{"id":5269,"date":"2010-02-27T21:46:44","date_gmt":"2010-02-28T02:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5269"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:22:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:22:08","slug":"the-luckiest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5269","title":{"rendered":"The Luckiest (by alyssajoy64)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a0 <\/span>A grieving Adam finds comfort from an unexpected source.\u00a0 A companion to Lucky.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ \u00a02500<\/span><\/p>\n

Lucky Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lucky<\/a>
\nThe Luckiest<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Story Notes: \u00a0<\/b>This story came to me one night after watching \u201cUP\u201d with my family, and grew with inspiration from the songs \u201cThe Luckiest\u201d by Ben Folds and \u201cBreakfast Table\u201d by Chris Rice.<\/p>\n

Thanks to\u00a0Meg for being my beta and for putting up with me, to Debbie for your opinions and encouragement, and\u00a0Sheryl for believing in me. Hugs to you all.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Luck<\/strong><\/em>iest<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

He hated waking to the yellow walls<\/strong> \u2013 they reminded him of one of the saddest periods of his life \u2013 but he gladly chose them now over the other bedroom in the house. With a groan, he raised his aching bones from the small bed he\u2019d built near forty years ago for a completely different purpose than it now served. It was never meant to be a spare bedroom.<\/p>\n

Almost mechanically he pulled on his clothes and started to head out the door, but a glimpse of his reflection in the dresser mirror made him stop. Slowly, he finger combed his salt-and-pepper hair, sure he hadn\u2019t bothered to touch it in a couple of days. The prominent beard told him he should probably shave today too, but he shrugged the idea off. There wasn\u2019t anyone here to see him either way.<\/p>\n

The kitchen was dark and cold, as it had been every morning for the past five months. He stood leaning against the doorway, wondering whether he dared to go in. A rumble of protest from his stomach got one foot in, but the sight of their small table \u2013 solid oak with two sturdy chairs, another thing he\u2019d built for them \u2013 changed his mind. He wasn\u2019t that hungry this morning anyway.<\/p>\n

Dutch and Saint neighed their greetings as he brought them their morning feed. He put his hand on the door to let them out into the fenced in pasture, but something made him stop. They were two fine horses, and they hadn\u2019t received the attention they deserved in a long time. Picking up a brush, he worked the snags out of Dutch\u2019s mane before moving on to Saint. Just being near her horse made his heart constrict. As he gently worked through the hair, he thought back to the excitement on her face when he\u2019d given it to her. She\u2019d named him Saint because she said the brown fur reminded her of the habits worn by the monks they saw in Rome. She\u2019d only gotten to ride him a couple of times before she\u2019d gotten sick.<\/p>\n

He spent hours on the porch these days, sitting in the rocking chair and gazing out at everything they\u2019d built together. There was the little chicken coop, empty now, but the memories of the occasional comical chase after their evening meal lingered near. Behind the house stood the garden she\u2019d been so eager to have; every spring and summer bringing in a bountiful harvest under her tender care. Under the great Oak they had planted together lay a bittersweet memory of a tiny stillborn, their first and only child.<\/p>\n

Time seemed to come to a stand still when there was nothing to live on but memories. Every day seemed cold without the warmth of her smile there to brighten it, and he finally began to understand those months of grieving his father had gone through when he had lost not one, but three wives.<\/p>\n

The morning sun was just heating up to early afternoon when the dust in the yard was sent spiraling in the air as a wagon rolled in. He roused himself from his stupor to see the driver dismount and help his passenger down from her seat. His brother, Joe, though twelve years his junior, had hair as gray as his, though he had managed to hang on to its youthful curl. He watched as Joe pointed the little girl he\u2019d brought with him over towards the gated pasture before making his way up the porch steps.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Adam,\u201d he said, easing himself into a neighboring chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe,\u201d he forced a smile as he acknowledged him.<\/p>\n

They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before Joe spoke up again. \u201cWhen I told Ellie I was coming to visit you today, she insisted on whipping up some of her sourdough bread for you, seeing as how you like it so much. Got it in the back of the wagon there; remind me to get it for you before I leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou tell her I don\u2019t appreciate her efforts of trying to fatten me up,\u201d Adam said in mock seriousness. \u201cI fit just perfectly in my clothing, and I intend to keep it that way.\u201d He smiled faintly as his brother laughed his famous giggle, these last months having helped him perfect his cheerful fa\u00e7ade.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you might be on to something there, Adam, because she also wanted me to ask you if you\u2019d join us for dinner tonight. She\u2019s fixing a big meal for Haleigh\u2019s eighth birthday,\u201d he nodded his head towards his granddaughter, who was standing on the fence, giggling as Saint searched her pockets for treats. \u201cI\u2019m sure she\u2019d love it if her illustrious Great-Uncle Adam came to her party – she thinks pretty highly of you, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam raised an eyebrow. \u201cNow just what sort of things have you been telling her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing that ain\u2019t true,\u201d Joe said innocently.<\/p>\n

He harrumphed his disapproval at his younger brother before turning his gaze once more towards the yard.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes that mean you\u2019ll come?\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t answer for a while, his eyes lingering on the great Oak, wishing to draw comfort from it like he once did. \u201cI don\u2019t think so, Joe,\u201d he said finally. \u201cThese old bones can\u2019t ride a horse like they used to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I know you\u2019re lying. You may be 71, but we both know that if Pa could ride well into his 80s, so can you.\u201d When he got no response, he pressed a little harder. \u201cAdam, it\u2019s been months since you left the house; how long are you going to keep this up?\u201d He sighed as his brother remained in stony silence, the cheerful fa\u00e7ade replaced with a mask of apathy. \u201cWhat would Anna say?\u201d he asked softly.<\/p>\n

Adam felt his jaw clench at the mention of her name. After five months, the wound was still as raw as if it had happened yesterday. He sensed movement and flicked his eyes over to see Joe get up and head over to the wagon before returning with a cloth-wrapped parcel and setting it on the table next to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cDinner\u2019s at six in case you change your mind.\u201d He started down the steps then stopped without looking back. \u201cI hope you do, Adam, we miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sat there long after they left, Joe\u2019s words bothering him more than he wanted to admit. Anna had never been one for pity parties, so she\u2019d be liable to give him a swift kick in the rear if she saw him now. It wasn\u2019t the same, though. She didn\u2019t have to live without her partner, her best friend; she wasn\u2019t the one who\u2019d been left behind. He was glad when his stomach gave a protest too loud to ignore, giving him the opportunity to tear his mind from such a painful topic.<\/p>\n

Grabbing the loaf of bread Ellie had made him – secretly pleased it was still warm – he made his way into the house. His destination was the kitchen, so it surprised him when he found himself standing in front of the solid oak door at the back end of the house. It had been closed tight since the day she died; he couldn\u2019t bring himself to sleep in their bed when he knew that every morning would bring the same feeling of cold and empty arms.<\/p>\n

Almost of its own accord, his hand reached out and turned the knob, pushing the door open in one swift movement. He took one step in, enough to be able to see the room in its entirety, but went no farther. Nothing had changed. The smell of his aftershave and her sweet perfume still lingered, mingling together and floating like little clouds over their possessions. The bed stood made with the patchwork quilt she had spent the entirety of their first Christmas making and had served them faithfully for over forty years. Little trinkets from their excursions in Europe sat proudly displayed on various shelves and dressers though in need of a thorough dusting.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d get to it one day \u2013 but not today. He took one last glance around the room and started to close the door when something caught his eye. From where he was standing he could just see the edge of something jutting out from underneath his pillow. Slowly, he made his way across the room and sat down on the edge near the pillow, running his hand under it to discover what it was. He pulled out a large book with a bow wrapped around and a small tag that read:\u00a0To Adam; Love Anna<\/em><\/p>\n

With shaking hands he undid the bow, only to recognize the book as Anna\u2019s sketchbook. She\u2019d had it since they\u2019d been married, and never once had she allowed him to look at it. He would find her on the porch, pencil in hand and distant look in her eyes, scratching furiously away at the paper, only to stop and close the book as soon as she saw him. He\u2019d always just assumed that she drew for herself and never pressed her on the issue.<\/p>\n

Now, he hardly dared to open it though she had made it clear it was for him. Trembling fingers turned to the first page to find a much younger version of himself staring back at them. It was their wedding photo; a glimpse back into the happiest day of his life \u2013 he couldn\u2019t believe she was finally his. Anna was a sight to behold; more than a blushing bride, she was an angel without her wings. Underneath the photo, in her careful scrawl, she\u2019d written four simple words:\u201cI am the luckiest\u201d.<\/em>\u00a0He choked back tears as he considered the words, that she thought herself lucky to marry him while in truth it was the other way around. He didn\u2019t know what he\u2019d done in life to deserve her.<\/p>\n

He turned the page, where there was a sketch of their home he had built and a few words describing her excitement to have her own house. Page after page was filled with sketches of memories of their life together: the baby oak right after they had planted it, the view from the hill they always climbed together, the garden at the back of the house; each with her voice written across it telling of her feelings of happiness, contentment, love, and sometimes even her sadness.<\/p>\n

He paused on a page that held another picture, one that had been taken in this very room. An exhausted Anna sat in bed gazing adoringly down at their son, a stillborn, but beautiful nonetheless, while he stood protectively over them. He remembered how hard she had taken it when the doctor told her that they wouldn\u2019t be able to have any more children; she had dreamed of raising a large family. On the page opposite, amidst the long dried tear stains, she\u2019d written the name of their son and a Bible verse.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Elijah Benjamin Cartwright<\/em><\/p>\n

September 17, 1865<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor you formed my inward parts;
\nyou knitted me together in my mother’s womb.<\/em><\/p>\n

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
\nWonderful are your works;
\nmy soul knows it very well.<\/em><\/p>\n

Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
\nin your book were written, every one of them,
\nthe days that were formed for me,
\nwhen as yet there was none of them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Psalms 139: 13, 14, 16<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By the time he got to the final pages, he had added quite a few teardrops of his own to the pages. Each memory that was brought back held a great sweetness marred by the sadness of her passing. The sketches grew more recent, until he came to the end, a page that held a picture taken about half a year earlier. He had just gotten Saint for her, and she sat happily astride her new mount while he held the reigns, beaming. It hadn\u2019t been but two weeks later when she\u2019d fallen ill, and two weeks more until she was gone. He didn\u2019t know if he had the courage to read the note she\u2019d written by the picture, but for her sake, he pressed on.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My Dearest Adam,<\/em><\/p>\n

It saddens me that you\u2019ll be receiving this book before I was quite ready to give it to you, but the Lord had other plans for me. I know you\u2019ll miss me when I\u2019m gone, but you\u2019ll be strong – just like you were when we lost Elijah and when you lost your father. You are the most self-less and loving man I have ever met, and I couldn\u2019t have asked to spend the last 40 years of my life with a more wonderful husband and friend. I love you more than I could ever find the words to tell you, and I can\u2019t wait for the day we\u2019ll be together again. I\u2019ll be saving you a dance around the Milky Way.<\/em><\/p>\n

With all my love,<\/em><\/p>\n

Anna<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam wiped the tears from his cheeks as he gazed at the picture; he could feel her love radiating around him and wondered how he could\u2019ve missed it in these last months. Life may go on, but he\u2019d always carry a piece of her in his heart, and when the time came, she\u2019d be waiting.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The minutes ticked by unnoticed as held the book in his hands and let his mind wander through the sea of memories. It wasn\u2019t until he heard the clock strike six that he was jerked back to reality. He was late!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Minutes later he was in the barn, saddling up Dutch, and on the spur of the moment, Saint, too. He\u2019d seen how taken Haleigh was with the horse, and the bond seemed mutual. It was just one more way to solidify the fact that he was indeed her illustrious, Great-Uncle Adam.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he left the barn and rode out into the coming dusk, he smiled, knowing that Anna was watching him, and she too, was smiling.<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings 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.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/g><\/svg><\/i> \"Loading\"<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: A grieving Adam finds comfort from an unexpected source. A companion to Lucky.<\/p>\n

Rated: K+ 2500<\/p>\n

Lucky Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":153,"featured_media":4147,"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":[23,698],"tags":[14],"class_list":["post-5269","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-post-timeline","tag-adam-cartwright","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-698-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1356,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Building20for20Forever_Adam.jpg?fit=116%2C116&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5272,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5272","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":0},"title":"Lucky (by alyssajoy64)","author":"alyssajoy64","date":"February 27, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0 The one who steals the heart of Adam Cartwright is a lucky girl indeed. You do not need to have read \"The Luckiest\", this story stands by itself. Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a01600 Lucky Series, links to all the stories within the series included.","rel":"","context":"In "Romance"","block_context":{"text":"Romance","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=3"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":48273,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48273","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":1},"title":"BTR Sourdough Starters #31 – November 2020 (by BZTrailriders)","author":"BZTrailRiders","date":"November 30, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u201cMay I\u2026?\u201d - This one is a little different. After 2-\u00bd years of Sourdoughs, has someone written one that gave you an idea to expand it? Well, go ahead and ask to use that person\u2019s sourdough and add to it in some way. Include a copy of the original\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sourdough Starter"","block_context":{"text":"Sourdough Starter","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1323"},"img":{"alt_text":"Preserving Their Legacy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BTR.png?fit=442%2C255&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12134,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12134","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":2},"title":"In My Father’s House (by DebbieB)","author":"DebbieB","date":"May 1, 2002","format":false,"excerpt":"DebbieB passed away Christmas 2021. Any reader wishing to read this series should e:mail the Brandsters:\u00a0 Brandsters2020@gmail.com","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/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":5621,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5621","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":3},"title":"Little Ray of Sunshine (by Stetson1859)","author":"Stetson1859","date":"May 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Adam is trying to come to terms with Inger's death, and finds comfort from an unexpected source. \u00a0 Rated: K+ \u00a0WC 897","rel":"","context":"In "Adam \/ Hoss"","block_context":{"text":"Adam \/ Hoss","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1090"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/adam-baby.jpg?fit=436%2C290&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7582,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7582","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":4},"title":"Doctor’s Orders (by DJK)","author":"DJK","date":"May 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Ben and Adam face off over the doctor\u2019s orders. Rated:\u00a0K+\u00a0\u00a0 Word count:\u00a0887","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","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\/2014\/04\/adam_11.jpg?fit=796%2C638&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/adam_11.jpg?fit=796%2C638&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/adam_11.jpg?fit=796%2C638&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/adam_11.jpg?fit=796%2C638&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13631,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13631","url_meta":{"origin":5269,"position":5},"title":"Freedom from Fear (by JennieA)","author":"JennieA","date":"January 14, 2003","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 The aftermath of Joe's kidnapping and subsequent rescue. Rating:\u00a0 R\u00a0 (33,760) Due to the subject matter contained in this series, the stories are only available via e:mail from the author -- ryjennie@comcast.net","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","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\/2015\/09\/4Cs.jpg?fit=400%2C401&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5269","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\/153"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5269"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5269\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5269"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5269"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5269"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}