{"id":6054,"date":"2007-02-03T18:06:20","date_gmt":"2007-02-03T23:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6054"},"modified":"2026-03-11T15:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T19:00:19","slug":"the-shadow-of-jean-de-marigny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6054","title":{"rendered":"The Shadow of Jean de Marigny (by Patina)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary:\u00a03rd<\/span>\u00a0story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 Men break into the house while Marie is home alone with Adam and Hoss. After observing his step-mother’s actions when faced with the robbers, Adam calls Marie a name he once heard Jean de Marigny use. This incident leads to an argument between Ben and Marie about Adam’s upbringing. And Adam finally realizes that Marie had been Jean’s wife.<\/p>\n

Rating: K+\u00a0 \u00a0Word Count=5268<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Cartwrights or Bonanza. No copyright infringement is intended. Original plot and characters are property of the author. This story is for entertainment and no money was made from it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reviews from the Old Library are on the last page.<\/p>\n

The Battle of Wills Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Begins<\/a>
\nEducation is More than 3R’s<\/a>
\nThe Shadow of Jean deMarigny<\/a>
\nA Gift Horse<\/a>
\nNew Expectations<\/a>
\nRemembering Childhoods<\/a>
\nA Room Full of Memories<\/a>
\nA New Pattern<\/a>
\nNaming the Newest Cartwright<\/a>
\nPresents from the Heart<\/a>
\nLove’s Labor<\/a>
\nBig Brother Lessons<\/a>
\nNo Regrets<\/a>
\nBaby’s Breath<\/a>
\nEnnui<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Shadow of Jean de Marigny<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam had been sent to his room after supper for his latest round of disrespectful behavior. He had used a word that Ben wouldn\u2019t even have used to describe the cheapest tavern girl. When asked where he had learned the word, both Ben and Marie were shocked to hear Jean\u2019s name.<\/span>

Since he wasn\u2019t allowed to read, write, draw, or do any other activity, Adam was laying on the bed. Pa had said Adam\u2019s punishment would be enforced by the honor system. Adam knew that meant the Hoss system. His younger brother had been in five times already to see what he was doing. The boy\u2019s steps could be heard on the stairs as he went down to report Adam\u2019s doings to their parents.<\/span>

How could he explain that he didn\u2019t regret saying what he had? Adam had recently realized that Marie must have been Johnny\u2019s wife. Johnny also had a French accent and Pa had gone to New Orleans to let the man\u2019s wife know of his death.<\/span>

Adam had idolized Johnny. The man seemed so sophisticated and he was always giving the boy advice about women. \u201cNever trust a woman with a beautiful face\u201d he once told the boy, \u201cfor she will quickly betray you.\u201d Once, Adam asked Johnny if he\u2019d ever been married. Johnny\u2019s angry response surprised and frightened Adam. The man had drawn his gun and caressed the hammer as he said \u201cI was, but she proved to be nothing more than the souillon my mother had warned me of.\u201d After a brief pause, he had added in a softer voice \u201cAlways listen to your pere, Adam. He is a wise man.\u201d With that, Jean put away his gun and strode off.<\/span>

With nothing else to do but think, the events of the morning replayed in Adam\u2019s mind.<\/span>

**<\/span>

Adam and Hoss were finishing their breakfasts when Marie came downstairs. Ben had left for town early so he could be at the bank when it opened. He and the hands had delivered several head of cattle to a fellow rancher in Utah Territory who paid them with a bank draft. He wanted to cash the draft so he could pay the hands for their hard work. While in town, Ben also needed to go to the lawyer\u2019s office to change his will and to the land office to check on a pending claim for a piece of timber land. Marie was not looking forward to spending time alone with Adam. Maybe the boy had plenty of chores to keep him occupied until her husband returned.<\/span>

Seeing Marie come downstairs, Adam crammed the rest of the food on his plate into his mouth. Hoss looked at him in surprise. His older brother resembled a chipmunk with his cheeks puffed out from the food in his mouth. The younger boy would have laughed if he hadn\u2019t received a stern glare.\u00a0<\/span>

Just as Marie reached the table, Adam finally swallowed the food and gulped down the rest of his milk. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Adam said \u201cC\u2019mon, Hoss, we\u2019ve got chores to do.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cBut I ain\u2019t done eatin\u2019 yet\u201d he protested.<\/span>

\u201cYes you are\u201d responded Adam.<\/span>

The boy had been looking forward to a third helping of eggs. \u201cGo on, mon fils\u201d said Marie gently, \u201cI\u2019ll make sure Hop Sing prepares you a snack.\u201d<\/span>

Hoss shot his mother a pleased smile and finished his milk. Adam was waiting impatiently by the door for his younger brother.<\/span>

The two went out to the barn to muck out the stalls and groom the ponies and horses. Adam hated to muck stalls, but Hoss was too little for that chore. Hoss laid fresh straw down in the stalls once Adam finished and then they set about grooming the animals.<\/span>

\u201cWhat do ya think Hop Sing\u2019ll make fer lunch?\u201d asked Hoss.<\/span>

\u201cYou just ate breakfast!\u201d<\/span>

\u201cCain\u2019t I wonder?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cDo you think about anything besides food?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cLike what?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhaddya mean?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cGive me an example\u201d prodded Adam.<\/span>

\u201cSometimes I wonder why duck don\u2019t taste like fish since they spend so much time in the water.\u201d<\/span>

Adam looked at his little brother in complete amazement. \u201cBut that\u2019s a food question.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cGuess so.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAnything else?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhy don\u2019t Mama cook?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cMaybe she can\u2019t. But that\u2019s a food question, too.\u201d<\/span>
\u201cYeah\u201d replied Hoss. After a pause, he said \u201cPapa says I\u2019m growin\u2019 and hafta eat. Maybe I cain\u2019t think of nothin\u2019 else.\u201d<\/span>

Adam just shrugged his shoulders in response. Didn\u2019t Hoss wonder about other things, such as where falling stars landed or how paper was made? Maybe Hoss was more like Uncle Gunnar than Mama or Pa.<\/span>

The sound of whimpering caught the boys\u2019 attention. They checked everywhere inside the barn, but couldn\u2019t find the source. Going outside, they walked around the barn until they found an injured coyote.<\/span>

\u201cLooky, Adam. That doggie\u2019s hurt.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cIt\u2019s not a dog, Hoss. It\u2019s a coyote.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cIt is too a dog. Mr. Garvey says coyotes are wild dogs.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThey\u2019re wild, Hoss, and this one\u2019s injured. I\u2019m gonna go get a gun and shoot it.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYou cain\u2019t shoot that doggie!\u201d protested Hoss. \u201cI can make it better.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhy? It\u2019ll only eat Hop Sing\u2019s chickens. What are you gonna eat if the chickens are gone?\u201d<\/span>

This was a real dilemma for Hoss. On the one hand, he hated the idea of the coyote suffering when he could help it. On the other hand, he sure liked eggs and Hop Sing\u2019s fried chicken.<\/span>

As Adam headed for the house, Hoss grabbed his older brother\u2019s arm and spun him around. \u201cPapa says yer not allowed to play with guns!\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI\u2019m not playing, Hoss. That coyote could be carrying some disease. You don\u2019t wanna get sick do ya?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cIt might not be sick. Maybe we should wait \u2018til Papa gets home.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI\u2019m the man of the house when Pa isn\u2019t here. I\u2019m gonna shoot that coyote.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI\u2019m tellin\u2019!\u201d yelled Hoss as he ran for the house.<\/span>

Adam let the boy run on ahead. Marie was probably as soft as Hoss, he thought. He\u2019d seen what sick coyotes could do to people and it wasn\u2019t pretty. He couldn\u2019t take a chance that the coyote wouldn\u2019t bite Hoss if the boy tried to patch it up.<\/span>

Reaching the house, Adam went in through the open door and headed for the gun rack. Marie tried to block his path, but he quickly skirted around her.<\/span>

\u201cHoss says you\u2019re not supposed to touch the guns when your pere is not here.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cPa isn\u2019t here. That makes me the man of the house.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYou\u2019re not a man, Adam. You should wait for your pere or get one of the hands.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI can handle this\u201d he said as he pulled one of the rifles from the gun rack.<\/span>

As he was loading the gun, two men pushed Hop Sing into the room from the kitchen. One of them had the barrel of his pistol against the cook\u2019s head. The other man rushed to Adam and quickly took the rifle from him.<\/span>

\u201cWe only want money, Ma\u2019am\u201d one of the men said, addressing Marie. \u201cWe don\u2019t wanna hurt nobody.\u201d<\/span>

Hop Sing tried to struggle but was soon knocked unconscious by a blow to the back of the head with the pistol butt. Marie screamed as the cook fell to the floor.<\/span>

\u201cThere ain\u2019t no need to be scared, Ma\u2019am\u201d said one of the men. \u201cWe don\u2019t wanna hurt ya.\u201d<\/span>

Meanwhile, the man who had been guarding Hop Sing advanced on Adam and Hoss. Adam stood in front of his younger brother, arms outstretched, to protect him. Hoss was peering over Adam\u2019s shoulder in fright. The man had his pistol aimed at Adam\u2019s chest. The boy stood straighter, trying to be brave for himself and Hoss.<\/span>

\u201cTie those boys up, Cyrus. They may be wolf pups but pups can bite hard.\u201d<\/span>

Cyrus pulled two chairs from the table and put them back to back. He made the boys sit and then tied their hands behind them. The other man was holding a gun on Marie to ensure the boys\u2019 cooperation. Cyrus tied the boys in such a way that the knots were against their bellies. This way, the boys couldn\u2019t easily until each other.<\/span>

Marie was pale with fright. What did these two men intend to do to her? How she wished Ben was here!<\/span>

\u201cMah name\u2019s Enos, Ma\u2019am. Ah ain\u2019t gonna hurt ya. Ah jest want the money.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWh\u2026wh\u2026what money?\u201d Marie asked.<\/span>

\u201cThe money yer husband keeps around here.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI don\u2019t know where he keeps it\u201d she answered.<\/span>

\u201cAin\u2019t ya Missus Cartwright?\u201d asked Cyrus.<\/span>

\u201cYes. But I\u2019ve only recently arrived here.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cSo these pups ain\u2019t yers?\u201d Cyrus asked with a wicked grin.<\/span>

Marie paled some more. She had to save the boys. The only way she knew how was to flirt with their captors. She lowered her eyes and bit her lower lip. Then she looked up through her lashes at Enos. \u201cThere must be something else here that would interest you. Can\u2019t we just talk? Perhaps have a drink?\u201d<\/span>

Adam couldn\u2019t believe what he was hearing. These two men weren\u2019t paying a social visit! They were trying to steal Pa\u2019s money.<\/span>

\u201cAin\u2019t it a bit early fer a drink?\u201d Enos asked.<\/span>

\u201cHow about some coffee then? I could go to the kitchen and put a pot on the stove.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cNo\u201d said Cyrus. \u201cThere are knives in there. \u2018Sides, how do we know you ain\u2019t gonna try to poison us?\u201d<\/span>

Widening her eyes and putting her fingers to her throat, she said \u201cI would not harm either of you gentlemen.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhere ya from?\u201d Enos finally asked, curious about her accent.<\/span>

\u201cFrom New Orleans. Have you ever been?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cNo, Ma\u2019am, Ah ain\u2019t. But Ah hear tell it\u2019s a right fine sight.\u201d<\/span>

She began to finger a loose strand of hair hanging near her shoulder. Adam was tied facing the front door and had a view of Marie\u2019s performance. He was stunned by the way she was behaving. Johnny\u2019s statement about women with beautiful faces popped into his mind.<\/span>

Cyrus and Enos were so intrigued by her hair twirling that they couldn\u2019t react in time when Bill and some of the other hands burst through the front door. The two men were quickly subdued and Bill cut the boys loose. After the hands had gotten Cyrus and Enos out of the house, Bill turned to Marie to make sure she was alright. She had turned extremely pale and opened her mouth to say something. But no words came out. Instead, she fainted dead away.<\/span>

Bill scooped her up and got her on the settee. \u201cGo fetch some water\u201d he said, expecting Adam or Hoss to comply. Hoss ran off to the kitchen while Adam stayed with Hop Sing. The cook was slowly starting to come around.<\/span>

Hoss returned with a glass of water. \u201cCould you put this in a bowl?\u201d Bill asked. Hoss went back to the kitchen, dumped the water into a bowl, and came back into the big room.<\/span>

Bill pulled his bandana from his back pocket and then sat down on the coffee table. He dipped the cloth into the bowl of water and dabbed at Marie\u2019s face. Hoss was terribly worried about Mama. What if she didn\u2019t wake up? He didn\u2019t want to lose her.<\/span>

Marie finally opened her eyes to see Bill\u2019s concerned face. \u201cMerci\u201d she said with a smile.<\/span>

\u201cCan you sit up?\u201d he asked her.<\/span>

\u201cI think so\u201d she replied. Bill and Hoss helped her to sit up on the settee. She was still shaken by what had happened. What if those men had harmed the boys?<\/span>

Ben rushed into the house after passing his hands on the road. Adam was sitting on the floor beside Hop Sing and Hoss was sitting on the coffee table with Bill. \u201cIs everything all right?\u201d Ben asked.<\/span>

Hoss rushed to his father as Bill helped Marie to stand. The boy spilled out what had happened, starting with the coyote.<\/span>

Ben finally looked to Bill for an explanation. \u201cWe heard Mrs. Cartwright scream and came to the house. The kitchen door was open, which ain\u2019t like Hop Sing. I peeked in the window and saw yer boys tied up. Mrs. Cartwright was facin\u2019 down those two sidewinders real brave-like. We were able to rush in and get them before any harm was done.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI wasn\u2019t that brave\u201d said Marie, blushing. Adam looked at her with narrowed eyes. He had to agree; she hadn\u2019t been brave at all.<\/span>

\u201cThank you, Bill\u201d said Ben. He then pulled an envelope out of his vest pocket and gave the men\u2019s wages to his foreman. \u201cAnd here\u2019s an extra five dollars for you, Bill, for saving my family.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cNo thank you, Boss\u201d said Bill. \u201cI was jes doin\u2019 my job. Like I said, Mrs. Cartwright here had everythin\u2019 under control.\u201d<\/span>

Ben again tried to convince Bill to accept the bonus, but the man refused. Before he left, he gave Adam and Hop Sing a smile, ruffled Hoss\u2019 hair, and tipped his hat to Marie.\u00a0<\/span>

Once Bill left, Marie threw herself into her husband\u2019s arms. He held her tightly while she trembled like a leaf. Hoss also clung to his father. Adam decided to help Hop Sing to his room.<\/span>

When Adam returned to the big room, Marie was saying how brave Adam had been as he tried to protect Hoss. \u201cBut you was brave, too, Mama\u201d said Hoss.<\/span>

\u201cMais non\u201d she answered. \u201cI was a coward.\u201d<\/span>

Adam had come to stand near his father. \u201cI don\u2019t know about that, Ma\u2019am. After all, you did offer to entertain them.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat?\u201d Ben asked confused.<\/span>

Adam crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Marie. \u201cShe offered them drinks and told them they could take something else since she didn\u2019t know where you keep the money.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThat was a good move on your mother\u2019s part, Adam\u201d said Ben. \u201cShe was able to stall them long enough for Bill and the other hands to arrive.\u201d<\/span>

Adam just rolled his eyes at that. \u201cDo you think I had another motive?\u201d Marie asked her step-son.<\/span>

\u201cOnly you know the answer to that\u201d he replied.<\/span>

\u201cGo to your room\u201d she said.<\/span>

Adam sighed loudly, again rolled his eyes, and headed for the stairs. As he passed Marie, he muttered \u201cSouillon.\u201d<\/span>

Marie turned white with fury and grabbed Adam\u2019s arm. She spun the boy around and slapped him across the face with all of her might. Adam fell to the floor, a red handprint on his cheek. She trembled with rage as she looked at him. \u201cGo to your room!\u201d she hissed at him. Still shocked, Adam slowly got up, looked at his Pa in confusion, and then ran up the stairs.<\/span>

\u201cYou go on upstairs, too, Hoss\u201d said Ben. Hoss was only too happy to obey.<\/span>

Ben was shocked by Marie\u2019s behavior. He hadn\u2019t understood what Adam said and didn\u2019t know the reason for her reaction. Taking her elbow, Ben steered his wife over to the settee. He sat down on the coffee table and waited for an explanation.<\/span>

After a few minutes, Marie\u2019s jaw began to unclench. Her fury began to subside, but now she felt terribly hurt.<\/span>

\u201cWhat was that about?\u201d Ben asked softly.<\/span>

\u201cDo you remember when I told you about Jean leaving me?\u201d Ben nodded his head. She had told him about Jean finding his wife in bed with another man. \u201cBefore Jean left, he spat that word at me.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat does it mean?\u201d Ben asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.<\/span>

Marie took a deep breath and then looked into her husband\u2019s eyes. \u201cIt means slut.\u201d<\/span>

Ben gasped. Where would Adam have learned such a word? That boy certainly deserved a good tanning this time. And to have his mouth washed with soap.<\/span>

He moved from the coffee table to the settee and hugged his wife to him. \u201cJean was mistaken when he found you with that man. I know for a fact that you are not that kind of person. I\u2019m proud of you for protecting our family today. You were as brave as a lioness protecting her cubs.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI didn\u2019t feel brave\u201d she said. \u201cI was terrified that they were going to hurt the boys. They\u2019d already hurt Hop Sing.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThey could\u2019ve easily hurt you, darling. You managed to stall them until help arrived.\u201d<\/span>

She relaxed against her husband. \u201cAdam must have been hoping they would hurt me in some way.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAdam would never wish that on you, darling. He\u2019s so protective of Hoss and must have felt helpless against those men.\u201d He kissed her cheek and squeezed her shoulders. \u201cI\u2019m going to go have a talk with Adam. There is no excuse for the disrespect he showed towards you.\u201d<\/span>

Marie touched her husband\u2019s thigh and looked into his eyes pleadingly. \u201cPlease don\u2019t be too severe. You\u2019ll only make him hate me more than he does now.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAdam has to know that can\u2019t speak to you in such a manner. I won\u2019t tolerate that.\u201d Ben gave Marie another kiss on the cheek and headed upstairs to his older son\u2019s bedroom.<\/span>

Ben found Adam standing at the window looking outside. Softly, he said, \u201cSon, we need to talk.\u201d Adam turned around, tears streaking his face. The handprint had not faded from his cheek.<\/span>

\u201cLet\u2019s sit down\u201d Ben suggested. Adam sat in the chair at his desk while Ben sat on the bed. \u201cYour mother is extremely hurt by the word you used. I\u2019m shocked that you would think it\u2019s acceptable to say such a thing to any woman. Where did you hear that word?\u201d<\/span>

Adam looked at the floor and took a breath. Looking up, he said \u201cJohnny told me that was what his wife was.\u201d Ben looked at his son in surprise. He knew Adam had been close to Jean, but he didn\u2019t realize that the man had discussed his wife with the boy. \u201cI\u2019m not stupid, Pa. She talks like Johnny did and one of the reasons you went to New Orleans was to tell his widow about his passing.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThat\u2019s right, Son. I found his widow and told her about Jean\u2019s death.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cBut you couldn\u2019t just tell her and then come home?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI had to sell those furs. I also met Jean\u2019s mother to tell her what happened to her son.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWas she sad?\u201d<\/span>

Ben paused and said \u201cYes, Son, she was sad that her child had died far away from his home.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWell Johnny would\u2019ve never left if his wife hadn\u2019t been such a\u2026\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAdam\u201d Ben said in a warning tone, \u201cYou don\u2019t know the circumstances under which Jean left.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cJohnny told me to never trust a woman who was beautiful. After this morning, I know why. You think she loves you, Pa. That isn\u2019t true! She was trying to entertain those men.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cHow do you know that was what she was doing?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI saw the way she twirled her hair around her finger and heard the way she was talking to them. Maybe she wanted them to take me and Hoss away from here so you\u2026\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThat\u2019s not true, Adam\u201d Ben said, trying to reassure his son. \u201cWith you boys tied up and Hop Sing knocked out, she had to defend you any way she could. Your mother knew if she got a gun your lives would be in danger.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cIf Bill hadn\u2019t come in, she probably would\u2019ve been kissing those men, Pa.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAdam\u2026\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYou weren\u2019t there, Pa! Just ask Hoss. He\u2019ll tell you!\u201d<\/span>

\u201cStay here, Adam. I\u2019ll be back after talking to your brother.\u201d<\/span>

Adam sighed as his father left the room. Hoss would probably say she had been brave. He was just a kid. What did he know?<\/span>

Ben went to Hoss\u2019 room and found the boy sitting on the floor playing with his carved animals. \u201cCome sit with Papa\u201d said Ben as he sat down on the bed. Hoss stood up and went to the bed where he sat next to his father. Ben placed an arm around Hoss\u2019 shoulders and gave the boy a hug.<\/span>

\u201cWere you scared by those men?\u201d he asked the boy.<\/span>

\u201cYeah, Pa. Adam stood in front of me so they wouldn\u2019t hurt me. But they tied us up anyway. Mama wouldn\u2019t\u2019ve let them hurt us.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cCould you see Mama after they tied up you and Adam?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cNo, Sir, but I could hear Mama\u2019s voice. She was tryin\u2019 to sound brave but her voice was shaking.\u201d Hoss paused for a second and then added \u201cI\u2019m glad Mama stood up to those bad men.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cMe, too, Son\u201d said Ben with a kiss to the top of Hoss\u2019 head.<\/span>

\u201cThat was real smart of Mama to tell them she would go make some coffee.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d asked Ben. He hadn\u2019t heard this part of the story.<\/span>

\u201cMama said she\u2019d go into the kitchen to make coffee. If they\u2019d let her go in there, Mama could\u2019ve got a knife to cut us loose. But they wouldn\u2019t let her leave us. She shore is smart, huh, Papa?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cShe sure is\u201d Ben said, feeling pride in his wife\u2019s bravery. After another hug and kiss for his younger son, Ben went back to Adam\u2019s room. Adam was writing something at his desk. Ben cleared his throat to get the boy\u2019s attention.<\/span>

\u201cHoss tells me that your mother was trying to convince those men to let her go to the kitchen. What makes you think she was going to entertain them?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cShe said she would make them some coffee. Was she also going to feed them?\u201d he added sarcastically.<\/span>

\u201cDid you pause to think that maybe she wanted to go to the kitchen to get a knife to help you and Hoss?\u201d<\/span>

Adam had no response. There was no way that she was going to help him or Hoss. She probably planned to run off with those men. When he said this to his father, Ben lost his temper.<\/span>

\u201cThat is not true, Adam! Your mother loves us and wouldn\u2019t do a thing like that!\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYou don\u2019t know that!\u201d Adam shot back. \u201cShe made Johnny leave. Maybe she plans to leave us!\u201d<\/span>

Ben had to take a deep breath and count to ten. Then he had to count to ten again. Once he felt calmer, he said \u201cI would not have married her if I thought her capable of such a thing. You will come downstairs with me and apologize to her. And you will be sincere in your apology. Do you understand?\u201d<\/span>

Adam was surprised by this demand. How could he apologize when he wasn\u2019t sorry? \u201cYes, Sir\u201d was his answer, though.<\/span>

The two went downstairs and saw Marie was still sitting on the settee. \u201cAdam has something to say.\u201d Ben then nudged the boy to take a step forward. Marie turned to face the boy but did not stand up.<\/span>

\u201cI\u2019m sorry for what I called you, Ma\u2019am. I suppose you were only trying to make those men leave us alone.\u201d<\/span>

All Marie could do was raise an eyebrow. That didn\u2019t sound like much of an apology. Ben\u2019s cheek began to twitch and his brows drew together.<\/span>

\u201cGo back to your room, Adam\u201d she said, \u201cI will think about accepting your apology.\u201d As he started up the stairs, she added \u201cWe\u2019ll call you when supper is ready.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t even acknowledge this last statement.<\/span>

Once Adam was upstairs, Ben sat down on the coffee table again across from his wife. He took her hands in his. \u201cYou know that Jean worked for me.\u201d She nodded. \u201cAdam really admired him and followed him around like a puppy. Jean must have seemed so exotic compared to the other people we know. Apparently Jean gave Adam advice about women.\u201d Marie looked completely surprised. Slowly, Ben added \u201cHe used that word once when Adam asked if he\u2019d ever been married.\u201d Marie gasped in shock.\u00a0<\/span>

Ben took a deep breath and squeezed her hands. \u201cAdam doesn\u2019t know why Jean left New Orleans. I didn\u2019t know he had been married until he was dying in my arms. As far as I\u2019m concerned, what happened in New Orleans between you and Jean is in the past. It has no bearing on the present or future.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cBut I\u2019m the one who has to live with the past, mon chere\u201d she answered. \u201cMadame de Marigny still plagues me.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cI love you and trust you, darling. Adam is a confused young man. He really admired Jean and he\u2019s surprised that his new mother is that man\u2019s former wife. Think how hard it must be for his mind to understand this.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cAdam is not a young man. He is a boy! Where does he get this idea that he is the man of the house when you are not here?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cHe must have decided that while I was in New Orleans. Maybe the hands encouraged that belief. I\u2019ll check with Bill\u2026\u201d<\/span>

Marie was now exasperated. \u201cYou are the one who has to make him understand that he\u2019s not in charge of this ranch. He was going to shoot a coyote this morning. I told him to get one of the hands, but he refused. You have made him believe that he is older than his years. There are adults here who can make decisions.\u201d<\/span>

Ben found himself becoming frustrated. \u201cAdam is a very mature eleven years old. He grew up fast on the trail out here. He\u2019s been making adult decisions for years.\u201d<\/span>

Marie\u2019s voice was rising. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s time you let him be a boy! Let him play instead of work!\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThis ranch doesn\u2019t run itself, Marie. Everyone has to pitch in\u2026\u201d<\/span>

Marie began to curse in French. Did this stubborn man not understand that his sons were boys and should be allowed to acts as boys? There would be plenty of time in the future for them to be adults.<\/span>

Upstairs, Adam put his pencil down and was listening to the argument going on downstairs. She was telling Pa to let him have fun? What was she going to get out of this?<\/span>

Hoss was listening, too. Adam had always been like a father to him. Papa let Adam play some. No one caught fish better than his older brother. Mama had a lot to learn about living on a ranch.<\/span>

Back downstairs, Marie\u2019s temper was finally cooling. Maybe she did have a lot to learn about living on a ranch. But she hated the idea of her new sons not having time to behave as children. Taking a deep breath, she met Ben\u2019s eyes and said \u201cPlease forgive me, mon chere. I shouldn\u2019t tell you how to raise your sons.\u201d<\/span>

Ben took her hands in his and said \u201cThey\u2019re our sons. I guess I had forgotten that they\u2019re children. I\u2019ve been the only parent for so long and working to establish the Ponderosa that I\u2019ve expected them to work as hard as I do. Did you know that Adam helped to build this house and the barn? When he was nine, he was helping to chop down trees for lumber.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat did Jean do here?\u201d Marie asked.<\/span>

\u201cHe helped me in the buying and breaking of horses. He had an excellent eye for horses.\u201d<\/span>

Marie smiled in remembrance. \u201cJean owned some of the finest race horses in Louisiana. He took great pleasure in racing and breeding them.\u201d Then she asked \u201cWhat did Jean think of Adam and Hoss?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cJean thought that Adam had a good head for business. He sometimes told me that he believed Adam was really a fifty year old man in a boy\u2019s body. As for Hoss, Jean thought that he would become a cattle baron in his own right. Hoss has such an understanding for animals and he\u2019s good at judging livestock.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThat sounds like Jean\u201d she said. After a deep breath, she asked \u201cDo you think we\u2019ll ever be able to live beyond Jean\u2019s shadow?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWhat do you mean, darling?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cThe lies of Madame de Marigny, Jean\u2019s words to Adam, your trip to New Orleans. What other influences will he have on our lives?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWe must live in the present and look to the future, darling. Let\u2019s not look to the past.\u201d<\/span>

\u201cDo you think Adam can do the same, mon chere?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cWe\u2019ll have to guide him. You and I together.\u201d<\/span>

Hop Sing came into the big room to announce that supper would be ready in a half hour. \u201cI thank Missy Marie for saving lives. You velly blave.\u201d He then bowed to her and then retreated to the kitchen.<\/span>

Supper was a tense affair for Adam and Marie. He was still convinced that Marie was everything that Jean had said she was. She felt that Adam was convinced he was an adult. Hoss chattered non-stop, though, about the wounded coyote that had been forgotten with the rest of the day\u2019s events.<\/span>

After the meal had been finished, Marie cleared her throat. \u201cAdam, you offered me an apology earlier today. I have decided to accept.\u201d He met her statement in silence. Ben cleared his throat and looked at his eldest. \u201cThank you, Ma\u2019am. It won\u2019t happen again. May I be excused?\u201d<\/span>

\u201cYou may, Son\u201d said Ben, \u201cbut you are to go to your room. You are not allowed to read, draw, write, look out the window, talk, or engage in any other activity. You will be on the honor system. Do you understand?\u201d<\/span>

In a small voice, Adam replied \u201cYes, Sir.\u201d He then trudged up the stairs to his room and lay down on the bed. Within a few minutes, Hoss had come upstairs to see what he was doing. After looking in the room, the younger boy went downstairs. Adam could hear Hoss giving a report to Pa and her. What a tattler, he thought.<\/span>

Since he had nothing else to do but think, Adam went over the break-in again. Maybe Pa, Hoss, and Bill were right. Maybe she had been trying to find an excuse to get to the kitchen to get a weapon. As he thought about it, he realized that she had probably been as scared as Hoss. And Pa was right\u2014he didn\u2019t know why Jean had left New Orleans. Maybe she really had had nothing to do with his leaving. Adam decided he would apologize again in the morning.<\/span>

After making his decision, his body started to relax and sleep began to take him. He dimly heard Hoss\u2019 footsteps and then a shout from the stairs: \u201cI think he\u2019s sleepin\u2019. Is he \u2018lowed to sleep?\u201d Adam didn\u2019t care what the answer was as he slipped into a sound slumber.<\/span>

The End<\/span>

\u00a9 March 2007<\/span><\/p>\n

Next Story in The Battle of Wills Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Gift Horse<\/a>
\nNew Expectations<\/a>
\nRemembering Childhoods<\/a>
\nA Room Full of Memories<\/a>
\nA New Pattern<\/a>
\nNaming the Newest Cartwright<\/a>
\nPresents from the Heart<\/a>
\nLove’s Labor<\/a>
\nBig Brother Lessons<\/a>
\nNo Regrets<\/a>
\nBaby’s Breath<\/a>
\nEnnui<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Reviewer:\u00a0<\/span>jojay\u00a0<\/span>Anonymous<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
Date:\u00a0<\/span>10 Dec 2009 10:14 pm\u00a0<\/span>Title:\u00a0<\/span>The Shadow of Jean de Marigny<\/span><\/p>\n

“Sometimes I wonder why duck don’t taste like fish…” LOL!<\/p>\n

Very good!<\/p>\n

Author’s Response:<\/i><\/p>\n

I’m so pleased to know you enjoyed this story, jojay.<\/p>\n

\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary:\u00a03rd\u00a0story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 Men break into the house while Marie is home alone with Adam and Hoss. After observing his step-mother’s actions when faced with the robbers, Adam calls Marie a name he once heard Jean de Marigny use. This incident leads to an argument between Ben and Marie about Adam’s upbringing. And Adam finally realizes that Marie had been Jean’s wife.<\/p>\n

Rating: K+ Word Count=5268<\/p>\n

The Battle of Wills series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":48445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1005,23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-cartwright","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-1005-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2584,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Marie-My-Love.png?fit=586%2C448&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6044,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6044","url_meta":{"origin":6054,"position":0},"title":"The Battle of Wills Begins (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"December 3, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a01st story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 Ben brings his new wife, Marie, home to the Ponderosa. Rating: K\u00a0 \u00a0Word Count=4433 The Battle of Wills series, links to all the stories within the series included.","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5993,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5993","url_meta":{"origin":6054,"position":1},"title":"No Regrets (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"February 3, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a013th story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 Marie writes a letter to her favorite aunt in New Orleans, describing her life on the Ponderosa. Rating: K Word Count=2265 The Battle of Wills series, links to all the stories within the series included.","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5730,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5730","url_meta":{"origin":6054,"position":2},"title":"A Gift Horse (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"March 2, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: 4th story in the Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 Ben announces at supper that he is going to buy a horse for Marie. Adam becomes unhappy because Ben had promised to buy him a horse before leaving for New Orleans. Will this situation cause another rift between Marie and Adam?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"ben, young adam","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Young-Adam-and-Ben-Journey-to-Remember.jpg?fit=537%2C355&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Young-Adam-and-Ben-Journey-to-Remember.jpg?fit=537%2C355&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Young-Adam-and-Ben-Journey-to-Remember.jpg?fit=537%2C355&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5967,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5967","url_meta":{"origin":6054,"position":3},"title":"Naming the Newest Cartwright (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"July 3, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a09th story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 The Cartwrights try to decide on a name for the coming baby Rating: K+ Word Count=2542 The Battle of Wills series, links to all the stories within the series included.","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5875,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5875","url_meta":{"origin":6054,"position":4},"title":"Fortune’s Son (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"August 3, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Rating: K Word Count=1799 Summary:\u00a0WHIB for The First Born. On a moonlit night, Clay reflects on the lies and deceptions that ruined his mother's life in New Orleans but led her to happiness in Nevada.","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\/2014\/05\/Fortunes-Son-Cover3.jpg?fit=336%2C410&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6025,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6025","url_meta":{"origin":6054,"position":5},"title":"Remembering Childhoods (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"April 28, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a06th story in The Battle of Wills series.\u00a0 It's the morning after the events in New Expectations. Ben's thoughts of the coming baby make him remember Adam's childhood and Hoss' early years. Rating: K+\u00a0 \u00a0Word Count=3240 The Battle of Wills series, links to all the stories within the series included.","rel":"","context":"In "Ben Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Ben Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1004"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/Fathers-Day.jpg?fit=300%2C300&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\/6054","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\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6054"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6054\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/48445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}