The Duet<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
She had the prettiest voice in a hundred miles. People said it often enough, but then someone would usually make a remark- sometimes snide, sometimes pitying- about how it would be nice if she looked as pretty as she sounded. Not that she was ugly exactly, Martha Louise was simply fat. Far too fat to be appealing to any boy unless he listened to her sing with his eyes closed. Adam Cartwright stopped at the back of the church to do just that. He listened to Martha Louise\u2019s voice soar to the rafters as she practiced the hymn she would sing at that night\u2019s Christmas Eve service. Then the music stopped. He made his presence known, clapping his hands and calling out, \u201cBravo! Bravo!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Mr. Cartwright, it\u2019s you.\u201d The girl had been startled to realize she was not alone, but relaxed as she recognized Hoss Cartwright’s older brother. \u201cI didn\u2019t know anyone was there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t want to interrupt you. I was enjoying listening far too much.\u201d His long strides had brought him to the piano, and he could see the girl blush and drop her eyes modestly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you. It\u2019s not quite right, but I do my best. Reverend Forrester wouldn\u2019t take no for an answer when he asked me to sing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adam leaned against the piano. \u201cIt\u2019s very, very good, Martha Louise. You have a lovely voice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t take no, I mean any, credit for that. That was the Lord\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can take credit for what you do with the Lord\u2019s gift, and you do very well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martha Louise smiled at him. \u201cIt means a lot you thinking so, seeing as how you\u2019ve had real singing lessons and all. What song are you singing tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n
Adam shook his head and chuckled. \u201cNone. The reverend took no for an answer when he asked me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost unwillingly, Adam Cartwright! Upon hearing Reverend Forrester\u2019s stentorian tones, both of them looked to see that the pastor of the church had joined them.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, but you should sing, really, everyone would rather hear you than someone like me! Tell him he must,\u201d Martha Louise interjected excitedly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother song would only add to the festivities, Adam,\u201d the reverend urged.<\/p>\n
Adam shook his head. \u201cI haven\u2019t anything prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s no matter. It\u2019s not like you don\u2019t know any Christmas hymns. You can practice right now.\u201d Martha Louise pushed aside his objections.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo right, my dear.\u201d The pastor fixed Adam with a look that usually resulted in its recipient agreeing to whatever the reverend had asked. Adam shook his head. Then Reverend Forrester used his ultimate weapon. \u201cI\u2019m sure your father would be so pleased to know you consented to sing tonight and so displeased to hear you refused.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adam finished the implied threat in his mind and shrugged. \u201cUm, perhaps I could sing something.\u201d Adam heard Martha Louise clap in approval and an idea struck. \u201cIf Martha Louise would sing with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The girl gasped at the thought, but the reverend exclaimed, \u201cA duet! That would be lovely. I\u2019ll leave the two of you to practice then.\u201d The assumption that an agreement had been reached became a fact as the reverend hurried from the sanctuary before Martha Louise could speak.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, but\u2026\u201d Martha Louise began.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo buts, my dear, you got me into this and you will have to cover any mistakes I make,\u201d Adam said rising to his full height, crossing his arms, and looking down at the girl. \u201cSince you\u2019ve been practicing this,\u201d he continued picking up the sheet music, \u201cI suggest we see how it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The church was full of evergreen, candlelight, and people dressed in their winter best. Adam sat next to Martha Louise in the front pew to make things simpler when time came for their duet. With so many congregants crowded into the pews scarcely a quarter inch separated them, and they shared a hymnal. Adam attributed the girl\u2019s nervousness to their approaching performance. Then the time came for them to sing. Martha Louise sat at the piano, and Adam stood behind her. The first notes stilled their listeners, and then his baritone and her soprano entwined in the chords of \u201cOnce in Royal David\u2019s City\u201d. When the last note faded, Adam took Martha Louise\u2019s hand as she rose, brought it to his lips, and then led her back to the pew. Applause being inappropriate in a church, everyone watched the two in silence.<\/p>\n
After the service ended, Adam and Martha Louise were surrounded by people offering congratulations and compliments about their duet. Adam did not hear Ellen Decort\u2019s snide comment or Paul Grant\u2019s crude attempt at a joke, but Martha Louise did, and so did Hoss Cartwright. He followed as Martha Louise managed to edge her way out of the crowd and through the door. Hoss came up behind Martha Louise as she stood in the darkness behind the church.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t pay them no never mind. Neither of them is worth the effort it would take to spit them out of your mouth.\u201d<\/p>\n
She did not turn to face him but replied softly, \u201cIt\u2019s not them, Hoss. It\u2019s, well, it\u2019s true. The way they said it was nasty, but basically, it\u2019s true, and lots of people were thinking the same.\u201d She did turn to face him then. \u201cI know your brother was just being a gentleman. It was nice though to be treated that way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere ain\u2019t no reason you shouldn\u2019t be treated nice, Martha Louise. It\u2019s them two\u2019s faces should be burning with shame. I could go teach that Paul a lesson in manners, but Miss Ellen\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no! Hoss, it\u2019s Christmas Eve.\u201d She smiled at him. \u201cA time for peace on earth, goodwill toward men.\u201d<\/p>\n
He wanted to wipe the tears from her cheeks, but he just said gently, \u201cReckon your right, little gal. I\u2019ll just take the girl with the prettiest voice in town to her buggy.\u201d He offered her his arm. Martha Louise sighed softly and took it.\u00a0 Hoss Cartwright was the only person in the world who would address her as little anything. As they reached the Blankenship buggy, they were joined by the rest of the Cartwrights.<\/p>\n
\u201cManaged to escape, did you?\u201d Adam addressed Martha Louise teasingly.<\/p>\n
She squeezed Hoss\u2019s arm and gave him a glanced that asked him not to speak of what had happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll them admirers were a bit too much for her, Adam, so we left them to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks!\u201d Adam\u2019s tone made his lack of appreciation clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, in my opinion,\u201d Ben Cartwright began beaming at his eldest, \u201call the admiration was well deserved. The two of you, well, your duet was just marvelous. You did a magnificent job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Mr. Cartwright.\u201d Martha Louise blushed. Then she stepped closer to Ben and whispered conspiratorially, \u201cBut you did a marvelous job on something far more important.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would that be, child?\u201d Ben whispered back.<\/p>\n
\u201cRaising your sons.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Author’s note: This story did appear on another site years ago, so if you think you have read it before you probably did.<\/p>\n
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Tags: Adam Cartwright, Family, Hoss Cartwright<\/p>\n
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