{"id":63384,"date":"2026-03-21T12:27:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T16:27:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=63384"},"modified":"2026-04-14T09:56:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T13:56:56","slug":"the-almost-grand-adventure-by-carebear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=63384","title":{"rendered":"The (Almost) Grand Adventure (by CareBear)"},"content":{"rendered":"

SUMMARY<\/strong>: As Adam copes with single parenthood, his middle child experiments with gravity. She discovers that it doesn’t bend to her will but perhaps her father understands her more than she thinks.
\nRATING<\/strong>: G\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0WORD COUNT<\/strong>: 37, 631<\/p>\n

Adam’s Little Women Series<\/p>\n

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

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

<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 1<\/p>\n

She was doing it again. His eldest was giving him that same stern gaze he used on her and her sisters. Brows scrunched tightly in a way that created a sharp line between them, with one arched just slightly higher than the other. Eyes narrowed a bit, Beth\u2019s tongue pressed against the side of her cheek, as though it were the last physical barrier between the thoughts in her brain and her mouth. The tightness of her jaw made it clear that the metaphorical dam was about to burst.<\/p>\n

It was truly beyond disconcerting how well his eleven-year-old could pull off his this-is-your-last-warning<\/em> look, not to mention the fact that she felt free to direct it at him with such ease. Then again, Adam didn\u2019t expect anything different from Beth, the embodiment of Cartwright hardheadedness.<\/p>\n

He wouldn\u2019t have minded her expertly copied version of his stare so much if he could understand why she thought it necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we no longer interested in a story tonight?\u201d he asked mildly. \u201cI thought we might introduce Nora to one of your favorites.\u201d Adam lifted the book so his middle child could see it clearly\u2014the well-worn cover of Five Weeks in a Balloon<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Already tucked into her bed, Nora reached for the book, her eyes lighting up at the illustrations on the front. Years of love by her big sister hadn\u2019t dimmed the gilt title or balloon, nor dulled its ability to spark the imagination. He passed it to her with a soft word of caution about handling it carefully, before glancing at Beth once more.<\/p>\n

Rather than snuggle in beside her sister until the younger girl fell asleep, she remained standing beside the bed. Beth took in Nora\u2019s eyes, bright with anticipation, and shook her head. \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s an appropriate book, Papa.\u201d<\/p>\n

The words were spoken sharply, even critically, in the same voice Beth used to scold or redirect Georgie. The protective stance beside the bed certainly caught his attention, too. Beth was in full big sister mode, something setting off that inner alarm of hers.<\/p>\n

Must be ringing like a church bell in her ears. <\/em><\/p>\n

Adam had his own when it came to Hoss and Joe who still activated it at times; the curse of being the eldest.<\/p>\n

Alarmed or not, he had never been permitted to speak to Pa that way without consequence, and he would not allow Beth to do so either. Both of Adam\u2019s eyebrows lifted, his head canting slightly. \u201cElizabeth\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Her chin tipped up, defiance flickering in her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have a concern, you may voice it respectfully. You\u2019re always allowed to speak,\u201d Adam said evenly. \u201cBut the only one who gives lectures is me. Is that understood?\u201d<\/p>\n

The measured rebuke landed. Beth\u2019s bravado collapsed at once, and she nodded quickly. \u201cSorry, Papa.\u201d Her gaze dropped to the floor for a long moment before she looked back up. At his nod\u2014acceptance\u2014she offered a small, tentative smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow,\u201d he prompted gently, \u201ctell me why you believe this is a poor choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

She glanced at Nora, already tucked in, eyes bright with anticipation, then back to him. \u201cBecause she\u2019ll get ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora blinked. \u201cWhat ideas?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth shot her a warning look. \u201cThe kind where you think you can do things you absolutely cannot <\/em>do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s mouth twitched. It\u2019s like watching history repeat itself<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa<\/em>.\u201d Beth\u2019s gaze pleaded with him not to make her list the many ridiculous, whimsical schemes Nora dreamed up.<\/p>\n

Amusement flickered in his eyes. \u201cSuch as\u2026?\u201d He had strong suspicions about the examples Beth was trying to avoid. She wasn\u2019t wrong, Nora had a creative streak.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember this summer,\u201d she began, voice a mix of exasperation and awe, \u201cwhen she tried to build a catapult out of the old wheelbarrow and the barn gate? Georgie got shot into the barn loft!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s eyes widened, and she murmured, \u201cThat was an accident. She got in the way at the last second. I just wanted to see how far it could go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI seem to remember that another child of mine was involved in that, uh, project,\u201d Adam pointed out, quirking an eyebrow meaningfully.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was only<\/em> checking the scientific principles like in your book. It was a promising idea in theory. <\/em>I did not tell her to use it. Or to launch our baby sister into the loft. Or anywhere else. Or anyone<\/em> else!\u201d Beth hurried to defend herself. \u201cAnd what about the time you decided to give the chickens baths? In the trough?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were dusty!\u201d Nora countered, her voice rising indignantly. \u201cSome of them liked it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth shook her head. \u201cLiked it so<\/em> much they didn\u2019t lay eggs for weeks. Hop Sing was really mad, too. I think four of \u2018em just up and left!\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. I need to tell Pa to give Hop Sing a raise if this is what he\u2019s dealing with while we\u2019re out of the house.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd don\u2019t forget the time you tried to teach the pigs to pull a sled,\u201d Beth added. \u201cOn dry ground. You tied yourself to it, Nora. You tied yourself to it.<\/em>\u201d She slanted a look at Adam. \u201cWhen Nora says she is \u2018curious\u2019 or has an idea\u2026 Papa, it\u2019s never good. Those are recent examples, too!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora drew her knees up under the blanket, eyes bright despite herself. \u201c\u2026But some of them almost worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth shot Adam a look that plainly said see what I mean?<\/em> \u201cThis is going to be a book of instructions, not a story. I can feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam cleared his throat, though the corner of his mouth gave him away. \u201cAll right,\u201d he conceded. \u201cThat\u2019s a fair concern.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eldest lifted her chin, a brief flash of victory crossing her face.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut,\u201d Adam continued, \u201cstories aren\u2019t what give children ideas. Curiosity does. And Cartwright children,\u201d he added pointedly, \u201chave that in abundance whether I read to them or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth hesitated, worrying the inside of her cheek. \u201cYou could read something safer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSafer in what way?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike\u2026 something where no one attempts to cross a desert in a basket dangling beneath a balloon,\u201d she quipped.<\/p>\n

Adam retrieved the book and sat on the edge of the bed. \u201cTell you what\u2014if Nora starts asking how to build a balloon, I\u2019ll close it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if she tries anyway?\u201d Beth\u2019s tone made it clear she was unconvinced.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen,\u201d Adam said evenly, \u201cwe\u2019ll have a talk about the difference between stories and sense.\u201d From his place on the bed, he patted the mattress, inviting Beth to climb in and try to enjoy the tale. It was<\/em> her favorite, after all. Surely, she wasn\u2019t going to stand there\u2014or leave altogether\u2014on nothing more than the suspicion that her sister might hatch some harebrained scheme.<\/p>\n

For a moment, it seemed she might. Beth stayed rooted where she was, arms crossed, watching her sister like a hawk. She looked ready to intervene at the first hint of her little sister\u2019s imagination taking a dangerous turn.<\/p>\n

At last, with a heavy sigh, she gave in, unable to resist the pull of hearing her favorite story read by Papa.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t say I didn\u2019t warn anyone,\u201d she muttered as she climbed into the bed. For all her grumbling about Nora\u2019s more whimsical, inventive streak, Beth slipped an arm around her little sister and pulled her close.<\/p>\n

As Adam opened the book, the frontispiece caught his eye\u2014a meticulously detailed illustration of an elephant hauling a traveling balloon, people visible in the basket beneath it.<\/p>\n

Unbidden, his gaze shifted to Nora. \u201cIf any ideas start bouncing around in that head of yours, Eleanor, we\u2019ll talk about them before<\/em> you try anything.\u201d At his pointed look, Nora nodded solemnly.<\/p>\n

Beth relaxed a fraction, satisfied that she\u2019d made her case, while Nora studied the cover with fascination, the warning already slipping in one ear and out the other.<\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

\u201cZanzibar.\u201d Nora repeated the word slowly to herself after hearing it read aloud. She repeated it a few times, as though it might sound less strange the more she said it. \u201cPapa, is that a real place?\u201d<\/p>\n

Placing his finger in the book to mark the spot, Adam closed the tome briefly. \u201cIt is,\u201d he confirmed. \u201cIt\u2019s an archipelago\u2014several islands grouped together\u2014off the east coast of Africa. It\u2019s ruled by a Sultan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s like a king,\u201d Beth added helpfully, \u201cWe don\u2019t have those here. We told England we didn\u2019t want their king no more\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnymore,\u201d Adam corrected without looking up, though there was a hint of a smile in his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnymore,\u201d Beth amended dutifully. \u201cAnd now we have a president that people vote for. We pick our leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s eyes widened, round and bright, the firelight catching in them. \u201cMe too?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot yet; not girls. Someday, I think we will,\u201d Beth stated. \u201cMama believed in it.\u201d She remembered attending the meetings with Alta, hearing the intelligent women speak about how much they, too, contributed to society. The lectures and discussions made her heart soar in a way Beth couldn\u2019t put into words.<\/p>\n

Reopening the book, Adam didn\u2019t resume reading it yet. Instead, he looked down at his daughters. \u201cSomeday,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe that you\u2019ll be able to. Both of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d pick someone nice,\u201d Nora declared. She considered other virtues with a serious face. \u201cAnd brave. And someone who wouldn\u2019t yell.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam reached out and brushed a thumb over Nora\u2019s curls. \u201cThose are good qualities to look for,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cIn leaders\u2014and in people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora beamed, satisfied, and snuggled further under the bed clothes. \u201cI like Zanzibar,\u201d she announced. \u201cIt sounds like flying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chuckling, his gaze returned to the page. \u201cThere are many places in the world that do,\u201d Adam agreed, and began to read again, his voice steady as the story came alive.<\/p>\n

Words like gas, heat, and inflate filled the little girl\u2019s mind as Adam read the scientific preparations of Dr. Ferguson. Nora tried to picture it all in her mind, putting her vague grasp of the concepts together with the air balloon on the cover to create a sort of understanding.<\/p>\n

Curiosity bubbled up inside of her, and Nora interrupted again. \u201cHow can it fly, Papa? It don\u2019t got no wings.\u201d She reached out, her fingertip carefully tracing the gilt image stamped on the book\u2019s cover\u2014the round balloon, the tiny basket hanging beneath it. \u201cNone at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smiling, Adam gently corrected her. \u201cDoesn\u2019t have any wings.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI said that,\u201d Nora grinned, unrepentant. \u201cYou see it, too?\u201d She tilted her head, studying the picture as if it might answer her back. \u201cHow\u2019s it work without wings?\u201d As Papa closed the book again, she shot Beth a quick, apologetic look, as though she feared she\u2019d finally crossed some invisible line.<\/p>\n

The eldest Cartwright sister didn\u2019t mind. She remembered very well how she herself had peppered Papa with questions the first time they read Five Weeks in a Balloon<\/em>, barely letting him finish a page before interrupting. As long as Nora\u2019s curiosity remained harmless it didn\u2019t trouble Beth at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey fly because of hot air,\u201d Adam explained patiently. \u201cYou heat the air inside the balloon. When air gets hot, it expands and becomes lighter than the cooler air around it. Nature likes balance, so the lighter air rises. Up the balloon goes with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s mouth formed a small, impressed \u2018o.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cBut how do they steer it?\u201d she pressed. \u201cCan they make it go where they want?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the clever part\u2014and the tricky part. They can\u2019t really steer it. Mostly, they travel wherever the wind takes them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora frowned at that. \u201cThat don\u2019t sound very safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t always,\u201d he agreed. \u201cBut balloonists learn to read the sky. The wind doesn\u2019t blow the same way at every height. Sometimes it turns east higher up, or west lower down. By letting the balloon rise or fall\u2014using heat or dropping a little weight\u2014they can catch different currents and guide themselves some.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth nodded. \u201cLike crossing a river by stepping on rocks instead of swimming straight across.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam gave her an approving look. \u201cExactly like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd if they want to go down?\u201d Nora asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey let the air cool,\u201d he said, \u201cor open a valve at the top so the hot air can escape. They also carry sandbags. Dropping one makes the balloon lighter and go up. Keeping them makes it settle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora sat very still for a moment, absorbing all of this. Then her eyes shone again. \u201cSo, they gotta think the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Adam said softly. \u201cThey do.\u201d<\/p>\n

She rested her chin in her hands, gazing at the book with renewed respect. \u201cI think I\u2019d like to fly like that,\u201d she decided.<\/p>\n

Her older sister immediately looked alarmed, but Adam only smiled softly. \u201cYou should talk to Uncle Hoss; he\u2019s been in one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rode it, too, if holding on to the ropes as it rose in the air counts.<\/em><\/p>\n

Simultaneous exclamations of \u201cHe has<\/em>?!\u201d were heard. One was a small shriek of delight, complete with wide-eyed wonder. The other held a considerable note of warning as Beth copied one of his looks again.<\/p>\n

\u201cShh, don\u2019t wake Georgie,\u201d Adam admonished. \u201cNow, let\u2019s try to get through this part, hm? It\u2019s nearly time for you both to be asleep. Especially you, curious girl.\u201d He leaned forward and kissed Nora\u2019s head. Not wanting Beth to be left out, he pressed a kiss to her forehead, too.<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s eyes sparkled with questions still unspoken, but sleep was already tugging at her. \u201cTomorrow,\u201d she whispered, \u201cI\u2019m going to ask Uncle Hoss about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eyes rolling heavenward, Beth sighed in that way only an eldest sibling can.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 2<\/p>\n

Church clothes shed with a stunning level of rapidity, the youngest generation of Cartwrights burst forth from the main house and into the yard with an explosion of enthusiasm. The enforced quiet and stillness of Sunday services doubled the energy and noise Ben\u2019s grandchildren\u2014ten of them now\u2014were capable of. He watched in wonder as they dashed outdoors, their shoes and boots skidding as they moved quickly, racing each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cOutside isn\u2019t going anywhere,\u201d he admonished. \u201cStop scuffing my floors!\u201d<\/p>\n

Half of them out on the porch, a quarter partway through the door, the rest jostling to exit, every child paused. Their heads swiveled towards Ben at the sound of his voice. Grandpa was fun, but he meant business when his voice rose.<\/p>\n

Swallowing a chuckle and feeling pleased he could still command the attention of young people, he feigned a stern look. \u201cSomeone\u2019s going to hurt the little ones if you\u2019re not careful. Not to mention my floors!\u201d<\/p>\n

Several heads dropped, looking at the wood beneath their feet, searching for damage. Discovering none, Benjie let out a loud\u00a0whoop<\/em>\u00a0and proceeded to bound out the door, the others following. Bringing up the rear was Beth, holding a toddler with each hand. She cast a look back at the adults, half apology, half mischief, before shifting her grip and shepherding the little ones forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cSlow,\u201d she murmured, though her own smile betrayed her. The toddlers complied for exactly three steps before their feet tangled and they lurched ahead together, squealing as Beth steadied them and laughed despite herself. The porch boards creaked under the renewed movement, but the chaos had softened now\u2014more shuffle than stampede.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head, lips twitching. That made eight out of doors, and two still inside being put down to nap.\u00a0Good odds.<\/em><\/p>\n

Unwilling to let Beth bear the responsibility of all the children alone, the adults headed out to the porch. The scent of the tall pines and the crisp touch of fall in the air, combined with the rich aroma of the coffee that filled their cups, made for a warm atmosphere as they settled comfortably together.<\/p>\n

From their spots on the porch, they could hear and see all the rise and fall of shrieks as the children enjoyed made-up games, the ball being alternately kicked and thrown as an argument worked itself out over how to play with it. In the center of it all was Beth, keeping a keen eye out, constantly counting heads to make certain no one wandered. A sharp word brought Benjie back when he attempted to sneak towards the corral. The dark glance she sent Benjie as he slunk back transmitted more disappointment than an eleven-year-old ought to be able to summon up.<\/p>\n

On the porch, Joe gave a low moan, dragging a hand down his face. \u201cDid you see that look? I think my soul just apologized on Benjie\u2019s behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n

He tipped his chair back on two legs and angled a grin at Adam. \u201cYou ever notice how she doesn\u2019t have to raise her voice? Just that stare. That very specific,\u00a0you-know-better<\/em>\u00a0stare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s lips twitched in amusement, but he didn\u2019t look in Joe\u2019s direction. He kept his eyes centered on the yard. \u201cShe\u2019s responsible,\u201d he said mildly.<\/p>\n

Joe snorted. \u201cResponsible? Adam, that was a full Cartwright indictment delivered in silence.\u201d He leaned closer, lowering his voice as Beth redirected two younger children with a touch to each shoulder and a quiet word. \u201cI\u2019ve seen you stop grown men with that exact same look.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben chuckled into his coffee. \u201cHe\u2019s right, Adam. That was your look, son. Same angle of the head, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam shifted and tugged at his earlobe. \u201cShe learned it somewhere,\u201d he conceded, raising both eyebrows.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Joe said promptly. \u201cFrom you. She just refined it. Made it sharper. Honestly, I\u2019m impressed\u2014and a little afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Out in the yard, Beth caught Benjie eyeing the fence again. One lifted brow was all it took. He sighed, turned back, and kicked the ball toward the others.<\/p>\n

Joe lifted his cup in salute to his niece. \u201cEight kids, no casualties, and order maintained without a single shout. Face it, Adam. That\u2019s your legacy right there. If we have to live with even more of those looks of yours, at least she\u2019s prettier than you, older brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam finally glanced at him. \u201cFinish your coffee,\u201d he said dryly.<\/p>\n

Joe grinned wider. \u201cSee? There it is again. I\u2019m right, aren\u2019t I, Hoss? Same look he\u2019s been givin’ us for years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGave\u00a0you<\/em>, little brother,\u201d Hoss corrected, his laugh booming across the porch. \u201cA lot more\u2019n he did me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The laughter earned him a wounded glance before Joe promptly mimicked Hoss\u2019s laugh\u2014overblown and ridiculous, complete with a shoulder shake and a deep, theatrical\u00a0ha-ha-ha<\/em>. It earned him exactly what he was aiming for.<\/p>\n

Ben barked out a laugh, coffee sloshing dangerously close to the rim of his cup as he tried to regain control.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you\u2019ve had it very rough,\u201d Amanda said sweetly, laying a hand on her husband\u2019s arm, her voice a picture of sympathy even as her eyes danced. \u201cYears of unbearable hardship, enduring brotherly guidance. I don\u2019t know how you survived.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee? Nobody understands my pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Across the yard, Beth caught the edge of laughter from the porch and looked up. For a brief second, her eyes narrowed\u2014head tilting just so\u2014before she turned back to the children, issuing a quiet directive that sent two of them scrambling to comply.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere.\u201d Joe used his cup to gesture towards Beth with enough enthusiasm that he spilled some of the liquid on himself. \u201cThat,<\/em>\u201d he added. \u201cTell me you didn\u2019t teach her that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stared into his coffee for a moment longer than necessary, a grin slowly spreading across his face. At last, he turned towards Joe, one brow lifting in a way that made his youngest brother\u2019s grin falter just a touch.<\/p>\n

Their father noticed and shook his head, his chuckle softening into a satisfied hum.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa! Hey Pa!\u00a0Pa!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Four heads snapped to attention and scanned the yard for whomever was calling. For Ben, it was a force of habit to look up at such a yell. Anyone shouting at him from the yard, however, wouldn\u2019t be saying \u2018pa\u2019\u2014his sons were right there with him.<\/p>\n

Adam gave Joe a nudge in the leg with the heel of his boot, a teasing smile tugging at his lips. \u201cNeither of yours call you \u2018Pa\u2019 yet; calm down,\u00a0little\u00a0<\/em>brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe straightened, mock-offended, pointing a finger at Adam. \u201cHey now! They\u2019re just little, give \u2019em time\u2014they\u2019ll learn to appreciate greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n

The eldest brother snorted in response.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth of ya simmer down, it\u2019s one of mine,\u201d Hoss retorted, spotting his oldest boy, Benjie, waving.<\/p>\n

The hand movements grew to frantic proportions once he knew he had Hoss\u2019s attention. \u201cPa! Come play!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s grin widened, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he set his coffee cup down. Benjie\u2019s arms flailed with excitement as he spotted his pa moving toward him. Hoss crouched down, opening his arms wide, and Benjie dove into a joyful hug, squealing with delight.<\/p>\n

From the porch, Adam shook his head, smiling.<\/p>\n

Hoss scooped up Benjie with ease, spinning him around once before setting him down and grabbing two more kids, one under each arm. Laughter erupted, blending with the shouts and squeals of the older children, the yard alive with motion. Hoss\u2019s booming voice called out instructions that were half game, half gentle correction, keeping chaos just orderly enough to be fun.<\/p>\n

Joe, watching, felt the familiar tug of competitiveness\u2014and a grin spread across his face. \u201cWell, if he\u2019s going to hog all the fun, I suppose I\u2019d better get in on this,\u201d he muttered, sprinting toward the action.<\/p>\n

The children\u2019s heads turned in surprise and delight as Joe arrived, crouching low and making exaggerated sneaky movements, growling playfully as if he were a wild animal stalking prey. The older kids shrieked and scattered in mock terror, while the littlest ones giggled uncontrollably as Joe \u201cchased\u201d them in wide, clumsy circles.<\/p>\n

Beth, who had been keeping a careful eye on the toddlers at the edge of the yard, finally set them down and shook out her skirts, a determined glint in her eyes. \u201cYou aren\u2019t the only ones who get to play,\u201d she called, striding forward with authority.<\/p>\n

The children immediately cheered, recognizing the familiar tone of leadership, and rushed to include her in their games.<\/p>\n

Joe didn\u2019t miss a beat, darting toward Beth with mock menace. \u201cOh, I see how it is!”<\/p>\n

Beth laughed and lightly tapped him on the shoulder, and Joe pretended to stumble just enough to elicit peals of laughter from the children. Soon, the yard was a whirlwind of movement\u2014Hoss tossing a ball, Joe chasing the older kids, Beth corralling the littlest ones, and every child in between, shrieking and squealing with pure delight.<\/p>\n

Eventually, breathless and red-faced, Hoss called for mercy and dropped onto the porch, stretching his legs out in front of him. He wiped his brow with a handkerchief, grinning as the children darted past again.<\/p>\n

That was when Nora made her move.<\/p>\n

After waiting days and days and\u00a0days\u00a0<\/em>(four whole ones!) for a chance to get Uncle Hoss all to herself to talk about balloons, now was her opportunity. She immediately abandoned the game and darted across the yard, legs pumping as fast as they could carry her.<\/p>\n

There was no missing his niece as she came at him with considerable speed. Hoss was more than ready for Nora when she arrived and, rather than let her leap on him, the man opened his arms wide to catch her. Once he did, Hoss tossed her gently in the air before catching her again. \u201cNeed a rest, too, honey?\u201d He settled Nora on his lap, waiting for an answer, but he doubted it would be a \u2018yes.\u2019 Not with how fast she was moving seconds ago!<\/p>\n

Nora wagged her head back and forth. \u201cI needa talk to you!\u201d<\/p>\n

The urgency behind her words caught him off guard. His arm tightened around her a little, as if guarding her from whatever invisible threat might be waiting. \u201cTalk to me huh? Well, here I am.\u201d Though Hoss gave her his usual sunny smile, his forehead creased a bit with concern.<\/p>\n

Gripping his vest tightly, Nora held on to it as she changed positions, moving to sit on her knees. Now face to face, she tugged on the tan leather, her eyes wide and expression serious. \u201cUncle Hoss\u2026 I gotta know\u2026\u201d Nora was so excited, she gulped in air to speak faster. \u201cEverything \u2018bout Zanzibar! Is it hot there? Hotter\u2019n summer here? Was the trees different? Did you see the Sultan? An\u2019 cross the ocean? How big\u2019s the ocean, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n

The big man\u2019s mouth opened and closed without speaking as Nora rattled off questions faster than he could process. He briefly glanced around, looking for Adam in hopes that his elder brother could explain what she was talking about. The other man had taken Hoss\u2019s place playing with the children and wasn\u2019t even looking in the direction of the porch. He was on his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold on, hold on,\u201d Hoss began, holding up a hand to bring the questioning to a pause. \u201cZanzi-what <\/em>now?\u201d<\/p>\n

Rather than being thrown off by his obvious confusion, Nora plowed ahead. \u201cZanzibar,\u201d she repeated. The word was spoken slowly; in case she\u2019d pronounced it incorrectly the first time. \u201cWhen you was in a balloon. Did you go there, across the ocean in a boat, before you got in a balloon that went in the sky?\u201d<\/p>\n

Only the mention of the sky helped Hoss figure out what his niece was asking about, at least in part. \u201cBalloon in the sky?\u201d A wide grin spread across his face. \u201cHow\u2019d you know I saw one of those?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora bounced a bit in his lap, thrilled that Uncle Hoss understood her. \u201cPapa! We\u2019re reading a story \u2018bout them and he said you been in one. In the book, they go to Zanzibar in a great big boat. It takes them cross the whole wide ocean to get there,\u201d she elaborated. \u201cDid you do that too, Uncle Hoss? Tell me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s arms tightened around Nora again\u2014this time not to steady her, but to keep her from launching herself clean out of his lap in sheer excitement. He smiled down at her, taking her earnest curiosity seriously.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose\u2019re mighty good questions,\u201d he said warmly. \u201cI sure wish I had grand answers for all of \u2019em, but I didn\u2019t cross no ocean or go clear off to Zanzibar\u201d\u2014wherever that was. \u201cTruth is, the balloon was right here on the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s jaw dropped. \u201cHere?\u201d she breathed. She leaned in so close their noses nearly touched, eyes crossing as she tried to focus on him. \u201cWhere?<\/em>\u201d Another thought sprung to mind, causing her to draw back slightly and narrow her eyes. \u201cDoes Papa know? Is it a secret? You can tell me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss couldn\u2019t help chuckling and lifted a hand to gently tap the end of her nose. \u201cIt ain\u2019t a secret,\u201d he assured her. \u201cAnd it\u2019s not here anymore.\u201d The way Nora\u2019s face fell brought a fast end to any laughter. \u201cHappened a good while ago\u2014fore I was even your uncle. Before your pa met your mama, even.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora tilted her head, considering how many years ago that had to be. \u201cA very long<\/em> while?\u201d she pressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cLong enough that fences were a lot newer, and I was a whole lot younger than I feel sittin\u2019 here today.\u201d Knowing time felt and moved differently for children Nora\u2019s age, that felt like a better way to explain than to offer vague notions like \u2018decade.\u2019 \u201cBut it was right here on the Ponderosa. Same trees standin\u2019 tall, same sky. Just a different day when a friend of your grandpa\u2019s came visitin\u2019 and brought it with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s eyes drifted past him toward the rolling land beyond the yard, imagination already taking flight. \u201cSo\u2026 the sky here is good enough?\u201d she questioned solemnly.<\/p>\n

Hoss nodded, just as solemn. \u201cBest kind there is.\u201d<\/p>\n

She bobbed her head in agreement, knowing in her heart that there was no other sky like that on the Ponderosa. There was little about San Francisco that she remembered. Brief fragments of memories of her mother were about all that she could recall.<\/p>\n

Now that her uncle confirmed he knew of and had experience with a balloon like that in the story, Nora intended to press him for every detail. \u201cDid you go in the basket? Did it go up high? Did it feel like you was flying like a bird? Did the wind push you hard?\u201d The questions fell from her lips as fast as they formed in her mind, giving Hoss little time to answer before the next was posed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I didn\u2019t go up in the basket,\u201d Hoss conceded. \u201cI got in it, but that\u2019s not how I rode it. I sorta rode it accidental.\u201d He grinned, watching Nora\u2019s eyes widen as she imagined how that must have occurred.<\/p>\n

That wasn\u2019t at all the reason his niece\u2019s bright green eyes grew big and round. Certain he was teasing with that response her lower lip started to quiver. For her, this was serious business! No one else she knew had ever been in a balloon like the one in the story. \u201cI\u2019m really askin\u2019. For really, real. Serious like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her earnest tone and the wobble in her voice cut Hoss to the quick. \u201cAw, darlin\u2019, I\u2019m not funnin\u2019 ya,\u201d he promised, giving her a squeeze. \u201cIt really was an accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s brows remained knitted together, skeptical still.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone else was in the basket, flyin\u2019 it. Your grandpa, Uncle Joe and me was helpin\u2019 bring it down again. Holding the ropes, pullin\u2019 as hard as we could.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now the child leaned in, hanging on his every word, eyes locked on Hoss as he told the story. She was so focused on listening, careful not to miss a single detail, that Nora hardly breathed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt came down to the ground and Major Cayley put a big hook on it, so he could use a winch to keep it on the ground. Before he could, it started to rise again and I was holding two of the ropes, see. \u2018Fore I knew it, I was floating right up in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gasping, Nora clutched his vest once more. \u201cOooh,\u201d she breathed, the sound almost reverent. \u201cYou did<\/em> fly. Was it wonderful? Did you go high as the trees? Was it pretty? Were you scared?\u201d Not that she could ever imagine her big uncle being frightened, but flying wasn\u2019t something a person did on the average day!<\/p>\n

Hoss chuckled, tilting his head so he could meet her earnest gaze. \u201cI\u2019ll tell you everything I remember\u2014the wind, the view, the way your stomach feels like it\u2019s full of butterflies. But you\u2019ve gotta promise me something first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bursting with curiosity, she was ready to agree to anything if only Uncle Hoss told her all those wonderful details. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss\u2019s grin softened. \u201cPromise me you won\u2019t do anything dangerous. I don\u2019t want to hear \u2018bout you trying to fly away over the treetops. I\u2019d sure hate to go chasin\u2019 you across the Ponderosa. Old Chubby\u2019d get mighty tired running that kind of race,\u201d he laughed. \u201cCan you do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her head bobbed enthusiastically. \u201cI promise!\u201d<\/p>\n

That was an easy assurance to give because she was a good girl. It was hardly her fault that danger didn\u2019t reveal itself until after<\/em> the fact.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 3<\/p>\n

Two ranch hands stood just outside the bunkhouse, watching\u2026 something. They couldn\u2019t quite figure out what was going on, other than it was bound to be something. <\/em>Whether good or bad, they couldn\u2019t tell just yet. But the middle of Adam Cartwright\u2019s three daughters was buzzing back and forth across the yard in a curious manner. Typically, that spelled trouble.<\/p>\n

If they were honest, anything to do with any of Adam\u2019s three girls spelled trouble eventually. Just last week, the little one had found some green paint and managed to redecorate the side of the barn with it. Along with the ground, the trough, and part of the porch before she was stopped. They\u2019d expected the boss to shout loud enough to be heard in the south pasture when he saw it.<\/p>\n

Instead, Ben only called for Hop Sing to warm water for a bath before plucking the toddler up\u2014carefully\u2014and taking her into the washhouse. Another of Adam\u2019s daughters, the oldest, had come careening outside, yelling about the toddler escaping (again), aghast at the disaster created in a few short minutes.<\/p>\n

When the hands saw the toddler tied to the porch the next day, neither batted an eye.<\/p>\n

Now, they contemplated finding someone and giving them fair warning. What they might warn them about was still unclear. Nora zigzagged across the yard, pulling items from the clothesline one at a time, ducking low so she remained out of Hop Sing\u2019s sight, and dashed away like a hummingbird. Each item was swiftly brought to the side of the house, where a large basket sat on the ground. Large enough for Nora to sit inside it and, she hoped, fly!<\/p>\n

She plopped down beside the basket with Grandpa\u2019s shirt in her hands and began tying it to a pair of her father\u2019s pants with a piece of twine. Those were attached to one of Beth\u2019s dresses, the clothing slowly but surely being crafted into a makeshift balloon. The basket tipped slightly as Nora leaned her full weight against it, tongue poked out in concentration. She looped the twine clumsily and gave the knot a triumphant tug.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere,\u201d she announced to no one in particular. \u201cThat\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the bunkhouse, the two ranch hands exchanged a look.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019ll do what<\/em>?\u201d one murmured.<\/p>\n

Before the other could answer, a voice cut through the yard. \u201cNora Cartwright\u2014Where are you? I said stay where I could see you!\u201d<\/p>\n

Can\u2019t even do homework in peace around here!<\/em><\/p>\n

Beth burst around the corner of the house, dark hair half loose from its braid, arms full of books which she promptly dropped when she took in the scene. The basket; the clothing trailing from it like a wounded flag; the twine. \u201cIs that my dress?\u201d Her voice rose slightly as she began to identify pieces of clothing. \u201cThose are Pa\u2019s good church clothes! And Grandpa\u2019s shirt! What are you doing<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n

She glanced towards the clothesline, finding it considerably depleted in comparison to when she arrived home from school. Her head whipped around to Nora again, eyes wide. \u201cOh, no. No. <\/em>You didn\u2019t! Not the clean clothes,\u201d Beth moaned. \u201cHop Sing is going to be so<\/em> mad.\u201d She could already envision the man\u2019s angry exclamations in a mix of Cantonese and English, all while brandishing\u2014and probably using\u2014that wooden spoon of his. She rolled her eyes heavenward and wondered what it might be like to be an only child again.<\/p>\n

Completely ignoring her big sister\u2019s ire, Nora continued with her important work. Tugging the knot tight, she patted it once for good measure. Only then did she turn, chin lifted, to face Beth with a grin far too wide and much too triumphant for the situation unfolding in front of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat. Are. You. Doing?\u201d Beth ground out, jaw clenched tight. Somehow, someway, this was going to end up getting her in trouble. She just knew it!<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a balloon,\u201d Nora announced, bright and matter of fact, as if she were pointing out the weather or explaining why the sky was blue.<\/p>\n

Somehow, that wasn\u2019t the answer Beth expected. Her mouth opened a bit, her brows knitted in confusion, and for a good thirty seconds she simply stared. Her gaze flicked from Nora\u2019s beaming face to the swollen shape tugging at its ties, then back. \u201cA\u2026 balloon?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora nodded eagerly, braids bouncing. \u201cA big one,\u201d she added helpfully, as though that clarified matters instead of making them worse.<\/p>\n

Laughter caused Beth\u2019s head to snap in the direction of the bunk house, eyes narrowed. The men turned away, their laughs morphing into a considerable coughing fit.<\/p>\n

Her attention immediately returned to Nora. \u201cTake it apart, right now,\u201d Beth ordered. She didn\u2019t bother to wait for her sister to comply, reaching for the so-called balloon to begin the disassembly herself. \u201cWhat did you think you were gonna do? Go floating in the sky in Pa\u2019s good clothes?!\u201d A brief glance at Nora\u2019s face told Beth that was exactly <\/em>what her little sister intended to do.<\/p>\n

As far as Nora was concerned, there was no debate to be had. She scrambled into the basket with quick, practiced movements, skirts hiked just enough to keep from tangling and gave the balloon a sharp yank backward before Beth could get her fingers into any of the twine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going!\u201d Nora declared. She held the basket with one hand while trying to inflate her balloon somehow with the other. A change in the wind offered a slight assist and the little girl cheered.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not!\u201d Beth shot back, heart thudding as the balloon tugged again, eager as a living thing. \u201cGet out of there right now, Eleanor Cartwright, I mean it!\u201d She reached for her sister, ready to yank the younger girl out if she had to.<\/p>\n

Nora pushed her away, shouting back, \u201cDon\u2019t you big-name me, \u2018Lizbeth!\u201d<\/p>\n

The words hit Beth sideways. She froze\u2014then snorted before she could stop herself. \u201cBig-name?\u201d she repeated, incredulous. The absurdity of it, paired with Nora\u2019s fierce little glare and the ridiculous balloon looming over them, cracked something loose. A giggle escaped, then another, until Beth had to brace herself against the basket, laughing so hard her sides ached.<\/p>\n

Nora scowled, offended on principle. \u201cIt\u2019s not funny,\u201d she insisted, though the balloon gave another hopeful tug, as if it disagreed.<\/p>\n

One of the ranch hands finally spoke up. \u201cMiss Beth,\u201d he called, \u201cyou might want to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Before he could finish, a gust of wind swept across the yard. The clothes rustled. The basket shifted.<\/p>\n

And very distinctly, it lifted<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Beth screamed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNORA!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora squealed with delight as the basket bobbed like a startled animal. Twine creaked. Fabric snapped taut.<\/p>\n

Adam rounded the corner just in time to see his good coat billow, his father\u2019s shirt and other clothing strain, and his middle daughter laughing as gravity briefly reconsidered its loyalties.<\/p>\n

There was no time to think about anything, certainly not a rational plan. As the basket bobbed and lifted slightly from the ground, Beth dove inside it. The combined weight of the two Cartwright girls was too much for the twine. With a sound as loud as a cannon shot, the twine gave away completely, setting the laundry free from the basket.<\/p>\n

The improvised balloon lurched sideways, garments flapping wildly as the trapped air escaped in every direction at once. Adam lunged forward on pure instinct, boots skidding in the dirt as the whole contraption collapsed in on itself. A coat tore free and sailed past his shoulder like a wounded bird.<\/p>\n

Beth, Nora, and the basket tumbled in a tangle of limbs, skirts, and twine. The ranch hands began chasing the clothing as it scattered across the yard on the wind.<\/p>\n

For half a heartbeat, neither girl moved.<\/p>\n

Then Nora burst into laughter\u2014full-bodied, breathless, utterly delighted laughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you see<\/em> that?\u201d she gasped. \u201cBeth, we lifted<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth lay flat on her back, staring up at the sky, chest heaving. \u201cI\u2026 am going\u2026 to be sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly, the sky disappeared, her vision filled with the sight of their anxious father, his eyes sweeping over them, looking for damage. Carefully, Beth sat upright, her heart still racing. She watched as Papa pulled Nora to her feet and checked her carefully for cuts, scrapes, broken bones, finding none. Her turn came next, though she weakly tried to wave him away, Papa refused to be deterred.<\/p>\n

Only when he was entirely sure they were unharmed did Adam give any attention to the wreckage. His coat in the dust, his father\u2019s shirt stretched nearly beyond recognition, the remains of clean laundry scattered end to end across the yard. His jaw tightened, a muscle jumping near his temple.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat,\u201d he said slowly, \u201cwere you thinking?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora opened her mouth. Closed it; tried again. \u201cI thought\u2026 it might work?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth groaned softly and covered her face. A part of her wished the balloon had carried her off after all.<\/p>\n

Adam pinched the bridge of his nose and drew in a long breath through his teeth. When he looked back at Nora, his voice was calm\u2014but the kind of calm that warned of a storm being held back by will alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou used the clean laundry,\u201d he said, his voice low and tight, each word clipped as though he were carefully choosing it. He bent and lifted the edge of his coat from the dirt, dust puffing faintly from the fine wool, then let it fall again. \u201cThe Sunday<\/em> clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora nodded, chin trembling now, the thrill of flight draining out of her all at once. \u201cThey were the biggest,\u201d she said in a small voice, as if size alone might justify the choice.<\/p>\n

Beth, still half-curled on the ground, peeked through her fingers at the destruction scattered across the yard\u2014stretched seams, torn hems, clean clothes now dirtied. \u201cHop Sing is going to murder us,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

Adam straightened slowly, drawing himself to his full height. His expression didn\u2019t soften; if anything, it hardened into something resolute and grim. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cHe isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

That didn\u2019t sound reassuring in the slightest.<\/p>\n

For a moment he simply stood there, looking down at both girls\u2014Beth pale and shaken, Nora wilted. Then he extended his hand toward Nora, palm open, firm and unmistakably expectant.<\/p>\n

She slipped her small hand into his as Beth stood stiffly beside him.<\/p>\n

Adam gathered one torn sleeve from the ground, holding it up between two fingers.<\/p>\n

Beth gasped, recognizing it immediately. \u201cMy dress. My favorite<\/em> dress.\u201d She threw an angry glance at Nora.<\/p>\n

He ignored her comments, redirecting the conversation. \u201cYou could have been hurt,\u201d he pointed out quietly. \u201cBoth of you. Do you have any idea what would have happened if that had gone higher?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora swallowed. \u201cI\u2026 hadn\u2019t got that far yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

He bit back the sarcastic retort that sprang to mind. \u201cAnd that is entirely the problem,\u201d Adam responded at last. He turned them toward the house with a firm hand on each shoulder. \u201cInside. You two are going to explain all of this to Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth let out a huge groan. \u201cPa, I know circumstance evidence is against me right now, but if you hear me out\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

His lips twitched as he fought a smile. Ever the lawyer, this one<\/em>. \u201cCircumstantial,\u201d Adam corrected. \u201cI\u2019ll hear your defense, inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Beth tried to explain the outrageous situation, Nora was already planning her next attempt at flight. This one, without a balloon made of clothes.<\/p>\n

———<\/p>\n

The moment Beth\u2019s foot crossed the threshold, and thereby was \u2018inside\u2019 the house, she started to put her defense forward. \u201cPa, I want it known right now, that I was a very unwilling participant in everything Nora did. All of it! It needs to be put in the record,\u201d she started.<\/p>\n

Looking up from his ledgers at the desk in the alcove, Ben hummed thoughtfully and decided not to say a word. It\u2019s going to be one of those days.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat record?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour record. Grandpa\u2019s record. Hop Sing\u2019s. Any and all<\/em> records. In the Territorial Enterprise<\/em> if need be!\u201d Beth stated dramatically. The hint of desperation in her tone was more than a little evident as she worked quickly to distance herself from Nora\u2019s misbehavior.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2014\u201d The oldest child thrust a stern finger at Nora. \u201cWas out there building a balloon, trying to fly somewhere and I stopped her. That\u2019s all I did. I had nothing to do with\u2026 with\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam watched Beth\u2019s temper rise, eyes flashing, chin lifted. If he hadn\u2019t been walking her towards the kitchen, he knew Beth would plant her feet on the floor, place her hands on her hips, and give him that<\/em> look again.<\/p>\n

His <\/em>look.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2014With an attempted aeronautical ascension!\u201d<\/p>\n

And Alta\u2019s fire. <\/em>He could almost hear Alta\u2019s voice making a similarly grand pronouncement, albeit at a lower volume, her brilliant green eyes alight with the same fire. It was a bittersweet pang, a reminder of the woman who had given him these remarkable, maddening children.<\/p>\n

Despite himself, Adam was impressed with Beth\u2019s declaration of Nora\u2019s efforts, even if it was something she\u2019d heard in Five Weeks in a Balloon<\/em>. He caught the faintest twitch at the corner of Beth\u2019s mouth that told him she knew he\u2019d recognize it. Still\u2014credit where it was due. She was making her case with all the evidence at her disposal. Someday, she\u2019ll be unstoppable<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI AM NOT!\u201d Nora shouted, stomping her boot loudly on the wooden floor. She glared at Beth, daring her big sister to repeat that. Whatever it was. Nora had no idea. She only knew that if Beth was using that<\/em> tone, it wasn\u2019t a positive thing.<\/p>\n

Definitely maddening; he was going to lose his mind before they reached adulthood, surely.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cShe was saying she had nothing to do with your attempt to fly,\u201d he explained carefully, enunciating every word as though clarity alone might tame the chaos.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d Nora paused, scowl softening as the meaning finally caught up. She tilted her head, considering this new information. After a moment, she nodded decisively. \u201cBeth didn\u2019t help me at all,\u201d she agreed.<\/p>\n

Beth spread her hands wide in a gesture that said, I rest my case<\/em>, her expression a blend of vindication and exasperation.<\/p>\n

Adam could only shake his head. Without commenting\u2014experience had taught him that commentary only encouraged them\u2014he kept them moving toward the kitchen. Or tried to. With every step closer, Nora\u2019s pace dwindled, her strides shrinking until she was barely shuffling, eyes fixed ahead as the steady sound of Hop Sing\u2019s work echoed from within. The sound had a rhythm all its own\u2014precise, practiced.<\/p>\n

That was the last thing Nora wanted to hear and the last place she wanted to go. She never considered that there might be complications\u2014namely a run in with Hop Sing\u2014from using the freshly laundered clothing drying on the line. She had no desire to tell him that the laundry had gone flying away, some of it in bits and pieces, across the yard. She slowed her steps to teensy, tiny, miniscule ones. Still moving, but just barely.<\/p>\n

Adam felt it before he fully registered it. Nora was no longer keeping pace.<\/p>\n

His hand slid from her shoulder to her arm, tightening gently but firmly as he urged her forward. \u201cNormal walking,\u201d he said, already weary.<\/p>\n

That, at least, had been the plan.<\/p>\n

Instead, Nora abruptly folded bonelessly to the floor, transforming herself into a sack of flour with impressive speed. Adam stumbled, boot catching on her skirts, and windmilled an arm to keep from going down with her. \u201cNora!\u201d he snapped, more startled than angry.<\/p>\n

From somewhere behind him came a very specific sound\u2014a sharp, hearty laugh, hastily smothered but unmistakable. Adam didn\u2019t need to look to know his father was working at his desk and enjoying this spectacle far more than was decent.<\/p>\n

Adam stopped short and closed his eyes for a brief, prayerful moment, counting silently to three. When he opened them again, Nora was still sprawled on the floor, cheek pressed to the boards, limbs arranged in a way that suggested she had every intention of staying there until further notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet up,\u201d he said evenly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy legs is broken,\u201d came the muffled reply, followed by a dramatic sigh that carried just far enough to suggest suffering of the deepest kind.<\/p>\n

More smothered laughter echoed from the alcove.<\/p>\n

Adam exhaled through his nose and looked back over his shoulder. \u201cBeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eldest daughter stood there, hands covering her mouth, laughter dancing in her eyes. \u201cStill here,\u201d she confirmed, struggling to keep her voice even. Her eyes flicked towards Nora, still on the floor. \u201cI didn\u2019t think she could drop that fast. I wonder why I never thought of that.\u201d Beth met his eyes and snickered behind her hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of Nora is enough for us all,\u201d Adam noted dryly. \u201cLet\u2019s hope Georgie isn\u2019t nearby taking notes.\u201d Without waiting for further theatrics\u2014or negotiations\u2014he bent, scooped the still-dramatically limp child off the floor, and tucked her neatly under his arm as though she weighed no more than a bundle of laundry.<\/p>\n

Nora let out a startled yelp that quickly turned into indignant protest as he carried her straight toward the kitchen.<\/p>\n

Beth trailed after them with a long-suffering sigh.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 4<\/p>\n

Hop Sing was no fool. He\u2019d seen the clothesline and noted the contents were missing, heard the commotion outside, and known that an explanation was sure to come. He looked up at the trio as they entered, Adam with Nora under his arm and Beth just behind him. The eldest Cartwright son put his middle child on the floor and nudged her forward, then gestured at Beth with his head for her to move up, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere,\u201d Hop Sing asked, his voice deceptively quiet, \u201cis laundry?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora, sensing this was a question she could answer, piped up. \u201cIt\u2019s flying! The wind did it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing\u2019s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n

Inwardly, Beth groaned. Of course I\u2019m the one that has to tell him. <\/em>She took a deep breath. \u201cI tried to stop her. I really did. She was making a balloon out of the clean clothes, and I told her to take it apart and then she got in the basket and then the wind\u2026 it just\u2026 lifted.\u201d Her voice trailed off, sounding weak even to her own ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cNice Sunday shirt\u2026 Mistah Ben\u2019s best shirt\u2026\u201d Hop Sing\u2019s voice rose, the Cantonese and English starting to blend into a torrent of fury. \u201cYou take\u2026 for\u00a0balloon<\/em>? For fly? Birds fly! Foolishment!<\/em> Laundry get clean! Not fly in sky!\u201d<\/p>\n

Knowing it was more bluster than anything else, Adam let the man have his say. A day\u2019s work had<\/em> been ruined, after all, and Hop Sing had every right to be angry. His voice filled the room, sharp and rapid, punctuated by expressive gestures toward the table where once-pristine garments, recovered by the ranch hands, now lay rumpled and torn. Adam listened without interruption, absorbing it all with the patience of a man who knew the storm would burn itself out.<\/p>\n

Nora, however, folded under it completely. Her shoulders caved inward as if she were trying to disappear into her own dress. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as her lower lip began to tremble. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she whispered, the words small and earnest and very, very real.<\/p>\n

Adam waited until Hop Sing paused to draw breath. Only then did he speak, his voice steady and measured, carrying just enough authority to settle the room. \u201cThey will help you rewash the laundry and repair what can be,\u201d he said at last. \u201cAnd assist with folding and whatever else you\u2019d like them to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s head snapped up. \u201cPa! I didn\u2019t have anything to do with it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing turned his gaze on her, unimpressed. \u201cHow long you not see Missy Nora?\u201d he asked pointedly. \u201cMany clothes gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her shoulders slumped as she leaned back against the wall, the fight draining out of her. There was no clever argument to be made there. She had<\/em> lost track of Nora\u2014long enough, apparently, for half the household wardrobe to attempt flight.<\/p>\n

She dragged her hand down her face. \u201cFor the record,\u201d she added under her breath, \u201cI tried to stop her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes flicked toward her. One brow rose slowly. \u201cYou dove into the basket,\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Beth said, pushing away from the wall, bristling again, \u201csomeone had to.\u201d She slanted a sideways glance at Nora, who was still sniffling quietly. \u201cI guess<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a heartbeat, Adam\u2019s composure cracked. The corner of his mouth twitched, just barely, before he turned away under the pretense of adjusting his coat\u2014anything to keep them from seeing the reluctant amusement that threatened to surface.<\/p>\n

\u201cUpstairs,\u201d he said briskly. \u201cChange. I think your dresses will need some mending too,\u201d Adam added. He could see a tear in Beth\u2019s sleeve and the hem of Nora\u2019s skirt was coming undone. \u201cThen back down here. Hop Sing will decide when you\u2019re finished.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora nodded quickly and turned for the stairs, happy to exit the kitchen, for a brief time at least. Beth followed slowly, wondering how, exactly, she always found herself in these situations.<\/p>\n

They climbed in silence for several steps, the wood creaking beneath their shoes. Halfway up, Nora\u2019s hand slipped from the banister and brushed Beth\u2019s sleeve. She hesitated, then asked in a small voice, \u201cYou mad at me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth stopped. She looked down at her sister\u2014at the tear tracks on her cheeks, the way she was bracing herself for an answer she already thought she deserved. Beth sighed and leaned her hip against the railing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was,\u201d she confessed. \u201cWhen I was layin\u2019 on the ground thinking I was gonna be sick.\u201d Beth shook her head. \u201cYou get me into so much trouble, you know that?\u201d There was no rancor to her words, only the weariness that comes with being the eldest.<\/p>\n

Nora swallowed. \u201cI ruined your dress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat,\u201d Beth admitted, \u201cis a tragedy of historic proportions.\u201d She watched Nora\u2019s face crumple again and immediately regretted her words. They weren\u2019t sincere, but her sister didn\u2019t always understand it when she made comments Papa called droll.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor you,\u201d she added, lightly poking Nora\u2019s belly. \u201cBecause now you\u2019ll have to come with to help me find another. There might be one readymade, or we\u2019ll have to pick fabric. You\u2019ll help me, won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora blinked, surprised by the sudden turn. \u201cHelp you?\u201d she asked, voice still thick.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely,\u201d Beth said, nodding as though it were already settled law. \u201cYou owe me, after all. And I\u2019ll need a second opinion\u2014someone with vision<\/em>.\u201d She gave Nora a pointed look. \u201cPreferably the kind that doesn\u2019t involve flight.\u201d<\/p>\n

That drew a watery laugh. Nora wiped her cheeks with her sleeve. \u201cI can do that,\u201d she said earnestly. \u201cI\u2019m good at colors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Beth replied, softer now. \u201cYou always pick the best ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

They started walking again, slowly this time, the stairs no longer feeling quite so steep. Nora kicked at the hem of her skirt as they went. \u201cI won\u2019t do it again,\u201d she promised. \u201cNot with clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

———-<\/p>\n

Doing laundry and mending clothing was a long, hard lesson neither Cartwright sister forgot quickly. Beth was more careful with her clothing after spending so much time putting careful stitches into the items that could be repaired, and made certain to offer quiet thanks whenever Hop Sing did laundry.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you want help?\u201d Beth offered, bringing Hop Sing the clothing she\u2019d collected. While she hadn\u2019t enjoyed doing laundry, finding the chore to be difficult and boring\u2014not to mention leaving her sore and stiff after\u2014it felt wrong not to offer now that she knew what a big burden it could be.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing shook his head. \u201cMissy Beth do own work,\u201d he reminded her. Just like the Cartwright boys when they were young, Adam\u2019s children had chores they completed to assist in the running of the house and ranch. \u201cChores, school. Little missies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s face grew a little red at the reminder she was supposed to help watch her sisters. The incidents of late\u2014Nora trying to fly and Georgie playing with paint\u2014had dented her confidence a bit. She shifted the bundle in her hands. \u201cI know,\u201d she said quietly. \u201cI just thought\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing took the clothing from her and set it aside. \u201cIt good thought,\u201d he told her, offering a smile. \u201cBut Hop Sing faster.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean for anything to happen,\u201d she blurted at last. \u201cOr to make your work harder. With Nora, or Georgie. I was watching\u2014I really was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing\u2019s mouth twitched. \u201cWatching little missies,\u201d he said dryly, \u201cnot same as stopping little missies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth huffed a small, reluctant breath. \u201cI noticed that.\u201d Exasperation tinged her tone, even as a smile played on her lips.<\/p>\n

For a moment there was only the steady sound of water sloshing in the tub. Then Hop Sing spoke again, quieter. \u201cBig missy learn same way little missies do. By doing. By mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tension eased from Beth\u2019s shoulders. She turned toward the door, then paused. \u201cI\u2019ll do better,\u201d she promised, though she wasn\u2019t entirely sure how yet.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing waved a dismissive hand. \u201cAlready do,\u201d he said. \u201cYou worry. That big sister job too.\u201d<\/p>\n

———-<\/p>\n

Nora, too, learned some lessons from her first attempt at flying and the consequences that followed. Though hers were exceptionally different from those her older sister retained.<\/p>\n

A balloon might not be the best way to fly. Now that she\u2019d had a tiny taste of it\u2014just those few inches off the ground in her clothing-and-twine creation\u2014Nora had to have more. She thought about what the Ponderosa might look like from the sky. Do the trees seem like little flowers from way up high?<\/em><\/p>\n

Nora sketched how she pictured that view, the trees appearing like a field of flowers. She inherited Adam\u2019s drawing ability and brought these images to life with considerable skill, color enhancing it. Whenever anyone asked what she was up to (a reasonable question given recent events) she simply shrugged her shoulders.<\/p>\n

Adam and Ben exchanged looks over Nora\u2019s head, bowed over her paper on the coffee table, and copied her gesture. They didn\u2019t say it aloud, but both were thinking it: At least she\u2019s not into anything.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Rah!\u201d Georgie called, trying to get her big sister\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n

Nora barely glanced up. \u201cNot now,\u201d she murmured absently, shifting her paper farther from the enthusiastic reach of small hands.<\/p>\n

Deeply offended, the toddler planted both palms on the edge of the coffee table and stretched on tiptoe. \u201c\u2019Rah!\u201d she insisted, louder this time, a command rather than a request.<\/p>\n

Looking up from her drawing, she glanced at her little sister briefly. \u201cMine,\u201d Nora explained, gesturing towards her work. She pointed at the small collection of toys near the blue chair where Adam sat. \u201cThose are yours Georgie.\u201d<\/p>\n

That didn\u2019t satisfy the toddler, who slapped her hands on the coffee table once more. Leaning close, almost putting her face to the drawing, Georgie pointed at something. \u201cBird!\u201d It sounded closer to \u2018burr\u2019 but the toothy smile she flashed at Nora spoke of how proud Georgie was to identify it.<\/p>\n

The little artist smiled despite herself. She leaned closer and followed Georgie\u2019s stubby finger. \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d she said softly. \u201cA bird. It\u2019s flying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFlowah,\u201d Georgie asserted, stabbing her finger at a tree.<\/p>\n

Nora laughed and carefully lifted the page out from under Georgie\u2019s reach. \u201cTrees,\u201d she corrected gently. \u201cThey just look<\/em> like flowers from way up high.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam stiffened just a little at that, sensing trouble. He cleared his throat and asked, \u201cFrom where exactly is \u2018way up high,\u2019 Nora?\u201d He watched her lift her shoulders innocently, but there was a telltale sparkle in her eye. The one that said Nora\u2019s imagination was working overtime.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust\u2026 up,\u201d she answered innocently.<\/p>\n

\u201cBird!\u201d Georgie chirped once more. \u201cPapa, bird!\u201d She beamed at Adam, pointing in the direction of Nora\u2019s paper. \u201cSee, bird?\u201d<\/p>\n

The alarm began to seep out of him as Adam rose to examine the drawing, noting the bird that Georgie was fixated on. He offered Nora a soft smile of approval at the creativity and skill of her work. \u201cTakes after me, this one,\u201d he grinned at Ben. \u201cThat bird is well done. I can see why your sister likes it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBIRD!\u201d Georgie squealed. Her enchantment with the drawing over with, she bounded off towards her toys. Plucking a carved wooden horse from among her things, she raced over to show it to Ben. \u201cHorsey!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, my goodness!\u201d Ben scooped her up from the floor, setting Georgie on his knee. \u201cWhat a magnificent horse that is!\u201d The grandfather had seen it hundreds of times, thousands even, but he always acted as if it were the first time. The way Georgie\u2019s face lit up at the compliment, as though she<\/em> had never heard it before, gave him every reason to pretend. \u201cDoes he have a name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHim Bird,\u201d she repeated solemnly, stroking the horse\u2019s neck with all the seriousness of a rancher gentling a prize stallion.<\/p>\n

The grandfather nodded gravely, as though this was the most sensible thing he\u2019d heard all day, his lips twitching as he struggled not to laugh. That\u2019s a new one<\/em>. \u201cA fine name,\u201d he managed to reply without chuckling.<\/p>\n

Adam watched the exchange with a softness that never quite left his eyes when his children were involved.<\/p>\n

Still seated on the floor at the coffee table, Nora grinned. \u201cShe\u2019s really silly,\u201d she decided with a shake of her head. Georgie was fun, most of the time, even if she didn\u2019t always understand her.<\/p>\n

Adam bent closer, his voice barely above a breath. \u201cI remember a little girl who used to march around the sitting room with a basket on her head.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora spun to face him, scandalized delight written all over her face. \u201cBeth?\u201d she gasped, as if he\u2019d just revealed a secret treasure map.<\/p>\n

Slowly, Adam shook his head. Then, with a teasing smile, he reached out and tapped the tip of Nora\u2019s nose. \u201cYou.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sucked in a dramatic breath. \u201cMe?\u201d she cried, green eyes\u2014Alta\u2019s eyes\u2014stretching wide in mock horror. \u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n

Her protest earned a low chuckle from Adam. \u201cOh, yes,\u201d he confirmed. \u201cYou\u2019ve always been full of imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n

The comment about her imagination drew Nora\u2019s glance back down to her drawing. She traced the bird with her finger, quite proud of how well it turned out. \u201cI\u2019ve been learning about birds,\u201d she told him.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyebrows rose, curiosity sharpening his expression. \u201cHave you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora nodded at once, earnest as ever. \u201cReading the pictures of their wings,\u201d she explained, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.<\/p>\n

Adam let out a quiet breath that might have been a laugh. It was such a Nora thing to say. She didn\u2019t just look<\/em> at pictures; she studied them, traced meaning into every line and curve. \u201cReading,\u201d she had called it, as though the wings themselves were telling her stories if she only watched closely enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what you and Grandpa have been looking at together the last few days?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she said, brightening. \u201cHe helps me with the words, but I don\u2019t need help with the wings. The wide ones mean they glide, and the sharp ones mean they\u2019re fast. And some birds\u2014\u201d she paused, brow furrowing as she searched for the right thought, \u201c\u2014some birds fold their wings like they\u2019re keeping secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n

His smile softened, pride warming his chest. He reached out and rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. \u201cI never thought of it that way,\u201d Adam murmured.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey float sometimes Papa, did you know? Birds float! The air just holds \u2018em. I don\u2019t know how,\u201d the little girl admitted. \u201cAnd some got special wings.\u201d The lack of concern at her reading material emboldened Nora, and she shared more knowledge. \u201cAn\u2019 they glide.\u201d She demonstrated with her hand. \u201cWhen they land.\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgie chose that moment to wriggle decisively. She planted both small palms on Ben\u2019s vest, gave a determined grunt, and slid down his knee to the floor, landing in a slightly crouched heap of skirts and socks.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Ben murmured fondly, hands hovering just long enough to be sure she was steady, \u201coff you go, then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Off she went\u2014feet slapping softly against the floor as she made a determined beeline for the coffee table. Her short golden hair bounced with every step, and her little hands stretched out with single-minded purpose for Nora\u2019s carefully arranged pencils, their pointy ends calling to her like a treasure.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Georgie, no!\u201d Nora called, already scrambling forward, papers fluttering as she tried to scoop them up before disaster struck.<\/p>\n

The toddler was fast\u2014surprisingly so for someone still unsteady on her feet\u2014but Adam was quicker. He intercepted her just as her fingers brushed the edge of the table, scooping her cleanly into his arms. Georgie let out a delighted squeal as he lifted her high and gave her a playful toss, her giggles filling the room as she landed safely back against his chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell now,\u201d he said, grinning despite himself as she kicked her feet in triumph, \u201cwe need to find you something to do, troublemaker.\u201d He nudged his nose against hers, earning another laugh. As he continued to toss Georgie in the air, letting her wiggle and giggle out some energy, Adam glanced in Nora\u2019s direction and gave his middle child a wink.<\/p>\n

Sighing in relief at the quick save, Nora frantically packed up her pencils, colors, and papers. When Papa looked her way, she cast him a grateful smile and moved her art materials away to a safer location\u2014a drawer in Grandpa\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n

She shifted her gaze to the window, where a pair of birds flitted past the glass, wings flashing in the sunlight as they banked and turned with effortless grace. Just feathers and air and motion, all working together.<\/p>\n

Nora tilted her head, studying it with a thoughtful frown. Her eyes brightened, curiosity sparking as she watched the birds glide and adjust, wings tilting, tails spreading wide.<\/p>\n

A balloon made of clothing wasn\u2019t the answer.<\/p>\n

But the birds had good ideas: shapes that moved with and on the air; catching it rather than fighting to rise. She leaned closer to the window, her mind racing as an idea began to form. One that was much better than before.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 5<\/p>\n

The birds were definitely on to something.<\/p>\n

Nora stood watching them, the door open, leaning against the frame. Finches, or maybe Sparrows; she\u2019d ask Grandpa if he ever came down. The only one she knew for sure was the Mountain Bluebird, due to its bright blue color. They played in the yard, flitting around the water trough and hitching rail, up to the top of the barn, and all around. Nora followed them not just with her eyes, but with her head, too. Her hand mimicked the patterns of their flight.<\/p>\n

She wished she could move closer, even as far as the porch, but Papa had told her to stay inside when she asked to watch the birds.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d said it in\u00a0that\u00a0<\/em>voice: the \u2018I\u2019m still paying attention to you even if I\u2019m doing something else that\u2019s trying my patience.\u2019<\/p>\n

That something was Georgie, who never got ready nicely for church like her big sisters did.<\/p>\n

Beth told Nora, when it was just the two of them, that they never went so very much when Mama was alive and they lived in San Francisco.\u00a0Just on special days, when it was respected<\/em>. Nora scrunched her nose up and shook her head. Beth had used a different word. After a moment it came to her:\u00a0expected.\u00a0<\/em>But Grandpa liked church and always went; Nora couldn\u2019t figure out why.<\/p>\n

Opening the door and watching the birds from there, while keeping all her toes firmly inside the house, felt like a perfect compromise to her mind. Nora made that decision all on her own, mostly because Papa was busy with Georgie.<\/p>\n

————-<\/p>\n

Upstairs, the great toddler chase was on. Georgie flew down the hallway in her underclothing, laughing loudly.<\/p>\n

Beth looked on from her door, dressed just so, hair perfectly braided, bonnet in hand. She watched as her father ran after her littlest sister and gave a weary sigh. \u201cPa, you can\u2019t run at her straight on. She thinks it\u2019s a game then.\u201d She was certain she told him the same thing every week, and yet the same chase happened without fail every Sunday.<\/p>\n

Adam cornered her in his room, by the bed. \u201cGeorgiana, Papa is serious now. We\u2019re not playing,\u201d he told the grinning toddler in a stern voice. \u201cWe\u2019re going to get dressed for church now.\u201d Why this dress\u2014a sprigged yellow cotton with a wide sash\u2014seemed to activate chase mode when the others did not, Adam was certain he\u2019d never understand. \u201cIt\u2019ll only take a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgie blinked at him, considered his words very seriously\u2026 and then bolted.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey\u2014!\u201d Adam lunged, missing her by inches as she darted under the bed, crawling out the other side with unnatural speed. Her giggle echoed like she\u2019d just pulled off the cleverest trick.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, no!\u201d Georgie laughed, running down the hall again. She darted into Ben\u2019s room and, spying her grandfather, attempted to climb him like a tree.<\/p>\n

Adam skidded to a stop in the doorway just as Georgie latched onto Ben\u2019s trouser leg with both hands, grinning up at him like she\u2019d conquered Everest.<\/p>\n

\u201cGa\u2019pa!\u201d Georgie declared proudly. Her hair stuck up in wild tufts, cheeks flushed, eyes bright with triumph.<\/p>\n

The man in question grinned as he submitted to her efforts to scale him like a mountain, offering his hands to alternately steady her and serve as footholds.<\/p>\n

Adam caught his breath, hands on his hips, the dress hanging limply in one of them. \u201cYou are fast,\u201d he said, narrowing his eyes at her. \u201cSuspiciously fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben chuckled at how out of breath Adam was, given he\u2019d been chasing the tot for ten minutes straight with no luck at getting her dressed. \u201cWant me to try,\u201d he offered, taking pity on his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can dress my own child,\u201d Adam ground out.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you?\u201d Ben teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to be smarter than she is,\u201d Beth announced, appearing behind Adam. She tugged the dress out of his grasp. \u201cGive her something she wants. She doesn\u2019t take you seriously when you\u2019re stern. She thinks it\u2019s funny.\u201d And Beth thought\u00a0that<\/em>\u00a0was hysterical but kept that thought to herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d Adam asked. \u201cI\u2019m not going to bribe her into getting dressed. I\u2019ll be feeding her cookies every morning for the rest of her life if we start that now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth walked past him into Grandpa\u2019s room. “No, you have to make it her idea. Georgie,” she said softly. “Look. It’s the\u00a0sunshine<\/em>\u00a0dress. Pretty and yellow, like the sun! Only the best girls wear the sunshine dress on Sunday. It has the prettiest sash for twirling, too. Don\u2019t you want to twirl and be shiny like the sun?\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgie\u2019s interest was piqued, and she paused in her ascent of Grandpa, eyes wide. She looked at the dress, then at Beth, then back at the dress. \u201c\u2019lello,\u201d she repeated. \u201cSu\u2019shine?\u201d<\/p>\n

“See?” Beth said to her father over her shoulder. “It’s all about salesmanship.”<\/p>\n

Adam watched, skeptical, as Georgie slowly returned to the floor. She toddled toward Beth, reaching a small hand out to touch the yellow fabric. For a moment, it seemed peace was at hand. Then, with a sudden grab, Georgie snatched the dress, clutched it to her chest, and darted off once more.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, a series of tremendous crashes rang out from downstairs, followed by the sharp wail of a child\u2019s cry.<\/p>\n

—————<\/p>\n

As Georgie led everyone on a merry chase upstairs, Nora continued to look at the birds and watch their movements. A sparrow on the hitching post fluffed its feathers, tilted its head, and then\u2014whoosh<\/em>\u2014launched itself into the air like it had simply decided to fly and its body obeyed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think,\u201d she announced to the empty room, \u201cthat birds don\u2019t\u00a0fall<\/em>. They just know how not to.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was the problem, really. Knowing how\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0to. Perhaps that was just a matter of practice. Moving towards the staircase, Nora peered up at the banister with serious concentration. Birds jumped from high places all the time. That was practically the whole point.<\/p>\n

Maybe she needed to start up high, rather than below, like the birds seemed to. She went up to the landing and stretched her arms wide, simulating wings. Wiggling them experimentally, Nora realized something was missing. Feathers, a way to flap,\u00a0something<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Looking around the great room, her eyes fell on the answer: Beth\u2019s fancy shawl with the fringes on it. It was just hanging by the door, waiting. For Beth, specifically, but at that moment, Nora was certain it was waiting for\u00a0her<\/em>. She dashed down the stairs and retrieved it from the hook, bringing it back with her to the landing.<\/p>\n

At the landing, she turned and studied the drop from the banister with narrowed eyes. It wasn\u2019t\u00a0that<\/em>\u00a0far. There was a table, and the horse statue, but since she was going to fly, Nora didn\u2019t concern herself with them. \u201cBirds trust the air,\u201d she told herself. \u201cI trust it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

She climbed onto the banister, balancing carefully, arms stretched wide. \u201cWings,\u201d she murmured, lifting them higher, one end of the shawl held in each hand. She flapped once. Twice. It didn\u2019t feel right, even with the feather-like fringes, but maybe birds didn\u2019t feel right the first time either.<\/p>\n

Nora bent her knees and jumped.<\/p>\n

For a very small moment, she felt it\u2014weightlessness, a hush in her ears, the thrilling idea that she might be right. That she might simply\u00a0know how not to fall<\/em>\u2014just like a bird!<\/p>\n

Then gravity remembered her.<\/p>\n

She pitched forward, arms flailing uselessly as the air tore past her face too fast to help. She struck the edge of the table with a hard crash, the breath exploding out of her lungs.<\/p>\n

Her weight tipped the table over. Nora, the table, and the horse statue all went down together. The statue hit first, cracking loudly as it chipped in several places. Nora followed with a heavy thud, landing face-first with a startled\u00a0oof<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The table slammed down seconds later, missing her by inches, its impact against the pine floor sharp and deafening\u2014like a gunshot.<\/p>\n

For a heartbeat, the house went utterly still.<\/p>\n

Then Nora sucked in a ragged breath and began to wail.<\/p>\n

The sounds of her failure tore through the house. Footsteps thundered from above, coming down the hall at speed, as two sets of boots pounded furiously towards the stairs. Beth ran behind, with the thumps of Georgie\u2019s stocking-covered feet bringing up the rear.<\/p>\n

She lay where she\u2019d fallen, cheek pressed to the cold floor, the shawl tangled around her arms like useless wings. Everything hurt, but the biggest pain of all was knowing she didn\u2019t fly. Nora had trusted the air, and it let her fall, hard.<\/p>\n

Her wail became a sob, her hands curling into the shawl. She gripped the fringe tightly as if it might still lift her, or at the very least tell her why the air hadn\u2019t listened. Even the chipped horse statue stared at her with one eye. For a fleeting, confused second, she wondered if it had tried to fly, too.<\/p>\n

Adam skidded to a stop at the top of the stairs. Eyes growing wide, he took in the toppled statue, the overturned table, and his middle daughter splayed out on the floor like a dropped doll, sobbing.<\/p>\n

\u201cNORA!\u201d<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n

The little girl cried harder.<\/p>\n

The distance between the top step and his child was crossed in seconds. \u201cDon\u2019t move,\u201d he instructed firmly. He heard and felt, rather than saw, the rest of the family crowding nearby.<\/p>\n

Ben took one look at his granddaughter and rushed out the door, shouting at one of the hands to go for the doctor.<\/p>\n

Having his other daughters beside him as he tried to ascertain Nora\u2019s injuries was a distraction Adam didn\u2019t need. \u201cBeth, Georgie, sit on the stairs,\u201d he told them firmly.<\/p>\n

Footfalls told him they obeyed, albeit with a whine from Georgie as her big sister tugged her along. Adam gave Nora his full attention, hands carefully examining her arms and legs, feeling for breaks. \u201cWhat hurts? Can you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s breath came in broken little gasps. She tried to answer, but it came out as another sob, her face twisting as she clutched the shawl tighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverywhere,\u201d she whimpered at last. \u201cIt\u2014 it hurts everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Adam said steadily, even as his jaw tightened. \u201cThat\u2019s okay. We\u2019re going slow.\u201d His hands moved with practiced care, gentle but thorough, checking her wrists, her elbows, the long bones of her legs. He paused when she flinched, waited until her breathing eased again before continuing.<\/p>\n

Beth leaned forward from the stair where she sat, knuckles white. \u201cIs she\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth,\u201d Adam said without looking up. Not sharp, just final.<\/p>\n

She swallowed and stayed where she was, anxiously watching him. Sometimes, Beth wished she could be an only child; wished for it hard, when Georgie was being Georgie and Nora was dreaming up silly things that got them into trouble. Now, she felt badly for ever thinking that.<\/p>\n

Adam kissed Nora\u2019s head, whispering quiet praise before continuing. \u201cAll your big bones seem okay. I need you to help me check the little bones.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle bones?\u201d Nora echoed, beginning to calm. \u201cWhere\u2019s my little bones?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour hands and feet,\u201d he explained. \u201cCan you wiggle your fingers for me? Both hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sniffed hard and obeyed, small fingers trembling as they moved.<\/p>\n

Relief loosened something tight in his chest. \u201cI\u2019m going to take your shoes off so you can wiggle your toes, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carefully, Adam removed each boot. \u201cMove your toes now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her stockinged feet twitched. She let out a shaky breath, as if surprised they still belonged to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my brave girl,\u201d he murmured.<\/p>\n

Ben stepped back inside the house and cast a concerned look in Adam\u2019s direction. He caught Adam\u2019s eye and the younger man shook his head; no broken bones, no injuries that he could find. The grandfather let out the breath he\u2019d been holding and nodded once in return. He hadn\u2019t come closer yet, knowing this was Adam\u2019s moment to manage.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s attention went back to Nora. \u201cI\u2019m going to lift you,\u201d he said. \u201cJust a little. If anything hurts sharp, you tell me right away. All right?\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded, trusting him completely despite everything, and he slid one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back, bringing her up against his chest. She made a small sound, then settled, her head tucking under his chin as if it had always known the way there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHurts?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust\u2026 sore,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat I can work with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam held her just tight enough to remind himself she was solid and breathing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat,\u201d he said, voice strained, \u201cwere you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrying to learn how birds don\u2019t fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

He closed his eyes, relief and exasperation tangling together. In moments like this he missed Alta desperately. She knew how to get a squirmy toddler into a hated dress; how to convince Beth to crusade more judiciously; and she\u2019d know just what to say and do with their little bird. How to help Nora understand that her ideas were wonderful, beautiful even, but dangerous.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetheart,\u201d he said quietly, \u201cbirds have wings. You have ideas; wonderful ideas,\u201d Adam assured her. \u201cBut they aren\u2019t the same as wings. Fringes can\u2019t work like feathers, no matter how much you want them to. And birds fall,\u201d he added quietly. \u201cMore than you think.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shifted his grip, careful of her ribs, and pressed his cheek briefly to the top of her head. \u201cThey just get very good at getting back up again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s face crumpled. \u201cI didn\u2019t do that.\u201d She sniffled pitifully.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did,\u201d he corrected gently. \u201cYou\u2019re here, you\u2019re breathing. That counts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam watched her nod, considering his words, brows furrowed with deep thoughts. \u201cI thought the air would know me,\u201d Nora confessed.<\/p>\n

The words hit him harder than the fall must have hit her. \u201cSometimes,\u201d he said slowly, choosing each word carefully, \u201cknowing isn\u2019t the same as being ready.\u201d Adam carried her towards the fireplace, each step measured. \u201cAnd sometimes wanting something very badly doesn\u2019t make it safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben crossed the room then, slow, and careful, his movements deliberate so as not to startle her. He crouched beside the blue chair as Adam sat, settling Nora into his lap again. The old man\u2019s eyes traced the faint purpling already forming along her cheek, the red marks on her arms, the way she favored one side just a touch.<\/p>\n

He lightly tapped her stockinged toes. \u201cThese seem to be working?\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded solemnly, demonstrating how her toes wiggled.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s hand never left her back. \u201cShe jumped from the railing,\u201d he said, the words tight.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s brow creased, but he didn\u2019t scold; didn\u2019t look at Nora like she\u2019d done something wrong. Instead, he looked at Adam. \u201cYou were her age once,\u201d he reminded him quietly.<\/p>\n

Adam exhaled through his nose and gave his father a look<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly you tried to be a duckling and nearly drowned.\u201d He shook his head at the memory, then smiled as Adam\u2019s face colored slightly under Nora\u2019s wide-eyed scrutiny.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t remember that,\u201d Adam muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t surprise me. You were younger than Nora is; more Georgie\u2019s age,\u201d Ben recalled. \u201cDidn\u2019t even know how to swim. I taught you after that!\u201d<\/p>\n

It caused a chuckle when he thought of it now, thinking of how much Adam loved the ducks. He should\u2019ve seen it coming, but Ben never considered that his son might attempt to be one. It certainly wasn\u2019t funny at the time; he\u2019d been terrified the boy was going to sink under the water and never come up again. Adam had been just as frightened, and that was before Ben simultaneously roared at the tiny boy and almost crushed the tot, he held on so tightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cBruises and big scares teach hard lessons,\u201d he noted quietly. Ben gave his granddaughter an inquiring look, a raised eyebrow asking a silent question.<\/p>\n

Nora snuggled in closer to Adam. \u201cI won\u2019t do it again,\u201d she promised, voice small but earnest.<\/p>\n

Ben nodded, accepting that promise at face value. \u201cGood. You remember our birds we\u2019ve been looking at in books? None of the ones in the pictures fall down the stairs, do they?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes widened and then she giggled softly. \u201cNo, Grandpa, they don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey don\u2019t,\u201d he confirmed, a smile tugging at his lips. He glanced at the stairs, where Beth and Georgie sat. The toddler was now confined to her big sister\u2019s lap, still not wearing her dress, and straining mightily to get away.<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s gaze softened as it lingered on the two of them. He straightened with a quiet groan and held out a hand. \u201cBeth. Georgie. You can come down now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth slid carefully off the stair, keeping Georgie corralled against her hip. \u201cShe okay?\u201d she asked again, voice tight with worry.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded. \u201cSore. Scared. Nothing broken. Doc Martin will come make sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgie wriggled free at last and toddled forward, stopping a cautious distance away. She peered up at Nora with solemn concern. \u201cFly?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

Nora shook her head sadly \u201cNo fly,\u201d she said. \u201cJust\u2026 fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tot considered this, then nodded sagely. \u201cOw,\u201d she pronounced.<\/p>\n

Ben huffed a quiet laugh. \u201cThat about sums it up. Come on\u2014let\u2019s put the house back together before someone else gets curious about gravity.\u201d His eyes dropped to Georgie, still in her underthings, and he sighed. \u201cAnd let\u2019s get you dressed while we\u2019re at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgie wrapped herself around his leg, arms locked tight, giggling with absolute delight. \u201cNo!\u201d she squealed, burying her face against his trousers as Ben tried\u2014gently, patiently\u2014to peel her off.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot the yellow one\u2014\u201d Ben started, eyeing the offending dress that lay draped over the chair, wrinkled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sunshine<\/em> dress,\u201d Beth cut in quickly, gamely reframing it as she reached for Georgie\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

Ben paused and arched a brow, slow and deliberate. \u201cThank you,\u201d he said dryly, \u201cfor volunteering to wrestle her into something. Anything.<\/em> I\u2019m not picky, so long as she\u2019s clothed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth scoffed, heat flaring instantly. \u201cI didn\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you were interrupting,\u201d Ben replied mildly, tone calm in the way that made it worse. He bent slightly, attempting again to unhook Georgie\u2019s fingers from his leg. \u201cAnd that\u2019s as good as. Or were you objecting?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth opened her mouth, then shut it again, scowling as Georgie chose that moment to tighten her grip and giggle louder, clearly enjoying the tension.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was clarifying<\/em>,\u201d Beth muttered at last.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh.\u201d Ben\u2019s mouth twitched. \u201cA dangerous choice when I\u2019m speaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNoted.\u201d Beth\u2019s cheeks grew pink. \u201cSorry, Grandpa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben pulled his eldest grandchild close, giving her a squeeze. \u201cNoted,\u201d he echoed softly, kissing the top of her head. \u201cShe\u2019s yours now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The toddler finally released him and promptly flopped backward, laughing like the entire exchange had been orchestrated for her amusement.<\/p>\n

\u201cC\u2019mon Georgie. Nobody\u2019s going to church today,\u201d Beth announced. \u201cI\u2019ll let you pick out your dress and then I\u2019ll change, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgie paused mid-laugh, considering this new information with great seriousness. \u201cPick?\u201d she asked, suspicious.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Beth said quickly. \u201cYou pick. Any dress.\u201d She offered her hand to the toddler, wiggling her fingers.<\/p>\n

Georgie stared at the offered fingers like they might vanish if she trusted them. Her brow furrowed, lips pursed in deep toddler deliberation.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny?\u201d she pressed, voice small but weighty.<\/p>\n

Beth nodded solemnly. \u201cAny dress you want. Pink, blue, any color you like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgie gasped and slapped Beth\u2019s hand with sudden enthusiasm. \u201cPuh-ple,\u201d she declared at once, confidence blooming now that the power was clearly hers.<\/p>\n

They slowly climbed the stairs together, with Georgie chanting, \u201cPuh-ple! Puh-ple!\u201d to herself the whole way.<\/p>\n

Ben turned then, the humor softening as his gaze settled on Adam and Nora. The little girl was heavy with sleep now; cheek pressed to her father\u2019s shoulder. He lowered his voice. \u201cTake her upstairs, stay with her. I\u2019ll send Dr. Martin up when he arrives. And keep the other two out of too much trouble.\u201d Ben reached out and gently touched Nora\u2019s hair, careful not to wake her.<\/p>\n

\u201cCurious minds are a gift,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cThey just need time to grow into them. She reminds me of your mother that way, full of marvelous hopes and dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA bit more practical, surely?\u201d Adam wondered. He couldn\u2019t imagine the woman he knew only in pictures ever being as young, or quixotic, as Nora.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot always.\u201d Ben\u2019s look softened as he remembered Liz and the dreams they shared, the realistic ones like the Ponderosa, and the fleeting, silly ones, too. \u201cRemind me later and I\u2019ll tell you some stories.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger man nodded. \u201cI\u2019ll do that,\u201d he vowed. \u201cFor now, I\u2019m going to take my dreamer upstairs.\u201d Adam rose carefully, adjusting his hold on Nora and turned toward the stairs. She stirred, murmuring something about birds, then settled again. His steps were careful and deliberate as he carried his precious, curious little girl up to her room.<\/p>\n

From down the hall came Beth\u2019s voice, exasperated and laughing in equal measure. \u201cArms go in the sleeves, Georgie. Your head doesn\u2019t even fit in there!\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaking his head, Adam closed the door on the chaos before tucking Nora into bed. He sat in a chair beside it, taking up the traditional Cartwright vigil once more.<\/p>\n

Then, he heard it.<\/p>\n

A bird.<\/p>\n

Chirping<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Clearly having no regard at all for the state of his nerves after Nora\u2019s attempt to mimic the birds. Adam scowled at the window, spotting a sparrow singing happily in the tree just outside it.<\/p>\n

Snuggled under the covers, eyes closed, Nora smiled as the sound reached her ears. She began to think of new ways to fly, that didn\u2019t involve balloons made of clothing or the railing of the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cJumping Jehoshaphat!\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam winced, wondering what his girls could\u2019ve done in the past four minutes to make his father bellow.<\/p>\n

Nora, however, knew precisely what Grandpa was upset about. Her eyes popped open, searching for Papa. \u201cThe horsey flew, too,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n

Groaning loudly, Adam put his head in his hands and felt a small hand pat him in consolation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 6<\/p>\n

The bruises and soreness faded, but evidence of the failure of the air to know her remained. First and foremost, that horsey laughed at her every time she saw it, she was sure of it! Missing the tip of its tail, a part of one hoof, and with a scratch down its flank that she couldn\u2019t place, it was a daily reminder that she hadn\u2019t flown. She\u2019d only fallen, very hard.<\/p>\n

But Nora was as determined as ever. The conversation with Uncle Hoss remained in her mind, the things he\u2019d described to her so vivid that they made her heart flutter. The way butterflies had moved in his belly, the awe of being pulled up by the air like he weighed nothing at all\u2014no small feat, that! Wondering if he might go up high enough to touch a cloud, or the very tippy-top of a Ponderosa pine as it stood straight and tall.<\/p>\n

She wanted to feel those things. Like the clouds were in reach, the air carrying her higher and higher, the tops of the trees looking like flowers just as she imagined and drew them. A balloon made of clothes hadn\u2019t worked, and neither had the railing of the stairs.<\/p>\n

Then, it came to her, the way most ideas came to Nora. Bright, sudden, fueled by her imagination rather than sense. What if she combined height and<\/em> shape? Surely the man in the book had tried lots of times and failed before he found the answer, too. And the real man, Grandpa\u2019s friend, must have, also. \u201cI won\u2019t give up,\u201d Nora announced.<\/p>\n

Her dolls watched, their yarn eyes unblinking. The stuffed cat Mama made for her when she was a baby, Deedee was silent.<\/p>\n

Nora took the lack of response as implicit agreement that she was right. She would know<\/em> if they thought differently.<\/p>\n

—————–<\/p>\n

The chickens were squawking as if a deadly predator was in their midst, rather than a small child with a dusty parasol found in the attic.<\/p>\n

Nora stood in the center of them, feet planted wide in her scuffed boots, the parasol raised high like a banner. Each time she swung it, feathers burst into the air and the flock scattered, flapping and protesting with offended dignity.<\/p>\n

\u201cShoo!\u201d she commanded, her voice high and serious. \u201cYou\u2019re supposed to scatter. I can\u2019t climb your coop if you\u2019re all over me!\u201d\u00a0 She picked her way around the chickens, trying to get them to move so she could get to the coop. The parasol was the right shape\u2014rounded\u2014and the coop was a decent height. This time it was sure to work.<\/p>\n

A particularly indignant hen launched herself at Nora\u2019s skirts, wings beating like thunder. Nora squealed, hopping backward, parasol wobbling dangerously in her grip.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop it!\u201d she scolded, jabbing the parasol toward the bird like a lance. \u201cI\u2019m busy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing ran outside, meat cleaver in hand, expecting trouble given the commotion. He opened his mouth to scold and shoo away whatever was bothering the chickens but stopped short as he took in the chaotic scene.<\/p>\n

Chickens were scattering in every direction, feathers floating through the air, and Missy Nora in the middle of it all, brandishing a parasol like a general directing troops.<\/p>\n

\u201cShoo!\u201d Nora shouted again, trying to herd the flock away from the coop. \u201cMove!\u201d<\/p>\n

He hurried towards the coop, then turned around and hurried back to the porch. The meat cleaver was no longer necessary, and he placed it on the table beside the window. \u201cMissy Nora!\u201d Hop Sing called over his shoulder. \u201cYou stop! Chickens not like that!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll calm down once I\u2019m gone,\u201d Nora stated confidently. \u201cI just have to get up there first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing\u2019s heart lurched as he raced back to the coop. \u201cUp where<\/em>? What little missy doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

As if on cue, Nora planted one boot on the feed box and reached for the edge of the coop roof. The parasol dipped sideways, catching on a wire, and she let go with one hand to steady it.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, no, no\u2014\u201d Hop Sing rushed forward, eyes wide with alarm. \u201cMissy come down!\u201d He lunged across the yard.<\/p>\n

She froze, recognizing that tone. A part of her knew she should do what he said. Yet one knee hooked over the edge of the feed box, fingers curled around the rough board of the coop roof. So close! I have to try! <\/em><\/p>\n

Nora hauled herself onto the roof of the coop on her knees. Parasol still in hand, she struggled to get to her feet. \u201cI have to try! I need to see if the air lifts me!\u201d<\/p>\n

The chickens, sensing victory, surged back in, clucking and snapping around Hop Sing\u2019s ankles.<\/p>\n

\u201cLift you?\u201d Hop Sing echoed faintly, as if the words themselves had struck him. He reached her and the meaning of her actions clicked. \u201cNo more fly!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing grabbed her around the waist and hauled her backward with surprising strength, planting her firmly on the ground. Nora squeaked in protest, boots skidding in the dirt as the parasol flopped uselessly at her side.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou fall,\u201d he scolded, hands still gripping her shoulders to make sure she stayed put. \u201cYou break head. You scare chickens to death!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s chin came up, indignant tears shining in her eyes. \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to fall. I was going to fly<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hop Sing looked at the parasol, then back at Nora, as if hoping the object might suddenly explain itself. \u201cParasol for sun,\u201d he said slowly. \u201cNot for fly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s round,\u201d Nora insisted, shaking it once for emphasis. A few loose feathers drifted down around her boots. \u201cLike in the book\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBook not say jump off chicken house,\u201d Hop Sing snapped, then immediately softened his voice when he saw her lower lip tremble. He crouched so they were eye to eye, hands still firm on her shoulders. \u201cYou scare me. You scare chickens. This no good idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tears began to slide down Nora\u2019s cheeks. \u201cIt was.\u201d Her tone was insistent, even in the face of his censure. \u201cIt woulda worked.\u201d Her whole body trembled with frustration at being thwarted yet again, this time by human intervention.<\/p>\n

The sound of a horse entering the yard briefly drew their attention. Beth sat in the saddle, schoolbooks in her saddle bags, trying to make sense of the sight before her. Feathers everywhere, chickens milling about with an offended air, Hop Sing bent over Nora in the middle of the chaos, and a parasol lying in the dirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Beth demanded, eyes darting from Nora to the parasol and finally to Hop Sing.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing straightened, relief flickering across his face at the sight of reinforcements. \u201cMissy Nora try to fly,\u201d he said flatly.<\/p>\n

\u201cFly.\u201d There were layers of resignation in the young girl\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith parasol,\u201d Hop Sing added, as if that somehow made it worse.<\/p>\n

Beth rolled her eyes hard. \u201cI tried to warn him,\u201d she muttered under her breath. Dismounting, she led her horse to the hitching post and tied the reins to it. Then she rolled up her sleeves.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome. Here.\u201d Beth called sternly. She tried her best to sound commanding, like Pa did when they were in serious trouble and even pointed to the ground in front of her.<\/p>\n

The little girl\u2019s eyes went wide. Beth\u2019s imitation of Papa was good; too <\/em>good. She briefly cast a look up at Hop Sing but found no sympathy. \u201cI didn\u2019t do it yet,\u201d she called, as if that might save her.<\/p>\n

Beth crossed the yard in long strides, boots crunching feathers. Up close, she took in Nora\u2019s dusty knees, the trembling parasol, the way Hop Sing hadn\u2019t quite let go yet\u2014as if Nora might sprout wings the second he did.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly because you were stopped. You climbed the coop,\u201d Beth said, not a question.<\/p>\n

Nora sniffed. \u201cI had to get higher.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, now you\u2019re grounded.\u201d Beth reached out and took Nora\u2019s hand, then looked up at Hop Sing. \u201cI\u2019ve got her.\u201d<\/p>\n

He hesitated, then eased his hands away, though he stayed close enough to grab Nora again if she so much as breathed funny. \u201cShe fast,\u201d he warned. \u201cLike squirrel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her big sister\u2019s words rang in Nora\u2019s head. \u201cYou can\u2019t do that. You\u2019re not Papa!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you won\u2019t stop trying to fly. I\u2019m not getting in trouble because you fall and break your neck,\u201d Beth retorted. \u201cThis way, you stay put, I do my homework, and everyone is happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several minutes later, Beth sat at the table on the porch and started working on her homework, content with the knowledge that Nora was going to stay on the ground…<\/p>\n

Since she\u2019d tied her to it.<\/p>\n

————<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t even notice the girls at first. The day had been a long one, and Adam was ready to sit somewhere other than a saddle for a while. There was no missing the sight when he exited the barn though. Adam stopped mid-step, his eyes narrowing as they swept across the yard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat in the\u2014?\u201d Adam began, his voice catching somewhere between shock and disbelief. He stepped closer, taking in the scene: Nora, seated on the ground like a tiny, stubborn anchor, parasol drooping in one hand, a rope snug around her waist and tethered to the porch. Beth sat stiffly at the table, book open but forgotten, her eyes darting between her sister and their father, as if she might be rethinking some of her life choices.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth\u2026\u201d Adam said, and the single word was all it took. His mouth tightened, his jaw flexing as he fought to process the absurdity. \u201cWould you\u2026 care to explain why your sister appears to be tethered to the porch upright?\u201d<\/p>\n

His oldest child looked him in the eye and answered simply, \u201cBecause she is?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. He ran a hand over his face, blinking rapidly as though that might reset reality. \u201cBecause she is?\u201d he repeated, voice a notch higher, a dangerous edge creeping in. \u201cBeth. That is not a reason. That is\u2026 that is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth swallowed and leaned forward slightly. \u201cI\u2026 I didn\u2019t know what else to do,\u201d she said, voice tight. \u201cShe tried to fly again, off the chicken coop\u2014\u201d She gestured helplessly at the tethered figure. \u201cIf she can\u2019t stay on the ground, I\u2019m making sure she stays attached<\/em> to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He let out a slow breath through his nose, the kind he used when a fence post refused to line up, and brute force would only make it worse. He looked at Nora again\u2014at the rope, the parasol, the scuffed knees\u2014and then back to Beth.<\/p>\n

Nora lifted her chin. \u201cI almost<\/em> did,\u201d she said, helpfully. \u201cBut Mr. Hop Sing pulled me down.\u201d The pouting resumed.<\/p>\n

Adam stood there a moment longer, eyes shut, counting off slow breaths. One. Two. Three.<\/em> When he opened them again, the absurdity hadn\u2019t gone anywhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing,\u201d he said quietly, as if the cook might materialize and somehow make sense of all this.<\/p>\n

No such luck.<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam turned back to Beth. His voice was steadier now, but there was an edge under it. \u201cYou tied your sister to the porch upright?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s shoulders squared. \u201cI can\u2019t hold her all afternoon. She can\u2019t be left alone, clearly.<\/em> I did<\/em> tell you about the story,\u201d she reminded him, raising a stern eyebrow. \u201cSo, I\u2026 secured her. I had homework to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stared at her for a long second, the way he did when he was deciding whether to laugh, scold, or start fixing something that should never have been broken in the first place.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou secured<\/em> her.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded once, resolutely.<\/p>\n

Silence settled over the yard. The rope creaked faintly as Nora shifted, testing its limits once more like a sailor checking a knot.<\/p>\n

Adam exhaled. Slowly. Deliberately.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d he said at last, \u201cI appreciate the\u2026 initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s eyes flickered\u2014hopeful.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m raising children, not livestock.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite appearances to the contrary at times.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we are certainly not tying children to porches like wayward goats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora brightened. \u201cGoats climb things too. I bet I could climb right now if I tried!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat,\u201d Adam said without looking at her, \u201cis not helping your case.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stepped closer to Nora and crouched so they were eye level. The irritation on his face softened just a fraction, enough to let concern show through. \u201cEleanor\u2026 you\u2019re not a bird. Or a goat,\u201d he added quickly.<\/p>\n

Hurt settled heavily on her face before Nora ducked her head. Inwardly, Adam winced. The line between not crushing her wonderful, dreamlike sense of wonder with the world, that beautiful imagination, and letting her go too <\/em>far was so thin. He reached for her chin, gently tilting it upward.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to get hurt; badly hurt. I won\u2019t allow that.\u201d His voice was gentle, but firm, commanding her attention without frightening her. \u201cWe can\u2019t keep talking about this. Your feet need to stay on the ground. No more climbing things to try to fly. Or it\u2019ll stop being a conversation and become a necessary talk instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her lower lip trembled, but Nora held it in place with stubborn determination. \u201cBut birds get to try,\u201d she rebutted.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you are not a bird, Eleanor Violet Cartwright.\u201d Adam let the full weight of her whole name, a signal of how serious he was, hang between them for a long moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cBirds are built for flying,\u201d he said. \u201cHollow bones. Wings. Instinct. You\u2019re so brave and so clever, but those things don\u2019t stop the ground from breaking you when you hit it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora swallowed. Her eyes stayed locked on his now, wide, and bright and far too serious for someone her size. \u201cI don\u2019t want to stop trying things,\u201d she whispered. \u201cIf I stop trying, then\u2026 what if I miss something I was supposed to be?\u201d<\/p>\n

That one landed square in his chest. He drew a slow breath, steadying himself, and shifted so he was sitting back on his heels instead of crouching tight and coiled. \u201cTrying things isn\u2019t the problem,\u201d he said. \u201cTrying things that can kill you is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam brushed a stray curl back from her face, his thumb lingering at her temple. \u201cYou can build. You can imagine. You can ask questions that make grown men feel foolish. Those are gifts. But gifts don\u2019t mean you get to ignore danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

He lowered his forehead until it nearly touched Nora\u2019s. \u201cListen to me,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cThere are a thousand things you might be meant to be. Builder. Dreamer. Thinker. Inventor. But none of them matter if you don\u2019t grow up long enough to choose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s breath hitched. \u201cI don\u2019t want you to stop me forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d He gave a small shake of his head. \u201cBut I will stop you today.\u201d Forcing himself to ignore her tears, Adam reached for the rope around her, testing the knot Beth had tied; it held.<\/p>\n

Of course, it did.<\/em><\/p>\n

Somehow, that made everything worse.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth,\u201d he said over his shoulder, not looking up, \u201ccome untie her.\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched his oldest daughter push back her chair at once and cross the porch. Her hands worked the knot with nervous speed, cheeks turning pink.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean it like\u2026 like a goat,\u201d she muttered. \u201cI just\u2014she won\u2019t listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rope loosened. Nora felt it immediately and shot to her feet, wings\u2014arms\u2014lifting instinctively.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s hand landed on her shoulder, steady, and grounding. Unmovable. \u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cYou stay right there.\u201d<\/p>\n

She froze, eyes wide, breath caught in her chest. Then, slowly, Nora lowered her arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are grounded. Inside, up to your room,\u201d he instructed, voice level but stern.<\/p>\n

Nora blinked at him, clearly searching for a crack in his certainty. Her mouth opened, closed, then she tried anyway. \u201cBut I\u2019m already on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a heartbeat he just stared at her. Then his jaw tightened, and he exhaled through his nose.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpiritually,\u201d he said. Belatedly he realized that it wouldn\u2019t make sense to a child her age and tapped his chest, right over his heart, to give the word meaning. \u201cAnd physically. In the house, in your room, for two days. No climbing, no flying, no books about birds, no experiments. Nothing dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora deflated in front of his eyes and began to cry earnestly. She looked ready to crumple to the ground at his feet and never rise again.<\/p>\n

\u201cUpstairs,\u201d he added, firmer now. Adam wasn\u2019t going to give in to tears. Not after another flight attempt. \u201cRight now.\u201d He pointed toward the door, eyebrows arching in a way that promised this was not a moment for negotiation. He watched her shuffle past him, and somewhere between the door and the stairs begin to wail.<\/p>\n

Heaven help us.<\/em><\/p>\n

And that left Beth.<\/p>\n

He turned back towards her to find Beth almost bracing herself, shoulders back, chin up, appearing ready to meet him head-on if he intended to censure her. Doubt had crept in; she was questioning her choices now. The small, unconscious motion of her forefinger and thumb worrying a bit of her dress told him that.<\/p>\n

Adam saw so much of himself in her at that moment. Always wanting to do it right. Always wanting to be everything for everyone. Wanting to shoulder every burden so Pa didn\u2019t have to do it alone. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou were scared.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth blinked. \u201cI\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were scared she\u2019d get hurt,\u201d he continued, and that stopped her cold. \u201cAnd you were scared you\u2019d be blamed for it. I remember that feeling, and that level of exasperation, too.\u201d Adam inclined his head towards the rope.<\/p>\n

She swallowed hard, nodding. \u201cI\u2026 I just didn\u2019t know what else to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam rubbed the back of his neck. \u201cThere are ways to keep her safe, ways that don\u2019t involve ropes and knots. You\u2019ve got to use your head as well as your heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

A soft smile settled on Beth\u2019s face. \u201cThat sounds like Mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s mouth twitched despite himself, the ghost of a smile pulling at one corner as an old memory surfaced. \u201cYour mother had a way of saying things that stuck,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cUsually right when you didn\u2019t want to hear them.\u201d The words seemed to settle between them, carrying her voice in their cadence, familiar and unavoidable.<\/p>\n

Beth managed a small, shaky smile, as if even the memory loosened something tight in her chest.<\/p>\n

He shifted then, resting his hands on his hips, and let his gaze travel across the porch. The rope lay limp and coiled where it had fallen, harmless now, and the parasol leaned against the railing at an awkward angle, its torn fabric sagging like an exhausted accomplice that had finally given up. The whole scene looked smaller without the tension in it, stripped of urgency and danger.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth,\u201d he said, bringing his eyes back to her, steady and certain, \u201cyou are not Nora\u2019s jailer.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded quickly, too quickly, as if agreement might keep the thought from being tested. \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s expression softened further, his eyes full of understanding. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to solve everything alone,\u201d he said, voice low and deliberate, making sure it landed.<\/p>\n

The words hung there, heavier than he\u2019d intended, and Beth\u2019s nod slowed this time. She pressed her lips together, eyes dropping to the porch boards as if the grain might give her something solid to hold onto.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just\u2026 someone has to,\u201d she said after a moment, spreading her hands wide.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know why you think that,\u201d Adam replied. He knew better than Beth could ever know. He didn\u2019t want to place the same burden on her that had been placed on him. One that he bore out of necessity, and love, but one he didn\u2019t want for her if it could be helped.<\/p>\n

He shifted his weight, boots scuffing softly, and looked out toward the coop, where the hens had settled themselves again. \u201cBut that someone doesn\u2019t have to always be you. Not alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth drew in a careful breath. \u201cIf I don\u2019t step in, it feels like I\u2019m failing. Her, you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned fully toward her then. \u201cStepping in doesn\u2019t always mean stepping over<\/em>,\u201d he said. \u201cSometimes it means stepping back far enough to be helpful or call for help.\u201d<\/p>\n

She glanced up at him, uncertainty plain on her face. \u201cEven if it makes things worse in the moment?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially then,\u201d he said gently. \u201cThat\u2019s when it matters most.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s shoulders sagged, the last of that braced tension slipping away. She scrubbed at her cheek with the back of her hand, embarrassed at the moisture there. \u201cI don\u2019t want her hurt,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Adam said, without hesitation.<\/p>\n

They stood there in the quiet for a few seconds longer, the house settling behind them, the day moving on as if nothing remarkable had happened. Finally, Adam straightened.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re grounded from creative problem\u2011solving for the afternoon,\u201d he said dryly.<\/p>\n

Beth almost smiled despite herself. It tugged at her mouth before she could stop it, a brief, disbelieving thing, as if she weren\u2019t quite sure she\u2019d heard him right.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat means,\u201d he added, already anticipating the way her mind might test the boundaries, \u201cno supervising sisters, no clever fixes, and no taking responsibility that isn\u2019t yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Pa,\u201d she said, the words lighter now, relief threading through them.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo sit,\u201d he went on. \u201cRead. Do something that doesn\u2019t require you to save the world before supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded, starting toward the door\u2014but halfway there, a flutter of relief and gratitude stopped her. Beth turned and ran back, throwing herself into his arms.<\/p>\n

There was no hesitation as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. The tension in her shoulders eased against his, the tight coil of fear and frustration she hadn\u2019t even realized she carried loosening in his embrace.<\/p>\n

Adam rested his chin atop her head, and she let out a soft, contented sigh. They stayed like that longer than either expected\u2014just holding on, wordless, letting the quiet of the moment fill the spaces between them.<\/p>\n

When she finally pulled back, her eyes shone, a small, grateful smile tugging at her lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d she whispered. He gave a small nod, his hand lingering briefly on her shoulder\u2014a quiet promise that he understood more than words could say.<\/p>\n

He watched her turn and gather her things with care before stepping inside the house. When the door closed, Adam remained on the porch a moment longer, eyes drifting back to the coiled rope and the sagging parasol, and then to the sky beyond\u2014already calculating how many more lessons like this lay ahead, and hoping he\u2019d be equal to them.<\/p>\n

And really, truly, desperately<\/em> hoping with every fiber of his being that Nora would give up on flying.<\/p>\n

He would, of course, be disappointed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 7<\/p>\n

The eldest Cartwright son raised a hand as he spied his younger brother coming from the other side of the meadow, another day\u2019s work behind them. Hoss\u2019s white hat waved in response and the pair met each other in the middle.<\/p>\n

Adam reined in first, stretching the stiffness from his shoulders as Sport shifted beneath him. \u201cYou look like you wrestled a bear and lost,\u201d he said dryly. \u201cProbably don\u2019t look much better myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger man grinned, undeterred, and wiped his brow with the back of his sleeve. \u201cI feel like it, too. That fence along the south pasture\u2019s done, but it sure put up a real argument about being mended.\u201d<\/p>\n

They continued towards the spot where they tended to split towards their own homes, the sound of hoofbeats steady and familiar. For a moment there was only the creak of leather and the rustle of grass in the evening breeze.<\/p>\n

Then Hoss cleared his throat, shifting in his saddle. \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam glanced over, reins loose in his hand. \u201cYeah?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou uh\u2026 you did get your part of the present, didn\u2019t you?\u201d Hoss asked, trying to be casual and missing it widely.<\/p>\n

For a brief second, Adam was tempted to ask what present<\/em>. He let the thought pass with a small inward smile and kept his voice even. \u201cI did. Or rather, part of it. The saddle blanket is at the house; Pa took my tiny terror with him to collect the saddle today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss let out a breath he\u2019d clearly been holding. \u201cGood; good.\u201d He nodded to himself, then added, \u201cI keep worryin\u2019 I forgot somethin\u2019. Pony\u2019s one thing, but it don\u2019t mean much if he can\u2019t get to riding it right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t forget anything. I know you\u2019ve asked Joe about the rest of the tack at least three times,\u201d Adam noted dryly. \u201cAnd this is the second time you\u2019ve asked about our part.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bigger man just grinned, unabashed.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust me, the saddle is perfect. Pa, Beth, and I chose the saddle blanket together. I couldn\u2019t let the younger two in on it; they\u2019d never manage to keep a secret. It\u2019s probably at the house right now if you want to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss could relate to his young nieces and the excitement of surprises being too much for a person. \u201cI already slipped once askin\u2019 him if he liked chestnut ponies.\u201d He winced at the memory, then brightened again. \u201cI\u2019ll do that though.\u201d Chubb flicked an ear back as if approving the change in plans. \u201cI just want it to be\u2026 right. First pony, first saddle. Feels like it matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does,\u201d Adam said simply. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve all done right by him. We wouldn\u2019t let Benjie\u2014or you\u2014down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReckon I might still worry between now and his birthday. In case he doesn\u2019t like the pony or somethin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam gave a soft huff of amusement. Each of Hoss\u2019s children had a way with critters and Benjie had talked for the past year or better about when he\u2019d get his own pony and how well he\u2019d care for it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d be shocked if one of your kids disliked an animal of any kind. Whether Benjie\u2019s ready for it, on the other hand\u2026\u201d\u00a0 The elder brother grinned. \u201cCan Benjie keep himself still long enough for one? He and Teddy wrestle like bear cubs. The way we used to on occasion. Except I haven\u2019t seen yours take down a fence yet trying to tackle each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss guffawed, his face lighting up at the memory of the fence they\u2019d just started putting up crashing down around them. \u201cPa sure was mad, weren\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s grin widened, eyes going distant. \u201cMad isn\u2019t quite the word. I think he stood there staring at that fence for a full minute, trying to decide whether to tan us, or bury us under the wreckage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd then,\u201d Hoss added, shaking his head, \u201cour own young\u2019uns come along\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam finished the thought softly, almost fondly. \u201cMore reckless, louder, and stubborn than we ever were. Equipped with reasons and an alarming amount of confidence. My child tests air<\/em> Hoss. Air<\/em>. Not even Joe tried taking flight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly cause Joe didn\u2019t think of it. He tried just about everything else,\u201d Hoss reminded him. \u201cMy two boys are mighty tame compared to our baby brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

And compared to Nora<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut don\u2019t you worry about Benjie none. He\u2019s got a real way with animals, he\u2019ll be just fine,\u201d Hoss reassured him. \u201cBut if you ever want a couple a boys to give you a break from those little gals of yours, I got one or two you can borrow for a spell,\u201d Hoss grinned. \u201cLiven things up a bit for you and Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam leveled a menacing look at his younger brother. \u201cWe don\u2019t need any<\/em> help being lively, I promise you. Between Beth arguing with her teacher, Nora trying to commune with the birds, and Georgie impersonating chaos\u2014on chubby little legs that have no business at all being that fast\u2014I\u2019m set. More than.\u201d A smile tugged at his lips. \u201cAt least they fight with good cause when they go at it. Other than \u2018because.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCause them little gals fight about sensible things,\u201d Hoss solemnly agreed. \u201cHair ribbons, who\u2019s dolly is prettier, which one gets to stay up later by a whole minute, and what color is the best of all. Important<\/em> things.\u201d His response was given with considerable authority, given that he had two daughters of his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cExplainable things,\u201d Adam countered. \u201cDid you ever figure out how going to collect the eggs turned into a mud fight that broke a crate?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss shook his head. \u201cNever did. One of the hens took refuge in a tree, too.\u201d He scowled when his brother broke into unrepentant laughter.<\/p>\n

Having survived his own recent encounter with outraged hens, or at least the wreckage, Adam couldn\u2019t help but see the humor in it. \u201cCan\u2019t say I blame her. When chaos starts flying, the smart thing is to get clear of it. Vertically, if necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

The house came into view over the rise, warm and steady against the late afternoon light. Adam expected at least a chuckle, but the other man was silent. Turning towards him, he saw Hoss had pulled Chubb to a halt and was squinting at something.<\/p>\n

Hoss removed his big hat and wiped the sweat from his brow. \u201cI think I took too much sun today,\u201d he muttered. Setting the hat back down, he shaded his eyes as he squinted hard at the barn. \u201cThe barn just\u2026 moved<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam blinked, frowning against the glare. \u201cMoved?\u201d<\/p>\n

The answering nod was slow, deliberate, like Hoss was still trying to make sense of it himself. \u201cSure did. Somethin\u2019 on that roof moved. Is moving, right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following his brother\u2019s gaze, Adam\u2019s eyes narrowed against the late afternoon sun. The barn didn\u2019t appear any different, sitting in its usual location, the same color as always. Then something caught the light and shifted.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething on the roof?\u201d he asked, disbelief threading his voice.<\/p>\n

Then they saw it. Adam\u2019s stomach knotted, heart hammering violently in his chest. The tiny figure stood atop the barn, a flurry of white behind her, stubbornly upright, daring gravity to interfere.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me that\u2019s not\u2026\u201d His voice faltered.<\/p>\n

Hoss swallowed hard. “I think it is.”<\/p>\n

Knuckles white on the reins, their horses surged forward in a desperate race against gravity.<\/p>\n

———–<\/p>\n

Small hands clutched the bedsheet tightly, her cheeks flushing with excitement. Nora\u2019s steps were slow and careful as she crossed the roof of the barn. \u201cToday, I fly,\u201d she told herself.<\/p>\n

The idea struck her as she helped Hop Sing hang laundry that morning. The bedding was the answer to all her problems.<\/p>\n

Nora was confident that this time, she truly would fly. The sheet could billow in the wind, taking any shape it needed to stay aloft. The generous size (Papa\u2019s bed was big!) would capture plenty of air to let her fly across the Ponderosa and back again for supper. There was apple pie for dessert and Nora didn\u2019t want to miss that!<\/p>\n

All she needed was a great height to start from. Then, the air would know her and what she needed. Nora trusted that was true with all her heart.<\/p>\n

And the barn was the perfect height to start the grandest adventure she\u2019d ever have.<\/p>\n

—————<\/p>\n

The curry comb paused in mid-air as a strange scuffling sound reached her ears. Beth\u2019s eyes shifted upward, towards the barn\u2019s wide beams, certain the noise came from above her. She was equally convinced that there was something different about it. Having spent a lot of time in the barn doing chores and caring for the horses, she was familiar with certain sounds.<\/p>\n

The tiny pitter-patter of birds and little scritches of tiny animals. The heavier thud and scratching of talons of larger, predatory birds. The small, energetic thumps of squirrels as they dashed across. Even the flapping when a bit of the roofing came loose and the wind made it move.<\/p>\n

What she heard right now was none of those things and didn\u2019t sound remotely similar. The noise was steady and even, a thump thump thump<\/em> that felt familiar but completely out of place.<\/p>\n

Buster nudged Beth\u2019s shoulder, encouraging her to continue with the grooming he\u2019d earned, pulling the buckboard to Virginia City and back today. Beth stroked his nose absentmindedly as she continued to look upwards with a frown, trying to place that sound.<\/p>\n

Realization dawned and she sucked in a breath. Footfalls; small <\/em>ones. Stomach dropping to her boots, the comb fell from her hands as she raced out into the yard and started to frantically scan the roof for Nora.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t exactly her sister that Beth spotted. What she saw was a bed sheet billowing in the wind. Given Nora\u2019s obsession with flight lately, that was enough of a confirmation in her book.<\/p>\n

Scrambling towards the ladder, she screamed, \u201cGrandpa! Hop Sing!\u201d But she didn\u2019t wait; couldn\u2019t. Fear lent speed to her hands and feet, and she was at the top in seconds, feeling the warmth of the sun-drenched roof under her hands as she hoisted herself onto it. Panic fluttered in her chest as a single thought consumed her: I have to stop Nora before she falls<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The height of the barn didn\u2019t register. Her own peril never crossed Beth\u2019s mind. Careful not to look down and disorient herself, she began to cross the roof. \u201cNora! Don\u2019t you dare!\u201d Her voice was tight with anxiety.<\/p>\n

The determined flyer turned slightly, greeting her elder sister with a deep, stubborn scowl. \u201cI\u2019m gonna fly!\u201d Nora announced, chin lifted and eyes bright with certainty. The wide, unforgiving expanse of the yard below them didn\u2019t frighten her at all; in her mind, there was nothing but open sky waiting to catch her.<\/p>\n

She turned away from Beth, little boots edging closer to the roof\u2019s lip, and stared straight ahead as if she could already see herself floating. Drawing in a deep, steady breath, Nora spread her arms and began lifting the sheet up over her head. Her time to fly had come.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 8<\/p>\n

\u201cNora! Don\u2019t jump!\u201d Beth\u2019s voice cracked as panic surged through her. Her heart slammed against her ribs as she lunged forward, fingers clutching desperately at the smaller girl\u2019s dress. The fabric stretched in her grip as she tried to crawl closer, intent on putting her arms around Nora and yanking her back from the edge.<\/p>\n

She was met by a sharp kick in the shoulder that caused her to cry out as all hell broke loose in the yard.<\/p>\n

The door of the house opened with a terrific slam against the credenza, followed by the pounding of boots as Ben raced into the yard. He was halted temporarily by the sheer insanity of it all, staring up at the roof as if his mind refused to accept what his eyes were seeing. Beth and Nora appeared to be wrestling on the roof of the barn!<\/p>\n

\u201cWHAT IN TARNATION?! GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT! BOTH OF YOU!\u201d Ben thundered. Then instinct snapped back into place. His boots dug into the dirt, and he found his speed again, racing toward the barn.<\/p>\n

At that same instant, Adam and Hoss thundered into the yard on horseback, hooves pounding as they pulling hard on the reins. Ben barely had time to leap aside as the horses skidded past him, close enough that he could feel the rush of air and grit against his trousers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhoa!\u201d Hoss shouted, hauling Chubb to a stop, while Adam swung down even before Sport had fully stilled, throwing the reins to the ground. All three men looked up at the barn roof in unison, faces draining of color as the full danger of the situation crashed down on them.<\/p>\n

For one sickening second, Adam\u2019s entire world narrowed to the sight of his girls\u2014his babies\u2014silhouetted starkly against the wide blue sky. The sun caught at the loose strands of Beth\u2019s hair as the wind tugged at her skirts, her boots braced uselessly on the slanted roof while she clutched at her sister with both hands.<\/p>\n

Nora was flailing as she twisted and wriggled, toes scraping dangerously close to the edge of the barn roof, trying to get free of her sister\u2019s grasp. One slip, one lost grip\u2026<\/p>\n

Adam hit the ladder at a dead run, boots pounding the packed dirt before he launched himself upward, taking the rungs two at a time. The wood scraped his palms as he hauled himself higher, breath burning in his chest. He didn\u2019t slow\u2014couldn\u2019t\u2014eyes locked on the roofline.<\/p>\n

Hoss didn\u2019t even glance at the ladder. He broke into a full sprint, long legs eating up the distance as he rounded the side of the barn, shouting hoarsely for them to hold on<\/em>. Ben was right behind him, both men spreading out instinctively around the structure, arms lifting, bodies tensing\u2014ready to do the impossible if a child came tumbling down.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth! Don\u2019t move!\u201d Adam shouted, his voice tearing out of him, sharp with fear. \u201cNora, stay right where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

His heart thundered as he climbed, every rung a prayer. \u201cDon\u2019t move,\u201d he called again, forcing a steadiness he didn\u2019t feel into his voice. \u201cHold on to your sister. I\u2019m coming\u2014just hold on.\u201d<\/p>\n

At last, Beth managed to snag Nora around the middle, hauling her back just as the little girl tried once more to step into nothing.<\/p>\n

Getting both arms around Nora, Beth pushed her flat against the roof and held her there. Nora wailed as a sudden gust tore the sheet from her hands, as though she was watching her dreams of soaring away vanish as the fabric tumbled into the wind.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s hands hit the roof edge hard enough to jar his shoulders. He hauled himself up, chest heaving as the reality of the height hit him, hard. The vast, empty air beyond the edge, the sickening certainty of how unforgiving a fall would be. And with it came the stark, infuriating truth of just how reckless it was for Nora and Beth to be up here at all.<\/p>\n

He spotted the girls, small against the expanse of the roof. \u201cNora,\u201d he called, keeping his voice even by sheer will. \u201cBeth. Don\u2019t move. I\u2019m coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth looked up at the sound of Adam\u2019s voice, certain she had never been happier to see her pa than she was at that moment. She kept Nora pinned down, unwilling to let her up until Pa was there to take Nora himself. Beneath her, Nora\u2019s eyes filled with tears as she attempted to track the windswept bed sheet, oblivious to the danger of the entire situation.<\/p>\n

Adam took a careful step, then another, and another, inching closer. He could see Beth\u2019s chin lifted stubbornly in that way of hers, telling him she was scared but refusing to let it show.<\/p>\n

Anger suddenly flared hot in his chest\u2014at the risk they\u2019d taken, at the terror Beth was trying to hide, at his own failure to keep Nora from going this far and not impressing upon her fully enough the risks she was taking. Fear quickly reclaimed him, overriding the ire with its icy grip, sharpening every movement and each breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust stay right where you are,\u201d Adam instructed firmly as he moved closer. \u201cEasy now. It\u2019s going to be all right.\u201d The wind tugged at his shirt, a grim reminder of how exposed and vulnerable they were.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa,\u201d Beth called, her voice thin and reedy. She wasn\u2019t even certain whether he heard her, or if the wind had swallowed the sound.<\/p>\n

I had to.<\/em> The phrase seemed to pound in her mind in time with the beat of her heart. Someone had to; even if Beth\u2019s stomach felt hollow and the ground seemed impossibly, terrifyingly far away. Nora wasn\u2019t thinking straight and Beth wasn\u2019t convinced her sister was yet. Despite being pinned down on the roof of the barn, surrounded by anxious adults.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to stop her,\u201d she said aloud, hoping Pa could understand. She hadn\u2019t had a choice but to follow Nora onto the roof.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s heart lurched at the sound of her. He forced his voice to stay steady, gentle, even as his pulse thundered in his ears. \u201cIt\u2019s alright, sweetheart,\u201d he called back, eyes never leaving their small, rigid shape against the sky. \u201cYou did good. Do you hear me? You did exactly right.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m almost there,\u201d he added, slower now, deliberate, so she could cling to every word. \u201cJust hold on for me. Don\u2019t look down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reaching them in two long movements, Adam slid down beside the girls. Beth had her body pressed over Nora, hands bunched in the material of her little sister\u2019s dress. He put a hand on Beth\u2019s shoulder and squeezed, his other arm coming around them both, a warm, solid anchor in the terrifying openness of the sky. \u201cYou can let go,\u201d he murmured. \u201cI\u2019m here. I\u2019ve got her.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Beth didn\u2019t release Nora, Adam didn\u2019t force it. He spoke softly as he leaned closer, his presence steady and deliberate, and began to ease her fingers free one by one. They were locked tight in the fabric of Nora\u2019s dress, knuckles white, trembling with the effort of holding on. He covered her hands with his own, warm and sure, coaxing rather than pulling, murmuring reassurance as he slowly pried her grip loose. \u201cI\u2019ve got her,\u201d he said quietly. \u201cYou did good. I\u2019ve got her now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once Nora\u2019s dress was free, Adam set a steadying hand on Beth\u2019s shoulder and helped her sit upright. At the same time, his other arm closed firmly around Nora\u2019s waist, lifting her and drawing her in against his chest, where he held her securely.<\/p>\n

Beth sagged the moment Adam took Nora\u2019s weight, her arms slipping away as her strength gave out. Her fingers twitched in the empty air for a heartbeat before he shot a hand out, catching her wrist instantly. The warmth and firmness of his grip grounded her, a tether in the dizzying height.<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy,\u201d Adam said, his voice calm but insistent, holding tight. \u201cI\u2019ve got you, too. Don\u2019t move.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s chest heaved as she nodded, gulping in shaky breaths. Her legs trembled violently, knees weak, and inch by careful inch put more distance between herself and the edge.<\/p>\n

Oblivious to the fear of her father and sister, head tucked beneath Adam\u2019s chin, Nora\u2019s tears began soaking into his shirt. \u201cPapa,\u201d she whined, \u201cthe wind took my balloon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam lowered his chin to the crown of her head and closed his eyes briefly, breathing through an overwhelming urge to shake sense into her. He forced it back, holding Nora more firmly, and drew Beth in closer, wrapping both his girls in his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d Ben\u2019s voice carried up from below, sharp, and urgent. He was already halfway up the ladder. \u201cDo you have them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got them!\u201d Adam answered. Nora clung to him, arms around his neck, while Beth\u2019s hands gripped his other arm so tightly his skin ached. Once both girls were secure, he inched them toward the ladder, never loosening his hold on either of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 9<\/p>\n

He tested every step before he took it, moving slowly and deliberately. Adam felt every muscle strain with tension as they made their way carefully, battling the wind. After what felt like an eternity, they reached the ladder and let out a collective sigh. Two of them released it in relief; one, heavy with sadness.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth, you\u2019re first. Slow and steady. Grandpa and Uncle Hoss are right there.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked down towards Ben, waiting for her halfway up the ladder, her face pale. \u201cIt\u2019s so far\u2026\u201d Beth whispered, voice shaking. Somehow, when she snuggled into the hayloft with a book, the distance never seemed so daunting. The warmth of the barn, its familiar smells and noises, took the edge off the loft\u2019s height.<\/p>\n

Out here, as gusts yanked at her skirts and whipped her braid, with nothing but emptiness beyond the roof, it was vastly different. Up here, Beth felt her stomach lurch and a cold, crawling fear sink deep into her bones.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re right here honey.\u201d Hoss\u2019s booming voice cut through the wind. \u201cC\u2019mon down. Grandpa and ol\u2019 Uncle Hoss ain\u2019t gonna let you fall.\u201d<\/p>\n

She took a deep, trembling breath and placed her hands on the ladder. Beth\u2019s descent was slow and deliberate; each movement measured against the wind that tugged at her skirts and braided hair. She kept her body close to the ladder, gripping the wooden rungs so tightly that her fingers ached. Each step sent a shiver through her legs, trembling with fear, while her heart drummed wildly in her chest.<\/p>\n

Below her, Hoss\u2019s voice rang out\u2014deep, calm, impossible to miss even over the rush of blood in her ears. \u201cYou\u2019re doin\u2019 just fine, honey! Keep goin\u2019!\u201d He stood braced with his boots planted wide in the dirt, arms lifted and ready, eyes never leaving her. \u201cThat\u2019s it. Easy now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willing her legs to stop quaking, she nodded\u2014just barely, afraid that any bigger movement might undo her\u2014and forced herself to keep going. One careful hand at a time, she slid her grip down the rails, then eased her foot onto the next rung. The ladder felt too narrow, the distance below too wide. She focused on the rhythm of it instead, breath in, breath out, and counted silently in her head. One\u2026 two\u2026<\/em> Halfway now.<\/p>\n

The air behind her changed, filled with a presence close enough that she could feel it before she understood it. A strong arm wrapped around her waist, firm and unmistakably real.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrandpa,\u201d she whispered, the word slipping out on a shaky breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here, Beth. I\u2019m here,\u201d Ben answered, his voice calm and warm right by her ear. He gave her a reassuring squeeze; not tight, just enough to remind her she wasn\u2019t alone. \u201cEasy now. We\u2019ll go down the rest of the way together.\u201d He adjusted his stance behind her, one hand anchoring her at the waist.<\/p>\n

With Ben\u2019s solid presence at her back and his quiet confidence carrying her forward, the ladder no longer felt quite so endless. The tension in her shoulders eased just a fraction.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026 okay,\u201d Beth whispered, more to herself than anyone else, her voice trembling. With Grandpa holding her, fear\u2019s icy grip eased into something more manageable. She swallowed hard, giving a firm nod as she did so. \u201cReady.\u201d<\/p>\n

Step by careful step, they descended together. Ben\u2019s arm was firm but gentle, a constant anchor against the ladder\u2019s wobble. Each rung brought a tiny victory: her boots scraping the wood, breathing steadily, her courage returning bit by bit. She dared a tiny glance downward and saw the yard slowly getting closer. Uncle Hoss was waiting, his face bright and encouraging.<\/p>\n

The instant Beth\u2019s boots touched solid ground, all the strength seemed to drain out of her body. Her knees gave way, and she swayed, breath coming in short, shaky gasps.<\/p>\n

Hoss caught her before she could fall, his big hands steadying her and then pulling her close against his chest. \u201cEasy now\u2026 easy,\u201d he murmured, one hand coming up to cradle the back of her head. \u201cI got you, honey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth collapsed into him, heart hammering wildly as she clutched at his shirt with both hands, gripping him like he was the only solid thing in the world. Her face pressed into his chest, her body shuddering as the fear and adrenaline finally spilled over. Tears welled up and then fell freely, her shoulders shaking as she cried in his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cShh\u2026 you\u2019re safe now,\u201d Hoss soothed, his voice low and steady. \u201cYou\u2019re on the ground. Ain\u2019t nothin\u2019 gonna happen to you.\u201d He began to rock her gently where they stood; slow, instinctive movements meant to calm her racing heart.<\/p>\n

Nodding against him, she tried to pull herself back together. Her breathing slowly steadied, though her legs still felt weak and untrustworthy. Hoss didn\u2019t loosen his hold\u2014not even a little\u2014keeping her tucked securely against him. She didn\u2019t dare turn her head to look back at the ladder, where Papa and Nora were still descending. For now, all she could do was stay right where she was; safe, held, and finally out of the sky.<\/p>\n

——-<\/p>\n

As soon as Beth was safely on the ground and Ben\u2019s steady hands had released her, Adam\u2019s attention snapped back to the small weight still clutched against his chest. Nora hadn\u2019t loosened her grip once. Her arms were knotted tight around his neck, fingers tangled in his shirt. Damp patches darkened the fabric where her cheeks pressed against him, and he could feel each uneven hitch of her breath.<\/p>\n

She sniffed, then pulled back just enough to look at him. Her lashes were clumped with tears, her eyes red-rimmed and shining. Her lower lip trembled. \u201cMy balloon is all gone,\u201d she said in a small, broken voice, grief and disappointment tangled together.<\/p>\n

Before he could answer, the last of her resolve collapsed. She buried her face against his shoulder, a soft sob escaping as her body curled inward. Adam tightened his hold instinctively as she cried out the loss of her grand adventure. And, he hoped, was beginning to understand the danger of it, if not the fright, she\u2019d given them all.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d he said, his voice clipped and level. \u201cWe\u2019ll talk about that once we\u2019re on the ground\u2014and we\u2019ll take our time doing it.\u201d Adam shifted his grip, making sure she was secure. \u201cRight now, though, we\u2019re getting down. Hold on tight,\u201d he warned, leaving no room for argument.<\/p>\n

Clutching her to his chest, Adam took a careful step toward the ladder, feeling the rough grain of the wood beneath his boot. His foot found the first rung, sturdy and unmoving, and he let out a quiet breath he hadn\u2019t realized he was holding. The ladder held and he took the next step down, slow, and deliberate.<\/p>\n

That was when Nora\u2019s little head popped up from his shoulder, her curls brushing his cheek. \u201cPapa mad?\u201d she asked, sniffles punctuating the words. Her wide eyes, still glistening with tears, searched his face for reassurance.<\/p>\n

He ground his teeth quietly, questioning, yet again, whether he had the patience to make it through her childhood. \u201cNora, we are not<\/em> talking about this here,\u201d Adam said firmly, his voice low but unwavering. \u201cEspecially not on a ladder, one rung down from the barn roof.\u201d Feeling her wiggle against him, Adam tightened his hold instinctively before easing down another rung. Every muscle in his arms and legs was rigid, working to keep them steady and safe.<\/p>\n

Nora fell silent for exactly half a second, her little brows knitting together in confusion and worry. \u201cBut Papa\u2014\u201d Her voice wobbled, a tiny tremor betraying both fear and frustration. \u201cI was just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEleanor,\u201d he interrupted, the edge sharper than he intended, and immediately he exhaled slowly to soften it. \u201cStop. Right now, your job is to hang on and stay very still.\u201d<\/p>\n

One crisis at a time.<\/em><\/p>\n

She sniffed, a quiet, shuddering sound, then swallowed hard. Slowly, she pressed her face back into his shoulder, seeking the steady warmth and solidity she trusted so completely.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d she whispered, her voice barely audible, but full of reluctant obedience.<\/p>\n

He stayed focused on the descent, blocking out everything else\u2014the distance to the ground, the way his arms were starting to tremble, the image that kept flashing uninvited in his mind of what could have happened. Adam\u2019s jaw clenched with every step, patience thinning to a thread he was gripping just as tightly as the ladder.<\/p>\n

Nora shifted slightly against his chest, loosening her hold just enough to peek around, her wide eyes flicking down with a mixture of curiosity and lingering fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa?\u201d she ventured, her voice small and hesitant.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t look down this time, keeping his eyes on the next rung. \u201cYes,\u201d he said, steady and calm.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026are you very mad?\u201d Her words tumbled out softly, uncertainty lacing each syllable, betraying the tiny knot of worry still twisting in her chest.<\/p>\n

He exhaled slowly through his nose, forcing the tension in his shoulders to ease just enough to stay steady. \u201cNora,\u201d he said, tight and controlled, \u201cthis ladder is not the place for questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut\u2014\u201d she began, her small voice quivering, the beginnings of a protest on her lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo buts,\u201d Adam cut in firmly, lowering his foot to the next rung and feeling the wood solid beneath him. The subtle creak of the ladder underscored his words.<\/p>\n

There was a weight, a finality, in Papa\u2019s tone that snapped through her hesitation and held her still. Slowly, she pressed her face back against him, curls brushing his cheek, and the last of her muttered protests faded.<\/p>\n

They descended in silence for a few rungs, broken only by the scrape of boots on wood and Adam\u2019s steady breathing. His arms burned now, but he welcomed the pain\u2014it kept his mind from straying to everything that could have gone wrong. He felt Nora\u2019s breath, hot against his collarbone, coming in quick little hitches. Each movement was measured and controlled, until finally there was ground beneath his feet.<\/p>\n

The moment Adam\u2019s boots hit dirt, Ben took Nora, pulling her close and planting her safely against his chest. Adam stayed where he was for a heartbeat longer, palms still gripping wood, legs weak as the tension drained out of them.<\/p>\n

At last, he stepped back, drawing in a deep, ragged breath. His gaze flicked upward\u2014just once\u2014lingering on the roof they\u2019d descended from, before he turned away, shoulders heavy. Dust clung stubbornly to his sleeves and sweat ran in dark streaks down the back of his neck and along his collar.<\/p>\n

He hadn\u2019t gone more than a few steps from the ladder before his knees gave way, and he sank into the dirt. Beth dashed to him without hesitation, and he wrapped her tightly in his arms, burying his face briefly in the warmth of her hair. Then, Adam extended an arm toward Nora, drawing her close as well.<\/p>\n

Eyes bright with relief and anger alike, he simply held them, savoring the feeling of having his girls in his arms, safe on the ground. His chest rose and fell unevenly, heart still hammering, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink to the three of them\u2014dusty, shaken, but alive.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 10<\/p>\n

Adam stayed there on his knees longer than he meant to, one arm tight around Beth, the other braced around Nora\u2019s small back.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

His eldest spoke before he could finish. \u201cI had to stop her. I had<\/em> to,\u201d she said, the words rushing out of her now that her feet were back on solid ground. Beth\u2019s voice shook, not with anger but with the aftershock of fear. Whatever stubborn courage had propelled her up the ladder was long gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Adam replied, loosening his grip just enough to look at her. His hand slid up to Beth\u2019s shoulder, firm, grounding. \u201cI\u2019m not angry with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stared at him, blinking quickly as she fought the renewed burn of tears in her eyes.<\/p>\n

He softened his voice further. \u201cYou were scared, and you still climbed up there for your sister. That took courage. Foolish courage, maybe,\u201d he added wryly, \u201cbut courage all the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

The last of the tension and fear began to drain out of her. Beth\u2019s shoulders slumped with relief, only to be replaced by the heavy press of exhaustion.<\/p>\n

Adam gave her shoulder a small squeeze. \u201cI\u2019m proud of you. Now go on inside,\u201d he said, tipping his head toward the house. \u201cAsk Hop Sing for something to drink and sit down. You\u2019ve had enough excitement for one day.\u201d He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.<\/p>\n

Rather than obey immediately, she froze. Beth\u2019s gaze flicked toward Nora, face still pressed against Papa\u2019s chest, then back at Papa. Her eyes, wide and shimmering, held a silent plea\u2014not for forgiveness, exactly, but for understanding. A part of her wanted to protect the reckless little daredevil, even still.<\/p>\n

At last, with a small, shuddering sigh, she turned. Each step toward the house was slow and deliberate, her feet dragging slightly as if the world itself might tilt beneath her. Her chest rose and fell in uneven, exhausted breaths.<\/p>\n

Stepping into the house was like a balm for her soul. The familiar warmth from the large fireplace; the clatter of dishes and the faint scent of cooking from the kitchen. Even the sound of Georgie \u2018helping\u2019 by banging a spoon on a pot from the makeshift pen Hop Sing had constructed. Beth closed her eyes, taking it all in, letting the normalcy of it settle her.<\/p>\n

\u201cMissy Beth!\u201d<\/p>\n

She opened her eyes just as Hop Sing drew her close, his tone filled with exasperation. \u201cMissy Nora, she crazy! Make Hop Sing go back to China!\u201d<\/p>\n

The oft-made\u2014but never truly meant\u2014threat brought a small, tired smile to Beth\u2019s face. Hop Sing\u2019s voice, half scolding, half worried, wrapped around her like a warm blanket.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop Sing,\u201d Beth murmured, leaning against his chest for just a moment, \u201cshe\u2026 she didn\u2019t mean to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMissy Beth have tea. Look too pale,\u201d Hop Sing interrupted, his tone shifting instantly from exasperation to tender care. He began steering her carefully toward the kitchen, one hand on her back, as if he feared she might topple from exhaustion at any moment. He guided her straight to a chair and put a cup of hot tea in her hands.<\/p>\n

—————-<\/p>\n

Still in the yard, Adam held Nora close, his arms wrapped firmly around her small frame. Her dark hair tickled his chin, face buried against his chest, hiding the flush of fear\u2014or sadness\u2014he couldn\u2019t quite tell. He felt the rapid rise and fall of her tiny shoulders, heard the faint hiccups of leftover adrenaline.<\/p>\n

Behind him, the soft scrape of boots and the sound of a wooden door told him his father and brother were moving off into the barn, giving them a measure of privacy. The quiet was almost too loud, filled only with the distant calls of birds and the whisper of wind through the trees.<\/p>\n

Before Adam could gather his thoughts, a tiny voice pressed into his chest, muffled by his shirt, tentative and unsure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it would work.\u201d<\/p>\n

He closed his eyes for a long moment, letting the words sink in.<\/p>\n

Sadness, then.<\/em><\/p>\n

The sharp edge of fear and anger he\u2019d carried down from the roof dulled, giving way to something heavier.<\/p>\n

This child will be the death of me. <\/em><\/p>\n

Slowly, Adam eased Nora back just far enough to see her face. His hands came to her shoulders, giving her a slight shake.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat were you thinking?\u201d he demanded, his voice cracking like a whip. \u201cDo you have any idea what could have happened? One slip. One wrong step.\u201d His chest rose and fell sharply. \u201cI could have buried you, and your sister.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora blinked up at him, eyes wide, stunned by the force of his voice. \u201cBut Papa\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut nothing<\/em>,\u201d Adam cut in, the word final. He swatted her backside sharply, ignoring Nora\u2019s indignant howl and immediate sniffles. \u201cThis isn\u2019t a game.\u201d Another swat followed. \u201cOr imagination.\u201d He reached for her chin, taking it gently in his hand to make sure that Nora couldn\u2019t look away. \u201cYou will never<\/em> do something like that again. Ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Releasing her chin, Adam straightened and gently but firmly turned her toward the house. His hand rested between her shoulder blades\u2014not pushing, directing. \u201cGo to your room. Right now. And wait for me,\u201d he said. \u201cA necessary talking-to is long past due.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora bent her knees and bounced in place, all that pent-up fear and frustration spilling over at once. Her hands balled into her dress as she stamped a foot. \u201cIsn\u2019t that what we\u2019re doing right now?!\u201d The protest came out sharp, but it wavered at the end, collapsing into a sniffle.<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t raise his voice. \u201cNo,\u201d he said evenly. \u201cThat was to get your attention and make you understand just how serious this is.\u201d His gaze stayed locked on hers. \u201cNow you\u2019re going to your room. Go; right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pointed toward the door, his expression leaving no room for argument.<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s face crumpled. Tears spilled over all at once, hot and unstoppable, as she turned and ran for the house.<\/p>\n

———-<\/p>\n

Gone<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s last hopes of flight, her greatest idea yet for achieving it, was gone.<\/p>\n

The cry released at this realization was different. When her balloon made of clothes had snapped apart, Nora only became tearful when facing Hop Sing\u2019s rightful indignation at her actions. A well-earned scolding and the knowledge that she\u2019d disappointed Hop Sing fueled them. And after plummeting to the floor from the railing of the stairs, Nora\u2019s wails had been filled with betrayal. The very air had let her down, quite literally.<\/p>\n

Her preempted attempt to fly from the chicken coop had prompted sobs of frustration during her confinement. But now, sitting there in her room, being left with the unknown<\/em> of her plan, these tears were different. She\u2019d never be able to determine if she was on the right track or not; how close she\u2019d come to soaring over the trees as she\u2019d envisioned.<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s tears held a grief-stricken, agonizing finality; the sound of a great dream dying.<\/p>\n

Beth could hear the distinct difference in her sister\u2019s sobs from downstairs. The sorrowful sound suddenly made her want to cry right along with her sister, her own throat thick with emotion. Before truly thinking about her actions, Beth put her tea aside and got to her feet, heading to Nora\u2019s room at speed. There was no knock; she simply let herself in and hugged the sobbing little girl close.<\/p>\n

She held on, rocking slightly, letting Nora\u2019s sobs soak into her shoulder. They came in great, shuddering pulls now, the kind that stole breath and made words impossible. Beth tucked Nora\u2019s head under her chin, one hand smoothing the tangle of curls, the other rubbing gentle circles on her back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d she whispered, voice rough. \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s fists clenched in the back of Beth\u2019s dress. \u201cIt was\u2026\u201d she gulped. \u201cIt was my last idea!\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth swallowed. She could hear it, the despair in Nora\u2019s voice even through the wreckage of it. The disappearance of belief. \u201cI know,\u201d she said gently. \u201cBut we could\u2019ve lost you forever and ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

That only made the crying surge again, the sound breaking sharp and raw. Beth tightened her hold, rocking more firmly now. \u201cHey. Hey,\u201d she murmured. \u201cI\u2019d rather have my sister. I don\u2019t care if you\u2019re a famous balloonist or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

The younger girl shook her head, the words offering no comfort at all. \u201cIt\u2019s gone. I don\u2019t know if I was close. I\u2019ll never know.<\/em>\u201d She hadn\u2019t experienced the joy of flight and, worse still, didn\u2019t know whether she\u2019d been right.<\/p>\n

Beth closed her eyes. That was the true hurt of it: the not-knowing. The way something could be taken before it ever had the chance to prove itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what?\u201d she said after a moment. \u201cSomeday, when you\u2019re grown, you can try again. Real experiments and everything. Meet people who\u2019ve done it. Or maybe you\u2019ll invent a whole new way\u2014something that isn\u2019t even about balloons.\u201d She huffed softly. \u201cYou can do anything. If you stay off roofs and stop trying to jump off things like a froghopper. Pa won\u2019t let you live long enough to grow up otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sound of familiar footfalls reached her ears. Beth gave Nora a tight squeeze, her heart constricting at the idea of Pa punishing her any further when she seemed so shattered already.<\/p>\n

A hot, instinctive flash of sisterly defiance flared in her chest.<\/p>\n

Especially when this is all his fault in the first place.<\/em><\/p>\n

Nora heard the steps too, lifting her head to look toward the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cStay here,\u201d Beth directed.<\/p>\n

She disentangled herself from Nora\u2019s grip and stepped into the hall, pulling the door shut behind her with deliberate firmness. Planting herself in front of it, Beth crossed her arms and set her jaw.<\/p>\n

Just as Adam reached the top of the stairs.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 11<\/p>\n

Adam slowed when he saw Beth standing there.<\/p>\n

Not just standing; barricading<\/em>. Arms crossed, shoulders squared, the flash of something hot and fearless in her eyes.<\/p>\n

She could feel the abruptness of his pause and the way he tried to determine what she was doing. If she was truthful, Beth was uncertain about that herself. She hadn\u2019t planned this part, or any of it really. Yet here she was, and here she intended to stay.<\/p>\n

He was the first to break the silent standoff. \u201cBeth.\u201d Adam\u2019s voice was tight; a warning threaded through it. \u201cStep aside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth didn\u2019t. She shook her head slowly, feet staying right where they were. The heels of her boots backed against Nora\u2019s door. She took a breath. \u201cNo, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

The refusal landed harder than if she\u2019d shouted it.<\/p>\n

A muscle twitched in his jaw. Adam moved forward, boots quiet on the floorboards as he closed the distance between them. He stood there in front of her for a moment, tall and immovable, the way he did when he meant to be obeyed.<\/p>\n

Beth didn\u2019t move. She barely breathed. What she did do was briefly wonder if she\u2019d lost her mind. Or left it on the roof.<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you care to try that again?\u201d Though shaped like a question, it wasn\u2019t one.<\/p>\n

She swallowed, the sound loud in the sudden, ringing silence. \u201cNo, sir.\u201d Her voice was quieter this time, but no less firm and carefully controlled. Her boots stayed planted.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyes narrowed, not in anger alone, but disbelief. \u201cElizabeth, I\u2019m not asking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her chin tilted up, a familiar, stubborn angle he\u2019d seen a hundred times before; usually right before trouble.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, Pa,\u201d Beth admitted, her tone even. Then, deliberately: \u201cAnd I\u2019m not listening. Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

That did it. Adam\u2019s posture shifted, shoulders squaring as his full attention snapped into place. Both eyebrows rose high on his forehead. \u201cThis isn\u2019t your place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The words were sharp, but she didn\u2019t flinch. Beth was certain that it was. She knew Nora just as well as she knew herself\u2014knew how sharp the loss felt, how unfair it was, how it hollowed you out and left nothing but questions echoing around inside. Right now, Nora wasn\u2019t being stubborn or reckless; she was grieving something she\u2019d never get the chance to understand.<\/p>\n

If Papa went in there now with rules and consequences and reality lessons, Nora wouldn\u2019t hear a word of it. It would all slide right past, swallowed by the ache in her chest. The message wouldn\u2019t teach; it would just tangle itself up with the hurt and make it worse.<\/p>\n

If only I can figure out how to tell Papa that before he loses his mind! <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is<\/em> today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not going to stand here and argue with you, Elizabeth.\u201d The words came out clipped and authoritative, but even as he said them, Adam was keenly aware of how absurd they sounded\u2014because that was exactly<\/em> what was happening. A full-blown argument, in his own hallway, with his own daughter, who had somehow decided that this was the hill she was willing to plant herself on.<\/p>\n

He exhaled through his nose, reining himself in. He had no intention of dragging Beth to her room like a toddler throwing a fit and slam the door behind her. She was old enough to understand. Old enough to obey. And Adam was going to insist, firmly, that she do so.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have exactly three seconds to reconsider your position,\u201d he said, voice low and edged with steel. \u201cDo I need to start counting?\u201d<\/p>\n

Every instinct of self-preservation screamed at her to apologize. To step aside. To retreat quickly while she still could. Counting meant she\u2019d pushed him past warnings and explanations and into the realm of action. Action that never ended well for her. Beth knew that. She felt it in the tight knot forming in her stomach, in the way her pulse jumped.<\/p>\n

Somehow\u2014stupidly, recklessly\u2014she didn\u2019t do any of those things.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne,\u201d she said instead, loudly.<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s voice rang out down the hallway, steady and unmistakably deliberate, a clear challenge that bounced off the walls and left nowhere to hide. Adam froze.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo.\u201d She didn\u2019t hesitate; didn\u2019t waver.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a split second, pure, unfiltered shock crossed his face. It wasn\u2019t anger, not yet. It was disbelief. He hadn\u2019t expected that<\/em>. He\u2019d anticipated every other reaction: Beth bolting for her room; dissolving into tears; shouting back; even backing down with clenched fists and flashing eyes.<\/p>\n

He had not expected her to take his countdown and claim it as her own.<\/p>\n

The silence that followed felt heavier than the argument itself.<\/p>\n

Then, reluctantly, a familiar realization crept in. Perhaps he should<\/em> have expected it. Beth was his and Alta\u2019s daughter. Stubborn, principled, and infuriatingly brave when she believed she was right.<\/p>\n

Naturally, being their child, Beth wasn\u2019t finished.<\/p>\n

She held her ground, shoulders squared, eyes locked on his. Her heart was hammering now, loud enough that she was sure he could hear it, but she didn\u2019t look away.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou read her that story, Papa,\u201d Beth said, her voice rising despite herself. The words came faster as the dam cracked. \u201cAbout the balloonists\u2014and how they persisted<\/em>. How they kept going even when everyone said it couldn\u2019t be done.\u201d She gestured sharply toward the closed door behind her. \u201cNora lives in her head! You know<\/em> that. I said it was a bad idea\u2014I said<\/em> it.\u201d<\/p>\n

She drew a breath, but it barely slowed her. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t hear stories the way other people do. She hears instructions<\/em>. That\u2019s how Nora works, and you know that!\u201d<\/p>\n

The hallway seemed to shrink around them.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s voice cut in, low and dangerous. \u201cAre you saying this is my fault?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

The word burst out of her before she could stop it; before sense, caution, or fear could catch up. It landed between them like a dropped plate, sharp and irretrievable. Beth felt the instant it was spoken that she\u2019d crossed a line she couldn\u2019t uncross.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d lost her temper completely. Worse, she\u2019d now committed the greatest transgressions in the Cartwright household; defiance, disobedience, and, disrespect.<\/p>\n

The fire that had fueled her challenge sputtered and died, leaving behind a cold, hollow dread. Beth wanted to snatch the word back, to swallow it, to rewind the last ten seconds and make herself disappear.<\/p>\n

Or maybe the last few minutes even.<\/p>\n

Definitely the last few minutes.<\/em><\/p>\n

But it was out there, all of it. The defiance and disrespect, wrapped in an angry delivery. What had started as a zealous effort to ensure that he knew Nora needed to grieve before she was ready for consequences had turned into a shouting match. Well, that wasn\u2019t strictly true. She<\/em> was the only one shouting; Pa\u2019s voice was firm, serious, but not raised.<\/p>\n

————–<\/p>\n

The words she\u2019d flung at him still rang in his ears\u2014hot, disrespectful, reckless in their delivery. Already worn thin from the danger they\u2019d only just avoided on the barn, Adam\u2019s first instinct leant towards being immediate and sharp: a swift consequence, delivered right there in the hall. It was more than justified by her behavior.<\/p>\n

He could have done it and very nearly did.<\/p>\n

Then he saw Beth\u2019s face as horror dawned. Not in a dramatic gasp or burst of tears, but creeping over her features in stages. Adam watched every one of them appear.<\/p>\n

The flare of anger faded first. The sharp lift of her chin faltered. Her mouth, still parted from the last heated word she\u2019d thrown at him, closed sharply as if she might be able to pull it back in.<\/p>\n

The brightness of her eyes, which had sparked with a fierce sense of certainty, disappeared. The intensity of emotion drained from them as something fragile flickered there now instead. Adam could see the exact instant the comprehension truly dawned, her pupils widening with awareness and alarm.<\/p>\n

Then understanding settled in. Not of him, but of herself. Of the words themselves, the way they\u2019d been thrown, and the fact that she couldn\u2019t take them back. No matter how much she might want to do so, her outburst\u2014every part of it\u2014had been said and heard.<\/p>\n

Pale and stricken, Beth\u2019s eyes found his, searching for something. A measurement of anger and disappointment potentially too deep to comprehend, but more than that; for damage. Proof that she\u2019d broken something beyond repair.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s chest tightened. What he saw wasn\u2019t defiance anymore. It was horror at a mistake that felt too big and awful, driven by emotions that had been stretched too far by the day\u2019s events. He was no stranger to that feeling. He remembered it from his own youth\u2014pride or conviction burning hot, then cooling into regret so sharp it hurt. With it came the fear that irreparable harm had been caused.<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s fingers curled into the fabric of her dress. The same nervous habit she\u2019d had since she was tiny; the need to cling to something that she could feel was real when everything felt too big, too much.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa\u2026\u201d she started, but the word faltered. Her hazel eyes shined bright with tears as she grappled with the enormity of her missteps, her utter disrespect, the loss of control.<\/p>\n

What do I do now?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Chapter 12<\/p>\n

She had no idea her father was wondering about the very same thing. Adam knew he had to respond; he couldn\u2019t let her behavior stand. If he came down too hard, he ran the risk of shattering the beautiful, protective force that motivated Beth in the first place. The emotions and adrenaline from it all had been too much for her to hold gracefully. To share in the way she usually did, that he was used to. But if he softened too much, would it allow her to think the line didn\u2019t matter?<\/p>\n

He hated that parenting was so often this narrow bridge between the two and that he had to make the choice alone.<\/p>\n

Adam exhaled slowly, carefully. He folded his arms, not defensive, not aggressive, thinking. \u201cI wasn\u2019t shouting at you, was I?\u201d<\/p>\n

Miserably, Beth shook her head. Even when Papa was clearly frustrated with her, he hadn\u2019t raised his voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right, about Nora. She\u2019s different from you,\u201d Adam acknowledged. \u201cBut I\u2019m her pa same as I\u2019m yours. I know her just as well as I know you. You\u2019re not the only one who sees how she views the world.\u201d The number of conversations with Nora that had revolved around describing the personalities of clouds and choosing places to fish based on how \u2018friendly\u2019 the water looked in a spot were many.<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s heart gave a hopeful leap\u2014and then stalled when he added, \u201cThe fact that she\u2019s grieving doesn\u2019t erase what she did. But I do understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her shoulders sagged. \u201cI wasn\u2019t trying to be disrespectful,\u201d she whispered, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. Her hands worried at the hem of her sleeve, twisting the fabric tight. \u201cI wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t answer right away. He watched her with that measured steadiness that always made her feel as though he saw more than she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he agreed at last. \u201cYou weren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Relief flickered, brief and fragile.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were trying to protect your sister.\u201d<\/p>\n

The words landed with far more force than a sharp reprimand ever could have.<\/p>\n

He understood.<\/p>\n

That was what made it hurt. Pa knew exactly what she had been doing and she had still chosen to lash out at him in the process.<\/p>\n

Beth\u2019s throat tightened painfully. \u201cYou were being so\u2014so calm,\u201d she burst out, frustration flaring again in a weak echo of what had been blazing moments ago. \u201cIt sounded like you\u2019d already decided everything and it didn\u2019t matter what I said.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt did matter,\u201d Adam replied immediately, his voice firm.<\/p>\n

She looked up, feeling compelled to meet his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt always matters what you say,\u201d he continued. \u201cWords aren\u2019t small things. They carry weight. But how you say them,\u201d he paused, letting the quiet stretch between them, \u201c\u2014that can change everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

There it was. Not anger. Something quieter and far worse.<\/p>\n

Disappointment.<\/p>\n

It settled over her like a January frost on the Ponderosa, thin and impossible to shake off. The hollow dread in her stomach sank heavier, solid as a stone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI shouldn\u2019t have yelled,\u201d she whispered, the fight draining out of her all at once. He\u2019d have listened if she\u2019d told him how worried she was about Nora\u2019s tender heart in a quiet, respectful voice. Beth realized that now.<\/p>\n

Adam studied her for a long moment. He wasn\u2019t towering now; he wasn\u2019t looming. He was simply there\u2014solid, steady, and clear in his expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he agreed quietly. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t have.\u201d<\/p>\n

The simplicity of it undid her more completely than a sharp reprimand would have. If he had raised his voice, she might have braced against it. But this calm certainty left no place to hide.<\/p>\n

\u201cI expect better from you, Elizabeth Frances.\u201d<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t condemnation or rejection. And that, somehow, made it heavier. It was belief.<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t telling her she had failed beyond repair. Pa was telling her he knew she was better than this\u2014that the girl who\u2019s temper had snapped was not who she really was. The faith in that expectation pressed against her chest until it hurt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she said, the words small but honest. Tears started to slide quietly down her cheeks and Beth ducked her head to hide them. She was too old to cry over a scolding!<\/p>\n

Adam stepped forward then, closing the distance between them and pulling her into his arms. \u201cYou don\u2019t stop being my daughter when you disagree with me,\u201d he said. \u201cNot even when you shout and act disrespectful.\u201d His words were warm and forgiving, accompanied by a kiss to the top of her head. \u201cYou\u2019re always my moonbeam.\u201d<\/p>\n

He gave her a tight squeeze. \u201cWe\u2019ll talk more later if you need to. Nora needs me right now,\u201d Adam reminded her gently. \u201cI have to draw a line for her that she won\u2019t find otherwise.\u201d The unspoken before it\u2019s too late<\/em> hung in the air.<\/p>\n

Beth nodded against his chest, swallowing hard. She understood what he wasn\u2019t saying. Nora was fearless in a way that frightened them all\u2014too quick to climb, to leap, to test the world as if it would always catch her. Someone had to be the line that kept her from the edge.<\/p>\n

He eased back, his hands resting on Beth\u2019s shoulders for a moment longer than necessary. Tipping her chin up with a gentle finger, he brushed away the tears she hadn\u2019t managed to hide.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink you\u2019re too old to cry?\u201d he murmured, one eyebrow lifting in that familiar way.<\/p>\n

She let out a shaky breath, something between a sniff and a laugh. \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was about to reassure her otherwise, when on the other side of the door, the angst of Nora\u2019s tears shifted. His jaw tightened just slightly at the sound.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s so sad,\u201d Beth said softly. \u201cI was trying to help.\u201d<\/p>\n

His gaze returned to her, serious and steady. \u201cHelping doesn\u2019t mean standing against me in front of her. When you do that, she thinks the line can move.\u201d<\/p>\n

The words stung but not like before. This time they made sense.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t mean to undermine you,\u201d Beth whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d He squeezed her shoulders once more, then let his hands fall. \u201cYou\u2019ve got a heart that burns bright,\u201d Adam said softly. \u201cThat\u2019s not something I ever want to dim. We just have to make sure it\u2019s pointed in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

He exhaled slowly, glancing back towards Nora\u2019s door. For a split second, Beth saw not just her pa, but someone carrying the weight of keeping everyone safe and whole.<\/p>\n

She squared her shoulders as he stepped past her toward the door. This time, she didn\u2019t stop him. Beth simply watched as he quietly entered and shut the door behind him, her heart filled with a new and weighty understanding.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 13<\/p>\n

Adam opened the door quietly and shut it just as gently after stepping inside. The light that spilled in the window was thinned as the sun slowly descended, shadows edging around the room. Somehow, it made the small figure weeping on the bed appear much more tragic.<\/p>\n

Nora lay half across and half off her bed. Her left arm dangled toward the floor, one cheek pressed against the mattress, hair wild. Her legs were twisted under the blanket as though she\u2019d tried to burrow beneath it and given up partway, simply choosing to lie just as she was. It looked uncomfortable. Unnatural even.<\/p>\n

And enough like her awkward landing position after she\u2019d jumped from the railing to make him shiver.<\/p>\n

For one terrible instant, his mind betrayed him. He could see her splayed on the ground beside the barn instead of here\u2014limbs flung wide, dress crumpled wrong, far too still. The image came unbidden and sharp, stealing the air from his lungs.<\/p>\n

He closed his eyes briefly and forced it away.<\/p>\n

Then he heard that same sound he\u2019d caught outside the door a moment ago. Not the broken cries from earlier, but muffled, weary sobs forced into the mattress beneath her. It almost appeared as though Nora was trying to disappear into it; exhausted, grief-stricken, folded in on herself.<\/p>\n

He crossed the room without a word and knelt beside the bed. Up close he could see how tightly her fingers were knotted in the quilt, how her shoulders trembled with each breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cNora,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n

She flinched at the sound of his voice but didn\u2019t lift her head. \u201cIt was my last idea,\u201d she choked into the mattress. \u201cIt was the last one. I don\u2019t have any more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s hand hovered for a second before resting carefully between her shoulders. He felt the shudder run through her. His palm stayed there, warm, and steady, moving in slow, grounding circles for a moment, then two, letting her settle a bit before attempting to move her.<\/p>\n

Carefully, he slid his arm underneath Nora and eased her upright. She resisted weakly at first, but he guided her patiently until she was sitting. The blanket slipped from her legs, and she swayed toward him without meaning to.<\/p>\n

He caught her easily and drew her against his chest. Nora crumpled against him, burying her face in his shirt as her tears seeped through the cloth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll never know if I was close,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

Adam rested his cheek against the crown of her head. The fading light traced the edge of her profile, fragile and young and heartbreakingly earnest. She was so small, and he could still picture her on that roof\u2014even tinier against the sky, as the wind pulled at her.<\/p>\n

He shifted back against the headboard and drew her fully into his lap, one arm wrapped securely around her back, the other cradling the back of her head. For a long time, Adam did nothing but rock her gently and let Nora cry her sorrows out in his arms. The motion was slow and steady, a rhythm he was well versed in\u2014forward, back, forward, back.<\/p>\n

Words weren\u2019t needed; his strong, comforting hold was. To ground her. To give her the safety to fall apart, knowing she was still loved, and that all her hurts mattered to him\u2014even the ones stemming from actions that had scared the hell out of him.<\/p>\n

Adam could still see her on that roof every time he blinked. Still feel the sharp spike of fear that had gone clean through him. But that didn\u2019t change what she needed right now. So, he held her.<\/p>\n

Gradually, the sharp sobs softened into heavy, shuddering breaths. Nora\u2019s weight settled more trustingly against him instead of clinging in desperation.<\/p>\n

He pressed a kiss to the crown of her head and brushed some of her tangled hair back from her damp face. The wind had done a number on it. Knots pulled tight, strands snarled in every direction.<\/p>\n

That is going to be a bear to brush later.<\/em><\/p>\n

The ordinary thought grounded him as surely as being held grounded her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a very big cry,\u201d Adam observed, his tone gentle.<\/p>\n

Nora sniffed and rubbed her wet cheeks against his shirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re grieving a dream, aren\u2019t you?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Her green eyes blinked up at him, brow furrowing with confusion.<\/p>\n

Adam clarified, choosing simpler words. \u201cYou\u2019re very sad about not being able to test your idea. And I understand that. I do. It hurts to lose something you believed in.\u201d<\/p>\n

His mouth curved faintly. \u201cEspecially when you don\u2019t know whether it might have worked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s lower lip wobbled again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was so close, Papa.\u201d She looked at him then, searching. For what, Nora wasn\u2019t sure\u2014but something to make it all make sense. Something to ease the aching, hollow place inside her chest.<\/p>\n

Adam saw the question in her eyes. She was looking for an explanation for the impossible\u2014why a small girl couldn\u2019t figure out how to fly. And, more importantly, shouldn\u2019t risk her life with further efforts to do so.<\/p>\n

He cupped her cheek gently. \u201cNora, wanting to know if you were right\u2014that\u2019s a good thing. But you can\u2019t fly,\u201d Adam told her quietly. \u201cNot because you aren\u2019t clever enough. Not because you didn\u2019t try hard enough. But because people aren\u2019t built for it. Not without learning first. Not without understanding how and why things work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s brows furrowed again as she considered this, sniffing hard and dragging the back of her hand beneath her nose. \u201cBirds don\u2019t have to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a faint spark of argument in it\u2014fragile, but present. The part of her that still wanted to be right. That needed to know<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, yes they do,\u201d Adam countered.<\/p>\n

She blinked up at him, disbelieving.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey fall out of nests,\u201d he continued. \u201cThey flap and fail. They spend days wobbling on branches, hopping instead of soaring. The first time they leave the nest, it isn\u2019t graceful. It\u2019s clumsy. It\u2019s frightening.\u201d<\/p>\n

He brushed a loose curl back from her forehead. \u201cBut they\u2019re made for it. Their bones are light. Their wings are shaped just so. Even the way their feathers catch the wind\u2014it\u2019s all part of how they were built.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam tapped lightly over her heart. \u201cYou were made for something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes searched his face again, wide, and still damp. \u201cFor what?\u201d Nora whispered.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor thinking,\u201d he answered without hesitation. \u201cFor building. For asking questions no one\u2019s asked before.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eyes warmed, pride softening the lingering edge of fear there. \u201cYou look at the sky and don\u2019t just admire it\u2014you wonder how it works. That\u2019s not something to lose, Nora. That\u2019s something to protect. You want to fly?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

Nora nodded, small and miserable. The dream still flickered inside of her, a tiny flame not yet fully extinguished.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The word surprised her enough that she looked up again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Adam repeated, steady and calm. \u201cThen we treat it like something worth doing properly. We don\u2019t start by jumping,\u201d he said. \u201cWe start by learning. By studying birds. By studying wind. By understanding why your ideas didn\u2019t hold.\u201d A faint smile touched his lips. \u201cInventors don\u2019t begin by climbing roofs. They begin by asking why something works. And why it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was quiet now, thinking.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou weren\u2019t wrong to dream,\u201d he added gently. \u201cBut you were wrong to risk yourself like that.\u201d The softness in his tone didn\u2019t dull the firmness beneath it. \u201cDreams aren\u2019t wrong,\u201d he murmured. \u201cBut they don\u2019t get to cost you your life.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a long moment, the room was quiet. The sharp edge of her grief began to soften into something steadier. Sadness, yes, but no longer the wild, desperate kind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really thought it would work,\u201d she said faintly, shoulders drooping. \u201cI didn\u2019t think about\u2026 falling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d Adam brushed his thumb lightly along her temple. \u201cThat\u2019s why I have to help you remember to think about those things. Gravity won\u2019t stop because you want it to, Nora. There are lines, hard ones, that you can\u2019t cross. Ones that Papa draws until you\u2019re old enough to do that for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

He could feel her go still in his arms, thinking about his words and what they meant.<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s mouth formed a small \u2018o\u2019 as she recalled his words outside, and the swats that had accompanied them.<\/p>\n

A necessary talking-to.<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam drew back just enough to look at her, though his hands stayed steady on her shoulders. His expression wasn\u2019t angry. It wasn\u2019t even stern. It was pale, serious, and still carrying the shadow of fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I saw you up there\u2026\u201d His voice was quieter now than it had been all evening, \u201cI didn\u2019t see an inventor. I didn\u2019t see a grand idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her brow furrowed, confusion flickering across her tear-streaked face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI saw my little girl,\u201d he continued, the words careful and deliberate, \u201cstanding high enough to fall where I couldn\u2019t catch her.\u201d<\/p>\n

The words weren\u2019t sharp. They weren\u2019t loud. But they carried the echo of that fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou might see a challenge,\u201d he went on. \u201cYou might see possibility. But I see you. And I see how easily you could be hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green eyes dropped, shame and understanding mingling there.<\/p>\n

He lifted her chin with careful fingers, making sure she met his eyes. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean you have to give up wondering,\u201d he said softly. \u201cOr stop imagining. It just means that while you\u2019re still figuring things out, it\u2019s my job to keep you safe.\u201d His tone gentled even more. \u201cI know today feels like something was taken from you. Maybe it was. But if you had fallen\u2026\u201d He paused, swallowing before he could finish the thought. \u201cThat\u2019s a chance I can\u2019t take. Not for a test. Not for anything at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

She leaned into him then, more carefully this time, as if newly aware of the height he\u2019d described. Her voice was barely more than a whisper. \u201cI didn\u2019t think about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d he said softly, his thumb brushing a stray tear from her cheek.<\/p>\n

Then Adam\u2019s expression shifted; not angry or harsh, but firmer. The gentleness remained in his eyes, but the tension in his posture hinted at something immovable: that some lines were drawn for her safety, and they could not be crossed.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this is what you must understand, Nora. The barn roof,\u201d he continued, his voice steady and resolute, \u201cis not a workshop. It isn\u2019t a proving ground for ideas. It isn\u2019t a place for chasing dreams. It\u2019s high enough to do damage to you that can\u2019t be undone.\u201d<\/p>\n

His voice tightened at the edge of that last sentence. He did not paint the picture for her\u2014but he had seen it clearly enough in his own mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t going to fall,\u201d she said, but the words came thinner now, as if she were trying to convince herself as much as him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you didn\u2019t mean to,\u201d he replied, gentler but no less firm. \u201cNo one ever means to. That\u2019s the trouble. Anything that requires you to climb up to it,\u201d he went on, \u201cis not a safe place to test something. Height doesn\u2019t forgive mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silence settled between them, heavy but not unkind.<\/p>\n

Nora swallowed. \u201cI didn\u2019t think it was that high.\u201d<\/p>\n

He did not raise his voice. He didn\u2019t need to. The quiet certainty in it was enough. \u201cFrom the ground, it\u2019s just a roof,\u201d he continued. \u201cFrom up there, it\u2019s just a step away from the sky. But in between\u2014\u201d He let the sentence trail off, his jaw tightening briefly before he mastered it. \u201cIn between is a long way down.\u201d<\/p>\n

The words landed, and she went very still.<\/p>\n

Adam shifted her slightly so he could look her in the eye. \u201cNow. Because you made a choice that could have ended very differently, we\u2019re going to have that necessary talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her shoulders tensed, though she didn\u2019t pull away.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I need you to know that isn\u2019t about punishing you for dreaming,\u201d he clarified. \u201cIt\u2019s about teaching you that there are consequences for dangerous\u2014unsafe\u2014choices.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Papa,\u201d she whispered, chin wobbling.<\/p>\n

The consequences had seemed almost distant a moment ago, wrapped up in words like lines<\/em> and safety<\/em>. Now they felt very real.<\/p>\n

Adam studied her for a long second, making sure she truly understood why this was happening. Not because she had dreamed or because she had failed. But because she had climbed where a fall could have taken far more than her idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cEleanor,\u201d he said quietly, \u201cyou made a choice that wasn\u2019t safe and you were warned about taking more leaps, weren\u2019t you? We\u2019re going to handle that, right now, so you make a better choice next time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her throat tightened. She nodded again.<\/p>\n

Slowly, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. It wasn\u2019t a delaying tactic. It wasn\u2019t bargaining. It was instinct; the need to confirm Papa loved her one last time before accepting the consequences.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s arms came around her at once. \u201cI love you,\u201d he murmured into her wind-tangled hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you too, Papa,\u201d she said, her voice small but steady.<\/p>\n

He held her for another long breath, feeling the rise and fall of her chest against his, the slow easing of tension in her tiny shoulders. Then, carefully, he shifted on the bed, and guided her across his lap.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 14<\/p>\n

The lesson was measured; enough to make the point, and nothing more.<\/p>\n

When it was over, Nora was back in his arms as Adam rocked her gently again, that same slow forward-and-back motion that had steadied her earlier. The firmness was gone from his posture now. What remained was a warmth that enveloped the child in his arms and took the edge off the distress that lingered in his chest. His hand moved in a calm, familiar rhythm between her shoulders as Nora cried, face pressed against him. The line was firmly drawn now, and he began to murmur comfortingly to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all done now,\u201d Adam assured her gently.<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s sobs came in tired waves now, not sharp, or frantic. Each one loosened something inside her, as though the grief was slowly draining away. The plan for future inventing with Papa and being held to account allowed it to do so.<\/p>\n

His palm traced the familiar, slow rhythm up and down her back. \u201cPapa\u2019s got you, firefly,\u201d he murmured. The nickname felt more fitting than ever; his little girl, always alight with sudden sparks of bright, uncontainable ideas.<\/p>\n

Her breathing hitched, then broke into another tired sob.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it,\u201d he soothed. \u201cEasy now. Just breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n

The room had gone dim, the last of the daylight fading into evening blue. Adam shifted slightly so she was tucked more securely against him, his chin resting lightly atop her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know how much I love you? Far more than anything you could even dream up,\u201d he continued softly. \u201cAs big and wide as the sky. As far as a bird can fly. As deep as the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n

The steady rocking continued until her breathing slowed and her body grew heavy with exhaustion instead of grief. His quiet reassurances wrapped around her like a blanket\u2014soft, warm, comforting. Nora\u2019s tears faded, and for a moment, the only sound in the room was her breathing and the faint creak of the bed as he continued to rock her.<\/p>\n

After another long moment, he eased back just enough to look at her. Her cheeks were blotchy, lashes damp, eyes wet.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes your heart hurt a little less?\u201d Adam asked.<\/p>\n

Nora sniffled and pressed her cheek harder against his chest, thinking. \u201cA little,\u201d she admitted, her voice small. \u201cBut it still aches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam nodded, understanding. \u201cThat\u2019s all right. It will for a little while. Dreams are wonderful, powerful things. And the world is wide enough for your questions and ideas. We just have to make sure you\u2019re here to ask them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Papa,\u201d she whispered, her voice barely audible.<\/p>\n

He pressed another kiss into her hair. The strands were rough from the wind, damp from tears, but he didn\u2019t mind; he never did. \u201cI know you are. I forgive you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her mouth wobbled, but this time it wasn\u2019t entirely from sorrow. The dream still hurt. But it no longer felt like it had died. It felt\u2026 redirected. And in the warm, safe circle of her father\u2019s arms, that seemed almost possible to bear.<\/p>\n

Nora glanced up at Adam, intending to share her feelings, but caught the furrow in his brow, and mirrored it with a small frown of her own.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d she asked cautiously.<\/p>\n

He gave a faint, wry shake of his head. \u201cI\u2019m trying to decide whether it\u2019s worth the trouble to brush all this out\u2026\u201d Adam gave a curl a gentle tug. \u201cOr if we should just cut it all off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes widened, and for a second, the weight of the day\u2014the grief, the fear, the consequences\u2014flickered behind a tiny, incredulous laugh. \u201cCut it off? Papa!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m serious,\u201d he said, but his lips twitched with amusement. \u201cLook at it. The wind and the tears have turned it into a nest of knots. I\u2019m worried it\u2019s going to take the better part of the evening to make it smooth again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s shoulders lifted in a reluctant shrug. \u201cI guess it\u2019s kind of\u2026 bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam brushed a loose curl from her forehead. \u201cBad doesn\u2019t even begin to cover it,\u201d he murmured, teasing gently now. \u201cBut bad can be fixed. And we don\u2019t have to resort to scissors just yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her small laugh returned, more real this time, and the tension that had clung to her shoulders loosened slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s tackle it together,\u201d he suggested, carefully parting the worst tangles with his fingers. \u201cOne knot at a time. Like we\u2019ll tackle your ideas together\u2014slow, steady, and with plenty of patience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her grin returned, faint but stubborn, and for the first time since the barn roof, she felt a bit lighter. Her dashed flight attempt and hard lessons were now softened by future plans, shared laughter, and Papa doing what he always did.<\/p>\n

Adam put Nora down so he could light the lamp, casting a soft light in the room. He then reached for the brush on the bedside table and sat down on the bed once more. He ran his fingers lightly through her tangled hair first, loosening the knots where he could, murmuring soothingly. \u201cAll right, firefly\u2026 let\u2019s see what we can do here,\u201d he said softly.<\/p>\n

He began gently, brushing a section of hair free. \u201cHave I ever told you about some of my experiments when I was young? I never attempted flight, but your grandpa would argue some of my efforts were just as dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora let out a soft hum of skeptical interest, brows knitted together in thought. Tugging lightly at a loose curl as Adam brushed through her hair, her lips pressed into a thin line.<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa,\u201d she said, her voice small but firm. \u201cDon\u2019t make up stories.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam paused, fingers frozen in her hair, and looked down at her. \u201cStories?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d she said, eyes narrowing just slightly. \u201cStories.\u201d<\/p>\n

His child didn\u2019t believe that he\u2019d ever been young, curious, and reckless. Nora probably didn\u2019t think he ever was<\/em> a child.<\/p>\n

Well, I\u2019ll just have to show her.<\/em><\/p>\n

————-<\/p>\n

It took far longer than it should have to get his older girls into bed that night.<\/p>\n

Some of that delay was entirely his doing. Adam lingered after the last story had been read, after the final question had been asked and answered, after Nora\u2019s eyelids had grown heavy. Even then, he didn\u2019t set her down right away. He held her close, listening to the regular rhythm of her breathing.<\/p>\n

He told himself he was only making sure she was settled. Making certain the day\u2019s troubles had loosened their grip on her. That she wasn\u2019t lying there in the dark, wide awake and worrying.<\/p>\n

But the truth was simpler\u2014and harder to admit.<\/p>\n

He needed this as much as she did.<\/p>\n

There was something steadying in the familiar ritual: the warmth of her small body tucked against his chest, the faint scent of soap and sun in her hair, the soft hitch and sigh of her breathing as sleep finally claimed her. The nightly routine was an anchor, proof that whatever storms the day had carried in, they had not blown away the most important thing\u2014that she was safe, that she was loved, that she was his.<\/p>\n

That wild, reckless spark in her had shaken him more than he had allowed anyone to see that afternoon. Even now, hours later, that fear had not released him. It lingered in the tightness across his shoulders, in the way his fingers refused to loosen their hold. The longer he kept his arms around her, the more it ebbed away, draining slowly with each steady beat of her heart.<\/p>\n

She still astounded him\u2014by the depth of her conviction, the fierce certainty that burned in such a small frame. A child her age should not carry beliefs so strongly she would risk herself proving them. And yet she had, without hesitation.<\/p>\n

Then again, perhaps it shouldn\u2019t surprise him at all. He had taken his share of foolish chances once; no barn roofs, but enough hair-brained experiments to turn Pa\u2019s hair gray and had waded into scrapes with more pride than sense.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s mouth curved faintly in the dark as he remembered the look Nora gave him earlier, full of disbelief at the notion that he had ever been anything but steady, sensible, and fully grown. In her mind, he had sprung into the world already a papa, already certain and safe. The idea that he might once have been a boy with dangerous curiosities had struck her as absurd.<\/p>\n

Firefly, you have no idea.<\/em><\/p>\n

He lingered for a little longer, listening, counting the rise and fall of her small chest the way he had when she was an infant. At last, he bent and pressed a kiss to her warm brow, careful not to disturb the tumble of dark hair across her cheek. She stirred at the touch, gave a soft sigh. Adam eased her back against the pillows and drew the covers snug around her shoulders, tucking the edges in with practiced hands. She never woke.<\/p>\n

In the hallway, the lamplight had been turned low, casting long, quiet shadows across the floorboards. Adam stepped out and pulled Nora\u2019s door nearly closed, leaving it open just a fraction\u2014 enough for him to hear if she called. He never shut hers all the way.<\/p>\n

Georgie\u2019s door, next to hers, was another matter entirely. That one he secured firmly each night in what was, he suspected, a largely symbolic attempt to contain his smallest whirlwind. The effort rarely discouraged her for long; it merely slowed her down. Still, it offered him the illusion of order.<\/p>\n

He could almost hear Hop Sing\u2019s exasperated voice already. The cook had issued his warning in no uncertain terms after the last midnight expedition\u2014bare feet, flour on the hem of her nightgown, and an alarming interest in whatever she could get her hands on. Should Georgie make one more daring escape to conduct a \u201cculinary inspection\u201d in the small hours, Hop Sing might truly pack his bags and declare himself bound for China by morning.<\/p>\n

Adam suppressed a quiet chuckle. Reckless, indeed<\/em>. It seemed some traits had a way of traveling straight down the line.<\/p>\n

Moving quietly, he paused outside his toddler\u2019s door and held his breath, listening. He waited for the familiar sounds that usually drifted through the wood at this hour; the soft, off-key singing to herself, the quick patter of small feet crossing from bed to toy chest and back again, the earnest little voice narrating some sweeping adventure to an audience of wooden animals and well-loved rag dolls.<\/p>\n

There was nothing. Only stillness. Deep, complete, almost sacred silence. Relief loosened something tight in his chest.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll have to thank Beth or Pa for putting her to bed.<\/em><\/p>\n

The thought of Beth pulled his gaze across the hall to the door opposite. A thin blade of lamplight spilled across the floorboards from beneath it, flickering softly. She was still awake.<\/p>\n

He wasn\u2019t surprised. The day should have exhausted her\u2014emotionally if not physically\u2014but he couldn\u2019t shake the memory of her face in the hallway earlier, just outside Nora\u2019s door. The fear that she\u2019d shattered something fundamental between them.<\/p>\n

Her apology had been accepted; Adam had reassured Beth that he understood, and nothing could change how much he loved her. Yet all through supper she had watched him carefully, measuring his tone, studying his expression, as if testing whether the foundations of her world had shifted.<\/p>\n

Adam stepped to her door and knocked gently.<\/p>\n

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

There was a brief pause before a not quite steady, \u201cCome in,\u201d was heard.<\/p>\n

Beth was sitting up in bed, knees drawn close to her chest, arms wrapped loosely around them, back resting against the headboard. Her hair, freed from its usual braid, fell in a dark curtain over her shoulders.<\/p>\n

Adam crossed the room, the floorboards barely creaking under his careful steps. He adjusted the lamp, lowering the flame just a little so the light softened.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t look like someone ready for sleep,\u201d he said gently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was,\u201d she replied too quickly. Then her shoulders sank a fraction. \u201cI tried to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking the chair from her desk, he pulled it beside the bed and sat down, giving her space. For a time, Adam simply looked at her. The stubborn chin that had faced him down that afternoon was long gone; in its place was a child trying very hard to measure up.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeth,\u201d he said quietly, \u201care you worried about something?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her fingers twisted into the edge of the quilt. \u201cYou were quiet at supper,\u201d Beth began carefully. \u201cI thought maybe\u2026 maybe you were still disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n

He let out a slow breath. There it is. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt felt,\u201d she continued in a rush, as if afraid she might lose her courage, \u201clike I really had<\/em> broken something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rising, he moved to sit on the bed beside her. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight. \u201cLook at me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth did, though her eyes were uncertain.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing,\u201d he said firmly, \u201cnothing you could say or do in a moment of temper would make you less my daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her brows knit. \u201cI thought maybe you were disappointed in who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Expression softening, Adam put his hand on top of hers and squeezed softly. \u201cBeth, who you are is brave. You are intelligent. And you are strong-willed.\u201d A hint of warmth touched his tone. \u201cThose are not flaws. They are gifts that simply need guiding. I don\u2019t keep a ledger of wrongs,\u201d he added. \u201cYou make a mistake, we deal with it, and then we move forward. And I certainly don\u2019t measure you by your worst afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eyes growing suspiciously bright, Beth blinked quickly. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to be disrespectful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you didn\u2019t.\u201d He studied her for a moment longer. \u201cAnd even when you are stubborn and sharp-tongued and absolutely convinced you\u2019re right\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not always\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

He raised one eyebrow.<\/p>\n

She huffed softly and looked down. \u201cAll right. Sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The corner of his mouth curved. He slipped an arm around her shoulders and drew her against him, resting his cheek briefly against the crown of her head. \u201cEven then,\u201d he finished, \u201cyou are my daughter. That is not something you can break. There is nothing you could do to undo that. Do you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

Beth nodded against his shoulder, her breath evening out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you ever doubt it,\u201d Adam went on, his tone gentling further, \u201cyou come to me; always. Don\u2019t lie awake and build worries in the dark.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was a quiet stretch of time before Beth spoke again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to disappoint you,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n

Adam leaned back slightly so he could see her face again. \u201cYou will,\u201d he said honestly. \u201cFrom time to time. That\u2019s part of growing up. And I will sometimes disappoint you.\u201d He squeezed her hand. \u201cWhat matters is that we face what\u2019s wrong squarely and mend it together.\u201d<\/p>\n

He bent and kissed her forehead. \u201cYou are deeply loved, Beth. That does not shift with a single afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

A small breath left her, as though she had been holding it for hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow,\u201d he said gently, easing back to his feet, \u201cit is time to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam motioned for her to get into bed and waited while she slipped beneath the covers. Then he drew the blankets up beneath her chin with deliberate care, smoothing them flat and tucking the edges snugly along her sides, the way he had when she was smaller; so much smaller. He noticed the way her mouth curved despite herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cListen to me, Beth.\u201d One hand rested lightly atop the quilt. \u201cToday is finished. It has been spoken through, understood, and set right. I am proud of you for that. Do you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded against the pillow.<\/p>\n

He leaned down once more and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, letting it rest there just a moment longer than before.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you, Papa,\u201d she said, voice thick with sleep.<\/p>\n

His throat tightened, but Adam\u2019s answer was steady. \u201cI love you too, moonbeam.\u201d<\/p>\n

————<\/p>\n

He found Pa in the great room, seated in his red chair by the fireplace. On the coffee table stood a bottle of brandy and two small glasses, waiting for his arrival; knowing he\u2019d need it.<\/p>\n

Ben reached for the bottle, the movement unhurried, and poured into both glasses without asking. The quiet glug of the brandy seemed loud in the stillness. Only then did he lift his eyes and extend one glass.<\/p>\n

The amber liquid caught the lamplight as Adam accepted it and lowered himself onto the settee with a heaviness that spoke of more than physical fatigue. For a fleeting second, he considered stretching his legs out and propping his boots on the table, something certain to earn a rebuke, but he lacked even the energy for that. Instead, he slumped back, shoulders bowed, staring into the flames as if they might offer an answer.<\/p>\n

He took a slow swallow. The brandy burned warmly down his throat, settling into his chest.<\/p>\n

The fire shifted, a log settling with a soft crack. Neither of them spoke at first, the shared silence carrying more weight than any reassurance could have managed.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe thought she could fly,\u201d Adam muttered at last. He stared into the amber swirl of his drink instead of at his father. \u201cHonestly believed the wind would hold her up.\u201d His jaw flexed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to crush that part of her,\u201d Adam admitted, his voice lower now. \u201cThe part that looks at the sky and thinks it\u2019s reachable. The part that believes the world will rise to meet her if she\u2019s brave enough.\u201d He shook his head faintly. \u201cBut I can\u2019t let her risk herself just to prove it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d Ben agreed. \u201cYou can\u2019t.\u201d He set his own glass down with deliberate care. \u201cThat\u2019s the balance, Adam. We spend their childhood urging them to be bold, to think for themselves, to trust their judgment. Then we spend the rest of our time teaching them which cliffs are higher than they look and which edges are real.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s shoulders sagged, the weight of it plain in the line of his back. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I\u2019m doing it right. Any of it. Every decision feels like it matters too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were certain you were doing it right, I\u2019d be worried,\u201d Ben responded with a warm smile.<\/p>\n

He glanced up at that.<\/p>\n

\u201cRaising children,\u201d Ben continued, \u201cis the longest lesson in humility a man can have. You will lose your temper. You will speak in anger when you meant to speak in love. You will hold your tongue when you should have said more. And some nights you\u2019ll lie awake staring at the ceiling, wondering if that was the moment you did permanent harm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam exhaled slowly, a sound caught somewhere between a sigh and a laugh. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026 comforting, Pa. Thanks; I think.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben\u2019s eyes softened. \u201cHere\u2019s the comforting part: love covers a multitude of missteps. They know when they are loved. They feel it in the way you watch them, how \u00a0you set boundaries, and lose sleep over their safety. And you, son, make that impossible to doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tightness that had been living between Adam\u2019s shoulders all evening eased significantly. He scrubbed a hand over his face. \u201cI just want them safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSafe isn\u2019t something we can guarantee,\u201d Ben sighed. \u201cThe world won\u2019t bargain with us, no matter how fiercely we love. All we can do is teach them good sense, give them roots deep enough to steady them, and pray their wings wait until they\u2019re strong enough to carry them.\u201d He winced slightly at his own metaphor, ignoring the look Adam shot him.<\/p>\n

Instead, he glanced toward the staircase and lifted his glass in a small, solemn toast. \u201cTo children who dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam hesitated only a second before raising his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd to fathers who endure,\u201d Ben finished.<\/p>\n

Despite himself, Adam\u2019s mouth curved. \u201cGod help us all.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chapter 15<\/p>\n

Two Days Later<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n

He crouched low, lifting a battered wooden chest with a grunt. It had to be the hundredth such chest he\u2019d moved. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but it certainly felt <\/em>as though there had been that many.<\/p>\n

All Adam wanted to do was find some of his old journals to share with Nora. The ones he\u2019d dreamed<\/em> in.<\/p>\n

They were scattered somewhere in the attic\u2014thin leather books and stitched notebooks filled with sketches and plans, diagrams of improbable machines. In the margins he had scribbled calculations, observations, and half-finished theories. Some pages held careful drawings; others bore smudges of charcoal, or spilled ink.<\/p>\n

He and Nora weren\u2019t so vastly different.<\/p>\n

Adam had never once looked at a bird and thought seriously about flying. But he understood the deeper thing behind her wondering. The urge to imagine something that didn\u2019t yet exist and then try\u2014however imperfectly\u2014to make it real.<\/p>\n

He understood building and trying; perhaps most of all, failing.<\/p>\n

His childhood journals were full of failures\u2014some quiet and forgettable, others spectacular enough that they should have ended his experimenting for good. Looking back on them now, Adam sometimes wondered with genuine astonishment how he had managed to survive to adulthood at all.<\/p>\n

Frankly, any one of those experiments\u2014or his rightfully infuriated father\u2014should have ensured he never lived long enough to attend Harvard. Yet somehow, he\u2019d persisted. Which was why Adam found himself in the attic: the quiet museum of the Cartwright past.<\/p>\n

The room smelled of cedar and old paper. Trunks and wooden chests were stacked in careful rows, each one holding some fragments of family history\u2014old ledgers, worn quilts, toys long outgrown, letters tied neatly with ribbon.<\/p>\n

Aside from retrieving the Christmas decorations each winter, Adam generally avoided the attic.<\/p>\n

Too much of Alta was here.<\/p>\n

The things that had been hers but were no longer in use had been packed away with gentle practicality in the months after her death. Some of her belongings had remained downstairs, but the rest had found their way up here, into trunks and crates that sat quietly beneath gathering dust.<\/p>\n

Two years had passed. Even so, the sight of it still caught at him. An entire life together, carefully folded and stored away. Seeing it all gathered here\u2014silent, untouched\u2014brought with it the familiar ache: thoughts of what they had shared, what they had planned, what might have been.<\/p>\n

There was a quiet unfairness to it. That so much of their life now existed only in memory\u2026 and in trunks beneath the rafters.<\/p>\n

Adam stood there a moment longer than he meant to, one hand resting on the lid of an old crate, letting the feeling pass the way he had learned to do. Then he drew a slow breath, brushed dust from his sleeve, and turned back to his search.<\/p>\n

Somewhere in this attic were the journals of a young man who believed. <\/em>And if he could find them, Nora wouldn\u2019t feel alone in the loss of her dream to fly.<\/p>\n

A tiny giggle from the far corner pulled Adam\u2019s attention in that direction.<\/p>\n

Georgie had discovered a basket, a shallow type used for sewing. The wicker vessel overflowed with ribbons in every color: cornflower blue, brilliant scarlet, soft cream, peachy pink, and more. There were even a few lengths of shiny satin that caught the light from the attic window.<\/p>\n

The moment Adam looked over, Georgie let out a squeal of triumph.<\/p>\n

With both small hands she plunged into the basket, scooped up a double handful of ribbons, and flung them high into the air. They fluttered down slowly, twisting and drifting like bright scraps of confetti.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeau\u2019ful!\u201d she declared proudly.<\/p>\n

Why an entire basket of ribbons was in the attic, he couldn\u2019t begin to explain. The old biscuit tin Georgie seized next made far more sense, heavy with the unmistakable rattle of buttons.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s always a need for a button.<\/em><\/p>\n

Hop Sing said that often enough.<\/p>\n

Georgie seemed delighted by the noise. She shook the tin enthusiastically, her curls bouncing with every vigorous rattle.<\/p>\n

Adam opened his mouth. \u201cGeorgie\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Too late.<\/em><\/p>\n

The lid popped free with a cheerful metallic ping<\/em>, and the contents burst out in every direction, buttons spilling across the attic floorboards. Bone and wood; brass and dull pewter; smooth discs of mother-of-pearl that flashed softly in the light. Some rolled in lazy circles before tipping over; others bounced sharply and skittered away into the dust beneath the trunks.<\/p>\n

For a split second, Georgie froze. Then she clapped both hands over her mouth in astonished delight.<\/p>\n

\u201cOoooo!\u201d<\/p>\n

Down she went onto her knees, dropping into the middle of the chaos like a small prospector striking gold. Her fingers darted everywhere, scooping up handfuls of buttons and dropping them back into the tin with loud, enthusiastic rattles.<\/p>\n

Adam rubbed a hand slowly over his face and looked at the floor. The effort required to retrieve every button was more than he wanted to calculate.<\/p>\n

Would anyone really notice if we just\u2026 left them?<\/em><\/p>\n

The thought had barely formed before he winced.<\/p>\n

If that tin belonged to Hop Sing by chance\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam lowered his hand and sighed the sigh of a man who knew exactly how this story would end.<\/p>\n

Hop Sing would notice. Hop Sing always<\/em> noticed. And Hop Sing possessed an almost supernatural awareness of the exact number of buttons currently existing in his household supply.<\/p>\n

Adam crouched down beside Georgie.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d he said resignedly, reaching for a runaway brass button before it escaped beneath a trunk, \u201cwe\u2019d better start gathering these before Hop Sing comes up here and decides we\u2019re both hopeless.\u201d<\/p>\n

Georgie looked up at him and laughed. The sound filled the quiet space, banishing the melancholy from every corner of his mind. She scooped another exuberant handful and let them rain back into the tin with a triumphant clacking.<\/p>\n

The task took a ridiculous amount of time to accomplish. Adam finally gathered the last wandering button and dropped it into the tin with a soft metallic clink. Georgie leaned over to peer inside as he snapped the lid firmly back into place.<\/p>\n

\u201cGone,\u201d she announced gravely.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Adam said, brushing dust from his hands onto his trousers. \u201cGone back where they belong.\u201d<\/p>\n

He set the tin on top of the nearby crate, just out of immediate toddler reach. Georgie watched him do it, calculating, her bright eyes following the motion with suspicious interest. Adam knew that look. It meant the tin would need to be moved again before they left the attic.<\/p>\n

Georgie\u2019s attention, as usual, shifted without warning. One moment she was scooping buttons with intense concentration. The next she had wandered across the attic and discovered a hatbox sitting half-open beside a trunk.<\/p>\n

Adam recognized the hat the moment she lifted it out. It had belonged to Marie.<\/p>\n

The hat was extravagantly wide brimmed, the sort that had never been meant for practicality. A soft sweep of pale feathers curled around the crown, and a ribbon band\u2014once elegant, now slightly faded\u2014trailed down one side. Marie had worn it on bright afternoons when the family went to town, tilting it just so with effortless grace.<\/p>\n

In Georgie\u2019s small hands, however, it looked enormous. She plopped it onto her head crookedly. The brim sank almost to her shoulders, the feathers wobbling wildly as she moved. For a moment she practically disappeared inside it, only a pair of bright eyes and the tip of her nose peeking out beneath the shadow of the brim.<\/p>\n

\u201cHat,\u201d she announced proudly. She promptly gave a satisfied little spin, the feathers bobbing as if they approved of the arrangement.<\/p>\n

Grinning, Adam turned back toward the line of trunks and crates stacked along the far wall. Somewhere among them were the journals he was looking for. He was almost certain they\u2019d been packed into one of the smaller wooden crates years ago, along with some old school papers and loose notebooks he hadn\u2019t had the heart to throw away. He studied the stacks for a moment, trying to remember which one might hold them.<\/p>\n

The third crate from the top looked promising. He stepped closer and reached up to pull it down\u2014<\/p>\n

Crash.<\/em><\/p>\n

The sharp clatter behind him snapped his attention around instantly.<\/p>\n

Adam crossed the attic in three long strides.<\/p>\n

Georgie stood in the middle of the floor, still wearing the enormous, feathered hat, kicking enthusiastically at a box that had tumbled off a nearby trunk.<\/p>\n

Inside it, something rattled. Not softly, either. A hard, delicate clink<\/em>. The unmistakable sound of something breakable being jostled repeatedly across wooden floorboards.<\/p>\n

Georgie lifted her foot again.<\/p>\n

\u201cGeorgie\u2014no!\u201d<\/p>\n

The tot froze, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes beneath the enormous brim of Marie\u2019s hat.<\/p>\n

Adam crouched quickly and scooped up the box before it could suffer another enthusiastic kick.<\/p>\n

\u201cI help,\u201d Georgie informed him with great seriousness. She pointed at the box. \u201cNoise!\u201d The hat drooped further over one ear, and she wrestled with it for a moment, the broken item and its sounds completely forgotten. Once the hat was righted as much as she could manage, her attention turned to something new: the dust.<\/p>\n

Her kicking and stomping had stirred up a fine gray cloud across the attic floorboards, and the surface now held the clear outline of her tiny shoe prints.<\/p>\n

Georgie stared at them in wonder. Then she lifted one foot and stomped again. Another print appeared beside the first.<\/p>\n

Her face lit up. \u201cFeet!\u201d she announced, delighted. \u201cMake feet!\u201d<\/p>\n

She began marching in enthusiastic little circles, lifting her shoe high and slamming them down again, giggling each time a fresh print appeared on the dusty floor. With every step, more dust puffed up around her ankles.<\/p>\n

Adam watched her for a moment, shaking his head faintly.<\/p>\n

At least she\u2019s not kicking anything. <\/em><\/p>\n

Keeping one eye on his industrious two-year-old, he lifted and slid the box\u2014broken item and all\u2014carefully back against the slanted wall where it had presumably been stacked. The wood rasped softly against the floorboards as he pushed it into place. As he did, something behind it caught his eye.<\/p>\n

A crate.<\/p>\n

He paused, leaning slightly to see around the stack. It sat pushed back against the rafters, half-hidden in shadow. Adam frowned faintly. Reaching past the boxes, he dragged the crate forward across the boards. It scraped loudly through the dust, which puffed as it pried the lid off.<\/p>\n

Inside, piled neatly but unmistakably familiar, were the leather-bound journals he\u2019d been looking for. Their scuffed edges, frayed pages, and the scent of old paper greeted him. Pulling one out, Adam opened it reverently, carefully, and saw the handwriting of his younger self there. A sense of nostalgia for his recorded dreams and lessons learned, some harsher than others, filled him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBooks,\u201d Georgie stated.<\/p>\n

She had appeared at his elbow so suddenly it was as if she\u2019d been summoned there by the word itself. One moment Adam was alone beside the crate; the next she peered into it with intense interest, the enormous, feathered hat now sliding down slowly over one eye.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Adam replied quietly.<\/p>\n

He set the journal carefully aside for the moment and reached back to lower the lid over the rest of them. The wood settled into place with a soft thunk<\/em>, sealing the others inside for now.<\/p>\n

————-<\/p>\n

He found Nora sitting at the coffee table in the great room. She was sketching with deep concentration, the pencil moving in quick, careful strokes. Every now and then she paused, tilting her head slightly as if listening to something only she could hear, then added another line. A small collection of drawings lay scattered beside her. Nora was so absorbed she didn\u2019t notice him at first.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirefly,\u201d he greeted softly. He set the worn leather journal on the table beside her sketch paper and lowered himself to sit on the hearth.<\/p>\n

Nora blinked up at him, her dreamy focus clearing as she noticed the book. Her eyes\u2014wide, thoughtful things that always were wondering about something\u2014fell on the journal immediately.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d she asked, curiosity already brightening her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething I thought you might like.\u201d Adam slid the journal closer to her, a small smile tugging at his mouth. \u201cIt\u2019s\u2026 well, it\u2019s a journal from when I was young. Full of ideas, plans, and experiments\u2014some that worked, some that\u2026 didn\u2019t.\u201d He chuckled quietly, shaking his head.<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cCan I see?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam opened the cover, revealing the first page: sketches of strange contraptions, notes scribbled in careful handwriting, diagrams of things that looked impossibly complicated. He handed it to her gently.<\/p>\n

Nora leaned over it, tracing the lines with her finger, her gaze shifting through the pages with fascination. \u201cYou drew all these?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI did,\u201d Adam said. \u201cI used to dream about building anything I could imagine. Some of it\u2026 well, it got me into trouble more than once.\u201d He paused, letting a faint smile linger. \u201cBut I learned a lot along the way. Thought you might like to see how ideas can start small\u2014and sometimes fail\u2014before they become something real.\u201d<\/p>\n

She studied another page, this one full of gears and arrows and notes crammed into the corners. Her brow furrowed in deep thought, the way it always did when her imagination started turning. \u201cThey look like\u2026 thinking pictures.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s smile widened just a little. \u201cThat,\u201d he said gently, \u201cis exactly what they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eyes sparkling, she pointed at a sketch of a strange machine on another page. \u201cWhat is that<\/em>?!\u201d<\/p>\n

The design of a steam engine stared back at him. Though many years had passed, Adam winced at the sight of it. That disaster had earned him a very memorable tanning.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat,\u201d he said quietly, his voice tinged with both embarrassment and amusement, \u201cis one of my biggest failures.\u201d He tapped the page lightly with a finger. \u201cIt\u2019s a steam engine. It\u2026 worked, in a way. But not very well.\u201d He gave a rueful shake of his head. \u201cI\u2014well, I set the school on fire testing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s head snapped up so suddenly that her braids swung around and smacked him lightly across the chest. Her wide eyes, sparkling with a mix of shock and delight, were fixed on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou what<\/em>?\u201d she gasped, a laugh threatening at the edge of her voice. Her fingers hovered over the journal, hesitant to touch the page, as if she could feel the trouble embedded in the drawing itself.<\/p>\n

Adam rubbed the back of his neck, the faintest color touching his ears. \u201cAccidentally,\u201d he said carefully.<\/p>\n

Her eyes widened even further, if such a thing were possible. \u201cThe whole school?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said quickly. \u201cAnd it wasn\u2019t exactly on purpose.<\/em> The, uh, fuel spilled across the floor and a desk and caught on fire. I put it out quickly. You should never<\/em> play with fire. Ever<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora stared at him for a long moment, searching his face as though trying to decide whether this might be a joke. Papa\u2019s expression remained solemn enough to convince her it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of fuel?!\u201d Her voice shot out, a mixture of disbelief and fascination. Her fingers still hovered over the page as the story unfolded.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy brandy,\u201d Ben answered, his tone sharp and precise. Seated in his red leather chair, he set aside his newspaper with a distinctly crisp snap<\/em> and fixed Adam with a stern, unwavering gaze. The mere mention of that long-ago incident still made him cross.<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s mouth fell open in a slow, theatrical gasp. She turned her head from her father to her grandfather, braids swinging over her shoulder, her voice barely above a whisper: \u201cYour<\/em> brandy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben gave a single, firm nod, his jaw tight and eyes serious.<\/p>\n

She blinked rapidly, processing this new, almost scandalous information. Her gaze slid back to the drawing of the machine, then up to Adam again. The seriousness of the confession only made it more astonishing.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou burned a building down with Grandpa\u2019s<\/em> brandy?\u201d Nora asked again, her voice high with disbelief.<\/p>\n

He shook his head gently, a patient smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. \u201cI did not burn a building down,\u201d he said evenly. \u201cI only\u2026 scorched small portions of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben cleared his throat loudly from his chair, the sound cutting through the room like a warning bell.<\/p>\n

Adam held up a hand, trying to soften the tension. \u201cWhich,\u201d he added hurriedly, \u201cis more of a school than should ever be scorched.\u201d He felt a flicker of regret. Of all the journals in the crate, why had he chosen this one\u2014the one that recorded his most combustible failure?<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s eyes sparkled as she pointed a finger at the page. \u201cWith Grandpa\u2019s brandy,\u201d she said, emphasizing it like it was the most important detail.<\/p>\n

Her finger traced the carefully scribbled notes, the little calculations and diagrams that had been rendered almost useless by the disaster. She leaned back slightly, peering at Adam with a small furrow in her brow, curiosity warring with amazement.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid Grandpa know<\/em> you took his brandy?\u201d she asked, voice low and serious, as if the answer might rewrite the history of the entire room.<\/p>\n

From the red leather chair came a dry, almost amused voice. \u201cHow could I not, after he set the school on fire?\u201d Ben picked up the folded newspaper again and opening it with a sharp, deliberate snap. The rustle of the pages punctuated the story like a drumbeat.<\/p>\n

Nora gasped softly. She leaned closer to Adam, whispering, \u201cDid you get in terrible trouble?\u201d She studied Adam\u2019s face, tilting her head slightly, expecting a dramatic revelation.<\/p>\n

Adam exhaled slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the memory. \u201cYes,\u201d he admitted, his voice quiet, almost conspiratorial.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow much trouble?\u201d Nora pressed, her voice urgent, eyes shining with anticipation.<\/p>\n

His gaze flicked briefly toward the red leather chair. Ben\u2019s sharp eyes peeked over the top of the newspaper; one eyebrow raised in silent judgment.<\/p>\n

Adam rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the familiar warmth of embarrassment creeping into his cheeks. \u201cWell,\u201d he said carefully, choosing his words like steppingstones over a river, \u201cPapa got a\u2026 spanking.\u201d That wasn\u2019t entirely accurate, but he wasn\u2019t going to sit and explain the difference between that and a tanning to her!<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s mouth fell open slightly, the word trembling on her lips. \u201cA spanking?\u201d she repeated. Her small hands now rested on the journal, but her attention had shifted entirely to Adam, her young mind struggling to grasp the very idea of it. Her <\/em>papa, not only doing something dangerous, but being spanked for it; just as she\u2019d been.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded once, solemnly, the gesture carrying the weight of a grave truth, and his eyes held hers steadily.<\/p>\n

Hers widened even further, pupils dilated with awe, and she leaned closer to him, fascination written across every feature of her face. \u201cFrom Grandpa<\/em>?\u201d she whispered, a hint of disbelief in her voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Adam confirmed quietly, a faint, rueful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.<\/p>\n

Her gaze slid slowly toward Ben, taking in the tall, imposing figure in the red leather chair as though seeing him for the first time. She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a reverent hush.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2026 spanked<\/em> Papa?\u201d<\/p>\n

This time, Ben folded his newspaper with deliberate care and rested it in his lap, intending to leave it there for the duration of the conversation. \u201cI did,\u201d he said, his tone flat, but carrying a heavy finality.<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s gaze shot back to Adam, her astonishment now doubled, as if two impossible truths had collided in her young mind. \u201cBut\u2026 you\u2019re so big<\/em>!\u201d she exclaimed, gesturing helplessly at him. Tall, broad shouldered, strong; that just couldn\u2019t be true.<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s mouth twitched in a small, knowing smile. \u201cI was smaller then,\u201d he said, shrugging slightly, the memory of that long-ago reprimand softening the moment with humor.<\/p>\n

She peered up at him as though trying to picture a younger, smaller papa. Eyes squinting, head tilted, she could almost<\/em> imagine it. Yet it was hard to get past the fact that Papa was so big!<\/p>\n

Noticing the intensity of her inspection, Adam cleared his throat and flipped ahead a few pages in the journal, hoping to land on something less incriminating\u2014and embarrassing\u2014than steam engines fueled with stolen brandy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t really the point of the story,\u201d he explained, easing the journal back toward her. His tone softened, becoming more thoughtful. \u201cThe point I was trying to make is that I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora\u2019s attention shifted from imagining tiny-papa to listening again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe desire, the need, to know things,\u201d he continued. \u201cTo find answers. To try things just to see what happens.\u201d His mouth curved in a small, reflective smile. \u201cI know that feeling very well.\u201d<\/p>\n

He tapped the page lightly. \u201cAnd I know what it feels like when those ideas don\u2019t quite work the way you hoped.\u201d Adam leaned forward a little. \u201cAnd I think,\u201d he said gently, \u201cthat you and I should start a journal like this together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her head lifted immediately.<\/p>\n

\u201cA place where we write down all your wonderful thoughts and ideas,\u201d he went on. \u201cWhere we draw things you imagine, think up experiments we might try, and then write down what happens when we try them.\u201d<\/p>\n

He reached forward and tapped her lightly on the nose.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen,\u201d he added with a grin, \u201cwhen you\u2019re my age, you can show it to your child and be asked a great many embarrassing questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora blinked at him, the idea settling into her mind like a spark catching dry tinder.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy own journal?\u201d she said slowly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour own journal,\u201d Adam confirmed.<\/p>\n

She looked down at the battered book, full of sketches and notes and boyhood ambition. Then she looked back up at him, her eyes suddenly shining with bright, eager excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor experiments?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

Adam nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd drawings?\u201d she pressed quickly, leaning forward a little.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAnd ideas?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially ideas,\u201d Adam said warmly.<\/p>\n

Nora sat very still for a moment, absorbing the possibilities. Her mind was clearly already racing ahead\u2014full of half-formed inventions, curious questions, and the sorts of plans that only made perfect sense to her<\/em>. And, perhaps, Papa, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could test things,\u201d she said eagerly. \u201cLike\u2026 like how long a beetle can pull a leaf. Or if soap makes bigger bubbles when you whisper to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s eyebrow lifted slightly, but he nodded with proper seriousness. \u201cBoth sound like important scientific inquiries.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we could build things,\u201d she continued, warming to the subject. \u201cBut not with brandy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben coughed pointedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen do we start?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam lifted her onto his lap, hugging her close. \u201cHow about tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

Nora beamed, the kind of bright, wholehearted smile that seemed to light up the entire room.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur first test will be the beetles,\u201d she declared. \u201cWe have to sketch them, so we know which beetle. And we should name it. So, we know each one from each other. And then\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice ran on eagerly as she began outlining what was clearly an extensive plan involving jars, pencils, field observations, and what sounded suspiciously like a small laboratory in the yard.<\/p>\n

Adam listened, nodding now and then while she spoke, though she hardly seemed to notice. The journal lay open between them; its pages filled with the careful handwriting and ambitious sketches of a boy who had once believed the world was nothing but puzzles waiting to be solved.<\/p>\n

THE END<\/p>\n

Author’s Note: Vicki C graciously granted me permission to reference the steam engine and its fallout in The Solitary Way<\/em> for this story. I am grateful to her for this, as it provided the perfect parallel of experimental madness between Adam and our one and only Nora.<\/p>\n

Many thanks to JC* (and Louisa May Alcott) for the series title.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

As Adam copes with single parenthood, his middle child experiments with gravity. She discovers that it doesn’t bend to her will but perhaps her father understands her more than she thinks.
\nRATING: G \u00a0 \u00a0WORD COUNT:\u00a037,631<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12573,"featured_media":36361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1005,7,23,698],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-cartwright","category-a-u","category-drama","category-post-timeline","wpcat-1005-id","wpcat-7-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-698-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":755,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Day-of-the-Dragon.jpg?fit=600%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13666,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=13666","url_meta":{"origin":63384,"position":0},"title":"Fortuna Smiles (by faust)","author":"faust","date":"January 17, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Written for the prompt: Adam wins the lottery. And that's all there is to it. 800 words, rated K+ Part of the Art-Universe, links to stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11510,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=11510","url_meta":{"origin":63384,"position":1},"title":"Date Night (by BettyHT)","author":"BettyHT","date":"July 8, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Adam hopes to have a wonderful night with a special lady in this light romantic story. (2,365 words) \u00a0Rating = T Rosalie Series, links to stories within the series are included.","rel":"","context":"In "Mystery"","block_context":{"text":"Mystery","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=32"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/ACgr.jpg?fit=325%2C310&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4073,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4073","url_meta":{"origin":63384,"position":2},"title":"Chanty’s Christmas (by ViveAdam)","author":"ViveAdam","date":"April 13, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0Chanty is a poor orphan maiden lost in a small village in Nevada but, on Christmas eve, a stranger in town will change her life. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K \u00a0WC \u00a04400","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/HoundDog2-1-11.jpg?fit=400%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12688,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=12688","url_meta":{"origin":63384,"position":3},"title":"Spirit Thief #3 – The Marriage Bed (by Nanuk)","author":"Nanuk","date":"January 17, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 A vignette companion to Spirit Thief.\u00a0 A new bit featuring Adam and Becky. 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Rating: T. Word count 761","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/snake.jpg?fit=250%2C222&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23875,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=23875","url_meta":{"origin":63384,"position":5},"title":"His First Time #2 – Return to Boston (by EROS)","author":"EROS","date":"September 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Follow Adam as he returns to Boston six years after graduating college. 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