Summary: This sequel to “The Duet” has Martha Louise singing with both Adam and Hoss one fine Easter.
\nRating: K+ word count: 2666<\/p>\n
Duets Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Duet<\/a> <\/p>\n Duets<\/strong><\/p>\n Ellen DeCort knew that Martha Louise Blankenship had entered the mercantile though her companion did not. Ellen pitched her voice so that Martha Louise would be sure to hear.\u00a0 \u201cAdam\u2019s hardly had a minute to spend with me for weeks. It seems he needs every minute he has away from ranch business to practice with Martha Louise.\u201d Adam had been escorting Ellen DeCort about Virginia City for the past five months, and his recent lack of attention had been noted.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam and Martha Louise are singing for Easter services, aren\u2019t they?\u201d The volume of Nettie Blaine\u2019s response matched Ellen\u2019s statement instinctively.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. Reverend Forrester has them doing several songs together, more\u2019s the pity.\u201d Ellen\u2019s displeasure was clear.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone thought it was lovely when they sang together on Christmas Eve,\u201d Nettie ventured.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone doesn\u2019t realize what an effort it takes on Adam\u2019s part,\u201d Ellen replied. \u201cI mean. . . I know Martha Louise has a pretty little voice, but, really, Adam is a trained singer, and, well, like I said the effort he has to put in to make a duet between them presentable. If Martha Louise had a lick of sense, she\u2019d realize everyone would prefer to listen to Adam sing unencumbered by the likes of her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam does have a marvelous voice.\u201d Nettie gave a general agreement to her friend\u2019s observation deciding not to mention that she thought Martha Louise and Adam sang very well together.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019s so handsome standing there in his black suit.\u201d Ellen continued, \u201cThen you have Martha Louise. If I was that fat, goodness knows I wouldn\u2019t want to stand in front of the congregation saying look at me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there is that.\u201d Nettie gave a nervous titter.<\/p>\n From the corner of her eye Ellen saw Martha Louise\u2019s sudden departure, and a sly smile slid onto her face. \u201cThere certainly is,\u201d she observed, and it occurred to Nettie that Ellen looked like the cat who had gotten into the cream.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Reverend Forrester walked down the middle aisle of the church clapping softly. \u201cWell done!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you, Reverend,\u201d both Adam and Martha Louise responded.<\/p>\n \u201cThe congregation is certainly in for a treat.\u201d The reverend smiled benevolently at the two singers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been working very hard,\u201d Martha Louise murmured. \u201cMr. Cartwright\u2019s so patient with me.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s low chuckle filled the air. \u201cPatience is not something often connected with my name. You must bring out the best in my character, Martha Louise. That or our surroundings do.\u201d Adam\u2019s hand swept through the air in a gesture that drew all eyes around the church sanctuary.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, the Lord\u2019s house should inspire the best in us all,\u201d the reverend observed.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Adam replied. Then he drew his watch from his pocket and glanced at it quickly. \u201cReverend, Martha Louise, you must excuse me. I\u2019ve still a few errands, and\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Martha Louise inserted. \u201cGo, please, I\u2019ve kept you here too long already.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, do go on, son. From what I just heard, no more practice is needed,\u201d the reverend urged.<\/p>\n Adam departed after telling Martha Louise that he would try to meet her on Thursday for a final practice.<\/p>\n \u201cUmm, Reverend, umm, Mr. Cartwright has such a marvelous voice, and he knows so much about music, I just, well, don\u2019t you think, perhaps it would be best if he sang alone. Oh, I\u2019d still play, but. . .\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNow, child, don\u2019t get nervous. The two of you, well, the Lord will be well pleased with your gift to him and so will the congregation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you think so,\u201d Martha Louise demurred.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be such a lovely service,\u201d the reverend declared beaming in anticipation.<\/p>\n Martha Louise agreed hesitantly as she chewed on her lower lip.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Martha Louise watched Adam walk through the door of the church followed by his family. She swallowed the lump in her throat and smoothed her skirt. Then she walked quickly forward. When she reached Adam, she tugged lightly on his sleeve. He turned and looked down at her. She dropped her eyes to the floor.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d Her voice was barely a gruff whisper. She placed her hand to her throat. \u201cIt started last night,\u201d she managed to continue, \u201cI can\u2019t sing, but I\u2019ll play.\u201d<\/p>\n A frown creased Adam Cartwright\u2019s forehead. \u201cYou have laryngitis; you\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n Martha Louise nodded and looked directly at Adam for the first time that morning. She nodded again. He saw the sheen of tears in her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there\u2019s nothing for it then. Are you sure you feel well enough to play?\u201d<\/p>\n Martha Louise nodded again. The church bells started to peal above their heads, and Adam lead Martha Louise to their reserved seats in the front pew. Then he went to speak quickly to Reverend Forrester to alert him to the change in plans.<\/p>\n The service began. When Adam started singing the first song solo, Ben exchanged looks with Hoss and then Little Joe, but it was clear that neither of them knew why Adam was singing without Martha Louise. No one noticed the extraordinarily smug smile that settled on the face of Ellen Decort. By the time Adam sang alone for the third time, the Cartwrights had pushed the question of why from their minds and simply enjoyed Adam\u2019s beautiful rendition of \u201cCome Let Us with Our Lord Arise.\u201d<\/p>\n When the services ended, dozens of parishioners surged forward to congratulate Adam while Martha Louise slipped quickly out the back door of the sanctuary.<\/p>\n ****<\/p>\n The church had decided on a community Easter dinner on the back lawn. The Cartwrights had supplied no less than three steers for the barbeque, and every female congregant over the age of twelve had brought at least two specialty dishes and a dessert to laden the temporary plank tables. The grass was dotted with colorful blankets and quilts while the Easter finery created a garden rivaling any in Europe.<\/p>\n Little Joe spotted his big brother Hoss sitting on a quilt at the edge of the festivities. Crawling across his lap were the O\u2019Conner twins, one-year-old bundles of perpetual motion. Joe started toward his brother as he planned a few choice jibes, but just as he would have entered Hoss\u2019s line of sight, first one and then the other twin began squalling in increasing volume, so Joe back stepped quickly into the shadows.<\/p>\n Hoss looked around for Tess O\u2019Conner or her husband, but neither of the twins\u2019 parents was in sight. He checked bottoms, cooed softly, rubbed backs, and cuddled one twin in each arm, but neither of the babies quieted. Hoss was at a loss as to what to do next when he heard a soft voice come over his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re probably overtired and due for a nap.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss glanced up to see Martha Louise Blankenship standing behind him. \u201cThat may be, Martha Louise, but . . .\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTry a lullaby,\u201d Martha Louise encouraged as she leaned down over his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, now that might be a thought iffen I could carry a tune in a bucket,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course you can carry one. You\u2019re always helping somebody carry something, so just let me help you carry a tune.\u201d Martha Louise lowered herself to settle next to Hoss.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, I don\u2019t know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you do. Come on now,\u201d Martha Louise\u2019s voice softened into the melody as she began, \u201cHush, little baby, don\u2019t say a word …\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss joined in at her nudge, \u201cPapa\u2019s gonna buy you a mockingbird. . .\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe listened as Martha Louise\u2019s voice slid under his brother\u2019s and seemed to carry it along.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if that mockingbird don\u2019t sing, Papa\u2019s gonna buy you a diamond ring.\u201d<\/p>\n The twins had stopped squalling by the time Papa was gonna buy a billy goat and started to babble an accompaniment by the time Papa was set to buy a dog named Rover. Little Joe came out of the shadows and inched closer as the final strains filled the spring air.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re still the sweetest little babies in town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMartha Louise!\u201d The deep sharp tones startled everyone including the twins who started to whimper.\u00a0 Martha Louise looked up to see Adam Cartwright striding the last few steps to stand behind Hoss.<\/p>\n \n\u201cYou lied to me!\u201d<\/p>\n Martha Louise scrambled to her feet stuttering, \u201cI, I, I…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou lied to me!\u201d Adam repeated his accusation in a lower but even sharper-edged voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI, you don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you don\u2019t understand, girl. I do not tolerate being the recipient of a purposeful and direct lie!\u201d<\/p>\n Martha Louise\u2019s mouth opened, but no words exited as she stared into Adam\u2019s dark glare.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you have to say for yourself?\u201d Adam\u2019s hands had moved to his hips. \u201cNo, there is nothing you can say.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d the cowed girl managed to mutter.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I shall forgive you, but not until after your comeuppance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cComeuppance?\u201d The word was merely a strangled sound.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is always a comeuppance when someone lies to me. Ask Little Joe there.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss had listened to the exchange with increasing anxiety and tried to rise, but two squirming babies impeded his progress.<\/p>\n Adam stepped closer to Martha Louise and took her firmly by the upper arm. Hoss would have grabbed his brother, but both hands where full of whimpering twins.<\/p>\n \u201cCome with me.\u201d It was an order that Adam expected to be obeyed.<\/p>\n Little Joe ventured a step forward. \u201cAdam?\u201d Adam turned his head to look directly at his younger brother. Little Joe studied his brother\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cLittle Joe, go and ring the church bell. Now!\u201d Adam moved forward toward the church towing Martha Louise.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, Adam. . .\u201d Hoss\u2019s voice had an urgent tone.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay, Hoss, really,\u201d Little Joe offered, \u201cthose weren\u2019t his spanking eyes.\u201d Little Joe then took off at a run to obey his own order from elder brother.<\/p>\n Hoss managed to turn the twins over to their mother as the sound of church bells drew a crowd up the steps and into the church. When he entered the church was full. He saw his older brother standing beside the piano where Martha Louise was seated.<\/p>\n Adam motioned for quiet and then announced, \u201cSome of you know that Martha Louise was to sing with me this morning. Well, the problem with her voice has been resolved, and I wanted all of you to hear what we had prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n The crowd murmured its approval, and Martha Louise fingered the opening chords of Mendelssohn\u2019s \u201cHalleluiah Chorus.\u201d<\/p>\n Standing with his two younger sons, Ben Cartwright listened to the voice of his eldest mix with that of Martha Louise as the two echoed and swirled around each other. To Ben\u2019s mind there was only one description for what he heard. The two voices danced to the rafters carrying the hearts of their listeners with them.<\/p>\n When the last chords faded, Hoss\u2019s pride and exuberance overcame him, and he started applauding with gusto. The rest of the listeners soon joined him except for one. Hoss noticed Ellen DeCort turn on her heel with a scowl darkening her face and exit the church in what could only be termed a huff.<\/p>\n Adam turned and gave his hand to Martha Louise who rose and faced the crowd but kept her eyes lowered.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, friends, Martha Louise and I had the thought that a good old-fashioned camp sing might be just the way to end this social, so we\u2019re going to lead one. As some of the tunes will be too worldly for this sanctuary, we invite you to join us on the back lawn.\u201d There were numerous assertions of approval in response. Then Adam called out, \u201cLittle Joe, would you please bring me. . .\u201d<\/p>\n Before he could finish his request, Joe sang out, \u201cOf course, Elder Brother!\u201d He knew that Adam had brought his guitar with plans of a private serenade for Ellen DeCort. Joe himself saw little to appreciate in Ellen other than her rather brittle good looks and found that he was quite pleased to assist in diverting his brother from that course of action.<\/p>\n Adam was soon seated on the top step of the backstairs to the church with Martha Louise beside him. A sea of people was spread across the lawn below them. Adam started off with the well-known \u201cSweet Betsy from Pike\u201d which had everyone singing along. The music continued for over two hours. Many songs were sung by the entire crowd, but Adam and Martha Louise added several impromptu duets and a few individual performances of sweet ballads. Without prompting, Little Joe brought them both lemonade when their voices began to falter after the first hour. Then Adam noticed some of those who lived further from town looking at the lowering sun and ended the session with a rousing rendition of \u201cChrist the Lord Has Risen This Day!\u201d as befitted the Easter celebration.<\/p>\n As the crowd scattered below them, Adam turned to Martha Louise and said, \u201cNow you are forgiven, but don\u2019t ever lie to me again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t, Mr. Cartwright,\u201d Martha Louise answered and managed a smile.<\/p>\n Adam gave an exaggerated wince. \u201cMartha Louise, please stop calling me Mr. Cartwright; you make me feel as if I have as many gray hairs as my father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIs that so!\u201d Ben Cartwright and his two youngest sons had come to join Adam on the church steps.<\/p>\n Adam gave another wince at the sound of his father\u2019s voice and then turned to look over his shoulder into his father\u2019s scowl. \u201cAnd that tone makes me feel years younger than Little Joe. Sorry for any offense, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben was much too pleased with his eldest to maintain his scowl. \u201cApology accepted. Your singing was lovely, but Martha Louise why didn\u2019t you sing this morning at services?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s tone became sternly demanding, \u201cYes, Martha Louise, why didn\u2019t you sing at services this morning?\u201d<\/p>\n Martha Louise\u2019s eyes dropped to her hands which began nervously twisting the cloth of her skirt. \u201cI just, well, I thought everyone would rather listen to you sing alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would you ever think that?\u201d A furrow appeared on Adam\u2019s brow.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, well, I heard someone, some people say that people would.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d Adam\u2019s one-syllable inquiry was steel-edged.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather not. . .\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss\u2019s voice cut into her words, \u201cWas it Ellen DeCort?\u201d<\/p>\n Martha Louise did not make a verbal acknowledgement, but Adam saw the truth in her face. \u201cShe said that to you!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I overheard her say it to someone else; they agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam drew in a long breath and rose to his feet. \u201cI\u2019ll leave the lecture on eavesdropping to Pa. I have something important that needs my immediate attention.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s family watched him stride off angrily, but none of them were moved to intercede on Ellen\u2019s behalf. Martha Louise looked up at Ben Cartwright contritely awaiting a scolding.<\/p>\n Ben glared down at her for a moment and then said simply, \u201cAh, yes, eavesdropping, I don\u2019t recommend it.\u201d<\/p>\n Martha Louise smiled and replied, \u201cI promise to avoid it in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood girl!\u201d<\/p>\n Little Joe rolled his eyes and muttered, \u201cMaybe I should have been born a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss reached down and gave Martha Louise his hand. \u201cMartha Louise, might I see ya home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be very nice,\u201d the girl replied as Hoss slipped her arm into his.<\/p>\n As they watched the two of them walk away, Ben dropped his arm around the shoulders of his youngest son.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re really proud of Adam, aren\u2019t ya, Pa?\u201d Little Joe observed giving his father a sideways glance.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that duet was quite marvelous, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, elder brother has quite a voice, but I heard a duet that was even better today,\u201d Little Joe announced with a grin.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did, did you?\u201d Ben turned to raise his eyebrow inquiringly at his son. \u201cAnd just who sang that one?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHoss and Martha Louise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour brother Hoss?\u201d Ben\u2019s tone was incredulous.<\/p>\n \u201cYep! You wouldn\u2019t have believed it, Pa; it was a thing of beauty.\u201d Little Joe stuffed his hands in his pockets and strolled away from his speechless father whistling \u201cHush Little Baby\u201d cheerfully if slightly off-key.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tags:\u00a0 Adam Cartwright, Ben Cartwright, brothers, Family, Hoss Cartwright, Joe \/ Little Joe Cartwright,<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nDuets<\/a><\/p>\n