{"id":6484,"date":"2014-05-04T11:04:50","date_gmt":"2014-05-04T15:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6484"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:14:25","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T00:14:25","slug":"a-circle-of-family-the-story-of-adam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6484","title":{"rendered":"A Circle of Family #4: The Book of Adam (by MissJudy)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary<\/strong>: \u00a0<\/span>This is the last story in the Circle of Family saga, but enjoying this one is not dependent on having read the others. Adam has been in Boston for a year and all\u00a0his careful planning has done him well…until an accident while staying with Abel puts him flat on his back for a few days. It is during this time of infirmity that Marie’s Bible arrives along with letters from home. After reading them, Adam makes a heart-rending decision that leaves his grandfather reeling. This story has its comedic moments along with some sweet takes on\u00a0Adam’s relationship with Abel and the family he left behind.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a011,400<\/span><\/p>\n

A Circle of Family Series:<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Circle of Family:\u00a0 The Story of Joseph<\/a>
\nA Circle of Family:\u00a0 The Story of Benjamin<\/a>
\nA Circle of Family: The Story of Hoss<\/a>
\nA Circle of Family: The Story of Adam<\/a><\/p>\n

Story Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Adam’s Bible – his mother’s – was nearly destroyed in the Book of Joseph. In the Book of Ben, it was restored and Ben remembered an incident from the past involving a young Adam and Hoss as David and Goliath. The Book of Hoss dealth with the middle brother trying to find his place in the family with Adam gone, and the writing of 2 letters that are on the way to his brother – one tucked in the Bible and the second accompanying it, in hopes that it will arrive at the same time. Hoss’s first letter contained some harsh thoughts and although he’d changed his mind, there was no way to remove it from the Bible and the second letter tried to explain his feelings. We now move to Boston to see what Adam’s been up to for the last year…<\/em><\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Book of Adam<\/strong><\/p>\n

Adam stretched, releasing a long, loud sigh while trying to refocus on the textbook<\/strong> resting on his lap. Several mild curses fired as the pillows behind his back dislodged with his movement\u2014again\u2014leaving him looking at the ceiling\u2014again\u2014instead of sitting up as he had been moments earlier. He could have maneuvered out of bed to reposition them as he had done a few times already, but was so stiff and sore that this time he decided to lie there and wait until his grandfather or the housekeeper came to check on him. This same ritual had been going on for two days now and he was so frustrated that he was reduced to deep sighs, head shaking and eye rolling whenever he thought about the \u201cevent\u201d that brought him to this state of helplessness. He was using his time to study when he could concentrate enough to do so, but only when the pillows stayed put.<\/p>\n

At this point he was sure of only one thing: that this was not how he had\u00a0planned<\/em>\u00a0to spend his holiday!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Good Plans Go Bad<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ben had always told his sons, \u201cA good plan makes all the difference.\u201d Those were the words Adam had lived by his entire life, and the habit had continued once he was relocated in Boston. He was a few months into his second year of college, where he was at the top of his class. It had been a hard first year, but he\u2019d managed perfect grades so far as a result of his planning. He didn\u2019t mind that he had to work harder and smarter than the others in his class who\u2019d had the benefit of the fine preparatory schools in the East; he just planned time to compensate for it by putting in extra hours of study with tutors when he felt he was falling behind. Right now he felt his early plans had brought him to an even keel with the others.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Over the year-and-a-half he\u2019d been in the Boston area, he\u2019d planned as much time as possible with his grandfather so he could experience everything the old captain remembered about his father\u2019s seafaring days and especially what he knew about Elizabeth. So far, the careful planning of his time in the East had provided many halcyon days with his grandfather and friends, amid the occasional darker ones where his heart ached to know what his father and brothers were doing back in Nevada. He had often sent a mental thank you to his father for instilling him with the lesson of what he privately called \u201cplanmanship.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

During this four-day weekend considered their \u201cfall break\u201d from school, Adam had carefully planned his time to include a two-day stay with his grandfather, followed by spending the remaining two days participating in a hunt hosted by Frankie Wadsworth\u2019s family. He\u2019d met Frankie early on when he arrived at school and they\u2019d become fast friends resulting in several invitations to join in family events at the huge estate near Boston. The Wadsworths might have had old money, but they had new ideas and were impressed with Adam and fascinated by his life. They saw great potential in this Westerner come back East to his roots. During this trip to the Wadsworth home, Adam had planned to ride their woods and grasslands on a fine steed. And even though he knew it would have brought sidelong glances from his father and outright hysteria from his brothers if they\u2019d ever witnessed him wearing it, he had planned to don a set of Frankie\u2019s hunt attire, including a formal black coat over a white shirt with black tie, a top hat, and tight white breeches. Come evening he\u2019d planned to indulge in fine food and conversation, and maybe take a moonlit ride with Frankie\u2019s younger sister. Adam still wasn\u2019t an expert with the English saddles they used, but he could at least stay well seated in one now\u2014or at least well enough to keep from flying off during a jump\u2014and he\u2019d planned to do even better this time. As it had turned out, flying off a horse would have been the least of his worries\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the second day of his stay at his grandfather\u2019s, the older man had asked him to help cut back some pine branches that were brushing against the siding and windows on the second story, saying he\u2019d managed the lower limbs but didn\u2019t feel steady enough to climb the ladder that would be required to reach the upper boughs. Adam had been happy to help and had carefully planned that chore. He\u2019d planned for Abel to hold the ladder as he sawed. He\u2019d planned ahead by placing a tarp on the ground to catch the limbs as they fell so they would be easy to clean up. He\u2019d planned so well that he had everything he\u2019d need while up on the ladder, tied to his own belt, just as he\u2019d seen loggers do at home. He\u2019d planned that it would take a couple of hours to complete the pruning and then he\u2019d planned to bid his grandfather farewell until the Christmas holidays, and head to the final days of his long weekend when Frankie\u2019s carriage arrived in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What Adam had forgotten\u2014until he was laid up at the Stoddard house\u2014was that Ben had also quoted Robert Burns from time to time: \u201cThe best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley.\u201d As Adam had laid there observing his badly swollen knee, and moved around on his grandfather\u2019s rock-hard bed trying to find a comfortable position for his aching bones, he realized he had just lived through a prime example of that quote.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s best-laid schemes had \u201cgang aft agley\u201d with the arrival of the shrill-voiced Mrs. Harworthy while he was standing near the top of the 20-foot ladder working on the offending branches. That fact alone hadn\u2019t changed Adam\u2019s plan at all. He\u2019d simply tipped his hat and continued to saw while Abel held the ladder and talked to his neighbor. But Adam hadn\u2019t planned on hearing another sweet, softer voice responding to his grandfather, and had made a quick glance downward to check on who had spoken. He had been surprised to see what seemed to be a lovely young brunette being introduced as Mrs. Harworthy\u2019s niece. And what he really hadn\u2019t planned for was that Abel Stoddard would release his hold on the ladder to doff his hat to the ladies with one hand, while taking Melinda\u2019s hand in greeting with his other one, just as Adam had adjusted his stance on the rung to lean out from the ladder for a better view of the beauty below him. Adam had no plans of trying to fly that day, but as his weight shifted away from the unsupported implement, it began to arc away from the wall it had been propped against. Adam\u2019s mind had zipped through the mathematics at play in that moment as he tried desperately to restore his center of gravity and push the thing back toward the house. A mortal curse had accompanied his realization that in trying to get as high as he could, he hadn\u2019t allowed enough angle between the ladder and the building. Any previous plans or current schemes had become moot once Newton\u2019s first law of physics had gone into play, this adaptation of the law being\u2014: \u201cA Cartwright in motion stays in motion.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had awakened several hours later sporting an obvious knot on his head, and badly sprained knee. Abel\u2019s housekeeper, Mrs. Daugherty, tending to him in those first waking hours had told Adam repeatedly\u2014making the sign of the cross over her ample bosom each time she did\u2014that she had seen him fall while looking out the kitchen window to see who was talking to Captain Stoddard. \u201cYou are lucky to be alive, young man. I thought my heart would stop as I watched you sailing through the air.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once awake, the doctor had given Adam \u201csomething\u201d for the severe pain he was in, so he\u2019d been woozy and heavily medicated at the time of the \u201ctending,\u201d and perhaps not monitoring what thoughts escaped his mouth as well as he should have been. He thought he\u2019d heard a sardonic voice saying, \u201cYour heart almost stopped? It was\u00a0me<\/em>\u00a0flying through the air, not you.\u201d He\u2019d thought about that statement after Mrs. Daugherty left the room.\u00a0Did I think that, or say that? Well, Mary Daugherty will know I wasn\u2019t really being sarcastic to her, won\u2019t she?\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>He\u2019d had just enough clarity to realize he needed to apologize later, even if what he\u2019d said had been true.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And there had been the matter of the poem he kept hearing while still under the influence of \u201cthe something\u201d he\u2019d been given. He honestly wasn\u2019t sure if that had been his voice shouting it aloud or simply reciting it in his head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oppress’d with grief, oppress’d with care,
\nA burden more than I can bear,
\nI set me down and sigh;
\nO life! thou art a galling load,
\nAlong a rough, a weary road,
\nTo wretches such as I!
\nDim backward as I cast my view,
\nWhat sick’ning scenes appear!
\nWhat sorrows yet may pierce me through,
\nToo justly I may fear!
\nStill caring, despairing,
\nMust be my bitter doom;
\nMy woes here shall close ne’er
\nBut with the closing tomb!\u00a0<\/em>*<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was pretty sure he\u2019d always ended that verse with the very loud request for someone to shoot him and put him out of his misery.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oh, yes, he knew that there were definitely some apologies owed. The only question remained as to how many.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam could truthfully say that dying had not been in his plans that day, but when he was a little more \u201ccoherent,\u201d Abel and the doctor had confirmed the reality of that possibility. It was the stuff of macabre literature, as they had explained that it was the luck of inches that landed him in the large hawthorn at the edge of the property, rather than coming down a few feet farther east, where the spear-like wrought iron fence posts separating Abel\u2019s yard from Mrs. Harworthy\u2019s would have impaled him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The bump and sprain were obvious, but on further inspection Adam realized why he hurt over every inch of his body. A rainbow of bruises in reds, blacks, and blues, accompanied an assortment of cuts and scrapes covering his chest, abdomen and arms. He wasn\u2019t sure from his angle of viewing, but thought he\u2019d seen a few odd chartreuse hues as well. The damage had probably been sustained as he\u2019d grabbed at tree branches when the ladder began to sway. That fruitless maneuver had been compromised even further when his carefully planned tool belt items become a mass of flying weaponry that remained attached to him as he fell. Fortunately, the armload of soft white pine branches being grasped to his chest had protected his face as he fell into the other tree. His grandfather had explained the stinging cuts to his lower legs and feet, saying that he\u2019d \u201clost\u201d his socks and boots as he had fallen through the needle-like spikes of the hawthorn that had \u201csaved\u201d him. Abel had also described the final insult when Adam had come to a stop hanging upside down as his head hit the trunk of the tree while his left leg remained up above, tangled in the lowest branches. This had explained why his head was pounding in rhythm with the ticking of the mantle clock while his knee was twice its normal size.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No, he surely hadn\u2019t planned for any of that.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The injuries that had been painful enough on the day of his fall, had settled in mean and ugly over the next two days, leaving Adam in so much pain as to be unable to do even simple things\u2014like rearrange pillows behind his back. In his dark mood, he had longed for the discomfort of saddle sores from proving to his friend that he could master the tack of choice at the Wadsworth house, instead of enduring the ache in his posterior caused by his grandfather\u2019s lumpy mattress. He\u2019d been confined to bed with illness in the past, but had never felt so helpless or grumpy about his situation. Not only had his carefully made weekend plans been wiped out, but he also wouldn\u2019t be able to return to school for over a week, and then it was likely he\u2019d be using a cane for an extended period as his knee healed completely. Any future plans for his time on campus would be curtailed by his need to catch up in his studies. Keeping up with his classes was hard enough; catching up was a disheartening proposition.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel had appeared at regular intervals to check on his grandson, each time wearing a look of chagrin at what his moment of inattentiveness had almost cost. Seeing his grandfather so upset had finally forced Adam to be less morose as he had tried to assuage the older man\u2019s guilt. To end Abel\u2019s repeated apologies, Adam had insisted on shouldering the blame equally. \u201cIt was my fault as much as yours, Grandfather. You weren\u2019t expecting me to move around when I was up that high, so it shouldn\u2019t have made any difference if you released the ladder for a moment. I caused the ladder to fall by hanging so far off of it to get a better look at\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel had interrupted his grandson\u2019s apology. \u201cYes we both know what you were trying to get a better look at. You are truly your father\u2019s son! Before he courted your mother, Ben Cartwright was well known by all the beautiful women in our ports.\u201d Once the laughing stopped and Adam\u2019s color had recovered from its blushing glow at being caught in a bit of ogling, Abel had given his grandson a little encouraging news. \u201cMelinda was very upset at your fall, and has been over here repeatedly, hoping to meet you. She even brought cookies early this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was still grinning as he relayed his thanks for that bit of information. After further thought, he had inquired, \u201cDid you say something about cookies?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have Mrs. Daugherty bring some up later, son. That\u2019s if there\u2019s any left then.\u201d Abel had adopted a serious demeanor for his next comment. \u201cI\u2019ll have to tell your father about this.\u201d Abel had been adamant about his need to confess to Ben. \u201cHe made me promise to watch you.\u201d Then had added with a grin, \u201cAnd I did just that. I watched you fly over my head on your way to a very hard landing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had grinned again as he winked at his grandfather. \u201cPerhaps what my father doesn\u2019t know can\u2019t\u2026upset\u2019 him? I\u2019ll be right as a trivet soon, and there\u2019s nothing he can do about it anyway. We both had a moment of bad judgment and maybe it should end there.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Drawing the conversation away from his need for penitence and Adam\u2019s hope that this incident could go unreported, Abel replied, \u201cAh, you are your mother\u2019s son. She would have loved the work of Charles Dickens as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Being equally glad to move away from the subject of his father, Adam had picked up on that thread. \u201cI was so fortunate to have a grandfather with connections to the English ships that docked in Boston. You always sent me things that were available in England long before making it to the United States and especially to the edge of nowhere, where we lived. But you never mentioned how you managed to get a copy of the\u00a0Pickwick Papers<\/em>\u00a0from that British captain.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel put his finger to his lip. \u201cThat\u2019s a secret, son. You know I\u2019d have done anything to provide you with the newest literature, but as for a price, let\u2019s just say blackmail is a powerful currency.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Just When You Think Things Can\u2019t Get Any Worse<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So far, such moments of interruption in his two days of tedium were few, and Adam had settled into a routine of studying, stretching and finally napping, when left supine after his back support failed. In this installment of the routine, his heavy text slid from the bed as the young man dozed and jerked while dreaming of breaking wild mustangs using a tiny brown saddle with short stirrups and no horn to hold onto. He kept launching off as he lost his grip on the smooth leather and ended up at the bottom of a spiny cactus. He was mumbling and crying out in his sleep when Abel walked in to find out what had made the heavy clunk he\u2019d heard downstairs. The older man returned the book to the stack on the table next to the bed as Adam began to stir.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Realizing he wasn\u2019t alone, he looked up and smiled at his grandfather. \u201cWas I talking in my sleep again?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel chuckled. \u201cNo; I came up when I heard a thud and thought perhaps you had fallen out of bed. Thankfully it was just your tome, so I won\u2019t have to relay any further injuries to your father.\u201d He quickly ran the back of his hand over the young man\u2019s forehead checking for signs of fever. Despite the many injuries and lingering disability, Adam was recovering well and quickly. \u201cI see your pillows failed again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey do seem to have a mind of their own. But it doesn\u2019t matter since I dozed off anyway.\u201d Adam noticed that Abel had laid something at the foot of the bed, but in his current position, couldn\u2019t make out what it was. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d He indicated the object with a grimace as he lifted his arm to point.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe doctor said you could begin to move around today if you were up to it. I brought one of my canes for you to use.\u201d Adopting a look of devilment, Abel added, \u201cBut I suppose you like it here in bed so much that you probably don\u2019t want to make your way down the steps.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was suddenly energized, pushing up on one elbow, even while groaning audibly, and began to move his body toward the edge of the bed with the agility of an arthritic crab. Abel often used nautical references to explain his thoughts and did so now as he worried about the boy standing up for the first time since being hurt. \u201cYou know son, a good sailor ensures that his ballast is even and his sails are at the ready when leaving harbor to face the turbulence of the sea. Best to steer a straight line while letting things stabilized a bit before adding full sheets.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam could usually figure out the sailing references, but wasn\u2019t concentrating enough to do it this time. He thought about it, but finally resorted to, \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cTake it carefully, son. Stand up slowly and take your first steps with caution, or you might fall on your face.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOh. Aye, aye, Captain.\u201d He gave his grandfather a quick salute as he grabbed for the man\u2019s arm and the cane to help him stand upright. \u201cThere, that wasn\u2019t so hard. Thanks for the cane, Grandfather. It seems just right. You said this was yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel observed the tall young man standing next to him, realizing that he towered almost a half-head above him. \u201cI guess I used to be taller. You lose a lot as you age, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam\u2019s arm wrapped around Abel\u2019s shoulder to support his weight as he set himself to walk. \u201cYou may have lost an inch or two, Grandfather, but that\u2019s all you\u2019ve lost.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Was it gratitude or pride that reflected in Abel\u2019s eyes? Adam wasn\u2019t sure, but he knew he loved his grandfather and considered that maybe this change of plans wasn\u2019t such a bad turn of events after all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It took some time for Adam to dress in a loose shirt and a pair of Abel\u2019s baggy pants that fit over his swollen joint, and then limp down the narrow stairway with Abel\u2019s help, to finally settle in a large, comfortable chair with his leg resting on a pile of pillows atop Abel\u2019s footstool. The young man\u2019s mood had brightened considerably with the change of scenery, and Abel\u2019s estimation that the lovely Melinda would stop by after lunch.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The two men ate together in the parlor while the old salt spun yet another tale of \u201cBen Cartwright: Ship\u2019s Mate.\u201d This time Adam was regaled with the story of the incapacitating seasickness that almost kept his father a landlubber instead of becoming a brave seafaring man. \u201cThey called your father, Ben \u2018LaPort,\u2019 at first, because he\u2019d always run to the port rail as he exited the crew\u2019s quarters when his stomach did a heave-ho.\u201d The echo of Abel\u2019s laughter lingered as he became reflective. \u201cYou are so much like your mother, Adam. You have her looks\u2014especially her eyes\u2014her kindness and quick intelligence. But you are also much like your father. Overcoming seasickness is a mindful proposition. You have to decide that you will get past it because if you have that physical predisposition, it never really goes away. That\u2019s exactly what Ben did. He fought through it until he could tolerate his body\u2019s reaction to the movement of the sea. I always admired that dogged determination in your father toward everything he attempted. Of course he is very intelligent too, but your father\u2019s legacy to you is his grit and you have every bit as much fortitude as he did. Adam, you\u2019ve used both your parent\u2019s best gifts to become a remarkable young man.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam was accustomed to praise although he never solicited it. His efforts meant he excelled at most things he tried and even though Ben Cartwright was not a verbal man when it came to such things, he had ways to let his son know of his satisfaction and pride in what he did. But to hear such high estimation from his mother\u2019s father deeply touched Adam\u2019s heart. He quickly changed the subject after a quiet, \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The grandson was in the midst of a story about Little Joe when Mrs. Daugherty interrupted to hand him a package that had just arrived with the day\u2019s post. Recognizing his father\u2019s scrawling script, he tore into the string and thick brown paper with relish. The boy had received few letters from his family since arriving in Boston, so this promised to be a real adventure. He was amazed to find Elizabeth\u2019s Bible under the wrapping and held it reverently. The last time he\u2019d seen it, the Bible had seemed ruined. There was little thought of it after he left home, since remembering brought too great a loss. He was speechless at the incredible restoration.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel had watched his grandson with curiosity. \u201cIs that your mother\u2019s Bible, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

Ben had once written of Adam\u2019s unbreakable connection to this book from the time he was old enough to understand that it had belonged to Elizabeth, and Abel wondered why Adam had left it behind. \u201cDid you forget to bring it with you, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Not wanting to indict his youngest brother for the condition that had made him leave it behind, Adam replied that it had been damaged and was being repaired at the time he left.\u00a0 He caressed the softened leather and was amazed to find that even the interior pages were no longer as brittle as they had been when they had begun to dry after the mishap. His mother\u2019s writing on the family journal pages was slightly blurred, but not so much that he couldn\u2019t read what she had written. The final entry was his name and birth date in his father\u2019s hand. Elizabeth hadn\u2019t been able to make that last notation, but all her other entries were still there ensuring that her child would know his history.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel watched Adam\u2019s face as he perused the book, and felt that there was far more \u201cdamage\u201d than Adam let on. He couldn\u2019t know that his next words would impact his grandson so harshly. \u201cYou\u2019ll need to be more careful with it, Adam. It is too important not be treated with greatest respect.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Even as his mind screamed his innocence, Adam remained silent other than to remark, \u201cI\u2019ll do that, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel watched the turmoil that passed over Adam\u2019s face at his comment, but decided that whatever had disturbed him would have to be offered rather than be fished for. A younger Abel Stoddard had watched a similar look pass over his son-in-laws face the time he\u2019d tried to maintain his dignity after finding out that in a drunken moment of weakness, the Captain had nearly ruined everything Ben had worked so hard to build. Abel figured that Adam was protecting someone just as Ben had done with him in that very dark period of his life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam forgot his grandfather\u2019s comment in his excitement at finding several letters tucked inside the pages of the Bible. From the handwriting on the envelopes he figured there was one from Hoss, his father, Hop Sing and even one with \u201cAdam\u201d written in a the early block letters of a six-year-old\u2019s uncontrolled hand. The letters remained waiting in his hand as he returned his attention to his grandfather who was saying something about the doctor stopping by later. Although he tried to control it, Adam found his eyes and mind drifting back to the treasure he wanted so badly to open.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Noting Adam\u2019s look of longing, Abel excused himself to take a walk, leaving his grandson alone to read.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hop Sing\u2019s offering included his personal wishes in the form of Chinese symbols that Adam knew to mean happiness, health, peace and prosperity. To Adam\u2019s great delight, there was also a page written by one of Hop Sing\u2019s younger cousins, telling of the ancient processes used to restore his mother\u2019s Bible to near perfect condition. It was obvious that this family had taken great pains to bring this irreplaceable treasure to back to life, and he couldn\u2019t imagine how to thank them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Next he read Joe\u2019s one line letter, wishing him well. When he\u2019d left the Ponderosa, Joe knew his letters and numbers, but was having trouble getting them into useable order. The child was a quick study, but not always willing to slow down enough to apply what he\u2019d learned. Adam was impressed that he had written the entire sentence, even though he figured his father had been looking over Joe\u2019s shoulder the whole time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Following that, he opened Ben\u2019s overstuffed envelope that held several pages of the journaling he did each day to help his son remain connected to his family. Adam eagerly read about life on the Ponderosa and felt transported over time and space to watch his family go through their days, with particular concentration on the antics of his brothers. He released a sigh of great satisfaction as he finished the final page that included a personal note from his father encouraging him to keep them abreast of his plans. Adam laughed as he read that.Plans? Those haven\u2019t been working out so well lately, so any reply I make to Pa will stick to action rather than plans\u2014without mention of any daring feats of flying.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He\u2019d saved Hoss\u2019 letter for last, hoping there\u2019d be some interesting facts from his middle brother that Ben might not have chosen to share. Adam\u2019s life had been permanently connected to his brother the moment Hoss\u2019 tiny pink fingers closed around his as Inger made him promise to always watch over her baby. They had become co-sojourners through a land of loss and promise. There was connection to Little Joe when he was born, but he\u2019d had the luxury of his mother\u2019s love: at least for a few years before he joined them in the journey. But Adam knew Hoss would hold nothing back from him and figured that this would be the best way to finish; before going back to reread each page one more time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A permanent smile etched Adam\u2019s face as he\u2019d read each of the letters, and he ripped Hoss\u2019 envelope open in great anticipation. That smile was soon lost as he read it through.\u00a0Surely I\u2019m missing something<\/em>. He reread the paragraphs looking for some clue as to what.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear Adam,<\/em><\/p>\n

I got just one question for you. Why\u2019d you have to go away? Pa and Joe are sick and I been taking care of them. But they don\u2019t want me. They want you and you ain\u2019t here. I wish I could be somewhere else too, but I have to stay here and take care of things since you run off and left us.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I wished you well when you left and thought I could do a good job when you was gone, but Pa and Joe don\u2019t think that\u2019s so. After all you always did everything just right so who can ever live up to that. A couple weeks ago, Pa was telling us about some really poor guy in Italy that did all sorts of nice thing for people and critters. They called him Saint Francis of Assisi. I\u2019m thinking that maybe I should call you saint Adam of the Ponderosa, because you\u2019ve always been perfect and saint-like yourself, ain\u2019t you?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hope you\u2019re having fun where you\u2019re at, because I sure ain\u2019t. We\u2019ll probably make it fine without you, but sure could use the extra hands around here. Things ain\u2019t going so well as you might think. Pa and Joe miss you something awful and I won\u2019t never be your replacement. That\u2019s all I got to say.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Your brother,<\/em><\/p>\n

Eric<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam kept wondering if this was some sort of joke, but Hoss didn\u2019t kid around like that. Adam flinched at Hoss using his given name and could only wonder at the message there was in that.\u00a0Have we gotten so far apart that he no longer sees himself as Hoss to me? Am I such a stranger that he wants me to call him, Eric?\u00a0<\/em>His middle brother\u2019s good humor was renowned, and was never sarcastic or bitter, as this letter seemed to be.\u00a0He meant those words all right<\/em>, and that worried Adam. If Hoss, with his even temperament and spirit was complaining about Adam\u2019s absence then it was obvious that his father was simply sparing his feelings by keeping silent. While still trying to make sense of this, his head and knee began to throb unbearably. He realized how tired he\u2019d become sitting up after the days of being in bed, and longed to have a bit more of that medicine the doctor had given him the first day. Feeling like a drunken sailor would be far more palatable than the mental and physical pain he was experiencing. He mind continued to spin as he heard footsteps at the front door, and realized that his grandfather had returned from his walk. Blinking and taking several quick deep breaths, he tipped his head back to keep the flood that had formed in his eyes from heading downhill, knowing his grandfather would not approve of a show of weakness.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It took only a moment for Abel to realize that this was not the pleased young man he\u2019d left a mere hour ago. Not wishing to intrude, yet knowing that something was obviously wrong, he did a bit of gentle exploration. \u201cIs there bad news from home, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had to wait a moment longer to make sure his voice would sound normal, and busied himself refolding his letters. As the tightness in his chest eased, he finally tucked them into the Bible and faced his grandfather. \u201cNo,\u201d he lied. \u201cJust a lot of information to absorb in one reading.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMmhmm.\u201d Abel nodded toward his grandson. \u201cI suppose it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He could feel his grandfather\u2019s stare. \u201cI was hoping you would help me back upstairs when you returned. Guess I\u2019m not as recovered as I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMight you hold off just a bit longer, son? I saw Melinda as I arrived home and she is on her way over for that visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel took the Bible from Adam\u2019s lap, placing it on the table near the stairs as he went to let Melinda in. He made the introductions between the two young people and was surprised to see the absence of any spark in Adam\u2019s eyes as he took in the vision before him. Melinda might be related to the woman next door, but she obviously didn\u2019t inherit her looks from that side of the family. Seeing Adam\u2019s lack of interest in his visitor gave Abel the distinct feeling that his grandson had gone on a long journey west and had left his spirit there.Perhaps it truly was just too much at one time?\u00a0<\/em>The older man could only hope that was the truth.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From Adam\u2019s point of view, he was impressed with the lovely Melinda but couldn\u2019t concentrate on her beauty or her conversation. He\u2019d laughed appropriately at her version of the \u201cFlying Cartwright\u201d saga, but his face instantly returned to its granite-like stare.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Before long, neither Abel nor their guest could ignore the look of agony on Adam\u2019s face, and Melinda made her exit, promising another visit when the patient was feeling better. Grandfather and grandson made their way back up the steps, stopping only to retrieve the Bible from the table. Adam declined the offer to change into bedclothes and asked only to lie atop the covers for a brief rest, assuring Abel he would be back in good spirits in no time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That assessment was premature. As Adam lay there, Hoss\u2019 letter continued to crush around his heart and mind. He could only come to one conclusion:\u00a0It\u2019s the truth. That\u2019s what it is: the absolute truth. They\u2019re all upset that I\u2019m gone, but were too polite to say so; except for Hoss. Pa didn\u2019t tell me that the ranch work and raising two youngsters is too much to handle alone; but Hoss did. Little Joe couldn\u2019t say that he is still shaken by the absence of both his mother and me from his life; but Hoss told me. Hoss wasn\u2019t too nice in saying any of this, but he is as he has always been: truthful. What do I do? Do I go home to reclaim my title as St. Adam of the Ponderosa and try to help my family, or do I stay here and have my own life as Adam the Vile, of Boston?<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the end, the decision was easy even though the process was not.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There was a visit from the doctor during his rest. Adam\u2019s knee was bent and torqued to make sure all muscles and ligaments were still working; his eyes were examined and his chest was thumped and palpated for signs of unseen injury still lurking. All the thumping and prodding produced assurances that he was progressing toward health, after which the doctor made a hasty exit to speak with Abel privately. Away from Adam, he inquired if the young man had perhaps been more injured that he was letting on, noting that there was more fire in the boy two days ago than there was now. \u201cHe should be able to return to most of his activities in a few days, Abel, except that he\u2019ll use the cane\u2014yet he seems less recovered than I expected him to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The doctor was an old friend, but Abel Stoddard did not share family matters with friends\u2014even old ones. \u201cPerhaps he\u2019s a bit homesick. It can\u2019t be easy being so injured while far away from his father.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A nod of understanding, and the doctor was off to his next call. \u201cLet me know if his condition should worsen. Otherwise bring him to my office in a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Unbearable silence settled on the Stoddard house after the doctor left. When Adam had first arrived in the East, he\u2019d stayed at his grandfather\u2019s home while going through his testing and then waiting for placement in the next term. Abel had immediately noticed the noise in having a young person around again. It wasn\u2019t that Adam was noisy: it was just his exuberance. He bounded up and down the stairs rather than walking. He burst into rooms with obvious excitement straining on his face and showered Abel with his thoughts. And the boy sang! His rich baritone echoed through the halls as he washed up in the morning. He sang while he did chores and helped Mrs. Daugherty with the dishes. He sang next to Abel at services and hummed as they walked. Abel felt as though he had been blessed with a fresh gentle rain that nourished his withering life and made him feel young as he became accustomed to his \u201cnoisy\u201d grandson. He held his breath now, listening for some sign that this life was truly still in residence, and heard nothing. The unbearable silence grew as the evening shadows hid the day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel was thinking that he should go to help his grandson downstairs, when Adam hobbled into the dining room just before dinner, dropping into his chair, while still wearing a mask of exhaustion. His stony expression testified to the fact that whatever had bothered Adam earlier, was still moving with sails at full. Abel asked, \u201cAre you feeling better now, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, thank you, Grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They ate mostly in silence with Adam responding to questions and nodding as Abel told him of his appointment at the doctor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Finished with as much as he could force himself to eat, Adam cleared his throat. \u201cI\u2019ve come to a decision, Grandfather.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A brief smile turned the corners of Abel\u2019s mouth. This young man, so serious and honest, was truly his father\u2019s son. There was no preamble, no small talk: just his statement that he had made a decision. He remembered Ben saying much the same thing. \u201cI\u2019ve come to the decision that I wish to marry your daughter.\u201d Now Abel was extremely curious to know what his grandson had decided.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A deep breath: \u201cWhen I\u2019m able to return to school, I shall ask to accelerate my studies for the term so that I can return home as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The fork dropped from Abel\u2019s hand. Had he heard correctly? \u201cWhat are you saying, Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His voice cracked as Adam repeated, \u201cI must return home as soon as possible.\u201d Returning his napkin to the table, Adam rose, stopping only to engage his cane, and headed for the steps without further comment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel didn\u2019t follow him. He was too stunned to say anything and was left to wonder what had been in those letters! Surely it was something of such consequence that the boy would willingly leave what he so clearly loved, to return to what he clearly loved more. The old man aged four years in those few moments.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When Ben had written of Adam\u2019s desire to study in the East, he said the boy would be in the Boston area about five years. He would need a place to stay at first and Ben hoped that after that, Abel would continue to host him during vacations and holidays. The old captain was overcome with joy at the prospect, while simultaneously fearing that the young man would find nothing of interest in his grandfather\u2019s life, and would come to resent being tied to him for that length of time. It had taken over a year for Adam to make the trip, and within days of his arrival, Abel had relaxed with his grandson and began to covet their time together. His life had come to be measured in the timeframe he would have Adam in it. He had received the blessing of five years with this boy! There was no need to tell every story or every memory at once. He had five years! He had five Christmases, five Easters, five summers to relish and enjoy the freshness that had entered his life. He had five years to tell him everything he should know. One year was already gone, but Abel had comforted himself with the fact that there were four years to go. He was to have four more years to finish what they had begun! But tonight\u2019s announcement had chopped that timeframe down to months\u2014perhaps only weeks\u2014and Abel could not bear the thought of losing his grandson so soon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He allowed himself a moment of anger. Had Ben waited all these years to pay him back for his mistakes 20 years ago by sending for his son? He gave that some thought but realized Ben Cartwright looked you in the eye when he was angry, and told you what he thought and what he was going to do about it. It had to be that something was so wrong that Adam didn\u2019t feel comfortable sharing. His body felt stiffer, older and less alive as he rose from the table and made his way to the stairs. Mrs. Daugherty called to him, but he could only raise his hand to wave her off as he began his ascent. His mind was too heavy to deal with household problems and his only thought was of getting to his bed. But in passing Adam\u2019s door, he found it open\u2014and paused to look in.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The young man was holding his mother\u2019s Bible; the letters now scattered on the bed. He looked up to acknowledge Abel in the doorway. \u201cI guess that was quite the canon ball I fired across your bow, Grandfather. I\u2019m sorry it came out so abruptly.\u201d He gathered up his mail and indicated that Abel should come sit next to him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIs there trouble at home, son?\u201d Still not wanting to pry, Abel needed to know why his four years were being taken away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNot that I can pinpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam. I don\u2019t mean to poke away here, but you are obviously upset, and getting information out of you is like pulling porpoise teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A chuckle bubbled up from the boy at his side. \u201cDo porpoise have teeth?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSure they do. They just don\u2019t like having them pulled.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The ice was broken.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNow tell me, what has changed your mind about school.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Silence<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, even Moses was told that he didn\u2019t have to face his trials alone. God said he had to trust others to help him. I won\u2019t say that I can help, son, but I can listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A new kind of sigh: this time reflecting his resignation. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing in particular.\u201d Adam wasn\u2019t about to single out Hoss, so thought how best to describe his concern rather than details. \u201cIt\u2019s just a feeling; an intuition that maybe Pa is having a hard time with me away.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWas it something your father wrote?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBut, you know it anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

\u201cPorpoise teeth, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe it\u2019s more what wasn\u2019t said, Grandfather. Like invisible ink: it\u2019s there but you can\u2019t see it unless you know how to find it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI see. And this invisible ink is telling you to return home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it best.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cIndulge me, Adam. Please wait until you are well to make this decision. Perhaps the ink will tell a different story when you are feeling better. If you still feel as you do when you are allowed to return to school, I will help you in any way I can. Would you agree to that?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose a few days won\u2019t make a difference.\u201d Saying it didn\u2019t mean it was true. Adam knew he wouldn\u2019t change his mind. He was on his way home and silenced any voice that cried against it. Seeing how sad his grandfather looked made Adam\u2019s heart ache as well.\u00a0Is there anything I can decide right now that won\u2019t hurt someone?<\/em>\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ll come back and finish my degree when Hoss and Little Joe are older and can better fend for themselves. I promise that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI know you will.\u201d Abel knew no such thing. If Adam left, there were no assurances he could or would ever return. It was obvious how strongly tied he was to his father and brothers. If he returned home now, he might never leave again. Abel reached over to pat the young man\u2019s hands before excusing himself. \u201cWe should probably both get some rest. Maybe things will look better in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t turn in, choosing to reread the letters, including the one from Hoss. As his leg began aching enough to pull his attention from what he was doing, he thought again how he couldn\u2019t possibly have planned for the events that had befallen him these last few days. Handling Elizabeth\u2019s Bible with care, he found Proverbs 19:9:\u00a0A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.<\/em>\u00a0It was all he could hold onto now. Ben had always said their lives weren\u2019t just their own: that they were all tied together through God\u2019s plans directing man\u2019s. Since the plans he had devised weren\u2019t working so well, he had to trust that what was happening would all work for good in the end.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He had to believe that.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Saving Grace With a Beautiful Face<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They were water and sponge their remaining days together: Abel reminisced, while Adam soaked up as much as he could hold about his mother. With returning mobility, they walked together along the waterfront. Abel described the various ships moored in the harbor along with their purposes and possible cargo or destination. They ate in the dockside pubs and sang the sailing songs that others were croaking out. Both men wished to tighten the reins on their days to hold back their time with each other as long as possible. But it was inevitable that time would pass, and the appointment with the doctor was kept as scheduled. Adam was given the go ahead to return to school the next day, and he steeled himself to move forward.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Walking home, Abel broached the topic they both had foremost in their minds. \u201cYou are planning to return home?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I\u2019m sorry. I will miss you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAs I will you, son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The duo stopped on the way to arrange transportation for Adam\u2019s return to school the following day. How long he would remain in Boston was up to the professors and whether they would allow him to move ahead with his work and complete his final tests before the others in his classes. Always practical, Adam felt he couldn\u2019t leave without finishing, and would stay through the term if he wasn\u2019t allowed to accelerate. Ben had spent a good deal of money for the courses, and it seemed a waste of those resources to walk away without something to show for his efforts. If he could return to Boston some day, he\u2019d have that much more under his belt and that much less to finish. His current plan\u2014even though his planning of late was not turning out so well\u2014was to send a letter to Nevada once he knew an approximate date for his leave taking.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reaching home, Abel excused himself to go indoors and finish his correspondence, while Adam remained outside to enjoy the beautiful late-October day. The fall had remained clement, and the prognosticators were calling for a warmer than normal winter. Adam thought ironically that at least his plans to get out of town could go well. If he was released from school soon enough he could still sail this fall. Ships would leave to sail toward waters that were slightly less treacherous during the South American summers as long as the Boston harbor remained free of ice. A tinge of apprehension\u2014no, it was fear\u2014niggled at Adam\u2019s brain and stomach as he thought about the long sea voyage ahead. He\u2019d sailed with his father in the past, but was so much younger then that he couldn\u2019t remember much about it. Perhaps it was that he was putting it out of his mind rather than forgetting it, since Adam felt sure that he had inherited the same \u201cphysical predisposition\u201d toward seasickness as his father. He\u2019d come by land to Boston and that was hard enough. Long days of rumbling wagons, soggy river crossing and a sooty train passage had put him safely in Boston with little more than rattled nerves and an aching back. But he would be traveling alone going home and doing it by ship made the most sense. A sad smile played the corners of his lips as he thought to the name he might come to own on the trip: maybe Saint Adam of the Emptying Stomach, or Starboard Adam, since he would run to the starboard rails rather than portside?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was much to consider, and without really planning where he was going, Adam found himself behind the house. He hadn\u2019t been back there\u2014had not even observed it from the windows\u2014since his fall. Nothing had been cleared away and he realized that it was probably as hard for his grandfather to face what had nearly happened as it was for him. Branches were strewn over the tarp while the ladder still leaned onto the hawthorn where it had come to rest after dumping its cargo.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Getting around with a cane might look dashing from an observer\u2019s vantage point, but for Adam it was a necessity that slowed his maneuverability. From recent experience, he knew that his knee was prone to give out and had already dropped him to the ground in a most unceremonious way more than once. At his appointment earlier, the doctor told him that he needed to strengthen the muscles supporting the joint so that it would be less wobbly. Until he could feel that it was stronger, using the cane was a must. In spite of that limitation, Adam began limping his way around the yard gathering the boughs and branches. Blood still speckled some of the branches beneath the hawthorn, and Adam relived his experience with a shiver. He couldn\u2019t help but feel it was a portent for what had come a few days later when his life in Boston had tumbled to the ground just as he had. His plans had begun to change the morning of the fall, and hadn\u2019t stopped changing since.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The cleanup proceeded\u2014not speedily\u2014but steadily, with perseverance and purpose. Adam managed to gather most of the downed wood; pushed the ladder to the ground where he was able to drag it beside the shed, and was in the process of folding the tarp when he noticed a shadow fall across his path. Being so engrossed in his task, he hadn\u2019t noticed that the lovely Melinda had made her way into the yard and was now standing only feet away. \u201cHello, Melinda.\u201d His smile was genuine and appreciative. \u201cBeautiful day isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat is certainly true, Adam. I was glad to see you outside. You seem to be feeling much improved.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s certainly true as well. I\u2019ll be leaving for school tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Melinda stepped closer, Adam could smell her lilac scent hovering like a halo around her shining hair, and breathed deeply, committing it to memory. He was glad for the company but couldn\u2019t help but sense from her posture and the set of her face, that she was uneasy. \u201cI\u2019m afraid my mind was, um, elsewhere the other day when you visited, Melinda, and am truly sorry for that. Did you say you work in Boston?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a governess for a family here. They\u2019re in New York attending a funeral and took the children with them. The nanny accompanied them, but they felt there wouldn\u2019t be time for classes and left me behind. My aunt gets so lonely that I decided to stay with her while the family is away.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s very kind of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s been very kind to me, Adam.\u201d The conversation stalled while Adam finished folding the tarp and put it in the shed. When he returned, Melinda continued, \u201cAdam, do you know much about my aunt?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cOnly that she\u2019s been my grandfather\u2019s neighbor for many years and they\u2019ve remained cordial.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThen your grandfather hasn\u2019t told you much. Aunt Lynne is what might be called, \u2018flighty.\u2019 She is kind and generous, but sometimes seems to live in a dream world where she finds it hard to handle her own affairs. It\u2019s gotten worse the last few years and my family isn\u2019t certain how long she will be able to live alone.\u201d Noting Adam\u2019s concerned expression, she hurried her explanation along. \u201cI\u2019m only telling you this so that you won\u2019t feel too harshly toward her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would I feel harshly toward her?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cFor this.\u201d Melinda handed over a stained envelope that smelled faintly of old fish and coffee grounds. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dumbfounded, Adam inquired, \u201cWhat\u2019s there to be sorry about?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI found that in the trash this morning, just as Mrs. Cavendish was getting ready to burn it. Something made me notice it and I recognized your name. When I asked Aunt Lynne about it, she said the letter was in with her post last week. She didn\u2019t recognize the name and didn\u2019t pay attention to the fact that it was Captain Stoddard\u2019s address rather than hers and finally threw it out, thinking it to be worthless.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Holding the smudged envelope in the sunlight, Adam could read his name written in Hoss\u2019 poor penmanship. He wasn\u2019t sure what to think. What more could his brother have to tell him that hadn\u2019t already been said? \u201cThank you, Melinda. It\u2019s a letter from my younger brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A sincere smile greeted Adam when he looked back at the young woman. \u201cI suspected it was from home. My parents and sisters live in Hartford and I am always ravenous for news when their letters arrive. If you don\u2019t mind, I\u2019ll just sit on the porch steps while you read it, and then maybe we can take a walk or just sit in the garden and talk. I don\u2019t get to spend much time with people my own age these days. I\u2019m either with the children that are my charges or Aunt Lynne. So if you\u2019re up to having me linger a bit, I\u2019d appreciate staying.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had to admit that Melinda\u2019s company was very much appreciated and told her so, thanking her for giving him the chance to read Hoss\u2019 letter. Not sure of what this latest letter would yield, Adam felt compelled to find a place to lean and chose the trunk of the tree he and his grandfather had attempted to trim a week earlier. The oldest Cartwright son had always leaned. He could remember being told countless times to stand up straight, yet leaning was so much a part of who he was that being told to stand straight was like telling a river not to flow or a bird not to fly. As his index finger found a weak spot in the envelope flap and worked to tear through the paper, he glanced up, thinking that he hadn\u2019t checked to see how much they\u2019d managed to prune before his unplanned flight. Remarkably, the branches touching the house were gone. He could only remember cutting the first two, but on closer inspection, many of the branch ends were not carefully sawed, but rather snapped off.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The letter was now free and yet his mind refused to focus on the words as he continued to muse about his unintentional pruning job. The branches that had been attached to the ragged, wounded limbs had been taken down when he grabbed at them while falling.\u00a0Well, that\u2019s one way to trim a tree<\/em>.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t put it off. Snapping the paper taut to smooth the wrinkles, he brought his eyes to the greeting and continued on\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear Older Brother,<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m ashamed to admit it, but earlier today I done something I ain\u2019t never done before. I got really mad. I was so mad I wrote you a mean old letter saying how things were a mess since you left. Luckily, I\u2019m gonna get that letter and throw it away so you won\u2019t never have to see them awful words. Can\u2019t say I meant a single one I wrote, except that I was feeling badly about Joe missing you more than wanting me.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pa and Joe were real sick today but they got better. Pa said I should think of them as critters and help Joe the way I would one of them, and I did. I even washed sheets! It weren\u2019t much fun while I was doing it, but, brother, it felt good to know I could take care of all them things just like you would of, and made Pa and Hop Sing proud of me. Even Joe said I did just as good a job as you would of done. So how\u2019s that sound? I bet you\u2019d of been proud too.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

And here\u2019s something else you should know. Adam, you were right. I got my first kiss today. Maddy Smyth came by and was so darn nice that I went to kiss her on the cheek before she left. She must have figured out what was I was doing and turned just as I swooped in, and kissed me back\u2014on the lips! It was a fish kiss, just like you said it would be; mostly pucker, but I sure ain\u2019t ever known nothing sweeter. Glad you weren\u2019t here to see me blushing. Hop Sing and Pa thought maybe I was getting sick and never caught on, but you would have.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Pa and me been keeping a calendar, marking off the days you been gone so we know when you\u2019ll be coming back. We figure about 4 years yet. That seems so long, but Pa says you need that much time to bring home a degree. I don\u2019t know what that is, but I sure can\u2019t wait to see it.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I miss you, Adam. More than I can rightly say. But hope you have lots of friends and like your grandaddy. Maybe you can mark off a calendar too. That way you\u2019ll know when to come home. Hey, Pa says you remember me every morning when you shave since I gave you the scar on your lip you got to be so careful shaving around. I\u2019m purely sorry for that, but like the idea of you thinking about me just the same, because I think of you every day too.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Sincerely,<\/em><\/p>\n

Hoss<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A rousing whoop broke the silence of the October afternoon. Not understanding that it issued from happiness rather than pain, Melinda ran for Adam to inquire what had happened. Adam grabbed her shoulders and kissed her cheek. \u201cThank you Melinda!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Her eyes rounded in surprise as she responded the best way she could. \u201cYou\u2019re welcome, Adam. But could you tell me what I did to earn such gratitude?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYou rescued a letter from the garbage which in turn saved me from the biggest mistake of my life.\u201d Leaning toward her soft cheek, he kissed her again. \u201cThere, the first one was from me, but this one\u2019s from my brother who recently got his first kiss and wrote me about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAre all you Cartwright boys this exuberant about what happens to each other?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Melinda, we absolutely are!\u201d Adam took Melinda in his arms and began to dance to a tune he hummed\u2014until his knee buckled\u2014sending them both sprawling on the grass.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sound of their laughter greeted the figure that had come to the porch to call his grandson inside. \u201cWhat\u2019s this about?\u201d he asked of the pair sitting on the ground.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Melinda\u2019s cheeks began to blaze. She couldn\u2019t see Abel\u2019s facial nuance that indicated he was enjoying this display of youthful playfulness. But Adam could, and sent his grandfather a huge, toothy smile. \u201cWe fell,\u201d was his only response.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI can see that. The question would be, how?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cMy knee gave out again.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we were dancing.\u201d A wink from the older man made Adam wonder if he hadn\u2019t inherited that trait from Abel Stoddard. He too always winked when he wanted to convey humor or understanding, and had done so ever since he could remember. There was so much he still needed to find out about his mother\u2019s side of his family, and he now sighed with gratitude that he\u2019d have four more years to keep mining his grandfather\u2019s memories.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cI hate to interrupt you two, but we need to go over a few things before you take leave tomorrow, Adam, and I would appreciate it if you\u2019d meet me in my study after Melinda leaves.\u201d The older man turned back to the house, relieved that his grandson had somehow found a moment of pure fun before facing the journey before him. He felt he would always be able to picture Adam sitting in the grass next to Melinda, laughing in the joy of youth. It would be one more good memory to hold onto as his four years were taken away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam saluted his grandfather and promised he\u2019d be in as soon. He then turned back to Melinda, taking her hands. \u201cI\u2019ll be back at Christmas,\u201d Adam confided. \u201cIf you visit your aunt then, perhaps I can call on you?\u201d With a wink, he added, \u201cAfter all, I did already fall pretty hard for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Melinda groaned at the pun, but then smiled sweetly. \u201cI\u2019d like it very much if you\u2019d call on me then. Just promise you\u2019ll stay off ladders and out of the trees.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam answered Melinda by putting his practice over the years, into action. Leaning toward the lilac scented beauty, he found her parted lips waiting for his as he kissed her. He promised he\u2019d stay on the ground next time they met and would be most impatient for the holiday to arrive. Their lips met again until a shrill, \u201cMa-lin-da!\u201d intruded on the moment, sending Melinda instantly upright, brushing the dried grass from her skirt. Bending down, she gave Adam one last quick peck on the cheek before running back to her aunt\u2019s house. As she slipped through the gate separating the two properties, she called back. \u201cI\u2019m really glad your brother got his first kiss. See you in two months.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam watched her go as he touched his lips, agreeing with Hoss that there was nothing sweeter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gratitude<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Abel was stunned with Adam\u2019s latest news: happily this time. The boy hadn\u2019t shared exactly what had happened, only that there had been a misunderstanding over what had been written that was cleared up by the second letter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam had privately considered the events leading to his receiving Hoss\u2019 first letter as well as the second. His mind could picture Hoss\u2019 procrastination over replacing the new letter for the old and being too late to accomplish the task. He could hear his father refusing to alter his plans by opening the prepared package, thinking both letters would arrive together. But they hadn\u2019t and he\u2019d experienced his younger brother\u2019s angry side. When he thought about it, he knew Hoss got frustrated, but it always fused quickly, then blew up, and abated just as quickly, so one could easily forget that he was just as liable to be as angered or hurt as anyone else. What was new was that Hoss had put his feelings in black and white. Adam was happy that his middle brother was learning to express his thoughts. Hoss might still need to figure out how best to say what was bothering him, but he had tried and that was okay. Adam thanked God for Melinda\u2019s keen eye in spotting the second letter in her aunt\u2019s trash. The thought that a ripple of mishaps starting in Nevada and ending in Boston had almost cost his education, made him feel slightly seasick. He wasn\u2019t angry, just relieved that all had ended well, and was reminded how imperative it was to keep faith that there is a greater power in charge. In the end, he could plan all he wanted, but had to accept that his steps could be directed in variant ways at any time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Great is Thy Faithfulness<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Abel watched Adam\u2019s carriage pull away from the house the next morning, he reflected back to another time when he had sent his grandson away in a similar conveyance. He\u2019d known in his heart that the child would return someday in want to know of his mother, and had waited patiently for that day to come. He now had nearly four more years of watching a carriage leave with its precious cargo, until he would bid a final farewell. But those four years had been returned to him, and he was going to enjoy them. An icy October wind had replaced the warm sunshine of the day before, yet Abel was warmed by the love of his daughter\u2019s child. He felt his life was as full as it could be and returned to his silent house. But in the silence were memories of singing, talks and laughter. There was the lingering scent of the boy\u2019s shaving balm and the feel of the books left waiting for his return at Christmas. There was peace. Elizabeth\u2019s son had returned to him just as her Bible had returned to Adam. The circle of life had come full round.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In the carriage, a young man released a sigh of hope, thankful for the reminder that while human plans can be made with the best of intentions, they are still subject to God\u2019s will and grace. He\u2019d been through a test, which had forced him to decide what was most important in his life\u2014<\/strong>using only the facts he had in hand. In the end, he had made that decision based on love alone. He now knew he could give up anything\u2014without regret\u2014if his family needed him and that gave him great peace. On his lap was the Bible that had been restored\u2014just as his plans had been. He turned the smooth pages until he found Lamentations…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:<\/em><\/p>\n

Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.<\/em><\/p>\n

My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.<\/em><\/p>\n

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.<\/em><\/p>\n

It is of the Lord\u2019s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.<\/em><\/p>\n

They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him<\/em>. **<\/p>\n

The End\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

*Robert Burns Despondency, an Ode.\u00a0 Final Stanza<\/em><\/p>\n

**Lamentations 3:18-24 KJV<\/em><\/p>\n

End Notes:<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n

Many thanks to Sandspur for her help and encouragement.<\/em><\/p>\n

Disclaimer:\u00a0All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

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

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

Summary: \u00a0This is the last story in the Circle of Family saga, but enjoying this one is not dependent on having read the others. Adam has been in Boston for a year and all\u00a0his careful planning has done him well…until an accident while staying with Abel puts him flat on his back for a few days. It is during this time of infirmity that Marie’s Bible arrives along with letters from home. After reading them, Adam makes a heart-rending decision that leaves his grandfather reeling. This story has its comedic moments along with some sweet takes on\u00a0Adam’s relationship with Abel and the family he left behind. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a011,400<\/p>\n

A Circle of Family Series, links to all the stories within the series included.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":375,"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":[1005,23,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adam-cartwright","category-drama","category-prequels","wpcat-1005-id","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-30-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":2188,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6475,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6475","url_meta":{"origin":6484,"position":0},"title":"A Circle of Family: The Book of Joseph (by MissJudy)","author":"missjudy","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Days\u00a0before Adam is scheduled to leave for college, Little Joe \"borrows\" his older brother's Bible and leaves it outside in the rain when his attention is drawn elsewhere. The Bible had belonged to Elizabeth and was one of the few tokens Adam had of his mother.\u00a0We watch as he\u2026","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\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5822,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5822","url_meta":{"origin":6484,"position":1},"title":"Birthday Blues (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"May 3, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Rating: K Word Count=2002 Summary:\u00a0Adam, away at college, is celebrating his first birthday away from his father and brothers.","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Adam-Stories.jpg?fit=637%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Adam-Stories.jpg?fit=637%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Adam-Stories.jpg?fit=637%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6478,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=6478","url_meta":{"origin":6484,"position":2},"title":"A Circle of Family: The Book of Benjamin (by MissJudy)","author":"missjudy","date":"May 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"ummary: \u00a0This is the second story in the A Circle of Family saga. Adam's Bible, nearly destroyed in The Book of Joseph, has been returned in better shape than thought possible. After an\u00a0thoughtful conversation with Hoss, Ben opens the Bible to the story of David and Goliath and relives a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ben Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Ben Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1004"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/coming-soon-5.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":35073,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=35073","url_meta":{"origin":6484,"position":3},"title":"Homesick (by Patina)","author":"patina","date":"December 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0 Far from home, a special person helps ease the ache. Rating:\u00a0 G\u00a0 1,840 words Note:\u00a0 This story was written for the Bonanza Brand 2020 Advent Calendar, originated in the Forums.","rel":"","context":"In "Adam Cartwright"","block_context":{"text":"Adam Cartwright","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=1005"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Christmas-Traditions.jpg?fit=639%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48009,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48009","url_meta":{"origin":6484,"position":4},"title":"Hijacking a Family (by BettyHT)","author":"BettyHT","date":"February 17, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: Hop Sing plays the pivotal role in this story about bringing a family member back where he belongs despite his resistance. Rating: PG\u00a0\u00a0 Word count: 1,143","rel":"","context":"In "Alternate Universe"","block_context":{"text":"Alternate Universe","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Mark-of-Guilt.jpg?fit=600%2C445&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Mark-of-Guilt.jpg?fit=600%2C445&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Mark-of-Guilt.jpg?fit=600%2C445&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8446,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=8446","url_meta":{"origin":6484,"position":5},"title":"Between the Twelfth of Never and Forever… (by BluewindFarm)","author":"BluewindFarm","date":"June 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"SUMMARY:\u00a0 A time of contemplation as a man reflects on what's happened in the past, and what good could come from any of it. --\u00a0 \u2018How am I gonna be an optimist about this?\u2019 Rating: \u00a0K \u00a0(695 words)","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\/godshands.jpg?fit=1133%2C717&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/godshands.jpg?fit=1133%2C717&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/godshands.jpg?fit=1133%2C717&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/godshands.jpg?fit=1133%2C717&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/godshands.jpg?fit=1133%2C717&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/82"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6484"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6484\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}