Summary:<\/b>\u00a0Hoss is planning his wedding and Nita arrives on the Ponderosa for the first time as the Cartwrights look forward to Christmas.
\nRating:\u00a0 PG\u00a0 (27,815 words)<\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Cartwright Saga Series:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Lawyer <\/a><\/span> \n Both Hoss and Joe were looking forward to Christmas for very similar reasons but each had their own worries, which kept them awake at night. Hoss was totally confident about Sue but he was in two minds who to ask to be his best man; he hated the idea of choosing between his brothers even in such a minor way. He had acted as best man for both of them so that didn\u2019t help. He talked it over with his father but for once Ben wasn\u2019t much help, it had to be Hoss\u2019 decision. The only contribution he made was to tell Hoss not to worry; neither of his brothers would take exception whatever decision he made.<\/p>\n Joe was often lost in his own thoughts wondering just what Nita would make of this wild land and his family and what they would think of her. She was so very different from Marie but he was sure that like his first choice, she could become part of his family but as the time for her arrival drew closer, he was on edge.<\/p>\n With plenty to do and think about Carole was sleeping much better, rarely troubled by nightmares but she had still given no hint of wanting to take the last step. Adam wasn\u2019t pushing his luck, grateful that she was so well. He was kept very busy himself ensuring the normal work of the ranch went forward and stocking up for Christmas. There were a number of items that they couldn\u2019t get in town and it became increasingly obvious that a quick trip to Sacramento was necessary. Adam had to meet representatives of the railroad and deal with a couple of queries on the contracts they had arranged for the following year so he needed to go, but with time short Joe went along too, so that he could complete the shopping while Adam dealt with the contracts. Ben, Carole and Hop Sing had come up with a long list for the brothers and they arranged to set out early the following morning.<\/p>\n Adam was over at dawn to collect his very sleepy younger brother. The pass was still open but at that time of the year a blizzard was always a possibility and they wanted to take advantage of the weather. They rode in silence for a while, with Joe not really awake. Adam remembered making a similar trip just before Joe and Marie\u2019s wedding. Not completely fit his family had insisted he take a hand along and with many away he had taken Jess. Pulling Jess up a cliff when he was heavily thrown, he had made a friend for life although he hadn\u2019t realised it at the time. Jess had come a long way since and the whole family relied on him just as they did Jos\u00e9 and a few others. Adam was smiling, lost in his thoughts as Joe slowly surfaced and curious Joe demanded to know why. Adam explained and then Joe filled him in on how Jess egged on by Jos\u00e9 and Kirk had followed Adam home a few days back. Adam was thoroughly amused and Joe said dryly, \u201cIf Hoss or I had tried it you\u2019d have been furious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut of course brother you know me well enough to have more faith or you darned well should. Now let\u2019s turn to more important matters like Christmas and wedding presents for Hoss. You got any ideas?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot a clue, my mind\u2019s a complete blank. It\u2019s alright for Pa he\u2019s doing up Hoss\u2019 room like he did for me and Marie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, like then I\u2019m lumbered with most of the shopping. We are going to need pack horses to get everything home.\u201d Joe whistled quietly \u201cSo I see. Well one thing for sure we can\u2019t carry anything as big as a piano.\u201d<\/p>\n As the brothers rode into Sacramento their guests were getting ready to leave San Francisco. The party of eight gathered at the station with a large amount of luggage. Will and John Mills, the only two men in the party busied themselves loading the luggage on board, bemoaning their faith. Commiserating with each other, united in their opinion that the women couldn\u2019t possibly need so much they were only going for a fortnight. As Meg was a frequent visitor to Laura and Will, Nita knew her quite well and had met John several times. The three women, with Peggy\u2019s help, managed the twins easily enough, even though Eve and Dawn were all for investigating everything in sight. They were taking the train to Reno and then picking up the stagecoach for Virginia City where they would be met. Edwin Booth and Jim Forrester would be taking the same route the following day as he had one more show to give in San Francisco. Edwin was going to stay for just over a month, as this time for once he was going to give some performances in Virginia City after his holiday on the Ponderosa. Joe and Adam knew just when the party was due from San Francisco and were equally determined to be there to collect them. Joe because he had to be there for Nita and Adam because he wouldn’t leave Carole alone to cope and anyway they were his guests and it would be rude. They had split the list and Joe headed of to deal with it while Adam went to arrange the meetings he had to cover with the railroad representatives. Joe booked them into a hotel and as he collected packages he dumped them in the room, beginning to become alarmed at the sheer volume. By the time he met Adam later in the afternoon Adam had completed his meetings and he took over the rest of the shopping telling Joe to head out to Tom Scott and buy two packhorses, worthwhile animals. When Joe returned Adam had just about finished the shopping, with the satisfaction of obtaining virtually all they wanted. His major problem was a present for his big brother. Hoss had never been the easiest person to buy for, his main hobbies working with his hands on leather or in wood had been very fully equipped over the years and it was rare to find a book which he would really enjoy. Although Hoss liked clothes they normally needed to be specially made for him, Adam had a couple of things ordered but he wasn’t sure if either would appear for Christmas. He had found one present, a very lovely set of jewellery, neat but quite large, which he thought would suit SueEllen admirably. He had seen the engagement ring that Hoss had bought, two large diamonds with a beautiful emerald. The jewellery was also green although tourmaline not emerald. He had promised himself to give her something special for Christmas and this would go admirably with her wedding dress if she kept to a very plain white one as he hoped. Adam was wondering if Carole would offer to make her dress as she had for Marie. He hoped so but by now Carole had a lot more on her hands with three children and a houseful of guests so he wouldn’t mention it.<\/p>\n Eventually Adam collapsed in the room surrounded by parcels wondering just how they were going to get everything home even with four horses. He was slightly surprised that Joe wasn’t back yet but he wasn’t really worried his little brother could look after himself and anyway it was often difficult to get away from the Tom. Adam was almost dozing off when Joe finally arrived back carrying yet another large package and two smaller ones but looking very pleased with himself. Adam lazed back in the chair. “Put them down if you can find room, how we get it home I don’t know.”<\/p>\n Joe frowned suddenly serious, “We can’t get a wagon, it’s snowing quite hard, be worse in the hills.”<\/p>\n “Thanks for those few kind words brother. Let’s go and eat, work out what we’re doing.”<\/p>\n “Sure just let me wash up first.” Joe had collected all the presents he needed and was glad to be finished but he pushed the thought away and concentrated on the immediate problem. Adam waited until they had eaten and then relaxing over coffee he said “Which doesn’t give us any too much time to get there.”<\/p>\n “Well we knew that when we came Joe. It was unfortunate we had to put it back two days but we both knew the risks. If we aren’t back Pa and Hoss will have to meet them.”<\/p>\n “I must be there.” Joe protested “She’s never even met them.”<\/p>\n “Easy Little Joe, she’ll have Laura and Will so she won’t be alone with strangers.” Joe relaxed, “Fair enough I know how rough it can be.”<\/p>\n “Do you want to start at once? We were riding all last night, had no sleep.”<\/p>\n “I’m alright, how about you? The horses are rested which is the most important thing.”<\/p>\n Adam sighed \u201cMaybe but I have a horrible feeling we\u2019ll have to walk too much of the way! Come on then little brother lets load up and aim for that cave this side of the pass, maybe grab an hour or so there.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe was very willing but he knew if the snow was really bad even leaving the pass at dawn it could be the early hours of the following day before they reached Virginia City. He could only hope that the conditions were easier than when he had Hoss had collected some books for Adam years earlier. The road was little different and Joe was tempted to suggest using the short cut they used in the summer, but with its steep drops it was too dangerous in bad weather.<\/p>\n It took them nearly an hour to pack up the horses, knowing that extra care now would pay dividends later, the last thing they wanted was a slipping pack. Adam popped into a saloon and filled his brandy flask and then the brothers moved slowly out of town, pulling their thick coats tight against the driving snow. Adam narrowed his eyes and considered what he could see ahead. \u201cProvided the wind doesn\u2019t change we should be okay. We have more than twenty four hours to get back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoing to need it at this pace.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSlow and steady Joe, only way in this weather. You know that as well as I do.\u201d Joe could only acknowledge the sense of that but as they hit heavier snow they had to walk and the pace dropped even more.<\/p>\n Adam was as eager to get home as his brother but as they got near the cave around 3 in the morning, he left the direct path and headed to it. Joe wanted to keep going but he could see his eldest brother looked very tired and he could only go along. Adam unloaded some dry wood from Blackie and made a fire. \u201cAt least the snow has stopped. Get some coffee and food, feed the horses and we\u2019d better push on while the weather\u2019s co-operating\u201d<\/p>\n It was what Joe wanted but perversely as he saw how tired his brother was he said \u201cI thought you wanted to rest for a couple of hours here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDepended. The horses are alright and we haven\u2019t been making quite the progress I would have liked. Can do if you\u2019re tired Joe. You look worn out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPity we haven\u2019t got a mirror, I was thinking the same about you.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled \u201cGuess we\u2019ll both be short a couple of night\u2019s sleep. Not the first time, I\u2019m fine if you are.\u201d Joe poured coffee \u201cReady for some grub but otherwise fine.\u201d Hoss and Ben were with her helping to ensure everything was ready and Hoss had just finished harnessing up the surrey and the buckboard which would be needed to collect everyone from town. They had about given up hope of Adam and Joe being back in time, the clouds making it obvious that there was snow on the mountains.<\/p>\n Hoss was the first to reach his brothers as they dismounted stiffly. \u201cYou two look whacked, ridden all night I suppose?\u201d<\/p>\n Ben joined him and considered his sons \u201cBoth the last two nights or they wouldn\u2019t be here. Obstinate.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam moved over to hug Carole \u201cWell Pa what did you expect?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly what you\u2019ve done. I know you two. Good to have you back.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked at his watch \u201cI think we\u2019ve got time for coffee Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Carole frowned \u201cHave you eaten?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn and off we\u2019re not exactly on a normal meal schedule. I\u2019m not hungry at the minute. Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNeither am I but coffee sounds good. If Pa can keep Hoss away from the packages.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben smiled \u201cI\u2019ll unload for you. Where do you want it Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStick everything in the barn for now Pa. We\u2019ll sort it out tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss frowned, \u201cI can go and collect everyone in town, you two look all in.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head, \u201cThanks but I\u2019m going. I have to be there to meet Nita.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss pressed, \u201cNo need for you to go Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want to Hoss but why don\u2019t you come along too. I\u2019d rather ride than drive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay I\u2019ll change your saddle over while you have coffee.\u201d Adam nodded and went inside to try and reassure Carole that they were both fine just tired after a very long trip and little sleep. Carole had seen him tired before and wasn\u2019t seriously worried. With Ben and Hoss helping everything was ready and Kam Su had a light meal waiting for when they got back, with plenty of water ready to be heated for baths. Carole was looking forward to seeing her cousin and perhaps even more to seeing Laura. Since Marie died Laura was her closest friend, odd in some ways but perhaps the fact that they\u2019d both loved the same man made a bond between them. Carole knew that Adam still meant an awful lot to Laura even though she had in a sense jilted him. Carole wasn\u2019t the only one who was curious, Ben and Hoss were equally so and Adam not much better off. Although he had met her she had made very little impression on him. He rode alongside the buckboard on the way to town filling Hoss in on their trip and the conditions in the mountains. Joe followed in the surrey but lost in his own thoughts, excited and scared, wondering what Nita would make of it all, he didn\u2019t even notice when Adam spoke to him. The stage took a long time edging through the heavy traffic in Virginia City even though it was past nine o\u2019clock. Everything was open and busy, the mines and stamp mills contributing their usual clamour, the very ground shaking from the underground explosions. Nita watched the miners and cowboys in wide-eyed amazement, it was all so different from what she was used to. Plenty of San Francisco was as wild but she has always been protected and never seen it. She was fascinated looking from side to side and Laura pointed out the main sights, the mines, the huge stock dial, the courthouse, the opera house and the elegant Washoe club, in the town that she knew so well, although it had grown considerably in the years since she left.<\/p>\n Eventually the stage edged its way through to the office and yard where it stopped to unload. The three brothers had reached town half an hour earlier and had decided there was time for a beer to try and cut the dust of the journey. Adam and Joe both felt filthy having ridden to Sacramento and back without time to change and only just time to wash their faces and hands before heading into town, but that was just too bad the travellers would be ready for a bath themselves. They hadn’t even had time for a shave and as Adam ran his hand across his beard he turned and looked at his little brother. \u201cShe won\u2019t recognize you with that beard Joe; why not see if Lee Ping is empty?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe downed his beer feeling his chin and as the stage wasn\u2019t in sight yet he led the way over to Lee Ping\u2019s There was one man in the chair but the other two chairs were empty so Adam and Joe settled in them, leaving Hoss to watch the street for the stage. Even when the stage appeared it would take several minutes to get through to the yard. Adam told Lee Ping to see to Joe first and relaxing back shut his eyes and was very nearly asleep by the time Lee Ping got to him. Hoss had already seen the stage and Adam told his brothers to go ahead he\u2019d join them in five minutes, but now it had come to the point Joe was strangely loathe to go. He knew that Will would have telegraphed if she had pulled out at the last minute so he was sure that she was on the stage, but he couldn\u2019t help worrying about the impression Virginia City would make. Its crowded bustle and roughness so unlike her home or New York and he knew that she\u2019d always been sheltered even pampered. He put the time off for a few minutes \u201cWe\u2019ll wait for you, plenty of time. Otherwise you\u2019ll be going back to sleep again.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam yawned widely, he couldn\u2019t deny the risk. Both felt better for a shave and hurried down to the stage office seeing the stage turning into the yard. Laura and Nita were both looking out of the windows and rather surprised not to see anyone as the stage pulled in but Will recognised the surrey, \u201cThey\u2019re around that\u2019s the Ponderosa buckboard and Joe\u2019s surrey.\u201d<\/p>\n Before Nita had time to feel relief the stage pulled up and the door opened, Joe had run the last stretch and he was there to lift her down, blocking the door for a moment as he hugged her. Then Adam and Hoss, who had arrived rather more decorously, were ready to take the twins and help Laura and Meg down. Slowly some order emerged as their luggage was identified and moved over to the buckboard. Adam said hello to Nita, that he was glad she could come and stay, but she was too overawed to manage more than monosyllables. Even Joe looked different in his working clothes, his gun on his hip, still showing signs of a black eye and other evidence of a fight, dirty after his long trip. For a moment watching the three rough looking men, both Adam and Hoss so very big and even menacing to the tired girl, she began to wonder if she had made a terrible mistake. Then catching Joe\u2019s eye for a moment and seeing the intense warmth in them, she calmed down. He was the same, just tired and dirty, as indeed was she.<\/p>\n Once everything was loaded Adam suggested they head straight home, hot water and hot food would be waiting and beds for the children. That was a very acceptable thought and they moved over to the wagons. Hoss helped Laura up onto the buckboard and with Will next to her they each took one of the twins. Adam suggested to Peggy that she ride home with him on the front of his mare and she was delighted at the idea. That left Meg and John for the back set of the surrey with Nita joining Little Joe. Having got everyone in their place Hoss slowly edged out while Adam with Peggy\u2019s help made one last check to ensure that they had everything. Nita was very quiet and the presence of Meg and John on the back seat didn\u2019t help Joe, but as they reached the Ponderosa he pointed out the boundaries of the ranch as far as possible. Joe didn\u2019t know John very well either but at least John helped the conversation along, especially when he spotted the flume. He told Joe how similar ones were being built in California, the engineer who had taken over the project when Adam went over to Europe, was making a very good living out of his friend\u2019s design. Joe knew of one or two and assured John that the man had asked permission first and Adam had no objections. Nita stared at the flume stretching down the mountain, it was very impressive and she looked over at Adam, riding the horse easily so casually dressed, he looked more like a cowboy than an engineer. He was chatting with Peggy and at least didn\u2019t look as menacing as he had one in town. The gun had looked so much part of him and he\u2019d seemed to loom up even larger than his huge brother. Nita stared round at the snow covered mountains and all the trees, the sheer immensity of the land belonging to these men. Her father was rich and in its way the railroad was impressive but not like the huge extent of land, as everything in sight was owned by the Cartwrights, She was very quiet and shrunk back even more into herself as they came in sight of Adam\u2019s house. She knew that he had designed it himself and anyway John commented on it. The house had everything her father\u2019s mansion lacked, taste and elegance in a most spectacular setting. It was so much more than she had expected even having heard about Adam. She had discounted most of what Joe had said assuming that he was boasting about his brother, now she began to see he had in many ways been understating the case.<\/p>\n Adam had ridden ahead with Peggy to tell Carole that the others would be there in five minutes and he was waiting with his father out on the porch as the buckboard and surrey came into the yard. Adam took Eve from her mother and Will got down with Dawn. The twins were both fast asleep and the men took them straight upstairs. Laura smiled at Carole and then followed them up knowing Carole far too well to worry about being polite until the twins were settled. Joe led Nita in and introduced her to his father and to Carole. Nita fell back on the shell in which she had hidden so long before meeting Joe and politely, but rather coldly, acknowledged their greetings.<\/p>\n Carole suggested that Joe take her up to her room to wash up before they ate. Joe smiled at his sister-in-law. \u201cGood idea. Come on darling I\u2019ll collect your luggage in a minute bring it up.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam and Hoss were busy unloading, Adam ignoring his brother\u2019s suggestion that Adam leave it to him as he was already exhausted, but as he picked up one small case in his left hand he put it down very fast. It was only small but it weighed a ton and pulled on his injured arm. Hoss saw and came over taking the case from Adam\u2019s other hand \u201cThat does it Adam you\u2019re going in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay, that thing weighs a ton.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll be breaking that wound open again. Go on I can finish up, you\u2019re exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was really too tired to argue and taking the small case, in his right hand, he went in leaving the rest to Hoss. He went through to his study and poured himself a drink. His arm was throbbing, his head pounding and for a moment he sat down glad of the quiet and the warmth of the fire. Hoss was right he was exhausted, but he\u2019d achieved what he wanted to and was well satisfied.<\/p>\n Joe took Nita\u2019s luggage up and for the first time she realised how tired he looked. She went into his arms and gently touched the old bruises on his face \u201cTrouble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing serious I\u2019ll explain tomorrow.\u201d Joe kissed her thrilled to feel her response<\/p>\n \u201cIt so good to see you darling. I\u2019ll let you get washed up and then I\u2019m sure you must be hungry I am myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou look very tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am. Adam and I had to go to Sacramento a couple of days back, only arrived home this evening and we didn\u2019t exactly spare time to sleep. I wanted to be here to welcome you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad you were.\u201d Nita nestled close to him for a moment and Joe was glad to see the girl he loved back again and bent to kiss her \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to be nervous about you know. My family won\u2019t eat you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t help it Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter, don\u2019t worry darling. You\u2019ll have time to get used to them over the next few days and you\u2019ll find them easy enough to get along with I\u2019m sure.\u201d Joe smiled and kissed her once more, before leaving her to wash up and wandering down. He was close to exhaustion himself and joined Adam in the study, pouring himself a large whisky before sinking into the other chair by the fire. He sighed heavily \u201cWell she\u2019s here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s very lovely Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t judge her yet Adam, she\u2019s over whelmed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy little brother, no-one is judging her. It\u2019s bound to take time to find her feet. Do you remember what hard work it was to make conversation with Carole the first time she came out to the house after we started seeing each other regularly? She was overwhelmed by the four of us and the general male atmosphere and that was without the strangeness of the rough land and Virginia City.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe relaxed, \u201cMight have known you\u2019d understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe all do, don\u2019t worry about it Joe. Give her time; she must be tired after the journey anyway. Come on I hear someone coming down, better go out and be sociable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll you look fit for is your bed!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTry a mirror Joe, we\u2019re both rather short of sleep, never mind we did what we intended.\u201d The brothers went back out to the main room and did their best to hide their tiredness but neither managed more than a token meal. Everyone was tired and the conversation was stilted and when Adam couldn\u2019t hide a wide yawn everyone else caught it too. Adam grinned as he looked round but it made up his mind. \u201cThis is stupid. We have more than a fortnight to enjoy ourselves. I for one am whacked and poor host or not, I can\u2019t keep my eyes open, Pa will you take over for me, I\u2019m for bed.\u201d<\/p>\n Laura nodded her agreement \u201cSense for once Adam. I\u2019m exhausted too. I\u2019ll see you all in the morning.\u201d Will followed her up and Nita took the chance to excuse herself, she had so much to think about that she wanted to be alone.<\/p>\n Carole sat chatting with Meg for a while and Ben talked to John but Hoss and Joe went on home. Joe was convinced that he wouldn\u2019t sleep, worried by Nita\u2019s first reaction, but after two sleepless nights and all the travelling he was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. It was nine the following morning before he stirred and even then it was only because Hoss shook his shoulder.<\/p>\n Hoss was sure that Joe would want to be over at Adam\u2019s reasonably early, \u201cCome on little brother wake up!\u201d<\/p>\n Joe yawned widely and Hoss grinned down at him \u201cBath waiting for you downstairs and I\u2019ll bring you some coffee.\u201d He was sure that his little brother would be stiff and sore after his hasty trip Joe was touched by his concern but to cover it he teased his big brother about getting dolled up so early in the morning and not even a Sunday. Hoss snorted \u201cI\u2019m guessing you\u2019ll be putting on somethin\u2019 a bit smarter than usual. I\u2019m going to town to collect my girl and I ain\u2019t arriving looking like a tramp. Almost ashamed of you two disreputable ruffians last night.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe threw a pillow at him and told him to get out, before hauling himself out of bed and heading for the bath. He relaxed back in the water sipping his coffee and grinning to himself. With Hoss bringing Sue-Ellen out and Adam collecting Edwin and Jim Forrester that evening the Christmas party would be complete apart from friends from town. Even some of them would be staying for a few days with the party tomorrow as well as the usual Boxing Day party. Joe hoped that the weather would hold, because with so many people around, even split between the two houses, it would be hard to get Nita on her own otherwise. Not wanting to let her get uncomfortable, Joe hastily finished up and got dressed, then after a quick word with his father he headed out to collect Cochise and go to his brother\u2019s. He didn\u2019t even bother with breakfast, confident that Kam Su would feed him.<\/p>\n Hoss had already headed for town, borrowing his brother\u2019s surrey to fetch Sue and her luggage. With the wedding so close she was giving up both her job and her room at the boarding house, so everything had to be transported, although Sue insisted that there wasn\u2019t very much. In giving up her job she had had to explain to Sister Cecily why. Not that it had come as any surprise to the Sister, who couldn\u2019t help noticing how Hoss was haunting the place, but she was delighted for Sue. The girl was an excellent nurse and they would be sorry to lose her but she had seen Sue with children and knew she was a born wife and mother. Very fond of Hoss and grateful for his help, Sister Cecily saw the tenderness in Sue\u2019s eyes as she spoke of him and knew Hoss had found something very worthwhile at their hospital, apart from his health. She had insisted Sue bring Hoss over so she could congratulate them before they left town and promised to keep it quiet for a couple more days until they could announce it and issue the wedding invitations. Hoss willingly agreed and went to the hospital; he was delighted by Sister Cecily\u2019s obvious approval of the match and laughed at Sue\u2019s embarrassment as the Nun praised her and her work. Hoss was very proud of Sue and liked to hear her praises sung.<\/p>\n Then they went to collect Sue\u2019s belongings, inevitably when she sorted things out there was more than she had expected. She had spent some of her money on new clothes, determined not to let Hoss down over Christmas but she had had to keep enough to provide a wedding dress, once it was announced. She was unsure how she would arrange for it but only used to very plain sowing she knew she would have to get in to the dressmakers somehow over the next week.<\/p>\n Joe rode in to find Nita, Meg. Laura and John still having their breakfast, while Will and Carole were looking after the five youngsters by the fire. He went over to Carole and kissed her, \u201cCan you feed me too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course there\u2019s a clean space. Just let me tell Kam Su to cook you up some fresh ham and eggs and some pancakes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds great Carole. I was a bit late up and didn\u2019t want to waste time.\u201d He took the empty space opposite Nita and buttered some bread, feeling a lot better than he had the previous evening and starving. He grinned at her \u201cDid you sleep well?\u201d<\/p>\n Nita smiled glad to see him, she\u2019d hardly opened her mouth so far, feeling so out of place. The house was so different from what she had expected, so comfortable and tastefully fitted out, even though it was in the middle of the ranch so far from town. Joe was glad to get the food and attacked it hungrily. As there had been one place unused he assumed that Adam wasn\u2019t down yet and knowing how tired his brother had been that seemed reasonable. Having taken the first edge off his appetite he turned to Carole, \u201cThat lazy lump of a husband still in bed?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam answered him personally, a rather lazy drawl. \u201cI heard that little brother. How come I\u2019m feeding you too? Your second breakfast or were you a late riser?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe turned to watch Adam wander in from the kitchen, \u201cI slept in, reckon we earnt it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell despite your aspersions I\u2019ve been working for the last two hours. I took my breakfast into the study on a tray, which is why you found a clean space.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned, \u201cWhat\u2019s so urgent?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cChristmas bonuses for the men and if you\u2019re not careful I\u2019ll send you out to deliver them.\u201d Adam threatened.<\/p>\n Joe knew what a long job that was and with Edwin due and Hoss already in town he was puzzled, \u201cJoking aside, who is delivering them?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam\u2019s eyes twinkled, \u201cI just told you.\u201d He was careful to keep far enough back so that Joe\u2019s punch missed him, \u201cCalm down little brother, you\u2019ll have everything off the table, fine example for your nephews!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell answer the question then.\u201d Still over tired Joe was beginning to lose patience and Adam recognised that. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. Jos\u00e9 has been fretting to get out and about so he offered. Jess and Pio Gomez are going along just to keep an eye on him. They are perfectly willing and it saves us a job. Between us we have seen virtually everyone over the last month so it\u2019s not essential to do it personally.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita was puzzled and John voiced her thought \u201cYou mean you trust a couple of hands to carry all that money around. Must be a lot. I don\u2019t know how many people you employ on a ranch this size, but temptation surely for hands?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam, still well over tired, was close to losing his temper but bit back the angry words and tried to explain. \u201cAt this time of the year we have about 90 hands on the books, it will swell to three or four times that number in the summer when we are logging. Sure it\u2019s a lot of money but any of those three I would trust with any amount of money, or my life, even my children. They are friends they know that anything they need they only have to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n John still looked doubtful and Joe cut in, \u201cAdam\u2019s right, all three have proved themselves often enough, we know we can trust them.\u201d Then seeing the anger in his brother\u2019s eyes, Joe changed the subject, knowing that Adam must still be tired if he\u2019d been up so early, \u201cWhat time is Edwin due in?\u201d<\/p>\n Nita knew that the actor was coming and Joe had explained that Adam had met him when back east at college, but it still seemed an unlikely environment for the world famous actor. She studied Adam but as he caught her gaze and smiled she dropped her eyes in confusion. She grabbed at Joe\u2019s offer to go out for a ride and Joe wondered if he ought to offer to take anyone else. Adam laughed at him, \u201cNone of the rest of us feeling that energetic this morning. Borrow Lady for Nita if you like.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked over at Carole for confirmation, Lady was her mare but she nodded, \u201cOf course. Just let her know who is boss Nita. She sometimes gets big ideas but she hasn\u2019t an ounce of viciousness in her.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam frowned, \u201cNo but she does have a warped sense of humour. I\u2019m sure she deliberately threw me on the same spot every time when I was breaking her, the hardest spot in the corral!\u201d<\/p>\n Even Nita smiled at that and hurried up to get her coat. Adam reminded his brother that lunch was at one and as Hoss and Sue would be joining them, could he be back on time for once. Joe promised, \u201cI just want to take her over to see the main house and then up to the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going over you can save me a job, tell Pa the bonuses are ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure you take it easy Adam, you\u2019ve earnt it.\u201d Adam punched his little brother gently amused by his concern \u201cGo on enjoy yourself, but don\u2019t forget the time.\u201d Joe grinned and as Nita appeared he put his arm round her shoulders and led her out.<\/p>\n Carole and Adam filled the other four in on the plans for the next few days and told them a little about Sue. They made it clear that she was Hoss\u2019 girl and that it was serious, but left Hoss to make it more explicit when he wanted to. Will was frankly surprised but both Laura and Meg were delighted he\u2019d found someone, both very fond of Hoss. Adam warned them about Sue\u2019s size not wanting her to feel awkward when she arrived because they were surprised. She would be staying at the main house but the pair and Ben were joining them for lunch and dinner.<\/p>\n Nita relaxed as she and Joe rode out on their own, the mare was gorgeous and she loved riding. Joe headed down the well trodden road to the main house and pulled up as they came out of the trees. \u201cThere it is Nita, the main house, centre of the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n His pride was very obvious in his voice and she lent forward and studied it intently. The long sprawling main house, the barns, bunkhouses, cook shack and corrals were most impressive although totally different from Adam\u2019s house. That would have transferred into most towns and only stood out because of its magnificent design but the main house would be out of place in a town. Here it fitted in superbly and she was very impressed by it. Even more so when Joe led her into the comfortable large main room, the fire as always was burning bright. Hop Sing was tidying up and Joe introduced Nita to the old Chinaman. She was rather offhand and once Hop Sing had returned to the kitchen Joe chided her gently. \u201cI\u2019m very fond of Hop Sing, he\u2019s been with us since I was a baby. I know many people despise the Chinese but we have found them good loyal friends and very hard workers. On occasion they have pulled us out of trouble, once the flume was blown up and Hop Sing had all his relatives from town out and rebuilt it for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita hesitated, it wasn\u2019t what she was used to but then not much was out here. Staring at Joe she made a conscious decision. The prejudices and petty morals which ruled in San Francisco society hadn\u2019t made her happy and seemed useless out here; she\u2019d throw them out and take a lead from the man she loved. She smiled more freely than she had since she arrived \u201cI\u2019m sorry Joe I was rude, I won\u2019t be in future, try and judge him as a man, forget his race.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my girl.\u201d Joe pulled her close and she nestled against him \u201cIt\u2019s all so strange Joe. Strange and magnificent, much more than I expected.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope you\u2019ll learn to love it as I do,\u201d Then hearing his father coming down, Nita pulled away slightly, looking around the room. It was comfortable, well worn in places, lined with books, and the gun cabinets. The desk in a small alcove acted as an office and it was covered with papers. Overall it was a room which looked lived in and welcoming.<\/p>\n Ben came down to join them \u201cForget something Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I just wanted Nita to see the house; we\u2019re on our way to the Lake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLong way round!\u201d Ben chuckled \u201cDo you want coffee now you\u2019re here?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe looked at Nita and very softly she said \u201cYes please.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe sat down as his father called to Hop Sing, \u201cAdam asked me to tell you the bonuses are all ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe must have been up early.\u201d Ben said anxiously but Joe smiled, \u201cHe\u2019s okay Pa. Nothing much else to do. Will was looking after the barn chores for him.\u201d \u201cA little dusty I must admit. Then it seemed to take forever after we got to Virginia \u201cTraffic gets worse all the time, it\u2019s a rough town.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery busy, so much going on.\u201d Nita smiled, \u201cNot quite the same as San Francisco or at least not the part I\u2019m allowed in,\u201d<\/p>\n Ben nodded \u201cVirginia City never sleeps, the mines work twenty four hours a day and the saloons and shops have to cater for the miners and do the same. After a day or two in town, I\u2019m always glad to get home; it\u2019s more peaceful out here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have a beautiful home Mr Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. I keep meaning to replace some of the furniture, its getting rather shabby, but it\u2019s comfortable and so we put it off.\u201d \u201cSure Joe. Get hold of Jess or Jos\u00e9 for me on your way out please.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe nodded and once he had helped Nita to mount he swung up on Cochise and trotted over to the number one bunkhouse, He went in and seeing Jess passed on the message. Jess came out and saw Nita sitting waiting; he whistled softly \u201cShe\u2019s a beauty Joe.\u201d Then he hurried on up to the house while Joe remounted amused at his friend\u2019s reaction.<\/p>\n Joe led the way up to the Lake but then hung back and let Nita go on alone. She had dismounted, tied Lady\u2019s reins to a tree, and was standing staring mesmerized over the Lake when Joe finally joined her. It was very beautiful but all the graves made her feel uneasy. \u201cI told you about this, our church.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe frowned, \u201cYou sound doubtful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I just didn\u2019t expect so many graves.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe studied them for a minute. \u201cIt has grown. My mother and my wife, two Marie\u2019s and the baby. Adam\u2019s daughter, born dead, and two old friends of his. Not many when you think the oldest grave is 24 years old.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStill tended.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s still loved, they all are. Just because they have gone you don\u2019t stop loving.\u201d Nita\u2019s eyes were wet, she\u2019d waited so long to hear him say those words and now that he had she had lost her voice, she could only move closer and lift her face towards him to be kissed. Joe pulled her close and did exactly that and after a few minutes she was able to respond and try to tell him just how much he meant to her. Joe bit his lip; the house was already in sight. \u201cWe do. She stayed out here for a while to help out when Carole was ill. It\u2019s a long story and I\u2019ll explain later. There\u2019s not time now, just don\u2019t comment about it. I think you\u2019ll like her but she\u2019s rather shy, too conscious of her size, not that she looks too big against Hoss,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is huge isn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHuge and gentle.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita nodded, of all the Cartwrights he was the one that she was the least nervous about and even their father seemed less terrifying this morning. It was Adam and Carole, who really made her feel awkward and unsure of herself. They went in to rejoin the others and Joe was glad to see that Hoss hadn\u2019t arrived yet, although Ben said that they were just unloading at the main house and would be over directly.<\/p>\n Carole had planned an elaborate meal to welcome Sue-Ellen and all the others, as no-one had been particularly hungry the night before. Adam was busy helping her with the final arrangements and so Joe found himself attacked by his nephews. They were soon jumping on him and asking Nita all the questions that only children dare. She adored kids and was soon captivated by the little boys and as she laughed with them and Joe, Ben watched, seeing what had caught his youngest son. She looked a different girl from the prim cold society miss, who had faced him so far. He could see the love in her eyes as they rested on Joe, unaware of everyone else for a minute and that convinced Ben that Joe had made another good choice. In time she would come down to normal and find her feet and he wasn\u2019t going to judge her until she did. Adam had passed round sherries by the time Hoss and Sue came in. he hurried over to greet them and take her cloak. \u201cCome on over to the fire Sue, you look frozen, I\u2019ll get you a sherry, how about you Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo thanks I\u2019ll leave it.\u201d Hoss joined Sue and with his arm round her shoulders she was able to acknowledge the introduction to five strangers with equanimity. Will and Laura in particular considered her with open curiosity, although very friendly and she was glad when Carole called everyone up to table. Adam had opened wine and gradually as she ate and drank Sue relaxed. Even Nita was able to relax, it was an excellent meal and although she was used to elaborate good food, this had a rare advantage, when it was meant to be hot, it actually was piping hot. Even the children ate well and when they had finished Adam let them leave the table and they got down to play quietly, leaving the adults in peace.<\/p>\n Hoss followed Adam into the kitchen with some plates and had a quiet word with his brother. Adam smiled at his request, \u201cOf course you can Hoss, you don\u2019t have to ask.\u201d Hoss went and collected the brandy and Cointreau and some glasses and he put them on the table as Adam brought in the coffee. Adam had guessed what his brother was doing and so did Sue who looked up in sudden alarm. Adam gently gripped her shoulder \u201cRelax Sue.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss passed out drinks and then said, \u201cI\u2019m not going to make a speech or anything. This isn\u2019t news to some of you and maybe all of you have guessed but to make it clear SueEllen has promised to be my wife. We\u2019re aiming to make the official announcement at the party tomorrow and the wedding is arranged for Saturday January 8th. We both hope that you can put of your return home for a few days and stay for the wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n Will grinned broadly at his cousin, \u201cMany congratulations Hoss. I\u2019d like to propose a toast, long life and happiness to Sue-Ellen and Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone willingly stood to toast the pair and Sue blushed hotly but Hoss just put his arm round her and grinned, very proud and very happy. Laura and Meg quickly added their congratulations and then Nita feeling very awkward, hardly knowing either of them, said, \u201cI hope you\u2019ll both be very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Will was surprised his cousin had never struck him as the marrying kind, apparently content with his life as it was, but as Hoss sat down next to Sue talking quietly to her.<\/p>\n Will turned to Adam \u201cRemarkably well matched.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBetter than you can know Will. She\u2019s as gentle and kind-hearted as Hoss. A very sweet woman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever expected this. Joe didn\u2019t mention her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t know. Hoss met her while Joe was away, broke open the wound in his back and as he was in town they took him to the hospital. Sue was working there. When I arrived he was half asleep, babbling about red- headed angels and although Doc reckoned that he\u2019d be fine to come home after a days rest, suddenly Hoss liked it there and stretched it to a week,\u201d<\/p>\n Will laughed; it was so unlike Hoss, usually a terrible patient like the rest of his family. Laura said \u201cWell at least he knows his own mind.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam followed her gaze and said quietly, \u201cSo does Joe, he\u2019s just trying to be fair to her.\u201d \u201cLet them work it out Laura. It\u2019s all very strange for her, all of us, the ranch, Virginia City, give her time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just hope that Joe doesn\u2019t give her too much time, let her ruin everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam kissed her cheek \u201cI\u2019m the worrier round here Laura, stop trying to take over.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just that I\u2019ve grown very fond of her Adam and of Joe. She loves him very much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen it will work out, because Joe loves her too.\u201d<\/p>\n Will shook his head \u201cYou two have got one wedding to arrange isn\u2019t that enough for now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever satisfied Will.\u201d Adam said lightly \u201cYou ought to know that.\u201d<\/p>\n Then as Carole looked over he sighed, \u201cWashing up calls. Come on Hoss, Joe your services are required or we\u2019ll be eating off the floor this evening.\u201d With so much to do he couldn\u2019t leave everything to Kam Su and Will joined them. Carole took Marie up for a nap and Meg and John went out for a walk. Laura was busy with her daughters while Ben read to the twins. Sue feeling awkward with all the strangers went over to the young girl, who looked even more nervous and worried than she was. \u201cYour name is Nita isn\u2019t it? Joe\u2019s often spoken of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita nodded \u201cHave you known him long?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, only a few weeks, since he came back from San Francisco. Nita is a very pretty name, I haven\u2019t met it before.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita thanked her and then asked how she\u2019d met Hoss. Sue told her of Hoss\u2019 long stay in the hospital and her gradual realisation that she was the reason for it. Followed by his invitation out here for a party where everyone accepted that she was Hoss\u2019 girl. Sue tried to explain how wonderful the other Cartwrights had been to her and in an attempt to put the younger girl at ease she forgot her own nerves. Nita couldn\u2019t be shy with Sue; she had seen her embarrassment and relaxed. She asked Sue how she had ended up in Virginia City and learnt of her gradual journey west from London. Adam was about to bring some glasses in, when he saw the two heads close together, laughing over one of Sue\u2019s misadventures. Putting the glasses down Adam went back into the kitchen and signalled his brothers over, \u201cCome here you two but keep it quiet.\u201d He pointed out the blonde and red-hair mingled as the pair giggled together. Adam smiled at the delight on both his brothers\u2019 faces, \u201cPretty sight. Now get back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSlave driver!\u201d Joe complained but he was pleased to see Nita getting on with Sue, he so wanted her to like his family. Ben hadn\u2019t missed it either and as Carole came down he remembered Dan\u2019s comment about one of each colour. He had lost his lovely petite blonde daughter, but with luck Joe would still be completing the trio and he prayed for his youngest son\u2019s happiness; Hoss\u2019s now seemed as certain as Adam\u2019s.<\/p>\n Adam had to go and collect Edwin and Jim but despite the apparent change of attitude in town, Ben didn\u2019t want him taking any chances by going in alone. Both his sons were otherwise occupied so he decided to go along himself, Adam frowned \u201cI\u2019ll be fine Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you want my company?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be stupid. If you fancy a long ride I\u2019ll welcome it but it really isn\u2019t necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably not but Buck could do with some exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam accepted his father\u2019s offer and they headed out, Adam driving the surrey while Ben rode alongside, chatting away. Joe had gravitated back to Nita as she watched them leave. \u201cWhat\u2019s amusing you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was thinking of my father. He kept on about the cultural wilderness in Nevada and how much I\u2019ll miss out here. Yet this house is everything that monstrosity he built isn\u2019t, elegant, smart, tasteful, as well as very comfortable. Father has tried many times to entice Edwin Booth for a dinner without success and now he\u2019s staying here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEdwin\u2019s not the most social of men. I\u2019ve always known him it seems. He and Adam have been friends for fifteen years or so, since they met in Boston when Adam was in college.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita remembered what Joe had said earlier so she reminded him, \u201cYou said you\u2019d tell me about Carole\u2019s illness.\u201d Joe hesitated but she had to know, \u201cNot here. Put on your coat and we\u2019ll go for a walk.\u201d<\/p>\n He wandered down the canyon towards the main house, but his mood was suddenly very sombre and Nita began to get worried. Joe led the way to some flat rocks by a stream and sat down putting his arm round her shoulders. \u201cAdam knows that I\u2019m going to tell you, but apart from Sue and Doc only the family know, not even Will or Laura. Don\u2019t let Carole know I\u2019ve told you. You\u2019ll understand why.\u201d Then very quietly he told her about the kidnapping, how Adam had found her and what had been done. He didn\u2019t go into any details and couldn\u2019t tell her the state his brother and Carole had been in. He swallowed hard and went on \u201cSue came to help with the children and she helped Carole too. It took a while for her to come back to normal; I doubt she will ever forget. Adam won\u2019t and I\u2019m sure I won\u2019t either, I\u2019ll try and make sure that your safe Nita but I can\u2019t offer any guarantees. The same thing could happen, this is a rough country and we are rich and obvious targets. Pa, Adam and I have all been taken before. It is a risk, a bigger one for a woman as Carole found. That\u2019s why you had to know.\u201d Joe fell quiet, remembering all too vividly and scared that it would tip the balance against him and he would lose the woman he loved.<\/p>\n Nita was astounded at first, whatever she had expected, it hadn\u2019t been anywhere near the mark. Tentatively she said, \u201cShe seems to have recovered very well.\u201d Rather bitterly Nita commented \u201cI\u2019m surprised there\u2019s anything you can\u2019t ask your brother, does he draw any lines?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe had noticed a certain wariness in Nita\u2019s attitude towards Adam but this was more almost animosity and he didn\u2019t know what his brother had done to deserve it. Anxiety flared in him, for both were so important to him, they had to get on, but he did his best to hide it. He said mildly, \u201cWe\u2019ve always had our own private lives. Only interfere if someone needs help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYet you told him that you were going to tell me all this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d Joe corrected her \u201cI asked him if I could. It isn\u2019t my story to tell. The fewer people who know the better. We love Carole and were just so very sorry for her but can\u2019t you imagine how some evil minded gossips would treat her like a freak, for something beyond her control.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m surprised he agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy? You have a right to know the risks of living here. Adam understands that and anyway he knows I wouldn\u2019t love you, if I couldn\u2019t trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t like me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEven if that was true it wouldn\u2019t matter. Might make thing slightly awkward I guess, you\u2019re bound to see a lot of my family if you stay here\u201d. He hugged her close \u201cBut it isn\u2019t true. Adam doesn\u2019t judge that quickly and he doesn\u2019t know you. So far you\u2019ve avoided him and when you do speak to him it\u2019s that prim society miss that I first met. Equally you don\u2019t know him. Don\u2019t prejudge him. In some ways I admit he can sound terrifying but he isn\u2019t and he\u2019s more than ready to like you, simply because I love you and you make me happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita bit her lip, sure she had seen disdain in Adam\u2019s gaze and wondering if he disliked the idea of her replacing Joe\u2019s first wife. Joe had told her how Adam had aided that match and how fond of each other Marie and Adam had become, trying to dispel her fears of his brother, which Marie had shared before they met. Still the day was too lovely and she had Joe to herself so she changed the subject not wanting to quarrel. For a while they walked on and slowly Nita relaxed. Any awkwardness she felt with his family more than compensated for by having Joe next to her.<\/p>\n On the way to town Adam and Ben were talking about her, both very aware of her nervousness, more noticeable with them than anyone lese except maybe Carole. Ben was almost defensive as he described the change in her as she played with his grandsons and said, \u201cShe does love Joe that much is obvious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know Pa and he loves her, so it\u2019ll work out. Give it time, all this is new and we\u2019re a close family to come into, especially for someone who is not used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou worry her more than anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sighed, \u201cI get that impression too. I hope she gets over it. Joe is worried about it, after all he and I have always been close, even when we were both married, or maybe especially then. All I can do is play it casual, give her time.\u201d<\/p>\n Relieved, if not surprised, to find that Adam wasn\u2019t judging her either Ben changed the subject to the party the following day. They had a long list of stores to collect as well as Edwin and Jim. For once the stage was on time and Ben found himself left to complete the loading of the stores while Adam hurried over to greet his old friends. There was so much news on both sides that the four men were chatting all the way home. Ben knew the two new arrivals very well and as they had been regular visitors they were almost part of the extended family. Adam had Hoss\u2019 permission to explain about his engagement and although a little surprised Edwin was pleased, taking due note of Adam\u2019s description of Sue. However the situation with Nita was more awkward, but Adam with some help from his father put them in the picture sufficiently to ensure neither man put his foot in it. Edwin accepted it but when Ben mentioned her full name he looked at them in a blank disbelief, \u201cLeland Stanford\u2019s daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam nodded \u201cDo you know her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeen her in San Francisco. The younger one, blonde, supercilious kid, looks down her nose at the world. He\u2019s a prize bore. Don\u2019t sound much like Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam laughed, \u201cShe treats us a bit like that but it seems to be just a shell to hide behind when she\u2019s nervous. She\u2019s not a bit like that with Joe and according to Laura since she\u2019s known him, she\u2019s even begun to treat the rest of the world as human. I live in hopes that she\u2019ll admit my existence soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLove must be wonderful.\u201d Edwin said cynically and rather doubtfully but then catching his friend\u2019s eye he smiled \u201cDon\u2019t worry Adam I won\u2019t put a foot wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know I can trust you Edwin that\u2019s why you had to know the situation. It\u2019s a little awkward at times but she only arrived yesterday, so very early days.\u201d<\/p>\n For Joe\u2019s sake Nita was making an effort to get to know his family and when Adam and his party arrived back she was sitting chatting easily with Hoss and Sue, at least this pair were very normal. It didn\u2019t take long to perform the introductions and Edwin set out to charm the two new girls who looked like becoming part of his friend\u2019s family, while Carole watched amused. Edwin had greeted her boisterously, complimenting her on her looks; he had grown fond of Adam\u2019s wife. Sue was tongue tied with this famous actor but Nita was used to helping her father entertain and as he didn\u2019t matter like Joe\u2019s family, she was reasonably at her ease. Noticing the pride with which Joe considered her helped considerably and she kept up a light hearted conversation with Edwin and Jim until they went to have a belated dinner.<\/p>\n The next day was Hoss and Sue\u2019s day and all the family were equally determined that it was going to be a day to remember. After breakfast, before going over to the main house Carole waylaid Sue and led her into the study. First she wanted to know what Sue was going to be wearing that evening to ensure that they didn\u2019t clash. Sue had a new dress in her favourite dark green, IT was very simple and she confided in Carole her slight anxiety that without any jewellery it would be too plain, but she hadn\u2019t anything worth the name. Carole had seen what Adam had chosen but that would have to wait until Christmas Day, for now she offered the loan of her diamond necklace, it would go well on the high neckline and the dark green. Sue hesitated it didn\u2019t seem right to borrow but Carole smiled. \u201cIn a few days we are going to be sisters. I\u2019ve missed having one so much since Marie died and you know how close Hoss and Adam are, so you\u2019d better get used to the idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Sue laughed \u201cI haven\u2019t really got used to the idea of a husband let alone a ready made family!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt takes a while.\u201d Carole admitted. \u201cThere was one other thing Sue, have you done anything about a wedding dress yet?\u201d<\/p>\n Sue shook her head \u201cI should have I know. I must speak to Hoss, get into town sometime but he seems to have so much arranged.\u201d<\/p>\n Carole grinned in delight \u201cThere\u2019s no need if you\u2019ll trust me. Let me make your dress for you. I made Marie\u2019s when Joe got married and I\u2019d love to make your\u2019s too.\u201d<\/p>\n Sue was taken aback by the suggestion and very touched, but she firmly shook her head. \u201cNo Carole, you\u2019ve got enough to do, the children, all these people. It\u2019s lovely of you to offer but I can\u2019t let you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNonsense. All these people are family. Even Edwin comes so often we don\u2019t stand on ceremony and they also provide at least two useful needles. Laura helped me before my wedding and I know that she and Meg will help, sew seams and edging so it won\u2019t be hard work. Can you sew?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStraight seams are about my limit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine I can design it and cut it out. I enjoy that. Please let me.\u201d Carole was so eager that Sue gave way. \u201cAlright Carole I would be delighted to have you do it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight we\u2019ve just got time to tell the others their jobs and then you can have a look at some material I just happen to have upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n Sue looked suspiciously at her and Carole laughed, \u201cI bought it weeks ago, could always use it for something else but it was obviously only a matter of time. I wanted to dress Hoss\u2019 bride, like I did Joe\u2019s\u201d<\/p>\n Sue smiled happily and followed her out where they found Meg Laura and Nita by the fire with the five children. The men with Peggy\u2019s help were harnessing up and loading some crockery that Ben wanted to borrow. Carole sat down and picked up her daughter. \u201cRight attention please. I want some help. We are going to make Sue\u2019s wedding dress.\u201d She turned to Sue, \u201cHow about bridesmaids? Have you decided?\u201d<\/p>\n Sue shook her head and Carole went on \u201cOh well there\u2019s time but I shall need some sewing done, Laura, Meg?\u201d<\/p>\n They both grinned and Meg complained that she might have known the invitation had an ulterior motive, Carole ignored that and turned to Nita, \u201cCan you sew Nita?\u201d<\/p>\n Nita nodded and Carole hesitantly said \u201cIt\u2019s entirely up to you. You don\u2019t have to help if you don\u2019t like sewing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI do especially fine work and embroidery. I get bored with seams. I\u2019d love to help but I don\u2019t know anything about cutting out or fitting,\u201d She smiled, glad to be asked.<\/p>\n Carole yelled for Kam Su and asked him to keep an eye on the children and then with all four of the others she went upstairs to her bedroom, \u201cExcuse the mess. Adam was going to tidy up but he got talking with Edwin and so \u2026\u201d She rummaged in a chest in the corner and brought out a bolt of white brocade. It was pure white with a pattern in the heavy material and very lovely, rather similar to the material of her own wedding dress. She had some white satin as well but it was the brocade which they all fell for, Sue thought she had never seen anything so lovely.<\/p>\n Carole grabbed a piece of paper and sketched a very simple design with long slightly full sleeves and a high neckline. \u201cI thought something like this, but I\u2019m open to suggestions.\u201d<\/p>\n Laura considered it critically, the only other one to have any experience in dress design and looking at the material she nodded. \u201cCould do but it\u2019s not such a raised pattern as your\u2019s was, might need something to set it off, maybe jewellery but it would have to be plain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe can worry about that later and the old adage, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. I just wanted you all to have a look and over the next few hours when you have nothing better to do, get your thinking caps on. Beth is going to be staying at the main house for a few days so we can enlist her help too.\u201d<\/p>\n Sue looked at them all \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say?<\/p>\n Carole grinned, \u201cNo need to say anything. We\u2019ll enjoy it and with all of us it won\u2019t be hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n The others all agreed and even Nita tucked her hand in Sue\u2019s arm, \u201cPeople are supposed to rally around for a wedding, That\u2019s half the excitement of it. It\u2019s much nicer than when my sister got married. Outsiders were told to arrange everything, We didn\u2019t even hold it at home because of the disruption. Maybe it meant something to her but for me it was a non-event.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam called for them, wondering where everyone had disappeared to and as Carole came downstairs he was struggling to get a coat on uncooperative daughter and demanding to know where she\u2019d hidden the punchbowl that his father wanted as neither he nor Kam Su could find it. Carole took over Marie, suggesting that he look in the cupboard in the study where it was always kept. Five minutes later she had everyone moving smoothly over to the main house where Hoss and Joe were already moving the furniture around.<\/p>\n Kam Su and the women disappeared into the kitchen to help Hop Sing with all the food that would be required. Nita automatically went with them and just did as she was told, finding peace in being accepted. Adam helped his father with the punch and other drinks leaving the others to the heavy work not wanting to risk breaking open the wound in his arm.<\/p>\n An hour later Edwin mopped his forehead and considered his friend sitting comfortably with his feet up on the coffee table. Edwin sank down in the chair next to him \u201cI should have known you had an ulterior motive in getting me here. You got a cast iron excuse and work the rest of us. I reckon with the party here, Christmas Day at your place and then Boxing Day back here and then Hoss\u2019 wedding I\u2019m gonna earn my keep this visit!\u201d<\/p>\n Adam just laughed but decided it was time for a break and he went into the kitchen where Hop Sing and Kam Su had a picnic lunch ready. Adam got his brothers to help him take it in and the work party grabbed chairs round the tables already set out for the meal. Hoss had invited about thirty people for a meal and then another fifty or so were joining them in the evening when a buffet would be provided. Everyone was eating their sandwiches and drinking coffee when Hoss, his first hunger satisfied. realised Sue was miles away. She was holding her sandwich but hadn\u2019t so far even taken a bite. She was obviously very pleased with her thoughts and intrigued he asked \u201cYou look almighty pleased with yourself love. Any particular reason?\u201d<\/p>\n Sue came back to the present with a jolt and took a bite, then she smiled \u201cYes\u201d and she told Hoss of Carole\u2019s insistence that she make the wedding dress and the beautiful material her future sister-in-law had laid in. Hoss wasn\u2019t too surprised, he knew Carole very well, but he was very pleased that she had wanted to do it and by Sue\u2019s evident delight. He caught Carole\u2019s eye \u201cThanks and, if you do half as good a job as you did on Marie\u2019s, she\u2019s gonna look marvellous.\u201d<\/p>\n Carole smiled \u201cI want to do it Hoss and Sue will look beautiful whatever I do. All brides do on their wedding day, provided they\u2019re really in love.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam moved over to his wife, they hadn\u2019t discussed it although he had been hoping she would find time to manage it. He was very pleased, especially seeing the delight on both Sue\u2019s and Hoss\u2019 faces. He just kissed her and held her hand for a moment, no words needed between them.<\/p>\n Joe was sitting staring into the fire remembering the first time he had introduced Carole and Marie, when her instinctive reaction had been to offer to dress his petite beauty and the ethereal elegant bride who had come down the stairs to join him. As he looked up at the stairs it was almost as though he could see her there now.<\/p>\n Adam knew his little brother very well and could read the thoughts going through his mind, but he happened to look over at Nita and caught the look of near despair on her face and realised that he wasn\u2019t the only one to guess. Normally he would have left Joe to his memories but he didn\u2019t want his brother to risk losing his new love and he slid down onto the rug next to Joe, gripped his arm and very softly murmured. \u201cDon\u2019t forget Nita, she\u2019s been working very hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe came back to the present with a start and needing a few minutes to collect his thoughts, he grabbed sandwich and asked Hoss if they had decided on bridesmaids yet. Hoss rather guiltily admitted that they hadn\u2019t even considered things like that yet. Joe pulled himself to his feet and moving over to Nita put his arm round her waist, \u201cYou see my problem darling. I\u2019m the only member of this family who ever thinks ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n At that he had to put up his hands to ward off two cushions accurately aimed at him by his elder brothers. Ben broke things up by sternly telling his sons to grow up before something got broken, even if the twinkle in his eyes belied the words. He had been equally aware of Joe\u2019s thoughts and glad that Adam had moved in so discreetly.<\/p>\n Everything was ready well before the guests started to arrive and Carole, with Laura\u2019s help, were busy giving the younger children a slightly early supper before getting themselves changed. Peggy was joining the party but the little ones after saying hello would all be put to bed before they sat down to eat. Adam had already changed and wandered down to look after the children, followed by Hoss, Hoss was nervous although he couldn\u2019t have explained why and he tried to cover it by thanking Adam for Carole\u2019s gesture. Adam shrugged \u201cAll her own doing Hoss. I didn\u2019t even know about it until Sue said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSue\u2019s borrowing Carole\u2019s necklace tonight. I ought to have bought her some jewellery, never thought of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlenty of time big brother. You got the important pieces, two rings.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I did look at a couple of necklaces but they were junk and she needed so many thing, a surrey, a saddle, and warm clothes. She won\u2019t let me give her a penny not even now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActually I found a pretty necklace for her for Christmas. Not expensive I\u2019ll leave that to you but it\u2019ll do until you can buy something better, knew you hadn\u2019t bought jewellery.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss grinned, \u201cThanks Adam, nice idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was sombre for a moment, \u201cI was determined to get her something nice. Carole and I owe her a lot for her help. I reckon she just about kept Carole sane.\u201d Adam stared into the fire, showing more than he would have wanted, \u201cMore or less.\u201d Furious with himself for bringing it up on Hoss\u2019 big day he forced a smile. \u201cShe\u2019s marvellous, it was bound to take time and all this excitement has helped, no nightmares recently. Enough of us. When are you going to make the announcement and give her the ring?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, what do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably the easiest time is over coffee after dinner, before the hordes arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah I wondered about that. Think I will, if I can pluck up the nerve.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled \u201cOh we\u2019ll give you a shove if necessary.\u201d Joe came down to join then<\/p>\n \u201cAdam is your daughter meant to try and eat the poker?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam turned to Marie and picked her up and tried vainly to brush the dirt off her face. \u201cI swear she\u2019s more of a menace than the twins put together!\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss laughed, \u201cYou\u2019ll have to wash her. Anyways I think you\u2019ve forgotten just what those two hellions got up to before they gained a little sense.\u201d Adam removed his daughter to the kitchen and Joe settled down next to Hoss. \u201cIs he alright, looked a mite upset as I was coming down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo he\u2019s okay, just a bit gloomy. I don\u2019t think Carole is quite well yet, not as well as we\u2019d hoped.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe knew what his brother meant \u201cThey\u2019re sharing a room again and a bed even before the house filled up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat don\u2019t mean everything Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe bit his lip \u201cDo you think I need an explanation! I had hoped\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSame here. He didn\u2019t say much just that it was bound to take time.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe straightened his shoulders \u201cHe\u2019s right Hoss. Now cheer up, this is your day, your engagement party and Adam wouldn\u2019t want anything to upset that. He and Carole will be fine they love each other too much not to be, eventually.\u201d<\/p>\n Then as Adam reappeared with a slightly cleaner daughter the brothers changed the subject. Slowly the others started to come down dressed for the party. Nita was in a lovely midnight blue dress, Laura in a pale blue and Meg in a soft deep pink and as they came down together, looked very colourful. Adam was surprised not to see Carole but Laura said, \u201cShe went into give Sue a hand. Be down in a minute\u201d Hoss moved forward to hand Sue down the last stairs. He had never seen her look so lovely. She fingered the necklace, still nervous at wearing it, \u201cIt was nice of Carole to lend me this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt goes well with the dress and you look very beautiful. I\u2019ll buy you one when we find something you like.\u201d He touched her hair and then kissed her forehead \u201cI\u2019m not sure what you done different, but I sure like it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCarole did it.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss smiled at his sister \u201cYou\u2019ll have to show her how Carole. Thanks,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI enjoyed playing with it. You\u2019re very lucky Sue you have beautiful hair.\u201d<\/p>\n Just then the first buggy arrived, Dan and Beth inevitably and as they were both staying for Christmas Adam took their things up leaving his father to make the necessary introductions as other buggies followed them in. By the time he returned there was a steady stream of arrivals, all of them strangers to Nita, but she was used to company and managed to keep the names reasonably straight and to make conversation. Sue only knew a few of them herself and she was almost overwhelmed. reduced to monosyllables, Hoss stayed close to her and every time she was stuck he, or one of the family, moved in smoothly to cover her and slowly she relaxed a little.<\/p>\n Joe was proud of the way that Nita seemed to fit in so easily but as it gradually dawned on the guests just who she was, both Nita and Joe were considered with growing curiosity. All of their guests knew Joe well enough to see there was something between him and the lovely, but rather haughty, blonde.<\/p>\n Sue knew that she had never looked better and that combined with the support from Hoss and his family gave her confidence. Slowly she sorted out the various visitors and by the time they sat down to eat she was chatting very much more comfortably. Hop Sing and Kam Su had worked hard but for once in his life Hoss was too nervous to be hungry much to his brothers\u2019 private amusement. Once they met each other\u2019s eye and while Adam just managed to keep a straight face Joe was driven to removing some empty dishes to the kitchen, to have a chance to release the giggles which ere bubbling up uncontrollably.<\/p>\n Hoss hadn\u2019t missed their reaction but he promised himself he\u2019d make them pay later. He gave up pushing his food around and began cleaning the table and helping Hop Sing to bring in the dessert. As time grew closer to make the announcement he kept feeling for the ring for reassurance, wondering how he\u2019d get through the wedding if a mere engagement party had him a in a cold sweat.. In fact it came as a great relief when his father and Adam started passing out coffee and brandy for anyone who wanted.<\/p>\n Hoss had decided to pass out the wedding invitations at the same time and Joe had the bundle of envelopes. Sue was looking firmly at her plate and Hoss could only wait for his father to sit down. Adam poured a large brandy for his brother \u201cDrink this first and relax they won\u2019t eat you.\u201d He squeezed Hoss shoulder in reassurance and sat down.<\/p>\n Hoss took his brother\u2019s advice, drained the brandy and then as his brother smiled at him he got to his feet. \u201cIf I could just have your attention for one minute. I had a very good reason for arranging this party and she is sitting next to me. You\u2019ve all met her SueEllen and she has done me the honour of agreeing to become my wife.\u201d He took Sue\u2019s hand and slipped the ring on. \u201cMy little brother has the official invitations but we hope you\u2019ll all be able to get out here again on January 8th when we\u2019ll be having the wedding.\u201d Hoss sat down relieved that it was over admidst a babble of congratulations and Ben rose to propose a toast to the happy couple. Everyone very willingly rose to that and then as they gradually left the table Hoss and Sue were surrounded as their friends congratulated them. Dan wanted to know if he could put it in the paper and to Sue\u2019s horror Hoss agreed.<\/p>\n Beth joined Ben once she\u2019d had a word with Hoss and Sue \u201cCan\u2019t say it\u2019s a surprise. I thought something was in the air when Adam asked us to bring her out to his place. I\u2019d just about decided Hoss was a born bachelor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had wondered myself.\u201d Ben admitted \u201cJust a case of finding the right one, he moved fast enough then.\u201d<\/p>\n Beth dropped her voice and looked over at Joe and Nita, who were talking quietly, leaving Will and Adam to help clear the tables. \u201cWhat goes on there? You are going to be left alone if both boys go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t go far, thank God. Anyway that one is still in the maybe stage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe looks as though he\u2019s in love, I\u2019ve not seen him look at anyone like that since Marie died, but it\u2019s an unusual choice. She is Leland Stanford\u2019s daughter isn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMmm. I hope it works out for Joe; she\u2019s on the defensive so far, not used to the rough country or us. He\u2019s determined to see if she can accept this land before he asks her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSuppose she can\u2019t?\u201d Beth asked, worried for Ben knowing just how much all his sons meant to him.<\/p>\n Ben smiled \u201cI\u2019m not worried Beth. Joe won\u2019t leave this ranch he knows how much it means to him, it\u2019s bred in him. If she can\u2019t accept it, I think she\u2019ll lose him. It\u2019s just what effect that would have on Joseph.\u201d He was quiet for a moment and then smiled more freely. \u201cEnough of that, this is Hoss\u2019 day, a day to celebrate.\u201d Adam had taken the children home hours earlier and he took turns with Will to babysit. Will was about to go and relieve him again when Joe forestalled him. \u201cNita\u2019s tired anyway, I think we\u2019ll call it a day and I\u2019ll look after the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n Will wasn\u2019t sorry he was enjoying himself and Joe had a quiet word with his father and Hoss. Hoss looked worried, it wasn\u2019t like his little brother to leave a party early \u201cAnything wrong Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n The twinkle in his eyes answered the question but Joe said \u201cNope, just the chance of an hour alone.\u201d He grinned \u201cYou look better now you\u2019ve got this far and Sue is radiant. Congratulations brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss grinned very broadly \u201cAll I gotta worry about now is the wedding. Enjoy yourself little brother and be good.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe grinned wickedly, \u201cNot knowing when this\u2019ll break up I don\u2019t have much choice. You wouldn\u2019t like to keep it going for say three hours?\u201d<\/p>\n Hoss punched him lightly \u201cGo on with you, see you in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe collected Nita and helped her into the surrey having said good bye to a few particular friends. \u201cIt\u2019s a lovely evening and I\u2019d like to take you for a drive in the moonlight but we\u2019ll have to postpone it. Guess you\u2019re not really dressed for it anyway. Let\u2019s go relieve big brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam had taken the chance of half an hour\u2019s peace and quiet to start drawing up an answer to a claim from the Gould and Curry of encroachment by the Consolidated Virginia. He had the study door open to make sure that he would hear the children and would have reacted to any whimper from them, but deep in one of his law books checking the correct wording, he didn\u2019t even hear the door go. Joe went through with Nita and stood staring at his brother for a moment. He looked at Nita, pure exasperation clear on his face, well aware that Adam wasn\u2019t even aware of them and then he moved over and took the book away. \u201cFor God\u2019s sake Adam, just what are you doing?\u201d He turned the papers round, \u201cBlast the mine and Jim fair. I suppose that\u2019s what he was so serious about earlier I saw him give you some papers. It\u2019s supposed to be a party, not work!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy little brother. Just thought I might as well make a start while it was quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam frowned \u201cWhat are you doing here anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBabysitting instead of Will. You get back Nita and I will look after the kids if they stir.\u201d \u201cGet going, you\u2019re not to be trusted, working at this time of night.\u201d Adam laughed but getting his coat he went towards the door \u201cI take it you don\u2019t want relieved in half an hour?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShoo brother,\u201d Adam did as he was told. It was the first time Nita had seen Joe trying to control his brother and it put a slightly different perspective on the brothers\u2019 relationship. She had thought he was ruled too completely by his elder brother, it was the main reason she was so antagonistic to Adam.<\/p>\n Joe tidied the papers and put them in the drawer. \u201cHe\u2019s hopeless, we\u2019re major stock holders in the mine and Fair and Mackay are always pushing any legal problems over to Adam. It\u2019s not as though there aren\u2019t lawyers on retainer in town, but Adam has never learnt to say no or to delegate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you often tell him what to do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI try, not too successfully usually but I guess I do as well as Pa. Adam\u2019s as stubborn as they come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand you and your brothers.\u201d Nita sighed, very puzzled.<\/p>\n Joe pulled her down onto his knees, straightening her long dress and kissed her. \u201cWe aren\u2019t that odd. Actually maybe it would help if you knew a bit more about Adam. He was almost like a second Pa while I was growing up. Pa was busy building the ranch, long hours out on the range and business trips and apart from the time he was away at college, Adam was always around. He taught me to read and write, to ride, fight and shoot. When there was a school he had to come down and talk me out of trouble, then read the riot act on the way home and often cover for me with Pa. I must have been a nuisance as a youngster tagging around his heels but he always found time for me. \u201cI didn\u2019t realise.\u201d Nita said.<\/p>\n \u201cHow could you? I should have explained before. Tend to forget it wasn\u2019t exactly orthodox family life but with no mother Adam sort of got driven into growing up fast. We\u2019re a lot closer than most brothers I\u2019ve always known that but these days its two way, even if occasionally he seems to forget.\u201d Joe kissed her \u201cEnough of my family I\u2019ve got you to myself for a while.\u201d The time went past all too quickly and as they heard the main party arrive Nita scrambled off Joe\u2019s lap and tried to straighten her dress where it was crumpled but Joe didn\u2019t care and lazed back grinning happily.<\/p>\n Adam kept the rest away from the study anyway and tired out everyone headed fairly rapidly for bed. With more people around, not so closely connected to Joe, Nita found it easier to relax and to avoid Adam and Ben. Helping Carole with the dress and joining in the discussion of what else would be needed for the wedding she found Carole easy to get on with. They were constantly interrupted by the young children but Nita enjoyed having them around, the first time she had been close to young children who weren\u2019t strictly regimented. Sue loved children, but the two sets of twins were just too young to be trusted, and she decided to ask Peggy to act as bridesmaid for her. Peggy was thrilled and Laura with Carole\u2019s help began making a dress for her too.<\/p>\n Joe spent most of his time with Nita and even when he wasn\u2019t by her side he couldn\u2019t stop himself watching her. Slowly she was relaxing, the girl he\u2019d come to love predominating and as he saw it Joe relaxed too. After lunch he suggested taking her for a ride. Hoss was sitting next to hi and said thoughtfully \u201cSounds a good idea Joe.\u201d Joe nodded, \u201cSure I was thinking of going over towards the horse herd.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen maybe we\u2019ll go up by the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone else liked the idea and a large party rode out, the two brothers making no apologies for taking their girls off separately, Ben was there to do the honours. Adam and Carole remained behind, not sorry to have a couple of hours to themselves for last minute arrangements.<\/p>\n Joe was trying to show Nita as much as he could of the land that he loved and he tried to tell her the restrictions and penalties it imposed in return. The long hours they all worked in the spring, summer and autumn, the weeks when he didn\u2019t get home at all and the risks they inevitably had to take with injuries happening both from natural causes and from fights to hold onto their land. He told her of the times they were unable to get to town, snowed in for weeks on end, of the long hours Carole spent alone. He suggested that she ask Carole about their life and the problems, he wouldn\u2019t deny them. They were wealthy but they had many responsibilities and worked harder than any of their men. Joe pulled up and helped Nita down and they went to lean on the fence. Several of the younger animals came over to Joe to see what he had brought them and he began feeding them pieces of apple, giving some to Nita as well. As they came up he described the best animals and eventually the stallion picked his way over disdainfully. He was a beautiful thoroughbred and Joe held Nita\u2019s hand out and introduced her to the stallion, who blew down his nostrils as though acknowledging the introduction. Nita made a fuss of him and the stallion accepted it for a moment and the apple she gave him before backing off just out of reach and standing looking at them. Nita had never seen such a magnificent animal and said so. Joe nodded \u201cHe\u2019s a beauty although Adam\u2019s Blackie is nearly as fine, but this one breeds true, passing on his looks. The best of our foals are his get. Blackie never did pass on his, that\u2019s why Adam decided to ride him when his horse broke a leg. Pa didn\u2019t want us to get a thoroughbred at first, he likes working horses, but we outvoted him and now Pa\u2019s one of his most fervent admirers, He\u2019s done a lot to raise the overall standard round here. Adam and I have got our original investment back ten times over; everyone wants to breed to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita frowned \u201cWhy you and Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe herd was our private venture, to breed quality horses. We financed it separately and still take the decisions jointly. Our pet project if you like. We\u2019ve always taken projects for ourselves, Pa has an experimental farm, where he tries various crops not usually grown here and Hoss has a couple of thoroughbred bulls to improve the cattle\/ We all get involved but unless you need more money than you have then the day to day running and decisions are left to whoever is in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita nodded \u201cBut you said you outvoted your father?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have equal say in all ranch affairs. The Ponderosa is jointly owned between the four of us. That\u2019s legal Pa insisted as soon as each of us came of age, had deeds drawn up, but even before that we had an equal say in all decisions. Whenever three of us agree the other one gives way, whether it\u2019s me or Adam or even Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd your father sticks to it?\u201d Nita asked in surprise,<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. He means it when he says we re joint owners. We argue on occasion but there aren\u2019t often hard feeling and when there are they never last long.\u201d<\/p>\n It was so very different from the way she had been brought up that it gave Nita plenty to think about, as did their long ride round the ranch. The animals were superb but no more so than the scenery, so much more magnificent than anything she\u2019d known, the Sierra Nevada rugged, covered in snow, the tall pines and the mysterious dark waters of Lake Tahoe. She was beginning to understand just why it meant so much to Joe. She was quiet as they rode back with too much to think about but Joe had seen the admiration in her eyes as she looked round at the scenery and he was satisfied that the Ponderosa was getting to her, even if his family wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n Once the children were in bed, Adam managed to get rid of most of the adults over to the main house and with Carole, Edwin and Jim he reorganised the house, decorated the Christmas tree and began piling up the presents under it. Hop Sing had been helping Kam Su all day, but he\u2019d now gone back to the main house promising to return after breakfast, Adam fetched up drinks and wine refilled all the decanters and then joined the other three in the study. He poured out drinks all round, grateful for a few minutes peace with his old friends. It wasn\u2019t the first time they had had so many for Christmas, but never before had they had them all day Christmas day. They wouldn\u2019t even have time alone to exchange presents with the family and Adam regretted that. Even though the others were all friends, mainly close friends it would be slightly inhibiting. In consultation with Carole Adam had bought token presents all round and knew that his father, at least, had done the same thing. In bed that night he confided his slight worry to Carole but she reassured him, the children would be so much the centre of attention, so excited that any other undercurrents would be missed.<\/p>\n Adam relaxed and as Carole fell asleep in his arms worn out by all the work, he couldn\u2019t help thinking back over the events of the year. An odd one in so many ways and yet maybe next year would be even odder, with both of his brothers hoping to get married. He was tired too, but he\u2019d never felt further from sleep and as Carole was very peaceful and hadn\u2019t had any nightmares in over a week, Adam slipped out of bed. He got dressed and rode up to the Lake. He knelt down by his daughter\u2019s grave for a moment and then went over to Marie\u2019s. He had done as she asked passed on her message to his brother and now he would do all he could to aid his brother\u2019s search for renewed happiness. At the moment he seemed more of a hindrance than a help and he spoke directly to Marie, wishing he could get through to Nita as he had to her.<\/p>\n Adam wandered up to the point and sat down, it was nice to have so many friends around but occasionally he wanted to be alone, with all too many thoughts not all of them pleasant. He sat there for nearly two hours and then as he was cold and anyway hardly in a Christmas mood, he went home and drove the depression away with three hours concentrated work on his legal problem. Hearing Marie cry he went to wash and change, Carole was rather sleepily getting dressed and was puzzled to see him changing. Adam kissed her \u201cI was restless, so I got up a while back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou look tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust need some coffee. Kam Su is already busy. A very happy Christmas my darling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI love you Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam kissed her and held her close for a moment \u201cI think you know just how much I love you.\u201d \u201cYou will my darling, don\u2019t try and rush it, we\u2019ve all the time in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t act Adam you know me too well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want you to; neither do I want you worrying about it. It\u2019s just not that important, just as long as we have each other and I can hold you.\u201d<\/p>\n She kissed him again and then as Marie complained went over to pick up her daughter, growing up so fast now. Adam said \u201cJust a minute darling I don\u2019t know if we\u2019ll get another chance to be alone today so here\u2019s your present now.\u201d He handed her a small jewellery box. Carole took it wondering what he had bought and Adam took Marie from her so that she could unwrap it. Inside the box was an exquisite gold pendant watch, heart shaped on a gold chain with the numbers picked out in tiny diamonds that shone in the light. Carole hugged him in delight and Adam smiled broadly \u201cThere are a couple of other things but I wanted to give you this while we were on our own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s gorgeous darling, thank you so much but I\u2019m afraid that you\u2019ll have to wait your\u2019s is already in the pile.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t care about that and as the twins bounced in he got his brood downstairs before they woke anyone else. In fact everyone was up fairly early and they had finished breakfast and cleared away before Ben arrived with the other half of the party. For a few minutes it was chaos as coats were removed, presents added to the pile and Adam handed out drinks or coffee for all who wanted. Finally the children\u2019s beseeching requests were answered and Joe and Hoss began handing out the presents from under the tree.<\/p>\n By the time the presents had been passed round everyone had respectable piles even if the immediate family inevitably had more, with all their guests all bringing at least token presents. Adam and Ben had taken presents out to Kam Su and Hop Sing and as usual tried to do the impossible and thank the pair for another year of friendship and help. Joe and Hoss had already been to see the hands and had seen Hop Sing, while Adam was aiming to go and see his friends in the bunkhouse after lunch. Many of the hands would be joining them for the usual party the following day but Adam liked to see them personally if only for a few minutes, before many went to join the celebrations in town.<\/p>\n Sue was already overwhelmed by this Christmas so different from anything she had ever known. Hoss had astounded her with his present an elegant surrey similar to those his brothers had bought their wives and a lovely bay mare already broken to harness. She hadn\u2019t known how to thank him and it made her gift insignificant, but Hoss had been delighted by the worked leather jacket, knowing just how much of her small store of money she had spent on him. Its perfect fit was a testimony to her knowledge of him. Sue had never seen anything like the decorated tree at Adam\u2019s or the mess of presents under it and she stayed close to Hoss as they began to open their presents. They laughed over the squeaks of excitement from the children. Eventually Hoss started to open his own and he was oblivious of Sue for a few minutes, but then he realised she was staring at one small package, It was from Carole and Adam and she stopped dead when she read the message \u201cTo our new sister with much love and more thanks than we can ever say, Carole and Adam.\u201d Hoss frowned puzzled but that cleared as she passed him the card. He smiled, \u201cWell open it.\u201d<\/p>\n Sue did as she was told and if she had been touched by the card and message the gift took her breath away, There was a bracelet, necklace, a pendant, earrings and three different hair pieces all matching her engagement ring with green stones set in a delicate silver setting. It seemed much too expensive and she looked up at Hoss, adoring it but unsure whether she should accept, Hoss smiled down at her \u201cVery attractive. Adam always had a nice taste in jewellery,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s too much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNonsense. I know he wanted to get you something a little special for helping Carole.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s already given me Sheba.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop worrying woman. You were saying you needed something on your wedding dress, strikes me Carole had that all arranged.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt matches my ring.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah well Adam had seen that and one day I\u2019ll get you an emerald and diamond necklace to really match but these will do fine until we find something, Adam said they weren\u2019t emeralds but you\u2019ll have to ask him what they are I forget.\u201d Sue nodded and then she got up and went straight over to Carole and Adam. For the first time unsolicited, she gave them both a hug unable to find the words to say thank you. They were more than satisfied by her pleasure and from that moment Sue seemed to grown in confidence as she finally realised that she was not only gaining a wonderful husband but also a family who welcomed her with open arms into their tight family circle. She still felt as though it was a dream from which one day she would awake but she\u2019d never dreamt anything so marvellous and she revelled in it. \u201cHe shouldn\u2019t have been so extravagant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh he can afford it.\u201d Joe dismissed that as unimportant, \u201cIt suits you that\u2019s the Everyone had done very well for presents and before they had finished opening them Adam was trying to clear up and pass round sherries or whatever people wanted as word came from the kitchen that food was almost ready. The kids were over-excited Joe looked up and instantly saw what he meant, \u201cThanks Edwin,\u201d He jumped up and went over to Carole and put his arm round her, \u201cI\u2019ll take that Carole, you come and sit down and have a drink.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJoe I must\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe kissed her forehead, \u201cYou must calm down, everything\u2019s fine.\u201d He caught Laura\u2019s eye \u201cWill you put Marie in her chair?\u201d Hoss and Sue looked up and Joe said \u201cTake the twins. Nita make her sit down while I get a drink\u201d<\/p>\n Nita gently took Carole\u2019s arm and pushed some parcels off a chair. \u201cCome on Carole everything is under control, you\u2019ve been working too hard. Just tell us what you want done and enjoy your drink.\u201d She smiled down at the tense older woman and Carole gave way \u201cThanks. I\u2019m alright now, just bring in the condiments and make sure the place names are all out.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe handed her a sherry \u201cI\u2019ll do it.\u201d He stopped by his eldest brother as he went out<\/p>\n \u201cLeave that to Pa, Carole\u2019s getting a bit upset.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam worriedly handed over the tray of drinks to Edwin who had come over and hurried to join Carole. Nita slipped away but she recognized the anxiety and affection on his face and saw the way Carole relaxed against him. For the moment the pair were oblivious of all their guests as Carole tried to reassure him. Adam could feel her calming down but he was determined that she shouldn\u2019t have anything else to do that day.<\/p>\n His family were all rallying round and soon had everyone sitting down at table. Adam put Marie\u2019s chair next to Laura and the twins next to Hoss and Joe with Eve and Dawn next to Will and Beth, leaving Carole free. He could then concentrate on carving the meat while his father began serving at the other end of the table. Soon everyone was eating and it was remarkable quiet. Even Carole managed to make a decent meal and seeing that Adam relaxed and enjoyed his own food.<\/p>\n After thoroughly overeating and demolishing considerable quantities of wine, the party all took coffee and in some cases brandy and collapsed round the fire, some in the living room and some in the study. The children were playing with their new toys and Hoss and Joe began to clear the table. Adam went over to join them but his brothers decided he had done enough and looked very tired. They tried to persuade him to leave it and go and sit down, but didn\u2019t succeed until Will came over and said that he\u2019d help out. With that offer Adam conceded defeat and went into the study to join Carole sitting down on the hearthrug leaning back against her chair, petting the dog which promptly settled next to him, and almost dozing over his brandy. When his brothers rejoined them Adam roused himself and getting his guitar began playing softly at first and then as the requests for songs came he tried to fulfil them. Joe borrowed Carole\u2019s guitar and backed him up playing the rhythm accompaniment, taking over when Adam needed a break. For more than two hours they took turns as everyone relaxed and sang along. Nita wasn\u2019t used to such an afternoon but as Joe smiled at her she joined in, knowing most of the songs and to her surprise she thoroughly enjoyed it.<\/p>\n By late afternoon half of them were asleep and Adam was fighting hard against the temptation to join them. He\u2019d sent Carole off for a nap but he couldn\u2019t desert his guests. Joe went over to him seeing him start awake and rub his eyes. \u201dWhy not go and have an hour yourself, you look exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m alright and anyway we have guests, I can\u2019t just walk off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be stupid, half of them are asleep and anyway they are guests of the Cartwrights not just you. Pa, Hoss and I can cope for a couple of hours.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam glared at him \u201cIt\u2019s my house, my guests.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll old friends Adam. Did you get any sleep last night?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot much I couldn\u2019t settle a bit worried that I was asking too much of Carole, too soon. Thanks for looking after her before lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s fine, just a lot to do; any woman would tend to get overwrought. Tomorrow will be at the main house and she can relax.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam sighed heavily \u201cGuess you\u2019re right little brother. Sorry I\u2019m fussing over nothing,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you\u2019re exhausted Adam. Go on have a doze you\u2019re half asleep now.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam forced himself to sit up straighter, \u201cNo Joe. I have guests.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe gave up and went to enlist his father\u2019s help, but by the time he got back nature had had its way and Adam was asleep, with Edwin and Jim opposite snoring in unison and Dan, Fair and Mackay all asleep in the corner.<\/p>\n Joe shut the door carefully, \u201cLet\u2019s leave the sleeping beauties to it Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly some of them, it\u2019s not much better out here!\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier during the afternoon Nita had been talking to Sue, trying to find out if Sue resented the way Adam seemed to dominate his brothers, everything revolving round the eldest brother, everything planned by him. She found Sue seemingly unable to understand what she was saying, but that had only increased her infuriation with Adam. For years she had watched her father, slightly embittered as the power he thought he had proved useless, with Collis Huntingdon taking over all real power. He father became a figurehead, playing second fiddle and if he didn\u2019t know it, those in power did and she\u2019d seen them laughing at him, amused by his pretensions of culture allied to a complete lack of taste. For his mansion he\u2019d brought in all the expensive fashionable items from Europe, architects from England and New York and he had achieved a monstrosity. Over the last year or so even he seemed to have noticed that he only had the shell of things and pushed even harder to try and get noticed. She hated him in many ways but he was her father. Adam was everything her father wanted to be and wasn\u2019t. She was scared that Joe would play second fiddle to his brother all his life and end up an embittered man like her father. It was alright for Sue, Hoss was a sweet man, but he wasn\u2019t clever. Strong and active, he would make a niche for himself; but Joe was like Adam in many ways and she thought the family considered him a poor substitute and, even worse, that he considered himself so.<\/p>\n Adam felt much better for an hour\u2019s sleep and he was able to organise the light tea which was all anyone wanted. It was soon after tea that Jim Fair could no longer resist the temptation to find out what Adam was doing about the Gould and Curry complaint. It might be Christmas day but he had kept quiet all day and now as Adam wasn\u2019t doing anything, he saw no reason not to enquire.<\/p>\n Nita was lazing back against Joe when she felt him tense and following his gaze saw Jim Fair talking earnestly to Adam and holding his arm. Eventually Adam shrugged resignedly and led the way into the study. Joe was on his feet immediately and Nita followed, intrigued.<\/p>\n Joe wasn\u2019t the only one to notice Jim Fair and Adam disappearing Ben did as well but he couldn\u2019t break away immediately and seeing Joe get to his feet he relaxed, it wasn\u2019t that urgent. As Joe went into the study, with Nita just behind him, they heard Adam say, \u201cWe can\u2019t move before next week, the courts are in recess but Joe thought\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Fair interrupted \u201cI want your opinion, you\u2019re the lawyer.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe moved over to the desk and took the papers from in front of his brother, \u201cFor God\u2019s sake Jim it\u2019s Christmas Day. Not a time for working.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim never had liked Joe and the necessity of keeping his temper with him over the last few years, as Joe became more important in the Cartwright\u2019s decisions, hadn\u2019t improved his feelings. He glared at Joe, \u201cDon\u2019t start on me again Little Joe, Adam isn\u2019t doing anything anyway. I only want his opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not doing anything because he\u2019s worn out. Even dozed off in the chair and he never does that unless he\u2019s exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam said mildly \u201cI am here remember! Don\u2019t argue you two, it\u2019s Christmas Day,\u201d \u201cI know that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay so we need to prove they are separate veins, your tests and Adam\u2019s both say they are. That\u2019s good enough for me so I suggest we take samples from both veins under unbiased supervision, say Dan and the official assayer. Take three lots, one for the assay office in town, one to go to Sacramento and the third to Carson City. Couple of our men willing to take them and wait for the reports. If those three agree it should outweigh the conflicting evidence we have at the moment. Then Adam can arrange a court hearing for the first week the court is back in session.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim was at least partially placated by that, he could see it should work but he still glared at the brothers. \u201cWell why didn\u2019t you let Adam tell me instead of creating a row?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam lent back in his chair, \u201cI tried to tell you Jim but you didn\u2019t want to know what<\/p>\n Joe thought. This was his idea not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim grunted but before he could answer Ben spoke up from the door. \u201cEither way it doesn\u2019t matter. The details can wait. We don\u2019t work at Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim knew better than to argue with Ben and he went out leaving them alone; he had some idea of what was happening and even if it was Joe\u2019s idea it could well work. Nita watched the three men, delighted with her clever man, for once even Adam had to admit that he\u2019d helped.<\/p>\n Ben was cross and showed it, \u201cI swear Jim Fair gets worse.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged, \u201cHe\u2019s always been the same Pa, begrudges leaving work for a minute and he\u2019s never had any tact. Still little brother to the rescue again.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita heard the words and read a mocking tone into them, not noticing the very evident affection in his voice. Little brother struck her as derogatory, not as it had always been used by both Adam and Hoss as a term of affection. She didn\u2019t wait to hear Adam say \u201cThanks Joe\u201d. Her face was burning with the injustice she felt Joe suffered and she couldn\u2019t understand how he put up with it and still seemed close to his brother.<\/p>\n Ben hadn\u2019t heard what his sons were planning until he overheard Joe\u2019s explanation. Unlike Jim Fair he wasn\u2019t art all surprised at Joe coming up with a good idea and having checked who would be taking the samples he merely commented that it sounded like a good idea and then changed the subject.<\/p>\n Adam, more tired than he wanted to admit, had been very glad to see his little brother come in and as Joe headed back out to join Nita he smiled, \u201cJim is going to throw something at Joe one of these days. You should have seen his face when Joe came in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJim should know better and you need to learn to say no.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLess fatiguing to give in and explain than to keep trying to put Jim off.\u201d Adam said lightly, but his father gripped his shoulder, \u201cAre you alright Adam? You look very tired.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot been sleeping too well the last few days and it was a hard trip to Sacramento.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAny reason?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot really Pa, don\u2019t worry about me I\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure Adam but you know if you want to talk\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know I can and I will but honest Pa, I\u2019m okay.\u201d<\/p>\n At least the next day the party was at the main house and the responsibility was off Adam. The hands joined in, some of them bringing girls and the dancing went on until the early hours. Eventually everyone left for town except for Beth and Sue, who were staying over, Beth just for a couple of days.<\/p>\n As Adam drove Carole home she was speculating that with all his sons married maybe Ben and Beth would finally make a match of it. Adam was very doubtful; once he had half expected it, but that was several years ago and both had seemed to gratefully settle for a close friendship.<\/p>\n With the excitement of Christmas over they could get down to detailed planning for the wedding, although several trip were planned out round the ranch, provided the weather continued to cooperate. Nita had gradually relaxed, the more she saw of the ranch, the more enthusiastic she became about it. The sheer magnificence of the ranch connected to something deep inside her and sometimes just standing staring out of the window she got a lump in her throat. As she worked with Carole on the wedding dress she took Joe\u2019s advice and asked her about life around the ranch. Carole tried to be straight with her and tell her about the difficulties but she couldn\u2019t hide the fact that she loved it. Even after all that had happened she loved her husband and his family, the home he had made for them and the ranch itself.<\/p>\n Over those days Nita reverted to normal with everyone except Adam. She even relaxed with Ben and as she talked about his son, Ben knew that he was right she loved Joe very much. She found herself telling Ben just what a difference Joe had made in her life, proving human beings could care about something other than themselves and Ben felt very proud of his youngest son.<\/p>\n Joe watched her settle down, he was sure of her feeling for the ranch and if her one trip to Virginia City overwhelmed her, that wasn\u2019t surprising. The sheer noise and bustle often had the same effect on visitors from down below in San Francisco. She was slowly getting on terms with his family, at ease with Carole, Sue and Hoss, even reasonably so with his father but there was the one big exception. About four days after Christmas Joe saw her snub Adam very emphatically over something trivial. Adam just sighed slightly and turned away but Joe was very worried. Nita wasn\u2019t herself with Adam, she was cold, cynical all the things she had been when he first met her. With everyone else she was fine but she treated Adam as though he had done her some terrible injury. His brother meant an awful lot to Joe and he didn\u2019t like to see it, equally he hated the idea of his brother having such a bad impression of her. Suddenly he made up his mind it was nearly two hours until dinner and he wanted to talk to Adam. He went over to join his brother and asked him to come for a ride.<\/p>\n Adam had seen Joe\u2019s face as he turned away from Nita and knew exactly why Joe wanted to get out but he didn\u2019t comment, just telling Carole that they wouldn\u2019t be long. Then pulling on his coat and putting on his gunbelt and hat he followed Joe out. They saddled up in silence and without discussion headed up to the Lake. Joe found it hard to put things into words and they had reached the Lake and walked up to the point in virtual silence. Then Adam encouraged him \u201cGo on Joe get it off your chest.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so sorry Adam I just don\u2019t understand why Nita treats you the way she does.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled and rested his arm lightly round his brother\u2019s shoulders, \u201cNo need for you to apologize Joe. It doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut it does Adam. I got you to invite her into your home and she acts as though you\u2019re her enemy, that you\u2019ve done her some injury.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s just nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know that but I don\u2019t know why, she\u2019s fine with everyone else.\u201d Joe shook his head<\/p>\n \u201cI just don\u2019t know what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEasy Joe. Stop looking at the one small problem and look at the main picture. She\u2019s got used to the family and the ranch, that\u2019s what you wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe half pulled away and studied his brother intently \u201cWhat do you think Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled and sat down in his usual place, he waited for Joe to join him and then said \u201cIt doesn\u2019t really matter does it Joe? But for what it\u2019s worth, you love her and I can see why. She is very much in love with you. She\u2019s gentle and kind, sweet with the kids. She has fallen for the ranch and I don\u2019t think she\u2019ll find it half as hard to adapt as you fear.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do you know she likes the ranch?\u201d asked Joe puzzled, she hadn\u2019t said very much even to him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got eyes and ears even if she doesn\u2019t acknowledge my existence; I heard her enthusing over the mountains, the herds, just about everything to Sue yesterday. I reckon she knows more about the ranch than Sue even though she\u2019s only been here a few days and Hoss has been showing Sue around for weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe said, \u201cI love her Adam and I want to marry her but you matter too, you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing is going to come between us Joe, you know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not now but what is it gonna be like over the years with my wife getting at you at every opportunity? Maybe you\u2019ll feel awkward coming to my house and stay away. Make our family occasions a nightmare instead of what they are now.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam had realised his brother was getting uptight, but not how badly, and he forced Joe to look at him. \u201cCalm down Joe. I didn\u2019t realise you were letting it tear you apart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you expect Adam? I love you both.\u201d Joe pulled away and went to stare over the Lake, not knowing how to cope with this problem. Adam left him for a few minutes to get control and then went over and gripped his brother\u2019s shoulders. \u201cSeems to me that Nita and I are going to have to come to terms. We both have a good reason; neither of us want to see you hurt. Just calm down, maybe we\u2019ll never be as close as Marie and I were, but I\u2019m sure we can come to a working arrangement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is she acting like this Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam shrugged \u201cI don\u2019t know her Joe, equally she doesn\u2019t know me. I\u2019d guess she feel I threaten you in some way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t make sense!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said yourself she\u2019s not used to close families. If she does feel that way, time will soon solve the problem when she finds I\u2019m no threat. Anyway with a little cooperation maybe she and I can get to know each other a little better. I\u2019ll think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt isn\u2019t fair to ask you Adam it isn\u2019t your problem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course it is Joe but you stop worrying it\u2019s a minor one and we\u2019ll find a solution between us. Why not take the plunge, she might feel better if things were settled?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe shook his head \u201cI can\u2019t risk tearing the family apart, you all mean too much to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think I\u2019d do that?\u201d Adam asked slightly hurt but Joe shook his head \u201cOf course not intentionally, but Pa, Hoss and Carole are all bound to come to your defence if she keeps getting at you and I\u2019ll be caught in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam had been assuming that Nita would come down to earth with him as with everyone else, that it was just a matter of time. Now if Joe was getting so worried and wouldn\u2019t act until things were settled then they were running out of time. He decided that he had to force a confrontation, which might at least clear the air. \u201cWill you leave it with me Joe for the next twenty-four hours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrust me little brother and try not to worry.<\/p>\n Joe frowned and studied his brother\u2019s face intently but then he did as he had always done and trusted Adam. \u201cI\u2019m just sorry to have to involve you when you\u2019ve got your own problems.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re always involved Joe, we\u2019re family anyway I\u2019ve no real problems, you helped me when I needed it.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe couldn\u2019t hide his disbelief and Adam knew him very well, he shrugged \u201cOkay so everything isn\u2019t perfect, but only time will help and worrying achieves nothing, so I might as well think about something practical.\u201d \u201cWell I knew it would take time and it really isn\u2019t very long, she\u2019s marvellous to be as fit as she is.\u201d With that Adam firmly changed the subject and as it was cold they soon headed home. Adam was thinking hard but he could only await events and play it by ear.\u201d<\/p>\n The next morning he got the chance. The children were all up early and had even woken Meg and John s with their assistance he had everyone on their way to the main house after an early breakfast. Beth was going home that day and they had intended going over anyway. Then he prepared a tray and took it up to Edwin and Jim. Edwin was just awake and sat up, frowning at Adam, \u201cWhat\u2019s all this in aid of? Breakfast in bed, old friend! There must be a reason?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam laughed \u201cOf course there is, when did I ever wait on you without an ulterior motive?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever\u201d said Edwin positively \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust for you and Jim to stay out of the way for an hour or so. I\u2019m sure you can find something to do rehearse or something. I\u2019ve sent all the others over to the main house and I need an hour or so in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone except Miss Nita Stanford?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it Edwin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wondered how long it would be before you did something. It\u2019s tearing Little Joe apart.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrust you to notice. I just hope we can come to terms.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell you\u2019re slipping badly Adam if you can\u2019t handle one young girl.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for your confidence, I just hope you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll keep out of the way. Good luck, not that you\u2019ll need it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam wasn\u2019t so sure but he could only set the stage and wait so he retreated to the study, forcing himself to concentrate on the legal papers he was drawing up. He had no idea what he was going to say to her but surely they could come to terms, both of then loved Joe so they had something in common.<\/p>\n Kam Su had been primed and when Nita appeared he immediately popped out of the kitchen to enquire what she wanted for breakfast. Nita was puzzled, it was so quiet and she asked \u201cWhere is everyone?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSome not up. Mrs Carole and Mrs Laura take children over to the main house, to see Mrs Beth, she go home today.\u201d Adam had been waiting for that and after giving her a couple of minutes to start her food, he picked up his empty mug and the paper he had been working on and wandered out. Nita looked up in surprise she\u2019d assumed that he had gone with Carole but she could hardly object to his movements in his own house. Adam sat down opposite her. \u201cI thought I smelt coffee. He filled his cup and then jotted down a couple more comments before putting his paper down and sitting back in his chair he considered Nita. \u201cEdwin and Jim are still upstairs, the rest have gone on ahead, I thought I\u2019d take the chance to get a bit of work done while it was quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t let me disturb you. I am perfectly alright on my own. Kam Su will get me anything I require.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled \u201cOh I have perfect faith in Kam Su\u2019s ability to look after my guests but I\u2019m glad to have a chance to talk to you on our own.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita put down her knife and fork and considered him suspiciously, not trusting him at all. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam had decided to be straight forward, they could fence for days and achieve nothing and he said bluntly, \u201cBecause my brother is in love with you and he also thinks a lot of me. All we seem to do is argue and it\u2019s tearing him in two.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou blame me.\u201d She said furious.<\/p>\n \u201cNo I didn\u2019t say that, but we\u2019ve hardly spoken since you arrived and when we do its unfriendly. Surely you\u2019ve seen what it\u2019s doing to Joe. We both love him and it shouldn\u2019t be beyond us to come to terms.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m surprised you care.\u201d She said bitterly<\/p>\n Adam lent back in his chair \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what I mean Nita. You seem to have judged me and yet you don\u2019t know me. I am trying very hard not to do the same, because I know Joe wouldn\u2019t have fallen for you if there wasn\u2019t more than I have seen.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita bit her lip, she had seen how worried Joe was and she didn\u2019t like it but she didn\u2019t know what to say. Adam went on \u201cI wish I knew what I\u2019d done to worry you, I\u2019m sure there\u2019s something and yet I wouldn\u2019t do anything to harm Joe, he means too much to me and I owe him too much.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita pushed her plate away, somehow not interested in food any longer, \u201cI know you taught Joe when he was a child, but he\u2019s not a child now.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam frowned \u201cI know that. Joe fussed enough for a while saying Hoss and I didn\u2019t accept him as grown but that was years ago. I wasn\u2019t aware that I treated him as a child, I certainly don\u2019t think of him as one.\u201d \u201cI call Hoss a big moose or big brother, is that condescension too? It\u2019s not meant to be, more a term of affection after all Joe is my brother and little especially compared to Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou are clever that\u2019s obvious, engineer, lawyer and a very fine architect. This house is magnificent. Fast gun, good fighter best on all fronts. What I don\u2019t understand is why Joe speaks up for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled relaxing sure they\u2019d got to the root of the problem. \u201dNita you may love my little brother but I think you\u2019re in grave danger of underestimating him. It\u2019s a mistake many people have lived to regret, I do believe you are jealous of me on his behalf, scared Joe plays second fiddle to me.\u201d<\/p>\n He was so close to what she felt that she blushed scarlet and Adam need no more confirmation and, to her utter surprise, he burst out laughing. \u201cWell Joe\u2019s rarely made the mistake of hiding his gifts from view.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam poured out more coffee for both of them \u201cMaybe I can tell you a few things about my brother, if for once in his life he\u2019s had a fit of modesty.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita sipped her coffee studying him intently, he seemed so different all of a sudden and Adam was exerting himself to draw her out. The sincerity and affection for Joe was very evident in his dark hazel eyes and for the first time she saw a resemblance between him and Joe.<\/p>\n Adam frowned with concentration \u201cIt\u2019 so difficult to know where to start after all Joe is 27 now, many years and they have been full ones. I admit I\u2019m the scholar of this family, I\u2019ve always enjoyed books and it was the obvious move to go east to college when I was in my teens. The law degree was a fluke really. I needed an excuse to run away from the ranch, everything had gone wrong. The reasons now seem strangely irrelevant but that eighteen months I was away, Joe was about twenty and he began to really take his full share of the work round here. I didn\u2019t know until it was over but there was a lot of trouble. Hoss was nearly killed, the ranch threatened with bankruptcy for a while and Pa relied heavily on Joe. He\u2019s never failed to pull his weight since then, even earlier he did a lot more than most people knew. We\u2019ve had other fights since all too many and I\u2019ve lost track of the times I\u2019ve relied on my brother\u2019s help but maybe a few examples would help you understand. Soon after Joe was married we contrived to get on the wrong side of one of the town bullies and we were ambushed on the way home by seven or eight men, Joe was shot and beaten, a bullet in the leg. I was taken elsewhere but Joe walked home, five miles, to get Pa to find me. How he did it I\u2019ll never know but if he hadn\u2019t I\u2019d have died in the snow. As it was I caught pneumonia and just to bring me peace of mind my brothers forced the pass to Sacramento to find me some books to read, Joe knew my library well enough that in 60 odd books on varying subjects he only chose one I already had and they were all of interest to me,\u201d<\/p>\n Nita watched Adam\u2019s face, fascinated by the emotion that for once he made no attempt to hide and she could sense just how much his brothers\u2019 efforts had meant to him. Adam went on \u201cAfter Marie died in childbirth I was so scared for Carole and not fully fit. Joe helped me so much, I don\u2019t know where he found the strength but he did and I lent on him very heavily before the birth of the twins. After that he was heavily involved in a timber contract, working all hours to push it through but when Carole and I decided to go to Europe we both independently thought of asking Joe to come along. Thank God he did, for two days out Carole and David caught diphtheria, the ship\u2019s doctor was a drunken incompetent, and without Joe\u2019s help I couldn\u2019t have saved them. I owe my brothers so much. Hoss delivered Marie when the Doc didn\u2019t get here in time and the cord was strangling her. It was miraculous how he saved her. I thought the baby would die but Hoss somehow knew what to do. After losing one daughter in a miscarriage I don\u2019t know how we\u2019d have coped if Marie had died too.\u201d Adam stared deep into his cup \u201cEven this year I\u2019ve owed them a lot. When we had that Indian trouble I had to rely on Joe taking charge of the men while I arranged a truce. He was injured feverish, trying to look after Hoss, but he took charge too and it took guts and a real sense of responsibility to leave me. I knew it was a lot to ask but Joe was the only one I could trust. Equally we had to trust him to handle all the negotiations in San Francisco this fall. That was a two million dollar contract do you really think we\u2019d have entrusted it to Joe if he wasn\u2019t eminently capable. Even more recently I owe Joe my life and Carole\u2019s when she was kidnapped. I wasn\u2019t thinking straight and Joe had to plan for me, to say nothing of risking his life for her and with Pa, Hoss and SueEllen supporting us over the next few nightmarish days.\u201d He fell quiet too aware of the pain of those days to dare to catch her eye.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita could see the emotion on his face and very gently she said \u201cAdam you didn\u2019t have to tell me that.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam looked up and sighed heavily, \u201cI don\u2019t really know how to explain I know it\u2019s not what you\u2019ve been used to, I rely on my family and I know they will always be there when I need them Whether it\u2019s a gun to cover my back in a fight, a pair of hands to tend the sick or a shoulder to cry on when tragedy hits. When work needs doing we take equal shares, even legal work, Joe often helps me and on surveys he can do his half without any help these days. Often Joe\u2019s sees the way out of trouble as on this current problem, the strategy was his idea not mine, I\u2019m just doing the details. We split four ways and no one of us is more important than any of the others, I haven\u2019t the physical strength or the tracking ability Hoss has and he can\u2019t draw up contracts but we both do our share. It\u2019s bred into us, Pa has always treated us equally there\u2019s never been any need for jealousy between us. If I\u2019ve taught Joe and helped him over the years, of recent years he has helped me so often and done so much around here, you can\u2019t know how much I\u2019ve relied on him.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita stared at him, one thing was very evident if Joe thought a lot of his brother, that feeling was reciprocated and Adam was equally proud of Joe. She could see so many similarities between the brothers and realised she had misjudged Adam, She hesitated but he had been very frank she could do no less, \u201cI think I have been very unfair to you Adam. Jumped to conclusions all of them wrong,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook all I\u2019m asking is that you give me a chance. Let\u2019s get to know each other. I\u2019m no threat to you or to Joe; all I want is for my brother to be happy. He\u2019s known tragedy he loved Marie very much, we all did. For a while I was scared he wouldn\u2019t find it again but he loves you and I\u2019m not blind I can see that you love him. That\u2019s the only really important thing, but we don\u2019t want anything to mar your happiness or Joe\u2019s. Provided we can get along without leaving him trapped in the m idle, that\u2019s all we need.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe not entirely. I was very offhand when we met in San Francisco. I apologise, I was tired, coming down with a cold and I hadn\u2019t realised how important you were to Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEven so, when you were kind enough to invite me here I should have given you a chance, not snubbed you all the time. I thought you didn\u2019t like me; guess I was scared of you. You\u2019re everything my father would like to be and isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled wryly \u201cDon\u2019t go too far the other way Nita. I have my faults I\u2019m sure sometime soon I will get Joe mad and he\u2019ll fill you in on some of them. But you are very welcome her because that\u2019s what Joe wants. Let\u2019s forget the past now, start fresh, maybe we\u2019ve begun to know each other a little better this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita looked at him suspiciously \u201cDid you arrange this deliberately?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. I even took Edwin breakfast in bed. I had to talk to you, Joe was getting rather upset. Surely my little brother has complained to you of my deviousness, he\u2019s always complaining to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell I think I\u2019m glad you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go and tell Edwin and Jim they are free to emerge and then we\u2019d better go and see Beth.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita hesitated, but as Adam gave her an encouraging smile, she said, \u201cTalking off deviousness, I wonder\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n She broke off and Adam said \u201cI\u2019m sure Kam Su can feed you and Joe if that\u2019s what you want. I\u2019ll remove Edwin and Jim and tell them that you have a slight headache. Send Joe back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWould you Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just that I think I need some time to get my thoughts straight and I\u2019d like a chance to talk to Joe alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam went upstairs and knocked on the door \u201cTime to go over to the main house.\u201d<\/p>\n Edwin opened it and studied his friend\u2019s face then nodded \u201cFive minutes. I\u2019m glad to see my confidence was not misplaced.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam laughed his friend knew him very well. When he went back down Nita had had a chance to collect her thoughts and she came straight over to him. \u201cAdam I want to say thank you. You shouldn\u2019t have had to say so much, talk of things I know must be painful to you but I\u2019m very glad you did. I think maybe I\u2019m beginning to understand why Joe is so different from anyone else I have ever known.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam smiled at her and for the first time she smiled freely at him and he considered her speculatively \u201cI think my little brother is a lucky guy. He deserves all the luck in the world, but when you smile like that you\u2019re as beautiful as Carole.\u201d<\/p>\n She knew instinctively that he could give her no higher compliment and her eyes danced as she looked up at him, breaking away in confusion as Edwin came downstairs. Edwin hadn\u2019t missed the byplay and as they rode over he teased his friend \u201cAnother victim of your fatal charm, what puzzles me is why you waited so long.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam punched him lightly well satisfied with his morning\u2019s effort and he looked forward to reassuring his brother. When all the others had turned up early it hadn\u2019t taken much effort to guess what Adam was up to. Joe had the added knowledge that Adam had intended doing something but neither Ben nor Hoss had missed the tension between Adam and Nita or the state it was getting Joe in, so they were able to guess too. Joe couldn\u2019t settle wondering what Adam was doing and whether his brother would manage to break through to Nita. Eventually unable to face the others he had gone up to his room and Hoss could hear him pacing around in there.<\/p>\n In two minds whether to go in, Hoss opted for leaving Joe alone and went downstairs. Catching his father alone he asked if Ben knew what Adam was up to. Ben shook his head \u201cI can only guess but Joe\u2019s been getting very worried about the way Nita treats him, so I\u2019d guess Adam is trying to talk to her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t get it Pa, in so many ways she\u2019s a sweet girl, fine with me and with the rest of you and yet she snubs Adam every time he opens his mouth, why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, maybe Joe is too like Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what she loves Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure Hoss but trust Adam he\u2019ll sort her out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope so. Little Joe\u2019s caught in the middle, it\u2019s hard on him.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe saw his brother ride with Edwin and Jim, surprised not to see Nita, on edge he didn\u2019t want to talk in front of the crowd downstairs and sure Adam would come up to see him, he stayed put. Adam wandered in and Ben Hoss and Carole all converged on him, he grinned \u201cEasy you lot. Where\u2019s Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn his room.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t somehow think he\u2019ll want lunch Pa, Nita is waiting to talk to him, I think we\u2019ve come to terms shall we say.\u201d Joe was standing over by the window staring out and he didn\u2019t turn as Adam came in, sure who it was and not daring to ask. Adam sat down on the bed and stretched<\/p>\n \u201cCheer up little brother and kindly have more faith in me.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe turned at that and Adam grinned, \u201cI think we have a better understanding, she even smiled at me, very lovely Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you do it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeems she had the idea that I don\u2019t trust you little brother or at least that I treat you like a child and don\u2019t recognise all the talents she can see. I think I have disillusioned her!\u201d He grinned broadly and Joe sat down next to him \u201cHow am I supposed to take that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI tried to explain how we all play our part round here and how much at times I rely on you. The details don\u2019t matter but she said sorry for snubbing me and even asked me to excuse her, she has a slight headache. I reckon Kam Su can feed the pair of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe studied his eldest brother, \u201cIs it alright Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n Adam laughed \u201cFor goodness sake go and propose to the girl Joe or do you want me to do that for you too?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I can manage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s champagne in the wine cellar. Help yourself whatever you want, I\u2019d wish you good luck but I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll need it. Nita loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks Adam. I\u2019ll see you later.\u201d Adam watched his brother go out looking almost younger as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders and a couple of minutes later Joe appeared outside going to collect Cochise, Adam watched his brother dance the pinto out of the yard, Cochise as always reacting to his master\u2019s mood.<\/p>\n Adam decided he\u2019d better head downstairs and make their excuses even if no one was going to believe him. Everyone had been able to see how pleased Joe was as he came down but after a few efforts to get Adam to explain he made it obvious that he wasn\u2019t talking. Light-hearted he parried all questions so easily that he turned it into a joke. He soon carried everyone along with his mood and after the tensions of the last few days the family relaxed and everyone enjoyed themselves.<\/p>\n Nita was so deep in thought after Adam left that it only seemed a couple of minutes before Joe came in the door. She had had to change her opinion of Adam very considerably and very fast and try to adjust to a family relationship totally different to that she had grown up with. As Joe came in, looking so very pleased, she smiled at him, \u201cYou\u2019ve spoken to Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how much he told you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo details and it doesn\u2019t matter, he said you have a better understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI judged him without knowing him. I\u2019ve been very unfair to him but he says we\u2019ll forget and we\u2019ll start again. I think I see why your brother means so much to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGive him a chance and you two will be friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita was rather glad Adam had kept their talk to himself and stared reflectively into the fire \u201cI think we will. He\u2019s a lot like you Joe; maybe that\u2019s what unsettled me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnough about my brother. Nita darling, you\u2019ve seen us, our lives here, our ranch, I\u2019ve tried to tell you the problems let you see and if you want more time then just say. I love you so very much and I want you, will you marry me?\u201d<\/p>\n Joe stared at her and for a moment his heart seemed to stop as Nita continued to look into the fire, a half smile flickering on her lips. Then she turned to look at him \u201cDo you really have to ask Joe? There\u2019s nothing I want more. I\u2019ve wanted it every since you first came to San Francisco. I\u2019d marry you and live in a hovel instead of which you talk of problems and then show me the most magnificent country I have ever seen and Adam has proved how elegantly and comfortably you can live here, Everyone seems alive here not just existing. I have loved every minute of it and I don\u2019t ever want to go back to San Francisco and you know how much I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe took her in his arms and kissed her passionately and then jumped up. \u201cThis calls for champagne.\u201d He began rooting around in Adam\u2019s wine cellar while half laughing, half crying Nita tried to stop him. \u201cJoe you can\u2019t just help yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I can this is Adam\u2019s house he won\u2019t mind,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t even if he is your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would anyway. I\u2019m always pledging his word or helping myself to his things and he knows I\u2019d never go too far, same as he knows that he is welcome to anything of mine. However in this instance he told me there was champagne.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe knew you were going to propose?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe knew that I wanted to and only the situation between you two was stopping me, so he virtually ordered me to and refused to wish me luck. He said that I wouldn\u2019t need it because you loved me and he was right.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita shook her head \u201cAfter the way I\u2019ve treated him, he\u2019s quite a man your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you\u2019d agreed to start afresh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe did but\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdam will have put that all behind him, he means what he says. Ah and here\u2019s the champagne.\u201d Joe opened one bottle and poured out two glasses and passed one to Nita<\/p>\n \u201cTo us my darling.\u201d Then he considered her thoughtfully \u201cIs the 22nd too soon? A fortnight after Hoss\u2019. It would solve my problem on remembering dates, same as my birthday, which is the 22nd of September, kindly note.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCan we arrange it that soon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t see why not. Banns on Sunday for the first time. It will mean living in the main house for the time being of course. Gives your family nearly a month to get used to the idea and arrange to come for the wedding. We can practise everything at Hoss\u2019, get it perfect for us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re incorrigible.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed \u201cWell it will be the fourth wedding we\u2019ve had. You don\u2019t mind having it at the house do you? We\u2019ve got good at it,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be very happy wherever.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe suddenly put his glass down and went over to get his coat, He had remembered to pick up the ring from his room but he couldn\u2019t find which pocket he\u2019d put it in. Eventually he found it and came over, \u201cI hope you like it and that it fits, if not we can change it.\u201d He took her left hand and carefully slid the ring on for her, Nita sat there with a faint ooh of surprise and wonder. The ring fitted perfectly, three stones in a straight line in a simple gold setting with a large sapphire in the centre, her favourite midnight blue and two superb diamonds. It was similar to Carole\u2019s ring but the stones were pyramid cut. \u201cOh Joe it\u2019s beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot nearly as beautiful as you are my darling.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita nestled closer to him and for a long time they were oblivious of anything except each other. Then Kam Su coughed discreetly from the doorway, \u201cYou wish food?\u201d \u201cYes Mr Joe and congratulations.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Kam Su, she is beautiful isn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery lovely. Your father will be so proud, three daughters all beautiful and hair all different.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita blushed but Joe had grown almost as used to Kam Su as he was to Hop Sing and was fond of him. \u201cJust leave it to me to tell him okay? I know you and Hop Sing as soon as either of you know anything half the ranch seems to know it. I\u2019ve never worked out how you do it; do you have your own private telegraph line?\u201d<\/p>\n Kam Su grinned broadly, \u201cMany congratulations Miss Nita\u201d and then hurried off to get food.<\/p>\n Joe was quiet for a minute thinking about the possibilities of what he had just said but then he forgot about it and concentrated on his lovely fianc\u00e9e. After they had finished eating Joe collected three more bottles of champagne from the cupboard. \u201cCome on let\u2019s go and tell the rest and then I\u2019ll go into town start things moving and send off these telegrams.\u201d Over lunch they had managed to compose telegrams for all of Nita\u2019s family who had to be notified, They both knew that it wasn\u2019t going to be popular in certain quarters but as she was of age no one could stop her doing what she wanted and they would just have to accept it. Nita frowned as he came out with the bottles \u201cI think Pa is out of champagne, he was saying he would have to re-stock, and this is a champagne occasion, nothing else will do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Joe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut nothing, you just nurse the bottles so they don\u2019t explode before we get there and stop worrying.\u201d Joe hustled her into her coat and went out to saddle up Lady for her and Cochise.<\/p>\n Nita felt as though she was in a dream, happier than she had ever been and she looked at the land with a new eye. She was to be part of this, to become a Cartwright of the Ponderosa. They walked the horses over to protect the wine and Nita suddenly felt very nervous, wondering how the family would take the news. Strangely the one person she was confident of was Adam; Joe had made his feelings very clear. Unsure of the reaction of the rest of the family she wanted to put off her arrival and slowed even more as Lady reacted to her signals, Joe could see that she was nervous and pulled closer \u201cCheer up darling, they have to be told and it won\u2019t exactly come as a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you think they\u2019ll approve?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course they will. It\u2019s only your family who object, no trouble with mine. I have them too well trained.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita had to smile at his light-hearted confidence and then they were there. Joe helped her down, just leaving Cochise tied to the hitch rail as he would be using him later and asking Kirk to take care of Lady. Then he led the way in.<\/p>\n The main party had just finished lunch and were sitting round the fire with coffee. All of them knew Joe well enough to guess what had been going on but Joe casually took off Nita\u2019s cloak and his own coat, hanging them up. Then with his arm round her shoulders he led the way over to the fire \u201cIt\u2019s cold out there.\u201d Adam vacated a chair for Nita and waited. Like many of the others he had noticed the ring on her finger but they were waiting for Joe to say something. He looked round at them, his family and close friends, eyes dancing with excitement and savouring the expectancy. Then feeling the tension in Nita, he said \u201cI know this won\u2019t be a surprise. Nita has promised to marry me as soon as we can arrange it.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam was the first to congratulate the pair with his father and Carole almost as fast, all obviously delighted, knowing it was what Joe wanted but to Adam\u2019s surprise his big brother made no move although Sue came over. Adam caught Hoss\u2019 eye and frowned slightly and Hoss started guiltily and joined Sue. To cover his confusion he teased Joe, \u201cBe useful to have a second wedding, finish up the leftovers from ours.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe laughed \u201cWith you around big brother there never are any leftovers! No we practise at yours, iron out any problems so that everything is just right for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Ben put an arm round his two younger sons, \u201cI\u2019m sure we can make both perfect. For now we ought to toast your engagement. It\u2019ll have to be brandy\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe interrupted \u201cNo champagne. Find the glasses Hoss,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Joe\u2026\u201d Ben started only to be interrupted by his eldest son \u201cI shouldn\u2019t worry Pa, Joe will have provided. I had several bottle. I just hope he hasn\u2019t joggled them too much or we\u2019ll have an explosion.\u201d<\/p>\n Nita said \u201cI tried to stop him Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one can when he gets hold of a bright idea, I shouldn\u2019t worry I\u2019ll send him to town in a minute to get some replacements.\u201d<\/p>\n Joe punched his brother \u201cYou would too you big bully,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh I will.\u201d Adam grinned broadly knowing that his brother would be going to town anyway to start things moving, Then they went out together to collect the champagne, while Hoss and Ben passed out the glasses, Once everyone has some champagne, even Peggy, Ben proposed the toast, long life and happiness for his youngest son and his beautiful fianc\u00e9e.<\/p>\n \n
\nThe Homecoming<\/a><\/span>
\nHome to Stay<\/a><\/span>
\nHoneymoon and Arguments<\/a><\/span>
\nJoe and Marie<\/a><\/span>
\nAdam and Carole<\/a><\/span>
\nA European Trip<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Aftermath<\/a><\/span>
\nA Busy Summer<\/a><\/span>
\nA Tree Falls<\/a><\/span>
\nSan Fracisco Trip<\/a><\/span>
\nA Stranger from the Past<\/a><\/span>
\nA Sense of Blame<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Medicine Man<\/a><\/span>
\nCourtship and Cattle Drives<\/a><\/span>
\nAngels with Red Hair?<\/a><\/span>
\nThieves and Murderers<\/a><\/span>
\nPipeline Problems<\/a><\/span>
\nGuests for Christmas<\/a><\/span>
\nA Turbulent Preacher<\/a><\/span>
\nJoe and Nita<\/a><\/span>
\nBen and Beth<\/a><\/span>
\nBanks, Pipelines, and Railroads<\/a><\/span>
\nLost<\/a><\/span>
\nA New Operation<\/a><\/span>
\nA Slow Recovery<\/a><\/span>
\nCelebrations<\/a><\/span>
\nForest Fire<\/a><\/span>
\nA Premature Birth<\/a>
\n<\/span>The Bank of California<\/a>
\nTrail Drive<\/a><\/span>
\nRobbery and Assault<\/a><\/span>
\nVirginia City on Fire<\/a><\/span>
\nRebuilding Virginia City<\/a><\/span>
\nCatching Up<\/a><\/span>
\nChristenings, Commissions, and Christmas<\/a><\/span>
\nWinter Ills<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #2 \u2013 Advance Warning<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #3 – Family Row #1<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #4 \u2013 Family Row #2<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #5 \u2013 Family Row #3<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #6 \u2013 The Spanish Land Grant #1<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #7 \u2013 The Spanish Land Grant #2 – Court Hearing<\/a><\/span>
\nThe Lawyer #8 \u2013 The Spanish Land Grant #3 – Knight Errant<\/a>
\nThe Lawyer #9 – The Spanish Land Grant #4 – The Long Journey Home<\/a>
\nThe Lawyer #10 – The Spanish Land Grant #5 – Troy’s Last Stand<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\nGuests For Christmas
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nJoe laughed but Adam passed over three tightly written pages, \u201cI am not kidding little brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nNita was feeling very nervous. She had been excited for weeks and had asked Laura hundreds of questions about the town and the ranch, but she still didn’t know what to expect. It seemed a very long time since she had seen Joe and she was scared of his close family, knowing just how much they meant to Joe. They were rich and powerful men, like her father and his close colleagues, all of whom she disliked and despised. Joe was different but she couldn’t believe he was typical of the family. The one she had heard most rumours about was Adam and he terrified her. The one time she had met him he had seemed cold and distant but now she was committed to staying with him.<\/p>\n
\n“They will be in Reno in the early hours, get the stage at 9.30 tomorrow morning, reach town late evening.”<\/p>\n
\nJoe just looked mulish and Adam smiled faintly, “Anyway little brother I wasn’t suggesting we give up just because of some snow but I won’t risk my life. If necessary we will wait for dawn.”<\/p>\n
\nThe brothers pushed on twenty minutes later, at least the snow got lighter and soon they were riding again, trusting their surefooted animals and slowly getting lower. They made better time after reaching the tree-line and decided to go to Adam\u2019s house, dump everything, change horses and head for town, reckoning they just had time. They pushed hard over the last ten miles and reached the house just as Carole came down from putting the children to bed.<\/p>\n
\nCarole had to admit to a lively sense of curiosity about Nita. After all if everything went as Joe hoped she would be living very close to the girl for much of her life; with the brothers so close their wives had to get along.<\/p>\n
\nNita was equally quiet as they sat in the stage from Reno, glad to play with the twins, any distraction as she came close to the family and ranch which were Joe\u2019s life. Scared of what they would think of her and rather scared by the barren hills and the immensity of the land, she was lost in her thoughts and none of the others disturbed her. They were all well aware just how important this trip was to her, even if public gossip had it down as just a pleasure trip, Christmas with friends while her family were in New York.<\/p>\n
\nBen relaxed and turned to Nita \u201cHave you recovered from your journey Nita? We\u2019ll all be glad when the Virginia and Truckee Railroad is finished to Reno. Then we\u2019ll be able to do the whole journey by train, the stage coach is rough and dusty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nCity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nNita was fascinated by the map of the ranch over the desk and Ben told her how he had got it, but it wasn\u2019t any attempt to be accurate, especially now they had bought land on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. Joe outlined the new addition and then pointed out where he was going to take her. She examined it with interest and the Joe helped her back into her coat, \u201cBetter get on. Adam has dared me to be late for lunch See you over there Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nJoe was very sombre for a moment and then seeing the doubt in her eyes, he put his arm round her, looking down at her. \u201cI still love my Marie but life goes on and she isn\u2019t here. I once said that I couldn\u2019t say I loved you but now I can Nita, I love you very much, you\u2019re as important to me as Marie was. Maybe you find it hard to believe but my love for you doesn\u2019t alter the love I still have for her, nor is it any less because of my love for her. I\u2019ve grown up with it; Pa still loves all three of our mothers. I love you, I need a flesh and blood woman here with me, I can\u2019t live without love. Marie knew that and in time she wanted me to find someone else. She couldn\u2019t tell me when she was dying I wouldn\u2019t let her, but she left a message with Adam. Months later up here he passed it on. Somehow I know she approves and I have no doubts left, I love you Nita.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nEventually Joe pulled her to her feet, \u201cCome on or we\u2019ll be late. Must be there to greet SueEllen.\u201d Warning her not to pass it on until Hoss had spoken he told her about the big Irish nurse and his brother\u2019s plans to marry her just after Christmas, Nita hesitated \u201cYou seem to know her very well and yet you said that Hoss has only known her a few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHoss and Sue were ready to go over and Sue knew that they were expected for lunch but she suddenly felt shy. Hoss\u2019 immediate family accepted, even welcomed her, but there would be five strangers and she wasn\u2019t sure of their reaction, or now much it would matter to Hoss. Hoss didn\u2019t hurry her at first but as she fiddled around putting off the time to make a move, he said, \u201cCome on Sue. Carole will be waiting lunch for us and judging by the work she was doing yesterday, it\u2019s quite an elaborate meal.\u201d
\nSue nodded and very pale and quiet followed Hoss out. Hoss had intended to leave the visitors in the dark about his announcement until the party the next day, but as he drove over to Adam\u2019s he began to doubt his ability to hide his news. He decided then and there to tell them, after the meal, as he didn\u2019t want to ruin Carole\u2019s preparations, they were already late.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cMaybe trying too hard Adam. She\u2019s not acting like herself since we arrived, more like she was before she met Joe. She loves him very much and if it doesn\u2019t work out I think she\u2019ll retreat from the human race for good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nJoe nodded. \u201cThank God. At first we feared for her sanity, but Carole is very strong. How fully recovered she is, I don\u2019t know. At first she couldn\u2019t even bear Adam to touch her hand and for a week she turned away from him but when she finally turned to him she seemed to get much better very quickly, Still if she has nothing to do you can see her slip back, brooding close to hell. At least with people staying and plenty to do, plenty of distractions she is much better, I don\u2019t know how well she is, it\u2019s not the sort of thing I can ask Adam but I do know that he\u2019s certain she will fully recover, I can even date the day he reached that certainty.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cCarole is better now isn\u2019t she?\u201d Hoss asked suddenly anxious.<\/p>\n
\nIn fact everyone else was down and the first guests about due when the girls finally appeared. Carole had redone Sue\u2019s hair, fitting in the diamond pendant which went with the necklace, very careful to give little added height while showing off her beautiful hair. Sue was amazed at the difference it made the fullness round her face as Carole pulled little tendrils into curls and set the diamond. She was determined that Sue would dominate her engagement party. For herself she had chosen a subdued gold dress which she hadn\u2019t worn since her trip to London and she was pleased to find it still fitted. It showed the dark green of Sue\u2019s dress of to perfection as she had intended and as the two came downstairs Adam and Hoss weren\u2019t the only ones to come to their feet. Edwin summed it up. \u201cYou\u2019ll have two beauties in the family in another couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nIt was indeed Hoss\u2019 day now that he\u2019d got the announcement out of the way and he made up for the food he\u2019d missed at dinner by frequent recourse to the buffet. As the new guests arrived they were soon put in the picture and Hoss was the centre of attention with Sue. His brothers were pleased to see it and for once kept in the background just ensuring that the supplies of food and rink were kept up. The party went very well and the last guests didn\u2019t leave until near 2.30 a.m.<\/p>\n
\nFor the first time Adam saw Nita in the doorway and grinned at his brother\u201d Now I see.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHoss too if it comes to that, guess their relationship is about the same. In my late teens I had a spell of rebelling against him and Hoss, far more than Pa. They tried to wrap me in cotton wool, stop me getting into trouble. They couldn\u2019t accept I was grown up.\u201d He laughed wryly, \u201cMaybe I wasn\u2019t that grown up, I did manage to find a lot of trouble and they were always around to pull me out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe following day was quiet, despite the crowd of people around, many of whom slept late. Carole took the opportunity with some help from Laura and Beth to measure Sue and get the dress cut out. She distributed pieces of material to be edged and most of the women were busy sewing. Ben had cleared up at the main house with his younger sons help, enlisting Dan to give them a hand. Quite a lot of the furniture was left out of the way until after the Boxing Day party. Joe took the chance to tell his father what he had found Adam doing the previous evening and when Joe headed over to see Nita, Ben went along with him wanting to talk to his eldest son. Adam had been up early and put in another couple of hours work, but he didn\u2019t tell his father just assuring Ben that it wasn\u2019t too serious and he could deal with it without putting too many hours in. Then he firmly changed the subject to the following day when everyone would spend Christmas day with him.<\/p>\n
\nJoe hadn\u2019t exactly intended going in a party, he wanted Nita to himself, but he bit back the hasty retort as he met his brother\u2019s twinkling gaze. Hoss grinned broadly \u201cEasy Little Joe I just said it was a good idea. It\u2019s a mighty big ranch and I reckon we can both find somewhere pretty to go without falling over each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nNita had seen a little of that in San Francisco and she could accept that he had work to do, She knew she might find it hard at times but she would take Joe on any terms, even if she only saw him once a week, She only really felt alive when she was with him. She shushed him when Joe tried to explain more about problems and asked what she could see ahead. Joe accepted the change of subject and named the mountains, indicating where the ranch boundaries lay, where the mines were, the new land and where they would be cutting timber in the spring. They rode through the outskirts of the main herd and then Joe led her up a side canyon where the breeding herd of blood horses were at the moment.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI wish I could be a true wife to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nSue fingered the necklace \u201cDo you think I can accept?\u201d she asked longingly. To her surprise Hoss laughed \u201cI don\u2019t reckon you have any choice. He\u2019s the rich one of this family, he can afford it and anyway it\u2019s what he wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAdam put the necklace round her neck for her when she asked and Joe came over to have a look \u201cVery nice Sue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nimportant thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nand with so many people around Carole was getting overwrought as she tried to make sure that everything as ready, Adam was seeing to drinks with his father\u2019s help and the two younger brothers were wrapped up in their girls, so it was Edwin who noticed. Adam wasn\u2019t there so he drifted over to Joe and Nita. \u201cSorry to interrupt but Joe I think you\u2019d better help Carole or there\u2019s going to be tears.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nJoe smiled \u201cThat\u2019s all I\u2019m pointing out. There\u2019s nothing we can do for a few days anyway. Look Jim you want to know what to do. The two veins are close and Gould and Curry say we\u2019re encroaching.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nNita was surprised, it wasn\u2019t that late, but something about the air made her hungry and she went to the table and asked for a full breakfast. Kam Su brought her in a plateful and then brought a fresh pot of coffee before retreating,<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWell you treat him as one, little brother, Little Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThat was sufficient for his family, who were sure that he wouldn\u2019t give more details, certainly not with so many people around. Adam took off his coat and gun and then headed upstairs to join Joe.<\/p>\n
\nJoe was hungry even if Nita wasn\u2019t and nodded, \u201cPlease Kam Su, don\u2019t go to any bother,\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhere are you gong with those?\u201d<\/p>\n