{"id":7554,"date":"2008-08-09T18:37:16","date_gmt":"2008-08-09T22:37:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7554"},"modified":"2025-02-27T12:13:43","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T17:13:43","slug":"the-special-rope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7554","title":{"rendered":"The Special Rope (by Storm)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: <\/span>This is yet another way in which I believe Storm and Adam may have met. I hope you’re not getting too bored with these stories. \u00a0In this version Adam is forced to admit to something but comes to realize it may be the only way he ever would have.<\/p>\n

Rated:<\/span>\u00a0MA \u00a0WC 50,300<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Storm series<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Return to England
\n<\/a>The Special Rope <\/a>
\n<\/a>Foolish Questions<\/a>
\nAnte Up<\/a>
\nLove Lost, Destiny Found<\/a><\/p>\n

The Special Rope<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

CHAPTER 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, you\u2019re late. You were due back two weeks ago. We were getting ready to come\u2026..\u201d Ben noticed not only his son\u2019s odd expression but also the young lady accompanying him. \u201cAdam, why is this young lady tied to her horse?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy pa?! WHY?! Because if I don\u2019t keep her tied, she runs away. In fact that\u2019s why I\u2019m late. I had to track her down, TWICE!\u201d Adam got off his horse and went over to the one that , as his father had put it, the young lady sat on.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam who is she?\u201d Ben knew, well he prayed, there was a very good explanation as to why his son would use force to bring the girl here.<\/p>\n

Hoss and Little Joe had heard their father and realized that their brother must finally be home. They ran outside because they had all been very worried about Adam. It was not like him to not send word if he was going to be late, as their father often reminded them, he was the reliable one. While they hadn\u2019t made it outside in time to hear Ben\u2019s question they heard their brother\u2019s very shocking answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho is she pa? You want to know who she is?\u201d Adam reached up and pulled her from her saddle and threw her over his shoulder. \u201cShe\u2019s my\u00a0wife<\/em>\u00a0pa! That\u2019s who she is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam marched past his dazed brothers and into the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s just joking pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah he can\u2019t be serious; can he?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know Hoss. He certainly seemed very serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we\u2019ll probably go inside and he\u2019ll be standing there laughing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally Joseph? Than who is she?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know pa.\u201d Boy, Joe thought, this was one practical joke not even he would have thought up and even if he had he would have never had the nerve to carry it out.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeither do I, but I intend to find out RIGHT NOW.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben marched into the house followed very closely by his two younger sons.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you would just put me down I can WALK!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNO! and stop kicking!\u201d That only caused her to kick him harder. Which, in turn, made Adam do something he had done a few times since this journey had begun. He brought his hand down rather sharply across her backside.<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM. Why don\u2019t you put her down on the settee and explain what is going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I did pa, she\u2019s my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t like the sarcastic tone in his son\u2019s voice but under the circumstances was willing to overlook it.
\n\u201cAnd he seems to think that gives him the right to treat me as he wishes!\u201d
\n\u201cThe only thing I wish right now is that I had never laid eyes on you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe that is one of the first things we agree on!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright!\u201d This was becoming too much. Ben couldn\u2019t believe that this was happening. Even more so he couldn\u2019t believe it was happening to Adam, as he had reminded his other two sons quite often he was the reliable one. \u201cSon, please put her down and explain what is going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maybe it was because of his father\u2019s outward calmness but Adam began to calm down a little.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay pa. I will try to explain it. I\u2019m not too sure how good an explanation it will be since I still can\u2019t understand what happened myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you would have just let me go, you wouldn\u2019t have to explain anything!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I told you Storm, you\u2019re my wife! That makes you my responsibility!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t want to marry me any more than I wanted to marry you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t alter the fact that we both stood up in that church, in front of that preacher and everyone there, and spoke those vows. I don\u2019t know about you but I was raised to stand by my vows once I\u2018d given them!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, please. No more yelling, all of a sudden I have a rather large headache.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, damn it, just tell him to let me go!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSTORM! That is my father and when you speak to him you will do so with respect, do I make myself clear?\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm knew she had pushed him to his limits on a number of occasions but she could tell this was one area she had best not try to defy him in.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam please, the explanation.\u201d
\n\u201cIt started the first day I rode into Keegan\u2019s Bluff. That was the first time I saw her.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CHAPTER 2<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re new in town.\u201d
\n\u201cYes I am.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you looking for a job?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, not right now. If I were could you get me one?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cProbably. I know most of the ranchers around here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDoes your family own a ranch?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, my father is the mayor.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI just get into town and I meet the mayor\u2019s daughter.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, well don\u2019t go trying to trade on it too much.\u201d
\n\u201cNot one of the more popular mayors?\u201d
\n\u201cNot one of the more popular daughters. It\u2019s been nice talking to you but if you will please excuse me I best get going.\u201d Storm left the store and went to wait by the wagon outside as it was being loaded up. She watched as the gentleman she\u2019d been speaking to left the store and headed down the street to the hotel.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMiss. Storm? Miss. Storm. Who was he?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure Gwen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe was rather handsome.\u201d Gwen had never seen Storm stare after a man so.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose; for a man.\u201d Storm had tried very hard not to notice this. She had recognized a long time ago that no man was worth what it would cost to love him.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

That night at dinner she found herself surprised by her father\u2019s guest.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo we meet again.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo it would seem.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, you\u2019ve met Adam?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes father, we\u2019ve met, although we haven\u2019t been introduced.\u201d
\n\u201cThen let me. Adam Cartwright this is my other daughter, Storm.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to see you again.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLikewise.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen did you two meet?\u201d
\n\u201cThis afternoon in town Rachel.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, your sister offered to find me a job.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, how many times must I tell you that this town does not need any more drifters.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not father, drifters don\u2019t vote.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo they don\u2019t.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThen am I to assume he\u2019s not a drifter?\u201d
\n\u201cActually I met up with him this morning.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThis morning?\u201d Then Adam had already met her father before he had met her in town? She thought it strange he hadn\u2019t mentioned it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes Storm. It would seem as if that friend of your\u2019s failed to properly saddle father\u2019s horse. It\u2019s a good thing Adam came along and found him, or father just might have\u2026..\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Storm knew how good an actress her sister was, so the tears that began to fall failed to rouse any concern or sympathy.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNow Rachel, I told you there was never any real danger but I did have to fire him Storm. What if next time he failed to saddle Rachel\u2019s horse properly.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut father! Maybe it\u2019s about time she learned to saddle her own horse. Father Dexter needs the job. A few more months and he\u2019ll have enough saved to buy the land he\u2019s had his eye on.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Storm but that is not my worry.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you will all excuse me I find I have suddenly lost my appetite.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cStorm you will stay and have dinner with our guest.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Kendall, it\u2019s alright. If the young lady isn\u2019t feeling well.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOh she feels fine. My sister sometimes fails to see that\u2026..\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cKeep quiet Rachel! I know you\u2019re to blame for this. Did you pay someone to loosen the cinch!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSTORM!\u201d
\n\u201cOh father.\u201d Again, as if on cue, Rachel began to cry. \u201cFather do you believe her? Do you think I could do something that might cause you harm?\u201d Rachel went into her father\u2019s arms and only Storm saw the sly grin she gave just before she hid her face.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not. Storm you apologize to your sister!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll not apologize for something that is most likely true. She may not have wanted you hurt but, to her, even that would have been a small price to get rid of someone I trusted and could talk to.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cStorm you go to your room. We will discuss this further later.\u201d As Storm left the room the mayor turned to Adam. \u201cI hope you will accept my apologies for Storm\u2019s behavior. She is sometimes forgetful of her manners.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s perfectly alright Mr. Kendall.\u201d Adam admired the young ladies ability to hold to her convictions. Even though he didn\u2019t believe it possible that her sister would do as she had accused, he would see if perhaps this Dexter would like a job in Nevada. It also occurred to Adam that Storm had gotten exactly what she wanted, she was not being made to join them for supper.<\/em><\/p>\n

As Adam left that night, he inquired of some men in town where he might find Dexter.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDexter? He use to work at the mayor\u2019s. He\u2019s probably saying goodbye to his girl. If the mayor is against you, you really don\u2019t stand a chance of getting a job around here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He was given directions to where Dexter\u2019s girl lived and went there.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you Mr. Dexter?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cActually it\u2019s Mr. Brown. Dexter Brown.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mr. Brown, I hear that you are in need of a job.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBad news sure does travel fast.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you wouldn\u2019t mind going to Nevada, I\u2019m sure you can find one there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMister I can find one anywhere, \u2018cept maybe here, but what makes you think Nevada is where I should be headin\u2019?\u201d Dexter wasn\u2019t about to admit that he thought he might have a very hard time finding a job, or at least a legal one.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you go to the Ponderosa\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ponderosa?\u201d Yeah right, Dexter thought, one of the biggest spreads is gonna\u2019 give me a job with no letter of introduction. Working for Mr. Kendall was the only job he had ever had and he couldn\u2019t give them his name because he would have nothing good to say about him.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I wrote this letter earlier, if you give it to Ben Cartwright I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll give you a job.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBen Cartwright? He trust your word enough to give me a job?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly hope so Mr. Brown.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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

The next morning Adam received an invitation to the mayor\u2019s house for lunch. The supper had been pleasant but not so much so that he felt like sharing lunch, but maybe he would see Storm again. He had thought it would be interesting to talk to her further. What little conversation they had proved to be interesting. He gave his answer to the man who had delivered the message. He was on his way out to the mayor\u2019s house when he again met up with Storm.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHello again.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHello Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPlease call me Adam, Miss. Kendall.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat is not a name I\u2019ve heard often.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMy mother named me. As you might have guessed the night I was born was rather stormy. The woman who was helping mother commented about it being quite a storm. Mother said when she looked at me she said I certainly was. So that is how I got my name.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems to fit. You can\u2019t honestly believe that your sister would wish to harm your father.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHarm him no but if that were the cost of getting rid of a friend of mine then to Rachel it would be a small price. She really doesn\u2019t like when I have people around that I can talk to. People I can trust.\u201d
\n\u201cSo you and Mr. Brown were friends?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFriends, nothing more. Dexter already has a girl and who told you his name is Dexter Brown?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou must have mentioned it.\u201d
\n\u201cNo I didn\u2019t.\u201d
\n\u201cThen perhaps your father did. It was a good thing too because I ran into him in town after I left your house last night and I told him of where he might be able to get a job.\u201d Why he had failed to tell her that it was his father who he told Dexter to go see was not something he could understand.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I gave him a letter of introduction. It\u2019s one of the ranches I worked for. I left on pretty good terms and the owner trusts my opinion.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going home for lunch?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI hadn\u2019t planned on it. Is that why you\u2019re out this way?\u201d
\n\u201cYes, your father sent me an invitation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThen you had best hurry. Father hates to be kept waiting.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure you won\u2019t join us?\u201d Maybe he should tell her that was the only reason he had accepted the invite in the first place.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t, I already have an appointment. I hope to see you again.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so as well.\u201d Adam found that he truly did mean it.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPapa do you think he\u2019ll do it?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know Rachel. We will see.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

After a very satisfying lunch Adam and the mayor retired to his office.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Kendall is there something you wish to discuss with me?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes there is Adam, please sit down.\u201d As Adam took a seat Thaddeus Kendall made his proposition. \u201cAdam, you seem to me to be quite an able bodied young man.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Why did he all of a sudden feel like some livestock about to be bid on? \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell you have met my daughter Storm and I\u2019m sure you realize she will need a very strong man to keep her in line.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe he wasn\u2019t the one about be auctioned off. \u201cMaybe just one she loves?\u201d
\n\u201cAdam, Storm doesn\u2019t love anyone. Now there has been talk of, well to put it bluntly, how she isn\u2019t the most innocent of young ladies but you will have to agree with me she is rather lovely.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYes she is.\u201d
\n\u201cI may as well get to the point. Adam I am prepared to offer a very substantial dowry if you will marry Storm.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMarry\u00a0her<\/strong>? Mr. Kendall what makes you think she will marry\u00a0me<\/strong>?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cShe will have no choice. She is my daughter and she will do as I say.\u201d
\n\u201cYou will forgive me if I don\u2019t agree with you. Judging from last night she doesn\u2019t seem to be too afraid to defy you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThere are many ways to make Storm do something. You let me worry about that. What I want to know is if you\u2019d be willing to accept my offer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Kendall, I am flattered but I am not quite ready to get married yet.\u201d Least of all to a woman I hardly know.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, but a father has to try. You do understand?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose so.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Rachel watched as Adam rode away and went in search of her father. She wanted to know just when she could expect to be rid of her sister.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSo father when is the wedding?\u201d
\n\u201cThere isn\u2019t going to be one. He turned me down.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTurned you down?! Didn\u2019t you offer him enough?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHe never even asked how much. He just said he wasn\u2019t ready to get married.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll just see about that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me Rachel?\u201d
\n\u201cNothing father. I think we should invite him to the party Saturday, just to show that there are no hard feelings.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds like a good idea. I\u2019ll send word to him in town.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Adam was rather surprised when he received the invitation to the party. He had intended on leaving town the next day but, for the same reason Thaddeus had been convinced to invite him he accepted, he didn\u2019t want Mr. Kendall to believe he held any ill will towards him because of his proposal. He told the gentleman who had delivered the invitation to tell Mr. Kendall he would be there.<\/em><\/p>\n

When he had arrived Adam asked after Storm. He wondered if her father had told her of his offer. Adam knew he wouldn\u2019t bring it up unless she did.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cStorm should be down shortly. Why don\u2019t I go and get you something to drink Adam.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Rachel.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t see any other guests, he just assumed he was the first to arrive. He didn\u2019t know that his invitation had been for a slightly earlier time than everyone else\u2019s. Rachel thought her plan was going along exactly as she had hoped. She felt she was a pretty good judge of a man\u2019s character and she didn\u2019t think Adam was the kind of man who would walk out on what he believed to be his responsibility. If he was he would have just left her father where he had fallen. Rachel would make sure that after tonight Adam would feel obligated to do the honorable thing by Storm.<\/em><\/p>\n

Adam couldn\u2019t understand why all of a sudden he was beginning to feel rather sleepy. He knew he hadn\u2019t had more than two drinks.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIs something wrong Adam?\u201d Rachel was very happy to see that she hadn\u2019t misjudged the dose either.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019m afraid I don\u2019t feel very well. If you will please give my apologizes to your father Rachel and please tell Storm I\u2019m sorry I missed her.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous Adam. I can\u2019t let you ride all the way into town like this. Why don\u2019t you let Harry here show you to one of our guest rooms and you can stay there until you feel well enough to travel.\u201d
\nHe hated to admit it but Adam was afraid that given the way he was feeling he just might not make it into town. \u201cThank you Rachel. I\u2019m afraid I just might have to accept your offer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He turned to the servant who was waiting for him and followed him upstairs. Before they had reached the room Adam had passed out. Harry did as Miss. Rachel had told him too. He undressed the gentleman and laid him next to Miss. Storm, who Miss. Rachel had someone undress earlier. It wasn\u2019t that Harry disliked Miss. Storm it was just that he feared Miss. Rachel more.<\/em><\/p>\n

They had told Rachel that the drug should wear off in two to three hours. She only hoped that Storm and Adam would wake close enough together so as to allow her plan to work completely. As luck would have it Storm awoke first. When she stretched out her hands and felt someone next to her she jumped out of the bed, in doing so she knocked the wash stand over. Upon hearing the noise, the drug having worn off enough for Adam to be awakened by the sound, he opened his eyes. The sight that greeted him, while a pleasant one, was an unsettling one as well.<\/em><\/p>\n

Storm realized too late that she had nothing on. She reached for the covers but Adam realized he too had nothing on and held to them steadfast. He had turned his head away and figured Storm would find something else to cover herself with.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cGive me the covers! People will have heard the crash and are sure to come!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I give you the covers what will I use to cover myself?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean that you\u2019re\u2026\u2026.What\u2019s going on?!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know but I intend to find out!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Storm heard the people in the hall and since she could find nothing within reach with which to cover herself, this was one detail Rachel had made sure to guarantee, she jumped back into bed and under the covers. As soon as he felt her rejoin him in bed Adam turned to look at her. He hadn\u2019t yet realized that their clothes had been placed by the door which would have assured Storm being seen by those about to enter the room.<\/em><\/p>\n

When the door opened Storm would have sworn that all the guests were attempting to stand in the doorway at the same time and all were straining to see into the room.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cMY GOD! Storm Margaret Kendall, I have put up with your impudence long enough, this time you have gone too far! As for you Adam, did my offer pique your curiosity?! Well now that you have chosen to embarrass me in front of the entire town what do you intend to do about it?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFATHER, nothing happened.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNothing happened! You lay there in bed, both of you completely undressed, and tell me nothing happened!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Rachel was very pleased with herself. This was working out better than she had hoped.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut father.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cLadies and gentleman, I am very sorry but I am going to have to ask you all to leave. I feel that this night has been very upsetting.\u201d As the crowd in the hall began to thin out Thaddeus turned once again to Adam and Storm. \u201cIf you two will please get dressed and I expect you, once you have, to join me in the library. We have much to discuss.\u201d He grabbed their clothes and threw them in the direction of the bed. As her father left and once she was certain the hall was clear Storm turned back to Adam.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cDid you plan this? Maybe father paid you to do it! I\u2019m telling you right now I am not going to marry you or any other man!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think this is something I wanted to happen you are wrong! If I wished to marry you I would have accepted your father\u2019s first offer!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst offer?! What offer?!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThe one where he would have paid me to marry you!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know as well as I that nothing happened here! Why didn\u2019t you tell him that?!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I don\u2019t think he would have believed me!\u201d Besides Adam wasn\u2019t too sure of it himself. He wasn\u2019t positive if it had been a dream or not but he did recall doing exactly what he was being accused of.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you will please close your eyes, I feel I would like to get dressed.\u201d Storm wouldn\u2019t admit it but she was becoming rather uncomfortable. Only after she was completely dressed did she tell Adam he could open his eyes a little surprised that he had kept them closed.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to stand there and watch or are you going to at least turn away?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou saw me so why shouldn\u2019t I see you?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFINE.\u201d Storm hadn\u2019t believed he would give in so easily. She saw him reach to remove the covers and she ran out of the room. In spite of the situation he was now in Adam found himself grinning as the door slammed shut behind her.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

The next day found Adam and Storm standing in the church in front of a preacher and a few witnesses. Mr. Kendall had wanted as few people present as possible. He said he didn\u2019t want the whole town to be witness to his embarrassment. It was right after the ceremony that Storm and Adam headed back to Nevada. Adam had thought to wire his family but didn\u2019t think that was a very good idea. He could only imagine what his father\u2019s reaction would be but he also knew that no matter how private a telegraph message may be the one that he would be sending would most certainly be all over Virginia City long before it reached his father.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

CHAPTER 3<\/p>\n

\u201cSo that pa is how this happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

The whole time Adam had been relating the events, or at least those he knew, that had led up to his present situation Hoss had noticed Storm fighting her restraints.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam why don\u2019t you untie her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Hoss if I do she will run away. Won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far and as fast as I can!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSon why don\u2019t you go and make some coffee then we will discuss this further.\u201d Ben just wanted to separate these two. He wanted to have the chance to talk to his son alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll make the coffee pa but I don\u2019t know what more there is to discuss.\u201d Adam was relieved to be home. To not have to worry about this by himself, or at least to have his families support while he did.<\/p>\n

A few minutes after Adam had left the room, Ben followed him into the kitchen. Adam turned around to see his father standing there and knew what would be happening next.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa you left Hoss and Little Joe alone in there with her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hardly think she can do them any harm.\u201d Ben thought that his son sounded so very tired.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben heard the crash and ran out of the kitchen expecting Adam to be close behind him but Adam knew better and was already on his way out the kitchen door.<\/p>\n

\u201cHOSS, what happened?\u201d Ben saw both of his sons on the floor and the coffee table overturned.<\/p>\n

\u201c I told you to leave her tied UP!\u201d Adam once again came through the front door with Storm over his shoulder.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Adam. She just looked so uncomfortable.\u201d
\n\u201cI do believe that you\u2019re even more uncomfortable then her right now Hoss.\u201d Adam knew the pain his brother was feeling, Storm knew only too well a man\u2019s most defenseless spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Adam set her on her feet, Storm once again tried to run. Adam grabbed her and unceremoniously dumped her on the settee. He then did something that shocked his father and brothers as much as his explanation of who Storm was. He sat on her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss will you please give me those ropes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM.\u201d Ben had to find a way to stop this. \u201cStorm are you true to your word?\u201d
\n\u201cDespite what you son may think sir, YES.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen will you please\u2026..\u201d
\n\u201cPa don\u2019t you think I\u2019ve tried this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that true? Storm did you give Adam your word you wouldn\u2019t run away?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I did and I didn\u2019t run away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t run away?! That\u2019s funny because that was the second, and last, time I had to track you down. It was only the last time because after that I kept you tied up!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t run away! I walked to my horse and I rode, but I didn\u2019t run!\u201d Storm wanted to kick herself for saying what she just had but anger had a way of making her say things without thinking them completely through.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright than, will you give me your word that you will in no way leave this ranch without Adam\u2019s permission to do so?\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm knew she had no choice unless she wished to remain tied up for the rest of her life. \u201cYes sir, I give you my word.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow Adam will you agree to get off of her?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

********<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d Ben thought that after hearing Adam\u2019s explanation of what had happened perhaps Storm would know the cause of it. \u201cAdam has related the events that have happened. What I would like to ask you is why.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Rachel hates me and would do anything to\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you so fast to blame your sister?!\u201d Adam believed there to be one more likely suspect. \u201cMaybe your father didn\u2019t like the idea of my having refused his offer in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t get me wrong, father is just as happy to be rid of me, but not that way. That was just too embarrassing a situation for him to have planned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben knew there to be a story behind Storm\u2019s declaration and he was determined to hear it. \u201cStorm, why do you believe that your father and sister are glad to be rid of you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Mr. Cartwright, to put it plainly, they both hate me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe they hate you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you wouldn\u2019t Adam but that\u2019s only because your family\u2026..\u201c Storm looked around and realized that Adam had only known a family that loved each other; probably even when they had believed they hated each other. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to understand something if you have never experienced it. Perhaps it would be easier for you to understand if I start at the beginning. My mother use to work for my father, she was just one of the servants that was always around. Father hardly took any notice of her until his wife was five months along with Rachel. I guess he\u2019d gone as long as he could without female company, I\u2019m surprised he waited that long. Even then he knew what he wanted his future to be, he knew he wanted to be mayor, so it wouldn\u2019t be appropriate for someone with his aspirations to go into town where he might be seen by all those prospective future voters. He realized he didn\u2019t need to because my mother loved him. She use to tell me that a heart wants what it wants, that it doesn\u2019t care about the right or wrong of it, the good or the bad. She said it took someone of stronger character then her to go against it and do what they knew to be right and good. She knew there wouldn\u2019t be a future to it but she gave in to him. Two months into the affair she found she too was going to have his child. She had planned to leave without telling him but she confided in someone who betrayed her secret. It was only after I was born that father let her go. You see he had hopes that I would be a boy, when I wasn\u2019t there was no need for my mother or I to remain. She said he didn\u2019t even want to see me, he just asked the doctor if it was a boy but once he was told it was a girl he arranged for a house to be bought for my mother and I and sent us away. It wasn\u2019t until I was fifteen that I laid eyes on him for the first time. He rode out to that house he had bought and said he had come to take me back with him. I didn\u2019t want to go but mama believed he was right when he said I would have a better life with him. I like to think that if she knew what his true motivation was she would have never allowed me to go, that she would have never even tried to convince me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis true motivation?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam his true motivation. He had decided it was time for him to try his luck at fulfilling his plan of running for mayor. There was just one small problem, you see his opponent had found out about me and was using it against him. He wouldn\u2019t be the first man running for public office with a child such as I but they had the good sense to keep them better hidden or to kill them before they got old enough to be used against them. Father figured the only way he stood a chance of turning the election in his favor was to show the voters that he was honest. He admitted to his mistake and showed that he was willing to take on responsibility for it. He made some very eloquent speeches always with me standing by his side. He\u2019d tell all those people how he had done wrong but was willing to now do what was right. How he had been young and foolish but now was older and wiser. He hoped that he could make up for the wrong he had done me by not taking on his responsibilities when he should have by accepting them now. He reminded everyone how it took a big man to admit he had made a mistake. Well they must have believed him because they elected him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat does little to explain why you believe he hates you.\u201d
\n\u201cMr. Cartwright, my father is not a man who likes being reminded he ever had a weakness. That there was ever at any time something he couldn\u2019t control. I\u2019m not speaking of his desire, that is something he doesn\u2019t feel a man needs to control, no I\u2019m speaking of his inability to keep me from ever being born.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat does little to support your belief that he isn\u2019t the one behind all this? Why you believe so strongly it\u2019s Rachel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you like Rachel Adam? You certainly seem to need to defend her!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNO. Storm, I did not like Rachel! Maybe I\u2019m defending her because you seem to be so set on condemning her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to know the reason I believe Rachel hates me? FINE. Rachel hates me enough to have start spreading rumors that I was willing to give myself to any man who asked. She never liked that from the day I arrived she had to share, if only in public, father\u2019s attentions and everyone else\u2019s. She hated that whenever we went to parties or dances the men now had a choice of asking her or me. She believed if she started those rumors the more refined gentlemen would stay away but they didn\u2019t, if anything it made me even more popular with them. At one time or another I have refused or fought off\u2026..but you don\u2019t believe that do you Adam. No you must believe that I have accepted and given in to every proposition that was made to me. For you to believe otherwise would mean that you would have to believe that nothing has ever happened between us. Rachel\u2019s plan was simple. Embarrass me, prove that her rumors were true, and get rid of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is hardly proof Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour father didn\u2019t ask for proof just why I thought they were happy to be rid of me but, alright Adam, I will try to find some kind of proof. Who gave you the drinks when you first arrived?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRachel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen isn\u2019t it most likely that she is the one who also drugged you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, let\u2019s say you\u2019re right about that. How did she drug you? Are you saying that after all you\u2019ve told us that Rachel is inclined to serve you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRachel serves no one except herself. You said that it was Harry who helped you upstairs, well it was he who brought me a glass of water.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, even the servants hate you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam, they just need their jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben realized it was rather late and he knew there would be no easy solution to this. He hoped that a good nights rest would help to make everything clearer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it would be a good idea if we all sleep on this. Adam why don\u2019t you show Storm to the guest room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuest room?\u201d Storm had believed once here he would demand from her what was now rightfully his.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes guest room. Unless of course as my wife you would like to exercise your right to share my bed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM.\u201d Ben knew his son was only acting as he was because he felt trapped but he had to realize that Storm felt the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would rather walk through the desert at noon barefoot, I\u2019d rather be dragged through a forest of cacti, I\u2019d rather be\u2026.\u201d
\n\u201cENOUGH. I get your point.\u201d<\/p>\n

No one slept peacefully that night. No one awoke rested the following morning. No one, especially not Ben or Adam. They were both at the breakfast table well before dawn. They sat there in silence for the better part of an hour lost in their own musings when one thought occurred to Ben. Maybe his son\u00a0didn\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0realize Storm was as much a victim as he.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, have you taken a moment to notice that she appears to be just as unhappy about this as you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI realize it pa.\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe then, what you have failed to realize is that she is also afraid.\u201d Ben hadn\u2019t missed the look of terror that had come into her eyes at the mere mention of sleep last night.<\/p>\n

\u201cHER! Afraid?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have taken her away from her home and whether or not it was a loving home she felt safe there. She can\u2019t be sure of the kind of a man you are. I didn\u2019t miss the panic in her eyes when I suggested that it was time to go to bed. Adam I\u2019m sure she was afraid that you would demand from her what, as her husband, you have every right too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa do you honestly believe I would force her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but then I\u2019ve know you your whole life. How long has she known you? Just how well have you treated her in that time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot too well I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJudging from last night, not too well at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben watched as his son suddenly looked as if he had just taken the weight of the world onto his shoulders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat am I going to do pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I knew son. I honestly wish I knew.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither of them had heard Storm come down the stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI already told you Storm, that is not an option.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen let me prove to you nothing happened that night!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm there is only one way I can think of for you to prove it, and in doing so we only make it true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to be you! Choose anyone you want. If that\u2019s what it takes to prove to you that I\u2019m not lying then I don\u2019t care who it is. If you can\u2019t think of anyone you\u2019d trust enough to tell the truth then find someone who wouldn\u2019t mind if you watched.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSTORM!\u201d All he wanted was a few minutes of peace, some time to think. He knew he would never have them while they were in the house together. \u201cPa tell Hoss and Little Joe I\u2019m in the north pasture, that they can join me there when they\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSon, aren\u2019t you going to have some breakfast?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not hungry pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm noticed the way Ben watched after Adam as he left. She could see the concern and caring clearly reflected in his eyes. When Ben again turned to look at her he could tell she was fighting back tears. But why?
\n\u201cIs there something wrong Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just wondering if he realizes how lucky he is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think he feels he\u2019s very lucky right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t mean because of me, I mean because of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I never had a father who loved me, maybe that\u2019s why I decided a long time ago that I didn\u2019t need or want any man\u2019s love.\u201d
\n\u201cEveryone needs love Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot me, not that kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust what kind of love do you think it to be?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kind where a woman gives everything she has and a man takes it. Where she\u2019s expected to become some mindless creature. Something that is only permitted to mirror her husband\u2019s opinions or beliefs. She is suppose to become a timid rabbit that runs and hides when there is any signs of danger. It doesn\u2019t matter that she can aim straighter or make the odds more even, no she has to stand back and allow him to prove that he is a man. It\u2019s where if she so much as looks at him too long or not long enough, or so much as breathes without his permission to do so he has every right to do what he wishes to punish her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm is that how your father treated your mother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Mr. Cartwright. My father was never in my mother\u2019s company long enough to treat her like anything other than a whore. It was how her husband treated her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never mentioned that your mother married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose I didn\u2019t. After father, mother felt she was less than perfect. She didn\u2019t feel she deserved any good man\u2019s love so she took a bad ones. Mr. Brady Nelson, that\u2019s who my mother married. He\u2019s a man who beat her. A man who would tell me I had no right to try and stop him. A man who in order to prove he was telling the truth would, when he had finished with mama, take a belt to me. I learned very young to stay away from home. To me home was not a safe place to be. I use to go and stay with Charlie Bear. He\u2019s the one who taught me how to ride, rope and shoot better than any man. He said he even taught me some things no lady should know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t miss the smile that was on her face as she talked of this man. \u201cCharlie Bear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe lived not from us. Just an old run down shack was what he called home but I was never afraid when I was there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you fear being here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot right now.\u201d Storm was surprised to find that she meant it. For the first time in a long time she wasn\u2019t afraid.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut when Adam comes back?\u201d She looked away from him and lowered her eyes and by that action Ben knew it was true. She did fear his son. \u201cStorm, I know that Adam hasn\u2019t exactly been treating you very well. Please try and understand that it is only because he is trying to come to terms with what has happened. He hasn\u2019t been raised to behave as he has been. While there is no way to excuse it, I can only try to explain it by pointing out that he feels as if he has been backed into a corner. I believe that you know that there is nothing more dangerous then an animal, or a man, when it feels cornered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut this is not my doing. I\u2019m just as trapped as he is. Even more so because I have offered him a way out and he has refused to take it.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm the vows you both took are sacred.\u201d
\n\u201cAnd I would never break them but he wouldn\u2019t be the first man to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I can understand your mistrust of men but that is not what Adam was brought up believing, but it goes even deeper than how he was raised. It is not in his nature, not in his character to betray an oath, especially one as sacred as that. Storm, Adam would never force you to do anything against your will.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why can\u2019t he believe that nothing happened because in order for something to have he would have had to use force.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, only he does and maybe given time he\u2018ll tell us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you trying to tell me to make the best of the situation?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just saying it will be a lot easier to try and come up with some solution if we all co-operate and a whole lot easier to think without all that yelling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you suggesting that if I behave so will he?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly hope so. If he doesn\u2019t though I still haven\u2019t forgotten how to make him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm smiled trying to picture Adam over his father\u2019s knee.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a beautiful smile Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Mr. Cartwright. There have been few men who have made me feel like smiling.\u201d<\/p>\n

CHAPTER 4<\/p>\n

When Little Joe and Hoss awoke, they did so to something very unexpected.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa did Hop-Sing come back early?\u201d Hoss figured it was either that or he was still dreaming.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Hoss, I\u2019m afraid not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean Adam\u2019s cooking smells that good?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Little Joe, Adam\u2019s wife\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, I forgot about her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell I tell you something little brother, if her food tastes as good as it smells you will never forget about her again.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Hoss\u2019s amazement the food, by his own admission, tasted even better than it smelt.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you two are finished your brother has been at work in the north pasture for quite some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there anything in particular you would like for supper tonight Hoss?\u201d She had asked the one who had seemed to enjoy breakfast the most.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean I can have anything I want?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything within reason.\u201d
\n\u201cI think it might be best if you surprise him Storm.\u201d Ben knew if they waited for Hoss to make up his mind from all the choices most likely passing through it they may not be eating tonight\u2019s supper until sometime tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe would you please give this to Adam. He left without eating anything this morning. I also packed some lunch for all three of you if you have need of it later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben noticed the puzzled looks in his son\u2019s eyes as they took the basket Storm offered. He wished he could be there to see Adam\u2019s because he was sure it would be even more puzzled than his brothers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cShe sent this for me?\u201d Ben was right, the look on Adam\u2019s face almost had his brothers laughing.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam, and believe me it\u2019s real good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, after eating your own cooking for the past week anything would taste good to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam it really is good. As good as Hop-Sings, maybe a little better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow don\u2019t you go telling Hop-Sing I said that cause I\u2019ll just deny it.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he sat down to eat Adam wondered just what had brought about this change in Storm. He supposed it might have to do with something his father had probably said to her. He knew what his father had said to him had gotten him to thinking as well. When he finished he had to agree with Hoss that she certainly was a good cook. He set back to work with a full stomach and a slightly better attitude.<\/p>\n

When it was time to head home Little Joe and Hoss did so eagerly. Adam began to have doubts that a change truly had taken place. He was tired of fighting, of feeling like he had to be constantly on guard, he hoped Storm was as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood evening boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood evening pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, is that apple pie I smell?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss are you going to eat dessert first?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWell none of you will be eating anything if you don\u2019t first go and wash up some.\u201d
\nWas that Storm? Adam hadn\u2019t seen her look this lovely since the first days in Keegan\u2019s Bluff. It wasn\u2019t so much her change in clothes but her change in attitude. She actually appeared to be at ease.<\/p>\n

Storm noticed that Adam was staring at her. \u201cGood evening Adam. I hope you had a good day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter the meals you sent how could I have any other kind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you enjoyed them. I hope you enjoy supper just as much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so too.\u201d
\nStorm knew he wasn\u2019t referring to the food. He was hoping, as was she, that they would be able to sit in each others company without trying to kill each other.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been, by far, one of the most delicious meals I can recall tasting. Where did you learn to cook so well?\u201d
\n\u201cMr. Cartwright, my mother did work in the kitchen and she loved to cook. After I went to live with my father I suppose the one place I felt comfortable was in the kitchen. Knowing that my mother had spent so much of her time there and there was Gwen. Gwen had worked there when my mother did and she would tell me things my mother use to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm you said that the first time you saw your father was when you were fifteen.\u201d
\n\u201cYes Adam. He didn\u2019t need me until then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter you went to live with him did you ever go back to visit your mother?\u201d
\n\u201cI tried Hoss. When I was sixteen I ran away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow surprising.\u201d Adam hadn\u2019t meant to say that, it just kinda slipped out.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry pa, Storm. Please Storm, continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not really much more to tell. I went back to Piketon but she wasn\u2019t there. One of mama\u2019s friends, Mrs. Kelly, said that Brady had gotten money and had made mama leave. It was almost two years later when I found out where that money had come from and why.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm who is Brady?\u201d
\n\u201cBrady Nelson, Adam, my mother\u2019s husband. I found out that father had paid Brady to help him convince mama that when I was fifteen my leaving was for the best. He told Brady that he would give him a thousand dollars if he could think of a way. Brady thought of something that was sure to make mama want me gone. I don\u2019t think he had to think too long on it either, given his nature it was probably something he had already thought of. Father told me all of this when at eighteen I said I wanted to go back to mama. The only reason I told him was because I knew he would know where she had gone to. He told me I was better off with him and beside re-election was coming up. He told me that Brady had told mama that I was becoming a very pretty young woman. That soon I would be old enough to be pleasing to a man and that had been three years before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean he helped to raise you and could think that way?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe he may have been my mother\u2019s husband but he in no way helped her raise me. Charlie Bear helped raise me. He taught me right from wrong. He showed me that sometimes, no matter how hard it is, you have to do what\u2019s right. Sometimes, even if they don\u2019t want your help, you have to help people because they need it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, whose Charlie Bear?\u201d
\n\u201cA friend Adam. He use to live not far out of Piketon. I spent most of my days with him. He taught me a lot. Not many people liked him. Not because he had ever done anything to cause them too but because to them he was just an old half-breed. To me he was a friend, a teacher, more of a father than anyone else I have ever known.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, where\u2019s Charlie now?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know Hoss. When I went back I looked for him as well. Unlike mama no one knew why he\u2019d left because no one cared.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm would you excuse me for one minute?\u201d
\n\u201cOf course Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey hurry back. It\u2019s time for that apple pie I\u2019ve been thinkin\u2019 about all through supper.\u201d
\n\u201cYou mean you only suffered through the meal so you could get to dessert? Didn\u2019t you didn\u2019t enjoy my food Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh I enjoyed every bite Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes why else would he have taken so many?\u201d
\n\u201cAh pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise I will only be a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

She had started the evening with a smile on her face but as she began to talk about her mother and Charlie Bear it had faded into a look of sorrow. Why Adam wanted to see her smile again he couldn\u2019t understand, he only knew that he did, and he thought knew of something that might make her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHey Dexter, Cartwright wants to see you up at the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? Why?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know he just said he does.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dexter walked slowly to the house. He hoped he hadn\u2019t done anything wrong. He liked it here and he hoped he could find some land around here to buy. Then he would send for Amy and they could be married. He had finally reached the house and saw someone waiting on the porch.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello again Mr. Brown.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou? I want to thank you for your letter. Mr. Cartwright sure seems to trust your word.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would hope so. I don\u2019t believe I ever told you my name.\u201d
\n\u201cNo I guess you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Adam Cartwright, Mr. Brown.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright? You mean you\u2019re\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cYes I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you mind if I ask why you sent for me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t mind. You see there is someone inside who I believe would be very happy to see you.\u201d
\n\u201cReally? Who?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you join us for some apple pie and find out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam opened the door and allowed Dexter to enter first. Storm had fully expected to see Adam when the door opened. She was completely taken aback when she saw it was Dexter. She was even more shocked by what followed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDEXTER?\u201d
\n\u201cStorm!?\u201d With that Dexter turned around and punched Adam. He then turned back to Storm. \u201cI\u2019m sorry Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDexter I believe it\u2019s Adam you should be apologizing to, not me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo it\u2019s you. I\u2019m sorry that he used a kindness to me against you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDexter!\u201d Storm knew he was getting ready to hit Adam again. \u201cWhat are you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean he didn\u2019t tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me what? What are you doing here?\u201d Storm knew that Adam had said he told Dexter where he could find a job but here?<\/p>\n

\u201cI work here, or maybe I should say, worked here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Mr. Brown, work here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does he mean Adam?<\/p>\n

\u201cYou remember I told you that I had told Dexter of where he might find a job? I wrote a letter to pa asking him to hire him.\u201d
\n\u201cHire him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes hire him.\u201d
\n\u201cWait a minute Adam.\u201d A very strange idea had occurred to Ben. \u201cStorm do you know where you are?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t be certain Mr. Cartwright. I can only judge by the direction and stars as we traveled. I think we\u2019re somewhere in Nevada, maybe close to Virginia City, but I can\u2019t be too sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam you never told her where you were taking her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I forgot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou forgot?\u201d Ben tried to remember that his son\u2019s mind was preoccupied during the journey home but could he really have been so negligent?<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm what is it you think we do here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know Adam. I haven\u2019t given it much thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm you\u2019ve heard of the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Dexter, everyone has heard of the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where you are Storm.\u201d Adam could hardly believe it but he did. She really had no idea where she was or who he was. For a brief moment that afternoon he had thought that could be one reason for her change. Finding out that you had married into some money could help change any woman\u2019s attitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean you run the Ponderosa Adam?\u201d Storm had heard of men who owned ranches and hired men to oversee the everyday running of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, they own it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous Dexter.\u201d Storm had heard of the Ponderosa but had never paid much attention to anything said about it as she never thought to see it.<\/p>\n

\u201cRidiculous? Why is it so ridiculous?\u201d Adam didn\u2019t know what bothered him more, that she hadn\u2019t known who he was or that she seemed to find the mere thought of them owning the Ponderosa as ridiculous.
\n\u201cBecause Rachel would have never\u2026.unless she didn\u2019t know.\u201d
\n\u201cKnow what Storm?\u201d
\n\u201cNothing Adam. Hoss how about some of that pie?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been waiting for you to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew there was more to this but it would have to wait until later. Hoss was very determined to have his dessert right now, truthfully, so was he.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After everyone had finished enjoying their dessert and Dexter had left Adam again wanted to find out what had not been completely explained before.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm how about taking a walk with me? I think that since those two brothers of mine have been relieved of the cooking chores the least they can do is clean up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t mind Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, Adam is right, it\u2019s the least these two can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben didn\u2019t want to give what appeared to be the start of another argument a chance to continue. He could also sense that Adam had something on his mind. Ben watched as they headed outside and found himself thinking that they made a very handsome couple.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, before you said that Rachel didn\u2019t know something, that she wouldn\u2019t have done something if she had.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam. She would have never blackmailed you into marrying me if she knew you were more than just the drifting cowhand she believed you to be. She thought I would be spending the rest of my life following you from town to town, job to job. She thought you would be the kind of man who would force me into making her lie the truth and once you had had your fill of me you would abandon me somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps you believed that as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, at first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd now? Do you trust me now?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know. Trust is a pretty powerful word. Maybe I\u2019m beginning to believe in you a little. Are you suggesting that you trust me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you haven\u2019t tried to run since you gave pa your word you wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam can we go back inside? I\u2019m feeling a little cold.\u201d Actually she was beginning to feel slightly warm but wasn\u2019t about to admit to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, why didn\u2019t you tell Dexter that we\u2019re married?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt it best not to. Once the word gets out it will be more than just cowhands you\u2019ll have to explain it to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam hadn\u2019t thought about this. He was sure in time he would have but he had been busy thinking of other things. Just how was he going to explain Storm\u2019s presence to everyone? He certainly couldn\u2019t try and keep her identity a secret. The first place Storm headed to when they went inside was the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, those two will finish up in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Mr. Cartwright. If you will excuse me then, I will bid you both good night. I\u2019m feeling rather tired.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night Storm.\u201d Ben was surprised at the change one day could make.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, good night Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI\u2026.well maybe\u2026.goodnight.\u201d How could she tell him that perhaps she had gone a little too far last night. Maybe sharing his bed would be preferable to being dragged through a forest of cacti.<\/p>\n

After Storm was upstairs and safely out of hearing Adam turned to his father. \u201cPa, Storm brought up a very good point.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do I explain her presence to everyone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s take one problem at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy pa, are you implying that my wife is a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben was glad to see Adam had quickly reached the point where he could at least try and see some humor in the situation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

The following morning found Storm the first to awaken. Of course to her that was as it should be since she would be making the breakfast.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa is Storm in the kitchen?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t honestly believe that your brothers\u2019 cooking has improved so much as to smell that good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I guess not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam walked into the kitchen and saw Storm standing in front of the stove. Why did seeing her standing there cooking make him feel good. Why did the fact that he felt good scare him.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, you know you don\u2019t have to do this. Right now you\u2019re still a guest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not doing it because I have to Adam, or because I feel I should. Quite simply, after hearing all the complaints about you and your brothers\u2019 cooking I\u2019d much rather eat my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose that makes perfect sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CHAPTER 5<\/p>\n

They got almost two weeks of no outside interference. Two weeks of trying to come up with an answer. Honestly, after a few days the search for an answer wasn\u2019t very much thought of. Maybe because the only other person to know the truth of the situation was Sheriff Roy Coffee, it was easy for everyone to pretend that Storm really was only a guest.<\/p>\n

Ben had ridden into town a few days after Adam\u2019s return, at Adam\u2019s request, to explain what had happened and to ask the sheriff if he could find Storm\u2019s mother. When Roy heard the news he couldn\u2019t believe it. His first instinct was to question Storm\u2019s innocence but Ben assured him that judging from her behavior she was just as unhappy about the circumstance she now found herself in.<\/p>\n

It was one Saturday afternoon that a knock was heard. It was a knock that re-awoke everyone to the true nature of their situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Rory, what are you doing out here?\u201d
\n\u201cWell I\u2019m sure it\u2019s a mistake Mr. Cartwright, but, well we got a shipment in and it just might belong to Adam. Although I ain\u2019t quite sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne minute and I\u2019ll call Adam down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm was in the kitchen when she heard Ben call Adam\u2019s name. She wondered who it was at the door but she was too busy to go and look.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Rory, is something wrong?\u201d
\n\u201cNo Adam, it\u2019s just like I told your pa. We got a shipment and it might belong to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMight belong to me? Does it have my name on it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRory, either it has my name or it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s got us all confused. You see it\u2019s addressed to Mrs. Adam Cartwright. Now we all know you ain\u2019t got married cause if you had that news would have been all around town. I told them down at the freight office that someone could have just gotten it wrong. You know put an s on the end of Mr. by mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Rory, it was no mistake. Hoss, Little Joe will you please help Rory, I\u2019ll be right there. Storm! Can you come in here please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I\u2019m kind of busy right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSTORM, now!\u201d<\/p>\n

Something had to be wrong. Adam hadn\u2019t sounded that way when speaking to her for quite a while. When she came out of the kitchen the only one standing there was Ben.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing Storm. It\u2019s just time to face reality again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I thought you said Hop-Sing wouldn\u2019t be back for two more weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd he won\u2019t\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I don\u2019t understand. What\u2019s happened to\u2026..\u201d Just then Hoss and Adam came in carrying a rather large and, what appeared to be, heavy trunk. Little Joe and another gentleman followed with a trunk of similar size but, judging from their faces, of lighter weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm this is Rory, he works for the freight line. It appears as if they received a shipment for Mrs. Adam Cartwright. Quite a large and heavy shipment.\u201d Adam went and took Storm\u2019s hand and led her to where Rory stood staring in surprise. \u201cRory, this is my wife, Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a real pleasure to meet you ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rory reminded Storm of a train. He started talking slowly but rapidly picked up speed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can certainly see why you want to keep her a secret Adam. Boy she sure is pretty. Prettier than anything in Virginia City. Just wait till the fellas get a look at her. They\u2019ll be wantin\u2019 to know where you found her. How long you been married? Wait till everyone hears about this. Never mind everyone just wait till Alice hears about this boy howdy is she\u2026\u2026\u201d Rory realized he\u2019d been rambling and he didn\u2019t like the way Adam was looking at him. \u201cI better get the rest of those trunks in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRest? Adam there\u2019s more?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it seems.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam why didn\u2019t you just tell him they weren\u2019t yours. That it must have been a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re your things Storm. Don\u2019t you want your things?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019d rather have you talk to me as you did before they arrived.\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe it\u2019s time we stop pretending that this is all some game and face the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam again went to help with the trunks and Storm went to the one he and Hoss had carried in before.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s in there Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm lifted the lid. \u201cMy books, Mr. Cartwright. Every dream, every wish, every story that helped to make my life bearable. Whenever I felt sad or lonely I could always open one of these and find a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben saw her gently lift out one of the volumes that the trunk contained. \u201cStorm, what is that one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s funny, I must have read this a thousand times. It\u2019s one of my favorites. It always makes me think, always confirms what I know to be true. The cost of love is too high. Look what it cost them.\u201d<\/p>\n

She rose and headed back to the kitchen. On the way she handed Ben the book she carried.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWell this is the last of them. Hoss and Little Joe are going into town. I told them not to do anything, that this had to happen sooner or later.\u201d Adam noticed the open trunk. \u201cIs that why that one was so heavy? Is it full of books?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes it would appear so. Do you want to know the one she chose to take out from all of those? The one she says shows perfectly that love comes at too high a price?\u201d Ben handed the book to his son.<\/p>\n

Adam had heard the scorn in his father\u2019s voice and only understood when he looked at the book in his hand. \u201cPa this is \u2018Paradise Lost\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes it is son.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam went into the kitchen. It was time he and Storm had a long talk.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam! Be careful.\u201d Storm had noticed that he was about to lay her book down on the wet table and reached to take it from his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm is that trunk full of book?.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose, I haven\u2019t looked through all of it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa said that is one of your favorites. Is it really because it proves love comes at too high a price?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you ever read it Adam?\u201d
\n\u201cMany times Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you know it cost them paradise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that all you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, maybe, I just don\u2019t understand why they didn\u2019t stay closer? Why did they walk away? Why didn\u2019t they cry more?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d He had never heard it from a woman\u2019s point of view. His father had. Maybe they could read it together sometime. \u201cStorm you want to know a secret?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m your wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think that will be a secret much longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm would have sworn he sounded almost happy about it. \u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis book is where my mother chose my name from.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I\u2026..I\u2026.I had better get back to supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes and I\u2019ll take those things of your\u2019s to your room, or at least the ones I can manage alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d My God was she really going to tell him she loved him? Did she love him?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

Once supper was to a point where there was no further need for her to sit and watch it she went to her room. She began to unpack the trunks she found there. Hoss and Little Joe returned from town long before expected. They informed their brother and father that they had grown tired of being asked the same question over and over, was it true that Adam was married. Thankfully they had thought to go and tell Roy of the latest development. They also informed them that there would most likely be visitors tomorrow.<\/p>\n

They were sitting around anxiously awaiting the food that smelt more and more delicious with each passing minute to be done when they heard something from upstairs. Adam was on his feet and up the stairs in an instant.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cFirst she has a whole trunk of books, among which one of her favorites is \u2018Paradise Lost\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAnd now she plays the guitar. Better than Adam from the sound of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust what are you getting at Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, just maybe, they were meant for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I had that thought myself. I am also beginning to think that the only way I\u2019ll ever get to see you boys marry is at the end of a shotgun.\u201d<\/p>\n

*******<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry Adam. Does it bother you? I know papa was never very fond of it. He made me learn but he didn\u2019t like to listen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm the only reason it would bother me is because you play so well. That was lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really think so?\u201d
\n\u201cYes I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike I said father made me learn. He could tolerate the piano so Rachel got that I got the guitar. Eventually I learned both. I guess music just comes easy for me.\u201d Why did she have this feeling that she needed to feel his lips on hers? \u201cI better go check on supper.\u201d As she went to pass him he gently took hold of her arm. \u201cPlease Adam, please don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

How did she know what he wanted to do? She must have or why else would she have refused him without asking? How could he know it was because it was exactly what she wanted him to do. Storm made her way downstairs and into the kitchen. Adam followed shortly after.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cShe plays pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Storm came in from the kitchen with a very welcome announcement. \u201cAnother half an hour or so and everything will be done.\u201d She noticed that Adam was sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed and he was rubbing his forehead. \u201cAdam is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I just have a slight headache that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam saw her turn and walk out of the room and back into the kitchen. Of course, he thought, why would she care if he were in pain, she was probably happy for it. A minute later he was forced to regret that thought as he watched her come back in with a bowl of cold water.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, lay down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust lay down!\u201d She put a pillow under his head. \u201cNow close your eyes and put this rag over them.\u201d She handed him a rag she had soaked in the cold water. As he did as she had told him too he felt her kneel behind him. He felt her fingers on his temples.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Storm, I think I got a headache too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, go get your own wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sat in his chair with a slight grin on his face. It was nice to see his boys realize that there were some benefits to having a wife, other than the obvious ones, but then Adam had yet to experience all of the obvious ones and that might be the reason for his headache.<\/p>\n

It took no more than fifteen minutes for Adam to fall asleep. Only after she was sure he was did Storm once again turn her attention to supper.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould we wake Adam?\u201d
\n\u201cNo Hoss, I\u2019ll fix him something when he wakes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dinner was not only finished but cleared and Adam still hadn\u2019t awakened. Hoss and Little Joe both said their goodnights and still Adam slept.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm it\u2019s getting rather late. Why don\u2019t you go on up to bed, I hardly think he\u2019ll feel like eating when he wakes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright Mr. Cartwright, I\u2019ll wait, but don\u2019t feel as if you have to wait with me. Please go on up to bed if you want, after all I am his wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm for someone who hasn\u2019t had the most perfect example of a happy marriage you sure seem to know how to make one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMother was always a good wife, she just didn\u2019t have a good husband.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

When Adam finally did awaken the fire had died down to glowing embers. The way they illuminated Storm\u2019s sleeping face made her appear as an angel must when dreaming. He slowly and quietly got to his feet. He walked to where she sat and did something he had wanted to do for some time now. He lowered his lips until they were barely touching hers. As the passion of the kiss began to heighten he could feel her begin to stir. He removed his lips from hers and although she was still not completely awake he heard her whisper something. He would swear she had whispered his name. Adam wondered was it because she knew it to be him, or because she wanted it to be him? He found both answers to be pleasing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, are you hungry?\u201d She got to her feet. \u201cI\u2019ll go and get you\u2026.\u201d
\n\u201cNo Storm, I\u2019m not hungry.\u201d Not for what you think anyway. \u201cIt\u2019s late we best get to bed. Like Hoss and Little Joe said, there will be visitors tomorrow, or later today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam.\u201d He could hear the uncertainty, the fear if you will, in her voice. \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking.\u201d And she had been thinking as she had watched him sleep before she too had fallen asleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn what?\u201d
\n\u201cOn how it\u2019s not fair to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s not fair Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think you would ever break your vow to be faithful.\u201d<\/p>\n

He took a deep breath. Maybe she did know what he was hungry for. \u201cNo Storm I wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s not right of me to expect you too, well too remain faithful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you saying you want me to share another woman\u2019s bed?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, just let me share yours.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm, are you saying you love me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo I have to Adam?\u201d
\n\u201cI suppose not, but I would prefer it if you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was only after they had retired to their separate beds that Storm began to wonder. If he were willing to take her to his bed if she said she loved him, did that mean he loved her? Oddly enough that was the same question on Adam\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

CHAPTER 6<\/strong><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t too late in the day that their guests did arrive. As they heard the carriage approach Adam went to see who it was. He was none too happy that he had. It was Mrs. Candice Simmons, Mrs. Esther Fisher, and Mrs. Frances Abbott. Three of the more influential women of Virginia City. Poor Storm, he thought, they had skipped the frying pan and had thrown her straight into the fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh God, anyone but them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM.\u201d Ben wouldn\u2019t admit it but he had to agree with his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm if there is anything you wish to check on, you best go do it now. We have three of the most talented gossips coming to visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know it\u2019s true pa and it\u2019s only fair to warn her. Before today is over everyone in Virginia City will know anything and everything there is to know about her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why was it important to her to make a good impression? She didn\u2019t care what they thought about her, but Adam did.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be right back down.\u201d
\nBen and Adam watched in disbelief as she ran upstairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think she\u2019d go.\u201d
\n\u201cNeither did I son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben went to open the door for their guests.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Candice, Esther, Frances. What brings you ladies all the way out here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly Ben. Hello Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Mrs. Simmons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEsther and Frances believe I should make up some excuse as to why we are here but you know me, I have never been one to beat around the bush. The word going around Virginia City is that Adam there has gone and gotten married. They say he has been married since before he got back, what, four or five weeks ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you asking if it\u2019s true?\u201d
\n\u201cIt is rather big news. I mean one of your sons goes and marries someone no one knows. It\u2019s not exactly fair. With all the young ladies right here in Virginia City hoping to marry one of your boys. Especially Esther\u2019s daughter. Everyone knows how she\u2019s had her heart set on Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow Candice, really.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Esther, hush. It\u2019s almost a sin the way your Alice fawns over him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid she\u2019ll have to stop fawning.\u201d Storm knew she had no right to say it, but she couldn\u2019t help it because it was what she felt.<\/p>\n

Adam was surprised to hear her sound like she was protecting her territory. The pride he felt at knowing he was that territory was totally unexpected. Somehow she had managed to look even lovelier than she had. Adam took her arm and led her to their guests.<\/p>\n

\u201cLadies, I would like you to meet my wife, Storm.\u201d He found he was very proud to introduce her as his wife, he just didn\u2019t understand why. He didn\u2019t have a right to feel proud, he couldn\u2019t take credit for her being his wife and yet she was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can certainly see why you married her Adam. She is very lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you\u2026..?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm this is Mrs. Candace Simmons, Mrs. Esther Fisher and Mrs. Frances Abbott.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLadies, it\u2019s a pleasure to meet you. Would you like to sit down?\u201d Once they were all seated she took over her role as hostess. \u201cMay I get you ladies anything? Some tea perhaps?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you gentlemen would prefer coffee. If you will all excuse me I\u2019ll go and see to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm left the room and Adam felt a very strong need to get out of there as well. It was almost as if she had taken his courage with her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you ladies will excuse me, I\u2019ll go see if Storm needs any help.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben swore his son would pay for abandoning him.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is very beautiful Ben.\u201d
\n\u201cYes she is Candace.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose a man would wish to keep a new wife like that to himself if he could.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes for as long as he could.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cStorm do you want me to help you with anything?\u201d
\n\u201cI can manage Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease, let me help you with something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm could hear it as the desperate plea it was. \u201cWhy Adam, are you afraid to be in there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA little.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you just left your father in there?\u201d
\n\u201cOh he can handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake this tray in and I\u2019ll be there in a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she served the tea and coffee Storm realized she liked how it felt.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo tell me Storm how did you accomplish something so many before you have tried and failed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry?\u201d
\n\u201cJust how did you get one of Ben\u2019s sons to not only propose marriage but actually go through with the wedding?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was fairly easy. There was no way he could refuse whey my father was holding a shotgun on him.\u201d
\nAdam and Ben both choked on what they had just drank.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s very funny. No really, how?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you would have to ask Adam but you probably know better then I how secretive he can be where his feelings are concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have found that most men are. You mentioned your father. Just what is it he does?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father is the mayor of my hometown Mrs. Simmons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh really. How very interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know about it being interesting, but it is true enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation turned to more impersonal matters. Storm learned some things about Adam and his family she hadn\u2019t known. Some Adam wasn\u2019t too happy to have her learn. She also learned about what was now her home. As the ladies got up to leave Mrs. Simmons, who Storm had just realized had done most of the talking, turned to Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are going to bring her to the fund raiser next Saturday, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hadn\u2019t heard of a fundraiser.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you haven\u2019t heard. You haven\u2019t been in town for over a month, although I suppose you no longer need to. It\u2019s a fundraiser for the orphanage. You know how long we have been trying to build one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose if Storm would like to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm could feel all eyes on her. \u201cI\u2019d love to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. I\u2019m sure your father will agree with me when I say that it is time you newlyweds rejoin the world, wouldn\u2019t you Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Candace I guess I would.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

No sooner was the door closed then Adam turned to Storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cA SHOTGUN!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Adam. I knew they wouldn\u2019t believe it, so I told them the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow could you be so sure they wouldn\u2019t believe you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause here you are Adam Cartwright. A man who would never find himself in a situation that the only way for him to get out of it would require him to marry someone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd in Keegan\u2019s Bluff?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere you were, as what both Rachel and father saw you to be, a penniless drifter who could be easily bought or blackmailed into doing what they wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess one of them was right!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes and we both know which one!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I think that is one thing we don\u2019t agree on!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStill defending her Adam! Tell me would you defend me so vehemently?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething tells me you wouldn\u2019t want me to!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right! I can defend myself well enough!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben had had it. \u201cTHAT\u2019S IT! Would you two please decide. Are you going to spend the rest of your lives hating each other or perhaps realize that maybe, just maybe, this was the only way the fates could think of to get you two together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you suggesting pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not suggesting anything son. I\u2019m saying it flat out and plain. I know of no one as stubborn as you. No one who has a love of learning like you. No one who has a love of music like you. Except HER.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re saying the only way he would have married me is if he were forced to?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the only way you two would spend enough time together to get to know each other, and don\u2019t you give me that look of innocence young lady. By your own admission you were never going to marry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben turned and walked out of the room. Storm turned to Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy, he doesn\u2019t get angry often, but when he does.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, when he does. Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the way you handled our visitors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re welcome but I didn\u2019t do it for you.\u201d At least she wouldn\u2019t let him know she had done it only partly for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen who?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour father. I would never do anything to embarrass or shame him. In spite of the lecture, he is a wonderful man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is one thing we are in agreement on.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was too early to start supper so Storm went to her room to look over what Gwen had sent. She knew it had been Gwen because she had found a letter from her safely tucked inside one of her books. It was one Gwen knew she would open as she did every Sunday.<\/p>\n

Dear Storm<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope you are well. I hope this letter finds you, as well as your things. I\u2019m afraid it\u2019s the only address I could find out. Your father told me his name and I asked around and was told that this was where he was. I would have put your name except I felt there was a better chance they would know where to find you if I put his.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope he hasn\u2019t hurt you. Thank you for what you did but you know I wish you hadn\u2019t. I would have managed fine.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you can please write and let me know how you are, how he\u2019s treating you. I\u2019ll stay until I hear from you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Love Gwen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Storm sat down and wrote her response to Gwen\u2019s questions. When she finished she went to see if Adam would send it off the next time he was in town. She found him sitting downstairs reading.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

At the sound of her voice he looked up. \u201cYes Storm?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve written a letter to Gwen thanking her for sending my things to me. Would you mind sending it off next time you\u2019re in town?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course not. Why don\u2019t you give it to me and I\u2019ll send it tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to town tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I am. Would you like to come with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026..\u201d Adam had seen a look of joy come to her face, he also saw it replaced rather quickly by a look of doubt. \u201cDo you think it would be alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it would be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I\u2019d love to. Right now I better go get supper started.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she passed him on her way into the kitchen Ben looked up from his own book to see his son staring after her. \u201cIt\u2019s a rather easy thing to get use to isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

It was almost as if Adam had forgotten his father was there. \u201cPa?\u201d
\n\u201cHaving a woman around. They have a way of making a house a home. Making a man feel comfortable; and yet sometimes uncomfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam could tell by his father\u2019s face just what he was trying to imply.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy pa I\u2019m shocked that you would even suggest such a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben knew his son was joking but he wasn\u2019t. \u201cMaybe that\u2019s the problem Adam, that I\u2019m the one suggesting it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CHAPTER 7<\/p>\n

It was later than Adam wanted when they started off for Virginia City the following morning. First he had to wait while Storm cleaned up after breakfast. It was only then that he realized that she had been cleaning up after every meal, even though his brothers were supposed to be doing it. Then he had to wait while she changed her clothes at least three times before she was happy with how she looked. He would admit, at least to himself, that it had proven to be well worth the wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam. I\u2019ve been meaning to come out and see you. I have some\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe later Roy. Storm I\u2019d like you to meet Sheriff Roy Coffee. Roy this is my wife Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Sheriff Coffee. It\u2019s a pleasure to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, believe me the pleasure is all mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I need to speak with Roy. Why don\u2019t you go on inside and see if there is anything you can think of that\u2019s not on this list.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam handed her the list and she entered the store. She watched Adam and Sheriff Coffee head towards the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I suppose if a man has to be forced into marrying someone, he couldn\u2019t do much better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is rather lovely but sometimes looks can be deceiving.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess so.\u201d Roy wasn\u2019t certain if Adam had meant this to be good or bad.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow is there something you found out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I know where you can find Mr. Brady Nelson and his wife Lenora.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm\u2019s mother? You\u2019ve found her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere Roy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Colorado. A town called Running Springs. I have it on good authority that\u2019s where they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks Roy. I\u2019ll write to her and make sure before I get Storm\u2019s hopes up.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Back at the store Storm was checking over the list when three young ladies came in.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm looked up and faced them. When she did she found she was being very intently looked over.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you Adam\u2019s wife?\u201d<\/p>\n

The way this woman had said it made it sound less like an inquiry and more like an accusation.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I\u2019m Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Alice Fisher.\u201d That explained the hatred Storm felt was being directed at her. \u201cThese are my friends, Beth Campbell and Diana Trainor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to meet all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid Adam tell you he was going to ask me to marry him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Miss. Fisher, he never mentioned that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell he was. What did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thankfully Adam entered the store before this had a chance to go any further.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Alice, Beth, Diana. I see you\u2019ve met Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam, we\u2019ve met. I must say that I was rather shocked when I heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure you were Alice. Now if you will excuse us. Storm we best get on back to the Ponderosa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes of course Adam. I believe everything is on the wagon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood then let\u2019s get going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm did something more from instinct than anything else. In her opinion Alice was no different than Rachel and she didn\u2019t like someone like that thinking that they were better than her. She walked to where Adam waited for her and gently placed her hand on his forearm. Then she stood on her toes and tenderly kissed his cheek. He, as well as everyone else present, understood it for what it was. She was again staking her claim but for some reason this time it bothered him. Maybe because this time it had been done out of spite.<\/p>\n

He took her arm and led her to the wagon and helped her up. She could tell by his attitude it was only because of propriety he did so. She knew he was angry. Once they were well enough out of town and Adam was sure no one was watching did he stop the wagon.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm why did you do that?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo what?\u201d She knew only too well what he was speaking of but wouldn\u2019t admit it.<\/p>\n

\u201cKiss me like that!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy! Would you have preferred it to have been Alice kissing you? Are her kisses more pleasing to\u2026\u2026\u201d He could hear the tears in her voice and he would swear he saw the start of them in her eyes. Before he could see one fall she ran to a tree just a few feet away. He got down and followed her.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm?\u201d As he approached her he could hear her trying to control her sobs. He placed his hand on her shoulder. He wasn\u2019t sure what he was expecting but it certainly wasn\u2019t what happened. She turned around and put her arms around his waist and buried her tear stained face in his chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Adam, I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019ve ruined everything. Did you love her Adam? I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why was he smiling at her? He should be angry. She had kept him from the woman he loved enough to\u00a0want\u00a0<\/em>to ask to marry him.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I will admit to thinking you were many things, some unflattering, but I never thought you were a fool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a fool Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked into her eyes and she knew what he was going to do, but for the first time she didn\u2019t possess the strength or the desire to ask him not to. She could feel the tree against her back, his hands on her waist, but mostly she could feel his lips even before they touched hers. When once again they were no longer joined by a kiss he rephrased his previous remark.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must be a fool, if you still think I could kiss you like that and love her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut she said you were going to ask her to marry you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe may have wanted me to ask her but, believe me, I wasn\u2019t going to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean you and her weren\u2019t, well you weren\u2019t seeing each other?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, I escorted her to two dances, that\u2019s all. The rest was entirely in her head.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, do you think that maybe tonight we\u2026.well that we could share\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you love me Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Perhaps she did but she was still afraid. Too afraid to admit to it just yet. \u201cAdam I\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

He could see the truth in her eyes but, for some reason, it wasn\u2019t enough. He needed to hear her say it. He thanked God that she didn\u2019t ask the same question of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe best get back home. Everyone will be wondering where we\u2019ve gotten to.\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe they\u2019ll think I ran away again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot without your permission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel saw the letter that had arrived for Gwen and she also saw who had sent it. She took it and read it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Dear Gwen<\/p>\n

I\u2019m fine and no he hasn\u2019t forced me to do anything. Quite honestly Gwen there are times I wish he would because than I would have a reason to hate him.<\/p>\n

It would appear as if father and Rachel misjudged him. He is not a drifting cowhand, his family owns the Ponderosa. You would like his father and brothers. Maybe once you leave you could come for a visit.<\/p>\n

Thank you for sending my things to me. Adam was a little shocked to see all that you sent but he seems to enjoy my books and guitar. He says I play beautifully.<\/p>\n

Oh Gwen I think I\u2019m falling in love with him. What if he never loves me? There are times I believe he feels the same for me as I do for him but then something happens and I would swear he hates me. What am I to do? I always knew love would hurt too much.<\/p>\n

Please come and visit because it would make me so very happy to see you.<\/p>\n

Love Storm<\/p>\n

This wouldn\u2019t do, no it wouldn\u2019t do at all. This just wasn\u2019t fair and would spoil all of Rachel\u2019s plans. Perhaps it was time for her father to know the truth.<\/p>\n

\u201cRachel how could you do something like that?\u201d
\n\u201cFather you were just as happy as I was to be rid of her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat may well be but to cause such embarrassment. Why now this sudden need to tell the truth?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause now we will go and get her back. I won\u2019t have her married to a man who is wealthy in his own right. Even more so I will not have her married to a man she loves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy do you hate her so Rachel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause it never mattered what I did or said, everyone always liked her better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone including Hugo Wyler?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

The Saturday of the fund raiser arrived and Storm was excited to be going, after all she had hardly been off the Ponderosa since she had arrived. When they had first arrived in town Adam noticed that Storm seemed reluctant to leave his side but eventually she began to wander on her own, or as alone as one can be in a town full of people.<\/p>\n

As the day wore on Storm found herself having fun. She was enjoying being around people and talking about Adam. She had baked an apple pie and a peach pie for the bake sale and learned only later that Hoss had bought both.<\/p>\n

It was near to dusk when Storm noticed a rather young lady being escorted down an alley by a very ungentlemanly looking fellow. It didn\u2019t appear as if the lady was being forced but Storm got the feeling her help might be needed so she followed quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease Doyle, stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Lori, a minute ago you were all too happy to accept my suggestion that we sneak down here.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ve changed my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that he grabbed the girl called Lori and kissed her. Storm could hear the fear in Lori\u2019s voice when she again begged him to let her go.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the young lady asked you to stop.\u201d Storm knew she should have gone and gotten help but was afraid of what would have happened while she was gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis ain\u2019t none of your affair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just made it my affair. Lori, why don\u2019t you come on over here by me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe ain\u2019t goin\u2019 nowhere, and now neither are you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Too late Storm heard the two men entering the alley behind her.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it was going to be three against one young lady? Hardly fair odds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow it will be three against two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can always just scream.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no. No we can\u2019t. That would bring everyone and if my father finds me here he will just kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hardly think he will kill you Lori.\u201d Storm felt that if her\u2019s hadn\u2019t killed her for all she had been accused of doing no one would kill Lori for a simple error in judgment.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know her father.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoyle is right, you don\u2019t know my father.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not knowing who Lori\u2019s father was made Storm think that if people who knew him thought him capable of such a punishment then who was she to argue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThan there is only one thing to do.\u201d Storm turned to the men who were standing behind her. Before they could both react she had kicked one rather sharply in his shin. She turned quickly to the other but he acted faster then she had anticipated. He grabbed her but she managed to bring up her knee and make him very sorry that he had thought her too much of a lady to do something like that. As he hit the ground she quickly grabbed the gun out of his holster. She turned back to face Doyle.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow let her go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doyle didn\u2019t like having a gun pointed at him by a man and he most definitely didn\u2019t like having one pointed at him by some nervous female.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you put that down before it goes off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you let her go before it goes off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Doyle let Lori go and she quickly joined Storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cLori why don\u2019t you go on and get out of here before someone sees you.\u201d Storm was sure that Lori wouldn\u2019t tell anyone what had happened because she was too afraid too and she was just as sure that Doyle wouldn\u2019t because then he would have to admit to being beaten by a woman. It wasn\u2019t that she wouldn\u2019t tell Adam just not here and not now. What Storm didn\u2019t know was that someone who would be only to happy to tell had seen Lori leave the alley. They also saw Storm coming out followed closely by Doyle and his two friends. While the part about seeing Lori was of little importance, telling of Storm\u2019s departure and those who followed would most definitely suit their purpose.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, may I speak with you?\u201d
\n\u201cWhat is it Alice?\u201d
\n\u201cPlease, what I need to tell you is best said in private.\u201d<\/p>\n

They stepped away from the group of people that he had been speaking with.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, what is it Alice?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hate to say this but I just saw your wife leaving an alley. That in and of itself wouldn\u2019t be suspicious except that she was followed out by Doyle and two of his friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlice, I don\u2019t have time for your games.\u201d Adam couldn\u2019t believe that she would go this far.<\/p>\n

Storm saw Adam talking to Alice and walked over to them. \u201cAdam, I think you had better take me back to the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Storm?\u201d Had someone done something to make her feel unwelcome? He couldn\u2019t believe that Storm would allow anyone to chase her away.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would appear as if my dress has gotten caught on something and ripped. So if you will please excuse us Alice. May we go Adam?\u201d Storm had assumed that Adam would not deny this request and so had not waited for an answer. She just turned and headed for the wagon so she didn\u2019t hear what Alice said, she was too busy trying to think on whether or not she should give in and tell Adam that she loved him. She knew it was still early and they would have the house to themselves at least for a few hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cCaught on something Adam? Maybe something like Doyle\u2019s fingers? You know his reputation for being rather impatient.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam was certain that by the time they were barely out of Virginia City, Alice would make sure the entire town knew what she had seen.<\/p>\n

As they rode out of Virginia City, Storm could sense an anger in Adam but she couldn\u2019t think of why. Could it be because she had asked him to leave? If that were it he would forgive her that as soon as they reached the house and she told him what she had decided to give in and tell him. If that weren\u2019t the cause she knew it certainly couldn\u2019t be because she had ripped her dress. It was one of her own that Gwen had sent. He hadn\u2019t bought her any, come to think of it he hadn\u2019t bought her anything.<\/p>\n

Storm was thankful when they reached the house because she was beginning to feel that she couldn\u2019t have stood the silence another minute longer. It was only once they got inside that silence became the one thing she prayed for.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong Storm?! Did you get tired of waiting for me?! You almost had me completely fooled!\u201d And that\u2019s what was bothering him the most. That she had indeed fooled him completely. He had even begun to think that maybe he should be the first to admit to what his feelings for her were.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I don\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to deny that you were down an alley with Doyle and two of his friends?! Are you going to deny that\u2019s when your dress ripped?!\u201d<\/p>\n

So that\u2019s what Alice and he were talking about. Alice must have seen her leave but hadn\u2019t she seen Lori leave first? Storm supposed even if she had she would have omitted telling Adam that because that would have not given him any cause to doubt her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you suggesting that you believe that I\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have known some woman who once they get a taste of it can\u2019t go without it for long! What I can\u2019t understand is why you just didn\u2019t lie and say you loved me? Seeing as how you seem to be quite an accomplished liar, I am sure you would have been able to convince me!\u201d<\/p>\n

He took a step towards her and she knew what he was planning to do. She knew he had thought of a way to punish her. If he took her by force, without spoken words of love between them, then she would become what Rachel had tried to make everyone believe her to be. He grabbed her and roughly took possession of her lips. This only confirmed yet again what Storm knew to be true. She knew she should have never let a man into her heart because once inside he would find a way to cut his way out. Adam had chosen the most sharpest of weapons, the ones that left the deepest scars, he had chosen words.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam please<\/em>. Tell me Storm are you really as innocent as you say, as you pretend to be? Maybe this whole thing wasn\u2019t Rachel\u2019s or your father\u2019s plan, maybe it was your\u2019s all along. You say you had no idea who I was. Is that true or did you really know the whole time. Is that why you wanted to marry me? Did you knew all about the Ponderosa from the very start?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam, I love you.\u201d It was not what she had meant to say, not like this anyway, but now there was no way to take it back.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was very good Storm. Why I almost believe you. You should have thought how your little tryst with Doyle would be sure to upset your whole scheme though, if it were found out. Well it has been and I\u2019ll be damned if I ever touch you again. Don\u2019t worry though I at least know how to be discreet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn you Adam! Damn you to hell!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh sweetheart, I\u2019m already there.\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned from his condemning stare and ran to her room. She wasn\u2019t sure what hurt the most, the fact that he believed her guilty of this or the thought of him with another woman.<\/p>\n

When Ben came home a few hours later he found Adam sitting in front of the fire. He had hoped that the time he had given them would have allowed Storm to tell Adam what had happened in town. Ben had no doubts that she would tell him because unlike his son he wasn\u2019t trying to find reasons to deny that he cared for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, where\u2019s Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUpstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben could hear the underlying anger in his son\u2019s voice. Maybe Storm hadn\u2019t told him. Maybe she was trying to protect Lori. If that were true he knew that his son would be hearing it and Ben thought it best to come from him. What puzzled Ben was what had made Adam angry if not the thought of Storm putting herself in danger the way she had. \u201cAdam there was a rumor going around town that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah pa, I know all about it. How my sweet innocent wife went down an alley with Doyle and two of his friends. You know pa maybe I\u2019m the one being a real fool. I am her husband and as such I have every right to take her whether or not she\u2019s willing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben couldn\u2019t believe what he had just heard his son say. Couldn\u2019t believe it was his son saying it. What he did to prove that this was indeed happening, and it was his son, was not something he thought himself capable of doing. It was something he never thought he\u2019d ever have enough provocation to do. He went to where his son sat and slapped him. He watched as his son jumped to his feet and if he wasn\u2019t so positive that his sons would never raise their hands to him he would be afraid of what he saw in Adam\u2019s eyes. He watched as his son got ready to leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you walk away from me Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the circumstances I think it would be best pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst you will let me finish what it was that I was saying. There was a rumor but, in spite of her fear of her father, Lori Frammer told the whole truth of what happened. It would seem she allowed Doyle to talk her into going into that alley. Once there she changed her mind but Doyle wasn\u2019t about to change his. Lori thanked God that Storm must have seen them going down the alley and realizing what was most likely to happen followed after them. She said that if it hadn\u2019t of been for Storm\u2026\u2026well, you know as well as I what would have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this is true pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s true?! Alice finally admitted to seeing Lori leave first but said she thought that upon seeing what was going on Lori was embarrassed and that was why she left the alley. You know as well as I that if Alice thought that Lori would have been able to back up her story she would have never left her out to begin with. If that isn\u2019t enough proof then next time you see that friend of Doyle\u2019s, Cresen, ask him to show you his leg. He has one nasty black and blue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t she say something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe she thought you were past blindly accusing her. Maybe she thought you trusted her a little, or maybe she simply hoped that you cared enough for her to ask before believing the worst.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I owe her an apology.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou guess? I think it might be a good idea for you to wait until tomorrow. Give her a little time to perhaps remember that she cares for you because right now if she were to cause you any harm I wouldn\u2019t fault her, son I might even help her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t blame you if you did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam thought all night on just the right words to say he was sorry but somehow they always fell just short, so he was a little happy that by not showing up first thing in the morning Storm was giving him more time. He had tried to ask her to come down but when he received no answer he let her be. He figured if she were still this angry maybe it would be better to wait until later to talk to her, maybe by then the right words would come to him. Why he failed to realize that the only words Storm would need to hear to make her forget everything were very simple ones, although not easy ones, to say. All he would have to tell her was what he was feeling, but the first time someone says I love you to someone never comes easy. Ben did manage to see the one good thing in all of this, never once did Adam seem to think that Storm had run away.<\/p>\n

Storm had waited upstairs until she was sure Adam was gone and only then did she go down. It wasn\u2019t because, as Adam had thought, that she was angry but because she was afraid he would hurt her with more words. It seemed to her that he was a master of it, or maybe it was just because she loved him like she had never loved anyone before which made it all that more easier for him to hurt her.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou slept rather late today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t sleeping. I\u2019m sure Alice made certain that the entire town knew of what she saw, or at least the parts she wanted them to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but Lori also made sure they knew the whole truth of what had happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe shouldn\u2019t have. It doesn\u2019t really matter does it. They will all believe the worst anyway. I mean if he\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben couldn\u2019t bear the thought that it was Adam causing her this much pain. \u201cStorm\u2026\u2026\u201d Ben was interrupted by the sounds of a carriage outside the house. He saw Storm quickly turn back towards the stairs. \u201cStorm, it\u2019s not Adam. He rode out on horseback not in a carriage.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went to see who was coming to visit hoping that whoever it was wouldn\u2019t bring up yesterday.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m Ben Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m Thaddeus Kendall and this is my daughter Rachel. I\u2019ve come to bring Storm home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBring her home? Mr. Kendall, as you already know she is married to my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm had recognized her father\u2019s voice and had gone out to see what was going on. Why was her father here?<\/p>\n

\u201cNot really.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean father?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm why don\u2019t we all go inside and talk about this.\u201d Ben wasn\u2019t sure what was going on but he didn\u2019t want to find out out here.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Mr. Cartwright. Please father explain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSince you never attended masses you wouldn\u2019t know it, but the man who performed your wedding wasn\u2019t qualified to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never attended your masses because it was made quite clear to me I wasn\u2019t welcome. I made sure every Sunday that God knew I was thinking of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat may well be but it wasn\u2019t a preacher that officiated at your ceremony. He was just some drifter I paid to do the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you saying that you trusted your own daughter to a man you hardly knew and lied about them being legally married?\u201d Ben couldn\u2019t believe any father would do that.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re referring to the relations your son would now be at liberty to take with her, well Storm never needed the blessing of the church before to grant those liberties. Seeing as to how she believed she had them this time her conscience was clearer than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter Mr. Cartwright. Will you please tell Adam that he\u2019s free. That I hope he finds someone he can trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, wait for him to come home. I know he has something he wants to say to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. If he want\u2019s to tell me he\u2019s sorry it\u2019s only because he now knows that what he thought isn\u2019t true. He didn\u2019t believe enough to even ask me, he just took Alice\u2019s word. Tell him he can tell everyone the truth. Maybe he should just tell everyone that what they were told happened last night may not have been true but he found out that it wasn\u2019t likely to remain so. If he believes me to be that kind of a woman than that is what I am because it never mattered what anyone else thought, it only ever mattered what he thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, please, just wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I cant. Please send my things to me.\u201d Storm went and kissed Ben goodbye. \u201cTell Hoss and Little Joe good bye for me.\u201d She climbed into the carriage beside Rachel. \u201cFather lets go.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm! Come down here! Pa she hasn\u2019t been upstairs all day has she?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I\u2019m afraid she\u2019s no longer here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?! Are you saying you let her run away?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t let her do anything. Her father and sister came. It seems that your marriage was never legal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d
\n\u201cIt appears as if the gentleman who performed your wedding wasn\u2019t sanctioned by the church or the law. I guess Storm felt that since she wasn\u2019t your wife she no longer needed your permission to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFINE. If she feels better to leave than to face\u2026.well just FINE!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben knew he had no reason to be grinning but he was.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey pa what\u2019s wrong with Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah he almost knocked me down on his way out.\u201d
\n\u201cGiven the mood he\u2019s in right now Hoss, he might have been capable of doing just that.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t show up for supper, nor did he show up before Little Joe and Hoss said their goodnights. Ben sat up and waited. Happy to see that his son returned in as foul a mood as when he left.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo did you find anything to take your mind off your troubles?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat troubles pa? The only trouble I had left this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled after his son as he went upstairs. \u201cGoodnight son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodnight pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam noticed all too well the grin on his father\u2019s face. He had ridden around for hours only to find himself reminded of Storm everywhere he went. She hadn\u2019t been there so long and yet had managed to become imbedded so deep in his mind that she became a part of ever memory he had. If she hadn\u2019t been directly involved in a past event all he could think of was how he would love to tell her about it or how she would react upon hearing it. If he stopped someplace he hadn\u2019t yet shown her then all he could think of was how she would love to see it. Needless to say it wasn\u2019t a very restful night for Adam but then it wasn\u2019t a very restful night for Storm either.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMorning pa. I\u2019ve been thinking that I should at least go and tell Storm that I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam if the only reason you\u2019re going after her is to ease your conscience by apologizing then I suggest you just write her a letter. You have hurt her enough already.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa I\u2019ve slept pretty well all my life and the past five weeks have been no exception, except for that first night. Last night I couldn\u2019t sleep at all. Just knowing that she was no longer in the room next door made it hard for me to close my eyes. When I finally passed out from sheer exhaustion all I did was dream about her. I have to get her back pa, I love her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen go and get her. Go bring her back even if you have to tie her up to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFunny pa, very funny.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam went back upstairs to pack what he would need for his trip. What would end up being a trip that would end before it had begun.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey pa! Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook who I found pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d Ben was happy to see her. He was happy to know that she couldn\u2019t leave Adam any more then he could let her go.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe what is it?\u201d Adam was half-way down the stairs before his father stepped aside and he saw her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Adam. I guess father didn\u2019t know enough to tie me up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d He finished going down the steps and she ran to him. She went straight into his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Joe. Why don\u2019t we give them some time alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

********<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I don\u2019t care. It doesn\u2019t matter if we\u2019re married or not. I love you Adam, I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, I\u2019ve been such a fool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo it\u2019s me whose been the fool.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c No you told me you loved me long before you spoke the words. I saw it in your eyes but was too stubborn to accept that as enough. I had to hear the words and when I did\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I know that the preacher wasn\u2019t real but maybe since it was in a real church God would believe it was real.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I think if anyone knows the difference between truth and lies it would be God. Remember we may have said the words but our hearts weren\u2019t really in them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut they are now, so maybe He would forgive us if\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, the only way He\u2019d forgive us; no that\u2019s not exactly true because I do believe you may be right and He would forgive us, but the only way I would forgive myself is if you were my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour wife?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Look at it this way, this time you get to choose whether or not\u2026..\u201d
\n\u201cOh Adam.\u201d He accepted her into his arms thinking that it certainly felt good to have her there.<\/p>\n

\u201cShould I take this as a yes?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCondition? What condition?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat this time, Adam Cartwright, you make me your wife in every sense of the word, that from the very first you insist I share your bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have my promise of that.\u201d In an attempt to try and prove he meant it, he kissed her with all the passion he felt. \u201cStorm, I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFive weeks together and all it takes is one night apart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWas it only one night pa? Funny but if felt like a lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

She suddenly sounded worried.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are we going to have a wedding if everyone believes us to be already married?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s not worry about that just yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, we can just go somewhere and get married and no one will ever have to know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNO!\u201d
\n\u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was bad enough you coming back and announcing that you were married. Granted the circumstances were such that there would have been no way for me to be at the ceremony but this time there is and I will not allow you to cheat me out of it once again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s it pa. See Storm given time a solution will most likely present itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will simply tell people that pa was so upset at not being at the first ceremony he wished for us to have one here. That it took all this time but he was finally able to convince us, besides his birthday is coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam this is one present I wish to get for the next three years straight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa I can only get married once.\u201d Adam thought that it was a good thing his brothers weren\u2019t there or they would be looking for ways to escape.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam this would be twice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but the same bride pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam do you really think that people would believe it?\u201d
\n\u201cStorm I don\u2019t really care what they believe. As long as at the end of it all you are my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, will your father be coming after you?\u201d Ben could see it would be a good time to change the subject and therefore the trains of thought of both his son and Storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Mr. Cartwright. I\u2019m sure he doesn\u2019t believe I\u2019d come back here and he\u2019s probably glad I\u2019ve run away, unlike some people I know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you like to send them an invitation to the wedding?\u201d Adam knew it wasn\u2019t right but he was hoping that this time Storm could show them that even though this had started out as a way for them to hurt her it had ended up being one of the best things they could ever have done for her. At least he hoped that she thought that because it was certainly one of the best things that had ever happened to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that would be a wonderful idea. Of course I\u2019m not too sure if they will come.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm there is something that has been bothering me for some time now, why didn\u2019t you run before out first wedding. I mean I couldn\u2019t, seeing as how I was kept locked up in jail until the ceremony, but you could have run at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFather said if I didn\u2019t go through with it he\u2019d fire Gwen and Harry. He said if I did he would give them each a thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did this for Harry even though he helped Rachel?\u201d
\n\u201cOh so now you believe me when I say it was Rachel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not important.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I told you that the only reason Harry did what he did was because he needed his job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut now that he has a thousand dollars he doesn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot as badly as he did before, and quite honestly I didn\u2018t think you would be so stubborn as to hold to vows you had been forced to take. I thought that when I ran you would be happy to see me go.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation was prevented from going further by the door opening and Little Joe and Hoss coming in.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Hoss?\u201d
\n\u201cYou know Hop-Sing will be back in a few days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. Would you like anything in particular for supper tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat beef roast you cooked up was real tasty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThan beef roast it will be.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As Storm once again lay in the room that was so near to Adam she began to wonder about something. It had been bothering her for some time and thought that maybe now Adam was ready to give her an answer. She quietly got out of her bed and tip toed into Adam\u2019s room. She knew it was wrong but tried to justify it by thinking that it wouldn\u2019t be the first time they would be in a bedroom alone. At least this time they would both be dressed, well sorta dressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d She gently tapped him on the shoulder and again whispered his name. \u201cAdam, are you awake?\u201d
\n\u201cI must say the last time I awoke to find you standing next to the bed I was sleeping in was much more pleasant.\u201d
\n\u201cAdam Cartwright!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow don\u2019t you try and go sounding all indignant. It isn\u2019t me who\u2019s snuck into your room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Adam? Why haven\u2019t you snuck into my room? Why haven\u2019t you even tried?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I was a little bit afraid that you would turn me away, maybe even more afraid that you wouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

She felt his arm go around her waist and before she knew what had happened she was lying next to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there a reason you came in here?\u201d
\n\u201cYes but this wasn\u2019t it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes really. I came to ask you why you didn\u2019t believe me when I said nothing happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I know nothing happened and I told you so, why didn\u2019t you believe me?\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew there was no way to avoid telling her. \u201cBecause Storm, true or not, real or not, whether it was the drug I\u2019d been given or not, I remember making love to you that night.\u201d
\n\u201cYou mean you had a dream about me?\u201d The idea of him thinking of her even in his sleep pleased her especially since it was so shortly after they had met.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose it might have been a dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam it was a dream. Nothing happened that night. I know because if it had it would have been my first time and there were no, well, no signs to show anything had happened. Leastways none that I heard comes with a woman\u2019s first time.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm it really doesn\u2019t matter to me\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know.\u201d She could feel something happening to her. Suddenly she was having a hard time breathing. \u201cAdam, would you\u2026\u201d She thought he had read her mind because before she could finish his lips were on hers.<\/p>\n

Her mind was the one thing he hadn\u2019t read. \u201cStorm, you better get back to your own bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause even if you\u2019ve forgotten I haven\u2019t, we\u2019re not married; yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright Adam.\u201d She reluctantly got out of his bed and returned to hers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CHAPTER 8<\/p>\n

The stage pulled into Virginia City and two people got off. Lenora looked around, unfortunately Brady felt it was for too long.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you looking at woman! Move!\u201d He shoved her out of his way and marched past her as she stumbled and fell.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you alright ma\u2019am?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine. Thank you.\u201d Lenora tried to get away knowing this would only make Brady angrier. It wasn\u2019t that she was afraid he would do her any more harm but that he would hurt the gentleman who had helped her. She would hate the payment for this man\u2019s kindness to be a punch in the jaw.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave her be! She can take care of herself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat may well be but there is no need for her too. Ma\u2019am why don\u2019t you let me help you.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Adam bent to take the ladies arm he knew the man was angry, so when he saw his fist coming towards him it wasn\u2019t a surprise and he was ready for it. Adam once again turned to help the lady to her feet. No one helped the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d Lenora tried not to smile at the sight of her husband\u2019s humiliation knowing if she did she would pay greatly for that small pleasure later.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs there somewhere I can help you get to ma\u2019am?\u201d
\n\u201cYou stay right here! You\u2019re my wife!\u201d Brady struggled to get to his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I won\u2019t take it anymore Brady.\u201d Maybe it was the sight of him trying to give orders while sitting on his backside or that the gentleman next to her seemed so determined to help her that gave her the strength to answer back, but Lenora felt that it was more than likely the knowledge that Storm was somewhere near.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrady? Are you Lenora Nelson?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I am.\u201d Lenora watched as the man smiled and she thought to herself that he was a very handsome man.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes she is and she is my wife.\u201d Brady had finally found his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat may well be Mr. Nelson but she is welcome at the Ponderosa, I\u2019m afraid, unless you learn how to treat a woman with the respect she deserves, you are not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ponderosa! Then you know my daughter, Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes ma\u2019am, I\u2019m afraid I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the sound of it you know her well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell enough to know that she will be glad you\u2019re here in time to help her with the wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWedding? She\u2019s getting married?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMarried? Who in hell would want to marry a she devil like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cME Mr. Nelson. Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou? Are you the gentleman who wrote me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Mrs. Nelson, I\u2019m Adam Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCartwright? That little witch did real well for herself.\u201d Brady had expected to come and find her, if not living with some miner or cowhand, then working in some saloon. Unlike Storm Brady had heard of the Cartwrights and their wealth.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not too sure who\u2019s done better, her or me, but the point is Mr. Nelson she is no longer the little girl you could beat. If you so much as try I will be the one teaching you a lesson.\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, and once he\u2019s done teaching it\u2019ll be me making sure that lesson sticks. Hi Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Hoss. Hoss this here is Storm\u2019s mother, and her husband.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a real pleasure to meet you ma\u2019am.\u201d Hoss purposefully ignored the man standing there.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow Mr. Nelson, are you willing to behave yourself or would you rather get on the next stage back to Colorado?\u201d Something told Adam that it might be better if Brady took the later choice. He really wasn\u2019t too sure of how Storm would handle seeing him. He knew she would have never admitted to it but when she had spoken of him he had sensed that she was afraid of Brady.<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose I\u2019ll try to behave but you really have no right to tell a man how he can treat his own wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as you are accepting my families hospitality I have every right to tell you how to behave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brady would behave for as long as necessary. He was real anxious to see just how that little witch had turned out.<\/p>\n

When Storm heard the carriage pull up she ran out to see Adam. She had missed him so. It still surprised her that she could care for him so much, how just hours apart could feel like days.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam! You\u2019re back. I\u2019ve missed\u2026.. Mama? Mama is that you?\u201d Storm ran to her mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh baby, yes it\u2019s me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMama where have you been? Where did you go? I went looking for you and you were gone, so was Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello little devil. How have you been? You certainly have grown up prettier than I thought you would.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam didn\u2019t miss that Storm took a step away when she saw Brady. \u201cMr. Nelson you had best watch yourself or you may find that you will be getting your first lesson.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam don\u2019t bother with him. He ain\u2019t worth bruisin\u2019 your knuckles over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo he\u2019s not, but you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lenora watched as her daughter ran into this man\u2019s arms. It was a welcome, although unexpected, sight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hoss took the luggage upstairs while Adam made the introductions after which Brady and Lenora were shown to their room. It didn\u2019t take long for Brady to fall asleep and once he was Lenora went in search of her daughter. She found her downstairs sitting on the settee with the man she was going to marry.<\/p>\n

Neither Storm nor Adam had heard Lenora come down, so when Storm happened to glance up and saw her standing at the foot of the stairs watching her and Adam she was a little surprised.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama, aren\u2019t you tired? I thought you would be resting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cResting? How could I possibly rest without first finding out what kind of a man it took to show my stubborn daughter that maybe all men weren\u2019t bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you ladies will please excuse me, I do believe you need some time to talk.\u201d Adam kissed Storm and went to see if perhaps his brothers could use his help.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe seems to be a good man Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a wonderful man, mama. Like none I have ever met before.\u201d Storm set about explaining everything that had happened. \u201cBut mama what about you? Where did you go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cColorado. Oh there\u2019s really not much to tell. I suppose my life was pretty much the same as it was in Piketon only a lot more lonely. I heard news of you here and there. I didn\u2019t like some of what I\u2019d heard but I always believed you could handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes mama I handled it. It wasn\u2019t always easy, but I handled it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I wish I could\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know mama. It\u2019s alright. Do you know what happened to Charlie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I don\u2019t. I know he left to go on that trip he always took that time of year, but he never came back. I like to think he met some nice woman and decided to settle down. I preferred that then to think he ran into any kind of trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes mama I believe he could have found someone. He\u2019s a very good man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, he certainly is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

\u00a0CHAPTER 9<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Kendall I really need to know where Storm is. She has a right to know what is in this document your wife left in my care. You are also aware that nothing can be finalized until she is found.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wharton, I have told you that Storm left with some man and is no longer here. Last I knew she was on her way to Nevada.\u201d Up until Wharton reminded him that without Storm nothing would be settled Thaddeus had well intended not to say where Storm was. He hadn\u2019t really known where she had run to and hadn\u2019t cared. It was only because of the invitation that he did now know where to find her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThan Mr. Kendall I will be leaving for Nevada.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFather I don\u2019t understand. How can this be true? Why didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Thaddeus had waited until he knew Mr. Wharton was on his way before he told Rachel.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had know Rachel I would have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes father you would have because then I could have taken better care of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere still may be some time. I received an invitation to Storm\u2019s wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWedding? You didn\u2019t tell me! When?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn September, so we still have four months.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes father, four months.\u201d<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

When Lenora came down and saw her daughter sitting in a chair and, by the looks of it, reading she realized just how much she loved Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a good book Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes mama. Very good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI must say if it\u2019s that good upside down, right side up it must be truly wonderful.\u201d
\n\u201cI miss him mama. I tried to read to take my mind off of him but it doesn\u2019t matter. It\u2019s as if every word brings him deeper and deeper into my thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you should try reading something other than \u2018Paradise Lost\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c I tried but I found every other book to be of no interest at all. At least this was able to keep me busy for a little while.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy Mr. Cartwright? What is it about that book?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt held a very special meaning for Adam\u2019s mother and myself. As a matter of fact it\u2019s where she chose his name from.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Maybe that\u2019s why it\u2019s always been one of your favorites.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe mama, maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben couldn\u2019t bare to see the forlorn look on Storm\u2019s face. He was also feeling a little guilty about being slightly happy to know how much she loved his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm they will be back tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Mr. Cartwright. I know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen cheer up. Pretty soon you won\u2019t be able to get away from him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow you should know if I want to I can always get away from him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe if you try he will just tie you up again.\u201d
\n\u201cHe\u2019s already got me tied and there isn\u2019t a rope in sight.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cI am very glad that I ran into you.\u201d Kevin Wharton couldn\u2019t believe his luck. On the stage to Nevada he had been lucky enough to run into a gentleman who not only knew who Storm was but also where she was. He rode out to the place he had been told to look for her, the Ponderosa.<\/p>\n

Storm had heard the horse ride up and had begun to get up to go outside when she realized it had only been one horse. If it were Adam she would have heard three horses because Hoss and Little Joe would be with him, so she sat back down. Ben and her mother were sitting outside. She knew it was because they couldn\u2019t stand being in the same room with her any longer. She had been in such a bad mood since Adam had left. Brady had been spending his time in Virginia City. Storm didn\u2019t believe this to be because of her mood, if anything seeing her miserable would make him happy, it was most likely because he feared what would happen to him if he slipped up and misbehaved.<\/p>\n

\u201cMay I help you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so. Are you Mr. Cartwright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I am.\u201d
\n\u201cI must say I was expecting someone younger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen perhaps it\u2019s one of my sons you are looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActually it\u2019s Miss. Storm Kendall I\u2019m looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThan it is one of\u2026\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two things happened that prevented Ben from finishing his sentence. First his three sons arrived home. Second the front door flew open and Storm ran out. Ben would have sworn that she was in Adam\u2019s arms before he was off his horse.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re home! You\u2019re finally home!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou had better be careful Storm. People might start to think you care for me.\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t care for you Adam, I love you.\u201d
\n\u201cAs I love you Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben observed as his two younger sons took the horses, their brother\u2019s included, and went to tend to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo tell me, did you miss me?\u201d It was a foolish question because judging by the greeting he had received she had missed him almost as much as he had missed her.<\/p>\n

Now that he was home Storm began to feel like herself again. She once again was able to tease.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I didn\u2019t miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh not at all?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot at all. Did you miss me?\u201d She prayed Adam wouldn\u2019t tease her because she wasn\u2019t too certain if she could take him saying he hadn\u2019t missed her even if it were only said in jest.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh bits and pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBits and pieces?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I missed your eyes, your nose,\u201d After mentioning each part he gently placed a kiss on it. \u201cyour ears, both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut mostly, your lips.\u201d This kiss lasted slightly longer then the others.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI have two lips.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you do my love, so you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

By now they had quite an audience, one to which they were blind to. Right at that moment, for each of them, they were the only two people in existence.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Joseph?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s he?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben had been so lost in watching his son\u2019s happiness that he had forgotten all about the stranger that had ridden up right before his sons. He once again turned to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, what was it you were saying?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe you were about to tell me I was looking for one of your sons. Judging from what I have just seen I believe it to be that one.\u201d
\n\u201cYes, much to my other two sons dismay. It would seem as though you have us at a slight disadvantage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSir?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know who we are but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wharton?\u201d Storm had just noticed the man standing on the porch. She supposed she should have sooner but up until now her eyes had been able to focus on only one face and now that she was certain he was here and safe her world was once again slowly opening up to include the others around her.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wharton what are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me? Why would you be looking for me?\u201d She began to fear that Rachel and her father had found some way to spoil her happiness yet again.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright would it be alright of we continued this inside?\u201d
\n\u201cYes of course, please forgive me.\u201d
\nOnce they were all inside and seated Storm again inquired of Mr. Wharton why he was there.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wharton I don\u2019t mean to be rude but why are you here? Is it something my father wants done?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Storm. I realize you probably think I work for Mr. Kendall but I don\u2019t, I never have. I work for Mrs. Kendall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut she\u2019s been dead for eight years now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat may well be but I still work for her, or at least I do until this last job she entrusted to me is completed.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat job?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, she left me in charge of delivering some rather important information. You see the money Mr. Kendall has been living on was only a small portion of the estate left to Miss. Hope Preston. This document is instructions as to who the balance of the inheritance goes to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Had he really ridden all this way to tell her she would get nothing? \u201cIt\u2019s alright Mr. Wharton. You shouldn\u2019t have bothered to ride all this way to tell me. I know it must go to Rachel, after all she is her daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo she\u2019s not Storm.\u201d Lenora knew the truth, she had hoped that Storm never would.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean mama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wharton would you mind very much if I explained this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would be Miss. Lenora Shore?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Mrs. Lenora Nelson now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no objections so long as what you say agrees with Mrs. Kendall\u2019s version.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. Storm you see Rachel is not Hope Kendall\u2019s daughter, you are.\u201d
\n\u201cNo I\u2019m not, I\u2019m your daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are my daughter in every way but blood. You see Hope thought her daughter would be better off if she weren\u2019t raised by a man like Thaddeus Kendall. She much preferred her to be raised where her father could keep an eye on her, could help to raise her into a person she knew she would be proud of. Hope came to me knowing I would want my daughter to have the benefits and privileges I thought money could give her. Hope was always smarter than me. She always knew money wasn\u2019t what was important, love was. She knew I would love you. At first I tried not to but you were such a beautiful baby. So good and so loving, you just loved to cuddle. You had eyes that could melt the coldest heart. In time I began to forget that you weren\u2019t my child. When Thaddeus came for you I didn\u2019t want to let you go, and if I had known the truth I wouldn\u2019t have. It was only later that I learned it was Thaddeus who had given Brady money to say what he had said.\u201d Lenora noticed how Adam had taken hold of Storm\u2019s hand. The way he had put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her towards him. She was surprised to see how Storm accepted his support.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf Thaddeus Kendall isn\u2019t my father, then who is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, who is the only man who ever behaved towards you as a father would?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie Bear mama. Mama are you saying that he\u2019s my father?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Storm, he\u2019s your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait, if I\u2019m Hope Kendall\u2019s daughter then is my name really Rachel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo your name is Storm. The only thing different is it wasn\u2019t because of a storm on the night you were born that you got that name but because when Charlie found out that Hope was to have his child he said you would bring with you a storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t Charlie want to marry Hope?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes he did, he even went to Mr. Preston to ask for permission, but Hope\u2019s father wouldn\u2019t hear of his daughter marrying a half-breed. He said it was bad enough he was his grandchild\u2019s father. He told Hope that if she wanted Charlie to stay alive she would marry Thaddeus. Of course Charlie told her that they could run away and be married but she knew her father would find her anywhere they would run. She told him she had a plan and he agreed to it but only because he knew she was right. They loved each other so very much but they loved you even more. They knew that you were more important than they were. Hope came to me just before you were born and told me what her plan was. It was just after Rachel was born that we switched babies. That\u2019s how much Thaddeus paid attention he didn\u2019t even realize that one day his child was bigger than the next. I took you away and raised you as my own, she raised Rachel. We both did our best. Fortunately for me I had her daughter to raise, unfortunately for her she had mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow could Rachel have become anything but what she is. Look at who her parents are, look who raised her most of her life. Perhaps if Hope had lived longer she might have grown up different.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright Mr. Wharton is that what\u2019s in the document you\u2019ve brought?\u201d Adam couldn\u2019t understand why it was so important for this to be known and after all this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of it but as I said it also deals with the estate Mrs. Kendall left. You see a portion was left in trust for Rachel. Mr. Kendall was also allowed a certain sum each year for expenses. If there were any funds needed above that amount it had to be approved by me.\u201d
\n\u201cMr. Wharton I\u2019m sure you can see that not only is Mrs. Nelson upset but so is Storm. So if you would please finish with whatever it is you have to say I would greatly appreciate it.\u201d Adam didn\u2019t like to see either one of them as distressed as they were.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. You know if you were any other man I would tell you that you were a very lucky one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wharton I believe myself to indeed be very lucky.\u201d
\n\u201cYes I suppose any man would consider himself lucky if he were to find himself married to such a beautiful young lady but you have also married a very rich one as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wharton. There is something you should know. Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright Storm, I think we can trust him.\u201d<\/p>\n

So again Storm told the truth of their situation only this time she left out quite a few details that weren\u2019t necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad to see that you have trusted me. You are so very much like your mother. Now to get back to the reason for my being here. You see in accordance with Mrs. Kendall\u2019s wishes, upon completion of your twenty-first year, which I do believe has passed, you inherit a rather large sum of money.\u201d Wharton turned to Ben. \u201cMr. Cartwright have you any knowledge of the Prestons?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe I have heard that name before. They made a rather large sum of money and invested it very wisely.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes they did. Mrs. Kendall left strict orders as to how that money is to be divided. She stated that the house and lands are to be Thaddeus\u2019s and Rachel\u2019s. She never thought you would be living there but she did stipulate that if you had need of them they would also be yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no need of them Mr. Wharton.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine. They are both to be given one half million dollars each from the money now remaining and you are to get the balance after that deduction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBalance? I suppose it\u2019s not much after one million is deducted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s where you would be wrong Mrs. Nelson. The balance, after the deduction is almost double that. Would you care to look over the figures Miss. Kendall? I did bring the books with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Storm was in shock. How could this be? She wouldn\u2019t know what to do with all that money. She pleadingly turned to the one person she was sure would help her. \u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetheart, it\u2019s your money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut once we\u2019re married it will be our money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce we\u2019re married but we\u2019re not yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wharton, if I wanted to and I refused to take the money would it go back to Rachel and fath\u2026Mr. Kendall?\u201d<\/p>\n

Lenora was happy to hear that Storm could easily stop calling Thaddeus father but she still called her mama.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid not Storm. It would remain in trust for your children or in the unlikely event that you were to have no children it would go to some charities that Mrs. Kendall has listed. Mrs. Kendall felt that it was time Rachel and Mr. Kendall learned to survive without leaning on her. She didn\u2019t think that they would be capable of going through the money she\u2019d left them but if they did then they would have to find their own way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wharton will you join us for supper and also accept my invitation to stay at the Ponderosa for the remainder of your visit here?\u201d
\n\u201cThat is a very generous and welcome offer Mr. Cartwright. I\u2019m sorry now that I had planned to stay for only two days.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

That night Storm found it very difficult to fall asleep. No matter how she tried to think of other things everything in her life that she had believed to be true but wasn\u2019t kept going through her mind, which made sleep impossible to find. She decided to go to the one person she knew could help her make sense of everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam are you awake?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam hadn\u2019t fallen asleep because he had been expecting Storm to come in at any moment ever since they had all said their goodnights. He had known how upset she was and knew she would need to talk.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce again you have snuck into my room.\u201d He reached out and pulled her into bed beside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd once again this is not the reason.\u201d
\n\u201cReally? Tell me Storm will it ever be the reason you sneak to my bedside?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, once we are married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut then you won\u2019t have to sneak.\u201d
\n\u201cAdam, do you still wish to marry me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm what is it?\u201d He had known she would want to talk but never thought it would be about whether or not he wanted to marry her. She sounded so uncertain and fearful.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mother is not my mother, my father is not my father. So how can I just take for granted that you would still want to marry me when I\u2019m not who you believed me to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm you are everything I know you to be. Who your mother is, who your father is, doesn\u2019t change who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen help me Adam, tell me who I am?\u201d
\n\u201cYou are the woman I love. The woman who is going to be my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam.\u201d<\/p>\n

He felt her fingers on his face and knew it was time for her to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm before you go back to your own bed,\u201d He anxiously wished for the day his bed was also hers. \u201cI want you to think about the good that comes of all this.\u201d
\n\u201cThe good? What good?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook at all the money you have. You can do anything you want with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything Adam? Could I use it to bribe you into letting me stay here tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should know that I can not be bought for any sum of money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam just how much did Mr. Kendall offer you to marry me?\u201d
\n\u201cYou know I never did ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam do you think that I could use it to find Charlie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we could find someone who would do just that. There is one more benefit, besides the money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSince Thaddeus Kendall isn\u2019t your father, Rachel is not your sister.\u201d
\n\u201cI suppose that is a very good point.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm would you have really given the money back to them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need money to make me happy Adam, I only need you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cGo back to your room, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

She again grudgingly got out of his bed. \u201cYes Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*******<\/p>\n

It took some, but not too much, talking to convince Kevin Wharton to stay until after the party on Saturday. It was at this party that everyone would be told of the wedding.<\/p>\n

As everyone began to arrive Storm had still not come down.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam where is that lovely wife of yours?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019ll be down soon Mrs. Simmons.\u201d Adam went in search of Storm\u2019s mother to see if perhaps she could go and find out what was keeping Storm.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm what is taking you so long?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMama? Please come in. I can\u2019t decide what to wear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm now is hardly\u2026..My God child, you\u2019re beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally mama? Do you really think I\u2019m beautiful?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe prettiest thing I have ever seen. Now why don\u2019t we go on down, everyone is waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, especially Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I specifically asked after him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot in words maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMama, I love him so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know and so does he.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm finally made her appearance and everyone agreed that it had been well worth the wait.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re absolutely lovely Storm.\u201d
\n\u201cThank you Mr. Cartwright. Where\u2019s Adam?\u201d She had searched for his face among all the ones looking at her and hadn\u2019t seen it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe he\u2019s over there talking with Alice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you I think I will go and see what they are talking about this time.\u201d She saw the look on Ben\u2019s face. \u201cDon\u2019 worry, I promise to behave.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm came up behind them and heard enough of their conversation to know what it had been about.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam why would you marry her? She can\u2019t be as good a wife to you as I would be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlice, I am sorry if I mislead you in any way but the truth is that I love Storm.\u201d
\n\u201cBut Adam I thought\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou thought wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam quickly turned around and faced her. \u201cStorm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s alright Adam, I\u2019m not going to do anything. Now if you will kindly remove your hand from my husband\u2019s arm, Miss. Fisher.\u201d Storm had heard the room get quiet and knew all were waiting for the scene they were sure would follow.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour husband?! You did something! You had to! You tricked him somehow!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlice it may be best if you went home.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNO! What did she do to you Adam? I swear I will find out!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss. Fisher, I will ask you once more to remove your hand from Adam\u2019s arm. If you don\u2019t I will break every finger on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam could tell by the smile on Storm\u2019s face as she had said this that no one else had any idea that she had done anything more than say something to try and make Alice calm down. What frightened him was that he knew by the look in her eyes that she meant what she had said.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d He knew he was the only one who stood the slightest of chances to stop this before it went any further. \u201cStorm may I have this dance?\u201d He was thankful that the music had started up again. He didn\u2019t know that this was in thanks to his father.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d love to Adam.\u201d
\nHe pulled out of Alice\u2019s grasp. As he led Storm away he made sure to pass by Mr. Fisher. He suggested that perhaps Alice wasn\u2019t feeling well and perhaps it would be best if she went home.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam.\u201d She felt very happy in his arms. \u201cI don\u2019t think that Alice likes me very much.\u201d
\n\u201cI would have to agree with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not angry with me are you?\u201d
\n\u201cNo Storm, I\u2019m not angry. I\u2019ll just be very happy when I truly am your husband.\u201d
\n\u201cNot as happy as I.\u201d She laid her head on his chest and found that the beating of his heart was more enjoyable to listen to than the music and it\u2019s rhythm was one she found dancing too came quite naturally to her because it was one she had been dancing to long before she had even met him.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER 10<\/p>\n

A few days later found Adam out checking on how their house was coming along. He had Storm pick out where she wanted it and he was building it, with a little help of course. The design was entirely his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s coming along real nice Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes it is pa. I just hope Storm likes it.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m sure she will.\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s getting late, maybe we should head on back to the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is a very good idea. I\u2019m sure Storm must be missing you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if she is missing me but I\u2019m sure missing her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd to think on how well you two treated each other the first time I saw you together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue enough pa but think of the alternative. If we hadn\u2019t behaved like that and, well, decided that perhaps it wasn\u2019t so bad being married to each other\u2026..just remember we weren\u2019t really married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you would have been.\u201d
\n\u201cBut then it would have been you holding the shotgun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right son, I\u2019m just not too sure of which one of you I would have needed to point it at.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Storm had gone outside to see if Adam was coming. She thought she had heard a horse but didn\u2019t see anyone. She turned to go back into the house when she really did hear a horse, in fact it sounded like four horses. She began to turn around again thinking that Adam had met his brothers and father and was returning with them when she heard another sound. While she understood what this sound was when she heard it, she fully comprehended what it was when she felt it.<\/p>\n

Adam and Ben had been riding to the house when they had met up with Hoss and Little Joe. As they approached the house they had seen Storm turn around and head back towards the front door. They also saw her begin to turn around at the sound of their horses. Then they heard the gunshot and saw her fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss that shot came from over there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph.\u201d Ben saw as he started to follow after Hoss. \u201cNo Joseph, you go and get the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben watched as Little Joe turned his horse towards town and Hoss went to go in search of who had done this. These were things he saw only briefly and out of the corner of his eye. What he saw mostly was Adam as he gently lifted Storm off the ground and carried her into the house. He followed after him saying a prayer with each step he took.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s happened?\u201d Lenora had heard the sound but hadn\u2019t thought anything of it. Then she saw Adam cradling Storm in his arms as he carried her. \u201cOh no! Storm! Is she\u2026\u201d Lenora feared the worst.<\/p>\n

\u201cNO! and she\u2019ll be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam carried her upstairs and laid her in his bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, Storm\u2019s room is over there.\u201d
\n\u201cI think she\u2019ll be happier in here Lenora.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam.\u201d Only after she felt Adam\u2019s arms leave her did she find the strength to open her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHush Storm.\u201d
\n\u201cKiss me Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will once we\u2019re married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I have no intentions of leaving you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t let you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sat there holding her hand and trying to get the bleeding to stop. After a while Storm looked around and realized that something was wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, this is your room.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cI didn\u2019t sneak in this time.\u201d
\n\u201cThis time? What\u2019s this about sneaking?
\n\u201cNothing pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of a sudden I don\u2019t feel so good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what I\u2019ve heard it could be because you\u2019ve been shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm knew it had nothing, or very little, to do with the bullet but the fear of Ben becoming angry at her again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Paul.\u201d
\n\u201cBen, Adam. Why don\u2019t you two go and let me see just how bad this is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNO. Please Adam, please don\u2019t go.\u201d Suddenly she was afraid. If she did die she wanted his face to be the last thing she saw.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, please stay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul would it be alright if I stayed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomehow I feel I wouldn\u2019t be able to get you to leave and besides she is your wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

So Ben and Lenora went downstairs to join Little Joe.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is she pa?\u201d
\n\u201cBetter than I thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be too sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean Lenora?\u201d
\n\u201cBen, Storm always, no matter how much pain she was in or how sick she felt, made you believe she was fine.\u201d
\nThey had been waiting about twenty minutes when Hoss came and joined them.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you find who did this Hoss? Ben had been almost afraid to ask. Since no one was with his son and Hoss hadn\u2019t had time enough to have brought someone to the sheriff that left only one alternative if he had found someone and Ben didn\u2019t like to think that that was what had happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo pa. I tracked as far as I could, then I lost the trail. In the morning I\u2019ll go back and see if I can pick it up again. How\u2019s Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul is up there with her now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s with her as well Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

They waited another hour before Dr. Paul Martin finally came down.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul how is she?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not really sure Ben. If I go by how she acted, at least until she passed out, I would say that she is better than you or I. If I go by the wound, how deep the bullet was, how much blood she lost, I would tell you that she\u2019s pretty bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou told Adam this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have to, he was there. Adam said that she was heading into the house but had turned around when she heard you riding up.\u201d
\n\u201cYes Paul, that\u2019s right.\u201d
\n\u201cThen thank God she turned Ben. If she hadn\u2019t it\u2019s not a wedding you\u2019d be planning.\u201d
\nAdam stayed with Storm all night, he didn\u2019t leave the spot he\u2019d been in since Paul had begun to take the bullet out. She had lain on her stomach and he had lain beside her. She had asked him to lay there so that she could look into his eyes because there she would be able to find any strength she would need.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is she doing son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright I guess pa. There isn\u2019t a man I know of who would have taken it like she did. Not one yell, oh a whimper here and there, even though I knew she was hurting because I could see it in her eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019ll be alright son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho would do this pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know but we will find out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

It was a very rough two days. That was how long it took for Storm to wake up. It was sometime after midnight when she did. Instead of Adam\u2019s open eyes she found herself looking at his sleeping face. She was pleased to see that he was as handsome asleep as he was awake. She didn\u2019t want to wake him but couldn\u2019t resist the urge to do what she wanted. She reached over and tenderly stroked his cheek. She watched as his eyes slowly opened and wondered if this was how it would be every morning after they were married. She saw that at first his eyes were filled with worry and fear but once he realized that she too was awake, she watched that worry and fear be replaced by relief and love.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, will you kiss me now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou certainly do have a one track mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you saying you disapprove of the track it\u2019s on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot for one minute.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were still lost in that kiss when Ben came into the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to see how she was doing and judging from the looks of things the answer would be very well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes pa, very well indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that she is awake I think it would be best if you go and stay in her room son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe you\u2019re right pa.\u201d
\n\u201cMust you? Why can\u2019t you stay here? Suddenly I feel very weak.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that if you feel that badly I will stay with you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh mama, it\u2019s not the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not at all, but until you are properly married it\u2019s what you will have to settle for.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

 <\/p>\n

It was two weeks after Storm was up and around that Rachel and her father came to the Ponderosa again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope the invitation to the wedding is still good Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, of course it is, but Storm didn\u2019t honestly believe you would accept it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was mistaken. We gladly accept it.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Adam and Storm returned from the ride they\u2019d been on they were both surprised to find them there.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm how are you? Mr. Cartwright has informed us that someone tried to kill you.\u201d
\n\u201cYes Rachel\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cAre you really so surprised by that fact?! You know Storm said it was you who planned everything in Keegan\u2019s Bluff. I defended you! I said I didn\u2019t believe that\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cAdam.\u201d She placed her hand on his arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRachel may be capable of many things, but not that.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm I\u2019m not saying that she pulled the trigger, there are men who are more than willing to do that for the right amount of money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that Adam but there was no way for her to have gotten to Brady. She didn\u2019t even know he was here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBrady? Are you saying you know that he is the one who shot you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know for sure, I just know I haven\u2019t seen him since then. Has anyone?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm that is hardly proof that he is the one who tried to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know mama but maybe he figured if I were dead before I was married, before I had any children, the money would go to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has to know that\u2019s not true. I\u2019m not really your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, maybe he didn\u2019t think it completely through. Maybe he was just too drunk to think straight. I\u2019m not really sure, but Adam I am sure it wasn\u2019t Rachel. You see she knows the particulars of the money. She knows with me dead she wouldn\u2019t stand a chance to beg or borrow anymore than what she already has. She knows me well enough to know that I would have made sure to have Mr. Wharton draw up a very legal document stating to whom the money would go to if anything were to happen to me. Right Rachel?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and I am sure it wouldn\u2019t have been me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo it isn\u2019t you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we better get to looking for Brady.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Hoss, maybe we better.\u201d Ben should have realized before now that Mr. Nelson hadn\u2019t been seen for quite a while. He figured that he, along with everyone else, had been too busy worrying about Storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe we should go tell the sheriff. I don\u2019t want any one of you going out there and looking for him. I don\u2019t want any of you to risk getting hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh I\u2019m not worried about you being fine or not Joseph. It\u2019s just that my wedding plans have all been made and each one of you is a part of them. I won\u2019t have my plans ruined because one of you goes and gets hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow caring?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind how caring Adam.\u201d Storm tried to remain in the present state of mind she was in but found it impossible. \u201cI just couldn\u2019t stand it if any of you got hurt because of me. I love you all so very much. I\u2019m fine, so there is no reason for you to go looking for him. He will probably come back anyway, once he sees no one is following after him he\u2019ll figure that no one suspects him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe she\u2019s right son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m discovering that maybe she\u2019s usually right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you start off better then most men do. It can take years of marriage for a man to realize that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue enough pa but if you go by the facts we\u2019ve been kinda married for about six months now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut without the usual distractions a wife can cause, so you\u2019ve had more time to think.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew it was more of a question than statement. \u201cYes Mr. Kendall too much time with nothing to do but think.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Rachel we best be getting into town. It\u2019s getting rather late.\u201d
\n\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew only too well what she was asking he just wished he could understand why. \u201cYes Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Kendall would you like to stay here?\u201d
\n\u201cThat would be very nice, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t thank me, thank Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

A few days later there was a visitor that was unexpected.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs Adam at home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid not, I\u2019m the only one here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just who are you?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m Rachel Kendall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you must be related to that\u2026.that\u2026to Adam\u2019s wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel heard in this woman\u2019s voice what she herself felt about Storm. She recognized that she had just found an ally, one that might prove to be very useful.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t like Storm do you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Miss. Kendall, I don\u2019t. Before she showed up Adam was going to marry me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Than perhaps you would like to know the truth of their marriage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rachel told Alice everything, or at least everything she felt she needed to know. It was agreed between them that Alice\u2019s visit would bet kept between the two of them, they both felt no one needed to know of it just yet.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cSo what do you plan on wearing to the party tonight Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know Adam. Is there something that you would like for me to wear?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam knew if he said what he was thinking, what he knew Storm was trying to imply, this would go very differently then he had planned. \u201cI have always thought you look rather lovely in that pretty sky blue dress of yours. You know it really isn\u2019t so important what dress you wear so long as you wear what\u2019s in this box.\u201d<\/p>\n

He took the box out of his pocket. Why was he so nervous? It wasn\u2019t as if she were going to refuse him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you open it and find out?\u201d<\/p>\n

She opened the box to reveal the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. \u201cAdam what is it for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a betrothal ring Storm. So everyone will know that you are going to be my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam as far as everyone knows I already am your wife so this really wasn\u2019t necessary, and besides it\u2019s not something I need.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. I didn\u2019t get it because I thought it necessary or because I thought you needed it, I got it because I wanted too. I was hoping it would have arrived sooner but I am glad that it got here for the party tonight.\u201d Adam put the ring on her finger and realized that she was one of the few woman he knew of who would have probably preferred a horse to the ring that fit her so perfectly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you so very much Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell if you don\u2019t let her get ready for the party she will never be able to show everyone else that beautiful ring, or just what a beautiful wife you will have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLenora if she gets any prettier she will have every girl jealous and every man envious.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf she does just think how proud you will feel to know that she loves you, besides don\u2018t you have to get ready as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMama he\u2019s already perfect, in fact he may be slightly overdressed for what\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSTORM!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right Lenora I best get going.\u201d He kissed Storm and slowly left the room.<\/p>\n

The guests began arriving and they were all greeted by smiling faces. Storm had gone with Adam\u2019s suggestion of the sky blue dress and everyone must have agreed it was good choice judging by all the compliments she received. When the Fishers arrived Storm didn\u2019t miss the look that passed between Alice and Rachel. She just assumed that they must instinctively recognize how very much alike they are.<\/p>\n

\u201cI must say Mr. Fisher I am surprised to see you here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam I\u2019m surprised that we are here as well. Alice was the one who insisted that we come. She said that she has something she wanted to say, but if you would like us to go I do understand and will be happy to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, of course you\u2019re welcome to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam assumed, as had Alice\u2019s parents, that she had finally realized that she was being unreasonable. That she had come to offer an apology to Storm for the way she had behaved and the things she had said.<\/p>\n

Only after Alice was sure everyone had arrived, or at least anyone of any importance, did she begin her speech.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s alright I would like to say a few words. When I first met you Storm I accused you of doing something to Adam, of somehow forcing him to marry you. Since then I have found out that I was right. Your sister has told me everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlice!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam, let her finish with what she has to say. Please Alice go on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour sister told me how you forced her to help you. That you knew who Adam was the first time you met him and how you came up with a plan that would force him into marrying you. You would let everyone believe, including him, that he had taken advantage of you. You knew that he would do what was right by you. You just couldn\u2019t convince the preacher to go along with the plan so you hired someone to perform the ceremony. Rachel said that her conscience wouldn\u2019t let her be so she knew she had to come and tell him the truth but that it was too late because Adam believed you to be his wife so he again has no choice but to marry you. Adam you don\u2019t have to go through with this, Rachel said that you weren\u2019t her first but you must already know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough Alice!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam let her continue. I would like to know what else Rachel has told her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat else? What more could there be? You can\u2019t expect to go through with this now. Everyone knows the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe truth Alice? You think that what you have said is the truth? I don\u2019t know about anyone else but the only truth I can see is that they love each other and because of it you\u2019re jealous. Adam looks at her as you wish he would look at you but that could be because she looks at him the same way, in a way that you never did or would be capable of doing. I am sure that, like me, no one else here has ever seen any other two people that move as one when dancing. Beside she didn\u2019t lie to us. Isn\u2019t it correct Frances, Esther that she told us it was a shotgun that got Adam to marry her? That may have been why Adam had to go through with the first wedding but it is not what is forcing him to go through with the second. Is it Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Mrs. Simmons. When Storm found out that our marriage wasn\u2019t legal and binding she left. She told pa to tell me that I was free of her. The only problem was I didn\u2019t want to be free of her and I could never be free of her. It only took one night for me to realize that. I was going to go after her but I never got the chance to leave. It seemed as if I\u2019m as much a part of her heart as she is of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDAMN YOU! Why couldn\u2019t you have just died! If that stupid Brady would have just aimed a little bit better you would be dead and I would be marrying Adam!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlice what are you saying?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m saying that I should have searched for a better gunman. One that would have earned his money and done the job right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou? YOU\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, no.\u201d Storm stepped between him and Alice. \u201cLeave it go, please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm you heard what she said. She hired Brady to kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I heard. Maybe I can see it from her point of view better than you. I can understand how easy it is to love you so much.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm you would never do what she has done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I wouldn\u2019t. That could be because I love you more than she does. I would rather be miserable my whole life if it meant you would be happy for the rest of your\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlbert it might be a good idea if you took Alice home. I\u2019m sure we can wait until tomorrow to deal with her confession.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe you\u2019re right Ben. I am truly sorry for all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

In spite of Alice\u2019s and Rachel\u2019s attempt to embarrass Storm the party turned out to be very enjoyable for everyone. Of course anything that allowed Storm to be in Adam\u2019s arms was something she found enjoyable. Thinking back on it Adam couldn\u2019t say who had said it first but by the end of the night just about everyone there had teased him that this was the only way he could have ever gotten someone like Storm to marry him anyway.<\/p>\n

\u201cMrs. Simmons before you leave I would like to thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor what? Telling the truth?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo for recognizing it. For being willing to speak it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm do you want to know a secret?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t think there were any left.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell perhaps one. I once had a very dear and close friend. She trusted me with a secret. I have never betrayed that trust but somehow I think she would want me to now. You, my dear, are so like her, so beautiful, so strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t understand Mrs. Simmons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat dear friend of mine? Her name was Hope Preston Kendall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew my mother?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, very well. That first time I saw you I began to suspect, then when I saw Mr. Wharton I began to believe my suspicions must be correct. Tonight when I saw Thaddeus here I knew it had to be true. Hope told me of her plan with Lenora but she also told me what she was planning to do with the money. She was a very smart person and she has a very smart daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will agree with you that she must have been very smart. I, on the other hand, am not so sure about myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, it takes a very smart person to realize that the best way to win a man\u2019s heart is to let it go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm was glad to discover someone she could talk to about her mother. She could talk to her mama but she had know her as an employer and perhaps a rival not that she ever believed she would say anything bad about her but she couldn\u2018t have known what was in her heart like a friend could. Mrs. Simmons had known her as a friend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thaddeus and Rachel had left the party right after the Fishers and had sent a message requesting that their things be sent to Virginia City. They left for Keegan\u2019s Bluff the following afternoon and when Storm heard this it was one bit of news she was very happy to hear.<\/p>\n

When Storm awoke the morning after the party she went downstairs and was surprised to find Adam already up. Even after all the guests had left Adam, Ben, Lenora, Storm, Little Joe and Hoss had all sat up and talked each not wanting the night to end. It was well past two in the morning before sheer exhaustion drove them to their beds. So it was not surprising that even Ben was still asleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re up early Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs are you but I\u2019ve been busy thinking about something that for some reason only occurred to me late last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh and what\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are Hope\u2019s daughter and Rachel is Lenora\u2019s that would mean that you are really seven months older than I originally thought. I\u2019m not so sure I want a wife that old.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? Maybe now that I\u2019m an heiress I don\u2019t want a husband who is a peasant such as you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeasant?\u201d Adam took hold of her and gently kissed her lips. \u201cI suppose you could find a king who could kiss you better?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably\u2026maybe\u2026..perhaps I could. Oh Adam kiss me again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything you wish my ladyship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAHEM. Good morning you two.\u201d Ben tried desperately to sound angry but knew he hadn\u2019t done a good job of it. Truth be told it pleased him much to much seeing his son so happy.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes good morning Mr. Cartwright.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have reminded me that there is something I have been meaning to ask you two for some time now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI recall someone mentioning something about someone sneaking into someone\u2019s room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ll go and help Hop-Sing with breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no you don\u2019t.\u201d Adam wrapped his arm around her waist. \u201cThis is your explanation, not mine. Remember it was you doing the sneaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, but it was you making the wrong assumption.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat assumption?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs to why I was coming into your room. Each time it was only to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes that is what you said.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood morning Storm, Adam, Ben. Storm don\u2019t you think we should get as early a start as we possibly can? The wedding dress won\u2019t make itself you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes mama. Adam can you take us into town?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose. Hoss and I were going to go into town anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Immediately after breakfast and long before Ben could again ask for his explanation they were on their way to Virginia City. Once they were in town they went their separate ways with a promise to meet for lunch.<\/p>\n

Storm and Lenora went to the dress shop and looked over every choice they had, some twice, before they finally decided on one. Measurements were taken and they left with a promise that it would be done in time for the wedding. They arrived at the restaurant a little later than the agreed on time so were surprised when they were told that neither Hoss nor Adam were waiting. They had been invited to sit inside and wait but it was such a beautiful day they chose to wait outside. While they were there they saw Sheriff Coffee running towards them.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm come quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? What\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething\u2019s happened to him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo but I\u2019m afraid he just might kill Brady. You are the only one who might be able to stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm and Lenora followed Roy to the saloon. He explained as they ran that Hoss and Adam were there having a beer when Brady strolled in. As soon as Adam saw him he was on him.<\/p>\n

When they got to the saloon Storm was the first one inside and she could see that Roy\u2019s worries were well founded. It looked as if Adam had already beaten Brady half to death.<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM!\u201d At the sound of her voice his fist froze in mid-air. \u201cI told you once he wasn\u2019t worth bruising your knuckles over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I told you that you were. He tried to kill you Storm! He almost did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019re going to beat him to death? Then what? I won\u2019t have you kill for me Adam. Don\u2019t get me wrong, I\u2019m flattered that you would but I don\u2019t want you too. Please Adam. Please?\u201d<\/p>\n

She heard him take a few deep breaths, watched him release his hold on Brady, and saw Brady fall to the floor. He was badly beaten but alive. She could tell from Adam\u2019s eyes that he was once more thinking rationally. He came to where she was standing and gently stroked her cheek. Then he took her in his arms and kissed her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you Storm.\u201d
\n\u201cAs I love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

They left as Roy went to collect Brady.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER 11<\/p>\n

The wedding quickly drew near and Storm found herself wishing things were a little different. Whenever she was with Adam she could dismiss what was bothering her because she could rationalize that if he was the one waiting for her it really didn\u2019t matter how she got to him. It was only when she was alone that she would feel a little regretful.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey you look kind of sad. Not staring to have second thoughts about your decision to marry my son, are you?\u201d
\n\u201cNo never. I was just thinking that most girls have one father and they usually are there to give them away at their wedding. I have had three and yet not one is here to walk with me down the aisle.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm, I would be honored to walk with you. That is unless you think it may be hypocritical of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you really? I mean\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm why don\u2019t we give those detectives you hired to find Charlie a little more time. If they don\u2019t find him by the wedding then for that day and every one after I will gladly take on any and all responsibilities that come with being your father.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe you are the first man I would gladly accept as a father. The first one deserving of that title.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBesides Charlie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, in addition to Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

A week before the wedding both Lenora and Storm had moved into the hotel in town. They had used the argument that Storm would be closer to the church when the day arrived to convince her but that wasn\u2019t their true reason. Quite honestly both Ben and Lenora felt that it would do both Storm and Adam good to spend a little time apart.<\/p>\n

The day arrived to find Storm as nervous as any other bride. It wasn\u2019t because she was having any doubts about Adam but because she was having doubts about herself. Did she really deserve to be Adam\u2019s wife? She knew she would do her best to be a good one and she loved him so very much, but did that mean she was the one most worthy to carry the title of Mrs. Adam Cartwright?<\/p>\n

\u201cMama do you think everything is alright? Do you think Adam will be pleased?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy lord child you really do love him don\u2019t you?\u201d
\n\u201cWhat do you mean mama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI never thought I would see the day when you would actually care whether or not a man approved.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t! Well, maybe just for today.\u201d
\n\u201cBelieve me he is just as nervous as you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you really think so?\u201d
\n\u201cI know so.\u201d They both turned at the sound of Ben\u2019s voice. He had been let into the room but on not finding them in the sitting area he had gone into the bedroom knowing that if Storm were as anxious as his son she would most definitely be ready. \u201cHe\u2019s already at the church. Honestly though, I\u2019m not sure of who is more happy about this, him, his brothers, or me. You are a true vision of beauty Storm.\u201d
\n\u201cThank you. Is he really nervous? I hope he\u2019s not too bad. I don\u2019t want him to worry himself too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe will be fine, once he sees you and I suppose you will be just as fine once you see him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce I see him I will be absolutely perfect.\u201d
\n\u201cThen why don\u2019t we get started. It\u2019s nearly time.\u201d
\nBen took Storm\u2019s arm and led her out of the hotel. There were some people watching in the lobby and even more lining the street. They were mostly those that either didn\u2019t fit into the church or felt they didn\u2019t belong in one. Somehow word got to Adam before Storm did that she was the most beautiful bride anyone had ever seen. When he did see her he thought that she put even the Ponderosa to shame.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

They found themselves standing at the altar, each saying words they had already said before. This time, though, each said them with love, this time they gave their vows willingly to each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore I finish this ceremony I would like to say that it is good to see so many people here. Ben since it appears that for some of these people to come to church it takes one of your son\u2019s getting married I certainly wish you had more sons but as it would\u2026..\u201d
\n\u201cExcuse me Father?\u201d
\n\u201cYes Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAren\u2019t we up to the part where you tell Adam to kiss his bride?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe that was where we left off, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen would it be alright if he kisses me while you talk?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, of course. You had better kiss your bride Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam willingly did just that.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was much better than last time Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything will be much better than last time Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone left the church and headed back to the Ponderosa for a party that would remain in everyone\u2019s minds for all of their lives. They would often speak of it with fondness which helped it to live on and become a legend.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, the preacher, he really was a preacher right?\u201d<\/p>\n

They were dancing slowly when Storm had decided to dismiss this possibility from her mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Storm, we are very legally married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it would be alright if we left now, wouldn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose it would. But tell me Storm, before we go, is the only reason you wish to be alone with me is so that we can talk?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot this time Adam.\u201d
\nAdam enlisted his brother\u2019s help and he and Storm managed to sneak away before anyone realized that they had gone. As they pulled up in front of their house, Adam began to have doubts of his own. Maybe he should have consulted her more on the house\u2019s design. What if she didn\u2019t like it? Well, he thought, if that turned out to be the case he would just start all over. He helped her from the carriage and carried her inside. He finally put her down and it made him smile to see her running from room to room like some child in a candy store. She was so excited she didn\u2019t seem to know where to look first.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam are those all my books?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour\u2019s and mine. The ones that there were two of, of which there were quite a few, I took your\u2019s and left mine. Except, of course, \u2018Paradise Lost\u2019; I took both of those.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam mama said she left something on the bed for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lenora had mentioned something about it to Adam although she hadn\u2019t mentioned what it was. Adam had respected her wish that he not speak of it either.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what is wrong with that?\u201d
\n\u201cIt just doesn\u2019t make much sense to me. I figure it must be one of those\u2026well those fancy nightgowns and why should I go and take off what I have on to put something else on just so you can take it off? Seems to me like nothing more than a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm heard something in Adam\u2019s voice she had heard before but it had always been guarded. Which was fitting since she was beginning to feel something she had felt before but she had always tried to hide. As he took her into his arms and kissed her the feeling intensified until she could no longer deny it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

He removed his lips from her neck only long enough to allow him to answer her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Storm?\u201d
\n\u201cAdam, please. Please just listen to me for one minute.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong sweetheart?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m\u2026.I love you and I know you would never do anything to hurt me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d Suddenly his need for her wasn\u2019t as important as finding out why she sounded as if she were afraid of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI swear to you Adam, despite all the rumors to the contrary, I have never been with any man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm you have to know by now that it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d
\n\u201cI do know it but\u2026I\u2019m\u2026.what I mean is, Adam I\u2019m afraid.\u201d
\n\u201cThen we will take as long as you need to stop being afraid.\u201d He picked her up and carried her upstairs. Once at the top of the stairs he set her on her feet, took her hand and led her from room to room. He pointed out every detail. He saved their room till last.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam what\u2019s this room? Is it a closet? Why is there a window in the closet? Why are there two doors leading into it, one from our room and one from the hall?\u201d
\n\u201cStorm it\u2019s not a closet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s so small. It\u2019s hardly big enough to fit anything more than a bed and maybe a chair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm it will fit a chest of drawers, a cradle and a rocking chair just fine, believe me I made sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm it\u2019s a nursery.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean for a baby?\u201d Somehow that sounded good to her. She had always loved babies. Then she realized that what Adam meant was it would be a nursery for their baby. \u201cAdam, our baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Storm, our baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that realization came another one and it helped to ease her fears slightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what I\u2019ve heard Adam, there is only one way to get a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, and what way is that?\u201d
\n\u201cI believe someone said something about a stork bringing it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA stork?\u201d She had said it so innocently that he began to wonder if she really believed it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Are you saying that\u2019s not true?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m saying that is a fairy tale. The truth can be so much more enjoyable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShow me Adam, show me how enjoyable it can be.\u201d<\/p>\n

He still saw fear in her eyes but he could also see the fire of desire had begun to consume it. He again lifted her off her feet and carried her to their bedside.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam you had better take what mama has put on the bed off. It would be a shame to have it get all wrinkled for no reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think she knows you better than you thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Adam? Why do you say that?\u201d
\n\u201cOpen you eyes and look.\u201d
\nShe did and she saw why Adam had said what he had. There was no nightgown on the bed there was just a piece of paper.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does it say Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt says the heart wants what it wants.\u201d
\n\u201cYes it does, and Adam mine wants you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s already got me.\u201d
\n\u201cAlright, then maybe it\u2019s not my heart that wants you. Adam please.\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked into her eyes and could only see his need reflected there. He began removing her gown and was very glad when she once again stood before him as she had that night so many months ago. This time he took his time and examined every inch of her, not only with his eyes but his hands and lips as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d She could barely think clearly enough to make her lips move and say his name, she barely had enough breath to say anything else. \u201cAdam. Please Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

She felt him lift her and lay her on the bed. She quickly opened her eyes when she felt him leave the bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM?\u201d<\/p>\n

He heard the panic in her voice. \u201cStorm what\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t leave me. Please.\u201d Why did she suddenly fear that this had all been some cruel joke? That he would tell her that he was exacting his revenge and that everyone had been in on it.. That once again they were not really married.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeave you? Don\u2019t be silly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why did you get out of bed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I can take my clothes off as well. Maybe we should have hired Harry, he did a fine job of it last time.\u201d
\n\u201cAdam, would it be alright\u2026.I mean could I\u2026.\u201d
\nHe took her hands in his and wasn\u2019t sure of whose were trembling more. Together they removed his clothes and when they had all joined hers on the floor Storm found herself looking upon a man for the first time in her life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell?\u201d Adam found he was nervous at what her answer would be.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had known it was such a pleasant sight Adam, I would have remained in the room in Keegan\u2019s Bluff.\u201d
\n\u201cYou little vixen.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He gently pushed her till she was one again laying in their bed and he laid down beside her. He let his fingers and lips arouse in her a passion he knew of only one way to satisfy. Only when he knew she was ready by her breathing and in the way her body gently shivered with each of his caresses did he position himself over her. He had thought that perhaps her fear might return when she realized he had moved but her next action showed him that her fear had all but been lost in her need. She instinctively opened her legs to him. He put his hand underneath one knee and raised it and she seemed to understand because she followed suit with her other leg all by herself. As he prepared to enter her he found himself wishing he didn\u2019t believe that he would be her first because then he wouldn\u2019t feel so distressed over the knowledge that he would cause her pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

With that he lost all resolve, all ability to think of anything but their desire. He thrust forward and brought to an end many months of what they both now realized had been love unrecognized.<\/p>\n

Afterwards they both lay there their minds lost to their own thoughts, their bodies for the first time fully satisfied in a way they never had been before. Adam reached over and pulled her close to him and again she seemed to understand without words what he wanted. She knew he needed her as near as possible but only because it was a need she too felt. She lay there with her head on his chest listening to the rhythmic beating of his heart which helped to ease her into a calm state of mind. This may be why she found her tongue first and had enough control over her emotions to use it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I think I understand a little better now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstand what my love?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would they have settled for Paradise when in each others arms they could have heaven.\u201d
\n\u201cSo I guess sharing my bed has proven to be better than the desert or a forest of cacti.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch better. I guess now you will have to admit that nothing happened that night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething most definitely happened. I was forced to marry the only woman I could ever love.\u201d
\n\u201cBut we weren\u2019t really married.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot then, but we are now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once again they took each other to a heaven only two people who truly love each other can find when they become one. Yet again it was Storm, calmed by Adam\u2019s heart, who first spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, what time is it?\u201d
\n\u201cProbably around eleven thirty or maybe closer to midnight. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think that there are still people at the party?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than likely. Why?\u201d
\n\u201cDo you think that there is any food left?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you trying to tell me that you\u2019re hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery. I was so nervous about the wedding I hardly ate at all this morning. I threw what mama brought me out the window when she left the room so she wouldn\u2018t worry, or nag me. Then I was so nervous about what I knew would happen tonight that I hardly ate anything the rest of the day. Now with all the\u2026.well all the\u2026Adam I\u2019m starving.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you saying that you want to go back and get something to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you mind very much if we did?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, not at all. Truth be told sweetheart I\u2019m pretty hungry myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

They arrived back at the party to find that it seemed to be going as strong as when they had left. There were even some people who hadn\u2019t realized that they had been gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm is there something wrong?\u201d Lenora began to fear that Storm had been too afraid and she knew Adam would have never forced her.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo mama we\u2019re just real hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHungry?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cStorm maybe it\u2019s time for you to start calling me Ben.\u201d
\n\u201cYes Mr\u2026.Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would seem pa that neither one of us ate very well earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes and it was a very exciting day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd an ever more exciting evening Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMAMA!\u201d Her smile betraying that she totally agreed with her mother and was not really angry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe there is still some food. Why don\u2019t you go and find Hop-Sing and ask him.\u201d Ben was sure even if there is none left Hop-Sing would gladly make them anything they wished.<\/p>\n

Adam and Storm went in search of Hop-Sing and food. Little Joe and Hoss saw them and were both a little surprised to see them back. They went to find their father wondering if maybe he knew why.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa is something wrong?\u201d
\n\u201cWrong Joseph?\u201d
\n\u201cYes. Why are Adam and Storm back?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would appear as if they are hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHungry?\u201d
\n\u201cYes Hoss, hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut they ain\u2019t done nothin\u2019 but get married. How hungry can you get doin\u2019 that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSon it\u2019s not the wedding, if done right, it\u2019s what usually follows that can give you an appetite.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs something wrong Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Storm, nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben was surprised to see just how red Hoss could turn. \u201cSo have you two gotten enough to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes pa I believe so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you going to head back home?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so Little Joe. Now that I\u2019m no longer hungry I am very sleepy.\u201d Storm was also anxious to return to their bed. She had liked how she had felt lying next to Adam. She felt safe and secure. She no longer felt that every burden, every worry that would come her way she would have to carry alone. Of course she was also anxious to satisfy another kind of hunger that she was beginning to feel, one that she knew only Adam could arouse in her, one only he could satisfy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

They awoke the next day to a very tempting smell. It wasn\u2019t really morning but early afternoon and when they hadn\u2019t shown up for breakfast Ben, knowing there was no food at their house or they wouldn\u2019t have ridden all the way back to the party last night, after feeling he had waited long enough asked Hop-Sing if he wouldn\u2019t mind going over to prepare something for them to eat. Hop-Sing hadn\u2019t minded at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cHop-Sing what are you doing here?\u201d
\n\u201cYou father ask me to come and cook you breakfast when you no show up at house. He tell me to ask you to come for dinner later tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell pa we\u2019ll be there. He knows only too well there is no food here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. I go and start dinner right now. Good morning Miss Storm. Mr. Adam she sure is pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Hop-Sing she sure is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Hop-Sing and good afternoon. It was very nice of you to come and fix us something and thank you so much for the wonderful food yesterday.\u201d
\n\u201cYou welcome and I see you tonight.\u201d
\nAfter they had finished the fine meal Hop-Sing had prepared for them, Adam suggested that they go into town and pick up some supplies.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd have everyone thinking that I wasn\u2019t enough of a temptation to keep you here?\u201d
\n\u201cWhy Storm Margaret Cartwright, you have become quite a\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Adam finished Storm removed the robe she had put on to reveal that had been all she had put on.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite a what Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite a temptress.\u201d<\/p>\n

He again carried her to the bed and once again made sure very inch of her body ached with a need for him before he was willing to satisfy it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

At supper that evening everyone was pleased to see how happy they were. From the smile on her daughter\u2019s face Lenora knew that she was no longer afraid, if she ever was.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo have you any plans on where you would like to go for your wedding trip?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hadn\u2019t really spoken much about it pa. Storm is there somewhere you would like to go, or would you prefer to think on it a little longer?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t need to think on it Adam. I want to stay right here. I have a new house and a new husband to keep me busy. Quite frankly going anywhere would just be a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I remember how you hate to waste any time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the redness she could feel coming to her face she didn\u2019t look away when she answered him. \u201cYes Adam. As I recall it was you who wasted most of the time yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Taking me on a tour of the house as if I wouldn\u2019t have the rest of my life to examine it. Which reminds me we had better go into town and pick up some supplies. I can\u2019t believe you forgot to stock the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetheart the kitchen wasn\u2019t the room most on my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM.\u201d She knew that her cheeks must be a very bright shade of red and decided to find a way to avoid anything that might lead to her turning even redder. \u201cMama will you please come and help me pack up some of my clothes. That is another thing Adam forgot to bring over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat could be because I was sure you wouldn\u2019t be wanting them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM!\u201d<\/p>\n

She ran upstairs with Lenora close behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d
\n\u201cYes pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t nice.\u201d
\n\u201cNo pa it wasn\u2019t, but it sure was fun.\u201d
\n\u201cI think you should know that there is a wagon outside loaded with enough supplies to last for awhile.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks pa, I\u2019m sure Storm will appreciate it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I\u2019m sure she will but like her I too feel you have wasted more than enough time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust what are you saying pa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m saying I want a grandchild as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will try my best pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CHAPTER 12<\/p>\n

Two weeks after their wedding Adam was out with Hoss and Little Joe getting everything ready for the upcoming winter. While they were out repairing some fences a stranger approached them.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me but is any of you Adam Cartwright?\u201d
\n\u201cYes I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam would, for one of the first times in his life, regret admitting to his name. Before the answer was completely out of his mouth he was hit by a punch that felt like it had been thrown by a bull. His brother\u2019s didn\u2019t react fast enough to prevent him from being hit twice more. Finally Hoss and Little Joe managed to restrain the stranger but only by knocking him unconscious. They tied his hands, put him in the back of the wagon, and went to help their brother.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam are you alright?\u201d
\n\u201cYeah, I think so Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you do to that fella\u2019?\u201d
\n\u201cI have no idea. Hoss, I\u2019ve never seen him before in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe would you forget if you had ever crossed a man like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. We had better get you back to Storm. Boy are you gonna\u2019 be in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna\u2019 be in trouble? Why am I gonna\u2019 be in trouble Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way I figure it with your lip swelling up the way it is you won\u2019t be able to kiss Storm for at least a day or two.\u201d Joe hadn\u2019t missed how Storm insisted on Adam kissing her whenever he left, he also hadn\u2019t missed how Adam never seemed to mind very much.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle brother, you will learn that there are some things if done right are worth any amount of pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened!?\u201d All Storm saw was Adam and blood, anything beyond that she could care less for. \u201cSit down while I go and get something to\u2026.Adam are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

He had heard the sternness of her voice give way to distress and then he saw the tears begin to fail. \u201cStorm I\u2019m fine. I\u2019ll be just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

She disappeared into the kitchen to reappear only a few minutes later with a basin of cool water and some rags. Little Joe and Hoss watched as she was tending to Adam and wondered if he hadn\u2019t planned this whole thing. They both knew better, though, because Adam wouldn\u2019t have to be hurt for Storm to treat him as she was, they had seen her treat him like this before when he was in perfect health. They both knew she loved their brother very much and they were both very happy for it, if not for the fact that he was their brother and they loved him then because when Adam was happy life for them was much easier. When the door burst open her reaction was not what was expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cYOU! You did this to him?!\u201d To everyone\u2019s surprise she went to the man standing in the doorway and punched him rather forcibly on his arm. \u201cWhy did you do this?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm why don\u2019t you step aside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, put that gun away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam noticed that the very large stranger had actually cringed at the anger in Storm\u2019s voice. He had actually backed away when she hit him. \u201cPut it away Joe. Storm, sweetheart, do you know this gentleman?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKnow him? Of course I know him Adam. This is Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie do you mean your Charlie Bear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm you never mentioned that you called him bear because he was as big as one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam will you please stop talking you\u2019re only making you lip bleed more.\u201d She went back to tend to him. \u201cYOU!\u201d she pointed to Charlie. \u201cYou sit down over there! Hoss will you please untie him.\u201d Once he was untied and seated she again directed her comments towards him while she sat down next to Adam. \u201cMay I ask why you beat my husband?\u201d
\n\u201cWhy? Cause a what he\u2019s done to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDone to me? Just what is it you think he\u2019s done to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe shamed you into marrying him all because he knew you had money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie does it look like he needs money?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe not now but Thaddeus said\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThaddeus said! Are you saying you honestly believed something he said?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot without asking around some.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will tell you what happened and then you are going to tell me what happened to you.\u201d She told him the true version of her and Adam\u2019s first wedding and all that had followed that had led up to their second. \u201cThat is how and why we\u2019re married. Now where have you been for the last seven years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPrison Storm. I\u2019ve been in prison.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPrison? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam found himself still amazed at how quickly her anger could give way to concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people say I robbed a store. Even the fella who owned the store said it was me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis wasn\u2019t in Keegan\u2019s Bluff?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Canter Ridge.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s the next town out. What makes you think he wouldn\u2019t have some influence there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose he could have had something to do with it. He knew that I always went to visit Hope\u2019s grave on her birthday. He also knew that he was going to get you and he wouldn\u2019t want me to interfere with that.\u201d
\n\u201cI think he was beginning to think you might tell the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe truth?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, as far as he knew you were Rachel\u2019s father. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know about that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I do; papa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm there were so many times I wanted to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went and hugged her, not for the first time but for the first time they both knew he was her father. As they released each other Storm once again had some criticism to offer.<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa when is the last time you took a bath? I\u2019ll go heat up some water because you are taking one right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she disappeared into the kitchen Charlie turned to Adam. \u201cNice to know that some things haven\u2019t changed. She always was honest, sometimes too honest. Adam I\u2019m sorry I guess\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t apologize. You did what you did because you thought I had in some way wronged Storm. I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Once Charlie was what Storm deemed as presentable, they did just that. Lenora was happy to see he was safe, happy to know that Storm had her father back. It was only a few weeks after Charlie had returned that Lenora brought up something she knew Storm wouldn\u2019t like but she knew it had to be done.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes mama?\u201d
\n\u201cI should be returning to Colorado.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? You could stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Lenora, you are more than welcome here.\u201d Adam knew how sad Storm would be to see her mother leave and if it was one thing he hated was seeing her sad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that but I have to sell the house there if I\u2019m ever going to return here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut mama you can\u2019t go alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right Storm, that\u2019s why I\u2019ve offered to go with her.\u201d
\n\u201cBut papa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo buts. We will be back as soon as the house is sold. I promise.\u201d
\nStorm knew Charlie had never broken a promise he\u2019d made to her. \u201cAlright but if you don\u2019t hurry back I\u2019ll come looking for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I am sure you would find us.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

A few weeks later they headed off to Colorado and thankfully a few days after that Dexter came to speak with Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Cartwright there is something I wish to ask you.\u201d
\n\u201cDexter please call me Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you know how I\u2019ve been savin\u2019 up so I could send for my girl back in Keegan\u2019s Bluff?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, as I recall Storm mentioned that you wanted to buy some land there.\u201d
\n\u201cThat was the original plan but, well, I\u2019ve kinda\u2019 grown fond of it here. I\u2019m sure Amy will love it too, especially with Storm bein\u2019 here and all.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat is it you wanted to ask Dex?\u201d
\n\u201cI think I\u2019ve got enough saved to put a down payment on some land if you would tell me the best place to look. Then once everything is all set I\u2019ll send for Amy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ve got the perfect place. As a matter of fact we talked about this not that long ago. There is a small parcel pa said you could buy if you wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean right here on the Ponderosa?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes right here, well not too far from here. I think it would make Storm happy to know that there were friends living close by.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re sure it would be alright?\u201d
\n\u201cYes I\u2019m sure. There is just one favor I would like to ask of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d
\n\u201cCould you send for Amy as soon as possible? Storm has been feeling pretty down since Lenora and Charlie left. If you don\u2019t think Amy would mind, I know helping with wedding plans would take her mind off it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure Amy wouldn\u2019t mind at all. See she don\u2019t have no family and Storm has always been like a sister to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, then it\u2019s settled.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Storm heard of the plans she was happy, happier than Adam had seen her in weeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is wonderful. It\u2019ll be nice to have a woman to talk to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you don\u2019t enjoy talking to me?\u201d
\n\u201cI enjoy it more when you use your lips for things other than talking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy just what are you suggesting I use them for?\u201d
\n\u201cIf you don\u2019t know by now I\u2019m not going to tell you.\u201d She turned to walk away but felt his arm go firmly around her waist. She then felt his lips softly caressing the back of her neck. \u201cSo you did know what I meant.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned her around so he could look into her eyes. \u201cMy love, maybe it\u2019s time we put your lips to better use as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

He lifted her off her feet and carried her upstairs. He again ran his hands over her body. It was a territory he had come to know so very well in the last three months, one he had mapped out in his mind almost every night of those ninety days. He was now at the point where he knew every swell, every dip, every curve without thinking. It was a place he knew better than he knew the Ponderosa, a place he was so very happy to lose himself in.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2026.\u201d She sat up and firmly put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him till he was lying down.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust what are you doing?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s not fair?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time we make love you get to\u2026.well by now\u2026.Adam I\u2019ve never felt you.\u201d She could see by his eyes what he was thinking. \u201cI meant with my hands!\u201d<\/p>\n

His next remark he would soon come to regret. \u201cWell then my love,\u201d He took her hands in his and placed them on his chest then he placed his hands over his head and rested it in them. \u201cyou let me know when you\u2019re done and I\u2019ll continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

She ran her hands over his body as he had done to hers so many times. She started tentatively but slowly became more bold. She was glad to see her touch affected him as his did her, of course his response was slightly more visible then hers. He reached up to pull her to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said I should let you know when I was done. I\u2019m not done yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, my love, you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

He then placed his hands places he knew would make her forget all about what he had said before.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER 13<\/p>\n

Thankfully for everyone\u2019s sake, and sanity, Lenora and Charlie as well as Amy arrived before Christmas. The main topic of discussion for Storm was Amy\u2019s wedding and since Amy had said she had always dreamed of an April wedding, no matter how difficult it may prove to be, Storm would make sure an April wedding was what she got. It took a bit of planning and some tough bargaining but by the time April did come around there was a wedding performed.<\/p>\n

Adam and Storm\u2019s life settled into a routine of sorts, or as much of a routine anything involving the two of them could. It was never boring but predictable in that they knew they were always there for each other. When August came something happened to make Storm realize just how much she needed Adam because he was the only person who knew her better than she knew herself.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a wonderful meal Amy.\u201d It was a beautiful summer night and Adam and Storm had been invited to have supper with Dexter and Amy.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Storm but it was no more delicious than the meals you have served us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that the mutual compliments have been dealt.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust what are you getting at Dex? Are you suggesting that neither Storm nor I are sincere in out praises?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo of course not. I just think there are other things of more importance to be said.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally? What kind of things?\u201d Storm had felt there was something odd in both Dexter and Amy\u2019s attitudes tonight.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmy and I both agreed that we wanted both of you to hear the news first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat news Dexter?\u201d
\n\u201cAdam, Storm, we\u2019re going to have a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

There were hugs and handshakes and oh so many smiles. Storm and Adam were both truly happy for their friends. It wasn\u2019t until they were on the way home that a very disturbing thought occurred to Storm. No matter how she tried to dismiss it or put it out of her mind it kept haunting her so that by the time they reached their house she was very distraught. Adam had noticed that the ride was made mostly in silence but had thought Storm was busy planning a party for Dexter and Amy to celebrate the news they had just shared with them. If he had looked more closely he might have noticed the tears beginning in her eyes.<\/p>\n

Before he could get down to help her out of the carriage she was inside the house. Adam couldn\u2019t understand what could have brought this on. The night had been so happy and full of good news. He wasn\u2019t sure if he should take care of the horses or see to Storm first. He compromised by only un-harnessing the horses and putting them in the corral. When he went into the house he found her in their bedroom sitting on the edge of their bed with her face buried in her hands crying as he had never seen her before. He went and knelt on the floor at her feet, gently pushed her hands aside, and looked up into her eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetheart, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d
\n\u201cIf I tell you you\u2019ll think I\u2019m selfish.\u201d
\n\u201cDarling, you could never be selfish.\u201d
\n\u201cBut I am Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease tell me what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was so very happy when Dexter said they were going to have a baby. Then on the way home I began to think that they\u2019ve only been married for five months and they\u2019re going to have a baby. We\u2019ve been married almost a year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDarling I want you to answer me something. How long have Amy and Dexter known each other?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess six or seven years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long have we known each other?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust over two.\u201d
\n\u201cSo maybe we just need a little more time, besides if anyone is selfish it would be me.\u201d
\n\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm\u00a0when\u00a0<\/em>we have a baby, I promise you that there will have never been a man happier about it then me but right now I am very happy to have you all to myself. For a little while longer anyway.\u201d
\nAdam saw a small smile come to her face. He stood up and pulled her into his arms. \u201cFeeling better my love.\u201d
\n\u201cYes much but than you always know what to say to make everything alright. To think that there was a time I cursed you for how well you could use words. Of course that night you were using them to hurt me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I was. You know I don\u2019t recall ever apologizing to you for that.\u201d
\nShe wrapped her arms tightly around him and held on. For one of the few times in her life she was afraid, so very afraid to let him go.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam will you promise me something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I can.\u201d
\n\u201cWill you promise to never leave me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew what she meant. It wasn\u2019t a day or a week or a month separation she was talking of.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I know, I know eventually\u2026but please promise anyway. Even though we both know, promise it anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright Storm, I\u2019ll promise but only if you make the same to me.\u201d
\n\u201cI promise Adam. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

That night their lovemaking was filled with an urgency that comes when two people realize that till death us do part would one day come to pass.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

When Adam looked for Storm it was always easy for him to find her. It she wasn\u2019t at their house or at his father\u2019s, then she was at the house Lenora and Charlie shared or with Amy. He always felt a slight feeling of remorse whenever she spoke of the days she spent with Amy. He knew she was happy for her friend but he could always detect a slight hint of longing in her voice. The first time she felt the baby move she was in a state of complete awe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should have felt it Adam. It was so amazing. To think there is a baby in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she spoke her face was filled with a wonder usually seen on that of a child\u2019s. God, how he wanted to give her a child of her own, of their own.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, come here.\u201d
\n\u201cHow do you do that?
\n\u201cDo what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFill me with such desire without even touching me.\u201d
\nHe walked slowly towards her, each step bringing her closer to the point where she lost all sanity. She closed her eyes and waited. She felt him near, could feel his breath on her hair and she waited for the feel of his hands. She finally felt them but not where she had expected to.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d She looked into his eyes and saw a worried look that she had never seen before, not even when she had been shot. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong? Are you trying to tell me, in a very subtle way, that you think I\u2019m getting fat?\u201d She placed her hands over the one he had placed on her stomach.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Storm, how I wish you were.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam you\u2019re scaring me. Please tell me what\u2019s wrong. You look so troubled.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm what if we never have a child. What if I\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n

She placed her finger on his lips. \u201cAdam hush. If we aren\u2019t meant to have a baby then there is no fault, no blame. I just can\u2019t believe that God would fill us with so much love and not wish for that love to live on. But I know you and you require proof and there is only one way I know of for me to prove to you that we will have children.\u201d
\n\u201cReally? How is that?\u201d
\n\u201cWe will just have to try and make a baby every chance we get. I think at least once a day, more than once if possible. I know it sounds like a lot of work but\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it will prove to be one of the best jobs I\u2019ve ever had the pleasure to perform.\u201d He picked her up and carried her to their bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d She sat up and firmly put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him down. \u201cIt\u2019s been quite a while since I\u2026.well since I\u2026..I examined my claim.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour claim? May I ask just what it is you\u2019re mining for?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people think gold could be found.\u201d She straddled him and proceeded to unbutton his shirt and gently brushed her lips over his chest. \u201cThen there are some who say silver is more likely.\u201d She then turned her lips loose on his stomach. \u201cRarely some say you might find diamonds.\u201d Her hands reached for his belt.<\/p>\n

\u201cRarer still would be finding me with the patience to wait.\u201d He grabbed hold of her and rolled her onto her back. \u201cHow do you do it Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPersevere the torture.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTorture? What torture?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can see what I do to you before we make love. I try to make you ache with wanting me with my hands and my lips. I seem to need to\u2026why don\u2019t you just tell me it\u2019s enough, tell me that you\u2019re\u2026.well you can see how long I can take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou may not believe this but I enjoy it, but you seem to enjoy it so much more. If I have to suffer a little in order to please you than it\u2019s a suffering I gladly endure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen get ready to endure.\u201d<\/p>\n

He placed his hand firmly between her legs and his lips firmly on her breasts.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam! Oh God, Adam please.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n

CHAPTER 14<\/strong><\/p>\n

One cold February night there was a knock on their door that had it occurred a half hour earlier might have been unheard or perhaps just unanswered. As it was at the time the sound of their door being beaten on by someone\u2019s knuckles made it\u2019s way through the house Storm and Adam had just begun to fall into an exhausted sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho could that be?\u201d
\n\u201cI don\u2019t know Storm, I\u2019ll go find out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm got up after Adam had left the room and for some reason got dressed. She then followed him downstairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cDex is something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Amy, Storm she says it\u2019s time.\u201d
\n\u201cAlright. Adam I\u2019ll ride back with Dex.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Storm I have to go and get the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Dex, I\u2019ll go get the doctor, you ride back with Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t mind Adam?\u201d
\n\u201cNo Dex. I don\u2019t mind.\u201d
\nAs she passed by him Storm gave Adam a kiss. \u201cMaybe you should stop and ask mama to come out as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When they arrived at Dex and Amy\u2019s house they went straight into the bedroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are you doing Amy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, I guess. I mean I ain\u2019t never done this before.\u201d Amy then spotted her husband in the doorway behind Storm. \u201cDex you were suppose to go and get the doc.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2019s going for the doctor. Dex why don\u2019t you go and make some coffee. I\u2019ll sit with Amy, besides mama should be here soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLenora is coming?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Amy. I asked Adam to stop by and tell her what was going on. Now Amy why are you crying?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just that I haven\u2019t had a family for so long and now I have a sister in you and a mother in Lenora, and a brother in Adam.\u201d
\n\u201cThere are times that I wish that\u2019s all he was to me as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReally Storm?\u201d
\n\u201cYes, but that feeling never lasts for very long.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

About ten hours later Peter Brown was born. After that whenever Adam wished to find Storm, if she wasn\u2019t home, he knew to look for her with Amy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Winter gave way to spring. Storm always loved spring the most of the four seasons. It was so full of beginnings and hope. This one was also the beginning of a new life for Storm and Adam, it was almost the end of one as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul may I talk to you?\u201d Storm had told her mother and Ben that she had wanted to go and see Paul because she hadn\u2019t been feeling too well lately. She didn\u2019t mention the reason she believed to be responsible for her ailment.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Storm. Is there something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026well I hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm told Paul of how she had been feeling lately and her suspicions as to what may be the cause. He set about trying to confirm them with a grin and by the end of the examination that grin had turned into an unmistakable smile.
\n\u201cReally Paul, am I really?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Paul had seen many women happy about the news he had just given Storm, he had also seen some distressed by it, but he would swear he had never seen any in such a state of total bliss as she upon learning that they were to become a mother. Storm felt that she had floated to the store where she had agreed to meet her mother and Ben. She wasn\u2019t even too sure of how she had gotten there.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm is something wrong?\u201d
\n\u201cWrong mama? Why do you think that there is something wrong?\u201d
\n\u201cYou just look as if you\u2019re a thousand miles away.\u201d
\n\u201cNo nothing is wrong. I was just thinking about Adam.\u201d And that wasn\u2019t a complete lie. She was thinking how he would react when he heard the news that he was going to be a father.<\/p>\n

Ben had smiled at Storm\u2019s answer because he had seen his son looking the same way when he was thinking about her. It was as he was looking towards the street that he noticed Little Joe coming fast. He could tell by the urgent way in which he was looking around there was something of great importance he needed to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cExcuse me Storm, Lenora I\u2019ll be right back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Ben.\u201d Lenora had noticed Little Joe too.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa. Pa thank God I\u2019ve found you. It\u2019s Adam\u2026pa he\u2019s been shot.\u201d
\n\u201cJoe he\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo pa, he\u2019s still alive. I sent the doc out and he said I might find you here. I wanted to come and let you know.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019ll go get Storm and I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll be right behind you.\u201d
\nBen went back into the store contemplating whether he should tell Storm now or wait until they were home. If he was correct in his belief as to what was the cause of her not feeling well and her manner earlier he wished he didn\u2019t have to tell her at all. As it was the decision was taken out of his hands.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen what\u2019s wrong?\u201d Storm could tell by his expression it was something serious.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t lie to me. It\u2019s Adam. Something has happened to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben knew that having her know the truth was better than her imagining the worst.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Storm, something has happened to Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told him to stay away from that horse. I told him he was just too wild. What did he go and do? Did he crack some ribs or maybe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm he\u2019s been shot. Dr. Martin is already on his way out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s my fault. It\u2019s all my fault. I was greedy, I wanted it all. I can\u2019t lose him. If that\u2019s the price then it\u2019s too high!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm calm down. Let\u2019s get home and see how bad it is before we jump to the conclusion that its that bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the carriage had come to a complete stop, Hoss and Little Joe were outside. Thankfully Hoss stopped Storm from rushing inside and running upstairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I don\u2019t think you should go upstairs just yet. The docs still in there and if he\u2019s still trying to get the bullet out and you run in and startle him he may\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cLittle Joe\u2019s right Storm.\u201d Hoss didn\u2019t like seeing Storm cry but he knew that the doc needed all the quiet he could get.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is he? How bad was the\u2026.? Who did this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa?\u201d
\n\u201cTell her the truth Joe.\u201d
\n\u201cThe doc said it\u2019s real bad. The bullet is in real deep. We don\u2019t know who or why.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss had to practically carry her inside. Once there she sat on the couch leaning against Ben who didn\u2019t remove his arm from around her shoulder. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Paul came downstairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow is he?\u201d Storm was up and on her feet before he had cleared the last step.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s alive Storm and right now that is the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to be alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope so Ben but that\u2019s up to him. I\u2019ve done all I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to go and sit with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I don\u2019t want you to forget to take care of yourself.\u201d
\n\u201cI won\u2019t doc.\u201d She ran upstairs to see Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen make sure she doesn\u2019t wear herself out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Paul. I\u2019ll go and talk with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben made his way upstairs and stopped outside the bedroom door and listened to Storm as she talked to his son.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam can you hear me? Oh God please if I can only have one or the other I need him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen he\u2019s so pale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cListen to me, I want you to promise that you will eat and sleep. You have to keep up your strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to. I can\u2019t\u2026.this is all my fault. I should know by now that everything comes with a price.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you honestly believe that then it\u2019s Adam\u2019s fault. Storm, if it were the other way around, would you want him to choose you or the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur baby of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes you think he\u2019d be any different? Storm just the other day he was telling me how it rips at his heart to see you hold Peter. To see how happy it makes you, knowing that eventually you will have to give him back to Amy. He said he would give anything to see you with a child you didn\u2019t have to give back to someone. To see you with one you could\u2026..this is all nonsense talk anyway because he\u2019s going to be alright. Storm tell him the news, give him another reason to wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched Ben leave the room and realized he was right. She shouldn\u2019t give up hope not until there was none, and as long as Adam kept breathing there was hope. She laid down in the bed beside him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I hope you can hear me. You have to be alright, you just have to. I found out today that we\u2019re going to have a baby. A baby Adam, our baby. So you see you just gotta be alright and besides you promised you\u2019d never leave me, remember.\u201d
\nLater, when Ben went upstairs to make sure everything was alright he was happy for two things. First and foremost, Adam was still alive and second, Storm was lying on the bed asleep.<\/p>\n

Lenora saw Ben coming downstairs. At first she had thought she should have gone and talked to Storm but thought that she would be more comforted by Ben. After all when\u00a0he<\/em>\u00a0said that Adam was going to be alright it would be hard to contradict.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are they Ben?\u201d
\n\u201cBoth sleeping.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s going to have a baby, isn\u2019t she?\u201d
\n\u201cYes Lenora, she is.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

For four days and nights Storm stayed by Adam\u2019s side. She wouldn\u2019t leave the room for anything. She ate, but only because Ben had threatened to force feed her each time food was brought to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I\u2019ve brought you up your supper.\u201d
\n\u201cThank you Ben. Just leave it and I\u2019ll eat it later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm must we go through this every time. You will eat it now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, Paul has said for me to make sure you don\u2019t neglect yourself. To make sure you get your rest and that you eat. So you will eat this food now, even if I have to tie you down and force you too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee pa, sometimes tying her up\u00a0is<\/em>\u00a0the only way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM! Your awake!\u201d Before she had even finished she was on the bed covering his face with kisses.<\/p>\n

\u201cAwake yes, but not quite strong enough for anything else just yet.\u201d
\n\u201cADAM.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? The way you\u2019re kissing me…wait, pa why does it sound as if Paul is more concerned about her than me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause once he took the bullet out there was nothing more to be done to ensure a favorable outcome for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see. Storm what is it pa\u2019s not telling me?\u201d
\n\u201cWe\u2019re going to have a baby Adam.\u201d
\n\u201cA baby? Really Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Storm leaned to kiss Adam again and Ben backed out of the room. He knew everyone would be happy to know that Adam was awake.<\/p>\n

Adam took advantage of everyone\u2019s concern. He used the extra time he had to really get to know his wife. In all the time they had been together they had either been too busy fighting or too busy making love to spend much time just talking. It wasn\u2019t the simple things that Adam found himself curious about but every dream, every wish she had ever had. He wanted to know just how she had grown to be such a remarkable person, how she had become the woman who had stolen his heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I know you say that Rachel hates you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where had this come from? If it was one thing she hadn\u2019t thought of for some time it had been Rachel. \u201cAdam do we have to talk about her?\u201d
\n\u201cIt\u2019s just that I want to know everything about you. Soon I\u2019ll be\u2026.well completely recovered and talking will be the last thing on my mind.\u201d
\n\u201cAdam will it be\u2026 I mean if we do we won\u2019t hurt the baby will we?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe so but if you have any doubts you can ask Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam sat there looking at her looking at him. He knew she hadn\u2019t forgotten how this conversation had started.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, Rachel?\u201d
\n\u201cOh yeah. There was this fella\u2019, I never understood why she liked him so. I mean he wasn\u2019t rich and he definitely wasn\u2019t as handsome as you, but for some reason Rachel liked him.\u201d
\n\u201cBut he liked you?\u201d
\n\u201cYes, for some reason he liked me. Rachel blamed me of course. She said that I had done something to turn him from her. I swear I never did anything. I think it was more her and the rumors she had already begun spreading about me. In spite of everything Hugo swore he loved me, he even said that he wanted to marry me. I told him I wasn\u2019t interested in marrying him or any man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo he gave up?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot every man is as persistent as you my love.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank God for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not really sure of what happened. He came to me one day and said he had family business to attend to and swore that when he returned I\u2019d be his wife one way or the other. Hugo didn\u2019t like being refused something he wanted. Thankfully he never returned. I don\u2019t mean to imply that I wished anything bad to have happened to him but to be quite honest I was a little afraid of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were afraid of him? Just who was this man and what did he do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really know what he did. But his name was Hugo Wyler.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWyler? Storm did you say Hugo Wyler?\u201d
\n\u201cYes. Why do you know him?\u201d
\n\u201cI know of him. I just can\u2019t believe you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did I turn down some very wealthy man?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm he and his family are one of the most wanted in the country. They\u2019ve robbed and killed, among other things. How long ago was it that he left Keegan\u2019s Bluff?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I was about nineteen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would have been about the time they were going to hang his brother in Arizona. I remember only because of what it was said they had\u2026.\u201d
\n\u201cGo on Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not important Storm.\u201d But Adam knew better. Storm would never be happy with only half a story.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo please finish what you were saying before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm it\u2019s really not\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam please finish.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright. I remember because of what I\u2019d heard they had done to get their brother free.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did they do Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really not that important. Why don\u2019t we\u2026.\u201d
\n\u201cAdam tell me what they did!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s said they took the sheriffs eighteen old daughter. They sent word that the only thing they wanted to return her was for their brother to be set free. They said that the longer the sheriff took the more his daughter would pray for death.\u201d
\n\u201cAdam, Hugo said he had four brothers. Do you think that they\u2026.\u201d
\n\u201cStorm all I know is that the sheriff let their brother go after one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what of his daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey say she hasn\u2019t ever fully recovered but that could all be talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Hugo always had a mean streak in him. He use to enjoy hurting things especially people. I think that\u2019s why he frightened me so. There was never any rhyme or reason to his anger. He could be kind and nice one minute and then the next so cruel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike Brady?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Brady was never kind and nice. Hugo was different, it may sound silly but I sometimes thought he had no soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not silly. You are never silly.\u201d
\nSuddenly Storm found it hard to breath. She had heard the change in Adam\u2019s voice and had responded to it as she always did.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat we won\u2019t hurt the baby?\u201d
\n\u201cNo, that we won\u2019t hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure of that, in fact staying away from you is starting to pain me more then that bullet ever did.\u201d He reached up and pulled her into his arms.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER 15<\/p>\n

Storm watched as Adam rode away with his brothers. She knew it would only be for seven days but she missed him already.<\/p>\n

\u201c Baby I realize it\u2019s not going to be easy but I need your help with something.\u201d<\/p>\n

They were all at Ben\u2019s house for supper. Adam had left Storm in his father\u2019s care while he was gone and Ben had asked Lenora and Charlie to come and help him take Storm\u2019s mind off of his son. No matter how hard they tried Lenora noticed that none of them seemed to be doing a very good job of it. That\u2019s why she decided to tell Storm the news now instead of waiting for Adam to return as they had originally planned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you need my help with mama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did such a fine job helping Amy that Charlie and I would like your help in planning our wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWedding? Mama, Charlie, really?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Storm. If you approve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cApprove? Charlie I was beginning to wonder if you would ever ask her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of a sudden she\u2019s an expert.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Ben, I am. Adam\u2019s has seen to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019re right back where we started from.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that mama?\u201d
\n\u201cYou brooding about him.\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m not brooding mama. I\u2019m just\u2026..\u201d They all saw a very strange look come over Storm\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm what\u2019s wrong?\u201d
\n\u201cNothing Ben. I just\u2026.I felt the baby move. I really felt it move.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see baby, you\u2019ll never be without him again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo mama he will always be with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rest of the evening passed with Storm in a very contented state. Ben mused that even though he wasn\u2019t there it was Adam, in a way, who had made her feel better.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

The days passed slower than Storm felt they had a right to. To her they felt like a lifetime but it was the seven nights that felt like an eternity.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm are you ready to come with me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere to Ben?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInto town. I have some business I need to attend to and thought that perhaps you might need to do some shopping. I thought you could do just that while I see to my business.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo if it\u2019s all the same I\u2019ll stay here. Maybe Adam will come back early.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm you know as well as I that they are due back tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. It just feels as if tomorrow has taken so long to get here, longer then it should have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright but please be careful, you know Adam will never forgive me if anything should happen to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched as Ben rode away.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery good. You did real well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHugo what do you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI seem to recall you telling me you weren\u2019t going to marry any man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam isn\u2019t just any man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe bled like any man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean? Are you saying you\u2019re the one who shot him?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou son of a\u2026..\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh ah, be careful what you go and call my mother. My brother Seth gets real upset whey any one insults our mother.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugo went to where Storm was standing and placed his hand on her stomach. \u201cJust how far along are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm pushed his hand away and took a step away from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cFive months.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI bet you can feel it moving around by now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it you want Hugo?\u201d
\n\u201cBack where we started aren\u2019t we but that\u2019s only right since the answer is one you already know. I want what I\u2019ve always wanted; you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why? I\u2019m already another man\u2019s wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoesn\u2019t really matter. I want you Storm and I\u2019ll have you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot today you won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you were going into town?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben saw him begin to make a try for his gun. \u201cDon\u2019t try it. Storm how many are here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve only seen these two Ben.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen if you two will please slowly drop your guns.\u201d
\nHugo knew he didn\u2019t stand a chance against a gun that was already drawn, so he did as Ben had asked and told his brother to do the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019d you know that we were here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSimple. We made arrangements even before Adam left to meet him and his brothers in town today. She would have been halfway there before I had my horse saddled if her present condition wasn\u2019t preventing her from hitching the carriage or saddling her horse by herself. I knew something had to be wrong because nothing would keep her from my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if you manage to get us into town and they put us in jail, just remember I still have three brothers out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe, but if any harm comes to those I care for I will be sure to kill you first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou always were a very determined woman Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only reason you\u2019re still breathing Hugo is because he\u2019s alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugo knew she meant it and for some reason it made him want her even more.<\/p>\n

When Adam saw his father coming into town alone he began to worry, then thought that perhaps Storm just hadn\u2019t felt up to the trip. He had been foolish to suggest they meet in town but he had wanted to show Storm off to everyone and had used the fact that they would reach Virginia City before they would reach the Ponderosa as an excuse.<\/p>\n

\u201cPa is\u2026.\u201d He then noticed the two men tied in the back of the wagon. \u201cWho are these two? Pa where\u2019s Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is Hugo and Seth Wyler. Storm is at the house. It would seem that Hugo here is the one that shot you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Storm knows this?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAnd he\u2019s still breathing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe it weren\u2019t for the fact that so are you he wouldn\u2019t be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hugo examined the man who had somehow gotten Storm to surrender to him. He didn\u2019t see anything so special about him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust so you know something Cartwright, I told Storm sometime ago she\u2019d be mine and she still will be. When my brothers come and get us out I\u2019ll be coming for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Wyler somehow I don\u2019t really believe you could handle her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you saying you\u2019re a better man than me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just saying in your mind loving her means controlling her. When you love someone like Storm and are lucky enough to have that love returned there is no control.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam why don\u2019t you get on home to Storm. I\u2019ll bring these two to Roy and let your brothers know what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll go pa. Hoss and Little Joe are in the saloon. Just one thing Mr. Wyler, you come near my wife and I\u2019ll kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

As he rode up to the house he was expecting to find Storm outside but when he didn\u2019t he began to think that maybe his father hadn\u2019t told him the whole truth. He opened the door expecting the worst.<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM. Come here quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

He ran to where she was sitting. She took his hand and placed it on her stomach. She watched as the look of awe she knew would come came to his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s our baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm wasn\u2019t sure if it was a question or a shocked statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam, it\u2019s our baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sat down next to her but didn\u2019t remove his hand. \u201cI ran into pa in town, are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d
\n\u201cI couldn\u2019t really sleep, knowing that you were going to be in town and that I\u2019d see you today, so I decided to go outside and wait. The sun was just barely up when Hugo and Seth rode up. Maybe if I had been able to get out of the chair faster I could have made it inside before\u2026.but that doesn\u2019t matter. Hugo told me I had better not try to warn anyone or he would kill them. I knew if I acted as if I didn\u2019t want to go into town Ben would know something was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re really okay?\u201d
\n\u201cYes, I\u2019m really okay. You can feel the baby and you can see me. Adam he\u2019s the one who tried to\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know and I\u2019m real happy and surprised that you didn\u2019t kill him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would I? For shooting you? It\u2019s not like he killed you or anything? So just why\u2026..\u201d He watched as the tears came to her eyes and began to fall. \u201cOh Adam I wanted to, I really did, but I knew you would be angry if I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAngry? All of a sudden my getting angry bothers you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. Are you saying you want me to have killed him?\u201d<\/p>\n

He took her into his arms. \u201cI love you Storm and no I didn\u2019t want you to kill him but if he had done you any harm I would have killed him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I love\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam felt only too well what had stopped her. \u201cThat was a rather forceful one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey usually get stronger the hungrier we get.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

Even though December is one of the coldest month\u2019s it brought with it a very warm feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama are you sure? Wouldn\u2019t you rather wait for spring?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, Charlie and I were going to wait but we decided why should we. We\u2019re not kids and beside we want to be married before our grandchild is born.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThan you are cutting it pretty close. The baby is due three days after the proposed wedding date.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. I guess we\u2019re hoping maybe you\u2019ll give us a wonderful wedding present.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t count on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On December second Lenora and Charlie were married and on December seventh they got they\u2019re present.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam? Are you awake?\u201d When he didn\u2019t even stir Storm once again called to him. \u201cAdam!\u201d She roughly pushed him. \u201cAre you awake?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am now. What\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n

This wouldn\u2019t be the first time she\u2019d had a bad dream. \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong sweetheart, did you have another nightmare?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s just that it\u2019s so cold outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

He began to get out of bed. \u201cI\u2019ll go stoke the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

She grabbed his arm and squeezed it tightly. \u201cThat\u2019s not what I mean. I meant I hate to send you out for the doctor on such a cold night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe doctor? Storm are you telling me that it\u2019s time?\u201d Now that it was actually time all the preparation and planning he had done for this event were all but forgotten in his excitement.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going.\u201d As he got dressed Storm kept talking. Mostly because as she gave him things to do it helped to take her mind off the pain she was feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam get mama.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAnd Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019ll come together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I forgot. You better get your father and brothers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Storm.\u201d He began to walk out of the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam! Don\u2019t leave me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He remembered that she had said that to him on their wedding night. That night he had no intentions of leaving her but this night he had no choice. \u201cDarling I swear I\u2019ll be back as soon as I can. If I don\u2019t go I can\u2019t get the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. Hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Luckily Ben managed to think a little clearer than either Storm or Adam.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, you, Hoss and I will ride back. Little Joe would you mind very much going for the doctor?\u201d
\n\u201cNot at all pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Adam, hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell yes, but be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Storm was very happy to see Adam return with the others. She was surprised that she hadn\u2019t thought of it herself but supposed that her mind was preoccupied as was Adam\u2019s she guessed. Adam sat on the bed next to Storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are you feeling?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay mama. It just hurts every now and then but it keeps getting more and more\u2026..\u201d She gripped Adam\u2019s arm very tightly as another pain came upon her. When it eased slightly she realized how tight her grip must have been when she looked at the expression on Adam\u2019s face. \u201cAdam did I hurt you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetheart you can hurt me as much as you want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally they heard the door downstairs open and anxiously awaited Dr. Martin\u2019s appearance. He was accompanied by Mrs. Cain, but Little Joe was made to remain downstairs and everyone else was forced to join him. After what Adam would swear were days they heard a baby\u2019s cry.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you hear that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben found himself grinning at his son\u2019s expression. \u201cYes we all heard it son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Paul? Why doesn\u2019t he come on down?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be down soon. Wouldn\u2019t you rather he take his time and double check that everything is alright?\u201d As soon as Ben said it he regretted it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy pa, do you think something could have gone wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo son, I am sure everything is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben was saved from anymore worried questions from his son when Paul came down.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul how is she? How\u2019s the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine Adam, they are both fine. I\u2019m sure you heard that cry. I think they heard it all the way in Carson City.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was pretty loud. I guess it got Storm\u2019s lungs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt Adam? Paul before we go any further is it a boy or a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, you have a grandson. A fine healthy grandson who, according to his mother, looks exactly like his father. You know Ben I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see this day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou<\/em>\u00a0were beginning to wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone looked at Ben and began to laugh. Adam started upstairs with a very good feeling in his heart and soul. He heard the laughter of the people he loved downstairs and the sweet voice of his wife upstairs. Mrs. Cain saw Adam in the doorway.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell if you will excuse me. Congratulations Adam he is a very handsome baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Mrs. Cain.\u201d Adam approached the bed. \u201cBetter now my love?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch better.\u201d Storm pushed aside the blanket from their son\u2019s face. \u201cCome closer, you can\u2019t see how handsome he is from that far away.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked at his son, then he looked at his wife. He never thought he could love someone as much as he did Storm, never thought he\u2019d be looking into the eyes of his child. Yet here he was doing both.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you happy Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHappy? Storm I don\u2019t know what words I could use that could come close to describing how I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

She reached up and wiped the tear from his cheek.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam sometimes words aren\u2019t necessary, because I know. It\u2019s alright, I know.\u201d<\/p>\n

He bent and kissed his son then he kissed his wife.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it alright if we come in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. Please everyone come and tell me if this isn\u2019t the handsomest baby you have ever laid eyes on. Adam will you please take your son, I\u2019m feeling a little tired.\u201d She wasn\u2019t so tired that she couldn\u2019t have held her son a little longer but she desired to see her son in his father\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would be happy to take our son.\u201d He was very happy and proud to show their son to everyone. Just before she fell asleep Storm heard something that made her, even though she thought it impossible, love Adam even more.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam did you decide on a name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, Storm gave me a list and said I could choose whichever one I thought fitting. I think Charles Jacob fits.\u201d<\/p>\n

CHAPTER 16<\/p>\n

By the time Christmas was near Storm insisted on a party.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be the perfect time to introduce CJ to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Storm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo buts Adam. Please I\u2019m so tired of being in this room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can recall you once saying you wished we could spend our lives in this room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was when we were using this room for it\u2019s intended purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it\u2019s purpose was for sleeping in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s what you think this room is for then it\u2019s been longer then I thought and I will do my best to remind you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSoon just not yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know sweetheart, soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm heard the hunger in his voice and she knew he was thinking the same thing she was.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh DAMN.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSTORM.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just that now that I\u2019ve started thinking about it I know it\u2019s all I\u2019ll be able to think about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTrust me we have the same problem as far as that\u2019s concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a problem that Storm tried to forget by losing herself in the planning of the party. It worked during the day, but at night there was no way to forget what she missed because it was laying right beside her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, are you awake.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, go to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetheart, you had to have what I believe to be the biggest tree on the Ponderosa for a Christmas tree. Pa, I think, had to have the second biggest one. After that\u2026\u2026\u201d Adam looked at his wife\u2019s face. So like a child\u2019s, at times so full of innocent wonder. \u201cWhat is it my love?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you\u2019re exhausted. I\u2019m sorry I guess I didn\u2019t realize how much work it would be. I just wanted CJ\u2019s first Christmas to\u2026.\u201d He reached over and pulled her to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know my love and I\u2019m sorry. I guess I\u2019m just tired, that\u2019s all. Now what is it you wanted to tell me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m right here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know what I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I do but I think maybe we should wait a little longer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor my peace of mind. I don\u2019t want to risk hurting you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, you won\u2019t think I\u2019m bad will you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEven if I say something no lady should?\u201d
\n\u201cStorm what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that you know more than me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNice to hear you finally admit it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t mean about everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what about?\u201d He watched her play with the blanket and look everywhere but at him. This was a side of her he had never seen. Even when she had been embarrassed before she had never looked away. \u201cStorm? What is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t there some way we can\u2026I mean without\u2026.Adam I miss the way you make me feel, I miss the torture, Adam I need you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm will you promise me something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything.\u201d
\n\u201cDon\u2019t ever change.\u201d<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s absolutely beautiful! Your mother would be so proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you Mrs. Simmons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Candace. It is very good to see you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Charlie, Lenora. Hope would be so happy to know you found each other. To know that in doing so you\u2019ve made Storm happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you like to hold him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would love to hold him Storm.\u201d
\nAs more and more people began to arrive the only time Storm found her son in her arms was when he needed to be fed, but then Adam didn\u2019t even have that time.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo who has my son now?\u201d
\n\u201cYour son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright Storm, our son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe Roy has got him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I guess he\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I do believe so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cYou want to borrow my mistletoe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle brother, I don\u2019t need mistletoe, I\u2019ve got a wedding ring.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh really and just what do you think that means?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means, my dear wife, that I can get a kiss anytime I want.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam pulled her to him. \u201cYes, very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss I\u2019ve got something here I want you to have. Of course you will have to pass it to Little Joe when you\u2019re done with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss gave his brother an odd look and took what he handed him. \u201cAdam this is just a lasso.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh no little brother it\u2019s a very special rope. You see that\u2019s the rope I used to get Storm here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM. You\u2019re embarrassing him. Hoss don\u2019t pay him no mind.\u201d Storm was interrupted by her son\u2019s crying. \u201cI can\u2019t believe he\u2019s hungry again. I will swear Hoss that nephew of your\u2019s has inherited your appetite.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you say I embarrassed him.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The night grew late and people began to leave. Storm, Adam and CJ stayed the night not wanting to wake the baby up now that he\u2019d finally had been allowed to fall asleep.<\/p>\n

When everyone was sleeping Ben did something he use to do all the time when his son\u2019s were young. He went into each of their rooms to look at them as they slept. It was funny but even though they were all full grown men he could still see a little boy lying there.<\/p>\n

He looked in on Joseph first. His youngest son. Ben supposed that in his eyes he would always be a boy even though he knew what a fine man he was becoming.<\/p>\n

Then he went to Hoss\u2019s room. His middle son. Always a big man but always possessing the heart and faith of a child.<\/p>\n

Lastly he hesitated at Adam\u2019s door. After all he was no longer alone. He decided to risk it and was so very happy that he did. CJ must have awakened because he was no longer in the cradle but lying between his mother and father.<\/p>\n

He looked at Storm, the woman who had finally proven to be a match for Adam. Adam, his eldest. The son who at times Ben feared he had forced to grow up too soon. The one he knew could handle anything that came along calmly and with a level head. Well anything but Storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaking the Christmas Eve rounds?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI almost didn\u2019t come in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I would have been disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI better get going, I don\u2019t want to wake up those two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese two? Pa they could blast a mining shaft under this very room and they wouldn\u2019t wake up these two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I\u2019m real proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe? I\u2019m glad to hear it pa but it isn\u2019t me, it\u2019s her. I love her so much. When I think of how this all started, of how I treated her, I can\u2019t understand how she could love me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s every woman. Loving us men comes with so much pain, so much worry. Perhaps that is one mystery we will never solve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe made me promise her something. I promised it even though we both know it\u2019s one that can\u2019t be kept. Will you promise me the same thing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMake you a promise we both know can\u2019t be kept?\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPromise you\u2019ll never leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI promise son, now goodnight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood night pa.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Ben closed the door behind him Storm opened her eyes. \u201cIf that isn\u2019t reason enough for me to love you then how about the fact that I knew you would give me beautiful children.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long have you been awake?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSince before the blast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luckily for Adam his son decided he was hungry.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER 17<\/p>\n

Again winter gave way to spring. Storm was home alone, Adam being out with his brothers on spring roundup. She enjoyed the days she had alone with CJ. He was growing up so much even though he was only five months old. He had finally gone down for his nap giving Storm some time to start preparing supper. When she heard the front door open she thought that perhaps they had decided to come for lunch instead of eating on the range.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you decided that coming home for lunch was better\u2026..\u201d Storm saw who it was and tried to run upstairs. All she wanted was to get to her son.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I told you I would be back. It proved to be a bit more difficult but I have finally managed it.\u201d Hugo grabbed her as she tried to pass him.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust where do you think you\u2019re going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam will kill you!\u201d She watched as one of his brothers went upstairs. She was filled with terror when she saw him come down with CJ. It was a terror that became even worse when Hugo took CJ into his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a very handsome boy Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease Hugo.\u201d She would do anything to keep her son safe. She realized now that meant anything even if it would cost her Adam\u2019s love because she knew what Hugo wanted and that just might be the price. \u201cHugo, please leave him. I\u2019ll do anything you want. I\u2019ll come with you, I promise I won\u2019t give you any trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean to say if I promise to leave his brat alone you\u2019ll come with me, you\u2019ll lay with me. You\u2019ll promise you wont try and leave.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you promise me you\u2019ll in no way cause him any harm, yes I\u2019ll promise.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFine. I have no need to harm him. He\u2019s not exactly a witness who can tell what he\u2019s seen is he.\u201d Hugo agreed to this because he preferred Storm to come to him willingly, it\u2019s not that he wouldn\u2019t have used force but was glad that would prove unnecessary because Storm always kept her word. He also thought that if he spared the child then Adam wouldn\u2019t have a reason to go after him. It wasn\u2019t that he feared Adam but why take any chances.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo he\u2019s not.\u201d
\n\u201cAlright, I want you to write a note to your husband telling him that you\u2019ve decided to come with me. That you prefer to be with me. That he shouldn\u2019t come looking for you because it was your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will but can I just go and get something to bring with me?\u201d
\n\u201cSure, but you write that note first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm sat and wrote the note then went to go and get what she needed. She made sure CJ was comfortable and would be safe and put the note next to him.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm! Storm!\u201d Adam saw his son lying on the floor. Something had to be wrong. \u201cStorm are you alright?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey Adam why don\u2019t we forget all about supper.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo something is wrong pa. She would never leave CJ like this.\u201d
\nAdam went to pick up his son and then saw the note.<\/p>\n

Adam<\/p>\n

Hugo\u2019s returned<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve chosen to go with him<\/p>\n

Please don\u2019t follow. It\u2019s my<\/p>\n

Choice<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve felt so<\/p>\n

Alone lately<\/p>\n

You have been gone<\/p>\n

So much. I feel as if I hardly know<\/p>\n

You anymore. The clues were all in Paradise Lost.<\/p>\n

Storm<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam you can\u2019t believe this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo pa. Look at how it\u2019s written. If you take the letters that are lined up in the first words of each line what does it spell?\u201d
\n\u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cBut what about this part about \u2018Paradise Lost\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure. Somehow the clues to finding her are in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam we\u2019ll bring CJ to Amy, then we\u2019ll start looking.\u201d<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

As they made camp for the first night Storm found herself hoping that Hugo would be too tired to collect on her promise. That maybe he would want to make her suffer through not knowing when he would demand from her what she had promised.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing to sleep. I\u2019m tired.\u201d
\n\u201cNot over there. You sleep with me. Remember your promise Storm. While we are both tired I am not that tired. I\u2019ve waited a long time for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHugo please.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome here Storm, tonight you find out what Rachel already knows. You find out what a real man is.\u201d
\nStorm lay beneath him praying for death but knowing in her heart it was a prayer she didn\u2019t want to have answered. Even if she lost Adam, CJ still needed her. When he was through he rolled off of her and fell asleep. She knew that his brothers had watched because she had heard them. She could only hope that Adam would find her before Hugo tired of her enough to allow his brothers at her. If that happened she just might be better dead.<\/p>\n

The sun rose to find Storm still awake. She wondered how CJ was, where Adam was. Would he find the clues she had been leaving? Had he discovered the hidden message in her letter or had he taken it at face value? Would he be blinded to the truth by what the letter had seemed to be saying?<\/p>\n

They had set out right after Adam had dropped CJ off with Amy. Ben had ridden into town to tell the sheriff what was going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam what\u2019s that?\u201d
\nAdam walked to where his father was pointing. As he picked up the piece of paper Storm\u2019s message became very clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the first page of \u2018Paradise Lost\u2019 pa. She\u2019s leaving us a trail.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As they made camp for the second night Storm began to think that maybe after this Adam wouldn\u2019t allow her near their son, but she knew better. Adam loved her and he wouldn\u2019t turn away from her, not when she needed him more than she ever had, would he?<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope tonight is as satisfying as last night Storm.\u201d
\n\u201cHugo\u2026\u201d
\n\u201cYou promised. You know I could always send one of my brothers back.\u201d<\/p>\n

She walked to him and laid down. When he was once again trying to prove how much of a man he was she silently begged Adam to forgive her.<\/p>\n

It was as they were preparing to make camp on the third night that Storm\u2019s torment ended.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope tonight you will be a little more lively then the past two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would have to be more of a man to accomplish that.\u201d
\n\u201cYou promised me you wouldn\u2019t give me no trouble!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I won\u2019t but I won\u2019t lie to you either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLie to me! Are you suggesting he\u2019s more of a man then me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHugo he\u2019s more of a man then you ever dreamt of being.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think he\u2019s so much of a man as to take you back if he knew what I\u2019ve done to you these past two nights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDone to me! You\u2019ve done nothing to me! All you\u2019ve done is use me to satisfy yourself!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm! Come here! Hugo I would advise you and your brothers to put your guns down. Believe me there is nothing I want more right now then to kill you.\u201d He had heard only too clearly what Storm had said and knew only too well what it meant. It wasn\u2019t that he hadn\u2019t suspected it but\u00a0knowing<\/em>\u00a0that she had suffered at Hugo\u2019s hand made it worse then he could have imagined.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam!\u201d She couldn\u2019t believe he was really there. She ran to him, to the safety of his arms. When Hugo saw that Adam was not alone he decided it best to surrender, unfortunately his brothers weren\u2019t of the same mind. They didn\u2019t want to return to prison, especially knowing that if all of them were in jail then there would be no one to free them. At the first shot Adam pulled Storm to safety.<\/p>\n

When the shooting was finished there wasn\u2019t a Wyler left standing. Much to Storm\u2019s dismay this fact pleased her greatly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou understood my message.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course. Except the part about \u2018Paradise Lost\u2019, at least until we found the first page.\u201d He pulled her into his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, oh Adam.\u201d The tears fell from her eyes and even though she needed to be in his arms she found herself pushing out of them. The other men had gone back to their horses to give them the privacy they knew they needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam\u2026he\u2026I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm it doesn\u2019t matter. I\u2019m not saying to forget it or pretend it didn\u2019t happen. I\u2019m just asking you to believe me that it doesn\u2019t matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

She knew he meant it, that he truly meant it. She pulled him to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love you Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I love you Adam. How is my son?\u201d
\n\u201cYour son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright our son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe left him in Amy and Lenora\u2019s care. I\u2019m sure he\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben saw them walking towards them and he wasn\u2019t too sure of who he was prouder of, Storm or Adam. He knew there were some women who would have shut themselves off from everyone, especially those she loved, after having suffered through what she had feeling the world and everyone in it was to blame. He also knew there were some men who would have turned their backs on a woman who had gone through what Storm had blaming her instead of the truly guilty party. He knew though that the love they had for each other was strong, stronger than anything that the world could try to put between them.<\/p>\n

They rode up to their house, his father and brothers as well as Charlie having gone home after making sure there was nothing they could do. They hadn\u2019t gone to get CJ as Storm had suggested, Adam having said that it was late and CJ was probably already asleep. He was sure that Amy wouldn\u2019t mind keeping him for another night. He didn\u2019t say it but he also believed that Storm might need one night with just him. It would give her time to say whatever she needed to and although CJ\u2019s interruptions were welcome ones they were still interruptions.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm?\u201d They were standing in front of the fireplace. \u201cSweetheart are you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam, I\u2019m fine.\u201d He knew she wasn\u2019t. He was sure that she would be, but that would take time. He took her in his arms and held her while she cried.<\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

The first night after her rescue was not a restful one. Storm found herself awaking often. She knew she\u2019d had a bad dream, knew she must have done something to wake Adam, because he was always awake and ready to hold her until the terror she felt eased enough to allow her to go back to sleep.<\/p>\n

They went the following morning and picked up CJ. Amy said if they wished they could leave him with her as long as they needed, but Adam could tell by the way Storm clung to their son that she needed him home.<\/p>\n

The days passed and each night found Storm sleeping a little better then the one before. At the beginning of the third week Adam thought that perhaps it would help Storm if he reminded her of what true love was really like. He started the same way he always did, he ran his hands over her body and could feel her responding as she always had. That\u2019s why her next action surprised him so much.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, please.\u201d She gently pushed him away. \u201cNot yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright Storm.\u201d She could hear the disappointment in his voice. She wanted to explain but was ashamed to and that\u2019s why when he took her into his arms she cried.<\/p>\n

The following morning Lenora came to stay with her daughter as Adam had asked her to. Adam had wanted to stay but Storm had insisted that he go, she said that he was getting lazy and it was about time he started to do some work. She also said that she would be fine alone with CJ but Adam had agreed to go only if Lenora came to stay with her. Storm agreed because she realized she would be glad for the company and maybe her mother could help her with some questions that had been going through her mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama may I ask you something?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had a baby do you think Adam would accept it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm you have been with Adam longer than you were with\u2026.there would be no way to know for sure that it wasn\u2019t Adam\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be Hugo\u2019s. Adam and I haven\u2019t\u2026.not since I\u2019ve been back. I wanted to be sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I didn\u2019t think you capable of being selfish.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSelfish? How am I being selfish?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, I will give you that Adam is an amazing man but he is still a man. Don\u2019t you realize that he is probably felling guilty?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGuilty about what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout not keeping you safe!\u201d Could her daughter really not understand?<\/p>\n

\u201cMama he has nothing to feel guilty for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Lenora remember that Storm had taken care of herself for so long that she would never expect anyone else to take responsibility for anything that had happened to her. \u201cI know that and you know that, and I\u2019m sure deep down he knows it as well, but in keeping him away from you you may have him thinking that perhaps you do hold him at fault. That maybe you can\u2019t forgive him, that maybe you can\u2019t bear to be in his arms.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh mama that\u2019s not true. I need him and I love him. Mama what should I do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTalk to him. Tell him the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMama would you mind greatly keeping CJ at your house tonight? I think you\u2019re right, Adam and I do need to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course I don\u2019t mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

After Lenora left with CJ Storm spent the time waiting for Adam\u2019s return home trying to think of how to say what she needed to say.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello sweetheart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched him head for the stairs. \u201cDon\u2019t worry I\u2019ll be sure to wash up before I go and see CJ.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMama\u2019s got him.\u201d<\/p>\n

He turned back to Storm. That\u2019s when she saw that her mother was right. She saw something in his face she had never thought to see, it was something that looked like fear.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I asked mama to take CJ because I have to tell you something.\u201d<\/p>\n

This was it, Adam thought, this was when she was going to say she was leaving. That she was going to take CJ and go because she could no longer feel safe with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam do you know why I won\u2019t let you make love to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm I\u2026..\u201d
\n\u201cI can see in your eyes that mama was right. Adam I don\u2019t blame you. You are no more guilty of what happened than I am. That is unless you do think I\u2019m guilty. It is more my fault than it is yours. He came here because of me, I went with him\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm! You went with him to keep CJ safe, same way I should have kept you safe. As his mother it\u2019s your responsibility and as your husband it was my responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam you can\u2019t be with me all the time. If anyone should know I can take pretty good care of myself it\u2019s you. I don\u2019t hold you responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes you do Storm. Maybe not consciously but subconsciously you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you say that? You can\u2019t know what\u2019s in my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I can. That first night back you woke up five or six times, each time screaming my name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you believe it\u2019s because I was accusing you? Adam I may not remember exactly what the dream was but if I called your name it was because it was the one thing that made me feel safe. Thinking of you helped keep me sane. Whenever Hugo took me into\u2026..I couldn\u2019t even begin to pretend that his arms were your\u2019s, that his lips were\u2026.the only thing that made it slightly bearable was knowing that you would love me in spite of what was happening. That even though I was allowing it to happen you would understand. I never feel safer than when I\u2019m in your arms. I have wanted to lose myself in them so many times since then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I don\u2019t understand. Why do you keep pushing me away?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam don\u2019t you see? What if\u2026.what if I\u2019m carrying his child?\u201d<\/p>\n

It looked as if a great weight had been removed from him. She saw a true smile come to his face, a sight that had been rare of late. He walked to her and took her in his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what has got you so worried? Darling, do you honestly believe it would matter? Do you truly feel I would hold it against you or the baby? Storm the child would be your\u2019s and in being your\u2019s it would be ours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut wouldn\u2019t you want to know the truth of who it\u2019s father was?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly Storm, no. I think I would much prefer not knowing.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stepped back from him but only far enough as to allow her hands access to his belt.<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm?\u201d He knew once this started it would be near impossible to stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need you Adam. God how I need you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He picked her up and carried her upstairs knowing that she wouldn\u2019t push him away this time. He was very thankful that Lenora had CJ and they wouldn\u2019t have to worry about his welcome interruptions.<\/p>\n

They lay in bed afterwards and Storm realized that each time she and Adam made love it would help to bury the memories of Hugo\u2019s attempts at proving he was a man. The memories would never leave her but she knew in time they would become so buried it would be hard to recall them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam.\u201d Once again she was safely in his arms. \u201cI don\u2019t understand something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019re actually admitting to it and asking for my help?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you tell me what it is and I\u2019ll do my best to try ad explain it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been with other women.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t I like where this seems to be going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cListen to me. What I don\u2019t understand is why is it a man can find satisfaction in any woman\u2019s arms and\u2026..when Hugo touched me I felt nothing.\u201d
\n\u201cI hope you\u2019re not waiting for me to say I\u2019m sorry for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re right Storm. A man can satisfy his body\u2019s need with any woman but it takes a special one, one that he loves, to satisfy the needs of his heart and soul as well. Once a man has experienced that kind of total satisfaction he can never be content with anything less.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

********<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, is that Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam turned to look in the direction Hoss was pointing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt certainly seems to be.\u201d Whatever reason she was coming for must be important. She was riding real fast and at first he thought something might be wrong with CJ but as she drew closer he could see she was smiling. \u201cYou seem to be in a very good mood.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am Adam.\u201d This was the first time in her life, since she had entered puberty, that she could say she was happy about this. She dismounted and went to where he was standing. \u201cHello Hoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHi Storm.\u201d Hoss gave her a hug. \u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse me.\u201d He walked away to give them some privacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam, I\u2019m not going to have a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would explain the smile.\u201d He took her again into his arms. \u201cBut as I told you it wouldn\u2019t have mattered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. Adam I don\u2019t deserve you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo you don\u2019t.\u201d She raised her head and looked into his eyes. \u201cYou deserve better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould you mind greatly if I steal your brother for the rest of the day?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Storm. If you ask me I think we\u2019ve done enough work today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one time I\u2019ll agree with you brother.\u201d Even though Adam knew in Storm\u2019s present condition the only desire they would fulfill would be that of spending time together.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ben watched as Hoss came in the house and noticed the puzzled look on his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re home rather early. Did you finish up with that fencing already?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNope.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you mean to say that you left Adam there to do it by himself?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Joe. Storm came out to get him. Pa you don\u2019t believe that\u2026.well I heard Storm tell Adam something, not that I meant to listen just that I kinda\u2019 heard by accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm wanted CJ right? I mean she wanted him real bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Hoss, she wanted him more than anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThan why is she so happy that she ain\u2019t gonna\u2019 have a baby now?\u201d
\n\u201cI think it could be because this time it might not have been your brother\u2019s child.\u201d Lenora had told Charlie about Storm\u2019s concerns. Charlie had confided in Ben hoping that if it became necessary he could tell Adam: thankfully it hadn\u2019t become necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah but pa it wouldn\u2019t have mattered. Not to Adam, not to any of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe she knows that Hoss. I guess she\u2019s just happy not to have to ask us to prove it.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

As time passed Storm\u2019s belief that the more she and Adam made love the easier it would be to put aside the short time she had been with Hugo proved to be true. There were times though that Adam knew she was thinking about it. It was those times she held him tighter than usual, the times when her need to satisfy him outweighed any other. Even if he had missed those signs he knew she was remembering because those were the times she would cry herself to sleep in his arms.<\/p>\n

CHAPTER 18<\/p>\n

As Lenora and Charlie\u2019s first anniversary drew near Storm was planning a surprise party to celebrate.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam I need you to help me with something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d
\n\u201cI can\u2019t figure out how to wrap the gift I\u2019ve gotten for mama and papa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam looked up from the book he was reading to CJ.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell you haven\u2019t even told me what it is so how can I help you wrap it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t told you because up until now I wasn\u2019t sure it was going to arrive but now I am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just what is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched as CJ reached up to take the book from his father, how Adam laid the book aside and picked up his son and kissed him. It wasn\u2019t the action that brought tears to her eyes but the way in which it was done. Adam had done it without thinking but by instinct. That kiss made her recall just how many times she had seen him hug and kiss CJ when he didn\u2019t even know she was watching.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweetheart what\u2019s wrong?\u201d
\n\u201cOh Adam you\u2019ll love this baby as much as you do CJ won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

At first he thought that she was once again thinking about Hugo even though it had been quite a while since she had.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis baby?\u201d Then he understood. \u201cStorm, this baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Adam, this baby.\u201d<\/p>\n

He went to her and she was given hugs and kisses by the two men she loved the most.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs this the gift you need help in wrapping?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. I know it could be the same as their wedding present and they will have to wait until July to get it, but I think they\u2019ll like it don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019ll love it, but what do you mean it could be the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt could be another boy but it could be a girl as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose it could be.\u201d<\/p>\n

He sounded so stunned by that realization it made Storm smile. \u201cAdam don\u2019t worry chances are it will be a boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The night of the party there was no need to hide it. While everyone else knew the party was for Lenora and Charlie they thought it was for CJ\u2019s birthday, so when they arrived and realized the party was indeed for them they were truly surprised.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut baby what about CJ\u2019s birthday party?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry mama, that will be next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm managed to hold out for almost an hour but that was the length of her patience.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama would you like to open your present now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, this party is more than enough. Whatever else you have gotten you can just send it back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m afraid that would be impossible Lenora.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo it\u2019s not Adam. You just send it back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMama I really don\u2019t think it would work. Somehow I think this gift can only go in one direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, don\u2019t be silly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLenora maybe you should open it first and if after that you still wish to return it I think you will have to argue with my father to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you talking about Adam? If Lenora wishes to return her gift it\u2019s of no concern of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet her open it first Ben, then we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright Storm, where is this gift?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was Adam\u2019s idea on how to wrap it. Frankly I couldn\u2019t think of a way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo then where is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll you have to do to open it is to untie a bow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA bow?\u201d Storm saw what looked like a slight glimmer of hope in her mama\u2019s eyes. \u201cA bow like the one you\u2019ve got tied around your middle?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat exact one mama and I wish you would because I feel rather silly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her mother pulled her into her arms, then her father, then it was Ben\u2019s turn, then Hoss, then Joe\u2019s. If she wasn\u2019t in one of their arms then Adam was. After their family was done the rest of the guests offered up their congratulations and best wishes.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo mama do you still wish to send it back?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo baby, oh no, but just how long before I can hold my gift?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly July maybe if we\u2019re lucky late June.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For everyone\u2019s sake, and sanity, they all proved to be very lucky. Storm was slightly more emotional this time and Adam was never too sure what would greet him when he got home. There were times the smallest of things would start Storm yelling, then the next time the very same thing would get her crying. Then once she realized just what she had done she would be so upset and angry with herself she\u2019d cry even more.<\/p>\n

One might think that this might make a man try to avoid as best he could putting his wife in this condition again. Truth be told Storm\u2019s anger and sadness weren\u2019t the only things that seemed to be heightened, her desire was as well. There were times he\u2019d barely shut the door behind himself and she\u2019d be removing his clothes. These times there was a hunger in her eyes that almost scared him.<\/p>\n

The last two weeks in June Lenora came to stay with her daughter so that when Adam went to get the doctor Storm wouldn\u2019t be left alone with CJ.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama what time is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlmost two o\u2019clock, why dear?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam won\u2019t be home for another two or three hours then.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm he only left an hour ago. You can\u2019t possibly be missing him already.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI do miss him but that\u2019s not why\u2026\u2026OH MAMA.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh baby is it time?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes mama. You have to go and tell Adam to go and get the doctor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what about you, what about CJ?\u201d
\n\u201cCJ just went for his nap, he won\u2019t be up for another hour or so. That\u2019s plenty of time. All you really have to do is ride over and see if Ben is home, if not then go and get papa. Just please mama hurry!\u201d<\/p>\n

Lenora ran out of the house not sure of which way to turn first. She didn\u2019t have to turn many.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello Lenora. I was just out checking\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoctor, please. Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe say\u2019s it\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, why don\u2019t we go on inside and see.\u201d<\/p>\n

Storm was surprised to see the door open so soon after her mother had left and was very relieved to see Paul come in.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul? Mama you went fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was out checking on the King boy. He broke his arm and since I was out this way I thought I would look in on you. I guess it\u2019s a good thing I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes a very good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paul helped her upstairs and got her into bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMama do you think you could go get someone to get Adam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about CJ? He\u2019ll be awake soon and besides Adam will be home in an hour or two.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI suppose you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam came in the door followed by Little Joe and Hoss. When Lenora saw them she was glad he wasn\u2019t alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, Hoss, go and get your father and Charlie.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Lenora what\u2019s wrong?\u201d Adam had failed to notice Paul\u2019s buggy outside, neither Hoss nor Little Joe had.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u00a0was\u00a0<\/em>Paul\u2019s buggy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Little Joe and it\u2019s a very good thing he\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait! Paul\u2019s here? Where\u2019s Storm?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUpstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy? What\u2019s she doing up there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBringing your second child into this world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoss and Little Joe went to fetch the grandfathers to be. Everyone Storm cared for gathered and waited to hear that she and the baby were alright. Paul came downstairs ten minutes after they heard the baby cry, it was after only five that Adam was ready to go upstairs but Lenora reminded him that the doctor didn\u2019t have any help this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul is everything okay?\u201d Ben looked at Paul\u2019s face and he would swear he was in shock.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Ben everything is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStorm, the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re both fine Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why is it you look as if something is wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly Adam nothing is wrong. That wife of your\u2019s, though, she sure can work miracles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul I am the first to admit that my wife is an amazing woman but she is not the first to have a baby, as a matter of fact she\u2019s even done it before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat may be but she has done something this time that she didn\u2019t last time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean Paul?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has given you a daughter Adam.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is up there a small, little, female Cartwright. Adam she\u2019s given you a fine, healthy daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam, once his could get his legs to move, ran upstairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cPaul it\u2019s a girl?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes Ben it\u2019s a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy does everyone seem so surprised about that. There is always a fifty-fifty chance it will be a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes of course Charlie. It\u2019s just that is has been so long since there has been a baby girl in my family\u2026.\u201d Ben couldn\u2019t believe it, he had a granddaughter.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adam quietly approached the bed. He could see Storm\u2019s eye\u2019s were closed and he didn\u2019t wish to wake her if she were in fact sleeping. Storm felt someone pulling aside the blanket from her baby\u2019s face. When she saw the way Adam was looking at his daughter all thoughts that perhaps he would be disappointed disappeared.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s beautiful, isn\u2019t she Adam?\u201d
\n\u201cAlmost as beautiful as her mother.\u201d
\n\u201cNo, she\u2019s much more beautiful then me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeday she will be, someday. Right now though, by a very small margin, you are the most beautiful woman to have ever lived.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think that this is why I behaved as I did?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you trying to say my daughter is going to be emotionally unstable and\u2026.\u201d Adam recalled it wasn\u2019t only Storm\u2019s emotions that were affected. \u201cShe\u2019s not leaving this house until she\u2019s twenty years old, no thirty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam it\u2019s just that they say girls are more emotional then boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have never noticed you to be overly emotional except for these past six months or so. I mean the excessive anger and tears were the only difference, so if she\u2019s anything like her mother has been\u2026..She\u2019s not leaving this house until she\u2019s fifty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe child\u2019s not even an hour old and you\u2019re talking about her being fifty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell pa if I explained it to you you\u2019d agree with me. Now why don\u2019t you come and see just how pretty a female Cartwright is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adam got into the bed next to Storm so everyone could have a place to stand around the bed. They all agreed she was the prettiest baby they had ever seen and yet Storm noticed that it appeared as if they were all afraid to touch her.<\/p>\n

\u201cPapa would you like to hold her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2026um\u2026I\u2026maybe later Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMama?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe a little later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLittle Joe, Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTomorrow Storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah maybe tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got CJ.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou all act like she\u2019ll break. Ben you\u2019ll hold her won\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell\u2026.Storm I never held a newborn baby girl before.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you\u2019ll have to hold this one Ben. Once I tell you her name, you\u2019ll have no choice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome to think of it Storm, there wasn\u2019t one name on that list you gave me for a girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo Adam, there wasn\u2019t. That\u2019s because I get to name the girls, you get to name the boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI get to name the boys? You mean I get to pick a name from the list you gave me!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you that you could add any that you wanted!\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben knew it was just anger born of tiredness and worry that they had been feeling all day but it brought a smile to his lips. \u201cDid we just go back to when you first arrived Storm!\u201d<\/p>\n

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

\u201cAlright, now Storm you were about to tell us the baby\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I was. It\u2019s Elizabeth Hope, unless Adam disapproves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben sat down on the bed. \u201cHe won\u2019t disapprove, now give me my granddaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

EPILOGUE<\/em><\/p>\n

That night Ben held the first of the two granddaughters Adam and Storm would give him. Before he held the second granddaughter, Lenora Dawn, he held the second grandson they gave him, Benjamin Nathaniel. A few years after Benjamin was born he held the last child Adam and Storm would have, Adam Milton Jr., although they never stopped trying for more.<\/em><\/p>\n

The rope did pass from Hoss to Joseph. Once Joseph had finished with it he returned it to Adam, who hung it in a very special place in their house. A place where everyone could see it. When they\u2019re children were old enough to ask and understand they were all told of the importance the rope hanging over the fireplace had played in making sure they would all be born.<\/em><\/p>\n

Next Story in the Storm series<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Foolish Questions<\/a>
\nAnte Up<\/a>
\nLove Lost, Destiny Found<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Disclaimer:<\/span>\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.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

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

Summary: This is yet another way in which I believe Storm and Adam may have met. I hope you’re not getting too bored with these stories. \u00a0In this version Adam is forced to admit to something but comes to realize it may be the only way he ever would have.<\/p>\n

Rated:\u00a0MA \u00a0WC 50,300<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":144,"featured_media":1229,"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":[23,690],"tags":[14],"class_list":["post-7554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama","category-ma-rated","tag-adam-cartwright","wpcat-23-id","wpcat-690-id"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":1442,"today_views":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/bonanza7.jpg?fit=720%2C477&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4820,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4820","url_meta":{"origin":7554,"position":0},"title":"Proud (by Storm)","author":"storm","date":"May 29, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0\u00a0This is my story for the May challenge. I'm still trying to decide if I like it or not. \u00a0 Rated: K+ \u00a0WC 700","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\/4Cartwrights.jpg?fit=849%2C541&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/4Cartwrights.jpg?fit=849%2C541&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/4Cartwrights.jpg?fit=849%2C541&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/4Cartwrights.jpg?fit=849%2C541&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7552,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7552","url_meta":{"origin":7554,"position":1},"title":"Foolish Questions (by Storm)","author":"storm","date":"July 9, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0Here is another way in which Adam and Storm could have met. In this one, Adam finds out that sometimes the answers are more important than the questions. Rated: \u00a0MA (45,990 words)","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\/2014\/05\/Adam-traurig.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\/05\/Adam-traurig.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Adam-traurig.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Adam-traurig.jpg?fit=768%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5028,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=5028","url_meta":{"origin":7554,"position":2},"title":"Return to England (by Storm)","author":"storm","date":"May 27, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary:\u00a0I have always felt that there would be only one type of woman for Adam or any man but many ways for them to meet. Here is one way in which I feel they might have met. I hope you can find one to your liking.\u00a0 In this version, an\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\/02\/coming-soon-4.jpg?fit=320%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8890,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=8890","url_meta":{"origin":7554,"position":3},"title":"Love Lost, Destiny Found (by Storm)","author":"storm","date":"June 26, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0In this story, Storm returns to Nevada with hopes that her past will help her deal with her future only to find that her past is her future. \u00a0Rated:\u00a0MA\u00a0 (54,711 words)","rel":"","context":"In "Drama"","block_context":{"text":"Drama","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4008,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=4008","url_meta":{"origin":7554,"position":4},"title":"From Joe to Adam (by Trinity)","author":"Trinity","date":"April 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0A type of poem I learned how to write in my English 3 class. \u00a0 Rated:\u00a0K+ \u00a0WC \u00a033","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/adamjoe4.jpg?fit=400%2C319&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7549,"url":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=7549","url_meta":{"origin":7554,"position":5},"title":"Ante Up (by Storm)","author":"storm","date":"May 30, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: \u00a0In this version of Adam and Storm's first meeting and life Adam finds out that sometimes the one we save ends up being our savior. Rated:\u00a0MA (78,205 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\/02\/coming-soon-4.jpg?fit=320%2C240&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7554","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\/144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7554\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}