{"id":2967,"date":"2011-06-16T17:33:08","date_gmt":"2011-06-16T21:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2967"},"modified":"2026-02-11T10:31:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T15:31:30","slug":"war-and-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2967","title":{"rendered":"War and Peace (by faust)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"label\">Summary: <\/span>Adam decides to join the Federal Army and has to deal with the consequences. A story of losses and miracles, told in ten vignettes.<\/p>\n<p>3,300 words, rated T<\/p>\n<p>My <a href=\"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?page_id=25807\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Story Index and reading order for the Art-Universe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This story is very dear to me. It contains my very first forays into writing fiction, those first bits and pieces I ever dared to present the public.<\/p>\n<div id=\"story\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>War and Peace<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>One<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThis is not your war.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cBut it is. There are men out there fighting for what I believe in\u2014and they are losing. They need me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cYour family needs you too, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cYou don\u2019t understand. This is important!\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She stared at him, unbelieving.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The next morning he was gone.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A month later a letter told her he joined the Federal Army. Julia prepared herself to wait. She was good at waiting; she could do this.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adam was promoted to Lieutenant only weeks later. Ben was beyond himself with pride.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Julia kept waiting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Her belly swelled with their growing child. She let Hoss and Joe feel the butterfly wings moving under her skin. And she kept waiting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adam\u2019s letters told about cold and rain, about battles and canons, about death and decay.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She kept waiting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The boy was born one sunny morning in May. Ben cried when he told her how much the baby resembled his father. Julia smiled and nodded and kept waiting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Then there were no more letters. Hoss cried, Joe raged, Ben mourned silently, and Julia was strong and hopeful for them all. She kept waiting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Christmas was subdued until a soldier came by with a tiny wooden horse Adam had carved for his son and a letter to the family. Then they sang \u2018Joy to the World\u2019, and they meant it. Julia kept waiting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In summer the boy toddled round on the ranch yard, and Julia taught him to say \u2018papa\u2019. She told him everything about his father and how much daddy loved him. And together they kept waiting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Then came winter, and a cold draft from north, and pneumonia. They buried the boy next to Marie\u2019s grave near the lake. Ben was devastated. Julia choked back her tears and kept waiting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And one fine Sunday morning Adam came back. Battle-weary, sore and tired but alive. Julia flew into his arms and he pulled her to his chest and held her tight. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m so sorry I couldn\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIt\u2019s alright. I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Later, at night, Julia draped her warm blue scarf tightly around her shoulders. She placed the letter on the nightstand, glanced at her sleeping husband, and then she left.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Two<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fifty days. It had been fifty days since she\u2019d left. Fifty days spent searching for her. Fifty days of false hopes, of lost tracks, of permanent disappointments. Fifty days without so much as a trace of her. Fifty damned days of utter despair.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cSon, you can\u2019t do this anymore. Look at yourself; you\u2019re a mess.\u201d Pa, the voice of reason. \u201cLet\u2019s get you home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*** *** ***<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">One night. It had taken them only one night. She pressed a hand on her still flat belly and squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears from spilling. She didn\u2019t want to go through this alone. Not again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">But would going back provide her with the safety she was looking for? Or would he leave her again for something else of \u2018greater good\u2019?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t do this anymore\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*** *** ***<\/p>\n<p>Fifty yards to the abyss and a tiny voice in her head: <em>jump<\/em>!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Three<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The moon was conjuring an eerie light on the white marble stones. Full moon, radiant in the reflection of the smooth surface of the lake, bright and lustrous and yet never vigorous enough to chase away the eternal darkness his soul generated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adam read the inscriptions of the epitaphs for what must have been the thousandth time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cSleep, our little one, sleep\u2026 dearly beloved infant\u201d His child. His son. The boy he\u2019d never known. How could the loss of someone of whom he had no memories of cut so deep? His fingers skimmed over the dark grey letters. \u201cOur little one\u201d. He was grateful Julia had included him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He could picture her choosing the words, choosing the stone, talking to the stonecutter about the engraving. He couldn\u2019t picture her grieving for their child. Couldn\u2019t picture her breaking down with the pain. He had never seen her devastated. His Julia would for ever be a woman full of life and laughter, clever and mischievous and glowing, oh so glowing, brighter even than the sun. The moment she had lost her radiance, he hadn\u2019t been there, and he would condemn himself for this for the rest of his life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">His Julia, a memory. At least a memory.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adam forced himself to read on. \u201cBeloved wife\u2026 devoted mother\u201d He closed his eyes. So much pain behind these simple words. Words that could never give anyone the credit she deserved. Were there words in this world that could express how it felt to lose someone so dearly-loved?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*** *** ***<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Voices. Far away voices, coming nearer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cMa\u2019am, are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>Do I look alright?<\/em> So it was possible to roll eyes under closed lids.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">More voices.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cI don\u2019t know, found her like this over at the cliff. Must have fainted or somethin\u2019. She was lucky she didn\u2019t fall down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Down? No. No, no, not down. She remembered. <em>Jump! <\/em>So tempting. But \u2013 no.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cMa\u2019am, can you hear me? I\u2019m Doctor Maynard, you\u2019re at my office. Can you tell me who you are?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dizziness and the sudden urge to\u2014<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cGet a bowl, quick!\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*** *** ***<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He startled. Pa. Of course Pa would know to find him here.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cHow did you do it, Pa? How did you manage to cope with\u2014\u201d He indicated Marie\u2019s headstone.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAdam, listen. Julia\u2019s alright. Joe brought a telegram from Virginia City. She\u2019s at Sacramento.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cShe\u2026what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cShe\u2019s at Sacramento, son. She wants you to get her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The moon was conjuring an eerie light on the white marble stones. Full moon, radiant in the reflection of the smooth surface of the lake, bright and lustrous.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cPa, have you ever seen the moon shine so brightly?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Four<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAre you sure? The coach\u2019s jolting doesn\u2019t bother you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cI <em>am<\/em> fine. The jolting doesn\u2019t bother me more than it bothers you.\u201d A short glance to the other occupants of the stage coach. Julia lowered her voice. \u201cI\u2019m not sick, Adam, I\u2019m with child.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWell, this morning you seemed pretty sick to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAdam!\u201d A mild scolding. And a faint smile. A <em>smile. Finally.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Another glance at the elderly couple that wasn\u2019t supposed to listen but that strained their ears not to miss a word. \u201cIt\u2019s normal for pregnant women to be a bit under the weather in the morning. It was the same with\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">No, they didn\u2019t talk about this. Not yet. Not when the hurt was still so raw. Not when there was so much more to sort out.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIt\u2019ll pass in a few weeks. You\u2019ll see,\u201d she said. Gone was the smile. Back were the downcast eyes. Her fingers seemed to be the most interesting thing in the world right now. Her fingers and her wedding band.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>Just how many times can a person twist a ring round her finger in one minute<\/em>, Adam wondered. Round and round and round and round.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cCome here.\u201d His arm sneaked around her waist, and he pulled her to his side. She hesitated for a split second, and then laid her head on his shoulder and, with a sigh, melted into him. This he had missed the most. \u201cWe\u2019re in this together. What ever happens, we\u2019re together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cPromise?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cPromise!\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*** *** ***<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adam yawned. The joggling of the stage coach had the passengers lulled into sleep. The elderly gentleman, lying back in his seat, silently snoring, his wife with her hands firmly clasped in her lap, slid into the other corner of the cabin, as far away as possible from her husband. And Julia, snuggled up to Adam\u2019s side, pressing into him as if she wanted to crawl inside. He squeezed her even tighter, pressed his face into her hair and inhaled her scent: honey and summer flowers and something he couldn\u2019t name but that was distinctively <em>Julia<\/em>. He closed his eyes and started to drift away.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*** *** ***<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adam was jolted awake by the coach coming to an abrupt halt and the strangled cry of the driver. Instinctively he reached for his gun. In one swift motion he pushed Julia from his side and slid to the cabin\u2019s door. But before he had any chance to get his weapon up and find a target a single shot rang out.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Burning pain soared through his side. He heard the high pitched scream of the elderly woman, a bellowed \u201cHold your fire, damned idiot!\u201d from outside, and Julia\u2019s terrified \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And then his world folded into itself and was no more.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Five<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She looked beautiful in black. It accentuated her golden hair, set on fire by the light of the sinking sun. <em>Like a halo<\/em>, that was what Adam always had said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ben shook his head to get rid of the improper thoughts. He wasn\u2019t supposed to think something like this. He wasn\u2019t supposed to notice something like this. Not now, not when he was standing here in the cemetery, holding his daughter-in-law\u2019s arm with a stabilizing hand. Not when he was lucky to at least have <em>her<\/em> here.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The posse had reached the stage coach just in time to save her from the prison escapees, her and the elderly couple. But the posse had been too late for the driver, and too late for Adam.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ben looked at Julia\u2019s pale face, at her red-rimmed eyes. She had refused to attend the burial but Ben had forced her to come. He had literally dragged her to the grave yard. He knew she hated him for that now, but later she would be grateful. She needed to come to terms with this. She needed to leave that dark, stifling room for a while. She needed fresh air, for herself and for the baby.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The baby. His grandchild. They had so feared for the unborn the first couple of days, when Julia didn\u2019t want to eat or drink or sleep. When all she could keep doing was crying and vomiting and washing Adam\u2019s blood from her hands over and over again, until her fingers were scrubbed raw and red and angry.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Ben had been surprised when she had let him take her hands one afternoon and work in some soothing balm. For a long time they had sat, Julia on the bedside, Ben opposite on a rocker, her hands in his lap, massaging and stroking her abused fingers, rubbing in the ointment, and talking to her, low and soothing. He had told her how happy he had been for his son for having found her and that Adam would want the baby to live. She had gazed at him intently, never saying a word. But that evening she had started to pick at the meals they provided her with.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Reverend read the 23th psalm, and Ben felt Julia shivering under her black overcoat. At \u201cSurely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever,\u201d he heard her stifling a sob. He reached out for her, pulled her in his embrace. She buried her face into his shoulder and he held her tight. They stood like this for the rest of the funeral.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When Ben led Julia from the cemetery the last strays of the sun let her hair glow red. <em>Like a witch<\/em>, flashed through his mind, <em>a witch with a halo<\/em>. He nearly laughed at this. Julia walked fast-paced beside him, eager to get back to that accursed dusky room as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She looked beautiful in black. But Ben didn\u2019t want to see her in that colour again. It wasn\u2019t <em>her<\/em> colour. It was <em>Adam\u2019s<\/em> colour, and Ben would have given his life to see his son walking beside him in his black work clothes only once again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Six<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meadow was cluttered with tiny yellow flowers. The grass was knee high, and it was easy to keep up with the tiny boy who tottered in front of him through the stems as if they where trees in a jungle. He reached out for the toddler, turned it to look at him &#8211; and to his utter horror the child was faceless.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The meadow changed to a calm blue sea, and he was on a clipper ship, and next to him stood a beautiful golden haired fairy. The fairy smiled at him and sang a lullaby for him. But then, when he reached out for her, she was gone before he could touch her, and the scenery changed again, and he was on a battleground.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He heard the thunder of cannons, and he ducked behind a boulder. All over sudden there was a rebel soldier who held a red hot poker in his hands. And while he wondered, why a soldier wouldn\u2019t carry a gun but a poker, the man stabbed him into his right side. He cried out at the searing pain as he was poked again and again. Frantically he tried to fight the torment, yelling at the man to stop, please stop. And then his hands were caught and he couldn\u2019t defend himself and he panicked and tossed and tried to get away from the pain and the capture.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Suddenly the pain subdued to a dull ache and he heard the voice of an angel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cShh, it\u2019s alright. Don\u2019t fight me. It won\u2019t hurt anymore. I\u2019m done.\u201d A cool hand on his brow, a feather light touch, soothing, calming, loving. He tried to lean into it, to increase the contact.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAdam?\u201d The angel\u2019s voice again. It kept the nightmarish images at bay, grounded him in a muted world of dull pain and much less bright pictures but also in a world of a clear and caring angel\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He desperately tried to say something to make the angel answer him. He would do anything to hear that voice again. But all he could manage was a faint cough. A faint cough that hurt fiercely. It made him wince. And even the wince hurt.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAdam, are you with me?\u201d There was excitement in the angel\u2019s voice. Excitement and hope.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">This time he achieved a grunt. He heard the ruffling of clothes and then his head was lifted by a tender hand and a glass was held to his lips.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cCome on, love, take a sip. This will do you good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He swallowed, and only for the angel\u2019s sake he took a second sip even though the pain of it nearly made him faint.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThat\u2019s it. That\u2019s it, Adam. Very good.\u201d The voice choked. \u201cCan you\u2026 can you try and open your eyes for me?\u201d The cool, soft hand stroked his face, lingered at his temple, cupped his cheek.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He leaned into the touch again. All he wanted to do was get back to sleep. He was so tired. Opening his eyes seemed to be too much an effort. But the angel had begged him. And somewhere in his befuddled mind he knew he had vowed never to let the angel down again. He gathered together every ounce of energy he had left and cracked his eyes open a narrow slit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">His vision was full of delighted angel\u2019s face. Julia. All he needed, all he wanted. She was beaming. His glowing girl.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAdam. You\u2019re with me, aren\u2019t you?\u201d She captured his face in her hands and placed a chaste kiss on his forehead. \u201cYou\u2019re back\u2026 you\u2019re back for good\u2026\u201d Her voice cracked and he felt something wet falling onto his face. She wiped it off with her thumb. \u201cYou\u2014 you won\u2019t leave me again, no?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He tried to focus on her pleading face. \u201cHold\u2026my\u2026pr\u2019m\u2019se,\u201d he managed to croak before he slid back into the beckoning arms of nothingness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Seven<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cI don\u2019t understand. He was lucid the past few days.\u201d Julia watched anxiously as the doctor was working on her husband. \u201cHe even managed some broth. Why is he so much worse now?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The doctor gave her a brief glance and concentrated on his patient again. He cut off the soiled bandage around Adam\u2019s waist, only to discover yellowish viscous fluids on raw angry red flesh.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">He cringed. \u201cDo you smell that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Julia, with her hand clasped in front of her mouth and nose, barely capable to suppress retching, only nodded. The biting, pungent smell was penetrating her senses, overpoweringly filling the whole room.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The doctor shook his head. \u201cSanies. Infection has set in once again. I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWell, do something. Clean it, do&#8230;something!\u201d Her voice was shrill, her eyes wide and panicked. She <em>knew<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cMrs. Cartwright, there is nothing to be done. I told you before, gut wounds are tricky, not easy to treat, and almost always fatal.\u201d He covered the wound with a clean cloth. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d he repeated softly. \u201cI\u2019m really sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cBut&#8230;he promised.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Eight<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>There\u2019s nothing to be done. But&#8230;he promised. Nothing to be done. Nothing. But he promised. He promised. He promised.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The voices he heard were shrieking, piercing, penetrating. They reverberated in his head, growing louder, shriller, more urgent, until they cumulated into one single, everlasting scream. Was this the end? Was this his eternity? <em>No<\/em>. It couldn\u2019t be. It shouldn\u2019t be.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">There was darkness, pain, and these voices. Nothing else. Death wasn\u2019t supposed to be like this. Eternity wasn\u2019t. He had expected light and warmth and quiet tender sounds.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>There\u2019s nothing to be done. But he promised. <\/em>A cacophony of screams, word, sounds, meaningless and accusatory, disturbing and indifferent, out of order and wrong, wrong, wrong. <em>Nothing. Promised. Nothing. Promised. Nothing. But. But. But!<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNo.\u201d His own voice, weak, wasted, spent, breathless, barely audible through the screeching roar in his ears.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cAdam?\u201d Clear. Soft, warm, clear. Silent sounds that smoothed down the screams. <em>Say more.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cYou don\u2019t have to keep your promise if you can\u2019t.\u201d A voice like soft hands that smoothed a wrinkled skirt. <em>Smooth me.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cI let you go.\u201d Stroking fingers, soft like the voice, on his face.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">And then quiet. Finally. No more screams, no more words, no more sounds. Just silence. And those smoothing hands.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>I want to stay here.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Nine<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIt\u2019s a miracle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">She beamed. \u201cIt is, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cI\u2019ve never seen something like this, Mrs. Cartwright. In all my years as a doctor, I haven\u2019t seen anyone recover from injuries like this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cHe promised, doctor. I told you, he promised.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Ten<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cDo you smell that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cHere, on her head. It smells as if she\u2019s getting sour.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cOh, that. That\u2019s normal baby-smell, Adam. Cradle cap.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cSo my daughter won\u2019t smell like turned milk for the rest of her life?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNo, of course not. You know, you are supposed to like that smell, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cDo I? Well, I could get used to it, I guess. But, dear God, I will never get used to&#8230;do you smell <em>that<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cOh, give her to me already!\u201d She sent him a mocking glare and, smiling, took the baby.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Adam watched her taking care of the mess. His wife, his daughter, his family.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">His miracle.<\/p>\n<p>___________<\/p>\n<p>Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.\u00a0 ~<em>Anthony Brandt<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">*** fin ***<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With many thanks to Sklamb, for the wonderful beta.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0****<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>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. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My <a href=\"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=3427\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Story Index<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_2967\" class=\"pvc_stats all  \" data-element-id=\"2967\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif?resize=16%2C16&#038;ssl=1\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Adam decides to join the Federal Army and has to deal with the consequences. A story of losses and miracles, told in ten vignettes. <\/p>\n<p>3,300 words, rated T<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":3208,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1005,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-cartwright","category-drama","wpcat-1005-id","wpcat-23-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1022,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/War-and-Peace1.jpg?fit=325%2C310&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2854,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2854","url_meta":{"origin":2967,"position":0},"title":"Early One Morning (by faust)","author":"faust","date":"December 28, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Early one morning Adam muses about where his home is\u2014and why. 1,100 words, rated K+ The Art-Universe series, links to all the stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Adam Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/488C0EA0-90EC-4A50-88D0-843B02C51C1F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/488C0EA0-90EC-4A50-88D0-843B02C51C1F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/488C0EA0-90EC-4A50-88D0-843B02C51C1F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/488C0EA0-90EC-4A50-88D0-843B02C51C1F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/488C0EA0-90EC-4A50-88D0-843B02C51C1F.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2889,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2889","url_meta":{"origin":2967,"position":1},"title":"Homewards (by faust)","author":"faust","date":"March 25, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"After so many years, Adam is coming home. 540 words, rated T","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Adam Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Pondarosa-House-3.jpg?fit=564%2C401&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7313,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7313","url_meta":{"origin":2967,"position":2},"title":"For Honor (by Sibylle)","author":"Sibylle","date":"May 7, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0The consequences of a fight at school.\u00a0\u00a0Prequel (1854) \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC 600","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23190,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=23190","url_meta":{"origin":2967,"position":3},"title":"Cartwright Confessions (by AC1830)","author":"AC1830","date":"July 26, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Four vignettes in which the each Cartwright decides to share a hidden truth with the others. Rating - K, WC - 823\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Family&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Family","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1008"},"img":{"alt_text":"joe, adam, hoss, ben","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Honor-of-Cochise.png?fit=599%2C449&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Honor-of-Cochise.png?fit=599%2C449&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Honor-of-Cochise.png?fit=599%2C449&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2842,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2842","url_meta":{"origin":2967,"position":4},"title":"Brother (by faust)","author":"faust","date":"May 14, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Growing up isn't easy. Two vignettes, two times in Joe's life when he is forced to mature\u2014and he's all on his own. Or is he? 1,250 words, rated T","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Drama&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe_adam.jpg?fit=987%2C747&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe_adam.jpg?fit=987%2C747&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe_adam.jpg?fit=987%2C747&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/joe_adam.jpg?fit=987%2C747&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2971,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=2971","url_meta":{"origin":2967,"position":5},"title":"What Do You Tell Your Children? or The Art of Explaining (by faust)","author":"faust","date":"June 21, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"There'll come a time your children ask questions, uncomfortable questions. And then you might find answers that'll help you, too, to cope with what was and is. 970 words, rated T The Art-Universe seriers, links to all the stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Adam Cartwright&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vlcsnap-2015-12-13-01h31m26s85.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vlcsnap-2015-12-13-01h31m26s85.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vlcsnap-2015-12-13-01h31m26s85.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/vlcsnap-2015-12-13-01h31m26s85.png?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2967","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\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}