Summary:  First love can be painful in more ways than one.  When Adam first begins to explore the world of girls and love, the whole family find this out as they and he try to come to terms with his ‘growing’ pains.
Rating:  PG13  (28,900 words)

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SWEET CAROLINE

 

Chapter 1

 

Dust rose in clouds as the horseshoe clunked down against the peg.  The alley way was dirty and hot on this June afternoon but shaded just enough to allow the group of six or seven boys to sit in relative comfort while watching the game.  Two pairs of boys were playing while the others cheered them on.  A tall dark boy watched from the sidelines too.  He had just arrived and hadn’t been noticed by the others yet.  He was clutching the hand of a younger boy with dark curls and a grubby face and it was obvious that neither one was pleased with the arrangement.

“Hey, Adam.  Come on over and play,” one of the boys called.

“I dunno, Ross.  I’m s’posed to be looking out for Hoss and Little Joe,” he indicated the small boy and another of almost his own size who had come up behind him.

“They ain’t gonna run away,” his friend retorted. “They can watch.  I need a partner.”

Adam was desperate to join in the game of horseshoes with his friends but he was supposed to be caring for his brothers while his parents were in the store.  He hesitated, he shouldn’t but it was too tempting to refuse.

“Sit there and don’t move,” Adam instructed his little brother as he pushed him down on to the sidewalk.  Nine-year-old Hoss was no problem, he had already lost interest and had his nose pressed against the window of the mercantile trying to decide which candy he preferred.  Adam grinned he knew Hoss wouldn’t move far from that window until Marie came out with the groceries.

Three year old Joe wriggled and protested, “I wanna play.”

“You can’t you’re too little,” Adam replied in exasperation.  “Now sit there, please Joe just for five minutes.  I’ll give you some candy,” he tried bribery and it appeared to work.  The fact that he didn’t have any and no money to buy any was a minor problem, he’d deal with later when Joe had the inevitable tantrum.

Adam turned his attention to the game and forgot his brothers for a while.  He and his partner Ross were winning when a voice said casually, “Where’s Joe?”

“He’s right ….”  He turned around to see Hoss standing on the edge of the sidewalk but no sign of his little brother.

“Oh hell.  Where’s he wandered off to?”  Adam snapped, moving over from the alley where he had been playing to look up and down the street.

“Hey, Adam.  You playing or not?” one of his opponents shouted.

Adam looked distractedly back at the game. “I’ll come back; I gotta go find my brother.” He turned back to Hoss, “You go that way right to the end of the street then come straight back here, understand?”

“Don’t see why I have to go look for him, you’re s’posed to be looking after us,” Hoss grumbled but he headed off down the street anyway.

Adam hurried in the other direction, cursing his little brother under his breath. Why couldn’t that child stay put.  Pa and Marie would be back soon and he would have to help load the wagon and Little Joe had better be there then or he was in trouble.  He looked in all the alleys and between the tents that made up more than half the residences of Johntown, but of a small boy there was no sign.  The town wasn’t large but it was scattered and Joe could be in anyone of a hundred alleys.

“Hey, you lost something?” a sarcastic voice shouted at him from across the street.

Adam swung around to see Rick Bonner leaning against a shack and laughing at him.  He crossed over and stood with his arms on his hips.  “Yeah, my little brother.”

“He’s out back with my kid sister.  I found him wandering down here, he said he was looking for a cat and got lost.  Your family sure don’t look out for things properly do they?” Rick grinned.  “I hear your Pa got the contract…”

“Yeah, no thanks to you.”  Adam moved threateningly towards the older boy.

“Don’t try it Adam.  We was friends, I’d hate to beat up on you and you know I can.”  Rick moved warily to one side watching Adam’s eyes.  He was more than a year older than Adam and thicker set.  He was also streetwise and tough and in the few fights the two boys had engaged in he had always won.  He knew the signs to look for in Adam; the cold hardness that came into his eyes and the tense calculating stance that the younger boy would adopt just before he hit out. They had known each other for more than three years.

“How long you gonna hold a grudge, its bin more’n eight months since I stampeded that herd.  Even your Pa has spoken to me since then, he warn’t too pleasant to me but he gave Ma some money for the kids just a month back.”

Adam sighed, “You could’ve lost him everything Rick. It was a mean trick to play on me too; you were s’posed to be my friend.”

Rick shrugged, “I got mad when Jake slung me out. I wanted to get even.  It all turned out okay. Your Pa got the contract and I gotta new job.  I work at Dutch Pete’s now, come by sometime for a drink. ‘less o’ course you had your fill of whisky last time,” he grinned.

Adam frowned “I’m not supposed to talk to you.”

“Yeah, well that figures, but when did you ever do what your Pa told you?”  He turned around as Joe ran up to them.

“Adam, I finded a cat,” he said with a cheeky grin.

Adam grabbed him by the arm and bent down to his level, “I told you to stay put.  Why don’t you ever do as you’re told?” He gave his little brother a shake.

Joe’s face fell, “I only wanted to play wiv it.  You was playin’ wiv your friend,” he said with tears in his eyes.

“Turn off the tears Joe, they don’t work with me.  Pa said you were to mind me, didn’t he?”  Adam said sternly.

Joe nodded and wiped away a tear with his sleeve.  He hoped his older brother wasn’t going to tell Pa he had wandered off or there would be no candy and he wanted some peppermint sticks.   He put a grubby hand into Adam’s and looked up appealingly at his brother.

“Adam, ADAM!”  Ben Cartwright’s voice more than carried down the street and his son could tell he was not pleased.

“Rick, I gotta go.  I’ll see you sometime huh?”  Adam held tight to Joe and turned to go.

Rick nodded, “Sure anytime you’re in town call in at Pete’s.”

Ben Cartwright was standing outside the store with his hands on his hips.  Joe ducked behind his brother and stuck a grubby thumb in his mouth, Pa looked angry.

“I’d have thought you would have had enough trouble from associating with Rick Bonner to last you a lifetime,” Ben said sternly.  “I expected you to be here to load the wagon not off with someone you know you are not supposed to see.”

Adam shuffled his feet. “Sorry Pa, it was only a minute.”

“Huh…well get on and help Hoss load the supplies.”  Ben bent down and swung Joe up into his arms then held him away in disgust.  “Where on earth have you been to get this dirty?”

Joe pulled his thumb out of his mouth and Ben was horrified to see that it was clean and pink while the rest of his son’s hand was black.

“I made pies with Val,” he said proudly.

Adam closed his eyes and winced, someday he’d get his little brother to understand that you didn’t volunteer information to Pa, especially information that was going to get you or worse still your older brother into trouble.

Ben’s eyes narrowed and he looked at his oldest son who was trying to avoid him by concentrating on lifting a bag of seed.  “I thought you said you were only with Rick for a minute?  Were you lying to me?” he said quietly.

“No, sir,” Adam protested.  “It was the truth.”

Ben pursed his lips and nodded, “Then how did Joe have time to play mud pies with Valerie?”

Adam sighed.  He’d have to tell it.  “He wandered off when I wasn’t looking.  I told him to stay put but he never listens to me,” he grumbled.

“You left him on his own while you went off with friends, did you?”  Ben asked sternly.

“No, Pa.  He was right by me, honest he was.  I was playing horseshoes and Joe was watching.  Hoss was there too, I never left them on their own.”   Adam was earnest in his own defence.  He had been in trouble before for not looking after his brothers properly.  It wasn’t fair they were always under his feet.  He thought the words but didn’t say them that would be asking for trouble.

“You are far too casual about watching him, you know he wanders off.  He’s only a baby.”  Ben fixed his oldest son with a stern stare before returning to the supplies still to be loaded.

Adam picked up a pickle barrel and slammed it into the wagon angrily.  “He’s a spoiled brat,” he muttered under his breath.

Ben decided to ignore the remark.  He didn’t want yet another run in with his oldest son or the sulking that usually followed it.  The boy was growing up fast, wanting to do things on his own and the clashes between father and son were becoming more frequent as Ben tried to curb his son’s more outrageous exploits.

They had almost finished loading when Marie came out of the store and Joe ran to her with a huge grin on his face.

“Mama, Mama.  Did you get candy?” he squeaked.

Marie bent down and held her small son at arm’s length. “Not until you are clean little one, you look like one of the miners.  How did you get so dirty?”

“I played wiv my friend and I finded a black cat and…,” he chattered on but Marie had stopped listening and was frowning at Adam.

“He wouldn’t listen to me,” Adam snapped. “He wandered off.  Pa’s already yelled at me I don’t need another lecture.”

Ben was on the other side of the wagon or Adam would have felt rather than heard the reprimand.  “That’s enough, get in the wagon and don’t say another word or you’ll regret it,” he barked.

Adam looked defiantly from Marie to his father, obeying the order silently and sulkily.  Hoss climbed up behind his brother, keeping his head down.  He hated these arguments and couldn’t understand why Adam constantly provoked them.

 

 

Adam had got over his sulks by supper time, mainly because he wanted to ask his father if he could spend Sunday with his friends and he knew that Pa needed to be in the right frame of mind to let him go.  He had done all his chores in record time and helped Hoss with his, much to his brother’s surprise and delight.

By the time they had washed and presented themselves at the table, their parents were already seated and Hop Sing was bringing in the dishes.  Adam slid into his seat opposite his younger brothers and bowed his head while his father said grace, then tucked into the chicken stew and vegetables that Hop Sing put in front of him.  Hoss was also concentrating on eating; only Joe wasn’t interested.  He wanted to talk about the cat he had found.

“Come on sweetie, eat a little, please!”  Marie begged, pushing a spoonful into his mouth.  She was convinced that Joe didn’t avoid food because he wasn’t hungry or disliked it, but simply because he wanted to talk or play instead.

“I wanna cat like Blackie for my very own,” he announced.

“Who’s Blackie?”  Hoss asked, not aware of the reason for Joe’s absence this afternoon.

“He’s the cat I finded,” Joe explained with a sigh, “I toldya.”

Marie took advantage of his open mouth to pop in another spoonful of stew.  She was tired of this game.  Her own meal always got cold while she attempted to make sure Joe ate something.

“Hey, it would be neat to have another cat wouldn’t it Adam?”  Hoss enthused.

“Ginger’d be kinda put out, he’s been champion mouser for years,” Adam grinned.

“Ginger’s not mine.  I want my cat,” Joe said loudly.  He knew from experience that to get his opinion heard over his brothers he had to shout.

Ben frowned. “Joseph, stop shouting and eat your supper,” he said sternly. “No more talk of cats, one cat is quite enough.”

“But I finded him, he’s mine,” Joe protested further.

Marie raised her eyebrows at her husband.  A temper tantrum was not far off and she tried to avert it as best she could.  “I expect Blackie has a nice home with a family sweetie.  He wouldn’t want to leave that.  Next time we are in town we’ll try to visit him.”

Adam laughed, “I bet he was a scraggy old alley cat.”

“He was not, he’s gonna come and live wiv me,” Joe shouted.

Marie glared at Adam.  There was no way she would get Joe off the subject of the cat now.

“Adam!” Ben said sharply, “You’re old enough to know better.”

Adam dropped his eyes to the tablecloth, now Pa was mad at him which was what he didn’t want.

“He can come and live wiv us can’t he Mama?”  Joe pleaded.

“Joseph, I’ve already told you, no.  Now be a good boy and eat your supper,” Ben repeated.

“I don’t want I,” Joe shouted, pushing his plate away from him so hard that it knocked over his glass of milk.  “I want my cat.”

Marie and Hoss both jumped back as the milk spread across the tablecloth toward them.  “Oh, Joseph,” his mother exclaimed crossly.

Ben didn’t speak he acted.  He was out of his chair and beside his son’s instantly.   Joe was lifted up and carried kicking and screaming up the stairs.  “If you can’t behave you don’t eat with us,” Ben informed him, although with the noise his young son was making it was doubtful if he was heard.

Adam and Hoss exchanged glances both a little guilty about the part they had played in Joe’s tantrum.  Pa was strict about meals and Joe’s behavior at the table wasn’t good at the best of times.  They heard Joe’s door close and Ben re-appeared down the stairs his expression still stern.  He took his seat again.

“Now perhaps we can have our meal in peace,” he said sharply. “I don’t want to hear another word about cats.”

Adam kept his head down. He wasn’t sure how to make his request now.  Pa would almost certainly say no in this mood.  When supper was over he made an effort to help clear the table and waited until his father was seated in his favorite chair and his pipe was well alight.  Now was the best time if he was to get a positive answer he decided.  He sat on the settee opposite his father and worked out how to best frame his question.

“Pa, if I was to get up early and get all my chores done…,” he started.

Ben looked across at his son hiding a smile.  Adam wasn’t expecting him to agree to his request or he wouldn’t be going around the point to get to it.   But it wasn’t to be so easy, as Adam paused a soft sound was heard on the stairs and a small boy sniffling and shuffling came into view.  Ben glanced upward and raised an eyebrow at his wife.

“Have you stopped that silly noise?”  Ben asked quietly.

Joe reached the bottom step and he nodded, “I ‘fink so,” he replied with a hiccup.

“And are you going to be good until bedtime?”  Ben asked.

“Yes Papa,” Joe said in a small voice.

Marie opened her arms and Joe ran into them and was lifted up on to her lap. “If you try to be good, I’ll read you a story.  Hoss, could you fetch a book please?”

Hoss loved stories too and was only too happy to oblige.  Adam frowned he wanted to talk to Pa and all these interruptions were making it difficult.

“Pa…,” he tried to attract attention,  “Pa, about tomorrow…”

Ben was smiling at the picture of Marie ruffling her son’s curls and Joe’s beaming smile, so different from half an hour ago.  He didn’t hear Adam at first.

“Pa…,”  Adam repeated louder and with an impatient tone.

“What is it?”  Ben said a trifle sharply.

“I was asking about tomorrow, can I go fishing with my friends?”  Adam rushed out before he could be interrupted again.  It sounded abrupt and demanding and Ben reacted to it in that way.

“The question is ‘may I? And what makes you think you have been behaving well enough to be permitted a day out with your friends?”

Adam knew that fighting it was not going to work so he tried another tack.  “I’ll do all my chores before I go sir and I’ve finished all the extra ones you gave me,” he said referring to an earlier punishment for being disrespectful to Marie.

Ben frowned, “Well…all right,” he said reluctantly. Hoss, would you like to go along?”

Adam’s jaw dropped that wasn’t the idea at all.

“Oh yes please, Pa,”  Hoss replied enthusiastically.  He knew Adam would never have asked him and he grinned at his brother’s discomfort.

“But Pa…it’s just older kids.  He’s too little,”  Adam protested.

“I am not,” Hoss shouted back. “I’m most as big as you now.”

“That’s enough,” Ben barked. “Either Hoss goes with you or you don’t go.  Now what’s it to be?”

Adam grumbled out an “okay.” but he gave his young brother a look as black as thunder.

Marie shook her head at him and then settled back to read to the two younger ones.  Adam’s frowned deepened until it made his black brows draw together and he spent the rest of the evening in a sulk.  Tomorrow wasn’t quite the fishing trip he had led his father to believe.  True he was going fishing and with friends, Ross, Amy and Caroline.  The addition of his little brother wasn’t going to please any of them.  The scheme he and Ross had hatched didn’t include anyone else.  They planned to meet the girls at the bridge where the road crossed the Franktown River and after a picnic they would split up and go ‘fishing’ in different places.  He sighed.  Ross would be sure to see that they split up now and Hoss would play chaperone to him and Caroline.  It wasn’t fair.

He leaned back in his chair and imagined how it could have been.  Ross kept boasting that he had kissed Amy and more than once.  He and Caroline had barely held hands, there was always someone else around when they were together.  Tomorrow had been his first opportunity to be alone with her and now Pa had ruined it.  He wondered if he could persuade Hoss to go off somewhere fishing by himself, but it was risky, he might tell Pa.   For some reason Adam knew that Pa would not approve of Caroline being alone with him and he was sure Mr. Watson wouldn’t.  Caroline’s father always asked who was going to be with them before he consented to Caroline accompanying Adam anywhere.

He came back to the present as Joe climbed on his knee to plant a very wet kiss on his cheek and said “goodnight.”

“Night, Joe,” he said absently.  He lifted Joe to the floor and then got to his feet.  “I think I’ll go read in my room, I’ve got some schoolwork to do, if that’s okay Pa.  I’m kinda tired.”

Ben raised an eyebrow but nodded, “Goodnight, son.”

“Night Pa, night Hoss.” He caught Joe’s hand, “You want me to put him to bed?”  he asked Marie.

Joe jumped up and down. “Will you read me a story.”  Joe liked Adam’s stories they were more fun than the ones Mama read.

“One story… just on,”’  Adam grinned.

Marie smiled, “Well, thank you Adam.  That’s very kind but if you have work to do…?”

“It’s all right, it won’t take long for ONE story, will it Joe?”

Marie watched them go up the stairs and went to sit on the arm of Ben’s chair.  “Why do I always get suspicious when Adam’s co-operating and being helpful?” she asked with a smile.

“Maybe because it’s rare these days.  He’s usually sulking about something or being stubborn and cantankerous.  I sure wish growing up didn’t have to be so painful for everyone concerned,”  Ben replied puffing clouds of smoke around his head which made Marie cough.

“Well, you’d better get used to it because they all have to go through it and I’ve a feeling the worst is yet to come,”  Marie replied with a sigh.

 

Adam tucked the covers securely around his little broth. He really did look quite sweet when he was clean and ready for bed.

“ ‘Kay which story then”’

Joe pulled a book from the night table. ”Dis one.”

Adam turned it over in his hand. “This isn’t a proper story book Joe, its one of Hoss’s animal books.”

“But it’s got pitures,”  Joe pleaded. “I wanna see pictures of cats”

Adam gave a wry grin, “Okay but don’t tell Pa.  He said no more talk about cats, remember.”

“I ‘member Adam, but I do want Blackie, will you find him for me?” he looked at his older brother with big sorrowful hazel eyes that Adam found hard to resist.

“I don’t think Blackie wants to be found Joe, he likes being free, most animals do.”

“Ginger likes livin’ wiv us,”  Joe protested.

“Yeah, well he’s been here since he was a little kitten, it’s his home.”  Adam could see he was in a difficult spot here.  If he agreed with Joe he would be expected to produce the cat, and if he disagreed Joe would have a tantrum that would bring one of his parents up to investigate.  Adam could bet that if his father came it would be him that got it in the neck for discussing cats.  He opened the book and hurriedly found the chapter on cats.

“Here look at this one it’s a Bobcat like we get around here.”  Adam tried to distract Joe with the picture and breathed a sigh of relief when it was successful.

“What’s that one Adam?”  Joe pointed to a larger cat that to his baby eyes looked exactly like a Bobcat.

“A cougar, we get those too.  You remember Pa told us there was one raiding the herd a while back.”

“Is that a baby cat, Adam?”  Joe pointed to another picture.

“Well sort of, I’s a cougar cub but it will grow up big like its mother.”

“I want one of ‘dose,” Joe stated firmly.

Adam laughed, “Pa sure wouldn’t like that.  They kill the cattle Joe.  Mountain Lions and ranching don’t mix.”

Joe turned the pages and asked hundreds of questions about the other pictures until he had exhausted the supply of cats and moved on to bears.

“Hey, wait a minute,” Adam interrupted the flow, “One story and that was it.  You said cats not bears.  We’ll save that for another night.  It’s time you were asleep and I got work to do.”

“What kinda work, Adam?”  Joe changed his direction rapidly.

Adam smiled, “Nice try buddy, but I know you.  I’m not going to answer any more questions.  You go to sleep for me, okay.”

“Please Adam…just one more story?”  Joe wheedled.

“No, you snuggled down and close your eyes or I’ll go get your Mama,”  Adam said firmly.

“Why isn’t she your Mama too?” Joe tried something different; it was a question that had just begun to puzzle him.  He and Hoss called her Mama but Adam didn’t and he didn’t understand.

Adam shook his head, “She just isn’t, now go to sleep.”  He gave Joe a cuddle then lowered the lamp and walked to the door. “’Night little buddy, sleep well.”

Joe thought about another protest but he knew it would do no good with Adam. Hoss could always be persuaded and Mama sometimes, even Papa would give in to him if he was really worked hard at being angelic, but Adam never unless he threw a tantrum.  He knew that another tantrum tonight would get him into real trouble, so he cuddled down under the covers and resolved to dream of cats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

Adam kicked idly at the rail along the edge of the wooden bridge and then looked over as a few stones rattled into the stream beneath.  He and Hoss had got here about ten minutes ago and there was no sign of any one else, maybe they wouldn’t come and then he wouldn’t be embarrassed.  He couldn’t decide which was worse, not seeing Caroline or seeing her with Hoss along as chaperone.  His younger brother was sitting on the bank, his boots beside him, dangling his feet in the cool water and Adam wished he was miles away.  He had looked forward to this Sunday and now it was spoiled.

He spun around as he heard laughter behind him.  Amy and Caroline were walking along the road chattering and swinging a picnic basket between them.  Ross was trailing behind leading his pony and ignoring the feminine conversation.

“Hi Adam.  You been waiting long?”  Ross called as they came up to the bridge.

Adam shrugged, “No, only about ten minutes.  Hi Caroline… Amy.”

The girls giggled and said hello and then Amy pointed at Hoss.  “What’s your brother doing here?”

Adam blushed, “My Pa said I had to bring him. It ain’t my fault.”

Amy giggled again, “Well it don’t matter to us, does it Ross?”

Ross threw his friend a sympathetic glance.  He knew Adam wanted to be alone with Caroline and this wasn’t going to make that an easy thing to accomplish.

“We gonna have our picnic here? It’s a good spot,” Caroline said quickly, anxious to change the conversation.  She could see Adam was upset and once he got mad it took a while for him to cool off.  She liked him a lot and she didn’t want the day ruined by Amy’s silly comments.  Amy was her friend but she could be a pain at times and her teasing over Adam always made Caroline angry.

Ross took up the cue. “Great idea, we can eat first then fish.”  He took a blanket off his saddle and spread it out on the grass.  “So who’s got the best picnic?”  he grinned.

The girls unpacked the food they had brought and Caroline called to Hoss to join them.  He had been hanging back not at all sure of his welcome.  When Pa had suggested a fishing trip it had sounded fun now he wasn’t so sure.  He had reckoned that Adam’s reluctance to take him was because he was going with Rick and Jeff Bonner and didn’t want Pa to know.  He hadn’t expected the other friends to be girls.  He had seen the silly way Amy acted around Ross and he knew his brother went all red when Caroline was mentioned.  Hoss always felt uncomfortable in the presence of girls anyway and these two in particular, although Caroline was always nice to him.  He shyly joined them and sat on the edge of the group but when Caroline offered him fried chicken he soon began to relax and enjoy the picnic.

Once they had eaten the boys gathered up fishing poles and discussed where to fish.

“I’m gonna go upstream by the willow,”’  Adam announced.

Ross nodded, “Okay we’ll go downstream to the island.”  He pointed to a tiny sand bar in the middle of the stream.

Adam looked at Ross and then at his brother.  “Why don’t you fish from here, Hoss?  You could sit on the bridge.”

Hoss looked disdainfully at his brother.  “I won’t catch nuthin’ here.  I’ll come with you.”

Adam clenched his teeth and tried to avoid saying anything.  He didn’t want Caroline to think it had all been planned.  He nodded and sighed.  “Okay, c’mon then.”  He heard Amy giggle again and at that moment wished he could hit her.

Hoss followed Caroline and his brother to a shady spot under the willows and soon set himself up with his fishing pole and leaned back to await a bite.  Adam watched him for a moment before casting his own line then settling himself beside Caroline.  He gazed across the stream at the other bank desperately trying to think of something to say.  He sensed Caroline beside him and occasionally he risked a sneaked glance.  She looked really pretty today, her hair was loose instead of in braids and she was wearing a pink dress with a lace collar.  He moved closer to her and was pleased that she didn’t move away.  he thought about holding her hand and had just reached out to touch her when Hoss got a bite and turned around to grin at his brother.

“I think I got one, Adam,”  he said proudly.

Adam tried to smile but it froze on his face as Caroline moved her hand away quickly and began fiddling with a blade of grass.  Adam suppressed a sigh and glared at his younger brother.  When Hoss turned away again, looking a little hurt, Adam touched Caroline’s arm gently.  “We could go for a walk if you’d like he whispered”’

She nodded, “Is it all right to leave your brother on his own?”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine,”  Adam replied confidently, delighted that she had agreed so easily.  He got to his feet and held out his hand to help her.  As their hands touched he felt a shiver of anticipation, it would be the first time they had been truly alone.

“Hoss, we’re going for a walk.  You stay here, you hear me?”  Adam called.

Hoss glanced up for a second and frowned but he nodded that he had heard.  He watched his brother saunter off holding Caroline’s hand and sniffed; he couldn’t see the attraction of a walk in the meadows when you could sit and fish.  He shrugged, girls were funny he decided and not worth trying to figure out.

 

Marie sat on the porch watching her husband and son in the yard.  Ben was walking a little gray pony around while Joe sat proudly in the saddle pretending he was a real cowhand. Marie smiled, her young son looked as if he had been born on a horse.  On the next circuit Ben stopped in front of her and went to lift Joe down to the ground.

“Not yet Papa, please,” Joe pleaded.

“Enough for today Joe, Shadow’s kinda tired.  He’s worked hard all week,” Ben said gently as he lifted his son from the saddle.

“I could ride Sport, Papa, he hasn’t done nuthin’.  Adam don’t ride him,”  Joe appealed and put on his most persuasive smile.

“Sport’s not ready to be ridden yet, maybe in a month or so, but he’s Adam’s horse.  Shadow is your pony,” Ben explained patiently.  “We have to go unsaddle him and give him a nice rub down now, then maybe you can find a carrot or an apple for him.  You go ask Hop Sing, all right?”

Joe was reluctant to stop the riding but he ran off to find a treat for the pony.  Marie smiled. “May you always get your way so easily.  I’ve got a feeling that the minute he can ride out alone, we shan’t see him for hours at a time.”

Ben dropped down on to the porch step and nodded.  “He’s going to be a good rider and he’s crazy about horses, much more than the other two.  Adam hasn’t really worked hard enough with Sport, he ought to be ready to ride by now.”

“He’s too occupied with other things”,’ Marie grinned.  “His mind isn’t on school or the ranch for the moment.”

Ben leaned back against the pillar, “No, that’s true.  He’s been neglecting his chores and getting home later and later from school.  I’ve been meaning to say something but until recently it wasn’t bad enough to warrant the sulks we’d have to suffer if I mentioned it.  I’ll talk to him tonight.  He can turn over a new leaf next week.”

“Don’t be too hard on him, first love can be a little hard to handle,” Marie smiled.

“First love?  Don’t be ridiculous,” Ben scoffed, “He’s only fifteen.”

“Oh and how old were you?”  Marie asked laughing.

Ben grinned, “Oh about six and she was my schoolteacher,”  then his face took on a faraway look.  “No, I was seventeen …,”  he said softly.

Marie sobered too. “Liz?”  she said simply.

Ben nodded. “Liz,” he echoed.

Marie’s relief at the timely appearance of a lively three-year-old was evident.  She almost jumped to her feet and grabbed his hand.

“Come on sweetie, I’ll help you put Shadow to bed.” She didn’t look back at her husband, she couldn’t; fighting that particular ghost was too hard.

She and Joe had barely finished feeding and bedding down Shadow when Hoss came into the barn.  Joe ran to him and threw his arms around him.  Marie smiled as Hoss bent down to give Joe a hug.  “Missed you,” he said with a grin.  “Wanna help me with my chores?”

Joe nodded and his mother smiled.  In a few years Joe would be as anxious to get out of doing chores as his brothers but for now he thought it was grown up to help Hoss and Adam.  “I’ll leave him with you then Hoss,”’ she said turning to go. “By the way where’s Adam?”’

Hoss shrugged. “Gone for a walk with Ca..ro..line,”  Hoss drawled. “They didn’t want me around.”

“You mean he left you and you rode home alone?”  Ben said sharply from the barn doorway.

Hoss looked up quickly, “It’s okay Pa.  I didn’t wanna stay anyhow.”  He could see his father wasn’t pleased and he shifted uneasily from one foot to the other.  If Pa was angry with Adam then his older brother would blame him for telling tales.

“That’s not the point.  He was supposed to be looking after you,”  Ben said crossly.

“Aw Pa.  I don’t need no looking after.  I’m almost ten.  I can take care of myself.”  Hoss complained.

Ben grunted and reluctantly allowed himself to be led away by Marie.

“Hoss is right he is old enough to look after himself on a fishing trip and you have to admit it probably wasn’t much fun for him with two couples,”  she said gently.

Ben snorted, “Two couples?  They are children and in any case they shouldn’t be alone together.  Charles Watson would have a fit if he knew.”

Marie couldn’t help smiling. “If they are such children why are you both so worried about them being alone together.  You really should try to be consistent my darling,”’ she chuckled.

 

Adam and Caroline walked along by the stream and as soon as they were out of sight of Hoss, Adam slid his hand into hers.  She responded by smiling up at him.

“It’s so nice and peaceful here.  You really are lucky not to live in town,”  she said.

Adam nodded. “It’s nice now but in winter when I can’t get to school I wish I lived in town like you.”

Caroline giggled, “You are the only boy I’ve ever known who liked going to school.  The only one who can quote Shakespeare and poetry too.”

Adam blushed. “Somethin’ wrong with that?”  he said sharply.

“No, no of course not.  I like it when you talk about poetry and books.”   Caroline said quickly, anxious that nothing should spoil the afternoon. “Lets sit down on the bank and you can tell me which speech you are going to learn for next week.”

She seated herself on the grass and arranged her skirts around her reminding Adam of a princess in one of Joe’s storybooks.  He dropped down beside her and casually put his arm behind her so that it would take only a slight movement for his arm to be around her.

“I can’t decide what to choose.  Maybe something from one of the histories, or perhaps Romeo and Juliet,”  he said quietly.

Caroline smiled and took up his cue. “We could always do something together,  Mr. Lawson suggested we work as teams.  You could stop by my house after school next week and we could work together.”

Adam moved closer and allowed his arm to touch her back, and was delighted when she appeared to lean toward him.  “I’d like that, if you think your mother would allow me to visit.”

“Oh yes, if it’s for school projects she won’t mind.  We could rehearse Romeo and Juliet together,” she said turning her face toward him.

Adam took a deep breath; he wasn’t going to get a better opportunity.  He leaned forward and kissed her swiftly on the lips, moving away quickly in embarrassment.

Caroline smiled and put her hand on his. “Let’s stay here for a while,” she said softly as she moved closer and allowed him to slip his arm around her.  She leaned back against his shoulder and sighed contentedly.

He pulled her closer to him and matched her sigh.  For a moment he simply enjoyed the closeness then he put his hand under her chin and tilted her head towards him.  This time when he kissed her he felt her respond to him and he increased the pressure of the kiss as she relaxed in his arms.  She didn’t protest when he moved his other arm around her and held her close.  Their kisses were becoming more intense and Adam felt his heart beating faster as his lips moved from her lips to her cheek, her ear, her neck.

“Ahem…” there was a light cough behind them.  “You two walking home or staying here for supper?”  Ross said with a chuckle.

Adam and Caroline broke apart, both flushed with embarrassment.  Ross and Amy stood watching them from the trees which sheltered the bend in the stream.

“It’s awful late.”  Amy took Ross’s hand and grinned at Caroline. “Maybe we should walk home without you or we’ll be late for chores.”  She looked at Adam with a sly smile. “Your brother’s already gone.  Guess he’ll tell your Pa you were with us.”

Adam glared at her.  Why did she always make him feel like a kid? He scrambled to his feet and helped Caroline to stand continuing to hold her hand in defiance of Amy’s superior smile.  “I’ll walk Caroline home.  I can catch up on my chores anytime.”  Even as he said it Adam knew it wasn’t true. If Hoss had gone home Pa would be in full cry by the time Adam got there, but he wasn’t going to be put at a disadvantage by Amy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3

 

“Now children I want you to work on the problems on the board while I mark your homework.  No talking,” Lawson snapped as two of the younger children caught his attention.  Every head in the room bent over their work and Mr. Lawson wandered around the room once more before settling to his marking.  It was a beautiful day and keeping the children’s minds on their studies had been difficult.

At the back the older children were now working hard on the mathematical problems they had been set, all except one.  John Lawson noted that once again at least one of his pupils had his mind on something other than mathematics.

Adam Cartwright’s head was bent over his notebook too but he was trying to solve an entirely different problem.  Pa sure had been angry last night and as a result Adam was confined to the yard for a week with extra chores to make up for those he had missed yesterday.  He had been sent to his room and then made to suffer through a lecture on responsibility and duty before Pa had set down his punishment for being late home and for neglecting his younger brother.  When he had walked Caroline home he had promised to spend time after school this week working on their Shakespeare project.  How could he do that now?  If he was late home from school Pa would consider it an act of deliberate defiance and he didn’t want to contemplate the consequences.

He felt a nudge in the ribs and looked up to see Ross raising his eyebrows and pointing at the notebook.  “You’d better write something or Lawson will have a fit,” he whispered.  “Try putting Caro’ out of your mind for five minutes,” he added with a grin.

“Mr. Marquette, if you have finished those problems, I can soon find you more,”’  Lawson’s voice boomed from the front of the room.

“Oh no sir,  I was just…well …I was giving advice,”  Ross replied.

At this the whole class snickered.  The idea of Ross, the worst mathematician in the class giving advice to Adam, the best, was laughable.

“Quiet,” thundered Lawson, “Or you will all remain after class to finish your work.”

Peace was restored and Adam applied himself to the problems of mathematics instead of romance for the next half an hour.  When Mr. Lawson asked for the work to be handed to him, Adam had done about three-quarters of the problems.  He scribbled the next answer hurriedly as the papers were being collected but he knew that the teacher wouldn’t be pleased with his efforts.

“You may go children…all except Adam Cartwright.”  Mr. Lawson fixed his pupil with a stern stare.

Adam’s heart sank. Oh no, not tonight.  Pa would never believe he’d been kept after school. He’d think he had deliberately defied him.  He picked up his books and walked slowly to the front of the class, trying not to catch Mr. Lawson’s eye.

“Sit down Adam, I want to have a talk with you.”

Mr. Lawson sounded concerned rather than angry, maybe he wouldn’t keep him long.  Adam slid into the front desk and ran his fingers over his books, finally looking up to see Mr. Lawson watching him intently.

“Is something wrong Adam?”

Adam shrugged. “No sir, why should you think there is anything wrong?”

Mr. Lawson dropped Adam’s homework on the desk in front of him and the large D stared up at him.

“Your mind is not on your studies is it?  This is the worst piece of work you have ever done for me and the mathematics this afternoon is likely to earn you no more than a C.  Your grades have dropped in every subject.  Until a few weeks ago you were my best student and anything less than an A was rare.  So I ask you again what’s wrong?”

Adam shrugged again. “Don’t know, maybe I’m fed up with school.  I could ask Pa to let me leave there’s plenty of work to do on the ranch.”

“Is that what you want?”  John Lawson perched on the edge of the desk. “I thought you told me you wanted to be an engineer, to go to college,” he said quietly.

“Pa wouldn’t let me go any how, so I guess it doesn’t matter much what my grades are like,”  Adam said sulkily staring at the pile of books.

“Adam…sulking and getting poor grades is hardly likely to convince him is it?  Would you like me to have a talk with him?”  John Lawson inquired gently.

Adam’s head shot up.  “Oh no sir.  That’d just make him mad.  He doesn’t know I want to go to college.”

What Adam really meant was that the last thing he wanted was Mr. Lawson telling his father just how little work he’d been doing lately.  If he wasn’t playing hooky with Caroline, then he was walking her home or thinking about her.  He still harbored a vain hope that he would catch up by the end of the school year and make his report good enough to pass his father’s scrutiny without too many questions, but the prospect was receding with every poor grade he received.

John Lawson sighed, “All right Adam, if you say there is nothing wrong and you don’t want me to speak to your father then I’ll say no more on the subject… but,”  and he looked sternly at his pupil, “this standard of work isn’t good enough and you either start doing your best or I’ll be speaking to your father for a different reason.  Do you understand?”

Adam nodded. “Yes sir.”

Lawson indicated that the boy could leave and a relieved Adam made for the door in a hurry.  He rode like the wind all the way home praying that Pa wouldn’t be back yet and that his stepmother wouldn’t notice the state of his horse.

He was in luck on the first but not the second.  Marie was standing by the corral with Hoss.  Joe was being held firmly by his mother on to the top rail with his feet just short of the one below.  They had been giving Joe a riding lesson and now stood back to discuss the other horses in the corral.  Marie frowned as she saw the lathered pony.

“You’d better get that horse rubbed down before your father sees him,”  she scolded.

Adam shrugged. “I plan to,” he muttered.  What did she think he was gonna do, he thought as he led the pony into the barn and proceeded to unsaddle him.

Marie lifted Joe down from the rail and sent him and Hoss toward the house before following Adam into the barn.  “I suggest you adjust your attitude a little too.  You are in enough trouble without adding to it.”

She came over to him and leaned on the stall, rubbing the pony’s nose.  “It’s about time you did some work with Sport too.  He’s not improving by being left in the corral with no training.  He ought to be almost ready for you to ride.  I thought you’d want to be exercising him properly this summer and maybe riding by the end of the vacation.”

Adam looked up at her, his expression sulky. “When do I ever have time?  If I’m not in school or doing homework, Pa has me doing chores.”

“The extra chores are your own fault and as for the rest, well Hoss manages to get all his work done with no problems.”

“Hoss is just a baby, he don’t have near as much work to do as I have,” Adam snapped angrily.

“Could it be that you have other things on your mind?”  Marie probed gently.  “Would you like to talk about it?”

Adam threw down the brush and headed for the door.  “Why does everyone want to talk to me, can’t you all leave me alone?”

“ADAM,”  Marie said sharply, “Come back here right now and finish this job.”

He hesitated in the barn doorway.  Should he defy her or would that be the last straw needed to make her report his lateness to his father.

“No matter how angry you are you will not walk out on your chores or turn your back on me when I am talking to you,” she said firmly.  “If you don’t want to tell me what is wrong, then that’s fine but you will show some respect… AND you will finish your chores, all of them.  Is that understood?”

Her tone left him in no doubt that if he kept walking his father would hear about it and the week’s restriction might turn into more.  He turned around and sullenly walked back toward the stall, keeping his head down to avoid her angry glare.

“I said is that understood, young man?” she repeated.

Adam gave an imperceptible nod. “Yes, Ma’am,” he said wearily.

Marie sighed.  Why did he have to be so difficult?  His sullen manner over the past few weeks was driving his father crazy; her too.  He did everything as if it was an imposition on his time and when he wasn’t sulking he was gazing off into space.  She had jokingly referred to his preoccupation as being in love but now she wondered if maybe she had been nearer to the truth than she thought.  Maybe a few words with Anne Watson would help.  She took one more look at him, now bent over the task of grooming his pony and sighed.

Outside the barn she almost giggled, she could remember the pain of first love and if that’s what Adam was suffering from then it would get worse before it got better.  She had fallen in love with a boy who delivered groceries to the convent and had shocked the nuns by openly flirting with him.  It had only lasted a few weeks but waiting for him to call and taking secret walks with him had been her whole life for a short time.

 

Adam muttered and grumbled after his stepmother left the barn, but he did finish his work and even spent some time working with Sport, turning down the chance to go to the pond with his brothers.  He was in the corral finishing up with the horse and giving him a rub down when his father returned.  Ben dismounted and flipped Buck’s reins over the rail.

“He looks good,” he called as he walked over to lean on the fence.  “Another few weeks and you can start getting him use to a blanket and a light saddle.”

He waited for Adam’s response.  These days he never knew which way the boy would jump? Fifteen was sure a difficult age.  He smiled. Adam had been pretty difficult at twelve, thirteen and fourteen too.  Not more disobedient or mischievous than other boys but certainly harder to understand.  He could be open and forthright but he could also shut up like a clam when he wanted to and hide his feelings behind a mask.

Adam gave Sport a final pat and the horse tossed its head and swung away from him almost knocking him off his feet.  He laughed at the horse’s exuberance and Ben shook his head, yes, you never knew which way he would go.

“He’s shaping up okay,” Adam said as he ducked under the rail cleaning off the brush and comb as he came up to his father.  “You think he’ll be ready to ride by the end of the summer, Pa?”

Ben nodded. “He will if you keep working on him.”  He glanced around the yard “Hoss around?”

“He took Joe for a walk down to the pond about half an hour ago.  They should be back soon.”

The two moved toward the barn, Ben leading Buck and encouraging Adam to continue talking.  He tried to gently steer the conversation around to the problem of chores and schoolwork to find out what was worrying the boy, but as soon as Adam realized where he was going he shut up.

“I’d better go inside and get on with my homework,” he sighed. “I’ve got to prepare a piece of Shakespeare for a presentation.  Mr. Lawson said we could work in pairs so would it be all right if I stayed over some nights and worked with a friend in town?  I could still get my chores done before supper.”  He didn’t look at his father but rubbed his toe in the dust of the barn floor.

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Did Mr. Lawson say you had to work together?” he asked.

Adam debated lying, but figured the risk was too great.  Pa would be sure to assume he was working with Ross and ask Mr. Marquette or worse still Mr. Lawson.

“No sir, but it would be much better if I could work with someone else.”

Ben moved until he was in front of his son. “I don’t know how many times you’ve told me that you prefer to work alone and that other folk only spoil your ideas, so why the change of heart?”

Adam shrugged.  “I dunno, its easier with a play if there are two of you.”

His father shook his head. “You are confined to the yard this week, so unless Mr. Lawson insists, the answer is no you may not stay over.  You’ll have to work on the project on your own.”

Adam almost swore, it wasn’t fair.  Hell it was for school wasn’t it.  He turned on his heel and strode off toward the house only allowing his curses to spill out when he was absolutely sure his father couldn’t hear him.

Ben watched him go with a sigh.  Five minutes of pleasant conversation and now an evening of sulking and bad temper, would the boy ever grow up.

 

Adam set his books up on the dining room table, here he could spread them out which made working easier.   Hoss had left his homework untidily and Adam stacked it up into one corner with a sigh.  He had barely got started when his father came in and leaned over his shoulder, a habit which Adam found particularly annoying.  He sighed and then wished he hadn’t as he felt the angry glare he knew Pa was giving him.  Ben moved away without comment and went to the hearth to fetch his pipe.  He relaxed into his favorite chair and was soon enveloped in blue smoke and the pleasant smell of his Virginia tobacco.

Once again Adam settled to his work only to be startled as the front door banged open and his two brothers hurtled into the room, the door slamming shut behind them.

Ben reacted quickly too, sitting bolt upright and glaring at his younger sons.  “Erik, how many times do I have to tell you to close the door quietly?”

Hoss looked suitably chagrined. “Sorry Pa… but we…”

He was interrupted by his little brother rushing past him. “Pa we see’d a lion…”  at his father’s raised eyebrow he continued, “…really we did.  It was big as… big as …”  the little boy struggled to find anything as terrifying as the lion he wanted to describe.

Hoss saw his father’s shock and fear and attempted to reassure him. “We didn’t actually see anythin’ Pa… we heard a cougar and there were tracks all around the pond.”

Joe’s bottom lip stuck out. “I did see’d one,” he protested, his imagination and desperate need to be important overriding the truth.  He gave his older brother a push to emphasize his point.

Ben caught his arms. “Hey, that’ll do.  Now you go wash up for supper.” As they went to obey he added, “And both of you stay away from the pond and don’t wander out of the yard on your own.”

Hoss grumbled all the way to the kitchen about being treated like a baby but his father chose to ignore it. Joe rushed past Adam to get to his mother first to repeat his story, knocking Adam’s text book to the floor.  Adam swore and bent to retrieve it.

Ben was on him in a split second. “What was that?”

“Nuthin’, Pa,”  Adam replied sullenly.

Ben glared down at his son who kept his head bent over his book.  “I won’t tell you again to watch your language and your attitude,”  he spat out.

Adam pushed to his feet, “Oh sure, I’m always wrong.  What about him?” He pointed in the direction Joe had run.  “He gets away with everything….” he ignored his father’s rapidly rising temper as he continued, “…he even lies to you and you ignore it.  If that was me or Hoss we’d’ve got a tanning.”

“He’s a baby he exaggerates a little that’s all.”   Ben tried to calm down and speak reasonably.  He didn’t want another fight.

Adam slammed his books shut.  “How longs he gonna be a baby, ’til he’s twenty maybe.” He went to stalk off but Ben caught his arm.

“I won’t be spoken to like that and I’ll not put up with anymore of this attitude of martyrdom.  We are all tired of your moods and your temper.  You can spend the evening in your room, I’ll send your supper up.  You might spend the time thinking over what a difficult and unpleasant young man you are becoming,” Ben snapped.

Adam shrugged off his father’s hand and made for the stairs.  Marie came in from the kitchen in time to see him disappear around the corner.

“Trouble again?”  she asked wiping her hands on her apron.

“I’m sick and tired of him,” Ben exploded.  “He’s sullen and rude most of the time and I don’t know how to deal with these mood swings of his.  I’ve sent him to his room.”

Marie rested her hand on her husband’s arm. “’Hardly a way to solve the problem darling.  He prefers to be in his room alone so its no hardship for him and the more time he spends alone the deeper his black moods go.”

Ben sighed.  “I suppose you’re right but I don’t know how else to deal with him.”

Marie chuckled.  “How about if I invite the Watsons over for lunch on Saturday.  That would allow him to see Caroline on his home ground and us time to talk this through with Charles and Anne.  Perhaps we can find a way for them to spend time together that doesn’t upset school or chores and keeps parents happy too.”

Ben shook his head and grinned.  “You are just born matchmaker aren’t you.  All I can say is he’d better snap out of these bad moods pretty quick.  I can’t stand much more of it.”

Marie squeezed his shoulder.  “Give him time.  He’s in love.”

Ben pursed his lips and shook his head.  “A few dances at a birthday party and carrying her books hardly constitutes being in love.”

Marie smiled and raised her eyebrows, “Oh and what did you do with your first girlfriend that was so different?  She disappeared into the kitchen again her laughter ringing in his ears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4

 

“Hoss…Hoss,  where are you?”   Little Joe called from the barn doorway.  “I wanna go see the ducks.”

His older brother groaned.  He had just got himself comfortable in the hayloft with a piece of Hop Sing’s apple pie.  There had only been a small piece left and he had washed up the dish hoping that Hop Sing might forget it had been there at all.  He decided to keep quiet and hope Joe would go searching elsewhere then his conscience kicked in.  If Joe wandered off alone he might get hurt.  He crammed the apple pie into his mouth determined not to miss that. He was about to peer over the edge of the loft when a mop of brown curly hair and a small face appeared at the top of the ladder.  He drew in a sharp breath.

“Be careful Joe, you know you ain’t allowed up here.” He reached over and grabbed Joe’s arm before he could fall.  “If’n Pa catches you we’ll both be in trouble.” He pulled Joe on to the platform and then holding tightly to him swung himself over the edge and descended the ladder.

“Now what’s all the yelling about and does Mama know you’re out here?”  Hoss bent down to the little boy’s level and gripped his shoulders.

Joe nodded “She’s talkin to Miz Watson and tol’ me to find you to play wiv’.  I wanna go to the pond ag’in will you take me?”

Hoss shook his head. “Pa said we wasn’t to go there no more, leastwise not ’til they get the cougar.”

“I ain’t afraid.  We could take a gun and shoot it.”  Joe boasted, thinking of the rifles that were kept in the big room.  They fascinated him, partly because they were out of reach and he couldn’t see them properly and partly because he knew he mustn’t touch them.

Hoss looked at him in shock.  “You mustn’t touch the guns Joe, even I’m not allowed to do that and I’m near ten.”

“Adam could,” Joe replied. “He’s got a gun of his very own,” he said in awe.

“Yeah, but he won’t come with us.  He don’t want to play with us no more,”  Hoss said sourly.  It was a source of bitterness to Hoss that Adam had deserted him for older friends.

“How old you gotta be to have a gun, Hoss? Joe asked.  He hated being the baby it seemed that everything he wanted to do, someone told him he couldn’t do until he was older.

Hoss shrugged. “Adam was about ‘leven or twelve I guess when Pa got him that old squirrel gun and he had his rifle for his birthday ’bout a couple of years later.  Ain’t no use talkin’ about it Joe, we ain’t old enough yet.”

Joe shrugged.  “Take me for a ride ‘den,”  he begged.

Again Hoss shook his head. “You know we ain’t allowed without a grown up, Joe.”

Joe groaned.  The same argument again, not old enough to do anything.  He picked up a small wooden box with holes in it from the ground beside the barn door.  “What’s in “’  he asked.

Hoss took the box from him and carefully cracked open the lid.  “It’s a mouse I took away from Ginger.  He was playing with it and it was hurt, its better now, I can let it go soon.”

Joe looked into the box.  “Let me hold him.” He put his hand out to take the mouse.

Hoss hesitated then shook his head. “You’d squish him or let him go and Ginger’d get him again.”

“Let me hold the box then,”  Joe persisted and was rewarded by Hoss’s nod.

Both boys were bored.  It was Saturday afternoon, Mama and Pa were busy entertaining Mr. and Mrs Watson.  They had come over to visit and Adam had taken Caroline for a walk.  Hoss saw the two of them strolling back toward the barn holding hands.  He sighed.  Adam was so bossy and never wanted to play now, all he wanted was to be with Caroline.

Hoss watched the two disappear into the barn and then nudged Joe to follow him.  “Let’s surprise ‘em.”

They crept to the barn door and peeked in.  Adam was introducing Caroline to Sport and she was stroking the colt’s nose.  The two younger boys crept in to the barn and hid behind one of the stalls to listen.

“He’s mine and I’m training him myself.  I should be able to ride him by the end of the summer,” Adam was saying with pride.

“I wish I had a horse of my own but Papa says that I don’t need one living in town as we do,” Caroline complained.

Hoss’s nose wrinkled up in thought.  He wanted to do something to annoy his older brother and embarrass him in front of that soppy girl, but he couldn’t think of anything except spying on them to tease him later.

Joe glanced up at Hoss and when he saw that his older brother’s attention was on Adam he cracked open the box to take a closer look at the little mouse.   Hoss saw him do it from the corner of his eye but he wasn’t quite quick enough and the mouse was gone, scuttling under the partition to surface on Caroline’s foot.  Her scream echoed around the barn and Adam jumped back in alarm.

It was difficult to tell what happened next.  Hoss and Joe came out from behind the partition and tried to catch the mouse which had retreated to the back of the barn. An irate Adam yelled at them, while trying to help catch the little creature.  In the ensuing chaos Caroline tripped and grabbing Adam to save herself pulled them both down on to the barn floor.

Ben and Charles Watson were on the porch and at the sound of Caroline’s scream came running into the barn.  By this time Hoss and Joe had chased the mouse into a far corner and the sight that met the two men was of Adam and Caroline in a heap on a pile of straw.

Charles Watson moved like lightening to drag his daughter to her feet, leaving a shocked Adam to struggle to his.

“What’s going on here?”  Ben spluttered.

Charles Watson had no doubts. “I would have thought that was obvious.  Caroline go back to your mother and tell her we are leaving right now.”  He glared at Adam and then rounded on Ben.  “I’ll leave you to discipline your son.  If I don’t leave now I may do something I’ll regret,” he said angrily. “You will stay away from my daughter if you know what’s good for you,”’ he spat at Adam as he left.

Adam was open mouthed as he watched Mr. Watson storm across the yard to the house.

Ben caught Adam by the arm. “Get in the house,”  he ground out.

“Pa, it wasn’t …” Adam started to explain.

Ben was shaking with anger. “I said get in the house,” he repeated.

At that moment the two younger ones emerged from the back of the barn.  Hoss was carrying the box with the mouse now safely inside again.  Adam launched himself at his younger brother, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him.

“It was your fault. You and your damned animals.”  Adam swore at him vehemently.

Ben dragged them apart and glared at them both.

“I’ve told you twice to get inside, now do it,”  he yelled giving Adam a shake and releasing him but holding firmly to Hoss’s collar.  Adam retreated to the door but did not obey his father’s command.

“It was an accident Pa,” Hoss blurted out. “’We didn’t mean the mouse to escape.”

Joe sniffed and tears started in his eyes.   Joe didn’t like it when Pa yelled and he knew this was his fault, although he wasn’t sure why Papa was mad at Adam.

Ben heard the sniff and looked down angrily at his youngest son who was very pale and nervous.

“Mouse… what mouse?”  Ben demanded, turning his attention back to Hoss.

Hoss held out the box. “He’s hurt and I was looking after him,”  Hoss said softly.  “I didn’t mean to scare Caroline.  He escaped.”

Ben frowned.  “You mean this was caused by you all chasing a mouse?”

Hoss nodded.

“You were spying on your brother and planning to tease him is that it?”  Ben persisted.

Hoss nodded, his face flushed as he looked at his boots.

Adam moved back into the bar. “He’s always doing it,”  he said in exasperation, forgetting that he was supposed to be on his way to the house.

Ben whirled around and glared at Adam but his temper was cooling.

“It really was an accident Pa,”  Hoss repeated.

Ben grunted. “That better be the truth young man if I find out different you’ll find sitting mighty uncomfortable.”

Hoss kept his eyes on his boots, it was safer that way.

By the time they all trudged back to the house the Watsons had gone and an anxious Marie was waiting for them.    She let them get inside and then stared intently at her eldest stepson making him squirm uncomfortably.

“It wasn’t my fault,” he blurted out.  “I didn’t do anything except try to catch his damn mouse.”

“Cool off and watch your language,”  Ben snapped.

“But what happened?”  Marie asked, still mystified. “Charles stormed in here with Caroline and said they were going home.  She was covered in straw and sobbing her heart out.  All he said was that Adam had ….” she stopped aware of small ears listening.

Ben sighed. “’Hoss let his mouse out in the barn and it scared Caroline.  They tried to catch it and   I suppose things got out of hand.  When Charles and I got there… well Adam and Caroline had fallen over,” he finished off quickly.

Marie tried hard not to smile. She could imagine what they had seen and Charles Watson’s interpretation of it.  She looked at her stepson’s still angry expression.

“Come on Adam, Mr. Watson will cool down and I’ll speak to Mrs Watson.  Just give him a few days.”

Adam shrugged. “I don’t care what he says I’m going to see Caroline,”  he responded sullenly.

Ben caught him by the shoulder and turned him around to face him.  “You will do no such thing.  Until you are given permission, you will do as Mr. Watson says and stay away from her, is that understood?”  he said sternly.

Adam shook himself free from his father’s grasp and raced up the stairs to slam his bedroom door in temper. He would see her again, no matter what any of them said.  He threw himself down on his bed and punched the pillow.

Downstairs Marie shooed the two younger ones into the kitchen to wash for supper barely waiting until they were gone before she started to giggle.

Ben raised his eyes to the ceiling and shook his head in despair. “What is so funny?”

“Oh Ben, it must have been a picture; poor Charles, the two of them rolling in the hay.”

Ben tried to maintain his stern expression but in the face of her laughter he couldn’t and he started to smile.  “That’s not fair it must have seemed bad to Charles.  If I had a daughter I’d be furious too….” He stopped speaking as he saw Marie’s smile crumple at the thought of the daughter they had lost.  He put an arm around his wife and hugged her.

“We have three fine sons and Adam is not the undisciplined rake Charles has him marked down as, although I must admit when I saw them my reaction was the same as Charles’s.”

Marie looked thoughtful. “It might be an idea to see that they are chaperoned in future.  He is growing into a very handsome young man and Caroline is a pretty girl.  They aren’t children playing anymore and it could become difficult.”  She eyed her husband and gave a wry grin. “’Maybe its time you had a little talk with our eldest son.”

Ben took her meaning and gave her a pained look.  “We’ve done the father and son chat, if that’s what you mean,” he smiled at her. “But I’ll talk to him about how he should behave with Caroline.   Even so I think it will be a while before I can persuade Charles to let them see each other even with a chaperone.” He touched Marie’s cheek  “But I’ll try and smooth the path a little for our young Romeo.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 5

 

“Adam Cartwright”’  Mr. Lawson’s voice boomed across the classroom.  “Would you care to share that note with the rest of the class?”

Adam blushed a deep red and swallowed hard.  “N…no, sir,”  he stuttered as he got to his feet.

“Then I suggest that you retrieve it from Miss Watson and bring it to me,”  Lawson continued his expression stern and unyielding.

Adam walked across the aisle to Caroline’s desk and held out his hand.  Caroline looked up at him with sympathy and handed the unread note back to him.  He walked forward feeling all eyes on him as he handed Lawson the note.  Without opening it the teacher tore it into small pieces and dropped them into the bin at his feet.

“You may now return to the problems of the Mexican army in Texas with renewed vigor,”  he said sharply.  He rapped on the desk to gain the children’s attention as Adam returned to his seat.  “After recess we will begin our play readings. The younger children may listen to the older ones and then tell us what they enjoyed and what they understood of the readings.”

Adam sat down at his desk next to Ross with a sigh.  It had been four days since the incident in the barn and apart from casual chat at recess, he had been unable to speak to Caroline at all.   Mrs Watson had taken to meeting her from school, effectively ruling out all contact.  He knew Caroline didn’t like the restriction anymore than he did but her father had threatened to keep her away from school if she disobeyed him and saw Adam at any other time.

He flushed as he recalled the chat with his father.  Pa had been almost as embarrassed as he was, as he tried to explain why Mr. Watson was so upset and that he and Caroline mustn’t see each other alone in future.  He knew what his father was trying to say but he had never thought about it in connection with himself and Caroline before.  Sure it had been fun to steal kisses but it was only in the past week or so that he had felt the stirring of more intense emotions and physical responses to her touch.  Having experienced them he wanted more.  He understood that this was exactly what his father was telling him to guard against but he couldn’t help it.  His one aim was to be alone with her to test out those feelings again and it seemed as if everyone else was bent on making sure that couldn’t happen.   He felt Lawson’s eyes on him again and bent his head over his books.

He applied himself to his studies for the next hour but every so often he would glance up at Caroline and often he found her looking at him. “Recess,” he mouthed silently at one point and she nodded.

First out of the door when recess was called he made his way over to the fallen tree which had become their special place.  When Caroline joined him he helped her to climb up beside him.

“I’m sorry Mr. Lawson saw the note,” she apologized. “I wasn’t expecting it and I almost dropped it.”

Adam shook his head and moved closer to her, “It doesn’t matter.  I only wanted to be sure we could talk at recess.  Your mother is always here when class lets out.  I don’t see how we can spend any time together.  Pa checks up on me when I get home and I have to ride back with Hoss.” He turned slightly to face her,  “Could you get away on Saturday afternoon?  Pa and Marie are going into Carson City, so they won’t know if I slip away for a couple of hours.”

Caroline stared at her shoes. “I don’t think we should Adam,” she said remembering the embarrassing talk her mother had subjected her to on Saturday evening.  “Papa was awful mad and if he found out we’d both be punished and I wouldn’t be able to see you at all.  He’d take me out of school.  Your father came over to talk to him but he won’t budge.  Mama understands that we want to see each other and she is trying to persuade him.  It will be all right if we just wait a while,” she pleaded.

Adam slipped from the tree trunk and started pacing up and down.  “It’s not fair, we didn’t do anything.  It was all my little brothers’ fault.” He kicked angrily at a stone.

Caroline put her hand on his and her touch sent shivers down his spine as his body reacted without any conscious thought on his part.  He wanted to be alone with her, not in full view of every child in the school.

“At least I get to play Juliet to your Romeo for the play readings,”  she said softly.  She kept her hand almost in his as they went back to the classroom.

The play readings ranged from long rambling and incorrect versions of Henry V speech to his soldiers to short sharp speeches obviously learned in desperation.  When Caroline’s name was called, Adam got to his feet too but Mr. Lawson stopped him.

“Did you work together on this reading?” he asked.

Adam looked puzzled.  “Not exactly, sir.  We each learned our own part.”

Lawson smiled.  “Well, I suppose you don’t need to rehearse any more than you do already in class.  I look forward to a flawless performance straight from the heart.”

The other children giggled and Adam flushed scarlet, a black mood descending as he walked to the front of the room.

Caroline sighed, why did Mr. Lawson do that?  She knew Adam would now be angry and it would spoil the whole thing for her.  She began her first passage and delivered it confidently watching his face as he tried to control his anger and concentrate on the play.  He managed his first speech without a mistake but his heart was not in what he was saying and it came out wooden and difficult to follow.  Caroline ignored him and made her second passage even better but in the face of her confidence he became nervous and his next response at first hesitant began to disintegrate altogether.

“Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat… The…the vaulty heaven so high above our heads  he attempted to speak more quickly afraid that he would forget the next part.  “I…” he faltered and Caroline prompted him in irritation.

He frowned and his brows drew together, embarrassed at being shown up in front of his classmates.

“I have more care to stay than will to go:    Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so…”  at this point the words deserted him completely and he stood in silence his face suffused with color.

John Lawson rescued him from further torment.  “It would seem that you should have rehearsed a little more.  Thank you, Miss Watson; a good performance considering the inadequacy of your partner.  You may return to your seats and we will hear the comments on the performances from the others.”

Adam sat down and kept his eyes on the desktop.  He didn’t look at the other children or at Caroline.  He was angry, angry at Lawson, angry at his father and Mr. Watson and angry at Caroline for making a fool of him.  When school let out he was gone before any of the children could say anything to him.  Caroline caught up with him at the corral and she approached with caution.

“Adam…  I’m sorry.  I only wanted to help,”  she pleaded.

“Well you didn’t,” he snapped back at her as he lifted the saddle on to his pony.  “You made me look stupid”’

Caroline sighed.  There was no talking to him when he was in this mood.  She turned away and joined Amy and Ross who were chatting while Ross saddled up for his ride home.

Adam hesitated.  He wanted to say he was sorry for the way he had acted, but his pride had been hurt and he couldn’t bring himself to apologize and dent it any further.  By the time he had decided he would have to say something Caroline was heading down the road chatting to Amy and Steve Rimmer.  He was about to call after her when he heard her laughter and saw her smiling at Steve.  He knew they were laughing at him, he just knew it.  He mounted up and rode off at speed toward home leaving Hoss staring after him.

 

Marie was standing on the porch when he rode into the yard and even from a distance she could tell he was angry.  “Oh no, what now?” she muttered.  She reached out and grabbed Joe as he went to run to his brother.  “I don’t think Adam will want you under foot while he does his chores Little Joe. Why don’t you wait until he comes in.”

Joe fought against her.  “But I wanna tell him ’bout the lion.  Jake see’d it too,”  he protested.

“Yes sweetie, but you can tell him later…  when he’s in a better mood,”  she added under her breath.

Joe allowed himself to be dragged inside and settled himself down by the hearth to await Hoss.  He knew his older brother would be interested in his lion.   Jake had seen it near the herd so to Joe’s innocent mind that meant it was safe to go back to the pond again and he intended to persuade one of his brothers to take him soon.

Hoss listened to his little brother’s chatter while they shared milk and cookies but he was adamant that they still couldn’t go to the pond.  Joe pleaded but finally gave up and sulked.  Well if Hoss wouldn’t go with him he’d go on his own he decided.   He’d just have to find the right moment when Mama wouldn’t miss him.

Marie wondered if she should mention to Adam that she had spoken with Anne Watson but in the mood he was in he’d probably be cross with her for interfering.  She stood at the kitchen window watching her stepson attack the pile of logs as though it was an enemy.  Who had upset him this time?

Adam’s bad mood extend through the evening.  Hoss avoided him knowing the reason and not wishing to make things any worse.  He knew his older brother was embarrassed that he had witnessed the scene in school.  He kept his head bent to his homework and for once didn’t even ask for any help.  After a raised eyebrow at Marie who shook her head in answer, Ben left his oldest son alone.  Joe had no such reservations.  He had been patient before supper and good while he ate his meal but now he wanted to share his news with his brothers.  He slipped from his seat by the hearth and first sidled up to Hoss who was counting on his fingers to find the answer to a sum.

“Jake see’d my lion,”  he said quietly.  Then when Hoss continued to count, he pulled at his brother’s shirt and repeated his news more loudly.  “Jake see’d my lion.”

Hoss shook him off irritably as he lost count. “Don’t do that,”  he said crossly.

Adam glanced up from his history book. “Its hardly your lion and if Jake saw it then he’ll have men out to shoot it.”

Joe moved swiftly around the table to his older brother. “It is too, mine.  I see’d it first.  I’m gonna catch it, not Jake.”

Adam closed his book over his finger and regarded Joe with a pained expression.  “You didn’t see it you heard it and saw footprints.  You really ought to learn to tell the truth.  You’re old enough to know the difference.”

Joe started to sniff. He didn’t like Adam when he was being grown up.  “I d…did see’d a lion,”  he said his lip trembling.

Adam sighed.  “You did not, don’t lie,” he said sharply.

There were tears in the little boy’s eyes now and Hoss who had given up on the sum, watched the exchange and took pity on him.  He couldn’t bear to see his little brother upset, and Adam had been annoying him for weeks.

“Leave him alone, maybe he did see a lion.  How would you know you never look at anything but Ca…ro..line, anymore,” he drawled.

Adam pushed to his feet and planted his hands on the table fixing Hoss with an angry glare. “Shut your mouth or I’ll do it for you,”  he snarled.

Hoss didn’t flinch but he did glance over at his father and saw as he had expected that Ben was on his feet.

“That’s enough.  Adam take your books and finish your homework in your room.”  Ben’s voice was calm but firm.  He bent down and picked Joe up.  “Come on young man we’ll go read a story and let Hoss finish his figures.”

Adam threw a none to flattering glance at Hoss and slammed his books shut and muttered something under his breath as he headed for the stairs.   Ben watched him go and debated following to have further words with him about his attitude but he knew it would do no good at this moment.  Adam was in the sort of mood which would lead to more arguments.  Instead he settled down in his blue velvet chair to entertain his youngest son.

Upstairs Adam threw his books hard against his bed and then dropped down on to it himself.  Why was he always the one in the wrong?  Recently nothing had gone right for him.   Well from now on he wasn’t going to let other people bother him, not his father or his brothers or girls.  No, he decided, girls were definitely trouble and he wanted nothing to do with them, especially Caroline Watson.  He lay back on his bed and no matter how he tried thoughts of Caroline flooded his head.  How she looked in her pink Sunday best dress.  How she looked in that checked shirt she sometimes wore when they went riding.  The way it fell open at her throat, the way her figure showed through it.  The way she felt when he kissed her.  The way he felt when they kissed.  His breathing became rapid as he imagined being alone with her…

 

Downstairs Marie set aside her sewing   “Maybe I ought to go talk to him.  I spoke to Anne today and I think we persuaded Charles to let him meet with Caroline under supervision.  Perhaps that news would make him happier.”

Ben glanced up, “I’d wait until its certain.  If you tell him and then Charles still says no, his mood will be ten times worse and then I would have to take some action.  As it is, I don’t plan to put up with much more of this.  He’s got to learn not to take his frustrations out on everyone around him.”

Marie sighed and sat down again.  She was sure Ben was wrong, surely giving him at least a hope was better than letting him be so miserable. But being only a stepmother she didn’t like to interfere too strongly between her husband and his older sons.  She glanced up at the staircase, if only Adam wouldn’t take setbacks so hard.

 

“Adam…. Adam,”  Caroline called as she hurried across the schoolyard.  Adam continued to unsaddle his pony without looking up and Caroline faltered.  “You’re not still mad at me for the play reading yesterday, are you?”  she said in disbelief.  “I told you I was sorry.”

Adam snorted, “Yeah, so sorry that you went off laughing at me with Steve Rimmer,” he said in disgust.  “Well if you want him for an escort, you can have him,”  he snapped, full of hurt pride.

Caroline smiled then thanked her lucky stars that Adam wasn’t looking at her or he would surely have misinterpreted that as well.  He was jealous.  She reached out and gently touched his shoulder to make him turn around.  “I don’t want Steve, you idiot,”  she said softly.  “And we weren’t laughing at you, we were talking about Steve’s little sister.”

He hesitated a second, not willing to give up his mood yet, even though her touch sent shivers through him.  “Oh… I thought…”

Caroline giggled, “Well stop thinking and listen to my news.  Your stepmother came over yesterday and talked to my mother and together they explained to Papa what happened on Saturday and persuade him that we should be allowed to see each other.  He says we can meet on Saturday afternoons as long as you come to our house and he or Mama are there.” She watched his expression carefully.  “I know its not perfect but at least we can see each other… Unless, of course, you don’t want to see me anymore,”  she said hesitantly.  He didn’t seem as excited by her news as she had hoped.

He grinned.  “Of course I want to see you, but I wanted to take you to the dance not sit in your parlor with your father watching us.  I can’t kiss you if he is there.”

Caroline giggled.  “I think that’s why he is insisting on being there.  We don’t have to sit in the parlor, we can walk in the yard and have lemonade on the porch.  Maybe if we are careful he will relax a little and you can take me to the dance another time.  I mean there are lots of people at dances.  Pap couldn’t object to that, we wouldn’t be alone.”

Her mood was infectious and he smiled.  “Okay, lemonade on the porch and I’ll be the perfect gentleman.”

She smiled too.  When he was in a good mood he was fun to be with.  “We could quote appropriate bits of Romeo and Juliet at each other and pretend we were still studying,” she said with a mischievous grin.

He took his cue. “And hold hands so that I can get the atmosphere right,” he added.  “I can get my chores done before mid morning and be with you right after lunch.  Will that be all right?”

She nodded enthusiastically as the school bell rang.   They went inside hand in hand both smiling.

 

Marie ran a hand across her forehead.  It had been a long and tiring day and she was looking forward to the boys coming home from school.  Maybe they could amuse Joe long enough for her to get supper on the table.  It should have been a pleasant day.  Ben was working at home and she usually enjoyed his company but not today.  She hated the last Friday in the month when Ben spent all day at his desk doing the accounts ready to pay the wages.  He was grumpy and it was necessary to keep Joe well away from him.  To add to her worries Joe seemed to be out to try her patience.  Several times she had found it necessary to go hunting for him and each time she had found him in the back yard obviously planning some mischief.  The final straw had been a frantic Hop Sing rushing back from town to tell her his cousin was very sick and he needed to go to Sacramento.  She had long since ceased to keep track of all his relatives and had merely acquiesced with as good a grace as she could manage.

“I hate payroll day,”  she said vehemently as she put a fresh cup of coffee in front of her husband.

Ben put down his pen and stretched.  “No more than I do my love.  I’ll be glad when Adam’s old enough to do it.  He seems to enjoy all these columns of figures.”

He pulled her towards him and gave her a hug.  “I’m sorry I get so grouchy.  Is Little Joe all right, I’m afraid I yelled rather loudly when he wanted to help.”

Marie nodded.  “He’s fine but he’s up to something.  What is so fascinating in the back yard?  Three or four times today I’ve missed him and he’s been out there and I’m sure he’s planning something.”

Ben shrugged and sipped at the hot coffee.  “Nothing special that I can think of, but three year olds do have different ideas from us about what is fascinating.  What’s all this about Hop Sing going away?”

She sighed and perched herself on his desk.  “One of his many cousins is sick and he wants to go and nurse him.  He’s not sure how long he’ll be away but I couldn’t say no.  We’ll manage fine but it does mean that my trip to Carson City tomorrow is off.  We can’t take Joe if we are carrying the payroll back with us.  I had thought he’d be all right here with Hop Sing but…”

“Why can’t Adam look after him?”  Ben asked with a puzzled frown.

Marie leaned closer and kissed him, “Because, my darling, I spent a very difficult hour persuading Charles and Anne to let him visit with Caroline tomorrow afternoon.”

“Well he’ll just have to put it off until next week.  It’s been months since you’ve had a day to yourself and I know you were looking forward to it.”

“Oh I couldn’t do that to him, not now that Caroline will have told him the good news,  he’d be so disappointed.”

“Then he’ll have to be disappointed.  Good heavens he sees her everyday in school, one afternoon without her isn’t going to hurt him and if Charles has agreed this week he’ll agree next,” Ben said irritably.  “No, he can stay here and look after Joe and Hoss.”

Marie raised an eyebrow,” All right, but I think you’ll get an argument,” she warned him.  “’I can hear them in the yard now, maybe you should wait until after supper to mention it.  It would be nice to have a pleasant meal together for a change without you two glaring at each other over my apple pie.”

She headed back to the kitchen shaking her head.  If Ben told Adam he had to stay here and look after the little ones tomorrow then this was not going to be the pleasant evening she had planned.

 

Joe had heard his brothers too and he raced to the kitchen door and out into the yard before his mother returned, all she saw was the swinging door.  He ran full speed across the yard and was only stopped from a headlong dash by Adam reaching out and swinging him high in the air.  “Hey, little buddy, where you going in such a hurry?”

Joe giggled.  Adam was in a good mood and when he was happy they had fun together.  “I wanna help wiv’ the horses.” He struggled to get down and finally Adam complied giving him a tickle as he set him down on the ground.

“Okay, you go get some oats and start on the hay and I’ll unsaddle him,” Adam suggested.

Hoss tousled Joe’s hair as he passed.  “How come Adam gets help and I don’t,” he joked.

Joe looked up in total innocence, “Adam can take me to the pond.”

Adam smiled and shook his head,  he’s getting far too smart.”

Chores finished, Joe repeated his request.  “Sorry Joe, but I’ve got a lot of homework to do before supper and in any case Pa doesn’t want us going down there until the cougar is caught.”

Joe grabbed his older brother’s hand and pulled.  “But you’re big, why can’t you go?” The complexities of the situation were too much for his three year old mind.  To him Adam was almost grown up and could do anything he wanted.  It was a state he could only aspire to.

Adam bent down and picked him up.  “Not too big for Pa to yell at, little buddy.  I’ll play soldiers with you after I’ve done my homework.  How would that be?”

Joe pouted and wriggled to get down.  “Don’ wanna play soldiers,”  he grumbled and went off in search of his mother.

Adam shrugged and went inside.  He dropped his books on the table with a thump making Ben look up from his accounts.

“Oh Hi Pa.  You want me to help?”

Ben glanced at the pile of schoolbooks.  “Well it would be helpful if you could add these payroll figures.  I’ve got a different answer three times,” he sighed and pushed

 

the ledger toward his son and bit back a reprimand when Adam perched himself on the edge of the desk pushing the lamp to one side. “Don’t let it keep you from your schoolwork though.” spoiled yet again with Adam’s sulks.

“This won’t take a minute,” Adam said absently as he applied his mind to the addition of the column of figures.

Ben smiled at his son’s dark head bent over the ledger.  When he was in a good mood his whole personality changed and he was a pleasure to talk with and work with.  Why did growing up have to be so difficult for all concerned.  He decided to leave the bad news about tomorrow until the morning, that way the evening wouldn’t be spoiled yet again with Adam’s sulks.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6

 

“Hoss put those down until breakfast.”  Marie reached out and took the basket of biscuits from her stepson.  “I’ve more than enough to do this morning without chasing after you, or baking more biscuits.”

Hoss reluctantly backed out of the kitchen and leaned on the door post.  It wasn’t like Marie to be irritable with him for something so small as snitching a biscuit or a bread roll.  “Where’s Hop Sing anyhow?” he asked.

“He’s gone to Sacramento to nurse a cousin.  Now please get out from under my feet and take Joe with you,” she replied in exasperation, removing Joe’s sticky fingers from the clean tablecloth she had just put out with the cutlery.

The two boys wandered into the big room to await the summons to breakfast.  Adam had come in from the yard and was checking his rifle and he quickly removed the bullets from the table and slipped them into his pocket before Joe could grab them.

“You goin’ huntin’?”  Hoss asked picking up an apple and biting into it.

Behind them, Ben came in and began to hang up his hat and gunbelt, half listening to their conversation.

Adam shook his head. “Nope, when I’ve done the rest of my chores, I’m going to town to visit Caroline.”  His happiness was obvious and an unusually wide grin was pasted on his face.

Hoss looked up in surprise, “I thought you weren’t allowed to.”

Adam nodded with satisfaction, “Marie and Mrs Watson fixed it.  We gotta sit on their porch but at least we can still talk and visit with each other.”

Ben moved over to the dining room table.  “I’m sorry son that won’t be possible.  Marie and I are going to Carson City and with Hop Sing away I need you to stay here and look after your brothers.”

Adam’s jaw dropped in shock.  “What do you mean?  I can’t stay here I can only see Caro’ at her house.”  He couldn’t believe what Pa was telling him.  He had been well behaved all week, he hadn’t even made a real fuss about not seeing Caroline after school, but this was too much.   To learn that he could see her again and then to have it snatched away from him was cruel.

“I’m sorry Adam.  There is no other option.  You can see Caroline next week.”  Ben replied calmly.

Adam dropped his rifle on the table with a clatter and stood up.  “Why can’t Hoss look after Joe?  Why does it always have to me?” he protested.

“Hoss is too young to be responsible for a small child…”  Ben started.

“Why?”  Adam yelled, his good mood gone and his temper rising rapidly.  “I was looking after him when I was six or seven and you never said I was too young.”  His face was suffused with anger.  It wasn’t fair.  He almost stamped his foot.

Ben’s amenable manner disappeared and his expression hardened.  “Don’t raise you voice to me boy.”

Adam could see his pleasant afternoon slipping away and realized from his father’s attitude that he wasn’t going to get anywhere by fighting back.  He re-thought his strategy and changed his tone.  “I’m sorry sir, but couldn’t you could take them with you or maybe one of the hands could look after them for the afternoon,” he begged.

“No, I’m sorry it spoils your plans but I can’t have the boys with me when I’m collecting a payroll and the hands expect their Saturday afternoons to be free.  It is only one afternoon.  It won’t hurt you to look after them for a few hours,”  Ben insisted.

Marie hurried in with the food and hesitated at the tension in the room.  “Breakfast’s ready,” she said brightly.

“I don’t want any,” Adam snapped, heading for the stairs.

“Adam!”  Ben’s voice boomed across the room stopping his son in his tracks.  Adam turned slowly and stared defiantly at his father.  “You will sit at the table.  Whether you eat or not is your choice but you will not walk away from me in that fashion.   Marie and I will be leaving in an hour or so and we’ll be back by about six.  You will stay here and look after your brothers until we return.”  Ben pointed at Adam’s chair and reluctantly his son moved to the table his face as black as thunder.

Adam stubbornly refused to eat and stared at his empty plate throughout the meal.  Hoss was aware of his brother’s anger but was too distracted by Little Joe’s chatter to give it much thought.  Towards the end of the meal as Marie rose to gather up the dishes, she raised her eyebrow at Ben and sighed.  “I could stay here,” she mouthed silently.  Ben, now as stubborn as his son, firmly shook his head.

 

Adam silently went about his chores and when he saw the buckboard in the yard he deliberately went to the back of the barn so that his father had to call him.  Ben drew in a sharp breath and fixed the boy with a glare.  “Being difficult and sullen isn’t going to make me change my mind so you might as well make the best of it.” He looked at the two younger ones.  “You two will behave yourselves and do as Adam says and we will be back by supper time.”

To Ben’s horror, Joe clambered up on to the wheel of the buckboard.  He bent down and lifted the little boy on to his knee.  “You mustn’t do that Joe, you could get hurt,” he admonished gently.

“I wanna go see the ducks,”  Joe responded not in the least put out by his father’s words.

Ben shook his head.  “Not today Joe, I don’t want you boys anywhere near the pond or that grove of trees until Jake has dealt with this cougar.”  He looked at the older two.  “Jake thinks he has a lair in those rocks and I want you to stay away from there.”  He set Joe down on the ground beside his brothers and smiled when Hoss caught Joe’s hand in his.

Adam watched them drive off with a thoughtful expression on his face. “Hoss, you finished your chores?”  he asked.

Hoss looked across at his older brother warily, “Yeah, but I ain’t doin’ yours.”

“I’m not asking you to,”  Adam responded quickly. “’I thought maybe you could amuse Joe while I get finished that’s all.  He needs someone to keep both eyes on him.  Don’t you buddy,”  he added ruffling Joe’s curls.

Hoss shrugged. “Okay, we’ll go play on the porch until you’re finished.  Then what we gonna do?”

“Oh I don’t know, I’ll think of something.”  Adam headed back to the barn, his mind working overtime on a small problem; how to convince Hoss to take care of Joe for the rest of the day.  He finished his chores in record time and headed back to the porch his brain still checking and re-checking for any faults in his plan.

Hoss and Joe were building a rather rickety structure out of the logs on the porch and Adam frowned at first then decided that criticizing Hoss was not going to accomplish his end, so he said nothing about the obvious dangers.

“You still got homework to do?” he asked his younger brother.

Hoss grimaced, “Aw c’mon Adam not now, you sound just like Pa.  I got that dretful essay to write and some more sums.  I don’t gotta do it now do I?”

Adam sat down and put his feet up on the table.  “Maybe you don’t have to do it at all.  I could write you a rough essay and you could just copy it and the sums are easy, I can do those in a moment.  I might be persuaded then you’d have the whole day free.”

Hoss couldn’t believe his luck. He wasn’t in the least suspicious.  Adam had been nice to him for a few days and he didn’t suspect a thing. “’Would ya’  that’d be great.”  He hesitated a second,  “Mr. Lawson wouldn’t know would he?  I mean he’d be awful mad and so would Pa.”

Adam shook his head. “Of course not, I’d make it look like your work.  I’m not stupid enough to get caught.  I’d be in trouble too, remember?  It’ll be fine.  You go fetch it.”  He watched his younger brother race away and smiled craftily.  He knew Hoss well enough to know how to handle this part of the problem.

Half an hour later the math was half done but not complete and Adam had the draft essay in his hand.  He stood up and stretched.  “Okay I’ll finish it when I get back,”  he said lazily tucking the sheets of paper inside his jacket as he slipped it on.

“Get back from where”’  Hoss asked  idly looking up from the tower he and Joe had built.

“Caroline’s,”  Adam said simply.

Hoss’s jaw dropped open and he stared at his older brother. “’You can’t.  Pa said you couldn’t go.  You gotta stay here and look after us,” he spluttered.

“You can look after Joe.”  Adam headed for the barn with Hoss hot on his heels.  “I’ll be back in a couple of hours or so, well before Pa gets home.”

Hoss grabbed his older brother’s arm.  “He’ll skin you alive,” he gasped.

Adam grinned.  “No he won’t, because he won’t know.  You aren’t going to tell him or you won’t get your homework back.”

He saddled his pony while Hoss considered the problem.  “You’ll be in trouble for doing it for me if I tell,”’ he finally got out.

Adam shook his head.  “If you tell I’m dead anyway so I got nothing to lose but you do,” he said smugly.  “You keep quiet and you get all your homework done and Pa need never know.”

Hoss had an uneasy feeling about this arrangement but he couldn’t see a way out of it. “’You’ll be back before Pa won’t you?” he pleaded.

“You bet your sweet life I will,” Adam replied as he mounted up and rode off leaving Hoss to go back to his baby brother and their game on the porch.

Joe played happily with his brother for an hour then he began to get restless. “’I wanna ride Shadow,” he demanded.

Hoss shook his head.  “I’m not allowed to do that with you unless Pa’s here.”

Joe began to whine and Hoss didn’t know what to do.  “Let’s go play in the barn for a while,”  he suggested.

His little brother looked doubtful,  “In the hayloft?”  he asked hopefully.

Hoss screwed up his face into a frown.  “We ain’t supposed to.  Couldn’t we just play in the barn.”

Joe shook his head.  “I wanna…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,”  Hoss interrupted before Joe’s whine got any louder.  “C’mon then, but you gotta be careful and do what I say.”

To his brother’s relief, Joe was quiet happy to build a straw house in the corner of the hayloft well away from the opening and the edge of the overhang. Rooting around in the straw Hoss came across a wooden box it had a catch but no lock and he opened it cautiously.  He didn’t recall seeing it before but it had been well hidden in the corner.  He was disappointed to find it contained only books.  They must be Adam’s, but why hide them up here.  He flicked one open it was a mail order catalogue of Mama’s, and quite old.  It was well thumbed and fell open at a page of ladies things.  Hoss couldn’t see why Adam kept that.  Then a book full of paintings, but all the paintings were of naked or near naked people.  Now he understood why Adam had this one hidden, Pa wouldn’t approve at all.  Hoss settled down to take a better look ignoring his little brother.

The third book was green leather and quite obviously a diary.  Hoss hesitated for only a second before opening it.  What sort of stuff did Adam write down?  He started to read and then shut the book quickly it was all mushy stuff.  Adam had written all about his feelings for Caroline and how it felt to kiss her.   He returned to the book of paintings and turned the pages in fascination until his stomach began to rumble and he decided to put the books away and go in search of milk and cookies.

He carefully replaced the books and hid the box in its original place. Adam must never know he had found it.  Clambering to his feet he looked around for his little brother.  “Joe… where you hiding?” he chuckled, expecting Joe to appear from under a pile of hay.  No answer.  “Joe…JOE…stop foolin’ around and come on out.  I’m gonna get cookies.”

When there was still no sound, he began to worry.  “Joe….JOE,” he called again shuffling through the straw and then peering over the overhand to see if he could see Joe below.  He couldn’t have fallen he would have heard him.  Maybe he had gone into the house on his own for cookies or maybe to the outhouse.  He climbed down and searched the barn then checked the outhouse and finally went indoors and began to call again.  As each search proved fruitless his anxiety began to grow.   He started to run between rooms, throwing open doors and yelling louder and louder but only silence greeted him.  He extended his search to Joe’s favorite hiding places when they played ‘hide and go seek’, the hen house, under Pa’s desk, under the beds, even in the closets but there was no sign.

He ran out on to the porch again half hoping to see Joe walking towards him but the yard was deserted.  Just as panic overtook him, and tears began to well up in his eyes he heard the sound of hoof beats.  No wagon so it couldn’t be Pa.  He knew he’d be in trouble if it was but at this moment he didn’t care who came as long as someone did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 7

 

 

It was warm out here on the porch, they had been sitting here and chatting for over an hour.  Adam had drunk far too much lemonade and eaten too many cookies and now he lay back against the cushions of the swing seat and allowed his arm to rest along the back of it just touching Caroline’s shoulder.  Sitting here so close to her made him nervous.  He had never felt this way about a girl before.  They had kissed a few times and each occasion was burned in his memory, especially the kisses they had shared last Saturday before the trouble in the barn.   Every time they were together he wanted her more and last Saturday’s incident had made him think of what might have happened.

“Where’s your mother?” he whispered, glancing over his shoulder toward the house.

Caroline giggled.  “Out in the back yard weeding her vegetable plot.  She won’t come out here for ages.”

He allowed his arm to slide down the back of the seat and pull her close to him. “I wish we were really on our own,”  he said softly.

“Why what would you do?”  she asked boldly.

“I want to kiss you like I did the other day,” he replied, blushing a little.

She snuggled into his arms and looked up at him with an inviting smile.  “Why don’t you, no one can see us.”

He couldn’t resist her upturned face and when she closed her eyes expectantly, he moved slowly forward and kissed her, gently at first then with a little more feeling.  Small shocks of pleasure ran though him as she responded to his kisses.  His right hand moved around her back pulling her closer to him and his left hand rested on her other shoulder.  She stirred strong feelings in him and he wanted to crush her to him.  He allowed his hand to slide lower to touch her breast as he kissed her and waited for her to push him away when she didn’t he became bolder and began to caress her.  His kisses moved from her lips to her cheek and then her ear and then down to her throat.  She wore a simple shirt that was open at the neck and he kissed the pulse at the base of her throat.  Only when he started to push her gently back against the cushions did she resist him, pushing him away with both hands.

“Adam, stop it,” she protested.  “My mother might see us”’

He moved back a little and smiled.  “I thought you said she wouldn’t come out here for ages.”

Caroline pursed her lips and he felt the urge to kiss them again, as he moved forward she ducked to one side and frowned at him.  “I said stop I,”’  she repeated a little nervously, but with a giggle..

“Aw c’mon Caro’, you wanted me to just now.”  He tried again but she moved away from him.

“Well I don’t now,”  she snapped then reached out and touched his lips regretting her hasty words.  “I’m sorry I didn’t mean that.  I do want you to kiss me but I don’t think we should… well not like that anyway.  It’s all too fast,” she said softly.

Adam smiled.  “I know what you mean, but I’m not sure I can go back to holding hands.  We could go for a short walk, your mother wouldn’t know.”

Caroline shook her head, “I don’t think we should do that either, it would only make Papa mad at us if he found out.”

Adam sighed.  It was hard sitting here and not touching her.  “Do you think he’ll let me take you to the dance next week?”

Caroline shook her head. “I think its going to take a bit longer than that to convince him you’re intentions are honorable,” she smiled.

Adam laughed and lightly kissed her cheek.  “What makes you think they are?”  He gathered a loose tendril of her hair and twined it around his finger.

“Adam!”  her voice registered shock but her smile denied it.

For a moment they sat side by side in silence then Adam moved slightly and pulled her head against his chest and began to stroke her hair.  She relaxed against him listening to his heart beating and feeling her own beating faster as he touched her.  He waited a moment and then kissed the top of her head.  Her fingers played with his shirt buttons and then rested on his chest.

“Now who’s going too fast,” he said hoarsely as her finger tips touched his skin sending flames of desire flickering through him.  He allowed his fingers to travel down her shoulder to the opening of her shirt, tracing the line of her collar bone his eyes never leaving hers as they both became more and more daring.  He was about to pull her closer to kiss her when they both heard footsteps coming through the house.  They sprang apart as though pulled by invisible strings.  Caroline patted her hair into place and Adam fastened his shirt button just as Mrs Watson emerged from the house.

“It’s past four, Adam.  Didn’t you say you had to be home to do your chores?”  Anne Watson said pleasantly.  “I’m sure you can visit with Caroline again next Saturday.”

Adam blushed and covered his embarrassment by scrambling clumsily to his feet.  “Yes, thank you Mrs Watson.  I’d better be going then.”  He turned to Caroline, “I’ll… I’ll see you in school, Monday.”

“In church tomorrow, silly,”  Caroline reminded him with a grin.  “I love you,”  she mouthed silently behind her mother’s back.

He flushed a deep red but couldn’t reply in a like manner because Mrs Watson was looking at him.  “I’ll see you tomorrow then,”  he stuttered.  “Thank you for the lemonade Ma’am.”

Anne Watson watched him go with a smile.  Such a nice polite young man, and so shy.  How could Charles have thought that he and Caroline would do anything they shouldn’t?

Adam rode as if on a cloud.  She loved him and he was certain sure he loved her.  His heart sang as he trotted his pony back down the familiar rode home.   The afternoon had been worth the extra trouble of doing a bit of homework for Hoss.  He would be there long before Pa and Marie and all his chores would be done before they got home.  For once all was right with his world.

 

He was still smiling and humming softly to himself as he rode into the yard to find a white faced and agitated Hoss waiting for him on the porch.

“Adam… Adam!”  Hoss almost screamed, there were tears streaming down his face and he looked scared out of his wits.

Adam swung down from his pony and throwing the reins over the rail he made it to Hoss in two strides.  “What’s wrong” he yelled grabbing the younger boy by the shoulders to make him stand still.

“Little Joe… he’s… he’s…”  Hoss blubbered unable to get his words out.

“He’s what?”  Adam demanded in exasperation.  “Is he hurt?”

Hoss shook his head.  “I don’t know… he’s gone…”

“Gone!”  Adam echoed in shock.  “Gone where?” he shook Hoss in an effort to make him stop crying.  “Tell me, gone where?”

“I… I… d… don’t k… know.  I was re…”  he stopped. He didn’t want to tell Adam that he had been spying on him and reading his books and journal, that would make him real mad.   “I was in the barn,” he amended.  “We was playing in the hay and when I looked for him, he’d gone.  I’ve searched everywhere Adam, honest I have.”

Adam almost sighed with relief.  “He’s only playing hide and seek and I bet he’s found some where comfy and fallen asleep.  Did he have a nap this afternoon?  He usually still has a short one and I bet you forgot to make him take one”

Hoss shook his head, feeling a little better now that his older brother was here and taking charge.  Adam was probably right.  Joe had crawled in somewhere and fallen asleep.

“You go search the barn again, look under things and move the hay.  I bet he’s there somewhere.   I’ll go search the house.”  Adam set off in good spirits vowing to wring Joe’s neck when he found him.  He searched the kitchen and then checked the lock on the storeroom door.  He looked under Ben’s desk and in the cupboards.  He ran up the stairs calling Joe’s name and checked every bedroom, closet and bed.

Finally he stood on the stairs and yelled,  “Little Joe….you come out here right now or I’ll spank you.”  Even this had no effect.  His voice echoed for a moment then died into the silence.

He met Hoss on the porch.  “Well, did you find him?”  he asked his voice now taking on an angry and anxious tone.

Hoss shook his head.  “He’s really gone, Adam,” he replied with a worried frown.  “I’ve looked everywhere.  I even checked that Shadow was still there.  You know how he wants to ride all the time.  But he’s not there. He must have wandered off someplace.”

“Well he wouldn’t have done if you’d kept a better eye on him,” his older brother grumbled.  He sighed by the time they found Joe it would be late to start the chores.  At first, he hadn’t thought that anything really bad could have happened.  Joe was always wandering off and this was another of those times.  Then thoughts of the accidents that could have befallen a three year old began to form in his head.  He’d kill Little Joe when he got hold of him.

“Right, well, we spread out and search further away.”  He was determined to stay calm and practical until he heard the sound of a buckboard.  “Pa!…” he gasped.  It couldn’t be, not yet.  His stomach lurched and panic set in.  If Pa found out he’d had been in town and allowed Joe to get lost or worse….  He thought fast.

“Hoss, if that’s Pa you don’t tell him I went to town.”

“But what if he asks me?”  Hoss asked with a worried frown.

Adam took his brother by the shoulder and shook him. “’He won’t.  You keep your mouth shut understand.  I’ll say I went in the house for a minute.”

Hoss looked at his older brother with total disbelief,  “You’re gonna lie to Pa?  He’ll kill you.”

“He’s gonna do that anyway if he finds out I went to town,” Adam replied.  He knew that he had two choices; either own up and face the consequences, which would be unpleasant or take a chance and try to dig his way out of this hole in the hope that he might get away unscathed.  The latter seemed the better option right now.  “I’ll do the explaining and you just follow my lead, okay.”

His brother nodded, worried about lying to his father and only to happy too let Adam do the talking.

 

Ben jumped down from the buckboard and turned to help Marie down then he felt the tension in the air and he turned on Adam with a pained sigh.  “What’s gone wrong now?”  he asked.

Adam tried to be relaxed about it. “Its nothing really Pa, just Joe’s gone and hid himself some place and we can’t find him,” he said quietly.  “I bet he’s fallen asleep and don’t hear us calling.”

Marie came around the buckboard her face showing her concern.  “How could he do that, weren’t you with him?”

Adam glanced away, “I went in the house for a minute.  He and Hoss were playing hide and seek in the barn, when I got back Hoss said he couldn’t find him.”  He prayed fervently that his father wasn’t watching his face as he spoke.

“Have you looked everywhere in the barn and the house?”  Ben said sharply, taking command of the situation.

Adam nodded.  “Hoss searched the barn and I’ve looked all over the house,” he said quickly, glad the explanation part had been glossed over so fast.

Ben put an arm around Marie,  “You go look in the house and the boys and I will spread out and search the yard.  Like Adam says I expect he’s hidden himself somewhere and fallen asleep.  Don’t worry we’ll find him.”

“How long has he been gon”’  Marie asked worriedly, gripping her husband’s arm.

Adam glanced nervously at Hoss.  He didn’t know how long Joe had been missing before he got home.  Hoss ignored the look.  Adam had told him to keep quiet and he planned to do just that.

“I’m not exactly sure, it must be about an hour by now.  We’ve been looking for quite a while,”  Adam replied slowly.

“You go inside honey,”  Ben gently guided Marie toward the door.  “Didn’t you say he was fascinated by something in the back yard.  Adam you go look there.  Hoss you search the back of the barn and by the corral, he might have gone to see Sport.  I’ll go down the path to the stream and swing by the pond.  He can’t have gone far.”  Even as he spoke Ben was imagining all kinds of dangers for one small boy in an hour.  He waited until Marie was inside and then he lifted his rifle from the buckboard and checked it.  If he was going down to the pond there was always a chance that he might encounter the cougar.  His heart began to beat faster what if Little Joe had met with the cougar.  The child had no fear of animals; to him it would be just a bigger version of Ginger until it growled at him or attacked.

Ben hurried down the narrow path through the trees to the area the boys called the pond, it was little more than a mud puddle in summer fed by an under ground spring which then trickled off down toward Washoe.  In winter it could swell with rain and provide quite a large deep area of water.  The spring was one of the reasons he had chosen to build the house here.  In the early days it had given them fresh water nearby and now it provided water to the well. As he neared the area he listened intently but heard nothing other than the quacking of the few ducks that lived there.  He rounded the corner and the sight that met him first surprised him and then made him smile.

Little Joe was sitting waist deep in water hugging a rather large and irate duck.  He was covered from head to foot in the chocolate colored mud of the pond.  Ben quickly hid his smile, it might seem funny now that he knew the boy was safe, but Joe had been told many times that he must not wander off by himself and particularly that he must not come to the pond alone.  He strode toward the little boy with a stern expression painted in place.

“Joseph”’

The little boy looked up completely oblivious to the trouble he had caused.  In his surprise at seeing his father, he let go of the duck which fluttered squawking across the mud.

“Papa, you fwightened my duck,”  he accused.  “I was goin’ to bring him home to live wiv us.”

Ben bent down and was about to lift his son into his arms when the smell of the mud stopped him, instead he took him by the hand.  “We are going home to get you cleaned up young man and then we are going to have a talk about listening and being a good boy.  We’ve all been very worried.”

Joe looked up at his father.  He didn’t understand why anyone should be worried; he’d only gone to visit the ducks.  He’d been asking his brothers to take him for days.   Hand in hand they walked back to the house to reassure Marie that nothing terrible had happened to her baby.

 

Half an hour later Marie had heated water and Joe was being vigorously scrubbed in the tin bath set in front of the fireplace.  Adam and Hoss were both relaxed now;  Adam with his head in a book, and Hoss watching the bathing of his baby brother with a wide grin.   Marie was happy now that Joe was safe and she hadn’t the heart to be angry with him.

Ben didn’t feel quite the same way.  He sat beside the bath and leaned forward resting his hands on his knees. “Now young man, just what did you think you were doing wandering off on your own.  You’ve been told hundreds of times not to do that, haven’t you?” he said sternly.

Joe looked up with appealing eyes. “I only wanted to see the ducks.  Hoss wouldn’t take me,” he said sadly.

Ben glanced at Hoss, “Good, at least one of you listened to me.”

 

Adam tensed a little, waiting for some comment about him keeping a better eye on Joe but none was forthcoming.  He kept his eyes firmly on his book but his ears attuned to the conversation.

“I told you only the other day that it was dangerous by the pond right now and that you weren’t to go there.  Didn’t I?  Did you forget?”

Joe shook his wet head solemnly.  Papa was very angry with him and he rightly judged that being quiet and looking sorry was the best way to act.

Ben was at a loss to know how to deal with the youngster; somehow he had to make him understand.  He put on his sternest expression and spoke in a quiet voice.   “You made Adam and Hoss very worried.  Joseph, you are a very naughty boy to go to the pond without telling Adam.”

Joe looked up with an angelic smile, at last seeing a way out of Papa being mad at him.  After all he couldn’t tell Adam where he was going if he wasn’t there.  “But Adam wasn’t here, Pa,” he said quietly.

You could have heard a pin drop as the portent of his words hit all the occupants of the room at once.  Marie stopped washing Joe and stood poised with the sponge dripping on to the little boy’s head.  Hoss’s mouth dropped open and Ben’s expression changed.  His face became cold and hard as he turned around to his oldest son with a look that could freeze Lake Tahoe.

Adam wished the floor would open up and swallow him but it didn’t look as though that was likely to happen.

“Is that true?  Did you leave the ranch this afternoon?”

Adam’s breathing became shallow as he looked into his father’s eyes, seeing anger and disappointment there. He nodded, unable to trust his voice to speak.

“Go to your room,”  Ben said very quietly, pointing at the staircase as he got to his feet.

Adam glanced from Hoss to Marie but neither would look at him, both had their heads down; Hoss from fear of what might come his way, and Marie from disappointment in her stepson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 8

 

Adam leaned on the window frame and put his cheek against the cool glass.  A few hours ago he had reckoned that seeing Caroline was worth the risk of getting caught by his father, now he knew it wasn’t.  Nothing was worth the lecture he had just had to endure nor the punishment that went with it.   He stared out into the summer night and went over the past hour in his head, nothing had prepared him for the tongue lashing he had received.

His father had come into his room quietly and without knocking and he had tried hard to meet his eyes but he couldn’t.  The look of disappointment that he had seen there had made him bite his lip and stare at his boots.

“Look at me, boy,”  Ben had said sternly but quietly.  His hands were on his hips with his thumbs pushed down into his belt.

Adam swallowed hard and lifted his head, it was one of the hardest things he had ever done to look his father in the eye at this moment.  Ben allowed the silence to continue until Adam was sweating with the effort of looking at him.

“Would you care to tell me exactly what you thought you were doing leaving your brothers alone after you had been told quite specifically that you were to care for them?”

Adam was aware that although his father’s voice was soft and reasonable, it hid an anger that if, or rather when, unleashed would be devastating.  Pa always got quieter when he was really angry.  It was as if that was the only way he could control his temper.  He wasn’t sure how to react; what line to take to minimize his punishment?

“I thought they’d be all right.  I wasn’t gone long,” he said softly.

Ben nodded.  “You thought that you could deliberately flout my instructions and I wouldn’t find out.  That’s what you thought,” he said quietly. “’Wasn’t it?” he snapped out making Adam jump.

“Yes, sir,”  Adam admitted in defeat, his eyes dropping to the floor again.

“Where did you go?  Or need I ask?”  Ben’s voice was full of sarcasm.

Adam sighed with resignation and then realized that his father would probably take that as insolence.  “I went to visit Caroline.   Mrs Watson was there,”  he added hurriedly.

“And that is supposed to justify your disobedience to me in being there at all?  You are the oldest you have duties and responsibilities to your younger brothers.  You may not always like that but it’s a fact and I expect you to be mature enough to recognize it.”

Adam almost made some unforgivable comment but stopped the words just in time and kept his head down.  Pa was always going on about responsibility, well for once he wanted to be the youngest with no siblings to take care of or watch over.  At this moment he hated being the oldest and would give anything to be Little Joe or Hoss.

“I trusted you to take care of Hoss and Joe and you betrayed that trust,”  Ben went on, his voice still quiet but stern.

That one hurt more.  Adam wanted his father to trust him and to be proud of him but he didn’t always fit his actions to that desired aim.

“You knew Joe wanted to go to the pond.  You knew the cougar was in that area not to mention the danger of him drowning or suffocating in the mud and yet you left him with Hoss without a backward glance.  Hoss is nine years old, you cannot expect him to see the dangers the way you would.”  He began to pace across the room, his temper still barely under control, as he thought of the accidents that could have befallen his youngest son.

“Yes, I knew all that, but if Joe had stayed put he wouldn’t have been in any danger.  How come he gets let off as usual and it’s all my fault.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them.  He saw his father’s expression change to open anger.

“How dare you answer back?  Your little brother is three years old not almost sixteen.  He is too small to understand the dangers and he didn’t lie about it either, which is another subject we will get to in due course.”

Adam reverted to staring at the rug.  He had forgotten the lie and now it came back to him and he realized that anything he had heard so far would pale into insignificance when Pa got on to that subject.

“I hope you enjoyed your afternoon of freedom, because it will be your last for sometime to come,” Ben said angrily.

Adam made no comment he had expected that one and much as it hurt he knew that he deserved it.

“And to think that both Marie and I pleaded with the Watson’s on your behalf,” his father continued with a cold laugh.  “I even told Mr. Watson that you were responsible and trustworthy.  Well I couldn’t have been more wrong, could I?”

Adam fixed his eyes on his boots, he knew his father was building up into a rage and the best thing he could do was to keep silent and hope it would pass.

“Just how did you persuade your younger brother to go along with this charade…threats or bribery?”  Ben moved closer to his son and Adam wished his father wasn’t quite so big.

There was no way back now.  He knew Pa would ask Hoss and his younger brother would never lie for him. “’I offered to do his homework for him,” he said in a tone of resignation.  It was all going to come out so he might as well get it over with.  “I did part of it and promised to finish it when I got home if he said nothing.”

Ben nodded wisely.  “So you were prepared to bribe and cheat to get your own way.  Don’t you realize your brothers follow your lead and that you have a responsibility to them?”

Adam choked back a retort at that word again.  He didn’t want to be responsible.  He hadn’t asked to be born the oldest.  It wasn’t fair.

“Fine, well you can finish that homework and give it to me before church tomorrow and if you as much as hint to Hoss on its content you will both regret it.  That will occupy some of your evening and finishing your own work should complete it.  I want to see your work tomorrow to make sure it’s been done.’  Ben pronounced. “Is that clear”’

“Yes sir,” Adam replied reluctantly.

“Now we come to the details.  I assume you left here immediately you had finished your chore”’

Adam shrugged then wished he hadn’t when his father glared at him.  “I’m not sure how long I was away.   I got back maybe half an hour before you did,” he said quietly.

“Mmm….” Ben began to pace.  “Then you decided that you found yourself in some difficulty, since you really didn’t know how long Joe had been missing or what he and Hoss had been doing all afternoon, so you chose to lie your way out of it.  You told me that you had slipped into the house for a moment.” He halted in front of his son and fixed him with the look all the boys knew so well.  “You had the opportunity to tell me the truth and you deliberately chose not to, isn’t that so?”

Adam hung his head waiting for the more he knew would come.

“You thought that you would get away with it and if it hadn’t been for that chance remark of Joe’s you would have done.  I’m ashamed of you… thoroughly ashamed.  I had thought that you were mature enough to face up to the consequences of your actions.  If you insist on acting like a child then you will be punished as a child,” Ben had finished.

Adam pushed back from the window remembering the sinking feeling in his stomach at that last remark.   He stared at his bookshelf, wishing he could relax and read but he knew he had better get to finishing Hoss’s assignment and then his own.  He didn’t want his father anymore angry than he was already.  He reluctantly pulled out his notebook and dropped it on the desk, sinking very carefully into the chair and wincing as he did so.   It was a long time since Pa had felt it necessary to give him such a severe whipping and he had forgotten how difficult it would be to sit in comfort.    After a few minutes of shifting in his chair, he picked up the copybook and took it to the bed, throwing himself face down and leaning on his pillow to write.

He had worked for maybe half an hour when there was a knock on his door.  The door opened, ”Adam….”  Hoss spoke cautiously as if unsure of his reception.  “Pa says you gotta come down and have some supper.”

Adam had turned his head to look at his younger brother. “Tell him I’m not hungry,” he replied turning back to the copybook.

Hoss shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.  “I’d just as soon not.  He’s awful mad and so’s Mama.”

Adam sighed deeply.  “Okay, I’ll be right down.”  He rolled to the edge of the bed and stood up, trying not to show his brother how much he was hurting.

“You okay?”  Hoss asked as they made their way down the hall.

“Oh yeah, sure,” Adam replied so sarcastically that Hoss retreated with a hurt expression and said no more.

Marie was sitting in the chair by the fire with Joe now bathed and ready for bed curled up on her knee.  A storybook was open on her lap and Joe was smiling at whatever she had been reading.  Adam looked away it was so unfair, Joe had been wrong too.  He knew he wasn’t supposed to wander off, particularly to the pond, yet here he was being cuddled and made a fuss of instead of punished.

Adam glanced quickly at his father who was leaning against the hearth trying to get his pipe to light.  Pa sure didn’t look any less angry.  He dropped his eyes again.

“There is some supper for you in the kitchen,”  Marie spoke sharply.  “Clear your plate and wash it up when you’ve finished.”

Adam nodded. “Yes Ma’am,” he responded politely and with one more glance at his father’s back he made his way out to the comparative safety of the kitchen. He spooned some stew from the pot on the stove on to a plate and stood leaning against the dresser to eat it.  It was good stew but he had no appetite and ate only a small portion before washing his plate and putting it away.  He turned to go back to the big room but hesitated in the doorway.  He could slip up the backstairs and avoid the rest of the family altogether but he had a nasty feeling that it would only provoke his father to more angry words.

Joe was saying goodnight to everyone and seeing Adam in the doorway he hesitated.  He knew his oldest brother was mad at him and that everyone else was angry with Adam and he wasn’t sure of his reception.  Adam bent down to Joe’s level and winked, after all it wasn’t really his little brother’s fault.  Joe ran into his brother’s arms and gave him a hug.

“Night pest,”  Adam said with a small smile.

Joe hugged him tight.  “Read me a story, Adam?” he asked.

Adam glanced across at his father waiting for him to respond.  He didn’t have long to wait.

“Adam has homework to do,” Ben said sharply, moving over and taking Joe from his brother.  “And you don’t deserve a story tonight. Straight to bed and to sleep,” he added sternly.

Joe’s bottom lip began to quiver but he held back the tears knowing they would do no good with Papa when he was in this mood.  Ben waited for Adam to precede them up the stairs.

“Night Hoss”  Adam said quickly as he crossed the room.  He paused at Marie’s chair it had become a habit for her to touch his hand or shoulder when he said goodnight.  Their relationship hadn’t progressed far enough for the hug Hoss always gave her before bed but the simple gesture of touching meant something to both of them.  Tonight however, she made no move toward him and her expression was one of disappointment.  “Goodnight  Marie,” he said softly.

“Goodnight Adam,”  she said with less than her usual warmth.

He turned away and started up the stairs biting his lip to avoid showing how much that had hurt.  Once alone in his room again he felt better.  At least it was all over.  Joe was safe and the worst part of his punishment was done.  Being confined to the ranch was nothing new and he’d get through it somehow.  He’d see Caroline in church tomorrow and at school.  He wasn’t much worse off than before, except that sitting down was more painful than it had been on that swing seat this afternoon.

He undressed and got into bed, taking his notebooks with him so that he could finish off the homework to show Pa in the morning.  It wouldn’t do to anger him again.  As he wrote he found himself thinking of Caroline more than school work and it took him twice as long as usual to complete the assignment.

The next morning Pa was as good as his word.  He read the work Adam had done for Hoss and then destroyed it much to Hoss’s disappointment.  Then he checked out Adam’s work.  Any opportunity to talk to Caroline at church was firmly squashed, his father didn’t allow him to move more than a foot from him and Adam ducked his head in embarrassment when his sins were related to Mr and Mrs Watson.   He was particularly upset that Caroline should hear, only small boys were punished with a tanning.   Caroline stood slightly behind her parents and when he finally looked up she winked at him which made him feel a little better.

“School tomorrow,”  she mouthed silently.

 

The month of his confinement passed slowly.  At first it wasn’t too bad.  He saw Caroline in school and was delighted to find that she actually considered him a bit of a hero to risk being punished just to see her.  As the weeks passed it became harder to bear, he wanted to be with her so much and sitting next to her in school merely increased his desire for her.   Some days he coped well on others when they sat beside each other he could hardly contain himself.  He wanted to reach out and touch her and if their hands brushed against each other the effect made shock waves pass through him.  Sometimes he resigned himself to counting the days and hours until they could spend an evening together at other times he railed against his punishment and threatened to ignore his restriction.  Caroline tried to calm him but her words and glances only made things worse.

 

Marie rocked gently in the chair on the porch, her sewing discarded in her lap.   In the yard Hoss and Joe were playing a game of tag and she shook her head that the energy being expended in this heat.  Adam was seated on the porch step with a book in his hands but she was aware that it was sometime since he had been reading.  In the last month he had alternated between a quiet resignation to his fate and open hostility towards his father.  His mood seemed to have no real logic and Marie had given up trying to guess which one would predominate on any given day.

“Your last Saturday of restriction,” she said with a smile.  “Your father did say you could go visiting next week, didn’t he?”

Adam glanced up at her, his face a study of deep thought.  “Yeah, he said it was okay.”

Marie tried to gauge his mood today, it was always difficult with Adam; he kept so much hidden inside.  In the four years since she had married his father, she could count on the fingers of one hand the times when she had seen him truly relaxed and open.  “You don’t sound very happy about it.  I thought you would be pleased you could see Caroline again.  It’s been a long month”’

He got up and placed his book carefully on the table as if debating whether to confide in her. “Oh, I am pleased.  Not just to see Caroline,” he added hastily.  “I want to spend some time with Ross too; it gets pretty boring around here every weekend.”   He came and sat at her feet staring out into the yard and deliberately avoiding looking at her.

Now she knew he wanted to talk but was finding it hard.  She cast around in her mind for a topic that might lead in the right direction.  It must be something to do with Caroline, but what?

“You and Caroline have been seeing each other in school, haven’t you?  I mean you haven’t fallen out over this” she tried the most obvious line.

“No, no, nothing like that.”  He clasped his hands around his knees.  “How old were you when you got married? …. to Jean, I mean,” he said hurriedly.

Marie’s mouth dropped open in shock.  That was a line she hadn’t anticipated. Now where was it going?  Surely he couldn’t be suggesting that he and Caroline wanted to get married at fifteen.  “I was almost eighteen,” she said quietly.

“Mm…two years older than Caro’,” he mused.

Marie couldn’t remain indifferent to the undertones here; Ben would never forgive her if she didn’t find out what was going on.

“Adam, you’re not suggesting that you and Caroline wanted to get married?” she asked as calmly as she could.

Adam shook his head and gave a rueful grin.  “That sure would give Pa a fit.  No it’s not that. I just wondered. I mean growing up is pretty confusing and well…” he took a deep breath and decided to talk.  “How do you know when you love someone?”

Marie smiled. “When it happens you’ll know.  You want to be with that person all the time. Their happiness is more important than your own. You feel different. You aren’t complete unless they are with you.  Loving someone is placing your happiness in their hands.”

Adam turned around and looked at her.  “I think I feel that way about Caroline,” he said so softly that she had to strain to hear him.

Marie had to look away.  It would never do to treat this with anything but the most serious expression.  He was confiding in her for the first time in their relationship and even though she couldn’t really believe he meant he was in love, she had to take him seriously.

“You’d give up anything for her? If she wanted to set up home right now, you’d give up your dream of college?” she asked. Picking on the one thing she knew meant more to him than anything else.

He hesitated. “Would she want me to do that?”  he asked with a note of horror and disbelief.

Marie smiled. “If she did, how would you feel about it?”

Adam cleared his throat, “I want to go to college, a good education is important, isn’t it?”

His stepmother nodded.  “Maybe you don’t love her quite as much as you think, after all,”  she suggested.

He appeared to think about this and for a moment there was silence. “But if I don’t love her then…why…why do I feel so …so sorta strange when I’m with her?” he finally got out.

“Adam she’s your first real girlfriend, how do you know you wouldn’t feel like this with any girl?  It’s all part of growing up.  My guess is that in time there will be lots of girls who make you feel the way you do now, but when you meet the right girl it will be even more special.  Of course I may be wrong and Caroline may be the girl but don’t rush things.  You are both so very young and have a lot of things to do before you settle down.” She cocked an eyebrow at him, “Didn’t your father talk to you about your feelings?”

He looked away his face flushed with embarrassment.  “Yeah, he talked. He said we ought to spend less time together and more time with other friends.”

Marie nodded.  “That’s good advice.”

Adam swung around to face her.  “But I don’t want to spend time with anyone else.  I just want to be with her.  Just the two of us,” he blurted out.

“And its being alone with just the two of you that is causing the problem… huh?” she said softly.

He looked up at her and knew she understood what he was trying to say.  “Yes,” he said emphatically.  “I want to be alone with her and yet I know I shouldn’t be…,” his voice trailed off.

“Mrs Watson was there when you made your illegal visit, wasn’t she?”  Marie asked with a worried frown.

Adam nodded but there was some hesitation and Marie gave him a stern look.

“Well…she was in the backyard most of the time and we were on the porch on our own,”  he admitted.

Marie grunted. “Hmm…I think your father is right, you should try to include your other friends.  Why don’t you get Ross and Amy to join you sometimes?”

Adam grinned. “’Cos Ross and Amy fell out and they don’t talk to each other anymore.  They didn’t feel the same way about each other as Caro’ and I do”

“Mama can we have some lemonade and cookies?”  Hoss shouted as he dodged Little Joe and collapsed beside Adam on the porch.

Marie was irritated by the interruption.  It wasn’t often that she and Adam were this close and she didn’t want to spoil it.

“Pwease, Mama?”  Joe echoed as he bounced on to Adam knocking his book to the floor.

Adam shook his head in amusement at the grubby state of his baby brother.  “C’mon, pest.  I’ll get it for you, if you come and help,” he said ruffling Joe’s damp curls.

Marie sighed.  He had come so close to relaxing with her and confiding in her.  She hadn’t realized how serious he was about his feelings for Caroline.  She would have to have words with Anne Watson to make sure they were chaperoned more closely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 9

 

Ben heard the thunder of hoofs in the yard and sighed.  He bent down to Joe who was playing on the floor by the desk.  “That sounds like your Mama, young man.  Let’s go out and remind her that its not necessary to ride as though the whole Piaute nation were after her.”

Joe looked up at him with a wide grin.  “Mama rides fast.  Me and Shadow can ride fast too.”

Ben pursed his lips and frowned.  “You’re not to ride anywhere unless I’m with you,”  he reminded Joe.

He took the little boy’s hand and headed out into the summer sunshine, glad to be away from his desk.  It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the shadow of the barn.

“Mama, I bin helpin’ Papa do…counting,”  Joe informed her as she bent down to give him a hug.

“Have you sweetie, well I know Papa will appreciate that.  He’s not very good at counting,” she winked at her son.

Ben laughed and lifted Joe up on to the dividing stall where he could watch as Marie began to unsaddle Sable.

“Do you think you could ride like a lady just once in a while,” he admonished her.  “You are giving your son ideas.”

Marie ignored the implied reprimand and handed him the saddle.  “Sable needed a good run, she’s not had much exercise lately.  I’ve been so busy.”  She took up a cloth and began to rub the mare down.  “I’m glad we live out here I couldn’t bear to live in town like Anne does.  I love the mountains and the open spaces of the valley.”

“So how was Anne?  Was your mission successful?” he rested his chin on the partition and smiled at her, knowing she was deliberately avoiding his criticism of her riding habits.

“Mmm… sort of,”  Marie frowned.  “Its difficult to persuade the Watsons to let the two of them meet, and hint that maybe they should make sure Caroline is chaperoned when they do.”

Ben took the cloth from her and began to groom Sable himself.  “You sure you aren’t making too much of what he said to you.  He is only fifteen.”

Marie looked at her husband and chuckled, “He’s also your son.  How old were you?”

Ben joined in her laughter, “Okay, point taken, we won’t go into my murky past if you don’t mind.” He straightened up and patted the mare.  “He does seem to be pretty serious about her.  I suppose we ought to take it seriously too.”

Marie lifted Joe from the partition and nuzzled her nose into his neck making him giggle.  “It’s like walking a tightrope,” she observed.  “Still, if we practice maybe we can get it right before this one starts courting.”

Ben followed her into the house shaking his head.  Being a parent didn’t get any easier the older they got he had discovered, in fact he was beginning to think that the halcyon days were at the age Joe was now, at least his mischief was easy to deal with and he could be controlled.  He remembered his own youth and realised that by the time he was fifteen he had been fatherless and serving aboard a clipper as a third mate.  There had been discipline on board but very little restriction once he was ashore.  He coughed slightly as he realised Marie was right, fifteen was old enough for all kinds of things.

Marie settled herself down in the blue velvet chair and Joe climbed up beside her, anxious to tell her everything he had done with his father this afternoon.

“I rode Shadow all the way to the pasture to see Jake an’ I helped Papa bring some horses back.  Didn’t I Papa?” he said proudly.

Ben smiled and winked at Marie. “You sure did, you’re getting to be a regular hand.”

“Better’n Hoss an’ Adam,”  Joe boasted.

“What you better at shorty?”  Hoss asked as he came through the door and heard the last remark.  He dropped his hat and school books on the table and came to perch on the edge of the hearth.

“I bin helpin’ with the horses,” Joe told him full of importance.

“Hey, that’s good, you can help me do my chores if you like?”

“Yeah, mine too.”  Adam joined in, as he also dropped a pile of books on the table.  “Marie is it okay if Ross stays to supper?”

Marie glanced up at Ross who had followed Adam in.  “Does your mother know?” she asked.

Ross nodded.  “We called by on the way home and she said it was fine as long as you didn’t mind.  Adam wants to show off with Sport,” he grinned.

Adam gave his friend a playful punch on the arm.  “He’s real good.  I don’t need to show off.”

“I suppose you two plan to go to the summer picnic tomorrow,”  Marie smiled.  “Do I assume that you will be riding Sport for the first time off the ranch?”

Ross chuckled.  “Yeah, he’s out to impress the girls”’

Ben leaned on the back of Marie’s chair and joined in the light hearted banter.  It was good to see Adam with a smile on his face for a change.

“I hope Mr Watson is agreeable to you escorting Caroline.”

Adam smiled at his father.  “I promise I asked him before I asked Caro’.”

“What about you Ross, who are you taking to the picnic, now that Amy is no longer around?” Ben asked.

Ross tipped his head on one side, “Well I asked Louise Dennis but I wish I hadn’t.”

Marie looked up at him and frowned, “You aren’t going to let her down, are you?”

Ross shook his head, “Nah, but there’s this absolutely fantastic new girl in town and I wish I’d seen her first.”

Adam turned for the door, “You got no chance, she goes everywhere with a … what do you call it… duenna… that’s it.”

Ross sighed.  “Well her Pa is some big important Spanish nobleman or at least that’s what everyone says.”

Adam held the door for his friend, “C’mon you said you’d help with chores, forget the girl she isn’t gonna look twice at you.”

Ross nodded and followed his friend, “You gotta admit she’s somethin’ though.”

“Yeah, she is,”  Adam agreed with a faraway look on his face.

Ben watched them go, shaking his head.  “I guess I’ll have to get used to them discussing girls instead of fishing.”

Marie laughed.  “All part of letting them grow up, darling.”

Adam and Ross teased each other all through supper, the conversation dominated by discussions of who had the best horse and which girl was the prettiest.  Hoss ate steadily and turned his nose up at their chat.  He was looking forward to the picnic too but he wanted to play horseshoes and eat fried chicken not talk to dumb girls.  As they moved away from the supper table Adam had a dreadful thought, what if he was expected to take care of his brothers.  He decided to take the bull by the horns and asked.

“’

Ben grimaced at the poor grammar.  “No, I think Hoss can take care of himself for one afternoon and Joe will be with us.” His answer was rewarded with a holler from Adam that surprised him.

“Hey, that’s great.  And I can go to the dance can’t I?”

Ben laughed and nodded, “Provided your home by eleven, yes.”

Adam’s face fell a little, he had hoped for midnight, but he recovered manfully and determined not to spoil things he answered politely, “Yes, sir.”

Marie smiled approvingly, he was learning.

 

The picnic was a great success and it was late afternoon when Ben eventually pulled Marie to a quiet spot under a tree to rest.  Within minutes of sitting down, Joe had succumbed to tiredness and fallen asleep and his parents could enjoy some peace and quiet.

“I told Hoss to be back here by six, so we have an hour on our own.”  Ben leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes.

Marie cuddled Joe close and put her arm around her husband.  “It’s been a lovely day.  Hoss has won a game of horseshoes and eaten every pie in sight and Joe has stuffed himself with candy and exhausted himself and me.” She glanced across the grass to where the older children were talking.  “Anne and I have taken turns to keep an eye on Adam and Caroline and as far as I know they haven’t slipped off alone at all.  Mind you he has got Charles’s permission to walk her home alone tonight after the dance.”

Ben opened one eye and grinned at her.  “Are you saying you don’t trust our son?”

Marie laughed.  “No, but temptation can be a terrible thing to resist,”’ she leaned over and kissed him.  “See what I mean?”

“Yes I do.  How can you be so shameless Mrs Cartwright?” he replied setting Joe gently aside and gathering her into his arms to kiss her again.

“Pa… Pa… can I go and stay with my friend Andy tonight?  Mrs Jennings says its okay.”  Hoss burst in on them.

Ben sighed, “So much for temptation.” He moved away from Marie and looked up at his son.  “All right, but I’ll fetch you in the morning, and you behave yourself.”

Hoss nodded rapidly and called a “Yes, sir,” over his shoulder as he ran off.

Marie touched his arm. “You’ll just have to resist temptation until we get home.  Joe will need his bed and with Hoss away and Adam out until eleven we’ll have the house to ourselves,” she said softly.  She glanced across the grass to where Adam was standing with his arm around Caroline then her face creased in a frown.  He was staring off into the distance at something or someone she couldn’t see.  She shrugged at least he seemed happier now and he and Ben were getting on much better.

Adam had been aware of his stepmother and Mrs Watson watching him, at first it had irritated him and then it began to amuse him and he made a conscious attempt to be in full view at all times and did no more than give Caroline his arm when they walked around the stalls.  The spies must have had a very boring afternoon, he chuckled to himself.  As the afternoon drew to a close, the group of youngsters were discussing the dance this evening.  Adam planned to escort Caroline home so that she could change and he and Ross had half decided to risk a beer if their parents went home.  Then he would collect Caro’ again at seven.  He was only half listening to the jokes and conversation as he searched the crowds for his father.  If he was going to risk a beer from Dutch Pete’s,  he wanted to be certain his father had gone.

Suddenly his eyes were caught by a pair of dark ones and it was as if a thunderbolt had hit him.  Ross was right she was beautiful. He hadn’t noticed before, he had been too wrapped up in Caroline.   He smiled as she saw him looking and tossed her head in his direction before turning back to her older companion.

“Are you coming, Adam?”  Caroline asked taking his arm.  “Adam…,” she repeated when he seemed rooted to the spot.

“Oh sorry, I was looking….I was looking for Pa,” he stuttered.

Ross followed the direction Adam had been looking and grinned.  “Did you see him?”  he asked with a smirk.

Adam glared at his friend.  “I’ll meet you outside Pete’s in fifteen minutes,”  he muttered.

Two beers later both Adam and Ross were feeling happy and ready to take on the world.  “I sure hope my Pa doesn’t get to hear about this,”’  Ross confided in Adam.  “He wouldn’t like me being here especially with the Bonners,” he nodded toward Rick and Jeff.

Adam nodded. “Mine either”’ He watched and marveled as Jeff, barely thirteen, downed a third beer with no seeming ill effects.  “We’d better be going to collect the girls.  I’ll meet you outside the barn, okay?”

Ross stood up a little unsteadily. “All right, don’t forget we gotta be home by eleven.”

Adam cursed as Rick laughed.  “Yeah don’t be late home for Daddy willya.  Hey, Adam make sure you don’t do anything with Caroline that you shouldn’t either.  I seen the way you look at her”’

Adam headed for the door an angry flush on his cheeks.  He hated it when Rick teased him and made him feel like a kid.  He strode to the Watsons’s house in a thoroughly bad temper now, not helped by the slightly sick feeling from the beer.  The evening was a disaster from the moment he and Caroline met in the front hall.  First Mr Watson lectured him on how to behave making him feel ten instead of almost sixteen then Caroline pulled away from him when he tried to put his arm around her as they walked to the dance.  They danced together and once or twice he and Ross swapped partners but the closer he tried to hold Caroline the more she pushed him away.  By the time the evening ended they were both irritable and annoyed with each other.  Arriving at the Watsons’s front yard, Adam pulled her into his arms to kiss her goodnight as he usually did.  Because of his mood and the after effects of the beer he was a little rougher and more forceful than usual.  Previously his kisses had been light and gentle but tonight she aroused stronger feelings in him.  Her dress was delicate and feminine with a lacy neckline and her perfect figure showed all too clearly.  He wanted more than a brotherly kiss goodnight.  He held her tightly and pressed his lips to hers.

“Adam… don’t.”  Caroline tried to push him away but he resisted.

“C’mon Caro’, it’s just a kiss,” he replied a little irritated. “’You know you want me to kiss you, you’ve been teasing me all night.”

“’I don’t like you when you’re rough.  In fact I don’t like you very much at all tonight.  You went drinking with Ross and Rick didn’t you?  Your Pa will be mad at you.”

Adam stood back and looked at her with disgust. “That’s right and we must be good mustn’t we.  Whatever made me think you were grown up, you’re just a kid.”

He regretted the words as soon as they were said but he couldn’t take them back.  Caroline’s eyes filled with tears and she gave him a final push and rushed up the path towards her front door.   He came to his senses the minute the door slammed behind her but it did no good.  He could hardly knock on the door and explain to Mr Watson what he had done to make her cry.  He turned slowly and made his way back to where he had left Sport and rode home in abject misery.

 

Ben leaned over and tapped Adam on the shoulder.  “This fence isn’t going to mend itself,” he said gently. “You’ve been staring off into those mountains for ten minutes.  Is there anything you want to talk about?”

Adam shook his head.  “No, I’m fine.  I was just…”

“Day dreaming,” Ben finished for him.  “Let’s get this job finished then maybe we’ll have time to swing by the Lake and get some fish for supper”’

Adam sighed.  He didn’t want to do that because he knew Pa was trying to find out what was wrong and he just couldn’t tell him.  It was two weeks since his argument with Caroline and she had stayed away from him despite his apologies.  Then yesterday on the last day of school he had seen her walking home with Steve and he had had an arm around her and she was smiling at him.

Over the next couple of hours Ben tried to draw him out, but the more he pushed the more Adam retreated into his shell.  That evening after the boys were in bed, Ben confided his worries in Marie.

“Something is wrong but I can’t reach him,” he said with a worried frown.

“He and Caroline had an argument and she is going out with Steve Rimmer,” Marie said softly.

Ben looked up in surprise.  “How did you know that, did he tell you?”

Marie laughed.  “No, of course not.  Anne told me a few days ago.”

“Well, I suppose he’ll get over that.” He raised an eyebrow at his wife, “Unless of course you are plotting to get them back together.”

Marie tried to look innocent and failed.  “He’s so miserable and Anne says Caroline isn’t really interested in Steve either.  Now if we invited…”

 

Ben raised both hands in horror,  “Leave me out of this.  I don’t even want to hear what the two of you are plotting.  If you want to play matchmaker that’s up to you but I would be willing to bet he won’t thank you for it.”

“We’ll see.  I can’t bear to see him so unhappy.”

Ben struck a match and put it to his pipe and puffed for a moment.  “I wouldn’t have said he was unhappy so much as pre-occupied, are you sure he isn’t planning something of his own”

Marie shook her head. “’He’s spends most of his time in his room studying or in the bunkhouse with Jose.  No, he’s avoiding everyone the way he does when he’s miserable.”

Ben retired behind his newspaper.  There was no reasoning with Marie once she set her mind on something as serious as a project to make one of their sons happy.

Over the next ten days Marie planned.  She and Hop Sing discussed food and she made out a guest list.  She was going to give a summer party to end all parties and if by the end of it Caroline and Adam weren’t back together it wouldn’t be for lack of trying on her part.

Finally she was prepared and at supper one evening she broached the subject with the rest of the family.  Adam was still wrapped up in his own thoughts and at first he didn’t take part in the discussion.

“I thought we could hold the party next Saturday and invite all our friends and neighbors.  Anne Watson said she’d help me and Hop Sing with the food,” Marie explained.

Ben chuckled.  It was hardly a subtle approach but if it was what she wanted he’d go along with it.

“Can we have fried chicken?”  Hoss asked.

Marie nodded.  “If you like, but it’s mainly a grown up party with music and dancing.” She glanced across at Adam. “What do you think of the idea, Adam?  You’ll be able to invite your friends of course.”

Adam looked up from his supper, “Anyone I want”’  he asked, pushing his plate away and drinking his glass of milk..

“Yes of course” Marie said pleased that he seemed happy with the plan.  “Although, I’m sure Caroline will come anyway.”

Adam gave her a puzzled glance.  “Caroline? Oh yes, I suppose she will,” he shrugged.

Marie threw Ben a triumphant look.

“Pa is it okay if I go into town tomorrow then and speak to Senor Castillero?”

Ben looked across at his wife and a small smile turned up the corners of his mouth. “Yes of course, but why?”

Adam’s expression suggested that his father was being particularly dense.  “To ask his permission for Maria to come to the party of course,” he said pushing back his chair  “May I be excused please I have some studying to do?”

Ben nodded and after Adam had gone he could hold back his laughter no longer.

“I don’t see what’s so funny,” Marie said petulantly.  “Who is this Maria and what’s going on?”

Ben tried to control his mirth. “Don’t you see my darling, while you were so busy worrying about his unhappiness he was doing something about it.  He has been taking Spanish lessons from Jose, and paying court in traditional manner to Maria Castillero.  And apparently Caroline is seeing Steve Rimmer now.”

Marie threw her napkin on the table in temper. “And you knew and you let me go on with this party,” she stormed.

“I only found out a couple of days ago and anyway the party is a lovely idea.  It will give Senor Castillero and his wife a chance to meet their neighbors,” he chuckled/  “Not to mention a chance for Caroline and Adam to show their mothers that they really don’t need matchmakers.”  He got up from his chair and put his arms around her, “Like you told me it’s all part of letting him grow up.”

He shook his head in amusement at her cross face and then she started to laugh too.  “How will we ever survive?”

 

THE END