Summary: In the aftermath of Laura Dalton running off with Will Cartwright and Adam’s accident that left him crippled, he is still trying to recover both physically and emotionally. In an attempt to heal and get rid of the itch to leave the Ponderosa for a while, he buys a six-month homestead claim contract. His piece of land is a beautiful little spot about forty miles north of the Ponderosa and he soon discovers his closest neighbor is a pretty young lady named Felicity Quinn. While helping each other through multiple situations, a close friendship grows between them and they aren’t sure if they want to continue to be “just neighbors”. (This story takes place around the beginning of season six.)<\/p>\n
Rating: PG<\/p>\n
Word Count: 7,648<\/p>\n
Just a Neighbor<\/strong><\/p>\n Chapter 1\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Walking into the land office, Felicity Quinn patiently took her place at the back of the long line of gruff, dirty men. The heat of the late spring day was making the crowded room become stuffy and begin to smell like the men filling it. Even though the dress she wore made her appear prissy and very girlish, Felicity was born and raised a little rough around the edges so the foul smelling room didn\u2019t make her bat an eye. She welcomed the fresh air that drifted through the open door as yet another person stepped into the building. Keeping her eyes downcast under her frilly purple hat, she glanced behind her to see a man dressed from head to foot in black. He had a rugged cowboy look which combined with his dark attire made him stick out in the room almost as badly as she did in her purple hat and dress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Slowly but surely the line made its way to the desk where one sweaty, uncomfortable looking man sat with a nearly all gone stack of homestead claims in front of him. She stepped up to him as he mopped his brow with a handkerchief and laid her small reticule on the table. Her eyes quickly darted down to the small metal sign bearing the man\u2019s name before she said, \u201cGood afternoon, Mr. Richardson I\u2019d like to file a claim, please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMa\u2019am, are you sure?\u201d He put back on his wire framed spectacles as he glanced up at her wearily.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere are conditions,\u201d he ran his hand through his hair, making it stand on end, \u201cconditions you might not be aware of.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m aware of the conditions: I must build a house, dig a well, and make the land wagon accessible in six months.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut are you capable of completing those conditions?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMr. Richardson, I am fully capable.\u201d Her voice took on a steely, determined tone as she pulled herself to her full lean height of five foot five.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAre you completely sure, miss?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlright,\u201d he pulled a clean off the stack and handing her the freshly dipped pen, pointed to a finely dotted line on the bottom of the page, \u201csign right here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n With a flourish and a satisfied grin, she quickly signed the deed to her new homestead claim.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He watched as the purple clad lady gently laid the required twenty-five dollars on Mr. Richardson\u2019s desk before she picked up the deed for her twenty acres of land. Turning around, her chin held high, shoulders set stiff, she walked past him and he quickly tipped his hat as she breezed by and was rewarded with a small smile. He glanced behind him and couldn\u2019t help noticing that she was a pretty little thing but now was not the time to be admiring blonde girls. As he faced the sissy looking city dude sweating buckets behind his desk, Adam Cartwright placed the two pieces of paper money in the now large pile of bills as he said, \u201cMr. Richardson, a homestead claim, please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Mr. Richardson sighed as he shoved the very last claim and a pen in his direction. Quickly jotting his name on the dotted line, he rolled the pen back towards him and blew on the ink to make it dry. He folded the paper before he put it in his shirt pocket as he bid the weak man good day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He stepped out the door and began to head in the direction of the general store. He had a list of things that he needed to take with him the next day when he went to his claim. His Pa wasn\u2019t going to be happy when he found out about his plans so he had to make sure he had all of that night to smooth things over and try to make him understand. He always had a hard time expressing his feelings and this time was no exception.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Adam swung the store door open and his eyes came in contact with the blonde girl from moments earlier in the land office. Her back was to him but as the bell on the door rang, she turned to look over her shoulder. Her face was pretty in a simple kind of way yet her big blue eyes would make any red blooded man look twice. She almost reminded him of Laura but he quickly pushed that thought to the side. He told himself he wouldn\u2019t think about her anymore and here he was doing just that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I\u2019ll be with you as I\u2019m finished with the young lady here.\u201d Louis, the shopkeeper behind the counter called when he saw him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, Lou, I\u2019m not in a rush.\u201d He stepped up and pulled a stick of licorice out of the jar. Leaning his right hip on the counter, he tipped his hat at the young lady standing next to him as he bit off a piece of the candy. \u201cGood day, ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd good day to you, sir.\u201d She smiled and the sight of it nearly took away his breath. Her eyes, which had looked all blue from a distance, had green specks in them and they were framed by long delicate brown lashes. Some would call her homely or even plain but when she smiled, there wasn\u2019t a doubt about it, she was just plain beautiful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAre you new to town? I don\u2019t believe I\u2019ve seen you around here before.\u201d He asked, trying to start a polite conversation despite the fact that he hadn\u2019t intended to; he wanted to hear her soft voice that sounded sweet like honey again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, I am new to town.\u201d Her smile continued and he found it rather contagious as his own face formed a smile. He hadn\u2019t felt much like smiling the past few months and it surprised him that he\u2019d forgotten how good it felt to do. \u201cI\u2019m going to be working one of the homestead claims north of here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, so am I. Maybe we\u2019ll end up neighbors.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat would be very nice.\u201d She laughed and held out a small hand for him to shake. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, I completely forgot my manners, my name is Felicity Quinn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Adam, Adam Cartwright.\u201d He gently shook her hand, careful not to grasp it too tight. The strength that she used to grip his though, it surprised him. He didn\u2019t think a woman as small as her could have such a strong grip, especially since she was a good six inches shorter than him, coming only to his collarbone. \u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Quinn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe pleasure\u2019s all mine and it\u2019s Miss, not Mrs..\u201d He nodded at the correction, pleasantly pleased that she wasn\u2019t wearing some other man\u2019s brand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMiss Quinn, your order will be ready for you by morning.\u201d Lou told her, distracting Adam from trying to find an excuse to say something else to continue the small conversation that was quickly dying out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThank you so much, Mr. Williams. I\u2019ll be by in the morning to pick it up in my wagon.\u201d She collected her small bag from off the counter before turning to nod at both of them. \u201cGentlemen, good bye.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGoodbye, Miss Quinn.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlright, Adam, now what can I do for you?\u201d Lou asked as soon as the bell over the door let out a chance signaling her exit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d like you to fill out this list for me,\u201d he laid a piece of paper on the table, \u201cI\u2019ll be by in the morning to pick it all up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSure thing.\u201d Lou quickly read the list before he asked, \u201cDid you really get one of those homestead claims?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and I got lucky, too. There was only one left after Miss Quinn\u2019s.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat does your Pa think of you doing this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, he doesn\u2019t know yet.\u201d He explained. \u201cI\u2019m going to tell him tonight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThen I wish you good luck!\u201d He laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThanks, I\u2019m going to need it.\u201d Adam moved towards the door and waved over his shoulder. \u201cSee you in the morning, Lou.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHey, Pa, could I talk to you for a minute?\u201d Adam asked as he strode into the house and found the gray haired man behind his desk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOf course, what is it, son?\u201d He looked up from his paperwork and gave his oldest his complete attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I was wondering if I could have six months of time off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSix months!\u201d He exclaimed. \u201cWhatever for?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou know those homestead claims that are twenty miles north of Virginia City?\u201d His Pa nodded, a look of confusion on his face. \u201cI bought one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou bought one?!\u201d He shot to his feet, making his chair tip dangerously behind him but it safely landed upright.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, Pa,\u201d Adam began to explain, \u201cI want to do this, I need to do this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not entirely sure why.\u201d He sighed. Talking about his emotions and opening up had always been one of the hardest things to do, even with his father. Yet he knew he owed it to his Pa to at least try to explain; just brush the surface enough to hopefully make him understand. \u201cI feel like I need to prove myself again. I want to break away for a while and be alone so I can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut, Adam, you don\u2019t need to prove yourself to us, we know you\u2019re more than capable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPa, I\u2019m not trying to prove anything to you, I’m doing it for me.\u201d He watched his Pa\u2019s face slowly turn to what looked like slight understanding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve only been on your feet for three months since your back injury, are you sure you can do it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBelieve it or not, despite some mild back pain when I\u2019m really exhausted, I feel as good as I did before the fall.\u201d He smiled and hoped it looked genuine, he hadn\u2019t lied but maybe just stretched the truth a bit. He had nearly all of his strength back but his back hurt more than he let on. He\u2019d often go to bed with it throbbing badly. He wasn\u2019t going to admit that now though, there was too much on the line. A twenty acre plot of land with his name on it to be exact. \u201cI plan to leave in the morning. My plot is one of the few that are closest to Virginia City, so it\u2019s roughly forty miles away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow long do you intend to live there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I haven\u2019t decided but I know six months for sure. I\u2019ll make up my mind at the end of those months.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlright, son, I won\u2019t hold you back.\u201d He sighed. \u201cBut remember, the Ponderosa is your home and the door will always be open no matter what.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know, Pa, thank you.\u201d They shared a smile before Adam turned to go upstairs. Halfway up, he paused to look back and ask, \u201cOh, and can I borrow a wagon? I have two weeks worth of supplies I\u2019m picking up tomorrow and they won\u2019t all fit on my horse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Felicity stepped into the general store the next morning, garbed in a completely different attire from the day before. In fact, she hardly looked like the same girl with a brown split skirt clinging to her hips below a dark red blouse. Her long blonde hair hung at her waist in a thick braid and a simple brown man\u2019s hat rested on top of her head. She peered around the empty store and spotted not only the store clerk but Adam Cartwright as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From the little bit that she\u2019d seen of him the day before, she couldn\u2019t figure him out. She was typically pretty good at reading people, especially men, but Mr. Cartwright had her stumped. He had dark, handsome looks and a charming smile yet he almost seemed to be plagued by some sort of inner battle. His eyes had a mournful look to them, like the world had taken a piece of him and he hadn\u2019t fully recovered it yet. She hoped whatever it was, he would get it sorted out, but then, of course, his affairs were none of her business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMorning, Miss Quinn.\u201d The store clerk gave her a small wave when he looked up and saw her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, Mr. Williams.\u201d She called and then turned to the dark man to find him tipping his hat at her. She smiled with a nod, \u201cMr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMiss Quinn, your supplies are all ready to go,\u201d Mr. Williams informed her, \u201cthey just need to be loaded onto your wagon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThank you, where are they?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRight over here, ma\u2019am.\u201d He pointed to a stack of items in front of the counter on the left side of Mr. Cartwright. She stepped over and picked up the smaller sacks. To her surprise, Mr. Cartwright hefted the heaviest sack onto his shoulder and followed her out of the store.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to help but I thank you for it anyways.\u201d She placed her packages behind the seat as he flopped the sack of flour into the back of the wagon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d he waved off her thanks, \u201cit\u2019s what anybody would\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n They both slipped back into the store and Felicity made quick work of finishing up loading her wagon. She didn\u2019t have a whole lot to pack since she\u2019d only bought two weeks worth of supplies and because Mr. Cartwright helped her, she started out of town before he even began to load his own supplies. She wasn\u2019t sure where his homestead was but she hoped she\u2019d see him again. He seemed like a nice man and since the only friends she had were miles away in California, it would be nice to make some new ones even if they were men.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 3<\/span><\/p>\n Adam rode the perimeter of his homestead, getting off of Sport every couple of miles to pound a small stake into the ground. The first thing he wanted to get completed was marking off his claim so no one could try to take it or attempt to squat on it. As soon as he was finished, he\u2019d find a spot to build his house and then set up camp for the night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He caught sight of a large tree in the middle of his claim. It looked like a pretty little spot and as he quickly hammered his last stake in the ground, he led his horse behind him as he walked over to it. There on the other side of the tree, which he now saw was a weeping willow, was a decent sized creek. The weeping willow was roughly twenty feet from the edge of a creek that had to be at least as wide as Hoss was tall. A smile slowly spread across his face as he remembered that one of the requirements for the homestead claim was to dig a well but if there was already water on the claim, it wasn\u2019t required. He sure lucked out when he got the last claim in the stack.\u00a0 So did his neighbor to the right of him since the creek continued to flow past his land and onto their\u2019s.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As he turned around, a small clearing full of wild flowers behind the tree caught his eye. He quickly tethered Sport to a branch and strode over to the area. Gently stepping through the flowers, being careful not to crush them, he made his way to what seemed like the middle and then stopped. Hands on his hips, he slowly turned to face the tree. A gentle breeze blew around him and he inhaled a deep breath, taking in the sweet perfume of the flowers at his feet and all around him, he unhurriedly nodded to himself. This was it, this was the spot. The creek was close enough that hauling water wouldn\u2019t be a burden yet the tree was far enough away that should it fall, it wouldn\u2019t hit the house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Closing his eyes, he could see it all like it was already there. A small, humble wood house in the middle of a field of wildflowers with a beautiful weeping willow swaying in the breeze a little distance away. The gurgle of the creek and chirp of birds sweetly filling the peaceful silence and then the croak of frogs and chirp of crickets to sing a soft lullaby at night. No loud younger brothers to interrupt his reading or busy ranch sounds to block out the sweet melodies coming from his throat and guitar. He\u2019d been fighting with the urge to go wandering through the country and around the world but this place, it just might be the cure for that.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Roughly a mile in the distance, Sally could see a man standing in the middle of a colorful field. She guessed that it must have been flowers making it colorful but she couldn\u2019t tell who the man was, only that he was dressed in dark clothing. As he turned and she could tell he\u2019d spotted her, she lifted her hand high in the air and waved. He took his hat off his head, raised it above him and waved back. Even though he couldn\u2019t see her, she smiled broadly. She was glad to have a neighbor and if her guess was correct, he just might be Adam Cartwright.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A few hours later as she was sitting down to eat lunch she looked up to find the man walking along the creek towards her camp. Her guess was right, it was Adam Cartwright. He stepped up to her where she was propped up on a small barrel and with one smooth motion, took off his hat and held it at his waist while he said, \u201cGood afternoon, Miss Quinn, I saw you wave earlier and since I finished setting up my camp, I thought I\u2019d come say hello.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad you did, Mr. Cartwright, from a distance I couldn\u2019t tell who you were.\u201d She smiled, standing up to offer him her hand to shake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSince there was only one lady in the office yesterday, I figured it was you.\u201d He laughed, gently shaking her hand with a firm grip that matched her own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWould you care to join me for lunch? There\u2019s plenty for both of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d love to, but only if you\u2019ll call me Adam. With us being neighbors now, it seems too formal for you to call me Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlright, then, Adam,\u201d she began to dish him up some of the beans and cornbread, \u201cyou\u2019ll have to do the same with me, my name is Felicity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFelicity is a very pretty name.\u201d He took the plate from her and leaned his back against her parked wagon. \u201cHave you decided where you\u2019re going to build your house yet?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, right here.\u201d She gestured to the area they sat in. \u201cThat is, of course, if you don\u2019t mind me being so close to your property.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, no, not at all.\u201d He looked over at his land and pointed one long, slender finger towards the tree. \u201cI\u2019m going to build mine right in the center of that field of wildflowers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat will be lovely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what I thought.\u201d He grinned. \u201cDo you have house plans or an idea of what type of house you\u2019re going to build?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I wanted to make a simple one room house but I haven\u2019t the least idea how to draw up plans or begin building it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut in the land office you said you could.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d she smiled sheepishly, \u201csince I have enough money, I was going to hire someone to do it for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou just happen to be in luck because I have a degree in architecture and would be more than willing to draw up the plans for your house.\u201d She looked at him, shocked and surprised. \u201cAnd my younger brothers agreed to help me build my house, while we\u2019re at it, we\u2019ll build yours, too, all free of charge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut, Adam, I can\u2019t let you and your brothers do all that work without paying you something.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the neighborly thing for me to do and when my brothers see you, you\u2019ll have two noble servants who would be more than willing to trade their work for your good cooking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou just want me to feed you and your brothers as payment?\u201d She asked, even more surprised. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t seem like much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, it is enough.\u201d He smiled and it slowly turned into a chuckle. \u201cYou\u2019ll understand when you see my brother Hoss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 4<\/span><\/p>\n After drawing up the plans for both of their houses, Adam went back to the Ponderosa two days later. He decided to start building as soon as possible so that it was finished and out of the way, plus then he didn\u2019t have to sleep on the ground. Sleeping on the ground wasn\u2019t doing his back any good favors and each morning he woke up stiff and in pain. If he was going to make this homestead work he couldn\u2019t hobble around like an old man with a crippled back, so he figured he might as well get his house built as quickly as possible. But he would have to wait a little longer since he\u2019d already made up his mind to build Felicity\u2019s first. She didn\u2019t know yet and she might object but he didn\u2019t like the idea of her sleeping outside while he had a roof over his head.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Steering his wagon full of wood through the grassy fields to the homestead claims, he heard his brother\u2019s wagons rattling along behind him. They were each driving a wagon just as full of wood as his, in fact they had enough wood between the three of them to complete Felicity\u2019s house and then start his. He felt they might as well kill two birds with one stone since the weight of three heavy wagons making several trips would make a nice start to a road to the homestead claims.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Joe and Hoss agreed right away to help him build Felicity\u2019s house, especially after they found out she was pretty and a good cook, too. Joe was a sucker for a pretty face and Hoss never turned down a good meal, so Adam knew neither of them would say no to a prospect like that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As they got closer, Adam spotted Felicity moving around in her camp and if his eyes weren\u2019t lying to him, it looked like she was wearing jeans. All he could hope was that it wouldn\u2019t distract Joe too much. He personally didn\u2019t mind women wearing pants, though it was unusual and caught him off guard, but when it was a very pretty girl with a womanly figure, even he found it distracting. But of course it was her choice what she wore so he, Joe, and Hoss were going to have to work around the distraction.<\/span><\/p>\n Adam pulled his wagon to a stop near the spot where Felicity wanted her house and his brothers followed suit behind him. As they all climbed down, she strode over with a cheerful smile on her face. \u201cHello, Adam, glad to see you back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt took a little longer to get all the wood we needed than I thought it would so we stayed overnight in town.\u201d He explained and then gestured to his brothers, who he could tell were getting anxious to be introduced to the blonde in front of him. \u201cFelicity, I\u2019d like you to meet my younger brothers. This is Hoss and that\u2019s Little Joe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNice to meet you both.\u201d She took turns shaking their hands. \u201cPlease call me Felicity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSure thing, ma\u2019am.\u201d Hoss blushed.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFelicity, just call me Joe.\u201d He tipped his hat and that cocky, flirtish grin spread across his face. Adam fought the urge to roll his eyes at his youngest brother\u2019s typical flirting but Felicity ignored it and agreed with a small nod.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It took Adam and his brothers a little over two weeks to build Felicity\u2019s small house. In those two weeks she cooked for the four of them and assisted in the building when she could, but she quickly realized why Adam told her she\u2019d understand why her cooking would be enough after she saw Hoss. Hoss was a very large man and could eat as much as his two brothers combined, his appetite alone kept her cooking for hours each day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Since Felicity was the daughter of a saloon girl and had lived in a saloon until she was fifteen, she learned very quickly how to read a man so it didn\u2019t take long for her to discover what type of men the Cartwright boys were. Hoss was the easiest of the three to read; he had a big heart and caring ways. Despite his large size, he was gentle and sweet to both his fellow man and the stock. It took her most of the first day to figure out Joe but when she did, she liked what she saw. He was a ladies man yet in a kind and dear way, he also loved to laugh and joke around but his brothers had to keep him in line because he had a tendency to be a little lazy. But Adam, she still wasn\u2019t sure what type of man he was. He had the same caring, kind, and sweet ways as his brothers but she could tell something was bothering him deep inside. As they all became close and friendships were formed she hoped that his problem, whatever it was, would work itself out.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 5<\/span><\/p>\n Three months later Felicity walked towards her house after leaving Adam\u2019s, they\u2019d had dinner together again for the third time that week. Casually humming a tune to herself, she could feel him watching her from behind. Whenever she would go have dinner at his place and she would walk home alone, he would always watch her until she got to her door. They\u2019d wave goodnight and then step into their own quiet houses. It was their system of sorts and she liked it. Adam and her had gotten to be really close friends and they were constantly visiting each other; there was nearly never a day that went by that one of them didn\u2019t walk the small mile to come talk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She was almost ten or so feet past Adam\u2019s weeping willow tree when a noise made her look up quickly. There not five feet away from her, drinking out of the creek was a big black bear. Her feet stopped like her shoes were made of iron as fear filled her to the brim. The bear slowly turned towards her, a deep snarling growl coming from its throat. Felicity didn\u2019t know what to do but as the bear reared up on its hind legs and let out a loud roar, she did the first thing that came to her mind: run. She turned around and bolted in the direction of Adam\u2019s house and saw him hurrying towards her with a rifle in his hands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She could hear the bear\u2019s heavy feet thudding the ground behind her as it chased after her and she thought she could make it to Adam but suddenly she hit the ground. The wind knocked out of her and she felt sharp claws slash open her arm as the bear rolled her over. Its gastly face was mere inches from her and she could feel its hot breath. In an attempt to protect her face she brought her arms up around her head and the bear swatted its meaty paw at her, slicing open the underside of her already bleeding arm. As she thought for sure she was going to get either eaten alive or swatted to death, a gunshot rang out. The bear let out a loud groan and collapsed heavily on top of her as everything went black. It took him a few heavy shoves but Adam finally got the dead bear off of Felicity. There was blood everywhere, both hers and the bear\u2019s, and she was unconscious. He didn\u2019t know what knocked her out but he knew he needed to get her inside to see how hurt she was. Leaving his rifle by the dead beast, he quickly scooped up the limp girl and rushed her into the house.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He laid her on the bed and after seeing her right sleeve was nearly torn off, he ripped it the rest of the way. Underneath the soft fabric was a mess. On the underside of her arm directly below her elbow were three deep gashes and on the outside of her upper arm were three more; all of them bleeding badly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Quickly wetting a cloth, he pressed down on the wounds and shook his head as it almost instantly turned bright red. He needed to get her to Doc Martin and fast. Losing Felicity wasn\u2019t something he was about to do, especially since he felt their friendship was beginning to turn into more. She\u2019d helped him get over Laura’s betrayal and the pain that gave him. He never tried to let his Pa and brothers see it but Laura hurt him more than he expected she could. During the past three months, he\u2019d noticed the pain had begun to fade until it was gone and it was all thanks to Felicity\u2019s companionship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He gently wrapped her in the blanket lying under her on his bed and then left her a moment to saddle Sport. He wished he still had the wagon but he\u2019d given it back to his Pa and there wasn\u2019t time to go over to Felicity\u2019s place and hook up hers. Sprinting back in the house, he scooped up her still unconscious form and after a slight struggle, mounted his horse. He held her tight against him as he rode as fast as he dared towards Virginia City.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFelicity?\u201d Her eyes fluttered open at the sound of the voice and she saw Adam bent over her. His face was lined with worry and somehow looked slightly older than the last time she saw him. She felt his hand gently squeeze her left one as he asked, \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTired and my arm hurts.\u201d She replied, her mouth dry.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI expect it does, it nearly got torn to shreds by a bear.\u201d He smiled slightly and then lifted a glass of water to her lips. \u201cHere, you need to drink, you lost a lot of blood.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIs my arm going to be alright?\u201d She asked after drinking half of the glass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYeah, you\u2019ll have six nasty scars but they should heal nicely as long as the wounds don\u2019t get infected.\u201d As he sat the glass back on the table beside her bed, a knock sounded on the door and she realized that they were at the doctor\u2019s office and no longer at Adam\u2019s house. He must have brought her here after she passed out. The person knocked again and Adam called out, \u201cWho is it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Hoss, Joe, and I.\u201d She recognized Adam\u2019s pa\u2019s voice through the door.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCome in, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe came as soon as we got the message.\u201d The gray haired man strode through the door, his other sons following. All of them stepped up to the bed, hats in their hands at their waists. \u201cFelicity, how are you doing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAll right, I guess.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good.\u201d He smiled at her. She had gotten to know and love the Cartwright men as friends and it hurt her heart when she thought about how she hadn\u2019t been completely honest with them about her past. But there was never a time like the present and she decided to fix things.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI need to tell you all something.\u201d She watched them all look confusedly at one another but she could tell that they would listen to what she had to say. \u201cI haven\u2019t been honest with you about who I am and where I come from.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut, Felicity, your past doesn’t matter to us.\u201d Adam interjected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt does to me and you\u2019re my friends. You\u2019re supposed to be honest with your friends and I haven\u2019t.\u201d She took a deep breath and began her long story, \u201cMy mother was orphaned at a young age and was passed back and forth between family until she was fourteen. The family she was staying with kicked her out and she had to make it on her own. She got a job at a saloon and just survived. When she was fifteen, she found out she was expecting me. From the time I was five until I was about twelve, I would serve drinks and then after I turned thirteen, I began to perform dancing and singing numbers. Ma\u2019s boss wanted me to start entertaining but she wouldn\u2019t let him. Thankfully during the years we were there I never had to entertain, I avoided it like the plague<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt was around the time I turned fifteen, a man came to the saloon and he and Ma became friends. They got married and we moved to his farm outside of Sacramento. He treated me like his daughter and since then they\u2019ve had five more children.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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