Written for the 2016 Ponderosa Paddlewheel Poker Tournament.<\/p>\n
Summary: \u00a0A dream is a wish your heart makes. \u00a0But what happens when your heart is broken?<\/p>\n
Rated: \u00a0T\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Word Count: \u00a04988<\/p>\n
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author.\u00a0 The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise.\u00a0 No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n
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Dreams<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cCome on in,\u201d Candy called out in response to a knock on the door of the Ponderosa bunkhouse. \u00a0He stopped what he was doing when his boss walked in. \u00a0\u201cSomething I can help you with, Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNooo.\u201d Ben drew out the one syllable word with a sigh. \u00a0He shoved his hands into his front pockets and walked past his foreman to wander the length of the room, pausing to examine one item or another but without lingering anywhere in particular.<\/p>\n The ranch’s living quarters for hands were spacious in comparison to those found at other spreads. Solidly built and comfortably furnished, the long, narrow structure held two rows of five double decker beds in the center of the room bookended by communal living areas. \u00a0The bunks were re-roped frequently, the mattresses aired and turned often, and linens washed weekly. \u00a0Two stoves, one at each end of the building, kept the interior comfortable even in the dead of winter. \u00a0Shuttered windows on the walls provided cross ventilation and protection from the elements.<\/p>\n In addition to a billiard table and dartboard, the bunkhouse contained a well-stocked library. \u00a0Floor to ceiling shelves held every sort of book imaginable from a large collection of dog-eared dime novels to a set of McGuffy\u2019s Readers and Ray\u2019s Practical Arithmetic to books of poetry and the classics\u2014a testament to the value the Cartwrights placed on education. \u00a0No man ever left the Ponderosa payroll without learning to read, write and cipher unless he chose not to learn.<\/p>\n Candy played solitaire at a table near the door. He kept his head lowered, but at each turn of a card lifted his eyes to study his employer. \u00a0The man had aged during the last two years. \u00a0Hell, they all had. Accidental death, murder, and illness had taken its toll on everyone in or close to the family circle, none more so than its patriarch\u2014at least outwardly. \u00a0Joe Cartwright, in contrast, carried his scars on the inside.<\/p>\n When Ben returned to where Candy sat, he slumped into a chair and laced his fingers across his chest. \u00a0As he stretched his legs out, he noted his foreman\u2019s elevated foot.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s the ankle?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSore,\u201d Candy admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not surprised. \u00a0You are as bad as Joe, always jumping off things: \u00a0logs, wagons . . . lofts!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI used the ladder. \u00a0I just missed a step.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore like two or three. \u00a0Please tell me you\u2019re not climbing into an upper bunk.\u201d \u00a0When Candy shrugged, Ben shook his head. \u00a0\u201cYou would be more comfortable in a larger bed.\u201d<\/p>\n Candy shuffled the cards and grinned, again amused by his boss\u2019s never ending campaign to move him into the main house. \u00a0He deflected the invitation by suggesting a game of cribbage.<\/p>\n Ben agreed and rose to retrieve the board from the bookshelf while Candy dealt the cards. \u00a0\u201cWhere is everyone?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Saturday night and the moon is full.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, the Barn,\u201d Ben cracked a smile. \u201cOf course, I should have known.\u201d \u00a0Most eligible bachelors went to the social hall to meet respectable women. \u00a0Except his third son. \u00a0He knew Joe was not among them. \u00a0Nor was he at home and therein lay the reason for his visit to the bunkhouse.<\/p>\n Ben sorted his cards and laid down a six and a four. \u00a0\u201cTen. \u00a0How is he doing, Candy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSir?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe puts on a face with me and Jamie. \u00a0Says all the right things. \u00a0Eats the food put in front of him. \u00a0Offers his opinion when asked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFifteen for two. \u00a0But?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwenty-two. \u00a0He doesn\u2019t initiate conversation, spends too much time alone, and his smile no longer reaches his eyes. \u00a0Even his beloved horses don\u2019t appear to hold the same appeal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe a change of location would do him good. Twenty eight for three.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly not San Francisco. \u00a0You said yourself the hunt for Damien queered his desire to return there,\u201d said Ben. \u00a0\u201cAnd he\u2019s too familiar with Arizona. \u00a0Go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo somewhere new. \u00a0Portland?\u201d Candy offered.<\/p>\n \u201cToo rainy this time of year. \u00a0Twenty-nine for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMuggins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d \u00a0Ben leaned forward over the table.<\/p>\n \u201cYou missed a point.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cArgh!\u201d \u00a0Ben threw his cards down. \u00a0\u201cI’m a poor excuse for a partner tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s all right. \u00a0Your thoughts are elsewhere.\u201d \u00a0Candy settled back in his chair and again studied his employer. \u00a0The man had lost two sons and confidants\u2014one missing, one dead\u2014and he shielded his adopted son from his concerns whenever possible. \u00a0As an outsider, listening was all he could do, but perhaps that was the most important thing of all. \u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s whiskey in the cupboard.\u201d \u00a0Candy started to rise but Ben waved him off.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get it,\u201d he said and retrieved the bottle and two tumblers, filling them halfway. \u00a0The two men toasted, and then Ben downed his whiskey in one swallow and refilled both glasses to the brim.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t know how to help him, Candy. \u00a0When I lost my wives, I had my boys to focus on and a dream to follow. I had a purpose. \u00a0Joe is a superb businessman. \u00a0He loves this land as much as I do. \u00a0He will fight to preserve it until his last breath, but he has lost his passion for life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA dream is personal. \u00a0You can’t conjure one up for him. \u00a0No one can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Ben nodded, draining his glass again. \u201cJamie goes back to college soon, and Joe and I will be alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll return after graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe. \u00a0Maybe not. \u00a0The ranch was not enough to hold Adam. \u00a0And what happens to Joe when I’m gone? \u00a0What will become of him then? \u00a0I can\u2019t stand to think of him rattling around in that big house all alone.\u201d<\/p>\n The two men continued to drink in silence until Candy spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ll help move my gear, Mr. Cartwright, I\u2019ll take you up on that offer of a larger bed.\u201d<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n \u201cLos Angeles?\u201d Joe sputtered the following Sunday at supper. \u00a0\u201cYou\u2019re sending me to Los Angeles?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Joseph, I am not. \u00a0Abby Conrad wondered if you would accompany her to Los Angeles and I am relaying that request. \u00a0Had you been in church this morning, she would have asked you herself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s accepted a teaching position there. \u00a0Since her trip coincides with Jamie\u2019s return to Berkeley, he will accompany her that far, but she\u2019ll be alone for the rest of the journey and would appreciate an escort.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI meant why isn\u2019t her husband going with her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEx-husband. \u00a0She and Stuart are divorced.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat!\u201d Joe dropped his fork with a clatter. \u00a0\u201cWhen did that happen?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJudge Rheinhold granted the divorce last month and she decided to start over in a new environment. \u00a0Given your long-standing friendship, I thought you wouldn\u2019t mind helping her out, but if you would rather\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014No, I\u2019ll do it, of course. \u00a0She shouldn\u2019t travel alone. \u00a0I just wish she\u2019d told me about the divorce.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe didn\u2019t want to trouble you. \u00a0They separated around the time Alice died.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s eyes clouded over and he stood abruptly to go to his room. \u00a0Before ascending the stairs, however, he paused. \u201cI have business to handle but I can be ready to travel on Wednesday with Jamie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. \u00a0I\u2019ll purchase your ticket and arrange for a hotel in Los Angeles. \u00a0The boarding house where Abby will be staying once the school term starts will not be available until the first of the month. \u00a0In the interim, you can help her get her classroom set up and become acclimated to the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Sitting in the blue chair by the fire, Candy waited until he heard Joe\u2019s door click shut before whispering, \u201cIs Abby actually moving?\u201d \u00a0His question earned a blank stare, so he elaborated. \u00a0\u201cShe has always been the independent sort. \u00a0I can\u2019t imagine she would be afraid to travel alone. \u00a0Or is this a ruse for Joe\u2019s benefit?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben sat down on the plank table in front of the fireplace with his hands between his legs and lowered his voice. \u00a0\u201cYou are right. \u00a0Abby is independent and courageous. \u00a0While many women would endure marriage to a philanderer and a drunk for appearance\u2019s sake, Abby chose to leave him despite the stigma of divorce.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI take it Virginia City\u2019s matrons have been less than civil?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo put it mildly. \u00a0She solicited my help in securing a teaching position elsewhere. The school in Los Angeles is a good one. \u00a0The timing couldn\u2019t have been better so I suggested she travel with an escort.\u201d \u00a0Ben stood, and before walking away added, \u201cI may have mentioned the trip would be good for Joe as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Candy thought his boss might also be doing a little matchmaking. \u00a0Not that it bothered him. \u00a0Not much anyway. \u00a0He had courted Abby for a while after she and Joe broke up, but it was all too clear she only had eyes for Joe. \u00a0When he married Alice unexpectedly, she turned to Conrad.<\/p>\n If she still carried a torch, maybe it would ignite Joe\u2019s passion.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n A week later, Joe and Abby boarded the Southern Pacific train to Los Angeles. \u00a0After settling into their respective compartments, they met in the dining car for lunch. \u00a0Orders taken, Joe turned to the window ostensibly to watch the changing scenery. \u00a0In reality, he studied Abby\u2019s reflection. \u00a0She had changed little over the last five years. \u00a0Fuller in face and body perhaps, dark brown hair tinged with golden highlights now worn up in a sophisticated twist, but she still had the same sweet smile and those big brown doe eyes. \u00a0Eyes that were fixed on him in a penetrating stare. \u00a0He shifted uncomfortably and fiddled with his knife and spoon until they were in perfect alignment with the water goblet. \u00a0After using his fingers to smooth out the linen tablecloth, he placed his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his fists. \u00a0Taking a deep breath, he raised his eyes to meet Abbe\u2019s gaze head on. \u00a0She wasted no time in taking him to task.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have not once looked at me directly since we left Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry. \u00a0I haven’t been in the best of moods of late and San Francisco is not my favorite city.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCandy warned me.\u201d \u00a0Abby softened a bit recalling that Mr. Cartwright had said Joe needed this trip. \u00a0She could see that now\u2014the subtle creases in the once-smooth skin, the sadness in his eyes. \u00a0\u201cI met Alice, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t aware of that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, at the hat shop. \u00a0We ran into each other quite often actually at the mercantile or post office. \u00a0That sort of thing. \u00a0She . . . she was lovely.\u201d \u00a0Disturbed when a tear rolled down Joe\u2019s cheek, she added, \u201cI\u2019m sorry to open old wounds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo need to be. \u00a0Water under the bridge. \u00a0Life goes on. \u00a0She\u2019s in heaven and I remember the good times,\u201d he said. \u00a0Except there were so few good times to remember. \u00a0No birthdays, no Christmases. \u00a0Only the day she told him they were having a baby. \u00a0Joe turned once more to the window shielding his face with his left hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI am so sorry for your loss,\u201d Abby whispered. \u00a0She reached across the narrow table and squeezed his elbow.<\/p>\n They remained that way until lunch appeared. \u00a0As the brochures promised, the meal was quite good and the wine better. \u00a0The couple’s long friendship provided fodder for conversation and conjured pleasant memories. \u00a0Both were startled when the dining steward inquired if they wished to see a dinner menu.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you hungry?\u201d Abby asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI could eat a horse!\u201d Joe laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cMe, too! \u00a0But first I need to get out of these traveling clothes and put on something more suitable for dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n Before following Abby back to the sleeping cars to clean up, Joe tipped the steward and requested a table on the other side of the train so they could watch the sunset while dining. \u00a0While shaving, he reflected that this had been the first non-working day in a long time that he had not dreaded. It was good to talk to a woman who shared the same memories, only . . . .<\/p>\n Only there was one thing he could not give her, and he could not\u2014would not\u2014hurt her again.<\/p>\n \u201cAbby, there’s something I want to talk about. Let’s go to the club car for a drink before dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n He spotted two chairs that faced each other and afforded some privacy. \u00a0After ordering a sherry for Abby and a beer for himself, he guided her by the elbow to the end of the car.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat’s wrong?\u201d she asked sitting down with her back to the bar. \u00a0Joe sat opposite, their knees almost touching.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing\u2019s wrong. \u00a0I wanted to thank you for a wonderful day. \u00a0It’s the first time in a long time that I have felt normal. \u00a0More like my old self. \u00a0And I don’t think that would have happened with anyone else but you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot your family? \u00a0Or Candy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy family, no. \u00a0They are always watching. \u00a0I know they mean well, but sometimes it’s too much. A bit like suffocating in a dark room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know Candy.\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe he makes you feel that way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. He lets me be me without judging or asking anything in return. \u00a0He\u2019s a lot like Hoss in that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is what best friends do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. \u00a0They do, and I\u2019d do the same for him.\u201d \u00a0Joe bent forward, elbows on his knees. \u00a0\u201cAnd for you.\u201d<\/p>\n As the meaning behind the words sunk in, Abby put a hand to her cheek. \u00a0\u201cIt’s warm in here, don’t you think?\u201d\u2019 She reached into the hidden pocket in the seam of her skirt and pulled out a small oblong object, snapped it open and began fanning herself. \u00a0\u201cWhew!\u00a0 Better.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe reached for her other hand and held it between both of his. \u201cAbby, I love you, but I’m not in love with you. \u00a0This trip . . . .\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to explain. \u00a0I understand.\u201d \u00a0She put down the fan and took a sip of sherry. \u00a0\u201cOnce upon a time I had hoped to marry my best friend, but I realized it was a young girl\u2019s foolish dream even before you found Alice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that when you met Stuart?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. \u00a0He was good to me at first, but after we married, he changed. \u00a0I disappointed him somehow. \u00a0I tried to be a good wife in all respects, but he resented everything I did, especially when the money ran out. \u00a0He stayed away for nights on end and came home drunk. \u00a0When he hit me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014He hit you?\u201d Joe was horrified.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly once. \u00a0I left him the next day and filed for divorce. \u00a0Your father arranged safe housing and paid the legal fees. \u00a0I don’t know what I would have done without him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am so ashamed I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re here now,\u201d Abby smiled. \u00a0\u201cAnd you are still my best friend. \u00a0I hope that never changes.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe raised the back of her hand to his lips and kissed it. \u00a0\u201cYou can count on it.\u201d \u00a0He pulled her to her feet as he stood. \u00a0\u201cNow, let’s go find that horse!\u201d<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure this is our hotel?\u201d \u00a0Abby asked as Joe lifted her from the carriage. \u00a0Once he settled her on the ground, he pulled their travel documents from his inside coat pocket.<\/p>\n \u201cIt says here Pico House.\u201d \u00a0Joe stretched his neck to take in the three-story Italianate structure and whistled. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s not like Pa to be so extravagant. \u00a0He must like you better because he never spends this kind of money on me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, pshaw!\u201d Abby swatted him with her reticule, picked up her skirts, and walked under the archway into the lobby where she gaped at the chandeliers and furnishings. \u00a0The porter retrieved their luggage from the curb and ushered them past the grand staircase to the reception desk where Joe signed the register for them both.<\/p>\n A bellman showed them to a three-room suite on the third floor overlooking a courtyard that featured a fountain and aviary. \u00a0After opening the floor to ceiling windows and adjusting the curtains to allow maximum airflow, he pointed out the features of the suite and informed them there were separate bathrooms and water closets for men and women across the hall, and a French restaurant on the ground floor.\u00a0 Before leaving, he showed them the bell pull by the door and said, \u201cJeremiah is the steward for this suite. \u00a0Do not hesitate to call on him day or night for anything you need. \u00a0Good day, Mr. Cartwright.\u00a0 I hope you and your daughter will have a pleasant stay.\u201d<\/p>\n When the door closed, Joe twisted his head toward Abby and wiggled his eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think we should have corrected him?\u201d Abby giggled, collapsing on one of two matching settees in the parlor.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? \u00a0No one knows us and we do have separate bedrooms. \u00a0Besides, we won\u2019t be here that long.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are wicked, Joseph Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd hungry.\u00a0 Let\u2019s get something decadent to nibble while we explore.\u00a0 Hoss never thought Los\u00a0Angeles would amount to anything, but that was 10 years ago.\u00a0 There must be something fun to do in this backwater town on a Saturday night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like to unpack. \u00a0How about I meet you down by the aviary in a half hour.\u201d<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n \u201cJoe Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe scanned the courtyard, seeking the source of the inquiry. \u00a0Aside from Abby, he did not know anyone in Los Angeles and could not imagine who would call him out. \u00a0He noted several couples strolling the cobblestone pathways admiring the exotic birds and flowering hedges, but no one who looked familiar.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is Joe Cartwright, isn\u2019t it?\u201d the deep voice said again.<\/p>\n Joe pivoted and stood within inches of a handsome young man of equal height with sandy blond hair, blue eyes and dark eyebrows. \u00a0The gentleman wore a brown business suit and carried a newspaper. \u00a0Wary, he responded, \u201cYes. \u00a0Do we know each other?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Tom, sir. \u00a0Tom Grant. \u00a0You know my mother, Julia.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe searched the broad face until his memory clicked. \u00a0\u201cTommy?\u201d he exclaimed, grabbing the proffered hand in a fierce shake. \u00a0\u201cWhat are you doing here? The last I heard Julia was in New York.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSix months ago. \u00a0Since then we have been in St. Louis, Albuquerque, Tucson, San Diego, and now here. \u00a0We opened last night,\u201d Tom said, handing Joe the paper folded to the theatre review section:<\/p>\n The Merced Theatre was crowded last night and the extreme silliness of the play kept the audience in convulsions of laughter from first to last. Miss Grant was irresistibly funny as Roderigo and fairly excelled herself in the farce.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIs the theatre near here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s right next door. \u00a0In fact, you can enter directly from the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry it took me so long,\u201d Abby said, sidling up to Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cThere you are. \u00a0I worried you were buried under a sea of crinoline. \u00a0Abby, may I present Tom Grant. \u00a0Tom, Abigail Con\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014Pettigrew. \u00a0Abby Pettigrew. \u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s nice to meet you, Mr. Grant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLikewise,\u201d Tom\u2019s eyes widened. \u00a0His obvious enchantment amused Joe, and one glance at Abby confirmed the feeling was mutual.<\/p>\n \u201cTom\u2019s mother is an actress.\u201d Joe explained, handing the newspaper to Abby who read the article quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cA farce, how in keeping with the day,\u201d she said, batting her eyelashes at Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cI can leave tickets for you at the box office if you\u2019d like to see the show. \u00a0The curtain is at 8 p.m.\u201d<\/p>\n Abby assented with a quick nod. \u00a0\u201cYou can,\u201d Joe said, \u201cif you and your mother will join us for dinner . . . and recommend a restaurant. \u00a0Neither of us are familiar with the area.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI usually sup with Mother following the performance.\u00a0 Shall we meet in the lobby at, say, 10:30? \u00a0If you need a bite to tide you over, I can show you to a European cafe a few blocks from here. \u00a0May I arrange a carriage?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA walk would be lovely,\u201d replied Abby. \u00a0\u201cWe\u2019ve been cooped up on a train for two days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever the lady desires,\u201d deferred Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cExcellent. \u00a0If you\u2019ll excuse me for a moment, I will let Mother know where I\u2019ll be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTom, don\u2019t tell Julia I\u2019m here. \u00a0I\u2019d like to surprise her after the show.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m quite sure you\u2019ll do just that, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Joe leaned against the doorframe of the dressing room with his arms across his chest and watched from the shadows as Julia removed first her wig, then the pins and net holding her hair in place. \u00a0A quick head toss sent auburn locks tumbling down her back.<\/p>\n \u201cStill lying, cheating, and stealing in pursuit of your dream?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n Julia grabbed the icepick she kept on her dressing table for emergencies and spun around prepared to eject the intruder when a familiar figure stepped forward into the lamplight.<\/p>\n \u201cJoe Cartwright.\u201d \u00a0His appearance left her breathless. \u00a0\u201cMy god . . . your hair is gray!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSign of my misspent youth as a stage door johnnie in love with an actress.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou look wonderful,\u201d she choked and rushed into his embrace.<\/p>\n After a moment, Joe held her at arms\u2019 length. \u00a0\u201cAnd you . . . you look like a man!\u201d<\/p>\n Julia performed a quick pirouette and then bowed from the waist. \u00a0\u201cIng\u00e9nue roles have passed me by, I\u2019m afraid. \u00a0I\u2019m currently playing Roderigo in a bloody farce!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe audience loved you. \u00a0You had them eating out of your hand as always.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou saw tonight\u2019s performance?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded, as Tom walked in. \u00a0\u201cMiss Grant, I . . . oh, Mr. Cartwright. \u00a0I see you found Mother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTom, you knew Joe was here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. \u00a0He wanted to surprise you. I\u2019ve asked him and his companion to join us for a late supper.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a long day, Tom,\u201d Joe said. \u00a0\u201cI am not sure Abby will want to go out again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe restaurant is in the hotel, sir, on the ground floor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCompanion?\u201d Julia quizzed.<\/p>\n Joe detected a note of jealousy in her voice and found that somehow pleased him. \u00a0\u201cA friend from Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHer name is Abby Pettigrew, Mother. \u00a0She will be teaching at the high school on Pound Cake Hill and she speaks French!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, well then. \u00a0Permit me to change into something more presentable and we shall all dine together. \u00a0N\u2019est-ce pas?\u201d<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Contrary to Joe\u2019s supposition that Abby would be too tired to go out, she accepted the invitation with verve. \u00a0She appeared in the lobby impeccably attired in a pale green silk dress with a high collar, form-fitting bodice and bustled straight skirt, she projected a demure, if womanly, image of innocence. \u00a0Combs held her hair off the face allowing curls to cascade freely over her shoulders and down her back.<\/p>\n Tom was mesmerized.<\/p>\n Joe was stunned.<\/p>\n Julia laughed, \u201cCome, mes ch\u00e9ris, let us dine! \u00a0Monsieur Laugier, my usual table s\u2019il vous plait.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ma\u00eetre d\u2019 clicked his heels. \u00a0\u201cOui, Madame. \u00a0Par ici s’il-vous-plait.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe\u2019s French had all but vanished over the years since his mother\u2019s death. \u00a0He could make out a few words on the menu and Abby helped by subtly pointing to dishes she knew he would like. \u00a0Wine and conversation flowed around course after course of delectable dishes, but when the cheese and fruit arrived, Joe stifled a yawn.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but this rancher is dead on his feet. \u00a0Abby?\u201d Joe said as he pushed back from the table.<\/p>\n \u201cYou go ahead. \u00a0I\u2019ll stay and finish my coffee. \u00a0I can get a key from the desk. \u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps a stroll afterward?\u201d Tom offered. \u00a0\u201cThe courtyard is lit and there are many night blooming flowers that can only be appreciated after sunset.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s almost dawn!\u201d Joe squeaked.<\/p>\n Julia rose from her chair and took his arm. \u00a0\u201cCome, dear. \u00a0These young people don\u2019t need a chaperone and I, like you, am ready for bed.\u201d \u00a0Julia gave a conspiratorial wink to Abby as she dragged a sputtering Joe away from the table.<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n Julia\u2019s lodging paled in comparison to the Pico House accommodations, but it was clean and comfortable, if sparsely, furnished. \u00a0There was a bookcase and a small sitting area next to the bed. \u00a0A washstand and wardrobe took up the corner. \u00a0It appeared to Joe that Julia lived out of a trunk at the foot of the bed as the open lid sported an assortment of garments, unmentionables, and accessories.<\/p>\n The walk had revived him and upon arrival, they were deeply engaged in a spirited discussion revolving around the obvious attraction between Tom and Abby.<\/p>\n \u201cShe’s older than she appears. \u00a0Doesn’t the difference in their ages bother you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoseph Cartwright! \u00a0\u00a0Did the gray in your hair addle your brain? \u00a0\u00a0Or don’t you recall telling me there was nothing wrong with a man courting an older woman?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn’t say that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes you did. \u00a0When I mentioned the differences in our ages, you said it might have mattered when I was 5 and you were 1, but it had no bearing when I was 27 and you were 22. \u00a0Or are you sweet on Abby yourself? \u00a0Is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo! \u00a0We\u2019re friends.\u201d \u00a0Julia appeared dubious. \u00a0\u201cAll right, we used to date, but that was long ago and we truly are just friends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what is the problem? \u00a0My son is a good man and well mannered. \u00a0Although I have encouraged him to play the field before settling down, he is not given to trivial pursuits and he is not a libertine!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t want Abby hurt, that’s all. \u00a0She . . . she is vulnerable right now. \u00a0She\u2019s a recent divorcee.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019m an actress. \u00a0In today\u2019s world, that makes us kin. \u00a0Now. \u00a0I\u2019ve been waiting all evening for you to kiss me, so either do it or go back to the hotel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, ma\u2019am. \u00a0I always obey my elders.\u201d<\/p>\n **********<\/p>\n The clock ceased to make sense to Joe. \u00a0Used to rising at 5 a.m. and taking care of the stock for two hours before breakfast, having dinner at noon and supper at 6 p.m., according to Hop Sing\u2019s strict rules, he remained flummoxed by the \u201cishy\u201d schedule Julia kept. \u00a0Breakfast at noon-ish, tea at 4-ish, no dinner, supper at 10-ish. \u00a0And that was on days with an 8 p.m. curtain. \u00a0He had no comprehension whatsoever when matinee performances were thrown in.<\/p>\n Tom said to relax. \u00a0If hungry, then eat; if not, then don\u2019t. \u00a0Simple advice that worked; Joe had gained at least 5 pounds despite running all over Los Angeles obtaining the things Abby wanted for her lodgings and classroom. \u00a0Of course, if he suggested to Hop Sing that he be allowed to continue this pattern upon his return, the Ponderosa would be short one cook or he would be short one head.<\/p>\n It became more and more apparent as the days wore on that Tom and Abby were falling in love. \u00a0Abby warned him to stay out of her business. \u201cLet me be who I am without judging, isn\u2019t that what we agreed best friends did for each other?\u201d<\/p>\n Still, he could not stop worrying or talking to Julia about his concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cSure she’s having fun now, but you and Tom will be leaving soon. \u00a0Another opening, another show, isn’t that how it goes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere won’t be another opening for me, Joe. This is my last role.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m resigning from the Company at the end of this run.\u201d \u00a0Julia closed Joe\u2019s open mouth by lifting his chin her fingertips and patted his cheek. \u00a0\u201cI love the theatre, but it\u2019s cost me dearly. \u00a0For one thing, I lost you. \u00a0For another, Tommy had no say in choosing this life. \u00a0A boy should be able to run through green fields and breathe fresh air. \u00a0Instead he sat in green rooms and inhaled sawdust so his mother could bask in the limelight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour travel overseas must have been an education in and of itself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI gave you that impression, didn\u2019t I? \u00a0All those letters about productions in London, Paris, Hamburg. \u00a0Oh, the parts were real, but I did not play the roles. \u00a0Another lie. \u00a0That\u2019s what acting is all about, pretending to be someone else, to live another\u2019s life, to inhabit another\u2019s soul.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe stage is your life, your dream. \u00a0Didn\u2019t Mr. Booth say you don\u2019t give up the theatre, it gives you up? \u00a0The theatre hasn\u2019t given you up yet. \u00a0I read the reviews; I have been in the theatre for every performance since I arrived. \u00a0The audience loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDreams change. \u00a0I am getting older, Joe. \u00a0The only parts left to me are dowagers and farcical old men. \u00a0I don\u2019t want to lay dying on a divan wondering what I missed. \u00a0I want to live my own life for as long as I have left.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe gathered Julia into his arms and kissed her deeply and with fervor.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is one role you haven’t played yet,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd which role is that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMrs. Joe Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou’d still want me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d he whispered into her hair. \u00a0\u201cOh, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen I have one more confession. \u00a0When we met, I was 29, not 27.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo that makes me almost 40.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I look 40 \u2026 We’re a perfect match.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI’m serious Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo am I. \u00a0You asked about my dream. \u00a0It’s to have a family. \u00a0I gave up on life after I lost Alice and our baby. \u00a0However, it appears life did not give up on me. \u00a0It gave me a second chance with you.<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to be my family. \u00a0I know Tom is a bit old to think of me as a father, but we always got along and there is still a lot I can teach him. \u00a0Besides, if Tom and Abby marry, we will likely be grandparents before the year is out and my father will be a great grandfather! \u00a0That alone should earn a standing ovation!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would we do for an encore?\u201d Julia asked. \u00a0Then she saw the twinkle in Joe\u2019s eyes. \u00a0\u201cOh, no!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there\u2019s always adoption . . .\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The End<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Words drawn: \u00a0\u00a0dying, loft, Julia, field, library<\/p>\n \n