<\/p>\n
Summary<\/strong>:\u00a0 Little Joe knows whom Adam should marry.\u00a0 Now he just needs to make Adam realize who it is.<\/p>\n Rating:\u00a0 K+ (19,180 words)<\/p>\n Remember the Breaking Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember the Breaking<\/a> <\/p>\n Mending the Break<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe jerked upright and turned. His tensed muscles relaxed as it registered that his brother Hoss, not his brother Adam, stood in the doorway. \u201cShush!\u201d he responded as his pointer finger went to his lips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat in tarnation are you doing in Adam\u2019s room,\u201d Hoss hissed trying to control the volume while magnifying the force of his words. \u201cHe finds you going through his things, and he\u2019ll bust a gusset right before he busts your tail!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs he coming?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStopped to talk to Pa, but he\u2019s heading. . .\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Before Hoss could complete his sentence, Little Joe was darting past his brother headed toward the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome on then!\u201d Little Joe grabbed Hoss\u2019s sleeve and tugged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss moved forward, and the two managed to exit the room as boots began resounding on the wooden stairs. Hoss jerked the door to Adam\u2019s room shut as the footfalls approached the hall.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy room!\u201d Little Joe\u2019s whispered urging set Hoss into motion. Ben Cartwright\u2019s two younger sons darted into Joe\u2019s sanctuary and banged the door closed. Joe threw his body down on his bed. \u201cThank the Lord you came up first!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss straightened, and his eyes narrowed. \u201cYour hide ain\u2019t safe quite yet, youngun. I might still tell elder brother. Now what were ya doing in his room?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe looked at his brother and shrugged mentally. Hoss never tattled on him to Adam, and Joe had little concern that he would this time, but Little Joe did pause and consider just what to tell his middle brother. He also pondered how useful Hoss could be to his plan with little worry about his own ability to convince Hoss to participate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNothing bad, Hoss, really, just looking.\u201d Joe sat up and gazed directly at his accuser.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLooking for what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust something. Not to take it, just to see.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot much Adam\u2019s got that you ain\u2019t seen one time or the other,\u201d Hoss stated while his eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe relaxed against his headboard. \u201cHoss, you remember when Adam and Miss Margie were engaged, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss\u2019s face grew puzzled. \u201cWhat\u2019s that got to do with anything?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you do, don\u2019t you?\u201d Joe insisted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure. Back when they were real young.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you ever tell me?\u201d Joe whined the words into an accusation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, Joe? It weren\u2019t no secret; you knew.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut I didn\u2019t remember,\u201d Joe stated petulantly, \u201cYou should have known I was too little to remember and told me later.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss rubbed his chin.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGuess you were just a mite; I was a kid myself. But why are we talking about it now, and what\u2019s it got to do with you being in Adam\u2019s room?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe rolled his eyes at Hoss\u2019s reference to his misdemeanor. Sometimes Hoss worried over the littlest things like a dog with a bone. \u201cMiss Margie told me about it at the church picnic.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe did?\u201d Hoss was surprised. \u201cWhy would she tell you about it now?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI asked,\u201d Joe replied as if that said all that needed to be said. \u201cAnyways, she said Adam gave her a ring. Do you remember it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat did it look like? Was it gold or silver?\u201d Little Joe paused for an answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWeren\u2019t neither. Adam didn\u2019t have no money for something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen what was it like?\u201d Joe demanded impatiently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it was made out of their hair. Adam wove it and sealed it with wax and shellac. Miss Marge\u2019s hair is as dark as Adam\u2019s, and ya really couldn\u2019t tell one from the other. Adam said it sym. . . sym. . . well, it showed as to how they would meld their lives together into one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSee there; I knew it!\u201d Joe exclaimed as if he had just won an important debate. \u201cAdam said he still has it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam told you about the ring?\u201d Hoss\u2019s eyebrows drew closer together.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, not exactly, he told Miss Margie he had it in his bedroom.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss fixed a glare on his little brother. \u201cYou were eavesdropping, weren\u2019t ya, Joe? Weren\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss, how I heard is beside the point,\u201d Joe soothed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot to me and not to Adam. If he. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut he won\u2019t, will he?\u201d Joe infused the words with a pleading tone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTell me, Jospeh!\u201d Hoss had taken a hands-on-the-hips stance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow don\u2019t go getting ruffled. It\u2019s this way. Some ladies at the church picnic were taking to Miss Margie, and they made mention of her being engaged to Adam. I weren\u2019t listening; I just heard. I asked Miss Margie about it, and she told me she and Adam got engaged when they were sixteen, and I near about dropped my teeth. I still can\u2019t believe Pa let Adam get engaged when he was sixteen even if they weren\u2019t to get married until they were eighteen.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Hosss interjected. I asked Pa about that once when I was sixteen and thinking on a gal.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid he say why?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSaid it was mainly so as they wouldn\u2019t get it in their heads to run off and get married anyways if Pa and Mr. Rainsford said no.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam run off and get married.\u201d The idea was beyond Little Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWouldn\u2019t have been the first time Adam got his stubborn up and defied Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe mulled over the thought that there were just too many things he had forgotten or never known about his elder brother\u2019s youth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMiss Margie\u2019s got some stubborn in her too,\u201d Hoss continued, \u201cbut Pa knew Adam wouldn\u2019t never go back on a promise to wait if they got engaged. Really, it wasn\u2019t like there were many other gals for Adam to give up courting, and after all Pa and Ma thought Adam and Margie were well-suited. If they stayed engaged for two years, well, the worst thing that could happen was them getting hitched, and nobody thought that would be bad.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSee, I knew it!\u201d Joe bounced to his feet with that exclamation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKnew what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam should have married Miss Margie. Blast that Saul Eckers!\u201d Little Joe declared vehemently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat do ya know about Saul Eckers?\u201d Hoss\u2019s eyebrows drew together. \u201cAnd how do you know it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know he was the reason Adam and Miss Margie broke up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMiss Margie told ya that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Little Joe assured his brother, \u201cand Adam said so too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam said? I thought it was Miss Margie who told ya about how things were?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe did, but then Adam was telling her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss \u2018s glare returned. \u201cOh, Adam told Miss Margie and you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, he told her, and I heard.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBecause you were eavesdropping, right?\u201d Hoss\u2019s voice once again had an edge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah, but that\u2019s not the point.\u201d Little Joe pushed the problem aside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss pulled it right back. \u201cEavesdropping ain\u2019t right.\u00a0\u00a0 You know better. If Adam. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam won\u2019t know if nobody tells him. Anyways, Adam eavesdropped on us first, so he can\u2019t get mad \u2018cause I didn\u2019t do nothing he hadn\u2019t just done,\u201d Little Joe declared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss looked doubtful. \u201cYou best tell me about all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe heaved an exaggerated sigh. \u201cI was. Well, Miss Margie told me about the engagement and about Saul Eckers coming and tutoring Adam, and how Adam got mad at her because he thought she was flirting with him, and how they fought and broke the engagement and all. Then she sent me off, but I only kinda went, and when I saw her and Adam, I slipped back to find out if he\u2019d been eavesdropping.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s tone was one of injured innocence. \u201cAnd he had. He told Miss Margie his side of things. He thought it was Miss Margie flirting. I bet it was that Saul Eckers that was doing the flirting. Miss Margie\u2019s a pretty lady.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss nodded. Then he remarked quietly, \u201cNever did know what that fight was about.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou knew about the fight?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKnew there\u2019d been one. Me and Ma came down the stairs right after Miss Margie slammed the door on her way out. Ma said something to Adam and called Margie his betrothed. Then Adam up and said she wasn\u2019t – his betrothed that is – and slammed off out the door too. At first Ma and I thought he might have gone after Miss Margie, but he hadn\u2019t. He didn\u2019t come back \u2018til way after midnight, and then Pa and him had a row.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shrugged, and Little Joe knew how that row had ended. \u201cThey didn\u2019t speak for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam and Pa or Adam and Miss Margie?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss rolled his eyes. \u201cAdam and Miss Margie, of course. When I found the ring and gave it back to Adam, he didn\u2019t say nothing not even thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou found the ring?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA couple of days later under the settee.\u201d Hoss gave Little Joe a perplexed look. \u201cYou were looking for that ring?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Adam told Miss Margie he still had it in his room.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you want to see it?\u201d Hoss did not see idle curiosity as the reason.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s just, well, just because elder brother was stupid enough not to make up with Miss Margie then, doesn\u2019t mean he shouldn\u2019t now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam and Miss Margie done made up years ago, Joe.\u201d Hoss stated firmly while a flicker of worry began burning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot all<\/em> the way, Hoss, but we can help fix that.\u201d Joe\u2019s tone had grown conspiratorial.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joe, you ain\u2019t figuring on messing around in Adam\u2019s private matters.\u201d Hoss shook his head for emphasis. \u201cEven Pa don\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just gonna see to it that Adam does what he should have done a long time ago. If he wasn\u2019t such a stubborn cuss, we could have had a sister for years. We could even be uncles by now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, well, you best just let Adam do his own wife-picking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shaking his head, Little Joe said firmly, \u201c\u201cThat\u2019s just it, Hoss, he\u2019s already done the picking; we just need to get him down off his high horse, so he can pick up what he let drop.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss shook his head. \u201cWe? Oh, no, Joe, we<\/em> ain\u2019t doing anything of the sort.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Hoss, just think on it. Is there any of the girls that Adam\u2019s sparked since he came back from college that you like better than Miss Margie?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, no,\u201d Hoss agreed. Dadburnit<\/em>, there\u2019s some that I didn\u2019t like at all.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve thought it through, and Miss Margie\u2019s the best choice. You, me, and Pa, even Hop Sing, all like her lots. It wouldn\u2019t be bad having her on the Ponderosa. What\u2019s even better, her pa and sister live here. She ain\u2019t going to be talking to Adam about moving off to California or back East or getting him to go traipsing off to Europe or Australia or the like. If Adam married Miss Margie, he\u2019d stay put right here on the Ponderosa where he belongs.\u201d Little Joe knew that Hoss and Pa both shared his fear that something or someone would lure the eldest Cartwright son away from his home, and Joe saw his words nudging Hoss over to his side.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut to go pushing our brother at a gal.\u201d Hoss shook his head doubtfully.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut, Hoss, he loves her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, he\u2019s sure done a good job of not showing it for the past five years or so.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut, he does; you could tell when he kissed her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam kissed Miss Margie?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and it weren\u2019t no peck on the cheek. He has holding her and pressing his mouth right down on hers, and it looked like they only stopped \u2018cause they needed air. Then they said something I didn\u2019t hear, and Adam laughed, Hoss, not chuckling or hew-hawing, but that soft laugh of his when he\u2019s really happy, and Miss Margie laughed too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMiss Margie laughed too? She laughed that way like Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, they love each other, Hoss; they just got too much stubborn up to admit they were wrong. We won\u2019t be pushing them into nothing but what they won\u2019t admit they want. We\u2019ll just be making them open their eyes to see the truth is all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss capitulated.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat have you got planned?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHaven\u2019t really worked up a plan yet. Just that Adam needs to start remembering when he knew he loved her and all. That\u2019s why I wanted to see the ring seeing as how he kept it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know where he keeps it,\u201d Hoss interjected.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou do?\u201d Hoss nodded, and Joe demanded, \u201cWell, where?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn his Chinese puzzle box.\u201d Hop Sing had given Adam the intricately designed box, and it had taken weeks for even his engineer\u2019s mind to unravel the secret to its opening.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBlazes! If it\u2019s in there. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know how to open it; Adam taught me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe did!\u201d Little Joe was awash with indignation, \u201cWhy even when I begged, he wouldn\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss lips twisted wryly. \u201cNow, Short Shanks, Adam knows I don\u2019t never mess with his things.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t mess. . .\u201d Hoss\u2019s eyes caught Joe\u2019s. Joe cleared his throat and finished, \u201cWell, I hardly ever mess with his things anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss rolled his eyes and let the matter drop.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe bit his lip. \u201cWell, anyways, then you can get the ring while I keep Adam busy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, I ain\u2019t sneaking in and taking that ring, \u2018sides if it shows up anywheres else but that box, elder brother\u2019s gonna know I was the only one \u2018sides him who could have moved it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, there is that.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s lips twisted in thought. Then suddenly green eyes lit with inspiration. \u201cAnd anyways you don\u2019t need to. I just need to get him to open the box with me there. Then I can get him talking about the ring.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss turned the idea over in his mind and could find no harm in it. \u201cWouldn\u2019t be nothing wrong in that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe nodded vigorously. \u201cAin\u2019t no harm at all.\u201d Then he slapped Hoss triumphantly on the back. \u201cWe\u2019ll get her done, brother; that we will. You know, I might like being an uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe went up the stairs on Adam\u2019s heels and followed his brother as he went through the bedroom door. Flopping down on Adam\u2019s bed, Joe gazed casually around the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSomething you want, Little Joe?\u201d Adam asked overlooking Joe\u2019s feet on the bed since the boy was in his stocking feet.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot really,\u201d Little Joe replied mentally congratulating himself on picking a time when his brother was in such an agreeable mood, \u201cjust, well, I thought, maybe, well, maybe we could talk about, well, something.\u201d Little Joe gave his brother a shy and slightly embarrassed smile. Adam reacted just as Little Joe had expected.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Coming to sit on the end of the bed, Adam leaned back and replied, \u201cSure, Little Buddy. Is there something in particular that you\u2019d like to talk about?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, umm, well,\u201d Little Joe ducked his head, so Adam couldn\u2019t read his eyes, \u201cyou\u2019ve sparked lots of girls, ain\u2019t ya, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSome,\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow young were ya when you sparked your first girl?\u201d Little Joe\u2019s voice was slightly overeager.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy I guess. . .\u201d The memory of Margret Rainsford\u2019s face was quickly replaced by the picture of Margie telling Little Joe about her engagement to Adam. He had wondered about his baby brother not asking him questions on that subject, and his eyes narrowed. \u201cYou already know, Joseph.\u201d Then Adam remembered that he had been eavesdropping when Margie told his brother that tale, and a tinge of red came to highlight his cheekbones. He should not know that Joe knew.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe bit his lip. \u201cThen Miss Margie was your first . . . that you sparked, I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Adam sighed. \u201cMargie was the first girl I courted, the first I kissed, and the first I asked to marry me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe decided not to pursue a line of questioning about what other girls Adam had asked to marry, at least not until another day. Instead, he asked softly, \u201cWas ya really in love with her for real or was it just, well, what Pa calls puppy love?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam hesitated and then replied, \u201cWe were both very young.\u201d Straightening, he looked at his nearly fifteen-year-old brother and stated firmly, \u201cToo young.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut did ya really love her for real?\u201d Joe\u2019s voice remained soft but insistent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stood up and walked to his window. Gazing out, he said simply, \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd she loved you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s stance grew tense. \u201cJoe.\u201d The one word conveyed the message \u201cdon\u2019t push any further.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Adam turned to face Joe. \u201cIs there a girl. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe turned away from his brother as if embarrassed, caught sight of the object he sought, and moved nervously toward it. \u201cWell, I, not really, but, well, there are some gals at church and all. . .\u201d Joe let his words slip away and picked up the Chinese puzzle box turning it idly in his hands. \u201cWell, when I look at them, I, sometimes, I. . .\u201d Joe swallowed convulsively and pretended to be too mortified to go on.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s natural, Joe, what you\u2019re feeling.\u201d Adam walked over and put his hand on Joe\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well,\u201d Joe stopped and then suddenly veered from the subject, \u201cYou never showed me how to open this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a puzzle, Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m never any good with puzzles.\u201d Joe put a little-boy whine on the declaration.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re supposed to work at them until you solve them yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot if you have a big brother to show you how.\u201d Little Joe widened his eyes and gazed up at his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took the box from Joe\u2019s hands. \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll show you, but you better watch carefully; I\u2019m not going to tell you or explain how to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe kept his eyes focused on his brother\u2019s long fingers as Adam manipulated the box through a series of steps required to open it. When the hidden center compartment was revealed, Joe quickly took possession again. He kept the grin that threatened off his face as he saw the contents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d Joe inquired with practiced innocence as he lifted the ring into the light.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust a ring.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never seen one like it. No, wait; I have; it\u2019s a hair ring, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho made it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u201d Reluctance was creeping into Adam\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhose hair? Yours?\u201d That would have seemed obvious enough; Adam had the only raven black hair in the family.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe decided a little push was necessary. \u201cJust yours?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If he refused to answer the truth would be obvious, so Adam admitted, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhose?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe, it\u2019s not your. . .\u201d It\u2019s not like it\u2019s a secret!<\/em>\u00a0\u201cMargie\u2019s. I made it for her. Boyish sentimentality.\u201d Adam gave a dismissive grunt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t tell,\u201d Joe said peering closely at the ring, \u201cIt\u2019s like there was only one person\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We\u2019ll be that way, Margie, like one, like the Bible says, \u201cand two shall become one.” <\/em>\u00a0Then he had kissed her and slipped the ring on her finger. Adam snatched the ring and the box back from Joe. Placing the ring back in its resting place, he clicked each section back into place.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe knew when to back off and not press his elder brother any more. \u201cThanks, Adam,\u201d he said quietly and slipped out of the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam stood for several minutes staring at the puzzle box before he set it gently back on its accustomed shelf.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe whistled as he went about his early morning chores.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure enough the cheery one this morning, Short Shanks,\u201d Hoss observed as he entered the barn to saddle Chubby.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss,\u201d Little Joe called and motioned his brother closer, \u201cAdam showed me the ring last night. I had him thinking about loving Miss Margie; I know I did.\u201d Joe\u2019s chest puffed a little with pride.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss felt a tickle of concern at the light in his little brother\u2019s eyes. \u201cNothing wrong in that,\u201d Hoss declared to reassure himself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNothing wrong! Hoss, everything\u2019s going right, just like we need. Now for step two.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat is step two going to be?\u201d Hoss inquired with a twinge of trepidation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019m not exactly sure, but we do need to get Miss Margie thinking about loving elder brother. I don\u2019t know. . .\u201d Then Hoss saw a thought run through Little Joe like a strike of lightening. \u201cHoss, we need. . . just maybe we can get. . . Yeah, that\u2019s what we need!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat, Joe? What is it we need?\u201d Hoss\u2019s trepidation had increased a notch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy, an ally in the other camp.\u201d Joe punctuated his statement with a decisive nod and declared, \u201cMelody Ann!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss brought his hand to his chin and rubbed. Andrew Rainsford had five daughters: Margret Ann, Melissa Ann, Millicent Ann, Martha Ann, and Melody Ann. Missy, Millie, and Martha were all married and each of them had moved away. Only Miss Margie and her youngest sister remained on their small ranch with their now widowed father. Melody Ann was nearly a year older than Little Joe and considered to be the most serious and biddable of the five.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMelody Ann don\u2019t hardly seem the sort to involve in no scheme, Joe,\u201d Hoss said with a shake of his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, she\u2019s not one for pranks, but this ain\u2019t nothing like that. Girls are all for matchmaking, Hoss; everybody knows that. Besides, she\u2019s got as much at stake as we do. She\u2019s had three sisters marry fellows that done drug them off where she don\u2019t get to see them or their babies; she\u2019s bound to want Miss Margie to marry up with someone who\u2019s got a ranch right next door. She\u2019ll think it\u2019s perfect,\u201d Little Joe declared with abundant confidence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, maybe,\u201d Hoss allowed, \u201cbut what iffen you tell her about things, and she don\u2019t quite see it that way. She could tell Miss Margie what you\u2019re trying to do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat we\u2019re<\/em> trying to do,\u201d Joe declared with a loud clap to Hoss\u2019s back. \u201cYou worry too much, Brother! I\u2019ll have Melody Ann in our camp quicker than spit. Now you just have to think of a reason for the two of us to go visiting the Rainsfords. Then you can keep Miss Margie busy while I talk to Melody Ann.\u201d Little Joe began whistling again as he returned to his chores.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss rubbed his chin once more and began to saddle Chubby. Don\u2019t see as how talking to the little gal can cause too much trouble. Little Joe\u2019ll just give her that smile and them big eyes, and even if she don\u2019t want to help, he\u2019ll have her promising not to say anything.<\/em> Hoss pushed another tingle of concern out of his mind and considered what errand might take him and Joe to their neighbor\u2019s home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Upon arriving at the Rainsford ranch, Little Joe managed to elicit the information that Margret Ann was in town and that Melody Ann was in the kitchen baking bread. Deciding the angels were smiling on his endeavor, he then left his brother Hoss discussing the fence line between the Cartwright and Rainsford properties with Andrew and slipped into the house to talk to Melody Ann. Pausing for a moment to study Melody Ann Rainsford, he smiled. Melody Ann was a petite girl with hair as dark as her sister\u2019s. She had always brought the word soft<\/em> to Little Joe\u2019s mind: soft curves, soft wisps of hair, soft clear-water eyes, and a voice that hovered just above a whisper. Confident that he could turn the girl to his own purpose, Joe stepped from the parlor into the kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey, Melody Ann!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The girl startled and twirled around with her hand raised to her throat. \u201cOh my, Little Joe!\u201d She smiled and then chided, \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t sneak up on a girl like that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSorry,\u201d Joe smiled apologetically as he walked further into the room. \u201cI never meant to scare ya.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann smiled back. \u201cThat\u2019s what you said when you dropped that baby snake in my lap.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis time I mean it, though. Honest I do!\u201d Little Joe drew a cross on his chest above his heart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, then, you\u2019re forgiven. Set yourself down, Joe. Would you like something to eat or drink?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI always did like fresh-baked bread with preserves especially Miss Margie\u2019s blackberry preserves.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve some left from breakfast. Do you want buttermilk or coffee with that?\u201d Melody Ann asked as she began cutting slices from a still warm loaf.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cButtermilk and company,\u201d Joe replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann brought the preserves and slices of bread to the table and then poured two glasses of buttermilk. She set one glass before Little Joe who was already smearing preserves on a large piece of bread and then took a seat across the table from him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid your pa send you over?\u201d Melody Ann asked to open the conversation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot exactly,\u201d Joe stated and then took a large bite. \u201cMmmmmmm.\u201d He rolled his eyes heavenward as an expression of delight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMargie\u2019s preserves are really good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe swallowed. \u201cSo\u2019s your bread. Don\u2019t offer any to Hoss, or you\u2019ll be loaf short when we leave.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss is here too? Let me. . .\u201d Melody Ann rose and turned toward the door, but Little Joe caught her wrist to prevent her leaving.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWait. Hoss is talking to your pa, and, well, I need to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A puzzled look settled on the girl\u2019s face. \u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe set his tone at a conspiratorial level and said, \u201cSomething important and, well, kind of secret.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSecret?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded and took another bite of bread. Melody Ann settled back into the chair. Joe chewed for a moment as he thought, swallowed, and then decide to be straightforward.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMelody Ann, you like my brother Adam, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course, but. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you know he and your sister were betrothed?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann\u2019s brow furrowed. \u201cSure, but. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe leaned even closer and dropped his voice to a whisper. \u201cThey were first loves, and, well, they were kissing the other day.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKissing?\u201d Melody Ann\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAt the church social. And it got me thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann leaned toward Little Joe. \u201cWhat were you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe brought his nose within a hair of Melody Ann\u2019s. \u201cI was thinking that they still love each other only, well, you know how prideful and stubborn the both of them are.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann nodded as a flicker of excitement entered her eyes, but a cautious girl she drew away from Little Joe and leaned against the back of her chair.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe decided the minutes were fleeing and plunged, \u201cMelody Ann, you know Adam would make your sister a good husband and her living right next-door, so to speak, well, wouldn\u2019t that be better than her going off like Missy, Millie, and Martha?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course, but I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re thinking. . . \u201c<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thinking we should nudge those two a little and help them see they\u2019re perfect for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann chewed her bottom lip. \u201cI don\u2019t rightly know, Little Joe, if there\u2019s anything we could do.\u201d She hesitated. \u201cAnything we should do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe leaned back, dropped his eyes, and said softly, \u201cI was only thinking of my brother\u2019s happiness, and Miss Margie\u2019s, and pa\u2019s, and, well, everybody\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPapa always did think highly of Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd Pa thinks real highly of Margret Ann. Don\u2019t you see how fine the two of them getting wed would be?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, but what could we do. Margie\u2019s got a mind of her own.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded in agreement. \u201cSo does Adam, but a little nudging couldn\u2019t hurt, now could it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of nudging?\u201d The look in Melody Ann\u2019s face told Joe the hook had been swallowed and set.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, to start it would help things if they spent time remembering what it was like before and thinking how fine it was when they were sparking each other.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann brought her pointer finger to her lips and chewed on the nail. \u201cThat wouldn\u2019t be hard, and it couldn\u2019t hurt anything.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what Hoss and me figured. We\u2019ve already started in with Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss is in on this too?\u201d Melody Ann considered Hoss a much more stable member of the Cartwright clan, and after all he was a grown man.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe nodded solemnly. \u201cLots of folks do a little matchmaking, Melody Ann.\u201d Joe let the thought settle in the girl\u2019s mind and then looked at her with his most pleading gaze. \u201cAre you in?\u201d He held out his hand.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She took it and shook it gently. \u201cYeah, I\u2019m in.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sound of boots in the next room drew their attention to the fact the Hoss and Andrew Rainsford were about to enter the kitchen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll talk again Sunday,\u201d Little Joe whispered quickly. Then he raised his voice as the two men entered the room. \u201cBest come quick, brother, if you want any of this bread and preserves.\u201d Taking a large bite, he chewed appreciatively as a large grin grew on his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shook the reverend\u2019s hand and slipped away from his father\u2019s side. Scanning the people standing in the churchyard, he spotted the Rainsfords. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he strolled in their direction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHello, Mr. Rainsford, Miss Margie, Melody Ann,\u201d he called out cheerfully as he approached.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Each of the Rainsfords responded warmly and smiled at the boy. Behind her sister\u2019s shoulder, Melody Ann caught Little Joe\u2019s head gesture and gave a slight nod. As Little Joe strolled out of sight, Melody Ann murmured an excuse and slipped into the crowd. A few minutes later, she and Little Joe stood behind the screen of several lilac bushes in the far corner of the churchyard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHave you been nudging Miss Margie\u2019s memory?\u201d Little Joe asked eagerly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes. I\u2019ve probably mentioned your brother more times in the past few days than in the rest of my life.\u201d Melody Ann put the tip of her pointer finger against her bottom lip. \u201cMaybe I\u2019ve mentioned him too often.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe gave a definite shake of his head. \u201cHoss and I keep slipping Miss Margie into the conversation. What else have ya done?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Melody Ann drew out the syllable, \u201cI asked her what it was like to be betrothed like I was dreaming about it for myself, you know, and she told me, well, some things. Then I asked her about the first time she got kissed because I figured it was probably Adam who kissed her first, and it was.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This time Little Joe\u2019s head nodded. \u201cThat was good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann\u2019s eyes sparkled as she leaned close to Joe\u2019s ear and whispered, \u201cShe said, umm, she said he was real good at it. Kissing, I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s eyes sparkled in response. \u201cWell, he is a Cartwright! When did he do it the first time?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen they were berry picking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t say.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t ask!\u201d Melody Ann heard the rebuke at her oversight in Little Joe\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe sighed. \u201cYour pa let Miss Margie go off alone with Adam berry picking when they were old enough for kissing?\u201d He gave an incredulous shake of his head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot exactly. Margie went off berry picking with Missy. Adam went berry picking with Hoss. At least that\u2019s what my folks and yours thought. Then they met up. Adam and Margie went off a ways for a while. Margie made a deal with Missy not to tell. I don\u2019t know how Adam got Hoss to keep quiet, but as far as I know they didn\u2019t get caught.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss wouldn\u2019t tell something that would get Adam a tanning.\u201d Little Joe grinned. \u201cHoss knows where they were then. What kind of berries were they picking?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStrawberries.\u201d Melody Ann gave a speculative grin. \u201cMaybe that\u2019s why Margie favors strawberries so.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s thoughts had moved on. Considering the fact that girls were more likely to talk about weddings and betrothals and such as a matter of course, he decided to assign Melody Ann a task. \u201cMelody Ann, you need to get Miss Margie to tell ya about when Adam asked her to marry him. Where and when and how and, well, everything about it. You can do that, can\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo it then and see if you can find out about anything that was special to them when they were courting.\u201d Melody Ann nodded her assent. \u201cGood. We\u2019ll talk next Sunday and make a plan.\u201d Then a sudden gleam in Little Joe\u2019s eyes caused a tendril of worry in Melody Ann\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA plan, ummmm, shouldn\u2019t Hoss be here when we make that plan?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d Joe agreed easily. \u201cI better go.\u201d He darted off leaving Melody Ann chewing on the nail of her pointer finger.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe leaned back into the sweet-smelling hay. \u201cYou know, I never would have dreamed of Adam being so deceitful.\u201d He had just recounted to Hoss everything Melody Ann had told him as they sat in the loft of the barn.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf you plan on sparkin\u2019 with a gal before your twenty-one and married, you better count on deceiving Pa some.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shifted nervously, and the flicker in his eye made Hoss\u2019s brow furrow slightly. \u201cStill, I thought Adam was more of a goody-goody than that and using you, his little brother, as a cover.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, you ain\u2019t never used me to cover your doings.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s different. You\u2019re my big brother! Anyways, can you remember where you were at the time?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, now, ya said we were picking strawberries. Did we walk or ride?\u201d Hoss mused.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Joe snorted in exasperation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss snorted back. \u201cNow give me a minute. Missy and Margie would have had to walk, so . . . no, no, they didn\u2019t. I remember! Missy and me. . .”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care what Missy and you did. Do you know where you did it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but why. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a plan.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s eyes gleamed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Joe, what kinda plan are you. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA good one, Hoss, and simple.\u00a0\u00a0 Besides it\u2019s meant to be. After all the wild strawberries are getting ripe just now.\u201d Little Joe grinned and laid the plan out for his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It had taken some manipulation on the part of both Little Joe and Hoss, but Adam and his little brother were right where they needed to be at the appointed time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d Little Joe reined his horse to a stop. \u201cYou know what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking how seldom we get to eat any fresh berries now seeing as there ain\u2019t any kids with the time to pick them anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyebrow inched upward, and a smirk came to his lips as he looked at the fourteen-year-old. \u201cIs that so?\u201d he drawled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe ignored the smirk, which should have been a warning to Adam. \u201cYeah. We\u2019ve got a bit of time, and if I remember there\u2019s a stand of wild strawberries just over that way a bit.\u201d Joe pointed in the appropriate direction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou want to go berry picking?\u201d Adam made a show of looking over Little Joe and his mount. \u201cDo you have a bucket or two tucked into your saddle bags?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe did give his brother a sneer for the mockery. \u201cWe could go and eat a few is all I\u2019m saying. Though I might have a sack in my saddlebag if we want to take a few home to Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you think fresh strawberries would be worth a couple of minutes ride?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI suppose, but. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe worked real hard, Adam. We deserve a reward.\u201d Little Joe gave his brother a pleading look. \u201cI\u2019ve really got a hankering for some strawberries.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, all right then. If I remember that patch always did have the earliest and sweetest berries.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A grin spread over Little Joe\u2019s face. \u201cYeah, it always did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam spotted Margie and Melody Ann before Little Joe and called out to them. Little Joe\u2019s grin widened as the two sisters answered. Reining their horses to a stop beside the Rainsfords, Adam and Joe slipped from their saddles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPicking strawberries, I see,\u201d Adam observed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMelody Ann had a sudden hankering for them this morning,\u201d Margie replied.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDid she now?\u201d Adam slid a glance over at Joe and quirked his lips. \u201cSo does my baby brother.\u201d Adam emphasized the word baby<\/em> slightly and paused to listen for the expected sputter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen it was Joe\u2019s idea for you to be here?\u201d Margie gave her sister an appraising glance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe ignored the appellation and remarked cheerily, \u201cAnd a great idea it was, right, Adam? We get sweet strawberries and the sweeter company of two pretty gals.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ingrained manners prevented Adam doing anything but giving his assent. \u201cSo right, Joseph, such a fortunate coincidence.\u201d Joe and Margie were too familiar with Adam\u2019s voice to miss the sarcastic emphasis on the word coincidence<\/em>; even Melody Ann recognized it. She glanced at Little Joe, but he simply forged ahead.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSince it\u2019s Melody Ann and me that want those strawberries, we\u2019ll get to hunting them. You and Miss Margie can just rest here while we do, Elder Brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann joined in after a nudging look from Joe, \u201cYeah, we might have to go down a ways to get more; Margie and I have about picked this spot clean.\u201d The younger pair then quickly took the two baskets and headed away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam turned and tied the horses, so they could graze without wandering. Then he crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against a tree. Looking down at Margie with a wry grin, he stated, \u201cIt\u2019s your fault, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMy fault!\u201d Margie tossed her head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd how, Adam Cartwright, is your brother\u2019s and my sister\u2019s attempt at matchmaking my fault?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re the one who told Little Joe that we had been engaged.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, I didn\u2019t realize you had never told him.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d forgotten.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd when he asked, I was supposed to lie?\u201d Adam watched her nostrils flare, her color heighten, and her eyes flame. He had always found her perversely attractive when she was angry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou could have equivocated,\u201d he suggested.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was never anywhere as adept at that as you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam took a step closer to her. \u201cOh, you do well enough when you set your mind to it.\u201d His voice had softened and lowered in volume. He stepped to within inches of where Margie stood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Their closeness forced Margie to tilt her head to look into his face. Her breathing quickened. \u201cMelody Ann mentions you half-a-dozen times a day.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI hear your name from both Joe and Hoss. They even have Pa remembering for them, though I don\u2019t think he realizes he\u2019s a pawn in their plan.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow do you think my sister got tied up in it with those brothers of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe Cartwright charm.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie took a step back and quirked an eyebrow. \u201cThe Cartwright<\/em> charm?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam ignored her query. \u201cHave you been eating any of those strawberries?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you want to know?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam closed the gap between them and slipped an arm around her waist. She leaned back against it and lifted her eyes to meet his. \u201cI enjoy the taste of strawberries many ways, but my favorite by far is this.\u201d His head came down and settled his mouth against hers. The taste, the tingle, and the deep sweetness were the same as they had been the first time the two had kissed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie slipped from his arms. \u201cYou always did that far too well, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t recall your minding.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t.\u201d She turned away to stare in the direction their siblings had gone. \u201cThat part of things always seemed right.\u201d Then she turned to face him again. \u201cMelody Ann\u2019s na\u00efve enough to think if you enjoy kissing the boy he\u2019s your knight in shining armor; Little Joe too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you don\u2019t believe in knights on white steeds anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSport\u2019s a chestnut.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The mood had changed, and Adam simply replied, \u201cThat he is.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie\u2019s tone was serious. \u201cI don\u2019t want, well, I don\u2019t want the children\u2019s silliness to, well, I don\u2019t want something to happen to spoil our friendship, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll always be friends, Margret Ann.\u201d His tone was mildly chiding as if she should not consider things being otherwise.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill you talk to Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s right hand tugged his left ear. \u201cI do believe it\u2019s time I did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll talk to Melody Ann.\u201d Margie did not hear Adam\u2019s sigh and managed to stifle her own.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes swept the area around them. Then he turned to Margie and smiled. \u201cAs they didn\u2019t leave us any of the berries you\u2019d picked, we\u2019ll have to pick our own.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBlast them,\u201d Margie said softly but with vehemence. \u201cAfter you, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam bowed elegantly and doffed his hat. Taking her arm, he led her to the berry plants with as much gallantry as if they were attending a royal banquet. Then their eyes met, and they laughed. They had always laughed at the same things.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe stood, brushed the dirt from his pants and shirt, thrust his hands into his pockets, and sauntered over to where Melody Ann knelt plucking strawberries. They had decided that Little Joe was more skilled and more appropriately dress for secret observation while Melody Ann needed to make sure that they returned with filled baskets of berries as their older siblings were already harboring suspicions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d Melody Ann hands stilled, and she gazed inquiringly at Little Joe.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe picked a strawberry from the basket and popped it into his mouth letting a grin expand on his face. \u201cHe kissed her; she kissed him back. A loooong kiss!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A pleased smile curled Melody Ann\u2019s lips. \u201cMaybe this will work. Margie wouldn\u2019t just kiss any old fellow.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou know how respectable Adam is; he wouldn\u2019t go about kissing a girl he wasn\u2019t willing to marry.\u201d Joe ate another strawberry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat should we do next?\u201d Melody Ann was quite willing to let the younger boy lead in this scheme.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUmmm\u201d Little Joe drew his knees up and placed his arms and chin upon them as he settled in to think. \u201cWhat did you find out about when Adam did the asking?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it wasn\u2019t like you would have thought.\u00a0\u00a0 Not very romantic, sorta unplanned and all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut Miss Margie told ya all about it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPretty much.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Joe demanded wondering why the girl was hesitating.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Anne settled back and began her story. \u201cSeems your family and mine and the Larkins- you remember the Larkins- well, all three families were up at the lake having a picnic to celebrate Margie\u2019s birthday when Timmy Larkin started in about the Indian treasure over on the island. The Larkin boys had this raft, and pretty soon the parents let the kids go over to the island to hunt treasure- you know, like we\u2019ve all done- except you and I didn\u2019t go that time because they said we were too little.\u201d Little Joe snorted in disgust but made no comment. \u201cAnyways, they were told to all stay together, and Adam and Margie and Young Tom were supposed to be in charge of the littler ones. Margie didn\u2019t say exactly how- I mean, I know they would never just up and go off- but it seems Margie and Adam ended up separated from the rest and all by themselves. They didn\u2019t do nothing really\u2026\u201d A raised eyebrow from Little Joe made Melody Ann pause. \u201cNo, really, I believe Margie that they didn\u2019t, but when they realized they were alone, well, at first they enjoyed it a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just bet they did.\u00a0<\/em> Little Joe smiled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen they realized it had gotten late and headed back, but when they got to where the raft had been it wasn\u2019t there.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s eyes widened. He exhaled a low, \u201cOhhh.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, they called for the others, and then they realized they must have crossed back. See, Hoss got to worrying about Adam, and then Millie started carrying on about Margie being missing. My sisters all got upset, and Young Tom decided to take everybody back to their folks. Of course, Margie and Adam didn\u2019t find out about any of this until later, and when Adam lit into Young Tom for not having the sense to know they were fine and just wait, Young Tom said that he did what he needed to do, and it was Adam\u2019s own fault leaving him with a bunch of young\u2019ns and that he wouldn\u2019t have sat there with three caterwauling girls either.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam would have waited,\u201d Little Joe stated, \u201cor found them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann shrugged. \u201cLike I said, when they couldn\u2019t find anybody or the raft, Margie and Adam kinda figured the rest had gone back to the folks. They knew somebody would come back for them, so they waited.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBet they were wishing it would be Young Tom and not Pa or your father that came back.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah, and they started thinking, well, what folks might think and say about, well, them being alone there so long. Then Adam said it didn\u2019t really matter if my papa sent for a preacher because he wanted to marry Margie anyway. Then he asked her if she wanted to marry him. She said she did and was he asking.\u00a0\u00a0 He said he was, and they got betrothed.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe nodded; it made perfect sense to him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen my papa and your pa got to the island, well, Adam and Margie told them they wanted to get married, and I guess all our folks got caught up in that discussion, and Margie and Adam never did get into trouble for going off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shook his head. \u201cPa doesn\u2019t ever get that distracted. Adam got in trouble, I bet; he just didn\u2019t tell Margie.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann harrumphed but decided not to debate the issue. \u201cAnyway, that\u2019s how they got betrothed. In the end, everyone agreed they could be, but they had to wait until Margie was eighteen to get married.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At that point, the conspirators heard their names being called.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBest not make them mad,\u201d Little Joe observed springing to his feet. \u201cCome on!\u201d He reached out his hand to Melody Ann and helped her stand. They each picked up a basket and walked quickly to join their siblings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam ate the last of the sweetened strawberries and pound cake that Hop Sing had served for dessert. Setting down his fork, he settled his gaze on his little brother trying to decide if he should talk to both Hoss and Joe or just Little Joe alone and when the best time would be for the discussion. As he studied Little Joe, the thought crept into Adam\u2019s mind that his brother looked not just pleased with himself but happy. Adam chewed the inside of his bottom lip.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He wants me to be happy, and he thinks marrying Margie would make me happy<\/em>. Adam\u2019s right hand crept toward his left ear. Is that such an awful thing, his wanting me to be happy<\/em>? He\u2019s always liked Margie even when he was a little scamp<\/em>. It\u2019s not like he was pushing me at someone like Abigail Jones<\/em>. Adam rose abruptly. \u201cExcuse me, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben watched his eldest walk over to the credenza and reach for his gun belt. \u201cWhere are you headed, Son?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust for a ride, Pa.\u201d Adam buckled on his gun as he turned toward his father in time to see Ben\u2019s slight frown. \u201cI\u2019ll be fine and not too late.\u201d The frown did not fade. \u201cPromise.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be holding you to that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam smiled and tipped the hat he had picked up toward his father. He turned his back and walked out the door before he rolled his eyes. Don\u2019t I know you will!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam kept his promise and returned before his pa had begun to worry instead of simply fret. Adam\u2019s desire to ride about alone at night had long been an issue between Ben and his eldest. Before Adam left for college it had been a forbidden activity, and it was a couple of years after his return before he had made his departure while his father was in the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m home, Pa.\u201d Adam\u2019s tone was light and slightly mocking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben looked up from his paper, arched his eyebrow, and then said simply, \u201cGood boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam recognized the tone. Point taken, Pa<\/em>! He cleared his throat. \u201cHoss and Joe have both gone up to bed?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHoss was tired from clearing that waterhole,\u201d Ben answered, \u201cand it is past Little Joe\u2019s bedtime.\u201d The fact that Little Joe still had a set bedtime came from the reality that he would have stayed up until the wee hours of every morning if the decision had been his.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ll follow their lead,\u201d Adam remarked and started toward the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d Ben\u2019s voice stopped his son in his tracks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs there something I should know about?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot really.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot really?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, it\u2019s just. . .\u201d Adam turned to face his father and walked toward him. \u201cWell, it\u2019s just that Joe and Hoss too, well, they\u2019ve been trying a bit of matchmaking.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben leaned back and templed his fingers, \u201cI see.\u201d He did not pretend that he could not figure out who they were trying to match. He studied his eldest and then sighed. \u201cYour brothers have your best interests at heart.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know, Pa. I\u2019m not angry, but I need to let them know that sort of thing, well, it\u2019s not, it\u2019s never welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben searched Adam\u2019s face. \u201cHoss will see that. Your younger brother may take a little more convincing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI told you, Pa; I\u2019m not angry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cVery well. Good night, son.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Pa.\u201d Adam turned and ascended the stairs as his father gazed speculatively at his back. He stopped at Hoss\u2019s door and could discern his brother\u2019s snoring without opening it. He then went to Little Joe\u2019s door and eased it open.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou know better, Joseph.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe jumped. He had been reading by the light of a candle with a rolled towel against the bottom of the door to block the light. He had been so deeply focused on his dime novel that he had not heard his brother\u2019s footsteps.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOhhh.\u201d It was more of a soft moan than an utterance. He bit his lip as his older brother walked toward his bed. \u201cAdam, please. . . Are you going to tell, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam leaned over and picked up the book that had fallen to the floor. He looked at the cover and shook his head. He rolled the soft-cover volume and stuffed it into his back pocket.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre ya, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam lowered himself to the edge of the bed. \u201cNot this time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe exhaled in relief. \u201cI\u2019ll go straight to sleep,\u201d he offered and slid down beneath the covers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWait. I want to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s serious tone caused Little Joe\u2019s eyes to widen and stilled his breathing. Then he ventured, \u201cAbout what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose. \u201cWe didn\u2019t just happen to go after those strawberries at the same time as Margie and her sister, did we?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe considered several possible answers before he simply said, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou and Melody Ann had things arranged?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d This answer was even softer in volume.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam leaned back against the footboard and let his gaze sweep over Joe. \u201cYou\u2019re a little tall and overly clothed for playing Cupid.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shifted nervously. \u201cYou\u2019ve always liked Miss Margie, and you planned to marry her.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat was long ago, Joseph, and part of the past not the present.\u201d A chiding tone had crept into Adam\u2019s words.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe answered without thinking. \u201cYour kissing her is in the present!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam arched his eyebrow. \u201cYou\u2019ve been spying on us, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been doing it right out in the open,\u201d Joe sputtered back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam straightened, and his voice grew stern. \u201cWhatever is between Margret Ann and myself is our private affair, little brother. I am going tell you this, and then I shall repeat it only once and that is to tell Hoss. Margie and I do not need nor want nor will we tolerate any more of your matchmaking as well-intended as it may be.\u201d Adam\u2019s eyes flashed, but then he reined in his irritation. \u201cJoe, I\u2019m not angry, truly I\u2019m not, but that will change quickly if you do not sheath your arrows and hang up your little Cupid wings. Do I make myself clear?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe nodded.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFine.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Adam rose. Then he smiled down at his brother. He leaned over and pulled the bedcovers up to the boy\u2019s chin and said softly, \u201cI\u2019ll give you a sister-in-law soon enough. There\u2019s no need to rush things.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay, Adam.\u201d Little Joe rolled onto his side and curled up comfortably.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood.\u00a0\u00a0 Now get to sleep because Pa will be the next one up those stairs.\u201d Adam picked up the candle and exited the room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe snuggled deeper into his quilt. He knew the sister-in-law he wanted, and Adam had said not one word about not loving Margie Rainsford.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMargie was real firm about it, Little Joe,\u201d Melody Anne declared, \u201cShe said straight out, ‘No more matchmaking!\u2019 So I guess that is that.\u201d Margie\u2019s sister sighed and shrugged her shoulders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam said the same.\u201d Little Joe paused and looked at the girl sitting in the grass before him.\u00a0\u00a0 Then he said softly, \u201cI don\u2019t always do what Adam says, sometimes I do what I know is best.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cWhat does Hoss say?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was Joe\u2019s turn to sigh. \u201cHe says we have to quit.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, then. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot because he thinks it shouldn\u2019t be done,\u201d Little Joe inserted quickly, \u201cbut because he thinks more nudging will just get Adam\u2019s stubborn up.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMargie\u2019s too,\u201d Melody Ann added with a nod of her head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNudging, yeah, more nudging might do just that, but. . .\u201d Joe paused.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann jumped in, \u201cBut what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s time for one last almighty shove!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Little Joe\u2019s eyes shone as he leaned closer to the girl. Melody Ann only shifted nervously as her brow furrowed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her hand slipped up, and she nibbled at the nail of her pointer finger. After a few seconds she said hesitantly, \u201cWhat kind of shove?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe leaned conspiratorially closer, \u201cWhen we got them together where they first kissed, they kissed, didn\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, if we get them alone together where they got betrothed,\u201d Little Joe let the thought hang for a few moments in the air between them, \u201cwell, if that didn\u2019t work then there wouldn\u2019t be no more we could do anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann swallowed convulsively, \u201cNo way Margie\u2019s gonna just come with me to the island. She\u2019s no fool, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNeither is Adam. We\u2019d have to trick \u2018em and trick \u2018em good.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat kind of trick?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam would go anywhere with the devil himself if he thought I was hurt and needed him. I bet Miss Margie would do about the same for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, sure, but. . .\u201d Melody Ann hesitated, \u201cthere\u2019s no way they wouldn\u2019t know later that they had been tricked.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNooo, but if they get themselves betrothed, most probably it will be like the first time in that everybody will be so excited they won\u2019t think about being mad at us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIf they don\u2019t?\u201d Melody Ann now chewed on the nails of three fingers.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam will kill me! <\/em>Little Joe kept this thought silent. He saw nervous fear in the girl\u2019s face and said, \u201cI\u2019ll try to take all the blame, Melody Ann. Folks will know it was my idea anyway. I\u2019ll get them to let me take all the punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u201d She shook her head. \u201cNo, that wouldn\u2019t be right.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe reached out and put his hand over the one that still rested in Melody Ann\u2019s lap. \u201cI figure getting Adam hitched to Miss Margie forever would be worth whatever punishment Pa or Adam gave me. It\u2019s not like they wouldn\u2019t forgive us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know they would forgive us.\u201d Melody Ann gazed directly into Little Joe\u2019s eyes. \u201cWhy are you so sure about it being the right thing to do?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe gazed steadily back. \u201cAdam never said one word about not loving Miss Margie, not one. If he didn\u2019t love her, he would have said it straight out, \u2018Joseph, just stop it because I don\u2019t love Margie!\u2019 but he didn\u2019t because Adam doesn\u2019t ever lie to me, not straight out. He loves her, Melody Ann. Did Miss Margie say she didn\u2019t love Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d Melody Ann shook her head. Then her eyes dropped to their hands, and Joe barely heard her say, \u201cI think she\u2019s always loved him.\u201d Her eyes came up, and her hand turned to clasp Joe\u2019s. \u201cI\u2019m in!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe\u2019s smile was dazzling. \u201cGreat! We\u2019ve got some planning to do. It\u2019s gonna be tough \u2018cause Adam don\u2019t trick easy, but we\u2019ll get it done.\u201d Little Joe enthusiastically slapped Melody Ann on the back, and then remembered suddenly that she was a girl and snatched back both his hands.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat we will, Joe!\u201d Melody Ann laughed and returned the gesture. For the first time in his life, Little Joe saw a touch of Margret Ann in her little sister.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure you can row all the way back yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann snorted and flounced her head. \u201cI\u2019ve rowed back and forth to this island before, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ignoring her tone Little Joe continued, \u201cAnd you know where to find Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann rolled her eyes. \u201cYes. And I know what to tell him and what to do after I get him here.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd you\u2019re sure there\u2019s no way your pa will be home?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe left yesterday and won\u2019t be home before Thursday. Even if something happened to make him turn around, he won\u2019t be home before evening, or he would have been home yesterday.\u201d Exasperation had driven Melody Ann\u2019s hands to her hips.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen it\u2019s now or never \u2018cause we\u2019ll never be able to get things set like this again,\u201d Little Joe stated with a decisive nod. \u201cGet in, and I\u2019ll push you off.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann scrambled into the skiff. As she picked up the oars, she looked at Little Joe. \u201cWe are doing the right thing, aren\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Without hesitating, Joe stated, \u201cWe\u2019re fixing a past wrong, Melody Ann, and someday Adam and Miss Margie will thank us for it.\u201d He pushed the skiff into the water. I just wish there was a snowball\u2019s chance in Hades that that someday would be today<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam heard her before he saw her, but it took a few seconds for him to recognize the girl that rode up screaming his name. He caught her horse\u2019s bridle and cooed him to a standstill feeling the lather beneath his hand as he ran it down the equine neck.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMelody Ann! What in the world?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMr. Adam, you\u2019ve got to come; you\u2019ve got to come quick. He\u2019s hurt! He needs you. You\u2019ve got to come!\u201d Melody Ann had ridden at a gallop, and the panting breaths that punctuated her words were real.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho needs me, child? Has something happened to your father?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, it\u2019s Little Joe. Little Joe needs you.\u201d She saw the panic flicker in his eyes even as his voice grew cooler with precise control, and a tendril of regret circled her heart.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe\u2019s hurt.\u201d He registered the girl\u2019s nodded affirmation and began a silent prayer. \u201cTake me to him.\u201d He released the bridle of her horse and mounted Sport. Seconds later he was following Melody Ann toward the lake.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam saw Cochise and passed by Melody Ann headed for his brother\u2019s horse. His eyes searched the area and spotted the skiff but found no signs of his brother. \u201cWhere\u2019s Joe? Where is he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Coming to a halt, the girl answered, \u201cOn the island.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s head snapped in the direction of the lake and gazed across the water. \u201cThe island?\u201d He kept his curse soft enough that Melody Ann almost did not hear it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe were. . .\u201d she began.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTell me as we go,\u201d Adam snapped. He had dismounted and ground-tied Sport before Melody Ann could answer. Then he swung her from her horse in one motion. \u201cCome on.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With immediate obedience Melody Ann scrambled into the boat. Shoving it into the water, Adam heaved himself in. He grabbed the oars and began rowing. \u201cWhat in the devil happened?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, umm, Little Joe and I, umm, we went out to the island.\u201d Her voice was breathless, and her words came in spurts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhatever for?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUmm, well, Little Joe and I, we were working together, well, you know, and then you and Margie both said no more. We didn\u2019t have anything more to plan, and, well, talking to Margie reminded me about the island and that story about the treasure. Little Joe, well, he wanted to do something. I guess he was kinda bored, and he got the idea of us finding the treasure and all. I don\u2019t know why; I guess I wanted some adventure too \u2018cause everybody\u2019s always saying how I\u2019m, well, how I haven\u2019t got much, umm, spunk, not like Margie or Missy even; I decided to go with him. I mean I didn\u2019t really think we\u2019d find anything like Joe did but I thought. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam cut off her recital with a curt, \u201cSo you went to the island. What happened?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann bit her lip and drew in a deep breath. \u201cLittle Joe fell and hurt his leg.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe hurt his leg: How badly?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think maybe it\u2019s broke. I couldn\u2019t. . .we tried a little but. . .Joe said it was too far to the skiff and that you were working close by. He said go and get you and things would be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just fine!<\/em> Adam remembered that Melody Ann was just a girl and swallowed the scathing remark that sprang to his lips. \u201cAnd everything will be fine. You\u2019ll show me where he is, and I\u2019ll get him home.\u201d He did not notice her lack of response, and neither of them spoke until the skiff reached the island\u2019s shore.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam jump out and pulled the skiff onto the sand. He scanned the area and noticed the footprints, two sets headed away from shore and one returning to the water. Melody Ann jumped from the boat and stood beside Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShow me to Joe.\u201d The command was curt, and Adam had already headed off toward the trees.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Swallowing hard, Melody Ann called, \u201cThis way.\u201d She lifted her damp skirts and trudged from the beach. Good luck, Joe, and hurry<\/em>!\u00a0 She fought to keep her eyes from searching for her co-conspirator.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe made sure that Adam and Melody Ann were out of sight before he ran across the beach and pushed the skiff into the water. Pulling himself aboard, Joe grabbed the oars and began to row furiously. He did not take time to look back but focused on reaching Cochise as quickly as possible. Beaching the boat, he took time only to hide Sport from sight, and then he was in the saddle and headed toward the Raisfords\u2019 ranch house. \u201cCome on, Cooch! She\u2019s not going to be able to keep him fooled for long.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe gave a silent hallelujah when he saw Margie Rainsford at the nearest edge of the Rainsfords\u2019 considerable garden. He started shouting her name immediately.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMiss Margie! Miss Margie!\u201d He halted Cochise with a flourish and immediately launched into his tale. \u201cMelody Ann\u2019s hurt! We went to the island for treasure, but she fell and hurt her leg. She\u2019s calling for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMelody Ann\u2019s hurt! On the island? But . . .we\u2019ll need. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI said I\u2019d bring you to her. You\u2019ve got to come. Then I\u2019ll go for help.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s alone. She\u2019s crying. She needs you. She needs you now!\u201d Joe saw the panicked wavering in Margie\u2019s eyes and urged her relentlessly. \u201cShe\u2019s not bleeding. She needs you; then I\u2019ll go. Come on! I\u2019ll take you on Cochise.\u201d He held out his arm as if the decision had already been made, and seconds later Margie was on Cochise headed for the lake.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Saints preserve me<\/em>! Adam followed the thought with a mental curse. He looked for some sign that the two children had passed anywhere near his current position. Then he took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before turning toward Melody Ann. \u201cAre you sure this is the way you and Joe came?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNooo!\u201d The girl\u2019s answer was a piercing wail followed by a burst of sobs. Adam grabbed her arms and then gained control of his temper before speaking.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou have to calm down and think, Melly child.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI think. . .I don\u2019t know. . .Joe was leading. . .\u201d The girl spoke between sobs and seemed unable to complete a thought.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps we should go back to the beach, and I\u2019ll try tracking. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNooo!\u201d This wail was louder, longer, and sharper than her first. \u201cI can find him. I can!\u201d She took off at a dead run; Adam cursed and followed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There was no opportunity for conversation on the gallop to the lake. Little Joe hustled Margie into the skiff and set course for the island. With Margie\u2019s first question, he began an unfocused soliloquy of half-sentences interspersed by pants. Deciding questions could wait, Margie insisted on helping with the rowing, and conversation ceased. When they beached the boat, Joe was on the beach and headed toward the trees in seconds calling for Margie to follow. Little Joe did not think Margie Rainsford would notice two different sets of boot prints, but he did not want to risk her glancing around the beach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe! Wait a second!\u201d Margie called as she hurried after him impeded by her long skirts.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome on. This way!\u201d Joe continued to rush forward knowing Margie would follow in his wake.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How could I lose her<\/em>! There was no reason he should have lost sight of the girl and no way she could have gone beyond the range of his shout, so how could he be standing wondering where in blazes Melody Ann had gone? Adam\u2019s hand rose to pinch the bridge of his nose. If she\u2019s not answering, it\u2019s not because she can\u2019t hear, it\u2019s because\u00a0\u00a0 \u2026 <\/em>The answer came to him full-blown, and his curse ricocheted off the surrounding rocks. I\u2019ll kill them! Lord, I\u2019ll kill them both and don\u2019t you dare have mercy on their souls<\/em>!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s call rivaled his father at his most commanding, in her hiding place Melody Ann shuddered at the sound. She bit her lip and wondered if Little Joe had had enough time to bring Margie to the island.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMelody Ann Rainsford, you will come here, and you will come now! You\u2019ll only make it worse for you and Joseph if you don\u2019t.\u201d Adam knew his voice would carry as far as needed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann chewed her fingernails for a few seconds and then decided. When Adam saw her emerge from a cleft in the rocks, a wave of relief washed over him, but it was immediately followed by repeating waves of anger. His fists clenched, and he remained silent as the girl walked slowly toward him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe\u2019s not hurt.\u201d It was a statement not a question, but she answered anyway.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, sir.\u201d She seemed to wither and shrink beneath his glare.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhere is he?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure exactly.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe was to bring Margie here?\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was sharp enough to cut bread, and Melody Ann winced each time he spoke.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam forced himself to take a deep breath and release it slowly. \u201cThis was another of his matchmaking plots.\u201d Melody Ann nodded her head. \u201cI swear, when I get my hands on him \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my fault too; it wasn\u2019t just Little Joe; it\u2019s my fault too.\u201d Melody Ann looked up at Adam for the first time, and her eyes pled for mercy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, I intend to deal with you too, little missy; don\u2019t you think otherwise.\u201d He reached out and took her by the arm and started back toward the beach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam heard them before he could see them and called out, \u201cJoe! Margie!\u201d Melody Ann came to a dead stop. Adam called again, and a few seconds later Little Joe and Margie came into sight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the sound of Adam\u2019s voice, Margie Rainsford had felt a flash of relief. It had lasted three seconds before the question of why on earth he would be on the island intruded. By the time they emerged from the trees, she was not surprised to see her sister standing a few yards behind Adam on two perfectly good legs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam,\u201d Margie closed the distance between them swiftly while Little Joe trailed slowly behind, \u201cShe\u2019s fine?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cObviously they are both fit as a fiddle for the moment.\u201d Adam stared past Margie and settled a glare on his younger brother. His anger and the import of his final words were apparent to all.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie\u2019s own anger flared, but one look at her cowed baby sister cooled it to a simmer. Setting her gaze on Adam, she shuddered and kept her place between the brothers as Adam began his advance.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, now, Adam, wait a minute.\u201d She brought her hands up and placed them flat against his chest. \u201cThey didn\u2019t. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam caught her wrists and lifted her hands from his chest but stopped and looked down at her. \u201cI\u2019ll deal with this, and I assure you it will never happen again.\u201d His voice was cold and even. Margie knew him well enough to recognize the depth of his rage.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe told you he was hurt?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen ran me around. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t realize. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, they will. They most definitely will.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re too angry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course, but. . . You have to calm down some before. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI kill him.\u201d The words were delivered with a smooth coldness that would have convinced most people of Adam\u2019s sincerity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam Cartwright, that\u2019s enough of that kind of talk.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam released Margie\u2019s wrists and looked up for the first time since their conversation had begun. A growl left his throat as he realized his mistake. \u201cJoe!\u201d The curse that followed caused Margie\u2019s jaw to drop. Adam turned three-hundred and sixty degrees and realized that not only his brother but also Melody Ann had disappeared.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie\u2019s eyes had followed his. \u201cThey\u2019re gone.\u201d It was somewhere between a question and an exclamation. \u201cLord in heaven, I may let you at them both.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked down at her flushed face and flaming eyes. The wind ruffled the stray curls that had escaped from her coiled braids. For a moment his only thought was how softly her hair used to curl around his fingers. \u201cI would have had him if you hadn\u2019t stopped me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lifting her gaze to his face, Margie replied, \u201cAnd the sheriff would have had you before sundown. Murder is murder even if the victim is your little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa would never file charges for simple assault.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, Mr. Ben never would; he\u2019d handle your simple assault himself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam allowed himself an exaggerated sigh. \u201cThere is that. Hoss would be none too pleased either; he has an unreasonable fondness for the boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome to think of it, Papa\u2019s awfully fond of Melody Ann.\u201d Margie cocked her head and studied Adam. \u201cHe\u2019d file charges against you, and I never was as good at assault as you are.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rolled his eyes. \u201cYou had your moments and a great deal of potential.\u201d He could not prevent a wicked smile from appearing on his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She slapped the back of her hand against his stomach and with more weariness than grace sank to the ground. \u201cThey wanted us to have time alone together here. Eventually they will reappear.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam dropped down to sit beside her. \u201cTheir reappearance may be debatable. It would make better sense to wait on the beach.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLet me catch my breath first.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d He leaned back on his elbow and spent the next minute studying her profile.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe won\u2019t be too scared to make an appearance, will he?\u201d Margie inquired with a touch of worry.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHe had to know that at some point the truth would be clear and that he would have to face me. Melody Ann knows I wouldn\u2019t really kill her, doesn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe knows I wouldn\u2019t let you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, then that\u2019s that.\u201d He lay flat and stared up at the sky. \u201cThey\u2019re nothing if not persistent, though.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMelody Ann always liked you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe thought you were the next best thing to rock candy the way you pampered and petted him.\u201d There was a slight accusation in Adam\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that so, and just how much time did Melly spend in your lap getting cuddled, not to mention how you cosseted Martha, Millie, and Missy.\u201d Margie\u2019s voice became edged with indignation as she spoke.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI never baked them cookies; you must have baked hundreds for Hoss.\u201d Adam had risen to a seated position.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSweets for the sweet they say, Hoss was always the sweetest Cartwright.\u201d She turned at the waist and gave him a look he had not seen in years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure about that are you?\u201d He leaned forward and placed a hand on each of her arms.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely.\u201d As he pulled her to him, her eyes gleamed. \u201cBut I was always one to prefer a little spice.\u201d She made no effort to resist his kiss, but then she never had.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam released her and ran his tongue over his lips. \u201cNo strawberries; this time it\u2019s blackberry preserves.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In their hiding place, Little Joe and Melody Ann heard the mingled laughter and smiled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll go down and wait by the beach. Down where I hid before,\u201d Little Joe whispered into Melody Ann\u2019s ear. She nodded, and they began to quietly head toward the cove where the skiff was beached.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie mine<\/em>. The words echoed in Adam\u2019s mind and played with images of a laughing girl. He reached out slowly and touched a stray curl wrapping it around his finger. Somehow the act seemed filled with a deeper familiarity than their kiss. Margie\u2019s teeth sunk into her lower lip.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d His name was little more than an exhalation. Then Margie rose to her feet in one swift move. \u201cIt\u2019s time we headed to the beach.\u201d Her voice had a breathless quality, but she followed words with action and began walking away from him. Having little choice, Adam followed. As they walked, Adam scanned the sky and pushed other thoughts from his mind with a new worry as he watched the thunderheads build.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The beach was empty when they arrived. Adam called Joe\u2019s name, but the rising wind seemed to swirl it around and toss it away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe! Melody Ann!\u201d Margie\u2019s call followed Adam\u2019s. She looked at him when there was no response. She tried again. \u201cCome on. We need to leave now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, it\u2019s already too late to try leaving the island, but we do need to leave this beach.\u201d Adam gazed around again and bellowed, \u201cNow, Joseph! Don\u2019t make me call again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe and Melody Ann appeared just as the first drops of rain began to fall.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHey, Adam.\u201d Little Joe\u2019s greeting held a forced cheerfulness. A roll of thunder swallowed his brother\u2019s first response, and then the deluge began in earnest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cCome on!\u201d Adam grabbed Little Joe and Melody Ann each by the arm and trusted Margie to follow. The cave to which he led them was little more than an elongated hollow in the rock, but several feet of granite would protect them from the lightening and cover them from the rain.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bending over to keep from hitting his head, Adam pushed both kids inside and then pulled Margie around him and urged her forward. Thunder exploded followed by a flash that cast shadows through the cave. Melody Ann screamed, and Margie wrapped her arm around her sister. Little Joe had jumped, and even Adam took an involuntary step away from the entrance. Then the four of them stood silent as the rain fell in sheets. Adam drew in a long breath. He had to stand with his head slightly bowed as the roof of the cave was several inches lower than he would have liked. \u00a0Perhaps that was the reason his eyes settled on the water pudding beneath the girls’ skirts. They were all not simply wet but drenched and dripping. The thought caused Adam to sink his teeth into his lower lip. There\u2019s not a blame thing to burn in here, and nothing will be dry enough out there until hours after we\u2019re gone!<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t see any reason for us to stand the entire time.\u201d Margie\u2019s voice attempted to hit a light note but managed only to sound thin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam appeared to ignore the statement. “You and Melly are soaked.\u201d He cleared his throat. \u201cIt would be a good idea if you took, well, your dresses are just going to hold water.\u201d He cleared his throat again. \u201cIt\u2019s not as if, well, it\u2019s not as if you wouldn\u2019t have anything on.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie\u2019s lips curled up slightly as she saw a hint of red shade Adam\u2019s cheeks while Little Joe\u2019s eyes grew two inches wider. Then she shook her head. \u201cWhen white cotton\u2019s wet; it amounts to the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rubbed his chin. \u201cYou\u2019re wet clear through?\u201d Margie nodded. \u201cWell, take off your petticoats then. No chance of anything drying if you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, you\u2019re right,\u201d Margie declared resignedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMargie!\u201d Melody Ann flushed as she stared at the Cartwright brothers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be a priss, Melody Ann.\u201d Margie slipped behind her sister. Her hands went to Melody Ann\u2019s waist and seconds later yards of wet cotton dropped to the ground around her feet. Then Margie reached behind her back and managed to unfasten her own petticoats allowing them to drop also. Stepping free of them, she leaned over and gathered up the wet garments. Cocking her head and gazing appraisingly at Adam, she smiled. \u201cYou and Little Joe would dry faster without your shirts,\u201d she observed, \u201cor you pants, for that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam had seen the same challenge in her eyes many times. He returned a wry smirk. \u201cTrue.\u201d He began unbuttoning his shirt.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d Little Joe said his brother\u2019s name with the same shock that Melody Ann had used for her sister\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShirts only, Joe. Even ladies see a man shirtless from time to time.\u201d Adam\u2018s eyes followed his words, and when he saw the embarrassment on Little Joe\u2019s face, he was just angry enough to add, \u201cFor that matter, you could actually doff those pants. After all, both Margie and Melly have already seen you in the all together.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s cheeks flamed, but all he managed to sputter was \u201cNever!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie\u2019s grin broadened. \u201cI\u2019m afraid it\u2019s true, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melody Ann stared at her sister and then shook her head vehemently. \u201cI never!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou might not remember, little sister, but you did. Though to be fair, I have to admit Little Joe saw you the same way.\u201d Margie\u2019s laughter echoed Adam\u2019s before she added, \u201cHe was all of two, and you had just turned three.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t have time to heat two tubs of water, and Marie would have blamed me for Joe getting in that mud puddle.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI should have known better than to let Missy keep an eye on you. She was the most irresponsible child in the territory.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s gazed settled obviously on Little Joe. \u201cAt least she was at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe snorted and turned his back to his brother.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYour shirt, Joe.\u201d Adam\u2019s own shirt was already held in his hands. He turned toward the entrance and stepped forward. Then he twisted the shirt in his hands as the water ran in rivulets to the granite below. He shook it out as Little Joe slapped his own shirt against Adam\u2019s arm. Adam took it and wrung it out. Then he demanded the girl\u2019s petticoats.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe can see to our own things.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be a priss, Margie. I can get it done twice as well with half the effort.\u201d He held out his hands toward her. Margie looked at the long, strong fingers, shrugged, and handed him the petticoats watching silently as he wrung the water from her underwear. After laying the wet garments out against the walls on either side of the entrance, Adam turned back to his companions.\u00a0\u00a0 With a sweeping gesture he announced, \u201cLike Margie said, there\u2019s no reason for us to stand.\u201d They settled in a row: Adam nearest the entrance, then Little Joe, Melody Ann, and up against the back wall Margie.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They listened to the storm, cast glances at one another, and said nothing. Melody Ann curled up against her sister and buried her head in Margie\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0\u00a0 Margie slipped her arm around Melody Ann\u2019s waist and leaned against the granite wall.\u00a0\u00a0 Little Joe drew his knees up under his chin and rested his head on his arms. Adam stretched out his legs and brought his hand to rub his temple in slow circles. He tried closing his eyes but found himself glancing down at his brother repeatedly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He looks like a half-drowned puppy<\/em>. Adam bit the inside of his lower lip. Miserable and scared<\/em>. His eyes traveled to Melody Ann. She\u2019s crying<\/em>\u201d Adam\u2019s eyes found Margie\u2019s. I know! I know! I don\u2019t really intend to kill them, and if we all die of pneumonia, Lord, go ahead and have mercy on their souls<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n An hour later Melody Ann had cried herself into a fitful doze, and Little Joe had relaxed enough to slump against his brother with closed eyes and even breaths. The storm had increased in fury, and the resulting noise made reasonable conversation impossible. Adam watched Margie aimlessly pleat the folds of her skirt and sighed. Then a wry smile twisted his lips. For all your efforts, little cupids, you ended up becoming two very effective chaperones<\/em>. His soft chuckle came between peals of thunder and managed to draw Margie\u2019s eyes to his. His chin jerked ever so slightly toward the two bodies that separated them, and Margie smiled and shrugged.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam returned the smile and let his head fall back against the rock behind him. Closing his eyes, he allowed memories to drift across his eyelids: Margie laughing, Margie dancing, Margie shepherding her little sisters, Margie cuddling a two-year-old Joe and kissing his skinned knee, Margie teaching Hoss to dance a reel, Margie throwing a book at his head, Margie the moment before he first kissed her and the moment after she said she would be his wife. Little Joe stirred, and Adam opened his eyes. The thunder had grown softer and more distant, but the rain still drummed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d Joe\u2019s voice managed to reach his brother\u2019s ears without being discernable to either of the Rainsford sisters. Adam dipped his head closer to his brother\u2019s. \u201cI.. I\u2019m s sss\u2026I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam released a slow breath. \u201cI forgive you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re still mad.\u201d It was as much a question as a statement because Joe desperately wanted Adam\u2019s denial.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Adam felt the shudder that ran through Little Joe at his affirmation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe pulled away slightly, glanced toward the girls, and then leaned closer putting his mouth next to Adam\u2019s ear. \u201cIt was my fault, Adam, my idea. Don\u2019t. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s finger came up against Joe\u2019s lips. \u201cWhen we get home.\u201d Joe opened his mouth to speak, but the look on his brother\u2019s face closed it. He swallowed convulsively and slumped against the cave wall. The rain continued for two hours more.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When the rain had settled into drips, Adam picked up their wet clothes and led the bedraggled group down to the beach. He and Little Joe made quick work of rowing the skiff back to the spot where the horses had been tied. The trip was marked only by the lack of conversation, each of them speaking only out of necessity. Adam swung Melody Ann and then Margie out of the boat as Joe scrambled toward the horses. Luckily all three had remained safely tethered.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re father\u2019s gone until tomorrow?\u201d Margie had mentioned her father\u2019s business trip earlier, but Adam still asked for confirmation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThursday or the day after.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, at least he hasn\u2019t been worrying.\u201d Adam\u2019s observation carried a sharp edge as he knew his own father would be worried if not about his eldest at least about his baby. Melody Ann\u2019s chin dropped, and Joe shifted nervously. Margie sent Adam a sharp glance. Adam announced his decision. \u201cYou and Melly will go with us to the Ponderosa.\u201d He turned and began stuffing the wet clothes he carried into Sports\u2019 saddle bags.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, we\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His interruption was peremptory. \u201cI\u2019ll send a couple of hands to tend to whatever is necessary. Now let\u2019s see. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh, you will, will you?\u201d Margie\u2019s voice and posture bristled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, I shall, and yes, you will.\u201d Adam glared down at her.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie rolled her eyes, dropped a curtsey, and said in an overly simpering manner, \u201cAs you say, your lordship.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes. Then with a large smirk, he swept Margie into his arms and then onto Sport\u2019s back. Mounting behind her, he pinned her in place with his arms, and stared down at his brother. \u201cHelp Melly.\u201d The words snapped Little Joe into action and mere seconds later the group was headed toward the ranch house.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben Cartwright had indeed been worrying, and the sound of horses brought him immediately onto the porch followed by Hoss.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat in blazes!\u201d Ben muttered to himself as the bedraggled bunch came to a halt in front of the barn. \u201cAdam!\u201d The name rang through the yard. Still sitting in front of Adam on Sport, Margie felt his reaction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEverything\u2019s fine, Pa,\u201d Adam reassured at an equal volume swinging to the ground.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben approached with Hoss in his wake. Both sets of eyes scanned each member of the returning group as Adam set Margie on her feet, and Little Joe scrambled to help Melody Ann dismount. Seeing no obvious signs of injury, Ben growled, \u201cIs that so?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie made her voice both cheerful and soothing. \u201cWe\u2019re all fine, Mr. Ben, just a little wet. I hope you don\u2019t mind damp dinner guests.\u201d She managed to stop Ben\u2019s advance by placing herself in his path. When he stopped, she tilted her head back to smile directly into his face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben smiled back. \u201cNo, no, my dear! You know you are always most welcome at our table.\u201d Glancing at Melody Ann, he added, \u201cAny and all of the Rainsfords have a standing invitation.\u201d His voice was welcoming, but his eyes sent a piercing look toward his eldest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cActually, Margie and Melody Ann will be staying the night. Hoss, would you let Hop Sing know. First though, they\u2019ll need hot baths and, umm, dry clothes, I don\u2019t know what. . .\u201d Adam made a dismissive gesture. \u201cOh, Hop Sing will find something.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSure, brother,\u201d Hoss replied though his reluctance to leave the scene without an explanation was evident. \u201cThings\u2019ll be ready for you and the little gal quick as a wink, Miss Margie.\u201d Margie sent him a warm smile, and he departed to his assigned task.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMargie, you and Melly go on inside. Joe and I\u2019ll see to the horses,\u201d Adam directed sending Margie a message with a look.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She studied his eyes for a moment and then glanced from son to father and back again before acquiescing. \u201cCome on, Melly.\u201d She took a few steps toward the house and then paused. \u201cYou both need to get out of those wet clothes and into a hot bath too, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam followed Margie\u2019s gaze to settle on his little brother. \u201cActually, I can handle the horses. Little Joe, you get to the wash house now. Hop Sing will send out some dry things.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe shifted nervously. \u201cI can help with the horses first.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cNo, no, go on and get in a hot tub.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When Joe started to speak, Adam\u2019s \u201cNow!\u201d and their father\u2019s \u201cGo!\u201d sent the boy off without another word.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam looked at his father and said softly, \u201cI do need to see to the horses.\u201d He turned toward the barn. Ben said nothing.\u00a0\u00a0 He only took the reins of the Rainsford\u2019s mare and followed his son inside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I want an explanation, but I have a feeling this is going to be a long story.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s hand went to the bridge of his nose. \u201cActually, Pa…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Ben interrupted, \u201cMargie was right. You need to get out of those clothes and try to ward off a chill as much as the girls and your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, Pa. I can. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou can do as I say.\u201d Ben\u2019s eyes snapped along with his voice. Then it softened. \u201cI\u2019ll see to the horses and wait for my explanations. Unless there\u2019s something. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, Pa, there\u2019s no problem. Really, we are all fine except for a drenching. Hot baths and some hot food will set everything to rights.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Something in Adam\u2019s voice or eyes caused Ben\u2019s eyebrow to rise slowly. \u201cThis is one of your little brother\u2019s messes?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s right hand tugged his left ear as his eyes dropped to the floor. \u201cAll\u2019s well that ends well, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be the one deciding how this ends for your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa, umm, actually I think, well, I think after you hear the story you\u2019ll agree that, well, that this time it\u2019s my, umm, place to deal with Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps.\u201d Ben watched Adam tug his ear again. \u201cBut that can wait. Get to the wash house, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d Adam managed to infuse the two words with a youthful cockiness Ben had not heard from him in a dozen years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As Adam turned his back to his father, Ben resisted the urge to forget that his eldest was totally grown. He shook his head and started tending the three long suffering horses.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam detoured to the bunk house in order to send two hands over to the Rainsford\u2019s ranch. Then he strode over to the wash house and walked inside. Little Joe was soaking in the smaller tub while steam rose from the already filled larger one.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam.\u201d Little Jo\u2019s voice was barely a whisper.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d Adam\u2019s response was not harsh only firm. \u201cWe are going to soak in silence. We are going to eat a pleasant meal. We are going to inform our father of the circumstances that have lead to our having house guests, and if I have my way, we will deal with everything else tomorrow. Is that clear?\u201d Adam had finished peeling off his wet pants and slipped into the hot water.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, but. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat is not a word I would be using in my presence if I were you. Make sure to wash your hair.\u201d Adam leaned back against the high curve of the tub and closed his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe closed his mouth and sighed. He\u2019s mad. He\u2019s really, really mad<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They managed to have Adam\u2019s pleasant meal mainly because Margie kept an almost constant flow of pleasant chatter going between herself and Ben Cartwright with occasional asides to Hoss who recognized a diversion when he saw one and gamely tried to assist Margie\u2019s. Little Joe and Melody Ann focused on not being noticed and spoke only when politeness required while Adam watched Margie sitting at the dining table in an old night shirt of his, an old robe of his father\u2019s, and pair of Joe\u2019s socks with her damp hair plaited down her back. He marveled at her ability to still play the charming dinner guest.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She\u2019s got Pa smiling and relaxed. Not that he\u2019s going to stay that way, mind you, but at least I won\u2019t be starting my story staring into a scowl<\/em>. Of course the fact that she was always awfully good at bringing out his soft side saved my hide more than once<\/em>. Adam reached for his wine, and catching Margie\u2019s eye raised his glass ever so slightly and smiled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie swallowed the last bite of her cobbler and set down her fork. She drew in a slow breath and then said, \u201cI don\u2019t think I can eat another bite. Melody Ann, are you finished eating?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d Melody Ann\u2019s eyes remained fixed on the table.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen you can take your dishes out to the kitchen and tell Hop Sing you\u2019ll be clearing the table and doing the dishes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe will help,\u201d Adam interjected immediately. \u201cWon\u2019t you, Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cUhh. I mean, yes, yes, I will.\u201d Little Joe recognized his chance at escape and was on his feet in a second. \u201cCome on, Melody Ann. Should we tell Hop Sing to bring out coffee?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Joseph. We\u2019ll have it by the fire.\u201d Ben rose and gave his hand to Margie. She let him escort her to the settee. Adam followed remaining on his feet as Ben settled into his favorite chair. Hoss decided to simply stay at the table with a second helping of cobbler thinking that way he could hear everything without being in the line of fire.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben did not speak until the coffee had been brought and the table cleared. Then he cleared his throat. \u201cI take it the two of you will be giving the explanation.\u201d His face and his voice had both become stern.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam tried leaning nonchalantly against the settee but then straightened and jammed his hands into his back pockets. \u201cI guess we are.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Mr. Ben, it\u2019s not that bad, really. Some of it\u2019s a little funny actually.\u201d Margret Ann\u2019s tone had a forced lightness which withered under the look Ben sent her way. It was a look she remembered all too well from her youth, and she dropped her eyes to the floor. Tilting her head slightly and glancing up at Adam, she saw a glare that caused her eyes to widen. She shrugged slightly and subsided into silence.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam?\u201d Ben\u2019s patience had clearly reached its limit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s this way, Pa. I told you before that Little Joe had been trying his hand at matchmaking. I thought I\u2019d made myself clear on that subject but apparently not.\u201d Adam paused checking his father\u2019s face for a reaction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis has something to do with Little Joe playing Cupid?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, and, well, since it involves Margie and me and what I told him not to do, well, that\u2018s why I think that this time I, well, that you should allow me to handle the consequences.\u201d Adam moved to turn toward the kitchen but stopped at the sound of his father\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot before I know exactly what those consequences are for.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Recognizing that retreat was impossible, Adam sat down on the hearth and gave his father a succinct account of the day\u2019s adventure. Ben did not interrupt even once, but his eyes grew progressively darker, and his brow drew into an ever-deepening v.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWas Hoss involved?\u201d They all heard Hoss choke on his cobbler at that question.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe said Hoss didn\u2019t know anything about this plan.\u201d Adam answered and heard his middle brother\u2019s chair scrape against the floor as Hoss rose and departed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam fixed his eyes on his father\u2019s and said simply, \u201cLet me handle it, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben sighed. \u201cI\u2019ll leave Little Joe to you. Melody Ann, well, that is another matter. Andrew. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie interrupted, \u201cPapa, well, you know how he felt about things when Adam and I were the ones getting each other in trouble. I truly think he would trust Adam to deal with all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gave Margie an appraising look. I didn\u2019t think you were mad enough to throw your baby sister to the wolves, or do you just think that in the end I\u2019ll go easier on her than your pa<\/em>?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben stood and looked down at Margie. \u201cMelody Ann was in your charge?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, so Papa would say the decision is mine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI plan to discuss things thoroughly with Margret Ann tonight and deal with the children in the morning.\u201d Adam used Margie\u2019s full name and emphasized the word children<\/em> ever so slightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ben noticed that Adam\u2019s hand had settled on Margie\u2019s shoulder, and that they both seemed quite comfortable with that fact. \u201cVery well then. Margret Ann, if you will excuse me, I\u2019ll send the two of them up to bed when they finish and retire myself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Mr. Ben, and thank you for everything,\u201d Margie smiled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam picked up a cup and went to his favorite chair as his father left the room. He sipped his coffee in silence. While he drank, he studied Margie as the firelight flickered across her hair and the lines of her bent head. She sat with her feet curled beneath her holding the coffee cup not drinking but only running her thumb around the rim.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t. . .I mean they just. . .\u201d Her voice was hesitant, and her eyes remained downcast.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe road to hell is paved with good intentions.\u201d At his slightly acerbic observation, Margie\u2019s head snapped up and a glare shot from her eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re really going to punish them for a harmless prank?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He arched his eyebrow. \u201cHarmless?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBasically.\u201d She bit the corner of her lower lip. \u201cYou saw them, Adam. They were as miserable as we were.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His eyebrow inched higher. \u201cWere they?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her hand moved dismissively. \u201cThey\u2019re children; that\u2019s something they don\u2019t really understand.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey are old enough to understand no<\/em>, and I made it clear to Joe that he was not. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She cut him off. \u201cFine, but you don\u2019t have to. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not really going to kill them.\u201d Adam\u2019s back had stiffened, and his voice dripped ice water.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJust make them wish you had.\u201d Margie\u2019s voice had grown brittle.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rose. \u201cI\u2019ll leave Melody Ann to your coddling then, but Joe. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThat wouldn\u2019t be fair. Blast, Adam, they won\u2019t try anything like that again either of them. You\u2019ve made enough of an impression already; it\u2019s not necessary. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s hands settled on his hips. \u201cLittle Joe is going to have a greater impression made on his backside. I. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHave obviously forgotten that you played a few pranks yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd paid the piper every time I got caught.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEvery time?\u201d Margie spat the inquiry at Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, every time I was caught out I paid the price.\u201d The declaration was low and definite.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cHow selective memory becomes. I know at least one time when you managed to avoid the piper. Of course, you had to ask me to marry you to do it.\u201d The edge on her voice was razor-sharp.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His right hand came in front of his chest and wagged a finger back and forth. \u201cWrong, wrong, wrong, Margret Ann. I assure you that was one tanning I\u2019ll never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her eyes grew round, and her mouth opened with a soft exhalation of air and emotion. \u201cYou told me you didn\u2019t get a whipping.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He closed the gap between them. \u201cNo, I told you a few things that let you believe that Pa let me off the hook.\u201d He saw the sheen that formed in her eyes and went down on his heels. \u201cI wanted to maintain a little dignity; I was newly betrothed after all.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her chin dropped, and she stared at her hands. \u201cI am sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt was ages ago.\u201d Adam reached out and placed his hand over Margie\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt was my idea.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI was more than willing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cStill. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He shook his head and laughed softly. \u201cI can punish you too if you\u2019re feeling that guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She smiled and shook her head. Then she looked at him through lowered lashes and asked, \u201cToo?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n An exasperated sigh escaped Adam\u2019s lips. \u201cMargret Ann Rainsford, your children will be spoiled beyond measure. They won\u2019t have to wrap their father around their fingers; they\u2019ll have you to do it for them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She bit her lip and studied his eyes. \u201cI suppose that depends on their father. You still plan to punish them, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, Joe definitely, Melly if you trust me too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI trust you, Adam; you know I do.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His hand tightened on hers, and he pondered the taste of cherry cobbler mixed with port wine. Leaning toward her, he was startled when she slid away and stood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s settled then. Good night, Adam.\u201d She was already moving toward the stairs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He stood and watched her go. He was alone in the great room when Hoss slipped back in the door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFolks all gone up to bed?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes. No, you\u2019re not in trouble with Pa.\u201d Adam set down the book he had not been reading.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hoss crossed the room and took a seat on the hearth. \u201cI thought Joe had listened to ya, Adam; I told him to. I didn\u2019t have no idea he\u2019d do something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam saw the concern in his brother\u2019s face. \u201cI didn\u2019t think you did. You\u2019re not in trouble with me either, little brother.\u201d Adam smiled, but it faded quickly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re still mad though.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot nearly as angry as I was before.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you\u2019re still planning on handing out the comeuppance.\u201d It was a statement that Hoss obviously wished he could have posed as a question.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rolled his eyes. \u201cNot you too. Margie would have me let them off with a finger-wagging \u2018Naughty, naughty, children! You\u2019re never to do that again.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMaybe they don\u2019t need no more than a scolding not to do the same again.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re getting more than a scolding in the morning, and that\u2019s that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey just. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey lied to us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve lied before, Adam. Everybody lies if they think they have good reason.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam snorted. \u201cHoss. . . \u201c<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt ain\u2019t the lying, though, is it?\u201d Hoss saw affirmation flicker in his brother\u2019s eyes. \u201cIt\u2019s the scaring ya. It\u2019s the hurting they caused ya when ya thought they were on that island hurt and needing ya.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam rose in one swift motion and strode past Hoss to stare toward the empty dining room. \u201cYou don\u2019t know. . .he hurt Margie with his lie, Hoss. He\u2019s old enough to have seen that and stopped it then and there, but he let her suffer.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cSame as Melody Ann let you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d The word was ground out between clenched teeth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa gonna forgive him?\u201d Hoss\u2019s inquiry drew a sigh from Adam.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course. He is my baby brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWho believes you love her; believes ya love each other. Ya know, I kinda keep getting that idea from time to time myself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam turned to face Hoss.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou do?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYa keep doing things that would make it seem so, and I ain\u2019t talking about your kissing her. You\u2019re getting ready to blister Joe for hurting her feelings, ain\u2019t ya?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never thought Joe should get away with hurting people.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, no, ya ain\u2019t, but you didn\u2019t sound the same just now as when you said Joe deserved a tanning for embarrassing Miss Jones.\u201d Hoss rose and walked toward the stairs. Then he stopped and looked back at Adam. \u201cThe nudging and pushing and trying to trick ya was wrong, and I guess as how they might deserve a spanking for the lying and all, but they don\u2019t deserve all that anger \u2018cause if their reasons was wrong, well, that\u2019s partly your and Miss Margie\u2019s fault.\u201d Hoss did not wait for a reply but mounted the stairs two at a time leaving Adam opened-mouthed though silent in the fire-lit room.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two brandies later, Adam went to his own room. Lighting the lamp, he turned the wick down until there was only a soft glow. Then he took off his boots and stretched out on the bed. Crossing his arms behind his head, he stared at the moonlight splashing the opposite wall. When he heard the door creak open, he ran the list of possibilities through his mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJoe?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The indistinct form of his brother slipped through the barely open door.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I…\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam gestured with his entire arm, and Little Joe walked slowly over to the bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re barefoot.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDidn\u2019t think about slippers.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou never do.\u201d Adam patted the mattress, and Joe settled himself at the foot of the bed with his knees drawn up beneath his chin.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Adam. Really, I am.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know. I forgive you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re still mad.\u201d Little Joe had learned to read his brother\u2019s voice unerringly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cDo you understand why?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou told me to stop.\u201d When Adam did not respond, Little Joe continued, \u201cWe tricked you. . .we lied. . .and, well, we scared ya both.\u201d Adam\u2019s sigh was audible to his brother. \u201cThat ain\u2019t all of it though, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNo, that\u2019s not all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe\u2019s words were low and hesitant. \u201cI, well, I told Melody Ann when we were. . . well, I told her that you would go anywhere with the devil himself to help me if you thought I was hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou know I would, little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd Miss Margie\u2019s the same about her sisters, about Melody Ann, and we,\u201d Little Joe\u2019s voice faltered as he tried to swallow the lump rising in his throat, \u201cwe used that against you. It was real wrong; it was a . . .\u201d Joe searched for a word and grabbed the best one he knew. \u201cIt was a betrayal.\u201d Joe slipped from the bed and started toward the door, but Adam caught him by the waist and pulled the boy to him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His mouth next to Little Joe\u2019s ear, Adam breathed out the words, \u201cNot betrayal, Joe, but you understand the wrong of it?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes. I won\u2019t. . .never again, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI forgive you, and I\u2019m not angry anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe leaned into his brother and for a minute their breaths came slow and easy and in perfect harmony.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam,\u201d his voice the softest whisper Joe continued, \u201cI believed you loved her, or I wouldn\u2019t have done it. Melody Ann said she had always loved you. We would never have done it except for that.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI know. Joe, what\u2019s between a man and a woman, well, it\u2019s best left between the two.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam patted his brother\u2019s back. \u201cGo back to bed now.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joe straightened. \u201cAdam, I know what I got coming, but, well, Melody Ann… I mean it was my idea, and she…well, it was my idea, and she\u2019s a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGirls are quite capable of saying no<\/em>, Joseph. Melody Ann could have said no<\/em>. Pa never let Hoss off the hook just because it was my idea or yours.\u201d Adam\u2019s authoritarian tone filled his voice.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNooo, he never did, but. . .you think Mr. Rainsford. . . you think you should be the one to punish Melody Ann?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI would never have said I would if I thought Mr. Rainsford would object. I wouldn\u2019t do it if Margret Ann thought he would, or if she asked me to leave it to their pa. I won\u2019t if Melody Ann says she would rather I leave it to her father.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s got a choice?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes. So do you, Joe. If you ask me, I\u2019ll leave it to Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Little Joe chewed his lower lip. \u201cI. . .I. . .\u201d His fingers plucked at the bed quilt. \u201cI guess, well. . .it\u2019s right I should answer to you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s hand stilled his brother\u2019s. \u201cWill you sleep tonight if we wait until the morning to settle up?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFirst thing in the morning then.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d Joe slipped from the bed. \u201cGood night, big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cGood night, Little Buddy.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam undressed and donned a nightshirt in deference to their guests.\u00a0\u00a0 Blowing out the lamp, he stretched out beneath the covers and waited for sleep to come in slow easy stages. Memories flickered, and voices echoed randomly through his thoughts as his breathing slowed.\u00a0\u00a0 A sense of stillness grew in the room as the shadow of a flying owl passed the window.\u00a0\u00a0 Suddenly the bed creaked with the abruptness of his rising. His feet slapped the floor as his hand rose to the bridge of his nose. Only a soft expletive was actually vocalized, but his thoughts coalesced vehemently.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lord God in Heaven, she thinks she trapped me! That I only. . .that she. . .<\/em> His hand massaged his temple, and a low, wry, mirthless chuckle escaped his throat. Saints preserve us from our own stupidity!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~\u20ac~<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sky was blue and white without a lingering trace of pink, but drops of dew still dampened the greenery, and the fresh chill of early morning had yet to depart. As Adam\u2019s long strides carried him down the path, he whistled softly a tune he had neither played nor sung in a decade. He stopped at the edge of the trees and found her where he had expected. A grin lifted the corner of his mouth, and he made his steps light and silent. Standing behind the boulder on which Margie perched gazing across the meadow, he reached out and around to place his palms flat against her eyes. \u201cGuess who?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe Lord High Executioner?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His hands dropped to his sides. \u201cDo you really think of me that way?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She turned at the waist to look into his face. Her teeth peeked out and bit into her lower lip; then her eyes sparkled. \u201cNo, but I\u2019ve a feeling Melly might.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d His eyebrow rose.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFor a while anyway.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 She slid her body around to face him. \u201cYou could have relented.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d His arms crossed on his chest. \u201cThey\u2019re punished, deservedly so I might add, forgiven totally, and recovering nicely from their guilt.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIs that so?\u201d It was her eyebrow that rose this time.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes, and don\u2019t you dare go coddling them, Margret Ann, at least not today.\u201d His commanding tone caused her eyebrow to rise higher.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill you glare at me until I promise, or will a simple \u2018Yes, sir\u2019 do?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He leaned against the boulder. \u201cNo one ever coddled us after, and we survived.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She gazed at him from the side of her eyes and then placed her hand on his arm. \u201cI shouldn\u2019t make it harder for you. I\u2019m sorry if I did.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam shook his head. \u201cI could have left it to our fathers. It\u2019s not like I don\u2019t know they would have made a good job of it.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNow, Adam, Mr. Ben didn\u2019t beat you that regularly.\u201d Her voice teased, and her hand slapped his arm lightly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He grinned. \u201cNawww, not nearly as regularly as I deserved.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 He cocked his head and gazed at her. \u201cI didn\u2019t speak the whole truth a moment ago when I said no one ever coddled us. I remember a few times when you coddled me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPurely out of guilt, I\u2019m sure. Mr. Ben always seemed to think it was your idea, Papa too.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s that totally guileless innocence you fake so well.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re just jealous that I was always better at deception than you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s tone went from teasing to totally serious. \u201cPerhaps we\u2019ve both been far too good at deception, Margie mine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her eyes widened and then dropped to the ground. How long has it been since he\u2019s called me that<\/em>? She answered without looking at him. \u201cWhatever do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A hand on each shoulder turned her toward him.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI wanted to marry you, Margret Ann. My desire for you was more than\u2026, well, I wanted you for my wife. I\u2019ve done quite a few things to avoid Pa\u2019s ire and a few to avoid public condemnation, but asking you to marry me was never one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her smile was wistful. \u201cThat was a long time ago. We were too young for marrying. . . for giving up other dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou thought I wanted Harvard more than I wanted you?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She shook her head. \u201cMaybe, I. . .Adam, I wanted you for myself, but I wanted the world for you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His hand went to her face and cupped her cheek. \u201cI came home, Margie.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTo your father and brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou never called me anything but an old friend.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBetter friendship than nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n His thumb stroked the line of her jaw and caught the tear that slid down her cheek.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou loved me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe were children.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut you loved me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI loved you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnd I loved you. I loved you then with all my heart, I love you now with all I am, and I shall love you always with my entire soul.\u201d He released her to go to his knee at her feet. Taking her hand in his, he gazed up into her eyes. \u201cWill you, Margret Ann Rainsford, take me to be your lawful wedded husband?\u201d Her mouth opened, but she didn\u2019t speak. He filled his eyes with more pleading than they had ever held. \u201cPlease, Margie, say you\u2019ll marry me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI, I . . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cMelly told Joe you\u2019ve always loved me.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI have, but. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen marry me.\u201d He rose and encircled her waist with his arms. \u201cWon\u2019t you please, Margie mine?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He pulled her close, his kiss slow and long. When he released her, he laughed. \u201cStrawberries! Wild strawberries!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Her smile dazzled. \u201cThere were a few over near the creek.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He lifted her into his arms, stepped away from the boulder, twirled her around, and then kissed her again.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll have no long engagement this time. We\u2019re having the wedding as soon as we can arrange for your sisters to come.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She was still within the circle of his arms. \u201cMissy will be able to come. Milly and Martha, well, they don\u2019t have. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll be coming.\u201d The statement was confident. \u201cIt will be my present to you. Besides, I want them to understand that they shall have a big brother in their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n She tilted her head and curled the corner of her lips. \u201cSomething Melly is well aware of already.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Adam\u2019s rueful smirk showed his dimples. \u201cAt least she\u2019s the only one young enough for that kind of brothering.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI should think so being that Missy and Millie are already mothers.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAnother reason they all have to come. An uncle should most definitely meet his nieces and nephews.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cShall you like being an uncle?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt will do until I\u2019m a father.\u201d His smirk was blatantly suggestive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAdam!\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPa wants grandchildren; he\u2019ll be impatient.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWell then, if it\u2019s for Mr. Ben\u2019s sake. . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t mind living with Pa and the boys until we get our house built, will you? I don\u2019t intend to rush it. Perfection takes time.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOf course I don\u2019t mind. Hoss and Little Joe could still use some mothering, well, big sistering anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe,\u201d Adam winced, \u201che\u2019s going to gloat from now to forever.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill you mind?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cNot nearly as much as he\u2019ll think I do. After all, my little brother may come in useful.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIn what way?\u201d She could see the teasing sparkle in his eyes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou can practice being a firm disciplinarian on him. Lord knows he\u2019ll be able to provide enough practice even for the likes of you.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Margie shook her head. \u201cDiscipline will be your job; coddling will be mine.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n He wagged his finger in front of her face. \u201cWrong, wrong, wrong, Margret Ann, discipline will come from both of us so will coddling.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTogether?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTogether.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They laughed. It was the soft, warm laughter that they had always laughed best with each other.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Summer 2010<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summary:\u00a0 \u00a0Little Joe knows whom Adam should marry.\u00a0 Now he just needs to make Adam realize who it is.<\/p>\n Rating:\u00a0 K+ (19,180 words)<\/p>\n Remember the Breaking Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":7327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[23,1008,30,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-family","category-prequels","category-romance","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-30-id","wpcat-3-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/0686.jpg?fit=3888%2C2592&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11823","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\/143"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11823"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11823\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11823"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11823"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11823"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nMending the Break<\/a><\/p>\n