got past the fifth grade. Sure, we can print and do our sums, but we wanted more for you. Book-learning is so important. And you took to learning like a duck takes to water.”

“Papa, you and mama did the best you could. I don’t regret one minute of the time I spent digging in the earth and watching things grow. And I learned so much in school and made good grades. I got the education I needed, even though you and mama had to sacrifice so much to keep me in school. I know that there were things you wanted or needed but wouldn’t buy so I could have my books and slates and pencils. It’s not your fault that the only job I could get here was a waitress position. But it won’t always be so. Remember your dream, always.”

“We must always remember that we’re good people. We’re honest. We don’t lie, cheat or steal. We live our lives by the Good Book,” Gregory responded. “If only the Indians hadn’t attacked us. Your mama lost her life because of them. And you…” Gregory’s voice trailed off.

“Papa, let’s not talk about that.” Aubrey’s voice sounded tight. Apparently the subject was closed. There was silence and then the sound of voices humming as pots and pans clanked together.

It wouldn’t be long before the whole story would be told.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“If there are any hungry men out there, they better get inside before the soup gets cold and the sandwiches turn to mush!” Aubrey’s voice was loud – and welcome!

“For a shy gal, she shore is bossy,” said Hoss who sprinted for the door and entered first. Adam and Little Joe had enough sense to stay out of his way and they grinned at each other as they followed the big man in.

The aroma of the hot soup filled the house and made three stomachs growl in unison. Aubrey and her father were standing at the table and heard the rumbling noises of empty stomachs. Gregory grinned and Aubrey’s nose crinkled.

Because Aubrey was afraid of spilling the steaming soup, she held the pot while Gregory ladled the contents into the bowls. Already on the table were fresh bread and “cabbage salad” (which eventually would be called “Cole slaw”), slices of lean beef, and two things the Cartwright brothers had never seen. One bowl held what Hop Sing called “mayonnaise,” one held some yellow stuff, and one held something that defied description.

“What are those?” Joe asked, tilting his head but not daring to touch the contents of the bowl he pointed at.

“Very thinly-sliced fried potatoes,” Aubrey answered. “Try one and see if you like it.”

Adam and Joe looked at Hoss. Hoss would try anything once, twice if he liked it. If he really liked it, the eldest and youngest brothers would have to be quick before Hoss took the whole bowl.

The item in question was looked at through bright blue eyes. It was thin enough to almost see through, it was crisp, and it was already salted. Popping one into his mouth, Hoss crunched and chewed. Then he reached for another one.

“This is really good!” he said as he munched away on his second piece.

Immediately, Adam’s and Joe’s hands shot out to grab a handful before Hoss could react. Heads nodded as potatoes (in later years they would be called “potato chips”) crunched in hungry mouths. Faces smiled. The fried potatoes were a hit.

Aubrey touched the bowl with the “yellow stuff.” “This other bowl is mustard. It goes on the bread to give a little tang to the meat. Its made mostly from the crushed seeds of the mustard plant. I hope you will try both.”

With that, the Fergusons disappeared into the kitchen. It was obvious from the clinking of spoons on bowls that the soup was being eaten first before it got cold. It was full of all kinds of vegetables and was quite delicious.

CHAPTER TWELVE

“I’m not sure, but I think this soup is better than Hop Sing’s soup,” Adam said.

“Well, don’t ever tell him. He’ll be madder than a wet hen!” This from Hoss.

Joe’s brow furrowed. “There’s no meat in this soup, but it tastes like there is. How come?”

Nobody answered, but the Fergusons heard the comment and smiled. If the brothers knew what parts of beef were used to give the meaty flavor, they might not have eaten the soup at all.

Now it was time for the sandwiches. Adam knew that there hadn’t been time to make fresh bread but this bread tasted like it had been made this very day. He wisely made no comment. He put the cabbage salad into a small bowl – separate from the one with the potatoes. Then he tasted the mustard and found it to be tangy but not sour or overpowering. Hoss and Joe watched him as he put mayonnaise on one slice of bread and then mustard on the other. Then came the lean meat. Adam took a bite.

“Ahhh,” he sighed contentedly. “Perfect.”

By the end of the meal, Adam and Joe had eaten two sandwiches each – Hoss had eaten three. He leaned back and patted his full stomach.

“I reckon we were starvin’,” he commented as he wiped his mouth with his napkin. “There ain’t a thing left in nary a bowl or plate.”

“What kind of beef was that?” Joe queried. “Not an ounce of fat or gristle anywhere.”

Adam knew because he had eaten this before back East, but he kept his mouth shut. The meal had gone too well to ruin it now.

The Fergusons appeared magically to ask if anyone wanted more of anything.

Hoss gave a broad grin. “Them fried potatoes might be good for a snack later on. My belly’s too full to hold anything else right now.”

“Then the food met with your approval?” Aubrey asked hopefully.

“A resounding success,” Adam chuckled, a toothpick poking out of his mouth. “Thank you very much!”

Little Joe just had to ask. “What cut of beef did you use for the sandwiches? That’s about the leanest I’ve ever seen beef.”

Adam swapped the toothpick to the other side of his mouth and waited for the answer.

Gregory answered, rather surprised at the question. “Cow’s tongue.” Father and daughter were quite used to eating parts of beef – and chicken and pork – that wealthy people wouldn’t touch. That being said, he and Aubrey cleared the table quickly and headed for the kitchen.

“Cow’s tongue?” Joe squeaked.

“I ate three o’ them sandwiches,” Hoss said quietly.

Adam laughed. “And you liked all three of them, didn’t you?”

Hoss nodded his head guiltily.

Pointing a finger in Adam’s direction, Joe spoke accusingly. “You knew. You knew and didn’t tell us!”

Adam gnawed on his toothpick, a smile playing about his lips. “If I’d told you, would you have eaten it? No. But you ate it and liked it enough to make pigs of yourselves. Hop Sing eats it all the time. Like you said, it’s very lean meat. The mustard and mayonnaise just enhanced its flavor.”

Adam stood up. “Time to check the fences. Up and at ’em, dear brothers.” He was still chuckling.

Gregory poked his head out of the kitchen. “When do you want supper served?”

“We’ll be back around dark. Will that give you enough time?”

Gregory nodded and smiled. He really liked these Cartwright brothers.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Several days later, a routine was well-established. Breakfast was prepared by Gregory and Aubrey; Gregory (who had miraculously gotten a promotion and now was a bartender) rode off on his mule to the Bucket O’ Blood; Aubrey served lunch or packed a lunch if the brothers would be gone all day; Gregory would return in the very early evening to help his daughter with dinner preparations and serving. The food that was served was every bit as good as Hop Sing’s cooking – and sometimes it was better. The Fergusons had a knack for adding just the right herbs and spices to make the food pleasant to the eye and to the palate. Nobody went hungry. Aubrey had to work extra hard to keep the “fried potatoes” on hand because somebody was always snacking on them.

Life was good at the Ponderosa. There was always plenty of meat in the smokehouse; there were always plenty of chickens wandering around outdoors. One time there was venison. Though Aubrey was still shy, she began to grow comfortable as Adam, Hoss and Joe sniped at each other good-naturedly. At one time, Aubrey herself could dish out the teasing as well as take it, but that was before the Indian attack in Arizona……….. Now, Aubrey teased mostly only with her father. She had no relationships of the heart with any men at all, with the one exception being when she was fifteen and had a schoolgirl crush on a boy in her class. How carefree those days were!

The house was spotlessly cleaned daily. Clothes were washed and ironed and carefully laid out in each bedroom. Aubrey would never be so bold as to open a drawer or an armoire to put things away. She was as honest as the day was long and never wanted to be accused of “snooping.” Clothing that was torn but that could be salvageable would be patched in a special way. A shirt pocket might have an embroidered likeness of the Ponderosa brand; a jacket might have a horse placed strategically; pants might have the owner’s initials carefully sewn in to hide a flaw. There would be no patches such as the ones she made for herself and for her father. The Cartwrights would get the best that she could make. The only exceptions were what she learned were “work clothes” with torn knees or ripped pockets. These she would put an aesthetically-pleasing patch on.

At night, after the dishes and pots and pans were washed and dried, Gregory would play checkers with either Hoss or Joe. Aubrey, given free rein to read any of Adam’s books, would be curled up in a chair, happily reading. Then she and Adam were likely to have a lively discussion on what had been read. Adam realized how intelligent Aubrey was and thoroughly enjoyed these “talks”. But, what both Fergusons really enjoyed was when Adam would pick up his guitar and play whatever song came to mind. His voice was like baritone velvet; his long fingers striking and plucking the chords easily; his face relaxed and smiling. Many songs were ones that everybody knew and, though neither Gregory nor Aubrey could carry a tune, they sang along anyway. Sometimes when Aubrey watched Adam, she felt shivers go through her – good shivers which were reminiscent of her only crush on a boy. But Adam was a man – and a Cartwright. Aubrey knew that there was no future in being so attracted to Adam. Besides, he was seeing a very nice lady named Linda Lee who had come to supper once. Aubrey felt the pangs of jealousy but couldn’t help but like the lady who could tease and smile and laugh so readily. The daughter of a banker, Linda Lee was more in Adam’s “class” than Aubrey would ever be.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Ben Cartwright arrived one afternoon, quite unexpectedly. He had put Buck in the barn and unsaddled him and, seeing that the other horses were gone, knew that his sons were tending to chores as he had expected them to do in his absence. Saddle-sore and weary, he looked forward to having a nice nap, so he ambled into the house unaware that anybody might be there.

What he found was a young woman, sitting cross-legged on the floor on top of an old sheet. In front of her was just about all the silverware in the house, from utensils to knick-knacks. He was sure he had caught a thief! His deep voice boomed and reverberated off the walls.

“Just what are you doing in my house with my belongings?”

Aubrey, intent on the task at hand, jumped up and backed herself against a wall. She trembled and guessed correctly that this must be “Mister Ben Cartwright.”

She began to stutter. “I…these things…well…”

“Speak, woman! Explain yourself!” Ben’s voice boomed again. His hand rested on the handle of his gun.

“My name is Aubrey Ferguson,” Aubrey managed to say. “I’m the cook.” And then she hesitantly added, “My Papa is the cook, too.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “And just where is your father right now?” The booming voice wasn’t quite as loud this time, but the hand stayed on the butt of his gun.

“He’s…he’s…at work. At the Bucket O’ Blood. He..he..tends bar there.”

Aubrey was terrified of this big man with the mane of gray hair. Her legs almost went out from under her when Ben pointed to the silver things on the floor.

“What are you doing with my silver?” he demanded. He felt no threat from this scared little rabbit standing against the wall. But the whole thing looked so suspicious.

“Well..um…I…I was polishing it,” came Aubrey’s answer. “I wasn’t stealing it. I wouldn’t ever steal anything.” In her hand was a chamois cloth which she fluttered in front of her.

Gathering her courage, she stepped toward the sheet. It was obvious that there were two distinct piles of silver.

“See? These have been polished already. These other ones haven’t.”

Ben looked and saw that this was the truth. His face softened and his brown eyes warmed. Off came his gun belt. Aubrey breathed an audible sigh of relief.

“I thought you said you and your Papa were the cooks,” Ben said, not understanding this whole situation.

“We are.” Aubrey had found her voice. “But I like to keep a clean house, and the silver needed polishing…”

Ben stood next to Aubrey and saw the fear in her eyes. It was then that he introduced himself in a more formal manner and indicated that they both sit down. It was obvious that, not only was Aubrey frightened, but she was also shy.

Ben made a steeple of his fingers. “So you not only cook, you clean the house and polish the silver.” It was a statement, not a question.

“I wash and iron clothes also,” came Aubrey’s soft answer. “I may not do as good a job as Hop Sing, but I try really hard to keep things looking nice.”

Ben’s heart melted. “How did you and your Papa come to be here?”

Hesitant at first, Aubrey began to speak. Then she gained more confidence as she told the whole story. And “Mister Ben” smiled. What a handsome man!

“And, may I ask, what is your salary?”

Aubrey answered.

Ben shook his head. “It’s not enough. Those sons of mine seem to have gone empty-headed. You and your father will now get a raise effective from the day you came here. Just feeding those young men is a chore in itself!”

Ben’s smile melted Aubrey’s heart. Her father often had the same softness in his smile when he was feeling particularly affectionate. “Mister Ben” was not the fire-breathing dragon that he had appeared to be when he came in the door. He was a loving father who was only trying to protect what was his.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It was almost dark when the three brothers returned home and put away their horses. It had been a long day of mending what seemed like miles of fences.

Joe was the first to see that Buck was in his stall. “Pa’s home.”

“Oh, Lordy!” Hoss exclaimed. “He ain’t s’posed to be home for another day or two.”

Adam looked at the Ferguson’s two mules. “Looks like we have some explaining to do.”

Ben was sitting in his chair, reading the newspaper and puffing on his pipe, when the brothers entered the house.

“Uh, Pa…?” Adam didn’t know where to start.

“I know about the Fergusons. I know about how much work Aubrey does around here during the day. You boys are misers, and you grossly underpaid both of them so I gave them a raise. I’ve already bathed and shaved and I suggest you wash up because dinner is almost ready.” Ben went back to reading his paper.

The three brothers went outside to the pump to the horse trough and washed up as best they could. Adam finally spoke.

“I think that went well, don’t you?”

Two heads nodded.

“I smell roast beef!” Hoss grinned. “I ain’t gonna be late! Not with Pa home and in such a good mood!”

The entire Cartwright family was home. And all was well.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

All was well until Aubrey went outside to collect eggs for breakfast. She was humming to herself when she saw an Indian, clad in typical Indian leather-type clothes, chasing Little Joe into the front yard. She tried to scream and found that no sound would come out, so she ran toward the house. She tripped, fell, and tore her blouse from the shoulder down to the top of her camisole. Her basket of eggs dropped to the ground. Apparently she made some kind of noise because she bumped smack into Adam, her eyes wide with fright and her body shaking uncontrollably.

“Whoa, girl! What’s the matter? What’s scared you so?” Adam was genuinely concerned and reached for his gun with one hand while his arm held Aubrey tightly to him.

Aubrey pointed to Joe and the Indian who were indulging in what seemed to be a fight. Aubrey buried her face into Adam’s chest, and Adam could feel the wetness of her tears.

Looking outside, Adam saw a familiar scene that played itself over and over again. Little Joe had an Indian friend who, now and then, came to ask for a steer or two to feed his tribe. They would race to the house and then tussle good-naturedly over who had actually won the race.

Putting his gun down, Adam held Aubrey at arm’s length, saw the torn blouse, and saw a jagged scar that extended from her shoulder and trailed off at some point below the camisole. Whatever had caused that wound had been severe.

Putting both of his arms around Aubrey, and still not knowing what was wrong, Adam stood in the doorway and spoke in soothing tones. “Hush, now. Everything’s all right. Talkeetna and Joe are just playing. They’ve been friends for a long time. Little Joe is not getting hurt.”

“Indians,” was all Aubrey could say. She clung to Adam, feeling safe in his strong arms and hearing his soothing voice. The words he was saying didn’t quite register, and Aubrey’s body continued to tremble violently.

Gregory was just making his way down the stairs from his bedroom and saw what he thought was Adam embracing his daughter.

“Am I interrupting something?” he asked with a grin.

“Something has scared Aubrey half to death,” Adam answered as he half-carried a sobbing Aubrey to the sofa.

At this moment, Joe and Talkeetna entered the house. Gregory’s face went white, the grin disappearing from his face immediately. Sitting down on the sofa, he pulled Aubrey gently against him, trying to cover up the horrible scar as he did so.

Oblivious to what was happening, Joe and Talkeetna – who had been laughing – now went quiet.

“What’s going on?” Joe asked, confused.

Aubrey peeked over her father’s shoulder and began shaking harder. “Indian,” she repeated.

“Indian friend,” Adam prompted. “This is Talkeetna. We’ve known him for years. What has scared you so?”

“Mama. Papa. Me. Hurt. Dead.” Aubrey seemed incapable of making a complete sentence.

“Should I leave?” Talkeetna asked Joe, his voice quiet.

Joe didn’t know what to say. But Adam did.

“Talkeetna, why don’t you and Joe head out and rope a couple of fat steers? Then come back here when you’re through.”

Joe and Talkeetna did as Adam said. By now, Ben and Hoss had come downstairs and were given the opportunity to hear what Gregory and Aubrey never spoke of.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“We had a little farm in Arizona. Not a big place, but there was enough work to keep us busy all the time. We were poor, but we were proud. One day, an Indian war party swooped down on us. I was plowing in the field and took an arrow in the arm. I tried to run back to the house, but I couldn’t get there in time. My wife had a shotgun and knew how to use it. But she was so scared that, after shooting two of the Indians, she couldn’t re-load fast enough. She died in a hail of arrows. Instead of running away, Aubrey ran to her mother and was grabbed by the Indians. What they did to her was unspeakable. Horrible. That was ten years ago when Aubrey was just sixteen. I was still too far away to do anything. I saw the flash of a knife go into my daughter and then I just passed out. Neither of us can erase those pictures from our minds. I don’t panic any more when I see Indians, but Aubrey still does.”

There was silence in the room. Ben and Hoss could only shake their heads in sorrow. Ben remembered several Indian raids himself – Hoss’s mother was killed in one such raid.

“So,” Adam said, “when Aubrey saw Talkeetna and Joe fighting, she automatically thought that an attack was taking place.” This was a statement, not a question.

“They shamed me. They left their mark on me, inside and out,” Aubrey murmured. She was more composed now that she knew there was no ‘attack’.

Ben knelt by Aubrey. “What happened was not your fault. You were a victim. There’s no earthly reason you should feel any shame. You and your Papa survived a terrible tragedy. Let your survival make you stronger.”

These were almost exactly the same words that Gregory had said to his daughter before. But, the words, coming from an objective point of view, carried more weight.

Gregory continued. “The Indians burned down our house. Neighbors saw the smoke and rushed out to help us. While they were gone, their houses were burned down. If they had been home, they might be dead themselves. They were well-armed, found Aubrey stabbed through the shoulder and found me in the field. They took us into town to the doctor. Physically, Aubrey recovered – though it took quite a while because the knife wound was so deep. It missed her heart by only a few inches. I developed gangrene in my arm later, so it had to be amputated. We decided to move not long after that. I had hoped to mine for gold and silver here, but not much can be done with just one arm.”

Aubrey stopped crying and shaking. There was something cathartic in hearing her father tell the story to these wonderful, understanding and empathetic Cartwrights.

Adam now understood why Aubrey seemed so shy. She saw herself as “damaged goods” – resigned to a life of spinsterhood. His heart ached for her.

Hoss spoke. “Be proud of who you and your Papa are. You’re survivors and should hold your heads high. And don’t let nobody ever tell you any diff’rent. Like Pa said – ‘your survival has made you stronger’.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The sound of horses’ hooves could be heard outside. Ben assumed, correctly, that his youngest son and Talkeetna had returned, so he went outside – he had to tell both young men what had happened. Talkeetna was kneeling on the ground with his hand in the dirt. He appeared to be absorbed in something which Ben didn’t question. Joe was busy picking up the egg basket, surprised to find that at least a few of the eggs weren’t broken.

Ben approached Joe and Talkeetna and told them the Ferguson’s tragic story.

“This story is very sad. Both red man and white man have done terrible things to each other,” Talkeetna said. He, more than anyone else, understood the depth of the trauma, and all the Cartwrights knew why. The reason would be revealed soon enough.

Gregory had left Aubrey with Adam and Hoss and had gone into the kitchen to make breakfast. It wasn’t for lack of caring about his daughter’s feelings but a need to do something to try to maintain a routine in the face of deep sadness. Ben brought in the basket with the unbroken eggs. Little Joe and Talkeetna entered the house also.

Little Joe walked over to Aubrey and touched her shoulder. “Pa told me what happened. I’m sorry that my friend and I scared you. He and his people have been good friends of ours for a long time. This will not be the only time you see him.”

Talkeetna stood in front of Aubrey but maintained his distance. Both Ben and Gregory watched from the dining room.

“I, too, am sorry for the fear that I caused you.” Talkeetna’s face was sad as he looked at Aubrey’s wide lavender eyes. “I would like, one day, for you to look at me with no fear. My people and I mean you no harm. Perhaps there will come a time when you will be able to call me ‘friend’ as the Cartwrights have done. They are always welcome in our camp. You and your father will always be welcome too. There is no need for the red man and the white man to be enemies. What we all want is peace. Maybe someday we all will find that peace and will live together in harmony.”

That being said, Talkeetna thanked Joe for the steers. Then he made his exit. Ben entered the room and noticed that Aubrey’s trembling was minimal. Maybe Talkeetna’s words had touched the girl’s heart.

Talkeetna’s words had certainly touched Gregory’s heart, and he also knew that life must move forward, so he urged his daughter to help him in the kitchen. Breakfast needed to be prepared, just as it always had been at this hour. A gentle push from Adam’s hand galvanized Aubrey into action, and she stumbled only once on the way to the kitchen.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Two days later, there was a knock at the door. Upon opening the door, Aubrey saw a young woman, smiling shyly at her. The woman’s hair was jet black and shiny; her eyes were dark. She had the coloring and the high cheekbones of an Indian but wasn’t dressed like one. Her skirt and blouse were clean but not new, and there was a slight tear on the sleeve of the shirt.

The visitor spoke. “My name is ‘Raven’ and I am Talkeetna’s wife. My husband has told me that your name is ‘Aubrey’. May I come in and speak with you?”

Dumbstruck, Aubrey nodded and opened the door. “Forgive my manners,” was all Aubrey could say. “Please come in. Would you like some coffee?”

“No, thank you. But I would like to speak with you. I chose this time because I wanted to talk with you alone.”

A look of fear crossed Aubrey’s face.

“Do not be afraid of me,” Raven said softly. “I dressed in the white man’s clothes hoping that you might not be afraid.”

“Why do you want to talk to me alone?” Aubrey was suspicious.

“Because I have a story to tell you, and the Cartwrights already know of it. We are two women who share a story that is very similar. Will you hear me?”

Aubrey was curious. She liked the gentle way this woman spoke – it had a very calming effect.

Raven sat in Adam’s chair while Aubrey sat on the sofa.

Raven spoke. “I was born an Indian of the Sioux tribe. My Sioux name is ‘Hair Like a Raven’. For thirteen moons, I was a happy and carefree child. Then a group of white buffalo hunters attacked our small camp and killed my sister. They grabbed me and took me away. I was violated more times than there are stars in the sky. Finally, they tired of me and left me with Talkeetna’s Paiute tribe. I know not where my mother and father are. Too many moons have passed.”

Aubrey’s heart went out to this woman and the tragedies that she had suffered. Just as Raven had said, the two women’s circumstances were similar.

Raven continued. “I carried my shame, deep in my heart, for many moons. No man ever touched me again. I tried very hard to be invisible. I had no pride. I thought I had lost my soul.”

“I know how that feels,” Aubrey whispered.

“But, then, Talkeetna found me. He loved me in spite of my past. Those things mattered not to him. I had not asked for terrible things to be done to me, but they were done anyway. That will never change. I see buffalo hunters now and my body shakes. But Talkeetna taught me to hold my head up with pride and courage. His words were wise and have served me well. I am a better person for having Talkeetna and his tribe in my life.”

Aubrey’s eyes filled with tears. “You are so lucky to have Talkeetna in your life. I am afraid that no man will ever love me once he finds out about my past.”

“Hear me, Aubrey,” Raven said. “When the right man comes along, his heart will join with your heart. Nothing in the past will make him not love you. Do not close doors to all men because you think you will be judged. But do not leave that door wide open to every man who would use and abuse you and then throw you away. The right man will come and, when he does, your heart will tell you so.”

From what looked like an oversized handbag, Raven withdrew something wrapped in brown paper. She extended it slowly to Aubrey.

“This is a gift of peace from one woman to another who have both walked in the same shoes. Will you accept this?”

With a timid smile, Aubrey took the present and opened it. Inside were a pair of Indian moccasins adorned with brightly-colored beads and some turquoise. When Aubrey could actually speak, she said, “These are beautiful!”

Raven smiled. “Try them on. Talkeetna noticed that you wore no shoes. He measured the print of your foot in the dirt outside the house – he measures by the size of his hand and is seldom wrong.”

Indeed, Aubrey went barefoot most of the time. Shoes were expensive and were worn only when necessary so that they would last longer. She slipped the moccasins on her feet – a perfect fit. The deerskin felt like melted butter.

“I can’t accept such a gift,”Aubrey said sadly. “I have nothing to give you in return.”

She reached down to remove the moccasins, but Raven stayed her hand. “I do not give this so that I can receive something in return. My hope is that one day you will see Talkeetna and me as friends, not as adversaries.”

Aubrey thought a moment and then noticed the slight rip on Raven’s sleeve. She had an idea and jumped up to grab her sewing kit.

“What’s your favorite animal?” Aubrey asked.

“The totem of our tribe is that of the wolf,” came the answer.

Swiftly, Aubrey blended two colors of gray into her sewing needle and then drew Raven’s arm close to her. When the sewing was done, there was no rip in Raven’s sleeve – there was a small embroidered wolf instead.

Raven’s lips turned upward into an astonished smile. “This is quite beautiful. Thank you.”

And so it was that, when Raven left, two women seeking peace between two cultures found the beginnings of what would be a true friendship.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Gregory Ferguson left the bank with a smile on his face. With his increased wages at the saloon and at the Ponderosa, supplemented by Aubrey’s wages, his bank account was growing. But, he and Aubrey would soon be out of work at the Ponderosa when Hop Sing arrived, which meant that Aubrey would have to find another job and Gregory would have only his wages to deposit.

Gregory had a dream, but he would need more money than what was in the bank. So it was, this night after supper, he had a private talk with Ben Cartwright. Gathering his courage, he explained things as best he could and, drawing a deep breath, he asked the patriarch of the Cartwright clan for a loan.

Ben knew how difficult it was for Gregory to ask for a loan, but he also knew that – if he answered in the affirmative – that Gregory would think it was charity. So Ben played out the scene and pretended to be thinking of the good and bad aspects.

“So, you want to open your own restaurant?” Ben began. “And where will it be? How large will it be? What do you project will be your income and expenses?”

Gregory dealt with Ben just as he had tried to do with the loan officer at the bank. In light of the fact that both Fergusons’ income would be changing for the worst, at least temporarily, the man – with great kindness – turned Gregory down. Ben was asking the same questions that the bank had asked, so Gregory was well-prepared with the answers he gave to Ben.

“Mister Ben,” Gregory began, “Aubrey is an excellent cook in her own right. Actually, she doesn’t really need me, but this has been a dream of mine for a long time. We’re already growing our own herbs, as you are aware. I would buy the best quality meat and have the finest produce. With our combined knowledge, we could make this work. I need enough money to buy the vacant building in the center of town, and I need money for a stove and oven like the one Hop Sing already has. We’ll need pots and pans, plates, glasses, eating and cooking utensils. Tables and chairs. Tablecloths. It won’t be a big place – not like at the hotel – and we’ll serve the best food we know how.”

Ben puffed on his pipe and let Gregory continue.

“The initial outlay will be expensive, and Aubrey and I just don’t have that kind of money. But once we get started, the money will come. I know it will!” Gregory’s face was earnest.

“I’ve heard about the vacant building and how much it is selling for. It’s location is perfect and it needs only a little work – on the roof I think. Maybe some work inside,” Ben said, thinking aloud. “But what about Marlen’s Cafe? Can you compete with him? Can you make enough money to stay in business – to stay in the black without compromising your bank account? Don’t forget, you’ll have to pay waitresses also.”

Gregory leaned forward. Ben hadn’t said “no” yet. “I’ve taken all that into consideration. I’ve spoken with Annie and she’s said she’ll never go back to working for Marlen. You know Annie – except for the cooking, she can handle any waitress job! She says that Martina won’t leave Marlen’s, nor have I approached Martina with the idea. I won’t steal another man’s employee. I know of several young ladies on “our side of town” who would jump at the chance for a job. Some have worked for Marlen and been fired, but they understand what the job at my place would entail. If you loan me money, I can go ahead and hire them as soon as the building is ready.”

Ben smothered a smile. Gregory had obviously thought all the things through, had written down what he needed and the costs of each thing. He looked at the figures on the piece of paper, noticing the neat handwriting. Gregory could barely write legibly, so this had to be written by Aubrey.

“And what do I get for my money?” Ben asked. “What collateral can you put up?” He already knew the answer to this question but had to ask it anyway. Gregory would have expected it.

“I have nothing to put up for collateral yet. But, if I buy the building, it will be signed over to you to do with as you please. And I’ll give you five per cent of our income.” Gregory deliberately started at a lower amount.

“Fifteen percent,” Ben answered. “And the building.”

Gregory shook his head. “The building and ten per cent monthly.”

This time, Ben did smile. And he lied – just a white lie. “You drive a hard bargain, don’t you?”

“I don’t expect something for nothing. Right now, if you’re interested, you’re buying a pig in a poke.” A smile played at Gregory’s lips. He knew he had won. He didn’t know that Ben had let him win.

“And the name of this establishment will be…?” Ben paused.

“Something simple. Nothing hoity-toity. Just ‘Fergusons’ Diner’. Just good food at a reasonable price.”

Ben pretended, again, to be deep in thought. Then, “It’s a deal.”

As Gregory smiled with delight, Ben opened the safe and withdrew his check book. When it was filled in, he gave it to Gregory and extended his hand. The two men indulged in a firm handshake and shared smiles.

“To ‘Fergusons’ Diner’,” Ben grinned.

“Hear, hear,” was Gregory’s response. Then he disappeared into the kitchen, and all four Cartwrights heard an enthusiastic squeal of delight.

“Pa?” This from Hoss.

Ben put his hands to his lips. He would explain everything to his sons later.

But, before she went to bed that night, Aubrey kissed Ben on the cheek – something she had never done. That kiss meant more to Ben than words could say. If everything went right, the Fergusons would be gainfully employed and be doing something they loved at the same time. Ben understood about having a “dream”. The Ponderosa had been his “dream.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Things began happening all at the same time. First, Talkeetna and Raven, dressed in “white man’s clothes” appeared. When Aubrey saw them, as she was serving an early supper, she froze. But she looked into Raven’s eyes, saw the warmth there, and made herself stand proud. And then she did something she never thought she’d do – she invited the Indians to sit down at the table with the family and eat supper. Lord knows, there was always plenty to eat at each meal.

Raven wore the same blouse that Aubrey had embroidered. That pleased Aubrey. And, without drawing attention to herself, Aubrey stuck out her foot to show Raven that she was wearing the moccasins. Both women smiled at each other.

The Cartwrights didn’t know of Raven’s visit to speak with Aubrey. But, while Gregory and Aubrey washed the dishes, Raven insisted on helping. That left Talkeetna to whisper about the meeting between the two women.

The dishes got washed and dried. Gregory already knew about Aubrey’s moccasins and about Raven’s embroidered sleeve. Both women and the man appeared from the kitchen.

Talkeetna spoke. “The sewing that you did on Raven’s sleeve is beautiful. I would like to know if you will teach Raven how to do such a thing to put on my leather vest. I like the wolf totem.”

While Aubrey was painstakingly instructing Raven, Hop Sing arrived. What he saw were the four Cartwrights, an unknown man and woman, and two Indians with whom he was familiar. Now the room contained six whites, two reds, and one Chinaman. It was not exactly the reception that Hop Sing had expected. He had secretly hoped that the Cartwrights would be practically starving and much thinner. Instead, they were drinking coffee and looked quite contented.

The Fergusons were introduced to Hop Sing who seemed to be pouting. “You no need Hop Sing. You have other cooks. Hop Sing quit!”

Before any of the startled Cartwrights could answer, Aubrey spoke.

“Hop Sing, you are part of the Cartwright family. They could never imagine not having you here to cook for them, to take care of them. Nobody knows them like you do. They have mentioned many times how much they have missed you – and your good food. Please don’t be upset.”

Adam, a piece of straw between his teeth, added, “Hop Sing, if it hadn’t been for the Fergusons, we’d have starved to death. You know that Hoss and Joe and I can’t cook. And Pa was gone for several days. We had to do something or move to town so we could get a decent meal.”

Hop Sing eyed Adam suspiciously. “This true, Mistah Ben?”

Hoss jumped into the conversation, “Hop Sing, you know it’s true. Why, I might’ve wasted away to a shadow if we hadn’t hired Gregory and Aubrey to keep me fed!”

Hop Sing considered this. He looked around and saw that everything was neat and clean. “I go to kitchen. If messy, Hop Sing quit!” He dropped his valise on the floor and stalked into the kitchen. He returned shortly.

“Aha!” he said with glee. “Big pot in kitchen sitting on stove. Not clean. Hop Sing needed here to do things right!” He picked up his valise and returned to the kitchen. Sounds of scrubbing could be heard.

Aubrey couldn’t help it. Her nose crinkled as she giggled softly. “There is a big pot full of water and soap, just as Hop Sing said. The food was stuck on there, so I was letting it soak for a while before going back to scrub it. How fortuitous!”

“We need to write a book,” Joe muttered. “White men sharing supper with Indians and add an angry Chinaman to the mix.”

“A best seller,” Adam said dryly as he looked at Aubrey’s crinkling nose.

“I think it’s time for brandy,” Ben intoned. “The goings-on this evening require something stronger than just plain coffee.” He was smiling.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The next morning, before breakfast, the Fergusons said their thank-you’s and good-bye’s. Aubrey felt Adam’s strong hands lift her up onto the seat in the buckboard, and felt her stomach do flip-flops. She was sad at having to leave this family but was excited about the future and what it would hold at opening “Fergusons’ Diner.” As the buckboard rounded the corner away from the big house, Aubrey’s eyes focused on Adam – and she saw him wink at her. She waved at him and saw his smile grow. Then she had to remind herself that Adam was interested in Linda Lee, so she faced frontward on her seat and didn’t look back. The only thing she had to look forward to as far as seeing Adam is that all the Cartwrights had promised to help fix up the building that Gregory had already purchased. Also, the four men had promised to eat at the new establishment often and had extended an open-ended invitation to visit the Ponderosa often.

Gregory looked at his daughter’s face. Though Aubrey had never said a word, Gregory knew that his beloved daughter had a crush on Adam. And he also knew that it would always be just a “crush.” Rich folks like the Cartwrights didn’t hobnob with folks from “the poor side of town.”

To break the silence, father held daughter’s hand. “We’re starting a whole new life,” he said. “It’s going to be hard work but, then, anything worth having is always hard work.”

Aubrey smiled at her father. He always had such a positive outlook on everything. Aubrey vowed to herself to be just like her father.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Replacing shingles on a roof wasn’t something new to Aubrey. She and her father had often done this same thing – along with other carpentry duties – when they lived on their little farm years ago. The roof on the new building was structurally sound but there were a plethora of shingles that needed to be replaced. Aubrey, on the back side of the roof, was so intent on her work that she didn’t hear or see the three Cartwright brothers ride up. Nor did she hear anyone climb the ladder to the rooftop.

She nailed in two shingles, making sure to add the right amount of tar to keep the roof waterproof. On the third nail, she hammered her thumb by mistake.

“Dammit!” she exploded. She stuck the injured thumb into her mouth, pulled it out and looked at it. “Oh, Hell for breakfast!” she added as she saw the blood begin to pool beneath the nail bed.

Behind her, she heard a familiar chuckle. Turning, she saw Adam on the top rung of the ladder, leaning against the roof eave.

“Now, is that any way for a lady to talk?” Adam grinned as he made his way in Aubrey’s direction.

“Adam Cartwright! You just about scared the life out of me! Papa’s gone to get more shingles and I thought I was alone. I hit my thumb a good lick with the hammer.”

“Let me see,” Adam said as he sat down beside Aubrey, taking her hand in his.

A shiver went through Aubrey as she looked at her small hand in Adam’s large one. The scent of his after-shave cologne almost made her giddy.

Adam was reacting in a different manner. Yes, holding Aubrey’s hand sent a feeling of lightning run up his arm. But it was seeing how Aubrey was dressed that stirred him. He had never seen her in jeans and a tight blouse before, and he realized that her silhouette was more than just attractive. The jeans hugged her body, and the blouse stretched tightly across her breasts. Because she hadn’t buttoned the top buttons to the blouse, if Adam looked at just the right angle (which he did), he could see a bit of cleavage. He felt his belly tighten.

Taking a deep breath to make himself relax, he looked at Aubrey’s thumb. Indeed, she had really pounded it and he knew from experience that it was throbbing. Before Aubrey could say anything, Adam had taken out his pocket knife and immediately stuck it through the thumb nail. Blood oozed out.

It all happened so quickly that Aubrey didn’t even have time to protest. If the truth be told, she was watching Adam’s face, focusing in on his hazel eyes, his furrowed brow, the curls above his ears, the dark stubble on his face that was always present whether he had just shaved or not. She felt an unfamiliar feeling – physical longing?

Instead, she gave a belated “Ouch” and tried to snatch her hand away. Hazel eyes met lavender eyes and held a steady gaze. Adam felt himself falling into those lavender eyes and wondered how he could possibly have not really focused on them before.

Quickly, he pulled out his handkerchief and pressed it gently against the injured thumb. The bleeding under the nail bed soon stopped. Both man and woman knew that they needed to let go of each other’s hands but were loath to do so.

“Hey, you two!” Gregory called, having just arrived on the scene. “I have the rest of the shingles, and it’s time for lunch! C’mon down!”

Adam went part of the way down the ladder first. Deliberately. He wanted another look at Aubrey’s tight jeans. As she began her descent, he got an eyeful of a beautifully-rounded backside. He felt his belly tighten again and had to look away.

Reaching solid ground, Adam lifted Aubrey down the rest of the way. His hands slipped slightly from her waist upward, and he could feel just a bit of the soft fullness of her breasts. He wondered if she noticed. She did.

“Watch your hands, Adam Cartwright!” But her nose crinkled as she smiled.

“’Hell for breakfast’?” Adam asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that one before.” He chuckled.

“Don’t tell Papa,” Aubrey whispered. “He thinks I’m prim and proper.” She stifled a giggle, but her cheeks turned pink.

Hoss and Joe, who had been doing some minor work inside the building, came outside and helped carry the loads of shingles up the ladder to be put on top of the roof to be used later. Then the Fergusons and the Cartwright brothers went inside the building and shared the fried chicken, biscuits, and cabbage salad that Aubrey had fixed earlier.

After the meal, Adam and Gregory stayed inside and really looked hard at the structure to make sure that everything was all right. Aubrey, Hoss and Joe made quick work of replacing the shingles. When everything was done, Hoss grinned.

“We have a surprise for you,” he said, almost dancing with delight.

He and Joe disappeared outside and then reappeared, holding something large which was covered by a sheet. The sheet was removed and revealed a big, beautifully-scripted sign that read “Fergusons’ Diner.”

Gregory stared and Aubrey had to do a double-take. Then Aubrey squealed with delight. Both father and daughter ran their hands over the sign, traced each letter, then touched the sign lovingly again.

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you.” Gregory had trouble speaking through the lump in his throat. Aubrey was incapable of speaking at all. Other than kissing Ben on the cheek the night of the loan, she had never shown any physical affection to the Cartwrights. But now she hugged each one with gusto.

“Please tell Mister Ben how much we appreciate this,” Gregory said as he shook hands with each brother. “A dream is now a reality. The sign says so.”

Neither Aubrey nor Adam would forget this day. The hand-holding, the steady gaze of each other’s eyes, nor the way their bodies felt when Aubrey hugged Adam.

Lying in bed that night, Aubrey remembered how Adam’s hands had felt on her body, remembered how strong his arms were when she hugged him, remembered how the muscles in his legs had felt pressing against her own legs.

Adam, his head on his pillow, remembered lavender eyes and the crush of soft breasts against his chest. He smiled at the thought of seeing that Aubrey continued to wear her moccasins. Then he tossed and turned, remembering the full curve of Aubrey’s backside as she was coming down the ladder. His body responded as his thoughts whirled. He chastised himself and finally fell asleep.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Gregory had quit his job at the saloon and turned his full attention to his establishment. The Grand Opening of “Fergusons’ Diner” was not as “grand” as Aubrey had hoped. In her mind, people would fill all the tables and that there would be a line of folks waiting to eat. Not so. The Cartwrights were there for breakfast, God bless ’em, and a few friends of theirs who passed by stopped to check out the new place. But, down the street, Marlen’s Cafe was doing its usual booming business.

When the few diners had gone, leaving the Cartwrights to sip the last bit of their coffee, both Gregory and Aubrey came out to sit with them.

“I just don’t know what we did wrong,” Aubrey said dejectedly. “We serve bigger portions and charge less than Marlen. Our place is much nicer and the food is definitely better.”

Gregory was more realistic. “People are creatures of habit, Aubrey. Our place is brand new, and few folks want to be the first to try it out. Give it time.”

Adam had a thought – a good one. He playfully tugged at Aubrey’s braided hair but what he said made perfect sense.

“Every evening, write out a bill of fare and post it outside the door. Folks always want to know what’s being served and how much it will cost. Folks here already know Marlen’s prices and the prices at the hotel. Be creative. Use catchwords like ‘juicy’ or ‘fork-tender’ or ‘melt-in-your-mouth’ or ‘the best’.”

Gregory smiled. “We could write ‘the best coffee in town’ or ‘melt-in your-mouth biscuits’ or ‘hearty beef stew – or soup’ or ‘fork-tender roast beef’ or ‘juicy pork roast with herbs’.”

“You’re makin’ me hungry all over again,” Hoss declared with a laugh.

Aubrey stopped looking dejected, her face brightening. “Adam, that might just work! If folks will just stop to read the bill of fare, they might actually come in to sample the food. At least once. If we can get them to do that, then they’ll be hooked! We can decide what we want to serve and then I can write it down the night before, just like Adam says!”

Annie, who was cleaning off the few tables, passed by on her way to the kitchen. “The Cartwrights have an eye for business. You’d be wise to listen to them.”

By lunch time, a bill of fare was posted outside what simply would become known as “The Diner.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

And Adam’s idea worked. By the end of the week, folks saw that the Cartwrights frequented “The Diner” often. Where the Cartwrights ate a meal influenced a lot of people, but that bill of fare posted outside was written in a way that made them want to try the food on its own merit. Not one person ever walked away dissatisfied either with the food or the prices.

Marlen’s Cafe began to lose money. His prices were too high anyway and, though his food was good, he was still losing business. He drank more and complained bitterly to Martina. He had nothing nice to say about the Fergusons – often calling them “trash” and other descriptive but unrepeatable words. His mood was so bad that he scared away any gals who might have wanted to work for him. He was hung-over enough so that he often opened only for the evening meal. The quality of his food became less important to him. There were only a handful of people who still frequented his cafe and, even they had sneaked into “The Diner” to see what it was like. They talked among themselves and agreed that “The Diner” had better food and prices, but they kept returning to Marlen’s Cafe anyway. These people, Slim Akens and his friends were just about the only folks who Marlen could count on. He complained to them every time he saw them. He didn’t have a winning personality to begin with, and now it was worse than ever before. He was angry.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The days flew by and, with each day that passed, “The Diner” drew more and more customers. Word of mouth traveled fast, whether the Cartwrights were seen dining there or not. Annie had searched around and then trained Martha and Ginger to be waitresses. Annie was an excellent teacher, and her “protégées” learned quickly. Everything ran smoothly. Aubrey was a little sad that she saw less of Adam, but she was happy that the money in the bank began growing by leaps and bounds. The different kinds of bread that Gregory made and the unusual dishes that he and Aubrey prepared were the talk of the town. The “thin fried potatoes” became a staple at lunch. Though “cow’s tongue” sandwiches weren’t advertised per se, (they were listed as “leanest of lean roast beef”), they became quite popular. Nobody in “The Diner” lied – if folks asked what kind of beef they were eating, they were told the truth. And, the truth was that this “beef” tasted most delicious. Annie, Martha and Ginger received larger tips than any other waitresses, so they were happy.

Of course, Marlen’s Cafe continued to lose business. The madder he got, the more he griped to what few customers he had left. He sent Slim Akens to spy on the Fergusons to see if they could find out how things were prepared and why they were so popular. When Slim returned with what little news he could share, Marlen tried to copy the recipe. His “thin fried potatoes” weren’t bad, but they were often soggy. His cabbage salad lacked the zip that the Fergusons served. Gregory and Aubrey would give only the major hints – not the “family secret” hints. Marlen couldn’t master the “yellow mustard seeds spread” and finally gave up trying.

On his “spying” missions, Slim often would ask to speak to Aubrey. She was always happy to talk with her customers so she had many conversations with Slim. He would first discuss his meal and then would ask Aubrey to go for a walk or a buggy ride with him after “The Diner” closed. Aubrey would smile and decline, saying she was just too tired at night to do anything except go to sleep. This did not make Slim happy. He went out with a lot of gals who were delighted to be seen in his company.

One evening, Adam brought the lovely Linda Lee into “The Diner” for a delicious meal. Aubrey’s heart broke when she saw them together. She had to admit to herself that she was jealous. She never saw Adam touch Linda Lee in an affectionate way, but she was upset just the same. So it was, on this particular night, Aubrey accepted Slim’s invitation to go for a buggy ride. It was a disaster. By the time the buggy reached the outskirts of town, Slim was busily planting soggy, wet kisses all over Aubrey’s face, and his hands were trying to roam all over her body. Aubrey slapped him so hard that his head went backward and the side of his face was bruised from hitting one of the side rails of the buggy top. Aubrey leaped out of the buggy, swore like a sailor, and then stalked all the way back into town and to the safety of her home. Gregory looked up at her as she entered the house, saw the fire in her eyes, and decided not to ask too many questions. He simply asked if she was all right and, when she said that she was, he gave her some dough to knead. She punched it down, kneaded it again, and then covered it with cheesecloth to let it rise. She spoke not a word.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Slim made the mistake of telling Marlen and Martina, believing they wouldn’t repeat what they heard. After all, he was Marlen’s spy and was on good terms with Martina. So, when he became the laughingstock of Virginia City, he figured that Aubrey had told everybody what had happened. Almost every pretty unmarried woman knew Slim for what he was – a cad. When he passed by any one of them on the street, he would hear a snicker. Married women couldn’t wait to pass the news on to their husbands. Slim wasn’t ashamed of what he had tried to do to Aubrey but he was embarrassed that he got caught at it.

This particular morning, Hoss was at “The Diner” eating an early breakfast of gingerbread pancakes and sausage when Slim came in with two of his friends. When their food arrived, Slim looked at his plate and surreptitiously planted a small dung beetle into his scrambled eggs. He immediately demanded to see Aubrey.

Martha went into the kitchen to fetch Aubrey and told her what Slim had said about the beetle in his eggs. Aubrey knew that there was no way that could’ve happened but went immediately to confront Slim.

“Martha tells me that something is wrong with your eggs,” Aubrey said evenly.

“Damn right. Look at these eggs and tell me what you see!”

Hoss chewed his pancakes and watched. If Aubrey needed help, he’d give it.

“I see a small bug of some kind,” Aubrey said quietly. “There’s no way that could’ve happened. I don’t serve food that can’t be eaten. But I’ll cook more eggs and won’t charge you a penny.”

Slim dumped his entire plate on the floor. His friends followed suit. And that was when Hoss stepped in. Grabbing Slim by the nape of the neck, Hoss lifted the man out of the chair and walked with him to the door, Slim’s legs dangling in mid-air. Aubrey was aghast. She knew how strong Hoss was and was afraid that Slim might find himself in “the Promised Land” sooner than he expected to go. The patrons were aware of that fact also. A hush fell over the room. Voices could be heard outside, but exactly what was said was unknown.

Not only was Slim a cad but he was also a coward. He knew that Hoss would’ve loved to have hit him so he just mouthed off a wee bit. But, when both men came back inside, Slim simply announced that he would never set foot in this place again. Hoss sat down to finish his pancakes and watched. Slim and his friends paid for their meals – which remained untouched – and made sure to leave a tip for Martha. Aubrey watched the men leave then shot a questioning glance at Hoss. Hoss winked. Everything went back to normal.

Except for one thing. While “The Diner” was finishing serving breakfast, the Fergusons’ house caught on fire. Thanks to the volunteer fire department, no other shacks got burned because Gregory Ferguson’s house just fell down on itself in a smoldering, watery heap. There was nothing salvageable.

And that is how Gregory and Aubrey came to live with the Cartwrights until another house could be found.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Hoss and the Fergusons explained to Ben what had happened to their house.

“I hope our being here won’t be too much of an imposition,” Gregory said, a little embarrassed.

Aubrey said nothing. She was too upset to open her mouth.

“I know for a fact, when I left the house this morning, that the stove hadn’t even been used. Aubrey and I had coffee and ate at ‘The Diner’.” Gregory shook his head. “That fire didn’t start by itself.”

Ben gave Gregory and friendly touch on the arm. “We’re happy that Hoss brought you here. Stay as long as you like.”

Hot-headed Joe had something to say. “I bet Marlen set fire to your house. Or Slim. He’ll never get over being slapped.”

Adam gnawed on a sliver of wood and nodded silently. “Those are your only enemies in town that I can think of. But we need proof. And we have none. Roy, of course, will investigate. Maybe he’ll come up with something.”

Aubrey smiled shyly at Hoss. “Hoss took us to the store. We were able to get a few clothes and other stuff. He took good care of us. He kept his wits about him while we were losing ours.”

Ben rested his hand on Hoss’s shoulder. “He keeps a cool head most of the time. I’m glad today was one of those days.”

Gregory looked proud. “I’m glad that ‘The Diner’ is doing such a good business. We have enough money in the bank to look for another place to live. And Aubrey and I will keep the business going as usual so we don’t lose any of our patrons.”

Hop Sing entered the room. “Mistah and Missee Ferguson and Hop Sing can talk about cooking. We share ideas. Yes?”

Ben looked startled. Hop Sing never shared ideas with anyone. He must really like the Fergusons!

Despite his seeing Linda Lee quite often, Adam smiled. Aubrey’s presence was growing on him. It would be a while before he realized just how much she meant to him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Days passed and a routine was established. The Fergusons drank a quick cup of coffee – they had shared the “family secret” with Hop Sing – and then would go to town to serve three meals a day. They shortened the hours of the evening meal so that they could get back to the Ponderosa earlier than they used to get back to their little shack. “Cooking secrets” were passed between them and Hop Sing, and there were many occasions when father and daughter could share time with the Cartwrights. After listening to Adam playing the guitar and singing, Aubrey found that she was fascinated with the idea of being able to master that instrument. Its sound was so relaxing. She knew she could never sing – she didn’t have the voice for it, but the guitar seemed to call to her.

“Can you teach me to play that thing?” Aubrey asked as Adam sat down on the hearth with his beloved guitar.

“Sure,” Adam answered with a smile. “Sit here so I can help you find the chords with your fingertips.”

Where Adam pointed would put Aubrey right smack between Adam’s legs. She blushed.

“Oh, for Heaven’s sake,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m not going to molest you. This is a music lesson!”

Both Ben and Gregory laughed out loud at Adam’s consternation. Hoss and Joe just grinned.

Her face flaming, Aubrey did as she was told and settled herself between Adam’s outstretched legs. She was distracted by the nearness of him, the feel of his chest against her back, the feel of his arms against hers, the feeling of his legs by hers. She got flustered and, had it not been for Adam’s quickness, she would’ve dropped the guitar on the floor. She almost gave up the idea of learning at all when Adam’s fingers guided her own fingers to the strings. Only her determination kept her sitting there.

She was a quick learner. In a matter of thirty minutes, she had learned four chords and could change quickly from one to the other. She also learned a simple strum.

“That’s enough for tonight,” Adam said. “When you’ve gotten really familiar with those chords, I’ll teach you more.” What he really meant that, having Aubrey’s body between his legs, his arms around her, practically unnerved him. And very few things unnerved Adam Cartwright.

Aubrey looked at her fingertips. They were bright red and sore. She sighed. “I guess you’re right. Tomorrow my fingers will be too sore to play.”

As she rose, Adam chuckled. “Nope. They won’t stop being sore until you have callouses. See?”

He held out his hand which Aubrey took in her own. Both man and woman felt a slight shiver go through them, just as they had on the day that Aubrey was hammering shingles.

“I see,” Aubrey announced. But she didn’t see the callouses – all she could see were Adam’s big hands and long fingers. Was she imagining things, or did she feel Adam’s hand tremble just like hers were doing?

CHAPTER THIRTY

Fast forward a bit. “The Diner’s” business was absolutely booming. The Fergusons weren’t rich but they were delighted to find that there was always enough money in the bank for them to buy brand new clothes or other necessities. After several days of interviewing prospective cooks, a man by the name of Brian Matthews was hired. He was a gifted chef and, at times, seemed to have four separate hands to work with. Gregory, Aubrey, and Brian rotated days off so that there were always two people doing the cooking. Only one more waitress needed to be hired – the building simply didn’t hold enough people to warrant hiring any more. Emma Werner was just right for the position and got along very well with everyone – including Annie, Martha and Ginger.

At the end of each month, Gregory proudly paid Ben for his loan plus ten per cent of the earnings. He would always be grateful for Ben’s believing in him and told him so. Ben would smile and shake his hand, saying, “I never doubted you for a minute.”

Gregory found a two-bedroom house which had been owned by Bertha Morris. Bertha had died in her sleep, had no family and no Last Will and Testament. The house was small but well kept, and Gregory was delirious with excitement when he discovered that he could pay the back taxes on the house, plus a small mortgage, and move right in. The house was sparsely furnished but was infinitely better than the shack south of town. Aubrey spent her off-days planting all kinds of flowers and shrubs which flourished under her care.

Aubrey had bought – and now was now able to play – her own guitar reasonably well. She couldn’t read a single note of music but had an “ear” for what chords sounded right. Quite frequently, she would see one or two of the Cartwrights and would be invited to the Ponderosa for supper (as would her father). She took her guitar with her and would sit next to Adam either inside or on the porch and play duets. On a few occasions, Linda Lee would be present and would smile and tap her foot to the music.

Marlen’s business had dwindled and he continued to rant to Martina and Slim (and anyone else who would listen) that the Fergusons had “stolen” his customers. He was forced to drop his prices but the quality of his food was not as good as it had been originally. His friends, comprised mostly of his drinking buddies, kept him in business. Barely.

The Fergusons found that making friends was easy. They had no delusions of being “high society” folks but were delighted at being smiled at and talked to on the street and called by their first names. This penchant for being open to friendship would get them into trouble…

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

One day, dressed in “white man’s clothes,” Talkeetna and Raven entered “The Diner.” There was complete silence as Annie seated them. Then there were whispers. Ginger fled back to the kitchen, her face ashen.

“Annie just seated Talkeetna and Raven,” she said breathlessly.

“Wonderful!” Aubrey answered. “I’ll go say hello to them.”

“You don’t understand,” Martha said. “Indians aren’t allowed anywhere but at the General Store.”

“Well, that’s a dumb rule. They’re friends of the Cartwrights and friends of ours,” Aubrey replied, surprising herself. There was a time when she would have run screaming for her life at the sight of an Indian. “Talkeetna and Raven come to town all the time. People know who they are.”

“But they don’t eat inside,” Martha hissed. “They’re served at the back door.”

“Not here,” Aubrey said as she left the kitchen to greet her friends. And, yes, she still wore her moccasins.

Aubrey greeted Talkeetna and Raven with genuine warmth. Raven had brought new moccasins for Aubrey. “The ones you wear must have holes in them by now.” Raven smiled.

“What can I get for you to eat?” Aubrey smiled back. “Consider your meal payment for the moccasins which I do need.”

“No, we pay!” Talkeetna spoke.

Aubrey snorted. “Raven gave me a gift. Now I give you a gift. It’s not polite to refuse a gift, you know.”

In all seriousness, the two Indians had planned only to give Aubrey the moccasins. But the food smelled so good that they found themselves to be hungry. They ended up placing an order.

As Aubrey turned to go back to the kitchen, a cowhand grabbed her apron. “You cain’t serve them dirty redskins in here.”

“It’s my place, and I reserve the right to serve whoever I want to,” Aubrey answered. “And there will be no name-calling in here. Except for this one time. I am serving you, and you are a dirty white skin.” Aubrey’s usual shyness seemed to have disappeared.

“If they eat here, I won’t,” said the cowhand. “And I won’t pay you for my meal either!”

Aubrey shrugged. “Suit yourself. You know where the door is.”

Several people left when the cowhand left, their food still on their plates.

Raven shook her head. Talkeetna stood and spoke.

“You lose business because of us. We leave now. We are very sorry.”

Aubrey made a face. “Sit down, Talkeetna. Your skin is different than mine, your customs are different than mine, but we are both human beings. The world would be a better place if we all could just get along.”

Morris Fulton, an old man who was sitting in his usual corner, stood up. He clapped his hands and smiled. And the people who stayed to eat, one by one, began clapping their hands. They understood the truth in what Aubrey said.

Talkeetna and Raven, for the first time in Virginia City, ate inside a restaurant. Word spread, but not all of it was good. And it got worse as time went by. Aubrey, Gregory and Brian, Annie, Martha, Emma and Ginger never turned anyone away. Unless, of course, that patron happened to be drunk. Even then the offender was invited to return when sober. It became a well-known fact that the Fergusons served all people, regardless of race or creed. Business slacked off for a while but, once folks got used to the idea, business picked up again.

Aubrey had made a stand and had won. The “shy” Aubrey had disappeared and was replaced by a woman who could hold her own. She may have lost a few friends but she had gained just as many friends who admired her and respected her.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Aubrey splurged at the General Store. She bought a new pair of jeans, a shirt, socks and boots. She felt blessed that she and her father had enough money to be able to do this. And she was filled with excitement. Today, she and Adam were going riding together – alone! Adam promised to bring a gentle horse from the Ponderosa for her to ride instead of bumping along on her old mule.

She sat in front of her mirror and looked at her reflection. She would never be as pretty as Linda Lee, but Linda Lee just didn’t like horses. Besides, she and Adam were just friends, weren’t they? Was there any law that said a man and a woman couldn’t be friends?

Pulling her hair back into one long braid, Aubrey continued to look at her image in the mirror. She was no longer as thin as she used to be – she filled out her jeans and shirt nicely. Pinching her cheeks gave her a rosy glow, and a tiny dab of rouge on her lips gave her face a nice color. Her long eyelashes were naturally thick and black, but the bane of her existence were the freckles across her nose. How she hated them. She felt she looked childish but wouldn’t wear all that junk that other women wore to cover up facial flaws.

A knock at the door heralded Adam’s arrival. Grabbing up a sack of food for a picnic, Aubrey raced for the door. At the last moment, she grabbed her guitar. There was still so much that Adam could teach her. Too bad that he couldn’t teach her how to carry a tune…

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Adam looked relaxed as he took the bag of food from Aubrey’s hand.

“Ah, a loaf of bread, a jug of wine…” he began.

“And me!” Aubrey finished the quote. “Except we have no wine. There’s lemonade instead.”

Adam’s dimples were deep. He had only appeared relaxed when he approached the house. He found, to his consternation and confusion, that he was really looking forward to this day with Aubrey. Yes, he cared for Linda Lee, and he had asked her first to go riding with him. But she would only ride in the buggy. Besides, she had told him with a smile, she just had to go shopping for a dress to wear to the Cartwright’s annual Spring get-together before the round-up began. Linda Lee was quite a lady, poised and beautiful and with a good sense of humor. But there were some differences in their likes and dislikes which Adam took in stride. He had long since found that women usually had an entirely different agenda than men did. Deep down inside, he felt that he and Aubrey had more in common than he and Linda Lee did… He tried to push that feeling down but there were times when they rose to the surface. Like now as he helped Aubrey into her saddle and carefully handed her the guitar. He had brought his own guitar and had brought also a book of poetry (why did he do that? He had no idea.)

Adam and Aubrey rode side by side out of town. As they passed the DuBois dress shop, Linda Lee was exiting and waved.

“Are you sure you don’t want to ride with us?” Adam asked.

“Adam, you know I don’t ride horses,” Linda Lee smiled. “You two go on and have your ride. I have more shopping to do.” Linda Lee didn’t have a jealous bone in her body.

Aubrey looked at Adam. Did she see relief on his face or was it just wishful thinking on her part?

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Aubrey looked down from atop Butterscotch’s back, then looked at Adam. “Couldn’t you have picked a shorter horse?”

“Nope.” Adam’s lips turned upward in a smirk. His dimples deepened. “Butterscotch is the gentlest horse we have on the Ponderosa. You specifically said that you wanted a gentle horse. So you’ve got one.”

“Hmmm,” was Aubrey’s answer. “So I did. You are most kind to remember what I said.” This last answer was slightly sarcastic, but Aubrey’s lavender eyes twinkled. “If I fall off, I might get hurt.”

Adam turned Sport down a dusty, seldom-used road. “You won’t get hurt. The fall alone’ll kill you.”

“How comforting,” came Aubrey’s retort along with a dubious look.

Because Butterscotch neither trotted, cantered or galloped, the ride to the glen that Adam had picked out had to be reached by a slow walk. For this, Aubrey was glad because it extended her time with Adam. Sometimes they rode in a comfortable, companionable silence and, when they did, they ran across a few wild critters – skunks, squirrels, a doe with a fawn still in spots, and a momma bear with two cubs. The sky was blue and cloudless, and the coolness in the air was perfect.

The area that Adam had picked out was full of early-blooming flowers, new shoots of green grass, and the land was dotted with trees.

Not waiting for Adam to help her down, Aubrey slid down from the saddle and promptly landed on her backside in a small pile of dirt where the grass had not yet grown. Aubrey didn’t care and ran immediately to look at the flowers.

Adam strolled over to her. “Uh, you’ve got dirt on your…uh…backside. Shall I brush it off for you?” He smirked.

“You keep your hands to yourself!” came the answer. But Aubrey’s heart skipped a beat when she thought of how his hands might feel on her body.

She heard his deep chuckle and watched as he spread out a blanket for them and then fetched both guitars and his favorite book of poetry. Aubrey grabbed the food and the lemonade. She felt giddy with happiness.

Adam was thinking about Linda Lee and how different she was from Aubrey. Linda Lee was a joy to be around, but there were just some things that she didn’t like doing. Picnicking and riding horses were two of those things. Linda Lee loved to read, but her tastes only occasionally coincided with Adam’s. And she never would even attempt to have callouses on her fingers from playing a guitar. On the other hand, Linda Lee was a gracious and very beautiful woman who could enter a room and make friends instantly. If any woman could be completely feminine, it was Linda Lee.

Adam had a faraway look in his eyes as he plopped down on the blanket. He was unaware that Aubrey was scrutinizing him.

“Where are you, Adam?” Aubrey asked softly.

Coming back to reality, Adam smiled and shrugged. “Just thinking about what a beautiful day this is. About how comfortable I am. And hungry!”

Aubrey snorted. “Well, you don’t have to hit me with a ton of bricks.” She opened up the bags of food and snatched up a piece of fried chicken.

“What happened to the ‘loaf of bread, a jug of wine’?” Adam asked, grinning, as he poured lemonade into two glasses. Then he grabbed some chicken for himself. Linda Lee wouldn’t eat anything that one had to use fingers to eat. And she didn’t care for potato salad either, which Aubrey was now serving. How different these two women were!

Throughout the meal, the conversation between Adam and Aubrey was relaxed and comfortable. Then the two went down to the nearby small stream to wash their hands and rinse out utensils and glasses. Aubrey was overcome with excitement when she saw several trout swimming around.

“Can we catch them so Papa and Brian can serve fresh fish for supper?”

“We don’t have anything to make hooks out of,” Adam sighed. “And we have nothing to use for lines to attach the hooks to.” Linda Lee wouldn’t have been caught dead fishing. Why did he keep comparing the two women?

“Don’t need ’em. Papa taught me how to fish without poles or lines or hooks.”

Aubrey found a still pool of water and dumped the chicken bones into it. She knelt down and waited while Adam watched. The trout came to pick at the chicken bones and, very deftly, Aubrey threw a big rock at a fat trout and stunned it.

“Okay. I’m taking care of the fish-catching. It’s up to you to find a stringer to keep them on. If we take them out of the water now, they’ll spoil before supper.”

Adam found some new vines growing up a tree. He pulled one away from the tree, found it to be pliant enough, and returned to where Aubrey now had one trout in each hand.

“Perfect,” she smiled as she ran the vine through the trouts’ gills and instructed Adam to take them a little ways downstream where the water ran faster. The fish could breathe but couldn’t get away because Adam had tied one end of the vine to a small bush.

Within a few minutes, Aubrey had caught seven trout. Onto the stringer they went. Adam was impressed. He wasn’t sure at all that Linda Lee would even pick up a rock. Comparisons again. Why?

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Seven big fat trout would be enough, so man and woman re-washed their hands and returned to the blanket. As Adam read aloud from his book of poetry, Aubrey strummed her guitar softly to provide background music. She closed her eyes as Adam read, her face a picture of sublime happiness. The poems that Adam read, for the most part, were familiar to her and she picked just the right music to play. Once again, Adam was impressed.

He put the book down and picked up his own guitar, following Aubrey’s chord progressions. Soon he was singing songs and playing an arpeggio in concert with Aubrey’s strumming. Aubrey, though she couldn’t sing well, decided to sing along. The man and woman laughed like two children as the sun made its way across the sky and began its dip on the western horizon.

“I guess its time to go home,” Aubrey sighed. “Papa could use those fish for supper.” She wished silently that she hadn’t caught the stupid things.

“I guess so,” Adam said reluctantly. He couldn’t remember when he had a more enjoyable day and didn’t want it to be over either.

Everything was gathered up and stowed away. The fish were tied to Aubrey’s saddle horn. Aubrey turned to Adam.

“Thank you for this wonderful day.”

Adam reached out and touched Aubrey’s cheek with his fingers. They lingered there. Aubrey’s legs trembled as she looked into hazel eyes. Her face was so close to Adam’s that she could feel his breath on her face.

Adam opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. He found himself lost in the depths of lavender eyes.

“What’s happening?” Aubrey asked in a whisper.

Adam cupped her face with his hand, paused for several seconds. He knew what he wanted to do and that was to kiss those full lips. But he didn’t.

“I think we ought to have more picnics,” he said finally as his fingers left Aubrey’s face. He felt confused and uncertain as to what he was feeling and what he should say.

“Definitely,” Aubrey answered, trying to keep her voice from quavering. “Will you give me a leg up onto this beast?” Aubrey eyed Butterscotch.

The tension was broken. Aubrey settled into her saddle and watched as Adam easily swung up onto Sport’s back. Because they went only at a walk, they ended up playing their guitars as they headed back to town.

As Aubrey went into “The Diner,” she looked back as Adam was riding away, Butterscotch in tow. Adam was looking at Aubrey – a strange look. What did it mean?

Gregory and Brian served trout that night while Aubrey went home. Her mind was like a steel trap and she replayed the days’ events in her memory over and over again. She touched her face where Adam’s hand and fingers had been. And she smiled.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Adam was confused. He knew that he cared deeply for Linda Lee and had considered proposing marriage on more than one occasion. He thought that the chances were good that she would say “Yes.” But, if the truth be told, he wasn’t sure that he loved her. And then he had these “feelings” for Aubrey that were unexplainable. Being near her made his skin prickle and gave him the sensations of bolts of lightning running from head to toe. Did she have the same feelings? He began spending more time with Linda Lee to force himself to come to grips with what he felt.

Linda Lee wasn’t stupid. She suspected the truth even before Adam or Aubrey did. But this was just a suspicion. Linda Lee was not out to snag a Cartwright. Her feelings for Adam ran deep, so she continued to bide her time to see what would happen. She never felt that she was “wasting her time” when she was with him and she hoped against hope that her suspicions were wrong.

She would know soon enough.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

This was the night of the Ponderosa Party, and everybody was invited – from the richest folks to the poorest folks. Children, adults, older folks. Gregory had closed “The Diner” so that he and Aubrey and the rest of his staff could attend. Even Marlen had closed up his place. As mad as he was at the Cartwrights for never setting foot in his restaurant, he wouldn’t miss a get-together at the Ponderosa for anything! He hid the fact that he wasn’t happy that the Fergusons would be helping Hop Sing with the cooking – something he had done in the past. Martina and Slim Akens (and Slim’s buddies) loaded up in the buckboard and headed to the Ponderosa.

This was the social event of the year for the whole town. There were games for the young ‘uns to play, chess and checkers for the older group, a band playing music for dancing, and more food to eat than anyone could ever hope for.

Only Hop Sing and Gregory were allowed to turn the spits of whole beef. Aubrey tended to keeping the punch bowl filled and glided around passing out canapés and appetizers of chicken wings dripping with a honey-barbecue sauce. Everything was ready to eat – Hop Sing and Gregory wanted to make sure the beef was cooked just perfectly before a whole meal could be served. And, at Hop Sing’s nod, folks grabbed plates and lined up to be served by the Chinese cook and by the Fergusons.

Linda Lee looked simply beautiful. She was neither overdressed nor under-dressed – she always knew exactly what to wear. Aubrey had dressed with care, but she knew that she would probably spill something on herself, so she wore the widest apron that she could find and wrapped it around her to protect her clothes. The Cartwrights looked handsome in their casual jackets and string ties.

Aubrey couldn’t help it. She kept watching Adam, wishing she were at his side. He was most attentive to Linda Lee but would occasionally glance at Aubrey and dimple at her. Her skin would prickle and she would smile shyly back.

When the meal had been served and eaten, and when the kitchen had been mostly cleaned up, Aubrey went into the great room where the furniture had been pushed aside to allow for dancing. Aubrey watched as Adam swept Linda Lee into his arms and waltzed her around the room. They made a beautiful couple – a fact which Aubrey had to admit to herself. She sighed and filled the punch bowl again, smiling at folks who needed their cups filled.

And then Adam was at her side, two cups at the ready for more punch. Linda Lee was at his side, her smile showing how much she enjoyed herself. There was no cattiness to the smile – it was genuine. Everything about Linda Lee was genuine.

Adam dimpled again at Aubrey. And then Linda Lee spoke up.

“Adam, Aubrey has done nothing but work all night long. And probably all day too. Don’t you think that the least you could do would be to dance with her and let her have some fun for a change?”

“Oh, I couldn’t do that,” Aubrey said, flustered. “I don’t know how to dance at all. Please don’t ask me. I don’t want to make a fool of myself in front of all these people.” Aubrey looked up at Adam with pleading eyes.

“Aubrey, Adam is an excellent dancer. And my feet hurt. And I’m thirsty. You’d be doing me a favor by taking this man off my hands.”

Adam didn’t even ask. He just swept Aubrey into his arms and guided her onto the floor in a very easy-to-follow step. Aubrey never even stumbled.

“Relax,” Adam said soothingly as he put his hand at the small of Aubrey’s back. “Dancing is meant to be fun.”

Aubrey looked into hazel eyes and forgot about the people around her. The world around her seemed surreal as she held onto Adam’s left hand. The slow one-two-three beat of the waltz made her think of how many songs she had played to that beat on her guitar. She found the rhythm easily. What she found distracting was that she was in Adam’s strong arms as he expertly guided her into a simple waltz. She wondered vaguely if she might be dreaming.

No, she wasn’t dreaming. Adam’s after-shave had a good, clean smell. His face was relaxed and he looked happy. Her hand felt dwarfed by his bigger hand and long fingers. The pressure of his hand at her back guided her easily as to what he was doing.

As for Adam, he was surprised at how wonderful Aubrey felt in his arms. And he couldn’t stop looking into her lavender eyes, feeling himself fall into them and then having to make himself concentrate on dancing.

Linda Lee had no more suspicions any more. She knew. She felt a twinge of sadness as she realized what was happening with Adam and Aubrey. Was she, herself, in love with Adam? Maybe a wee bit. He was handsome and attentive and very smart. He was also very classy. But he never looked at her the way he was looking at Aubrey.

The dance was over. Adam escorted Aubrey back to the punch bowl where he gulped down his cup and asked for another. Linda Lee watched as Adam’s hand touched Aubrey’s and watched as Aubrey’s cheeks turned pink. Aubrey made up an excuse and returned to the kitchen. Actually, she really went outside to breathe the fresh air and clear her head.

She wasn’t aware that the party was winding down and that folks were saying their good-byes. She had focused on Adam and Linda Lee – and they were sharing a kiss. Sadly, Aubrey turned her back and returned to the kitchen to help clean up the few things that were left. It was clear to her that Adam loved Linda Lee and that Linda Lee loved Adam. She sighed.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

All of the Cartwrights had dates that night and had busily driven buggies back into town. When the house was clean, Aubrey and her father climbed onto their buckboard and went back to town also.

They didn’t hear a drunken Marlen protesting about how he should’ve been allowed to help cook, about how “The Diner” was ruining his own business, about how much money he was losing. Martina and Slim sighed – it was always the same old story. When would it ever stop? Marlen made the horses gallop back to Virginia City, arriving there before many of the party-goers got home.

Aubrey didn’t know that Adam had stopped his buggy at Linda Lee’s request or that they were having a very serious discussion. It was a long discussion, and Adam and Linda Lee didn’t get to town until after the Fergusons did.

It was almost too late.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Arriving in town, Gregory noticed an orange glow coming from the business district. And there was the smell of acrid smoke.

“Something’s on fire,” Gregory said grimly as he slapped the reins on the mules’ backs. “Let’s go help.”

What was on fire was “The Diner.” There were a few people in town who had formed a bucket brigade and who were trying desperately to put the fire out. Gregory, with his one arm, could only fill the buckets and pass them on. As more people arrived from the party, they grabbed buckets and threw water until their backs and arms hurt. But the fire continued to rage out of control and threatened to ignite other nearby buildings. The members of the volunteer fire department shucked their jackets and began working to save every building they could.

By now, the whole Cartwright family had reached town and were helping where they could. Sweat was running down Gregory’s face – or was it sweat mixed with tears?

“Where’s Aubrey?” Adam shouted as he scooped a bucket of water from the horse trough.

“She’s….she was right here a few minutes ago,” Gregory answered, collapsing into Hoss’s arms.

Hoss took over the water pump while Ben and Joe helped the volunteer fire department with their hoses.

Adam’s eyes searched the crowd for any sign of Aubrey’s whereabouts. Not being able to find her, Adam’s heart fell. Had she gone into the burning building? The fire was too hot and too many beams were falling down for Adam to go into the building which finally collapsed into a heap. The only thing left was the stove, blackened but still standing. Tears stung Adam’s eyes and his shoulders slumped.

CHAPTER FORTY

It was dawn when Talkeetna and Raven arrived and saw the smoke. They were horrified to know that it was the restaurant of their friends which had burned to the ground. They were doubly horrified to know that Aubrey was missing. Gregory was inconsolable. He sat in the middle of the street with his head in his hands. He wouldn’t move. When the ashes had cooled enough, he planned to search for his daughter’s body. Adam stood next to him, one hand on his shoulder.

“Who would do this thing?” Talkeetna asked.

Raven pursed her lips. “Somebody who had hate for the Fergusons.”

The only people who sincerely disliked Gregory and Aubrey were Marlen and Slim and Slim’s friends of dubious character. Somebody mentioned those names aloud.

Roy Coffee shrugged his shoulders. “We have no proof. They left the Ponderosa when just about everybody else left. They wouldn’t have had time to set this kind of fire.”

Morris Fulton spoke up. “I saw them get here before the other folks. They must’ve run their horses half to death to get here so quick.”

Roy turned abruptly and headed for Marlen’s house. Marlen, of course, having been so drunk, had fallen asleep and missed the whole thing. It was clear to Roy that Marlen had been incapable of doing anything but getting into his house and falling into the first chair he came to.

In the barn, Slim and his buddies were asleep in the buckboard. The horses were still in their traces, and the lather on their bodies had dried solid. Waking the men up, Roy discovered that these men, too, had been drunk. They had left Marlen at his house and brought the buckboard into the barn. They had argued about who would unhitch the buckboard and put the horses away and, since nobody would tend to these things, they just passed out in the bed of the wagon.

Roy found the Cartwrights in the Bucket O’ Blood. Gregory was in such a state that he was drinking a glass of whiskey.

“I talked to Marlen and then to Slim and his friends.” Roy sighed. “They were drunk enough to pass out before they could’ve even thought about setting any fires. I doubt that they were even able to walk. There’re so many footprints that we can’t track Aubrey. She had on her moccasins, if I remember right.”

Hoss looked at Talkeetna. The Indian could track anything. Hoss was a master tracker, but Talkeetna had even him beat.

Hoss didn’t have to say a word. Talkeetna had already left the group, his keen eyes searching for clues around the building. Adam knew that looking would be no good. As Roy had said, their were just too many footprints around the building. He helped himself to a glass of whiskey.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Talkeetna’s keen eyes scanned everywhere and every thing. He prayed to the Great Manitou for the eyes of an eagle and for the safety of Aubrey. Hours went by, but he wouldn’t give up. Finally, he smiled. The Great Manitou had given him the eyes of an eagle. He followed what he knew to be signs of trouble: a hand print in the sand, the outline of two knees in a muddy area, a broken branch, more broken branches. They all told a story and led in one direction. He made no noise as he approached the house and looked in the window.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Silently, Talkeetna backed away from the window and then ran back to the saloon. More people had gathered inside, while Linda Lee and Raven sat outside and talked. Talkeetna tapped Roy, Gregory and the Cartwrights on the shoulder and drew them aside. The group slipped away unnoticed and followed the Indian.

Roy didn’t bother to knock on the locked door. Hoss simply kicked it open. There were two women in the house – one of whom was a terrified Martina. The other was an unconscious Aubrey.

“Joseph, get Doc Martin!” was all Ben said.

Martina burst into tears of guilt and fear. “She sprained her ankle and then fell and hit her head on the table! I can’t wake her up!”

Adam was the first man to make a move. He wet a towel and began gently rubbing Aubrey’s face as Gregory grabbed his daughter’s hand. They both listened to Martina as she spilled the beans about the fire to an angry Sheriff Coffee.

“I love Marlen,” she blubbered. “The Fergusons were driving him out of business and he had no money. I thought if I just started a little fire that maybe the Fergusons would take the hint and close up ‘The Diner’.” She paused to blow her nose. “But I started the fire in the kitchen and forgot about the cans of grease and they caught fire and then the whole thing got out of control. I ran out the back door and Aubrey grabbed me. We fought briefly and then I pointed my little gun at her. I wasn’t gonna shoot her, not really….” Another pause while Martina blew her nose again. “I didn’t know what to do with her so we came through the woods. She fell over a root and hurt her ankle, but I don’t think it’s broken. And when we came in the house, she fell and hit her head on the table. And I didn’t know what to do because I couldn’t let her go and I couldn’t go for the doctor……… Ohhhh, this is just such a mess, and now I’m going to jail!” Martina broke into fresh fits of sobs.

“Did Marlen tell you to do this? Did he help you at all?” Roy was aggravated. It wasn’t often that he had to put a woman in jail.

“No, and he’s gonna be furious with me. But I did it all for him. To help him get his business going again, and then maybe he would love me back.” Martina sniffled. “Besides, he was drunk as a lord on the way home. He wouldn’t have been any help at all.” Martina seemed to be concerned only that she had gotten caught – not that she had been an arsonist.

As Roy was escorting Martina to jail, Doc Martin arrived and examined Aubrey’s head. There was a large lump above her ear. Gregory put a cold cloth on it while Adam kept wiping Aubrey’s face. Doc Martin looked at Aubrey’s ankle which was slightly discolored.

“She seems to have a mild concussion,” he said. “And a slightly sprained ankle. Other than that, she’ll be fine. Let’s get her out of here and take her home.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Ben, Hoss and Joe went to the saloon to tell the news. Doc Martin and Gregory preceded Adam who was carrying Aubrey. She stirred slightly in his arms. He couldn’t remember when he had felt so overwhelmingly protective. As the small group passed by, people fell in line behind them. When the Ferguson house was reached, Doc Martin had to shoo them away. Except for Talkeetna and Raven, Linda Lee, and the rest of the Cartwright family. Gregory began making coffee as Doc Martin disappeared behind Aubrey’s bedroom door. He wanted to check her all over to ensure that he hadn’t missed any injuries. The group waited in stunned silence as they thought about what had happened. Martina, a setter of a fire and a kidnapper to boot! Of all people!

Doc Martin emerged from behind the bedroom door. “She’s fine, other than that lump on her head and a very tender ankle. You can go in now.”

Adam headed toward the room but Ben grabbed him. “Let Gregory go in, son.”

Adam found a matchstick and chewed on it. Linda Lee watched him with knowing eyes. She looked at Raven and saw the same understanding.

Ben spoke to Talkeetna. “Thank you, my friend, for everything you’ve done.”

“We like Aubrey. She is a friend. I could not have done otherwise.” He sat cross-legged on the floor next to Raven.

Next, Ben spoke to Hoss and Joe. “We can do nothing here. Let’s just show our way out. Adam? Are you coming with us?” Ben, of course, knew the answer.

“I’m gonna stay here for a while, Pa. Gregory might need some help.” It was a flimsy excuse that was completely transparent.

Ben nodded. Linda choked on her coffee. Raven giggled. Talkeetna’s face was inscrutable but his mouth turned up at the corners.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Adam had chewed through two matchsticks by the time Gregory emerged from his daughter’s room. There was a “snap” as Adam bit completely through the third matchstick. “Can I see her now?”

Men are desperately obtuse – for the most part – when it comes to matters of the heart. But Gregory wasn’t like most men. He intuited that Adam cared more for Aubrey than he let on. Gregory just didn’t know where Linda Lee fit in.

“She’s woozy, but you could do me a favor and sit with her while I make breakfast. I don’t know how much she remembers, so go easy on her. All she knows is that she’s hungry. You be the judge of how much to tell her.”

Adam strode swiftly into Aubrey’s bedroom and found her holding a cloth to her head. “My head hurts,” she said, eyes not quite focused.

“I’m sure it does. You’ve got a big lump there.”

Aubrey smiled. “We danced.”

Adam took her hand. “Indeed we did. And we were the best-looking couple on the floor.”

Aubrey sat up straighter in bed, wincing slightly as she shifted positions. Her nightgown fell away from her shoulder and revealed the scar that embarrassed her so.

Carefully, Adam traced it with his fingertip. Aubrey grabbed his hand and jerked it away. “Don’t touch that! Don’t even look at that!” Quickly she re-adjusted her gown.

“Girl, when are you going to learn that there’s a time to fight and a time to be still? I’ve seen that scar, I know why it’s there, and I’m still here.”

Aubrey looked at him, at his unshaven face and tousled hair. Her eyes were focusing much better and she felt a wave of tenderness. And then the memory of last night’s ordeal hit her full force.

“The Diner’s gone, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

And then, as the tears flowed, she felt Adam’s strong arms go around her, drawing her to his chest. He rocked back and forth with her while tears that should have been cried years ago gushed forth. She cried for her mother, for the farm, for the Indian attack, for the pain she and her father had suffered, and now for the loss of her father’s dream. Adam continued to rock her like a baby until the tears ceased and he felt her body begin to relax. She knew she should let go but didn’t want to – she felt safe and protected. And loved.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

“How did you find where I was?” Aubrey asked, finally releasing her grip around Adam and leaning back to rest against the pillow.

“Talkeetna found you.”

“How ironic. I was hurt by the red man and then saved by a red man. I want to thank him. Can you bring him here?”

Because the door was open, most of what had been said was heard. Talkeetna and Raven stood at the foot of Aubrey’s bed.

“Thank you for finding me,” Aubrey said quietly.

“You are a friend. We can always help each other in times of good and bad.” Talkeetna said, then turned and took Raven’s hand. They disappeared from the room – and the house. There was no reason to stay there longer.

Gregory and Linda Lee brought in plates of food – eggs and bacon and diced potatoes with onions which had been fried to a golden brown.

“What are we gonna do about ‘The Diner’, Papa?”

“Why, we’ll rebuild it of course.” Gregory was adamant.

“And what will happen to Martina?” Aubrey had to know the answer. She felt sorry for the girl, loving a man like Marlen.

Adam answered this question. “Only a judge can answer that question. But she did a bad thing for the wrong reasons. A judge will treat her fairly because of those circumstances.”

Adam rose to take his plate into the kitchen.

Aubrey jumped. “Don’t leave me!”

Adam sat back down, putting his plate on the table beside him. “I’m not going to leave you. I won’t ever leave you. Don’t you know that?” That particular fact just dawned on him as an absolute certainty. “I love you, Aubrey.”

Aubrey’s eyes grew to the size of pie plates. She was speechless. What she had secretly hoped for over the past months had come true.

“What about Linda Lee?”

The question hung in the air.

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Linda Lee had hoped just such a question would arise. She stood by Adam and rested her hand on his shoulder.

“Aubrey, Adam’s a wonderful man. He’s handsome and educated as far as books go. I adore him. But I’m not the woman for him. He wasn’t even smart enough to know that he was in love with you weeks ago. I knew it, Gregory knew it, Annie knew it – but Adam didn’t have a clue.” She smiled down at Adam. “I’m going to San Francisco and hope that the men there are smarter than this man right here. He’s a very slow learner and I have limited patience.”

Adam grinned. Linda continued to smile. “He’s a gem, Aubrey. Take good care of him because, if you don’t, I’ll come back and hog-tie him and drag him off to a preacher.”

Aubrey looked at Adam as he squeezed Linda Lee’s hand. He turned his attention back to Aubrey. “We had a long talk last night on the way from the Ponderosa. We agreed that we care very much for each other, but it’s not like being in love. Neither of us wants to have to work at a relationship. It has to come naturally.”

“And,” Linda added, “for you two, it comes naturally – from one heart to another.”

Linda picked up empty plates and headed for the kitchen. “I have to hurry back to my house. The stage leaves for San Francisco tomorrow morning.”

Gregory stood up and looked at his daughter and Adam, now holding hands. “Well, don’t just sit there, man. The least you could do is kiss her!”

He disappeared quickly. And Adam kissed Aubrey – the sweetest, tenderest kiss imaginable that seemed to last forever.

“Oh, Adam! I do love you so!”

“Are you going to cry again?” Adam asked.

“No.”

“Good. Because my shirt is wet from that last round.”

Their laughter rang throughout the house.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Adam was at the Ferguson house every day. On this particular day, Gregory was humming in the kitchen. But that wasn’t what had awakened Aubrey. It was some kind of infernal hammering and sawing and general noise from not far away. Aubrey looked at Adam.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Waiting for you to wake up.”

“Why?”

Adam rose and scooped Aubrey up in his arms and carried her out on the front porch so she could look down the street.

What she saw took her breath away. “The Diner” was being re-built!

“The whole town is in on this,” Adam grinned. “Everything has been donated – from nails to canned goods. Now, do you notice anything else unusual?”

Aubrey looked, confused for several minutes. Then it dawned on her. Women had brought food to feed the workers. White men, black men, Chinese men, red men – all of them working side-by-side in perfect harmony. This was a first for Virginia City.

“You started this by treating each person like a human being rather than by his or her race or creed. This is the town’s way of showing you how well it can work. Perhaps one day, this idea will spread all across the world.” Adam kissed Aubrey’s nose.

“Some day,” Aubrey answered as she nuzzled Adam’s neck. “Some day.”

THE END