{"id":13814,"date":"2017-01-24T07:12:51","date_gmt":"2017-01-24T12:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13814"},"modified":"2026-06-24T15:17:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T19:17:19","slug":"a-pearl-without-price-by-jc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13814","title":{"rendered":"A Pearl Without Price (by JC)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>: Adam Cartwright knows well there are some things in this world that money can\u2019t buy, and other things are priceless. (Part of the Ties That Bind AU series)<\/p>\n

Rating: \u00a0K+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (1,425 words)<\/p>\n

Ties That Bind series<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ties That Bind<\/a>
\nImperfect Memory<\/a>
\nA Pearl Without Price<\/a>
\nA Piece of Cake<\/a>
\nSomething About Amy<\/a>
\nGuarding the Henhouse<\/a>
\nWhen Angels Cry<\/a>
\nNo Ordinary Day<\/a>
\nWinter of Discontent<\/a>
\nInterval<\/a>
\nNot to Me<\/a>
\nGently, Full of Grace<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Memory of Grimesgirl (the real Edna Henderson), my first public reviewer, who loved Bonanza fan fiction more than anyone I know.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A PEARL WITHOUT PRICE<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The gray skies over San Francisco couldn\u2019t dampen the spirits of one astute shopkeeper on the verge of a tidy profit. She had sized up her customers within moments after they arrived and produced the most expensive item in her inventory.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the latest thing from Paris,\u201d she boasted. \u201cAnd this color is perfect for you. Isn\u2019t it gorgeous?\u201d<\/p>\n

The girl drew in a wide-eyed breath and let it go with a sigh. \u201cIt\u2019s the most beautiful gown I\u2019ve ever seen! Don\u2019t you think so?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her handsome benefactor smiled, though he raised an eyebrow when he heard the price. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of money for a dress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t find another one like it,\u201d the proprietress assured him. It wasn\u2019t a question of money, she decided; he was surely a man of means, but practical enough to require a little convincing. She turned to the girl. \u201cWouldn\u2019t you like to try it on, my dear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, may I?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

A few expertly placed pins at the waist made it fit like a glove. The girl had a lovely figure and a face to match, she noted with a modicum of envy. Well, so much the better for the both of them. One look at her in that dress and the man wouldn\u2019t be able to refuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cVoila,\u201d said the woman as she presented her model. \u201cIt\u2019s as if it was made for her \u2013 absolutely stunning, don\u2019t you agree?\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched him watching her, and a smile crossed her lips. Her work was done. In fact, she might just as well close up early and take the rest of the afternoon off.<\/p>\n

~*~<\/p>\n

\u201cLike I always say, there\u2019s nothin\u2019 like a warm beer on a hot day.\u201d Joe grimaced as he set his mug on the table. \u201cYou ready, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m done here.\u201d He pushed himself up from the chair to follow his younger brother outside. \u201cDid you get the mail?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for reminding me. I\u2019ll get it now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m on my way to Mrs. Henderson\u2019s. I\u2019ll meet you at the wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was about to leave Edna Henderson\u2019s porch when she finally answered his knock.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Adam. I was in the back fitting a customer. Come in, I\u2019ll be right with you. Make yourself at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sat down in the parlor to wait, twirling his hat on his finger, noting the familiar voices in the hallway. Belinda Parker and Becky Epps liked to call themselves Jilly\u2019s friends, but they were really more interested in Joe.<\/p>\n

He stood up and acknowledged them when they emerged. \u201cGood afternoon, ladies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam Cartwright,\u201d Belinda gushed, \u201cwhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe and I drew straws to see who would get the mail and who would pick up Jilly\u2019s dress, and he won.\u201d<\/p>\n

Becky giggled. \u201cOh, Adam, you\u2019re so funny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard about the dress,\u201d said Belinda. \u201cDid it really come from Paris?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019ve been told.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere you are, Adam,\u201d said Mrs. Henderson, returning with a large wrapped package. \u201cI think this should be fine, but tell her try it on to just be sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t have to tell her that,\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, if there is any problem at all, just bring it back and I\u2019ll fix it right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019s more than fine. We\u2019re lucky to have such an accomplished seamstress in Virginia City.\u201d He handed her a bill. \u201cThank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy pleasure. Oh dear, I hate to trouble you, Adam, but I don\u2019t have change for this. Unless you have something smaller one of us will have to go the bank.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need change.\u201d<\/p>\n

She glanced at her lingering patrons and lowered her voice. \u201cIt\u2019s too much. I can\u2019t accept it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew a widow with two children could use certainly use the money but he had no wish to embarrass her. He turned toward the girls and smiled. \u201cWould you ladies excuse us, please? Mrs. Henderson and I have some business to discuss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, of course,\u201d said Belinda. \u201cBecky was just saying she needs to stop at the post office, anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was? I mean, I was\u2026I do.\u201d She giggled again. \u201cGoodbye, Mrs. Henderson. Goodbye, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

He waited until they were out the door before resuming the conversation. \u201cYou may not realize it, but you\u2019ve done us a tremendous service. As I said before, there wasn\u2019t time to have the dress altered in San Francisco. The shop owner offered to send it on a later stage, but Jilly would\u2019ve been on pins and needles until it arrived. So you see \u2013 you saved us both time and worry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs. Henderson was still doubtful. \u201cIt just doesn\u2019t seem right, all this for so little work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked into the tired eyes and careworn face of a woman working her fingers to the bone sewing for others while she probably hadn\u2019t had a new dress in ten years. He knew he had to convince her somehow. \u201cBelieve me, Mrs. Henderson, it\u2019s worth every penny. I wouldn\u2019t feel right if you didn\u2019t take the money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can see right through you, Adam Cartwright, do you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m afraid so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you know I need you to take this. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at the bill in her hand and sighed. \u201cWell, fortunately for both of us I\u2019m not as proud as you think. But I am truly grateful.\u201d She smiled, looking a little less weary. \u201cGod bless you, Adam. Give my best to your family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outside, Belinda and Becky were too engrossed in their own conversation to notice when he came up behind them. \u201cIf I was Jilly, I\u2019d get all my dresses from Paris,\u201d Becky was saying. \u201cAfter all, her father is certainly rich enough, and her mother was French.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHer mother was French Creole, from New Orleans, NOT France,\u201d Belinda corrected her, emphasizing the negative in a disdainful tone. \u201cShe was actually a saloon girl before she married Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Becky\u2019s reply was a squeak of surprise. \u201cNo, really? \u00a0How do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI overheard my mother and Mrs. Shaw talking about her the other day. Of course they changed the subject right quick when they saw me, but I heard enough, trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat else did they say?\u201d Becky urged her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever it was, I can assure you it isn\u2019t worth repeating,\u201d said Adam, fixing the startled pair with a frown. \u201cDon\u2019t you know better than to tell tales out of school? Then again, maybe you don\u2019t.\u201d Like mother, like daughter, and likely a hopeless case.<\/em> \u201cPardon me, ladies, and I\u2019m using the term generously.\u201d<\/p>\n

Belinda harrumphed as he brushed past them without tipping his hat. \u201cWell, I never!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and I doubt you ever will,\u201d he muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n

Joe was sprawled across the wagon seat waiting for him when he arrived. \u201cWhat took you so long?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was putting out a fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind. Did you get the mail?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep. Is that the dress?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam laid the package in the back of the wagon with the rest of the supplies from Cass\u2019s General Store. He hoisted himself into the seat beside his brother and handed him the reins. \u201cDo you mind?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not at all.\u201d Joe clucked to the team, prodding them forward. \u201cI promise I\u2019ll drive extra slow. I wouldn\u2019t want anything to happen to our little friend from Paris. I hear she\u2019s worth a fortune.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery funny.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I just can\u2019t figure out why a man would spend so much money on a dress for any girl, much less his sister. I mean, you\u2019re supposed to be the practical one in the family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I guess any man can have a weak moment; besides, you didn\u2019t see her in it.\u201d Adam smiled, remembering the look on her face and the way she lit up the room that gray afternoon, and he knew he would do it again. There were some things you just couldn\u2019t put a price on. \u201cYou\u2019d have done the same thing in my place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThink so?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019m not so sure but you could be right.\u201d<\/p>\n

They rolled along in silence for a few moments until Joe spoke again. \u201cSay, Adam, I\u2019ve been thinkin\u2019\u2026I could use a new suit, and maybe the next time you and I go to San Francisco\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut maybe if you could just see me in it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNice try, but forget it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

~END~<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For a complete, up to date list of my stories, check out\u00a0JC’s Author Page<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: Adam Cartwright knows well there are some things in this world that money can\u2019t buy, and other things are priceless. (Part of the Ties That Bind AU series)<\/p>\n

Rating: K+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 (1,425 words)<\/p>\n

Ties That Bind Series, links to stories within the series are included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10253,"featured_media":27532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1091,7,23,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-joe","category-a-u","category-drama","category-humor","wpcat-1091-id","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-4-id"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Adam-Joe-at-odds.jpg?fit=236%2C189&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13814","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\/10253"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13814"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13814\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/27532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}