{"id":57154,"date":"2025-06-20T18:28:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T22:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=57154"},"modified":"2026-09-11T23:09:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T03:09:43","slug":"beth-cartwright-detective-by-carebear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=57154","title":{"rendered":"Beth Cartwright, Detective (by CareBear)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:<\/strong> While visiting the Ponderosa, Adam\u2019s oldest daughter unearths a treasure trove of detective books in the attic. When the family learns Adam has put a ban on them, the story of what inspired such an un-Adam-like rule is told.<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong> PG
\nWord Count:<\/strong> 6292<\/p>\n

Adam’s Little Women Series<\/p>\n

Queen of the Dunes<\/a><\/p>\n

Beth Cartwright, Detective<\/a><\/p>\n

The (Almost) Grand Adventure<\/a><\/p>\n

I Know What I’m Doing (I Think…)<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Beth Cartwright, Detective <\/strong><\/p>\n

Visits to the Ponderosa did not happen often enough for Beth Cartwright\u2019s liking. Rarer still were the times she got to play in Grandpa\u2019s attic, digging in old trunks and finding untold treasures. Her favorite things were those that belonged to her papa and prompted him to tell stories about when he was a little boy. Grandpa always remembered bits that Papa tried to leave out, making him blush and clear his throat with embarrassment.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop giving her ideas, Pa,\u201d Adam would admonish his father. His eyes always sparkled as he spoke, belying the sternness of his words.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis angelic granddaughter of mine? Get ideas?\u201d Ben would retort, giving Beth a wide smile and a wink. \u201cI don\u2019t believe that for a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Beth managed to unearth a veritable mine\u2019s worth of gold on discovering a crate full of books. The very kind Papa didn\u2019t allow her to read! Gathering as many as she could, Beth squirreled them out of the attic and into the room that was hers when they visited Grandpa.<\/p>\n

After quietly closing the door, Beth sat on the floor and spread them out after using her dress to wipe away the dust. They had been in the attic for quite some time, she realized, her bright eyes taking in the amount of grime and the way the pages had begun to yellow. With great reverence for the forbidden material, Beth opened a detective novel and began to read, letting the time slip away.<\/p>\n

Mid-morning, the blessed silence of the house was broken as Joe burst in the front door, fishing poles in hand, calling, \u201cAdam! Hey Adam!\u201d The shouting was needless, given that Adam was enjoying a book in the blue chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cShh,\u201d Adam chided, waving his hand at Joe. \u201cAlta will have both our heads if you wake Nora and the serenity of her bath is disturbed. She only went down half an hour ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chagrined, Joe put a hand to his mouth for a moment. When he spoke next, his voice was much softer. \u201cSorry. Are you ready to take Beth to our spot? Hoss is gonna meet us there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can find her,\u201d Adam replied with a smile. \u201cI imagine she\u2019s rummaging in the attic again. I\u2019m not sure why she finds that so entertaining, but at least Pa doesn\u2019t mind. He loves telling stories about your misbegotten youth at any rate.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s eyes danced with laughter. \u201cJust my misbegotten youth? Pa got a selective memory when it comes to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was always the epitome of seriousness and responsibility,\u201d Adam countered, his own eyes twinkling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll find her,\u201d Joe offered. \u201cI bet you a beer Beth\u2019s got her nose in a book, just like some Yankee granite head I know,\u201d he teased.<\/p>\n

Adam just rolled his eyes. \u201cThat, brother, is a bet I\u2019d lose. Go find her while I make sure Pa will listen for the baby for a bit. And let Alta know we\u2019re leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Beth had already been located by her grandfather a short time ago, with her head buried in the prohibited reading material. \u201cWhat\u2019s all this?\u201d he asked, looking over the number of books she\u2019d collected. \u201cYou\u2019ve been in the attic again.\u201d Ben smiled warmly at his granddaughter.<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s head popped up from the page and she turned to Ben with wide eyes. \u201cDon\u2019t tell Papa. I want to read them all first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her response made him laugh, despite himself. There was no harm in a few detective novels. Or so he hoped! Beth was no Joseph, after all. \u201cIt\u2019ll be our secret. I remember this one,\u201d he admitted. Ben sat on the bed and picked up a book by Inspector Foote.<\/p>\n

Sensing a story, Beth reached for Ben with both arms. \u201cTell me Grandpa, please?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cartwright patriarch surrendered to his granddaughter\u2019s request, ignoring the dust from the attic as he settled her in his lap. \u201cIt was a splendid summer morning,\u201d Ben began. \u201cAnd it seemed like nothing could go wrong. Only then I went down to breakfast and saw your Uncle Joe with his head in that book by Inspector Foote…\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Joe found his father and niece upstairs, with Pa clearly engrossed in telling some tale that had Beth\u2019s full attention. He leaned against the doorway to listen in and smiled indulgently, completely unnoticed. They were still there when Adam came searching for them, arriving just in time to hear Beth exclaim, \u201cGrandpa! Did you really put Uncle Joe in jail?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam rolled his eyes heavenward as his youngest brother winced. He was happy to have been away whenever that<\/em> escapade had taken place.<\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly did,\u201d Ben confirmed. \u201cAnd Uncle Hoss, too. They\u2019d gone too far in their detective work. Isn\u2019t that right Joseph?\u201d His presence had not gone unnoticed by Ben as Joe had thought, and the patriarch now looked to him to confirm that part of the story.<\/p>\n

By this time, Adam had spotted a few of the book covers. Cutting Joe off before he could respond, Adam nudged his brother with an elbow. \u201cGo pack the gear, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

The look on Adam\u2019s face was one Joe recognized all too well. \u201cYeah, sure,\u201d he agreed easily. Joe gave his niece a reassuring wink and said, \u201cSee ya outside pipsqueak.\u201d He headed for the stairs, fishing poles still in hand.<\/p>\n

Adam gave his daughter a meaningful look before clearing his throat. \u201cIf you\u2019d give us a minute, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben patted his granddaughter\u2019s leg and kissed the top of her head. A part of him felt inclined to argue on Beth\u2019s behalf. After all, he\u2019d given her permission to rummage in the attic and play with whatever she found within certain parameters Ben had laid out. The books were well within those. Yet he chose not to, recalling how much he had disliked others interfering with his parenting when raising the boys. Instead, he nudged Beth to her feet and stepped out into the hall, pulling the door closed behind him.<\/p>\n

Once they were alone, Adam crossed his arms over his chest and said simply, \u201cExplain.\u201d Beth was a clever girl; he did not need to tell her the particular items he wanted her to expound on.<\/p>\n

The nearly eight-year-old toed the floor with one shoe, avidly avoiding her father\u2019s stern gaze. \u201cI didn\u2019t break any of Grandpa\u2019s rules about things in the attic,\u201d Beth deflected.<\/p>\n

That answer was all Alta, and Adam had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep to from smiling. Instead, he nodded slowly. \u201cI suppose that\u2019s true,\u201d Adam conceded. \u201cWhat about my<\/em> rules? Do you believe you\u2019re following those right now?\u201d An eyebrow quirked as he awaited an answer. Not that she saw it, given her intense study of the hardwood floor.<\/p>\n

She couldn\u2019t lie to Papa. With her eyes glued to the floor, Beth whispered, \u201cNo, sir.\u201d What had felt like delicious, secret, rebellious fun when she found the books now was a terrible pit in her stomach.<\/p>\n

Crouching down to her height, Adam tipped her chin up so they could look one another in the eye. \u201cMy rules still apply at Grandpa\u2019s house, or anywhere else. You\u2019re old enough and smart enough to know that. I\u2019m disappointed you\u2019d think otherwise.\u201d He braced himself for the waterworks that inevitably came anytime he voiced disapproval of her choices. Sure enough, tears began trailing down Beth\u2019s cheeks and Adam readily drew her to him for a comforting embrace.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Papa.\u201d The words, obscured by tears, were spoken largely to his shoulder as she pressed her face against it. He held her tightly, letting her cry for a few moments before speaking again. \u201cI know you are. I accept your apology,\u201d Adam reassured his child. \u201cI need you to look at me and listen now.\u201d He waited until Beth complied before continuing. \u201cYou will take all these books and put them in my room. They will stay there,\u201d Adam explained firmly. \u201cI want a promise that you will leave them alone. You will also promise that if you find anymore in the attic, you\u2019ll bring it straight to me.\u201d He watched her nod enthusiastically.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf either of those promises are broken, or you somehow convince your uncles to gift you any books like that, there will be a necessary talk. Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth gave another nod, followed by a sincere, \u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen give me your promises,\u201d Adam prompted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise not to take the detective novels out of you and Mama\u2019s room an\u2019 I promise to give you any I find in the attic,\u201d Beth vowed. \u201cAnd I won\u2019t ask Uncle Hoss or Uncle Joe to buy me any neither. Cross my heart,\u201d she added, making the appropriate gesture.<\/p>\n

Adam smiled at her sincerity and reached for her hand, giving it a kiss. \u201cGood girl,\u201d he praised. \u201cTake every single one of those to my room now. Don\u2019t leave any behind,\u201d Adam cautioned her. \u201cThen we need to find Joe and go fishing so we\u2019ll have some supper tonight.\u201d He turned Beth around to face the prohibited material and propelled her in their direction with a mild swat to her behind.<\/p>\n

When Beth\u2019s arms were full of books, Adam opened the door to allow her to take them to the other room. Somehow, he wasn\u2019t all that surprised to see his father hovering nearby in the hall. He rolled his eyes a bit and gave Ben a smile. \u201cI\u2019ll explain later,\u201d he quietly told the other man. \u201cWill you listen for Nora until Alta\u2019s out of the bath?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben coughed a bit, embarrassed at being caught hovering. Not that he was worried; Adam was a good father. He simply felt badly that he may have played a part in Beth getting in trouble. She\u2019d told him the books were off limits, and he hadn\u2019t discouraged her, after all. \u201cOf course,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll met you later at Hoss and Callie\u2019s place,\u201d he reminded Adam.<\/p>\n

A moment later, Adam scooped Beth up and tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carried her down the stairs, the two of them giggling together quietly until they got outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout time you two got out here,\u201d Joe teased. \u201cHoss is probably wondering where we are. He\u2019s likely caught the biggest fish already, too, and we\u2019ll near hear the end of it!\u201d He was glad to see Beth was smiling and the day\u2019s plans were going ahead. Joe swung into the saddle and looked over at his niece. \u201cWant to ride with me pipsqueak? Instead of that old man you call pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI resent that remark,\u201d Adam grumbled, though he smiled as he spoke.<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s eyes lit up and she looked at Adam. \u201cPapa, can I? Please?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I,\u201d Adam corrected.<\/p>\n

That drew a groan from Joe, who muttered under his breath that some things never change.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you may,\u201d Adam agreed easily when Beth posed the question correctly. He passed her to Joe, giving his brother a firm look. \u201cThis is one of my greatest treasures you have here. No careless riding. Hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe nodded his agreement, then leaned down to faux whisper to Beth, \u201cHe\u2019s no fun at all, is he?\u201d Though the little girl knew that wasn\u2019t true, she giggled just the same, largely due to the pained look on Adam\u2019s face at the not-so-quiet comment.<\/p>\n

\n

Hoss was tying up Chubb when the trio arrived at the fishing hole. He waved a greeting when he saw them coming, then shook hands with Adam as the eldest brother dismounted. \u201cGlad to see I didn\u2019t keep ya waiting,\u201d Hoss grinned. \u201cDaisy wasn\u2019t too sure I oughta be goin\u2019 anywhere without her.\u201d His oldest daughter, Margaret \u201cDaisy\u201d Cartwright, was Hoss\u2019s little shadow. \u201cI think if Callie hadn\u2019t mentioned Pa was comin\u2019 ta visit, I\u2019d have had a fight on my hands with that little one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the only person Daisy likes more than you is her grandpa,\u201d Joe commented. \u201cAnd in second place is probably the \u2018hossies.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Daisy had caused a stir in the family when her first word had been \u2018hossy,\u2019 though the tot had meant \u2018horsey\u2019 rather than her father. Once they\u2019d realized, everyone had been enchanted by her excitement over \u2018hossies,\u2019 no one more so than Hoss. Though she was no longer a toddler, the family didn\u2019t let the adorable mispronunciation fade away, enthusiastically adopting it, much to the now six-year-old\u2019s chagrin<\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mere pumpkin!\u201d He beckoned Beth. \u201cGive old Uncle Hoss a cuddle!\u201d When his niece flew into his arms, Hoss picked her up and swung her around, making Beth scream in delight.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I can\u2019t imagine why Daisy thinks the sun rises and sets by him,\u201d Adam grinned. \u201cAny prospects for you, Joe? About time you settled down too, isn\u2019t it? Add to the growing number of grandbabies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Between Adam and Hoss, the next generation was already five strong, and one more on the way. Granddaughters currently outnumbered grandsons, four to one.<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t it time for you to go back to San Francisco yet?\u201d Joe groaned. While Hoss occupied Beth with whatever game currently had them running around and shouting, he and Adam gathered the picnic lunch supplies and fishing poles to take to the lake. \u201cActually, I\u2019m sparkin\u2019 a real nice woman. Might even let you meet her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyebrows shot up in surprise. \u201cReally now? Who is this woman? Is it serious? Hoss!\u201d he shouted. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me about this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Bout what?\u201d Hoss asked, pausing to toss Beth over his shoulder. \u201cMind if I toss this little gal in the water?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout Joe getting serious with a woman!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss laughed. \u201cYeah, he\u2019s courting the new schoolteacher. The one that replaced Callie.\u201d He moved closer to the water, dangling Beth over it as he waited for Adam\u2019s consent to toss her in.<\/p>\n

The request to dump his daughter in the water was met with an eyeroll. \u201cYou\u2019ll scare off the all the fish.\u201d He was met with sad looks from his brother and child. \u201cLater,\u201d he promised. Adam turned to Joe and chuckled, shaking his head. \u201cBetween you and Hoss, Pa\u2019s gonna get kicked off the schoolboard for using it as a matchmaking service.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe just flashed that charming smile of his.<\/p>\n

\n

Some hours later, the brothers laid on their backs near the water, fishing string tied to their big toes and hats pulled low over their faces against the afternoon sun. Nearby, Beth was asleep on the grass, covered with the blanket they\u2019d used for the picnic. She\u2019d spent the time before lunch catching a few fish, corralling Uncle Hoss into telling her whether a nest of bunnies she found were abandoned, and being chased by all three men in a riotous game of tag, during which Hoss accused she and Joe both of being part jackrabbit.<\/p>\n

True to his word, Adam allowed Hoss to toss Beth in the water. When she dramatically called for him to \u2018save\u2019 her, Hoss and Joe made sure he got a good dunking as well. Some things never changed; at least it wasn\u2019t the water trough, and Pa wasn\u2019t there to see! Naturally, he repaid them in kind until everyone was soaked and ready for lunch, after which Beth had fallen asleep, giving the brothers time to themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Hoss? Did you know our older brother had gotten real mean in his old age? He bans books now,\u201d Joe commented. \u201cI bet there\u2019s a good story behind that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss lifted his hat from his face, looking over at Adam with a frown. \u201cNah, not Adam. Not our<\/em> Adam. Ban books? Yer joshin\u2019 Little Joe.\u201d When Adam didn\u2019t dispute the fact, he realized it must be true. \u201cNo foolin\u2019? Reckon I\u2019d like to hear that story. Musta been quite a thing to have happened to make you ban books.\u201d<\/p>\n

Underneath his black hat, Adam let out a heavy sigh. \u201cYou two delight in my trials as a father far too much.\u201d He adjusted his hat and gave them a look. \u201cYou just wait until yours are older Hoss. And Joe? I hope yours are just<\/em> like you when you have children. Beth is very much mine and Alta\u2019s child. She has my stubborn streak\u2014not that I admit as much to Alta,\u201d Adam grinned. \u201cAnd my lovely wife\u2019s fierce determination, along with our combined intelligence. Every so often, she makes me feel like I oughta write Pa a letter and apologize for my own childhood behavior because she can try my patience and I\u2019m certain I tried his. And at times, Alta is no help at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss and Joe laughed softly and sat up on their elbows a bit to give Adam their full attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few months back,\u201d Adam began, \u201cBeth and I were reading the paper together. When she was little, she\u2019d crawl up into my lap and pretend to read it with me. She\u2019d turn the pages very seriously, even though she couldn\u2019t make heads or tails of what was printed on them.\u201d A smile tugged at his mouth. \u201cNow she really can read it. It\u2019s become a sort of breakfast ritual with the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head, still faintly amused by the memory. \u201cSo it didn\u2019t occur to me that an article about a female Pinkerton agent would catch her attention. She didn\u2019t say a word about it at the time. But apparently, she peppered Alta with questions about female detectives to the point of distraction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam’s smile widened.<\/p>\n

\u201cI come home from work one afternoon and find my child with a veritable treasure trove of books about detectives. Her nose is so thoroughly buried in one of them that she doesn\u2019t even notice me walk through the door.\u201d He gave a soft, incredulous laugh. \u201cI ask her what on earth she\u2019s reading, and Beth tells me that Alta got the books for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

He paused, his expression taking on the fondly aggrieved look of a husband who had discovered he was the last person to know about something happening in his own household.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then my dearest wife says to me, as though this is the most ordinary thing in the world, \u2018Oh, yes. We went to the lending library. Beth\u2019s very interested in female detectives. She thinks she might want to be one someday.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam spread his hands. \u201cWhich was something of a departure from Beth\u2019s previous ambition, which was to be just like Mama.\u201d His expression softened at that, the humor giving way to something warmer. \u201cThough, if I\u2019m entirely honest, I\u2019m not sure the world is quite ready for her in either profession.\u201d<\/p>\n

He glanced towards his brothers with a resigned little smile. \u201cBetween you and me, I\u2019m not certain which prospect ought to concern me more: Beth as a detective, or Beth becoming a lawyer like her mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other two men had to smother their laughter to keep from waking Beth. \u201cOh, I bet that went over with you real well,\u201d Joe grinned.<\/p>\n

Adam inclined his head in agreement. \u201cI told her, over my dead body would our child be a detective. Alta then gets her back up. Don\u2019t I think women can be detectives? What\u2019s wrong with women detectives? That was not at all the point,\u201d he reminded his brothers. \u201cI have no opinion on the matter in general, but not my<\/em> daughter. I\u2019m sure you can imagine it became quite the argument.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI admire her Adam,\u201d Hoss chimed in. \u201cShe\u2019s good for ya. Doesn\u2019t do to let ya have your way all the time.\u201d He grinned when Adam glowered at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, you see, my lovely Alta is an only child. She never grew up with someone like baby brother here,\u201d Adam went on. \u201cI don\u2019t think she quite understands the mischievous capabilities of children at times. Beth might be bright and put her nose in books, but she\u2019s also a Cartwright. I knew exactly what was going to happen, that this would turn into play that went too far, but there was no convincing Alta of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head at the memory of that argument. \u201cFinally, I threw up my hands and said we\u2019d do it her way. We\u2019d let Beth have the books and learn what she wanted and even think she could be one someday. But the minute it became a problem that I had to deal with, detective anything and everything was done and that would be it. She agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The thought of Adam giving in to anyone was comical enough for the brothers to make them grin, given his stubborn streak. That\u2019s why they had always liked Alta, because she wasn\u2019t a meek woman who had no thoughts of her own. She\u2019d readily go toe to toe with Adam, and he needed a partner like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the book ban I\u2019m guessin\u2019 her way didn\u2019t work so well, huh?\u201d Hoss prompted.<\/p>\n

Adam gave an exaggerated groan. \u201cThat, brother, is the understatement of the year\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

FLASHBACK<\/em><\/p>\n

He and Alta had come to an agreement about Beth\u2019s detective obsession, and he was going to stick with it, even if it killed him.<\/p>\n

At this rate, it actually might.<\/p>\n

The agreement itself had seemed perfectly reasonable when they made it. Beth was curious, Alta had pointed out. She was reading voraciously, asking questions, paying attention to the world around her, and they ought to encourage it. There was no harm in allowing her to explore an interest that cultivated her mind. Adam had conceded the point, because how could he do otherwise?<\/p>\n

Yet he remained certain that there were better, less inclined to mischief ways for their seven-year-old to exercise her intellect.<\/p>\n

In the two weeks since Alta had allowed their daughter to effectively empty the lending library of every book on the subject that she was capable of reading, Beth had thrown herself into the profession with an enthusiasm that would have been admirable under almost any other circumstances.<\/p>\n

She read at every opportunity, including while waiting for the bath water to warm and attempting to continue while bathing. On one occasion, she had nearly walked into a wall because her nose was in a book and Beth had failed to watch where she was going.<\/p>\n

Beth begged her parents for a small notebook in which she started to record information she felt was important, in large, painstaking letters that wandered unevenly across the page.<\/p>\n

Adam had learned that any question beginning with Papa, where were you at three o\u2019clock yesterday afternoon?<\/em> was best answered with caution.<\/p>\n

After doing her due diligence in terms of research, Beth discovered, much to her disappointment, that there wasn\u2019t enough crime in their neighborhood to solve. The obvious and most reasonable conclusion for a child such as herself was reached\u2014<\/p>\n

She\u2019d simply create some mysteries to solve!<\/p>\n

It began small enough, confined largely to the Cartwright home. Silverware mysteriously disappeared from the kitchen and was miraculously recovered by the triumphant heroine just in time for dinner.<\/p>\n

Next, Adam\u2019s cufflinks walked off. That particular disappearance was considerably less amusing.<\/p>\n

They were supposed to be getting ready for an evening at the opera, and Adam had been in his room dressing when he discovered that the cufflinks he had set out on his dresser were nowhere to be found. He checked every piece of furniture and the floor thoroughly but came up empty.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlta?\u201d<\/p>\n

His wife appeared in the doorway, already dressed for the evening, and took one look at his expression.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy cufflinks are missing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe gold ones?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ones I gave you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n

They searched together. The drawers were emptied and replaced. The dressing table was cleared. Adam checked beneath the bed, though he had no idea why he expected to find cufflinks there. He searched through the clothes he had worn over the past several days without result.<\/p>\n

He had barely finished suggesting they check the other rooms when Beth appeared, wearing an expression of extraordinary solemnity.<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa? I know where your cufflinks are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stared at her. \u201cYou do?\u201d<\/p>\n

And then, with the grave importance of a Pinkerton agent delivering the final revelation in a particularly difficult case, she produced them.<\/p>\n

His relief lasted approximately three seconds. \u201cWhere did you find them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI found the robber.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alta, who had been standing just behind Adam, went very still.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou found the robber?\u201d Adam repeated slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Papa.\u201d<\/p>\n

There followed a tale of extraordinary heroism in which Beth had apparently discovered that someone had entered the house with the intention of stealing valuable property. She had tracked the villain. She had confronted him. There had been a struggle. Quite a struggle, judging from Beth’s increasingly dramatic gestures.<\/p>\n

There had been fisticuffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd where,\u201d Adam asked very carefully, \u201cis the robber?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth hesitated. \u201cWell…he got away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I got your cufflinks back!\u201d She beamed at him, thoroughly proud of herself and expecting him to be the same.<\/p>\n

The parents exchanged looks that said they understood precisely what had happened. Their spirited eldest child had taken them and manufactured an adventure so Brave Beth could heroically return them.<\/p>\n

Adam’s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n

Alta\u2019s intervention was the sole reason that Adam didn\u2019t warm Beth\u2019s backside and put an end to her days of detecting.<\/p>\n

Alta laid one hand lightly against his arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ll handle this.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was enough authority in those three words to make Adam step back.<\/p>\n

As promised, Alta handled it with aplomb. She took Beth to her room, closed the door, and delivered a scolding that was stern enough to make even Adam wince from the hallway. There was no shouting, but somehow that made it worse. Alta explained, in terms that left absolutely no room for misunderstanding, that stealing something\u2014even from her own father\u2014was not a game, and that frightening people by making them believe a stranger had entered their home was not detective work.<\/p>\n

By the time Alta’s lecture was finished, Beth was crying. Adam’s heart twisted at the sound, but he had no intention of interfering.<\/p>\n

Beth was put straight to bed for the night, well before her usual bedtime and long before Nora was expected upstairs. There would be no detective adventures, no dramatic investigations, and certainly no more mysteries that evening.<\/p>\n

And so, after making certain that she was settled, Adam and Alta went on with their anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n

From then on, his things, at least, were left alone.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the lesson did not seem to apply to anyone else’s possessions.<\/p>\n

Nora’s toys became the next casualties. A doll vanished from the nursery and turned up several hours later in a place Beth considered sufficiently mysterious to require investigation. A set of wooden animals disappeared one afternoon and reappeared the following morning arranged in a neat line across the parlor rug, accompanied by a scrap of paper announcing that the case had been solved.<\/p>\n

Then came the neighbor’s bicycle.<\/p>\n

It disappeared from down the street one afternoon and reappeared the next day in a location no one could quite explain. There was immediate speculation among the adults, but no one had actually seen Beth near it, and there was no proof that she had anything whatsoever to do with the disappearance.<\/p>\n

Adam suspected her; he was nearly certain of it. But suspicion was not evidence. And without that, he had no grounds to accuse her\u2014particularly not after the agreement he and Alta had made.<\/p>\n

The newspapers were worse.<\/p>\n

Two mornings in a row, the papers that normally arrived at the usual hour failed to appear. By breakfast, the neighbors were complaining. One man went so far as to suggest that the delivery boy was becoming careless.<\/p>\n

Adam found himself wondering just how long it would be before his daughter’s detective career finally produced a case he could actually prove.<\/p>\n

One afternoon, Adam came home to find his daughter standing in the middle of the yard dressed in clothes that very clearly did not belong to her.<\/p>\n

He stopped several paces away and simply stared.<\/p>\n

Beth stood with her hands planted firmly on her hips, an old cap pulled low over her hair and a shirt several sizes too large hanging nearly to her knees. The trousers had been rolled at least twice at the cuffs, and she was wearing a pair of boots that looked as though they had been borrowed from someone considerably taller than she was.<\/p>\n

Adam slowly looked her over from head to toe. \u201cBeth…\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked up at him. \u201cHello, Papa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did you get those clothes?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth brightened. \u201cI\u2019m undercover.\u201d<\/p>\n

He blinked, brow furrowing. \u201cYou\u2019re what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUndercover.\u201d She said it as though the answer ought to have been obvious. \u201cA detective can\u2019t always go around looking like herself.\u201d<\/p>\n

He glanced at the oversized shirt, eyebrows inching upward.\u00a0 \u201cApparently not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey belong to Tommy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTommy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe boy down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam closed his eyes for a moment and pinched the bridge of his nose. \u201cOf course they do,\u201d he muttered to himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe let me borrow them.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eyes opened, then narrowed suspiciously. \u201cHe did?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth hesitated. \u201cWell…\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked him\u2026\u201d Her eyes drifted to the ground. She tried to toe at the dirt but the boots were actually rather difficult to work with, given their oversized nature. All the better for disguise, not so good for\u2026 movement.<\/p>\n

Adam waited.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said no.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a long silence before the exasperated father responded. \u201cThen you did not borrow them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth frowned at the ground. \u201cI was going to give them back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is not the point.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I needed<\/em> them, to be undercover!\u201d She couldn\u2019t understand what Papa was missing about this important point and finally lifted her eyes to his.<\/p>\n

Adam stared at her.<\/p>\n

She stared back.<\/p>\n

\u201cALTA!\u201d he shouted toward the house.<\/p>\n

Naturally, Alta was not there.<\/p>\n

She was at her office, and the part-time nanny, who had apparently reached the absolute limit of what she was willing to endure from the little detective’s increasingly hoydenish exploits, was nowhere in sight. Adam could hardly blame her. He pinched the bridge of his nose again and let out a long, frustrated sigh.<\/p>\n

Beth watched him with interest. \u201cPapa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour face is getting red,\u201d she pointed out helpfully.<\/p>\n

He took another breath, trying very hard to remember that he and Alta had agreed to encourage their daughter’s curiosity. They had not, however, agreed to encourage theft. Or whatever undercover<\/em> was going to involve.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo inside,\u201d he said at last.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Papa\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGo inside and put on your own clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth looked aghast at the very idea. \u00a0\u201cBut I’m in the middle of an investigation!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe investigation can wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen take those clothes wherever they belong.\u201d He pointed toward the house. \u201cAnd then you will go to your room and wait for your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now it was Beth who looked perplexed. \u201cWait for Mama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Wait for your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

She frowned, clearly turning this over in her mind. \u201cI don\u2019t think detectives wait for their mamas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam’s jaw tightened.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially not in their rooms,\u201d Beth continued thoughtfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I haven\u2019t solved the crime yet!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam pointed toward the house again. \u201cThey most certainly do wait in their rooms for their mother if their name is Elizabeth Frances Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n

The little girl winced at the use of all three names; a sure sign that she had gone a step too far. She nodded her agreement and added a quiet, \u201cYes sir,\u201d before tiptoeing past him to go inside.<\/p>\n

PRESENT<\/em><\/p>\n

Hoss guffawed while Joe let out a high-pitched laugh as Adam recounted Beth\u2019s career as a detective. Adam scowled at them both, unwilling to concede it was quite as hysterical as they found it to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least we were stopping actual criminals,\u201d Joe mused, flashing Hoss a grin.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but we still ended up in jail. And I gave Pa two black eyes,\u201d Hoss reminded him glumly. \u201cI ain\u2019t so sure I\u2019m ready to see our detecting days as so much fun, little brother.\u201d He looked over at Adam. \u201cBet Beth was all done detecting too, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, one would think so, wouldn\u2019t they?\u201d Adam replied, a dollop of sarcasm in his tone. \u201cUnless one is my wife.\u201d His lips thinned in annoyance even now.<\/p>\n

FLASHBACK<\/em><\/p>\n

The house was blissfully quiet, the morning finding all the Cartwrights still in bed. The littlest two were sleeping, giving their parents a chance for some uninterrupted intimate time.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave I ever told you how ravishing you look first thing in the morning, Mrs. Cartwright?\u201d Adam queried. He covered Alta\u2019s lips with his own, cutting off any verbal response. When he removed them, it was to whisper words in Alta\u2019s ear that made her blush.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe things you say! You\u2019re a wicked man, Adam,\u201d Alta lightly scolded, a smile on her face. She kissed him and asked, \u201cWhat am I to do with you? Let you have your way I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be best,\u201d Adam grinned wolfishly. He began to kiss her once more when an ear-piercing scream was heard outside. They froze, locking eyes with each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not one of ours, is it?\u201d Alta asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounded like an adult. I\u2019m trying to decide if I care enough to investigate,\u201d Adam admitted.<\/p>\n

Alta shook her head. \u201cNo, sir, you do not.\u201d<\/p>\n

More screams followed by the loud cries of a toddler were heard, causing Adam to groan loudly. \u201cAt least one of those are ours. Remind me to put locks higher up on the door later.\u201d He looked in her eyes and sighed. The tears were angry, not frightful, and he didn\u2019t respond as quickly as he might have otherwise. \u201cWhy did we decide to have children again?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea,\u201d Alta lamented. \u201cI\u2019d say hurry back, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded as he rose to dress, also mourning the fleeting moment of intimacy.<\/p>\n

\n

Whatever he expected on exiting his home, the chaos Adam encountered was not it. The next-door neighbor, Mrs. Hammond, was marching towards him with the darkest look he\u2019d ever seen. Beth was pulling on the woman\u2019s arm, trying to slow her down. \u201cI\u2019ll fix it, I\u2019ll fix it, I promise! I\u2019m so sorry! Don\u2019t tell my papa!\u201d Behind them toddled little Nora, the source of the tears, red-faced and\u2026 tied with a rope?!<\/p>\n

He swiftly moved past the neighbor, going straight for Eleanor whose hands were bound with rope. Adam recognized the knot as one his father had taught him long ago, from Ben\u2019s sailing days. \u201cBecause of course it is,\u201d he grumbled to himself. \u201cShh, it\u2019s alright Eleanor, Papa\u2019s here. Let me get you out of that. Shh, don\u2019t cry darling,\u201d Adam soothed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah cimmal,\u201d Nora sobbed. \u201cPapa nah nah.\u201d<\/p>\n

It took Adam a moment to decipher the tearful toddler\u2019s words and was infuriated once he did so. \u201cOf course you\u2019re not a criminal baby,\u201d he hurried to reassure her. It didn\u2019t take a great mind to put two and two together and produce four in this case.<\/p>\n

Adam glanced over at Beth, his face a thundercloud of anger. \u201cYou did this?\u201d he asked, indicating the rope he now removed from the toddler\u2019s little hands. His oldest daughter\u2019s nod was barely perceptible. \u201cOh, little girl, you better have a very<\/em> good explanation or you\u2019re in for the tanning of a lifetime,\u201d he promised.<\/p>\n

By now, Alta had appeared at the front door and was speaking with the irate neighbor when Adam approached with Nora in his arms. The look his wife gave him was filled with regret and the story that unfolded was somehow worse than he had anticipated. And Beth? She hoped the ground would open and swallow her before Papa got his hands on her and she was never able to sit again!<\/p>\n

PRESENT<\/em><\/p>\n

His brothers stared at him wide-eyed. \u201cShe turned Nora loose in the neighbor\u2019s garden, knowing she\u2019d mess it all up and then arrested her? By tying her up with a rope?\u201d Hoss repeated. The words were said slowly as if somehow hard to comprehend.<\/p>\n

Joe let out a low whistle. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026 I don\u2019t know whether to be impressed or horrified.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHorrified, Joseph,\u201d Adam snapped, giving him a dark look. It softened a few seconds later. \u201cThough I have to admit, it made me think of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe immediately looked indignant, while Hoss guffawed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that put an end to detective anything in the Cartwright household,\u201d Adam concluded. \u201cAll the books went back to the lending library, and we had a very<\/em> necessary talk about how we treat our siblings, appropriate ways to play, and destroying other people\u2019s property. I also made certain she helped Mrs. Hammond replant her garden and contributed her pocket money to the cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss looked over at his sleeping niece, who looked so angelic and peaceful. He had a hard time imagining all that of Beth, but then Joe always looked so sweet and innocent too when he was little. Joe had got him in more trouble than he ever did on his own! Still did sometimes, Hoss thought. \u201cOld Adam\u2019s in real trouble, ain\u2019t he Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

The youngest Cartwright brother nodded. \u201cYeah, he sure is. I mean that really was impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rolling his eyes, Adam pushed an unsuspecting Joe back into the water, hat and all. Beth awoke to the sounds of her father and uncles in the lake, behaving like young boys. With a laugh, she went to join in on the fun, using Adam\u2019s own hat to scoop up water and toss it in his face.<\/p>\n

Knowing his part well, Adam playfully roared at Beth and pulled her in with both hands, promising watery revenge as she screamed with joy.<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

Author\u2019s note:<\/strong> This story began as a pinecone titled \u201cThe Book Worm\u201d and has been expanded. It includes characters created in other pinecones but can be read independently with the knowledge that Adam is married to a woman named Alta, who is a lawyer, loosely based on an actual historical individual.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While visiting the Ponderosa, Adam\u2019s oldest daughter unearths a treasure trove of detective books in the attic. When the family learns Adam has put a ban on them, the story of what inspired such an un-Adam-like rule is told.
\nRating: PG WC: 6293<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12573,"featured_media":13147,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[7,1008,4,698],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a-u","category-family","category-humor","category-post-timeline","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-1008-id","wpcat-4-id","wpcat-698-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/Screen-Shot-2016-07-12-at-7.28.34-PM.png?fit=653%2C572&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57154","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\/12573"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=57154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57154\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=57154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=57154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=57154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}