Chapter Fourteen
Adam had business in town…business that he hoped would make Shiloh’s life a bit less unsettled. He stopped the buggy just past the stage office where he knew Shiloh wouldn’t notice it when she welcomed Monsieur Rousset to Virginia City at noon. Based on his last meeting with Tommy Baker, he assumed Tommy would be in one of Virginia City’s forty-two saloons, most likely in one of those on C Street. He started at the Sazerac, then the Silver Dollar, Silver Sadie’s and the Silver Queen, and ended his search at the Bucket of Blood. Tommy was sitting by himself at a table in the middle of the saloon.
“Tom.”
Tommy didn’t look up. He had seen Adam come in. “What d’you want, Cartwright?”
“I want to talk.”
“Go talk to someone else.”
“Tom, I’m not in a good mood.” Adam bent down so that only Tommy could hear him. “You can either walk out of here with me like a man, or I can arrange to have you taken out in pieces.”
Tommy looked up at Adam’s face…his eyes showed quiet rage, his nostrils were flared and his mouth was drawn into a tight line. He stood, dropping a coin on the table, and walked out in front of Adam, stopping just outside the saloon.
Adam turned around and crossed his arms. “Let’s talk about a barn.”
“And what barn would that be?” asked Tommy, tilting his head to one side, looking bored.
“Are we going to do this the hard way?” Tapping his foot nervously, Tommy turned to bolt, but Adam was prepared, reaching out and grabbing Tommy’s shirt, throwing him against the wall of the saloon. Adam stepped into him, raising Tommy to his toes. “Tom, you have about two seconds to tell me who put you up to burning down Shiloh Whitney’s barn.”
“Yeah, what are you gonna do in broad daylight, Cartwright?”
“Look around you, Tom. Not many people around who would care, but I’ll give you a hint.” Adam let him drop to the boardwalk, then punched him in the mouth, making Tommy cower.
“Ow, you can’t do that!”
Adam cut his eyes upward. He had barely touched him. “Until you tell me who, you’ll get one for every minute that passes.” Adam waited the appropriate amount of time, then drew back his arm.
“Alright! Stop!” yelled Tommy, holding his hands up in front of his face. “Sam King. Sam King said he’d pay me to do it.”
“And where can I find Sam King?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since the day I set the fire. And he still owes me.”
“Let’s go.”
“Wait, where we goin’?”
“To talk to the sheriff.”
“What about my money?”
“You can take it up with Sam when he’s occupying the cell next to you.” Adam delivered Tommy to Sheriff Coffee. When Tommy clammed up in front of Roy, Adam took one step toward him, and Tommy couldn’t get it out fast enough.
His work done there, Adam watched the stage office from a distance, waiting for the stage to arrive. He watched as Monsieur Rousset disembarked, greeting Shiloh with a kiss on each cheek, then shaking hands with Tom Maguire. While Monsieur Rousset and Shiloh headed toward the International House, Maguire walked hurriedly back toward his opera house. Before he could leave, Adam stepped through the door.
“Adam, I had to come back for the program draft Shiloh prepared this morning. What brings you back here? I thought you were headed back to the Ponderosa.”
“I had some business to take care of. I’m on my way out now, but I wanted to catch you alone for a minute, if you have one.”
“Yes, but only one. I’m having lunch with Monsieur Rousset and Shiloh.”
“This shouldn’t take very long. Do I understand that Shiloh asked you to find a piano?”
“Yes, she did. She said hers was destroyed, and she wanted to replace it. But you heard her. She told me it would have to wait.”
“Where was it coming from?”
“We ordered new pianos for the opera hall in San Francisco, and they shipped two more hoping to sell them to one of the other houses. There’s one left that hasn’t been spoken for. It originally came from New York…a fellow by the name of Steinweg…from Germany…is making pianos in America now.”
Oh, I love this story! I cried my eyes out for Max. I love Annie and Hoss. The wedding was beautiful. Cat Fight!!! Perfect. My second read and I think I like it better this time. You also hit on a struggle that has been going on forever. Women’s rights. Things have changed in 150 years but things still aren’t equal.
You know, Max’s death was by far, the hardest part of these stories to write – perhaps because I’ve had to say goodbye to some of my own horses, and could not imagine having to live through what Shiloh did with Max. I glad you like this one. And you will see more about women’s rights in the future. After all, those women in Boston think they have some kind of hold on Isabella. Thanks again, Neano!
What can I say? You went through all the highlights. I’m just so glad you liked all those things that got written. I had never intended for this story to be so long, but as I write, things just keep coming up. I have to wonder if they’ll ever grow have kids…grow old…finally just be comfortable with the people they are.
Thank you so much, Marie.
I bet it’s that fired Hand, Sam King. That sneaky b@st@rd. He shot those animals! I hope he gets caught. He’s just a cruel person.
I’m so glad to know Shiloh is going to sing in Virginia City. Her ideas were perfect! Tom will want to generate buzz and excitement prior to the opening of the new season and having a pre-season kick-off will do just that! I love it!
OMG! First the cattle, now the horses! I know it’s that heartless animal, Sam King! Max! How could he do this to those poor defenseless animals! Adam and Hank did what was right by Max, he would have suffered greatly otherwise. My heart stopped when I realized the orange glow was the barn where the horses were. I hope they catch that b@st@rd! Nothing will do Shiloh more than to see his sorry butt hang for the misery he has caused her. 🙁
Adam is such a great guy. I wished Shiloh knew Adam is only wanting to help because he loves and cares about her, not because he doesn’t feel she can take care of the ranch herself, quite the contrary. She’s as bull headed as Adam. No wonder they are attracted to each other. LOL
I wonder what is on Shiloh’s mind? Could it be she’s falling in love with Adam? Hmmmmmm 🙂
Keeping herself busy with the music preparations will help keep her mind off everything that’s happened. I just hope she’s safe in town.
Thank goodness Adam got Tommy to confess. Now, to catch the other animal, Sam King. Oh, when Adam and he come face to face….and the plot thickens. 😀
Sam got what he deserved, but at the expense of Shiloh having to find out personally what it took to take a man’s life. 🙁
I cried when she lost the mare and her colt. :'( I just cried. How much more loss did Shiloh have to endure? Very well written. I cried.
The catfight…OMG! So funny! I could see it all in my head. I laughed so hard and that woman deserved it! She deserved to be ran out on a rail the way she was.
The wedding was beautiful! I loved the note Adam placed on the try for Shiloh, again, I cried like a baby. So beautiful.
I was so excited for Annie finally getting into medical school! How sweet she and Hoss became a couple. I would love to see her come back and she marry Hoss. How wonderful it would be to see Shiloh’s best friend become her sister-in-law.
How funny was Joe’s kiss to Shiloh. I loved Adam’s response. So Adam, so Joe. Loved it!
The ending was just perfect. It didn’t matter how they got from there to here, they were here. What a great way to end the story. I’m so excited to see what the next story involves.
Loved this story! Loving the series!
Gosh, you’re bringing back memories. Seems I started writing this story so long ago. I have a very rough outline, but most of things that happen, only happen at the moment they get written. Sometimes I surprise myself with what I read back. The barn fire and the horses were one of those things, and I could draw on my own love of my own horses, and how I would feel if faced with a barn fire while my horses were inside. They generally have the run of the place in good weather, but in winter, they are in the barn at night. As far as Shiloh goes, Will Stewart was a mistake. She had thought she would never get married, so thinking about Adam romantically has to be frightening for her, especially with his strong sense of taking care of those he loves. He’s a take charge kind of guy. She’s a take charge kind of girl. So either they’ll bash heads or they’ll find a way to work together or it will be long path to get to where they co-exist peacefully.
I added my final comments to the story above your reply. I really enjoyed the story immensely! I look forward to reading the other parts but I’ll save those as a treat for later when I’m done cleaning the house and doing laundry. I stayed up very late the past few nights trying to finish the first and second stories, but had to call it a night each time and finish the next day. I see my breaks and lunch is going to be busy reading because once I start a new story, I can’t put it down! LOL