{"id":10350,"date":"2015-02-06T08:43:51","date_gmt":"2015-02-06T13:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10350"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:18:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:18:25","slug":"one-of-a-kind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=10350","title":{"rendered":"One of a Kind (by MissJudy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong> This \u201cwhat happens later\u201d story for\u00a0Thanks for Everything, Friend,<\/em>\u00a0picks up after Tom Wilson has been dead for several months and\u00a0a woman comes to Virginia City with one goal in mind: to kill Adam Cartwright for his role in Tom\u2019s death. She holds Adam at gunpoint as she presses her case against him, and he tries to help\u00a0her see the truth before she pulls the trigger.<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong> K \u00a0\u00a0Word Count:<\/strong> 9492<\/p>\n

Note: <\/strong>The title of this comes from Adam\u2019s last line in the episode when he says that Tom Wilson was, \u201cOne of a kind.\u201d I always wondered why he would feel that way about the con artist, who\u2019d used Cartwright connections to find his mark in Virginia City. While I can\u2019t know exactly what the writers had in mind, I\u2019ve tried to examine the episode and come up with some things that would have upset Adam about the loss.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One of a Kind<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

One<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nate opened the stagecoach door and took the hand of the woman trying to exit. He blushed deeply when he ended up grabbing her around her ample waistline to catch her after she nearly fell. \u201cSorry ma\u2019am,\u201d he mumbled as he got her righted on the ground, and moved quickly to unload the luggage. The young man gave the disembarking passenger a thorough looking over while unbuckling the straps on the boot, and blushed again as he realized that she wasn\u2019t overweight as he\u2019d originally thought. Her size and clumsiness stemmed from being far along in expecting a baby.<\/p>\n

It surprised him to see a woman traveling in that condition. Overland coaches were slung on straps to give a modicum of shock absorption, but the swaying movement could induce nausea, and proved a bone-grinding, wearying ride for those in the best of shape. The trip was pure misery for anyone with health problems or physical limitations. Nate\u2019s suspicions about the difficulty of the trip were confirmed when he noticed the dark circles around the woman\u2019s eyes contrasting with the pale white of her cheeks, and the way she stood with her hands pressed into the small of her back as she waited for her bag.<\/p>\n

His attention was drawn away from her while he got the other passengers on their way, and he was surprised when he found the expectant woman still standing on the dusty street alone, after the noise and activity of the stage arrival waned. He suspected that her relatives were simply delayed in picking her up, and yet she wasn\u2019t exhibiting any of the fidgeting he usually saw when someone was left waiting for their ride home. If he were to describe what he saw in her, he\u2019d say she looked lonely\u2026maybe even abandoned, and it made him feel protective toward her. He placed her satchel on the boardwalk, and then ushered her there as well, telling her that he\u2019d be able to give her a hand after he sent the stage to the livery for a fresh team.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow,\u201d he said as he returned, \u201cI\u2019ll get you a seat inside if you\u2019re waitin\u2019 on someone, or I can carry your things if you if you tell me where you\u2019re headed. I\u2019m assumin\u2019 you\u2019re not from these parts since I might recognize you if you was.\u201d<\/p>\n

She eyed him cautiously. \u201cNo one\u2019s coming for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen where to, ma\u2019am?\u201d\u00a0 He asked when she gave no further information.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure,\u201d she replied as she scanned the signs of the nearby building. \u201cIs there a good hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe International House is the best\u2026and probably the safest for a woman traveling alone. But there\u2019s a few boarding houses that are more reasonable and nice enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her head rose as she straightened her spine. \u201cTake me to the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nate\u2019s face puckered as he decided whether to push her for more information. \u201cWould you like to send a message to let someone know you\u2019re here, Ma\u2019am? The telegraph office is right next door, and it would save you a trip back later.\u201d<\/p>\n

A puzzled look spread across the delicate features of her face. \u201cWhy\u2019d I want to do that? I got no one in this world, \u2018ceptin myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh,\u201d he stuttered, \u201cI just expected you\u2019d come to be with someone\u2026ah\u2026now\u2026since you\u2019re about to\u2026\u201d His words ended as offered her his arm and they walked toward the hotel in silence. His original concern for her was waning in favor of uneasiness, and he decided he didn\u2019t want to know more. His head snapped toward her as she spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband died here a few months back. I came to take care of the man who killed him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fact that this statement had been delivered with no emotion or facial expression sent a cold chill up Nate\u2019s spine. \u201cWell, here we are,\u201d he said as he escorted her through the doors of the hotel. He placed her things by the stairs, tipped his hat and nodded toward the desk clerk, and said, \u201cFred\u2019ll take good care of you now, Ma\u2019am. Thanks for riding Overland,\u201d before he made a hasty exit.<\/p>\n

Two<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d Fred asked as he gave his newest patron a smiling once-over.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need a room,\u201d she replied as she stared ahead blankly. Her voice continued on in the same toneless drone as she added, \u201cI\u2019d like it on the first floor for a night or two until I take care of my business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred usually made small talk with new customers, suggesting where they might eat and shop, but there was something peculiar about this young woman. He estimated her as being no more than 17, and from the looks of her, ready to deliver a child very soon. But that wasn\u2019t what bothered him. It was her eyes. They were dark and dead, and stayed that way even when she\u2019d attempted a sour-looking smile. He reached to pull a key from the cubby hole behind the desk while she signed in, and said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mrs\u2026\u201d He paused to read her name from the ledger, \u201cMrs. Wilson, but there are no guest rooms on the street level. I can put you close to the stairway on the next floor.\u201d He handed her a key attached to a fob emblazoned with the number two. \u201cGo on up and I\u2019ll bring your things in a minute. The tub room is across the hall, and just call down to me from the top of the steps should you need anything brought up.\u201d<\/p>\n

She\u2019d made it halfway to the staircase when she returned. \u201cDo you know a man named, Adam Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, Mrs. Wilson.\u201d Fred smiled broadly. \u201cEveryone in these parts knows the Cartwrights. They own half the territory, and always stay here if they remain in the city overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you seen him today?\u201d she asked with a slightly more animated tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, ma\u2019am. The Cartwrights don\u2019t come to town often.\u201d He smiled again as he remembered a bit of information. \u201cBut they were here last week, and made a reservation in the restaurant\u2026for tomorrow, I think.\u201d After checking his reservation list, he said, \u201cYes, here it is; at noon.\u201d He watched as his patron smiled, and he shivered when he realized it reminded him more of a snake\u2019s grin than a human\u2019s. \u201cI\u2019ll be on duty then, so I can let Adam know you\u2019d like to see him when he arrives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her, \u201cNo!\u201d came out as a shout, but she covered it with another eerie smile. \u201cMr. Cartwright was a friend of my late husband, but he doesn\u2019t know me. I have a something for him, and I\u2019d like it to be a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSure, Mrs. Wilson,\u201d he replied. \u201cI won\u2019t say a thing. Stop by the desk and I\u2019ll point him out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Three<\/strong><\/p>\n

Little Joe was having trouble talking without giggling as he tried to finish his story. \u201cSo she says to Mitch, \u2018Not if you was the last man on earth!\u201d<\/p>\n

The other five men having lunch together broke into laughter, with Paul Martin asking, \u201cBut aren\u2019t Mitch and Sally getting married on Saturday?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey sure are,\u201d Hoss replied. \u201cI guess after all that blusterin\u2019 on her part, Mitch ended up being<\/em> the only man on earth for her.\u201d He took a long drink from his beer mug before adding, \u201cIt\u2019s kind a sweet when you think about it. They was always fightin\u2019 and carryin\u2019 on, and then they got to thinkin\u2019 that there might be a better way to get along.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe was giggling again. \u201cI\u2019ll give them six months. By then they\u2019ll either divorce or kill each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave him a stern look while the others laughed. \u201cLet\u2019s not wish them ill, son. Your own mother nearly ran me down with her horse the first time I saw her, and wanted nothing to do with me when I finally met her.\u201d He grinned at his son. \u201cAnd you know how well that worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group became silent as the restaurant staff approached the table with a large decorated cake that they placed in front of Roy Coffee while wishing him a happy birthday.<\/p>\n

Roy\u2019s cheeks turned pink as he thanked them, and then turned toward his companions \u201cI suspected you remembered what day it was when you arranged for this lunch. But at my age, you tend to stop celebrating the passing of time, and sort of celebrate just waking in the morning, still able to get up and think straight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what they say, Roy,\u201d Adam said with a wry grin. \u201cYou\u2019re only as old as you feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I must be nearin\u2019 a hundred.\u201d Roy laughed as he slid a knife into the cake. \u201cThank you. It makes me feel right proud to have such good friends as I got in all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Fred had arranged for a breakfast tray to be taken up to the mysterious pregnant woman when he\u2019d come on duty, but he hadn\u2019t seen her come down yet. He jumped when he looked up from writing a note and found her standing there. \u201cGood afternoon, Mrs. Wilson.\u201d He\u2019d noted her pale skin and sunken eyes at check-in, and felt a twinge of sadness that she looked no better after a night\u2019s rest.<\/p>\n

Her gaze shifted from the clerk to the full dining room. \u201cIs he in there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes he is. In fact the entire Cartwright family is here with Doc Martin and the Sheriff.\u201d He leaned across the desk and pointed. \u201cSee that large table by the window? Adam is the one in the black shirt with his back towards us. I didn\u2019t say anything to him about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice returned to the hollow tone from the day before. \u201cThat\u2019s good.\u201d She stood on her toes to get a better look as she braced herself against the counter. \u201cIs it someone\u2019s birthday?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSheriff Coffee\u2019s. The sheriff and the doc are two of closest friends the Cartwrights have in Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n

She pursed her lips as she considered that one of the guests was a lawman, but clicked her tongue as she mumbled, \u201cI guess it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fred said, \u201cI can take you over and introduce you,\u201d but she walked away without answering, and he went back to writing his note.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam Cartwright?\u201d she asked after stopping next to the man the clerk had pointed out.<\/p>\n

Adam turned, bringing his line of sight even with the woman\u2019s large belly. He blushed as he quickly adjusted his gaze upwards, and rose to greet her. \u201cYes, I am,\u201d he answered while trying to recall her face. \u201cHave we met before?\u201d<\/p>\n

She ignored his question while staring at him. \u201cI think you knew my husband.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eyebrows pulled together, and he gave a slight shrug when he turned toward his family. \u201cWould you like to join us?\u201d he suggested as he refocused on her. \u201cWe have cake and coffee\u2026or you can order lunch if you haven\u2019t eaten.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her face remained void of emotion. \u201cI\u2019d like to speak privately.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat can be arranged.\u201d His smile elicited no response. \u201cExcuse me one moment,\u201d Adam turned to the others at the table again, extending his hand to offer Roy a final wish for his birthday, and then escorted the stranger to an empty table away from the noise of the busy dining room. After ordering a pot of tea for his guest, he leaned back into his chair. \u201cYou said that I \u2018knew\u2019 your husband,\u201d he began with a kindly smile. \u201cDoes that mean he\u2019s no longer with us?\u201d<\/p>\n

She blinked several times and took a deep breath before pulling her large, heavy-looking handbag onto her lap. Reaching inside, she withdrew a section of newspaper; unfolded it; slid it across the table, and then jabbed at an article in the middle of the page, hissing, \u201cAre you the Adam Cartwright in that story?\u201d<\/p>\n

His eyes were narrowed when he looked up after scanning the print. \u201cI didn\u2019t realize the story had been picked up by the Sacramento paper.\u201d He pulled the paper closer and looked for the date of printing. \u00a0He tipped his head as he continued to observe her. \u201cHow is this old article about Tom Wilson connected to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTom Wilson was my husband.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sat up straight; his eyes rounding in surprise. \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman\u2019s calm, toneless voice became animated as she spat. \u201cI want to know why you killed my husband.\u201d<\/p>\n

He expelled a deep breath and chose his words. \u201cI knew Tom Wilson for a couple of weeks after her pulled me from the river. He never said he was married. In fact he gave me the impression that he\u2019d come to this area to get out<\/em> of marrying someone where he\u2019d been. And I didn\u2019t kill him. Even the article points out that he was killed by a member of the posse that came to arrest him for murder. So\u2026you\u2019ll need to explain why you think I\u2019m<\/em> responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her chin rose and the empty look returned. \u201cYou ruined everything. He was coming back for me when you led that posse after him. You\u2019re the one who killed him whether you fired the shot or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

He released another long sigh while shoving his chair away from the table. \u201cI\u2019m sorry you feel that way, but since you\u2019re making accusations that don\u2019t agree with the facts, I\u2019m going to leave.\u201d The woman\u2019s handbag made a loud clunk as she hefted it onto the table. Adam hesitated a moment before rising, wondering what she would pull out of the large receptacle next. He kicked himself when he heard the unmistakable click of a revolver\u2019s hammer being set. He leaned back in his chair. \u201cI\u2019m assuming there\u2019s a pistol in your purse that\u2019s aimed at me, and should I try to leave, you\u2019ll shoot?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re very smart, Mr. Cartwright.\u201d The left side of her mouth twitched into a mocking grin. \u201cJust so you know; I\u2019m good with a gun. My pa ran businesses in a gold town, and he made sure I knew how to defend myself if I\u2019d have needed to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d He grinned back at her. \u201cMay I ask why you feel it\u2019s necessary to hold me at gunpoint?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI intend to shoot you. Whether it\u2019s now or later is fine with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. \u201cLater sounds good. But you should probably know that my family and the sheriff are still here, and they won\u2019t take kindly to me being dead. Have you thought about what\u2019ll happen to you and your child when you\u2019re arrested for murder?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her gaze turned cold and hollow again. \u201cIt don\u2019t matter what happens to me anymore. The doc in Last Chance City where I come from says the baby\u2019s layin\u2019 wrong and I\u2019ll die trying to birth it. So my life will end soon just like yours. Fact is\u2026I\u2019m hoping somebody shoots me after I take care of you. It\u2019ll be over fast that way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s shock at her statement showed in his deep frown and furrowed brow. \u201cAre you sure about this? Another man at that other table is the best doctor in Nevada. He might have some ideas about how to help you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She snorted as her face settled into a scowl. \u201cI think the baby\u2019s already dead. I haven\u2019t felt it move for some days, and I\u2019m feeling more poorly every minute, so there\u2019s no use in talking to any doctor. I just got one job left before I die, and that\u2019s killing you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell then, we better get back to why you\u2019re here. You think I\u2019m responsible for Tom\u2019s death because I led the posse? You might like to know that I didn\u2019t want him shot, just captured.\u201d He wasn\u2019t nervous about his situation because he knew he could overcome her physically\u2014overturn the table to deflect the shot or distract her to push the bag away\u2014if it came to that. But he wanted to hear her out first. She obviously had cared about Tom Wilson, and she\u2019d been driven to hopelessness because of it. Adam had seen this same behavior in Sue Miller after Tom had died. \u201cMaybe you could begin with your name and how you met Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fog around her lifted for a moment as a genuine smile of remembrance flooded her cheeks with a pink glow. But her answer was deferred as Ben came to the table.<\/p>\n

The tall man stopped next to his son. \u201cI don\u2019t mean to interrupt, Adam, but we do have to see the lawyer, and Mike said he\u2019d only be available until two. Perhaps you could meet Mrs\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWilson,\u201d Adam provided.<\/p>\n

\u201cMrs. Wilson a little later.\u201d He tipped his hat to Adam\u2019s guest.<\/p>\n

She looked up, staring straight at Ben\u2019s eyes as she spoke, her tone emotionless as before. \u201cYour son isn\u2019t going anywhere, Mr. Cartwright. We\u2019re going to have a talk, and then I\u2019m going to shoot him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s got a pistol aimed at me from inside her bag,\u201d Adam explained.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s hand moved instinctively to his holster, but stopped when he saw the shape of a pistol draped in the fabric of her purse, \u201cWhat\u2019s this about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure yet. We were getting to the story as you came over.\u201d Adam looked up reassuringly, and said calmly, \u201cI\u2019d like you return to the table and wait this out, Pa. If she goes through with her plan, she\u2019ll need to be arrested. And either way, she\u2019s going to need a doctor soon.\u201d After a quick glance back at the woman, he realized he was correct about her need for care. She was becoming more ashen by the minute and rubbing at her stomach with her free hand. He suspected she was in labor, but doubted she\u2019d admit it until she couldn\u2019t control the pain. He addressed his father again. \u201cI know you want to intervene, but please let me handle this for now. I think it might be a good idea to send Hoss and Joe over to Sue Miller\u2019s place and bring her here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d Ben blustered. \u201cWhat\u2019s this got to do with Sue?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s voice remained calm. \u201cMy guest says she\u2019s Tom Wilson\u2019s widow.\u201d He stopped as he heard his father take a startled breath. \u201cI\u2019m assuming you remember Tom and the trouble he caused here. Mrs. Wilson feels I\u2019m responsible for Tom\u2019s death, and right now, I think Sue is the only person who can understand what this woman is going through.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna go put an end to this right now!\u201d Roy vowed after hearing what Ben had to say when he returned to their table.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s give Adam a chance to figure out what\u2019s going on,\u201d Ben advised as he shook his head and leaned back in his chair. \u201cI don\u2019t like this anymore than you do, but we\u2019ll know when he wants us to step in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul wrinkled his nose and tipped his head as he watched the woman. \u201cI wish I could get closer. She looks very frail and her posture would indicate that she\u2019s uncomfortable.\u201d He pointed towards Adam\u2019s table. \u201cSee how her back is curved and she\u2019s leaning into the table.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think it is?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe might be going into labor, but the fact that she looks ill doesn\u2019t bode well if she is. There could be something seriously wrong with her or the baby. Time will tell, I guess. If she\u2019s in labor, she won\u2019t be able to continue threatening Adam much longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The restaurant began to clear after Roy Coffee ordered the staff to stop seating guests and tell the other diners that they had to close due to a problem in the kitchen.<\/p>\n

At their table, Adam demanded, \u201cNow talk.\u201d He leaned forward, observing the beads of sweat forming on her lip and brow. \u201cYou\u2019re obviously in pain, so I think we need to get this over with, and then Doctor Martin can take a look at you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPutting an end to you<\/em> will put an end to any pain I\u2019m feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

He scratched his head and sighed disgustedly. \u201cI\u2019m tired of your threats, so shoot me or talk.\u201d He waited a moment and said sternly. \u201cNow\u2026what\u2019s your name? Your real name; I don\u2019t believe you were married to Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sat up straighter with his demand and accusation. \u201cI\u2019m Fiona Mackenzie. You\u2019re right. I wasn\u2019t \u2018married\u2019 to Tom Wilson, at least not in front of a minister or judge. But he said that he was taking me as his common-law wife when he got me to…\u201d She blushed to a light pink, and averted her eyes.<\/p>\n

He chuckled. \u201cThat sounds like something Tom would say.\u201d He smiled sardonically. \u201cSo how\u2019d you meet him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe stayed at our hotel when he came through Last Chance. My pa owned the restaurant and saloon there, so I saw Tom all the time when I was working. He had a lot of luck playing poker with the miners.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me guess; he got real friendly as he found out more about your father owning those establishments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fiona closed her eyes as she thought back. \u201cWe talked a lot, so I suppose it came up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI bet Tom\u2019s questions came back to your father quite often.\u201d He saw he was right as she swallowed hard and bit her lip.<\/p>\n

Her eyebrows rose and she sniffed sharply. \u201cHe was gentle and sweet with me, and he waited a whole week before he even kissed me. I\u2019d gone to a convent school in Sacramento after my mother died, and came back when I got old enough to help Pa. Tom was the first gentlemen I ever met, and I got to like him fast. The miners who came to town were a surly and dirty bunch who cared nothing for romancing a girl properly.\u201d<\/p>\n

In spite of being held at gunpoint, Adam took satisfaction in pulling a story out of Fiona that confirmed his impressions. His initial thought in listening to her had been that she had some education. This was confirmed by her admission of attending school in Sacramento, and he assumed her lapses into bad grammar were due to living in a locale where proper speech wasn\u2019t practiced or valued. Her talk of falling for Tom didn\u2019t surprise him either. He\u2019d seen the effect of the man\u2019s charm on Sue Miller in the short time Wilson had spent with her. He had no doubt that Fiona had been just as easily smitten.<\/p>\n

Now he wanted to see if his other assumptions were correct as well. \u201cWhy\u2019d Tom leave?\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned crimson for an instant. \u201cPa caught us\u2026um\u2026together, and held a gun on Tom, saying he had to marry me for what we were doing.\u201d Her lips turned in a genuine smile. \u201cTom said that he\u2019d be proud to have me, and he said we\u2019d see the judge the next day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd did he show up?\u201d Adam knew the answer, but asked anyway.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure how he got away since Pa was watching him like a hawk after a field mouse. But Tom left a note saying he wanted to be a proper husband, and would come back when he had enough money to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laughed loudly. \u201cLet me ask you something; did one of the ladies from the saloon come to get your father away from his post? Maybe she said there was an emergency in the bar?\u201d<\/p>\n

She gave him a scathing look. \u201cIt was one of the maids saying a hotel guest was needing to see Pa. But how did you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

He gave her a kindly look. \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure Tom made lots of friends wherever he was. He obviously asked the maid to distract your father while he made his escape.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he did it for a good reason.\u201d Her mouth formed an angry pout.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must realize he never intended to come back.\u201d He let his conclusion linger as he thought a moment. \u201cWhat happened when your father found out there was baby on the way?\u201d<\/p>\n

The red cheeks made another appearance. \u201cHe said he\u2019d find Tom and kill him, but he wasn\u2019t sure where to look. Pa wrote to the lawmen in every city on the routes Tom might have taken from Last Chance. The sheriff in Placerville sent that article.\u201d She nodded toward the paper. \u201cTom had been accused of cheating there, but they couldn\u2019t prove anything and had to let him go. He wrote that he\u2019d recognized the name in Pa\u2019s inquiry, and thought he\u2019d want to know what had happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am sorry, Fiona.\u201d He said soothingly. \u201cIt sounds like you\u2019ve had a hard time since Tom Wilson came into your life.\u201d His concern elicited no response. \u201cTom died four months back. Why\u2019d you wait until now to come after me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t get the paper until last month. I wanted to come right away, but Pa said I was a danged fool, and got so mad he had an attack of some kind and died. That\u2019s about the time the doctor said the baby and me were gonna die too, and I decided you needed to pay for keeping Tom from coming back and making things right. I had to wait until I could get some money from the bank after Pa passed\u2026you know, to pay for the trip and maybe get a headstone for Tom\u2019s grave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s mind was spinning. What was it about men like Tom Wilson that turned sweet, seemingly normal women into crazies who would do anything for them, even after being abused and abandoned? It made no sense! Yet here he was, being held at gunpoint by a very pregnant\u2014probably going-into labor\u2014child who felt she\u2019d\u00a0 been wronged: not by the man who\u2019d gotten her in this condition and left her to fend for herself, but by him, the man who\u2019d proved Wilson a manipulating liar and murderer.<\/p>\n

He did know one thing for sure; his time to find out more was waning. Fiona was now grimacing every few minutes, and during those times she\u2019d grip the edge of the table so hard with her free hand that her knuckles turned white. Adam wondered if the na\u00efve young woman understood what was happening.<\/p>\n

Glancing toward the table where Paul, Roy, and his father held watch, he could tell that their patience was nearing an end, and they would act soon whether he had his answers or not. Ben\u2019s face was set in a scowl and his foot was beating a steady rhythm on the floor, while the good sheriff\u2019s fingers set their own muffled beat on the tablecloth. Paul looked concerned instead of angry, and Adam figured the doctor could see Fiona\u2019s predicament, and was anxious to lend a hand\u2026even if his future patient was threatening to shoot his good friend.<\/p>\n

Once her face settled back into her menacing glare and she was breathing normally again, he said calmly, \u201cWe need to finish this conversation; you need a doctor. Tell me why you hold me<\/em> at fault for your problems instead of Tom.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou stuck your nose in where it didn\u2019t belong,\u201d she growled as her face gnarled in pain again. After a few deep breaths, she added, \u201cThat paper says a girl\u2019s pa was killed here, and Tom was arrested for it. But Tom went free after the daughter confessed that she\u2019d done it by accident. Everything would have been fine then, but you<\/em> got in the middle of it, and said it couldn\u2019t have happened like she claimed. You\u2019re the one who got him in trouble again; it\u2019s because of you<\/em> that he got cornered and shot.\u201d Tears began to streak down her cheeks. \u201cThat paper said Tom saved your life, so how could you do that to him? You owed<\/em> him!\u201d<\/p>\n

He drew a hissing breath between his teeth. \u201cI owed Tom my gratitude. I gave him that along with an offer of friendship. But friendships don\u2019t keep me from exposing the truth. Tom lied about what happened, and influenced the dead man\u2019s daughter to confess to something she didn\u2019t do. The Millers were my friends too, and I owed it to them to make sure the right person was held accountable. Tom needed to admit to what he did and stand trial.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe a word you say. Why would Tom murder that man?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did it for money\u2026the same reason he was interested in you, Fiona. He met Sue Miller at a party given by my family. She was captivated by him, just as you were, and at first I figured that whatever was going on between Sue and Tom was their business. What I didn\u2019t realize was how far Tom would go to get something for nothing. Mr. Miller knew that money was more important to a man like Tom Wilson than his daughter was, and tried to pay him to leave. Tom wanted more, and he said he\u2019d go ahead and marry Sue to get her inheritance.\u201d Adam shook his head. \u201cThe truth was that Tom knew Sue would do it, and her father knew it too. When Miller got worked up, Tom shot him and then tried to make it look like self-defense. Sitting in jail didn\u2019t sit well with Tom. so he convinced Sue to say she\u2019d done it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The agony of her latest contraction was gone, but a new pain reflected from her eyes: uncertainty. \u201cWhy would he want to marry this\u2026Sue Miller\u2026when he said he was coming back to marry me? It makes no sense.\u201d She sobbed, \u201cHe must<\/em> have been trying to come for me when he was shot. That\u2019s the only thing that makes sense. He died trying to get back\u2026\u201d Her face sunk as the tears flooded her eyes, even while her hand remained fixed to the gun inside her purse.<\/p>\n

A young, blond woman approached the table from the shadows. Adam had seen his brothers arrive with Sue some minutes earlier, but he\u2019d given them a warning look to keep them from interrupting. They\u2019d stayed far enough away to avoid attracting attention, while being close enough to hear the conversation.<\/p>\n

Sue pulled a chair next to the weeping woman and spoke gently. \u201cDid I hear Adam call you Fiona?\u201d A brief head nod confirmed the name. \u201cI\u2019m Sue Miller, Fiona. I\u2019ve been listening for a bit, and I heard you talking about Tom Wilson.\u201d Another nod. \u201cI loved him too, Fiona, so I can understand how sad you are about his death.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fiona turned toward the newcomer. \u201cHe must have been using you to get money so he could come back for me and our baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to be honest with you because you have to see the truth. I must have gone over what happened to me a hundred times before I could finally see what kind of man Tom was.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to tell me lies too,\u201d Fiona snarled. \u201cYou\u2019re jealous that he loved me instead of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first truth is that he didn\u2019t love either one of us,\u201d Sue said gently. \u201cTom used people to get what he needed, and what he saw in us was cash that he didn\u2019t have to work for. My father was wealthy, and I imagine you father had money too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe never asked my pa for money.\u201d Her head snapped up as she flashed a superior look.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s because his plans got turned around in your case, Fiona,\u201d Adam interjected. \u201cYou told me your father caught you and Tom together and insisted<\/em> he marry you. Tom never meant to marry Sue either. He used the threat of marriage with Sue\u2019s father to make him come up with more cash. But it was too late to ask your father for money not<\/em> to marry you, so he ran. His scam was working in Virginia City, and he was close to getting what he wanted. But Sue\u2019s father was a hardheaded man. He probably did make threats, and Tom shot first.\u201d Adam shook his head. \u201cIf he\u2019d stayed and told what happened, he might have convinced the sheriff that he\u2019d acted out of fear for his life.\u201d He nodded toward Sue. \u201cYour father did have a temper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes he did,\u201d Sue agreed. \u201cThat\u2019s why I believed Tom\u2019s story about shooting in self-defense. Pa had run others off the property at gunpoint when he\u2019d thought they\u2019d tried to swindle him.\u201d She touched Fiona\u2019s arm. \u201cTom told me that others wouldn\u2019t believe his story, and we would be together sooner if I would say I\u2019d done it by accident. I believed everything he told me, and the frosting on his lies came when he said we\u2019d have the sheriff marry us while I was still in jail. That way he wouldn\u2019t have to testify about what happened, and he could get at Pa\u2019s money to hire a good lawyer for me.\u201d She touched Fiona\u2019s hand. \u201cI believed we would marry; I\u2019d get off, and we\u2019d live happily ever after. Luckily Adam and a friend of mine couldn\u2019t accept the version of the shooting that I\u2019d told the sheriff, and they went back to the house to look for evidence to prove what really happened. I was so angry at Jerry and Adam when I found out what they\u2019d done. I thought they were to blame for Tom\u2019s death too, and hated them for ruining<\/em> my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fiona glanced quickly at Adam before turning her attention back to Sue. \u201cWhat changed your mind about Tom?<\/p>\n

\u201cA woman came to speak with me, just like I\u2019m doing with you. Her name was Tilly; she was a saloon girl Tom spent time with when he wasn\u2019t with me. Tilly liked Tom too, but she said he wasn\u2019t so nice to her as he was to me. She had nothing to offer him but \u2018companionship,\u2019 and he partook of that quite frequently while supposedly courting me. It still took time for me to accept what Tom Wilson was capable of doing, but her story finally got through my thick head. She was with him after he went free because of my confession. They were about to \u2018celebrate\u2019 his impending marriage and fortune with champagne and an evening together when Adam showed up and confronted Tom with the evidence proving that he\u2019d killed my father.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sue took a breath. \u201cThe thing that stuck with me was when Tilly said that Tom treated her like she was stupid, but she was smart enough to remember what he said he was going to do once he had my money. He told her he thought I was sweet and pretty, but I didn\u2019t fit into his plans, and he\u2019d have left after telling me that he needed to go to San Francisco to find a lawyer. He figured I\u2019d get the marriage annulled when I realized he wasn\u2019t coming back, and the sheriff would let me go when I recanted my story. By then he\u2019d be on his way to Mexico with a good amount of my money.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fiona remained mute as Sue concluded. \u201cTom Wilson didn\u2019t care what happened to you, and he didn\u2019t care what happened to me either. He never took responsibility for the messes he made; he just ran.\u201d She stroked the length of Fiona\u2019s hair. \u201cI know how hard this is to hear, and harder to believe. I lost my father to Tom Wilson. And Jerry, the man who really loved me and helped Adam prove I was innocent, left me too when I continued to grieve Tom in spite of everything I\u2019d found out. I hate myself for this, but there are still times I only remember the sweet-talking Tom Wilson; the man who made me feel like a woman for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you beginning to see a different Tom Wilson than the man you knew?\u201d The forceful question came from Adam when he saw Sheriff Coffee and his father rise, while his brothers inched closer from behind. He held his hand up to stop the impending assault, saying, \u201cGive us another minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fiona waivered, but then her resolve returned as she pulled the gun from the bag and pointed it at Adam. \u201cMaybe he wasn\u2019t the man I thought, and I\u2019m not sure about everything. But he loved me; I am sure<\/em> of that.\u201d She jabbed the gun toward her black-shirted nemesis. \u201cYou\u2019re the one who ended him, and I need someone to pay for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPay?\u201d Adam snorted as he shook his head. \u201cHaven\u2019t we all paid already? Tom only used people for what he could get from them. He used me to get credibility in town and to find a target for his scheme, and he took far more from you and Sue. I\u2019m sure there\u2019s a long list of others he used and discarded along the roads he traveled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Uncertainty flooded Fiona\u2019s eyes as she thought about what she\u2019d heard, but her broken heart kept her from surrendering. \u201cHe was different with me!\u201d She shouted. \u201cI don\u2019t care what he did. I was the one he would have come back to. I know he\u2026\u201d her words ended as severe pain tore through her abdomen. Every muscle in her body began to cramp. Her teeth clenched and the tendons in her neck and jaw tightened to the point where she couldn\u2019t even scream. The cramping moved its way down her arms to hands, where her fingers began curling into tight balls.<\/p>\n

Paul Martin saw what was happening and shouted. \u201cGrab the gun!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss lunged at the table and grabbed her arm as Adam reached to change the direction the revolver was pointing. He was holding the barrel as her fingers clamped around the trigger. The eerie silence after the bullet exploded from the barrel was followed by the agonized howl that finally escaped from Fiona\u2019s mouth. She grabbed her belly and continued a keening moan, while across from her, Adam crumbled onto the linen tablecloth; bright red blood spreading from his head along the fibers of white fabric.<\/p>\n

Hoss grabbed the gun from the table and tossed it to the Joe, while Paul shifted his gaze from Adam to Fiona, trying to decide who needed attention first. The decision made, he began barking orders. Pointing to Fiona, he hollered, \u201cHoss get her to my office. Sue, you go along and do what you can to make her comfortable until I get there.\u201d Hoss lifted Fiona and had her out the door in seconds, leaving Paul to attend to Adam. Relief flooded from the doctor in a loud sigh when he found only a scalp wound where the bullet had grazed the side of Adam\u2019s head.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow serious is it,\u201d Ben asked as he stood behind his son, leaning over him protectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gave him a new part in his hair, but I don\u2019t think there\u2019s damage to his skull.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why\u2019s there so much blood, Roy asked. He wanted to do something about the situation, but there was nothing to do but wait for Paul to handle the emergencies. He knew Fiona couldn\u2019t get away in her condition, and he needed to find out how seriously Adam had been hurt before he could even decide what sort of charges he was looking at.<\/p>\n

Paul glanced over, noting Ben\u2019s pallor, and suspected the quantity of blood bothered him too. He explained, \u201cThere are many small vessels in the scalp that bleed like everything, especially when they get shaved off like this. It makes this type of wound messy, but it also means it will heal fast. He\u2019ll probably have a headache for a few days, and the patch of missing skin will sting miserably at first, and then itch like crazy when the hair starts coming back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s not serious, then why is he unconscious?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

Paul hesitated, chewing his lip. \u201cA bullet would carry a wallop even just passing by at such close range. It would be like Hoss smacking him in the head with an axe handle after swinging it around a few times to build up momentum. I don\u2019t think there\u2019ll be any injury to his brain, but we\u2019ll see how quickly he wakes up and assess how he\u2019s doing then. \u201d Paul grabbed a clean napkin from the table, using it to stem the bleeding, and then tied it onto Adam\u2019s head with his handkerchief. \u201cHe\u2019s lucky he got the barrel turned enough that he didn\u2019t get shot between the eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben grunted. \u201cLucky? Maybe he should have jumped for cover instead. Then he wouldn\u2019t have been shot at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy chuckled. \u201cBut that wouldn\u2019t have been like Adam, Ben. The man doesn\u2019t know how to avoid trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe had made it back from helping Hoss get the two women to Paul\u2019s office and was standing at his brother\u2019s side. \u201cYou got that right, Roy. That\u2019s when having his granite-hard head comes in handy.\u201d He nudged his father. \u201cC\u2019mon; you take one arm, I\u2019ll get the other, and Roy can grab his feet so we can carry him over to Doc Martin\u2019s place.\u201d He chuckled. \u201cWe better hurry. Hoss was looking mighty pale when I left him there, and he\u2019ll think he\u2019s gonna have to deliver that baby if we don\u2019t get back soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s loud yawn was echoed by snorts and gurgles issuing from his family as they relaxed in their suite at the International House. Paul\u2019s earlier prediction that Adam hadn\u2019t been hurt seriously had proved correct even though his other prediction of a headache had been accurate as well. Adam had awakened shortly after arriving in the doctor\u2019s office feeling dizzy, but he\u2019d regained his equilibrium after resting for a while. He\u2019d been forced to wait several more hours until Paul had been assured that there were no further side effects of the close-range shot. Eventually, he\u2019d been allowed to leave with orders to remain in town overnight and come in for a checkup in the morning.<\/p>\n

Ben had seconded the opinion and decided that all of them would stick around to make sure his eldest complied. The hotel manager had heard what had happened and felt so bad that one of his guests had nearly killed one of his finest patrons that he offered the best suite to the Cartwright\u2019s at no charge, and then sent up a bottle of fine liquor along with a small feast.<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed after smacking his lips and rubbing his eyes. \u201cWhy is it that when one person yawns, everyone else wants to do the same thing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s almost like it\u2019s contagious,\u201d Little Joe added.<\/p>\n

\u201cScience will probably prove that it is one day.\u201d Adam stretched as he rose and went to refill his glass with water. \u201cAnyone else want something before I sit down? Paul says I can\u2019t drink any of this fine booze tonight, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t indulge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t mind if I do,\u201d Ben answered, holding his glass up for the addition. He chuckled and turned towards Roy, who had joined them for a nightcap. \u201cBesides, now I can offer a final birthday tribute to the sheriff of this fine city.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy shook his head. \u201cI\u2019ve had all the birthday excitement I can handle. I\u2019m just glad Adam wasn\u2019t seriously injured, and that young woman lived through her ordeal.\u201d He thought a moment before adding, \u201cI still have to decide how to charge her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think she really intended to shoot me. It\u2019s more likely she thought it would bring some sense to what she\u2019d been through if she could blame someone else. I also think we were at a point where she would have given up when the gun went off accidentally,\u201d Adam suggested.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a shame the baby didn\u2019t make it,\u201d Hoss said, bowing his head. \u201cPaul said Fiona had been right in thinking that little\u2019un had already passed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cIt\u2019s interesting how things work sometimes. If she hadn\u2019t come here to \u2018kill\u2019 me, she probably would have died just as that other doctor had expected. Paul said that mining-town doctors are often just animal doctors who treat the teams of horses as well as the people, so she wouldn\u2019t have stood a chance. Most general physicians don\u2019t know how to do what Paul did to save her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what caused the baby to pass?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n

Hoss was a big and burly man, but Adam knew things like a child\u2019s death affected his brother deeply. \u201cIt couldn\u2019t have been saved, Hoss. The cord was around its neck and the compression\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger man cut in as he blanched. \u201cI seen that happen with calves now and again. It\u2019s a sad thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam waited as the others nodded their agreement, and then looked toward Roy again. \u201cPaul also said that women can behave erratically when things go wrong late along, and it was made worse because the baby died. One of what she did made sense, so he doesn\u2019t think she was acting rationally anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat may be true, but she did plan out what she was gonna do, and then followed through.\u201d Roy\u2019s serious look softened. \u201cIt\u2019s up to me to decide what to do, but I will talk to her when she\u2019s feeling stronger. If she still holds a grudge towards you, I\u2019ll charge her to the full extent of the law. But if it\u2019s as Paul says, I might be inclined to let it pass with just disturbin\u2019 the peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou do what you think best, Roy,\u201d Adam conceded, \u201cbut I think she\u2019s been through enough. She apologized to me before I left Paul\u2019s. And that haunted, empty look was gone. Paul said that once the delivery is over, things usually return to normal quickly. She\u2019s still sad and confused, but not unreasonable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what I think is interestin?\u201d Hoss asked the group, and continued without waiting for responses. \u201cThat gal was willing to shoot you, but she took real easy to Sue. Seems to me she\u2019d a seen Sue as the competition for Tom\u2019s affection. I can\u2019t never understand how a woman\u2019s brain works.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018You just described the bane of men throughout the ages.\u201d Ben laughed heartily, before adding, \u201cPaul told me that Sue is going to take Fiona to her house while she recovers, and then accompany her back to Last Chance, if Roy allows her to leave. But Hoss is right. It does seem an odd acquaintance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they share a common loss,\u201d Adam offered. \u201cAnd even though they know what Tom was, I\u2019d bet they each still feel they could have saved him if he\u2019d have given them a chance to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you account for that?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s face puckered as he thought about it. \u201cWhat makes nice women go after guys like Tom Wilson? It\u2019s happened to us too. We\u2019ve found women we\u2019d have done anything for, and then they went off with some guy who treated them bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss snorted. \u201cI know just what you mean, brother. It happened to me more\u2019n once.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd after they go off with these guys, they usually blame us for letting them do it!\u201d Little Joe squealed, before laughing. \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever understand, so I\u2019m gonna stop thinking about it.\u201d He looked directly at Adam to change the subject. \u201cWhen Wilson was killed, you said something about him being, \u2018one of a kind.\u2019 I wondered about that but didn\u2019t ask then because it didn\u2019t seem to matter since he\u2019d died. But now that this whole thing came up again, I\u2019d like to know what you meant?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wondered the same thing, Adam,\u201d Ben added. \u201cI didn\u2019t press you then either since you didn\u2019t seem to want to talk about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The oldest Cartwright son thought about his response as he massaged the throbbing area in his temple near the wound. \u201cMany men who live off their wits lack any sense of humanity, but Tom was different. He could have let me drown that day and waited until I floated to shore to take anything of value. But he saved me and was honest about the kind of man he was. I respected his candor.\u201d He looked around the room, \u201cAnd you all have to admit that he was very likeable and entertaining that night he ate with us, and charming to all<\/em> the women at the party we gave. He\u2019d been a lot of places and done a lot of things that went into making him unique.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI agree with you to a point,\u201d Been interjected. \u201cBut did his good qualities and frankness about his way of life make up for the trouble he caused?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the question, isn\u2019t it?\u201d Adam leaned back in his chair, steepled his fingers, and bit his upper lip as he considered his response. \u201cIn some ways, they did.\u201d He grinned at the shocked expressions. \u201cLet me explain before you conclude that I lost my mind when that bullet grazed my head. Tom \u2018took\u2019 money from my wallet that first day, but he told me about it later and repaid me. I\u2019m sure he cheated at cards too, but since he could only deal himself a good hand when he had the deck, I\u2019d surmise that he bluffed far better than he could cheat, and that galled the other players even more.\u201d He stopped for a sip of water. \u201cEven his cheating wasn\u2019t flashy. The day I saw him accused of it, there was only a low card where they expected something big. What I realized after the others left was that card would have given Tom a straight. I have no doubt that those who played with him stayed in the game because they were convinced that they could outwit him at some point and get their money back.\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched for a second to gage the group\u2019s reaction, and saw interest rather than shock. \u201cAt first I thought I\u2019d met that singular man who was able to run his scams without really hurting anyone. In fact I figured most people knew very quickly what he was like, and if they stuck around they were as much to blame for what happened to them as he was. I knew exactly what Tom was, but my intellect was piqued, and I wanted to see how he\u2019d act when I gave him the opportunity to function without resorting to trickery.\u201d He breathed deeply and exhaled. \u201cI was wrong about some of my assumptions. It was different when he was playing his marks at the poker tables than when he went after Sue and Fiona. He did<\/em> hurt them. Even though they encouraged his attention, they were too na\u00efve to understand his motives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam allowed the grunts of agreement to die down before continuing. \u201cI was upset by his death because I truly wanted to see how he would have played the new hand he\u2019d been dealt. He wasn\u2019t used to anyone forcing him to do the right thing, and I managed to expose\u00a0his lies and back him into a corner. He was an interesting study\u2014one of a kind\u2014but what I\u2019ve come to see is that he couldn\u2019t do the one<\/em> thing that would have made him the most interesting: admit his lies and pay for what he\u2019d done. Watching what happened to Sue after his death, and hearing Fiona\u2019s story ended any sympathetic thoughts I had for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roy drained his glass and stood. \u201cYou summed that up just right.\u201d He saluted Adam. \u201cI\u2019m just glad you didn\u2019t die trying to let Fiona have her say.\u201d Grabbing his hat from the coffee table, he adjusted it on his head before adding, \u201cThose two women gettin\u2019 together might be just what they both need. I heard Sue telling Fiona that what happened to them was on their shoulders because they didn\u2019t pay attention to the warnings they were given about him. I\u2019m glad she can admit that now. Wilson was a sweet-talker, but those girls did choose to act in ways they knew<\/em> were wrong.\u201d He paused in the doorway. \u201cOne thing that puzzles me is how Jerry stuck by Sue through the worst of it, and then left her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Little Joe cleared his throat. \u201cJerry stopped by to see me before he went to work for the Triple-M near Carson. He said he felt bad for Sue at first because she had no one to look after her when\u00a0Wilson killed her father. But he got tired of being a shoulder to cry on, and having everything he did measured against a ghost. He said she knows where he is if she changes her mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss grinned. \u201cI think she\u2019s already doin\u2019 that\u2026changin\u2019 her mind, I mean. Y\u2019all heard what she said about how hangin\u2019 on to those memories cost her a good friend. I\u2019ll bet you she sends a letter off real soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Six<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben and his two younger sons continued to talk about the day after Roy left, while Adam drifted into silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you thinking of Boston, son?\u201d Ben poked at Adam\u2019s knee and asked with a grin. \u201cOr are you falling asleep and wish we\u2019d all go to bed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither one, Pa.\u201d The eldest\u2019s pink cheeks and sheepish grin confirmed that he hadn\u2019t been paying attention. He\u2019d recently told his family of his desire to return to Boston and pick up with his engineering career, and there\u2019d been many times since then when they\u2019d caught him making mental plans for the trip. The weeks he\u2019d spent mulling over the decision to leave the ranch had distanced him from his family and the workings of the ranch, and his behavior hadn\u2019t gone unnoticed. He\u2019d been surprised and relieved when he finally confided his plans to his father, only to find out that the man he\u2019d spent his entire life next to, had already figured it out.<\/p>\n

A good part of his hesitancy in putting his thoughts into action had stemmed from his fear that Ben Cartwright would not take kindly to losing his oldest son to the East. But his father had told him to take the path that was right for him. Adam knew that no matter what Ben said, he would always remain hopeful that his son would return one day when city life lost its appeal. He wouldn\u2019t dash those hopes yet, but there was far more to his change of locale than a career path. His grandfather wouldn\u2019t be around too many more years and he wanted to spend that time with him, and there was a woman he wanted to see again\u2026and just maybe\u2014if the fates and angels steered his course\u2014she\u2019d become his wife.<\/p>\n

Hoss pushed into his thoughts. \u201cSo what were you thinkin\u2019 about?\u201d<\/p>\n

The blush returned for an instant. \u201cI know you\u2019d like a fairy tale ending to this story, but I don\u2019t think it will happen. Jerry and Sue should each have a fresh start with someone who doesn\u2019t know or care about Tom Wilson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019d you say that?\u201d The question came from Little Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cJerry grew up and learned a lot during that ordeal, but he\u2019ll never be suave or easy with women like Tom was. He needs to find someone who thinks his awkward ways and painful shyness are wonderful assets. Sue, on the other hand, is going to have trouble moving past her ideal of what life with Tom would have been like. Those who\u2019ve loved hard and lost, often try to find a person who makes them feel the way they once did. In Sue\u2019s case, she\u2019ll be afraid that she might be used again, but she won\u2019t settle for someone just because they aren\u2019t<\/em> a scoundrel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben nodded. \u201cThat makes sense. So what do you think will happen to Fiona?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s head moved side-to-side. \u201cThat\u2019s harder to say. She\u2019s lost far more, and will probably always think Tom was a better person when he was with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I care about is that she stops blaming you!\u201d Ben rose and stretched. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing we can do to make things easier for any of them, so I\u2019m going to bed before I fall asleep in the chair.\u201d His earlier grin returned and deepened as he went over to inspect the bandage on Adam\u2019s head. After assuring himself that all was well, he stood back in his typical fatherly pose\u2014fists on his hips as he gazed down\u2014and said sternly, \u201cThere is one thing I still want to teach you before you leave for Boston that will make your life a lot easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

The left side of Adam\u2019s mouth rose in a half-smile. \u201cWhat\u2019s that, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow to duck.\u201d<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright,\u00a0Family,\u00a0Paul Martin,\u00a0Roy Coffee<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: This \u201cwhat happens later\u201d story for\u00a0Thanks for Everything, Friend,\u00a0picks up after Tom Wilson has been dead for several months and\u00a0a woman comes to Virginia City with one goal in mind: to kill Adam Cartwright for his role in Tom\u2019s death. She holds Adam at gunpoint as she presses her case against him, and he tries to help\u00a0her see the truth before she pulls the trigger.<\/p>\n

Rating: K \u00a0\u00a0Word Count: 9492<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":9860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,61,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-missing-scene","category-whn","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-61-id","wpcat-13-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1593,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/feature-4.jpg?fit=387%2C387&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49889,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=49889","url_meta":{"origin":10350,"position":0},"title":"Confronting the Past (by Katie)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"September 14, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 When you least expect it, the past is right in front of you. Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (2,035 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47113,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=47113","url_meta":{"origin":10350,"position":1},"title":"Cartwright Romance #1 – Truth Be Told (by Emmy)","author":"Preserving Their Legacy Author","date":"December 31, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"Story Summary:\u00a0 A romantic tale centering on eldest Cartwright son Adam and the town's new schoolteacher, Katherine O'Fallon. Rating and Reader Alerts:\u00a0 PG, mild language Words:\u00a0 11,875 Cartwright Romance Series, links to stories included within.","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Preserving-Their-Legacy.png?fit=732%2C477&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64099,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=64099","url_meta":{"origin":10350,"position":2},"title":"These are the Days (by JC)","author":"JC","date":"April 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A glimpse of Adam Cartwright redux, back on the Ponderosa\u00a0 after a surprise reunion in Stockton and with a family of his own.\u00a0 (Third in a series, links to other stories provided) Rating T\u00a0 Word Count 1285","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/The-Gift-of-Water-4.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/The-Gift-of-Water-4.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/The-Gift-of-Water-4.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48047,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48047","url_meta":{"origin":10350,"position":3},"title":"The Fair – an Adam and Emma Story (by AH83)","author":"BZTrailRiders","date":"July 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Summary:\u00a0 The Cartwrights plan a visit to the Virginia City Fair. Rating: K, Word Count: 1491","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"Preserving Their Legacy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BTR.png?fit=442%2C255&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4243,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4243","url_meta":{"origin":10350,"position":4},"title":"Beginnings–East Meets West (by swgirl)","author":"swgirl","date":"November 30, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Adam meets a young lady from the east and romance blossoms. Rating:\u00a0 T\u00a0 (46,295 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Action\/Adventure"","block_context":{"text":"Action\/Adventure","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=2"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Compass.jpg?fit=1200%2C1178&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Compass.jpg?fit=1200%2C1178&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Compass.jpg?fit=1200%2C1178&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Compass.jpg?fit=1200%2C1178&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Compass.jpg?fit=1200%2C1178&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":45968,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=45968","url_meta":{"origin":10350,"position":5},"title":"Believe In Love – He Rode Back To Her (by BettyHT)","author":"BettyHT","date":"October 9, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: This is both an AU and a WHI for The Search providing an alternate ending for the episode.\u00a0 The first part of the story is directly from the episode and then the story continues with new material. Rating: PG\u00a0 Word count: 2405","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/The-Search.jpeg?fit=600%2C446&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/The-Search.jpeg?fit=600%2C446&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/The-Search.jpeg?fit=600%2C446&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10350\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}