Summary –  It’s a small world; Bonanza style

Rated – G   /  Word count – 2,446

**Written for the 2014 Bonanza Roundup Writer’s Seminar**

 

Til We Meet AGain

 

Adam Cartwright jolted awake as the stagecoach hit a particularly rough patch of road. It had been seven years since he’d been home, and he was anxious to see his family again, but he wouldn’t have minded a bit if the stagecoach driver slowed down. Particularly around sharp corners! Adam quickly grabbed at the window frame to keep from sliding as the driver Hawed the horses around a tight turn. Eventually the road smoothed out and Adam, having given up any ideas of catching a nap, opened his travel bag. Inside were two piles of letters tied together with twine. No one could ever accuse you, Pa, of not keeping in touch. Adam chuckled to himself and reached for the most current letter. Rereading it, he smiled. His father was aglow with stories of the newest Cartwright addition. And he always accused Hoss of being the one to bring home waifs. At least we know he came by it honestly.

The corners of Adam’s mouth turned down as he read through the letter again. Something about the boy’s story and description were tugging at the edges of his memory . . .

 

~~~Ten Years Earlier~~~

 

Twilight was looming as Adam Cartwright headed for the large boarding house in Tubac, AZ where he’d acquired a room earlier that evening. It had taken him a week of finagling to convince his father to let him come and observe the town’s fast growing silver mines, though in the end it was more the prospect of acquiring new cattle that had finally caused his pa to relent.

Instead of entering through the front, Adam went around back where he knew there was a large porch. Finding an empty rocker, he sat and marveled at the view before him. The sky was beautiful. Immense and open, it reminded him of his own home, but here the sky seemed to blend with the desert browns and yellows, covering the heavens above it with a soft blanket of gold. That night there were large pillowy clouds in the sky and he watched them shift and change shape until, slowly, they were replaced by thousands of twinkling stars. You can’t see sights like this staying at home, Pa. With a sigh, he rose and entered the boarding house. Tomorrow was the only day he had in this little town and he intended to make the most of it.

The next morning, Adam was, this time, on the front porch awaiting what he hoped would be a glorious sunrise, he wasn’t disappointed. The man at the livery stable hadn’t been kidding when he’d said the sky was the town’s main entertainment. An hour later, he had his room tidy and bag packed ready to head out that evening then, deciding against the noisy dining room below, crossed the street toward the little tavern he’d seen the day before. As he neared the board walk he smiled at the sight of a small red-haired boy sitting on an upturned barrel. He guessed the child to be no more than three or four years old.

“Well, good morning,” Adam said tipping his hat to the boy. “You’re up mighty early. Where are your folks?”

The little boy, hands folded in his lap, looked up and began to swing his legs. “Mama’s inside. She’s workin’.”

Adam felt a twinge of sympathy as memories of his own childhood flooded back to him. How many times did I sit just like this waiting for you, Pa?

“Mama says,” the little boy continued, “that if I’m real good she might get a pancake for me.”

From the large smile on the boy’s face, Adam guessed that pancakes were a favorite. “Well, I’ll be sure to put in a good word for you,” he said and, after giving the boy a wink, went inside. The tavern was small but relatively clean, and to Adam’s satisfaction nearly empty of occupants. Finding a table near the window, he was watching the town wake up when a large crash coming from what he assumed to be the bar’s kitchen caught his attention. He quickly stood up and looked toward the back room. A woman, who, if her red hair was any indication, was the little boy’s mother, had dropped a stack of dishes and was now picking up the broken pieces. A large bear of a man stood over her screaming obscenities.

“That will be coming straight out of your pay, you worthless-”

“Excuse me,” Adam interrupted the man’s tirade. “I’d like to get some breakfast if you don’t mind. Does this young lady take the orders?”

The man turned on Adam, mouth open and fist clenched, but Adam stood his ground and fixed the man with a dark gaze.

“Ah, get on with you then,” the man snapped at the young girl, “but I’m warnin’ you. One more time and you’ll be out on your ear!”

Adam walked back to his seat and waited for the woman to finish cleaning up. When she finally approached his table he could see that she’d been crying, and from the bandage on her finger it was evident that she’d cut herself. “Are you all right?” he asked.

The woman sniffed and managed a weak smile. “What can I get for you this morning?”

Adam watched her face for a moment before lowering his eyes to the limited menu. “Well . . .” he said, trying to sound cheerful. Just then he caught a glimpse of the small boy through the window. He was chucking pebbles into a nearby water trough. Adam smiled. “I’d like the plate of ham and eggs, some biscuits, coffee black, and a stack of pancakes, please.”

The woman’s eyebrows rose for a moment, but then she nodded. “Coming right up.”

After the woman went back to the kitchen Adam ran a hand through his hair. Guess I better visit the barber first. He chuckled to himself and then mentally laid out his plans for the day. Little Joe’s twenty-first birthday was just a few months away, and he hoped to find a gift before leaving. He smiled at the red-haired woman when she arrived with his food, and was pleased when she smiled back. The meal was excellent, and after wrapping the pancakes in a napkin, he made sure to leave a generous tip.

“Well,” he said to the little boy upon exiting. “I see you’re still here, and behaving quite well.”

The youngster tilted up his freckled face and grinned. “Yup.”

Adam laughed and then presented the boy with his longed-for prize. The child’s mouth fell open at the sight of not one, but five warm, fluffy pancakes. The boy’s eyes shone as he glanced up, and Adam tipped his hat once again before crossing the street toward the barber’s.

After his haircut, Adam headed across to the saddlery. He was half-way down the street before he realized he was sporting two shadows. Turning, he grinned at the sight of the small boy following a short distance behind him. Bending down on one knee, he raised a hand and crooked his finger. “Name?” he asked when the boy got close.

“Jamie.”

“Age?”

“I’m almost four.”

“That’s just about right.” Adam pursed his lips and looked the boy up and down. “Yes, you’ll do. How’d you like to be my assistant?”

Adam’s question was rewarded with a beaming smile and a loud, “Sure, mister!”

“All right,” Adam said, “I need to buy a birthday gift for my little brother. What do you suggest?”

Jamie stepped out, gazing at each shop in turn. “How ‘bout a new jacket?”

Adam took in the boy’s bedraggled appearance, sure that the stains and tears on his own little jacket were the cause of such practical thinking.

“You know, that’s not a bad idea,” he answered. “His muscles have been growing so much lately that he’s gonna bust right through the one he’s got.” Adam held up his own arm and showed off some muscle causing the little boy’s eyes to grow round. Laughing, Adam scooped him up and they turned away from the saddlery toward a small shop that had garments hanging in the window.

“Here’s a good one,” Jamie said, after they’d been in the store a few minutes.

Adam looked at the green jacket and tapped his chin with his finger. “Well, I don’t know. Are you sure he wouldn’t rather have a new pink bonnet?”

The little boy giggled and shook his head. Adam took the jacket down from its display and examined it. I think this will look good on you, little brother. After making the purchase the pair headed outside and Adam dug a coin from his pocket.

“Now,” he said, handing it to Jamie, “I’ve got another brother that will never forgive me if I don’t bring him a little something too, so I’m going across to the general store.”

“Me too,” the little boy piped up, clutching his coin.

Adam took the boy’s hand and they went into the little store. Once inside, Jamie let go and ran straight to the many jars full of sweet treats. After Adam had collected the items he would need for his journey home, he turned his own attention to the candy and picked out an assortment for Hoss. “Have you decided what you want?” he asked Jamie.

“Yes, sir. I want some green jellybeans.”

“Just green?”

“Yup.”

“All right,” Adam chuckled, and turned to the storekeeper. “We’ll also take a bag of green jellybeans.”

“Mister, if you think I’m gonna spend all day sortin’ jellybeans, think again.”

Little Jamie’s hands flew to his hips at the man’s sour tone, but Adam placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “All right then,” he said turning them both toward the door, “I’m sure the mercantile down the street will-”

“Oh, all right, come on back. A bag of—green—jellybeans it is.”

Adam nodded his thanks to the man and gave Jamie a quick wink. As soon as they exited the store they were blasted by a frantic cry.

“Jamie! Where have you been?” the boy’s distraught mother called. “You know better than to go off on your own.”

“I didn’t, Ma. I was with this man. I’m his astinant.”

The frazzled woman looked to Adam in confusion.

“I, uh, think he means assistant,” Adam said, his tone apologetic. “He followed me from the tavern this morning, and I hired him to help me out with some chores.”

The woman’s face smoothed considerably as Adam explained, but she still turned to her son with a sharp reprimand. “All right, young man, but next time you ask before going off, understand?”

The small boy nodded sheepishly. “You head on to the wagon now,” his mother said, and Adam watched as Jamie turned to obey. He was surprised when the little boy stopped and then turned back to give him a quick hug, before taking off.

Adam turned to the woman with a grin. “I notice you said wagon. Are you folks traveling?”

The woman lost some of the smile she’d had seconds before. “I guess you could say that. We’ll be leaving . . . soon. As soon as . . .”

“Are you two on your own?” Adam asked gently.

“Oh no, Jamie’s father is, well,” the woman sighed. “He’s in jail right now. It’s not what you think,” she added quickly. “He hasn’t done anything wrong. Just the men in town got mad and-”

“It’s all right,” Adam interrupted. “You don’t have to explain anything to me.”

The woman stared intently at Adam for a moment. “You’re a different kind of man,” she said finally. “Thank you, for what you did for my son. It’s been a long time since . . . since anyone’s been kind to him.”

Adam shrugged, more to get rid of the tightness in his chest than to protest. “He’s a good boy.”

“Yes, yes he is. Well, I best be goin’ now. Take care of yourself, mister, uh . . .”

“Cartwright. My name’s Adam Cartwright.”

“Well, then, Mr. Cartwright, it was nice meeting you.”

Adam smiled and watched her leave. It wasn’t until she was around the corner that it dawned on him he hadn’t asked her name. He thought about running after her, but a sudden idea came over him, and he turned instead toward the jail he’d seen on the edge of town. Entering the building he found the sheriff tipped back in a chair behind a desk, snores loud enough to rival his brother Hoss. He stepped past the sheriff into a side room and examined the cells. There was only one prisoner, and the man’s slumped posture radiated defeat. Adam’s stomach knotted at the sight of multiple bruises across the man’s face and neck. Starting to pull together the bits and pieces of information he’d gathered from Jamie’s prattle, as well as the boy’s mother, Adam soon arrived at a conclusion. Rainmaker! Boy, you sure chose a tough line of work. They nearly tore you apart. As if the man could hear Adam’s thoughts he raised his head, and though one eye was swollen shut, the other managed to convey the depth of his despondency. Having made up his mind, Adam gave Jamie’s father a polite nod, and then returned to the Sheriff’s desk. He pulled out a bag of coins, making sure to jingle them loudly, and dropped it on the desk. The sheriff jumped and peered through questioning eyes.

“This should about cover any, uh, misunderstandings,” Adam said nodding his head toward the prisoner.

 

Later that evening, Adam halted his horse on a hillside and watched the small wagon make its way into the mountains, heading toward east. As it rounded the final corner out of his sight, he tipped his hat. “Til we meet again,” he said, then whistling he turned due west, toward the land of desert and mountains, toward home . . .

 

~~~

 

Jamie Cartwright picked up the picture on his pa’s desk for the tenth time that day. There was something familiar about his pa’s oldest son, though he couldn’t quite place it. Maybe it’s the eyes. He jumped slightly when the image of those eyes seemed to wink at him. He placed the silver framed picture down gently.

“Hey, Little Joe,” he yelled before dashing out of the house. “I changed my mind. Can I go to town with you and Hoss? I . . . I’d kind of like to meet Adam when he comes in on the stage. Besides’, I’ve got a hankerin’ for some green jellybeans.”

 

~The End

 

Tags:  Adam Cartwright, Jamie Hunter Cartwright