A glimpse of Adam Cartwright redux, back on the Ponderosa after a surprise reunion in Stockton and with a family of his own.\u00a0 (Third in a series, links to other stories provided)<\/p>\n
Rating T\u00a0 Word Count 1285<\/p>\n
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More Than a Memory series:<\/strong><\/p>\n More Than a Memory\u00a0<\/a> <\/p>\n This is the time to remember…these are the days to hold onto. –Billy Joel<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1869<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The lively banter at the Cartwright breakfast table was music to Ben\u2019s ears. Even though Adam had been back home for nearly a year, the sight of his three sons together again never got old. With a family of his own, Adam was a new man. The restlessness that drove him to wander had been tamed by a lovely wife and two beautiful children. Adaline and John Adam were the stars in Grandpa Ben\u2019s crown.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCoffee, Ben?\u201d His daughter-in-law Moira already knew the answer, and he smiled at her as she drained the last of the pot into his cup. \u201cThere is more in the kitchen. I\u2019ll have it out in a minute.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMama, can I have another pancake?\u201d Five year old Adaline asked.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMay I. And yes, you may, after you\u2019ve finished your milk. Adam, please make sure she does.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMoira, aren\u2019t you going to sit down?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn a minute.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n She went back to the kitchen. It was a rare day that Hop Sing wasn\u2019t there to take charge, and she was feeling a bit overwhelmed. As much as she loved her new family, she was looking forward to having her own home, but that luxury was still weeks if not months away. Adam wanted a big house for a big family. And what Adam wanted, he usually got.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A wave of nausea hit her, for the second time that morning, though not as bad as the first. She splashed some water on her face and leaned against the sink until it passed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAre you all right, dear?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n She hadn\u2019t heard Ben come in. \u201cI\u2019m fine. The coffee is ready if you\u2019d like to take it with you. I\u2019ll be out in a minute.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He assented, though he looked doubtful.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The third wave sent her scurrying to the back porch, While she didn\u2019t throw up, it confirmed what she had tried to dismiss for the past couple of days. She returned to the kitchen for a glass of water, and Adam was there looking for her.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSweetheart, are you all right? Pa said I should check on you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, just having a moment.\u201d She sipped the water, in case it didn\u2019t sit well on the tea and toast she\u2019d had earlier.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure? You look pale.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry. It\u2019s nothing I haven\u2019t been through before.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n His eyebrows shot up. \u201cDo you mean\u2026?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n She <\/span><\/span>pursed her lips and gave a slight nod.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>It was one time. <\/span><\/span>T<\/span><\/span>wo months ago<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He chuckled. \u201cMy birthday. I make it January.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right.\u201d <\/span><\/span> John Adam wouldn\u2019t even be a year old then. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAt least the house will be finished. <\/span><\/span>Well, <\/span><\/span>well, whaddya know<\/span><\/span>\u2026\u201d he grinned.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t say anything to anyone yet.\u201d She rolled her eyes at him \u201cAnd for goodness sake, don\u2019t look so smug.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI just can\u2019t help <\/span><\/span>thinking<\/span><\/span> how compatible we are. Looks like we\u2019re three for three.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, after this one comes, you may have to sleep in the barn.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He threw back his head and laughed, \u201cI love a woman with a sense of humor.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d <\/span><\/span>Joe<\/span><\/span> called from the dining room.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMoira made a joke!\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHush.\u201d She elbowed him. \u201cWe\u2019ll be right out,\u201d she called.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cLook on the bright side. At least we don\u2019t have to worry about it for the next few months.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIs that all you ever think about?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think about it. I just enjoy it. You\u2019ve spoiled me in that department.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo I guess it\u2019s my fault.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s your fault for being irresistible. I can\u2019t seem to keep my hands off of you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t Adam. Don\u2019t you dare!\u201d She shrieked as his fingers found her ribs. \u201cStop!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHey, what\u2019s going on in there?\u201d Joe hollered.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re having a baby!\u201d Adam laughed, locking her in his embrace.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo foolin\u2019?\u201d exclaimed Hoss.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNot again!\u201d Adaline sounded indignant.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAdam Cartwright, what did I just say! You are the most impossible man.\u201d <\/span><\/span>She tried not to smile.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He pulled her closer. \u201cI\u2019m just a man who loves a woman,\u201d he whispered in her ear, \u201cI\u2019ll be happy to show you later.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1870\u00a0 (Seven months later)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n The new baby, yet to be named, was born in the new house, meticulously designed by his father to be built in phases. It was a beautiful house, and he was a beautiful baby whose entrance into the world was fraught with drama and trepidation. When the family at last breathed a collective sigh of relief, they gathered to meet the newest member of the Cartwright clan.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n An anomaly. A curiosity.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A redhead.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n As far as anyone knew, there had never been a red headed Cartwright, at least not to Ben\u2019s recollection. \u201cIt\u2019s a mystery,\u201d he said, shaking his head..<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Joe scrunched his brows together, thinking, \u201cDo we even know any redheads?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Hoss shrugged. \u201cYou got me. I can\u2019t think of one.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know one,\u201d said Adaline.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d asked Adam.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMr. Galooey.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMr. Galooey?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou know, the man with the wagon.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou mean old Tom Gilhooley, the peddler?\u201d asked Ben.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Joe and Hoss snickered. Old Tom was not quite as old as their pa, a little over five feet, and indeed, a redhead.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Adam considered the information. \u201cI do seem to recall him being here around the time of my birthday. Would you care to weigh in, Moira?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I might as well confess. I did barter with him for that gold watch chain you\u2019re so fond of. The man drives a hard bargain, but it was worth it for you, dear.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The men burst out laughing, and the more they pictured old Tom the harder it was to stop.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d Adaline wanted to know.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ben wiped his eyes, still laughing. \u201cYour mother.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand grownups.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJust for the record, my grandmother Murphy was a redhead,\u201d said Moira.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Baby Cartwright began to make his presence known in a most insistent manner, prompting the visitors to leave him to his parents.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere now,\u201d Moira soothed him as he began to nurse. Adam settled next to them on the bed, no longer laughing. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou had me really worried today. This wasn\u2019t like the last time.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo, it wasn\u2019t. But all\u2019s well that ends well.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to make sure you have all the help you need, whatever it is. I mean it.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThank you.\u201d She smiled.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n He reached over and stroked the baby\u2019s head. \u201cI guess we need to come up with a name for this one. We can\u2019t just call him Red.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHis mother wouldn\u2019t like that, I assure you. Have you changed your mind about naming him after your father?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo, I haven\u2019t changed my mind, just the order, How about James Benjamin? It\u2019s a good name, don\u2019t you think?\u201d Her first husband was James, and by all accounts a good man.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201c
\nConvergence\u00a0<\/a>
\nFrom Shadows <\/a>
\nThese are the Days<\/a>
\nBitter, Sweet, Wonderful Everything <\/a>
\nThe Homecoming — Requiem<\/a><\/p>\n