Summary: The Ugly Duckling story, Cartwright style.<\/p>\n
Rating: G, Word Count: 3254<\/p>\n
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The Ugly Duckling<\/strong><\/p>\n Chapter 1<\/strong><\/p>\n Robin McFarland wiped the sweat off her brow as she leaned against her hoe and looked up at the beating sun. It was hot out and she was ready to go swimming in the pond near her house.<\/p>\n \u201cRobbie, get back to work. We ain\u2019t got time for dawdlin\u2019!\u201d Her father yelled.<\/p>\n Robin sighed and got back to work. She was the third child of Max and Betsy McFarland. Her mother died when she was ten. She was taught how to sew, cook and the like but she also learned how to run a farm. She had two older brothers who worked the farm but she still had to help. She tugged at her overalls, pushed back the wisps of hair that decided to fall out of her braids and started back to work.<\/p>\n The family had gone to Virginia City the next day to get a few things for the farm. Robin looked at the dresses wistfully. She had never worn a fancy dress before. She had only worn calico. Her brothers had taken some of the heavy sacks of grain to the wagon. They came back in and looked at the hunting knives.<\/p>\n \u201cRobbie, come get this for me,\u201d her Pa said pointing to the sack of flour.<\/p>\n She nodded and picked up the flour and took it to the wagon. As she turned to go back in she overheard a couple of women gossiping. She heard her name. She heard a few phrases like \u201ctomboy,\u201d \u201cnot a lady,\u201d \u201cno man will have her\u201d and \u201cif only her mother were alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Robin fought the tears that threatened to show up. She had heard it many times and she finally snapped and turned to them.<\/p>\n \u201cI may not land me a man or look pretty like you all, but at least I\u2019m working instead of gossiping like silly geese!\u201d<\/p>\n The two women gaped at her.<\/p>\n \u201cRobin!\u201d An angry voice called out.<\/p>\n Robin turned and faced her father and brothers.<\/p>\n \u201cGet in the wagon,\u201d her father ordered.<\/p>\n She quietly got in, followed by her father and they left.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many times have I told you to keep a civil tongue in your head?\u201d Her Pa glared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot. But they were\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care what they were doing. You know how to behave. I won\u2019t tolerate you treating other folks that way.\u201d<\/p>\n Robin hunched over in shame. She loved her father but he could be so hard to get along with. She didn\u2019t get on well with her brothers either.<\/p>\n Adam Cartwright had just gotten home from Virginia City and was still chuckling about what he had seen in town. Hoss saw his older brother and walked up to him.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n Adam explained what he saw with Robin.<\/p>\n \u201cShe sure has spunk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat she does. Have you ever noticed how beautiful she is?\u201d Adam smiled to himself.<\/p>\n \u201cRobbie? Beautiful? I haven\u2019t. I always thought she was kind of plain looking. I\u2019ve only seen her in a dress at socials. Even then it\u2019s a calico,\u201d Hoss replied.<\/p>\n \u201cFor someone who sees beauty in other things you sure miss the beauty in Robin,\u201d Adam pointed out and walked away.<\/p>\n Chapter 2<\/strong><\/p>\n Later that night Adam was trying to read but couldn\u2019t concentrate. He got up and tossed his book in his chair and walked outside. He couldn\u2019t get Robin off his mind. He had heard everyone calling her ugly and other names. It pained him to see the look on her face when she heard the name calling. He had to reach out to her before she did anything drastic. Adam doubted she would but one never knew. His mind went back to a Fairy Tale he had read a long time ago called The Ugly Duckling written by the famed Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. He thought of Robin as the Ugly Duckling. How could he get her to see herself as a swan? He leaned against the railing of the corral and clasped his hands together in thought.<\/p>\n Robin lay in bed had been lost in thought about the people in town calling her names. Men wouldn\u2019t even give her the time of day. She had gone to socials but wore a calico dress which wasn\u2019t flattering. It was all she had. Robin didn\u2019t dare ask her father for a new dress. Not after the blow up he had last time she had asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t afford a new dress for you. Your brothers need new pants. They\u2019ve grown out of them and there\u2019s holes in them,\u201d Her father said.<\/p>\n It was always her brothers before her. Just because they were men and were wanted more than she was they got everything they asked their Pa for. She couldn\u2019t have a thing. Robin was tired of everyone and everything around her. She was tired of working on a farm, not being married when she saw other girls her age married and having children. She was nineteen and needed to get out and find out what life was like outside of the farm. Robin finally fell asleep but it was a fitful one.<\/p>\n Adam had gone for a ride still thinking about Robin. He had ridden by the lake when he saw Robin sitting on the grass looking lost in thought. He got off his horse and sat by her.<\/p>\n \u201cHi,\u201d He said.<\/p>\n Robin jumped in surprise then smiled. He sat by her and pulled his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them.<\/p>\n \u201cRobin, listen, I know you\u2019ve been going through some things. I can help if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cListen, Adam Cartwright, you don\u2019t know nothin\u2019 about what\u2019s going on with me!\u201d Robin snapped.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard people talk about you. I\u2019ve seen how your father and brothers treat you. Let me help you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you even want to help me anyway? Just to make fun of me along with the others because I\u2019m ugly and no man will have me? I\u2019m no use to anyone anyway. Get away from me.\u201d<\/p>\n Robin stood to leave but Adam grabbed her arm and pulled her to face him.<\/p>\n \u201cRobin, you are very beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n Robin snorted and rolled her eyes not believing him.<\/p>\n \u201cI know you don\u2019t believe me but you are. I\u2019m sure that if I can help you will see it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, you can\u2019t do nothin\u2019 to help me.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked at her. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Robin. May I take you home?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, you may not.\u201d She stormed off.<\/p>\n Adam sighed and watched her leave. He had to do something. But what?<\/p>\n Chapter 3<\/strong><\/p>\n Adam sat and stewed about Robin as days went by. He decided he needed to make this ugly duckling see what a swan she really was. Ben noticed how quiet his oldest son was and asked what was wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Robin. I want her to see that she\u2019s beautiful but she won\u2019t let me,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, then show her. Take her to get a dress. She\u2019s never been treated like a lady,\u201d Ben suggested.<\/p>\n \u201cAll right. I\u2019ve just got to think of an excuse to get her into town,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n Adam rode to the McFarland home a couple of days later.<\/p>\n \u201cMax, I was wondering if I could borrow your daughter for the day?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat for?\u201d Max asked folding his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m getting a dress for a lady friend of mine and it\u2019s a surprise. I\u2019m sure Sarah would be busy so I need Robin to help me,\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, all right. Robbie!\u201d<\/p>\n Robin came out of the kitchen and into the front room.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Pa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to town with Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll right,\u201d Robin said uncertainly.<\/p>\n They got into town and walked into the mercantile.<\/p>\n \u201cSarah, I\u2019m looking for a dress for a lady friend of mine. I have Robin here to help me pick one out. May we look at your dresses?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, of course.\u201d Sarah said and went to the dresses.<\/p>\n Adam looked at the dresses and found an emerald green colored dress.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s try this one. Do you have a dressing room?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s over there.\u201d Sarah said pointing towards the open room.<\/p>\n \u201cRobin, will you try this on please?\u201d Adam asked handing Robin the dress.<\/p>\n Robin took it shyly and went into the other room.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, who is the dress for?\u201d Sarah asked flirting with him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s for Robin.\u201d<\/p>\n Sarah\u2019s face shifted from smiling and flirty to surprise and almost disgust.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy her?\u201d She whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she\u2019s a beautiful girl. We\u2019re going to have a party and I wanted her to be there.\u201d Adam whispered back.<\/p>\n Robin came out of the room and caught Adam\u2019s eye. He looked at her and his mouth dropped open.<\/p>\n \u201cWow, Robin, you\u2019re beautiful in that dress. I think I\u2019ll get that one for my friend,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n Robin blushed at the complement and turned to change.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll take that dress. It is really pretty against her red hair,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like the other things that go with it?\u201d Sarah asked in a business tone.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Adam said in a tight voice.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what you see in Robin McFarland. She\u2019s a plain looking girl who won\u2019t catch a man but will be taking care of her brothers and father for the rest of their lives,\u201d Sarah said angrily.<\/p>\n There was a gasp behind them. They turned and saw Robin standing there listening. Hot, angry tears welled up in Robin\u2019s eyes. She dropped the dress and ran out. Adam picked up the dress and dusted it off.<\/p>\n \u201cWrap this up and the rest of the items,\u201d He said angrily shoving the dress in Sarah\u2019s arms and walked out.<\/p>\n He found Robin leaning against the wagon crying.<\/p>\n \u201cRobin?\u201d<\/p>\n Robin didn\u2019t look at Adam. He turned her to face him. She looked at him with tears streaming down her cheeks.<\/p>\n \u201cI told you that I\u2019d never get a man or that I\u2019m pretty. Sarah said it and so have others. Adam, take me home and I never want to see you again. I don\u2019t want to be the girl to try on dresses for your friend. I hate you, Adam Cartwright, for humiliating me in front of Sarah,\u201d<\/p>\n She hit him in the chest but then he pulled her to him and she sobbed as he held her. He didn\u2019t say anything but just held her. He knew that she was venting her built up frustrations. He didn\u2019t mind letting her vent it out.<\/p>\n After calming Robin down and getting her in the wagon, Adam had gathered the parcels and got in the wagon. They were quiet when they were heading back home.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to have a party next week. I\u2019d like for you to come,\u201d Adam said breaking the silence.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? So you can further humiliate me in front of the townspeople?\u201d Robin asked bitterly.<\/p>\n \u201cI want everyone to see how beautiful you are,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not beautiful, Adam. When are you gonna get that out of your head?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever,\u201d He said smiling at her.<\/p>\n Robin snorted softly and turned from him.<\/p>\n Chapter 4<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cartwright\u2019s had decorated the Ponderosa for the dance two weeks later.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, why are you putting on a dance?\u201d Joe asked.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I want everyone to see how beautiful Robin is,\u201d Adam replied hanging up the last of the lights.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re joshing. She\u2019s plain looking. Have you heard everyone talking about her in town?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I have, Joe, and I don\u2019t appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou sound like you\u2019re courting her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not but I want everyone to see her for who she really is. She\u2019s a wonderful girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever you say, Older Brother,\u201d Joe said sarcastically.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse me I need to pick her up.\u201d Adam put a streamer on the porch table.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty early to get her,\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a dress for her and she needs to get ready here. Betty is going to help her out.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam got in the carriage and left.<\/p>\n Adam had picked up Betty then Robin and arrived at the Ponderosa. They headed up to the guest room.<\/p>\n \u201cRobin, I got you a dress and a few other things to go with it. Betty is going to help you get together,\u201d Adam said.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, why are you doing this? It won\u2019t make a difference,\u201d Robin said.<\/p>\n \u201cHave you heard the story The Ugly Duckling?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam told her the story of how a duckling was ugly and everyone teased him and eventually told him to leave. He left and went to two different farms and then eventually found a pond with swans. He thought he\u2019d stay there and let them kill him. He looked down in the water and saw his reflection. He noticed he wasn\u2019t an ugly duckling but a beautiful swan and the prettiest of them all.<\/p>\n \u201cThen he felt quite ashamed, and hid his head under his wing; for he did not know what to do, he was so happy, and yet not at all proud. He had been persecuted and despised for his ugliness, and now he heard them say he was the most beautiful of all the birds. Even the elder-tree bent down its bows into the water before him, and the sun shone warm and bright. Then he rustled his feathers, curved his slender neck, and cried joyfully, from the depths of his heart, \u2018I never dreamed of such happiness as this, while I was an ugly duckling,\u2019\u201d He finished.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I take it you\u2019re saying I\u2019m the Ugly Duckling?\u201d Robin scoffed.<\/p>\n Adam smiled and walked out. Robin looked at Betty and shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess we\u2019d better get you ready.\u201d Betty said and started helping Robin.<\/p>\n Chapter 5<\/strong><\/p>\n The guests started to arrive later that evening. Adam greeted the guests then went upstairs. He knocked on the door.<\/p>\n \u201cCome in.\u201d Robin said.<\/p>\n Adam opened the door and saw Robin making him stop in his tracks and his jaw drop.<\/p>\n \u201cDo I look that bad?\u201d She asked uncertainly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look beautiful.\u201d Adam said finally finding his voice.<\/p>\n Robin didn\u2019t see herself. Adam wanted to see her face when she saw herself.<\/p>\n \u201cBetty, you can turn the mirror around.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty smiled and turned the full-length mirror around. Adam took Robin by the shoulders and gently turned her to face the mirror. Her eyes widened in surprise as her hand flew to her mouth.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that me?\u201d She whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it is,\u201d Adam said smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cHave I always looked like that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, you have.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019ve always looked at the looking glass and I was always ugly.\u201d Robin turned this way and that looking at herself. Part of her red hair was pulled up and the rest in ringlets. It looked beautiful against her green dress.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone is gathering downstairs,\u201d Adam announced<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I\u2019m scared,\u201d Robin said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if they laugh at me and say that I\u2019m a joke?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked at them both in the mirror.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll not laugh. They\u2019ll find you beautiful and they\u2019ll be stunned into silence.\u201d He whispered.<\/p>\n Adam and Robin went to the top of the stairs and he looked down at the company and saw them mingling.<\/p>\n \u201cCome.\u201d<\/p>\n He took her hand and felt her shake and squeezed her hand reassuring her things would be all right. They walked down the stairs to join the party.<\/p>\n \u201cFriends, I\u2019d like you all to meet the beautiful Robin McFarland,\u201d Adam announced.<\/p>\n Everyone looked towards them and went quiet. Fear coursed through Robin. She wanted to run but her legs wouldn\u2019t cooperate.<\/p>\n \u201cRobbie, is that really you?\u201d Max asked coming up to her.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it is,\u201d Robin said shyly.<\/p>\n Her brothers joined their father and sister.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s you. You are beautiful,\u201d Johnny complemented.<\/p>\n Robin smiled. The music started along with the chattering and dancing. Adam danced with Robin. She felt like she was floating on air.<\/p>\n During the dance, Robin had danced with other men. She was surprised how they acted towards her when they had teased and mocked her. She had decided to sit out after a few dances. Her thoughts turned to the Ugly Duckling story and though she scoffed at Adam saying it was her, she realized it was her. She smiled to herself. Robin wondered how Adam could see the beauty in her when nobody else did.<\/p>\n \u201cMay I take you for a walk?\u201d a voice asked.<\/p>\n Robin looked up and saw Adam standing in front of her with his hand out to her. \u201cYes, you may,\u201d She said taking his hand.<\/p>\n They walked out to the corral and leaned against it in silence.<\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I thought of your story,\u201d Robin said breaking the silence.<\/p>\n \u201cMy story?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Ugly Duckling. You really were saying I was the Ugly Duckling, weren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n He chuckled. \u201cYes, I was. How did you know I was talking about you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking about it just a few minutes ago, when I was thinking about how everyone has been treating me because I\u2019m wearing a dress and clean up nice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have always been beautiful to me and I wanted you to see it for yourself,\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n \u201cI think everyone will treat me the same after tonight. They\u2019ll probably ignore me. I\u2019m not complaining, just pointing something out,\u201d Robin said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll never think or see you the same after tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Chapter 6<\/strong><\/p>\n The township did see and think of her differently after the social. The men asked her to dinner and the women gave her complements. Her father had sent her off to college back east for study and how to be a lady. She had been there three years and was in her last year. Robin had visited every summer and had always said how well things were going back east.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Adam, you got a letter,\u201d Hoss said after coming in from town.<\/p>\n \u201cOh? From whom?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss shrugged. \u201cI dunno.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam took the letter from his brother and opened it. He scanned it and saw it was from Robin.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s from Robin. She says she\u2019s doing well and that she\u2019s learning a lot in college. She\u2019ll be graduating in a month,\u201d Adam read. He read the rest to himself:<\/p>\n Dearest Adam, \u201cWhat else does it say?\u201d Hoss asked.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s getting married,\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss looked at him in surprise. \u201cShe is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, she is. She met a gentleman there and they\u2019re getting married here in Virginia City. We\u2019re all invited.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded and folded up the letter and slipped in his pocket. The Ugly Duckling became a swan and lived a happy life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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\nI hope this letter finds you well. I can\u2019t believe how fast these four years have gone and I will be graduating soon! I can\u2019t thank you enough for showing this ugly duckling what a beautiful swan she really is. I owe you so much. I have met a wonderful man here in Boston. His name is John Benson. He is a doctor and is finishing up his schooling. He is wanting to come west to be of service to people. He asked me to marry him and I said yes! We\u2019ll come to Virginia City to be married. I am inviting you and your family to the wedding. I am so happy, Adam. To quote the Ugly Duckling \u201cI never dreamed of such happiness as this, while I was an ugly duckling.\u201d Thank you all for your help.
\nYour Ugly Duckling turned Swan,
\nRobin McFarland<\/em><\/p>\n